Ellie Potts's Blog, page 77

Snowbound Blog Hop

For you snowbound readers I am giving away 2 of my books. I am not a snow fan, actually when it comes to snow I am a wimp  I love the cold but snow is pushing it to that too cold for me.

A small snowy expert from my book The Unicorn and The Serpent:

“I think we are lost Wind-Dancer,” Morgan said as she petted her horse’s nose. “I am sorry. I was not thinking. Father is going to be angry.”

Her horse snorted. “See even you agree.”

She looked around the snow-covered forest. She saw a road leading out towards the mountains. The winter landscape made everything looked foreign to her. She stopped, listening, hoping she was close to the river, but heard nothing.

[image error] “We can go to the mountains and find the main path to the castle. There must be a few.” She looked at Wind-Dancer uncertain. “It is the only idea I have. We can turn around, but we could be riding further into the forest since I am off on my direction.”

Her horse snorted. “I know. It is cold just standing about waiting for something big and nasty to find us.” She got back onto Wind-Dancer and started to guide her towards the mountains. Something in the back of her head said it might be the safest way to get back home.

Just as she thought of that, the sky opened. Slush poured on her, coating her and the horse freezing her to the bone. She needed to get them out of the bad weather. The closer to the mountains they got the forest got darker. Thunder flashed above them, upsetting Wind-Dancer.

She stopped the shivering horse to calm her, and noticed a light some yards away. She hoped for a Foresters house as they went towards the light, as soon as they got close, she knew it was not a Foresters house; it might have been one once before. She slid off Wind-Dancer, and pulled her knife out.

She went to the empty hole that used to be the door. “Hello,” she called in.

No reply came, so she led Wind-Dancer inside. The Main room was bare, but the stone floor was covered in hay. Wind-Dancer went over to it and started eating. She felt bad; she had forgotten to see if she had eaten before she took her from the stable. Watching her horse eat made her own stomach grumble. She had not eaten since earlier that morning and she too was hungry. But she doubted she would enjoy the hay like her horse.

She noticed the glow she had seen, it came from one of the other rooms. She went to the doorway, knife in hand, she looked into the room. She dropped the knife and stared into the room. A fire burned in the middle of the room, and a bunch of little people were either sitting or dancing around it.

A little man turned familiar emerald green eyes on her, and smiled as he removed his small pipe. “She is here,” he said with a gruff voice.

I am giving away a PDF copy of The Unicorn and The Serpent my Fantasy Romance and a PDF of Flights of Delusion my short story book which is a mix of horror/science fiction/fantasy.

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Favorite TV show.

I am a TV junky I get hooked onto a show and I am just a silly fangirl! This month some shows I have been waiting for their new seasons are starting like Lost Girl and Being Human. The new show The Following looks really good and I plan on catching that. I say goodbye to Haven hopefully just till the summerish. Grim, Doctor Who, The Walking Dead and my hubby's favorite Swamp people should be back on next month.

I will admit I am a Gleek, am crazy for American Horror Story, have some weird fondness for Bob's Burgers, can't get enough of Raising Hope, am in love with the Sherlock Holmes in Elementary, can't wait to see where Sheldon and Amy go in Big Bang Theory, I have a weird obsession with Chopped even though I rarely cook and well I am so looking forward to new episodes of Face Off on Scyfy channel.

I do have to say the one reason I enjoy having netflix is because I can watch old and new shows when they hit. We have a few that we really want to watch. Sons of Anarchy and a few others. But it also lets me re-watch some of my favorites. Some of my favorite TV shows of all time in no order: Firefly, X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lost, and South Park.

What is your favorite TV show? And are you looking forward to a new show coming out or returning?

Flash 52- Story #2

This weeks picture

He Said My Name

Roger lay in my lap staring at me as I watched out at the ocean. He said my name, yet I was preoccupied with my thoughts and the people I had to say goodbye too. He said my name again as he reached out and touched the tear falling from my eye. How could it be? Now? On this happiest of days?

“Lisa,” he whispered.

I finally met his crystal blue eyes. “Yes.”

“I am sorry,” he whispered already I could tell he was close to the edge.

“Don’t be,” I tell him as his eyes close.

I had to get up, and leave. We had spent our wedding night on the beach making love. Roger explored me as I explored him, and we created a night of bliss in the middle of all the heartache and loss. He left me with a memory I was sure not to forget.

