Suzanne Schultz Pick's Blog: bookblogarama, page 10
March 13, 2019
Book Tour for Right Girl, Wrong Timing (Offsides Book Three) by Natalie Decker
Right Girl Wrong Timing by Natalie Decker
Publication Date: March 12, 2019
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Adaline Frost’s life officially sucks. Now that her BFF has found her true love, Addy is constantly stuck being the third wheel. On top of that, she hasn’t started her junior project yet, so her advisor pairs her up with what could only be described as the “Reject Breakfast Club.” Instead of the weirdo and the troublemaker, Addy is forced to work with two stoners, a popular girl, and her crush, Austin Reed, the jock who broke her heart.
Austin Reed is sick of being labeled “dumb jock.” If he doesn’t get an A on this project, he can kiss his future goodbye. Austin thought he’d gotten lucky being partners with the very nerdy Adaline Frost, but boy was he wrong. Addy jumps down his throat about his being late and calls him names like “manwhore” on the daily. She has no idea Austin works before and after school in order to help his mom with the bills. Yeah, he’s made mistakes and has had lots of girlfriends, but he doesn’t need Adaline Frost to remind him of it every time he sees her.
Can Austin and Addy ever be a thing?
Right Girl Wrong Timing is book 3 in the Offsides series by Natalie Decker.
Purchase Links:
About the Author
[image error]Natalie Decker is the Author of Rival Love. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!
Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
Giveaway
One winner will receive a Starbucks gift card.
March 12, 2019
Blog Tour for End of the Lie by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Link to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43054965-end-of-the-lie
Purchase Links:
| | | | | |
Link to Tour Schedule:
http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-end-of-the-lie-by-diana-rodriguez-wallach/
End of the Lie (Anastasia Phoenix #3) by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Publication Date: March 4, 2019
Publisher: Entangled Teen
With her harrowing tale of espionage and near death experiences finally out in the open, Anastasia Phoenix thought things would be better. That she and her friends had outsmarted Department D, the criminal empire her parents helped create.
She thought wrong.
Former friends have turned to enemies, causing more innocent lives to get swept up into the dangerous world her parents created. Now it’s up to Anastasia to stop the damage before anyone else gets hurt—or worse. She embarks on a treacherous trail from Poland to Prague, and old rivals emerge at every turn. But when the final confrontation occurs, will she be too late to protect the ones she loves… or even herself?
Excerpt
KEIRA IRENE PHOENIX [Looking directly into the camera. Footage released by Phillip Stone Media, Inc.]
“Hi. My name is Keira Phoenix, and I am the daughter of international criminals. In May, I was kidnapped by a man named Craig Bernard who, at the time, I thought was my boyfriend. We had met weeks before at a bar in Boston. The anniversary of my parents’ death had just passed, so I was upset when he showed up, acting nice. [She scoffs, rolling her eyes.] I invited him to a party I was hosting, then later that night he drugged me and took me from my home.
“I don’t remember the abduction—one minute I was in my bed, the next I’m waking up on an airplane, my head pounding and my hands bound together with plastic cable ties. [She rubs her wrists.] I was held captive in Italy for months, by armed guards, and I had no idea why. Eventually, I learned that Craig Bernard and all of the men involved in my kidnapping used to work for my parents. Only not as engineers for the Dresden Chemical Corporation. They were spies. All of them, especially my mom and dad. It turns out that my parents, along with Randolph Urban, CEO of Dresden, conspired to create a criminal enterprise known as Department D, which stretches back long before I was born. We have photographic proof that my parents were involved in the assassination of Italy’s Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978, and we have a journal, in my father’s handwriting, and eyewitness testimony that proves he was involved in the fake terrorist plot that defamed nearly a half dozen Islamic women in London two years ago along with the reporter who covered the story, Julian Stone.
“I believe I was taken by enemies of my parents as payback for their past criminal activity. Evidence of my time in captivity is undeniable. [For the camera, Phoenix holds up a proof of life photo with a church bulletin, and a posed photo of her body in the trunk of a car.] I was rescued by my sister, Anastasia, and her friends, who acted alone, because the Boston P.D. refused to listen to them, for reasons none of us understand. After my rescue, my sister, her friends, and I made statements to Italian law enforcement and the CIA, and I was instructed to stay in hiding for my own protection. But I was never safe. No one around us is safe. Tyson Westbrook, a seventeen-year-old friend of my sister’s, was murdered recently as a way to get to us, to lure me and Anastasia out of hiding. When that didn’t work, when we continued to fight, these people poisoned one us—Marcus Rey, son of Dresden executives Carlos and Rosario Rey.
“They’re picking us off one by one, and we don’t know how high up the corruption goes. Our parents were hired by world leaders to create propaganda for decades. Now these same people are covering up their crimes against us—including kidnapping, poisoning, and murder. They’re trying to silence us, take us out, and prevent us from exposing the truth behind Department D and its shell corporation, Dresden Chemical.
“We won’t stay silent anymore.
“We won’t stay in hiding.
“And we won’t trust law enforcement to act on our behalf.
“That’s why I’m coming forward now. I’m telling my story, in my own words. I need the world to know what’s going on, so hopefully no one else gets hurt.
“I’ve learned a lot about my parents recently, and you will, too, over the coming weeks. They did a lot of bad things. I know that. And they might even still be alive. [She cocks her head.] I’ve heard the rumors, like you, but I swear, if they are, I haven’t seen them.
“However, I am certain that the only way my sister and I will ever be safe is if we bring down the Dresden Chemical Corporation and its corrupt underbelly, Department D. We need to take back our lives and stop paying for crimes we didn’t commit.
“My name is Keira Phoenix and I survived Department D. But will you?”
