Contemporary Authors

• Dust Eaters North (The Compass Series) (Volume 1) - September 23, 2016 Abrasax Press LLC, https://www.amazon.com/Dust-Eaters-North-Compass-1/dp/0991255534/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
• Red Sand by Ronan Cray - November 10, 2012 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, https://www.amazon.com/Red-Sand-Ronan-Cray-2012-11-10/dp/B01FKWXLNK/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

• http://www.ronancray.com/bout/ - Ronan Cray

  Award winning author Ronan Cray is hard at work on his next novel, the globe-trotting zombie adventure "Dust Eaters". He lives in New York City when he isn't holed up in his writer's shack in rural Pennsylvania. He deals with life as everyone does - with procrastination, complaints, and the occasional tipper. After travelling the real world, sampling the heat in Dubai, the cold in Russia, and the smog in China, he decided fiction is better. Stay home. Read. Enjoy.

• Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Ronan-Cray/e/B009O5Q9TS/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

  Winner of the 2014 IndieReader Discovery Award for his debut novel Red Sand, Ronan Cray was named Top 10 New Horror Authors by Horror Novel Reviews. A regular contributor to AskMen and The Scrib, Ronan also writes and produces video games and films. Ronan Cray is a member of the Horror Writers Association, working hard on the next book in his Dust Eaters globe-trotting zombie adventure series. When he isn't holed up in his Pennsylvania writer's shack, Ronan Cray lives in, and is inspired by, New York City. After traveling the real world, eating horse meat in Kazakhstan, crossing the frozen Neva on foot, and coughing the smog in China, he decided fiction is better. Stay home. Read. Enjoy.

  Drop him a line. He always writes back.
  Visit www.ronancray.com
  Facebook: ronancray
  Twitter: @ronancray
  Instagram: ronancray
  Pinterest: ronancray

• Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/interview/ronancray

  Quoted in Sidelights: I’m in this for the reader. When they enjoy something I wrote, I get great satisfaction out of that. I think my readers are sophisticated, savvy, and expect a great deal for their time. When I can deliver on that, I’ve done my job well.
  Interview with Ronan Cray
  What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
  I enjoy the surprise characters and events. I set out with an outline, but the characters develop organically, independently, even stubbornly. They interrupt me, contradict my preconception of their character, and push into or fade away from the limelight.

  In Red Sand, I never intended to write the character Colin. He had a nameless, bit part (pun intended) of a savage with no tongue. By the time I finished writing, he had an entire chapter to himself!
  What do your fans mean to you?
  I’m in this for the reader. When they enjoy something I wrote, I get great satisfaction out of that. I think my readers are sophisticated, savvy, and expect a great deal for their time. When I can deliver on that, I’ve done my job well.
  What are you working on next?
  I’m very excited about my current project. After a year I’ve almost completed my next novel, ‘Dust Eaters’. It’s a zombie apocalypse novel with a few (I hope) original twists. It’s a journey across two continents.

  Crazy Robot Games has picked it up pre-publication as the source for their next video game! We have a Kickstarter on right now to raise funds. It’s an exciting time.
  What are your five favorite books, and why?
  The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass - A masterpiece of human understanding.

  The Quiet American by Graham Greene - nothing compares to his great writing, the deep soul searching of his characters

  Jerusalem Fire by R. M. Meluch
  Although a rare and obscure science fiction book, I have re-read it nearly every year for twenty years. Each time I find something now to appreciate. Although set in outer space, the truths spoken here are universal about war, love, fame, accomplishment, religion, and empire. Star Wars is for kids. This book is better.

  House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
  The most frightening book of fiction I have ever read. The author writes "No matter where you are, you'll watch yourself dismantle every assurance you ever lived by." Don't start it late at night, and don't start it if you have something else to do in the next 48 hours, because you won't do it. You'll be reading and slowly losing your mind.

