THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archives - Book Discussions
>
BOOKS AND WRITINGS BY MEMBERS
WORLD ODYSSEY new book launchAs the authors of the historical adventure ‘Fiji: A Novel’ it’s our pleasure to announce this week’s release of World Odyssey (The World Duology, #1).
This 19th Century tale follows the fortunes of three young travelers as each embarks on an epic journey. Their dramatic adventures span sixteen years and see them engage with American Indians, Barbary Coast pirates, Aborigines, Maoris and Pacific Islanders as they travel around the world - from America to Africa, from England to the Canary Islands, to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa.
After traveling thousands of miles and experiencing the best and worst that life can offer, these three disparate individuals eventually end up in the remote archipelago of Fiji, in the South Pacific, where their lives intersect.
Lance & James
Season Of The Stranger: Sneak Peek Chapter From My Novel.
Here's A Riddle For You
May 1994
Robert James Etchinson scaled the long, narrow staircase leading to the third floor living quarters of the cemetery gatehouse. In his left hand he clutched an ancient book of poems, 'Maurine' by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, it's gilt-edged pages yellow and decaying after years of exposure to the bleak sadness of his mother's bedside. She has presented the rare volume to Robert on the eve of her death, which had come quietly in the middle of a chill autumn night as the claws of a hopeless cancer finally overcame her staunch resistance.
Now, a year after her death, Robert had come to appreciate the book of poems, the flawless rhyme and meter of a bygone era that lulled and consoled him with the gentle reassurance of a mother's caress. Poetry offered the seventeen year old peace...and diversion from the morbidity and frustration that were necessary evils of his thankless role as the dutiful son of a crippled cemetery caretaker.
Robert had risen with the dawn on this ordinary day, his eyes clouded and burning from lack of sleep after completing Homer's Iliad for his English class, and had marched as if to a solemn dirge down the gatehouse steps to the basement crematorium, where he had patiently read 'Maurine' as the white hot fires of the industrial oven reduced another corpse to a mound of chalk and bone.
When he reached the third floor landing, he placed the book on the oak parson's table beneath his mother's portrait and ushered himself through the musty Victorian dining room to the kitchen, where he hastily began preparing his father's breakfast.
Cracking two eggs in the skillet, which his father preferred 'over easy' with a dash of salt and no pepper, Robert winced when he heard the familiar sound of his father's wheelchair, creaking from the adjoining bedroom to the head of the table.
Daniel Etchinson was a stickler for punctuality, and on those rare occasions when Robert had failed to meet the unwavering exactitude of his father's schedule-one that revolved around mundane chores and regular meals-the day had invariably begun on a harsh note.
Why can't he understand I just want to lead a normal life? What's wrong with that? I've got to have a life of my own. I've got to get out of here. Just because he's stuck in a wheelchair doesn't mean I should have to vegetate along with him, Robert mused to himself as he started up the coffee.
"Riley didn't show up this morning," Robert announced matter of factly as he slid the plate and the clinking cup and saucer into position in front of his father. "I had to put the Ferguson woman in myself. God, I hope he's here in time to pack the urn. The service is at ten thirty."
"He'll be here," the old man croaked through thin colorless lips that were drawn in a perpetual frown across his weathered face.
Robert lowered himself into the high backed chair to the left of his father and snatched an orange from the bowl of fruit in the center of the table. Father and son were a study in contrast. The vibrant teal blue of Robert's eyes had, in his father, faded to a lifeless gray, and the square jaw that was once a hallmark of the Etchinson clan had eroded into bags of sagging flesh around the old man's throat.
Robert clearly favored his mother, whose attractive features had endured until virtually the eve of her death. His blue-black hair was thick and lustrous, combed back from his high forehead in soft waves. But it was the awkwardness of Robert's six foot two inch frame that prevented him from being considered a handsome man.
Robert stood a head over his father, whose spinal column had withered four inches after the crippling accident that had relegated him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The accident happened two years ago while Daniel Etchinson was rearranging the artificial grass mats that one of the workmen had carelessly placed over the fresh mound of soil beside an open grave. Cursing under his breath, he stooped down and grabbed the offending mat with both hands. But as he braced his feet on the ground and tugged, the edge of the grave gave way and he found himself catapulting backward into the open hole...where Riley had discovered him, his arms and legs twisted beneath him like a crumpled marionette, only moments before the mourners arrived.
Robert gathered the orange peelings into a small, neat mound on the table in front of him, broke off a wedge, and popped it into his mouth.
"You eat like a damned pig, " his father declared.
