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Excerpt from Jin Okubo’s Kaoru In Loves Shadow

Jun 22, 2016 | Authors

Read about Jin’s book Kaoru: in Loves Shadow, the second book after Love. Check back tomorrow for Proof Positive’s interview with Jin!

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Title: Kaoru: In Loves Shadow
Author: Jin Okubo
Genre: Romance

Blurb:

Robert would love nothing better than to go unnoticed.
Kaoru takes the role of huntress. She couldn’t care less about his desires. He has been marked as her prey.
Love blooms in the city of angels.
Still… love has a tendency to trap, crush, and cast aside the unworthy.

Excerpt:

Starbucks

There was just something special about the late December snow. It was not as cold as February, but the slight chill did let you know that winter was upon you. She so loved the cold these days. Whether it was her thoughts on how she was raised or the cold emptiness of winter she loved the solitude of her life. Living solitary in that big house was nothing more than a dream to her, though not one that she imposed on herself but had become used to being in, yet… from time to time it did not feel real. The mere idea that she would

need to share it with someone, was beyond her at the moment. Still… she found herself looking at him from across the room every chance that she would get.

He was a squirrel of a man the way he moved in and out of the Starbucks. Still, once a week he would run in and order the same double shot of espresso and vanish out the door. Such uniqueness was to be admired in a time when people tried so much to fit… in.

What the hell could have him in such a rush? He was in and out of sight so fast that her thoughts were still forming as she watched him. There was little to the room to be admired, and having this distraction was one of her little joys. Taking a look around the room she would see the boring, the plain, and the utter useless cardboard cutout humans that made up society.

To her left, without even turning her head, she knew who was sitting there. The rancid smell of cigar smoke stung her sensitive nose. If she were to turn her head, she would have seen the grotesque representation of a human being as the man sitting there. Had she bothered to look there he would be in the same tired shirt. Part of his gut lifting the bottom of his shirt, a shirt that was never really meant to be worn untucked. But this man wanted to make a statement. What that statement was, well no one really knew.

Still had she bothered to get a side glance in there he would be sitting a café latte with a glaze doughnut. The doughnut itself being half devoured through a gaping hole that he called a mouth. Lips so trained that even though there was no smoking allowed, they still held firm to a cigar. He would light the beast as soon as he was out of earshot from the yuppie know-it-alls who had nothing better than to try and force others to live a certain way. In a way she admired the slob of a man for standing up for some semblance of freedom. At least he was not hiding the person that society as a whole cared not to see. With so many out there being fake in one sense or another it was becoming difficult in today’s world to see true life from the fiction which we perceive.

As she headed towards the line to place her order Kaoru’s eyes caught a view of one of the yuppies, which she detested so, rights for all as long as the yuppies approve of those rights, cancerous beings sitting in the chairs and tables across the room from her. It was an amazing sight to see. The paleness of her skin was clearly meant to give the sign of health. Yet, there was a certain view, which some would see as this woman being nothing but a plague on society. Her clothing nothing more than draped fabric over a school skeletal display. Everything about her was a complete contradiction to the idea of health.

That sad excuse for a woman had been standing in front of her as she prepared to order. Her order was as confusing as the idea of this person coming into a Starbucks for a drink. Excuse me, I will be having a soy, non-fat, decaf, macchiato, and make sure that it is a natural no sugar mocha powder. The order still burned in Kaoru’s mind was nothing less of disgusting, vile, putrid thing to order. That was not the end of the pain, which Kaoru had put up with. The sorry imitation of a human had actually turned around and faced her, all to give a reason for such an order as if anyone else in the world would care for what reason she had ordered such a thing.

Links to Buy

Amazon USA
www.amazon.com/Kaoru-Loves-Shadow-Jin-Okubo-ebook/dp/B01DKR80CO

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kaoru-Loves-Shadow-Jin-Okubo-ebook/dp/B01DKR80CO

All Romance Ebooks website
www.allromanceebooks.com/product-kaoruinlovesshadow-2003886-149.html

Author Bio

Jin Okubo There are few interesting things that can be said about my home town. I grew up in a mildly racist country town in the Santa Barbara mountains, though I am hopeful that things have changed there. Having grown up during the great migrant issues of California during the 80’s and 90’s, I was able to experience some of the issues when I was getting my higher education in university. The biggest part of my life was finding my self-identity, which was never truly clear to me as a youth.

Upon finishing my university studies I moved to the beautiful country of Japan only to bounce back and forth between the U.S and Japan for a couple of years. Finally, I received my Japanese citizenship in the spring of 2014. My life has been filled with many strong women which is one of the contributing factors for my protagonists tending to be women.

I am a lover of classical literature. I hope to bring in a new style of classical literature to the current age of fast paced easy to read cookie cutter style novels that are being pushed out in mass across the world. Choosing to stick to my own style of writing rather than to write for easy to sell books has made my work difficult to get into, yet it is the joy of writing that is the reason as to why I do things the way I do.

There is always the temptation to write easy to digest books that are made to sell, rather than books that are written for an experience reader and very few writers have mastered both. As I work to improve my craft, I am inching my way ever closer to that perfect balance of books that will satisfy the modern reader and the reader who focuses more on content rather than face value.

I would like to make a comment to my would be readers: “I write to challenge my reader. As you face this challenge you will find that you will grow to love the characters I have created. This love will bring a deeper understanding to my writing and my characters more.”

Social media

Twitter: @mercasio
website: http://jinokubo.com
facebook author page: www.facebook.com/Jin-Okubo-Author-1742935872603584/

BOOK RELEASE: Something in the Water by Ben Starling

Feb 3, 2016 | Authors

Last year on Goodreads, we were lucky enough to meet the super personable and kind author Ben Starling, a guy who’s sure to make a splash in the indie author world. He has just published his second book in his Something series, Something in the Water, which is written from a woman’s perspective, and it involves a love story. We’ve only met one other man who has beautifully written something romantic from a woman’s perspective, so this is quite an accomplishment! He took the time to chat with us about everything from his connection to his characters to superhero talk and his next work.

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First of all, tell us a little about yourself, Ben. How does your day begin?

I start my day with a brisk fifteen minute walk to a coffee shop! On the way, I think about the day ahead – what I am going to write about. I set my unconscious mind a number of writing-related tasks, have a coffee or herbal tea, read the paper and walk back supercharged to begin.

What do you do to relax?

I love doing intricate marine-themed art, using ink and pencil, which I find more satisfying and powerful than color—though I’m not sure I’d describe it as relaxation! The challenges of subject matter, light and dark and infusing each picture with a message is demanding…and very rewarding when it works out!

Can you tell us about your new release?

Something in the Water is fundamentally a love story—with a bit of adventure in the tropics thrown in too. Here’s the blurb:

The sealed box Teal finds in the street contains more than just a mystery…

What if to be with the man of your dreams…you had to give up your life? On the verge of losing her job, side-lined journalist Teal is forced to travel to the South Pacific to profile a powerful businessman. But with her almost-but-not-quite fiancé Bear discouraging her every step of the way, she may not be able to save her career or her relationship.

When corporate criminals invade paradise, Teal teams up with a former boxer turned marine-biologist to investigate. As she discovers the true intentions behind their new canning operations, she must either accept the plum promotion that will save her career or—with Perry—defend the island with more than her life.

Something in the Water, An Ocean Romance is available on Amazon. http://bit.ly/SITWbtour2am

Do you grow fond of your characters? Will you miss them?

For me, characterization is incredibly important. I fell in love with my heroine, Teal, and several beta-readers have reported falling in love with Perry, my “lead” man. Equally, some other characters have generated powerful reactions, including the utterly appalling Edward and the zany Emma. Oh, and there’s Violet, the blue footed booby (a comical sea bird) who seems to have attracted her own following…which isn’t limited to the avian community.

I would certainly miss these characters—but have managed to avoid this through the simple device of continuing to write about them! I will be highlighting several characters in future short stories in the “Something…” series.

What’s the most impressive thing you’ve seen in the ocean?

