Reena Jacobs's Blog, page 16

Covenant Blog Tour

Not too often we see historical novels here. When I was younger (high schooler), I didn’t have much interest in history. Now that I’m aged (in a good way), I’m fascinated with the past and wished I’d paid attention more. One of the things I do like about not focusing on high school history is the opportunity to explore areas not thoroughly covered in public schools like black history, women’s history, or culture as it pertains to immigration. I could go on and on about the wonders of American history not covered in schools, but that’s not why we’re here today. Today we’re here to celebrate the release of Covenant by CD Harper.

Author, CD Harper is pleased to announce his book, Covenant. This work is a historical fiction novel set during slavery and the Civil War and looks at the relationship of the slave master and his slave love. The story also delves into the impact of slavery, the war and the human impulse to love on lives of everyone on Covenant Plantation. Covenant is told from the perspective of a slave.

The Civil War provides a smoky background for this debut novel that delves into the uncomfortable friction that exists between the waning power of the Southern plantation culture and the emerging identities that lie beneath. The naive Seth Hunter Jr., whose existence has been mapped out for him by domineering patriarchs, finds himself forced to confront his life as pressures from the past and future force him from his pedestal. The divine nature of the American ideal of Manifest Destiny led earlier generations of Hunters from humble Northern beginnings to a precipice of Southern power embodied in Covenant Plantation, Seth Jr.’s inheritance. As the Civil War unseats the stability of the South, Seth’s own life unravels. The estate, the lifestyle and the woman he was given all become harder to hang on to as he struggles to fulfill his destiny.

Dr. Clifford D. Harper is a respected theatrical executive producer and playwright. His written works include Curse and Neva’s Tale. Neva’s Tale was produced by Theresa Larkin, directed by Ted Lange, and earned actor Larry Gammell Jr. an NAACP Award and another from L.A. Weekly in 1993 for his supporting role.

A retired Professor of Theatre Arts and Dance at California State University, Los Angeles, Clif served as the Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts where he established the “Theatre of the Twenty-First Century” and revived the Dance Kaleidoscope program in the LA community. During his tenure, he became the founding Executive Director of the Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex, where he developed the world-renowned Luckman Jazz Orchestra. Dr. Harper’s commitment to the arts was instrumental in facilitating the art retrospective: “African American Artists in Los Angeles, A Survey, Exhibition, 1945-2003.”

Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Clif taught for a year at Sangamon State University before moving on to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where he served as Chair of the Black Studies Program and Dean of General Academic Programs. Dr. Harper received an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, a Master’s in Theatre and Speech and became one of the first African Americans to earn a PhD. in English from St. Louis University

Born and raised in a segregated neighborhood of East St. Louis, Illinois, Dr. Harper graduated and later returned to teach at his high school alma mater, Lincoln High. Dr. Harper found this experience to be significant and rewarding. During this time, he discovered his passion for theater and found inspiration in his students, many of whom went on to have gratifying careers.

Dr. Harper’s many accomplishments have included: working with the renowned Katherine Dunham, receiving a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship Award, earning one of the earliest Certificates in Black Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and starting a “Forgivable Loan” program for female PhD’s at CSULA.

Clif and his lovely wife, Linda, have migrated north to the Oregon Coast, settling in the charming town of Gleneden Beach. Clif continues to write and is working on his next novel.

Website: http://cdharperbooks.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CovenantBook

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCDHarper

Seven Habits of Highly Infective People Blog Tour

I see you’ve made it.

Welcome to the next stop on the

Seven Habits of Highly Infective People Blog Tour!

Today, William Todd Rose is here to share a bit about himself and his book, Seven Habits of Highly Infective People. Woot.

Reena Jacobs: Congratulations on your latest release, The Seven Habits of Highly Infective People. I understand it’s a revised and expanded version. Please tell us a bit about it, and what led you to release it.

William Todd Rose: The first edition was independently published and was only on the market for around a month or so before Permuted Press asked if they could see the manuscript. I’ve always loved Permuted and had planned on submitting something to them in the future, but I always felt like I wasn’t quite ready. So, needless to say, I was thrilled when they said they wanted it. The only issue was the word count. The original version was about 25,000 words shorter than their minimum requirements, so they asked if I thought I could expand it a bit. This really wasn’t that much of a problem. When I wrote the original version, I thought it was a one shot tale. But after publication, I realized that The Seven Habits was actually the first book in a much longer story arc, so I took this opportunity to include some seemingly minor details which will play very important roles in the rest of the series. The hardest part was figuring out exactly where to insert the extra content, as I thought the storyline in the first edition was pretty tight. Each chapter basically picked up where the last left off. As I reread the original and made notes, I realized there was one point in the tale where a period of time had passed for both Bosley and Ocean and realized this was be the perfect spot to add the extra scenes.

RJ: That’s totally awesome. I love it when agents and traditional publishers find indie authors. Really makes me believe in the process again. Congratulations! By the way, I cruised your blog. A bit on the… disturbing side. Love it!

WTR: Thanks! I’m ashamed to say that I don’t update it as often as I should. I’ve tried blogging several times before, but never really knew what to put in it. So this time around I decided to mainly write about what I consider to be the most interesting things which have happened to me.

RJ: I’m totally with you on trying to figure out new content. I hear you have a “thing” for zombies. Will you please share with us your fascination with them?

WTR: To be perfectly honest, it’s not so much the zombies themselves which intrigue me but the world that would be left in their wake. I’ve always been interested in the psychological and sociological effects of a single, shared event. Something that would, almost overnight, create entirely new paradigms of survival and morality. I suppose I could have picked nuclear war or a natural disaster, but zombies are great metaphors, you know? They are Death incarnate: unsympathetic and relentless, they’ll just keep coming and coming until they finally get you. More than that, however, I like the additional emotional strain the undead would place upon those who survived the initial onslaught. The walking dead defy all the laws that constitute our collective reality. A pandemic, for example, would be easier for survivors to rationalize. Disease conforms to our agreed upon reality. But seeing hordes of rotting corpses wandering around the landscape would be a constant reminder that the world as we knew it was over. At the same time, it would also topple mankind from our coveted position at the top of the food chain. We’d become prey again and be thrust into roles we haven’t had to fill for a very, very long time.

RJ: Yikes! You’re delving into an area where I start to have nightmares. What got you into speculative fiction?

WTR: In all honesty, it was reading. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved sci-fi, horror, and adventure tales. Books were the best gift I could receive on any given holiday and even as a young boy I had quite an extensive collection. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I could write these types of stories myself and eventually I realized that I was actually pretty good at it.

RJ: Where do you get inspirations for your stories?

WTR: It’s really hard to pinpoint. Most of them just evolve organically. My first novella, “Shadow of the Woodpile”, was all stream of consciousness type stuff. I watched the story unfold without really knowing where it was going until I reached the end. For my second book, “Cry Havoc”, all I knew was that I wanted to start with a scene showing a city embroiled in urban warfare. The only book I can really pinpoint a specific inspiration for is “Shut the Fuck Up and Die!”; my wife and I were watching House of 1,000 Corpses and I told her what I would love to see in one of those types of movies and she replied, “Well then, you should write it.” So I did. But that’s all I can say without releasing any spoilers.

RJ: I loved the trailers for your works. What was your role in the production of them?

I actually made and edited all of them myself. For The Seven Habits trailer, I used stock footage and a song from the German band Lacrimso. For the Cry Havoc trailer, I digitally composed the music using Fruity Loops Studio and edited various images which I felt conveyed the tone of the book. If you watch that trailer, you may notice some black and white images in which I’d added a bit of yellow to certain details with Photoshop. Though I never come right out and said it in the novel, yellow is a very important color in that book. You could probably read through it and never notice. But if you re-read it and pay specific attention to things that are yellow, you’ll begin to see patterns emerge based on that color. So I felt it was very important to have yellow in the trailer. For the Sex in the Time of Zombies trailer, I cannibalized some stills from Night of the Living Dead since its in public domain and colorized them in the same way I’d added yellow into Cry Havoc.

