The Independent Author Network

A HIGHER COURT by By John Betcher

2012-02-26T10:10:00.001-08:00

A DELIGHTFUL READ FOR PHILOSOPHERS!

Bill Kensey takes a trip into the unknown and finds his true calling in life. He is a trial lawyer, called to serve on a jury that will determine the existence of God. Tossed into a surreal atmosphere similar to the rabbit hole in “Alice In Wonderland” or an old episode of “The Twilight Zone”, our juror is perplexed by the eerie atmosphere that fills the courthouse he knows so well. He finds the entire court process rearranged and the names of expert witnesses disguised. Thirty-six jurors from all walks of life are thrown together to put an end to the question every philosopher asks, God? Or No God?

Expert witnesses address the reasons they believe in a Higher Power and the reasons they do not. Have you given much thought to scientific theories such as Cosmology or the Big Bang Theory? Or, do you believe in Anthropomorphism, Egoism, or simple, blind faith? Does our existence boil down to a mathematical equation or love?

The courtroom setting reads like a deposition. The testimonials will break your heart. The expert witnesses will baffle your mind. This is a delightful read for wannabe philosophers like me. “A Higher Court” presents a rare opportunity to view various opinions on the existence or nonexistence of God, and subsequently, mankind. After seven deliberations, what is the verdict?

Thank you, Mr Kensey, for sharing your mission with us. Reviewed by Alle's 5-Star Reviews

Amazon

Ice on the Grapevine by R.E. Donald

2012-02-18T12:49:00.000-08:00

Mystery

Ice on the Grapevine is a traditional mystery featuring Hunter Rayne, a retired homicide detective turned long haul truck driver. The story opens on a July morning with the discovery of a frozen corpse at a brake check just south of the Grapevine Pass in L.A. County. Hunter, who is in southern California making a delivery, is persuaded by his irascible dispatcher, Elspeth Watson, to help clear two fellow truck drivers who are arrested for the murder. His job is made more difficult by the fact that the suspects, a newlywed couple, won't speak up in their own defence.

The circumstantial evidence is strong, and a rookie detective from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department is eager to score a win. The investigation crosses the Canada-U.S. border when the victim is identified as a second rate musician from Vancouver, and it turns out there were more than a few desperate people happy to see him dead, including the accused couple. Hunter has to use all his investigative skills to uncover the truth.

Hunter’s ex-wife maintains that by taking to the highway Hunter is running away from his past, but he believes that the solitude of days on the road is helping him to heal from guilt over the failure of his marriage and the suicide of his best friend. His life gets more complicated when he feels an unwelcome attraction for a lawyer representing one of the accused.

Tangled relationships and multiple suspects emerge throughout the novel, as Hunter butts heads with more than one officer of the law to solve the crime.

Amazon.com

R.E. Donald is the author of the Hunter Rayne highway mystery series. Ruth worked in the transportation industry in various capacities from 1972 until 2001, and draws on her own experiences, as well as those of her late husband, Jim Donald, in creating the characters and situations in her novels.

Ruth attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C., where she studied languages (Russian, French and German) and creative writing to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree.

She currently lives on a small farm in Langley, B.C., where she and her partner, Gilbert Roy, enjoy their Canadian Horses (Le Cheval Canadien) and other animals.

R.E. Donald

Martha Bourke is the Author of Jaguar Sun

2012-02-17T08:17:00.000-08:00

Martha Bourke grew up in Burlington, Vermont, often considered a hub of "free thinking.” She was encouraged to write, act and be creative at a very young age. An accomplished Spanish teacher, Martha has spent the last fifteen years creating Spanish programs for elementary schools. For most of her life, she has had a fascination with languages, culture and mythology – a passion that now colors and enriches her stories. She has written novels, short stories and poetry. But she admits to being totally “hooked” on YA Paranormal Romance.

Martha and her husband of thirteen years have carved out their own little piece of Vermont in the Massachusetts countryside. When not writing, Martha loves spending time with their animals, listening to good music, taking photographs, and adding to her Converse collection. She is currently working on book two of the Jaguar Sun Series, Jaguar Moon. She has three to five books planned for the series.

Martha Bourke

Jaguar Sun (Jaguar Sun Series Book 1)

Young Adult Paranormal

DECEMBER 21, 2012. Will that fateful day destroy our world, or did the Mayans have something else in mind?

Maya Delaney knows. Unfortunately.

JAGUAR SUN is the story of Maya Delaney, a typical sixteen-year-old high school junior of Mayan descent. She’s busy dealing with exams, her soon to be ex-boyfriend and fitting in. But Maya’s got bigger problems. She’s hiding a major secret from her dad and having strange visions she can’t control. In her struggle to figure out who she is, she learns that she is meant to fulfill an ancient Mayan Prophesy and bring forth a New Age on earth. Maya finds herself at the very center of a plot over the transition to take place when the Mayan Calendar ends on December 21, 2012. And on top of that, she and her friends are beginning to develop strange powers. Faced with learning to harness her new abilities in time to bring the world to a positive transition, Maya must reevaluate her relationships, identity, and her place in the world. But will the spirit magic she wields be enough to defeat Toltec, an evil society bent on keeping Maya from her destiny? Or will that destiny destroy her?

Amazon.com

Lisa Taylor: The IAN Interview

2012-02-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

Well, I’m the youngest of three children, born on May 18, 1988. I spent my childhood moving all over the United States and have loved reading since I learned how. In May of 2010 I graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a B.S. in Physics. Unfortunately I was medically discharged from the military soon after. I spent a semester in graduate school studying physics while I sorted out what my back-up life plan was, and then left school to begin publishing my writing. I’ve published one novel and a series of short stories on Kindle, and I’m currently working on the first of a YA Fantasy trilogy.

IAN. Please tell us about your latest book.

LT. The Hour of Tiamat is YA paranormal fiction, and takes a very unique perspective on the apocalypse. It is based on Sumerian mythology mixed with magic and ancient aliens. It is the culmination of years of personal research on this fascinating subject. Here’s the blurb from the back:

“We've all heard of the Mayan predictions of a vast change coming in the year 2012; but it turns out the ancient Sumerian people had a very similar prophecy…

The dreaded Necronomicon, a book of fable said to contain all the ancient knowledge of the Sumerian civilization has surfaced and fallen into the hands of four teenagers in a small Texas town. Tonight, after years of studying its dark teachings in secret, they gather to call back to Earth those Gods that tried to enslave humanity over ten thousand years ago, and in turn become rulers themselves.

Under threat of his life, Tristan helps them complete the ritual; but does that mean it is too late to stop this apocalypse? With Evelyn, whose past and future seem inextricably linked to Tristan, their friend Hunter and a host of surprising paranormal helpers, Tristan will race against murderers, monsters, and time itself to shut the ancient gate before our evil creators are upon us again.”

IAN. How long did it take to write The Hour of Tiamat?

LT. I wrote it off and on for quite a few years. I wrote half of it over a period of six months or so during high school. I then took about five more months during graduate school to go back and edit everything I had written during high school and then finish the book.

IAN. What inspired you to write the book?

LT. My fascination with ancient Sumerian mythology, the idea of ancient aliens (long before the history channel show came on, mind you) and my love for H.P. Lovecraft’s horror stories.

IAN. Talk about the writing process.

LT. Well, it’s a long process. I tend to write at night and in spurts. When I’m in the thick of the action of a particular scene, it’s hard to stop writing. Then in between sections I have to step back for a few days and let what I wrote settle. Then I go back and re-read it to make sure I actually went in the direction I wanted. Then I start the whole process over for the next scene and section. Unfortunately lately, with a job to be at in the mornings, staying up all night writing is no longer practical, so I’ve been trying to re-adjust. Forcing oneself to write during a specific time, inspired or not, is harder, but in the end is what you must do if you want to be a professional writer.

IAN. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

LT. I did not use an outline. I tend to be a write as I go type person. However, while that worked fine for a stand-alone novel, I have found that to be harder while writing the fantasy trilogy I’m working on. To make sure the books connect and interact with each other over the entire trilogy has required me to do some outlining and planning.

IAN. How is your The Hour of Tiamat different from others in your genre?

LT. It mixes a LOT of different things. The Sumerian mythology in the book is accurate, so one who considered the idea of ancient aliens being a possibility might find this book to actually be plausible, even though it is written in a more fantastic way. But it’s not all learning. There is romance, difficult ethical struggles, and personal demons that are fairly serious for a young adult novel.

IAN. Is The Hour of Tiamat published in print, e-book or both?

LT. It is published in both, hardcover, paperback and ebook.

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

LT. Well, I hope they come away with a sense of hope, that prophecies and fate and predestination, if those things exist, still are not all powerful, and that maybe there is help out there in what seems to be a scary universe. I also hope that it helps those who might be struggling with personal demons similar to those in the book. I hope it helps them realize how much bigger the universe is than just their life. Sometimes not allowing the painful things in our lives to become the most important things in our lives can help.

IAN. Where can we go to buy The Hour of Tiamat?

LT. It is on amazon, barnes and noble, and most online avenues. You can also order it at Barnes and Noble stores.

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

LT. My next book is not related to The Hour of Tiamat. It is the first of a YA Fantasy trilogy, entitled Crystallized (Book One of the Crystal Chronicles). It is set in a fantasy world fairly similar to 18^th century England, though there are many other cultures mixed into it as well as some of my own inventions. In it, fifteen year old Rachael Elizabeth and her friend Annalise are drawn into the magic that permeates their world through a dream become real. Though their society is ruled by a strict religion that forbids such things, they find out about a demonic plot taking place in the haunted woods near their town, Tairna. Possession is becoming rampant and the only way they can stop it is all out magical battle, with the help of a poor workhouse girl.

This is only the beginning though, for when they are shunned from their town they’ll begin to uncover even more secrets and the history of how their entire civilization came to be will be shattered to reveal a much more magical past. But can their society survive the shock of it?

IAN. Any other links or info you'd like to share?

LT. My Website: http://www.creatingworldswithwords.com

My Blog: http://www.writersparty.com

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Blackfire88

My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorlisataylor

The Hour of Tiamat by Lisa M. Taylor

193 pages

Paranormal Fiction, Horror, Apocalypse

Tristan kept his breathing shallow as he trailed behind Malaki and Tara, keeping in the trees and watching where he stepped. The animals, it seemed, were just as restless as the day before, and he had to fight not to jump every time some creature brushed him.

The more his eyes adjusted to the darkness, the more animals he saw on either side of him. They seemed to be following Malaki and Tara too, but he shook his head at the thought. They couldn’t be. The wolves and deer, rodents and birds, reptiles and bobcats, they had no reason to follow. What could they possibly know? Yet he saw all of those and more as he walked slowly and quietly, and he had to fight harder and harder to keep his breathing quiet.

“We’re here,” he heard Tara breathe quietly ahead of him. Sure enough, just up the path was the tell-tale clump of bushes that hid their cave of stashed goods. Well, it was now or never. The pistol was in the bags inside the cave, but he still had his knife on him. Why did it always have to be by knife?

He hesitated for a moment at the thought of killing again, a familiar churning in his stomach, but the rage coursing through him erased any hesitation. They would give anything to kill the only two people in the world he loved. He realized that this time, it was probably kill or be killed, and he found it didn’t matter.

“Branches in this bush are broken, they’ve been here,” Malaki said as he jogged ahead of Tara, starting to make his way through the brush. Okay, Tristan thought. Then Tara is first. And without a sound, he cocked back his arm, cold metal held between his fingertips, and flung the shining blade from the darkness, running after it even as the point sunk into Tara’s side, sending her sprawling sideways.

“What the…” Malaki started, turning at Tara’s muffled gasp of surprise, but by the time Malaki was free of the bushes again, Tristan was pulling his knife from Tara’s side, cold eyes trained on Malaki. Tara wasn’t dead, but didn’t seem to be able to move, and she grasped her side, breathing heavily, trying to hold in the steady stream of warm blood. Her dark eyes focused on the two momentarily before her head fell to the ground.

“This isn’t worth this crap,” she muttered to herself as she scooped up dirt from the ground placing it on the wound. Sure, it might get infected, she thought, but if the blood turned the dirt to mud, maybe it would help clot the wound and stop the bleeding.

Malaki paid no attention to Tara, but cocked his head in surprise at Tristan. He glanced back to the cave opening, then to Tristan.

“Well, clearly you’re still bent on saving the world, so what happened? Your little girly in there get mad at you and stop putting out?” He sneered. Tristan didn’t respond, but his blood boiled and eyes grew angrier. “Ah,” Malaki continued as if he’d just had a revelation. “I see. So she is the bitch’s daughter after-all.” He laughed at Tristan, who stood stone still. “Well that had to be awkward.” Tristan struggled to control his breathing. Don’t let him get to you, he repeated to himself. You have to stay focused. Don’t rush. As long as he’s out here, he’s not hurting them.

Unfortunately the same thought seemed to have occurred to Malaki.

“Look, I don’t have time for this,” Malaki said, stepping away from the bushes and slowly starting to circle Tristan. “So if we’re going to do this, let’s get it over with, huh?” Tristan smiled, a slightly crazier gleam in his eye than he’d probably ever displayed before.

“My pleasure,” he snarled, and for once in his life, he attacked first. Malaki jumped back in surprise, narrowly avoiding Tristan’s feint to the right, and sparks flew as their daggers collided again and again. They moved in a large circle, with Malaki continuously dodging and moving backwards and Tristan continually pressing for what seemed like forever but was probably less than a minute. Finally, Malaki got in a shot and a well placed boot to the gut threw Tristan back far enough to give him a break.

“Give it up, man,” Malaki taunted Tristan as he recovered from the blow. “If I don’t kill her, the Ancient Ones will. What’s the point? Consider it a favor when I kill you, after what you’ve done. Nothing I can do will be as painful as what the Ancient Ones will do to you.”

Tristan shook his head, breathing hard, but keeping his eyes on Malaki. “And nothing they can do will be as painful as what I’ve already done to myself.” He glared into Malaki’s cocky eyes. “Dying isn’t as scary when you’ve got nothing to lose,” he growled as he lunged forward again.

Amazon.com

Brilliant Prey by author Brenda Wallace

2012-02-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

Brilliant Prey

Thriller

"A twisting, intense psychological thriller."--Bestselling author Scott Nicholson, Liquid Fear

Even a genius can be played for a pawn by a cunning and deadly manipulator.
Lauren James is a former psychiatrist, still reeling from her husband's suicide and the subsequent miscarriage that swept away her tidy life the year before. On the anniversary of his death, she opens what she hopes to be a "Welcome to Mensa" envelope and pulls out a threatening puzzle along with the identical suicide note she had burned the previous year. Unraveling the twisted clues, Lauren embarks on a harrowing journey drawn in by a child's neglected grave, a professor from the island of St. Croix, and a U.S. Supreme Court nominee. When Lauren discovers the reason behind her husband's shocking death, she must struggle with her deepest convictions and whether killing is acceptable if it saves more lives.

Amazon.com

Brenda Wallace

I'm the author of the mystery thriller Brilliant Prey and two more books coming soon. I have scrutinized thousands of psychiatric and psychological case studies in my work as a staff attorney and draw from those mental patterns and a former private practice for plot twists and character quirks. I am happy to be a member of the Oklahoma Outlaws writing group, Sisters in Crime, Mensa, and the National Romance Writers of America.

Bob Stockton is the Author of Listening To Ghosts and Fighting Bob

2012-02-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

Bob Stockton

Bob Stockton was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1940. Leaving school in his junior year, he began a Navy career in 1957. Following Navy retirement in 1977 Bob has earned undergraduate and graduate degrees, worked as a shipyard welder’s helper, adjunct graduate instructor, epidemiologist, pharmaceutical trainer and radio host. An avid motorcyclist, Bob resides in Jacksonville, Florida in close proximity to his three children, three grandchildren and a large American Bulldog named Bowser.

