A. F. Stewart's Blog

Stranger at the Hell Gate

2013-05-18T02:00:00.000-03:00

Today's post is a feature for the book, Stranger at the Hell Gate, an urban fantasy from the talented author Ash Krafton.

Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor

Stranger at the Hell Gate by Ash Krafton

Jagger Sintallon, a half-demon warrior, has dedicated his existence to fighting demons who enter the world through Hell gates. A loner of conflicting ideals, he offers shelter to a troubled woman but knows he is too rough, too dangerous, and too cocky for her delicate nature.

Dedicated to Divine Will, Sonya Camael, a Seraph, is determined to discover why she is drawn to Jagger's doorstep and the reason behind her mission. She needs the demon's help but fears he may get himself killed before she can figure it out and the world slips into Hell's dominion.

Sonya faces grave danger with evil stalking her every move, and Jagger shouldn't care but realizes he cares more than he'd likely admit. Sonya knows Jagger cannot win this war alone, but will her divine intervention mean his imminent end? Or will just the right combination of Heaven and Hell set the world right once again?

Short Excerpt:

Jagger hung his head, looking very much out of patience. With an exasperated huff, he turned in place, his boots clomping. Cocky stance, head back, and eyes daring her to say something. But these things she only partially registered because when he turned to face her, his entire upper body—chest, face, arms—glowed with the marks of past insult and injury. And that sickle shape burned into the skin over his heart—
She whimpered, heart-sick to see him in this way. Her mother's blood cried out at the thought of what agony he must have endured to stand here now, so marred and wounded. Covering her eyes, she dispelled the Seraph sight and fought the tears.
"Hey." He was in front of her within moments, pulling her hands down and leaning to peer at her downturned face. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"You. You've been through so much. Just look at you."
"I'd rather not. I'm not a pretty guy."
"Jagger. These scars. You have countless hurts. I can't see a part of you that isn't injured." She raised her eyes, tears brimming on her lower lashes. "Let me help you."
"What, you're a plastic surgeon?"
She swallowed and regained part of her composure. "Better."
He looked alarmed and rocked back on his heels. "You don't mean—"
"Yes, I do." She held onto his hands and kept him from backing away. This felt right, this decision.
His eyes shifted. "Ah, I don't think it's a good idea, doll. Our kinds don't mix well."

Available from: Amazon

About the Author:

Ash Krafton writes from the heart…of the Pennsylvania coal region, that is.
She is the author of the Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press).
BLEEDING HEARTS (Demimonde #1) is a six-time RWA finalist and was voted "Reviewer Top Pick" by Gravetells.com. Ash continues the story of Sophie and her Demivampires in her latest release BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2). She's hard at work (when she isn't watching Doctor Who) writing the third book, WOLF'S BANE.
Ash Krafton's poetry and short fiction has appeared in several journals, including Niteblade, Bete Noire, Abandoned Towers, and Silver Blade. She's a member of Pennwriters, RWA, and Maryland Writers Association. She lurks near her blog and contributes to the QueryTracker blog.
Ash lives with her family and their German Shepherd dog deep in the Pennsylvania wilds, awaiting the day the TARDIS appears in the driveway (the dog most likely keeps the Doctor away. What a beast.)

Until then, she writes.

Find Ash at:

The Demimonde blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Evoking A Fantasy World: A Guest Post by Rahima Warren

2013-05-16T01:00:00.000-03:00

Today a guest, author Rahima Warren, drops by as part of her blog tour for her new book, Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy. She discusses the art of creating a world of fantasy, introduces us to her book and shares a great giveaway at the end of the post. So read on, and enjoy...

Evoking a Fantasy World

When reading a fantasy set in a different (non-historical) world or time, I find it jarring if the characters’ names are old familiar ones from our everyday reality. Why would people in a strange time/place have names like Steven or Julia? Also, why would they use the same words to refer to time or distance that we do? Convenient for the writer perhaps, but too familiar for me as a reader.

TIME AND DISTANCE:

In my fantasy trilogy, The Star-Seer’s Prophecy, I tried to evoke a different world in subtle ways. For example, I avoid using our familiar measures of time. Instead of “minute,” I use “moment.” Instead of “week,” I use “quarter-moon.” Many cultures measure time by that clock in the sky, the Moon. For distance, I just referred to how many days a trip took. And I had fun making up names and words to help evoke a different world. I used two methods for creating these new words: listening/intuition, and research.

LISTENING:

For most of my characters’ name, I start by ‘listening’ for a name, using my intuition. Sometimes, that’s it. I get it on the first try, like Zhovanya as the name of the Goddess in my trilogy. For others, I play around with the sound of the name until it fits the character. And for some, the name evolves as I get to know the character better. For example, originally Kyr’s name was Arik (which I believe relates to an old Nordic word for eagle). Somehow, I didn’t like the hard ‘k’ as the last sound of his name, so I changed it to Kyr (“keer” like “peer”), which to me sounds like the high, lonely cry of a hawk or eagle, and suits his character.

Over time, I noticed that there was a pattern in the way I was naming men vs. women, and changed a few names to fit that pattern, though there are some exceptions. You might check out the Cast of Characters (in Book Extras- http://www.starseersprophecy.com/book-extras/) on my website, and see if you can detect the pattern. I also ‘listened’ for the magical commands used by the Warrior-Mage, Rajani; for the names of magical potions; and for the sacred chants. (See the Glossary in Book Extras http://www.starseersprophecy.com/glossary/.)

RESEARCH:

In the case of the evil sorcerer-king called the Soul-Drinker, I found his name through researching the roots of words in the Dictionary of Word Origins by John Ayto. The Soul-Drinker’s name is Dauthaz, which comes from the Old English and Germanic roots of the word ‘death.’

This is also how I created the name of the land where the story takes place, and the terms used at the Sanctuary. The land is named Khailaz, which is a prehistoric Germanic word, ancestor of our word, ‘whole.’ Adding the suffix –itha to khailaz produced khailitha, the root of our words, ‘health’ and ‘heal.’

From this, I made up the words kailitha (divine healing energy); Kailithana (a priestess-healer); Kailithara (healing work of the Kailithana); Kailithos (one who is undergoing the Kailithara); and Kailithama (sacred chamber in which the Kailithana works with the Kailithos).

I don’t recall exactly how I tracked down the roots from which I constructed Aithané (Listener, Confessor), Phanaithos (Speaker, Divulger), or Phanaithara (Divulgence, Confession). I believe they come from Greek roots meaning to listen, and to speak.

A few other words, I just made up. For example, I derived zhan (life force energy) from Zhovanya.

Now, admittedly, I am not Tolkien, creating whole languages, and races of fantastic creatures. My focus is more on the inner world and healing ordeal of my hero, Kyr, than on detailed world making. However, I did do my best to evoke a different place/time by creating new words and names, and avoiding overly familiar names and terms.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

As a reader, which do you prefer: familiar names and terms; or new and different ones?

As a writer, what is your approach to evoking a different world?

Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy by Rahima Warren

The “twin-souled dark innocent,” Kyr, is a youth born and raised to blindly carry out the Soul-Drinker’s brutal commands. At first, Kyr’s one desire is death, the only escape from the Soul-Drinker’s hellish rule. Just when he is about to get his wish, the secret Circle rescues him. Now he has to choose between the familiar easy path of despair and death, or the hard path of healing, living, and a greater destiny, about which he knows nothing. How can a slave who has known only evil, pain and obedience choose to become a man of courage and compassion, and fulfill the Star Seer's Prophecy?

Rahima Warren’s Bio:

Rahima Warren is the author of Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy, a deep, rich novel of the healing journey. With Master's degrees in Clinical and Transpersonal Psychology, she was in private practice as a licensed psychotherapist for over 20 years. In 2006, Rahima retired to focus on her expressive painting, creative writing, and spiritual studies.

In her work with clients recovering from abuse, she was awed by the human capacity to heal, and to reach new levels of forgiveness, wholeness and happiness. She also learned to trust the psyche's own process. This enabled her to allow a dark and mysterious story to flood forth unhindered: Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy.

Rahima is a third-generation native of California and resides with her husband in Northern California, where she periodically chases squirrels off the wild bird feeders, and deer away from her roses. Her life-long love of fantasy is her parents' fault: they left sci-fi & fantasy magazines with fascinating cover art lying around the house.

