Heidi Ruby Miller's Blog, page 43

BOOKS: Goodreads List 2012

BOOKS

2012 Reading Challenge



Heidi has

read 40 books toward her goal of 50 books.

hide 40 of 50 (80%)

view books





In 2011 I read 34 books--you can see them all here. When you consider how many books some of the most avid readers on Goodreads are devouring--a book a day, some even more--I wanted to challenge myself in 2012. I figured I could easily do 1 book per week, but to be on the safe side, I'd build in 2 bye weeks for myself. So I set my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal to 50.



I found that...I am a slow reader.



I did make it to 40 before year's end, besting 2011 by 6 books, so I consider this a win.







Some may call it cheating that I included books I either wrote or for which I contributed a story, but I don't, and since this is my list, that's the only opinion that matters.





Science Fiction Romance topped my list this year as I also took on the 2012 SFR Reading Challenge--didn't quite meet that one either, but ended up somewhere between the earth and the moon.







OTHER INTERESTING STATISTICS ABOUT MY READS IN 2012:

15 - books by Seton Hill Writers

3 - Children's books

16 - print books (12 signed copies)

25 - female authors

3 - books from Raw Dog Screaming Press

2 - anthologies

16 - books from 11 different series

3 - poetry books

12 - books by Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday participants

5 - books by Pennwriters members

3 - non-SF Thrillers

4 - books from a Big 5 publisher

LIST OF PUBLISHERS:

Ace Science Fiction

Amazon Digital Services

Bearcat

Champagne Books

CreateSpace

Dana Marton

Dragon Harp Productions

Entangled Publishing

Evergreen Syndicate

Firefly Publishing & Entertainment LLC

Gray Lady Publishing

Grey Gecko Press

Imaginary Books

Kindle Direct Publishing

L & L Dreamspell

Lee Howard

Meteor House

Moonshell Books

p i c t u r e l e s s books

Pippa Jay

Raw Dog Screaming Press

Red Sage Publishing

Saverie Books

Smashwords

Susan Abel Sullivan

Tealy Books

Uncanny Fiction Factory

Union City Publishing

World Weaver Press

Zebra Books

LIST OF AUTHORS:

Adrea L. Peters and Teffanie T. White

Ann Aguirre (4)

Braxton A. Cosby

Cary Caffrey

D.A. Bale

Dana Marton

Daphne J. Riordan

Heather Massey

Heidi Ruby Miller

Irene L. Pynn

JC Cassells

Jacquelyn Frank

Jennifer Barnes

John Edward Lawson

Jonas Hyde

Judah Lee Davis

Lee Allen Howard

Malcolm Sexsmith

Melanie Card

Michael A. Arnzen

Patrick Stutzman

Pike Lake

Pippa Jay

Rachel Pruitt

Sally Bosco

Shawn Hopkins

Shelley Adina

Susan Abel Sullivan (2)

T.K. Toppin

T.M. Hunter

T.W. Fendley

Tamela Quijas

Wayne Basta (2)

Though I fell short of my goal, I had a good time along the way escaping reality among thousands of pages. I always consider it an honor to spend time in an author's world because there is so much work and thought and heart that goes into each book that most of us, even other writers, will never see.



Which authors shared their world with you this past year?

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Theodore A. Webb

HEIDI'S PICK SIX





Theodore A. Webb

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?

Right now Simon Laramie is my favorite. Simon’s the 15-year-old narrator of “Lifeline,” “Crucible,” “Colossus” and “Inferno,” the first four books in “The STARLING Series,” set in the year 2045. I love Simon because he often surprises himself. Simon’s my most complex and developed character to date. He’s a bullied kid, trying to survive in a dystopia in which pilotless, supercomputer-controlled drones capable of using “shock waves” on citizens rule the skies over towns and cities. Because Simon wants to express himself freely, he finds a way to circumvent the tight controls of the future SUPERNET. But Simon’s not just about tech. He also loves playing guitar, writing poetry and songs. Simon’s the youngest of the four teenagers who rebel against the system. Simon has the most to learn from his experiences at Briarwood Public High School.



