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Tito_Villa
08-31-2014, 02:44 AM
My book - Everyone Loves Clowns And Other Tales - a collection of 6 short stories and one novella is finally out :panic:
You can get it on Amazon in either paperback or eBook, and I think for over 80,000 words and a bunch of artwork, it's a pretty damn good price - http://amzn.to/1pw9jGK

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz116/tito_villa/Everyonelovesclowns2_zpsc49cb33d.jpg (http://s819.photobucket.com/user/tito_villa/media/Everyonelovesclowns2_zpsc49cb33d.jpg.html)

But I've started this thread, to gather reviews and for any questions, discussions :)
If anyone would like to review the collection, let me know and I can send along a proof PDF!
I've got 2 reviews so far and I'm very happy!

From Amazon 4/5
I don't love clowns, I really don't, and this book really doesn't help change my mind. The title story of this book confirms all my fears of what clowns are really capable of, and Thomas Cranham story from the point of view of one small child's battle against Clueless the Clown made for a good read.

I do like this book a lot. I took it on a camping holiday and worked through each story through the week, nothing better than reading a short horror story before sleep!

Each story has its own flavour, often based around the Town of Matlock and it's surrounding areas, with the twist of horror, supernatural and lots of death!

I do like zombie tales, and A Bedtime Story and Oh To Be Alive are especially enjoyable reads, both from a time when Zombies have already made their impact on the world and certainly from differing points of view.

Try this book, you'll enjoy it, and looking forward to reading more of Thomas Cranham in the future.

From a reviewer on Cemetery Dance's forum - bugen

Everyone Loves Clowns and Other Tales – Thomas Cranham
“Because outside the walls the monster (no dragon but pain) had arrived and it struck the barrier with tooth and claw, fire and fist, and little Emily’s defender, her knight was nowhere to be seen.”

Consisting of six dark tales and novella, and written by one of this forum’s very own, this book runs a gamut of horror. Only two of the tales within would I classify as fair but enjoyable, while the remaining five serve to elevate the collection as a whole into a realm I did not expect when starting.

I would like to speak in some detail about the two top stories.

The book’s opener, ‘Oh To Be Alive’, deals with zombies. For me, this is generally a very bad thing. I have seen the zombie sub-genre butchered beyond what I would think of as reparable and have largely written it off in favor of other horror, a position I am now re-thinking. Told from the perspective of an intelligent zombie, we follow Henry Waterford as he navigates a landscape where the undead are born from death a few minutes later. This tale is not original, per se, but if you really want to embrace this critique you need to realize there are only thirty-six different types of stories anyway. No, it’s not original, but it has a voice, it tackles issues I haven’t seen properly dealt with in a zombie film since Romero’s first Dawn of the Dead, and evokes some of the prejudices shown more recently in District 9. A story that challenges our lifestyles, our outlooks and our discriminations, and has the power to spark debate. These types of stories get us thinking, and with enough of us thinking we just might make it out of life alive.

Most important is the final tale of the book. The title novella, ‘Everyone Loves Clowns’, is magic. Barely 5 years old, a girl’s life is in jeopardy battling cancer. An imaginative young Emily is nearly alone in her world of books, beholden to a teacher who resents Emily’s mental prowess, and largely ignored by her classmates until the circus comes to town. After attending Emily is convinced the clowns are eating her peers as she deteriorates from her illness. The author weaves a tale of fancy and horror detailing Emily’s perspective, and a heartrending relationship develops between Emily (the Princess) and her ridiculed classmate Jasper (the Knight) as the clowns, the other classmates, the teacher and the disease are battled. Stories like this are among the reasons I read in the first place.

Everyone Loves Clowns and Other Tales misses my top rating for a short story collection (4 stars) by less than 1/100th of a point, and I’ve had an internal struggle over what to do here. I have a tie-breaking backup system that informs the rounding process and has worked in the past, but in this case results in another tie. Because he is a new author, I’ve decided to spot him the .0071 points.

Well done, Mr. Cranham.

4 stars

Jean
09-01-2014, 02:01 AM
wow!! bears are so excited about this!

... if you don't mind me saying so... : wink :

Tito_Villa
09-01-2014, 03:43 AM
wow!! bears are so excited about this!