Listening To Ghosts

Memoir

Listening To Ghosts, Bob Stockton’s memoir about growing up in a working class neighborhood in Trenton, New Jersey, and how he escaped to the U.S. Navy, details the lively ups and downs of a career navy man as he comes of age and learns invaluable life lessons both personally and professionally.

One of the few navy men who has served in the submarine navy (in diesel electric submarines), Bob also served in the surface (destroyer) navy, in Vietnam in a patrol gunboat and in the aviation navy on carriers and in reconnaissance attack squadrons.

The book is divided into two sections, “Trenton” and “Haze Gray and Salt Spray.” Each section boasts short, highly readable, highly entertaining chapters that vividly span the early 1940s through 1977, when Bob gladly retires from the Navy.

He comments, “Listening To Ghosts takes readers back to a time before the Navy became a vehicle for social engineering. It chronicles my adventures - and misadventures - in frank, candid and politically incorrect language.”

Amazon.com

Fighting Bob

Historical

Many have written novels about the lives and adventures of their ancestors but most are not retold directly by the ancestor himself. In the new novel FIGHTING BOB author Bob Stockton writes of the exciting life of his great-great-great grandfather, Commodore ‘Fighting Bob’ Stockton. Once described by western frontiersman Kit Carson as “the bravest of the brave,” the Commodore’s achievements in the first half of the nineteenth century have, in his own opinion, been misinterpreted by history and his true story needs to be retold by someone with a sense of a life at sea. Under a bizarre set of circumstances the Commodore visits his descendant author and tasks him with writing the corrected history of Fighting Bob’s many accomplishments.

“ I have chosen you for this mission…….”

Those words, spoken by the Commodore to his convalescing descendant began an accounting of epic battles, duels, hand to hand fighting and military conquest covering the first half of the nineteenth century which helped to redraw the map of the United States. As the Commodore’s tale unfolds the author, who was at first reluctant to embrace the task, becomes increasingly excited with the prospect of retelling the Commodore’s story in his - the Commodore’s - own words.

Amazon.com

Mia Darien: The IAN Interview

2012-02-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

Mia Darien has lived in New England all of her life and knows that no matter where she goes from here, New England is always going to live in her. Presently, she still lives in the land of snow and fast talkers, with her husband, her son and her pets. She writes a bit of everything genre fiction (horror, romance, mystery, fantasy and science fiction) and thinks it sounds like an odd joke: a unicorn, a space monster, and a pair of zombie lovers walk into a murder investigation...

IAN. Please tell us about your latest book.

MD. I have just released "When Forever Died," which is the second book in my Adelheid series but it was written to stand alone as well. The series setting is basically today's world but with one catch: there is a law that makes all supernatural creatures legal. The first book ("Cameron's Law") is about a year after the law comes into existence and shows us how this is working out, including the supporters, the supernaturals who are trying to make "normal" lives and the groups that are anti-supernatural and their effects.

The second book looks less at the law's effects and is more character focused on Dakota, who is a bounty hunter for the hard-to-catch preternatural beings gone wrong. She finds herself facing the ghosts of the past when she is hired to hunt an ex-lover, and vampire, accused of murder. A second hunt after an Ancient (a vampire over a thousand) stirs up even more ties to her past and she's forced to watch all the lines of her past and present come crashing together.

Dakota has long been one of my favorite characters, tormented and sarcastic, but ultimately a good person and surprisingly religious. She's a shapeshifter very unlike other shifters, can morph into any animal or human face she chooses effortless, and that gives her a unique edge in her current career. But even all her preternatural strength is no match for the things she faces in this book, and going down this path with her was a lot of fun for me as a writer.

IAN. How long did it take to write When Forever Died?

MD. That depends on how you look at it. I wrote one version of this almost ten years ago, then life stopped me from writing for a while. Now I'm back to it, and revisiting old ideas and Dakota would not be denied. So, if you look at it like that, it's been over ten years! This particular incarnation, however, took about six to eight months. (My memory is not perfect!)

IAN. What inspired you to write the book?

MD. You know, I couldn't tell you. I've always loved the genre, and ten some odd years ago when I created the character, I found this entry in the Werewolf Encyclopedia (fun, fun book) about the Theriomorph. I tweaked the idea to my own wishes, but the basic idea was one that created Dakota. Then I've always liked sarcastic but very strong female protagonists. So between that, my love of tormenting my characters, and a love of mythology (need to read the book to understand that one!), it just all came together.

IAN. Talk about the writing process.

MD. These days, I write 90% at night because I am the mother of a two year old boy and I stay at home with him and believe me, that and keeping a house and two crazy Pugs keeps me busy during the day. So, I don't get time to actually sit down and write until after my little one is in bed. But fortunately for me, he goes to bed early and I don't, so I get time for it!

IAN. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

MD. Oh, I have never been a "pantser." I've tried, it never ends well. I outline everything I write, scene by scene. Of course, that doesn't mean that I can't change midstream. Like, I was writing a few nights ago and wrote a scene that was supposed to be pretty basic, but the character threw something into a conversation that made me stop and go: "That needs to be foreshadowing." So I had to go work this new small sub-plot line into the outline, but it worked very well and solved some holes. So, thanks to my characters for that.

IAN. How is When Forever Died different from others in your genre?

MD. Well, I haven't read all the modern works in my genre. I'm still stuck on the older stuff I've read. I'd like to think that Dakota herself is different, the Theriomorph, her tragic history and the bounty hunter thing all set me at least a little apart. I know the law aspect (the Preternatural Rights Act of 2010, also called Cameron's Law) isn't new, but I think not super common and I don't think I've read anyone else who deals with it in quite the same way I do. For example, organized groups who are actively trying to repeal the law, the bigotry that the newly "outed" preternaturals face and their integration into society.

I also include a "Guide to the Preternatural" in my books, because there is so much supernatural lore out there and I want to help people know what I chose to use, and to help keep it all straight.

IAN. Is When Forever Died published in print, e-book or both?

MD. Both, although my primary marketing push is for the ebook.

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

MD. I hope they come away with what I hope they come away with from any of my stories, which is sitting back and saying, "That was a really good story." I want to entertain people. I want to give them a world to vanish into for however long my story is, and if I can do that, and people can say they had fun, then I've done my job.

IAN. Where can we go to buy When Forever Died?

MD. The ebook is available from Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It will soon be available from Kobo and iTunes. You can find the print at Lulu.

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

MD. I'm always working on multiple stories at once, either plotting or writing or editing or waiting impatiently while critique partners/Beta readers are reading it. What I'm actually writing presently is the third book in the Adelheid series.

Each book is First Person but with a different narrator, though the world and the characters always intersect. "Cameron's Law" follows Sadie, opening up the Stanton Agency for preternatural business, servicing the community or advising the human world about their community. (The Agency employs a hunter, Dakota, an Animator, a Summoner, etc.,) "When Forever Died" follows Dakota. Book Three, "Voracious," will follow D, who will eventually come to the Agency. I spend a lot more time with vampires in that one! Or, the "fang crowd" as they are often called.

I'm also working on editing a historical romance set in 1767 France, in the province of Gévaudan. It deals with the Beast of Gévaudan, who terrorized the area from 1764 to 1767. I weave historical characters along with my fictional ones.

IAN. Any other links or info you'd like to share?

MD. I invite people to check out my website, where I have some blog posts about my work and am expanding into blog posts about the industry, or some particular topics I face with it, and also am looking to start hosting guest bloggers and author interviews, and I'm planning a section just for interviews with characters from different authors. I am very interested in not just getting my work out there but helping the indie author community in whatever way I can.

IAN. What are some of your favorite authors?

MD. You know, my tastes really run the gamut. I grew up loving Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks and Anne McCaffrey. Met my husband because of Robert Jordan. (The vampire stuff came later.) I used to love Cornwell's "Scarpetta" series and Hamilton's "Anita Blake" stuff though I've kind of fallen off both those wagons. These days, I'd say my favorite authors are P. N. Elrod and Joe Abercrombie. I'm slowly discovering more of the wide wonderful world of indie authors and finding some great writers there, like Lindsay Buroker, but I typically don't name an author a "favorite" until I've read several books that I've liked and I haven't gotten that far with many new authors yet!

IAN. What was the hardest part about writing When Forever Died?

MD. Keeping it all straight! I have three lines that intersect and making sure the right hints were in the right places got confusing.

Otherwise, it was making sure that Dakota's "voice" was different from Sadie's. All my first person narratives end up with some sarcastic humor, because that's just me as a writer but I don't want my characters to sound too alike. Sadie was more even-tempered where as Dakota is a bit feistier and more likely to say what comes into her head.

Dakota has always been a favorite, for that reason I think. She tends to not mind saying the things that a lot of people will think but keep to themselves. (Or maybe that's just me...)

Mia Darien

When Forever Died by Mia Darien

184 pages

Paranormal Suspense

Smashwords

Amazon

I drove to her apartment building on the other side of town. Seeing the building rising into the night sky brought a keen sense of longing and memories. The stabbing feeling returned. I felt betrayed, even though we had been broken up for a while and her crime had absolutely nothing to do with me, the fact that she had committed a crime and landed on my doorstep made me feel betrayed anyways.

There was nothing for it, so I got out of the car and walked up to the building. It was supposed to be one you had to be buzzed into, but I tried the door and found that the lock must have been broken. So I pulled open the lawsuit-waiting-to-happen and walked in, found her door and tried that handle. It was also unlocked. If this were a novel or movie, I would expect that this was way too easy and I was walking into some overly dramatized trap.

Seeing as how it was real life, I decided there wasn't a serial killer in a hockey mask inside and so in I went.

What struck me immediately was how much it had changed. Of course, I didn't have any reason to expect that everything would be kept exactly the same but this was completely changed and into something that I never, in a million years, would have expected Carrie to decorate. I saw floral patterns in shades of mauve and lilac everywhere. Carrie was a vampire's vampire down to the stereotyped décor, which meant dark and gothic. Not this.

I started poking around. I was supposed to be looking for a hint of where Carrie was now, but I found myself looking for any trace of where she had been in this apartment.

Behind me, the doorknob turned. I whirled around and tensed. Could I really be so lucky as to have Carrie deliver herself to my hands? I was ready to jump, but the door opened and a woman I had never seen before in my life stepped inside.

She looked up and saw me. We had that long what the fuck moment, staring at one another, before she started screaming. I didn't catch all of it, but the important parts were things like "help" and "there's someone in my house" and "who the hell are you" and various statements of that nature. My plan of attack changed abruptly to a plan of escape that led me right out the window, breaking glass on my way.

Hawk wings slowed my descent and I caught the breeze into a convenient nearby tree, where I found a branch and watched what followed.

It didn't take long for a black and white police cruiser to pull up. Lights went on and off through the broken window. I caught a glimpse of a uniformed officer and the woman I scared the hell out of. The report didn't take very long. I hadn't touched anything, so there wasn't much to make note of and no fingerprints. The woman would have seen my face, but only briefly. With the dim light and the fright, she probably wouldn't even remember.

I waited, ruffling my feathers because I could, until the police car left. Once they had, I flew down to the ground and retook human form to get into my car. Once behind the wheel, I just sat there for a while.

Two possibilities came to mind to explain it. Either Carrie had a new roommate who was a slave driver when it came to decorating and took it all over, or she didn't live there anymore. It was a fifty-fifty shot. The latter was a blow to the case, because it made it a little bit harder, but the former was a blow to the ego. It had been more than a year, but that didn't mean I liked the idea of her living with someone else.

My phone rang. I don't know how long I'd been sitting, wrestling with myself, before it did but I didn't like it.

"Yeah," I answered it like a bored businessman.

"You'll never guess who I talked to tonight." Stanton didn't sound happy. "I got a call from the cops. It felt a little like a parent who gets called into the principal's office about an errant child."

Funny, I knew a little about how that felt... but what's more, I had a bad feeling about where this was headed. Damn, they worked fast.

"Are you listening?"

"Yes, mother, what can I do for you?" I drawled.

There was a long pause. And there was no breathing from the other side for the whole time because vampires are creepy fuckers. "The cops called me with a B and E report they took just this evening. One of the uniforms had the pleasure of meeting you in the past and thought he recognized the description. Since it's vague and there was nothing taken, they'll agree to not lock you away."

"I'll pay for the window," I muttered.

"Is that a confession?"

I thought that over. "A charitable gesture?"

"Anyone who knows you wouldn't fall for it, but we'll call it that to keep your ass out of jail." She paused. "Do I have to remind you that breaking and entering is kind of frowned on? I know that bounty hunters get a pretty big margin of error, but let's get serious here. The goodwill of the police will not stretch everywhere. I'm dating a cop and would still get locked up if I broke into someone's house."

"I'm not going to comment on your sex life, but obviously, you're not doing it right."

There was another breathless pause and I realized that I probably should have kept my mouth shut. "Do you really think now is the time to be a smartass?"

"I gave it a shot."

"Stop breaking into places. If I have to call you again and yell at you, we're going to make sure that it's really unpleasant."

"And I was having so much fun."

Shades Of Gray by Andy Holloman

2012-02-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

Shades of Gray is On-Target!

Based on a true story, this is the tale of one family's love for a little girl, illegal police activity, drug smuggling, and murder. This is a story of what can happen when good people are backed into a corner. It is also the story of what can happen when people are born into a world that offers no choices.

Two brothers are born years apart and live in different worlds. John is a devoted father, a solid citizen, and a successful businessman. His younger brother, Travis, is a single, rough and tough cop on the take. The family bond between the brothers remains strong, even though they hold opposing views about life. They enjoy fishing for Blue Marlin on the N.C. coast and a joint love for John's six-year-old daughter, Lucy.

The economic crisis following 9/11 force John into a tight spot. Desperation leads him into activity foreign to his nature. He meets Wanda, a woman born in poverty and struggling to survive. The two of them strike out on a venture to solve their problems. In the end, John realizes the futility of his plan when he discovers that help was right around the corner.

Reviewed by Alle's 5-Star Reviews

Amazon

C.C. Cole is the Author of the Gastar Dark Fantasy Series

2012-02-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

The First Book of the Gastar Series: Act of Redemption

dark fantasy

The city of Gastar stands in ruins following the aftermath of a prolonged war. A new enemy awaits, the demon lord Zermon, to make the remnants of the city part of his territory in hell. A trio of soldiers summoned from the afterlife arrive to help rally the people. Shevata, a former child solider/assassin of the prior wars, is released from imprisonment, and through their combined efforts, the bravery of Gastar's remaining people, and Shevata's familiarity with Zermon protect the city from annihilation.

The Second Book of the Gastar Series: Children of Discord

dark fantasy

Following the defeat of Zermon, two centuries pass allowing re-building of Gastar and growth of the people. The evil boy Goldeon, traitor to Shevata and the people, returns to the city with plans to take over the leadership by forcing control over the vampires, who stayed in hiding through the past wars. Shevata is summoned back to Gastar by unlikely allies while tracking Goldeon in hell. The secret war between the two dangerous children with the city between them places the entire population in jeopardy. Shevata takes her first steps to claim back her humanity at the book's dramatic end.

Amazon.com

C.C. Cole

I am a writer from rural Mississippi. Schooled in medicine, I live in the suburbs with my family. Other interests than writing are rescued greyhounds, martial arts, and medieval and 20th century history. First book "Act of Redemption" was published in 2009,(Best Independent Novel Goodreads) second "Children of Discord" (NABE pinnacle achievement winner 2011) was published in 2011. The series of four novellas when complete follow teen assassin Shevata as she travels through history of the city of Gastar seeking redemption for her past actions and to re-gain her soul. Genre is medieval dark fantasy/action/adventure, no erotica, minimal profanity.

