EXCERPT from The Crimson Corset


Untidy, Ryan Closter had called it. The young deputy had a knack for understatement so when Ethan arrived at the scene just after seven a.m., he was prepared to be put off - but this was downright ghastly. This wasn’t the way Ethan liked to start his mornings.

Blood was everywhere, a dried riot of red rust all over the floor, across the bed, and even on the ceiling. It was as if someone had put a bomb in a can of paint. And the smell was unbearable. Flies swarmed like a black cloud above the body.

Closter spoke at Ethan’s side. “A neighbor heard some noises last night. She informed the landlord this morning, and after knocking and getting no response, this is what he walked into.”

At the center of the bed lay the woman, facedown, in a dried pool of her own fluids.

“Her name’s Rose Keller,” Closter said.

Ethan shook his head. “Day manager of the Black Garter.”

“You know her?”

“Our paths crossed recently.” Ethan wouldn’t have been surprised to hear the woman had overdosed on something, but wouldn’t have guessed she’d go like this.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Closter looked a little green, and his partner, Nick Grayson, gave Ethan an uncertain glance.

“Why don’t you go get some fresh air, Closter?” Ethan said. “We’ll be fine till the others show up.”

The deputy swallowed and nodded, his face clammy. The last thing they needed was for someone to throw up on the crime scene - not that it’d be the first time.

As Closter stepped out, Ethan heard the buzz of bystanders just outside the door. “Jesus,” someone said. “I’ve never seen so much blood …”

“I heard they can’t find her head,” said another.

The voices faded as the door closed. How eagerly people swarm to violence and death. Like ants to a piece of rotten fruit. It unsettled Ethan.

The room was hot, intensifying the reek of blood, of innards - of death. Dozens of flies crawled lazily over the body and more were landing. Ethan’s own stomach roiled a little. He hadn’t been sick at a scene since his earliest days on the force and he didn’t intend to buckle now, but it wasn’t easy. He’d never seen anything this theatrical; it looked like the police photographs from the Jack the Ripper crimes. But in horrible living color. He moved closer and stared down at the woman on the bed. Two stumps of spine glistened white, jutting out of the mess that was the rest of her. It was as if someone had unzipped her skin, reached inside, and yanked her backbone out. And they’d managed to snap it in half in the process.

“Whoever did this was sending a message.” Deputy Grayson was crouched beside the bed, his gaze roving over the late Ms. Keller. A former quarterback in his early-forties with broad shoulders and the earliest beginnings of a beer gut, Nick Grayson was one of Ethan’s best.

Ethan nodded. “I’ll agree with you on that.”

Grayson’s gaze never left the victim. “A killer doesn’t cause a scene like this unless he wants to make a statement.”

The question was, who was the killer, and what was he trying to say? “No sign of any weapons?”

Grayson shook his head and Ethan noticed new gray at the deputy’s temples. This was the kind of work that would do that. “Nope. Nothing.”

Ethan had figured as much. There was something about this scene that didn’t work.

The woman was tangled in white sheets, reminding him, morbidly, of an old barber’s pole. Red and white, red and white, blood and bandages, blood and bandages. He walked around the bed, seeing it from all angles. Every crime scene told a story, you just had to know how to read it. And this one, Ethan was certain, was one hell of a tale.

The more he saw, the more certain he became of two things. One, Rose’s killer was not human, and two, it was not an animal, either. Not in the usual sense, anyway. He bent and moved the victim’s hair back a little, careful not to disturb anything. He saw the bite marks on her neck that confirmed his suspicions. He’d have them checked against dental records and if he was lucky - which was highly unlikely - maybe they’d catch the perp fast.

There were also places along her shoulders and arms where the skin was torn. Someone went to town on her. The thick sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach went colder.

“I’ve been trying to figure that out, too,” said Grayson, watching him. “They’re bites.”

Ethan’s knees popped as he stood and moved to the window. He pinched back the blood-spattered white curtains and stared down. Outside, the Ivory Heights apartment complex was already surrounded by a swarm of onlookers, and it was only going to get worse. Rose Keller’s one-bedroom, second-story apartment would soon be a frenzy of technicians, detectives, plainclothes, more uniforms, a photographer, and videographer. There was no dignity in death, he thought as he looked at the shredded body on the bed. Especially not when you die like that.

Ethan decided it was time to pay Michael Ward another visit.

BIO

Alistair Cross was born in the western United States and began penning his own stories by the age of eight. First published by Damnation Books in 2012, Alistair has since published several more novels. In 2012, he joined forces with international bestselling author, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write the successful Gothic series, The Ghosts of Ravencrest. Their newest novel, The Cliffhouse Haunting, is an Amazon Best Seller, and this summer also sees the release of Alistair’s solo novel, The Crimson Corset.

In 2014, Alistair and Tamara began the internet radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! Haunted Nights LIVE! premiered to great acclaim and has featured such guests as Chelsea Quinn Yarbro of the Saint-Germain vampire series, Charlaine Harris of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and basis of the HBO series True Blood, Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels that inspired the hit television series, Jay Bonansinga of the Walking Dead series, Laurell K. Hamilton of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novels, and New York Times best sellers Christopher Rice, Jonathan Maberry, and Christopher Moore.

Alistair is currently at work on several projects including a solo novel and a new Thorne & Cross collaboration. His influences include the works of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul, Ira Levin, and William Peter Blatty.

Media Links

website: alistaircross.com

blog: alistaircross.wordpress.com

twitter: @crossalistair

Facebook: facebook.com/alistaircoss

Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/6517308.Alistair_Cross

Buy links:

The Crimson Corset: http://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Corset-Vampires-Cove-Book-ebook/dp/B0139K6N7Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1438671456&sr=8-2&keywords=crimson+corset

The Cliffhouse Haunting: http://www.amazon.com/Cliffhouse-Haunting-Tamara-Thorne-ebook/dp/B00VL9LUC6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438206219&sr=8-1&keywords=cliffhouse


The Ghosts of Ravencrest: http://www.alistaircross.com/My-Library

Welcome to Crimson Cove

Sheltered by ancient redwoods overlooking the California coast, the cozy village of Crimson Cove has it all: sophisticated retreats, fine dining, and a notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset. It seems like a perfect place to relax and get close to nature. But not everything in Crimson Cove is natural.

