Blogger Book Fair Guest: Nathan Squiers

Crimson Shadow: Noir

The darkness seemed to stretch on forever. It encased and bled into Xander, making him blind even to his own thoughts. As he tried to focus, he became aware of a distant sound, followed by another, and then again by another—each time becoming louder. Ahead of him the darkness rippled as a figure emerged, and the red fabric of Depok’s robe became visible as he stepped into an invisible source of clarity. The darkness unveiled Depok’s smiling face and Xander couldn’t help but return the smile as he hurried towards him; the clan leader’s arms opened to him.

He continued forth, beginning to feel at last like he belonged, when suddenly a portion of Depok’s face peeled off and fluttered to his feet. Watching in shock, more bits of the still smiling—still waiting—vampire fell away, until Xander finally recognized the strips as paper; pages from the library’s dusty books! He looked up, horrified, at Depok moments before he suddenly burst in flames.

Startled, Xander fell back and watched as the clan leader’s face—still wearing the same caring, welcoming smile—melted away and exposed a grinning, chattering skull. His arms were still held open in an invitation as more and more sheets of burning paper fell. Xander rose to his feet to flee, and, before turning away, caught sight of the vampire elder’s dwindling arms as they snapped and fell from his body.

As he hurried away from the all-consuming fire, Xander could suddenly hear the blood chilling screams.

The darkness went on forever! No matter how far he ran there was nothing but infinite blackness surrounding him. And the screams followed! They closed in on him no matter how fast he ran, until finally they caught up to him, knocking him off his feet and drowning him in a thick, red noise that turned sticky and warm and seeped into him.

He tossed and shook, trying to free his body from the weight of the tragedy that was creeping into him. When he saw there was no salvation from the cries he looked up at the source—into the void above him—and saw them.

His clan!

His grandmother!

And there, in the abyss, Xander saw his mother.

All of them were crying; weeping bloody tears that fell onto his face and dripped into his open, horrified mouth.

And then he felt the hunger.

It was agonizing! He’d never felt so empty; so devoid of nutrition. Desperately he began thrashing within the suffocating darkness. There had to be a way out, had to be some way to find something—someone—to eat.

Xander? The voice in his head seemed distantly familiar.

Something skittered and made a noise by his ear.

Noise.

Meaningless noise.

He ignored it.

He had to eat! Had to find a way out! A way to escape the haunting nightmare! Damn it, he could still hear their screams!

His searching hands found something in the darkness; something long and smooth. He was about to throw it until he smelled the sweetness. Such sweetness. He pulled the prize to his nostrils and inhaled. The sweetness was contained within it; inside the cylinder. Blindly examining with his fingers he found a lid on one side and eagerly twisted it off and poured the contents into his mouth.

The taste of blood was not foreign to him.

Whether it was an innocent drop on his tongue after prying a loose tooth free or something more violent, he was more than used to the sickening, metallic taste. But this time was different. This time it was more than just the taste. His entire body seized as he emptied the contents of the cylinder into his mouth. Invigorated, he swallowed the small mouthful, the blood traveling down his throat and pushing a groan from his esophagus. As the rich substance sank into him, a jolt of life flooded over him.

...If you would like to read more, visit http://www.nathansquiers.com

Crimson Shadow: Noir
Xander Stryker wants to die.

Ever since witnessing his mother's murder at the hands of his abusive stepfather when he was a boy, he has spent every day trying to reach that goal. But every night he's denied the death he craves.

As his eighteenth birthday approaches, a chance for change is offered when his life is plunged into a supernatural world of vampires and other creatures of darkness. Caught in the depths of this new reality, mysteries of his vampiric lineage begin to unravel and he’s offered the ultimate choice: Continue on with his wretched human life or begin a new one as the vampire prodigy he was always meant to be.

Unfortunately, the supernatural world can be just as unforgiving and brutal as any other and Xander's choice is met with disastrous consequences. Now, with a little support and even less hope, the chaos of his new world collides with his torturous past and threatens to crush him once and for all.

Will Xander be able to use his new strength to conquer his fears, or will he succumb to his own darkness. . .

. . . and allow it to finally destroy him.

Nathan Squiers (The Literary Dark Emperor and the author formally known as “Prince”) is a resident of Upstate New York. Living with his loving fiancé/fellow author, Megan J. Parker, and two incredibly demanding and out-of-control demon-cats, Nathan lives day-by-day on a steady diet of potentially lethal doses of caffeine. When he isn’t immersed in his writing, he often escapes reality through horror and/or action movie marathons, comic books & graphic novels, Japanese anime & manga, and gnarly tunes. While out-and-about, The Literary Dark Emperor can be found in the chair of a piercing studio/tattoo parlor or simply loving life with friends & loved ones.

