Mayhem Soundtrack

If you've been following this blog from the start, you'll know that I am heavily influenced by music as an author. I choose the music I listen to when I frame a scene with great care and attempt to weave the scene around that mood & emotion.

After the publication of "The Bruja," I published the informal soundtrack for that book in spring 2018. I thought you'd be interested in the soundtrack for "Mayhem." Specific music correlates to specific chapters. If you don't understand that correlation I recommend you head on over to Amazon & purchase a copy of "Mayhem" so that you can read along.

One last detail: this is an unofficial soundtrack. These artists have no affiliation to me or The Veilfall books. I simply enjoyed their work and was inspired to create art around that work. I personally own most, if not all, of the songs listed here -- either individually or on albums. I encourage you to support these artists as readily as you'd support me by purchasing their work if you enjoy it.

●     Stockton, California. 8:32 pm. January 8th, 39 Veilfall

○     Guilhem Desq - Omen

●     Stockton, California. 11:02 pm. January 9th, 39 Veilfall

○     Bridge City Sinners - Demon Kitty Rag

●     Stockton, California. 11:02 pm. January 11th, 39 Veilfall

○     Colter Wall - Kate McCannon

●     Antioch Queen Sunrise Special, California. 11:34am. January 17th, 39 Veilfall

○     Bridge City Sinners - Through And Through

●     San Francisco, California. 5:40pm. January 17th, 39 Veilfall

○     Bridge City Sinners - Ashes

●     San Francisco, California. 10:35pm. January 17th, 39 Veilfall

○     Blues Saraceno - Dogs of War

●     San Francisco, California. 4:08am. January 18th, 39 Veilfall

○     The Steel Woods - Let the Rain Come Down

●     Stockton, California. 8:18am. February 25th, 39 Veilfall

○     The Pretty Reckless - Heaven Knows

●     Stormair, California. 11:00pm. February 27th, 39 Veilfall

○     Dorothy - Wicked Ones

●     Saint Louis, Missouri. 10:22am. December 4th, 32 Veilfall

○     In This Moment - River Of Fire

●     Stockton, California. 11:30am. February 28th, 39 Veilfall

○     A La Nanita Nana

●     Stockton, California. 10:44am. March 1st, 39 Veilfall

○     The Quaker City Night Hawks - Some of Adam's Blues

●     Stockton, California. 6:45pm. March 1st, 39 Veilfall

○     Mean Mary - Blazing

●     Fish Rock, California. 10:22am. March 8th, 39 Veilfall

○     The Heavy Horses - Pale Rider

●     Rio Vista, California. 2:34pm. March 17th, 39 Veilfall

○     Blues Saraceno - The River

●     Thornton, California. 4:04pm. March 17th, 39 Veilfall

○     Five Finger Death Punch - Blue on Black

●     Stockton, California. 9:09am. March 19th, 39 Veilfall

○     Lord of the Lost feat. FORMALIN - Raining Stars

●     Crafton, Pennsylvania. November 2nd, 20 Veilfall

○     Shaman's Harvest - When Doves Cry

●     Antioch Queen Sunrise Special, California. 1:28pm. March 25th, 39 Veilfall

○     Swallowtail Jig

●     San Francisco, California. 8:03pm. March 25th, 39 Veilfall

○     Cathy Maguire - Molly Malone

●     San Francisco, California. 10:13pm. March 25th, 39 Veilfall

○     Johnny Hollow - Temple of Love

●     San Francisco, California. 10:34pm. March 25th, 39 Veilfall

○     Vincenzo Bellini - I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Morte io non temo, il sai)

●     Manteca Reach, California. 12:08pm. April 15th, 39 Veilfall

○     Billie Eilish - You Should See Me in a Crown

●     Manteca Reach, California. 1:28pm. April 15th, 39 Veilfall

○     ITG Studios - Dust and Bone

●     Manteca Reach, California. 1:34pm. April 15th, 39 Veilfall

○     In This Moment - Big Bad Wolf

●     Santa Cruz, California. 11:44pm. December 4th, 39 Veilfall

○     Aesthetic Perfection - The Ones

●     San Francisco, California. 8:32 pm. January 8th, 40 Veilfall

○     Billie Eilish - Bury a Friend

REVIEWS!

