Barbara Russell's Blog, page 31

The Guitar Face Series

BrokenThe Guitar Face Series Book 1by Sasha MarshallGenre: New Adult Romance

2016 SIBA HUMOR AND NEW ADULT WINNER!
“Guitar Face rocks!" She Hearts Books Blog
I was born to make music and bring the masses to their knees . . . until, I wasn't anymore. Until the thought of doing all of this without him made me sick to my stomach.
Henley Hendrix survives a crash that kills her closest band mate. She’d like nothing more than to retire from music, to hide, to heal, to disappear. She’s tried. But her family is music royalty. Her brother is a rock star in his own right, and every friend she has is connected to the business one way or another.
I'll get sucked back in. I'm scared I won't survive rock-n-roll again. Won’t survive Jagger, won’t be able to put him back in the box.
Jagger Carlye is Henley’s dirty little secret. Rock god, her brother's best friend, part of his band, and someone who loves the guitar as much as she does. Henley’s loved him since she was a girl, but there are some things you don’t do in this world. One of them is that you don’t risk your brother’s band or your heart in an industry that feeds on rejection and scandal. Love might not be enough in a world that grinds you down and puts you in a fishbowl.
And then there is Kip. My best friend, a drummer who never shuts his mouth. I should've fallen in love with him. My world would be so much easier.
Henley comes back to the world of rock-n-roll, puts a toe in the water, and creates a ripple that will rock the safe little life she’s created for herself.
NOTE: This is a rock star romance series with a strong female lead, bad boys, and rock romance. If you are looking for a story of redemption with comic relief and a heavy sexual mind, you've found it. If you are offended by hot, tattooed rock stars, who are vulgar, then this is not the book for you. Please be warned, this book is not for anyone below the age of 18. The book contains sex, death, violence, and harsh language.


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There's No Crying in Rock-N-RollThe Guitar Face Series Book 2
Henley Hendrix—Queen of Rock-n-Roll—finds her world shattered and her heart betrayed, but is determined to get the band back together to reclaim her title in the world of rock. But when life continues to spin out of control, so does her behavior. Will she find her strength again amid all the chaos and pain, or will the bright lights consume her soul?
This is a rock star romance series with a strong female lead, bad boys, and rock romance. This book is not recommended for those under the age of 18. It is also not recommended for those who take offense to profanity, sexual situations, drugs, or violence. This is not a standalone novel. Book One Broken should be read first.


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Walking Back to GeorgiaThe Guitar Face Series Book 3
I died. I fu*&ing died, and when I woke up in a Los Angeles hospital my best friend walked away from me. It wasn’t quite the welcoming back to the world of the living I thought I’d receive, and it rattled me. 
After an overdose, Henley Hendrix retreats to Georgia to chase sobriety and get her life together. To do that, she’s got to keep her distance from Jagger and company. But when an old friend pops back into her life, a private moment is leaked to the world, and someone she never thought would walk away from her does exactly that.She’s got to deal with rejection, a stalker, her return to the rock world for a promotional tour, jungle peepers, a riot of fans, a 1% motorcycle club, a one-eyed teddy bear, and two men fighting over her. 
Just when she’s figured out how to finally be the best version of “Henley” she can be and how to stay healthy, her world is turned upside down again when her eyes are opened to something she never expected.
This book is not a stand-alone novel. Books 1 and 2 in the Guitar Face Series should be read first. If you are looking for a story of redemption with comic relief and a heavy sexual tone, you've found it. If you are offended by hot, tattooed rock stars, who are vulgar then this is not the book for you. Please be warned, this book is not for anyone below the age of 18. The book has sex, death, violence, and harsh language.


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Award-winning author Sasha Marshall is devoted to giving her readers humorous adventures with a love story sure to melt their hearts---and their minds. She wants you to laugh, cry, get angry, and sigh when you find redemption in the story, because that's the roller coaster of real life. Her knowledge of the music industry comes from being a touring concert photographer with legendary bands such as The Allman Brothers Band and others she met along the way. A self-proclaimed free spirit, she’s most often found outdoors, or painting a canvas, capturing a photograph, people watching, reading a book, or writing a new book or poem. Sasha makes her home in the beautiful state of Georgia and loves to hear from readers.

