Olga Núñez Miret's Blog: Author Translator Olga, page 123

Guest author Gladys Lawson. Blood Borne Connections

I have an author guest today who will tell us all about her new novel. I came across her through my good friend Magda Olchawska and I’m eager to introduce her to all of you. Gladys Lawson had kindly offered us her biography, information about her novel ‘Blood Borne Connections’ and a candid interview about her career as a writer. Without further ado, I leave you with Gladys Lawson.

Gladys Lawson –

Gladys Lawson currently lives in London and works as a microbiologist in pathology management and also volunteers as an inspirational mentor. She says, “I was greatly inspired by the need to tell a story where despite the evil displayed, good wins, good survives and good reaches out and makes a difference. The relationship between my different characters was something that I really enjoyed writing about.” She is currently working on her next book.

Blood Borne Connections

Synopsis

Blood Borne Connections is a fictional thriller about the Mafia, human sex trafficking, and the ability to survive against all odds.

When 15-year-old Tatiana leaves a Czechoslovakian orphanage with four other girls for a new start in America, they are promised a better life. Less than a month later, Tatiana and the others are forced into prostitution by sex traffickers. When a Mafia boss discovers some of his men are involved in sex trafficking children, he instigates a Mafia war to cleanse his organization and stop the trafficking. In the aftermath, people on both sides of the law are killed.

Blood Borne Connections takes the girls on a ride they never bargained for. Can their road to ruin turn into a journey of hope?

You can buy my book on:

Amazon US   http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Borne-Connections-Gladys-Lawson/dp/1622126467/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366652162&sr=1-1&keywords=Blood+Borne+Connections

Amazon UK -http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Borne-C...

Publisher’s website  – http://sbpra.com/gladyslawson/

Interview:

When did you first start writing? Since 1997

What inspired you to write? Life. Things I have seen in people and places and things that I haven’t seen in people and places.

Have you always been intrigued or wanted to write a particular genre? No, I tend to mix murder, romance, suspense and fact together.

How did you come up with the idea for your newest/current project? Hearing about the injustice inflicted upon people exploited by sex traffickers and my interest in the mafia.

Do you write as a full time occupation? If no, do you think your everyday job provides you inspiration for writing or is it a necessary evil? No I do not yet write full time but soon will. I am a Pathology Laboratory Manager, a Microbiologist by training and I will always add a few scientific things in my books.

If you could meet any writer (or writers) in the history of literature (dead or alive) who would you choose? And why? Jane Austen, I love ‘Pride and Prejudice’.



What do you think about social media? Do you use it mostly as a promotional tool or is it an integral part of your life? I use it regularly when I have the time.

Any tips for people thinking about writing/publishing? Don’t give up. Follow your dream.

Tell me a new thing you have discovered recently that you think should be shared. No matter what you are going through – Life is wonderful, a gift from God, enjoy it, embrace it and each day live it.

Tell me an old thing you’ve rediscovered that you think shouldn’t be forgotten. Remember the good times – they will keep you strong when things are not so good.

Glady’s blog: http://gladyslawson.wordpress.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blood-Borne-Connections-book/121559344708084?ref=hl

Tweeter: https://twitter.com/Bloodborneconne

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmoKWHymspI

Thanks to Gladys for being such an interesting guest and thank to you for reading. And don’t forget to CLICK!

Related articles

Spotlight – “Blood Borne Connections” (gladyslawson.wordpress.com)

Work in Progress. New romance. Click Me Happy! (cont.) and Modified cover.

Hi all:

You’ll remember I brought  you the very beginning of ‘Click Me Happy!‘ last week. And the draft cover.

Some people have asked me for a bit more, so I give you another snippet of the first chapter, and Raquel has continued to work on my cover so have a look!

If you remember Lilith wasn’t very fond of romantic novels and was talking to her friend and colleague Debbie (Head librarian).

Here it is:

“It’s not about believing, Lilith. It’s fantasising. Who wouldn’t want to go out with a gorgeous guy and be the centre of his world, and have other women envy you and…?”

Lilith looked at Debbie from head to toe. Debbie was in her late forties, a few years older than Lilith, and Lilith always joked with her that she dressed like and advert for Laura Ashley, with flowery skirts, modest blouses and the librarian’s compulsory uniform, a cardigan. Today it was green.

“Do you really feel like that, Debbie? You’re an accomplished woman, fabulous painter, know everything about books and about this town, are happily married to a clever and kind guy and have a wonderful son. Do you really need these books?”

Debbie looked down and then fixed her gaze on Lilith. A slight rosy tint coloured her cheeks.

“No. Of course I don’t need them, but they spice life up a bit and make it less dull. There’s no harm in them.”

“We women waste our time reading this rubbish instead of going out there and…”

Yes, and…what? Lilith had been feeling unfulfilled. Sure, she loved books and working at the library was enjoyable. She’d worked there since she got her Masters’ Degree in Library Science quite a few years back. She helped Debbie manage the library collections and had created a mass observation archive where local people deposited their recollections of the local events, be it in writing, in recordings, or more recently even videos. It had proved a great success and a local film student was planning on creating a documentary using some of the materials. Yes, there were rewards in doing such a job, but still…

Debbie smiled at her, shaking her head.

