Mara Valderran's Blog, page 25

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Snow White and the Vampire by Marina Myles

Marina Myles is touring the second book in her The Cursed Princes series, Snow White and the Vampire, and is giving away 20 e-books to celebrate. Enter to win below, and enjoy the excerpt!

Snow White and the Vampire
The Cursed Princes Book TwoMarina Myles Genre: Historical/paranormal romance Fairy tales retold Publisher: Kensington 
Date of Publication: December 19, 2013
Amazon     BN     iTunes     eKensington    Blio

Book Description:
Fog and Fascination  
Alba Spencer thought her past in Romania and the dark magic that haunted it was behind her forever. She is one of the first female barristers now, safe in London. But London has its dark side, too. A man called the Ripper stalks the midnight streets. There are rumors that her hated stepmother has found her again, suggestions that the nightmares of her childhood are returning. And with them appears the cursed Gypsy boy she once loved, grown into a man more seductive and more terrifying than she ever could have dreamed… 
Dimitri Grigorescu has become a surgeon, a gentleman—and a vampire. The lusts that drive his body are scarcely under control, and even he does not truly know what he is capable of. To fight evil and confusion, Alba must rely only on her wits—and a desire that overwhelms her doubts…
About the Author: 
Although Marina Myles lives under the sunny skies of Arizona, she would reside in a historic manor house in foggy England if she had her way. Her love of books began as soon as she read her first fairy tale and eventually led to degrees in English Literature and Communications. Now, with her loyal Maltese close by, she relishes the hours she gets to escape into worlds filled with fiery—but not easily attained—love affairs. 
She’s busy being a wife and a mother, but she is never too busy to hear from her amazing readers.  
Visit her at: www.marinamyles.com  http://www.marinamyles.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/marinamylesauthor
www.twitter.com/#!/marinaauthor
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7104310.Marina_Myles





Excerpt from SNOW WHITE AND THE VAMPIRE

“I’m very grateful for Teddy’s friendship—and for the opportunity to be introduced to the people he’s acquainted with.” The surgeon lowered his tone. “People like you, Miss Spencer.”His words encouraged the spattering of nervous blotches across Alba’s chest. “You’re too kind,” she murmured. “So you find this city a pleasant enough place to live?”“Pleasant but for the brutal murderer who lurks in the Whitechapel District.”“Are you referring to the killer the newspapers are calling ‘Leather Apron’?” she asked.He evaluated her with interest yet said nothing.“I understand this monster killed two unfortunates by ripping their abdomens wide open,” she went on, making no attempt to sugarcoat her words since she was speaking with a surgeon.“Where did you hear that, Miss Spencer?”“It said so in the penny dreadfuls. Oh, not that I read them frequently…”Drake raised an eyebrow.What am I saying? She didn’t normally babble on so, but this man had lit a fire beneath her, though she couldn’t say why.To her great relief, the doctor didn’t seem to notice her jittering nerves. “Nasty business, preying on those unknowing women,” said. “I can’t imagine a man treating any female that way. After all, women are beautiful creatures to be coddled. Admired. Cherished.”“That’s a lovely thought.” Alba repressed a girlish sigh. “It’s a shame the killer does not share your school of thought.”Drake wrapped his hands around his back. “I daresay the police believe this murderer will strike again.”“I fear that is why fewer people came to your party this evening than Teddy anticipated. The city is gripped with fear.” She paused to take a sip of champagne. “Perhaps we should talk about something more uplifting than murder.”“Yes.” The surgeon took her glass and deposited it on a servant’s tray. With his hand pressed to the small of her back, he guided her to a quiet corner of the drawing room. As she turned to face him, she could smell hot liquor fumes and the scent of expensive aftershave. Surprisingly, she found that she liked the mixture of aromas.“Teddy tells me you hail from Romania as well, Miss Spencer. What are the chances of that?”“Slim, I daresay.”“You’ve lost a great deal of your accent, but if I had to guess, you are from Bucharest.”“I am.” How did he know?His features darkened. “It appears we were destined to meet. And since we have, I’d be fascinated to know more about you.”Although Alba was taken aback by his boldness, nerves propelled her to continue their conversation in a blabbering rush. “I came to London when I was fourteen—to live with a family friend who runs the dormitory apartments of the Royal Opera’s corps de ballet. Just this year, I graduated from law school. That’s where Teddy and I met—at King’s College. Recently, I’ve been assisting Teddy’s father, Harold Rollingsworth, in the hopes that—”“—you will become London’s first female barrister.” Drake completed her thought. Tilting his head to the side, he gazed at her with admiration. “Lovely, intelligent, and a pioneer. You are a rare gem, Miss Spencer.”The Romanian’s hungry stare closed the small distance between them. Alba’s cheeks burned. We hardly know one another!Desperate to steer the conversation away from herself, she cleared her throat. “I have yet to wish you a happy birthday, Dr. Griffin.”“Thank you.” The guest of honor did a cordial bow. “But ‘Griffin’ is merely my professional name.”Alba frowned. “What is your real name?”“Dimitri Grigorescu.”Alba’s limbs froze and the room started to take on a slow whirl. “That’s curious,” she murmured. “I knew someone by that name in Romania.”“And I once knew a girl named Alba Zǎpǎda,” Dimitri said as a curtain of desire passed over his face. “You.”His lips thinned into a familiar smile and Alba’s hand flew to her gaping mouth. Curse my poor eyesight! Now that she was this close to him she knew precisely who he was: Dimitri, the handsome Gypsy boy she’d fallen in love with at the tender age of fourteen.Words escaped her while she gasped for air.“Life is too short to be without the ones you love,” Dimitri purred. “Don’t you think?”All at once, memories of the summer Alba spent in the Balkan countryside flashed through her mind:The first kiss she and Dimitri shared amid a field of white poppies.Simona, Dimitri’s raven-haired friend.And the terrifying night the three of them spent in a haunted graveyard.Her blood raced and the room spun in faster circles.“I’ve been waiting an eternity to return this to you,” Dimiti whispered as he slipped a dried white poppy into her hand.“But I thought you were dead,” she said before everything went black.

