I am moving

Because of issues with wordpress.com not allowing anyone to link to third party websites anymore (which includes author websites, amazon, and more), I am moving my blog to http://cassidycrimson.weebly.com

Please follow me there!

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Cover Reveal Party Skateboard Xombies

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We’re hosting the cover reveal today for YA horror novel “Skateboard Xombies: Search for the Crystal Coffin”. This is the first book in a five-part series of Kindle singles.

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About the Book

Title: Skateboard Xombies: Search for the Crystal Coffin

Author: Ace Antonio Hall

Genre: YA Horror

On a normal school day in Lunyon Canyon, California, teenage necromancer, Sylva Fleischer, bickers with her teacher in class over an unfairly graded paper. But when the principal announces that all teachers should lock their door and not let any students leave class, the entire school is trapped in a world of terrifying zombies that not only bite with their teeth, they bite with their minds.

Since all life on Earth faces extinction at the hands of the perilous undead, a guardian of a secret society of vampire monks saves Sylva, her friend, Half-Pipe and her family, and lead them to an alternate world. And that’s when the real terror begins … on a planet full of every imaginable type of undead creature that ever lived … Including those telekinetic zombies!

Praise for Ace Antonio Hall and Confessions of Sylva Slasher: 

“As I say on the front cover … A treat for Buffy fans–but 100% Ace Antonio Hall’s own twisted vision. Breathes new life into the living dead; run, don’t shamble to get a copy.” –Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author, Robert J. Sawyer

“In a vast sea of zombie tales, Hall’s tale is more than a cut above. He brings the entire genre to heel and treats us to one Hell of a ride.”

Art Holcomb, Editor-in-Chief, Andromeda Entertainment

About the Author

AceAntonioHall promo 2015Ace Antonio Hall is an actor, former music producer, and ‘retired’ educator with accolades as a Director of Education for the Sylvan Learning Center and nearly fifteen years experience as an award-winning NYC English teacher. He has a BFA degree with a concentration in screenwriting and has published poetry, short stories and fiction in magazines, anthologies, newspapers and novels.

Inspired by his father, Chris Acemandese Hall, who penned the lyrics to the Miles Davis jazz classic, “So What”, sung by Eddie Jefferson, and his sister, Carol Lynn Brown, who guest starred in the 1970’s film, “Velvet Smooth”, Ace spawned his creativity into developing the beloved but flawed teen character, Sylva Slasher.

Ace was the Vice President of the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society (2009-2011), and continues to head the Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror (ScHoFan) Critique Group as Co-Director of critique groups within the society. He is also a member of LASFS and the International Thriller Writers.

On April 14, 2013, Montag Press published his YA zombie novel Confessions of Sylva Slasher. His next release, Skateboard Xombies, is coming out later this year, and he has already begun working on Skateboard Xamurai for the third installment in his Sylva Slasher series.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website | Blog | Instagram

Looking for some zombie gear? Check out Ace’s Zombie Pop Shop!

Giveaway

On the cover reveal day, you can win a $10 Amazon gift card. Fill in the Rafflecopter form below to participate!

Go here to participate in the giveaway.

Book Excerpt

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER (teenage kicks)

HoloBleet – @sylvaslasher. Entry 526: I still dream about my sorta-kinda ex, Brandon. Even though he’s dead, his words live on in my heart. This is what he said to me: “You see, it was like my soul was suddenly driven with the sole purpose to branch out of my body and touch yours. I don’t know, it probably sounds stupid to you, but I swear it was like our spirits were made in heaven. Yeah, as one entity and somehow when they came down to Earth, were separated until that first moment our eyes met—mine and those precious silver eyes. That day my whole life made sense.”

I woke up wishing dreams never ended. #RIPBrandon

601 ReBleets, 11,493 Followers

Monday Morning, 7:52

“IT’S KIND OF LIKE THE HUNGER GAMES,” I said, as the morning sun slept lazily behind the dark storm clouds, “except instead of the survivor winning a chance to live, they earn a chance to die.”

“Sylva, whoever invented those bloodthirsty games are crazy,” Half-Pipe said, looking back at me with a dubious smirk, “I don’t care how you twist it, the Blood Bowl sounds major morbid.”

Katja Andersdotter, known to everyone as Half-Pipe, was the most opinionated person I knew. She got her name because one day her father beat her with a broken sink pipe after his routine field trip to the all-night bar. He started calling her that ever since just to see her cringe. She was out of school for two whole weeks that day he put her in the hospital and the next time I saw her, she was a vampire, or so I thought. I’ll explain what I mean by that later.