I’ve seen many awe-inspiring things, from whales and large sharks right down to amazingly beautiful little tropical fish and fabulously colourful marine worms. I have a great fondness for seahorses too…. But over time, the key thing one comes to realize that the ocean is a vast, complex, inter-dependency and that we meddle with it at our peril.

The reduction of sharks in the Sea of Cortez has led to an explosion of the Humbolt squid population. The Crown of Thorns starfish are devouring the Great Barrier Reef because the snappers (which feed on their larvae) have been over-fished. And don’t get me started on plastic… So the most impressive thing wouldn’t be a single species, but rather, a healthy thriving habitat.

Okay, the fun part now! If you were a superhero, who would you be?

I’d be the Electric Eel. “But there’s no such hero”, I hear you say. True, but all superheroes are imaginary, aren’t they? And mine would have any number of shocking adventures.

Apart from completing your novel, anything else you’ve done recently that you’re proud of?

I’ve taken up speech training – it’s a great experience. I was pretty surprised when a room full of people laughed at a joke in a speech I made last night. It was a great feeling!

What can we look forward to next from you?

Something in the Water will be supported by a series of short stories that reveal the backstories of the major characters in this world.

The first in the series, Something in the Air, is available now free at my website as well as free on Kobo (also available at Amazon) and the second short story in the series, Something on the Fly, will be released in the Spring!

Something in the Water: available on Amazon http://bit.ly/SITWbtour2am

Something in the Air:

available for FREE at ben-starling.com and
available FREE at Kobo http://bit.ly/SITAbtour2kobo .
Also at Amazon http://bit.ly/SITAbtour2am

Something on the Fly: coming soon!

EXCERPT

Something in the Water – Chapter 1 begins…

New York, September

He didn’t look like the hotel guests, the business people, or the tourists. He didn’t move like them either.

He brushed past me as I climbed off my Vespa, stilettos in hand, outside the entrance of the Waldorf Astoria. Had he smiled at the radiance of my scarlet ball gown? Or was he amused by my battered Converse sneakers?

As a valet approached to take my scooter and helmet, I spotted my boss, Malcolm, waving hello from the lobby. He was approaching the glass doors that separated us when I noticed a small wooden box on the ground. Two steps later, I had picked it up. Who could have dropped it?

No one was close by, so I turned. The only man who’d passed me was already a half block away, gliding beside the cars that waited for the lights to change at the end of the block. Was it his?

What I knew for sure was that now wasn’t the time to be tracking down the little box’s owner. I should hand it in to reception and concentrate on the evening ahead. For a few seconds, I relaxed as I studied the hotel’s confident, soaring opulence—a world unknown to me before my arrival from Nantucket four years ago. The smooth texture of the box, however, drew my thoughts back to it. Was there something valuable inside? What if it did belong to that man, and he never returned to collect it? I turned the box over—and caught my breath.

“How on earth…?”

Malcolm emerged in front of me. “Hello, darling, you look absolutely—are you okay?”
I thrust my sparkly evening shoes into his hands, and hitched up my shawl. I was about to give chase when a convertible Ferrari lurched to a stop beside me.

“Going my way, babe?” its driver shouted, over the thrum of the engine.

But my dress was redder, and I got the better start.

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You can find the rest of Something in the Water, Chapter 1 at http://ben-starling.com/chapter-one/

BIO & SOCIAL MEDIA

BEN white_headshot Ben Starling is passionate about marine conservation and boxing, both central themes in his upcoming novel. His interest in marine life has taken him across three continents over the past three decades. He is Oxford’s only ever quintuple boxing Blue (varsity champion five years running), was Captain of the university boxing team, and coached and competed until a few years ago. He is 6’3”and 192 lbs. Ben graduated with a Master of Arts and a Master of Philosophy. He was born in the USA but has lived in the UK since childhood.

Connect with Ben at www.ben-starling.com and:

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Author Chat: Elizabeth Marx

Nov 30, 2015 | Authors

Elizabeth Marx is a prolific writer of multiple genres and series. Every time we get a manuscript from her, we’re amazed that she can write so much so quickly! But she’s got what it takes to hit home with her readers. Her latest release, Just Close Enough, is available for pre-order and will be released tomorrow, December 1. Find out more about her, her characters, and how the two come together, plus a sneak peek into what she’s publishing next!

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Your new book, Just Close Enough, places a slick, wealthy Russian business owner smack dab in the middle of rural small-town Alabama – the deep South. He must gain the trust of a tight-knit Southern farm community in order to fulfill his goal of revenge against one of their own, who he believes is behind his brother’s disappearance. What inspired you to choose these two very opposite cultures in particular as the basis of your story?

I like the immediate conflict when two personalities with different backgrounds collide. The reason I chose these two cultures is because one of them I’m familiar with and the other fit the context of the story.

I grew up in Chicago in a neighborhood that was a true melting pot with Irish, Polish, and Italian families. Some of these families were new immigrants and some had been here for generations. My family was from the deep South like Polly Anna’s family. Although my background is more like Scarlett’s, I grew up in Chicago and then spent most of my summers in the South. I lived this dual tradition of Northern mentality with exposure to different ethnicities and deep Southern roots, so it was something I wanted to explore in my writing.

As far as Alex being Russian, I selected that immigrant population because when his character popped up in Just in Case, the first book in the Alabama Secrets series, he came to me as this mysterious man named Alex with an alluring, sexy accent. All Scarlett could get out of him was that he was from Seattle and there is a large Russian immigrant population. Also, Russian men are known for being domineering and that fit into Polly Anna’s conflict of not wanting to get tangled up with another man with that sort of disposition.

You write from the perspective of both Alex, a wealthy Russian man infiltrating a small Southern farming town, and from the perspective of Polly Anna, the town’s favorite daughter, a born-and-bred Southerner. How were you able to manage two different types of dialogue, not only from both sexes but from very different backgrounds?

I grew up with a Southern grandmother so Polly Anna and her family’s speech pattern are loosely based on that tradition. When writing Alex’s POV I kept his speech more formal because he has an Ivy League education. I enjoy writing the male POV because men tend to say what they’re thinking with fewer filters and they tend to express themselves with physical reactions. I’ve written several books with this dual POV and I like the natural pull of the back and forth between the male/female POV, it’s almost a dance.

One thing I always enjoy in a novel is being immersed in a culture that’s completely different from mine. In Just Close Enough, I enjoyed spending time in the world of a small Southern community as well as inside the mind of a somewhat arrogant Russian man. Have you spent a lot of time around either culture to gain a better understanding of them in order to write this book?

I spent many summer months in Alabama, Tennessee, and even West Virginia. My Southern cousins called me Yankee Doodle Dandy and made fun of the way I spoke, and in spite of this I loved the South. The kindness of the people and the secrets of small town living always drew me back to the hilly landscapes and dogwood trees. Many of the people and traditions in Just Close Enough I’ve experienced firsthand. There was a real Miss Pearl and she did deliver babies and chew tobacco; I have a vague memory of her but she passed away many years ago. For Just Close Enough I made her a Cherokee wise woman and gave her two identical sisters. My family is part Cherokee and my mother often told me of her grandmother who was a Cherokee matriarch, she taught my mother how to chew and spit tobacco. I’ve actually handpicked cotton, I’ve attended a Sacred Harp singing, or what my grandmother called a “singing”. I believe one of my grandmother’s sisters was a Sacred Harp singer because I remember her and my great aunt Delta ribbing her about it. I’ve never seen a snake handling service in person, but I have been inside a barn where the snakes for snake handling were held.

Although revenge is the driving force of Just Close Enough, there are many other layers including love, loyalty, family, and individual strength. Is there any one layer you most closely identify with or enjoy writing most? What draws you more strongly to that?

