Horror Aficionados discussion

This is the thread for the December 2023 Group Read with Guest Author, Candace Nola as we read her snowy creature feature, Bishop. Grab your copy at the link below and please help me welcome to HA… Candace Nola!

https://www.amazon.com/BISHOP-Candace...

Welcome Candace Nola! Looks like the perfect book for the season!

Welcome!
Bishop is a for-real "don't-miss" read!!

Welcome, Candace! I have this one and have been meaning to read it - hopefully I'll be able to join in!

Thank you for joining us Candace! I’ve got this one ready to go. Looking forward to reading along with everyone!!

Hi Candace! I’m so excited to read this one.

I know this is supposed to be a group read, but I read Bishop a while back and it is brilliant!

Hi, Candace! I'm glad you were chosen for a group read. I heard your interview on the Written in Red podcast and I am excited to read BISHOP. It has been on my TBR for a while, and this seems like a good time to start!

I would like to welcome author Candace Nolan. it is really exciting when as a reader I can ask questions.I am juggling December reads and tonight I read the first 25 or 30% of BISHOP. I like it and the atmospheric backdrop is great. The story is well written. I will finish Bishop tomorrow night. Question is Book 2 of BISHOP part of the assigned read?? I will buy it if it is. Thank you.

Pisces51 wrote: "I would like to welcome author Candace Nolan. it is really exciting when as a reader I can ask questions.I am juggling December reads and tonight I read the first 25 or 30% of BISHOP. I like it and..."

There is no "assigned read". If you wish to continue on with the story, that's great--and I'm sure others may as well. This particular thread is focusing on BISHOP.

I finished reading Bishop and I really liked it.

I'm at 55% and will finish tonight. There's an emotional connection created such that you care for the character's fates. Very interested to read the ending. Thank you for joining us, Ms. Nola.

The ending is still not read yet, I am reading from last post. I will not assess the ending. In general this novel was a breath of fresh air. Nolan writes beautifully about the scenery and the cold Alaska landscape. Her creature effects are excellent. I like the entire concept. This was an interesting entertaining adventure read for me.

I’m starting now! Backwoods, evil and survival, I’m in.

Kimberly wrote: "Welcome Candace Nola! Looks like the perfect book for the season!"

Thank you! I hope you enjoy it!

Dawn wrote: "I’m starting now! Backwoods, evil and survival, I’m in."

Enjoy!

Pisces51 wrote: "The ending is still not read yet, I am reading from last post. I will not assess the ending. In general this novel was a breath of fresh air. Nolan writes beautifully about the scenery and the cold..."

I'm so glad you are enjoying it!

Aaron wrote: "I'm at 55% and will finish tonight. There's an emotional connection created such that you care for the character's fates. Very interested to read the ending. Thank you for joining us, Ms. Nola."

Very happy to be here! I'm so glad you are enjoying the story!

Pisces51 wrote: "I finished reading Bishop and I really liked it."

Awesome to hear! Did you have a favorite part?

Kasper wrote: "Hi, Candace! I'm glad you were chosen for a group read. I heard your interview on the Written in Red podcast and I am excited to read BISHOP. It has been on my TBR for a while, and this seems like ..."

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked the interview! Let me know if you have any questions!

Elizabeth wrote: "I know this is supposed to be a group read, but I read Bishop a while back and it is brilliant!"

Thank you so much! Did you have a favorite character?

Brooke wrote: "Hi Candace! I’m so excited to read this one."

I hope you enjoy it!

Janette wrote: "Thank you for joining us Candace! I’ve got this one ready to go. Looking forward to reading along with everyone!!"

So excited to be here! Ask any questions as we go!

Cobwebby Eldritch SpaceReader Reindeer wrote: "Welcome!
Bishop is a for-real "don't-miss" read!!"

Thanks so much! Did you have a favorite character ?

Kenneth wrote: "This is the thread for the December 2023 Group Read with Guest Author, Candace Nola as we read her snowy creature feature, Bishop. Grab your copy at the link below and please help me welcome to HA…..."

Thank you so much for having me! So thrilled to be chosen for this group read! Please ask any questions you may have as we go.

Hey Candace. Without giving away spoilers, can you tell us a little how Bishop came about?

Bishop was an idea I was bouncing around with an old friend from childhood. The idea of werebear was his idea and his name is actually Bishop. Much of the character's traits are based on my friend. I'm of both Native American and African American descent and wanted to add in some of the Native American Lore that I had been researching. That is why the story is set in Alaska and why Bishop is portrayed as Native American.

I will catch up soon, had some things come up so will start your book tonight Candace and join in!

Hey everyone I’m about 30% in so no actual sighting of bishop or the creature yet assuming there is one..Candace are you a survivalist? The set up feels very realistic and I’m enjoying the stress and anticipation.

I want to thank Candace Nola again.I finished the book earlier on. My favorite character was Bishop. I thought the addition of the (Wendigo) was exciting. The author is very talented writing landscape and action sequences. There was atmosphere, good people in peril, a good man and a superhuman champion in Bishop.

