Blood & Gristle | Musings of the Monster Librarian

Author Michael Louis Calvillo Dies

Michael Louis Calvillo, author of I Will Rise, Blood & Gristle, As Fate Would Have It (reviewed here), and other original and inventive works of horror fiction, passed away on Monday, April 30 after a long battle with cancer. I did not know Michael at all except through the eyes of the reviewers and readers who make up the staff and community here, but their words, and the words of others in the horror community, speak volumes about the kind of writer and the kind of person he was. Greg Lamberson and Benjamin Kane Etheridge have written moving tributes to him, and it’s clear that touched the lives of others both with his work and his personality. If you visit his blog, you’ll see that he remained positive and involved in life in every way he could. Our thoughts are with his family, and we hope yours will be too.

Summer Reading Recommendations: Staff Picks

As promised, here are some recreational reading titles recommended by our staff reviewers. As always, make sure you know what you’re getting into. Not every book is a good fit for every reader. Just a note- Wrath James White is not for the weak of stomach.

Kirsten’s recommendations: Allison Hewitt Is Trapped by Madeleine Roux and Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore (YA), and the very funny Bad Kitty books by Nick Bruel (children’s)

Michele’s recommendations: The Snow Queen’s Shadow (Princess Novels, #4) by Jim Hines and Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, #5) by Ilona Andrews

Colleen’s recommendations: Blood & Gristle by Michael Louis Calvillo, Bone Marrow Stew by Tim Curran, and Skulls by Tim Marquitz (YA)

Brandi’s recommendations: The Seance by John Harwood and The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein (children’s)

Erik’s recommendations: The Templar Chronicles by Joseph Nassise, Wolf Hunt by Jeff Strand, and Resurrection by Tim Curran

Sheila’s recommendations: The Brain Eater’s Bible by J.D. McGhoul and Pat Kilbane (this has an iPad app as well), and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies– Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith

David’s recommendations: Population Zero by Wrath James White and Fathers and Sons (Blackguard, #1) by Edward R. Morris (David also mentioned his own book, Hunting the Moon Tribe, which came out in April, but I’m sure there’s no self-interest there).

As always, not every book is appropriate for every reader. We’ve reviewed some of these books here at MonsterLibrarian.com, but not all of them, so make sure you check to see that the book you are thinking of reading is really your cup of tea. Have a great summer reading, and check back later for more!