Monday 30 November 2015

Ancient Voices: Into the Depths by Allison D. Reid

Allison D. Reid was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her love for medieval fantasy was sparked by the Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis, which fed both her imagination and her spiritual development. When at the age of thirteen her family moved to Germany, her passion for medieval history and legend only increased, and she found herself captivated by the ancient towns and castles of Europe.

Allison returned to the United States to study art and writing at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She earned her B.A. under the tutelage of the well-renowned and prolific writer Andrew Salkey, a student of her other great inspiration, and the father of fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien. After graduating from Hampshire College, Allison moved to Connecticut. There she got the opportunity to attend seminary and further explore her faith before returning to her home state of Ohio. 

Allison now lives in the Miami Valley area with her husband and children. She continues to work on her first published series while taking care of her family, editing for other independent writers, and managing a home business.

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About the Book


The Kinship rides victorious into the small village of Minhaven, just in time to celebrate the Winter Festival. Their leader, Glak, brings with him both hope and spoils from battle, but also some distressing news. Though Minhaven's greatest threat has finally been defeated, a new one is emerging to take its place.

The enemy Glak describes has not been seen in hundreds of years, yet somehow it has been haunting Elowyn’s dreams. Has Braeden’s cruel reach followed her from Tyroc’s troubled borders into this remote wilderness? If so, there is no place left to run, and the Kinship is preparing to fight an enemy more sinister and powerful than they can possibly imagine. 

Past becomes present, as prophecies long buried continue to emerge, revealing their truth to the coming generation. The Era of Peace has ended. The Era of Awakening has begun. While Morganne seeks guidance from the crumbling pages of ancient tomes, Elowyn tries to find her place within a community for the first time. 

Despite the impending danger, Morganne and Elowyn decide to make their stand with the people of Minhaven. As they plunge into the depths of history, prophecy, the wilderness, love, fear, hope, faith…the girls begin to learn more about who they are, and who Aviad is calling them to be.

Get it today on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes and Noble!


You can also get Book 1 of the Series, Journey to Aviad, free!


Now for an interview with Glak from Ancient Voices:


Where were you born, and what was it like growing up there?


I was born in Minhaven, though it was somewhat smaller then. Fewer buildings, fewer people, and more dangerous. There was no Kinship yet...no law. That was part of what drew men there—the chance to begin a new life in a place too distant to attract the Sovereign’s eye. Most were honest folk pressed under hard circumstances. But some were running from justice they should have had to face. Though the streets were sometimes hazardous, the mountains were just as glorious back then as they are today. When I was not working, I spent much of my time learning their secrets.

Who is your enemy? What makes you enemies?


Braeden, the late Sovereign’s Chief Steward, is my greatest enemy who walks this earth. In my youth, he found my weakness and used it to betray me, and the world with me. He fed me to The Shadow—the greatest enemy of Aviad and all of humankind. That betrayal has left a wound on my soul that I fear shall never heal. I shall not forget his part in it.

Did you have a close relationship with your family?


I confess that I do not remember my mother. She died of an illness when I was very young. I have some scattered, yet fond memory of my father, though he was also taken from us too early. My brother Grindan and I were left alone, and we became closer than most brothers could hope to be. We desperately needed each other, for we had no one else left. He took up my father’s trade as best he could so that we would not starve. When he became ill, I fell into despair, terrified of what might become of me. You understand, I was willing to do anything to keep him with me in this world. Anything at all. And I was too young to realize how dangerous that would prove to be.

What is your greatest fear? How did/will you overcome it?


My greatest fear is that I will lose hope. Without it, the Shadow’s gray veil which still clings to me like a shroud, will only grow stronger. Hope is what drives me to keep fighting, so that I can right the wrongs I’ve done…perhaps even find forgiveness in the end. If I lose hope, I will lose everything that I am, and every good I’ve done would be overturned by the man I would become.

What is the most important lesson you've learned about life?


To live each moment as though there will not be another.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? Why?


