A.F. Stewart's Blog, page 50

Book Spotlight: Call of Hywilkin

Today I'm spotlight a book series, Keepers of the Wellsprings by Missy Sheldrake, and the new release of the fourth book in the series, Call of Hywilkin. I have an excerpt, free book offers, and more. Enjoy...  





Call of Hywilkin

A fallen prince, vanished. A ransom on His Majesty’s Elite demanded by shaky allies. A kingdom teetering on the brink of darkness. Azi and Rian find themselves on an urgent quest to Hywilkin, a harsh land of ice and snow reigned by heartless men with no trust in kindness or beauty, and a cruel intolerance for magic of any kind. Lurking in the far corners of the world, the Sorcerers of Dusk threaten their quest, weaving darkness into their hearts and minds. In Brindelier, they lure Tib into their dangerous plots as he investigates the conspiring shadows of the city. Appealing to a Keeper of a Wellspring for an offering is no easy feat—especially in Hywilkin, where access to the abandoned magical Source remains forbidden. The Champions of Light must prevail, or Brindelier’s All-Source and all of the Known Lands will fall forever into the grips of Sorcery.


Call of Hywilkin, and the Keepers of the Wellsprings series, is available on Amazon
And today, March 3rd, books 1-3 in the series will be available for free!


Keepers of the Wellsprings Series:

Call of Kythshire (Book One)
https://amzn.com/B00UVLQWGY

Call of Sunteri (Book Two)
https://amzn.com/B0187IG3HK

Call of Brindelier (Book Three)
https://amzn.com/B01FM8XR7W

Call of Hywilkin (Book Four)
https://amzn.com/B06WGNWLH9

Snowberry Blossom (Perma-free holiday short story)

https://amzn.com/B0196P041O





An excerpt from  Call of Hywilkin
In this excerpt from Call of Hywilkin, Azi is not too pleased to be woken up by Flitt…

 “Aaaaaziiiiiiii,” Flitt sings my name just above a whisper. Before



Now a word from the author about her series...



The Keepers of the Wellsprings Series


When I started writing this series, I really wanted to tell a story that was rich with fantasy, but not overly dark or mired with war and violence. I wanted to show the light side of fantasy: the cheerful, magical, uplifting side which I always drink up whenever it emerges in a story, and which always seems to be so fleeting in fantasy tales. I wanted to tell a story that would capture the hearts of young and old alike. Don’t get me wrong, my books aren’t void of conflict and evil. They tell of uncomfortable moments. There is violence and wickedness, but it’s those moments in my stories which are the fleeting ones. In the pages of my books, you will find fairies, Mages, Paladins, Elves, Dreamwalkers, Princes and Princesses, and even dragons. You’ll travel through a world rich with magic and wonder.




In Call of Kythshire, you’ll learn all about Cerion, a seaside kingdom which has celebrated peace for over a century. You’ll meet His Majesty’s Elite, a guild that is the right hand adventuring team of King Tirnon Plethore, and you’ll join Azi Hammerfel, a young squire who has grown up within the guild’s halls, through disappointments and triumphs. By her side is Rian, her childhood friend, an Apprentice of the Mage Academy. You’ll meet Flit, a fairy from Kythshire, who is as tricky as any fairy you might imagine, but has a depth of character and a sense of purpose uncommon for a typical fairy. You’ll see her world unfold, and feel the evil threat of Sorcery that looms, waiting to destroy it. You’ll learn a little about the Wellsprings, but not too much, for their existence and workings are a well-protected secret. (Click here to read an excerpt from Call of Kythshire.)




In Call of Sunteri, you’ll meet the strong-willed slave boy, Tib, who makes his first appearance as he escapes from the grips of Sorcery in the desert continent of Sunteri. He has help crossing the vast oceans to reach Cerion, but he doesn’t realize it at first. A mysterious being speaks to his mind, controlling his thoughts and making suggestions to ensure his own survival. In the meantime, Azi has been given the task of escorting the Prince of Cerion and his wife-with-child to the lakeside Kordelya Castle as the prince faces suspicion and ridicule after the events of Call of Kythshire. But a darker force emerges from the Dreaming, whose wicked intent is to use any means necessary to escape its prison and claim the magic of the Wellsprings for his own. In this book, you’ll see the devastating effects of the overuse of magic, and what it does to the Wellsprings and the creatures who thrive around them. (Click here to read an excerpt from Call of Sunteri.)




