Editor’s Note: Today we have a special visit from author John F. Allen, who has an exciting new collection of short stories called The Best Is Yet to Come! In this post, John discusses the selection of each story for this collection!
The Selection of Tales in The Best Is Yet to Come
by John F. Allen
The Best is Yet to Come is the first volume in what I hope to be a series of short story collections. It features ten stories collected for the first time ever and represents nine years of writing. This collection also reflects my versatility as a writer who produces cross genre works such as: Action adventure, mystery, espionage thrillers, pulp, comic book inspired fiction, horror, fantasy, science fiction and drama (literary fiction).
This volume includes a holiday story, “An Ivory Christmas,” which features Ivory Blaque, my bold heroine from the acclaimed urban fantasy series The God Killers, and the center of my literary universe, The Ivoryverse. While Christmas shopping for her lycan boyfriend, Ivory encounters preternatural forces which threaten to ruin the holidays unless she can stop them.
Also included are:
Forest of Shadows is the debut of a fabled, ancient warrior named, Jaziri, Prince of Kimbogo Province. This is my first foray into the fantasy sub-genre of Sword & Soul, an offshoot of Sword & Sorcery which features an Afrocentric protagonist which also explores Afrocentric culture, customs and settings. When Prince Jaziri is chased out of a nearby kingdom and into an enchanted forest, he must face a powerful sorceress with ties to his past.
The Legend of Matchemonedo pays homage to the 80’s slasher films from my youth and explores the legend of the Sasquatch. With this tale, I wanted to infuse Native American history and folklore into a horror story. So, when a Native youth and his wealthy, arrogant friends decide to spend the weekend at a cabin built on stolen land, they encounter a creature who seeks vengeance and retribution for the souls of those who interred in the surrounding woods.
The Adventures of Star Blazer tells the story of a young, set assistant of a 1950’s science fiction serial who is struggling with the racial tensions of the time, while attempting to pursue his dreams of stardom. When a cosmic portal opens and transports him to the farthest reaches of the galaxy in the future, he gets to fight against evil imperial forces and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
HoodRatz is a cautionary tale with a dark horror twist, involving a young woman in late 1970’s Indianapolis who yearns for freedom from her hard-working single mother and the shared responsibilities of caring for her younger brother. However, she soon learns to be careful what you wish for, when that freedom comes in the form of a gang leader who wants to control her.
One of the two literary stories in the collection is The Sweetest Autumn. A woman discovers the truth behind her troubled past. While enduring the hardships of caring for her ailing father. Also, with the help of a mysterious caregiver, she learns to face her personal demons and possibly reconcile the shattered relationship with her father.
The African Princess is a forbidden love story of clashing cultures and the noble pursuits of a young samurai in feudal Japan, to rescue an African Princess who was enslaved by a vicious, Dutch merchant. The two go on the run and discover a passion for each other, neither expected.
A mysterious, military operative is sent on a covert mission in Egypt, when he encounters an alien monster bent on revenge in “Lazarus.” This story is an action adventure tale with comic book elements throughout. It’s fast paced and introduces Lazarus, an intriguing character who will appear in future works.
The other literary fiction story takes place forty years ago, when a young boy discovers that family means everything. In “The Chocolate Malt,” an older brother is tasked with caring for his tenacious younger sibling, while dealing with the stigma of being a gay black male in the 1970’s. A tragic altercation, gives the brothers and their parents an opportunity to come to the realization that their love can tear down barriers erected by homophobic societal intolerance.
The Best is Yet to Come also features the special bonus short story titled, “Witch Way is Up.” This story debuts a young, powerful witch named Xenith. She is pursued by dark forces with intentions of manipulating her loyalties and using her power to carry out their nefarious plans. A mysterious vampire operative is tasked with protecting her from a witch enforcer and herself. Also, a special guest character makes a surprise appearance.
It is my sincerest wish that the ten stories in this collection provide exciting entertainment for the readers who should stay tuned, because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
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About the author: John F. Allen is an American writer born in Indianapolis, IN. He is a founding member of the Speculative Fiction Guild and a member the Indiana Writers Center. He began writing stories as early as the second grade and has pursued various forms of writing throughout his career. John studied Liberal Arts at IUPUI with a focus in Creative Writing and Literature, received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force and is a current member of the American Legion. John’s debut novel, The God Killers was published in 2013 by Seventh Star Press, and he has had several novellas, short stories and articles published since. He is also an avid reader, accomplished visual artist and Jazz music aficionado.
John currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Book Synopsis for The Best Is Yet to Come: Featuring ten stories collected for the first time ever, The Best Is Yet to Come, presents nine years of creativity spun from the mind of John F. Allen. Action and adventure are ever present in these stories, but be prepared for some drama, horror, fantasy and science fiction as well.
This volume includes a holiday story, “An Ivory Christmas,” featuring Ivory Blaque, Allen’s bold heroine from his acclaimed urban fantasy series The God Killers, and the center of his literary universe, The Ivoryverse.
Also included are:
“Forest of Shadows” the debut of a fabled, ancient warrior named, Jaziri, Prince of Kimbogo Province.
You may want to think twice before venturing out into the dark woods of rural Indiana in “The Legend of Matchemonedo.”
A young, set assistant of a 50’s science fiction serial gets to embark on the journey of a lifetime in “The Adventures of Star Blazer.”
A young woman in late 1970’s Indianapolis, learns to be careful what you wish for in “HoodRatz.”
When a woman struggles to care for her ailing father, she discovers the truth behind her troubled past in “The Sweetest Autumn.”
Long ago, a noble samurai finds forbidden love with a beautiful, ebony skinned princess in “The African Princess.”
A mysterious, military operative is sent on a covert mission in Egypt, when he encounters an alien monster bent on revenge in “Lazarus.”
Forty years ago, a young boy discovers that family means everything in “The Chocolate Malt.”
The Best is Yet to Come also features the special bonus short story, “Witch Way is Up.”
Explore the words of John F. Allen today!
Author Links:
Website: https://johnfallenauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnfallenauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jfa_author
Tour Schedule and Activities
1/13 MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape http://mylifemybooksmyescape.wordpress.com Author Interview
1/14 Jazzy Book Reviews https://bookreviewsbyjasmine.blogspot.com/ Author Interview
1/15 Sheila’s Guests and Reviews http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com Guest Post
1/16 I Smell Sheep http://www.ismellsheep.com/ Top Ten’s List
1/17 Beauty in Ruins – She Leads he Reads https://femledfantasy.home.blog Guest Post
1/18 The Literary Underworld http://www.literaryunderworld.com Guest Post
1/19 The Seventh Star Blog http://www.theseventhstarblog.com Guest Post
1/20 The Book Junkie Reads . . . https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blogspot.com Author Interview
1/20 Willow’s Thoughts and Book Obsessions http://wssthoughtsandbookobsessions.blogspot.com/ Review
Links for The Best Is Yet to Come
Kindle Version: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Yet-Come-John-Allen-ebook/dp/B07YBTFM9P/
Amazon Print Version: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Yet-Come-John-Allen/dp/1948042851/
Barnes and Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-best-is-yet-to-come-john-allen/1133901519?ean=9781948042857