tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36171590168752219522024-03-19T01:48:24.427-07:00The Kronicles of Korthlundia: A Window into Fantasy . . . and the Tortured SoulAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-28499102384888842262017-04-06T11:30:00.000-07:002017-04-06T14:04:43.045-07:00Blog Move<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I've moved my blog to a new server with better interacting features. Please, follow me to <a href="http://jamie-marchant.com/blog/">http://jamie-marchant.com/blog/</a></span></h2>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-43741758681736334132017-04-06T03:00:00.000-07:002017-04-06T03:00:08.141-07:00The Nate Temple Chronicles Book Tour & Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/pbkkuyicp/nate_temple_banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://s26.postimg.org/pbkkuyicp/nate_temple_banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/qf4p6x2zt/1__obsidian_son.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/qf4p6x2zt/1__obsidian_son.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Obsidian
Son</b></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Nate Temple Chronicles Book 1</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">By
Shayne Silvers</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Genre:
Supernatural Thriller</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A
city that doesn’t believe in magic. Bloodthirsty weredragons. Good
thing this reckless playboy has superpowers…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It’s
been said that monsters cry when a good man goes to war. But they
should run screaming like little school girls when that man is
secretly a wizard, and maybe not necessarily good…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Nate
Temple’s all-consuming quest to avenge his parents is temporarily
put on hold when shape-shifting dragons invade St. Louis. And perhaps
cow-tipping the Minotaur for answers might not have been Nate’s
smartest opening move, because now every flavor of supernatural thug
from our childhood nightmares is gunning for him. Nate learns that
the only way to save his city from these creatures is to murder his
best friend…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Nate’s
choice will throw the world and his own conscience into cataclysmic
chaos: avenge his parents or become a murderer to save his city.
Because to do either, he’s going to have to show the world that
magic is very, very real, and that monsters are very, very hungry…
To survive, he might just need to take a page from the book, How to
Win Friends and Influence Monsters.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">If
you like Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, or Patrick Rothfuss, you will
LOVE the first installment of The Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller
series.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31804249-obsidian-son" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NNHPIA" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/upjd2i82x/2__blood_debts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/upjd2i82x/2__blood_debts.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Blood
Debts</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Nate Temple Chronicles Book 2</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A
Wizard, an Angel, and a Horseman of the Apocalypse walk into a bar…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
ancient pact between mankind, Heaven, and Hell has been broken. And
this upstart wizard’s quest for vengeance may have just kicked off
Armageddon. So, time for a drink... or maybe two.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Already
plagued with sinister night terrors that could qualify him as a
card-carrying psychopathic insomniac, Nate can barely even manage to
put his pants on in the morning, let alone pick teams for the
Apocalypse.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But
when he’s framed as a demon sympathizer, condemned by the Armies of
Heaven, and hunted down by both his allies and the Four Horsemen,
this wizard doesn’t think it can get any worse…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Then
they take away his magic. And a wizard without magic stands no chance
against the forces of Heaven and Hell…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27834764-blood-debts" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0180YBIYY/ref=series_dp_rw_ca_2" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/vgc38aag9/3__grimm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/vgc38aag9/3__grimm.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Grimm</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Nate Temple Chronicles Book 3</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Brothers Grimm – legendary supernatural assassins – have escaped
their prison, and their first day in St. Louis could be Nate Temple’s
last…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sharing
a beer with Death – one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse –
really put a few things into perspective for this foul-mouthed,
billionaire wizard. Like finally strapping on the boots to propose to
his girlfriend.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But
assassination contracts have a way of putting wedding plans on hold.
Perhaps permanently. And with the entire wedding party on the
bloodthirsty Grimm’s hit-list, and his family fortune in jeopardy,
Nate realizes they can’t run and they can’t hide. So, time to do
magic and stuff…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But
with every flavor of supernatural thug teaming up to help the Grimms,
Nate realizes that friends have become enemies and enemies have
become friends, and he’s forced to cross lines that are better left
uncrossed.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When
magic, claws, and teeth dance to the song of war, the only thing left
to learn is who lives and who dies. And if Nate can live with the
consequences.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">No
wonder a guy is terrified to propose…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31682697-grimm" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L1CM1T8/ref=series_dp_rw_ca_3" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/mzckxd5rd/4__silver_tongue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/mzckxd5rd/4__silver_tongue.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Silver
Tongue</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Nate Temple Chronicles Book 4</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">My
resume is pretty full: I’ve cow-tipped the Minotaur, decimated a
gang of weredragons, sucker-punched an Angel, and eaten pancakes with
the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I’ve
kidnapped one of the most powerful wizards on the planet, and
slaughtered the Brothers Grimm. I’m kind of a big deal.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But
I never thought I’d find myself at a crossroads, a pawn in a deadly
game that I hadn’t known existed, willing to sell my soul to save
the life of someone I loved… That’s when I learned true fear,
because the world I thought I knew was all just smoke and mirrors,
and I was just a puppy playing amongst wolves…</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33228442-silver-tongue" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9CYNK4/ref=series_dp_rw_ca_4" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/n0miqs7l5/5__beast_master.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/n0miqs7l5/5__beast_master.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Beast
Master</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
NateTemple Chronicles Book 5</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="https://s26.postimg.org/9me18hqax/nt__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">What
do you do for Thanksgiving Dinner when your guests are Death, an
Angel, and a slew of other monsters? You have a nerf gun war, of
course… But the Queens of Fae want to crash his party. And the
Beast Master is abducting shifter children for a Monster Circus.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></div>
<h2 class="western" lang="en-US">
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thanksgiving
Dinner plans with Death, an Angel, a vampire, Achilles, and a slew of
other monsters are cut short because a Monster Circus has come to
town. And the Beast Master needs new Monsters for his show…</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
But
the Queens of Fae also want a little deep-fried wizard for the
holidays.</div>
<span lang="en"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Oh, and Nate is losing that last finger-hold on his
sanity: hallucinating, and talking to creatures that no one else can
see. The ancient demon inside of him is getting stronger, fighting
for dominance, and only one of them can survive.</div>
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;">
But when a
wizard curses Nate, extorting him to rescue a lethal Chimera child
from the Beast Master’s Circus, Nate’s only option is to partner
with his inner demon, risking his very soul. But his friends begin to
doubt and fear this new, darker Nate, taking matters into their own
hands – even when that means standing against him.</div>
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;">
With
allies turned enemies, the Fae breathing down his neck, and a
dangerous child’s life on the line, Nate must call upon, bully, and
coerce new storybook legends and gods to save his traitorous friends
from becoming the Beast Master’s next victims…</div>
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Discover
what – if anything – Nate is willing to sacrifice to save the
friends who betrayed him…</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34439323-beast-master" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beast-Master-Supernatural-Thriller-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B06XCRXVF2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span></span></span></span></h2>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/wp4k7nrs9/nt__about_the_author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="https://s26.postimg.org/wp4k7nrs9/nt__about_the_author.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/lzqvfefzd/shayne_silvers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s26.postimg.org/lzqvfefzd/shayne_silvers.jpg" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Shayne
is a man of mystery and power, whose power is exceeded only by his
mystery. In other words, a storyteller.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">He
currently writes the Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller Series, which
features a foul-mouthed young wizard with a chip on his shoulder
attempting to protect St. Louis from the various nasties we all know
and fear from our childhood bedtime stories. Nate’s been known to
suckerpunch an Angel, cow-tip the Minotaur, and steal Death’s horse
in order to prove his point. His utter disregard for consequences and
self-preservation will have you laughing and cringing on the edge of
your seat.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Shayne
holds two high-ranking black belts, and enjoys conversing about
anything Marvel, Magical, or Mythological. You might find him writing
in a coffee shop near you, cackling madly into his computer screen
while pounding shots of espresso.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Join
my Readers’ Group for your free books and a pile of other goodies
when they become available.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.shaynesilvers.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> * <a href="http://www.shaynesilvers.com/l/130" target="_blank">Facebook</a> * <a href="http://www.shaynesilvers.com/l/131" target="_blank">Twitter</a> * <a href="http://www.shaynesilvers.com/l/132/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> * <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shaynesilversofficial/" target="_blank">Instagram </a>* <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shayne-Silvers/e/B00P5SAQH4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1487797050&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6876556.Shayne_Silvers?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/qcpextoq1/nt__giveaway.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="67" src="https://s26.postimg.org/qcpextoq1/nt__giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="23d974a9161" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9161/" id="rcwidget_5tk9bbo4" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-90692076179486567102017-04-05T01:00:00.001-07:002017-04-05T01:00:04.045-07:00Demon Cursed Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xn4OgtsiZXdrCl7hI5SgBIC0AkkpcQ0agBr_gndfAyjQxgV8-qZLXxYSc58B6_Rzh3ZEdQ6GiZiQVgim__5T9Vv1ks3JVedDny5oFoY34Zxwn5RVkK8Mlh_AIg5iGNRfK0YpMWr7xKk/s1600/TourBanner_DemonCursed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xn4OgtsiZXdrCl7hI5SgBIC0AkkpcQ0agBr_gndfAyjQxgV8-qZLXxYSc58B6_Rzh3ZEdQ6GiZiQVgim__5T9Vv1ks3JVedDny5oFoY34Zxwn5RVkK8Mlh_AIg5iGNRfK0YpMWr7xKk/s640/TourBanner_DemonCursed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Gin
Crawford, the world's newest demon huntress, just wants to enjoy a football
game, but finds herself hunting a serial killer minion instead. When his victims
turn out to be the local football star’s female fans, she must determine if the
player has joined forces with the minion, but her efforts lead her deeper into
danger. When her mentor, Aidan Smythe, is attacked, Gin resolves to go to any
lengths to save him, even if it exposes her most tightly held secret. Minions
and demons, however, aren't the only terrors she faces. Will she realize the
greatest danger lies within—before it's too late?</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3eXrxqH8pmZiDGDBpRJx2tOUec-Y75EWAgrU-mde21XQVJDgYMGQMBjFEC9hXv1OZoiSJrFCQKMsNAnw7T45WMifjlhvJ1hO_0aluy6KR7o4Um-qepW-PytRx7iuDMISxyzeiMN4qsM/s1600/Cover_Demon+Cursed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3eXrxqH8pmZiDGDBpRJx2tOUec-Y75EWAgrU-mde21XQVJDgYMGQMBjFEC9hXv1OZoiSJrFCQKMsNAnw7T45WMifjlhvJ1hO_0aluy6KR7o4Um-qepW-PytRx7iuDMISxyzeiMN4qsM/s320/Cover_Demon+Cursed.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Excerpt</h2>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I shake my head at him
before straightening my shoulders. And slapping a hand over my mouth and nose.
Yuck. Hours-old death in humid Texas weather makes for a smelly situation. At
least I’m not the only one with their hand, or handkerchief, over their mouths.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What happened?” Smythe meets the gaze of each guard and the
hyperventilating janitorial women who clearly found the body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the women points to where the body lies in front of
the Dumpster, flat on her back, hands resting in classic death pose on her
bloody stabbed chest, a red rose clasped in her fingers. Her open eyes stare
into the night, her mouth curled into a grimace of pain and death. Her clothes
look like she came from a club: tight, short, and low-cut, with spiky heels. At
one time, I would’ve been jealous of her hot-to-trot figure. Now all I notice
is the pain and terror stamped on her face and the unfurling anger deep in my
core. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Effing murderers. I might be a fancy-assed demon huntress,
but I destroy minions, not human killers. Lucky for me, I can tell which type
of kill this scene belongs to with little effort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Closing my eyes, I start to take a deep calming breath,
think better of it, and focus on activating my minion sensors. Tapping into the
power of the entity lying along my nerves, I open my eyes to a tactical grid
display of reds and oranges, a clear indication of a minion’s presence at the
scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Looks like I’ll get my wish to annihilate the bastard who
killed this poor woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About the author</span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY4vDHATnW8fz2ELOiTO2i_fNVAogP-IxdOE0_KXQSY1uLFHZTNm9RD1WsKC2a-BCx4-omuPJty4G2LSsReNiPFqMGJ3DAZQO2Uq7sw1fgxBBWmUOwBO65rXrm0HWRYCCGma09I65fcU/s1600/AuthorPic_Demon+Cursed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY4vDHATnW8fz2ELOiTO2i_fNVAogP-IxdOE0_KXQSY1uLFHZTNm9RD1WsKC2a-BCx4-omuPJty4G2LSsReNiPFqMGJ3DAZQO2Uq7sw1fgxBBWmUOwBO65rXrm0HWRYCCGma09I65fcU/s200/AuthorPic_Demon+Cursed.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Karilyn Bentley's love of reading stories
and preference of sitting in front of a computer at home instead of in a cube,
drove her to pen her own works, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch
of funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Her paranormal
romance novella, Werewolves in London, placed in the Got Wolf contest and
started her writing career as an author of sexy heroes and lush fantasy worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Karilyn lives in
Colorado with her own hunky hero, a crazy dog nicknamed The Kraken, a silly
puppy, and a handful of colorful saltwater fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Where to find
Karilyn:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.karilynbentley.com/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">www.karilynbentley.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Newsletter: </span><a href="http://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">http://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">http://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Pinterest: </span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">http://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Blog: </span><a href="http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Goodreads: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Amazon Author
Page: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=karilyn+bentley"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=karilyn+bentley</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Buy Links:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4RTO97/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4RTO97/</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">B&N: </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demon-cursed-karilyn-bentley/1125540623"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demon-cursed-karilyn-bentley/1125540623</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">iTunes: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/demon-cursed/id1196948081?mt=11">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/demon-cursed/id1196948081?mt=11</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">TWRP: </span><a href="http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4908-demon-cursed.html?search_query=karilyn+bentley&results=17"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4908-demon-cursed.html?search_query=karilyn+bentley&results=17</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f2218" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2218/" id="rcwidget_7jqdasir" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-18700063168904550132017-04-05T01:00:00.000-07:002017-04-05T01:00:22.330-07:00The Falcon Flies Alone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxhTe_GgYPHALIUuBldR_xdIQ2XvszRdLWXoO1YZF0KhY9oFob2mlnf_RJhz7tV0vEpQcMvx4EKNNXG2_icYFEij9DcoKwdBs3emLKFvWhemrVk8iU0DGW8qG-8aUeZ5adKLMTTQ5Kxk/s1600/TourBanner_TheFalconFliesAlone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxhTe_GgYPHALIUuBldR_xdIQ2XvszRdLWXoO1YZF0KhY9oFob2mlnf_RJhz7tV0vEpQcMvx4EKNNXG2_icYFEij9DcoKwdBs3emLKFvWhemrVk8iU0DGW8qG-8aUeZ5adKLMTTQ5Kxk/s400/TourBanner_TheFalconFliesAlone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3Wk3NdYMLX_CUkhfV7zWaPHeMA0ipeR-n_I4D8IQCkg_oK_Dkyej0x-PXV7688piZgfc16nFzvWTbHMAqLA0Pf9LCrIyFllBGios8NPGVagf6RmMkl7-U5AicJ5Vq76S0iHT08OXjoQ/s1600/AuthorPic_The+Falcon+Flies+Alone+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3Wk3NdYMLX_CUkhfV7zWaPHeMA0ipeR-n_I4D8IQCkg_oK_Dkyej0x-PXV7688piZgfc16nFzvWTbHMAqLA0Pf9LCrIyFllBGios8NPGVagf6RmMkl7-U5AicJ5Vq76S0iHT08OXjoQ/s200/AuthorPic_The+Falcon+Flies+Alone+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Gabrielle
Mathieu lived on three continents by the age of eight. She’d experienced the
bustling bazaars of Pakistan, the serenity of Swiss mountain lakes, and the
chaos of the immigration desk at the JFK airport. Perhaps that’s why she
developed an appetite for the unusual and disorienting. Her fantasy books are
grounded in her experience of different cultures and interest in altered states
of consciousness (mostly white wine and yoga these days). The Falcon Flies
Alone is her debut novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
Interview</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. What are your biggest literary influences? Favorite
authors and why?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I
was eight, I read Tolkien’s trilogy, which made me incapable of normal kid
conversation for a couple of years. Who can play with a Ken doll when you’re
longing for Aragon? As the years went by, I began to view Tolkien as a product
of his times, stilted in some respects. I’m impressed by the low fantasy world
George RR Martin crafted, which seems appropriate for modern times, but I’ve
had to stop reading because of the grisly flayings. I would say they both
influenced me, and I stand between the two poles: absolute brutality and
abstract idealism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<b>2. What are you reading at the moment?
Would you recommend it to readers of this blog? Why? <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m
reading Aliette De Bodard’s The House of Binding Thorns, as preparation for our
kickoff interview on the NBN Fantasy channel. The podcast should be available
on April 6<sup>th</sup> or 7<sup>th</sup>, so drop by <a href="http://newbooksnetwork.com/category/arts-letters/fantasy/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://newbooksnetwork.com/category/arts-letters/fantasy/</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">.
The novel, the second in her series, is heavy on atmosphere. This is Paris like
you’ve never imagined, a ruined battleground where fallen angels vie for power,
and allegiances are made and broken. Aliette lives in Paris and has used her
knowledge of the city to create a spell-binding environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. Tell us something about how you write? i.e. are you a
plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary writing habits or
rituals? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m in
neither a plotter or a pantser. I usually have a good idea how I want the novel
to end and what locales it takes place in. After the first draft, I’ll plan to
a trip to the country to nail down details. This will be challenging once I
start my epic fantasy series though since it’s set in another world. I like to
write while I listen to music. I’ve got a play list up at <a href="http://gabriellemathieu.com/inspirational-music/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://gabriellemathieu.com/inspirational-music/</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<b>4. Could you tell us a bit about your
most recent book?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">My
heroine, chemistry nerd Peppa Mueller, falls prey to an unscrupulous
anthropologist who tricks her into drinking a hallucinogenic potion that
changes her life forever. But Peppa’s no victim. Soon she’s locked in a power
struggle that threatens her chance at love, and maybe, her sanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<b>5. What gives you inspiration for your
book</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Falcon series was inspired by a whopping nightmare. When I was in my twenties,
I didn’t just have run of the mill nightmares. I had detailed vivid dreams,
during which I even felt pain or smelled strange smells. My lifestyle, hanging
out with musicians and experimenting with various substances, fed the tendency
of my night time psychic wandering.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<b>6. Do you have a day job in addition to
being a writer? If so, what do you do during the day? <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have
three day jobs! I earn a monthly regular income working in the high-tech
environment of a laboratory testing human blood and body fluids. This
information includes parameters such as cholesterol, but there’s so much more.
In 2001, I received a Master’s in Traditional Oriental Medicine, so I also see
private clients and help them with acupuncture, massage, and herbal prescriptions.
Just recently, I also began translating a book from German to English. Being
busy spurs me on to being productive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<b>7. Tell us a little about your plans for
the future. Do you have any other books in the works?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Falcon Strikes</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">, the
second in the series, is coming out this July. It takes place in Ireland,
against the background of the IRA’s campaign against British rule. Once again,
Peppa tries to carefully plan a strategy, but ends up involved with a handsome
young paramilitary and in trouble with both sides of the political spectrum.
