Synopsis
“Once they said God himself could not sink her!”
The Maiden voyage of the Titanic was to be the toast of Europe. Filled with the richest people in the world, there was no end to the trip’s possibilities. At least, that is what Archaeologist Dennis Parker thought.
The voyage was soon interrupted by a series of grisly murders. The type not seen since Jack the Ripper. All hands on the ship were baffled at who the murderer was. Dennis seemed to know. Could the murderer be his cargo? Could the murderer be a 3,000 year-old mummy? Could it be the curse?
A haunting and mysterious tale of the Titanic’s demise, STILL WATERS explores the idea that this disaster is only a taste of humility for an arrogant race. The rush of a proud seafaring country to surpass the luxury of “common” ocean liners. This is a thrilling tale of murder, intrigue, and ancient curses aboard the notorious Titanic on her ill-fated maiden voyage.
Reviews
The novel begins in Egypt in 1909 with Professor Dennis Parker close to making a major discovery and achieving his long hunt for the mummy of Ka-Re. Ka-Re had been a powerful priestess and magic user whose crimes were so great that her likenesses were destroyed, her name erased, her tomb hidden and she was buried alive. But a single clue remained, and Dennis had spent years following that clue. However, Dennis did not have the necessary permits and, worse, had a greedy official of the Egyptian government asking for ever increasing bribes until he was forced off the site. Clearly, the official hoped to steal the mummy and sell it for a fortune.
Dennis is successful in finding Ka-Re, and now the problem is to get the mummy to New York. He manages to transport it to England and then travels to Ireland to ask his old friend Andrew for help. Andrew is the engineer who designed the Titanic, which is about to make its maiden voyage, and is able to procure a stateroom for Dennis. Dennis is greatly relieved, thinking that maybe the bad luck is behind him. He had heard the grumblings of his Egyptian workers about the curse of Ka-Re and there had been a number of serious accidents (even deaths), but Dennis is a man of science not superstition. And after all, the mummy is long dead. Isn’t she?
Still Waters is an absolutely masterful novel, skillfully written and a brilliant tale. It is written as an early 1900s period piece, displaying the attitudes that divided the classes, the triumphs and the turmoil of the Industrial Age. The characters are solid and vivid: the Egyptian workers, the men shoveling coal in the boiler room, the musicians who kept on playing while the Titanic sunk, and the snobbish wealthy who complained about the color of the life jackets as they climbed into the lifeboats. And of course, Ka-Re, who in looking for eternal rest, was set upon sacrificing thousands of lives to make it happen. Greed and obsession are the underlying themes – in Egypt, in the boardroom of the ship’s owners, and on the sea. The marriage of the sinking of the Titanic and an Egyptian mummy playing a role in it seems an improbable match, but it works magnificently! I highly recommend this book.
“Bitten by Books”
Everyone with a pulse is more than familiar with the story of the Titanic: the extravagant – yet ill-fated – ocean liner that met its fate in the icy deep of the North Atlantic Sea in April of 1912. What some may not realize, though, is that the ship didn’t sink because of striking a random iceberg – but rather as a result of the curse of a 3,000 year-old Egyptian mummy that had been smuggled aboard…
Such is the premise put forth in the pages of Still Waters, the exciting suspense thriller by Donald Allen Kirch. Seamlessly blending real historical facts with imaginative fiction, Kirch’s tale is an impressive retelling of an all-too-familiar story with a supernatural twist one can’t help but enjoy. As the reader will eventually discover, the true genius of Still Waters lies not in recreating what has become a cultural folk tale – but instead simply inviting the reader to look at it from a different perspective, one that has heretofore remained in the realm of imagination, but nonetheless begs the question, “Why not?”
With unforgettable characters and action that unfolds at just the right pace, Still Waters is an enjoyable literary treat that is sure to create for Kirch an ever-expanding – and much-deserved – fan base. Look for more impressive works from this innovative, unsung author on the rise.
Josee Morgan
Apex Reviews
Anything that brings together Ancient Egypt, (one of my pet loves), and the ill-fated but iconic Titanic, (another of my passions), was bound to pique my interest so it was with a sense of anticipation and adventure that I embarked on my own personal voyage aboard Donald Allen Kirch’s `Still Waters’.
