C.M. Brown's Blog, page 18

A - Z CHALLENGE SIGN UP FOR 2014 & HELP ALEX TO REACH 2000 FOLLOWERS ON GFC

I have signed up for the 2014 A-Z Challenge! Have You?
Yes, it is that time of year again. Where we all share a post each day, For the entire month of April. Following the letters of the alphabet.A through to Z!
Meeting and greeting new bloggers.Hopefully to make new friends.While catching up with old ones. The spirit of A-Z!

 
A to Z Team [2014] Arlee Bird: Tossing it Out
Alex J. Cavanaugh: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Stephen Tremp: Author Stephen Tremp
Tina Downey: Life is Good
Damyanti Biswas: Amlokiblogs
Jeremy Hawkins: [Being Retro]
Nicole Ayers: The Madlab Post
M. J. Joachim: M. J. Joachim's Writing Tips
Heather M. Gardner: The Waiting is the Hardest Part
AJ: Naturally Sweet
Pam Margolis: An Unconventional Librarian
***** Also, Alex J. Cavanaugh, our mighty Ninja Captain and all round good guy, is having a giveaway with booty to be won!

http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.au/
He is very, very close to reaching an incredible total of 2000 followers on Google Friend Connect, so if you are not yet a follower of his amazing site, I suggest you get on over and become one. 
There is no better time to do so!
Carolyn

COVER REVEAL - REBORN BY CHERIE REICH

Title: Reborn Series: The Fate Challenges #1 Author: Cherie Reich Genre: YA Epic Fantasy Approximate Word Count: 95,000 words Release Date: May 23, 2014

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.
On the day of Yssa’s death and rebirth, the god Apenth chose her as the Phoenix Prophetess.
Sea serpents and gods endanger the young prophetess’s journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. But the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son Liam proves to be a distraction she can’t predict, even though he rarely leaves her alone for two sand grains.
Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when visions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can’t change Fate, she’ll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.
Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.


Reborn, book one of The Fate Challenges, by Cherie Reich will be released on May 23, 2014. For more information about Cherie Reich and her work, please visit her website or blog. The cover art is created by Laura Sava. To add on Goodreads, click here. If you’d like to be notified when Rebornreleases, please sign up for her newsletter here.


Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17900718-reborn
Cover Artist Laura Sava’s website: http://anotherwanderer.deviantart.com/  Author Bio: A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her ebooks include the horror series Nightmare, a space fantasy trilogy titled Gravity, and a fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms.

