C.E. Paul's Blog

[BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY] Space Cowboys and Indians, by Lisa Medley

Space Cowboys and IndiansCosmic Cowboys Series Episode 1Lisa Medley
Genre: Sci-fi Adventure Romance
Publisher: Big CedarDate of Publication: July 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-9908856-8-9ASIN:
Number of pages: 135Word Count: 38K
Cover Artist: Sweet and Spicy Designs
Book Description:
How can the chance of a lifetime go so horribly wrong?
Mining Engineer Cole Hudson signed up for NASA astronaut training, but after washing out short of getting his gold wings, he retreats to Alaska where he stakes out a gold claim. When billionaire entrepreneur Duncan Janson offers him an opportunity to join a mining team on an asteroid, Cole jumps at the chance.
But nothing is as it seems. Former NASA reject and rival classmate, Tessa Hernandez, is also a member of the team, and from the beginning of the mission test flight, things go wrong. They soon discover they’re not the only ones on the asteroid.
As they try to escape, they are pulled through a wormhole and back to the early 1800s New Mexico desert where aliens and Apaches may be the least of their problems.

Available at Amazon
About the Author: Lisa has always enjoyed reading about monsters in love and now she writes about them, because monsters need love too.
She adores beasties of all sorts, fictional as well as real, and has a farm full of them in her Southwest Missouri home, including: one child, one husband, two dogs, two cats, a dozen hens, thousands of Italian bees, and a guinea pig.
She may or may not keep a complete zombie apocalypse bug-out bag in her trunk at all times, including a machete. Just. In. Case.
FB https://www.facebook.com/lisamedleyauthor
Twitter https://twitter.com/lisamedley
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7824406.Lisa_Medley
Website http://lisa-medley.com


Tour giveaway
Sign up for Lisa’s Newsletter and be entered to win a Certified Meteorite Fragment http://eepurl.com/9Zhcz
One winner will be randomly chosen

[BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY] Phasms: Captive Potential, by Barbara Garren

Book: Captive PotentialAuthor: Barbara GarrenGenre: Paranormal Romance

Goodreads Book Link


Ahhh, finally!  The return of "Phasms Spasms" as I like to call it, for good reason.  My lovely friend Barb has given birth to another delicious baby.
Okay, that just sounds weird.  But you know what I mean, I hope.
We have the return of our sexy heroes from book one, to include some interesting surprises. 
I have to say that I really enjoyed the revelation of "loose-canon Aiden".  Seems like everyone's got their little secrets though, and (without giving too much away), it's as though every chapter has at least one WTF moment.  It was both interesting and surprising to discover and unlock the reasons for distrust and mis- (or lack of) communication.  It was scary and shocking to learn all this new weird shit, and now I'm even more wary of the power of dreams (and wondering whether or not it makes a difference if they're drug-induced :P)
I have to say that I'm a fan of the casual references to current pop culture as well.  Definitely makes the story more relatable and connects it with a modern readership.
It's been said before and I'll say it again, but Barb has a pretty awesome way of crafting a unique paranormal story that isn't your standard, run-of-the-mill paranormal.  I've honestly never read any other book that involves anything like "phasms" or even a similar concept.
(Okay I just googled it and apparently a phasm is some weird D&D creature...but I promise you, Barb's phasms are WAY different - and way sexier!)
Well done!  Read on for some juicy tid-bits....
(Also, no joke, I think I have about 2 or 3 copies of this book now in various forms.)
Synopsis
Everything in Kelsi's life feels more like The End, rather than the Happily-Ever-After she anticipated with her prince, Aiden Hardt. She and Aiden are fighting. Again. His daughter Bryn wakes them screaming every night. By day Bryn is bright and bubbly, but at night her dreams are filled with a distant land, a dark-haired man, and a threat Kelsi couldn't foresee. Even her best friend Sarah is miserable.

Tossed between multiple planes of existence, Kelsi must overcome the barriers in her heart and mind to save those she loves: her friend, her lover, and the child she thinks of as her own.
Even if providing them a chance for their own Ever After spells the end for her.


Excerpt
“My love for Aiden is a deep, red pulse, burning with a slow and steady warmth that assuaged my loss, seeping to my very core, bleeding into every pore, every fiber of who I am, until I can’t breathe, can’t move can’t be without him near.”



Author Bio
I'm a writer, a reader and a frequenter of the more charming sites in town, namely pubs. I've travelled a bit. Lived a few places. Known a few men. It all ends up in a story sooner or later.
San Diego is home these days and my life is ruled by Charlie the Dog, a Valkyrie muse named Prue and a husband  who buys me scotch. What more can a girl ask for?

Social Links
WebsiteEmailBlogFacebookPinterestTwitter:@bak229

Buy Links

Amazon USAmazon UK
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES
Infinite Potential
Amazon USAmazon UK

Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

[COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY] I Heart Robot, by Suzanne van Rooyen

Welcome to the Cover Reveal forI Heart Robot by Suzanne van Rooyenpresented by Month9Books!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
I HEART ROBOT Cover Art from Suzanne van RooyenI'm not the most artistically inclined. While I do love art and have been known to bust out the pencils and paints myself, it's not an area where I'd consider myself particularly talented. In short, I knew that cover design was something best left to the professional and I had every confidence in Month9Books.
I am so grateful to Georgia McBride for allowing me to have the amount of input I did when it came to cover creation for I Heart Robot. This is a novel that is as much about a civil rights struggle in a futuristic, post-war city as it is about romance, and we wanted a cover that reflected both elements. Finding the right balance between romance and science fiction was a tall order, but Month9Books delivered in spades by presenting me with two stylistically different covers. I loved elements of both, and by working closely with the cover artist and with Georgia we managed to combine all the best parts of both original covers into what we have today: a cover that reflects the gritty world my characters live in while emphasizing the fact that this is above all, a love story.

