J.C. Martin's Blog, page 14

Historical Fiction: Combining Fact & Fantasy – Guest Post by Victoria King-Voreadi

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Victoria King-Voreadi is a mystery writer who co-authored a novel set in the run-up to World War II. As such, I asked her if she could guest on the Fighter Writer with a post on combining fact with fiction when writing about true historical events.

Historical Fiction: Combining Fact and Fantasy
by Victoria King-Voreadi

In trying to trace the origins of resource materials regarding our anti-hero Georg Elser for our manuscript Interrogation Tango, Donald Schwarz and I often asked the question “Who actually wrote this stuff?” There were sinister circumstances surrounding the Elser case, such a startling array of contradictory accounts, all claiming to be drawn from “authentic” sources. It appeared that someone had gone to a lot of trouble to muddy the waters.

Georg Elser
(image source: Wikipedia)

We must respect fact when working with historic events or personages within a fictional context. The challenge lies in separating fact from erroneous interpretation. In our story’s case the only solid point of reference was the act itself: yes, Georg Elser planted a device that blew up the Burger Brau Keller and people were killed – although the primary target, Adolph Hitler, left only minutes before the explosion and thus escaped harm. The possible “hows” and “whys” that propelled Elser to carry out his attempt are numerous and subject to rampant speculation – luckily for us that is where the fiction comes in, even for historians!

The new generation of history academics has revolutionized the lay approach to history by becoming skilled story tellers. This revelation allows their work to be appreciated by and thus reach a far broader audience. It is a heady feeling to address a lecture hall brimming with eager eyed students hanging on your every word, but royalty checks from “retail readers” have an equally powerful appeal. If this popularization of history gets more people reading I’m all for it! It is sort of like what Carl Sagan did for astrophysics in the 1970’s with Cosmos.

History is full of amazing events, and embroiled in every amazing event are fascinating characters. Barring the existence of an authenticated personal journal spelling out the motives behind any historic figure’s actions, the best any of us can do is to apply intelligent speculation. That is the “artistic license” we as writers have: by applying our common sense and igniting our imagination, we can invest even historic characters with interesting motives that will engage the reader and provide the character’s actions with a realistic context.

Coming back to our story, Interrogation Tango, some accounts of the event portrayed Georg Elser as a people’s hero, others as a cold blooded assassin. For our purposes that non-descript carpenter was a man, the man next door, with a bundle of complex factors driving him toward a rendezvous with history.  Why was it that his story was swept under the rug? It is an interesting question to ask: why are we usually so content to accept the “authorities” accounts of historic events with little if any skepticism?

If you plan to write historical fiction you’ll need to do a lot of research. But in the end it is human nature which dictates any character’s choices and actions – their secret list of personal desires and fears. Think about the men and women, the passionate souls behind the events and let them guide your pen.

I just love the title of J.C.’s blog. Being a writer demands many skills on many levels as well as an incredible amount of self-discipline. In that respect writing might well be the ultimate martial art! We can only wonder at how many empires, fortunes, reputations, myths and legends have been built or broken by wily wielding of the quill!

About the Author

Victoria King-Voreadi

Victoria lives in the city of Herákleionon on the island of Crete, Greece with her husband and two beautiful daughters. A freelance writer and translator in Greece since 1992 she has received two screenwriting grants from the EEU Media Programme for both original and commissioned feature scripts, has worked on local and foreign productions. Victoria met her co-author Donald E. Schwarz in 1994 while visiting New York and the two instantly struck up a creative partnership

Contact: Iguana Books | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Here is more information about Victoria’s book:

Interrogation Tango
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Interrogation Tango

Interrogation Tango is an anti-detective story, based on real events and people, about an assassin who drove the Gestapo crazy because they could not explain him away.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters/Indigo | Iguana Books

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Something for the Young ‘Uns: Guest Post by Susanna Leonard Hill

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Susanna Hill is a blogger/writer buddy of mine who writes something miles removed from gritty crimes and dark thrillers: picture books for children. Her guest post today is dedicated to J.C. Jr. It’s such a sweet post, I just couldn’t wait to share it!

Something for the Young ‘Uns


by Susanna Leonard Hill

Yes, I know this is the blog of a butt-kicking ninja crime writer.

