Young's Blog, page 8
July 1, 2019
Welcome to the WATCH "RWISA" WRITE Showcase Tour! #RRBC #RWISA
John W. Howell - THE ROAD
The Road by John W. Howell �� 2019
Just a couple more hours and I���ll be able to rest my eyes. Been on this damn highway for what seems like forever. His head slowly nods until the rumble strip noise causes him to jerk awake. ���I have been asleep,��� he yells. He yanks the wheel, and the tires screech in protest as he swerves back on to the highway. He can feel his heart in his chest and pressure in his eyes. In an instant, he regrets being so weak as to give in to the physical need. He also becomes alarmed since now he knows that sleep could overtake him without notice. One second, his eyes could be open and the next closed. Thank God for the jarring and noise of the rumble strips since without its alarm, he is sure he would have ended up piled into a tree.
As his heart settles down, he concentrates on the road ahead. There���s someone at the side about a half mile away. A hitchhiker by the looks of a backpack. A sign in the person���s hand is not readable at this distance. The thought occurs that It would be a good thing to have someone else in the car to help him stay awake. Of course, there are dangers in picking up a stranger. As he gets closer, he can see that the hitchhiker is not a guy like he thought. It���s a young woman about his age. She is wearing some kind of overalls, but the distinctive female form still comes through. He decides to slow down and assess the situation. A girl makes all the difference in trying to reach a decision for or against a pickup. After all, who knows where this could lead? He does know that in all probability, she is not likely to stick a knife in his ribs and demand his wallet after a couple of miles down the road.
He eases the car to the shoulder and can���t help kick up some dust in the process. The sign is facing him even as the person turns away to avoid the dust storm he has created. Kansas City in black marker on cardboard is all it says.
He opens the passenger door and waves her over. ���I���m going to Kansas City. Want a ride?���
The young woman looks back at him, and he can tell she is doing an evaluation on the safety prospects of accepting a lift. She slowly hoists her backpack on to her shoulder and walks with hesitant steps toward the car. She puts her hand above her eyes to cut the glare of the sun and stops short of the door. She leans in. ���Did you say you���re going to Kansas City?���
���Yes. Yes, I did. I also asked if you would like a ride.���
���That all depends on your intentions?���
���My intentions?���
���Yeah. You are offering a ride. How much will it cost me?���
���Cost you? I���m going to Kansas City. Your sign says Kansas City. Why would it cost you anything?���
���Just want to make sure is all.���
���No charge. I���ve been on the road forever, it seems, and I would welcome the company. My name is James.���
���Sorry, James. I know I sounded a little ungrateful, but I have also been on the road and have met several guys that think I owe them something for a ride.���
���I can understand that. Let���s just say you can ride or not it���s your choice. No other decisions to be made.���
���Fair enough. I accept your offer. My name is Sarah.��� She slides in and slams the door.
���Nice to meet you, Sarah. You want to put your backpack in the rear?���
���No, I���ll just keep it here in the front with me. You can never tell.���
���Tell what?���
���When I���ll have to bail. Everything I own is in this pack, and I sure wouldn���t want to leave it behind.���
���I get it. No use trusting someone just cause they say you can.���
���Right. I think I like you, James.���
���Wainwright. My last name���s Wainwright. How about you?���
���Not sure I have a last name. I go by Sarah.���
���No last name? How can that be?���
���You going to start this car or is my fear well founded.���
James flushes as he turns the ignition. ���Yeah, here we go.��� He looks in the side mirror and signals as he pulls back on the highway.
���You are a cautious one. There���s no one for miles.���
���I guess it���s a habit from city driving.��� He keeps checking in the mirror until he is up to highway speed
���Where you from, James?���
���New York. You?���
���I think I was originally from down south somewhere.���
���You don���t know?���
���Well, it���s been a long time.��� She pauses.
James glances at her and sees that she is lost in thought somewhere. Her skin is fair, and she has the high cheekbones and lips of a runway model. She looks vaguely familiar, and he compares her looks to Joni Mitchell. There is that innocent, fragile look that makes you want to take care of her.
���I���m sorry. What did you say?��� She is back.
���I didn���t say anything. I���m amazed you don���t know where you are from.���
���Well do you remember where you���re from or is it someone told you?���
She has a point. James only knew he was born in Chicago because his parents told him so. He lived in New York for twenty years so unless clued in he would have thought he lived there his whole life. ���I guess I should rephrase the question. Where did you last live?���
���Yes, James. That makes a little more sense. I last lived in Dubuque, Iowa.���
���What a coincidence. I am driving from Dubuque. Do you believe that?���
���I can believe that. Someone once said there are only six degrees of separation of everyone on Earth. You and I traveling from Dubuque at the same time certainly falls into that realm.���
���Aw come on, Sarah. We are both going from Dubuque to Kansas City. That has to be more than a coincidence.���
���I never said I was going to Kansas City, James.���
���Wait. You have that sign that says Kansas City.���
���Doesn���t mean I���m going there.���
���What does it mean?���
���You think I know?���
���I���m getting a weird feeling here, Sarah. Like you aren���t telling me something.���
���Do you remember swerving after you ran off the highway?���
���What? Back there. Yeah, I remember almost falling asleep. Hey, wait a minute. How would you know about that?���
���Think a minute, James. How do you think I would know about that moment?���
���Sarah I���m too tired for guessing games. What is this all about?���
���Do you feel okay, James?���
���Yeah, just tired.���
���Look around. Do you see any other cars?���
���No, but I haven���t for a while. What are you trying to tell me, Sarah?���
���You fell asleep James.���
���When did I fall asleep? I know I nodded off, but when did I fall asleep?���
���Just before your car went off the road and you hit a cement culvert.���
���Now, you are joking. Right? Right, Sarah?���
���No joke, James. Look ahead. What do you see?���
���Uh up the road, you mean?���
���Yes, up the road.���
���Nothing but what looks like a sandstorm.���
���It���s no storm, James. It is nothing.���
���Who are you anyway?���
���Do you remember that little girl who went missing in the second grade?���
���Yeah, what does that have to do with you?���
���Does the nickname Jimmy Jeans mean anything?���
���That���s what Sarah called me in the second grade.���
���How did I know that?���
���You wouldn���t unless.���
���Unless I���m Sarah.���
���Oh My God. Sarah. It is you. Where have you been?���
���That���s not important. What is important is you were broken hearted when I vanished. You prayed for my return and made promises to God if only I would come back.���
���I never got over that either. I think of that little gir��. I mean, I thought of you almost every day. Why didn���t I recognize you?���
���Cause I���m all grown up. There would be no way.���
���Where have you been Sarah. I have missed you so much.���
���Don���t cry, James. I���m here with you now.���
���Can you tell me what happened to you?���
���No, James, it���s not worth the time.���
���So why now? Why are you here now?���
���To help you, James.���
���To help me. How?���
���To understand what your life is like now.���
���Now? What do you mean?���
���You were in an accident, James. You ran off the road, and I am sorry to say your body didn���t survive. You are now going with me on an eternal trip.���
���You are saying I���m dead. I can���t believe that. Look at me. I���m just as alive as you.���
���That���s right. You are.���
���Um, Sarah?���
���Yes, James.���
���You are dead too?���
���Yes, James. A man took me from school and killed me. They never found my body.���
���W-what?���
���Don���t think about that now. Think about the future. Because you prayed so hard and missed me so much, I was given the honor of escorting you to the other side.���
���Other side? There���s a Future?���
���A wonderful one. You and I for all time.���
���I would like that.���
���Take my hand then. Let���s be off.���
���I have more questions.���
���All in good time, James. All in good time.���
*********************
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June 15, 2019
FLAMES by C.P. Mandara
FLAMES
I���ve been left in the hands of a monster. He���s beaten me up, torn my flesh to ribbons, and tried to steal my soul ��� but even though I crave death, my body refuses to die.
