Thursday, June 26, 2014

Tom Johnson


Guest Post by Tom Johnson


Guest Post

Pangaea: Eden’s Planet was a concept I came up with several years ago while looking for a possible book proposal to submit to Hollywood Studios. Yes, I’ve submitted several proposals without success yet, but I keep trying. I’ve actually gone through two agents that were not hungry enough to sell my books to Hollywood. Basically, Pangaea: Eden’s Planet is a character-driven novel and focuses on seven astronauts on a mission to Mars to begin a terra-farming project after a nuclear war on Earth. But problems arise when they enter a space anomaly that disables their ship, sending them back in time. The planet’s gravity pulls them back to Earth, where they crash land on an alien world 250 million years in the past. Their mission now turns into a survival situation, as fierce reptiles of the Permian Period, as well as explosive nature, endangers their very lives.

The seven astronauts are scientists in special fields that will be needed to fulfill their mission on Mars. This includes Colonel Evelyn Peterson and Major Adam Cooper, the pilots of Galileo Two; Colonel Peterson is the leader of the mission, the major is her second in command. I gave each character individual personalities. The subplot was a romance building between Peterson and Cooper. When I first conceived the story, Evelyn was black and Cooper white, which I figured would be one of the problems keeping them apart, but later I changed my mind about pursuing this element of the story, and dropped all reference to her race. After all, her responsibility of keeping those under her command alive in a harsh environment is concern enough. Besides, in the 21st Century race should no longer be a stumbling block to romance.

My love of biology and study of paleontology and other zoological areas of science has always been a driving force in my writing. In Pangaea: Eden’s Planet, I fill my world with known creatures from the period, as well as a few from my own imagination. Sixty million years before the dawn of the dinosaurs, there were still predators as menacing as T-Rex. Colonel Peterson and Major Cooper were the only ones armed, and that consisted of small caliber pistols, each holding 15-round clips of ammunitions, and they were faced by incredible odds. Their survival would require ingenuity and fearlessness. We have seven people alone in a world of fierce reptiles, volcanic activity, and danger from the heavens. But yet love will also find a way.

Readers that enjoy a story with action and danger, with a light touch of romantic tease will find Pangaea: Eden’s Planet a work of fiction both entertaining and, hopefully, memorable. There is drama and humor as the characters face each situation, good and bad, with the knowledge that life or death could be ahead of them. Their survival may depend on their next action. You will find laughter at times, and cry at others, but I believe you will come to know and love the characters, whatever their faults might be. Happy reading.


Excerpt

Just as they thought they had reached the safety of the desert a giant Gorgon, fully twelve feet in length came out of nowhere, its long saber tooth-like tusks reaching for them. The colonel and Cooper had already holstered their guns in order to run unhampered, and the creature was upon them before either could draw their weapon.

Manning smiled. “Everyone has a purpose.”

Without hesitation, he stepped between the monster and his shipmates …



Pangaea: Eden’s Planet
Tom Johnson


Genre: Science Fiction/Survival

Publisher: First Realm Publishing
Date of Publication: June 18, 2014

ISBN -13: 978-1497340749
ISBN-10: 1497340748


Number of pages: 100
Word Count: 50,000 


Cover Artist: Jared from Off the Wall Creations 



Book Description:

Seven astronauts en route to Mars encounter a time warp in space that disables their ship. Crash landing on Earth, they discover an alien planet sixty million years before the dinosaurs.

Pangaea, the super continent, is filled with danger and terror, as they must survive against fierce reptiles that ruled the Earth 250 million years in the past! 




About the Author

As a twenty-year military veteran, I served on the Korean DMZ under fire, as well as in Vietnam. I have a law enforcement background. My studies of paleontology and entomology have been an influence in many of my novels.

My wife and I started the publishing imprint of FADING SHADOWS in 1982, and published a hobby magazine and several genre magazines for 22 years, before I settled into writing my own novels.

I have now been published in over 80 books, which include fiction novels and short stories, as well as nonfiction books. I write SF, YA, Western, and Action novels.

Website

Pulp Den

Jur Novels 








Wednesday, June 25, 2014

P.I. Barrington


Guest Post by P. I. Barrington



Guest Post


Thanks so much Cloey for hosting me today!

Whenever I say one of my books, such as my newest The Brede Chronicles, is a “romance” I have to confess I always feel like I’m cheating a little. There isn’t endless lovemaking or a million steamy scenes. It’s really more like a relationship story. There’s romance sure but there’s a lot more relationship than romance in this book. There’s love of course but this is a story that grows and not just on readers either. The relationship grows, the conflict grows, the people grow physically and emotionally, the story grows. You might even call it a saga.

It gets deeper in places, more difficult in others with bursts and moments of happiness just like real relationships and loves do. There are the ups and downs and rocky places that threaten to kill the relationship or at least twist it out of shape. A lot of that happens in this book too. Yet like in real life, there remains that persistent, long suffering, hopeful spark that promises fulfillment. Whether that fulfillment is ever realized is like a childhood taunt: “that’s for you to find out.”

And so I feel like I’m cheating. I’m not giving you breathless climaxes or chiseled chests—well okay, Alekzander Brede is like Vin Diesel with box braids even if he isn’t all human. He’s still yummy—hmm maybe there is a scene or two that closes in on steamy—that’s also for you to find out!

I am giving you something though: a deep, realistic relationship that moves, and morphs and lives and maybe, just maybe, reminds you of your own relationship saga whether it turned out good or bad or bad-ass.


Excerpt

Elektra landed on her knees on the ancient stone cobbled sidewalks and used the wall of Narita's edifice to help herself stand. The pain, now near unbearable, shrieked when she touched the blackened and bruised flesh to anything including cloth and she struggled against the throbbing crowds to make her way toward the only place she thought to go for help.

"Please Mahmud I don't want to lose my arm. You have to help me," she stood before the self-appointed doctor of the proscribed citizens. He inspected it and then shook his head.

