Cum on feel the noize

The second set was intense. Noddy threw himself into it, starting a thrash session that saw some of the younger crowd stagger back away from the front line, dizzy and bleeding and looking for air. The older regulars took their place, relishing a chance to cut loose and push the limits. After the first few songs, jackets and shirts were discarded, leaving a wall of hair and tattoos with the odd set of colours here and there. The band rose to the challenge, Dirk and Sven pushing the rhythm section so the guitars had to race to keep up.

And keep up they did. Riff after riff. Hook after hook. Verse. Chorus. Solo. Repeat. It became a sweating, panting, screaming animal with fifty heads, all thrashing in time to the thunder from the stage.

And the beast would not die. When it was over, they yelled for more. The band delivered. Original songs exhausted, they ripped through more covers. Generals. Big Women. TNT. Lean On Me. Then they threw out their own challenge. Seek And Destroy. Played even faster than the original. Mike broke a string during the intro but played on, ignoring the pain from his tortured fingers.

Cliff launched himself into the pit after the second chorus, joining the front row in a frenzy of insane air-guitar playing as they formed a solid wall to keep the mosh pit from erupting onto the stage. Then he was back up there with the band for the last verse, struggling to keep his damp hair out of his face as he closed with the final chorus.

“That’s it. No more.”

The crowd took up the inevitable chant, voices raised in protest to demand that the musicians play on till the end of time.

Dirk stepped to the microphone, already unstrapping his bass. “Fuck off.”

“More!”

“Fuck off. We’re done.”

And when they left the stage, the crowd realized that they were.

Read Dancing in Valhalla in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, GoodReads, or Amazon.

Download free sampler previews of all my books, and some complete short stories, from PCloud.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

Physical paperback copies are available from BookDealers of Rivonia – 40 Wessel Road, Rivonia, Sandton.

From Curiosity in Pretoria.

And – Shorty’s Poems and Hard Money will soon be available from ZaBazaar, supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.

What happens when reality TV ventures out into space and awakens ancient gods who would really rather be left alone?

Watch the human race tear itself apart in the face of cosmic forces unleashed after millennia.

Let Sleeping Gods Lie – my new science-fiction horror novelette – is now available on Amazon and various other online retailers. I have some paperback copies if anybody wants one, or you can find them at Curiosity, in the Railways Cafe.

Ebooks are half-price till the end of July, in the Smashwords July Summer/Winter sale. Then half-price everywhere else, from 1 August to 11 August, in celebration of National Women’s Day. Because, yes, the main character is a woman. And after what she goes through, she deserves a day.

Finally, my mate Bill James just received his first batch of locally-printed Big Day Out paperbacks. Set in Johannesburg in the near future, Big Day Out is a mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Let me know if anyone wants a hard copy.

Cheers.

Love is pain

Noddy headed back towards the bar. Janine was waiting with a fresh beer and blue eyes that pierced through to his soul, pulling him into their bottomless depths.

He accepted the beer, raising her hand to his lips and pressing them against it. “So are we good, Girlfriend?”

She nodded. “Yes, Boyfriend. I’ve been waiting for you to move back in. Next time we argue, please just tell me how you feel. Shout at me, even. Get it off your chest. Hoist me over your shoulder and spank me, if you have to. End of argument. Doesn’t that sound better than storming off and not talking to me for a week? And just when we were planning to move down to the coast together?”

She had a point. He fell into those deep blue eyes, seeing everything he had ever wanted.

“With every shattered wine glass and hyperventilating meltdown, we can build a devotion so powerful it takes our breath away. Together we can write an unforgettable love story with blood, sweat and tears. Every drop that’s in us.”

He didn’t know what to say. Her words often had that effect. He was relieved when the band kicked into their next song and he kissed her quickly before pushing his way through the crowd to get back to the front of the stage.

To keep people entertained while we all struggle to find our feet in a world suddenly flipped upside down – I’m still releasing Dancing in Valhalla in weekly installments.

