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Character Profile: John Reynolds

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“Can you dig it?”

Name: John Reynolds

Occupation: Cult depgrogrammer ; Member of the Hickes Agency aka Good Gang

Features in: PURPLE RIBBON ; THE BOSS ; KNOCK KNOCK

Reynolds is always there to help. He has some trauma of his own that he carries but as long as he’s able to help others then that’s just groovy. He’s warm hearted and friendly, when he’s needed though he’s happy to get into the thick of the action.

He is a cult deprogrammer and has brought many back from dangerous cults across the world. He thrives on being able to reunite lost loved ones and despite his background in the army firmly believes that peace and love are the way forward.

The most challenging cult that John has faced is the Church of Wigan on Hathfield Bay island. He and church leader, Dominick Cole, have found themselves at odds more than once. Things have gotten really gnarly between them.

He and Joel Hickes were close so when it came time to form the agency in his name there was no better place for Reynolds to be. Some might argue he puts the good in the Good Gang.

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Vivika's Musings

Letter to My Younger Self.

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“If only I knew then what I know now.”

This is one of my absolute favourite platitudes simply because it is so true. If I had the knowledge I have now as a woman in my thirties when I was a young teenager setting off for medical school things would have been so much different. I don’t doubt I would have made mistakes, no one’s perfect, and even as I get older and (hopefully wiser) I will still continue to make mistakes but the journey would most certainly be different.

With that in mind I decided to address my younger self. If I could go ahead and advise my teenaged self from my current perspective I would firstly want to urge that fire within.

Things will get difficult, that there can be no avoiding, but with the right frame of mind there isn’t anything you can’t handle. Don’t let the opinions, emotions or selfish needs of others dictate to what you are doing. Do right and good by others as much as possible but remember you are not responsible for their happiness. It is important to take a step back every now and again and examine your life. Know what you want and remember you’re a little fire cracker and can achieve anything you set your mind to.

I am pleased to say you will achieve your dreams but that will only come from a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Those sacrifices will be worth it but you won’t always feel that way and you will have your days of regret. However, just remember all the little glimpses of the future you always hoped for are there for the taking.

Look after your health. It is more important than anything. Without a healthy body and mind the rest is moot. Exercise and eat right. Pay attention to mental health too. You can find yourself slipping into your own head so easily. Don’t let yourself miss what is going on around you.

Finally, know that you are loved. If you forget that or don’t realise that just hug one of the little ones. They’ll soon remind you!

We have things we’d like to say to our younger selves, to warn them against or even encourage them into. What would you say? Would you do things differently if you had the knowledge?

Vivika is the author of various thriller books, graphic novels and short stories. Proceeds from her novels support Ragdolls UK who are helping Turner’s Syndrome girls achieve their full potential.

Her latest novel Harbour House is available now.

“Bring me your sick. Bring me your troubled. Bring me those society can no longer cope with for they will always have a home here at Harbour House.”

Harbour House, Knock Knock

0109: Interview with tawny mcinney

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Harbour House 2020 trailer.

A woman, middle aged, frizzy haired and full figured is brought before me. She is smiling despite her surroundings. She has an unlit cigarette in her hand. She knows she’s not allowed to smoke in the office but she clutches it for comfort. Behind that smile is perhaps a little nervousness. She is Tawny McKinney better known by some as The Baroness. She’s an old show girl from the Knock Knock club in the Shanties and if you had told her she looked nervous just a few short years ago she would have dismissed it with a laugh.

Interviewer: So how are you feeling today, Tawny?

Tawny: I feel good. Better than I have done in a long time.

Interviewer: That’s good to hear. You’ve settled quite well into the routine here. When you first arrived you were mute.

Tawny (laughing): Some people would say having me shut my gob was a good thing!

Interviewer: You were brought in here as a trauma resident. Do you feel you can talk about what happened that night at the club?

Tawny (laughing again but now nervously): You really want to hear about that?

Interviewer: It’s why I’m here. I’d like to hear your own perspective on it.

Tawny: A lot of people got hurt. A lot of people lost their lives.

Interviewer: It was a horrific attack.

Tawny: Yeah those bastards!

Interviewer: I’m not here to discuss the cause of the attack or the motives of the attackers. I would just like to help you open up about what you saw and how you felt.

Tawny: They were like family to me. How do you think I felt?

Interviewer: I think you feel somewhat responsible. Is that correct?

Interview terminated. Resident 0109 becomes hysterical and requires porters and nurses to calm her. Interview will continue when she is in more of a state of mind to face the reality of her trauma.

#amreading #thriller #harbourhouse2020 by @VivikaWidow

Bring me your sick. Bring me your troubled. Bring me those that society can no longer cope with. They will always have a home here at HARBOUR HOUSE.

The Baroness was a much loved figure. An attack on her club would split the city in two.