Half-Pipe zipped backwards toward the high school steps on her kickglider and spun the hovering skateboard into a killer switch front blunt trick. Her kickglider did an air-grind down the rail to the bottom of steps and she abruptly stopped throwing one foot down, the other foot hovering four inches above the ground on her board.

Most people think her name’s Half-Pipe because she’s so good doing skateboard tricks on the half-pipe ramps. I know better. She likes the name, now; says it gives her strength.

“You finally nailed the landing,” I said, smiling.

“What are you talking about, Sylva?” Half-Pipe said. “I nailed it just last week.”

“When? I don’t remember.”

“You weren’t there—you kept blowing me off, working on that cosmology paper for our necromancy class. I nailed it right outside Ohana Gardens all by my lonesome with no one to distract me.”

“Then that doesn’t count if no one saw it.”

“Does, too.”

“Whatever.”

Wanting to outdo Half-Pipe, I pushed my kickglider out in front of me, flipping the board three-hundred and sixty degrees to do a heel flip and ollied (jumped hands-free) over the fourteen steps. While in the air, I decided to grab the tail of the board with both hands, blindly reaching behind my back with my front hand. Upon landing, I swooshed to a ninety-degree stop beneath our holographic school sign, which hovered ten feet above my head, reminding parents about a Tuesday P.T.A. Meeting, red neon lights flashing against the gray skies.

“That’s was pretty gnarly,” Half-Pipe said. “No one does a Bloody Dracula better than the one and only Sylva Fleischer!”

I pulled my shades out of the side of my backpack and slipped them on. “You weren’t too shabby, yourself,” I said, and skated off alongside our football stadium toward the main building. I loved seing the blue turf on our football field. Grass looks so better blue, than green, I thought.

Half-Pipe caught up with me. “Did you tell your mom yet that you’re quitting raising the dead?”

“Nope.”

“Well, I’m glad Emily taught me everything she knows about preparing the grave and stuff. I’ll be able to help out when you’re gone. But … who would do the raising? No one else in the Ohana is a necromancer.”

I didn’t say anything—didn’t care as long as it wasn’t me.

“Then,” Half-Pipe began, “you didn’t tell her you were moving out and getting your own place, either, huh?”

I shook my head. “Can’t ever find the right time to do it.”

“Why move out when you have everything you want at home with your family? They love you, and never treat you mean. I wish I had it that good.”

“They don’t pay attention to me when I’m home. Trust me, they’re not going to miss me. Besides, I know that once I’m on my own, this void inside of me will be filled. Something’s missing, and I think I need to be more independent to find out what it is.”

“Why quit raising the dead? You’re so good at it. Is it because of what happened to you at the D.T.’s?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said, and sped up.

 

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Author Interview A Soul to Shine Tour

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I’m interviewing Jennifer Ott, author of literary fiction “A Soul to Shine”. Welcome, Jennifer, and thanks for taking the time to respond to my questions.

Q: Please tell us about yourself.

“Just a steel town girl on a Saturday night looking for the fight of her life.” LOL. That’s from the song, “Maniac” from the movie “Flashdance.” It just seems the best way to describe my life right now. I am very busy with writing, publishing, promoting, etc, etc…I’m an author, owner of SuperJenius Publications and I host two radio shows, The SuperJenius Show and Poets First Show on the Artist First Radio Network.

Q: Tell us about your book.

“A Soul to Shine” is the story of a young starlet, Olivia Hammond who lost herself in her fame and clings to the goal of achieving an Oscar. The director of the film shakes her world when he casts a Russian porn star as her romantic lead. Olivia, well, freaks out fearing her reputation as a serious actress will be tainted. The story takes place in Berlin, Germany (modern day and postwar II). Filming in Berlin changes her life completely. She has an existential funk and comes out shining.

Q: What inspired you to write A Soul to Shine?

I was in the process of writing another book. I often use celebrity muses (actors & actresses) for my characters. The oddest thing happened. These muses revolted and wanted me to write “A Soul to Shine”. Perhaps my real life celebrity muse is in the middle of an existential funk. LOL I joke to people, I didn’t actually write this book; the characters did. The characters chattered constantly (while I was driving, sleeping, eating. I couldn’t get any peace). I just rushed to type it all down. I feel as though this book was channeled from my characters. It was crazy. Even I have a hard time believing it.

Q: How much time per week do you spend writing/editing your work?

A couple hours a day.

Q: If you could meet three authors, which authors would you choose?

The ones I would want to meet are no longer with us – John Steinbeck, Kurt Vonnegut, Toni Morrison.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

I will be releasing a new book, “Searching Civilization” in the upcoming months. It is part of a series surrounding my book, “Edge of Civilization.” The series tells the stories of characters that are all connected in some way or another. I am working on another part of the series, “Rays of Civilization.”

