C.M. Brown's Blog, page 49

I WRITE # FRIDAY FLASH

Beasts of Terror
by  Carolyn Brown
A Paranormal Flash Fiction piece, set in a Fantasy world (700 words approx.), where unknown monsters tear apart the lives of the innocent.  One man survives and struggles to find others.


The sky seemed angry as the multitude of lightning strikes danced across the darkness.  Nolan had seen our enemy drive their forces against us in his vision, but we did not listen, we ignored his warnings and had laughed in mockery with our leader at his pleas.

I now wish I would have listened and taken heed.  I would not be standing here amongst this devastation if the king had only listened and acted upon Nolan's words.  if he had given orders for our armies to be ready for the onslaught that over took us, we might have had a chance.  But no, it was not to be.  Poor Nolan, for his troubles he had been beheaded and his words of warning laughed upon.


Now, as the heavens open and a heavy down pour of rain sheds its fury onto our lands, I wish I could turn back time.  But alas, that cannot be.


The water starts to build and begins gushing by me as I hide from our enemy, in the shadows of our once magnificent buildings.  It pools at my feet and I can see that the blood of my kin has been mixed into the swirling mass.  If I stay here, I will soon be swept away with the emerging current, as it quickly tears a path through the already torn city, much like our enemy before the storm.


They were ruthless and inhuman, with the strength of ten men.  Impossible to kill.  Their thirst for blood, endless and unstoppable.  I had seen human throats being torn out with bear teeth, in front of my eyes, ripped apart in just seconds with not so much as a second glance from the enemy, as they searched for their next victim.


The onslaught had been madness.  As if in a dream, I had fended off many, but was soon overcome by the sheer force of their numbers and strength, and along with a handful of my comrades, I had fled from the battle.  A small band of us survivors, were now hiding from the enemy, hoping not to be detected by any of these inhuman beasts as we scavenged the outskirts of our once beautiful city, trying to survive, while gathering as much knowledge as we could about our foe.


We had learned that after the battle they had preyed upon the flesh of our fallen, tearing bodies apart in an animal frenzy, as they jostled with each other over the remains of each victim.  Heartless, human flesh eating monsters!  We had no name for them.  We knew not where they came from, but they were now part of this world's existence and we needed to learn their weaknesses, if we were to survive.


I wondered if ours was the only city to be attacked or if our nearby neighbouring settlements had also been destroyed.  We had no means at our disposal to find out.  The only way was to journey to the next town on foot, while trying not to be detected by the beasts, a hard task, but not an impossible one.  This was a risk I was willing to take, as I could see no future to be had trying to live here amongst the rubble.


I decided to venture west and head towards Hawthorne, it was the closest of our neighbouring towns.  Carefully treading through the underbrush, keeping to the shadows, I made my way across the land. I walked continuously for days, finding berries and fruits on the trees to sustain my hunger and drinking from the clear flowing streams as I slowly forged ahead.

It was hard to tell if the enemy had been there before me, I could see no sign of their intrusion.  It wasn't until I came close to the outskirts of the town, that I could tell it had also been demolished.  My heart sank.  Our ferocious enemy had fed and left, leaving behind another empty shell of a once bustling township.


My only option now was to continue on to the next town and hope that it had not also been attacked, but I was now certain my world would soon perish at the hand of these beasts and we would be unable to halt them.

NEWS UPDATE

I thought that I would just create a short post to let you all know a few interesting tit bits of information I have either come across or decided upon this past week, while I have been convalescing from taking a fall at work.  Nothing serious just a few bruises and bumps and a sprained ankle.

Firstly, and most importantly, I have completed the first draft of the second book in The Protector Series, titled He Came For Mine! 
 Now I will be busy editing.
 I have been searching the blogging world looking for a way to showcase what and how I write in some way.  This flame was lit by Ali Cross during her very helpful   personal branding consultation exercise, which she generously extended to me through her 1000 follower competition win.           Ali suggested that I should commit to writing a post each week, where my followers     
          would have an opportunity to get to know me, my style of writing and what I write.

         I have decided to join I Write # FlashFiction and submit a piece of Flash   
         Fiction each or almost every week in either Paranormal, Fantasy or a Cross Genre.
         Tomorrow will be my first post. I hope you will return to read it and hopefully feel
         an emotional response to the post!

