Brenda Perlin's Blog, page 4

Mark Barry's "Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals" & a little Q & A

Once Upon A Time In Yhe City Of Criminals

By day, Terry Flynn clears the houses of the dead while by night, he drives alluring lesbian prostitute, Chloe, to her “tricks” - members of the “Feminocracy”; Nottingham’s increasingly powerful strata of senior civil servants, businesswoman and female professionals.Despite himself, he falls in love with Chloe. And so does Hope Calder, impossibly rich COE of Calder, a multi-national conglomerate. A woman who stops at nothing to get whatever she wants.When Chloe declines her advances, the spurned tycoon swears drastic action. With the cunning Neville, Chloe’s boss, manipulating the situation to his own ends, and Hope’s small army of corporate schills in the shadows, Chloe finds her life in danger...
...and only one man can protect her. Terry Flynn, Loser, Jailbird, Hooligan. Fifty year old crackhead.



~ This novel is dedicated to Mrs. Patricia Barry, who lived life to the max and never took much notice of authority in all its forms. 
Just like the characters herein. 
My Review 

Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals left me speechless, numb, shocked. Just about blew my mind. Kind of a quirky one sided love story. Mixed with a perfect combination of sex and violence.
The guy writes like no other. He takes you to the scene and  delivers. I was in the thick of it all and the hair on my arms stood towards the sky. Mark Barry has a way of telling you a chilling story that is not only original but intoxicating. I couldn't get enough. Most books lose some of their flair as the story progresses but not the case with this powerful story. The ending of this book gave me goosebumps, righteously so. Gripping, satisfying, realistic, and dynamic. Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals has big guns all the way through. 
The author's use of language is brilliant. Hand picked gems that caught me by surprise. The rich plot line kept me guessing as I read as though I was running out of time, needing to know where this story would lead me. Savoring the eloquent lines as they rushed past me. I am in awe.
Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals is hardcore and plays out like a Hollywood gangster film. Can see this on the big screen like Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Stellar scenes and realistic in your face dialog.
Quote ~

"There's serious money here. I can smell it, and it temporarily makes my guts turn over. The whole place stinks of cash, of decisions, of self-interest, of colossal hypocrisy and narcissism. I'll never get my hands on a tiny percentage of what these people are worth. I have always hated the rich for precisely the reasons they love themselves. If I had been a little bit luckier, it could have been me, but I doubt it. Too much integrity. Never met anyone rich who had integrity."
Now let's get down to some chit chat. I do have some questions for you Mark!


(BP) First off I need to ask you since you write all over the spectrum, what inspired you to write Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals? And what is it about?

(MB) I have always wanted to read a book with this title. There are two on Amazon (without ampersands) but both are YA, which is of limited interest to me. So I thought I would write one myself. I also like crime books and crime films and Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals is most definitely a crime book. I also wanted to continue with themes I started in Carla and in Ultra Violence and then to combine the two. They are my biggest selling books and I felt that this year, I needed to kick on a bit after the relatively slow performance of The Night Porter and the withdrawal from sale of The Ritual (which was painful, as that took some writing). So I went back to themes my readers seemed to enjoy and therefore created a completely new world.

(BP) Good for you. It’s so hard to know what readers will be drawn to. Does any of this story come from real life? As a "faction" writer, of course I need to know this.

(MB) Oh yes, I’ve encountered many of the people you see in this book and I know the tales, but the story is complete fiction. I once worked with an ex-gangster who was trying his best to go straight and (after a rocky beginning, where he kept threatening to have me killed because I was going out with a girl he once went out with, a story which obliquely features in Once Upon A Time In the City Of Criminals we became friends. I taught him spreadsheets and he taught me about the world of small time gangsterdom in Nottingham. There are no black suits and spectacular cars (too ostentatious), and their houses are often small and equally modest, (again, visibility, but also because of the amount spent on bling, drink and drugs). However there are beautiful women (who all love a bad boy), and there are big wads of ready cash lying about in drawers. And there is violence. He once told me about a man who was sleeping with the daughter of a big Nottingham “businessman”  My friend was asked, along with two others, to “have a quiet natter” with him, a conversation which ended in tears in a local wood. I have, of course, completely denuded that story, but you can work it out for yourself. The two villains at the centre of Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals are generally deadbeat ex – football hooligans, who may or not have featured in Ultra-Violence and Violent Disorder, my two most successful books. Not for them sharp suits and Italian jewellery. But they do wear tracksuits. I also try something new about the rich and the middle class, which I won’t spoil, but it will definitely raise eyebrows.

(BP) I love it! What do you believe to be your best work thus far and why?
(MB) I like this book, Brenda. I know I am supposed to say that to stimulate sales, ha ha, but you know well how difficult selling one book is, never mind six thousand (which is what my football novel Ultra Violence sold, in total), so I don’t care about all that. It really is a book I am comfortable with. I think I am getting better and sharper as a fiction writer and the topic is an exciting one which should attract readers. It has elements of thriller I experimented with in The Ritual and which I enjoyed. I like this book. Ignoring S & V, I like Carla, and there are people out there who like Hollywood Shakedown, which sells in, like, microscopic quantities, an unfairly treated victim of the massive book glut pro writers are dealing with at the moment (though it is a long book, which don’t sell any more). The Night Porter gets a lot of love and that was my best before this. I look at that at times and think, gee, where did that writing come from! We’ll see what the punters think, Brenda. The market is always the best judge, isn’t it.
(BP) Yes, I would say so. I am so pleased you are putting it out there. There are so many mediocre books coming out on the market these days. Honestly, Mark, how did you get to be such a brilliant writer? Was it a natural gift or have you had tons of schooling?

