Maria Hammarblad's Blog, page 60
April 13, 2012
A Legacy of Lies
Exciting Friday! Today, we have an excerpt from talented Stephenia McGee's new book "A Legacy of Lies." It is a story of modern cowboys sprinkled with the supernatural, suspense, and Christian Romance. Sounds like a thrilling combination! This book is definitely on my to-read list. Thank you Stephenia for letting me use your material on the blog!
Check out the blurb:
Sarah Sanders is so stressed-out at college that she’s having fainting spells. She’s behind on the rent and facing eviction. Dropping out of school feels inevitable. Needing a break, she accepts her boyfriend’s invitation to visit his parents’ ranch out west. But she finds much more in Montana than fresh air and mountain trails.
Ranch hand Jim Anderson has suffered from night terrors for over a year. But despite this secret struggle, his life at the ranch had been a welcomed escape from his past. Until those terrifying dark shadows started coming for him in the middle of the afternoon.
Brought together by an unseen hand, Sarah and Jim must travel across the country to unravel a web of deceit and uncover Jim’s long history of lies before the evidence is sealed away forever.
Stephenia had me at "Terrifying dark shadows." Then, I read this excerpt:
It was cold.
Too cold.
The eerie silence of a moonless, starless night engulfed him.
Jim shivered. It had been high noon only a few minutes ago. Had he fallen asleep? He didn't remember being tired. He shook his head and tried to focus his groggy mind. He peered around cautiously. Where was his horse?
A rustling sound in the bushes startled him. His eyes darted to investigate.
Nothing.
No, wait. There it was again. Off to the left. His eyes strained, searching for the slightest movement or shape. Something. Anything.
Silence.
He felt like a kid afraid of the dark.
Get a hold of yourself, man.
Fingers of fear teased along the back of his neck. The hairs stood on end. He shivered. Where was that horse?
"Ciervo!" His voice sounded weak even to his own ears. He tried again. Now he was completely hoarse.
Swallowing the panic rising from the pit of his stomach, he took a cautious step forward. He heard stirring in the woods behind him. Squirrels? He listened intently.
The noise came again. No. Definitely not a squirrel. Something was pacing in the woods. Deliberate. Stalking. Jim's mouth went dry.
Mountain lion.
His heart raced and he looked desperately around, scanning the darkness. Blackness blanketed the meadow. Jim hoped Ciervo hadn't wandered too far. He started to walk. Slowly. Calculating. He couldn't tell in what direction he moved.
His cell! He could use it as a light source. Jim's hand brushed at his hip. It wasn't there. He frowned. It always stayed on his belt. He never left the ranch without it.
Jim's eyes strained, but he could barely make out his surroundings. The farther he walked, the darker it got. His breathing came in quick, rapid intakes.
A shrill sound broke the silence. His heart leaped.
"Ciervo?"
Where was he? Was the mountain lion after him?
Hoof beats. Thank goodness.
They were pounding quicker than his rapidly drumming heart. A shadow appeared about thirty feet in front of him.
It wasn't his beloved horse. It looked like something galloping up from Hell.
The horrid creature ran wildly toward him. The cold air caused the hot breath to billow from its nostrils like a smoking dragon.The monster's eyes looked like no earthly thing he had ever seen. The bulging orbs had a luminescent shine that came from deep behind the pupils. In the pitch black they glowed like a ghostly beacon.
The horse-shaped beast lowered his head. The creature was preparing to slam into him. Jim threw himself out of its path and landed sharply on his hip. His right thigh slammed into a large, extruded boulder. Fire shot down his leg. Ignoring the pain, he jumped to his feet, eyes probing the darkness for the crazed brute. The ghostly version of Ciervo had vanished.
Despite the cold, he began to sweat. Jim felt eyes boring into him. Someone or something watched him. He was exposed. Unprepared. His heart hammered in his chest. His body refused to move.
Another sound. Different. It wasn't rustling limbs or bushes, and it certainly wasn't the horse's wild hoof beats. It was quiet, like a soft whisper. Crying? No, calling out for something.
He strained to catch the garbled words. The voice grew louder. More urgent. Still he couldn't make out the woeful tone. Then, as if his brain finished translating some cryptic code, the word became clear.
"James!"
Again. Louder this time. "James... James..." The voice rose and fell in the darkness. Its eerie sound slithered into his ears.
"Hello?" His voice echoed hoarsely. He held onto a feeble hope the voice came from someone nearby lost in the dark along with him. No one here knew him by that name. He stood holding his breath, listening.
