Welcome to Author’s Corner (Blog), where I share my thoughts on writing, mysteries, and the inspiration behind my books. It’s a place for readers who want to peek behind the scenes of my stories.
16 Oct 2025 10:43
I’ve written nine novels over the years. Each one took months — sometimes years — of energy, hope, and late nights. And yet, the result has been the same: silence. A few sales, a handful of kind words, and then nothing. After a while, that silence becomes liberating. If no one’s reading (books in general), then why not write on my own terms? Why not use AI? I’m an author who can’t afford a ghostwriter like many of your favorite authors use. To me they are the same.
Ghostwriters cost money because you’re paying for human time and judgment. AI costs little or nothing because it’s pattern recognition at scale. But both serve the same purpose: they translate vision into form. So when budgets make ghostwriters impossible, AI becomes the collaborator I can actually afford — not a lesser one, just a different kind.
Because in truth, both exist to help me get words on the page, to sound like myself, to finish the work that matters. Whether I hand those directions to a human or to an algorithm doesn’t change the fact that the creative spark starts with me. The line that matters most isn’t who typed the words — it’s whose mind made them meaningful.
AI doesn’t replace my creativity — it extends it. It helps me explore new genres, experiment with styles, or spark ideas when I’m drained. It’s a tool, not a ghostwriter. It doesn’t think for me, it just accelerates the process of thinking out loud. And while it can’t feel what I feel, it can give me new ways to express it.
Some people say using AI cheapens the art. I think what cheapens it is giving up because the world isn’t watching. Writing, even when unseen, is still an act of defiance — a way of saying I exist, I imagine, I make. Maybe the books I create with it will still be ignored, but at least I’ll be producing, experimenting, playing again.
8 Oct 2025 09:10
The Fourth Key will be my next Hammer release, and the first to bridge the human and the digital as shared spaces for belief, doubt, and redemption. I’ve written Neil Hammer for a while now — long enough to let him grow older, slower, and a little more honest. In The Fourth Key, I wanted to see what happens when a man built on procedure and cynicism is forced to face something that doesn’t fit either.
At its core, the story blends the procedural realism of his past investigations with the metaphysical tension of modern myth. If the first stories were about pursuit, this one is about consequence.
The story begins in San Francisco and moves to the fractured skyline of Incheon, South Korea. The novel follows veteran FBI Special Agent Neil Hammer, a man aging and who’s outlived too many investigations. When a classified experiment unravels into an anomaly, Hammer and Detective Sylvia Kang team up to confront a madman trying to alter the fundamental nature of reality.
Hammer’s trademark sarcasm remains intact, but underneath it there’s a sharper edge of reckoning. He’s seen the cost of chasing order in a chaotic universe, and he’s still trying to decide whether the work of an agent — or a human being — is to restore balance, or to simply witness it.
24 Sep 2025 08:42
When I first decided to write in the first person, I thought it would feel natural—almost effortless. After all, what could be simpler than slipping into the “I” of a character and letting the story unfold as if it were my own? But I quickly learned that first person isn’t a shortcut. It’s a tightrope.
In my book, Halfway to MMXX, The Year 2020: It Begins, I challenged myself to walk that line. One of my main characters came to life in first person, and writing through their eyes forced me to slow down, to weigh every thought and every sentence against the voice I had built for them. Unlike third person, where I could shift perspective or dip into broader insights, first person kept me hemmed in. The character could only know what they knew. They could only see what was right in front of them. That limitation made the act of writing both more intimate and more demanding.
What surprised me most was how much first person asked of me as a writer. It wasn’t about speaking louder or more directly but about listening more closely to the inner cadence of the voice I had chosen. To write “I” convincingly, I had to surrender some of my own voice and allow theirs to take over. And in that surrender, I found both the struggle and the joy of writing in first person. However, my voice naturally goes to third person where I am most comfortable.
15 Sep 2025 12:28
When I sit down to write, I’m always torn between the planner in me and the dreamer. Part of me craves the neatness of an outline—a map that keeps me from wandering in circles. But the other part, the one that listens to late-night hunches and half-remembered dreams, knows that the best moments often come when I stop forcing the story and let it lead me.
I’ve learned that I need both. An outline gives me enough structure to feel anchored, but my gut is what gives the work its spark. Sometimes I follow the plan exactly, and sometimes a character suddenly wants to say something I never expected. I’ve stopped fighting that. More often than not, those unplanned turns are the ones that feel truest.
