R.M. Ridley's Blog, page 15
November 11, 2014
Human Forged – A Sci-Fi Thriller!
The Human Forged
A Sci-Fi/Thriller by Anthony J. Melchiorri
Synopsis:
In 2094, stealing a person’s identity is virtually impossible when every medical record, government document, and bank account is tied to their DNA via a personal Chip.
Implanted beneath the skin, this microscopic device also augments people’s real world senses with a network of information, sending data and communications directly to the AR lenses in their eyes or the receivers in their ears. Nick, a former Army Specialist, is about to find out what happens when that vital connection is severed.
Venturing into an underground rave in an abandoned Estonian prison, Nick is encouraged to live life naturally, untethered by technology. But all is not as it seems.
Nick is abducted and cut off from the rest of the world, including his fiancée. He unwittingly becomes embroiled in a biotechnological nightmare and embarks on a dangerous adventure to return home. The only person that might be able to help him is a man Nick never knew existed—his clone.
Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble
Author Bio:
I grew up in Normal, Illinois. After a regular (it’s hard, but I refuse to make a pun of it) childhood in Normal, I left for the University of Iowa to get a degree in Biomedical Engineering. But, I couldn’t give up reading and writing and there really wasn’t enough of that in engineering (unless you’re into thick, no-thrills books on thermodynamics and polymer physics). I picked up a second degree in English while working on the Biomedical Engineering degree and have since counted myself fortunate for making that decision. Iowa City, North America’s only official UNESCO City of Literature, is a thriving hotbed of writers and readers, with some of the best visiting the city for their renowned workshop or famous authors dropping by to read a story they’ve written and chat. I had the opportunity to meet plenty of great writers and storytellers that inspired me to keep writing, even when I graduated and entered a doctoral program at the University of Maryland for Bioengineering.
Today, when I’m not writing and reading, I’m primarily working on tissue engineered blood vessels, gearing my work for children with congenital heart defects. I get to work with awesome 3D printing technologies and am always astounded by the rapidly advancing technologies coursing through the veins of universities and research settings. Much of my writing has been inspired by those advancements and my conversations with other researchers, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and many others interested in our evolving world.
Author Links: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website
GIVEAWAY
Filed under: Writing Tagged: Anthony J Melchiorri, novel, Sci-fi, Science Fiction, The Human Forged, Thriller
November 9, 2014
Another Blogger Speaks Openly about the Truth behind Vaping
“When is an electronic device considered tobacco? When it threatens a 7 billion dollar plus subsidy paid to General Revenues funded on the backs of tobacco addicts. (Figure based on report from Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada – Tax Revenues from Tobacco Sales)”
Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric the government and ‘news reports’ are spouting
Filed under: Vaping
November 8, 2014
A Surprising Morning
I awoke this morning at a little after eight. I might have gotten back to sleep but I was doubtful and thought in the long run it was unwise to try. My wife wakes my at nine-thirty, otherwise I would sleep until ten-thirty, then stay up to late then start sleeping in later then stay… well you get the point. Because she wakes around seven, to deal with the live stock, for us to actually see each other we have adopted this system.
So I was a little over and hour early for my regular routine. I worried that I would feel dragged down and not accomplish anything today because of it, but there it was.
So I came down, grabbed a coffee and answered my wife’s question – indicated by upraised brows, with a shrug. The communication of those married for many years. She had been playing on her new, and lovely, computer before I stumbled down to sit with her. What she had been playing with was getting Hula up and with it…BBC.
We went there – hoping not believing it could be true… but it was.
The Doctor!
We glanced to each other grinned and clicked play. Happiness is a cup of morning coffee, a kitten on your lap, and watching Doctor Who – they even had closed captioning!
We watched season eight, episode one and two, and then stopped so I could get to work.
I pulled up the fifth novel and started to write – six hundred words is a good chunk for me lately and so I am happy with the second part of my morning as I slid into the afternoon.
I checked my email and found the cover for Blondes, Books, & Bourbon – the White Dragon Black anthology waiting for me, now with title and my name on it. Another unexpected piece of happiness.
And to top it off, this afternoon I can write/edit. My Muse gave me an idea for an other alternative ending to one of the short stories included in the anthology. Once I have written it up, there will be three option for my editor to examine and between us we’ll pick the one that makes the strongest story.