Suddenly, a freight train of frigid air knocked him backward. Terrified, he dared not to move. The voice came again.
"You must help. Soon it will be too late--"
An insidious roar erupted around him. Hot, musty breath bathed Jim's face. He struggled backward. He couldn't quite make out the figure standing over him. The silhouette was enormous. Its shoulders spanned at least four feet. An odd-shaped head swayed from side-to-side.
It growled.
Paralyzed with fear, Jim lay helpless. The creature rose to stand upright. Seven. Eight feet tall. Jim gasped for air. His feet tore into the soft ground, trying to gain footing. Desperately trying to get away. The creature came crashing toward him.
Stephenia McGee
I'm off to get me the book, and to schedule an interview with Stephenia. Keep your eyes open; she will appear on the blog soon. :-) To get more information:
Website: www.StepheniaMcGee.com
Facebook: www.facebook/StepheniaHMcGee
Twitter: www.twitter.com/StepheniaHMcGee
What's that? Where you can get the book?
It's easy, check it out at Amazon and Barnes and Noble!
Check out the blurb:
Sarah Sanders is so stressed-out at college that she’s having fainting spells. She’s behind on the rent and facing eviction. Dropping out of school feels inevitable. Needing a break, she accepts her boyfriend’s invitation to visit his parents’ ranch out west. But she finds much more in Montana than fresh air and mountain trails. Ranch hand Jim Anderson has suffered from night terrors for over a year. But despite this secret struggle, his life at the ranch had been a welcomed escape from his past. Until those terrifying dark shadows started coming for him in the middle of the afternoon.
Brought together by an unseen hand, Sarah and Jim must travel across the country to unravel a web of deceit and uncover Jim’s long history of lies before the evidence is sealed away forever.
Stephenia had me at "Terrifying dark shadows." Then, I read this excerpt:
It was cold.
Too cold.
The eerie silence of a moonless, starless night engulfed him.
Jim shivered. It had been high noon only a few minutes ago. Had he fallen asleep? He didn't remember being tired. He shook his head and tried to focus his groggy mind. He peered around cautiously. Where was his horse?
A rustling sound in the bushes startled him. His eyes darted to investigate.
Nothing.
No, wait. There it was again. Off to the left. His eyes strained, searching for the slightest movement or shape. Something. Anything.
Silence.
He felt like a kid afraid of the dark.
Get a hold of yourself, man.
Fingers of fear teased along the back of his neck. The hairs stood on end. He shivered. Where was that horse?
"Ciervo!" His voice sounded weak even to his own ears. He tried again. Now he was completely hoarse.
Swallowing the panic rising from the pit of his stomach, he took a cautious step forward. He heard stirring in the woods behind him. Squirrels? He listened intently.
The noise came again. No. Definitely not a squirrel. Something was pacing in the woods. Deliberate. Stalking. Jim's mouth went dry.
Mountain lion.
His heart raced and he looked desperately around, scanning the darkness. Blackness blanketed the meadow. Jim hoped Ciervo hadn't wandered too far. He started to walk. Slowly. Calculating. He couldn't tell in what direction he moved.
His cell! He could use it as a light source. Jim's hand brushed at his hip. It wasn't there. He frowned. It always stayed on his belt. He never left the ranch without it.
Jim's eyes strained, but he could barely make out his surroundings. The farther he walked, the darker it got. His breathing came in quick, rapid intakes.
A shrill sound broke the silence. His heart leaped.
"Ciervo?"
Where was he? Was the mountain lion after him?
Hoof beats. Thank goodness.
They were pounding quicker than his rapidly drumming heart. A shadow appeared about thirty feet in front of him.
It wasn't his beloved horse. It looked like something galloping up from Hell.
The horrid creature ran wildly toward him. The cold air caused the hot breath to billow from its nostrils like a smoking dragon.The monster's eyes looked like no earthly thing he had ever seen. The bulging orbs had a luminescent shine that came from deep behind the pupils. In the pitch black they glowed like a ghostly beacon.
The horse-shaped beast lowered his head. The creature was preparing to slam into him. Jim threw himself out of its path and landed sharply on his hip. His right thigh slammed into a large, extruded boulder. Fire shot down his leg. Ignoring the pain, he jumped to his feet, eyes probing the darkness for the crazed brute. The ghostly version of Ciervo had vanished.
