Allan Krummenacker's Blog, page 2
September 26, 2024
Be Careful What You Wish For...
... because you might just get it.
So, after all my talk and posting about finding a crystal ball... well...um... Ah, the photo pretty much tells you what happened.
Now to be honest, I've had this crystal ball for years. Helen got it for me long before we got married, and we exchanged our vows 35 years ago. (Go us!) But I'd lost track of it some time ago, and I literally just ran across it in one of our boxes in storage. Upon spotting it, I just had to pull it out of the box it had been stored in all this time. Then I cleaned and dusted it, and now it is currently sitting on my desk.
"So? Did you look into it or not?" I hear some of you ask. Or maybe that's just the voices in my head, and believe me, as a voice-actor I've got a LOT of them. The answer is... I'm thinking about it.
Why haven't I done it already? Well, I got kind of side-tracked wondering what would my characters do?
See how I slipped the topic of writing into this entry?
Although to be honest, I have had one of my characters actually weighing the possibility of winding up in a wheelchair. Her name is Cassandra Elliott, and she has so far appeared in two of the Para-Earth novels, "The Bridge" (which is currently unavailable but will be out again early next year - I hope), and "The Ship".
The scene I'm referring to occurred in "The Ship" where we learn a lot more about this billionaire heiress. In particular, she has Epstein-Barr Syndrome (or so it is believed by her family and doctors), which makes her life less predictable and more than a little worrying. She has spells of weakness, especially in her legs that makes being on her feet a problem at times. This is especially frustrating for her, since she has been an accomplished ballroom dancer and even participated in contests as a teenager. But as her condition began to rear its ugly head, she's had to give up a number of things, including driving. Luckily, being an heiress she has a chauffeur to drive her places, or even relies on friends. However, there is always the looming possibility that she might become even more incapacitated, a prospect that terrifies her more than she likes to admit.
She even keeps wheelchairs in all her properties just in case she has a really bad day and cannot walk. But each one of those transport devices, are kept out of the way so no one sees them. Why? Because she cannot stand to look at them. Mind you, she will use them, but only when it is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, as far as Cassandra is concerned, out of sight, out of mind.
Now you might be asking yourself, why does she do this? Is she ashamed or embarrassed about having to occasionally be in a wheelchair? Does she not want anyone to see her so weak and helpless? Or is there something else going on?
The answers of course can be found in the pages of "The Ship", which is a good creepy read at this time of year. So, if you haven't done so already, you might want to click on one of the links at the bottom of this post to get a copy for yourself to indulge for this Halloween season. And although the book is part of the Para-Earth series and has connections to the first book "The Bridge", it stands well on its own and can be thoroughly enjoyed without reading the other book.
As for me and my crystal ball...
Well, we'll have to see. A lot of things are going on with my life, both with writing and my health. More pressing though, are some family issues that are weighing heavily on me right now. Mind you, those issues are not between me and Helen, but other family members.
With so much undecided and no direct answers in sight, I will close out this entry here for now. Sometimes, looking for and finding inspiration for story ideas can be a bit more intricate and intimate than you may be comfortable with. However, life is going to happen no matter what, and there's always lessons and insights to be gained from it. It all comes down to what you choose to do with that knowledge and experience.
Until next time... or until I finally gaze into that crystal ball... take care everyone. Be safe and keep reading and writing.
And speaking of reading, here are those links for "The Ship" I mentioned earlier...
AMAZON:
The Ship: Every ship needs a navigator... (Para-Earth Series Book 2) - Kindle edition by Krummenacker, Allan, Krummenacker, Helen. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.BARNES ANDNOBLE:
The Ship by Allan Krummenacker, Helen Krummenacker | eBook | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)KOBO: The Ship eBook by Allan Krummenacker - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States
APPLE: The Ship by Allan Krummenacker & Helen Krummenacker on Apple Books
September 17, 2024
Continuing My Journey of Drawing from the Darker Side of Life'''...
Those of you who have been following this blog (especially in the last couple of months) will be familiar with this image and the snippet of the song it comes from...
"I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me.
Or am I even in its mind at all?
Perhaps I'll get a chance to look ahead and see.
Soon as I find myself a crystal ball..."
- From Styx album "Crystal Ball"
...and my worries that if I did find a crystal ball and gazed into it, I might find a wheelchair staring back at me.