Just when I begin to think that there is no God, an angel arrives to save me. Now it���s James Leveritt against Alain Dumortier with my life riding in the balance. I���m in love with both of them, but I���ll need to kill one if I want to survive.
The stakes have never been higher.
******************
Excerpt - James
Gliding forwards, silent and deadly as a panther, I continued on my path until I was standing right before them. Clearing my throat loudly, I waited for the happy couple to acknowledge my arrival.
Lois was the first to do so. ���Fuck,��� she spat. Springing away from Adie, she brought her hand up to her mouth as if to wipe away all evidence of their kiss. That immediately drew my gaze up to her face, where I focused on her beautifully swollen, red lips. Slowly, very, very slowly, my eyes reached hers.
"Hello, darling," I purred.
���You���re supposed to be in Paris,��� she whispered shakily, his fingers twisting nervously around her throat.
"My board meeting for tomorrow was canceled, so I got to come home a day early. Lucky me," I drawled. My eyes switched to Adie, who was now backing away from me in order to make his escape. I curled my finger forward, beckoning him towards me, to let him know that wouldn't be an option.
���Have you met my wife, Lois?��� I asked the question pleasantly enough, but for those that cared to listen, there was an undercurrent of menace in my tone.
���I didn���t know she was married,��� barked a now very uncomfortable Adie.
All eyes in the room now circled us like greedy vultures, watching and waiting for the first casualty. People were so predictable.
���That is generally what a wedding band is for, isn���t it?��� I asked, holding Lois���s hand aloft in the air, to demonstrate that she was indeed wearing my ring.
Adie swallowed tightly. His eyes nervously fluttered upon the glinting gold on Lois���s finger.
���I didn���t look,��� he stammered.
���I can see that. Perhaps next time you���re in the same position, you���ll make a point of doing so,��� I suggested, to which he nodded heavily. Of course, he wasn���t going to get off that easily.
���Meanwhile, I need to figure out what to do with you and my wife. Clearly, you both need to be taught a lesson.���
���What���s your excuse by the way?��� I said, turning towards the beautiful temptress that was now looking a little green around the gills. ���Did you forget that you were married? Is this a temporary spell of amnesia that I should be worried about?���
She began backing away from me, too. ���I think we should go home,��� she said eventually, inching closer towards the door.
���Do you think you���ll be able to explain it better there?��� I said it quietly, but by this time there wasn���t a sound to be heard in the room bar our little disaster unfolding.
Amazon Link: mybook.to/flamesmes
May 10, 2019
#RRBC RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB���S "SPOTLIGHT" Author Blog Tour!! "SPOTLIGHT" Author, Charles Jones!!
The biggest problem presented to Mary and Darrin is finding replacements for cards. What does that mean? Well, it���s simple, anytime anyone dies in World Circus, the card needs a soul to take the place of the one who���s left. All the ���replacement��� or ���replacer��� needs to do is touch the card, and they are whisked into World Circus. The following excerpt is how Mary goes about finding her first replacements, and the effects on the people going to World Circus.
Excerpt from Chapter 29
Her glow returned as she stepped outside, pushing the cart with the table and chairs. She needed to focus on the task before of her, and this was not the time to think about a change in their lifestyle. Putting the table near the entrance to the alley, she glanced along the sidewalk. The white of the table and chairs reflected the lights hanging in the trees and shining through the windows of the coffee shop. She placed a few handwritten signs on the counter inside near the cream and sugar station.
���How much?��� the young woman asked her as she approached sipping a latte.
Mary hadn���t thought of a price. How much did a fortuneteller charge for a reading?
���Five dollars.��� She said the first number that popped into her head.
The woman agreed and sat in the chair opposite her. Her first, what was she? Victim? Customer? It didn���t matter. What mattered was getting replacements. She removed the cards from the polishing bag, placing them on the table. Taking the first card from the stack, she put it face up on the table. Nine of Buckets smiled up at them.
���Place your hand on the card,��� she said as the smell of kettle corn wafted around them. The woman smiled, reaching forward. ���This card represents you and what you wish for.���
Her fingertips grazed the surface of the card.
Nine of Buckets awoke in his trailer in Clown Wood. He yawned and stretched, thinking of what he wished for the day. Hearing the caterwauling of other Clowns outside made him grin. Unknown to him, they cheered when they saw his silhouette dance across the pull-down blind. Nine of Buckets had returned.
Mary���s stomach churned. The other thing she had not thought of, hit her square in the face; what to do with the body. The woman slumped over the table, but Mary continued talking to her as though she were still reading her fortune. Glancing to her right into the bleak light of the alley, she surveyed the windows of the apartment building. Luckily, they were all dark.
