Shadow Stephens's Blog, page 6

May 26, 2011

Jabberwocky Review


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004UB7SR8
 
Smashwords -- for iPad, Nook, Kobo, etc.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50204

Daniel Coleman has a brilliant take on Lewis Carroll's poem, Jabberwocky.  Bringing to life this story with characters you bond with, was ingenious.  You feel, hear and see Tjaden's world; the sense of family and unity of a small town.  His best mate Ollie is everything you expect a young man to be.  What he lacks for in size he makes up for in bravery and personality.  Tjaden enters The Academy and proves his valor when the formidable Jabberwocky takes his love, Elora.  Of course his best mate is along for the adventure.   Tjaden must discover his strengths in order to go on his quest and save Elora.  Deciphering truth and myth about the Jabberwocky, Tjaden takes us on his journey, both in mind and physicality.  This story is filled with magical creatures, bravery, danger, love and betrayal.  Kids and adults, alike, will fall in love with this story and wish it would continue in a sequel. 
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Published on May 26, 2011 18:05

May 17, 2011

4 Corners Press

Just wanted to share with you all our updated web site.  http://www.4cornerspress.com/
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Published on May 17, 2011 16:58

4 Corners Press

Just wanted to share with you all our updated web site.  http://www.4cornerspress.com/
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Published on May 17, 2011 16:58

May 5, 2011

Broken Butterflies chapter edited.

A MUCH NEEDED REFUGE  "Hey babes," Chase said as Ilisha answered her cell."What's up?""I picked up a gig in Denver, I want you to come.""Okay, but just friends," she reminded him.As Ilisha went for the front door her mother, who had been reading a book, looked up.  "Where are you going now?  We haven't spent any time together.""Exactly," she said shutting the door.As she walked in the club door she noticed Chase's new band flyers.  Their name 'Temptuous Poison' was in big, bold letters, with an image of them at the bottom.   The four band members sat around a Victorian style ottoman.  Each member wore black.  Chase, is your hair ever out of place?  Too bad it didn't work out, because this picture makes me want you.  The set started with an anthem type song. The entire bar had their fists pumping.  Ilisha moved to the front of the crowd, barley avoiding a mosh pit.  She joined in as the sea of people began to jump with the beat.  Chase moved in hyper intensity as he gripped the mic.  Springing his body forward like a frog he landed perfectly on a row of amps at the front of the stage, pausing momentary before hurling himself into the crowd. His body rolled and flipped from one person to another, surfing the crowd.  His voice was just as strong as if he were standing still.  Riding the crowd back to the stage, the band started into a slow number.  You just had to go there and sing the song you wrote about me, didn't you.  Ilisha watched, in a trance, as Chase softly gripped the microphone, sliding it into a stand.  He stood with his feet apart, holding onto the stand as if it were a woman.  His fingertips ran down the shaft gently.  The black leather pants he always wore were wrapped tightly around him.  Ilisha looked down.  And you just had to wear the boots I got you.  The black leather, biker, boots came up to his calves and had buckles running up the length of them.  Ilisha bit her lip, liking the sight of him. She listened as he, softly, sung the words, an acoustic guitar playing in the background.  "Remember when we sat in the rain.  When the wind whispers I think of you.  I'd spend a lifetime looking in your eyes.  Can I wish for ever after?"  He paused to take a dramatic breath.  "We share our hard times, but love will bring us through.  Always remember my dreams of you.  When times are hard I'll take your hand.  I promise you'll never be lonely." He ended on a high note and held it.Damn him.  After the show she walked back stage, her intension was to say goodnight.  Chase took her hand and smiled.  "Come with me."He led her down a long hall plastered with band flyers, an array of colored paper selfishly plaster over another.  As soon as the back door closed, Chase pushed her into the wall.  His hands ran up her neck, wrapping around her long black hair.  Before she could protest his tongue penetrated her mouth.  Why do I let you do this to me? Maybe because you're too damn hot to resist. Chase's hands slid down her back, grabbing her butt, pulling her up; his knees under her legs supporting her against the wall.  His hands slid under her jacket, breaking the knot in the belt. When his hands gipped her breasts she let out a slight moan.  The back door came open and soft yellow light poured into the back parking lot.  A guy dropped his conversation to look at them.  "That's why it's good to be a rock star," he said as he kept walking."I can't do this." Ilisha whispered.Chase let her legs fall.  His hand stroked her hair back into place.  "Let's get out of here.""I think I should go."He leaned his forehead on hers.  "Please don't."  His soft voice melted in her ears like velvet.He took her hand, leading her to his car.  A few blocks away they pulled into his hotel parking lot.  They joined an elderly couple in the elevator.  "What floor?" the old man asked."10 please," Chase replied.The couple got off on floor two.  As soon as the door shut Chase slammed Ilisha into the mirrored wall.  A small grunt burst from her lungs with the impact.  He slid her jacket off, his hands grasping her small arms all the way down. When the elevator bell dinged, indicating floor ten, they stumbled out, still groping one another.Chase dug with one hand in his back pocket, still kissing her, for his key card.  He fumbled with it a few times before the door clicked.Ilisha ripped his pants open, as they tripped over each other's feet.  Still no underwear, nothing changes. He dropped her to the bed, at the same time ridding her of her shirt.  Ilisha reached for his boots and began undoing all the buckles.  "Maybe I shouldn't have bought these for you.""Hell with the boots."  He pushed her down, ripped her shoes off, and had her pants off in one swift motion.  "I need you now."
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Published on May 05, 2011 16:55

