Thursday, February 28, 2013

Winners of Blogiversary

And the winners are...




I would like to personally thank EVERYONE for participating in the Blogiversary. The awesome authors who created their stories and shared their work to make this party possible. And to the readers who took the time to peruse the posts and to those who had the guts to enter the contests. I hope that each and every one of you found your next hot read here at Cloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuff - you are awesome!

Peace,
Cloey


Now on to the winners...


Marianne Morea 2/1
Sarah P.
Amanda R.
Lori H.
Josephine P.
Linda L.

E.B. Walters 2/5
No Contest

Heidi Garrett 2/6
Shawna
Michael G.

Shelly Munro 2/7
Linda L.
Talina P.
Rose H.
Deb P.

Stacey Kennedy 2/8
Hiedi G.

Pamela Crane 2/11
No Contest

Terri Bruce 2/12
Kathryn P.
Debra G.

Jen Wylie 2/13
Tia

Jason Craft, B.L. White, and Amanda White 2/14
Heidi G.

Katy O'Dowd 2/15
Diana

Anna Zaires 2/18
Naomi W.

Ryan Attard 2/19
No Contest – Grab the chapters

Peter Lukes 2/20
Tammy S.

Nicholas Olivo 2/21
Tia

J. Perry Kelly 2/22
Anushka T.

Eric Diehl 2/25
No contest – Grab the book

Mian Mohsin Zia 2/26
Anushka T.

J.E. Nicassio 2/27
Christian D.






The Dominus Runes by Peter Lukes will rule the blog for one month! Congratulations Mr. Lukes, you've got one hot cover! The cover was designed by Kelly Shorten at Musa Publishing - congratulations Kelly!




Out of 85 votes 42 people said that The Dominus Runes was their favorite cover. I am going to read the book and share my review... I am sooo excited - go get your copy and let's read together, Cloey :)


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

J.E. Nicassio


J.E. Nicassio


MOONDUST - A YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE







Book Description:

MOONDUST is a sci-fi adventure that begins when Samantha Hunter is the only survivor of a car crash that claims the life of her mother and younger brother, Cody. Although her car accident wounds are healed by a mysterious stranger, Samantha is haunted by the knowledge that the accident was her fault. When she and her father move to New Mexico, it is a chance to get away from the bittersweet memories of her family, and start over new. However, the arrival of a pale, dark haired stranger into her life changes everything. The stranger, a boy named Lucien, introduces Sam to the hidden world of real-life aliens. Romance and adventure follow Sam in her new life as she works to decipher her complicated alien-human relationship, and a underground covert organization who wants to discover what connects her to this strange alien boy.







Author Bio:

The author resides in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her sons, three cats, and dog. There you'll find her writing, stargazing, or relaxing in front of a bon-fire. When attending Chatham University for her masters in professional writing, she rediscovered a passion for writing. J.E is a clairvoyant with a strong belief in the power of positive thinking. "All you have to do is believe, and all your dreams can come true."

Jen's website

Website

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Mian Mohsin Zia



ONCE : Ask Me Anything, Not Love

By Mian Mohsin Zia
 (www.MianMohsinZia.com)











Book Description:

What would you do if you hurt the woman you loved beyond what is in human nature to forgive? That is the problem that Morkel has to overcome.

As the celebrated author, 'M---, No Time for Love', Morkel has vowed to never write a love story, or a story with a female protagonist. A staunch bachelor, Morkel is set in his ways; he has vowed to never fall in love. However, during a holiday in Kiev Morkel meets a 'person of interest'; someone who will change his life forever. Though, as his name suggests, he still has 'no time for love'.

Unfortunately, as he is about to learn, love has time for him and it has come knocking at the door of his heart. Will he open the door or ignore the knocking? Will he abandon the title he has worked so hard to create, and, by so doing, forge for himself a new title and destiny?

How long can love wait for Morkel?

How long will Morkel wait for love?



Book Trailer



Reviews

"ONCE--- a potential diamond in the dust. This second novel by Mian Mohsin Zia mixes elements of attraction, obsession, selfishness, control and sacrifice in what is 'almost' a compelling multi-level riff on the entire love story genre. Mian Mohsin Zia is an author with future. His talent is authentic, his bright future. This could be a rear jerker movie...and Zia could evolve into a John Fowles. Add this book to your library and follow Zia's career." BURL BARER (Edgar Award Winner and New York Times Best-Selling Author, USA

"This novel will leave you wanting a sequel as this love story must continue. Mian Moshin Zia writes from the heart. As the story is peppered with poetry you will find yourself returning to read them again and again." READERS FAVORITE

"A different kind of love story - riveting. The reader is transported on an emotional journey. There were several lessons I learned from this very enjoyable tale. 1. Unconditionally supportive friendships need to be valued and appreciated. 2. A person should not hide behind the facade of who he or she is supposed to be, based on who they always have been. 3. We need to be open to experience the full depth of our feelings and to be honest in our emotions. 4. When true love does come into our life, we need to recognize it for what it is and go for it. Mian did a nice job in character development. I liked his characters, and, more importantly, I cared what happened to them. It was certainly worth the read." LISA RYAN (Author, Keynote Speaker, Professional member of the National Speakers Association and Toastmasters International, Chief Appreciation Strategist, Grategy; The Upside of Down Times: Discovering the Power of Gratitude and With Excellence; featured gratitude expert in "The Keeper of the Keys" and "The Gratitude Experiment" documentaries, USA)