Find Nathan's work on Amazon HERE and on SmashWords HERE.
Follow Nathan on Twitter: @LitDark_Emperor

Blogger Book Fair Guest: Peter Dawes

… An Excerpt from Eyes of the Seer, Ch. 3

A pensive silence settled between us, with me already set to the thrill of stalking and Timothy following suit. We paused by a small grouping of humans and watched as a single female departed from the rest of her friends, walking for a narrower side street.

Timothy leaned close and whispered in my ear, “I think that’s your cue.”

That same need which had afflicted me when I beheld my first victim overwhelmed me again. A slow nod preceded my first cautious steps forward, a small gust of wind blowing through the short locks of brown atop my head. The winter wind failed to produce a shiver, and while the short, slender woman I trailed pulled her coat closed against her body, I allowed mine to sail open, wearing my apathy like an accessory of the hunt. She failed to hear me approach, which only pleased me further. My would-be victim wouldn’t know I was there until she felt my breath tickle at her neck.

We passed by the entrance to an alley.

“Now!” a harsh whisper commanded, from somewhere close behind.

I leaped forward, grabbing the human girl and pushing her into the alley until her back hit the unforgiving force of concrete. She yelped out the beginnings of a scream, but I cupped her mouth with my hand, my fangs descending and piercing her skin while she wriggled and clawed at me. I could smell her fear and tasted it in quantity while mouthful after mouthful of her blood cascaded down my throat.

Within minutes, her lifeless corpse fell to the ground at my feet.

“Brilliant!” Timothy said with a clap, walking forward and crouching down to regard my victim. Lost in the afterglow of such ecstasy, I beheld him in a dreamlike state, the decline back to my senses a slow, but steady one. He glanced up at me and smirked, macabre delight dancing in his eyes. “Why don’t we dispose of this and be on our way?”

A final shudder of pleasure rattled my psyche as I nodded and bent to help. Soon little more than remains inside a dumpster, the woman had been completely forgotten by the time we made it out toward the street. Mental clarity returned just in time for Timothy to open his mouth to speak.

“The Mistress tells me you’ve still been having trouble remembering things,” he said, reaching into his coat pocket to light another cigarette.

I nodded, glancing away. “I probably wouldn’t even know my name was Peter if you all hadn’t told me.”

“You had a wallet on you. It was hard not to know.” Timothy held the cigarette to his lips, drawing deep enough to cause the orange embers at the end to flair. He paused to exhale first before speaking again. “Memories are superfluous anyway. You know the important things. How to button a shirt. How to speak English. That you write with your right hand.”

The cavalier way he stated that startled me. “You pay close attention to details.”

“I always have. You could say I’ve been the Mistress’s eyes ever since my turning.” He offered me a wink, settling comfortably into the silence that followed until we made it to the coven. The downstairs was still bustling when we entered and I felt the urge to slink away from the activity. Michael was mercifully absent, but I felt it best not to tempt fate. “I should settle in a little. You guys gave me so much stuff. I have yet to sort through it all.”

“Just helping you get comfortable.” He nodded and allowed me to ascend the stairs. Midway up, he spoke my name, prompting me to pause and glance back at him. “Don’t be too troubled about it,” he said. “The memory loss, that is. It’ll come back. You just need time.”

“That’s what I was hoping.” I flashed an amiable grin, reflecting on the events of that evening. My smile broadened. “I’m having too much fun to be worried about it anyway.”

“That’s the spirit.”

My gaze evaluated the trappings of my new life again. Rebirth surrounded me, making me an empty canvas waiting to be covered with bloody brushstrokes. Still, when my gaze returned to Timothy, I could not help but to notice the wolfish grin return to his face. I perked an eyebrow. “Are you always like this with new vampires? You’ve been so helpful.”

“You’re special,” he said, “And the Mistress favors you.” He nodded once before turning his back on me. “Have a good night, Peter.”

“You, too.” Watching him until he disappeared into the common area, I remained standing there for moments afterward, weighing those words while not sure what his comment meant. The riddle continued to haunt me while I undressed in my room and even when I settled into sleep for the day. It took shutting my eyes in surrender to fatigue for the question to stop rattling around in my mind.

Deep inside the lull of sleep, however, the cadence of a persistent whisper encroached upon me from some distant corner of my subconscious. I heard a voice speak, bearing the tone of an unwelcome visitor from the grave, summoning me toward lucidity after only a few hours’ rest.