RJ: Very cool. What are you working on now?

WTR: Right now I’m finishing up the second book in the Tides of Time series. It picks up right where The Seven Habits left off and I’m exploring some of the minor characters from the first book in a little more detail while still maintaining the focus on Bosley and Ocean. I wanted this one to be different from the first while still maintaining the rules which govern this particular universe. There’s not as much time travel in it, however Bosley is transported and trapped in the future by a mixture of mysticism and quantum mechanics. It’s based on the theory that a single particle can exist simultaneously in two different locations. He psychically exists in his present and the future simultaneously. Since the particles which make up his body are entangled, anything which affects his body in one timeline also affects his body in the other.

In addition to this, I’m working on a collaborative novel called Black Rain with author Carl Hose. It has that sci-fi/apocalyptic-horror vibe that I really dig. We’re basically taking an alien invasion scenario and stripping away all the technological aspects of it. There are no ray guns, no shining saucers hovering over the nations of the world. Our invaders, for want of a better word, are primordial creatures who’ve come to earth by chance instead of design. Being natural predators, they do what they do best… hunt for game. In this case, the prey just happens to be human.

RJ: Alien Nation meets Predator comes to mind. I like it! Do you have any advice for other writers?

WTR: Be true to your voice and vision. It’s okay to be inspired by other writers, but make sure the story you’re telling is yours and yours alone. At the same time, realize that not everyone out there is going to dig what you’re doing. You’re going to get bad reviews sooner or later, but don’t let those discourage you. If you find the negative reviews weighing on you, remind yourself of this: on Amazon.com, the King James version of The Bible only has a four star rating… and that was supposedly written by God. So, as my wife says, there’s that….

RJ: Awesome point. Anything special you’d like to say to readers?

WTR: I want them to know how much their loyalty and purchases are appreciated. Because of them, I’m able to dedicate even more time to doing what I love; that they would devote their time and money to the stories I’ve created isn’t taken lightly and never will be. So thank you to each and every person who has ever read my work. The importance of my readers in the writing equation will never be taken for granted.

Thanks a bundle for stopping by, Mr. Rose.

Thanks for having me! It’s been a blast!

Seven Habits of Highly Infective People is available at

Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || The Book Depository || Amazon

About the Author

Named by The Google+ Insider’s Guide as one of their top 32 authors to follow, William Todd Rose writes speculative fiction that lends itself to the dark, and often surreal, realm of the macabre. With short stories appearing in numerous magazines and anthologies, his longer works include The Seven Habits of Highly Infective People, The Dead and Dying, Cry Havoc, and more. For more information, including links to free fiction, please visit the author online at www.williamtoddrose.com

Don’t miss the rest of the blog tour!









Wickedly Bookish
http://wickedlybookish.blogspot.com/

5/14/2012

Review

Bibliophilia, Please
http://bibliophiliaplease.blogspot.com

5/15/2012

Interview

Red Headed Bookworm
http://redheaded-bookworm.blogspot.com/

5/16/2012

Interview

Lissette E. Manning
http://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning

5/17/2012

Review

Ramblings of an Amateur Writer
http://reenajacobs.com/blog

5/17/2012

Interview

Books Reviewed by Bunny
http://bunnysreview.com/

5/18/2012

Interview

My Cozie Corner
http://coziecorner.blogspot.com

5/19/2012

Review

Did you Win? Mid-Month Commentator Giveaway

I’ve been quite fortunate to have LOTS of authors visit my blog over the past few months. More authors means a larger selection for readers to choose from and more opportunities to win. A big thank you to all the authors for being generous with their time as well as the blog tour organizers who’ve allowed me to participate in the blog tours.

I’m not going to go into too many details. But basically the Mid-Month Commentator Giveaway is a feature I’m trying out this year. Each month I draw a winner from the blog post commentators. That winner is able to select any book (print or digital) by the author they left a comment for. More details on the giveaways here.

And the winner for this month is
Angela Brown!

Angela has a choice between any work by David Houchins, Scot Thomas, or Nadja Notariani.

The winner has been notified.

A recap of works by these three authors.

“We guarantee this is the only tool you need to survive the zombie.

OK, that’s not really true. But when the SHTF you’re going to want a survival guide that’s not just geared toward day-to-day survival. You’ll need one that addresses the essential skills for true nourishment of the human spirit. Living through the end of the world isn’t worth a damn unless you can enjoy yourself in any way you want. (Except, of course, for anything having to do with abuse. We could never condone such things. At least the publisher’s lawyers say we can’t”

Zombie Apocalypse Preparation: How to Survive in an Undead World and Have Fun Doing It! is the first zombie apocalypse survival manual with entertainment in mind.  What fun is living in a world of the undead if you can’t have a bit of fun?  The apocalypse is not just about survival it’s about enjoying your new found life.

Inside the covers of this book you will not only find the way to pick the right weapon, building, and survival methods but you’ll find entertaining ways to dispose of the undead, entertain yourself and your group, and dispatch your former friends and family members with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

Available at Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || The Book Depository || Amazon

~ ‘One Fate be granted mortal man, used for evil or good as the inner voice directs. Alas, the divine spark draws the eyes of the Fates, the Second Fate sparingly gifted by their hands. Be warned offspring of the gods; guard your gifting well. For if the Third Fate be unleashed, the soul lays bare before one so touched by the gods.’ ~

Cautious and quiet by nature, Paige Kinnell watches life unfold from the sidelines, maintaining her simple existence as a shield to hide behind. But underneath her shy, careful ways, Paige senses a disconnect with the world around her, indulging instead her ever curious interest in the legend and lore of time nearly forgotten.

One chance encounter with an ancient of the undead begins an unraveling of reality as Paige knows it, leaving her to sort through dreams and enchantments, discovering along the way that one’s Fate can be mere illusion, and that the consequences of opening her heart to another may cost dearly.

Cael Maccinnis, the handsome Highlander she’s met, seems the answer to every unspoken longing of her heart, even as he awakens dark, secret desires buried within her soul. As strange and unnerving changes begin occurring in her mind and body, Paige has no choice but to face her life’s unnatural turn and confront the frightening implications. For within Paige’s past a secret lay dormant, hidden even from her. This truth, guarded well and wielded by the Fates themselves, becomes the catalyst invoking the power of The Third Fate.

Available at Amazon

If you haven’t entered the Rotter World giveaway, don’t miss out!

Rotter World Blog Tour + Giveaway

 Welcome to the latest stop on the Rotter World Blog Tour!

Today Mr. Baker has a special treat for us. That’s right… an excerpt. But first! Let’s learn a little about Rotter World.

Eight months have passed since vampires released the Revenant Virus on mankind, nearly wiping out both species. For Mike Robson, the situation could be far worse. He has joined up with a small band of humans and the last coven of vampires who are riding out the zombie apocalypse in an old fort along the coast of southern Maine. But the uneasy alliance between humans and vampires is strained with the arrival of the creator of the Revenant Virus. He claims to have a vaccine that will make them immune and allow mankind to take civilization back from the living dead. However, the vaccine is located in a secure underground facility five hundred miles away.

To retrieve it, Robson leads a raiding party of humans and vampires down the East Coast, which has been devastated by the outbreak and overrun by zombies and rape gangs. Yet none of the horrors he deals with on the road can prepare him for what he will find in the underground facility. Robson will encounter the greatest threat his group has faced to date, not only from zombies but from betrayal within his own ranks.

Excerpt from Rotter World
By Scott M. Maker
Chapter One

The moan of the living dead shattered the stillness of the night. More than fifty zombies congregated around the warehouse’s front façade, stumbling along with slow, awkward moves.

A handful lumbered around the abandoned military-green shuttle bus parked to the left of the building. Those in front of the warehouse clawed and banged at the sliding metal door built into the wall, each swipe leaving a smear of rotten flesh and blood. Undeterred by the futility of their attempts, the zombies kept up their assault, desperate to get at the food inside. A quiet but steady droning underscored the scene, coming from the thousands of flies feeding off of the living dead.