Well, after being examined by a 2nd neurologist, and the results of another MRI of my cervical spine and head, the doctors have ruled out Multiple Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig Disease, cancer and a host of other worrisome possibilities. So, what was causing all my problems? Myelopathy which is caused by some kind compression on the spinal cord itself, inside the spinal column. In my case, the compression is happening in the cervical region (neck), and yes pressure on the spinal cord in that area can affect your legs and feet.
What does this mean? Well for starts, she strongly encouraged me to continue my effort to get long term disability having seen my limitations firsthand and how much they affect me. Hearing this was reassuring in many respects and the weight of self-doubt and guilt that I wasn't pulling my weight and working, has been lifted from my shoulders. (Yes, I'm one of those people who keeps driving themselves, even when everyone else, especially the ones closest to you, are pointing this fact out to you on a regular basis).
And besides helping reassure me that I should be trying for long term disability, she also recommended I try some more Physical Therapy with someone who specializes with people having neurological-physical issues.
I readily agreed to this and saw the physical therapist a week or two later. And I'm very glad I did. The exercises the therapist showed me, have helped me with some of my balance issues, and I've been able to move around with a little more confidence, and less fear of falling. I'm not out of the woods completely on that front, but it's nice to feel a little more stable once more.
But, I'm still having serious trouble being on my feet for very long, before my l-foot and leg start going numb. There's also a good amount of pain that accompanies this, and part of my r-foot is developing more of the same numbing effect that started in the left foot over a year and a half ago.
So, is a wheelchair in my future? At this point I don't know and neither does anyone else (including my doctors). Only time will tell, or maybe I will finally run a crystal ball. And if I do find one, maybe I'll screw up my courage and take a peek. Because as part of the refrain of the Styx song "Crystal Ball" goes... My heart is aching, my body's aching, a nd I don't know where to go. Tell me, tell me, won't you tell me? I've just got to know?
Until next time, keep writing my friends.
PS: I know I'm supposed to be talking about drawing from life for your writing, but I'm sure just reading what I wrote today, any of you could easily see how much material there is to use in a story. Let's face it, our various characters come from many different walks of life, and they face unusual situations all the time. So is there anything you read today in this post, that you could have one of your characters dealing with? And if so, how would they react to some of the prospects I'm facing. What would be going through their minds? You tell us, after all, you're the one telling the audience the story.
Good luck!
TO BE CONTINUED...
July 28, 2024
Big News!!!
Good news, it's finally happened. Helen and I now have an online store for our books.
Anyone who has been wanting to get a personalized/signed copy of one of our books, now all you have to do is click on the link below and it will take you straight to our store. And "yes" it takes credit cards. (I know, welcome to the modern age, Allan. Took you long enough).Here's the link: https://musingsof2creativeminds.com/shop/
And while not ALL our books are up just yet, I'm working on it and will be adding more this week.
NOTE: I also plan to add another branch to the store for our original artwork, so stay tuned for that as well.
In the meantime, come see what we have available and maybe place and order or two.
Until next time take care and keep writing and recording my friends.
July 8, 2024
Drawing from the Darker Side of Life…
(this is my trying to be brave face)To continue with what I was saying in my last post, this whole experience has been quite an eye-opening journey. For instance, trying to almost constantly adjust to dealing with my current circumstances while doing what was once ordinary tasks for me.
Now as I said in my last post, I am still generating loads of new story ideas. It's just being able to sit comfortably enough to be able to really flesh them out takes more out of me than it used to. And believe me, I'm getting so many thoughts and ideas, since this journey began.
Take a recent outing I had to go on namely grocery shopping. I went to a Safeway that I knew would have the electric shopping carts to make getting around easier (because I was really feeling tired and sore). Normally, I'd do a curbside pickup, but I wanted to actually go in myself and try one of those carts in order to see if it would give me a little more freedom to get around once in a while.
I found the cart easily enough and settled in, then began familiarizing myself with the controls. Overall, it was quite simple, and I was soon under way. But the first thing I noticed was everything around me was a at a very different level than I was used to. You see, I'm 5' 8", but now I was at an eye level of about 4' give or take an inch. Now I was seeing all the shelves I'd be looking down at were almost at eye level, which kind of threw me. In fact, it kind of made me think back to when I was a kid when everything, including grown-ups, seemed to loom over me. Still, I pressed on and tried to focus on my shopping list.