(MB) That’s really kind of you to offer, Brenda. I’ll let that compliment rest on my tongue for a second. Ah! Thank you. That was lovely. Seriously, I don’t feel like that about my work – always think I can improve it. My schooling was interrupted by serious bullying – as this sample chapter from  my Green Wizard blog will demonstrate. Not by any one person, but by gangs of them, so my education was all about survival. I wasn’t unique either. Everyone got it. I basically learned English (outside the basics), primarily from British and US comics, and pulp fiction (like E Howard, King, Herbert, the Chopper books, New English Library horror anthologies etc). As I have said before in other interviews, I was offered remedial English class at University because I hadn’t a clue how to write technical English. So I learned and learned fast. I must have had natural ability, but I still look at people I know (like the horse racing writer Alan Potts, who is technically gifted and has flawless grammar), with envy. Had I been educated properly, instead of being scared to death for three years, I would have been a much better writer than I am now. However, I probably wouldn’t have the imagination I developed while hiding in toilets from psychopathic kids, or in my bedroom reading. So it’s a bit of a tradeoff. Also, you can have the spark educated out of you, in English. You can be gifted and some boring lecturer would mark you down for being innovative. My good friend Phil Conquest, who writes the Motel Literastein blog, had a bit of this at school and he can write as well as anyone I have ever met, with a raw energy the establishment and the 101 blogs kick out of you with hobnailed boots on.


(BP) No one should ever underestimate your work and certainly not you. I stand by my conclusion.  Sheer brilliance! ;-)What makes you proud to be Mark Barry?
(MB) Some of the books I have written are pretty decent for the time capsule, and being a father to my son, Matt, who is a terrific lad. I’ve not been a bad dad. I also think my author interview blog, The Wizard’s Cauldron is something worth bragging about. We met there, Bren! 115 interviews so far…and loads of fun.
The Brilliant Books project you featured on your blog last year is something Phil and me are terrifically proud of too. That came from nowhere and could take us places. I love the idea of kids reading. It breaks my heart to hear of those five year olds who, when presented with a book at school for the first time, have no idea what it is. What sort of parenting is that? Or the parent who, when shown a shiny new book by her son at the gates of his school, promptly turned him round and ordered him to “take that f’in thing back in there where it belongs.” I’d pass down a prison sentence to that woman, but I know that’s extreme. 
I am also immensely proud to be a Notts County supporter and therefore, I am proud of my Dad for taking me there back in 1970.



(BP) Your work is so inspiring  and commendable, my friend. Hats off to you and everyone involved in The Brilliant Books project. You are doing great things!
 Would you ever consider writing a memoir? Or are you too private for that?
(MB) No, because it would offend too many people and I have few enough friends as it is. I think you were incredibly brave to write your stuff in so much detail. Thanks to meeting a woman like the character played by Eva Green in “Sin City 2”, I had a horror period of quite breathtaking loss between 1997 – 2003 which, paradoxically, would make terrific reading for fans of Faction and our anthology “Reality Bites”. Writing about it would bring back so many bad memories for me and many other people. I shall stick to fiction and let that one ride.

(BP) Ha ha. Okay. It’s a shame for your readers but I get your point. How about a good generic question. What is your favorite book and why?

(MB) Money by Martin Amis. Possibly the best book ever written. Once I have Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals off the ground, and have caught up with my reviewing commitments, I shall settle down to read it one more time. It will be the last book I ever read.


(BP) What is #Mrword planning on doing next?
(MB) Developing Brilliant Books, primarily. As for writing, I will be back next March with my annual book. There are several options in my head but you will be the first to know as usual, Brenda. Oh, and hopefully, we’ll get LA Punk Rocker off the ground!!! Cannot wait for that!

                                              (Shameless plug ) 
Our terrific friend Mary Ann Bernal taught me about the one book a year thing. With the glut of writers and writing out there, I think people should voluntarily restrain themselves to one novel a year. I know people argue that some writers have their own specific audience who have the capacity for more, but I am not sure that is true, I am inundated with books to read from a wide variety of my network and I want it to be a pleasure. Increasingly, its becoming a chore – with some bloody good books too. If authors restrained themselves to one a year, then we’ve all got space and time to breathe, haven’t we.


(BP) Yes, and we have to breathe every now and again. It’s been my pleasure to chat with you. It’s never ever dull. Wishing you all the best with this fabulous new release, Once Upon a Time in the City of Criminals. Excited to see how people respond. I believe it will knock their socks off.



BioMark Barry is the author of many works of fiction including the cult football hooligan novel, Ultra-Violence, the seriously-reviewed, dark and harrowing romance, Carla, and the feel-good thriller, Hollywood Shakedown.He lives in the UK and has one son, Matthew, who, so far, shows no sign of following in his father's literary footsteps - though he does fanatically support Notts County (which is a much more important trait).Mark is also the proprietor of Green Wizard Publishing, a company dedicated to publishing cutting-edge, innovative, and accessible fiction firmly based in reality.The majority of his books are set in either Southwell ("Wheatley Fields") or Nottingham ("The City"). It is a proud boast that local people who have read his novels can follow the trail of the quirky characters they encounter inside the jacket covers.