About The Book

ASoultoShineAmazonTitle: A Soul to Shine

Author: Jennifer Ott

Genre: Literary Fiction

Quote:

“You and I are now time itself, not just the city,
The whole world is taking part in our decision.
We are more than just the two of us now.
We embody something.
We are sitting in the People’s Square
And it’s full of people with the same dream as ours.
We define the game for all.

I’m ready.”

 

Wings of Desire

Wim Wenders
Peter Handke

Blurb:

From the outside, starlet Olivia Hammond has it all—fame, fortune and a Hollywood hunk boyfriend. No one suspects her rising self-doubts and anxieties. In order to escape the realities of her chaotic world, she dives into an Oscar quality role of a young woman trapped in the horrors of postwar Berlin. It is here that Olivia feels most comfortable.

Her real and fictional lives collide when the director casts Dimitri Malakhov, a Russian porn star, as her costar. She immediately fears her image and reputation will be tainted. Personally and professionally, she must face what frightens her most—exposing herself, her fears, her imperfections and her desires to the world.

The experience of filming the movie with Dimitri and being on location in Berlin destroys her prejudices and judgments. It shatters all her illusions and perceptions. When liberated from her own confines, her life and love truly shine.

Manchmal das Herz muss zerstört werden, um zu heilen.

Sometimes the heart needs to be broken in order to heal.

Poem

So many pictures,  so many scenes

Still can’t understand what it means

I look at my face everyday I arise

And proceed to adorn my daily disguise

The soul that once shined

No longer appears

It’s lost somewhere

In a world full of tears.

I’ve wandered around place to place

Trapped inside my invisible space

How do we connect with another

When it’s our own heart we smother

The soul that once shined

Desires to be seen

Wanting to wade through

The clutter in between.

It only takes a moment for all to shatter

Picking up the pieces doesn’t really matter

The worst has come to fate

No one else can ever relate

Our wounds exposed like an open sore

For all others’ salt to pour

Author Bio

MeInspiration comes from watching way too much Monty Python. The abstract and the absurd way of looking at normal life, not only offers humor, but questions many problems in society in a light-hearted manner. If we can laugh at ourselves, if we can laugh at life, problems do not seem quite so difficult to tackle.  In fact, problems are not as complicated as they seem; everything is very simple. If you can laugh at it, write about it and read about it, most likely one would think about it.

Author Jennifer Ott has written several satire fiction, Wild Horses, The Tourist and two non-fiction books Love and Handicapping and Ooh Baby Compound Me! She recently published, Serenidipidus and Edge of Civilization. She also is the host of the SuperJenius Internet Radio show on Artist First radio Network.

Jennifer Ott lives in Long Beach, California, enjoys the sun, the sand, the surf and lots of Mexican food.

Links

Twitter

http://www.artistfirst.com/jenniferott.htm

Author Facebook

Facebook Page

Super Jenius Publications

You can listen to a radio interview for a book here:

https://soundcloud.com/superjenius/a-soul-to-shine-interview

Book Trailer:

A Soul to Shine

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Guest Post Rani in Search of a Rainbow

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Guest Post: Rani in Search of a Rainbow

By Shaila Abdullah

When the floods came to her tiny village in Sind, there was no braving it out for Rani and her family. The 8-year-old fled on foot with her family and other villagers, leaving behind her whole life–her home, school, friends, and belongings. Her family was airlifted to safety by a disaster relief organization and brought to a refugee camp. Inspired by the assistance her family was providing in various capacities at the camp, Rani embarked on a journey to find ways in which she could help others––and in doing so was able to bring great joy to her friend on the celebration of the Muslim festival of Eid.

My new children’s book Rani in Search of a Rainbow is based on the 2010 floods in Pakistan that affected 20 million people. Nearly 8.6 million of them were children.

This devastating event touched me to my core. Any time a child is displaced from his or her familiar surroundings, it can be a frightening experience. But one of the greatest qualities of children is their resilience in moving on after the initial shock and trauma wears off. They know how to make the most of any situation, just like Rani and Juju did in Rani in Search of a Rainbow.

An adult’s role at that time can be one of mentorship and encouragement. Adults can assist in providing a safe environment that will allow children to continue to develop friendships, play, and grow. Attention should be paid to the mental state of children. They are prone to anxiety, especially when they continue to hear of losses and other displacements. It helps to provide children little roles that can take their minds off the situation and allow them to feel useful and important.

My hope is that by reading this story, young children would be able to better understand and cope with the effects of natural disasters.