... if you don't mind me saying so... : wink :

Ha no, you can say whatever you wish :)

Jean
09-01-2014, 05:05 AM
I would buy the Kindle edition right now if I could figure out the way to get it to my Kindle from the Amazon. I have no wi-fi at home, and their "Manage My Kindle" section doesn't seem to have any other options

Heather19
09-02-2014, 08:18 AM
Very nice! Just downloaded it :) Can't wait to read your other stories.

Tito_Villa
09-02-2014, 09:56 AM
Very nice! Just downloaded it :) Can't wait to read your other stories.

Thanks Heather :)

Robert Fulman
09-02-2014, 10:47 AM
I probably have the earliest printed copy in the USA, which might be a valuable collectible someday if only I hadn't spilled my bottle of soda on it.

Tito_Villa
09-02-2014, 11:50 AM
Ha probably not :)

Jean
09-03-2014, 09:03 AM
I probably have the earliest printed copy in the USA, which might be a valuable collectible someday if only I hadn't spilled my bottle of soda on it.
just think how valuable it will be, soda stains and all, when you are both famous

Tito_Villa
09-03-2014, 10:31 AM
I probably have the earliest printed copy in the USA, which might be a valuable collectible someday if only I hadn't spilled my bottle of soda on it.
just think how valuable it will be, soda stains and all, when you are both famous

Haha yes!

Tito_Villa
09-04-2014, 11:49 PM
Another review! Link - http://amzn.to/WlJUTD

And i love how people see the same story differently!

From Amazon 4/5
I loved this book. I read the entire thing in two sittings but I didn't want to stop.
The first story " Oh To Be Alive" was the only one I didn't care for. Just couldn't get in to it. Not a big fan of intelligent zombies.
"The Rule of Three" I found fascinating. i don't believe I ever read anything from the perspective of the Grim Reaper before.
"The Ghost of Bone Mill Road and The Infinite Man" was my favorite story. It was also the saddest. About a man who moves to a new house and encounters ghosts.
"The Left is Sinister" made me start checking how I wake up. Interesting little story.
"The Cows are Coming" was a nice bloody story. For anyone who likes a little gore in their books. Didn't see the end coming.
"A Bedtime Story" was quite good. About how kids have to quickly grow up in a zombie apocalypse.
"Everyone Loves Clowns" was the longest story. I don't think I like clowns anymore. Young Emily has to battle clowns and her own illness and her classmates start to vanish. i could read a whole novel on this story.

This book is highly recommended and comes with many different illustrations from many artists. I would happily read anything else Thomas Cranham writes.

Tito_Villa
09-09-2014, 11:48 PM
A review from our own George on Amazon.com Link - http://amzn.to/1pO8oM5

Welcome to the village of Matlock, the river Derwent, and a whole lotta strange goings-on. From zombies to vampire cows to a toy clown that always aims to have the last laugh (as clowns always should), Thomas Cranham has put together a collection of six stories and a novella that will keep you turning the pages long past the time you should have gone to bed because you have to get up for work in the morning. Believe me, I know. Love the cover art by Daniele Serra, it really sets the tone and is repeated throughout by noted artists such as Jill Bauman, Glenn Chadbourne (both whom have illustrated Stephen King books), Alyssa Gerwig, and Agata Piasecka. My two favorite stories within are "The Ghost of Bone Mill and the Infinite Man" ("I am infinite and will be feasting on hearts when your bones have turned to dust") and the novella that lends its name to the title, "Everyone Loves Clowns" ("Why do mummies and daddies think kids love clowns?"). If you're a clown lover (hard to imagine, if you ask me), this story may just be the one that finally convinces you of what the rest of us already know.

Get this book, you won't regret it. Just remember ... "AAAARGH UG ARGHH"!

Shannon
09-10-2014, 12:19 AM
:)

stroppygoblin
09-10-2014, 02:58 AM
is the HC going to be an option Tom? If you tell me no it will never happen , you still gain a sale of the current book, but I'd much prefer a hardcover version :)

stroppygoblin
09-10-2014, 02:59 AM
I would buy the Kindle edition right now if I could figure out the way to get it to my Kindle from the Amazon. I have no wi-fi at home, and their "Manage My Kindle" section doesn't seem to have any other options

can bears not take their kindle to a wifi hotspot? if the book is purchased it should automatically download using whispersync.