Robert winced. "Dad...I've been wondering. What would you think if I got a summer job in town?" Shifting in his seat, he tried to assume a casual expression. "Just waiting tables or something." He shrugged sheepishly.
His father continued chewing, then replied. "There's plenty of work to do around here."
Robert set the orange down on the table and folded his hands in front of it. "But Dad...I want to..."
"What you want to do," his father said with his mouth full, "and what you're going to do are two different things." He lifted the coffee cup to his lips with a trembling hand.
"But I'd be home every night," Robert insisted, a hint of exasperation creeping into his voice. "Nothing's gonna change. I'd still be here to take care of you. You know I'd never-"
"No!" his father snapped. "I need you here."
"Dad," Robert protested incredulously. "I'm only talking about a few days a week over in Daly City. You know I won't leave you alone."
"No need to go way the hell over to Daly City. Your place his here-with me"
Robert squirmed and looked at his father defiantly. "I'm getting a job, Dad. As soon as school's out."
Looking directly into Robert's eye for the first time this morning, Daniel Etchinson croaked. "You never done a day's work in your life and now you're telling me you want to get a job?"
"Dad," he said hesitantly, "please listen to me...I'm your son. I love you. I just want a chance to...strike out on my own a little bit...to be like the other kids." He sighed deeply, reached across the table and wrapped his fingers around the back of his father's hand. "Please try to understand me. I've been a prisoner of All Saint Hill for seventeen years. It's like..." His voice cracked. "It's like being dead."
Daniel Etchinson snatched his hand out from under Robert's, curled his bony finger around the edge of the table, and pushed the wheelchair away with a fierce scowl.
"You know what they call me in school Dad? Coma Man. They call me Coma Man! Pretty funny, huh? Well, I am in a coma...I feel like I'm dying." As his father spun around in the wheelchair, turning his back on him, Robert experienced a surge of pity for the man so bitterly trapped in a gleaming mesh of stainless steel and spoked wheels.
Robert placed a hand on his father's shoulder. "Your father worked here...." The words seemed to stick in his throat. He swallowed. "And you worked here...." He curled his fingertips into the soft flesh of his father's spindley shoulder. "But I can't. Don't you understand I get sick every time I see a line of black cars rolling through those gates. I want--"
"YOU WANT!," The old man spun around, his gray eyes flashing. "You want? You want what, you ungrateful little bastard? You're just like your mother. No loyalty! She couldn't wait to leave me."
Robert could no longer hold back the flood of tears. "Mother didn't leave you. She loved you...she gave you everything she had. This place killed her...just like you're killing me!"
Here's A Riddle For You
May 1994
Robert James Etchinson scaled the long, narrow staircase leading to the third floor living quarters of the cemetery gatehouse. In his left hand he clutched an ancient book of poems, 'Maurine' by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, it's gilt-edged pages yellow and decaying after years of exposure to the bleak sadness of his mother's bedside. She has presented the rare volume to Robert on the eve of her death, which had come quietly in the middle of a chill autumn night as the claws of a hopeless cancer finally overcame her staunch resistance.
Now, a year after her death, Robert had come to appreciate the book of poems, the flawless rhyme and meter of a bygone era that lulled and consoled him with the gentle reassurance of a mother's caress. Poetry offered the seventeen year old peace...and diversion from the morbidity and frustration that were necessary evils of his thankless role as the dutiful son of a crippled cemetery caretaker.
Robert had risen with the dawn on this ordinary day, his eyes clouded and burning from lack of sleep after completing Homer's Iliad for his English class, and had marched as if to a solemn dirge down the gatehouse steps to the basement crematorium, where he had patiently read 'Maurine' as the white hot fires of the industrial oven reduced another corpse to a mound of chalk and bone.
When he reached the third floor landing, he placed the book on the oak parson's table beneath his mother's portrait and ushered himself through the musty Victorian dining room to the kitchen, where he hastily began preparing his father's breakfast.
Cracking two eggs in the skillet, which his father preferred 'over easy' with a dash of salt and no pepper, Robert winced when he heard the familiar sound of his father's wheelchair, creaking from the adjoining bedroom to the head of the table.
Daniel Etchinson was a stickler for punctuality, and on those rare occasions when Robert had failed to meet the unwavering exactitude of his father's schedule-one that revolved around mundane chores and regular meals-the day had invariably begun on a harsh note.
Why can't he understand I just want to lead a normal life? What's wrong with that? I've got to have a life of my own. I've got to get out of here. Just because he's stuck in a wheelchair doesn't mean I should have to vegetate along with him, Robert mused to himself as he started up the coffee.
