MaryAnn Bernal's Blog, page 371
September 22, 2013
Goodreads Contest - US entries - The Juice and Other Stories by Bill Jones, Jr.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18173928-the-juice-and-other-stories
Panthera Press is giving away five (5) copies of the short story collection, "The Juice and Other Stories," by author Bill Jones, Jr. Previously available only in eBook form, this version includes all 13 stories in the acclaimed anthology, plus 2 bonus stories.
The Juice and Other Stories brings together a collection of 15 tales of romance, science fiction, urban fantasy, and suspense.
In “Remembering,” beings from another world find themselves herded along their own trail of tears. “Mrs. What’s-Her-Name” details a woman’s struggle to regain her memory, and her life, after a devastating brain injury. In “The Juice,” a woman of the street searches for her next client, and promises him surprises. “The Clown Man” visits a beautiful child’s dreams and turns them to nightmares; however, Cruz, a dream walker, is there, and he means to keep the girl safe.
The novelette “Manhattan Transference” details the story of Luce, a vaporous visitor from a dying planet, who must find the only robotics expert who can help save the alien race from destruction. Luce’s sun will go supernova soon, and without Dr. Roman’s help, all of Luce’s people will die with it. There is only one problem: Luce’s new human form, and the raw emotions that come with it. “Fool O’clock” details a stressful day in the life of Jim Pyle, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Fool Abatement, a government agency tasked with keeping the U.S. safe from fools of all sorts.
In the novelette “Days of the Never Was,” three pairs of arguing friends disappear into a strange fog bank and reemerge with their entire worlds turned upside down.
See the author's blog for descriptions of the other stories: http://thisblogblank.wordpress.com/20...
Panthera Press is giving away five (5) copies of the short story collection, "The Juice and Other Stories," by author Bill Jones, Jr. Previously available only in eBook form, this version includes all 13 stories in the acclaimed anthology, plus 2 bonus stories.
The Juice and Other Stories brings together a collection of 15 tales of romance, science fiction, urban fantasy, and suspense.
In “Remembering,” beings from another world find themselves herded along their own trail of tears. “Mrs. What’s-Her-Name” details a woman’s struggle to regain her memory, and her life, after a devastating brain injury. In “The Juice,” a woman of the street searches for her next client, and promises him surprises. “The Clown Man” visits a beautiful child’s dreams and turns them to nightmares; however, Cruz, a dream walker, is there, and he means to keep the girl safe.
The novelette “Manhattan Transference” details the story of Luce, a vaporous visitor from a dying planet, who must find the only robotics expert who can help save the alien race from destruction. Luce’s sun will go supernova soon, and without Dr. Roman’s help, all of Luce’s people will die with it. There is only one problem: Luce’s new human form, and the raw emotions that come with it. “Fool O’clock” details a stressful day in the life of Jim Pyle, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Fool Abatement, a government agency tasked with keeping the U.S. safe from fools of all sorts.
In the novelette “Days of the Never Was,” three pairs of arguing friends disappear into a strange fog bank and reemerge with their entire worlds turned upside down.
See the author's blog for descriptions of the other stories: http://thisblogblank.wordpress.com/20...
History Trivia - Switzerland becomes an independent state
Sept 22,
66 Emperor Nero created the Legion I Italica.
530 Both Boniface II and Dioscorus (antipope) were consecrated. The short-lived schism ended with Dioscorus' death on October 14, 530.
1499 Switzerland became an independent state.
1515 Anne of Cleves was born. The fourth wife of Henry VIII, Anne was able to obtain a divorce and maintained a friendly relationship with the Tudor family.
1586 Battle of Zutphen was a confrontation of the Eighty Years' War fought between forces of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, aided by the English, against the Spanish, who sought to regain the northern Netherlands. Elizabeth I sent troops under the earl of Leicester to aid the rebels, however the Spanish were victorious.
66 Emperor Nero created the Legion I Italica.
530 Both Boniface II and Dioscorus (antipope) were consecrated. The short-lived schism ended with Dioscorus' death on October 14, 530.
1499 Switzerland became an independent state.
1515 Anne of Cleves was born. The fourth wife of Henry VIII, Anne was able to obtain a divorce and maintained a friendly relationship with the Tudor family.
1586 Battle of Zutphen was a confrontation of the Eighty Years' War fought between forces of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, aided by the English, against the Spanish, who sought to regain the northern Netherlands. Elizabeth I sent troops under the earl of Leicester to aid the rebels, however the Spanish were victorious.
