Catherine Edward's Blog, page 23
August 27, 2018
Interview with Author Justin Fulkerson
Interview with Author Justin Fulkerson
Justin Fulkerson is the author of An Hour for Magic published by GenZ Publishing Justin’s literary tastes turned from science fiction (Isaac Asimov) to horror (Stephen king, of course) at the innocent age of twelve years old. His outlook on life was forever changed by the experience, his mind suffered the consequences. The creatures and scenarios running through his mind forced him to begin his first novel while still in high school. It called to him over the years, but each time he turned away, knowing his imagination wasn't ready, waiting until the time was right to finish the journey.
In 2004, he started setting aside time to finish his first novel. It turned into a 1000 page monstrosity that the world was not ready for. So, the years passed and Justin decided to market his short stories upon Amazon. His most successful stories sold well. ‘Unfinished Business’ took readers into the path of an elderly serial killer obsessed with the one victim that got away. ‘Koyaanisqatsi’ took them into an alternate timeline where a nobody named Lee Harvey Oswald tries to survive after nuclear Armageddon in 1962. He joins forces with Charles Manson and Jim Morrison to fulfill an ancient Indian prophesy and prevent extraterrestrials from overrunning the planet. These are just a few examples of his twisted imagination.
In 2016, he was picked up by GenZ Publishing and An Hour for Magic and it’s two successive sequels were published shortly after. Justin continues to write in his off time in order to rid his mind of the demons writhing there.
Find him on Twitter or Facebook.
1. When and how did your writing journey start?
Actually, it started as an assignment when I was in Junior High School, which I guess is called Middle School now, lol. We had to right a short story. I wrote ‘Tea for Two’ which was a very dark story and I will always remember the look on the teacher’s face when I had to read it aloud. She wrote something along the lines of ‘Quite imaginative’ on the paper when it was returned. After that, I would jot down ideas and bits of dialogue and keep them in manila folders.
2. I've read your book An Hour for Magic and I've become addicted to your writing style. I loved the details you put into the story and it's characters. How did you come up with this interesting plot line?
I’ve been a fan of Jim Morrison and The Doors for as long as I can remember. I had several book of his poetry. One line stood out to me as I was reading one day: ‘When the True King’s murderers are allowed to roam free, a 1000 magicians arise on the land.’ I came up with the idea that some sort of Messiah would be murderers and the magicians would be left to battle evil. The idea grew from there.
3. What kind of research did you put into the story? How long did it take for you to complete it?
I started writing the scenes where each magician realized that they were alone in the world around 2012. At first, I had no idea where the story was going. Only later, after looking into the history of the Water Torture Cell, did I realize there was a story in itself following the real life cell and it fit perfectly with what I wanted to convey. I spent hours scouring books about Houdini and researching on several sites dedicated to Houdini and magic itself. I still have dozens of pages that will possibly be used in another story. Mostly about Houdini’s relationship with Arthur Conan Doyle. I didn’t write the ending of An Hour for Magic until around the beginning of 2014 or so. After working on other projects for a while, i went back and spent lots of time editing and adding in scenes to make the story flow better.
4. When I read the story, the first question that popped in my mind was, how did you handle so many characters in the story? Each character had a role to play and when it ended I remembered each one.
That is my favorite part of writing. I try to make my characters as real as possible and give them each their own emotional anchors and history. Nobody is perfect and I love writing imperfect characters. The more broken, the more interesting to me.
Originally, I intended for An Hour for Magic to have 1000 magicians just like the quote from Morrison. I told a friend of mine this and he called me crazy. I guess I am.
5. So, one of my favorite characters in the story is the beast. Can you tell me more about him? Who is your personal favorite in this story?
Well, first of all, you must capitalize it. LOL. The Beast would be comparable to the idea of Satan himself created by religions over the centuries. He’s an evil that uses others to gain what he wants. What he wants may change from minute to minute, but, once he is set on something, he is going to get it. He’s had decades to plan his revenge as he was trapped in the Cell.
My favorite character is Mister Hollow. He is the flip side of the coin from The Beast, but he is no saint. He uses people also, even his own ‘granddaughter’ and in some ways, he is worse than The Beast. I don’t want to give away too much, but he is not a nice man.
6. My next question is about the sequel An hour for Maggie. Do we get to see more of the characters we read about in the first part? Can you tell us more about the books in this series?
The first sequel is Hollow Be Thy Name. It takes place parallel to the events in An Hour for Magic involving other Magicians in the same position, alone and confused. Many new characters are introduced and several from the first book make appearances also.
The third book which you mentioned, An Hour for Maggie, takes place nine months after the events in the first two book, bringing everyone back together again, it’s a heck of a ride.
I thought I was done with this world after Maggie, but I want to reveal that over 300 pages have been written on the fourth and final book, Hollow Beast. It probably won’t be finished for several years and will be the longest book in the series. I want to get this one right, so I am taking my time.
7. When you look back at your writing journey, what do you feel? Can you tell me about the challenges you overcame?
The hardest hurdle for me when I started was point of view. I always wrote in omnipotent point of vire, which means basically God, able to read all characters thoughts and see everything going on. I was told this was confusing to the reader, so that is where my style came from, I switch between characters to get across what I want the reader to know.
The other challenge is getting someone to actually read your work. Query letters are no reflection of someone’s 500 page manuscript. I hate query letters with a passion.
8. All right, so let's come to your upcoming release, Hallowed Ground. Can you tell me more about this story? Is this a standalone or a series?
A standalone story set at the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. It may sound cliche, but my readers know that I like to put a twist on everything. My story revolves around two nuns and an ex-soldier with PTSD locked in a cabin trying to survive and battle their own internal demons.
9. What other projects are you working on?
Freckles the Clown. The title kinda give it away. It’s about a cannibal clown and a guy he has been tormenting for the last 20 years.
10. Your favorite part/dialogue/scene from one of your books:
Probably the scene in An Hour for Magic where Shelly finds the photograph in Maggie’s lockbox and realizes that Maggie has been lying to her the whole time.
11. What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?
I know tons of authors say this, but the master Stephen King has had a huge influence upon me. His ability to build characters is awe inspiring. IT is probably his best book in my opinion. The emotional rollercoaster in that book is exhausting. I read it the first time when I was 12, the same age as the children in the book. I waited 28 years to read it again, just as long as IT stayed dormant beneath the street of Derry. This time I was the same age as the adults in the book. It was eerie. I connected with them as kids the first time and with the adults the second time. My all time favorite novel.
12. What's your family like?
We are a Halloween family. The decorations go up in August and stay up through Christmas. Our Halloween tree is already up this year. We all like scary movies and the macabre. Just look at our Facebook pages, lol.
Rapid fire:
1. A random fun fact about yourself: I can ruin the lyrics to any song on the radio, better than Weird Al Yankovic. My wife hates it because all she hears are my made up lyrics when she hears the song again. 2. Best surprise ever: 18 years ago when I realized that my wife was in love with me and we were going to get married.
3. Pet peeves: People who don’t know the difference between their, there and they’re.
4. An unforgettable moment in your writing journey: Being compared to Stephen King is the most humbling and amazing thing ever. Also, doing my first radio interview.
5. When I'm not writing, I'd like to: Read and binge watch television shows. Also a lot of different art projects.
6. Your hidden talent: refer to number 1. LOL
7. Dogs or Cats: Definitely cats. As a matter of fact, there’s one asleep on my lap as I write this. We have four. Baby, Ozzy, Manson and Simba. We also have a dog, Hades.
