Jason Kilgore

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About Jason Kilgore
Web: jason-kilgore.com. Twitter: @WorldsKilgore. Jason is a multi-genre writer in speculative fiction, including horror, paranormal humor, fantasy, and science fiction. By day he is also a scientist with a global biotech company, specializing in microscopy and cell biology. He lives in Oregon and loves hiking and camping in the mountain wilderness areas and the Pacific coast. He has two teenage children, a bunch of cats, and an insatiable craving for chocolate.
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Blog postThe Ship in the Hill by William L. Sullivan
I was familiar with Bill Sullivan's hiking Oregon books, so it was a surprise to me that he writes historical fiction. I bought the book from him at one of his table events. I don't normally read historical fiction, so it took me a while to get round to it. Once I finally cracked it open, though, I was immediately hooked. His writing style is excellent, and well-edited.
The story bounces between ancient Viking era3 days ago Read more -
Blog post(Yeah, this post is long, but it's worth it, I promise.)
Before I tell you why I choose to self-publish my books, let me first give some back story....
I've been writing since the late 1990s. Back in those primitive times, when the internet was new, publishing wasn't what it is now. Back then, if you wanted to get a book published, you had to buy a massive print book called Writer's Market. This annual tome is still published every year (for about $21, and the Kindle version i3 months ago Read more -
Blog post
The Gordon Place by Isaac Thorne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A very original horror!
Two news reporters come to a small town to make a puff piece about spooky tales. Little do they realize that they will witness, and become part of, a supernatural horror involving possession and a spirit dog. One of those reporters grew up there and must face her fears about her murdered parents. Meanwhile, the town constable returns to his childhood home, remembering hi5 months ago Read more -
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Blog postBig news! On January 2, I'll be releasing a new book of poetry!
As you know, my first love is writing speculative fiction, including my published scifi, fantasy, and horror books. But now I can add another genre.
GUIDE ME, O RIVER is a collection of the various poems I've written over the first half of my life. There are poems of love gained and love lost, poems on the travails of a father trying to work hard at a white collar job while holding down a house and raising chi7 months ago Read more -
Blog postExciting news! I'm releasing my third book. This one is a fantasy, and the first in a series, the Heartstone series.
DRAGON OF THE FEDERATION How far would you push yourself to save the world?
Ingal Jehai is an ancient Gold Dragon who rules over the White Lands Federation, but at over two thousand years old, his age wears on him. A young but powerful female mage, Torra Com Gidel, ventures to Ingal’s palace to deliver a dire warning from wrathful gods, pushing the limits of her co9 months ago Read more -
Blog postThe Fallen Banner: Part I of the Chronicles of Aerothos by Robert F. Nugent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Fallen Banner is sweeping in design. Fans of George R. R. Martin to the front! Like Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, the Fallen Banner tells the story of a vast continent through many point of view characters: a common soldier, a prince, a queen, a princess, others. As the continent fractures between multiple nations and war unfolds, each character is seen in their stru10 months ago Read more -
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Blog postHey, I got interviewed! By Nosh with Chef Julie ("Author interviews, Book Promotions, Recipes, and more!")
Read it HERE.
Author Spotlight- Interview with Jason A. Kilgore and his new sci-fi novel book- The First Nova I See Tonight
Excerpt:
What advice do you have for new writers just starting out?
First, learn the craft of writing. Give yourself a good foundation and take a creative writing course at your local community college. Trust me on this. I t1 year ago Read more -
Blog postHappy New Year's, folks. Now that it is the first day of 2021, I can truly say that hindsight is 2020. And as one of my friends said, "I'm all about giving 2020 a sight of my hind." It's been a helluva year. But despite the pandemic and any personal turmoil in my life, I can say with a smile that I wrote another book and it's almost ready for publication. Yay!
And I'm a forward-thinker, always looking to a brighter horizon, anyhow. My writing resolutions for 2021 includ2 years ago Read more -
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Blog postMy latest work, a space opera scifi entitled "The First Nova I See Tonight," had gone through my editing process to the point that I've handed it off to my editor, Donovan Reves at Bloomsday Editing and Proofreading. About 77K words worth of space pirates, cyborgs, and alien lovers! But even after he's done, there's more to do until publishing.
