The Demon Squad continues!

I invited Tim Marquitz to stop by and share a bit about his latest Demon Squad book that's in the making. YOU can help make it so. The book along with many great additional books can be purchased through Kickstarter. (UPDATE: Demon Squad Initiative IS FUNDED! It will all happen. It's just the add-on's depend on how many others join in the fun.)

Please welcome Tim to the blog!


I’ve been writing the Demon Squad (UF) books for a while now (since 2008, actually) and now that I’ve hit the tenth book in the series I realized I wanted to do something special for it, especially considering I never imagined I’d get this far along when I first started.

As such, I went the Kickstarter route and created the Demon Squad Initiative, a project that spans more than just a single book but that opens the world up to stories and concepts that readers have been asking about since the beginning. On top of more of the main character, Frank “Triggaltheron” Trigg, readers will get a full length novel starring his cousin, the angelic Scarlett, a fan favorite who I regularly get questions about as to why she doesn’t have her own book yet. The answers have mainly been time and other obligations but seeing how I’ve hit the tenth book I figured it was perfect timing to write an adventure with her. She’s earned her own novel.

I also plan to write a novel featuring the Department of Supernatural Investigation, a group of supernaturals who have been giving Frank hell for a while now. The characters are diverse and exciting and they add a level of complexity to the world that Frank’s simplistic focus lacks. And they’re fun to write, which makes it even better.

And, on top of getting to write three fun novels in the world I’ve gathered a bunch of author friends to help out the campaign and offer up their own books. I’ve got Kenny Soward, Timothy W. Long, J.L. Murray, and J.M. Martin offering up stuff plus the great people over at Grimdark Magazine. It’s really cool to see these folks rally around me and offer up their work to help out. They’re fantastic people and I’m hoping the campaign puts a few more eyes on them before it’s over. They deserve it.

Ultimately, the Kickstarter allows me to diversify my world in a way that I hadn’t been able to do before. A lot of fun, fan-favorite characters will now get more screen time if everything works out because I’ll be able to focus more of my energy on them.

So, anyway, that’s what I’ve got going on this month, my to-be-written pile growing exponentially as the campaign goes on. If you want to check it out, here’s the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1862998032/the-demon-squad-initiative

Thanks for letting me ramble on.

About the Author:
Tim Marquitz is the author of the Demon Squad series, the Blood War Trilogy, co-author of the Dead West series, as well as several standalone books, and numerous anthology appearances including Triumph Over Tragedy, Corrupts Absolutely?, That Hoodoo Voodoo that You Do, Widowmakers, At Hell’s Gates 1&3, Neverland's Library, Blackguards, SNAFU Survival of the Fittest, Future Warfare, and Hunters (Cohesion Press), In the Shadow of the Towers (Night Shade), and Unbound (Grim Oak Press). Tim also collaborated on Memoirs of a MACHINE, the story of MMA pioneer John Machine Lober.

Tim is co-owner and Editor in Chief of Ragnarok Publications.

Find Tim:
Twitter:  @Marquitz

Ragnarok Publications
Ragnarok on Facebook

Curious about Demon Squad?

Check out the previous 9 books at Amazon.

Looking Forward To... (131)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down. Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

It's been a while since I've done one of these Friday Looking Forward posts.  And I miss doing them.

Next Book Is...

Manifesto UF

(anthology)

Edited By:  Tim Marquitz & Tyson Mauermann

Due Out:  September 1, 2013

This one is out, and I do have a copy of it, but I'm still looking forward to it.  Sounds like a great read with a great blend of everything to love here, along with some new authors to try out.

Goodreads Synopsis:

From angels to vampires, dragons to wizards, Manifesto brings together twenty-three stories full of action, snark, and unadulterated badassery.

Featuring stories from Lucy A. Snyder, Jeff Salyards, William Meikle, Teresa Frohock, Zachary Jernigan, Betsy Dornbusch, and more.

The time has come to make a statement, to define a genre. This is our manifesto.