The men of the Kinship have been my greatest influence, from the time I joined as a wounded, yet ambitious young boy who just wanted to redeem himself. They helped me become more than my pain, and gave my life focus. Without that, no doubt I would have long ago descended into a darkness of the Shadow’s making.

What kind of clothing do you prefer to wear?


Simple trousers and a plain white tunic, though I spend most of my time in armor. It is so well worn that it fits me as comfortably as my own skin.

What was your greatest achievement?


Finally defeating the thieves of the western pass after so many years. Yet it was not my achievement alone, but that of the Kinship as a whole. 

How did the Kinship form? 


Minhaven might well have remained a lawless place and descended into chaos over time. But as men dug their fortunes out of the mountains, a band of thieves from the west began to make Minhaven its favorite target. We suddenly had a common enemy that united us as a community. A small group of miners who had once been fighters came together to defend themselves and the other miners. More joined them, and the Kinship was born, though much has changed since those early days.

What do you regret most in your life? Why?


A group of monks once advised me to go home and sit by my ailing brother’s side, to spend whatever time with him Aviad might grant us. I did not listen, determined instead to change my brother’s fate of my own will. As much as I love my brother, and as much as it pains me to say it, I should have let him die. It would have been a kinder fate for all. 

If you had one day left to live, what would you do with your last day?


I would strap on my armor and head into the mountains beyond Minhaven, much like I would any other day. There is no other place I would rather live, or die, than wrapped in the cold beauty of that place which I have known and loved since birth.

Friday 27 November 2015

Out of Oblivion by Taren Reese Ocoda Countdown Deal

Taren Reese Ocoda is actually a pen name I've decided to use for writing my sci-fi and erotic romance stories. I write fantasy under my real name and decided that I wanted to keep the two genres separate.

I live in Australia with my husband and daughter. I'm originally from America, but I moved out here a bit over ten years ago to be with my (now) husband. We met online and I came out here just for a visit so we could meet in person, and I've been here ever since. Ten years later we are still happily married, so we're living proof that it can work! :-D

We have two cats, named Padme and Anakin—you couldn't tell from that, that I'm a Star Wars fan—and two guinea pigs, named Sith and Prince.

I love to read fantasy mostly, but I've been reading more romance lately as a result of meeting some really good indie romance authors who turned me onto it. I'm very picky about what I read though. Anything I read has to have a great story with characters that feel real to me. Those are the stories that really draw me in.

They're also the kinds of stories I try (and hopefully succeed at) writing. I had some ideas for romance stories in mind, but for a long time I didn't think I had the skills to write one. I didn't want to do what everyone else was doing either. Now with the sci-fi romance genre out there, it's intrigued me enough to give it a try. So I really hope you enjoy!

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About the Book


When Haleigh Lucas is dragged to a party with her best friend, Alexis Dalton, she is shocked to find it was not the kind of party she was expecting. Forced into a world she never knew existed, Haleigh is faced with a choice.

Dominic Hansen is gorgeous and witty. Haleigh likes him immediately, but he is a Dominant, and she is not interested in being controlled. Kurt McCray gives her the creeps at first sight, but as she gets to know him, she decides her first impression was wrong. Although he is also into BDSM, he avoids the topic when Haleigh makes it clear she is not interested.

Though Haleigh feels more attracted to Dominic, Kurt seems to be the easier choice. She learns the hard way, the easier choice is not necessarily the best choice. After more than a year of forced slavery at Kurt's hands, Dominic rescues her, but now Haleigh feels she can never love again. How will Dominic win her trust and her love?

Disclaimer: This is not a "girl falls in love with her abuser" kind of story and it does have a happily ever after kind of ending. However, there are elements of kidnap, abuse, rape, and forced slavery. Do not buy this book if these themes offend or upset you.

Get it for 99 cents between the 26th and 30th of November on Amazon!


An excerpt from Out of Oblivion


I hated parties. I always have. It's not that I wasn't a social person. I didn't like loud, crowded spaces that reeked of smoke and stale alcohol with drunk and high people running around like idiots. And, okay, I wasn't a social person. I didn't mind spending time with friends, but most of the time I was happiest on my own, in my quiet room with a good book. My best friend, Alexis Dalton, on the other hand, was a complete social butterfly.