When Cade Colter moves to town, he expects it to be peaceful to the point of boredom. But he quickly learns that after the sun sets and the fog rolls in, the little tourist town takes on a whole new kind of life – and death.

Darkness at the Edge of Town

Renowned for its wild parties and history of debauchery, The Crimson Corset looms on the edge of town, inviting patrons to sate their most depraved desires and slake their darkest thirsts. Proprietor Gretchen VanTreese has waited centuries to annihilate the Old World vampires on the other side of town and create a new race – a race that she alone will rule. When she realizes Cade Colter has the key that will unlock her plan, she begins laying an elaborate trap that will put everyone around him in mortal danger.

Blood Wars

The streets are running red with blood, and as violence and murder ravage the night, Cade must face the darkest forces inside himself, and perhaps even abandon his own humanity, in order to protect what he loves.

“Put Bram Stoker in a giant cocktail shaker, add a pinch of Laurell K. Hamilton, a shot of John Carpenter, and a healthy jigger of absinthe, and you’ll end up with Alistair Cross’s modern Gothic chiller, “The Crimson Corset” - a deliciously terrifying tale that will sink its teeth into you from page one.”

- Jay Bonansinga, New York Times Bestselling author of THE WALKING DEAD: INVASION and LUCID

“This drop-deadly tale of seduction and terror will leave you begging to be fanged … ”

- Tamara Thorne, international bestselling author of HAUNTED and MOONFALL

“I couldn’t put this book down. It’s got more hooks than a day boat out of San Pedro Harbor!”

- QL Pearce, bestselling author of SCARY STORIES FOR SLEEP-OVERS

The Magic World of Bracken Lea

Glodwyn the gnome is a bit of a rebel.  He lives and works in the ancient woodland. He is unusual amongst the Fairy Folk in enjoying the company of humans. His good-natured interest in their world seen through the eyes of his unknowing "friend", Walter the Stacker Truck Driver at the local factory, leads him to interfere in their affairs, with interesting results both for the Fairy Folk and humans. With his help, the Fairy Folk rescue a little boy from drowning, and save the life of an injured cat. A confused old lady collapses in the Wood while searching for the cat, and finds herself being entertained by fairy musicians while she awaits rescue.

Glodwyn raises the alarm when a baby’s mother is taken ill, and later helps prevent disaster at the baby’s Christening, when a bad fairy threatens the child’s happiness. They help a Leprechaun find his way home, and get a lost engagement ring back to its owner. Both unwitting humans and Fairy Folk work together to save nearby woodland from development. From arranging a litter-pick in the woods to finding a new wand for the Fairy Queen, it is a busy life for the Fairy Folk.

Today I'm happy to have Glodwyn stop by.

Character: Glodwyn
Book: _The Magic World of Bracken Lea
by Esma Race, illustrated by Veronica Castle.


Tell me a little about yourself?

I am a Gnome, and that means that I belong to the element called Earth, which is one of  the four elements, the others being...Fire, Water and Air. I can work Magic, as long as it involves anything to do with the Earth, I also enjoy interacting with humans, playing tricks, and having fun, I do work hard though caring for the woodlands, little creatures, other Fairy Folk, and on occasions humans.....I am happy, cheerful, and fun. 
 

Where do you live?

Bracken Lea Wood.

 
Who is the most important person in your life?

Celandine the Flower Fairy.
 

What was your childhood like?

I didn't have one, I was always as I am now, although I will fade away one day. 
 

Of all the people you've met, who would you LEAST like to be stuck in an elevator with?
 
Astrid the Fairy Queen.


What is the most important thing in your life? What do you value most?

The friendship of the other inhabitants of the ancient woodlands. Nature is what I value most.
 

What is your biggest fear?

Humans destroying the woods.
 

What is the most important thing that ever happened to you? Why?

Finding that I could communicate with humans, it gave me lots of ideas, and a chance to know how humans live, and how their minds work.


Do you have any special talents or abilities?
 
Magic.

 
How do you see your future?

More of the same.
 
If you could spend the day with someone you admire (living or dead or imaginary), who would you pick?
 
The Green Man.


If you had a free day with no responsibilities, how would you spend it?

Playing in the Fairy Band.

 
Where can we find out more about you?

https://www.facebook.com/esmarace or  http://raceesma.wix.com/esma-race
   
 
Biography

Esma Race was born and raised in the small Cheshire village of Weaverham.  She has a great love for the natural world, and has always been able to sense the nature spirits which feature in her stories. She is very interested in natural healing, and is a practising reflexologist in the North of England, where she lives with Geoff, her husband of 45 years.  She is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and enjoys reading, walking, traveling, gardening, and English history



Excerpt from The Magic World of Bracken Lea

Chapter One

Glodwyn the Gnome


    The factory car park overlooked Bracken Lea Wood, separated by a low wall. Once over the wall it was possible to slip and slide down the slope between the trees to the woods proper, or walk alongside the wall until the land became flatter, and it was easier to follow the pathways deep into the heart of the ancient woodland.
    Too small to be called a forest, Bracken Lea is, nonetheless, a fair sized wood, with a character all of its own. "A place of Magic," thought Glodwyn, the elemental, as he sat beneath the Silver Birch; "but I'm losing my touch…" His job was to care for the earth, but he had got too involved with the world of humans, spending too much time playing tricks in the factory.

    Only this morning, the Green Lady and the Fairy Queen had spoken to him about it. The Green Lady had threatened him with the Green Man. They were both earth elementals like himself.