Amihan Lopez by MoonArc, a "Mayhem" illustration

Some great early reviews are in for "Mayhem!"

Ray Simmons at Reader's Favorite writes: "I read a lot of horror. I love the genre. If I have any complaint about the horror and fantasy genres, it is that so much of the writing, in so many cases, is very generic. This is not a genre where people boldly experiment. This is not a genre where people push the edges. This is a general observation. It does not hold true for some authors. It most definitely doesn't describe Michael Molisani. 

Mayhem by Michael Molisani is one of the most beautifully unique books I have ever read in any genre. The fact that it is fantasy makes the impact that much stronger, makes it that much more noticeable and noteworthy. If any other writer had told this tale, the story would have been predictable. The characters would have been less complex, and this future would have been more understandable. But this is Michael Molisani. The writing and descriptions border on pure poetry. The characters, mostly women, are the most complicated and powerful creatures you can imagine.

I loved these women. Of course, Margaret is my favorite. It’s her story. She is Lady Mayhem. But other powerful women and gods made a lasting impression on me. I love the Greek goddess Aphrodite any time she appears in a book. I love her in all her forms. She did not disappoint here. I love the world Michael Molisani created here. A post-apocalypse world where magic and science share hegemony but magic is gaining the upper hand. Mayhem is a marvel of magic, mystery, and primordial forces. I loved it. It is new, exciting and excellent literature."

Sophie Clark writes on Goodreads: "This novel merges fantasy and horror elements, telling the story of Mayhem, a battlewitch caught up in a fantastical struggle for power that involves many members of her dysfunctional family. There are a lot of interesting details included in descriptions of the setting and character relationships, making it clear the author has considered the story world’s history and culture in depth. Luckily for fans of this novel, the author is penning further works set in the same story world, providing further insight into some of the characters featured in Mayhem. I found the depiction of the lead character Mayhem as a battlewitch novel and surprising, as I’d never read a book in which witchcraft was positioned in this kind of military context before.

An aspect of the novel I really appreciated was just how many female characters play a dominant role in the plot, both as allies and adversaries (and sometimes both) to Mayhem. Just as a note, due to the sexual content and intensity of violence depicted in Mayhem, this novel would likely be an unsuitable pick if you’re shopping for a young fantasy reader or you're someone who finds such content offensive."

This is your last weekend to pre-order "Mayhem." The e-reader is still $0.99 until April 19th, when it releases at full price ($2.99.)

Pre-orders have gone very well, out-selling "The Bruja" by nearly 40% on week one. I also cannot speak highly enough of Amazon's softcover copy of "Mayhem." I know it's expensive ($29.99,) but its honestly worth it - that book is aesthetically gorgeous. The illustrations are, honestly, far better looking in print than I had ever hoped for, and the quality of the paperback is simply flawless. If you keep physical books, I really recommend the softcover. It's worth every penny.

Head over to Amazon -- pre-order "Mayhem" this weekend & $2.00.

Apocalypse is only a temporary setback.

After the Collapse, chaos swept the world. Cities burned and flesh was sacrificed on an altar of wholesale rage. Out of that bloody and ashen swamp rose new powers. City states and nations adapted to a world where magic is real, ghosts whisper, and ancient gods lust. This is a salacious world, infested with malignity and apotheosis.

The Bruja's adopted daughter lives on. Lady Mayhem, nightmare mirror of the Antecedency. As Mayhem prepares to retire, she is pulled into a gossamer conspiracy of enigmatic gods and flawed mortals. The balance of power twists, shrouding enemies. Mayhem is forced to unravel treacheries and bargains. But first, the Antecedent battlewitch must come to terms with her own monsters. These fearsome creatures do not wear scales or growl in shadow, however. They are creations of the Collapse, trauma beyond imagination.

In this highly anticipated sequel to 2018's breakout hit, "The Bruja," Michael Molisani returns you to the Collapse with a riveting tale of horror, intrigue, and lascivious brutality.

