A.F. Stewart's Blog, page 84
December 7, 2014
Book Spotlight: The Silent Years: Mother
I bring apocalyptic events today with a book spotlight on the science fiction novel The Silent Years: Mother by Jennifer R. Povey, the first in a series. So check it out, read the included excerpt, and enjoy.
The Silent Years: Mother by Jennifer R. Povey
Dorothy Mayling thought her worst problem was the long-standing family feud over her sister's choice of husband. Or her son's grades. Then the rumors started - bird flu in Seattle, SARS in Washington State? The truth is a hideous, terrible disease, one that slowly steals away the ability to speak and reason, turning people into nothing more than zombies. Worst of all, it was meant to be a weapon. Can Dorothy hold her family together as the world ends around them and people fall, one by one, to the silent plague?
The Silent Years: Mother is available at:
AmazonBarnes and NobleSmashwords
Excerpt:
Winter was settling in. They had enough hay stockpiled for the livestock. But for next year? They would have to grow their own. Jason and the other men were bent over a sketched map of the land, working out what to do about the hay.
Dorothy decided to leave them to it. She would only be a cook too many. Three days ago, the grid had finally failed, contributing to her empty feeling. There had been more and more brownouts and then the power was gone. She took it as a sign: things would not go back to normal.
Their preparations had kept them alive so far. And their luck was holding out. They seemed to be immune, or just out of the pattern of infection.
She stepped out onto the porch. The air was still and quiet. It was just like one of those apocalypse movies where the survivors were shown at the end staring into space. Except, this was not the end. Or maybe it was; the last page of the story had happened, and all that remained were a few surviving characters. The author was no longer writing, the characters left in that moment, not moving forward...
Thud.
The sound interrupted her thoughts, tore at them. What was that? There was a gun just inside the door. She grabbed it. There was another thud.
Finally, she realized what it was. What they were. Three Silents, and they were knocking down the well-kept garden fence, tugging at the rails. The thuds had been part of the top rail hitting the ground.
Now they realized they could step over the lower rail. She found herself unable to shoot. They came closer.
She pulled the trigger. The shot would be a signal, a warning. She felt the stock slam into her shoulder, just as if she was shooting a deer, not a human being. Or something that had once been a human being. But there was no choice. The house door opened, Jason emerging with a second weapon. "Tore many." He was tripping over words again.
She fired a second time. This time the shot hit, striking the Silent in the midsection. She saw the woman double up, going down with a wordless scream of pain. Too human. They were still human.
Jason shot once, twice, taking the other two down, but there was an odd look on Jason’s face. "Red."
"No..." she whispered. She turned towards him, leveling her gun at his chest. But she could not do it, the barrel lowered.
He looked at her. "Bleach tower red."
"Jason..." Had he realized? Perhaps, for he dropped the gun and abruptly ran past the bodies of the dead victims and into the night.
Dorothy could do nothing but let him go. It was over. They were all infected for sure, perhaps had been for a while. Most likely the incubation period was longer than they had thought.
"What happened?" A male voice from behind her, but in that moment she could not focus on who it was.
"Jason's gone." She should have killed him. She knew she should have, but she had not been able to.
"What do you mean, gone?"
Now she remembered the owner of the voice. Leroy. There was nobody else it could have been, but...
"Infected. He ran off." She leaned the gun against the wall, glanced at the bodies. It did not matter. They were either immune or doomed. Taking the bodies away was still necessary, but it did not carry with it the fear of contamination. Touching them could not make things worse. Nothing could make things better.
"Hell. What if he comes back?"
"I can't do it," she whispered.
"Then I will."
It was an odd relief to feel that responsibility taken away from her. "Assuming it isn't you next."
"More likely to be Janine," he said softly.
She did not want to think about that, but it was more likely her, closer to Jason physically. And Janine, so fragile... "I think at this point we have to assume we're all well and truly exposed. Immunity is our only chance."
"We have that chance. No point giving up just yet."
"Or a cure, if they come up with one." Maybe that was it. Maybe she could not give up on Jason.
"Distribution would be a problem, but..."
"Write another virus. Spread it the same way." Dorothy sighed. "Or maybe that's too dangerous. I don't know."
"We'll rebuild no matter what, but...dammit. I thought this would burn itself out and everything would be fixed by Christmas." Leroy glanced at the dead. "I guess I was naive."
"No. There's nothing wrong with having your glass half full."
"Depends on whether it's wine or vinegar."
"Hope is a good thing, Leroy. It's the only thing we have."
"Not the only thing. We have courage."
She had lacked the courage to pull the trigger. Was that strength, or weakness? She did not know.
Author Bio:
Jennifer R. Povey is in her early forties, and lives in Northern Virginia with her husband. She writes a variety of speculative fiction, whilst following current affairs and occasionally indulging in horse riding and role playing games. She has sold fiction to a number of markets including Analog, and written RPG supplements, some of which are available from Occult Moon Publishing. Her first novel, Transpecial, was published by Musa Publishing in April, 2013. Her most recent release is the apocalyptic science fiction novella "Mother," first of The Silent Years series.
For more on the author check out these sites:
Website: http://www.jenniferrpovey.com/
Smashwords Profile: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jenniferrpovey
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/jenniferrpovey
The Silent Years: Mother by Jennifer R. Povey
Dorothy Mayling thought her worst problem was the long-standing family feud over her sister's choice of husband. Or her son's grades. Then the rumors started - bird flu in Seattle, SARS in Washington State? The truth is a hideous, terrible disease, one that slowly steals away the ability to speak and reason, turning people into nothing more than zombies. Worst of all, it was meant to be a weapon. Can Dorothy hold her family together as the world ends around them and people fall, one by one, to the silent plague?
The Silent Years: Mother is available at:
AmazonBarnes and NobleSmashwords
Excerpt:
Winter was settling in. They had enough hay stockpiled for the livestock. But for next year? They would have to grow their own. Jason and the other men were bent over a sketched map of the land, working out what to do about the hay.
Dorothy decided to leave them to it. She would only be a cook too many. Three days ago, the grid had finally failed, contributing to her empty feeling. There had been more and more brownouts and then the power was gone. She took it as a sign: things would not go back to normal.
Their preparations had kept them alive so far. And their luck was holding out. They seemed to be immune, or just out of the pattern of infection.
She stepped out onto the porch. The air was still and quiet. It was just like one of those apocalypse movies where the survivors were shown at the end staring into space. Except, this was not the end. Or maybe it was; the last page of the story had happened, and all that remained were a few surviving characters. The author was no longer writing, the characters left in that moment, not moving forward...
Thud.
The sound interrupted her thoughts, tore at them. What was that? There was a gun just inside the door. She grabbed it. There was another thud.
Finally, she realized what it was. What they were. Three Silents, and they were knocking down the well-kept garden fence, tugging at the rails. The thuds had been part of the top rail hitting the ground.
Now they realized they could step over the lower rail. She found herself unable to shoot. They came closer.
She pulled the trigger. The shot would be a signal, a warning. She felt the stock slam into her shoulder, just as if she was shooting a deer, not a human being. Or something that had once been a human being. But there was no choice. The house door opened, Jason emerging with a second weapon. "Tore many." He was tripping over words again.
She fired a second time. This time the shot hit, striking the Silent in the midsection. She saw the woman double up, going down with a wordless scream of pain. Too human. They were still human.
Jason shot once, twice, taking the other two down, but there was an odd look on Jason’s face. "Red."
"No..." she whispered. She turned towards him, leveling her gun at his chest. But she could not do it, the barrel lowered.
He looked at her. "Bleach tower red."
"Jason..." Had he realized? Perhaps, for he dropped the gun and abruptly ran past the bodies of the dead victims and into the night.
Dorothy could do nothing but let him go. It was over. They were all infected for sure, perhaps had been for a while. Most likely the incubation period was longer than they had thought.
"What happened?" A male voice from behind her, but in that moment she could not focus on who it was.
"Jason's gone." She should have killed him. She knew she should have, but she had not been able to.
"What do you mean, gone?"
Now she remembered the owner of the voice. Leroy. There was nobody else it could have been, but...
"Infected. He ran off." She leaned the gun against the wall, glanced at the bodies. It did not matter. They were either immune or doomed. Taking the bodies away was still necessary, but it did not carry with it the fear of contamination. Touching them could not make things worse. Nothing could make things better.
"Hell. What if he comes back?"
"I can't do it," she whispered.
"Then I will."
It was an odd relief to feel that responsibility taken away from her. "Assuming it isn't you next."
"More likely to be Janine," he said softly.
She did not want to think about that, but it was more likely her, closer to Jason physically. And Janine, so fragile... "I think at this point we have to assume we're all well and truly exposed. Immunity is our only chance."
"We have that chance. No point giving up just yet."
"Or a cure, if they come up with one." Maybe that was it. Maybe she could not give up on Jason.
"Distribution would be a problem, but..."
"Write another virus. Spread it the same way." Dorothy sighed. "Or maybe that's too dangerous. I don't know."
"We'll rebuild no matter what, but...dammit. I thought this would burn itself out and everything would be fixed by Christmas." Leroy glanced at the dead. "I guess I was naive."
"No. There's nothing wrong with having your glass half full."
"Depends on whether it's wine or vinegar."
"Hope is a good thing, Leroy. It's the only thing we have."
"Not the only thing. We have courage."
She had lacked the courage to pull the trigger. Was that strength, or weakness? She did not know.