Another chapter to Broken Butterflies

This is a little into the book, but we meet Ilisha's on and off rock star boyfriend.  Tell me what you think.
A MUCH NEEDED REFUGE  "Hey babes," Chase said as Ilisha answered her cell."What's up?""I picked up a gig in Denver, I want you to come.""Okay, but just friends," she reminded him.As Ilisha went for the front door her mother, who had been reading a book, looked up.  "Where are you going now?  We haven't spent any time together.""Exactly," she said shutting the door.As she walked in the door she noticed Chase's new band flyers.  Their name 'Temptuous Poison' was in big, bold letters, with an image of them at the bottom.   The four band members sat around a Victorian style ottoman.  Each member wore black.  Chase, is your hair ever out of place?  Too bad it didn't work out, because this picture makes me want you.  The set started with an anthem type song. The entire bar had their fists pumping.  Ilisha moved to the front of the crowd, barley avoiding a mosh pit.  She joined in as the sea of people began to jump with the beat.  Chase moved in hyper intensity as he gripped the mic.  Springing his body forward like a frog he landed perfectly on a row of amps at the front of the stage, pausing momentary before hurling himself into the crowd. His body rolled and flipped from one person to another, surfing the crowd.  His voice was just as strong as if he were standing still.  Riding the crowd back to the stage, the band started into a slow number.  You just had to go there and sing the song you wrote about me, didn't you.  Ilisha watched, in a trance, as Chase softly gripped the microphone, sliding it into a stand.  He stood with his feet apart, holding onto the stand as if it were a woman.  His fingertips ran down the shaft gently.  The black leather pants he always wore were wrapped tightly around him.  Ilisha looked down.  And you just had to wear the boots I got you.  The black leather, biker, boots came up to his calves and had buckled running up the length of them.  Ilisha bit her lip, liking the sight of him. She listened as he softly sung the words, an acoustic guitar playing in the background.  "Remember when we sat in the rain.  When the wind whispers I think of you.  I'd spend a lifetime looking in your eyes.  Can I wish for ever after?"  He paused to take a dramatic breath.  "We share our hard times, but love will bring us through.  Always remember my dreams of you.  When times are hard I'll take your hand.  I promise you'll never be lonely." He ended on a high note and held it.Damn him.  After the show she walked back stage, her intension was to say goodnight.  Chase took her hand and smiled.  "Come with me."He led her down a long hall plastered with band flyers, an array of colored paper selfishly plaster over another.  As soon as the back door closed, Chase pushed her into the wall.  His hands ran up her neck, wrapping around her long black hair.  Before she could protest his tongue penetrated her mouth.  Why do I let you do this to me? Maybe because you're too damn hot to resist. Chase's hands slid down her back, grabbing her butt, pulling her up; his knees under her legs supporting her against the wall.  His hands slid under her jacket, breaking the knot in the belt. When his hands gipped her breasts she let out a slight moan.  The back door came open and soft yellow light poured into the back parking lot.  A guy dropped his conversation to look at them.  "That's why it's good to be a rock star," he said as he kept walking."I can't do this." Ilisha whispered.Chase let her legs fall.  His hand stroked her hair back into place.  "Let's get out of here.""I think I should go."He leaned his forehead on hers.  "Please don't."  His soft voice melted in her ears like velvet.He took her hand and led her to his car.  A few blocks away they pulled into his hotel parking lot.  The joined an elderly couple in the elevator.  "What floor?" the old man asked."10 please," Chase replied.The couple got off on floor two.  As soon as the door shut Chase slammed Ilisha into the mirrored wall.  A small grunt burst from her lungs with the impact.  He slid her jacket off, his hands grasping her small arms all the way down. When the elevator bell dinged, indicating floor ten, the stumbled out still groping one another.Chase dug with one hand in his back pocket, still kissing her, for his key card.  He fumbled with it a few times before the door clicked.Ilisha ripped his pants open, as they tripped over each other's feet.  Still no underwear, nothing changes. He dropped her to the bed at the same time ridding her of her shirt.  Ilisha reached for his boots and began undoing all the buckles.  "Maybe I shouldn't have bought these for you.""Hell with the boots."  He pushed her down, ripped her shoes off, and had her pants off in one swift motion.  "I need you now."
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Published on May 05, 2011 13:22