I think revenge is Alex’s driving force in the book, and secrets and love of family are Polly Anna’s. In a small town where everyone thinks they know everything about Polly Anna, I wanted to peel back the layers of who she really is and see what makes her tick. For example, everyone thinks Polly Anna’s happy-go-lucky, but deep down she has a yearning for a family of her own, something she thinks she’ll never have, and she also wants to protect her family from past sins. She’s also a pleaser, believing you attract more good things with honey than with vinegar. But she uses this pleasant façade as a way to overcompensate or hide the things her father did in her youth, almost as if she thinks she has to make up for his sins, as if the burns she suffered because of his drug dealing weren’t payment enough. She’s not hiding secrets out of fear of exposure as most people do, she’s keeping them close out of loyalty, respect and a deep sense of love.

You’re a very prolific writer with nine books to your credit – is any one book or any one series closest to your heart? If so, what makes it special to you?

Binding Arbitration will always hold a special place in my heart because it’s touched so many people. Some readers have a negative reaction because it’s a powerfully gritty story about two very stubborn people who have to work together to save the one they love. I had a particular reader write a very sad review of it because she didn’t like what happened. I wrote to her to discuss her feelings and to this day she drops me notes and says, “After all this time I still think of your story.” So the fact that I was able to touch her, even if she didn’t like what specifically happened in the story, means I feel I did my job. In Binding Arbitration, Aidan and Libby find common ground and work together, but they lose the thing that’s most precious to them. In the process they find each other again and realize what an enduring love they share. They learn that in spite of their losses they deserve forgiveness, redemption, and love.

Can you give us a sneak peek at what you’re working on next?

Up next is Tell Me Something Real, a story about two college students who are so opposite yet so perfect for each other. Mason Pendleton’s life was planned for him the moment he was born, and Kamilla Dawson is a free spirit and modern day crusader who utilizes a special way of reaching an audience with her graffiti art. Neither is looking for the other, but the moment Kami asks, “Tell me something real, something so real it hurts,” Mason Pendleton is a goner. He’s a guy who has had prospects heaped on him his entire life. He hasn’t always lived up to the expectations because for the most part they aren’t what he wants, but when Kami poses this seemingly harmless question, Mason starts to ask himself hard questions about who he is, what he wants from life and most importantly who he wants to love. Mason’s real truth also sparks an awareness in Kami that she hadn’t expected or experienced with anyone else. It’s a true coming of age story.

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RELEASE: J.K. Norry’s FALL OF THE WALKER KING

Nov 29, 2015 | Authors

In Hell’s darkest hour
We all began to pray
Our fallen queen and the Walker King
Would rise and save the day

Author: J.K. Norry
Book: Fall of the Walker King (Walking Between Worlds, Book III)
Genre: Contemporary/Philosophical Fantasy
Release Date: December 1st, 2015

About the series

Some warriors have a special sensitivity, a rare compassion that makes them the perfect soldier for the perfect army. In life, these men and women are superlative fighters and law officers. In life, they often discover that their instinct for justice hinders or destroys their career in a sometimes imperfect army. In life, these souls are bent and broken by bureaucracy. It is not until death touches them that these unique warriors truly come alive. They become Walkers, immortal soldiers in an eternal army that wages constant war on the demons of humanity.

In the Walking Between Worlds trilogy and companion tales, the world of the Walker is finally revealed. Heroes that have lived in the shadows for thousands of years tell their stories at last, as a new story takes shape in present-day San Francisco. A new Walker is made that must undo centuries of damage as he risks everything in a desperate search for his lost love. One man must forge a path wide enough for everyone who walks between worlds, or see the way of the Walker lost forever.

The angels in heaven have capitalized on the situation rather than correct it, and the dragons in hell rule their realm with fire. Both forces stand against the Walker army as its new king is thrust into power and cast into danger time and again. From epic battles below to all-out war above, these brave patriots of the universe put everything on the line to save an unknowing world once more. If anyone can find a way, it is them . . . but time is running out, and the light is growing dim . . .

Book I – Demons & Angels

Meet the unsung heroes of the supernatural, those who walk between worlds to help humans battle their demons. This is the spellbinding tale of a special group of people whose lives were changed forever when their eyes were opened to a new reality. Watch the ordinary collide with the extraordinary to test the mettle of their souls and the power of their love.

The first book in an exciting new series, Walking Between Worlds, Book I: Demons & Angels introduces us to a new way of looking at both the natural and the supernatural worlds. Join Paul Stone and Kris Reed as they walk between worlds in search of answers and themselves.

Book II – Rise of the Walker King

Step once again into the lives of Walker Paul and his trusted Guide Kris as they delve deeper into the meaning of walking between worlds and battling people’s demons.

Walking Between Worlds, Book II: Rise of the Walker King continues the exciting saga begun in Book I. Now that the king has risen to power, he must look within and without for answers to save both himself and the Walker’s world.

With friendly devils and murderous angels, dragons that belch flames and demons that run like a river, this philosophical fantasy will delight the adventurous spirit that walks between worlds in all of us.

Book III – Fall of the Walker King

Walking Between Worlds, Book III: Fall of the Walker King brings the Walking Between Worlds trilogy to a breathtaking and explosive conclusion. Walk alongside characters old and new as they navigate Hellish realms where blood rains from the sky, and Heavenly worlds that would imprison or destroy their very souls.

As war looms above and violence simmers below, a dark danger is lurking between worlds that threatens every realm. A new Walker struggles to fulfill his destiny while the old fight for their very lives. With the fate of all the worlds in the balance, a new way must form to take the place of the old as everything falls away. Yet it must be enough, and it must come in time…

Scroll to the bottom for a full chapter excerpt!

***On sale for a limited time!***

Get your copy of Demons & Angels (Walking Between Worlds, Book I) for just 99 cents

or Rise of the Walker King (Walking Between Worlds, Book II) for $1.99!

Sale runs 11/26-12/3

Jay Norry Bio

Jay Norry is the author of Stumbling Backasswards into the Light, a spiritual autobiographical novel set in the mountains of the Puget Sound, and Walking Between Worlds (as J.K. Norry), a fantasy series set in San Francisco. He is the owner of Sudden Insight Publishing, an indie publishing company he founded in 2014 as a venue in which to publish his books. In 2016, Jay will join the Underground Book Reviews (www.undergroundbookreviews.org) team as a monthly columnist (Norry’s Toolbox) and indie book reviewer.

Currently Jay resides in Northern California with his girlfriend/Girl Friday, Dawn, and their dogs, Mammoth & Ximena. When he’s not busy writing, Jay enjoys wine tasting, gardening, coming up with new DIY projects, and fixing things around the house MacGyver-style.

Jay’s books are published by Sudden Insight Publishing (www.suddeninsightpublishing.com)

Read his blog on spirituality, writing, and life in general at blog.jaynorry.com

Connect with Jay/J.K. Norry

Website: http://www.jaynorry.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/jaynorry

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JayNorry

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Norry.Jay

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jay_norry

Sign up for Jay’s monthly newsletter, and get the first Walking Between Worlds companion story for FREE! – http://eepurl.com/T3NdD

FULL CHAPTER EXCERPT

Fall of the Walker King (Walking Between Worlds, Book III)
by J.K. Norry

CHAPTER ONE

William stood at the center of the Heavenly space, his head bowed and his gloved hands clasped before him. He had heard of the Walker Council, of course, but he had never had occasion to stand before them. He had also never imagined that meeting them one day would mean standing trial before them on that day.

He wore his custom spelled armor, yet he felt completely vulnerable. He could call upon his key or his weapon with a thought, yet he felt completely defenseless. Paul had told him a little about the council, that an ancient angel with dark skin seemed their best chance at an ally. Yet when William looked upon the first eight unfamiliar faces, he saw nothing but a bunch of stern and ugly old white guys.

The ninth face was old and ugly and white as well, but it was not unfamiliar. Andre had somehow transmuted from Watcher to angel without a break in consciousness. William wondered if making the rules and breaking them whenever you wanted was the best way to run a governing body. It certainly didn’t seem to be the way angels should behave.

“We can read your thoughts, Walker.” One of the round-faced, mostly bald men spoke venomously.

‘But are you listening?’ The Walker thought forcefully.

There was a sly smile on one face at that, and William saw friendly laughter behind the angel’s eyes. He spoke next.