Despite the cold, he began to sweat. Jim felt eyes boring into him. Someone or something watched him. He was exposed. Unprepared. His heart hammered in his chest. His body refused to move.
Another sound. Different. It wasn't rustling limbs or bushes, and it certainly wasn't the horse's wild hoof beats. It was quiet, like a soft whisper. Crying? No, calling out for something.
He strained to catch the garbled words. The voice grew louder. More urgent. Still he couldn't make out the woeful tone. Then, as if his brain finished translating some cryptic code, the word became clear.
"James!"
Again. Louder this time. "James... James..." The voice rose and fell in the darkness. Its eerie sound slithered into his ears.
"Hello?" His voice echoed hoarsely. He held onto a feeble hope the voice came from someone nearby lost in the dark along with him. No one here knew him by that name. He stood holding his breath, listening.
Suddenly, a freight train of frigid air knocked him backward. Terrified, he dared not to move. The voice came again.
"You must help. Soon it will be too late--"
An insidious roar erupted around him. Hot, musty breath bathed Jim's face. He struggled backward. He couldn't quite make out the figure standing over him. The silhouette was enormous. Its shoulders spanned at least four feet. An odd-shaped head swayed from side-to-side.
It growled.
Paralyzed with fear, Jim lay helpless. The creature rose to stand upright. Seven. Eight feet tall. Jim gasped for air. His feet tore into the soft ground, trying to gain footing. Desperately trying to get away. The creature came crashing toward him.
Stephenia McGeeI'm off to get me the book, and to schedule an interview with Stephenia. Keep your eyes open; she will appear on the blog soon. :-) To get more information:
Website: www.StepheniaMcGee.com
Facebook: www.facebook/StepheniaHMcGee
Twitter: www.twitter.com/StepheniaHMcGee
What's that? Where you can get the book?
It's easy, check it out at Amazon and Barnes and Noble!
April 7, 2012
Cover for Kidnapped - TBR May 11
Today is a very exciting day for me. I have, in my computer, the brand new cover for Kidnapped. It is designed by wonderful artist Gwen Phifer, and each time I look at it, I feel my mouth turn into a grin from ear to ear. Kidnapped will be released on May 11 by Desert Breeze Publishing.
Check out the blurb:
It's a late winter night when Patricia Risden heads home in her car, on a road she's driven many times before. She doesn't have a care in the world, that is, until a man appears from nowhere, right in front of her.
The next thing she knows is being a prisoner of the unscrupulous Alliance Commander Travis 152; an intimidating man who demands information and complete cooperation. Travis soon realizes his mistake; Tricia doesn't know anything, and she is incapable of even getting a glass of water from the ship's computer.
Infamous for being a ruthless executioner, conditioned since childhood to feel nothing besides fear and pain, he still deems her harmless, and finds enough pity for the lost young woman to let her out of the cell. A decision that will change both their lives forever.
In celebration of the day, I have put up a page for "Kidnapped" on my website. Http://www.hammarblad.com/kidnapped. Here, you can read an excerpt from the first chapter, and excerpts from a couple of reviews.
If you want more information, please check out my Facebook page. I have planned some giveaways for spring and summer, so liking it might be worthwhile. :-)
Check out the blurb:
It's a late winter night when Patricia Risden heads home in her car, on a road she's driven many times before. She doesn't have a care in the world, that is, until a man appears from nowhere, right in front of her.
The next thing she knows is being a prisoner of the unscrupulous Alliance Commander Travis 152; an intimidating man who demands information and complete cooperation. Travis soon realizes his mistake; Tricia doesn't know anything, and she is incapable of even getting a glass of water from the ship's computer.
Infamous for being a ruthless executioner, conditioned since childhood to feel nothing besides fear and pain, he still deems her harmless, and finds enough pity for the lost young woman to let her out of the cell. A decision that will change both their lives forever.
In celebration of the day, I have put up a page for "Kidnapped" on my website. Http://www.hammarblad.com/kidnapped. Here, you can read an excerpt from the first chapter, and excerpts from a couple of reviews.
If you want more information, please check out my Facebook page. I have planned some giveaways for spring and summer, so liking it might be worthwhile. :-)
April 1, 2012
Interview with Jillian Chantal
Very exciting day today - welcoming talented Jillian Chantal to the blog. Her new book comes out April 15, and is definitely something to keep eyes open for!
Jillian Chantal, romance with international flair
Please tell us your latest news!