"We're going to a party tonight," Alexis announced the minute I walked through our shared dorm room's door as she primped herself in front of a mirror.

She wore her black mini skirt, which she could pull off with her body, and a black lace top with nothing more than a black lace bra underneath. She completed the ensemble with her favorite fishnet stockings and black high heeled boots. Alexis was planning to get laid, which meant one of two things. She would leave the party in tears, in which case I would spend the night trying to console her. Or she would stay the night, in which case I'd be too worried to leave her. Either way, if I went, I wouldn't be getting much sleep that night.

I groaned. "What party?"

"You remember Jason Hansen?"

I fell onto my bunk and pulled the pillow over my face. After the day I had, all I wanted was a nap. "You mean the junior you're all hot and bothered over and don't shut up about? Yeah. How can I forget?"

Alexis yanked the pillow away, rolling her eyes. "Well, yeah. He invited me, and I think he might finally ask me out."

"You keep saying that every time you invite yourself to whatever party he's planning to be at," I said as I lifted myself onto my elbows.

"Yeah, but this time I didn't invite myself. He told me he likes me, but he can't date me until I understand something about him."

I narrowed my eyes. "That sounds a bit ominous. What? Is he a vampire or something?"

"You read too much," Alexis said, then laughed. "So will you go?"

"If you're going with Jason, why do you need me there? I'm not in a party mood."

Alexis sighed. "You're never in a party mood, and Jason won't be there until later. He has to work, but he said I can go early if I want so I can… explore."

She knew more about this party than she was telling me. What could there possibly be to explore? It was a party. I started to object. There was nothing I wanted less right now than to be near other people.

"Please, Haleigh. I don't want to go alone." She got down on her knees, her hands folded in front of her chest as though she was praying.

I sighed. She would not give up. "You know you're a pain, right?"

"The biggest pain in the world. Please, please, please?"

"Fine," I said. I didn't like her going to parties alone anyway. Trouble seemed to follow her. "I'll go."

She jumped up and wrapped her arms around me. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. You won't regret it."

My gut told me I would.

"Okay, get dressed. We have to leave soon."

"I am dressed."

"Jeans and t-shirt is not dressed, Haleigh," Alexis scolded.

"It's just a party, right?"

She sighed. "Fine. Wear that. You might be the most covered person there. That won't draw attention."

She was trying to bait me into dressing up, but it wouldn't work. People ignored me at parties because I didn't dress up. It kept me safe. Well, until they were too drunk to care anyway.

Monday 23 November 2015

Soulless Creatures by Katharine Grubb

Katharine Grubb is a homeschooling mother of five, a novelist, a baker of bread, a comedian wannabe, a former running coward and the author of Soulless Creatures, Falling For Your Madness, and Write A Novel In 10 Minutes A Day. Besides pursuing her own fiction and nonfiction writing dreams, she also leads 10 Minute Novelists on Facebook, an international group for time-crunched writers that focuses on tips, encouragement and community. She understands what it means to make the most of her time. She blogs at www.10minutenovelist.com. She lives in Massachusetts with her family.



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About the Book


Working-class future leader Roy Castleberry and pampered over-thinker Jonathan Campbell are 18-year-old freshmen at the University of Oklahoma who think they know everything. Roy thinks Jonathan could succeed in wooing Abby if he stopped obsessing over Walden. Jonathan thinks Roy could learn to be self-actualized if he’d stop flirting with every girl he meets. They make a wager: if Roy can prove that he has some poetic thought, some inner life, A SOUL, then Jonathan will give him the car he got for graduation. Roy takes the bet because he thinks this is the easiest game he’s ever played. Roy spends the rest of the school year proving the existence of his soul, competing against Jonathan for Abby's attention, dodging RAs who are curious about the fake ID ring in his room and dealing with his past. For Roy and Jonathan, college life in 1986 is richer, (both experientially and financially) than either of them expected.


Get it now on Amazon!