  The Gormenghast Novels (Titus Groan / Gormenghast / Titus Alone)
  by Mervyn Peake.
  Mervyn Peake has the ability to describe every detail of a room, every movement, every thought of his characters, taking you into a world as if you live there, as if you've always lived there.
  What do you read for pleasure?
  I rarely read a book published after 1918. The world changed after World War I. We lost our innocence, as a species. Writing became more literal, less nuanced.
  I read anything with a leather cover. Stephenson, Kafka, Hugo, Dickens, Conrad.
  If you know something modern of their caliber, let me know. I want to try it.
  What is your e-reading device of choice?
  I don't have one. I'm old fashioned. I still read physical books. I like putting them on a shelf when I'm done, seeing them there, like friends on a park bench waiting for you to walk over to say hello.
  Describe your desk
  I have a small secretary desk with a leather top and plenty of drawers filled with nibs, ink, stationary, wax, and seals. A bronze lion watches over it the bills and notes that collect like leaves. My wife calls it the black hole, but I do clean it once in a while to make room for letter writing.
  What motivated you to become an indie author?
  I'm passionate about being an indie author.
  I wrote a non-fiction book that was under serious consideration from a major publisher. Then they asked me to prove that I knew twenty thousand people to market the book to. What? Market? I'm a writer. I stay in a dark room talking to myself. Where would I meet twenty thousand people? When would I have time to write if I were meeting all these people?
  That's when I learned the ugly truth that publishers are little more than glorified printers. Sure, they have connections, they might get you into bookstores for a month. After that, you're on your own.
  I had a choice between working very hard, over several years, to convince an agent and publisher to love my book, or I could put the same effort into convincing readers to love my book. I write for readers. That was a no-brainer.
  When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
  I watch a lot of movies. I don't remember life before Netflix. I spend time with my family, my whole little world.
  I read. I work a day job like everyone else.
  Flaubert said, and I paraphrase, "Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work."
  I took that to heart.
  What is your writing process?
  I write on the bus and the train, typing with one thumb on my iPhone 3. I average 1,000 words a day. I email each entry to myself. When I get a chance, I stitch them together in Word.
  I jump around in the story a lot. I don't get writer's block because I can dive in anywhere in the story. I think about what the characters are thinking, feeling, based solely on my perception of what I would do in the same situation. I admit, every character is me.
  Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
  I grew up in Alaska, Colorado, and Nevada. I've lived in nine states and two countries. I've been fortunate to travel widely. As a result my stories tend to have a strong international focus, with international characters and multiple locations. i like that. It keeps the writing interesting, and it gives me the whole world to draw from.
  Published 2013-09-26.

• Read Free - http://www.indieauthorland.com/archives/5898/Kindle-eBook/interview-with-ronan-cray-author-of-red-sand/

  Quoted in Sidelights: I wanted to produce a modern take on the old shipwrecked tale. The sense of adventure and discovery appealed to me, so I kept the horror to a minimum. There is one scene, though, you will not forget.
  Interview with Ronan Cray, author of Red Sand
  « Previous / Next »
  By David Njoku / October 23, 2013 / Horror, Thriller / No Comments
  Red Sand Cover

  Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk

  Red Sand takes place on a desert island after the crash of the Princess Anne, a cruise ship of 1000 souls. The few survivors find themselves taken in by natives, only to learn those natives are survivors as well, survivors of much older wrecks. They live behind a Great Salt Wall, the only protection against a predator that lives on the island.

  Sounds like an adventure story.

  Officially, Red Sand is a horror novel, though it will appeal to thriller and mystery readers as well. I read a lot of the old masters like Robert Louis Stephenson, Melville, Victor Hugo, and Jules Verne. I wanted to produce a modern take on the old shipwrecked tale. The sense of adventure and discovery appealed to me, so I kept the horror to a minimum. There is one scene, though, you will not forget.

  We can see the connection to Robert Louis Stephenson and Jules Verne, but it also reminds us of the TV show, Lost.

  If you like Lost, you’ll love my book. Something on the island is alive and picking them off one by one. They encounter other survivors, but they have a secret of their own.

  Stories like this usually depend on an interesting cast of characters.

  Each chapter follows one character, and we see events from their perspective. For the reader, this is an exciting way to collect clues, knowing more in some cases than the characters in the book. For the writer it was a nightmare. Maintaining a coherent plot with multiple perspectives and interpretations while keeping straight who-knows-what… challenging to say the least. But I pulled it off, and I’m proud of the result.

  Sounds like it’ll be an exciting read. We can’t wait to get started.

  I deliberately ended on a radical departure from standard endings. Readers have told me, “How could you do that to me?” in a bemused, appreciative way. So far, I’ve only received positive feedback on the ending. It will surprise you.

  Can’t wait. Have you written any other books?