“I have a new project for you. That might help.”

“What?”

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Hopefully the whole novel to come soon…

And the cover…

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Work in progress. New romance. Click me happy! What do you think? And about this cover? (olganm.wordpress.com)

¿Y eso de Goodreads qué es?

G is for Good Reads (Photo credit: TheRLPL)

Como sabéis porque os lo he dicho unas cuantas veces (sí, ya sé, puedo ser muy pesada) pertenezco a un grupo de escritores hispanos, autores indies. Y también participo en charlas y discusiones en otros grupos en Facebooks. Comenté que me habían hecho biblotecaria en Goodreads, y me preguntaron, ¿y eso de Goodreads qué es? Así que decidí hablar un poco de Goodreads aquí. Parte del post es traducción (libre)  de lo que Goodreads nos cuenta en su página. También he utilizado Wikipedia (¡cómo no!) y lo he sazonado un poco con  mi experiencia personal. Espero que responda un poco a la pregunta.

Goodreads (Buenas Lecturas)

Goodreads es la página de web para lectores y recomendaciones de lecturas más grande del mundo. De acuerdo con su manifiesto ‘Nuestra misión es ayudar a la gente a encontrar y compartir los libros que aman.’ Data del 2007.

Cosas que Goodreads sugiere puedes hacer allí incluyen:

-Ver qué libros están leyendo tus amigos.

-Documentar los libros que estás leyendo, has leído o quieres leer.

-Acceder a recomendaciones de libros personalizadas. El sistema automatizado de recomendaciones analiza 20 billones de datos puntuales para hacer sugerencias de acuerdo al gusto del usuario.

-Comprobar si te gustará un libro leyendo las reseñas de los miembros.

Cuenta con 17 millones de miembros, 550 millones de libros, 23 millones de reseñas.

Wikipedia la describe como una página web de ‘catálogo social’. Fundada en Diciembre 2006 fue lanzada en Enero 2007 por Otis Chandler (ingeniero de software) y Elizabeth Chandler. La página de web permite que los usuarios hagan búsquedas en la base de datos de libros, anotaciones y reseñas. Los usuarios pueden hacerse miembros y registrar libros para generar catálogos y listas de lectura. Los miembros pueden crear sus propios grupos con sugerencias y discusiones. La sede está en San Francisco.

Parece que inicialmente no tenía financiación formal. A partir de Diciembre del 2007 recibieron inversiones varias. En Octubre 2010 permitieron que programadores e innovadores accedieran a los catálogos y clasificaciones. También reciben una pequeña comisión si un usuario hace click en un enlace y compra un libro en una página de venta de libros.

Amazon.com anunció en Marzo que había comprado Goodreads. (Esto se ha discutido mucho pero es demasiado pronto para comentar a fondo).

Cosas que Wikipedia comenta se pueden hacer en Goodreads:

-Usuarios pueden añadir libros a sus estantería ( de entrada te ofrece tres: ya leídos, que te estás leyendo, y que quieres leer, aunque puedes crear nuevas estanterías).

-Clasificarlos de 1 a 5 estrellas y publicar reseñas.

-Participar en grupos de discusiones y tópicos varios.

-Obtener sugerencias sobre futuras lecturas.

-Cuando un lector ha añadido amigos a su perfil (se pueden invitar a amigos de Facebook o a través de correo electrónico) se pueden comparar estanterías y ver lo que están leyendo vuestros amigos. Y podéis recomendar libros a vuestros amigos (pero si tenéis status de autor no podéis recomendar vuestro propio libro, aunque si que podéis darle estrellas y reseñarlo).

-También se puede participar en concursos, añadir frases favoritas de libros, y hacer listas de libros (por los que luego se pueden votar).

-Miembros pueden recibir un boletín informativo de Goodreads cada mes con nuevos libros, sugerencias, entrevistas de autores, y poesía.

-Si un miembro ha escrito un libro, el libro se puede enlazar a su perfil de autor, que también incluye un blog (podéis publicar un blog por separado, poner enlaces a páginas, o si hacéis reseñas os da la posibilidad de producir un post en vuestro blog que incluya la reseña y otros miembros pueden hacerse seguidores de vuestras reseñas o fans vuestros).

-También organizan eventos no digitales. (Yo no he participado en ninguno y supongo que dependerá de los miembros y grupos).

-La página facilita la interacción con autores a través de entrevistas, promociones y libros gratis, blogs de autores, e información en el perfil (también se pueden añadir videos de promoción, frases de obras, organizar discusiones sobre libros, concursos..). Hay una sección especial para autores con sugerencias sobre como promocionar sus obras en Goodreads, con el gol de ayudarles a conectar con los lectores de su género. Y sí, se pueden comprar anuncios en Goodreads (nunca lo he hecho aunque he leído de alguna gente a le que le pareció útil, mientras que todos los comentarios que he leído sobre anuncios en Facebook han sido malos.  Como la mayoría de gente hace variedad de cosas para promocionarse y no una sola es difícil saber exactamente qué cosas contribuyen más a los resultados obtenidos.)

Goodreads tiene representación en Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook y otros.