Sixteen-year-old Tyri wants to be a musician and wants to be with someone who won't belittle her musical aspirations. 

Q-I-99 aka 'Quinn' lives in a scrap metal sanctuary with other rogue droids. While some use violence to make their voices heard, demanding equal rights for AI enhanced robots, Quinn just wants a moment on stage with his violin to show the humans that androids like him have more to offer than their processing power. 

Tyri and Quinn's worlds collide when they're accepted by the Baldur Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. As the rift between robots and humans deepens, Tyri and Quinn's love of music brings them closer together, making Tyri question where her loyalties lie and Quinn question his place in the world. With the city on the brink of civil war, Tyri and Quinn make a shocking discovery that turns their world inside out. Will their passion for music be enough to hold them together while everything else crumbles down around them, or will the truth of who they are tear them apart?

Title: I Heart Robot
Publication date: March 31, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Suzanne van Rooyen

Suzanne is a tattooed storyteller from South Africa. She currently lives in Finland and finds the cold, dark forests nothing if not inspiring. Although she has a Master’s degree in music, Suzanne prefers conjuring strange worlds and creating quirky characters. When not writing, she teaches dance and music to middle schoolers and entertains her shiba inu, Lego. Suzanne is represented by Jordy Albert of the Booker Albert Agency.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twi tter | Facebook | GoodreadsComplete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!(Winners will receive their book on release day)a Rafflecopter giveaway

[GIVEAWAY & INTERVIEW] Fires of Man, by Dan Levinson

Science FictionDate Published: June 17, 2014
In a world where a gifted few can manipulate reality with their minds, two great nations—Calchis and Orion—employ these psionic powers in a covert war for global superiority.

In the heart of Calchis, a powerful young psion named Aaron Waverly is kidnapped, and forcibly conscripted. To the north, in the capital, a plan is hatched to decimate Orion, to be carried out by the ruthless operative known only as “Agent.”

In Orion, fresh recruit Stockton Finn comes to terms with his incredible new powers, and learns firsthand how dangerous they can be. Meanwhile, officers Nyne Allen and Kay Barrett navigate the aftermath of their shattered love affair, oblivious to the fact that Calchis draws ever closer to destroying the tenuous peace.

Finally, in the arctic land of Zenith, Calchan archaeologist Faith Santia unearths a millennia-old ruin. This lost temple might just hold the hidden history of psionic powers, as well as hints of a deeper mystery . . . that could shake the foundations of all mankind.


--Read on for the interview!


Stop.  Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see.
-         What is your name?  Dan.
-         What is your quest?  To engage readers with fiction prolific.
-         What is your favorite color?  Blue. No— *is hurled from the bridge*
Just kidding, there are more than 3 questions.And here I thought this would be the shortest interview ever!
Which orifice did you pull this story from (from whence did the inspiration come)?I first conceived this story when I was about thirteen. At the time I was quite enamored with both the epic fantasy works of Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind, and with anime, specifically Dragonball Z. It’s amusing for me to think how this story was in part inspired by a cartoon of brawny aliens hurling energy blasts at each other, but there it is.
What was the most difficult thing about writing Fires of Man?Achieving the level of proficiency required to execute my vision. Having first imagined this world when I was quite young, it has gone through a number of iterations over the years. I’ll always be learning and growing as a writer, but it wasn’t until the past few years that I was able to write a version of this story I felt lived up to its promise.
What was something you learned while writing Fires of Man?How to sink deep into the characters, and, when necessary, let them take the reins and lead the story in unexpected directions. I always have the big, impactful moments I’m writing toward, but oftentimes I let the characters fill in what happens in between.
What do you love the most about Fires of Man?The characters, undoubtedly. I feel I’ve managed to create characters that truly feel like real flesh and blood human beings, and I’m quite proud of that.
What do you hate the most about Fires of Man?Hate is a strong word, and there’s nothing I “hate” about the book. However, I’ve grown as a writer since completing it. I’m truly thrilled with the way the book turned out, but like many writers, I’m a perfectionist, and would love the chance to improve it even further.
Give us your favorite blurb (paragraph/scene) from the story.I’m certain this would change, day by day, but here is one of my favorite moments:
The cherry blossoms were falling.
The buds drifted downward, swirling as the breeze carried them, spirals of delicate flowers so pale they were almost white. Life was so short, so transitive, Nyne thought. Nowhere was that principle betterembodied than in the short and glorious existence of these flowers, so bright, bursting with vivacity—an image of beauty all too fleeting.
Parents and children began to gather around the tree, chattering excitedly. Moments of peace and wonder like this were so rare, so ephemeral.
Nyne stood watching until the ground was carpeted with fine petals.
What are your future plans as an author?
I have quite a number of works-in-progress, so many that it’s a wonder I haven’t gone mad.
I’m in the early planning stages of a dark fantasy series, though I won’t start writing it for some time yet. I have a literary paranormal mystery/thriller, Shambles, which is on hold while I finish book three of the Psionic Earth series, Prophet Rising. I have multiple short stories and a horror novella in various states of completion, a YA fantasy novel entitled The Ace of Kings that I am rewriting, and I have a number of screenplays from my screenwriting days that I would like to revisit at some point.
I also expect to receive edits from my publisher for the second entry in the Psionic Earth series, Shadows Collide, within a month or two, and will be busy doing rewrites for that.--

Dan Levinson
Born and raised on Long Island, NY, Dan grew up immersing himself in fantastical worlds. While other kids dreamed of being astronauts and cowboys, all he ever wanted was to be a novelist. Now, he’s living his dream.