8. Marvels or DC: Never been a big comic book guy, but have to go with DC just because I’ve always been a Batman fan. Because, like the characters I write, he is human and he has his flaws.
9. What is the best piece of advice you’ve received? Stephen King said in his book On Writing that if you write three pages a day, you will have a novel in 90 days. The first time I followed that advice, I ended up with 500 pages in that time. If you make it a habit, you are restless if you aren’t doing it.
10. The most inspiring quote:
“Good books don’t give up all their secrets at once.” -Stephen King
Message to your fans:
I want to thank all the readers that set aside time in their lives, away from their cell phones, to spend it with me as I tell my tale. I hope my words stay with them long after the tale is through. I also want them to realize how important leaving reviews is to a writer’s career.
Keep track of his upcoming releases - Website, Amazon Author Page, and Goodreads.
Justin Fulkerson is the author of An Hour for Magic published by GenZ Publishing Justin’s literary tastes turned from science fiction (Isaac Asimov) to horror (Stephen king, of course) at the innocent age of twelve years old. His outlook on life was forever changed by the experience, his mind suffered the consequences. The creatures and scenarios running through his mind forced him to begin his first novel while still in high school. It called to him over the years, but each time he turned away, knowing his imagination wasn't ready, waiting until the time was right to finish the journey.
In 2004, he started setting aside time to finish his first novel. It turned into a 1000 page monstrosity that the world was not ready for. So, the years passed and Justin decided to market his short stories upon Amazon. His most successful stories sold well. ‘Unfinished Business’ took readers into the path of an elderly serial killer obsessed with the one victim that got away. ‘Koyaanisqatsi’ took them into an alternate timeline where a nobody named Lee Harvey Oswald tries to survive after nuclear Armageddon in 1962. He joins forces with Charles Manson and Jim Morrison to fulfill an ancient Indian prophesy and prevent extraterrestrials from overrunning the planet. These are just a few examples of his twisted imagination.
In 2016, he was picked up by GenZ Publishing and An Hour for Magic and it’s two successive sequels were published shortly after. Justin continues to write in his off time in order to rid his mind of the demons writhing there.
Find him on Twitter or Facebook.
1. When and how did your writing journey start?
Actually, it started as an assignment when I was in Junior High School, which I guess is called Middle School now, lol. We had to right a short story. I wrote ‘Tea for Two’ which was a very dark story and I will always remember the look on the teacher’s face when I had to read it aloud. She wrote something along the lines of ‘Quite imaginative’ on the paper when it was returned. After that, I would jot down ideas and bits of dialogue and keep them in manila folders.
2. I've read your book An Hour for Magic and I've become addicted to your writing style. I loved the details you put into the story and it's characters. How did you come up with this interesting plot line?
I’ve been a fan of Jim Morrison and The Doors for as long as I can remember. I had several book of his poetry. One line stood out to me as I was reading one day: ‘When the True King’s murderers are allowed to roam free, a 1000 magicians arise on the land.’ I came up with the idea that some sort of Messiah would be murderers and the magicians would be left to battle evil. The idea grew from there.
3. What kind of research did you put into the story? How long did it take for you to complete it?
I started writing the scenes where each magician realized that they were alone in the world around 2012. At first, I had no idea where the story was going. Only later, after looking into the history of the Water Torture Cell, did I realize there was a story in itself following the real life cell and it fit perfectly with what I wanted to convey. I spent hours scouring books about Houdini and researching on several sites dedicated to Houdini and magic itself. I still have dozens of pages that will possibly be used in another story. Mostly about Houdini’s relationship with Arthur Conan Doyle. I didn’t write the ending of An Hour for Magic until around the beginning of 2014 or so. After working on other projects for a while, i went back and spent lots of time editing and adding in scenes to make the story flow better.
4. When I read the story, the first question that popped in my mind was, how did you handle so many characters in the story? Each character had a role to play and when it ended I remembered each one.
That is my favorite part of writing. I try to make my characters as real as possible and give them each their own emotional anchors and history. Nobody is perfect and I love writing imperfect characters. The more broken, the more interesting to me.
Originally, I intended for An Hour for Magic to have 1000 magicians just like the quote from Morrison. I told a friend of mine this and he called me crazy. I guess I am.
5. So, one of my favorite characters in the story is the beast. Can you tell me more about him? Who is your personal favorite in this story?
Well, first of all, you must capitalize it. LOL. The Beast would be comparable to the idea of Satan himself created by religions over the centuries. He’s an evil that uses others to gain what he wants. What he wants may change from minute to minute, but, once he is set on something, he is going to get it. He’s had decades to plan his revenge as he was trapped in the Cell.
My favorite character is Mister Hollow. He is the flip side of the coin from The Beast, but he is no saint. He uses people also, even his own ‘granddaughter’ and in some ways, he is worse than The Beast. I don’t want to give away too much, but he is not a nice man.
6. My next question is about the sequel An hour for Maggie. Do we get to see more of the characters we read about in the first part? Can you tell us more about the books in this series?
The first sequel is Hollow Be Thy Name. It takes place parallel to the events in An Hour for Magic involving other Magicians in the same position, alone and confused. Many new characters are introduced and several from the first book make appearances also.
The third book which you mentioned, An Hour for Maggie, takes place nine months after the events in the first two book, bringing everyone back together again, it’s a heck of a ride.
I thought I was done with this world after Maggie, but I want to reveal that over 300 pages have been written on the fourth and final book, Hollow Beast. It probably won’t be finished for several years and will be the longest book in the series. I want to get this one right, so I am taking my time.
7. When you look back at your writing journey, what do you feel? Can you tell me about the challenges you overcame?
The hardest hurdle for me when I started was point of view. I always wrote in omnipotent point of vire, which means basically God, able to read all characters thoughts and see everything going on. I was told this was confusing to the reader, so that is where my style came from, I switch between characters to get across what I want the reader to know.
The other challenge is getting someone to actually read your work. Query letters are no reflection of someone’s 500 page manuscript. I hate query letters with a passion.
8. All right, so let's come to your upcoming release, Hallowed Ground. Can you tell me more about this story? Is this a standalone or a series?
A standalone story set at the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. It may sound cliche, but my readers know that I like to put a twist on everything. My story revolves around two nuns and an ex-soldier with PTSD locked in a cabin trying to survive and battle their own internal demons.
9. What other projects are you working on?
Freckles the Clown. The title kinda give it away. It’s about a cannibal clown and a guy he has been tormenting for the last 20 years.
10. Your favorite part/dialogue/scene from one of your books:
Probably the scene in An Hour for Magic where Shelly finds the photograph in Maggie’s lockbox and realizes that Maggie has been lying to her the whole time.
11. What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?
I know tons of authors say this, but the master Stephen King has had a huge influence upon me. His ability to build characters is awe inspiring. IT is probably his best book in my opinion. The emotional rollercoaster in that book is exhausting. I read it the first time when I was 12, the same age as the children in the book. I waited 28 years to read it again, just as long as IT stayed dormant beneath the street of Derry. This time I was the same age as the adults in the book. It was eerie. I connected with them as kids the first time and with the adults the second time. My all time favorite novel.
12. What's your family like?
We are a Halloween family. The decorations go up in August and stay up through Christmas. Our Halloween tree is already up this year. We all like scary movies and the macabre. Just look at our Facebook pages, lol.