    However, the Fairy Queen Astrid was of the element  Air,  and really Glodwyn didn't much like  her. "Floating  around up  there," he thought, "instead of getting on with things…"

    She had got involved with his misbehaviour, because the Elements all had to work together for the good of all, and Glodwyn neglecting his duties had been brought to her attention by the Foxglove Fairy, who thought herself very important anyway.
    Celandine, Glodwyn's best friend, was a Flower Fairy, and landed beside him, interrupting his daydream.

    "You" she said, turning her little pert face up to him "will end up working below ground, if you don't buck up, and what on earth do you do all day in that human place?"

    "I've got a human friend," said Glodwyn, much to Celandine's amazement. "He's called Walter, and he drives a stacker truck. I sit on his shoulder and put ideas into his head."
    "What sort of ideas? Daft ones, I suppose!" retorted Celandine.
    "WHAT ON EARTH!" exclaimed Glodwyn, jumping to his feet, whilst Celandine hovered just below the branches of the Silver Birch.
    Mayhem had come to Bracken Lea Wood, with all the birds creating an enormous racket.

    Blackbird  was  the loudest. "Human children! Human children! Trouble! Trouble! Trouble!"

***

    Tommy Slade should have been at school, not stomping around the woods, flattening the buttercups, giving the Buttercup Fairies a headache and frightening poor Mrs. Hedgehog to death.

    The pond in the middle of the woods was one of two. Tommy Slade was drawn to the still deep water, just as small boys have been drawn to water since time began.
    After time spent throwing stones into the water, Tommy decided to make a raft.
    Glodwyn and Celandine arrived just as disaster struck. The improvised raft floundered and the small boy was flung into the water. 
….....................

 
You can hear the first chapter read aloud by the illustrator, by going here:
http://raceesma.wix.com/esma-race#!audio-sample-and-video-/cqa7

The Magic World of Bracken Lea has received high praise from both educators and environmentalists for its general ethos of educating by example and empathy, as opposed to talking down to kids.

The Magic World of Bracken Lea

Glodwyn the gnome is a bit of a rebel.  He lives and works in the ancient woodland. He is unusual amongst the Fairy Folk in enjoying the company of humans. His good-natured interest in their world seen through the eyes of his unknowing "friend", Walter the Stacker Truck Driver at the local factory, leads him to interfere in their affairs, with interesting results both for the Fairy Folk and humans. With his help, the Fairy Folk rescue a little boy from drowning, and save the life of an injured cat. A confused old lady collapses in the Wood while searching for the cat, and finds herself being entertained by fairy musicians while she awaits rescue.

Glodwyn raises the alarm when a baby’s mother is taken ill, and later helps prevent disaster at the baby’s Christening, when a bad fairy threatens the child’s happiness. They help a Leprechaun find his way home, and get a lost engagement ring back to its owner. Both unwitting humans and Fairy Folk work together to save nearby woodland from development. From arranging a litter-pick in the woods to finding a new wand for the Fairy Queen, it is a busy life for the Fairy Folk.

The Sapphire Crucible

Captured! In Sapphire Crucible (Book 2 of the Sapphire Chronicles) Linvin Grithinshield and his party find themselves prisoners on the maniacal Lord Mandrean and his Necromancer. The Emperor has a surprise for Linvin. He knows where the Red Sapphire is! In order to attain it he needs Linvin's help. With his family as hostages he has no choice but to help.  Now they must find a way to escape, find the Red Sapphire and make it home alive. Along the way they must fight ever-growing odds of survival.

Today I'm happy to have Rival Gates stop by.


1. Greetings, can you tell us a little bit about your history and how your work has evolved up to this point?

I was raised as the son of a teacher and an editor.  Being a writer was something I aspired to since childhood.  At the age of 13 I started work on The Sapphire Chronicles as a way to do something positive during a difficult time in my life.  The first draft of Quest for the Red Sapphire, Book 1 was hand written on binder paper.  As I advanced through school and life I read many great authors and learned a good deal about writing.  It took over thirty years of working on and off, but I finally published my work.


2. What genre, or genres, do you write?

I write Fantasy.  More specifically, I write Epic Fantasy.


3.  What is your latest book called and what is it about?

My new book is called The Sapphire Crucible.  It is the second installment of The Sapphire Chronicles.  It is the continuing tale of former general Linvin Grithinshield leading his uncle and cousins on a quest to find the mythical Red Sapphire before their evil enemies find the stone.  He must overcome unprecedented odds and fight for his life in a world of death and destruction.  Linvin has to find the gem first and escape with his family alive.


4. What was the inspiration for your book?

I drew inspiration from the work of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.  I was also an avid Dungeons and Dragons player as a teen.  It helped me expand my thoughts and think in medieval terms.  Creating dungeons of my own helped hone my skills as a writer.


5. Where can we buy your books?

You can find them at Amazon.com.


6. What can we expect from you in the future?

With The Sapphire Crucible just coming out I will be busy for some time with the promotion of the book.  The third installment in the series will be called Mandrean Revenge.


7. Among your own books, have you a favorite book?  Favorite hero or heroine?

The Sapphire Crucible is my favorite of my books.  It is intense and yet thought provoking.  As much as I love the main character, Linvin Grithinshield, I have a soft spot for Bander Greenlith.  He is a simple elf who cares more about food than wealth.  Bander will never blow you away with his intelligence, but he is able to see through all the complications people create in order to see the simple truth in a situation.  He is fearless and loyal to a fault.  My favorite heroine is easily Miri.  Here is a beautiful princess who acts nothing like one.  She is strong willed, smart and a good fighter when called upon.  She is really going to surprise some people who think they have the book figured out early.


8. Do you plot ahead of time, or do you let the plot emerge as you write?

I definitely plot ahead of time.  I want my story to flow together in a logical sequence.  That takes planning.  When I just sit down and write without much of a plan I find there are important elements left out of the story.  Then I have to go back and find a way to squeeze it into the story.  In the end I am never satisfied.  Preparation is the key to a good story for me. 


9. Who are some of your favorite authors to read? Favorite books?

Aside from the authors mentioned previously, I have enjoyed the work of David Eddings, Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov.