My newest book from Desert Breeze Publishing comes out April 15, 2012. It's Book One of The Gambler's Inheritance series and is called The Gambler. So, when you're bemoaning that it's tax day, you can escape with a mystery/romance novel.
What do you love about your latest book?
I love the fact that my heroine is psychic and has her visions in an odd way. She's not your run of the mill psychic. I also realized about half way through the book that I was writing a variation on the Cinderella theme. Being a pantser, that came as a surprise.
Can you tell us something behind-the-scenes about this book that readers would love to hear - something not easily found on your website?
I flew out to California and spent two days and nights on the Queen Mary in order to research the story. I took the ghost tour as well as the behind the scenes tour. I hope it makes the book feel authentic and pulls the reader into the scenes in a good way.
Do your fictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives planned out in advance?
Oh, on their own, for sure. Part of the joy of writing for me is the adventure of the first draft. I start with a basic premise and it grows organically from there. Such fun for me!
Would you share with us what inspired you to write the story?
I love the early Twentieth Century and am a huge history buff of all the different ages and eras. I just adore reading and studying about things that happened in the past. This book came from my fascination about the older ocean liners. I also have another novel out with Desert Breeze Publishing, called Redemption for the Devil which takes place in 1920 and is on the Mauretania.
Living on the Gulf of Mexico makes me a water person and so, my fascination with oceans and history made me want to write these kind of stories.
What's your favorite place you've visited? Do you have a "must see" destination on your bucket list?
I love the British Isles. I base a lot of my stories there or have characters from England, Scotland, or Ireland. I haven't written a Welshman yet, but want to.
Is there something funny about you people don't know?
I am a roller coaster nut. I love, love, love to ride them. It is so much fun to go backwards, loop around, fly up and down hills and just plain have fun with them. The weird thing about it is that I can ride them all day long and not get sick, but put me in one of those movie theaters that have the 360 degree screen and I get so nauseated that I think I'm going to die. I got so sick at the Oh Canada show in EPCOT, I had to go outside and vomit. Crazy, huh?
Anything else you want to share?
I hope that anyone who reads this story enjoys it. I had a blast writing it and figuring out the whodunit myself! LOL! Thanks for having me come in. I enjoyed the questions. They were fun and well thought out.
For more information, visit Jillian at:
http://www.jillianchantal.com
http://southernsizzleromance.wordpress.com/
Jillian Chantal, romance with international flair
Please tell us your latest news!
My newest book from Desert Breeze Publishing comes out April 15, 2012. It's Book One of The Gambler's Inheritance series and is called The Gambler. So, when you're bemoaning that it's tax day, you can escape with a mystery/romance novel.
What do you love about your latest book?
I love the fact that my heroine is psychic and has her visions in an odd way. She's not your run of the mill psychic. I also realized about half way through the book that I was writing a variation on the Cinderella theme. Being a pantser, that came as a surprise.
Can you tell us something behind-the-scenes about this book that readers would love to hear - something not easily found on your website?
I flew out to California and spent two days and nights on the Queen Mary in order to research the story. I took the ghost tour as well as the behind the scenes tour. I hope it makes the book feel authentic and pulls the reader into the scenes in a good way.
Do your fictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives planned out in advance?
Oh, on their own, for sure. Part of the joy of writing for me is the adventure of the first draft. I start with a basic premise and it grows organically from there. Such fun for me!
Would you share with us what inspired you to write the story?
I love the early Twentieth Century and am a huge history buff of all the different ages and eras. I just adore reading and studying about things that happened in the past. This book came from my fascination about the older ocean liners. I also have another novel out with Desert Breeze Publishing, called Redemption for the Devil which takes place in 1920 and is on the Mauretania.
Living on the Gulf of Mexico makes me a water person and so, my fascination with oceans and history made me want to write these kind of stories.
What's your favorite place you've visited? Do you have a "must see" destination on your bucket list?
I love the British Isles. I base a lot of my stories there or have characters from England, Scotland, or Ireland. I haven't written a Welshman yet, but want to.
Is there something funny about you people don't know?
I am a roller coaster nut. I love, love, love to ride them. It is so much fun to go backwards, loop around, fly up and down hills and just plain have fun with them. The weird thing about it is that I can ride them all day long and not get sick, but put me in one of those movie theaters that have the 360 degree screen and I get so nauseated that I think I'm going to die. I got so sick at the Oh Canada show in EPCOT, I had to go outside and vomit. Crazy, huh?
Anything else you want to share?