The Singapore Werewolf by Thomas Mackay King

2012-02-08T06:12:00.000-08:00

The Singapore Werewolf

Jacky Wu is a laid back happy go lucky guy, he is a fairly average and slightly timid young man, he has a decent job, he has his own apartment and he is about to buy a new car after saving for months. Life is okay, neither too good nor too bad, although his boss regularly bullies him, but he likes career and his colleagues at State Bank,

While on a week of National Service training in Western Australia Jacky is bitten by a feral dog. The incident takes place at The Pinnacles a strange Limestone formation dating back millions of years, there is something eerie about the place and this encounter takes place under a full Moon.

Jacky begins to feel stronger in both mind and body and changes quickly envelop him, with both positive and negative consequences. He grows in stature but something is also growing inside of him. Jacky will need to fight for his own life, fight against the horrible wrath that the stray Australian dog has brought upon him while trying to live a normal life. His life begins to turn into a living hell and he tries to cope. He has to battle internal demons and has terrible dreams that are hard to understand.

When the full moon rises in Singapore Jacky Wu is in trouble and so are the islands females; Singapore a safe place for women to walk at night is plunged into a crisis as the mutilated young female bodies appear. Jacky morphs into a seven foot tall beast although he does not recall his transmutation until he cannot ignore it.

He is sent to other places in Asia to work and during the full moon he again morphs and takes innocent life. While in Hong Kong he slaughters and when working in Bangkok he once more slaughters.

Jacky changes in his daily life becoming withdrawn and ill tempered, he blows up at work and becomes the focus of police attention. The hunt is on and Jacky is the target as he is relentlessly hunted down in a dramatic end spread out across the main landmarks of Singapore.

Amazon.com

Thomas Mackay King

I was fortunate to have been born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, a wonderful city with deep artistic and cultural roots, all of which I fully absorbed.

The pleasant, positive aspects of Edinburgh were equally balanced by the darker, bleaker, sinister side, both past and present, of which I enjoyed, and endured, my quota.

I have since lived across the world for over twenty eight years, and am now, tapping into the subterranean recesses deep inside my cranium, to expound and elucidate, through both fact and fiction, upon the people, and the wide, heterogeneous, varied life experiences, these years and some unforgettable years before, wrought out of me.

I love writing; it stretches me to reflect, to delve deeper, and perhaps, hopefully, to even darker places. Thomas Mackay King.com

A Roadmap For Self-Publishing by John E. Nevola Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II

2012-01-21T12:03:00.000-08:00

So you're done with your manuscript and perhaps even tried to get an agent or publisher to read your work to no avail. And now you've decided to self-publish and are wondering what pitfalls await you and perhaps how you might do this without having to pawn your engagement ring or your Mickey Mantle rookie card.

This roadmap will help guide you through the minefield based on my hard-learned lessons in self-publishing The Last Jump. It is by no means a comprehensive "cook book" for self-publishing and its certainly not a "Self-Publishing for Dummies" style article. It simply points out where I stepped on a land mine and what I will or will not be doing the second time around. I'll provide some references at the end of the article should you choose to delve into the life of an indie author and the art of self-publishing more deeply.

Let's get started.

BIGGER IS NOT BETTER

Mistake number one for me was assuming a bigger book would provide a greater value for my readers. The fact that it would be more expensive to produce (and thus carry a more expensive cover price) eluded me. I was compelled to reduce my manuscript by 20% to get the book into a reasonable price range. As you know (or will find out), taking words OUT of your manuscript is the hardest thing you will ever have to do as an author. In my case, it was a blessing in disguise as the reduction revisions tightened up the plot and improved the flow of the story. But it took forever. So try to keep it tight and do it right the first time.

PROFESSIONAL OR PERSONAL EDITING

If all you ever wanted out of life was to see your name on the cover of a book, then you can let Aunt Bertha edit your masterpiece. But if you have any expectations of getting good reviews or perhaps getting mentioned in a book contest, you had better take the editing task more seriously. This problem is unique to self-published authors as traditional publishing houses provide editing services for their writers. So the final quality of your book is squarely on you.

Your worst enemy in this effort will be yourself as you become impatient to see your book published and tend to rush through this final but critical stage on getting your book out there. Professional editing can be expensive but the final product will indeed make you proud. And if you look hard enough, you may find people who discount their prices for any number of reasons (to get started in the business, a college student, a fellow member of the Military Writer's Society of America, etc.), which can save you some money when compared to "professional" book editors. And since few or none guarantee their work, it may be worth a shot to take a chance on a hungry unknown.

What did I do, you ask? I had six close relatives read and edit my book. They found hundreds of errors in punctuation, grammar and spelling (spell check does not flag the correct spelling of a wrong word). Then we published. Some friends who read the book flagged another seventy errors. The publisher required a hefty "reblocking" fee to make corrections after publishing. We paid that fee and republished. Then some other "friends" found another forty errors and we paid the fee once again. I think we finally have a credible book on the market although my relatives are no longer considered "editors" nor are they even close anymore.

SELECTING A PUBLISHER

To avoid confusion, let's define how the term publisher is used in this article.

The traditional publisher dominated the field until just a few years ago. They are extremely business oriented and therefore very selective in the manuscripts they choose. They tend to favor established authors. This is because they take all the risk as well as the lion's share of the profits. Only they could afford to print ten thousand copies of a book at the same time to enjoy the economy of scale. However, Print On Demand (POD) technology has altered the landscape. An average size book can now be printed and bound along with its cover in about a minute. Large print runs are no longer necessary to produce a cost-effective book. If you're a client of one of these traditional publishing companies, you're in the wrong article.

Pure self-publishers do everything themselves including editing, formatting the book, cover design, printing, distribution, marketing and retail sales. This requires great skill and an "insider's knowledge" of the industry. This article is also not for you.

The third choice is the subsidy publisher, also known at one time as the vanity publisher. These companies provide all the services of a traditional publisher for a fee. They are capable of doing all of the specialized tasks required to build, print and distribute a book. There are literally dozens of these companies and they all have different business models which translate into different pros and cons for the author. The use of the term publisher in this article refers to the subsidy publisher. So which one should you choose?

Books have been written on this topic and I will offer references at the end of this article for the ones I felt most helpful to me. For now, I'll just point out the most important points to consider.

You want to retain all the worldwide rights to your work
The publisher should allow you reasonable options to price your own book
Cover art for the book cover should be included
They should be able to provide an eBook version in multiple formats

We'll talk a bit more about marketing later on but you should know your two biggest expenses will be your up-front publishing package fee and your editing services. They all also try to hose you for as much "revenue" for marketing add-ons as they can squeeze out of you.

PRICING YOUR BOOK

If you are solely publishing an e-Book, skip this section. You already have total control over every element of your book from cover to format to pricing. However, if you are also publishing a traditional book, hang in here.

Before your price is printed on the book cover, some publishers will offer a choice of what's called the retail discount. Typically, they will let you choose some percentage between 20% and 40%. This represents the percentage the bookstore can discount the book and still make a profit. Therefore, the higher the discount, the higher the book must be priced. And you will be told bookstores will not handle any book with a retail discount of less than 40%. You will also be told you need to purchase a returns guarantee to cover the cost of unsold books.

Don't do it!

First of all, the publishing world is undergoing a huge metamorphosis driven by POD technology and the emergence of online eBooks. Large publishing houses are losing their clout and bookstores are going out of business left and right. What you need to do is take the lowest retail discount allowed to keep the price of your book as low as possible. You're competing with other books and you want as much price advantage as you can get. Don't be bullied into the larger retail discount just to be in bookstores. Not being in traditional bookstores won't matter. My book, The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II, is available online in hard and softcover versions as well as an e-Book. Seventy-five percent of my sales are for the Amazon Kindle. So, focus on getting (a) the lowest price and on (b) the online buyer. You won't be sorry.

One final thought. You can still get your book in local bookstores with a 20% retail discount. Local bookstores may be interested in stocking your book, having book signings and capitalizing on the notoriety of a local author. You just need to send out email queries and/or make some personal visits or phone calls to aggressively pursue this opportunity on a one-on-one basis. Doing this I was able to place my book in the Army Heritage and Education Center bookstore in Carlisle, PA and the Toccoa Military Museum in Toccoa, GA. Exactly the kind of bookstores I want to be in.

MARKETING YOUR BOOK

Finally! Your book is published and available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Some of you may even have it available on Smashwords.com. If you don't, you should. Smashwords makes your eBook available in multiple formats compatible with Sony iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Palm and other e-readers. The formatting requirements are stringent but the service is FREE!

But I digress.

When you are done making your title available, it's time to market your book. There is "old" marketing (magazine ads, radio ads, personal appearances, etc.) and "new" marketing (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Some marketing approaches are expensive and some are free or cheap and the benefits do not always accrue to the more expensive (the saying "you get what you pay for" does not apply to marketing a book).

Here are some of my expenditures that yielded little return along with others that I rejected out of hand.

Banner Ads - in America in World War II magazine and in As A Mom's monthly eZine - MinuteMom.
Web ads - in weaslezippers.com. It is very difficult to gauge the effectiveness of magazine and web ads but I never saw that spike in sales that would justify the expense. So, never again for me unless I get a great promo deal.
Paid for book reviews - Book reviews are important and you should get as many as you can but avoid wasteful ways of accomplishing this. For example, don't mail books until you get an agreement from the other party they will do a review. Send email queries instead until you get a response committing to a review. Even then, you won't get them all back. I also paid a small fee for a book review "service" who was supposed to hook me up with lots of reviewers. I'm still waiting.
Book Contests - If you choose to enter any, contact the contest owner directly and do the work required to submit your entry. Some publishers sell this as a "package" but it is nothing more than a rip-off. They charge exorbitant prices to do the administrative work that you could easily do yourself.
Press Releases - Some publishers try to sell a service that would send/fax the press release of your book to a million contacts. (Well, maybe not a million but they exaggerate the number too). Don't bother. It's a waste of money.
Publicist - Some publishers try to sell a publicist services but their staff is typically not full time publicists. This is one mistake I didn't make and I hope you don't either.
Promotional Materials - Some publishers try to sell a package of business cards, posters, magnets, bookmarks, T-shirts and all sorts of unnecessary junk. The business cards are the only item that makes sense and could be acquired much more inexpensively via online vendors like Vistaprint.
eBook Formats - My publisher sells multiple packages designed to provide various e-Book formats for iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, Android etc. Smashwords provides this service for free. My publisher charges to provide a Nook book. Barnes and Nobles provides this for free through their Pubit service. My point is, do not bite on these packages from subsidy publishers until you adequately explore alternatives. You will almost always find a less expensive option.

FREE MARKETING (Or at least cheap)

Website - This is a must. It's home base. It's where you send everyone who shows the slightest interest in your book to get more information. It's where outsiders can contact you for comments or get information. You can link to your book's online product page directly from your site. You can get a website for free from WordPress.com (some upgrades may cost a little money but the basic setup is free)
Facebook Page - This is also a must. A Fan Page for your book to go along with your personal page will keep your book in the public eye. Post frequent updates and expand your friend base in order to get your message "out there". Sign up to join "groups" that share your passion for your book subject (whether it be romance, mystery, history, etc. there are likely to be more than a few groups who share your interest). Post whatever updates you can to all of these group pages and your fan page as events transpire and things occur. It's free.
Twitter/LinkedIn - Social networking is just beginning to shape the world of communication and marketing. Getting in on Facebook and Twitter as well as LinkedIn is essential for the new author. Joining them is free but learning how to use them efficiently will take some time. But the effort will result in more free exposure than you could have ever hoped for.
Email Signature Line - Populate your email signature line with your book(s) names, awards, website, Facebook and Twitter addresses. Every time you send or respond to an email, you will be promoting your book. As you develop your persona as an author, along with your book title, your every-day interactions on the Internet will become a promotional vehicle for you and your book.
Media Coverage - Local radio stations and local newspapers often look for local content. I was able to successfully obtain 3 radio interviews on a local radio station just by calling the station manager. In addition, I had 4 articles in local newspapers published shortly after my book was published. All I had to do to get these "Local Author Makes Good" pieces published was to email the newspaper editor. However, even though I got these goodies for free, I'm still not at all sure how much of a positive impact they had on book sales.

PAID MARKETING

Facebook Ads - I have had some great sales months in the last year and for the most part sales have grown quarter to quarter. Since I've tried so many different things, it's impossible to determine precisely which efforts fueled my sales growth. But one thing has remained constant throughout and that is my paid Facebook Ads. So I'm staying with them. If you decide to go with this I recommend you study the guide on Facebook. Set your demographic and interest profile to reach at least 7 million people (more if possible). Also, use the daily expense cap to limit your expenses. Finally, I found paying for a thousand images more effective than paying for each click-through (to my website). And I bid well below the Facebook recommended range. (Facebook recommends I bid in the range of .42-.62 per thousand images but I bid .10 -.15 and usually hit my $2.00 daily cap every day). I also suggest you keep track of your impression count, and expenses alongside your sales on a spreadsheet. Change your ad content regularly and analyze sales within the same expense periods. This should help determine which ads work better than others.
Business Cards - I found this to be a worthwhile investment. When you meet new people or discuss your book with old friends, it's always helpful to leave them a card. Make sure your website address is on the card. I always carry a few cards in my wallet. When I go to well-traveled public places (doctor's office, automotive service, restaurants, etc) I always leave a small stack of cards.
Appearances - Most of my appearances are at military-friendly functions. I attend as many re-reenactment events, reunions, air shows, recognition functions, etc. as I can schedule and drive to. There you can meet people who share your interests, take pictures for your social media sites, pass out business cards and develop relationships. The cost is in the travel expense including an occasional layover at a Motel 6.
Organizations - In order to stay in touch with like-minded people, you should bite the bullet and pay the dues to join organizations with people with similar interests, challenges and perhaps solutions. Being continually "wired-in" keeps you engaged and in touch with the rapidly changing trends and technologies of interest to the author. The ones I recommend are the Independent Author Network, Goodreads and, of course, The Military Writers Society of America.

CONCLUSION

If you were able to secure a traditional publisher, all of these worries would be on someone else's desk. But you decided to self-publish. The upside is you have much more control over your writing adventure. No one is telling you what to do, arranging your appearance and book-signing schedules or making decisions you might not agree with. And you got your lifelong "dream book" on the market while you were still young enough to read it.

The downside is you'll be hard pressed to make great progress on that second book while you're functioning as the Marketing Executive of your own first book. It is a demanding job with many false starts, dead-ends and dumb mistakes. Hopefully this piece will help you prevent some of them and chart a course fraught with less danger. Now you need to delve into the particulars and do the research necessary to utilize the tools available to you.

If you have anything you would like to add or discuss, just contact me on http://www.thelastjump.com/

All my best and good luck!