“We do not take action lightly or often, Walker,” he said kindly. “The criticism we receive for our policy of non-interference is rivaled only by the criticism we receive on the rare occasion that we do interfere.”

“My criticism never falls on anyone with the courage to stay their path or keep their word,” William replied calmly. “There is no honor in breaking one’s own code.”

The angel seemed unperturbed, but he also seemed the only one.

“I can see why the Walker King chose you,” he smiled.

“Calling himself a king does not make a man a king,” another angel spat bitterly. “There has not been a Walker King for a great long time, and if Walker Paul was the great Stone Walker, he failed to fulfill his own grand prophecy.”

“We found Walker Paul’s soul, then?” Then angel with the mirthful eyes turned in his seat to address the speaker.

“Of course not,” the speaker crossed his arms and frowned. “He was destroyed by dragon fire, along with Ximena.”

“You’re sure about that?” The smiling angel was clearly amused with the exchange.

“Of course,” he replied tartly. The other angel was clearly not amused. “We would have found them by now.”

“Did we not seal up the realms in between?” His dark luminous eyes twinkled mischievously, and he looked pointedly at William.

“Is this conversation appropriate during this trial?” Andre spoke up, leaning forward and trying to catch someone’s eye.

“You were told not to speak,” the angel’s merry eyes went cold. “You are too close to this matter, and too new to the Council.”

Andre settled back in his chair and folded his arms sullenly.

“And yet you have a point, Angel Andre.” The two angels were clearly battling for control. Now the dour one was smiling, thin-lipped and humorless. “Walker William is on trial.”

“Can we all just stop using that word?” The jovial angel spread his hands. “We already know the outcome of these proceedings. The only three responsible for the destruction of souls seem to have been destroyed completely themselves. Walker William will not be dehumanized, or punished in any other way. In fact, we-“

“Enough!” The dour angel slammed his soft fist into the soft woven light that made every inanimate shape in the room. “If you suspect that they have not been destroyed, you should not speak so blithely about it.”

“Very well.” The angel with the easy smile folded his hands calmly before him. “I will admit that the evidence points to Ximena and the Walker King being destroyed.”

His dour face was turning red now. “And I am happy to get on with our business with Walker William if you will please stop calling that miscreant a king.”

Walker William cleared his throat.

“I destroyed a soul,” he pointed out. “I killed a dragon.”

“No you didn’t,” Andre sneered. “Walker Paul killed that dragon after it gutted you.”

The dour angel shot Andre an irritated glance.

“Besides-” he began.

“Andre destroyed a soul,” William said calmly, holding the accused’s gaze. “He murdered Mason.”

“As I was saying,” the unhappy angel’s icy tone cut in, “even if you had killed a dragon, it would have been because you were following orders. That guilt would fall on Walker Paul, as Andre’s guilt transfers to the Dragon Queen.”

The more pleasant speaker cut in again.

“Now on to more pleasant matters,” he said. “Walker William, you no doubt remember Walker John?”

“Of course.” William nodded tersely. He saw no need to share his assessment of the man. In getting to know other Walkers, he had learned that the appointed leader had struggled with what little authority he had had. On the other hand, nearly every Walker had treated the self-proclaimed Walker King with a respect that bordered on reverence. He looked from one self-righteous glowing face to the next, thinking how impossible it would be to explain what they did not wish to understand.

The jovial angel was looking less than jovial, and William tried to quiet his whirling mind.

“We are prepared to offer you the position vacated by Walker John,” the dour angel said. “You seem to be someone the Walkers are willing to listen to and able to follow.”

“They followed me when I followed the Walker King,” William cut in. “Why would they follow me if I become your stooge?”

“Just because we can read your thoughts does not mean you need to express them all with such brash disdain,” the happy angel didn’t look happy at all as he spoke. “Surely you can step back far enough from your imbalanced emotional state to see that we are all just trying to make the best of a bad situation.”

William took a deep breath and did not voice his next several thoughts.

“What if I refuse?” he asked.

“Then you will be dehumanized.” The dour angel seemed pleased at the prospect. “Your memories of your life as a Walker will be erased and you will live out your mortal life as a normal man.”

William felt his eyes go wide. “My memories will be taken?”

“It’s a new policy,” the dour angel said dismissively.

Andre looked left and right, then decided to venture a comment.

“Also,” he said, “your Guide and your Watcher will be relieved of duty and released from their consciousness to properly pursue their after-earth life.”

The Walker did not like to make decisions based on the feeling that he had no other choice. He thought of the men and women he had fought beside and loved; the Walkers he had trained, and the Guide whose touch made his heart sing. William knew he could not allow himself to be swayed by anger, but what about love?

“Walker William.” The angel’s smile was lighting his features again. “If I may . . . what would Walker Paul want you to do?”

The fluidity within him turned to stone. “What are my duties as a servant to this council?”

“As leader of the Walkers,” the angel’s smile was unperturbed, “you will assist in training new Walkers, you will find new Walkers to replace those we have lost and you will explain the new rules to all of the Walkers. Furthermore, you will assist in rehumanizing the Walkers we have deemed no longer fit for service and finding suitable replacements for them as well.”

“You will also report to the Council daily,” the unhappy angel added with a wry smile.

“Daily?” William frowned.

“We have seen what a Walker can do in a day,” he shot back. “You will report daily.”

The happy angel sighed, allowing his practiced look of infinite patience to fray.

“For now,” he amended.

William addressed him. “What are the new rules?” He wished he had paid attention when the trial had begun; William had assumed that none of this would matter by the time they had tried him, and had not paid attention to their introductions. He didn’t remember any of their names.

“Walkers are once again forbidden from interacting with each other,” he began, then his smile broadened. “Stephan, Walker. My name is Stephan.”

“My job would be a lot easier if I could let Walkers work together, Stephan.” William tried to hide his irritation at feeling so violated.

“The walls between worlds have become dangerously thin due to recent events.” The dour angel refused to be left out of the conversation. “One of those events was the gathering of a Walker army; another was excessive walking between worlds, including unauthorized entry to above and below; still another was the destruction of souls and the misplacement of millions of demons. Every dire consequence the Council is now dealing with would have been prevented by keeping Walkers from gathering. Only the Walker Leader may interact with other Walkers.”

“And only on official Walker business,” Stephan tried to lighten the blow by smiling. It didn’t help.

“Walker movement is restricted as well,” the other angel went on. “Walkers shall not go above or below the seven layers of reality that make up the Earth dimension.”

William narrowed his eyes. “I don’t even know what that means.”

“Ask your Guide,” Stephan responded. “And let all of the Walkers know: we will be keeping an eye on them, particularly the surviving members of the army.”

“Violations will not be tolerated,” added the dour angel, “and punishment will not be lenient.”

“No need to threaten those who have not yet committed any transgression.” Stephan waved his hand in William’s general direction, and something took shape in his hand. “Take that scroll to the new Queen of Hell. We have not been able to establish a clear line of communication with her as of yet, but she is bound by law to update your key to match your new position.”

William frowned. “By what law?”

The dour angel leaned forward and narrowed his eyes hatefully at the Walker. “By highest law. By Council law.”

“And what if she kills me?”

Stephan shook his head. “It is highly doubtful. We would be obligated by law to bring her to justice.”

William almost laughed. “And who would take her place?”

Now the dour angel looked downright pleased with himself. “The Council would act as Hell’s governing body until Creator appoints a replacement.”

RELAUNCH! Remember: Protectors of the Elemental Magic by Marnie Cate

Nov 2, 2015 | Authors

To celebrate the relaunch of Marnie Cate’s beloved first novel, Remember: Protectors of the Elemental Magic, get it on Kindle for $0.99 / £0.99 beginning October 29, 2015 through November 4, 2015!

Author: Marnie Cate
Title: Remember: Protectors of the Elemental Magic
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Synopsis

Hiding the truth from you is no longer protecting you. Sit and I will tell you what you need to know.

With those words, the secrets of my great grandmother, Genevieve Silver, were unburied and my role as a protector of the elemental magic was revealed.