2. Tell me about your travels.

I was born in South Carolina, but grew up mostly in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. In 2000, I sold most of what I owned, including my car, and took an Amtrak across the country with only a manual typewriter and a duffle bag full of clothes/poems. My typewriter and I landed in Eugene, Oregon, a town with wonderful bike paths and a connective bus system. I bicycled most of the time I lived in Eugene. Shortly after 9-11, I joined the Army. The Army took me to Oklahoma, Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina. I was deployed twice, the first time in Iraq in the central area south of Baghdad. Second time I deployed to Kuwait. I’ve also been to Canada, England, Scotland and France. I’d love to visit Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece and Egypt and also see Australia and South America. My friend and fellow writer Stephen Earley Jordan II keeps trying to talk me into visiting him in Puerto Rico.



3. Coffee, tea, or milk?

I drink coffee with “Paul Revere” every day. “Mr. Revere” is the copper-clad stainless steel 1930s-style stovetop percolator with a cool art deco glass top. I caught up with “Mr. Revere” scouring the vintage scene over the course of the summer. The brand stamped on the bottom of the coffee pot says, “Revere Ware,” and there’s actually a picture of Revere’s likeness. So that’s why I call my coffeepot by his rightful name. (Whispering: Don’t tell anybody this. But “Mr. Revere” actually does talk to me when he percolates. Sometimes his words are inspirational, even insightful. But most of the time he just says “Drink more coffee.”)



4. What else can you do besides write?

5. Who are you reading right now?

6. Pop culture or academia?

7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?



8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?

I’ve always been inspired by other writers, artists and musicians, along with all the mysteries in Nature. Regularly attending writing groups is a huge motivator. These include Morgantown Writers Group (MWG) coordinated by authors George Lies and Patricia Patteson and the groups which meet at Monongalia Arts Center (MAC): Morgantown Poets hosted by author Scott Emerson and the playwrights’ group organized by playwright Donald Fidler, whose work has been performed via M.T. Pockets Theatre Company, among others. Writers across the region such as the members of West Virginia Writers, Inc. have also been incredibly supportive (particularly I’d like to mention Eric Fritzius, Cat Pleska and T.W. McNemar). I also savor the energy of poets I know such as Neil Donnell Ray of North Carolina and Joe Limer, currently living in California. Enjoying community is important fuel for the writing process.



9. Food you could eat everyday.



10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?

I try to walk/bicycle regularly for commuting/exercise. For example, I often walk about a mile one way to the downtown library in Morgantown. I strive for the recommended 30-minutes a day of exercise—although I often get caught up reading or writing and don’t always reach this goal. Generally I try to walk or bicycle as much as possible to get exercise, save money and to reduce my burning of fossil fuels. My poem, “STAR BUS,” which was featured in the Morgantown/Monongalia County bus system’s “Poetry on the Move” program, talks about my love of bicycling and walking.



11. What kind of music speaks to you?

My sister and I grew up in the 1980s with records handed down to us by our parents, mostly 1960s-70s rock such as The Beatles, The Who, Pink Floyd, Neil Young and others. We had stacks of 45s and a beat up “vintage” record player. We’d play the 45s all day (flipping them over frequently) jumping around to the music of each song, having fun. My mom also played piano in rural churches, so I grew up listening to gospel too. Songs like “I’ll Fly Away” still speak to me. When I was in middle school, my grandfather gave me his eight-track player and his tapes, so I started listening to bluegrass and country. I listen to everything from Kris Kristofferson to Moby, from Billie “Lady Day” Holiday to Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” I’ve recently been listening to Patty Griffin and continue to be inspired by Garth Brooks’ song, “We Shall Be Free.” I’ve also heard a number of local musicians during my travels (Mike Morningstar of central West Virginia is one of my favorites—particularly love his song, “Buffalo Creek”). I’m inspired by live, local music most of all. Like other area writers and artists, I support the local music scene as much as possible.



12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?

13. Celebrity crush.

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

15. Do you still watch cartoons?



Theodore A. Webb is the author of Lifeline, Crucible, Colossus and Inferno, which comprise “The STARLING Connection,” the first four books in The STARLING Series, available for Kindle on Amazon.com. Webb posts daily updates to his blog, http://www.theodorewebb.com , which frequently features authors and other artists, events, writing tips, news, ideas and thoughts about the arts and other subjects. Journalists, book reviewers, teachers, publishers, etc. may contact Webb directly at twebb4502@gmail.com. Other ways to connect are Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theodorewebbauthor and Twitter: Theodore Webb @STARLINGCONNECT.