Her debut YA Epic Fantasy novel Reborn, book one in The Fate Challenges, will be released on May 23, 2014.
Website Link: http://cheriereich.webs.comBlog Link: http://cheriereich.blogspot.comNewsletter Sign-ups Link: http://eepurl.com/j3D5X
**** Full Prologue of Reborn:
The Island of Mournia23 Day of InashamYear 2500 AUC
The infant lay limp upon the table, a thin cloth separating her from the wood. Her dark hair was matted down, and a smudge of birthing fluids tainted her pale flesh. The midwife had rushed to wipe off the baby after birth and deposited her in the nursery away from the child’s parents. Apenth, the God of Prophecy, Wisdom, and whatever else mortals had labeled him with this day and age, believed the little girl was perfect, except for one tiny thing.
She was dead.
Apenth had waited five hundred years for this child’s birth. Breath flowed from his nostrils and rustled her hair. He straightened as the wails from the other room clamored for her death not to be so. The small crib sat discarded in a corner. A doll, sewn by an expecting mother’s steady hand, peered at Apenth with coal-black eyes. Her parents didn’t know a god was here, watching, waiting for an opportunity to save their child. His hand hovered over the baby’s heart.
One touch would change everything.
“Stop, my son.” A wrinkled and liver-spotted hand seized his wrist.
He cursed his lack of foresight. Shouldn’t he have known Postera, the Goddess of Future and Foresight, would try to stop him? He was the God of Prophecy, after all! Her bony fingers gripped tighter with a strength he didn’t know she possessed. With a sigh, he lifted his head and focused upon her clear blue eyes, so like his own.
“Mother, she’s the one. I have to continue Amora’s prophecy.” He gently pried her aged fingers from his wrist.
“No, you cannot go against the Fates again. The gods are displeased.” Clothed in the threads of life, she ran her fingers along the thrumming red yarn—each strand symbolized one life and weaved together to create her dress. All threads emerged from a ruby gemstone belted over her navel. The closer to death a person was, the more the yarn would change from bright to dark red. She reached into her dress folds and revealed the severed darkening strand of this baby’s lifeline. “It is too late. Fate has forfeited her life, and her soul shall reside in Hupogaia’s realm.”
His heart sank. The detached thread swayed back and forth from her fingers. Was it too late to revive the child? His body curled closer to the baby girl. Her chance for life was slipping through his fingers with each passing grain of sand in an hourglass.
This girl had to be the sixth prophetess.
“You know what will happen if I don’t do this.” He jerked away from his mother. His eyes flicked between the blackened thread and the baby. If he didn’t save the child, who would stop Fate? His Phoenix Prophetesses were more than normal seers. They had the power to take his prophecies and change what was to come, despite the other gods and Fate’s claims he shouldn’t interfere. Her future was fading into the dark depths of the Underworld, and he wouldn’t allow her to be one of Hupogaia’s eternal children. He owed it to his deceased love, Amora, and the kingdom she had created and ruled.
“I know what may come. Who taught you prophecy? I did.” Postera exhaled through her nose. “You cannot keep meddling. Do you not see my wrinkles, my white hair? Kisa will curse you like she has me. Have you forgotten how Hupogaia protested against you last time in front of the High Council. They blinded your prophetess and said grave consequences will come if you save another one.”
He couldn’t forget the council’s words or how they’d cursed his fifth Phoenix Prophetess. But visions of the Kingdom of Amora in flames flashed through his mind. He could taste the ashes, like burnt charcoal, and hear her people’s screams. The prophecy of the kingdom’s destruction leaked sour bile into his mouth. The other gods, including Kisa, the Queen of the Gods, might be willing to turn their backs on their loyal people for Fate, but he wasn’t.
There was also this infant in front of him. She reminded him of his daughter. His mortal family resided in the Underworld, but he couldn’t let this child.
“I have to save her.”
“Think of the consequences, my son.”
He had. They both knew the gods would find a way to curse him and this innocent child, but the price was worth saving the kingdom.
Ignoring his mother’s shrieks, Apenth leaned over the lifeless baby again. His lips pressed against her ashen forehead, so cold to the touch. Postera clawed at his arms, but he shoved away her hands. Nothing would stop him from completing Amora’s prophecy, protecting the city named after his love.
“You are mine, little one.” His hand pressed over her heart. Electric heat flowed from his glowing fingertips. They tingled, nearly burning his flesh, but his hand remained steady. Luminosity brightened around the child and him, further blocking out Postera’s pleas. The room filled with the blinding white light.
“Live.” He commanded, pleaded.
“No!” Postera screamed as the child’s life-thread ripped from his mother’s hand and joined the pulsing jewel on her belt. The piece sizzled, reattaching to the gemstone, and transformed to blood red.
The light imploded into the child. Her flesh glowed for a moment before the room’s shadows returned. A tiny strawberry-colored birthmark in the shape of a phoenix blossomed upon the flesh over her heart. The baby’s lungs filled with air, and a cry broke from her lips.
The Phoenix Prophetess was reborn.

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along!Just do the followingGrab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE ANY SPOILERS!
Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!


You don't want to ruin the book for others!


Insurgent (Divergent #2) byVeronica Roth Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.

The thrillingly dark sequel to No. 1 New York Times bestseller, DIVERGENT.

I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.

Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.
MY TEASER:

I have been waiting for hours to ask that question. I fell asleep and dreamed that I was chasing Tobias through Dauntless headquarters. No matter how fast I ran he was always just far enough ahead of me that I watched him disappear around corners, catching sight of a sleeve or the heel of a shoe.

Page 342, Paragraph 3. Insurgent, Book 2, Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

"WHAT WORKS"...AND WHAT DOESN'T, ONLINE MARKETING SYMPOSIUM

What Works – Online Marketing Symposium
The first ever "Online Marketing Symposium" Monday, January 20, 2014. A blogfest with information you can use!


Welcome all, to my first 2014 post and the "What Works"...and what doesn't Online Marketing Symposium!
Hosted by Arlee Bird, Yolanda Renee, Jeremy Hawkins, and Alex J. Cavanaugh.
Hi everyone, I trust your Christmas and New Years Season was a happy one!