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The New World

A Step BackwardThe New World Series Book 1by Andy Skrzynski Genre: SciFi Action Adventure 
"The New World" book series, by Andy Skrzynski, is a creative, science-fiction adventure depicting the life-and-death struggles on Earth after an apocalyptic period between 2019 and 2025. If you enjoy a thrilling tale full of suspense, action, a touch of romance, and a crazy twist here and there, "The New World: A Step Backward" and the sequel, "The New World: Blue Moon Generation," will help you escape your current world worries. The action's so real and descriptive you'll feel as if you're alongside Thoruk, his loyal friends, and the younger generation as they fight the warriors and vicious creatures stalking the villagers of Ukkiville in the nearby forests, lakes, and mountains before the turn of the next century.
Read more to get a taste of what's to come in, "The New World: A Step Backward."
In 2075, following the World Annihilation Period and Earth's 50-year transformation, the detested Skalag clan periodically pillages Ukkiville to murder and enslave its inhabitants. Dangers intensify as vicious, mutant beasts lurk in the shadows, preying on villagers. At the heart of this evil, the twisted scientist, Zolokt, creates killer combinations of animals, plants, and insects to inflict his acts of revenge.
Infuriated by the savage attacks, a young leader, Thoruk, and his two lifelong friends pledge their lives to protect Ukkiville. The determined ruler aims to forever put an end to Zolokt and his followers, for only then will true freedom reign in The New World.


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Blue Moon Generation The New World Series Book 2
Many peaceful years have passed since the devastating battle of 2075. The new generation, conceived under a mystical blue moon, is about to awaken to the vicious attacks unveiled through their parents' tales. Once, living only in youngsters' nightmares, ferocious mutant beasts now stir in the shadows of Ukkiville — even during the light of day. Blood-thirsty predators with glowing eyes, gnashing teeth, and razor-sharp claws prey on unsuspecting victims.
Caru, the brave but brash young daughter of Ukkiville's ruler, fears nothing. Trained by the best and possessing powers of the mind greater than her father's, she leads her two lifelong friends into the teeth of intensifying perils.
Meanwhile, in enemy caverns on the other side of the mountains, descendants of the evil Zolokt prepare as well, cloning savage creatures from DNA combinations of animals, insects, and plants. Only time will tell how many of the deadly muclones get released.


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Crimson Winter The New World Series Book 3
On the verge of winter in 2105, a vicious attack soaks a pasture with blood and crushes Ukkiville's serenity. Ominous premonitions haunt Hoot while similar dangers surge across Old North America. Tormented by nightmares, the courageous young warrior recruits her friends to join her and hunt the demon of her dreams. Before long, they encounter a beast far more ferocious than any discovered before.
Suspicions fall squarely on the village's nemesis, as Hoot and the leaders of Ukkiville fear Zo and his Skalags have advanced their DNA process to create monsters nobody can control. With little choice but to ready themselves to thwart increasing slaughters, Hoot, her brother, Skeeter, and a precocious android named Andralec hone their skills and special powers. Until the inhabitants of Ukkiville and the surrounding territory halt this growing threat, survival remains all but uncertain.


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While writing The New World trilogy proved to be one of the most exciting challenges of my life, if anyone had told me six years ago I'd be writing science fiction action-adventure novels, I would have declared them bonkers! For most of my life, I had been an engineering and programming nerd whose main reading materials included technical scientific articles and books with little time to read novels of any sort of fiction.
The few dreams I experienced during my lengthy career as a Sr. Software Development Manager at IBM mostly focused on conjuring solutions to tough technical issues at work. Never did sleep delve into imagining some fictional adventure. But that all changed after I retired from IBM in March of 2007 at age 53 with 30 rewarding years of service. The extra time on my hands provided plenty of hours to devote to more creative endeavors.
My initial attempt at writing capitalized on my 30 years of investing in all sorts of financial assets. I wanted to share my knowledge with our children to aid their financial planning. After completing more than 400 pages of the manuscript, I joined a writers' group. The members liked the technical content but advised me to liven it up to make in more attractive for my younger target audience of high school and collage graduates getting a start on life. I came up with an fictional world and a couple of quirky characters to weave into my investing lessons.
The members loved the improvements, but an unexpected problem bared itself: my brain refused to churn out nightly ideas about investments. Instead, my dreams gushed with captivating characters and an intriguing new world with plenty of vicious beasts lurking in the shadows of my mind. I had no choice but to follow the fate which unfolded night after night, providing oodles of exciting material to more than fulfill any writing desires. I provided my financial manuscript to my daughters, and from that exhilarating change of direction in 2014, I've been creating a fascinating new world at the turn of the next century!
I began writing my first novel, The New World: A Step Backward in June of 2014 and published it on June 28, 2015.  A little over a year later, on October 1, 2016, I published Book 2 of the series, The New World: Blue Moon Generation. After a bit of a delay due to the challenges of a serious family illness, I completed the final novel of the Trilogy, The New World: Crimson Winter and published it on November 6, 2018.

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Summer In Scotland

Mary Queen of the Scots: The Forgotten ReignThe Legendary Women of World History Book 3by Laurel A. Rockefeller Genre: Historical Fiction
Queen Mary Stuart was one of the most beloved and controversial women in Scottish history. The granddaughter of King James IV and his wife Margaret Tudor, Queen Mary's status as heiress-apparent to Queen Elizabeth's throne in England paired with the violence of the Scottish Reformation set the stage for one of the most dramatic and poorly understood lives of the 16th century.
Mary Queen of the Scots tells Mary's true story, focusing primarily on her reign as queen of Scotland, celebrating her life more than her death and showing us all why she was truly a woman ahead of her time.
Features a detailed timeline, a list of Latin prayers with their English translations, and the lyrics to all four featured period songs performed in the book.