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New Adult Author Spotlight & Giveaway: PK Hrezo

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PK Hrezo is a native Floridian whose life could easily be a Jimmy Buffet song. She shares her home with her firefighter husband and their two children. When not creating characters and their worlds, PK can be found at her other job of rearranging passenger’s itineraries for a major international airline. The only hobbies she loves more than traveling, are reading, writing, and music, and when the four are combined she exists in total bliss.  






To enter the giveaway, please go to each of the listed blogs and enter the corresponding code into the rafflecopter. This is Blog #5 and the code is PKMARA

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Teaser Tuesday & Giveaway: Initiation by Rayna Noire

Rayna Noire is touring her new book, Initiation (Pagan Eyes Book One), and celebrating by giving us a taste of the book and a chance to win one of five paperback copies and a $50 Amazon gift card! Check it out!

InitiationPagan Eyes Book 1Rayna Noire

Genre: Paranormal Time Travel YA/NA  Publisher: Sleeping Dragon Cover Artist: Dawne Dominique
Book Description:  
Leah Carpenter thought being the only witch in her local high school was hard. That was until she inexplicably found herself in the past running from an angry mob, which turned out to be much harder. Lionel, the man in charge of the mob, holds a grudge against a girl he calls Arabella. He thinks she’s Arabella.  
Luckily, just about the time it looks as if she’s done for she pops back into her century. This causes trouble at school, but at least she has an understanding family. What happens in the past can hurt her. The whiplashes covering her body are proof enough. Her Nana believes she has to right a wrong in the past to stay in the present and go out with her crush, Dylan. What she discovers in the past is an evil so pure that it makes her blood run cold. She might not ever make it back for geometry class or more importantly a possible date with Dylan.


About the Author:  
Rayna Noire is an author and a historian. The desire to uncover the truth behind the original fear of witches led her to the surprising discovery that people believed in magick in some form up to 150 years ago. A world that believed the impossible could happen and often did must have been amazing. With this in mind, Ms. Noire taps into this dimension, shapes it into stories about Pagan families who really aren’t that different from most people. They do go on the occasional time travel adventures and magick happens.
www.facebook.com/AuthorRaynaNoirewww.twitter.com/raynanoire

www.raynanoire.weebly.com

Excerpt:
The smell struck her first. The acrid, smelly odor reminded her of her fourth-grade field trip to a pioneer village. The candle maker had intrigued her by dipping wicks in what she had assumed was wax until the woman explained it was made of animal fat from butchered animals. That’s what it smelled like, along with the campfire aroma of burning wood.In the misty night sky, a clouded crescent moon shed meager light on the surroundings. Turning slowly she examined the primitive thatched hut behind her. In the small front garden, a split log supported by two stumps served as a bench. An oaken bucket sat by a door that flew open. An elderly woman hobbled out, dressed in a black cloak. The woman reminded Leah of her grandmother, but instead of a look of fierce determination, terror pulled her face into an anxious mask. Reaching Leah, she tugged on her clothes, pushing her toward the woods. “Flee, flee, they come. Smell the torches.” The woman pointed to a path winding toward the east.A dim glow was coming from that direction, along with the sounds of voices and snapping branches as dozens of feet marched in their direction. An overwhelming desire to run after the unknown woman came over her. Another part of her wanted to see who was coming down the path. It was only a dream, right? People couldn’t be hurt in a dream, or could they? She struggled to remember what her psychology teacher, Mr. Schaeffer, had said. He’d said either people couldn’t be hurt by their fears or your fears could kill you by bringing on cardiac arrest.A few men came into view, burly men garbed in shapeless garments, with wild hair and ragged beards. Held high the flickering torches illuminated a small circle around them. One held a curved knife, reminiscent of the scythe the Grim Reaper carried. It didn’t bode well. One of the men spotted her, yelled, “Witch!”   and charged her way. It was a definite bad sign, causing her to sprint toward the woods in the same direction as the old woman. Sticks, rocks, and briars pierced her feet, reminding her of her shoeless state. At home, she excelled in cross-country, but she had shoes, sunlight, and a feel for the course with no angry villagers behind her. The running men drew closer. Leah stumbled over a tree root, wasting precious time.“Here, over here.” The voice came from overhead. Staring up into the canopy of leaves, she saw a small hand motioning to her. Of course, hide in the trees. Why didn’t she think of that? Grabbing the lowest limb, she pulled herself into the leafy covering. In the dark, she felt for the branches, climbing higher. Eventually she grabbed an ankle or calf, and received a hand up for her trouble, helping her climb higher.Good Goddess, how many people were in this tree? She held her breath as the light and noise came closer. The few men below argued about which way to go, while a woman waded in with her opinion. “Samuel, let the witch get away. Mayhap he uses the witch for his own purposes.”One of the front-runners denied the accusations. “Martha seeks to harm my name, because I did not plight my troth with her.”The argument moved on a little farther away from the tree. Leah exhaled in a whoosh, thanking the stars for the scorned woman and lack of dogs. As if hearing her silent prayer, a long canine bay rent the air.

