Riley Amos Westbrook's Blog, page 102

Brain to Books Blog Tour Alastair Swinnerton

Brain to Books Blog Tour
Fast Facts
Author: Alastair Swinnerton
Genre: Fantasy/SciFi Blend (Time Travel with Fantasy Elements)
Books: The Multiverse of Max Tovey of The Hamdun Chronicles
Official Site
Bio
Alastair has been writing for children’s television for over twenty five years. Among his many credits are ‘The Wombles’, ‘Sabrina, Secrets of a Teenage Witch’, and the Bafta-nominated CBBC Christmas Special ‘The Tale of Jack Frost’, which he wrote, co-produced and co-directed. He was also one the co-creators of Lego® Bionicle®. ‘The Multiverse of Max Tovey’ is his first Young Adult novel.
Alastair lives in Somerset with his family, and spends much of his spare time walking the dog, more often than not at his beloved Ham Hill.
Accomplishments/awards
*Earned nominations for Best Animation at the BAFTAs and Best TV Special at the Pulcinella Awards in 2005 for The Tale of Jack Frost.
* Won Top-performing series on CITV for the summer of 2000 and received a special mention for graphics at the Pulcinella Awards in 2000 for his television show The Baskervilles, a cartoon series that developed a large cult following in the early 2000s.
*Emmy nominated in 1998 and won the 1998 New York Film & TV Festival Award for Best Children’s Program ages 2-6 for his work on Season 2 and 3 of The Disney Channel’s Amazing Animals.
* Nominated for an Irish Film & TV Award for Best Animation in 2008 for his work on Wobbly Land.

Blurbs

Fourteen year old Max Tovey’s world is blown apart when he discovers that his problems are nothing to do with him, and everything to do with being a Time Traveller. Following his mysterious grandfather’s funeral, Max finds himself on a wild journey through first century Celtic Britain, real and mythological, as his every action threatens to change the past, and his future.
Max battles demons – both real and psychological – on his mission to find the legendary Montacute Cross, stolen by his Viking ancestor Tofig, in order to close the gates to the Underworld, and lift the curse on his family.


Book Reviews 

“Exciting… A Heart-racing Romp through Time”

–Alex Marwood, Edgar Award-winning author of ‘The Wicked Girls’

“This book was great, overall. Fun, a little dark, and I would buy it for every kid I know if I could! 4/5–fun and deep.”

—Kelly Smith Reviews

 http://kellysmithreviews.blogspot.com/2015/08/advance-book-review-multiverse-of-max.html?m=1&zx=b65602a428baa18f
 
Excerpt
Max felt a little faint, almost like he’d just stepped off a boat and the world was still rocking back and forth.
“It will stop soon,” said someone behind him. Max turned, to see a man with short, well-cut blonde hair dressed in a smart dark blue suit.
“That feeling in your head. It will stop soon.”
Max looked around at his new surroundings, a white-painted room full of monitors, and a big window looking out onto what looked like hospital beds, their occupants seemingly asleep, attached to all manner of wires and tubes. A man in shirt sleeves came into the room and stopped and stared as he saw Max. “He’s here?” said the man in alarm. He sat down at the monitors quickly, checking the sleepers’ vital functions.
“It’s alright Wilson – Stenton brought him in. He had to think quickly.”
 “Where am I?” said Max. “And who are you?”
“I am Major Willoughby, and you are in the TRD. Time Research Department. Welcome Max – we’ve been following your life since, well since it began really.”
“Time Research Department?” said Max, a little cynicism creeping into his voice. “What, like agovernment department? Are you a secret agent or something?”
The Major laughed. “No Max, nothing so glamorous I’m afraid. This isn’t Doctor Who.”
Now Max looked closer at the occupant of one of the beds.
“That’s Nick! What’s he doing in that bed? He just rescued me from…”
“Yes, we saw. We can see everything The Dreamers do in these monitors here.”
Max stared at the Major, then held his hand up, taking a minute to try to work things out. But he couldn’t.
“Nick is a time traveller, as are the other five. Somehow they access the Multiverse – the infinite possible futures of the Fifth Dimension, and the alternative Presents of the Sixth. Like you, they have something missing in their brains that makes us see Time as a straight line – but unlike you, they can’t Travel when they’re awake. Only you can do that, that we know of, except of course your late grandfather, and anyone who has The Majyga. And so they sleep, and dream, and through them we make sure the Past, and the Present, remains stable. Which we have done – until now.”
“Where do they come from?”
 
“Percy found them shortly after he started Travelling himself,” said the Major. “He was still working for Intelligence as a code breaker then. Things kept changing in history, and he couldn’t work out why – then he found these guys. They didn’t even know they were doing it at first, but slowly they realised, and started taking advantage, changing history for their own ends. Percy tracked them down, one by one, and brought them to us. We were a dream research establishment at the time, but he realised we – and these Travellers – could be put to work for the good of the world, changing it subtly to right historical wrongs.”
Max was struggling. “So, you are government then…?”
“Well, a few people in various governments know about us, yes. But they don’t interfere. We rather scare them.”

Connect with the Author
Official Site
Twitter
Buy The Book
Amazon
Barnes & Noble


Kobo Books


See giveaway details here!


More Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!



A Brain to Books Production


Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Blog Tour, Brain to Books, SupportIndieAuthors

Brain to Books Blog Tour Aurelia Maria Casey

Brain to Books Blog Tour
Fast Facts
Author: Aurelia Maria Casey
Genre: fantasy and science fiction, with occasional hints of romance and thriller
Books: Sorcerous & Beastly Season 1 from the Sorcerous & Beastly Series
Official Site
Bio



When I’m not hanging out in my fairy court conversing with you, my readers, and occasionally my characters, I am a fashion designer and a biomedical engineer because I love transforming ideas from my imagination to reality. It’s the same thought process as storytelling, really. Just a different medium.


I write the stories that my imagination won’t let me forget about. These stories fall into many different genres and for many different age groups. (Don’t worry, I keep the forums and podcasts PG-13 and I rate my books the same way Hollywood rates movies, so you’ll always know what to expect). I love exploring story from many perspectives, so I started a book club where we can discover new authors in a breadth of genres.

Accomplishments
Editor of an annual Domestic Violence Awareness short story and poetry anthology, the proceeds of which get donated to support victims and survivors.

Blurb

A villain Death is afraid of. One girl left to die in the Enchanted Forest, the other ran away and got stuck there. A lord playing prince and a prince who breaks the law. Can they overcome impossible odds and find each other in time to do what Death won’t?

Hi.
I’m Death, and this is a story about a time I failed.
But honestly, I had almost nothing to do with anything that happened. So it isn’t really my fault.
You see, there’s someone who terrifies me. He’s done some truly horrific things. Basically, he’s the cruelest man alive.
I’m going to start at the prophecy, because until then I was avoiding my job. The prophecy made me hope that someone else would save me from having to be a hero.
Heroism really isn’t my thing. I traverse the world of the living and collect souls who are ready to move on to the afterlife. Nothing heroic about that.
Anyway, after the prophecy I started paying attention to life again, just to keep track of things. It’s taken me a long time to gather all the pieces of this story. It’s about some real strong girls and boys, men and women, who managed to accomplish something I thought was impossible.
I’ll let you judge for yourself whether or not I’m a coward for staying mostly on the sidelines.


Excerpt
I suppose you might think that I’m only making excuses. You could be right. This story certainly wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been scared. Cowardly, perhaps. But I’m not telling you this story for my benefit. I’m telling you this story because someone needs to remember. Someone needs to hold me accountable for all the lives I’ve ruined.

So. To begin:

Once upon a time, far, far away, there was an enchanted forest. To the east and west of this forest were impassable mountains. To the north and south were two kingdoms which had almost nothing to do with each other. Many generations ago there had been a large road through the enchanted forest which connected these two kingdoms, but when the Wolf Queen usurped control over the enchanted kingdom it became impassable. After years of traders entering the forest on that road and never returning, these two countries grew apart. There remained a small amount of diplomatic contact but the sea-voyage was treacherous and ships were nearly as unreliable as the trade road had become.

The kingdom in the north was called Manassa and it was the most dreary of rainy, foggy, damp countries. The Manassans were primarily interested in fighting the nomadic reindeer-herding barbarians in the far north. Having no good grazing land, the Manassans fought fiercely to survive in their stone fortresses, scraping by with what little wheat could be grown in the stony soil.

The kingdom in the south, known as Sacor, was vibrant and lush with the perfect balance of seasons. In fact, it was so lovely that the fairies caught in the Enchanted forest were jealous that mere humans could live in such a fairyland. As a collective of dukedoms, ruled over by one duke elected to the Governorship every twenty years, the Sacorans were a peace-loving and cultured society. They had little interest in warring with other countries, and luckily had nothing of value to other countries. The worst spat of violence Sacor had experienced in its history was a great duel between two young noblemen over who would marry the Governor’s daughter, fabled to be the most beautiful woman in all the world. Or so the fairies claimed.

But one day, all the magical creatures everywhere in the world disappeared. They vanished, and no-one could discover where they went or why they left. Fairies and elves became legend and hobgoblins and pixies became stories to frighten children. Sorcerers practiced their arts in secret, and witches were laughed at.

Still, nobody was brave enough to enter the Enchanted Forest.