Keep reading for an interview with Kathrine!


Why did you decide to be a writer?


I remember being four years old and holding a pencil and piece of paper and my first thought was not “let’s draw a picture” but “let’s tell a story” and then I probably cried because I didn’t know how to write. If only I would have known that someday I would be able to type 100 words a minute, and this skill would serve me when I wrote in ten minute increments. As I grew up I was Louisa May Alcott and Laura Ingalls Wilder fan girl. And I wanted to be them. They were girls! They were writers! They wore Holly Hobbie bonnets!

What authors/books have most influenced you?


Back in 2006, when I decided that I probably wouldn’t, as a stay-at-home mom of five kids under 8, be called by Fox to write for The Simpsons, that I would, instead, learn how to write a novel. I read everything I could get my hands on. But the best resources were How To Grow A Novel by Sol Stein, STORY by Robert McKee, the books and blog by Victoria Mixon, and I would NOT have the confidence for any of this without The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. That showed me the how of writing. And every time I read a book and the characters wow me or the setting fascinates me or the plot intrigues me, I think "I SO WANT TO DO THAT!" There are far too many authors and books out there to mention.

What is the biggest obstacle you face as an author and what do you do to overcome it?


The biggest challenge I face is fear. I found out, at age 45, that I’ve suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder my whole life I’ve spent most of my life a breath or two away from an anxiety attack. My fear is a vague, paralyzing kind of fear that shuts me down and isolates me. (Ironically, one of God’s solutions to this fear was to bless me with a LOT of loud, obnoxious, confident kids.) I realized that if I didn’t do something about my fear, that I would never have my dreams come true. I’ve learned how to manage my time and my fear in small steps. Can I make this phone call? Can I contact this agent? Can I rewrite this paragraph? Like every other writer, I’ve faced rejection and disappointment, but that pain of that was not nearly as bad as the pain of thinking my children were watching me. Would they see me be paralyzed by my fear or be successful in spite of it?

Does your family support you in your writing, or are you on your own?


From the summer of 2006, when I decided to get serious, my husband and five children were ALWAYS my biggest cheer section. They think that I deserve the Pulitzer. They’d hack into Amazon and leave my books dozens of five star reviews simply saying “This book is awesome!” if they knew how. But from a practical side, that’s a bit of a different story. I call myself the ten minute writer because, in theory, I write for ten minutes and then go do Mom stuff for ten minutes and, in theory, they were supposed to leave me alone. This worked. Sometimes. But woe to the kid that wants apple juice during the wrong ten minutes. Now that they’re older, and I’m working more, they are doing their best, emotionally and practically to support every venture I have.

What is the best writing advice you've ever received?


One of the best pieces of advice I was given in college was this: The Single Piece of Best Writing Advice Never compare yourself to others. If you do, you’ll compare their strengths to your weaknesses, and you’ll always be the loser. When I compare myself to other writers, it doesn’t do me a bit of good. I either pick up some frothy bonnet romance and throw it across the room, puffing myself up with thoughts of superiority. My books will have more meaning! I will be more literarily significant! I won’t have any ripped bodices! Or, I will read something breathtakingly good, like The Elegance of the Hedgehog or Someone Else’s Love Story and moan in despair that I can never achieve what that author has done, so I might as well give up. 

If you were stranded on a deserted island, and you could only have five books with you, what would they be?


Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, A Collection of Short Stories by Flannery O'Connor, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and How to Escape A Deserted Island by some well known expert. 

What book or series do you enjoy reading over and over again?


All of Jane Austen's books, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings Series

How many books do you have on your "to read" list? What are some of them?


Oh Golly! My local library allows for digital downloads and I have over 200 on my wishlist. They fall into four categories: marketing, like Seth Godin; sociological nonfiction, like "How To Deal with Difficult People"; memoirs, like right now I'm reading Amy Poehler's "Yes, Please" and critically acclaimed novels, like "All The Light We Cannot See". I'll get to the bottom of this pile in 2021 or so. 

Are you a pantser or outliner?