"Riley didn't show up this morning," Robert announced matter of factly as he slid the plate and the clinking cup and saucer into position in front of his father. "I had to put the Ferguson woman in myself. God, I hope he's here in time to pack the urn. The service is at ten thirty."
"He'll be here," the old man croaked through thin colorless lips that were drawn in a perpetual frown across his weathered face.
Robert lowered himself into the high backed chair to the left of his father and snatched an orange from the bowl of fruit in the center of the table. Father and son were a study in contrast. The vibrant teal blue of Robert's eyes had, in his father, faded to a lifeless gray, and the square jaw that was once a hallmark of the Etchinson clan had eroded into bags of sagging flesh around the old man's throat.
Robert clearly favored his mother, whose attractive features had endured until virtually the eve of her death. His blue-black hair was thick and lustrous, combed back from his high forehead in soft waves. But it was the awkwardness of Robert's six foot two inch frame that prevented him from being considered a handsome man.
Robert stood a head over his father, whose spinal column had withered four inches after the crippling accident that had relegated him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The accident happened two years ago while Daniel Etchinson was rearranging the artificial grass mats that one of the workmen had carelessly placed over the fresh mound of soil beside an open grave. Cursing under his breath, he stooped down and grabbed the offending mat with both hands. But as he braced his feet on the ground and tugged, the edge of the grave gave way and he found himself catapulting backward into the open hole...where Riley had discovered him, his arms and legs twisted beneath him like a crumpled marionette, only moments before the mourners arrived.
Robert gathered the orange peelings into a small, neat mound on the table in front of him, broke off a wedge, and popped it into his mouth.
"You eat like a damned pig, " his father declared.
Robert winced. "Dad...I've been wondering. What would you think if I got a summer job in town?" Shifting in his seat, he tried to assume a casual expression. "Just waiting tables or something." He shrugged sheepishly.
His father continued chewing, then replied. "There's plenty of work to do around here."
Robert set the orange down on the table and folded his hands in front of it. "But Dad...I want to..."
"What you want to do," his father said with his mouth full, "and what you're going to do are two different things." He lifted the coffee cup to his lips with a trembling hand.
"But I'd be home every night," Robert insisted, a hint of exasperation creeping into his voice. "Nothing's gonna change. I'd still be here to take care of you. You know I'd never-"
"No!" his father snapped. "I need you here."
"Dad," Robert protested incredulously. "I'm only talking about a few days a week over in Daly City. You know I won't leave you alone."
"No need to go way the hell over to Daly City. Your place his here-with me"
Robert squirmed and looked at his father defiantly. "I'm getting a job, Dad. As soon as school's out."
Looking directly into Robert's eye for the first time this morning, Daniel Etchinson croaked. "You never done a day's work in your life and now you're telling me you want to get a job?"
"Dad," he said hesitantly, "please listen to me...I'm your son. I love you. I just want a chance to...strike out on my own a little bit...to be like the other kids." He sighed deeply, reached across the table and wrapped his fingers around the back of his father's hand. "Please try to understand me. I've been a prisoner of All Saint Hill for seventeen years. It's like..." His voice cracked. "It's like being dead."
Daniel Etchinson snatched his hand out from under Robert's, curled his bony finger around the edge of the table, and pushed the wheelchair away with a fierce scowl.
"You know what they call me in school Dad? Coma Man. They call me Coma Man! Pretty funny, huh? Well, I am in a coma...I feel like I'm dying." As his father spun around in the wheelchair, turning his back on him, Robert experienced a surge of pity for the man so bitterly trapped in a gleaming mesh of stainless steel and spoked wheels.
Robert placed a hand on his father's shoulder. "Your father worked here...." The words seemed to stick in his throat. He swallowed. "And you worked here...." He curled his fingertips into the soft flesh of his father's spindley shoulder. "But I can't. Don't you understand I get sick every time I see a line of black cars rolling through those gates. I want--"
"YOU WANT!," The old man spun around, his gray eyes flashing. "You want? You want what, you ungrateful little bastard? You're just like your mother. No loyalty! She couldn't wait to leave me."
Robert could no longer hold back the flood of tears. "Mother didn't leave you. She loved you...she gave you everything she had. This place killed her...just like you're killing me!"
All three books in my Future Imperfect trilogy are now available in both paperback and e-book!! http://www.amazon.com/Future-Imperfec...
http://www.amazon.com/Miraculous-Dece...
http://www.amazon.com/Final-Deceit-Fu...