"It was truly an amazing novel, that described the reality experience in a way that no other author has done. A book that shows us the reality of relationships and that not every relationship is a happily ever after tale. A Must-Read Book." PAULA PHILLIPS (Professional Book Reviewer, New Zealand)

"The timeless message of seizing the day, delivered with an interesting twist. Raw, emotional, detailed and well paced, ONCE is a relatively fast read that packs a powerful message into an interesting, paradoxical tale. Meaningful, surprise twists in ONCE make for a more interesting, thought provoking read. I enjoyed this story and the bittersweet afterthoughts it left me with." ELLEN DuBOIS (Author, USA)

"Best Love Story Ever! Once - Ask Me Anything, Not Love is not your traditional love story. There is a very spiritual message here not only for the characters but also for the reader. This novel will leave you wanting a sequel as this love story must continue. Mian Moshin Zia writes from the heart. This was very easy to follow and the way the characters are portrayed are very believable. Mian knows how to put his feelings to words and his words of a desperate man in love will cut to the bone. As the story is peppered with poetry you will find yourself returning to read them again and again." LORRAINE CAREY (Author, Children's Literature Specialist and Teacher-Cayman Islands)

"I found the book, ONCE-----Ask Me Anything Not Love, to be very enjoyable and heartbreaking story at the same time to read. It is a story that stays with you long after you have finsihed reading it. I loved the style and voice of the author. The use of poems made the story even more believable and heartfelt for me as a reader. I felt his pain and heartache through the entire story. It is obvious that MIAN has done amazing amount of research on this book. The use of poems and artwork make the book unique and therefore amke others want to read." JAMIE MARTIN (Book Critique-USA)

"Interesting Read. When a novelist becomes self-indulgent, dashing to bits the heart of
another, you get ONCE. The poetry is beautifully crafted, and the relationship between father and daughter is endearing."DEENA REMIEL (Governor's Teacher Recognition Award Winner-Gilbert, AZ, USA)

"Just the second thing which came from his pen and it is a marvel. The whole saga is full of ups and downs which binds the reader to stick into it and find what comes next. It's just not
an art to write the book but a detailed work where the descriptions are given of various people and places throughout the book giving it a real story look that happened with the protagonist and MIAN did his job in a 'Perfect way'. A well written and well phrased story with a touching end. A must for 'Book lovers' and 'Lovers'. Waiting for your next venture eagerly." RUBY SODHI (Chartered Accountant-INDIA)

"ONCE is a great story full of characters that easily earn a place in your heart. It has a surprising protagonist and an unexpected ending which keep it fresh and entertaining page after page. It relates to the deepest aspects of the human heart and explores issues which are easy to relate to but rarely explored. I especially enjoyed the poems that grace the pages of ONCE and are all original and beautifully written. I would recommend ONCE for everyone and will be awaiting new releases from Mian Mohsin Zia with anticipation from now on." JESSICA McKAMEY (Avid Book Reader, USA)

"This was an interesting read. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Kiev, someplace that I know I will never visit. Seeing through Morkel's eyes the first stirrings of love is unique. Enjoyed the minor characters and reading their advice. This book shows that not every love story has to have a traditional happy ending. There are different endings for everyone." ELLEN HOGAN (Avid Book Reader, USA)

"ONCE, was a surprisingly deep read. I was reminded as a Catholic, how GOD intends for us to love others. Mian encompasses characters from so many different worlds, different faiths, different emotional backgrounds, that it makes for a brilliant tapestry of human interaction. I agree with the reviewer who noted what a wonderful movie this would make. This book will 
surpass its already well established fan base. Read it, soak it in. His career is sure to go upwards from here." J.S. CHANCELLOR aka Breanne Braddy (American Author)

"I read this most beautiful book. I had planned to fast read this book but could not for each word had meaning and flowed one into the other. I understood the characters they were well c
rafted. I felt the emotion of the journey; I cried for the lost love that they both felt but I also cheered at the new lives that were shaped from their losses. This book talks about GOD and our everyday lives, how prayers are answered maybe not how we want them, HIS will not ours be done. We all live in the real world and this is a real book enjoy the read my friends ... hugs." LINDA A. SCOTT (Gifts of Dawn)

"'Apt title'. This book is aptly titled because the protagonist in it knows nothing of love, which becomes his downfall. He believes he can live a life without a female companion, as well as a female in the books he writes. There is a Christian slant to the book, but it is positive and subtle. This would be a good read for anyone who likes to realize that we don't know what we've got till it's gone. There is a strong message of this here." JULIE ACHTERHOFF (American Author)

"ENGAGING READ, 'ONCE : ASK ME ANYTHING, NOT LOVE' by Author Mian Mohsin Zia is a journey of one man's struggle to find love. The sites of Kiev and the Ukrainian people come alive in this lively tale. Morkel's visit to unknown funerals and weddings was  interesting and often amusing. Maya was refreshing and likable. An enjoyable read by a talented author." TAMERA E LAWRENCE (Award Winning Author-Pennsylvania, USA)

"A Unique Read! ONCE - Ask Me Anything, Not Love is written a unique style. I would have to say it is innocent, straightforward, and thought provoking. The author grabbed my heart. The story is very, very touching." PHOENIX (Author, USA)

"A love story like no other. A class of its own! This is one of those reads that will stick with
me for a very long time. I finished it yesterday and I have been thinking about it all day. Wow, what a storyteller Zia is. This story just pulled at me and didn't let go. I was bouncing all over the place on what to give this. I won't lie, I had tears in my eyes.