I also know it is frequented by other butt-kicking ninja crime writers.

The thing is? In my little corner of the writing world, this is what passes for ninja butt-kicking:

The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another his mother called him “WILD THING!” and Max said “I’LL EAT YOU UP!” so he was sent to bed without eating anything.*

*collective gasp*

Yes, it’s true. I’m a picture book writer. Please don’t run away!

If you’re wondering how I ended up so far from the playground, it’s because even though I write picture books, I love reading butt-kicking ninja crime thrillers.

When J.C. mentioned she was looking for guest posters to help keep her blog going while she was on maternity leave I thought, alas, not really my area. But then I thought, hey! Fighter Writer Junior won’t be ready for Oracle for a while yet. Maybe there’s a little something I can contribute…

Shhh … come on down the hall to the nursery.

It is bedtime (That’s why we’re whispering). Fighter Writer Junior is clean from his bath, smelling sweetly of Johnson’s baby shampoo, all cozy and warm in blue footie pajamas (all the ninjas are wearing them this season!).

J.C. settles in the rocking chair with FWJ in her lap where he fits as if he had been made to go just there. A little push with her feet and the chair rocks gently, back and forth … back and forth…

“Now then, little man,” says J.C. “What shall we read tonight?” and the whole world opens up before them.

Disney’s Ferdinand the Bull (1938)
(click for image source)

Perhaps they will go to once upon a time in Spain, where a little bull likes to sit just quietly and smell the flowers. Or maybe to an old house in Paris that was covered with vines where twelve little girls live in two straight lines and the smallest one is Madeline. Or to the house, the house on East 88th Street where, splish splash swoosh, Lyle the crocodile is taking a bath.

They could scamper after a white dog with black spots who loves everything except … getting a bath! They could eat chocolate cake with Betty Bunny, who is a handful! They could go to school with Lilly and jingle her purple plastic purse, or spend the day with Fireman Small — quickly out of bed he scoots, jumps into his hat and boots! — or romp with the hippos while they go berserk.

They could hop aboard the Dinotrain, laugh their way through the ridiculous alphabet where Z Is For Moose, search for the perfect pet in Dear Zoo, or play I spy in Each Peach Pear Plum.

They can choose stories about camels or castles or construction vehicles; about holidays, school days, or vacation days; about coping with bad days or bad dreams, trying new things, conquering fear of the dark, learning to stand up for yourself, or understanding something of the world around us.

If it matters to a child, it can be found in a picture book.

No matter what they choose, they will find wonderful characters, beautiful illustrations, and all the delight and wonder of story, the more magical because it is shared.

But now,

The big hand of the clock is at 12.

The little hand is at 7.

It is 7 o’clock.

It is bedtime for Fighter Writer Junior.**

Tuck him in with his blanket and his bear. Give him a kiss and turn out the light (but leave the nightlight glowing to keep the shadows away). And as he drifts into dreams, be happy in the thought of all the many times in the days and months and years ahead you will sit together, just quietly, in the wonderful world of picture books.

Sleep tight

Sources:

*Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

** Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban (except the last line says “Frances”, not “Fighter Writer Junior” )

Other favorite highly recommended books include and/or quoted nearly word for word, in order of mention: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans, The House on East 88th Street by Bernard Waber, Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael Kaplan, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes, Fireman Small by Wong Herbert Yee, Hippos Go Berserk by Sandra Boynton, All Aboard the Dinotrain by Deb Lund, Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, and Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan & Janet Ahlberg.

(And since I can’t possibly list all my favorite picture books here, J.C., please visit the Perfect Picture Books tab on my blog any time you’re looking for something to read )

—

Aww…! I can’t wait to start reading FWJ bedtime stories! Just have to wait for him to start sleeping through the night first! Thank you Susanna for this lovely post, and for the wonderful picture book recommendations! Little FWJ is already starting to accumulate a TBR pile!

