C.R. Richards's Blog, page 34
February 3, 2014
Pushing the Boundaries of Technology into the Realm of Fantasy
Maialen Tate is much more than Gideon’s love interest in Phantom Harvest. She’s my vehicle for exploring the potential of biometric and prosthetics technologies. Maialen is a powerful empath who has voluntarily been fitted with high-tech implants. Her eyes, parts of her brain and her finger tips have been replaced, allowing her to merge with any technology. Ironically, she is also limited by the very technology she has embraced. If Maialen loses control and lets too much power escape, the system in her brain shuts down. This could result in permanent brain damage.
Most of the Mutant World view Maialen’s kind with fear and awe. They are the penetrating eyes of the Mutant Guild. The dangers of Maialen’s power do keep her isolated. Even the slightest touch of her skin will destroy the mind of most mutants. That same touch will easily kill a human.
Excerpt:
The limo pulled away from the curb, and they glided through the stylish streets of the Ashford Heights. Blocks of tall skyscrapers molded with glass and stainless steels were laid out in perfect symmetry. Chic restaurants and little bistros were staggered among them, catering to the whims of the wealthy.
Maialen stared out the window and watched as the buildings began to degrade. Angry graffiti written in neon paint told stories of the miserable “have nots” for whom New Athens wasn’t a home, but rather a prison. In their neighborhood, the sky wasn’t clear with a gorgeous view of the twin suns. Technology didn’t line the streets to carefully sanitize the air. This was New Athens as it really was…gritty and mutated.
“You sure you won’t change your mind?”
Maialen shook her head and gave Norm a confident smile. “Tell me about the Outskirts. Will we see any of it as we travel? How long will it take to get to Hawthorne?”
“You better hope we don’t see any of the Outskirts on this trip.” Norm stuffed a hand inside his parka and pulled out his stash of cigars. “It’s a dangerous place and home to the more maladjusted mutants of our society.” Norm chuckled at a private memory and stuffed his precious cigars back inside his pocket. “If all goes well on this trip, you’ll sleep through the night, and come morning we’ll be in Hawthorne.”
Maialen felt her fear rise again and quickly tucked the anxiety away before Norm could see it clouding her face. She’d promised to help Pete and no matter the risk, she was determined to be there for him. A tingling sensation began on the back of her hand and ran up the length of her arm when she thought of Pete. Her fingers stroked the unsettled energy upon her forearm as she reached her senses out. Something, elusive and painful, was changing in Pete’s world. Maialen let out a frustrated breath. She couldn’t see anymore.
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January 30, 2014
Books and Banter Featured Author – Marie Krepps
Melissa is a recently divorced mother of two who needs more excitement in her life. Fed up with the dating scene, she just wants to have some naughty one-night stands with strangers, to appease her sexual appetite. But she gets more than she bargained for when she meets a sexy Irishman who learns how to please her, in more ways than one.
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Author Bio:
I’m a down-to-earth chick living in small-town North Carolina. I enjoy singing, dancing, reading and writing. I like to escape in books to worlds beyond reality, and create my own worlds, as well. My days are spent chasing my three girls and three cats, and preparing for girl number four.
FB Page:https://www.facebook.com/MarieKreppsBooks
Website:Marie Krepps
Twitter:@naturechild0913
January 28, 2014
Books and Banter Featured Romance Author – Judy Ann Davis
When architect Elise Springer’s father is injured, she immediately leaves San Francisco to care for him. The last person she expects to encounter in her Pennsylvania hometown is her childhood friend Lucas Fisher. Lucas is investigating his brother’s death, and Elise can’t resist lending a hand.
Lucas longs for the close family ties he never had. He’s back in Scranton to set up a classic car restoration business and build a future. The torch he carries for Elise burns brighter than ever, but before he can declare his love, he must obtain the legal rights to adopt his nephew—and prove his brother’s death was no accident.