She stood, ending the faux fortune, and looked down the street to the corner. No one ventured toward them. Looking the other direction, she found the same emptiness which was eerily strange; this street usually was busy until late every night. She gently pulled the woman from the chair and then dragged her down the alley to the Dumpsters where the shadows were thicker.
Glancing back at the woman propped against the wall, she wiped her hands on her pants subconsciously wanting to remove the evidence from her. Mary didn���t like the way the woman���s head lolled at an uncomfortable angle, but she didn���t know how to make her look more comfortable. Mary stepped backward out of the gloom, stepping on a cat���s tail; it screeched in protest.
���Sorry,��� she whispered, watching it scurry down the alley.
She returned to her table, wondering how many she would be able to get at this location. Two men walked by���her heart pounded in her chest���but they didn���t pay her any attention. She sat quietly waiting as her anxiety grew, wishing another to come. A man sat in her chair, awakening her from her daze.
���I don���t believe in this nonsense,��� he said.
���Oh, well, no harm just doing it for fun then, is there?���
���I guess not,��� he replied with a shrug.
���You dirty, little bitch,��� Ace of Buckets shrieked.
He flipped around, glaring around the trailer containing only him. Where was she? Where was High Priestess? How dare she touch his precious razor? Someone pounded on the door.
���Es everythin��� aight?��� Seven of Buckets called to him outside the door.
���Of course, it is,��� he replied, opening the door. He looked down at the Seven beaming back him.
���Will sire, you wuz mordored by High Priestess.���
���Impossi������ he started; memories came to him. ���Where is she now?���
���She went to dee Tower to send replacers.���
���Where���s Knight of Foils?���
���Will sire, he wuz in dee rey-her-sal place, but then, he keeled Devil and Lion Tamer. Then-n he wint to dee Forest uh dee Ladies in Gentlemen.���
���Good to know.��� Ace of Buckets smiled. ���Thank you, Seven.���
He stepped out of the trailer, pushing the door closed before the Seven said more. With his toes pointed out, he waddled down the path towards the river.
About Circus Tarot
In the strange land of World Circus, Mary and Darrin discover they aren���t in their safe, dull life any longer, but have taken the identity of one of the cards from the Circus Tarot. After a terrorizing encounter, resulting in death, they learn the bizarre rules of the land and discover that the denizens of the sinister World Circus want more than to entertain them.
Don't forget to get your copy of Circus Tarot at Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00785VJIW
Find Charles W Jones at the following places
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChuckWesJ
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ChuckWesJ
Website: https://charleswjonesauthor.com
April 6, 2019
Welcome to the "PREY FOR THE DEAD" Blog Tour! @SusanneLeist @4WillsPub #RRBC
PREY FOR THE DEAD Blog Tour
Sometimes, it���s easier to tell a story in a poem. Let me present three poems I���ve written for THE DEAD GAME Series.
The first poem describes Linda���s fear of The Dead vampires. They appear in my first book, THE DEAD GAME.
From under the sea
they have come for me.
Rising from the deep
they come when I sleep.
Through the small town, they roam
looking for a new home.
Blending with tourists at day
but at night they get to play.
Blood-thirsty as they are,
they don���t have to go far.
They take sustenance within reach
leaving dead bodies on the beach.
Tourists flee the hotel
before they���re doomed to hell.
The evil one walks tall.
Our town will surely fall.
**************
In my second poem, Linda fears Wolf, The Dead leader, has returned for her in PREY FOR THE DEAD.
A nip in the air.
A chill in my bones.
The Dead will be here
And in our own homes.
Palm trees will shiver.
The ground will quake
Along the river
And by the lake.
Take me far away
From this creepy place.
I refuse to stay
And see his pale face.
Will Linda stand strong? I���m not telling.
*******************
In the third poem, Wolf is back in Oasis, Florida. Linda refuses to succumb to his passion. Will she fall PREY TO THE DEAD? She is tempted to the dark side.
He���s back.
How could this be?
I should have known.
He will never rest easy.
Without me to torment.
Without me in his arms.
A door opens.
He tempts me with sunshine.
His hand reaches for me.
My skin tingles from his touch.
He whispers promises in my ear.
I turn away from his sweet words.
He will come for me tonight.
He will appear in a new package.
I will be prepared and ready.
I will not be fooled again.
SUSANNE LEIST BIO
I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn't reading late into the night, the TV shows���Murder She Wrote and Columbo���entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.
Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.
A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it���s too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart.
The Dead Game is the first book in The Dead Game series. It brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to give spice to the mix. Once you read The Dead Game, you will never look at a dead body the same way.
In Book Two, Prey for The Dead, the suspense continues as The Dead use an exclusive club in Disney World and infiltrate the rich and famous. The Dead grow in power, and not even the sun or the swamps of Florida can weaken them. Linda--my main character--and her friends join with the human vampires or hybrids to defeat the evil forces threatening to control their town.
I hope you enjoy my books. The third book of The Dead Game Series is waiting for me to write.
SUSANNE LEIST���S SOCIAL MEDIA & BOOK LINKS
Book trailer: https://youtu.be/pILNxaD5XlI
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PB9KG4P
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130732773?ean=2940161260111
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanne.leist/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susanne-leist
*******************
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author's tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you'd like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click [image error] HERE .
Lastly, Susanne is a member of the best book club ever - RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you're looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books, [image error] JOIN US ! We'd love to have you!
Thanks for supporting this author and her work!
March 31, 2019
ALL BOOKS ARE ON SALE FROM MARCH 31, 2019 THROUGH APRIL 2, 2019 for 99��/99��
The Reluctant Hotelkeeper: A Memoir
Available Wide in eBook, Paperback
ASIN: B07LB7WLZM
ISBN-10: 1789017572
ISBN-13: 978-1789017571
Non-fiction, Memoir
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LB7WLZM/
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LB7WLZM/
Amazon Smart Link: smarturl.it/TheRelHotelkeeper
Universal Wide Link: https://books2read.com/b/ReluctantHotelkeeper
Tagline: A love affair with a beautiful old building.
About The Book:
A rescue mission originally thought of as lasting for a year or two turned into a 35-year lifetime love affair with a beautiful old building.
There were to battle royal with neighbors not wanting their status quo to be altered, and with the local fire authority who sought to impose draconian new safety measures.