I quickly found myself enthralled by the wonderful blending of fact and fiction, a tapestry woven with great skill by the author. Every character in this book, from the fictional to the real, is placed in just the right place at just the right time to ensure that the reader is never bored for one minute. I found myself being carried into another world and another time, as surely as if I were being swept along on the tragic voyage of the beautiful yet doomed ocean liner, pride of the The White Star Line, in the company of Mr Kirch’s wonderfully eclectic mix of passengers and crew, real and fictional.
This tale held me spellbound from beginning to end and rates high on my list of `will read again books’. Without doubt, this book is worthy of every one of the five stars I’ve given it!
Brian L Porter, Award Winning author of `A Study in Red – The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper’, winner of The Preditors & Editors ‘Best Thriller Novel of 2008 Award’.
Synopsis
Manchester House was built upon secrets and blood. Even the land upon which it was built was considered…bad.
ITEM: Native Americans for untold centuries believed that if a bird flew over the property it would die.
ITEM: On the forced “Trail of Tears” march to Oklahoma, a rival tribe invaded a campsite of a sworn enemy, resting upon the property, decapitated the women and cooked their heads. No reason was ever given.
ITEM: While traveling to Vicksburg, Ulysses S. Grant had an experience that changed his life forever – he never would say what.
ITEM: On his travels, Grant lost an entire squad of soldiers, two field surgeons, a team of horses and mules, and one Gatlin gun. No explanation given. Grant, himself, refused to investigate.
No one in the town wanted to admit that the ancient house even existed. All homes facing the ruin had their windows boarded shut. All roads to the thing were blocked, overgrown, or forbidden.
Manchester House was a beacon of evil at the center of a small Kansas Town with a dark and mysterious past that would not go away. All tried to forget it even existed — until the police had to bring the bodies out.
When a group of professional “ghost hunters” explore a local haunted house, they descend into absolute darkness and terror, learning the incredible truth behind the legend of MANCHESTER HOUSE.
Reviews
The old abandoned Manchester House is more than just an anachronistic fable – it’s the stuff of living legends. Long-rumored to rest on cursed ground, the monstrous edifice has amassed more than its fair share of horrific tales of mind-numbing tragedies supposedly committed under its influence, but since all the roads to the building are either blocked or overrun with wild, unkempt flora, no one has ever been able to get to the bottom of the age-old scandals – that is, until an enterprising group of professional ghost hunters set their sights on the place…little do the inquisitive, unsuspecting souls know, though, their ensuing quest to explore the horrific legend of Manchester House may just lead them to become the latest tragic victims of it…
Masterfully penned by standout author Donald Allen Kirch, Manchester House represents a giant, progressive leap forward in his continued evolution as a seasoned storyteller. Complete with equally compelling characters and storylines, Manchester House is just the kind of supernatural suspense thriller that one would expect from the likes of Stephen King or Michael Crichton. Furthermore, Kirch’s gripping narrative is bolstered by his skillful incorporation of practical history, lending his tale an impressive touch of fantastical authenticity.
Taut and thought-provoking, Manchester House enlightens and entertains on a number of different levels. Another mind-blowing offering from what is quickly proving to be a solid literary talent.
Josee Morgan
Apex Reviews
Synopsis
“Let us Pray!”
In the not-to-distant future, the earth is a war-torn wasteland. Surviving a terrible thirty-year conflict known as The Great War, the citizens of the planet are controlled by an insane United Nations. Using what is left of NATO, the UN enforces its laws, hoping to rebuild the world.
There is a catch: all religions are now against the law. Since religion was blamed for the last war, the UN wants to make sure that God has nothing more to do with the politics of the world. Mankind has entered a new Dark Age. But, like the early Christians of ancient Rome, an underground resistance has been formed.
Just released from an Alaskan Gulag, Marcellus has served twenty years for heading a Christmas Mass as one of the last Bishops of the catholic Church. His mission now is to enact a secret program lost in the Vatican Files, known only as “The Christ Project.”
Facing NATO soldiers, terrible cannibalistic robots called Exos, forever-spying probes called Sentries, the dead zones on earth known as The Wastelands, and twelve mysterious clones known only as “The Templars”, Marcellus uses the powers of science to bring about “The Second Coming.”