Links:

Rahima Warren’s website: http://bit.ly/YDWLdo
Read an excerpt of Dark Innocence: http://bit.ly/11AqQ0o
Rahima Warren on Twitter: http://bit.ly/12dIIxc
Rahima’s Facebook Fan Page: http://on.fb.me/XZu15l
Rahima Warren on Pinterest: http://bit.ly/WBau8l
Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/11eiksn
Dark Innocence: Book One of the Star-Seer's Prophecy on Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/WTiwvA

Giveaway Info

Rahima is giving away prizes, including an e-copy of her book at each blog stop on her tour AND a Grand Prize Giveaway of a Custom Jumbo Tote Bag with your choice of fan art, chosen from here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/fan-art/, plus other goodies, including a signed copy of Dark Innocence for one lucky winner, shipped to anywhere in the world!

1) To win a book: Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win a book. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments so we can contact you if you’re the lucky winner. This giveaway ends five days after the post goes live.

2) To win the Custom Jumbo Tote Bag with Rahima’s fan art of your choice, or a signed copy of Dark Innocence, or other goodies, click the link to go to Rahima’s website here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/blog-tour/ and enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the page. A winner will be selected on June 21st.

Enter for the Grand Prize on Rahima’s website here: http://www.starseersprophecy.com/blog-tour/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Come Join Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective

2013-05-15T02:00:00.000-03:00

Today author Christine Amsden releases her new novel, Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective and you dear readers are getting a treat. For the author has stopped by to share with us a delightful extra, a mini-story, featuring the main character from the book. So read on...

Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

This story expands on a brief mention from the book's first chapter. Enjoy.

Cassie Scot: Normal Detective

Last night, I was just about to close up and go home for the day when an old woman walked into my office with a cat carrier. Inside the carrier, a black cat hissed and yowled. I suppose I would have felt that way too, if someone had locked me inside a little cage. I felt instant sympathy for the cat. Not so much for the old lady.

“Cassandra Scot?” she asked.

“Cassie,” I corrected automatically. Only my parents called me Cassandra.

“I knew your grandparents.”

I tried not to groan. My grandparents had been highly respected sorcerers until they died in a lab explosion a few years back. I never knew what they had been working on, but since that day there has been a swirling vortex in the lab.

Don't ask – I really have no idea.

“Have we met?” I asked.

“Miranda Cleaver. Mrs. Cleaver.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Cleaver.”

If she heard my sarcastic emphasis on the honorific, she didn't mention it.

“Your grandparents used to set wards in my house to keep the demons out,” Mrs. Cleaver said. “Since they've died, the wards have failed. There are now demons running amuck in my house, and Sylvie – my poor cat – has been possessed by the devil.”

“I... see.” What was I supposed to say? She had just walked past a sign proclaiming, “Cassie Scot: Normal Detective.”

“I read your web site,” Mrs. Cleaver said.

“Really? Did you see my list of services and exemptions?”

“Of course.”

“So what do you need?”

“An exorcism. I told you, Sylvie is possessed by the devil.”

I glanced again at the hissing cat, whose yellow eyes shone with very typical feline anger. “I don't do exorcisms. It was listed under exemptions.”

“But you're Cassandra Scot, aren't you?”

“Cassie.”

“Your parents are Edward and Sheila Scot?”

“Yes.” I felt my face burning. Just because I had powerful sorcerers for parents, didn't mean I was one as well. Okay, so it wasn't just my parents – it was my grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins, brothers, and sisters. Still, there had to be a second cousin out there somewhere without any magic at all.

Why couldn't people just read the sign?

“Well, then.” She sounded as if the whole matter were settled. She plunked the carrier on my desk and took a vacant chair in front. “I went to your father first. Your grandparents always told me to go to him if I needed anything after they were gone. Your father said you were ideally suited for this sort of work.”

“He did?” My dad wasn't above a practical joke, but this sounded more like something my brother would do. My brother, who looked more like Dad's twin than his son, thanks to Dad's egregious use of youthening potions.

“Nicolas,” I muttered under my breath. “This is war.”

“What's that, dear?”

“Why don't I take a quick look at the cat?”

“Of course, dear.” Mrs. Cleaver clearly had not expected any other result.

I opened the door to the cage, but carefully did not reach my hand inside. The cat stopped hissing. After a moment or two, it poked its nose outside the cage, sniffing the air. Then it stepped outside.

That's when I noticed how very pregnant Sylvie was.

“She needs to see a vet,” I said. “She's going to have kittens.”

“I know. Little demons. It never used to happen when your grandparents were alive.”

“I... see.” I seemed to be saying that a lot. “You know what? I think I'll need to keep her for a few days. I'll call you when she's free of the... demon.”

“You will?” Mrs. Cleaver's eyes shone with relief. Crazy or not, I knew I'd said the right thing. “How much will it cost? I don't have a lot of money.”

“Don't worry about it.”

“I really must pay you.” She dug through her beaded handbag, closing her fist around a bill, which she handed to me with the air of someone bestowing a treat on a young child. “Thank you so much.”

I watched in bemusement as she walked out the door, leaving me to deal with the pregnant cat. I figured I'd take Sylvie home to my sister, Juliana, a gifted healer. She had been begging our parents for a cat lately, anyway.

As soon as the door closed behind the old lady, I glanced at the bill she had pressed into my hands. A single dollar. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

At least my parents are rich.

“This is the last paranormal case I'm taking though,” I said to whoever might be listening.

Sylvie meowed. I think she knew I was kidding myself.

You can find more about Christine and her books at her website:

Christine Amsden
http://www.christineamsden.com

Or at

Twilight Times Books
http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com

Be Popular Now: An Interview with Jonathan Bennett

2013-05-08T11:06:00.000-03:00

Today author Jonathan Bennett stops by for an interview to chat about his book, Be Popular Now: How Any Man Can Become Confident, Attractive, and Successful (And Have Fun Doing It), co-authored with his brother David.

An Interview with Jonathan Bennett

Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.

I’m thirty-five years old, married with a family. I live near Columbus, Ohio (USA). I have a background in education and currently work in drug and alcohol treatment. I own a speaking and consulting business with my twin brother David dedicated to helping guys become more confident and successful. We wrote the book together.

Can you tell us a little about your book, Be Popular Now: How Any Man Can Become Confident, Attractive, and Successful (And Have Fun Doing It)?

We studied the science of attraction and popularity and turned those theories into practical tips. Essentially, the book is a handbook of general male popularity and attractiveness. We focus on such topics as self-improvement, advancing at work, making friends, getting dates, etc.

What motivated you to write a book on the topic of being popular?

We had done a lot of research to improve our own popularity and success and what we developed worked quite well. We noticed that while others focused on specific areas (like dating), no one was really writing about popularity. Yet, being attractive to others and winning them over for companionship (our definition of popularity), is a basic human need. We felt the book was needed in a Western world that is only getting lonelier.

What are your goals for this book?

We hope to help other guys achieve some of the success we've had in our own lives. Being popular isn't about being selfish or taking advantage of others. When people are attracted to you, their needs are being met as well. It could be receiving laughter, friendship, meaning in life, or anything really. Popular, attractive, and confident men truly make the world a better place. Of course, the same is true of women, but we didn't feel qualified to write that book!

Who is your intended readership?

Any guy who wants more out of life is a part of our target audience. It could be someone who simply wants a little self-improvement to a guy who feels his entire life needs rebooted.

Can you tell us something about the about your writing process for the book?

I personally like to do the research and preparation for my writing in advance. So, David and I did the difficult work first, studying the science behind popularity. Then, we developed practical tips and tested them out. By the time we started to write about them, we’d so lived the theories that the writing was easy. We were essentially describing what had become second nature.

Did anything surprise you about writing your book?

Nothing was really too surprising since we’d already completed another book (on crafting positive affirmations). But, this book flowed in such an incredible way, with little writer’s block. That may have been the most surprising aspect.

What sort research went into the book?

We really looked at the hard sciences, areas such as brain research, evolutionary biology, psychology, etc. The subjective art of being popular and attractive is grounded in a pretty objective human nature.

Any future plans for more books?

We are ready to release a teen popularity book. It focuses on similar themes, but is focused on helping both sexes develop confidence and social skills. It’s going to be marketed as an anti-bullying book because it creates what bullies hate: confident, assertive people.

You can find out more about Jonathan, David and their book at: http://thepopularman.com

Author Bio:

Jonathan Bennett is a self help writer and speaker who co-owns and operates several informational websites that receive over a million visitors a year. He writes about such topics as popularity, health, spirituality, and success. His websites include The Popualar Man (thepopularman.com), The Popular Teen (thepopularteen.com), and ChurchYear.Net.

Jonathan was born and raised in a small town in Ohio. He received a BA in history from Ohio University and a Master's Degree from Emory University. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, as well as honors fraternities in history, theology, and the classics. He has a background in education and currently teaches at the University of Phoenix. He also handles administrative duties at a drug treatment center.