John Searancke came to the role of hotelkeeper almost accidentally, and most definitely with much reluctance. After his parents��� marriage fell apart, he was dragooned in, at the age of 22, to pick up the pieces of their new venture, a barely-trading country house hotel that had, frankly, seen better days. Not only was it posting an annual loss, but the fabric of the building was crumbling and there was no money left to make improvements.
Over the years, and with the steepest of learning curves, the grand old building was renovated and transformed to meet the requirements of the modern discerning traveler. Accolades for the hotel and its restaurant were won; together they became a well-regarded destination for a number of celebrities ��� and those that deemed themselves to be celebrities but were not. Stories abound featuring idiosyncratic guests, overbearing public bodies, fractured family life and animals of all shapes and sizes. The local fire station next door was demolished one foggy night, people were frightened by flying dogs and snakes in the long grass, and there were,
as befits a country house, strange goings on in the night. Many were the guests who checked in who really should not have been seen together.
This is a tribute to all the people behind the scenes who helped to make the hard-won transformation into a great success.
Labels: #Kindle #Nook #Apple #Kobo #humor #Memoir #Nonfiction #hotels #Inns #Travel
READER���S FAVORITE REVIEW: 5 STARS- Mamta Madhavan for Readers��� Favorite
The Reluctant Hotelkeeper by John Searancke is an engaging memoir that takes readers into the life of the author who ended up reluctantly being a hotelkeeper, and how his rescue mission ended up being a love affair with an old building. His parents had bought the place in the countryside to save their crumbling marriage, and the author was pulled into this venture when he was just 22. The role of a hotelkeeper is not as easy as many think because the reality of life in a hotel is very different, and the hours required to make it a success are punishing. The memoir is also a tribute to all the people who worked behind the scenes and helped in making this grand transformation a huge success.
The memoir is straightforward and honest, entertaining and insightful, and the author opens up about the difficulties he faced, and how he managed to keep his faith in long-term planning. There are a lot of interesting stories about eccentric guests, how many guests who checked in should not have been seen together at all, and how it ended up being one of the favored stops for a number of celebrities. The author goes through the entire process, speaking about transforming the hotel methodically and in detail, taking readers along with him and his experiences while getting the old building renovated to cater to the needs of a modern traveler. There is not one boring moment in this memoir and the positive narration and outlook make this memoir an encouraging and motivating read. The author's story and experiences are enriching, and the ups and downs of his life and the accolades he received for the hotel and its restaurant will encourage many readers out there to become hotelkeepers.
Author Web Links:
Website: https://www.johnsearancke.com/
Newsletter sign up: https://mailchi.mp/57550f38f321/joinjohnsearancke
Author Interview: https://www.rukiapublishing.com/an-interview-with-john-searancke.html
FB: https://www.facebook.com/johnsearanckeauthor/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JohnSearancke
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/john-searancke
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/John-Searancke/e/B00J787XZ6/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7956383.John_Searancke
Biography:
John Searancke is restaurant reviewer for the Tenerife newspaper Island Connections. Born in 1943 at Derby Royal Infirmary, a war baby, he lived his early life in Ashby-de la-Zouch and was sent away to be educated at Kings Mead Preparatory School, Seaford and afterward at Rugby School. Later commissioned into the Territorial Army, he has been variously a director of a light engineering company, a hotel and restaurant owner, director and chairman of a marketing consortium, and latterly a partner with his wife in a commercial legal services company. He has enjoyed working in England and Switzerland and has homes in England and northern Tenerife, where he now lives with his wife Sally.
SAMPLE
The Reluctant Hotelkeeper
Meanwhile, for my part, I recalled the tale of how one morning, on the way to the new kitchen, and walking through what remained of the old original hotel kitchen, I thought that I had been transported into another lifetime, a cross between Dante���s Inferno and a Victorian Christmas. I had stopped dead in my tracks.
There at the far end of the room was an unrecognizable person covered almost entirely in feathers. Any feathers not attached to that person were swilling around the room like a cloud, all but obscuring the far doorway, before landing softly to form a light covering on the floor tiles, much as I imagine the interior of a duvet to be.
On closer inspection, the mystery person turned out to be my mother! What had got into her mind I do not know, but she had, unbeknownst to anyone else, decided that her contribution to that particular Christmas was going to be the plucking of all of the pheasants that had just been delivered. Swooping on the box of birds and snatching them away from the hapless potboy, she maneuvered herself into a spare space, which happened to be adjacent to the top of a chest freezer. Clearly, tidiness was not going to be her watchword during this process. Feathers were pulled out, legs and heads were chopped off with gay abandon, and finally, the right hand was plunged into the bloody interior, emerging clutching a large handful of intestines, slimy heaps of which adorned the top of the freezer. Cleaning up after her was a bit of a trial, but I was glad that she had made the effort. I suppose that she could identify that with long bygone times and tasks that she had undertaken all those years ago.
Also by John Searancke
Dog Days In The Fortunate Islands: A new life in hidden Tenerife
https://books2read.com/b/DogDays
Prunes for Breakfast: One Man���s War: Based on a True Story
https://books2read.com/b/Prunes
ALL BOOKS ARE ON SALE FROM MARCH 31, 2019 THROUGH APRIL 2, 2019 for 99��/99��
Link to my blog post:
https://rukiapublishingbookblogger.blogspot.com/2019/03/huge-book-sale-entertaining-and.html
March 25, 2019
ANNIHILATION: A Col Sec Thriller by Jan Domagala
ANNIHILATION: A Col Sec Thriller
Available in ebook, Paperback
ASIN: B07MYPGTX4
ISBN-10: 1796967173
ISBN-13: 978-1796967173
Sci-fi, Space Odyssey, Action Adventure, Spy vs. Spy, Thriller
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MYPGTX4/
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MYPGTX4/
Amazon Smart Link: http://smarturl.it/ANNIHILATIONJD
Series Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N2XWHW5
Tagline:
An Extinction Level Event���Crossing the lines of humanity.
About The Book:
A weapon of immense power is stolen and millions of lives hang in the balance for the Alliance and the Confederation.
New-found enemies strike to claim the nexus of dominance.
Lines are crossed. Battles rage on.
Annihilation��� imminent.
Can Col Sec hold? Is all hope lost?
Labels: #Kindle #SpaceOdyssey #Action&Adventure #thriller #death #war #weaponry #military #operations #secrecy #treachery #humanity #ebook #free #99cents #bookpromotion #bookclubs #bookworms #booklovers #RPBP #NewRelease #extinction #earth #kindledeals #kindleunlimited
Prologue
Silo Six, Toldax.