Soliciting votes for Sooner Than Gold in the P&E poll: http://critters.org/predpoll/novelmys...Voters are eligible for prizes, including a Kindle.
My Battle of Britain novel, "Chasing the Wind," received a 5-star review by a member of the Battle of Britain Historical Society. I'm thrilled. Here's the link to the reviews: http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...(Chasing the Wind is also available in Kindle format under "Where Eagles Never Flew."
The GateKeepers Series by Shanon Grey, THE SHOPPE OF SPELLS, MEADOW'S KEEP, and PENNYROYAL CHRISTMAS are all on sale for the holidays. See Ruthorford at its finest! Magic abounds and things are never as they seem. http://amzn.to/IWhQ2c
This review I just received of THE THREE KITTIES THAT SAVED MY LIFE is one of the main reasons I wrote the book in the first place, other than being a cathartic event for me: "I was captured from the beginning with such sadness for the writers loss of his wife then stayed with him through the grief process and healing and then to happy times again. An emotional story that touched my heart and gave me hope once again. Loved it." http://smarturl.it/ThreeKitties
Wow! My THE THREE KITTIES THAT SAVED MY LIFE is a #1 best seller at Amazon, and it is still on sale for only $0.99 until midnight tonight, December 29th.http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_l...
Say good-bye to 2013 and give 2014 a great big hello at http://blog.marjamcgraw.com/ . Happy New Year!Marja
The best thing about having published Dancing in Heaven: A sister's memoir, is that people are still meeting Annie. Although the book's sells are not noteworthy, they continue to trickle in going on 5 years after we laid Annie to rest. In some ways the book has kept Annie alive. It has given her a modest legacy. I am forever grateful for that and for all the individuals who have read it. http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Heaven-...
Happy New Year to you all! I am still trying to get my head around Goodreads and all the fun I can have here, but I haven't told you about my Giveaways yet! I have several books in my profile but I am currently running giveaways on two. These are for paperback versions.If you enjoy poetry, I have my first poetry collection reprinted and now available in Kindle and book versions. These are positive poems, not dark or sad ones, I wrote them at a very difficult time of my life however. Some are more formal, others free but most are influenced by nature and an attempt to respond to the inner self (so arguably spiritual).
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
The second giveaway is for my novel, The Cougar. This is a book that defies usual classification! It has historical elements, a touch of the paranormal (shapeshifter vampires) and a bit of romance too, but romance is not the entire story and it also has a strong f/f element. I called it a "penny dreadful" on my author page, but I meant that in the kindest way. It crosses genres and romps through time! It should be a fun read, Gothic horror in the old fashioned way rather than gratuitous violence, with a touch of human passion thrown in. Well, the best thing might be to check it out yourself if you have Amazon Prime membership! Or indeed, you can enter my giveaway for one of 5 signed copies!
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
That's all she wrote. :) Hope you have a wonderful year ahead!
The Boys Scouts' motto is "be prepared." But I failed several times this year. What about you? ... http://janetsyasnitsick.wordpress.com...
This just might be the most awesome presentation of my book THE THREE KITTIES THAT SAVED MY LIFE that I have ever seen. I hope you will take the time to check out this awesome blog feature. http://blackwords-whitepages1977.blog...
HI - My book BUMPING NOSES AND CHERRY PIE is out on Amazon. It is a zany, wacky and often bawdy look at the circus, carnivals, sideshows with the usual cast of freaks, clowns and carnies in a new genre called Circuspunk. It was blurbed by Jim Rose of the Jim Rose Circus and Lalapalooza fame. I am searching for readers who will blog/review. If you do, make sure I get a copy of what you post because I am having several giveaways just for bloggers and reviewers. Let me know if I can send you a press kit. All I need is an e mail address. My second book The Squid Whores of the Fulton Fish Market just came out this weekend from a different publisher. I call that one NYzarro - a NY form of Bizarro fiction. Two books in one month is pretty overwhelming. That is not the way it was supposed to happen, but it did and I am dealing with it! I will be on Reddit Books on Monday for 12 hours from noon to midnight est doing Ask Me Anything. Drop by with questions - I would love to meet you. http://www.amazon.com/Bumping-Noses-C...
http://www.amazon.com/Squid-Whores-Fu...
Any thing you could do to help would be most appreciated.
Thank you - and have a very happy new year. Charie
If you have a moment, please stop in at Patricia Gligor's blog and read an interview of one of my characters, Sandi Webster, athttp://networkedblogs.com/SzcM8 . Fun time!
Thank you!