Until one day a Sacoran father-to-be, desperate for a remedy for his pregnant wife, wandered over the edge of his garden and into the forest. He was chasing after snowdonia hawkweed, which is a real plant although it is extremely rare and difficult to find, because the midwife told him its healing properties would ease the birthing.

Fortunately for him, before he could go far enough to be noticed by the Wolf Queen’s spies, the last mamitu stopped him. She was bony-thin from hunger, her black hair hanging thin and stringy down her back. Despite this, her black ridged horns twisted delicately from her temples crowning her with dignity.

She sent him home, saying his wife would come through her labor safely and his firstborn would become the greatest queen in all the world. Before he could thank her, she loped away, drawing the wolf spies after her. The mamitu had stopped him before he could cross the inner ward and he returned unscathed from the forest’s edge to find all as the mamitu had decreed

-<>-

Almost exactly ten years later, Viola was almost to the stone wall at the very back of the gardens. She could see the ward crystals glittering when the breeze moved the foliage to let the sunlight through. The ward crystals were superstitious nonsense: everyone knew that, but everyone used them anyway, which was a good thing, because they did work only nobody remembered that because the magical creatures had disappeared centuries before. Viola and Robbie, the stable boy, had been sneaking out to play just past the wall, where none of the servants would think to look for her.

A bumble bee buzzed around the blooming roses, and she smiled. Soon she would have the freedom to stop and smell the roses too.

Viola was running away. She thought the stories her nurse told her of the monsters in the forest were scary, but she felt that her upcoming tenth birthday celebration was more terrifying than pixies and wolves and enchantresses. Dresses were inconvenient, hot, and itchy. She hated cakes and icing and fruit punch. But most of all, she hated how everyone would be expecting her to look the part of a future queen and would see her awkward, clumsy, shy, self. Somehow whenever she had to speak to anyone important she started stuttering and couldn’t remember anything she was supposed to know. Of course, this included her parents who consequently thought her to be stupid and lazy. But they couldn’t entirely ignore her because of the Mamitu’s prediction when she was born: that she would grow up to become a queen. Viola had no desire to be a queen. All she wanted was to be left alone. So far as she could tell, queens had to do everything she hated: studying boring books, planning parties, talking to strangers. Math and genealogies. Ugh! She shuddered at the thought and ran the rest of the way to the wall.

She was about to clamber up and over it when she heard a crash-clatter-thump behind her.
Interview with Aurelia

Angela B. Chrysler: I want to take a moment to welcome Aurelia Maria Casey author of [add however many titles you would like] available on [add link]. Thank you so much for speaking with me, Ms. Casey. Please take a moment to tell us about your book.

ABC: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
AMC: Well, unlike most of my stories, the story spark for Sorcerous & Beastly was actually a variation of Cinderella and Ella Enchanted that I came up with when I was about twelve. It wasn’t the first story spark I had that was worth pursuing, but it’s the first one that’s finished.

ABC: Stories always require some form of research. What kind of research did you do for your book?
AMC: I’ve read a lot. I think most of my research was understanding fairy tale and fantasy novel tropes, so I could pick which elements would work and which were too cliche and boring. There are a few cliche things that I kept on purpose because I wanted readers aware that there may be some fairy tale elements to watch out for. Sorcerous & Beastly definitely isn’t pure fantasy. There are hints of mythological influences, most notably the fact that Death is a character: the narrator, in fact.

ABC: Which scene or chapter was the hardest for you to write?
AMC: The scenes without dialog are always the hardest for me, because I worry that the narrative isn’t engaging enough without conversation. However, there are a couple characters who have more of an internal journey than an external one, so that was definitely a challenge.

ABC: Please describe your favorite scene or chapter in your book and tell us why it’s your favorite?
AMC: I love the part(s) where Death forgets he’s a narrator and takes action within the story itself. Also, I like when he interjects into his own narrative with asides and commentary. That’s always fun.

ABC: Which of your characters, do you relate to the most (or) who is your favorite character and why?
AMC: In Sorcerous & Beastly I definitely relate to Viola most because she is based on my seven-year-old self even though she’s ten. But my favorite character ever is Elethiere. She’s an elf and I’ve been working hard on her story since before I had the idea for Sorcerous & Beastly. Elethiere’s story is the one that propelled me to become a writer rather than merely someone with an active imagination.

ABC: I once read that every author is simply a compilation of his/her favorite authors. Which authors have done the most to influence your writing and why?
AMC: I think every author I read has an influence on my writing. Sherwood Smith is my favorite author of all time. However, there are many other authors I love: Ilona Andrews, Patrick Rothfuss, Mercedes Lackey, Anne Bishop, Tolkein, CS Lewis, JK Rowling, Devon Monk, Lisa Shearin, Ashley Capes, Rachael Ritchey, to name a few. I’m working on building a database in my Fairy Court where you can find the books I would recommend from all my favorite authors.

ABC: “Story” has always been the center of all human cultures. We need it. We seek it out. We invent it. What does “story” mean to you?
AMC: A story is something that entertains and teaches. Everything important about how people work and interact with each other and how to overcome seemingly impossible challenges I learned from reading fantasy and romance and science fiction and literature. It’s way more fun than a psychology class, in my opinion. It’s a way to dream collectively, and then we can collectively decide which dreams to transform into reality through innovation in tech, fashion, food, etc.

ABC: Tells us about your next project.
AMC: Well, I have several projects in the works. The Necromancer of Many Faces is the first novel in the Intrigue series. If you want a peek at that world, you can read my short story Assassin, which takes place in between books 3 and 4. I’m also working on another serial called The Exclusives which is science fiction and I’ll be reading that on my podcast Storytime starting in December. You can listen to all of Sorcerous & Beastly one episode at a time starting in September. And of course I’m working on Elethiere’s story. Chains of Destruction is a short story that I originaly intended as the proglogue to Elethiere’s Story.

ABC: Where can we find you and your book?
AMC: Join my Purple Court! You get access to all sorts of cool stuff including a forum where my characters sometimes drop by to say hi, and notifications and updates whenever I publish something new. I’m also entering everyone who joins in August into a drawing to get an e-book version of the complete first season of Sorcerous & Beastly. Go to http://amcasey.com/join and start reading the stories in your starter library!

ABC: Thank you again, so much for speaking with me.


A word with Death…

Q: Go ahead and introduce yourself. Tell the audience about yourself.
Death: I’m Death. I’m immortal and stuff, and I help souls transition from living to dead.

Q: Tell us where and when were you born.
Death: I guess I was born before the beginning of time. I don’t really know. Time isn’t the same for me as it is for you mortals.

Q: How would you describe yourself?
Death: I like to think I’m dedicated and hard working. But I know most people think I’m selfish and cruel. It’s hard to be popular when your job is to help people pass from Life to the Afterlife. The Living almost never understand.

Q: Tell us about where you grew up.
Death: It was wonderful. The world wasn’t overcrowded then, so I could take my time and explore the world of the living and the world of the dead. Now I’m overwhelmed with the vast number of souls I have to collect.

Q: Tell everyone what it is you do when you’re not [verb from previous question].
Death: It’s been a really long time since I’ve been able to take a long enough break from reaping to do this, but I love collecting the stories of the dead. I find it so fascinating how their motivations change between life and death, and it’s comforting for some of them when they first cross over to know that someone remembers what they were and cares.

Q: Are you serious with anyone?
Death: No. Unlike your Hades, I don’t have a Persephone yet. Maybe I’ll find someone, but for now I am alone.

Q: Tell us about your worst fear.

Death: He’s the cruelest man alive. I refuse to allow him into the afterlife because he’ll continue to cause problems for the dead if I do. That’s all I want to say.

http://amcasey.com/join Go to my site and join the purple court for a chance to win the complete Sorcerous & Beastly Season 1, open during August only. Winners will be congratulated on Storytime at the end of Sorceorus & Beastly Episode 1 and emailed.




Connect with Aurelia

https://twitter.com/AureliaMCasey
https://www.facebook.com/aurelia.casey
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aurelia-Maria-Casey/1031922546818709
https://www.pinterest.com/aureliamcasey/
https://www.goodreads.com/AMCasey
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AureliaCasey/about
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXKw7PnpAl0NmWOaaMXzWoQ

Buy the Books!
Official Page for Sorcerous & Beastly
Amazon
iBooks



For the month of august, anyone who joins the Purple Court (http://amcasey.com/join) will be entered to win an ebook copy of Sorcerous & Beastly the Complete First Season. Whether or not you win you’ll get access to the starter library, world building documents, forum, and more as soon as you join.



See the Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!