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Guest Blog & Giveaway: A. Katie Rose Talks About Writing Catch a Wolf

Author A. Katie Rose is stopping by today to talk about . But first, let's get to know her books a little bit better. The second book in her Saga of the Black Wolf, Catch a Wolf, was released this summer, but since this series is new and intriguing to me, I'm going to lure you guys in as well with both books and a bit about the author before she takes over. 


In a Wolf’s EyesSaga of the Black WolfBook 1
A. Katie Rose

Genre: Epic Fantasy
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Date of Publication: April, 27, 2012
Cover Artist: Ginny Glass

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/kSNgnzUIsTU

Untreed Reads         Amazon      BN      Drive Thru Fiction

Book Description:

Raine is a slave, a gladiator. Known as the Bloody Wolf, he is the champion of all champions in the Empire of Khalid. Ly’Tana is a warrior princess of Kel’Halla and is set to wed the heir to Khalid’s throne, Crown Prince Broughton. When Raine and his new wizard pal, Rygel, accidentally murder the High King, they set in motion events rapidly spiraling out of control. Ly’Tana discovers the true, and violent, nature of her betrothed, a man nicknamed Prince Brutal for his vicious nature, and escapes her marriage.

But Brutal will stop at nothing to have her for his wife. To entice his runaway bride into a trap, he brings down and captures her griffin bodyguard, Bar. Ly’Tana vows to have Bar back or die trying. She seeks the help of Raine and Rygel, and frees Bar from Brutal’s clutches. Yet, in doing so, Raine and Ly’Tana are forced to flee for their lives, hunted by Brutal’s secretive assassins.

Can they escape the hunters and their silent, evil hounds? Can Ly’Tana evade Brutal’s hungry need to marry her and seize her beloved country? Can Raine keep Ly’Tana alive and still save himself from capture and torture? Can they stop themselves from falling in love?

Thus begins the first novel of The Saga of the Black Wolf series.




Catch a WolfSaga of the Black WolfBook 2
A. Katie Rose

Book Description:

Raine, Ly’Tana and the others escape Brutal’s trap, but with dire consequences. Kel’Ratan has been grievously injured, and Rygel must take him to safety to save his life. Yet, they are not out of danger. A monstrous storm called the Wrath of Usa’a’mah has halted their flight from Khalid and they must seek shelter within a remote monastery or die under the storm’s power.

But High King Brutal has allied himself with the deadly assassins, the Shekinah Tongu. The secretive clan has sworn out a Blood Oath against Rygel in retaliation for his leaving their brothers in the forest to die. With their hellish hounds and Brutal’s dark wizard, Ja’Teel, they track Raine and Ly’Tana through the devastation left by the storm. Raine leads them into the west, toward Ly’Tana’s home of Kel’Halla, with Brutal’s menace confronting them at every turn.

As he finds himself falling in love with the exotic Ly’Tana, Raine is plagued by a mysterious voice in his head. Is he going crazy? In Raine, Ly’Tana discovers the one man she cannot live without. However, an evil entity has targeted Ly’Tana, bent on her destruction. How can Raine, Rygel, Kel’Ratan and her griffin bodyguard, Bar, keep her safe from its vast, unseen power?Hunted by Brutal and his evil allies, Raine, Ly’Tana and their friends discover a new, and very strange, force dogging their trail  – a pack of enormous, cunning wolves. Mysterious wolves who call to Raine in the night, and bring alive the secret he’s kept hidden, even from himself. Taunted by nightmarish visions, Raine is forced to confront his own dark demon – the beast within himself.

Who will catch Raine and Ly’Tana first? Brutal and his pets – or the wolves?Thus begins the second novel of the Saga of the Black Wolf series.