-Existe un Premio Escogido por los Lectores, donde los lectores nominan un libro publicado cada año. La última ronda de votaciones incluye 10 libros en cada una de las 20 categorías.

-Se les ha criticado por cambios que hicieron en como obtienen la información sobre los libros (dejaron de usar Amazon, pero quién sabe qué pasará ahora) y también sobre algunas de las reseñas ya que algunos autores se han quejado de que eran objeto de bullying y de campañas negativas y Goodreads publicó sus términos de servicio y reglas de uso para evitar abusos.

Related articles

“First do no harm”: My interview with Amazon and Goodreads on the future of Goodreads [GigaOM] (paidcontent.org)
Amazon Acquires Goodreads (huffingtonpost.com)

Work in progress. New romance. Click me happy! What do you think? And about this cover?

Hi all:

Although I have several projects going (including writing an epilogue for the three novellas in the series Escaping Psychiatry and publishing them as a single volume, and also translating them to Spanish) sometimes you come up with an idea for a story that won’t leave you until you do something about it. So there you have it, I’ve started writing another story. This is a romantic story, and although I’ve written stories (both publish and unpublished) with romance in them, none have had romance as the main focus.

English: Oscar Wilde, photographic print on card mount: albumen. Español: Oscar Wilde, impresión fotográfica en papel de albúmina. Français : Oscar Wilde, une photographie connue. Tirage albumen sur carte. Gaeilge: Oscar Wilde, prionta ghriangraf ar cárta albaimin. Italiano: Oscar Wilde, una fotografia che ci sia pervenuta, ricavata da una stampa fotografica. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But this one wanted to be written, so, what could I do? As Oscar Wilde says, the only way to conquer temptation is to fall into it.

I leave you the very beginning of the story (probably. I’m writing it so things might change. The title that I think I’ll keep is ‘Click Me Happy!‘. It is going to be a somewhat reluctant romance that has its origins in interactions in social media rather than face to face. When I prepared this post last weekend I was looking for ideas for a cover but since, I’ve found one I like (Raquel who was a guest from the Spanish group suggested this and I’m in love). What do you think?

Here a small sample:

Chapter 1. We meet the “heroine”

“No. Not another bleeming romantic novel! I’m going to puke! Come on, come on, look at it! Pink cover with a hunk showing off his chest and a gorgeous girl looking impressed. And somebody’s idea of a Scottish castle on the background. I can’t stand it any longer!”

Lilith Darville was far more attractive than she ever gave herself credit for. She was not a ravishing beauty (whatever that means) but she had nice brown hair, that she always wore short (no talent for creating hairdos), big almond shaped brown eyes, a beauty spot on her left cheek, a small nose and a well-defined mouth. A very pleasant combination whatever her opinion.

She only wore makeup under extreme duress (and on very special occasions), and although she used to be big as a child, between healthy eating and plenty of exercising she was now slim and reasonably fit. Not a supermodel but, who wants to be that skinny anyway?

“What’s it called?” Asked the Head librarian and good friend of Lilith, Debbie.

“What does it matter? It should be called: Just look at the six pack in this guy, get horny and buy my book. Does anybody believe all this rubbish?”

“It’s not about believing, Lilith. It’s fantasising. Who wouldn’t want to go out with a gorgeous guy and be the centre of his world, and have other women envy you and…?”

Thank you for reading and don’t forget to leave me comments and suggestions/ideas for the cover.

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Hot new publishing trend (wordwenches.typepad.com)
The hardest genre to write . . . (hopeofglory.typepad.com)
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Autor invitado. Manuel Navarro.

Hoy traigo como autor invitado un escritor español y compañero del grupo Autores Indies, Manuel Navarro. Es un hombre polifacético como veréis.

Currículo de Boris Rudeiko  

Manuel Navarro Seva (Boris Rudeiko), nació en Callosa de Segura, Alicante, España, en 1947. Es ingeniero de Telecomunicaciones y escritor. Ha publicado cuentos en los foros literarios Ventanianos, Bibliotecas Virtuales y Prosófagos; en las revistas Panace@ y Prosofagia y en su propio blog. Es coautor de los libros de cuentos Atmósferas, Necroslogía, una Antología de la muerte y Del Miedo y otras islas; y autor de Cosas que nunca confesé a nadie y Sobre la sangre derramada, publicados en Amazon. Terminó su primera novela Avenida Nevsky, diario de un expatriado, no publicada. Es cofundador y miembro del equipo de redacción de la revista literaria Prosofagia.

Blog: http://manuelnavarroseva.blogspot.com/

Email: mdnseva@hotmail.com

Tuitter: @ManuelNavarroSe

Facebook: Manuel Navarro

Author’s page en Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Manuel-Navarro-Seva/e/B009TOQJHG/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1366697136&sr=8-1

COSAS QUE NUNCA CONFESÉ A NADIE

http://www.amazon.es/dp/B009RKD5FG/

Descripción:

Libro de cincuenta cuentos breves y microcuentos, que escribí y guardé en mi ordenador a lo largo de ocho años. En él abordo temas como la familia, la amistad, el amor, el odio, el deseo, el miedo, la salud, la muerte, la venganza… Lo que describo en ellos es pura ficción, aunque es posible que haya puesto algo o mucho de mí mismo.