John E. Nevola - Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II

See what I mean. J

REFERENCE MATERIAL AND RESOURCES

The Independent Authors Network

http://www.indieauthorsnetwork.com/

The Fine Print of Self-Publishing, Fourth Edition - Everything You Need to Know About the Costs, Contracts, and Process of Self-Publishing - Mark Levine

This book will help you select a reputable publisher for your self-published book. Available in paperback and Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Fine-Print-Self-Publishing-Fourth-Everything/dp/1935098551/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1324590851&sr=8-4

The First Ten Steps: Ten proven steps to build a solid foundation for your e-Book using free social networking - M.R Mathias

There are some interesting tidbits of information about social networking in this book. Even if your book is available in hard or soft cover, these tips apply. Besides, it will like be available in eBook form some day.

http://www.amazon.com/First-Ten-Steps-foundation-networking/dp/1463606877/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324592464&sr=8-2

How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months - John Locke

This very popular book (see 225 reviews) provides much useful information for the indie author. John Locke has good Internet karma. We exchanged emails on a number of occasions as I asked him for clarification of some of his points. This book is like panning for gold but the few nuggets in there are worth the effort.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Sold-Million-eBooks-Months/dp/1935670913/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324592756&sr=1-1

Paul Anthony: The IAN Interview

2012-01-15T20:39:00.000-08:00

IAN. Hi Paul. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

PA. I’ve written a number of fictional novels and a poetry book and was first published in 1996 by a vanity publisher. It has been exceptionally successful for me over many years. I was in full time employment then and due to the nature of my employment, my employer preferred me to use another name, so my first two Christian names were reversed and Paul Anthony was born. My next book was commissioned by a traditional house but they went into liquidation 6 months later and my venture recorded a nil return. When I recently retired from full time employment I adopted the independent route to publishing and self authorship. I’ve written television and film scripts either on my own, or with the award winning screenwriter, Nick Gordon who is my son in law. He won a screenplay competition hosted by Mark Cantor on behalf of Warner Bros. a couple of years ago. The son of a soldier, I settled in Carlisle before I joined the Police at the age of 19 and served throughout Cumbria. As a detective, I served with Cumbria CID, the Regional Crime Squad, Manchester, the Special Branch, the anti terrorist branch, and other national agencies in the UK. I have an Honours Degree in Economics and Social Sciences, a Diploma in Management and a Diploma in Office Management. I am the Chairman of a Registered Charity, 'Champ's Camp', and a supporter of the Dyslexia Foundation UK who recently selected 'The Fragile Peace' (my 1996 publication) to be the first book in their audio library. I am a keen promoter of 'A1 Casting North' which works with the 'Help for Heroes' Charity to provide job opportunities for ex military and ex police in the acting field, often providing both 'extras' and people with 'specific' military skills required by film and television production companies. I enjoy reading a wide range of works, reviewing same, and playing guitar badly. I also enjoy running, kettlebells, athletics, keeping fit, dining out and dining in, keeping Koi carp, and following politics, economics and social sciences. I’m married and have three adult children and five grandchildren. My adult children and wider family are all police and military figures.

IAN. Please tell us about your latest book.

PA. My latest book is entitled THE CONCHENTA CONUNDRUM. It’s set in the fictional town of Crillsea on the south coast of England. The book begins with two old friends reuniting. One is a former member of the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad (with whom I had a former connection) and the other is an army bomb disposal officer. The work opens with a bomb plot and the two men become instant heroes. But that all goes to hogwash when a number of unconnected murders are reported and the detective, Davies King, takes charge. He is thwarted by higher command at every turn and has to fight attempts to ridicule him every step of the way. Things are made worse when the bomb disposal officer, Max Fowler, is arrested and may..... or may not.... be the guilty party. As Davies King and his team dig deeply into the murders it becomes obvious that a web of corruption and power broking is in play and he needs to tackle it head on in order to win. How he tackles the case is the crux of the story. An unlikely character, Davies is a chessmaster, and runs his office from the local pub where a mix of characters, friends and suspects alike, weave through the work presenting themselves to the reader as a ‘goodie’or a ‘baddie’. It is the first of three ‘standalone’ Davies King books

IAN. How long did it take to write The Conchenta Conundrum?

PA. I crafted the book in Corralejo, Fuerteventura, during a fortnight’s holiday sitting by the pool in the sunshine with a glass of beer, a netbook, and my editor and first supporter.... My wife.

IAN. What inspired you to write the book?

PA. My first three books all centered around the detective, William Miller Boyd, (Billy Boyd) and tell the story of a Cumbrian detective who rises through the ranks into the Metropolitan police anti terrorist branch. His tales are of counter and anti terrorism, spies, bomb plots in Northern Ireland and the Middle East and the characters who make up the game. I was asked by a number of my friends and readers to write a murder mystery, mainly, I think, because I was involved in a lot of murder enquiries as a detective. So I decided to give it a go and wrote a fictional tale for readers to enjoy.

IAN. Talk about the writing process. Do you write at night or in the morning?

PA. I write when the mood takes me and at no set time. If I have a pen in my hand and I get a poem or a plot in my head, it’s on paper as soon as I sit down.

IAN. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

PA. I write headings for chapters, For example, Chapter one - DK finds body Chapter Two - DK finds second body. Chapter Three - DK loses at chess to...?

and then build what is in my head into the book. My wife reads every 50 pages and corrects where needs be. Then we go back to the beginning. At the end I give the finished article to three friends who are all given specific editorial jobs with regards to the work. Then I take them out for a meal and a few glasses of wine. They’ve never let me down.

IAN. How is your book different from others in your genre?

PA. It’s not written as a police procedural. It’s written from first hand experience of the subject mixed with imagination.

IAN. Is The Conchenta Conundrum published in print, e-book or both?

PA. Both

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading The Conchenta Conundrum?

PA. I think pleasure more than anything.

IAN. Where can we go to buy your book?

PA. Amazon, Smashwords, Venture Book Galleries, and Lulu. All the direct links to my purchasing sites are on my IAN page and they are available in print and ebook formats.

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

PA. The next standalone Davies King book is entitled MOONLIGHT SHADOWS. The book was also crafted whilst on holiday. It is another murder mystery but this one is about ‘spies who fall out’. The reader knows who the murderer(s) is/are from an early stage. The mystery lies in why the murders are being committed. For what reason? The answer is offered to the reader at various stages of the work, but the real motive is the real mystery. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing this one in less than three months. The words have just flowed in but I will bury it for one month, re-read/write it, and then give it to my associate editorial team to edit. I have a number of author friends I am hoping will do me the honour of reviewing the work prior to publication.

IAN. Any other links or info you'd like to share?

PA. I have a blog page where I have a giggle at times and write about the distraught author Penelope Prudence and her adventures. I had to explain to someone recently that she is a fictional character and not a real person. I share information and tit bits on the publishing process for new authors here. And, I am really lucky, and feel quite privileged, to have hosted some guest blogs on the site from a good ‘mixed’ genre authorship of friends. Mainly IAN’ people like Nicholas Rose, John Betcher, Dennis Sheehan, Elizabeth Marshall, Zoe Saadia, CC Cole, Morgan Nyberg, Wayne Zurl, all good at what they write. And I’d like to draw attention to The Writers Collection website. This is a site where professional writers write short stories on a weekly basis for their readers. It has a massive following. I’m also a member of the Famous Five Plus group as well as having links on twitter, facebook and linkedin. My good news for 2012, apart from this wonderful IAN Featured Author accolade, is that I have recently signed a distribution contract with Venture Galleries and I’m really looking forward to developing these relationships and delivering not just more work to the reader, but alternative methods of purchase in an ever-changing environment.

These are my main active links

http://paulanthonys.blogspot.com

http://famousfiveplus.blogspot.com/

http://www.thewriterscollection.com/

http://venturegalleries.com

http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/paul-anthony.html

You can find excerpts from both my poetry book and The Conchenta Conundrum on my blogsite. I’m always popping in with poetry and odd paragraphs from different books I’ve written.

IAN. Anything else going on in your life?

PA. If anyone is interested in following up on The Fragile Peace, I’d like you to know that the contract is being terminated and there will be no further print runs. There are less than 50 left in the warehouse apparently. The good news is that the ebook of the same name is ready and I will be republishing it under my own imprint in print and ebook in the next month or so, and once the contract is formally concluded. So, if it’s not on your favourite website now.....it will be soon.

Railroad Man by Southern Fiction Author Alle Wells

2012-01-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

Rail Road Man is author Alle Wells second published book.

Mickey’s job with the railroad is the best gig going in north Georgia in 1933. He’s tall, dark, and handsome and has it made in the shade. Mickey found his true love at an early age and dreams of the perfect life they will share. He roams the speakeasies and clip joints of Atlanta, looking snazzy and ready for some action. The women call him Killer. He seeks the exotic creatures of the city and the wonders they hold. What Mick finds on a cold, dark night in a lowdown speakeasy changes his life forever. Forty-five years later, Mick wonders what happened.

Praise for Railroad Man:

I think that most people can relate to Railroad Man where life's dreams and disappointments meet somewhere in the middle. I highly recommend this book for any man who dreams of days gone by. Amazon Review.

This is a story of forbidden love in the 1930's. The conflict, drama, and surprising twists in this story held my interest. The characters are so real, I feel as if I know them. This fast moving, easy read held me tight until the end. Amazon Review.

The Author

Alle Wells writes Southern Fiction set in specific time periods. Genres may include Southern Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance or Human Interest stories. Each book tells the story of one life and how society, beliefs, and culture shape the outcome of that life. The reader may find a family member, a friend, an acquaintance or themselves in her characters. Her stories are like life: funny, tragic, romantic, happy, and sad. Choose one of her titles and find yourself or someone you know.

Alle’s first book, Lame Excuses, tells the story of a young woman’s blissful love for food that leads her to a bitter end. This story addresses the crippling epidemic of food addiction in the rural South.

The new era of self-publishing opened the door for Alle to pursue the dream of sharing her stories with the world. Other interests include supporting other Indie Authors, reading, yoga, bird watching, healthy lifestyles, and a vegetarian diet. Alle lives in North Carolina.

http://www.allewells.com

Mark Tufo is the Author of the Bestselling Zombie Fallout Series

2011-12-22T15:54:00.000-08:00

The Zombie Fallout Series:

Zombie Fallout

It was a flu season like no other. With fears of contracting the H1N1 virus running rampant throughout the country, people lined up in droves to try an attain one of the coveted vaccines. What was not known, was the effect this largely untested, rushed to market, inoculation was to have on the unsuspecting throngs. Within days, feverish folk throughout the country, convulsed, collapsed and died, only to be re-born. With a taste for brains, blood and bodies, these modern day zombies scoured the lands for their next meal. Overnight the country became a killing ground for the hordes of zombies that ravaged the land. This is the story of Michael Talbot, his family and his friends. This is their story a band of ordinary people just trying to get by in these extra-ordinary times. When disaster strikes, Mike a self-proclaimed survivalist, does his best to ensure the safety and security of those he cares for. Book 1 - Of the Zombie Fall-Out Trilogy, follows our lead character in his self-deprecating, sarcastic best. What he encounters along the way leads him down a long dark road always skirting on the edge of insanity. Can he keep his family safe? Can he discover the secret behind Tommy's powers? Can he save anyone from the zombie Queen? - A zombie that seems by all accounts to have some sort of hold over the zombies and Mike himself. Encircled in a seemingly safe haven called Little Turtle, Mike and his family together with the remnants of a tattered community while not fighting each other, fight against a relentless, ruthless, unstoppable force. This last bastion of civilization has made its final stand. God help them all.

Zombie Fallout 2: A Plague Upon Your Family

This story picks up exactly where book one left off. The Talbot family is evacuating their home amidst a zombie apocalypse. Mankind is on the edge of extinction as a new dominant, mindless opponent scours in search of food, which happens to be non-infected humans.
In these pages are the journal entries of Michael Talbot, his wife Tracy, their kids Nicole, Justin and Travis. With them are Brendon, Nicole's Fiancee and Tommy previously a Wal-Mart door greeter who may be more than he seems. Together they struggle against a ruthless, relentless enemy that has singled them out above all others.

Zombie Fallout 3: The End.

Continues Michael Talbot's quest to be rid of the evil named Eliza that hunts him and his family across the country. As the world spirals even further down into the abyss of apocalypse one man struggles to keep those around him safe. Side by side Michael stands with his wife, their children, his friends and the wonder Bulldog along with the Wal-Mart greeter Tommy who is infinitely more than he appears and whether he is leading them to salvation or death is only a measure of degrees.

Zombie Fallout 4: The End Has Come and Gone

She is coming for you....

Amazon’s bestselling horror author Mark Tufo will be wishing ebook readers a Happy Holiday season with a free copy of his Zombie Fallout novel from 12/24/2011 to 12/31/2011.

Zombie Fallout has been on Amazons top 100 in horror since its release. It is followed up with Zombie Fallout 2: A Plague Upon Your Family, Zombie Fallout 3: The End and Zombie Fallout 4: The End Has Come and Gone, which are all on the top 100 in horror list.

All of Marks books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Sony, Kobo and Diesel.

Visit Mark Tufo at http://www.marktufo.com

M R Mathias Releases The Confliction–The Dragoneer Saga Book III and Confliction Compendium

2011-12-21T05:26:00.000-08:00

M. R. Mathias is proud to announce the official release date of The Confliction – The Dragoneer Saga Book III –AND– Confliction Compendium, an omnibus edition of the full Confliction cycle of books that will be an Amazon Kindle exclusive, and free to borrow from the Amazon lending library for members of Amazon Prime on December 23^rd.

The Confliction will be released in paperback just before Christmas. The eBook version is already available at your favorite eBook store, as are all of the other bestselling Dragoneer Saga books.

Confliction Compendium including The First Dragoneer, The Royal Dragoneers, Cold Hearted Son of a Witch, and The Confliction, as well as the first two Crimzon & Clover short stories, will be available for free borrowing and for purchase at Amazon the week before Christmas.

The Confliction - Dragoneer Saga III is the thrilling conclusion to the full Confliction cycle of Dragoneer Saga books. In this episode, The Dragoneers face the Sarax that were loosed in Book II - Cold Hearted Son of a Witch, as well as the rogue Druids of Dou, and something else that no one, not even the remaining Hazeltine Witches, expect.

Wild aerial antics, powerful magical attacks, a bit of love/romance, and a final conflict that ends in a breathtaking climax are just some of the thrills that await readers in this installment of the international bestselling Dragoneer Saga.

Don't blink your eyes, watch your back, and no matter what you do: HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAGON!

Praise for the Dragoneers Saga:

Mathias is an absolute pleasure to read. Unique storyline, fascinating characters and a fast paced novel that practically reads itself. The Royal Dragoneers easily lived up to the promise shown in the prequel. Lovers of fantasy everywhere this is a fresh, new talent with plenty of truly original ideas. Do yourself a favour and treat yourself to this book. -GoodReads Reviewer

Genuine, gritty, well-imagined, with pleasing reality and humor seasoning fantasy and fear, this second book fulfills all the promise of the first, and more, leaving me eager to move on to book three and glad I've had the chance to revisit the series. Amazon Reviewer

Praise for The Dragoneers Saga "The action is fast and furious, and the novel has the author's trademark twists on the traditional storyline and keeps one guessing where it will go. It is a fun book that I heartily recommend." Fantasy Book Critic

Mathias is a master at characterization. The dragons are magnificent in the story. The Royal Dragoneers is book one in the The Dragoneers Saga. The plot is action is fast, furious and never ending. The plot is intricately woven with twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. The story has a mythical quality. Fans of fantasy will not want to miss this one. -Reader’s Favorite Book Reviews

M. R. Mathias is the author of the bestselling Wardstone Trilogy, The Dragoneers Saga, and the Crimzon & Clover Short Story Series. He lives in the Big Easy with his tweeting dog, Mr. Stubby Freckle Butt. You can follow M.R.'s tweets @DahgMahn

The Dragoneers Saga

Book Review: Memory's Wake by Selina Fenech

2011-12-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

Fairies and Fantasy Pty Ltd (July 3, 2011)

978-0987151117

328 pages

Looking for a young adult urban fantasy with enough adventure, romance, and page-turning excitement to keep even the most easily distracted teen captivated? Then look no further than Memory’s Wake by Selina Fenech.

Imagine being dropped into a strange world with nothing more than the clothes on your back. From the opening pages, this is our heroine’s reality as she finds herself in a land called Avall. Her body is bruised, she is confused about how she got there, and she cannot remember anything about her life, not even her own name. She meets a beautiful yet timid human named Eloryn who has the ability to cast magic spells.

Eloryn’s unauthorized use of magic has her on the run from the wizard hunters who will not rest until she is arrested. Despite her own predicament, Eloryn decides to help this lost girl with pink-streaked hair, piercings, and ripped jeans find her way home. First, Eloryn gives her the name Memory. Memory and Eloryn must learn to trust each other if they’re going to survive as there is no shortage of danger in Avall. The wizard hunters, fae, dragons, and even the King of Avall, all want a piece of Memory.