Buy The STARLING Series:



Lifeline: Book 1: The STARLING Connection: The STARLING Series

Does true friendship exist in the year 2045? Fifteen year old "hacker" Simon Laramie is trying to survive high school and a world where supercomputer-controlled Drones patrol the skies, where massive Reconditioning Centers rule the land, and PATRIOT SECURITY constantly watches everyone. As one of the “invisible kids” left out of everything at Briarwood Public High School, Simon faces life-threatening bullying. At a critical moment in his life that seems without hope, Simon crosses paths with Jaya Ceyes (“Keys”), a rebellious, hard-charging senior with a mysterious burn scar on her face. Despite the deeper scars crossing her spirit, Jaya has survived determined to place her life on the line for what she believes in.

http://www.amazon.com/The-STARLING-Connection-Lifeline-ebook/dp/B009I4RYTE



Crucible: Book 2: The STARLING Connection: The STARLING Series

Teenage "hackers" Jaya Ceyes, Simon Laramie, Flower Wildwind and Peter Arnold dig in deeper in the fight for their rights at Briarwood Public High School, giving STARLING its wings. Their special code launches STARLING front and center into the tightly-controlled SUPERNET, for all the world to see. See what Pete does when the maiden flight of STARLING doesn’t go as expected.

http://www.amazon.com/The-STARLING-Connection-Crucible-ebook/dp/B009LS44C2



Colossus: Book 3: The STARLING Connection: The STARLING Series

Teenage hackers Jaya Ceyes, Simon Laramie and Flower Wildwind journey deep into the colossus that is TEMPLE to confront their friend, Peter Arnold. The teens are targeted by TEMPLE's chief executive and high priest the Rev. John Falcon. Hear Falcon's boiling sermon about STARLING’S migration and Falcon's utopian plans for the future of “humankind.”

http://www.amazon.com/The-STARLING-Connection-Colossus-ebook/dp/B009NXPYVK



Inferno: Book 4: The STARLING Connection: The STARLING Series

Jaya Ceyes and Simon Laramie journey into an epic struggle to take Prom for the People from dream to reality. The big shots in the Briarwood School Committee finally decide what to do with the "problem" of Jaya. Unexpected results lead to a surprise ending after the Briarwood High seniors graduate and Simon meets a mysterious stranger in a giant ULTRA SUV limousine.

http://www.amazon.com/The-STARLING-Connection-Inferno-ebook/dp/B009OMK5LE

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Scott Thomas

HEIDI'S PICK SIX







Scott Thomas

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?



2. Tell me about your travels.

I’m not much of a world traveler, I’m afraid. Not yet anyway. I’ve only been to the six New England states and Campobello Island, which is part of Canada. It’s not my passion for New England that’s kept me from journeying to other parts of America or places beyond. Circumstances have just never taken me very far. I’d love to visit Britain!



3. Coffee, tea, or milk?

There is hardly a waking moment that I don’t have a cup of coffee at the ready, though I don’t actually consume large amounts of the stuff. I take small sips, so one cup lasts a long time. I have been known to drink tea now and again, and I’m a fan of Chai. I once made my own ginger tea. I like various holiday herbal teas and have enjoyed peppermint and licorice tea. I very much like Earl Grey!



4. What else can you do besides write?

I’m an artist. It’s in the blood. I’ve also worked with clay. When in our 20s my brother Jeffrey and I made our own video movies, so I have experience acting, directing, making sets and props, creating horror makeup and gore effects, making miniatures, etc. I’m also a fairly good cook.



5. Who are you reading right now?



6. Pop culture or academia?

I have great disdain for the pop culture and its dreadful music, fashions, and television programming. And much of its mentality. I don’t know that you could really call me an academic, because I have no college history to boast of, though I have studied things on my own, subjects that include British prehistory and aspects of American history, herbs, neo-paganism, Colonial architecture, ships and battles of the Age of Sail, the development of cultures and other things.



7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?

8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?



9. Food you could eat everyday.

The cuisine of India!



10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?