About the Author

Susanna Leonard Hill

Susanna Leonard Hill is the award winning author of nearly a dozen books for children, including Punxsutawney Phyllis (a Book List Children’s Pick and Amelia Bloomer Project choice), No Sword Fighting In The House (a Junior Library Guild selection), Can’t Sleep Without Sheep (a Children’s Book of the Month), and Not Yet, Rose (a Gold Mom’s Choice Award Winner.) Her books have been translated into French, Dutch, German, and Japanese, with one hopefully forthcoming in Korean. She lives in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley with her husband, children, and two rescue dogs.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Can’t Sleep Without Sheep

Check out Susanna’s books here, all great bedtime reads for the little people in your life! I would personally recommend the delightful Can’t Sleep Without Sheep, which I got for my little sister-in-law, and she loved it!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

viewBook.at: A Cool Resource for Authors!

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I’ve just come across a website that some fellow authors may find a useful addition to their marketing efforts.

viewBook.at is not just any link shortening site; it gives you a shortened link to your Kindle book, and when readers click on it, they will be directed to the Amazon store specific to their location — that means that if you live in Germany, clicking on the link will take you to the purchase page for your book on Amazon.de!

Here’s a link to Oracle as an example: http://viewbook.at/B008OA0SD2

How cool is that? One link for all Amazon territories, for all your international readers!

And that’s not all! You can also submit a request to get a personalised link to your book, e.g. http://viewbook.at/Oracle — I’ve submitted a request as a trial, but I do believe that the service is free!

Plus, you can get a similar link for your Amazon author page at the related site viewAuthor.at!

I will be using this to link to any Kindle titles I mention in posts from now on.

Have YOU checked out viewBook.at? What do you think of it? Would it be something you’d like to use?

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Book Shout-Out: 13 by Amy Lignor

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Purchase Link: Amazon

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

My Publisher Wants to Gift You Goodies!

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My publisher, J. Taylor Publishing, is celebrating book bloggers and reviewers everywhere in a month-long appreciation event, with the chance for everyone to win awesome prizes such as swag, books, and book money!

All you have to do to be in the running is to fill in this Rafflecopter form, then refer fellow bloggers to the Reviewers Programme. Remember to ask them to cite you as the Referrer when they register by putting your name in the “Referred By” section of the form.

And that’s it! You can continue to refer people all month — the more people you refer, the better your chances of winning!

For more information about this event, click here.

Good luck all!

Finally, would you like to receive e-books for free in exchange for reviewing/blogging about them, among other benefits? If you do, why not join the J. Taylor Publishing Reviewers Programme? Just don’t forget to mention me as referrer!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

How Insomnia Spawned a Series: Guest Post by Darlene Jones

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Author Darlene Jones is here today to talk about an unlikely benefit of insomnia:

How Insomnia Spawned a Series
by Darlene Jones

I’m a retired educator — teacher and principal at the junior high level. In Canada that’s grades 7 to 9 so 12 to 15 year-olds. I loved working with that age group, but most of my teacher friends from elementary thought I was crazy. And yes, the heroines of my books are teachers in their real lives or have strong connections to teachers.

A long time ago I lived in Mali. That experience, along with subsequent travels, has certainly shaped my thinking and that too is reflected in my writing. I’d love to wave a magic wand and make life better, especially in third world countries.

Could insomnia benefit writers?
(image source: Free Digital Photos)

I first played with the story line for my Em and Yves novels when I suffered from insomnia. I thought it would help me sleep. It didn’t. Instead, in the dark, I scribbled notes on yellow post-it pads — notes that I mostly couldn’t read in the morning.

The story soon took over my life. I’d make notes while I waited at red lights, in line at the grocery store, in the middle of dinner. I simply had to start writing. As wrote, revised and rewrote, the story line took on elements that I hadn’t originally intended. I wanted a love story, an adventure and I got it, but with the added dimension of sci-fi magic that allowed for the magical things the heroine could do.

My intent was to write one book, but the ending surprised me and forced me to write another. Three are published and the fourth, which I’m working on now, may or may not be the last.

I’m proud of what I’ve written — magical realism — and hope that readers will enjoy the unique blend of real world and characters that I have created with the sci-fi magic. Of course there’s a love triangle too.

About the Author

Darlene Jones

A long time ago, Darlene Jones lived in Mali. Every single day, she wished I could wave a magic wand to relieve the heart-wrenching poverty. The storyline of her books reflects her desire to wave that wand and make the world a better place.