I love my characters. When they hurt~I hurt. When they smile~I smile. When they come into their own~I soar! Join me! http://amzn.to/IWhQ2c
Should an author walk softly and try for invisibility? Please check it out at http://blog.marjamcgraw.com/ .Thank you,
Marja
The $2.99 sale on Kindle and Nook versions of Ginger Myrick books has been extended into 2014!
But for the Grace of God now has 5 reviews on Amazon (four 5-star and one 3-star.) All of the books on sale have 4.6 average or above and are clean historical love stories written in a classic throwback style and over 300 pages.
The next book in my Tales of Chivalry series will be released later this year. I'm looking for feed-back on which of the following descriptions pique reader interest best. 1) An ex-Templar seeking salvation, a lame lady seeking revenge – and a king, who would be saint. (16 words)
2) An ex-Templar seeking salvation, a lame lady seeking revenge – and a chance encounter on a highway in the Holy Land…. (20 words)
3) His faith shattered, a young knight sets out on a quest for salvation encountering prophets, assassins and a damsel in distress – the daughter of a heretic, the sister of a murderer, and the ward of the King of France. (39 words)
4)His faith shattered, a knight intended for the Templars refuses to take his final vows. In his quest for salvation, he encounters prophets, assassins and a damsel in distress – but this “damsel” is the daughter of a heretic, the sister of a murderer, and the ward of the King of France. (51 words)
I look forward to your feed-back -- including rationale if possible! Thanks.
Helena wrote: "The next book in my Tales of Chivalry series will be released later this year. I'm looking for feed-back on which of the following descriptions pique reader interest best. 1) An ex-Templar seekin..."
I like number 3. It contains both internal and external conflict and a promise of a believable resolution. It also describes more than the protagonist.
My award winning novel, TRAPPED, A parapsychologic suspense novel with a strong romantic element. sporting over one hundred mostly 5* & 4* reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, is now available at Smashwords:http://www.smashwords.com/book/view/8319
Also, my 2nd novel, A 3rtd TIME TO DIE, a paranormal romantic suspense, centered around Past Lives and Open Jumping of horses, is also now at Smashwords. It has only 5* & 4* reviews:
http://www.smashwords.com/book/view/8...
FYI, these are NOT self-published, but rather published by small Indie publishers, and have received critical editing by professionals.
You can download 20% - 25% of the books free. Both are selling for the reduced price of $2.99. I'd love to hear comments on the covers and content, and hopefully, those who read one or both, will leave reviews at Smashwords, and/or Goodreads & Amazon.
See my web site at: http://suspenseguy.com
My second novel is out today!
A Different Alchemy is dystopian, like my first book, The Man Who Watched The World End. If you read it, I'd love to hear what you think.
You can get more information about both books at: www.watchtheworldend.com
BROKEN SIGIL - new today from me and Darkfusehttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HUD0IEI
There are houses like this all over the world. Most people only know of them from whispered stories over campfires; tall tales told to scare the unwary. But some, those who suffer…some know better. They are drawn to the places where what ails them can be eased.
If you have the will, the fortitude, you can peer into another life, where the dead are not gone, where you can see that they thrive and go on, in the dreams that stuff is made of.
Reviews
While Broken Sigil is filled with ghosts, its true power lies in how it will haunt the reader’s mind even after the last word is read. Broken Sigil is one of those rare stories that is powerful enough to make the reader think about every word and turn it into something much more meaningful than just another story. - Examiner.com
Heartbreaking, chilling and highly recommended. - Ravenous Reads
It's a highly imaginative premise and one which is delivered consumately. - Dark Musings
This storyline, which begins as a dark-around-the-edges tale, seamlessly runs to full black, and readers have a first class ticket for a rollercoaster ride in this fascinating novella. — Shannon Raab, Suspense Magazine
Historical fiction: On the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua in 1926, a stunning local woman entangles herself with two expatriate Americans; the desultory love triangle combined with an escalating civil war ends in murder. A young U.S. consular officer travels north from Bluefields to investigate.
Pearl Lagoon
Thanks!
I'm thrilled to announce the release of the first book in my humorous dog detective series, Flint and Steele Mysteries.
Back Blurb:
Flint has all the earmarks of a good detective--intelligence, curiosity, a great nose for sniffing out clues and criminals, and an intense passion for protecting the innocent. The only difference between him and Mickey Spillane is that Flint is a dog--a cute Labrador retriever with a penchant for solving crimes and mysteries. Together with his human partner, Meredith Steele, he sets out to rid his beloved hamlet of Gros Cap of nefarious criminals. Flint’s first major case involves a neighbor, her nephew and a nasty goon.
