The Seven Isaacs by Michael Mustizer

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 Authors Website: www.michaelmustizer.com








Eight and his six siblings are by-products of an underground, illegal human cloning experiment. Born and raised in a laboratory under constant scrutiny, observation and experimentation. They have rarely, if ever seen the blue skies of the world outside.

One day, the alarm sounds and the man they call Father ushers them toward safe passage, as the laboratory is seized and shut down by a government task force. The seven aptly named and numbered children are forced into a world unknown and unseen by their senses to experience the vivid realities that we consider day to day living. While struggling with the rising emotions of anger, greed, love, loss and religion, they quickly learn of their delicate place in this world along with the frailty of their bodies and minds as they cope with medical side-effects and “abilities” of their condition as only Father could explain.

Oh, and lest we forget, the task force that is set upon their capture and if necessary, extermination of this inhuman and abnormal breed of humanity.

The story dissects the journey of the seven children as they discover the modern world for the first time, for better and for worse, while fighting for their lives against a military that is hunting them and the secrets in their past that haunt them. While bordering on science fiction, modern reality and medical discovery, the story unfolds and gently touches on the philosophical effects that human cloning can have on the minds of children when faced with the harsh realities of their differences in this world.

Excerpt:

From Chapter Four:

His hand instinctively tightened on the pistol. It gave him comfort. It gave him strength. It gave him the upper hand. He held it up and out as he walked backward toward the door of the bomb shelter.

Robots? We are not robots! Four stepped up for the first time since the red light started flashing. Stop calling us robots! We are not robots!

Father told you not to call us robots.

Stop being so mean. Why are you so angry?

Seven stepped closer to Six. Brother, please. Stop. We know that Father gave you free will. But right now, we need you. We need to stick together. They need you to be strong and be helpful. The only way any of this is going to work is if we all do what Father asked of us.

You have no concept of the word mother, yet you are going to blindly seek one out? We have no mothers. Don’t you understand that? We aren’t like them. We are different. We were not made the same way. We are different. Why should I stay? I will be just as safe on my own as I would be with you robots.

Hey! Stop it! We are not robots!

Eight reached out and put his hand on the pistol.

You know what this pistol is?

What?

Free will.

We all have free will.

No. You are all robots. You do as your master set forth. I. I am not like that. I am free will.

Brother. We’re in this together. We each have our own special problems, our own special needs and we need to stick together if this is going to work. We are a team. We live together. Apart we die. Who is going to administer your vaccination every day?

I am not an idiot. I can give myself a shot every few hours. It's not like I haven't been doing this all of my life. I’m not going to forget. It’s a matter of survival, brother.

Brother was used as an insult. As a curse. Such a biting tone escaped his lips. The word lingered in the air and reverberated around the rusted iron shelter. His emphasis on the word "brother" was, and always had been, intentionally hurtful. They had all grown used to it. Six had been like that his entire life.

You don’t know what it’s like. Out there. Up there. I do. Finding this "mother" is not going to be the solution to all your problems. To us, it’s just a word. Not like it is up there.

As a small child, Six had broken away from the pack. Early on, he had realized that he was different from all of the others. The others from the world above. The children that lived in the blue skies and the fresh air. Six had known. He had witnessed it.

Xenofreak Nation by Melissa Conway

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Author's Website: 

melissaconway.net

Illegally bioengineered animal skin grafts have replaced tattoos in popularity, giving rise to a unique criminal demographic: Xenofreaks. Bryn Vega is kidnapped because of her father's anti-xeno activities, thrusting her into the hard-core underground xenofreak society. She must overcome betrayal and decide whom to trust in a world where the line between good and evil is a matter of perspective...

Bio: 

I grew up in the California bay area until my family moved ot northern Idaho when I was in high school. I went to college there and then moved to sunny San Diego, where my heart remains even though we are now located in southeastern Washington state. Moving to a less desirable locale gave me the opportunity to leave my job as an executive secretary in order to write full time (which is to say, I write when the duties of wife and mother allow). My college background is in advertising art, so I dabble in the digital arts. I'm a big fan of genealogy, antiques, nutrition, and all things 3D animation.

Excerpt:
She opened her eyes to the dark interior of a vehicle. The steady hum of an engine and constant bouncing motion told her they were moving. Right away she remembered this wasn’t the first time she’d awakened. There’d been a grey room somewhere and masked people, and restraints on her arms and legs. Each time she’d come to, she weakly protested against the pain. She’d been scared, angry, and then nothing.

The motion stopped and sometime later, not long, she thought, she heard doors opening. A fresh breeze, the first she’d felt in some time, cooled her hot face. Silent, shadowy figures appeared on either side of her. The dimly lit studded metal ceiling of the vehicle seemed to slide disorientingly over her until the night sky appeared and she realized the figures had pulled her out. She tried to move her head, but it was weighed down somehow. The sound of slamming doors was followed by the revving of the engine. She breathed in a wave of exhaust fumes as the vehicle departed.

“Hello?” she tried to call out, but her throat constricted. She swallowed a few times to lubricate it, but her mouth was too dry. Moving her hands, she found them unbound at last.
Realization dawned. They’d released her. She drew a shuddering breath and felt the sting of tears, but didn’t pause to indulge them. Hands shaking, she reached up to her head. It was wrapped in thick layers of what felt like gauze. She lowered her hands to whatever she was resting on and carefully levered herself into a sitting position.

She was on a sidewalk on a deserted street in the dark space between two orange streetlights. They’d dumped her, stretcher and all. Slowly, she moved first one leg and then the other off the side of the stretcher. Her clothes and shoes were gone, but they’d dressed her in a hospital gown and paper booties. Dizzy and nauseous, she slid to her feet.

Bryn wanted to run, but was physically incapable of more than keeping herself upright. Turning her head was a challenge, so she twisted her torso to look up the street and then down. One way looked more promising than the other; a large, well-lit building beaconed. Walking unaided was out of the question, however, so she gritted her teeth and began pushing the stretcher.