So what is that editing process? Let me tell you....
Some editing notes from my latest scifi novel First, a caveat: every write2 years ago Read more -
Blog postThe Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
People raved about this book, and as a horror reader and writer, I was embarrassed I hadn't read it. So I finally listened to it on audible as I drove cross-country.
Jackson's writing style if vivid and her craft is excellent. Her characters were well-fleshed, and she could evoke a gothic atmosphere, something I craved. But....
The main point-of-view character, Eleanor (or "Nel2 years ago Read more -
Blog postThe Disappearance by Lisa Hodorovych
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ashlynn goes on a yearly retreat to a reclusive cabin in the woods of the Northwest with her brother, Glen, and two best friends, Roman and Kaden. But then they act odd and disappear without explanation, leaving her alone. Horrifying beasts stalk the woods around the cabin, but she can't just leave her loved ones behind. The help of an old friend, Jack, who happens to be a paranormal investigator, sheds2 years ago Read more -
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Blog postOne of the "rules" of writing you hear over and over is that you have to write every day. I'm here to tell you that it isn't always a possibility. And that's okay.
Any writer who feels bold enough to pronounce "rules" of any type is, I think, a bit full of shit. Some of the greatest writers in history made their mark precisely by breaking the rules. But the "rule" of writing every day is one that is repeated all the way from bestselling authors to unpub2 years ago Read more -
Blog postEdge of the Breach by Halo Scot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Edge of the Breach is a deep and fascinating delve into darkness. Behold the birth of monsters and the redemption of the unredeemable.
Set far into the future in a cross-genre sci-fi/fantasy, after civilization has fallen and humanity has fled to the now-hot Antarctica, people struggle to keep society together by utilizing a brutal underbelly. At some point in the past, an interdimensional breach appeared in2 years ago Read more -
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Blog postWhat scares you the most?
I ran a Twitter poll asking which of these things scares horror book fans the most: creepy clowns, evil children, manipulative demons, or shadowy ghosts.
I find it fascinating that people find evil children the scariest, followed by creepy clowns.
If you look at mythology, eerie folk tales, or real-world accounts, it's usually the opposite; demons and ghosts seem to prevail.
I have a couple theories around this. First,2 years ago Read more -
Blog postEdge of The Flame by James Aichinger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Edge of the Flame is a scifi re-telling of the "chosen one" sort of story. Aichinger has a good writing method and an imaginitive worldbuilding, spanning three worlds. The characters have complex backstories and stand out well from one another. The main villain is fairly unique with a power that is awe-striking and seemingly un-defeatable, and you find yourself wondering how they can manage to overcome him.2 years ago Read more -
Blog postIt goes without saying that many fiction genres have little or no tolerance for bloodshed and pain: certainly children's and middle grade books, most romance or erotica (there's nothing sexy about being cut open and bleeding... I'm raising an eyebrow at you BDSM lovers!), humor and absurdist literature, and so forth. You might see a bloody nose or brief mention of wounds in literary fiction, cozy mysteries (like Agatha Cristie), legal thrillers (think John Grisham), and social commentary pieces,2 years ago Read more
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Blog postThe Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Poor Mr. Earbrass, facing the eccentricities and foibles of the creative process that all of us writers must endure, the endless editing, and the excruciating process of getting published!
This little book is a delight and a must-read for anyone who loves books or, particularly, is involved in making them. Gorey's illustrations are delightful, and though this is a quick read and an old-style writing (as is2 years ago Read more -
Blog postThere's one in very nightclub. You know the type. That creepy pick-up artist who eyes you from across the bar, cocktail in hand, then sidles up to you, looks you up and down, and says ....
(Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash)But no, lose the nightclub. Now you're in a cafe next to a bookstore. And everything about you says "WRITER." That introverted way about you. Glasses. Unassuming clothes. And, of course, an open book or laptop next to your pum2 years ago Read more -
Blog postQuoth the Writer Book Reviews has regular reviews of books, author interviews (stay tuned for one with me!), and more.