Rapid fire:
1. A random fun fact about yourself: I can ruin the lyrics to any song on the radio, better than Weird Al Yankovic. My wife hates it because all she hears are my made up lyrics when she hears the song again. 2. Best surprise ever: 18 years ago when I realized that my wife was in love with me and we were going to get married.
3. Pet peeves: People who don’t know the difference between their, there and they’re.
4. An unforgettable moment in your writing journey: Being compared to Stephen King is the most humbling and amazing thing ever. Also, doing my first radio interview.
5. When I'm not writing, I'd like to: Read and binge watch television shows. Also a lot of different art projects.
6. Your hidden talent: refer to number 1. LOL
7. Dogs or Cats: Definitely cats. As a matter of fact, there’s one asleep on my lap as I write this. We have four. Baby, Ozzy, Manson and Simba. We also have a dog, Hades.
8. Marvels or DC: Never been a big comic book guy, but have to go with DC just because I’ve always been a Batman fan. Because, like the characters I write, he is human and he has his flaws.
9. What is the best piece of advice you’ve received? Stephen King said in his book On Writing that if you write three pages a day, you will have a novel in 90 days. The first time I followed that advice, I ended up with 500 pages in that time. If you make it a habit, you are restless if you aren’t doing it.
10. The most inspiring quote:
“Good books don’t give up all their secrets at once.” -Stephen King
Message to your fans:
I want to thank all the readers that set aside time in their lives, away from their cell phones, to spend it with me as I tell my tale. I hope my words stay with them long after the tale is through. I also want them to realize how important leaving reviews is to a writer’s career.
Keep track of his upcoming releases - Website, Amazon Author Page, and Goodreads.
August 23, 2018
Reincarnated Love - Part 2 (Excerpt)
Reincarnated Love - Part 2 (Excerpt)
READ IT HERE
Watch the Trailer here
Tina Turner sets out to rescue her best friend Katherine, only to get caught in the same vampire web her friend is in. An accidental mark binds her to the dangerous Vampire King Neculai, who hates humans. Was a bite enough to make them fall in love? The events in this book will pick up from the events of the first book ending.Just as things begin to fall in place, their peace is threatened when the secret society of vampire hunters and assassins emerge once again, stronger than ever. Now, the vampire council must do something before all hell break lose.
CHAPTER - 1
Darkness.Endless pits of darkness.Swirling.Churning.Consuming.The screams of his victims still haunted his memories as he continued to relive their painful deaths in his claws. The hopeless pleadings to spare their lives rang in his ear. Women and men. Their tear-stained faces looked up at him, pleading mercy–yet he felt nothing. They've wronged him. The place reeked of their fear and he drowned in it.His body jerked within the confines of the dark chamber as he heard her beautiful voice again. She called his name."Neculai..."The sweet angelic voice sang. Her giggles were like the chimes of a bell, always thawing his cold heart. Those eyes, swirling pits of forest green, lured him and locked him.His breathing increased to heavy pants as her memories became vivid."My Prince..."Her shock-filled gasp when he first touched her would forever be ingrained in his brain. Her pleasure filled moans and the way her body writhed underneath him was something he'd never get to see or experience again.Pain and agony took hold of his heart at the sudden memory. Blood flowed through his dehydrated veins–direct from a live source, transferring her memories to him.He roared and thrashed, trying to break free of the invisible force restraining his movements. The fire ignited his veins and heat seeping through the crevices of the dark chamber he was in. The blood supply stopped all of a sudden, sending him into a frenzy.The tubes attached to his hands melted in the heat. He wanted to taste the blood, fill his mouth with the elixir of life. When his eyes shot open, he saw nothing but darkness, just like the one that lived in his heart.Small wisps of energy surrounded him and he cursed when he realized what it was. He was bound by magic–ancient and dark. No sounds could be heard nor he had a chance of finding where he was.Neculai closed his eyes, concentrating on the blood that now flowed in his system. If the donor was alive, he could take control. It wasn't long before he took control of the source, witnessing the chaos through her eyes, hearing the screams through her ears.A witch drenched in blood came towards his blood donor, dragging the screaming woman towards an altar. When her chants intensified, he felt the fluttering of a heartbeat within the source. Fury licked his veins when he realized why he was being held captive.His control snapped at the exact moment his donor lost her consciousness. The darkness that didn't belong to this world surrounded him. Neculai grunted, thinking of a way to stop this madness. There was no way he could allow them to complete the ritual.Whoever it was, they wanted his strength and power. That meant his imminent death. A growl rumbled in his chest. He'd incinerate them all.Just as the darkness began to suffocate him, he felt it. The ground above him vibrated. The crevices widened as more cracks followed. A wisp of light seeped through the crack and he gulped the fresh air now made its way into the dark chamber.The magic that bound him became undone at the second wave of tremors and he felt the presence of a strong vampire near. When he broke free of his restraints and soared high, he noticed a female vampire punching the witch in her gut.Smoke and debris hindered the visibility. He didn't recognize his surroundings. Just as he prepared to engage the witch, he heard it.A distant cry for help. It was so low. He thought he imagined it. Then, he heard it again. The voice tugging at the invisible strings of his heart. Curiosity rose within him and he soon followed the sound. The cave shook again, the surrounding walls groaned, making him wonder if it would come down all at once.
READ IT HERE
Watch the Trailer here
Tina Turner sets out to rescue her best friend Katherine, only to get caught in the same vampire web her friend is in. An accidental mark binds her to the dangerous Vampire King Neculai, who hates humans. Was a bite enough to make them fall in love? The events in this book will pick up from the events of the first book ending.Just as things begin to fall in place, their peace is threatened when the secret society of vampire hunters and assassins emerge once again, stronger than ever. Now, the vampire council must do something before all hell break lose.
CHAPTER - 1
Darkness.Endless pits of darkness.Swirling.Churning.Consuming.The screams of his victims still haunted his memories as he continued to relive their painful deaths in his claws. The hopeless pleadings to spare their lives rang in his ear. Women and men. Their tear-stained faces looked up at him, pleading mercy–yet he felt nothing. They've wronged him. The place reeked of their fear and he drowned in it.His body jerked within the confines of the dark chamber as he heard her beautiful voice again. She called his name."Neculai..."The sweet angelic voice sang. Her giggles were like the chimes of a bell, always thawing his cold heart. Those eyes, swirling pits of forest green, lured him and locked him.His breathing increased to heavy pants as her memories became vivid."My Prince..."Her shock-filled gasp when he first touched her would forever be ingrained in his brain. Her pleasure filled moans and the way her body writhed underneath him was something he'd never get to see or experience again.Pain and agony took hold of his heart at the sudden memory. Blood flowed through his dehydrated veins–direct from a live source, transferring her memories to him.He roared and thrashed, trying to break free of the invisible force restraining his movements. The fire ignited his veins and heat seeping through the crevices of the dark chamber he was in. The blood supply stopped all of a sudden, sending him into a frenzy.The tubes attached to his hands melted in the heat. He wanted to taste the blood, fill his mouth with the elixir of life. When his eyes shot open, he saw nothing but darkness, just like the one that lived in his heart.Small wisps of energy surrounded him and he cursed when he realized what it was. He was bound by magic–ancient and dark. No sounds could be heard nor he had a chance of finding where he was.Neculai closed his eyes, concentrating on the blood that now flowed in his system. If the donor was alive, he could take control. It wasn't long before he took control of the source, witnessing the chaos through her eyes, hearing the screams through her ears.A witch drenched in blood came towards his blood donor, dragging the screaming woman towards an altar. When her chants intensified, he felt the fluttering of a heartbeat within the source. Fury licked his veins when he realized why he was being held captive.His control snapped at the exact moment his donor lost her consciousness. The darkness that didn't belong to this world surrounded him. Neculai grunted, thinking of a way to stop this madness. There was no way he could allow them to complete the ritual.Whoever it was, they wanted his strength and power. That meant his imminent death. A growl rumbled in his chest. He'd incinerate them all.Just as the darkness began to suffocate him, he felt it. The ground above him vibrated. The crevices widened as more cracks followed. A wisp of light seeped through the crack and he gulped the fresh air now made its way into the dark chamber.The magic that bound him became undone at the second wave of tremors and he felt the presence of a strong vampire near. When he broke free of his restraints and soared high, he noticed a female vampire punching the witch in her gut.Smoke and debris hindered the visibility. He didn't recognize his surroundings. Just as he prepared to engage the witch, he heard it.A distant cry for help. It was so low. He thought he imagined it. Then, he heard it again. The voice tugging at the invisible strings of his heart. Curiosity rose within him and he soon followed the sound. The cave shook again, the surrounding walls groaned, making him wonder if it would come down all at once.