Then there’s the secrets her Grandmother’s been keeping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><b>8. Where can we find you online? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Blog: <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="http://gabriellemathieu.com/category/blog/">http://gabriellemathieu.com/category/blog/</a></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
Website: <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="http://www.gabriellemathieu.com/">www.gabriellemathieu.com</a></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
Facebook: <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/gabriellemathieuauthor/">https://www.facebook.com/gabriellemathieuauthor/</a></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
Twitter: <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://twitter.com/GabrielleAuthor">https://twitter.com/GabrielleAuthor</a></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
Amazon: <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gabrielle-Mathieu/e/B01IT42JZC/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">https://www.amazon.com/Gabrielle-Mathieu/e/B01IT42JZC/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Falcon Flies Alone</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cv_2rA6or8mxYzk6OXJ71QeJXuI_kz_S-ckamKihEUeINibtdJE4kVw_g81rJn6zqICs-tbgTN7aq1MLPoNiSimlMPX9gy3-T1JFqJ0cXM1fy52aygXuPxLBzlN9HyNkbUF6ZxUAVqk/s1600/Cover_The+Falcon+Flies+Alone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cv_2rA6or8mxYzk6OXJ71QeJXuI_kz_S-ckamKihEUeINibtdJE4kVw_g81rJn6zqICs-tbgTN7aq1MLPoNiSimlMPX9gy3-T1JFqJ0cXM1fy52aygXuPxLBzlN9HyNkbUF6ZxUAVqk/s320/Cover_The+Falcon+Flies+Alone.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">As the sun rises on a
quiet Swiss mountain village in 1957, runaway Peppa Mueller wakes up naked and
stranded on the roof of her employer’s manor, with no idea how she got there.
As she waits for help, she struggles to piece together fragmented memories of
the previous night. Did she really witness the brutal massacre of a local
family? Did she kill them? Her fear of sinister house guest Dr. Unruh fuels her
panic—as do electrifying flashes of a furious falcon, trapped inside her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wanted for murder,
Peppa flees the police, intent on finding out if there’s a scientific
explanation or if she’s just going mad. Her godfather, world-renowned chemist
Dr. Kaufmann, risks his career to help her. In the meantime, Peppa fights her
attraction to the handsome priest from India who offers her shelter. With their
help, she not only finds Dr. Unruh but places herself at his mercy. His
experiments may be the reason Peppa now shares her body with a bloodthirsty
bird of prey—but the revenge she plans could kill them both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">NOTE: The book will be on sale for only $0.99 during the tour.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Excerpt</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took out the illustrated book about birds of prey,
wondering if Silvia had been researching hawks because of Horus, the
hawk-headed god. I flipped idly past owls and vultures, until I came to the
sections on falcons. A full-page illustration of a peregrine caught my eye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She was buff -colored with gray barring along her legs and
chest. The head was slate-colored, her eyes large and profound, the darkness of
them more pronounced by the light rim around them. The artist had captured her
in full flight, her wings outspread and the tail feathers fanned around her
tucked claws. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A stab of yearning—where was she going? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seconds passed, then minutes. I couldn’t look away from her.
A conviction seized me that if I looked into the mirror, I would see her curved
beak and piercing eyes instead of my homely features. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I could not face my reflection. Instead, I forced my
trembling hand to graze my nose, my cheeks, my eyelids. Familiar. Ordinary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I slammed the book shut and pushed it to the bottom of the
satchel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">GIVEAWAY INFORMATION <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Gabrielle
Mathieu will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via
rafflecopter during the tour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f2193" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2193/" id="rcwidget_hiz0ywvt" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-65555210899008774712017-04-04T15:15:00.000-07:002017-04-04T15:15:03.472-07:00The Kronicles of Korthlundia has movedI've moved my blog to a new server with better interacting features. Please, follow me to http://jamie-marchant.com/blog/Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-27704936368799404822017-04-04T03:00:00.000-07:002017-04-04T03:00:28.961-07:00The Light and Shadow Chronicles Release Tour & Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/p8yej9209/light_and_shadow_banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://s26.postimg.org/p8yej9209/light_and_shadow_banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/hu92qvg4p/The_Shield_of_Soren_full_cover_375x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/hu92qvg4p/The_Shield_of_Soren_full_cover_375x600.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>The
Shield of Soren</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Light and Shadow Chronicles Book 2</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">by
D.M. Cain</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Genre:
Epic Fantasy</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/s85b6dbhl/ls__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="47" src="https://s26.postimg.org/s85b6dbhl/ls__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype";">Ten-year-old
Soren Nitaya's marked talent makes him the youngest soldier ever to
become an apprentice to the legendary warrior, Raven Lennox. As a
prince of Alcherys, he will be expected to fight in the eternal war
against the Brotherhood of Shadow when he reaches sixteen.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype";">But
is the young prince up to the task when he's more interested in
causing mischief than in mastering weapons? </span></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.07in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype";">When
one of Soren’s adventures goes off course, he unwittingly unleashes
a deadly threat. It appears that an age-old prophecy is finally
coming to pass, and Soren and his family must take a perilous journey
deep into their enemy's land. Does Soren have what it takes to save
his country before the Brotherhood destroys everyone and everything
he loves?</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.07in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype";"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34608981-the-shield-of-soren" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shield-Soren-Light-Shadow-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B06XPL7NVS/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.07in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.07in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.07in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/nwgphd4kp/Chronicle_of_Chaos_34_final_file_resized_title_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/nwgphd4kp/Chronicle_of_Chaos_34_final_file_resized_title_a.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>A
Chronicle of Chaos</b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Light and Shadow Chronicles Book 1</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/s85b6dbhl/ls__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="47" src="https://s26.postimg.org/s85b6dbhl/ls__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In
a world ravaged by war, the paths of two warriors are about to cross
with world-changing consequences.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Chaos
is a soldier of The Children of the Light, and fights in the name of
destiny, honor and glory. Arrogant and headstrong, he believes he is
the strongest warrior in the land, until a fateful coincidence puts
him at the mercy of the demon Anathema.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
two strike up an intense rivalry, but their obsession to destroy one
another only leads them closer together. When the forces of Light and
Dark collide, where will their loyalties lie?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23343036-a-chronicle-of-chaos" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chronicle-Chaos-Light-Shadow-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B01H2TV8O8/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/lvq5wj8fd/ls__about_the_author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://s26.postimg.org/lvq5wj8fd/ls__about_the_author.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/vdpwwku3t/Profile_picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s26.postimg.org/vdpwwku3t/Profile_picture.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">D.M.
Cain is a dystopian and fantasy author working for </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.creativia.org/"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Creativia
Publishing</span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.
The Light and Shadow Chronicles series features a range of books
which can be read in any order. The first of these to be written was
</span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D4YAD96/"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>A
Chronicle of Chaos</i></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.
</span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>The
Shield of Soren</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
will be released in March 2017. She is currently working on the next
novel in the Light and Shadow Chronicles series, </span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>The
Sins of Silas</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">,
as well as two complementary novellas entitled </span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>Genesis
of Light</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
and </span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>Origin
of Shadow</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Cain
has released one stand-alone novel: </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://mybook.to/thephoenixproject"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>The
Phoenix Project</i></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">,
a psychological thriller set in a dystopian future. The Phoenix
Project was the winner of the 2016 Kindle Book Review Best Sci-Fi
novel Award.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">D.M.
Cain is also a member of the International Thriller Writers and one
of the creators and administrators of the online author group
#Awethors. Her short story </span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>The
End</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
was published in </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awethology-Dark-Awethors-ebook/dp/B016RDV1RE/"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>Awethology
Dark</i></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awethology-Dark-Awethors-ebook/dp/B016RDV1RE/"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">:
</span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Awethology-Dark-Awethors-ebook/dp/B016RDV1RE/"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>an
anthology by the #Awethors</i></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Cain
lives in Leicestershire,</span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">UK
with her husband and young son, and spends her time reading, writing
and reviewing books, playing RPGs and listening to symphonic metal. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/XevZH" target="_blank">Mailing List</a> * <a href="http://www.dmcain84.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> * <a href="https://plus.google.com/+DMCain/posts" target="_blank">Google+</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DMCainauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dmcain84/" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/DMCain84" target="_blank">Twitter</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/D.M.-Cain/e/B00LTTX3PA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1490300167&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/DMCain" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/6oa6c6gkp/ls__giveaway.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="87" src="https://s26.postimg.org/6oa6c6gkp/ls__giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="23d974a9178" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9178/" id="rcwidget_m7xvk7o9" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.07in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-28078498660601764412017-04-04T02:30:00.000-07:002017-04-08T14:57:59.709-07:00I've been doing everything wrongI have confidence in my writing, and the reviews I have received are excellent, but my books haven't been selling well. I sought advice from those whose books sell better, and I have learned that, apparently, I have been doing everything wrong.<br />
<br />
These experts told me that my covers are terrible and my blurbs not interesting. My website is worse than horrible, and it doesn't make sense to have my blog separate from my website. Commenting on my blog on its present platform is too difficult because you have to sign into a google account, which stupid me was unaware of.<br />
<br />
Therefore, I am going to be making a lot of changes. I am getting my book covers redesigned by a professional who has been recommended and should be able to produce much more enticing covers. This will unfortunately delay the release of the expanded edition of <i>The Goddess's Choice</i> and <i>The Bull Riding Witch. </i>I am rewriting my blurbs and will soon have new and improved ones.<br />
<br />
I am moving and combining both my blog and website onto the WordPress platform. For this week, I will be making blog posts on both this old blog and the new one. Starting next week, I will be operating solely on the new blog/website. I sincerely hope all of you will follow me to the new site and subscribe to my blog there. The address is <a href="http://jamie-marchant.com/blog/">http://jamie-marchant.com/blog/</a>. I'm still working on the design over there, so it's not as pretty as I hope it will eventually be, but it is fully functional. Click on it now if you will, and comment on my post there on what you think of the new set up and if commenting is now easier for you. I sincerely value your opinions.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-49908729629614943692017-03-31T02:00:00.000-07:002017-03-31T02:00:36.260-07:00World Building<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
One thing readers
of fantasy look for is a journey to a magical world that is unlike the mundane
world we all inhabit, so building that world is one of the most important tasks
of a fantasy writer and also one of the most fun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
There are two
basic types of world builders, sometimes called architects and gardeners. Before
they even begin to write the story, an architect takes days, weeks, months
outlining every intricate detail of their world from economics to politics to
magic. They will create whole notebooks full of climate data, geography, types
of inhabitants, religious systems, and even holidays. There are two basic
dangers to this type of world building. The first is using it as an excuse to delay
beginning the actual story. It can become a distraction/procrastination tactic
to combat a writer’s anxiety about whether or not they are truly good enough to
be a writer. (An anxiety nearly all writers share.) So a writer needs to know
when to stop world building and start writing. The second danger is to use
every detail imagined within the novel itself. You spent time creating it, so
you need to share it, right? Wrong. The writer will always know more about the
world that actually appears in the story itself. As an author, you only reveal
as much of your world as the reader needs to know. The details of the world
should emerge gradually as they are needed for plot and character development,
not be dumped on the reader because the writer created a cool aspect of their
world that doesn’t matter to the story itself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The second type of
world builder is often called a gardener. A gardener will have the seeds or the
very basics of their world in mind and allow that world to grow as they write
the story. They don’t know everything about their world when they begin, but
allow it to emerge as the story needs it. This type of world builder also faces
potential problems. The first is a shallow or insufficient developed world with
too many aspects of it unexplored. A shallow world will not satisfy the reader.
The second problem is continuity errors. The author may claim one thing about
the religion on page 5 that is contradicted by the scene on page 94 that doesn’t
mesh with what they bring out on page 296.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Either method can
work and work beautifully as long as the author is aware of the dangers and
guards against them. The problems of both methods will be inevitable in the
first draft and is one of the many tasks that will need to be addressed in
revision.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Some people
believe that since they are creating something that doesn’t exist, they can do
anything they want with it. This is true only to an extent. When you are
creating a new world, you are asking your readers to suspend their disbelief
for the length of the story. The reader knows that dragons and magic don’t
exist, but during the time they are emerged in your story, they should be
willing to pretend they do. In creating a suspension of disbelief, the author
will find the reader a willing accomplice. Fantasy readers come to a fantasy
novel with an absolute willingness to loose themselves in a make-believe world.
If they didn’t want to temporarily believe in unicorns and fairies, they would
have chosen a different genre. But the reader will turn against the author if
the author doesn’t create a believable world, and once a reader loses their suspension
of disbelief, it is almost impossible to get back. They probably won’t finish
the current novel, and they certainly won’t read another by the same author.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
So how does an
author keep the readers’ suspension of disbelief? The following 4 rules lay
that out. (Note: The only unbreakable rule of writing is, does it work?
However, if these rules are followed, it will work most of the time.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Rule #1:</b> Your world needs consistent
rules. Unicorns can’t be drawn only to virgins at one point in the story and
then come to your non-virgin main character at the moment she has need of a
unicorn. Dragons can’t need 100 lbs of meat a day, but exist in a desert
without much life. Fantasy doesn’t mean illogical. Readers will readily believe
something that they know not to be true, but they will balk at anything that
insults their sense of logic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Rule #2:</b> Anything in your world that
also exists in the real world either needs to be consistent with what the
reader knows of reality or have an explanation for why it isn’t. So if you’re
including such aspects that you have little experience with, you need to
research them. One glaring examples of this problem are horses. Horses are a
staple of epic fantasy, but few in the modern world have had much interaction
with horses. They aren’t like cars with legs, which you can ride all day with only
brief stops to load them with fuel and simply park and forget about at night.
They are living beings that need a lot of care and have restrictions on their physical
strength and endurance. If you are going to include horses in your world, make
sure you understand horses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Rule #3:</b> Include diverse people. No
group of people (or elves, fairies, or dwarfs) is all good or all bad. If you
have a large enough group, you will some assholes in the mix, some truly caring
and good people, and a whole lot of people with varying degrees of assholeness
and niceness. Nor will they all think, believe, or act the same way. You may
decide in your world that dwarfs are obsessed with mining gold and gems, but if
your novel has a large enough sample of dwarfs, there should be some who prefer
to play the lute or carve pictures into the rock walls of the caves. A society
of only knights and nobles also couldn’t exist. It would also need farmers and
artisans.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Rule #4: </b>Your world needs to be
structured in such a way that it addresses real world realities, such as food,
clothing, shelter. If a society is to exist, human needs must be met. If they
aren’t, society is unstable and won’t last long.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in;">
What's your favorite fantasy world? Please tell us in the comments below.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-8552824759019337022017-03-30T02:00:00.000-07:002017-03-30T02:00:02.066-07:00Guest author, Holly EvansI met Holly on Twitter. She has a tendency to post adorable pictures of kittens, puppies, and other baby animals, which first attracted me to her. Then I became intrigued by her mention of her novels starring a gay tattoo magician. I had to check them out, so today, in addition, to my unusual author spotlight, I'm writing a review of the first novel in her Ink Born series, <i>Stolen Ink</i>.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Stolen Ink</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBdBbDO1Zm8yhtFzaSGiTP-4zmOOOPHpSVngPEdqsk-MTVExbuMEhywmJGqurZlmY_elDH7flJeHTuiQvYvbadOmyxTkyFM49jk2uz3unHhAhL1toSUJXMjDDmr2eBW-IX0VRhyphenhyphenaQDjY/s1600/51gRK4QH5pL._UY250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBdBbDO1Zm8yhtFzaSGiTP-4zmOOOPHpSVngPEdqsk-MTVExbuMEhywmJGqurZlmY_elDH7flJeHTuiQvYvbadOmyxTkyFM49jk2uz3unHhAhL1toSUJXMjDDmr2eBW-IX0VRhyphenhyphenaQDjY/s1600/51gRK4QH5pL._UY250_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I’m
Dacian, a tattoo magician, and my life went from my biggest concern being
finding a pretty guy to fall into bed with at the end of the week to everything
falling apart around me.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">There are two problems in my life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Number one – I’m an ink magician, the thing of
myths. A lot of very powerful people would love to get their hands on me, and I
have no intention of letting that happen.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Number two – A tattoo thief came to my city, and
the magical community has decided that I’m the guy to stop them.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Somehow, I have to catch the thief without
letting my secret out of the bag, and that’s even harder than it sounds.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review</span></span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I absolutely loved this book. First, Holly has created a truly innovative world that drips with magic. It is urban fantasy in the sense it's set in a large city with contemporary level of technology, but it most certainly isn't our world.Tattoos pick their wearer, and the tattoo magician's job is to call them forth, not create them. The creatures can then leave their tattoos and become corporeal. Most people have magic of one kind or another and humans share their world with elves and other mystical creatures. It truly isn't like any other urban fantasy world that I've read (and I've read a lot of urban fantasy). More importantly to me, Holly has people her world with fantastic characters. Dacian is sexy, intelligent, and intriguing, but my favorite character is Kyra, his tattoo cat. I love cats to begin with, but Kyra is a feisty one who literally claws the eye out of the bad guy to protect her people. How can one not adore such a creature? The plot contains an appropriate amount of mystery, danger, and intrigue. After finishing it, I immediately pre-ordered Book II, <i>Blood & Ink</i>, and I believe you will, too. I highly recommend Holly Evans and her Ink World. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Excerpt</span></span></h2>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">I gestured to the tattooing
chair. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Strip down to your pants. I’ll paint the design of the tattoo that’s
trying to break free. Should you choose to accept it, then I’ll bring it forth
and tattoo it. It will be painful. The more powerful the tattoo, the more pain
you will endure. You will find its presence in the back of your mind once we’re
done. As this is your first tattoo, I must add that, if you do not like the
design, you cannot choose something else. Should you try and do so, you’ll be
risking disfigurement or even death. Do you understand?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">He gave a short sharp nod before he carefully unbuttoned the black
jacket and folded it, taking his time to ensure that the shirt was properly
folded and crease free next to the tattooing chair. I could almost see the skin
of his back shimmering where the tattoo fought to be free. It covered his
entire back and wrapped around his ribs. Keirn would owe me a few drinks once I
was done battling something of that size. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Sit with your back to me, and I’ll paint on the design,” I said.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">He nodded in acknowledgement and straddled the padded leather chair, his
strong back facing me. Taking a deep breath, I opened myself up to the threads
of tattoo magic. My own tattoos wriggled and clawed, trying to be free. I
mentally growled at them to be quiet. There was work to be done. Kyra yowled at
me. The cat had never been one to do as she was told. Aris, however, stilled,
his form tightly coiled against my spine. The soothing warmth of the magic
flooded my being and tugged my hands towards the brushes. My instincts took over,
removing all superfluous thought. I was verging on nothing more than a vessel
for the magic. It was a dangerous dance, but one I loved more than life itself.
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> The
tendrils of magic flexed and coursed down the brush. There was nothing but the
painting. Everything else slipped away as I lost myself to the art, caressing
the threads and edges of the creature that was buried within the man’s very
existence. It didn’t need coaxing, it practically exploded through the colour.
I stepped back and wiped sweat from my brow. My hand froze halfway down to my
hip when I saw the art on his back. It was there in glorious colour, clear cut
lines and heavy muscle. There was no denying it, no escaping the fact that he
had a dragon desperately clawing at the fibres of his being.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Interview</span></h2>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Tell
us a little about yourself? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I’m a passionate little red-headed woman originally from England, but I
now live in Co. Kerry, Ireland. I’m only 5’2, but I make up for my lack of size
with my huge personality and attitude. When I’m not writing Urban Fantasy, I
usually reading it or wandering around the local area taking in the views and
seeing what inspiration pops up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I’m probably a little bit too interested in sharp pointy things, fae
(particularly those with sharp pointy teeth), and fast cars. I plan on having a
Dodge Challenger in the future – that deep growling v8, yum!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></b><!--[endif]--><b>What
are your biggest literary influences? Favorite authors and why? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I’m honestly not sure who my biggest influences are. <i>Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde</i> definitely had
an impact on my writing. I tend to explore that man and beast line and dynamic
quite a bit. <i>The Night Circus</i> also
had an impact; it really encouraged me to embrace my poetry side. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
As for favourite authors I adore Seanan McGuire. Her clear love
of mythology shines through in her books and makes for engaging, deep, and
fascinating Urban Fantasy. Maggie Stiefvater’s books are poetic, sumptuous, and
beautifully crafted with real emotion. S.M Reine’s worldbuilding is fantastic,
and I adore Gail Carriger’s way of balance humour, action, and romance.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Do
you think people have misconceptions about the speculative fiction? Why do you
think it is a worthwhile genre?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I think there are a lot of assumptions thrown around that
speculative fiction is nothing more than idle escapism. It isn’t worthy of
those who wish to think. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
It’s a worthwhile genre because of the scope! That step away
from reality opens up the possibilities for exploration. We can explore the
very fibres of humanity, psychology, through shifters. We can ask ourselves how
society is put together and look at possibilities of the future through sci-fi.