Now all this ‘good’ would make some (including me normally) quite hesitant and worried about the ‘other shoe’ but today, I’m just going to go with and smile and enjoy.
Filed under: MIscellaneous, Writing Tagged: anthology, Blondes Books & Bourbon, coffee, current work in progress, Doctor Who, editor, edits, Jonathan Alvey, muse, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, short story, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, wife, Xchyler Publishing
November 7, 2014
Possession of my Heart
POSSESSION OF MY HEART
(The Three Immortal Blades, #2)
Genre:YA/ Paranormal Romance/ Fantasy / Action
After the great fight between Tyran and Misfeata, Karla’s body is recovering. Misfeata has manipulated and possessed her body – now she lies dormant. But for how long?
Paul and Karla continue to venture into the unknown in pursuit of her parents, as well as a cure for her body in which Sheilder blood now resides. As Karla tries to avoid the war, a rare Elemental Breather is after Karla and out for blood, but why? Lucas comes back into her life and Karla must learn to trust him again as he reminds her who she truly is now.
Can she survive the constant battles from not only the physical world but from within? Karla is in turmoil as she faces who may truly possess her heart.
BOOK LINKS
Amazon | Goodreads
BOOK ONE:
POSSESSION OF MY SOUL
Genre:
YA/ Paranormal Romance/ Fantasy / Action
Karla Grey is an ordinary young woman that is taken from her mundane life into a world of blood lust as she begins to struggle with a unique ability. Karla is a Shielder; an exceptional fighter born with the rare ability to project a Shield for protection. However, Shielders are not the only kind that possesses such a talent. The Shielders battle a war that has been raging for centuries against the Starkorfs, who harvest humans and Shielders alike to obtain a near immortality.
Alongside the charming Lucas and selfless Paul, Karla must unravel the purpose of her curse and battle an unknown presence manipulating her thoughts; a mysterious woman who may be dormant for now, but has every intention of possessing Karla-mind, body, and soul.
Within this new reality that Karla faces the search for the Three Immortal Blades begins.
BOOK LINKS
Amazon | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kia Carrington-Russell
Kia Carrington-Russell is a young author working on her first series: “The Three Immortal Blades”. Kia began writing at the age of fifteen in high school- finding that all her warped and strange dreams were giving her a fantastic new world- and since then she has never looked back.Kia was born in a small town in Australia, moving around a lot at a young age until finding a stable town where she finished her schooling. Kia found herself enjoying and expressing herself through poetry, short stories and writing, photography, painting and drawing. All these mediums help Kia express the different world that she is so fond of.
In ‘Senior Art’ Kia focused on feminism and female empowerment; exposing through her work issues and concerns that many people would rather just “sweep under the rug”.
In one art installation, Kia made a bed out of Pokémon cards- the concept being that when she slept a new world would come to life and it was the only one she saw and constantly lived in.
Kia now focuses on her photography, writing and self-help blogs on her website: ‘Precious Living’.
Kia is now keenly working on “The Three Immortal Blades” and “Phantom Wolf” series knowing that these books must be shared with the world and that is what she aims to do now.
Kia writes in her Australian home, trying to focus at times on simply what is running through her head, as her cats either terrorize her legs as scratching posts or her puppy barks in her ear for play-time. And as she continues her series, they grow with her book.
Kia is strongly supported by her friends and family and thanks them dearly for being with her along the bumpy road and nothing would please her more than having your support as well.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
GIVEAWAY
Filed under: Book Release Tagged: fantasy, Kia Carrington-Russell, Paranormal Romance, Possession of my Heart, Possession of my Soul, The Three Immortal Blades, YA
November 5, 2014
I Wish People Would Just Pay Attention – Vaping TRUTH!
We are seeing everywhere, people talking out of the side of their mouths about health studies and statistics regarding E-cigs and how awful they are or that there is not enough research. And yet it is clearly obvious that they are lying. We know the research is there. We know experts are saying these are good things. We know those trying to ban them are lying.
Wake UP!
STOP ALLOWING YOURSELF TO BE LIED TO!
HERE are truths, Here is common sense spoken by experts.