My name is Marina Addisyn Stone but Mara is what my friends and family call me. I had always felt that there was something missing and that nothing was permanent. Why would I feel that way? I was being raised with my little sister by my grandmother that loved and doted on me. Then, there was Cole Sands. Who could forget the blue-eyed boy that had stolen my heart? What more could a girl need? I always thought I was just being dramatic and that bad things do happen to people but that is part of life. People die. People go away. Little did I know that with one secret, my life would change forever and my new world would be surrounded by the world of elemental magic?

Excerpt

As I felt my determination build, the mirror in front of me began to change and the reflection filled with rippling water. The image made me think of the choppy water of Sparrow Lake. At first, the small waves were calm but the speed and intensity of each movement of the water grew. I found myself being splashed as the waves grew harder and began to slap against the mirror. Standing up, I moved away just in time to watch the mirror before me shatter and the violent water burst out towards me.

The room began to fill with rushing water. Feeling around the room, I searched for an exit. Behind the shattered mirror, I only found solid rock. Looking to the ceiling, I could see the same hard stone. Feeling the emotions build inside me, I began search the floor and walls around me for any exit.

“Damn! Damn! Damn it!” I cried.

The water did not slow. Instead it continued to fill the room as I frantically searched for my escape. The water soon reached my knees and, what seemed like seconds later, I was wading through waist high water. As the water continued to rise, I was soon struggling to keep my head above water. It was not enough that the water was filling the room so rapidly but soon the water felt alive. The cold waves kept tossing me back and forth as the water rose and I began to feel like I was in a game of Ping-Pong where I was the ball. Soon, I found myself pulled under the icy water and surrounded by thousands of bubbles. Frantically kicking my feet to keep my head above water, I broke the surface.

Remembering the swimming lessons my grandfather insisted on, I thought about the times I spent with my grandfather learning to swim. I began to feel less scared as I recalled his calm voice and gentle words telling me that I would be safe. As I floated in the rising water, it seemed to respond to my emotions. The thrashing became calmer as I focused on my grandfather’s words. My brief moment of peace did not last. Before I knew it, I had almost reached the ceiling that had no exit and I began to panic. At this rate, I would be trapped and drowned in minutes. As if it was feeding off my fear, the water began to toss me around again.

As the water began to rise up my neck and almost over the top of my head, I tried to calm myself. You are the granddaughter of Mae Veracor and the great granddaughter of Genevieve Silver. You are the descendent of strong women. You have nothing to fear. With these words, the water once again calmed and I was able to tilt my head back above the water. How am I going to get out of this?

Remember: Protectors of the Elemental Magic is on sale $0.99 / £0.99 Kindle from Thursday, October 29th to Wednesday, November 4th!

Amazon Book link: My Book

Marnie Cate Biography

Marnie Cate was born and raised in Montana before adventuring to the warmer states of Arizona and California. Her love of Dame Judi Dench and dreams of caticorns and rainbows inspired her to chase her dreams. One great sentence came to mind and the world of elemental magic and the humans they lived amongst filled her mind. With Remember, the story has begun.

Other Works by Marnie Cate

Exigency: Protectors of the Elemental Magic – Coming Soon

The story of Mara Stone continues. Her world was shaken but she is a fighter. Facing new adversaries, Mara is learning what it truly means to protect the magic.

Awethology Light – Contribution Story

Beginnings: Protectors of the Elemental Magic (Novellette)

The story of Genevieve Silver and the origins of the protectors of the magic. With the balance of the elemental world shaken, four elementals take on the task of protecting the magic.

Links:

Website: www.marniecate.com

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

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00UJNT7J8

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Marnie_Cate

Twitter: @Marnie_Cate

RELAUNCH: Horizon by William Lloyd

Nov 1, 2015 | Authors

Horizon is a book on our must-read list, especially now that it has been relaunched by author William Lloyd. Not only does his sci-fi book have a new cover, it has an extended ending! This debut novel is very personal for William; he merged his own experiences and darkest times with science fiction to develop a strong first book (according to his ratings!) as well as a thirst to write more. Keep your eyes out for this up-and-coming star.

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Is this your first book? How long did it take you to plan it before you began writing it?

Horizon is the first book that I published back in May 2014. I’m actually looking to relaunch it with an extended ending and new cover design.

I was jotting down ideas for Horizon back in 2008, but I never really started writing it until 2010. Then it took me about four years to actually put together the book and have it ready for publishing. During that time frame, I was actually an Assistant Produce Manager for a grocery chain so I kind of had my hands full at the time.

Is this a commentary on the sentient/intelligent technology being forced into our everyday lives and our military?

The story as a whole goes into enemies within the government. For the most part though, you don’t see this until later on. Right now, it’s more of a story about a man trying to discover what happened to his Navy father. Think of it as military men being claimed dead, but actually are still alive because the government doesn’t want any relatives interacting with them.

The main character, Aaron Lambright, is someone who has some common issues: alcoholism and unemployment. Was part of the point of this novel to speak to people with the same issues and deliver the message that even with their problems, they can be heroes in some respect?

Aaron Lambright was me when I was about 19 or 20 years old. I had a failed relationship that continued to just eat at me every single day. I ended up crawling into one of the darkest realms of my own consciousness and didn’t want to come back out ever again. My life was filled with poor decisions when I was younger and what happens with Aaron is the symbolism of my life during that time period.

My message when writing this novel was exactly that. It’s better to meet your calling halfway and pursue it than to constantly feel dead inside because unfavorable events brought you to that dark place.

What kinds of changes have you made for the relaunch of Horizon? Will people who already read it find anything new in the re-release?

Well, there will be an extended ending for all those that felt the ending didn’t live up to their expectations. I have to admit, the cliffhanger was a bit too out of this world for a first novel, but it was a gamble with good and bad effects. Also, there will be a new cover.

Judging by your Amazon reviews, your readers would love to know when the next book in the series is coming out. Do you have an approximate date for them to look forward to?

Currently, I am still piecing together Eversoul. I’m about halfway done with it, and I’d like to have it out by March 2016

Do you mostly write science fiction or do you dabble in other genres? If so, which ones?

I am currently playing with an epic fantasy called The Temperament Scepter. It’s a trilogy, but I also have spinoff trilogies that will be released after the final novel Resurrection has been released.

I also have been working on a horror/suspense called Afterlife: What Happens Next.

What do you think makes your work stand apart from other works in your genre?

The one comment I hear a lot from my reader is my description. I guess the way I portray my stories through each chapter is almost like a movie. I do my very best to have all the senses present in each scene. Also, I tend to tell the story of the villains throughout the novel to have some kind of relatability for my readers.

What is the significance of the cover picture?

The cover of Horizon had to do with politics, corruption, and love. The glass of whiskey on the cover was a representation of the clouded judgement of the government, while the red lace panties were a sense of deception in Aaron’s life with his relationship. The letter was more of a metaphor for the lost soldiers that don’t always make it home and how the deception, corruption, and judgement can lead to the loss of good and brave men.

Is there anything in your life that inspired you to write Horizon, or was this purely from your imagination?

The first half of the novel was about my pathetic life when I started the book. Ha-ha! The ending was more of my imagination with all the different worlds and aliens out there in the universe.

Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life?

In the beginning, it all had to do with my relationship with a girl. I eventually found myself writing about my perception of what was going on in politics and how it could affect us 100 years later. I tried to write about some experiences I had with people in my own life like the sentimental talks Aaron has with his Uncle Ron because that was the relationship I had with my uncle at the time. And still do.

I think as far as Aaron’s family goes, I wanted to portray the feeling I had with my own family. I’d say sometimes we feel distant from our parents once we leave home and our relationship drifts apart. Although Aaron’s father was a bit of a drunk as well, I never experienced that with my father. I only used the distance I felt with him at that particular time. I wrote a few scenes about Aaron’s mother more about teaching and pain. This served the point that I have a close bond to my mom, but sometimes we do have our arguments.

Aaron’s brother Lance was added later on because there was a separation between my sister and me. I felt like we didn’t know each other well and it was hard to connect to her as a brother. I created Lance as a way to show the adventurous life that my sister may not know she is actually living right now metaphorically.