I’ve learned that plotting is the best way for me. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SKY, my first novel, was a pantser book and it took me five years. FALLING FOR YOUR MADNESS kind of struck me like a lightning bolt, so it didn’t really count as either. And my latest novel SOULLESS CREATURES was far more organized and I was most comfortable with that method. And earlier this year I release WRITE A NOVEL IN 10 MINUTES A DAY, which preaches the whole plotting Gospel. I do see the value in learning how to free write, which is just self-controlled pantsing, in the beginning stages of writing a draft. So the answer to the question, obviously, is YES.

What are you working on now?


Right now I'm in between projects, which is a nice way of saying, "Hey MUSE! A little help???" I'd like to write a nonfiction book about marketing for self-publishers and I'd also like to write another novel, but my fiction ideas are not playing nicely together. So I'll do my research and plod through the proposal.

I would also like to add that in 2014 I created the Facebook group 10 Minute Novelists for time-crunched writers everywhere. Now at nearly 1400 members worldwide, we are active, lively had three goals: tips, encouragement and community. We accomplished these goals through weekly chats on Facebook and Twitter, daily memes like #MondayBlogs, Buddy Tuesday and #AuthorHappiness. Group members are encouraged to engage with each other to solve problems in any of these areas, offer advice, critique each others’ work and build relationships. 10 Minute Novelists became far bigger than a blog and far better than a fan club. 

All writers are welcome to join us!

Friday 20 November 2015

Deep Blue Eyes on the Greek Isles by Dimitri Sarantis

The author was born in Athens, Greece and is a dual U.S. / Greek citizen. He studied at Brown University and obtained his MBA at Harvard Business School. He is married and has two children and lives in Athens but often visits America. He is currently employed as the Senior Financial Analyst of Viohalco SA, Greece's largest manufacturing multinational. His interests include poetry, romance fiction book publishing and reading.

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About the Book


This book is for lovers! It is for sensitive, romantic souls. It is for people who wipe a tear as they watch a vivid sunset or who, under the August full moon, understand that life is always about love. But love isn’t always a field of roses. In this book, those roses are full of thorns. Love is a long, adventurous journey. But no matter the thorns in the roses, love never ceases to be the miracle of life. ...

Paul, a handsome young Greek business executive guides Sophie, a younger ethereal beauty of a Greek Goddess, in her Harvard Business School application. They are interested in one another. However, so many questions arise. Will they date, as Sophie has had a steady boyfriend for six years, Robert, and even worse as Paul still has a mad crush on his former girlfriend at Harvard, Wendy? Will they fall in love, will he ask her to marry him and will their marriage ever take place, if at all? This passionately romantic written novel is also definitely a suspense mystery thriller as there are so many threatening plots against their relationship. Robert and Wendy, Sophie’s and Paul’s mothers, and many other people each separately and for their own specific reasons actively plot to blow everything up. Even Alice, Sophie’s sexy-bombshell twin sister wants to “share” Paul. But will she succeed? Paul is so tempted, interested…

Get it now on Amazon!


Here's an excerpt from his upcoming novel:


A week passed following their first meeting, and the time had come for their second encounter. Paul was busy at his laptop doing after hours corporate work at home, as he often did. It was one of those early December evenings before Christmas that Greece was famous for: cool and crisp and in the low forties. The evening was magic because the atmosphere was razor-sharp clear. It seemed crafted for those people who marvel at a beautiful, distinct sunset. For those who treasure a crisp, bright starlit winter sky and for those who stand in awe marveling at a beautiful, shiny winter moon. Paul was touched as he admired the strikingly lit up Acropolis, only about a mile away from him. The doorbell rang for Paul and Sophie’s second meeting. Paul stood up and went to the main entrance. When he opened the door, Paul was shocked by the difference in her looks. “Was this the same Sophie?” Gone were the awful green glasses. She had beautifully pulled up her hair, natural, authentic and sensuous. She had hair with an amour-propre. Gentle, but unmediated and determined to be free, long, warm brown hair was pulled up to a tight bun.