The next thing I encountered was the obstacles of some aisles, such as employees restocking shelves. Normally I would simply just squeeze through by adjusting my body. But I couldn't in this case. Instead, I had to kind of park the cart, and get off my ride to grab what I needed. Then I'd settle back in and continue my 'shopping'. However, now I was starting to be a little more choosy about which aisles I would go down. At the same time, I was also still trying to learn just how maneuverable my cart was or wasn't at different times. But overall, once I got more used to the device, I found it was quite responsive and easy to drive.
Quite frankly after a while it felt like I was driving a mini car which didn't have a metal body all around to protect me if I ran into something. This left me feeling a bit exposed and a little anxious, so I just rode around more carefully, especially when coming out of an aisle and turning around a blind corner (which is pretty much every corner where an aisle is concerned).
The next issue I ran across was products/objects I could normally reach easily were a real stretch now. Especially in the cold sections where everything is behind glass doors. Figuring out how to position the cart so I could open the door was bad enough. But then trying to reach a product was a whole new problem. I resorted to using my cane once or twice because trying to stand up was really going to be uncomfortable.
Eventually, I managed to get everything I wanted and decided to check out. Even though at this point every fiber of my body was thinking...
(Thank you Monty Python's Flying Circus)!
All right, I'll stop being silly, now. Anyway, the whole experience had started to feel more like an ordeal than a convenience, in a number of ways. For instance, at the checkout finding myself at a lower level felt weird, but I managed to use the keypad and whatnot without too much trouble. But then the cashier asked if I'd like someone to accompany me to my car so then that person could bring the electric cart back into the store and save me the trip. Naturally, I thought this was a very kind and wonderful idea and agreed. From there I was directed to a spot out of the way, to wait while an employee was summoned to accompany me. Well, it wound up being a 5-minute wait, and I couldn't help starting to feel like I was inconveniencing whoever was being asked to help me. I was just about to say forget it, I'll just go ahead and bring the cart back myself after emptying everything into my car, when an employee showed up. I'm pleased to say he was very helpful, and I really did appreciate his help. Still, I couldn't quite shake that feeling like I had been a bother.
Naturally this whole trip started giving me story ideas, as well as the inspiration for this post. Drawing from our own life experiences, or even from someone else who doesn't mind you using their story, can be a rich source of material for writing. Mind you, I mostly try to stick with pulling from my own life, but there have been more than a few ideas I got from something a friend or family member told me. But whenever I used someone else's experience, I made sure I only chose the ones where they were willing to give me insights as to what they were feeling and thinking when it happened. I do this because I strive to make what I write as sincere and believable as possible, even if some of my subject matter is more science fiction or fantasy based. And based on what readers have told me, they really appreciate these efforts. It helps make the characters more real to the audience. Those kinds of touches can make a reader really feel like these characters are someone they know (or would like to know) in real life. They become more invested in the tale and really want to find out how the rest of the character's story unfolds. And if you happen to be using that character in a series, it makes the audience eager to come back and visit them again and again.
Well, that's all I have to say for now. But again, drawing from life experiences (good or bad) for your writing, can really make a difference. And if you wind up drawing from some of the darker chapters your own life, you might find it a bit therapeutic. Who knows?
Until next time, keep writing my friends!
June 23, 2024
A Brief Explanation and Drawing from the Darker Side of Life...
Naturally, I've been finding the prospect of not being able to get around on my own legs very unsettling and upsetting. Mostly because I only recently turned 60. I wasn't expecting to have problems like this until much later in my life. I certainly did not expect to start having problems beginning in my mid-50's, which is when this all began.
Anyway, as things have gotten progressively worse, I find myself dwelling on an old Styx song called "Crystal Ball", from the album of the same title.
At one point in the song comes this particularly passage:
"I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me. Or am I even in its mind at all? Perhaps I'll get a chance to look ahead and see. Soon as I find myself a crystal ball..."
Now, I've always loved this song and I still do. However, these days I find myself wondering that if I ever did find a crystal ball would I see a wheelchair staring back at me?