**Available in 6 languages!**
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Born, raised, and educated in Lincoln, Nebraska USA Laurel A. Rockefeller is author of over twenty-five books published and self-published since August, 2012 with editions spanning across ten languages and counting. A dedicated scholar and biographical historian, Ms. Rockefeller is passionate about education and improving history literacy worldwide.
With her lyrical writing style, Laurel's books are as beautiful to read as they are informative.
In her spare time, Laurel enjoys spending time with her cockatiels, travelling to historic places, and watching classic motion pictures and classic television series. Favorites: Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Babylon 5.
Laurel proudly supports Health in Harmony, The Arbor Day Foundation, and other charities working to protect and re-plant forests globally.

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The Brin Archive

HegiraThe Brin Archives Book 1by Jim Cronin Genre: Science Fiction
Pinnacle Book Achievement Award RecipientReader's Favorite 5 Star Book Review RecipientHungry Monster Book Review 4 Star Recipient
His species became extinct decades before the aliens rescued and cloned him, but he still must do everything he can to save them all. Karm must travel back in time, create the most powerful financial empire ever seen on the planet Dyan’ta and assemble a team of experts who must be kept in the dark about his plans for fear of upsetting the timeline.
Dr. Jontar Rocker is an up and coming geneticist whose untested and controversial theories on cloning become the lynch pin in Karm’s schemes. Maripa, Karm’s petite and beautiful surrogate niece, personal secretary, and deadly bodyguard must learn to trust Karm despite his deceptions and secrets. Can the emerging love between Dr. Rocker and Maripa survive the demons and surprises of their own past, as well as Karm’s impenetrable air of mystery?
Karm and his companions must save the Brin. To do so, they must band together to overcome Brach, the ambitious and obsessed monarch. Determined to take control of Karm's vast industrial empire, Brach joins forces with his conniving brother Pareth, leader of The Faith an ultra-conservative religious order committed to stopping Dr. Rocker and his heretical efforts to develop cloning techniques. Nothing less than survival of their species is at stake.


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Recusant The Brin Archives Book 2
Hungry Monster Book Review 5 Star RecipientReader's Favorite 5 Star Book Review Recipient
In this sequel to Hegira, the Brin are thriving on their new world, but will greed, prejudices, and old rivalries tear apart their grand civilization? Maliche Rocker, descendant of The Saviors, uncovers a terrible secret and must fight those in power, including members of his own family, to save thousands of innocents from the cruelty of his own people.


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EmpyreanThe Brin Archives Book 3

In this conclusion to The Brin Archives, Maliche Rocker must risk everything including his family’s reputation and even his life, to uncover the truth about the Skae. For over three hundred years the Brin have believed the Skae to be their benefactors, and the race that rescued them from extinction. But recent revelations by a group of young Kolbri, the offspring of Brin and Kolandi mating, tell a disturbingly different story.
Three Kolbri, including Maliche’s son Jontar, must use their unique abilities to telepathically connect with technology, and discover the truth about the Skae once and for all by undertaking a perilous journey through thousands of years in space and time, unravelling the history hidden from them by Skae. During this expedition, Jontar and his two companions must encounter the Gorvin, hated enemy of the Skae and supposed instigators of the current interstellar war.
What turned the Skae and Gorvin into mortal enemies? What is the true cause of the war responsible for the destruction of hundreds of worlds over thousands of years? Will Maliche and his small group find the truth and avert disaster both at home and across the galaxy? Can his wife, Ryma, hold the Brin government together long enough for Maliche to succeed? Only time will tell.


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Jim Cronin is a retired middle school science teacher, currently working part-time as an educator/performer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, raised in Arlington, Virginia and Denver, Colorado, he became an avid science nerd at the height of the space race of the 1960's. After thirty-five years teaching science in the middle school classroom, he decided to retire and explore new worlds of opportunities, including volunteering, bicycling, and writing. It is the writing experimentation which resulted in this novel.Today, Jim Is an Educator Performer, or Edutainer if you prefer, at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The museum makes science fun and entertaining with an entire crew of performer/educators. Two years ago I was lucky enough for the museum to hire me, and pay me to come and play with kids and science.He lives in Colorado with his beautiful wife of thirty seven years. Together, they look forward to completely spoiling their new granddaughter.


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The Beautiful One

The Beautiful Ones The Beautiful Ones Trilogy Book 1by Kody Boye Genre: YA Scifi Romance 
My mother once said that only the Beautiful Ones survive. This is because, in the war-torn Great South, beauty is a currency, and to have it means you will never have to worry about a thing.The only problem is: beauty is judged by our capital’s Gentlewomen, and there is no guarantee that we will past their test.Every year, the Gentlewomen of the capital leave the Glittering City to oversee the annual Procession. They travel settlement to settlement selecting girls, aged sixteen and older, to become Beautiful Ones. If chosen, we will be lifted into a life of luxury, but the cost is our free will.