"I can do nothing for you," he said. "It is already too far gone by now. Even should you sit in the sun for five days it would be no help."

"I'll get you money. Whatever you want, I'll get it. Please, save my hand, please?"

He shook his head again sorrowfully.

"I can do nothing. This does not need my type of medicine. You must ask the mechanical doctors, those with science and not nature. I am sorry I cannot help you Elektra."

Crying she stood against the wall of the crooked street, thinking what she might pay to those who if they could build space machines, could build anything. She slid down the wall and sat on her haunches against it sobbing.

A shadow fell across her, changing the scorching temperature a degree. She opened her eyes and a man knelt before her. He took her arm and gently inspected it.

"I can give you a new arm and hand," he said. "But you must pay what I ask." He stared directly into her eyes. "You will have a new arm—a new hand—better than before. But you must pay the price."

"What is it you want?" Elektra asked, still gasping in pain.

"Alekzander Brede."



The Brede Chronicles 
Book 1
P. I. Barrington



Genre: Science Fiction Romance/Adventure

Publisher: First Realm Publishing
Date of Publication: June 18, 2014

ISBN-13: 978-1497340831
ISBN-10:1497340837


Number of pages: 144
Word Count: 83,000

Cover Artist: Jared from Off the Wall Creations


Book Description:

Half-human Alekzander Brede is a law unto himself…or so he thinks. Elektra Tate, the street orphan who loves him has other ideas. When she betrays him for no apparent reason, he vows to punish her one way or another.

Taking the one thing she treasures most—their son—begins a cat and mouse relationship spanning two planets and costing possibly his life.

Elektra will stop at nothing to save her son but can she overcome Brede’s twisted idea of vengeance? 


About the Author

After an extended detour through the entertainment industry, P.I. Barrington has returned to writing fiction. Among her experience are radio air talent and the music industry. She lives in Los Angeles.

Her work includes:

Future Imperfect Trilogy (Crucifying Angel, Miraculous Deception, Final Deceit)

Inamorata Crossing/Borealis 1: A Space Opera

Isadora DayStar

The Button Hollow Chronicles: The Leaf Peeper Murders

Free stories on ReadWave.com & Wattpad.com

Blog

Twitter 




Friday, June 20, 2014

A.J. Locke


Guest Post, Excerpt, & Contest by A.J. Locke



Guest Post

For me, reading and writing go hand in hand; as I’m sure it does for just about every serious author out there. I think it’s our love of losing ourselves within the pages of book that sparks our desire to write stories of our own. Many of the books I’ve read have had a strong impact on me, and some of them have had an influence on the way I think about my writing. I’d like to share a few of them, and I’ll start with a childhood favorite:

The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett

As much as I love reading, I don’t tend to re-read books over and over again, but all three of the books I’m sharing are exceptions. I used to read The Secret Garden a lot when I was a child, and even as I got older I’d pick it up again from time to time. What I loved most about this book was the world Mary, Colin, and Dickon built inside their garden. They saw potential, growth, and magic in a place no one else saw it, and were able to breathe life not only into the garden but themselves and the people around them. This was a novel of change; each of the main characters changed in some way for the better, and the catalyst for it was a simple garden and a girl who just wanted a small place for her own.

The Sound of Waves – Yukio Mishima


The Sound of Waves is a Japanese novel set on a small fishing island, and tells the love story of a simple fishing boy and a wealthy young girl. There’s no big enemy to contend with, and the setting doesn’t stray far from the island, but the story is impactful. I loved the quiet pace of the story, as well as its simplicity and power it has to convey how these two young people fall in love and the obstacles they faced. I could easily believe this was someone’s true story, like I was getting a glimpse into someone’s life, and it wasn’t someone who was famous, or extraordinary or important, just someone real who may have existed on a small island out there in the world.

Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte



Oh the tragic love story of Cathy and Heathcliff. He is dark, damaged, and borderline evil, she is selfish, annoying, and self absorbed, but you love them because of the way they love each other. Their dark, tormenting, all consuming love is what I love most about this story. This is a novel of extremes; Bronte pushes the emotion of loving someone as far down a twisted, stormy path as she could until the reader feels it almost palpably. You do not doubt Cathy and Heathcliff’s feelings for each other even though all that seems to surround them is tragedy. Personally, I draw from this story whenever I am trying to push myself to go deeper with an emotion I am trying to convey with my writing whether it be in a book or a poem. It also made me not afraid to explore the darker side of things.

For me, what these three novels have in common, even though they are all so different, is that they tell powerful stories in minimal settings. You don’t stray from the mansion or the garden in The Secret Garden, you only leave the island to see what Shinji’s life is like on a fishing boat in The Sound of Waves, and you never really leave the moors in Wuthering Heights. These novels showed me that you don’t need a sweeping landscape to tell a powerful story. They also showed me how a good character driven story is written, and how to balance all the emotions necessary to do so successfully. These are all things that are at the back of my mind when I write; I try to make my characters strong but flawed, give them reasons for the things they do or don’t do, as well as reasons to fall in love or reasons to believe in something. Without being a good reader, I don’t think I’d have a chance of being a good writer, which is all I hope to be.


Short Excerpt - Chapter One

Today was the anniversary of the worst day of my life, and I’d been trying to forget about it by consuming a vast amount of booze. The fact that I owned a bar greatly helped with that endeavor, and the fact that I was drunk was an accomplishment, since witches weren’t easily susceptible to alcohol. Humans were onto something with this whole drinking-to-forget-one’s-crappy-life thing.

Behind the bar, I poured a shot for an eager customer. Amaretto, Southern Comfort peach liqueur, and sweet-and-sour mix went into the glass, then I held my hand over the drink and let a stream of purple magic, the same color as my eyes, flow into it. The drink glowed purple for a few seconds, then I handed it to the customer, who drank it with no hesitation. After slamming the glass down, he grabbed the tipsy woman who’d been hanging on him and gave her a sloppy kiss, then led her out of the bar. I smiled and shook my head. The magic I’d put into the shot, aptly named Piece of Ass, would ensure they didn’t leave the bedroom tonight.