Her face was stunning with its perfectly balanced characteristics, high cheek bones and her narrow distinct nose. She had perfect silk-fine nicely tanned skin, which seared warmth. Her deep blue eyes with their long eyelashes radiated kindness. 

She was like a beautiful lotus flower blossoming in the autumn. Her typical casual business attire had a benefit because it would easily direct Paul to her gorgeous deep blue eyes, constantly. Her smile was stunning. 

The constant eye contact made him feel an interest in this woman. He was impressed by the combination of beauty, intelligence and the obvious interest in him she was projecting with those very eyes. An off-white blouse under a tailored blue jacket formed an area of vividness near her exquisite face. The contrasting crimson-red scarf sharpened this effect. 

“Could this Goddess be the same Sophie? Was she Helen of Troy? Was she real?” 

Paul, still in shock instantly decided that he had to shake her hand this time and he now had a second powerful shock. Since he was tall and slim his palms were long and thin and when he shook hands, he had the habit to squeeze the other person’s hands to show his warmth. However, Sophie’s hands were so long, feminine and slim that he had trouble even holding them. A second shock overcame Paul, like a mighty wave sweeping the beach. 

Her amazing, piercing blue eyes impressed him. She was stunningly attractive and good-looking! He had to take time to relax and absorb the shock. 

“Mr. Vassilatos, this view of the Acropolis is awe inspiring. I’m deeply touched; you’re a very lucky man to live here.” Sophie’s eyes were beaming. She was emotionally impressed. 

As they sat at the table and began their work, Paul’s glimpse at Sophie’s hands occasionally interrupted the very meaningful constant eye contact between their blue eyes. Her hands were slim, long and tanned; they could only belong to a pianist or even project the uniquely beautiful hands of the best ancient Greek statue. He was having difficulty in concentrating on their work due to the feelings stirring from the reoccurring eye contact and the elegance of her hands, touching him now and then. He had some of his orange juice. 

“I’ll pretend that this glass is half filled with vodka. That will calm me down.” 

But it didn’t, naturally. The long, professional application meeting that followed only strengthened his impression that she was a very exceptional, extraordinary individual. She had it all. She was sharp and sensitive; a true leader and a professional manager, as well as a knock out. After she left, he wondered if she dolled up just for him. “This is wishful thinking, Paul.”

Tuesday 17 November 2015

SICK: A Novella by Christa Wojciechowski

Christa Wojo (short for Wojciechowski) was born in New Jersey and raised in Florida where she fell in love with a handsome Panamanian and escaped the US in 2006. Since, she has lived a lush life in her wild new country, traveling with her husband and working as a freelance internet marketer. 

Christa devotes her free time to wine, yoga, outdoor sports, and classic literature. She's also mother to an epileptic Rottweiler, a mutt with a phobia of boots, and a Red-lored Amazon parrot who hates her. 

When Christa's not on the road, you'll find her clad in dog hair covered yoga pants, writing from her home at the foot of Volcan Baru in Boquete, Panama. There, she either sips coffee or Cabernet and tries to figure out the meaning of life through the mysterious process of writing. 

Christa Wojo is the author of The Wrong David and has just released SICK: A Novella. She's now working on a series of novels that explore abuse, addiction, art, and existentialism. She also runs My Sweet Delirium, a blog about creativity and assorted weirdness, and offers a menu of internet marketing services for authors.

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About the Book


A woman sacrifices everything to care for her husband whose chronic illness can’t be diagnosed. 

John Branch is bred from a long line of old New England wealth. He is also the victim of debilitating chronic illness. His wife, Susan, uses all her resources and energy to take care of him and makes sure he is as comfortable as he can possibly be. 

After a frightening episode of acute organ failure, John makes an amazing recovery. Susan is hopeful for a lasting cure and a normal life, but his insidious illness is more persistent and horrific than she could ever have imagined.

Get it today on Amazon!


Excerpt from SICK


I began to cry soundlessly. My tears dripped onto his pale skin, suctioning my ear to his chest. I heard his voice from inside, deep and low. “Did you get the Demerol?” he asked again. “Please, tell me you got it. There wasn’t much left, and now we’re all out.” 