The potential to explore philosophy, psychology, sociology, and more is huge!
No longer are we constrained about the hard and fast laws of reality; we can
use the realms of our imagination to ask ‘what if?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
And yes, we can offer people the opportunity for escape. We
can give people who feel trapped, lost, and worse, a place to have adventures
and to explore who and what they are. We can provide safe spaces and spaces in
which to think and be happy. Is it really so wrong to give people an escape
from the grey drab of day to day life?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Could
you tell us a bit about your most recent book?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Yes and no, lol. My most recent book is <i>Blood & Ink</i>, but as that’s book 2 in a series, I can talk about
book 1, <i>Stolen Ink</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i>Stolen Ink</i> is an
Urban Fantasy that follows Dacian, a gay tattoo magician. It’s set in a fantasy
kitchen sink, meaning that there are lots of types of magic, magical creatures,
etc. The entire cast is LGBT+ (primarily gay with some bi and an ace
character).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Dacian wants a quiet life, but everyone around him has other
plans. He’s not a typical hero, but he’s an absolute sweetheart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Of all
the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Tyn. He isn’t in a published book, but I love him. He’s
broken, he’s had a horrible start in life, but he has a heart of gold. He comes
across as a bit of a jerk sometimes, but he’s my little kitten, and I adore
him. He’s a Cait Sidhe (a fae cat), and he shows up in <i>Blood & Ink</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Do
you have a day job in addition to being a writer? If so, what do you do during the day? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I’m a developmental editor – I look at the big picture stuff,
plot, character development etc. So when I’m not writing, I edit other people’s
books for them. I might be a tad too passionate about books and writing… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Tell
us a little about your plans for the future.
Do you have any other books in the works?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I have <i>Blood & Ink</i>
currently up for pre-order, that goes live on May 5<sup>th</sup>. I’m currently
book 3 in the Ink Born series; <i>Ink Bound</i>
will go live in early August. Then <i>Seers
Stone</i> is book 1 in a new Urban Fantasy series, that’ll go live in early
November. <i>Seers Stone</i> follows Kaitlyn,
a treasure hunting alchemist, and her books are set in the same world as the
Ink Born books. I’ll likely keep writing a bunch of series in the ink world for
a good few years now. It’s huge; there’s so much to explore!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Where can we find you online? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Blog: <a href="http://chaosfoxwriting.wordpress.com/">http://chaosfoxwriting.wordpress.com</a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/KhaosFoxe">https://twitter.com/KhaosFoxe</a> (Jamie's note: If you like adorable baby animals, you need to follow Holly.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holly-Evans/e/B01ESEZALC">https://www.amazon.com/Holly-Evans/e/B01ESEZALC</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Stolen
Ink: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Ink-Born-Book-ebook/dp/B01MTMZBKL">https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Ink-Born-Book-ebook/dp/B01MTMZBKL</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYc325znRffHyJthMJ5Waa825-zTvpC1m-RC0xjdiQZudv6y5HvQ684ch1hJerX0aJiGNd9x2xWqNlCuvtuOl51HPoo-h4t3yGoOOlzOZDHuIzqLlv7A_vOHwjZ_RVABi2qk8BMOL-npw/s1600/HolFox+Updated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYc325znRffHyJthMJ5Waa825-zTvpC1m-RC0xjdiQZudv6y5HvQ684ch1hJerX0aJiGNd9x2xWqNlCuvtuOl51HPoo-h4t3yGoOOlzOZDHuIzqLlv7A_vOHwjZ_RVABi2qk8BMOL-npw/s320/HolFox+Updated.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
About the author:</h2>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Holly Evans is
an urban fantasy author with an unhealthy fascination with blades, a deep love
of hellhounds, and would love one day to wake up as a fae. When she isn't
wrangling rogue characters and trying to tame her muse, she's researching shiny
new ninja moves. During her spare time she fights crime and rights wrongs on
the streets of Prague.</span><b><span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-71422709406865986462017-03-29T03:00:00.000-07:002017-03-29T03:00:04.056-07:00Guest Author, Amanda Labonté<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;">Welcome my guest today, Amanda, a fantasy writer from the island of Newfoundland.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUoUHee9upebmsJpiXiCh9xD08mBPT-CDN8z0Tmg7i-ycBlqetx95Jqd8tsltFxXf7aWeU-rUse-KeA_e66xOrXSBMXp03U8kttQBZLA6Oko2t1GJHTlWzcMSQL53tQQ2HGf5iPpH8yg/s1600/15271507_10154665382832095_1338404624_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUoUHee9upebmsJpiXiCh9xD08mBPT-CDN8z0Tmg7i-ycBlqetx95Jqd8tsltFxXf7aWeU-rUse-KeA_e66xOrXSBMXp03U8kttQBZLA6Oko2t1GJHTlWzcMSQL53tQQ2HGf5iPpH8yg/s200/15271507_10154665382832095_1338404624_o.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;">Amanda Labonté
lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where she gets much of the inspiration for
the characters and places about which she writes. As the co-owner of an
educational business and mother of two she spends much of her day with kids of
all ages. They give her some of the best reading recommendations.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;">Interview</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="background: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tell us a little about yourself? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I’m a writer and business owner living in St. John’s, Newfoundland on
Canada’s far east coast. I have two awesome kids and a husband who also doubles
as my beta reader. My first novel, <i>Call of the Sea</i>, is a YA fantasy
which has recently been picked up by Engen Books as a series. In addition to
writing, I also enjoy reading and reviewing books, avoiding house cleaning, and
discovering new shows to binge watch on Netflix. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->What made you want to become a writer?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I knew I wanted to become a writer from the time I was in
eighth grade. I had a wonderful English teacher who thought I had potential and
encouraged me to write. Even though I didn’t always get positive feedback on my
creative writing, this early interaction really helped set me on a path to
wanting to share my writing with others.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tell us something about how you write? i.e. are
you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary writing habits
or rituals?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Probably the weirdest thing I do is when I have really bad
case of writers’ block or a plot point is really bugging me, I go take a
shower. I know it sounds strange, but it can really help sort out my thoughts,
especially when I am under a deadline.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Do you think people have misconceptions about
the speculative fiction? Why do you think it is a worthwhile genre?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
I think the misconceptions about
speculative fiction come from within the writing community, rather than the reading
community. Fans of speculative fiction are amongst the most dedicated and
voracious readers. I love writing for this audience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
One of the main misconceptions
about speculative fiction is that these writers don’t have to work as hard,
since they are making up a new world or using magic as part of their plot. I
would say that this might make speculative fiction more fun to write, but it
doesn’t make it easier. Consistency is just as important, and just as
problematic, in an alternate reality as it is in our own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
As for the value of speculative
fiction, I think that’s most easily seen in how deeply readers feel about books
written in genres like fantasy and science fiction. These stories resonate
deeply with readers and have proven lasting power. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->What gives you inspiration for your book?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
My inspiration for <i>Call
of the Sea</i> came from my surroundings. Though the specific communities are
fictional, the setting of the story is a very real place. The Cape Shore is a
beautiful area with breathtaking sea views. It’s exactly the sort of place
you’d expect to find fantastical beings. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->What was the hardest part of writing your book?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
By far, the hardest part of writing this book was balancing my time. My
daughter was very young when I was trying to get the <i>Call of the Sea</i>
manuscript ready to submit. Then, when I did manage to carve out some time, I
had to fight the self-doubt that I think plagues all writers. Is this any good?
What if no one ever reads it? I still have to fight the self-doubt demons, I
think it’s something all writers have to deal with.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Do you have any other books in the works?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I have been working on an e-book serial called <i>Supernatural Causes</i>. It’s a paranormal
medical mystery about a university student who moonlights as an intern at a
hospital for vampires, werewolves, and witches. <i>Supernatural Causes</i> will be released in four parts, which we’re
calling ‘episodes’, starting in April, 2017. I am also working on <i>Return to the Sea</i>, the sequel to <i>Call of the Sea</i>, which will be made
available April 2018 through Engen Books.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Where can we find you online?
(please cut and paste links):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Website: <a href="https://engenbooks.com/">https://engenbooks.com/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amandalabontewrites/">https://www.facebook.com/amandalabontewrites/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Twitter:
@amlabonte</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Labont%C3%A9/e/B01B890Q2S/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1490371356&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Labont</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14572123.Amanda_Labont_">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14572123.Amanda_Labont_</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDysQXG2ROuFSnTKPdjRWY5Xgzc5y-95VPDlFHaE056U1CSMOiDIWM_WnQa3DYt1jcmHV2elFB9m_DKBc8GZhOIXIJVnkhtiQ3qUYEfxFc1mgxpy63FAy4b7r9hKxebRhy8lckAL0J3w/s1600/15302338_10155088980100715_1368361584_o.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDysQXG2ROuFSnTKPdjRWY5Xgzc5y-95VPDlFHaE056U1CSMOiDIWM_WnQa3DYt1jcmHV2elFB9m_DKBc8GZhOIXIJVnkhtiQ3qUYEfxFc1mgxpy63FAy4b7r9hKxebRhy8lckAL0J3w/s200/15302338_10155088980100715_1368361584_o.png" width="123" /></a>Call of the Sea</h2>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">While twins
Alex and Ben are at sea, they get into a fight, and Ben disappears suddenly
from the boat without so much as a ripple in the water. Determined to find his
brother, Alex begins the biggest adventure of his life, armed only with a
mysterious musical talent and the help of a local girl named Meg. But his best
hope for finding his brother might come from the alluring and dangerous girl he finds
amidst the frothing ocean waves.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Excerpt</span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<i><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Come to me, she called, she
called.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<i><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Come to me my one, my only…</span></i><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The melody played at the edges
of his consciousness. The gentle sound of woodwind instruments with the
occasional infusion of something deeper, a low, sonorous percussion. He floated
along on the feeling of a familiar dream — until it became louder, more
pronounced, overpowering his other senses.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<i><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Come to me my one, my only…</span></i><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Alex sat up in bed, his heart
racing, and looked toward the open window. This was not how he’d envisioned his
first night home after being away for almost a month. Knowing exactly where the
sound was coming from and what he had to do, he ducked out from under the lower
bunk and fumbled in the dark for a T-shirt. He pulled the stretch cotton over
his head while sneaking into the hallway, making as little noise as possible so
as not to wake the household.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He paused halfway down the
stairs as the wooden clock in the living room chimed the hour. One … two …
three … four. Far too early to be up. Moving on, he used the light over the stove
in the kitchen to find his sneakers and was almost to the back door when he
heard Poppy muttering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Doubling back to the first
floor bedroom, he listened outside the door and thought about checking on him
but decided against it. Poppy frequently woke in the middle of the night, but
he didn't wander. Anyway, the music was getting louder, giving him a headache.
He needed to get moving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He left through the back,
careful not to let the screen door swing shut. The predawn air was pleasantly
warm, and the walk would have been almost welcome if Alex wasn't hearing a song
to which everyone else remained deaf. He followed the driveway out onto the
main road and down the hill that led to the beach path.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Oddly, as he got closer, the
music became softer, as though some cosmic power had been shouting for his
attention, and now that he'd answered, it was all right for it to whisper. By
the time his feet slid onto the beach rocks, the melody had blended so subtly
with the sound of the waves that he might have imagined it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Except that if he turned back
now, he knew it would start all over again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The tide was out, revealing the
narrow strip of sandy beach that was actually a piece of the ocean floor. It
made a path to the horned rock, nicknamed for the horn-like appendages that
protruded from the ocean side of the boulder. The novelty of the rock was that
when the tide was in it was surrounded by water, but when the tide was out it
was completely accessible. The trick was not to get caught when the tide
changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He sank down on the strip of
sand, facing the ocean, and felt the sense of relief that came with answering
the music’s call. It was a clear night, and he could see the stars and the
crescent moon. He took a deep, cleansing breath, tasting the salt air. The
music had completely dissipated now, and it was easy to think that it had all
been an illusion. Closing his eyes, he listened to the natural, rhythmic sound
of the waves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">He’d missed the ocean while
he’d been away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Tell me what you think in the comments below.</span></div>
</span></div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-64917696295158564752017-03-24T03:00:00.000-07:002017-03-24T03:00:32.616-07:00Michelle M. Pillow on the podcast<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ9zL4gHIIN_KadKhh5vNLy3A8mktngGvEJlKS6V5Vmj707mbx_uTzCHyR5u35qKIaUBTjTQcvs79ff7_zjpdV89OPz2TtVFMpqKqeabG7q91-vsX4jHYrDV3UZz-Cjlbi-zmyLufbAg/s1600/Michelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ9zL4gHIIN_KadKhh5vNLy3A8mktngGvEJlKS6V5Vmj707mbx_uTzCHyR5u35qKIaUBTjTQcvs79ff7_zjpdV89OPz2TtVFMpqKqeabG7q91-vsX4jHYrDV3UZz-Cjlbi-zmyLufbAg/s640/Michelle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Ever wondered about the personalities behind your favorite books? Victoria Danann's new podcast with Riley J. Ford has an incredible lineup of authors booked through the spring. No question is out of bounds. Check it out!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>THIS WEEK'S BEST SELLING AUTHOR...</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Michelle M. Pillow!</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyAkXIu2elE6p4RgVlm6Zz0SYcL9bXACXmR7UaqyeEKybKCWMBNjp4Ho8TFQYbHtboJ2yMCjbKlfhlEXjFp0P4W5CHHISHUtYKSv6665WJ15r4vSJRb-INgEKeZ2Z_YOVH-DW0ZHWdhs/s1600/Michelle+author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyAkXIu2elE6p4RgVlm6Zz0SYcL9bXACXmR7UaqyeEKybKCWMBNjp4Ho8TFQYbHtboJ2yMCjbKlfhlEXjFp0P4W5CHHISHUtYKSv6665WJ15r4vSJRb-INgEKeZ2Z_YOVH-DW0ZHWdhs/s320/Michelle+author.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
New York Times (#8) & USA Today Bestselling Author</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Author of All Things Romance<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As long as she can remember, Michelle has had a strange fascination with anything supernatural and sci-fi. After discovering historical romance novels, it was only natural that the supernatural and love/romance elements should someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She's glad they did for their children have been pouring onto the computer screen ever since.<br />
<br /></div>
Michelle loves to travel and try new things, whether it's a paranormal investigation of an old Vaudeville Theatre or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She's addicted to movies and used to drive her mother crazy while quoting random scenes with her brother. Though it has yet to happen, her dream is to be a zombie in a horror movie. (She came close as a refugee extra on SyFy's Z Nation, airing Fall 2016!)<br />
<br />
For the most part she can be found writing in her office with a cup of coffee in pajama pants.<br />
<br />
Come say hello! I love talking with readers on social media!<br />
<br />
Bestselling series: Dragon Lords (dragon-shifters), Lords of the Var (cat-shifters), Warlocks MacGregor (contemporary-set Scottish magic), Lords of the Abyss (merfolk), and more...<br />
<br />
Proof of Michelle M. Pillow's NY Times & USA Today listings are provided<a href="https://goo.gl/KHmBln"> here.</a><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/romance-between-the-pages/id1163219468?mt=2" target="_blank">Listen on Itunes (Subscribe so you never miss an episode! It’s FREE!)</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMzLBTI-gbnOOQLDajW6g6bYzvgOzmSrcklw9J6Yk0h__xDTkyPVf_k87UIVMf9OVutRYyuy7U7-ypMY2djUsuj_uPw2imNSVWjRH8xhFtQnbC0tADdfcDnKWzygAHOBMjKT85MQCZSM/s1600/MoB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMzLBTI-gbnOOQLDajW6g6bYzvgOzmSrcklw9J6Yk0h__xDTkyPVf_k87UIVMf9OVutRYyuy7U7-ypMY2djUsuj_uPw2imNSVWjRH8xhFtQnbC0tADdfcDnKWzygAHOBMjKT85MQCZSM/s1600/MoB.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-73647392918688443632017-03-23T03:00:00.000-07:002017-03-23T03:00:13.459-07:00Wrath of the Ancients Cover Reveal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/aj3gkin3d/wrath_of_ancients_CR_banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://s26.postimg.org/aj3gkin3d/wrath_of_ancients_CR_banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/gy2hh6tt5/Wrath_Of_The_Ancients___hires_400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/gy2hh6tt5/Wrath_Of_The_Ancients___hires_400x600.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>WRATH OF THE ANCIENTS </b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by Catherine
Cavendish </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Genre: Horror/Suspense</div>
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Pub
Date: 10/24/2017</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/mox98nr6x/wa__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="66" src="https://s26.postimg.org/mox98nr6x/wa__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b>DESTINY IN DEATH</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Egypt, 1908</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eminent archeologist Dr. Emeryk
Quintillus has unearthed the burial chamber of Cleopatra. But this
tomb raider’s obsession with the Queen of the Nile has nothing to
do with preserving history. Stealing sacred and priceless relics, he
murders his expedition crew, and flees—escaping the quake that
swallows the site beneath the desert sands . . .</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Vienna, 1913</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Young widow Adeline Ogilvy has accepted
employment at the mansion of Dr. Quintillus, transcribing the late
professor’s memoirs. Within the pages of his journals, she
discovers the ravings of a madman convinced he possessed the ability
to reincarnate Cleopatra. Within the walls of his home, she is
assailed by unexplained phenomena: strange sounds, shadowy figures,
and apparitions of hieroglyphics.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Something pursued Dr. Quintillus from
Egypt. Something dark, something hungry. Something tied to the fate
and future of Adeline Ogilvy . . .</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/2lD82hW" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="http://bit.ly/2lDm0Aj" target="_blank">B&N</a> * <a href="http://bit.ly/2lDdnFU" target="_blank">GooglePlay</a> * <a href="http://bit.ly/2lDkr5F" target="_blank">Kobo</a> * <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wrath-of-the-ancients/id1209823292?mt=11" target="_blank">Apple</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/gp9i506eh/wa__about_the_author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="61" src="https://s26.postimg.org/gp9i506eh/wa__about_the_author.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/3v6uxx3l5/Catherine_Cavendish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s26.postimg.org/3v6uxx3l5/Catherine_Cavendish.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Following a varied career in sales,
advertising and career guidance, Catherine Cavendish is now the
full-time author of a number of paranormal, ghostly and Gothic horror
novels, novellas and short stories. She was the 2013 joint winner of
the Samhain Gothic Horror Anthology Competition, with Linden Manor,
which was featured in the anthology What Waits in the Shadows. Cat’s
novels include The Pendle Curse, Saving Grace Devine, and Dark
Avenging Angel. She lives with her long-suffering husband and black
(trainee) cat. They divide their time between Liverpool and a
260-year-old haunted apartment in North Wales.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.catherinecavendish.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/5a203ejjd/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s26.postimg.org/5a203ejjd/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-16408752275570098362017-03-22T04:00:00.000-07:002017-03-22T04:00:01.753-07:00Guest Author, Kev Heritage<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meet my guest today from far off England. I met Kev on Twitter. He writes science fiction and fantasy and has had trouble settling on a career. If you like what you read, please comment. Remember each comment enters you to win a signed copy of The Bull Riding Witch when it is released or a $25 Amazon gift card.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4TpyT6GHcgAV9QAeSexLFjzsnQviuwMAxQh2whIshIqWkLYPuF56P1Fu9x9-WjNNE52vHa-7AnbLt7q4LcQbnldttaUvHjn4nLRkqe3j9gwjns97GFj-ZboRTKIl-0qlMaqScoOU2kc/s1600/V1_Kev-Heritage_BW_500x616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4TpyT6GHcgAV9QAeSexLFjzsnQviuwMAxQh2whIshIqWkLYPuF56P1Fu9x9-WjNNE52vHa-7AnbLt7q4LcQbnldttaUvHjn4nLRkqe3j9gwjns97GFj-ZboRTKIl-0qlMaqScoOU2kc/s1600/V1_Kev-Heritage_BW_500x616.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">When Kev isn’t penning
difficult, third person descriptions of himself for on and off-line
publications<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>, he mulls away the hours writing bestselling
science fiction and fantasy novels, or watching telly, or going down the pub.