The sudden blast from the alarm pulled him from his reverie.
���Luka get over here now, we���ve got an unauthorized intruder,��� he said urgently. As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted them.
���Isn���t by its very nature of being an intrusion make it unauthorized?��� Luka replied, his voice coming through as if he was standing next to him.
���Just get the fuck over here,��� he said. In all the months the three of them had been stationed there this was the first time anything had broken through the boring routine.
The alarm was strident and he could hardly think straight. As the door opened behind him he heard Luka say, ���Can���t you shut that thing off, can hardly hear myself think?���
He was already on it and the sudden quiet was almost as disconcerting as the alarm had been shocking.
���There���s someone in the elevator,��� he said unable to tear his eyes from the bank of monitor screens in front of him.
���We���re not due to be relieved yet, are we?��� Luka asked already knowing the answer.
���You���d better get Vasiliy up, this could get tricky,��� he said.
���Have you got visuals on the intruder?��� Luka asked as he accessed the three-way comm channel they all shared whilst inside the silo via his Neural Interface.
���No, it���s being jammed,��� he said. He took out his sidearm from the holster on his hip and jacked the slide to prime the battery clip. His Magerov P9 was now ready to fire.
He heard Luka standing behind him do the same.
���What now Tovaric, it���s your call,��� Luka said.
Without taking his eyes from the monitor screens arrayed before him, he said, ���Computer, initiate full lockdown procedures, Captain Leonid Ilyich commanding, authorization code Alpha Zero One.���
Without prompting Luka said, ���Lieutenant Luka Petrovich, authorization code Beta Zero One, implement.���
Leonid turned to look at the man behind him, his grey eyes wide in confusion as he said, ���It���s not working.���
He saw Luka���s eyes dart back to the monitor screens, his brow furrowing in concern. He spun back around to what caused such concentration to see each screen go dark, one at a time.
���How are they doing that?��� Luka asked.
���Somehow they���ve taken over the system. We have no idea where they are or how many of them there are.���
Leonid stood up; his arms extended holding the P9 in a double-handed grip. He nodded to Luka and they both headed for the door. They stood either side of it as Luka opened it ready to fire if a target presented itself. The corridor beyond was empty though so Leonid gestured to Luka to check it out as he gave cover.
He watched as his friend ventured out of the command center looking first right then left.
���Clear,��� Luka said so Leonid followed him into the empty corridor.
���Wait,��� Luka held up a hand halting Leonid, ���What���s that?��� he added and Leonid heard it too. Before either of them could do anything a group of large, powerfully built men armed with assault pulse rifles rounded the bend at the far end of the corridor to their right.
���Halt, identify yourselves,��� Leonid ordered aiming his P9 at the figure in front of the group.
���Take one more step and I will open fire,��� he added when they ignored him. Seeing he had no choice Leonid gestured for Luka to follow his lead but before he fired he saw the lead intruder bring up the muzzle of his rifle and fire.
The pulsed plasma bolt struck Leonid���s torso and sent him crashing into Luka. The pain was immediate and overwhelming. He found his strength had deserted him and had difficulty in breathing.
The corridor had somehow tipped over onto the side until he realized he was lying on the floor.
He saw flashes from other rifles pass by him and heard a body hit the floor out of sight behind him and knew it must be Luka who had been shot.
The light was fading fast as his life drained away and the last thing he remembered was looking up into a pair of opaline green eyes before darkness engulfed him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Biography:
Jan Domagala (1955-ongoing);
I was born in Staffordshire to a working-class family where at school I discovered the joys of reading. I was a big fan of sci-fi books but I would read almost anything I could get my hands on. My mother took me to join the local library as soon as I could read and from that day on, if it had words on it, I'd read it.
In the early '70s, there wasn't much choice for employment where I lived so I ended up in an apprenticeship in screen printing for the ceramic industry. In the early years of my apprenticeship, I had the pleasure of a trip on the schooner Captain Scott, a training ship as part of the crew. We sailed around Scotland and even up as far as Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides.
I'm still in the same trade after a forty-year career but my passion is and has always been writing. After several abortive attempts, I started the Col Sec series which is an action-adventure series set in the twenty-fifth century.
After a brief four year stint living close to the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District, I've returned to where I grew up.
Author Web Links:
Blog: https://jandomagalawriter.wordpress.com/
Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/dLM3gk
Author Interview: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/brianham...
FB: https://www.facebook.com/jan.domagala2016
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColSecSeriesByJanDomagala/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JDDoubleTrouble
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jan-domagala
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Domagala/e/B004F6BRNO/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Also by Jan Domagala:
Savage by Nature - A spin-off from the Col Sec Series (amazon.com/gp/product/B07BKSDHF3)
The Col Sec Series
Ronin: Book 1 (amazon.com/gp/product/B0786Q7T1X)
Omega: Book 2 (amazon.com/gp/product/B007MPPHE0)
Discovery: Book 3 (amazon.com/gp/product/B008W7DBVS)
Retribution: Book 4 (amazon.com/gp/product/B00FNK10UQ)
Extinction: Book 5 (amazon.com/gp/product/B010YDQDY4)
Resurrection: Book 6 (amazon.com/gp/product/B01558G89S)
Blackstar Gambit: Book 7 (amazon.com/gp/product/B079VPMXGL)
War Dogs: Book 8 (amazon.com/gp/product/B077RBZGPG)
Armageddon: Book 9 (amazon.com/gp/product/B07BZVYDDG)
March 13, 2019
Xander's Heart (The Vampires of Whitby Book One) by Scarlett Flame
���� ���� ���� Now available for Pre-order Xander's Heart
( The Vampires of Whitby Book One)
by Scarlett Flame ���� ���� ����
This is a modern day Gothic romance
My latest book is now available for pre-order at the reduced price of 99 cents / 99 pence until the 26th of March. Publication is the 19th of March
The Blurb:
Xander wasn���t your stereotypical vampire. Far from it. Living in Gothic splendor on the outskirts of Whitby. Savage and Dominant by nature he goes after what or who he wants with ardor and passion.
Especially once his eye is set on his soulmate. His chosen one ��� Ellenor.
A human that he has been watching and waiting to approach for years. He steps forward when he senses she is in danger from a supernatural being.