 Links
Amazon Author Page  Twitter  Facebook  Website/Blog  

From the Abyss III by John Emil Augustine

                              

From the Abyss III

 A string of struggles, along with an equal share of triumphs, have been part of John Augustine’s story ever since he realized he was in an abusive marriage at the age of 24. In book three, at the age of 32, John struggles with the demons of two relationships, with finding a new career, and with keeping his rapidly growing family intact. Rather than the strong but imperfect man of books one and two, readers will see a whole new side of John as his trials continue to mount. Circumstances will change drastically, and John will be faced with his toughest challenges yet. What happens when John ends up on the very fringes of society will change your mind about everything and everyone you thought you knew in the first two books of this increasingly thrilling and psychologically complex series.


                     
My Review
"Lightning strikes me When you smile and it seems You understand me..." 
From The Abyss III is filled with real life moments. John Emil Augustine puts it all out there and does it with grace and humanity. There is something empowering in everything that he does whether it is his writing, his music or his teachings. He has great compassion for people who have experienced abuse on any level and is very sensitive to others. His message is inspiring and motivating.
I would read anything by John Emil Augustine. He is an extremely talented author who writes with his heart on his sleeve. There is passion in his stories that are raw and captivating.
Most people will relate to From The Abyss on some level. What makes it even more intriguing is how much he opens up and shows us his vulnerable side which we don't get to see very often from a male's point of view. You don't have to experience abuse in the same way he does to appreciate the content though it is fun to be a fly on the wall and look into his most private happenings. In some ways I think he looks back at his life and thinks of himself by the mistakes that he has made but I don't see it that way. I believe the road that he has taken to get to where he is now is a road well traveled. It seems he has learned from his bad experiences, abuse and hard times. As a reader I see his growth. It has me reflecting back at my own life. It's so comforting to know that it's okay to be less than perfect. We all are flawed and embracing the past takes us to a much better place.
This guy has a story to tell and he shares it with great dignity yet he reminds us as readers that none of us are alone and there is always hope.
Quote ~
The backseat was hard plastic. The cage on the window between the back seat and the front kept me from killing my driver, I guessed. I had been in the back of a squad car once. I had gotten a talking-to from a cop when I first started driving because I had zipped across three lanes too quickly on the freeway. That time I’d been let off with a lecture. Today there was no lecture. I was taken straight downtown. A tow truck showed up for the Blazer just as we were pulling away. 


The first book, From The Abyss is a great place to start!

24-year-old John Augustine is looking for a lasting, loving relationship and finds one hidden where he least expects it. Knowing that no relationship is perfect, he walks in with eyes wide open but is unable to see the future swirling with hell and heartache. Amidst the struggles of a new marriage, John begins to realize his wife is far different than the woman he thought he married. Her mental illness soon drags the new family past the point of no return. As a man, John struggles to be strong and tackle their problems single-handedly, though the marital foundation is eroding before his eyes. But once his wife files for divorce, he finds himself in a free-fall.

                                            My review It's really refreshing to read a memoir this honest from a male's point of view. In this story his sex doesn't matter because you see HIM in all his rawness, insecurities and sufferings. It doesn't take long to get absorbed into this story.  It also doesn't take long to have the feeling that you know this guy. This guy could be your friend. He is familiar and you can't help being drawn to him. There are so many moments that I feel so emotional about as he is spilling his guts out on a silver platter. He does not seem to concern himself to how this makes him look to the world, he is just telling his story as he knows to be true. I have to admire his honesty and courage. What he has done here takes bravery. He just seems to be on a noble mission to share his side of the story in hopes it will touch someone or help them get out of the bad situation they may find themselves. This is a human tale told with such candidness that I am in awe of his character. There is no ego just one man setting the record straight. Recording a life that could have sunk or swam and it looks to me that he has sailed across the rocky seas and got himself further away from the abyss to a better life.
"Sometimes, I think I would like to go back and fix what I did; take the off-ramp. But you just never get to do that. Not really. Maybe you wouldn't want to. Because those signs keep showing up until you understand what is written. If not then, it would have hit me at another time. I saw the sign but didn't realize what it meant. And in fairness to me, there was no way I could have known. You can only really, truly see the future when it's in the past."
A great read whether you have been in a good relationship or a sick one. If you have lived long enough, there are things in this poignant memoir that you might just be able to relate to.The story comes from a dark place but is told with optimism for the future. Are you searching for your own silver lining? There is without a doubt a better life around the corner. You just have to stay open to all and any possibilities.
When there is love in your heart, there is HOPE!

John Augustine, having plummeted into an emotional abyss following an abusive marriage, finds himself picking up the pieces and moving on. However, with a four year old son, John changes strategy and takes his dating online. Though he has reservations, he ends up finding the perfect girl who also has a four-year-old son...and who is willing to travel. During their courtship, John makes other life changes as well, quitting touring to buy a house and begin a Master's program. Unfortunately, time and money become thin, and John takes on a second job and a few loans while his new wife moves in and looks for work. Meanwhile, John's ex-wife hatches a smear campaign against his new family and gives John an ultimatum: his son or his new family. John begins to buckle under the mounting pressure, while his wife ends up feeling alienated and lonely in a strange new town. A complicated life will come crashing down on John, and he will be forced to decide between what is important, and who and what he can forever live without. His children will learn what kind of dad John really is, and his family will be forever redefined when John makes the most difficult choices of his life. Will his choices knock him back down, or will John emerge from the abyss? 