MAYHEM IS LIVE FOR PRE-ORDER

Okay, first thing is first - "Mayhem" can be purchased on Amazon for $0.99 up until April 19th, our publication date. After that, the price will go up to $2.99 for standard sales.

Additional news - "Dread Harvester" is now available on Kobo for $0.99. You can also purchase "Mayhem" on Kobo, as of April 19th.

"But Molisani, where is the softcover?"

Well, my buckaroos, funny you should ask me that. The softcover will actually be available next week on Amazon. This is a print-on-demand title, and we live in 2019, which means Prime members can still have their copies within just a few days. "Mayhem" will retail for $29.99 as a softcover. I've had a number of fans ask about signed copies -- and the answer is "yes." If you're interested in procuring yourself a signed copy of "Mayhem," contact me (michael at molisani dot com) and we can work something out. Obviously, additional shipping charges will apply.

"What about reviewers?"

Hey reviewers, what's up? Again, contact me (michael at molisani dot com) if you're interested in procuring a copy of "Mayhem" for your publication, blog, journal, or channel. I'd love to see "Mayhem" get some press. Additionally, I'm happy to give away copies of the e-reader for anyone who'll write an Amazon review, regardless of whether or not you like the book. Obviously, I hope you will enjoy it, but I want readers of the future to know "Mayhem" earned her stars, fair & square.

"Readers of the future?"

Want to help promote "Mayhem?" I'd love that. Post on social media, share links to Amazon or Kobo, or just get the word out. As a self-published author, I rely on the fans to make this dream unfold. Without you guys, I'm just a dude who sits at his desk all day writing about gods, ghods, and horrific things that happen to marginally likable people.

Stay tuned for more "Mayhem" release updates, giveaways, and contests!

April 19th

I'm proud to report that "Mayhem" has a tentative publication date of 4/19/2019.

You can now go to Goodreads and add "Mayhem" for your to-read list. The book will be available as an eReader on Amazon, B&N, Kobo and maybe GooglePlay. The softcover will only be available through Amazon, and it is only print-on-demand. The vast majority of "The Bruja" sales were eReader-only, so I'm only supporting softcover for a small minority of readers.

Content editing is 90% done on "Mayhem" right now, and Copy is about 40% complete. There are also two more illustrations to be completed, and of course the eBook conversion process. I'll be doing this myself -- while it is tedious, I very much want the book to look a certain way once you own it.

PRE-SALES WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH AMAZON.


Apocalypse is only a temporary setback.

After the Collapse, chaos swept the world. Cities burned and flesh was sacrificed on an altar of wholesale rage. Out of that bloody and ashen swamp rose new powers. City states and whole nations, adapted to a world where magic is real, ghosts whisper, and ancient gods lust. This is a salacious world, infested with malignity and apotheosis.

The Bruja's adopted daughter lives on. Lady Mayhem, nightmare mirror of the Antecedency. As Mayhem prepares to retire, she is pulled into a gossamer conspiracy of enigmatic gods and flawed mortals. The balance of power twists, shrouding enemies. Mayhem is forced to unravel treacheries and bargains. But first, the Antecedent battlewitch must come to terms with her own monsters. These fearsome creatures do not wear scales or growl in shadow, however. They are creations of the Collapse, trauma beyond imagination.

In this highly anticipated sequel to 2018's breakout hit, "The Bruja," Michael Molisani returns you to the Collapse with a riveting tale of horror, intrigue, and lascivious brutality.

Welcome to Veilfall

In early 2018, "The Bruja" published on Amazon and other major retailers. It was supported by my official website (you're here!) as well as Facebook & Twitter. I branded most of that content in reference to "The Bruja."

Now, a year later, the novella "Dread Harvester" has been released on Amazon, and the forthcoming novel "Mayhem" is set for a Spring 2019 release on e-reader and softcover.

Effective immediately, all social media and official content for Michael Molisani (me,) will be re-branded as "Veilfall."

Coming late in 2019 will be a second novella, "A Day in the Life of a Dead Whore," detailing the adventures of Marie Holmes, along with a short-story collection to be titled "Veilfall" in 2020.