September 21, 2013
Mr. Chuckles stops by the Wizard's Cauldron, welcoming Texas Fantasist Devorah Fox
Mr. Chuckles here!
Marky the Wizard speaks:
Texas, it seems, cannot help but produce writers and, even though she's from New York originally, Devorah Fox is no different.
Winner of the 2010 NaNoWriMo Award, Devorah has written two fantasy novels which she was more than happy to discuss with the Wizard. I got on the Wizphone and contacted her on her ranch just north of Interstate 35,where, as she spoke, she sat under the shade of a bougainvillea to tell us all about her writing ... and other matters.
Click on the link to find out more about Devorah:
http://greenwizard62.blogspot.com/2013/09/devorah-foxs-brings-pair-of-kingsaround.html
Marky the Wizard speaks:
Texas, it seems, cannot help but produce writers and, even though she's from New York originally, Devorah Fox is no different.
Winner of the 2010 NaNoWriMo Award, Devorah has written two fantasy novels which she was more than happy to discuss with the Wizard. I got on the Wizphone and contacted her on her ranch just north of Interstate 35,where, as she spoke, she sat under the shade of a bougainvillea to tell us all about her writing ... and other matters.
Click on the link to find out more about Devorah:
http://greenwizard62.blogspot.com/2013/09/devorah-foxs-brings-pair-of-kingsaround.html
The Wizard of Notts Recommends: The Caves of Nottingham
http://information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfm?Place_ID=1513
City of Caves
Upper Level
Broadmarsh Shopping Centre
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG1 7LS
Discover a hidden world beneath the streets of Nottingham.
Featuring the latest audio technology, explore this fascinating subterranean attraction.
See the only remaining underground medieval tannery in the UKTake cover in the WWII air raid shelterFind out about Nottingham's legendary ale in the pub cellarLearn about the appalling living conditions in the Victorian slumSituated beneath the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre, visitors experience over 750 years of Nottingham's history told through this unique man-made sandstone cave system.
Open: Monday - Saturday 10am-4.15pm (last admission)
DetailsNearest Train Station: Nottingham
Click here to plan and book your train journey
Nearest UK Airport: East Midlands
Tourist Info Number: 0871 572 2599
Months Open: All year
Groups/Parties Welcome: Yes - prior booking recommended
Discount for Groups: Yes - only if pre-booked
Car Parking: Yes - adjacent to shopping centre
Admission Price: Adult : £5.95
Children/Concessions : £4.50
Family : £16.50
We also offer a joint ticket with the Galleries of Justice Museum
Gift Shop: Yes
City of CavesUpper Level
Broadmarsh Shopping Centre
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG1 7LS
Discover a hidden world beneath the streets of Nottingham.
Featuring the latest audio technology, explore this fascinating subterranean attraction.
See the only remaining underground medieval tannery in the UKTake cover in the WWII air raid shelterFind out about Nottingham's legendary ale in the pub cellarLearn about the appalling living conditions in the Victorian slumSituated beneath the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre, visitors experience over 750 years of Nottingham's history told through this unique man-made sandstone cave system.
Open: Monday - Saturday 10am-4.15pm (last admission)
DetailsNearest Train Station: Nottingham
Click here to plan and book your train journey
Nearest UK Airport: East Midlands
Tourist Info Number: 0871 572 2599
Months Open: All year
Groups/Parties Welcome: Yes - prior booking recommended
Discount for Groups: Yes - only if pre-booked
Car Parking: Yes - adjacent to shopping centre
Admission Price: Adult : £5.95
Children/Concessions : £4.50
Family : £16.50
We also offer a joint ticket with the Galleries of Justice Museum
Gift Shop: Yes
History Trivia - Richard the Lionheart is captured by Leopold V, Duke of Austria
Sept 21
19 BC Virgil, the great Roman poet, died in Rome at age 50.
454 AD Falvius Actius, Roman general and statesman was born.
1192 Richard I the Lion hearted was captured near Vienna by Leopold V, Duke of Austria who accused Richard of arranging the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat.
1327 Edward II of England was murdered by order of his wife Isabella, daughter of King Philip IV of France.
1435 An agreement between Charles VII of France and Philip the Good ended the partnership between the English and Burgundy in the Hundred Years' War.
1745 A Jacobite army under 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' defeated government forces at the Battle of Prestonpans.