Other Books in the Series
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/168771
About the Author
[image error]
Diana Rodriguez Wallach is the author of the Anastasia Phoenix series, three YA spy thrillers set to debut beginning in March 2017 (Entangled Publishing). She is also the author of three award-winning young adult novels: Amor and Summer Secrets, Amigas and School Scandals, and Adios to All The Drama (Kensington Books); as well as a YA short-story collection based on the Narcissus myth, entitled Mirror, Mirror (Buzz Books, 2013). In 2011, she published a highly regarded essay in Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories (HarperCollins). It was the only essay chosen from the anthology by Scholastic to be used in its classroom materials. Diana is featured in the anthology, Latina Authors and Their Muses (Twilight Times Books, 2015), and she is currently on staff as a featured blogger for Quirk Books. In 2010 Diana was named one of the Top Ten New Latino Authors to Watch by LatinoStories.com, and she placed second in the International Latino Book Awards. She is an advisory board member for the Philly Spells Writing Center, and is a Creative Writing instructor for Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. She holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University, and currently lives in Philadelphia.
Website • Twitter • Instagram • Goodreads
February 27, 2019
Blog Tour and Author Interview for The Winnowing (Stanley & Hazel 2) by Jo Schaffer
[image error]
Link to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42111232-the-winnowing
Pre-order Link
BAM | Google Play | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | kobo | TBD
Tour Schedule:
http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-the-winnowing-stanley-hazel-2-by-jo-schaffer/
Giveaway Info:
One (1) winner will win a digital copy of any previously published Month9Books title of their choosing
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Link to giveaway:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c08c9e8e740/?
[image error]
The Winnowing (Stanley & Hazel #2) by Jo Schaffer
Publication Date: February 26, 2019
Publisher: Month9Books
Darkness descends over St. Louis, a city already rocked by the Great Depression. More and more people are disappearing, and some have turned up dead. A sinister secret society is putting forward their plan known as “The Winnowing,” designed to wipe out those they consider “undesirable.”
After Stanley and Hazel foil the diabolical plans of Charles Chouteau, they become instant celebrities. Hazel is thrust into the role of debutante, and risks loses herself in it. Meanwhile, Stanley must deal with the horrific tragedy of his best friend’s death while being threatened by the unseen forces of the Veiled Prophet.
With things spiraling out of control, Stanley and Hazel’s relationship is tested, possibly beyond repair. As bodies pile up, people become more desperate. The divide between wealthy and poor grows ever wider, threatening to tear their worlds apart. Now, the two must find a way to work together if there is any hope at all of saving their relationship and their futures.
Interview with the Author
What is your writing process? Do you aim for a word count daily or maybe just a scene?
Before I start writing I do a lot of research and note taking. Then I create a rough outline—I like to leave some wiggle room for the creative process. I don’t pay attention to word count as I write but I try to move forward with a scene as much as possible. I usually progress through the book chapter by chapter and rarely skip around to write a scene. The way forward influences where the story goes. I learn about my characters and the story as it evolves.
2. What sort of research did you do for this book?
The 1930s was a fascinating time. The glamor and the poverty that coexisted in America created a little bit of a split personality in the culture while Hitler rose to power in Germany. I read a lot about the Great Depression era and watched a lot of movies from that time period to get a feel for the culture.
3. What are you working on now? Any hints about the next book in the series?
I am working on several YA projects, and an anthology. Also, Book 3 of Stanley and Hazel is in development. In the third installment a lot of intense things happen as the kids go head to head with Legion and the Veiled Prophet. Some characters will not survive and others will surprise you as loyalties are called upon.
4. How did you come up for the idea of your book?
I was raised on classic film and I’ve always been fascinated by the era. And I wanted to explore how history tends to repeat itself. I became very interested to look at what things we’re doing now as a society that mirror back then. The ideologies and divisions according to class and race that gave birth to the ideas of genetic cleansing. Nobody wants to believe that their culture is capable of atrocities but it is a road we all travel in denial about where it leads. My best friend Jonathan and I talked about these things a lot and together we came up with the world of Stanley and Hazel.
5. Just for fun — what TV shows or movies have you really enjoyed (or disliked?) recently?
I haven’t had a lot of time to watch TV lately but I like shows that have great character development and intelligent plot lines, humor, drama and metaphor. My all-time favorite show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But I enjoy shows like The Office, Parks and Rec, Pushing Daisies and Psych.
About the Author
[image error]
Jo Schaffer was born and raised in the California Bay Area in a huge, creative family. She is a YA novelist, speaker and a Taekwondo black belt.
She’s a founding member of the nonprofit organization that created Teen Author Boot Camp, one of the nation’s biggest conferences for teens where bestselling authors present writing workshops to nearly a thousand attendees.
Jo loves being involved in anything that promotes literacy and family. She is passionate about community, travel, books, music, healthy eating, classic films and martial arts. But her favorite thing is being mom to three strapping sons and a neurotic cat named Hero. They live together in the beautiful mountains of Utah.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads
February 19, 2019
Blog Tour and Author Interview for The Crush Collision (Southern Charmed #2) by Danielle Ellison
Link to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43602666-the-crush-collision
Purchase Links:
| | | | | |
Link to Tour Schedule:
The Crush Collision(Southern Charmed #2)
by Danielle Ellison
Publication Date: February 18, 2019
Publisher: Entangled Teen: Crush
Haley Howell has had a hopeless crush on her brother’s best friend, Jake Lexington, for as long as she can remember. Too bad to him, she’ll forever be off-limits. But with senior year and acceptance to a college outside their tiny southern town of Culler, South Carolina, comes new confidence. Haley’s ready to get Jake to notice her—whatever it takes.
No one in Culler notices the real Jake anymore—to them, he’s nothing more than the star football player or the kid with the family tragedy. When one mistake lands him in community service, he’s shocked to find his best friend’s little sister there, too, looking cute as hell and threatening all his no-friends-with-benefits rules. But Jake isn’t ready to take a chance, no matter how crafty Haley’s willing to get to prove him otherwise…
Interview with Danielle Ellison
Tell us about your writing process. Do you aim for a daily word count, page count, or a couple of scenes each day?
I am do not have a regular process. I procrastinate too long, a habit I’m working on, and I outline the whole book, and then I just pour out a book in spurts than in a daily basis. I would love to be someone who wrote every day, but I can’t always mentally do it everyday. I do try to write once a week, but even sometimes that turns into two weeks. It all depends on if I have a deadline or not.
What gave you the inspiration for your book? Is it part of a series?