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The War Outside The Beautiful Ones Trilogy Book 2
I have accomplished the goal of my lifetime. I have become a Beautiful One.
But it is not at all what I expected. Between the glitz, the glam, the fame, fortune, and my recent wedding, it’s almost impossible to believe that a civil war rages beyond the capitol city’s walls, and that my life was nearly taken because of it. This is why, the day after the attempt on my life, I choose to designate my Purpose to the great war.
There’s no guarantee that my words will change anything. But as my presence within the Glittering City grows, it becomes quickly apparent that I am in danger… and that no one, not even my government, can save me.


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Born and raised in Southeastern Idaho, Kody Boye began his writing career with the publication of his story [A] Prom Queen’s Revenge at the age of fourteen. Published nearly three-dozen times before going independent at eighteen, Boye has authored numerous works—including the short story collection Amorous Things, the novella The Diary of Dakota Hammell, the zombie novel Sunrise and the epic fantasy series The Brotherhood Saga.



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The Poet of the Heart

The Poet of the Heartby LaNona Walker Genre: Poetry
People can fade away, rose petals can be crushed and things can be lost, but at least you’ll remember how it was. The Poet of The Heart is a poetry collection that touches everything the heart can feel, hope for, cherish, and even regret. In a collection of poems ranging from romantic to heart-wrenching, LaNona Walker dives into her passions and writes from the heart. Fragmented pieces of dreams and losses combine to bring you a touching series of stories that have deeper meanings in their rhymes and lyrics.

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LaNona Walker is a book-aholic and major coffee drinker. When she’s not jotting stories down or getting lost in books, she can be found baking delicious treats while jamming to music or re-watching movies (mostly Marvel) with her Pug. Or getting dragged away from a bookstore by family members and friends.

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Returning to Mr Darcy

Returning to Mr. Darcy by Sheena Austin Genre: Time Travel Romance 
Elizabeth Bennet has the perseverance and heart of a warrior, but life has knocked her down and she has lost her spark. However, after a car accident and awakening to find herself back in time with a man who calls her his wife, she finally finds the spark she had lost. She realizes it’s time to stop being scared and embrace the impossible.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is plagued with the possibility of his wife never recovering from amnesia. He shrugs off her odd habits as side effects of her accident. Distraught, he finds solace in keeping his distance at the bottom of a glass of whiskey. He assumes she has another lover, since she calls out for another man in the middle of the night, and when he sees her in the arms of another man, he is heartbroken, and finds it all too easy to sever what ties remain. When he comes to know the error of his ways, he wonders if Elizabeth could ever forgive him for his harsh judgment.


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Sheena Austin is the author of Returning to Mr. Darcy and Alexandria. A lover of all romance, fantasy, cat whisperer, and Kermit obsessed, the author currently lives in Virginia with her boyfriend and two cats. She is a substitute teacher and aspires to fulfill her dream of being a Special Education teacher.

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Human Flesh

I'm pleased to host today Nick Clausen, the author of a suspense/horror novel, Human Flesh.


During the winter of 2017, a series of strange occurrences took place in a small town of northern Maine. A rational explanation for what happened has still not been presented. Now, for the first time, all the available written evidence is being released to the public from what is commonly know as the Freyston case.

Human Flesh was originally published in Danish to great reviews, and is now available in English. This dark winter horror story will also satisfy crime lovers, as the plot is told through written evidence in a fictitious murder case. For fans of Hannibal Lecter and Pet Sematary.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07SQRDHFB/

 EVIDENCE NO. 3
Transcription of voice mail message from Michael James Cochran to Frederick James Cochran,
Sunday, February 12, 2017, 3:02 PM.

[…] Hi Dad, it’s me. I was hoping to catch you, but … well, I guess you’re probably busy shoveling snow, right? [brief laughter] … Boy, it’s really coming down, huh? We’re almost up to our waists around here, and I just heard it was even worse for you guys up there … Anyway, uhm … I was actually calling to ask if you, uhm, I know it’s been a while and all, but, uhm … how would you feel about having the kids come visit you for a week or so? We were going to Pittsfield … you know we usually go there in the winter holidays, right? … Well, you see, I managed to fall down and sprain my ankle out in the driveway. Nice going, huh? [grunting laughter] So, uhm … no skiing for us this year. But then I thought … [clears throat] … the kids might go and visit you instead. They’ll bore themselves silly spending the week in the house with me, so I, uhm … if it’s fine with you, of course … I could put them on the train tomorrow morning … But, you know, I understand if you have other things to do, that’s perfectly fine, we’ll just figure out something else then … Anyways, uhm … I’ll let you go. Give me a call when you get the message, all right? Thanks, Dad […]

EVIDENCE NO. 5
Entry from the blog My Otha Life by Otha Cochran,
Monday, February 13, 2017, 11:08 PM.