It was a long, slow journey, but soon after she began, a lighted sign came into view and spurred her on: Middleborough Hospital. The shuffling of her feet had long since worn the paper booties away when she reached the emergency room entrance. A man in blue scrubs came through the sliding glass doors and glanced her way.

“Help me,” she said.

Interview with Melissa Conway

What will readers like about your book? 

The concept of animal skin grafts as tattoos and the culture that develops around the practice is unique. I don't take an ethical stand for or against it in the narrative; that's up to the reader to decide. Plus, the story is action-packed, with just enough romance to satisfy female readers but not turn off the boys! 

Why did you self publish? 

I had an agent, but felt like I was going to be a white-haired old granny by the time I was traditionally published.

What is your writing process? 

I get an idea and chew on the concept for awhile before sitting down and writing by the seat of my pants.
How long does it take you to write your first draft? It takes me around six months to write a full-length novel, give or take a month.

What inspired you to write this particular story? 

I think it started with the notion of a person getting wings attached and how that might be possible from a bioengineering standpoint, but to be honest, I don't recall the specifics. It was a nebulous concept for some months before taking on form and substance in my mind.

Confessions of a D-List Supervillain by Jim Bernheimer

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Author's websites:

www.jimbernheimer.com

 “Being a supervillain means never having to say you’re sorry … Unless it’s to the judge or the parole board. Even then, you don’t really have to. It’s not like it’s going to change the outcome or anything.”

Those are the words of Calvin Matthew Stringel, better known as Mechani-Cal. He’s a sarcastic, down on his luck armored villain. Follow his exploits as he gets swept up in a world domination scheme gone wrong and ends up working for this weak willed, mercy loving heroes. Immerse yourself in his epic battles and see what it’s like to be an outsider looking in at a world that few have ever experienced.

Climb into Cal’s battlesuit and join him on his journey. Will he avoid selling out his principles for a paycheck and a pardon? Can he resist the camaraderie of being on a super team? Does he fall prey to the ample charms of the beautiful Olympian Aphrodite? How will he survive the jealous schemes of Ultraweapon, who wears armor so powerful it makes Cal’s look like a museum piece?

See the world of "righteous do-gooders" through the eyes of someone who doesn’t particularly care for them.

And remember - Losing an argument with a group of rioters isn’t a good excuse to start lobbing tear gas indiscriminately at them. You’ve only got so many rounds and it’s going to be a long day, so make sure you get as many as possible with each one.

Bio:

Jim Bernheimer lives in Chesapeake, Virginia with his wife and two daughters. He is the author of Dead Eye: Pennies for the Ferryman, Spirals of Destiny Book One: Rider, and the forthcoming Dead Eye 2: The Skinwalker Conspiracies. All of these titles are available from Gryphonwood Press. Under his EJB imprint, he is the author and publisher of Confessions of a D-List Supervillain and Horror, Humor, and Heroes Volume One. For the anthology Horror, Humor, and Heroes Volume Two he was a contributing author, editor and publisher.

Excerpt 

***

I’m so screwed.

They’re coming for me and I’m no match for them.

There’ve been dozens of times I’ve wanted to quit the supervillain business, but never like right now! Hell, I was in semi-retirement when everything went to crap, delivering some orders to what few clients I still had.

This janitor’s closet in a rundown warehouse is where I’ll likely make my final stand. The alarms inside the armor warn me that power levels are down to twenty-two percent – not good. Below fifteen, the flight system won’t activate.

I scan the walls looking for a power source, any electrical current that I can tap into. Nothing ... the building is as dead as I am about to be.

If this was just the Gulf Coast Guardians, I’d have a shot. Of the four Guardian teams, they’re definitely the junior varsity squad. If it was the Biloxi Bugler, I’d kick his ass and mock him (and his sonic bugle) while I did it.

It’s not. I’m not that lucky. I’m never that lucky. It’s the story of my life. Instead, it’s the Olympians, the foremost hero team in the whole world and I’m a minor supervillain at best.

Yeah, those Olympians, twelve college kids who disappeared on a cruise in the Mediterranean. A year later they returned with powers and training from the original Greek Gods. Against them, Calvin Matthew Stringel, reasonably talented, but hapless inventor currently known as “Mechani-CAL,” doesn’t stand a chance.

• • •

The power meter drops to twenty-one percent. Hermes is zipping through the main room, but if I stay still and conserve energy, maybe she’ll give up.

Just because she is super fast doesn’t mean she’s super thorough! The lack of lighting in the building is hurting her and she’s making lots of noise out there and being overly clumsy.

Of course, those things controlling her mind haven’t quite mastered the operation of the fastest woman alive.

Yup, the world’s been taken over and I missed it. All I know for certain is that The Evil Overlord was hiring geneticists like crazy late last year. Now these bugs, about twice the size of a grasshopper, are attached to everyone’s neck and society seems to be reorganizing into a hive mentality. Granted, it would probably make standing in line more tolerable, but I’m not quite ready to sign up.

Given that it’s been two weeks since this started and there has been no worldwide broadcast from the megalomaniac, it’s a safe bet that this is an experiment gone awry rather than a plan masterfully executed. Good riddance to him anyway. The lousy cheapskate stopped using me as a supplier and stiffed me for two shipments of pulse cannons! Technically, I should thank him. Had he paid up, I probably wouldn’t have wasted my time on that penny-ante jetpack sale in Montgomery and wouldn’t have been in my suit when the bugs came.

Interview with Jim Bernheimer

What will readers like about your book?

People will enjoy the sarcasm of the main character.  The story is up tempo with lots of action and adventure.

Why did you self publish?

I have other novels with Gryphonwood Press, but for Confessions of a D-List Supervillain, I wanted to maintain complete control of the work and begin establishing my own imprint.

What is your writing process?

I write when I have free time.  I keep swearing that I'm going to outline my next novel, yet somehow I always end up writing by the seat of my pants.