Or doing the one-hundred or so other things he likes to do instead of actually
writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;">Kev has worked as a driver's mate,
factory gateman, barman, labourer, telesales operative, sales assistant,
warehouseman, Student Union President, university IT helpdesk guy, British Rail
signal software designer, premiership football website designer, mobile banking
content team lead, gigging musician, graphic designer, stand-up comedian, sound
engineer, improv artist, magazine editor and web journo. Although he doesn't
like to talk about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;">He was born in the UK in the previous
century. Originally from the picturesque county of Derbyshire, Kev now lives in
the seaside town of Brighton. He is a Twitter aficionado, tea drinker and
part-time stand-up comedian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<h2 style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Interview</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro";">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Tell us
something about how you write? i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have
any weird or necessary writing habits or rituals?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I’m a ‘pantster’! Although it’s not something I mention at
parties due to all the strange looks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">My technique—a laughingly inaccurate term—is the mental
equivalent of waking up with a vague feeling of wanting to go somewhere but
without any clue of an actual destination, how I’m going to get there (if I’m
going to get there), how long it will take or whom I’m going take with me on
the way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">There’s lots of other metaphors. And they all sound the same.
It’s the most frustrating process which relies on my mind making connections
between seemingly random events, characters and plot points. Usually with a few
deaths thrown in for good measure. Add the fact that I write supposedly
‘well-crafted mysteries’ and the process becomes a hell of my own making.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">The actual process?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I come up with a mystery without knowing what the solution
is. I have a few islands to aim for. I start with a bang, usually with some
cool action and some other ideas about set-pieces – more cool action scenes—and
off I go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">During this process, I’ll meet characters, and it’s them who
shape everything. I name them using an alphabetic list using everyday names
like Arthur, Bill, Dave, Ada, Bella, Claire. This stops me wasting time
thinking of cool names that may not suit the character before I’ve discovered
who they are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">The rest is seeing where I go and hoping that the mystery
will reveal itself. Yes. I use hope!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">For instance, writing my space murder mystery, </span><a href="http://smarturl.it/vatic"><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Vatic</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";"> (calling it
a ‘murder mystery’ is a vast understatement), my hero was constantly frustrated
by how nothing made any sense. But that wasn’t him! It was me, voicing my own
perplexed frustration on the written page. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">So
why do I put myself through this?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">It’s for those moments when I make the connections, when out
of nowhere I find a unifying thread that brings everything in the mystery
together. A kind of lying in the bath Eureka moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro";">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Do you think
people have misconceptions about the speculative fiction? Why do you think it
is a worthwhile genre?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I suppose some people prefer the real world to be re-enforced
in their reading. Maybe they want something safer and set within recognizable
boundaries. I don’t like boundaries. Never did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I read my first sci-fi at age twelve and—it was mind-blowing.
A very personal experience. I was a closed-off child who found making friends
difficult (nothing’s changed, haha). Sci-fi and fantasy was a wonderful escape
from the real world that I couldn’t really get along with. For me, books were all
I needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Anyone who reads my novels will immediately understand the
concepts I’m working with. Lust, death, power etc. My puzzles happen to be in
space—this is because out of all the many genres, science fiction is the most
imaginative genre, and it gives scope to my expansive imagination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro";">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Could you
tell us a bit about your most recent book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">It’s called </span><a href="http://smarturl.it/quickkill"><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Quick-Kill and the Galactic
Secret Service</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkKIypEJKSL2e7IlFAm9mpN_f2wyfpsfc4Jv4yhP-eYdtJzqQI-IelHIZRlqG7sAMswZZvDwNVivPngnWLHdL23dJoy-mYjUk5628X5hpgDVbyILCz0xALXOgUYnhQc-G2Mma8ghlsEk/s1600/quickkill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkKIypEJKSL2e7IlFAm9mpN_f2wyfpsfc4Jv4yhP-eYdtJzqQI-IelHIZRlqG7sAMswZZvDwNVivPngnWLHdL23dJoy-mYjUk5628X5hpgDVbyILCz0xALXOgUYnhQc-G2Mma8ghlsEk/s400/quickkill.jpg" width="275" /></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">And it’s not a mystery! Hurrah! Although there are some
mystery elements that cropped up </span><span style="font-size: large;">during writing, which are left
unresolved—meaning that if the novella goes down well, there’s scope for
sequels. And besides, I couldn’t help myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I wanted to write a bubble-gum sci-fi. Something a little
cheesy. Something fast-paced, tongue in cheek. And a short. A little holiday
away from another more serious project I’d been sweating over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">It turned into an assassin story starring the eponymous
Quick-Kill Jane. Written in first-person present, Jane’s character arrived
almost immediately. Her voice is the one that drives the novel. It was a real, <i>sit down and let Jane do her stuff</i> kind
of thing—and she didn’t let me down. A real joy to write—and even I was shocked
by the ending. That pantster vibe again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">The novel starts off on a backwater planet in the backend of
nowhere, with Jane plying her trade as an assassin and enjoying every moment of
it. But things don’t go the way she expected. Haha. Leading to a series of
events that even Jane, with all her driven, borderline genius capabilities,
cannot escape from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Here’s a snippet… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Amsterdam City is ahead, silhouetted
against the dark night sky and lit up like an electric red thistle. The lower
gravity means that it boasts some of the tallest high-rises and skyscrapers in
this forgotten solar system. But the money has long-gone, leaving decades ago
to invest itself in the ‘next big thing’—which happened to be space habitats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Amsterdam is Plenty’s first and only
city, its buildings mimicking the red of the surrounding landscape. The
conurbation was once considered a marvel. But now? It’s nothing more than a
crumbling prison, home to thirty or so million people wishing they were
someplace else. No towns, no resorts… <i>nothing</i>.
Just a few outlying industrial farms and the spaceport. The locals—who I do not
count myself a member of—call it the <i>Forgotten
City</i>. And I can’t wait to put it out of my memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I enter via the ring road, taking the
turnoff that brings me outside Angie’s apartment. At this time of night there’s
little traffic. I cast my eyes up to Angie’s windows. The lights are off and
alarm bells start ringing. She should be waiting for me, all dolled up and a
meal prepared. A celebration. Tonight, of all nights, she’d be there with the
lights on. And she ain’t the type to throw a surprise party. Besides, she’s
like me when it comes to friends… she can’t see the point. That’s why we get on
so well. That, and our disinclination towards men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The foyer is an oasis of light on the
dark street. Just inside I spot Joe, the robo-doorman. He’s seen better days.
His once colourful costume is faded, as is his absurd top hat. I push open the
doors and head for the elevator. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The metallic face inclines towards
me. The eyes sunken and slightly sad. “Are you here to see Miss Angie?” he asks
in servile bass tones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I see the gun in his hand long before
he can raise it against me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I snap out my laser and play the beam
over his face, which collapses in on itself. The cooked bio-circuitry smells
like a pie in the oven. Which reminds me… I’m hungry. Whoever’s upstairs
waiting for me hoped Joe would to do their work for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I flick the laser’s beam over the
rest of Joe’s twitching artificial body. He collapses into nothing more than a
few whirring, metal cogs and smoking servitor modules. I never did like the
condescending bastard. Good riddance. If I had my way, I’d melt all these
robotic half-breeds to glass and laugh while I did it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">My next action is easy. I get in the
elevator and arrive on Angie’s floor a few seconds later. I step out, make my
way to her apartment and knock. I shout, “Honey, I’m home!” and sidestep a hail
of bullets that turn the door into plastic shreds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I power up the laser again and play
it at head-height across the wall. It punches through the extruded
pseudo-cement like, well, like a high-powered industrial laser through a
cheaply-manufactured living module. I look into the smoking ruins of the room.
Angie is tied up in a chair, her hair singed from where the laser caught it.
Good girl, she’ll survive. Shame about her apartment. I guess I won’t be eating
anytime soon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">For my attacker, it’s another story.
He lies on the floor, his head a burnt mess. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 17.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Nice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro";">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">What is the
biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">For me it’s the writing itself. The ideas that emerge from
writing. That I can create something from nothing just by tapping plastic. And
(trying not to be self-reverential) I’m sometimes truly amazed at the finished
product. At what I’ve achieved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I suppose to put it a single statement… <i>I’m surprised by the magic of it.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro";">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Titles have
always been extremely difficult for me. How do you come up with yours?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I have only one stipulation for a book title, and that there
is no other book title like it out there. It must standalone in a Google/Amazon
search. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Second to that is that there is no major product, band or
brand that shares the same name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Book titles either come fully formed like </span><a href="http://smarturl.it/vatic"><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Vatic</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";"> or </span><a href="http://smarturl.it/rip1"><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Blue
Into The Rip</span></a>,<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";"> or I agonize over them for weeks on end. Sometimes
over-thinking—like I did with </span><a href="http://smarturl.it/iscythe"><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">The IronScythe Sagas</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";"> and ‘</span><a href="http://smarturl.it/quickkill"><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Quick-kill
and the Galactic Secret Service</span></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I must have had about ten different names for my latest
novella. The story wrote itself, but the title didn’t. It all revolved around
the name of my main character. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">She started off as ‘Deadly Jane’ and became ‘Dead-Eye Jane’,
Red-Eyed Jane’, ‘Can’t Kill Jane’. It went through a series of names to do with
colours. What a pain. I even went onto an online random assassin name picker
for fantasy games. Nightmare. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">In the end, I found I liked the two ‘k’s in the</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> centre</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";"> of Quick-kill. That, and a relatively empty Google search
for the same name, made me just give in and go with it. It’s grown on me, although it jarred for a
few days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro";">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">What is your
favorite writing tip or quote?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">‘A writer writes’ – not sure who said that. <i>Did anybody?</i> I say it a lot to myself. I
remember when I used to talk about writing rather than actually writing. But
it’s a true adage. If we don’t write, we ain’t writers. I write for at least
four hours every day. The hours increasing over time as I’ve slowly overcome
the dreaded ‘procrastination’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro";">7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Tell us a
little about your plans for the future. Do
you have any other books in the works?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">I’m
presently writing <b>Vatic 2</b> – not sure
of the title yet. But it’s early days in the first draft but something will
suggest itself. It will need to be a single word preferably with two syllables.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Vatic
is already on his way to solve another messed up space mystery… Hoorah! Your
favourite ‘Skilled’ is trapped on a berserk spaceship and in a mean, mean mood
about it, so don’t get in his way!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">My
Sequel to </span><a href="http://smarturl.it/rip1"><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";">Blue Into The Rip</span></a><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif";"> – <b>Blue Into The Moon</b> is presently at the ‘aaaaargh!’ stage. That’s
just how I feel about it at the moment. But it’s near done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">So
what does Blue get up to in part two? Well, he goes to the Moon for starters. There’s
murder, a Tourney and an asteroid made out of sapphire. But the big thing is
his first kiss! Yeah. It’s all happening to Blue in Phase two of cadet
training.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">In
the next month or two, I have a story out in a Samuel Peralta anthology, <b>Chronicle Worlds: Drifting isle</b>. My
first foray in steampunk. My story is of course a mystery! What else could it
be? Very noirish. Called: <b>Murder, Lies
and No Goodbyes</b>. No release date for this just yet. But I’ll let you all
know. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Where can we
find you online? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Contact"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Contact Kev<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .75pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Please feel free to contact me on any of the following
links. I will certainly find time to reply. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="More"></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;">Website: </span><a href="http://kevheritage.com/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;">http://kevheritage.com</span></a><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; color: blue; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;">Email:</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
</span><a href="mailto:goforit@kevheritage.com"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">goforit@kevheritage.com</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , serif;"> <span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/kevheritage" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;">@KevHeritage</span></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;">Facebook - Mostly Kev Heritage:</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/mostlykevheritage"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/mostlykevheritage</span></a><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; color: blue; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;">Goodreads:</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/KevHeritage"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;">https://www.goodreads.com/KevHeritage</span></a><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none 1.0pt; color: blue; font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Amazon: </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/amznkev">Amazon
author page</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , serif; text-indent: 0.7pt;">Barnes & Noble: </span><span style="font-family: "adobe garamond pro" , serif; text-indent: 0.7pt;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Kev%20Heritage" style="text-indent: 0.7pt;">My B&N Books</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If Kev's interested you, his book can be purchased below, and remember to comment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .7pt; text-indent: .7pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamiemarchan-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B06VXYNS8C&asins=B06VXYNS8C&linkId=3798cbbbe51956b34b82c8bfe9a47401&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-3439521859941882072017-03-22T03:00:00.000-07:002017-03-22T03:00:07.598-07:00The Fortune Teller's Secret: Boor Tour and Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/yq9ch390p/fortune_teller_banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://s26.postimg.org/yq9ch390p/fortune_teller_banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/74b6a5f1l/fortunetellers_secret_ecover_386x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/74b6a5f1l/fortunetellers_secret_ecover_386x600.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>The
Fortune Teller's Secret</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A
Cavendish Brown Paranormal Mystery Book 2</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">by
Ron D. Voigts</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Genre:
Paranormal Mystery</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/65ut7v1pl/fts__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="33" src="https://s26.postimg.org/65ut7v1pl/fts__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A
dead man on a Ferris wheel and a cold-case murder take Cavendish
Brown into a world of carnival freaks, ghosts, and killers.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
annual carnival comes to Maiden Falls, a small town in the West
Virginia Mountains, but everything is not merry.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">The
ghost of a woman appears to Cavendish Brown, a carnival worker lies
dead aboard a car on the Ferris wheel, and a bullied teenager plots
to kill people at the carnival with a homemade bomb. More
complications arise. Cavendish again butts heads with the local
sheriff, Clinton Pike.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">Marbella
Wellingway, owner of the newspaper where Cavendish works, receives a
visit from the Angel of Death. And a Fortune Teller at the carnival
knows something that could forever change Cavendish’s life.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">With
the aid of Jane, a disturbed psychic, and Alexandra, a Goth witch, he
must find the killer, help the mystery woman, and risk his life to
prevent more deaths.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34499865-the-fortune-teller-s-secret" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fortune-Tellers-Cavendish-Paranormal-Mystery-ebook/dp/B06X9ZG7P6/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/706690" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> * <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-fortune-teller-s-secret-2" target="_blank">Kobo</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/6g2br7gbt/witches_daughter_(1)_386x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/6g2br7gbt/witches_daughter_(1)_386x600.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
Witch's Daughter</span></b></span></span></span></div>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A
Cavndish Brown Paranormal Mystery Book 1</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/65ut7v1pl/fts__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="33" src="https://s26.postimg.org/65ut7v1pl/fts__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Investigative
reporter and recent widower, Cavendish Brown, is unemployed and
floundering. Coerced into returning to his childhood home by the
town's eccentric matriarch, Cavendish finds himself involved in
murder, deceit, and a not-so-subtle attempt at matchmaking. Joined by
Jane, a disturbed psychic, and Alexandra, a young Goth woman with
uncanny abilities, they follow leads into the hills of West Virginia
to catch the killer. A sheriff who shoots first and asks questions
later makes solving the case difficult for the trio. Adding further
complications is an ex-girlfriend with a mob hitman on her trail who
seeks Cavendish’s help. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Immersed
in a never-ending spiral of clues and secrets, he must unlock the
darkness that surrounds the enigmatic Jane, stay ahead of the law,
and come to terms with his own grief.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25076479-the-witch-s-daughter" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Daughter-Cavendish-Paranormal-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00U0W28LC/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/706695" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> * <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-witch-s-daughter-7" target="_blank">Kobo</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/n7nn9ygkp/fts__about_the_author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="36" src="https://s26.postimg.org/n7nn9ygkp/fts__about_the_author.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/tisuqdht5/AuthorPhotoRon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s26.postimg.org/tisuqdht5/AuthorPhotoRon.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ron
D. Voigts lives in Raleigh, North Carolina and sometimes somewhere
else. When back in Raleigh, he enjoys time with his family, watches
old movies and shoots lots of pool. He has his own private writer’s
retreat in La Vale, MD where he spends lots of time working on his
next novel while enjoying the mountains and eating ice cream.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.authorrondvoigts.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorrondvoigts" target="_blank">Facebook</a> * <a href="https://twitter.com/RonDVoigts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ron-D.-Voigts/e/B005H4IM9K/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4939421.Ron_D_Voigts" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG48r7RB3BPmyKc6ki6FE-lYRFv8wTBUuwpImitvaWntsHRV0VEcoBIzJu2PD6agMydXCjZPgTvv8WH3ReILcBudMoBjkit5sY3EvGkySHUhKkw8URZL2gdxMJbIQjOtGBoBzllbdawY/s1600/fts-+excerpt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG48r7RB3BPmyKc6ki6FE-lYRFv8wTBUuwpImitvaWntsHRV0VEcoBIzJu2PD6agMydXCjZPgTvv8WH3ReILcBudMoBjkit5sY3EvGkySHUhKkw8URZL2gdxMJbIQjOtGBoBzllbdawY/s1600/fts-+excerpt.png" /></a></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
From the darkness
came a whisper.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Help me.”</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I heard the
woman’s voice clearly. Yet everywhere was black. A void. Impenetrable and
empty.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Help me,
please.”</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Sounds beyond the
woman’s plea filled the vacuum. Somewhere a happy tune played on a pipe organ,
the music dancing in the wind, a prelude to a circus parade with clowns and
acrobats and a dancing bear. Children and adults laughed and cheered. Wonderful
scents lingered in the air. Sweet cotton candy and popcorn elicited memories of
happy times.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Something else
filled the atmosphere. The smells of dampness and dirt mingled, forcing back
the joy. Decaying leaves and rot stung my nose. I retched at the stench of
death.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Disjointed
images, fuzzy around the edges, traveled toward me then fell away into
nothingness. A farm tractor. A wood rail fence. And a sign, blurred except for
the words “GATE MUST BE KEPT CLOSED.”</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
With the snap,
the darkness returned.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
In the black, a
speck of light grew into an image, taking form and shape. A woman stood in
front of me, dressed gaily in a short ruffled pink skirt below a yellow
long-sleeve shirt with triangles of black print. Leg warmers like a dancer
might wear were bunched around her ankles. A blue ribbon tied in a bow kept
back wild, unruly hair.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Her wide blue
eyes stared at me, unblinking. Her lips, painted bright red, pursed.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Help me.”</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
A dark wet spot
appeared in her brown hair on the left side of her head, growing like a stain.
Blood trickled from the edge of her ear and to her throat. Her head twisted,
and a deep gash formed on its side.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
She stretched out
her arms as if crucified and fell backward in slow motion, tumbling away, then
crashing with a deep thud. Her head struck the earth and the blue ribbon came
loose. She twisted at an impossible angle, arms and legs bent like a broken
doll.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
A man in a denim
jacket hovered above her, clutching a rock. He stared at the blood covering his
hand. A shiver passed through him. He released the rock, letting it vanish into
the shadows that surrounded everything.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Another man with
his back toward me sauntered up to the woman and stopped at her feet. He wore a
white T-shirt with a cigarette pack rolled into the sleeve. He scratched the
back of his head, mussing his hair. “What did you do, Johnny boy?”</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I killed her!”