Filed under: Vaping
November 2, 2014
Oil for the Machine
I used to consider myself an editing machine but my editor from Xchyler Publishing, McKeena, just stole the title. We are both working hard to get the short stories ready for the White Dragon Black anthology, Blondes, Books, & Bourbon. It seems, however, that she is working much harder than I. I can’t believe how fast she is getting these stories to me.
In my defence, she finds the flaws, rough edges, and dull points and brings them to my attention, while giving some guidance and direction (as a good editor should). I on the other hand am the one that must make the changes. So the majority of the burden is on my shoulders… or more accurately on my brain.
Rewrites, expanding telling into actual dialogue, finding ways to say the same thing cleaner and crisper, and lets not forget twisting passive sentences into active ones. These are challenges that I face when working through her edits, revisions that make a good story into good writing – for the two are not the same.
So while it is going much faster than I expected, we have completed the final revisions on over a third of the stories, I find myself realizing I need to oil the cogs of this editing machine in my head, and push the pedal all the way down.
Filed under: Writing Tagged: anthology, Blondes Books & Bourbon, editor, edits, Jonathan Alvey, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, short story, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, Xchyler Publishing
November 1, 2014
Another New Book from C.P. Bialois
About the Book
Four years after the end of the Minotaur War and Berek’s sacrifice, the friends have moved on with their lives. Each has faced new challenges, but nothing can prepare them for what’s to come.
Solaria fought against the Gods of Pyrain for dominance in an age long forgotten by most. Defeated, he was imprisoned within the bones of the world for eternity.
The coming of the Phoenix allowed The Fallen God Solaria to escape from his prison. Promising revenge on those that wronged him, Solaria seeks out those with anger in their hearts to champion his cause while he gathers his strength.
Will the prophesized Lightwalker rise before the world is destroyed by a ancient conflict?
Coming November 22.
About the Author
CP Bialois’ love of words began as a small child when his father bought a stack of comics to teach him the reading skills he wasn’t mastering in class. Before long, he was reading at an advanced level and teachers were shaking their heads over the unconventional method.
Growing up in the ‘80s, Bialois was exposed to even further inspiration through the popular cartoons of the day. Transformers, in particular, sparked his imagination and led to him put his first stories on paper. After a decades-long break, Bialois began getting back into the world of writing by joining some role-playing groups. These groups taught him about fleshing out characters and building worlds that stuck with him as he began writing short stories for fun.
To his surprise, Bialois would end up completing his first full-length novel, Call of Poseidon, in 2007. Armed with a finished product, Bialois began working on another book, The Sword and the Flame, unsure of what he would ultimately be doing with either. As with many others in the later part of the first decade of the 2000’s, he found himself out of work and looking into new options. Over the next two years, he would spend most days at the library, completing an additional half-dozen works.
Six books later, Bialois is planning for the release of many more and enjoying the feedback he receives. The up-and-coming author takes inspiration from favorites such as Steven King, Tom Clancy and Sue Grafton. His love of history, fantasy and old monster movies has also served as a muse.
When he’s not busy writing or chatting on his social networks, Bialois enjoys watching hockey and football as well as Metallica DVDs. He currently lives with his wife- a fellow writer- and their fur children. CP Bialois is also active in several South Florida writing groups, as well as the online writer community, and the Florida Writers Association.
Where to stalk CP
Filed under: Book Release, Publishing, Writing Tagged: C P Bialois, The Lightwalker, The Sword and The Flame
October 29, 2014
The Work Goes On
I have two short stories for Blondes, Books, & Bourbon, on my edit desk right now. I’m working on both of them making changes to enrich the story.
One story needs tightening and honing in a lot of places. I’m tackling these places one at a time, hammering out the weakness and wielding in new words and structure. It is a challenge to stay sharp and creative in the process, but that’s part of the fun of being a writer.
The other tale, a stronger story in essence, needs a section transformed from description to dialogue … my editor loves to make me write dialogue. The end of this particular story also raised a small question -the answer to which I knew – but it opened up possibilities. I had carried an alternative ending in my head for a number of months now and shared it with my editor. We both thought it might be good to write it out and see which ending worked better. So although the majority of the edits on this piece were fast, in the end, I’m left with a good bit of work to do one it.
It seems like this should be frustrating, but it’s not…to me.