I hope that anyone who reads this story enjoys it. I had a blast writing it and figuring out the whodunit myself! LOL! Thanks for having me come in. I enjoyed the questions. They were fun and well thought out.
For more information, visit Jillian at:
http://www.jillianchantal.com
http://southernsizzleromance.wordpress.com/
March 28, 2012
Second place isn't bad!
Thank you to everyone who voted for my video in the yougottaread.com March contest. The video for "Kidnapped" came in on second place, and I think that's pretty good considering the book won't be out for another month. =D Time for a happy dance!!! I am eagerly awaiting the cover; I'll post it as soon as it is finalized.
In other news, I have been working on edits for "Return of the Goddess" - the third installation in the Goddess's Saga. If everything goes as planned, it will be available soon. How soon? Really soon. I will also make a collection volume of all three books, and I think it will be beautiful. These books have their own Facebook page, head on over there and check out sneak previews from all the books in the series!
I have made a beautiful Goddess bookmark based on the cover to the right. If you go to the Facebook page, like it, and send me a message with your address I will send you a signed bookmark and maybe a little surprise!
What else is happening this week? Well, I have an interview with talented Jillian Chantal coming up April 1st. Keep your eyes open!
In other news, I have been working on edits for "Return of the Goddess" - the third installation in the Goddess's Saga. If everything goes as planned, it will be available soon. How soon? Really soon. I will also make a collection volume of all three books, and I think it will be beautiful. These books have their own Facebook page, head on over there and check out sneak previews from all the books in the series!
I have made a beautiful Goddess bookmark based on the cover to the right. If you go to the Facebook page, like it, and send me a message with your address I will send you a signed bookmark and maybe a little surprise!
What else is happening this week? Well, I have an interview with talented Jillian Chantal coming up April 1st. Keep your eyes open!
March 21, 2012
Interview with Lynette Endicott
There are many interesting people in the world, and today's guest has hobbies that fascinate me. Lynette Endicott lives surrounded by family and pets, writes romance novels, and collects castles. Yes, you heard me right; she collects castles!
Castle-Collecting Romance Novelist
Please tell us your latest news!
My debut book, More than a Job has just been released by Desert Breeze Publishing.
If you were to do it all over again, would you change anything in your lasted book?
Well, because I love the characters, they have continued to live in my head, and I have an epilogue playing out. Or maybe a sequel or companion book. We'll see.
How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?
My brother is also an author, in a completely different genre, so even though I am the eldest I am not the first to publish a book. My sister directs a Literacy Center in a nearby county. All five kids are readers, something we learned from our parents, who have always been voracious readers as well. We are PKs - Preacher's Kids - and I admit I did edit some of the steamier scenes when I realized that Mom and Dad would read my book.
Can you tell us something behind-the-scenes about this book that the readers would love to hear - something not easily found on your website?
More than a Job is about a woman who worked in group homes for adults with developmental disabilities. I worked in the disability field, both in disability rights and in programs like the one in the book, for more than 30 years. I am developing some guidelines about writing characters who have disabilities, because of that experience.
Do your fictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives planned out in advance?
A little of both! I find that even if I have the plot mapped out and the character develop written down, the characters often go off in unexpected directions. In More than a Job there is a significant event in Paige's life that wasn't in my mind in advance at all.
Do you base any of your characters personalities off people you know, and if so, do you tell them?
Not consciously, but sometimes a friend or family member will remind me that an event or conversation or characteristic is from someone in real life. I think my writer's mind tucks away memories that might make good stories, and then pulls them out when they are needed without my conscious action.
When did you discover you are a writer? Was there a specific catalyst?
I've always written stories. My mom kept some of the imaginative ones from grade school and always declared I was a writer. When I was 14 I was in a class that went on a field trip to a nearby prison. All the people wrote their impressions, and I was chosen to put them together to submit to a youth magazine. The article about our trip, with comments from my classmates, was the first thing I published. By the time I graduated from college, ten other articles were accepted by that publisher.
What's your favorite place you've visited? Do you have a "must see" destination on your bucket list?
I love British Columbia. Vancouver and Victoria are beautiful, diverse, and interesting cities. Scotland and Ireland, especially ares of our ancestors, are definitely on my Bucket List.
So, I can't wait anymore, tell me about the castles!
I collect castles on glass, wood, sand, on cups and plates, candles... Everything imaginable, I have almost 100 different ones.
Anything else you want to share?
Stay tuned. If you enjoy More than a Job, there are two more books coming in 2012.