Download the entire first season to kindle or read for free here at vivikawidow.com.

Shady City Tour

The Booze Riots

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The MACK AND SONS Distillery has been a feature of the town of BELLFIELD for generations. Owned now by the Mack family, the Macks have earned the respect of the community through time. They are highly regarded. Roguish, like most of the townspeople but filled to the brim with community spirit.

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Brendan Mack head of the Mack clan.

During the Great Wars of last century the distillery gates had been closed, protecting the town, providing the rations. At the time it was the Colbine Gasworks that had the area, for which Sean Mack worked. As the city pulled itself together again the Office of LAWMAKERS called a ban on all alcohol products in Greater COLDFORD. The already desperate city saw cause to be outraged and riots sparked from City Main to the farthest reaches of Bellfield. The people wanted their booze. After the Great Wars people wanted to numb their memories and prepare to rebuild. The Law Makers would not be pushed. The flow of alcohol was causing violence, domestic and city wide. The riots were testament to that. They needed what was left of the work force fresh and able bodied. The health care couldn’t afford to keep drunkards.

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The Mack Distillery, located on Love Street in Bellfield.

In a shed within Cobine, Sean Mack began to brew his own booze. His speciality was a whiskey recipe that was passed to him by his grandfather. When Cobine himself discovered what the non conformist was up to he was delighted. Soon, Sean was providing booze for the entire city, causing him to have to bring in his sons – Darragh and Callum – In to help. And so this formed the original Mack and Sons. The distillery grew around Cobine and is now a huge feature of Love Street in Bellfield.

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Reporter, Sam, enjoys a glass of Macks as he contemplates what he has gotten himself into coming to the Knock Knock club.

The Mack and Sons reserved table was filled. An attack on the Knock Knock club would leave the rehab facility HARBOUR HOUSE picking up the pieces.

Click HERE to pre order.

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Complete Season 1 of the Knock Knock graphic novel series is free to read HERE.

Or click HERE to download for Kindle.

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Characters, Knock Knock

Character Profile: Mayor Jim Feltz

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Name: James Feltz

Occupation: Mayor

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK 

“I did the best I could.”

Jim Feltz began his political career as the voice of the people. he was Northside born to a working class family. His father was a life long labourer on FULLERTON CONSTRUCTION   sites. His mother tended bar and waited tables at BOBBY’S LUNCH BOX. Jim was the first of his family to go to university. He managed to find himself a place at KINGSGATE alongside political rival MICKY DOYLE. Competing with the privately educated Doyle, Jim Feltz’s campaign resonated with the people of Coldford – especially those in the Shanties where he had promised new housing projects, support for the drug addicted and all those other sweet words politicians use when they want to get the people behind him. Once elected to the Hot Seat (a term used in the Shady City for the Mayoral Office) those promises weren’t kept. Those sweet words had a bitter after taste.

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His wife, Sylvia, and two daughters – Ruby the eldest and Amber – had always been a supportive family. Especially Ruby who had political ambitions of her own. Much like her father, Ruby is ambitious. Unlike her father she intends to keep her promises should she ever take office.

City Face

From the estates of Cardyne to the highest electable office the city has to offer Feltz managed to shake off his fellow Kingsgate students with already established names. Jim Feltz was a working class hero the poor could look up to, cheer on and support. If only he had kept to those promises. Now, Jim Feltz is missing. His last known location – THE KNOCK KNOCK CLUB. 

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Characters, Knock Knock

Character Profile: Theresa Crusow

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Name: Theresa Clifton nee Crusow

Occupation: Housewife

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK

Wife of reporter, SAM CRUSOW, Theresa had also been studying journalism at City College when she met her husband-to-be and their friend MADELINE LOWER. After the first year she left, deciding she didn’t want to pursue one of Coldford’s most dangerous professions. Instead, she stayed at home where the danger gathered around her, waiting on the call to tell her her husband had asked questions of the wrong person or knocked on the wrong door.

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From the Clifton family, Theresa had a luxurious life raised in Clifton Hall in Hollyburn. The Cliftons are slum landlords. Whilst their tenants live in dank conditions their fortified hall is a world away.

Theresa is more than just a reporter’s wife. She has secrets of her own. However, whilst Sam is Hell bent on chasing a story on the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB and how it connects to the disappearance of Mayor Feltz. Whilst his focus is stolen he fails to see what is happening closer to home.

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Theresa is high maintenance, a little self absorbed and easily swayed by con men and vagabonds. You could say she is easy prey in the Shady City and whilst her husband’s attention is drawn elsewhere the vultures will circle.

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Theresa’s dirty little secrets are being aired by the Knock Knock Club.

Complete season 1 of the Knock Knock graphic novel series is free to read HERE.

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Characters, Knock Knock

Character Profile: Micky Doyle

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“I’ll deliver the city; You deliver the justice.”