This book is part of a series, Southern Charmed series. It’s the second book but each story is a standalone set in the same town with some characters that interchange, so it can be read it any order. The series is my take of a southern town like Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls). The inspiration for this book was that I watched a lot of Friday Night Lights back in the day and I really wanted to write a character to pay tribute to Tim Riggins.
Are you a pantser or a plotter? A bit of both?
I’m a plotter. I need an outline to thrive and write well; at this point, I’ve got it down to a science that works well with my joy of character-driven stories.
Do you prefer a certain type of music to listen to when you’re writing, or are you better with silence?
I don’t write with music or anything like that. I do enjoy background noise when I can get it, like coffeeshops, and I used to only write in that kind of setting, but now I write a lot with my partner playing video games in the background.
What book(s) are you reading now?
I am reading Uncharted by Erin Cashman and my next read is Sadie by Courtney Summers
Anything else you’d like us to know about this book or any others (past or future)?
I love this book, and Jake and Haley really surprised me with their story. It’s so amazing to me, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it. Each of the love stories in the series are also stories and celebrations of friendship, and I hope when you visit Culler (for the first or second time) you find something to love. And if you do, stay tuned because I have two more coming.
About the Author
[image error]
Danielle Ellison is a nomad, always on the lookout for an adventure and the next story. In addition to writing, she’s the founder and coordinator of the NoVa TEEN Book Festival. When she’s not busy with books, she’s probably watching her favorite shows, drinking coffee, or fighting her nomadic urges. She is newly settled in Oklahoma (for now) with her cat, Simon, but you can always find her on Twitter @DanielleEWrites.
Website • Twitter • Facebook •Instagram• Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
February 5, 2019
Midnight Fire Series cover repackage blitz
The Midnight Fire Series from Kaitlyn Davis now has new covers! Check them out below!
Midnight Fire Seriesby Kaitlyn DavisGenre: YA Paranormal Romance Summary: **Over 250,000 Copies of the Midnight Fire Series Sold!**
**Over 5000 5-Star Reviews on Goodreads!**
“The writing is effortlessly mind blowing.” – Happy Tales and Tails Blog
“Read the books. Do it.” – Urban Girl Reader
“I was riveted throughout.” – Obsession With Books
Kira Dawson has the power to burn vampires to a crisp. The problem is, she doesn’t know it yet. The even bigger problem is, she’s dating one.
When Kira Dawson moves to South Carolina, she meets Luke, a blond goofball who quickly becomes her best friend, and Tristan, a mysterious bad boy who sends shivers down her spine. Kira knows they’re keeping secrets, but when she discovers Tristan’s lust for blood and her own dormant mystical powers, Kira is forced to fight for her life and make the heartbreaking decision between the familiar comfort of friendship and the fiery passion of love.
From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis comes a paranormal romance perfect for fans of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
The first book, Ignite, is FREE wherever ebooks are sold! Download your copy and start the series today!
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005U8GQT6/
iBooks – https://geo.itunes.apple.com/book/ignite/id475003053?mt=11
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/en/en/book/ignite-midnight-fire-series-book-one
B&N – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ignite-kaitlyn-davis/1106913247?ean=2940161284650
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kaitlyn_Davis_Ignite_Midnight_Fire_1?id=QzeMBgAAQBAJ
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95191
The Midnight Fire series (click on images for Goodreads links):
Excerpt from Ignite (Midnight Fire Book 1) Tristan finished reading his lines. “Hey, Juliet, it’s your turn.” He smirked. “Oh, right.” Kira looked down at her book. “‘O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art though Romeo.'” She tried to copy his apathetic style of reading and was secretly overjoyed when he laughed at her. “I get it, I sounded like an idiot.” She just continued giving him the same silent treatment he had given her. “Okay, here’s the truth, Kira. We can’t talk here, and we shouldn’t even be talking now, or maybe ever.” “You told me that already.” Kira stopped reading. “Yet, you seem to have trouble understanding it. English is your first language, right?” he teased. She rolled her eyes at the joke. “Like I said before, we just can’t ever be.” “I understand what you’re saying, but I also know you don’t mean it.” She leaned closer to him to prevent from being overheard. “I do,” Tristan said, forcing the point. “Oh really?” she tried to push him now. “It didn’t seem that way when you kissed me.” “Kira, forget that ever happened, okay?” “Or what? You don’t scare me.” “I should,” he said and shot Kira a lethal look. In that moment, Tristan’s eyes changed color to the lightest blue she could imagine, and they held her captive. Not in the romantic way, but as though she were a prisoner held paralyzed. His gaze was ice cold, making her shiver as though she had been dropped in an arctic pool, and slowly his pupils began to expand, overtaking his irises. Fear tightened Kira’s throat. She was scared, but more than that, she felt like he knew it and didn’t care. Try as she might, she couldn’t look away–she was completely stuck. Slowly, a feeling of warmth spread to her hands, burning hot, a sense of power that fought the dread tightening her stomach in knots. Whipping her gaze to the floor, Kira breathed heavily as she finally broke Tristan’s stare. Her fingertips still tingled with the heat that had coursed through her, allowing her to break his gaze. She leaned back against her chair, away from him, and touched her fingers to her cheek. They burned into her skin. “What the heck was that?” she asked unsteadily, still not looking up. The heat emanating from her hand absorbed all of Kira’s thoughts. “Me,” Tristan said with the venom gone from his voice. She looked at him again, catching the unbearably sad expression in his eyes before he looked away. Or me? she thought, feeling the warmth finally ebb. 
About the Author
Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie.
To stay up-to-date with all of Kaitlyn’s new releases, sign up for her new release newsletter here: TinyLetter.com/KaitlynDavisBooks
Author Links:
January 7, 2019
Book Tour and Author Interview for King Beatrice by Evangeline
[image error]
King Beatrice
By Evangeline
Genre: Mature YA Fiction
, Coming-to-age
[image error]
About the Book
KING BEATRICE is a coming-to-age novella that’s after your heart!
Alex is a young boy interested in his experiments, his dog, family, and little else. He lives a life of seclusion until the day his dog leads him on a wild goose chase through the forest and he comes across Beatrice, a crazy girl with leaves in her hair and the fierce belief that she is a king.