10. What would be your ultimate goal as a writer?

As a writer I want to touch as many lives as possible.  Just as I was inspired to use my own voice, I hope to influence others to tell their own stories.  That would be a great accomplishment.

Biography

I was born in Port Huron, MI and was the youngest of four surviving children.  At the age of five my Father took a position as a magazine editor in Toronto, Ontario Canada.  We moved to a large city just outside Toronto called Mississauga.  The different cultures and demographics to which I was exposed formed many of the ideas for my story.
 
When I was thirteen, my Father’s declining health forced him out of work and our family struggled.  It was at that time that I decided to channel my negative energy into a constructive purpose.  I set out to write a short story about a magical gem called the Red Sapphire.  My brothers teased me that such a stone was simply a ruby.  That irony was part of the attraction for me.  After all, who would be writing about a Red Sapphire?  Years went by and we moved down to my Father’s home town of Harrow, Ontario on the shores of Lake Erie.  It was a drastic change from city life and I found myself retreating more and more into my ever growing story.  By age fifteen I had a two-hundred page hand written manuscript.
 
Advancing from high school to college at Michigan State University there was little time for writing and the project sat in a drawer in my parent’s home.  In spite of my lack of attention to writing, every night I would fall asleep working out details of the book and the series to follow.

I met a wonderful woman at Michigan State who agreed after graduation to become my wife.  As we started our family I began a career in retail management and sales.  For over twenty years I excelled in the field and even incorporated some of my knowledge into the book.  I hold my position in the greatest esteem.

While I rewrote the story several times on my computer, I did not attempt to publish it until the longest supporter of my writing, my Mother, became terminally ill.  She told me the last time I saw her how proud she was of the story I had created and made me promise to publish it and share it with the world.  With the loving support of my wife, our three children and the help of the good people at Solstice Publishing, I am fulfilling that promise.

Excerpt from The Sapphire Crucible


    “Sergeant Hugon...these are the Elves taken prisoner at the river crossing,” the Human Captain stated as he dropped a rolled scroll on the table. “They are not to be mistreated.”
    Hugon angrily opened the document and struggled to read its contents. Then he began to laugh. Moving the parchment over to a lantern on the desk, he set the orders ablaze. “That’s what I think of your orders. I do as I please with my prisoners.”
    The Captain drew his sword. Hugon stood quickly and took hold of his club. The other goblins in the tower drew their weapons and rallied behind the Sergeant. In spite of the insurmountable odds against him, the Captain held his position.
    “I want you to acknowledge that you have taken custody of the prisoners,” the Captain said with his blade pointed directly at Hugon’s heart. “You will be accountable for any deviation of the orders from this point forth.”
    The Goblin Master snorted and answered, “I have them now, Human. Now be about your business. I wouldn’t want you to get your pretty uniform dirty.”
    The Captain looked at the jailor with disdain and sheathed his weapon. “Goblin scum,” he branded as he turned and left.
    After the Captain exited, the gates were closed and Hugon turned his attention to Linvin and his family. Using one hand for each, he picked up the twins by the chest and examined them. “So these are the Dangerous Elves that everyone is in fear of? Ha.” Hugon threw them aside and looked at the others. “I presume you are Anvar Greenlith. The paper said you were not to be unchained under any conditions. Seems you’re some sort of Magician or somethin’. You look mighty old for anyone to be scared of you.” He shoved Anvar to the ground and stepped on him with his foot. “I could just squash you like a worm. You’re nothin’ but a feeble old elf.” He began to slowly press down on Anvar with his foot.
    Linvin could not stand the sight. “Leave him alone, Gutter-Rat,” Linvin cried angrily.
    Hugon removed his foot from Anvar and turned his attention to Linvin. With two fists full of Linvin’s shirt, Hugon lifted him into the air and drew his face close. The great elf was weak and sick but still stubborn. He stared straight back at the monstrous creature.
    “So you’re the little half-breed that has everyone so upset. You look pretty harmless to me. Kind of like a bug. I guess maybe them Humans is afraid of bugs?” The other goblins started laughing.
    Linvin replied: “You must be the pathetic Goblin Pet your Human Masters chose to guard the mean, nasty little Elves. What a sad commentary on you. So scared of us are you that you need to keep us shackled. I do not blame you though. Slaughtering all those goblins in the Territory was quite easy and actually a good deal of fun for us. I would be scared of us too.”
    Hugon threw Linvin against the wall and turned to the goblins who traveled with the prison wagon. “They killed goblins?”
    “At least an entire patrol,” the shivering voice of one of them said.
    Hugon was furious and quickly showed his displeasure by uncoiling his whip. Without a thought he began to lash Linvin with vigor. “You want to play games with me Boy?” Hugon shouted as the thick leather tore through Linvin’s clothes. The victim curled into a ball to protect his face. Unrestrained, the leather sliced through his skin with ease and did not stop until it struck bone.
    “How do you like that?” Hugon screamed as the other goblins cheered his torture of Linvin. “I think I’ll give you one lash for every goblin you’ve killed. If there’s anything left of you after that, I’ll show you the lower levels where we can really have some fun.”
    Linvin watched his tormentor closely. When the whip headed his way again Linvin held up his shackles and let it wrap itself around the chain. Then he grabbed the weapon and pulled it from the goblin’s hand. “I am Linvin Grithinshield,” he said from his knees. “No one puts leather to me and lives.”

The Sapphire Crucible

Captured! In ”Sapphire Crucible” (Book 2 of the Sapphire Chronicles) Linvin Grithinshield and his party find themselves prisoners on the maniacal Lord Mandrean and his Necromancer. The Emperor has a surprise for Linvin. He knows where the Red Sapphire is! In order to attain it he needs Linvin's help. With his family as hostages he has no choice but to help.  Now they must find a way to escape, find the Red Sapphire and make it home alive. Along the way they must fight ever-growing odds of survival.

Links

Don't miss Quest for the Red Sapphire, Book 1 in the Sapphire Chronicles: on sale on Kindle for .99

Character:  Eden Gelsey
Book: Eden's Darkness by D.M. Sears


Tell me a little about yourself.