11. What kind of music speaks to you?

I have very eclectic tastes. My top favorite musical folks would be the composer/violinist Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713), Robin Williamson, and Elvis Costello. Others I am very fond of include the late Bill Morrissey, the late Stan Rogers, Sylvius Leopold Weiss (18th Century lutenist), REM, Steeleye Span, John Dowland, French film composer Phillipe Sarde (Ghost Story, Fort Saganne, etc), Enya, and Turlough O'Carolan a blind harper/composer of the 18th Century. One of my favorite musical recordings is an album called WAR, WAR, WAR by Country Joe McDonald setting the WWI poems of Robert Service to music.



12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?

13. Celebrity crush.

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

15. Do you still watch cartoons?



Scott Thomas is the author of 8 short story collections, which include URN AND WILLOW, QUILL AND CANDLE, MIDNIGHT IN NEW ENGLAND, WESTERMEAD, THE GARDEN OF GHOSTS, and OVER THE DARKENING FIELDS. He is also the author of the fantasy novel FELLENGREY.



He has seen print in numerous anthologies, such as THE YEAR’S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR #15, THE YEAR’S BEST HORROR #22, THE GHOST IN THE GAZEBO, LEVIATHAN #3, OTHERWORLDLY MAINE, and THE SOLARIS BOOK OF NEW FANTASY. His work appears with that of his brother Jeffrey Thomas in PUNKTOWN: SHADES OF GREY and THE SEA OF FLESH AND ASH.



Scott and his girlfriend Peggy live in coastal Maine.



DESCRIPTION for Fellengrey: As a boy, Hale Privet dreamed of sailing the grey waters of the northern Gantic Ocean aboard a mighty ship of war. But when farm life kept him from the sea, the sea came to him – in the form of Rye Blackbird, the infamous mutineer whose wondrous tales help set Hale on his own path to adventure. And such adventures they are! Villains, mysteries, sea battles and even a cursed island await.



Privet's story is part folklore and part fantasy, set in a long-ago time where you might just as easily witness something mystical, as feel the salty spray of the sea on your face. FELLENGREY is a bedtime story for grown-ups, complete with pirates, ghosts, magic spells and, of course, a beautiful maiden to capture the dashing hero's heart. Author Scott Thomas lyrically creates a world that is visceral and treacherous, but also lovely and familiar.



Buy FELLENGREY at Raw Dog Screaming Press - http://www.rawdogscreaming.com/fellengrey.html

SFFS: Snippet #4 from Atomic Zion

Atomic Zion



DESCRIPTION:

I've skipped ahead for the last snippet from the first chapter of my SF Thriller, Atomic Zion, which is in its final revisions. The book was influenced by my time as the Educational Marketing Director at Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob and by reading stories from Michael Crichton, Robert Ludlum, James Rollins, and Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.



Back Cover Blurb...



On the night of his 90th birthday, a former Wright Apprentice is thrown from the fifth floor of the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The only clue to clear his grandson of the murder is a note written in Navajo code which warns "The Bear has awakened."



These four words throw Nick Vanko into the middle of a decades old international cover-up where Wright Apprentices encoded WWII-era secrets about genetic experimentation into their blueprints. In order to stop a being who isn't quite human from unleashing a biological weapon upon the U.S., Nick must find Broadacre City, the fabled utopia designed by Wright, but supposedly never built. Searching by his side are an old Navajo CodeTalker, a woman who sees emotions as colors, and a Mossad agent who is really working for the Russian mafia. But can Vanko trust any of them?

--

SNIPPET #1

SNIPPET #2

SNIPPET #3

--

SNIPPET #4:

Three men crawled on their knees down the rocky maw in front of Skovajsa. Even without their shed packs, the meter and a half square tunnel squeezed the men.



Skovajsa watched the legs and boots of the man in front of him angle down and out of sight into darkness. The line stopped.



At that moment, it was good to be small. Rock pressed around him and above him. He pulled deeper breaths, his mind telling him the air was thinning. He wanted to scream, "Move!" Or "Back up! Get me out of here!" Instead, he closed his eyes and said a silent Hail Mary, working the M35 strap as a rosary.

--

Find other wonderful snippets at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday !

PATHS TO PUBLICATION: Paul R. Hewlett

PATHS TO PUBLICATION



My name is Paul R. Hewlett and I am a self-published author. There, I said it. I used to feel like I was in a support group when I said that, but now I feel good about it. I piled up countless rejection letters on my path to publication, that much is true. In many cases they were warranted.