19 BC Virgil, the great Roman poet, died in Rome at age 50.
454 AD Falvius Actius, Roman general and statesman was born.
1192 Richard I the Lion hearted was captured near Vienna by Leopold V, Duke of Austria who accused Richard of arranging the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat.
1327 Edward II of England was murdered by order of his wife Isabella, daughter of King Philip IV of France.
1435 An agreement between Charles VII of France and Philip the Good ended the partnership between the English and Burgundy in the Hundred Years' War.
1745 A Jacobite army under 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' defeated government forces at the Battle of Prestonpans.
September 20, 2013
If you liked Wagon Train, check out Hank of Twin Rivers by M.C. Arvanitis - sneak peek excerpt!
A little background
Twelve year old, Hank's Pa hates him. But what can he do about it, he can't make himself grow taller, and now that the cholera has weakened his leg and he finds himself limping, he feels even more inadequate. The disease took away his mother so he doesn't have her to comfort him .. to be "coddled" as Pa calls it. His only comfort is his pet cow, Clementine, and Ma's brother, Uncle Mac. Plagued by the Monster Goose, who nips his butt whenever it gets close to him, and his fear of Pa's disappointment of him, he hides in daydreaming and book reading. When Pa decides to homestead on land in western Nebraska, Hank rebels. Pa’s discipline is quick and painful and Hank has to obey. They follow the wild Platte River on the Oregon Trail crossing rattlesnake infested prairies, fording raging rivers, and eating dust while walking behind the slow wagon. He withstands the unpredictable mid-western weather of hailstorms, dust storms, an early blizzard and flash floods. Stampeding buffalo, murdering claim jumpers, unfriendly Indian Tribes forces him to face life on the wild frontierland.
His troubles are lightened when he finds friends along the trail:among them are Rusty, a rich Southern boy from Missouri; Nora, a teasing eight-year-old girl from Wisconsin; and Moses, an escaped slave. In the Platte Valley Pa sets up a trading post to service wagon trains on both the Mormon and Oregon Trails. When an itinerant preacher and his large family settle nearby, Hank meets another complication to his life, the feisty, red haired preacher's daughter, Becca,
Excerpt
They stopped beside a stack of canvas. A short, heavy man spread his hands out over the pile. “If ye be lookin’ for canvas, ‘tis the place.” Hank listened while Uncle Mac dickered with the canvas merchant. Their Irish brogue was so thick that he could barely understand them. A commotion from a nearby saloon caught his attention. He walked to the open door and looked in. The two men who had almost run him down earlier were arguing with a young Union soldier. The scar-faced man shouted, “What’d ya say, Yankee?” “I said,” replied the soldier shaking his fist at the Butler brothers, “That the northern states will never allow slavery in.” Scarface turned to his brother. “Did ya hear that, Hector?” Hector sneered his answer, “The only good Yank is a dead Yank!” At this the two men shoved the soldier out of the door. He stumbled and fell against Hank’s legs. Hank fell on top of the soldier. In an instant the scar-faced man pulled a pistol from his belt and aimed it at the soldier. Hank froze! The gun barrel pointed directly at him.
Amazon Links
HANK OF TWIN RIVERS, Journey of Change."The story takes place in mid 1800 and tells of a twelve year old boy's often dangerous and always exciting adventures along the Oregon Trail which follows the Platte River in the Nebraska Territory.
US
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7NKYSY/
UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E7NKYSY
Smashwords
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/336710
If you liked Wagon Train, check out Hank of Twin Rivers by M.C. Arvanitis - sneak peak excerpt!
A little background
Twelve year old, Hank's Pa hates him. But what can he do about it, he can't make himself grow taller, and now that the cholera has weakened his leg and he finds himself limping, he feels even more inadequate. The disease took away his mother so he doesn't have her to comfort him .. to be "coddled" as Pa calls it. His only comfort is his pet cow, Clementine, and Ma's brother, Uncle Mac. Plagued by the Monster Goose, who nips his butt whenever it gets close to him, and his fear of Pa's disappointment of him, he hides in daydreaming and book reading. When Pa decides to homestead on land in western Nebraska, Hank rebels. Pa’s discipline is quick and painful and Hank has to obey. They follow the wild Platte River on the Oregon Trail crossing rattlesnake infested prairies, fording raging rivers, and eating dust while walking behind the slow wagon. He withstands the unpredictable mid-western weather of hailstorms, dust storms, an early blizzard and flash floods. Stampeding buffalo, murdering claim jumpers, unfriendly Indian Tribes forces him to face life on the wild frontierland.
