His studio has become his refuge and his prison – a place of boundless imagination and lonely isolation. Brian Archer, creator of a series of successful graphic novels about a vengeful supernatural being called “The Highwayman,” has become a recluse after the adoration of a female fan turned to rage and violence.
But all that changes when he meets a renowned and beautiful illustrator, A.J. Hart, who carries emotional scars of her own. Their work together is fueled by the unrequited passion they share and a mysterious bottle of black ink that arrives one day at Brian’s doorstep.
The impossibly dark liquid has mystical properties, making their characters appear so real they eventually come to life, reigning terror on those who mean them harm and if not stopped—threatens to unleash an apocalypse on all mankind. Brian must break free of his self-imposed exile and solve the mystery that allowed these terrible creatures into the world.
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My Review
I received a free ecopy of this book from the author for an honest review.
INK is about Brian Archer, a famous author of graphic novels who is actually a mess. Yes, he’s famous. Yes, he’s rich. But, in reality, he seems to attract violence. Because of this, he ends up as a recluse until he meets A.J., who makes him finally want to live again.
I really enjoyed reading INK. The authors have merged several stories into one, all of which involve Brian. You have the supernatural with The Highwayman, who is not only Brian’s main character in his novels, but he’s brought to life by some magical black ink. Then the story of Brian and A.J. is so sweet. She’s coming out of a bad relationship and he patiently waits until she’s ready, even though he knows he’s in love with her. And then there’s the horror of dealing with an obsessed fan and a jilted lover.
This is one of those books that is difficult to put down once you get into it. It’s full of suspense and you never know what’s going to happen next. Watch out, though, it may have you looking over your shoulder by the time you’re done with it. I’m looking forward to book number 2.
About the Authors
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Glenn Benest lives in Glendale, California, along with his adorable puppy, Milton, so named after the renowned English poet. He’s an award-winning screenwriter and producer with seven produced feature and television movie credits. He has been a professional writer his entire career.
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“Like the protagonist in our novel, I was a late bloomer when it came to reading. But when I got the hang of it, I spent many hours in the library, devouring everything I could get my hands on: Batman, westerns, sports books even pulp magazines. I also started writing poetry when I was in high school, then transitioned to the theater at Harvard, where I realized I had to go for my dream. I quickly moved to Los Angeles where I got my master of fine arts degree at U.C.L.A., but soon realized I couldn’t make a living writing stage plays.”
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Glenn began to write screenplays and by the age of thirty wrote two films for acclaimed horror director Wes Craven.
“I think I’ve written in every genre imaginable, including romance, thrillers, mystery, comedy, and drama. Writing fiction has been my latest endeavor, although INK combines two genres that have always fascinated me – paranormal romance and horror.”
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Glenn and his writing partner Dale Pitman met in one of Mr. Benest’s screenwriting workshops and quickly discovered they shared a passion for comic books and the supernatural.
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This is their first novel.
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Dale Pitman was born in the shadows of the Burbank Studios, which is where his love of movies began. As a kid, Dale got to play hookey and sit in with his father, renowned “Wrecking Crew” guitarist, Bill Pitman, on studio sessions for record, T.V. and most memorably, movie calls like the James Bond flick Dr. No, where Dale fell for the art of cinema (and Ursula Andress, though not necessarily in that order).
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Dale began writing short stories, school plays and sketch comedy at an early age, and quickly became the “bard” of his East San Fernando Valley schools. He received an A.A. degree in Journalism at L.A. Pierce College, then after that moved to Lake Tahoe, where he graduated from “the school of hard knocks,” working as a bartender at a local casino.
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Upon returning to Southern California, Dale studied film at L.A. Valley College and apprenticed briefly in editing at Stephen J. Cannell Studios. In need of a “steady gig,” Dale quit tending bar and obtained a real estate license.
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In 2008, Dale returned to his first true love—film, not Ursula. He immersed himself in studying the craft of screenwriting with teachers David Freeman, Hal Croasman, Robert McKee, the late Blake Synder, and most notably, his mentor and writing partner, award-winning screenwriter Glenn M. Benest, where they discovered their mutual affinity for the works of Poe and Lovecraft.
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Dale lives in Newport Beach, CA with the lovely Kelly O’Reilly
Bound 4 Escape