A Brain to Books Production


Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Blog Tour, Brain to Books, SupportIndieAuthors

Brain to Books Blog Tour Chrissy Moon

Brain to Books Blog Tour
Fast Facts
Author: Chrissy Moon
Genre: Paranormal romance, women’s fiction, YA paranormal romance, horror, poetry
Books: Surreal Enemies: Angel City of the God Generation
Official Site

Bio

Chrissy Moon is the youngest of four girls, born in Orange County, California and raised in the San Fernando Valley. Her parents and sisters came to America from the Philippines in 1970, seven years before her birth.
As a teen, Chrissy wanted to work for the United Nations in New York and work as a translator. Her plan was thwarted when she got married and had a baby.
She continued her attempts to learn the basics to many languages. However, as her baby got older, and especially after her divorce, her days were spent working full-time at various office jobs. Languages have been put on the backburner, most of the basics forgotten.
Now that the baby is a high school graduate and an adult, Chrissy is able to devote more time to her writing.
Accomplishments
The cause Chrissy is most concerned with is domestic violence – its prevention, and the healing of its victims.
Her next goal is to learn about local safe houses for abused women and children.
Blurb
Someone’s been killing Slates and freeing the Melted from their ice prisons in the Heaven embassy.
The God Generation consists of supernatural entities – angels (the Worthy), demons (the Melted), and archaic gods & goddesses (the Slates), born into human flesh and living among the rest of us.
Morgan Constantina is an abuse survivor and a recovering ecstasy addict. She’s been working hard to learn how to be tough and never be anyone’s victim again.
Her new life with her loving, supportive, semi-famous boyfriend – who happens to be her former Living Guardian Angel – grows to include an addition to the family, moving to Los Angeles, meeting his gigantic family, and reluctantly co-starring in their new restaurant-based reality TV show.
Morgan learns there are Worthy authorities who keep a judgmental eye on mundane humans. One of them is quite helpful, but another has a personal agenda that could cause trouble for her.
And as she’s meeting new people, she’s also gaining some enemies.
High on the list of foes is an old family friend who’s made threats to kill her, her own mother who thinks she’s immoral and soulless, and her boyfriend’s former flame – a woman Morgan’s already met!
Surreal Enemies: Angel City is a story about the war of good and evil inside all of us, and the powerful, unforgettable force of parental love.
Excerpt
He stood in front of me, his posture a bit more relaxed than it had been for the last hour or so. Seeing the old Ree in his eyes made me want to take him in my arms and kiss him over and over, but I sensed that something still wasn’t right, so I remained still and simply listened to what he had to say. “I swear I didn’t know I have been deviating from my usual behavior. Baby, this is just me talking, this person standing before you. I am neither demon nor angel, boyfriend nor friend—I’m just this spirit who is in love with this spirit right here.” He pointed to my heart without touching it.
He kneeled in front of me then, not like a marriage proposal-type of kneel, but more like his legs gave way and he collapsed. His arms clamped around my waist so hard, at first I thought he was attacking me. But then he leaned his head on my middle and sobbed. I mean, he really cried harder than I have ever witnessed before.
“Ree, you’re acting like someone died! Please help me understand!”
Instead of the scoff that I expected, he turned to face me slowly, his eyes watering as they regarded me with a sad, faraway look.
“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you everything…” he said, still weeping. I was immediately frightened. I had to admit this was not the way I thought this conversation would go at all. I thought he might be angry back or that he would make a sad face and tell me I was right, and proceed to reveal whatever stupid secret he had. But this…this was different. I knew then that I was about to hear something that would change me, change us, change everything.
“Oh my god,” I whispered. “Someone did die, didn’t they?” I raised my voice to a normal level. “Who was it, Ree?”
Not meeting my eyes, he continued. “Connie. And then you, less than a week later.”

Interview with Chrissy Moon
ABC: How did you come up with the idea for your book?

CM: Well, I wanted to illustrate a story about a woman overcoming domestic violence and drug addiction. She’s already overcome some really turbulent things, but now she needs to find a sort of happy medium, so she can be stable and happy without shutting out her loved ones. It’ll take her a while, because as much as she’s learned, she’s still got a long way to go.

This book is written as a standalone, but it’s technically the sequel to my debut novel from a couple years ago, Surreal Ecstasy. I had a whole mythology already set, so my challenge was to create a new story that also fits into the first book, but that can act as an entire story in and of itself. Because of this, it took me longer to write this book.

I wanted Surreal Enemies to have more action. I wanted us to delve some more into the God Generation world. I wanted my main character’s relationship with her boyfriend to kind of reach the next level. I wanted to reveal a little more about the love life of a gay supporting character, Dess. But I also wanted to introduce some new situations to the characters as they get stronger and smarter.

ABC: Stories always require some form of research. What kind of research did you do for your book?

CM: Let’s see. The locations didn’t require any research because the main characters move to the area I grew up in. I did have to ask some family members a little about how the entertainment industry works and about reality shows, because Morgan, our protagonist, ends up on one. I also asked my brother-in-law about the angel hierarchy, because he’s an expert on the subject and even teaches at church voluntarily.

Oh, I lied about the locations. I just remembered. I had to look up the Omni hotel in San Francisco and check out their room service menu and hotel suites because Dess stays there in her own narrated chapter.

ABC: Which scene or chapter was the hardest for you to write?

CM: Hmm. I’ll try to explain this without us having to put up a spoiler alert sign. There’s a part where Morgan and her boyfriend begin to grow distant. When she finds out why, there’s an explanation and many related scenes that follow. I kept having to change small details, right up until the last minute. I also kept giving my publisher updated manuscripts when I’d already sworn numerous times that it was absolutely the final version. That whole thing about why Morgan and her boyfriend Ree had grown distant is a very delicate subject, and I had to run over it with a fine-tooth comb, because the slightest mistake would have killed the entire scene and aftermath.

ABC: Please describe your favorite scene or chapter in your book and tell us why it’s your favorite.

CM: I find myself flipping a lot to the chapter where Morgan meets Snaps, the director of her boyfriend’s family’s Food TV reality show. His personality reminds me a lot of some people I know, and I find it entertaining when he says off-the-wall things. What’s even more entertaining are Morgan’s narrated reaction thoughts.

ABC: Which of your characters do you relate to the most and why?

CM: Morgan is my first published fictional creation, and because of this, her life is very personal to me. I have also had issues with possessing or relinquishing control in relationships, dealing with people who assume the worst about me, feeling misunderstood, and having that ‘me against the world’ mentality. I have also had to learn the hard way that a romantic relationship shouldn’t be the sole purpose in life, that a person should build up their core first and then find love out of want, not need.

ABC: I once read that every author is simply a compilation of his or her favorite authors. Which authors have done the most to influence your writing and why?

CM: Richelle Mead is my biggest modern influence. By the time I started writing my first novel, I had already read everything she’d written. Her books are smart, sexy, exciting, and emotional, and that’s always what I wanted to depict in my own work.

Older influences include Pearl Buck. The way she wrote The Good Earth is incredible. The narration is very simplified and nonthreatening, yet at the same time the main character experiences such a vast array of emotions and obstacles. That’s something I strive to accomplish in my work – saying what I need to say without doing a descriptive overkill. I try to make my readers feel comfortable and like they can read my stories without getting confused or having to memorize a bunch of complicated stuff.

ABC: “Story” has always been the center of all human cultures. We need it. We seek it out. We invent it. What does “story” mean to you?

CM: Good question! The way I see it, “story” comes from our spirits. It’s a part of ourselves that we mix with art and then display for others to view, appreciate, and think about. It’s intensely personal and inspires people to feel all kinds of emotions and think terrible and wonderful thoughts. “Story” is a primary example of what’s insightful and extraordinary about the human race.

ABC: Tells us about your next project.

CM: Just as Surreal Enemies is a sequel, I have another sequel I’m finishing up. This one will be the sequel to my YA paranormal romance, DayDreamer. It’s for a younger audience and is clean and sweet in terms of heat level. I had originally created Kayla, the main character of DayDreamer, to balance out my brain, because writing Surreal was too intense. DayDreamer was written in a much more light-hearted manner.

With this second installment though, Kayla’s world is going to be a little more well-rounded. She’s going to face some issues and paranormal situations that’ll challenge her abilities and morals. I have a lot planned for her, and I hope readers will enjoy watching her mature.

Connect with Chrissy
Twitter: @WriterAngel
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChrissyMoon
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/writercmoon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Chrissy-Moon/e/B00BEJZKZ6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6939513.Chrissy_Moon
Instagram: https://instagram.com/chrissymoonauthor/


See the Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!



A Brain to Books Production


Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Blog Tour, Brain to Books, SupportIndieAuthors

Brain to Books Blog Tour Alan Black

Brain to Books Blog Tour
Fast Facts
Author: Alan Black
Genre: A little bit of everything


Books:
Chasing Harpo (action/humor)
Metal Boxes (science fiction – military, space opera)
The Friendship Stones (Christian, historical, young adult – book one in An Ozark Mountain Series – 1920)
Steel Walls and Dirt Drops – (science fiction – military)
The Granite Heart (Christian, historical, young adult – book two in An Ozark Mountain Series – 1920)
Chewing Rocks (science fiction – space opera)
The Heaviest Rock (Christian, historical, young adult – book three in An Ozark Mountain Series – 1920)
A Cold Winter (western novelette)
Titanium Texicans (science fiction – young adult space opera)
Empty Space (science fiction – military)
How To Start, Write, and Finish Your First Novel (non-fiction)
The Inconvenient Pebble (Christian, historical, young adult – book four in An Ozark Mountain Series – 1925)
Metal Boxes – Trapped Outside (science fiction – military, space opera)
Official Site
Bio
I started writing sometime in the second grade, well over fifty years ago….I think. Gaak! Who remembers that far back? I started my first novel in 1996. His writing tastes are as eclectic as his reading preferences.
I was born in central Kansas, grew up in Gladstone, Missouri and graduated from Oak Park Senior High School, eventually earning a liberal arts degree from Longview Community college. I did spent most of my adult life in the Kansas City area. The U.S. Air Force stationed me Texas, California, Maryland, and Japan. I got married in the late 70s and I’m still married to the same woman. We now live in sunny Arizona.
I am an indie multi-genre writer who has never met a good story he didn’t want to tell. My vision statement: “I want my readers amazed they missed sleep because they could not put down one of my books. I want my readers amazed I made them laugh on one page and cry on the next. I want to give my readers a pleasurable respite from the cares of the world for a few hours. I want to offer stories I would want to read.”
Accomplishments
Black’s scifi book Metal Boxes hit #1 on Amazon.
Blurb
Without warning, Stone found himself flying across the room, smacking face first into the opposite wall. The top side of the heavy conference table slammed into his back, sandwiching him so hard he imagined he looked like mayonnaise oozing out between two pieces of bread, but it didn’t hurt. There was no noise or bright flash of an explosion. He didn’t even hear the table as gravity dragged it back to the floor, nor did he feel the slightest pain as the sandwich fell apart and he crashed down beside the table.
Stone rolled to his hands and knees. Rough hands grabbed him. Someone grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked his face upward. Numos pulled, brutally twisting his arms and legs. Stone wanted to object. He didn’t feel a thing and, although he could see Numos screaming at him, he couldn’t hear a thing.