He opened his eyes. “You have to leave,” he said and coughed his body shook with the pain of it.

“Please,” I said, “I can’t.”

“They will find you.” He coughed again the blood pooling at the corner of his mouth.

I shook my head, which reminded me that my veil was still on. I reached up to remove it and Roger grabbed it bringing it to his throat. He coughed the blood flowing thicker.

“Lisa,” he whispered.

“Yes my love,” I whisper again.

“Please go back. Pretend.”

“But I can’t.”

He gave me a confused look and his moth moved but nothing came out but more blood.

“I am carrying your child.”

His eyes widened and he reached out for me. I could see the fungus on his nails. It made me sad. I had never felt so many emotions before. We had done so much damage to this poor planet. I could feel already feel the fetus inside. I had never been a mother, but I have heard tons of stories. I have been prepped to be a breeder for some time.

“Please,” he said. “Protect it by going home. Keep it safe.” He coughed and his body shuttered. Already the fungus had moved along his legs. I knew he was right.

I moved his head gently and placed it on the sand. I got up; I removed the bra and panties, dropping them into the ocean. The sun bathed my skin and I reveled in it. I had loved playing human. I had liked having legs and meeting the walking creatures. But the war had been rough. But my family hated the sun walkers, they were destroying our world. But they didn’t know that I had fallen in love with one. I walked into the water, the waves rolled over crashing into the beach.

My hand went to my stomach I hope my child will be okay to in my home. Already knee deep and I could feel my skin change. Hip deep and I could feel the change start to happen. I turned and looked at my fallen love and the sea ocean fungus my family had released on the human population. I remember when I had met him, and how he said my name.

Winter

I an a fall person but I would take winter over summer anytime. I am just not a heat person. During the cold months you can add more cloths but you can't take your skin off in summer even though you wish you could. I live in the central valley of California. And even though winters can get cold they doesn't get as cold as other places. It snows maybe once every 10 years and on a nice winter day the high is about 60ish. Bundling up also gives reason to stay home and write more on cold days, and read more too. Cause well what better to do on a cold day?

What are your thoughts on winter?

New Years Blog winner!

Again thanks for stopping in. You guys gave me ideas I didn't think of for the new year. Winner of the blog hop is  Mary John Doherty! Congrads! And keep an eye out there will be more blog hops coming up this year.

What is your flavor?

I am not a picky reader. I want something that has a good story and holds my interest. I have no real genre taste last year i branched out and read some stuff I never thought I would like. But I do have some favorites that are a bit urban fantasy. Right now I am finishing up Warm Bodies, a zombie love story and Cold Days by Jim Butcher. On the list next to read is a bizzario fiction, a suspense novel, a urban fantasy and of course I am waiting for the last Sookie Book which I probably will be super sad when I blast through the book. I am looking forward to reading more indie writers which the genres are pretty different in good ways.

What type of books do you generally read?

My thoughts on series Books

I am a huge fan for series books. When I fall in love with a character I want to follow them through the series, unless it just becomes too much like Anita Blake. How I miss old Anita. I do read stand alone books, but I would rather read a series. I have started series and hated the characters or disliked the story enough to not continue, but usually that is rare.

Some of my favorite series at the moment is of course the Sookie Stackhouse books I have been reading them since 2002 I am so sad that this spring will be the end of the series almost broken hearted I have been following her for ten years. A few others are the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich I can always rely on Stephanie making me laugh out loud as she gets herself into trouble. Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series. Ilona Andrews, Patricia Brigs, Jonathan Maberry, Lorien Legacies Series by Pittacus Lore, and so many others. And I have also found some newer writers and series I really enjoy which come from my publishing company-Kharisma Rhayne, Dakota Trace, Erica Pike, and S.H. Roddey I have read I have a few other's to check out but as soon as I am done with the books I will be posting my review here on my blog.

Myself I have 2 trilogies started. Not really series, but eventually with my newest wip I want to make it the prequel to a horror/splatterpunk/dark fantasy series. As it evolves I will share what I can.

Snippet Sunday!