Now they've just released an in-depth review of my collection of 14The reviewer, Lisa Hodorovych, with her copy.
horror and paranormal humor stories, Around the Corner from Sanity. Some quotes from the review:"one of the main reasons I loved these stories was because you legitimately felt shivers coursing through your body, your heart skipping a2 years ago Read more -
Blog postSometimes the title of a movie or song is so tongue-in-cheek, so kitschy, so incredibly insane that it isn't just bad, it's awesomely bad. It grabs your attention and makes you eager to learn more. In fact, it's because they are so bad that they are fun. Heckling them while experiencing them isn't just accepted, it's encouraged!
Think of movies like "They Came From Beyond Space" or "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!" (exclamation included!). Or songs like "2 years ago Read more -
Blog postMad Max: Fury Road by George Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I couldn't be more pleased with this graphic novel. The artistry is first-rate. The stories are compelling. and it has all of the post-apocalyptic nihilism and road-roaring rage of the movies, as well as the tough heart of the movie protagonists and heartlessness of the bad guys.
The movie started with some clear gaps that needed answering, and this book answers those. For instance, what was the story beh2 years ago Read more -
Blog postThe Soft Fall by Marissa Byfield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Dianna lost her mother at a young age and has been raised in a puritanical, patriarchal village of Awl-Feth by a loving but overbearing father who wants her not to make waves. He hunts the "demons" of the woods of Silbarren, massive werewolves, to keep her safe and avenge the death of his wife, and her brother, Liam, does his best to educate her and shelter her from the oppressive culture the best he can. But D2 years ago Read more -
Blog postThis is the last of the three-part collaborative storytelling experiment, where you, the reader, helped choose the way the story continued.
To read PART I of the three parts, read HERE.
To read PART II of the three parts, read HERE.
WINNING VOTES from Part II resulted in "Fight the Enchantress and Interrupt the Spell" (The last paragraph of Part II is repeated for continuity)....
THE EN2 years ago Read more -
Blog postRules: Read the episode below. Then VOTE in the Twitter poll, linked below, with your choice on how you think the story should continue.
To read PART I of the three parts, read HERE.
VOTES from Part I tied for having the main character "Use a Wiccan Spell" and "Appeal to the Entity" (The last paragraph of Part I is repeated for continuity)....
THE ENCHANTRESS OF TANGLEWOOD ~ Part II(Image by Stefan Keller from3 years ago Read more -
Blog postLast Friday I had my first author event, and I couldn't be happier!
The last Friday of each month is the Art Walk event in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Bookmine, one of three book stores on Main Street in that lovely little town, tries to feature a local author for each event.
Reading aloud from my book (photo by Mike Janes)
The owner, Gail, is a very pleasant lady and made a nice boutonniere for me. She's also been selling my book, Around the Corner from Sanity, there on cons3 years ago Read more
Titles By Jason Kilgore
How far would you push yourself to save the world?
Ingal Jehai is an ancient Gold Dragon who rules over the White Lands Federation, but at over two thousand years old, his age wears on him. A young but powerful female mage, Torra Com Gidel, ventures to Ingal’s palace to deliver a dire warning from wrathful gods, pushing the limits of her courage. When an elvish prince is assassinated in Ingal’s court, the dragon and the mage team up to investigate. As war brews between three nations, the pair uncovers a vast conspiracy by the elves to let loose domineering gods upon the land, aided by the ruthless Iron Dragon, a vicious elvish warrior-cleric, and powerful renegade spells. If Ingal and Torra fail to stop the scheme, the world of Irikara – and its wild magic – will be forever lost.
Where does fear find you?
Eerie entities from beyond our waking world are hardly limited to decrepit mansions or forlorn cemeteries. These fourteen tales of the paranormal will usher you into unexpected settings such as the homes of young couples, a corporate office, a Christmas gathering, a yard that needs raking, and more - places you'd least expect to find ghosts, demons, angels, or exotic gods stalking the living.