For me, writing is less about choosing between control and intuition than about letting them work together. The plan is my compass, but intuition is the heartbeat that keeps the story alive.
6 Sep 2025 04:55
Did you know that only about 1% of readers write full reviews for books? A few more may leave star ratings, but the majority stay silent. That means the number of reviews isn’t always a true reflection of how many people are reading and enjoying a book.
Nonetheless, did you notice that Amazon may show both local reviews and global reviews for books? Here’s why. Local reviews come from your country’s Amazon site. They focus on your edition, your shipping experience, and comply with local consumer laws. Global reviews give you a wider perspective. Amazon pulls in verified and helpful reviews from other countries and even offers automatic translations.
So why not merge them? By keeping them separate, Amazon shows you the most relevant opinions while still letting you peek at the bigger picture. Local reviews keep things clear. Global reviews broaden the view. Together, they help you choose your next read with confidence.
Goodreads reviews are fantastic for readers who want depth and discussion — they often feel more like book club chatter than product reviews.
There are a number of other review platforms, however, they usually have a cost to them which most independent authors, like me, can’t afford and they usually don’t translate to Amazon’s program.
✨ If you enjoy a book, consider leaving even a short review or star rating. It helps other readers discover stories they might love — and it means the world to authors.
1 Sep 2025 06:35
On September 3, 2025, I’m releasing my latest FBI thriller, Operation Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this story with you.
This book takes Special Agent Neil Hammer and Laura Cruz into unexpected territory: the rodeo circuits of Santa Fe, where money laundering, corruption, and dangerous alliances blur the line between law and lawlessness.
I’ve always been fascinated by the blend of authentic FBI work and settings you don’t normally see in thrillers. Rodeos aren’t just about cowboys and bucking bulls — behind the scenes lies a network of cash, records, and risks that make the perfect backdrop for suspense.
I wanted to explore: What happens when the FBI collides with the rodeo underworld?
When Hammer and Cruz uncover a secret ledger, they realize the rodeo world hides more than just livestock. At the center is Abigail, a powerful woman whose influence stretches across borders — and whose secrets may cost lives.
This novel blends FBI procedural detail with the grit of the American West, creating a fast-paced thriller that keeps readers turning pages.
If you enjoy:
📚 Operation Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is available for pre-order now on Amazon.
👉 Amazon.com: Operation Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (A Neil Hammer Novel Book 2) eBook : Mays, Anthony: Books
I’m grateful for every reader who takes this journey with me. If you enjoy Operation Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, leaving a short review on Amazon or Goodreads helps more than you can imagine. Reviews don’t just help the author — they help other readers discover stories they’ll love.
The countdown is on. 🐂 The rodeo begins September 3rd.
25 Aug 2025 14:12
The first book I wrote in this series, Palm Court Motel, was originally meant to stand alone, as do the rest of my novels. I never imagined it would grow into something larger. But the main character stuck with me—and with some encouragement from family and friends, I decided to write a sequel.
Although I could have moved forward with his story, I decided to explore the character’s earlier years. That book became Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas Still Missing, which shifted Palm Court Motel into the role of book two in the series.
Now, with the upcoming release of Operation Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, the order shifts once again—pushing Palm Court Motel into the third position.
So while the books weren’t written in chronological order, each new installment has given me a deeper way to explore the character and his world. What began as a stand-alone story grew into a series I hadn’t planned, but one I’ve come to love building piece by piece.
For most authors, a story is more than a collection of words—it’s a living extension of themselves. Characters, settings, and themes often carry fragments of their own memories, hopes, and fears, whether placed with intention or revealed without realizing it.
One of the joys—and challenges—of writing a good thriller is keeping readers on their toes. Twists, red herrings, and surprise reveals are essential tools in a writer’s arsenal. After all, no one wants to breeze through a story and correctly guess the ending halfway through.
When I first began writing, I thought I had to choose a lane—thriller, mystery, science fiction, fantasy—and stick to it. But stories don’t always respect boundaries. Neither do the characters who live in them.
One of the trickiest things for me as a writer—right up there with getting the grammar right—is dialogue. It sounds easy. You just make people talk, right? Wrong.