Website: http://www.danlevinsonwriting.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ReadDanLevinson
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ReadDanLevinsonGoodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18755001-fires-of-man
BUY LINKS
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fires-Man-Psionic-Earth-Levinson/dp/1939967325/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fires-of-man-dan-levinson/1117389212
a Rafflecopter giveaway

[BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY] Seven Minutes, by Jay Stritch

Jay Stritch is a student of English Literature at Cambridge University and a lover of all modes of storytelling. She has recently published ‘Seven Minutes’ told in the format of memory collections which trace the interweaving, highly eventful lives of a very interesting family. In her free time she enjoys skiing and adrenaline based sports.





Author Links -
Seven Minutes eBook: Jay Stritch: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seven-Minutes-Jay-Stritch-ebook/dp/B00J1KPAKU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395072865&sr=1-1&keywords=seven+minutes+jay+stritch
http://www.amazon.com/author/jaystritch
http://www.shelfari.com/books/37407403/Seven-Minutes



Book Genre: FictionPublisher: -Release Date: March 2014



Book Description: What are the memories that will define you when you're gone?

It is said that when you die your brain stays active for seven minutes, in which time you relive your most prominent memories.

'The Collector' of these memories has the most interesting story of all to tell. By following the intertwining lives of a group of characters we are taken on a journey through some amazing experiences: loss, love, guilt, failure, success and what defines us as human beings. The very essence of these people emerges from their memories.

But why is Will the one this collection of memories has been given to? What is he supposed to do with them? He already has enough on his plate, now that he’s unemployed with a farm and family to run while his wife is away working. However, he can’t seem to stop obsessing about this mysterious book or put it down and it begins to affect his life in more ways than one…


Excerpt: 

Seven minutes really isn’t that long. It’s often overlooked by people as an awkward amount of time in which nothing can be achieved. Indeed many groups of seven minutes are spent in people’s lives simply waiting. I, however, am a collector and it is my job to make every minute count. Everything can be revealed about a human life in seven minutes. Today has been a particularly interesting collection, as amongst them is the last Mangos.
I often look at my job like a card game – perhaps similar to ‘Happy Families’ – and I relish collecting full sets. Today the set has been completed by the life and death of Sabina Mangos.
I sometimes revisit the rest of these preserved lives and watch them intertwine with each other seamlessly again. I turn to the best bits, like one would dog ear a favorite book. Still the people I never knew in life haunt me in their deaths.
She is bent by the side of the river, the evening sun illuminating her cheek bones and her hair is plastered to her face. The memory at first is always startlingly beautiful until the scream begins. It is primal, guttural and echoes off the rocks surrounding her. Then the boy lying limp at her feet comes into focus. But this is my own memory. To understand it better, it’s only right that we delve into hers.
ANGELICA: 4.6 minutes
He died with his train ticket in his pocket and his hands clasped tightly around his necklace. I know because I was there. I start compressions frantically, unable to remember how many to do. One, two, three, four, trying to force the life back into him. Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, my own breaths rasping, willing him to join me. Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, I stop pressing methodically, the panic taking over and I begin to hit him wildly. Suddenly I am furious, illogically furious at him, and I begin to spit and swear as I return to compressions. What else can I do?
“Don’t die! Wake up! Bastard! Talk to me! Open your eyes now!” I stop suddenly staring rigidly at his face. “No,” is all I can think. This. Can’t. Happen. Mouth to mouth, my mind screams, I haven’t tried that yet and I know why. What if the kiss of life doesn’t work; what if it is the kiss of death? What if I can’t save him? I slam my hands either side of his head, pinch his nose and calmly breathe into his mouth. Once. Twice. Nothing. And that is when I rock back on to my knees and scream.





Follow The Bash Here




a Rafflecopter giveaway

[INTERVIEW] The Sales Crime Policeman, by David J. Rollins

Science Fiction / Humor / RomanceDate Published: November 19, 2013
The future is no place to fall in love.
Amazing advances in technology have all but replaced relationships. People can purchase spouses programmed to their individual tastes and desires, anything from an aversion to expensive guilt gifts to perfumed flatulence. Attachments are even available for the more discriminating customers. Anyone can have anyone they want, as long as they don’t want someone who looks like someone else. That’s against the law. It could also make things a little awkward at social events.
For one man, technology is not enough. He is a Telepathic Vacuum Cleaner Salesperson Policeman, and he wants to fall in love with a real woman. Like most men, he is not perfect. He has no name. He had to give up that up when he became a policeman. He is terribly afraid of roller coasters. And he doesn’t have any attachments.
When he finds the woman of his dreams, she is not what he expected. Like most women, she doesn’t feel the same way about him. She has a spouse certified to be her perfect mate. And she is in prison. The policeman had her arrested, because she is one of the most wanted criminals in his world.
Now, the policeman has to choose between everything he is and everything he wants.
The future is no place to fall in love.
--
Read on for the interview!