Vicissitude - A Beast Within (2# The Lycan Series)
Vicissitude - A Beast Within (Excerpt)
READ IT HERE
Sequel -THE UNKNOWN LYCAN HEIR (1# The Lycan Series)When Abram meets Serenity in college his beast is entranced by the innocent beauty. What happens when her abusive boyfriend intervene?*** Abram Maximus Steller was born as a human but was bitten and changed into a Lycan at twelve. Now, at nineteen years old, he goes to college with no big dreams as he knew his future will be next to Lucian as his trustworthy Royal Beta when he took over the throne from his Uncle Dominick.Serenity Annika Dunlap is a transfer student who is always silent and minds her own business. Abram’s beast is strangely attracted to this exotic beauty with caramel eyes and worst of all she already has an abusive boyfriend possessive of her.His need to claim her increasing day by day and a beast is rattling within him to make her his. What happens when Abram fails the internal fight with his beast? Will Serenity accept his love for her? What happens when they learn that the peace in the supernatural realm is just a silence that prevails before the storm? An evil, no one knew about is lurking in the shadows planning Lucian and Alexandra’s downfall. What will Abram do when his sister’s life is threatened once again?
CHAPTER - 1“Harder!”Abram punched with full force on Lucian’s command which he swatted gracefully before sending a kick to his ribs.“Harder!” Lucian barked and Abram charged at him again with his beast surfacing a little.Lucian was faster and evaded his attack without even breaking a sweat. Abram winced when Lucian’s hand connected with his back, knocking the air out of his lungs. He coughed and clutched his sides as his breath wheezed.“Take a break, Abram. Nate! Your turn,” Lucian’s order came next and Abram sent a lopsided grin to Nate. Nothing was happiest in this world like watching your friend and partner in crime go through the same tough routine as yours.Soon, Nate was eating mud and Abram doubled up with laughter. Every day Nate would place a bet he would last longer than Abram in the field with Lucian and lost graciously for past three years.While Abram had good reflexes Nate was stronger than him, but easily got distracted during the fight.“Looks like someone’s having a good day,” Alexa commented as she waddled towards him with her ever-growing baby bump.“Mhmm... Nate is losing the bet once again.”“I can see that,” she muttered and sat beside him on the log with great difficulty.“Having a hard time?”She grunted. “Try carrying a pair of twins in your belly for nine months. I couldn’t even sleep at night with all their fights going on inside.”Abram chuckled at his sister and turned his attention to the field.“Nate! Your enemy won’t be going easy on you. You’d be dead in a beat if you give an opening,” Lucian yelled as he choked Nate.When he released the hold Nate ducked and went for his legs trying to swipe his feet off the ground. But, Lucian just stood unmovingly.“Nice moving, kid. But, you’ll have to do more than that to knock me down,” Lucian growled before twisting his leg. If he applied any more pressure it would break.“Lucian! Let the boy go. You’re hurting him,” Alexa called from the log.Lucian let go of Nate’s leg and was near Alexa in a blink. His hands went to cradle her belly as he pressed a kiss against her mark, making her shiver.Abram shook his head as he went to help Nate who panted on the ground, literally with his tongue out. Lucian has gotten so protective over Alexa the moment he discovered her pregnancy. Alexa mostly stayed indoors as Lucian’s beast went all defensive when someone besides their family tried to speak to her.Last time they went to the mall to buy her some maternity wears Lucian almost ripped the poor sales guy, who was trying to help Alexa choose the right size. It took a combined effort of Abram and Nate to remove Lucian before he shifted.After that incident, Alexa ordered everything online and never went out. Lucian’s beast was always on the edge and it reflected on their training as well. His protective nature has far to the level he slept in his beast form next to Alexa during the nights.Abram couldn’t blame Lucian. It was like Lycan’s to protect their mate and children. Also, the pregnancy left Alexa very vulnerable to the attacks if it came. She couldn’t use her Qistina powers like before. It drained her ten times faster than before and Lucian has forbidden her from doing anything.Though Lucian’s uncle Dominick suggested him to stay in the supernatural realm until childbirth, Lucian didn’t agree with it as he felt safer in the human realm. According to Lucian, his beast felt as if someone was watching them in the supernatural realm. He was restless and was always at someone’s neck trying to rip them apart.When their healer confirmed the childbirth was similar to that of humans, Lucian immediately brought Alexa to their lakeside home in Hinesburg.Abram took a swig from his water bottle as he looked at the couple engaged in some conversations. The ever growing love in the eyes of Lucian’s face was something he admired. He always looked at his sister like she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.He wondered if he would be behaving like Lucian if he ever found a mate. Now that he was nineteen years old, many girls tried to gain his attention. But, his beast would just shrug them off as if they were nothing.Abram’s human side liked to drool over the beauty of the girls, his beast was a different case scenario. He just swatted them like they were nothing more than flies. No one entranced his beast-like Alexa did Lucian’s. He sighed as he got up and walked home with Nate, leaving the couple alone.
READ IT HERE
Sequel -THE UNKNOWN LYCAN HEIR (1# The Lycan Series)When Abram meets Serenity in college his beast is entranced by the innocent beauty. What happens when her abusive boyfriend intervene?*** Abram Maximus Steller was born as a human but was bitten and changed into a Lycan at twelve. Now, at nineteen years old, he goes to college with no big dreams as he knew his future will be next to Lucian as his trustworthy Royal Beta when he took over the throne from his Uncle Dominick.Serenity Annika Dunlap is a transfer student who is always silent and minds her own business. Abram’s beast is strangely attracted to this exotic beauty with caramel eyes and worst of all she already has an abusive boyfriend possessive of her.His need to claim her increasing day by day and a beast is rattling within him to make her his. What happens when Abram fails the internal fight with his beast? Will Serenity accept his love for her? What happens when they learn that the peace in the supernatural realm is just a silence that prevails before the storm? An evil, no one knew about is lurking in the shadows planning Lucian and Alexandra’s downfall. What will Abram do when his sister’s life is threatened once again?