His troubles are lightened when he finds friends along the trail:among them are Rusty, a rich Southern boy from Missouri; Nora, a teasing eight-year-old girl from Wisconsin; and Moses, an escaped slave. In the Platte Valley Pa sets up a trading post to service wagon trains on both the Mormon and Oregon Trails. When an itinerant preacher and his large family settle nearby, Hank meets another complication to his life, the feisty, red haired preacher's daughter, Becca,
Excerpt
They stopped beside a stack of canvas. A short, heavy man spread his hands out over the pile. “If ye be lookin’ for canvas, ‘tis the place.” Hank listened while Uncle Mac dickered with the canvas merchant. Their Irish brogue was so thick that he could barely understand them. A commotion from a nearby saloon caught his attention. He walked to the open door and looked in. The two men who had almost run him down earlier were arguing with a young Union soldier. The scar-faced man shouted, “What’d ya say, Yankee?” “I said,” replied the soldier shaking his fist at the Butler brothers, “That the northern states will never allow slavery in.” Scarface turned to his brother. “Did ya hear that, Hector?” Hector sneered his answer, “The only good Yank is a dead Yank!” At this the two men shoved the soldier out of the door. He stumbled and fell against Hank’s legs. Hank fell on top of the soldier. In an instant the scar-faced man pulled a pistol from his belt and aimed it at the soldier. Hank froze! The gun barrel pointed directly at him.
Amazon Links
HANK OF TWIN RIVERS, Journey of Change."The story takes place in mid 1800 and tells of a twelve year old boy's often dangerous and always exciting adventures along the Oregon Trail which follows the Platte River in the Nebraska Territory.
US
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7NKYSY/
UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E7NKYSY
Smashwords
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/336710
Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day - OUR HEROES WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/19/presidential-proclamation-national-powmia-recognition-day-2013
POSTED: Friday, September 20, 2013 - 8:02am
UPDATED: Friday, September 20, 2013 - 8:39am
Washington, D.C. (Department of Defense) — Friday, September 20th, 2013, has been declared National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
It is a day set aside to honor those men and women of the U.S. military who have been taken as prisoners or war or listed as missing in action.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn issued the following statement in observance of POW/MIA Recognition Day:
“As we honor and remember those Americans who have spent time as Prisoners of War and those who remain Missing in Action, I extend my deepest gratitude for our military personnel and veterans.
"As the son of a World War II pilot who spent time as a Prisoner of War, I am especially grateful for the sacrifices made. My prayers continue to be with the families of those who are missing, and I pray for them and their loved ones.
“Texans and our nation are in debt to their service, and I thank them for all that they do.”
Here is the official Presidential Proclamation:
Our country endures because in every generation, courageous Americans answer the call to serve in our Armed Forces. They represent the very best of the human spirit, stand tall for the values and freedoms we cherish, and uphold peace and security at home and around the globe. Today, we pay tribute to the service members who have not returned from the battlefield, we stand beside their families, and we honor those who are held captive as prisoners of war. We will never forget their sacrifice, nor will we ever abandon our responsibility to do everything in our power to bring them home.
America remains steadfast in our determination to recover our missing patriots. Our work is not finished until our heroes are returned safely to our shores or a full accounting is provided to their loved ones. We must care for the men and women who have served so selflessly in our name, and we must carry forward the legacy of those whose fates are still unknown. Today, and every day, we express our profound appreciation to our service members, our veterans, our military families, and all those who placed themselves in harm's way to sustain the virtues that are the hallmarks of our Union.
On September 20, 2013, the stark black and white banner symbolizing America's Missing in Action and Prisoners of War will be flown over the White House; the United States Capitol; the Departments of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs; the Selective Service System Headquarters; the World War II Memorial; the Korean War Veterans Memorial; the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; United States post offices; national cemeteries; and other locations across our country. We raise this flag as a solemn reminder of our obligation to always remember the sacrifices made to defend our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 20, 2013, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I urge all Americans to observe this day of honor and remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
BARACK OBAMA
POSTED: Friday, September 20, 2013 - 8:02amUPDATED: Friday, September 20, 2013 - 8:39am
Washington, D.C. (Department of Defense) — Friday, September 20th, 2013, has been declared National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
It is a day set aside to honor those men and women of the U.S. military who have been taken as prisoners or war or listed as missing in action.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn issued the following statement in observance of POW/MIA Recognition Day:
“As we honor and remember those Americans who have spent time as Prisoners of War and those who remain Missing in Action, I extend my deepest gratitude for our military personnel and veterans.