From their position on a hillock a quarter of a mile distant, the small rescue party carefully studied the zombie horde.

Tibor snarled between clenched fangs. “There are many.”

“Too many,” said Mike Robson. In the green glow of the night vision goggles, the living dead resembled bees swarming over their hive. Robson removed his goggles and placed them on the ground. As the group leader, he was responsible for the lives of his team, and right now they were definitely about to go into harm’s way. He looked across the narrow sound toward the naval shipyard. He did not need night vision goggles to know it had been overrun. “This whole fucking place is swarming with rotters.”

“I don’t like this.” Dravko stared at the warehouse, the irises of his eyes fully dilated so as to see in the dim light. “We haven’t come this far into rotter territory in months. And for what? To save half a dozen survivors? It’s not worth the risk.”

“The boss thinks otherwise,” Robson protested half-heartedly.

“Then let the fucking boss get his ass out here and save them.” Lee O’Bannon spat out the words from underneath his night vision goggles.

“Knock it off,” Robson ordered. Though he would never admit it to the others, he did not like this mission one damn bit. It violated every rule of engagement they operated by, rules that had kept them alive until now. It was dumb ass shit like this that would get them killed one day.

But orders were orders.

“Come on.” Robson crawled backwards down the reverse side of the hillock, followed by the others. Even with the rotters out of their line of sight, the ungodly moaning still echoed through the dark.

The remainder of the rescue party stood a quarter of a mile away, milling around their vehicles and scanning the area for approaching rotters. Robson had brought the usual contingent for a rescue party: nine humans and three vampires; the two Mack trucks mounted with snow plough blades and twin gun mounts in the dump bed; the school bus reinforced with mesh steel gratings attached to the window frames and a cow catcher from an old steam engine welded to the front; and his command car, a Subaru Outback. It should have been more than enough to handle the situation. At least he thought so until he found a swarm of rotters between him and the survivors. He suddenly felt obscenely outnumbered.

Daytona, seated in the driver’s seat of one of the dump trucks, saw them approach. He reached out between the foot-long steel spikes welded around the bottoms and sides of the windows and quietly slapped his hand against the door to get the others’ attention. Everyone turned to Robson.

Daytona nodded toward the hillock. “What’s it look like?”

Robson waved over the others so he would not have to shout. “We got about fifty rotters hanging around the warehouse, mostly by the front doors. A few are wandering around the parking lot.”

“What about the survivors?” asked Jordan, who crouched in the open doorway at the rear of the school bus, nervously rolling the tip of a toothpick between his lips. “Did you see them?”

Robson shook his head.

“Maybe we’re too late,” Jordan said hopefully.

“Those rotters wouldn’t be trying to claw their way into that place if it were empty.

Someone’s still alive in there.”

“So what do we do now?” asked Clark, the driver of the second truck.

“We get them out.” Eleven sets of eyes focused on Robson, waiting for orders.

“Daytona, Clark. You go in first and plough the area, then set up a barricade on either side of the doors. Dravko, Tibor, and Sultanic are with me in the bus. Lee, you and Rashid take the Outback and hang back. Keep an eye out for swarmers.”

Jordan sighed. “Wish Mad Dog was with us. He could take out a dozen of those things without breaking a sweat.”

“Screw that,” said O’Bannon. “With that open cut on his arm, the smell of blood would only incite ’em into a frenzy.”

“Knock it off.” Robson said it louder than he wanted, and then lowered his voice. “We don’t have Mad Dog with us. If we do this right, we should be in and out in a few minutes. Any questions?”

None.

“All right. Let’s rock.”

Daytona pulled down over his brow the brim of the black baseball cap emblazoned with the NASCAR logo and started the truck’s engine. Clark did the same. In the bed of each truck, the gunners took up position in one of the mounts welded onto the front corners of each dump bed, strapped themselves in, and switched off the safety locks on their AK-47 assault rifles.

Caylee, the petite brunette who manned the forward gun position on Daytona’s truck, looked down at Jordan and blew him a kiss. He removed the toothpick, responded with a flirtatious smile, and then placed it between his lips.

The hiss of airbrakes and the grinding of gears accompanied the sound of revved up MP8

diesel engines as the two Macks set off, pulling away from the rest of the party and slowly gaining speed as they disappeared around the hillock.

As Whitehouse turned over the ignition on the school bus, Jordan, Dravko, Tibor, and Sultanic stepped inside and took up seats near the rear. Robson climbed in last, closing and securing the rear door behind him. The bus lurched forward and set off after the trucks.

O’Bannon followed close behind with the Outback.

The noise of the approaching vehicles attracted the zombies’ attention. The horde turned to watch the twin Macks cross in front of the hillock and race around the outer rim of the parking lot. The trucks swung left in front of the warehouse and increased speed, Daytona hugging the front wall with Clark directly behind and to his left. Oblivious to everything but the approaching food, the zombies lumbered en masse toward the trucks.

Daytona slammed into the mass of living dead, the truck shuddering with the impact.

Clark hit the outer edge of the horde a second later. Bones shattered and bodies ruptured. Some of the older, more decayed rotters exploded, venting noxious fumes from pent-up bodily gases and decay that filtered into the cabs. A gore-laden mist of human blood and dislodged flies formed around the ploughs, splattering the windshield of each vehicle. Other rotters not smashed outright were either dragged along the building’s façade and torn apart, or knocked down and crushed under the wheels. Within seconds, the two trucks had cleared the doorway, leaving behind a small lake of blood and body parts, as well as a few rotters that struggled to get back on their feet.

The trucks circled around and made another sweep in front of the warehouse door, taking out the few zombies that escaped the first pass. This time the trucks veered left into the parking lot and stopped a few yards from the warehouse. Several zombies lumbered toward the Macks, instinctively knowing food was inside. High-pitched beeping echoed across the lot as Daytona and Clark shifted into reverse. Clark’s truck slammed into one zombie as it climbed to its feet, knocking it over backwards onto the pavement. The rear wheels backed over it, bursting its torso and spraying its organs across the asphalt, leaving only its head and arms thrashing about. The trucks pulled up on either side of the doorway, leaving just enough room between them for the bus to back into. A pair of rotters roamed between the trucks, staring aimlessly at the vehicles.

No one noticed the single zombie in a naval officer’s uniform, its legs crushed to pulp, crawling on the ground along the wall as it disappeared under the rear of Daytona’s truck.

Whitehouse drove the school bus into the parking lot and swung it perpendicular to the warehouse, shifted into reverse, and backed the bus between the trucks, placing the rear quarter between the two vehicles. He looked over his shoulder at the men in back.

“Go!”

Robson opened the rear door. He paused, fighting back the urge to retch as the stench of rotting bodies wafted through the door, along with hundreds of flies. The sound of automatic rifle fire snapped him back to his senses. They needed to haul ass before the remaining rotters closed in on them.

Sensing food, the two rotters caught between the trucks lumbered toward the school bus.

“We’ve got this,” growled Dravko.

Dravko morphed into his vampiric form. The facial features transformed, his ears elongating, his forehead furrowing, his nose flaring, his teeth becoming a mouthful of fangs, until he looked more bat-like than human. His fingers lengthened, and the fingernails extended into three-inch long talons. He jumped to the ground in front of the closest rotter, which stood only a few feet away. It jerked toward Dravko and moaned, its arms outstretched to grab its prey. Dravko slapped the rotter’s arms away and grabbed its head by the jaw and skull, careful not to get his hand close to its teeth. The rotter bit frantically at thin air. Turning his hands in a circular motion, Dravko spun its head completely around. The rotter went limp. Dravko let it go, and the body dropped to the pavement.

Tibor lunged off the back of the bus, morphing into his vampiric form in mid-flight. He landed on the second rotter’s chest, clutching its head and knocking it backwards. As they toppled to the ground, Tibor used his strength and speed to slam the rotter’s head against the pavement with such force that the back of its skull collapsed beneath his hands, covering them in gore. Tibor wiped his hands on the thing’s soiled clothes and kicked the corpse under Clark’s truck.