I spent my time at my usual get away... the Woodford Folk Festival, watching bands and indulging in life's pleasures. Unfortunately, on our return my 18year old son borrowed my husband's car, lost control when a kangaroo jumped in front of him, hence rolling the vehicle and creating a week of havoc in our household.

Luckily, he has recovered, but of course the car was a right off. 

Jobs on my list did not get completed due to the mishap, but I am very grateful the accident did not take on a worse outcome and Matthew is still with us.

####
"What Works"...and what doesn't Online Marketing Symposium!
I have written two books in the same series, and published both through Smashwords and Amazon, but neither have been best sellers. The first was published in 2011 and the second, 2012. What I am happy about is that both books are still selling through on line markets regularly, with very little effort on my behalf.
 I believe the best marketing tool on the web, is to ensure you have a wide network base of fellow bloggers to support your endeavours and most importantly,to reciprocate their help by supporting theirs.
Using networks like Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook, and in actively participating in online blogfests and other organized events, creates an identity which supports your writing. 
The more active your voice is on the web, the more it impacts book sales. 

I have never produced bookmarks, t-shirts, business cards or other promotional material, but have been asked by many followers for these. So, it may be something I pursue in the future.

I believe it is important to establish an on-line identity which you feel comfortable with and to be consistent. I find it easier to just be myself, try to be kind and thoughtful and always help others!

Carolyn  
 

 

ETERNAL FLAME BY VALERIE TWOMBLY BLOG TOUR

Today, I take great pleasure in being part of Valerie Twombly's Blog Tour for her new release "Eternal Flame."  I was a Beta Reader/ Critique Partner for Valerie, in the beginning stages of Eternal Flame, (at that time, given a different name) and am happy to help her promote the first book in the Guardian series.

Below is an excerpt from the book for you to taste Valarie's writing and at the end of the post you will find a Rafflecopter Giveaway to enter.  You could win a copy of Eternal Flame and a copy of Amazon Heat, just released in November. Best of luck!