Somewhere in the room I heard riotous laughter, and above that the voice eliciting that laughter. Xiune was having a good night for a change and wasn’t holed up in my office. Though since she was just a head inside a clear acrylic box, it was understandable that sometimes all she wanted to do was hide.

“Malachi, darling!” Xiune called. “Seven handsome young men have requested the Challenge!” I smiled slyly. I loved administering the Challenge.

“It’s time for the Seven Deadly Sins Challenge!” I announced, filling up eight shot glasses with vodka, one of which I downed. “Which sin will it be and what will its victim do?” People shouted their guesses while I sent tendrils of magic into the shots. My magic sparked like tiny bolts of lightning, and like the shot I had just made, the liquid briefly glowed purple. I focused on one of the glasses and started whispering a spell, channeling the essence of one of the seven deadly sins through my body. For a brief moment, my body became flushed with a feeling of ravenous desire, then it flowed out of me into the shot glass. I felt rather charged and wondered if this had been the right sin to choose tonight. But hey, I was drunk, and I kind of wanted to see someone suffer. Misery loves company right?

I levitated the shot glasses onto a tray and sauntered over to the table where Xiune was entertaining the men who thought they were up for the Challenge. With her flawless complexion, golden eyes, and vibrant red hair, Xiune didn’t need a body to be beautiful. I’d known her when she had one though, and if she’d been sitting there in all her glory, she’d have every man kneeling at her feet. Her allure was only heightened by the fact that she was a bodiless beauty who used her magic to float herself around in a box. The box wasn’t necessary for Xiune to move around, but she felt safer inside it when she was out in public. That way if a witch hater spat on her, she’d have a shield. It also prevented those on the other end of the spectrum, people who were fascinated by witches, from getting too close. I set the shot glasses down and motioned for the men to stand around the table. They looked like your typical college fare: unkempt hair, sagging pants, and some sort of ironic or sports themed T-shirt. High-fives and shit talking all around.

“Now boys,” I said, leaning forward on my forearms, giving my cleavage time to shine. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? One of you is moments away from experiencing a sin you may or may not enjoy.” They assured me they were man enough to handle any sin, and I smiled. The fun thing about the Challenge was that everyone handled it differently. One man caught with gluttony had run across the street to McDonalds, spent over a hundred dollars on food, then sat on the floor and gorged himself. A woman under the same gluttony spell had tried to eat her friend’s purse.

“Let’s hope it’s lust and let’s hope it’s me,” one of the men said, winking at me. He stood a couple of inches over six feet, had brown hair and a lanky physique. If he started spending time at the gym, maybe his lame come-ons would give him more luck getting laid.

“Honey, I would eat you up,” I said with a slow smile. Normally I would never have said such a line, but all the alcohol I had consumed was speaking for me. He probably had no idea how true those words were though, because his smile never wavered. However, for a moment after I spoke, I saw another face in place of his, and it cut through my drunken haze like a knife. I gasped, and he must have thought that was a sign he had a chance with me, because his smile became more lascivious. Lucky for him, he did nothing for me.

“Malachi, let’s get this show going.” Xiune slid her box over to nudge me, and I shook my head and turned back to the waiting crowd.

“All right, it’s about to go down!” I yelled. “For anyone who hasn’t witnessed the Challenge before, I’ll explain how it works. One of these shot glasses is infused with the essence of one of the seven deadly sins, and the recipient will be overcome with that sin for the next half hour, while the others will experience the most euphoric feeling they’ve ever experienced from a shot of alcohol.” I motioned for the men to pick up a glass, and Mister Flirtatious had one more wink for me.

“Gentlemen, take your shot of sin!” They took their shots to the head. When they slammed their glasses down, every eye in the room was on them. After about twenty seconds, one of the men—not Winky—suddenly gasped, whipped his head around, and bolted from among his friends to accost a mildly attractive woman standing nearby.

“Fuck me! Fuck me, please!” He shook her by the upper arms while she stared at him, mortified, as his friends tried to pry him off her. I brayed with laughter, as did Xiune and everyone else in the bar.

“Oh god, I’m so horny. Someone please, fuck me!” He struggled against his laughing friends, trying to reach any female in sight, with his erection leading the way. Lust had been the winner tonight, and for the next thirty minutes this poor sap would be lusting after every woman he saw, whether she was twenty-eight or eighty-two. He even lurched toward Xiune, but she floated out of the way. Xiune was one sexy head in a box and had a mouth she could work wonders with. She often came out of her box to work those wonders on any willing man. There were more than you’d think.

“Right sin, wrong guy, right?” brown-haired dude said to me.

I rolled my eyes. “You and your friends will have your hands full for the next half hour. I suggest you hold on to him real good and don’t be surprised if he turns to one of you when it starts to look like he won’t be getting any women.”

He laughed and pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll call his girlfriend, though she’ll probably be too pissed at him for doing this to alleviate his lust.” He left the bar to make the call, while the other five continued to hold on to their friend, laughing like they’d never experienced anything so hilarious in their lives. Some of the more mischievous or drunk women teased the guy by parading in front of him and doing dirty little stripper moves. Only his friends’ hold stopped him from tackling one of them and trying to rip her clothes off.

I wasn’t afraid of things getting out of hand because I could break the spell any time I wanted. There was always a point where things stopped being amusing and started getting annoying. I left them and headed back behind the bar, while Xiune found another table of people to entertain. She was a wonderful songstress, and soon her melodic voice filled the bar as I went back to making magicked drinks. I glanced at my watch, noting that it was almost midnight, which meant the day was almost over. That didn’t actually mean anything though. The day passing didn’t mean I would forget the curse that was hanging over my life.

“Hey, Malachi, can you pass me a knife?”

“Knave?” I quickly turned to the busboy, James, who was bent over a box behind the bar.

