There’s somebody at the door, is it a delivery Alexa ? No it’s Dan . He’s here today so we can discuss the three books in his Knuckleheads Series. I have actually just read book three When Evil Chooses you.
Hi Dan come on through let’s sit in the garden while we have the weather, I have some Caronas with wedges of lime chilled and ready under the new pergola.
Here Dan have a beer and relax. Now I remember that The Evil You Choose was going to be a single book and Knuckleheads grew out of a need to tell the backstory. When did you decide to write a sequel?
Well willow when I started writing The Evil You Choose, Thomas Slocum was going to be my evil character. Unfortunately, I wasn’t familiar with keeping characters in line with my expectations of them. I would finish a chapter, reread it and think, “he doesn’t sound particularly evil.” Beta readers also told me that Slocum seemed conflicted in his role. About a quarter of the way into the book, I wrote a scene in Agent Slocum’s office where Grayson Dyer came in. Zach didn’t really meet him, but when he left, Agent Slocum said: “Now that’s a dangerous man, Zach.” Zach observed that “He looked as if he wished he hadn’t said that.” That’s when I knew that there would be another book.
That’s really interesting Dan I completely understand what you are saying about charters not really behaving as you want them to . Sometimes it’s like they have minds of their own. I am glad you added Dyer because I could feel Slocum definitely had two sides to him.
Can I offer you something to eat we could order on some chicken wings or a pizza . How about a meat fest yes? Right I am on it.
You suggested in the second book that “good and bad aren’t binary concepts.” You continued to cast people as having both good and evil elements in When Evil Chooses You. Is this something you believe, or just something that worked for the books?
I know you’re a Star Trek fan, willow, so you probably remember the episode where Kirk is split into his good and evil halves. I think almost every human character trait exists on a spectrum, including good and evil. This is something my father taught us, and something I have observed in coworkers and other people that I’ve met. Characters like Grayson Dyer lean toward evil, where characters like Thomas Slocum, Geno DeLito, Cynthia Leman and a few others have their moments when they are closer to the good side of the spectrum. Of course, sometimes, even the good guys have to break the rules.
Again I agree with you here Dan, everyone has two sides usually kept in tow but every now and then the façade slips sometimes it reveals the person’s true character sometimes it’s just an aberration. The important thing is to know which is which. It also explains the use of evil in the titles.
Ah! The Pizza has arrived ! I have made a salad too.
So when Evil Chooses You begins right after The Evil You Choose ends. It’s almost a continuous story. Was that always your plan? It certainly has that feel.
Yes willow all the books in the Dreamer’s Alliance Series are in a continuous sequence. Knuckleheads, as you may recall, is set in the 1960s, but it’s a story that Zach told Abbey two days before The Evil You Choose begins. The fourth and final book in the series begins shortly after the third book ends. I always wanted it to be that way. The hard part was not giving that away at the end of the first book.
Thank you willow this pizza is good, I see you have your favourite too, ham and pineapple! The salade is not bad either what is the dressing ?
This one is my own recipe , virgin oil, balsamic vinegar with a dash of of apple cider vinegar and the other is blue cheese and there’s also mayonnaise and ketchup here too. Back to the book why did you have Billy narrate the third book as well as be a character in the book?
What can I say, people like Billy. Billy and Cynthia Leman were originally going to be minor characters in the second book—Cynthia Leman was supposed to die within two chapters. After Knuckleheads was released, a lot of people told me they really liked Billy. One of my author friends told me not to worry about the readers, but I have a hard time ignoring their comments. I figure, if I’ve created a character that people like or can relate to, I should hang onto that character. Billy seemed like a good fit to be an omniscient narrator. Similarly, people seem to like Cynthia Leman more than I thought they would.
I have to say Dan I find Billy as an essential character. He has really grown and to my mind he bings the storyline together. Did you have trouble writing Billy in both roles?
I only had trouble with the parts where Billy is considering or sharing his own thoughts. I used a different format for those sections, to try to indicate to the reader when that’s going on.
Hang on I need a drink can I get you another? Yup okay coming up. You’ve mentioned that there is another book in the series. What made you decide to write one more book?