The man in denim fell to his knees.</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The one in the
T-shirt took a drag on a cigarette and tossed it aside. “I’ll take care of
things.”</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Shadows swelled
around them and eclipsed everything except the woman’s face. Her eyes opened.
Her lips parted. The whisper came once more. “Please, help me.”</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“No, no.” I
wanted to run and flee this place of death, to be away from these evil men.
“No.”</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/qfs4n02uh/fts__giveaway.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="54" src="https://s26.postimg.org/qfs4n02uh/fts__giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="23d974a9167" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9167/" id="rcwidget_08kezn74" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-54158593331266126962017-03-22T02:30:00.000-07:002017-03-22T02:30:06.025-07:00The Woodman Book Tour & Giveaway <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/pkrsvqquh/woodman_banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://s26.postimg.org/pkrsvqquh/woodman_banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/j8cnlwns9/1__the_woodman_360x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/j8cnlwns9/1__the_woodman_360x600.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>The
Roads of Hell</b></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Woodman, Book 1</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">By
G.H. Bright</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Genre:
Post Apocalyptic, Dystopian, SciFi</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">POST
APOCALYPTIC, yet so much more! </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">"Modified
Ebola has decimated the globe, handfuls of survivors eke out an
existence whilst others are intent on building from the ashes a world
of unimaginable pain and horror. The Woodman fights to keep the world
from tipping completely over the edge whilst battling his own demons.
"</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Imagine
a world where nothing is easy. No electricity, electronic
communications fuel or running water. Imagine that world came so fast
there was nothing you could do about it. No preparation, no
stockpiling of goods. One day you flick a switch and a fire comes on,
the next day you need to learn to make fire to get warm and keep
animals away.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">No
law, no order, survival of the fittest is the name of the game. From
seven billion human beings to a few million spread out across the
globe almost overnight.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ebola
has attacked the human race, virtually wiping it from the face of the
planet. For those who survived, the struggle is just beginning and
for some the nightmare is just starting.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A
madman, now free of prison hospital builds an army and marches on
Coast Town with the intent of taking for his own ends. Coast Town is
a haven on the south coast of England, a refuse for the few survivors
to gather and start again. Three years on from the dark day when
Ebola first struck, the people face another challenge, this one
perhaps all the more frightening because it might not kill you, just
enslave.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Duke
Woods, The Woodman, stands in the way of the madman. Duke has the
power to stop him and a score to settle, too. With the help of
another man, a new friend, they take the battle to the madman known
as The Black Pope.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Will
Duke survive?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Can
The Black Pope be beaten?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Will
the Ebola virus, known to all as The Death, return?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">As
Duke's past comes back to haunt him so the battle for life takes off,
with not only his life in the balance but that of Coast Town,too.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">CONTAINS
CONTENT SOME READERS MIGHT FIND DISTURBING.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20485602-the-roads-of-hell" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Woodman-G-H-BRIGHT-ebook/dp/B00BK9V3PQ/ref=sr_1_10?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1389038935&sr=1-10&keywords=the+woodman" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/shetw0wo9/2__book_2_360x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/shetw0wo9/2__book_2_360x600.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>The
Fires of Hell</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Woodman Book 2</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This
second instalment starts six weeks after Book one, the Roads of Hell,
finished.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
reluctant hero in the making, Duke Woods, The Woodman, has contracted
Ebola, otherwise known simply as “The Death”. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Black Pope is still alive and kicking, unknown to most, and The
Woodman has a new friend.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Michelle,
a six-year-old girl remains at his side watching and waiting whilst
The Death ravages his body. Hannah, the love of his life is not
allowed near them in case she and the child she carries become
infected and the communities, at the news of his contagion, go into
lock-down.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hannah
is nearly six months pregnant, Sue is seven months into her
pregnancy, and several other women are carrying babies too. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">As
Duke recovers, he finds the Army is still in place and helping
everyone it can, and the Elders are still unable to achieve even the
simplest of things. Coast Town looks to be thriving again with the
new influx of people but as always, trouble is just around the corner
and new horror surfaces.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Just
when things looks good for the survivor’s, just as they begin to
grasp skills forgotten, new evils and hard times rush to compound
issues and make life a far greater struggle than it already was. The
Death wiped out 90% of Mankind; illness and disease took even more. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Those
that lived through it, instead of banding together, seem unable to
change their ways and people find they still have to fight Mankind’s
greatest enemy, Mankind itself. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20485848-the-fires-of-hell" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Woodman-Book-Two-Fires-Hell-ebook/dp/B00DQ3PEKO/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1487797685&sr=1-4" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/xu3oa5kkp/3__book_3_360x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/xu3oa5kkp/3__book_3_360x600.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>The
Gates of Hell</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Woodman Book 3</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This
instalment begins six hours after Duke Woods, AKA The Woodman, has
decided he must leave Coast Town.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">If
he leaves, they stand a chance of negotiation with the small army
coming their way and he gets to go home to his family. If he stays,
the army will want his head. He has to try and flee, regardless of
how it looks to others.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
'reluctant hero in the making', fights his way out with bow and
arrow, and arrives home only to find his family in mortal danger.
Then, in a twist of fate; Duke is taken prisoner and escorted to
Dover Castle. There he has, under threat of death, to fight for his
freedom and his sanity as the true horrors of a madman come to light.
Seth Windsor is insane and out for blood, a truly bad concoction, and
he will only be happy when Duke is forced to fight for his life.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sue
goes to other lands to start a new and joyful life whilst Coast Town
burns; only to find the sweet talking man was really a serpent in
disguise.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Duke
fights evil time and again, fashioning himself unwittingly into a
hero regardless of his wish to not be.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Years
of peace follow, communities come together, trade together and grow,
and a network of towns and villages live in harmony with the people
of the woods. Harmony that is, until evil rears its ugly head once
more in the form of feral kids linked to Seth Windsor. The Death is
still out there, perhaps it always will be, and evil men still
rampage across the lands too. The peace is shattered by these feral
kids and a new terror from the north. Will peace ever really come to
The Woodman?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20486118-the-gates-of-hell" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Woodman-Book-Gates-Hell-ebook/dp/B00EBBJR6C/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1487797685&sr=1-6" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/ubrodrjop/4__book_4_360x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/ubrodrjop/4__book_4_360x600.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Hell
on Earth</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Woodman Book 4</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Duke
and Coast Town face a new challenge as the horror from the north,
having taken the Oxford Crew, move southward looking for The Woodman.
Duke attempts to build an army and defend. Kufuo is still missing, on
an adventure of his own trying to trace his roots and all the time
ships from the new world head toward them for confrontation. Senator
Horst is not all he seems to be and speaks with a serpents tongue.
Marine Cobb goes AWOL and tells Duke what he already suspected, that
Horst let the Ebola virus loose in the first place. Fighting for his
life and the lives of those he loves, Duke must defeat the terror
from the north and deal with Senator Horst whilst keeping his people
together. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This
fourth and final instalment gives the answers to who the people were
that died at the start of book one, explains who unleashed the virus,
modified it and why. Duke comes close to death, Sue at last finds
happiness and Duke, Gould and Troy find out who lives on the
forbidden isle. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This
is the last in the on-going series, however, the saga continues with
books 5 and six. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22513341-the-woodman-book-four" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/woodman-book-four-Hell-Earth-ebook/dp/B00JLVCSCM/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1487797685&sr=1-5" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/5wjgcpkrt/5__book_5_400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/5wjgcpkrt/5__book_5_400x600.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>All
Hell Broke Loose</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Woodman Book 5</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Modified
Ebola was created to wipe out the masses and cut down the numbers of
humans on planet Earth. Three differing strains - due to natural
mutation and the meddling of the mega-rich - has created a bleak
world for those lucky enough to survive. This is book five in the
saga and, whereas you might not have read books one - four, you can
pick it up by jumping right in here. Life is peaceful once more, the
newcomers are getting used to this way of life in southern England
and Duke Woods is a dad again. Evil, however comes from across the
Channel and threatens the very existence he has fought so hard to
build. If the virus wasn't bad enough this new terror rips the heart
out of not just Coast Town but The Woodman too as this battle becomes
personal and painful.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34514397-all-hell-broke-loose" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Woodman-Book-Five-Broke-Loose-ebook/dp/B00YMCHCEE/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/jt0vg2vs9/6__book_6_400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/jt0vg2vs9/6__book_6_400x600.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<b>Hell Hath No
Fury</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
The Woodman Book
6</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://s26.postimg.org/vun2iqq95/wm__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Three
differing factions head for Duke’s Lands. All have different
agendas, one wants to live in peace and be friends whilst another is
happy to die for the cause just so long as The Woodman dies too, and
the third faction – an eight hundred strong army – wishes for
nothing more than total domination. Attacked on different fronts,
abandoned by The West and with his lands diminishing rapidly, Duke
Woods has the fight of his life on his hands. It is a fight that will
cost dearly, many people will die in battle and the return of The
Death will take its share too. Stretched to the limits of manpower
and with the weather against them, the Marines and Fighting Men stand
side by side with The Woodman and family in a fight to the death to
save Coast Town. This is a win or lose-it- all battle to the death.
Contains graphic violence and sexual content, not for the squeamish.</span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34532359-hell-hath-no-fury" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Woodman-Book-Six-Hell-Hath/dp/1544234368/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489249413&sr=8-1&keywords=g+h+bright" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/ju1mi0iuh/wm__about_the_author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="57" src="https://s26.postimg.org/ju1mi0iuh/wm__about_the_author.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/ur2y6s5m1/G_H__Bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s26.postimg.org/ur2y6s5m1/G_H__Bright.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I
live on the South coast of England, Sussex to be exact, but I was
born in Hampshire. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When
not writing I Instruct motor vehicle studies, including computer
diagnosis & diagnostics on modern systems. I love the beach,
being social, walking the beach/woods and family life (not in that
order) and real ale.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Woodman saga - book one written in 2000 - is set in a world where
modified Ebola has decimated human life as we know it. Duke Woods
fights to bring peace and stability to life again but also has to
fight his demons to do so.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A
cross between Mad Max meets Game of Thrones, meets Contagion meets
Robin Hood, this is the story of a modern day hero trying to do the
best for everyone and putting himself in the line of fire to do it.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://enginemanbright.wix.com/grolly" target="_blank">Website</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ghbright.author/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel" target="_blank">Facebook</a> * <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/auth/index" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> * <a href="https://plus.google.com/b/100654495194798863838/100654495194798863838" target="_blank">Google+</a> * <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7940338.G_H_Bright" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B009D1AYUS" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/grahamhbright/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/rbffayxrd/wm__giveaway.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s26.postimg.org/rbffayxrd/wm__giveaway.png" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="23d974a9166" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9166/" id="rcwidget_5ehuz0lk" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-8856413110810395222017-03-21T01:00:00.000-07:002017-03-21T01:00:12.260-07:00A Human Element Book Blast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh160TX5OprF59zapHcxynv_sLOpUunyonk1tqnLdbOHCjDEgA5lB5RYWs66ryrYpGqcBYimRNozeFlRT6MvhI8Lx7AOsSHefrtOndSWIYQ9fUajo0Qq0lwbmBaiSE-55OJNdw3fIkdkm0/s1600/TourBanner_AHumanElement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh160TX5OprF59zapHcxynv_sLOpUunyonk1tqnLdbOHCjDEgA5lB5RYWs66ryrYpGqcBYimRNozeFlRT6MvhI8Lx7AOsSHefrtOndSWIYQ9fUajo0Qq0lwbmBaiSE-55OJNdw3fIkdkm0/s640/TourBanner_AHumanElement.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">A Human Element<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">by Donna Galanti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">GENRE</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">: Paranormal Suspense<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Evil comes in many
forms…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsnlwB6dNBALISDg99jeg3NlMnJqP5kwEMHpB_Ei9uZ93EuLXEatcwUwDBnUOemxvqZlEmTLUF_UaKMEhYiWY4552KbiFrIsKzmMEhwnEkY0gVZaPMS4Q0G1KYhFq566H0Q0_kdWwn7k/s1600/MediaKit_BookCover_AHumanElement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsnlwB6dNBALISDg99jeg3NlMnJqP5kwEMHpB_Ei9uZ93EuLXEatcwUwDBnUOemxvqZlEmTLUF_UaKMEhYiWY4552KbiFrIsKzmMEhwnEkY0gVZaPMS4Q0G1KYhFq566H0Q0_kdWwn7k/s200/MediaKit_BookCover_AHumanElement.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">One by one, Laura
Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite
her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer
haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next. Determined
to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite
in her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his
parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a madman, they
unravel a frightening secret that binds them together. But the killer’s desire
to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s
emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test. With the killer
closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his, and she has two
choices—redeem him or kill him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">EXCERPT:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am not here to hurt you,” the man said when Ben shrunk
into the rock. “I’m going to cut the ropes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a few swift movements he slit the ropes binding Ben, who
staggered back. The man caught him and held him up, then ripped off the duct
tape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Who are you?” Ben’s body trembled from the rush of fear and
a fierce headache pounded in his temple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The man didn’t answer. He bent over one of the dead Samoans
and pulled out a wallet. He looked inside and threw it at Ben. “It’s yours.”
Then the man led him by the arm down the overgrown road where he handed Ben his
clothes from the brush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Come on,” the man said. Ben looked back at the dead men
sprawled face down. They oozed like two fat walruses sunning themselves in the
moonlight. “Don’t worry about them. I’ll dump them later, somewhere they’ll
never be found.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a daze, Ben followed his savior up the rough road,
stumbling behind him in the dim moonlight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’ll take you back to base and you’re on your own,” the man
said once they reached his car, parked off the main road. “Don’t speak of this
to anyone. Understand?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ben nodded and climbed in the car. He looked over at the
stranger in black who had saved him. His mammoth biceps flexed as he drove,
hunched over the wheel. Ben stared at him, and then a memory flickered. “Why
are you following me? Why save me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m an interested party. Leave it at that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I can’t. I would have died up there for sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The man didn’t respond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The man looked at Ben. His green eyes glowed in the
moonlight that filtered into the car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Someday you might not thank me. Someday you might not
survive.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">AUTHOR Bio and Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2c6gRToPlPXiB5weBg1zkszbNXDaKMqQlJsHpkoXrI4STo4Lq056R4Emu8GfxjEpgkCtDhHEB67M2YWM7tonh3xr4Eefh3RThoCxD9JFr4G__Ohbd5h2qOEI7rByWOw2qxa0luWWPwI/s1600/MediaKit_AuthorPhoto_AHumanElement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2c6gRToPlPXiB5weBg1zkszbNXDaKMqQlJsHpkoXrI4STo4Lq056R4Emu8GfxjEpgkCtDhHEB67M2YWM7tonh3xr4Eefh3RThoCxD9JFr4G__Ohbd5h2qOEI7rByWOw2qxa0luWWPwI/s320/MediaKit_AuthorPhoto_AHumanElement.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Donna Galanti
is the author of the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy (Imajin Books
-http://www.imajinbooks.com/ ) and the
children’s fantasy adventure Joshua and The Lightning Road series (Month9Books
-http://www.month9books.com/ ). Donna is a contributing editor for
International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill (http://www.thebigthrill.org/) -
magazine and blogs with other middle grade authors at Project Middle Grade
Mayhem (http://project-middle-grade-mayhem.blogspot.com/search/label/Donna
Galanti) . She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy
photographer. Donna enjoys teaching at conferences on the writing craft and
marketing and also presenting as a guest author at elementary and middle
schools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Visit her at
<a href="http://www.elementtrilogy.com/">www.elementtrilogy.com</a> and <a href="http://www.donnagalanti.com/">www.donnagalanti.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Connect with
Donna:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Website:
<a href="http://www.elementtrilogy.com/">http://www.elementtrilogy.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Facebook:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheElementTrilogy/">https://www.facebook.com/TheElementTrilogy/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Twitter:
<a href="https://twitter.com/DonnaGalanti">https://twitter.com/DonnaGalanti</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Pinterest:
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/donnagalanti/">http://www.pinterest.com/donnagalanti/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Goodreads:
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5767306.Donna_Galanti">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5767306.Donna_Galanti</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Instagram:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/donnagalanti/">https://www.instagram.com/donnagalanti/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Purchase books
1 and 2 in the Element Trilogy: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://mybook.to/AHumanElement">http://mybook.to/AHumanElement</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER
CODE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Donna will be awarding a $15 Amazon or
B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="28e4345f2171" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2171/" id="rcwidget_rrv1fzc7" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-26674206097421055912017-03-20T01:00:00.000-07:002017-03-20T01:00:16.787-07:00The Bull Riding Witch Cover and OpeningThe cover for The Bull Riding Witch is finally finished. Tell me below what you think.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxhsq6FoNJpD2l8JHMwVmnd66pSv31xJ2-XvXhlmKkY1szPGKRL1gDxe08-Qiz3mELEqH9ABPzFwbOjrlYj4bv5YuO77KsZlhX76VT9bEwZ3kQCFcxMcobZ9-jxgnhjpTqGNR9stkROo/s1600/The_Bull_Riding_Witch+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxhsq6FoNJpD2l8JHMwVmnd66pSv31xJ2-XvXhlmKkY1szPGKRL1gDxe08-Qiz3mELEqH9ABPzFwbOjrlYj4bv5YuO77KsZlhX76VT9bEwZ3kQCFcxMcobZ9-jxgnhjpTqGNR9stkROo/s640/The_Bull_Riding_Witch+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Reminder, I am giving away two signed print copies and two ebooks of <i>The Bull Riding Witch</i> when it is released. I have added a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card. To enter the contest, subscribe to my newsletter (see the sidebar) or comment on any of the posts in my blog. Each comment equals one entry, and you can enter as many times as you like.<br />
<br />
On <a href="http://jamie-marchant.blogspot.com/2017/03/novel-openings-dont-begin-at-beginning.html" target="_blank">Friday's blog</a>, I discussed openings, so I thought I'd give you the opening of <i>The Bull Riding Witch</i> today.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I woke with my
head pounding and my tongue coated with the fur balls of ten thousand cats. I
nearly gagged at the stench that filled the air, a scent that combined the reek
of inside of a knight’s armor after jousting with the odor of rotting flesh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Confused, I
examined my surroundings. Hung on the wall facing me was a portrait of a huge
bull with its head down and its heels kicked high into the air. Incredibly, a
man, hanging onto a rope with only one hand, sat on the bull’s back. Why would anyone
ride a bull? Bulls were dangerous and impossible to control. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Piled high on
the bedside table were plates covered with the remains of several meals, bowls
with a few dregs of sour milk, and empty bottles. The sheet I lay on was stained
with various substances I didn’t want to identify. Where was I? This was
certainly no place worthy of me, the crown princess. Maybe I had somehow ended
in the servants’ quarters, although I couldn’t imagine how.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I tried to sit
up, and my head felt as if it were going to split in two. I groaned, and the
sound was deep and masculine. What the . . .? I looked down at my arms. They were
muscular and covered with hair. I grabbed my naked chest. My breasts were
entirely flat, and my chest was covered with thick, coarse hair. When I rubbed
my hand across my face, I felt thick stubble. I looked down at the short
clothes, which were the only thing I was wearing; there was a bulge that just
shouldn’t have been there. I lifted the waistband and peeked. Dear gods, how
had I gotten one of those? I poked it with my finger, and it twitched. I snapped
the waistband closed and jumped away, but I couldn’t get away from the body I
was wearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My breath came
in dizzying gasps, and my pulse raced. This was just a dream, I told myself. It
couldn’t be real. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From the bed, I
saw a small, closetlike room with a mirror on the wall. With my skull
threatening to split apart, I stumbled out of bed and tripped over piles of
dirty clothes that covered the floor. I pushed through them to the other room. In
a mirror stained with water spots, a man stared back at me. Medium-height,
broad shoulders, shoulder-length brown hair with brown eyes to match. A scar
near the right eyebrow enhanced rather than detracted from the rugged good
looks. It was a face that would have drawn a second glance even from a princess
and one that would have sent my father calling for the guards. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But it wasn’t
mine. I grabbed the filthy porcelain basin underneath the mirror. How had this
happened? Had I gone mad? “Think, Daulphina,” I told myself. “There has to be a
logical explanation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Tell me what you think. Have I followed my own rules?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-69536691610415108562017-03-17T08:33:00.000-07:002017-03-17T08:33:47.557-07:00Novel Openings: Don't Begin at the Beginning(Note: some of the following has been adapted from <a href="http://romanceuniversity.org/2016/03/23/writing-novel-opening-scenes-by-rayne-hall/" target="_blank">Rayne Hall's blog</a>.)<br />
<br />
I can't remember what show I was watching or which book I was reading, but one character needed to tell another what had happened. She says, "I don't know where to begin."<br />
<br />
He responds, "Begin at the beginning."<br />
<br />
For novel openings, this is bad advice. Hall likens this to starting to cook after your dinner guests have arrived. The beginning of nearly anything is boring and won't catch your reader's interest. The other common advice is begin with action. Although this is slightly better than begin at the beginning, I don't find it fantastic advice either. For one thing, action can be confusing when none of the characters or even the setting have been introduced. (And confusing the reader is the greatest sin of an opening. Nothing stops a reader reading more quickly than confusion.) Second, if the reader doesn't care about the characters, the action has little to no emotional impact.<br />
<br />
An effective opening needs to do three things:<br />
<br />
<b>1) Set time and place. </b><br />
<br />
Readers need to be oriented to the world they are inhabiting right away. Not in intricate detail, but enough so they feel grounded. The reader needs to know if she is in contemporary USA, medieval Europe, or a space colony orbiting the planet Xenon. Let's look at the opening of <i>Storm Front</i>, the first book in Jim Butcher's <i>Dresden Files</i> series:<br />
<br />
<div class="first-para" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The mailman walked towards my office door,
half an hour earlier than usual. He didn’t sound right. His footsteps fell more
heavily, jauntily, and he whistled. A new guy. He whistled his way to my office
door and then fell silent for a moment. Then he laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then he
knocked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I winced.