Interview with Alan Black
Tell us a little about yourself. (How did you get started writing? What do you do when you’re not writing? What is one thing that would surprise us?) I started writing early, but I didn’t finish my first full length novel (100,000 words) until the late 1990s. Generally, when I’m not writing, I’m editing, publishing and marketing my books. This is my full time job and I put in about 60 to 80 hours a week at it.
Is this your first book? Metal Boxes – Trapped Outside is not my first book published. I’m writing my twentieth book, but I’ve only published thirteen of them so far. How many books have you written prior (if any?) List other titles if applicable.
Chasing Harpo (action/humor)
Metal Boxes (science fiction – military, space opera)
The Friendship Stones (Christian, historical, young adult – book one in An Ozark Mountain Series – 1920)
Steel Walls and Dirt Drops – (science fiction – military)
The Granite Heart (Christian, historical, young adult – book two in An Ozark Mountain Series – 1920)
Chewing Rocks (science fiction – space opera)
The Heaviest Rock (Christian, historical, young adult – book three in An Ozark Mountain Series – 1920)
A Cold Winter (western novelette)
Titanium Texicans (science fiction – young adult space opera)
Empty Space (science fiction – military)
How To Start, Write, and Finish Your First Novel (non-fiction)
The Inconvenient Pebble (Christian, historical, young adult – book four in An Ozark Mountain Series – 1925)
Metal Boxes – Trapped Outside (science fiction – military, space opera)
What genre is it and what is it about? Metal Boxes – Trapped Outside is a military/space opera science fiction novel. It’s the sequel to Metal Boxes and is about the continuing adventures of Blackmon Perry Stone, a young man in service to the empire. Against his personal preferences (he is agoraphobic – that means he is afraid of being outside, not being afraid of sweaters made from goat hair), his new assignment is to lead a team doing planet pacification of a newly discovered world. Not only is it all outside, but they find a warring alien race.
What inspired you to write this book?
The feedback from the first book drove me to write the sequel.
How did you come up with the title of your book or series?
The original book Metal Boxes was titled that because the protagonist grew up in Metal Boxes (space stations and spaceships). He never ventured outside under open skies until he was in his teens. Hence, he is agoraphobic. The second title plays against the first. He is still agoraphobic, but now he is trapped outside.
Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?
The artwork for this new book was done by Bill Wright. You can see his artwork athttps://www.flickr.com/photos/billwrigt1/
The cover layout was done by the excellent people at The Cover Collection athttp://www.thecovercollection.com/
If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?
I haven’t actually cast the actors in this book. Some I have, but in this story, I prefer the reader build their own mental image.
Just as your books inspire authors, what authors have inspired you to write? Robert Heinlein and Louis L’Amour were my two favorite authors growing up. Some people are surprised that they wrote in such disparate genres. I disagree. The only difference between scifi and westerns is location. They are still morality stories with good vs evil.
What does your writing process look like?
I actually go into my process in depth in my book How To Start, Write, and Finish Your First Novel. I pick a character that I like and throw all the nasty crap at them I can think of. By the time they get all of their problems resolved, the book is done. I don’t edit, I don’t proofread, check spelling, format or even worry about the color of the hero’s girlfriend’s hair. My rough draft is all about story and action. Then I go back and rewrite all the other stuff and start fixing my mistakes. Rule #2 in writing is that you can’t fix what ain’t been writ.
Are you a plotter or a pantster (writing by the seat of your pants)?
I am a pantser. I have a rough idea where the story might end up, but when I am in the middle of writing, I couldn’t tell you what is going to happen in the next paragraph until I’ve written it.
Who is your favorite character from your book and why? How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?
My favorite character to write is Harpo Marks from Chasing Harpo. He is an orangutan. Part of the book is written from his point of view. I had a lot of fun with it because I struggled not to anthropomorphize him into a semi-human. He has a sense of realism to his ape-ness, but he has grown used to humans and adopted some small characteristics. My least favorite characters are easy to spot because I kill them off. Not everyone who dies in my books is someone real, but some are. Not everyone who dies in my books is someone who I don’t like, but some are. For example I kill off a character in Metal Boxes – Trapped Outside who was modeled after a good friend of mine. She complained, but that is the way the story goes.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I will still be writing and publishing. I don’t know where the publishing business will be, but I will be here. My list of published books will be longer as I have a goal to write four books a year.
Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?
I do read my reviews, but I never ever ever respond to them. I will answer direct questions on my website or Amazon Author Page, or Goodreads, or Facebook, or Twitter, but not a review. My best advice to bad reviews is to read them carefully. Search them diligently for clues to improve your writing. Develop a thick skin and learn that reproof will only make you better. If there isn’t anything to learn from a review, good or bad, then give a little shrug, have another glass of wine, and mentally put it aside.
What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?
The best marketing is word of mouth. Tell someone about the book. Oh, don’t lend them the book, but write a review, tell a friend, mention it to a co-worker at lunch.
What is your best marketing tip?
I put marketing tips on my website. So far I have collected 49 different things for author to try. There is a tab for Marketing Tips on the home page.
What are you working on now?
Strangely, I am not writing scifi. I alternate scifi with something else. I am writing a Christmas Romance novel.
What do you wear while writing?
I write in gym shorts and a t-shirt. Not that I go to the gym, their just comfy.
What literary character is most like you?
There aren’t any literary characters like me. Oh, you read about guys like me in books, but we don’t get names. We’re just the tertiary character whose body is found in a dumpster by the protagonist or the guy who’s too fat to run away from the Zombies and dies in chapter two.
If you had a supernatural power, what would it be?
The ability to convince people I’m right…whether I am or not.
What is your favorite movie?
I like the movie “Silverado”. It is a fast paced western with a superb cast. It is fun without taking itself too seriously.
What makes you cry?
One of the rules of writing these days is that you can’t kill a dog or a horse. It is deadly to readers. That always makes me cry. I’ve done it, but I hated it much worse than killing people.

Connect with Alan Black
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/AlanBlack-Author/100006730788396
Twitter  https://www.twitter.com/alblack77
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pub/alan-black/72/441/657

Buy the Books
Amazon Author Page http://amazon.com/author/alanblack1953
Goodreads Profile Page https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1016187.Alan_Black?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr

See the Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!



A Brain to Books Production


Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Blog Tour, Brain to Books, SupportIndieAuthors

Just one more day of this blog tour!

Talk about a lot of work! Didn’t realize what I signed up for when I started it, but holy moly! I Hope you all have had a chance over this past month and a half to find a few good authors to check out. I think we covered just about everything genre wise, which is impressive if you think about it. Anyways, after tomorrow we should go back to our normally scheduled posting. You all have a wonderful day!

Filed under: Musings

Brain to Books Blog Tour Judith Quate

Brain to Books Blog Tour
Fast Fact
Author: Judith Quate
Genre: Memoir
Book: Our Special Child:  Jason’s Story
Official Site
Bio
I am a woman, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and a good friend.  This is what defines me.  What I present to you on this website is a mixed media artist who creates inspirational art and fiber creations.  What most inspired me to launch my business is the valuable lessons I learned for twenty-eight years raising a son with cerebral palsy.  I was his nurse, social worker, advocate, therapist and most importantly, a loving mother.  My book, Our Special Child:  Jason’s Story, will soon be available and you can purchase it here on this website.
I create mixed media paintings and designs because I want to share the valuable lessons I learned caring for my son. He inspired me every day and it is now my turn to pay if forward.
I lived in Philadelphia for most of my life.  Nine years ago my husband and I moved ten miles north of Philly to Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  I loved the city but it was time to live in a more peaceful surroundings in my retirement years.
I started creating my business four years ago after I retired from my federal government position.  I worked over 40 years of my life, 22 years with the federal government.
I am sole owner of my business and designer.  I love working alone, making my own decision and working the hours I choose to work.  I share my time babysitting my two grandchildren and working out at the gym.  Life is good and I am making the most of it.



Buy now on Amazon
Connect with Judith
www.scrapperjudedesigns.net
www.twitter.com/scrapperjude
http://www.facebook.com/ScrapperJude
www.pinterest.com/scrapperjude
http://www.youtube.com/user/Scrapperjudedesigns
http://www.linkedin.com/scrapperjude

See the Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!