As they unearth clues pointing to find a murderer and a missing stash of money, Elise faces a dilemma. Is her career on the West Coast the key to her happiness, or is it an animal-cracker-eating four-year-old and his handsome uncle instead?
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Author Bio:
Judy Ann Davis began her career in writing as a copy and continuity writer for radio and television in Scranton, PA. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, and has worked in both education and industry.
Over a dozen of her short stories have appeared in various literary and small magazines, and anthologies. Up on the Roof and Other Short Stories, a collection of nineteen short stories, was published in November by Whiskey Creek Press.
Her first novel, RED FOX WOMAN, published in 2010, is a western, mystery, and romance and was a finalist in the International Book Awards and USA Book News Best Book Awards.
When Judy Ann is not behind her computer, you can find her looking for anything humorous to make her laugh or swinging a golf club where the chuckles are few. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Pennwriters, Inc. She lives in Clearfield, PA.
Judy Ann Davis can be found on her website: www.judyanndavis.com – on her blog: www.judyanndavis.blogspot.com – On her Facebook author page: Judy Ann Davis and on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyAnnDavis4
January 26, 2014
The Secretive Life of a Cat
Hiroshi is an enigma locked up in a puzzle box within a riddle. Part wise elder. Part horny frat boy. He is a complex mixture of honor, devotion and secret shame. He is also in the top two of my “favorite characters I have created” list. This memorable character initially started out as a side kick for Gideon. As I explored his origins and motives, Hiroshi became a force whose secrets drive the rest of the Mutant Casebook Series.
In the second installment of the series, I open the book with a peek at one of Hiroshi’s dark secrets. He has been on the run from the law for escaping Manzanar, one of the WWII Japanese internment camps. The Calamity (See Blog Post “Inside the World of the Mutant Casebook” from January 13) catches him before the law can.
I will always remember the day my father drove us past the desolate dirt fields of Topaz, the Japanese Internment Camp in Utah. Only the foundations remained then. I remember how the wind beat at the boxy timbers and wondered how anyone could live in such a place. Though I don’t know how old I was, I do know that day changed my perspective on life. It taught me sometimes good people do bad things out of fear. I suppose Hiroshi was born out of that day.
Excerpt:
Hiroshi leaned over and grabbed a few folds of the dead hunter’s coat. He lovingly wiped the blood from his blade. The overly large sleeves of his robes swung precariously over the pooling blood. Gideon rolled his eyes as he took in Hiroshi’s latest outfit. He was dressed in a Dôbuku sugata, a leisure garment worn by ancient samurai or at least one Samurai in particular. From the navy robe to the straw rope sandals, Hiroshi was playing Sanjuro Kuwabatake.
“You’ve been watching Yojimbo again.” Gideon stuffed his blaster back into place.
“What can I say? My new little friend loves the classics.” Hiroshi flashed an obscene grin at the bar maid and then brushed aside his horse hair straight pony tail over his shoulder. Patches of red and white formed a spray paint pattern against Hiroshi’s midnight black hair. “Besides, I was dressing the part. It looks like a scene from A Fistful of Dollars in here.” Casting a cursory gaze across Gideon’s form, his eyes rested on the blasters hanging on Gideon’s hips. “Clint.”
Hiroshi sheathed his sword and stood majestically, making sure his bar maid friend had the full view of Japanese manhood. He wagged his eyebrows at Gideon and winked. “I think I’ll go with the cuddly house kitty. You’ve got this covered, right?”
His form shimmered for a moment and then dwindled in swirls of white, red and black. Seconds later, a Japanese Bobtail cat stretched lazily on the bar floor. Its small body had large patches of black and red spilling across silky white fur. Hiroshi was a bakeneko, or werecat. He had three settings: annoying human, cute woman-magnet kitty, and large predator cat. He was also the only male bakeneko in the Outskirts, or the human world for that matter.
Few people made the mistake of teasing Hiroshi about his uniqueness. And if they did, they’d quickly wish they’d kept their jokes to themselves. It was a sore spot with Hiroshi…that and his bad Haiku.