Carolyn

Eternal Flame
By Valerie TwomblyGenre: Paranormal RomanceISBN: 978-1-600735-700-1Book Length: Full novel (84,000 words)Publisher: Resplendence AmazonB&N
OtherDESCRIPTIONA woman he cannot have, a man who is only a dream…
When guardian Marcus Dagotto, discovers the Gods have gifted him with a mate, he is pissed. He has no room for love and even less for a human who has no idea he exists.
Cassandra Jensen, has a shattered heart and has given up on men. Only one man can set her body on fire, but he is a fantasy that haunts her sleep.
Two worlds, one desire.
When the two collide, fate will rip them apart and test their resolve. Will darkness and evil prevail? Or, will love conquer all? ExcerptPrologueOctober 1712
Tears stung Marcus’s cheeks when he raised his sword. “I am so sorry, love. I have failed you. It should be I who dies this day.”Eliza’s cocoa eyes looked at him but didn’t see him. Dead inside, her soul was lost. She would never again be the woman he loved.He sucked in a breath and flexed his arms, the sword swung, slicing across her neck. The blade tore through sinew and bone and sent her head rolling across the stone floor. Reality nearly sent him to his knees, but there wasn’t time to mourn the death of his mate. The fighting outside echoed in his ears, the demons were strong and put up one hell of a fight.Marcus advanced down the corridor of the abandoned castle. The scene played out the same in every direction. Blood bathed the floors, and his brethren’s heartsick screams echoed off the walls as they killed their mates.A demon jumped out from behind a door. Its claws tearing the flesh on his arm. He wielded his sword and sent another head flying across the room. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a Draki dispatching another demon. The shifter, a friend who also searched for his mate. Not even the dragons were immune to Drayos and his fucking misery.The dragon turned his head. “Be careful, my friend. My brethren will soon be setting this place on fire.” Caleb’s cerulean body shimmered as he shifted back to human form.“Have you found your mate yet?” Marcus asked as he searched the adjoining room. Empty.“Not yet, you?”He stepped beside his friend. “I killed her.”Caleb laid a hand on his shoulder. “I am sorry, my friend. Drayos will die this day for what he has done.”Marcus nodded and moved forward in his search for the demon Drayos. He opened up the psychic path leading to his prince. Aidyn.Marcus, did you find my sister?He closed his eyes, so many hearts broken today. She is dead, I am sorry, my lord.I will kill Drayos with my bare hands.Aidyn had already lost his brother and father in this battle. His pain ripped through Marcus. No doubt the other guardians felt it. It was a blessing and a curse to be connected to each other.He tried to pinpoint the prince’s position, but something blocked him. Aidyn, where are you? Do not engage Drayos. The prince would die as well if he tried to kill the Demon Overlord. Aidyn was far too young; his two hundred years were no match against a thousand-year-old demon.He took our women, used them to carry his spawn. He has killed everyone I love.Tired muscles carried Marcus up a flight of stairs. He stormed from room to room, kicking in locked doors only to find them empty. I know my lord, and he will pay, but it is not wise for you to confront him. He knew Aidyn wouldn’t listen. Perhaps the gods would help.“Zarek!” Marcus summoned the god, nothing. No surprise. After all, the gods could have stepped in and saved the women, but they had all been left to fate. Fuck fate, he was sick to death of it.The sound of clashing swords filtered in from the hallway. He flashed into the room, not caring what he stumbled across. His vision filled with Aidyn and Drayos, they were face to face.Drayos had morphed into a full demon and stood at least three feet taller than Aidyn. Blood seeped from the wounds that covered the demons blackened skin.Marcus tried to run toward them but found himself behind an invisible barrier. “What the fuck?”He balled his hands and banged on the wall. “Aidyn!” The prince ignored him. He was stuck, helpless as he watched the events unfold in front of him. Thoughts of telling Daria, his queen, she had lost her entire family in this battle sat like arsenic in his stomach. He pressed his palms against his prison. Aidyn, my friend, I can’t bear another loss today.The air behind him shifted, a cool breeze lifted his hair. He moved his gaze over his shoulder and found Zarek towering over him in a Scottish kilt rather than his beloved
Egyptian shendyt. His raven hair held a beaded braid on one side. So this is why he ignores us? He is busy playing dress-up with the goddess Quadira.“Get me out of here!” he demanded.“You will not interfere, my son.”Marcus growled; his fangs elongated; he wanted blood. Yes, he would take the blood of his god if it ended the pain and suffering of his brethren. “You would let the prince die?” He tried to lunge toward Zarek but found his feet pinned to the floor. You are our creator, we your warriors. Why would you do this to us?Zarek gave him a leveled gaze. “What makes you think the prince will die this day?”He looked back toward the fight. Aidyn had lost his sword; a small dagger was clutched in his hand. Both the demon and the vampire bore bloody wounds.He turned back to Zarek. “The prince is too young to fight one as strong as Drayos.” Marcus dropped to his knees, he would beg the god if he had to.