  I’m completing my next novel now. Dust Eaters is a zombie adventure novel taking place in Manitoba and China. It’s larger in scope and size than Red Sand, and I think readers will enjoy it. I’m doing something a little different. I’m working with Crazy Robot Games to produce a video game based on the book for simultaneous release. We have our Kickstarter out now. Check out our video and play the demo here.

  Tell us a little about yourself.

  I’m well travelled. I mention that because it defines my writing. Not only do I take readers to exotic locations I’ve seen, but I include international characters, pull in folklore and customs from all over to drive the plot, and appeal to a wide demographic. I grew up in Alaska and Nevada, and lived in nine states. I spent a year in Russia, three months in China, toured the Middle East and all of Europe, and even visited Kazakhstan. I love travelling almost as much I hate travelling, a paradox I reconcile by writing about it.

  We think we know what you mean. Do you have a website where we can keep up with your travels and your writing?

  Read my mind. Visit www.ronancray.blogspot.com I ought to make you sign a waiver.

  Do you use social media?

  I tweet when I have something important to say, a thought to share, or a quote to remember. I’m also do the occasional twitter interview. Twitter: @ronancray

  You can see photos of me and my adventures on Facebook. Like me! Facebook: ronancray

  What does the future hold for you?

  After Dust Eaters, I’m working on some screenplays. Then it’s a book about a haunted house! I like the idea of treading familiar ground, then twisting the hell out of it.

• Zigzag Timeline - http://zigzagtl.blogspot.com/2012/11/interview-ronan-cray.html

  Quoted in Sidelights: but never managed to get them published in my dream publication, Fantasy and Science Fiction.
  the novels built up in my head, begging to get out,
  because it was the easiest,
  There are no heroes, no bad guys. Every character has a shade of gray.
  Wednesday, November 21, 2012
  AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Ronan Cray
  Ronan Cray, author of the horror novel Red Sand, discusses his inspirations and motivations as a writer. Visit his blog, Follow him on Twitter, Like him on Facebook, or Contact him by email

  Red Sand is about shipwreck survivors being picked off one by one on a dangrous and mysterious island, often in quite gruesome fashions. Can you tell us about your background as a suspense/horror writer?

  Red Sand is my first novel. Prior to this novel, I wrote extensively on non-fiction horror – climate change and war. After I watched the movie The Ring, I became interested in the horror genre, when done right. I despise slasher flicks. I prefer psychological horror/suspense. As for the gruesome deaths in Red Sand, well, I couldn’t have them die in their sleep, now, could I?

  I’ve written a great many short stories but never managed to get them published in my dream publication, Fantasy and Science Fiction. Years went by. The novels built up in my head, begging to get out. A few years ago, they even wrote me a letter. I thought it was time to set them free. Red Sand was the first because it was the easiest. I’ll challenge myself in the near future.

  What was the first idea you had for Red Sand, and how did that grow into a story?

  Five years ago, I had a dream about the scene where Emily is running away, only I was the one running away. In the original dream, it was Dumbo, not Angel, chasing me. When a horn blew, Dumbo stopped chasing me, saying, “No! Wait! I can do this. Don’t send them now!” The fate that meets Emily in the book was mine and Dumbo’s.

  I often write snippets of my dreams that turn into stories later.

  What’s your favorite part about Red Sand? Any scenes you particularly enjoyed writing? Concepts you enjoyed developing? Characters you enjoyed writing about?

  Carter's death, without giving it away. I'm fairly certain this is an original death, at least from the point of view. I once read a story about a method of deep frying fish in a special way so that it... well, that's giving things away.

  What was the most challenging part about writing Red Sand?

  The format. I wanted the reader to quickly realize that whoever the chapter starts with is the next to die. I thought that would be a novel approach. In reality, that was extremely limiting. The story arc had to include each character so that it continued after I killed them off. Since not every character was around during key moments, I found it very challenging to keep up a coherent narrative. It was like creating a mass consciousness. At the same time, I had to keep it interesting for the reader by letting them know more than the characters. That was a slack rope to balance on.

  I think this concept will work for my next two books, but after that I’ll use something more traditional.

  Although your characters are ultimately victims to the mysterious island, you take the time to flesh out each of their backgrounds. Why did you choose develop them so thoroughly?