Lydia.

Something other than the memory of her dropping dead at my feet rushed through my newborn vampire haze, bringing me face to face with a creature that looked strangely familiar. I saw the person she beckoned staring at me from across an expanse, a tall man who once bore sympathetic blue eyes and a kind demeanor. Shooting to a seated position, I blinked against the darkness while attempting to settle my shaky nerves.

And still her words echoed.

‘I love you, Dr. Dawes.’

Dr. Peter Dawes. That had been me.

Interested in reading more? Eyes of the Seer is available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the iTunes store.

***

Peter Dawes is the author of The Vampire Flynn Series, published by the micro-press Crimson Melodies. His serial story, “A Maker and His Child” appears on the BloodTideZine website and short “Lost Highway” has been featured in the Nocturnal Embers anthology, also by Crimson Melodies. While primarily a novelist, he has also written stories for the anthology Red Phone Box, featuring the work of fellow authors Warren Ellis, Dan Wickline, and more. Always working on something new, Peter leaves it up to the reader to decide if it’s by sunlight or candlelight.

The third book of The Vampire Flynn Series – Fate of the Seer – will be released late this August, through Crimson Melodies Publishing. Peter is also currently working on a medieval fantasy novel, The Unquiet Dead, which will be released sometime in early 2014.

You can find Peter on Twitter, Facebook, or at his blog, The Man Behind the Curtain.

Book Blogger Fair Guest: Noree Cosper

Five Demons You Don’t Want to Be Alone With

A Prescription for Delirium focuses on Gabby, a demon hunter, and her fight against evil in the world along with the descendants of Van Helsing. I’m not a hunter, however, and have a healthy fear of evil. Here are five demons that I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.

Asmodeus: The demon of lust, jealousy, and revenge, his primary goals are to prevent sex between husband and wife and to force men to commit adultery. He is also one of the chief demons involved in possession. He is said to have three heads: an ogre, a ram, and a bull. His feet are that of a cock and he has wings and a serpent’s tail. When Solomon binds him and commands him to speak of himself Asmodeus says, “I am the renowned Asmodeus; I cause the wickedness of men to spread throughout the world. I am always hatching plots against newlyweds; I mar the beauty of virgins and cause their hearts to grow cold. . . I spread madness about women through the stars and I have often committed a rash of murders.”

Belial: One of the most evil demons he appears deceptively beautiful speak softly. He is devoted in creating wickedness in humankind especially through lust, and sexual perversion. He was the second angel, created after Lucifer, and is said to have been evil from the start. Belial was the first to revolt against God and became the personification of lies and evil after he fell.

Lamastu: She was originally an Assyrian goddess who was evil for evil’s sake. She has the head of a lion, teeth of a donkey, and hairy body and bloodstained hands with long fingernails. She travels in about along the river in the underworld. She spreads disease in all humans but takes a particular interest in harming children.

Moloch: He is known as the Devourer of Children. To the Ammonites, he was a son god who they sacrificed to for protection. Soon he demanded children for his sacrifice and they were burned on large idols of him. The Greeks likened him to Chronos, who ate his own children to prevent them from ruling.

Murder: Ok, this is the only name he’s given. This is a headless demon that sees through his breasts and speaks in the voices he’s take from his victims. He was summoned by King Solomon and said that he has no head of his own. He takes the heads from his victims but they eventually are consumed from the fire that burns within him. Murder causes fever and inflames limbs, inflicts feet, and creates festering sores.

Don’t worry, you have Gabby to fight and kill these demons for you.

A Prescription for Delirium

Ninety years ago, Gabriella di Luca promised to protect the family of her dying lover. She failed to keep that promise.  She was too far away to stop the devil that murdered the eldest Van Helsing son. Years later, Gabby learns the devil has resurfaced. She arrives in Hampton, TX, determined to stop the devil before it can lay a bloody hand on the remaining three brothers.

However, madness is spreading through Hampton. She suspects the devil is using this madness to test a drug which has a side effect of demonic possession.  Gabby rushes to end the source of the madness only to fall victim to it. For a woman cursed with eternal life, dying is no threat. However, Gabby must stop the devil's plot or risk losing her most precious possession: her mind.

A Prescription for Delirium is free during the

Blogger Book Fair, July 22^nd-26^th!

Get Yours Now:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)

About Noree Cosper

Noree Cosper loves writing about magic in the modern world. While growing up in Texas she constantly searched for mystical elements in the mundane. She buried her nose in both fiction and books about Wicca, Religion, and Mythology. Everyday became an adventure as she joined a group of role-players, acting out her fantasies of vampires, demons, and monsters living in the world.