When she loses the job thatwas her full existence, Paige Hamilton learns that there are more importantthings in life - including love. Can Joshua draw her away from her anger at hiscompany and into his arms?
For more information, visit Lynette at:
http://lynetteendicott.com
http://lynetteendicott.blogspot.com
Lynette also has an author page at Desert Breeze Publishing:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....
Castle-Collecting Romance Novelist
Please tell us your latest news!
My debut book, More than a Job has just been released by Desert Breeze Publishing.
If you were to do it all over again, would you change anything in your lasted book?
Well, because I love the characters, they have continued to live in my head, and I have an epilogue playing out. Or maybe a sequel or companion book. We'll see.
How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?
My brother is also an author, in a completely different genre, so even though I am the eldest I am not the first to publish a book. My sister directs a Literacy Center in a nearby county. All five kids are readers, something we learned from our parents, who have always been voracious readers as well. We are PKs - Preacher's Kids - and I admit I did edit some of the steamier scenes when I realized that Mom and Dad would read my book.
Can you tell us something behind-the-scenes about this book that the readers would love to hear - something not easily found on your website?
More than a Job is about a woman who worked in group homes for adults with developmental disabilities. I worked in the disability field, both in disability rights and in programs like the one in the book, for more than 30 years. I am developing some guidelines about writing characters who have disabilities, because of that experience.
Do your fictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives planned out in advance?
A little of both! I find that even if I have the plot mapped out and the character develop written down, the characters often go off in unexpected directions. In More than a Job there is a significant event in Paige's life that wasn't in my mind in advance at all.
Do you base any of your characters personalities off people you know, and if so, do you tell them?
Not consciously, but sometimes a friend or family member will remind me that an event or conversation or characteristic is from someone in real life. I think my writer's mind tucks away memories that might make good stories, and then pulls them out when they are needed without my conscious action.
When did you discover you are a writer? Was there a specific catalyst?
I've always written stories. My mom kept some of the imaginative ones from grade school and always declared I was a writer. When I was 14 I was in a class that went on a field trip to a nearby prison. All the people wrote their impressions, and I was chosen to put them together to submit to a youth magazine. The article about our trip, with comments from my classmates, was the first thing I published. By the time I graduated from college, ten other articles were accepted by that publisher.
What's your favorite place you've visited? Do you have a "must see" destination on your bucket list?
I love British Columbia. Vancouver and Victoria are beautiful, diverse, and interesting cities. Scotland and Ireland, especially ares of our ancestors, are definitely on my Bucket List.
So, I can't wait anymore, tell me about the castles!
I collect castles on glass, wood, sand, on cups and plates, candles... Everything imaginable, I have almost 100 different ones.
Anything else you want to share?
Stay tuned. If you enjoy More than a Job, there are two more books coming in 2012.
When she loses the job thatwas her full existence, Paige Hamilton learns that there are more importantthings in life - including love. Can Joshua draw her away from her anger at hiscompany and into his arms?
For more information, visit Lynette at:
http://lynetteendicott.com
http://lynetteendicott.blogspot.com
Lynette also has an author page at Desert Breeze Publishing:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....
Video contest!
Inspired by the great success of last month's video contest, I entered another one! This time, it is my book trailer for "Kidnapped". (Released by Desert Breeze Publishing on May 11.)
If I were to win, I would get fame and glory, bragging rights, and some very attractive advertising space for the book. Definitely worth competing over!
Check out the page: http://yougottaread.com/category/video-contest/
My video is number one in the list; Kidnapped. If you choose to vote for me, you'll have my never ending gratitude. :-)
Tomorrow, there will be a new author interview here on my blog. Lynette Endicott comes over to talk about her new book, and about castles! Don't miss it!
If I were to win, I would get fame and glory, bragging rights, and some very attractive advertising space for the book. Definitely worth competing over!
Check out the page: http://yougottaread.com/category/video-contest/
My video is number one in the list; Kidnapped. If you choose to vote for me, you'll have my never ending gratitude. :-)
Tomorrow, there will be a new author interview here on my blog. Lynette Endicott comes over to talk about her new book, and about castles! Don't miss it!
March 19, 2012
Invention wish list
I think everyone knows the feeling of running around trying to do a million things at once and accomplishing nothing. On TV everyone looks so perfect, and the women are always well dressed with perfect hair and perfece make-up. Looking at myself, slouching in front of the computer dressed in shorts covered in dog hair and a saggy T-shirt, without a trace of even mascara and with my hair standing to all sides, the comparison does not look good. (Yes, I do realize they get paid to look like that, but anyway, LOL!)