Contact: Website | Blog | Facebook

Darlene currently 3 novels in her Em and Yves series published, with a fourth in the pipeline. Empowered is book 1, Embraced is book 2, and the latest book is Embattled.

Below is the blurb and an excerpt from book 2:

Embraced

Embraced

When Principal, Abby Davies, shows Curtis a page of scribbles and asks him to try to figure it out, Curtis isn’t sure what to think. He likes Miss D and all. She isn’t too bad for a school teacher. You can talk to her and she doesn’t make fun. But, sheesh, a secret code from aliens? That’s just too sci-fi for him. To keep her happy, he says he’ll help. Thing is, once he starts studying the scribbles, he can see messages. Coder Guy, as Abby calls whoever is sending the messages, wants her to fix things. What things? Abby and Curtis find the answer when letters with Abby’s signature appear in newspaper offices. The things asked for come true. But, who’s writing the letters? Coder Guy? Or Abby?

Then the reporter shows up. What is a war correspondent doing in their little town? He says he loves Abby, but he sells her story to the world; her face splashed over every television and computer screen. The next day Miss D and Curtis are the only ones who remember the reports. That’s when real fear sets in.

Meanwhile, Yves, who fell in love with Em, has loved her through her life as Jasmine, still loves her in this life as Abby. He fumes as one of the rookie gods fumbles communication with her. Once again, Yves breaks the rules to help Abby, but with deadly results.

Excerpt

“More drawings?” Curtis gestured at the papers she held.

Abby looked down at the pages and willed her hand to stop trembling. The three pages of code drawings seemed to shimmer and shiver with a life of their own. “Yes. Three pages. From Friday, Saturday, and last night. They’re pretty … they’re … pretty well done, I’d say.”

But Curtis was no longer listening. He waved the papers she’d just handed him and almost shouted with excitement. “These are amazing. Way better than the first drawing you brought us.”

Abby stifled a small grin, but she had to agree. The drawings outclassed her scratches a million times over. “My friend developed instant artistic talent.”

“I’ll say.” Curtis shuffled the pages back and forth. He shook his head slowly and muttered “wow” over and over. Finally he looked up at her. “Miss D, thanks for getting so many. Now we have four to compare. We’ll see if there are any repeated patterns or sequences of symbols. Your friend is great to share these with us.”

“No problem.” Oh God, I’m such a liar. Of course there was a problem, and not just because she was lying to Curtis. My friend. How lame was that? The mere existence of the pages was the real problem. Some nights the clickings chattered incessantly in her fillings, almost driving her crazy. Those were the nights of very little sleep. The weekend had been eerily silent. That was a new phenomenon since Friday, no clickings, instead Coder Guy had begun leaving the pages filled with drawings. Either way — no escaping the code.

A while back, she’d grown tired of sharpening the pencil she used each night and replaced it with a pen, which was now almost out of ink. She’d have to remember to get out a new one tonight. Or maybe not? What would happen if there was no writing utensil?

“What’s so funny?” Curtis asked. Abby hadn’t realized she’d laughed out loud. The lack of pen wouldn’t stop her night visitor. She stifled another burst of laughter she knew bordered on hysteria. Truth was, much as the pages of code scared her, she’d be devastated if no more came. The person — being, alien, Coder Guy — was an integral part of her life now; his existence had established a rhythm that kept her balanced. Or so she thought. Maybe she was completely off her rocker.

Whatever the case, she didn’t want to lose that contact. Coder Guy’s presence warmed her, kept her from feeling alone and lonely. Oh, man, I am losing it here. Really losing it.

Click here for the Amazon purchase links for all of Darlene’s books.

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

DINNER AT DEADMAN’S Blog Tour: Would You Eat A Dead Lady’s Food? by C.J. West

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C.J. West visits today as part of his blog tour for mystery novel Dinner at Deadman’s, where he asks the following unlikely question:

Would You Eat A Dead Lady’s Food?
by C.J. West

Lorado Martin, star of my new novel Dinner At Deadman’s, loves to rummage around estates of the newly-deceased and prepare them for sale. He’s attracted to all sorts of collectibles, antiques, about anything lying around someone’s house that proves interesting.