She embraced her nerdom wholeheartedly.

Noree grew, but never left her love for fantasy and horror. Her dreams pushed her and her hand itched to write the visions she saw. So, with her fingers on the keys, she did what her heart had been telling her to do since childhood. She wrote.

Connect with Noree

Website | Blog

Facebook | Twitter | Amazon
| Goodreads

Blogger Book Fair Guest: Penelope Reece

So, I had the pleasure of reading Phantasma by Penelope Reece. It’s a great book, and I’ll get to the review after we see the lovely book cover and learn a bit about it.

Good school, nice friends, and a loving family. Alphie Brewster's life seems perfect except for one growing problem. She's plagued with vivid nightmares, and is haunted by a forgotten past. And it's only getting worse.

The day she finds a mysterious necklace, Alphie wakes to see a ghostly figure leaning over her bed. Now she's got an even greater problem. A six foot four inch tall eccentric spook, named Noer, who has to possess her in order to stay in this world. He fills her with fire while slowly draining her energy as if she were a Duracell Battery.

Now her problems only seem to be escalating. The more she learns about Noer, the more she starts to remember her childhood. One that should have stayed buried and could very well tear her apart.

Just as a point of reference, the second cover is the old one. I adore it so much and wanted to share it. At any rate, let’s start with the review.

One of the fascinating things about this book is that the main character, Alphie, suffers from what is thought to be narcolepsy. I’ve never read a book with such a character before, which made for an interesting change. Her sleeping issues were also used as a plot device and had her falling asleep at the most inopportune times.

As for the romance aspect of the story, which is obviously important in a paranormal romance, I enjoyed it. This is coming from someone who doesn’t enjoy overly gushy and fake romance stories. Phantasma didn’t have this problem, and sometimes it even seemed like the romance was one sided, no matter who it involved. I like that Alphie was indecisive for real reasons rather than just because there was a love triangle, and it’s hard to pick from two hot guys. Noer was also a really interesting character because it was difficult to identify his motives. Also, I’m a sucker for great hair.

One thing I want to share is my favorite scene. When Noer first appeared, I couldn’t help but visualize the painting by Henry Fuseli called The Nightmare. This painting is often associated with night terrors and sleep paralysis, so it fits perfectly. I loved that scene enough that I even bookmarked it, which is something I never do.

Overall, I highly recommend Phantasma to anyone who likes paranormal romance and is looking for an interesting main character. If you would like to buy a copy of Phantasma for $0.99, Penelope is offering a Smashwords coupon.  Use the coupon code: WT44L

Also, don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of Phantasma and all of the other books featured during the Blogger Book Fair, as well as a $15 gift card to Amazon.


Penelope Reece is a young adult/new adult romance author living in Southern Indiana with her husband and Pomeranian. She's been writing ever since her nerdy high school days where her joys were limited it marching band and daydreaming.

Her blog:
http://penelopereece.blogspot.com

Twitter:
@PenelopeReece

Links:
+Sing for Me
+Sing for Me (Smashwords)

+Phantasma (Amazon)
+Phantasma (Smashwords)

+Goodreads

Book Blogger Fair Guest: Rebecca Hamilton

It's such a pleasure to have Rebecca on the blog today. She's a fantastic writer and an amazing person. Everyone give her a warm welcome!

What can you tell us about the inspiration behind The Forever Girl?

At the time, I was on a huge vampire book kick, but they all felt the same for me. I felt like I was chasing the proverbial high, trying to find that one story that I loved as much as some of my old favorites. Then one day, I thought, “Maybe I should write a book.” It had been something I’d always wanted to do. And so, I started writing. I had a few scenes in mine when I began, though most of those didn’t make the final cut of the story anyway. But I was definitely inspired by the Wiccan religion, by the misconceptions surrounding the religion and the truth behind it as well. It helped create a complex an atmospheric read while at the same time supporting the theme of the story: acceptance.

One of the things I love about this book is the attention to detail in the Wiccan/Pagan themes. Did you consciously try to maintain such a high level of accuracy? What can you tell us about how you did such a great job?
When people tell me how well I did with the accuracy of Wiccan elements of the story, I’m tickled. I put a lot of heart into researching and bringing those aspects to the story without drowning the story with religious details. I had Wiccan friends and editors read my story as well to confirm accuracy. I’m often asked, because of how accurate these details are, if I myself am Wiccan. I’m not. I’m just a huge advocate of freedom of religion and of people not being judged. I also happen to think that the Pagan religions are beautiful; Wiccan and Pagans are some of the kindest-hearted people I know. At the same time, I believe a religion doesn’t make a person. There are good and bad intentioned people in all walks of like, and this is the reason I try to bring balance to the story with characters of differing religions representing the light and dark of each.