May 4, 2011

Update on Legion of Bats and Broken Butterflies

I'm taking the first chapter of Broken Butterflies to my stellar crit group tonight.  I can't wait to see what they say.  They have helped me so much in my writing and I am grateful.  I have made some improvements since I posted it here.  The first time I send something out to read it's just to see if the story idea works and it draws you in.  Once I have it polished I will repost.  Also an update on Legion of Bats.  It's out at editing now and I hope to have it for sale this fall.  I can't wait for it to be released.  It's such a good feeling that you can share your work.    The cover is posted in this blog and in 3D on Facebook.4 Corners Press has really taken off.  We have requests for our book cover services as well as editing and formatting.  We just bought a stellar program to make book trailers.  Having a great team to work with is to great, I love and respect all the girls. 
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Published on May 04, 2011 09:30

May 2, 2011

Why I hate ass kissers

Just wondering why there are those that feel it necessary to ass kiss.  We have a new one at work.  Anything that happens, whether big or small, he runs to his supervisor.  Today I find out he blamed me for inventory being off.  Anyone that knows me you can see what came next; he got ripped a new one.  I'm just wondering what kind of euphoria comes over you when you're a rat.  Does it make you walk taller?  Does the reflection in the mirror look beautiful?  What the hell?   Grow some balls.  This was the entire situation.  Thursday I put an order in and shipping was busy.  Marketing needed it asap.  This consisted of once iPhone case.  I pulled the order and initialed it.  I gave the pick ticket to shipping, who forgot to push finished in the system.  It didn't get finished.  Oh my gosh, lets freakin make a national crisis out of one product that didn't get closed out in the system.  He could have just hit the finished button and called it good.  Seriously, why am I surrounded by these idiots?
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Published on May 02, 2011 10:25

April 28, 2011

Laughing Through Tragedy

With all the storms in the South, earthquakes, tsunami's and nuclear plant meltdowns it easy to forget to laugh.  We need to keep all these people in our prayers.  If someone you know lives in these areas please send them a hug and a laugh.  Nothing cures tragedy better than comedy.  "The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that is laughter." Mark Twain
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Published on April 28, 2011 11:59