In 2007, he started a communications company with his twin brother, David. It has grown significantly since that time, and now includes two publishing companies, Theta Hill Press and Cedar Grove Press.

Although he spent most of his life in school and was naturally popular, he realized he (or anyone else) was never taught the social skills that lead to genuine success. Working with his brother and friend Joshua Wagner, he decided to study (and model) the ways that successful people think and act. This research led the three friends to focus on helping men make friends, get dates, and be successful.

His study of cutting-edge social research, along with his natural popularity and personality, led him to consult, speak, and write about popularity and other topics related to success.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading and writing. He drinks a lot of coffee and has a passion for health and fitness. He enjoys spending time with his friends and family, especially his wife and children. He enjoys going to concerts (modern adult alternative acts primarily) and running extreme races like the Tough Mudder and Warrior Dash.

Mechanized Masterpieces Book Launch Party!

2013-04-30T09:49:00.001-03:00

Today’s the day! The Book Launch Party for Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology!

Come help me, and all the other talented authors celebrate the astonishing world of goggles and gears as we turn Facebook into a blustering, chugging wonderland of Victorian steam.

All the authors will be on the hotseat to answer your questions, each taking turns throughout the party, plus there will be trivia, an internet scavenger hunt, with lots of cool prizes to be won, such as posters, free books and jewelry.

So please join us on Facebook later this afternoon:

https://www.facebook.com/events/339286706194431/

And you can check out Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

You can also check out my interview and a review of the book here: http://dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.ca/2013/04/steampunk-author-af-stewart-stops-by.html

A Review of Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology

2013-04-29T14:42:00.003-03:00

My Book Review of Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology

First off I’d like to disclose I have a story in this anthology, and therefore I have a vested interested in this book. So take this review as enthusiastic endorsement for my fellow authors if you will (and perhaps a tiny bit of a shameless promotion).

I enjoyed reading the stories in Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology. I found the book to be an entertaining, diverse gaze through the looking-glass of the steampunk world, filtered through classic literature.

The idea of Mechanized Masterpieces is a re-imaging of classic books by such authors as Charles Dickens, Mary Shelly or Charlotte Bronte, which shifts their worlds and characters into the 19th century strangeness that is steampunk. The stories in the book are clanging, banging, puffing prequels, sequels and reboots, rich in quality and captivation.

There are eight fascinating stories in the anthology, based on the books Jane Eyre, Sense and Sensibilities, David Copperfield, The Little Match Girl, The Phantom of the Opera, A Christmas Carol and Frankenstein. They are enchanting, sometimes steam-twisted tales to delight. I especially liked the story of Micawber and Copperfield, with its shades of Horatio Hornblower (albeit with dirigibles instead of sailing ships) and Tropic of Cancer, which had a dark, looming undertone of foreboding.

Even with my slightly biased opinion, I can recommend Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology as a great read.

The Book is officially launched on Facebook tomorrow! Come and join in the fun!

Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology is available on Amazon (in paperback and for Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (for Nook).

Mechanized Masterpieces: The Story Behind My Story

2013-04-25T17:40:00.004-03:00

First up, the official book launch of Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology happens on April 30th! As one of the authors featured in the book I am inviting all to the Book Launch Party on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/339286706194431/

Next, I have a little ramble about how the story came to be, and some trivia at the end (which may come in handy around party time- hint, hint). So read on, and enjoy.

Mechanized Masterpieces: The Story Behind My Story

Once upon a time (because don’t all happy ending fairy tales start that way, even steampunk ones?) I submitted a story to Xchyler Publishing for a steampunk themed anthology. The idea was to take a classic book and expand on a character, steampunk style.
I thought to myself, “that’s sounds fun, I can do that...” all those things writers tell themselves to get off Facebook and back to creating. So I flew off in search of a classic story and landed on Dickens, (but don’t worry he wasn’t hurt), and A Christmas Carol specifically.
At first I thought perhaps Bob Cratchit would do, or Tiny Tim, but as I reacquainted myself with the story I realised there was a character badly neglected in the original, Scrooge’s nephew Fred. Questions began to race through my head. Who was Fred? What did he do for a living? What if he was a spy? That’s when something clicked- write a spy story, a steampunk spy story.
So off I went, scribbling furiously giving Fred a backstory, and taking his friend Topper and his nameless wife (although in my tale she isn’t yet his wife and she has a name) along for the ride. And about halfway through, I hit a bit of writer’s block, so I like to officially extend my thanks to the Google+ community at Dark-Fantasy Writers for helping me over the hump. Their supportive brainstorming was the inspiration for the rats.
So writer’s block banished, I furiously finished my prose in time to make the deadline, and sent off my story, Our Man Fred, where it ended, nestled in the pages of Mechanized Masterpieces.

Now for some trivia bits:

The spy agency in Our Man Fred is called the Clockwork Department, which shares its initials with Charles Dickens as a nod to A Christmas Carol
The title Our Man Fred is an homage to the old spy movie Our Man Flint
The automaton man mentioned briefly by Topper was dropped in as a nod to various Victorian era dime novels.
The mention of the Penny Dreadfuls by Mary is also a nod to Victorian era fiction.

Interview with A. Wayne Gill

2013-04-17T12:55:00.002-03:00

Today author, A. Wayne Gill stops by for a chat about his legal thriller, The Runner, and his writing...

An Interview with A. Wayne Gill

Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself?

Hello, I am Wayne Gill. I am a commercial lawyer and have been for twenty years now. Also, I am a beginning author.

Can you tell us about your book, The Runner?

Certainly, The Runner is a legal thriller that in addition has a spiritual message. It is centered on a recent college graduate named Michael Knight and his quest to find himself.

Why did you decide to write this book?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I used to write as a child through college I was an English major. I really felt a need to convey the message of The Runner and put them down on paper.

Did anything surprise you about the process of writing your book?

The most surprising thing was the discipline needed. An author must teach themselves to carve out time and just write that was difficult for me.

What was your greatest challenge in writing The Runner?

Again, I would have to say the discipline and just the overall amount of time it took to rewrite and edit the book.

As a lawyer you are of course familiar with the legal world you portrayed in this book. How much, and what type, of research outside the legal profession did you need for your novel?

My research focused on the Christian aspect of my book. I researched the culture of churches. The main character’s father is a minister and I wanted to delve into the culture and way of life for children of a preacher. Also, the town, Ozark Falls is very small. I looked into the background of small towns.

When did you realize you wanted to write?

I was 6 years old and had entered a poetry competition at my school. I had written a poem on Martin Luther King. I ended up winning first place. The writing bug has never left me since.

Who are your writing inspirations?

Too many to name! If I had to mention a few, I would say Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Jimmy Baldwin, Alice Walker, and Stephen King.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I enjoy spending time with my family. We can be on vacation or watching a movie on the couch just that quality time is priceless to me.

Are you working on another book?

Yes, currently I am finishing up the follow up to The Runner.

Author Bio:

A. Wayne Gill is the Managing Partner and CEO of the Gill Law Firm. which has offices in Florida and Georgia. throughout the United States. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the South Florida Minority Supplier Development Council (SFMSDC), the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, Inc., and the Oasis Compassion Agency, which he co-founded with his wife Sharon, in 2002.
He obtained an English degree from Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut and his law degree from George Washington University in Washington DC. There, among other things, he served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Arthur L. Burnett, Sr. of the DC Trial Court and in the Office of the Corporation Counsel for the District of Columbia, Civil Division. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Minority Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
He is a frequent speaker, moderator and author. He’s also published articles and written Continuing Legal Education materials for the National Business Institute. His published books and e-books are available by title at his website: www.waynegill.com

You can also find The Runner on Amazon

Greenwood Tree: Cover Reveal and Excerpt

2013-04-15T01:00:00.000-03:00

Today we have another treat, with the cover reveal and excerpt from the historical mystery novel, Greenwood Tree by B. Lloyd. Enjoy...

Greenwood Tree:

‘Well, what do all mysteries have?' said Aunt Isobel. 'Money, mistresses, and murder.’

1783 – and Lichfield society is enthralled by the arrival of dashing ex-officer Orville; he charms his way into the salons, grand houses and even a great inheritance from extrovert Sir Morton.

1927 – and detective writer Julia Warren returns to her home in Lichfield to work on her next novel. Initially she hopes to find plot material from the past and set it in the present. Aunt Isobel, while making preparations for the annual midsummer ball, has managed to root out an old journal from 1783 which might prove a source of inspiration. Once Julia starts reading her ancestor’s journal she becomes absorbed in solving the mystery surrounding officer Orville. Detective fever takes over, and she moves from reality to legend as events from the past seem set to re-enact themselves in the present, and she finds herself unravelling more than just the one mystery. Who was Orville? Who was the agent, Oddman, set to spy on him? And who is helpful Mr Grenall ?