This was supposed to be a short entry. I just wanted to tell you guys how the planned vacation I have been looking forward to for months was cancelled at the last minute, thanks to my clumsy dad who tripped over a pile of snow in the driveway and sprained his ankle.

Instead he arranged for me and my brother to go visit my Grandpa who lives all the way up in Maine. Sounds awesome, right? #sarcasm

At first, I thought it would be too lame to write an entry telling you about what’s going on up here, but I’ve actually changed my mind. A few things happened today which made me think the vacation won’t be as dull as I feared. In any case, writing a few entries will give me something to do. I apologize in advance if these aren’t going to be the most thrilling entries I’ve done.

(By the way, I wanted to once again thank all you guys following my blog. I still can’t believe the everyday life of a nineteen-year-old hopefully-someday-writer is that interesting, but I’m very flattered.)

All right, here goes.

The train ride was, as expected, dreadful. It lasted 8 hours! We were delayed several times due to snow on the tracks, and apparently about a million people were going home on winter holidays, because the train was stuffed to the rafters.

When we finally got off, it had (surprise, surprise) started snowing. Like, really snowing. It was drifting so much you could barely open your eyes—which of course didn’t bother Hugh in the slightest; he immediately threw himself down and started making snow angles. (Sometimes I seriously consider if he has some sort of undiagnosed mental disorder.)

I couldn’t see Grandpa’s car anywhere; in fact, there were no cars at all in the parking lot next to the station. I had to bite off my glove in order to get to my phone and call him up, but he didn’t answer. I tried a few times, but no luck. I thought he was probably just running late.

So, we started waiting.

Twenty minutes later, still no sign of Grandpa. I was halfway dead from the cold, and I was just on the verge of crying, when our savior showed up.

A large pickup truck came plowing through the snow and stopped right in front of us. At first, I actually thought it was Grandpa, as he too drives a pickup (I guess pretty much everyone drives a pickup up here), but it wasn’t him.

As the window rolled down, a young guy with a beard said in a thick accent: “Hello there. You guys don’t look like a regular pair of maniacs.”

“Well, we’re not,” I said, feeling very confused.

He laughed aloud, like it was some kind of joke.

I explained to him that we were visiting and our grandpa was supposed to pick us up. He asked me for Grandpa’s name, and I was puzzled at this at first, but then I realized that of course everyone knows each other up here. And sure enough, the guy lit up when I told him Grandpa’s name.

“Well, what do you know?” he laughed. “I had no idea Old Fred had any grandchildren, that darn old-timer.”

Then he offered to take us to Grandpa’s house. Now, normally, I would have turned down an offer like that in a heartbeat—although the guy seemed friendly, you just never know. But I was about half a minute away from pneumonia, so I decided to take the chance.

Inside the car, the air heater was blowing at full force, and there was a pleasant smell, not cow dung or armpit sweat like I’d expected. The cabin was pretty clean too, except for a few candy wrappers on the floor.

The guy drove responsibly, the conditions considered. He kept saying how “greasy” the road was—I’m not fluent in Maine-lingo, but I think he meant “slippery”—and we didn’t meet any other drivers who had dared venture outside. He was pretty talkative, and according to all my prejudices, he was dressed in a thick work jacket with a big woolen collar, worn-out jeans and heavy boots.

“You know, I could tell right away you guys were flatlanders,” he said at one point. “Where are you from? Boston?”

I told him yes, we had come from Boston, and we were going to spend the week at Grandpa’s due to the cancelled skiing trip. He told us his name was Martin, but everyone called him Mowgli.

Hugh asked him where he got the nickname from.

“I loved climbing trees when I was your age,” Martin said with a shrug, and I could tell right away Hugh got himself a new idol.

The two of them started talking about skiing, and Martin offered to take Hugh out on a beach one of the days. His plan was to tie a rope to the car and drag Hugh behind it, skiing—or “car-skiing” as he called it. “I’ve done it a million times with my friends,” he boasted, blinking at me in the rearview mirror. “That way, you get to do a little skiing after all. How about you? You want to try?”

“No, thank you,” I said, trying to sound firm, but I think I accidentally smiled a little.

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. And yes, Martin is quite charming, if you can get past the accent, and if you’re into the farmer-type. I don’t know, there was just something very open about him, the way he just talked to us like he’d known us forever.

But before you guys go apesh*t in the comments, let me make it clear nothing will happen, all right? First off, I don’t even know if Martin has a girlfriend or wife. He didn’t wear a ring (yes, I checked, okay?) but you never know. And secondly, he’s like ten years older than me.

Good. Glad we got that out of the way. Back to the story.

Grandpa lives about ten minutes outside Freyston, a tiny dump of a town. As we drove up the icy driveway and saw Grandpa’s house up ahead, Hugh noticed all the lights were out.