  I used to write about war and read a lot of war books. I noticed a huge chasm between the reality of war and the perception of it in popular fiction. Namely, in books and movies, we follow the protagonist from the beginning to end, usually knowing they’ll survive or, if they don’t, that their death happens at the very end. This portrays an unrealistic life expectancy we end up carrying as a culture. In reality, when those boys go over the wall, no one knows which will die and which will live.

  I thought the most realistic war book would introduce a character, give us deep insight into his/her life, motivations, and life plans, then send them into war. Fifteen pages later, that character gets shot dead. The remaining 200 pages of the book are blank. In a movie, the main character gets killed off fifteen minutes into the film, and the remaining two hours are just darkness. That would be realistic. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be very entertaining.

  I’d been playing with the idea for years when I decided the only solution is to use this format with an ensemble cast. Each character gets a chapter to shine in, then dies. We see it from their point of view, because that’s a hell of a lot scarier. We know what they feel, what they think, as they die. We see idiosyncracies as their minds unravel and grasp for meaning in death.

  To me, death is the most horrifying prospect of all because it means the end of learning. In Red Sand, Carter’s last act is one of learning because he lacks the capacity for proper emotion.

  Thanks to a constant inundation of slasher flicks, crime novels, and murder in nearly every medium, we are inured to the true horror of death. I wanted to try to bring that into play. I hope I succeeded. If not, I’ve got two more tries.

  If you were a passenger of the Princess Anne, shipwrecked and left at the mercy of a heirarchical band of survivors, what role would you assume?

  Like everyone else, I’d like to assume I’d be the hero, taking charge, showing compassion, beating the bad guys. In Red Sand, I tried to remove that option from all characters. There are no heroes, no bad guys. Every character has a shade of gray.
  I would always be one step behind someone who led, trying to retain some form of independence. I would look for a way off the island on my own while supporting others in their quest. I don’t think I wrote that into any of the characters.

  I would be Paul. I’m not good at politics, and I’d like it off in Departure Camp on my own. Maybe I wrote him from my own fantasies. I fear, though, that I would be one of the first to die.

  Can you tell us a bit about your inspirations?

  Orson Scott Card made a big impact on me in my teens. I was amazed at how real his characters seemed and how he delved into their motivations.

  Joss Whedon is the king of dialogue. I have a hard time creating realistic dialogue so I try to study his work for clues. He can make a character loveable or hated with one sentence. I still don’t know how he does it.

  When it comes to action, Neal Stephenson takes the cake. I love how he crams so much information, colloquial thought, and possibilities into each sentence. It burns the brain as the action explodes.

  When it comes to horror, I’ve never read anything so deeply terrifying as Danielewski’s House of Leaves. That book haunted me for months after I read it. I aspire to his greatness.

  When it comes to reading, though, I typically pick dead authors. This made it difficult to write a contemporary book. Modern readers don’t tolerate the old language, far superior though it may be. I could never buy into Hemmingway’s “The River Was There,” when I had Conrad, Kafka, Dickens, Poe, and Stevenson illuminating the path.

  Red Sand is not a work of literature, and my Great American Novel still collects dust in the chambers of my mind. When the time is right…

  Are you working on anything new?

  I have ten books to write. After writing one, I’m energized to write the rest. I’m trying to finish the next one by July, a zombie apocalypse book with a twist. Stay tuned!

  Red Sand is available at: Amazon US (paperback), Amazon US (Kindle e-book), Amazon UK (paperback), Amazon UK (Kindle e-book), Smashwords (multiple e-formats)
  Posted by Mary Fan at 4:41 PM
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Quoted in Sidelights: The resolution, though
horrifying, feels as earned as it is heartbreaking.
Dust Eaters North
Publishers Weekly.
263.35 (Aug. 29, 2016): p72.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text: 
Dust Eaters North
Ronan Cray. Abrasax, $14.95 trade paper (300p) ISBN 978-0-9912555-3-5
In the first book of the Compass series, Cray attempts to avoid the well-trodden path of the first-person zombie shooter. In the main, the effort is a
success. Tara is a typical apocalypse survivor who must endure the consequences of her own choices during the breakdown of society as undead
Eaters take over the world. Forced to flee her home and travel with a small group of other survivors, she clings to the hope of finding a new life in
the distant north. Each new chapter bring the perspective of a different survivor as Cray highlights the cruel reality of his nightmare journey,
which renders Tara's companions devoid of virtue. They are sustained only by cunning and luck. Each violent act strips away what had made
them people until death becomes the only escape. With nowhere to run, hope is a poison that only makes destruction a mercy. And yet those
hopes become the sweetness that makes the story an adventure rather than an endless forced march through a killing field. The resolution, though
horrifying, feels as earned as it is heartbreaking. (Oct.)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Dust Eaters North." Publishers Weekly, 29 Aug. 2016, p. 72. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA462236451&it=r&asid=d0e8711e149c7f6d19e925897b560075. Accessed 14 May
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A462236451