I am happy to reveal the cover of my novel,
Heraclix & Pomp
, which is due out from the Underland Press imprint of Resurrection House publishing in September, 2014! Please reshare!
I’ve finished my Self-publishing Guides: http://strangeworldsonline.com/wp/?pa...There are four books in the series: Self-publishing a Book, Marketing Plans for Self-published Books, Manage Your Self-publishing Project and Business Basics for Authors.
They’re all available on Smashwords, Kindle and other book sellers sites. You can download the brochure at:http://strangeworldsonline.com/PDF/CS...
Clementine’s Shadow: 1 Missing Child + 4 Unlikely Heroes=5★ Thriller. Warm up Your Winter with a High Desert Thriller! The e-book is on sale for $0.99 through 1/22. http://amzn.to/18xbaj2
Shamokin, Pennsylvania, may be the only place where Buffalo Bill Cody was challenged to a shooting match and lost. Read about it in my book, http://www.amazon.com/Digging-Dusky-D...
My children's short story, The Ghost of McGilly Road, has just been released on Smashwords and Amazon.
New today: SAMURAI AND OTHER STORIES In this collection you'll find numerous ghosts, many Scotsmen, a big blob, some holy relics, some unholy relics, a Mothman, a barbarian, some swordplay, a shoggoth and people that nobody expects.
This collection brings together stories from the past decade in an exploration of the perils of looking in dark places, both external and internal.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HZRCI0G
Do you enjoy the wonders of nature and reading poetry? Why not check out my newest release, a collection of nature poems that will stimulate your senses with the vivid imagery, tranquility and beauty of Mother Nature.
Within its pages is a story of Murder, Mayhem, Mystery and Romance, all wrapped around an intriguing plot. When the act of murder is so evil, the story itself becomes an entity that forces its author into feeding it's blood lust. Composed in Blood! "Novelist Jake Stone has sacrificed everything for this story, including anyone who crossed his path - a story Composed in Blood. Tommy, the incestuous and psychotic offspring of a crooked judge, has had a boyhood from hell. He is surviving the only way he knows, by eating what he kills. He is observed by a has-been writer, Jake Stone, who becomes obsessed by the concept of recording the story that unfolds to create his greatest work. Stone starts to bring in new victims for Tommy to butcher, feeding the incessant thirst of the story for blood. Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, this bizarre situation spins rapidly out of control in a maelstrom of murder and madness, to a final resolution: or is it final?EBOOK
http://www.amazon.com/COMPOSED-IN-BLO...
PAPERBACK
http://www.feedaread.com/books/Compos...
FACT: Soon after the 1947 death of history's most notorious occultist, Aleister "The Beast" Crowley, the urn containing his ashes mysteriously disappeared.ASH: RETURN OF THE BEAST is a modern-day supernatural crime chiller, a tale of revenge steeped in the occult. The story is a work of fiction inspired by a little known factoid about the death of Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), the notorious occultist whose favorite number was 666 and whom the British press once labeled as "The Wickedest Man In The World". Crowley’s body was cremated but the unexplained 1947 disappearance of the urn containing his ashes has remained a mystery… until now.
This diabolical tale propels the reader through a series of curiously interconnected events spanning the years from 1947 (and the death of Aleister Crowley) to the 1990s and the coming-of-age (and eventual stardom) of a "death-metal" rocker with the unlikely name of Rodney Duckworth.
The time-line shifts to the present day where Brian Kane, a gruff and gritty street-worn Seattle Police Detective, reluctantly teams up with the mysterious Rowena Ravenwood, an attractive and rather unconventional female FBI agent assigned to a most unusual investigative unit. Their task is to figure out why good, healthy, God-fearing preachers in their fair city are suddenly dropping dead... one at a time... exactly nine days apart.
What is the meaning of the strange symbols branded onto the bodies of these hapless victims? Are they all part of some bizarre cult? No eyewitnesses. No fingerprints. Is it really murder? Where’s the evidence? And what is the disturbing secret that Detective Kane is holding so close to his chest?
The investigation catapults Kane and Ravenwood headlong into life-threatening situations as they feel their way through the strange, dark labyrinth of the world of the occult and find themselves battling for their lives against the powerful forces of ritual magick.
A bloody carnage of unimaginable horror is about to be unleashed upon the world as the offspring of the fabled “Old Ones” are awakened from their ancient slumber.
The survival of the entire human race hangs in the balance and the clues to help solve the case are in desperately short supply. Worse yet, so is the amount of time left to stop the mysterious killer's reign of terror before all Hell breaks loose. And – according to Special Agent Ravenwood – that’s not just a figure of speech.