I don't want to give away anything, but this book truly blew me away. It was just so powerful and enlightening. The emotions that went through me reading this were so overwhelming and heart wrenching. There were times I had to stop and take a breather a time or two. This isn't your everyday contemporary romance. It belongs in a class of its own. The ending is so emotionally draining and I know not everything can be tied up into a perfect little bow, but dammit, I shall beg for a sequel. I don't think this review did this book justice. You just have to read this for yourself. Truly incredible." DIANA @Offbeat Vagabond (Avid Book Reader and Reviewer, USA)

"Powerful! Words are to the literary novelist and poet, what color is to a master painter, or notes to a gifted composer. Zia packs a lifetime of love, loss, melancholy, and forgiveness in 142 pages of masterful prose written in first person. He includes three poems to earmark and reread for themselves. I have only felt the undercurrents of such powerful depths in today's words of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Khalid Hosseini.

Zia's novel portends much for his honor of Allah and his country, Pakistan. I believe that the combination of the power of faith and the uncertainty of a homeland in the currents of change may be the gristmill that produces such true and profound works. This is a book or 
E-book to place where it can be read over and over and over again, for each time there will be something new to discover and savor, whether you read it in English or in Russian." JORJA DAVIS (Professional Book Reviewer, USA)

"A Talented Author! When I started reading Once, I could not put it down. I found it to be a powerful religious love story and one that begs to have a sequel. And as the book unfolded, I started seeing it as a movie, perhaps one made for the Lifetime Movie Network. New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award winner Burl Barer stated, 'Mian is an author with a future -- hopefully one with a mainstream publishing house.' And I concur." CYNTHIA A. HARRIS aka Black Lilac Kitty (Book Reviewer and Blogger, USA)

"5 Star Review! This novel is completely different from anything I have ever read or expect
to read in this genre. Not to say there is anything wrong with the novel at all. It was edited very well and precise in writing style. It is not an “Americanized” love story at all! I was taken aback. It was sort of like watching an independent film with a different writing style and a very pure, innocent love story.

I did enjoy “Once---Ask Me Anything, Not Love” because it was different… Totally different! Don’t kid yourself thinking that this is just a romance, it is a sophisticated and complicated story which uses God as the focus. I have to give the Author, Mian Moshin Zia a five stars for “Once---Ask Me Anything, Not Love” is truly unique." EMILY GUIDO (Author, USA)






Author Bio:

Mian Mohsin Zia aka "M I A N---No Time for Love" is a brilliant, humble and dedicated author obsessed with writing great books.

He is an Internationally acclaimed Pakistani author and his books have been rated 4 and 5 stars on Amazon and other sales channels. He has set new trends worldwide in novel writing with his books.

New York Times bestseller & Edgar Award winner author Mr. Burl Barer refers to Mian Mohsin Zia as "the brightest light on Pakistan's new literary horizon."

For more visit Mian’s website: www.mianmohsinzia.com

















How to win it...

One: become a member of this blog to receive the updates

Two: follow the entry instructions and don't forget to leave a comment on this post

Three: good luck and please don't forget to vote for your favorite cover in the the Cover Art Contest


Monday, February 25, 2013

Eric Diehl


Science Fiction and Horror by Eric Diehl...








Water Harvest

The Great Houses of Kast'ar have grown complacent. Technological adaptation bolsters a fragile biosphere, but one quandary remains unattended. Lunar-based harvest vessels orbit continuously, extracting their toll of moisture from the upper atmosphere.

Over time, the planet dries.

Now the Rules are caught unawares when a lunar enclave launches an invasion intended to seize control of the Harvest. House Alar, the greatest of the bloodline Keeps, falls before the predatory warlord. The invader’s technology is strong and they are aided by the Guild; wizard-like practitioners whose hallucinogen-induced evocations bend fate to their will.

It falls to Cairn, Legion pilot and displaced heir to Alar, to persuade the House Alliance to intercede. His father and his love Neilai are held hostage, and a battered Cairn is dispatched to carry the vile interloper’s edict. With few resources at hand, Cairn and boisterous comrade Dirc Cutter are thrust into a changed world. The Alliance falters and Cairn, son of House Alar, learns how little he knows of his home world.
................
This novel is based on conflict arising over a precious natural resource that is too often taken for granted. Lunar colonies are pillaging the atmospheric moisture of the planet they orbit, and serious hostilities break out.

There are definite elements of science fiction involved, but there are also samplings of the fantastic, and so I'd call this novel a work of Science Fiction/Fantasy. Lots of action, characters you love, and those you love to hate. Wizardly practitioners who are able to bend reality to their controlled dementia, and conflict between the Great Houses of Kast’ar. Sword and sorcery meets Star Wars!

The dominant Rule of the planet is overrun by a lunar warlord who takes advantage of a planetary cleansing to catch the Great House unawares. Our protagonist, Cairn, son of House Alar, is beaten and sent out to carry the warlord’s edict to the other Rules of the planet. Cairn’s father is held hostage and his love Neilai either imprisoned or dead, and Cairn and sidekick Dirc Cutter struggle to build a coalition to oust the interlopers.









Guild of the Viizar

A nemesis long thought finished returns from exile, all the more powerful for his transformation. The Viizar work to reshape their vision of reality through the channeling of loosely controlled dementia, and they have learned to amplify their drug-induced Works by combining sorcery with a forgotten crystal technology. Grande Maester Ott intends to bleed away the energy of the planet to achieve his dark purpose, and the consequent imbalance triggers a series of events that threaten a dark finality. Young Airen sa’n Alar, Son of House Alar, is defeated and taken captive in his attempt to deter the Guild, and he must now band with sisters Andra and Leah to take the fight back to the lunar coven.