In Call of Brindelier, a dark force looms, more powerful and destructive than any threat Azi and her guild have yet faced. You’ll follow Celli, a scrappy street fighter, as she is enticed into the grips of a powerful Sorcerer. You’ll watch Tib come into his own as he sneaks through the streets of Cerion, uncovering the darkness while also working on a mysterious project. You’ll follow Azi on a quest set by Princess Margary to find proof of Brindelier, a city in the clouds which is the key to all of the Wellsprings in the Known Lands. But Margy is not the only one interested in Brindelier. A dark force has been gathering, poised to claim it for their own. Control over the Wellsprings hangs in the balance. (Click here to read an excerpt from Call of Brindelier.)







This series is appropriate for all ages, but I recommend 13 and up due to some violent themes. There is no sex, swearing, or excessively graphic violence in the Keepers of the Wellsprings. Throughout the series, you’ll encounter daring sword fights, violent magical moments, and a few quick deaths.




About the Author:
Missy Sheldrake is an author/illustrator who has been conjuring images of fairies in one form or another since she was very young. The wind in the trees and the rich scent of forest earth are her most treasured sources of inspiration, and on most mornings you will find her wandering the wooded paths, dreaming of the next adventure she hopes to put to the page.Missy was born in Connecticut and attended Western Connecticut State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Art with a concentration in painting and illustration. Even then, in her free time, she was writing. She moved to Northern Virginia several years ago and lives there now, on the outskirts of Washington D.C., with her true love and their son. She published her first novel, Call of Kythshire, in March of 2015 and intends to keep writing as long as the fairies allow it.
For more on Missy Sheldrake and her books, check out these sites:
Website  Blog  Amazon Author Page  Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Goodreads  Pinterest

Drabble Wednesday: Past Silliness

Today on Drabble Wednesday I yank a few things out of the vault due to a busy schedule. Read on for some silliness...





 Lassie Comes Home
Across a field of emerald grass, a white and golden collie loped, barking furiously. The tired farmer, Jim, looked up from his weeding and sighed.“Dagnabbit, Timmy’s down the well again!”“Shoot!” His wife spit on the ground. “That’s the second time this week, Clem. I don’t know what we’re going to do about him.”Jim let out another sigh. “Yep. Our alien masters missed the mark cloning that boy. He’s dumb as a sack of rocks.” He waved to the dog, who stopped and sat back on his haunches. “Come on, Lassie, show me where he is this time.”
~*~




Just Short of Eureka
Being sheriff of Dry Patch ain’t easy. Not with these crazy inventors running ‘round the town making wild contraptions near every week. Lands sakes, today they had a three wheeled stagecoach running down Main Street!Course now, those mad scientists did come in handy the time I had to arrest Black-Eyed Pete. Those tin-plated smoke gadgets they conjured flushed out that outlaw from the stables slick as could be, and the varmint stumbled out a coughin’ like he had the consumption.   Now if I could just get ‘em to stop explodin’ things, the town would be a mite more peaceful.
~*~




Talking with Fish
Stupid nosy neighbour!  A pox on him and his dumb cell phone! A person can’t leave their kitchen curtains open these days!He showed me the video yesterday. Clear as day, with me using my magic pendant while chatting with Percy, my talking, puce-coloured carp. I tried to laugh it off, but conjuring a shower of gold from thin air is hard to explain.The weasel threatened to sell the video to the tabloids if I don’t cut him in on the wealth. I may have to pay him off, unless I can get him to drink this poisoned tonic.




© A. F. Stewart 2017 All Rights Reserved

Book Spotlight: The Drosselmeier Chronicles: The Solstice Tales

Today I have a spotlight on a Victorian fantasy novel based on the classic Nutcracker tale, The Drosselmeier Chronicles: The Solstice Tales by Wolfen M. Plus, there's an excerpt and the book trailer. Enjoy...


The Drosselmeier Chronicles: The Solstice Tales by Wolfen M.


Some stories aren't quite as you've previously read them. Uncle Drosselmeier was so much more than a human who tinkered with clockworks, and the Nutcracker was no mere cursed boy. The faeries in the so-called "Land of the Dolls" weren't made of sugarplums, nor were the brownies made of chocolate. Even Marie (aka Clara) turned out to be more than she seemed. And Drosselmeier, Marie, and the nutcracker's adventures didn't exactly end the morning after the battle with the seven-headed Mouse King. Meanwhile, Jacob Marley's dealings with Ebenezer Scrooge, the love of his life, did not actually stop after the announcement of the pending arrival of three Ghosts and a last chance at redemption. For that matter, the Ghosts weren't exactly Spirits at all, but rather three Gaiankind on a mission to save more than one soul that night ....