When and why did you begin writing?I began writing when I was young, but then again, I guess most writers did. I think initially, I had thought it was a way to escape my life. I guess most writers did that too. Starting out, my writing was fairly derivative of the authors I read. Wait-a-minute, I think most writers did that too.
I am off to a good start. Look at me, I’m just like everyone else. But I’m not. No writer really is. Even the ones that try to mimic others, they still put something of themselves into everything they write and that something makes them different. We all may start from roughly the same place, but we all end up in our very own story.
So if I started out like everyone else, what makes me different? That’s a good question. I’m glad I asked. My writing is very distinct. I don’t think there is much out there like it. My books have been compared to expressionist paintings, Frank Zappa’s album Joe’s Garage, Terry Gilliam’s movie Brazil, as well as Douglas Adams’ novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. My books are fun and silly and strange, and they strive to celebrate the absurdities around us all. That’s what makes me different.
Not to mention I seem to have problems answering some questions.
What inspired you to write your first book? When I was in Seventh Grade, I started out writing short stories. I was in a group of writers who called themselves “The Goody Group.” We based our name on the first man who was killed as a witch, or at least that is what I remember. I’ve since looked and haven’t been able to find any evidence of a man with that name being accused of witchcraft. In fact, “Goody” was used to reference unmarried women, not men. Goody Good was an old woman who was accused of being a witch, and that was as close as I could get. Funny, as smart as we thought we were, we weren’t at all.
Anyway, we all wrote short stories and argued over silly things and hung out in an abandoned classroom during school lunch. I wrote a very short story called “The Telepathic Vacuum Cleaner Salesman.” I don’t think I really thought much of it at the time. When I let my best friend, the sort of de facto leader of The Goody Group, read it, he simply wrote on the first page of my story “Publish.” So I immediately started building on the strange little world I created, which ironically, was not what my friend wanted me to do, but I was young and rebellious. My idea at the time was to create a series of extremely short stories. I had read somewhere that that was the easiest way to get published in a magazine. I wasn’t going to settle for just one short story though. That would be too easy. I had to write a series of them. I think, at one point, the series was up to forty-two stories, which kind of makes it a novel. I never submitted it to a magazine. I still hung on to it though. I reworked it and edited it down, and that became my first book.
Is there a message you want your readers to grasp?To recognize the absurdity in the lives we live. I feel like once you recognize the absurdity of so much around you, then you can also see the incredible potential that is around you too.
It is a very amazing world we live in. We are told so many wrong things, simply because they are things other people want us to believe. And we believe them, because those things are all that we know, all that we have been taught. That is not the world around us. That is only perception. And you can believe and follow any perception you want. You can be and do anything you want. It may take work. It may take a lot of work. But you can become anything you want to be.
Just pick something fun. Life’s too short not to have fun.
Can you share a little of your upcoming projects with us?I am working on a series of eight novellas called Angry Edenites. It is about four people who are searching for the Garden of Eden. Luckily, they have a map. I plan to publish about one a month. If you like The Sales Crime Policeman, you will like Angry Edenites. It is written in the same style. There are four of them published now.
Did you learn anything from writing any of your books?I learned I really don’t like editing or grammar or the thousands of times needed to read a passage to get it right. Ironically, around the time I start hating something I have written is around the time it starts to seem good enough.
Are there any new authors who you have become a fan of? What about established authors?Since I look for books and stories with an absurd component to them, I generally lean toward Science Fiction. I am currently reading a book by Brom, which is a wonderfully visceral read. It is called The Child Thief, and it is a reinterpretation of the Peter Pan story.
As far as established authors, I like Douglas Adams. How can anyone not like Douglas Adams, excepting those that don’t? I am a big fan of Robert Sheckley, James Morrow and Christopher Moore. Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff was hilarious. Alfred Bester,  Philip K. Dick  and John Gardner are some other earlier authors I truly enjoy. When I was in college, I had a professor who really turned me on to Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Gustave Flaubert’s novel Madame Bovary. Those are two really powerful works and scenes from both of them have stuck with me to this day. If you haven’t read “The Yellow Wallpaper,” I can’t recommend enough.

--
ABOUT THE AUTHORDavid J. Rollins

David J. Rollins is a paralegal by day, husband by night, and sometimes finds time to write. As a young man, he had had different plans, but that’s the way life works out most of the time.

David has been writing since Seventh Grade. He started with the adventures of Super Pimp and his sidekick Squirt. His hero was Philip K. Dick, who strangely enough did not write about things like Pimps and Squirts. Like any fan, David wanted to follow in his hero’s footsteps. Unlike most fans, he wanted to follow them even after finding out that his hero, at one point in his life, was so poor that he resorted to eating dog food. What David lacked in aspirations, he made up for in determination.

From those humble beginnings, David became the man he is today. He is happier than he ever thought he would be and is living a life he never imagined in his wildest dreams. And that’s the way David’s life worked out. He was and is very lucky.

As further proof of his luck, David has lost every one of the stories about Super Pimp and his sidekick Squirt. He has also never had to eat dog food.
Website: www.davidjrollins.com
Mailing List: http://www.davidjrollins.com/mailing-list/


BUY LINKS
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Sales-Crime-Policeman-David-Rollins-ebook/dp/B00CUJ3GE6

[INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY] Firebolt, by Adrienne Woods

Firebolt The Dragonian SeriesBook One
Adrienne Woods
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: GMTA  Publishing – Mythos Press
ISBN: 978-1491244654ASIN: B00GS5SUM6
Number of pages: 289Word Count: 95,000