“No, I said knife,” he said. My throat was suddenly tight, but I reached under the bar, got a knife, and handed it to him. I stood back and ran my hands through my short black curls, blowing out a slow breath as I tried to rein in my reaction to thinking I had heard the name Knave. That was the name attached to the face I did not like to think about, but no amount of alcohol and rowdy college boys taking the Challenge could truly put him from my mind. I didn’t want to see Knave’s face, didn’t want to think about the hard muscles my hands used to slide over, following the planes of his body to his waist and not stopping until I touched something that arched his back and made him whisper my name. I didn’t want to think about the nights we’d spent wrapped in each other’s arms, feeling our hearts beating against each other. But of course, since his name crossed my lips, he was all I could think about.

Falling in love with Knave was why I was cursed. And I could only blame myself. I should have known better than to take someone else’s lover to my bed. Especially if the woman crossed was a witch queen who was powerful, sadistic, and known to curse people just for sneezing out of place.

“Malachi? Excuse me, Malachi?” I blinked and brought myself out of my thoughts, turning to see that one of the other busboys, Dan, was trying to get my attention. He held a box of empty liquor bottles and needed me to move so he could pass. I shuffled out of the way, but thinking of Knave and my curse, along with all the beer and shots I’d drunk tonight, made me feel slightly unstable. Suddenly, the rowdiness in my bar wasn’t fun; it was obnoxious, and I wanted to get away from it. I headed through the door Dan had passed through, into the hallway that led to my office and the Dumpster out back. Halfway down the hallway, I heard a crash, followed by a scream. I ran through the back door, taking in several things at once that left me rooted to the spot. One, the revolting stench that went far beyond what our single Dumpster could give off. Two, Dan standing rigidly a few feet away with broken bottles scattered at his feet. And three, the thing that had caused him to drop the bottles and scream. Behind the Dumpster was a dead body.






Black Widow Witch

A.J. Locke

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Etopia Press
Date of Publication: May 15th, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-941692-09-7
ASIN: B00KD43GUY

Number of pages: 239
Word Count: 88k


Book Description

A deadly curse, a deadly assassin, and one shot to save everyone she loves…

Malachi Erami can’t fall in love. After she’s caught with Knave, the witch Queen’s favorite lover, she’s cursed to savagely butcher any man she falls for. Exiled to live among humans, Malachi runs a bar that serves magic-laced drinks, but since her curse labels her high risk, she’s also closely monitored. Julian Vira is her latest babysitter, but he’s also the first man since Knave that she’s been attracted to. Good-looking and nonjudgmental of her horrible curse? Yeah, he’s hard to resist.

But when Malachi finds a body behind her bar, she knows she’s in trouble. If the Witches Control Council gets wind of it, she’ll be accused of murder and sent to her death. And when her friends start getting framed for murder, she realizes she’s not the only target. Malachi and Julian dig into the evidence to clear her name, but the closer they get to answers, the closer the curse comes to taking over. So when Malachi uncovers a plot to kill the witch Queen, she finds herself suddenly recruited into service, with the promise of having her curse lifted and a reunion with Knave as well. But if she fails, Knave will die. And she and Julian might not live long enough to see that happen.




About the Author:

A.J. Locke is an author and artist, originally from Trinidad, now residing in New York City. Black Widow Witch is her second published novel, and other than writing she enjoys reading, drawing, painting, graphic design, and watching too much television.

Blog

Facebook

Twitter: @maqueripe

Goodreads 












Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Kat De Falla


Guest Post, Excerpt, and Giveaway by Kat De Falla



Guest Post

Conference DO and DON’T



(Here is a picture of me at my very first book signing the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America annual conference in Brookfield, WI last weekend)

DO: Have your manuscript polished and ready to rumble. Pitch from the heart. Know your book inside and out. Have it ready to email to an eager agent or editor that night!

DON’T: Skip out on the talks. Be a lifelong learner. Even if the topic sounds like something you know everything about – go anyway! There are always new tips, tricks, and hints to discover.

DO: Have the perfect pitch – I’ll share you the pitch I used for The Wild Rose Press – fine tune yours until it sparkles in the noon day sun!

For years, Calise Rowe has been able to sense unusual energy from certain people, making her believe she's different. She's about to find out she's right.

On a cold December night, an elderly Hispanic man comes into her pharmacy and takes her hand. In broken English he tells her that demons walk among us. He leaves a paper with four words, “Mal Pais, Costa Rica.” She heads to the sultry jungles of Costa Rica where her search for the truth leads her to Lucas Rojas, a seer who's been hiding from his gift of sight for years.

Calise begs him for answers, but he is terrified to bring her into his dangerous world. She finds herself falling for the reclusive Lucas. As their love intensifies, Lucas agrees to help her, unwittingly drawing her into an ancient war between demons and seers. But the biggest danger to both of them comes from her past. Her ex-boyfriend is a fallen angel, known as a transitor, who will do anything, including consort with demons, to get rid of Lucas and win her back.

DON’T: Forget your business cards and network, network, network. Don’t be afraid to talk to as many people as possible. Ask questions! It doesn’t matter if you are published or not, the sooner you build a group of writer friends that you support the better! Then down the road, these people may remember and support you.

So, check out local conferences in your area and go and have some fun!

As a giveaway, I’ll critique two pitches. I attended the NYC Perfect Pitch Conference a few years back and learned quite a bit on how to query online and pitch in person. I’d love to help you polish your query! Leave a comment about how many times you’ve revised your own query (I’ve lost count) and two winners will be picked.

Purchase Links:

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

KOBO
Excerpt


She traced a circle in the sand with her finger.

Why would she disclose her whole existence to someone she’d just met? Someone who talked so little about himself that she found herself talking to fill the void. Saying things she could barely admit in her own head.

His hand covered hers. “I’m lonely, too. Getting to know you this week has been the brightest point in my life and I don’t want you to leave, but I know the only place you’ll be safe is far away from me.”

She swallowed. He had read her mind.

He lay down on his back and closed his eyes. “Cali, you know when you hear a song for the first time and you kind of ingest it? You can’t possibly know right away that it will be one of your favorite songs for the rest of your life. A classic.”