At some point after I tripped over a misplaced pile of rejection and query letters, I decided to investigate self-publishing. After countless hours of research, I determined it to be a viable option. There was so much to learn, where should I start? Thankfully, I stumbled upon Melissa Foster's WLC web site. Melissa is very successful author that is well known for her kindness and giving back. It was there that I found a template of how to begin.



From there I set out to learn how to build my brand, create a social media presence, and connect with my target audience. It has been a non-stop roller coaster of trial and error, start and stop, you name it ever since. The interesting thing is as I have gotten to know more and more authors, some self-published, some traditionally published, I have learned one thing for sure. Unless you are a top seller, you're responsible for most of the marketing and promotion on your own.



The whole time I have worked hard to continue to improve my craft and improve as a writer. I am a children's book author and Lionel's Christmas Adventure: Lionel Learns the True Meaning of Christmas is my third book. I have talked to many authors that have left  traditional publishing houses to go the self-publishing route. I, for one, cannot say if I would do that since I have never been traditionally published. I would like to have the opportunity to decide someday, so I keep moving forward because I love to write.



My path to publication has been very trying, enjoyable, and rewarding. It has also taught me three undeniable truths that apply to everyone, particularly self-published authors. First, have a great story. Second, make sure you have a professional cover. Last, but not least, have your book professionally edited. These are things that traditionally published authors have or they wouldn't be published. As a self-published author, it is up to you to make sure you do too.



Paul R. Hewlett

November 2012



DESCRIPTION FOR Lionel's Christmas Adventure :

Have you ever wanted something you couldn’t have? Lionel desperately wants a new sled and he will do almost anything to get it. This fun Christmas story follows Lionel from Larrystown to the North Pole. Filled with great Christmas imagery, this book is perfect for young readers and school or family story time. This holiday season, be careful what you wish for, you never know what might happen!



To promote Lionel's Christmas Adventure Paul will be on a blog tour beginning 13 November- 10 December. For a full list of dates click here.



And buy it:





- http://astore.amazon.com/shaha-20/detail/B00A5SX0IQ

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Tim Miller

HEIDI'S PICK SIX





Tim online at these links:

WEBSITE - fat2fighter.com







DESCRIPTION FOR The Hand of God :

Charlie Sims is not your typical preacher. God has called him to rid the world of sinners. One corpse at a time, he carries out his brutally selfless work until a more powerful preacher appears who will change his life forever. A battle ensues for the fate of mankind.



Charlie's devout beliefs are shaken as he finds himself hurtled into a battle for the end of the world where nothing is what it seems. A violent tale filled with death and chaos, the lines between good and evil are blurred and eventually demolished.











Buy The Hand of God :





- http://www.amazon.com/The-Hand-of-God-ebook/dp/B008CS5CSM

HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Anna Zabo

HEIDI'S PICK SIX





Anna Zabo

Photo by Harmony.

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?

For this novel? Gosh, that's hard. I love them all. But I'd probably pick Rhys. He's young and initially unsure of himself, but when faced with very weird and very deadly happenings, he finds a reserve of strength and wisdom he didn't know he had. He's also a smartass. I love smartasses.



2. Tell me about your travels.



3. Coffee, tea, or milk?

All three! I usually have coffee in the morning--something strong but not bitter with a bit of cream, followed by tea in the afternoon and evening--I really like the fancy loose teas from Teavana. And even though milk doesn't love me so much any more, I'll still have a nice big glass from time to time. I just make sure it's lactose free now.



4. What else can you do besides write?



5. Who are you reading right now?

I'm reading Sheryl Nantus's Blaze of Glory--a superhero novel, and Thieftaker by D. B. Jackson, a historical fantasy set in Pre-revolutionary colonial America. I'm also perennially reading Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle that Made England by Juliet Barker.



6. Pop culture or academia?

Yes. :) If I ever have the time and money, I would love to go back to school and get a PhD in Literary and Cultural Studies, preferably on a topic dealing with the need for the fantastic in the post-modern, technical world. We've got near instant communication and powerful cell phones in our pockets, and yet the more we advance, there's this yearning for the unknown and unknowable, for magic and mystery. And need for the human spirit to tread the paths of our ancestors to find a place in the world. Except many of us don't have those paths. Fantasy provides an outlet and a place to explore in a world that seems all discovered out.



