Your Partner In Success with Denise Griffitts Interviews Story Merchant Author Kevin Sparks

Your Partner In Success Radio, Talks with Kevin Spark, the author behind the acclaimed psychological thriller "id: A Novel."

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Kevin's path to becoming a published novelist is an inspiring one. After graduating from university, Kevin embarked on a career as a graphic designer. He honed his creative skills by developing ad campaigns and contributing to the art department of various TV shows across the UK, where he crafted props and brought stories to life visually. However, Kevin harbored a deep passion for writing that never waned. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, he seized the opportunity to finally pursue his literary dreams. Amidst the lockdowns and uncertainty, Kevin dedicated himself to penning his first novel - the gripping psychological horror "id: A Novel." This debut work has garnered widespread praise for its rich character development, vivid storytelling, and thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche.

As the owner and creative director of Onion Creative, a strategic
branding consultancy based in Brisbane, Kevin has over 15 years of experience crafting innovative brand strategies & campaigns. His firm specializes in brand development, design, advertising, and digital marketing. 

Join Denise as she uncovers the inspiration behind "id: A Novel," the challenges Kevin faced as a first-time author, and his insights into the writing process. Kevin's story is a testament to the power of pursuing one's passions, even in the face of adversity.

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Story Merchant E-Book Deal FREE June 17 - June 21 id by Kevin Spark

 Available on Amazon

Dr. Shelly, a brilliant psychologist, forever haunted by her father and his murderous past, is driven by the need to find out why we do the things we do? Is the concept of free will just a concept and nothing more, a construct that blinds us to a less palatable truth, that who we are is predetermined and encoded at birth? Does anyone really choose to do the bad things we do or are we just doing what comes naturally?

Shelly constructs an experiment using a sensory deprivation tank and virtual reality, allowing the darkest part of ourselves, the id, to run free. Unencumbered by morality or remorse, Shelly finds the perfect subject in Adam. A borderline psychotic born into a world of neglect and crime. Delving into the deepest pits of his subconscious, Shelly surfaces with far more than she bargained for.

Detective Hopper, responsible for Adam’s capture, remains a broken man. After suffering a breakdown due to the escalation of his own violent behavior, he is placed under the care of Dr Shelly. Encouraging him to go looking for his own redemption, Hopper becomes a pawn in her web of deception until the lines of reality are redrawn as Hopper and Adam come full circle to an explosive end.

Literary Titan Gives Kevin Spark's id: A Novel Five Star Review!

 

id: A Novel, by Kevin Spark, is an immersive entry in the genre of psychological thrillers and creates an intricate narrative largely centered around a unique setting – a zoo. The story has a cast of diverse characters; one standout character is that of Detective Hopper.

Spark masterfully delves into the murky underworld of drug trafficking and animal fighting, providing a penetrating examination of the criminal psyche. In an intriguing twist of biblical interpretation, the novel employs the story of Adam and Eve to illuminate themes of sin and innocence, with Eve emerging untainted from the materialistic world while Adam bears the burden of a dark past. Adding an extra layer of complexity, Dr. Shelley, a psychiatrist, navigates the labyrinthine corridors of memory, thereby propelling the narrative forward.

The subtle writing style of Spark piques the reader’s curiosity by giving just enough information to imply a rich backdrop, resulting in a narrative layered with intrigue and depth. Numerous subplots dovetail seamlessly with the main narrative, enhancing the texture of the story. The characters’ pasts emerge as crucial aspects of their present lives, though their full stories remain tantalizingly veiled.

As is typical of the psychological thriller genre, the narrative occasionally veers into violent and macabre territory. The reader is invited on a disquieting journey through a landscape punctuated with dark thoughts and unsettling experiences. Scenes of action and violence are vividly portrayed in unflinching detail, laying bare the stark realities of life.

Despite the shadowy ambiance, the story is meticulously plotted. The characters are flawed, complex, and realistic, making for intriguing studies in character development, albeit sometimes evoking figures difficult to discern in everyday life.

I would heartily recommend id: A Novel to those with a keen interest in criminal psychology or the enduring impact of past traumas on one’s life. However, those of a more sensitive disposition should be forewarned: the explicit descriptions of violence, detailed exploration of psychological depths, and the characters’ darker musings may be unsettling.

id: A Novel leaves an unforgettable impact. The characters and their dilemmas infiltrate the reader’s subconscious, resurfacing in thoughts long after the final page is turned. The novel itself seems to emulate the intricacies of the subconscious mind, revealing fragments of events while preserving an air of mystery until the very end.

Pages: 332 | ASIN : B0BKH85WVM

via Literary Titan

Kevin Spark's Novel id Receives Literary Titan Book Award

 

The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise, and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.

 Available on Amazon

Dr. Shelly, a brilliant psychologist, forever haunted by her father and his murderous past, is driven by the need to find out why we do the things we do? Is the concept of free will just a concept and nothing more, a construct that blinds us to a less palatable truth, that who we are is predetermined and encoded at birth? Does anyone really choose to do the bad things we do or are we just doing what comes naturally?

Shelly constructs an experiment using a sensory darkest part of ourselves, the id, to run free. deprivation tank and virtual reality, allowing the Unencumbered by morality or remorse, Shelly finds the perfect subject in Adam. A borderline psychotic born into a world of neglect and crime. Delving into the deepest pits of his subconscious, Shelly surfaces with far more than she bargained for.