• Horror Novel Reviews
  https://horrornovelreviews.com/2012/12/29/ronan-cray-red-sand-review/
  Word count: 729

  Quoted in Sidelights: Plenty of action, a slew of dangerous antagonists and a wide array of colorful characters help in elevating this piece of work above and beyond your typical tale of terror.
  a fresh enough concept to hypnotize readers
  a creative story with menace and intrigue lingering on every page
  Ronan Cray ‘Red Sand’ Review
  Posted on December 29, 2012 in Authors A-L // 1 Comment

  2 Votes

  ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  Written by: Matt Molgaard

  I’m really hoping word of mouth will carry Ronan Cray’s, Red Sand to the summit of success it deserves to reach. Any tale that feels as though Lord of the Flies collided with The Ruins is what I’d call an absolute winner (I’m a huge fan of both William Golding and Scott Smith’s riveting, severely disturbing works), and the kind of fiction that deserves to breathe a long lasting life. In fact, this is the exact kind of story I’d clamor to see on a big screen. Plenty of action, a slew of dangerous antagonists and a wide array of colorful characters help in elevating this piece of work above and beyond your typical tale of terror.

  The story sees a handful of shipwreck survivors brought upon shore by a group of mysterious natives. Or, are they natives? For that matter, perhaps a better question may be, just how native to this small expanse of land are they? There’s loads of mystery here, and immanent dangers on the island, the natives being but one single threat to these naïve but initially thankful castaways. Cray wastes little time in alerting readers that hell lingers on this stretch of sand, and the decision to hint at a biological hazard works in successfully reeling readers in very quickly. Cray staggers the puzzle pieces and creates a magnetic narrative that gradually builds massive conjecture. Ultimately however, the only question of true significance is: can anyone escape No Man’s Land with their life intact?

  I like the character development at work here, because Ronan utilizes a fairly unorthodox tactic. He doesn’t invest an exaggerated length of time familiarizing each single character, but he stretches his introductory work well, distributing just enough detail to allow a good 10 personalities to function in memorable fashion. That’s no easy feat. He also manages to keep the reader constantly guessing: who’s the genuine villain here, and who in the hell is destined to emerge the hero or heroine? These are questions that loom until, quite literally, the final page of the tale. However, take solace in knowing that answers are disclosed consistently, just not quite liberally.

  Don’t eye any mind-jarring twists. Cray doesn’t allow time for that, and I suppose some could point to this as a weakness, or fault, but Ronan really makes it work. The story simply moves too fast to struggle with a lack of profound U-turns, and in truth, there are enough emerging riddles and sub-conflicts to completely overlook the lack of a grandiose spin. The story doesn’t require it.

  Red Sand is a technically refined novel, with a fresh enough concept to hypnotize readers. This isn’t a ghost, haunting or possession story, and it’s got absolutely nothing to do with zombies, vampires of werewolves. Don’t wait for the brooding serial killer to sneak from the shadows. Cray does something bold in delivering a creative story with menace and intrigue lingering on every page, and it just so happens to be original, which only scores a few extra points from me. Whether you’re familiar with this title – or Ronan Cray for that matter – or not, Red Sand is a homerun, disturbing and bleak, grim and unsettling with a savage enough conclusion that would no doubt leave a smile stretched across the mug of the popular Stephen King, who’s been known to frequently slap readers with gnarly finales himself.

  I just made something of a comparison to King… I think that alone says a lot about Cray.

  Read this one now, you can pick up a copy over on Amazon, and at just $6.99 a paperback ($2.99 for the ebook), I can tell you honestly, that’s a bona fide steal!

  Rating: 4/5

• Horror News
  http://horrornews.net/68500/book-review-red-sand-author-ronan-cray/
  Word count: 688

  Quoted in Sidelights: a great read, especially considering that Mr. Cray is new to the field.
  There are bits of humor here and there that serve up some good chuckles at the right times, but most often the atmosphere around the characters is filled with a tense fear that goes unabated until the very end.