The Drosselmeier Chronicles is available at:
Amazon
Lulu.com


Excerpt:
When Drosselmeier burst in through the front door, he nearly collided with Marie's sleepy parents, who had just reached the bottom of the stairs. Without stopping to greet them or explain his presence, he ran straight into the drawing room, crying Marie's name.
He found her lying on her side, blood pooling under her head. He didn't move her at first, laying a hand against the back of her neck. When Herr and Frau Stahlbaum caught up a moment later, Margaret screamed out in horror. Even so, stout-hearted and practical woman that she was, she did not faint; instead, she rushed out the door to get the doctor. Marie's father rushed to his fallen child's side, obviously intending to lift her and carry her to her bed, but Drosselmeier denied him, explaining that she had a severe head injury, and that he needed to determine the extent of the injury before he would know if it was safe to move her.
What Drosselmeier didn't tell Stahlbaum was that Marie would most certainly die if he didn't use magic to heal her—which was precisely what he was doing. It bothered him that he would have to leave some of the cut—how could he explain it healing in mere moments?—but at least he could heal the injury to her skull and its precious contents, and get her body to replace the lost blood faster.
He allowed himself a small smile: wasn't this what faery-godfathers were for?


Book Trailer



Author Bio:



Wolfen M worked for Borders Group, Inc. for seven years, as a bookseller. These days, she's a freelance artist, as well as the Assistant Reviews Editor and Co-Art Director for SequentialTart.com, a webzine dedicated to giving woman a voice in the comics industry (and in the larger arena of general entertainment). She considers herself an eclectic pagan with strong Gaian and Secular Humanist leanings. She loves animals and animation, and her hobby, when she's not writing (her first love) or painting portraits (her second), is making websites and cosplay. Her current big claim to fame is the Grootmas tree-topper that went viral. Come see her at wolfenm.com

Book Spotlight: Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd

Today I have a book spotlight for the newly released second edition of the dark fantasy novel, Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd. I have a look at the book and an excerpt. Enjoy!




Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd



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. Now, the two will face skin-switchers and dragons, ultimately leading to a final clash with Wolos, God of the Dead.


Anaerfell is available at Amazon





Excerpt from Anaerfell

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.”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.”



Author Bios




Joshua Robertson was born in Kingman, Kansas on May 23, 1984. A graduate of Norwich High School, Robertson attended Wichita State University where he received his Masters in Social Work with minors in Psychology and Sociology. His bestselling novel, Melkorka, the first in The Kaelandur Series, was released in 2015. Known most for his@robertsonwrites








J.C. lives in the Midwest with his wife and two dogs. He recently earned his MA in English Literature and is working on his debut novel for his own fantasy world. Despite growing up with Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and a collection of both Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms novels, J.C. has an abiding love of classics and spends his free time reading anything he can get his hands on.www.crimsonedgepress.com@jcboyd_author

Book Spotlight: The Magnum Opus

Today I have a delight treat with the spotlight on the fantasy novel, The Magnum Opus by Christopher and Christine Kezelos. This novel is a continuation of an award-winning short animation film called The Maker, so in this book's case the film came before the novel. Enjoy.


The Magnum Opus by Christopher and Christine Kezelos



In a time and world long ago forgotten, there existed an enchanted workshop. Within its walls, a magical creature called a Maker busily created the next of his kin. Upon completion, the creator was whisked away to join the rest of the Maker community. Meanwhile, their progeny was left alone to create the next Maker in a never-ending cycle of creation. 
That was, until the day an offbeat Maker named Ario was unable to complete The Making and broke their sacred chain of existence. Wracked with guilt, Ario embarked on a quest to right his wrong, but what he discovered was far more monstrous and miraculous than anyone ever imagined.







The Magnum Opus is available on Amazon




Book Trailer




About the Authors:
Christopher and Christine Kezelos are a husband and wife filmmaking duo based in California, USA. Their shorts Zero and The Maker received 37 awards on the international film festival circuit and have been viewed over 20 million times online. The Magnum Opus is inspired by The Maker and is their first foray into long-form storytelling.

You can watch their films at zealouscreative.com.