After many attempts of trying to avoid Beatrice, Alex realizes he’s stuck with her. As the years continue and a true friendship grows, he finds that perhaps she isn’t so bad, even if she constantly bests him in their duels. But life isn’t so simple, as the real world—a world of bullies and death and temptation—invades their make-believe, will it be too much for Beatrice? Will Alex make it to her in time?
Author Interview
1. What is your writing process? Do you aim for a word count daily or maybe just a scene?
I made a goal to write for at least 30 minutes a day. It was good to start small because I usually sat down with that 30-minute interval in mind, but then ended up writing for much longer (didn’t help my sleep schedule some days, but I wrote the book)! When I have trouble with writer’s block, though, I skip to scenes that thrill me. Sometimes I’ll have parts of the beginning and end written, but absolute zilch in the middle.
2. What sort of research did you do for this book?
I did some science research for Alex. That short scene with them building the rocket all came from hours of reading so I wouldn’t get anything wrong! I also took A LOT of time researching drugs and the particular drug Beatrice chose to know how it would affect her.
3. What are you working on now? Any chance of a sequel?
I’m working on an anthology right now. It’s a whole lot of beautiful, deep poems paired with photography and it’s been a lot of fun!
Unfortunately, King Beatrice ends with “And you were mine”. I hope readers all see a different and amazing future of their own for Alex and Beatrice! I’ve loved hearing people’s different takes on how the story would continue.
4. How did you come up for the idea of your book?
I don’t remember when I first scribbled down the original plot; it was so many years ago. However, I remember when I first started writing. I was sitting in a park on a perfectly warm day, the sun was going down, and I was watching people play with their dogs, families running around, and the sun reflecting off the Austin skyline. I had such a good feeling swelling in my chest that I wanted to incorporate into the book. Next thing I knew, I was scribbling down the first chapter!
5. Just for fun — what TV shows or movies have you really enjoyed (or disliked?) recently?
Oddly enough, I’ve become completely obsessed with this Japanese reality TV show called Terrace House (thank you Netflix!). It’s been a little while, but the last movie I saw in theaters was Crimes of Grindelwald. I am loving this new wizarding world! And can we talk about those graphics? Wow!
About the Author
[image error]
Evangeline was a hyper-active child and was forced outside to give her family a 5-minute break which helped water her already wild imagination. You can find her kayaking on the river in Austin, Tx, gazing at a bottle of White Zinfandel, or studying, but mostly keeping herself busy and in desperate need of a nap.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/booksevangeline/
Twitter: https://bit.ly/2zI2mMx
Instagram: https://bit.ly/2QBXkeh
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2SnVoDi
On Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UgyboG
Excerpt: Chapter One
Phantasmagoria
(n.) a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination
You’ll find yourself surrounded by the unlikeliest of people.
The boy, Alex, thought he had heard that somewhere before.
You’ll need who you least expect.
What a load of garbage. Alex glared at the television screen, or, more accurately, through the screen, past the actors, around the set, and straight to the directors and writers who oversaw the romanticization of that trash. He should have changed the channel an episode ago when he first stumbled upon the show, yet the poor boy found himself staring at the screen as if he were witnessing a car wreck.
Lilian, the gorgeous teen who was made “nerdy” by sticking on a pair of thick glasses, was too smart for her new adventurous and, as far as Alex was concerned, annoying band of misfits this character decided to call friends. It was all to get back at her parents, which seemed incredibly irrational considering Lillian apparently had a 4.0 GPA, suggesting that she had some sort of notable intelligence. But what did Alex know? He was only twelve and on his second episode.
It caused physical discomfort to the boy watching as Lillian got herself into all sorts of trouble, but he continued to follow her story, muttering I-told-you-so’s under his breath every twenty minutes. She should have stuck to solitude, Alex thought with an exaggerated sigh. Look at what those idiots got you into this time. . .
“Alex. Alex, honey?” The boy’s mother, Marianne,looked down at her son and pursed her lips. She hated when he slipped into a daze, utterly oblivious to all around him as he focused so intently on the television. “Alex,” Marianne repeated, and finally, he turned and faced her, his face showing a puzzled expression. “Honey, the summer is almost over.”
“I know.” He frowned and stared out the window. It was almost the end of summer and she wanted him to go outside, but he wished to stay inside where it was cool, quiet, and far from everyone else.
“Why don’t you go outside? Find some friends? Mm?”
Friends. He almost laughed. Alex didn’t want friends. What he wanted was peace and that was certainly not what he got his first year of middle school. Alex hadn’t the faintest idea as to why his mother found the prospect of him attaining friends so enticing.
“The ladies from church are coming today. You can stay and have tea with us or . . .”
His eyes grew wide.
It was Sunday afternoon and the old ladies always came on Sunday at four o’clock. They smelled like stale perfume and raisins, and they never missed an opportunity to pinch his cheeks and tell him how handsome he was becoming.
“I’ll go,” he said quickly, turning off the television and heading for the door. He called for the dog who came gallivanting with a wide, silly grin on his face.
“Be back before dark!” his mother called, though she had no doubt that her son would be home long before then.
Grimacing, he closed the door behind him and clasped the leash onto Rex’s collar. Eternally grateful, the yellow lab barked. There was nothing Rex loved more than a walk with Alex, even if it was in the blazing summer heat.
“Come on.” Alex didn’t have to pull very hard on the leash to get Rex to go. Alex took the same route every walk, so the dog already knew the path as well as he knew his own home. “You’re more excited than I am.”
Alex had never cared much for the outdoors; there were always too many people, and talkative people at that, especially whenever he dragged Rex along, and it was always too hot or too cold. But if he ever did have to go outside, Alex preferred it to be because he was walking Rex, his only friend.
They stopped at an intersection with shade where Alex took the opportunity to wipe the sweat from his forehead. To the left was the route they always took. It went into more residential housing and there was a shortcut to get home sooner should they both tire of the walk early, which Alex was already planning on taking. To the right was a way he’d never traveled.