This is creative writing. It’s challenging yourself to keep tone and voice, while reordering the sections – be they large or small – with-in the story.
We are moving through the edits at a good speed, so I’m not worried. What does worry me is not giving all I can to the process.
Why?
Because that means I’m not giving those who purchase the anthology – I’m not giving my readers – the best I can offer. To me, that’s cheating and it would feel like theft.
I have a busy few months ahead of me making this anthology as strong as I can. Once that’s done, I immediately get to use the same technique to make the second novel ‘ Bindings & Spines’ worthy of an audience as well.
What is that saying about rest and the wicked?
Filed under: Publishing, Writing Tagged: anthology, Bindings & Spines, Blondes Books & Bourbon, current work in progress, editor, edits, Jonathan Alvey, muse, paranormal, readers, short story, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, world building, writer, writing, Xchyler Publishing
October 24, 2014
The Truth is Discovered
My editor at Xchyler Publishing did three short stories for the spring anthology ‘Blonds,Books, &Bourbon’ – one of which was the very first ever written.
Two of them took little work on my part to make the changes she pointed out. Another took more work, but as it too was an older story, I wasn’t surprised.
Then she messaged me and mentioned she was working on one titled, ‘Nightmare’ and that she could see the difference in how far I’ve come since this one had been writing. I chuckled to myself because Nightmare is not very old at all, much newer than two of the others. What I did realize is that that particular short story hadn’t got through my usual routine. It had not seen the red pen of fury my personal editor wields so accurately. It hadn’t thus got a second edit from me. Since it didn’t get that it never got sent on to my beta reader, with her keen eye, and sound insight to the White Dragon Black world. And so it didn’t get it’s third edit.
I admitted this to my editor. I told her the issues she was having was not that it had been written long ago but that it hadn’t gone through the usual editing process. She was see – for the first time – my raw, unedited, words. I told her she know understood why I insisted on taking these steps before sending her anything.
Her response … ‘I wish more authors were that considerate’.
I love my editors (and beta readers) and would be hopelessly lost (and probably unpublished) without them.
Filed under: Writing Tagged: anthology, beta reader, Blondes Books & Bourbon, current work in progress, editor, edits, Jonathan Alvey, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, publish, short story, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, Xchyler Publishing
October 23, 2014
What a Party!
Feeling pretty good this morning, even if I did party last night.
And What a Party!
Last night was the on-line release party for the new paranormal anthology from my publisher – Legends and Lore. I love to attend these things because they are always fun, and lively–the great prizes certainly don’t hurt either. Of course, I attended this one because I have a story in it – another Alvey adventure.
The book is available now, there are many great stories in it (as one can expect from Xchyler Publishing) and it will be a great addition to your bookshelf.
Speaking of anthologies, I’ve also begun the serious edits for ‘Blondes, Books, & Bourbon’, the anthology coming this spring that features my White Dragon Black stories exclusively.
I’ll admit, it’s a bit intimidating to be thinking about putting out an anthology that is just my work. In it’s own way, it is scarier than releasing a novel as there is a different dynamic and an all too real need for serious interest in the series. I’m putting myself out on a limb here, and I hope I don’t disappoint my editor for supporting that limb. The fear isn’t getting in the way of going forward with it however – not one bit.
And while I’m talking of fear of publishing, I still harbour second novel syndrome. Is the second WDB novel, ‘Bindings & Spines’ good enough? How will readers like it compared to the first? Was ‘Tomorrow Wendell‘ a fluke? Insecurities, that I know are standard for just about everyone in this position (except Hollywood producers – they don’t seem to care) but that doesn’t make them go away.
But keeping busy with edits and writing, and with the support of my publisher, readers, editors, and family, doesn’t allow too much time for these fears to really get a grip on me. I’ve gotten this far, no reason to shrink away now.
So here’s some advice for first time writers — Ignore the fear, the doubt, and the self incrimination. Write. Write what you want, trust in your Muse, and just go for it, Damn it all!
Filed under: Book Release, Publishing, Writing Tagged: anthology, Bindings & Spines, Blondes Books & Bourbon, current work in progress, editor, edits, Jonathan Alvey, Legends and Lore, muse, novel, paranormal, publish, readers, short story, Tomorrow Wendell, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, writing, Xchyler Publishing