The title Dinner At Deadman’s comes from a night Lorado is working in a woman’s home and decides to eat some cereal from her kitchen. I have been surprised by how revolting people find the idea of eating something from a dead lady’s home, so I thought I’d explore that idea with you a bit today.

One of my most surprising food finds was a can of peaches at the bottom of a set of cellar stairs. The can had rusted through. The peaches had seeped out and all that remained of them was a dark-colored spot on the wooden shelf underneath the can. The can must have been sitting there for several years and I wonder if anyone considered eating those peaches in the few years before I found them.

I think we can all agree we wouldn’t eat peaches from a rusty old can, but what about a can of soup in the pantry that was shiny and new? Could there really be anything wrong with soup that’s been lying around a while? If it was free, would you take it home? Would you check the expiration date first?

For me it would be an easy call. If it was canned food that I would buy anyway, I’d take any can that was in good condition. I’m not sure exactly what makes eating food from a dead person’s house weird. Is it the idea that whatever killed them might be infectious? Or is it a superstition that the food could be haunted? Or maybe the ghost of the previous owner would torment you for taking it home?

Let’s go to the kitchen next.

I remember eating cereal at my grandmother’s house. It was always stale. And she always filled bowls by hand, reaching in, grabbing a handful, and dropping it in a bowl like an excavator. That always seemed a little gross to me as a kid. The idea of a strange old lady’s hand on my cereal is enough for me to forgo an open box.

How about you? If you found an unopened box of your favorite cereal would you take it?

It’s a slippery slope once you get started. You open the freezer and see frozen steaks. The food starts to have value and in these tough economic times I think a lot of us would be tempted to take some of that free food home, especially if it was in a sealed container.

Whether this sounds like a great idea or a crazy one, I hope you’ll check out Dinner At Deadman’s and explore a sweet little old lady’s kitchen alongside Lorado.

—

About the Author

C.J. West

C.J. West is the author of seven suspense novels including The End of Marking Time and Sin and Vengeance, which was optioned into development for film by Beantown Productions, LLC (screenplay by Marla Cukor).

Contact: Website | Blog | Facebook

Dinner at Deadman’s

Dinner at Deadman’s

Lorado Martin has loved junk since his grandparents took him bottle digging in the backwoods of New England when he was a boy. The search for antiques and collectibles led him to a unique hobby: digging through the estates of the newly deceased, arranging the sale of goods for the heirs, and keeping the leftovers for himself.

To make a living he builds and maintains housing for recovering addicts and along the way he’s employed a number of his clients. The men wrestle with the siren call of drugs and teach Lorado about the difficult struggle to stay clean one day at a time.

When these two worlds come together, Lorado learns that not every elderly person dies of natural causes and that some estates are sold to benefit a killer. His latest project hits close to home. A woman he’s known since childhood haunts him from a fresh grave. Her grandson, an affable addict who has fallen off the wagon, stands to inherit a considerable sum whether he deserves it or not.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Double Helix Series Blog Tour: When It’s No Longer Science Fiction by Jade Kerrion

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Happy New Year!

What better way to kick start 2013 than with a guest post by talented author and fellow displaced Malaysian Jade Kerrion? As part of her blog tour for her Double Helix series, Jade is here to talk about how the line between science fact and science fiction has been blurred by recent technological advances.

When it’s No Longer Science Fiction: A Peek Behind the Double Helix
by Jade Kerrion

For the past several years, our attention has been consumed by faltering economies, unstable governments, an epidemic of bullying, and an explosion of social media. In the meantime, largely ignored by mainstream media, the genetic revolution marches on quietly and inexorably.

Let’s test your knowledge of bioengineering. Which of the following is true?