Drabble Wednesday: Revelations

After an absence last week due to illness, Drabble Wednesday returns with something different.  Three tales, three worlds, one story...





Exiled
I am banished from the safety of the village on the wail of a funeral dirge. A song for the walking dead, to cast their way across the scorched earth and endless night outside our walls. I hear the last notes muffled by the clang of the gates as they close behind me. I am now outcast. A wanderer in the shadow of death.I resist the urge to turn and beg for my life. They will not listen. So I walk across the eternal desert into the perpetual black night.Only to find...A door. And another world beyond.
~*~



Automation
Dim artificial light and a faint electronic hum filled empty metal corridors. Quiet, still, the space station functioned with precision and efficiency. Its only life on the upper ring, the ever present sentience of its AI. On the lower rings however...Movement on corridor D, Block A. Another detainee ready for release.The disembodied voice triggered an automated program and a door slid open. A human figure hesitantly stepped on to the station from a virtual simulation cell.Hello, prisoner 4589. Your sentence aboard internment station Delta 9 has been served. You will now be reprocessed back into Earth society.
~*~


Home
I still remember that day in my dreams. The steel walls, a sickly sweet smell, harsh lights, walking up on the table after they restored my memories. My release day. Before they sent me home. Back to Earth. I am still an exile. I miss the lie of their prison. They said I served my sentence. They were wrong. Earth is the true prison. With its grey conformity, it’s lack of independent thought.They think simulated hardship will cure our radical beliefs. It only makes them stronger. I join another protest group tonight. I will reoffend. I will go home.




© A. F. Stewart 2017 All Rights Reserved

WiHM Blog Talks: Roh Morgan And Her Weapons of Choice

Today, I am pleased to be playing host for Women in Horror Month Blog Talks, organized by author W. J. Howard, where female writers discuss different aspects of horror. My guest today is author Roh Morgan and her topic is...


  Weapons of Choice


Roh Morgon writes fantasy and horror for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers. She’s best known for her vampire series that begins with Watcher: Book I of The Chosen.


When I first read the topic for today’s post – Choice of Weapons – my initial thoughts were of the fangs and claws wielded by the creatures in Watcher: Book I of The Chosen and my other stories in the series.

I mean, what could be more primal than tearing the throat from an enemy — or a victim — using the deadly tips of one’s own fingers? The sweeping slash, the parting skin, the spray of blood arcing in a crimson fountain to paint the air itself. Or perhaps a rapier-like thrust to bury five daggers deep, then the squeeze to crush the airway as its gore pulses down.

Even more intimate would be the fatal kiss of one’s own lips as they part, allowing lethal fangs to sink into hot flesh coursing with life itself. The taking of that life swallow by swallow while twisting love’s caress into a battle with death and the eternal dance of predator and prey.

How could the wielder of a chainsaw or a bullet or even a blade experience anything remotely like killing something with the weapons nature bestowed upon you? They won’t feel the life pumping across their skin or down their throats or into their souls. Their satisfaction is like that of a one-hit bong compared to mainline heroin, weak, without substance, without that all-encompassing ‘ahh’ of being sated down to your very core.

But then I thought about an even deadlier weapon than those above – the weapon of words.

Words can rip the heart apart, can wound beyond repair, can crush the very soul of their target when they are employed with skill and precision. They can cripple a lover and condemn them to a life of living hell, or worse, drive that lover into death’s welcoming embrace.

Make no mistake. Words are the deadliest weapon in any arsenal. Be sure to use them wisely.

Giveaway: Anyone who adds a comment of at least three words to my post will receive a free digital copy of my latest book, The Games Monsters Play in the format of their choice (.mobi, .epub, or .pdf).



I'd like to thank Roh  Morgan  for joining us today.
You can find more about her writing and books at these sites:

Website  Facebook  Amazon  Goodreads

Book Spotlight: Anarchy - Strange Tales of Outsiders

Today I have a horror spotlight for the short story collection Anarchy - Strange Tales of Outsiders by David Sharp. Enjoy.