Some tales will leave you laughing, such as "Purgatory's Price," in which recently deceased souls must play a game show to get into Heaven. Others conjure fear of the dark, like "Rabbit Cry," in which a young mother and her child are pitted against a murderous teen next door, arousing the attention of supernatural forces.
Prepare yourself for a paranormal roller coaster that satisfies your cravings for both horror and humor by sending you around the corner from sanity.
"First Nova transports you right out of this world. Fast-paced with explosive action and ample humor, Kilgore has certainly crafted a galaxy that will steal the heart of readers." -- Danielle Novotny, author of the Remade trilogy
Space jockey Dirken Nova and his cyborg companion, Yiorgos, are hired for an "easy money" job transporting a mysterious safebox between planets. It would be enough for them to finally afford their own starship again. But the gig goes sideways when galactic pirates attack. A merciless pirate captain, a tentacled mafioso, an enigmatic cult, and a femme fatale alien lover all want the package for themselves. Who's a smuggler to trust?
This space opera is a return to the beloved "zap gun" stories of the past -- a fun, exciting, and sometimes erotic romp across the galaxy!
River of Life, to your heart I confide
My lightest pleasures and darkest secrets.
Reveal to my consciousness all facets
Of emotion which waver with your tide.
In these poems can be found half a life of love won and love lost, a natural world observed and experienced, and wisdom gained ... and occasionally unheeded.
The soul is a deep valley, rounded and roughened by life’s glaciers. Its sides are steep and dry, its basin flat and lush. And throughout it life abounds.
Irikara is a vast and dangerous world. Can two girls survive on their own?
In this short story, the first in a series, two teen girls, Talay and her cousin Shaali, defy their cultural norms and run away to the volcanic Ruined Lands in search of a flowering plant called sulfur wort, a necessary ingredient for a healing potion to be mixed by the mysterious Old Mother Aya in order to save the life of Shaali's younger sister. But the Ruined lands pose dangers that challenge hardened warriors. Are they up to such a quest? And are they willing to face the punishment for defying their patriarchal society? The outcome may surprise you.
The world of Irikara is full of adventurers, but not many live to retirement.
Alacorn the Magnificent is done with killing orcs and seeking treasure. He just wants good soil and a healthy garden.
But trouble always has a way of finding him.
The world of Irikara has many queens, but when you're queen of one of the richest nations in the world, you must watch every step.
Esebel, queen of Taxia - called the "Winter Queen" by the peasantry - maintains poise and grace and rules from behind the scenes, maintaining order where her king falters. She is not to be underestimated, for her mind is on the preservation of the line.
Walk with Esebel as she makes her rounds through the palace in this short vignette. Watch the wheels of her mind at work.
The world of Irikara is often brutal, but that doesn't mean it's loveless.
The hulking Hogroth the Merciless was renowned for his sport in the gladiatorial pits. He scoffed at the notion of love. But when his eyes met those of Filan, he knew he was in for more than blood and glory. The two soon grew beyond lust.
But no sooner had Hogroth discovered his love when Filan was kidnapped by a necromancer, the Court Mage to the king. Now the gladiator has formed a team to break into the necromancer's castle and rescue Filan. But will it be too late?
Hogroth and his team are all too familiar with blood and the clang of metal upon metal, but can they handle the mutterings of a necromancer's spell?
Does technology make you feel more connected? Are you sure?
In the not-so-distant future of this short story, telepresence droids, or "teledroids," are used in homes to interact with others, in battle as surrogate soldiers, or to visit far away locales. Gary Feltman is a young surgical specialist working from his compudesk in Chicago, performing surgeries via teledroid on patients across the globe. His important work and medical studies require constant focus and pull his attention away from family. Yet while he is connecting to others and saving their lives, the very same technology is shunned by his beloved Uncle Wallis, who lies dying from a cancer that Gary could have cured with his techniques. What would drive his uncle to make such a choice?
And in a world where technology is supposed to bring us together, why can't Gary seem to connect?