24:01 One Minute After

Can you imagine what your world might be like, One Minute After? A blurring of reality that transcends rational bounds; where every frame of reference has been turned on its head, and visuals are but fleeting reflections in a hall of mirrors?

Venture, then, if you dare, into this anthology of horror, science fiction and fantasy; some dark and some light, but all a challenge to your imagination. We will begin with an experiment in nano-biotechnology gone very wrong, and, if you do not perish in transit, end in a desperate alternate reality on Olde Aearth; emerging with a glimmer of hope ~ justified or not. In between, in those shadowy alcoves and interstitial chambers throughout, you might experience dragons, wizards, hurricanes, or even misadventures in space.

Go grab a copy of 24:01 One Minute After today for free and enjoy! Go to Smashwords for all eReader formats







Author’s Whimsography:

A student of many things, master of none…

A questionable turn on a time-worn cliché but fairly apt—a jack of many trades.

Perhaps it began with the custom van built in the long-haired days of the early 70’s—an old school bus with an engine salvaged from a junk yard. Or with the dozens of motorcycles ridden, broken, repaired and ridden again. Eric has built furniture and guitars, he’s screen-printed t-shirts and created package design for bottled soap. He’s thrown newspapers and he’s written software for corporations large and small— for a time working from the wandering RV he and Sue called home. He does website design and he’s published motorcycle and RV travel articles. He earned a pilot’s license and built and flew a gyro-copter over the cane-fields and beaches of Florida. He’s penned tunes and published Sci-Fi/Fantasy short stories and two novels; Water Harvest, with Double Dragon Publishing in September 2011, and Guild of the Viizar, self-published in early 2012.

After more than three decades in south Florida, Eric and his lovely wife Susan moved to the Upstate region of South Carolina, where the nearby Appalachians beckon two-wheeled leisure. When cranky knees allow it, bicycling is a favored indulgence—more often, these days, on a recumbent. Motorcycling remains a serious passion, justified at least in part by instructing a course in motorcycle safety.

He was likely a cat in a previous life, as there’s an undeniable affinity. He looks odd, and children sometimes call out Hi Mister Ski Man! when he hikes by weilding his pair of walking sticks.

The truth is, Eric is still working out what it is that he’ll do—after he grows up.

www.ericdiehl.com 

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Friday, February 22, 2013

J. Perry Kelly


J. Perry Kelly


A metaphysical quest turns dark and lethal





Book Description:

A metaphysical quest turns dark and lethal...

When Cassandra Shavano--environmentalist, newlywed, reincarnated prophetess--wields the Law of Attraction to defend the earth, she gambles the human spirit against an ancient curse with forever at stake. Trapped in a deadly labyrinth with seven people, a teenage ghost, the CIA, and our parent species, she must escape the maze and solve and impossible riddle, or she'll forfeit her life and all she loves for failing mankind in its final hours.

...when a frustrated sibyl tackles a stubborn curse.



From the Inside Flap:

An ancient riddle for a modern crisis

Buried in the human psyche lies the key to humanity's fate. Psychologists call it "cognitive dissonance." Poets of old called it a curse. In The Sibyl Reborn, our parent species coins it "The Taint," a trait so fearsome they banished us to save a planet only to endanger Earth.

Never believed when she told the truth, a princess in a town called Troy once shared the dooms of family and friends, enslavement and violent death, when they laughed at her futile warnings. As the earth grows ever hotter and humans quibble over climate change, whom but this tragic heroine should Karma send to defend forever? Armed with quantum metaphysics, might she alter her fate and remake her legend, or would history repeat itself at horrific costs to Man and Earth?

The Sibyl Reborn: where a newlywed's quest to make a difference and a chilling premise that's all-too-real sound a battle cry for an Earth in crisis.

About the Author:

Twice a surrogate 'stem cells' spokesperson for the White House, James ended five years of biotech activism in 2006 when he realized a strategy that had confused and divided Americans over stem cells was being used to distort and discredit the science of climate change. He writes to entertain readers by weaving science, psychology and life into vivid characters and thought-provoking plots. Prior to a 1997 auto accident that left him paralyzed, James enjoyed a twenty-year railroad career, restoring antique furniture, and rambling over back-country roads or forgotten trails from Colorado's gold rush. Today he lives near at the foot of Pikes Peak with Selene, his wife of twenty-eight years and inspiration for Cassandra, the sibyl reborn.

Cloey's interview

Website: www.thesibylreborn.com or follow him on Twitter @thesibylreborn



Use the box below to join the contest to win the book - use the Voting Poll on the left side of this blog to vote for the cover art.


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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Nicolas Olivo


Interview with Nicholas Olivo and Excerpt by Nicholas Olivo...









Join me in welcoming Nicolas Olivo to Cloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuff. 

Here's what Nicolas has to say about his writing process and Imperium...

Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?

Nicolas: In my 8th grade English class. They changed the curriculum that year so that the course was just reading fiction and creative writing. I was exposed to so many different authors and genres that year that I realized writing was what I wanted to do.

Cloey: What inspired you to write Imperium?