I have just turned 18 and up until a year ago lived with my Aunt and Uncle in the human world. I have a birthmark on my wrist that started giving me trouble…until I figured out it was the mark of the Chosen One.


Where do you live?

I live in a world inside the human world called Ellethny. It is on earth, but a different realm on earth. It is like nothing you have ever seen before. Ellethny has Shape-shifters, Feys, Vampires, and Mages…also Shadows. Something no one wants to come in contact with.


Who is the most important person in your life?

I have so many important people in my life. My Aunt Val and Uncle Lex took me in after my mother and father were attacked. Gregor, who is my husband, made a life vow to be my protector, friend, lover, and warrior. Maiya and Koren have sacrificed so much time and again before they even got to know me just because they believed in my quest.


What was your childhood like?

My childhood was like any other, normal and boring. The one cool thing was helping Val make her potions and concoctions for others. See, she was a healer…um, IS a healer. Little did I know she and Lex were both mages.


Of all the people you've met, who would you LEAST like to be stuck in an elevator with?

That one is easy, my grandmother Circenn! All she wants to do is try and take my powers so she can overrun Ellethny and claim herself queen. The woman had major psycho issues if you ask me.


What is the most important thing in your life? What do you value most?

My family. Above all else they are my life. Without them life is not worth living. That is why I am fighting the darkness to bring Ellethny back to its glory, for my family. So people who left Ellethny can come back and live once again.


What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is that I will fail. The fate of a world rests in my hands, I am the only one who can bring the light back. If I fail to defeat Circenn and Darkness, the world I love will end and its people will be forever enslaved to the ideas of a mad woman.


What is the most important thing that ever happened to you? Why?

Meeting my mom…well her spirit, I should say. I found a peace I had lost and the strength I needed to continue on my journey.


Do you have any special talents or abilities?

As the Chosen One I have abilities from all the races in Ellethny. I have wings to fly and fey sight, I have vampire senses and reflexes, mages' magic, and the coolest thing is I can shift into animal forms. My favorite spirit animal is Ryuu…my dragon.


How do you see your future?

I see myself in my meadow with Gregor and our daughter living in peace as my family and world thrive.


If you could spend the day with someone you admire (living or dead or imaginary), who would you pick?

I would say my parents. As both of them are dead and I have never really seen or spent time with them, I would say them.


If you had a free day with no responsibilities, how would you spend it?

I would go to Japan and ride all the roller coasters! I am a fanatic for adrenaline now.


Where can we find out more about you?

You can read all about my beginning in Eden’s Mark and continue my journey in Eden’s Darkness. Both are on Amazon and other book sites.

Biography

D.M. Sears lives in a small town in the mid-west with her daughter Larissa and their crazy familiar Cindy Lou. She spends weekdays as a director for an early childhood center and weeknights fighting the voices in her head putting them down on paper in the form of Paranormal and Fantasy writings. When she has down time, she indulges in her obsession with Hindi films featuring a certain Shak Rukh Khan along with reading books of various genres. D.M. Sears is also the author of Eden's Mark, Book One in the Ellethny Series. Also, coming Fall 2014, Eden’s Revelation and an elemental novel, The Order of Amite: The New Erregen.

Facebook Fan Page -  https://www.facebook.com/pages/DM-Sears/675167942528555
Twitter - @DMSears1
Website - http://myrissaeden1.wix.com/ellethnyseries

What would you do if the person you loved the most became the very thing you were fighting to destroy? Eden will have to answer that very question before her quest is through. The land she has come to love is at dire risk of being lost to the shadows seeking to consume it. Circenn, now the consort of Darkness, waits to claim her granddaughter and her powers, unaware that Darkness has his own agenda. He has but little time to obtain his vessel and find his true form. Will he succeed? And will Eden be able to face the disturbing visions that continue to pursue her? Nightmares will become reality in Eden's Darkness, Book Two in the Ellethny Series.

Character:  Jay Ferragamo
Book: A 38 Day Education by John Guzzardo


Tell me a little about yourself.  Where do you live? 

Well, I'm originally from Palm Harbor, Florida. It's part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.  Right now, I'm in school at South Central College.  It's in a small town in southern Georgia called Danielsonville.


Who is the most important person in your life? 

My roommate, Martin Ballard.  He's a great guy; like a brother in a lot of ways.  We have great conversations and we both respect each other very much.  I think, when it comes down to it, he's one of the reasons I look forward to coming back to school every fall.  We're like family.


What was your childhood like?

It was a mixed bag, really.  I grew up in Schenectady, New York, but I could never really get into the cold; I used to play in the snow alone, and I spent a lot of time at the playground by myself.  Most of my childhood was spent in my room reading, outside playing by myself, or at the library.  My dad inherited the print shop my grandfather started, but after ten years of trying to run the shop and have his own career, he decided he didn't want to be a printer, and sold it.  He had been working as a manager for a trucking company when he was transferred to Scranton, Pennsylvania.  We lived there until I was about 13, when we moved to Palm Harbor.  I went to public school in New York, Catholic school in
PA, and back into public school in Florida.  Never had too many friends - most of my classmates called my nerdy, dorky and stupid. When we moved to Florida, I was in high school and came into my own. I love the warm weather.


Of all the people you've met, who would you LEAST like to be stuck in an elevator with? 

That would probably have to be Tasha Davidson. She's the Vice President of Student Government.  Not to sound disrespectful or rude, but she's that really irritating sort of wealthy, the sort who looks at a guy like me and just sneers like "you aren't good enough to breathe the same air with me."  I deal with her because it's a necessary evil, nothing more, nothing less.


What is the most important thing in your life? 

I can't say for sure. My education is important.  My family is important.  Right now, the most important thing in my life is helping keep my college newspaper, The Scope, running.  It's the first place I've ever felt like I fit in, and now I'm doing the best I can to keep it running.  The staff is like my family and friends, and I don't want to let them down.


What is your biggest fear?

