Forever Damned
Erin Pugh
ISBN: 9780615155357
Reviewed By Jade McLaine
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Debonair
billionaire Andrew Carter has it all: an expansive fortune, good looks,
great taste, and the respect of his peers. He also, though, has an
unsavory reputation, due mainly to his reclusive nature and mysterious
ways. In order to clear the air surrounding his various activities, he
agrees to a candid interview with a local TV station, willingly sharing
more of his personal nature for the benefit of a curious public.
Andrew
quickly realizes that he's gotten in over his head, though, when he
meets the reporter conducting his interview, Monica Banebridge. Smart,
classy, and stunningly beautiful to match, Monica proves too great a
catch for Andrew to let go...his temptation for her, though, soon
proves to be more of a problem than he's prepared to handle.
Unbeknownst
to Monica - and the rest of the world - Andrew is hiding a dark, deadly
secret, the ramifications of which threaten to destroy not only his
budding romance with her, but also his very life. As the essence of his
true nature intensifies, Andrew soon finds himself struggling to
reconcile his predilection for both good and evil, and he soon finds
that only one will ultimately reign supreme - which one, though,
remains a mystery…
Forever Damned
is a compelling retelling of the classic clash between good & evil
- only, rather than the battles that we face with outside enemies, it
centers on the internal moral struggles that we each face everyday.
Andrew is not a holistically sinister creature, but the true nature of
his being must be contended with, even to the extremes that he ruefully
faces as a result of his involuntary actions. Likewise, who among us
has ever committed a wrong that we knew better of well before its
commission, yet, for whatever reason, could not bring ourselves to
avoid?
Pugh also does a commendable job of displaying the
power of true love. Even in the face of pure evil, Monica manages to
look past Andrew's compulsive inclinations and find the good buried
beneath. In doing so, she serves as a shining example of the greater,
selfless natures within us all, an admirable trait to have - and not
one that comes easily.
An entertaining suspense thriller with many pleasing twists, Forever Damned is a promising beacon of more to come from an exciting new literary voice.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Erin Pugh (Forever Damned)
Apex Reviews: Erin, thanks for joining us for this interview. We greatly appreciate having this opportunity to learn more about your book.
What inspired you to write Forever Damned?
Erin Pugh: First, let me thank you for this opportunity. Actually, what inspired me to write Forever Damned was a short story contest many, many years ago, but I missed the entry deadline which was really a mute point, because by that date I was already 100 pages into what turned out to be a novel instead.
AR: It's quite rare to see a bloodthirsty killer with a conscience. What made you craft Andrew's character that way?
EP: Well, I really wanted to create Andrew to be a likeable character, someone the reader would root for and struggle with, perhaps even build an emotional bond with him. I wanted people to care about him. If he had no redeemable quality, if he had no conscience, if Andrew had no qualms about what he is, where would be his struggle? Why would anyone care about him at all?
AR: How is Andrew able to curb his vicious "appetite" for so long after meeting Monica?
EP: By grasping his strong will to do no harm like a lifeline, by the good in him being in far more abundance than the darkness inside him. Andrew's resolve had the strength of years behind it.
AR: In that same vein, how does he manage to keep himself from turning his sights on her?
EP: He love for her is deep and very strong. He would never, could never harm her.
AR: What kinds of reactions have you gotten to the book so far?
EP: I'm pleased to say it has been wonderfully received locally by the few hundred who have read it.
AR: Forever Damned is your first published book, but you've written several others. What can we expect to see next?
EP: I'm not sure, I'd like to introduce another of my novels, The Ties That Bind, next. It's a suspense story pitting a cop against the twisted killer who murdered his sister.
AR: Tell us more about the reading program you started to enhance the literacy of the youth in your area.
EP: This reading program is a great love of mine. I can't say how heartbreaking it is for me to see that many kids would rather play video games or watch TV instead of feeding their imaginations by picking up a book. It is a continuing struggle to get kids to participate, but I'm determined to keep at it. It is so rewarding to hear how much they love the stories once they discover them.
AR: Any advice for aspiring authors looking to get themselves into print for the first time?
EP: My advice is this, be patience but be persistent. A thick skin is both an attribute and a necessity. Remember writing, publishing is not for the faint of heart.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
EP: I hope you all discover Forever Damned and enjoy Andrew's struggle and his journey. And, of course, happy reading!
AR: Thanks again, Erin, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!