My Review
From The Abyss II opens up and grabs you right back to where we left off. There is something soothing about John even in the middle of chaos. He is soft spoken (maybe it's more like soft hearted) but what pulls me in the most is his sheer honestly. He comes across as real as a snowy day on Christmas. He knows how to serve up a story, offering one small slice at a time. I like how easy it feels to get into his head and understand his plight. He is a man of circumstance but he doesn't fold. He is a survivor here to tell his story in multi-color techno theater. His story comes to life and you are there with him each step of the way. It would be difficult not to feel compassion towards this person who has been dealt some hard blows. I mean, life gets tough for most of us but it takes a special kind of person who is willing to put it all out there like dirty laundry for all to see. He does this with dignity and grace with the hopes that his life lessons, his story will help others. This seems like a Nobel gesture but I am certain as helpful as this story is to others, he is getting some kind of satisfaction on the other end. There is a therapy by sharing your private life in such a explosive revealing manner. I can only applaud this talented person because I do think people can relate to this character and relate to some of the hardships that he has had to endure. This story is told in a beautiful eloquent way. The simplicity is what really draws me in. Nothing fancy, no car races, murders or wild sex. It’s just life, perfectly imperfect and the message is loud and clear. Actually there are many positive messages but you will have to search for them yourself. What I find most appealing is what is not said on these pages. It's what's between the lines that have the most meaning. There is so much depth but so much that is up for your own interpretation and that is what makes this story even more appealing, wildly compelling and insightful. At the same time there is plenty of food for thought.
 This is a great addition to the first tittle and I think both men and women will really relate to “From The Abyss” on some level. I already can't wait for the next installment!

"It was at that moment as my emotions hung briefly in limbo that I realized something important. You don't ever know what you are getting. No one can predict the future. No one can predict his or her behavior. Standing there watching as Kim quickly bounced away, I realized that every relationship decision, no matter how informed, is a huge gamble. The girl I met on the Internet was no safer or dangerous than the girl I had been set up with by my good friend. We in the relationship have the power to make it what it is, but the power has to be shared equally. That's the gamble....”



BioJohn Emil Augustine grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and toured in his twenties and early thirties with local and national acts; writing, arranging, and performing with notable jazz, blues, gospel, reggae, post funk, prog rock, and folk groups. John has also been a landscaper, mail carrier, English professor, and forklift operator. He currently lives in Minneapolis with his wife and four boys.
Links:
From the AbyssAmazon.com Amazon.UK 

From the Abyss II
Amazon.com
Amazon.UKFrom the Abyss IIIAmazon.comAmazon.UKhttp://www.johnemilaugustine.comhttps://www.facebook.com/johnemilaugustineauthorhttps://twitter.com/JohnEmilAugustJohn Emil Augustine

LA Punk Rocker ~ The History

To me, punk rock is the freedom to create, freedom to be successful, freedom to not be successful, freedom to be who you are. It's freedom.
~ Patti Smith


The first real punk band I had ever heard of was The Sex Pistols even though they were pretty much over by the time I discovered them. By the end of 1978, the Sex Pistols had broken up, and Sid Vicious was found dead from a heroin overdose in New York on February 1, 1979.
There were many bands inspired by the Sex Pistols and thus the London scene began. It was around the mid seventies that The Buzzcocks, The Slits, The Damned, The Jam, Siouxsie and the Banshees, X-Ray Spex, and the Clash.

American bands that stand out in my mind from the early eighties are The Dead Kennedys, The Germs, Black Flag, The Circle Jerks, Fear and Social distortion. Darby Crash of the Germs would commit suicide on December 8, 1980.

 The early eighties were about alternative music. New wave became trendy and not long after, punk music started fading away.


Punk rock is a rock genre that was launched in the 70s in the UK, the US and Australia. This genre is more garage rock than anything else. The music has the quality of being fast paced and edgy and their lyrics are mostly about about anti-establishment.Punk is more than just music. Design and fashion were just as important. This may have started as a rebellion but blossomed into something so much more.New York was the first place Punk rock was played by bands like Ramones, Heartbreakers, Blondie and Johnny Thunders who played at CBGB. In London it started out later.In England punk exploded because of the high unemployment rates and poor economy. The youth were angry and rebellious. There opinions mattered.

In the late 70s punk was a fully fledged music class. Punk music has since grown and become huge. It spread into art, culture and fashion. It has given rise to generations of musicians and introduced a culture of its own. If anything, punk is more a lifestyle and a philosophy.In the punk scene authenticity was important. “Poseur” is a term used to describe anyone that lacked the basic understanding and principles that went along with the music genre.
In the '80s, alternative music and '80s pop became the next wave of music. New wave became the craze, and punk was a bit less influential for the time being.

Punk bands thrived still but on a smaller scale.While hardcore moved along a bit with Henry Rollins joining Black Flag in 1981 and the appearance of the Vandals in 1982, punk was definitely turning around. The Clash and Black Flag both broke up in 1986. Things were changing.

Earth's Pendulum Series by Yvonne Hertzberger

I am delighted to be sharing Earth's Pendulum, a heartwarming series by talented author Yvonne Hertzberger.
These books are well-written and full of humanity and heart. Certainly worth the great escape I had while reading all three books.




Back From Chaos:  Earth's Pendulum Book One
Battle and bloodshed have upset the Balance, crippling the goddess Earth’s power to prevent further chaos. Unless it is restored more disasters will ensue: famines, plagues, more unrest and war. Four chosen: Lord Gaelen of Bargia, Klast, his loyal spy and assassin, Lady Marja of Catania and her maid Brensa. Each is unaware of the roles they must play in restoring that Balance. Most important of these is Klast. It is he who must rescue the kidnapped maid, he who must unmask and bring to justice the traitor who threatens all their lives. It is also he who must deal with the scars from his tormented and abused past before he can accept the final part he must play in Earth’s recovery. But he is a most reluctant and unlikely hero and time is short. 