Roen, the son of a Duke, joins the group after a failed attempt to steal from the girls. Roen fills the role of the handsome prince to Eloryn’s beautiful princess. Playing the part of the mysterious stranger and love interest for Memory is Will. Fenech gives all four characters turns as the POV narrator to paint a clearer picture of who Memory is, and does a remarkable job of giving each character their own perspective and unique voice.

Fenech keeps us guessing throughout. There is non-stop action and new perils to keep readers hooked. Fenech has a knack for setting up cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to make sure we can’t put down her debut offering. The setting is vibrantly described and the writing flows well; however, it’s the character development that sets Memory’s Wake apart. Memory is a strong yet flawed, believable heroine. Young readers will easily identify with the problems she faces.

If the vivid description in this novel is not enough, the author has included dozens of her own skillful illustrations. The story is wrapped up with an ending that won’t disappoint and readers will desire a sequel. Frequent POV changes may distract some readers in the early chapters, but overall, this is an exceptionally entertaining novel that I would highly recommend to tweens, teens, and adults alike. Reviewed by E.R. Hynd

Available at Amazon.com

The author.

Born in 1981 to Australian and Maltese parents, Selina lives in Australia with her husband, her baby girl, an unnamed cat, and a lorikeet who’s far too clever. During her life Selina has found ancient Roman treasure, survived cancer, had knights joust at her wedding, been mugged for doughnuts, made a living as a visual artist, and shared her imaginary worlds in paintings and now in her novels.

http://www.selinafenech.com

The IAN Interview with David George Richards

2011-12-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

I am a self published, or indie author from the UK with twelve titles available as Kindle or e-book editions for around $2 each. Most of these stories are between five and ten years old, and have been edited constantly, so the latest Kindle and e-book editions differ slightly from the original drafts that are still available to read on my website. Ten of my books are also published and available as trade paperbacks. Although I started writing in earnest over ten years ago, my earliest paperback edition on Amazon was published in 2005.

I was born in Manchester in the North West of England in 1957. Although I have moved around a bit, Manchester is still both my physical and spiritual home. I am married to my wife Rosanna, and have been now for over twenty years. I have an imagination that began when I was very young and never waned. I also like reading and so it was no surprise I suppose when I started writing.

IAN. Please tell us about your writing.

DGR. I write Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Romance. I like to mix my genres and I also feature female characters very prominently in all of my stories, many of them in strong and attractive leading roles. The reason for this is that I like writing about women. It gives my stories a female bias, but I think they are better for it. So expect Romance and Fantasy in my Science-Fiction with a multitude of leading ladies. It’s just the way I am. I also like every character, even the monsters and villains, to have a realistic reason for being and doing what they do.

Three of my Science-Fiction Fantasy books have a related 'universe' or can be considered a 'story arc,' in that they are set on the same planet called Ellerkan. The Lost Girls, The Return of the Sixpack and The Tale of the Comet all feature characters at different points in their lives and at different generations. Although there are common elements and some things are only fully understood if you have read them all, any one of them can be read independently without any loss. That can’t be said for the four part Friendly Ambassador series of books that introduces the Androktones, or Destroyers. These four books can be considered to be a prequel or back story to the three books set on Ellerkan, but the story arc is totally different. The Friendly Ambassador blends Greek Myth with traditional Science-Fiction, and of course the stories are in four chronological parts that are meant to be read that way. The Friendly Ambassador was too big to self-publish in one paperback at the time (over 1300 pages), so the split wasn’t my original choice. I guess that’s life. I do hope to re-combine them into one volume in the future.

My Romance books are, well, romantic. An Affair of the Heart and The Look of Love are mainly Contemporary Romance, but some are mixed with Suspense, such as Mind Games, or Science-Fiction, such as The Dreamer. And A Fine Woman is set in the South of France during and in the aftermath of WWII. Because I am in the UK, my Contemporary Romances are set in my home city of Manchester. I must get something right with my Romance novels as one of them is my most successful book so far.

IAN. How long does it take you to write a book?

DGR. This is a piece of string question. It can take me anything from a few months to a few years. Obviously long books take longer to write than short books, but the writing process is dictated by how much I know the story and plot development beforehand. As I mention below, the more developed the story is in my head, the quicker I can write it. But I don’t always write continuously either. I have been known to take very long writing breaks between books, or even during a book.

IAN. What inspired you to write?

DGR. I started writing because I loved to read. I also loved to play stories when I was young, with a room full of soldiers and figures who I would invent characters for. I read Gone with the Wind when I was still a kid, and practically all the classic Science-Fiction authors you could find. I love space, I love adventure, I love all those classic TV series, I love women, I love Romance, and I love women in stories. As a result women feature strongly in my stories. I suppose that goes back to Gone with the Wind. Blame it on Scarlet. Anyway, I write because, like many others have said, the stories are in my head. It’s a subconscious thing that forces it out whether you want it to or not. It’s in my blood and in my soul, it’s what makes me me. To stop thinking, to stop my imagination, is to stop being me.

IAN. Talk about the writing process. Do you write at night or in the morning?

DGR. When I write I tend to do it in the afternoon until well into the early hours. But it depends on when the urge takes me. Real life dictates when I write, and it also dictates when I can think about my writing, mulling it all over in my head, so I write less these days than I used to. That also might be related to my mind unloading many of the stored ideas I needed to get down on paper. I also write because I enjoy it, like a hobby. So if it becomes a chore, I stop.

IAN. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

DGR. I tend to mull over an idea in my head for ages before I write. Often the overall story and plot will be clear in my mind even before I start. Having said that, none of the individual details or even all of the characters will be apparent at that stage, that comes later, and nothing will be written down. Once I have the general idea in my head I can start writing quite quickly and the characters that I populate the story with begin to contribute to the plot itself. If real life interferes with that mulling over process then I tend to write less or more slowly.

IAN. How are your books different from others in your genre?

DGR. I suppose the answer to this question is that I wrote them! But on a more serious note, I would like to think that The Friendly Ambassador is a little different. This four part story mixes Greek Myth with traditional Science-Fiction, taking a different approach to the legend of Atlantis, the origination of the Amazons, and the true nature of mythical creatures such as the Cyclops and Centaurs as aliens from other worlds.

In general I like to write both Science-Fiction and Fantasy with a more realistic basis. So I need to have a realistic and logical reason for why my dragons exist. But as I like to include some Fantasy elements in my stories, and I don’t regard my Science-Fiction writing as being either hard or soft Science-Fiction, some things are still left deliberately unanswered.

With regard to my Romance stories, well, romance is part of life, and by nature it is people focused. I like to explore relationships and so I like to include Romance in all my stories. It is often the interaction and relationships between the characters that dictate the flow of the story. Does that make all my stories character driven? Maybe. But although characters can often dictate events, they also have to react to other events that overtake them.

IAN. Are your books published in print, e-book or both?

DGR. The answer is both. I like to publish in print whenever I can. I think that is because, like most people, I grew up with real paperbacks or hardbacks to read, and if you dream of publishing a book, you need to see and feel it in your hands to fulfill that dream. That I should also publish e-books is a modern practicality. As a self-published author it is essential to use digital publishing as this levels the playing field with the mainstream traditional publishers. It is also difficult to get paperbacks on bookshelves in brick and mortar stores, and pricing can also be an issue. I see digital publishing as the future.

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your books?

DGR. First of all I want my readers to enjoy my books for what they are, fiction for entertainment. I don’t want to preach or have a hidden morality to bring out. But I do want my readers to believe and feel for the characters in my books. I want them to be engaged with them and to care about what happens to them. I hope I write well enough to do that. So even in my science-fiction stories where there are many visual action sequences, it is still the relationships between the principal characters and their understanding of each other that is the main focus of my writing. And that includes the aliens and villains. If I have any message in my writing it is that nobody is really an out and out villain, or at least not often. All my characters have different viewpoints and agendas, there are no blind killers, and the borders between the good guys and the bad guys are deliberately blurred. Real life is like that, after all.

IAN. Where can we go to buy your books?

DGR. All my books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel and Google. I am also looking into publishing via Smashwords to Nook, Sony and various other handheld devices.

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

DG. The book I am working on at the moment is another Science-Fiction Fantasy story set on Ellerkan. Although it belongs to that same overall universe, it is a standalone story that fits at the very end of the story arc so to speak, and so it features all new characters. I am about 30,000 words in, but I am taking my time and the current draft is the fourth edit.

IAN. Any other links or info you'd like to share?

DG. Apart from here on IAN you can find me on Goodreads at

http://www.goodreads.com/dgr2, or on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Booksandstoriescom/285414364826193.

And finally there is always my website at http://www.booksandstories.com.

Excerpt from The Tale of the Comet

Science-Fiction, 754 Pages.

Published by Booksandstories.com via BookSurge, 2008.

The farm wasn’t new. It had been established on the outskirts of Jasanta for over fifteen years. It was further out than the other farms, beyond the main areas of cultivation and closer to the edge of the forest. There were other farms nearby, but none this close to the forest. It hadn’t mattered at the time and the land was unclaimed and had been fallow for a generation. The farmer and his wife had toiled hard, but progress came with the toil and the years. There were now three fields filled with wheat that grew waist high. The spacious farmhouse was supported by a large barn and two more outhouses. The farm was now the home of a family, with children, a dog, and horses in the barn. And every morning men from Jasanta would journey out to work on the farm that was now too much for a man and his young son. In this it was the same as any other farm.

But there was a difference with this farm.

There was a reason why land this close to the forest remained fallow and unclaimed. It was a reason that many in Jasanta had forgotten or no longer worried about. The land was crossed by a path. It was an unmarked path or trail that stretched from the mountains in the east, across the fields of Halafalon and deep into the forest. It was an ancient path and not often used. And because it was unmarked on any map, it was not remembered. On any day in any year, and for nearly a generation, none of that had mattered.

But this year was different.

One by one, the Androktones heading towards the forest for the coming of the ship had met on the path they always trod from their dens. At first there were only one or two, but as they neared the edge of the forest their numbers slowly increased, and by the time they neared the forest on this warm summer night, nearly all of them had gathered together. As they met they had talked and greeted one another like sisters and spoken of the deeds and events that had passed since their last meeting. There was joy at the sight of others not seen for many years, and sadness for those who had not returned. Some walked arm in arm, and many talked while others just nodded. There was no sign of animosity, only anticipation as they walked slowly and casually towards the forest.

Then they came to the farm.

It sprawled across their path where none had been there before. The lights twinkled in the windows of the farmhouse and it reeked of the incorrect. The character of the Androktones changed instantly; their expressions hardened, and they fanned out.

****

On a warm summer night a farmhouse burned. Figures ran from the house to the barn and other buildings, their figures silhouetted against the flames. Each carried a flash of silver.

For a short time the farmer and his son had fought to defend their land and their lives, but it had been a short resistance. All had been butchered, even the dog. But one still lived.

Chen-Soo ran into the barn, her bloodstained sword in her hands. There were two horses in a stall on the far side. They were already beginning to panic as smoke swirled around. Sparks from the roof of the burning farmhouse had drifted to the barn roof. It was already on fire and the crackle of the flames could be heard. But the smoke couldn’t disguise the stink that had brought her here.

The incorrect one is here! Do not let it escape! Find it! Find it and kill it!

Chen-Soo moved forward purposefully, her sword held in both hands. She kept it raised before her, ready to strike or defend. Her eyes darted from side to side, searching, scanning. But it was her nose that found the object of her search. She stopped and her eyes darted to a box resting against the far wall, just next to the stalls. Straw was heaped around it, but there was none on top.

The disgusting one is inside! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!

Silently, Chen-Soo moved quickly towards the box. As she came closer she saw that it was an old chest, probably one that was used to bring clothes and other belongings. It was old and battered.

Sparks and burning embers began to fall from the roof as the flames took hold. The horses began to prance and rear, kicking at the wooden stalls that hemmed them in. One broke free and bolted for the barn door. As it galloped away behind her, Chen-Soo shifted her sword to one hand, holding it point downward like a long dagger as she stood over the chest. Bracing herself she reached down with her other hand and threw open the chest lid.

The young girl screamed a high-pitched scream and cowered down, holding her hands over her face.

Chen-Soo froze, her sword still held poised to strike.

Why do you hold back? Kill it! Kill the abomination! Stab it! Stab it now!

It looks like me.

You always dwell on this dream! She is not you! She is not one of your siblings! Nor is she your seed! She is incorrect! Vile! Disgusting! She must die like the others! Kill her!

I don’t want to. I can’t.

Can’t? Won’t? Where were these feelings when the man and the woman fell to our swords? You did not hang back as the others struck! Your sword bit the incorrect as theirs did! You followed the Purpose then, but now you deny it!

I don’t follow the Purpose! I kill when I decide!

Then kill her!

I decide!

You are mutated! Disgusting! You should die as the incorrect must die!

I decide! Now shut up or I will cut you off!

Anger! Silence!

Chen-Soo slammed the lid down on the chest and turned away. As she turned she swung her sword and brought it down on the wooden gate that trapped the remaining horse. The wood splintered and the horse burst out and gleefully galloped for freedom. As it shot out the door, another figure appeared.

The straw was catching fire in one corner and some of the beams that supported the roof were now burning. Smoke was everywhere and getting thicker. Hai-Fam ignored it all as she stared at Chen-Soo. Her expression was filled with anger.

Now you will die for your hesitation! She will know where the small one hides!

Shut up!

Chen-Soo lowered her sword and waited. Hai-Fam’s eyes darted to the chest near the wall and her anger increased. She immediately strode forward and held her sword dagger-fashion as Chen-Soo had done before. But she didn’t hesitate when she reached the chest. She threw open the lid and stabbed down in a sudden frenzy. Then she stopped and stared. Chen-Soo stepped forward and looked in the chest.

It was empty.

Lori L. Otto: The IAN Interview

2011-12-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

After an exhilarating, collaborative writing project, Lori L. Otto had an idea for an original novel. The characters and their rich stories would keep her awake at night, and even with barely any sleep, she felt more alert and alive than she had in years. Her days off were spent in cafés, sandwich shops and bookstores, feverishly trying to get all of the details out of her head and onto paper.

In early 2009, after a few months of writing, Lori decided to tweak one chapter from the novel-in-progress and enter it as a short story in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, where she was awarded Honorable Mention in the Mainstream/Literary Short Story category. This recognition encouraged Lori to pursue her true dream to become a writer.

Two years later, she completed three novels in the Emi Lost & Found series. Anxious to deliver her stories to the world, she decided to self publish all three books in spring of 2011.

IAN. Please tell us about your latest book:

LO. Originally, the three books in the Emi Lost & Found series were going to be one book. When the stories of Nate, Emi and Jack simply couldn't be confined to the pages of one novel, I decided to break the book up into three smaller (but still quite large) novels.

Lost and Found (book one): When artist Nate Wilson falls in love, he falls hard. The problem is, he’s only been in love once, and the girl of his affections is his best friend, Emi Hennigan. In high school, the two bonded over painful breakups, and swore off a relationship to save their friendship. Thirteen years later, Nate has had more than his share of emotionally-unfulfilling, sexual relationships with beautiful women to distract himself from his true romantic feelings.

When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity takes Nate away from his friend and his comfortable lifestyle, he is forced to reflect on the distinct void that Emi’s absence leaves in his life. To Nate’s surprise, Emi has a similar experience; but as the friends embark upon their journey toward happiness together, destiny reveals other plans for Emi.

Time Stands Still (book two): Depression threatens all the relationships in Emi Hennigan’s life after a near death experience leaves her injured and feeling alone in a world she barely recognizes. On a night that is supposed to signify a new beginning in her life, she loses everything she loves.

It’s on that very same night, though, that Emi has a chance meeting with a man from her past who has the power to bring her more happiness than she’s ever known. Jack Holland is on a mission to rescue Emi from the pain that’s been consuming her, but his patience is tested as Emi holds on to the memory of the only man she’s ever truly loved.