Book Description:
For the love of blueberries, Elena Watkins was destined for greatness, even though she didn’t know it. Before entering Paegeia Elena was not special, she wasn’t even average until the night her father was killed by a creature she thought only existed in fairy tales – a dragon. With her father’s death leaving her orphaned, Elena is whisked away to her true birthplace, Paegeia.
Arriving at Dragonia Academy, the premier school for young Dragonians; a school she was never meant to attend because her father was a dragon. Unbeknownst to Elena danger is lurking behind the enchanted vines concealing the once thriving capital of Paegeia – Etan.
Goran, the darkest sorcerer in the realm, has lain dormant for over a century behind the crumbling city. There, in the shadowy ruins he plots his revenge to destroy the only weapon that can kill him – the King of Lion Sword.
When the sword is stolen without a trace Elena doesn’t think twice about seeking it; knowing deep down that it is her destiny to save her new home.
Amazon
--Read on for the interview!
Stop.  Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see.
- What is your name?  EEK, run to hide behind a huge rock. Took a peek and answer in a soft trembling voice: Adrienne Woods
- What is your quest?  To become a number one best selling author. It's more of a question than an answer.
- What is your favorite color?  Purple (I think)
Just kidding, there are more than 3 questions.
Which orifice did you pull this story from (from whence did the inspiration come)?The one in my back garden, hahahah, no, the love for dragons.
What was the most difficult thing about writing Firebolt?The next word. hahahaha. Just kidding. I guess it was the main plots. It has to be really strong. If you can add a bit mystery, you have a fan.
What was something you learned while writing Firebolt?Be sure you don't have a family when writing your first novel, hahahaha, another floppy joke. Of course you need your family. Their love,support and believing in you is all you need.  I guess I understand why some authors have more than a couple of husbands. HAHAHA
What do you love the most about Firebolt?The cover, just kidding. Everything. It’s very personal to me and I really dug deep with writing this.
What do you hate the most about Firebolt? Not having enough time to finish book two. Hahaha. It’s my novel, I don’t hate any of it.
Give us your favorite blurb (paragraph/scene) from the story:
My eyes started to burn as I stared at the rain running down my window. Each rivet resembled another town, another place I would never again call home. Exhaustion consumed me and my eyelids felt heavy. I laid my head against the window and struggled to stay awake.      Suddenly, a dark and huge figure flew past me. Dad swerved to the left, which made me crushed into the side of the passenger’s door. My entire body pumped with adrenaline. I jumped straight in my seat and wrenched the seatbelt over my shoulder to buckle myself in. I tore out my earpieces as I tried to process what had just happened.      “What was that?” I looked at Dad.      He stared straight ahead with huge eyes. Beads of sweat rolled from his hairline down to the side of his temple. He looked terrified, something that conflicted with his personality. I'd never seen Dad look that scared in my entire life.     “Dad!”     “Did you see where it went?” he asked, attempting to inject calm into his voice, but I could hear the fear lacing each syllable.     “See where what went? Dad what was that!”     “You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”     “For once in your life, just tell me!” I screamed. Sixteen years of frustration exploded from my lungs. I couldn't take the unknown anymore.     “Fine.” He mumbled something else that I didn't catch. "Do you remember the stories I used to tell you?"    “Stories? What stories?”    “The ones about Paegeia, Elena.” He looked in his rearview mirror again with huge, unblinking eyes.      Vaguely, but I didn't tell him that. "What does that have to do with this?"     “They're real.”      I froze and I stared at him.       “All of it, it’s real. The dragons, the magic, the wall, everything is real.”
There are seriously a lot of favorites, but this one where Elena gets told about Dragons are by far a scene that will stay with me forever.
What are your future plans as an author?Ooh, I have plenty to get out there. I’m planning for 2014 to get Thunderlight out. 2015 February, Frostbite, which is the 3rd novel of the Dragonian series and Moonbreeze, which is the 4th of the Dragonian Series.
Then also in 2015, I would like to publish my Pregnancy diaries, which are women’s fiction novels with a hint of erotica. The first series or omnibus in the Pregnancy diaries has three novels. All planning to come out end of 2015.
2016 The other five Dragonian Series novels. It’s not part of the first four but it’s part of the stories taking place in the series.
I have two more series I would like to introduce to the world. One being an Aswang series: meaning half vampire/half werewolf written for NA and the other one the Elemental Series, another YA novel. I’m busy planning a real fairy tale type of series, think Epic the movie mixed with Romeo and Juliet.
More stories pop up the more I write so who knows where I’ll be in ten years from now.
I would just like to thank you, I will always imagine you as a big ugly troll who didn't want me to pass their bridge, hahahaha, No, thanks for being part of my virtual book tour and a big thanks to the peeps reading this. I hope you grab a copy of Firebolt soon.
Kind Wishes,Adrienne
--
Thanks to Adrienne for a great interview.  I hope everyone is as eager to dig into this story as I am!

About the Author: I was born and raised in South Africa, where I still live with my husband, and two beautiful little girls. I always knew that I was going to be a writer but it only started to happen about four years ago, now I can’t stop writing.
In my free time, if I get any because Moms don’t really have free time, I love to spend time with friends, if it’s a girls night out, or just a movie, I’m a very chilled person.
My writing career is starting with Firebolt, book one with the Dragonian Series, there will be four books in total and two to three books that is about the stories taking place inside The Dragonian Series.
I do write in different Genres, I have a woman’s fiction called the Pregnancy Diaries, but it would be published under another name. And then I have a paranormal series, called the Watercress series. There are about ten novels in that one.
So, plenty of novels to come out, so little time.
I hope you are going to embrace the Dragonian Series as much as I loved writing them.
Blog http://woodsadrienne.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dragonian-Series/301375039891281
Twitter: erichb3
Goodreads: Adrienne Woods
Google+: Adrienne Woods--

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY] Phasms: Infinite Potential, by Barbara Garren

Book: Infinite PotentialAuthor: Barbara GarrenGenre: Paranormal Romance Kelsi always knows when bad things are coming, but even she never thought she’d lose her husband at only twenty-three. Since he died, she’s been living her worst nightmare.  Her nights are filled with dreams of a Dark Haired Man, but her days are full of guilt, because the Man fills her with longing and confusion, promising to give her all she needs, all she wants, all she feared she’d never have again. If only the dreams would stay in her head where they belong. Kelsi starts seeing the Dark Haired Man in her waking life, shadowing her wherever she goes. And when her mysterious new neighbor, Aiden Hardt, knows about the Man in her dreams, Kelsi worries she can’t trust her own mind. "He’s not what he seems." But even Aiden’s cryptic words don’t frighten her as much as the way she feels around him. Kelsi must sort through her emotions and figure out what’s real before she can ever hope to have a normal life again.
I'm a writer, a reader and a frequenter of the more charming sites in town, namely pubs.Born and raised in Southern California, I left to explore the world courtesy of the U.S. Navy. I've lived in San Francisco, New York and Norfolk, Virginia, but prefer to call San Diego home these days, with my husband, Henry (the inspiration for all the romance).When not working on my next novel or reading a good book, I can be found running after my grandchildren, my dog and my sanity.I believe a well-rounded diet consists of coffee, scotch, chocolate, popcorn and Luna Bars - in that order - and have been accused of violating grammar and etiquette rules in at least seven countries. My Muse is a Valkyrie named Prue, so look out.