November 30, 2018
Blog Tour and Author Interview for Successor by Rae Miles
SUCCESSOR – 10/24/18 release date
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Amazon – https://amzn.to/2payjHG
Barnes & Noble – https://bit.ly/2p9OQM7
The Book Depository – https://www.bookdepository.com/Successor-Rae-Miles/9781509222162
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40793401-successor
The Wild Rose Press – https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/6178-successor.html
For seventeen-year-old Evan, graduation means the freedom to leave behind her small-town life and find where she belongs. She never expected it to be in a different world.
Across time and space, deep in a mysterious jungle, Evan discovers the hidden heritage of her mother’s people and her own legacy. She becomes their elemental, a protector gifted with the power to control nature. The role has its challenges, but the biggest is the inexplicable connection with her scarred bodyguard, Ren. Frustrated and fascinated by him, Evan resists the magnetic pull after realizing there’s more to it than simple attraction.
Claiming her birthright reignites the wrath of a ruthless enemy with a score to settle. To protect her new family, Evan will need to call on her formidable power. But embracing it could cause her to lose herself and the man who holds her heart.
Author Interview:
What is your writing process? Do you aim for a word count daily or maybe just a scene?
Unfortunately, I’m one of those writers who have to kick myself to get any real writing done. I’m more the type who needs to be motivated to write. Otherwise, I sit at my computer and let myself be distracted by everything. My cats, mostly.
What sort of research did you do for this book?
Most of my research was done for elements surrounding the senses. How certain things smelled, what specific things looked or sounded like. The main setting in the story is the Laraek village, which is a forest/jungle made up of banyan trees. I needed a unique home for the clan, and I loved the image this kind of forest gave me. So I read up them and learned some interesting things. But overall, I didn’t have to do a lot of research for anything major.
What are you working on now? Any chance of a sequel?
Actually, the sequel is one of my current projects. I’m also working on another unrelated story that I’m excited about. I still have a lot to figure out with its plot, but it’s a YA fantasy as well.
How did you come up for the idea of your book?
Successor was based off a short story I wrote in college for a writing class. A girl finds a Magic 8-Ball that gives real answers, so she goes to her friend to share it. The friend starts asking questions we really shouldn’t know the answers to. She makes the mistake of asking when she’ll die, and when she sees the toy’s answer, she runs out and gets into a car accident. It begged the question: Cause or effect? I liked the idea of turning the concept into a novel, but I knew it’d be a tricky line to walk. With a story like that, I’d have to touch on topics I wasn’t comfortable approaching, such as religion. I could just imagine the backlash it’d garner, so the thought of it was intimidating. But I was on my way home one night when the idea for Successor popped into my head. I was so excited, I had to talk out the plot until I got home so I could write it down. The rest developed from there.
Just for fun — what TV shows or movies have you really enjoyed (or disliked?) recently?
I’ve been catching up on Supernatural lately. I watched the show for the first 6 years, but lost interest. Since it’s on Netflix, I decided to start over. I think I’m on season 9 or 10 now. Gotta love those Winchester boys with their angels and demons.
About the Author:
Rae Miles started creating characters at the ripe age of nine, dreaming that one day they’d have a place to call home. Many years and a creative writing degree later, that dream became a reality with her debut novel, Successor. When not writing, Rae’s absorbed in reading, movies, music, and napping. She loves animals of all kinds, and currently lives in Wisconsin with her three quirky cats.
November 7, 2018
Cover Reveal for Evoke by Danielle Simmons
Evoke
by Danielle Simmons
Genre: YA/NA Romance
Release Date: November 2018
Summary:
When five friends come home from college for the summer, it feels as if the friendship that has bound them together since childhood, is stronger than ever. But when Laney Thomas wakes up two months later and discovers she is the sole survivor of an accident that has claimed the lives of three friends, Laney realizes the world she has awakened, is not the one she remembers. The loss is devastating, changing her life irrevocably, and with no recollection of the accident or the days leading up to it, Laney must rely on Evan Davies, the only one not in the car that night, to help her heal. The two have always been close, sharing a rare and inextricable bond, and as long as he is by her side, the emptiness won’t swallow her whole. But when Evan disappears from her life without explanation, Laney is forced into her memories of the past, learning the painful truth of the friendships she cherished, and love coveted.
About the Author
Danielle grew up in a small town in California’s Sierra Nevada Foothills. A voracious reader from an early age, she began writing poetry and short stories in elementary school, and continued that passion throughout high school and college. She studied literature, creative writing and communications at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, sons and two cats, where she is a PR executive by day, and writer by night.
Author Links:
Cover Reveal Organized by:
November 6, 2018
Book Blitz for Mewranters: Attack of the Sea Monster by Kachi Ugo
Mewranters: Attack of the Sea Monster
by Kachi Ugo
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: November 6th 2018
Summary:
Mewranters: Attack of the Sea Monster uniquely blends adventure with an engaging fast-paced writing style to present readers with an action-packed story of wits, wisdom, and sheer force of will.
Every Mew in the country is out to kill Perry, and the sea monster is calling him out to the sea. Therefore, he must quickly learn why every Mew is threatened by the existence of an eagle Mew if he is to stand a chance at saving his parents and killing the monster. On the day of his initiation, he shifts into a huge Golden Eagle. However, this is a bad thing since no eagle Mew makes it past the age of twelve. To complicate his life, his shifting into an eagle Mew has reawakened the sea monster. A tentative partnership is formed between the different clans. But when Perry Johnson realizes that this partnership could mean the death of his parents, he has a decision to make.
With every Mew in the country out to kill him, and the sea monster calling him out to the sea, Perry must quickly learn why every Mew is threatened by the existence of an eagle Mew if he is to stand a chance at saving his parents and killing the monster. If he fails, it may very well be the end of his family… and the rest of the world. This fast-paced story, with its intriguing plot and original fantastical world, keeps every zoo-going, animal-loving kid wanting more as they follow Perry’s adventure.
Purchase Links:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FN8R1MF/
Barnes and Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mewranters-kachi-ugo/1129115723
CHAPTER 1
THE FALL
RITUAL
Perry Johnson awoke with a feeling of dread. He knew his time had come,
and he felt he was going to fail. He had never been good at anything. Not
sports, not hanging out with friends, not even school. He wasn’t failing in
school, but he wasn’t passing either. He was average. In everything. Nothing
special. That kind of sucked. But what could he do? It was who he was. It was
his destiny.