Dravko morphed back into his human form and turned toward the school bus. “It’s clear!”

Robson jumped out and ran the twenty feet to the warehouse. Jordan followed, taking up a guard position by the left of the sliding door. Dravko and Tibor fell back and joined Sultanic by the open door to the bus.

Robson banged on the door with a closed fist. The clanging metal reverberated over the moaning of the zombies. “Open up!”

The rate of gunfire from the Macks’ dump beds increased, accompanied by an increase in moaning. A dozen rotters converged on the vehicles, those from the parking lot as well as some that stumbled around from the sides of the warehouse, each desperate to feed. Most crowded around the cabs, clawing at the metal and frantic to get at the drivers, but unable to get through the rows of foot-long spikes that surrounded each window. A few rotters attempted to push between the school bus and the trucks, only to be taken down by the gunners. Out in the parking lot, O’Bannon and Rashid stood by the open doors of the Outback, shooting through the head the few rotters that approached.

Robson banged much harder. “Damn it! Open up!”

He heard the door being unlatched from the inside and watched as it lifted off the ground and above his head. Two men faced him. One was about fifty, with a graying beard and disheveled hair. The other wore Air Force camouflage field dress with the nametag Thompson embroidered on his left chest. Thompson pointed a shotgun at Robson.

“Relax, man.” Robson tried not to focus on the steel grey barrel aimed at his face.

“We’re your rescue party.”

Thompson lowered the shotgun. “Can’t be too careful.”

“How many of you are there?”

“Six,” responded the man with the grey hair. “Including myself.”

“Well, haul ass if you want to get out of here.”

The grey-haired man turned back into the warehouse. “It’s safe. Come on.”

Four people emerged from the warehouse, one man in Air Force cammies, two in blue overalls, and a woman in her mid-twenties in a blood-stained lab coat. Robson ushered them toward Dravko and Tibor, who helped them into the school bus. He turned to the grey-haired man.

“Is that everyone?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go.”

Robson led the two men toward the bus when Jordan suddenly screamed with an intensity that made his blood run cold. He turned around to see a rotter in a naval uniform had emerged from under the rear of the truck and snuck up on Jordan without being seen. It had wrapped its arms around Jordan’s ankle and buried its teeth into his calf. Jordan pummeled his fist into its face, trying to push its head away, but the rotter had broken skin. Blood gushed from around its mouth. Yanking its head back, the rotter tore off a chunk of Jordan’s flesh and chewed it.

Jordan withdrew his .44 Magnum, placed the barrel against the rotter’s skull, and pulled the trigger. Its head disintegrated, showering Jordan and the wall with gore. Jordan fell back against the wall and slumped down, his face contorted in pain.

Robson ran up to his friend and examined the leg, already knowing the prognosis. The wound measured four inches in diameter and sunk through the skin deep into the muscle. Blood flowed from around the jagged edges and formed a puddle on the asphalt.

From above him in the dump bed of the truck, Caylee cried out. She unhooked herself from the gun mount and started to climb down. Robson yelled up to her. “Stay there!”

“But Jordan’s–”

“I’ve got this! Just keep the rotters off my back!” When he saw Caylee crawl back into her mount, Robson turned to Jordan. “Are you okay?”

“Damn.” Jordan averted his gaze from the wound and winced. “I’m infected.”

“Come on. Doc can fix you up.”

“It’s no use and you know it,” Jordan grunted through clenched teeth.

“At least he can give you some morphine for the pain.”

“I’ll turn before you get me back.” Jordan spit out the toothpick and placed the barrel of the Magnum against the base of his jaw. “I just hope it was worth it.”

Before Robson could stop him, Jordan pulled the trigger. His youthful features distorted grotesquely as the bullet ripped through his skull, fracturing the skull in a dozen places and splattering his brains across the wall.

From above him, Robson heard Caylee scream. She abandoned her gun mount and started crawling up the rear of the dump bed, tears streaming down her face. Robson knew if she made it to Jordan, he would never get her back onto the truck. He refused to lose two people on this rescue. Picking up the Magnum, he aimed it at Caylee. “Get back to your position.”

“I want to be with Jordan.”

“He’s dead. Get back to your position.”

“No!”

In a single move, Sultanic jumped onto the side of the Mack and vaulted over the rim of the rear bed. He scooped up Caylee in his right arm and dragged her to the front of the truck, holding her in place. She pounded her fists against his face, screaming to be released until her yelling became a pitiful sobbing. Sultanic hugged Caylee tight, as much as to comfort her as to restrain her.

“Hurry up!” yelled Dravko.

Robson sprang up and raced back to the bus. Dravko offered his hand, but Robson shoved it aside as he climbed in. Dravko closed and secured the door, and then yelled up to Whitehouse. “Let’s get out of here!”

Whitehouse shifted into gear and pulled away from the building, pushing aside the rotters gathered around his cow catcher. Daytona and Clark fell in behind him. O’Bannon and Rashid climbed back into the Outback and brought up the rear.

Once the vehicles were clear of the immediate threat, Dravko sat down in the seat across from Robson. “There was nothing you could do for him.”

“Easy for you to say. It wasn’t one of yours that we lost.”

Dravko glared furiously at Robson for a moment before storming up toward the front of the bus. Robson knew Dravko was only trying to be consoling, but at this moment he did not really care.

As the rescue party pulled away, Robson took one last look at Jordan. Several rotters had already descended on the corpse in anticipation of a warm meal.

Rotter World is available at Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || The Book Depository || Amazon

About the Author

Born and raised in Everett, Massachusetts (just outside of Boston), Scott M. Baker has spent the last twenty-two years living in northern Virginia.  He has authored several short stories, including the e-chapbook “Dead Water” by D’Ink Well Publications; “Rednecks Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things,” which appeared in the autumn 2008 edition of the e-zine Necrotic Tissue; “Cruise of the Living Dead,” which appeared in Living Dead Press’ Dead Worlds: Volume 3 anthology (August 2009); “Deck the Malls with Bowels of Holly,” which appeared in Living Dead Press‘ Christmas Is Dead anthology (October 2009); and “Denizens,” which appeared in Living Dead Press’ The Book of Horror anthology (March 2010).

Scott’s first zombie novel, Rotter World, which details the struggle between humans and vampires during a zombie apocalypse, was released by Permuted Press in April 2012. He has also authored The Vampire Hunters trilogy, which has been published by Pill Hill Press and received excellent reviews from Famous Monsters of Filmland and Fangoria, among others. Scott has finished his fifth novel, Yeitso, a homage to the monster movies of the 1950s set in northern New Mexico, which is currently with a publisher, and has begun his next novel, Hell Gates, the first in a series of young adult novels set in a world in which the realms of Hell and earth have merged.

When he is not busy writing, Scott can either be found relaxing on his back deck with a good cigar and a cup of iced coffee, or doting on the four house rabbits that live with him.

Please visit the author’s website at http:\\scottmbakerauthor.blogspot.com.

Giveaway Time!

Scott Baker is giving an autographed copy of his book Rotter World to one Canadian or American reader. PLUS++++ an eCopy to one International reader. Simply leave a comment along with your email address and you’re in!

Follow the Rotter World Blog Tour
05/13/2012 MaryAnn at All Things Writing Review
05/14/2012 Jess at Wonderland Reviews  Interview
05/15/2012 Reena at Ramblings of an Amateur Author Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis
05/16/2012 Rea at Rea’s Reading and Reviews  Guest Blog
0/5/17/2012 Jessica at Wickedly Bookish   Interview
05/18/2012 Amanda at Good Choice Reading Review
05/19/2012 Kate at I just wanna Sit Here and Read! Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis

Chasing Shadows – Making Amends (3)

Welcome to installment #3 of the Chasing Shadows – Making Amends series. For more information or to read the previous scene, head to this page.