Pagan gods don’t walk away just because you stop looking at them. The Gronny Patch sleeps. Perhaps it dreams. Or perhaps not …

A complex, multi-layered story unlike any other, full of whimsy, horror, and mystery, shifting between the centuries and from source to source, until all the threads are finally drawn together by the imperturbable Miss Warren.

An Excerpt from the Book:

Chapter Three

1927

London

‘A country murder? In a big old mansion, plenty of house-guests and servants? Better set it before the War, then. How many bodies? Four? Five? Have you the odd family ghost you could throw in for good measure?’

Julia mentally heaved a sigh of relief. The ‘talk over tea’ was progressing better than she had expected, with her editor lapping up the storyline she had cobbled together at the last minute. She had set it in her aunt’s house on an impulse, reasoning to herself that she would at least have an excuse to retreat there on the pretexts of research and peace and quiet. She found she had an increasing desire to return, in fact. The mild excitement of earning enough to live on the edge of a crowded metropolis was beginning to pall; the traffic and endless round of theatres and clubs held little attraction for her after all, whereas one more cocktail party with the effete and affected of the literary elite might result in her committing violence.

As if reading her mind, Mr Williams leaned forward confidentially to say: ‘Do you remember that last do at Ashton’s? Miss Vane was there too.’

‘Yes, I do remember.’ Julia had found Harriet Vane somewhat intimidating. As for that beau of hers, thrashing out articles on free love and anarchy—yet always with his hair brilliantined in a singularly unappealing fashion. Somehow brilliantine and speeches on a new world order did not quite go together, at least not for Julia.

‘Well, she’s written an essay lamenting the dearth of good crime fiction, and suggests the crime novelists get together to form a club of sorts; she intends to start a magazine or such-like. Ashton is right behind her, they’ve managed to rope old Chesterton in, and Ashton was wondering if you might be able to contribute?’ Ashton was Chief Editor at Petrel Books and held frequent gatherings at his home in Kensington for writers and editors alike. His influence was such that one did not refuse his requests lightly.

‘Sounds perfectly terrifying. What do they want from me? Not another essay, I hope.’

‘I think it might be more interesting than that —why don’t I arrange a get-together, see what is in the air, so to speak? It’s quite true, after all, hardly a soul out there to write mysteries—even Mrs Christie’s “Big Four” only received very mixed reviews . . . so it’s up to us to make a difference, eh?’

Julia did her best to respond with conviction and enthusiasm. She managed to divert the conversation: ‘And what of Miss Vane’s latest?’

‘Haven’t read it. Haven’t even heard much about it —which makes me wonder whether she might not be taking refuge in this magazine idea. We all know what the Muse does to writers at times, don’t we?’ Julia felt a quiet pinching at the stomach, a reminder of her own fallibility. Had he in fact swallowed whole her excuse for a plot? She tried not to think about that.

‘I can at least say you are interested in knowing more?’ Williams looked almost pleadingly at her. Julia dutifully undertook to write something and made her exit gratefully. If only she could escape London now with equal ease.

She was about to cross the street when she felt a friendly pat on her shoulder and turned to find somebody in the same sort of anonymous cloche hat and long straight coat as she was wearing.

‘Hello, May,’ she said, still in chirpy frame of mind from her meeting. ‘They’ve let you out for half an hour, then?’

May chuckled. ‘Oh it’s not that bad. Listen, why don’t we catch up—are you free for tea at Lyons’?’

The teahouse was a little full, but they managed to squeeze in between the crowded, clinking, murmuring tables, and caught up with each other’s news while they waited to be served. May was sympathetic about the editor’s meeting, even if she had little experience of the process. She was a dispenser and in her spare time an avid reader of crime fiction. Julia often had recourse to her when a visit to the Poison Section in the Library proved too far. They had met at a house party, where a case of petty pilfering within the household had caused them to apply their wits—successfully, as it turned out—and they had become close friends. When not engaged in deciphering motive and means, they often exchanged occasionally biting comments on the latest detective novel.

‘So, are you brimming with ideas?’

‘In a sort of a way, I think I am. But it’s not awfully clear yet—I need more material. Sounds dull, I know. But I have been feeling a trifle dull recently.’

‘You are looking a trifle peaky. Sounds to me like going to the country would do you good.’

Tea arrived and talk turned to reminiscence: ‘Do you remember that business about Mrs Clyssum’s necklace? I was just reminded of it the other day at Gracie’s; she had one just like it, very convincing. Why did she do it, really?’

‘Panic. She’d pawned the originals, remember.’

‘I do. But even so . . . poor thing. Still, it was fun, working it out, and I am glad we stopped the maid losing her job.’

‘That must have been the first time we actually put our heads together. Wonder what they’ve got up to since then . . .’

‘What have you been reading lately?’ Julia asked. May pulled a wry face and rummaged in her bag, producing a slim volume depicting on its cover a man peering out from under the lid of a wooden crate or box, with another man’s shadow falling across it. Emblazoned across the top half of the cover was the title ‘The Red House Mystery.’

‘I read it ages ago. Think I enjoyed it more the first time round. Wish you’d hurry up and get your next one finished. I’m running out of favourite authors.’

‘We were just talking about that. Apparently Miss Vane considers it a distinctly uninspiring time for crime fiction in general.’

‘I’m not surprised. Even Mrs Christie’s last one fell a bit flat.’

‘Yes, my editor mentioned her too. I wonder if there is some contagious detective ‘flu going around, which reduces the creative flow to pulp. I certainly think I have been infected.’

‘That doesn’t sound like you. Definitely in need of a change of scene, I should say. We both could do with something to wake us up a bit. Wish we had another mystery of our own to work out, like the Clyssum business.’

Julia looked at her. ‘So do I. Easier than writing the wretched things. We could set up an agency: Warren and Downe—Domestic Panic and Hysteria our speciality.’

‘Yes—likewise, Purloined Pearls and Pawnbrokers.’

‘Purses and Pusillanimity.’

‘Peripatetic Parrots and Peevish Pomeranians.’

The banter was briefly interrupted just as it threatened to become hysterical by the arrival of the waitress with laden tray.

They both tried to pick up where they had left off, but somehow today their usual flow of conversation slowed to a halt. Julia briefly allowed herself to be swamped by the voices from the surrounding tables instead—and soon wished she hadn’t:

‘I thought those emeralds were paste, I still do. As for her taste in art . . .’

‘More Art Nasty than Art Nouveau! Mind you, I suspect they would be worth something at auction . . .’

‘Did you read about her niece in the Tatler? Hardly surprising though, the poor girl must have been only too glad to escape, even if it was with the son of a greengrocer.’

‘A very wealthy greengrocer. It’s all money, after all . . .’

Julia enjoyed May’s company, and gossip did often supply a lot of material. But, stuck in the middle of the crowded room with its jarring sounds and cheap chatter, she now felt the tawdriness of smoky, grimy London.

There were gladioli in Aunt Izzy’s garden, and they would be coming into bloom soon: she could picture the late afternoon sun falling across them, turning them a soft apricot gold, and she wanted to be transported back to it at that moment, that very second. She was pulled back from her brief reverie by a squawk from May.

‘Look at the time! I must dash—now don’t forget, I want to know the minute you have decided who the villain is, and if there is poison involved . . . well, you know where I am !’

There was a hurried dispute over the bill, which Julia insisted on paying, then May scuttled off, leaving Julia on the pavement outside with promises of another get-together before long.

The brilliant blue sky prompted her to return home by tram. She climbed to the upper deck just so she could sit away from crowds and enjoy the trees lining the avenue. She craned her neck up and gazed at the leafy branches, and for a moment imagined herself back at home. Finally all those little scraps of dreams that had been hiding away all day returned tenfold to delight her, butterfly-like, with colours and warmth—the walks, the glades, the running hare and cheeky sparrow, the slow-witted blackbirds, sunning themselves in the middle of the lanes; all the whirling memories of the past crowded into her mind and she decided she had stayed away too long. What had seemed a pretext now became necessity. London was stifling her with its relentless gaiety, misery and recklessness.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/oWDByK6_Djs

Author Bio for B. Lloyd:

A Bustle attached to a keyboard, occasionally to be seen floating on a canal ...

After studying Early Music in Italy followed by a brief career in concert performance, the Bustle exchanged vocal parts for less vocal arts i.e. a Diploma from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. Her inky mess, both graphic and verbal, can be found in various regions of the Web, and appendaged to good people's works (for no visible reason that she can understand).