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

My first drafts usually take 2-3 months.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

It was originally a 5 chapter novella in the first volume of Horror, Humor, and Heroes.  Virtually every review came in and told me that they wanted more adventures from Mechani-Cal.  I'm a big believer in giving them what they want.

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Peace Warrior (Peace Warrior Trilogy, Book 1)

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Author's websites:
www.SteveHawk.com

It’s the mid-21^st century when Sergeant First Class Grant Justice is killed during an ambush on an enemy tank column.  

Six hundred years later, his body is retrieved from the frozen, arctic lake where he perished.  Re-animated by a team of scientists, Grant awakens to a civilization that has abolished war.  A civilization that has outlawed violence and cherishes Peace above all else.  A civilization that has been enslaved by an alien race called the Minith.  

Grant is humankind’s final hope against the alien menace.  He must be…  the Peace Warrior.

Bio:

Steve spent six years as a Military Intelligence Specialist with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division before joining the ranks of corporate America. He has a B.S. in Business Management from Western Governor’s University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).  He lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife, Juanita, and their two chihuahuas, Daisy and Cheech.  They have a blended family of five sons.

Excerpt 

 

Justice tried, unsuccessfully, to pull himself up onto the rock outcropping. 

He was able to get his left arm up so that he now had a hold with both hands, but the pain in doing so informed him that there was additional damage to his body.  It felt like he had at least one broken rib, and the pain in his right shoulder was getting worse.  He knew then that he was finished, one way or another.  His only hope was that someone would pull him up and that was a slim hope at best.  The team had less than twenty minutes to make it to their extraction point.  They had been trained to put the mission and the safety of the group ahead of the individual, unless there was proof that the individual was alive.  Those were his rules and he could expect them to be followed. 

His expectations were proved correct; the sound of fighting died off over the next couple of minutes and he could picture the team departing from their positions on the ridge above and heading out to the pick up point.  They were his team, his family and he would miss them, but he did not fault them for doing their duty.  It was what he had trained them for and he felt a familiar surge of pride in how they had performed today.

Several minutes passed without any sounds from above except for the occasional sound of a secondary explosion as the rounds in the destroyed vehicles cooked off.  The only thing Justice could do was to wait for his strength to give out and he was determined to hold on as long as possible.  It was not in his nature to give up, even when he knew the outcome, and he hung on to the outcropping of rock, determined to refuse death’s claim as long as he had an ounce of effort left.

His thoughts had traveled once again towards death and what it would be like when he heard voices on the road above him.  He spent precious energy to look upward and saw the uncovered faces of three soldiers.  They did not appear happy and they were not wearing the same uniform as he was.

“Shit.”

Interview Questions

What will readers like about your book?

Anyone who appreciates a good, fast-paced story that requires an active imagination will enjoy my books.  An active imagination is key because I don’t fill in all the blanks.  For me, a good book is a journey that the author and the reader take together—equal partners, running side-by-side through the story.  I don’t provide detailed descriptions of each character as they are introduced, or descriptions of each stream and field the hero passes on his way to the battle.  When writers do that, it forces readers to see things through the author’s lens.  I want my readers to bring their own lens to the story.

Why did you self publish?

For me, it was a no-brainer. I got a Kindle last year and was hooked on the e-book format right away. Through the course of my reading, I stumbled across some very good books written by indie authors and thought, “Hey, I can do this!” I already had two books completed, and a few more in development, so content wasn’t an issue.  On top of that, I really had no desire to jump through the hoops required to publish traditionally, so this path just made sense. 

What is your writing process?

My writing always begins with the “idea.” If I’m lucky, the “idea” becomes a mental outline and, if I’m really lucky, the outline becomes a story. Some ideas fizzle in their infancy and never make it to paper (or PC, more accurately). The good ideas get placed on my computer. From there it’s all about writing. I get the full story on the page, making minor edits as I adjust story line or characters. Once the basic story is complete, the hard part begins. Editing, revising, and re-writes—those are the hardest parts of the process for me.

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

It’s important to note that I have a full time job that takes up 40-50 hours each week.  That limits the amount of time I spend writing to an hour or so in the evening and 3-4 hours every morning on the weekends.  On that schedule, I can pull together a decent draft in about six months. 

What inspired you to write this particular story?

I’m not really sure to be honest.  I’ve always had an active imagination.  My military background and the curiosity about what life would be like on planet Earth six hundred years from now just kind of… mated.  .  I guess you could say The Peace Warrior Trilogy is the bastard love-child of that particular union.  The idea just bubbled to the top and I thought, “Hey, I can write a book about this.”  So that’s what I did

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Caught In Time (Alysian Universe Series) by Sheron Wood McCartha

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Author's websites:
www.AlysianUniverse.com
www.scifibookreview.com

Rowyna Grae always thought she was human until the day that Arwoyn Telluria reveals that she was created in his test lab using parts of his DNA, most specifically his gene for time traveling-- since he was dying and the last of the time travelers. 

He confides that she had come to him as a young boy telling him that she was from the far future on a critical mission to save their world of Alysia. But things go awry. Arwoyn dies, the new regime wants to turn her into a stealth assassin and Richard Steele, the new Timelab assistant sends her back in time to the wrong place and loses her. She lands with dangerously packed bags that contain a gun, an alien crystal and a book. She finds herself a thousand years into the past at the king's hunting lodge with an agenda to kill the king who started a mutant strain of Talents. But, before a day has passed, she manages to kill six men defending herself against robbers, rapists and, of course, falls in love with the man she is meant to assassinate. 

She creates havoc as she changes the past and reorders Richard's world up the timestream. The Medieval past isn't so charming when there is no running water, no central heat, betrayal and intrigue at the royal court and war on the horizon. What's a replicant, who doesn't even know if she's human, to do? Read and find out.

Gun Magic: Excerpt of Caught in Time

“Come here,” said the robber named Gratch. He took her face roughly into his hands and began to kiss her sloppily while making strange grunting noises. At the same time, his hand reached to grope inside her blouse. She pushed back.“Stop that,” she said angrily jerking back. “What are you doing?”