“Yeah.” She hoped he was going somewhere good with this.

“That first listen,” he continued, “you pick up a little of the melody and some lyrics that catch you. But when the song ends, you have to hear it again because you want to memorize all the words and sing along. After you hear it a few times and learn the words inside and out, then you begin to let the melody seep inside you. Next thing you know, you’ve completely digested the song and find yourself humming it while you are doing nothing, like shaving or driving your car. Finally, the song becomes so ingrained it becomes a part of you. Forever. You can recall it and it’s with you whenever you need it. Am I making any sense?”

She nodded, blinking back the tears fighting to fall.

“Cali, I don’t want you to go back because you’re my favorite song.”






The Seer’s Lover
Kat De Falla 

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Calise Rowe's question of who walks among us leads her into an ancient war between seers and demons.

Book Description:

For years, Calise Rowe has been able to sense unusual energy from people, making her believe she is different. Pulled into an ancient war raging for centuries between demon hunters and seers, she's about to find out she's right.

Her search for the truth leads her to Lucas Rojas, a seer of angels and demons who walk the earth shrouded from normal human eyes. He's hidden his gift for years and refuses to endanger Calise by sharing it with her.

In the sultry Costa Rican Jungles, their worlds collide. As their passion and desire ignite, so does the ancient war between demons and seers. Will their combined efforts be enough to save themselves and the entire human world, or will their new found love be their downfall?

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/17gFt26ncoU

Available at Amazon Nook Kobo Wild Rose Press





About the Author:

Author Kat de Falla was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she learned to roller skate, ride a banana seat bike, and love Shakespeare thanks to her high school English teacher.

Four years at the UW-Madison wasn’t enough, so she returned to her beloved college town for her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is happily employed as a retail pharmacist where she fills prescriptions and chats with her patients.

She is married to her soul mate, classical guitarist, Lee de Falla and raising four kids together ala the Brady Bunch.

Author Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook



Lee de Falla's Info:

Composer Lee de Falla, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was raised in a family of professional musicians. He picked up his father's guitar at age eight and hasn't put one down since. Although well versed at playing all genres of music, his love is composition for modern classical guitar and instrumental orchestrations. He is finishing work on two CD's which will be available later this year.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/leedefalla and www.facebook.com/bfpmusic

Composer Website: www.bayafaya.com where FREE music requests are available that accompany THE SEER’S LOVER:

1. Anna’s Dance is a jazzy bossa nova meant to accompany chapter two.

2. Shane's Torment is a churning soundscape of despair meant to accompany chapter six.

3. Cali and Lucas First Dance is a Latin fusion instrumental love song meant to accompany chapter twelve.

As I touch on Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) in this book, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to www.iorphan.org


















Monday, June 16, 2014

Kary Rader


Giveaway and Guest Post by Kary Rader




I Won’t Let Go

By Kary Rader


In my current release from Boroughs Publishing Group, The Pirate Princess, my heroine Charlee believes she’s beyond saving, and even though she’s not happy with her life or herself, she doesn’t believe she can change her circumstances and get out of the trap she’s fallen into.

Petra is Greek for “Rock”, and he was named for his formidability. Petra is a man of honor and character, and he sets his sights on saving the beautiful pirate captain so he can make her his own.

It takes a lot for Charlee to trust Petra, but he is unwavering in his quest to win her and in the end, it’s not his strength that changes her heart, but his tenderness. And when she is at her most vulnerable, Petra invites Charlee to cling to him, to trust him and he promises, “I won’t let go.”

Have you ever felt like Charlee, beyond help or healing? Beyond saving? I know I have at times, but all it takes is that one special person to say, “No matter what, I won’t let go. I’m with you. I’ll fight for you.” I pray you find that person in your time of need, but, even more, I pray that your heart is so fortified and strong that you can become that person for someone else.

I hope you allow Petra and Charlee to capture your heart. The Pirate Princess is available now.

Here is the song that inspired Petra’s message of love and hope.






The Pirate Princess
Reign of Light 
Book One
Kary Rader 

Genre: Fantasy – Supernatural – Paranormal - Romance

Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Date of Publication: May 27th 2014

ISBN: 9781941260180
Word Count: 64,400







Book Description: 

For a pirate, nothing is forbidden...except love. To gain her freedom, Charlee must seduce the prince. To save the pirate, Prince Petra must win her heart.

BY HONOR ALONE

A handsome war hero, Prince Petra can have his pick of any lady in the kingdom. A man of virtue, he's saved himself for just the right one. But when the corrupt emperor of Isa Vis kidnaps a duke's daughter to force her into an alliance, Petra sacrifices himself—and his dreams of love—to save her. Betrothing himself to the distant captive, he leads a daring rescue across the stormy South Sea.

But The Light has other plans. On the voyage, Petra runs afoul of Charlee. Once a prisoner, now a pirate captain, the sultry siren holds him captive with more than just her sword. And when she offers a seductive wager—if he takes her body before they reach the City of Light, she wins absolution for her crimes—it is all he can do to hold firm. While he has every reason to bring Charlee to justice, he’s also finally found a woman he wants more than honor. And he can no more trust her than he can trust himself.

Available at Amazon ARe BN




About the Author:

Kary Rader is a part-time Twitter sage, stay-at-home mother of three, and slave to the characters and worlds inside her head. Always creative, she's drawn to stories with fantastical worlds and creatures. 

With a little bit of magic and divine guidance, there isn't anything that can't be accomplished with words. It's the power of words that creates and destroys. 

Vanquishing evil and injustice while finding eternal love in the process is all in a day's work. With the help of her critique partners and master cartographer imaginary places come to life.












Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Robert Poulin

Death Toll by Robert Poulin

Veronika Kane is back and she is taking names and kicking butt!


When Necromancers, Were creatures, and the horrors of Chaos come together it can’t mean anything good...