CHAPTER - 1“Harder!”Abram punched with full force on Lucian’s command which he swatted gracefully before sending a kick to his ribs.“Harder!” Lucian barked and Abram charged at him again with his beast surfacing a little.Lucian was faster and evaded his attack without even breaking a sweat. Abram winced when Lucian’s hand connected with his back, knocking the air out of his lungs. He coughed and clutched his sides as his breath wheezed.“Take a break, Abram. Nate! Your turn,” Lucian’s order came next and Abram sent a lopsided grin to Nate. Nothing was happiest in this world like watching your friend and partner in crime go through the same tough routine as yours.Soon, Nate was eating mud and Abram doubled up with laughter. Every day Nate would place a bet he would last longer than Abram in the field with Lucian and lost graciously for past three years.While Abram had good reflexes Nate was stronger than him, but easily got distracted during the fight.“Looks like someone’s having a good day,” Alexa commented as she waddled towards him with her ever-growing baby bump.“Mhmm... Nate is losing the bet once again.”“I can see that,” she muttered and sat beside him on the log with great difficulty.“Having a hard time?”She grunted. “Try carrying a pair of twins in your belly for nine months. I couldn’t even sleep at night with all their fights going on inside.”Abram chuckled at his sister and turned his attention to the field.“Nate! Your enemy won’t be going easy on you. You’d be dead in a beat if you give an opening,” Lucian yelled as he choked Nate.When he released the hold Nate ducked and went for his legs trying to swipe his feet off the ground. But, Lucian just stood unmovingly.“Nice moving, kid. But, you’ll have to do more than that to knock me down,” Lucian growled before twisting his leg. If he applied any more pressure it would break.“Lucian! Let the boy go. You’re hurting him,” Alexa called from the log.Lucian let go of Nate’s leg and was near Alexa in a blink. His hands went to cradle her belly as he pressed a kiss against her mark, making her shiver.Abram shook his head as he went to help Nate who panted on the ground, literally with his tongue out. Lucian has gotten so protective over Alexa the moment he discovered her pregnancy. Alexa mostly stayed indoors as Lucian’s beast went all defensive when someone besides their family tried to speak to her.Last time they went to the mall to buy her some maternity wears Lucian almost ripped the poor sales guy, who was trying to help Alexa choose the right size. It took a combined effort of Abram and Nate to remove Lucian before he shifted.After that incident, Alexa ordered everything online and never went out. Lucian’s beast was always on the edge and it reflected on their training as well. His protective nature has far to the level he slept in his beast form next to Alexa during the nights.Abram couldn’t blame Lucian. It was like Lycan’s to protect their mate and children. Also, the pregnancy left Alexa very vulnerable to the attacks if it came. She couldn’t use her Qistina powers like before. It drained her ten times faster than before and Lucian has forbidden her from doing anything.Though Lucian’s uncle Dominick suggested him to stay in the supernatural realm until childbirth, Lucian didn’t agree with it as he felt safer in the human realm. According to Lucian, his beast felt as if someone was watching them in the supernatural realm. He was restless and was always at someone’s neck trying to rip them apart.When their healer confirmed the childbirth was similar to that of humans, Lucian immediately brought Alexa to their lakeside home in Hinesburg.Abram took a swig from his water bottle as he looked at the couple engaged in some conversations. The ever growing love in the eyes of Lucian’s face was something he admired. He always looked at his sister like she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.He wondered if he would be behaving like Lucian if he ever found a mate. Now that he was nineteen years old, many girls tried to gain his attention. But, his beast would just shrug them off as if they were nothing.Abram’s human side liked to drool over the beauty of the girls, his beast was a different case scenario. He just swatted them like they were nothing more than flies. No one entranced his beast-like Alexa did Lucian’s. He sighed as he got up and walked home with Nate, leaving the couple alone.
August 22, 2018
The Unknown Lycan Heir (1# The Lycan Series)
The Unknown Lycan Heir (Excerpt)
READ IT HERE
When the Stellers take in the five-year-old Lucian, they doesn't realize the looks could be deceiving. He is a beast–a predator–devised to kill. Things take a turn when it is time for his first shift.
***
Prince Lucian Armand Orszak–the only heir to the Lycan throne is on the run with his guardian Dimitri Van Speybroeck. Lucian is forced to leave the place and the people he has known his entire life at five. When his guardian is attacked and left immobile, Lucian finds himself on the streets.
Now living alone, rummaging through the garbage bins for food, he witnesses a young girl being attacked and saves her risking his life. He is taken in by her kind family, but everything changes when he hits puberty. He does not understand the change he is going through or the unheard beasts attacking him out of the blue.
What happens now with his enemies closing in on him and his feelings towards his childhood friend have changed to something different?
CHAPTER - 0.5
The storm was relentless. The wind howled with rage sending fat droplets of water inside the small cave. The moonless sky crackled with thunder and the lightning illuminated the dark outline of trees. A small boy snuggled close to his uncle out of fright. He covered his ears with both his hands as a loud rolling clap of thunder followed the lightning. His uncle held the boy so close trying to warm his shaking frame. They were both hungry and tired, the raging storm made it impossible for them to go out and they tried to take cover in the small cave they found. They were wet from head to toe–the boy's uncle prayed silently that they stayed safe for the rest of the night. The man kept his eyes trained on the shallow cave entrance for any threat. He didn't believe for an instance that a storm this powerful was enough to keep them away. He held the boy close with one hand as the other hand tightened on the hilt of his sword he kept secured in his hip. His ears perked up at the distant snarls, he cursed as he picked the small boy and ran out the cave. He tuned his senses to listen to any noise as he ran from the ghouls, scavenger creatures which fed on flesh and blood. Running through the dark forest in a raging storm was never a good idea. Even with his supernatural senses, it was hard to see through the night while the wind slapped his face without mercy. He could hear the snarls getting closer and he tripped over a root sending the boy tumbling on the forest floor as they were surrounded by the vile creatures. "Uncle Dimitri." He heard the frightened voice of the boy calling from his right-hand side. He could feel the Ghouls surrounding them for all directions. He wondered, how in the hell did the Ghoul King Gograk have joined hands with the enemies of the Royals to destroy the only hope for the Lycan Kingdom. He stood motionless as the ghouls advanced. Luckily for him, one ghoul crashed into the others and a fight ensued between them allowing Dimitri enough time to slip out of that place. Dimitri thanked his lucky stars as he quickly dashed towards the boy in darkness following his sound. He found him holding a tree trunk in fear while he frantically called for his Uncle. “Shhh… quiet Lucian.” He urged the boy to calm down–wanting no more attention than they already had. Picking up the boy and loading him behind his back, he climbed the tree efficiently. The boy clutched his uncle so close as if his life depended on it. Climbing to the maximum height, he secured the boy to the branch. It was only a matter of time before the ghouls follow them here and he needed to escape them. The wind has picked up speed, and the trees swayed at the force. Travelling through the ground was impossible at this moment. “Lucian, listen, we are in danger. I will kill them all before they get to us. You must stay hidden until I come back, do you understand?” He warned the little boy, who nodded vigorously as he hugged the tree branch tighter. He climbed down a few feet and found a tree branch comfortable to stand he waited for the ghouls to come at him. He pledged the Royals he would keep their son safe, and he was planning to keep it until his last breath. Dimitri held his sword tighter as the snarls got closer–he cleaved the head of the first ghoul and slashed the second one's limb as it tried to get hold of his legs. The creature fell with an unpleasant ear piercing shrill, which echoed through the storm. The wind howled like a madman as it mercilessly commenced its own attack on Dimitri, forcing him to stagger a few steps back. The