Bloodshed cripples the godess’s power. Four chosen must restore it. Klast, assassin and spy, unlikeliest of heroes, damaged by his tormented past, must recue a maid and bring a traitor to justice, unaware of the role he is destined to play and why his connection to her is essential. Time is short.
My Review
Back From Chaos by Yvonne Hertzberger is a fascinating start to your Earth's Pendulum series. An epic tale, this story sparked my interest from the very first page. The author knows how to tell an unusual, compelling tale and does so with a great imagination and a full vision.
This is a very smooth read that captivated my attention all the way through. An adventurous story that was both emotional and full of life. The characters were realistic and their plights moving. I was easy pulled into their emotional circumstances and enjoyed their celebrations. The suspense kept me going as I didn’t know how things would turn.
I have to credit the author for her creativity and clear writing style. This is quite an accomplishment, as this story plays out like a moving picture on a movie screen.
Quote ~


"Now, as he faced the possibility that he might lose her, he could no longer deny that he had been running from himself. And even more, that he no longer wanted to run ... or to be alone. The solitude that had for so long seemed hid sanctuary now felt more like a prison."


Through Kestrel's Eyes: Earth's Pendulum Book 2
Through Kestrel’s Eyes, the sequel to Back From Chaos in the Earth’s Pendulum trilogy begins seventeen years later. The peace that followed the end of the Red Plague is shattered when the lords of Gharn and Leith are toppled by traitors, throwing the land into chaos 
Liannis, the goddess Earth’s seer, her apprenticeship interrupted by the death of her mentor, must help restore the Balance. Until it is, Earth’s power is weakened, preventing Earth from sustaining the rains needed for good harvests. Drought and famine result. 
Liannis battles self-doubt and the lure of forbidden romance and deep loss as she faces tests that take her to the brink of her endurance. 
But Earth sends a kestrel that allows Liannis to see with her eyes and a white horse to carry her, both with the ability to mind-speak. 

Time is short. The people with starve if Earth cannot heal and the Balance cannot be restored.
My Review
"I fear it is our nature to take by force what we cannot have by right. It has always been thus."
This story does not skip a beat as I was drawn right back into this amazing series, Earth's Pendulum. Book two, Through Kestrel's Eyes. Author Yvonne Hertzberger tells a rapturous tale that is smart and yet easy to follow. The characters come alive on the pages and I felt their emotions. I loved the twists that kept me guessing and the intimate details that were shared throughout. Made me feel like I was a spy, seeing things that I shouldn't.
There is a sophistication to the writing that takes you along at a pace that is smooth and steady. This second book in ways is better than the first because I can see how the authors craft has improved, not that it was lacking in the first place. Usually, you fall in love with the first book in a series and often the second book disappoints. Not the case here. In a way, it was a more rewarding experience because I already felt tied to some of the characters from first book, Back From Chaos.
This is a beautiful series that is full of surprises, fantasy and adventure.


The Dreamt Child: Earth's Pendulum Book Three
Liannis, the goddess Earth’s seer, can no longer deny the meaning of her recurring dream. She must join with Merrist, her devoted hired man, and bear a child – one with great gifts. Earth has decreed it. But the people resist the changes, bringing danger to the pair and strife to the lands. Both Liannis and Merrist must face tests, sometimes without each other, to fulfill their destiny and bring The Dreamt Child forth into safety. They must succeed if they are to initiate the new era of peace and balance so desperately needed.
My Review
The Dreamt Child by Yvonne Hertzberger has a satisfying ending to the mesmerizing Earth's Pendulum series. By the third book I was anxious to know how the author would wrap up such a complex epic drama. Just enough fantasy to make this story sparkle with a great deal of true-life trials and tribulations. The turns kept me excited to imagine what would come next and wonder if the Balance could ever be restored? I came to know and love the characters. Even Kira, the little kestrel with the special powers that offered unconditional love melted my heart.
This is a moving series with a down home feel that made me as a reader feel welcome.
I love how the author writes a beautiful, fulfilling story without trying to be too fancy or over the top. It reads clear and relatable, making it so easy to get absorbed into all three stories. The adventures kept coming, layer by layer as my emotional investment continued to rise.
Would highly recommend taking a visit to Earth's Pendulum.

Bio
Yvonne Hertzberger is a native of the Netherlands who immigrated to Canada in 1950. She is an avid student of human behaviour, which gives her the insights she uses to develop the characters in her writing. Hertzberger came to writing late in life, hence the self-proclaimed label 'late bloomer'. She began writing at the 'old' age of 56.
Her first Old World Fantasy novel "Back From Chaos: Book One of Earth's Pendulum" was published in 2009. The second volume "Through Kestrel's Eyes" is available and the third and final volume The Dreamt Child is now published. Hertzberger has contributions in "Indies Unlimited: 2012 Flash Fiction Anthology" and "Indies Unlimited: Tutorials and Tools for Prospering in a Digital World". She is a contributing author to Indies Unlimited.
Links
Website Amazon Author PageFacebookTwitter

Mark Barry rocks LA Punk Rocker with 'KING ROCKER'

Excerpt of 'King Rocker' by Mark Barry ~
This is your time. 
Your band change elsewhere in the warren of corridors and rooms behind the stage.  That does not concern you. They do their thing, you do yours. You and the boys will mix after, at Danny’s. You’ll eat burgers, drink soda pop and be merry on all sorts, but for now, you need to remember and you need to prime the bomb. You are tight now. Tighter than a guitar string, taut almost ready to snap. You have rehearsed to the point where you are sick of each other. By now, the internal dynamics of the band are akin to those inside a thermonuclear device -and you are ready to explode it on that LA stage, where the kids are screaming.