My mail comes through the mail slot unless it’s registered. I get a really
limited selection of registered mail, and it’s never good news. I got up out of
my office chair and opened the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The new
mailman looked like a basketball with arms and legs and a sunburned, balding
head, and he stood chuckling and reading the sign on the door glass. He glanced
at me and hooked a thumb towards the office glass. “You’re kidding, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I read
the sign (people change it occasionally), and shook my head. “No, I’m serious.
Can I have my mail, please.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“So, uh.
Like parties, shows, stuff like that?” He looked past me, as though he expected
to see a white tiger, or possibly some skimpily clad assistants prancing around
my one-room office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I sighed,
not in the mood to get mocked again, and reached for the mail he held in his
hand. “No, not like that. I don’t do parties.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He held
on to it, his head tilted curiously. “So what? Some kinda fortuneteller? Cards
and crystal balls and things?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“No,” I
told him. “I’m not a psychic.” I tugged at the mail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He held
onto it. “What are you, then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“What’s
the sign on the door say?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“It says
‘Harry Dresden. Wizard.'”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“That’s
me,” I confirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“An
actual wizard?” he asked, grinning, as though I should let him in on the joke.
“Spells and potions? Demons and incantations? Subtle and quick to anger?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Not so
subtle.” I jerked the mail out of his hand, and looked pointedly at his
clipboard. “Can I sign for my mail please.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; outline: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The new
mailman’s grin vanished, replaced with a scowl. He passed over the clipboard to
let me sign for the mail (another late notice from my landlord), and said,
“You’re a nut. That’s what you are.” He took his clipboard back and said, “You
have a nice day, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no long description of setting here. But the reader is oriented. We have a mailman delivering mail in an office building. This clues the reader in that he is in contemporary America. Also, that we are probably in a city. We also get the idea that this is urban fantasy because Harry insists that he is "an actual wizard." The reader can feel comfortable; more details of setting can follow later.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2) Make the reader care about your main character.</b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
If the reader doesn't care about the character, she rarely cares about the plot. If we don't care about a person, why would we care what happens to them? Butcher makes us care about Harry in his opening. He is about to get bad news. We can sympathize with someone getting bad news. He is used to mocked. We tend to side with people being made fun of. Yet he has an attitude. The sign on his door announces him as a wizard even though he knows he'll be laughed at for it, and in the midst of being mocked, he doesn't take the easy out the mailman gives him about doing children's parties. We like that kind of strength. </div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b>3) Intrigue the reader.</b></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
You want to present the reader with a mystery, make them curious so that they need to read on to learn the answer. What is this bad news that Harry just got? Few readers would stop before learning that. What does a wizard do in a world where people think he's a nut? </div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
This beginning is certainly not at the beginning of Harry's story, which we will learn later through flashback. Nor is there a lot of action. A mailman knocks, Harry answers and gets his mail. But if the reader is anything like me, she will certainly go on reading, for the next fifteen books. When, oh when, will #16 be here?</div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
While the beginning of a novel is absolutely crucial to selling your book to publishers, agents, or directly to readers, as a writer, don't worry about this when starting to write the novel. It's nearly impossible to write a compelling beginning or to even know where the story should start if you haven't written the novel yet. A compelling beginning is created in the revision process, not the first draft. So don't spend so much time agonizing over your opening so that you never actually write the novel. Start wherever you feel inspired, and fix it on revision.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-49407470146626348942017-03-17T05:48:00.000-07:002017-03-17T05:48:13.705-07:00Paranormal Podcast Interview<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ire_FvjNsyE2_wfKOi5QBOAteljKnsAoF-RR0nUsuvTgGKnqy_j4jZW0u9JQJ1U1XkCuL2yA1eXqVkx92UUafkj1UH_Sf89xN1KslowuJho6bULJCSNN-JN8Hwjb5j7iv4J6K8uSqj4/s1600/Travis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ire_FvjNsyE2_wfKOi5QBOAteljKnsAoF-RR0nUsuvTgGKnqy_j4jZW0u9JQJ1U1XkCuL2yA1eXqVkx92UUafkj1UH_Sf89xN1KslowuJho6bULJCSNN-JN8Hwjb5j7iv4J6K8uSqj4/s640/Travis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Ever wondered about the personalities behind your favorite books? Victoria Danann's new podcast with Riley J. Ford has an incredible lineup of authors booked through the spring. No question is out of bounds. Check it out!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>THIS WEEK'S BEST SELLING AUTHOR...</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>TRAVIS LUEDKE!</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZDZNbi8lANZUx379_hxOsRCNQVIDhfhUus0qfeCfkaw7_nSDRS-Uuqa4wvKiURIhHDVQq_WZdIfz_EzCnkGwGc5HnV52pWn9sJlMK2ELh-LpJPwnbw9Rf_XWBv-z1jYOBBTZbwZ1dYI/s1600/Travis+L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZDZNbi8lANZUx379_hxOsRCNQVIDhfhUus0qfeCfkaw7_nSDRS-Uuqa4wvKiURIhHDVQq_WZdIfz_EzCnkGwGc5HnV52pWn9sJlMK2ELh-LpJPwnbw9Rf_XWBv-z1jYOBBTZbwZ1dYI/s200/Travis+L.jpg" width="172" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Travis Luedke is a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romance, best known for his violently sexy NIGHTLIFE SERIES. Find Travis catching a third degree sunburn with his wife and children in San Antonio, Texas, while plotting world domination through erotic paranormal badassery.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most famous for his Nightlife Series novels, Travis lives vicariously through his writings. He invites you to enjoy his macabre flights of fancy, but be warned: The Nightlife Series is violent, sexy, and occasionally violently sexy.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/romance-between-the-pages/id1163219468?mt=2" target="_blank">Listen on Itunes (Subscribe so you never miss an episode! It’s FREE!)</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMzLBTI-gbnOOQLDajW6g6bYzvgOzmSrcklw9J6Yk0h__xDTkyPVf_k87UIVMf9OVutRYyuy7U7-ypMY2djUsuj_uPw2imNSVWjRH8xhFtQnbC0tADdfcDnKWzygAHOBMjKT85MQCZSM/s1600/MoB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMzLBTI-gbnOOQLDajW6g6bYzvgOzmSrcklw9J6Yk0h__xDTkyPVf_k87UIVMf9OVutRYyuy7U7-ypMY2djUsuj_uPw2imNSVWjRH8xhFtQnbC0tADdfcDnKWzygAHOBMjKT85MQCZSM/s1600/MoB.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-19623679574354528992017-03-15T03:00:00.000-07:002017-03-15T03:00:04.850-07:00Guest Author, Charles McDonald<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
Welcome my guest author today, Charles McDonald, who brings us the flavor of Robert Jordan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIrmoWAYEzp0oLyf5dTNkKT9ismBLTbjlbRgjX0O1yJGLAeauOXcvGTHktnWN9TnZpqdvPfv5aOwBdW0_23l2dA68SG-66MS5gX5jhbOPRf6wpENalf9JcSYK4JkPNgZXEEjqfcjkJRo/s1600/Charles.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIrmoWAYEzp0oLyf5dTNkKT9ismBLTbjlbRgjX0O1yJGLAeauOXcvGTHktnWN9TnZpqdvPfv5aOwBdW0_23l2dA68SG-66MS5gX5jhbOPRf6wpENalf9JcSYK4JkPNgZXEEjqfcjkJRo/s320/Charles.png" width="224" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
Charles W. McDonald Jr. was born in Oklahoma City, raised
in Norman, Oklahoma, and is a graduate of the <i>University of Oklahoma</i> with
a BBA in Management Information Systems and a Minor in Economics. He also
has a background in Aerospace Engineering and High Availability Systems
Engineering. Honorably discharged from the United States Air Force
Reserves, he also has a background in the armed forces. He lives with his
wife, Brandy L. McDonald, in Roanoke, TX.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
In the summer of 1995, Charles read every available book on
the <i>Wheel of Time</i> by Robert Jordan in a couple of weeks and
later that same July awoke in the middle of the night from an incredibly
immersive dream. Charles began writing, by hand, everything he could
remember from that dream which became the outline for the story of <i>A Throne
of Souls</i>. Very shortly afterwards, Charles wrote Robert Jordan
directly, looking for advice and inspiration for his own work, and Robert
Jordan personally responded in a three-page letter, encouraging Charles to tell
his story in his way, in his voice, and in his time. The completion
of <i>A Throne of Souls</i> is a deeply personal mission for Charles
to thank the spirit of Robert Jordan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
Interview</h2>
<div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>Tell us a little about yourself?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I’m a very versatile, broadly-talented, pretty intense guy—very
opinionated, organized and structured with a drive that is palpable. No one ever had to coach or encourage me to
go do something. I’m a do-it-yourself
doer and a perfectionist. I can be a
little tough to work with when it comes to writing because I expect the best
from anyone affiliated with my work. If
it’s got my name on it, it has to be right and that means I expect the very best
from them and I won’t settle for less.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>What made you want to become a writer?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I’ve had this story in my head that just won’t go away. It’s like an itch that only gets scratched
when I write. I’ve heard writers don’t
write because they want to. They write
because they need to—it’s just who they are inside.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>What are your biggest literary
influences? Favorite authors and why?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, James Rollins, Tom Clancy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>If you could have written any other
book by any other author, what would it be, and why?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I’ll never take credit for anyone else’s work. That’s just not my style. Not even hypothetically. My style is so radically different from
others, it’s not really comparable.
People who read <i>A Throne of Souls</i>
will see. I’ve got multiple critic
reviews that essentially say they’ve never read anything like it before both
from a story perspective and a story-telling perspective.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>Tell us something about how you write?
i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary
writing habits or rituals? <o:p></o:p></b></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
A bit of both. I’ll
write stream-of-consciousness style, but only after making the plan and
outline. I have an eight-foot long
whiteboard in my office I use all the time to illustrate the plot’s many
layers. It looks like a CSI crime
investigation with arrows going all over the place. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>Do you think people have
misconceptions about the speculative fiction? Why do you think it is a
worthwhile genre? </b><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I do and rightfully so.
Most, but not all, have character development but the characters still
don’t jump off the page as “Holy crap!
That felt real!” People have told
me that they felt as if they “rediscovered” what fantasy and what literature
could be when they read A Kingdom Forgotten (Book 1 of A Throne of Souls). They said it felt very real to them and they
felt connected to the characters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>Could you tell us a bit about your
most recent book?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Well, <i>A Kingdom Forgotten</i>
could be related to Episode 4 of Star Wars in that it throws you right into the
action, kinda starting in the middle of the story, but at a critical point in
the story. This story isn’t told like
others. It’s completely nonlinear. I don’t tell what happens in the past by
flashbacks—generally speaking—although I think you’ll find two legitimate
flashbacks in book 1. I do it by
narrating the past events as if they’re happening now and I’ll usually group
them together in such a way that it makes sense to the reader. For example, maybe we’re getting ready to
cover a thread in the storyline’s present day, but before we do, I’ll give
backstory and character development with an event from the past that relates to
the thread you’re about to read or just read.
I’ll do something similar for near future timelines. The best way to think of <i>A Kingdom Forgotten</i> is that it’s general theme is the what and the
when. Black Mirrors of the Soul (Book 2
coming in April) has a general them of who and why and is LOADED with character
development. It delivers a gut-level
connection with the reader that will ‘scatter their emotions all over the room’
according to my proofreader. It’s both
terrifying and thrilling and it has a shocking conclusion. One thing about my books is that they are
hard to predict. The plot is so layered
and there’s just so much going on, it’s going to challenge your critical
thinking. These books are not a light
read, but I guarantee you’ve never read anything like them before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="8" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>What gives you inspiration for your
book?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
A dream I started with in July 1995. Today, I’d say I feel the most inspired as I
go walking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="9" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>Of all the characters you have
created, which is your favorite and why?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Well, that’s a multi-response question. Damon I’m most familiar with, though least
like as a person. Illirian Starfire is
always on my mind—I just can’t get her out of my head. Michael Anthony Day is the one I aspired to
be and the only altruistic character in my story.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="10" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>What is the biggest surprise that you
experienced after becoming a writer? </b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
That moment when people start talking about your books and
your characters and how much they loved them, felt they were real, wanted to be
like them, wanted to understand them, etc.
When you go into forums and see what people are saying about your story
for the first time, it’s very surreal. <o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="11" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>What was the hardest part of writing
your book?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
The artwork! SAWEEET JESUS—the
artwork! My books require a ton of it,
and it’s not simple cartoon art or whatever.
It’s illustrative-realism-level quality art. It takes about 6-8 months per book just to
get the artwork across the finish line.
It only takes me about 12 weeks to write a 165,000-word novel. Yeah, I can write kinda fast. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="12" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>What else would you like readers to
know about you or your work?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
It’s not just
fantasy. It’s an all-encompassing
cerebral thriller. I’m going to
paraphrase on of ‘anamcara’ who said, “Wow! The sample I've read...not even
sure where to classify it! Fantasy? Check. Science Fiction? Check. Thriller?
Check again. This story sounds so insanely deep, complex and intriguing that I
can't wait to get my hands on it to read!”
It covers a lot of ground from Philosophy, Religion, Physics,
Meta-Physics, Biology, Science/Technology/Engineering/Math (STEM), History,
etc. I mean you name it, this story
covers a LOT of ground and you’re going to learn a lot and be highly
entertained while doing so. You’re also
going to be both challenged and rewarded when you succeed in those challenges. I drop so many clues all over the place and
use disinformation as well, but when you figure something out, you’re like,
‘ah-hah!’ And that moment opens a whole
new understanding of another layer in the story that now makes complete sense
to you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="13" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>Titles have always been extremely
difficult for me. How do you come up with yours?</b> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
They just come easy to me based on the theme of the
book. I mean, you can see I’ve already
named all five books in the series and I can almost guarantee you none of those
future book names will change. Why? Because, it describes the biggest theme that
book has a job to describe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="14" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>What is your favorite writing tip or
quote? <o:p></o:p></b></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Write your ideas down immediately—as soon as they happen—or
they’re gone. That’s a fact. You’d be surprised at how high a ratio of
those writing ideas I actually put into the story. <o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="15" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b>Tell us a little about your plans for
the future. Do you have any other
books in the works? <o:p></o:p></b></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
I’m currently working on all the books in the series, <i>A Throne of Souls</i>:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Book 2 (<i>Black Mirrors
of the Soul</i>) – April 2017</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Book 3 (<i>The Fall of
Hate</i>) – Dec 2017 at the earliest</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Book 4 (<i>The Rise of
Hope</i>) – Fall 2018</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
Book 5 (<i>A Throne of
Souls</i>) – 2019 (You’d be surprised how much of this one is already done)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Where can we find you online? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Blog: <a href="http://www.athroneofsouls.com/blog">www.athroneofsouls.com/blog</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Website: <a href="http://www.athroneofsouls.com/">www.athroneofsouls.com</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/throneofsouls">www.facebook.com/throneofsouls</a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/athroneofsouls">www.twitter.com/athroneofsouls</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Charles-McDonald-Jr./e/B01MDPEUAW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0">https://www.amazon.com/Charles-McDonald-Jr./e/B01MDPEUAW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0</a></div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Excerpt</h2>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<i>A Kingdom Forgotten</i> (Book 1 of <i>A Throne of Souls</i>) – Chapter
12: Banthis:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
“(Physical Cave Entrance to The World Below and Between,
Kaleion, Recent History)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
Dawn still a couple of hours away, they stood and talked,
continuing their conversation from <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq9On8IkJwO3Y2JIKv5O_O_TrXNxgO4QaOVaBOGndYRTEtuZZUc7xtaXiYHqGTeGL9KwXVznzgBU0E__M0UfizKQabOF_O5LVstP5m8_8vbRXLuYFKS5ws4F1tqnyNTjZVqJWUaqVj6M/s1600/32717059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq9On8IkJwO3Y2JIKv5O_O_TrXNxgO4QaOVaBOGndYRTEtuZZUc7xtaXiYHqGTeGL9KwXVznzgBU0E__M0UfizKQabOF_O5LVstP5m8_8vbRXLuYFKS5ws4F1tqnyNTjZVqJWUaqVj6M/s400/32717059.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
inside—where they first met so many
centuries before. He was still in awe every time he met with her—her dark
elven skin perfection incarnate. She was quite literally the definition
of a living Goddess.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
Lithe, dark, and beyond beautiful Evanyil stood there
basking in moonlight with her radiant platinum hair and unique violet eyes,
batting them at the doer of all doer’s. No one—not in all her
lifetimes—could compare to Damon’s ability to get things done. That made
him the only possible candidate for this task—the only one she could trust to
get the job done right the first time. And with this task, there would be
no second chances. They would either all succeed and reap the benefits,
or they would all suffer a fate far worse than any death that could possibly be
imagined.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
Damon stood there in his full mage regalia, letting Evanyil
caress, or rather pet, the top of his hand as she peered into his black mirrors
of the soul. They were so amazing lit up the way they were in that cool
smoky aura backlit by the moonlight. He was an amazing specimen.