“I said you were to do as I tell you!” he answered grabbing her hair and yanking her head back. “Be still.” Her eyes went wide. They filled with understanding.

Then Gratch started tugging at her blouse again. Suddenly she kneed him sharply in the groin and the palm of her hand came up under his chin jarring his head back with a snap. He grunted in surprise and dropped her hair, as she spun away from him almost dancing. A breast bobbed, tantalizingly ready to spill out of the flimsy blouse.

She responded indignantly, “I said to leave me alone.” Gratch looked at her in complete surprise and then growing anger.

The men lurched forward, but Gratch waved them back. He wavered in front of her. Staring angrily at her, he fumbled for something in his jacket. A knife flashed into his hand. “You’ve asked for it now. I warned you sweetling.”

An intake of breath could be heard from the men.

The captured king thought he heard her mumble words that sounded like, “Do it now.” But that couldn’t be right. Was she encouraging this butcher? She appeared to be breathing heavily. Did the violence excite her? He stared in astonished confusion.

“You will pay for that,” Gratch growled as he moved jerkily towards her, a sword in one hand and a knife in the other. She stepped further back and then Arvast heard a loud noise and her hand jumped. He saw a startled look cross Gratch’s face and then he saw him grab at his stomach. Curiously, Gratch sat down on the ground as the knife dangled from his hand and then fell to the ground. He held onto the sword. The men didn’t seem to know what was happening either. One started towards her, and Arvast heard the sound again as that robber collapsed. Blood spread out from one of his dirty shirt buttons. The rest of the men stood frozen in disbelief.

Staring at her, a look of shock etched Gratch’s face. She moved in towards him muttering a few words, as she lifted her skirt and kicked savagely at his face. He slumped backwards and lay still. The sword slipped from his fingers. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Then, someone yelled and she whirled and a flash of light and sharp sound erupted from her hand again. Nearby, another robber slumped to the ground.

With all eyes on her, the king saw his opportunity and moved into action. He turned to his captor, who stood stupidly staring around him, jerked loose and slugged him in the face. Caught off guard, the thief went down. Arvast bent over and grabbed the unconscious man’s knife from his hand.

About Sheron Wood McCartha

I am a Northwest writer who loves science fiction. I have been writing a long while in between jobs of high school teacher, banker, stockbroker, artist, and art gallery manager. I am married with a lovely daughter and great husband. Over that span of time I have put together several manuscripts that I am now editing and getting ready to publish.

Interview with Sheron Wood McCartha

What will readers like about your books?

My readers will like the fun of the read. There is no deep message, no critical information that will change your life or show you how to lose weight, or make more money. It is like a bar of good chocolate that you savor, but lasts longer. It costs less than a cup of coffee, but has the same stimulating effect. The reader is plunged into a world of the past with a heroine who struggles to survive and deal with a self-absorbed king that she finds herself falling in love with against all better judgment. The dialog is fun and the action continuous. 

As she meets new situations and reacts, she changes the past and that changes the future where poor Richard Steele has to deal with the consequences…and most often they are not the pleasant kind. He is thrown into various different timelines because of her actions. He finds himself on the whip end of events and he becomes desperate to get her back…that is if he can locate her and the time machine is still working, and she wants to come back.

Why did you self publish?

As I wrote, occasionally I would submit. First, however, I attended many conferences and workshops. The publishing industry seemed to have so many secret rules and exact procedures that it made my head swim. There were strict formulas to adhere to while they kept saying that they wanted the material to be "fresh". I submitted to TOR, the top publisher of science fiction and then Simon and Schuster. I was told I needed an agent, preferably one in New York. I knew no one. It was easier to get a doctor. And I didn't take rejection well, especially via form letters. I knew some of the best writers had been rejected many times...I knew that in my brain, but emotionally it was still hard to submit again and then again. But I did. 

I submitted a synopsis and first three chapters to Baen Books...and waited...and waited. I wrote them eight months later saying that I was going to submit elsewhere and they wrote that they wanted to see the whole manuscript. They were interested. I took a month to put a bright polish on it and sent it out...and waited. I got discouraged, but I still kept writing and rewriting my other books. My beta readers loved the stories and encouraged me to get published. I told them, "Easy for you to say." They had no idea. A year later I was at a writer's conference and I mentioned how angry I was that I hadn't heard a word-- not even a cold cruel form rejection from Baen. My fellow writer turned to me and said, "Didn't you hear that Jim Baen died?" Well, no I hadn't heard and wasn't that a poor excuse for not responding.

So when Amazon said they would publish my book at no charge and I could put it up and sell it on Amazon without any deaths involved, I jumped at the chance...and became an Indie author. No agent needed.

What is your writing process?

I get my best inspiration around 3:00 a.m. Yes, a.m. It is hard to find pen and paper, or now, my iPad at that hour. I also get great ideas in the shower when it is also hard to use the iPad. No waterproof model yet. And the hair dryer seems to blow away all the really great ideas. My second book, A Dangerous Talent for Time was called Riddlequest for a long time because it has a fun worldwide search for pieces of a riddle in it. Then Google came along and I discovered that someone else had already used the title. Sometimes technology makes me cry. So for a long time it was the X titled book and then one day it just came to me and I liked the title. I don't remember the time or location...or whether I was wet or dry.

While I was waiting for word from a publisher, or was just too discouraged to hunt for an agent or resubmit, I'd say that I was done with my guys, that I had better things to occupy my busy life than writing about time traveling, world saving, smart talking characters that seemed to decide what they were going to do in my books regardless of my wishes. So I'd be done with them, BUT, they would sneak into my head while I was trying to get to sleep and suggest that it would be fun to have Hieronymous' mother be a time traveling clone. 

Okay we did that book. Then, when Arwoyn was developing his clone experiments, his first two attempts were male clones. Whatever happened to them? What if one didn't know that he was a clone or that he could time travel, but others knew? And tried to kill him? Yipes! I really wanted to get my beauty rest, but these questions kept me awake. So I wrote his book. Done. Then an alien probe crash lands on Alysia and we are worried about what we're going to do about it? Next book guys. How about build a space ship and check it out? Now we're at three, or is it four?