A Brain to Books Production



Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Blog Tour, Brain to Books, SupportIndieAuthors

Brain to Books Blog Tour C.L. Schneider

Brain to Books Blog Tour
Fast Fact
Author: C.L. Schneider
Genre: Fantasy
Books:
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Scars
Official Site
Bio

Born in a small Kansas town on the Missouri river, I grew up in a house of avid readers and overflowing bookshelves. When I was sixteen I wrote my first, full-length novel on a typewriter in my parent’s living room. My main focus is adult epic fantasy, but I also write urban fantasy, and the occasional science fiction or post-apocalyptic story.
I am proud to be a self-published author and a member of the #indiebooksbeseen community. My goal as a writer is to stir emotion and make the reader feel, whether it be good or bad. I believe in writing fearless, and that telling a story as it is meant to be told, is far more important than word count.
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price is my first published novel. The second book in the trilogy, Magic-Scars, was released earlier this year.
Magic Price
Blurb

Ian Troy is one of the Shinree, a fallen people with an inherent addiction to magic. Scorned and reviled for the deadly side of their spells, the Shinree are bred as slaves. Their magic is suppressed by drugs and used only as it serves the purposes of the other races.
Descended from a long line of soldiers, Ian is conscripted into the Rellan army and made to fight in their longstanding conflict against the ruthless Langorian invaders. The downfall of Rella imminent, Ian goes against orders and turns to the Crown of Stones, an ancient Shinree relic of untold power. Ignorant of its true purpose, Ian uses the crown to end the war, and pays a terrible price.
A decade later, still tortured by the aftermath of that day, Ian lives as a bounty hunter in self-imposed exile. Having renounced his magical heritage, he curbs his obsession with a steady stream of wine and regret. He struggles to put it all behind him, until a fateful encounter with a pretty assassin brings Ian’s past crashing into the present. Targeted by a rogue Shinree, and a ruthless old enemy, Ian is forced to use magic again. His deadly addiction is rekindled and his life of isolation is brought to a swift end.
With the land he gave up everything to protect once more in jeopardy, and his people’s future at stake, Ian becomes embroiled in a violent race for control of the Crown of Stones. To save the realms and those he cares for, Ian must embrace the thing he fears most: his own power.
Magic-Price is the first installment in The Crown of Stones trilogy.

Excerpt
Prologue

Bodies pressed in on me on all sides. More were piled up beneath my feet. The grass, gorged with assorted fluids and trampled remains, squished under my boots as I carved open my opponent’s chest, pushed him aside, and moved onto the next.
There was always a next. The Langorians were a swarm…an inexhaustible, savage, mindless swarm. And we had no choice but to become like them to survive. To become animals, going at each other, mechanically pushing against the tide, battering whatever stood in our way with whatever we had; clubs, axes, swords, knives—our bruised, bleeding bare hands. Fighting for days, months, years, striving to hold out against an enemy that knew nothing of mercy, an enemy stronger, and far more brutal than us, we’d become something less than we were.
And we were still losing.
I grabbed the Queen’s arm and steered her out of the fray. “We can’t take much more of this.” Needing to be heard, I drew her closer. “We should pull back.”
“Pull back?” Queen Aylagar Arcana yanked herself free. She gave me a wild, defiant look. Full of passion and reckless resolve, it made her exotic features come alive. “My order stands. We press on, Troy. As always.”
I shook my head. “Our numbers are dwindling too fast. We can’t win this.”
“We can and we will.” Aylagar raised a hand. She touched my face and the sound of metal clashing and men screaming seemed to fade away. Brushing back the blood-splattered white strands that had come loose from my braid, she ran a finger down the strong line of my jaw. “Trust me, Love. The Langorians will not have Rella.”
“How can you still believe that?”
“Because I must. Because I have faith.”
“Ayla…” I stopped myself. Then I started again. “I saw the messenger arrive from Kabri. I know he carried orders from the King. You can’t keep ignoring them.”

“I can. And I will.” She dropped her hand and backed up. “My husband is a fool. I don’t care how many messengers he dispatches from his throne, he is not out here. The blood of these men bathes my skin, not his. This is my war, Troy. Mine!” she cried. “We fight. We die. We go on until we prevail—by my command. I will not surrender. That is the way of it. That is the only way.”
My throat went dry at the fire in her. The way she stood, outlined by the backdrop of chaos, flanked by the crackling flames that consumed our camp, with sweat beading on her dark skin and battle-lust glazing her stare, I wanted to pull her into my arms. I wanted to go back to this morning, on the furs of her tent, when Aylagar’s flawless, ebony skin was on me. Where status and race didn’t matter and death felt far away. Mostly, I wanted to believe her, as I had so many times, that every battle brought us closer to victory. That persistence was our greatest strength and it would carry us through.
But this was it. King Draken of Langor was throwing everything he had at us, making one final push to wipe us all out. To once and for all, lay claim to the land his forefathers had sought, and failed, to conquer. Surrendering was unacceptable; she was right in that. Yet, Aylagar had lost her way. Somewhere along the line, the outcome had stopped mattering to her as much as the fight, and my affection, my awe of her, had blinded me for far too long.
Magic Scars
Blurb
Magic doesn’t wound the same as a sword.
The story of Ian Troy continues in Magic-Scars, the second installment in C. L. Schneider’s riveting epic fantasy trilogy, The Crown of Stones.
Captured by his old enemy, King Draken of Langor, Shinree magic user Ian Troy was sentenced to prison. Tortured and drugged, robbed of his will, his memories, and his magic, Ian was made to do unspeakable things. Rescued, as his body slowly rids itself of the drug, Ian realizes he has returned to an unfamiliar world gripped with fear. In the wake of his fall, those he cared for were left to their own grim fates. Draken has seized control of the realms and named himself High King. His brutal rein has sparked a desperate rebellion that Ian now finds himself a part of. His one task: recover and repair the Crown of Stones, in hopes it will tip the balance in the revolution that is brewing. In pursuit of the reason behind the artifact’s strange loss of magic, Ian is driven to release an explosion of retribution and power that leaves him irrevocably scarred.
Struggling to reconcile the man he has become with the man he once was, Ian strives to understand the growing number of magic-scars adorning his body. He searches for the truth behind his link to the Crown of Stones and uncovers shocking secrets buried for generations beneath the sand. To become the weapon the resistance needs, he must assume responsibility for his magical inheritance. But can he curb the destructive appetite that comes with it?
The price of Ian’s magic and his addiction have never been higher.

Excerpt Book 2 (Magic-Scars)
I eyed the door. Instinct told me to hold off. I tried to listen. I crouched among a group of snow covered barrels and waited to see if a sentry was on watch.
It took less than a minute to know waiting wasn’t on my list of favorite things. I was pretty confident I didn’t like eerie silences either, as the longer the quiet stretched, the more it unnerved me. Swiftly, uneasiness became panic, then dread.
With each scrape of the swinging lantern and flap of the sail, the calm ate at me.
It ate until I was hollow. Until that same nagging notion (the one I had just started to ignore) crept back. It was a noiseless, internal clamor. An urge that gouged into what was left of me, chiseling pieces off, scooping them out even as it reminded me that I’d lost the very thing that once filled the hole.
Something was missing.
It’s more than that, I realized. It’s someone.
He was out there, past the night and the snow. He was in trouble. He was suffering and it was my fault. Or was it? I had no memories to match my guilt. No face or name to prompt such urgency. All I had was intuition ringing like a claxon in my head telling me to go, to find him.

Interview with C.L. Schneider

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get started writing?
How did I get started writing? You can blame books on that one. I was a huge reader and an early reader. But, honestly, it feels like I have always been writing. I can remember being very young and rewriting the scripts for my favorite TV shows because I didn’t like how the story was evolving or what the writers were doing with the characters. Sometime I would write commercials or fake news reports and make my poor family sit down and pretend to be my audience. I wrote poems and started more short stories than I can count. It was rare when I read a book I couldn’t finish, but at sixteen, I had a streak where I picked up and put down several book in a row that weren’t cutting it. I thought I could write a book at least that good, so that’s what I did. I spent the rest of that summer on the draft of my first full length novel; a post-apocalyptic monstrosity entitled A Twist of Fate. Looking back now, I’m fairly certain it was no better than those books I couldn’t finish. But, was the start of something. Twist of Fate set me on my path, and one of these days I’m going to pull that monster out of the box in my closet and give it the shine it deserves.
What do I do when I’m not writing?
That’s an easy one. I’m always writing! If it isn’t on my laptop, or on paper, it’s in my head. Occasionally, it’s on a napkin in a restaurant. The rest of my day is spent letting the dog and cat in and out, and ignoring the laundry.
What is the one thing that would surprise us?
I’m not sure if it’s surprising, but it’s something not many people know.
There was a time in high school when I seriously considered a career in special effects make-up. Since I was a young child I’ve been fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes in a theatrical production. As part of the drama club in school, I worked on the stage crew, building the scenery, creating props, putting together the costumes. I even choreographed a musical once. But what truly fascinated me were the creatures and characters created for fantasy, sci-fi, and horror movies. I wanted badly to be a part of that world and to create my own fantastical creatures. For several years I read everything I could find on the subject. I looked into schools and even narrowed down my choices. But, life had other plans for me. Now, I create my creatures with words—and binge watch Face-Off every chance I get.
Is this your first book?
I have a closet full of unpublished works (some completed, some not), but The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price was my first published novel. The second book in the trilogy, Magic-Scars released earlier this year.
What genre is it and what is it about?
The Crown of Stones trilogy is adult, epic fantasy. It follows the trial of Ian Troy, a man born with a crippling addiction to magic. As Ian struggles with his addiction, he faces enemies, old and new, in an attempt to unravel the secrets of The Crown of Stones and unite the realms.
What inspired you to write this book?
The Crown of Stones trilogy was mostly inspired by the character of Ian Troy. I believe the most interesting characters are flawed. The more flawed, the more real they feel to me. Super Heroes are great. Yet, I’m more interested in what’s behind the mask. How much muck were they dragged through before they became super? When I created Ian I did a very lengthy profile. I wanted my story to revolve around magic, so I made magic (what should be his greatest strength) his greatest flaw. I added in a few traits inspired by some of my favorite books from childhood, and the story evolved from there.
How did you come up with the title?
I had this gorgeous piece of amethyst sitting on my bookshelf for years. I always wanted to work it into a story. So when I created the character of Ian and his magic, the original title of the book was The Amethyst Crown. But as my magic system evolved, so did the crown and the title.
Tell us a little bit about the cover art?
The covers for both Crown of Stones books were done by Alan Dingman. Alan is a personal friend of mine as well as an incredibly talented local artist. When I decided to self-publish I looked first at the covers CreateSpace was offering. They were all well done, but none of them could live up to the image in my head. The cover of Magic Price has been bouncing around in there for a long time. I couldn’t compromise. Working at Simon & Schuster as well as having his own portrait business; I knew Alan was a busy man. I approached him about taking on the work as a side job and, thankfully, he jumped at the chance. The way he can pull an image out of my head, and enhance it with his own flair, amazes me.
I believe if a cover I done right, an author can convey so much to potential readers. With both Magic-Price and Magic-Scar, I wanted to convey the tone of the book as well as provide a glimpse into a pivotal moment in the main character’s life. I’m very picky. Every detail has to be just right. Alan is very patient. Though I wouldn’t doubt he’s sick of me by the time the project is done!
If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?
People ask me that all the time, and I find it such a hard question. The characters are all so unique to me. I find it hard to squeeze them into the mold of someone else’s body and features. It is fun, though to see my characters through other people’s imagination. Some readers have come up with great suggestion for actors to play in a Crown of Stones movie. Have a look: The Imagine Film List | Magic-Price (The Crown of Stones Series)