Now, as far as Abigail, she is the relationship I have with my current fiancé, which is much better than the relationship I had with the girl I was with back then. Now, I use symbolism with the Chanda II to create the effect of the hell I was living through with my ex.

What inspires you to write? Music? Other books? Real life events? Just an incredible imagination?

Just an incredible imagination. Ha-ha! When I wrote music, I did it because it made me feel good. I enjoyed touching the strings on the guitar and feeling the warm tones leave my throat when I sang. Most of the lyrics I wrote were real life events. As far as books, my life is implanted in every page.

Are you part of any writers’ groups? If so, what do you like about them? How do they help you or inspire you? If not, why not?

Currently, I’m with a group of writers called the #Awethors. I really do enjoy this group because they help each other out in this kind of work. There are never any dull moments with these guys especially because all of us are going through the same experience with writing.

I think they’ve inspired me to not think so much about my own writing but to expand my reading to other genres. These guys have really created an environment where we can all listen and act like adults, especially with certain topics.

Do you plan your writing out with outlines, character development exercises, and other pre-writing activities? Or do you just write as it comes to you?

When I write fantasy, I actually draw maps and outline all of my characters. Then I create about a ten page timeline of each event that happens in each book. I actually describe my outlining procedure on my blog. Now, when it comes to horror/suspense, I normally let whatever is on my mind find its way on paper. I don’t outline those because I think raw ideas bring out crazier ideas.

Did you do any research for Horizon?

The only research I did was about Australia and Alaska. I also sat down and watched politics not work for almost four years.

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write? Do you watch movies similar to or the same genre as your writing?

I read different kinds of books to get an idea of how to write those genres. I read a lot of “Walking Dead” comic books because I’m just a huge fan of Robert Kirkman. I also read Stephen King and Steve Alten with their horror stories. I guess as far as horror I read books.

Anything fantasy, I watch The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and any dystopian movie that’s out right now. Also, video games have been a huge motivator to write because the storylines are amazing in some of the science fiction and fantasy games.

If you could write anywhere in the world – in a fictional or nonfiction place – where would you write?