I guess the reason I keep thinking back on this song is because back in the 1980's I had to spend an hour in a wheelchair as part of a curriculum for a class I was taking in college. I had to roll about indoors, and outdoors, on the campus so I could understand firsthand what challenges a wheelchair bound person would face. While I was pleased to learn that I could handle moving and manipulating the chair quite well, I was even more touched by how many total strangers helped open and hold doors for me. Naturally, I was extremely grateful for their help especially with the doors, because we didn't have a lot of automatic/disabled doors back then at the college. I also got to experience a number of people I didn't know helping guide me up or down a ramp. It was really a special experience for me, and I've never forgotten it.
And at the time, besides giving me a lot of the insight for what it was like for a disabled person, the experience made me more grateful for what I could do. And as a result, I began using my bicycle more, and even began taking more and more long walks, and jogging in the mornings. I even eventually began taking dance classes, plus other activities.
Of course, at the time I was attending college, I never pictured myself having to deal with such a possible future for myself. And I know this to be true for a lot of people who have become paraplegic or worse. Unfortunately, things happen in our lives like car accidents, falls, etc. Or a person can develop a very serious and debilitating disease that affects not only their life, but the lives of those closest to them as well.
So, I guess what I'm driving at is that this whole experience has been quite an eye-opening journey. I'm constantly trying to adjust to my circumstances, as well as trying to come to grips with the things I can't do like dancing (especially ballroom style), or taking those nice long walks, wandering through woods, or going down to the beach and walking across the sand (which really kills me, because I LOVED doing that). Hell, I can't even reach the ocean water these days, at least not without a nice long pier and a lot of help.
But my condition has also made it harder for me to write. Not that I can't type anymore mind you (although sitting has become more difficult for even short periods of time, never mind longer ones). It's more, my brain is so busy trying to deal with all that's been happening, and how it affects how I look at myself most days.
Which brings me to today's topic about drawing from life for your writing. In spite of all I've been going through, I am still generating loads of new story ideas. My biggest challenge is just being able to sit comfortably long enough to be able to really flesh them out. And believe me, I've been having so many thoughts and ideas coming to me, since this all this began.
TO BE CONTINUED...
May 6, 2024
Book Review - The Curious Mr Tarrant by C. Daly King
I love a good anthology, or collection of short stories. Naturally, when I spotted this book in a used bookstore, I was intrigued by the title and the image on the cover. After reading the synopsis on the back cover, I decided it was worth checking out. And boy was I right to do so. I thoroughly enjoyed each of these odd little mysteries.
As the cover indicates, there are only 8 stories contained in this volume, and each one (even though a couple of the tales takes place outdoors) have been referred to as a "locked room" mystery, which makes the collection all the more interesting for me.
Similar to Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved Sherlock Holmes, we are introduced to Mr. Trevis Tarrant, through our narrator Jerry Phelan who first encounters Tarrant in the first story involving an ancient codex in a museum. And also like Holmes, Tarrant has an affinity for 'unusual' cases or problems. But, there the similarities end. We soon learn that Trevis Tarrant is more willing to have feelings we're allowed to see as he deals with Jerry and others. Also, we get to actually watch Tarrant working out the solution to the puzzles they are encountering. He doesn't always come up with the right answer immediately, but through trial and error until a solution is reached.
Furthermore, we're also allowed to learn that Mr. Tarrant is capable of great affection and can even fall in love, although he is a bit awkward about letting those feelings readily visible even to the object of his affections. But nonetheless, reading these tales was quite enjoyable.
Since finishing this collection, I've learned there are at least 4 more Tarrant stories that I'm eager to find and read as there are still one or two questions regarding this character, that I am hoping they will answer.
A worthy read. Five stars.
April 20, 2024
A Kirkus Review of "The Pass"
In Krummenacker and Caminiti’s paranormal thriller series starter set in the Civil War era, an Irish immigrant on a spy mission fights monsters and discovers a new superpower.
The story opens on a man named Jacob Long, who’s carrying his infant daughter in a blizzard, encountering a great beast called a Skinwalker, which gains different powers depending on what pelts it acquires. The creature protects the child when a pack of monsters attack. Readers soon learn that the monsters are under the control of a mysterious figure working with an assassin named Lansford Hastings.