At present exploring the mysteries of Northumberland, although if there is a place she could call true home, it would be Venice…while the fields of Waterloo hold a certain resonance for her as well…

More here:
http://about.me/B.Lloyd
and here:
http://lloydanon.wordpress.com

For those who enjoy Twittery:
Do drop by @AuthorsAnon as she enjoys a chat
(Warning: Please expect occasional bouts of nonsense).

Finding the Book:

Amazon UK (pre-order) (hardcover): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374563

(paperback) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374571/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Amazon US (pre-order) paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374571/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Hardcover: http://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Tree-B-Lloyd/dp/1909374563/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0

Waterstones: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/b-+lloyd/greenwood+tree/9610637/

Pre-order page on the publisher’s website: http://www.greycellspress.co.uk/pre-order-our-titles/

Book Review: The Rebels by Elizabeth Lang

2013-04-13T14:10:00.000-03:00

My Book Review of The Rebels:

The novel The Rebels, the sequel to The Empire, is as engrossing as the first book in the series. The author, Elizabeth Lang, once again creates an adroit plot with strong direction and fascinating characters.

The novel picks up where The Empire left off, with heroes, Adrian, Kali and Bryce, turned fugitive and on the run. Quickly, trouble follows and the intrepid band of three are separated, with Adrian falling into the clutches of a bounty hunter and Kali and Bryce out to rescue him. But things are never what they seem, with changes of heart, and new faces and old stirring up danger.

As with the last book in the series, The Rebels best strength lies in its strong characters and their interaction with one another. Despite the fact the two main characters of Adrian and Kali are separated for much of the book, I like the way the author intensified their relationship. Also, I enjoyed the subtle interplay between the bounty hunter and the new character of Dr. Adding. They challenged each other, with attraction and respect creeping in over time.

The storyline is nicely paced and meshes together smoothly, with a deft touch of tension in the right spots. I did find the endgame of the plot a bit predictable, if still entertaining. However the cliffhanger at the end was out of the blue and shocker for me (I definitely did not see that twist coming).

The Rebels is a terrific book and I highly recommend it.

The Rebels is available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008MM2510

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2013-03-17T08:44:00.002-03:00

In honour of St. Patrick's Day, I'm posting one of my poems of Ireland from my book, Reflections of Poetry. Enjoy.

Irish Sons and Daughters

Sing a song for the Emerald Isle
All you Irish daughters and sons
All you sweet, fortunate ones
Sing a song for the Emerald Isle

All you Irish daughters and sons
Show me your nation’s pride
Leave no listener here dry-eyed
All you Irish daughters and sons

Show me your nation’s pride
Remember olden days of glory
Ring out each and every story
Show me your nation’s pride

Remember olden days of glory
Tell the gathered, lads and lasses
While the ale and whiskey passes
Remember olden days of glory

Tell the gathered, lads and lasses
Sing a song for the Emerald Isle
A song of cheer and stay awhile
Tell the gathered, lads and lasses.

Reflections of Poetry is available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
B&N
Kobo
iTunes

Book Review: Gastien (Part 1: The Cost of the Dream)

2013-03-14T14:32:00.001-03:00

My Review of Gastien (Part 1: The Cost of the Dream) by Caddy Rowland:

Gastien (Part 1: The Cost of the Dream) by Caddy Rowland is an interesting novel, a blend of history, sex and artistic dreams. It is an illustrative glimpse into a past world decorated with steamy sex and colour.

Set in 19^th century France, book tells the beginning of Gastien’s story, a French peasant who wants to be an artist. It details his abusive childhood, his escape to Paris, new friendships and sexual relationships, and the suffering he endures to fulfill his aspirations.

The novel’s strength is in its main character, a well-written and relatable persona. You do feel for his trials and get a good sense of his personality when reading, as well as engage with his life. Plus, the author did an excellent job with the details of an artist’s existence in the time period and the details of painting and technique; I found them realistic. There are some nice historic particulars, too, and the sex scenes are vividly portrayed.

However, the novel does have its problems. I found the prose did get repetitive at times, the plot to be stretched a bit thin, and the story lagged in the middle of the book. Some of the characterization (other than Gastien) is a bit one-dimensional, especially with secondary characters and I found much of the dialogue peppered with too many modern phrases such as “okay” and “gig”. These words detracted from the historic feel of the book for me and I felt the characters’ speech was at odds with the setting. The author also had the occasional tendency for explanative narrative regarding Gastien’s state of mind which I found unnecessary and distracting.

Overall though, I did enjoy the book, so I give it a mild recommendation, though readers should be warned this novel is quite explicit in the portrayal of sex and abuse.

Gastien (Part 1: The Cost of the Dream) is available at Amazon

A Conversation With Author Michael Brookes

2013-03-12T02:00:00.000-03:00

Today, writer Michael Brookes stops by for a chat as part of his blog tour for his new book, Conversations in the Abyss, the sequel to The Cult of Me. So read on and enjoy...

An Interview with Michael Brookes

Let’s start with introductions. Who is the writer, Michael Brookes?

By day I work as an executive producer for a video game company. I spend the day working with one of my passions – computer games and in my spare time I get the chance to indulge my other love – writing. I guess I’m fortunate to have both of these opportunities.

Tell us about your new book, Conversations in the Abyss, the sequel to The Cult of Me.

In ‘Conversations in the Abyss’ I continue the story from ‘The Cult of Me’. The protagonist has stolen Lazarus’s miracle and becomes immortal. The miracle wasn’t meant for him and so comes with a price, an eternal fire that burns within his flesh. To protect the world he is imprisoned within the walls of a monastery.

He retreats deep within himself, finding the border between his psyche and death. There he discovers some of the secrets of the universe and that the apocalypse is coming. And only he can stop it.

How did the idea for Conversations in the Abyss, and its predecessor, The Cult of Me, originate?

The simple answer is ‘Paradise Lost’. For me, Milton’s book is the greatest story ever told. However I find it strange that in his work God isn’t portrayed that well. I’m sure this wasn’t Milton’s intention, but it did interest me. So I started thinking how I would write the story.

This book deals with many mental and emotional aspects of horror. Do you find writing these psychological terror scenes difficult or challenging?

I think the real challenge is trying not to overdo it. I think horror works best when the reader fills in the blanks. The fear or unease comes from their mind when they read the story.

One of the plotlines in the book deals with a coming apocalypse. What was your approach in writing this well known horror staple?

In this case the apocalypse is a means to an end, rather than the end in itself. You’ll need to read it to find out more.

As a writer of horror and dark fantasy, what do you think the main appeal of these books is to readers?

People like to be scared. That’s why they ride rollercoasters, read scary books and watch frightening movies. Of course, most like to be in a controlled environment. And I think we all have a dark part that likes to be fed sometimes.

You’ve also written a book of dark short stories, An Odd Quartet. Tell us a bit about that book.

As the name implies it is a collection of four short stories. In it you meet the Yellow Lady, a ghost seeking revenge. You also meet Death as he contemplates his existence after the heat death of the universe. There’s also a hostage rescue where the special forces team encounter more than they bargained for. And finally there is the tale of a young demon taking his first possession exam.

What are some of your favourite books and authors?

Ian M Banks is my favourite modern author, especially his Culture series. I’m also a fan of Terry Prachett and Clive Barker.

What other books do you have lined up for the future?

There’s the final book in the trilogy – “The Last True Demon’ and I have a few first drafts that need developing. The first is a story about an Internet chatbot that starts granting wishes. I also have the official novel for the upcoming Elite: Dangerous to write.

About Michael Brookes:

Michael Brookes is an Executive Producer with a leading UK games developer. Working in games and writing are two of his life passions and considers himself fortunate to be able to indulge them both. He lives in the east of England, enjoying starry skies in the flattest part of the country. When not working or writing he can sometimes be found sleeping. Which is good as that is where many good ideas come from.

To check out his books, visit his Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Brookes/e/B008OGD8KG/

‘Conversations in the Abyss’ is the sequel to the 5 star rated supernatural thriller ‘The Cult of Me’

Stealing Lazarus’ miracle gifted him immortality. Combined with his natural ability of invading and controlling people’s minds this made him one of the most dangerous people on Earth.

But the miracle came with a price for those it wasn’t intended for. Tormented by perpetual fire and having also been imprisoned within the walls of an ancient monastery he delved deep within himself to find the some solace.

Hiding within the depths of his own mind he discovers the truth of the universe and that only he can stop the coming Apocalypse.

Interview with Matthew Horn

2013-03-05T02:00:00.000-04:00

Please welcome author Matthew Horn to the blog. Matthew is current on tour for his new book, Nothing Good is Free (a sequel to The Good Fight) and stops by here today for an interview...