Now, I just need to explain real quick about Grandpa’s property. It’s an old farm consisting of four buildings: the machine house, the barn, the cow barn and the main house. I won’t bore you with the architectural details, my point is simply how large a place it is for one old guy. And all the four buildings were black as night in the already dim evening.

Martin parked in the courtyard, and as I looked up at the dark windows, I got a really odd feeling that we might find Grandpa dead from a heart attack. I can’t explain it, it was just a thought.

I thanked Martin for the ride and offered to pay him, to which he simply laughed. But he said he would stay in the car until we were sure everything was all right, which made me feel a little better. So, we left the car with our bags and rushed through the snowy wind into the house.

Seeing and smelling the old scullery brought back memories from my childhood, and my Grandpa’s old dog, Skip, a small terrier mix, came running out to greet us. He has gotten a few more gray hairs around his muzzle, and he honestly didn’t seem that excited to see us, in fact he was more whimpering than anything. I just tell you this because it struck me as very odd, and because it enhanced my sense of something being wrong.

Hugh, on the other hand, clearly had no worries. He kicked off his boots and ran up the stairs, calling for Grandpa. I figured Grandpa was probably taking a nap in his upstairs bedroom, and Hugh would be sure to wake him up.

I had started freezing again after we left the car, so I kept my jacket on and went out to the kitchen. It was pretty obvious Grandpa lives alone, judging from the piles of dirty dishes. I couldn’t find the light switch, so I went on to the TV lounge, which was also cold, dark and empty; the ancient leather furniture looked even more worn than I remembered.

I suddenly realized just how cold the house was, and I noticed the window being ajar, the curtain swaying in the draft. I quickly closed it and felt the radiator: completely cold. I had no idea why Grandpa would have shut off the heat and opened the window.

Upstairs I could hear Hugh still calling and opening and closing doors, obviously looking for Grandpa. My sense of dread increased still further, and I was just about to turn around and go upstairs when my eye caught something through the French door into the dining room. It was dark in there, too, but the windows were visible as bright rectangles, and in front of one of them stood a tall, gangly figure. It kind of looked like Grandpa, except I didn’t remember him being that thin.

I went and opened the door, but the man by the window didn’t move as I entered the room. I could tell he had his back to me, as though he had gone to look out the window and then fallen into a trance.

“Grandpa?” I asked low, not wanting to scare him.

No reaction.

Suddenly, I got a very strange feeling that the man wasn’t my Grandpa. I know it’s totally silly—I mean, who else could it be?

I squinted my eyes in an effort to see his features more clearly, and I realized to my astonishment he was naked except for a pair of white undies.

I’m not kidding. I know I should have felt embarrassed, but for some reason it just made me even more uneasy. Something was definitely not right.

“Grandpa?” I said, louder.

Still, the man didn’t stir. I noticed the faint whisper of the wind blowing through the room, and I noticed the windows in here were also standing ajar.

Finally, it dawned on me to turn on the lights. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier, but the situation was just so unreal and I was really confused and scared. I found the switch and flicked it.

At long last, the man by the window reacted and started turning slowly around. I gaped at him. It was my Grandpa all right, but I almost didn’t recognize him. His cheeks were hollow, his lips thin and dry, the skin around his eyes was very dark, the eyes themselves were really haunting, being way too dark, like almost black, as though the pupils had grown to blot out the white.

There was something strange above his head, too, although it must have been the shadows playing a trick on me—but for a brief second, I could have sworn Grandpa had a couple of branches sticking out of the top of his skull. Yeah, I know. It sounds completely bonkers.

It was all over in a blink of an eye, then Grandpa looked exactly like I remembered him—the only odd thing about him being the missing clothes.

“Well, if it isn’t Otha,” he said, his face lighting up. “I was just wondering when you guys would show up.”
Five stars for this horror – mystery novel. This isn’t what I’d usually read, but this story was captivating and gripping. Otha and her brother Huge visit their grandpa, and immediately Otha notices strange things about her gramps’ behaviour. She worries he might be getting dementia. Meanwhile, a woman, Esme, disappears. Otha tries to uncover the secrets behind her gramps’ attitude.The story is told through blog entries, texts, and transcripts of police reports. It’s a bit like the movie Clovenfield… with a shocking final twist. 


Live in Denmark. Been writing since the age of 18. Promised to type 1,000 words a day until I got a book published. Kept that promise 18 months and 13 manuscripts later. Have written and published +25 books. Lived as a full-time writer since 2017. Started translating my books into English in 2019. Prefer horror, paranormal and sci-fi. Prefer dogs, but like cats too.


https://www.nickclausenbooks.com/
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SQRDHFB/

1. What is something unique/quirky about you?

I’m not sure if it’s really that unique or quirky, but I translate my own books into English. Danish is my native language, and I always write the stories in Danish first, send them off to a traditional publisher, and then I translate them into English and self-publish via Kindle.

2. What are some of your pet peeves?

People making stupid decisions in their lives (and God knows there are plenty of them!)