“Send me in his place…please.” He was three hundred years older than Aidyn and could defeat the demon. “We have lost so much today.” Death haunted him like a fucking plague. He was a healer, but today, he healed no one. The anguished cries of his brethren still echoed in his ears. They had slain their mates then turned on each other to end their misery. Marcus would like to end his suffering as well, but he would continue on; his skills were needed.Zarek laid a hand on his shoulder. “I am sorry, my son, for all the pain you will encounter this day. However, today must shape the future.” With those words, he vanished.The future? Aidyn was their future, the line that tied them all together. They all hoped the prince would persuade the gods to find a cure for the curse Drayos had placed upon them.The curse would devour them, creating an imbalance that would darken their souls. When Zarek created his vampires, he used light and dark, good and evil. The light fueled the guardian of humanity, the darkness the warrior. A perfect balance, but once Drayos’s curse took full effect, the light would fade, the darkness turning them into pure evil, destined to destroy everything in their path. Not even the humans they guarded would be safe.He jumped to his feet but found the shield still erected around him. Aidyn’s body lie still on the floor, and Drayos stood over him, sword poised for the fatal blow.He beat on the invisible wall. “Aidyn!” He sucked in a breath, his heart trapped in a vice that squeezed the life out of him. He could do nothing but watch his prince die. A tear slid down his cheek for the death of his mate, his brethren and now his prince, his best friend. I am no guardian. I am a failure. I have failed them all.Drayos swung his sword. Everything moved in slow motion as Marcus waited for the blade to connect with Aidyn’s neck.Lightning sizzled from the sky and sent debris flying in different directions. The room crumbled around them as the earth shook. Drayos’s head rolled across the floor. Marcus sensed the shield that encased him drop, and he rushed forward to where Aidyn stood.“What the hell just happened? Are you alright?” Marcus asked.“I am not exactly sure. I think I caused the lightning.”“You?” He looked over the prince, his pants torn and his shirt missing. Dust from the debris covered his bleeding wounds. There was something different about the prince. He seemed stronger. Marcus noticed the dark marking on Aidyn’s chest and reached out to wipe away the gray dirt so he could get a better look. “Sweet deity!” He jumped back.“What?” Aidyn looked at his chest. His jaw dropped. “I never felt it.”Like many of the other guardians, Aidyn had been given his mark. An indication of his position and abilities. Marcus bore the Ankh, a pair of angel wings spread out over the top. The ancient symbol meant life or living. A healer, able to repair the sick or injured with his energy.The naked skin over Aidyn’s left breast bore the mark chosen by the gods. The eye of Ra, the symbol of protection and power, sat atop a pyramid encased by a blazing sun. This could only mean…Marcus.His thoughts interrupted by the almost unrecognizable voice. Father?Come to me, son.Aidyn touched his shoulder. “I am fine, let us go help your father.”Together they flashed to the position his father communicated. When Marcus arrived, his father was on his knees holding the bloody, headless body of his wife, Marcus’s mother. His sword lay beside him covered in blood. He knew what had happened. His mother’s belly heavy with child. Drayos’s demon spawn had been growing inside her, and like the other women, her soul had been darkened. There was no cure, Marcus had tried to heal Eliza, but it had proved fruitless. Like him, his father had taken the head of the woman he loved.“Father.” He knelt next to the frail man and placed his arm around his shoulder, pulling him tight to his side. “I am so very sorry.” Tears welled in his eyes, he refused them escape. He would remain strong for the man beside him.His father looked at him, his eyes rimmed red. “You will do the honorable thing.”Marcus closed his eyes, again. He would have to mourn later. “Yes,” he whispered. How much more destruction could he take before he crumbled? Somewhere, he would find the strength needed to end his father’s misery and begin his own.“Take care of your sister.” It was the last command his father would ever give him.“I will. I love you.” He kissed the man on the cheek then stood, his sword flashed through the smoke-filled sky and sliced through his father’s neck.Marcus dropped to his knees, the heartache so severe he nearly passed out. His lungs contracted as he screamed to the heavens. Another failure, so many broken hearts he was unable to heal. Why couldn’t he heal the broken hearts?Strong arms circled him from behind and held him tight. “I have you, my friend,” Aidyn whispered.
About the AuthorAs a child, Valerie would often get into trouble for peeking at her mother’s favorite TV show, Dark Shadows. She can still hear her mother saying “It will give you nightmares.” She was right of course, but that did not stop Valerie from watching. As an adult, her love of the fanged creatures never waned. She would watch any vampire movie she could find.
Being a true romantic, Valerie was thrilled when she discovered the genre of paranormal romance. Her first read was one of Lara Adrian’s, Midnight Breed Series and from there she was hooked.
Today, Valerie has decided to take her darker, sensual side and put it to paper. When she is not busy creating a world full of steamy, hot men and strong, seductive women, she juggles her time between a full-time job, hubby and her two German shepherd dogs, in Northern IL.
Website: http://www.valerietwombly.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FangedFantasyTwitter https://twitter.com/fangedfantasy
Publisher: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/1.html Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Valerie-Twombly/e/B00BOXA8ZE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1381061037&sr=8-1Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/vtwombly