Bringing her into his world at full tilt.
A world of Domination and submission.
Spanking and bondage.
Of werewolves, shifters, ogres, and faeries.
Of mages, magicians, and sorcery.
A world where a deadly apocalyptic magical war is approaching.
Both Xander and Ellenor have major roles to play but are they up to the challenge?
A new series from award-winning author Scarlett Flame.
**Sexual Content
**Suitable for ages 18 and over
Universal Link: books2read.com/XandersHeart
First Beta Review on Goodreads
Xander's Heart (The Vampires of Whitby Book One)
by Scarlett Flame (Goodreads Author),
Zak Jane Keir (Editor)
Feb 17, 2019
it was amazing
Having read this for an honest review I was enraptured so on the edge of my seat laugh out loud great read I loved the way the characters blended so well and how I've been left wanting more from the fabulous Scarlett Flame
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/xander-s-heart
Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07NTG72BJ
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NTG72BJ
Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07NTG72BJ
You can now add this book on Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44032009-xander-s-heart
You can find Scarlett on Goodreads
February 28, 2019
Welcome to "THE BUTTON" Blog Tour! @DLFinnAuthor #4WillsPub #RWISA #RRBC
���The Button���
Blurb:
Lynn Hill left a difficult childhood behind when she turned eighteen. The 1980s were going to be the beginning of a great life. Then what started as an ordinary evening out with her best friend, Stacy, turns into a nightmare. Lynn hears warnings: "Go!" "Leave!" Believing she is hearing things after partying too much, she goes back for one more drink before going home. That decision sets off a chain of events that nothing could have prepared her for. While humans and not-so-human beings are attempting to either help or harm her, Lynn risks everything to find the only person she trusts, Stacy. Who can help her? The stepbrother who shows up right when she needs him or the attractive, helpful bartender who gives her his phone number? Lynn must learn to trust again. Her survival depends on it in this paranormal thriller.
************************
Excerpt:
PROLOGUE
Castro Valley, California, 1976
Lynn was suddenly aware of her surroundings. It was tranquil floating above her still body next to angels. She felt indifferent at seeing her pale form hooked up to wires and IVs, although the beeping machines indicated that her body was still alive.
"You have to go back���you have more to do," the female angel informed her.
Lynn met the angel's steady gaze. While she was in awe of her beauty, it was the angel's silver dress that drew her attention. It reminded her of how the water in her grandmother's pool had wrapped her in serenity when she sat at the bottom. She'd loved doing that for as long as she could hold her breath. It was one of the few times she felt safe, cocooned in water where no one could hurt her. That dress, flowing like water around the angel, affected Lynn in the same way as the pool did���it made her feel safe. The angel pushed her hair back, causing it to cascade over her peacock-green wings.
Lynn turned her attention to the male angel. His smile was mesmerizing���like a lava lamp, hot and fluid. What a babe! With his long brown hair, strong chiseled features, and green eyes she could get lost in, she felt she could totally spend eternity with him. He smiled broadly at her, but the smile quickly disappeared when the female angel scowled at him. Wait a minute���do they know what I'm thinking? Not cool! Lynn felt her face redden.
The embarrassment was quickly erased as both angels smiled at her again. Lynn wished they'd say more, but she wanted to continue to hang out with them. She was feeling a peace she'd never felt before.
She started to express her desire to stay. "I don't���" was all she got out before images of an older version of herself filled her mind all at once. Then she was thrust back���into her life and that pallid body hooked up to the beeping machines...
D.L. Finn is an independent California local, who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to the Sierra foothills in Nevada City, CA. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, being surrounded by towering pines, oaks and cedars, her creativity was cradled until it bloomed. Her creations vary from children���s books, young adult fantasy, adult paranormal romance to an autobiography with poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to her readers to join her.
D.L. Finn Links:
Purchase Links:
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author's tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you'd like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE .
Lastly, D.L. is a member of the best book club ever - RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC} and she's also a member of the very elite, RAVE WRITERS -INT'L SOCIETY OF AUTHORS {RWISA}! If you're looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books, JOIN US ! We'd love to have you!
February 21, 2019
Jenny���s Voice by Pandora Spocks
The Basics:
Title: Jenny���s Voice (Redheads & Ranchers Book 1)
Release Date: February 12, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Heat Level: Erotic
Word count: 77,897
Author: Pandora Spocks
***********************
PRE-ORDER SALE:
Until release day, JENNY���S VOICE is available for the pre-order special of 99��, exclusively at Amazon!
https://amzn.to/2Gb82DQ
Blurb:
A traumatized young woman held hostage for years.
The rancher who comes to her rescue.
The crime boss who will kill them both if he finds them.
Jenny Stone���s voice was silenced the horrific day ruthless crime boss Victor Sorkin executed her parents in cold blood and took her as his personal good luck charm. Now she���s his ���pet���, at his mercy when he summons her to warm his bed. Or the beds of his more esteemed business associates.
When she sees her chance to escape, she takes it, hitching a ride with an unsuspecting cowboy, horse trainer Cole Caldwell. Cole���s stunned to find the terrified young redhead hiding in his horse trailer. She���s as skittish as some of the horses he works with, and she doesn���t even speak. But the nurturer in him wants to shelter her, to protect her. He���ll do his best to ignore the attraction he feels, content to help her know she���s safe with him.
When Jenny first escaped, her only thought was to get away. But now she���s worried. She���s put Cole in unspeakable danger. Should she leave before Victor finds them? Could it already be too late?
If you like your romance filled with hot cowboys, suspense, and happily-ever-afters, you���ll love JENNY���S VOICE.
JENNY���S VOICE is Book 1 in the Redheads & Ranchers Series.
Sexy redheads and the ranchers they can���t resist.
One-click your copy today!
****************************
JENNY���S VOICE Official Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/_0vC_F1ty9s
Excerpt
As he walked into the house, he was immediately surrounded by the tantalizing aroma of something cooking. He set down the bag and followed Jenny into the kitchen. The first thing he noticed was the table, set for two, a pretty bouquet of field flowers arranged in a Mason jar in the center.
He looked to Jenny, who was carefully watching his reaction. ���What���s going on here?��� He smiled encouragingly. ���And what smells so good?���
Jenny used a folded kitchen towel to remove something from the oven and set it on the stove. Cole peered into the dish, where golden chicken breasts sizzled in a thin sauce.