The plot transitions to the main character, Keefer O’Connor, an Irishman who’s made a name for himself as a military strategist. This leads to his recruitment by Union Army Provost Marshal Lafayette Baker, and soon, Keefer is promoted from a captain to a colonel by the War Department. He’s assigned a mission to assassinate Gov. Fredrick Low of California if he sways from his antislavery stance, and to kill Hastings on sight. During his journey west, he has several supernatural experiences; for one, he discovers his own ability to see about 60 seconds into the future. O’Connor is also suspicious of a shadowy figure that follows him on his travels, along with flocks of crows. As nefarious creatures of superhuman ability pursue him, he briefly finds refuge with a widow, Jenny, and her son, Edward.
Krummenacker and Caminiti’s skillful prose ably reflects the main character’s Irish accent, as well as his considerable charm and wit. Long scenes of journeying feature vivid descriptions, and they’re broken up by exhilarating scenes of battle and tension: “Something in Keefer’s head suddenly caused him to leap from his seat and onto the ground. A moment later, the crack of a rifle and the whoosh of a bullet ripped into the seat he’d just vacated.” Although the story is relatively short, it provides a strong foundation for the series ahead.
A supernatural espionage tale that keeps the excitement high!
Like what you've seen here, click on the appropriate link below for your device/region and grab your copy now:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
AmazonCA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
AmazonAU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
Barnesand Noble (Nook): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pass-allan-krummenacker/1145384143;jsessionid=440BEA0E6B486F0F9DC4A5188120F818.prodny_store01-atgap03?ean=2940179679639
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-pass-15
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-pass/id6494988611
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1549936
April 13, 2024
One Day To Release of "The Pass" Plus a Kirkus Book Review...
KIRKUS BOOK REVIEW
In Krummenacker and Caminiti’s paranormal thriller series starter set in the Civil War era, an Irish immigrant on a spy mission fights monsters and discovers a new superpower.
The story opens on a man named Jacob Long, who’s carrying his infant daughter in a blizzard, encountering a great beastcalled a Skinwalker, which gains different powers depending on what pelts it acquires. The creature protects the child whena pack of monsters attack. Readers soon learn that the monsters are under the control of a mysterious figure working withan assassin named Lansford Hastings.
The plot transitions to the main character, Keefer O’Connor, an Irishman who’smade a name for himself as a military strategist. This leads to his recruitment by Union Army Provost Marshal LafayetteBaker, and soon, Keefer is promoted from a captain to a colonel by the War Department. He’s assigned a mission toassassinate Gov. Fredrick Low of California if he sways from his antislavery stance, and to kill Hastings on sight. Duringhis journey west, he has several supernatural experiences; for one, he discovers his own ability to see about 60 secondsinto the future. O’Connor is also suspicious of a shadowy figure that follows him on his travels, along with flocks of crows.As nefarious creatures of superhuman ability pursue him, he briefly finds refuge with a widow, Jenny, and her son,Edward.
Krummenacker and Caminiti’s skillful prose ably reflects the main character’s Irish accent, as well as hisconsiderable charm and wit. Long scenes of journeying feature vivid descriptions, and they’re broken up by exhilaratingscenes of battle and tension: “Something in Keefer’s head suddenly caused him to leap from his seat and onto the ground.A moment later, the crack of a rifle and the whoosh of a bullet ripped into the seat he’d just vacated.” Although the story isrelatively short, it provides a strong foundation for the series ahead.
A supernatural espionage tale that keeps the excitement high!
* * * * *
To get a paperback/e-book for yourself (or for a friend or two who love the supernatural and history) just click on the appropriate link for your e-reader/region below:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
AmazonCA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
AmazonAU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
Barnesand Noble (Nook): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pass-allan-krummenacker/1145384143;jsessionid=440BEA0E6B486F0F9DC4A5188120F818.prodny_store01-atgap03?ean=2940179679639
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-pass-15
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-pass/id6494988611
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1549936
NOTE: Signed paperback copies will be available in few weeks. We'll keep you all updated as soon as they are ready).
ALSO: Work on an audio version of this book will begin soon, and we hope to get it out later this year. Again, we'll keep you updated on the progress of that project and an expected release date.
April 8, 2024
Sneak Peek Countdown to Release...
Only six more days until you reach "The Pass"...
That's right folks. In just a few more days (on 4-14-2024) you can get your copy of "The Pass". A novel that Kirkus Reviews has called "A supernatural espionage tale that keeps the excitement high."