Interview with Matthew Horn

Why don’t you begin by telling us a bit about yourself?

Well, I was born and raised in small town Indiana. My grandparents lived on a lake close by so we always had something to do during the summers, but I think I used reading and writing as a way to help avoid the sheer boredom of living in flyover country. My mother used to give my sisters and me writing courses in the summers. As a result, I’ve always loved to read and write. My first published book, The Good Fight was released by Brighton Publishing in September 2011, and my latest book, Nothing Good is Free is the sequel. I’m currently writing the third instalment and have eight or ten other ideas in various forms of completion.

Can you describe your new book, Nothing Good is Free?

This book continues to follow my vigilante hero, Jeff, after the death of his friend and mentor, Jim. As Jeff continues in his role as a vigilante he starts to confront the same pressures that caused Jim to stray from being a true hero. To complicate matters the Chicago Police Department has come up with a new scheme to catch the famous vigilante, and has put Detective Martell, Jeff’s only ally, at the head of it.
Additionally, Jeff’s romance with Brooke is put under strain as she travels more and more for her work. Her new Boss, Rick, seems interested in her, but may have his sights set on something else.

How did you come up with the ideas for Nothing Good is Free and the previous book in the series, The Good Fight?

I remember writing my first book, Heroism, (currently unpublished) and having a desire to write something completely different. Heroism is a fantasy epic with many different characters. I wanted my next book to focus on only a few characters and to be bound in reality. I came up with an idea to have a young hero come of age with the help of a mentor. My wife suggested I add some conflict with the mentor and a few months later I had The Good Fight. It met with a great response from readers and because I had left the ending mostly open, it was a given to write the sequel. I believe that it is my best work so far and am extremely excited for the print release in a few weeks.

Your book is a suspense thriller. What do you like best about writing in this genre?

It is a great genre to create a hero that is completely realistic, yet lives just past the edge of normal capability. My hero, Jeff, is a normal guy and uses equipment that can be found using any search engine on the internet. He trained with a great mentor and finds himself very lucky or amazingly blessed depending on how the reader sees it, but he’s not something that a real person couldn’t do if they put the time in. I love creating a dream world that is so in tune with reality that the two blend easily and I think this is one of the best genres to do that.

What is the most difficult part of writing a thriller?

It is hard to be creative in the thriller genre anymore, especially crime thrillers. The first thing I wanted to do was come up with a crime that hadn’t been written of before. That, of course, is nearly impossible. So I based the activity in this book not on the crime itself. The crime is a backdrop to everything else Jeff is dealing with, and I think that gave me a creative storyline people will love.

You’ve stated you also write in other genres. What are some of the ones you’ve tried and why?

I’ve started a sci-fi novel mainly because it’s my father’s favourite genre. I love titles like Star Wars though and am intrigued to try a sci-fi that combines elements of a fantasy novel and a thriller. I’ve also stated a humorous detective story, a fantasy series, mental thriller, and even a zombie apocalypse novel. All of them are in various stages of completion, but are coming along nicely.

What’s the hardest part of the writing process for you?

Frankly, finding time. I am a Chief Financial Officer for my small family company and work nine or ten hour days regularly anyway. I often find myself writing chapters over lunch or sneaking in interviews whenever I can. It’s a difficult balance, but I love writing too much to give it up.

Do you have a favourite author who has inspired your writing?

CS Lewis is hands down my biggest inspiration as an author. The way he was able to combine a gripping story with deep spiritual symbolism was wonderful. I hope first and foremost that my readers enjoy my books, but I also hope that they can see what lies underneath as well. CS Lewis achieved that in wonderful form and I hope to do the same.

What’s next for you?

I hope to get the final instalment of The Good Fight series finished and ready for publishing by the middle of next year. Beyond that, my heart lies in the first book I ever wrote, Heroism. I plan for it to be a trilogy with a prequel, but it’s so large that even just the first two books total almost 1500 pages and the revising is such an incredible and daunting task. I can’t wait for it to hit the bookshelves, but it must be ready first.

You can find out more about Matthew and his books at his website: http://www.matthewrhorn.com/

Post Valentine Hop

2013-02-15T09:44:00.001-04:00

Yesterday's Bloody Valentine Blog Hop was quite fun and there were some stellar posts by those that participated. I especially enjoyed the posts at A Diamond in the Dark, The Cult of Me and Pagan Spirits. I'd like to thank all the bloggers who joined in on the fun.

Now on to the contest. I woke up in a generous mood today, so instead of awarding one winner I've decided to give away the free books to everyone who commented on my blog post yesterday. Congratulations, you should be receiving an email shortly.

Welcome to the Bloody Valentine Blog Hop!

2013-02-14T01:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Bad Side of Love, as you join in with the Bloody Valentine Blog Hop. On this day of romance, hearts, chocolate and flowers, a stalwart few writers and bloggers have banded together to celebrate the darker shades of the Valentine. You'll find no tender affection, no happy endings, as you wander through our morbid maze of love gone wrong, for we will be breaking hearts and trashing romance....

Here's a list of the participating bloggers. Please visit as many as possible and join them in amorous mayhem.

Here's my little contribution to the Bloody Valentine Blog Hop.

Bring on the romantic misfortune and Down with Love!

First up, to whet your appetite, is a little Twilight parody:

Rod Serling Meets the Sparkly Vampires

Submitted for your approval. One teenage girl with severe self-esteem issues being stalked by a conflicted love-sick vampire. Next stop Twilight Zone...

“Oh, why doesn’t Ned like me enough? Why does he keep pushing me away? Oh, Ned, Ned, Ned!” Ella throws herself onto her bed in a melodramatic huff. “Maybe I should just forget about drooling after hunky vampires and chase after Jack, my dreamy, supportive, best friend werewolf instead?” She groans spectacularly, as if in pain. “Oh Ned, oh Jack, Ned, Jack, which one should I chose?”

Thirty thousand sighs later, she’s pacing the room moaning about Ned again. “Oh Ned, I love you so, can’t you see that?” The wind flutters the curtains and she turns to the window. A shadowy figure sits on her sill, a silhouette in the moonlight.

“I do see that you love me, and I can’t resist you anymore.” Ned enters her bedroom and crosses the floor to sweep her into her arms.

“Oh, Ned,” she gasps breathily.

“Just remember, you wanted this.” In a flash, Ned strikes, sinking his fangs into her neck and eagerly he drains her blood from her body. When he’s had his fill he carries her limp form to the bed and lays her down tenderly.

Ella’s eyes flutter open. Knowing she is dying, her hand reaches out and her lips part, whispering, “Why, Ned, why?”

“Really, Ella, what did you expect? I’m a vampire, it’s what we do. Besides,” he said with a blood-smeared grin, “haven’t you heard, you always hurt the one you love.”

Now follow the decaying scent of the dead roses and read a few morbid tidbits from my new book of poems, Reflections of Poetry:

What Stays Behind

The lingering scent,

memories of rose petals,

drift in the silence

of an empty room

full of fading ghosts.

Alone again,

with cracked dreams

and a broken heart

thumping, an echo

of that slamming door.

Sitting in the shadows

with disappointment

and the promises dead.

Any hope out of reach,

lost this time, forever.

Tea and Tears

The hourglass runs its sand

as the tea pours; her hand, it shakes

in grief, for her heart breaks

with pain, her spirit aches, adrift.

She fills her cup, his gift

Their tea set, bought from thrift, by love,

flaws ignored, prized above

the chip on the edge of the spout.

She drinks, the bitter doubt

gone; her candle burns out in haze.

Somewhere a soft flute plays,

to echo soul’s malaise, so grand.

Spanish Melody

A sweet song in the night

of past love, adrift.

A mournful, raw lament

for the defeated heart.

On the wind it ascends

as the coo of a tender dove,

evoking gentle memories

across the mountains.

The harmony swirls regret, ache

through the swaying trees.

Even the iridescent moon weeps

with the forlorn singer.

Faded

A faded red silk ribbon

tied around an aged box

full of tattered love letters.

Regrets from a past youth.

Tucked away, overlooked,

but still there, dusty, waiting.

Someday fingers will unfold

the pages of pale memories.

Reflections of Poetry

Go through the looking glass into the world of verse and discover this eclectic collection of poetry. The poems range from musings on Celtic heritage to embracing emotional turmoil. Throw in a little moonlight, the soothing sounds of the sea, and mix well with some sci-fi and fantasy for a lyrical medley of reading enjoyment.

Available at:
Smashwords
Amazon

And now, if you've made it all the way to the end, you get to read about my contest. If you'd like to win a free Smashwords ecopy of both my new poetry book, Reflectons of Poetry and my short story collection, Killers and Demons (complete with a story of a very bad Valentine date) just leave a comment telling me which of the poems in this post you liked the best. The more morbid and outrageous the reason, the better. I'll pick my favourite as the winner. Good Luck!