The Forever Girl has a fantastic romance story arc. Were there any specific stories (whether they be book, movies, or real life) that inspired the romance between Sophia and Charles?
I find most romantic inspiration from life—from my experiences, from hearing the experiences of others, and from watching people all around me. But people who read paranormal romances do like a little bit of fantasy—a little bit of romance that is larger than life. The most inspiring romantic movie of all time (to me) is Becoming Jane. Whenever I was inspiration to add a little romantic flare to my stories, I watch that movie again. It’s impossible to watch that movie too much :)

What was the hardest thing about writing this book?
Rewriting it . . . over and over and over again. ;)

What do you love the most about being an author?
The people I meet! Most people are surprised to learn how much I completely suck at being social in real life. I do eventually come out of my shell, but only online am I so social “off the bat”. And through my writing, I meet a ton of people online. Many AMAZING people, and even people who inspire me (in a good way) to write new characters in new books. Heros and Heroines. Because there’s a lot of good people in this world—ALL over the world—and I’m lucky to have met them because of my books.

What’s your favorite movie, TV show, and book?
Movie: Becoming Jane hehe
TV Show: Dexter
Book: The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard

Is there anything special or exciting that you have planned and would like to share with us?
Yes. But I’m not allowed. So I’ll tell you the slightly less special but still exciting news: Book 2 of The Forever Girl Series is due to be released later this year, along with a co-written comedic horror novel that I’ve been working on with bestselling author Riley J. Ford. Follow me on Twitter @InkMuse for the latest news and updates!

Thanks for having me!

The Forever Girl (Forever Girl Series #1)

Video Trailer Reviews BUY NOW Kindlegraph!

HarperCollins: "It’s rare to see such natural flow and tempo from a debut author."

Sophia's family has skeletons, but they aren't in their graves.

At twenty-two, practicing Wiccan Sophia Parsons is scratching out a living waiting tables in her Rocky Mountain hometown, a pariah after a string of unsolved murders with only one thing in common: her.

Sophia can imagine lots of ways to improve her life, but she'd settle for just getting rid of the buzzing noise in her head. When the spell she casts goes wrong, the static turns into voices. Her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous.

One of them is a man named Charles, who Sophia falls for despite her better judgment. He has connections that might help her unveil the mystery surrounding her ancestor's hanging, but she gets more than she bargains for when she finally decides to trust him.

Survival in his world, she learns, means not asking questions and staying out of the immortal council's way. It's a line she crossed long ago. If Sophia wants to survive the council and save the people she loves, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom.

The Forever Girl is a full-length Paranormal Fantasy novel that will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, witches, vampire fiction, ghost stories, paranormal mystery, and paranormal horror.

Her Sweetest Downfall (A Forever Girl Journal)

Video Trailer BUY NOW Reviews Kindlegraph!

Ophelia's been successful at hiding her true identity, until the mark of the serpent appears on her neck--a death sentence, should it be seen by anyone in her town. Hiding the mark might save her from falling victim to the witch hunts of her era, but the scorching sensation it carries can't be ignored.

When the mysterious Ethan is sent to collect her for a life of something more, she learns concealing the mark is the least of her worries. She's destined to don a new mask--to join a dark, supernatural world and protect the future of people she may never meet.

What she doesn't know--what she learns too late--is that her initiation won't be complete until she kills the man she loves.

Set in an alternate Regency England, "Her Sweetest Downfall" is a standalone novella in the "Forever Girl" series, written as a gift to fans of the Forever Girl series.

HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, fantasy, and vampire fiction.

Guest Post: Lynna Merrill With Unnaturals

Hi all! I know I've been doing a few guest posts lately, but I'm busy working hard on a couple new ideas as well as teaching. So, to keep you up with some awesome author's I know, who you should totally go read, I'd like to welcome Lynna Merrill to the blog! Her book Unnaturals was just published recently, and I've already read it. It's a really good book, especially for fans of dystopian stories.

Unnaturals

In the perfect city of Lucasta life is easy, bountiful, and completely planned for everyone. New fashions and material goods abound. Everyone constantly communicates with hundreds of friends through their computing device, and benevolent corporations watch over people as good parents. To the new generation, hate and prejudice are just a fairy tale, and pain, disease, and cruelty are fading into a distant memory. So is personal choice.