Author Bio:
Jennifer R. Povey is in her early forties, and lives in Northern Virginia with her husband. She writes a variety of speculative fiction, whilst following current affairs and occasionally indulging in horse riding and role playing games. She has sold fiction to a number of markets including Analog, and written RPG supplements, some of which are available from Occult Moon Publishing. Her first novel, Transpecial, was published by Musa Publishing in April, 2013. Her most recent release is the apocalyptic science fiction novella "Mother," first of The Silent Years series.For more on the author check out these sites:
Website: http://www.jenniferrpovey.com/
Smashwords Profile: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jenniferrpovey
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/jenniferrpovey
December 5, 2014
Book Spotlight: The Ring of Void
Today I serve up a book spotlight of dark fantasy with echoes of Japanese manga, and bring you the interesting book, The Ring of Void, and its author, Miodrag Kovachevic. Enjoy.
The Ring of Void by Miodrag Kovachevic
After his first death, Shinnosuke Yamagami became a psychopomp, a creature meant to help the deceased pass on to the Nether, the land of the dead. However, Shinnosuke's branch of work was much less poetic; his job was to hunt down runaway spirits that escaped to the mortal realm.
Now, Shinnosuke faces his second death--the death of the soul. In his final moments of existence, he recalls the stories that will remain after him; his journey with the demonic corgi Yago and his battles with spirits that spread terror amongst humans. And among those stories was Mirth, a fox creature in human form who frequently yanked the psychopomp out of his routine work and flung him into chaos. The Ring of Void is a dark fantasy novella that deals with tales left after one's demise.
The Ring of Void is available at Amazon
Author Bio
Miodrag Kovachevic is a video and board game designer born and raised in Serbia. He's had an affinity for languages his entire life and is fluent in English (with a C2 level certificate), German, Serbian and knows some basic Japanese. The Ring of Void is his first published work of fiction and reflects Miodrag's own taste in writing by being to the point and character-oriented, while having a layer of interactivity by letting the readers read between the lines.
The Ring of Void by Miodrag Kovachevic
After his first death, Shinnosuke Yamagami became a psychopomp, a creature meant to help the deceased pass on to the Nether, the land of the dead. However, Shinnosuke's branch of work was much less poetic; his job was to hunt down runaway spirits that escaped to the mortal realm.Now, Shinnosuke faces his second death--the death of the soul. In his final moments of existence, he recalls the stories that will remain after him; his journey with the demonic corgi Yago and his battles with spirits that spread terror amongst humans. And among those stories was Mirth, a fox creature in human form who frequently yanked the psychopomp out of his routine work and flung him into chaos. The Ring of Void is a dark fantasy novella that deals with tales left after one's demise.
The Ring of Void is available at Amazon
Author Bio
Miodrag Kovachevic is a video and board game designer born and raised in Serbia. He's had an affinity for languages his entire life and is fluent in English (with a C2 level certificate), German, Serbian and knows some basic Japanese. The Ring of Void is his first published work of fiction and reflects Miodrag's own taste in writing by being to the point and character-oriented, while having a layer of interactivity by letting the readers read between the lines.
December 4, 2014
Interview With Author Prashant Pinge
Today I bring another interview and a giveaway. Author Prashant Pinge stops by to chat about his writing and his book, Sceadu, (recently spotlighted here on the blog), plus he has a great Rafflecopter giveaway for everyone. So enjoy...
Interview With Prashant Pinge
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I was born and brought up in Mumbai. I have a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and three postgraduate degrees in management. I started my career at Rockwell Collins in the US but later shifted back to Mumbai to join our family business. I am also a marketing and branding professional and have my own firm, Media Panther.
You’ve recently release a new YA novel,Sceadu. Can you tell us about the book?
A century old book transports four children to Sceadu, a land inside their shadows. The reluctant visitors search for a way back but find themselves chased by the Hefigans, creatures of Sceadu. The stakes are suddenly raised when an ancient prophecy foretells the doom of the world they left behind. Now, the children must navigate the dangerous terrain, overcome grave challenges and unlock the secrets of the shadow, or suffer the destruction of their own kind.
Sceadu is a fast-paced adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological, the real and the mythical.
Did anything about the story surprise you when writing Sceadu?
When I set out to write a fantasy, it was meant to be just that. But what pleasantly surprised me was the way I managed to intricately weave together elements of psychology and mythology to create a logical basis for a land inside the human shadow.
As a writer, what is it about the fantasy genre that appeals to you?
I have always been a huge fan of the fantasy genre. It takes me to places that don’t find a place in the breadth of our world but reside in the depths of my imagination. And the best part: I don’t require a passport.
You write in multiple genres (children’s books, young adult, fantasy, historical fiction and romantic comedy). Do you have a favourite, or do you find each has its own merits?
While I started my literary journey with children’s fiction, I enjoy all the genres I work in. I feel the best part about writing in multiple genres is that it challenges my creativity in different ways and helps me grow as a writer.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
My greatest challenge as a writer is that my hand cannot even come close to matching the speed at which my mind is throwing out ideas. And this can be especially frustrating when the ideas are not related to the book I am working on at that point in time.
Who has inspired you as an author?
I have been inspired by other authors such as Phil Pullman, Agatha Christie, and Somerset Maugham.
What do you enjoy when you're not writing? Any hobbies or other talents?
Apart from writing, I enjoy collecting old coins, reading fiction, travelling to exotic destinations, watching movies, and listening to music. I am keenly interested in psychology, mythology, and ancient history. I have also recently written and produced a short film titled Freedom of Expression.
What’s next for you?
I am currently working on a romantic comedy. I am also doing research for a work of historical fiction.
More on the author and his books
Author bio:
Prashant Pinge is a published author of short stories and books in the genres of children’s fiction and young adult fantasy fiction. He also writes historical fiction and romantic comedies. His book, Raja & the Giant Donut, was shortlisted for the Economist Crossword Book Awards in the Children’s Writing category in 2011.
Prashant lives in Mumbai, India, with his wife, Avantika, and son, Arjun.
Author web links:
Book website – http://sceadu.netAuthor website - http://prashantpinge.comAuthor Facebook page - http://facebook.com/PrashantPingeAuthorSceadu Facebook page - http://facebook.com/SceaduTheBookTwitter page - http://twitter.com/prashantpingeLinkedIn page - http://in.linkedin.com/in/prashantpingeGoogle+ page - http://plus.google.com/+PrashantPingeGoodreads page - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8393378.Prashant_Pinge
The Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Interview With Prashant Pinge
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.I was born and brought up in Mumbai. I have a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and three postgraduate degrees in management. I started my career at Rockwell Collins in the US but later shifted back to Mumbai to join our family business. I am also a marketing and branding professional and have my own firm, Media Panther.
You’ve recently release a new YA novel,Sceadu. Can you tell us about the book?
A century old book transports four children to Sceadu, a land inside their shadows. The reluctant visitors search for a way back but find themselves chased by the Hefigans, creatures of Sceadu. The stakes are suddenly raised when an ancient prophecy foretells the doom of the world they left behind. Now, the children must navigate the dangerous terrain, overcome grave challenges and unlock the secrets of the shadow, or suffer the destruction of their own kind.
Sceadu is a fast-paced adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological, the real and the mythical.
Did anything about the story surprise you when writing Sceadu?When I set out to write a fantasy, it was meant to be just that. But what pleasantly surprised me was the way I managed to intricately weave together elements of psychology and mythology to create a logical basis for a land inside the human shadow.
As a writer, what is it about the fantasy genre that appeals to you?
I have always been a huge fan of the fantasy genre. It takes me to places that don’t find a place in the breadth of our world but reside in the depths of my imagination. And the best part: I don’t require a passport.
You write in multiple genres (children’s books, young adult, fantasy, historical fiction and romantic comedy). Do you have a favourite, or do you find each has its own merits?
While I started my literary journey with children’s fiction, I enjoy all the genres I work in. I feel the best part about writing in multiple genres is that it challenges my creativity in different ways and helps me grow as a writer.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
My greatest challenge as a writer is that my hand cannot even come close to matching the speed at which my mind is throwing out ideas. And this can be especially frustrating when the ideas are not related to the book I am working on at that point in time.
Who has inspired you as an author?
I have been inspired by other authors such as Phil Pullman, Agatha Christie, and Somerset Maugham.
What do you enjoy when you're not writing? Any hobbies or other talents?
Apart from writing, I enjoy collecting old coins, reading fiction, travelling to exotic destinations, watching movies, and listening to music. I am keenly interested in psychology, mythology, and ancient history. I have also recently written and produced a short film titled Freedom of Expression.
What’s next for you?
I am currently working on a romantic comedy. I am also doing research for a work of historical fiction.
More on the author and his books
Author bio:
Prashant Pinge is a published author of short stories and books in the genres of children’s fiction and young adult fantasy fiction. He also writes historical fiction and romantic comedies. His book, Raja & the Giant Donut, was shortlisted for the Economist Crossword Book Awards in the Children’s Writing category in 2011.
Prashant lives in Mumbai, India, with his wife, Avantika, and son, Arjun.
Author web links:
Book website – http://sceadu.netAuthor website - http://prashantpinge.comAuthor Facebook page - http://facebook.com/PrashantPingeAuthorSceadu Facebook page - http://facebook.com/SceaduTheBookTwitter page - http://twitter.com/prashantpingeLinkedIn page - http://in.linkedin.com/in/prashantpingeGoogle+ page - http://plus.google.com/+PrashantPingeGoodreads page - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8393378.Prashant_Pinge
The Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 3, 2014
Drabble Wednesday: Shakespeare and Friends
Today’s Drabble Wednesday takes a more literary turn with some rifts on Shakespeare, Tennyson, plus to liven things up, a little Abbot and Costello. Enjoy.
(Note: most of these were written for a now defunct writing group, Genre Shorties, so there will be some odd references to things such as armadillos, badgers and the Moai, themes that often popped up in the group prompts.)
Now Is The Winter Of Our Discontent
’Twas quite the conundrum put before William Shakespeare. To be the playwright, or not to be, to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or join Yorick in his millinery business.“Alas, poor Yorick”, William exclaimed, “Tempt not a desperate man, and dangle your lure of enticement. Yet, ‘tis our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt. There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so and this above all: to thine own self be true.”And with that he plucked up his quill to write.