Death Toll
Ghost Wars Saga
Book 2
Robert Poulin

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Ghost Watch Publishing

Date of Publication: June 2014


ISBN: 978-0-9894469-3-8
ISBN: 978-0-9894469--4-5


Number of pages: 324
Word Count: 96,000

Cover Artist: Hannah Carr

Book Description:

What started out as a routine call led to so much more…

My name is Veronika Kane, and I’m the Captain of the Ghost Watch in the reborn city of Shadow Philadelphia. After we disposed of the city’s previous master and his minions, things were looking up, but in war things are never that easy. A routine call with Detective Frank Cooper blew the cover off of an elaborate scheme to plunge the city of brotherly love into chaos. When Necromancers, Were creatures, and the horrors of Chaos come together it can’t mean anything good.

With new and old enemies joining forces against us, I’m going to need all the help I can get. Lucky for me, my old friend Frank Cooper will be there to lend a hand, along with Brianna, a strong willed were-ferret, and the stormy eyed wizard Nathaniel Carter. I just hope it will be enough to save everyone.

This time, our enemies aren’t just attacking us in Limbo; this time, they are taking the battle to the streets of the living world and its unknowing citizens. If the Old Ones rise, I don’t think there will be anything anyone can do to stop them.

My name is Veronika Kane, and this war is far from over.



Kindle e-book version

Amazon.com Paperback Version

Createspace Paperback Version




About the Author:

Robert Poulin was born and raised in the New England state of Connecticut. After spending his late teenage years in Boca Raton Florida, Robert moved to upstate New York where he lived with his uncle Wilbrod Poulin and attended the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. After earning a Bachelor's in Political Science and a Master's in Teaching, Robert went back to Florida where he taught Social Studies for a few years.

After returning to Northern New York, Robert took a job with the North Country Center for Independence: a disability rights and advocacy organizations. Robert has worked for NCCI for thirteen years and is now the Executive Director. Wail of the Banshees is Robert's first novel; he has been a huge fan of fantasy and science fiction since second grade when he discovered The Hobbit.

Urban fantasy in particular has become Robert's favored genre in the past decade. Robert has been legally blind since infancy, but thanks to a mom that encouraged independence, hard work, and a healthy dose of dreaming, the disability has mostly just been an inconvenience.

Ghost Watch Publishing

FaceBook

Ghost Watch Publishing tumblr

Google+

Twitter

goodreads












Monday, June 9, 2014

ER Pierce

Guest Post by ER Pierce



Guest Post

Can you have too much angst in a (paranormal) romance novel?


First, let me say a big thank you to Cloey for having me on her blog, and for participating in my book tour for Fractured Moon. I appreciate it so much. Now, I wanted to talk about angst in romance novels, specifically, paranormal romance.

I admit I enjoy torturing my characters occasionally. Not necessarily in the knives, guns, or wounds sort of way, but in a will they fall in love or won’t they fall in love, way.

You know what I’m talking about, right?

Picture this, your hero walks into a bar, bumps into you, and you just know instinctually, that he belongs to you. Something about him calls to every piece of your body and mind. His scent burns into your brain. You reach out to touch him, and he brushes by you, walks out the door, and you stand there, confused and crushed.

Left alone.

This is what happens to Aurelia Fridell and Ceithin Starkley in Fractured Moon. In romance novels, I have a hard time when one of the star characters is in a relationship (or married) and then suddenly meet their ‘soul mate’ and immediately start cheating. There is more leeway in paranormal romance, I think, but it’s a hard line, and can get really sticky to work around. You don’t want your readers hating your characters! So, imagine my surprise when I started writing Fractured Moon, and Tessa walked around a corner and stamped Ceithin as hers, right in front of Aurelia. My mouth hung open in shock!

To be honest, I was kind of pissed off, but I let the story unfold as I wrote.

Before you get mad at Ceithin, he’s a sexy alpha wolf, of course he might be seeing someone. It wouldn’t have made sense if he were lonely and sad. However, once he’d caught Aurelia’s scent, his wolf went a bit crazy and poor Ceithin, well, let’s just say you’ll have to read Fractured Moon to see how I tortured him, and Aurelia. Ha, poor wolves pined for each for a year before they met again, but when they did meet, it was explosive. Literally. I still laugh every time I read their encounter at Astrid’s Tattoo shop. (And, I feel the need to tell you, Ceithin is an honorable wolf, and never cheated. I’d hate to turn you off the book before you even start it, if such things bother you as a reader.)

Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself, and giving away the story. Can you have too much angst in a romance novel? There has to be a balance (in my opinion) between when the characters meet and you throw them into certain situations, and then they finally, finally…. get naked. Right?

I remember I read a romantic suspense novel where the hero and heroine danced around each for nearly 85% of the book, and then they wham, bam, thank you ma’am, and then poof. Book was over. I felt a little cheated. I wanted more oomph, more substance. More relationship. However, I’ve also read plenty of books where the hero and heroine are knocking boots ten pages in, after just meeting, and are instantly in love, lust, and then the angst begins with forces tearing them apart, and I’m left frantically turning pages to see if they’ll find each other and make it work, or whether their hormones drove them instead of real feelings. It’s hard to rely solely on ‘fated mates’ to drive a story.

As a reader myself, I want to feel the characters are genuine.

How do you like your romances? Angst laden, or devoid of too much drama? What, as a reader, makes you irritated when it comes to the romance of your couple?

A big thank you for reading my rambling angst session. I’m interested in your opinions as readers. If you’d like to know what happens in Fractured Moon, pick up a copy, and then tell me how you felt about their romance.







Fractured Moon
Aurelia Fridell
Book One
ER Pierce


Genre: Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication: May 27, 2014

ISBN: 978-0692213216
ASIN: B007GOGXZO

Number of pages: 300
Word Count: 76K

Cover Artist: ER Pierce



Book Description: 


Aurelia Fridell is a freak. The only werewolf who can't shift.