Never Look Back (book three): Jack Holland finally has everything a man could want. After a lengthy courtship that has required persistence and self-restraint, Emi Hennigan– the woman Jack has been fantasizing about since college– has fallen in love with him. Together, the couple sets out to create their own happily-ever-after.

It’s only when Emi delivers some unwelcome news that Jack begins to question everything about the woman he loves. It will take a considerable amount of understanding and sacrifice for Jack to accept the future Emi can offer him– a future he never imagined for himself.

IAN. How long did it take to write the books?

LO. It took about two and a half years to write all three books in the Emi Lost & Found series.

IAN. What inspired you to write the books?

LO. I read another popular series and I felt like I could do a better job at writing a love story that was realistic, relatable and romantic.

IAN. Talk about the writing process. Do you write at night or in the morning?

LO. I write whenever I can. Over the past few years, I've had crazy work hours, with shifts starting as early as 7am and going until midnight. I try to carve out a little time every day to write and/or brainstorm. On my days off, I like to start my day with a muffin at a local cafe and a few hundred words.

IAN. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

LO. For the Emi Lost & Found series, I had a detailed outline that I stuck to for the first draft. When that was complete, I filled in plot holes and wrote some new scenes to better develop the characters. The process has become more fluid, though. With the series I'm working on now, I have a general idea of the beginning and end and a few high/low points along the way, but the characters have derailed me plenty of times.

IAN. How are your books different from others in your genre?

LO. Well… they're different in that they really don't have a genre. Are the books romantic dramas or dramatic romances? The books were meant to be women's fiction, but some of the more adult situations make them encroach on the romance genre a bit… but I wouldn't consider them true romance novels. They're simply romantic fiction.

IAN. Is your book published in print, e-book or both?

LO. It's published in print by CreateSpace, and in ebook format pretty much everywhere ebooks are sold.

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your books?

LO. I want the readers to have an emotional connection to the characters. I want readers to care about them at the end of the day. I want them to see these people as friends.

IAN. Where can we go to buy your books?

LO. Amazon.com, iBooks, the Nook store, the Amazon Kindle store, Smashwords, Sony eReader

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

LO. I'm working on four other books right now. Three of them are somewhat of a sequel to the Emi Lost & Found series. The second series follows a character the reader meets in the first series, and sort of mirrors the same format as Emi Lost & Found. The fourth book is my 2011 NaNoWriMo novel. It will be more of a young adult, coming of age story. I've been winging this one, but I really am pleased with the progress. I will probably continue writing this novel until it's finished, and then go back to the second series.

IAN. Any other links or info you'd like to share? LO. http://www.loriotto.com

Lost and Found: Book One of the Emi Lost & Found series by Lori L. Otto

402 pages

Women's Fiction

Nine years is a long time to hold on to a feeling– one that I felt for only ten seconds of my life. Logically, I know it was twenty seconds at most, but the impact it left made it seem like forever. If I allow myself to think about that night– and I never do– I can remember how the air in my lungs felt completely effervescent, how my chest tightened around my racing heart, how my skin seemed to feel everything around me. Hands. Lips. A cool, fall breeze. I even thought I could feel the stars sparkling above, prickly and scintillating in their luminescence.

Nine years is a long time, but with a feeling like that, I doubt I’ll ever let it go completely. It’s a shame I don’t have a good sense of what actually caused that feeling, but my imagination has filled in the blanks left by the drunken oblivion of that night.

I chose stupid ways to rebel in college. Of course, drinking was the norm for most students at school, but my actions back then lingered more toward self-centered and inconsiderate. Had I known I’d see Nate at any time that evening, I never would have consumed as much as I had. To this day, I mostly drink in moderation when we’re around one another. A better friend may give up drinking entirely, but even he has a little alcohol every now and then. And he doesn’t have any friends better than me, nor do I have any that rank above him.

As I wait for Nate, hurriedly getting ready for a night out with his current love interest, I wonder if he makes all women feel the way I felt for those ten glorious seconds. That would explain the long string of girlfriends. But maybe that feeling was fleeting. Maybe it was only meant to happen once, to stir up those emotions and questions for those brief seconds. Maybe other women acted on that fleeting feeling... and then maybe it just resulted in fleeting relationships. After all, they’re just emotions. By nature, emotions are not stable, nor are they reliable. They come and go. Just as his girlfriends do. In quick succession. They come and they go...

Does it make any sense at all to continue to search for that feeling? I shrug my shoulders as if I’m answering my own question, having my own conversation with myself. Whether it makes sense or not, I’m on a mission to find it again someday, with someone. I just hope that my pursuit doesn’t keep me from seeing things in the periphery. From seeing that what I’m looking for is actually right in front of me.

“Well?” he asks, my eyes focusing on what I would call a blouse on any day. It almost doesn’t compute. Men don’t wear blouses. Nate does not wear blouses.

“You’re not wearing that.” I can’t contain my laugh.

“What?” he asks, lingering in the doorway to his bathroom.

“That... that... is it a shirt?” I ask, cringing at the light pink button down with... are those ruffles? I take a few steps closer to confirm the strange quarter-inch of fabric peeking out from under the center hem.

“Yes, it’s a shirt,” Nate argues, his voice not as confident as it was only seconds before.

“Who picked that out?”

“My personal shopper,” he defends his clothing choice. “It’s Italian... or French, I don’t remember.”

“Wait, your personal shopper. Is she a jilted lover?” I ask him.

“She wasn’t at the time,” he confesses as he takes a long, hard look at himself in the mirror.

“Well, I think it’s safe to say she didn’t want any other women hitting on her man. You can’t wear that. Seriously. I don’t know what kind of man would wear that sort of thing. Gay men have much better taste. And straight men would run screaming. Wait, why aren’t you running, or screaming?”

“Damn it, Emi,” he says, frustrated, practically tearing the monstrosity of a shirt off of his body. “I don’t have time for this.” He walks quickly back to his closet and takes a look inside, stretching his back subtly. I hate it when he walks around without his shirt, and decide to tell him so.

“I hate it when you walk around without your shirt on. It... bothers me.” And yet, I can’t tear my eyes away.

“I know you do. But did you not just tell me ten seconds ago that I couldn’t wear that shirt? You asked for it.” He throws the pink thing at me playfully. “What should I wear then?”

“A regular American dress shirt, Nate. Don’t you have anything like that?” I push aside t-shirt after t-shirt in his closet until I find a pressed white button-down shirt, still in the plastic bag from the cleaners. “Here.”

He takes it from me and walks back into the bathroom. “You need a belt, too,” I remind him, catching a glimpse of the waistband of his light blue boxers underneath his loose-fitting jeans. “And you’ll probably want to wear an undershirt with that,” I yell to him.

“What else, Mom?” he teases me, crossing the room to his dresser and pulling out a thin, white t-shirt. “And I’m not wearing jeans, don’t worry. I’m wearing that.” He points to a hanger holding a pair of black pants and a matching jacket.

“Wow, slacks and a coat. Looks suspiciously like a suit... This must be getting serious. Did you get her a corsage, too?”

“Shut it,” he warns me with a smile. “Well at least my wardrobe choices are keeping your mind off of... what’s his name?”

“David,” I remind him for the twentieth time, watching him pull on the tight undershirt as he goes back into the bathroom.

Justin Dennis: The IAN Interview

2011-12-12T05:41:00.000-08:00

Justin Dennis is currently attending Whittier College and majoring in Creative Writing. He was born on February 14, 1993 in Virginia but was raised for most of his life just outside of Seattle in a city called Sammamish.

He grew up playing soccer and absolutely loves the sport, but reading and writing also top the list of his favorite hobbies. He has always seen fantasy stories as a powerful way of portraying real world issues, and hopes to provoke thought and inspire good morals through his writing.

IAN. Please tell us about your latest book.

J.D. My latest book, Through the Portal, is a fantasy in which the main characters—Jem, Oliver, and Sierra—explore a fantastical new world called Callisto. In this world, magic is possible but is heavily suppressed by the evil Veroci Regime. There is also a legend about the Red Dragon which dwells deep within the cave.

On their quest across Callisto, the heroes are hunted by the Dragon and by the Regime, although they don’t understand the connection between all of it. Something much more sinister is at work though, something that will lead them across all six regions of the world and force them to confront all their worst fears.

IAN. How long did it take to write Through the Portal?

JD. About a year. I began in September 2010 (although I’d been keeping notes of ideas for a novel for months before that) and published at the end of August 2011. All the writing took me about 9 months, and then editing, revising, and writing about 3.

The crazy thing is that this actually started out as my senior project in high school. I’d always wanted to write a novel, and I’d given a few weak attempts at some stories, but never really committed to a book. When I had to decide on something for my year-long project… I figured a novel would be perfect!

So really I have my high school to thank, because without the senior project I may have never found the time/dedication to write out my novel. It became so much more than a senior project though; I lost track of the hours I spent on it, and even after I passed I put in countless, countless hours on it. I really do love this series, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to get it all out on paper.

IAN. What inspired you to write the book?

JD. I just had so many ideas floating around in my head, you know? There was no specific instance where I was like, “THIS is what I want to write about!” Instead it was more of a gradual process: “Well, I want to incorporate this, and I think this is important, and this would be a great twist…”

I knew though that I wanted my book to take place in a completely made-up world, because I wanted to opportunity to design creatures and develop rules for society and so on. Like the roxnoar. Think of a bear with an exoskeleton. The outer spine runs down its back and forms a spikey tail, with sharp bones extending down its arms and out into claws. Ferocious, right? That’s only one of the many things I had a really fun time creating and naming for my book. So I guess it was also my drive to create and imagine new and fantastical things that inspired me to write.

IAN. Talk about the writing process. Do you write at night or in the morning?

JD. Morning writing has never worked out for me. I’ve tried, really! But I just can’t. I’m too sleepy; I can’t focus. For some reason though, I’m generally wide awake in the middle of the night and can pump out some of my best writing. I don’t really understand why I’m semi-nocturnal.

IAN. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

JD. Definite outline. Since my book is the first in a trilogy, I wanted a clear plan of where I was going to go and what was going to happen at what point. So it began as get from point A to point B. Then I added point C, then D, then F… I think I went through the entire alphabet about 836 times, and eventually my plot had grown into a complex, wonderful tale with all these characters I cared so much about.

I have noticed though that my outline changed drastically as I went along. For Through the Portal, I probably rewrote the outline as I went through it at least 4 or 5 times, not including all the edits I made to those 4 or 5 rewrites. It’s just that right when you think you know where you’re going with a story, you start to write it and realize that that’s not right at all. What looks good in an outline, as pieces to a puzzle, doesn’t always match up perfectly in character dialogue and story progression. So while there was an outline, it was constantly changing.

IAN. How is Through the Portal different from others in your genre?

JD. The thing that always catches people with my book is the, “Oh, just another made-up fantasy world?” But it’s so much more than that. There’s a real connection between Earth and Callisto (the world they travel to) and Kelados (a world that is hinted at in Through the Portal but which becomes more important in book two). It brings together these worlds in a way that has never been done before.

Not to mention the magic is different. I always thought it was strange that magic could only be used through wands. (Sorry Rowling! I still love Harry Potter!) I mean, real magic would be accessible at any time, right? And it would require a fair bit of energy? So that’s what I started with. In Callisto, magic requires energy unless you conjure sylph, a flexible semi-physical-liquid blob that is controlled telepathically and can do almost anything the conjurer’s desires. Imagine the possibilities! Many Callistonians use it to drive their quads (cars) with minimal energy by wrapping it around the wheels.

And finally, the division of Callisto is unique. There are six regions, and each region seems to think they are the best. There is a lot of hatred between regions, and the Argonians (Argo is the first region Jem and Oliver visit) even deny the existence of the other regions. A main theme I try to portray through my book is acceptance, and the six regions of Callisto offer a starting reality of how confrontational and non-accepting our own world really is.

IAN. Is Through the Portal published in print, e-book or both?

JD. Currently it is offered in e-book, but the print version will be ready for order on December 13, 2011. I’m very excited to be having the print edition released!

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

JD. I hope they can see that it is important to help people in this world. One of my favorite characters is Oliver, because even though he is so much unlike me, he is a very gentle-hearted person and always has to help shy kid, or the one being picked on. I hope people can learn from Oliver and be accepting and helpful too, because being apathetic to a bad situation is just like contributing to it.

IAN. Do you incorporate anything from your real life into your writing?

JD. In Through the Portal, much of it is simply a product of my mind, but parts of course are drawn from my experiences. Jem is like me, an introvert, but other than that we aren’t very similar. His experiences with his parents and grandparents are nothing like mine. But the bickering between Oliver and his little brother, Jordan, are similar to how my brother and I argue, although I’m nothing like Oliver.

Near the beginning of the story, the burning down of a building (can’t tell you which!) marks the start of the trio’s adventures across Callisto. This was inspired by my own house burning down when I was in the 8^th grade. It was a reality check for me, just like it is for the heroes in Through the Portal.

IAN. Where can we go to buy your book?

JD. Depending on your e-reader, you may want to visit one of these retailers:

Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B005JEENAU

Smashwords: www.smashwords.com/books/view/84302

Barnes and Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/through-the-portal-justin-dennis/1105128562

If you can’t stand e-reading, I will have a print edition of my novel out by December, 13, 2011 available through Amazon, which should be linked to the Kindle edition mentioned above. In the meantime, stay connected with me on Twitter (@JustinDennis4) and I’ll let you know when it is released.

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

JD. My next book is a sequel to Through the Portal, and is so far unnamed. I’m working diligently on it, but my writing time is scarce with all my schoolwork. I’m really excited about it though, because it takes all the unique aspects of Through the Portal and really steps up the action. Not to mention all the secrets from the first book that are revealed! Also, Through the Portal is told entirely from Jem’s point of view, and book two will be told from several different point of views, giving the reader their first look at the worlds of Callisto and Kelados through other eyes.

IAN. Any other links or info you'd like to share?

JD. I would be honored if you would visit my blog: http://justindennisofficialblog.blogspot.com/p/my-book.html

Or like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justin-Dennis-Author/283492421662394

Or follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JustinDennis4

Through the Portal by Justin Dennis

246 pages. Young Adult Fantasy

“You must go into the cave to get home,” said Atychis plainly.

“I don’t really wanna go home yet,” said Oliver. “I want to explore!”

“But Olive,” said Jem, “you remember what Atychis said about the Regime! Do you really want to die here?”

Oliver turned to Sierra as if she would hold all the real answers, “Is there really a thing called the Veroci Regime that will kill us if they find out we aren’t from Argo?” he asked her.

“Y-yes,” said Sierra delicately. “I’m sorry, but that is definitely true. The Regime is very… oppressive.”

“So you must go home,” spat Atychis, turning and walking towards the cave entrance. “Follow me!” he yelled.

“No!” cried Sierra, but she did not move from her spot. “If you go in there, the Red Dragon will kill you!”

“Lies!” came Atychis’ voice from inside the cave.

“It’ll kill him?” said Oliver. “Then I can’t let him go in there!”

With that, Oliver took off running into the cave.

“Olive! Wait!” yelled Jem, who then took off after him. He didn’t really care if the Red Dragon killed Atychis, but if it killed Oliver… that wasn’t an option. Behind him, Jem faintly heard Sierra yelling at them to stop. But he wasn’t going to stop until Oliver was safely out of the cave.

He ran deeper and deeper into the cave, until there was absolutely no light to see by. His bare feet were smacking against cold hard rock and he bumped into the walls a couple times, bruising his shoulders, but he just kept yelling for Oliver to come back. He wasn’t going to catch him though, and he was seriously wondering how Atychis had run so fast through the cave.

Then, a powerful growl shook the entire cave and Jem was forced to stop. A dark red glow was coming from the end of the cave. He couldn’t see anything down there, but it illuminated the wall beside him, which had a few lines written on it in swirly red ink:

Be cautious if you must enter this cave beyond the hills,

Because deep inside it lays the Red Dragon who kills.