I would write underneath a glass dome beneath the Pacific Ocean. I have always loved being underwater and going to aquariums. If I could write at the bottom of the ocean, I think it could bring about many ideas that I didn’t even know I had.

~~~

William Lloyd has a home in Atlanta, Georgia, where he enjoys spending his days playing music and watching football. His specialty genres are horror and suspense as well as science fiction/fantasy. He released his first novel Horizon in May 2014 and is currently working on a new novella called Afterlife: What Happens Next. He loves playing golf, video games on PlayStation 3, and reading horror novels in the evenings. He attended college at the Art Institute of Atlanta, where he studied Audio and Video Production.

Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/willlloyd15

Blog: www.williamlloydjr.wordpress.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Horizon-William-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B00MD4U3YE/

Prerelease Excerpts from ANAERFELL by Joshua Robertson & J.C. Boyd

Oct 19, 2015 | Authors

Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd’s’s Anaerfell comes out October 31, and we’ve got not one, not two, but three excerpts for you to enjoy! Not sure if this is the Halloween read you’re looking for? Just check out the blurb. One word: “skin-switchers”.

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BLURB

Drast, cunning but reckless, is on the hunt for admiration. Tyran, calculating but tactless,
is in search of affection. Bound by a friendship thicker than blood, the two brothers have been hardened by their father’s ambitions. Drast and Tyran are forced to set aside their own hopes and dreams during their struggle to fulfill their father’s desire for immortality. The two will face skin-switchers and dragons, ultimately leading to a final clash with Wolos, God of the Dead.

Excerpt 1

Erzebeth convulsed. Her fur and skin shedding away while she wheeled about on the ground in agony. The bones readjusted and organs reset from beast to human. Where a beast had stood was now the naked figure of Erzebeth. Cuts and scratches patterned her body, but none were fatal.

Tyran had no place for modesty. The Vucari woman, within the privacy of the ice dome, struggled to her feet. Again, her dark eyes met his own, filled with compassion.

“You need to be put down, young Red.” Her voice was calm as her feet crossed in front of one another, closing the distance between them. “Your power is greater than any I have seen before, even from the Anshedar.”

“What?” Tyran said, forehead wrinkled with confusion. He had never heard of the race before, whether beast or otherwise.

“You are like a rabid dog, young Red. You are the perfect companion, loyal, and possibly even loving somewhere deep inside,” Erzebeth bit her lip. Her breasts, barely covered by her dark hair, touched the front of his chest. She halted her feet. “But, you are tainted by a disease that is stronger than the goodness in you. You cannot be left to live in this world, or you will corrupt every living thing around you.”

Tyran tilted his chin, lips parting. His free hand touched her pale skin, as whitish as the ice fortress that veiled this moment.

“You would taint me, young Red.” She stepped up on her tiptoes. “As with the rabid dog, you need to be put down.” AnaerfellCover

He grabbed her by the back of the neck, and pulled her to him. He kissed her with more force than he had ever kissed any woman.

This woman was not Isolde. This woman was battle hardened, and a warrior. She was not plain.

She grabbed his shoulders and returned the embrace, her tongue touching his lips. Her body was far warmer than his own, as if it were heated by the darkness.

He did not know what he was doing in this moment. It may have likely been the first time that his mind was clear from thought, acting without thinking. Though, in time, he may consider that when his death was nigh, he found that this was something he wanted to do before death found him.

The crashing against the ice pulled him from the moment. Tyran pulled back, moving the Vucari’s hair from her cheek. “You won’t kill me, Erzebeth.”

“No,” she breathed. Her hands fell to his chest. “But, it still needs to be done.”

Excerpt 2

His brother looked at his hands, now covered by great warm mittens. “Drast?”

“Mm?” Drast grunted, mimicking his brother.

“How are they going to remember us?”

“Who?”

Tyran shrugged his heavy shoulders. “The Stuhia. The Vucari. The world, I suppose.”

“By our apotheosis.”

“Does it always come down to glory?”

Drast snorted. “Yes. If we fail we will not be remembered. It must come to glory.”

Tyran shook his head. “But is what we are doing glorious?”

“We are off to kill a god. How could it not be?”

Tyran stopped and turned. “But if we are wrong. If killing Wolos is somehow an evil act. Or, if we fail and we are remembered because of our tyrant father—”

“Tyran the Tyrant,” Drast interrupted, chittering.

“I am serious. How do we know that we should even be doing what we are planning on doing? How do we know it is right? How do we know we can?”

“Tyran, you are overthinking this. Why do you even care how people will remember you to begin with? It will not matter. We will either succeed, in which case we are allowed to tell whatever tale of our victory we choose, or we fail and are dead and it doesn’t matter. Regardless, people will remember us for the height of our lives, when we faced a god.”

“I want to believe that I did something right for this world before I died.”

Excerpt 3

The room still whirled from last night. He tried to close his eyes to keep his stomach from doing the same, but closing his eyes actually made it worse. Drast was somewhat surprised that the drink was still affecting him like this. He had been having more than his fill for—he did not know how long. How long ago did Tyran leave? His mind was too foggy to remember. And Walstan was gone, too.

Vaguely, Drast saw that the sky was just turning blue with the rising sun. At least, he was fairly certain it was sunrise. None of the hues of sunset had begun to color the sky.

“Ser Drast?”

AnaerfellPoster He turned his head to the entrance into his chambers and pulled himself more upright to lean against the nightstand beside his bed. One of the serving women stood just inside of his room. “What?”

“The Arkhon wishes to speak with you.”

He was not certain what string of curses came from his lips, but the maid blanched and her face grew pink, almost to the color of her hair. The room swirled again while she spoke.

“What?” he asked again.

“I said, Ser Drast, the Arkhon instructed me to remain with you until you came to meet with him.” Her voice quivered.

She was right to fear him. Her voice was fuzzy, just like everything. But, he knew he had not been particularly kind to any of the servants of late. He had managed to avoid his father by effectively frightening the servants. Their fear, combined with late nights, ale, and sleeping until the sun set, had allowed him to avoid talking with anyone who did not enjoy a mug or two.

A few of the servants had initially joined him in drinking. He loosely recalled this maid among them. Ura? Mura? Lura?

“Kura,” he finally muttered. He had been a little too handsy and she had since avoided him like—he could not clearly comprise a simile. Like. Like? Like the moon avoided the sun? Good enough.

“Yes, Kura,” she murmured.

Drast spat at the chamber pot. He was fairly certain he missed. “Well, come on in, Kura.” He belched. “I know how we can pass the time.”

BIOS

RobertsonPic Joshua currently lives in Alaska with his wife and children. In 1999, he began crafting the world for Thrice Nine Legends, including Melkorka and Anaerfell. He is also the author of the A Midwinter Sellsword and Gladiators and Thieves in the Hawkhurst Saga. His short story, Grimsdalr, is inspired by the tale of Beowulf. BoydPic

J.C. lives in the Midwest with his wife and two dogs. He is currently pursuing his M.A. in English Literature while continuing to craft his own dark fantasy world. Before he had completed junior high, J.C. had received his first box set of Dungeons & Dragons and devoured the J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. He has had a passion for the fantasy genre ever since.

LINKS

Pre-Order Anaerfell

Website

Brain to Books Blog Tour: Kevin Zdrill

Aug 16, 2015 | Authors

We’ve got another wonderful Proof Positive author participating in the Brain to Books Blog Tour this month. Kevin Zdrill, a prolific, multi-genre author shares his latest work, The Ukranian in Me, plus a little bit about his writing strategies.

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Fast Facts
Author: Kevin Zdrill
Genre: Contemporary adult comedy romance
Books: The Ukrainian In Me
Official Site

Bio

Kevin Zdrill discovered the power of story telling at the age of 11. After dusting off a manual typewriter from the closet of his parent’s home, he began creating short, comedic skits for his friends to read. Their laughter at these unadorned stories sparked an enthusiasm to continue exploring human behavior and relationships.

“I’m always looking for the characters within my books to have natural flaws. I find it speaks to their desperate nature in humorous and earnest settings. It’s important for the reader to relate and bond to the characters and to care about the chain of events that occur.”

Kevin Zdrill is a Manitoba-based author employed in the field of mental health and crisis intervention. His comedy fiction series, including No Kiss Good-Night and Boom Chicka Wah Wah, captures the heartfelt misadventures of dating and relationships. His third book, Crazy, Mixed-Up World, explores the ramifications of the collision of life, love, and betrayal.

Blurb

When thirty-year-old independent web designer Larissa Androshchuk separates from her husband after nine months, one day, and a morning, she blames it on the Ukrainian curse that has dogged her family for generations; she believes that all

Androshchuks are destined to fail at whatever they do.

Larissa moves back to her former room in the basement of her parents’ Manitoba house, where she starts posting a blog venting her fears and frustrations. In spite of her uncertain and possibly ill-fated future, she is determined to break free of the

family shackles. Larissa embarks on a complete makeover as a prelude to a triumphant return to the dating scene, turning for help to her best friend, Bernadette; her Internet-savvy cousin Garth; her middle-aged diva aunt Tina; and her ninety-one-year-old pierogi-making baba. But the men she encounters turn out to be even more damaged than her ego. Meanwhile, Larissa’s father unabashedly takes to restoring the tarp covered twenty-year old Chrysler in the backyard to ensure her stay in their house will be short-lived, making her life even more uncomfortable.

When an unexpected opportunity presents itself, Larissa sees this as her last shot to take control and leap free from her fate. But can she escape the curse long enough to turn her life around?

Excerpt

I flopped down on my bed, not caring what effect the towel was going to have on my hair. Let it become a rat’s nest, I thought. There was no one to impress anymore. Fingers wouldn’t be running through it with passion—not that I’d ever had that kind of passion from my ex, but I always fantasized it could happen at any moment.

Did I really believe that was possible? I took a deep breath and moved my gaze around the room slowly, taking in wallpaper so familiar I knew where every mismatched seam was. Besides the obvious conclusion—this room needed a serious makeover—my observations hammered home the fact that this was the last place in my life I needed to be for any reason. Heck, I needed a makeover more than this damn room did.

Sweet Jesus, I was thirty years old and starting from scratch. I had no job; no money; no higher education; no car, because I didn’t have a driver’s license; and now no husband.

I shivered, although I wasn’t cold anymore. I still couldn’t believe it. At thirty years old, I didn’t have the ability to live anywhere but in the basement of my parents’ home, in my former bedroom. It sucked so bad that it hurt to breathe.

The Ukrainian curse had finally caught up with me. My entire family tree suffered from it, and I was the latest victim.

Buy the Book

Amazon
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Book Depository
McNally Robinson
Abebooks
See the Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!

Brain to Books Blog Tour: Josh de Lioncourt

Aug 15, 2015 | Authors

Josh de Lioncourt is an inspiration and a wonderful author, and it’s our pleasure to host him on Proof Positive’s blog for the Brain to Books Blog Tour. Make sure you read his human interest story below, and of course his books! We are big fans of his fantasy writing.

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Fast Facts:

Author: Josh de Lioncourt
Genres: Epic Fantasy/YA/NA
Book(s): The Dragon’s Brood Cycle series, Haven Lost
Official Website

Bio