Comentarios de lectores:

Delia Aguiar: Recuerdo cuando Juan José Millás leía en la Ventana los relatos de Manuel Navarro. Al principio eran cortos, de una sola frase, pero después empezaron a ser más largos; todos ellos nos dejaban pensando cómo era posible encontrar tantos misterios en lo cotidiano. En eso consiste su escritura, en desvelar lo que hay detrás de las cosas sencillas. Ahora, con la publicación del libro, Manuel ha descorchado su botella de cuentos y todos nos hemos alegrado.

Alma Pellerito: Escritor por naturaleza, no a golpe de esfuerzo y disciplina, (con esto no quiero decir que no se esfuerce ni se discipline).Historias de vida de las pequeñas grandes cosas que suceden, seres vistos a través de la rendija de una puerta. Observador, agudo, cómplice de sus personajes a los que ni critica ni delata. Por si esto fuera poco, su prosa ágil está salpicada de fina ironía y buen humor. Esta colección de cuentos me recuerda a Cuentos Romanos, del italiano Alberto Moravia. Es uno de los mejores libros de cuentos que he leído, lo recomiendo ampliamente. De Alma Pellerito.

SOBRE LA SANGRE DERRAMADA

http://www.amazon.es/dp/B00AX9YCIY/

Descripción:

En este libro he reunido cuatro relatos de mayor extensión que los publicados en Cosas que nunca confesé a nadie. Aunque los temas que abordo en ellos son diferentes entre sí, hay una ciudad que los une: San Petersburgo, Rusia. Y un denominador común: la infidelidad en sus diversas formas de manifestarse.

En el primer cuento, El reloj de porcelana, Svetlana e Igor hallan una moneda de oro dentro de un reloj. A partir de ese momento se verán envueltos en una trama de ambiciones, infidelidades y asesinatos.

El segundo, La maleta, es la historia de un hombre de negocios cuya maleta se extravía en un vuelo a San Petersburgo. Al día siguiente recibe una que no le pertenece y una llamada telefónica inquietante.

El tercero, Adela Mirabal, es un relato sobre dos personas que se conocen en un viaje a San Petersburgo. El azar las coloca en asientos contiguos del avión, muestran interés mutuo y se citan para verse durante su estancia en la ciudad del Neva.

En el cuarto, Dientes de oro, un hombre solitario observa a una pareja de extranjeros en una playa del Mediterráneo. Entre ellos se establece una extraña relación.

Gracias por leer y no os olvidéis de HACER CLICK! Y si queréis saber más sobre el grupo, haced CLICK en el logo! Tenemos una página de web guapísima!

En progreso. Click me happy! Nueva historia romantica. Busco opiniones y sugerencias.

Hola  a todos. Aunque tengo muchos proyectos en marcha, (incluyendo acabar el epílogo de la serie ‘Escapando de la Psiquiatría’, traducir las tres novelas cortas al español y publicarlas como volumen único) de vez en cuando llega una historia que no te deja en paz hasta que la escribes, y ésta es una de ellas. Algunas de mis obras (publicadas y por publicar) contienen elementos de romance, pero no había escrito una obra puramente del género hasta ahora, pero supongo que nunca es tarde. Como dice Oscar Wilde, la única forma de vencer la tentación es caer en ella, y en eso estoy.

Os traigo una pequeña muestra del primer capítulo y ando a la busca de sugerencias sobre un par de cosas (y naturalmente opiniones, aunque sé que es muy poco). Primero es el título. La historia (no estoy segura como de larga será, pero creo que una novela corta) se llama ‘Click Me Happy!’ en inglés. La protagonista que es muy cínica con respecto a romances, se ve envuelta (a regañadientes) en una relación a distancia usando social media. En español había pensado dejarla con el título inglés, pero también podría usar una traducción: ‘Hazme feliz on un click’ (que sería traducción más o menos literal), ‘Feliz al toque de un botón’, ‘El click de la felicidad’…O quizás dejar el título en inglés con subtítulo en castellano. No he decidido pero agradecería sugerencia y opiniones.

También ando a la búsqueda de ideas sobre la portada. Había pensado en un ordenador y…poco más.

Bueno, os dejo la muestra a ver que os parece y gracias por leer y sugerir.

Capítulo 1. Donde conocemos a la “heroína”

̶ No. ¡No otra maldita novela romántica! ¡Voy a vomitar de asco! ¡Anda, anda, mírala! Portada rosa con un tío macizo enseñando el pecho y una chica guapísima contemplándolo con lujuria. Y en el horizonte un castillo “escocés” de pacotilla. ¡No puedo soportarlo ni un minuto más!

Lilith Darville era mucho más atractiva de lo que se creía. Aunque no era una belleza arrebatadora (sea lo que sea lo que eso signifique) tenía un bonito pelo castaño que siempre llevaba corto (no tenía talento alguno para los peinados complicados), grandes ojos marrones almendrados, una peca que le favorecía mucho en la mejilla izquierda, nariz pequeña y boca bien definida. Una combinación la mar de agradable, pensara ella lo que pensara.