Not in the very distant past, could an author only compete for readers by using established publishing houses. Those houses were very selective in the manuscripts they chose to print. Unless you have a well-recognized name, or are just plain lucky, most authors submitting their work rarely stand a chance. Enter vanity publishing, where authors pay to have their work printed, usually only in large numbers. If you are good at hustling, maybe you may manage to eke out a living from writing. Print-on-demand is now the predominant method for printing books. But who reads hard copy, right?
First, identify the symptom. For example, I often find it challenging to determine the direction of my writing, spending several hours on a single paragraph. This leads to fatigue, prompting me to conclude my work for the day. This issue occurs because I am one of those writers who prefer to edit while writing. Generally, my other difficulties include a lack of creativity, low motivation, self-doubt, and indecisiveness. For myself, I have found that the most effective approach is to set my writing aside—sometimes for days or weeks. Upon returning to the story, I usually have a fresh perspective. Moreover, I do not feel guilty ignoring my story because I still consider it while resting. I also remind myself that the only deadline is self-imposed.
I composed six works that I categorize as poetry. My I Speak for the Earth series of free text poems expresses my feelings about the natural world. Readers may either agree with my interpretations or form their own, as intended. Nonetheless, my works contain the ingredients to be called poems. However, there are those who would argue that what I wrote is really prose. The internet is full of articles that differentiate the two. Their authors aim to show various distinctions that would categorize them as prose. But unless you’re a student of word distinction and form, who cares? Sit back, relax, and read each line and I’m certain you’ll bring forth your own thoughtful enjoyment, as intended.
As an author, my primary objective is to craft a good story. As important, however, is addressing the various challenges necessary to ensure that my readers experience a gratifying read. The main challenges are typos and grammatical errors. Even multiple reviewers and word programs can miss them. My biggest issue is ordering my adverbs; oops! There are also factual inaccuracies to consider. While writing fiction allows for some creative freedom, I strive to ensure that the ideas and content I present are primarily grounded in fact. Finally, having too much or too little dialogue can be an issue. While my personal taste influences my writing, I know it doesn’t always agree with reader’s tastes. But if I craft a good story, maybe that could be overlooked. The following links provide other challenges facing us writers:
I have toyed with using a pen name or the initials of my first and middle names in publishing my books. My thought stems from other famous authors who have used pen names for some of their writings. Agatha Christie is one of them. She authored a few novels using the name Mary Westmacott. Why would she deviate from her own famous name? Reportedly to explore her imagination more freely and avoid influencing readers’ perception of the work. Others may have used it to test the waters by writing genres different from what they typically publish.
“I really enjoyed the writing style. It is smooth, easy reading. It has a fast pace with great interaction between the main characters, Neil and Reese, as they explore the underworld of the Boston mafia. Secondary characters have purpose and help to drive the plot forward. The ambiance and tone of the novel feel authentic, and you can really imagine yourself in locations in the book, whether it is in Boston's Back Bay visiting art galleries or searching for clues at the historic White Mountains resorts. The only thing I thought could have been better was the book's title. ― M J Campbell”
Halfway to MMXX The Year 2020: It Begins was published August 27, 2019. I have been surprised it has not been widely read. Although almost six years has passed, the story backdrop is as relevant today as when I wrote it. Russian military activities in the arctic form the setting to a group of scholars trying to prevent a cataclysmic event. The relevance lies in the fact that portions of the Arctic landmass are now being exposed due to retreating ice sheets, presenting opportunities for the extraction of Earth's resources. My fictional account blends exploration with a natural event and was accorded the LIFE (Literature for Environment) Award. A better synopsis can be found in this review: www.yeahlifestyle.com/book-review-halfway-to-mmxx-the-year-2020-it-begins-by-anthony-mays/
I find that genre is most accepting of my short story skills. Initially, I planned to write only one collection of short stories but quickly found that the stories were coming rapidly. Consequently, I authored a second book. Now all of them, plus others, are incorporated into my Bizarre Stories book. My inspiration is derived from various everyday experiences and situations, as well as from my childhood television viewing. I was especially inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and The Twilight Zone. In my writing, I focus on conveying thoughts and concepts rather than incorporating detailed imagery. To me, that is what separates creepy from horror. At times, I deliberately omit certain details, preferring to allow the reader's imagination to complete the picture. Writing short stories helps me continue working while taking breaks between writing novels.