Nicolas: I'd been working on a different novel when the phrase "god for hire" popped into my head. I jotted that down on a sheet of scrap paper (with a bunch of other ideas & fragments that had come to me) and moved on. After I finished that novel (and realized it was garbage) I went back to my scrap sheets and looked for new things to build on. I found the god for hire phrase and started to play with it. So who is this god? Who worships him? What can he do? Eventually my protagonist Vincent Corinthos evolved from these questions.

Cloey: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Nicolas: Nope. Imperium is just for fun. When I set out to be a writer, I wanted to give folks a few hours' worth of entertainment, help them forget about the real world for a bit. If anyone finds any deep, hidden meaning in Imperium, well, that's cool, but it's not something I put in there intentionally. :)

Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character to develop and why?

Nicolas: Gearstripper the gremlin was my favorite character to develop. I needed a techno-genius type character for Vincent to work with, and with each draft he sort of embedded himself a little further and deeper into the story and into Vincent's life, until finally he evolved into the Firefly-loving, Twinkie munching sidekick he is today. As for the least favorite, that's tougher to answer. There were some characters, like Megan, Vincent's new partner, who I wanted to give hints about, but not reveal everything. So making sure I cleanly planted seeds that could be explored/realized in later books was tricky. There wasn't any character that I didn't enjoy writing - though it took me a few tries to get Megan right. Her personality really changed over the first several drafts. She started out as brusk and standoff-ish with pretty much everyone, and she just didn't work that way. When I hit on making her "June Cleaver with 9mm pistols" she really took off.

Cloey: What did you enjoy most about writing Imperium?

Nicolas: The world building. I spent hours coming up with all the things Vincent could do, the things his followers could do, the people he worked with and the organizations that he'd encounter. I've got a huge list of creatures and people and places that Vincent will come across, what they can do, how they do it, and hopefully, how Vincent will be able to deal with them.

Cloey: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life?

Nicolas: The biggest challenge was not overpowering Vincent. He's literally a god. I needed to find realistic ways to limit his powers so that he wouldn't just roll over every obstacle in his path. I had to trash a big piece of the very first draft of Imperium because he was too strong. Once I settled on a magic system, I had to make sure I stuck to it. Vincent's powers are fueled by his follower's faith, and so I had to keep tabs on how much faith each wondrous thing he did would consume. There were other minor details that I found challenging to keep straight too - Vincent's followers, a race of fae known as Urisk, have luminescent eyes that shimmer, dim or brighten depending on their current emotional state. I ended up with a big grid showing emotions vs. eye lights to make sure I stayed consistent.

Cloey: What are you working on now?

Nicolas: An overhaul of all my outlines for the rest of the books in the series. I had five or six books originally planned, and I thought I had everything plotted out nicely. But I've really struggled as I tried to write book 2. I went through 5 incarnations (not 5 drafts, 5 completely different plotlines with multiple drafts) and I still wasn't happy with it. I walked away from the book for a while and recently came back to it. I think I've figured out what the problem is and now I'm working on resolving it. Unfortunately, some of those changes impact subsequent books in significant ways, so I'm making sure I've accounted for/adjusted all those things. Once that's done, I'll be back onto book 2.

Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time?

Nicolas: I love Jim Butcher's Dresden Files -- that series introduced me to the urban fantasy genre. F Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack books are fantastic examples of crossing normal people with paranormal events. I also enjoy more traditional fantasy from authors like Patrick Rothfuss and Brandon Sanderson. Right now I'm listening to Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge books on my way to work. Of course, you can't leave out the classics like Tolkien, Stephen King and Robert Jordan.

Cloey: Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn't see in your bio or on any other blogs (this can be anything from the type of music you like, your favorite color, or even your favorite meal - share whatever you want your fans to know about you)

Nicolas: Christmas is my favorite time of year. I drive my wife crazy asking her how many days are left until Christmas (especially when it's still March). When the December finally does roll around, I still cross the days off the calendar, counting down to the 25th. That's part of what inspired me to write Krampusnacht, which is pretty much a "Gearstripper Saves Christmas" story.

Cloey: Thank you so much for sharing your process with us today. I am looking forward to someone winning a copy of Imperium and hope that they like it as much as I did.






Begin Coded Transmission

I trust you are enjoying your new-found freedom, Mr. Singravel. I have arranged for your release to go unnoticed by certain individuals, and I now expect you to fulfill your end of the bargain. I require you to procure several manuals on golem crafting. Additionally, you will provide me with any and all information about the various groups that monitor paranormal activity in Boston, including details on any persons of particular note. Send these updates via this secure channel, but do not expect further contact from me. I will be incommunicado while I attend to some pressing matters.

I should not need to remind you that failing to perform adequately will lead to punishments much worse than imprisonment in Ashgate. However, should you prove unsuccessful, I am confident I can find other ways for you to serve me. Your predecessor’s soul was used to fuel the ritual that ensured your release.

-RM

End Coded Transmission

Sunrises were beautiful here on the Bright Side, the realm of fae. And today’s sunrise would’ve been gorgeous if it weren’t for the advancing enemy army, the erupting volcano and the earthquakes. Instead of a cool dawn with sparkling dew and a gentle breeze, a heat haze shimmered in the air. When the winds gusted, it was like a sandstorm of ash. The tremors, which were coming more frequently, toppled people and structures to the ground.

I’m sure the enemy leaders felt smug. After all, it was their mages who were tampering with the environment. Their army, one hundred thousand strong, was three times larger than the entire population of the Urisk city they were advancing on. And the Urisk themselves rarely caused any trouble. They were known for their hospitality, their friendliness and their desire for harmony. To a group of warmongers, that’s like holding up a sign that says, “Please Conquer Us.”