Don't get me wrong; I want to look good, but everything can't happen at once. Anyway, it made me think of Alexandra in "Brand New World" (the first novella in the Embarkment series.) Her bathroom in the future has a mask that spraypaints perfect make-up on the user in a couple of seconds. I bet it does her hair too. I want one, it would be SO convenient!!! Maybe Apple could invent one and call it iBeauty, and then they could build an iVacuum and iLaundry too.
Other stuff going on? Yes! On Thursday (March 22) Lynette Endicott comes over to talk about her new book. Keep your eyes open!
Don't get me wrong; I want to look good, but everything can't happen at once. Anyway, it made me think of Alexandra in "Brand New World" (the first novella in the Embarkment series.) Her bathroom in the future has a mask that spraypaints perfect make-up on the user in a couple of seconds. I bet it does her hair too. I want one, it would be SO convenient!!! Maybe Apple could invent one and call it iBeauty, and then they could build an iVacuum and iLaundry too.
Other stuff going on? Yes! On Thursday (March 22) Lynette Endicott comes over to talk about her new book. Keep your eyes open!
March 4, 2012
I won, I won, I won! *does happy dance*
Good news! Thanks to everyone who voted, my video for Embarkment 2577 won first place in the YouGottaRead videocontest! Besides joy and bragging rights, I won several months worth of advertising space! Happy Joy Joy!!! I will have a video in the March contest too; the trailer for Kidnapped is already up on their website, but voting doesn't start until later in the month.Other exciting news; I am in the midst of the first round of edits for "Kidnapped," and May 11 that seemed so far away this fall is closing in rapidly. The book will be here before I know it!
I bet my editor got a few good laughs from the first read-through; my head knows exactly what happens and what every page is supposed to say, and I never even noticed I'd written clever things like, "time seized to exist." What exactly did I think it was doing? Having a seizure? Did someone grab it? I used to blame being foreign, but that excuse is worn a little thin by now, so I'll have to come up with a new one. =D Maybe I can say my dog walked on the keyboard; it happens more often than one would think - especially if he hears sirens outside. The result is usually along the lines of, o090om,ljkl;lk, but with a little training he might learn to type. (Yes, I am very optimistic about his abilities, but he's part border collie, so it could happen...)
Meanwhile, check out my new video for "Invasion and other short stories." Invasion is the main story in the book, and the one most like my normal way of writing.
March 1, 2012
Rob Sadler - with Vengeance!
A couple of years ago I hardly knew what Urban Fiction was, and then I won a book in a contest. It painted out a world of supernatural creatures and adventures right here, in the modern world, and it intrigued me. That book was "Rebirth of the Chosen" by Rob Sadler, and it is my great pleasure to welcome this innovative author to my blog!
Rob Sadler - coming out with VENGEANCE!
Welcome Rob! Please tell us your latest news!
Wellmy new book "VENGEANCE" is due out any day now. It's a compilation of shortstories that all revolve around people that get exactly what they deserve!
I can't wait to read that! Is there a single book or authorthat made you want to write? Ihad always loved creative writing and I had even toyed around with writing afantasy book when I was younger. I loved David Eddings, Robert Jordan, andTerry Goodkind. With that said, it wasn't until I happened across Wild Blood byNancy A. Collins that I realized there truly was a genre that could suit me.After I read Midnight Blue, also by Collins I knew I would be a writereventually!
How does your family feel abouthaving a writer in the family? Do they read your books? As far as I know everyone seems to love theidea, though I know not everyone has read me. I do run a lot of my ideas pastmy wife and occasionally my Mom. It felt a little weird the first time I handedan un-edited manuscript to my Mom considering the amount of sex in my oneseries but thankfully I have a really cool family! They are all very proud ofme for going after what I want.
What do you love about your latestbook?
In VENGEANCE I love that I wentcompletely away from the paranormal and dealt with realistic situations. Horrorand gore are fun, but psychological thrillers that have a foundation in realitycan hit you harder. Now in Revelations Out Of Darkness I'm writing in a ton of newcharacters, some of which will play big roles in book 3 of the series. Newcharacters are always fun!
Do yourfictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives plannedout in advance? My books start at the ending, andthen I create a base set of characters. I place the characters in situationsand have them react the way I feel they really would based on their individualpersonalities. I know what the ultimate outcome will be, but I let the charactersfind their own way. Of course sometimes the characters choices change theending as well but I deal with that as it comes too.