Table of Contents:

Rev – Kirk Dougal
I’m an Animal. You’re an Animal, Too – Zachary Jernigan
Los Lagos Heat – Karina Fabian
Savage Rise – Adam Millard
Front Lines, Big City – Timothy Baker
Break Free – Ryan Lawler
Naked the Night Sings – Teresa Frohock
Double Date – Andrew Moczulski
That Old Tree – R.L. Treadway
Dharmasankat – Abhinav Jain
Nephilim – TSP Sweeney
Toejam & Shrapnel – Nickolas Sharps
Green Grow the Rashes – William Meikle
Under the Dragon Moon – Jonathan Pine
Gold Dust Woman – Kenny Soward
Wizard’s Run – Joshua S. Hill
Chains of Gray – Betsy Dornbusch
Bloody Red Sun of Fantastic LA – Jake Elliot
Queen’s Blood – Lincoln Crisler
Beneath a Scalding Moon – Jeff Salyards
Separation Anxiety – J.M. Martin
Blessing and Damnation – Wilson Geiger
Jesse Shimmer Goes to Hell – Lucy A. Snyder

Mythical Monday (18)

It seems there are many books based on or influenced by Myths and Mythological Beings.

There are so many different Mythology and Mythological Beings recorded. Some are very popular and well known, others not so much. There are many similar beings, yet different depending on the culture it’s based in.  The definition of Myth covers about anything in the Urban Fantasy/Fantasy realm to me.

I’ve invited authors to share briefly the Mythological being or Myth that influenced their character(s) or story, or what their character(s) are based on influencing their books.  Hosting here, one author and being or myth per week.

This week we have:

Fantasy author Tim Marquitz

Talking of Christian Mythos.

The Mythology of Meandering

This was a difficult post to write, trying to compress my scattered and chaotic thoughts and concepts into a coherent whole. As such, I ask for a little patience and that you bear with me through the rambling inanity. Or you can go take a nap. Whatever works for you.

Most apparently, my Demon Squad books delve into the Christian mythos prevalent in western society: angels, demons, God and the Devil. The mechanics of the mythology, the hierarchy, and the general concepts expressed are fairly basic and similar to much of what folks have already read about them and what can easily be found on Wikipedia and whatnot. But on closer examination, it becomes clear (at least I hope it does) that notion is much like the vision of a pool of calm water. It’s placid across the surface but it doesn’t necessarily reflect the turbulence beneath.

Amidst the idea that God is in His Heaven and we all fall beneath that halo of divine coverage, I felt there needed to be more to it than that. So, in imagining the Demon Squad world, I asked the questions as to what would happen if Earth had not been the only life created. How would things be if there were more entities existing not only beyond our plane of existence—such as in Heaven and Hell and Limbo—but what if there were tens of thousands of other planets and worlds and pockets of existence populated by entities created by this singular entity? What if the master plan was a work in progress? What would happen if it got out hand?

In thinking such, I added a sense of chaos into what had initially seemed so organized by pulling God and the
Devil from the mix. Suddenly, all the mythological rules were out the window. The reader now has no clue if the angels are good or the demons are bad or where mankind fits into the whole scheme of things, and that’s what makes it all work. Expectations are broken regularly and the standard mythology is anything but standard now. There’s a sense of hopeless abandon that colors the actions of everyone in the world, a cloying sense of humanity in the form of free will, the concept no longer reserved for man alone.

This is the world of the Demon Squad, a sprinkling rain falling over the pond of Christian mythos, the ripples spreading and distorting the reflection to the point of incoherence.

Author Bio:
Raised on a diet of Heavy Metal and bad intentions, Tim Marquitz has always been interested in writing, but it wasn't until about 1995 the urge became a compulsion. However, it would be many years later before the ability matched the interest. Fortunately, the two have reconciled...mostly.

Writing a mix of the dark perverse, the horrific, and the tragic, tinged with sarcasm and biting humor, he looks to leave a gaping wound in the minds of his readers like his inspirations: Clive Barker, Jim Butcher, and Stephen King.

A former grave digger, bouncer, and dedicated metalhead, Tim is a huge fan of Mixed Martial Arts, and fighting in general.

He lives in Texas with his beautiful wife and daughter.

Find Tim Marquitz:
Site:  Tim Marquitz - Dark Fantasy Author
Facebook:  Tim Marquitz
Twitter:  @Marquitz

The Demon Squad Books:

Book Review: Armageddon Bound

Armageddon Bound

By:  Tim Marquitz

Publisher:  Damnation Books, LLC

Publish Date:  September 2009

Format:  Paperback 299pgs, 5"x8"

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st book in Demon Squad series.

Recommendation:  If you enjoy rough and tough fighting movies with loads of action, this book very well is one to check out.

