Toi Thomas's Blog, page 80

Sample Sunday 32

Here is approximately 100 – 150 words from a randomly selected original piece for your enjoyment. These samples can include excerpts from my all my WIPs and my Eternal Curse Series, but only as works in progress (not the final products). These samples of published and unpublished works are protected under the U.S. Copyright agreement.

Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel chapter 5.1 (wip)

Giovanni could see that Mira was more than a little disturbed by the elaborate and detailed contents of their state of the art lab. Finally, he decided to take action concerning Mira’s current state. He decided he had to explain as much as he could right away, but first he’d need to calm her down. Giovanni walked right up to Mira without stopping and without hesitation. He took over her personal space and enveloped her in his arms.

Mira tried to resist him; she didn’t know what he was trying to do to her. Then, all of a sudden, that little jolt of energy she was trying to get used to suddenly turned into an explosively comforting and warm tingling sensation all over her body. She instantaneously became relaxed.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: EC: Giovanni's Angel, Samples Tagged: angels, demons, Eternal Curse, family, fiction, Giovanni's Angel, reading, romance, sample excerpt, shape-shifting, spec-fic, Toi Thomas, war, wip

ToiBox Blog Weekly Recap 02/01/14

Check out my Recent Posts links to see what I was up to this week.

That last two weeks have been a little crazy. I don’t even think I posted a weekly recap last week; sorry about that. So this is what I managed to do this week and hopefully I’ll be able to keep moving forward.

I started out the week with Sample Sunday 31- It’s Like the Full Moon, chapter 3.1

On Monday I posted My Geekdom of cartoons.

On Tuesday I added to my character files the preferences for Abraham.

On Wednesday I posted my review of Deadblood.

On Thursday, I posted my WIP Update and introduced the Writer’s Creed 2014..

And yesterday, I posted a simple Friday Forecast.

-Today, I try to rest.

I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself this week and enjoy a very pleasant weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: author, biography, blessings, blogging, books, character, culture, discussion, entertainment, fashion, geek, interviews, journal, life, likes, lists, reading, reviews, sample, wip

Friday Forecast : 01/31/14

Highlighting interviewees, guest posters, my standard weekly posts, and whatever else I can think of, going into the next week.

So, here what’s happening next week:

Sample Sunday

My Top 5

Character Files

My Insecure Writers Support Group Post and…

My monthly WWW Wednesday Post

Tea and Conversation

Friday Forecast

Weekly Recap

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Things may have seemed a little off lately. I have been dealing with some personal and family issues as well as harsh weather. Being snowed isn’t a lot of fun when your old house is working again you. All in all, I think I’m getting things back together and am coming through well. Thanks for sticking with me. I have some special posts coming soon.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: author, blogging, interviews, life, reviews, sneak peak, try this, writing

WIP Update 12 – Writer’s Creed 1

I actually did some writing in spite of having to overcome some tremendous obstacles I’d rather not discuss now. I added another chapter to a book I thought I finished months ago, but with the release of Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel only weeks away, Eternal Curse: Battleground was whining for some attention.

After that some of my other works started vying for my attention. I added another chapter to It’s Like the Full Moon, but that’s only after I rewrote almost half the book…I just realized that I never updated you guys on that. The last time I updated you on that story I was pretty much finished with it, but then I had a dream that I royally screwed up the ending. So I went back and rethought and rewrote quite a bit of it. Romance is so hard for me, especially since it’s not juicy romance. I have to keep it sweet; anything else from me would just sound weird.

I’ve actually jotted down some ideas for new stories, but I’m not sure what to do with them. I may try to work on some short stories and see what happens. I fear that maybe I’m hindering my own writing process by trying to write only things I feel will be good novel length stories. It’s time to put a stop to that and just write.

-Feeling a little lost about what’s going on in this post? Just see the side panel and search My Topics, WIP Updates-Writer’s Creed, to get all caught up. Also check my WIP tab to see what else I may be working on.

Click image to learn more.

Here’s a little something new; I’m sure 2014 will bring in many new things. I’ve taken on this writers creed and here is my first update on the matter…

It’s my first month so I don’t feel too bad about not keep up 100% with the creed. It’s been a rough few weeks for me and I’ve been able to stay on top of things, but it’s taking its toll in other ways. I’m a blogger for life, so I’m sure I’ll have plenty of chances to live of the creed in the months and years to come.