7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?



8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?

Everywhere. Watching personality classes at work. Driving over the Allegheny in the fog. Watching trains. Sitting and listening the the rustle of leaves. Seeing a beautiful sunset. The smell of the air by the ocean. Walking through ancient ruins in Turkey. Being afraid. Falling in love. Everything is an inspiration. It all churns around inside, then pops out my fingertips.



9. Food you could eat everyday.

10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?

11. What kind of music speaks to you?



12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?

I usually have some sort of vague outline, or limiting factor. For Close Quarter, since I knew the events would take place on a trans-Atlantic crossing, I had six days to work with. I knew the major issue and I knew how the novel had to end. But I didn't know what all would happen, how exactly the problem would be overcome, or even the roles some of the characters took... and that's when the story takes me for a ride. That's the part I like, the discovery of the story.



13. Celebrity crush.

14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

15. Do you still watch cartoons?



Anna Zabo writes erotic paranormal romance and fantasy. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think. A lover of all things fae, she finds the wonderful and the magical amid the steel and iron of her city.



She has a MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.



You can find Anna online at these links:

WEBSITE - http://www.annazabo.com





- http://www.facebook.com/AnnaZabo





- @amergina - http://www.twitter.com/amergina

(where you will also find her other not-so-secret identity)



[Book cover by April Martinez.]

DESCRIPTION FOR Close Quarter :

On a transatlantic cruise to New York, sculptor Rhys Matherton struggles to piece his life back together after losing his mother, inheriting a fortune, and finding out his father isn't his father after all. He spills a tray of drinks on a handsome stranger, then he finds himself up against a wall getting the best hand-job he’s ever had. And for the first time in his life, he feels whole.



Rhys enjoys the company of Silas Quint, but for the eerie way no one pays attention to them even while they kiss in a crowded bar. Silas explains he's a forest fae able to glamor the room around them--and more importantly, that he's on the cruise to hunt vampires. Rhys thinks Silas is full of it, until he discovers vampires are real, and he’s part of their main course.



Silas Quint can’t be distracted by a human lover, even one as lovely as Rhys. Stuck in the middle of the ocean, he has barely enough of energy to hunt the vampires he’s been sent to destroy. Rhys is full of the one thing Silas needs needs most--the element of living plants. Only sucking energy from Rhys would make Silas as soulless as the creatures he hunts. How can he keep Rhys safe, without becoming like the very monsters he hunts?



Buy Close Quarter at these links:

Loose Id - http://www.loose-id.com/authors/a-f/anna-zabo/close-quarter.html



All Romance Ebooks - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-closequarter-997909-139.html





- http://www.amazon.com/Close-Quarter-ebook/dp/B00A70QRFU

SFFS: Snippet #3 from Atomic Zion

Atomic Zion



DESCRIPTION:

I've skipped ahead a couple of pages in the first chapter for this snippet from my SF Thriller, Atomic Zion, which is in its final revisions. The book was influenced by my time as the Educational Marketing Director at Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob and by reading stories from Michael Crichton, Robert Ludlum, James Rollins, and Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.



Back Cover Blurb...



On the night of his 90th birthday, a former Wright Apprentice is thrown from the fifth floor of the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The only clue to clear his grandson of the murder is a note written in Navajo code which warns "The Bear has awakened."



These four words throw Nick Vanko into the middle of a decades old international cover-up where Wright Apprentices encoded WWII-era secrets about genetic experimentation into their blueprints. In order to stop a being who isn't quite human from unleashing a biological weapon upon the U.S., Nick must find Broadacre City, the fabled utopia designed by Wright, but supposedly never built. Searching by his side are an old Navajo CodeTalker, a woman who sees emotions as colors, and a Mossad agent who is really working for the Russian mafia. But can Vanko trust any of them?

--

SNIPPET #1

SNIPPET #2

--

SNIPPET #3:



Skovajsa believed he could be like the lieutenant...one day. But today he remained frightened Jakub, his mind betraying him with its paranoia.



Was someone waiting for them? Their approach had been camouflaged by pine forests for the past two kilometers, and the landscape was such that they could see out of the forest to the rocky outcrop without being noticed in the trees' shadows. They would be most exposed for the hundred meters between the forest's edge and the cave entrance.