I became aware of the hard glass bottle in my bra. I didn’t want him to know I had it. I didn’t ever want him to ask me to help him commit suicide. “I couldn’t get it,” I said. 

“I’m sorry I took the vial,” he said. “I was a bad boy. I promise I won’t do it again.” 

I was still getting my head around his idea. Even if he wanted me to help him die, no matter how he suffered, I was not strong enough to be the one to do it. Was I? 

He paused and held his breath for a second. “You’re crying.” 

“Why did you do it?” I asked. “The rest of the vial? Tell me the truth.” 

“I was in a lot of pain. That’s all.” He continued to pet my head. “I just wanted to feel good.” 

“I’m scared,” I said. “You did way too much.” 

“Oh, please. I’ve been taking these drugs for decades. They hardly affect me anymore, sadly enough. I feel all the pain through them, they just help me not to pay so much attention to it.” 

I traced his appendectomy scar with my fingertip. Then the one from his emergency intestinal enteritis operation. 

He patted me a few more times. “There’s no need to be frightened.” 

He waited. He knew I had the drugs. I never could pass a lie off on him. I reached under my top and flipped the vial out of my bra. It was warm from my body heat. I handed it to John. 

He read the label and held it up to the light. “You are an angel, Suze. My dream come true.” He placed it back in my palm and closed my fingers over it. “Now hide it well.” 

“Promise? You won’t go looking for it?” 

“I promise,” he said. “I will listen to you, Nurse Suzie.” 

“Then you don’t want to die. Right?” 

“No, not yet,” he said.

Saturday 14 November 2015

Shadow Stalker: Defiance (Episode 13) by Renee Scattergood

Renee Scattergood lives in Australia with her husband, Nathan, and daughter, Taiya. She has always been a fan of fantasy and was inspired to become a story-teller by George Lucas, but didn't start considering writing down her stories until she reached her late twenties. Now she enjoys writing dark fantasy. She is currently publishing her monthly Shadow Stalker serial, and she has published a prequel novella to the series called, Demon Hunt. She is also working on a new series of novels, Savior of the Serpent Isles. The first book, The Galvadi Invasion, is due to be released mid-2016. Aside from writing, she loves reading (Fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and doing crafts and science experiments with her daughter. Visit her site for more information and a free copy of Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6).

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About the Book


Defiance is the first episode in Part 3 (Episodes 13 - 18) of the Shadow Stalker serial.

Three years have passed since Auren and Shai escaped the daily torture of the Galvadi. With Makari's help, they have learned more about the Galvadi's technology and discovered ways to overcome its effects on their power, which gave them an edge in the war. However, the Galvadi have spent that time developing new technology that could mean the end of the shadow stalkers.

If you haven't read the serial yet, you can download Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 - 6) free!


If you're all caught up and want to keep reading, you can read weekly installments of the serial for $1 a month. You'll also have access to all previous episodes and bundles!


Now for an excerpt from Episode 13:


Cali gave me a nudge as she took a seat next to me. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

"No idea," I said, moving over a few inches so she had space to sit between me and Shai on the log someone had converted into a bench.

Shai slung an arm around her cousin and Cali returned the gesture, then wrapped her free arm around me. I smiled at her. Cali was the only one who had helped me maintain my sanity over the years. It drove me crazy never knowing what was happening to Makari. Kado kept me busy, as usual, but any time I had a free moment, all I could do was wonder if he was safe. I would know if he died. I would sense him again in the shadow world. He had been blocking me to keep me safe, though I had no idea how it was supposed to help. All it did was make me want to go to him, which would be more dangerous.

Of course, Kado would never allow that. He saw my thoughts as I had them most of the time, and he would know as soon as I made the decision. I learned quickly not to allow my thoughts to go down that path too often. That's where Cali came in. She distracted me by helping me forget the war and making me feel like a normal person once in a while. She was as good a friend as Jade, except she didn't encourage me to disobey Kado when I was angry.