Anarchy - Strange Tales of Outsiders by David Sharp

Anarchy - Strange Tales of Outsiders is a compendium of stories following queer, punk, outsiders in worlds of chaos crossing genres of queer fiction, horror, and dark fantasy. Experience The Carny Cage, a prison story, with Dirk, whose life is like the carnival ride The Zipper locked up and spinning out of control. Follow Dean on his journey, Where the Road Roams, to find his brother and piece together the past in a fragmented and cut-up tale. Break taboos with a mysterious hitcher in, The Deadfall, as he takes a ride with a van full of coeds into the wilderness where they descend into terror beyond the limits. Witness the Death Tarp. Daniel goes beyond death to return as his shroud, a panel of the AIDS quilt, in a supernatural tale of disease and revenge. Invoke the Dark with a goth youth and his companions as he opens the gates of hell with dark rites. Discover the secret of Under the Moonbow through intense therapy sessions as Maleki, tattooed with the story of his past, schemes to be free of Ponoko Asylum and the covenant with his captor, Dr. West. All of this and more await you inside Anarchy.


Anarchy - Strange Tales of Outsiders is available on Amazon


Excerpt from the short story “Dark" included in Anarchy: 

Surely this was a sign, enough of its own.The third pine was away in the distance, but the triangle shape it formed with the others was there as powerful as the pyramids. The church sat quietly behind him watching something older than the Christian rites held inside unfold on its doorstep. The dark blue sky called out, stars seemed bright, and small wispy clouds sleekly flew by the full solemn moon. The craters and crevices were more visible than ever like they were magnified. Damon looked at his hands. He was still a boy, but the change into a man had begun.This is it…all that is past will be forgotten. I will have a clean slate. I will do right by you this time.Placing his hands together in a kneeling position, he closed his eyes to his shame. Darkness engulfed. Thoughts floated to the surface trying to distract with trivial worries.No…no…got to remain clear.A deep breath went out of him.This is the time.Damon cracked his neck and started counting.One…A tingling sensation traveled from the solid earth into his lower body.Two…A head rush hit him more so than the first time he got high or even huffed Freon.Three…Fear rose.Is someone watching? Was that a light of a car…a police car?Four…Fighting panic he willed it away.Five…Sexual confusion came in waves of sex and shame intertwined.Six…The wind chilled him forcibly blowing his hair and clothes.Seven…The cross vibrated in his palm that clasped it almost burning, but that is impossible. Damon opened his eyes and the world was — different. Space unfolded in clarity. He was uncertain if it was really changed or if he was actually seeing it without distraction. A shooting star sparked across the deep blue sky with other shades and swirls above.Surely this is a sign.Damon rose meeting the wind. In the moment, he pulled the cross free from his neck to push it to the bleeding bark of the stricken pine. Sap flowed freely and thick to hold the cross firm in its grasp. In amazement, he watched as his grandmother’s heirloom was covered.No going back — it is done. Are the demons really gone?Damon took a tentative step forward not wanting to leave the site of a possible miracle without more concrete proof. Proud, but tinged with slight doubt haunting the back of his mind, he walked away not daring to look back lest it find him again. Another star shot across the heavens as the wind gusted.This is really it?Resigned yet uncertain, Damon sighed softly and spoke in a whisper, “There is always the next time…”Damon walked the lonely path home. The solitary, haunting sound of a far away train followed him back into the dark to wait some more.




Author Bio:

David Sharp is a writer of creative fiction. A dreamer, he grew up identifying with the outsider from his teenage punk years on. His stories are filled with characters on the fringe of society, from troubled youth and thrill seekers to hardened gunslingers and mysterious loners. Each one is on a journey to find themselves and pursue their desires across exciting and sometimes dangerous landscapes. A Texan by birth, he currently lives in Chicago with his partner Bo. 

Anarchy - Strange Tales of Outsiders is his first self-published book now that he has the rights to his past works. He is an affiliate member of the Horror Writer’s Association and you can follow him at davidsharpwriter.com and FB @Writer.DavidSharp.

The Bloody Valentine Horror Event: Wedding Day

It's that time of year again, the time to embrace the bad side of love: the rejected lovers, the spurned spouses, and the generally lovelorn. It is a celebration of everything anti-valentine and down with romance. It's time for...

The Bloody Valentine Horror Event!


This is my annual Facebook/Blog Event for everything anti-valentine. This is an open posting extravaganza so anyone can join in on the macabre fun. And today's blog portion is a horror tale of the wedding from Hell...