The lieutenant put up a hand to halt the group before the sun's rays could fall upon them. Out came the binoculars.



Minutes passed.



He gave hand signals telling Skovajsa's line to get low and move forward. The rest would cover them from the trees.

--

Find other wonderful snippets at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday !

CAST YOUR CHARACTERS: Fellengrey by Scott Thomas

CAST YOUR CHARACTERS





FELLENGREY



AUTHOR: SCOTT THOMAS



PUBLISHER: RAW DOG SCREAMING PRESS 2012



DESCRIPTION: As a boy, Hale Privet dreamed of sailing the grey waters of the northern Gantic Ocean aboard a mighty ship of war. But when farm life kept him from the sea, the sea came to him – in the form of Rye Blackbird, the infamous mutineer whose wondrous tales help set Hale on his own path to adventure. And such adventures they are! Villains, mysteries, sea battles and even a cursed island await.



Privet's story is part folklore and part fantasy, set in a long-ago time where you might just as easily witness something mystical, as feel the salty spray of the sea on your face. FELLENGREY is a bedtime story for grown-ups, complete with pirates, ghosts, magic spells and, of course, a beautiful maiden to capture the dashing hero's heart. Author Scott Thomas lyrically creates a world that is visceral and treacherous, but also lovely and familiar.



CHARACTERS:







Daniel Radcliffe as HALE PRIVET



A good-hearted fellow with something of a bad temper, Hale Privet sets out to pursue his childhood dream, a life of adventure at sea aboard royal naval ships.



















Daniel Day Lewis as RYE BLACKBIRD



A notorious master swordsman, who like Hale is bound to the sea, Blackbird wages a war against pirates over a matter of the heart.

























Katie McGrath as HAZEL



Hazel is the lovely daughter of a tavern keeper in the village of New Crown. Her charms catch the eye of young Lt. Hale Privet and unwittingly instigate a life and death conflict between him and a superior officer.















Adrien Brody as MILL BURNSHIRE



A master coxswain in the king’s navy, Burnshire first finds himself shrunken to the size of a child and stranded on magical Small Island before later appearing as a friend in Lt. Privet’s tale.

















Emile Hirsch as CAPT. LITCH



Litch is a ruthless villain who brings trouble to Hale Privet’s childhood and again when Privet is an officer at sea.

















Helen Mirren as LADY SWELLBROOK



Seen as a scandalous figure at the naval fort where she has been sentenced to spend her days, Lady Swellbrook incites Privet’s protectiveness toward those who suffer injustices. He is drawn in by the story of her past and plays witness to a love that weathers both time and adversity.









Philip Seymour Hoffman as NEELAM HENTWIDGE



A meticulous fellow with a keen mind and a sword cane, Hentwidge is the kingdom’s trusted documentarian. He accompanies Lt. Privet on a mission to save the life of Fellengrey’s beloved ruler.















Geoffrey Rush as CAPT. SPURRY



A pleasantly eccentric man of the sea, Capt. Spurry takes the helm of a murder investigation and finds his ship in great danger as his very sanity is challenged.

























Julianne Moore as HOLLY



As a woman of the land, Holly proves a contrasting figure to the roving Rye Blackbird, but is her love enough to keep him from riding the waves? Or will she compel him to travel the ocean again?







Scott Thomas is the author of Cobwebs and Whispers and Shadows of Flesh, both from Delirium books. His fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies which include: The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror #15, The Year’s Best Horror #22, Sick: An Anthology of Illness, Leviathan 3, Of Flesh and Hunger, Deathrealms and The Ghost in the Gazebo.



Thomas is fond of old houses, cats and the music of Corelli. He lives in Maine.





Find Raw Dog Screaming Press online at these links:



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WEBSITE - http://www.rawdogscreaming.com





- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raw-Dog-Screaming-Press/141926985837593





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HEIDI'S PICK SIX: Jenna Bennett

HEIDI'S PICK SIX





Jenna Bennett

1. Which of your characters is your favorite?

In Fortune's Hero, definitely Quinn. Quinn's awesome. Overall... that might be Quinn too. He's really pretty cool.