For more information about Rani in Search of a Rainbow, please see http://shailaabdullah.com/rani-in-search-of-rainbow/

Watch the real and young victims of the 2010 Pakistan floods narrate their struggles:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14346834

 Author Website

http://shailaabdullah.com/rani-in-search-of-rainbow/

Excerpt

Rani woke up to shimmering sun rays and raced outside the tent. She squinted at the sun until sunspots danced in front of her eyes. She laughed at the dotted campsite around her.

“It will be a great day,” she sang and danced around the poles of her tent. The sun was a welcome break from days of continuous rain.

A few weeks ago, the rain had started innocently in their village in Pakistan. Pitter patter, dancing droplets were a signal to the young children that it was time to celebrate by dancing. And dance they did. But the rain did not stop.

And in a few days, the bright blues of the rain turned to murky browns and stayed still on the ground. Rivers and creeks overflowed, but the rain did not stop.

Unaware, Rani and her friends pid-paddled, danced, and ran in the water, splashing each other until worried grownups removed them from the rising water. Rain, the adults warned, was not a friend anymore. That is when the dancing stopped.

“It is time to leave,” Daadi, Rani’s grandma, announced.

And for once, Rani did not ask why. Families ran in different directions. Rani’s friends were rushing behind their own families in a sea of color—red, blue, pink, and yellow. In their hands, they clutched what little they could save from the floods—a book or two, a favorite doll, a change of clothes.

From a distance, Rani’s home looked like a helpless boat as the water surrounded it. All Rani could think of were her treasures in there: her tiny notebook with her essay on what she wanted to be when she grew up, the blanket she slept with each night, the red dress that Daadi had stitched for her to wear to the upcoming festival of Eid. This year, she knew there wouldn’t be an Eid celebration

About The Book

RISR-cover-hrTitle: Rani in Search of a Rainbow

Author: Shaila Abdullah

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Displaced by the Pakistan floods, Rani’s family has taken refuge at a relief camp where they are doing their part to help other flood victims. Eight-year old Rani wants to assist but doesn’t know how. Heeding the advice of her father to help in a way only children can, Rani embarks on a journey to bring true joy to a dear friend on the occasion of Eid.

Author Bio

Shaila_headshot-300x289Shaila Abdullah is an award-winning author and designer based in Austin, Texas. She is the author of four books: Saffron Dreams, Beyond the Cayenne Wall, My Friend Suhana, and A Manual for Marco. The author has received several awards for her work including the Golden Quill Award and Patras Bukhari Award for English Language. Several academic institutions have adopted her books as course study or recommended reading, including the University of California, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Indiana University, Boston University, California State University, and George Washington University. Learn more about the author at www.ShailaAbdullah.com.

Links

http://shailaabdullah.com/rani-in-search-of-rainbow/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shaila-Abdullah-Author/140181920333

https://twitter.com/ShailaAbdullah

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/243939.Shaila_M_Abdullah

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Promo Post The Duchess Quest

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The Duchess Quest

TheDuchessQuestBookCoverTitle: The Duchess Quest

Author: C.K. Brooke

Genre: Fantasy / Romance

Love is destined to find her…

Dainy doesn’t know that she is the lost Duchess of Jordinia, believed to have been assassinated fifteen years ago. Nor does she know that her uncle has implemented an illegal contest to seek her, offering her marriage hand as the reward!

Though at odds, three clashing rivals – including a noble giant, a forest dweller and a thieving rake – voyage together by woodland, prairie and sea to recover the lost royal, notwithstanding the assassins and spies at their tail. Soon, young Dainy is swept into a comically complex romantic quadrangle as each suitor competes to capture her heart.

Charmingly romantic and bursting with political intrigue, startling twists and vivid characters, readers of romance and fantasy alike will adore this original yet timeless tale of swashbuckling adventure and unlikely love.

 

Author Bio

CKBrookeAuthorPhotoC. K. Brooke is a fantasy/romance writer. She is the author of The Duchess Quest (Jordinia: Book 1), now available in paperback and e-book. Her next two novels, The Duchess Inheritance (Jordinia: Book 2) and The Red Pearl, are coming soon to 48fourteen Publishing. She lives in Washington, Michigan with her husband and son. Visit her at www.CKBrooke.com.

 

Links

Official site: www.ckbrooke.com
Publisher: http://48fourteen.com/author/ck-brooke
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/ckbrooke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ck.brooke
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorckbrooke
Wordpress: http://authorckbrooke.wordpress.com/

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Author Interview with R.J. Blain

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I’m interviewing R.J. Blain, author of a paranormal novel, “Winter Wolf”, releasing today. Happy release day to the author, and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Author Interview

Q: Please tell us about yourself.