Just as your books inspire authors, what authors have inspired you to write?
Different writers have inspired me at different times in my life. Some whose titles I have devoured over the years (in no particular order) are: H. G. Wells, Jules Verne, Margaret Mitchell, Emily Bronte, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Jennifer Roberson, C. J. Cherryh, Stephen King, Andre Norton, Ray Bradbury, Jim Butcher, Simon R. Green, and Mary Shelley.
What does your writing process look like?
Almost every book I’ve ever written has started on paper. I love a blank page. But a blank screen…not so much. My drafts are a messy vomiting of ideas, half of which don’t make it between the lines. I call it my skeleton. The story is usually coming to me fast and furious at this point so it’ also easier to carry around a notebook rather than the laptop. When I have enough down to start really working with, I head to my laptop and put the meat on the bones. I usually go back and forth a couple of times from notebook to computer. I don’t write linear at this stage. I write whatever scenes I see most clearly in my head. Later, I marry them together on the computer. Once the draft is done I start revising. After the first revision I start sending some to my beta readers. The second and third revisions are my favorite. By this time the story has really come together, and I can start adding in all the nuances and massaging sentences and paragraphs, making sure they have the proper rhythm and flow. By the time I start obsessing over a fourth revision, is when my editor steps in and pries it from my hands.

Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?
I do read my reviews, every single one of them. I know some authors who have sworn off reading their reviews, but in the beginning I don’t think most can probably help it. At least I couldn’t. I distinctly remember the shock at my first five star and the tears at my first one star. I thought I was prepared for the praise a much as the candor, but it takes some getting used to. Your blood is on those pages. It’s never easy to hear someone bash not only their content, but you as a writer. But, it gets easier. You learn what is really constructive and what to ignore, and if you’re lucky, the good outweigh the bad.
I read a quote once by Tibor Kalman: “When you make something no one hates, no one loves it.” Those words helped me immensely when it comes to dealing with reviews. I still say them to myself from time to time. They remind of the diversity of human taste and how you really can’t please everyone. All you can do is be true to the story that’s in you, and tell it. That being said, if enough reviews highlight the same issues or potential problems with your work, it might be time to take a look at it.
As far as responding to reviews, I may thank the reviewer on social media for reading, or for their kind comments. I think that’s only polite. But, in my opinion, engaging someone who wrote a bad review is never a good idea. People are entitled to their own views, no matter how you might not agree with them. Not to mention, there is too much emotion wrapped up in your work. You’re for more likely to answer with your heart than your head and make things worse. Read them and move on. Resistance is not futile!
What is your favorite Halloween costume you’ve ever worn?
My favorite costume is when I went to a party a couple of years ago dressed as a female version of Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead. I had the crossbow, the ear necklace, the red handkerchief, the knife. I even attached the angel wings to my vest. It was as much fun to put together as it was to wear.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on Magic-Borne, the final book in The Crown of Stones trilogy. It’s heading off to my editor in September so I’m scrambling to be sure it’s exactly how I want it first. I’m finding it very bittersweet. These characters have been a part of my life for so long. There is so much to wrap up and touch on, I want to make sure Ian and his friends get the proper send off.
I recently started work on my next book, which centers on the story of a half dragon woman who flees her world to seek sanctuary in ours. I have two hundred pages of a draft done. I wrote it about a year ago, but my idea has expanded quite a bit since then. I reworked the plot just last week, so I’m unsure yet how much of the draft I’m going to keep.
I’m also in the beginning stages of co-writing the first book in a Viking-themed epic fantasy trilogy with fellow author Jeremy Swiger. We have some draft finished, the first book plotted out and a loose plot for books two and three. So I have a lot to keep me busy.
What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I think this one is pretty obvious. Fantasy, of course! I love fantasy in all its forms and offshoots. To me, fantasy is endless possibility. I’m not sure a writer can’t ask for much more than that.
 What do you wear while writing?
Since I squeeze it in during every free moment I have, especially in the summer when the kids are home, I write with whatever I have on. But what do I prefer to write in? My PJs. Or my yoga pants. For marathon writing sessions I want anything comfortable, where I’m free to pile in the chocolate and not feel the pounds creeping on.
Do you have a pet or pets?
Yes, we have pets. Unfortunately, our Beta fish, Happy and Bro, died recently. But, we still have Skittles the cat, who spends her days trying to figure out how to sleep on my laptop while I’m writing, and her nights plotting on how best to off the dog. As you can see below, she also does a bit of zombie modeling for her immature owners.
Woodstock, (otherwise known as Woody, Woodrow, or Drop It) is our 70+ pound, 1 ½ year old lap dog. Despite repeated attempts on his life, he still believes Skittles is his best friend.
What is your favorite snack food?
Is coffee a snack food? If not, I would have to say chocolate covered pretzels (chocolate covered anything, really) or chips and salsa. Do not leave a bowl of either in front of me. It will likely be empty by the time you come back.
Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?
I would love to meet Amelia Earhart. She was the first woman aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic. We were born in the same small Kansas town, and I’ve always found her quotes inspiriting. Amelia Earhart was bold and gutsy, and didn’t listen to the naysayers. She believed in herself. I admire her fearlessness.

Connect with Schneider
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Google+
Buy Magic Price
Magic-Price Kindle
Magic-Price Paperback
Buy Magic Scars
Magic-Scars Paperback
Magic-Scars Kindle

See the Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!

A Brain to Books Production

Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Blog Tour, Brain to Books, SupportIndieAuthors

Brain to Books Blog Tour Timothy Bateson

Brain to Books Blog Tour
Fast Fact
Author: Timothy Bateson
Genre: Science Fiction & Urban Fantasy short stories
Books: Across the Karman Line
Official Site
Bio
Timothy is a displaced Englishman, currently living in Alaska. Since moving to Alaska in 2005 he has participated in a succession of NaNoWriMo events, honing his writing skills. He has also been working on a number of writing projects with his wife, Sandi, a fellow creative soul.

From there projects has sprung an alternative Seattle, populated by mortals, with a vibrant supernatural community. Between them, the creative couple write short stories and novels, based in this wonderful setting, sharing locations, characters, and a common overarching plot. More recently he has started branching out into science-fiction, and has found this just as much fun to write in between plotting his novel, and filling out the background of his Seattle.


Accomplishments
Timothy has participated in several NaNoWriMo events over the last few years, and only failed to complete the 50,000 word goal twice in that time.

As an avid amateur  falconer, Timothy has had the honor of handling and flying almost every class of raptor, from the little owl, all the way up to the Martial Eagle.

Sold out his first book signing event, at Fireside Books, when “Moon Shadows” released in October 2014.

Is active in  a number of online writing and reading communities on Goodreads and Google+, and recently guest hosted a number of book reviews and author bios as part of the Author Cyber Convention 2015 (arranged through Goodreads).

Has had the pleasure of working very closely with Fireside Books, his local independent bookstore, on two book signings, and a handful of other author/reader events.
Blurb
In space, fate rests in the hands who created the craft. Wits and creative risk separate life from death while navigating the three-dimensional sea or marooned on an alien planet. The trust between captain and crew unifies a mission. And sometimes, the final take-off is the hardest.
Connect with Timothy
Official Site
Twitter
Goodreads Profile Page
Blog
See the Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!