A Shortie Soliloquy
“Brevity is the soul of wit”, said Shakespeare, and if that be so then laughter resounds amongst us, we fine bards who pen the Shorties. Satire, humour and whimsy resound in shades of puce and ecru, while we feast on pickles, peas and bacon.We are the ones who “perchance to dream”, to conjure visions that swirl through time. We lead a parade of koalas, Moai, celebrities, and badgers as we drive the roads of imagination in 1967 Impalas and gull-winged Deloreans.So, in their honour I take leave in paraphrase: “Is this an armadillo which I see before me?”
A Shakespearean Pirate’s Life
To be the scourge of the seven seas, or not to be the scourge of the seven seas, aye that be the question, methinks. I task myself to take up arms, to strut and fret aboard deck, and cast aside sound and fury of convention. What mind me, those tittle-tattle slings and arrows of a jackanapes society?Best to give not a wit, nor a thought, to those who say me nay, but rather tell truth, and shame the devil. `Tis better to have crossed swords with a scurvy dog Englishman, than never to have sailed under the Jolly Roger.
Odd Bodkins Lottery
‘Twas my last ha’penny I used to purchase the lottery chit. Perhaps providence guided me, allowing me to indulge in the act of gambling, or pity for the sick that the proceeds benefitted. Whatever the reason, chance allowed me to win the veritable bounty. I was truly blessed with the princely sum of 1,000,000 dollars, all for a day at the Renaissance Fair.Of course, be there that legality of only purchasing items that begin with the letter “L”, but I do need a new lamb’s wool tunic, some lederhosen, and a longbow. Prithee, I could even buy a livery.
Charge of the One Hundred(with apologies to Alfred, Lord Tennyson)
Forward into the drabble, write the one hundred. Press onward, onward, to half the word count, write the one hundred. Forward, always forward, into the valley of the impossible prompt. Yours is not to reason why, just to make certain all the words are included and figure how the deuce to work in the ridiculous puce.Forward we go, write the one hundred. Charge for the end and make it a mental twist. Badgers to the right of you, armadillos to the left, and look out, the slinky Moai are in front. For the glory you write the one hundred.
Who’s Going to the Fair?
“It’s at the corner of Who Knows and Thingydeal Road.”I look over at Abbot and Costello. “Are you sure?”“Absolutely.”“And Who will be there?”“Yes.”“Good. This is going to be great fun. Is anyone else coming?”“I Don’t Know and I Don’t Care.”“Oh great. The more the merrier. Do you think someone will be taking pictures?”“What.”“Wonderful, I’m glad he’ll be there.” “Certainly. There’s supposed to be a juggling act, too.”“Do you think it will be Today?”“That’s the rumour.”“The three chickens will be performing?”“Yes. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.” “Those chickens have weird names. I mean, Why, Tomorrow and Because are silly names.”“If I’d named the chickens, they’d be Sandwich, Cacciatore and Shifty.”
(Note: most of these were written for a now defunct writing group, Genre Shorties, so there will be some odd references to things such as armadillos, badgers and the Moai, themes that often popped up in the group prompts.)
Now Is The Winter Of Our Discontent
’Twas quite the conundrum put before William Shakespeare. To be the playwright, or not to be, to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or join Yorick in his millinery business.“Alas, poor Yorick”, William exclaimed, “Tempt not a desperate man, and dangle your lure of enticement. Yet, ‘tis our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt. There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so and this above all: to thine own self be true.”And with that he plucked up his quill to write.
A Shortie Soliloquy
“Brevity is the soul of wit”, said Shakespeare, and if that be so then laughter resounds amongst us, we fine bards who pen the Shorties. Satire, humour and whimsy resound in shades of puce and ecru, while we feast on pickles, peas and bacon.We are the ones who “perchance to dream”, to conjure visions that swirl through time. We lead a parade of koalas, Moai, celebrities, and badgers as we drive the roads of imagination in 1967 Impalas and gull-winged Deloreans.So, in their honour I take leave in paraphrase: “Is this an armadillo which I see before me?”
A Shakespearean Pirate’s Life
To be the scourge of the seven seas, or not to be the scourge of the seven seas, aye that be the question, methinks. I task myself to take up arms, to strut and fret aboard deck, and cast aside sound and fury of convention. What mind me, those tittle-tattle slings and arrows of a jackanapes society?Best to give not a wit, nor a thought, to those who say me nay, but rather tell truth, and shame the devil. `Tis better to have crossed swords with a scurvy dog Englishman, than never to have sailed under the Jolly Roger.
Odd Bodkins Lottery
‘Twas my last ha’penny I used to purchase the lottery chit. Perhaps providence guided me, allowing me to indulge in the act of gambling, or pity for the sick that the proceeds benefitted. Whatever the reason, chance allowed me to win the veritable bounty. I was truly blessed with the princely sum of 1,000,000 dollars, all for a day at the Renaissance Fair.Of course, be there that legality of only purchasing items that begin with the letter “L”, but I do need a new lamb’s wool tunic, some lederhosen, and a longbow. Prithee, I could even buy a livery.
Charge of the One Hundred(with apologies to Alfred, Lord Tennyson)
Forward into the drabble, write the one hundred. Press onward, onward, to half the word count, write the one hundred. Forward, always forward, into the valley of the impossible prompt. Yours is not to reason why, just to make certain all the words are included and figure how the deuce to work in the ridiculous puce.Forward we go, write the one hundred. Charge for the end and make it a mental twist. Badgers to the right of you, armadillos to the left, and look out, the slinky Moai are in front. For the glory you write the one hundred.
Who’s Going to the Fair?
“It’s at the corner of Who Knows and Thingydeal Road.”I look over at Abbot and Costello. “Are you sure?”“Absolutely.”“And Who will be there?”“Yes.”“Good. This is going to be great fun. Is anyone else coming?”“I Don’t Know and I Don’t Care.”“Oh great. The more the merrier. Do you think someone will be taking pictures?”“What.”“Wonderful, I’m glad he’ll be there.” “Certainly. There’s supposed to be a juggling act, too.”“Do you think it will be Today?”“That’s the rumour.”“The three chickens will be performing?”“Yes. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.” “Those chickens have weird names. I mean, Why, Tomorrow and Because are silly names.”“If I’d named the chickens, they’d be Sandwich, Cacciatore and Shifty.”
November 28, 2014
Book Spotlight: The Gertrude Threshold
A sci-fi spotlight today, with the intriguing book, The Gertrude Threshold, front and center.
The Gertrude Threshold by Christopher Brooks
Brandon knows today will be his last. He has been dreading this moment his entire life. Scientists had long ago predicted the year and the day when all living things, everything Brandon has come to know, would go up in flames – the day Earth hit the Gertrude Threshold.
For seventy years, Brandon had aged with the sun. He’d watched it grow bigger and the Warming fry the planet. Science was powerless to stop it. Plants withered. Oceans dried up. Humanity went mad. People sought safety underground. Radiation poisoned the world they left behind above.
Now, Brandon languishes on his deathbed. He looks after his grandson, Ky, and again wonders what survival left him with. Ky’s parents, John and Ellen, wander throughout the underground tunnels. Ellen mourns the loss of everything she and her child will never experience. Desperate to spend his final hours with the man he has grown to love, John abandons his wife and child.
Brandon, his family, and the underground survivors have no future, only the past, and less than 24 hours to reclaim the years the Warming stole while Earth begins to fall apart around them.
The Gertrude Threshold is available at Amazon
Author Bio
Christopher Brooks is the author of The Gertrude Threshold. He was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago.
Christopher graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University. Originally, he set out to study biology and become a doctor. Organic chemistry and a love of writing convinced him to study English-writing instead.
Christopher now works at Edelman, a public relations firm, at its headquarters in Chicago.
You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter His website: www.raggedrightmedia.com
The Gertrude Threshold by Christopher Brooks
Brandon knows today will be his last. He has been dreading this moment his entire life. Scientists had long ago predicted the year and the day when all living things, everything Brandon has come to know, would go up in flames – the day Earth hit the Gertrude Threshold.For seventy years, Brandon had aged with the sun. He’d watched it grow bigger and the Warming fry the planet. Science was powerless to stop it. Plants withered. Oceans dried up. Humanity went mad. People sought safety underground. Radiation poisoned the world they left behind above.
Now, Brandon languishes on his deathbed. He looks after his grandson, Ky, and again wonders what survival left him with. Ky’s parents, John and Ellen, wander throughout the underground tunnels. Ellen mourns the loss of everything she and her child will never experience. Desperate to spend his final hours with the man he has grown to love, John abandons his wife and child.
Brandon, his family, and the underground survivors have no future, only the past, and less than 24 hours to reclaim the years the Warming stole while Earth begins to fall apart around them.
The Gertrude Threshold is available at Amazon
Author Bio
Christopher Brooks is the author of The Gertrude Threshold. He was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago.Christopher graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University. Originally, he set out to study biology and become a doctor. Organic chemistry and a love of writing convinced him to study English-writing instead.
Christopher now works at Edelman, a public relations firm, at its headquarters in Chicago.
You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter His website: www.raggedrightmedia.com
November 26, 2014
Drabble Wednesday: Flying Monkeys
Here’s another short fiction series (my favourite) created from a series of prompts from a writing group. I call it my Flying Monkey Genetic Laboratories Saga.
(Just a note: The first drabble, We Don’t Serve Brains!, is a prequel that sets up the series.)
The Flying Monkey Genetic Laboratories Saga
We Don’t Serve Brains!
I never thought meeting Kate would be so traumatic, but then I never expected her to be a zombie with a taste for brains. Frankly, I was gobsmacked.The evening began with a real-world party to celebrate the fifty-week milestone for our online writing group. Then the lights went out, and the screams started. We restored power, and found poor Tracy and Mick dead, and Kate scooping parts of Tracy’s brain from her bashed head with a spoon. More screams resonated and everybody scattered, Kate in pursuit.Me, I’m always prepared and retrieved my zombie killing kit from my car.