If you are reading this now,

It might not be too late.

But if you hear the Dragon’s growl,

It has decided your fate.

“Oliver!” yelled Jem. “We have to get out of here!”

And that’s when he saw the big, fiery red eyes of the Dragon light up from the end of the cave, and Oliver came running straight past him yelling, “Let’s get the hell out of here!”

J.P. Kurzitza: The IAN Interview

2011-12-10T17:05:00.000-08:00

I’m a procrastinator by nature, so when I took on the responsibility of being a Stay-At-Home-Dad (SAHD), I was forced to “grow up” and learn to keep things organized. I have no doubt that this was a major contributing factor to me becoming an author.

In my spare time I enjoy scrubbing toilets, washing dishes, and changing diapers (it’s funny what types of activities give you enjoyment once you become a SAHD). I also enjoy all major sports, I’m a huge movie buff, and I like messing around with Photoshop—sure helps with designing book covers.

One thing about me that will probably make other authors cringe is the fact that I really don’t like to read. I know it sounds sacrilegious or counter-productive to being a writer, and I realize that the #1 piece of (erroneous) advice successful authors always give is “read, read, read”, but I just don’t believe this at all. And I’m the perfect example that you don’t have to be an avid reader in order to become a successful writer. Don’t get me wrong, I do read, just not excessively. I simply don’t find it very entertaining. Writing, on the other, is something I find extremely entertaining and fulfilling, and would gladly spend hours a day doing it.

IAN. Hi J.P. Welcome to the IAN blog. Please tell us a bit about the J.A.S.O.N. D. series.

JPK. I’ll begin by summing up the J.A.S.O.N.D. book series with one synopsis sentence: 6 teenaged boys, mysteriously connected to each other and to mythological folklore, must rid the world of an untold evil.

The first book in the J.A.S.O.N.D. series (an acronym for the last 6 months of the year, July – December) is aptly title July, and covers events that transpire during this month. The story begins with a boy with a tragic past—Jason Dee—who, while attending the funeral of his late great-grandfather, discovers that he is more than what he appears to be, and that his name is no ordinary name. Jason recently lost his father and one of his arms in a freak accident that left him depressed and questioning his own worth. He soon discovers that the most profound worth usually resides from within, rather than on the exterior.

The story continues with Jason discovering another boy sharing the same name and last initial as him, and together they are thrown into a mythical world of mystery, danger, and adventure. As events begin to unfold that affirm the slow rising of an absolute evil, Hell-bent on reigning over both the real world and the Myth realm, Jason realizes that each month another Jason D. must be found, and that only through their combined powers, attributed by their respective astrological signs, will they ever have a chance at victory.

IAN. How long did it take to write July?

JPK. I always tell people that this first book was my “learn-as-I-go” book. I had no concept of pace, or organizational skills, or writing voice, or even how to type properly. So all that, coupled with the fact that I needed to come up with the entire series story before beginning each individual book, took about 4 years. I am thrilled to say that since finding my writing voice and learning to type much faster, my following books will be churned out much quicker.

IAN. What inspired you to write the the JASON series?

JPK. Two things. The first: my boys. I always noticed while I perused the YA section in bookstores that almost every book—according to the book covers—seemed to deal with themes relating more to young women. That frustrated me and still does, so I wanted to write books that not only anyone could enjoy, but particularly boys. Enough with the video games, lets get them reading more!

The second thing was my name. It’s Jason, and at a very early age I saw a pattern with the last several months of the year. If you abbreviated July through November just using the first letters of each, it spelt JASON—me. I though that was so cool growing up, and was convinced that this must have meant something special. So when I started developing the idea for my book series, I figured I’d tighten things up a bit and include the month of December in with the rest, and use it as the initial for the last names. Everything sort of ballooned from that point on.

IAN. Talk about the writing process. Do you write at night or in the morning?

JPK. Because I’m a SAHD, the evenings are always more productive. But now that I’ve figured things out as for as how to write and publish, I’ve also begun writing in the early mornings, too. This way I’m hoping to double my output and therefore release more novels quicker.

IAN. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

JPK. Oooh yeah—I’m a huge outline guy. In fact, you might say I’m a bit fanatical about it. When I plan, I usually plan 3 chapters at a time before I continue writing. Each chapter is broken down into roughly 3 scenes that I develop before even attempting to write. My goal for each chapter is generally between 3000-3700 words.

I even wrote a free e-book for aspiring and seasoned writers alike on how to organize a taut fiction story using two proven story templates I developed. If it weren’t for such organizational techniques as well as some great free authoring software that was extremely handy, I’d probably still be working on chapter 1!

IAN. How is your book different from others in your genre?

JPK. It’s totally original. I know everyone says that, but it is. Although the mythological and astrological themes may have been written about already, my months-of-the-year idea and how I incorporate that and intertwine it all with the other themes is truly unique and, frankly, a bit complicated.

Also, I don’t know of many protagonist heroes with a handicap or obvious physical deformity. I wanted to put my character behind the eight-ball right off the hop, and make him very sympathetic. That’s not to imply that amputees are not capable, contributing members of society, but when you’re facing a giant at the gates of Hades, or trying to scale Mt. Olympus with one arm, things get a bit tricky. You truly do wonder how this boy could ever get through some of the circumstances he gets into in the book.

IAN. Is “July” published in print, e-book or both?

JPK. It is currently only available as an e-book. To be honest, I’ve never even tried to submit my manuscript to an agent or publishing house. The way the publishing world is shifting and with the ease and speed that I’m able to develop, publish, and distribute my books, not mention all the control I have, I don’t know that I’ll ever go the traditional route. But let’s be frank, money does talk…

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

JPK. A sense of excitement and an insatiable appetite for more. That’s ultimately what we as writers want from our readers—we want them wanting more. We want them to want to keep reading and find out what happens next. I don’t want my readers to have to put down my story when they take the bus, or go to the school concert, or go to the bathroom. I want them wanting more!

IAN. Which writers have influenced you the most?

JPK. No question J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer, not so much for what they’ve written, which itself is amazing, but more for who they were before they became successful.

I can relate to Meyer a bit better, simply because of her life as a stay-home-mom with 3 boys and me being a dad to three boys at the time. She was a huge inspiration to me during those early days when maybe I complained about not having enough time to work on my craft.

And J.K. Rowling, because she literally had nothing at one point in her life, other than an extraordinary idea, and the unyielding will and desire to see it through. There’s no way she could have foreseen her stories pulling her out of poverty and making her hugely successful. She obviously had a passion for writing and creating rich characters and stories as evident by her famous writing marathons in coffee shops and at her flat. She is an extreme example of what perseverance can do.

IAN. Where can we go to buy “July”?

JPK. My website, www.jpkurzitza.com and follow the links.

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

JPK. My next book is the sequel to July—book #2 in the series—and I am currently writing Ch. 6 of the first draft. Following the theme of J.A.S.O.N.D. and the months of the year, it’s aptly titled August, and should be out sometime in 2012. My goal is to have both August and September finished in 2012. If I can spew out 3000 words/ writing-day, I don’t see that goal being unrealistic.

IAN. Any other links or info you'd like to share?

JPK. Please become a follower of me on Twitter @JPKurzitza. Also, please become a fan and “Like” me on Facebook.

July J.A.S.O.N.D Book 1 by J.P. Kurzitza

YA Fantasy

Purple Punk Publishing

Ch. 8 – The Hooded Man

I rolled over, burying my face in what I thought was my pillow, then sat up instantly, spitting and coughing out sand. I gasped for a breath that was half sand, half air, and tried to gain a sense of what was going on. The side of my head throbbed painfully, and I ran my hand over a large bump that stuck out through my hair.

‘I must have fallen…’ I murmured to myself, struggling to get my bearings.

I was huddled up against the base of a large sand dune, underneath a flat-rock that was protruding from the center of it. The sun was gone and the sky was now a deep navy blue that gradually blended into a light pink on the east horizon.

What time was it? How long had I been out?

I looked at my watch and saw the date and time frozen on the face—11:36 am, with yesterday’s date—about the time I had transported from the mansion to the Acclamo.

My chest felt like an extreme pressure was crushing it, and finding a good breath was becoming more difficult. How far had I walked? Was I even going in the right direction? As hard as I strained, I couldn’t remember anything. I glanced at my throbbing feet; dark red stains on the soles of my socks were caked with sand and grit. Yet when I tried to stand up, it wasn’t my feet that made me lurch with pain, but rather my neck, face, and arm.

I ran my hand gingerly over my neck and face and felt the raised blisters and peeling skin caused by over exposure to the desert sun. The pale light of dawn made my skin look a deep sickly purple, and I tried not to think about how badly I was burnt.

I stuck my hand in my pocket, feeling the coin that the Hailer had given me, and the need to keep going was re-kindled. It was becoming imperative that I find another whistle before the sun came up, because I knew my body was in no condition to withstand another assault from the desert sun.

I limped out from around the dune, looking around me, trying to recall the heading I was on yesterday. The sun was at my back for most of yesterday, and now the ever brightening pink sky was ahead of me, so I continued toward it. The wide open landscapes and panoramas of yesterday were long gone, as the sand dunes gradually gave way to mountain valleys and narrow, rocky passageways.

Going around any rocky embankment would surely slow me down, which I could not afford, so I continued along a sandy trail that led directly between two large hills. Each step my feet took made me shudder. It felt like my heel bones were wearing through the skin. And the constant gusts of sandy wind against my tender burns felt as though I was being flogged with pins.

When I reached a tight passageway, the winds slowed and everything went dead quiet. I stopped halfway through and stared ahead, uneasy about the sudden stillness. With towering mounds of sand and rock flanking me and the morning sky still an hour away, I had no choice but to continue through.

As I approached the end of the trail, I could see a crude sign fashioned out of a plank of wood that stuck haphazardly to a dead tree trunk.

Bartering Bridge—1 mile.

The trail opened up to a vast expanse with nothing around except small dunes and scattered rocks along the horizon. Ahead in the distance I could see two orange lights flickering in the wind. I tried to quicken my pace but my feet wouldn’t cooperate. As the orange lights drew closer and the sound of voices grew louder, I started to run, despite my raw feet. The lights were in fact torches, and suspended between them some ten feet up was a large sign carved in bold letters: Bartering Bridge.

A Serial Killer Plagues an Island Paradise in Dark Mind by Award Winning Author Jennifer Chase

2011-12-04T08:37:00.001-08:00

Dark Mind

Vigilante detective Emily Stone continues her covert pursuits to find serial killers and child abductors, all under the radar while shadowing police investigations.

Emily searches for an abducted nine-year-old girl taken by ruthless and enterprising slave brokers. Following the clues from California to the garden island of Kauai, she begins to piece together the evidence and ventures deep into the jungle.

It doesn’t take long before Emily is thrown into the middle of murder, mayhem, and conspiracy. Locals aren’t talking as a serial killer now stalks the island, taking women in a brutal frenzy of ancient superstitions and folklore. Local cops are unprepared for what lies ahead. In a race against the clock, Emily and her team must identify the killer before time runs out.

The Author

Jennifer Chase holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She’s a member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists.

She is a freelance writer, award winning author, and a criminologist. She has published four thriller novels and one screenwriting workbook. She currently resides in California and is working on her next book.

5 Stars for DARK MIND

Reviewed by Rita V for Readers Favorite

“Jennifer Chase does not disappoint in this remarkable mystery murder novel. The plot is well thought out and the chapters flow nicely from one subject to the next. The descriptive words and the use of imagery immerses the reader directly into the story among serial killers and evil perpetrators. The tension build-up blew me away as I could not put down this novel because I was so entwined in the mystery and suspense. I felt as if I was right by Emily and Rick’s sides as they put the puzzle pieces together in tracking down a sadistic serial killer. This book had me on the edge of my seat in fear and contains many twists and turns that I had not seen coming. I absolutely love a great mystery murder novel and could easily see this novel turned into a television series or motion picture movie. I highly recommend this book for all avid mystery readers and am greatly looking forward to the next novel written by Jennifer Chase.”

Praise for the Emily Stone Thriller Series:

“A top notch mystery-thriller of a read.” Midwest Book Reviews

“The tension, twists, and turns are perfect!” G.A. Bixler, IP Book Reviewer

“A deftly crafted piece of writing!” Simon Barrett, Blogger News Network

“Chase is at the top of my author list!” Readers Favorite

“Comparable to the likes of Lawrence Sanders’ Deadly Sins Series” Bengal Book Reviews

“A fascinating story of serial murderers, pedophiles, and the one amazing woman who is able to bring them all to justice.”

http://www.authorjenniferchase.com

An Open Letter on Behalf of the Dyslexia Foundation UK

2011-11-29T05:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,

Although I am not a Trustee, paid employer or member of Dyslexia Foundation UK, I am a supporter of their desire to improve the reading abilities and educational skills of those suffering from dyslexia. To that end, in 2012, this registered charity, here in the UK, are commencing an audio library centred in the Liverpool and Manchester area of North West England.

My work, The Fragile Peace, has been made into the Foundation’s first audio book and will feature in the library being prepared for 2012. The book was recorded, edited, and engineered at the Foundation’s expense in a professional recording studio in Manchester and the narration was completed by a BBC producer.

I am writing to you to ask you to consider donating one of your printed books to the Foundation so that they may consider making the book into an audio version for their library. The conversion will be completed by the charity and sold by them to their members. The proceeds of the sale will go directly to the Foundation. Once a book has been recorded for the library the author may well be asked to sell copies of that book to the Foundation so that the library may be enhanced to sufficient levels.

A printed book with an audio tape is provided so that members of the Foundation might read the book whilst simultaneously listening on an audio tape. Such a procedure is beneficial to those suffering from dyslexia and others who may also be partially sighted.

I invite you to support the charity by indicating whether you are able to donate at least one book for audio recording. Subsequent copies for use in the library to be negotiated on a one to one basis between the library and the Foundation.

You cannot make a donation unless your book has a printed edition. Ebooks alone are not valid.

In order to assist in this project -

1) You will need to have both copyright and distribution rights in the work that you intend to donate.

2) Be able to provide a copy of the copyright page relevant to the work to be donated at the time of submission.

3) And be able to provide a link to your published work where a description and the book cover is available for inspection.

If you are interested in making a book donation for audio production and subsequent library development, please contact Paul Anthony in the first instance on email address tscougal@uwclub.net

Paul Anthony is a member of the Independent Author’s Network.

Kind regards

PAUL ANTHONY

http://www.dyslexiafoundation.co.uk

Marsha Canham: The IAN Interview

2011-11-26T16:54:00.001-08:00

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, I have one son, three beautiful grandchildren, a dog and five birds. I've been print published since 1984, hit the USA Today lists with most of my historical romances and won numerous awards for "Best Book of the Year" from Romantic Times.

Hello Marsha. Please tell us about your latest book.

The newest book is an anthology, Masters of Seduction written with five other authors with whom I've shared daily emails for the past 12 years or so. We fondly call ourselves the Loopies, and came up with the idea to release a book with 6 original short stories, all of them linked by a jeweled antique pendant that travels down through the centuries from Medieval England (one of my favorite time periods) to present day Texas (Julie Ortolon's sub genre) In between we have Virginia Henley, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Jill Gregory, and Sherri Browning Erwin writing in their own sub genres, which should make for an interesting progression through the ages.

IAN. How long did it take to write your story for the book?

MC. What the Heart Sees is my first ever short story, and to be honest, I found it harder to write than a full length book. My historicals usually take a hundred pages or so to set the scene, introduce the characters, get the plot twists going. I had under 40 pages to set the scene, intro the characters, have them fall in love, arrange a battle, resolve a plot line... and... set the jeweled pendant off on the first leg of its journey *whew*

IAN. What inspired you to be a part of an anthology?