Josh de Lioncourt was born and raised in California and enjoys writing projects in a wide variety of fields, including fiction, music, software, blogging, and tech articles. As a blind enthusiast of Apple products, he has written on Apple accessibility for Macworld and Maccessibility. He hosts or participates regularly on several podcasts in various genres, and writes and records music with Molly, his other half. Josh enjoys the works of Stephen King, the music of George Michael, Masters of the Universe, and Los Angeles Kings hockey.

Accomplishments

As a blind technology enthusiast, I try to raise awareness of accessibility options and issues for visually impaired users, with an emphasis on Apple products. I host the Maccessibility Round Table Podcast to that end, as well as Masters Cast, a podcast devoted to the fandom of Masters of the Universe.

Blurb

Legends never die; they just go into hiding …

Sixteen-year-old Emily Haven, heroine of the girls’ hockey team at Lindsey High, has spent her young life keeping two secrets: her rapidly deteriorating home life and the seemingly supernatural power that makes her a star on the ice. When she begins seeing visions of a lost and ragged boy reflected in mirrors and shop windows, a series of events unfolds that tears her from twenty-first century Minneapolis and leaves her stranded in another world with horrors to rival those she has left behind. Lost amidst creatures of fantasy and legend, she is forced to confront the demons of both her past and future to unravel the riddle of the mysterious boy and embark upon a journey to uncover long forgotten histories and the dark, cloaked figure in the shadows behind them all. Caught between opposing forces of a war she does not understand, Emily must find new strength within herself and, above all, the will to remember her friends.

Book Review

Emily is a high school hockey star in Minneapolis with an extremely dysfunctional family life. For the most part, she is a typical teenager, except for her strange ability to know when and where another player on the ice is going to move. One day it all changes when she starts seeing the reflection of a boy in mirrors and windows and, when she gets home, she finds her mother dead of a drug overdose. She runs away and when she awakes she is in another land, another time, another world? Haven Lost is the tale of Emily’s discovery of what is important to her and her life in this strange place. She makes friends, decides without any prior knowledge of people who is good and who is evil, and sets out on a quest she doesn’t understand. Along the way she picks up a best friend in Celine, a ward in Michael, and someone who just might become more than a friend in the future, Corbbmacc. Together they travel the land, looking for the answers that they need to understand what is going on. Josh de Lioncourt has done a wonderful job of mixing history, fantasy, and magic together into a tale that is compelling and exciting.

Haven Lost is set to be the first book in a series titled The Dragon’s Brood Cycle. This first book sets the story up very well; you have a grand adventure, and it is not a short adventure either. It takes time to tell, yet the story never seems to get bogged down or drag; it is always moving along and begging you to turn the next page and keep going. The answers always seem to be on the next page. Josh de Lioncourt is a wonderful storyteller in that he is able to keep your attention and have you guessing the entire book. I never saw the reveal from the last three pages coming until I got to them, and that is not usually the case with most books. This book and series has the potential to sky-rocket into the forefront of youth and teen reading, possibly becoming the next Harry Potter series.

—Michelle Randall, Readers’ Favorite

Read an excerpt

She fell to her knees in front of the mirror, unable to tear her eyes away from the strange boy with the pony-tail and the torn and ragged clothes. She could see every minute detail of his attire, from the thick red and black thread that had been used to mend his jeans and jacket, to the filth and tarnish on the old-fashioned fastenings.

He reached out toward her, and as he did, her own reflection in the mirror winked out. Only his face stared out of the dusty glass. His eyes were full of hope and sadness, and seemed the eyes of a much younger child. Those eyes spoke of suffering and loss, and Emily’s heart called out in recognition. She thought she saw the flicker of flames behind the boy, and then she was reaching out to him as well.

Their fingers met. She clasped his in her own, feeling their warm, rough reality, and wanting to give comfort as much as receive it. Such a simple action. Such a mundane, human gesture. And with that ordinary decision made, two worlds changed forever.

“Yes,” she whispered, and watched as the breath of that word fogged the glass between them, spreading until it filled the world with a cloudy, white mist.

Links

Series site: http://DragonsBrood.net
Series Facebook: http://facebook.com/DragonsBrood
Author blog: http://lioncourt.com
Author Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lioncourt

Human interest story of how I lost my vision as a child, and how the kind people at an animation studio helped me through that time:

Paperback: http://lionl.ink/hlpaperback
Kindle: http://hlkindle
iBooks: http://lionl.ink/hlibooks
Nook: http://lionl.ink/hlnook
Kobo: http://lionl.ink/hlkobo

Brain to Books Blog Tour: Joshua Robertson

Aug 1, 2015 | Authors

Just the Facts

Name: Joshua Robertson
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Book: Melkorka of the Thrice Nine Legends series
Official Site

Bio

Joshua began crafting the world for his dark fantasy series, Thrice Nine Legends, in 1999. Melkorka, the first book of the series, was published in 2015. The sequel, Dyndaer, will be released in January 2016. He is also the author of the A Midwinter Sellsword and Gladiators and Thieves in the Hawkhurst Saga. His story, Grimsdalr, is inspired by the tale of Beowulf. Joshua currently lives in Alaska with his wife and children.

Melkorka Blurb

Kaelandur was forged by the Highborn to slay one of their own, Nedezhda Mager. As their slave, Branimir Baran never thought to question his cruel masters until he is forced to take part in the execution. His actions begin a chain of events that will lead him to confront demons, cannibals, and himself as he is forced to question his own morality and the true meaning of good and evil.

Select here to see the Amazon reviews

Book Synopsis

Melkorka

Branimir is a slave to the mighty Highborn. Unwittingly, his masters forge a copper dagger capable of destroying the Ash Tree. Drawn along on the quest to remedy the mistake of his masters, Branimir becomes the most unlikely of heroes in an inimical world of magic and mayhem.

A Midwinter Sellsword

A sellsword is lured into the daunting political games within Hawkhurst. How many people will he have to kill to keep his own secrets hidden and to escape the city?

Gladiators and Thieves

The second installment in the Hawkhurst Saga. A bastard child of a noble family escaped the subterranean city after being enslaved to the gladiator pits. After being lured into the daunting political games, will he ever find his freedom again?

Grimsdalr

In the spirit of the epic poem, Beowulf, a renowned hero travels across the whale-road to defeat a monster that plagues the land of Croune.

Interview

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am originally from Kansas and I currently live in Alaska with my wife and children. I started writing snippets of fantasy and horror around the age of nine, had a collection of poetry and short stories by fifteen, and had completed my first fantasy novel at seventeen. Recently, I have published a couple of books and started my own small press, Crimson Edge Publishing Company.

How many books have you written?

I have recently published Melkorka in January 2015, the first book in the The Kaelandur Series, within the universe of Thrice Nine Legends. I am extremely excited about this novel and have received some great reviews. I also published A Midwinter Sellsword, Grimsdalr, and Gladiators and Thieves. I have several WIPs, including the sequel to Melkorka, titled Dyndaer. I am also co-writing another novel within Thrice Nine Legends called Anaerfell, to be released October 2015.
What genre do you enjoy writing the most?

I enjoy writing fantasy or dark fantasy more than anything. I have some snippets laying around that are science fiction and dystopian, but I am most comfortable in the fantasy realm.

Tell us a bit more about your book?

For the sake of brevity, I will tell you about Melkorka. It is about a slave, named Branimir, melkorka-200x300 who serves the mighty Highborn. Unwittingly, his masters forge a copper dagger capable of destroying the Ash Tree. Drawn along on the quest to remedy the mistake of his masters, Branimir becomes the most unlikely of heroes in an inimical world of magic and mayhem.

What inspired you to write this book?

The sequel to Melkorka, Dyndaer, has been written and rewritten repeatedly over the past decade. In ten years, I have scrapped Dyndaer many times in frustration that I could get the story exactly how I wanted it. Then, I woke up one morning in December 2013 from an inspirational dream that presented the core to the story. Lo and behold, Melkorka was created, giving birth to the rest of the story.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

Melkorka is the name of the castle that serves as the start of this tale. The word itself has some meaning, found in the thirteenth century Icelandic tale, Laxdaela saga. Laxdaela saga makes mention of Melkorka an Irish princess that was taken as a slave and pretended to be mute, hiding her identity, only to reveal later that there was more to her than what was on the surface. In many ways, Melkorka is a story that echoes the complexity in legend, suggesting to the reader that there is more than what appears on the surface. It seemed fitting for the first book in The Kaelandur Series.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

Winter Bayne is the talented graphic designer that completed the cover for Melkorka (and my other novels). The emblem on the front of the cover for Melkorka is the mirror image of the symbol of the Sun God in Melkorka. This is the most revered god during the events of the novel. I wanted a simple image for the theme. I could not be more pleased with the final outcome.

Do you have any strange writing habits?

I will always drink one cup of coffee before starting to write, and I have a fresh pot brewed and at the ready for once I start.

You’re not alone in that. *laughing*

I generally write in the late evening to early morning (between 2000 and 0200). There are several songs that I like to play depending on what scene is unfolding: romantic, suspense, or suspicious. And, I have a rule that I don’t get rewarded with chips and salsa until I have completed a minimum of 1000 words.

Are you a plotter or do you write by the seat of your pants?

I will usually write the first two or three chapters and then I plot the rest of the story. I am a believer in plotting a story to assure that it has the elements of a complete story. I have read too many novels with plot holes or that are rushed at the end to wrap up loose ends.

What book do you wish you could have written?

The entire series of the Game of Thrones, actually. I have never read them (yet) but I do watch the television series. I have found that the themes in the story are similar to the ones in my own books…and I started my stories over ten years ago.

How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning?

When I first start writing, I do not pay much attention to the names. However, once finished, I focus heavily on the names to build on the culture and flavor of the story. I like to have my names have similar sounds and a sense of culture behind them. It would be bizarre to have a Bilbo Baggins, a Jon Snow, and a Candace Everdeen in the same story. Names have to fit the time, place, and culture of the story – and when they break the rules, there should be a logical reason behind it (e.g. a vampire named Vladimir is living in the modern century).

Have you always enjoyed writing?

Absolutely. In high school, I was considered the most likely to become a published writer. I regret it has taken me almost ten years to seriously start pursuing the career. Regardless, it is something I will continue to do until the day I die. I will never retire from writing.

What is your favorite snack food?

I have several, especially when I write: coffee, chips and salsa, and sour patch kids.

If you had a supernatural power, what would it be?

My general answer to this question is super healing powers. I always thought that was by far the best superpower that anybody could come across. Then, I had another author suggest the manipulation of time. Thus, I have to recant the prior and choose the latter.

Where is one place you want to visit that you haven’t been before?

Czechoslovakia. I want to simply roam through the hills and drink wine.