BioMark Barry is the author of many works of fiction including the cult football hooligan novel, Ultra-Violence, the seriously-reviewed, dark and harrowing romance, Carla, and the feel-good thriller, Hollywood Shakedown.He lives in the UK and has one son, Matthew, who, so far, shows no sign of following in his father's literary footsteps - though he does fanatically support Notts County (which is a much more important trait).Mark is also the proprietor of Green Wizard Publishing, a company dedicated to publishing cutting-edge, innovative, and accessible fiction firmly based in reality.The majority of his books are set in either Southwell ("Wheatley Fields") or Nottingham ("The City"). It is a proud boast that local people who have read his novels can follow the trail of the quirky characters they encounter inside the jacket covers.
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L.A. Punk Rocker ... In the works.

It’s 1981 and I am seventeen. Old enough to know better, yet young enough not to care. Being the baby of the family no longer suited me. There was a great big mysterious world out there and I wanted to get lost in it. Wanted to know what it felt like to have my own voice and to use it. The songs I listened to described exactly what I was feeling. I played them over and over again, taking the lyrics in. Singing to them and making them mine. Identifying with each word that spatted out. Like they were coming from me. It was electric. 

Being on the streets was legendary. My first taste of adulthood. I was free and I liked it. I didn’t care if my style wasn’t like anyone else’s. Even better, I figured. My hair shined from the glob of goop I rubbed in it and my eyes were dark like owls. With a flash of the hand I would no longer be the awkward outcast from the valley. Instantly I turned into a girl of the night.

Dianne Lynn Gardner's Pouraka Series is making a splash!

Sasha: The Secret of Barnacle Bay, Prologue to Pouraka
Age Level: 11 - 18 | Grade Level: 5 - 12The quiet seaside town of Barnacle Bay holds a secret, and six year old Sasha longs to embrace it. Sasha is a short prologue to the novel Pouraka, an underwater romance.
My Review 
Sasha: The Secret of Barnacle Bay, Prologue to Pouraka by Dianne Lynn Gardner is a swift read that I liked right away. I love the authors clear writing style. She has a way of transporting you directly to another place. I also love the quality of her writers voice. Reads crystal clear and is as beautiful as her artwork.
The author is multi-talented and certainly one to watch in the writing world. She graces us readers with her unique perspective on things all the while she wraps it in a pretty package. It feels like a privilege to be fortunate enough to experience this kind of work.
Sasha is an imaginative fantasy, easy to get absorbed into and a beautiful escape. Looking forward to the release of Pouraka. I think we are in for a real treat.
Quote ~
"Sasha lifted her head and squinted, searching for that sparkle on the water that she knew would be coming. The glistening colors that told her the mermaids were dancing on the swells. But before the sun settled, before the light shone on the backs of the sea creatures, a warm hand folded over hers."

Pouraka
 Age Level: 12 - 18 | Grade Level: 7 - 12Pouraka is a magical sea cavern tucked under the rocky cliffs near Barnacle Bay. Cora, a Pouraka mer, is torn between her friends in the seaside town, and her true love Tas, a foreign mer whose people fled when men invaded their waters. Thinking Pouraka a safe haven, the merpeople soon discover that even the shores of the bay are targets forindustrial expansion.
Life becomes more difficult once anarrogant oil rigger's son, Tom, finds Barnacle Bay and the richaquatic life it harbors. When Tas attempts to rescue a pod of dolphins from Tom's gill net, he is captured and taken away as a prize to be sold to a theme park. When Cora hears of his capture she changes into human form and travels south to find him, risking her life to free him.  Time away from Pouraka leaves the cavern vulnerable, and a new threat arises when tourists discover its magic.
My Review
Pouraka by Dianne Lynn Gardner is an exquisite look at the life of a mermaid. Stunning the way she captures the essence of the underwater creatures and how she brings these mystical beings to life. This story drew me in, at first glance the extraordinary cover that Miss Gardner, the artist created and then I was fascinated by the mere thought that mermaids could have a story to tell.
There is great depth and profound sadness to this story. I was moved by the humanity and the love of more than just ourselves. This is an moving tale that filled my heart with great tenderness and emotion. This tale comes to life, richly told, swift, as if we were seeing the pictures across the screen.
Pouraka is a passion driven book, a love of the ocean and all its inhabitants. A fantasy that took me to another world. The author has the fine ability to bring her characters to life and does so creatively, naturally and articulately. It was easy to fall into the sea with these characters and escape from my not so adventurous life.
Quote ~
She'd never seen a merman cry before. Tears flowed out of his eyes like streams pouring from the rainy cliffs on the coast of the northern shore. She took his hand and he clasped onto hers so tightly it hurt. But she bore the pain because she knew his agony was greater. She wanted to tell him that it would be okay, that he had a home in Pouraka..."