Mad Science and Tracy
In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.
Never clone.
Maybe he was right, but after the zombie incident there wasn’t much choice; the group needed Tracy. Therefore, I secretly obtained the DNA of the woman, utilized my day job at the Flying Monkey Genetic Laboratories, and engineered her clone.Everything seemed fine at first. She tossed out wonderful writing prompts for the group, but then odd behaviours started: the burrowing, the rolling into a ball, the insect eating. Perhaps using those armadillo genes was a bad idea.Now she’s packed up and gone missing. I shudder to think what will happen when the T-Rex DNA kicks in.
Mad Science and Tracy- Part 2
The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended.
It’s funny what goes through your head when watching a hybrid armadillo/dinosaur/woman clone suck up her fifth pink lemonade through a yellow straw. Especially after she has just rampaged across the downtown shopping district in a wild shoplifting spree using the mayor’s stolen red corvette as her getaway vehicle.The S.W.A.T team has the cafe surrounded and the negotiator is trying to get Tracy to surrender, but so far, the only communicating she’s done is to throw an ugly shoe at him. I was hoping she would submit peacefully, but now I’m going to have to go with Plan B...
Mad Science and Tracy- Part 3
“Of all the things that drive men to sea, the most common disaster, I've come to learn, is women.”
I look at Igor as if he’s lost his mind. “Can the commentary and check the gas valves. The anaesthetic has to knock out the cops, Tracy, everybody.”We make final adjustments, put on our gas masks, and open the canister valves. Within in minutes bodies drop like flies, fast asleep. All but Tracy; she staggers around, making odd noises.“Here.” I pick up the trank gun and hand Igor a plate of chocolate covered insects. “Lure her out.”Igor runs screaming, insects flying, but I take Tracy down. We load her into the cryo-chamber and head for the lab.
Mad Science and Tracy- Part 4
I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.It was either write in the sink or hanging from the ceiling fan, the rest of kitchen now being in the basement. With several of the Tracy clones.It’s all Igor’s fault. That stupid idiot had to go and hit the infinite button on the cloning machine when we were fixing Tracy’s DNA. Now the lab’s overrun with Tracy clones causing mayhem and eating the yogurt. Thank heavens for the explosive floors and lockdown procedures.I’m initiating the kill switch on the clones. We’ll have to start the Tracy project from scratch.
Life Begins
With a click, the video begins...
The smiling face of a scientist in a laboratory appears. He begins walking across the room and talks to the camera.
“Here at Flying Monkey Genetic Cloning we take the creation of cross species DNA splicing seriously. We know there has been much squawking in the media lately about our irresponsible approach to gene manipulation and accusations that we have been experimenting in reckless creation of hybrids.”“I just have to say that all our hybrid creations are produced in the most responsible manner possible, and that we take all safety precautions to ensure the protection of the public. Rest assured, the recent incident at one of our labs was a result of sabotage and an isolated event.”“In fact, one of our projects has just reached a successful conclusion and we are in time to unveil the latest addition to the Flying Monkey family, the living Teddy Bear. Release the chamber door please.”
A lab assistant unlatches a door on a large steel cylinder and slides it open.
“And now we will see our- what! Tracy! That’s not—”
The video breaks to static...
In Court
“How do you plead to the charges, Lotta Moxie?”“I’m proud to plead guilty. Those hybrids at Flying Monkey Genetic Cloning needed to be freed. I bet that scientist was surprised to see a duct taped Tracy clone instead of his living Teddy Bear. I know it was a hit on YouTube.”“Miss Moxie! Your escapade let hybrids loose downtown!” Lotta laughed.“The policeman and the cantaloupe caused that! Did the Mayor scream when the Gator-Pigeons took a bite out of his posterior?”“Incorrigible! You are hereby sentenced to six months, plus a ten dollar fine for overdue library books.”
Is the ArmaTeddy® Right for You?
Are you alone and without companionship?Do you cuddle with that well-worn stuffed animal?Do you want something more than just a toy?
Do you hide behind closed doors, afraid of the criminal element?Do you jump at every sudden sound?Are you allergic to guard dogs?
Are you a rich and eccentric collector?Just can’t live without that newest gadget?Does a living, breathing hybrid teddy bear/armadillo appeal to you?
Would you like a sentient, armoured, action teddy bear to solve your companion needs and security concerns?Are you salivating at the thought?
Are you ready for the ArmaTeddy®?
Corporate Retreat
Yesterday we arrived at Nimrod, this dysfunctional Flying Monkey Genetic Cloning family, for our annual camping trip. We found a flooded campground, but with the Sonic Vacuum, plus the help of Scuba Eagle and Cyber-Man the site was dehydrated.That first night Doctors Spaulding, Philip and Theodore made their famous wiener chilli and we had a sing-a-long; Mothman and Armateddy did a wonderful duet of Kumbaya.We needed this vacation after all our troubles with zombies, Tracy clones, and that gator/Tracy/teddy mix-up. I just hope no one gets the collywobbles from the food; last year’s bucket spew fest was enough.
Primeval Instinct?
We here at the Flying Monkey Genetic Laboratories are worried about the Tracy clone. Two and a half weeks ago, she won a free company trip to our subsidiary, Prehistoric Park. We thought it was a splendid idea for her to explore her roots, seeing how she’s part T-Rex. She and Dr Stein ventured off to the observation habitat in good spirits, sending back video reports on the fauna and flora. Four days ago, we lost contact and sent out a team. There was no sign of Tracy or Dr. Stein. Even more disturbing, the battery-powered food processor was missing...
Time Sheep
In the world of science news, tragedy struck the Flying Monkey Time Institute—a subsidiary of the Flying Monkey Genetics Laboratory—this week, as their ongoing time travel experiments went awry. Initial tests went well, as the so-called “Time Sheep,” Debbie, was successfully transported five minutes into the future. Unfortunately this excursion had unforeseen side effects and Debbie is now a time-hopping, flesh-eating monster. As of today, sightings of Debbie the “Time Sheep” have retroactively been recorded in 1985, 2001, and 1957, with twelve known incidents of a “strange, ferocious biting sheep that disappeared.”
Plus two Flying Monkey Bonus stories:
Art?
“And then, down there at the very bottom? Those two buzzard wings?”I looked up from my armadillo potato carving and glanced over at the next table. Two ugly and hairy goblins were studying a series of drawings, of what looked like an abstract sculpture of an inverted Harpy.“I think they’re perfect. Once we add the human head to the claws, it should be ready to display.”I shrugged. Personally, I’d have gone with eagle wings, not that I’d tell them that; minding your own business was always the best policy at the Flying Monkey Paranormal Artiste Café. I learned that lesson the hard way with the vampire performance artist incident.
Come One, Come All
The ring mistress, a short, well coiffed woman, stepped into the center square. “Attention one and all! Welcome to the Flying Monkey Circus! First up in the show is our leading attraction, The Stupendous Atina! Watch in awe as she deftly demonstrates a dangerous display of dexterity!”A willowy blonde walks out into the square, her gold lame pantsuit shining in the glaring track lights. Behind her trails a young man holding a tray covered in burlap cloth. She flips off the fabric, throwing the tray’s contents into the air. The audience gasps as she expertly juggles four live armadillos.
(Just a note: The first drabble, We Don’t Serve Brains!, is a prequel that sets up the series.)
The Flying Monkey Genetic Laboratories Saga
We Don’t Serve Brains!
I never thought meeting Kate would be so traumatic, but then I never expected her to be a zombie with a taste for brains. Frankly, I was gobsmacked.The evening began with a real-world party to celebrate the fifty-week milestone for our online writing group. Then the lights went out, and the screams started. We restored power, and found poor Tracy and Mick dead, and Kate scooping parts of Tracy’s brain from her bashed head with a spoon. More screams resonated and everybody scattered, Kate in pursuit.Me, I’m always prepared and retrieved my zombie killing kit from my car.
Mad Science and Tracy
In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.
Never clone.
Maybe he was right, but after the zombie incident there wasn’t much choice; the group needed Tracy. Therefore, I secretly obtained the DNA of the woman, utilized my day job at the Flying Monkey Genetic Laboratories, and engineered her clone.Everything seemed fine at first. She tossed out wonderful writing prompts for the group, but then odd behaviours started: the burrowing, the rolling into a ball, the insect eating. Perhaps using those armadillo genes was a bad idea.Now she’s packed up and gone missing. I shudder to think what will happen when the T-Rex DNA kicks in.
Mad Science and Tracy- Part 2
The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended.
It’s funny what goes through your head when watching a hybrid armadillo/dinosaur/woman clone suck up her fifth pink lemonade through a yellow straw. Especially after she has just rampaged across the downtown shopping district in a wild shoplifting spree using the mayor’s stolen red corvette as her getaway vehicle.The S.W.A.T team has the cafe surrounded and the negotiator is trying to get Tracy to surrender, but so far, the only communicating she’s done is to throw an ugly shoe at him. I was hoping she would submit peacefully, but now I’m going to have to go with Plan B...
Mad Science and Tracy- Part 3
“Of all the things that drive men to sea, the most common disaster, I've come to learn, is women.”
I look at Igor as if he’s lost his mind. “Can the commentary and check the gas valves. The anaesthetic has to knock out the cops, Tracy, everybody.”We make final adjustments, put on our gas masks, and open the canister valves. Within in minutes bodies drop like flies, fast asleep. All but Tracy; she staggers around, making odd noises.“Here.” I pick up the trank gun and hand Igor a plate of chocolate covered insects. “Lure her out.”Igor runs screaming, insects flying, but I take Tracy down. We load her into the cryo-chamber and head for the lab.