Chapter 1
Scene 3

The transient male cried out, silencing the chatter of the nocturnal creatures. Kecil shrunk back and covered her ears against his tortured screams but couldn’t look away from his face, which was distorted beyond recognition from the beatings her clansmen had issued before dragging him through the village and tying him to the rock.

The male recoiled from the blows and pulled at the bindings. His fight was futile though. With the rattan holding him spread eagle, he couldn’t even shift into a tiger without breaking his limbs in the process.

A pattern formed on his chest: first a crisscross of angry red stripes then as the flesh weakened ragged nicks appeared. The cane bit deeper and deeper, cutting into his skin until the soft tissue was raw and bloody, leaving deep grooves which puckered around the gashes.

His struggles grew less frantic until finally he stilled.

Kasut brought the cane down one last time before wiping his brow, his chest heaving.

Gemuk strode into the clearing, the weight of his body making his steps audible. “Why did you stop?”

“He passed out.”

“Then wake him.” Gemuk grabbed the cane and pushed Kasut aside. “It’s over when I say it’s over.” Gemuk weighed the stick in his hands then dipped the rattan in a basket of brine—a solution designed to increase the cane’s flexibility, more importantly, intensify each painful blow.

Kasut slapped the male across the face, bringing forth a weak groan. The transient’s eyes flickered and rolled back in his head before another smack brought him around again.

A smile formed on Gemuk’s face as he turned to the barely conscious male.

Kecil had seen enough. She walked through the village. Her feet led her to her mother’s hut, and she slowed but refused to look inside. She wanted nothing more than to rest, be surrounded by her mother’s belongings, and wrap herself in the scents her mother left behind. But she couldn’t bring herself to enter the lifeless dwelling, couldn’t sleep there, not tonight.

Increasing her pace, she left the village behind, fleeing the screams, the slap of wood against flesh, and him—her mother’s killer.

She ran deeper into the rainforest, gasping as a stitch formed in her side and echoed the pain steadily growing in her heart. Her vision blurred, but the wind dried the tears as fast as they fell, leaving the skin on her cheeks tight and the hairs of her lashes clumped in a fuzzy mass.

She sprinted, bounded over a decaying stump. Her toe snagged, and she fell. Her shoulder scraped along the forest floor as she skidded to a stop. Too exhausted to move, Kecil lay curled on her side and cried… broken and alone.

Did you win? Enza blog tour

It’s time to select winners of the Enza Blog Tour! Woot. Everyone loves a winner. So what’s Enza?

It is a time of innocence and prosperity. The Women’s Suffrage Movement gains more attention with each passing day. All across the country housewives and young ladies harbor hope that they might finally win the right to vote. Patriotism is at its peak as the war to end all wars rages an ocean away.

On the homefront, in a small town in Michigan, life is being lived out like the pages of a Mark Twain novel. Until an unseen enemy, deadlier than any human adversary, threatens Mankind’s very existence.

Elliot Owens – The only thing in the world that matters to Elliot is his wife and their five children, and he will do everything in his power to protect them.

Daniel Pullman – When his plans to join the Army are dashed following an injury, meeting the love of his life makes the disappointment easier to bear.

Colby Thornton – A devoted minister whose congregation loves him nearly as much as he loves them, Colby struggles with bitterness toward the wife who doesn’t love him at all.

Marcus McClelland – One of the local funeral directors, Marcus lives his life avoiding close relationships because if he doesn’t care about anyone, it won’t hurt when he loses them.

Jonathon Owens – At ten years old all Jonathon dreams of is to be a war hero…by proving that his German neighbor is a spy.

When all is said and done, will any of them survive?

Order Your Copy Here: Amazon

For more information on Enza, I encourage you to read the interview I had with Kristy K. James. She shared wonderful insight to the cover art as well as the name of the book.

So, the winners!

A Print copy of Enza
Emma
Digital copies of Enza
Mary Preston & Shadow

Congratulations, winners! Emails have been sent and winners have until May 15 to respond.

Don’t forget to enter the Mid-Month Commentator Giveaway which ends May 15.

Zombie Apocalypse Preparation

When the zombies arrive will you be ready or will you join the ranks of the undead? Welcome to the next stop on the Zombie Apocalypse Preparation Blog Tour.

We have David Houchins & Scot Thomas with us today. If you want to survive the Zombie Apocalypse, I suggest you pay attention.

Reena Jacobs: You mention a million and one writers in your foreword. If you had to survive the Zombie Apocalypse on a deserted island and could only bring the works of one author, who would it be?

David Huchins/Scot Thomas: Well, since we only mentioned a pair of writers, of the two mentioned, I’d take King.  Reading the same two books would get boring.  Chuck Palahniuk would be another choice, but his work’s not for everyone.  Tom Robbins also stands as a contender.  How did we end up on this island?  I mean, if you’re planning a vacation you should be able to bring what you want, and if you’re stranded somewhere, it doesn’t seem likely that you’re just going to happen to have an author’s entire body of work along with you.  That being said, if I were to plan something like this and had the long term knowledge, I’d kidnap all three and make my own human-author-centipede to create the ultimate storytelling machine.  I’d be its agent and we’d conquer the island, and then, the world.

RJ: Here’s crossing our fingers there’ll be something worth conquering after the zombie apocalypse. I’m told you grew up as poor black kids on another planet before reincarnating as white redneck children on earth. What was your happiest memory before Fuckyermomma’s big explosion?

DH/ST: Setting the charges.  Trust me, the place deserved it.

RJ: Okay… now you’ve got me wondering if Earth will be next. What’s surprised you most about humans and the human culture?

DH/ST: Mostly the fact that they haven’t become aware that they’re subjected to the mind-numbing torture that is reality television.  An intelligent populace would realize that it’s intellect-killing garbage and violently retaliate against those that try to force them to view its awful jackassery on a daily basis.

RJ: Okay… let’s just move on and pretend I didn’t spend hours and hours watching television yesterday. How much of you/your life do you put into your stories?

DH/ST: I don’t think it’s possible to leave yourself out of a written work.  What you like, dislike, want, fear or whatever, it’s going to spill out in some way shape or form.   Being that this was more of an instructional piece laid out in our combined unique style, it was so loaded with our brand of wit that it should be handled only with latex gloves.

RJ: Give us a brief description of a story you have hidden in your crypt of rotting corpses? And will it ever see the light of day?

DH/ST: There’s a guy who does a thing in a place which leads to stuff.  Also, boobies.

RJ: Tee hee… he said boobies. Do you have any advice for other writers?

DH/ST: Write, share your work with those that won’t heap undue praise on you for mediocre work.  I was hesitant at first to show what we’d done to my wife thinking that she’d have nothing but good things to say.  After the first hour, she sent me back the file (she was reading it at work, it was a slow day) and it had so much figurative red ink on it that I thought I was back in school.  She pointed out that some things didn’t make sense, out of place words, misspellings, and unnecessary hate speech.  She was our first line of editing after that and she helped immensely.

Having someone like that is invaluable.  If you lack that kind of creative feedback, well, keep writing, if you can re-read what you’ve put down and surprise and amuse yourself, it’s probably not all shit.

RJ: Anything special you’d like to say to readers? What about to the undead?

DH/ST: We’re nearing 70,000 fans now, we’ve gained gained around 50,000 since we started the first book, and they keep coming in and being supportive on a daily basis.  We wouldn’t be doing this without them.  Those who have read the book, by all means, keep it handy.  It may prove useful someday, possibly as toilet paper, but that’s still a use. Also, keep a look out for updates on our future work and keep reading the page.  As far as the undead, well, invest in a helmet.  It won’t save you, but it’ll make us swing twice.

“We guarantee this is the only tool you need to survive the zombie.