I’m convinced this is the hardest question of all for me to answer. I was brought up to be very self-deprecating. So, the task of trying to present myself to others often turns into a tangled mess. Please forgive me if we end up with a knot by the time I’ve worked my way through this.

I love books. I love writing them, reading them, anything to do with them—books fascinate me. Literacy fascinates me. I was functionally illiterate until grade four. Once a teacher discovered it wasn’t a lack of intelligence that caused my illiteracy, but rather lack of interest, she introduced me to fantasy and science fiction novels. Everything changed for me. I was reading college-level books by fifth grade.

Which was, I’ll note with a certain sense of satisfaction, around the same time Robert Jordon began The Wheel of Time. It is no coincidence I adore epic fantasy now.

I have a spouse and four cats. I live in Montreal. I was born and raised in the USA though. I’ve taken to Canadian culture, and have an excessive thirst for traveling.

I absolutely love turbulence. Airplanes and helicopters are one of my favorite things. It makes me wish I had become a pilot. (My vision wasn’t good enough and at the time corrective surgery wasn’t sufficient to rank for pilot. I had made the aptitude tests… but failed the visual tests.)

Sigh.

But it worked out. I became a writer instead, and I don’t regret it.

I have an interest in contagious diseases, sports cars (especially vintage ones), Japanese culture, and bowling. I collect gemstones, moleskine journals, and any figuring my husband lets me bring into the house. (He moderates my desire to collect all of the things.)
Q: Tell us about your book.

Winter Wolf is the story of a woman forced to accept who and what she is in order to save others—even though those others represent everything she hates and fears about herself. It is also the story of a woman’s love of her family and friends.

It’s also my version of a pandemic novel. What if a race of beings faced extinction due to a plague without a cure? It falls to Nicole to find a cure before she loses everything she holds dear to it.

It is also a blatant delving into my love of thrillers. I enjoy writing and reading tense novels.
Q: What inspired you to write “Winter Wolf”?

I could write a novel about the things that inspired the very first version of Winter Wolf. I married my interest in contagious illnesses with a character who wasn’t really equipped to handle the situation, although she had the tools to do so if she found the courage to use them.

Nicole’s story was my first real delving into Urban Fantasy, although I released Inquisitor as the first Witch & Wolf novel. (And Winter Wolf happens a short period before Inquisitor, although both novels can be read as standalones.)

But what ultimately inspired me?

Nicole did—many of my personal interests do fall into this novel, but ultimately, Nicole and all of the things that make up her personality made me want to finish it.

I’m not sure how or why Nicole developed as she did, but I think I wanted to tell a story people could relate to, someone with burdens, flaws, secrets, and desires—someone who had to go from nothing to something far greater to help others. She’s someone who, ultimately, is both a coward and courageous. She’s a living contradiction, like most people.

And by the time I finished writing Winter Wolf, her character still has me asking questions—questions I hope I can pursue in Blood Diamond, the next novel in the Witch and Wolf series.
Q: How much time per week do you spend writing/editing your work?

A lot. Uhm, at current, it is not uncommon for me to spend 14 hours a day working on writing and editing—the closer to release a novel is, the longer and harder the hours become. Even when drafting, 8 hour work days, 5 or 6 days a week, are not unusual.

It’s a full time job.

Unfortunately, this year, I was also serving as an editor for other authors, so I was trying to cram two full-time jobs into one work week. This ultimately meant I decided to retire from editing for others so I could pursue my own novels.
Q: If you could meet three authors, which authors would you choose?

It is with great job I can say I have already met them all, and the experience was absolutely marvelous. But my bucket list was like six authors. I got to meet them all on the same day. I went back to my hotel room after, cuddled with my pile of new, signed novels, and shed tears of utter joy. (No autographed books were harmed.)

But here’s the top three on my list:

Brandon Sanderson. Elantris is still one of my favorite books. Everyone in line had the Way of Kings, and the fact I had brought a pristine, never-read copy of Elantris caught Brandon’s eye. We talked for a few minutes, and he drew a picture in my novel. He’s a wonderful gentleman—and it was worth waiting for him. He’d been delayed to the signing by weather.

I think it pleased him that I had brought Elantris with me, rather than bringing the latest greatest series.

Mercedes Lackey. I wanted to write and read and pursue fantasy thanks to Mercy. She’s an amazing woman, and many of her books are among my favorites. But I can never forget or thank her enough for making me want to write.

There is a picture of her and I hugging on my cell phone, and it is probably one of my favorite photographs ever. I asked her to sign The Black Gryphon, as it was the first book of hers I had ever read.