"As the son of a World War II pilot who spent time as a Prisoner of War, I am especially grateful for the sacrifices made. My prayers continue to be with the families of those who are missing, and I pray for them and their loved ones.
“Texans and our nation are in debt to their service, and I thank them for all that they do.”
Here is the official Presidential Proclamation:
Our country endures because in every generation, courageous Americans answer the call to serve in our Armed Forces. They represent the very best of the human spirit, stand tall for the values and freedoms we cherish, and uphold peace and security at home and around the globe. Today, we pay tribute to the service members who have not returned from the battlefield, we stand beside their families, and we honor those who are held captive as prisoners of war. We will never forget their sacrifice, nor will we ever abandon our responsibility to do everything in our power to bring them home.
America remains steadfast in our determination to recover our missing patriots. Our work is not finished until our heroes are returned safely to our shores or a full accounting is provided to their loved ones. We must care for the men and women who have served so selflessly in our name, and we must carry forward the legacy of those whose fates are still unknown. Today, and every day, we express our profound appreciation to our service members, our veterans, our military families, and all those who placed themselves in harm's way to sustain the virtues that are the hallmarks of our Union.
On September 20, 2013, the stark black and white banner symbolizing America's Missing in Action and Prisoners of War will be flown over the White House; the United States Capitol; the Departments of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs; the Selective Service System Headquarters; the World War II Memorial; the Korean War Veterans Memorial; the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; United States post offices; national cemeteries; and other locations across our country. We raise this flag as a solemn reminder of our obligation to always remember the sacrifices made to defend our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 20, 2013, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I urge all Americans to observe this day of honor and remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
BARACK OBAMA
"Resonant Chamber" - technology meets the classics!
From the Animusic 2 DVD - This is another amazing piece of incredibly beautiful and precise work from Animusic - more information at www.animusic.com.
http://animusic.com/previews/index.php
http://animusic.com/previews/index.php
Ngaire Elder spotlight: Ready To Roxx With Bill Jones, Jr.
http://adventuresofceciliaspark.blogspot.com/2013/09/ready-to-roxx-with-bill-jones-jr.html
Ready To Roxx With Bill Jones, Jr.
Bill Jones, Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in southern Virginia. He is a novelist, poet, photographer, father, and life coach, along with other things he does for money rather than love. Bill wrote his first two novels in 3 months. Since then, he has published 4 novels and a short story collection, and has two more novels currently in development.On those rare days he's not working at his Lockheed Martin day job, or his writing night job, Bill can be found under a Nikon, shooting whatever there is. On the very best days, his photos end up as a scene in a book. He likes cheese.
Author, Bill Jones, Jr.
Excerpt from Hard As Roxx written by Bill Jones, Jr.:
Roxx's head throbbed. She didn't need to touch it to know there would be a deep purple bruise atop an ugly knot in the middle of her forehead. She would need to wear bangs for a week after this. She was sitting in the dirt, but apparently had not been for long, as the crowd of men had not left. Her chest hurt, and she likely had a broken sternum from the pistol slug, but otherwise, she was intact. The air was thick with smells. To her immediate right, where the Dead Men stood, the air was heavy with sweat, adrenaline, and fervor. Their eyes were hungry, and they surrounded her daughter like starving jackals. The girl bounced in their midst, still fighting, never taking her eyes off her mom, distracting the Dead Men in their fevered heat. These weren't soldiers and not well trained. None had checked Roxx's pulse and none were watching.
The sniper remained in the shadows from whence he'd taken the first shot, the one that had almost penetrated her skin, almost breached her skull and into her brain. He'd made his first mistake. His back was turned. The old man sat, 9mm pistol still in hand, smiling as his dogs played with their new toy. As she bounced within the group, Jazz kicked up a cloud of dust, managing to aim it at the old man's head before she was jerked to a stop by one of her captors. Cheng cursed and grabbed at his eyes, which were watering from the dirt. At his feet lay a dead African, his throat wide. Jazz's knife lay next to him.
Roxx smiled. That's my girl.