tree branches shook with its animosity forcing Lucian off the branch. Lucian, who was falling off the tree, got hold of another thin branch on his way down and held on to it with all his might. Somehow climbing between two branches, he hid his face behind the trunk to avoid the onslaught of the wind. Dimitri could hear the boy’s whimper. Lucian was only five-years-old and small when compared to other Lycan children. More screams followed as Dimitri continued to slash at his enemies without remorse. The ghouls kept coming, being on top of a tree they had no blind spot to attack him and Dimitri was like a ghost unleashed. One creature climbed behind him as he fought two vicious ghouls. They seemed stronger than others and evaded his sword skilfully. Somehow Dimitri separated the head of one ghoul when the one behind him slashed him with its claws drawing blood. Dimitri howled as pain filled his entire being, the other ghoul at the front pounced at this opportunity and Dimitri screamed when they bit down and chewed down his flesh. His sword slipped from his hands and they stumbled down to the ground hitting every branch below on their way. Falling from a tree at least fifty-feet taller was not a pleasant experience. The creatures were separated from Dimitri at the impact and he lay on the wet ground unable to move his limbs. His spine was broken and his wounds were bleeding profusely making it impossible to heal at the usual rate. He couldn’t hear the snarls of the ghouls anymore–he wished they had died or knocked out at the impact. Bodies littered the ground around him and the rich putrid smell of their blood filled his nose, making him gag. The downpour or the wind did nothing to take the scent away. There were at least fifty and more should be following soon. They always traveled in groups. “Lucian,” he coughed and pain shot out from his spine at the movement. “Uncle Dimitri.” He heard the faint voice of the boy. “Come down,” he whispered taking shallow breaths trying to be gentler with his injuries. The boy had strong senses, and he was sure he would hear him. The downpour made it hard for him to breath and it took a few minutes before Lucian reached him. “Lucian, come here,” he beckoned him closer. Lucian’s body shook badly with fear and cold as he reached for his uncle. “Prince Lucian Armand Orszak, listen carefully. Before I continue, I need you to trust me and promise me first.” Dimitri raised his hand weakly, and the boy promised without hesitation. Dimitri smiled–the boy never broke his promise once he made them. It was how he was brought up–to always stand by his word. “Lucian, as you can see I am injured and cannot accompany you anymore. They will come for you and I cannot let that happen. You must run and never stop or never look back. You must run until you are safe. Never forget your name and know this, no matter how long it takes, I will come for you, Lucian.” Dimitri finished taking short breaths. “Uncle Dimitri, I don’t want to leave you,” the boy cried making his heartache. “You promised me, Lucian.” Dimitri reminded him and the boy gasped looking at him. Dimitri sighed, “Come close.” He kissed his forehead and cast a protection spell on him. “Now, run my dear Lucian. Stay alive and don’t forget who you are. I will come for you,” he said releasing the boy. “Do you promise?” he asked as Dimitri chuckled. “I promise I will come for you if I survive this.” Dimitri couldn’t lie to the boy. He was dying, the injury was fatal and he would die if the bleeding doesn’t stop. The spell he put on the boy would temporarily hide Lucian’s scent and he should be far away from all this chaos–when the spell wears out. He watched the boy as he got up and ran, his eyes closed and was claimed by the darkness shortly.
READ IT HERE
When the Stellers take in the five-year-old Lucian, they doesn't realize the looks could be deceiving. He is a beast–a predator–devised to kill. Things take a turn when it is time for his first shift.
***
Prince Lucian Armand Orszak–the only heir to the Lycan throne is on the run with his guardian Dimitri Van Speybroeck. Lucian is forced to leave the place and the people he has known his entire life at five. When his guardian is attacked and left immobile, Lucian finds himself on the streets.
Now living alone, rummaging through the garbage bins for food, he witnesses a young girl being attacked and saves her risking his life. He is taken in by her kind family, but everything changes when he hits puberty. He does not understand the change he is going through or the unheard beasts attacking him out of the blue.
What happens now with his enemies closing in on him and his feelings towards his childhood friend have changed to something different?
CHAPTER - 0.5
The storm was relentless. The wind howled with rage sending fat droplets of water inside the small cave. The moonless sky crackled with thunder and the lightning illuminated the dark outline of trees. A small boy snuggled close to his uncle out of fright. He covered his ears with both his hands as a loud rolling clap of thunder followed the lightning. His uncle held the boy so close trying to warm his shaking frame. They were both hungry and tired, the raging storm made it impossible for them to go out and they tried to take cover in the small cave they found. They were wet from head to toe–the boy's uncle prayed silently that they stayed safe for the rest of the night. The man kept his eyes trained on the shallow cave entrance for any threat. He didn't believe for an instance that a storm this powerful was enough to keep them away. He held the boy close with one hand as the other hand tightened on the hilt of his sword he kept secured in his hip. His ears perked up at the distant snarls, he cursed as he picked the small boy and ran out the cave. He tuned his senses to listen to any noise as he ran from the ghouls, scavenger creatures which fed on flesh and blood. Running through the dark forest in a raging storm was never a good idea. Even with his supernatural senses, it was hard to see through the night while the wind slapped his face without mercy. He could hear the snarls getting closer and he tripped over a root sending the boy tumbling on the forest floor as they were surrounded by the vile creatures. "Uncle Dimitri." He heard the frightened voice of the boy calling from his right-hand side. He could feel the Ghouls surrounding them for all directions. He wondered, how in the hell did the Ghoul King Gograk have joined hands with the enemies of the Royals to destroy the only hope for the Lycan Kingdom. He stood motionless as the ghouls advanced. Luckily for him, one ghoul crashed into the others and a fight ensued between them allowing Dimitri enough time to slip out of that place. Dimitri thanked his lucky stars as he quickly dashed towards the boy in darkness following his sound. He found him holding a tree trunk in fear while he frantically called for his Uncle. “Shhh… quiet Lucian.” He urged the boy to calm down–wanting no more attention than they already had. Picking up the boy and loading him behind his back, he climbed the tree efficiently. The boy clutched his uncle so close as if his life depended on it. Climbing to the maximum height, he secured the boy to the branch. It was only a matter of time before the ghouls follow them here and he needed to escape them. The wind has picked up speed, and the trees swayed at the force. Travelling through the ground was impossible at this moment. “Lucian, listen, we are in danger. I will kill them all before they get to us. You must stay hidden until I come back, do you understand?” He warned the little boy, who nodded vigorously as he hugged the tree branch tighter. He climbed down a few feet and found a tree branch comfortable to stand he waited for the ghouls to come at him. He pledged the Royals he would keep their son safe, and he was planning to keep it until his last breath. Dimitri held his sword tighter as the snarls got closer–he cleaved the head of the first ghoul and slashed the second one's limb as it tried to get hold of his legs. The creature fell with an unpleasant ear piercing shrill, which echoed through the storm. The wind howled like a madman as it mercilessly commenced its own attack on Dimitri, forcing him to stagger a few steps back. The tree branches shook with its animosity forcing Lucian off the branch. Lucian, who was falling off the tree, got hold of another thin branch on his way down and held on to it with all his might. Somehow climbing between two branches, he hid his face behind the trunk to avoid the onslaught of the wind. Dimitri could hear the boy’s whimper. Lucian was only five-years-old and small when compared to other Lycan children. More screams followed as Dimitri continued to slash at his enemies without remorse. The ghouls kept coming, being on top of a tree they had no blind spot to attack him and Dimitri was like a ghost unleashed. One creature climbed behind him as he fought two vicious ghouls. They seemed stronger than others and evaded his