Reviews
Following the 30-year conflict known as The Great War, the citizens of the world are all subject to the control of The United Nations, which uses what’s left of NATO to enforce its constrictive laws. Chief among them: the complete outlawing of all religions, which was cited as the cause of the extended global conflict that nearly destroyed the entire world. Into this oppressive society emerges Marcellus, a former high-ranking Bishop of the Catholic Church fresh off a 20-year bid for leading a Christmas Mass. Unbowed by society’s efforts to cower him into virtual slavery, Marcellus is determined to re-launch The Christ Project, a long-abandoned attempt by an all-but-extinguished underground resistance to topple the New World Order that the UN has created. As his crusade unfolds, Marcellus makes invaluable friends and dangerous enemies – but nothing can prepare him for just what the future has in store for him – and the entire world…
Riveting, dramatic, and action-packed, The Christ Project is a bona fide instant classic. In his imaginative fast-paced thriller, author Donald Allen Kirch combines outstanding character development, an engrossing plotline, and nerve-wracking suspense to form a superbly crafted tale. Furthermore, Kirch’s masterful use of religious history and symbolism lends his story an added element of refreshing, genuine authenticity.
With a captivating storyline and superior storytelling, The Christ Project is sure to keep readers turning page after page in breathless anticipation. A can’t miss thriller from an impressive literary talent.
Josee Morgan
Apex Reviews
This is a terriffic story. Beautifully written and what a great cover! Amazing because the Shroud of Turin is all over the news today – April 4th, ’09. And when I heard that the Pope gave credit for protecting it during those dangerous early years to the Knights Templar, I felt like – hey, I know all about them! This book has everything, humor, excitement, honesty, and a real sense of what matters in life, in people. I loved the non-judgemental and inclusive quality of Mr Kirch’s writing. All in all, that is what makes this book so special.
Amazon.com
After the end of the 30-year “Great War”, the citizens of the world are all subject to the control of The United Nations, which uses its own troops and those of NATO to enforce restrictive laws and repress all religious practices. But wait, not only is religion outlawed, but belief in God too. God is blamed for the war. On to the seen comes Marcellus, a former soldier turned Catholic Bishop. He is arrested, tried and convicted for conducting a Christmas mass. He is sent to an Alaskan gulag for 20 years where he hatches a plan to bring about Jesus’ second coming and save the world.
As the story develops, action and suspense keeps you riveted. Christian values lend strength to its characters. Though profanity is used, it suits the characters using it. The characters are believable and so is the plot. It is an excellent work of Christian Science fiction. It is well written and easy to read. Recommended only for adults and older teen readers
www.lastemissary.com
Synopsis
Cursed to live as a woman! Ka-Ron of Teal, Errant-Knight to the Kingdom of Idoshia, is the bravest warrior under the crown. His exploits are legendary. His sword is feared by all in battle. His love is greatly sought after by women. He is a legend.
Then, one day he wakes up and finds that all is changed. Cursed to live out his life as a beautiful woman, he and his faithful squire, Jatel, set out to find the Wicca Master who cursed him.
As a woman, Ka-Ron enters a battlefield more treacherous than war. Love in any form carries with it great risk. What is a man to do, when he must live as a woman?
Ka-Ron now must face disgusting Xows, Sea Pirates, Dragons, Elves, Vampires, Dwarfs, lost undersea civilizations, and pregnancy. No life, however adventurous, can compare to THE MISADVENTURES OF KA-RON THE KNIGHT.
Reviews
This is like no other book that I’ve read. It’s fun fantasy with charactors that make you laugh and cry. If I had to pick just one charactor that is my fav I would have to say Keeth the wizard. Like Felix the Cat he is always reaching into his “bag of tricks” to get the gang out of trouble.
It’s hard for me to write a more detailed review without giving anything away so pick up the book and give it a read. I look forward to more misadventures!
by Mystery Lover (amazon)
I LOVED this book. I was not sure at first cause fantasy is not a fav of mine but this was a different kind of fantasy. Lots of action, lots of messages are hidden in here, and charactors that are very easy to identify with. We have Knights, Vampires, Elves, Dwarfs, Wizards, Demons and of course the Wiccan Master who started it all with her curse.
Read this book, it will make you laugh and cry and look for more. Can’t wait for the next one. Highly Recommended
by Kendall (goodreads)
I had the pleasure of reading, “THE MISADVENTURES OF KA-RON THE KNIGHT”, these past few weeks and couldn’t put it down. Not to say I don’t have my own criticism about the book, but I did enjoy the overall story and characters.