Patricia Briggs. I adore all of her books. I had been lusting for a copy of the Hobb’s Bargain, which was never on sale at my local bookstore!!! For quite a while. There was one copy at the convention. You better believe I bought it. She signed it, and drew a little coyote in it!

I can’t bring myself to read it. I’ll be getting the ebook version, as I can’t manage to get the book opened without shaking hands over how precious and special it is to me.

 
Q: What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on Storm Surge, which is book two of Requiem for the Rift King, my epic fantasy series. I’m also handwriting the third installation of that book, The Tides of War while typing on Storm Surge. SS is already written, but hasn’t been copied into the computer yet. I’m old school. I wrote the entire novel, by hand, in three different writing journals.

I’m doing the same with The Tides of War. I regret nothing. Except my aching wrist and elbow… and the physical therapy that will likely be required as a result. Ouch.

 

About the Book

Winter Wolf Cover Art by RJ BlainTitle: Winter Wolf

Author: R.J. Blain

Genre: paranormal / supernatural suspense / thriller / murder mystery / urban fantasy

The Hunted Wizard

When Nicole dabbled in the occult, she lost it all: Her voice, her family, and her name. Now on the run from the Inquisition, she must prove to herself—and the world—that not all wizards are too dangerous to let live.

The savage murder of a bookstore employee throws Nicole into the middle of Inquisition business, like it or not. Driven by her inability to save the young man’s life, she decides to hunt the killer on her own. Using forbidden magic to investigate the past, she learns that the murderer is in fact a disease that could kill the entire werewolf race.

Forced to choose between saving lives and preserving her own, Nicole embraces the magic that sent her into exile. Without werewolves, the power of the Inquisition would dwindle, and she could live without being hunted.

Nicole’s only hope for success lies in the hands of the werewolves she hates and the Inquisition she fears, but finding someone to trust is only the beginning of her problems. There are those who want to ensure that the werewolves go extinct and that the Inquisition falls.

But, if she fails to find a cure, her family—including her twin sister—will perish…

Author Bio

RJ Blain author profile pictureRJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn’t playing pretend, she likes to think she’s a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband. She is currently on a quest for a new warrior fish.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

Favorite Books & Series

In no particular order:

Anne McCaffrey’s Pern
Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar & Gryphon Series
Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera & The Dresden Files
Brandon Sanderson’s Elantris
Patricia Briggs’ Alpha and Omega, Dragon Bones, & The Mercy Thompson series
Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time

Links

Google+
Twitter
Facebook
rjblain.com
witchandwolf.com

 

Available At:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Wolf-Witch-Book-ebook/dp/B00N1BXDMW/

iTunes Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id912946393

 

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Cover Reveal The Bleaklisted Books

bleaklistedcoverrevealCover reveal time! Weeeee! I love hosting cover reveals 🙂

BleaklistedBooks

Title: The Bleaklisted Books

Authors: Donna Brown, David M. Brown

Genre: Non Fiction: Humour/Pets & Animals

Blurb:

My mini-irons,

I urge you to embrace the goose-spell of Animal Farm and you will find sanctuary when our difficult war is over. I will add, of course, that given that conquering the world means a long, long, long, long, long war, I will permit you to read another book every now and again.

Just remember which books are bleak-listed; e.g. Barry Potterer, 100 Years of Silly Tudor, Prude and Perjury, The Hungary Olympic Games, The Chronicles of Nerdia and Of Mike and Ben.

In the meantime, here is a list of books I have vetted and will reconsider for approval if the appro… apprap… proper changes are made. Read this manyule carefully mini-irons.

Your Cat-tain

Charlie Brown

About the Authors

DonnaBrownDonna:  Donna is a longtime book lover and sometime book reviewer and has devoured books from an early age. She writes short (or long) stories as and when inspiration hits and is married to fantasy author David M. Brown (Fezariu’s Epiphany, A World Apart). She was also co-contributor to David’s book, Man vs Cat, a humorous look at life with six rambunctious rescue cats.

Donna has lived in many different areas of the UK over the last 30-something years but has remained in Yorkshire for the past decade. She ardently disputes the misnomer that ‘It’s grim up north’. You can find Donna on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Goodreads, or visit her and her husband’s shared blog: B-Lines and Felines.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/_mrs_b

Website: http://books.donnambrownuk.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/donnambrownuk

Instagram: http://instagram.com/donnambrownuk

DavidBrownDavid:  David Brown could be considered a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a 47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the critical eye of his wife and a BA Hons in History and English, David’s dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories and characters.