Mad Science and Tracy- Part 4
I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.It was either write in the sink or hanging from the ceiling fan, the rest of kitchen now being in the basement. With several of the Tracy clones.It’s all Igor’s fault. That stupid idiot had to go and hit the infinite button on the cloning machine when we were fixing Tracy’s DNA. Now the lab’s overrun with Tracy clones causing mayhem and eating the yogurt. Thank heavens for the explosive floors and lockdown procedures.I’m initiating the kill switch on the clones. We’ll have to start the Tracy project from scratch.
Life Begins
With a click, the video begins...
The smiling face of a scientist in a laboratory appears. He begins walking across the room and talks to the camera.
“Here at Flying Monkey Genetic Cloning we take the creation of cross species DNA splicing seriously. We know there has been much squawking in the media lately about our irresponsible approach to gene manipulation and accusations that we have been experimenting in reckless creation of hybrids.”“I just have to say that all our hybrid creations are produced in the most responsible manner possible, and that we take all safety precautions to ensure the protection of the public. Rest assured, the recent incident at one of our labs was a result of sabotage and an isolated event.”“In fact, one of our projects has just reached a successful conclusion and we are in time to unveil the latest addition to the Flying Monkey family, the living Teddy Bear. Release the chamber door please.”
A lab assistant unlatches a door on a large steel cylinder and slides it open.
“And now we will see our- what! Tracy! That’s not—”
The video breaks to static...
In Court
“How do you plead to the charges, Lotta Moxie?”“I’m proud to plead guilty. Those hybrids at Flying Monkey Genetic Cloning needed to be freed. I bet that scientist was surprised to see a duct taped Tracy clone instead of his living Teddy Bear. I know it was a hit on YouTube.”“Miss Moxie! Your escapade let hybrids loose downtown!” Lotta laughed.“The policeman and the cantaloupe caused that! Did the Mayor scream when the Gator-Pigeons took a bite out of his posterior?”“Incorrigible! You are hereby sentenced to six months, plus a ten dollar fine for overdue library books.”
Is the ArmaTeddy® Right for You?
Are you alone and without companionship?Do you cuddle with that well-worn stuffed animal?Do you want something more than just a toy?
Do you hide behind closed doors, afraid of the criminal element?Do you jump at every sudden sound?Are you allergic to guard dogs?
Are you a rich and eccentric collector?Just can’t live without that newest gadget?Does a living, breathing hybrid teddy bear/armadillo appeal to you?
Would you like a sentient, armoured, action teddy bear to solve your companion needs and security concerns?Are you salivating at the thought?
Are you ready for the ArmaTeddy®?
Corporate Retreat
Yesterday we arrived at Nimrod, this dysfunctional Flying Monkey Genetic Cloning family, for our annual camping trip. We found a flooded campground, but with the Sonic Vacuum, plus the help of Scuba Eagle and Cyber-Man the site was dehydrated.That first night Doctors Spaulding, Philip and Theodore made their famous wiener chilli and we had a sing-a-long; Mothman and Armateddy did a wonderful duet of Kumbaya.We needed this vacation after all our troubles with zombies, Tracy clones, and that gator/Tracy/teddy mix-up. I just hope no one gets the collywobbles from the food; last year’s bucket spew fest was enough.
Primeval Instinct?
We here at the Flying Monkey Genetic Laboratories are worried about the Tracy clone. Two and a half weeks ago, she won a free company trip to our subsidiary, Prehistoric Park. We thought it was a splendid idea for her to explore her roots, seeing how she’s part T-Rex. She and Dr Stein ventured off to the observation habitat in good spirits, sending back video reports on the fauna and flora. Four days ago, we lost contact and sent out a team. There was no sign of Tracy or Dr. Stein. Even more disturbing, the battery-powered food processor was missing...
Time Sheep
In the world of science news, tragedy struck the Flying Monkey Time Institute—a subsidiary of the Flying Monkey Genetics Laboratory—this week, as their ongoing time travel experiments went awry. Initial tests went well, as the so-called “Time Sheep,” Debbie, was successfully transported five minutes into the future. Unfortunately this excursion had unforeseen side effects and Debbie is now a time-hopping, flesh-eating monster. As of today, sightings of Debbie the “Time Sheep” have retroactively been recorded in 1985, 2001, and 1957, with twelve known incidents of a “strange, ferocious biting sheep that disappeared.”
Plus two Flying Monkey Bonus stories:
Art?
“And then, down there at the very bottom? Those two buzzard wings?”I looked up from my armadillo potato carving and glanced over at the next table. Two ugly and hairy goblins were studying a series of drawings, of what looked like an abstract sculpture of an inverted Harpy.“I think they’re perfect. Once we add the human head to the claws, it should be ready to display.”I shrugged. Personally, I’d have gone with eagle wings, not that I’d tell them that; minding your own business was always the best policy at the Flying Monkey Paranormal Artiste Café. I learned that lesson the hard way with the vampire performance artist incident.
Come One, Come All
The ring mistress, a short, well coiffed woman, stepped into the center square. “Attention one and all! Welcome to the Flying Monkey Circus! First up in the show is our leading attraction, The Stupendous Atina! Watch in awe as she deftly demonstrates a dangerous display of dexterity!”A willowy blonde walks out into the square, her gold lame pantsuit shining in the glaring track lights. Behind her trails a young man holding a tray covered in burlap cloth. She flips off the fabric, throwing the tray’s contents into the air. The audience gasps as she expertly juggles four live armadillos.
November 22, 2014
Interview with Debbie Manber Kupfer
Today I bring you another interview, this time from busy author, Debbie Manber Kupfer, who stops by to chat about her fantasy writing, books, and puzzles. Enjoy.
Interview with Debbie Manber Kupfer
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I was born in London, and lived in Israel, North Carolina, and New York before finally settling in St. Louis, Missouri about 16 years ago. I’ve got a husband, two kids, and a very opinionated kitty, Miri Billie Joe, who is the true ruler of our household. I get through about a gallon of strong hot tea with milk each day and like to reward myself with squares of dark, dark chocolate.
You’re the author of P.A.W.S., a YA fantasy series. Can you tell us a bit about this series?
Certainly! P.A.W.S. is the story of Miri, a young Jewish girl who receives a silver cat charm from her grandmother, Celia, the night before Celia dies. Little does Miri know, but the charm holds the family secret, a secret that saved her grandmother from the Nazis and is about to change Miri’s life in ways she never thought possible.Miri’s story continues in the second book of the series, Argentum, which recently came out and I’m currently working on the third book. I have a whole world inside my head that’s waiting to come out!
What attracted you to write in both the fantasy genre and the young adult genre?
They are the genres I most enjoy reading. My favorite authors include J.K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett, Cornelia Funke, Cassandra Clare, and Neil Gaiman. I love immersing myself in a story and I love magic – in fantasy anything is possible.
Another project which you’re involved in (as a writer and an editor) is the historic horror anthology, Sins of the Past. Can you tell us about that book?
Sins of the Past was the brainchild of British horror writer, Kelvin Allison. The idea was to take a true event in history and set a tale of the macabre within that timeframe. Sadly Kelvin backed out of the project, but we had too many good stories to let it go, so Chasity Nicole and I took it over. There are 17 stories which span history from a poison maiden in ancient India to a haunted Vietnam veteran in LA. My story in the collection is Griddlebone, a tale of genetically mutated werecats in Nazi-controlled Europe.
You’re also a puzzle writer. What exactly does that involve, and how different is it from writing novels and stories? Are there any similarities?
I write all kinds of word and logic puzzles mostly for Penny Press and Dell Magazines and for my website Paws4Puzzles. These include crosswords, word seeks, anagram puzzles, and quotation puzzles among others. I’m also currently putting together my own book of logic problems, Paws4Logic, which hopefully will be released early in 2015.With the logic problems there is definitely a crossover between writing puzzles and writing fiction. Each puzzle is a story, albeit a short one, and I have a lot of fun coming up with creative scenarios, names, and settings. This is something I enjoy a lot when I write fiction too.
Do you find it challenging to switch between these different projects and genres?
Sometimes yes, but I try to balance it out, doing a little writing and a little puzzle work each day.
Do you have any tidbits or anecdotes you’d like to share about your books, or your writing life?
I love the weird and wonderful characters that sometimes pop, seemingly out of nowhere, onto my page. Sometimes I’ll mention someone in passing, like the clown, The Great Bobbert, who Joey (the animagus kangaroo) follows around in the first book of P.A.W.S. Low and behold that clown comes back in Argentum, and wait a second, he has a pet weasel called Popgoes – where did that come from?
Who has inspired you as an author?
My greatest inspiration is probably JK Rowling. My favorite Harry Potter is book 3, The Prisoner of Azkaban. It is in this book that we are introduced to the idea of animagi. I was fascinated by this idea, but wanted to delve deeper. How does it feel to turn into an animal? What was the process like learning to be an animagus? How would a magician choose which animal they were, or was that animal always part of them? All these questions inspired me to create P.A.W.S.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing book 3 in the P.A.W.S. series, which hopefully will be released sometime in 2015. I also have my logic project, Paws4Logic, which I’m working on together with my son, Joey. Plus I have stories coming out in several more anthologies in the next few months and will be working on part 2 of our horror anthology, Sins of the Future, to be released in October 2015.
You can find out more about the author and her books at these sites:
Amazon Page Blog Facebook Page Twitter
Interview with Debbie Manber Kupfer
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I was born in London, and lived in Israel, North Carolina, and New York before finally settling in St. Louis, Missouri about 16 years ago. I’ve got a husband, two kids, and a very opinionated kitty, Miri Billie Joe, who is the true ruler of our household. I get through about a gallon of strong hot tea with milk each day and like to reward myself with squares of dark, dark chocolate.