**POTENTIAL SPOILERS – BE WARNED**
THE POSITIVES: The initial set up of Ka-Ron, his squire Jatel, and how these two men ended up being cursed under the misguided wrath of a witch named, Kai. The revenge theme of this story and how it plays into the journey of these three characters learning lessons and becoming better people was quite strong. I especially enjoyed the antagonistic side of Kai.
I also enjoyed meeting the various characters that Ka-Ron and Jatel meet along the way, and how they join forces to help one another. A very strong sub-plot between two Elven Brothers and their Father is well laid out and executed.
The overall themes of the story work well. I can tell the author did lay out a nice blueprint of these major themes in the story and how they would unfold. REVENGE. FORGIVENESS. PARENT/CHILD BONDING. These were all very strong and handled well. The strength lies in how these are set up in the first ACT of the story. The resolution of how they play out are mostly satisfied – expect for my feelings about Ka-Ron (more on that below).
Although I’ve seen some criticize the re-use of lot of fantastical elements from other sources (be it Elves, Witches, Vampires etc) this never really bothered me much. I went with it, and enjoyed how these elements were woven into the overall story.
There was a cool inventiveness to the way in which the world was created. I liked the visual storytelling of exploring these new lands and the history given behind them.
THE NEGATIVES: I was a bit let down that Ka-Ron did not have an actual transformation scene. Especially considering the circumstances behind the curse laid on him.
There was a lot of sex in the story. But surprisingly… I was left unsatisfied by them, I think because of the vague nature of how these scenes played out. If handled with a little more care and detail in regards to how these scenes really effected the characters emotionally and how each of these characters approached sex differently… then I think there would have been more meaning behind them. Instead – they all felt like each scene played out the same way – as if these characters were just going through the motions. And some of that is necessary per the curse. But the sex scenes never vary much from their initial start. Even when characters are not motivated by a curse.
There are many contrivances in the story. Moments where things happen without provocation, but seem to service the story only, and move it along. So some early set ups and bait laying would have helped here and there. Sometimes we discovered situations or obstacles out of no where. And the overall book itself has an unbalance of plot over character development IMO.
This leads me to my biggest concern about the book in general. It’s main character, Ka-Ron. I really wanted to like the person. He/she is the main character. But I felt by the end of the book, that she wasn’t as likable and some of the other characters. Too much time may have been given to other sub-plots and character relationships. Too many characters falling in love with one another, also took away from the main heart of what should have been the story. The relationship between Ka-Ron and Jatel. And in some ways, other relationships with secondary characters were stronger than this main one due to better dialogue or how scenes played out with each pair of lovers (which I do feel was a misstep).
In the end, “THE MISADVENTURES OF KA-RON THE KNIGHT”, is a solid TG read (there are multiple TG elements by the way). It’s an epic tale, with a lot of GREAT IDEAS behind it. I give major props to the author, for having the patience and discipline to conjure up this story. Given some finessing and more breathing room/focus for the two main characters, I feel this book could be even stronger. The journey taken is a fun ride IMO. But the end does leave you feeling a little unsatisfied by the main character himself/herself and his/her arc in general.
I look forward to reading the next chapter in this trilogy of books. I’d like to see where all the characters end up, especially Ka-Ron and Jatel. Many of the things I brought up here for all I know, may be somewhat resolved in the next chapter.
By MAKO
Purchase
These are the places where you can purchase The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight only ebooks so far.
Synopsis
Pray that you never have to enter…
Father Donavon was a rebellious priest. Everywhere he went he caused turmoil and scandal. No self-respecting priest wished to have him under their tutelage. He was nothing but trouble.
Then, one day, he got a church of his own!
Excited about his first ministry, he makes a wrong turn where he learns a dark and terrible secret regarding his faith and the world around him. Plunging himself into a self-made hell that only a chosen few have known, by accident Father Donavon discovers the impossible.
What would you do if all you held sacred and holy were nothing but a lie?
Reviews
The Silent Pulpit nor the church it resides in is what you think. Kirch takes you from one twist to the next…A great read with dark secrets you’ll want to hear about!
–Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “Deadly Decisions.”
…Kirch took me from the throes of passion to the depths of hell in the blink of an eye…read “The Silent Pulpit.” It’s simply amazing!
–Terri Ann Armstrong author of “Morning Menace” and “Medieval Menace.”