We used genetic engineering to create hybrid creatures, like the goat-sheep, and the camel-llama.
We used genetic engineering to transfer bioluminescent genes from coral and deep-sea jellyfish to create glow-in-the-dark mice, cats, dogs, pigs, and monkeys.
We cloned animals, including sheep, dogs, and horses.
We used genetic engineering to create animals that excrete pharmaceutical products in their milk and other bodily fluids.
We used genetic engineering to preserve endangered species, creating animals that possess the nuclear DNA of the endangered species, and the mitochondrial DNA of the host species … in effect, a genetic hybrid.
We created bug-bots by implanting wires in the central nervous system of insects, and we can now control their movements, including flight.
We created organic robots by implanting wires in the central nervous system of rats, and we can now control what they do.
We wired a monkey to control a third artificial arm entirely through its brain waves.
We genetically engineered rats with pliable skin in order to grow human organs (e.g. ear) under their skin for eventual transplant to a human.
We used organic computer chips made out of rat neurons to control a flight simulator.
We isolated a brain of a lamprey eel and placed it in a nutrient medium, surrounded by electrodes. The living, intact brain controls a machine that moves toward the light (in much the same way a lamprey eel moves toward the light).
We used a DNA synthesizer to create an artificial organic cell. (Isn’t that an oxymoron?) The computer is its parent.

If you answered “Yes” to all of these, you are right. All of these are true. Science fiction is now science fact. Today, we possess an unprecedented control over bioengineering, an area that remains largely unregulated by governments.  Our scientific advances raise many ethical questions, such as “Is it right to control the autonomy of another creature, even if it’s just a rat?” Other more pragmatic questions focus on timing: “When will we start applying directed evolution (i.e. design) to humans?”

I majored in Biology and Philosophy at the Johns Hopkins University, and the philosophical implications of genetic engineering naturally combined my two interests. I started by asking myself, “What would the world look like to the perfect, lab-created human being?” And then, I wondered, “How would the world change for the people whose genetic templates were used to create the perfect human being?” The Double Helix series sets out to answer both those questions from the point-of-view of Danyael Sabre, an alpha empath whose genetic code was used as the physical template for the perfect human being.

In the world of the Double Helix, directed evolution has become the norm, but is accessible only to those with financial resources. Historical personalities are reincarnated as clones. Genetically optimized in vitros abound, and they tend to succeed at the expense of normal humans who struggle to keep up. Nevertheless, normal humans still form the political majority, and thus, the world of the Double Helix is deeply stratified by genetics, wealth, and politics. Into this already chaotic mix, I added mutants and their dangerous variants of psychic powers, and finally Galahad, the lab-created, perfect human being.

The story explodes into a “highly-enjoyable, brainy guilty pleasure of a novel: a perfect mixture of non-stop action, gripping plot, thought-provoking philosophy, and beautiful visuals.” Set in Earth’s near-contemporary future and frequently compared to X-Men, Heroes, and Alphas, the Double Helix series is highly accessible, even for non-science fiction readers.

I invite you to check out a world that is closer to science fact than science fiction. Welcome to the Double Helix.

—

Thought-provoking stuff, isn’t it? Here’s a bit more information about Jade:

About the Author

Jade Kerrion

Jade Kerrion unites cutting-edge science and bioethics with fast-paced action in her award-winning Double Helix series. Drawing rave reviews for its originality and vision, and described as “a breakout piece of science fiction,” Perfection Unleashed, and its sequels, Perfect Betrayal and Perfect Weapon, are available in print and e-book through Amazon and other major retailers.

Contact: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

And here’s the blurb for the Double Helix series. For a separate blurb for each book, just click on the book covers below.

The Double Helix series

Double Helix series

His genetic code sourced from the best that humanity offers, Galahad embodies the pinnacle of perfection. When Zara Itani, a mercenary whose abrasive arrogance exceeds her beauty, frees him from his laboratory prison, she offers him the chance to claim everything that had ever been denied him, beginning with his humanity.

Perfection cannot be unleashed without repercussions, and Galahad’s freedom shatters Danyael Sabre’s life.

An alpha empath, Danyael is rare and coveted, even among the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. He wields the power to heal or kill with a touch, but craves only privacy and solitude — both impossible dreams for the man who was used as Galahad’s physical template.

Galahad and Danyael, two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, and the other to escape it.

The award-winning Double Helix series, consisting of Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon, will challenge your notions of perfection and humanity, and lead you in a celebration of courage and compassion. Science fiction, urban fantasy, and action-adventure readers will enjoy this thrilling roller-coaster ride as it twists and turns through a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution.