Even as he sat trembling on his bed, he figured today was going to end
badly. Badly for him. He was certain he wasn’t going to be good enough. He had
known about the ritual for some time since Richard. He was four then. One week
after they had celebrated Richard’s twelfth birthday, the family moved to their
cliff house in Nevada. Perry didn’t know what Richard did because he wasn’t
allowed to watch, but whatever Richard had done, he had been awesome. Four
years later, Jane and Jake’s turn came. He didn’t watch, again, but he knew
they were great. Now his time had come. One week after they had celebrated his
twelfth birthday, they had moved here. It was his turn, but Perry already knew
what the outcome would be.
Perry knew he wasn’t good enough. Whatever this family ritual was, he
was going to fail it. Perry had always gotten by being average. Somehow, he
suspected that this time average wouldn’t be good enough. That’s why he was
afraid. The ritual was important—like family-tradition important. That much he
knew. He loved his sister so much. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her,
but that didn’t stop these thoughts from barraging his mind. Average meant
failure, and failure was his one-way ticket out of the family.
“Perry!”
His mother’s voice came to him from somewhere in the cabin. “Breakfast is
ready.”
Perry had already gotten used to his small room. Still, it pressed in on
him from all sides. He had no appetite for food. Yet, he knew he must eat. It
might very well be his last meal as Perry, son of Johnson.
Perry jumped off the bed. He landed on the floorboards with a crouch,
his legs almost giving in. He had on a red shirt and blue jeans. He looked in
the mirror on his dresser. All he saw was a small, scrawny preteen. He gulped.
His heart was already pounding, though he kept his breathing steady.
The door to his room opened. Lisa, his dear sister, came in. She had a
warm smile on her face and a small broom in her hands.
“Mother
told me to do your chores,” Lisa said, mild irritation on her face.
“She did?”
Now his breathing became erratic. “Why?”
Lisa frowned at the way he breathed. She shrugged
and said, “Don’t know. Something about a big day for you. I heard her talking
with Richard.”
Perry
struggled to calm himself. He swallowed hard. “Richie’s here?” “Mmm-Hmm,” Lisa
replied, already sweeping the floor. She was eleven years old. Perry
might not
be here to watch her do the ritual next year, but he knew she would excel. She
was unlike him. Success came naturally to her, the same way being average came
naturally to him. It was who they were. Maybe, if he could get his parents to
understand this, they wouldn’t kick him out of the family when he botched the
family ritual.
Spurred by impulse and a humongous amount of nervous energy, Perry
hugged his sister and left the room. He could never hate his sister. Not even
when his parents praised her and derided him. He couldn’t even be jealous of
her.
Perry walked the narrow corridor, which opened to
the small sitting room. His heart lurched. Richard, Jane, and Jake were all
present. Richard sat at the table with Jake, while Jane sat on a couch. Mother
wasn’t in the room. But there was food on the table, which Richard and Jake
ate. There was an extra plate; his, Perry concluded. He hesitated in the
low-light corridor. Usually, when Richard came from Maine, or Jake and Jane,
their family’s inseparable twins, came from school in California, Perry felt
exuberant. But now he could feel his heart sink. He didn’t want them to see him
fail. He didn’t want to eat, but he knew he must.
A hand touched his shoulder, and he jerked away, frightened. He was in
the sitting room now, in the open, exposed. At first, he was startled. Everyone
seemed happy to see him. He felt like a spotlight was upon him. Richard, Jake,
and Jane talked excitedly, all at the same time, but he couldn’t pick out their
words. All he was conscious of was the ferocity with which his heart hammered
in his chest. He looked at where he had been. His mother stood in the doorway,
staring at him, concerned. The room fell quiet.
His
mother pointed at the table. “Eat,” she rumbled.
Perry nodded in submission, sat, and ate. He forced the cheese pie into
his mouth, down his throat. Richard watched him, silent, but Jake talked.
Talked about the weather. Talked about school. Talked about birds. Richard gave
him a sharp look when he mentioned birds, and he quickly changed the topic.
Talked about family traditions.
Jake only talked this much when he was antsy. He probably knew Perry’s
chances of success were thin and feared for him. Perry felt like crying. Why
did he have to be such a loser?
Mother roamed the house. She too was nervous. Jane gave nippy glances at
him and his food; they flickered from impatience to anxiety. Father wasn’t in
sight. But he too, no doubt, thought he was no good. Perry fought the urge to
wail out in distress and continued battling with his cheese pie and milkshake.
The air seemed to thicken as he pushed it through
his lungs. Perry didn’t get to the last slice of the crusty cream pie before
Father came into the sitting room.
He looked first at Perry. His weathered face carried deep lines on his
forehead. In these deep lines, strips of sweat lay. His blue T-shirt had a dark
V that reached from his neck. The dark stain was perspiration. Then, his gaze
shifted to Mother. “They are ready for him,” he said in a solemn tone.
It was as if a giant bell rang in
Perry’s mind. He knew he was finished. Why remain there? He jumped out of his
chair and was about to run for his room. But his mother stood, akimbo, in his
path, with a look of concern on her face. She didn’t seem to have noticed his
intentions. He squashed the urge to run and kept hidden those intentions.
Richard, Jake, and Jane rose to
their feet, a sudden reverence around their motions. They stood still, allowing
Mother to guide him towards the door with one hand on his shoulder. Father gave
way, and Perry walked into the hot desert.
Three strange-looking men stood by the metal interlocking fence. One was
old and the other two were young. But they both looked like they were from an
ancient Indian tribe. The old man sported a white shirt, a white headband, and
a white feather sticking up by his left ear. His intense gaze drilled holes
into Perry’s eyes. Perry looked away. Beyond the fence, less than ten feet
away, was an edge. Father had told him that the edge was fifty stories above
the desert floor.
Father had also told him that anyone who fell off the cliff would
splatter into a million bloody pieces.
Mother’s grip tightened on Perry’s shoulder. She pushed him gently
towards the strange men. Father and the rest followed from behind.
As Perry glanced around the yard, he realized there
was only one car beside the house. How had these men, including Richard and the
twins, gotten to the cabin? There wasn’t a highway for miles. What was going
on?