A priest gives himself to God, marrying the church and devoting himself to the word of the lord, but in Donald Allen Kirch’s novella, “The Silent Pulpit” we are forced to contemplate the cost of such devotion. Author Donald Allen Kirch, who so masterfully created Still Waters, Manchester House, The Christ Project and The Misadentures of Ka-Ron the Knight brings readers “The Silent Pulpit: A Novella” with the same unbelievable detail, horror and historical fact that make each of his novels absolutely brilliant.
Father Donovan enters his new parish hoping to turn around a lost and forgotten church. He confronts the decrepit church with hope, although his gut tells him otherwise. Each day brings another mystery and soon the unexplainable becomes just too much. Father Donovan is faced with a world of horror, which turns everything he believes in into complete and utter terror.
Donald Allen Kirch is an expert at his craft. His historical knowledge and ability to create outstanding prose, with detail that takes you” to the place, to the person and to the circumstance”, in truly unmatched. In “The Silent Pulpit” readers are given a shortened version of the greatness of his work, in the form of a novella rather than a full -length novel. Read this story and I promise you’ll find yourself purchasing the rest of the Donald Allen Kirch library.
~Amanda Goossen, Lit Fest Magazine
“Pray that you never have to enter…”
Seriously! Pray that you don’t!
This book is an awesome, wonderfully detailed and equally scary, frightening short story. My Nook said it was 32 pages and I wished it was longer but it was a novella! Father Donavan finally gets his own church and finds himself at the doors to Saint Marcus church. But once he walks in those doors, life as he knew it will all change. This book will remind you of how scary the devil can be and that even “men of the cloth” face temptations. If this story would of been longer it would of had me reading it in the daylight! Well done Don! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something that will give you goosebumps!
Can’tPutItDown.com
Synopsis
Marley’s soul was lost, doomed to wander among the ranks of humanity, generation after generation, without the powers to be humane. The curse of his chains was a heavy one, and there were many a time in which he found the weight of said chains to be unbearable. So this must be perfectly understood: Marley was without hope.
Marley’s lot was indeed a sad one. Misery was his meat, and despair was his drink. Nothing of the earth was his except for the cold fingers of the grave. And it was there that Marley would never retreat. The grave was death!
Marley had no powers such as those given to other earth-bound spirits. He was a wraith – a wanderer. However, upon saving the soul of a dear friend, he was given a haunting. In this haunting, Marley’s powers could not be equaled. However, one foot off the haunting’s property, and his soul would find itself in endless damnation.
Marley found himself trapped, staring out a window, into an ever-changing world. A world he would never again become a part of. A world of love, laughter, sorrow, and pain, he would always be a stranger to.
Waiting and waiting. Hoping to prove himself worthy.
Reviews
Now here’s a fitting sequel to “A Christmas Carol” that does old Dickens proud. Many have tried, but Don Kirch has succeeded. I look forward to seeing “The Other Christmas Carol” as a movie or a television special. It’s too late for 2011, but you can be sure it will arrive gift wrapped and under the tree in time for the Holidays next year or the year after that! Believe me–I know these things.
John Klawitter, Hollywood Writer/Producer/Director
What a great little short story! We all know the story of Jacob Marley, Bob Crachett, and Mean ‘ol Scrooge. This take on Marley is a present day read about love and loss, a never good enough hopeful novelist husband married to a bread-winning lawyer wife, Tobias their understanding butler, and a sweet daughter and her one Christmas wish. The Kringle family, having just moved to London, are the new residents of the house all of their neighbors call haunted. Weird shadows and noises are heard within and there is a creepy graveyard on the other side of the fence. After a huge fight between her parents, Kathy is awoken to some strange happenings in her bedroom and comes face to face with the ghost of Marley. The events that follow become an eye opener to Kathy’s parents, who are faced with a choice of love or doom. Will Marley be able to save Kathy’s family, not only granting her her Christmas wish but also releasing himself from the heavy chains he has carried as his punishment? Guess you will have to read for your self to find out;)
With the feel of reading an entire novel, Marley is a great novella not only for the Christmas season but any time! Kirch has done an excellent job of bringing a classic tale character into our present day!
Jennifer from Can’tPutItDown.com
Purchase
These are the places where you can purchase Marley: The Other Christmas Carol paperbacks or ebooks.