Read them each week on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, GoodReads, or Amazon.

No charge. No obligation. Read for free. Share with your friends.

Cheers.

Physical paperback copies are available from BookDealers of Rivonia – 40 Wessel Road, Rivonia, Sandton.

From Curiosity in Pretoria.

And from Snow Lion in 7th Street, Melville.

What happens when reality TV ventures out into space and awakens ancient gods who would really rather be left alone?

Watch the human race tear itself apart in the face of cosmic forces unleashed after millennia.

Let Sleeping Gods Lie – my new science-fiction horror novelette – launches today on Amazon and various other online retailers. Yes, a novelette. Longer than a short story, but not as long as a novel or even a novella. Just the right length to snuggle up with on a cold winter night.

And yes, I was influenced by Lovecraft. Always have been. Always will be.

Find it here – https://books2read.com/ap/nmGNXx/John-West

Finally, the Smashwords July Summer/Winter sale is still on. All my books, including the new novelette, are heavily discounted. Some of them are even free. Along with thousands of others. Go stock up for Xmas.

Cheers.

Sunday is bookday allday

The Winter Wonderland Market is now on, from 9am to 3pm today at Curiosity, Railways Cafe, Pretoria. New books available for the first time anywhere – hot off the printing press.

What happens when reality TV ventures out into space and awakens ancient gods who would really rather be left alone?

Watch the human race tear itself apart in the face of cosmic forces unleashed after millennia.

Let Sleeping Gods Lie – my latest science fiction horror novelette – launches tomorrow on Amazon. Get your pre-release paperback version today at the Railways Cafe.

Also available, for the first time outside of Melville – Shorty’s Poems, homeless poetry from the streets.

And the Puzzle Train novel series for young adults.

You’ll also find hand-crafted pens & block mounted Frazetta prints. And that’s just the Burning Books stall. Imagine what else you might find…

www.facebook.com/events/320178125815631/

Winter Wonderland Market

Reminder that you can join me at the Railways Cafe in Pretoria on Sunday the 19th of July for the Winter Wonderland Market, where I’ll have some new books available for the first time anywhere – hot off the printing press.

http://www.facebook.com/events/320178125815631/

Bang your head

The front of the stage was a solid mass of hair as a dozen heads banged in time to the beat. Further back, more bodies pushed and bounced against one another, surging back and forth as the rhythm took control. The band ripped through the first half of the cover, playing it faster than anyone remembered it being the previous weekend. Not that Noddy was about to complain. The pounding beat, the blistering guitars, the shove of the crowd, this was what he lived for. One hand gripping his skull mug, the other trying to keep up on his air-guitar, there was nowhere he’d rather be.

The solo sprang like a living thing from the last line of the second verse, as Paul took his place at the front of the stage. He’d been playing guitar since he was in nappies, and on nights like this, you could hear the results. Horned salutes stabbed the air. Mugs and bottles were held high in adulation. The crowd launched into their own version of the solo, frantic fingers playing notes that hadn’t even been invented yet as hair and sweat filled the front row.

Then the inevitable mosher climbed onto the stage, threw his arms in the air and dived into the crowd. He landed way off on Noddy’s right, as his buddies broke his fall and helped him to his feet. Paul grinned and played on.

The next verse came and went, becoming a second guitar solo, with Mike doing the honours this time. The crowd was rapidly banging its way into a frenzy. The skinhead on Noddy’s left lost his balance and swayed for a moment, then was gone. In his place stood Morag, head down, foot up, mug held precariously by two fingers as the rest of them danced along the air-strings.

A second stage-diver appeared, bouncing onto the platform and tossing a fist in the air before launching himself after it. But this one had miscalculated. Everyone in front of him moved as his feet left the stage. He hit the floor face first, boots spinning out of sight as Cliff finished the final chorus.

And that was it. The end of the song. There was silence for a split second, while heads stopped bouncing up and down, then the audience erupted in a roar of appreciation. Every single person on the floor was yelling, screaming, waving their fists in the air. Most of them took up a chant. “More! More! More!”