Wedding Day

Noah remembered the nightmare. The stone room. The monstrous creatures.The pain.He remembered screaming.And now... the soft comfort of his bed.I’m awake. I’m awake. It’s over.He lay in his bed, his heart racing, and stared at his bedroom ceiling. He counted the grooves in the cornices and the decorative plaster roses until his breathing eased and the fright subsided. Then he turned his head, and glanced at the window; slivers of the morning sun crept past the half-open drapes. His new wedding attire hung carefully on a rack beside the casement. Ready. Waiting.I’m getting married today.He smiled. Becky.He sat upright, and then climbed out of bed. As his feet touched the ornate rug, pain stabbed into his back and he tumbled to the floor. Agony sliced through his body and he shrieked, his eyes shutting tight. His body spasmed, and then curled into a ball. He felt a cold hand stroking his cheek, and Becky’s voice whispered, “Don’t fight it. Let the pain take you. Let go...”The words chased him into oblivion.
Noah heard voices.“Get him up. It’s time.”“He’s ready?”“He’s been prepared. Anymore and he might die.”“You’re right. These humans are so fragile.”Humans? Who’s talking? What’s happening to me?Noah didn’t want to open his eyes, but he did.Fangs, horns and red eyes stared at him. Clawed hands held his limp body upright. His noticed his shirt was missing, and his skin... what he could see of his body was covered in arcane tattoos.What have they done to me!  Noah screamed. He thrashed in the strong grip of his captors.“Hold him still! Pin his arms! We need to deliver him on time!”Noah fought, but he had no strength. He could not prevent them from dragging him from his cell.“Please let me wake up,” he mumbled as unconscious darkness claimed him.
Noah heard music. He opened his eyes.He stood in front of an altar in his wedding suit. Becky walked down the aisle towards him.It was just a nightmare. I’m getting married. To my sweet, adoring Becky.He smiled as his bride stopped in front of him. She lifted her hand and stroked his cheek. He couldn’t stop staring at her.Noah heard a voice say, “Do you take this female to be your wedded wife?”“I do.” he replied.“And do you take this male human to be your wedded husband?”“I do.”Noah’s heart raced.“Then I pronounce you bonded in unholy matrimony! One in blood and in fire for eternity!”Wait that’s not right. Why would he say that? Noah’s hands trembled, his body shook.Becky stroked his cheek once more. “Shut your eyes, Noah. And remember.”Noah dutifully closed his eyes.Pain shuddered through his body.Becky’s voice commanded, “Open your eyes, Noah!His eyelids snapped open. The church, the music, the beautiful wedding, disappeared. Replaced by him tied spread-eagled to iron spikes, encircled by fire and monsters.But Becky, his beautiful Becky, still stood in front of him.Still dressed in her wedding... the light shifted, her face changed. Became— Noah gasped.No, no! That’s not Becky! Red skin, horns, fangs... That thing can’t be... but it has her eyes, her beautiful green eyes.“You can’t be Becky!”“Oh, but I am. The very one you fell in love with. And married, only moments ago.” The thing that was Becky stepped closer, and stroked his cheek, her claws scratching his skin. “But it is nice to finally show you my true self.” She smiled, her rows of razor-sharp teeth glistening in the firelight. “Hello, husband. Time to kiss the bride.” Noah nearly gagged as she kissed him, her forked tongue flicking down his throat. As she withdrew, the same tongue licked across his lips. Noah shuddered. “No, no, it can’t be.” The whisper resonated in the air, like a mocking chuckle. “We were—this isn’t—the church—our wedding...” “Sorry, love. All illusions conjured by your mind. You’ve been here for months, my dear."“Here?”“Hell, of course. Since the day you asked me to marry you. Or rather asked that human skin I fabricated.” She traced a claw over his tattooed skin. “It takes time to make a human ready.”“Ready?” Noah’s voice trembled. “Ready for what?”“To wed a demon.” She smiled, her tongue licking his neck, her claws scraping across his chest. “These symbols bind you to me, bind you to Hell.” She pressed her face next to his; he felt her hot breath wash over his skin. “You are mine, Noah. Our little ritual will bring me great power, and you great pain. Welcome to married life, my love. Welcome to unholy wedded bliss!”
Noah felt something sharp stab into his abdomen, his agony ripping a shriek from his throat. He glanced down to see his wife's claws piercing his body.
"Does that hurt, husband? Too bad, for what wedding would be complete without a feast? Shall we start with your spleen?" She sliced open his stomach and extracted his organ. She took a bite and ate it slowly while he watched. "Very tasty. Perhaps the liver next?"
"Please, please, no!" He moaned, pleading for mercy.
"Shh, shh, Noah." She stroked his cheek and he shied at her touch. "Don't worry, my love. Nothing I do here will kill you. That's what the binding is for. I will eat your insides piece by piece and fill your hollow shell with Hellfire. Then you will be one of us. Won't that be fun?" With a smile, she reached back inside of his abdomen. "Yes, I definitely think the liver, next."Noah’s unending scream echoed on the trail of her laughter.