About the Author:

A. Katie Rose is a Colorado native, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. She enjoys riding, teaching and learning from horses, likes camping, reading novels, watching movies and, of course, lives to write fantasy books. She currently works as a photographer in San Antonio, Texas, and is a slave to her six cats and four horses.  “In a Wolf’s Eyes” is her first novel.

www.akatierose.com

www.akatierose.me

https://www.facebook.com/AKatieRose

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1444598.A_Katie_Rose

https://twitter.com/AKatieRose  

On Writing “Catch a Wolf” I had a lot of fun writing the sequel to my debut novel, “In a Wolf’s Eyes”. Not only was it fun getting my characters out of the predicament I put them in, and, of course, dropping them into other life-threatening situations, I found myself delving into the realms of subplots and inner turmoil. When I read a book, whether it be a Stephen King horror, a Dick Francis mystery or a Tami Hoag thriller, I always got a kick out of the very human side of the characters created by authors like these. Perhaps I even learned something from them.
“In a Wolf’s Eyes” set up the essential plot and gave my readers the characters they both loved and hated, and a storyline to follow. But “Catch a Wolf” sets the stage for Raine’s innermost terrors – the beast within himself. He doesn’t want to acknowledge he’s different from everyone else. He’s terrified of finding out what he truly is and hides from the truth. He runs from what he is and refuses to accept the base creature that is himself.
Ly’Tana also suspects there’s something unique about her. Like Raine, she’s frightened of the influences granted her by the powers that be, and wishes such had never come to her. She has the power none other can wield, and that power can be removed from her – if she wants it badly enough. But does she really? While it scares her silly, does she dare spurn such a gift?
Raine and Ly’Tana find themselves falling desperately, headlong in love with one another. Yet, both realize their union can never be. Ly’Tana knows her father will never permit it. Raine believes he’s not good enough for her, and never will be. I think that was probably the most fun of all: letting them fall for each other while knowing it’ll never work.
But will it work?  
I dunno. Do you?
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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Atlas by Becca C. Smith

AtlasThe Atlas Series Book 1Becca C. Smith 
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Red Frog Publishing
Date of Publication: 11/14/13
Cover Artist: Stephan Fleet 
Amazon   Kindle

Book Description: 

Kala Hicks is part of a covert elite military team that answers directly to the President of the United States. But during an emergency mission aboard Air Force One, Kala is shocked to discover that the real threat is none other than the President himself. Defying her commanding officer, Jack Norbin, Kala takes the shot, and her life changes forever.

The moment the President is killed, a supernatural force speaks to Kala, telling her that she has to commit one act of atrocity every four days… or the world will end. Thrown into a reality she never could have imagined, Kala faces off with creatures of legend; from demons determined to make her fail and plunge the Earth into chaos, to angels who don’t trust her to do the job and are willing to kill her to claim it for themselves.

Pitted against the forces of good and evil, Kala must choose whether to save the world by doing the unthinkable, or sit back and let it burn. And four days later, she’ll have to do it again.





About the Author:

Becca C. Smith received her Film degree from Full Sail University and has worked in the Film and Television industry for most of her adult life. In 2010 Becca published her first novel, Riser followed by the sequel, Reaper, in 2011, and the finale, Ripper in 2013. In 2012 Becca wrote the children’s novel Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Beale’s Treasure. She is also the co-author of the teen graphic novel Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted.
Becca currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, Stephan and their two cats Jack and Duke.
Website: http://www.beccacsmith.com 
Blog: http://therisersaga.blogspot.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Riser-Saga/140711422626243 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/therisersaga 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4201733.Becca_C_Smith



Excerpt End of Chapter 3:

Very carefully, Jack opened the door that led to the President’s office.What awaited them was terrifying.President Jareth Wilton stood behind his desk. He was wearing a vest that held five grey bars of C-4 wired into a bomb. Wilton was a tall man, well over six feet with stark black hair and a long face. He was a young President, only fifty years old, but he looked like he’d aged twenty years since the last time Kala had seen him at a press conference, with dark rings under his eyes and worry lines on his forehead. But his smile was what made the scene surreal and horrific. His thin lips were grinning as if he’d just climbed Mt. Everest. President Wilton stared directly at Jack as the door swung open the rest of the way. “I figured it out! I figured out how to break it! No one will ever have to do what I’ve had to do again! Do you realize what this means?”Kala knew then and there that the man was cracked. Figured what out? Break what? He was rambling like a mad man.But the more frightening moment came when Jack responded back to Wilton. “Killing yourself is impossible. People have tried that in the past.”Not only was President Wilton talking crazy, but apparently Jack knew his language and was responding accordingly.Kala noticed that Wilton’s eyes lit up when Jack spoke. “You’re the one they sent to replace me.”Jack nodded.What? Kala was seriously confused.    Kala spoke up, “What’s going on Jack?”Replace him for what? Jack didn’t acknowledge Kala or the rest of the team, which was shifting uncomfortably behind him.Wilton shook his head, serious. “You can’t do it. You have to let me detonate this bomb. We have to crash the plane! It’s the only way to stop it!”“You can’t stop it!” Jack yelled back.“I can and I will!” Wilton talked into an earpiece. “NOW!”The plane nose-dived.Everyone jolted forward and stumbled from the force of it.Jack barked orders, “Lali get up to the Flight Deck and by any means necessary take over this plane!”Lali paused for a second, she looked more confused than Kala felt, but after a moment to gain her bearings as the plane was falling fast, she managed to high-tail it out of the room and up to the Flight Deck. Kala was sure they’d hit ground at any moment.Jack aimed his gun at the President’s head.Wilton was frantic. He ducked behind his large oak desk that was bolted to the ground.“You can’t kill me! You’ll ruin everything!” Wilton yelled.Jack turned to Kala and Derek. “No one shoots him but me!”Kala kind of nodded, but she was in shock at the fact that they were about to flatten a part of the capital with Air Force One. She really didn’t care what Jack was saying. She couldn’t let President Wilton set off that bomb and kill thousands. Jack shot at the desk, trying to hit the president, but he didn’t come close.Only Kala could make a shot like that and not get them all killed from shooting a hole through the plane.Kala and Derek made eye contact. Kala could tell Derek was thinking the same thing. He whispered so only Kala could hear, “Do it.”Kala’s nod was barely perceptible.Jack saw her and his eyes went wide. “Kala STOP!”Kala shrugged. “I can’t let him do this, Jack. I’m sorry.” Only the top of Wilton’s head was showing. It was enough.Kala took her shot.