  Book Review: Red Sand – Author Ronan Cray
  Josh Hair 03/11/2013 Book Reviews

  Red Sand
  Author: Ronan Cray

  On this island, there are no survivors. Lost meets Treasure Island in this riveting account of castaways on a desert island hunted on all sides. A rare blend of breathtaking action, deep character development, corporeal horror, and a believable story line brings this all too realistic modern adventure to life. When the cruise ship Princess Anne sinks at night in the middle of the Atlantic, strange, white-haired natives pluck seven survivors from the water. Delivered to a barren volcanic island and forced to work, the survivors disappear one by one as the natives, and the island turns hostile. Plagued by betrayal and revolt, the native society crumbles as a hurricane threatens to resurrect the island’s deadly secret. With time running out, alliances form and break in search of the last option – escape! If you miss Lost, don’t miss Red Sand.

  Island survival horror, as small as that particular field may be, tends to be some of my favorite literature. I loved the ideas presented in Brian Keene’s Castaways and gobbled up the almost six-hundred pages of Island by Richard Laymon. Therefore, when given the opportunity to read and review Red Sand by Ronan Cray, I pounced on it immediately. Not only was the short novel reminiscent of the scarce horror genre I so love, but it came from an undiscovered author as well. Eagerly awaiting the book in the mail, I slowly built my hopes up until I had Red Sand sitting on a figurative pedestal alongside such greats as Pet Semetary and I Am Legend.

  While it may not have been an instant classic like those novels, it was a great read, especially considering that Mr. Cray is new to the field. That certainly can’t be told by reading Red Sand though. I found very few errors (which is uncommon in debut novels) and was plenty surprised by how engaging the story was throughout. I found it to be a mix of Scott Smith’s The Ruins and Richard Laymon’s Island. There are bits of humor here and there that serve up some good chuckles at the right times, but most often the atmosphere around the characters is filled with a tense fear that goes unabated until the very end.

  The characters were fairly well created, although a few never get much of a chance at being fleshed out. That’s okay though, because most often that character isn’t going to be around long enough to care about anyway. Mr. Cray finds some interesting ways to kill his survivors off. Those who read the book will know what I mean when I say that Lauren‘s death really took me by surprise.

  Although I myself have never seen Lost, I am told by others that I’ve shared the novel with that it does indeed offer homage to the series. Regardless, I found myself easily entertained all through the 190 pages and actually ended up reading the whole thing at once. After the first few pages, I simply did not want to put it back down. The dialogue is immediately inviting and the reader is sure to enjoy the diversity of characters.

  I still cannot believe that this was Mr. Cray’s only novel. Everything was very professional and it’s easy to see the potential for a future fan base if the author decides on writing a second book. Overall, it was quick, engaging, and just sheer fun. For fans of Laymon, Keene, Smith, or the Lost series, this is a must-have, especially with such a cheap price tag.

• Zigzag Timeline
  http://zigzagtl.blogspot.com/2012/11/red-sand-ronan-cray.html
  Word count: 1205

  Quoted in Sidelights: Cray’s vibrant writing makes it easy to get lost in the passages, whether it’s the colorfully told backstories or the intensely depicted scenes of violence. It’s more than just a gore fest—the plot and concepts are fascinating. All in all, a wonderfully entertaining—and sometimes scream-inducing—story.
  Monday, November 19, 2012
  REVIEW: Red Sand / Ronan Cray
  TITLE: Red Sand
  AUTHOR: Ronan Cray
  PUBLISHER: Self-Published
  AVAILABILITY: Amazon US (paperback), Amazon US (Kindle e-book), Amazon UK (paperback), Amazon UK (Kindle e-book), Smashwords (multiple e-formats)
  APPROXIMATE LENGTH: 65,800 words

  Recommended for fans of sci-fi horror and suspense, such as the TV show Lost

  GENRE
  Horror—Suspense/Mystery

  Red Sand is reminiscent of the TV show Lost in that it’s about shipwrecked survivors on a mysterious island. As in any good horror tale, the survivors are picked off one by one. Some of the deaths are quite gruesome, disturbing even. The story is wrapped in mysteries that are gradually revealed as the characters discover the truths behind their unfortunate circumstances.