I wasn’t planning on writing another book, but again, the readers had something to say. Several people told me they wanted to see more of this crew. Several felt that I left more than a few questions unanswered. I tried ignoring those suggestions. I created a new character and a new story, but I kept getting dragged back into the series. I came to accept that Knuckleheads is really the backstory and that the other three books are a trilogy. I’ve made peace with that decision, and I like the next story a lot.
That’s really exciting Dan and I am all for hearing more about Zach and co, this is one of those stories where the characters get into your head and heart and leave you wanting more. So cheers to the next book.
NEWSFLASH
Dan has offered to let me share the cover of the fourth book—Secrets Held Against Evil. So hold on to your hats here we go with the REVEAL! Fanfare please!
Secrets Against Evil. ©Dan Antion.
Excellent isn’t it! I can’t wait to read it! Remember you saw it first here!
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Now let’s go back to the beginning here are my reviews on the first three books in the Dreamers Alience.
Book 1 Knuckleheads. What I think .
Well here is what I loved about this book. It captivates you immediately. It’s like a social history of life set in the era and area that Dan himself grew up in.
The tale of the two friends with unusual special powers …not really your ‘normal’ super powers but to be honest more intriguing and amazing. It’s great to see these two lads grow together as friends and allies. The way they help each other through school even when separated by circumstances!
I really enjoyed every part of the book, Zach’s family were beautifully portrayed especially his father who helped both boys. I also learned a lot about the running of a bowling alley and also how mechanisation changed things! Also how both sides of the criminal line were bonded together. I am saying no more just do read Knuckleheads!
Book 2 The Evil you choose. What I think.
My feelings on this book are totally woo! The tingle factor. It truly brings the whole story together and it is a really brilliant read. Zach and Billy are now both older guys who are retired when ghosts from their past come to visit them.
Zach’s brother plays a bigger part in this book as does Zach’s Daughter! Everything that happens in the first book plays a part in this one.
All I can say is that these books are brilliant and I highly recommend them. I strongly suggest that you suspend the every day and read them, you will not regret it.
Book3 When Evil Chooses you: What I think.
What can I say about book three in The Dreamers Alliance? When Evil Chooses You, it’s a roller coaster of emotions, they are all there.
Firstly let me say though you could read each book as a stand alone but you will gain so much enjoyment if you read the entire series starting with book one Knuckle Heads. This way you meet all the characters and learn about who they are and which side of good and evil they fall. The line of good and evil is not always clear in some cases but it all makes sense as the story unfolds.
In this the third book in the series we find that far from being free from the maniacal FBI agent Grayson Dyer, Zach finds he is even more caught up in this one man’s venance party .
Not only is Dyer on a one man campaign to bring down senator Cutter (who he sees as being a major factor in his father’s suicide) but also he has a gangster, a policewoman, a pastor and anyone else who happens to get in his way in his sights.
As the body count rises Zack’s family and life long friend, Billy, are dragged further into the action.
The whole situation takes a turn for the worse for all concerned especially Zach. Friends and allies appear from the most unlikely places ! And the twists in the tale will leave you breathless..
To summarize, When Evil Chooses You, is a must read and I for one was left hoping there’s more to come … 🤞 A very suspenseful page turner!
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If you like magical realism with suspense, action and a bit of family sarcasm, you will enjoy these books:
Knuckleheads
The Evil You Choose
When Evil Chooses You
Dan’s profile page (and books) on Lulu
All available on Kindle Unlimited!
Dan’s wordpress blog. No Facilities
About the Author , my visitor Dan Antion.
Dan Antion was born outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up and attended college in the area around western Pennsylvania. Dan has written and published the popular No Facilities blog since 2011. A lifelong interest in writing became a reality after he retired from a successful 42-year-long career in information management.Dan lives in Connecticut with his wife, a few pets and all the wildlife they can feed.
Dan Says .
“Retired – Husband, father, author of the Dreamer’s Alliance Series. When I’m not writing, I might be in my woodshop, working around the house or walking around with a camera. I might be having a beer with friends. You can find me on my blog at NoFacilities.com and on Amazon.”
Good Luck Dan 💜
willowdot21 