Okay, I was asked to share the top 5 things you never would have guessed about me. This might be painful, but here goes:1      I’m deathly afraid of clowns, puppets, masks and heights. Not in that order. I don’t know where the fear of clowns, puppets and masks comes from. I have a friend who is a psychologist and she says it’s a combination of my complete transparency, coupled with the difficulty I have seeing past the subterfuge of others. I’m not sure – I used to love the clowns at the circus. As for the height thing – that’s interesting, considering fact number 2…

2     I learned how to fly an airplane before I learned how to drive a car. Flying doesn’t affect my fear of heights. I love flying. I grew up flying with my Dad and he taught my brother and I how to fly as soon as we were able to see over the nose of the plane! So, maybe it’s not really a fear of heights, but a fear of being on the edge, teetering on the precipice?

3     I began my career in the Navy as a welder. Really! I was darn good at it too! My grandfather taught me how to weld (a little bit) when I was a little girl and I love the magic of joining metal together. I’m a bit of a metal geek (okay, a LOT of a metal geek) and the whole process still fascinates me. I quickly moved on to inspection and testing after suffering a nasty burn welding on a pipe on a ship in the Bay of Oman, but that’s a story for another day!

4      My iPod would probably have you scratching your head in confusion. I have opera, operetta’s (Gilbert & Sullivan), classical music, country, pop, rap, new wave, rock and roll, heavy metal – you name it. Most of my playlists are a real mash-up of genre, rhythm and tone. Whatever sets the mood best! I tend to gravitate toward darker, more melancholy songs when I’m really in “writing” mode. It helps me reach all those feelings!

5      I am possibly one of the most socially awkward and shy people you will ever meet, I’ve just learned to hide it well. I drag my husband to all the professional social functions I’m required to attend and he pushes me into other types of events, but I’m quite the wall-flower at heart. I can never figure out what to say or do and am terrified of glomming on to the ONE person who talks to me and never letting them go! With that said, once I know you and feel comfortable with you, I’m a firm believer in tackle hugs!
Website: www.bgarrenwrites.comEmail: bgarrenwrites@gmail.comBlog: http://www.nofilterinstalled.blogspot.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bgarrenwritesPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bgarrenwrites/Twitter: @bak229 Amazon US
Amazon UK
KOBO 
iTunes (iBooks) 
Barnes & Noble  
a Rafflecopter giveaway

[INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY] Protostar, by Braxton A. Cosby

ProtostarThe Star-Crossed SagaBook 1Braxton A. Cosby
Genre: Young Adult/Sci-fi Romance
Publisher: Winter Goose PublishingDate of Publication: April 16th, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-941058-01-5ASIN: 1941058019
Number of pages: 346Word Count: 99k
Cover Artist: Winter Goose Publishing

Book Description:On the brink of civil war, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his council, King Gregorio Derry reluctantly agrees to send his only son William on a mission to restore honor to his family name.
William seeks to complete his assignment, the elimination of a Star-child named Sydney on planet Earth, but when the assassination is delayed he begins to realize an emotional connection with his target.
With conspiracy threatening his home planet, and a hidden menace on Earth seeking to secure a vested interest, William finds himself torn between irrevocable duty and sacrificing everything he stands for to defend Sydney.
As William and Sydney struggle to overcome their impossible circumstances, they start to wonder if the connection of two Star-Crossed lovers will be enough to save them from certain doom.
Available at AmazonRead on for the interview!
Stop.  Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see.
-         What is your name?  Braxton A. Cosby
-         What is your quest?  To create stories that entertain the mind and inspire the spirit.
-         What is your favorite color?  Blue all the way.
Just kidding, there are more than 3 questions.
Which orifice did you pull this story from (from whence did the inspiration come)? My love for young people.  There is so much potential in encouraging and inspiring young people to do great things.  The more we are able to pour into one another, the better off the entire planet will be.  I also got a lot of my inspiration to write from God.  He is the voice in my head that keeps me going.  He supplied the base for The Star-Crossed Saga from its conception and now I have been able to take it forward with the trilogy and the screenplay for movie adaptation.  It has become more than just a book, but now it is a franchise.
What was the most difficult thing about writing books in general? The time it takes. Lol. You really have to be patient and build the foundation, without losing the reader.  I have about 10 different stories I want to write.  I want so badly to put out all my stories, tomorrow.  But I realize that it takes time and that the dedication to honing and perfecting the story is critical to success.
What was something you learned while writing Protostar? That the importance of love cannot be measured.  The characters really taught me that.  The love between William and Sydney, two Star-Crossed lovers, is the perfect example of how keeping a commitment to falling and staying in love is one of the most important things in life, if not the most important.
What do you love the most about Protostar? The balance between love and science-fiction.  Protostar embodies the vision I had of creating a genre that has no limits.  Love and Sci-fi are those two things that are boundless.  Finding the balance of making something cool, but not mushy (love) was a bit difficult, but I feel great about the outcome.
What do you hate the most about Protostar? That it ended.  I really could have gone on about another 100 or so pages.  But, seeing as though it is the first of a trilogy, I decided to end it and start the next one.
Give us your favorite blurb (paragraph/scene) from the story. The assassination scene when William must kill Sydney.  He has this mission he must accomplish and is determined to go through with it.  He has never had to deal with the emotion of love, nor does he recognize it.  But when he starts to feel it, internally he is torn apart.  He must learn how to hide his feelings for Sydney so that he can kill her.  But during his time of being around her, he is enamored by her.  Everything about her is intoxicating.  His transition was the biggest part of the book and is now the focus of the Screenplay for the movie.
What are your future plans as an author?I have about five books set to release over the next 12 months.  I also have about 3 movie/film projects I’m working on with my company Cosby Media Productions that are based on my writings.  So people are going to get to know me very quickly, very soon. Thank you for the interview.
Thanks for sharing your book with us, Braxton!