Dawn wrote: "Hey everyone I’m about 30% in so no actual sighting of bishop or the creature yet assuming there is one..Candace are you a survivalist? The set up feels very realistic and I’m enjoying the stress a..."

I am a bit of a prepper/survivalist. I got into it years ago while researching for a zombie novel. I was also raised in the country, so my family spent a lot of time in the woods, hiking, and hunting. I got a lot of my outdoor knowledge from my father.

Pisces51 wrote: "I want to thank Candace Nola again.I finished the book earlier on. My favorite character was Bishop. I thought the addition of the (Wendigo) was exciting. The author is very talented writing landsc..."

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I really put a lot into this story, and I'm thrilled that readers have enjoyed it so much!

Great read – the book had me hooked from the first page. Of course, I wished it was longer since I liked the settings so much.

I’m really loving this Candace and the whole idea of Bishop is super cool and intriguing…makes a lot sense that you have a background that supports lore and surviving the elements as you write it very well.
I’m at 75% and looking forward to how it all turns out. How long did it take you to write it? And when you began did you start with Bishop as your main character and then go from there or did you start with the survivalist idea or something else?

I started with the character in mind first, then built off of Casey's character with the survivalist angle in mind. I already knew what the opposing creature would be so everything fell into place as I wrote it. Bishop only took about 2 months to write but I had the story in mind for several months before that, as I do most of work internally, working through the plot and storyline before I write a word at all.

Thank you immensely for the generosity of your time and your patience with us (with me I know). I bought the Bishop Part 2 to enjoy next months. Thanks again

Finished reading this today. Enjoyed the heck out of this wild ride!! Thank you so much for joining us Candace. I’ve also got the second Bishop book ready to go on my iPad and am looking forward to seeing what creature Bishop will be up against the next time around.

Thanks Candace, really enjoyed this and hearing about who you are and your background! I saw that you won an award for Breach so look forward to reading that next.

Hi Candace, and thanks for being here. I enjoyed BISHOP. The novel was fast-paced and suspenseful, and I think you nailed the mood and atmosphere.
"The shadows reached just far enough to outline the sad shapes of belongings without owners." (45)
Wow, I love that line. Haunting and sharp in the mind's eye. The setting was written very well. I felt myself transported to those dark Alaska woods.
I also liked the contrast of Casey, Troy, and Bishop. Casey being young and lost, yet determined and tough. Then Troy, an experienced outdoorsman, also determined, yet anxious as can be. And Bishop, with incredible knowledge and senses, but with a personal challenge of his own.
Thanks for joining us for the group read!

Hi Candace! Happy holidays and congratulations to your newest release, Desperate Wishes! Now that I’ve finished Bishop, I hope you don’t mind all the questions coming your way in a short time!

First I was wondering is Charlie was based off of anyone? He was a great character.

I forgot this read was even happening! Just bought my copy and hope to start soon. Thanks for joining us, Candace! I've been wanting to try your work for a while now.

Char wrote: "I forgot this read was even happening! Just bought my copy and hope to start soon. Thanks for joining us, Candace! I've been wanting to try your work for a while now."

Thanks for joining! I hope you enjoy it!

Rex wrote: "Hi Candace! Happy holidays and congratulations to your newest release, Desperate Wishes! Now that I’ve finished Bishop, I hope you don’t mind all the questions coming your way in a short time!

Fir..."

Charlie was mostly based off my father, a little bit of my best friend, but mostly my dad.

Kasper wrote: "Hi Candace, and thanks for being here. I enjoyed BISHOP. The novel was fast-paced and suspenseful, and I think you nailed the mood and atmosphere.
"The shadows reached just far enough to outline th..."

Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Dawn wrote: "Thanks Candace, really enjoyed this and hearing about who you are and your background! I saw that you won an award for Breach so look forward to reading that next."

Thank you! Breach is also on audible, and it is narrated by Jessica McEvoy from the No Sleep podcast, she did an amazing job with it.

Janette wrote: "Finished reading this today. Enjoyed the heck out of this wild ride!! Thank you so much for joining us Candace. I’ve also got the second Bishop book ready to go on my iPad and am looking forward to..."

Thank you so much for joining the group read! Enjoy part two and feel free to message me your thoughts!

Pisces51 wrote: "Thank you immensely for the generosity of your time and your patience with us (with me I know). I bought the Bishop Part 2 to enjoy next months. Thanks again"

Thank you so much! I so glad you enjoyed it! I hope you like part 2 as well!

To All!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are looking forward to a great 2024! If you would like to join my newsletter or the Uncomfortably Dark Patreon, message me for the link and receive The Unicorn Killer to download free! I greatly appreciate all the great questions and everyone's thoughts on Bishop. Part 3 will be out by April, with two more installments to come! Can't wait for everyone to read Darkness Descends in April. I'll be around a few more days so keep asking questions as you will.

Hi Candace!

Next question since the read is almost done!

Did you ever plot a scenario where Erin & Casey did not break up and/or Erin lived?

I ended up enjoying BISHOP so much! Every once in a while, I NEED a creature feature in my life and this one fit the bill!
I am going to be reading the sequel as well.

Thanks for joining us, Candace!