Purchase Links

Perfection Unleashed: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords

Perfect Betrayal: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords

Perfect Weapon: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords

Doesn’t the premise just sound so intriguing? If you’re looking for something interesting, intelligent, and thrilling to read in 2013, this series will be right up your alley!

What do YOU think about the advances in bioengineering? Do the prospects excite or concern you?

Here’s wishing all my readers health and happiness in the new year!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Write Fight: Is That Plausible? Guest Post by Angela Brown

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YA author and writer buddy Angela Brown is here today to talk about plausibility in writing, especially when writing fight scenes:

Write Fight: Is That Plausible?
by Angela Brown

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As writers, readers are our life’s blood. Literally. No readers?

*crickets in the silence*

Well, you get the picture.

As fiction writers, supplying our readers with a plausible reason to suspend their disbelief is paramount.  In the case of fight scenes, it really helps to give the reader something to work with to actually read and accept the sequence of events.

Eragon

Let’s take Eragon for example. The main character begins the story hunting by bow and arrow in The Spine, a place shunned by others but frequented by him. This establishes, early on, his ability to take risks – or just spit in the face of complacent and fearful peoples…can be seen either way J – and his confidence that he can handle a bow and arrow well enough to try and provide food for his family through his skill. He acquires a miniscule knowledge of magic BEFORE he tries prattling chants from his lips. Establishing these elements early on gives the reader ease to suspend disbelief and enjoy the fight scene – with no question to the plausibility – of Eragon breaking out his bow and arrow, screaming a magical word and blasting a bunch of bad guys to smithereens.

When writing fight scenes, it is imperative that readers find your character’s fighting ability plausible.
(image source: Free Digital Photos)

With my novel, Neverlove, the first chapter establishes the basis for one of main character’s drive (thoughts of herself as a weakling) when she discovers she has an inclination for hand to hand combat. A hint dropped in a chapter here and there supplied the reader with some of the “why” behind her skill. This foreshadowing helps provide the reader with reason to suspend disbelief. When my main character is faced with a hand to hand combat scene, there’s no reason to question her choice to get physical. I’ve dropped the breadcrumbs to make the choice a plausible one for her.

Write fights right by addressing plausibility. Is your character a detective? Establish this title early on as readers attribute at least basic skills with an officer of the law. Don’t be surprised if readers have a hard time suspending disbelief in the detective’s ability to perform certain physical feats – like scaling a wall barehanded, running faster than a speeding crotch rocket or contorting their body into a pretzel to capture the bad guy – if the baseline for such extraordinary ability is not established before, or very soon after, this occurs.

What say you? How important is plausibility when it comes to addressing abilities that display in a fight scene?

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About the Author

Angela Brown

Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Angela now calls Central Texas home.

Reading and writing have been lifelong passions. It was around the time she gave birth to her forever-love, nicknamed Chipmunk, that she really took writing seriously. After all, how could she teach her child to follow her dreams if she hadn’t tried herself?

As a YA fantasy/sci-fi reader and author, she favors the magical, mysterious, the darker side of life … even harbors a secret fright for things that go bump in the night.

Neverlove is a special project spawned from a blog-challenge-turned-blog-opera, the Abby and Basil affair. It is the first in the Shadow Jumpers series.

Contact: Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

And here’s a bit more information about her debut YA novel, Neverlove:

Neverlove

Neverlove

Duty or love? There can be only one.

For Abigail Bishop, life has reached its final low, and seventeen doesn’t seem such a bad age to die.

For Basil Hines, perfection is the key to earning his parents’ love, especially his mother. He never suspected sharing this thought with a friend would bring hellish results.

Abigail’s rash decision, and failure to take her own life, leads her to V’Salicus Academy, a place to start anew, become a Cleanser, a guide to show lost souls the way to The Gates for Judgment. Basil ends up duty bound to hell, his soul gambled and lost to the Devourer, all for the price of a few words. As the devil’s newest Harvestor, Basil must steal lost souls to feed his new master’s constant craving.

In their new roles in life, love is forbidden, but when their paths cross, true love is what Abigail and Basil finally discover in each other. Can they hold tight to their love, or will duty trump all, leaving them both to a fate of Neverlove?