She did love him—truly so. It wasn’t just physical love, or lust, between
them. It was love of trust, love of reliability, love of dependability,
love of so very much history together, and the love of rescuing one another
more times than either could count. They had been a team from the very
first moment they met. They knew each other’s thoughts and could complete
each other’s sentences, and they were just opposite enough to attract without
driving each other insane. Well, Evanyil would fit the definition of
insanity already—with, or without, Damon. Even that he loved about
her. She was just sane enough to be surprisingly lucid at times, and just
crazy enough to come up with the most brilliant and unconventional thinking
that frequently dovetailed perfectly with his order and structure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
The vines and dogwood masked the entrance entirely to the
untrained eye, but they had been here so many times, they knew right where they
were going—physically and otherwise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
“Sweetie, I’m not saying it has to be now-now. I’m
saying I know it takes time to plot something of this magnitude, and I’d like
to start the planning now,” so unusual coming from her—the realization of
planning something like this. Evanyil was the act first, solve
problems-on-the-fly personality. But, if she, of all people, was
realizing the need to plan something like this, then she truly did have an
understanding of the consequences at play.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
He was trying to keep his thoughts focused and ordered as
she continued stroking his hand, leaning her perfect body into his as she
blinked at him with those magnificent violet eyes of hers. He knew he
wasn’t being used—not really at least. <i>Was he?</i> It was
the briefest of thoughts crossing across his consciousness as he replied,
“Look, I’m just saying my biggest concern has always been about what happens
after. I mean, we’re going to bring enough to this fight, I’m pretty
confident we’ll win. The question is, in the massive power vacuum that
follows, who gets what, when, how, where, and why are all extremely important
questions that need to be asked and answered before the first spell is cast in
this war we’re about to start. There has to be a viable path to a lasting
equilibrium. That’s all I’m saying. And forgive me for saying this,
but you’re not the ‘share my toys’ type.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
Evanyil feigned insult pouting, but she knew where Damon
was coming from. He had a valid point—he always did. “You’re
suggesting a meeting between myself and your wifey.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
“I am.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
A huff of derision at the thought from Evanyil. She
didn’t hate Banthis. They had largely stayed out of one another’s way all
this time, but Banthis took Damon away from her. It wasn’t a jealousy
thing between Evanyil and Banthis. More like, Damon and Evanyil were best
friends, teammates, traveling companions till the end, and then one day Banthis
came in and changed all that. She detested the change that came with
Banthis in Damon’s life more than she detested Banthis herself. Evanyil
knew she wasn’t the marrying type and neither was Damon and yet he’d done
it—more than once already. Their relationship had been violently hot,
then cold, then hot, then unbearably distant, then ethereal, then… The
one constant between them was that they could count on one another,
particularly when commitments were given.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
He could see the wheels of chaos turning in the
half-psychotic mind of hers, and thought better to interrupt her train of
thought before someone got killed—or worse. “Look, you two need to figure
out who gets what when this goes down. I’ve known you a lot longer than
I’ve known her but don’t ask me to choose between you two. That won’t be
good for any of us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
“And what if I am asking you to choose me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
“Evanyil, please don’t. Please.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
A batted eyelash, then a look down at the lush grass
beneath them bathed in moonlight as her spiders stood sentry around them made Evanyil
consider her options if it came down to it. “I miss the old us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
A broad smile from Damon—she loved his smile—caused Damon
to reminisce. Thoughts of their first meeting flooded his mind…then their
first time together in combat…then all the years she spent with him at his
manor. They covered a lot of ground together—shared tremendous
history. Cupping her magnificent face, he kissed her—really kissed
her—like their lives depended on it. <i>Was that because it did</i>,
he wondered. “If this works, we’ll have all the freedom to be whoever we
want, to forge, or reforge, whatever state of relationship we desire.
And, for the record, I miss the old us too. You mean…,” he paused
thinking as a lump formed in his throat, searching for the words, “…more to me than
words can describe. You’re my last real living link to the past—at least
that part of my past I remember with fondness. I adore you,
Evanyil. Please don’t ever change.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
It was a strange, and rare moment, seeing a tear streaking
down the cheeks of a living Goddess, but she had what she wanted—for now at
least. She had Damon’s commitment to execute the plan that would set them
both free. Though, here with him tonight in this perfect moonlit night,
she wanted more. She wanted a future with Damon…without Banthis.”<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-74926425508893016022017-03-13T03:30:00.000-07:002017-03-13T03:30:00.170-07:00The Goddess's Choice, deleted scene<i>The Goddess's Choice</i>, expanded edition, is now in the hands of the editor and will be ready for release next month. To get you in the mood, below I've included a scene that I deleted from the final version of the novel. I like the scene quite a bit, but it ultimately didn't add to the book. So it isn't lost forever, I offer it to you. Please comment and tell me what you think. Remember commenting on my blog enters you to win a signed copy of The Bull Riding Witch or a $25 Amazon gift card.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
One particularly cold day,
Robbie emerged from the barn about midmorning intending to head for Brazen’s
stable. As he was about to mount Wild Thing, a horse galloped into the
farmyard. “Good morning,” the horse’s rider called out. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
“Good morning.” Robbie nodded
to a man he didn’t know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
“I’m looking for an amihealer
by the name of Robbie Angusstamm. I was told he lived here.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
“You’ve found him. What can I
do for you?” Robbie wasn’t terribly surprised to find a complete stranger
looking for him. As his skill increased under Myst’s tutelage, so had his
reputation; more and more farmers trudged to him through the winter snow when
an animal of theirs fell ill. He was, however, surprised to hear the man refer
to him as an amihealer. Only Myst and Milady had ever called him that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
The farmer got off his horse. He
was quite young, no older than Boyden. His face was spotted with more freckles
than Robbie had ever seen on human being, and when he smiled his eyes twinkled
with amusement, as if he knew a secret that no one else would ever learn. “My
name is Perth Quinstamm,” the man said, extending his hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
Surprised, Robbie put out his
own. Even when people came seeking his skill, they always avoided touching him.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
As he shook his hand, the man
seemed somewhat nervous and extremely upset. “I’ve been riding since before
daybreak to get here. I have a new farm on the far side of the Valley. Just
bought the place last spring with my wife. She’s expecting our first child. I
bought ten milk cows, but something evil has gotten into them. Most of them
have stopped giving any milk to speak of. They’re burning up with fever, and
they have frightful sores on their mouths, udders, and feet. One of them died
last night. I don’t have much in the way of money, but I’m prepared to pay
whatever it takes. Will you come with me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
“Let me get my things.” Robbie
went back into the barn and gathered together the materials he would likely
need to treat the animals. He didn’t take much; from the farmer’s description,
he thought he knew what was wrong, and no herbs he had could cure the problem. It’d
take direct healing energy. He gave instructions to Allyn and Darien in case he
couldn’t make it back by nightfall.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
* * *</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
The wind had been blowing fiercely,
and Robbie was shivering with cold by the time they arrived at Perth
Quinstamm’s farm. The closer he got to the farm the more and more the distress
of the cattle pressed in about him. He’d been right in what he suspected. When
they dismounted in front of the barn, Perth hesitated. “I’m not sure what to do
with your horse. Applecreek here seems okay, but the disease is rather bad.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
Robbie shook his head. “It’s
okay. Horses can’t sicken in this way.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
“How can you know? You haven’t
even looked at the cows yet.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
“An amihealer doesn’t need to
see the animal to know what is wrong with it. I can feel their illness. Your
cows’ sickness is one only those with cloven hooves can get—cows, pigs, sheep, but
not horses.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
A very young woman, no older
than Robbie, stuck her head out of the house’s door. She smiled with relief
when she saw him. “He came, did he, Perth? I told you he would. When you two
get the horses taken care of, come on inside. I have some hot <i>bhat</i> and warm stew waiting for you.” Robbie blinked in surprise. He’d never
been invited inside another farmer’s house before. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
The man’s expression mingled
fear and respect. “If you’re sure your horse is in no danger, she’s welcome to
the stable.” He led Robbie inside a warm, comfortable barn. It was solidly
built and had been kept scrupulously clean. The sickness of the cows wasn’t
caused by any neglect on the farmer’s part. However, the diseased beasts were
salivating heavily and had difficulty staying on their painful feet. They
called to Robbie for relief. He unsaddled Wild Thing, and the man brought grain
and water for both horses. Robbie rubbed his mare down and made her
comfortable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
Perth came up to him. “Can you
get rid of this evil thing?” Robbie nodded. The man looked both relieved and
fearful. “Just what will it cost me? I mean, I’m prepared to pay whatever it’ll
take myself. Brietta depends on me, and she’s carrying my child. I’ll lose the
cattle before letting anything harm my family, but if it’s just me, whatever it
takes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
Robbie put his hand on one of
the cows to better gauge the extent of the illness. “If you can’t afford to pay
me now, you can pay when your cattle start producing again. No one need go
hungry.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
“I wasn’t taking about money,
but about the other thing.” Perth refused to meet his eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
“What other thing?” Robbie
removed his hand from the animal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
The man leaned forward and
whispered. “I heard blood or flesh or possibly a piece of the soul was
involved. You know, for the demon inside.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
Robbie thought he might vomit.
“You asked me here thinking I meant to drink your blood or worse?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
Quinn's eyes widened. “Are you
saying it isn’t true?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
“I’ve had coin, grain, eggs,
freshly made bread, a chicken or two, a particularly delicious apple pie, some
strawberry preserves and this belt in payment for my services this winter. What
I haven’t had is any blood, human flesh, or souls of any kind. I'm not a demon.
What is wrong with you people?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
Perth looked at him for a few
seconds, then dropped his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have believed the
rumors.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
*
* *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
Robbie spent most of the next
three days either in a trance, ridding the cows’ bodies of the vile disease, or
sleeping to recover his strength. At the end of it, Perth Quinstamm’s barn was
free of disease, and a few of the cows had started giving milk again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
On the morning of the fourth
day, both Perth and Brietta stood in the farmyard to see him off. Brietta
handed him a large basket. “I don’t know how to thank you, Healer Robbie. This
should keep you for the day.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
Perth shook his hand. “You’ve
saved my family.” He gestured toward the basket. “Brietta makes a particularly
good apple pie, I think you’ll find. I promise when things start looking up in
the spring, I’ll bring along a proper payment.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-42877717460786773292017-03-10T03:00:00.000-08:002017-03-10T03:00:23.120-08:00Summary Versus SceneI have been really busy getting the expanded version of The Goddess's Choice ready for the editor, so I haven't been as faithful in keeping up my blog. Sunday, I sent the manuscript off, so hopefully I'll have a little more time.<br />
<br />
Today's writing topic is Summary versus Scene. What are they? When do you choose one over the other?*<br />
<br />
Summary is where you take what happened in a relatively long period of time and convey it in a short space. It compresses time and detail, and it is mostly used to transition between scenes, to jump in time when nothing of vital importance happens to the story, or to fill in bits of background. It tells things that are necessary to know for the story to make sense, but aren't as significant to the plot or development of the character. Summary should be used sparingly and generally only in short sections. Think of the montage technique in film making.<br />
<br />
In Scene, on the other hand, you deal at length with what happened in a short period of time. Scene invites the reader into the story and makes them part of the action. Scene makes your readers see, feel, smell, taste, and hear what it happening. It is in scene where everything important should happen.<br />
<br />
This is the beginning scene from <i>The Bull Riding Witch</i>:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I woke with my
head pounding and my tongue coated with the fur balls of ten thousand cats. I
nearly gagged at the stench that filled the air, a scent that combined the reek
of inside of a knight’s armor after jousting with the odor of rotting flesh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Confused, I
examined my surroundings. Hung on the wall facing me was a portrait of a huge
bull with its head down and its heels kicked high into the air. Incredibly, a
man, hanging onto a rope with only one hand, sat on the bull’s back. Why would anyone
ride a bull? Bulls were dangerous and impossible to control. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Piled high on
the bedside table were plates covered with the remains of several meals, bowls
with a few dregs of sour milk, and empty bottles. The sheet I laid on was stained
with various substances I didn’t want to identify. Where was I? This was
certainly no place worthy of me, the crown princess. Maybe I had somehow ended
in the servants’ quarters, although I couldn’t imagine how.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I tried to sit
up, and my head felt as if it were going to split in two. I groaned, and the
sound was deep and masculine. What the . . .? I looked down at my arms. They were
muscular and covered with hair. I grabbed my naked chest. My breasts were
entirely flat, and my chest was covered with thick, coarse hair. When I rubbed
my hand across my face, I felt thick stubble. I looked down at the short
clothes, which were the only thing I was wearing; there was a bulge that just
shouldn’t have been there. I lifted the waistband and peeked. Dear gods, how
had I gotten one of those? I poked it with my finger, and it twitched. I snapped
the waistband closed and jumped away, but I couldn’t get away from the body I
was wearing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> My breath came in dizzying gasps,
and my pulse raced. This was just a dream, I told myself. It couldn’t be real. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
You feel the thickness of her tongue, smell the stench, see the bull riding poster, and sense her confusion. You are with Daulphina coming awake in a body that isn't hers. A little bit later in the first chapter, I have a short summary of how she got there:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I tried to think
back to how this could have happened. I’d been going to the Temple of Cailleach
to meet my lover. Clenyeth had told me he had important information and I
should come alone. Clenyeth and I had had to be careful. If my father found out
about us, Clenyeth could hang. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’d seen
Clenyeth near the entrance to the cave that housed Cailleach’s temple. As I
hurried toward him, someone had grabbed me from behind and put a cloth that
smelled sickly sweet over my mouth and nose, and then . . . And then . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And then, I woke
up as a man.</span></div>
<br />
This gives the reader necessary background information, but they don't experience it the same way as you do the scene. They aren't there with her. It tells them things, but it doesn't invite them into the story.<br />
<br />
So a general rule, if it's important, make it scene.<br />
<br />
Share your thoughts on writing in the comments below. Remember every comment enters you into a contest to win a signed copy of <i>The Bull Riding Witch</i> or a $25 Amazon gift card.<br />
<br />
*Disclaimer: The only unbreakable rule in fiction writing is "Does it work?" However, there are things that work more often than not. Make sure you understand a rule before you decide to break it in your case.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-62107967850507812292017-03-09T03:00:00.000-08:002017-03-09T03:00:31.869-08:00Tattooed Angels Book Tour & Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/mrt2v838p/tattooed_angels_banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://s26.postimg.org/mrt2v838p/tattooed_angels_banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/paervwoyx/rebirth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/paervwoyx/rebirth.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Rebirth</b></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Tattooed
Angels Trilogy Book 1</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">By
Valerie Willis</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Genre:
Urban Fantasy</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/gj7r1n5nt/tat__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://s26.postimg.org/gj7r1n5nt/tat__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">High
school life is almost over, but Hotan's life as an immortal has only
just started...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Already
struggling with a mountain of hardships, Hotan is just trying to get
his diploma as his mother had always insisted. Friends know if he's
not at home or at the club playing in his band, you can always find
him thinking at the old broken down church. Basking in the moonlight,
Hotan finds himself under attack by an immortal named Geliah, the
element of Fear. Talib, the element of Judgment, interrupts the
fight, furious that Geliah would force Hotan to awaken his own
abilities and immortality. Normally when pulled out of the
reincarnation spell, an immortal would remember whom and what they
were, but he is not the Hotan from the Past. Walk beside him as he
struggles to keep his chaotic life in order as he tries to break the
secrets of his own element, Rebirth.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23827574-rebirth" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rebirth-Tattooed-Angels-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00PEHW29G/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/686257" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/8iy1qwe3t/BookCover6x9_BRIGHTER_EBOOK_400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://s26.postimg.org/8iy1qwe3t/BookCover6x9_BRIGHTER_EBOOK_400x600.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Judgement</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Tattooed
Angels Trilogy Book 2</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/gj7r1n5nt/tat__about_the_book.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://s26.postimg.org/gj7r1n5nt/tat__about_the_book.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Talib
and Hotan find themselves facing off with the element of Death,
Iapetos. Failing to take him out, Talib's life starts flashing before
him. As he experiences thousands of years, things that were once
forgotten begin to emerge. Will he find the answer in his past in
time to aid Hotan?</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33222938-judgment" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSTDM6T" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/686271" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/l6dt3et0p/tat__about_the_author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="64" src="https://s26.postimg.org/l6dt3et0p/tat__about_the_author.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/6xe6lcei1/13466145_10153698556906334_1460444520094580972_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s26.postimg.org/6xe6lcei1/13466145_10153698556906334_1460444520094580972_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Valerie
Willis, a sixth generation Floridian, launched her first book, Cedric
the Demonic Knight, at the start of 2014 on Amazon.com. Since then,
she has continued to add to The Cedric Series, a high-rated
Paranormal Fantasy Romance Series. This series features an anti-hero
who finds himself dragged away from his revenge on his maker by both
love and the onset of a larger threat. She pulls in a melting pot of
mythology, folklore, history and more into her work with a remarkable
amount of foreshadowing that makes reading her books a second time
exciting. Rebirth is the first book in her Teen Urban Fantasy, the
Tattooed Angels Trilogy, where the main character struggles with
social issues with the complications of turning immortal. And if
fantasy isn't your cup of tea, head over to her Blog for some "Val,
Tell me a Story" posts featuring true, hilarious, and sometimes
bizarre, life events from recent to old.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.willisauthor.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ValerieWillisAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TattooedAngelSeries" target="_blank">Facebook Series Page</a> * <a href="https://twitter.com/Valerie_Willis" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/willis.artist/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> * <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7822183.Valerie_Willis?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Valerie-Willis/e/B00FQMV8SU/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/aktxremp5/tat__giveaway.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://s26.postimg.org/aktxremp5/tat__giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="23d974a9158" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9158/" id="rcwidget_mmdkbe8r" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s26.postimg.org/ru5tc9n55/silver_dagger_book_tours_button.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-62491697180958670322017-03-08T03:00:00.001-08:002017-03-08T03:00:07.036-08:00Guest author, A. L. ButcherMy guest today is a fantasy author from across the pond. Meet A. L. Butcher. Her work is dark, for adults, and a wee bit sexy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvimWqb31QvyDUfw4tCMzOMl3VztRKaV-kKnXs_A8mJGA7913OkKER03OLgdfgaVpgweBgQR7dYeCR-fh0klYMf8s2I8UDfyzY2jNcqfAyoVr8M4IKVjURlb_eto6YkT1OEeiE6Kor9KU/s1600/chronicles+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvimWqb31QvyDUfw4tCMzOMl3VztRKaV-kKnXs_A8mJGA7913OkKER03OLgdfgaVpgweBgQR7dYeCR-fh0klYMf8s2I8UDfyzY2jNcqfAyoVr8M4IKVjURlb_eto6YkT1OEeiE6Kor9KU/s320/chronicles+banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">A. L.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> Butcher is the British
author of the <i>Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles</i> fantasy series and several short stories in the fantasy and fantasy romance
genres.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> With a background in politics, classical
studies, ancient history and myth her work combines aspects of all. A lifelong
storyteller, she believes the tale is all and loves to create people and worlds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">She is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet, and a dreamer. When she is grounded in
the real world she likes science, natural history, history, and monkeys. Her work has been described as ‘dark and
gritty’ and her poetry as evocative. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
Interview</h2>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b>Tell us a little about yourself?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hello</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
I’m A.L. Butcher, fantasy author, poet, blogger, historian, and dog-mummy. I
live in Bristol (in the UK) and write mostly adult sensual dark fantasy, short
fantasy but dabble in horror, poetry and historical fantasy. I love to read,
study history, mythology and potter about in the mud-pit – er that’s my garden at the moment </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> I work full-time in an office (BORING), but I
write when I can and also promote other authors on my blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b>If you could have written any other book
by any other author, what would it be, and why? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-no-proof: yes;">Oooh</span><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
that’s hard. If I had to pick one, it would either be <i>Lord of the Rings</i> or the
<i>Count of Monte Cristo</i>. LOTR for the amazing world building and mythic style,
COMC for the ultimate historical revenge book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What are you reading at the moment?