[image error] This weeks Sunday snippet comes from my short story book Flights of Delusion. This is a mixture of horror, fantasy and science fiction shorts that I have been writing throughout the past ten years.
Blurb:

Take a walk with a crying stranger, sit down to play chess with a strange old man, see what happens when Lucifer has an eye on you, or watch what happens when you win in a future lottery. Meet monsters, mutants and demons in Flight of Delusion, a collection of short stories that range from the weird to the scary

It is out now on ebook at amazon.com and bn.com. Or you can really support us by purchasing your format at my publisher's store!

http://noboundariespressstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=258

Toys

                What would be on level nine, she thought as she wheeled the toys to the elevator. Aliza waited for the elevator the sky behind her darkened as if storm clouds rolled over the summer sun. Aliza turned to look, and sure enough the sky had turned black.                She walked to the window, just one of the many gawkers wondering what would make the sky so dark. The air in the building seemed to be running fine, and they could make out people at the new Marriot hotel across the way. They too were staring out the bright windows looking at the sky.                “Look!” Someone shouted pointing down.                All their eyes went to the man running for his life on the street three stories down. He frantically looked over his shoulder, his foot hit the edge of the sidewalk and he went down. He managed to turn around looking at the sky. Head shaking, he scooted back some then stopped. He placed his hands over his ears and it looked like he was screaming. They saw nothing, nothing at all. And in a blink of an eye the man’s head exploded. Popped like a balloon. His torso fell to the gore splattered sidewalk leaking out dark fluid.                The very quiet people all around Aliza started screaming, yelling or talking at the same time. The noise level reached throbbing when someone else screamed pointing down. At that moment groves of terrified people ran past their building. Some screaming as others fell lifeless to the grounds missing heads.                “What is going on?” Preston asked her.                “I have to get to level nine,” she said shaking her head at the terrified mailroom clerk. “I think we should all stay inside. So far nothing is happening in the buildings.” She watched him nod, his eyes big blue saucers, as she turned back to the elevator.                Someone was peeking at the cart that she had parked there. “Excuse me, those are not for you,” she said to the person.                “Why do you have a cart filled with toys?”                “That is none of your business either.”                “I am one of the heads of this level,” The horse-faced brunet said.                 Aliza looked the lady over. Her dress clearly not meant for someone with such man shoulders and no hips. It strained at the top but bellowed down almost looking like a sack. Her shoes were something else. It looked like she wore Dalmatian puppies, that didn’t match the off blue-green of the dress.                “Well excuse me but I have direct orders to deliver these to the ninth level. I believe there is something more important you should be worrying about as she motioned over her shoulder to the window.                “No one goes to level nine,” she said smugly.                “Really we are coming to this,” she sighed grabbing her folder and pulling out the note she was given down in the basement. She really hated coming to the other levels. Everyone seemed so hot headed and power hungry. But rarely you moved up levels.                “No it can’t be. You are nothing. NOTHING!”                “No ma’am, nothing, just doing my job,” Aliza said grabbing the note, and entered the elevator as the door opened.                She looked down at the note. “Why me?” she asked. She didn’t see the nicely dressed man behind her.

Don't forget the New Years blog hop is still going.

Link to the post is here!
http://authorelliepotts.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-years-resolutions-new-years-blog-hop.html

Don't miss a chance to win a gift card!

Guest Blog short story By Author Toy Davis.