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January 23, 2014
Books and Banter Featured Author – Teel James Glenn
The Bloody Curse of the Vampire! Years ago Gideon Synn tried to save Faith Bloodstone from a deadly family curse in upstate New York. He failed and Faith died at the hands of a mysterious blood drinking fiend. Synn ran from his failure and became a world traveler, joining the French Foreign Legion and eventually becoming a mercenary in China.
Now, years later he has opened a security firm with his sister Kathy. Charity Bloodstone, Faith’s younger sister, comes to him for help against the same curse—the supposed vampire ghost of her ancestor, Justice Bloodstone! According to legend, Charity has only one week to live!
Several people have been killed by what appears to be the undead Justice in ways that suggest a supernatural cause. The Synn siblings are drawn into a whirlwind of terror and evil as the mystery of the vampire murders comes closer and closer to fulfilling the curse.
Has Gideon found love with Charity only to lose her to dark forces? Who are the armed thugs that have attacked the siblings? Can Kathy Synn keep her brother out of trouble long enough to solve the mystery of the Bloodstone Confidential?
Pro Se Productions, a leader in New Pulp and Genre Fiction, gladly commits THE FIRST SYNN: THE BLOODSTONE CONFIDENTIAL, the first of a new series of supernatural pulp thrillers by noted award winning author Teel James Glenn. Complete with chills and thrills harkening back to the classic Pulps, THE FIRST SYNN introduces the first sibling duo in Pulp history, ready to take on whatever horror flies their way! From Teel James Glenn and Pro Se Productions- THE FIRST SYNN: THE BLOODSTONE CONFIDENTIAL!
“There’s absolutely nothing,” says Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se, Tommy Hancock, “like a good Pulpy supernatural thriller! Especially one with a strong duo in the lead. THE FIRST SYNN has all the markings of a classic Pulp tale, even borrowing quite a bit from classic cliffhanger serials, but what really makes this story work is the way that TJ works the words he writes. Each phrase turns just right and the description brings all the fear and daring do to life.”
Teel James Glenn:
Winner of the 2012 Pulp Ark ‘Best Author of the Year.’ Epic ebook award finalist. P&E winner “Best Steampunk Short”, finalist “Best Fantasy short, Collection” Author of bestselling Exceptionals Series, The Maxi/Moxie Series, The Dr. Shadows Series, The Bob Howard Series and others. Visit him at Theurbanswashbuckler.com
The book is available in print on:
Also available on:
Smashwords (most digital formats)
January 20, 2014
Books and Banter Featured Author – Josephine Sanchez-Vanner
Brought up in foster care, Harmony Jones didn’t know she was the first, and only half human, half vampire, until Zander Washington moved into the apartment across the hall. A full blood vampire he’s been sent to kill her by the vampire council instead he’s fallen in love with her. Now they’re out to get him too.
Hidden deep under the Himalayan Mountains, Ar’ranma, the vampire city is where they must go to plead for Harmony’s life.
Hunting them, the beautiful but vicious full blood vampire hunter, Celina. She wants her old lover Zander, back and she wants Harmony dead, and she’ll do anything to make it happen.
As love triumphs and the old ways change, the vampire nation is sent into turmoil.
Winner of the Turning the Pages Magazine Award for Book of the Year 2013, in two categories, Paranormal and Adventure!!
Purchase Information:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Half-Blood-ebook/dp/B00GBCECDW/
Author Bio:
Self confessed bookaholic and animal nut, Josephine Sanchez-Vanner lives with her husband two dogs and two cats on a houseboat. Born in London, she spent a large part of her life travelling around Spain, discovering the language, food and culture. A trained Spiritualist medium she uses some of the many paranormal experiences in her novels to add a feeling of realism to her imaginative plots.
Follow her at the links below:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jsanchezvanner
Website: http://www.josephine-sanchez-vanner.org.uk
Blog: theriotouswriter.blogspot.com
Twitter: #J S Vanner@warlockswoman