"Maybe the Galvadi have decided to give up," Shai said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Monday 9 November 2015

Algorithm by Arthur M. Doweyko

Arthur has authored 100+ scientific publications, invented novel 3D drug design software, and shares the 2008 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award for the discovery of Sprycel, a new anti-cancer drug. He writes hard science fiction, fantasy and horror.

His novel, Algorithm, which is a story about DNA and the purpose of humanity, garnered a 2010 Royal Palm Literary Award (RPLA) and was published by E-Lit Books in October, 2014. Many of his short stories have garnered honors including finalists in the 2011-2013 RPLA competitions, Honorable Mentions in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contests, and best short fiction in the 2012-2013 Preditors and Editors Readers Polls. He has completed Angela's Apple (Winner of RPLA 1st Place, Best Sci-Fi of 2014) , a story of guardian angels that are not angels, forbidden love, and the secret fate of humankind. His current project is Henry The Last, a story about the last creature with a human brain, and what it means to be human in a post-apocalyptic world where nothing is what it seems to be.

He lives in Florida with his wife Lidia, teaches college chemistry and happily wanders the beaches when not jousting with aliens.

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About the Book


Algorithm is a fast-paced, science fiction mystery/thriller. The novel is an epic tale consisting of two parts: The Medallion and The Makers. Using real science and real events, we are drawn through a rapidly unfolding series of discoveries and adventures, which ultimately lead to a surprising view of mankind’s purpose on Earth.

A gold medallion is discovered in a lump of coal over a hundred million years old. It contains a code describing human DNA at a time when there were no humans. How could this be? Adam Dove wants to know, but when he starts to investigate, his laboratory is destroyed and a close friend is murdered. Joined by a brilliant biochemist, Linda Garcia, the two are hunted by a Nazi underground bent on retrieving the disk and a mysterious alien presence, which may be more interested in destroying it. Adam and Linda face the most difficult decision of their lives-to leave all they know behind for the chance to discover mankind's origin and purpose.

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Excerpt from Algorithm


When he reached the bottom, he peered down the length of the basement toward the front of the house. The darkness felt grim and the cold air licked at the back of his neck. The light from the stairs faded as Adam crept forward, groping for a switch or a dangling chain. Bumping into musty carton boxes and storage crates, he crept farther into the gloom. He paused when he heard footsteps above, muffled conversation, or the sound of water gurgling through pipes. When his outstretched hands touched a metal post, he craned his head to the side and focused on the dim outline of the broken window. Hazy light streamed in from above and outlined a darkly smeared coal bin. As he neared the coal bin and he needed to look no further. The ball sat atop a mound of dusty anthracite.

He scaled the blackened wooden planks and landed softly at the base of the coal pile. He clambered up, slipping and kicking up sulfurous dust, blackening hands and knees as he scrambled to the top. He lunged for the ball, grasped it with one hand, and glided down the rocky heap in deep satisfaction. Dust settled around and on him, fading in and out of the light. Adam found his other hand clutching a few nuggets. He was about to toss them back into the heap when a sparkle of reflected light caught his eye. He opened his fingers, releasing one lump at a time, until all that remained was a fist-sized chunk. Even in the muted light he saw the oddly-shaped golden glimmer. He rotated his upturned palm, bringing it closer. There was something metallic in the coal.

The sound of footfalls on the staircase broke his reverie. There he was, reclining in a dusty coal bin at the far end of an unlit, unfamiliar and cavernous cellar—ball in one hand and a mystery lump of coal in the other. The shadowy figure reaching the foot of the stairs was about to discover an intruder. Tucking away the coal in his dungarees pocket, he rolled off the brimstone mound, careful to avoid dislodging a 'here-I-am' mini-avalanche. He slipped over the side of the bin and felt for some potential cover. The lights came on just as he squeezed between a stack of cartons and the cellar damp wall. Shuffling feet with loose slippers slapped their way toward him. Adam fought down a strong urge to jump up and run.

I bet my ass is hanging out for all to see.

The shuffling and slapping drew to a stop.

That's it, he's got me.

"What's this?"

I'm dead.