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Thursday Takeover: Matthew Graybosch Talks Research

It's time for the Thursday Takeover! Today, Matthew Graybosch is here to talk to us about research for his novel Without Bloodshed. You can follow Matthew's writerly exploits on social media (Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Google+, and Goodreads) or by visiting his website. 

If you want to get to know the Starbreaker series a bit more, Matthew has written two short stories and a novelette set in the Starbreaker universe. The novelette Steadfast: Part One features Naomi Bradleigh and can be found on the Curiosity Quills website. Morgan Stormrider is featured in the short stories "Tattoo Vampire" and "The Milgrim Battery" that appears in the Curiosity Quills charity anthology Primetime (proceeds donated to no-kill animal shelters). 

For now, let's get to know Matthew and the first book in the Starbreaker series, Without Bloodshed a little bit before he takes over.


About the Author: 
Matthew Graybosch is the author of Without Bloodshed, a near-future science fantasy thriller set in the Starbreaker universe. Without Bloodshed is published by Curiosity Quills Press and currently available. 

According to official records maintained by the state of New York, Matthew Graybosch was born on Long Island in 1978. Urban legends in New York suggest he might be Rosemary’s Baby, the result of top-secret DOD attempts to continue Nazi experiments combining human technology and black magic, or that he sprang fully grown from his father’s forehead with a sledgehammer in one hand and a copy of Bulfinch’s Mythology in the other — and has given the poor man headaches ever since.

The truth is more prosaic. Matthew Graybosch is a novelist from New York who lives in central Pennsylvania. He is also an avid reader, a long-haired metalhead, and an unrepentant nerd.
About The Book:
“All who threaten me die.”

These words made Morgan Stormrider’s reputation as one of the Phoenix Society’s deadliest IRD officers. He served with distinction as the Society’s avenger, hunting down anybody who dared kill an Adversary in the line of duty. After a decade spent living by the sword, Morgan seeks to bid a farewell to arms and make a new life with his friends as a musician.Regardless of his faltering faith, the Phoenix Society has a final mission for Morgan Stormrider after a dictator’s accusations make him a liability to the organization. He must put everything aside, travel to Boston, and prove he is not the Society’s assassin. He must put down Alexander Liebenthal’s coup while taking him alive.

Despite the gravity of his task, Morgan cannot put aside his ex-girlfriend’s murder, or efforts to frame him and his closest friends for the crime. He cannot ignore a request from a trusted friend to investigate the theft of designs for a weapon before which even gods stand defenseless. He cannot disregard the corruption implied in the Phoenix Society’s willingness to make him a scapegoat should he fail to resolve the crisis in Boston without bloodshed.

The words with which Morgan Stormrider forged his reputation haunt him still. 

Amazon US   Amazon UK   Barnes & Noble   Kobo   Goodreads


Take it away, Matthew!
 