Tito_Villa
09-10-2014, 03:25 AM
is the HC going to be an option Tom? If you tell me no it will never happen , you still gain a sale of the current book, but I'd much prefer a hardcover version :)

Honestly mate, at the moment i'm not sure. I'd like to get a few hardcovers (and include a new story), but at the moment i would have to pay upfront and with buying a house, money is tight.
So short answer (which is probably what you wanted, right?), yes, but not until next year!

George at C-Springs
09-10-2014, 06:02 AM
is the HC going to be an option Tom? If you tell me no it will never happen , you still gain a sale of the current book, but I'd much prefer a hardcover version

While it's not a hardcover per se, you can always grab the softcover from Amazon versus a download, only a $7 difference (and of course free shipping if you're a Prime member). I really really ... really ... don't like reading on a computer/kindle/whatever, which is odd because I can write on one all day long but when it comes to reading for pleasure, I want/need the pages in my hand, so much more enjoyable. I had Tom's pdf and ordered the softcover anyway; glad I did just for the cover art. But yes, I agree, a hardcover (when financially feasible) is a must!

herbertwest
09-11-2014, 06:13 AM
The full cover artwork is simply amazing !

Tito_Villa
09-11-2014, 06:30 AM
The full cover artwork is simply amazing !

Dani does some amazing work!

becca69
09-11-2014, 06:52 AM
Downloaded to my Kindle... I hope I can view the artwork! :thumbsup:

Tito_Villa
09-11-2014, 06:55 AM
Downloaded to my Kindle... I hope I can view the artwork! :thumbsup:

Thanks Becca :) and yes you should be able to see all the artwork!

Tito_Villa
09-15-2014, 03:23 AM
A 5* review on Amazon.co.uk

Excellent book of short stories , I just couldn't put it down . Full of friendly zombies just trying to get along and a story from deaths point of view.
Can't wait for the next

Jean
09-16-2014, 12:44 PM
I don't know how long will it take me to add my own review to the ones already there (everything takes me ages nowadays), but I can already say that it will be another 5 *

Tito_Villa
09-17-2014, 12:32 AM
I don't know how long will it take me to add my own review to the ones already there (everything takes me ages nowadays), but I can already say that it will be another 5 *

Thanks for that Jean, i'm really glad you enjoyed the stories!

Tito_Villa
09-29-2014, 11:45 PM
So i put 5 copies of the book on Goodreads for a giveaway (I hope to get some reviews) while thinking that i wouldn't get any real interest.
I was shocked this morning to find that 422 people requested a copy :O

Shannon
09-29-2014, 11:47 PM
You shouldn't be shocked. People love free stuff. :)

Hey, does anyone else have another person's poetry book bound in the middle of their awesome Thomas Cranham book?

Heather19
09-30-2014, 06:21 AM
I just finished reading this the other week. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You're a really good writer, and I hope you continue to write more. Are you working on anything else at the moment? A novel perhaps? :) I'll try to post a review on amazon soon. My favorite was the the title story. I loved how you wrote the story from the girls imagination, I thought it was very clever and well done.

Tito_Villa
09-30-2014, 06:31 AM
I just finished reading this the other week. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You're a really good writer, and I hope you continue to write more. Are you working on anything else at the moment? A novel perhaps? :) I'll try to post a review on amazon soon. My favorite was the the title story. I loved how you wrote the story from the girls imagination, I thought it was very clever and well done.

Thanks Heather, i really appreciate the feedback and if you post a review too!
And yeah i'm always working on a story or other on and off. There's a novel that's around 3/4 finished and at the moment another novella that is i think over 50% done :)

Tito_Villa
10-12-2014, 02:53 AM
Another review and 5* too :D - http://bit.ly/1EKtNRL

I was given this book by the author who posted a giveaway on Goodreads in return for an honest review. I can't thank you enough, Tom. This book was an absolute blast to read and I didn't want it to end. Please tell me you're writing more.

If anyone is in the mood for scary yet funny storytelling, especially since it's getting closer to Halloween, I highly recommend this book. Each story gets even better than the previous one and it's the perfect book to read before you go to sleep (or at least keep you awake while you scare yourself silly.) This book has everything to get you in the mood for Halloween (or in my case, Halloween is all year round haha!) There's vampire cows, ghosts and very creepy, cannibalistic clowns. If you loved watching "Tales From the Darkside" or "Tales From the Crypt" and wanted more creepy storytelling, then this book is definitely for you.