Detective Hopper, responsible for Adam’s capture, remains a broken man. After suffering a breakdown due to the escalation of his own violent behavior, he is placed under the care of Dr Shelly. Encouraging him to go looking for his own redemption, Hopper becomes a pawn in her web of deception until the lines of reality are redrawn as Hopper and Adam come full circle to an explosive end.

Author Anthony Avina Reviews Kevin Spark's novel id! #FREE on Amazon this Week!

" This was a mind-blowing and thought-provoking psychological horror thriller. The imagery played well into the deep-set tone that psychological horror novels often take..." Anthony Avina

The Synopsis

A psychologist and daughter of a murderer develops a revolutionary test to explore the id unencumbered by morality and sets a killer and the cop driven to violence by that same killer on a path of destruction in author Kevin Spark’s “id: A Novel”.

Dr. Shelly, a brilliant psychologist, forever haunted by her father and his murderous past, is driven by the need to find out why we do the things we do? Is the concept of free will just a concept and nothing more, a construct that blinds us to a less palatable truth, that who we are is predetermined and encoded at birth? Does anyone really choose to do the bad things we do or are we just doing what comes naturally?

Shelly constructs an experiment using a sensory deprivation tank and virtual reality, allowing the darkest part of ourselves, the id, to run free. Unencumbered by morality or remorse, Shelly finds the perfect subject in Adam. A borderline psychotic born into a world of neglect and crime. Delving into the deepest pits of his subconscious, Shelly surfaces with far more than she bargained for.

Detective Hopper, responsible for Adam’s capture, remains a broken man. After suffering a breakdown due to the escalation of his own violent behavior, he is placed under the care of Dr Shelly. Encouraging him to go looking for his own redemption, Hopper becomes a pawn in her web of deception until the lines of reality are redrawn as Hopper and Adam come full circle to an explosive end.

The Review

This was a mind-blowing and thought-provoking psychological horror thriller. The imagery played well into the deep-set tone that psychological horror novels often take, and the inclusion of VR gaming environments and sensory deprivation tanks helped elevate the tension that the reader felt as the story progressed. The way these psychological ids came to life in the story and the way they spoke to the psychological aspects of our own minds helped elevate the atmosphere of this book tenfold. 

Yet it was the rich character development that really helped highlight this psychological horror. The way each of the main characters really played off one another in this almost cat-and-mouse style thriller and the steady pace of the narrative itself allowed the tension to build more and more as time went on. The way the author explored the “animal” that rests within us all and the ways in which we all deal with that animal in our lives played well into the story, and the heart-pounding terror that the imagery of these character’s ids brought to life will haunt readers well beyond the final pages of this book.

The Verdict

Haunting, captivating, and engaging, author Kevin Spark’s “id: A Novel” is a must-read psychological horror thriller. The twists and turns the narrative takes and the shocking conclusions that each character finds themselves in only lend themselves to the dynamic atmosphere and chilling imagery the author’s impressive writing style conjures up, drawing me in similarly to the way the acclaimed film The Cell starring Jennifer Lopez and Vincent D’Onofrio did when I first watched it. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Kevin Spark

 

Story Merchant Books - March Newsletter

 

New  Releases

Upgrade Your Collection With These New Releases!   ALL AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON       The Cloud: A Speculative Fiction Novel by Robert Rivenbark In twenty-second century L.A. dominated by The Cloud, every imaginable pleasure is accessible—yet the entire world can vanish in a single upload. That choice rests in one man’s hands. Blaise, a brilliant but tormented VR programmer, is trying to forget his violent past as a special forces commando by throwing himself into creating VR fantasies. Ultimately, Blaise must reembrace his violent warrior nature in a desperate bid to destroy it.   Read Today   id: A Novel by Kevin Spark Dr. Shelly, a brilliant psychologist, forever haunted by her father and his murderous past, constructs an experiment using a sensory deprivation tank and virtual reality, allowing the darkest part of ourselves, the id, to run free. After delving into the deepest pits of her subject’s subconscious, Shelly surfaces with far more than she bargained for.   Read Today   The Sava Steps by Lee Lindauer Twenty-five years after the Srebrenica Massacre, the worst genocide in Europe since World War II, survivor Melika Žbanić encounters two vicious men from her past. Intent on revenge, her plans are derailed by disgraced FBI agent Thorne Hightower, who has personal reasons to involve himself in her affairs. Amid the splendor of a desolate mountaintop nouveau riche hotel, they find themselves locked on an emotional collision course between brutality and the gift of life.   Read Today   Capesters: A Hero Bureau Thriller by Peter G. Bielagus It's 2025 and the United States Federal Government has passed The Vigilante Act, allowing private citizens to operate as for-profit crime fighters. Under the jurisdiction of the Hero Registration Bureau (HRB), Registered "Heroes" are popping up in major cities, hitting the streets, solving crimes, raiding warehouses all while grabbing the action on video. When a seven-and-a-half-foot armored Rogue begins a nationwide killing spree, disgraced NYPD detective Stan Magreen is coaxed into the case; not just because he's a good detective but because he was the first Rogie.   Read Today   My Obit 2: My Southern Belle From Hollywood producer, writer, literary manager, and Story Merchant CEO, Kenneth Atchity, comes a follow-up to his first memoir, My Obit Vol 1: Daddy Holding Me. Where volume one focused on his father, My Obit Vol 2: My Southern Belle details the parent who inspired his multiple careers, his mother. Atchity’s films include the mega-blockbusters The Meg and Meg 2: The Trench, Gambino, Emmy-nominated The Kennedy Detail, The Lost Valentine, The Amityville Horror: The Evil Escapes, and Angels in the Snow.   Read Today