Would you recommend it to readers of this blog? Why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-no-proof: yes;">Currently,</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> I am reading a book about the
royal families of Ancient Egypt, which is interesting but heavy going, and a
book about life in the Victorian period, comparing it with modern life ( I guess
you could call it a social commentary.) <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MSUNBA6/"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MSUNBA6/</span></a>
<i>The Good Old Days: </i></span><span class="a-size-extra-large"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><i>Poverty, Crime and Terror in Victorian London</i>. It’s
interesting to see not much really changes. Social attitudes do shift a little, but human nature is still much the same. Today we are told that computer games,
violent films, the internet etc are ‘corrupting’ our youth and society and 150
years ago it was the lack of religion, penny dreadfuls and plays etc. Whatever is new
or misunderstood gets blamed for the ills of society, social change brings fear
and upheaval and often a particular group in a community get blamed – whether
that group is of a particular religion, gender, skin colour, ethnic minority,
sexual orientation or whatever ‘they’ are responsible for the failing economy, social divides, rising crime and all
the other issues which occur when human beings live together in large numbers.
It’s always been the case, and I dare say always will be. Basically, the author is saying that the ‘Good
Old Days’ weren’t. They were much the same as now – only with less technology,
worse hygiene and medical care and equally gullible people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">That one I’d
recommend, not sure about </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the other one yet. I
read a lot of historical stuff, especially true crime, plus fantasy, historical
fiction/mystery, science fiction and whatever else takes my fancy at any given
time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b>If you could have dinner (and dessert)
with any fictional character who would it be and why?</b><b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I’d have a dinner party
with the following: Edmund Dantes, Erik (Phantom of the Opera), Heathcliff,
Tempus, Gandalf, Frodo, Sam Vimes, Granny Weatherwax, Jane Eyre, and Penelope
of Ithica. That would be a very interesting party! Why? All sorts of reasons:
They could discuss vengeance, loyalty, war and its
effects, magic, the question of good and evil, and what they would do in
today’s world if they existed now. (Jamie's note: Can I come to the party?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b>What was the hardest part of writing
your book? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Promotion</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="color: windowtext;"> I find the marketing
hard; it’s much easier for me to promote other people’s work than my own. I
completed a diploma in social media marketing last year, so that’s helped but I
do still find it a challenge. I also have issues staying focused. I’ve been
diagnosed with fibromyalgia and with that comes issues with concentration on
the task at hand. To be honest I’ve
always had a few issues with being easily distracted, but it’s worse now. I
really need to switch off social media when I’m writing, but I can and do
listen to music sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b>Do you have a day job in addition to
being a writer? If so, what do you do
during the day?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;">I
work in an office. Basically, I’m a civil
servant for the private sector. Currently,
it’s like herding cats through treacle, but it’s not always that way. I arrange
training courses for people (mostly) and that’s time-consuming
but actually worthwhile. Most of the
people are nice, and the office is fairly close to where I live. As I can’t drive and have to rely on public
transport or my bicycle (if I’m up to it) being close to home is worth staying
for.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b>Tell us a little about your plans for
the future. Do you have any other books
in the works?
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lots. I usually work on a
few projects. Currently, I have book IV
of the series, a second Legacy of the Mask short story, and a couple of
novellas in progress. I’m written a few more poems recently too, so when I have
enough they will be the second installment of <i>Shattered Mirror</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b>Where can we find you online?</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
I have only supplied the links
to Book I of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles,
if you would like further info please look at my Goodreads, Amazon or blog profiles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Social
Media links</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Amazon Author page </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2hK33OM"><span style="color: #0563c1;">http://amzn.to/2hK33OM</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Facebook Author Page </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/FB2j0bbdZ"><span style="color: #0563c1;">http://bit.ly/FB2j0bbdZ</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Twitter</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/Twi2hJZ3h9"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://bit.ly/Twi2hJZ3h9</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Goodreads</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/GR2iqokvK"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://bit.ly/GR2iqokvK</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Library of Erana Blog </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/Blog2iAWL3o"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://bit.ly/Blog2iAWL3o</span></a></span><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0563c1; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><i>The Light Beyond the Storm</i> Book I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Amazon.com</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2bPpspP"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://amzn.to/2bPpspP</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Barnes and Noble</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2iB9PWl"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://bit.ly/2iB9PWl</span></a></span><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0563c1; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Amazon.com audio </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2iBgmQV"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://amzn.to/2iBgmQV</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I-books </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://apple.co/2j0pYW2"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://apple.co/2j0pYW2</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Audible UK </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://adbl.co/2bGqZvO"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://adbl.co/2bGqZvO</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Audible</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://adbl.co/2hHT8El">http://adbl.co/2hHT8El</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><i>The
Shining Citadel – The Light Beyond the Storm Book</i> II</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #3d596d;">Audible UK </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://adbl.co/2iSW5GF"><span style="background: white; color: #0563c1;">http://adbl.co/2iSW5GF</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #3d596d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #3d596d;">Amazon.com </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2j1DSnF"><span style="background: white; color: #0563c1;">http://amzn.to/2j1DSnF</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #3d596d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #3d596d;">Audible.com </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://adbl.co/2i3tf5t"><span style="background: white; color: #0563c1;">http://adbl.co/2i3tf5t</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #3d596d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ebooks available here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Amazon.com</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2c5LghC"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://amzn.to/2c5LghC</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Barnes and Noble</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2hHRv9K">http://bit.ly/2hHRv9K</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">I-books</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #ee6123;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://apple.co/2j0B4u8">http://apple.co/2j0B4u8</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-GB">The
Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book I </span></i></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_tRo5XpN517BHYXcxGDKjTidDxcwRqrNQydkkgAnXpeXTI-VB4wlTl4A2oNaQ09MBzkYLEfdEYCxkGXO4BBcYXNYA39OIcweda6socUX0VDqmKQ-Rx2mNdrS2EwPXpdY7VyTsZfo52Q/s1600/LBTS+Book+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_tRo5XpN517BHYXcxGDKjTidDxcwRqrNQydkkgAnXpeXTI-VB4wlTl4A2oNaQ09MBzkYLEfdEYCxkGXO4BBcYXNYA39OIcweda6socUX0VDqmKQ-Rx2mNdrS2EwPXpdY7VyTsZfo52Q/s200/LBTS+Book+I.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .75in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In a dark world
where magic is illegal and elves are
enslaved, a young elven sorceress runs for her life from the house of her evil
Keeper. Pursued by his men and the corrupt Order of Witch-Hunters she must find
sanctuary. As the slavers roll across the lands stealing elves from what
remains of their ancestral home, the Witch-Hunters turn a blind eye to the
tragedy and a story of power, love and a terrible revenge unfolds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .75in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .75in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">18 rated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .75in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .75in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .75in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .75in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .75in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="tab-stops: .75in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Excerpt</span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">Olek stayed in shadow and walked in
silence, forever gaining upon his prey. As Petrus stepped towards the door, he
was suddenly grabbed with a gloved hand across his mouth. He saw the edge of a
crossbow bolt in the sleeve attached to the hand now gripping his hair as he
tried to turn his head and was dragged back behind the house. As he struggled,
a voice said close to his ear, “At this range I reckon I can hit the door
yonder. Your brain will merely impede the speed it hits. Struggle, lad, and I
will test my theory.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">The young man was forced into a small
empty courtyard with no windows overlooking it, as it was full of rubbish and
refuse. The voice in his ear said, “How nice privacy…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">The hand was removed from his mouth and
Petrus blustered, “Who do you think you are, common thief? I will see you
flogged through the streets then hanged. My father is an important man! Unhand
me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">Petrus found himself with a sharp blade
pressed against his groin, the deadly edge close to his privates. He could feel
the weight of the blade pressing into him. The shadows played around him and
the voice in his ear softly replied, “Unhand me? Please, could you not think of
less of a cliché? Move or scream and your balls will be rolling in the gutter
before the cry is finished.” The young man tried to turn and felt the edge of
the blade press against him again and the voice hissed, “The city guard would
never find me, for I<i> am</i> the shadows.
Now who would this illustrious father be that I am to be so afraid of?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN"> Trying to look down and as he moved, the swift
edge of the blade split the silk of Petrus’ breeches. “My father's men will
hunt you down,” he managed, now feeling distinctly less brave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">Olek yawned loudly. “By all means, call
his men. They will be hunting a shadow, a ghost. Much expense will be used, to
no avail. How much is your life worth to him, do you think? Not only do you
deem it suitable to rape young women and brag about your prowess to your
friends, but really, you are extremely dull in conversation. If you answer my
questions, you might yet live. Believe me when I say I could take you to a man
who would not be as…merciful as I, for what you have done and said. A man who
could no doubt keep you alive for some while, although I doubt you would be in
much of a state to enjoy that life. Now who are you? This young lady whom you
found so…enjoyable, where is she?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">With the blade against his skin, Petrus’
courage failed him. His voice trembled as he whispered, “I am Petrus, son of
Lord Renfrew. The girl, the little virgin whore, she is in the Mermaid. She was
just an elf. I paid the price thus she was mine.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">There was a hiss from behind him and the
blade moved yet closer to his balls. Suddenly there was sharp pain as the edge
scratched him, not quite breaking the skin. He whimpered and tried to back up.
The voice continued, “There was mention of an elven girl called Dii. How do you
know her? The other fellows, who were they?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">Petrus swallowed and whispered, “Just a
little slut…er…I mean, girl that I had a while ago, a Kept of Lord Tremayne,
used to share her around. Little witch warmed his bed too when that human witch
bored him. Just an elf Kept, no one of importance, just some fun for the
menfolk…the others…oh…er…fellows I just met.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">“Oh, now, lad, you were doing so well… You
seemed too intimate to be mere acquaintances.” Olek smiled beneath his cloak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">Petrus felt the blade against him and with
a whimper and a squeak, he felt the skin break and a thin trickle of blood
begin to flow, soon joined by wetter warmth as he pissed his breeches. Suddenly
the only focus was the blade against him and he squeaked, “Just a little Kept
whore, I swear, merely Tremayne’s girl. The others, oh, just Janik of Argen;
Edwaen, son of the House of Andert; and Reflin, son of the House of Sardak, the
merchant.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<span lang="EN">Olek twisted his wrist and drew his blade
deep into the man's private parts and as he fell screaming, drew the sword
across his throat, cutting off the scream to a gurgle. Crouching, letting the
blood flow away from him, he hissed, “Women are not yours to use, elf or not. I
do not like a man who betrays his friends. This information will be most
useful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617159016875221952.post-63792182473882827772017-03-08T03:00:00.000-08:002017-03-08T03:00:01.271-08:00Guest Author, Ash Gray<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Welcome my guest today, author Ash Gray. Be sure to comment below. I love to hear your opinions. Also, remember that every comment on my blog between now and May enters you into a contest to win either a signed print or ecopy of <i>The Bull Riding Witch</i>. To make the contest sweeter, I'm adding a $25 Amazon gift card to the pot of prizes.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNWJEAzemxzNu7wnJ4Byh047Tn6LA_cRMmFJ-VNM6hSmHyRmG6HZasAoWK1lnykce0rfirNBViXgHUXP_s8hzbXc5rpHnvGh61astGKA0dhSOdP_5gNX2VtE6CsDUiMS-EnzTBk8HOnM/s1600/Ash+Gray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNWJEAzemxzNu7wnJ4Byh047Tn6LA_cRMmFJ-VNM6hSmHyRmG6HZasAoWK1lnykce0rfirNBViXgHUXP_s8hzbXc5rpHnvGh61astGKA0dhSOdP_5gNX2VtE6CsDUiMS-EnzTBk8HOnM/s200/Ash+Gray.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The young Ash Gray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
Ash Gray is a
dragon with minuscule spectacles perched on her nose, living in a wonderfully
dank, musty cave far away in an alternate universe. She types her stories with
gigantic claws on a ridiculously small typewriter before sending them through a
membrane and into your dimension for your enjoyment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
Interview</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1.</b> Tell us a
little about yourself? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m a dragon. To be honest, we’re really not all that
interesting. A couple burned villages here, a few virgin sacrifices there. And
there was that time with the leprechaun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2.</b> Tell us
something about how you write? i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have
any weird or necessary writing habits or rituals?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot of the time I just fly by the seat of my pants. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I got older, the college dork in me found it easier to
make an outline for every novel. I might sit and brainstorm and fill out an
outline with all my ideas for the book from beginning to end. Then I would know
how the story was going to end and all I had to do was fill in the blanks.
That’s when I’m feeling patient. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot of the time I’m just chaotic. I have a general idea of
what I want to say and I write a chapter, maybe three, everyday until it’s
said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At my first college, I learned this neat trick from my (very
mean) Creative Writing teacher. She challenged us to write our stories
backwards. Write the ending first or write a chapter that will happen much
later, then go back and tell what happened six chapters before. She called it
“paperchunking.” I would use the paperchunk method for maybe five years before
I wandered between outlining and flying by my – figurative – pants (dragons
don’t wear pants). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3.</b> Do you think
people have misconceptions about the speculative fiction? Why do you think it
is a worthwhile genre?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think a lot of people view speculative fiction as
childish, like we speculative writers are just children playing at fantasies.
When I was growing up, nerd culture hadn’t yet been turned into some widely
accepted fad. I had to hide my books about dragons and robots for fear of being
ridiculed to tears. <i>Lord of the Rings</i>
and the <i>Hobbit</i> only became cool
because of Peter Jackson. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those who view us as childish conveniently forget that
people like us are the reason why they have great entertainment. We create the
children’s programs, the theatre productions, the video games, the art, the
music, the television shows, the happy memories that people crave each time
they engage their favorite characters. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, it’s possible to be creative without dungeons and
dragons, but it’s also boring. At least for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4.</b> Could you tell
us a bit about your most recent book?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I dunno. Are there children present? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most recent book I published is titled <i>Tales of Talithia</i>. It’s a collection of
erotic stories in a fantasy setting. So basically it’s elves, mermaids, unicorns,
shapeshifters, magi, the works. Each story is about a couple of a different
sexual identity – so straight, gay, bisexual, etc. I made it free for
Valentine’s Day, but it’s so cheap (at the moment) it doesn’t really matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each story is about the origins of a great hero, how their
parents met, and how they were born. So each couple in the book gives birth to
a child (the gay couples adopt or have mystical pregnancies), and that child
goes on to become a great hero in Talithia. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I plan to write one novel about each of the five heroes in a
<i>Tales of Talithia</i> series. I might
change my mind, but that’s the plan right now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>5.</b> What gives you
inspiration for your book?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love art. Growing up, I always wanted to be a painter
because I just love art so very much. When I look at paintings, I always think
of a story. A lot of my stories were inspired by paintings I saw. “Farther
Shores” in Tales of Talithia is a short story about a woman who falls in love
with a male siren and they have a half-siren child. It was inspired by the
painting <i>The Land Baby</i> by John
Collier.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If art doesn’t inspire me, my dreams do. I’m currently
working on a novel called <i>Dreamweaver</i>
which is based on a daydream I had (saying it’s a vision kind of makes me look
crazy, but that’s pretty much what it was). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>6.</b> Of all the
characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have created a lot of crappy characters, so that’s a hard
question to answer. It is my personal opinion that I am still to have created a
really memorable character. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I had to answer, I would say Zorya from my yet unfinished
novel <i>Dreamweaver</i> is kind of fun to
write. She is a snarky transgender woman who doesn’t take crap from anyone. She
has godlike powers, which has isolated her from other people, to the point that
she’s sort of cold and can do terrible things as a result of her detachment.
She basically has a god complex where she “smites” people with her powers,
truly believing she has the right to judge others. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Zorya is very fun to write, and I feel nervous every time I
sit down to write her because I want to get it <i>right. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>7.</b> Tell us a
little about your plans for the future.
Do you have any other books in the works?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a folder on my computer labeled “Writing.” Inside
that folder, I have two subfolders. One is a folder of published works. The
second is a folder of unpublished works. There are eight novels in the second
folder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes. I have more stories to tell you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where can we find you online?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blog: <a href="https://ashbleublog.wordpress.com/">https://ashbleublog.wordpress.com/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fiverr gigs (I write for scraps!): <a href="https://www.fiverr.com/ashbleu" target="_blank">https://www.fiverr.com/ashbleu</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amazon: <a href="http://amazon.com/author/ashgray">amazon.com/author/ashgray</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14603050.Ash_Gray">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14603050.Ash_Gray</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
The Thieves of Nottica</h2>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZkidLbmR58qPFip4mjK6GXrJZnbBkHAzAmoBsFs_7NH0UUU0UFNkumVX5rMLAg9tUMdYyMygM8ZLcMK6CA2NeSsWZoJib-dXkmJKMEPnI-Db-1H3KElhv8lTzekBBvPkT0Nl9Sb6gS8/s1600/Cover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZkidLbmR58qPFip4mjK6GXrJZnbBkHAzAmoBsFs_7NH0UUU0UFNkumVX5rMLAg9tUMdYyMygM8ZLcMK6CA2NeSsWZoJib-dXkmJKMEPnI-Db-1H3KElhv8lTzekBBvPkT0Nl9Sb6gS8/s200/Cover3.jpg" width="149" /></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">In a world where humans are evil,
invading aliens and robots are slaves, Rigg is the youngest member of the
Keymasters, a band of professional thieves who use their skills to defy an
overbearing government known as the Hand. It is a world full of pollution,
intrusive surveillance cameras, and injustice, where any who “give the finger
to the Hand” are punished with death. The Keymasters are hired to steal a
highly sought after treasure, but when one of their number is lost during the
job, they find themselves the tools in a power play for said treasure -- a
mysterious lockbox that no one can open. To ultimately survive in the end, the
Keymasters must battle their way through mechanical monsters, airships, and politics,
literally going through shit (they travel through a sewage pipe) to make it out
alive.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Excerpt</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Scanning,” Lisa repeated.
“Scanning Complete.” Her eyes clicked, turning golden again as the red mesh of
light dissipated. Beams of yellow light reached from her eyes instead, creating
a circular spotlight that glared over the trees directly in front of them. The
creature came faster, Lisa’s glowing eyes having pinpointed their location for
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“<i>Well</i>?” Morganith demanded of Lisa. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .3in;">
A tree somewhere fell with a
groan in the darkness. The four of them leapt as it slammed down, shaking the
world in a riot of dust. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“What is
it?!” Hari begged. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“It is . .
.” began Lisa, but she needn’t have finished. A giant mechanical frog rolled
out of the darkness and into Lisa’s light; round, blank eyes gleaming like
yellow headlights as it came to a smooth, rattling stop. Rigg glanced beyond it
and could see it had trampled its eager way to them, leaving a path of
destruction its wake. In place of legs, it had been fitted with the rolling
tracks of a tank. Its rusty metal body was peeling with green paint, and its
great, wide, toothless mouth was open to reveal a red synthetic tongue. Its
yellow throat, made of withered cloth, ballooned out when it croaked, regarding
them with the greedy, hungry expression of a predator. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Hari took a
stumbling step back, pushing her welding goggles back from her eyes to regard
the creature in disbelief. “You gotta be <i>kiddin’</i>
me,” she said. “Who would waste their scrap makin’ somethin’ like this?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“You?”
Morganith suggested.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“Proto-Frog
Unit 365,” said Lisa factually. “Prototype Age: One Hundred and Nine.
Designated Perimeter: <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Purva</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Forest</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Function: To Cull
The Population Of Wild Spiders --”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“Hmm. That
makes sense, actually,” said Hari, shrugging contently.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The
proto-frog gave a croaking, creaking scream and opened its mouth, raising the
hairs on Rigg’s neck. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“Great,
things make sense,” said Morganith sarcastically. “Now that Hari’s comfortable,
can we fight for our lives?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
If you like what you've read, you can find Ash's novel here:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamiemarchan-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01MZC1CDG&asins=B01MZC1CDG&linkId=84e3245f9fcd75d4c2fe6ea6b1ac00d3&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<br />
Also, please comment below.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357669605277585093noreply@blogger.com0