Book Synopsis:
Half-devil and miles from anything resembling heroic, perpetual underdog Frank "Triggaltheron" Trigg is the last man standing against Armageddon.  As the favorite nephew of the Devil, Frank has led a troubled life, but he'd always had his uncle's influence to fall back on.  Now, with God and Lucifer coming to terms and leaving existence to fend for itself, his once exalted status as Anti-Christ-to-be does little to endear him to the hordes of angels and demons running amok in the Godless world.

With help from the members of DRAC, an organization of wizards, psychics, telepaths, and low-end supernatural beings, Frank must thwart the pro-Armageddon forces and rescue an angel in whose life rests the fate of humanity.

Better luck next time, humanity.

First Sentence:
There was a time when being related to Lucifer was enough to keep the proverbial wolves from the door.

My Thoughts and Summary:
There are rumors there is another demon planning to rise to be the next Lucifer and to bring about Armageddon.  Baalth is the demon this new power needs to overcome first and Frank, the DRAC, and Frank's Angel cousin Scarlett need to protect Baalth and stop this new threat to the world.  The catch, Scarlett has been after Baalth for some time to stop his bad doings.  Baalth isn't cooperating as willingly with Frank, without some deals.  Oh, and Franks succubus ex-wife has returned to town sending assassins after him.

Frank Triggaltheron, or Trigg, starts the story on his kester bleeding, and visits this position often through out the book.  But he keeps fighting.  Trigg is a man of all men.  And a pig from time to time as well.  But that is what makes this character memorable.  I don't mind the thoughts he has about women, or even the smart remarks to the one delivering the punches (actually many of the quick remarks are funny).  But some people might.  I do have to mention the only thing about Trigg that gave me the willies were his thoughts about his voluptuous cousin.  They just weren't right, but Trigg is the person he is... and I don't think he was made to be loved so dearly.  I think this book is what many male readers would enjoy.  It's fast moving and full of action and fights.  There are loads of blows exchanged and a story that works wonderfully with it.

I liked the story telling style.  This book is told by Frank.  We get the story as it's happening, then there are interjections by Trigg of his inner opinions and thoughts, the ones he keeps to himself although just as smart as the ones he says.  This technique of inner thoughts gives me the feel of the old style mystery gumshoe movies where the detective gives an inner thought or meaning to things as the story goes.  I really liked that feel.  It seemed to me the book is very story driven, and we get a very good story here.

The characters.  Goodness!  There is a large cast of characters.  Well, maybe not that big.  But it felt like many when I was reading the book.  They are not hard to keep straight, which is the surprise to me with as many there are.

The world is our world with a few extras which people don't really know about.  But the difference here is God and Lucifer have come to a truce and left, letting humanity play out as they are and grown to do.  I like this twist a lot.  I like how there are two views to this through out the book.  That God didn't want Armageddon or he would have exterminated the race and started over.  OR.  That Armageddon needs to come about to bring God and Lucifer back.  This seems to be the arguing views in a nut shell.  People don't know their gods are no longer around, only the Angels and Demons are aware, and seem slightly lost with their leaders gone.  Neat take here.

I went into the book aware there where some editing errors, which there are.  But knowing that I was prepared for them.  But I do want to let you know this to as well, in case you go purchase the book, they are there.  I hate to see editing slow down a good book.

I think more men might enjoy this book than women, but I'm not saying don't read it if it sounds like something you might enjoy.  Please go at it.


I have to thank my book friend, BastardBooks, for this read.  We have little challenges going once in a while to try something new and different.  This was a challenge from him to give this book a go, and I think it's a very good start to a new series.  Thank you!


This book qualifies for Speculated Fiction Reading Challenge, hosted by Floor to Ceiling Books.

Who? What? Where? (36)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

(This is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )

I'm with Trigg in an abandoned warehouse that doesn't look so abandoned from the inside.  There is something going on with the barrier, and the culprits just stumbled upon us being here.  The powerful magician just blew Trigg back forty yards through empty metal shelves.  Yep, one even landed on top of him.  Trigg is just not having a good day.

Armageddon Bound
Demon Squad
By:  Tim Marquitz

Teaser Tuesday (91)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

I stepped away from her and paced the aisle, trying to motivate my brain.  I knew Asmoday was powerful, and bolstered by McConnell, there was no doubt he could pull off some serious feats of magic, but nothing capable of crippling the dimensional wall.  How had he done it?

Armageddon Bound
Demon Squad
By:  Tim Marquitz
pg 76