April 25, 2011

Broken Butterflies first paragraph

This is rough, but tell me what you guys think
A FATEFUL DAYIlisha Morrison boarded the bullet train, her back pack slipping from her shoulder.  "Damn it," she said heaving the heavy bag up.  She stumbled up the stair landing on her duffle bag.  Picking herself up hoping nobody noticed she straightened her hair and shirt.  Taking a seat, she felt her cell phone vibrate.  "Hi mom.""Are you on your way?" her mother said with a tinge of panic in her voice."Yes, mom.  I can't make the train trip any faster."  Ilisha rolled her eyes."Well honey, I just need your help.  I have so much to do before the funeral.""I'm on the fastest train in the U.S." Ilisha said pointing out the obvious."I don't know why you won't fly."  Her mother's voice held the frustration she felt."Look mom I gotta go, I'll be there soon."  Ilisha hung up on her mom as she began to talk again.She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.  Isn't it enough that my grandma just died, you need to rub it in that I'm petrified of flying?  God the woman is relentless.  The overhead speaker system came to life with a woman's voice.  "Welcome aboard the Habrock bullet train, your alternative to flight.   Our trip from Columbus Ohio to Denver Colorado will take approximately then hours, as we make stops along the way.  Please sit back and relax.  An attendant will be around to take drink orders shortly."Can I make that an extra stiff drink?  Ilisha thought as a man sat across from her.He smiled kindly at her, stuffing his bag above him.  He extended his hand to shake hers.  "Bram.""Ilisha."A slight electric shock ran up her arm.  "Sorry, I must have a lot of static," he said dismissing it.That felt nothing like a normal static shock.His deep sapphire eyes bore into her.  "I'm sorry, do I know you?" she asked.He didn't answer her and in perfect timing an attendant was there with a drink cart.  "Beverage?" she chimed a little too happy."Can I get a rum and coke, make it a double?"The attendant handed Ilisha the drink and she reached out eagerly with two hands.  "Come to mama," she said completely forgetting about her question to him. "Bad day?" Bram asked as she sucked on a tiny straw."You could say that."Ilisha shut the cover to the window.  The landscape flew by in a blur making her dizzy.  Digging in her bag she retrieved a Sudoku book.  Lost in her puzzle she didn't realize that Bram was speaking to her again.  "You have a very unusual name," he said moving to the seat directly across from her. "Huh?  Oh yeah, I could say the same thing about you."Could this guy get any better looking?  She took another pull at her drink and swore she saw him blush.Her eyes discreetly scanned him.  His black hair and black button down shirt brought out the color of his eyes.  Sitting on his black boots, his jeans fit perfectly.  He left his shirt un-tucked and his sleeves rolled up his forearm.  She let her eyes drift down.  Large feet.  Feeling guilty, for a split second her eyes drifted up the seam of his jeans to see if his feet told the truth about other things, she looked down quickly after confirmation.  What the hell are you doing?  You have a boyfriend. Well a on and off boyfriend. Who knows what he is this week."Do you trust me?" Bram said in a rich baritone voice, bringing her out of her thought process."What?" she asked crinkling her forehead in confusion."I need you to trust me.""O-k-a-y." Ilisha rolled her eyes.  I guess he's a psycho."Take my hand." He thrust his right hand at her.Her head jerked back at the thought.The train, which had been smooth, began to shake as if an earthquake threatened to derail it."Take my hand, right now!"Though Bram seemed out of his mind, but something told her to follow his instructions.  He pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her.  "Hey, what the.." she said as self-illuminated butterflied appeared in the cabin.  The train went dark as a massive impact threw people and luggage around. Ilisha watched as the butterflies drifted through the cabin intent on a specific person.  Landing on a person's chest they would flutter a couple times before sinking into their skin.  "What's happening?" Ilisha said scared.  Ilisha stood motionless in Bram's arms, while others slammed into seats and soared down the aisle.  A wall of fire approached as the car split down the middle.  Pushing through the metal was another rail engine, its nose plowing through seats and people.  Ilisha felt the heat blow her hair back.  With strength unknown to humans Bram's arms clinched and no matter how much she kicked and punched she could not get free.  Holy shit he's going to kill me.   The fire engulfed them and she waited for the pain.  None came.  She opened her eyes.  Orange, red and black danced all around, but didn't come close to touching her skin.  She looked up into Bram's eyes and despite the chaos and threat of death, he looked very peaceful.  Ripping of metal and explosions filled her ears.  Screams could barely be heard over the sounds of destruction.  The engine flew past them and Ilisha watched as an engineer's body flopped around in the seat he occupied, anchored by a belt.   The engine came to a sudden stop throwing the body forward, the man's face was crushed with the impact.  Oh my God.  Bram let her go.  Ilisha stumbled back against the seat, eyes wide.  Her body began to tremble as tears poured from her eyes.  Bram brought his leg up and kicked a giant hole in the side of the train.  Sunlight poured in, blinding Ilisha.  Her arms were shaking hard enough that she couldn't bring her hands to her face to block the light.  Cradling her in his arms Bram carried her out the hole.  He sat her gently on a patch of grass.  "You're going to be fine." Bram whispered.Ilisha eyes rolled back and she fell to the ground in a heap.
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Published on April 25, 2011 15:41

Stellar Weekend

4 Corners Press has launched and has many entries for the contests.  This is so exciting.  I started to stock up images for covers Saturday.  I had to print a few for my walls also.  I'm addicted to photography.  I fished my short story for 4 Corners Press dream book that will be released soon.  My first every children's story.  I gave it to my friend to read to her kids--we shall see if it's a hit.  Now that I have my edits done for Legion of Bats I will start Broken Butterflies.  Another Paranormal Romance.  I can't wait to finally get Legion for sale.  I will keep you all posted when it's ready.  Keep writing my friends. 
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Published on April 25, 2011 08:43