���That looks amazing, Jenny. What is it?���
Her board was lying facedown on the counter. She picked it up and showed him what she���d already written on the other side. Chicken piccata.
���Chicken piccata? I had all the stuff to make that?���
Jenny nodded proudly.
Cole squinted, looking more closely at the dish. ���What are the little burned peas-looking things?���
Jenny rolled her eyes. She jotted on her board. Capers.
���I had capers? Where the hell did I get capers?���
She shrugged and hooked a thumb at one of the upper cupboards.
���Oh, it must have been in that basket one of my clients gave me for Christmas.��� Cole shook his head. ���All sorts of fancy shit��� I mean stuff.��� He looked at Jenny. ���Sorry about that.���
Jenny grinned, then jotted quickly, You can say shit. I���m a big girl. She laughed lightly.
Cole laughed, too. ���Good. Well, shit! Yeah, that feels good.���
Waving with her hand, Jenny gestured toward the table.
���Is dinner ready?��� Cole asked, and she nodded.
���Alright, let me go wash up and I���ll be right back.���
Cole headed upstairs. As he washed his hands, he wondered about how Jenny had created such a dish with the simple things he kept at the house. She seemed pleased with herself, too. Quite a difference in her from the first time he���d seen her in the back of the horse trailer.
He sighed to himself. They were making progress, and he found that gratifying. Would it be possible that one day she���d decide to talk to him?
When he returned downstairs, the chicken was arranged on a platter. Jenny had placed a bowl of salad on the table, along with a bowl of rice. She���d poured Dr. Pepper for herself, while at his place she���d set out a bottle of Heineken.
���I know this is the fanciest dinner this table has seen in years,��� Cole said, sitting in his chair. ���We have a centerpiece and everything. You picked these?���
Pleased, Jenny nodded as she took her seat.
���They���re beautiful. The purple ones match your dress and everything.��� He smiled at her. ���You look pretty tonight.���
Jenny blushed profusely and looked down at her plate, trying to suppress a smile.
���Let���s dig into this fine dinner, what do you say?���
She nodded, and Cole took the platter, serving her first, then himself. They passed the rice and the salad as well. Cole took a bite of chicken and closed his eyes, savoring the flavor. When he opened his eyes again, she was watching him carefully.
���Oh my God, Jenny, this is the best thing I���ve ever tasted. How did you know how to make this?���
Jenny���s smile faded a bit and she hesitated. Then she jotted on her board. It���s a long story.
Cole regarded her thoughtfully. ���Maybe you can tell me sometime.���
She chewed her lower lip. Maybe.
They ate in awkward silence for a few minutes, and Cole silently cursed himself for stepping into something that made Jenny uncomfortable. Wishing to restore their easy rapport, he cleared his throat.
���I know. You���re an undercover chef.���
She gave him a sideways glance and snorted.
Encouraged, he tried again. ���You���re a secret chef, and you���re on a mission to educate dumb cowboys like me in the ways of international cuisine.��� He drew out the last two words in an exaggerated drawl.
Jenny giggled, tossing her napkin at him.
Cole grinned good-naturedly. ���It really is good, Jenny, no lie. Thank you for making dinner.���
After dinner dishes were cleared, Cole remembered the bag he���d left by the door. ���Oh, Jenny, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you.��� He reached out his hand. ���Come see.���
Her eyes widened, but she took his hand. He led her to the den and pointed at the couch. ���Have a seat and close your eyes.���
She hesitated a moment, then sat down. She glanced up at Cole.
���Close���em.���
Pursing her lips, she complied, knee bobbing anxiously. Cole retrieved the bag and placed it on Jenny���s lap. ���Okay, now you can open them.���
With a glance at Cole, Jenny peered into the bag. Brow knit in a frown, she withdrew a large brown cardboard box and set the bag on the floor. Eyeing him again, she lifted the lid and gasped.
Cole couldn���t stop the smile as Jenny picked up first one boot, then the other, eyes wide. Reverently, she ran her fingers across the purple embroidery.
���I figured, if you���re going to be working in the barn, you���re going to need some good boots. I saw these at the saddle shop and I knew they were supposed to be yours.���
She looked up at him as a smile spread across her face. Standing, she let the box fall to the floor as she came to him, a boot in either hand, and wrapped him in a hug.
���Do you like them?��� Cole laughed.
Jenny stepped back and nodded vigorously. Then she pointed up the stairs.
���You want to try them on?���
She nodded again. Gathering up the box, the lid, and the bag, she hurried upstairs. From where he stood, Cole heard her moving around, drawers opening, the creak of her bed. Then came the clomp of boots on the hardwood floor as she came back downstairs, her face beaming.
She crossed to him, then back to the bottom of the stairs like a fashion model on a catwalk, rocking the new boots with her dress.
Cole couldn���t stop his grin. ���How do they feel? Do they fit?���
Jenny nodded happily.
���Okay, then. Wanna go help me out in the barn?���
She nodded again, taking his arm as they headed out the door and across the yard. Every few steps, she looked down at the boots. Cole couldn���t remember ever feeling so pleased with himself.
The horses were waiting near the gate as they approached. Cole opened it, and he and Jenny watched them make a beeline for the barn. He looked at her. ���You do the feed and I���ll do the hay?��� he asked.
She nodded, heading for the buckets and feed cans at the end of the barn. As Cole lugged a bale of hay into the first stall, he started singing a cowboy song about not being buried on the lone prairie. When Jenny smirked at him, he winked and continued with more gusto.
By the time the horses were in their stalls with buckets of feed and fresh hay, Cole had started the song over, and Jenny was grinning broadly and shaking her head.
���What? Does my singing suck?��� he asked.
She shook her head. No, it���s very brave, she jotted on her board.
���Brave?��� he laughed. ���That���s what they tell people who can���t sing.���
He took Jenny���s hand and twirled her around as he sang, pulling her to himself and launching into an impromptu waltz down the center of the barn.
Cole relished her giggles as he spun them both around, drawing out the final note. Breathless, they stopped, Jenny smiling up at him, her emerald eyes wide. Cole���s gaze drifted to her lips, pillowy and soft, no trace of the trauma that had once been there. He felt an almost irresistible pull, as though a magnet drew his lips to hers, but he blinked hard and spun her one last time before letting go.