Although David is inspired primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime, world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu’s Epiphany and A World Apart, combine aspects from worlds both old and new into compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten., David himself certainly does not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order to spend a month travelling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/elenchera

Facebook: http://facebook.com/tweedling

Website: http://elenchera.com

Blog: http://blog.elenchera.com

Feline Central

Twitter: http://twitter.com/felinecentral

Facebook: http://facebook.com/felinecentral

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Guest Post The Luddite’s Guide To Technology

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I’m hosting a guest post on my blog today by author CJS Hayward, a creative non-fiction author who wrote, among other works, “The Luddite’s Guide to Technology”. Enjoy the guest post!

One of the questions I’ve been asked about a book like The Luddite’s Guide to Technology is how I go about researching such a thing. And the answer, in this case, is that I let the questions become a part of me over a number of years, and become a dimension that I am sensitive to.

In some sense my education has positioned me well for things like this: first master’s in math with a technology edge, and second master’s in theology covering the humanities edge. Both have informed an interest in the human aspects of using technology, an interest I’ve had before either of the two above programs.

The Psychology of Computer Programming was a groundbreaking title in the history of software engineering, precisely because of its realization that computer programming wasn’t just an activity that involved computers; it was also an activity that involved humans, and approaching the activity of computer programming well means appreciating both humans and computers. Other classics have followed in its steps by re-creating the basic approach: I think of Steve McConnell’s Code Complete. Human use of technology is an activity that involves humans, and relates to what is good for humans, as well as an activity that involves technology.

And that isn’t just a concern about software engineering. There is an implicit dialogue between man and machine when mankind uses technology. The present transformation of societies worldwide is not just about technology, but the dialogue between man and machine is uprooting about as much as anything in history – or prehistory. Paleo books may talk about the agricultural revolution being the greatest change in the existence of the human race–which it may be, but it is not the most rapid uprooting.

In this turbulence, The Luddite’s Guide to Technology may provide some very helpful bearings!

About The Book

21247087Title: The Luddite’s Guide to Technology

Author: CJS Hayward

Genre: creative non-fiction / religion and spirituality / technology – social aspects

Mammon, as it is challenged in the Sermon on the Mount, represents such wealth and possessions as one could have two thousand years ago. But that is merely beer as contrasted to the eighty proof whisky our day has concocted. The Sermon on the Mount aims to put us in the driver’s seat and not what you could possess in ancient times, and if the Sermon on the Mount says something about metaphorical beer, perhaps there are implications for an age where something more like eighty proof whisky is all around us.

Author Bio

cjsh_square_fullChristos Jonathan Seth Hayward wears many hats as a person: author, philosopher, theologian, artist, poet, wayfarer, philologist, inventor, web guru, teacher.

Some have asked, “If a much lesser C.S. Lewis were Orthodox, what would he be like?” And the answer may well be, “CJS Hayward.”

Hayward has lived in the U.S., Malaysia, England, and France, and holds master’s degrees bridging math and computers (UIUC), and philosophy and theology (Cambridge).

Links

​http​://amazon.com/author/cjshayward

http://CJSH.name

http://fan.CJSH.name

https://CJSHayward.com

http://tinyurl.com/luddites-guide-technology

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Book Review A Bridge Through Time

A Bridge Through Time BTitle: A Bridge Through Time

Author: Jennae Vale

Genre: Time Travel Romance

Ashley Moore’s life in San Francisco has hit a few snags, not the least of which involves sightings of a mystery man around every corner.  Is she losing her mind or does he really exist?   Her search for this grey-eyed stranger leads her to  Scotland. There she meets a witch with a secret, a vindictive English knight who is bent on revenge, and she crosses a fog shrouded bridge into the arms of a 16th century Highlander.

Cailin MacBayne is no stranger to beautiful women, but has always managed to stay one step ahead of commitment.  That all comes to an end when he meets Ashley.  He doesn’t care where this beautiful, yet unusual lass came from, he’s just happy to have found her.  Ashley cannot resist the handsome Scot and finds herself falling hopelessly in love.  In the process, a secret is revealed, a battle is waged and Ashley must ultimately decide whether to return to her own time or give up her 21st century life to stay with the love she has found in the past.

Ashley Moore sees a mysterious man around every corner. This makes her wonder if she’s losing her mind, or if the stranger is real. Her search for answers leads her Scotland, and to a mysterious, fog-covered bridge that somehow crosses the barriers of time and makes her end up in the sixteenth-century, where she meets Highlander Cailin MacBayne. The two soon fall for each other, but through secrets and war, Ashley must make the ultimate decision: choose love and stay in the sixteenth century, or go back home to life in the twenty-first century.