Do you have a WIP update to share? Do you want to take on the Writer’s Creed 2014?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: WIP Updates-Writer's Creed Tagged: author, books, character, fiction, Paula Munier, process, Toi Thomas, wip, Writer's Creed, writing

Review: Deadblood

Deadblood by L.A. Little

I give this book a 4 ½, but am obliged to bump it up to a 5.

1. I want to start off by saying that I know this author. When I learned that he had published his book, I jumped at a chance to purchase it and review it. I also figured this would be a good way for him to see that I really liked it.

2. I’m giving this book a 4 ½ for two basic reasons. 1) I wish the story were longer. Everything in it is perfectly paced and nothing is lacking, I simply wish there was more of it. Maybe there will be more stories down the road. I could definitely follow this as a series. 2) Language. While I know that the average citizen who reads Adult fiction isn’t concerned with the use of profanity, but I am (It’s the good girl inside me). One thing I can say is that the profanity in this story seems very real and natural. It’s not meaningless immature rambling for the sake of being profane, and there is not a lot of it.

3. So here’s where I tell you about the story without giving too much away. The main character is a nice guy (whose name I believe is only mentioned once) working the rock tour scene, trying to live the dream, but soon finds himself living a nightmare. This nice guy, like so many nice guys do, finds that a pretty face is too good to be true, but it’s not like he doesn’t see it coming. The comical internal conversation this guy has with himself makes you like him, but also makes you want to slap him sometimes.

It doesn’t take long for the action of this story to pick up even though the beginning seems slow. In actuality, when you reach the end of the story, you appreciate the beginning so much more. The term Deadblood is so wonderfully and simplistically explained that you almost miss it. You seem to just walk away from the story feeling like you knew it along. This twist on the legend of vampires is quite refreshing as it brings to mind the question, “How much do we really know?”

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the supernatural, but I must admit that it seems to be more geared toward the fellas (not recommended for children). I guess that’s why I like it. I’ve always been a bit of a tomboy. It’s a short read that’s not too complex, but is actually quite profound while also being very entertaining.

This review has been posted to GoodReads.

If you’d like to obtain a copy of this book, try this link: Amazon

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Reviews Tagged: Deadblood, drama, ebook, fiction, horror, humanity, L.A. Little, life, paranormal, reviews, Toi's comments, vampires

Character Files from the ToiBox 46: Abraham-Preferences

Preferences: Subject EC:GA 1-Abraham

 

Favorite Color: purple (violet)

 

Favorite Food: Three Green-Pea Soup

 

Favorite Book or Movie: Rear Window

 

Favorite Music: classic folk

 

Favorite Pastime: cooking

 

Other: Likes hot baths, reading the newspaper on Sunday, and always says grace.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

 

Filed under: Character Files, EC: Giovanni's Angel Tagged: #thetoiboxofwords, Abraham, angels, character, demons, Eternal Curse, fiction, Giovanni's Angel, preferences, profile, spec-fic, Toi Thomas

My Geekdom 08: Cartoons

Pins from Pinterest that inspire me and indulge my geekness. http://pinterest.com/toinette_thomas/my-geekdom/

Please do not copy this image. Click this image to visit Pinterest and share, share, share :)

It may be difficult to tell, but I was not raised by Saturday morning cartoons. That doesn’t mean I didn’t watch them religiously. Heroes of all shapes and sizes, fighting evil with: conning, violence, technology, magic, and even friendship and love, what more could a kid want?

So many of these characters have helped shape who I am and how I and what I write. The truth is I’m a big kid. I used to worry about what I was going to be when I grew up, but now I just want to stay a kid. There is so much creativity, potential, and purity in youth, but I have no need for physical adolescence. I want to remain young at heart. I want to have and believe in love, magic, and hope. Needless to say, but I will anyway, a sense of hope abounds in the Eternal Curse Series.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: My Geekdom Tagged: author, blogging, cartoons, childhood, Eternal Curse, geek, heroes, inspiration, Pinterest, process, teaching, Toi Thomas, try this, writing

Sample Sunday 31

Here is approximately 100 – 150 words from a randomly selected original piece for your enjoyment. These samples can include excerpts from my all my WIPs and my Eternal Curse Series, but only as works in progress (not the final products). These samples of published and unpublished works are protected under the U.S. Copyright agreement.