���Who knew those were dancing boots?��� he joked softly. When he looked back at her, he saw a glint of sadness in her eyes. She���d felt the same pull he had. But he knew he couldn���t take advantage of her. That wasn���t who Cole Caldwell was.
Author Bio:
Pandora Spocks is a sassy ginger and hopeless romantic, living her happily ever after in South Florida. She enjoys reading and writing literary erotic romance.
She is the author of the three-novel epic romance Rannigan���s Redemption, modern-day adult fairy tale Chasing Ordinary, and a naughty little romantic novella, Just One Night. Her Dream Dominant Collection is a series of light BDSM stand-alone novels featuring sexy Alpha males and the strong red-haired submissives who can���t resist them. The collection currently includes four novels: Luke & Bella, Lost & Bound, For Sparrow, and Warrior Mine.
Jenny���s Voice is the first book in the new Redheads & Ranchers series, a collection of stand-alone contemporary erotic romance novels featuring sexy ranchers and the redheads who ride into their lives and turn everything upside down. Since they���re all stand-alone, you will be able to read them in any order.
Pandora is busy on her laptop, working on the next book in the series, Hunter���s Pride.
****************************
Connect with Pandora:
Website: https://PandoraSpocksAuthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PandoraSpocksAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PandoraSpocksWP
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pandora.spocks.author/
MeWe: mewe.com/i/pandora.spocks
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PandoraSpocksAuthor
Book+Main Romance Bites: https://bookandmainbites.com/users/18186
Bellesa: Porn for Women: https://bellesa.co/story?id=216/rannigans-redemption-1-resisting-risk
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2u03Gcm
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/pandora-spocks
Authorgraph: https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/PandoraSpocksWP
Pandora���s Box Unleashed Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cxLw-9
February 1, 2019
Welcome to "THE SLEEPING ONE" Blog Tour! @KarlJMorgan #4WillsPub #RRBC
Get an Editor!
I have used three editors over the years. When one retired, I even went for a time without one. Yikes! What a mistake!
You might wonder if the editor is your best friend or worst enemy. The answer is yes. I have been writing my whole life. Most of the time, I have been writing management reports for corporate higher-ups. When you write a few page report or even a fifty-page business analysis, the amount of text to be edited is small. Fifty may seem like a lot of pages, but the words are always spaced out by graphs, tables, and analytics.
Writing a book is a totally different animal. I write fiction, primarily in the fantasy and science fiction genres. Recently, my books are in the 75,000 to 90,000-word range. I don���t set the length. The stories and characters do that for me. That is a lot of words. To make matters worse, I am a pantser, which means I write by the seat of my pants. No outlines. No storyboard. The only thing I do is a lot of rereading. Still, it is not easy to recall all the details as you go back through so many words.
Rereading has its own issues. The main problem is that you wrote the story. You know what is going to happen next. When you reread, your mind can be so wrapped up in the story that you pass over obvious mistakes. A non-writer friend passed along a good tidbit of advice. Read the story backward. Not word by word, but at least page by page. That helps to separate your brain from the plot. The book becomes a page with words on it. I always do that for the last read before I sent to my editor.
Your editor brings some awesome tools to the table. I have my own copy of the Chicago Manual of Style but do not ask if I have read or understood it. Your editor knows that stuff hands-down. Another great tool is they have never read your story. If you are lucky, you have friends or family members who will read your story and give their thoughts. If they are truly friends or family, the odds are rare that they will say something like, ���Dad, your story sucks!��� or ���Karl, do you even own a dictionary?���
Your editor is paid to tell you the truth. They may love or hate your story. It���s great if they like it, but more importantly, they will point out your mistakes. As it turns out, I make at least my share of them. Trust me, a good edit beats a lousy review like the comments above. I have had a few of those and it hurt a lot. When you realize you deserved it (well maybe not the nastiness), you get over it and learn. The other good part about an editor is they find the mistakes before your readers do.
Recently, I have seen quite a few comments online from authors stating that grammatical accuracy is not that relevant anymore. Most readers do not care if there are some mistakes. I fully accept that a handful of mistakes can get through my editor and me. We are all just people after all. When I read a book by other authors, I generally find a very small number of errors. I do believe that readers will accept that. They are not perfect either. It is important to offer the best quality product we have. In my opinion, editing is critical.
Now for an alternative view. A few years ago, I watched a commentator on television talk about reading a novel that was a bestseller. He noted that grammar and writing were terrible. Still, that book earned the author millions of dollars. The book and its sequels became movies, making the author even more millions. The book was in the erotica genre. That may have helped sales and lessened the critical nature of reviews. Or, it could mean those other authors are correct about the reduced focus on grammar by modern readers.
For me, it does not matter. I still believe my product should be the best I can make. Keep on writing!
Karl Morgan Bio
With a long career in finance and as an author of almost twenty books, I like to say that words and numbers are my life.
I have had a lifelong fascination with stories in the science fiction and fantasy genres, whether it was the Tom Swift novels by Victor Appleton I read as a young boy, or television like Lost in Space and Star Trek. More recently, I have devoured film series like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. That fascination is combined with a keen interest in cosmology, astrophysics, quantum physics, and spirituality.
That quirky combination along with the fantasy genre allows me to craft stories that reinforce the importance of family, friendship, and love. The protagonists must overcome incredible danger and challenges to survive their journeys, but eventually, end up on top. It goes without saying that as a finance guy, my life has been less action-packed than my characters (thank goodness).
With Carl Prescott and The Sleeping One, I ventured back to the comfortable territory. Many of my stories reinforce our direct connection to the Divine. While that is an element of this story, the sequels feature that relationship to a much greater extent. That element in my stories is an homage to what I believe really matters in this life.
I am the son of an Air Force pilot and as such, I have lived in many places, never for more than four years at a time. Thankfully, as an adult, I have lived in Chula Vista, CA for the past thirty-seven years. I met and married Aida, the love of my life, thirty years ago. Our grown children have made us grandparents four times over. It is a blessing to be around such wonderful parents and children.
My new goal in life is my stories. I hope you can follow me on this new adventure.
Karl Morgan Social Media and Contact Links:
Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L7HHNB3
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karlmorganauthor
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Karl-Morgan/e/B00A57RWPO
Website/Blog: http://www.karljmorgan.com
Twitter handle: @karljmorgan
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