3. Where were you born/grew up?

In Denmark, a small Scandinavian country. I grew up in the country with open fields all around, and I still live here with my wife, our two dogs and a bunch of chickens.

4. Who is your hero and why?

I really admire Stephen King for the crazy amount of great stories he has been able to write. As a writer, I can’t think of anyone who has inspired me more. It was also his book On Writing that got me started way back when.

This might sound weird, but I also admire people who work on themselves, especially in terms of mental illness, like depression, anxiety and other kinds of disorders. I know how hard it can be winning those battles, and just making the decision to fight for a better life for yourself and the people around you is really admirable!

5. What are you passionate about these days?

Mostly translating my books into English, but also learning to do my own covers. I’ve made all the English covers except Dreamland, and I think I’m still getting better at it.

6. What do you do to unwind and relax?

Meditate! More specifically, I practice deep breathing and focusing my attention on the now. I also like to just sit around, not thinking or doing anything, or maybe watching a movie that doesn’t require me to think. That’s very relaxing!

7. Describe yourself in 5 words or less!

Storyteller, husband, soon-to-be dad!

8. When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When my first book got accepted by the publisher. I didn’t have anyone around to share the excitement with at that moment, so I just ran out onto the street and yelled to the sky. Honestly, I did.

9. What inspired you to write this book?

I first came across the wendigo (the bad guy of the story) in Algernon Blackwood’s ancient book The Wendigo, and I found it really fascinating. I’ve also always loved Hannibal Lecter, and just really wanted to write a scary story about cannibalism. There was a really tough winter in Denmark a few years back, where the snow just kept coming down and the traffic broke down and everything. That mood of everything being frozen, dark and shut down was very creepy, and it gave me the idea for the setting of the story.

10. Do you believe in writer’s blocks?

I haven’t tried a real writer’s block in the way it’s typically portrayed, where you just can’t find the words. I can always find the words, but sometimes, if I’ve pushed myself to hard, the creative energy tank seems to try up, and I don’t want to write. Then I simply rest for a few days or maybe weeks, and that always gets the flow going again.

I’ve also tried the thing where you’re writing away, feeling great, and then suddenly, you just feel like something is off. It’s hard to tell, but usually something isn’t right anymore, like the story has somehow taken a wrong turn (I guess this mostly happens because I don’t plan out my stories). Then I need to go back and figure out where I went wrong and fix it. It might take me a few days of brooding, but I always find a way past it. I’m not sure if that’s a block, though, or simply an obstacle.

I actually did a blog post on the subject, called How To Get Past Writer’s Blocks. You can check it out here: https://nickclausenbooks.com/blog/block.htm

11. Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

I think Human Flesh would do quite nicely as a movie. although the quirky thing about how the story is told through written first-hand evidence would be lost. On less it was made as a mockumentary, of course, like Lake Mungo (that’s a pretty good movie, if you haven’t seen it).

But maybe my book They Come at Night would be easier to adapt into a movie. I’ve always thought that book felt very much like a movie, and I think it would be very easy to adapt into a movie script (hint-hint, if any movie people are reading this!)

12. What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoyed how easy it was. Many readers comment on how hard it must have been to plot out and keep track of all the little pieces and clues that are laid out through the story, but the truth is, I didn’t even plan it out! I just got the idea and went for it, making it up as I went along. The format of written evidence would seem to be limiting, but in fact I found the quite opposite: there was always some obvious way for me to tell the next chapter. When story telling is that easy and fluent, it’s a true joy!

Sum Of All Tears

IcehavenSum of All Tears Book 1by Kim Cresswell & M.K. Chester Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian, Paranormal 
They said it wouldn't happen.
Everything would be better.
They were wrong.
After a climate change experiment goes terribly wrong, August Madison, finds herself resurrected in a frozen wasteland.
With most of the world's population and food sources annihilated, depraved nomadic gangs patrol the lawless landscape as outlasters claw for survival.
Amid the chaos, Graysen Marx, iron-fisted leader of the domed settlement Liberty, emerges from the catastrophic event with his own agenda.
When August crosses his path, he sees an opportunity he must exploit.
She sees an evil she must destroy.
Fans of The Day after Tomorrow, The Handmaid's Tale, Mad Max, and The Hunger Games are sure to enjoy this enthralling post apocalyptic dystopian adventure with a paranormal twist.


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LibertySum of All Tears Book 2
A new enemy rises.
Surviving the cold is only the beginning.
In the second installment of the exciting Sum of all Tears series, a core group of survivors from Liberty travel to Boston, endangering themselves and those they left behind in a winner-takes-all showdown that will leave readers breathless.Fans of The Day after Tomorrow, The Handmaid's Tale, Mad Max, and The Hunger Games are sure to enjoy this enthralling post apocalyptic dystopian adventure with a paranormal twist.