Redeye Cover Reveal

2013-02-01T01:00:00.000-04:00

My fellow writer, Michael Shean, author of the Wonderland Cycle (Shadow of a Dead Star and the upcoming Redeye) and the novel Bone Wires has a new book debuting in April.
Today he's previewing the cover art for that book, the aforementioned Redeye, (and sequel to Shadow of a Dead Star) around the internet and he's kindly asked me to be a part of the big cover reveal, so here it is:

For more on Redeye, you can pop over to Michael's website and read this post: http://michael-shean.com/wordpress/?p=857

Check out the Wonderland Cycle:

SHADOW OF A DEAD STAR:

Seattle, 2078. The future hasn’t been kind to the spirit of humanity; commercial obsession and technological fetishism rules the day, religion and belief has died screaming in the fires of war, and what remains is moral decrepitude. Life in the future is hard on the soul.
As an agent of the Industrial Security Bureau, Thomas Walken knows that better than anyone. His job is to keep the worst kind of black-market technology out of the hands of citizens, technology born out of the shadowy nation nicknamed Wonderland. But the kind of fantasies that come out of that place aren’t for the good people of the world. Wonderland technology is like black magic made real.
Walken’s newest assignment starts out simply: intercept a smuggled shipment of Princess Dolls, little girls turned into sex toys, and bring them into custody. But when the girls are hijacked from federal custody and Walken gives chase, he finds a trail of bodies in their wake. Before he’s through, Walken will find himself confronted revelations that will answer every question that the troubled lawman has ever had about himself and the world he lives in – but his mind and soul may not survive it.

"A dark, brooding piece of future noir, SHADOW OF A DEAD STAR will take you down the rabbit hole on a ride you won’t soon forget."

REDEYE:

Two years have passed since Agent Thomas Walken and Bobbi January found themselves at the heart of a conspiracy of unimaginable greed and cruelty. The Genefex Corporation remains shrouded in mystery and Bobbi January faces a life of unanswered questions and mounting disillusionment to look forward to. But when she receives a mysterious message from one of Walken's former comrades, she is drawn back onto the trail. Now, Bobbi will find herself newly equipped to discover the truth - about Walken, about Genefex and the Yathi race - and the key to unlocking those secrets rests in the hands of a cyborg terrorist known only as Redeye.
But the road to truth will be a dangerous one, from the glamour of Seattle's ultramodern core to the sprawling wastelands of the Old City and beyond. Alongside a band of lethal comrades, Bobbi will face death and worse amidst urban rot, abandoned subway tunnels, and ultimately the nightmarish halls of the Yathi themselves in a race to stave off what may prove to be the death of humanity itself. For the Mother of Systems will not be denied, and it will take all of Bobbi’s intelligence and wit to stave off annihilation. Drenched in blood and neon, Redeye is a tale of humanity on the edge of a new and terrible reality.

BONE WIRES:

A thrilling mystery set in the same world as the Wonderland Cycle, Bone Wires is a grim trip into the streets of the empty future.

In the wasteland of commercial culture that is future America, police are operated not by government but by private companies. In Seattle, that role is filled by Civil Protection, and Daniel Gray is a detective in Homicide Solutions. What used to be considered an important – even glamorous – department for public police is very different for the corporate species, and Gray finds himself stuck in a dead end job.
That is, until the Spine Thief arrives.
When a serial killer begins harvesting the spinal tissue of corporate employees all over the city, Detective Gray finds himself plunged into the first truly major case of his career. Caught in a dangerous mix of murder, betrayal and conflicting corporate interest, Gray will find himself not only matching wits with a diabolical murderer but grappling with his growing doubt toward his employers in the dawning months of the American tricentennial.

You can find all the latest details and updates on Michael's website: http://www.michael-shean.com/

Come Join the Bloody Valentine Blog Hop!

2013-01-17T13:46:00.004-04:00

This February 14th I'm hosting a trash Valentine's Day blog hop. For one day writers and bloggers will dispense with the sappy romance and show you the bad side of love. Come be part of the fun!

We will be celebrating heartbreak, love gone wrong, romantic mayhem and tragedy, hopefully with that little splash of humour and blood. There will also be prizes to be won, so sign up to be a participant or mark it on your calender.

If you wish to be one of our bloggers, please click over to the Linky List and sign up. You can also put the list on your own blog by getting a copy of the code (it's the easiest way for people to find all the hoppers come Feb 14th).

The Hop is Now Ended.
Here's a List of the bloggers who participated:

A Rewarding Mystery: A Review of Old Loves Die Hard

2013-01-09T11:21:00.002-04:00

My Book Review of Old Loves Die Hard by Lauren Carr:

The second book in the Mac Faraday mystery series, Old Loves Die Hard by Lauren Carr is just as enjoyable as the first. It is another satisfying murder mystery chock full of fascinating characters.

This time around, Mac Faraday’s ex-wife comes calling, bringing a lot of old baggage and some dead bodies, including hers. Mac becomes a suspect in his ex-wife’s murder, but ends up investigating the killing. He delves into his past, both personal and professional, to find answers and the killer.

The charm of the first book remains consistent in Old Loves Die Hard, with its compelling main character the strongest asset of the novel. The author provides a nice bit of character development as well, in both the ongoing relationship between Mac and Archie and insight into his previous marriage. The well-rounded characterization is astutely managed.

The plot is solid as well, spinning several threads and then pulling them into a nice tight conclusion. Several suspects are juggled nicely until the final reveal, which provides an interesting, and fateful denouement.

Overall, I can recommend Old Loves Die Hard, as a gratifying murder mystery and a great read.

You can find Old Loves Die Hard and the rest of the Mac Faraday on Amazon.

My Top Five Books of 2012

2013-01-01T11:30:00.000-04:00

Last year (hmmm, it seems like only yesterday) I suffered from "review interruptus" from the month of May onward so I don't have a huge selection of books reviews to choose from. For that reason I went with a Top Five list this time (plus three honourable mentions) instead of a Top Ten. Now on to the List, drum roll please...

My Top Five Books of 2012:

Honourable Mentions:

Steampunk Santa

2012-12-24T15:00:00.001-04:00

A short Christmas Eve tale...

Steampunk Santa

Once Upon a Christmas Eve, way up at the North Pole, nestled in the snow, sprawled Santa’s Village. Now if you think, from all the sweet tales that have been spun, that this place was a place of dreams, made of gingerbread and sugar plums, you would be wrong.

No, the settlement that housed Old St. Nick and his industrious band of elves was a home of iron and clockwork, of brass and gears, with the hiss of steam and the clash of metal echoing through its halls. Yes, that’s right, 'twas a Steampunk Night Before Christmas.

There’s the toy factory, with its assembly lines of workers, run by giant cogs and gears and pulleys, and a sputtering, puffing engine -fed by coal- powering the whole works. The elves wear goggles, leather gloves and aprons, over natty suits, clanging and banging as they make the toys.

Outside is Santa’s sleigh, packed with those playthings, belching smoke and vapour from its pipes and valves. The air is alive with its noise, a droning snarl announcing its presence as the coal-powered engine produces steam and fires on all pistons. In front are harnessed the reindeer, all nine wondrous beasts of iron, marvels of mechanized automatons. From Prancer to Rudolph with his illuminated nose, they stand eager to fly, rocket packs at the ready.

And here comes St. Nick, dressed in red leather and black boots, his long coat sweeping the top of the snow. His goggles are perched atop his head, his pipe in mouth, and his pistol on his hip. He climbs in his sleigh and snaps the reins. With a grind of gears and a roar of flame they are away into flight.

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

Snowy Reading Blog Hop: Meet Althea from Gothic Cavalcade

2012-12-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my post for the Snowy Reading Blog Hop!

So pick up that hot chocolate, snuggle down in that comforter and cozy up to an interview with my main character from Gothic Cavalcade, Althea...

Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in a picturesque small town in the English countryside, in the later part of the 19th century. My father was an attorney, and we were quite well-off financially. We were a close family, with just my parents, myself and my sister, Jenny. I married at eighteen, to Thomas, a land-owner of substantial means. He seemed quite charming and I thought myself to be a fortunate woman, but I found out his true nature after we were wed. Only then did I realize what an unhappy and horrid mistake I had made. To make matters worse, my parents died a few years after I married leaving me no place to run. My only solace was Jenny found a home with the family of a distant cousin.