Solo se ponía maquillaje bajo tortura (y en ocasiones muy especiales), y aunque de pequeña estaba rellenita, entre comida sana y mucho ejercicio ahora estaba delgada y en buena forma. No era una top-model pero ¿quién quiere estar tan famélico de todas formas?

̶ ¿Cómo se llama? ̶ preguntó Debbie, encargada de la biblioteca y buena amiga de Lilith.

̶ ¿Qué importa eso? Se tendría que llamar Mira los musculitos de este tío, ponte caliente y compra mi libro. ¿De verdad hay alguien que se crea estas tonterías?

̶ No es cuestión de creer o no, Lilith. Es una fantasía. ¿Quién no querría salir con un tío guapísimo, ser el centro de su universo, que te envidien todas las otras mujeres y…?

 

Guest author Maer Wilson and her new novel ‘Relics’

Hi all:

I know most of my guest authors normally visit us on a Friday but after talking to Maer about her new book I decided it was time to bring you her news, as her book is published the 1st May. Maer is another one of my colleagues writers form ASMSG and she’s promoting her book ‘Relics‘.

Maer’s Bio

After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she’s a writer. She’s always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci fi. Maer was born in the Year of the Dragon and has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard. When she’s not writing, Maer plays online video games, teaches college and reads. She also co-hosts the literary podcast, “MythBehaving” and writes for two gaming fansites. She lives in the high desert of Southern Nevada with her two dogs, a chihuahua and a poodle. Relics is her first novel and will be released by Crescent Moon Press on May 1, 2013. You can visit her website at maerwilson.com.

Former actor and Southern Nevada resident Maer Wilson joins the ranks of published authors on May 1, 2013. Wilson’s first book, Relics, will be published by Crescent Moon Press. Relics is a Contemporary Fantasy that takes place in San Francisco and follows the exploits of husband and wife detectives, Thulu and La Fi. The couple’s clients are usually dead, which is fine with them since they work only with the supernatural. But their simple job to find lost relics for an ancient daemon turns into a grand adventure when the creatures of myth and magic return to Earth, confirming that humans are definitely not alone. You can find more information about Wilson and Relics at http://maerwilson.com/ and http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/Relics.html.

Book Blurb

Most of Thulu and La Fi’s clients are dead. Which is perfect since their detective agency caters to the supernatural. So, a job finding relics for an ancient daemon should be simple.

The daemon needs the relics to keep a dangerous portal closed. His enemy, Gabriel, wants the relics to open the portal and give his people access to a new feeding ground – Earth.

Stunning humanity with their existence, portals to other worlds begin to open and the creatures of magic return to Earth.

When Gabriel threatens their family, Thulu and La Fi’s search becomes personal. The couple will need powerful allies in the race to find the relics before Gabriel does. But maybe that’s what grateful dead, magical allies and daemonic clients are for.

When the creatures of myth and magic return to Earth, they’re nothing like your mother’s fairy tales.

‘Relics‘ Excerpt:

The door opened. A cool draft of air wafted my way, swirling the steam in the shower. I peeked out to see Thulu shutting the door behind him. It was a great view.

“So, have I ever mentioned that I’m a soul reader?”

I moved forward to clear the small waterfall and gave him a suspicious look. One never knew with Thulu.

“No, I don’t think you’ve shared that bit of information.”

“I’m quite good at it, actually.” He sat on one of the side seats and motioned to the one across from him. I moved to the other seat.

Nodding, he continued, “I’m quite surprised you didn’t know this. In some circles, I’m known as the Great and Wonderful Reader of Souls.”

“Oh, really?  I’m shocked that this could have escaped my attention all these years.”

“Well, this is the perfect time for me to read yours. Being that you’re all pruney.”

I looked at my hands. They were pretty pruney. I shrugged and held out my hand palm up.

Praise for Relics

“‘Relics’ is a powerful read which will challenge long-held perceptions of good vs. evil and Light vs. Dark well after the book is finished.” Diane M. Haynes, author of Rift Healer, YA finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.

“In Relics, author Maer Wilson takes everything you think you know about the creatures of the fantasy world and twists it around to create a unique and engaging story.”  Constance Philips, author of Resurrecting Harry and Fairyproof.

“The perfect paranormal detective, Wilson’s unique and suspenseful tale pulls you in and doesn’t let go.”  Jean Murray, author of Soul Awakened and Soul Reborn.

Thank you for reading and don’t forget to CLICK ON THE LINKS!

Maer’s Website: http://maerwilson.com/

Maer’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maer-Wilson-Author/149085628472833

Maer’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MaerWilson

Relics at Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17767013-relics

Relics at Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Relics-Maer-Wilson/dp/1939173310/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_E8ZZ

Relics at Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-maer-wilson/1115158495?ean=9781939173317

Relics – The Book Trailer link on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un2PHs5oGwg

Guest author Diane Major. Fantasy adventure, children and young adult writer.

I met Diane through ASMSG one of the writers groups I belong to. She’s written a number of Young Adult novels and she kindly agreed to come and talk to us about her writing.