A tale of death and afterwards

Letting Go

                Alisha woke up in the hospital bed. The IVs were no longer in her hands. Her room was empty. She slowly rose to her feet, surprised she had the strength to stand on her own. By her bedside was a vase of flowers. They were sunflowers, her favorite. She loved how bright and happy they were. She reached over to gently caress one. In the last three weeks, as she was fighting for her life, these flowers had brought her joy.                “We have things we must do,” a guy said from behind her.                She jumped and turned. A stranger stood in the doorway. He was six foot with a board build. His brown hair was wild on top of his head, and his dark eyes had a dangerous glint to them. Alisha stepped back. “Who are you?”                “A friend.”                He didn’t seem very friendly to her. “I don’t know you.”                A sad smile touched his lips. “Everyone knows me.” He turned to walk out. “Come on, we have things we must do.”                She felt complied to follow, even thought she didn’t know him. The halls were empty. Chills went down her spine as she wrapped her arms around herself. “Where is everyone?” she whispered.                “All around us,” he waved his hand. Faint images of people appeared. It was as if ghosts surrounded them.                She sidestepped a nurse. “What happened to everyone?”                “They are no longer a part of your world,” he explained. They stopped outside the waiting room. He glanced over his shoulder to her. “Are you ready?”                “Ready for what?” She was confused. This whole situation was odd and surreal. Perhaps I am dreaming, she thought as she looked down at her legs.                “Ready to finally see what’s in here?”                Questions filled her but she voiced none of them. She had never been in the waiting room. It was where her family had been staying while she fought for her life within these hospital walls. He turned the knob to walk in. She followed close behind him.                Her doctor looked very sad as he stood before her family. “She didn’t make it. I am deeply sorry for your loss,” he told them.                “No,” her mother howled as she doubled over. “Not my baby girl.” Her father wrapped his arms around her as tears ran down her face. Her family huddled together as they demanded to see her body.                “What’s going on here?” she asked. Her emotions were going haywire. She was shocked, upset, sad and confused. The hairs on her arms stood on end. She looked at the dark hair man. “What is all this?”                “It’s the truth.” He stood beside the doctor. “It’s what you need to accept.”                “Accept?” Anger filled her. He wanted her to be okay with her death, and the tears of her family. “I will not accept it!” The anger left her body, and shattered the windows. The ghosts of her family ducked and ran out of the room.                “Every time,” the guy sighed with disappointment. “Come with me.”                She didn’t want to follow him but had no choice. They were now at her parents’ house. Her mother sat at the kitchen table. She slowly flipped through a photo album. The man stood by the counter as Alisha walked to stand behind her mother. She watched her go through the family photos with a heavy heart. He mother cried as she caressed a photo of Alisha when she was a baby.                “It’s okay mama,” she whispered as she tried to run her fingers through her hair. “I will not leave you.” Her mother paused as if she had heard her. Alisha started to smile but stopped when she saw the sadness pool in her mother’s eyes. “She is so sad,” she mumbled.                “Of course she is. It’s hard to move on with your life when they will not let go,” he explained. He shoved his hands deep within his pockets.                “I am her baby girl, why would she let me go?” Heartache was all she felt now. Her mother was going to suffer for the rest of her life because Alisha had died. She wanted to release her from her pain.                “It is you that must let go.”                “What?” Wide-eyed she stared at him. Her? She was dead. She had nothing to let go of, because everything had been taken from her. “That makes no sense. I lost everything.” Her rage was starting to rise. The kitchen lights flickered.                Her stepped away from the counter. “The living can sense when their loved ones are still around. It is a shadow on their hearts that invades their minds.” He shook his head as he tried to get her to understand how important this was. “When the dead hang on it can drive their loved ones insane. The dead’s hold can consume them, make it to where all they think about is their lost loved one. Some avoid sleep in fear of reliving the day their loved one died over and over again.”                “But it’s not fair, I want to stay!” She looked at her mother, who was clinging a handkerchief now. “I want to stay with her.”                “If you stay she will suffer,” he promised her. “Let her go. Release your anger, and trust that this happened because it was your time. Do not cause pain to the people you love because you are too scared to move on.”                “What if they forget about me?” Fear gripped her in its ugly hold. She did not want to be forgotten.                A sad smile caressed his lips. “They will not forget about you.”                “How do you know? Who are you?”                Black wings erupted from his back and spread across the kitchen. A gold fire now burned in his eyes. “I am the angel of death. I am here to take you home, but first you must let them go.”                Tears filled her eyes. She didn’t want to let her family go. She wanted to mourn her wasted dreams, and grieve her lost future. She wanted her family to think of her everyday, and never forget how much they loved her. “I can’t.”                “Then you all will suffer. Death is not for the living. It is not something they can embrace everyday. It breaks their will to survive, and they just fade away one day. Do you want your mother to become an empty shell? Do you want her to cry everyday for you?”                “No.” She looked at her loving mother. She had taken good care of her. She had taught her right from wrong, and how to be strong.                “Then let her go.”                “I’m afraid she will stop loving me,” she confessed.                “She will never stop loving you, and she will never forget. But she will move forward with her life. She will smile again Alisha. She will be the woman you love and respect.”                She did love and respect her, very much so in fact. She took a deep breath as she silently prepared herself for the next step. “Okay. I am ready.” The angel nodded as he held out his hand. She took it. He stopped at the trashcan to grab a dead sunflower. “What are you doing?” she asked.                His touch breathed new life into it. “This flower brought a sick girl joy when nothing else could.” He held it out to her. “It deserves to come to heaven with us.”                She recognized it. “It was my sunflower.”                He smiled. “Yes it was.” She glanced over her shoulder one more time before she joined him in the light to move on from all she once had.