Teenage Meliora feels as if Lucasta is suffocating her. Always an unusual child, she discovers the dark secret of a world where secrets don’t even exist any more. But what can be wrong with a perfect world?

If you'd like to learn more about the book or read an excerpt, you should visit Lynna's website and check it out.

Guest Post - Kayla Curry Releases Ruby: A Mystic Stones Jewel

Hi everyone! I'd like to welcome Kayla Curry to the N.R. Wick blog. Today, is the official release of her short story, Ruby. It's a great short story that goes along with her Mystic Stones series. I highly recommend it! Also, at the end of this post, you can get Ruby for FREE!

Ruby: A Mystic Stones Jewel is now available! Ruby is a short story companion to the novel Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series #1 and can be read before or after the novel. The story will be listed at $.99, but I will be offering FREE copies at the end of this post for anyone interested.

Ruby: A Mystic Stones Jewel

Attraction pulls Ava Tanner to her client Tom Walker, but her professionalism prevents her from making any moves.

Tom wants Ava in more ways than one and his desires are almost too much to keep inside. He needs her, but he doesn't want to scare her away for fear of angering the council.

Will the spark between Ava and Tom turn into something more, or will Ava allow it to fizzle out?

Available Now

Amazon
Smashwords

Here is a  little teaser from Ruby:

The metal elevator doors glided open to the luxurious seventeenth floor of the Herrick-Peyton building. Fresh, colorful hibiscus flowers welcomed Ava as she stepped into the reception area. She glanced around and made eye contact with the man she was looking for: Tom Walker. His face lit up when he saw her, and his handsome grin made Ava’s own smile spread across her face.

“Miss Tanner, what brings you up to the seventeenth floor?” Mr. Walker asked.

“Well, it’s been almost a year since you signed your last lease, and since you seem so comfortable up here, I thought I’d bring up the renewal papers,” Ava said as she looked around the lobby.

“Wonderful! Let’s step into my office, shall we? I’ll sign them right away. Otherwise, they’ll get lost on my desk.”

Ava nodded and followed Tom to his office. He stopped short and let her enter first as he gently placed a hand on the small of her back. Butterflies erupted in her stomach.

He closed the door behind them and gestured at one of the guest chairs while taking the packet of papers from her. She could smell his cologne as he approached her. It reminded her of rain and fresh cut grass. He took a seat behind his large desk, which shined in the sunlight from the window behind him.

“So the papers would get lost on your desk, huh?” Ava asked.

“Well, I might have exaggerated a bit,” he replied. Silence followed as he flipped through the pages of the lease.

He cleared his throat, “So, since I’m signing papers—”

“Oh, no. Let’s not start that, Mr. Walker. You know I can’t work for you,” Ava said, before he got the question out.

“How did you know?” He grinned.

“You ask me every time we see each other.”

“I wish we would see each other more often. Then maybe I would wear you down.”

“I just don’t think I’d fit in at Psytech, and I like where I am now,” Ava replied.

Tom sighed. “I know you do. I just can’t figure out why.”

The pen dragged on the last page of the renewal papers as Tom signed his name with a flourish. He stood and rounded the desk with a predatory look on his face. It was one that Ava had seen often. She couldn’t convince herself it was only the look of a man who wanted her to work for him. To her, it sometimes seemed that he wanted so much more. She took a deep breath as he came closer. She was about to stand, but he surprised her by sitting in the guest seat next to her.

“I hope that one day you will say yes to me. Psytech could really use you—I could really use you.”

***

Obsidian: Mystic Stones Series #1

Available Now!

Amazon

All Available Formats (Martin Sisters Publishing)

Ava Tanner finds herself in a world without satellite technology in a time of GPS, Smart Phones and Tablets. When she discovers that a corporation headed by vampires with a sinister motive is to blame, her world is turned upside-down. After a narrow escape, she learns a mystical secret about herself that could aide her in her fight against the vampires. Unfortunately, the vampires see her either as a valuable asset or a target for destruction.

When the world is on the brink of complete social and technological devastation, one must ask themselves: Would I give up my blood for the modern ideal way of life, or will I wage war with the overlords of chaos?

There are four ways you can get Ruby for free and these offers will stand for an UNLIMITED TIME. Here is how to get Ruby for free:

• Leave a review of Obsidian.
• Buy Obsidian.
• Post about Obsidian/Ruby on your blog.
• Post about Obsidian/Ruby on Facebook or Twitter everyday for one week.