What readers are saying about Bill Jones, Jr.'s writing (Amazon):
~ I fell in love with the characters, but more so the imagery created by Mr Jones. I felt like I was in a movie and could see everything clearly and even hear the sounds and feel the air... fantastic book... I think this will be a classic! (The Stream: Discovery)
~ The plot is captivating and smart, and I found the imagery and dialogue to be so strong in this wonderful story that both young adults and adults will be swept away (The Stream: Discovery)
~ This is a must read. The collection of short stories all hold these traits: clear and concise writing, engaging plots, and well developed and colorful cast of characters.Each story has individuality that makes this book a great read. (The Juice and Other Stories).
~ Author, Bill Jones Jr, has a wonderful ability to pull you into an adventure with people of all ages ...Bill wove into his story many golden threads with love, acceptance, perseverance in difficult times, innocence and innocence lost, problem solving and so very much more. (The Stream: Awakening).
US Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Hard-as-Roxx-ebook/dp/B00EL1YP6Y
UK Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-as-Roxx-ebook/dp/B00EL1YP6Y
Barnes and Noble Link - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-as-roxx-bill-jones-jr/1116560434?ean=9781492127994
You can find Bill on the web at his writing blog: 'This Blog Blank' http://thisblogblank.wordpress.com/ or on his Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bill-Jones-Jr-Author-Page/207061302683427
Ready To Roxx With Bill Jones, Jr.
Bill Jones, Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in southern Virginia. He is a novelist, poet, photographer, father, and life coach, along with other things he does for money rather than love. Bill wrote his first two novels in 3 months. Since then, he has published 4 novels and a short story collection, and has two more novels currently in development.On those rare days he's not working at his Lockheed Martin day job, or his writing night job, Bill can be found under a Nikon, shooting whatever there is. On the very best days, his photos end up as a scene in a book. He likes cheese.
Author, Bill Jones, Jr.
Excerpt from Hard As Roxx written by Bill Jones, Jr.:
Roxx's head throbbed. She didn't need to touch it to know there would be a deep purple bruise atop an ugly knot in the middle of her forehead. She would need to wear bangs for a week after this. She was sitting in the dirt, but apparently had not been for long, as the crowd of men had not left. Her chest hurt, and she likely had a broken sternum from the pistol slug, but otherwise, she was intact. The air was thick with smells. To her immediate right, where the Dead Men stood, the air was heavy with sweat, adrenaline, and fervor. Their eyes were hungry, and they surrounded her daughter like starving jackals. The girl bounced in their midst, still fighting, never taking her eyes off her mom, distracting the Dead Men in their fevered heat. These weren't soldiers and not well trained. None had checked Roxx's pulse and none were watching.
The sniper remained in the shadows from whence he'd taken the first shot, the one that had almost penetrated her skin, almost breached her skull and into her brain. He'd made his first mistake. His back was turned. The old man sat, 9mm pistol still in hand, smiling as his dogs played with their new toy. As she bounced within the group, Jazz kicked up a cloud of dust, managing to aim it at the old man's head before she was jerked to a stop by one of her captors. Cheng cursed and grabbed at his eyes, which were watering from the dirt. At his feet lay a dead African, his throat wide. Jazz's knife lay next to him.
Roxx smiled. That's my girl.
What readers are saying about Bill Jones, Jr.'s writing (Amazon):
~ I fell in love with the characters, but more so the imagery created by Mr Jones. I felt like I was in a movie and could see everything clearly and even hear the sounds and feel the air... fantastic book... I think this will be a classic! (The Stream: Discovery)
~ The plot is captivating and smart, and I found the imagery and dialogue to be so strong in this wonderful story that both young adults and adults will be swept away (The Stream: Discovery)
~ This is a must read. The collection of short stories all hold these traits: clear and concise writing, engaging plots, and well developed and colorful cast of characters.Each story has individuality that makes this book a great read. (The Juice and Other Stories).~ Author, Bill Jones Jr, has a wonderful ability to pull you into an adventure with people of all ages ...Bill wove into his story many golden threads with love, acceptance, perseverance in difficult times, innocence and innocence lost, problem solving and so very much more. (The Stream: Awakening).
US Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Hard-as-Roxx-ebook/dp/B00EL1YP6Y
UK Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-as-Roxx-ebook/dp/B00EL1YP6Y
Barnes and Noble Link - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-as-roxx-bill-jones-jr/1116560434?ean=9781492127994
You can find Bill on the web at his writing blog: 'This Blog Blank' http://thisblogblank.wordpress.com/ or on his Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bill-Jones-Jr-Author-Page/207061302683427