To keep people entertained while we all struggle to find our feet in a world suddenly flipped upside down – I’m still releasing Dancing in Valhalla in weekly installments.

Read them each week on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, GoodReads, or Amazon.

No charge. No obligation. Read for free. Share with your friends.

Cheers.

Physical paperback copies are available from BookDealers of Rivonia – 40 Wessel Road, Rivonia, Sandton.

From Curiosity in Pretoria. (Join me there on Sunday the 19th of July, at the Winter Wonderland Market, where I’ll have some new books available for the first time in Pretoria, and some available for the first time anywhere)

And from Snow Lion in 7th Street, Melville.

Also available in Melville – Shorty’s Poems are now in Book Circle Capital, in 27 Boxes. Pop in and take a look at the selection of books available from this local store.

Another South African author – Bill James – has just released his first book, Big Day Out.

In Bill’s own words – “This book has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

Set in Johannesburg in the near future, Big Day Out is a mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Good old-fashioned don’t-give-a-toss action. You don’t like it, don’t buy it.”

Finally, the Smashwords July Summer/Winter sale is still on. All my books (and Shorty’s) are heavily discounted, some of them even free. Along with thousands of others. Go stock up for Xmas.

Cheers.

Urban Assault

Noddy was at the bar, deep in conversation with Janine, when the music on the hi-fi twanged off and out. Dirk had been trying to butt into the conversation, which Noddy thought was extremely rude. His comments of “Oi! Go outside if you’re going to do that!” and “You dirty sod! There’s people trying to drink in here!” were quite distracting. He had even flicked a towel at Noddy while he was innocently trying to clear a space on the end of the bar so they could be more comfortable. So much for German hospitality.

A cloud of smoke billowed from under the stage. The lights dimmed. The main act of the evening was about to make its appearance. Sure enough, there came the familiar rumble as Dirk strummed his bass. Heads turned. Seats were pushed back from tables. Noddy climbed off the bar and straightened his shirt, making sure his fly was zipped. Janine sat up, shook her hair back into place and handed him his mug. She took a swig of the Bacardi concoction she’d been drinking, quite comfortable sitting on the end of the bar. She leaned forward, a sparkle in her eyes, and was about to say something deep and meaningful when the howl of a guitar cut through the smoke-filled air.

Before the second chord had been struck Noddy was heading for the stage, jostled by the rest of the club as they leaped to their feet and joined the lemming run. Because that howl could mean only one thing. Urban Assault was here. And they were heading straight into “Breaking the Law.”

As Noddy hit the front of the crowd, throwing his left foot up to brace against the knee-high stage, Cliff launched himself from behind Sven’s drum kit, microphone in hand.

To keep people entertained while we all struggle to find our feet in a world suddenly flipped upside down – I’m still releasing Dancing in Valhalla in weekly installments.

Read them each week on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, GoodReads, or Amazon.

No charge. No obligation. Read for free. Share with your friends.

Cheers.

Physical paperback copies are available from BookDealers of Rivonia – 40 Wessel Road, Rivonia, Sandton.

From Curiosity in Pretoria.

And from Snow Lion in 7th Street, Melville.

Also available in Melville – Shorty’s Poems are now in Book Circle Capital, in 27 Boxes. Pop in and take a look at the selection of books available from this local store.

Another South African author – Bill James – has just released his first book, Big Day Out, and is giving it away free on Amazon today, 6 July (Amazon time).

In Bill’s own words – “This book has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

Set in Johannesburg in the near future, Big Day Out is a mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Good old-fashioned don’t-give-a-toss action. You don’t like it, don’t buy it.”

Go grab a free copy. You can burn it if you like. Or if you don’t like.

Finally, the Smashwords July Summer/Winter sale is still on. All my books (and Shorty’s) are heavily discounted, some of them even free. Along with thousands of others. Go stock up for Xmas.

Cheers.