Just pick one of the options above and fill out this form:

About the Author: Kayla Curry

Kayla Curry, author of Obsidian: The Mystic Stones Series, lives in North Platte, Nebraska with her husband and two children.

She likes spending time with family and friends when she’s not writing or marketing.

Her other hobbies include reading and arts and crafts. You can visit her website at http://sites.google.com/site/kaylacurryauthor/ to keep up on her progress in the Mystic Stones Series.

Links to Kayla Curry:
Website
Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Author Interview: Courtney Vail

As part of the Kindle INDIEpendence Day giveaway happening this week, I thought I'd post an interview with one of the other amazing authors participating. Then, at the bottom of this post, be sure to click the link to the giveaway page and enter to win a Kindle Fire, a Kindle, or a bunch of amazing young adult and children's books. Here's Courtney Vail and her YA book, Kings & Queens.

Kings & Queens is a gritty, twisty Young Adult mystery thriller. When 17-year-old tomboy Majesty Alistair can't budge police in her sleepy, rich town after overhearing two fellow students planning a church massacre, she aims to ID the nutjobs herself before they act. But, their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and she becomes the centerpiece in a ruthless game that casts even her closest friends under suspicion.

Buy link: http://amzn.to/LWaqXa


When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I’ve always loved writing and majored in Jornalism Advertising, so I was aiming for a copy writing and design carrier. But I got bitten by the novel bug through my husband. He wanted to start writing short stories for publications and received all these query packets and he also took a remote writing class through the Stafford Institute and received a few of the books in the Write Great Fiction Series. I read them and was inspired with an idea for a novel and wrote away. After reading more and more books on craft, I realized my first book had major issues, so I wrote another one, Kings & Queens. I poured everything I had into this book and polished it up with the help of some awesome reviewers at thenextbigwriter.com. I now know, novel writing was what I was always meant to do. I am so glad my characters found me!


Why do you Indie publish?

I was shopping Kings & Queens to agents, and though I got some great feedback and some requests for partials and fulls, no bites. My book is good, but on the surface it doesn’t have that oooo concept right up front. The best part of it is the surprises that come in along the wild rollercoaster ride. And that’s a hard thing for an agent to sell to publishers. There’s no juicy sound bite, so to speak, there.

I had some early readers asking me how my characters were doing and I wanted to know too. So, I wrote a sequel Sapphire Reign for fun, which opens ten years later, but after receiving some love for it, I decided it was too weird and different and good to get possibly stuffed because it doesn’t hit the same market. When a Big Sixer offers you a 2 or 3-book deal, it’s for one imprint and market. And I didn’t want SR to end up being just a self-pubbed companion book with a different cover and layout. So, my vision of success changed, being that I craved to go traditional through all the lovely gatekeepers, but that just didn’t work for this series. There was too much risk in that direction. So, I set out to find a smaller publisher that would give me more flexibility in doing what I wanted to do with the series. Me and my book are happily with Little Prince Publishing. I have creative control, flexibility and cool authors to support me. Oh, and I get all my royalties!

What inspired you to write your book?

The three main characters came to my mind first. I just pictured this girl named Majesty as a manager of a baseball team on which her two best friends, Alec and Derek, play. And each one commands her attention for different reasons. But, that’s all I had. Those three weirdos just stumbling around in my brain. That wasn’t enough plot for me. I needed plot. I crave plot. Something suspenseful preferred. But I had nothing. Then one night I dreamt I was running for exercise and overheard these two guys planning a church massacre and I escaped them in this little town. Boom! That gave me exactly what I needed and the location too. And then my story grew and grew into something totally unexpected and awesome. I’m kind of glad I had all that time to get to know and ponder my characters first. When the plot came to me, I was able to just write fluidly, with them popping off the pages.

What are three things you want people to know about you or your book?

Kings & Queens is a twisty, complex, gritty read. It is not for the faint of heart nor for those who prefer simple, breezy beach reads. It requires some mental thought and will take your mind on a whirlwind trip and back. If you’re looking for a read that doesn’t feel like anything you’ve ever read before, that’s suspenseful and weird, then this is the book for you.


What advice do you have for parents to encourage their kids to read more?

To study genres, skip around to some MG and YA blogs and look for what’s hot and interesting to other kids of that age. If your kids see you taking a vested interest in books and know that you’re on the look for cool books, rather than telling them what they can and can’t read, then you can engage on a new level and be excited about books together.

Website: www.courtneyvail.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/kingsandqueensnovel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cvwriter

Don't forget to enter to win a Kindle Fire!