Then I found out that I liked to get even, and I would put my characters in impossible situations and see how they could wriggle out. How about their two moons colliding? How about an alien invasion, but not what you would expect. Meeting aliens in space? What would they look like? What would they do? How about...

Then the world changed and Bezo created Amazon and the Kindle. Steve Jobs shifted a paradigm with the Ipad and we are still scrambling to see what the new future is going to look like for books and reading

What inspired you?

Science fiction has been one of my passions for a long time thanks to my father's influence. There were times my mother would go hunting for him and find him hiding out in the bathroom avidly reading some science fiction book as if it were a forbidden treat. I now understand this behavior, especially since we were four kids at home. Sometimes I read in out--of-the-way places too, feeling as if I am partaking in some guilty pleasure.

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The Gift of Fury by Richard Jackson

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Available from:
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Author's websites:
kyrin007.wordpress.com

Enter the world of Count Albritton. It is a world where magic and the supernatural are very real. Creatures of legend, sorcerers and other powers walk among us. As a paranormal investigator, Count helps people with supernatural problems the authorities are either unwilling or unable to deal with. It's dangerous work. Luckily he has Kara, a beautiful guardian angel to help him.

Over the years, magic has grown weaker as mankind has made more and more technological advances. Many things that were possible in the past are no longer possible or easier to accomplish using technology. One man seeks to change all of that. He plans to bring back the golden age of magic. To do so, means sacrificing the technology that mankind depends upon and unleashing horrors best left forgotten.

Count isn't about to let that happen. Even with the help of his friends, it’s a fight he isn’t sure he can win.

This edition was re-edited on June 26, 2011 to fix a number of errors found within the book. It is is approximately 180 pages (68,000 words) long and includes a bonus short story called The Path Taken.

Excerpt:

I open my eyes to see an orderly standing close to my bed. I didn't hear him enter the room or approach my bedside. Kara, my guardian angel, is urging me to move when I notice two things that tell me exactly how much trouble I'm in: the pillow in his left hand and the knife in his right. Not standard issue hospital equipment even for “difficult” patients.

I let him take a take a step closer before I am all over him like a pit bull on a pork chop. I can't be nice or sporting about this. He’s got a lot of things going for him, too many for me to take any chances or to hold back. He's armed and I'm not. I’m hurt and he isn’t. I plan on changing that in the near future. I guess now would be a good time to mention I’m no stranger to violence. We aren’t close personal friends and to be honest, I try to avoid it. When it drops by for an unexpected visit, I try to get it over with as quickly as possible.

I ignore the searing pain in my right knee and the damage I am probably doing to it. I focus on the matter at hand. I think and act. A technique I learned over four years ago is used to immobilize his arm and gives me control of the knife. A blow I have thrown countless times in the air and in sparring class drives the wind out of my attacker. The driving elbow strike I’ve used to break boards now breaks bones. Just like that, the fight is over.

With my blood pumping, I feel the rush, the thrill of victory. Maybe it's the way the adrenaline affects me or maybe I’m just a little nuts but every breath is that much sweeter. It feels good to be alive. I become aware of Kara again. Her comforting presence fills me with warmth. The only thing better would be sex.

"You're bleeding,” she says via the magic of our link. Even after all this time together, I don’t know how or why it works. All that matters to me is that it does.

I shrug, looking down at my arm and the rip in my hospital gown. That’s the problem with knife fights. Someone always gets cut. Still, it doesn’t look bad if you can ignore all the blood. “I’m alright.”

"You're a bad liar," she says.

She’s worried but I can’t help but smile. Nothing can touch me. I’m alive despite someone’s best efforts. "Don't worry. I'm in a hospital."

Kara doesn’t laugh. Instead, she whispers "This isn’t over. Others will come for you."

That brings me crashing down to earth. Someone wants me dead in a big way, big enough to send someone to kill me. Big enough to try it in a hospital filled with potential witnesses and guards. The pain, no longer content to be ignored, returns with a vengeance and my knee buckles.

About Richard Jackson 

Richard Jackson was born in New York City and raised in the Bronx. He has been writing off and on since high school. Over the years, he has held a variety of jobs and worked in a wide range of fields. It's given him a very diverse skill set which has come in handy on numerous occasions. His interests include the martial arts, costuming, travel, gaming and just having fun. He enjoys meeting people and talking to people with similar interests.

Interview with Richard Jackson

I am curious how a guy from the Bronx gets into fantasy and scifi. Most people I know started out playing computer games, role playing with pencil and dice (D&D), reading David Eddings. I know I am showing my age here but I am always curious about what other peoples gateway was. For me it was an older cousin teaching me to play Dungeons and Dragons and giving me Dune to read.

I was first exposed to sci-fi and fantasy in high school. Prior to that, I had seen a few movies like Conan and read comic books. Freshman year, I was assigned several books to read over the summer. I got lucky. I was asked to read the Hobbit and Alas Babylon. That was the start of it. My homeroom teacher noticed I liked reading  sci-fi and fantasy books. He introduced me to books by Roger Zelazny, Stephen R. Donaldson and Michael Moorcock. That same year, I got into ad&d and other role-playing games.

Do you think that the Internet has allowed a love of Fantasy and Science Fiction to spread, so that it is more mainstream, less niche these days? Or is it my imagination and maybe I only have geek friends these days.

I think the internet has played a large role in making fantasy and science fiction more mainstream. There is a huge amount of quality programming out there in a variety of formats. You can find short stories and full length novels on author and publisher web sites. There are podcasts and audio books available on the web. You can watch tv shows and movies at a number of sites. All of these things have introduced sci-fi and fantasy to more people than ever.

How long does it take you to write a first draft and then how much more work/time is required to get that book out to find an audience?