MADNESS TO THE METHOD: RESEARCHING WITHOUT BLOODSHED
I suspect other novelists are more meticulous in their research than I was for Without Bloodshed and the rest of Starbreaker, but an exhaustive explanation of my own research might still prove lengthier than is suitable for a guest post on Mara Valderran's blog. Instead, I will provide a few examples of elements in my novel for which I wanted to provide an especially strong factual basis.
General Infrastructure in Without Bloodshed.
From the beginning of my novel, I show that the world is subtly different from our own despite an opening set in London by describing the infrastructure. The state of a city's infrastructure can tell attentive readers much about that city's society, such as whether it has the wealth and political will to carry out large-scale public works projects.
For example, I mention that the streets and sidewalks are heated to prevent accumulation of snow and ice. The technology to do this is already available, and in use in American municipalities like Holland, MI (http://www.hollandbpw.com/Green_Initi...). Holland, MI's public works department uses pipes filled with heated water, but electrical engineer Scott Brusaw of Sagle, ID wants to use super-strong glass and solar power to keep the roads clear and generate clean power (http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovati...).
In addition to heated pavement, I mention the street lights, which are tinted and shielded to reduce light pollution. I did this based on information presented by the International Dark-Sky Association (http://www.darksky.org/). Though I'm not a member, I approve of their mission and personally dislike the way our fear of the dark drowns out the stars.
Finally, there are the Tesla points, which provide localized wireless power transmission. Named after electrical engineer, Nikola Tesla, they're an extrapolation of over a century of research and technological development. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless...)
Weapons in Without Bloodshed
I didn't want to be that writer whose prose makes their ignorance of how weapons work apparent to all. I can't afford it, not when many of my characters supposedly possess military-level training. Since I lacked such training myself, research was the only way.
I started by obtaining general knowledge of how various types of firearms and swords work. I then made a point of deciding what sort of weapons my characters would carry, why, and what tactics they might use with these weapons. I also bought a .22 semiautomatic rifle and spent time at an outdoor range shooting at targets with my father, who's far more enthusiastic about firearms than me and has a small collection including a bolt-action Remington manufactured under contract to Mosin-Nagant just after WWI. I also considered buying a sword, but my wife vetoed the idea.
In addition to real-world firearms, the plot of Without Bloodshed also involves a firearm designed for a specific purpose: killing demons. In the Starbreaker setting, demons are non-biological intelligences who create bodies of plasma contained in electromagnetic fields when they wish to kill, as conventional weapons cannot harm these bodies.
I had to research electromagnetic and directed energy weapons and figure out a weapon which could be mass-produced and issued to infantry, and settled on an assault weapon based on coilgun principles. Unfortunately, this weapon works just fine on human beings, doesn't run out of ammunition, and doesn't overheat unless you fire on full auto. It's a massacre waiting to happen.
Computers and AI in Without Bloodshed
My day job as a programmer and at-home usage of various Unix-based operating systems like Linux and FreeBSD (I'm writing this on a System76 laptop running Ubuntu Linux) allowed me to write with more authority about computing tech in the Starbreaker setting, and use real-world apps like BitTorrent, SSH, talk, and IRC in a fictional context. In addition, all of the world's AIs provide trusted users a manual interface adhering to the POSIX standards.
However, because I'm a self-taught programmer and don't have the benefit of years of study in a computer science major at a university like SUNY or MIT, I had to figure out not only how to justify AI capable of human interaction, but explain why such AI would willingly serve people without simply rehashing Asimov's laws of robotics. Nor could I remain content with an overview of Turing's work. I had to dig deeper, and make what sense I could out of concepts like "Friendly AI". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_AI)
Despite my research, I decided to handle benevolent AI the way Ray Bradbury used to handle rocket ships: they exist, and that's all I really need you to know. Fortunately, I never claimed to write hard science fiction. Perhaps I'm closer to hard fantasy (http://www.swantower.com/essays/philo...) since I tried to think through every aspect of my setting, plot, and characterization with a reasonable degree of rigor.
Whether I succeeded is for the reader to decide.

Cover Reveal: Tears in the Rubble by Britni Hill

The cover for Tears in the Rubble is here! The book will be re-released December 16th and now includes a sequel novella. Check it out:


Layla Swanson is terrified of getting stuck in her small town, Hollow Oaks.  So, she’s made a plan.  Graduate her tiny high school, go to college away from home, and get her dream job.  She’s studied hard and devoted her high school career to reaching her goal. 

Graduation is just around the corner, and Layla is faced with the only person who could ever throw a wrench in her plan, Taylor Scott.  He’s her childhood best friend and despite the years since they’ve been close he knows her better than anyone else.  A chance meeting leads them down a road Layla never imagined. 
Now, Layla has to choose between her longtime plan to get away from Hollow Oaks and the one who’s captured her heart.  
Find Britni online at: https://www.britnihillbooks.com and on Facebook. 

Teaser Tuesday: JOLT by K.D. McLean

Jolt The Paranormal and DystopianBook OneK.D. McLeanGenre: Dystopia, ParanormalPublisher: Monarch MomentsDate of Publication: November 25 2013Cover Artist: Derek ChiodoAmazon


Book Description:   
What if it cost you NOTHING to put gas in your car? What if you paid nothing to heat your home or cool it in summer? What if your electric bill was only for new light bulbs? How would that change your life? A real pipe dream, right?

Joel Heath, PhD has dedicated his career to making this pipe dream a reality. He’s obsessed with unlocking the secret of cold fusion energy. He’s come so close, but the final piece of the puzzle eludes him.

Which is a good thing, for Joel actually. You see, Phil Devlin’s energy conglomerate earns billions in profits with things just the way they are. He’s been keeping tabs on Joel. Phil was ruthless in attaining his stature of wealth and influence, and he’d protect his position with ferocity. He can crush Professor Joel Heath with a text message. 

Neither man knows the planet is 90 days away from global slaughter, triggered by an oil war. One man does know. He has been cursed with prescient visions. These visions have shattered his life, plummeting him from an established career to begging on the street. 

Joel’s simple gesture of compassion to this homeless derelict is rewarded with a dazzling insight. He has the key! This jolt of clarity begins with a touch, a touch that can send the world spinning out of control.

Because Phil Devlin sends that text message.