Never finding that special someone who I can have a life with.  I almost had it with this girl Vanessa, but I know it's not meant to be.  I guess I'm kind of scared of never finding a woman I can fall in love with.


Do you have any special talents or abilities?

Aside from being highly sanctimonious, pompous and arrogant simultaneously?  Well, I'm a pretty good writer and not afraid of working really long hours.


How do you see your future?

*laughing*  You want to know something? I can't see past the next three months, but okay, I'll bite.  I see my future like this - getting through school, getting a job, meeting a beautiful woman, and having a family.  I would like to be a journalist someday.  Hell, maybe I'll even be an anchor for CNN, if I'm really lucky and don't screw it up.


If you could spend the day with someone you admire (living or dead or imaginary), who would you pick?

Oh, that's easy:  my grandfather. Grandpa Ferragamo, from what I've been told, was a great man.  He worked hard, was a great writer, and started a print shop that's still in operation today.  I really wish I could talk to him and know what real sacrifice and real leadership is all about.


Where can we find out more about you?

Well, right now there's not a lot about me out there, but my story will, hopefully, be available to read soon.  Just keep an eye out for A 38 Day Education by John E. Guzzardo.


Links

Website - www.getinjohnshead.com
Blog – getinjohnshead.wordpress.com
Twitter - @GetinJohnsHead
Facebook - JohnEGuzzardo

Interview with Andy Thompson, a character from Hike Up Devil's Mountain by Penny Estelle

Character: Andy Thompson
Book: Hike Up Devil’s Mountain by Penny Estelle


Tell me a little about yourself?           

Well, I’m ten years old and I’m in a world of trouble.  I went to a house that is supposed to be demolished tomorrow and I found this box in the basement that had this stick in it.  Well, the thing started glowing this bright red, then just stopped.  I was trying to get it to glow again, when Jason Crew and his brother found me.  Well, Jason is the new school bully and he tried to take my stick.  We were fighting for it and the next thing I knew, Jason was a toad.  I mean, that wouldn’t be my fault, right?


Where do you live?           

Clarksdale.


Who is the most important person in your life?

Right now, it’s the person that lives on top of Devil’s Mountain who can, hopefully, change this spell.


What was your childhood like? 

Well until today, it was just like anybody else’s.  I mean, I was just a regular kid.  Now, I’m hiking up the scary mountain with another kid my age and he has his twelve year old brother, who is now a toad, in his shirt pocket!


Of all the people you've met, who would you LEAST like to be stuck in an elevator with?

Jason Crew, when he turns back into a kid.  I don’t think my life is going to be worth squat, when that happens.


What is the most important thing in your life? 

This very minute it’s my mom’s understanding, 'cause I don’t think I’ll be seeing much of that when she hears the trouble I’ve gotten myself into.


What is your biggest fear? 

Right now it’s whatever is coming out of this cave.  There is a horrible smell and we can see a green glow coming our way. 


Do you have any special talents or abilities? 

I didn’t think so!  But when this day is over, I will find out I have a VERY SPECIAL TALENT!


How do you see your future? 

Hopefully – Alive!


If you could spend the day with someone you admire (living or dead or imaginary), who would you pick? 

Merlin - the wizard, Glinda - the Good Witch of the North, Dumbledore or any of the students from Hogwarts…anybody who could turn this spell around!


Where can we find out more about you?  

In the story, Hike Up Devil’s Mountain.

Biography


Hi everybody!  My name is Penny Estelle.  I was a school secretary for 21 years and retired in 2009.  We moved to our retirement home in Kingman, AZ, and we live on 54 acres in a very rural area.  Actually we live “off the grid”, on solar and wind.  A real adjustment for a city girl.  I must say – I love it.  Nothing like looking out your window in the early morning and see a wave of quail running across the property, or walking out your front door at night and hear coyotes howling in the distance and seeing a sky bursting with stars.  It is breathtaking!

I started writing for kids right before I retired.  There is always material when kids are involved.  I am pleased to say I have several middle grade/tween books out and, under P. A. Estelle,  I have stories for the not so young. I also have a non-fiction story out about our life with solar.

Excerpt from Hike Up Devil’s Mountain

~~~~~~~~~~

            Jason was getting closer to Andy.  His voice hissed through his teeth.  “You must think we are some kind of stupid.  We aren’t like the hicks who live in this town and if you think we would even begin to believe some story about an old witch who lived here, then you better think again!”  Jason pushed Andy hard against the wooden cabinet.
            Andy shut his eyes waiting for the first blow.  Nothing happened.  He squinted open his left eye and saw Jason’s head cocked to one side, trying to see behind Andy’s back.  “What have you got there, Andy Pandy?”
            Uh oh, the glowing stick.  Andy wasn’t about to give that up.  “Nothing,” he told him, trying to back away but there was no place to go.
            “Oh I think there is something,” Jason sneered.
            “It’s mine!” Andy shouted.  “You will have to do your worst if you think you are taking this from me!”
            “No problem,” Jason said, lunging forward.  Andy tried to fake him out, pretending to run one way and then the other.  That didn’t work.  That never worked!   Jason grabbed Andy’s arm that held the stick and tried to grab it. Something was going to break, and Andy wasn’t sure if it would be the stick or his arm.  They both fell and were rolling on the floor.  Andy knew he was losing this battle.  No matter how hard he held on, he could feel his new-found treasure start to slip out of his grasp.
            “Jason, stop it!”  Danny shouted.  “You’re acting like a big dumb toad!”
            “Yeah…you’re … acting… like…a…toad!” Andy gasped between each word.
            The stick exploded into a flash of light and then the fight was over.  Andy jumped up, trying to fill his lungs with air.  What happened?  Danny came running over to where Andy stood.  “Where’s Jason?”  Andy couldn’t answer because he couldn’t catch his breath.  Danny yelled, “Jason, where are you?  Quit messing around!”
            His chest still heaving, Andy stammered, “I don’t know.  I . . . don’t know what just happened.” 
            They both looked to the floor.  Under one of the boxes was what looked like a pair of pants.  “Jason!” Danny hurried to lift the box.  No Jason — just his pants.  Lying close by were his nice Nike shoes, socks and a short distance away was his shirt.  “What did you do?” he yelled at Andy.
            “Nothing!  I didn’t do anything!  I . . . don’t know!”  Andy had no answers. 
            Danny tried again.  “Jason,” he screamed his name.  “Where are you?”