I consider myself a fast writer. I can write a first draft in three or four months but I'm usually a slower. I tend to work on multiple projects at the same time. It helps me avoid writer's block. The downside is that I can get sidetracked. I figure it takes me at least another month before the manuscript is ready for the public. That includes my initial attempt to fix any story related issues, revisions based on feedback from my beta readers, editing, proofreading and cover art.

I'm still working on the finding an audience part :)

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Fall from Grace by Richard Jackson

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Authors Website:
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As a Caster, Tyler uses cybernetic implants to broadcast his emotions and experiences to the viewers at home. He is living a life of action and adventure--until he loses his job. Now he must hustle illegal broadcasts and take odd jobs to survive.

When his agent is killed, Tyler is framed for the crime. With his only allies--an ex-cop turned criminal and a bartending medical student--Tyler is plunged into the middle of a mystery and comes face to face with the darker side of the broadcasting industry. Tyler soon learns there is much more for him to lose...and much farther to fall.

This book is approximately 154 pages (42000 words) long.

Excerpt:

“I have a job you might be interested in,” Manny said.

It took all of Tyler’s willpower to stop himself from dancing a jig.

Manny offered Tyler a smile, one reserved only for someone who could make him money. “I know it’s been a while since you last worked. How are your implants?” the agent asked.

Tyler nodded. “They’re fine,” Manny probably knew what the answer to that question would be.

“And your training?” he asked.

“I’ve been sticking to my diet and exercise plan. I also keep busy so my skills don’t get rusty.”

“Good,” Manny said. The agent reached into his suit pocket for his notebook. He turned the page in the journal and started to rattle off details about the job as he jotted down some notes.

Tyler only half heard what his agent was saying. He had waited a long time to get back into the business after his show was cancelled and he was blacklisted. He could finally have his life back. No more busting his ass as a bar back or hustling quasi-legal castings.

Tyler’s moment of happiness was shattered along with the frosted glass door to Manny’s office. The invader filling the doorway was trouble. He held a strange looking device that resembled something out of an old Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon movie serial. Tyler threw himself down and to the side just as the dig man pulled the trigger of his ray gun.

There was no beam of light or anything Tyler could see. He felt the wave of heat and intolerable pain during the brief time he was in the thing’s line of fire.

Manny didn’t have the benefit of Tyler’s reflexes. The beam caught him full on. He shrieked like a lobster being dumped into a pot of boiling water.

Tyler snatched a paperweight off of the desk and hurled it at the intruder. It wasn’t the most aerodynamic object in the world but if flew true hitting the man in the side of the head. It didn’t stun the guy but it got the beam off of Manny. Tyler moved fast. He ducked quickly behind the couch Manny used to “audition” some talent.

Tyler heard the man walking. He waited right where he was at. It was his only play. Out in the open, Tyler didn’t have a chance. He wouldn’t be able to close the distance before the man focused his weapon on him. If the big man leaned over the couch or came around the side of it, Tyler would make him regret it.

The big man decided to break the stalemate. Tyler could hear him moving. “Come out or I’ll kill him,” he said.

“Sod off!” Tyler yelled before he could stop himself. He knew what would happen. The caster had heard a lot of threats. This guy wasn’t bluffing. He would kill Manny if he didn’t come out.

About Richard Jackson

Richard Jackson was born in New York City and raised in the Bronx. He has been writing off and on since high school. Over the years, he has held a variety of jobs and worked in a wide range of fields. It's given him a very diverse skill set which has come in handy on numerous occasions. His interests include the martial arts, costuming, travel, gaming and just having fun. He enjoys meeting people and talking to people with similar interests.

Interview with Richard Jackson

Being more of a Science Fiction fan myself I have to ask someone like yourself, who writes both Scifi and Fantasy, what interests you about each of the genres?

For me, science fiction is about what could be, even if it isn't all that plausible. Sometimes I see or hear something that gets me thinking. It could be a piece of technology, a scientific theory or an event that captures my attention. I like exploring the possibilities and answering that question. Sometimes, the answer is a story worth telling and sharing.

When it comes to writing fantasy, I ask myself 'what if' with magic and the supernatural playing a large role in things. I like to dream big and let my imagination run wild. The world building and story telling aspects appeal to me.

I am currently reading Feed by Mira Grant, nominated for a Hugo this year, which in part addresses a future vision of where blogs might play a part in comparison to traditional news/media. Fall from Grace mixes the cybernetics of Neuromancer with new media, do you see parallels between this and the way publishing has changed over the last 12 months?

I see a few parallels, some of which I didn't intend. I wrote Fall from Grace when I was busy querying agents and submitting short stories to magazines. The first ebooks were available for PDAs like the Palm Pilot. Writers were starting to post some of their stories for free on the internet and talking about electronic publishing. It got me thinking about what could be and the ways advances in technology can change the media. The other parallels involve the whole method of querying agents and the nature of the slush pile.

What made you decide to self publish?

I was on the verge of giving up. I had spent almost two years querying agents and submitting manuscripts to publishers with very little to show for it. No matter hungry you are, a steady diet of rejection letters will ruin your appetite. An agent gave me some feedback on my writing and encouraged me to keep writing. Later that month, a member of the Harlem Writer's Guild suggested I self publish. Back then, I had a very low opinion of self publishing. What changed my mind was an article I read on electronic publishing. I liked reading books on my PDA. It was convenient. When I heard how easy and inexpensive it was to publish books for the Kindle, I decided to take the plunge.

How do you find the juggling of being both publisher and writer? Would you like to give the publishing work to someone else to do?

There are a lot of things I like about being my own boss. You have complete control over your work and the flexibility to do things the way you want, when you want. The downside is that you have expenses to worry about and time management is very important. There's a lot of work involved with self-publishing such as marketing which can eat up a lot of time and money if you're not careful. There is also a steep learning curve. I've been self-publishing for a while now and I am still learning things.