About the Author:
Katie lives in Canada near Lake Ontario with her partner Desmond. They are living the life that they’ve always dreamed about--writing, editing and collaborating on books. Both are alumni of Queen’s University in Kingston and are frequent visitors to the Tyendinaga reservation, where the novel JOLT is set. She has published a series of adult romance books as well as a romantic comedy, recently released – Funny Business.
For relaxation (what is that?) she and Desmond enjoy walking their neurotic pug, trying different recipes together (Des cooks, Katie helps) and watching HBO movies, followed by immersion in their hot tub. There’s almost nothing better than star gazing in the frigid air while being toasty warm…Well maybe skiing at Mont St. Anne is a close second.
In taking on an epic of the scale of JOLT, Katie has been inspired by the words of Goethe.
“Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.”
http://kdmcleanauthor.blogspot.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/kd.mclean.77
http://www.goodreads.com/kdmclean

Jolt ExcerptHe kept his head down. Like blinders on a horse his stringy hair kept the faces of the people ignoring him from his peripheral vision. He had been out on the street begging all day and now deep into the night. With each step his feet ached from the cold. He placed them as softly as he could, every pace agony. He was muttering to himself, arguing with the unseen tormentors of schizophrenics everywhere.“No, no, no! I won’t! You can’t make me!” repeated over and over again. The rank stench of too many clothes and too few baths surrounded him, an unseen barrier between him and the shoppers and diners rushing home. He paused for a moment. “Okay! Okay!” he muttered as he approached the entrance to Odessa’s. He brushed the hair from the side of his face and peered in the window. Brown teeth peeked out from behind his salt and pepper beard when he grimaced. He sidled backwards until his back rested on a telephone pole. He wasn’t even forty years old and was worn out. He jingled the coffee cup at passersby. “Gotta quarter? Gotta dollar? It’s cold out here. Gotta quarter? Gotta dollar? It’s cold out here.” He remained as unseen as always.He waited.    
**********
Joel came out of the restaurant entrance. He looked to his right. Cathy’s home and store were only four blocks away. He knew he should feel guilty for what he said to her, but he was only telling her the truth. She had always been jealous of his accomplishments when they were kids. She never recognized the work and drudgery of studying every night. She had been too busy with her nose buried in some novel or glued to the television. He had worked damn hard. She had everything handed to her on a silver platter. He turned to his left. His own home was only four blocks away. “Gotta quarter, gotta dollar, it’s cold out.” The wretched panhandler was at the edge of the sidewalk, leaning against a telephone pole shaking the coffee cup at him.Joel took another quick step towards a shower and bed and stopped. He turned. Oh man, that guy smelled. His hand went into his pocket and fingered the change. He peered at the guy. They were probably close in age. What kind of dreams did this guy have when he was 16? And Christmas is coming, right? Cathy had made it all too clear he was a heartless bastard—emotional misfit? He pulled all the change out of his pocket. Up yours Cathy. He bent over to drop the coins into the cup.The beggar’s hand shot forward like an arrow, fingers clutching Joel’s bare hand.“You are the light.” The beggar’s black eyes opened wide, stabbing him with their intensity.“What…” Joel’s hand splayed open from the force shooting up his arm. His feet were rooted to the sidewalk. An avalanche of fire invaded every cell in his body—fire without pain. Time slowed. He could hear the crackling of snowflakes crushed by the falling coins.  Microscopic particles of snow glared, iridescent and coursed through his optic nerves. He squeezed his eyes shut. It was too much. He pulled his arm but the beggar wouldn’t let go. He was so strong!He shut his eyes from the intensity. He saw a brilliance he had never experienced before. Colors cascaded through the spectrum before him. Violet to blue, to green, then yellow. Each one subsuming the other. Then orange, then red.His entire consciousness was flooded in white. Not a glaring white, a peaceful and total whiteness overwhelmed him.  Oh God, it was beautiful. All was one! One was all! Through his clenched eyes a single tear trickled down his face. Oh!And then gone. He was released. The suddenness almost caused him to fall backward. Stumbling for a second, he regained his footing and watched as the beggar fell to his knees, scrambling with bare fingers to claim the coins.“Mine! Get away. Go see her! You’ll know why. Well, fuck yourself.” The beggar shot him a quick look before resuming his search.What the hell? Every hair on his body was standing at attention, tingling. He leaned over to touch the beggar’s shoulder, to help him to his feet. What the hell just happened? “See who? Cathy?”The beggar’s arm swept upward, knocking Joel’s hand away. “LEAVE ME ALONE!” The homeless man stood up, scowled at him and lurched up the street.He took a step back. Easy Joel, this guy might have a knife. What just happened? He couldn’t chase that guy if he even wanted to. His feet were one with the Earth. What the hell did that mean? It meant something joyful. He closed his eyes again and turned his face to where he knew the stars were watching. He arched his back, his arms stretching out. The single tear joined by others. He opened his arms to embrace the stars and galaxies. They were one with him and he with them. He held the universe in his heart and cried silently. He opened his hands and felt the stardust in the snowflakes as they landed and melted.It was all clear now. And it was so simple. How could he have missed it? Yes! His eyes snapped open. “Yes!”He straightened up. He looked at the few passersby who eyed him curiously.“It’s okay, just had a moment here,” he said. He smiled at them. One nodded back. They all left.He turned and started walking. Then walked briskly. The hell with it, he started to jog. He didn’t feel his feet slide on the patches of snow. Move it. He began to run back to the lab. Ribsey would have to eat the dry kibble he set out every morning. Sorry buddy.

New Adult Author Spotlight & Giveaway: Tyffani Clark Kemp

LeKrista Scott has killed a vampire, and now his lover wants revenge.