OK, that’s not really true. But when the SHTF you’re going to want a survival guide that’s not just geared toward day-to-day survival. You’ll need one that addresses the essential skills for true nourishment of the human spirit. Living through the end of the world isn’t worth a damn unless you can enjoy yourself in any way you want. (Except, of course, for anything having to do with abuse. We could never condone such things. At least the publisher’s lawyers say we can’t”

Zombie Apocalypse Preparation: How to Survive in an Undead World and Have Fun Doing It! is the first zombie apocalypse survival manual with entertainment in mind.  What fun is living in a world of the undead if you can’t have a bit of fun?  The apocalypse is not just about survival it’s about enjoying your new found life.

Inside the covers of this book you will not only find the way to pick the right weapon, building, and survival methods but you’ll find entertaining ways to dispose of the undead, entertain yourself and your group, and dispatch your former friends and family members with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

Available at Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || The Book Depository || Amazon

About the Authors

David Houchins was born in Toledo, OH in 1978.  He was raised in the city of Houston, TX, and now resides in deep South Texas.  His hobby of giving his farts exotic names and personalities led to his passion for writing.  He is armed and considered extremely dangerous.

Scot Thomas: Born Austin, Texas in 1973.  Grew up in Corpus Christi, TX until the age of 19 when he joined the U.S. Navy.  After four years in some of the most inhospitable climates on earth he left the Navy for a job in the South Texas oil fields.  Several years later he landed in Broadcast news.  Scot has won several awards for his work as a producer.  Scot has always had a sense of humor and desire to make people laugh.  On January 16, 2010 he and David Houchins founded Zombie Apocalypse Preparation on Facebook.  The page now has more than 65,000 fans and is updated every day.  The page slowly turned into the first book on survival in the zombie apocalypse all while smiling.  Houchins and Thomas are currently working on the second book and have plans for a few other projects.

Don’t miss the rest of the blog tour

05/06/2012 Scott Thomas ZAP Tour: Jessice, Wickedly Bookish, Review

05/08/12 Scott Thomas ZAP Tour: Jess, Wonderland Reviews, Review

05/10/12 Tea and Book Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis

05/11/12 Scott Thomas ZAP Tour:  Reena, Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Interview

05/11/12 Scott Thomas ZAP Tour:  Tracee, Review from Here, Review

05/12/12 Scott Thomas ZAP Tour: Ali, Simply Ali Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis

Serpent Passage Blog Tour

Welcome to the next stop on the Serpent Passage Blog Tour. Today, Todd Allen Pitts, author of Serpent Passage, is here to share a bit about himself and his book. Please welcome him!

Reena Jacobs: Congratulations on your debut release, The Serpents Passage. I visited your website and see it’s the start of a series. Please share with us a little about it.

Todd Allen Pitts: The Serpent Passage is about a teenager, William, who (on the day of the Summer Solstice) feels compelled to rescue a woman with his scuba gear from drowning in a cenote (lake) in the Yucatan. He subsequently gets pulled into an underground cavern where he finds her. They make their way out through a strange underwater passage of flashing lights that propels them back into the times of the ancient Maya. Of course they don’t realize they’re back in time at first, but when they come across a pyramids in pristine condition and get in the way of a planned sacrifice, they begin to realize what happened and they become intertwined in the conflicts between Mayan kingdoms. William is awarded a magical gem, called the bloodstone, that puts him in the path of Mayan gods and demons. William hopes to find a way back home, but he falls in love with a Mayan princess, and begins to realize he may have a more important reason for being there. A Serpent Priest says that he knew of his coming and had been waiting for his arrival. That is the basic setting that takes you on a wild ride in the times of the ancient Maya.

RJ: There’s been a lot of talk about the Mayan calendar and the year 2012. How does the Serpents Passage series relate to it?

TAP: Many believe that either a cataclysmic or consciousness-changing event will occur at the time when the Mayan Calendar ends in 2012. Without giving too much of the overall series plot away… The main character, William, is pulled back in time to around 1000 A.D., around the Post Classic time period when the Mayan kingdoms of the southern regions were abandoned and were migrating north to Chichen Itza. William discovers that he has a task to complete in the past, ultimately related to saving the bloodstone (a gem that has a connection to the Mayan gods), and the construction of the Castle of Kukulcan (that serves a cosmic purpose to save the legacy of the Maya, while also assisting mankind in this transformative period at the end of the Great Cycle in 2012).

RJ: I imagine writing about a period a thousand years ago took a lot of research. Will you tell us a little about what your research entailed?

TAP: I started scuba diving when I was 12, and it has always been a passion of mine. On a diving trip to Cancun in 1998, I decided to take a sabbatical from my career in technical writing to get my PADI Scuba Instructor license, which takes about three to six months on a fast program. I ended up staying there for two years to work as a dive instructor and dive master. While living there, I became fascinated with Mayan culture and began exploring ruins. Besides for the popular ruins of places like Chichen Itza and Tulum, I was intrigued by the more remote ruins, like Dzibanche and Kohunlich, and I began wondering what it must be like to live in those times. I read many books to learn as much as I could about their culture and beliefs, their gods and demons, and about the Mayan Calendar.

One day, while having lunch at a famous cenote in Bacalar, called the Cenote Azul, I had an inspiration for the start of my novel, and I began writing it later that night. I wrote the first draft in about 6 months. It went through years of rewrites and changes after comments from literary agent input. Along the way, the explosion of data on the internet aided my continued research.

I have to remind people that although I know a lot about the culture, beliefs, and history of many of the Mayan kingdoms, the purpose for that knowledge was to weave colorful detail into my fictional story, so the readers could learn about an amazing culture while being entertained with adventure, romance, and mysticism through interesting characters and situations.

RJ: I love the idea of taking history and making it one’s own. You have a background in technical writing. What led you to step into the world of fiction writing?

TAP: I always enjoyed fictional writing since I was a child, and writing a novel had been a lifelong dream of mine. Out of college I got into technical writing because it was a way to immediately make good money doing something I enjoy (writing). I think my creative side helped me to also be a better technical writer, because I would think outside the box. But after many years, I felt a ‘calling’ to go after my deeper dreams and pursue the type of writing that I knew would give me the most satisfaction in my life. I love becoming immersed in my writing projects, as I ‘see’ events unfold like a movie in my head, and don’t always know what will happen next until I get there. I love that part of the creative process.

RJ: How has your technical writing experience helped you on the fictional side?

TAP: Being a technical writer helped me to be a better fiction writer because I became more critical of my own writing, and more conscious of my word choice and sentence structure. Perhaps more importantly, I had learned to accept and incorporate feedback (critique) along the way.

RJ: It makes sense that developing the skills to be clear and concise in technical writing would be a huge benefit in fiction writing. I’m not sure why that’s never occurred to me before, but I love the parallel. Which author has inspired you the most?

TAP: There are so many wonderful writers out there, that it’s hard to say. However, when I was young, I read The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks, and I was so enchanted by the way the author created a whole new world inside my head. It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to be a fiction writer. Since then, I have read many other books, of course, and have been amazed by the work of authors throughout time, but I’d have to say that Terry Brooks was my earliest and most inspirational influence to become a writer (just by chance, I suppose) and I also enjoyed the way he wrote in such descriptive and colorful manner.

RJ: Do you have any advice for other writers?

TAP: To write about what interests you, because then your passion in your interests will show through in your writing and make it believable and engaging to your readers. For example, I utilized both scuba diving and my interest in the ancient Maya in The Serpent Passage.

RJ: Anything special you’d like to say to readers?

TAP: Just that there are many types of writers out there, and it’s important to find your own voice. My preference is to write in a somewhat casual tone that people of all ages can enjoy and talk about together. I suppose that would classify me as a YA writer today. I also like to write in a very descriptive manner, so that you can picture in your mind what’s happening, and carry those images with you after setting the book down, as though you’ve just watched an adventurous movie, and dream about it later that night.

RJ: I understand exactly what you mean. I love the imagery written words put into my head. What are you working on now?