~~~~~~~~~~

Links

http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY

www.pennystales.com

www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/Pennystales

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estelle

http://www.facebook.com/pennystales

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82


Helen, thank you so much for letting me stop by today.  You are a wonderful hostess and I appreciate your time!

Hike Up Devil’s Mountain

by Penny Estelle

Today I'm happy to have author John Guzzardo stop by and talk about his latest book, A 38 Day Education.

1. Greetings, can you tell us a little bit about your history and how your work has evolved up to this point?

I began writing at 17 for my high school literary magazine while taking Creative Writing.  It was there I discovered I enjoyed creative writing and upon arriving at college, I immediately began working for my college newspaper.  After a year and a half, I took over as Editor, ran my newspaper for two and a half years, and then shortly after left college to get married.  During that time I wrote a few letters to the editor of various newspapers and tried to get my foot in the door as a journalist at some news organizations, but it was not meant to be.  There was a somewhat abortive attempt to get a comic strip I drew picked up by a syndicate, but that too wasn’t meant to be.  I started writing again in 2007 when it became obvious I had an itch to get back into it again.  I’ve been writing ever since.


2. What genre, or genres, do you write?

I write mostly collegiate/political fiction, but I am dabbling in science fiction at this point.  I also enjoy writing about politics on my blog and do jump in and out of humor writing from time to time.


3.  What is your latest book called and what is it about?

A 38 Day Education is the first in what I hope to be a five-book series based on the exploits of the staff of The Scope, the newspaper of South Central College, a fictional school in south Georgia.  It chronicles Jay Ferragamo’s transformation from an insecure college sophomore into a semi-confident, accomplished Editor of his campus newspaper.  Along the way, he has to learn about life, politics and understanding that sometimes things aren’t always what they seem to be.


4. What was the inspiration for your book?

A 38 Day Education is inspired by my own experience with my campus newspaper, The Sou’Wester, at Georgia Southwestern State University.  In March 1994, I became Editor after serving as Assistant Editor up until that point and some of the basic plot points in the book mirror my own experiences.  While the characters were all inspired by people I either knew or worked with, great effort was made to ensure that no one character was too much like any single person in real life.


5. Where can we buy your books?

A 38 Day Education has only recently been contracted for publication by Solstice Publishing, so it may a little bit before I have a release date.  However, once I have been told what the editing and publishing schedule is, I will be working tirelessly to get the book to market.


6. What can we expect from you in the future?

The expectation is that this current novel will be the springboard sufficient to launch the entire Scope series.  I am also working on a science-fiction novel which is based on the concept of Earth becoming a capital to a galactic government, after its original capital planet was destroyed as part of an ongoing war between cousin races, a war which actually influenced the religious beliefs of humankind for eons.


7. Among your own books, have you a favorite book?  Favorite hero or heroine?

Most of what I read is historical non-fiction.  That said, my favorite book overall is Dave Barry Talks Back, a collection of columns by humorist Dave Barry.  As for fiction, my favorite novel is actually Peter David’s Legions of Fire trilogy, an adaptation of a Babylon 5 script written by J. Michael Straczynski.  My favorite hero of any book is John Coffey from Stephen King’s The Green Mile.


8. Do you plot ahead of time, or do you let the plot emerge as you write?

A combination of the two.  I work from a mental outline for the essential plot but like to let the plot emerge.  One thing I do is “talk out” the scenes in private, including the dialogue, to see how the book sounds.  My experience is that how we write reflects how we speak, and this is how I handle the dialogue.  I’ll write different parts of the book as I get inspiration, like a patchwork quilt, and then “stitch” them together with transitional scenes.


9. Who are some of your favorite authors to read? Favorite books?

My favorite contemporary writers are Peter David and Dave Barry.  I have a fondness for Shakespeare (my sister gave me a complete Shakespeare book that weighs about twenty five pounds!).  My favorite books include Dave Barry Talks Back, 1776, The ‘What Ifs’ of American History, and Ben Franklin:  An American Life.  I have read the first three books of the Harry Potter series and, strangely, I could never really get into J.K. Rowling’s style.


10. What would be your ultimate goal as a writer?

My goal is to use my books and writing as a teaching tool.  I am a teacher at heart and if one person learns something from my books, then all this writing is worth it.  On a purely selfish note, I would love to see my books in my old campus book store under the title “Required Reading.”  I know that would make more than a few people gnash their teeth.


Biography

John E. Guzzardo has been writing, in one form or another, for over 20 years.  His writing career began in high school, continuing to college as Editor of his campus newspaper from 1994 through 1996, and again in 2011.  John has been featured on Examiner.com, Yahoo and published a webcomic, Love & Marriage, from 2005 through 2007.

History, politics and art are some of John's favorite subjects, and he is an avid highway and cat enthusiast, as well as a fan of baseball's Tampa Bay Rays.  Personal causes include the fight against Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), diabetes awareness and constitutional law. Among the writers John counts as his inspiration for pursuing his dream of being a published author are Peter David, Dave Barry and George R.R. Martin.

He currently resides in the Atlanta area with his wife, son, and, yes, cats.


Links

Website - www.getinjohnshead.com
Blog – getinjohnshead.wordpress.com
Twitter - @GetinJohnsHead
Facebook - JohnEGuzzardo

The Prince and the Singularity - A Circular Tale is a take on the Creation myth, drawing from different religious and philosophical sources and mixing them in an original, challenging and often very funny way. It is written in a multi-layered format, allowing it to be read both as a simple and entertaining fable and as a deeply philosophical work, full of hidden references and satire.