My Books:  Enmitus – The Transformation, Enmitus – The Children,  I am Nine, Children of Fury, Like Hell Itself, and Children’s Book – Mason and Bess, The Adventure Begins

Author: Diane Major

Genre: Fantasy

 

 

Author Bio:

I grew up in Horden, a mining village in the North East of England.  I gained my professional qualification in Youth & Community Work, BSc Open Degree (Hons) as a mature student. During my career I worked both in the voluntary sector and then for local government which offered her the opportunity to develop many skills.   I worked with people of all ages and from a wide variety of backgrounds.  I enjoyed watching both staff and service users gain skills and become confident people.

I worked on my first book in the genre of fantasy adventure named “Children of Fury” for almost 2 years and at the same time completed my second novel “I am Nine.”   To date I have published 5 fantasy adventure books, a Children’s Book and am almost ready to publish a young adults story.

Now retired, I enjoy spending time with my family, writing, walking and fundraising for a local voluntary organization.

A little about some of my books:

Children of Fury : Within a period of turmoil for the immortals Heron is born.  A Fury like no other, Heron has a legacy for vengeance which spans thousands of years.  In England during the 1400’s he meets a young woman named Aimee who has already met her soul mate.  As their paths collide with catastrophic results a story of retribution lasting centuries and continents unfolds.

I am Nine:  Is about Naomi’s journey.  Something strikes and almost wipes out the Earth’s population.  Naomi is taken from her parents and grows up with strangers on a ship.  On reaching America Naomi and two other boys are sent on a scouting mission to find out if the land is safe enough for the community to build a new home.  Naomi is separated from her companions and faces danger, until something saves her.  On her journey Naomi faces great wild dogs and cannibals.

Enmitus – The Transformation: People leave a dying Earth and travel for centuries until they find their new home.  As they travel the people on board the individual ships become tribes.  One of the tribes settle on Serenitus and the adventure begins.  Corinna’s hand in marriage is promised to Omar who is already besotted with an evil woman.  Once this arrangement is made Corinna has to leave her home planet for Enmitus where she finds, hatred, deceit, cruelty, lies and love.  I am currently writing the sequel.

found where we expect it least……

How long did it take to write the books?

It took almost two years to write my first book and after that I found it took less time for each book.

What inspired you to write ?  

My interest in writing really started when I read C S Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia as a child.

When I did start writing I wanted to develop stories that would take people away from everyday life for as long as it would take them to read one of my books.

Talk about the writing process. Did you have a writing routine? Did you do any research, and if so, what did that involve?

I write every day but not at any set time.

What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

Having enjoyed an escape from reality.

Where can we go to buy your books?

Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Waterstones

Amazon USA

http://www.amazon.com/Diane-Major/e/B008R5S3KO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1363795100&sr=8-1

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diane-Major/e/B008R5S3KO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1363795057&sr=1-1

Any other links or info you’d like to share?

www.dianemajorauthor.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/DianeMajorBooks

http://dimajor.blogspot.co.uk/

 Thank you for reading and don’t forget to CLICK!

Autor invitado. Juanjo Díaz Tubert.

Hoy os traigo a un escritor al que conocí a través de Facebook ya que él también pertenece al mismo grupo que yo, autoresindies. Como yo estaba interesada en traer a escritores invitados a mi blog, él se ofreció amablemente a darnos una nota biográfica (otro autor de Barcelona. Es prometo que no es favoritismo, parece que nos gusta escribir mucho a todos) y un extracto de su novela.

Ya no os doy más la lata y os dejo con Juanjo.

Biografía:

Juanjo Díaz Tubert, nació en Barcelona, España, en 1963. Cursó estudios de humanidades en la universidad a distancia U.O.C. y de cinematografía en la escuela de medios audiovisuales E.M.A.V. Colabora en diversos blogs y talleres literarios y es autor de cuentos y esbozos de guión. A partir de marzo de 2012 publica en amazón “El jardín hueco“, novela distópica con éxito de crítica que le está reportando prestigio en amazón. Como el dice: “La novela es fruto de una decisión para adentrarse en la escritura literaria, un auténtico reto sin retorno para manejar historias aún más complejas, pues; el cuento se me quedó corto”.

Su labor profesional abarca la escritura de libretos, la Tv y los medios culturales.

“Y en los jardines de la mente insertaron un virus traidor…”

La sociedad se ha vuelto autista y sólo unos pocos tienen consciencia de lo que ocurre. El personaje principal (apodado Gust) cae en una depresión y decide romper con todo. Esa osadía le llevará a sufrir de mobbing en su trabajo donde ejerce de tecnócrata en un sindicato futurista. Convencido de que él se está convirtiendo en un autista, por culpa de un virus extraño, decidirá viajar a Sudamérica para visitar a un chamán y pedirle que le sane; sin embargo, por un hurto accidental todo se torcerá y acabará conviviendo con una familia humilde en un barrio lamentable de chozas donde compartirá con ellos el hambre y la pobreza… Y después de esa experiencia aclaradora tomará una decisión que cambiará su vida.

De forma paralela, a través de dos personajes algo freaks y, de estratos opuestos, veremos los efectos psicopáticos del nano-organismo. Los disparates existenciales de ambos harán de contrapunto a su parábola.