Perry caught the look in Mother’s side glances to Father. She was
uncertain. Unsure. Like she knew this was his last day as her son. But, she
couldn’t call off the ritual now that these strange men were involved.
When they were still a distance from the three men,
they halted. His mother crouched beside him, held his shoulders with both
hands, and fixed him with her most dangerous stare. Whatever she said now, he
could never disobey; not if he didn’t want to suffer severe consequences.
“Those men are here to test you,” his mother said with a brief glance at
the old man. “He’s the chief of our clan. Do whatever he tells you, and it will
be all right. Fail, and you might lose that which is precious to you.”
Perry’s
dread heightened. Lose Lisa?
“Mother?”
Perry croaked. “I’m scared.”
His mother’s fierce gaze melted that instant. She
looked at his heaving chest for a moment. Then she turned to face his father.
Her knees gave out beneath her.
“He’s not
ready,” she muttered to him, tears in her eyes.
Father picked up Mother from the ground and held
her in his arms. “There’s nothing we can do about that,” he whispered back to
her. “It’s either now or never.”
“What if
he fails?” Mother said, glancing at Perry, who now stood alone.
His father’s eyes gripped his. “Then it’s over for
him.” He said this without an iota of emotion.
Mother squeezed her eyes shut as tears fell to her cheek. When she
opened her eyes, she fixed a cold stare on him. “Do as I say.”
Perry turned away from his family. The three strange men remained
passive and silent as he approached them. The sun scorched his head. Baked sand
found its way into his jeans. He looked over his shoulder one last time. Mother
and Father weren’t looking. They were locked in an embrace. Richard and the
twins were farther behind, staring at him with glassy eyes, squinting in the
sun. The house stood behind them, the only human structure for as far as the
eyes could see. It was small, misshapen, a construction of roofing sheets. It
had been his family’s cabin for years, since before he was born. He was about
to lose it. He was about to lose everything.
“Perry Johnson,” the old man said. His voice was
unusually strong considering his age; he had wrinkles all over his face.
Perry stood before the man. “Yes, Sir,” he replied, looking up at the
man, into the sun. The man placed a hand on his shoulder and led him towards
the gate in the fence. “Do
you know what this is all about,
Perry?” he asked.
Perry
shook his head, too scared to talk.
The man made a sound, an amusing sound. “Surely, you must have an
inkling as to what purpose you have been brought here.”
“A family ritual.” Perry’s voice was lost in the
wind, but the man must have heard because he nodded contemplatively.
headed for the edge of the cliff.
“A test to determine if I’m worthy to be a member
of this family,” Perry said. A sudden alarm came to his mind as they approached
the edge. The desert floor spread from underneath the cliff: a barren, dry
land. Great winds moved sand around in disorganized sweeps. “Sir, why are we
going towards the edge of the cliff?”
“Does it
bother you?”
“It’s dangerous, Sir. My father has forbidden me to cross the fence,”
Perry said, trying to look over his shoulder at his parents. But, the old man
prevented him. Perry tried to wriggle himself out of the man’s grip, but the
man clamped tighter.
“Not to
birds, it’s not,” the old man said, pausing at the very edge of the cliff.
Perry felt queasy standing fifty stories above the ground. He shut his
eyes and craned his neck away from the fall. “I’m not a bird, Sir,” he cried
out in desperation.
“Not yet,”
the man said, and shoved him over the cliff.
Perry
fell.
Fell
towards his death.
He
hurtled.
Hurtled
to splatter into a million bloody pieces.
He screamed, flapped, and beat the air. But, he fell on. The floor—his
death—rushed up to meet him. His heart fluttered ferociously. A flame of fear
erupted around his body. Ten seconds to his death. A strange feeling came over
him, unlike his earlier feeling of apprehension. Feathers sprung from his skin.
His legs turned to talons. A different kind of fear overtook his mind. More
feathers shot out of his skin.
Five
seconds to his death.
Perry flapped his hands faster, as if he could fly. The wind caught on
his hands—no—his wings! He flapped again and glided away from the cliff wall.
He was no longer falling. He was gliding, two yards above the ground! He cried
out, terrified, but what came forth from his sharp beak was a piercing whistle
that rang through the desert.
He tried to grab the sand before crashing into the ground. He tried to
push his body off the sand with his hands, but they weren’t strong enough
because they were wings. Panic stabbed at Perry’s heart. He flapped off the
ground, rising five feet into the air. The sand lodged in his skin felt like
tiny pinpricks, irritating him. He landed on talons, shaking his body
vigorously.
I can’t be a bird! he
thought. I CAN’T BE A BIRD!
Wait, maybe I succeeded this time! Did I pass the
test?!
He looked to the cliff. It was so
far away. Yet he could clearly see his parents, Richard, the twins, and the
three strange men. He searched their faces for recognition or approval, but it
was not happy surprise or awe that he saw. It was terror. His heart sank. He
was a failure again. What else was new?
Before his eyes, they turned into
huge birds. Huger than normal birds, but not different in other regards. Mother
was a white owl. Father was a blue harrier. Richard was a grey hawk. The twins
were bright yellow buzzards. The old man that had tried to kill him was a white
osprey. Perry blinked, not sure what he was seeing. They soared high above the
desert towards him.
When they got to him, they circled, keeping their distance.
He glanced down at his own body.
He was a golden eagle. He spread his wings and they each stretched over a yard
from his chest. The circling birds scampered away at the revelation of his full
form, seemingly terrified. Perry nestled his wings back into his body and sat
on the
ground, dropping his head. He felt ashamed of being an eagle. He had
failed his parents, his family. He had broken his family’s tradition. He
deserved to be expelled from the fold.
After a while, he heard his mother speak. Her voice
was firm in his mind. “Perry, rise into the air. We’re going to teach you to
handle your aerial form.”
Even though he heard her voice in his mind, he knew
it was a command, not a request. He leaped into the air, spreading his wings
full length. The air seemed to cling to his form, pushing him upwards. He didn’t
need to flap. He shot to the clouds, his shame melting into excitement. His
family and the osprey followed behind, instructing him.