A Brain to Books Production

Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Blog Tour, Brain to Books, SupportIndieAuthors

Brain to Books Blog Tour Jeanne Lyet Gassman

Brain to Books Blog Tour
Fast Facts
Author: Jeanne Lyet Gassman
Genre: Christian historical fiction; literary fiction and creative nonfiction
Books: Blood of a Stone (Tuscany Press)
Official Site

Bio
Award-winning author JEANNE LYET GASSMAN lives in Arizona where the desert landscape inspires much of her fiction. She holds an MFA in Writ­ing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has received fellow­ships from Ragdale and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Her debut historical novel, BLOOD OF A STONE (Tuscany Press) received a Bronze 2015 Independent Publishers Book Award in the national category of religious fiction. Her work has appeared in Hippocampus Magazine, Hermeneutic Chaos Literary Journal, Red Savina Review, The Museum of Americana, Assisi: An Online Journal of Arts & Letters, Switchback, Literary Mama, and Barrelhouse, among many others. In addition to writing, Jeanne also teaches creative writing workshops for libraries and community groups.

Accomplishments
Independent Publisher Book Award (Bronze) for BLOOD OF A STONE in the national category of religious fiction
Finalist for 2015 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards for BLOOD OF A STONE
Fellowships from Ragdale and the Arizona Commission on the Arts
MFA in Writing, Vermont College of Fine Arts
1st place, WOW! 2012 Fall Flash Fiction Competition
Finalist, Tuscany Press Novel Prize for BLOOD OF A STONE
Violinist, Phoenix College Symphony
Instructor, Creative Writing for community groups and libraries (including numerous grants)
Freelance editor
Short Fiction and Creative Nonfiction published in dozens of literary magazines
Blogger, Jeanne’s Writing Desk

Blurb
Set in the first century on the edges of the Roman Empire and the Jesus movement, Blood of a Stone is a sweeping story of murder, betrayal, love, and the search for redemption.
Faced with the brutality of slavery, Demetrios confronts his master and flees by the blood of a stone. Determined to escape his past, he struggles to create a new life and a new identity with his friend and fellow escaped slave, Elazar.
However, freedom has its price. Secrets cannot remain secret forever. A chance for love is lost. Elazar betrays Demetrios to a so-called prophet named Jesus of Nazareth. Fearing the Roman authorities and Jesus, Demetrios risks everything to silence those who would enslave him again. His quest leads him to startling discoveries and dire choices. Demetrios must answer the question we all ask: Can we ever be free of our past?

Reviews

“Blood of a Stone takes the reader on an adventure in a fascinating period of history where the Roman Empire and the birth of Christianity converge. An extremely well written historical novel.”

— Amazon Best Selling Author The Olivia Series, Yael Politis

“Jeanne Gassman has composed a spiritual journey of one man’s heart-rending path to redemption on the fringe of the Jesus movement.  Wrapped in polished prose and vivid depictions of life in 1st Century Palestine, Gassman’s story transcends genres to offer a rich biblical tale of love, loss, forgiveness, and the restorative power of faith.”

— Barbara Devlin, Bestselling Author of the Brethren of the Coast series

“BLOOD OF A STONE by Jeanne Gassman is an enthralling, introspective historical tale that studies the human spirit in all its various forms: the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. The novel is touching, wonderfully written and has a stunning story line that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend!”

—Eliza Knight, USA Today Bestselling Author

“Details of 1st-Century Palestine come alive as Jeanne Lyet Gassman weaves a compelling story of unspeakable challenge and the search for redemption. Trapped in a life of desperation, Demetrios will do whatever it takes to escape, even kill those who enslave him. But when his life comes in contact with the man, Jesus, everything that seemed so important begins to shift. The story moves from pulse-pounding action to heart-wrenching honesty, as Demetrios pursues the Peace every heart craves.”

—Amazon Best-seller Author, Christy M. Bellar, The Lady and the Mountain Man

Grace, one of the most challenging journeys of life and literature, is explored in this fine debut novel by Jeanne Lyet Gassman. Set in first century Palestine during the time of Jesus, BLOOD OF A STONE is a moving, well-researched, beautifully turned novel that had me engaged and in tears. Highly recommended!

— Best-selling author Allegra Jordan, The End of Innocence

“Jeanne Gassman is a remarkable writer who brings a Biblical era stunningly to life in
this powerful and fast-moving tale of sin and redemption.”

— American Fiction Prize Winner, Clint McCown, author of Haints

 
“In art man finds a conduit to the divine. Blood of a Stone, Jeanne L. Gassman’s artful debut, is a tale of murder, love, betrayal, and redemption in 1st century Judea. Crafted with imagination and superlative style, her story tracks slaves Demetrios’ and Elazar’s arduous climb from sin to forgiveness.”

—Winner of the Independent Publisher Book Award, David Beckett, The Cana Mystery
 
Excerpt from Blood of a Stone
by Jeanne Lyet Gassman
Farmers, merchants, townspeople, and peasants crushed together on the narrow road into the city, pushing toward the marketplace. Shepherds whistled at their herds of goats, struggling to keep them away from the booths stacked with winter figs. Herod’s auxiliary troops circled through the mob on horseback and foot, their shouts lost in the uproar.

“Move, move! In the name of Caesar and the King, get out of the way!”

The people dropped back to clear a path for more soldiers who marched in tight formation. Their conical helmets bounced up and down in waves as they jogged along the road. One of the horsemen accompanying them broke rank and rode into a group of spectators that had pressed closer for a better look. He swung his sword and warned them to keep back. There were a few muttered epithets, but no one spoke too loudly. A space opened around the soldier, and the crowd could see why they had been forced off the path. The troops dragged behind them a captured slave: a dark-skinned man with the letter F, for fugitivus, seared into his forehead. His hands and feet were bound, and if it were not for the rope that jerked him upright and pulled him along, he would have fallen face down to the ground.
Demetrios brushed his fingers across his own shoulder, feeling the raised, damaged flesh beneath his cloak. If he had not killed Marcus and escaped, his fate could have easily been the same as this poor runaway’s.

Someone pitched a stone at the auxiliaries, striking the horse. The animal reared up, and a farmer in front of the soldiers lost control of his cart. The entire procession halted as his crates of doves toppled to the ground.

The terrified birds flung themselves against the wooden slats; clouds of feathers spiraled into the air. The farmer tugged at his donkey’s rope, but the creature dug in its heels and refused to move, its hysterical brays adding to the general confusion.

The slave, sensing he had a receptive audience, raised his head. The wound on his brow had festered. His skin glowed with fever and madness. He blinked, scanning the blur of faces in front of him, seeking one he knew would understand. Then he paused and focused his gaze on Demetrios, a faint smile playing around his mouth.
Demetrios shrank back behind a cluster of men.
Of all the Jews, the soldiers, and the travelers in this place, how did he know? How does one slave recognize the other? Although the sun was warm upon Demetrios’s back, he shivered.

A man behind Demetrios said, “I heard they found him in the caves near the hot springs. He belonged to Herod’s house. Not a good place to hide.” The woman with him asked, “Where are they taking him?”

“With a group of other slaves to the mines. He’ll never see daylight again.”

Holding fast to the reins of his skittish horse, the furious soldier confronted the crowd. “Who threw that stone?”
When no one answered, he hooked one of the crates with his sword and smashed it to the ground. Several doves flew out, sweeping low over everyone’s heads. “Clear this trash from the road.”
Some of the men behind Demetrios laughed and jumped to catch the floundering birds; others complained loudly about the delay. A couple of the women near him finally stepped forward to help the beleaguered man drag his remaining crates to the side. The soldiers began to move again, their captive stumbling behind them.
The slave cried out, “Please! Help me!” before he disappeared into the wall of armored bodies.

“Demetrios of Tiberias? Is that you?”

Over the bobbing heads, Demetrios strained to see who was calling him. He cut across the road and scooted around the people still pursuing errant doves.

“Demetrios of Tiberias!” the voice called out to him with authority.

Demetrios wheeled around. They knew. The soldiers were coming for him. He was caught, trapped like a beetle in the clinches of a scorpion’s pinchers. Someone had revealed his secret, knew that he, too, was an escaped slave. Marcus’s slave. Marcus’s murderer.

“Demetrios! Demetrios!”

Demetrios tried to escape through the crowd, but the throng closed about him. He had to get away. Escape. Again. As he ducked and darted through the multitude, Demetrios realized he would be running for the rest of his life. He would forever be a slave.

“Demetrios!”

He pushed against the backs of a group of men. “Let me through.” But the crowd would not part for him.
A hand clutched his arm. He froze. Doomed. He was doomed. And he would be sentenced to die in the mines like his fellow slave. The hand that had seized him spun him around now to face his fate.


Interview with Jeanne Gassman
If you are wanting to appear on either of my sites, here are the list of interview questions. Help yourself! Copy/cut/paste them, answer them at your convenience, then email your answers toabchrysler@yahoo.com. I can post same day or in the future according to your schedule!
Answer whatever questions you would like. Add your own questions if you wish and send them toabchrysler@yahoo.com along with the date you want them posted :) Also, include your bio, author pic, book cover, and all the links that you want :) This is all optional. I only request that you send me a reminder email a day prior to when you want them posted because I can not guarantee I will remember :) I send out a notification email when I post your interview and I include the links! :)
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
Angela B. Chrysler: I want to take a moment to welcome Jeanne Lyet Gassman, author of BLOOD OF A STONE (Tuscany Press) available on Amazon , Barnes & Noble , and IndieBound .