TAP: Of course, I’m working on the sequel to The Serpent Passage, called The Bloodstone. It’s finished, and going through final editing passes, cover design, etc. After I get The Bloodstone out there, I’ll take a diversion and go back to the first book to turn it into a screenplay, and begin to market The Serpent Passage Series as either a movie trilogy or a TV series. Then, of course, on to the final book of The Serpent Passage Series, called The Castle of Kulkulcan. I do have other ideas for new projects, but those will have to wait until I finish this series.

Thanks for the questions…

Todd

About the Author

Todd grew up in the Northwest, where he used to write stories to entertain his family. He has a B.A. in Communications and worked in technical publications for most of his career. Over the years, Todd wrote numerous technical manuals that have been published in print and on the internet. His success as a technical writer led him to managing large technical publication departments. Throughout his professional career, Todd continued to write fiction. Todd was inspired to write The Serpent Passage while exploring Mayan ruins and working as a scuba instructor in the Yucatán.

Find Todd Allen Pitts online at:

Website: http://www.toddallenpitts.com/

Facebook Link: http://www.facebook.com/serpentpassage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/toddallenpitts

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bXRAp...

Serpent Passage is available at Barnes & Nobles  || The Book Depository || Amazon

Follow the Tour!

May 7th to May 11th  The Serpent Passage by Todd Allen Pitts.  Be sure to stop by these Blogs for Interesting Interviews and information and a giveaway.

5/7      Adventures of frugal mom   (Interview and book synopsis)

           Rea’s Reading and Reviews  (interview )

           Red Headed Bookworm ( Bio / Book Synopsis)

5/8      Book’s Reviewed by Bunny  (Bio/Book Synopsis)

5/9      Wickedly Bookish (interview and give away)

5/10    Ramblings of an Amateur Writer (interview)

5/11    A Few Words (Bio/Book Synopsis)

Shadow Visions Blog Tour

You’ve come to the next stop on the Shadow Visions Blog Tour. Welcome! Welcome! Welcome. Today we have Gabriella Hewitt, authors of Shadow Vision with us to share a bit about their writing. Yes… that’s right, authors. So let’s get to the interview, shall we?

Reena Jacobs: Two authors, one name. Who is behind the pseudonym?

Gabriella Hewitt: Gabriella Hewitt is the pen name of creative writing talents Sasha Tomaszycki and Patrizia M.J. Hayashi. Together they weave tales of romantic suspense and dangerously sensual paranormals. Check out the website www.GabriellaHewitt.com to find out about upcoming releases and events on her blog.

RJ: How do you determine which book ideas to write?

GH: Our list of story ideas would put a child’s Santa list to shame. ( : We have all kinds of sparks for new stories and new series. But we only have so much time and have to be realistic about what we can tackle. We have started stories and then put them aside if they don’t seem to be coming together. Our agent says it as well, in today’s publishing world you have to be able to produce, produce, produce. That doesn’t mean we won’t go back and try to rework those half-finished stories, but we will do so when we really know where they need to go and how to get them there. In the meantime, we’ll move on to a story where all the ingredients fall into place and run with it.

It’s no surprise then that we actually make a few attempts before we hit the right story to get a series off the ground. For both of us, plot tends to come first and we have to go back and really work on building characters. We’ll see scenes in the story and then think of how to connect them together.

RJ: I like that strategy. What’s the easiest part of the writing process?

GH: The research! We love to read history and we find mythology fascinating. Yup, we are geeks and are proud of it. Our favorite myths are Aztec, Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Caribbean and Celtic. You can see a lot of our research ends up in our stories. Shadow Warriors is based on Aztec mythology with a modern twist.

RJ: What’s the hardest part of the writing process?

GH: Rejection. I don’t think any writer truly gets over that hump but you learn to make the best of it. Gabriella Hewitt is two parts that make one whole. So we probably have more rejection letters than most writers combined. LOL!

RJ: Yeah… rejections are tough. With hindsight being 20/20, is there anything you would have changed with your publishing journey?

GH: Write. Write. Write. We began writing in 2005. Dark Waters is the first novel we sold in 2007 and is still one of our favorites. There was a long period between our first book and then for a long time there was nothing. Life got in the way. We’ve been given a second chance with the Shadow Warrior series and we know this time around that no matter what comes up that we need to get our butts in a chair and tune everything out. We now have a routine and make time to type.

RJ: I know what you mean. Seems like everything can get in the way of writing if one lets it. Do you have any advice for other writers?

GH: Think big, dream big and go big. Never stop believing that you will be big someday. Very few writers grab that gold ring on the first try. Study craft, keep writing, and don’t give up. The market is changing rapidly, which means there are more and more opportunities for writers to succeed.

RJ: Anything special you’d like to say to readers?

GH: There is always something going on at our blog http://www.GabriellaHewitt.com

We even have two free recipe ebooks on Puerto Rican and Latin American cooking that we are giving away as freebies.

RJ: What are you working on now?

GH: Currently, we are working on the third novel in the Shadow Warriors series, a modern day paranormal romance based on Aztec mythology filled with excitement, suspense and passion. SHADOW VISIONS is the second book in the series and is available now from Samhain Publishing. The first book, OUT OF THE SHADOWS, is also available.

We also have another installment in the Ever After series planned to be released later in the year.

SHADOW VISIONS (c) 2012 Samhain Publishing

Manuel has been tracking down a demon bent on sacrificing women with hummingbird tattoos. He is in danger of losing his humanity to his eagle spirit until he comes across Ixa Reyes, a beautiful San Diego Detective working on the same case, who also bears the mark of Huitzilopochtli. She is his salvation and redemption from a past filled with failure. Only she wants nothing to do with him or her heritage.

When a demon kidnaps her grandfather, the wind god, they must work together to save him and all mankind. He has twenty-four hours to help her control her elemental power over wind, that is if he can control his own desires to claim her body and soul. Because if he should fail, then the god of war will bring in a new era filled with blood and destruction.

When the last Shadow Warrior falls, so will humanity.

Available at Barnes & Nobles || Amazon

Follow the Tour!

Sunday May 6, 2012   Kate, I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!, Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis

Monday May 7, 2012  Susan, A Soul Unsung Guest Blog

Thursday May 10, 2012   Reena, Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Interview, Give Away

Friday May 11, 2012   Ali, Simply Ali, Interview

Wednesday May 16, 2012  Lisa, Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy, Review

Friday May 18, 2012 Shauni, Tea and Book Guest Blog

Monday May 21, 2012  Kate, I Just Wanna Site Here and Read, Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis Give Away

Friday May 25, 2012   Suzie, Books Reviewed by Bunny, Interview

Friday May 25, 2012  Amber, Sapphyria’s Steamy Book ReviewsBio/Excerpt’/synopsis

Tuesday May 29, 2012  Jess, Wonderland Reviews Review

Tuesday May 29, 2012  Molly, Reviews by Molly Review

Thursday May 31, 2012  Melissa, Adventures of a Frugal Mom, Review

Thursday May 31, 2012  Damaris, Good Choice Reading Guest Blog Give Away

June 5, 2012  Mel, Journey with Words, Guest Blog, Give Away

June 5, 2012  Shae, Understanding Shae’s Story Review

June 7, 2012  Danielle, Ramblings from this Chick, Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis, Give Away

June 7, 2012  Molly, Reviews by Molly Guest Blog

June 11, 2012  Nikki, Storm Goddess Book Reviews & More Review

June 11, 2012  Jessica, Wickedly Bookish,  Guest Blog

June 13, 2012  Stephanie, Miraculous, Review

June 13, 2012  Liz, Fictional Candy Bio/Excerpt/Synopsis

June 13, 2012  Melissa, Adventures of a Frugal Mom, Review, Guest Blog

June 16, 2012  Susan, A Soul Unsung, Bio/Excerpt/Synipsis, Guest Blog

June 16, 2012  Michelle, Indie writers review, Review

June 16, 2012  Jessica, Wickedly Bookish, Interview

The Third Fate Blog Tour

The Third Fate blog tour!

Is it me or is the guy on the cover totally drool worthy? I could definitely let my imagination run wild with him. If I could choose one superpower, it would be to have the ability to manifest sexy men on the cover of books to use for my personal pleasure. Yes! I said it out loud, so there! Oh… by the way.