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Kim Cresswell resides in Ontario, Canada and is the bestselling and award-winning author of the action-packed WHITNEY STEEL series.Her romantic thriller, Reflection (A Whitney Steel Novel – Book One), has won numerous awards including RomCon®’s 2014 Readers’ Crown Finalist (Romantic Suspense), InD’tale Magazine 2014 Rone Award Finalist (Suspense/Thriller), UP Authors Fiction Challenge Winner, Silicon Valley’s Romance Writers of America (RWA) “Gotcha” contest. Kim also signed a 3-book German translation deal with LUZIFER Verlag for the first three books in the series: Reflection, Retribution and Resurrect. Lethal Journey won RomCon®’s 2014 Readers’ Crown (Thriller).The Assassin Chronicles TV series was in development with Council Tree Productions. The TV series is based on Kim’s upcoming 4-book paranormal/supernatural thriller series: Deadly Shadow (May 2018), Invisible Truth, Assassin’s Prophecy, and Vision of Fire.


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M.K. Chester is an RWA award-winning author of historical and contemporary romance. Her first novel, Surrender to the Roman, is currently published with Carina Press. Her three-book historical series, Bryeton Books, focuses on love, loss and redemption in small town America at the turn of the 20th century, while her latest release, Crashed, is the first book in the contemporary New South Series. M.K. is a native Buckeye who lives in Tennessee. She’s married to a veteran, recently became a MoM (Mother of Marine), and will soon become a grandmother. She adores her Scottish Terriers and is fighting MS.

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Detour To Paradise

Detour to Paradise by River Ames Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance 
Lucas Rockworth—a hard-driving force of nature has been ordered by his doctor to take some time off and get his blood pressure under control. You would think buying a cabin in the natural splendor known as Gray Horse Lake, Idaho, would do the trick. All that mountain greenery, crystal blue lakes and rivers, and nature-run-amok had to be exactly what the doctor had ordered.
Enter Sarah Burke… The innocently enticing young entrepreneur who’s opening an equestrian camp for children with handicaps.
Her initial impression of him is clearly wrong. For some reason, known to the reader but unknown to him, Sarah mistakenly believes that Lucas Rockworth is a shy, sensitive man. After having to deal a lifetime with a dominating older brother and controlling father, she finds these traits very appealing.
Her recent breakup with someone who could best be described as a bully has Sarah longing for a kinder, gentler man in her life.
Lucas tells himself that, since he makes his living as a general contractor, he has the hands-on experience to make himself into anything Miss Sarah Burke is looking for.
It shouldn’t be that great a stretch to become a modern, sensitive kind of guy, should it? She wants Mr. Rogers… Well, darn, he can manage that for the short time he’s in Idaho.
How hard can it be to tame his darker, more cynical side?
As for Sarah Burke? She thinks she’s met a real life version of Mr. Rogers. But, the reader knows its Rambo who’s come a’courting.
Would the real Lucas Rockworth care to step forward?


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River Ames spent the first eighteen years of her life in Southern California. Here is a partial list of some of the cities in which she lived: Pasadena, South Pasadena, Duarte, El Monte, Arcadia La Puente, Lomita, West Covina, Pacifica, Santa Monica, Palmdale, and Hacienda Heights. In some of those cities, she lived at six different addresses. In the city of La Puente, River's family lived in four different houses on the same street. The non-glamorous reason for all the moves was habitual eviction necessitated for non-payment of rent. It was an interesting way to grow up.
River attended twenty-six different elementary schools, two different junior high schools and four different high schools. In one elementary school, she was a student for only three days.
Perhaps, because she was so frequently identified as the "new girl," the pattern of River being an observer instead of a participant in the interactions going on around her seemed a logical fit for her personality.
When she was thirteen, River read "Gone with the Wind." She skipped three days of school in order to finish the book in one sitting. Disappointed in Rhett for "not giving a damn," River wrote her own sequel--in long hand, on three-hole punch, notebook paper. The opening line? "Tomorrow dawned bright and fair." In less than fifty pages, Scarlett had been transformed into Jane Eyre and Rhett had fallen in love with her all over again.
After Southern California, River has spent the next part of her life living in the semi-rural town of Idaho Falls, Idaho. She is a graduate of Idaho State University, majoring in Health Education Sciences and Addiction Counseling. She's worked the past ten years at a Behavioral Health Center where she assisted children, teenagers, and adults committed in a 24/7 secured facility because of mental health challenges they are experiencing.
River's books celebrate the good-natured humor that lays at the heart of most of our human predicaments. The conflicts are significant, yet it is her characters and their quirky (yet somehow universally relatable) thoughts, words, and choices that reflect a light-hearted peek into a world we wish was real. The amazing thing is that these worlds are real to readers for the time they visit there.
Readers have said: "In a River Ames book, one minute I'm laughing out loud, and the next I have a lump in my throat."
River is currently readying a historical novel, "Gideon's Justice." This three-part novel is Book I in a three volume western series set in the Colorado Territory.

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