It’s the story of the Prince aka the Master aka Francis, who is more or less immortal and goes through the millennia fighting Desire and Rejection, the roots of all unhappiness and evil. He always fails until the moment he loses interest and decides to die, which he doesn't. Instead he gets promoted.

Today I'm happy to have author Pedro Barrento stop by and talk about his latest book, The Prince and the Singularity - A Circular Tale.


Tell us a little something about yourself as both a person and an author

I’m a maverick, a loner and someone who loves to think about problems too complicated to ever have a solution. I also have very peculiar beliefs, as I do not believe in the existence of God but I believe in the existence of spiritual dimensions. It’s a very uncomfortable position to be in, because religious people consider me an atheist and atheists just consider me incoherent.


What made you decide to be a writer?

I always wrote short pieces, mainly about political satire, and I have a blog dedicated to that (mostly in Portuguese, though).

One of my satirical pieces, “The Euro Crisis Explained to Grannies”, has now been viewed almost 15,000 times, so I guess at least some people must like it.

I then started having ideas for longer and more complicated stories.


What made you pick this genre to write?

My book is cross genre. It's a mix of literary fiction with shades of Pratchett humour over a New Age background. I should've picked a genre but unfortunately I didn't, which makes marketing the thing an uphill struggle of Himalayan proportions.


Tell us a little about your latest book

My idea was to write a book that would simultaneously:

a) be funny (both funny peculiar and funny ha-ha);

b) could be read as a simple story that anyone could understand and appreciate;

c) had several “hidden” layers below the basic story that different people could read differently, depending on their cultural and religious backgrounds;

d) would mix concepts from different religions and philosophies, in a thought-provoking way.

While writing the book, I toyed with the idea of creating three different self-contained stories that could be read in any order whatsoever and would make sense either individually or in connection with the other two, but that proved to be too difficult and I abandoned the concept. As a leftover of that idea, though, chapters 1 to 12 make up a self-contained story of their own.

The book is a reflection of the Great Fusion Era in which we live, where lifestyles, religions, beliefs and economic and political systems are fusing together, with the inherent social confusion and clashes between cultures.

We live in times where people feel insecure and troubled, but these are epic times, the transition between one era and the next one.

The book is a reflection of all that. It fuses concepts from different religions (which has been done before) and, more importantly, it fuses religion with atheism, an exercise most people would consider a logical impossibility.


How do you come up with your ideas?

You’re going to think I’m completely nuts, but I believe all books are already written, in some other dimension. Writers get their stories when they somehow connect to that other dimension. As no writer is capable of receiving a whole book, what happens is that they receive some parts and then fill in the missing parts with their mind. The more parts they “receive”, the better writers they are. The parts they “fill in” tend to be the weakest bits of their books.

That’s what happened with my book. I suddenly “saw” parts of the story, usually in situations where I was totally relaxed and thinking of nothing in particular, especially while swimming or driving a car.

I wrote down those parts, which came in a non-sequential way (Ch.1, Ch.2,  Ch. 12, then Ch.9, etc). The book has 27 chapters. In the end, I had big chunks of the book written down and I had some parts missing in several places in the middle. Those parts I wrote with my mind, just trying to connect what had been “received”, if you may call it that way.

I have very little hope that you’ll believe my version of how the book was written but I can assure you it’s the truth.

Also the writing process was very odd, because on top of being non-sequential, I started by writing a draft in Portuguese, then someone translated that draft into English, then I rewrote the English translation because I thought it had lost the right “feel”. Afterwards I finished writing the book in English, meaning that 30,000 words were written in Portuguese, translated, rewritten by me and then 14,500 words were added directly in English. I then had to translate the part that was written in English into my own language, which is a very odd situation.


Is there someone in particular you would like to thank for supporting you through this process?

Lynn Curtis (http://www.lynncurtis.co.uk/), my editor and literary consultant must come first and foremost. In fact, I believe that calling her a literary consultant is an offense. She is a living goddess, no less.

Teresa Frederico, the person who revised the Portuguese version is also someone who deserves a HUGE “thank you”, especially as she did it for free (well, I promised her untold riches if the book is successful). I’d also like to thank Sandro Marques for several suggestions made while I was writing the initial Portuguese draft. Fernanda Gil and Paula Soto Maior have also helped in the graphic department, with several sketches for covers which unfortunately ended up not being used.


Tell us one positive thing that has happened to you since you published your book(s)

People have finally stopped seeing me as a lawyer (which I hated) and now see me as a writer (which is a lot sexier).


Tell us one negative thing that has happened to you since you published your book(s)

I’ll tell you something that happened before I published the book.

I tested it extensively on several sites, especially on authonomy.com, and I found out that writing a book which mixes sources from different cultures is a very delicate process. To my (probably naïve) astonishment, in the beginning, I was getting raving reviews from readers of Asian origin and very mixed reviews from American readers, which ranged from “great book” to “you’ll burn in hell”. I reached the conclusion that the “you’ll burn in hell” readers just weren’t understanding the book.

I then added a Prologue, to make the book easier to understand to readers less familiarized with some of the philosophies involved and after that I’m glad to say I’ve stopped receiving “hate mail”.


Give us your links to learn more about you and your book

The book is available both as a paper book and an ebook on Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, etc., and all those sites allow you to read a sample.

I’ll leave you with the Amazon USA Kindle link, but whether that is the ideal link to check out the book depends on where each reader lives, so people should choose the site most adequate for the country they live in:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B3B3QNS

The Prince and the Singularity - A Circular Tale is a take on the Creation myth, drawing from different religious and philosophical sources and mixing them in an original, challenging and often very funny way. It is written in a multi-layered format, allowing it to be read both as a simple and entertaining fable and as a deeply philosophical work, full of hidden references and satire.

It’s the story of the Prince aka the Master aka Francis, who is more or less immortal and goes through the millennia fighting Desire and Rejection, the roots of all unhappiness and evil. He always fails until the moment he loses interest and decides to die, which he doesn't. Instead he gets promoted.