  PACE
  Red Sand alternates between sections detailing the characters’ backgrounds and high-intensity horror scenes. The back story sections are written in the characters’ voices and maintain a steady pace. The mystery surrounding the island keeps the suspense going until the violent end.

  PERSPECTIVE
  Red Sand is told from multiple third person points of view.

  CONTENT REVIEW
  The Princess Anne was just another cruise ship making its way across the ocean, ferrying people from all walks of life, each on board for his or her own purpose. Most are neither heroes nor villains, only ordinary human beings with ordinary problems.

  Then their ship goes down, and a few lucky survivors are fished out of the water by inhabitants of a nearby desert island. The inhabitants aren’t savage natives—they’re fellow Westerners, survivors of a previous shipwreck. Having lived on the island for years, they’ve developed a system to keep food in their bellies. The survivors of the Princess Anne are put to work fishing, farming, and otherwise maintaining operations necessary for subsistence. But it soon becomes clear that there’s more to the island—and its inhabitants—that meets the eye. One by one, the Princess Anne’s survivors vanish, picked off by both nature’s and man’s brutality.

  Red Sand is an ensemble show. Although some characters drive the plot more than others, Cray treats each one as if he or she is special, presenting the reader with lively backstories told from the characters’ points of views. He wants you to know them before he kills them. It’s a refreshing take on the genre—too many horror writers throw people away simply to illustrate the external dangers. But even though they are props in a bloody show, they’re nevertheless human beings, each with a story.

  Cray seems all too aware of this. His cast isn’t made of faceless redshirts; they’re living, breathing people, each with his or her own motivations, on the island for different reasons. There’s Howie, the formerly henpecked widower whose wife left him a cruise ticket—and another wife to henpeck him. And Lauren, the coupon-clipping con artist running away to her new life. And Mason, the lonely single man seeking adventure and companionship. Cray lets you know at the very beginning, in his Author’s Note, that no one will come out alive.

  But don’t be fooled by Cray’s seemingly innocuous backstories. Behind the developer of sympathetic characters lies an unapologetic sadist. The horror in Red Sand is more than gruesome—it’s the stomach-turning stuff of nightmares, largely thanks to Cray’s gift for description. Through vivid yet tight language, he brings each scene to life, whether it’s painting the setting or depicting a grisly death. For example, without spoiling too much, here's the death of poor Howie: "He thrashed his arms and legs, pushed against the sand, whipped his head in fury and terror, to no avail. Unbreakable bonds held him to the ground...It wrapped around his ribs and exerted pressure, oh so gentle pressure, until his scream tapered off into a wheezing his...The sun glinted off something near his eye. A slender tentacle slid into view, silhouetted against an azure haze. It drove in figure eights through his eye sockets."

  The deaths are told from the close third perspectives of the victims, allowing a reader to feel their terror and hear their thoughts, which are often bizarrely incongruent with the circumstances. Cray’s writing also smacks of the philosophical at times, through dialogues discussing what it means to be cut off from civilization and internal ruminations on what was left behind.

  But even knowing the characters’ inevitable fates, I found myself caught up in the story’s suspense. Mysteries abound on the island. The motivations of the islands’ de facto colonizers, so rational at first, soon become garbled. They maintain a rigid hierarchy, keeping themselves behind a salt wall while the Princess Anne’s survivors are made to camp outside. What is it that they fear? What are they hiding from the survivors? And what are they hiding from each other? Tuk, the leader, seems so benevolent at first, but it’s soon revealed that there’s much more to him than a determined John Smith-like survivor.

  Red Sand is a fairly quick read. Cray’s vibrant writing makes it easy to get lost in the passages, whether it’s the colorfully told backstories or the intensely depicted scenes of violence. It’s more than just a gore fest—the plot and concepts are fascinating. All in all, a wonderfully entertaining—and sometimes scream-inducing—story.

  THE NITPICKY STUFF
  This book is very well edited. If there were typos, I didn’t notice any.

  The front section of the book contains an illustration of the island and a list of characters with brief descriptions.

  The book is organized in eight long chapters with section breaks.

  This book is classified as “adult” on Smashwords for good reason. Many of the character deaths are described in gruesome, bloody detail. There is some adult language. Sex is mentioned but not described in detail.