Melissa Johnson will be partnering with me on "Veilfall." It will be a series of stories between year-zero of the Collapse, and 120 years in the future. This collection will feature new & familiar characters, highlight moments of the Collapse you may have wondered about, (curious what happened to New York? You'll find out!) and expand on the growing mythology of Veilfall.

That's still not all!

After 2020, I have at least 4 more books planned in Veilfall. This includes a sequel to "Mayhem" titled "Battery Acid." This is a rich an exciting world, growing, and expanding every day. I'm obsessed with the idea of how the Earth as we know it evolves after an apocalypse. It's not merely enough to say; "Now magic is real." How does that impact everyday life? How does that impact someone making ends meet? How does that impact the power structure? What is it like to live in a world where a battlewitch can kill you with a thought? I've covered some of that in "Mayhem," but there's much more to come. I want to welcome you into a new world that you've never seen before, and you'll want to return to; again and again.

Welcome to Veilfall.

Big News for Nan Fe

Most of you are familiar with Nan Fe, the cover artist for "The Bruja," "Mayhem," and forthcoming books I've written. She's an amazing person and one of the most talented modern artists out there - period!

Well, this week Jay Kristoff announced a new book series, forthcoming in 2020. He also announced that Nan Fe will be illustrating this new trilogy. She had painted some fan art previously and gotten onto Jay's radar over the last few months. Jay Kristoff is also the #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of LIFEL1K3, THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE and THE ILLUMINAE FILES.

I can't be happier for Nan Fe. She is unequivocally the best artist I've ever worked with. She deserves fame and fortune. I also think she's a role model for any other artists out there -- check out her DeviantArt page and see what I mean. She works tirelessly, creating new art every day. She paints with several different mediums, forces herself to learn new tools, and takes complex commissions which may be outside of her comfort zone. When I look at how hard she works, I'm inspired to step it up a notch as an author. Maybe I'm really tired after a long day - maybe I want to take the evening off? Nope! Nan Fe wouldn't, and neither will I.

I'm proud that she painted three covers for my books. I think she has captured exactly what the world of Collapse & Veilfall look like. What it feels like. This is a dark, and even gruesome place that manifests wonder and beauty in strange ways. No other artist has understood this the way Nan Fe has.

You should follow Nan Fe on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and DeviantArt. If you've never read Jay Kristoff's books, you should head over to Amazon NOW and buy them all. He's a great author, and frankly, if you like my work -- you'll love his.

Mayhem Moves to Copy Editing

Athena Driscoll & I are still hard at work on the last of the content editing, but copy editing has begun for "Mayhem!"

I handed over the final draft of Act I to Kristen Walls Kearney this weekend to start work, and I'm thrilled to not only see the final product but also hear her opinion.

Kristen will be only the third person to read "Mayhem," and while I'm very confident, I'm also nervous. January 2018 was a very long month as I waited for people to finish reading "The Bruja" and tell me how much they hated it. Of course, they didn't, but how was I to know?

Another exciting piece of news: Audia Pahlevi wrapped up final work on primary promotional material for "Mayhem." The painting to the left is actually Amihan & Ramona Lopez, the granddaughters of Maggi Lopez.

Identical twins, both have enjoyed a life above the common Antecedent citizens. While Amy chose to follow in her grandmother's footsteps as a battlewitch, Ramona took the path of a hetaira, serving Her Lady of Desire. What roles will they occupy for the modern Antecedentcy? Savior or destroyer? Two decades have passed since Maggi Lopez died, and the world continues to evolve. More magnificent than some could have dreamed -- and more abominable than the others feared.

Audia Pahlevi not only captured Amy & Ramona perfectly, but he also did a great job showing the fashion of the post-Collapse world. I spent a lot of time developing a look and feel for "Mayhem," distinct cultures, clothing, speech, and behaviors. While the Antecedent Empire favors monochromatic dress and spiral patterns, the former denizens of House Owens focus more heavily on brightly dyed fabrics, brocades, and georgette. All clothing is handmade and purpose driven.

I hope you're as excited about "Mayhem" as I am, and I look forward to revealing the final promotional artwork in the next few months!