REVIEWS:
"Rivals the best I've ever read by Stephen King, Peter Straub, or Dean Koontz. Hell, Clive Barker would be proud of this one. Yes, it's that good." - Jeff Whelan
"It threw me for a literary loop, and I could NOT put this baby down!. The characters are very realistic... the plot is amazing. The twists in this story were terrific." - J. Wall, photographer
“The writing was flawless, and the plot was so clever and enticing, that I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys occult mysteries. A riveting story.” – Sandra Carrington-Smith
"A page turner... dragging you into a world where few authors have successfully gone... to the Gates of Hell and back! The thrill ride alone is worth the purchase." - Valerie Bowen, author of the Mind of a Madman series
"Wow...Dan Brown fans watch out! It's gripping, tantalizing... I was hooked by the end of the first chapter and literally unwilling to put it down!" - Nikki, book blogger at Close Encounters With The Night Kind
“Spectacular imagery...” – Michelle Parkins, South Africa
"The character creation is fabulous." - Christina M. Condy, goodreads.com reviewer
"A good break after all the boy-meets-girl plots. Good writing... interesting concepts... a riddle and some clues to solve... I was reminded of Dennis Lehane. Very different from other horror fiction stories... even gave the whole Necronomicon tale a new spin." - Cyma R. Kahn, goodreads.com reviewer
"Brilliantly conceived and executed. A riveting occult crime thriller. I couldn't put it down." - Rai Aren, author of Secret Of The Sands
"A close-the-drapes-and-hang-onto-your-seat-read. Highly recommend it." - Meredith Wright Hutchins, attorney, Olympia, WA
"An ending you will never see coming! Highly recommended!" - Lila L. Pinord, Port Angeles, WA
"Filled with magick... at times drawing one into the evil." - Ellen In Atlanta, amazon.com reviewer
"Plenty of atmosphere and a compelling narrative. A worthwhile roller-coaster ride." - Bob Freeman, author of The Descendant
"What a great story – fast paced and exciting, right to the end." - Roxanne Bland, Of Werewolves And Other Strangers
"Excellent read! Exciting, really moves right along & a wee touch of romance. You wont be sorry!" - Sue McRae, Stanwood, WA
"If you are a fan of Stephen King, you would like this occult thriller. It's not quite explainable and you can't tear yourself away." - John C. Stipa, Virginia
"A tingly, spine-chilling little entry that belongs in any true horror aficionado's collection." - Wendy Potocki, author of The White Lady Murders
“The narrative takes a different approach to the run-of-the-mill Satanist storyline. The action builds nicely and we are drawn into the web of evil and dark revelations as the story progresses. The narrative is rich with details on magic, mystical cycles, and ancient gods and goddesses.” – Drake Morgan at Horror Novel Reviews
"Although this is fiction it makes you wonder whether there is some truth behind the whole story. A real page turner." – Anthony Cessar, Gudja, Malta
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
READER DISCRETION ADVISED: This book is intended for adult readers due to strong language and some implied sexual content of a deviant nature. NOTE: The sexual content is implied as opposed to graphic. It is not included as a gratuitous element. Rather, it is critical to the background of one of the primary characters, his personal development and the motivation driving his future behavior.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
KINDLE (U.S.) $2.99 - http://amzn.com/B006J6HRGE
KINDLE (U.K.) £1.86 http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006J6HRGE
PAPERBACK (U.S.) $12.30 - http://amzn.com/1478314192
PAPERBACK (U.K.) £9.95 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1478314192
Five star reviewed novel of family drama and suspense available for just $3.99. Check out "Deep Water."www.amazon.com/Deep-Water-Ronald-Paxt...
This is my book, on amazon in both epub and paperback, smash words, and sometime in the next couple of weeks on other epub venues like Barnes and Noble, Kobo, etc. Karda: Adalta Vol I
Hide And Seek the sequel to my "dog viewpoint" thriller has just been released! A mysterious contagion will shatter countless lives unless a service dog and his trainer find a missing cat . . . in 24 hours.
A STALKER hides in plain sight.
A VICTIM faces her worst fear.
AND A DOG seeks the missing—and finds hope.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT HIDE AND SEEK!