sword skilfully. Somehow Dimitri separated the head of one ghoul when the one behind him slashed him with its claws drawing blood. Dimitri howled as pain filled his entire being, the other ghoul at the front pounced at this opportunity and Dimitri screamed when they bit down and chewed down his flesh. His sword slipped from his hands and they stumbled down to the ground hitting every branch below on their way. Falling from a tree at least fifty-feet taller was not a pleasant experience. The creatures were separated from Dimitri at the impact and he lay on the wet ground unable to move his limbs. His spine was broken and his wounds were bleeding profusely making it impossible to heal at the usual rate. He couldn’t hear the snarls of the ghouls anymore–he wished they had died or knocked out at the impact. Bodies littered the ground around him and the rich putrid smell of their blood filled his nose, making him gag. The downpour or the wind did nothing to take the scent away. There were at least fifty and more should be following soon. They always traveled in groups. “Lucian,” he coughed and pain shot out from his spine at the movement. “Uncle Dimitri.” He heard the faint voice of the boy. “Come down,” he whispered taking shallow breaths trying to be gentler with his injuries. The boy had strong senses, and he was sure he would hear him. The downpour made it hard for him to breath and it took a few minutes before Lucian reached him. “Lucian, come here,” he beckoned him closer. Lucian’s body shook badly with fear and cold as he reached for his uncle. “Prince Lucian Armand Orszak, listen carefully. Before I continue, I need you to trust me and promise me first.” Dimitri raised his hand weakly, and the boy promised without hesitation. Dimitri smiled–the boy never broke his promise once he made them. It was how he was brought up–to always stand by his word. “Lucian, as you can see I am injured and cannot accompany you anymore. They will come for you and I cannot let that happen. You must run and never stop or never look back. You must run until you are safe. Never forget your name and know this, no matter how long it takes, I will come for you, Lucian.” Dimitri finished taking short breaths. “Uncle Dimitri, I don’t want to leave you,” the boy cried making his heartache. “You promised me, Lucian.” Dimitri reminded him and the boy gasped looking at him. Dimitri sighed, “Come close.” He kissed his forehead and cast a protection spell on him. “Now, run my dear Lucian. Stay alive and don’t forget who you are. I will come for you,” he said releasing the boy. “Do you promise?” he asked as Dimitri chuckled. “I promise I will come for you if I survive this.” Dimitri couldn’t lie to the boy. He was dying, the injury was fatal and he would die if the bleeding doesn’t stop. The spell he put on the boy would temporarily hide Lucian’s scent and he should be far away from all this chaos–when the spell wears out. He watched the boy as he got up and ran, his eyes closed and was claimed by the darkness shortly.
Reincarnated Love - Part 1 (Excerpt)
Reincarnated Love - Part 1 (Excerpt)
READ IT HERE
Watch the Trailer here
Katherine Wilcox's life takes a nosedive when she embarks on a family trip that is supposed to bring their estranged family together. She soon finds herself in the castle of vampires, betrothed to their Prince with no means to escape and realizes that she is nothing more than a pawn in the centuries old cold war between the brothers, who happened to fall in love with the same woman.
As the dark and dirty secrets of the past unveil itself, it’s up to Katherine to figure a way out or to succumb to their scheme.
CHAPTER - 1
The storm raged shooting daggers of snow in every other direction.
A mere truck stood no chance against nature at an ungodly hour of the night. It was one hell of a winter where the nights were long and the days were short. The long road that snaked between the two mountains was now hidden from the view.
Two figures exited the truck when it couldn't move ahead. The tires and the hood were almost covered by the snow.
"We need to find a shelter for the night," one of the men yelled over his shoulder as he proceeded towards the back of the truck, maneuvering through the snow that swallowed their legs up to their knees.
"We are in the middle of nowhere. I can hardly see anything," the other man replied.
"We should've come when the weather is not this harsh. Now, we are stranded. What do we do?" The first one asked.
"I don't think hiking the mountain is a very good idea at this moment, Charlie." The second man, reasoned.
"We can't stay in the truck either. We have to keep moving. You know what our commander said. We need to reach our destination any cost," Charlie argued.
Archie, the second man grunted, but kept quiet as they retrieved the huge cylinders from the back of the truck. "This shit is so heavy," he grumbled as he helped Charlie load them onto his back and tightened the straps around his waist and the shoulders.
"Well, what did you expect?" Charlie shot back and helped Archie secure the cylinders against his back.
After grabbing a few more things from the truck, they walked around and stood at the front of the truck, trying to get a good look at their surroundings. Charlie pulled out his compass and adjusted his snow goggles before pulling the mask up to cover his nose.
"We're almost there," he announced. "We need to walk five miles North and then, three miles West to reach this place we're looking for."
"Eight miles?! You're kidding, right?" Archie exclaimed. "Come on, Charlie. We could die out here!"
"Shut it, Archie!" Charlie rolled his eyes behind the goggles. "You happen to forget that you're not human anymore. You're a freaking vampire for God sake, just behave like one."
Archie scoffed and followed Charlie, who trekked North without another word.
An hour or two has passed and they were still trekking. The snow-clad path seemed endless as Charlie weaved in and out of the trees. Archie stumbled behind Charlie, barely avoiding the low tree branches that assaulted them without an ounce of mercy.
The more they climbed the mountain the storm became harsher. Archie huffed and bent down, his breathing became labored as his limbs ached. He was a newly turned vampire and was getting used to his new abilities. This was the first task he was entrusted with and he wanted to finish it at any cost.
Vampires were usually strong creatures. Charlie once told him they were no match for the pureblood vampires. This was the most extreme situation Archie had faced so far and he wondered why his strength faltered, unlike their commander who was the strongest of all.
No matter how good their endurance skills were, they got exhausted every now and then, if they were pushed beyond their limits. This was one such occasion, to Archie and Charlie.
"I wonder how they even manage to live in a place like this," Archie mused when he noticed Charlie has taken a break.
"They live in a cave several feet inside this mountain," his voice strained as he tried to catch his breath.
It was the first time for Charlie and Archie. The team that normally ran the chores for the ten-member coven that resided in this secluded area was out of town on business and they were not scheduled to visit until the winter has passed
However, their commander had received information and he'd been on them the moment he read it. He handed them a traditional message scroll and told them he trusted them with a matter that requires immediate attention. They were not to stop or rest until they reached the coven.
Watch the Trailer here
Katherine Wilcox's life takes a nosedive when she embarks on a family trip that is supposed to bring their estranged family together. She soon finds herself in the castle of vampires, betrothed to their Prince with no means to escape and realizes that she is nothing more than a pawn in the centuries old cold war between the brothers, who happened to fall in love with the same woman.
As the dark and dirty secrets of the past unveil itself, it’s up to Katherine to figure a way out or to succumb to their scheme.
CHAPTER - 1
The storm raged shooting daggers of snow in every other direction.
A mere truck stood no chance against nature at an ungodly hour of the night. It was one hell of a winter where the nights were long and the days were short. The long road that snaked between the two mountains was now hidden from the view.
Two figures exited the truck when it couldn't move ahead. The tires and the hood were almost covered by the snow.
"We need to find a shelter for the night," one of the men yelled over his shoulder as he proceeded towards the back of the truck, maneuvering through the snow that swallowed their legs up to their knees.
"We are in the middle of nowhere. I can hardly see anything," the other man replied.
"We should've come when the weather is not this harsh. Now, we are stranded. What do we do?" The first one asked.
"I don't think hiking the mountain is a very good idea at this moment, Charlie." The second man, reasoned.