As her thirtieth birthday approaches, isolation creeps in, and worry settles in her gut. She accepted her status long ago, and yet lately, she's felt off-kilter. Eyes follow her, prickling her senses, and her headaches are getting worse.

Is she paranoid, or is someone, or something, stalking her? Watching. Waiting. Drumming fingers to a sinister beat she can't hear.

Time will tell.

Ceithin Starkley isn't looking for a mate. Especially now. In fact, he doesn't believe in true-matings at all.

While he is being recruited for a new job, a scent on the wind stuns him, and he finds himself fighting an inner battle he never wanted, yet can't ignore.

Sparks fly, as Ceithin and Aurelia fight fate, and race against a clock neither knows is ticking.

Will he claim Aurelia before he loses her?

Warning: This book contains a drool-worthy Alpha male, and a sassy heroine with brains and brothers you'll adore. A best friend every girl would love to have, and a terrifying road no one will see coming



Book Trailer http://youtu.be/8VV1ppg_h5g



About the Author

I'm a work in progress who adores dark chocolate, the fresh mountain air, and the sound of rushing rivers.

I enjoy the salted breeze from the ocean, and the warmth of the sun heating my body as I sit on the rocks listening to the waves and gulls. Just thinking.

My mind is a chaotic mixture of realism and dreams, tempered by my four spirited children and creative husband.

I'm a multi-genre author at the whim of my erratic muse. I'm a yoga enthusiast, natural food lover, and I love body art.

Want to stay up to date on my work?

Join my Code Blue newsletter

Website

Facebook 

Twitter   @E_R_Pier ce


Friday, June 6, 2014

Stephen Martino


Gust Post by Stephen Martino



Guest Post

The best way of getting to know my medical/political thriller, The New Reality, would be through the words of one of its main characters, Alex Pella. The following passage was written not only to serve as a possible diary entry that Alex would write but it would also serve as a potential warning by Alex for someone, if anyone is still alive, in the future.

Alex Pella Guest Post

One day history will look back on us and ask, “What were they thinking?” No, the trouble that we, and I mean the whole planet, are in did not start overnight. It has been going on for many years, but too many of us looked away or were too wrapped up in our own lives to see what exactly was happening in the world.

Now it’s the year 2080, and mankind stands at the precipice of extinction. And if you think that a war, natural catastrophe or some other disaster brought us to this point, you would be just as naïve as we are. No, mankind did this to themselves, and they have no one else to blame for their own mistakes.

Insurmountable world-wide economic debt, the collapse of our healthcare system, and the rise of fascism set the stage for this disaster. However, it was mankind’s naiveté that triggered the catastrophe. Now, some sort of disease released during human medical experimentation has been unleashed on the planet, and we have no way to stop it.

The only thing left preventing humanity from becoming a mere blip on earth’s history is myself and a few of my colleagues. However, others want to find the cure for themselves and will stop at nothing to acquire it-- even if it means destroying humanity in the processes.

However, this plague has been foreseen by prophets and clues to its cure have been hidden across the planet. Guided by an ancient code concealed within the Hebrew version of the Bible, my eclectic group of colleagues and I must begin our worldwide search for the answer in order to save humanity from its own self-inflicted destruction.


This future described in The New Reality mirrors our own, current society and some of its most crippling problems. If we do not have the foresight to solve these issues, The New Reality may one day become our reality.


The New Reality
Alex Pella Series
Book 1
Stephen Martino


Genre: Medical Political Thriller


Publisher: Light Messages
Date of Publication: May 15, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-61153-074-2 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-61153-075-9 (ebook)

Number of pages: 326





Book Description:

Author Stephen Martino delivers an action-packed medical thriller in a heart-stopping race to save humanity.

In the year 2080, a deadly retrovirus is inadvertently released upon the planet. Facing financial ruin and catastrophic loss of life, the world’s nations turn to acclaimed neuroscientist Alex Pella and NIH expert Marissa Ambrosia.

Assembling a team of experts, the scientists begin an international search for the cure while fighting off a foreign elite military unit sent to stop them at all costs. Guided by a code concealed within the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, the scientists must traverse ancient lands and solve a biblical riddle in their quest to save humanity from its eminent destruction.

Drawing from both our nation’s politically charged environment and the worldwide economic crisis, The New Reality follows Alex Pella on a journey that projects a frightening path for human existence in the twenty-first century.

Book Trailer: http://www.martinoauthor.com/trailer/

Available at Amazon and BN 




About the Author:

Stephen Martino holds an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and is a neurologist in New Jersey. When he is not working, he can be found with his five children doing homework or cheering them on at a soccer field, basketball court, or dance recital. Martino is a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Cub Scout den leader and is an active public speaker, helping to educate the local community and healthcare professionals on the signs, symptoms and treatment of stroke. THE NEW REALITY is his first novel.

Web: http://www.martinoauthor.com/

Blog: http://www.martinoauthor.com/blog/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MartinoAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martinothenewreality

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7792201.Stephen_Martino














Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Aurallee Wallace



Guest by Aurallee Wallace






Guest Post


For the love of the Female Superhero! 

I love comic books. My debut novel, Sidekick, is a testament to that love. As part of my ongoing research, (I swear, I’m not just wasting time on the internet), I like to read about retro comics. They give fabulous insight into historical perspectives on gender, race, socio-economic class etc., but I’m not going to comment on any of that. You can make your own judgements on whether these representations of women are flattering, denigrating, limiting or empowering. The purpose of this post is simply to provide a mini buffet of super awesomeness. Long live the Hero Chicks! Enjoy.




Fantomah










First appeared in Jungle Comics #2 (Feb 1940), Publisher: Fiction House, Created by Fletcher Hanks

Fantomah “Mystery Woman of the Jungle” has the honor of being the very first female comic book superhero EVER – and what a superhero she is. Fantomah is like an early eco-warrior. She loves the jungle and all of its inhabitants, so if someone threatens her wilderness home, well, watch out baby. She can fly, transform objects into other forms, levitate things, and cause humans to mutate, but there is just one little catch (although I don’t think of it as a catch…I happen to think it’s super awesome). When she uses her powers, her beautiful face turns into a blue skull! How useful would that face be? I would so use it on my husband every time he put his dishes in the sink instead of the dishwasher. (Who am I kidding? I’m pretty sure I already look like that most mornings.)