  AUTHOR INFO
  [From the author’s Smashwords page]
  When he's not eating horse meat in Kazakhstan or sipping civet in Macau, Mr. Cray is drinking his way through New York. His hobbies include fashion, architecture, and pouring social opprobrium into his writing. Mr. Cray is available for dinner party conversation before 7, weeknights.

  Visit his blog, Follow him on Twitter, Like him on Facebook, or Contact him by email

  RELATED: An Interview with Ronan Cray

  Posted by Mary Fan at 6:22 PM
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• Lucidity
  http://elucidreams.blogspot.com/2012/12/spot-light-red-sand-by-ronan-cray.html
  Word count: 322

  Spot Light: Red Sand By Ronan Cray

  Teaser: Your cruise ship has sunk into cold unforgiving depths of the ocean. Nearly everyone on board has perished. But you are one of the lucky survivors moving slowly toward a nearby island. Or so you think. This is no ordinary island, and it is not the salvation you were hoping for as you drifted away from the wreckage of the Princess Anne. The inhabitants are far less than friendly and surviving your encounter with them will be far more daunting than escaping a watery grave. What you do now will determine your fate, but you'll have to hurry the fragile society around you is crumbling and a devastating hurricane is on the horizon.

  Did I Like it: Yes! I think this an excellent adventure story, complete with betrayal, murder, and suspense. The story is carefully constructed with thrilling action scenes. This wasn't the first time a novel took me to a wayward island, but I enjoyed the author's spin on this theme. What I liked best about this story is the action from start to finish. There are very few stagnant moments, and I think that works well this type of story. The characters are in danger, they face life threatening situations, and their decisions are crucial. There is a sense of urgency but the situations the characters are in leave them few options and this creates a constant tension between them. They won't all survive their ordeal, some will perish, others will be captives, but no one is going home. I admit that I'm sucker for books with flowery detail. But I found the author's clear and concise writing style refreshing. In place of length description the author does a fantastic job of using dialogue to tell this story. Because of some of the language I recommend this book for teens or adults.
  A.N. Lewis

• Horror Review
  http://www.horrorreview.com/dust-eaters-north-book-review/
  Word count: 456

  Quoted in Sidelights: The characters are well-crafted, particularly Tara, whose many defining moments make her the underdog everyone wants to root for.
  Cray breathes new life into the zombie genre with Dust Eaters North.
  Dust Eaters North – Book Review
  by Jess Landry | Oct 3, 2016 | Book Reviews, Reviews | 0 comments
  thumbnail_dusteatersnorthcoverDust Eaters North
  Ronan Cray
  Abrasax Press
  October, 2016
  Reviewed by Jess Landry
  If you’re like me, then you’ve no doubt wondered what would happen to zombies if they encountered that dreaded season known as winter. Would they freeze and become statues of the walking dead only to thaw come spring? Or would they continue on with their flesh-eating business with barely any frostbite? That question is answered in Dust Eaters North, but that only scratches the surface of the depth of the novel.
  After a zombie outbreak hits, a group of survivors trek from Oklahoma to the great white north (more specifically Churchill, Manitoba) in search of a cure. Though it’s only a small leg of their journey, along the way they pick up another survivor, Tara, whose luck was nearly out. From that point on, the horrors of survival in an undead-infested, frozen wasteland come full frontal, with each survivor fighting not only the living dead, but their own humanity.
  It can get really cold in Churchill. Like, really cold (-26 Celsius, or -14 Fahrenheit for you wacky Americans — and that doesn’t include the windchill), so kudos to author Ronan Cray for braving the sub-zero temperatures and actually venturing north. His real-life experiences bring an air of truthfulness to an otherwise stylized doomsday scenario. From it, he’s able to paint a bleak, desolate landscape that, with or without the walking dead, is a perfect example of the solitary that is the north Canadian wilderness. Though the Canadian part is just one tiny piece of the puzzle, to have it accurately portrayed brings an authenticity to the other locations visited in the novel.
  The characters are well-crafted, particularly Tara, whose many defining moments make her the underdog everyone wants to root for. Once readers come to know the varied stories of the survivors, it’s easy to understand the choices they’ve had to make along the way (some easy, some hard). That human factor, the one that’s often overlooked in the zombie genre, is a welcomed presence here, and adds a level of depth often missing in similar stories.
  Cray breathes new life into the zombie genre with Dust Eaters North. So if you like globe-spanning adventures with realistic characters and a fast-paced plot that entertains with every turn of the page, pick this one up.