BioThe Pacific Northwest is my home. After living in the dry desert of Arizona for over 23 years, I tired of always praying for rain, so I decided to come and get it on my own. Gray skies and deep forests give way to the most glorious summers you could ever imagine. Not to mention the abundance of berries, clams, oysters, salmon, fruits of all kinds, to me the Puget Sound area of Washington is the richest place in the world. I have seven children, all grown. Sixteen grandchildren that need stories written, and so they are my inspiration.
People always find it fascinating that I lived in a mud house for over 13 years, hauling water from the well in a bucket, cooking on a wood stove, planting blue corn in desert washes, and generally living out of the box. Some of these experiences are tapped into my novels. My website is http://gardnersart.com You’ll find books, audios, artwork and how our movie production is coming along on that site.
Dianne Gardner, an award winning author, is also an illustrator living in the Pacific Northwest, USA. She's an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the National League of American Pen Women. Her Ian’s Realm series is published by PDMI Publishing LLC along with four short stories in the A Tale of the Four Wizards series. Her most recent book Altered will be published this year by Master Koda Publishing. She writes for middle grade and young adults targeting boys and adventure loving girls, and the young at heart.



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LA Punk Rocker, presented by Brenda Perlin

The first real punk band I had ever heard of was The Sex Pistols even though they were pretty much over by the time I discovered them. By the end of 1978, the Sex Pistols had broken up, and Sid Vicious was found dead from a heroin overdose in New York on February 1, 1979.

L.A. Punk Rocker is filled with raw stories about growing up on the streets of Los Angeles and the passion for music with an attitude. Revisit the eclectic style of the eighties!
Back when U2 were practically unknown, Bad Religion and the Go Go’s played small venues and Billy Idol was sporting his famous scowl. A time when Hollywood was abuzz with new music. Capital records swap-meat, Danny’s Dogs and Errol Flynn’s mansion were places we spent our nights when we weren’t listening to live bands at the Starwood or the Whiskey on Sunset.
We were rebels with a very good cause. We were creative outcasts who got tired of getting abused at school just for being different.
Even though being accepted was never easy and I always had to seek my parents approval for everything, these were the best times of my life. It was then when I had my first taste of freedom. During my punk rocker days I realized it was okay to be an individual.

Many thanks to the contributors of this book that have donated their stories just because their passion lives.
The brilliant author Mark Barry motivated me to visit this #LAPUNKQUEEN and it is because of him that L.A. Punk Rocker is a reality. I adore his enthusiasm and great love of music. 

Much praise to MAB who has been a great help to me with my writing projects. Without her, my books would not exist on Amazon.

Demon's Touch (McLean Twins Book 2) by Jennifer Loiske has been released!

Demon's Touch (McLean Twins Book 2)

“Magic is all about words and believing. If you believe then anything is possible.” 

Shannon McLean had come a long way since she lost her mother. A while ago she’d thought she was alone in the world, a plain Jane with no place to go. Now she knew better. Suddenly she was surrounded by relatives: a crazy talented twin brother, Ian, who literally held the keys to magic in his hands; a demonic father, Connor, who had paid a high price for a one-way ticket to hell; and a wannabe big brother, Simon, who was not only half demon but also a hit man of some sort; and herself … so not a plain Jane but a witch with ancient spells tingling on her fingertips. 

Oh, and if that were not enough of a burden for a thirteen-year-old girl, her father had sent her to London on an impossible quest. Truth be told, she might have volunteered, but only because she naively believed that the world was beneath her feet and she was capable of performing a miracle as long as her brother stood beside her. She’d been so wrong. 


No matter what she did, or who tried to help her, she kept failing time and time again, and time was not something she had. If she ever intended to save her father from becoming the next king of hell, she had to act fast. She had to find a way to do the impossible and save a demon. After all, every witch knows the hard truth: demons cannot be saved. 


My Review
Demon’s Touch, the second book in the McLean Twins series by Jennifer Loiske spins one a heck of a tale. Even though this book is geared towards young adults I enjoyed every powerful moment reading this clever adventure. The characters are enchanting and gave me plenty of good laughs. Blossom comes in and totally lightens the devilish dark mood. I was so happy to get back into Shannon’s head from the first book, Black Diamond.
This book moves at a fast pace that will have your head spinning. As a reader you enter another world where there are demons and not everything is as it seems and I had no idea what was going to come next. This is a creative story with characters that come to life and feel real with dialog that feels authentic. It rings true and grabbed me and pulled me right in from the first paragraph.

Miss Loiske is a gifted writer and knows her vampires. She gives them authenticity and spirit. There is so much personality to her stories. As much as I enjoyed Black Diamond, I loved this one just as much. This is a great series that I could see being made into a movie or a television series. The plot-lines are unique and the story telling is fresh and believable. 

BLACK DIAMOND (McLean Twins Book 1)


Part One of McLean Twins Series
After her mom’s sudden death, twelve-year-old Shannon McLean has to move from the US to the English countryside to live with her mysterious father, Connor McLean, whom she hasn’t seen since she was a baby. Soon she discovers that he doesn’t want her around and her moving into his huge manor, Greyman Hill, is nothing more to him than a compulsory deal. But if he does not exactly give her a warm welcome, his servant Robert is most likely an incarnation of evil. He runs the house with an iron touch and makes everyone who works there his little puppets. 
Weird things start to happen and the whole place scares the crap out of Shannon. Her dad can control her just by looking at her. The walls are full of secret passages and apparently she has the talent to awaken the ghosts in them. Every day is worse than the day before and she wants badly to run away but discovers it’s impossible. If she wants to stay alive she has to do exactly as her dad says or else she will not only jeopardize her own life but also the lives of the people around her.
While Shannon struggles to find the magic inside her, Connor is slowly turning into a demon. One carelessly spoken word from her could either save or destroy them both. In the end she has to decide whether to save herself and her loved ones, or lose her dad to the darkness and evil that threaten to eat his soul.