About the Author:
Braxton A. Cosby is a dreamer with a passion for inspiring others to love, in spite of circumstance and convenience.
His calling to pen a young-adult series that is smart, witty, and thought provoking, has challenged readers to answer the question: What would you choose, love or irrevocable duty?
Braxton lives in Atlanta, GA, where he co-hosts a local radio show on WAOK which is a mash-up of current events and health and wellness. He also has a blog where he discusses everything from health and entertainment to spirituality and relationships.
Website: www.braxtoncosby.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrBraxtonCosby
Twitter: @BraxtonACosby
Blog: www.braxtoncosby.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4987409.Braxton_A_Cosby

Tour giveaway details
One signed copy of PROTOSTAR open to US Shippinga Rafflecopter giveaway

[INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY] Jennifer Ainsley: The Final Demon War, by Sidney Stone

Jennifer Ainsley The Final Demon War Sidney Stone
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Suspense/Horror/New Adult
Date of Publication: December 2013
ISBN: 1491200960ASIN: B00HFYK99Q

Number of pages: 308Word Count: 102,400
Cover Artist: Pencilbox Studios
Book Description:

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” - Matthew 10:34
Demons are preparing to launch the Final War to destroy humanity. 
Can one young woman wielding the Sword of Jesus ensure our survival and redemption?
Will she lose both her love and her soul in the process?
Available at Amazon in Paperbackand Kindle formats.
--

Read on for the interview!  A big thanks to Sidney for dropping by :D

Stop.  Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Thank you for featuring my book.  Great start and let me answer the questions so that I can get across the Bridge of Death :)

- What is your name?  Sidney Stone
- What is your quest?  Let’s see, right now to promote my cool little demon and the woman who may be our savior tale.  Oh, and by day when I’m not a superhero writer I help finance affordable housing in Silicon Valley and try and be a good father to my whip-smart and funny 12 year old son.
- What is your favorite color?  Purple totally which probably also explains why I’m a huge Prince fan 

Just kidding, there are more than 3 questions.
Really? You mean there is more to this please buy my book begging, er, promoting process? ;)

Which orifice did you pull this story from (from whence did the inspiration come)?
A lot of friends of course would initially say I pulled it out of my ass until they read it and found out how good it is.  It was a scary campfire story that I fleshed out with romance and deeper emotion.  The tale was a story that stayed with me a long time and needed to be brought to life.  Not only did the story come to life, but, it brought my love of writing back to life too.

I grew up very poor and ended up dropping out of High School.  To escape I read a lot of early Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Tolkien.  Eventually I got myself together, worked myself through college twice and eventually ended up with a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning.  The humble upbringings, the strength to persevere and those early writers all influence my writing to some degree.  I hope I was able to combine the darkness with the light, while adding in deep characters, that will enable readers to become fully invested in my stories.

What was the most difficult thing about writing Jennifer Ainsley: The Final Demon War?
The constant editing and rewriting.  I hired two editors, and took two years to make this the most professionally written book possible.  I understand the frustration when readers take a chance on an independent writer and the formatting, grammar, cover, etc. is amateurish.  And as an author, when you want the project completed, it is doubly frustrating that it takes so long to do it right.  But, I wanted to do it right.  And yet, even with all of this editing, a couple of typos still got through Arghh!!!

What was something you learned while writing Jennifer Ainsley: The Final Demon War?
It rekindled my love of writing.  It also taught me that no matter how much you painstakingly outline the story ahead of time, once you breathe life into these characters they have a mind of their own.  So much changed between the outline and finished product yet the overriding themes of love and loss still permeate the story.

What do you love the most about Jennifer Ainsley: The Final Demon War?
That I accomplished what I set out to do.  Create a rich character driven story with deep emotion that still entertains and makes the reader think.  Plus it has a lot of cool imagery, violence and a really hot sex scene!

What do you hate the most about Jennifer Ainsley: The Final Demon War?
That the sequel, which takes off immediately where the first one leaves off and does not let up with its more ambitious and epic scale; takes so long to write.  I want everyone to read the entire tale yet again it takes time to do it right.

Give us your favorite blurb (paragraph/scene)from the story.
This sets up the importance of the only weapon that can fully kill off the demons. And only Jennifer Ainsley can wield this weapon:

Jonathon spoke with more urgency.  “Ever read Matthew, chapter ten, verse thirty-four?  In it Jesus states, ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.’  Some people misinterpret that as allegory.  Some people reject his message and react violently.  He was really saying that he indeed brought a motherfucking sword—the Sword of Jesus.  His forty days and forty nights in the desert weren't just about his wrestling with the Devil metaphorically but taking the battle physically to and against the demons.  The Sword is the only thing that will kill them easily and completely.  Bombs and machine guns sometimes do the trick—you know that—but not always.  Demons usually can regenerate even after you hit them with automatic fire and multiple rounds.  Also, what will mankind do if limited ammunition is available?  What if the world ends and we have to fight the demons without technology?”