“... masterful skill at blending ripped-from-the-headlines urgency with an emotional story of real characters in escalating dangers... written with authority and a deft brilliance that any lover of animals or nerve-jangling thrillers will cherish.” –James Rollins, New York Times bestseller of “The Eye of God”
“...a creepy must read mystery for animal lovers.” –J.T. Ellison, NYT bestselling author of “When Shadows Fall”
“... a shocking betrayal, a reality TV show gone horribly wrong, murders related to an unthinkable cause, HIDE AND SEEK is a mystery/thriller you won’t be able to put down!”
–Alan Leverone, best-selling thriller author of “Mr. Midnight” and “The Lonely Mile”
This is the sequel to LOST AND FOUND
Why should you care about coal region history? I offer an answer here: http://jrlindermuth.blogspot.com/
Hello everyone, my name is A. L. Waddington and I write YA Fiction with the cross genre of romance/science fiction/time travel. The first book in my EVE series, Essence was rereleased on January 16, 2014 by my new publisher, Booktrope. The second installment, Enlightened will be released in April, 2014.About Essence;
Jocelyn Timmons does not believe she is anything special — just an ordinary high school senior, living an ordinary life full of school-work, volleyball and friends. She’s about to find out how wrong she is.
Jackson Chandler moved in to the house across the street. His dark wavy hair, green eyes and charismatic personality draws everyone to him. Everyone, but Jocelyn.
Whenever Jackson gets near Jocelyn she feels ill and dizzy. When he touches her, she blacks out and has visions of another life, in another time. As the odd hallucinations evolve and become clearer, she feels a strong pull towards the people she sees there. Frightened, she watches her once stable life begin to crumble around her and she begins to question her own sanity.
Could it be possible that these episodes are actually her own memories of a life she is living somehow, somewhere, some-when? Maybe this is time-travel or some other paranormal mysticism? Our minds often wander, but can our souls?
To learn more about my EVE series, please check me out at: Website: www.alwaddington.com
Author Blog: http://alwaddington.com/store/essence...
Facebook series page: https://www.facebook.com/EVEseries
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/authoralwadd...
Twitter: follow me @eveseries
~or twub#EssenceBook1EVEseries
I hope you will all check it out!!
Thanks for your support!!
Two best friends, a husband, and a son all facing the worst economic and environmental disaster in American history:http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com
Shelley
Don't miss out on this amazing deal!My humourous dog detective novel, The Mattress Affair (Flint and Steele Mysteries, #1) will be free on Smashwords until February 14, 2014.
Just enter coupon code UD49J to take advantage of this great offer.
Reviews would be appreciated, but you are certainly under no obligation to write one.
Thanks so much in advance for your support.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
It’s the summer of 1898. The nation, just coming out of an economic slump, has been at war with Spain since April. And Sylvester Tilghman, sheriff of Arahpot, Jordan County, Pennsylvania, has a murder victim with too many enemies.There’s Claude Kessler, who is found standing with a knife in his hand over the body of Willis Petry.
There’s Rachel Webber, Kessler’s surly teen-aged stepdaughter, who admits an act intended to cause him harm.
Then there’s the band of gypsies who claim Kessler is the goryo who stole one of their young women.
If this isn’t enough to complicate Tilghman’s life, add in threats to his job by McClean Ruppenthal, former town burgess; a run-in with a female horse thief; scary predictions by a gypsy fortuneteller, and the theft of Doc Mariner’s new motorcar.
There’s plenty of good eating, church-going and socializing along the way. And, before all is over, Sylvester solves the crime and even comes a little closer to his goal of finally marrying longtime girlfriend Lydia Longlow.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C...
The Zombie Times-January Report is now available. The report is written by zombies for zombies in the New England area with the exception of Vermont whose charter does not recognize their presence.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I want to send out a big THANK YOU to all the Goodreads readers who've taken a chance on my thriller, Clementine's Shadow. I appreciate your trust and am glad to know you enjoyed the read!
Drowning In Memories, second in the bestselling Bitter Memories series, is now in paperback.http://sj2448.wix.com/suejulsen
I've been interviewed. Some thoughts on the writing life. Comment welcome: http://www.booksmoviesreviewsohmy.com...
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
Books mentioned in this topic
Bumblebee Books: Halloween Issue (other topics)Stone Ponies (other topics)
Flight of the Spark (other topics)
Penelope's Purple-Perfect Plan (other topics)
The Bowman Legacy: Not For Sale (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Evelyn Puerto (other topics)Ronald Paxton (other topics)
F. Haywood Glenn (other topics)
Lee Brickley (other topics)
Michelle Auerbach (other topics)
More...
"... plotting, complex characters, funny, crackling... Sean Cronin, in his first two books, shows his triple threat in highly readable, ..."
very fine book..thanks Sean..enjoying it a great deal!!