The Black Orchid




First appeared in Top Comics (1944), Original Publisher: Consolidated Book Publishers, Created by Albert Magarian & Florence Magarian

You know what makes Black Orchid a star for me? Fashion. You see, Diana Dawn is a secretary by day, crime-fighter by night. How could this mild mannered young woman fight the city’s worst criminals? you ask. Accessories…or, accessory, rather. You see, she has this ring that shoots a black cloud of knock-out gas at her opponents, making her both stylish and semi-deadly. She also has a pretty nice wardrobe. That being said, it seems every time she fights, her clothes are somehow ruined, forcing her to strip down to her skivvies. Okay, one time I could understand...maybe even two, but all the time? Methinks our Orchid has some attention-seeking issues. But never fear! Just when you thought you might be losing respect for our dark flower, just know that not only does she fight regular human criminals, but she has also been known to kick some zombie ass. Nice.




Sheena, Queen of the Jungle





First appeared in Wags #1 (1937) / Jumbo Comics #1 (1938), Original Publisher: Fiction House, Created by Will Eisner and Jerry Iger

I wanted to be Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, when I was a kid. I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t want to be one with the animals, throw spears, wear golden anklets and something that looks like a bathing suit made…made out of the fur of one of my friends? Okay, I didn’t notice that particular hiccup as a kid, but as an adult, it seems kind of hypocritical. PETA would not be pleased. Anyway, Sheena’s cool. But on another side note, am I the only one seeing this whole jungle/exotic theme? I’m sensing me some pre-post-colonial sexy time issues. Oh yes, I am.




Black Cat





First Appeared in Pocket Comics #1 (1941), Original Publisher: Harvey, Created by Alfred Harvey & Al Gabriele

I got to say Black Cat might be the most fun of this grouping. She’s the daughter of a movie star and stuntman who gets bored with Tinsel Town and decides to set out into the world to make a difference (this sounds a little like my Bremy St. James – maybe that’s why I like her so much.) While she doesn’t have any “superpowers” per se, she’s good with a javelin and a lasso. Her other sweet skills include karate, acrobatics, and the ability to pop a pretty fierce wheelie without having a wardrobe malfunction. Now that’s a skill. Finally, when she’s not fighting Nazis, Black Cat is repelling the Japanese invasion of Hollywood (I’m sorry. What now? Oh right. 1941. Pearl Harbour…I didn’t know Hollywood was next on the list.)




Phantom Lady




First Appeared in Police Comics #1 (1941), Original Publisher: Quality, Created by Arthur Peddy, NOTE: Only the original Phantom Lady from the Golden Age is in the public domain NOT any subsequent versions from DC comics.

Okay, I just can’t go any further until we discuss the obvious. I’m having an Austin Power’s Mole moment. Would you look at those knockers? Jeez Louise. It’s got to be hard to fight crime with those…those…I feel like a 13 year old boy…so many words are coming to mind, but none of them appropriate…and “breasts” seems too humble a word for those flesh mountains. I feel really bad for Phantom Lady. I mean, you can tell a man drew her. No woman would let another woman go out crime-fighting without a decent sports bra. It’s not right, man. Not right.

Okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, on to more important things. Phantom Lady is a socialite! Just like my Bremy St. James! Also like my Bremy, she doesn’t have any real abilities, but she does have a super awesome blacklight ray to project darkness in order to make herself invisible! So cool. If only they sold ray guns on Ebay. Some of her enemies include: the Avenging Skulls, the Fire Fiend, the Killer Clown, Kurtz the Robbing Robot, Subway Slayer, and Vulture. Solid list. You really can judge a girl by the quality of her enemies.

Well, I hope you’ve had as much fun exploring this heroic grouping as I have. You are welcome to check out my version of the female superhero, Dark Ryder, in Sidekick. Oh! And I garnered all these fun facts from the website, Public Domain Superheroes…how I love Public Domain.



Sidekick
Auralee Wallace



Genre: Fantasy/Superhero

Publisher: Escape Publishing
Date of Publication: 1 June 2014



ISBN: 9780857991591
ASIN: Will be available end of April

Number of pages: Approx 172
Word Count: 73 818

Cover Artist: Danielle Mait



Book Description:

Heroes meets Kick-Ass in this brilliant and hilarious debut about a girl who just wants to save the world...

Bremy St James, daughter of billionaire Atticus St James, has been cut off from the family fortune and is struggling to survive in a world that no longer holds its breath every time she buys a new outfit. To make matters worse, her twin sister is keeping secrets, loan sharks are circling, and the man of her dreams — a newspaper reporter — is on assignment to bring down everyone with the last name St James.

Things are certainly looking bleak for the down-and-out socialite until a good deed throws her into the path of the city’s top crime-fighter, Dark Ryder. Suddenly, Bremy has a new goal: apprentice to a superhero, and start her own crime-fighting career.

Ryder has no need for a sidekick, but it turns out the city needs Bremy’s help. Atticus St James is planning the crime of the century, and Bremy may be the only one able to get close enough to her father to stop him.

Now all she needs to do is figure out this superhero thing in less than a month, keep her identity secret from the man who could very well be The One, and save the city from total annihilation.

Well, no one ever said being a superhero would be easy...







About the Author:

Auralee Wallace has played many roles in her life, including college professor, balloon seller, and collections agent. She is now living her dream of writing humorous women’s fiction. When this semi-natural blonde mother of three children (and psychiatric nurse to two rescue cats) isn’t writing or playing soccer, she can be found watching soap operas with lurid fascination and warring with a family of peregrine falcons for the rights to her backyard.








Hey, what can I say.. girls need to stick together! Here is a small sample of my collection, Cloey





So, what do you say? Share your favorite comics in the comments