Rich Caminiti, my co-author (an old friend from high school - Levittown Memorial H. S. class of '82 to be exact) and I have woven this tale of supernatural mystery and intrigue, set in the old west (or the Civil War to be precise). This book is the first of a trilogy we have been working on for some time, and the next installment has a completed 1st draft, waiting to be re-worked, edited, re-drafted, etc. Plus, the third installment is already underway as well.
Besides having a cracking good tale to tell, this volume has some beautiful pen and ink illustrations created by the wonderfully talented Gabrielle Callan (artist/tattooist) whose link to more of her work I will provide towards the end of this entry.
In my previous sneak peeks, I introduced you to Jacob Long and his daughter Sara, as well as a mysterious being who many would call a Skinwalker (one who dons the skin of an animal to gain its powers and strength) and can actually change into the animal whose pelt it has put on. Only this one is unlike any Skinwalker of legend, as you will find out when you read this fascinating tale.
However, this time, I felt it was appropriate to introduce you all to another of the main characters, if not THE main character of the novel. His name is Keefer O'Connor, an Irishman who came to this country as a child and rose through the ranks of the New York Police. But when the Civil War broke out, he joined the Union army and earned the respect admiration of his superiors, to the point that the War Department has summoned him to Washington D. C.
What makes Keefer such a fun character, is not only his wry Irish sense of humor, and quick wits, but certain other traits he possesses, some of which he is not fully aware of as yet. But soon will be as you will see in the following excerpt from our book. Enjoy...
Keeferwas still on this trail when he suddenly saw the shadow man in his mind’s eye.“Son of a bitch!” he exclaimed and immediately pulled the reins. Stopping thehorse, he grabbed his pocket watch, eyeing the second hand. Looking around thehigh grass, there was nothing. Still, he waited. Twenty seconds went by. Thefeeling he had was stronger now, only this time he didn’t have to close hiseyes at all.
He looked at his watch again,forty-two seconds. Still nothing. But the feeling was stronger than ever. Hepulled out his pistol, and leveled it in front of him. Fifty-three seconds. ‘He’ll be here, and this time I’ll shoot hisarse out from under him,’ Keefer thought.
At exactly sixty seconds, the shadowman appeared no more than forty feet from him. Keefer immediately opened fire,dropping his watch to the ground in order to pull out his second pistol. Withboth weapons in hand, he began shooting alternating between pistols. To hisamazement, the shadow man disappeared. Dismounting, Keefer raced to the spotwhere the shadow man had been, but all he saw was twelve dents in the groundwhere the bullets had struck. There was no sign of his target anywhere, noteven footprints to show where he had been standing. Furious, Keefer begansearching the brush, screaming, “Get ya ass out here ya yellow belly bastard!Feck Fecker!”
Looking wide eyed and very angry, hepaced the trail looking at the brush for bent or broken twigs, footprints, apiece of cloth, anything to show where his quarry might have gone. ‘How the feck do ya fight an enemy ya can’thit with bullets?’ he asked himself. “I’ll find your arse! Ya hear me? I’llfind your arse!” he screamed again.
Finally, he walked back to his horseand picked his watch up off the ground. Then, reaching into the othersaddlebag, he withdrew his reload kit, sat down on the ground, and began to put fresh bullets in both pistols. When he was done, he stood up, holstered eachweapon carefully, and then placed the kit backin the saddlebag. It took him all of two minutes.
“Okay Cara, let’s get the hell outtahere girl, and get some distance,” he said, grabbing the saddle and mountingher once more. Then it hit him. His experiment had worked after all. Sitting onthe saddle, Keefer thought to himself ‘Sixtyseconds, sixty diabhal seconds! I can see what happens sixty seconds before itdoes!’ He smirked at the thought. For the first time in his life, he notonly understood but actually partially used this gift, or whatever it was.However, it depended heavily on his mood. Still, this meant he had anadvantage, one that could pay off hugely if he used it wisely.
-sneak peek's end -
So, there you have it my friends. Another glimpse into the tale that awaits you within the volume coming to you this weekend.
"The Pass" will be available in both Kindle and paperback forms, with work beginning on an audio version starting soon. You can pre-order the Kindle version at the following links or wait until April 14th, 2024 to order the paperback edition.
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
AmazonUK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
AmazonCA:https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
AmazonAU:https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CYV4VMCK
Plus, as I promised earlier, here is the link to Gabrielle Callan's amazing art. Do come and check out more of her amazing artwork.