You’re the author of P.A.W.S., a YA fantasy series. Can you tell us a bit about this series?Certainly! P.A.W.S. is the story of Miri, a young Jewish girl who receives a silver cat charm from her grandmother, Celia, the night before Celia dies. Little does Miri know, but the charm holds the family secret, a secret that saved her grandmother from the Nazis and is about to change Miri’s life in ways she never thought possible.Miri’s story continues in the second book of the series, Argentum, which recently came out and I’m currently working on the third book. I have a whole world inside my head that’s waiting to come out!
What attracted you to write in both the fantasy genre and the young adult genre?
They are the genres I most enjoy reading. My favorite authors include J.K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett, Cornelia Funke, Cassandra Clare, and Neil Gaiman. I love immersing myself in a story and I love magic – in fantasy anything is possible.
Another project which you’re involved in (as a writer and an editor) is the historic horror anthology, Sins of the Past. Can you tell us about that book?Sins of the Past was the brainchild of British horror writer, Kelvin Allison. The idea was to take a true event in history and set a tale of the macabre within that timeframe. Sadly Kelvin backed out of the project, but we had too many good stories to let it go, so Chasity Nicole and I took it over. There are 17 stories which span history from a poison maiden in ancient India to a haunted Vietnam veteran in LA. My story in the collection is Griddlebone, a tale of genetically mutated werecats in Nazi-controlled Europe.
You’re also a puzzle writer. What exactly does that involve, and how different is it from writing novels and stories? Are there any similarities?
I write all kinds of word and logic puzzles mostly for Penny Press and Dell Magazines and for my website Paws4Puzzles. These include crosswords, word seeks, anagram puzzles, and quotation puzzles among others. I’m also currently putting together my own book of logic problems, Paws4Logic, which hopefully will be released early in 2015.With the logic problems there is definitely a crossover between writing puzzles and writing fiction. Each puzzle is a story, albeit a short one, and I have a lot of fun coming up with creative scenarios, names, and settings. This is something I enjoy a lot when I write fiction too.
Do you find it challenging to switch between these different projects and genres?
Sometimes yes, but I try to balance it out, doing a little writing and a little puzzle work each day.
Do you have any tidbits or anecdotes you’d like to share about your books, or your writing life?
I love the weird and wonderful characters that sometimes pop, seemingly out of nowhere, onto my page. Sometimes I’ll mention someone in passing, like the clown, The Great Bobbert, who Joey (the animagus kangaroo) follows around in the first book of P.A.W.S. Low and behold that clown comes back in Argentum, and wait a second, he has a pet weasel called Popgoes – where did that come from?
Who has inspired you as an author?
My greatest inspiration is probably JK Rowling. My favorite Harry Potter is book 3, The Prisoner of Azkaban. It is in this book that we are introduced to the idea of animagi. I was fascinated by this idea, but wanted to delve deeper. How does it feel to turn into an animal? What was the process like learning to be an animagus? How would a magician choose which animal they were, or was that animal always part of them? All these questions inspired me to create P.A.W.S.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing book 3 in the P.A.W.S. series, which hopefully will be released sometime in 2015. I also have my logic project, Paws4Logic, which I’m working on together with my son, Joey. Plus I have stories coming out in several more anthologies in the next few months and will be working on part 2 of our horror anthology, Sins of the Future, to be released in October 2015.
You can find out more about the author and her books at these sites:
Amazon Page Blog Facebook Page Twitter
November 20, 2014
An Interview With Richard Patterson
Today I have an interview with author Richard Patterson, who stops by to talk books and Jack the Ripper...
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I like to see myself as a writer though I have many years experience teaching English. Have held other jobs for printing firms, bank, army reserves, and manager of a tabletop game venue. I gained my teaching degree in Melbourne and I have lived in the United Kingdom, where I was able to research my book. My childhood was surrounded by death. Before the age of 9 I had been dead three times. Once, in 1973, when I was aged three, I was overcome by smoke in a house fire. My rescuer dragged me from my burning family home just before the roof collapsed and a volunteer surf lifeguard who had come to watch the fire gave 1st aid. The lifeguard found no heartbeat before he began resuscitation. The second time, I was a five-year-old pedestrian hit and run victim. The paramedics found me lying on the road with severe multiple injuries and no heartbeat having apparently bled to death. The 3rd time was exactly like the second but this time I was eight years old. My horror novel allowed me to write freely on the topic of Thompson as a Ripper suspect, which I was not able to do in an earlier non-fiction work of mine.
Can you tell us about your latest book, Francis Thompson and the Ripper Paradox?
My book merges two depictions of evil, the Ripper and the Antichrist. It uses both to tell the story of the life of an historical figure, the English poet Francis Thompson. My book is prefaced with a ghost story about the crimes and this character’s motive. The bulk of the book explores, in biography, the magnitude and effects, of his apocalyptical scheme. The novel draws on copious factual material gathered from around the world research to explain how his rise began as the perpetrator of the cluster of 5 terrible murders of 1888 in London’s East End. This novel tells that Thompson sought to raise the dead and then stay alive after his own passing by hiding behind history and in our minds.
Why did you decide to write in the horror genre, and specifically the Jack the Ripper subset of that genre?
At the height of the Ripper murders, when the bloodlust of the fiend knew no bounds, the mutilations of these poor women, appalled the populace of London. The press was for once lost for words. They could only describe this unknown individual in terms of the works of horror literature like De Quincy and Edgar Allen Poe. In 1888, when the murders happened the Victorians were hugely interested in spiritualism and the occult. The play of Jekyll and Hyde was showing in London’s West End and people were taken in by the images of ghosts taken with the still new technology of the camera. Nowadays with new horrors like Ebola, terrorism, climate change and assorted conspiracy theories, I felt that people might respond to a supernatural crime story.
Being a bit of an amateur Ripperologist myself, I’m curious as to your opinion on the lasting fascination with Jack the Ripper and that particular historic event. What do you think is the allure that still captures public interest?
I think it was the collision of worlds it caused. The dire poverty of industrialized and a struggling underclass and the pomp and ceremony of the Nuevo-rich and aristocracy. Both classes were united in their fear of this one individual. The crimes created the archetype of the Victorian murderer -The romantic-decadence of the times personified. I believe that contrary to popular belief it is not the mystery surrounds the identity of the criminal that holds the public interest, but more the subconscious- anticipation of what we the world do when we all find out his name.
Your novel mixes in occult and religious aspects to the Ripper story. How did the idea of melding those two facets come about?
It seemed that in the past people were a lot more religious than today. It makes sense to look at the influence of religion over a suspect, it seems natural to take that short step and explore possible religious, and with these horrific crimes, occult aspect. The idea that the murderer may have been a religionist was not knew, having been suggested in letters to the newspapers. Even during the murders in October 1888, people could read “The Curse of Mitre Square” a horror novel on the Ripper in which the antagonist is a specter of an evil monk who stabs a women on the high altar of a medieval church. When I first learned of Thompson, the book’s suspect and face for the devil; I saw that he was a very strictly religious with a belief in the supernatural and demons. I melded these facets because in truth I don’t think they can be seen as separate from the Ripper crimes.
Was there an aspect of writing your novel that you found challenging?
Because I my book is based on an assorted array of non-fiction material, and actual events, deciding what to keep and leave out has been difficult. For example small but interesting detail such as one actual police investigator had one arm because a tiger bit the other off. I could not work that detail in because it seemed out of place with the scenario I was building. There were many amazing details I had to leave out because trying to hold it all would have taken years further to write. Another challenge was the uniqueness of my premise and my suspect, and keeping to the same style and approach throughout the novel even as it moves further and further into the eerie and bizarre, and modern day.
What type of research did you do for your book?
The book is based on a great deal of research. It entailed reading and taking notes from non-fiction works, including old press reports, police documents, letters, biographies, uncut-volumes, and historical artefacts and documents. It has been resourced from personal access to mostly archival material from places like London’s Guildhall Library, London’s National Gallery, The British Library, The Kew National Archives, (Dear Boss Letter) the New York Public Library, The Victorian State Library, Boston College’s Burns Library's (Thompson’s private notebooks for years, including 1888, and other unpublished documents) I’ve examined the murder sites and have lectured on these murders including as a delegate at the 2005 International Jack the Ripper conference held in Brighton.
Who has inspired you as an author?
I am heavily influenced by science fiction, fantasy stories as a child. Though horror holds a special place for me. I like reading, Poe, Lovecraft, Machen, Shelley, Stoker and Barker, but it was Stephen King who is one of my favourites. When I read his books, during my teens in the 80’s, I remember hearing his voice in my head while I read, well before hearing him in real-life. It was Stephen King’s “IT” that helped shape the initial idea of writing about a great evil. Instead of the small New England town of Derry Main as the backdrop my novel would have the hulking dark and smoky landscape of Victorian London in the year 1888, when all was cloaked in the shadow of the ripper. I liked how King’s “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” a novella gave away that the protagonist escapes prison at the start leaving the reader to wanting to know how he did it. That’s why I sort tell the whole story and give away the ending at the beginning of my book, hoping the reader will ask how the Ripper got away with it.
What’s next for you?
As I wrote this novel, I envisioned two more volumes, on the topic with each volume roughly covering a century. With this plan, my current novel would be part 2, while part 1 examined the 20th century while part 1 covered the 18th. I have other writing related projects that I can continue and complete, including a book on Australian aboriginal archaeological sites, software that writes stories, and a story-telling tabletop game. I would love to continue to explore the Ripper murders writing more on aspects of history, culture, human desires and literature.