I wouldn't mind having a publishers for some of my books and stories. There are things I don't like doing. While I enjoy talking with readers and other writers, I hate marketing and promoting my books. I really don't want to beat people over the head with my books, asking them to buy them. It also takes time away from writing. The same thing goes for editing and proofreading.

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Overrun and Overrun: Project Hideaway by Michael Rusch

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Overrun: Project Hideaway at Smashwords

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www.readoverrun.com

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OVERRUN (PM93W)
OVERRUN: Project Hideaway (ZF94N)

OVERRUN is a two-part futuristic thriller taking place on a superheated Earth no longer protected by an ozone layer. In this dying world, technology only exists to shelter small amounts of land.

OVERRUN

A new Cold War has arisen between the United States and new superpower, Japan's Great Union. Both race to develop protective technology for their citizens. Advancements are kept secret with each country hoping the other will fail and perish from the Earth.

With an inevitable war on the horizon, a secret U. S. defense strategy is constructed calling for the launch of demolition forces against unsheltered American cities in ambush of invading troops.

Primary objectives are elimination of the invasion force while clearing land for the construction of new lifesaving technology. Secondary hopes include the rejuvenation of a radiation-poisoned U.S. population through the genocide of those living on the outside, collateral damage of these ambush
attacks.

Unbeknownst to the U.S. President, an underground government faction has been secretly stoking global political fires in provocation of a J.G.U. invasion. On the verge of attack, the President is maneuvered into putting the secret defense strategy into use.

Visiting his stepchildren living outside the technologically protected societies, an embittered retired military commander finds himself caught within this newly declared war. Promised rescue for himself and his family, he is coerced into helping implement the plan. He must set out to destroy his family's hometown with only the purpose of getting his stepchildren out.

OVERRUN: Project Hideaway

A week following the declaration of war, the U.S. is close to defeat. A failed genocide attempt becomes known to the public and the President must answer to the world for his administration’s sins.

An element still exists that could bring victory to the battered U.S. forces and ease the tensions of a quickly dividing country. On the ship Hideaway, technology to create an artificial ozone floats secretly hidden away in space untouched by the conflict being waged on Earth.

The President launches a covert retrieval mission led by one of his top most-involved generals in the war. The J.G.U as well as separate mercenary forces race to do the same. The quest to obtain the prized technology becomes a final battle for victory in the war as well as an ultimate determination of survival of the planet.

Aboard the Hideaway, a two-man crew is inexplicably awakened from a fifty-year hypersleep without communication from those that launched their mission well before the onset of war. With unidentified ships approaching in the distance, they prepare to forcibly defend their cargo not knowing their actions will decide the fate of the world they float above.

Interview with Michael Rusch

Why did you self publish?

Self-publishing allows someone to get their work “out there”. It also gives readers a huge amount of reading choices. I think self-publishing promotes reading in general, because now with e-readers, getting a book is now easier than ever before. Besides just being fun to read, it’s also fun to use these new devices. I personally find that they train you to read faster.

I think e-books and the wealth of information, writers and story options now available will help make future generations better and faster readers. I imagine this will help keep reading in general stay on the rise and not a decline, which can only improve the quality of our education and our knowledge and experience of the world around us. It’s an exciting thing.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

I wanted to write a book that I would like to read, or a movie that I would like to see.

I enjoy dark, non-stop action movies based on a good story. I think a good story is one that makes you feel what the characters feel and sucks you in so deep that you truly experience the events that are unfolding around them. Some examples of my favorite movies are Blackhawk Down, Tears of the Sun, The Dark Knight, Armageddon, and the most recent Star Trek. In terms of books, I really enjoyed “First Blood” by David Morrell.

I enjoy these books and movies because they are based on a great serious story and are not action for action’s sake.

OVERRUN Excerpt

Two figures moved lightly about the darkness.

Daniel J. Baldwin, minister of state and most senior adviser to the President, lowered himself into a chair. Down the hall amidst the shadows, War Minister Peter Faulken walked towards the outside door of the presidential office.

The thin orange dot marking the tip of a lit cigar bobbed up and down the darkness while Faulken moved through the hall.

Baldwin slumped in the chair and let out a long breath.

"Is the President aware?"

The flaming tip of the cigar turned and came back towards him. Faulken’s heavy shoes dragged roughly across the hard floor. For a moment it was the only sound.

"The President has been partially briefed on what has occurred."

"Partially briefed on what has occurred?" Baldwin said with a waver of panic edging his voice. "That's not my goddamn question. There is more going on here than what has just occurred".

"His ignorance in certain matters is completely necessary in the eventuality..."

"In the eventuality any of our illegal foreign military activities are discovered?!" Baldwin said hotly. "Is that what you are about to say? Ever since construction first began on the domes, mere presence on any land that is not entirely your own is considered a trespass. For God’s sake even presence on land controlled by your allies is considered suspect.”

“The President’s denials will only be more real if he believes them to be truth himself. The world has become too frightening to risk anything else."

"This is not something we should be messing around with! By operating outside the presidency, we are contributing to this fright."

"The President is not aware, because we cannot risk him changing what has already been set in motion. This was agreed upon long ago. To ensure danger does not arise."

"You are wrong. Danger has arisen. And it is here."

Another silence followed before Baldwin’s voice again filled the empty echo of the corridor.

"You know they're calling it a genocide,” he said accusation coloring his tone. “It's being called a genocide by both people in here and rumors starting to circulate on the outside."

"A genocide? It’s far from that. It is the only way for this country to survive. The only way this world will survive. Rumors need to be handled until the plan has been fully implemented. That time is coming soon."

"It’s not possible,” Baldwin responded. “Not anymore. Many already know. Uprisings are imminent. Whether it comes from the outside or somewhere within. Dissenting factions are beginning to grow."

"People on the inside will never revolt. Their presence here attests to their full consent and support of what is about to occur. It's the price and responsibility they all chose to accept before coming to live within."

"Their presence does not pledge their allegiance to a genocide of those left behind."

“Actually, yes it does. Those that came in, came in to survive. The ones they left behind…they’ve always known their fate.”

  

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Bob Mayer Interview Part 2

In Part 1 we talked about Publishing. Now its time to talk about Bob's writing and teaching.

When writing series like Atlantis and Area51, what was your approach? Did you have a map of how the overarching series would go or did you just plan it a book at a time?

With both Area 51 and Atlantis, I really didn’t plan a series, mainly because publishers tend to only buy books one or two at a time. So planning a nine book series like Area 51 is naïve in that market. I started both with a concept, then as the publisher wanted more books, I had to plan out the entire series. Again, this is a problem with traditional publishing in that you are at the mercy of the publisher.

I just finished going through the entire Atlantis series and updating it and I was pretty amazed myself how I pulled all the elements together at the end. I’m now going through the Area 51 books.

However, for the future, as I plan my writing program for the next several years, the focus is on series. I will continue my new historical fiction series about West Pointers as the first book, Duty, Honor, Country, a Novel of West Point & The Civil War is gaining traction. I also have a new title coming out on the 4th of July, The Jefferson Allegiance, which is the first in a modern series featuring historical puzzles that need to be solved in the present day.

What is the most interesting/strange/moving/weird fan letter/email you have received?

I had someone call me—and I have an unlisted number—to tell me about her stash of alien weaponry. I told her my stash was pretty complete. Actually, most people are pretty nice. I do worry about reviews on Amazon getting skewed in that the vast majority of readers don’t post reviews, thus we’re not getting a representative sample of the market. Also, some people post negative reviews based on personal preference rather than the quality of the book.

I think the best feedback is from children. I’d never considered that kids might read my books. So when got letters from them, it was a surprise. But when a kid writes that he’d never liked reading, never read a book, and his parents forced him to go into the bookstore and pick a book and he chose Area 51 because of the flying saucer on the cover, read it, loved it, and now loves reading—you can’t beat that.

Have you met any authors whose work you loved and felt a bit star struck or has that happened to you?

Not really. Most authors are pretty friendly, especially if they’re at a writer’s conference. We have a group of authors that met at the Maui Writers conference year after year and we all keep in touch: Elizabeth George, Terry Brooks, John Saul, Erik Larson, Susan Wiggs, Dorothy Allison and others. Writers really need other writers in their lives, because our brains work differently. And not necessarily in a good way.

I’m looking forward to seeing James Rollins, Lee Child and others at Thrillerfest in July. Networking is something I really didn’t do early in my career and it hurt me in a lot of different ways. I can honestly say, I’ve learned more about writing and the business of publishing in the last two years from other writers than in my first 18 years.

Do read your book reviews? Should authors read their reviews?

I don’t read reviews other than checking for problems. We had an issue with formatting early on, so those reviews alerted us to the problem and I’m actually going through every single book, line by line now, cleaning them up. It’s been time-consuming as we have over 40 titles, but it has to be done. Other than that, reviews are opinions and a lot of things go into them. I don’t think authors should really read their reviews too much and they definitely should not respond to them.

99% of the email I get is positive. That 1% of negative used to really bum me out, but I’ve learned to deal with it. Actually, when I open an email and it’s nasty (not constructive feedback, but stuff like “I burned your book”) I do two things. I hit delete, because I don’t need to fill my mind with that stuff, and I smile. Because to earn such an emotional reaction, you had to really touch the reader. It’s like any relationship: you’d rather have anger than apathy.

Have ever read a negative review and thought "yep they have a point, I should have tried to do that a different way" and used that in future writing?

We learned about the formatting issue from Amazon reviews. It bums me out because those reviews are there forever, even though we’ve uploaded new, clean versions.

I’ve gotten feedback that I respect. Over the years, I learned to focus more and more on character. I think a writer is only as good as their weakest writing. So instead of focusing on strengths, we have to really build up what we’re weak at. I remember meeting Elizabeth George while she was on book tour several years ago and having dinner and all we talked about was the importance of character.

Are you a writer that enjoys the writing process? Do you enjoy one part more than the other? Outlining, first draft or editing feel more rewarding?

Research is fun. I just finished a historical novel, Duty, Honor, Country, A Novel of West Point & The Civil War, and it was a great experience. Rewriting is the hardest part for me. After a while, no matter how much you love a book, you get kind of sick of going over the same material again and again. But it’s a very necessary part.

I’m not too thrilled going back through all my books, line by line, looking to update them, but it’s necessary. Also, I’d forgotten most of what I wrote so it’s kind of interesting. I am looking forward to leaping into a new book soon.

You teach as well as write and publish. Teaching to me equates to public speaking, how did you get into this?

I was in the Green Berets in the Army, and most people don’t know Special Forces are teachers more than anything else. I also taught at the JFK Special Warfare Center & School at Fort Bragg for many years. I enjoy teaching. I’ve done my day long Novel Writers Workshop for many groups. The last couple of years, my day long Warrior Writer Workshop has been in demand because it’s one of the few workshops that focuses on becoming an author, rather than the traditional focus on just the writing (speaking of which, I’m in the process of updating that book). There really is no training program for writers to learn how to be professional authors, and Warrior Writer gives a template for that.

While I am an introvert, I don’t have a problem giving a keynote in front of 500 people. I’m not sure why that is.

What do you enjoy more? Teaching, writing, publishing?

Always the writing. The teaching is a nice break. This summer I’ll be traveling to New York City to present Warrior Writer at Thrillerfest, and also flying to Australia and New Zealand to present.

I’m enjoying publishing in that I now have much more control over my career, but it’s very time-consuming. I have had to become even more disciplined in my work habits. I have to turn off the wireless when I’m writing. Otherwise there is always something that requires attention.

Have you had any students that have been successful?

I’ve had many students go on to get published, some have even hit the bestseller lists, however it wasn’t because of my teaching, it was because they were open to learning and becoming better writers. Also, they worked hard. I think those are the two common traits of successful writers: open-mindedness and hard work.

I would like to thank Bob Mayer for taking the time to do this Q & A. 

It has been an absolute pleasure.

  


























 






















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