Giveaway infoFour books total. 1 e-copy of Eternal Flame and 1 e-copy of Amazon Heat to two winners. 

 Rafflecopter giveaway

4 1/2 STAR REVIEW BY LAWANDER10 @ ROCKIN' BOOK REVIEWS

I was just emailed a four and a half star review by LAWonder @ Rockin' Book Reviews which I thought I would share. 
If you wish to read the review, follow the link below.



http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/2013/12/14/he-came-for-me-c-m-brown-book-review-by-lawonder10/

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who posted comments on my blog as part of DL Hammonds 'Blog Blitz'!

I feel very humbled to be chosen as a person to be noticed by so many. Thank you all very much, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and I greatly appreciate all the messages left by so many of you.



Carolyn

HE CAME FOR ME
BOOK ONE IN THE PROTECTOR SERIES

Jazz, lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, in Queensland, Australia. She leads a normal teenage life busy with friends, TAFE College, a part time job as a waitress, surfing and searching for a boyfriend! Until one day driving on her way to TAFE she is passed by a red Mazda Rx7. The driver holds her attention and as they both wait at a set of traffic lights to change to green, a sexual tension passes between them. In the days that follow she finds that this guy moves into her life as she befriends him, his friends and family! But are Seb and his friends what they seem to be? A fantasy novel revolving around a love story between two young people, who should not by rights, come together. Crossing the dimensions of two worlds, this story embarks on a journey of love, duty and togetherness as the two young lovers fight to be together and keep each other safe. Overcoming many obstacles while fighting to protect one another, this story will leave the reader intrigued and wondering what will happen next!
               SMASHWORDS            BARNES AND NOBLE
SONY              KOBO      APPLE        AMAZON

KULTURE VULTURES BY BILL & WILLIAM VITKA, BLOG TOUR

 Today, I am hosting Bill & William Vitka
Kulture Vultures& The Plot To Steal The Universe 

I have asked William to write a guest post about how Kulture Vulture came about. You will find his answer to my question below. 

It is a funny tale, I hope you enjoy his answer!


Carolyn

Blurb:A sinister fleet with a monster at the helm is moving among the stars. The Combine demands absolute obedience or it deals death and destruction. Ruled by a cold-blooded dinosaur with genius IQ, the Combine has enough firepower to crack open a planet like breaking an egg.

Its deadliest weapon is the media.

Against all odds, mutiny has erupted and the seed of the insurrection is Earth.

Rebellion marks Earth as the Combine’s next target. A deadly attack is imminent.
There are five guys who can save the world. Save the world and everything else. The only problem is they’re dead.


Amazon US Amazon UK  Barnes & Noble Kobo Goodreads  

Kulture Vultures: Oh, God. Where Did This Thing Come From?
Kulture Vultures. The Greatest Science Fiction tale ever told.* The epic story of an intergalactic cab driver and his mission to save Earth from a megacorporation run by a tyrant lizard. The sordid tale of that same tyrant lizard trying really hard to masturbate and only kind of succeeding.Many contemporary scholars have been asking: Where did it come from?The short answer is: Whiskey.The slightly longer answer is: Drinking with my dad and mumbling, "We should write a book we actually like."The even slightly longer answer is: All of the above – then letting our imaginations run utterly wild and psychotic without a helmet on.We were bored with the books and movies that were streaming out of the shitpile in Big Publishing and Hollywood. It's all terrible. Twilight and then Twilight slash-fiction like 50 Shades of Grey. Or, hey, endless remakes and prequels that don't need to exist.We decided to make something new. And insane. And silly. And yet has some science in it. And also has genuine heart.Something that wasn't a cash-grab.Something new that paid its respects to the old.This is a close approximation of the back and forth with my dad:What was the threat? Well, the bad guys could try to blow up the Earth. But that's old. So what's a new twist on it? Earth is the only planet in the galaxy that's producing original culture. Oh, that's not bad. See what I did there? I do, and there's some kind of media conglomerate that's keeping all the other planets under its thumb and the only way to get that Earth culture is through pirate networks. The media conglomerate is run by a tyrant dinosaur!Of course it's ruled by a tyrant dinosaur. (My dad and I are both basically 12.)We discussed what kind of heroes we wanted and what our minds' eyes saw in them. Both being New Yorkers, the yellow cab seemed perfectly emblematic. So we settled on an intergalactic taxi driver named Zel who has a Phil Dickian mystique in an X-rated Doug Adams kind of universe. His sidekick needed to be strange and crude and silly. Enter Sprosty, the blue, four-armed pervert.Great.They still needed an Earth connection.Hmm. Who are the great culture-guardians on Earth?Independent bookstore owners.Nice.Now, who are the great minds best-suited to think of a way to stop an alien menace from destroying the world?The guys who wrote about it all their lives. Duh.I can name a few of them. But they're dead.That's not going to be a problem.



William Vitka is a journalist and author and native New Yorker/Pennsylvanian. He’s written for CBSNews.com, Stuff Magazine, GameSpy, On Spec Magazine and The Red Penny Papers to name a few.
His debut novel, INFECTED, was published, kicking and screaming and bloody, in late 2012. His anthology of short stories, THE SPACE WHISKEY DEATH CHRONICLES, was published at the crack of 2013 by Curiosity Quills. EMERGENCE, a prequel to INFECTED, will knock your socks off. His latest book is the alien invasion tale STRANDED.
Find him online at:
Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/William-Vitka/e/B004S7MH9S/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VitkasGrimm
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vitka 