You can find out more about the author and his book at these sites:
Author Website:
http://www.richard-a-patterson.com/
Author's Blog:
http://richardapatterson17.blogspot.com.au/
Facebook group for Francis Thompson and the Ripper Paradox:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/502480266521400/
YouTube Short Film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7ImWmY4xqk
Paperback:
https://www.createspace.com/5089196
Ebook:
http://www.amazon.com.au/Francis-Thompson-Paradox-Richard-Patterson-ebook/dp/B00P0GQMU6
Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
I like to see myself as a writer though I have many years experience teaching English. Have held other jobs for printing firms, bank, army reserves, and manager of a tabletop game venue. I gained my teaching degree in Melbourne and I have lived in the United Kingdom, where I was able to research my book. My childhood was surrounded by death. Before the age of 9 I had been dead three times. Once, in 1973, when I was aged three, I was overcome by smoke in a house fire. My rescuer dragged me from my burning family home just before the roof collapsed and a volunteer surf lifeguard who had come to watch the fire gave 1st aid. The lifeguard found no heartbeat before he began resuscitation. The second time, I was a five-year-old pedestrian hit and run victim. The paramedics found me lying on the road with severe multiple injuries and no heartbeat having apparently bled to death. The 3rd time was exactly like the second but this time I was eight years old. My horror novel allowed me to write freely on the topic of Thompson as a Ripper suspect, which I was not able to do in an earlier non-fiction work of mine.
Can you tell us about your latest book, Francis Thompson and the Ripper Paradox?
My book merges two depictions of evil, the Ripper and the Antichrist. It uses both to tell the story of the life of an historical figure, the English poet Francis Thompson. My book is prefaced with a ghost story about the crimes and this character’s motive. The bulk of the book explores, in biography, the magnitude and effects, of his apocalyptical scheme. The novel draws on copious factual material gathered from around the world research to explain how his rise began as the perpetrator of the cluster of 5 terrible murders of 1888 in London’s East End. This novel tells that Thompson sought to raise the dead and then stay alive after his own passing by hiding behind history and in our minds.
Why did you decide to write in the horror genre, and specifically the Jack the Ripper subset of that genre?
At the height of the Ripper murders, when the bloodlust of the fiend knew no bounds, the mutilations of these poor women, appalled the populace of London. The press was for once lost for words. They could only describe this unknown individual in terms of the works of horror literature like De Quincy and Edgar Allen Poe. In 1888, when the murders happened the Victorians were hugely interested in spiritualism and the occult. The play of Jekyll and Hyde was showing in London’s West End and people were taken in by the images of ghosts taken with the still new technology of the camera. Nowadays with new horrors like Ebola, terrorism, climate change and assorted conspiracy theories, I felt that people might respond to a supernatural crime story.
Being a bit of an amateur Ripperologist myself, I’m curious as to your opinion on the lasting fascination with Jack the Ripper and that particular historic event. What do you think is the allure that still captures public interest?
I think it was the collision of worlds it caused. The dire poverty of industrialized and a struggling underclass and the pomp and ceremony of the Nuevo-rich and aristocracy. Both classes were united in their fear of this one individual. The crimes created the archetype of the Victorian murderer -The romantic-decadence of the times personified. I believe that contrary to popular belief it is not the mystery surrounds the identity of the criminal that holds the public interest, but more the subconscious- anticipation of what we the world do when we all find out his name.
Your novel mixes in occult and religious aspects to the Ripper story. How did the idea of melding those two facets come about?
It seemed that in the past people were a lot more religious than today. It makes sense to look at the influence of religion over a suspect, it seems natural to take that short step and explore possible religious, and with these horrific crimes, occult aspect. The idea that the murderer may have been a religionist was not knew, having been suggested in letters to the newspapers. Even during the murders in October 1888, people could read “The Curse of Mitre Square” a horror novel on the Ripper in which the antagonist is a specter of an evil monk who stabs a women on the high altar of a medieval church. When I first learned of Thompson, the book’s suspect and face for the devil; I saw that he was a very strictly religious with a belief in the supernatural and demons. I melded these facets because in truth I don’t think they can be seen as separate from the Ripper crimes.
Was there an aspect of writing your novel that you found challenging?
Because I my book is based on an assorted array of non-fiction material, and actual events, deciding what to keep and leave out has been difficult. For example small but interesting detail such as one actual police investigator had one arm because a tiger bit the other off. I could not work that detail in because it seemed out of place with the scenario I was building. There were many amazing details I had to leave out because trying to hold it all would have taken years further to write. Another challenge was the uniqueness of my premise and my suspect, and keeping to the same style and approach throughout the novel even as it moves further and further into the eerie and bizarre, and modern day.
What type of research did you do for your book?
The book is based on a great deal of research. It entailed reading and taking notes from non-fiction works, including old press reports, police documents, letters, biographies, uncut-volumes, and historical artefacts and documents. It has been resourced from personal access to mostly archival material from places like London’s Guildhall Library, London’s National Gallery, The British Library, The Kew National Archives, (Dear Boss Letter) the New York Public Library, The Victorian State Library, Boston College’s Burns Library's (Thompson’s private notebooks for years, including 1888, and other unpublished documents) I’ve examined the murder sites and have lectured on these murders including as a delegate at the 2005 International Jack the Ripper conference held in Brighton.
Who has inspired you as an author?
I am heavily influenced by science fiction, fantasy stories as a child. Though horror holds a special place for me. I like reading, Poe, Lovecraft, Machen, Shelley, Stoker and Barker, but it was Stephen King who is one of my favourites. When I read his books, during my teens in the 80’s, I remember hearing his voice in my head while I read, well before hearing him in real-life. It was Stephen King’s “IT” that helped shape the initial idea of writing about a great evil. Instead of the small New England town of Derry Main as the backdrop my novel would have the hulking dark and smoky landscape of Victorian London in the year 1888, when all was cloaked in the shadow of the ripper. I liked how King’s “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” a novella gave away that the protagonist escapes prison at the start leaving the reader to wanting to know how he did it. That’s why I sort tell the whole story and give away the ending at the beginning of my book, hoping the reader will ask how the Ripper got away with it.
What’s next for you?
As I wrote this novel, I envisioned two more volumes, on the topic with each volume roughly covering a century. With this plan, my current novel would be part 2, while part 1 examined the 20th century while part 1 covered the 18th. I have other writing related projects that I can continue and complete, including a book on Australian aboriginal archaeological sites, software that writes stories, and a story-telling tabletop game. I would love to continue to explore the Ripper murders writing more on aspects of history, culture, human desires and literature.
You can find out more about the author and his book at these sites:
Author Website:
http://www.richard-a-patterson.com/
Author's Blog:
http://richardapatterson17.blogspot.com.au/
Facebook group for Francis Thompson and the Ripper Paradox:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/502480266521400/
YouTube Short Film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7ImWmY4xqk
Paperback:
https://www.createspace.com/5089196
Ebook:
http://www.amazon.com.au/Francis-Thompson-Paradox-Richard-Patterson-ebook/dp/B00P0GQMU6
November 19, 2014
Drabble Wednesday: Unruffled Gulls
We’re going to the birds today with a short series I wrote based on photograph of a flock of seagulls (not the one pictured, but one similar).
Unruffled Gulls- Part One
Somewhere on a dock, a flock of gulls gather...
“I dare say, Percy, there is merit to your argument that subverting the individual nature within a group dynamic may stagnate creativity and innovative development. However, too much individuality could lead to chaos and anarchy. The good of the group must be considered.”“A fair point, Nigel old bean, perhaps an equitable balance of the two is more in order. A cohesion, if you will.” “I loathe ending this philosophical chat,” Pip interrupted, “but I spy an approaching tourist with a camera. Time to flap our feathers and pose for pictures.”
Unruffled Gulls- Part Two
Again, the flock of gulls gather...
“Can you believe the nerve of that pelican? Ordering us from the garbage can as if it was his personal property! The nerve, I say. I am quite perturbed about the whole matter!”“Yes, Nigel, he was terribly rude. I dare say he would have resorted to fisticuffs, had the rest of the flock not “had our back” as they say.”“No doubt, Percy, he was most uncouth and course. I wonder where he came from? I haven’t spied him about town before today.” “I believe I heard he originated from the Jersey Shore.”
Unruffled Gulls- Part Three
This time the gulls gather for dinner...
“I say Percy, you have outdone yourself with this lunch repast. How on earth did you manage to find all this lovely food? Why there’s grilled fish, fish with a lemon and dill sauce, salmon patties and more. And enough for all.”“Why thank you, Nigel, you are too kind. It was a bit of luck. I hit an odd gust that turned me about and I ended here at this rather quaint seafood restaurant. Their dumpster certainly is a smorgasbord of delights. Tomorrow I heard they’re serving a fish bouillabaisse.”“How wonderful.”
Unruffled Gulls- Part One
Somewhere on a dock, a flock of gulls gather...
“I dare say, Percy, there is merit to your argument that subverting the individual nature within a group dynamic may stagnate creativity and innovative development. However, too much individuality could lead to chaos and anarchy. The good of the group must be considered.”“A fair point, Nigel old bean, perhaps an equitable balance of the two is more in order. A cohesion, if you will.” “I loathe ending this philosophical chat,” Pip interrupted, “but I spy an approaching tourist with a camera. Time to flap our feathers and pose for pictures.”
Unruffled Gulls- Part Two
Again, the flock of gulls gather...
“Can you believe the nerve of that pelican? Ordering us from the garbage can as if it was his personal property! The nerve, I say. I am quite perturbed about the whole matter!”“Yes, Nigel, he was terribly rude. I dare say he would have resorted to fisticuffs, had the rest of the flock not “had our back” as they say.”“No doubt, Percy, he was most uncouth and course. I wonder where he came from? I haven’t spied him about town before today.” “I believe I heard he originated from the Jersey Shore.”
Unruffled Gulls- Part Three
This time the gulls gather for dinner...