El jardín hueco es un reflejo de nuestra sociedad, una crítica irónica de nuestro presente enfocado hacia el futuro. Una auténtica novela de anticipación; kafkiana, esperpéntica y con una ironía demoledora.

http://www.amazon.es/El-jard%C3%ADn-hueco-ebook/dp/B007L6O7LO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363993246&sr=8-1

Gracias a Juanjo por compartir y gracias a vosotros por leer. Y no os olvidéis de hacer CLICK!

Y un par de páginas sobre el grupo autores indies

La página de Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/autoresindies?group_id=389861554444960

Para su obra en inglés:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Autores-Hispanos/606960779316557

Y echadle un vistazo a la página de Demonios de Formentera, que os encantará:

https://www.facebook.com/demonios.formentera?fref=ts

 

Preview of new novel! Blood Family by Mark Knight

My friend and fellow writer, Jodie Pierce (she’s also been a guest in my blog) told me about Mark Knight’s new novel (coming up on July) and asked me if I would host him as part of his blog tour. As you know I love to meet and introduce writers so, how could I resist? Also, I don’t think it’s ever a good idea to say no to the Queen of Vampires.

Mark Knight tells us a bit about his influences in writing, the type of characters he loves to write about and leaves us an extract of his new novel.

Mark Knight grew up in Massachusetts, USA. Settling in the UK, Mark continued to write novels of differing genres, including horror and television scripts. Mark has worked on scripts for Hollywood’s Little Slices of Death production company and one for Illusion Studios, for which he has recently signed an Option Acquisition Agreement. He also won several short story competitions, and has had his work featured in published anthologies. Mark concentrates now on Young Adult urban fantasy novels.

Mark Knight:

I fell in love with books and movies very early on. Roald Dahl, Planet of the Apes , Tolkien, Star Wars …they were all part of my journey. From age sixteen I was compelled to write my own.  I have always been fascinated by amazingly ‘out there’ type stories – be it fantasy, horror, or science fiction – that have an element of reality in them. You know, where you can say ‘Oh yeah, I can relate to that’ or ‘I know someone who has that problem’. To me, the more real your characters, their emotions, problems, etc, then the more thrilling it becomes when the fantastic comes knocking at their door.

For instance, Daniel Dark, the seventeen-year-old protagonist of Blood Family , has family problems that have led him to smoke weed and chug beer with his equally indolent friend. But then he discovers that he is a half-vampire with incredible powers. Finally, his dull going-nowhere life is supercharged.

Fifteen-year-old Solomon, hero of Solomon Grimm and the Well of Souls , comes from a broken home and suffers from hypoglycaemic attacks his diabetes. It screws up his life—until a gypsy curse renders him undead. Diabetes is the least of his problems now.

Dealing with the death of a parent was bad enough for Gunner Robinson. He has a sixth-sense, the ability to know when evil is near. Other powers are manifesting themselves as well, and they are getting him into trouble, at home and at school. Which is why he wound up in therapy. Telling the doc that he is a warrior angel reborn would definitely make things worse…

Blood Family: Quest for the Vampire Key

By Mark Knight

 

Publisher: Amazon

Illustrator: David M. Rabbitte

 

Release Date: 4/7/13

 

Genre: Dark Paranormal

Life as part of a debt-free, middle-class family in the New England suburbs should have been heaven.

But when your father is a Man of God and you’re a vampire, it sure can be hell.

Until the age of seventeen, Daniel Dark had no idea of his true origins. Something was ulcerating deep inside him, striving to claw its way free. Pastor Nathan Dark and his wife, Annie, had adopted him and brought him up as their own. But Daniel always felt that there was a secret they feared tell him…

Everything changes the day a mysterious package arrives at his home. It contains blood – human blood. It is a message from his true father – a vampire named Dominus. Daniel’s vampire half awakens and takes its first step out of the shadows. Vampires, Daniel learns, are not like in the movies. They’re worse, much worse, and cannot be killed by sunlight or stakes.

The once lazy, goalless youth transforms into sharp-sensed killer. Now, there is no turning back. On his trail is Pastor Nathan Dark, obsessed with destroying the boy he’d adopted as his own…

Armed with ever-evolving powers, Daniel sets off to find and free his birth mother, imprisoned by Dominus since the day of his birth.

It is a journey that takes Daniel to Mexico and the mysterious Mayan shaman woman, Xochil, guardian of Vampire secrets. From there the trail leads to misty moors of southern England, where he joins forces with Logan DuPris, a vampire hunter as attractive as she is deadly. Together they piece together the weird clues that lead to…

The Vampire Key

And now an excerpt of the book:

                                                                CHAPTER 13

As evening painted the sky a deep purple, Daniel stepped through his front door and looked around. As his life had changed, so too had all that surrounded him. He was sensing something. Daniel had never been one for deep thinking, but now his perceptions stretched themselves out over the landscape, over time, feeling out new possibilities and new horizons. He exhaled a big, purging breath, scratching the back of his head. Was he really going to do it? Leave home?

The ‘incident’ with Daelin had left him confused. Part of him had wanted to take advantage of her in the most gruesome and bloodiest of ways. Part of him wanted to protect her forever. Would it be best for her—and for him—to stay, or to leave? This wasn’t exactly something he could talk over with the town’s youth counselor. For the first time in his life, he had no one to fall back on. Future decisions would be down to him and him alone.