Link: https://gabriellecallan.carrd.co/
So once again, until next time, stay safe and keep writing and reading my friends.
March 29, 2024
Take Another Sneak Peek Into “The Pass” If You Dare…
Greetings one and all. And welcome back to the blog. Sorry to keep you all waiting, but last weekend got a bit crazy around here. Nevertheless, we're back with another Sneak Peek Saturday edition for you. Continuing with "The Pass" coming next month, we realized that last time we'd introduced you all to a couple of our protagonists, so it's only fair this week we introduce you to two the villains of this piece. So, without further ado, sit back and meet two very unsavory, and disturbing men who each has their own secret agenda in this story. Enjoy...
Immediately he beganreloading.
From out of the swirling snow, afigure seemingly materialized beside him. Ornate, colorful robes peeked outfrom beneath a great fur coat. From within the folds of the hood, peered eyesfilled with dark wisdom. “You will kill the child, as well?” he asked in athick oriental accent. “But she is only a girl. Why bother with her? She cannotstand in your way.”
“That may be true over in China, butin this country inheritances are passed down through the familybloodline. Doesn’t matter if that means it goes to a boy or a girl,” theshooter replied, “Which means if she lives, the money will be held in a trustuntil she comes of age, and I need it more than she does. Besides, itain’t going to do her no good out here. Not with her mom and dad dead.”
“My creations will take care of her,”his companion replied with confidence.
“Like they did with Jake?” the man infurs replied. “He reaches a stream and your boys stop dead in their tracks.Took ‘em days to catch up with him and look how many he took down before I shothim. I’m not so sure your ‘army’ is all that you said it would be.”
“Sever the head and they fall,” theAsian admitted. “But unlike your soldiers, he fights with axes. How many ofyour countrymen fight like that, Hastings?”
The gunman paused. “Not many, but someuse swords.”
“And how many aim for the neck? Yourpeople stab rather than slice,” his ally pointed out. “And if they slice, theyaim for the arm or leg.”
“Which ain’t gonna do your boys muchgood if they can’t hop,” the gunman retorted.
“My soldiers can pick up their lostlimbs and reattach them without needle or thread,” the Oriental figure smiled.“And even while severed, they attack. Behold…”
One of the wolves who had fled waspassing off to their right.
As the pair watched, the animal beganto stumble and fell. Drawing closer he could see a hand attached to a severedforearm, clutching the animal’s neck. He stared in horror as the animal’sbreathing was cut off until it became limp. Only then did the hand release itsgrip.
“You may wish to step back. My minionsdo not always recognize friend from victim,” his colleague remarked.
Out of the corner of his eye, theassassin saw a figure leaping in his direction. Despite the awe he felt as theapproaching shape covered yards in a single hop, he noted its lower right armwas missing. Quickly, he scurried back to his companion’s side and watched asthe dead man reached the fallen wolf. The figure’s movements were somewhatjerky, reminding him of an automaton he had seen at the fair some years before.Only this was not a mechanical figure, but a dead thing that had suffered theloss of a limb. It reached down, retrieved its severed forearm, and reattachedit without any apparent discomfort.
Even at this distance, Hastings couldsee the tissues reattaching themselves in a way nature never intended.Immediately, he looked away. Only to have his attention drawn back to thecreature as it grabbed the wolf’s limp form and held it up. A slight whimperescaped the animal’s mouth, indicating it was still alive. But not for long,for now it’s attacker forced the animal’s jaws wide open and began to inhale.Soon a mist-like substance seemed to be drawn from the animal and into the deadman’s mouth. Immediately, the wolf’s body slackened even more, indicating thelast vestiges of life had left it forever.
“Impressive,” he managed to say at last.
“That is nothing,” his cohortchortled, “Keep watching.”
As the rifleman watched, the wolfbegan to twitch and move in the same jerky fashion as its killer. Soon it roseup and began hopping in a disconcerting manner.
“You… you made it one of your…”
“Servants,” the Oriental finished withan evil smile, “Undead, unstoppable, and completely under my control.”
So there you have it folks. Another peek into this exciting world of history and myths. Next time we’ll introduce you to another key player in this novel, who will play a crucial role in this exciting new tale. Until then, stay safe and keep writing and reading my friends.