About the Author
Kachi Ugo’s whole life has revolved around writing. When he was twelve, while his friends still flipped through picture books and comics, he took an interest in thick, picture-less “story books” that opened him up to a whole new world of possibilities and adventures. A decade later, he writes those same books himself. Kachi Ugo is an avid supporter of YA Fantasy. For him, writing is a passion. He relishes the power it gives him to create worlds of his own where anything and everything is possible.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:
November 3, 2018
Book Tour for Shattered Sky by David Colby
Debris Dreams
The year: 2067
The place: Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L1, 1.5 million kilometers above the surface of the Earth.
The objective: Survive.
Sixteen-year-old Drusilla Zhao lives in the Hub, a space station used by the Chinese-American Alliance as a base to exploit Luna’s resources. Desperate to break free of the Alliance, a terrorist group from the Moon destroys the space elevator, space’s highway to Earth. In a flash, Dru’s parents are dead and she is cut off from her girlfriend Sarah on Earth.
The Alliance declares war against the Moon, conscripting Dru and all the youth of the Hub. Dru is forced to become a soldier fighting in the lethal vacuum of space. Can Dru survive lunar terrorist attacks and find her way home to Sarah?
Shattered Sky (Lunar Cycle #2) by David Colby
Publisher: Thinking Ink Press
Publishers Weekly calls Lunar Cycle Book 1 “Appealingly reminiscent of an updated Heinlein juvenile, it’s a story of wartime bravery, principles, and self-sacrifice.”
The year: 2068
The place: The war-torn and ecologically devastated Earth.
The objective: Survive.
Sixteen-year-old Drusilla Zhao has done the impossible and escaped the meat grinder of space warfare alive. Now she and her only remaining comrade, Jillian, are about to be rotated right back into the firing line, and away from Dru’s love, Sarah.
About the Author:
David Colby is the author of the sci-fi novels Debris Dreams and Shattered Sky. A fan of old school sci-fi and tabletop roleplaying games, Colby started writing almost fifteen years ago. It went poorly. But despite these early setbacks, he continued to work and write and send out submissions until someone was mad enough to accept him. Currently living in Sunnyvale, California, David’s day job involves leaping in front of cars for fun and profit (he’s a crossing guard).
Website: http://www.ThinkingInkPress.com/LunarCycle/
Blog: http://quantumspinplates.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.colby2
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealZoombie
Read below for an excerpt from Shattered Sky:
Shattered Sky Excerpt
4/2/2068
California, North American Economic Zone
T-Minus L-Day: 141
Happy endings were supposed to be a hell of a lot easier than this kōngtóu zhīpiào. I had been on Earth for a whole twenty-four hours and in all those seconds of all those minutes of all those hours, I had gotten to kiss the love my life a grand total of once.
“This sucks.”
Jillian stood next to me, her back leaning against the wall as she looked out at the vast sweep of Edwards Air Force Base. When I looked out at it, it just made me feel queasy and impatient and claustrophobic in a way that I had never felt before. I didn’t even need to move my eyes to splash the images all over the wallpaper of my brain: the three or so buildings the size of entire habitation blocks, the kilometer and then some of blackened tarmac that sucked up heat like a sink, and spread through it all the real reason why I was here and not with Sarah.
The troops. Specifically, the ten thousand or so troops that used Edwards Air Force Base as a way of getting to the next leg of their various deployments. Huge cargo hauling VTOLs landed and lifted off, while suborbital streakers burned hard to slow down and let off troops. Their uniforms spanned a spectrum of military minutia I’d never seen before, like looking through the world’s shittiest spectrometer. In space, the officer pool had been decidedly shallow, with maybe three lieutenants before General Lau. Down here, I saw every single rank that I had been forced to memorize during Basic: Gunnery Sergeants, Staff Sergeants, Second Lieutenants, First Lieutenants, Colonels, Majors, and Captains. It was a relief from the endless stream of PFCs and Corporals and Areos, like sunspots breaking up the eye scorching brightness of the sun.
Most of the Earthers were kitted out differently from Spacer soldiers, too. No laser weaponry, no bounce in their steps, no breathers and enclosed helmets. The enlisted pukes had slugthrowers on their backs, while the officers tended to be unarmed and glittery with medals, but they all trudged along, looking …
Actually, most of them didn’t look that unhappy. For most of them, this was a life they had chosen. A comfortable life with good pay, free medical coverage, honor and prestige. A life that I could have—something that fascinated and repelled me at the same time.
I wished they were unhappy. It’d be easier. It’d make more sense, if I could share that misery. Instead of being…
“So, Corp,” Jillian said, deorbiting my thoughts.
“Jillian, we’re out of the Marines now,” I said, rubbing my face with my hands.
“So, Dru,” Jillian started again. “What are you going to do once we get out of this?”
“Buy a farm.” I stood. The gravity down here was intense. I had to actually use my hand and the wall to get my knees to unbend, rather than just kipping up. I had never thought that one-G would be so … so much more than the gravity on the Hub. It wasn’t even that I hadn’t been exposed to one-G before— it was more that it was all the time, everywhere. Standing didn’t feel worth it, but I felt too confined by sitting, too passive. I started to pace back and forth, my body wanting to bounce, but gravity glued me to the ground. “I told Sarah I’d be in Quebec Arcology as soon as I could get there. At this rate—”
Jillian shuffled to the left. I shuffled into the space she had vacated. The Space Marine—one of the survivors of the Battle of the Forge, as they were calling the last big battle of the war—behind me shuffled over to take up the spot that I had held. And so, the line continued to process, and so I got closer and closer to getting out of this endless waiting.
But I still felt trapped, stuck in adhesive, forced to do nothing but endure. Endure the sounds—the babbling conversations that overlapped and drowned each other out—endure the smells— the thick, cloying stench of the tarmac, the scent of the scrubland that surrounded the base, the smell of jets and jet fuel—and endure the heat. The pounding, unstoppable heat, pouring through my skinclothes and broiling me in my own juices. I had never imagined that an uncontrolled environment could be so horrifyingly unpleasant.
bookblogarama
via http://bookblogarama.com ...more
- Suzanne Schultz Pick's profile
- 49 followers