         Click on the badge on the side bar to follow the link to the site to find out more details.
I have also discovered an interesting site today where one can find critique / beta reader partners.  
         Just click on the title to learn more! 


         So I have signed up to give it a go. I am still looking for a critique partner if anyone is
         interested, let me know!
 While writing this post I received an email from Smashwords (my publishers) they have just published 5 Billion words! Isn't that awesome!
I have also just opened a Twitter account, you are welcome to follow me.  You can find the Tweet Link at the top of the page. I hope you will return to read my first Flash Fiction piece which I will be submitting tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by,
Carolyn

TEASER TUESDAY

t

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!
Defying Gravity (Gravity, #1) byCherie Reich  A Futuristic Space Fantasy Novelette

Homesick upon the SS Perseid, Linia, a young linguist, thinks she signed up for a mission of peace, but her crew members have another plan: attack the planet Medusa.

Bored with his dying planet, Alezandros, a space cruiser pilot, joins the Medusan Army in his quest for adventure.

When the SS Perseid clashes with the Medusans’ space cruisers, Alezandros and Linia’s lives intertwine. Sucked through a wormhole, they crash upon a post-apocalyptic Earth and are captured by cannibals. In adjacent cells, Alezandros and Linia cast their differences aside for a common bond: escape. But when romantic feelings emerge between them, they might do the unthinkable because for a Medusan and a Persean to fall in love, it would defy gravity.





MY TEASER FROM 'DEFYING GRAVITY'

A soft explosion made her ears pop. Her antennae drooped and quivered in terror. Griffon half-dragged, half-carried her down the pristine white corridors.
Reich, Cherie (2012-02-08). Defying Gravity (Kindle Locations 380-381). Surrounded by Books Publishing. Kindle Edition.

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH 
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


I sat watching my computer screen for quite some time, staring at its blankness, wondering what to write this month for IWSG. Then I decided that this month there really was nothing I needed to get off of my chest!

Then a thought hit me, there was one thing!

I absolutely hate it when blog followers leave no other details except an obscure photo and a name which leads nowhere!
It is so annoying! 

The last couple of months I have been organizing my list of followers and trying to re-connect with the earlier ones, who at the time they followed my Blog, I did not understand how the process of blogging worked and being honest, did not really know what to do or how to do it!

I have also tried to visit followers who I unfortunately, at the time I may have neglected as I was busy committed with something else. 


But, I have noticed as I tirelessly visit each one of my 278 followers, some of them do not have blogs or web pages to follow or possibly, they have not set up their Profile Pages correctly to allow others to return their follows.  

The other possibility is that these people have set their blogs to 'private'.  I just do not understand why anyone would do this?  If you intend to visit other bloggers and you have set your profile to private, please understand that the people you visit and follow really do want to return your visit!

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!



guardian
(Creepy Hollow #1)
byRachel Morgan (Goodreads Author)
 BLURB:
1. Receive assignment.
2. Save a life.
3. Sleep.
4. Repeat.





 

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until one of her assignments—a human boy who shouldn’t even be able to see her—follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? But Nate and Vi are about to land themselves in even bigger trouble—and it’ll take all Vi’s training to get them out alive.
 
MY TEASER FROM "GUARDIAN"

I’ve heard there are some humans who can see through faerie glamours. Perhaps this ability is what allowed him to pass safely through the paths.”

Morgan, Rachel (2012-02-29). Guardian (Creepy Hollow, #1) (Kindle Locations 374-375).  . Kindle Edition. 
 

INDIE-PENDENCE DAY BLOG HOP

On July 2nd, the Indelibles  are celebrating excellence  in indie publishing  and they invite you to join them!
If you've read a great indie book this year or last, please join the 
blogfest and spread the word. This is a Pay It Forward event--
please don't post about your own book, or an Indelibles' book.
Here's how it works: PICK A BOOK: Pick an indie (self-published or small press) book that you have either read and loved or want to read.   WRITE A POST: On INDIEpendence Day (July 2nd), write a post about that book. It can be a review, an interview with the author, or a post highlighting the book.    JOIN: the linky at the bottom of post Ali's Post to be a part of the fun! See this Indelibles post for more details and a special giveaway as well.




I have chosen for this INDIEpendence Day Blog Hop, a book 

by Rachel Morgan- "Labyrinth," is the second book in the 

Sleepy Hollow Series and although I haven't read the book yet, 

I am looking forward to sitting back and enjoying the story, as 

I am sure anyone else who reads it will.