I wondered what the enemy generals thought as they surveyed the battlefield. The Urisk didn’t have an army. Instead, about five thousand of them knelt on the ground, their feather-topped heads bowed, flecks of ash settling on their dull gray skin. Perhaps they thought the Urisk planned to beg for mercy. Perhaps the generals thought the Urisk were praying for some imaginary god to swoop in and save them.

In either case, the generals would be wrong. The Urisk aren’t begging for mercy and they aren’t praying to an imaginary god.

They’re praying to me.

Now pardon me for a moment, I have some swooping and saving to do.

I stepped out among my followers and focused. Their heads turned toward me, expressions of hope on their faces. Their almond eyes, whether orange or green, glowed with an inner light that flickered with anticipation. I could feel their faith in me, and the power that faith gave me swelled. I felt like I could do anything and everything. Save the people, drive off the army and repair the land. I grinned, cracked my knuckles and concentrated on the lava that was rolling in a great red river toward the city.

When I’d prepared for today, the Commander told me I had two goals. One, bolster my followers’ faith by letting them see me protect them. I pointed at the lava and, in a power-amplified voice, commanded, “Stop!” The lava obeyed. I threw my arm out to the side and the lava steamed, cooled, and turned to solid rock.

A gust of ash and grit blasted across the gathering of my followers. I threw my other arm out to the side and shouted, “Enough!” The wind died immediately and the ash vanished from the air. The Urisks’ faith in me increased, and that gave me more power. Having faith in your god is one thing. Personally witnessing that god controlling the weather and landscape tends to make even the most skeptical individual a believer, and it turns a believer into a zealot. My power increased accordingly.

With the Urisk out of danger from the elements, I concentrated on the army. My senses were amplified so that even at this distance of three miles, I could clearly hear the murmurings and confusion of the mages. They’d never seen anything like what I’d just done. Then again, I’d bet they’d never fought a god before.

And that brought me to my second goal for today: spank the enemy and spank them hard.

I had no desire to get up close and personal with the army. The soldiers were hobgoblins and trolls, and even from this distance they smelled awful. So instead, I conjured a giant avatar of myself. There was panic among the ranks as a hundred-foot-tall human appeared at the head of the army. I concentrated, willing the avatar to raise its giant foot and crush a cluster of soldiers beneath a size three hundred Reebok high-top.

Disciplined as they were, the soldiers scattered. I made the avatar laugh, and the sound rumbled the land and threw the soldiers to the ground. I played Godzilla for another few minutes, enjoying the squishing of the hobgoblin and troll soldiers. My avatar opened his palms and waves of flame bowled forth, turning half a mile of the landscape to black ash.

I smirked when I realized there were no survivors. I suppose should’ve left a few of the enemies alive so that they’d carry word of what happened back to their superiors. Then again, when a hundred thousand soldiers disappear, that sends a message, too.

I dismissed my avatar and focused on repairing the land. I opened my hands and spread my arms as wide as I could, sending power forth. Tremors rippled along the ground as I smoothed the ragged land flat again. The world shook as I crushed the volcanoes back into the ground and converted the magma to healthy soil. Blue grass sprang from the earth and silvery trees stretched toward the sky. I made months’ worth of growth happen in minutes. I made the ground sink in some places and filled the depressions with fresh water.

With the land healed, my next task was to ensure my people’s safety. I raised my arms and brought a thirty-foot wall of stone up around the city. I turned to the mass of short gray forms behind me and basked in their faith. Their eyes, glowing orbs of orange and green, flickered like strobe lights. This was the equivalent of joyous laughter. Their faith struck me again, so strong it staggered me. I took an involuntary step back as I ran a hand through my hair. It was slick with sweat. Channeling that much power was taxing for anyone, even a god.

Lotholio, my high priest, came forward and knelt before me. “Lord Corinthos,” he said. His words were telepathically communicated in his native tongue, but I understood him clearly. 


“You have truly performed miracles today. Our people owe you everything.”

I placed my hand on his thin shoulder and bade him rise. I looked out at the crowd of Urisk, all kneeling before me. Okay, playtime was over. I had to put my formal god-face on now. I spoke then, using the power so they could hear me as if I were standing in front of them. 


“You are safe now. Let no Urisk feel fear.”

We walked into the city, my followers telepathically cheering. Their eyes flickered with joy and relief. I resisted breaking into a celebratory dance; a god needs to command respect, and I doubted my lousy rendition of the Macarena would loan itself to that. We came to my cathedral, a massive stone structure that the Urisk had fashioned for me with the raw power of their minds. I turned back to the crowd. They immediately fell silent. 

“I must leave you for a time, but I will watch over this realm and its people. While I am gone, Lotholio speaks for me. Heed his words as you would mine. You have my blessing.” I sent a wave of health and warmth into them. Any who had injuries, mental afflictions or physical illnesses would be healed. I could feel their faith building again. It was getting too powerful. I needed to leave.

I turned back to Lotholio. “Be safe, my friend,” I said with a smile.

“Lord.” He caught me by my shirtsleeve, then seemed abashed that he’d touched me. “Lord, are you sure you cannot stay? Your presence will be reassuring as the people rebuild.”

I put my hands on his shoulders and stared into glowing green eyes. “The people need to stand on their own, Lotholio. You know that. Do not be afraid, I will always hear your prayers when you need me.” He seemed uncertain, and I knew it was because of the high priest role he’d found himself in. “Loth, you found me, remember? You risked traveling through another dimension, made contact with outsiders, and found the help your people needed. You are the best person to lead while I am gone.” He set his narrow jaw and tried to look strong. “Loth, do you believe in me?”