Do you enjoy or dislike winter? Tell us why.
I love winter, it's as if everything is quiet, waiting for something. I have fond memories of my family sitting by the fireplace, with Father reading to us in the evenings, or Sunday outings after Church. There is nothing nicer than a winter carriage ride. And of course there is the Christmas season, which is always so festive, especially if it snows. There is something quite special about snow on Christmas.

What would you do on a date (or with close friends) on a snowy evening?
"Dating" in my day was very strict and any encounters at dances or suitors coming to call were chaperoned. There were one or two evening dances where young gentlemen made my heart flutter, and I remember one handsome fellow who stole a kiss under the mistletoe.

When it's cold and dreary outside, what makes you laugh out loud?
My sister Jenny could always make me laugh, no matter my mood. She was always so happy, so full of mischief. Memories of her can still make me smile.

If you were sitting around a fire, playing truth or dare, what would you choose and why?
That game sounds a bit scandalous, but I suppose I would chose truth. After all I've been through, the truth doesn't frighten me anymore.

Tell us about a winter memory from your childhood?
My best memory from my childhood is the Christmas Ball when I was sixteen. Mother took me to the dressmaker for a special gown, made from blue satin brocade with dark velvet trim and lace ruffles on the sleeves. I felt quite the lady in that dress, with my hair in an up-swept fashion, wearing my white gloves and fluttering my lace fan. I smiled my best coquette smile as I entered that ballroom and felt my heart beat faster as the male eyes turned towards me. My dance card filled rapidly, and I dare say I flirted shamelessly, and I had a magnificent evening.

What is the most creative gift you would put under the tree?
I suppose that would be the watercolour I painted for my mother, the Christmas before I married. It was an especially fine landscape and I was quite proud of it. It was also the last painting I created. My husband did not encourage artistic pursuits.

Would you start a snowball fight?
Oh dear, I fear someone has been tattling. Jenny and I used to throw snowballs whenever it snowed, much to our Mother's dismay. She said it was not ladylike behaviour.

Tell us about your favourite winter movie or book?
I'm terribly fond of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. My childhood copy is quite dogeared I'm afraid. I loved to read it every year in the Christmas season.

How do you celebrate the holidays? Be it Christmas or Hanukkah or the Winter Solstice.
A traditional Christmas was quite important with my family, and even when I married Thomas insisted on keeping up appearances at Christmas, inviting family or friends to stay with us. I was grateful for that. He behaved well when we had guests.
I loved to festoon the house with greenery, and decorate the tree and on Christmas Eve we would hang the stockings and sing carols. The next day, after Church, we would sit down to veritable feast for Christmas dinner. My favourite parts were always the Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and opening the Christmas crackers. After dinner we would exchange our gifts, and perhaps partake in some sherry and a bit of Christmas cake, and wish everyone a Happy Christmas.

Gothic Cavalcade

Gothic romance meets Gothic horror inside a paranormal carnival and beyond...

Meet Althea, a desperate woman running from a secretive and miserable past. She encounters Byron, a mysterious and handsome man with secrets of his own. He brings her to his home, the Masquerade Carnivale, and into the midst of his family. There Althea begins to feel safe, to trust, and to love. She finds friends, laughter and with Byron, romance. She thinks she has found a home, trusts she is protected, until the night Byron and his Family betray her.

But do they? There is more beneath the surface at the Masquerade Carnivale, more to Althea’s past and to her future than she believes. One event put Althea on a path for her reckoning, a path full of pain, fear and ultimately, revenge. A choice is coming for her, one that will change everything.

The Masquerade Carnivale is beckoning... will she answer?

Available at Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and Kobo

And one lucky commentor will win a free e-copy of Gothic Cavalcade, via a Smashwords coupon. And to check out more blogs participating in the Snowy Reading Blog Hop scroll way, way down to the bottom of this blog for the Linky List.

The Next Big Thing

2012-12-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I was kindly asked my friend and fellow writer, the talented Pat Bertram to participate in The Next Big Thing. For those of you not in the know, basically “The Next Big Thing” is a blog chain where a writer like me answers ten questions about a Work-in- Progress and then tags five more writer/bloggers to carry on the chain with their own Q and A post. You can check out Pat’s Next Big Thing post here: http://ptbertram.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/the-next-big-thing/

Now on to the main show, what you’ve all been waiting for, my...Next Big Thing

This is a cover mock-up I created.

What is your working title of your book?

The Duke’s Assassin

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It came from a short story I wrote for a steampunk horror themed anthology. I was looking for an idea for the story and I read an article about Canadian Steampunk, so being from Canada I thought it would be a cool idea to use the city of Halifax (from my home province of Nova Scotia) as a setting. As I was developing the alternate history/horror setting, I realised how much more there was to tell about this world I created and the characters. So I decided to write The Duke’s Assassin, which in turn became the first in a series of novels I plan to write.

What genre does your book fall under?

It’s part horror and part steampunk, so Steampunk Horror fits, I think.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I could see Hugh Jackman as my main vampire, Gideon (although I can see him in anything, so I might be biased), Kenneth Branagh as Samuel Cunard, Colin Farrell as the vampire Silas, Natalie Dormer (of The Tudors and Game of Thrones fame) as Nora, Canadian actor, Callum Keith Rennie as Rufus, Richard Armitage as my main villain, Richard and Alan Rickman as the Duke of Kent.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

An alternate Victorian world, where vampires, scientists and machines face down anarchists for the fate of the city of Halifax and British North America.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Well, I’m hoping to get it published with a Canadian publishing company, but if that doesn’t happen I will self-publish.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’m still polishing up the first draft, as there’s still some historical research to muddle through and a few details to iron out, but it’s coming along quickly.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I never like comparing my writing to anything, but I suppose in the book there’s a bit of flavour of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore, and Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I’ve been looking for the right idea to set a book in a Canadian locale and the idea of re-writing history and using my home province as a background was quite the inspiration.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I think the main character of Gideon, who’s a vampire, will appeal to readers. He’s not a villain, but neither is he a hero. He does his job protecting the Royal Maritime Commissioner, Samuel Cunard, and the city of Halifax from the threat of the anarchists, but he has no problem killing anyone on the opposing side of his world. He is quite amoral in a charming way. Also, the world itself, with its altered history, steam-powered machines and complicated politics should hold some fascination for readers.

And so ends my post. Here are the five valiant bloggers who will carry on with the Next Big Thing chain next week:

Nick Paschall: The Nickronomicon

(The Next Big Thing Post)

Sarah Baethge: My Writings
(The Next Big Thing Post)

N. L. Armitage: The Twisted World of Gravitation

Sue Merrell: Laughing for a Living
(The Next Big Thing Post)

Angela Yuriko Smith: Dandilyon Fluff

End of the World Sale

2012-12-01T11:53:00.000-04:00

With those pesky Mayans predicting world doom this month, I thought it was the perfect time to party like it's 1999 (yes, that was my pop culture reference for the day) and have a .99 cent sale for all of my Smashwords ebooks.

So, from today until the end of the month (or the end of the world, whichever come first) every ebook I have listed on Smashwords will be just .99 cents.

Here's a list of the books:

And for those of you looking for freebies, these three offerings are always free for the downloading:

And as soon as the price change trickles down through the lines of distributing, these books will be discounting at other online retailers like Kobo and Barnes and Noble as well.

They're great gifts for lovers of horror and dark fantasy, or perfect as the next addition to your own to-read list.

Steampunk in Space: A Review of Abattoir in the Aether

2012-11-29T16:52:00.002-04:00

My Book Review of Abattoir in the Aether:

Abattoir in the Aether by L. Joseph Shosty is very fine sci-fi space adventure, served up in a smart steampunk style. It was an enjoyable read, a lovely mix of fantasy, steampunk and science fiction blended to distinction.

The book is the fourth in the Space: 1889 & Beyond series,(each book penned by a different author), but is written so you can read it as a stand-alone book (although after reading this one, I am quite curious about the rest of the series). It continues the adventures of Nathanial Stone and Annabelle Somerset -beginning with the rescue of their crippled space flyer- as they become the slightly unwilling guests on a heliograph station in solar orbit between Earth and Mars. The pair must unearth the sinister secrets of this place, before they, the station and all its inhabitants are sucked into an aether space vortex.

I thoroughly delighted in reading this book. The author took anachronistic history and Victorian science fiction and created a fascinating and full-blown steampunk setting that makes its own perfect fictional bubble of reality. Add to that some wonderfully interesting characters, very Victorian villains, a well-rendered plot full of nice twists and a great ending, it leaves you with a splendid novel. I highly recommend Abattoir in the Aether to any fans of steampunk, or anyone who likes a great read.

Abattoir in the Aether is available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Abattoir-Aether-Space-Beyond-ebook/dp/B006U44TS4/