Rachel is a fellow Indie Author,

who also publishes with Smashwords!

I hope everyone in the US enjoys their Independence Day

holiday! 

Best Wishes!

 
Carolyn




LABYRINTH

 You can find LABYRINTH here:Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords
You can also add it on Goodreads
You can visit Rachel Morgan here: http://www.rachel-morgan.com/









Labyrinth 

is the

second book
from the

Creepy Hollow Series 

BLURB:Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale has officially been suspended for bringing a human into the fae realm. No assignments, no training, and goodbye to that position at the top of the class. While this sucks, it at least allows her time to secretly keep visiting Nate, the human boy who caused her suspension in the first place. It’s not the wisest move to continue breaking Guild Law, but no one’s going to find out. And Nate is worth the risk, isn’t he?

To prevent herself from going into assignment withdrawal, Vi throws herself into investigating Nate’s real mother, Angelica, a woman who seems to be mysteriously connected to the world of the fae. Nate’s never given her much thought, but that was before an insane faerie abducted him in order to blackmail Angelica out of hiding. Now Nate wants answers, and Vi’s got the perfect ability to help him.

ARE YOU WRITING NOW?

HOSTED BY Patricia Lynne AT
 http://www.patricialynne.com/index.html
 


1. Patricia Lynne  9. C.M. Brown  
2. Marie Landry  10. M.J. Fifield  
3. Lor Rose  11. Mark Koopmans  
4. Gwen Tolios  12. Sydney Aaliyah  
5. Hywelalyn  13. Tammy J Rizzo  
6. Traci Kenworth  14. L.M. Murphy  
7. Travis Cottreau  15. Erica Cresswell  
8. Kathy Coleman  16. Jessica Dragon Cheramie  



MY GOALS FOR JUNE WERE:   

Complete my WIP            Well, I did an awful lot of writing and although I am almost finished, I did not complete          my WIP during June.          2.  Complete editing of first draft           I haven't finished writing so I haven't finished the editing, but I have been editing as I           have been writing.     3.  Contact the rest of my Blog followers, who I did not get to visit in May.                    I did try to contact some of my earlier followers but I got a bit put off when the                      links they left didn't lead anywhere. I suppose it is my bad for not contacting them                 earlier.      4.   Participate in the Indie Blog Hop running 13th to 19th June             Wow, this was a big positive! I found new followers and I won around 10ebooks in            the process. I also found new sites to follow and found contacts details for           Review Sites.             5.   Write to blogs to request reviews of first book

          I neglected this task as well, but as I said above, I found quite a few new websites 
          details by participating in the Indie Blog Hop.  

Goals for July!           I know I will finish writing in the next week, while I am on a break from my day job!Continue editing.Take on and follow the advice of Ali Cross (I was lucky enough to win branding advice from her in a competition she held on her blog last month)I have also committed to a few different blog hops during next month, so I will try to get through the lists of bloggers involved in those. Hopefully, reveal the cover art for my second book in the Protector Series (negotiating with my illustrator at present - she is heavily committed with Uni projects, but has been working on the cover! It looks really good so far! 










































 











 

Book Two Release for Ali Cross - "Desolate"

TO BE RELEASED NEXT WEEK!

Cherie Reich has just released an ebook titled: Wome...

Cherie Reich has just released an ebook titled:
 Women of Foxwick
 A Fantasy Short Story Collection

Follow five women from Foxwick in this five-story fantasy collection.

A bard will lose her head, if she doesn't find the correct notes. A dragon seer must decide whether to betray her dragons or her fair kingdom. An assassin will journey to the Shadowlands to destroy Death. Twins are selected for the Mage Game, and a princess will journey to Valdale in search of the sorceress who can save Foxwick.

Goodreads


Don't forget that Women of Foxwick is only $0.99 for a limited time! To purchase: Amazon US / UK / DE / FR / ES / IT  Smashwords  Nook

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!
  This week I have chosen
Rapture (Fallen #4)by Lauren Kate


The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.








 And here is my 
Teaser from Rapture:
Luce felt his hands on the backs of her  shoulders, gathering her hair and lifting it  off her neck. He kissed her along the neckline  of her sweater as he wrapped his arms  around her waist.  Luce closed her eyes.  She  knew what was coming next.  The most  beautiful sound there was - that elegant  whoosh of the love of her life letting out his driven snow-white wings.