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

   IT IS TIME FOR 
INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUPTo find out more about this group,visit:Alex J. Cavanaugh (The Ninja Captain)
at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.au
TO SIGN UP TO BE PART OF THIS MONTHLY MEME, JUST FOLLOW THIS LINK:http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my followers and blogger buddies for their support throughout this year and wish everyone a very happy and safe Christmas.
I admit that my blogging has not been as attentive recently as it has in the past and I intend to be more involved from next year, with a fresh, updated page and a new look.
I have been busy writing this month and am happy with my achievement, but still have a long way to go before I am near to publishing. 
To all of my beta readers and critique partners, I hope to send you all work to peruse shortly.
I wish everyone health and happiness for next year and look forward to visiting you then.
Keep safe.
Carolyn

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along!Just do the followingGrab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE ANY SPOILERS!
Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!


You don't want to ruin the book for others!


The Soulkeepers(The Soulkeepers #1) byG.P. Ching
Blurb:

When fifteen-year-old Jacob Lau is pulled from the crumpled remains of his mother's car, no one can explain why he was driving or why the police can't find his mother's body. A beautiful and mysterious neighbor offers to use her unique abilities to help him find his mom.

But in exchange she requires Jacob to train as a Soulkeeper, a protector of human souls. He agrees to her demands, desperate for any clue to the mystery of his mother's disappearance. But soon Jacob finds himself trapped in a web of half-truths, and questions her motives for helping him.


My Teaser: 

Jacob interrupted. "There's something you have to tell me that's more shocking than the news that you've buried your dead husband in the garden and his body has grown a magical tree?" Saying it out loud sounded even more ridiculous than hearing it.
Ching, G. P.  (2011-03-21). The Soulkeepers (The Soulkeepers Series) (p. 100). Carpe Luna Publishing. Kindle Edition.

WRITER'S FOR WRITER'S

Stephen Tremp   Christine Rains M.Pax and (myself), C. M. Brown Writers helping other writers to succeed.
Twitter hashtag: #W4WS
Find us on Facebook An initiative to promote writers and their books (that’s you)!Our Mission:• Help writers bring awareness of their book(s) to tens of thousands of new people• Help writers reach Amazon Top 100 in at least one category (i.e., suspense, free, etc.)• Increase sales of their book(s) after the promo is over• Drive new traffic to their blog and increase following• Create verbal and viral buzz.W4W's is held the third Monday each month!

How it Works: The spotlighted author will choose a social media avenue, such as Twitter or Facebook (or both). Then, the good people of Blogdom will promote the author’s book to their Twitter followers or Facebook friends, that is, incredibly large new audiences the author could not reach on their own.Facebook: The writer posts an image of their book along with a short blurb and a link to Kindle on their blog. Visitors simply click the Facebook page, then share the link with their FB friends. https://www.facebook.com/Writers4WritersTwitter: The author posts pre-written Tweets on his/her blog. At your convenience, simply copy and paste Tweets into Twitter. Or go to #W4WS on Twitter and Retweet.To sign up, join the Linky List HERE!  This month our selected authors are:Nick Wilford and Michael Offutt  http://slckismet.blogspot.com/Unfortunately and sadly, Nick has had to postpone his spot for W4W's this month, due to the loss of his precious son, Andrew who passed away in his sleep.Anyone who knows Nick, will respect his loss and will know that it will be hitting him hard. Kyra Lennon, Nick's critique partner as sent the email below and has set up a way we, Nick's blogging friends can help his family at this very sad time.Please read below for the details.

Okay guys, I've been talking with Mary Pax and Clare Dugmore about what we can do for Nick and his family - and since I am in the UK like Nick, we decided it would be a good if I co-ordinate.

Although it's early days, and we're not sure what Nick's family need right now (not that there's anything that can REALLY help), we'd like to ask if any of you would like to club together and donate some money to send them some flowers to let them know we're thinking of them, and any remaining money can be donated to a charity of their choice.

I can collect money through Paypal - just because that's the easiest way for it to be collected and sent on.

We're open to any other ideas, but we thought a charity donation might be the best way to go. Any donations are welcome - if you can only afford £1/$1, we'll take it, and if you can't afford anything, don't feel bad. What we're doing here is trying to let Nick and his family know that - as a group - us writers are there for him.

My Paypal email address is: kyralennon@gmail.com and I will keep you updated on the progress!Our thoughts are with you during this sad time, Nick. Carolyn