Do you base anyof your characters personalities off people you know, and if so, do you tellthem? I have loosely based charactersoff of people I know and in a couple of cases I have let the person know. Ifind I do that right at first so that I have a basis for how they would move,or react. The characters take on their own personality with time.
What type ofscene do you enjoy writing the most?
That is easy, combat and violence in generalcome to me so easily that I can't wait to get to a good action sequence. Aclose tie would be the scenes involving intimacy, romance, and sex, anythingwith emotional vulnerability. I guess in all cases it's a deep emotionalsubmersion that I really enjoy. The kind of scene I can play out in my head andreally feel the impact it's going to have on the reader be it good or bad.
What's the biggest challenge you've faced in writing? Without question it's editing, editing,editing, oh yea and editing! I love to write but I find that when I read my ownwork I see the scene the way I wrote it in my head and not necessarily the wayit really look on paper. I can read the same misspelled word twenty timesbefore I notice because I am so wrapped up in the entire scene and not eachindividual word.
Visit Rob on Facebook!See more of Rob on his website: http://www.rsadlerbooks.com
Rob Sadler - coming out with VENGEANCE!
Welcome Rob! Please tell us your latest news!Wellmy new book "VENGEANCE" is due out any day now. It's a compilation of shortstories that all revolve around people that get exactly what they deserve!
I can't wait to read that! Is there a single book or authorthat made you want to write? Ihad always loved creative writing and I had even toyed around with writing afantasy book when I was younger. I loved David Eddings, Robert Jordan, andTerry Goodkind. With that said, it wasn't until I happened across Wild Blood byNancy A. Collins that I realized there truly was a genre that could suit me.After I read Midnight Blue, also by Collins I knew I would be a writereventually!
How does your family feel abouthaving a writer in the family? Do they read your books? As far as I know everyone seems to love theidea, though I know not everyone has read me. I do run a lot of my ideas pastmy wife and occasionally my Mom. It felt a little weird the first time I handedan un-edited manuscript to my Mom considering the amount of sex in my oneseries but thankfully I have a really cool family! They are all very proud ofme for going after what I want.
What do you love about your latestbook?
In VENGEANCE I love that I wentcompletely away from the paranormal and dealt with realistic situations. Horrorand gore are fun, but psychological thrillers that have a foundation in realitycan hit you harder. Now in Revelations Out Of Darkness I'm writing in a ton of newcharacters, some of which will play big roles in book 3 of the series. Newcharacters are always fun!
Do yourfictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives plannedout in advance? My books start at the ending, andthen I create a base set of characters. I place the characters in situationsand have them react the way I feel they really would based on their individualpersonalities. I know what the ultimate outcome will be, but I let the charactersfind their own way. Of course sometimes the characters choices change theending as well but I deal with that as it comes too.
Do you base anyof your characters personalities off people you know, and if so, do you tellthem? I have loosely based charactersoff of people I know and in a couple of cases I have let the person know. Ifind I do that right at first so that I have a basis for how they would move,or react. The characters take on their own personality with time.
What type ofscene do you enjoy writing the most?
That is easy, combat and violence in generalcome to me so easily that I can't wait to get to a good action sequence. Aclose tie would be the scenes involving intimacy, romance, and sex, anythingwith emotional vulnerability. I guess in all cases it's a deep emotionalsubmersion that I really enjoy. The kind of scene I can play out in my head andreally feel the impact it's going to have on the reader be it good or bad.
What's the biggest challenge you've faced in writing? Without question it's editing, editing,editing, oh yea and editing! I love to write but I find that when I read my ownwork I see the scene the way I wrote it in my head and not necessarily the wayit really look on paper. I can read the same misspelled word twenty timesbefore I notice because I am so wrapped up in the entire scene and not eachindividual word.
Visit Rob on Facebook!See more of Rob on his website: http://www.rsadlerbooks.com
February 21, 2012
I need your vote!
Yes, I need your vote. Not for a super important election like the presidency or running for governor or anything, but just to make me happy! ;-)
There is a video contest going on at http://yougottaread.com/category/video-contest/ and one of my booktrailers is in it. My video is number 19, for Embarkment 2577, and when it comes to this, your vote matters! :-)
There is a video contest going on at http://yougottaread.com/category/video-contest/ and one of my booktrailers is in it. My video is number 19, for Embarkment 2577, and when it comes to this, your vote matters! :-)