"We can't stay in the truck either. We have to keep moving. You know what our commander said. We need to reach our destination any cost," Charlie argued.
Archie, the second man grunted, but kept quiet as they retrieved the huge cylinders from the back of the truck. "This shit is so heavy," he grumbled as he helped Charlie load them onto his back and tightened the straps around his waist and the shoulders.
"Well, what did you expect?" Charlie shot back and helped Archie secure the cylinders against his back.
After grabbing a few more things from the truck, they walked around and stood at the front of the truck, trying to get a good look at their surroundings. Charlie pulled out his compass and adjusted his snow goggles before pulling the mask up to cover his nose.
"We're almost there," he announced. "We need to walk five miles North and then, three miles West to reach this place we're looking for."
"Eight miles?! You're kidding, right?" Archie exclaimed. "Come on, Charlie. We could die out here!"
"Shut it, Archie!" Charlie rolled his eyes behind the goggles. "You happen to forget that you're not human anymore. You're a freaking vampire for God sake, just behave like one."
Archie scoffed and followed Charlie, who trekked North without another word.
An hour or two has passed and they were still trekking. The snow-clad path seemed endless as Charlie weaved in and out of the trees. Archie stumbled behind Charlie, barely avoiding the low tree branches that assaulted them without an ounce of mercy.
The more they climbed the mountain the storm became harsher. Archie huffed and bent down, his breathing became labored as his limbs ached. He was a newly turned vampire and was getting used to his new abilities. This was the first task he was entrusted with and he wanted to finish it at any cost.
Vampires were usually strong creatures. Charlie once told him they were no match for the pureblood vampires. This was the most extreme situation Archie had faced so far and he wondered why his strength faltered, unlike their commander who was the strongest of all.
No matter how good their endurance skills were, they got exhausted every now and then, if they were pushed beyond their limits. This was one such occasion, to Archie and Charlie.
"I wonder how they even manage to live in a place like this," Archie mused when he noticed Charlie has taken a break.
"They live in a cave several feet inside this mountain," his voice strained as he tried to catch his breath.
It was the first time for Charlie and Archie. The team that normally ran the chores for the ten-member coven that resided in this secluded area was out of town on business and they were not scheduled to visit until the winter has passed
However, their commander had received information and he'd been on them the moment he read it. He handed them a traditional message scroll and told them he trusted them with a matter that requires immediate attention. They were not to stop or rest until they reached the coven.
July 10, 2018
Review: Lycan Hunt: A Southern Werewolf Series
Lycan Hunt: A Southern Werewolf Series by Brett HicksMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another exciting read from Brett. I’ve read his stories before and knew as a fact that his female leads come with a strong backbone and sarcastic cord attached to them. This story doesn’t disappoint either.
June, a graphic designer, retires to the secluded town after her fiancée is killed. A sudden death in her property warrants investigation and the secret she managed to safeguard for 10 years is at danger.
Brett delivers once again and the descriptions are a treat. The opening line –
Crimson, fields of it. The heat of the humid southern air and the seductive scent of fresh death. The beast drank in the night. Bathed in the primal pleasures of the wilderness. Life chirped and song the early evening away nearby.
June isn’t comfortable around the humans and when the situation forces her to mingle with the townsfolk, she realizes she needs to be around them. Dean’s suspicious eyes are on her and this doesn’t sit well with her. Though Dean is attracted to her, he is convinced that she is more than what she let the others see.
June reluctantly get involved in the investigation with an aim to eradicate anything that threatened her peaceful solitude. There is no short of sarcasm. Here this scene for instance where June comes to meet Dean after he learns the truth about her.
Outside the door stood a brooding alpha female with her intense amber gaze locked on his peeping hole.
“I can see you Dean Anders. Open up, unless you want me to discuss lycanthropy through the door.”
It’s a quick read and kept me entertained throughout. Though the story was about a psycho rabid killer, I couldn’t shake off the suspicion that it could be more. The ending of the book just proved it. I’m definitely going to read the sequel.
***ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review***
View all my reviews
July 6, 2018
June 20, 2018
June 4, 2018
June 2, 2018
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTS (Copyright in India explained)
Which are the common copyright infringements?The following are some of the commonly known acts involving infringement of copyright:Making infringing copies for sale or hire or selling or letting them for hire;Permitting any place for the performance of works in public where such performance constitutes infringement of copyright;Distributing infringing copies for the purpose of trade or to such an extent so as to affect prejudicially the interest of the owner of copyright ;Public exhibition of infringing copies by way of trade; andImportation of infringing copies into India.Has the owner of an auditorium or a hall any liability while renting out the place for communication to the public of a copyrighted work?Yes. If a person permits for profit any place to be used for the communication of a work to the public, where such communication constitutes an infringement of the copyright in the work, unless he was not aware and had no reasonable ground for believing that such communication to the public would be an infringement of copyright, he will be deemed to have committed an offence under the Copyright Act.What are the civil remedies for copyright infringement?A copyright owner can take legal action against any person who infringes the copyright in the work. The copyright owner is entitled to remedies by way of injunctions, damages and accounts.Which is the court having jurisdiction over civil remedies in copyright cases?The District Court concerned has the jurisdiction in civil suits regarding copyright infringement.What is the proof of the authorship of a work?Where, in the case of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, a name purporting to be that of the author or the publisher appears on copies of the work as published, or, in the case of an artistic work appeared on the work where it was made, the person whose name so appears or appeared shall, in any proceeding in respect of copyright in such work, be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be the author or the publisher of the work, as the case may be.What are the rights of owner over infringing copies and equipments used for making infringing copies?All infringing copies of any work in which copyright subsists and all plates used or intended to be used for the production of such infringing copies shall be deemed to be the property of the owner of the copyright.What are the remedies in the case of groundless threat to legal proceedings?Where any person claiming to be the owner of copyright in any work, by circulars, advertisements or otherwise, threatens any other person with any legal proceedings or liability in respect of an alleged infringement of copyright, any person aggrieved thereby may institute a declaratory suit that the alleged infringement to which the threats related was not in fact an infringement of any legal rights of the person making such threats and may in any such suit –obtain an injunction against the continuance of such threats; andrecover such damages, if any, as he has sustained by reason of such threats.Is copyright infringement a criminal offence?Yes. Any person who knowingly infringes or abets the infringement of the copyright in any work commits criminal offence under Section 63 of the Copyright Act.
What are the punishments for a criminal offence under the copyright law?The minimum punishment for infringement of copyright is imprisonment for six months with the minimum fine of Rs. 50,000/-. In the case of a second and subsequent conviction the minimum punishment is imprisonment for one year and fine of Rs. one lakh.Is copyright infringement a cognizable offence?Any police officer, not below the rank of a sub inspector, may, if he is satisfied that an offence in respect of the infringement of copyright in any work has been, is being, or is likely to be committed, seize without warrant, all copies of the work and all plates used for the purpose of making infringing copies of the work, wherever found, and all copies and plates so seized shall, as soon as practicable be produced before a magistrate.How are the seized infringing copies or plates disposed off?The Court may order delivery to the owner of the copyright all such copies or plates.Who is responsible for copyright offence committed by a company?Every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to the company for, the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of such offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against.Which court can try copyright offence cases?No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under the Copyright Act.Can a police officer seize infringing goods without warrant?Yes. A police officer not below the rank of sub inspector can seize without warrant all infringing copies of the work.
Source: http://copyright.gov.in/documents/handbook.html