The Doyle family have a reputation in the Shady City and cousin Micky has his eyes set on the position of City Mayor.  He will be given the opportunity to do what he can to make sure order reaches every part of the city from the comfort of City Hall.

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Micky makes plans to run for mayor.

If the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB is responsible for Mayor Feltz going missing Micky can’t be too mad. It has left a spot open for him. Micky is ambitious, so when the door of the Mayor’s office opens he sees opportunity. Why shouldn’t he? He can play a round of politics better than most. Will he improve matters in the Shady City though? He does have some skeletons he can’t let escape his closet.

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Micky discusses future plans with his cousin.

His powerful friends need his particular charm. Whilst his cousin rules with fear from the HIGH COURT, the LAW MAKERS need someone who can win over a city. Micky Doyle is the wild card of the Doyle family. He is the happy face they put on in times of trouble.

Complete season 1 of the Knock Knock graphic novel series is free to read HERE.

Or click HERE to download for Kindle.

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Characters, Knock Knock

Character Profile: Detective Joel Hickes

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“Let me understand why you did what you did.”

Name: Joel Hickes

Occupation: Detective for COLDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK ; HARBOUR HOUSE

A good man in a viper pit. Detective Hickes always tries to follow the rules but tackling the villainy in the Shady City means that you have no choice but to sink to low levels in order to get the job done. Under the watchful eye of the LAW MAKERS his job is rarely easy.

Detective Hickes and partner watch Sam Crusow closely after the death of someone close brings him in for questioning.

Beginning his career walking the beat in COLDFORD CITY, Hickes became very familiar with what was going on on the city streets. He has seen it at its worst but he has also seen it at it’s very best. He has seen the people come together through financial depressions and much worse. It leaves him with hopes for a brighter future.

Sam Crusow of the Coldford Daily has questions to answer after the death of someone close to him.

The KNOCK KNOCK club is well known. He was just a boy at the academy when the BARONESS first set the club up but he remembers clearly the troubles and the BOSS LADY taking over. He can’t condone what the club has done under the direction of Tabitha but he also can’t condemn her completely. He has after all required her help in more than one sticky situation whilst trying to keep his detective hands clean

Detective Hickes talks to Tabitha of the Knock Knock Club and Sam of the Coldford Daily.

Hickes’ job is just getting started. There’s still much work to be done to clean the mean streets of Coldford. Let’s start with deciding who the true villains really are…

Complete season 1 of the Knock Knock series is free to view right here on VivikaWidow.Com

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Characters, Coming Soon, Knock Knock

Character Profile: Simon ‘Punchline’ Penn

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“In the blue corner, weighing one hundred and fifty five pounds … Simon … Punchline … Penn!”

Name: Simon Penn

Occupation: Boxer. Proprietor of the Penn Auction House.

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK ; HARBOUR HOUSE ; PURPLE RIBBON ; THE BOSS

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Simon always has game face.

The crowd goes wild whenever the middle PENN TRIPLET steps into the ring. A champion boxer, Simon is passionate about keeping in the best shape he can be. But don’t let that fool you, he also has great head for numbers and is the accounts keeper for the AUCTION HOUSE. Whilst big brother MARCUS takes the lead, Simon has been known to get into altercations with his little brother REGGIE. They were as close as any brothers could be but they did play rough.

Even inside the Boss the triplets have to keep on top of business.

Simon’s anger issues became a real problem in his teen years so his strength and frustrations were turned to boxing. Starting in the small ‘Junior City Boxing Club’ north in Bournton, Simon quickly showed promise and before long was bringing home all kinds of trophies and medals.

Early in his career as a professional boxer he became infamous when a fight against champion, Sonny Adams – aka the Bournton Blizzard, left his opponent paralysed.

Simon is a sensitive soul at heart which. However, when you are a Prince of Main there is very little time allowed to talk things out.

The complete Knock Knock graphic novel series is free to read here or download for Kindle Unlimited.

Characters, Knock Knock

Character Profile: Madeline Lower

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Character Profile: Madeline Lower

Occupation: Reporter

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK

A feisty reporter who knows how to navigate what is essentially a boys club in the offices of the COLDFORD DAILY. She is close friends with our KNOCK KNOCK narrator SAM CRUSOW. She studied journalism with him, along with his future wife Theresa. She was one of the first to warn Sam to tread carefully as he investigated the Knock Knock Club.

Madeline isn’t afraid of confrontation. Even someone as intimidating as the BOSS LADY won’t have Maddy shake in her boots. Whilst we follow her colleague on his story of the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB one might wonder, what stories does our Madeline have to tell? Whatever they are we can be rest assured she will be getting into the thick of the action.

In EPISODE 10 Sam and Madeline had a difficult decision to make. Madeline is willing to make that tough choice but is Sam?

ENJOY THIS? The entire Knock Knock series is free to read HERE!