MC. It was a mutual inspiration, passed back and forth via emails when a couple of us Loopies first ventured into the brave new world of indie publishing. We'd had the idea years ago of writing an anthology together, but the hassles of multiple publishing houses, multiple agents getting involved...was just too much to overcome. When Amazon and Smashwords opened up the world to self publishing, the problems vanished. We even have the first (as far as we are aware) stepback digital cover.

IAN. Talk about the writing process. Do you write at night or in the morning?

MC. I tend to write whenever I get that tingle at the back of my neck and whenever I'm in the right frame of mind. I can't force myself to sit and write ten pages a day. On the other hand, I don't even try to stop myself when it's 3am and I'm still scribbling away.

IAN. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

MC. I wing everything. A new editor who was unfamiliar with the way I worked... no outline, just a finished manuscript handed in on deadline...insisted I send her an outline of a book. So I did. I slapped a paperback down on a piece of paper, traced around it and wrote my title on the "cover" and sent it to her. And yes, she was laughing when she called me and said okay, okay, no outline needed.

Q. How is Masters of Seduction different from others in your genre?

A. I have often been criticized for being "too realistic", sometimes "too graphic" when it comes to the violence and brutality of war, but when you love history and you love medieval knights and Scottish Highlanders and pirates...violence and brutality were part of every day living. Publishers Weekly has recommended several of my books to readers who don't just want the history to be wallpaper in the background. I try very hard to make the history as important as the characters rather than have characters who just change their clothing to match the time periods.

IAN. Are your books published in print, e-book or both?

MC. Three of the books currently at Amazon...my Scottish trilogy...are still available in print. The other 14 are ebook only. The anthology will be ebook only, as will my next new release, The Following Sea.

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your books?

MC. A sense of having experienced an adventure vicariously through my words. I try to write each scene as if I am living through it, not just writing about it as a narrator. In the words of Willy Wonka, "Come with me and you'll be in a world of my imagination." I hope my readers enjoy it there. *g*

IAN. Where can we go to buy your books?

MC. All of my books are available at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, and Apple.

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

MC. The Following Sea is a direct sequel to The Iron Rose. The book opens, in fact, the same day The Iron Rose ends. Many, many readers have written to ask me when and if I was going to be writing more of the Dante adventures and, after being retired for 6 years, what better way to return to the career I loved than writing Gabriel Dante's story.

IAN. Any other links or info you'd like to share?

MC. I often blog over at www.marshacanham.wordpress.com, sometimes even about books *g*. I'm on Facebook and Twitter as well as @marshacanham. My website has information about all of my books as well as upcoming projects. www.marshacanham.com

Masters of Seduction: What the Heart Sees by Marsha Canham

(Historical Romance)

Thomas's smile was a little crooked. "And does the grand-daughter of this Saxon nobleman still regard us as invaders?"

She offered no immediate reply and he smiled again. Walking over to his escritoire he searched amongst the papers for a moment until he found the one he wanted. The wax seal had been broken and the page smudged through various attempts to cipher the words.

"As much as you find Latin and French to be a test of your patience, I find Saxon Englishry to be a maze of confusion. Think you it would go against your grain to read it for me? It is ancient and the script is ruined in places, but it was found along with some trinkets in this old box, which, in turn was discovered recently in the wine cellars."

Cassie approached the desk slowly. Beams of sunlight were streaming through the tall arched window behind him, making tiny dust motes that were suspended in the air glitter around his shoulders. His hair gleamed blue-black, his face was in profile and the sight made her heart leap high into her throat.

To distract herself, she looked at the box. It was old and made of wood, banded with leather straps. It bore a sturdy iron lock that had obviously been forced open, for a jewelled dagger lay beside it, the tip snapped off.

"As stubborn and unyielding as some Saxons I know," he murmured.

Cassie was about to offer up a retort when a stray beam of sunlight flashed off something inside the box and caught her eye. A frown creased her brow as she drew forward and the retort turned into a small gasp.

Nestled inside the box on a scrap of velvet was the silver mirror pendant, the one she had seen and touched not two hours ago.

"I see he finished it," she said.

"Who finished what?"

She pointed. "The pendant. The old jewel-maker was polishing it when I went to the cellars to fetch iron for my father."

"You must be mistaken. The chest and the pendant have been here, in my chambers for a sennight or more. As I said, it was found in one of the empty storerooms and I only broke through the lock last night. The parchment, the pendant and a handful of other jewels and chains were inside."

Cassie shook her head, making the pale cloud of her hair dance in the sunlight. "No. It is the same pendant. I saw your jewel-maker polishing it. There could not be two so much alike."

Thomas's eyes narrowed. "There is no jewel-maker here at Belfontaine. What you see before you is the extent of all this castle possesses in terms of gold or silver. And that, as I said, has only recently come into my possession."

"But I saw him. I spoke to him. He was at his work table and he..." she stopped and looked at the pendant again. She could see her reflection in the mirror and for one heart-stopping moment, she stared at her tousled blonde hair and thought it looked exactly the way—

"He what?"

She pulled her gaze from the pendant with an effort. "H-he said the silver had come from Damascus, the stones had belonged to a Syrian prince."

Thomas scoffed. "Who has filled your head with such tales? Did he have a name?"

"Godfrey. Godfrey the Lombard. And..."

"Yes? And?"

"And... he was blind."

Thomas folded his arms across his massive chest and regarded her from beneath an arched eyebrow. "A blind jewel-maker?"

"But I saw him." Her voice trailed away and she bit her lip. "I could not have imagined it. If so then I must have imagined the other gold and silver plates, the cups, the chains..."

Thomas's left eyebrow arched as high as his right. "Gold plate? Here, in Belfontaine?"

"In the jewel-maker's workroom. In the cellars. I saw them. And I touched this," she reached into the box and lifted the pendant, curling her fingers around it. "I held it, just like this, and... and look!" She opened her palm and pointed to the scratch on the pad of her thumb, then turned the pendant over and found the tiny rough edge on the silver that had dug into her hand. "It even pricked me."

Thomas was looking at her as if she had lost half her senses.

"You don't believe me."

"I don't disbelieve you, I just—"

"I will not be called a liar," she said, her cheeks flushing hot.

"I am not calling you a liar," he said gently. "But you have been up on a tower roof for several weeks without respite, you suffer from lack of sleep, poor food—"

"I saw him," she insisted flatly, the green of her eyes flashing as hot as the emeralds on the pendant. "I saw him and I spoke to him. His hands touched mine. He was as real as you or I."

Thomas clamped his jaw to a square ridge. "Fair enough. There is, of course, one way to verify the existence of this... this Godfrey the Lombard."

He took her by the hand and strode out of his chamber. She had to run to keep apace, hair and skirts flying out behind her. His grip remained firm as he led her down the winding steps and across the dais of the great hall. He went directly to the narrow portal that led to the covered, winding steps and dragged her round and round the steep corkscrew case until they were in the cellars below.

Only then did he leave go of her hand to take up a pitch-soaked torch and touch it to one of the candles in the passageway. When the flame burst into life, he shoved the torch into her hand and pointed. "Show me."

Jennifer Chase: The IAN Interview

2011-11-24T05:01:00.000-08:00

I have a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s in criminology. In addition, I hold certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. I’m a member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists. I’ve published four fiction/thrillers and one screenwriting workbook.

I was born and raised in California where I currently reside with my husband, two large dogs, and two incorrigible cats. I developed a love for books and writing at an early age.

I have an intense curiosity about crime and the varied connections between the actual crime and the criminal mind. This propelled me to return to school and earn a master’s degree in 2008. My academic background has helped to prepare me to write in the thriller, mystery, and crime fiction genres.

IAN. Please tell us a bit about Dark Mind.

JC. DARK MIND is a crime fiction thriller. It’s part of the Emily Stone Series, but I write all my books to stand alone.

A Serial Killer Plagues an Island Paradise

Vigilante detective Emily Stone continues her covert pursuits to find serial killers and child abductors, all under the radar while shadowing police investigations.

IAN. How long did it take to write Dark Mind?

JC. I’m an outliner, so I spend a fair amount of time preparing the book initially. My outline is like my choppy first draft or a book roadmap. During the outlining, I do most of my research. When I finally get to the writing part of my book with chapters and rewrites, the total (including outlining) amount of writing time is approximately six to eight months to complete.

IAN. What inspired you to write the book?

JC. The storyline for DARK MIND hit me when I was vacationing in Kauai. It’s one of my favorite places. I remember clearly, when I was sitting on a deserted beach watching the waves and thought, “what if” there was a serial killer here? How would they handle this type of investigation? I found out later that Kauai did have a serial killer in 2001. The murders stopped after three women were killed and then the cases went cold – still unsolved today. Very intriguing, I thought. I felt that the uniqueness of the island with excessive rains in areas, remote locations, and the general feeling of the island would make a great backdrop to a thriller story.

IAN. Talk about the writing process. Do you write at night or in the morning?

JC. I’m a true night owl, but I found out that I wasn’t getting enough sleep during the day when I wrote late into the night. I switched my writing schedule to daily banker’s hours and I find that I’m the most productive. I write mostly in the afternoons about four solid hours Monday through Friday unless there’s another project or commitment. I spend Saturdays catching up on work from the week and I take Sundays off.

IAN. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

JC. I confess! I outline, but I’ve managed after four books to fine-tune it for my choppy first draft. In writing a thriller, I need to see the general flow of the story in order to keep good pacing and enough thrills for the reader. From my outline, I can see if there’s enough storyline for an entire book or if I need to elaborate on a subplot, or anything else that looks out of place. It saves time with the long, grueling process of rewrites.

IAN. How is Dark Mind different from other thrillers?

JC. That’s a great question! I don’t know if my book is different, but I tried to give the reader some insight into the serial mind, while keeping the pacing and entertainment of the story fresh.

IAN. Is Dark Mind published in print, e-book or both?

JC. Yes, all of my books are published in ebook and paperback.

IAN. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

JC. I hope that readers enjoy the thrill of the chase and come away with some understanding and new tidbits about serial killers.

IAN. Where can we go to buy Dark Mind?

JC. My books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and can be ordered from any book retailer.

IAN. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

IAN. I’m already jotting down ideas and scenes for my next thriller with a working title of Revenge for Justice. Again, it’s part of a series, but will be written as a stand alone novel as well.

IAN. Any other links or info you'd like to share?

JC. I welcome questions and comments. You can find more information about me and my books.

Blog: http://authorjenniferchase.com/

Website: http://jenniferchase.vpweb.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jennifer-Chase/208188122534165

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jchasenovelist/

Dark Mind by Jennifer Chase

315 pages

Thriller/Crime Fiction

JEC PRESS

AmazonKindle

Two tattered wicker chairs sat on opposite sides of the porch in front of two sash windows. The screens around the sitting area used to keep most pesky mosquitoes away had long since deteriorated, curled and ripped vertically from age and constant humidity.

First step, then the second onto the porch felt like a carnival fun house with sloping sides and uneven movement from the weight of two people.

The blonde man pushed Emily’s left shoulder with the barrel of the gun urging her into the house. The rickety screen door squeaked as Emily slowly pulled it open, it slipped slightly off at a strange angle due to neglect.

Darkness greeted her with an unknown agenda.

She contemplated her next move and waited for an opening to pounce – the sooner the better. The man didn’t expect any resistance from a woman who appeared submissive and frightened – all the classic victim behaviors that Emily was not.

The brightness outside wasn’t enough to overexpose her eyesight inside the cottage. The interior windows covered with heavy black drapes and lack of any luminescent made for a creepy entrance. Slasher movies with chainsaw murderers flashed through her mind.

The hair stood up on the back of Emily’s neck even before the pungent smell of old garbage, booze, and human body sweat hit her senses. The putrid odor kept increasing as she moved deeper into the living room and made her swallow hard to keep from gagging. She knew if she continued into the house it would be next to impossible to escape – too many unknowns not in her favor.

Elements of surprise slowed her pace. She counted down the seconds and inventoried the thrift store furniture consisting of a broken down couch with protruding springs, two overstuffed, mismatched chairs, and a small fold out table with two straight back chairs.

Pieces of mangoes, pineapples, and empty beer bottles covered the table; the fruit had turned dark around the edges allowing flies to feast on the blackened remnants.

“Company.” The British man announced as the screen door slammed shut behind them, the broken door still wobbled on its rusted hinges, squeaking for a few seconds.

Emily’s odds for escape now doubled with two people in the house, instead of just one man with a shotgun.

Her uncertainties now realized.

Trapped.

Small steps forward, left foot, right foot, then pivoting to the left and spinning around to face her attacker, Emily pounced on the man, pressed against him close enough to smell his sickly sweat, and shoved the shotgun upward blasting off a shot through the ceiling. Splinters and chunks of drywall sprinkled the living room like an early snow dusting of winter in the mountains.

The room echoed from the blast. A couple of seconds passed before the world had normal audible sounds.

Emily knew she couldn’t over power the man, but she used her quick self-defense moves to her advantage.

Momentarily stunned, the man blinked twice and before he could retaliate, Emily slammed the heel of her right hand into his face making direct contact with his nose. Blood instantly spurted from his membranes and she felt the slippery, warm liquid on her hand spattering her face and white t-shirt.

Rage and adrenaline pumped through her body and catapulted her forward as she landed a solid right hook on his jaw. He didn’t stand a chance and dropped to the floor. The shotgun flew, completing one full revolution, end over end, and rested next to the sagging couch.

Fighting the urge to kick his face repeatedly for what he had done to the little girl in the basement, Emily took a set of plastic zip ties from her pocket, rolled the bleeding man on his side, and expertly looped his hands. She pulled them tight – too tight. She didn’t care. He moaned, dazed by the blitz attack.

MR Mathias Reveals The Cover Design For The Wizard And The Warlord The Wardstone Trilogy Book Three

2011-11-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

M.R. Mathias is proud to reveal the cover design for The Wizard and the Warlord – The Wardstone Trilogy Book Three. Book One - The Sword and the Dragon, has been in the Amazon Kindle Fantasy/Mythology charts for over 18 months and counting, and Book Two - Kings, Queens, Heroes, & Fools, has been in those same charts since its release in July 2011. The Wizard and the Warlord will bring Gerard and Hyden’s story to a climactic conclusion. This final installment of the trilogy is scheduled for paperback release in July 2012. The eBook version should be available a little sooner.

Sandara of DeviantArt.com rendered the image of the baby red dragon sitting in its mother’s lap, while Gary V. Tenuta of www.BookCoversAndVideos.webs.com turned the work into the wonderful cover you see here.

If you are familiar with the story then you will know who the young hatchling in the image is. If not, maybe you should pick up The Sword and the Dragon and find out for yourself.

Accolades for The Wardstone Trilogy:

5 stars - By Dr. Jamal

I have read many a dragon novel in my time. But none compare to Mathias' The Sword and the Dragon. The personal character development and attention to detail are so rich, that you are literally sucked into this novel. This massive work of a masterpiece will be glued to your hands and mind. One of the greatest novels I have read in a long time. A must read for any and all interested in the lives and times of dragons.

5 stars - Great Read

I enjoyed this one so much that I purchased the author's 'Dragoneer' series. I honestly don't know which I enjoyed more. I am eagerly awaiting the next one.

5 stars - Loved it!

This book is intense. It has suspense, romance, heartache, action, and magic. It's an incredible story that will keep you on your toes. :) I can't wait for the next one!

5 stars - Phenomenal!!!

The next epic adventure of our time! If you like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy you are gonna flip for this! M.R. Mathias's storytelling prowess is on full display here taking you on an adventure into a land you will not soon forget or want to leave. I am chomping at the bit for part two! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for allowing us to be part of yours and their world!

***A note to all fantasy fans:

Book One – The Sword and the Dragon (eBook version only) is available at Amazon and B&N for just $1 until Thanksgiving. That’s 700+ pages of pure epic fantasy for just a buck.

MR Mathias.com