Special Guest Author: Jerry Hanel

Today we have an excellent guest, Jerry Hanel, author of Death Has a Name, for the release of the second book in his Brodie Wade series, Thaloc Has a Body, and it's very exciting! I'm going to hand this post over to Jerry so he can talk about his awesome new book.

My name is Jerry Hanel, and the book I've written is a paranormal mystery/thriller called Thaloc Has a Body. It is the second book in the Brodie Wade series.

What is a "Thaloc"?
Thaloc was an Egyptian creature that was believed to take the form of anyone. I've embellished the legend of Thaloc slightly, adding a few points from "experts" in order to explain how the villain is connected to the murders, but I tried to stay as true to the original legend as I could.

As far as how Thaloc relates to the paranormal world, thus how he would relate to Brodie's ability, Thaloc was a spirit being, very similar to the western concept of the Grim Reaper. Using that template, you can see that it's not a far cry from the first book, with with an Egyptian twist, and a plot twist that I think will leave the reader stunned and amazed. Time will tell, I suppose.

So, how do you pronounce 'Thaloc'?
I'm not sure, to be honest. I've actually had several differing opinions given to me on that. Some say Thay-lock, others say Thahl-lock. I even had one person quote it gangsta-style; The-lock. For me, I refer to it as Thahl-lock. I guess that's part of the mystery, but also part of the history of this creature. He is an unknown. A black hole. Since he can become so many different things, having a single pronounciation of his name seems almost too rigid. Pronounce it however it is comfortable to you in hour head. I guess that's the best way of all.

How did you come up with the idea for the book?
In the first book, Death Has a Name, Brodie had to confront the Angel of Death and his apprentice. While, I have a personal belief about humans and alternate realms, and such, I always want my characters to battle other humans, not necessarily non-human entities. It just makes for a much more dramatic story, in my mind. In Death Has a Name, I pushed even my own boundaries on that personal rule. Brodie still had to battle the apprentice, but there were a few plot twists that I really struggled with, internally.

For Thaloc Has a Body, I wanted Brodie to have to confront actual flesh-and-blood people, without any gray areas and I thought that a shape-shifter would be the perfect medium to make those encounters much more interesting, while remaining true to the themes started in Death Has a Name.

What do you think readers will enjoy most about your book?
Two words; Jamie Stanford. She is the love interest that was briefly introduced in the first novel. Brodie was so freaked out (as he normally is) by the case at hand, he missed the signs of her trying to flirt with him. In this book, she takes matters into her own hands and invites herself on a date. Through that character, we get to see so much more about Brodie and get past his angst-riddled brain into his heart. He really is a caring man, and Jamie brings out so many facets in Brodie that we've never seen before.

Who is your favourite character?
Picking a favorite is hard. All of my characters are reflections of some aspect of me. Even the villains are the darker side of my past, expounded a thousand times, of course. I mean, I wouldn't want to actually kill someone, much less do it in the way that they do. But I can see how someone could be drawn down those dark paths and deluded into doing the things they do. And even those dark characters have a soul somewhere deep in there that I guess my soul can identify with.

If I absolutely had to choose a character, and my life depended on it, I would say Brodie. He's the unsure, scared little boy inside me that has never really grown up. There are so many qualities to Brodie that make him socially awkward that I can relate. But when you get past those awkward moments, he's probably the nicest, most caring man on the planet.

Do you listen to music while you write, and if so what music for this book or in general?
When I write, I generally have my headphones on, listening to whatever music will set the mood for the scene I'm working on. My favorite bands are "The Letter Black", "Red" and "Thousand Foot Krutch." They all seem to have themes dealing with dark, painful issues, but they all have this brilliant, bright, shining thread of hope, grace and redemption that inspire me, despite their dark themes. I guess I can relate to the music, reflect on my past choices, and apply those to the scene I want to create to come up with the story in my head.

Tell us where to find you online and buy your book.
This series is all over the internet right now; Kobo, Barnes & Noble, etc. But I really think Amazon has it down to a science. They give my readers the best price and they are really good to me as an author in the process, so it's a win-win situation.

You can reach me directly on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/JerryHanel

Or on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/Jerry-Hanel-Author

I also have a blog:
http://www.jerryhanel.com

Thank you for taking the time today to interview me. I've really enjoyed it.

-Jerry

Thanks a lot Jerry for being a guest here at nrwick.com and good luck with Thaloc Has a Body!

Readers, if you are interested in reading Death Has a Name or Thaloc Has a Body, I've provided links below.