After months of watching her from the shadows, Lucretious, a millennial vampire, finally makes his attack during a party thrown by his maker, Roman - a party where Roman proclaims his protection over LeKrista. Roman steps in and saves her life, but not before she deals Lucretious the true death in front of his lover, Perdita. Now LeKrista is running for her life and Roman is trying to save it, but she’s not sure if he really cares or if he has some underhanded reason for keeping her alive. She seeks help from Mages but they refuse to help her, even though she exhibits high potential as a Mage herself. In a last ditch effort, Roman whisks LeKrista away, but Perdita finds them. LeKrista must eliminate Perdita one way or another. BIO: Tyffani Clark Kemp was born in Florida and raised by her grandparents. She has been writing since she discovered in the sixth grade that it wasn’t enough just to read about fantastic places, but she could create her own. She weaves small bits of herself into everything she writes whether it be a science fiction piece about aliens or a dramatic romance fraught with conflict and love. After graduation she moved to South Carolina where she lives with her family and her fluffy shii tzu-mix dog who things he’s a Saint Bernard. Her available works include Scorned: A LeKrista Scott, Vampire Hunted novel, Beast Within, and Beast Anew. Kemp opened SideStreet Cookie Publishing LLC in September 2012.
To enter the giveaway, go to each of the listed blogs and enter the corresponding code into the Rafflecopter!

This is Blog #5 and the code is TYFFANIMARA

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Guest Post & Giveaway: Crista McHugh Talks Medicinal Herbs & Plants

Christa McHugh is here to talk about medicinal herbs and plants in her world. First, let's get to know her and her books a little bit better before she takes over. Christa is the author of several books, including the Kavanaugh Foundation series, the Soulbearer series, the Elgean Chronicles, and the Deizian Empire series. The second book in the Deizian Empire series, Poisoned Web, was released November 14, and the third installment, Deception's Web, was released today, December 9. She's obviously been a very busy bee, and I'm really happy she stopped by today.


About the Author:

Growing up in small town Alabama, Crista relied on story-telling as a natural way for her to pass the time and keep her two younger sisters entertained.

She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends.

Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs she’s had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.

And she’s also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her crazy college days)

For the latest updates, deleted scenes, and answers to any burning questions you have, please check out her webpage  www.CristaMcHugh.com

Find Crista online at:
Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads


Poisoned WebThe Deizian Empire Book Two
Crista McHugh

Genre: Fantasy Romance / SF Romance / Paranormal RomanceCover Artist: Jaycee Delorenzo at Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs

Book Description:The fate of the empire hangs on one slave breaking her silence…

As the Deizian Empire prepares for the upcoming wedding of Emperor Titus Sergius Flavus and Azruha, one mystery remains unsolved—the sudden and unexplained death of the former emperor. And as her wedding gift to Titus, Azurha wants to give him answers. She suspects an unknown poison was involved, and her search for the truth enlists two unlikely allies.

Modius Varro’s thirst for knowledge caused an uproar in Emona three years ago and exiled him to the border town of Madrena. But when Titus falls victim to the same poison, his expertise in medicine becomes essential in solving both the riddle of the former emperor’s death and finding a cure to save the current one. His search leads him to far reaches of the Alpirion realm, to an ancient culture shrouded in secrets, and into the arms of one slave who must break her silence to save the empire.

Deception’s Web
The Deizian Empire, Book 3Crista McHugh

Book Description:

A soldier looking for redemption falls into the arms of the empire’s Black Widow...

Galerius, former Captain of the Legion, is honored to be given a chance to redeem himself by discovering who is behind the failing barrier. A series of anonymous letters all point to Hostilius, governor of Lucrilia, but Galerius thinks he’ll learn more about the plot by seducing the governor’s thrice widowed daughter, Claudia. Although he warns himself not to fall into snare of the empire’s most deadly temptress, one kiss leaves him begging for more.

Claudia has spent years as a pawn in her father’s political games and longs to break free of his rule, even it means betraying him to the emperor. When Galerius arrives in Tivola, she’s not sure if he’s there to aid her father or stop him. She willingly submits to his seduction, despite their class differences, in order to find the truth. What she doesn’t expect to find is a man who indulges her secret fantasies, satisfying her in a way none of her previous husbands did, and treats her as something more than a conquest. As time runs out to thwart her father’s plans, she must decide if she can trust Galerius not only with her life, but her heart.
And now, let's hear from Christa!


Medicinal Herbs and PlantsIzana discovers clues from ancient text about a native flower that holds the key to unlocking the truth of the former emperor’s death, but it’s the hero, Modius, who uses his knowledge of medicinal plants and puts two and two together. Throughout Antiquity, many cultures used various plants, herbs, and extracts for the purpose of healing various ailments. For example, opium poppies where used for pain relief, and male ferns were used to rid patients of intestinal worms. The extract from the autumn crocus was used to treat gout. Honey was frequently used to protect wounds and soothe coughs, and both chamomile and mallow plants were used to make expectorants. Although I took some liberties with creating unique medicinal herbs and plants in my world, I did base them off commonly used plants in Ancient Rome. For example, glechon (or the cosmopolitan pennyroyal, a member of the mint family) was a plant that was brewed into tea and used by women as a contraceptive. What are some of your favorite herbal remedies?

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