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

BLUE MOON Blog Tour: Interview with J.A. Belfield

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J.A. Belfield makes a return to the Fighter Writer today to promote her recently released novel, Blue Moon, the 6th book in her Holloway Pack series. Today, I’ll be interviewing her about her writing process, style and habits, so pull up a chair and join us!

***Read on to find out how you could win some exclusive Holloway Pack prizes from the author!***

About the Author

J.A. Belfield

One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield’s head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.

One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She’s yet to stop.

J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Wow, six books in a series, with more on their way, plus novellas and short stories in a number of anthologies? How are you such a prolific writer? Care to share by d escribing your typical writing day?

To be honest with you, I have no idea how, LOL. I’d never considered, when I wrote my first (never to be seen by the public) novel, that I’d still be writing now and would be on novel number 7, with 2 novellas and a handful of shorts under my belt. But I think it has a lot to do with never letting an opportunity or idea pass me by. If a scene pops into my head, whether for a story already in progress, a story I have planned, or a story completely new, I get it down whilst it’s still fresh — even if I’m not going to need it for a while. As a result, I have every opening written for the future Holloway Pack novels, around 7 openings for stories I as yet have no idea where to take, and 4 YA concepts. The YA ones, I’m really looking forward to diving into.

As for my typical writing day? I seriously don’t have one. If I’m in the mood to write, I do so. If I’m not, I catch up on blog posts, social networking, reading, editing (sometimes for others), etc. However, despite my totally haphazard way of working, if I go more than a few days of putting off writing (which is different to having other stuff that needs prioritising), then I will sit myself down and force myself to muddle through whatever issue is stalling my flow.

How do you balance your writing with marketing, editing, plotting, your day job, and all other commitments?

I’m lucky enough that I don’t have a day job, so writing and all that entails is a full-time commitment for me. As for balancing? I just write until I need a break (which is sometimes often), and then distract myself with the marketing and socialising. When I have edits to do, I nudge my writing aside (my head doesn’t like editing and writing at the same time), but I don’t really ‘balance’ — I’m far too disorganised for that. Which is possibly why any time I bother to plot, it’s usually in the form of a scribbled note that I hopefully remember to type up somewhere before I lose it.

Describe your style of writing in three words.

Jabbiful. O_O Simple. O_o. Toneful. [image error]

Go on, hook us: tell us about  Blue Moon  in one sentence.

A tale of twists and turns, magic and werewolves, and a race against the clock, Blue Moon will grab you by the coat tails and haul you along on its roller coaster of emotional highs and lows and leave you sorry to reach the end.

What career would you consider apart from writing?

O_O

O_O

O_O

Okay, okay. Working in the local supermarket (where I would daydream whilst scanning shopping and studying customers to base my characters on).

QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Fish & chips, or pie & mash? Uhhhhnnnn, I like both …. Um … Fish & chips.

Red or white wine? I don’t actually drink alcohol, but if forced to choose it would have to be white — preferably sparkling.

A fellow tee-totaller!

M&M’s: plain or peanut? Peanut all the way, baby!

Favourite ice-cream flavour? Cookie dough, for sure.

Weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? Tuna and strawberry jam sandwiches. Yes, with both fillings. I used to use the jam instead of spread on my bread. O_o

That is pretty weird…

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Thank you, Julie, for those entertaining answers! I’m still thinking about the tuna and strawberry jam sandwich.

Now here’s a bit more information about Julie’s latest book:

Blue Moon

Blue Moon

Someone is watching the Holloway pack, and this time, the female isn’t the target.

Life with a group of seven male werewolves worries Jem Stonehouse not one bit. She is engaged to the Alpha’s son Sean Holloway after all. So what has Jem’s territorial instincts on high alert?

The pack’s latest addition. Both of them.

None of the men think there’s a problem with the new girlfriends. Jem’s intuition tells her otherwise — that and a nagging suspicion the new females aren’t there to partake.

Jem believes they’ve joined in to take.

The question is … What?

As the eve of the blue moon draws ever closer, Jem’s running out of time to find the answer and outwit a thief of the worst possible kind.

A woman who believes she can’t lose.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Click here for the full blog tour schedule.

Giveaway!

Julie is giving away exclusive Holloway Pack prizes as part of her blog tour:

Pretty, no? To be in the running, all you have to do is fill in the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer