Dream Walker by Shannon Sinclair

Website: http://www.shannansinclair.com
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Kindle Price: $2.99
Nook Price: $2.99


Available from: Amazon and Barnes & Noble


Do dreams really come true? Much to Aislen Walker’s dismay, they do.

Like most young women, she only wants a normal life—to finish school, become a nurse, maybe even travel the world someday. But one night she has a terrible nightmare, watching helplessly as a young boy executes a man in cold blood. What she wants to believe is only a bad dream turns out to be an actual murder!

Is this all for real? Is she just going crazy? Or is she, as her dead-beat dad tries to tell her, a “walker,” one with a special talent for crossing into different dimensions? If she believes him she stumbled into The Stratum, a dimension run by powerful organization that manipulates and controls the real-world through it. And they really don’t like strangers wandering in, fouling up their plans or exposing their nefarious deeds.

In the first book of the Walker Saga, Aislen must decide what’s true and what’s a lie, who she can trust and who she can’t and discover who and what she reallly is, in a reality where nothing and nobody is what they seem.

BIO:

They say, “write what you know” and for Shannan Sinclair that meant writing the weird.

At a very young age, Ms. Sinclair began experiencing many strange and extraordinary paranormal events, from dream travels and actual hauntings of her childhood home, to psychic phenomena such as premonitions, telepathy, clairvoyance and clairaudience. She has even had the pleasure of a couple of UFO sightings.

After twenty years of studying mysticism, holistic theology, philosophy and quantum theory, Sinclair wanted to weave those concepts with some of her own experiences into a fictional adventure.

Her first novel, Dream Walker explores the question: is our mind really only contained to our brain? Or is it possible that space/time/dimension travel, although not yet something we do on a physical level, is something we have always done through consciousness?

“I am definitely not unique,” Sinclair explains. “Everyone at some time has experienced phenomena that doesn’t fit into the confines of logic and science. Every individual has a dream space on a nightly basis and has probably had experiences that have left them wondering at the nature of reality and consciousness.”

Shannan Sinclair was born and raised in the heart of California's Central Valley running barefoot through its pastures and throwing dirt clods at crop dusters. She had the courage to escape once, joining the Air Force and living in exotic places such as Japan and Texas, but soon found herself sucked right back into the undeniably charming vortex of Modesto, California.

When she isn’t saving the world as a 911 dispatch superhero, she’s a mild-mannered writer.

Alright, maybe “mild” isn’t the right word...

Dream Walker is her first novel.

Merlin 444 by Rejean Giguere

Kindle Price:

$2.99 

Available from: 

Amazon kindle 

Author's websites:

www.rejeangiguere.com

Part 1 The Merlin
Chapter 1

1995

The old Budweiser clock in the garage said eight forty-five. Bobby finished tightening the lug nuts on the front tire of his baby, a red '77 Camaro. He doesn’t close up the garage until nine, it's Friday night, he's geared up for some drag racing.
About six months ago Bobby joined his mother in Duck Lake, a small town on highway eleven, between Saskatoon and Prince Albert. He knew they were both devastated after his dad died during flight training at Cold Lake Weapons Range. His mother wanted him to stay at his job in the city, where he’d been a mechanic for the past two years. When she decided to settle in her home town, he left it all to join her.
It was pure luck that the small gas station and garage next door to their house was bought out by an old guy who needed someone to run the place. Theirs being the only house near the gas station meant his mom and the old guy got to talking and next thing you knew, he was running the show.
It wasn’t a big show, just locals during the week and cottagers heading north on the weekends. There wasn’t much traffic coming through. Honestly he didn't care, when there weren't any customers to pump gas for, he worked in the garage which wasn't being used for anything yet. He heard the bell ring if a customer pulled up, otherwise he worked on his car. It gave him time to think.
His mother was right that coming to Duck Lake didn’t look like the best career move, but he needed to know she was okay before heading back to the city. He also needed to figure out some things for himself, decide where he was going, what he really wanted to do. Losing his father had kind of brought him to a standstill.
Bobby was lowering the car down off the hoist when he heard the bell outside. He started cleaning his hands off, and as usual, the impatient customer ran their car back and forth over the rubber hose a few times, the bell dinging constantly. Shaking his head he walked out to the pumps, pulling his ball cap down over his eyes to shield the against the late day sun.
The BMW was in show room condition, dark blue, almost black. This was obviously not a local. The country boys round here used mud covered pickup trucks and beat-up cars or souped-up hot-rods. On the passenger side the tinted window slid down letting the music pour out. The rap beat punched him in the chest as he leaned in towards the car.
The woman was shockingly gorgeous, and naked from the waist up. Pushing a few long strands of hair from her face, she said seriously, “Fill her up please.”
When Bobby’s eyes came up to hers, she started laughing. He started blushing at the same time he realised his mouth was hanging open. Glancing quickly at the guy in the driver’s seat, he saw that he was cracking up too.
“Yes Ma'am.” He moved around the back of the car, focusing on filling the gas tank, while a new round of laughter burst out of the car.
Women. They were one of the things he spent a lot of time thinking about. Jesus, they made him silly. He clammed up, got nervous and lost all sense of control around them.
Growing up in a military family, constantly moving, should have made him used to meeting people, but he was shy and reserved. At twenty years old he was spending too much time thinking about women instead of dating them. But then his chance of meeting someone here in Duck Lake was a million-to-one.
Actually, there was only one. Suzanne Ryan. At twenty-two she was a couple years older than him. The only other prospects around the area were kids just into high school and some divorced women, or separated cougars that have been in the station clearly on the hunt.
He slapped on the gas cap and walked up beside the driver. The guy forked out some twenty’s and said “Keep the change.” Bobby thanked him, his eyes on the guy's other hand sliding up and down the woman’s leg, squeezing her thigh just below her mini-skirt.
Again, Bobby’s eyes met hers, and she erupted into laughter.
As the car squealed out of the station, he was left standing in a cloud of dust and fumes with a five-dollar tip and one overwhelming thought.
Jesus was she hot.
Looking up and down the highway he said to himself, last call everybody. No one answered. Inside the station, he threw the big light switch, killing the floodlights and leaving the yard in darkness.
Pulling his Camaro out of the garage and locking up the station, Bobby wondered if he’d see Suzanne tonight.

Blood of the Dragon by Samantha Warren

Kindle Price:
 $4.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
B&N

Smashwords

Author's websites:
www.mariytasmusings.com

Conquered and enslaved, the dragons of Layr live in fear. Their allies are banished, declared outlaws and forced out of human society. Lana, daughter of dragon keepers, is discontented with her mundane existence at the hatchery and the sometimes violent treatment of the dragons in her care. The birth of a rare dragon, descendant of the long-defeated dragon king, will force her to step outside herself and become the hatchling's protector. With the help of her best friend Bolgor, Bellithana the Gypsy, and a Hidden named Prigol, the group seeks to bring an end to the tyranny that has reigned for more than three centuries. Can Lana and her friends bring freedom to the oppressed land? Or will the wicked Princess Slyvania destroy not only Lana's hard won maturity, but the lives of both her and her new friends as well?

Bio: Samantha is an avid reader and indie author. She has published several epic and urban fantasy novels and is currently working on the sequel to Blood of the Dragon. When not reading or writing, she milks cows to pay for her sock fetish.

Excerpt 

The dirt and sand along the riverbank glistened darkly in the fading light. The water held a sickly red tinge as the battle waned. Victims of the slaughter lay strewn across the blood-soaked field. Screams of pain and fear echoed through the darkening sky. An enormous red beast struggled feebly, his left wing crushed beneath his massive weight. Aron, leader of the human army, strode haughtily up to the creature and propped a plated boot on its neck.

"Sigurd, king of the dragons." The words shot from the man's mouth like venom. "How does it feel to know you have failed? All your worthless struggles, your pathetic attempts at retaining your freedom; all for naught. You're pathetic."

At that, Aron spat in the fallen king's face. Sigurd paid no attention to the man. His one remaining eye was focused on a scene across the field. He lowed hauntingly as he watched his beloved Silene being shackled, forever imprisoned by the wretched conquerors. His trusted friend and captain, Roland, lay torn at her side. Sigurd knew the man would not have allowed such an atrocity to happen had he a breath left. As it was, Silene took out half a dozen of Aron's soldiers before she was subdued, spewing their remains across her captors.

The fallen king tore his gaze from his mate and surveyed the carnage. They had fought valiantly, man and beast alike, side by side. Now they lay dying together on the field of defeat. Aron had the greater force; Sigurd knew that more than a year ago. But he would not give up. He would not surrender his people to slavery at the hands of such a tyrant. He built his army, recruiting any dragon or human who would come to his aide. He even appealed to the Hidden. But it wasn't enough.

The promise of power and wealth drew both men and dragons to Aron's side. The self-proclaimed King of All amassed an army larger than had ever been seen in Layr. Many of Sigurd's own soldiers betrayed him and joined Aron. The memory caused the King of Dragons great sadness, but he could not muster the strength to even shake his head. The betrayal of his most trusted brother, Apoph, had stung the deepest.


Interview with Samantha Warren

What will readers like about your book? 

Blood of the Dragon offers a new take on the versatile creature that is the dragon. They are sentient beings whose intelligence often surpasses that of humans. Their compassion and concern for others led to their enslavement, and they must prove that their compassion is not a weakness.

Why did you self publish? 

I write books I want others to enjoy. They can't enjoy those books while they languish in the query/editing process for over a year. Self-publishing also offers the ability to price books much lower than traditional publishers can, which is a major benefit for the reader.

What is your writing process? 

I like to write either curled up on my futon or in my hammock. I typically write in 30-minute increments and I keep a document showing how many words I need to write per week to reach my goal. I usually only focus on one book at a time, unlike many authors who can keep two or three going.

How long does it take you to write your first draft? 

For full-length novels, it takes me approximately four months. Novellas can be finished in a month or so.

What inspired you to write this particular story? 

For years, I had the phrase "Chelandra, Dragon Queen" written on a piece of paper in my purse. I decided to use it for NaNo 2010. While Chelandra (Lana) didn't end up being a queen, she did remain the main character in the story.

Ursula Bauer's A Haunting Affair

Kindle Price: $2.99

Available from: Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Smashwords,

Authors Website: www.UrsulaBauer.com


Ex-cop Sam Tyler made a deathbed promise to uncover the truth behind the murder of his friend’s wife at a remote Adirondack lodge. Emma Bishop, a psychic with a shady past, went legit when she hit eighteen. The action at Holloway Lodge is a dangerous game she needs to play to build on her formidable reputation. As old secrets and fresh bodies turn up…life and love are put to the ultimate test.

Bio:
Ursula Bauer writes paranormal romantic suspense, from furs and fangs to ghosts and psychics, and fancies herself a modern day adventuress always on the lookout for a little bit of trouble. Her books have been noted by reviewers for fast paced action, intrigue, and no shortage of romance. When not writing, she can be found reading through her ever growing TBR list, watching off label movies, battling the woodchucks in the never ending land war, and causing the occasional bit of trouble. In addition to being an avid romance reader, she's a dedicated geek, a movie buff, a crazed cook and gardener, and suffers from a long time addiction to the Star Wars saga.


Excerpt 


A shadow detached itself from the gloom on the porch and her heart leapt into her throat.
“Spooky, isn’t it?” The shadow had a man’s voice. A nice one at that. Deep and resonant, the kind of voice that could talk a woman into all kinds of crazy things.
She found her own voice and answered the darkness. “It’s the scene of a brutal, unsolved murder. Spooky is part of the package.”
“Some people say it was suicide.” The shadow stepped closer to an anemic swath of light, revealing a long body, wide shoulders, and a strong profile, but not much more in terms of detail. What was there, however, was promising.
“People say a lot of things about Jennifer Vaughn’s death. Murder at the hands of an obsessive stalker. Death at the hands of her jealous husband. Robbery gone wrong. I’ve even heard the Lakeside Ghost is responsible,” she countered.
“Eric said you’re always on top of your facts. Looks like he was correct. As to the theories, knowing the Vaughns and their history, any one is a good possibility.”
“That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? To help you figure it out once and for all?” She advanced as they talked, eager to get a better look. She couldn’t resist a good mystery, or a good man, two top runners on her fatal flaw list. She cleared the last shadows, and looked up the stairs at his silhouette. “I’m Emma Bishop.”
“Sam Tyler. I was wondering when you’d show.” He took the steps with an easy grace at odds with his brawny frame.
“The last storm slowed me down. I had to pull off into a diner parking lot on the outskirts of town for almost an hour until it finally let up enough to drive. Cell reception’s pretty sketchy. I tried calling a few times from the road but had no signal.”
“Meyerville’s a town that likes its mountains pure. They’re against too many cell towers. Dead spots all over town and the surrounding hills. Welcome to the outback.”
Sam reached for her suitcase and she let him take it, enjoying the chivalry as much as the wave of heat radiating from his solid body. The view held up pretty nice, too. He was old school man, ruggedly handsome with black, close cropped hair and cool gray eyes. The polar opposite of the overly groomed metrosexuals who were the steady fare in the circles she frequented.
He also wore ‘cop’ they way those men wore the latest fragrance from Dolce and Gabbana. She knew from Eric’s email that the ‘ex’ in Sam’s ex-cop status was permanent, but some, they had it in the blood, the way the Vaughns had nothing but trouble. Taking away the badge didn’t take away the inner cop. Guys like Sam were the original white knights. Stick them back in the times of old and they’d be first in line to slay the dragon of the day.


Interview with Ursula Bauer

What will readers like about your book?
It’s a modern take on the gothic romance, updated for today’s sensibilities but keeping in line with the classic kind of spooky they were famous for. The romance is sweet, and focuses on emotional tension, vs. outright sex, to develop the romantic story. The mystery has plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. The pace is fast, and it promises a quick, entertaining read.

Why did you self publish?
It seemed like a good adventure, and allowed me to be on own schedule which suited my lifestyle a little better when I was working on the book.


What is your writing process?
Get the book done, no matter what it takes. I guess that sounds extreme, but I don’t know how else to describe it. When it’s done I often can’t remember how exactly it put itself together. I do a fair amount of pre-work, on character, plot, and support research, as well as outline, but method varies widely.


How long does it take you to write your first draft?
If I’m focused, have everything done ahead of time, 2 months (first two books). This book happened over a period of time because I wasn’t writing to a deadline.


What inspired you to write this particular story?
I saw a picture of the Vanderbilt’s Adirondack great camp, and things started sparking in my mind. When darkness and cold settle into those remote mountain getaways, it’s easy to picture all kinds of mayhem taking place.

Remedy (A story of Aligare) by Heidi C. Vlach

Kindle Price:
$2.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Smashwords
Author's Website:
www.heidicvlach.com


Peregrine wishes he could set Tillian free. But he is an aging dragon deafened by his mining career, making him dependent on the keen ears of a weasel friend. Peregrine needs Tillian to relay the world to him, unless he makes himself into something other than a deaf old miner.
When a dreaded plague menaces the land, Peregrine has no more time to delay his choice. He must fly for supplies on weakened wings, while Tillian nurses critically ill strangers. Separated for the first time in Tillian's life, they will work for the same cause: saving the young mage Rose and her dying village. In light of this mission of mercy, Peregrine decides to leave his selfish ways behind -- which means leaving Tillian, whether she wants to live for herself or not.

About Heidi C. Vlach


Heidi is a chef-trained waitress from northern Ontario, Canada. When she's not playing video games or cooking, Heidi likes using biology and cultural trivia as building material for her original fantasy worlds.

Excerpt

Peregrine stared into the distance, eyes flinty. Wind whistled in the endless grass.
“It's something you'll never need to worry about.” He glanced over his shoulder, like the dratted plains couldn't keep a secret. “But korvi waste as they get old, usually the labourers and other folk who don't have a daily need for flight. It's a disgrace to watch. Perfectly good wings shrivelling on the vine ... I'm not going to be like that.”
That was a statement tall with pride, just like Peregrine. Miners moved plenty, though. Peregrine had shoulders like a sure cliffside, and legs and tail as tough as rope. He picked Tillian up with whim's ease and he never let himself be anything but capable. Peregrine's kind must not have cared about things like that if they couldn't fly. Tillian supposed she would miss the sky, too, if she had ever been part of something that big.
She forced her ears higher – because she was thinking right now, but she still had to listen. Peregrine was surrounded by wind, and grass, and larks singing, and crunching stems underfoot. Normal things. There was also quiet packed between the two of them. She looked to Peregrine's set mouth.
“Really,” she said, “you're doing better than a lot of people would.”
“Because a lot of people misplace their good sense.” He paused, watching the grass tops. “Truly, though ... I suppose I want to fly places like I used to, whenever the idea strikes. As I did when I was young.”
He made himself sound eons old. Long ago, when the land was new, Peregrine of Ruelle travelled whenever he pleased.
“If you could work any trade,” Peregrine said, “which would you choose?”
“If I–”
Tillian sat straighter, ears splaying: she had never wondered this before and the question hit her like cool water. What would Tillian the earferrin be if she weren't an earferrin? Arts leaped to mind – skills like Giala's sculpting and sketching and music. She could learn those simply enough. But no, Peregrine had said any trade, not just the ones Tillian happened to live alongside. She thought like a korvi, flying over all the possibilities, imagining every skill people had ever learned. If she had lived differently enough, maybe Tillian Sri would tell folk to call her Sri.


Interview with Heidi C. Vlach

What will readers like about your book?
Remedy has a worldview rarely seen in magical fantasy. It's is populated entirely by non-human sentients and they are treated as people, not "talking animals" or plot devices. It's a science-fiction-like social structure applied to more traditional fantasy ideas like magic and peasant villages. Readers may also appreciate the positive reading experience. While the Aligare world does have problems and suffering, its people believe in working together for the common good.

Why did you self publish?
Remedy isn't strongly similar to anything well-known on the adult market, so traditional publishing treated it as unmarketable. I think it's unhealthy to shun "weird" ideas like that. Where are new avenues supposed to come from if no one is willing to try something unfamiliar? I self-published because I want readers to decide for themselves whether my approach to fantasy has merit.

What is your writing process?
I don't really have a set process. I keep a text file of partially-formed story and character ideas, which sometimes merge together into whole stories, or I might just start hammering down a new idea once I think of it. My writing output varies widely from day to day, depending on what I'm thinking about.

How long does it take you to write your first draft?
I'd say that a rough draft takes me a year and there's always some rewriting after that. I avoid common formulas, so it takes me a while to fiddle with a new story and get all the parts working.

What inspired you to write this particular story?
Years ago, I read a blog post pointing out that fantasy/sci-fi disabilities often aren't disabilities at all. A character can have a devastating injury glossed over with spells and herbs, or they can receive cybernetics that work better than their original body, Magic and highly advanced science can solve problems so neatly that they trivialize the original loss. I had already supposed that my keen-eared ferrin race could be assistants to people with hearing loss, so I started developing Peregrine the hearing impaired miner and his assistant Tillian. The core of the Remedy story is Peregrine rearranging his life so that his inabilities don't define him -- or entrap his loved ones.

 

The Healer By Sabrina Furminger

Kindle Price: 

$7.69

Available from:

Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook (US),

Amazon Paperback (US), Sabrina Furminger Dot Com

Author Website:  

Sabrina Furminger 

More than anything in the world, Ivy Merchuk longs to be just another face in the crowd—easier said than done for a woman born with the ability to heal grievous injuries with the touch of her hands. To a young girl just struggling to fit in, this gift is an unbearable burden, one that fills her with shame and anxiety. Her mother understands and cautions the young girl to keep this strange and wonderful ability a secret, for fear that her daughter will attract the wrong sort of attention. So Ivy struggles to conceal her extraordinary skills from the world as she grows into adulthood.

Desperate for answers, she pours herself into a life of research and lands a job as a librarian. One fateful night after work, she stumbles onto a brutal crime scene. Horrified and conflicted, she makes the difficult decision to help the victim, who has been beaten almost to death. And this chance encounter with a brooding urban samurai named Victor Morgan sends her already precarious world skidding off its axis.

What these two discover together will change both of their destinies.

Bio: 
Sabrina Furminger spins futuristic yarns from an antique secretary desk in Vancouver, Canada. Sabrina studied English Literature at Queen’s University and edited The Reader, the monthly literary supplement published by the Queen’s Journal; later, she honed her craft as the Journal’s news editor and spent one glorious summer interning at the Kingston Whig-Standard.

Since 2002, Sabrina has contributed dozens of articles to a diverse roster of trade and consumer publications, and in recent years she has returned to her first loves: creative non-fiction (in which she often explores her biracialism), historical narratives, and speculative sci-fi. Sabrina published her debut novel, The Healer, in August 2011.

INTERVIEW WITH SABRINA FURMINGER

What will readers like about your book? 

The Healer brings the addictive “what-ifs” of science fiction into chick lit territory. A gripping tale of heart-wrenching romance and self-discovery unfolds as Ivy—the spirited protagonist—embarks on a wild paranormal adventure.

Many readers see something of themselves in Ivy. Though she’s desperate to be just like everyone else, her big secret—that she can heal horrific wounds in others by summoning the regenerative energy of the universe to her hands—makes her feel like a freak. And so she seeks comfort in books and self-imposed isolation—until a chance encounter with a brooding urban samurai sends her world skidding off its axis.

Readers have told me they love the quirky cast of characters that Ivy meets along the way: Victor, the deeply flawed romantic hero who lights a fire in Ivy and sets the events of the book in motion; Bill, the aged Reiki healer who helps Ivy explore her one-in-seven-billion talent; and Piper, the sunny Yakuza bookkeeper that Ivy first encounters in her darkest hour.

Why did you self-publish?

Self-publishing was my first choice. I love The Healer, and I didn’t want it to languish in an unending series of slush piles. The publishing industry as we know it is dying; publishing houses are closing their doors at a record pace. I do not mourn these closures. I see it as an opportunity to appeal directly to my potential readers. Self-publishing gives the author complete control over the process. Self-publishing is the future, and the future is now.

What is your writing process?

I admire those disciplined writers who rise at dawn each day and write 1,000 words before their first cup of coffee. I just can’t do that. I can’t force myself to be creative. I need to be gripped by the muse, and when that happens, I can’t sleep until every word of the story has vacated my brain. When I’m in the zone, I write in coffee shops, on the bus, and between meetings. Once I have a first draft in my hands, I let it simmer for two or three weeks, and then I read, re-read, drink coffee, curse and edit until my eyes bleed. I read each sentence out loud to test the melody, rhythm and flow of my story. I have a team of professional beta-readers who give me their brutally honest opinions; I want to hear what works and where I’ve failed, and then I make adjustments accordingly. I choose to be precious about story and not necessarily the words I use to tell it, and so I play with the words until I’m satisfied that they’re communicating my story with razor-sharp accuracy.

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

It took me nearly two years to complete a first draft of The Healer. The manuscript was lacking a final chapter when I pushed it aside to give birth and dive into new motherhood, but once I came up for air, I wrapped it up in next to no time at all. Adrenaline and lack of sleep were all I needed to get it done.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

The Healer is based on a recurring dream I had for more than a decade, in which I’d watch helplessly as injury would befall my friends and pets, but then I would discover I had the power to heal their wounds with my hands. I’d wake from these dreams full of questions: what would I do if I actually had this gift? What kind of life would I lead? How would society view my abilities? What dangers would I face? After I received a life-altering Reiki session from my uncle, himself a certified energy healer, I decided to finally explore my recurring dream.

I also love a good love story (the kind that makes your heart ache), and a hazy romantic figure that eventually took the form of Victor Morgan has lurked on the edge of my consciousness for years. I needed to “meet” him, and now that I’ve built him out in words, I’m in love with him more than ever.

Interestingly enough, since I completed the first draft of The Healer, I haven’t dreamt about healing. I miss those dreams.

Lucifer's Odyssey by Rex Jameson

Kindle Price: $3.99
Available from: Amazon
Authors Website: therexfiles.blogspot.com




Lucifer languishes in an earthly prison, awaiting the apocalypse that will finally free him after 200,000 years. Before breaking loose, he discovers that the armageddom he set in motion will destroy the capital of Chaos, his home universe.

He travels back to Chaos and stumbles upon a bloody civil war devastating his homeland. The realm’s magic wielders are firmly under the control of a rival clan, and without their protection, Lucifer's family is in mortal peril. As old demon clan rivalries blossom and a new hostile universe expands across the known multiverse, Lucifer is faced with not only protecting Chaos from annihilation but also saving his rightful place on the throne.

Bio:

Rex Jameson is my pseudonym for speculative fiction. The name is derived from my great uncle, who was a journalist of good repute. He died recently, and his biting wit and charm in everything he did inspired me to publish fiction. I can only hope to entertain others half as well as he did.

Excerpt

Chapter 3 – The Heist

Sariel paid little attention to his brother pacing around the corridor. Lucifer could get as angry as he wanted, but Sariel had to know the truth. Unlike the rest of his body, Sariel’s wings could be at the Council Archives in seconds.

“Are you listening to me?” Lucifer asked.

“No. I’m busy. Shut up for a second.”

Lucifer’s dark mutterings faded into the background as Sariel rummaged through bookshelves in a library. This particular archive was inside of the Chaos Primal, which gave Sariel ready access from almost anywhere in any dimension.

“Assassination… Goblin Realm…” Sariel mumbled as he passed over parchments and orbs.

“Azazel is dying,” Lucifer reminded him. “Stop whatever you are doing and think.”

Sariel’s disappointment came through him in the form of a deep sigh. He would have to look for the viewing orb later.

“What about a space shuttle?” Lucifer asked. “We could pump all the air out of it. Our lungs would certainly stand the pressure.”

Any heist plan immediately got Sariel’s attention, but there was a major problem. They had tried this before in the 1960s and lost one of their closest guards, Beelzebub, in the process. Despite the human successes with busting through the atmosphere, the demons never tried to escape in a manmade spacecraft again. They had decided to wait out the apocalypse.

Lucifer appeared to see the concern on Sariel’s face. “They’ve gotten better. There hasn’t been a major catastrophe in years.”

Sariel shook his head. “That’s not the point. We have no idea if Beelzebub being in the cockpit caused that catastrophe, or if it was a mechanical failure. The Ruskies destroyed all evidence of the launch before the debris even touched down on Earth. If we just wait a couple of years, the black holes will suck out the atmosphere, and we should be able to lift off from the back of the planet in time to avoid the event horizon.”

“It has always been a shaky plan, brother, and Azazel doesn’t have two years.”

“Don’t let me die here,” Azazel groaned, looking up from his bloody bed of gore on the floor.

“I’ll be right back,” Lucifer said, as he pushed himself through the doorway and back into the warehouse. He returned to the corridor with the damp towel that Azazel had tossed him and wrapped it around Azazel’s torso to cover the wounds. He pushed both hands down on the wounded demon’s chest.

“Do you have a better option?” Lucifer asked Sariel.

“No.”

“Then let’s hijack a shuttle launch.”

“Why the hell not? Should be exciting!”

Lucifer shook his head and looked at Azazel, who choked on some blood as he laughed.

“There’s one set for tomorrow at Cape Canaveral in Florida,” Lucifer said. “Might be our last chance to target a fully fueled one for several months.”

“I’ll get some more towels for Azazel,” Sariel said. “Should we bother packing?”

He knew the answer before he even asked the question. He looked through the warehouse doorway at the accumulated resources he and his brother had acquired over thousands of years of playing the markets. Millions of dollars of wealth in just this room alone. Oh well. It was just a game to bide their time here anyway. Beating humans at anything wasn’t much of a challenge. Bigger games were afoot in Alurabum, the capital of Chaos, and this was their chance to finally get back home.


Interview with Rex Jameson

What will readers like about your book?

Speculative fiction readers will love the diverse universes and themes that pervade this novel. Lucifer's Odyssey tackles some lofty concepts including technological impacts on mankind's future, our path to immortality, and how we'll have to deal with the pervasiveness of sensory inputs that will essentially render us omniscient or at the very least omnipresent.


Why did you self publish?

I love the idea of having control over my work. I submitted to three to four agents before I found Joe Konrath's blog and the Kindleboard Writer's Cafe, and I haven't looked back since. Traditional publishing is certainly an option for brand building, but for my first series, I am extremely happy with the idea of controlling my pricing, advertising, etc. I plan to continue the next two books of the series as self published works.


What is your writing process?

My writing process isn't finalized yet. For this book, everything started as a short story, and I thought about it from time-to-time for 10 years. When I went back to college, philosophical and scientific ideas melded into a set of themes that I wanted to express. From there, I planned out a story arc for at least one book. When I knew I wanted to write a series, I planned the story arcs for the next two books in advance. Trying to retrofit story arcs seemed like too daunting of a task for me to write the first book and simply hope for the best. I'm sure I'll have to do redo some of it anyway, but the way I have the series laid out, readers will hopefully have crafted "Aha" moments scattered throughout.


How long does it take you to write your first draft?

Depends on what you consider the start of my writing process. This novel began as a short story ten years ago written through the perspective of an angel reincarnated on Earth. It sat on my computer for a decade until I was in grad school. I dusted it off shortly after my uncle died, and within six months, the rest of the story fell into place. The first draft didn't include a lot of the arcs that I wanted to bind together in the other two novels. If you want to count that in the writing process, the story drafting took about nine months total, including a substantive edit though.


What inspired you to write this particular story?

Even as a kid, I always wanted to know the origin story behind Lucifer and Jehovah and all those beautiful angels in paintings. When my parents couldn't give me an adequate one, I created my own and freely improvised commonly known facts under the guise that the stories we are told are slight exaggerations or at best hazy reinterpretations of true events.

After the novelty of an origin story wore off though, the main theme of humanity's future and involvement in a universe of billions of galaxies, countless stars, and even more abundant planets lit a fire under me. The novel offers philosophic possibilities that are manifested in the various races and groups of immortals, and hopefully, all of this is woven into an interesting, engaging and extremely fun story.

To Hell and Back by Carl East

Kindle Price: $2.99
Available from: Amazon, Smashwords, B&N





When a man wants to prove that his parents went to heaven after they died, he's prepared to do just about anything to find out. Anything in this case means travelling to hell to prove that heaven exists.

Bio:
I was born In Hull, Yorkshire, England in 1956. I started to write at the age of 44 in the year 2000 and I wasn't very good. I slowly learned over the years that followed, mainly from people online who gave up their time to help me. I chose to write imaginative things and sometimes allowed my own imagination to get away from me. I started with erotic tales before going onto more serious stuff, although having said that my erotic stories have been popular.

The first book I published was "The Second Apprentice" followed closely by "The Talking Sword" both of which are sword and sorcerer type tales. My favorite release though was "Hell's Gate" and that one's doing very well now.

I now live in America and have done for the past 5 years. I'm very happily married and intend to stay that way.

Excerpt

Ten years, that’s how long I have left to live. It’s now the 16th of November 1998 and I’ve been to Hell and back.

My name is Geoffrey Morgan and my tale is one of disbelief but true never the less. I consider myself an expert in the paranormal, in that I have explanations to give on quite a number of subjects such as the occult and the spirit world.

For some years now I’ve been trying to prove the existence of Heaven, in part to set my mind at rest that that was where my parents had gone when they were taken from me. Well before their time I might add.

I’d interviewed countless people who had claimed they saw the light at the end of the tunnel during a near death experience. The stories all had one thing in common, none of them ever reached the end of that tunnel, so they couldn’t tell me what was beyond the light.

I studied ancient texts on the subject hoping that before the time of science people had known and seen things that couldn’t be explained away logically, and therefore had a better understanding of what might await us all after death. Once again, I came to a dead end, after not finding anything worthy of describing the afterlife.

I’d gotten to the point where I was feeling the only true way of finding out if Heaven existed would be to wait until I died. That of course was unacceptable, but what else could I do?

It was during those days of doubt that I suddenly had an idea. I surmised that if I couldn’t prove Heaven existed, how about proving that Hell did. My logic was quite simple, if I could prove that Hell existed it would validate my opinion that Heaven must exist as well. The more I thought about it, the more I believed that that was the only course left to me. So now, I had to prove the existence of Hell as a place rather than an idea, and knowing a lot about the occult I had quite a few places to start from.

I visited an old friend who had the most extensive library of ancient texts anywhere in the world, and all to do with Hell. He was only too pleased to allow me access to his collection, once I told him what I was doing. He already believed that Hell was a place you could visit, but didn’t have the courage to find out for sure.

He did come in handy however, because he directed me to a text that talked about bargaining one’s soul with the devil. I didn’t think I wanted to go that far, so I kept on looking for anything else that might prove useful. In the end though, I came back to that first piece of text repeatedly until finally I decided that I would read it and find out the truth.

It spoke of an ancient sorcerer who devised a way of summoning demons within a pentagram, a pentagram that made it impossible for the demon to cross into our world and was obliged to answer whatever questions the sorcerer asked. The text went on to say that, the demon had to speak the truth, or he couldn’t return to Hell.

At the bottom of this text was a very rough picture of the pentagram in question, and the words to summon the demon with. Fortunately I didn’t have to depend on the picture itself as it had faded over time and wasn’t that legible, as there was also a written description of how to draw it and what to use.

I talked all of this over with my friend first, wanting him to know what I was doing in case something bad happened to me. He tried to talk me out of it, as he was convinced that I was messing with things I didn’t understand. I assured him that I knew what I was doing, and he helped me set the pentagram up in the basement. I think if the truth were known he was interested in what would happen.

Chatting with Carl East

What will readers like about your book?
It’s different from the norm and original.

Why did you self publish?
I enjoy writing and saw an opportunity to cut through all the red tape that was needed to get published.

What is your writing process?
I like to think up ideas and play with them a little, sometimes this produces a good story and others a load of rubbish. lol

How long does it take you to write your first draft?
Anywhere from three months to six, I’m not a quick writer.

What inspired you to write this particular story?
I was sat thinking about the existence of Heaven when the idea for this story came to me.

Timeless Trilogy, Book One, Fate by Tallulah Grace

Kindle Price:

$0.99
Available from: 

Amazon
Authors Website:

www.tallulahgrace.com

Is precognition a prescription for happiness or disaster?

The good things in life are coming together for Kristina Collins. She’s found her ideal home, her career is on track for mega success and the man of her dreams has finally come back into her life.

In Fate, the first installment of the Timeless Trilogy, Kris Collins discovers the benefits and risks of having precognitive visions while being stalked by a serial killer. Her friends can’t help her, the FBI can’t save her; she must save herself.

The Timeless Trilogy heroines, Kristina, Veronica and Cassandra, each deal with paranormal abilities as they discover and rediscover eternal love.

Bio: An aficionado of anything paranormal, Tallulah Grace pens romantic suspense novels with a paranormal flair. Tallulah was born and raised in a small southern town located in the foothills of the vibrant Blue Ridge Mountains. When she's not developing characters and weaving stories, Tallulah enjoys reading and bead-weaving.

Excerpt 
Kris bolted straight up in bed, sweat streaming down her arms and face. Her breathing was fast and shallow, as if she had been running for her life. The pink of early dawn peeked through the crack in the curtain as she struggled to regain control. She was home. She was safe.

The dream that had plagued her for weeks now was becoming more and more clear. The man chasing her was still in shadow, but scenes from the movie rolling in front of her were etched in her mind. The flames were everywhere; she could see Roni screaming and Cassie fall to the floor. Her mother and father were both fighting the fiery onslaught, beating back the flames with some kind of fabric, though they had been dead for years. 

The faces and the surroundings were in sepia tone, but the inferno was blue and red. The horror on the screen was bad enough, but Kris knew that the worst part of the nightmare had yet to catch up with her. Icy fingers scraped her spine as she ran as hard as she could. No matter how fast her feet flew, she knew that it was only a matter of seconds before he caught up with her.

Interview with Tallulah Grace

What will readers like about your book? 

The characters. Kris, Roni and Cassie come to life in Fate, along with one (maybe two) love interests. The relationships continue to develop in the next two installments, Spellbound and Destiny. From the connection between the three heroines to the love each one discovers as the stories unfold, I believe that readers will enjoy a rapport with the women and the men who love them.

Why did you self publish? 

Access and control. I control the content and price of my books. I love the fact that readers, myself included, can find interesting and entertaining books in an electronic format at a fraction of the hardback costs.

What is your writing process? 

I'd love to tell you that I'm organized with a story/character board, but that's not how I do it. I have an initial inkling of the main characters, then I just start writing. The story evolves, pretty much in order. I may change or rearrange during the editing process or even during the first draft, but the basic story unfolds as the characters develop.

How long does it take you to write your first draft? 

Around six weeks, if I focus on writing at least 1000 words after work each day. Finishing a first draft in this amount of time also requires writing most of every Saturday and Sunday.

What inspired you to write this particular story? 

It wasn’t so much inspiration as necessity. I’ve known for years that there was at least one book rattling around inside my soul, but there was never time to write it. Turns out, there’s more than one. Developing the characters and adapting the story line is truly an organic thing. Quite often, I never knew what was going to happen until I started writing it. If I tell you that the characters told me who they were, you’ll probably think I’m crazy, but that’s exactly what happened.

Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead by Christiana Miller

Kindle Price: 

$2.99
Available from: 

Amazon US Kindle

Amazon US Paperback

Barnes & Noble 

Smashwords 

Diesel
Authors Website: 

www.christianamiller.com


Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead

A little magic can go a long way -- to really screwing up a girl's life!

Mara is having the worst month of her life. At least, that’s what her cards tell her and they’ve never been wrong. She's evicted from her apartment, loses her job and is banned from Beverly Hills. So when the tarot cards predict her imminent demise, she uses a little magic to make her world right.

Suddenly, an aunt she’s never met dies, leaving Mara as her sole heir. But when Mara moves into her inherited home, she discovers Aunt Tillie never moved out. She’s still one pissed-off old lady, even post-mortem, and she blames Mara’s magical meddling for her death.

When Mara accidentally releases a demon and awakens the spirit of the most powerful witch in history, Tillie’s ready to kill her -- literally. It’s the only way she can think of to save the girl from herself. The witch and the demon, however, have other plans for Mara’s body.

Bio:

Christiana Miller is a recovering TV writer and a frequently overwhelmed mom. If her life was a TV show, it would be an off-the-wall dramedy, full of quirky characters and unusual situations. She's had her DNA shot into space (where it now resides on the International Space Station), she's been the voices of all the female warriors on Mortal Kombat II and III, and she's been serenaded by Klingons at a pool party. You can check out more of her quirky adventures at www.christianamiller.com

Excerpt 

SOMEBODY TELL AUNT TILLIE SHE'S DEAD

One of the problems with being a witch is when you ask the universe a question, it generally gives you an answer. Or just enough of one to ruin a perfectly good week.

But since it was my birthday...

And since I was an eternal optimist...

And mostly 'cause I was stuck at the longest red light in the history of traffic, with nothing else to do...

I dug my tarot deck out of my purse and pulled three cards for the coming year.

Death.

Three of Swords.

The Tower.

Transformation. Sorrow. Change through destruction. Happy birthday to me.

Damn it. I shouldn't have looked. You'd think I'd know better by now. Damn tarot cards always suckered me into peeking into my future and I just about always regretted it. Because the hell of it was...

They were usually right.

* * *

After a quick stop at Trader Joe's, I was finally home. I propped the grocery bag on my hip, wrestled open the wrought iron gate and placed my hand on my mailbox. Mara Stephens, Apt 1-C.

I stood for a second, hoping my unemployment check was in there and tried to read the vibes. This was a game I always played with myself -- a small psychic exercise to keep my 'sight' sharp. But I didn't feel any sense of urgency or hope. Just a whopping dose of dread.

Great. So my guess was no check, but at least one major bill I'd have to pay. I unlocked the box and quickly sorted through the mail. Sure enough -- a sale flyer from the Crooked Pantry, a birthday card from a temp agency and a pink notice from the Dept. of Water and Power.

Good thing I had plenty of candles to fall back on. Tucked into the back of the mailbox was a reminder about the rent. At least that was one thing I didn't need to worry about. Lenny knew I was good for it. How much longer I'd be able to pay the rent though... That thought made me queasy.

Suddenly, a wave of panic hit my stomach and clenched it hard. Forget crawling, gooseflesh positively raced across my arms. I struggled to breathe. Whatever was wrong, it all seemed to be coming from the direction of my apartment.

I dropped my mail into the grocery bag and peeked around the corner of the mail stand. Behind the screen door, my front door was wide open.

Shit! I ducked back behind the mailboxes and fumbled through my purse for my cell phone and dialed 9-1-1.
Busy. Bloody hell. No wonder the crime rate was so high in Los Angeles.

If I was lucky, it would just be a break-in. A simple case of anonymous robbery.

But as I crept closer, what I saw made my breath catch in my throat.

Great. Just freaking great. Why did it have to be her? Why couldn't it have just been some whacked-out crack-head carting off my TV?

Interview with Christiana Miller

What will readers like about your book? 

It's got chick-lit attitude, mixed with a supernatural storyline. The characters are quirky -- even the non-human ones! So, for people who like their paranormal stories mixed with a lot of humor, this will appeal to them. Also, a surprising amount of research went into the book, so this will also appeal to people who view the supernatural as part of their everyday lives -- I've tried to keep things as authentic as possible, so that the various walks of life and alternative lifestyles reflected in the story are accurately represented.

Why did you self publish? 

I didn't want to spend another few years chasing the publishing-go-round. I had already spent years writing and rewriting the story, and I wanted to get it out to the marketplace. It was the only way I could get it out of my head, so I could start working on the next one. I knew I had a niche book, a genre book, and traditionally, that's the type of book that works best in the self-publishing arena.

What is your writing process? 

It's always a little bit different. I try to challenge myself as much as possible. If I'm getting used to outlining, I'll write a seat-of-the-pantser. If I'm getting too used to winging it, I'll outline. It keeps things interesting. Normally, what I do is have a very, very loose outline, so I have some idea of where I'm going. But how the characters choose to reach that destination is frequently a surprise.

How long does it take you to write your first draft? 

Normally, I write scripts, and I'm ruled by deadlines. This was my first novel, so it took an unbelievably long time as I had a lot of learning to do along the way. While I've always been a heavy-duty reader, learning to write a novel is a skill of its own. Usually, scripts take me anywhere from one week to two months for a first draft, depending on whether they're features or TV, whether I'm getting paid for them or they're on spec. I'm not sure how long this novel took for a first draft, as I kept rewriting it along the way. I love to rewrite, so I can get kind of obsessive about it. My guess is somewhere between six months and a year. But I was also writing other projects at the same time, so it's hard to tell.

What inspired you to write this particular story? 

I went to visit my dad when he was dying, and the story and characters popped into my head one night. So I started writing everything down. It actually started with Lisette's story, which is set in the past, and eventually, the character of Mara showed up, who would turn out to be the modern-day protagonist, and Lisette's story became part of Mara's story. Also, I had a close friend whose pet toad was named Lord Grundleshanks, which has got to be the best name for a toad, ever. I loved that name. And when Lord Grundleshanks died, I promised my friend I'd immortalize him in a story.

Thank you for this opportunity to talk to you and your readers!

   

The Black God's War with Moses Siregar III

Kindle Price: 

$2.44
Available from: 

Amazon 

B&N 

Smashwords

iBooks
Authors Website: 

sciencefictionfantasybooks.net

Against the backdrop of epic warfare and the powers of ten mysterious gods, Lucia struggles to understand The Black One.

Her father-king wants war.

Her messianic brother wants peace.

The black god wants his due.

She suffers all the consequences.

King Vieri is losing his war against the lands of Pawelon. Feeling abandoned by his god, he forces his son Caio, the kingdom’s holy savior, to lead his army. Victory ought to come soon.

To counter Caio’s powers, Pawelon’s prince enters the conflict. Rao is a gifted sage, a master of spiritual laws. He joins the rajah to defend their citadel against the invaders. But Rao’s ideals soon clash with his army’s general.

The Black One tortures Lucia nightly with visions promising another ten years of bloodshed. She can no longer tell the difference between the waking world and her nightmares. Lucia knows the black god too well. He entered her bed and dreams when she was ten.

The Black One watches, waiting to see Lucia confront an impossible decision over the fates of two men—and two lands.

Interview with Moses Siregar III 

What will readers like about your book? 

I'll tell you what my early readers have said they liked. They've told me it has a satisfying ending, good pacing, interesting worldbuilding, characters with depth, and a complex plot. Of course, they're all pathological liars.

Why did you self publish? 

Hey, could you not ask that? That question really strikes a nerve. Seriously though, I lost a bet.

What is your writing process? 

Mainly, I need loud music. After that, lots of time.

How long does it take you to write your first draft? 

This one took me a little more than three months. The first draft was around 115,000 words. The final version is around 121,000 words.

What inspired you to write this particular story? 

Homer's Iliad and a cartoon series I watched when I was a kid, called Robotech.
  

Raingun by John Blackport

Kindle Price:
$4.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Author's websites:
www.raingun.com



Rick Rivoire is flush with money, women, and prospects. He protects his country as one of the Rainguns, an elite regiment of spellcasting cavalry.

But national policy drifts ominously into slavery and religious persecution, sparking rebellion. Joining the rebels could land Rick on a prison ship, in slave-irons --- or atop the same gallows where he watched his father hang.

The alternative looks no brighter. The status quo imperils Rick’s hard-won self-respect. Supporting tyranny would doom his dream to emulate the valiant swordswoman who braved a den of monsters to rescue the lonely, terrified nine-year-old boy he once was.

Rick can’t stay above the fray forever. He must either defend a government whose actions disgust him --- or risk everything he has.

This story unfolds in a world of bloodthirsty pirates, brave musketeers, and vile monsters. Its target audience is anyone who has ever wrestled with questions of whether, and how, to risk opposing the actions of their country.

This book contains graphic violence and some explicit sex. It is intended for adults only.

Bio: I’m a New England attorney who needs to keep this separate professional identities separate.

Excerpt:

“Those two are cute together, old and in love,” said Danya. “You mustn’t tell them that, though. Shall we sit?”

“I’m sure you want to sit again after singing so powerfully. So how did Joaquim lose his eyes?”

“In Fedyrshchenkoff. He was tortured, for stealing. When he was in the army.”

Rick’s blood slowed. “That’s awful.”

“The awful part was losing his eyes. But you knew that.”

“When did this happen?”

“Many years ago. He sold the army’s korba on the black market. He’s lucky they didn’t execute him.”

“Execution might have been kinder.”

“He had only one Gift left, even then. Or at least he said he did. No doubt that helped convince them to spare his life.”

“How long did they have him?”

“Oh, many months. Over a year, maybe two. You can see from the way he shuffles, his hip was broken too. Twice, with a hammer.”

“Why do all that to a helpless old man?”

“He wasn’t so old and helpless then. They hoped he’d give up names of the buyers. But he didn’t know their names, so that was that. Eventually they believed him and sent him home.” Danya finished rolling something between papers, lit it on the table’s candle, and brought it to her mouth to inhale. “But they beat him very often. He had a bad time.”

“How did he get through it?”

“Why don’t you ask him.”

“I can’t do that. It might upset him.”

“And so what? He’s blind. He can’t hurt you.” She grinned archly. “If he tries to hit you, you can run away.”

Rick tried to sound firm, but not too serious. “I will not make an amiable old blind fellow who reminds me of my grandfather to re-live torture.”

“Oh why the hell not! He makes everyone else re-live it. Some days he won’t shut up about it.”

“So he talks of it often? How did he get through it?”

“Well, Joaquim says. . .” she tapped her hand holding the gasper, trying to shake off ash it didn’t have. “He imagined Samantha’s face. When someone tortures you? They control your thought, so there’s no escape. But some people escape, back to comforting memories, and stay there.”

“What do you mean, stay there?” Rick didn’t like having his brow knit in front of Danya, because it didn’t show him at his best. But he couldn’t help it now. “Do you mean, they stay there forever, lost forever? Don’t the torturers try to drag them out?”

Danya exhaled, her face resigned. “I’m sure they do.”

“Like a wolf, trying to get at a rabbit hidden in a hollow log. Only the rabbit can’t bolt out the other side, because it’s stuck now.”

Danya surveyed him. “You’ve thought about this a lot, haven’t you?”



Interview with John Blackport

What will readers like about your book? 
I expect they’ll like the action scenes. I also hope they’ll like that half the royalties are going to the Scleroderma Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure. I’ve dedicated this book to my brother-in-law, and I want the book to help fight the disease that killed him.

Why did you self publish? 
I was tired of having agents and editors tell me I should switch to paranormal romance because military fantasy won’t sell.

What is your writing process? 
I start with a Grand Chronology of events stretching over months and years of time in the story. Then I decide what order the chapters go in, and write them. Then I do individual checks of the whole manuscript --- overusage of certain words, sentence structures, and so forth. By this point it has become clear exactly where the major surgery is required.

How long does it take you to write your first draft? 
Centuries

What inspired you to write this particular story? 
Short answer --- Bernard Cornwell and George Macdonald Fraser. Long answer --- I think Americans were polarized by the wars of the last ten years, and I wanted to make sense of how events like that can drive wedges through a person or a nation. The fantasy genre allows me to do that with a completely distinct fact pattern that won’t be confused with the real world.

Echo Falls by Jaime McDougall

Kindle Price:
$2.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Amazon US Paperback

Author's websites:
www.inkyblots.com

Running from a nightmare stalking her every move, Phoebe Martin arrives in Echo Falls hoping she has finally found a safe place to stop. But trouble has a way of catching up and soon the signs are there.

After a vicious attack in an alley, policeman Aidan O'Bryan is left with Phoebe as his only path to understanding why the Echo Falls werewolf pack - his pack - is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses Aidan and everything she has come to love.

Love and duty become one as Aidan strives to prevent Phoebe from becoming the next victim. But with Phoebe just as determined to protect Aidan and her new home, secrets from her past threaten to tear them apart.

Will love give Phoebe the strength to trust Aidan and face her fears, or will her past destroy her future?

Bio: Jaime McDougall is a citizen of the world, currently loving life in beautiful country Victoria in Australia. She loves eating sushi, kidnapping her husband and naming her pets in honour of science fiction authors. (So far, a cat named Asimov and a puppy named Brin.)

A love of fiction has always coursed through her veins and she told stories as a child even before she knew how to write them. Settling into one genre was never her style and she has plans for novels in women’s fiction, urban fantasy and more – all with a touch of romance.

She has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: High School: The Real Deal and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles. She has also enjoyed writing a column called ‘The New Australian’ in local newspapers as well as various articles online.

Excerpt 

She pushed forward to sit on the edge of her bed so she could use her bedside table to help her stand. The pain in her thigh shot like lightning up her side to her shoulder, sending her back down to the bed. She sat there trying to catch her breath as her white-knuckled grip on the knife made her fingers start to tingle.

“You’ll rip your stiches.”

She spun around. Or, at least, she tried to. The bandages and injuries beneath them pulled again and a pathetic little whine escaped her lips. Tears welled up in her eyes and she let out a hissing breath as she turned her back to him.
Great. As if she needed to look any weaker in front of an intruder. An intruder who’d made breakfast. At least he wasn’t in a hurry.

“You’re not in good enough shape to be moving around like that.”

She held the knife, ready to use it, as the owner of the voice moved closer and finally came into view. He placed a tray with a hearty breakfast on it – complete with a steaming mug of something sweet-smelling – on the end of her bed. He plucked a mug of steaming black coffee off the tray and then stepped back, eyeing the knife. She looked at the tray and then at him, frowning. He didn’t look overly alarmed at her wielding a weapon.

She bit her bottom lip, her stomach demanding food. He’d even cut up some fruit, which meant he must have bought groceries. She looked down at her clothes and then back at him.

“You’ve seen me naked,” she said, the words coming out more like a croak as she brought her hand up to her throat.

The corner of his mouth jerked up, his lopsided smile making him look a lot less threatening. He sat down in the blue camping chair in the corner of the room.

“Drink the tea. It has honey and lemon to help your throat.” He gestured at the mug as if he made tea and breakfast for knife-wielding women every day. “And I tried not to look.”

She hesitated but her stomach won out. After all, an intruder who made her breakfast couldn’t be all bad. Maybe that’s just how they did it in Echo Falls; breakfast and a robbery.

Interview with Jaime McDougall

What will readers like about your book?

I think readers will like how Echo Falls isn't about how 'oh my, these characters are werewolves', if you know what I mean. Echo Falls is about a group of people who are dealing with a problem. They just so happen to be werewolves and it just so happens to be a werewolf problem. The fact that they are supernatural is integral to the story, and yet it is also secondary to the story of Phoebe and Aidan.

Why did you self-publish?

The road to decide to self-publish was a long one. I debated for a long time, but in the end, a friend helped me to realize that self-publishing provided me with everything I wanted: a short wait from completion to available for sale, complete say over my cover art and the option for ebook only or ebook and print book. The freedom and options are excellent.

What is your writing process?

As much as I would like to claim some daily writing routine, my writing is more squeezed in here and there when I get my backside in a chair to do it. I spend a lot of time letting the ideas simmering in my mind before sitting down and trying to get in about 2k words a night (on good nights).

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

Usually about three months for the first draft. I could cut that down if I were more firm about life not intruding, but I have yet to get to that point.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

I had chapter one stuck in my head for a long time. At that point, I didn't know Phoebe well or why she wanted me to tell her story, but then I started watching a lot of documentaries on wolf packs and became fascinated not only with pack structure but with the thought that werewolves were humans who had a more interesting passionate side than the rest of us.