© A. F. Stewart 2017 All Rights Reserved 


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Interview With Author Mark Wallace Maguire

Today I have the second part of a two part feature for Mark Wallace Maguire and his book Alexandria Rising with an author interview. Enjoy!


Interview with Mark Wallace Maguire

[image error] Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself?
I was raised in over a dozen cities throughout the South. I now live south of Atlanta in what I like to call Red Clay Country. My novel, "Alexandria Rising" was published in October 2016. In 2015, my non-fiction book, "Letters from Red Clay Country" was published which featured a selection of my award-winning columns and essays on Southern culture. My writing has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines and literary reviews and he has been honored by organizations such as The Associated Press and The Georgia Poetry Society.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?
Here is the gist of it without giving away any spoilers: Rand O'Neal, an ambition-less newspaper reporter, is given a single task upon the death of his grandfather: Destroy a mysterious map. What should be a simple errand thrusts Rand into a journey across three countries chased by unknown pursuers into a world he never could have imagined. This book is labelled an action adventure, but contains elements of science fiction, suspense and mystery. It is also the first in a trilogy and a series of prequels. It is also linked to a multi-media website which allows readers to engage with the experience in video, images and interactive appendices.

Why did you decide to write in the action-adventure/sci fi genre?
About three years ago, I had finished a book - unpublished - which was semi-autobiographical. It was a good catharsis, but not very fun to write. I decided then if I was going to write a novel, I wanted to have fun writing it. I had a great time writing ‘Alexandria Rising’ and the readers I’ve talked to enjoyed it as well, so I think having a positive, creative outlook really came through in the words.

What did you enjoy most about writing your book?
I wrote ‘Alexandria Rising’ as an outlet and a way to channel my imagination. Along the way, I was introduced to the ideas of world creation which - while I was aware of i.e. J.R.R. Tolkien, George Lucas, etc. I had not done before to this extent. Discovering that path and challenge has been loads of fun.

What did you find most challenging about writing your book?
Choosing what to leave out can be tough. Also, sometimes boiling things down and trying to make the complicated accessible. That is a chief goal of mine. You don’t want to talk down to your readers so I usually try to disseminate complex ideas through dialogue. 

What did you hope to accomplish by publishing your book?
I hope to become a full time writer. I currently work in media and, while I enjoy my work, I would like to be able to write for a living. 

What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
Time. Finding time is always a challenge. I have a full time job and a family so I write in the margins of life so to speak.

Do you have a favourite author, or writing inspiration?
There are so many tremendous writers out there, but, I would really have to name J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Ludlum, Susanna Clarke, C.S. Lewis, T.S. Eliot and Pat Conroy as my top influences. Lewis, Tolkien, Ludlum and Clarke have outstanding imaginations and Conroy and Eliot are simply masters of description.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Any hobbies? My number one passion outside of writing is playing and composing music. I am actually working with a number of musicians now on a musical companion to my novel entitled, ‘Alexandria Rising Rhythms.’ I hope to release it by July.


Are you working on another book?
I am currently working on the sequel to ‘Alexandria Rising’ tentatively called, ‘Alexandria Reborn.’ I am about 48,000 words into the third draft and hope to have it on the market by fall 2017. As I write it, however, I also find myself writing bits and pieces to the prequels as I work to create a world and history around the characters and such. 



About the Author 
Mark Wallace Maguire is a writer, musician and creator who lives south Atlanta in Red Clay Country. He hails from all over the South, having lived in 15 cities across that beautiful and bizarre region. His works include the novel Alexandria Rising and a book of columns and essays on Southern Culture,  “Letters from Red Clay Country” . His writing has appeared in dozens of other publications and he is currently working in media in metro Atlanta.

You can read more about his work on his website.


And Alexandria Rising can be found at Amazon





Rand O'Neal, an ambition-less newspaper reporter, is given a single task upon the death of his grandfather: Destroy a mysterious map. What should be a simple errand thrusts Rand into a journey across three countries chased by unknown pursuers into a world he never could have imagined.