Welcome to the next stop on the Third Fate Blog Tour! Today, Nadja Notariani introduces her characters through excerpts. But first, a little about The Third Fate.

~ ‘One Fate be granted mortal man, used for evil or good as the inner voice directs. Alas, the divine spark draws the eyes of the Fates, the Second Fate sparingly gifted by their hands. Be warned offspring of the gods; guard your gifting well. For if the Third Fate be unleashed, the soul lays bare before one so touched by the gods.’ ~

Cautious and quiet by nature, Paige Kinnell watches life unfold from the sidelines, maintaining her simple existence as a shield to hide behind. But underneath her shy, careful ways, Paige senses a disconnect with the world around her, indulging instead her ever curious interest in the legend and lore of time nearly forgotten.

One chance encounter with an ancient of the undead begins an unraveling of reality as Paige knows it, leaving her to sort through dreams and enchantments, discovering along the way that one’s Fate can be mere illusion, and that the consequences of opening her heart to another may cost dearly.

Cael Maccinnis, the handsome Highlander she’s met, seems the answer to every unspoken longing of her heart, even as he awakens dark, secret desires buried within her soul. As strange and unnerving changes begin occurring in her mind and body, Paige has no choice but to face her life’s unnatural turn and confront the frightening implications. For within Paige’s past a secret lay dormant, hidden even from her. This truth, guarded well and wielded by the Fates themselves, becomes the catalyst invoking the power of The Third Fate.

Available at Amazon

Excerpts from The Third Fate

Meet Cael Maccinnnis…

‘Perched on the concrete ledge, chilled night air whirled around his head, not that the cold bothered him.  Fall had arrived.  Dusky shades of twilight lingered in the west, but that, too, was of little consequence.  Breathing in deeply, Cael savored the smell of blood, of humanity pervading the night air.  He needed to feed.

Arriving in Glasgow to attend to business, now concluded, Cael had the city spread below, a pagan offering on the altar of his hunger.  Feeding from mortals offered sustenance.  With little strength to be gained from their blood and the absence of the sensuality found in feeding from another vampire, Cael approached the necessity with resigned indifference – unless hunger grew too strong, as he had allowed this time.’

Meet Paige Kinnell…

‘Paige blinked, once, twice, peering about her entryway in hazy confusion.

I really need to get some sleep…

Throwing her woolen wrap over the bench, she slumped down, prying the chic heels from her tired feet with a sigh of relief.  Twelve hour days plus her commute wreaked havoc on her fashionable tastes.  Weariness swept over her, and for once, she omitted her regular habit of sitting with a mug of hot tea to unwind and headed straight for the shower.

Half-an-hour later, cozy in flannel pajamas, Paige sank into her overstuffed chair, pulling the yellow chenille blanket around her shoulders.  She was alone; she’d checked the doors and windows twice, but the nagging sensation of a watchful presence lingered eerily.  Reaching for her neck, Paige again felt the strange tingling ache surge beneath her fingers.

What is going on with me tonight?

Shaking her head and snuggling into the chair, she stretched her legs on the ottoman and sank into deep sleep.  When her phone chirped much later, she uttered apologies in her dreamlike stupor and returned to sleep like the dead.  As her body rested, her mind came alive, sensual images filling her dreams – images of a man.

Meet Pilar…

”Pilar,’ he ground raggedly, ‘in the name of all you hold dear, remove yourself from my presence before I…’

One look at him altered her disposition.  He turned to her, breathing heavily, the green-gold beauty of his eyes hidden beneath fevered blood lust.  She made to leave, to abandon her plan, but his thrall caught her, binding her in place as he slowly approached.

‘Malcolm?’ she breathed in a hush, no notion of whether this was the same man she loved.

She’d never seen him like this.  He only came nearer.  Pressing his lips to her forehead, Malcolm’s hands trailed over her shoulders and arms as he breathed in her sweet scent.  He nuzzled her neck, scraping his fangs, now elongated in anticipation of tasting her, against her tender flesh.  A whimper escaped her, and Pilar understood without doubt that she had overplayed her hand.’

Meet Malcolm…

‘A faint knock interrupted his brooding.

‘Enter,’ he commanded.

The gold-leafed handle turned silently, admitting Pilar Michaels, her head held high, shoulders straight.  Pride marked her features, the Roman nose, dark mysterious eyes, small bow-like mouth with full lips.

By the Fates she was beautiful.

She was also his enemy.  Supposedly.

Malcolm ceased his pacing, greeting her formally.

‘Welcome to my home.  I hope you will be comfortable during your visit.’

Her head tipped in deferential reply, a slight action with mammoth implications.

‘You have need of my skills, Malcolm of Clan Gaunson.  I, too, have need of yours,’ Pilar reasoned.  ‘Perhaps we can help one another.’

‘Do you propose an alliance of sorts?’ Malcolm returned smartly.

‘An alliance?’ she mocked, yet humor glinted in shining eyes.  ‘Surely reciprocity is a more apt term, Malcolm.  Or would you prefer we enter into a more permanent agreement?’

Malcolm caught her innuendo, breathing deeply.  He would make no reply.  It was safer that way.’

Meet The Fates…

‘Charity, what are you doing?’  Harry inquired, seeking her for a game he and Jael had dreamed up.

‘Playing, silly,’ she giggled, setting the glowing orb on the side table and skipping off to join her siblings.

‘Playing what?’ curiosity prompted him to ask.

‘What else but a game?’ Charity laughed, taking Harry’s hand.  ‘Shall we play something new today?’

‘Oh, yes!’ Harry exclaimed, distracted from his questioning for the moment.  ‘But Jael wants to play hurricane!  We haven’t played hurricane in a very long time.  Say you’ll play, Charity!’

‘Well…,’ Charity considered.  ‘It has been a very long time since we played hurricane.  We’ll have to convince Old Zephyr to join us.  It’s no fun at all unless he blows his hardest.’

Harry ran ahead yelling for Jael, and Charity smiled, thinking of her own game a moment before giving her attention fully to the upcoming festivities.  She, her brother Harry, and sister Jael had loved games as long as she could remember, since Father Time set the hands of his wondrous clock in motion.  Now time marched on, but Charity and her siblings remained the same, children ever indulging in their beloved games.’

The Third Fate by Nadja Notariani © 2012

About the Author

Nadja Notariani (1971- )

Nadja Notariani was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania. Her upbringing included very diverse environments, affording wide and varied richness of ethnic and religious tradition. Raised in both an Italian/Mediterranean American home and a traditional German household, Nadja gleaned the unique benefits of viewing the world through two widely different lenses.

Nadja currently resides in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Her published titles follow.Claiming The Prize, a contemporary romance.Her Dark Baron, a historical novella.The Third Fate, a paranormal romance, published in late March, 2012.

The author can be found at her website, on facebook and Romance Novel Center, or through email, and enjoys hearing from readers.

Follow the Tour!





29-Apr     Jess  WonderlandReviews (review)
30-Apr     Anya Massie  House Millar ( Review)
1-May     Melissa Vera adventures of frugal mom (interview and review)

2-May     Mary Ann Loesch  All Things Writing Review and Interview w giveaway
3-May     Laurie Treacy Reader Girls (interview)
4-May     Kerry-Ann McDade A Redheads Guilty Reads (review and interview givaway)
5-May     Kimberly R  Turning The Pages (Review/interview w giveaway)
6-May     Suzie Welker Book’s Reviewed by Bunny ( Review)
7-May     Gael Blogher.com/GaelMcCarte (review)
8-May     Ramblings of an Amateur Writer (Excerpt/Bio)
9-May    Mely Journey with Words (Excerpt/Bio)
10-May     Amber Sapphyria’s Book Reviews, (review)
11-May     Jessica Mason Wickedlybookish  (review, interview & Giveaway)
12-May     Lizziebeth Galadria Inn Books & Reviews ( Review)