2. Tell me about your travels.

3. Coffee, tea, or milk?



4. What else can you do besides write?

You're gonna be sorry you asked... I've been an actress, a waitress, a restaurant hostess, a receptionist, a bank teller, a travel agent, an airline employee, a bed and breakfast reservationist, a tour guide, a store clerk, a real estate agent, a home renovator... some of them a couple times each. I have a tour management degree I've never used, too. There's honestly very little I haven't tried to become at one time or another.



5. Who are you reading right now?

Lois McMaster Bujold. Her latest Vorkosigan book was released in November - Ivan's story, Lord Vorpatril's Alliance - and I've been gobbling it up. She's one of my auto-buys: I buy - and read - her books the instant they're available. And I've been waiting a long time to see who Ivan ended up with!



6. Pop culture or academia?



7. What is the toughest scene you ever wrote?

In Fortune's Hero, it's the scene where Elsa - the heroine - has to kill Quinn, the hero. It's only a few pages long, but it's ugly, and while I was writing it, it felt like it would never end. On a larger scale, I wrote a book once called Close to Home, the 4th book in the Cutthroat Business mystery series, and I had set up that whole five-book series, or story arc, as one long book, with three acts, a dark moment, and a climax and resolution. Book 4 is the dark moment, the whole damn thing, and it's the fastest book I've ever written. I cranked those 90,000 words out in a month and a half, because I couldn't stand being in the character's head any longer.



8. Where do you find your inspirations to write?

9. Food you could eat everyday.

10. Are you into sports or other physical activities?

11. What kind of music speaks to you?



12. Do you outline your stories or do they just take you along for the ride?

I'm a pretty dedicated pantser. However, lately, I've tried to work with some very basic outlines - just the three high points, say; two pages at the most - and for the shorter books I've written lately - 50,000-60,000 words vs. my usual 85,000-95,000 - it seems to help me keep on track and wander less. I can't outline in too much detail, though, because it takes away any desire to actually write the book. I like to discover as much as I can of the story as possible as I write it. And even with the super-short outlines, I find that a lot of the details change as I go along.



13. Celebrity crush.



14. Who are the biggest influences on your work?

Very big and difficult question, because I read everything, and write almost everything too. Elizabeth Peters is one of the bigger influences on the mysteries. Jennifer Crusie for the romances, I think. Lois McMaster Bujold is definitely the biggest influence for the science fiction. If you go back far enough in time, you get to people like Enid Blyton and the many Carolyn Keanes, not to mention a Norwegian children's author named Berit Brænne, who wrote a book series about a little Norwegian girl named Trine who picked up siblings all over the world, traveling with her sea captain father. Ever since then, I've been interested in stories about people developing relationships across cultures and borders and differences. Which is one of the themes of Fortune's Hero, incidentally.



15. Do you still watch cartoons?



New York Times bestselling author Jennie Bentley/Jenna Bennett writes the Do It Yourself home renovation mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime and the Cutthroat Business mysteries for her own gratification. She also writes a variety of romance, from contemporary to futuristic and from paranormal to romantic suspense. Her latest release is Fortune's Hero, first in the Soldiers of Fortune science fiction romance series from Entangled Publishing. For more information, please visit her website, www.jennabennett.com .



DESCRIPTION FOR Fortune's Hero :

Last year, space smuggler Quinn Conlan was on top of the world. He had everything a man could want: a fast ship, a great crew, a gorgeous girlfriend, lots of money, and adventure and excitement around every corner.



That all changed when he agreed to ferry a shipload of weapons to the beleaguered planet Marica, currently under siege by Rhenian forces. Now he’s stuck in a prison camp on the moon Marica-3, subjected to weekly sessions with the camp’s “medical team,” and praying for a quick death before he breaks under the torture and spills everything he knows about the Marican resistance.



When the opportunity presents itself, Quinn takes a Rhenian med tech hostage and heads into the inhospitable interior of the small moon. There, he has to keep himself and Doctor Elsa Brandeis safe from the deadly flora and fauna, as well as hidden from the prison guards searching for them, all while formulating a plan for getting his crew out of prison, his ship out of impound, and everyone out of orbit.



But when Elsa professes her love, can Quinn take the beautiful doctor at her word, or will trusting her—and his heart—condemn him and his crew to an eternity on Marica-3?



Purchase information at Entangled Publishing .