His eyes dimmed and brightened from top to bottom, a sign of shock. “Of course, Lord.”

“Good. Because I believe in you.” I grinned and turned away from him. I moved to a pylon just in front of my cathedral. “Aviorla, open to home.” A portal opened in the pylon before me, tall enough to step through. Smells and sounds that were totally alien to the Bright Side drifted in from the other side. I grabbed my leather bomber up off the ground and turned back to the people. “Today we have won a great victory. Now it is time to celebrate. Let the festivities last for a week and a day.” I made fireworks and a rainbow appear in the sky.

As my people’s eyes flicked with amazement and joy, I stepped through the portal. It led to a world that only Lotholio had seen, to a city that served as a hub of paranormal activity. The city I call home.

It’s called Boston.


Imperium
A Caulborn Novel
Nicolas Olivo


Cover art by Ronnell D Porter








Book Description:

Vincent Corinthos leads a triple life. As a secret agent, he handles paranormal threats; as a god, he protects his followers from evil forces; as a stock clerk, he keeps the back room of an antique store tidy. When one of his fellow agents goes missing, Vincent begins with the usual suspects. His investigation reveals that Boston’s latest supernatural threat is also waging war on his followers, and has diabolic intentions for the city’s paranormal citizens. Now, with the aid of a new partner and a gremlin, Vincent must locate the missing agent, defend his followers and learn the identity of his adversaries before they can revive a malevolent force that’s been dormant since World War II.









Author Bio:

My childhood consisted of way too many video games, comic books and 80's cartoons. Add in a healthy appetite for Tolkien and Stephen King, and the end result was a geek who had visions of someday writing his own novels. It was Terry Brooks’ Wishsong of Shannara that really clinched it and got me excited about writing. But it wasn’t until years later, after reading Jim Butcher’s Storm Front, that I decided to take a crack at urban fantasy. After a month of Pepsi-and-Snickers-assisted brainstorming, Vincent Corinthos and the Caulborn were conceived. A year later I published the first Caulborn novel, Imperium. I’ve lived my entire life in various New England states, and I’m fascinated by New England’s paranormal history. One thing I really enjoy is incorporating local paranormal events and urban legends into the books. Each Caulborn novel will include references to real-world supernatural occurrences, and explains how they fit into the Caulborn’s world. I live with my wife and three children, and a shape-shifting cat who may or may not be be in human form at any given moment.

Check out my site at www.nicholasolivo.com.


Follow me on Twitter - @NicholasOlivo 

Follow me on GoodReads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5018856.Nicholas_Olivo



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One: become a member of this blog to receive updates

Two: follow the entry instructions and don't forget to leave a comment

Three: good luck and happy reading! So easy

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Peter Lukes


Science Fiction by Peter Lukes

You can NEVER go wrong with a novel from Musa Publishing




The Dominus Runes
Peter Lukes

Musa Publishing
Cover designed by Kelly Shorten

Post-apocalyptic Science Fantasy












Book Description:

Thomas Gianmarco likes his liquor strong, his women plentiful, and his friends well-armed. While the rest of the human race is barely surviving in the rubble of destroyed cities and scorched countrysides, he enjoys a life of debauchery through the spoils of his contraband empire.

Until he kills a Commander of the Titan Army, capturing the attention of the overlords who have subjugated humanity. The supernatural forces are on the verge of war, and Gianmarco finds himself caught in the middle of powerful competing interests. Some want him dead, but others want him alive, and working for them. Will he be able to transform from rogue to rebel in order to survive?

Gianmarco is a master at leveraging the perfect deal. But this time, he's the item for sale, and the art of this deal could change the course of human civilization forever.


Smashwords

Musa Publishing

Another great (must) read by Peter Lukes is Perchance To Dream:





Book Description:

The Boston Police Sub-Net unit is an experimental department that lets cops invade the subconscious minds of criminals via their dreams, where they unearth criminal plans and gather information. In the Net, special dream cops can fly, conjure weapons, fight like a martial arts master, and render themselves indestructible.

Officer Manuel Corr is the best of the best. Until one night while on patrol, when the dream world around him suddenly collapses. Trapped in an ever-changing dreamscape that he no longer controls, he must fight his way back to reality. To make matters worse, the people who were once his criminal targets have turned the tables on him, and the world of dreams becomes a nightmare he can’t wake up from.

Manuel discovers that an organized crime network has taken over the Sub-Net, and if they can’t recruit him, they want him dead.

Look for it on all major selling sites or check it out on Amazon now




Author Bio:

Peter Lukes grew up in Massachusetts, where he also went to college, law school and graduate school. Peter is an attorney who frequently teaches classes in history, political science and government as an adjunct faculty professor at local colleges. His true passion lies in writing the kinds of science fiction and fantasy stories that he loved reading throughout his life. Peter still lives in Massachusetts with his wife and son, who have both been indoctrinated into the worlds of spaceships, vampires, super heroes and dragons.


Weblinks:

www.AuthorPeterLukes.com

Twitter: @PeteLukes

www.facebook.com/peter.lukes



Join the contest to win a printed copy of  Perchance to Dream or an e-Book copy of  
The Dominus Runes. It's so simple to enter the contest with box below:



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Don't forget to vote for your favorite cover in the Cover Art Contest. Use the Voting Poll on the left side of this blog to vote.












Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Ryan Attard

Ryan Attard  

Character Interview with Amaymon the demon familiar to Erik Ashendale











Cloey: Thank you so much for speaking with me today and answering a few questions for Cloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuff. It's not everyday that I get to interview a demon and I am so happy that you said yes when I asked. 

Cloey: Well, a powerful Demon stuck in the body of a cat! How do you feel about what the other Demons are saying about you?

Amaymon: I couldn't care less about those bastards. They are weak babies who can't even cause proper havoc. I mean, back in the day, I commanded Hell’s Army and razed entire countries. I'd like to see one of them try that. Besides they still speak about the great General Amaymon, King of the Earth. They do it in hushed tones though, because they know they will make a squishy sound when I rip them apart. Which I have done. Several times.

The other cats in the neighborhood know me as ‘The Stud.’ Use your imagination.

Cloey(okaaay feeling awkward now and shifting in my seat) Tell us what you do for fun besides chasing dust balls now that you are a cat?

Amaymon: You read the part about squishy sounds and neighborhood cats right? I enjoy watching Erik’s expression as he tries to eat something and I start licking myself. Talk about your gag reflex. And now I got a hot new succubus to play with, hehe.

I also love watching Erik trying to pick up chicks. The guy has no tact whatsoever. It’s like watching a dog chase a car.

Hell, I’m a cat and even I am more popular with the ladies. Speaking of which, what are you doing later? 







Cloey: (eww! is it getting hot in here? It seems like the air just got sucked out of the room) How do you feel about being a familiar for Erik? 

Amaymon: Lemme see. I was the second most powerful demon in Hell until his ancestors came along, wiped the Emperor off and sealed me away. And then I was forced to be the familiar of probably the most dimwitted wizard in history. It’s not a good feeling. 

Then again, now I get belly rubs and I still own the entire office anyways. Don’t get it sideways: that idiot works for me. 

Cloey: (okaaay) Tell us about the funniest thing that has happened to you while being Erik’s familiar? 

Amaymon: You mean besides the everyday pranks and watching him talk his way deeper and deeper into the ground? 

I remember this one, he asked me to help him out against a ghoul. It was fun watching them cat fight each other. It nearly ripped his chest open. Pretty hilarious. 

There was also the time he chased a tribe of were-bears in the forest and ended up falling face first in bear dung. I may or may not have tripped him. 

Cloey: (eww-eww-eww, and that was fun?!?) And what did you like to do for fun when you were in your demon form and with whom? 

Amaymon: Well, being a cat really makes you miss the simple things, like thumbs. Back in the old days I fought and killed every hour of the day. I really miss that. There is so much potential for chaos in this world, it breaks my heart no to be able to participate in the destruction and mayhem. 

I also had my own personal harem of succubii. I could go into more detail but I suspect there is some form of censor in this blog. 





Cloey: Ah, well, thank you for censoring yourself... (I think? this can't be good) 

Cloey: So, Tell us what you are doing if anything to get back to your Demon form? 

Amaymon: Shhhh!!! That idiot‘s got computers now. He’s probably gonna read this. So no, Erik, I will not smother you in your sleep. Mostly because I have no hands and can’t open the door. 

And even if I did have plans, do you think I’d tell you? Isn’t the whole point of a secret plan to be kept secret? 







Cloey: (jeez what was I thinking here? End.This.Now. and run!) Thank you so much for visiting us at Cloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuff and sharing what it is like for you living in a cat’s body as Erik's familiar. I, ah... well... enjoyed our talk and, hmm... 

Amaymon: The bastard made me do it. 






Disclaimer: All the above responses are from a fictional character. They do not reflect the opinions of the author (Ryan) in any way, shape or form. Please direct your complaints, and sexual harassment cases, to the character in question.





Description of book:

Meet Erik Ashendale, wizard.

He solves all kinds of problems of a magical and freaky nature. Especially when it comes to hunting down the supernatural.

So when he and his talking cat are asked to protect a girl who’s being chased by a big-time demon, they can hardly refuse, especially when the rent's due.

Once the fight takes shape, Erik and the rest of his unlikely companions have to pit themselves against the elemental forces of good and evil: angels, demons, a Japanese monster, 1/7 of the Deadly Sins, talking pets . . . and even a morally ambiguous twin sister gets thrown into the mix.

In order to stay alive, Erik must deal with his terrible past and the secrets of his family. And he must never forget the most important rule of his twisted world: Nothing is ever what it seems.



Author Bio:

Ryan Attard had one thing that distinguished him from the rest of his fan-fiction writing circle of friends: No matter how hard he tried, he would always throw an original character and a unique plot twist that would drive his hardcore geeky friends up a wall.

It wasn't long until Ryan found himself writing about the things he loved; magic, pissed off wizards, supernatural creatures, epic battles and all round badassery. Add to this a blend of satire, sarcasm, humour at the cost of the protagonist and a semi-original view point of the world of magic and mysticism in the 21th century and one can see the inner workings of this author's mind at work.

Nowadays Ryan divides his time between attempting to live a normal student life, writing the second book of the Legacy series as well as for other projects and ruling over his imaginative worlds as a malicious god.



Check out the chapters then get the book for more of Amaymon, the delightful, arrogant, controlling, perverted, sarcastic demon who loves nothing more than tormenting Erik

Ryan is giving away the first 3 chapters of  First Born at amazon, his blog, or you can grab them here:


Amazon

Here is Ryan's blog: enkousama.blogspot.com