It’s Like the Full Moon chapter 3.1 (wip)

It didn’t take long for Lisa to latch on to a beverage provider. He was a nice enough looking fellow, obviously younger than her, but old enough to pay for the drinks. Not wanting to spoil Lisa’s fun, but in no mood to drink heavily, Rebecca simply nursed a wine cooler and glass of water as she nibbled on cherries and lemon wedges. Rebecca sat across from Lisa and her latest conquest and watched as they swapped clumsy kisses until Lisa finally stood up and shouted, “Let’s dance!” She grabbed her shy male pet with one hand and Rebecca with the other and led them out to the center of the dance floor. Though hesitant to start, Rebecca quickly loosened up and began to dance. She swayed her hips and curved her arms moved in ways she hadn’t since college. Rebecca closed her eyes and became enthralled with the rhythm of the music and finally dropped her guard and truly had fun.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

 

Filed under: Full Moon, Samples Tagged: contemporary fiction, drama, fiction, friends, It's Like the Full Moon, reading, romance, sample excerpt, Toi Thomas, wip

Author Spotlight 3: Ian Mathie 1.3

New Release!

Now available through Amazon.
Kindle and other digital copies coming soon.

For further information about Ian and his work, please visit: http://www.ianmathie.com.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Guest Posts Tagged: Africa, author, book cover, book release, Ian Mathie, memoir, non-fiction, spotlight

Author Spotlight 3: Ian Mathie 1.2

A Bio

image from ianmathie.com

Having worked his way through two energetic careers, Ian Mathie retired and became a full time author. Using the pile of detailed notebooks he had kept during the years he spent working in the African bush, he began a series of African Memoirs in which he shares the many exciting experiences and gives his readers an intimate look at tribal life from within.

With four books in the series already published, the fifth volume is due for release any day. After that he intends to try his hand at fiction, with a fast paced spy thriller.

****

Born in Scotland, within sight of Edinburgh Castle, Ian was taken out to Africa aged three, when his soldier father was posted to be second in command of the Northern Rhodesia Regiment in 1951. After a sea voyage to Cape Town, during which he spent most of the voyage confined to his cabin with measles, the family spent four days on a train as it crawled across southern Africa, eventually stopping on the bridge over the Victoria Falls to wash the dust off the carriages in the spray.

Not long after arriving in Lusaka, Ian was sent to the local mission school, along with his father’s soldiers’ children. There all the teaching was done in the local language and in the mornings he did lessons, while in the afternoons the wide open bush was his playground.

At seven and a half Ian was sent back to UK to a boarding school, and hated its restrictive environment. Fortunately he was able to fly back to Africa for each of the school holidays, where he spent most of the time wandering in the bush with his local friends. Boarding school continued for the next nine years, during which he developed an interest in flying and demonstrated some talent by gaining his gliding certificate on his sixteenth birthday. Two years later he joined the Royal Air Force to train as a pilot.

Due to politically driven defence cuts, Ian’s career in the RAF only lasted four years, and then he returned to Africa. Someone in the service had noticed that he got on well with all the African students on his military courses, and he was invited to join the government’s overseas aid programme as a rural development officer. He was sent to West Africa and soon found himself specialising in water resources, living among isolated communities far out in the bush. As the work developed, the territory for which he was responsible increased, and he was given a light aircraft to fly himself between remote projects, often thousands of miles apart.

****

Over the years, Ian visited and worked in most of Africa’s countries, only returning to UK when changes in the political situation meant there were more local people available to take on the work he had been doing. Inspired by wanting to know more about what had motivated the tribesmen among whom he had worked, he took a place at Cardiff University and retrained as an industrial psychologist. He went on to develop some innovative and challenging motivational and performance development programmes, returning regularly to Africa on short term assignments and working across Europe.

When health issues restricted his work and travelling, Ian became a full time author, and now lives right in the centre of England, in south Warwickshire, with his wife and his dog.

For further information about Ian and his work, please visit: http://www.ianmathie.com.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Guest Posts Tagged: Africa, author, biography, excerpt, Ian Mathie, memoir, non-fiction, sample, spotlight