My Review
Black Diamond is a story about good VS. evil. It serves a good message and perfect for a young reader who loves mystery, suspense, and magic. This book was one that you could just dive into. The writing was clear and easy to follow. This was a good escape and a compelling read. Even though I am far from being a YA, I really enjoyed the ride.
"She saw the house, and now that she knew its secret it didn't look as scary as it did before. It should have, but it just didn't. Yes, it was a damned house now, but it hadn't always been like that. She allowed herself to admire its beautiful decorations, the marvelous garden and its castle-like towers. She could imagine her parents living there. Happily. Mom was pregnant and Dad was thrilled."



Bio


Jennifer Loiske lives in Finland in Naantali, which is a small sunny town at the southwest coast. She is a workaholic Teen/Young Adult author, a lover of dark fantasy, teen movies, chips and candies and warm sunny days. Jennifer is a huge supporter of a charity work and a big part of her royalties goes to charity, too. Mainly to help families with epileptic children but also to the epilepsy units in the hospitals.More about Jennifer: www.roguehouse.net
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"Chickens, Hawks and Grumpy Goats: Five Years on a Farm" by S.A. Molteni has just been released on Amazon and is free TODAY ONLY!

I am delighted to share some really sweet moving short stories with you today by author S.A. Molteni. Her stories are all well-written with heart. Please grab an ebook at no cost while you can. :-)

S.A. Molteni is well loved for her essays on hobby farming and animal husbandry - from the pain of losing a cherished pet cow and calf during childbirth to the sweetness of spending Christmas Eve in a manger with two Jersey cow babies. 

In this new collection of short stories, she poignantly and reflectively brings to the surface the highs and lows of living on a hobby farm and the deep connection that a farmer has to her animals. 

From predatory hawk attacks on her beloved chickens, to a goat with an attitude, to bottle-feeding a calf, along with a fictional tale based on Chicken Little, the narratives give a condensed version of the best times and the worst times during her past five years on a hobby farm.
My Review
"The thought of the sky falling seemed to be ludicrous at present and the least of her worries."
Chickens, Hawks and Grumpy Goats: Five Years on a Farm is another endearing book filled with short stories by S.A. Molteni. The author has a down home comforting writing style that allows the reader to connect even if they have never lived this lifestyle. She brings you in with an open heart and genuine passion. Reading her stories is a great escape and a heart warming adventure.
I loved all the stories in the collection but I did get an extra fuzzy feeling from 'The Best Christmas Eve Ever'. Heartwarming and shares some precious moments in this family's life. The author manages to remind us that it is the simple things in life that are the most sacred.
These unusual, sometimes funny and at other times emotional stories are told from some unexpected voices. They are smart and precise. Each piece moved me and also brought a smile to my face.



All Alyssa wanted was to move to the country and help Jeff with raising farm animals on his small plot of land. Little did she know that this one desire would lead to an entirely "different" kind of life for her and for one special bull.
My Review
A Special Bull is a down to earth short story. I love how natural this author writes about everyday events. She takes you right in and brings you with her. There is just something so fresh and uncomplicated in the writing. Kind of like a breath of fresh air. This is a slice of life from middle America. An everyday story that is not at all ordinary I realized as I dove further into the narrative. A Special Bull is written with passion and love. Not everything as it seems and this story becomes a bit of a fantasy with an interesting twist.
“As Alyssa dozed off to sleep, she entered a world she mostly kept to herself. Her dreams were a constant reminder of the life she left behind and the years of craziness she had escaped from just a few short months ago.Falling into a deeper sleep, her subconscious felt that something was different, not the same visions of all the bad choices she had made in the past. No, this dream was not like the others.”

Fade to Gray is a hilarious account of one woman's attempt to transition to gray as easily and as quickly as possible.
My Review
Fade to Gray is an adorable story that had me chuckling to myself. It was all told as if in living color. Not just gray! The writing is down to earth and inviting. I really enjoyed this sweet little escape from my own "age" issues. There is a great message that I was delighted to read. It's funny, real and emotional at the same time. The vulnerability was realistic, relatable and touching. I applaud the author for writing this for us all to enjoy.
Fear of the unknown and fear of getting and looking old exists and should be talked about more.
"Like Edwards Scissorhands attacking a topiary tree, Laura proceeded to trim and style my hair with a speed that scared me. When she was done, I saw my new self in the mirror for the first time. As Laura stood in silence, I sat in utter disbelief at the results of this four-hour experiment and took a few minutes to take it all in.”


My Review
This emotional tale about a cow, Half Calf touched me. This is a heartfelt story that is filled with passion and heart wrenching devotion. The real life emotion fills your senses every step of the way. The writing is clear, to the point and the emotions shared are realistic and relatable. What a sweet moving slice of life!
"We tried several more times to get her to her feet. On the last attempt, she screamed the most haunting, blood-curdling moo that we had ever heard come from a cow. It was her way of saying, "Stop. I am done. No more."
Bio
S.A. Molteni is currently a systems engineer in the banking industry. In her free time, she is a hobby farmer and writer. She lives on a small homestead with her husband of 15 years and a menagerie of farm animals.S.A. Molteni can be found on the following social media sites:Blog
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