What an engaging read! From the first few pages, I was hooked. Ashley is a delightful character, and Cailin has all the things you’d look for in a Highlander: charm, good looks, strong, protective. The whole bridge through time idea worked great, and the setting (both contemporary and the historical one) was convincing. A great book, recommended to fans of historical fiction and/or time travel romance.

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Author Interview The Leopard King Saga Tour

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I’m interviewing T.A. Uner today, author of historical fantasy series “The Leopard King Saga”. Enjoy the interview!
Q: Please tell us about yourself.
I’m a former retail professional who spent 15 years in the service industry. I created LeopardKingSaga.com to transfer my life experiences to my novels, where I use fiction to relay important topics. My goal is creating a fun reading experience for you. I also have an affinity for Leopards, and can communicate with them using telepathy. No joke!
I’m a graduate of George Mason University, and hold a Bachelors degree in Speech Communication and History.

I was finalist in The 2010 Moonlight Mesa short fiction contest, my first short story, “The Banker’s Wife,” was published internationally in an anthology titled, Award Winning Tales. I live in Virginia, where the weather is as strange as my imagination. I am also author of several novels and short fiction.

Q: Tell us about your book.

My flagship book series is called THE LEOPARD KING SAGA which is a historical fantasy series that takes place in 1st Century Rome. I also have a second series called MINDCOP DOSSIERS which takes place on Mars.

Q: What inspired you to write “The Leopard King Saga”?

It was an idea that was just floating around in my imagination.
Q: How much time per week do you spend writing/editing your work?

It varies from week to week.

Q: If you could meet three authors, which authors would you choose?

Leo Tolstoy, Eiji Yoshikawa and Ken Follett

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

Just finished Book 2 of MINDCOP DOSSIERS series and will be starting a new YA book series in December.

About The Books

The Leopard Vanguard

Tome OneTitle: The Leopard Vanguard

Author: T.A. Uner

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Set during the early years of the reign of the Mad Emperor Caligula,this first installment of the Leopard King Saga introduces us to Tullus, a gifted Roman Centurion who resigns his elite position in the Praetorian Guard to join a troupe of circus performers and learn more about his hidden magical talents. Along with his new partner, a magical Leopardess named Celestra, he re-invents himself as The Leopard King, the most famous entertainer in all the Roman Empire. But when Tullus’ friend and Circus Ringmaster, Paullus Gabinius, is killed, Tullus and Celestra find themselves immersed in political intrigue and up against Paullus’ killers. Their struggle to avenge Paullus will also cause them to cross paths with corrupt Roman politicians, who know Paullus’ deadly secret-which has the power to destroy the Roman Empire.

The Leopard Stratagem

Tome TwoTitle: The Leopard Stratagem

Author: T.A. Uner

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Camus Scorpio, the vicious criminal overlord, who for years tormented the good merchants of Rome, is dead. His ruthless army of thugs and bloodthirsty killers wiped out by the avenging force of Tullus the Leopard King, the Leopardess Celestra, and their Troupe.

But the victory is a costly one. Anna, Tullus’ lover, is dead, and her departure serves as an open wound to all her friends in the Troupe. Needing time to collect himself and continue developing his magical abilities, Tullus decides to seek out the wisdom of a reclusive wizard named Hradack, also known as the Leopard Master and a product of the Age of Paladins.

In Rome Eliana becomes involved in political intrigue and finds herself caught up in a conspiracy involving a persecuted race called the Dryads.

Decimus, now a prominent Centurion in the Praetorian Guard, is assigned to a new Roman Legion in Switzerland, where he faces the biggest challenge of his military career.

As Tullus’ power in Elemence grows, he foresees a hideous plot by an unknown enemy called Serpentus, who has kidnapped his Troupe friends and is holding them hostage on the island of Capri.

Unbeknownst to Tullus, Serpentus seeks revenge against the Leopard King and Celestra, and has armed himself with arcane powers. Under the tutelage of a fanatical cleric, Serpentus harbors plans of destroying the Leopard King and Celestra before embarking on a destructive path of conquest.

Author Bio

AuthorPicT.A.UnerT.A. Uner is a former Management Professional who spent over 15 years working for various fortune 50 companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

An accomplished public speaker and event promoter, he is also a graduate of George Mason University, and holds a Bachelors degree in Speech Communication and History.

A finalist in The 2010 Moonlight Mesa short fiction contest, his first short story, “The Banker’s Wife,” was published internationally in an anthology titled, Award Winning Tales. Mr. Uner lives in Virginia. He is the author of the Leopard King Saga and other works.

He looks forward to more readers discovering the life-like characters that inhabit his stories.

Links

http://www.leopardkingsaga.com/

http://www.amazon.com/T.A.-Uner/e/B00EOSNR9K/

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