“I say Percy, you have outdone yourself with this lunch repast. How on earth did you manage to find all this lovely food? Why there’s grilled fish, fish with a lemon and dill sauce, salmon patties and more. And enough for all.”“Why thank you, Nigel, you are too kind. It was a bit of luck. I hit an odd gust that turned me about and I ended here at this rather quaint seafood restaurant. Their dumpster certainly is a smorgasbord of delights. Tomorrow I heard they’re serving a fish bouillabaisse.”“How wonderful.”
November 18, 2014
Book Spotlight: Sceadu
A book spotlight today, with the YA fantasy novel Sceadu by Prashant Pinge.
Sceadu by Prashant Pinge
All this while, Matilda’s shadow had been growing larger and larger. Suddenly, it lunged out of the ground and swallowed her, like a python does its unsuspecting prey.
Nine year old Matilda ends up with a century old book through a series of strange coincidences. And disappears. Her brother and cousins are forced to suspend their hostilities and pursue her to Sceadu, a land inside the human shadow. Once there, the reluctant visitors find themselves chased by the vicious Hefigans, creatures of Sceadu. However, everything changes with the revelation of an ancient prophecy that foretells the doom of the world they left behind.
With the stakes suddenly raised, the children must now navigate the dangerous terrain, overcome grave challenges, and unlock the secrets of the shadow. But can they do it in time to thwart the plans of the treacherous Hefigans? Or will they succumb to the guile of a ruthless enemy who is equally determined to destroy mankind?
Sceadu is a fast-paced adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological, the real and the mythical.
You can find Sceadu on Amazon
Also, from Dec 1st to 21st, the author will be running a Rafflecopter giveaway for Sceadu. The giveaway includes 10 Amazon Gift Cards ($10 each) and 15 e-copies of Sceadu (available in EPUB, MOBI and PDF formats).
Excerpt from Sceadu
The moon had once again found refuge behind the clouds.
“Er ye tere?” croaked a voice out of the velvety darkness.
The man scraped his elbow hard against the rough edge. But the searing pain never reached his lips.
“It’s me…ol’ Marcus.” A pale shadow followed.
“Do you have it?” The words burned in the man’s throat.
The old man stumbled, and a messily wrapped packet fell out of his stubby fingers. The man dived, grabbing at it with both hands. The packet landed with a gentle thud, followed by the dull clank of his cane. “Old fool,” he hissed. “You’ve been drinking. I should send you without a dime.”
“Jest took me a few swigs,” the old man mumbled, swaying like a reed. “To give ol’ Marcus the guts to break in.”
“Quiet,” the man snarled, thrusting his fingers into his trouser pocket. “Take these and be off.” He pushed the bills into the old man’s rough hands.
“Ye promised fifty bucks,” Marcus protested, trying hard to count.
But the man hadn’t heard a word. He simply stood still, staring at the packet that promised to change the course of his destiny.
There was a tap on his shoulder. “But ye promised…”
The man swung around, his cane raised. But his grip tightened and his hand stopped. “It’s more than a hundred,” he said, clamping down his jaw. “Now get out of here.”
Old Marcus walked away, staggering slowly in his drunken stupor.
The man drew in a long breath and kept his cane aside. For a brief instant, his mind wandered off to that gloomy winter evening many years ago, to the discovery he had made in a far away corner of the country. But this wasn’t the time for reminiscing.
The man gently loosened the strings and brought out the contents, an old book. He had the means now. From here on, his path would be one that few humans had trodden through the ages. The brown wrapping slowly drifted to the ground.
The man suddenly jerked his head. But it was only old Marcus, still sauntering towards the street. The man’s shoulders relaxed; he was in control, at least for the time being. There would be challenges ahead, grave ones. The boy had probably complicated things. But he could deal with all that later.
Author bio:
Prashant Pinge was born and brought up in the picturesque neighbourhood of Shivaji Park in the bustling city of Mumbai in India.
A quiet and diligent student throughout his schooling and college years, Prashant proceeded to pursue electrical engineering at Purdue University in the United States. Over the next decade, he accumulated three more degrees, a master of science in management from Lancaster University, a post graduate program in management from Indian School of Business, and a post MBA master in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Apart from enjoying the company of books, Prashant had always had an imaginative bent of mind. But writing only happened in the fall of 2003, when a remarkably intriguing dream interrupted an uncharacteristically deep spell of slumber, compelling him to stagger to his desk and pen down the idea. That book is still a few years away from being written. Prashant, however, continues to work from his cauldron of creativity and churn out critically acclaimed works of fiction.
In addition to his literary pursuits, Prashant is Managing Partner in his marketing and branding firm, Media Panther. In his spare time, Prashant enjoys collecting old coins, reading fiction, travelling to exotic destinations, watching movies, and listening to music. He recently wrote and produced a short film titled Freedom of Expression. Prashant is also keenly interested in the subjects of psychology, mythology and ancient history.
Prashant lives with his wife and son in Mumbai.
Author web links:
Book website – http://sceadu.netAuthor website - http://prashantpinge.comAuthor Facebook page - http://facebook.com/PrashantPingeAuthorSceadu Facebook page - http://facebook.com/SceaduTheBookTwitter page - http://twitter.com/prashantpingeLinkedIn page - http://in.linkedin.com/in/prashantpingeGoogle+ page - http://plus.google.com/+PrashantPingeGoodreads page - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8393378.Prashant_Pinge
Sceadu by Prashant Pinge
All this while, Matilda’s shadow had been growing larger and larger. Suddenly, it lunged out of the ground and swallowed her, like a python does its unsuspecting prey.
Nine year old Matilda ends up with a century old book through a series of strange coincidences. And disappears. Her brother and cousins are forced to suspend their hostilities and pursue her to Sceadu, a land inside the human shadow. Once there, the reluctant visitors find themselves chased by the vicious Hefigans, creatures of Sceadu. However, everything changes with the revelation of an ancient prophecy that foretells the doom of the world they left behind.
With the stakes suddenly raised, the children must now navigate the dangerous terrain, overcome grave challenges, and unlock the secrets of the shadow. But can they do it in time to thwart the plans of the treacherous Hefigans? Or will they succumb to the guile of a ruthless enemy who is equally determined to destroy mankind?
Sceadu is a fast-paced adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological, the real and the mythical.
You can find Sceadu on Amazon
Also, from Dec 1st to 21st, the author will be running a Rafflecopter giveaway for Sceadu. The giveaway includes 10 Amazon Gift Cards ($10 each) and 15 e-copies of Sceadu (available in EPUB, MOBI and PDF formats).
Excerpt from Sceadu
The moon had once again found refuge behind the clouds.
“Er ye tere?” croaked a voice out of the velvety darkness.
The man scraped his elbow hard against the rough edge. But the searing pain never reached his lips.
“It’s me…ol’ Marcus.” A pale shadow followed.
“Do you have it?” The words burned in the man’s throat.
The old man stumbled, and a messily wrapped packet fell out of his stubby fingers. The man dived, grabbing at it with both hands. The packet landed with a gentle thud, followed by the dull clank of his cane. “Old fool,” he hissed. “You’ve been drinking. I should send you without a dime.”
“Jest took me a few swigs,” the old man mumbled, swaying like a reed. “To give ol’ Marcus the guts to break in.”
“Quiet,” the man snarled, thrusting his fingers into his trouser pocket. “Take these and be off.” He pushed the bills into the old man’s rough hands.
“Ye promised fifty bucks,” Marcus protested, trying hard to count.
But the man hadn’t heard a word. He simply stood still, staring at the packet that promised to change the course of his destiny.
There was a tap on his shoulder. “But ye promised…”
The man swung around, his cane raised. But his grip tightened and his hand stopped. “It’s more than a hundred,” he said, clamping down his jaw. “Now get out of here.”
Old Marcus walked away, staggering slowly in his drunken stupor.
The man drew in a long breath and kept his cane aside. For a brief instant, his mind wandered off to that gloomy winter evening many years ago, to the discovery he had made in a far away corner of the country. But this wasn’t the time for reminiscing.
The man gently loosened the strings and brought out the contents, an old book. He had the means now. From here on, his path would be one that few humans had trodden through the ages. The brown wrapping slowly drifted to the ground.
The man suddenly jerked his head. But it was only old Marcus, still sauntering towards the street. The man’s shoulders relaxed; he was in control, at least for the time being. There would be challenges ahead, grave ones. The boy had probably complicated things. But he could deal with all that later.
Author bio:
Prashant Pinge was born and brought up in the picturesque neighbourhood of Shivaji Park in the bustling city of Mumbai in India.A quiet and diligent student throughout his schooling and college years, Prashant proceeded to pursue electrical engineering at Purdue University in the United States. Over the next decade, he accumulated three more degrees, a master of science in management from Lancaster University, a post graduate program in management from Indian School of Business, and a post MBA master in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Apart from enjoying the company of books, Prashant had always had an imaginative bent of mind. But writing only happened in the fall of 2003, when a remarkably intriguing dream interrupted an uncharacteristically deep spell of slumber, compelling him to stagger to his desk and pen down the idea. That book is still a few years away from being written. Prashant, however, continues to work from his cauldron of creativity and churn out critically acclaimed works of fiction.
In addition to his literary pursuits, Prashant is Managing Partner in his marketing and branding firm, Media Panther. In his spare time, Prashant enjoys collecting old coins, reading fiction, travelling to exotic destinations, watching movies, and listening to music. He recently wrote and produced a short film titled Freedom of Expression. Prashant is also keenly interested in the subjects of psychology, mythology and ancient history.
Prashant lives with his wife and son in Mumbai.
Author web links:
Book website – http://sceadu.netAuthor website - http://prashantpinge.comAuthor Facebook page - http://facebook.com/PrashantPingeAuthorSceadu Facebook page - http://facebook.com/SceaduTheBookTwitter page - http://twitter.com/prashantpingeLinkedIn page - http://in.linkedin.com/in/prashantpingeGoogle+ page - http://plus.google.com/+PrashantPingeGoodreads page - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8393378.Prashant_Pinge