What are your future plans as an author?
Complete the second book and then look at all avenues to increase awareness of the books including selling through the traditional channels (i.e obtaining an agent and having books released through a publisher). I have many more ideas too so expect even more stories!

Thanks again for taking the time to feature my book! I hope your readers take a chance on an unknown writer.  I promise they will not be disappointed!
--
Please see following for Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest 284 word pitch and 1100 word opening chapter.
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."- Matthew 10:34
Jonathon Tait, whose demon-enhanced 170-year-old life has helped make him the richest man in the world, secretly renounces his alliance with demons in order to save his twins and redeem himself in the eyes of the two women he loved and lost. Jonathon has visions that his beautiful college-aged adopted daughter, Jennifer Ainsley, may be the key to humanity's survival and works with an underground movement to fight back against both the demons and the human leadership that is guiding our civilization towards total annihilation.
Can Jennifer wield the Sword of Jesus to fulfill her destiny even as the planet hurtles towards its destruction? Is she mankind's only hope and can Jennifer save everyone that she loves; including her destined soul mate Andrew Walker, or are we all doomed?
Jennifer Ainsley: The Final Demon War is a gripping, fast-paced fantasy/horror novel grounded in the contemporary world. The characters are extremely likable and engaging, and a great deal of humor is successfully incorporated into the book, despite its often grim and macabre themes.  There are several action packed tour-de-force chapters including “Scenes from the End” and “Kasey and Tracey’s Amazing Adventure”.
The book deftly tackles issues of greed, humanity's neglect for its weakest members, the race for power among individuals and nations, and the ability of love and courage to transcend personal weaknesses. It is a tale that combines horror and fantasy to tell a story of love, loss, sacrifice and redemption. It is the first chapter of an exciting new trilogy that deserves to find a wider audience.
Chapter OneHeather
Heather couldn’t believe she was going to die in front of her peacefully sleeping twins, who were oblivious to the unspeakable acts occurring in their nursery. These infants, this life, were all she had wanted, and in those lonely nights before sleep overtook her, she admitted to herself that she had been groomed for this since birth. She had been groomed to be a beautiful, nurturing wife to a wealthy and powerful man and she had been groomed to care for his children and teach them to take their rightful place in the world while she also maintained this lovely home—with a slew of maids, servants, and other staff of course. She threw the best dinner parties and had a special banquet hall included in the new Napa Valley estate just for that purpose. She knew all the right people to invite, and they raised all the right money for all the right charities.Yet here she was in midair, swaying back and forth, seeing herself reflected in the rectangular Craftsman-style floor mirror she personally had picked out for the nursery. The demon Palvakia held Heather by her strawberry-blonde hair, a mane her husband Jonathon Tait called “gorgeously luxurious,” while her lithe and toned, almost split-in-two body, spilled her blood and guts onto the new Berber carpet (a lovely light blue she also had personally picked out for the nursery). How important Heather had thought every design detail of this room was. She had placed so much importance on the mundane materials that now meant nothing. She was escaping into the blackness now, the dark abyss whose passage she hoped ended with a consummating light. Was there light beyond death and beyond this horror?It was insane, Heather thought, that her husband, the man she loved and admired, was watching this scene unfold with an expressionless face as Mordock, a repulsive and despised demon, stood next to him. Mordock was in human form right now, unlike the demon who had torn her in half, but Heather still felt the evil lurking underneath. She had tried to banish Mordock from their lives and had pleaded with her husband to stand up to him. Yet Jonathon had done nothing to remove him from their lives or to stop Mordock from carrying out her murder. If there was a light at the end, how could the Keeper of Light cause this to happen or not prevent it in the first place?And what of the twins? Alexander and Sophia were so beautiful and full of life, with old-soul eyes, even as infants. My lovely babies, Heather thought with her last bit of consciousness. Who will keep you from harm? Can your father somehow be your guardian angel? Will he succeed with you where he failed with me? The darkness with the light behind it is approaching. Will I see you in heaven? How long will I have to wait? Hopefully a long, long time…Heather took her last breaths just as Palvakia began to devour her. To her horror, though, death did not come instantaneously. A morbid trick of the demons is to keep their victims on the cusp of dying so they can witness themselves being eaten. Heather couldn’t even scream as the pain ripped through the ever-decreasing parts of her body.When Palvakia was finished, not one ounce of the physical being that once had been Heather Tait was left in the room. Even the carpet was clean…and the twins continued to sleep peacefully.


About the Author:
Sidney Stone is a hiker, deer whisperer and non-pretentious wine connoisseur. An addicted reviewer on Yelp, he is also creator of affordable housing (although technically he is homeless part-time), thinks The Replacements are the best band of the Eighties and loves to boost his LinkedIn count with people he doesn't know.
He lives in both Northern and Southern California while constantly traveling to Orange County to visit his son, who can now beat his father at ping pong and chess rather easily (and is charmingly arrogant while doing it). A graduate of UC Irvine and Pepperdine University, Sidney wishes he chose at least one university to attend that had a college football team to root for.
The first scene Sidney thought of for Jennifer Ainsley: The Final Demon War included a rather large massacre (take that for what it is worth). However, inspired by the works of Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Clive Barker; the book's violence is offset by dark humor and deep human emotion just like in real life where Sidney's darkness is offset by creatively placed sarcasm and an overwrought romanticism. For example, while Jennifer Ainsley: The Final Demon War is a Fantasy-Horror novel, Sidney also still tears up at the end of both Field of Dreams and An Officer and a Gentleman.
Contact him at www.sidneystone.net  or https://www.facebook.com/sidneystoneauthor
https://twitter.com/SidneyStoneAuth
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1360070.Sidney_Stone
www.amazon.com/author/sidneystone

a Rafflecopter giveaway