No more of this soul-searching crap. I want my bed.

Entering, he kicked off his sneakers and thudded up the stairs. As he grabbed the door handle to his room he halted. Mom stood there, down the hall, looking…defenseless.

“Daniel…”

“Just a minute, Mom.” He wanted to change his shirt a.s.a.p.—his unbidden hallucination had made him very sweaty, not to mention the sex play with Daelin.

He entered his room.

That was his first mistake.

Dad was waiting for him—he and six other pastors. Not one appeared to be in a forgiving mood.

It was a shock to Daniel—he hadn’t even seen any cars parked out front, not even Dad’s.

He then made his second mistake. He didn’t move quickly enough.

Another pastor, who had been waiting next to the door, kicked it shut. Then, the tallest of the ministers facing him shot him with what looked to be a crossbow. The arrow tore into the boy’s left shoulder, pinning him to his bedroom door. He roared in pain. Before the roar was over, an arrow pierced his other shoulder.

“I know you hate me for this, Daniel,” said Nathan Dark. “But I’m doing this to help you.”

“Help me?” spat Daniel. “You want to kill me!”

“It’s taken me years to put together this Deliverance Team, Daniel,” Pastor Dark told him. “And unlike even my own church denomination, our newly founded division knows about the existence of creatures like you.”

“Creatures like me?”

“Yes,” said Nathan coldly. “Demons—like you.”

The pastors rushed at Daniel as he grasped the arrow shafts, trying to pull himself free. The seven men began shouting out religious passages at him, fear knocking their phrases out of unison. Five of them restrained Daniel while two others (including his father) performed the laying on of hands, placing palms on his head and chest. Enraged, Daniel bellowed back at them, irises turning blood red as his would-be deliverers watched in increasing terror.

And something else was happening: the arrows that impaled Daniel were dissolving, actually turning to ash and smoke before their eyes. Through the tears in his son’s shirt Nathan Dark could see the arrow wounds healing before his eyes—flesh growing and knitting, liberated blood retreating back inside the boy’s body before the holes closed.

Revivified, Daniel flung his arms outward in a mighty push, hurling the men to the floor. The deliverers howled in pain.

Nathan Dark regained his senses. His son was nowhere in sight. Then, hearing a sound like the panting of a wounded wolf, he looked up. Daniel clung there, defying gravity, hugging the ceiling like a bat.  Nathan barked through gritted teeth to the crossbow-wielder, who hastily reloaded his weapon of choice. He was good—very good—and had no trouble in unleashing another duo of deadly carbon shafts into the boy’s body—one in the leg, and the other in his shoulder. The idea was to get so many of them stuck in the youth that he would weaken long enough for the team to overpower him.  In this case, ‘overpower’ would mean one of two things—either to free him of his curse, or to free him of his life.

Detaching from the ceiling, Daniel landed in the center of the pastors, now on their feet in a rough circle. He spun, elongated nails gashing each face in rapid succession. Blood sprayed in all directions. The deliverers reeled back in pain. But Nathan avoided injury, stepping back just long enough to retrieve from his jacket the object that he had secreted there as a last resort.

There had been accounts of wooden stakes actually working against demonics and undead entities, but Nathan had never verified any of these accounts. Sure, maybe it was just movie nonsense. But this, right here, right now, was real. He was going to put right this terrible wrong—this boy’s abominable existence—in God’s name. He would succeed no matter what, even if -

Daniel had locked his gaze on to his father. The stake dropped from his hand. Pastor Nathan Dark grabbed his head as though trying to keep it from falling off. The look of sheer terror in his face was proof enough that the hypnotic assault was working.  The other members of the deliverance team watched, transfixed.

“No!” Nathan was screaming. “Don’t leave me in this place! Get me out! Take me out of here!” He was no longer in this world, not consciously. Daniel had succeeded in making this devout Christian man believe that he was in Hell.

It had not been difficult for Daniel to target his father’s greatest fear. But he didn’t know how long he could keep up the illusion. This ability was new to him, powered by raw instinct.

Sensing the approach of the other ministers, Daniel whirled to confront them.

“Keep back!” he warned. “Unless you want me to invade your little minds as well!” His own words frightened him. Never before had he spoken words like that, nor with such rage. What had he become?

Pastor Nathan Dark screamed even louder. Even Daniel had no idea as to what his Dad was seeing within his mind’s eye.

“Daniel! Stop it, now!”

Mom!

Daniel was shocked to see that she’d entered. He released his father.

Jerking his head toward the window across the room, he barked at it as though giving an order. The windowpane shot up with a bang.

Daniel’s exit was a blur—a dark streak that could have been the boy taking flight. No one in the room would ever know.

He was gone.

Thanks to Jodie and Mark for bringing us this exciting new book and I leave you with links to Mark and his work. Thanks for reading and DON’T FORGET TO CLICK!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C456EJU

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Family-Quest-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00C456EJU/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364730430&sr=1-11

www.markknightbooks.com

www.bloodfamily.co.uk

@markknightbooks (Twitter)

www.amazon.com/author/markknight