Thank you so much for speaking with me, Jeanne Lyet Gassman. Please take a moment to tell us about your book.
ABC: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
Believe it or not, the concept for BLOOD OF A STONE was inspired by a dream my husband had. In our house, my husband is renowned for his unusual and interesting dreams, and he likes to share them with me. When he told me he had dreamed about Kirk Douglas filming a movie about a man who plots to assassinate Christ, I stole the idea and ran with it.
ABC: Stories always require some form of research. What kind of research did you do for your book?
Since this is historical fiction, I had to do a lot of research for historical accuracy. I poured through a number of scholarly texts, read articles and stories of archaeological finds, spoke to experts, and visited museums. After the book was accepted by Tuscany Press, I worked one-on-one with a brilliant historical expert who had been on several archaeological digs in the Middle East and who spoke five languages. He advised me on all sorts of interesting details, including ancient magic spells, the way certain foods were preserved and prepared, cultural and religious traditions, etc.
ABC: Which scene or chapter was the hardest for you to write?
Without revealing spoilers, I will say simply the most difficult chapter to write was one in which one of my favorite characters died unexpectedly. Several characters die in this book (it’s a harsh world!), so I’ll leave it to the readers to figure out which character I’m talking about!
ABC: Please describe your favorite scene or chapter in your book and tell us why it’s your favorite?
My favorite chapter is probably the one with the sorceress Endorah. She was so much fun to imagine and create, since she’s a charlatan. The research for this chapter was fascinating as well.
ABC: Which of your characters, do you relate to the most (or) who is your favorite character and why?
Well, I love all of my characters, but I really like Tabitha because she is so strong and courageous. She grows from a spoiled, impetuous young woman to a generous and wise soul. Yet, she still maintains a certain innocence throughout.
ABC: I once read that every author is simply a compilation of his/her favorite authors. Which authors have done the most to influence your writing and why?
There are so many authors I admire that it’s hard to narrow the choices. Certainly, many of the “greats” have had an influence: Dostoevsky, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ray Bradbury, and Flannery O’Connor are a few that come immediately to mind. Can you tell I like intense, descriptive writing? By the way, I was fortunate enough to meet Ray Bradbury a few times when he was alive. Truly a charming and lovely man.
ABC: “Story” has always been the center of all human cultures. We need it. We seek it out. We invent it. What does “story” mean to you?
For me, “story” allows us to understand and explore complex issues via a fictional construct. A good story makes sense of the unfathomable, provides insight into the human condition, and asks us to reconsider our own prejudices.
ABC: Tells us about your next project.
My next book is set in the mid-twentieth century and is about a family whose lives are intertwined with the atomic bomb tests in Nevada in the 1950s and 1960s. When the mother, Irene, becomes convinced something in the area is causing her to have repeated miscarriages, she abandons her husband and young son and flees to Arizona during her fifth pregnancy with the hopes of saving her unborn child. Her choices create a rift in the family that could destroy them all. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, THE DOUBLE SUN is the story of the compromises we make for reconciliation and the grief and guilt that hold us back.
ABC: Where can we find you and your book?
Well, I like to joke that I live on the Internet! You can find me on Facebook, Goodreads, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and even LinkedIn. I have a website and maintain a blog, Jeanne’s Writing Desk, where I post opportunities for writers. My award-winning debut novel, BLOOD OF A STONE, is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, and other selected bookstores.
ABC: Thank you again for speaking with me.

Connect with Jeanne
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JeanneLyetGassman
Twitter https://twitter.com/JLyetGassman
Google+ https://plus.google.com/+JeanneGassman/posts
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jeannegassman/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751214.Jeanne_Lyet_Gassman
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jeanne-gassman/7/4b8/a23
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Jeanne-Lyet-Gassman/e/B00TOU55PM
Website http://www.jeannelyetgassman.com
Blog–Jeanne’s Writing Desk  http://www.jeannelyetgassman.blogspot.com
Buy the Book!


Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Stone-Jeanne-Lyet-Gassman-ebook/dp/B00TKHQ15C
Barnes&Noble (paperback) http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-of-a-stone-jeanne-lyet-gassman/1121356130?ean=9781936855315
IndieBound (paperback) http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781936855315
IndieBound (hard cover) http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781936855308
Books A Million http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781936855315



See the Brain to Books Blog Tour Giveaways with Lu!



A Brain to Books Production


Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Blog Tour, Brain to Books, SupportIndieAuthors

Brain to Books Blog Tour Nicholas C. Rosis

Brain to Books Blog Tour
Fast Facts
Author: Nicholas C. Rossis
Genre: Epic Fantasy and Short Sci-Fi
Books:Nicholas has released many books, which can be seen here on Amazon!
Official Site
Who is Nicholas C. Rossis?
Nicholas Rossis lives to write and does so from his cottage on the edge of a magical forest in Athens, Greece. When not composing epic fantasies or short sci-fi stories, he chats with fans and colleagues, writes blog posts, walks his dog, and enjoys the antics of two silly cats, one of whom claims his lap as home. His children’s book, Runaway Smile, earned a finalist slot in the 2015 International Book Awards.
Finding Inspiration
Like many authors, I’m asked on occasion where I find inspiration for my stories. The answer varies. Many of them stem from a dream. Others, from something I’ve read, or even a song that I’ve heard. Usually, the initial idea bears little resemblance to the final story.
This is particularly true of short stories; one of my favorite genres. To illustrate my point, here is how I came up with each of the stories in my recently published collection, Infinite Waters: 9+1 Speculative Fiction Short Stories.
The Things We Do for Lust
Beware of Greek gods bearing gifts
As a Greek, I grew up with ancient Greek myths. I was listening to some theories about Greek gods the other day. Everyone seems to have their own theory about them, describing them from anything between aliens to Atlantis refugees. “The Things We Do for Lust” offers a light-hearted alternative. Trekkies will probably enjoy the many Star Trek references.
The Twist in the Tale
A confused woman meanders through a sleepy town. But not all is as it seems
“A Twist in the Tale” came to me while reading on Alzheimer’s. What if the warped reality of those suffering from this terrible disease is actually based on fact? What if we pity them only because we can’t see the full picture?
James’ Life
A man with nothing to look forward to but oblivion, discovers it’s not that easy to escape his life
“James’ Life” is lighter in nature, despite the heaviness. I was reading about advances in 3D technology. What if video technology evolved to the point of the characters having their own feelings about what was happening to them? How happy would they be repeating the same mistakes night after night?
What’s in a Name?
A cruise has an unexpected ending
I thought of “What’s in a Name?” while listening to Little Blue by The Beautiful South. I wrote two versions of this story; one in a tropical setting, and a second in a science-fiction one.
The Lucky Bastard
How far will the luckiest man alive go to escape his luck?
I was going through a rough patch when I thought of “The Lucky Bastard.” Life can throw us a whole lot of curveballs, but where would we be without them? I started wondering how important these times are to us. Would we be able to appreciate a life with no hardship whatsoever? Would someone who has led a perfect life be happy, or deeply miserable, unable to enjoy and appreciate any of their achievements?
Two’s a Crowd
Blood runs thicker than water. Especially when you spill it.
The idea behind “Two’s a Crowd” came to me from a comic I read as a young teenager, and that I was thinking about the other day. A man has a recurring nightmare. Every single night he fights axe-wielding monsters in a bloodied battlefield. When a monster kills him and the police find his body, they are baffled as to why anyone would commit murder with a large axe. However, once again, it is the nature of reality that’s really questioned here. “Am I a butterfly dreaming I am a man, or a man dreaming I am a butterfly?”, as Chuang Chou put it.
Is There a Doctor in the House?
A high school student just loves to experiment
A late-night special lies behind “Is There a Doctor in the House?” It is the tongue-in-cheek story of a well-known doctor’s son. What would he be like, as an awkward teenager? Would he continue his father’s experiments?
Sex and Dinner
A timeless combination. Or is it?
“Sex and Dinner” was a Valentine’s special I wrote for my blog, stemming from a discussion with a couple of friends about the strange ways species use to procreate.
Would You Like Flies With That?
Nothing’s scarier than a supermarket.
“Would You Like Files With That” is pretty much copied verbatim from a strange dream I had. I simply added the Halloween aspects when I published it on my blog as a Halloween special.
Infinite Waters
A woman seeks her future at a carnival. She discovers more than she expected.
Finally, I wrote “It’s in the Cards” as a contribution to the Rave Soup for the Writer’s Soul anthology. It comes from another dream, and was published there in December 2014, and became the container for these other stories under the new title, “Infinite Waters”.


Author at Work
As you can see, an author can find inspiration in pretty much anything. So, if you see me sitting on a chair, listening to music, and staring at a wall, please keep in mind that I’m not lazy: I’m actually hard at work!

What readers are saying about Nick’s fantasies:

“Philosophical ideas woven into science-fiction stories that read like classic stories by the masters, often with a delightful, thought-provoking and unexpected twist at the end.”

“Phil K. Dick is up on a cloud laughing with glee”

“From the very first sentence I realized I was not reading a book, I was going on an adventure.”

For more on Nick or just to chat, visit him on:
Nick’s Blog

eNovel Authors

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

Check out the Giveaways for the Brain to Books Blog Tour!

A Brain to Books production


Filed under: Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Blog Tour, Brain to Books, SupportIndieAuthors