Sunday, December 30, 2012

Snippet: Steel, Magick and Faith by T.P. Grish

Back cover blurb:

Steel, Magick and Faith is a dark, realistic fantasy novel with magick and mythological elements.

In the ancient and wild world of Glenryth, Fey creatures and a nascent humanity have come into conflict, the motives of each other mutually unfathomable and alien.

Technological cults and Monotheistic religions are worshipped, any suspicion of pagan or Fey magickal taint is reviled. Prophets spread far and wide, offering hope and comfort to the beleaguered masses. Mankind is not totally separate from the energies that suffuse Glenryth, as an unfortunate few are born as Touched.

When local dwarves put a curse upon the town of High Peaks, Remus, the aloof and irritable woodcutter and sage, must try and ebb the tide of xenophobic anger that could engulf himself and any other folk that are labelled as outcasts. But when a caravan of technocrat pilgrims fails to arrive, and the body of a local child is found in the woodlands, Remus, along with the capricious Touched Elaina, must try to understand the nature of morality in a world cloaked in suspicion and fear, and, ultimately, to prevent a brewing war that could send the region spiraling into chaos and destruction.

Snippet:

'Then somewhere in the fickle mists of creation came humanity, clawing and afraid, grasping and ambitious. Enveloped in a dangerous world, these creatures lived as scavengers; afraid of the greater things of the world. They were beset by disease, lack of claws or fangs, and the lack of habitat to call their own. These fleshy, naked beings were doomed to die of attrition... Ancient forces began to pay attention to the growing incursion, plaguing them, slaying stragglers at night. But still the humans held on to the edge of the precipice, knuckles white with effort'

Author Interview: T.P. Grish

What genre do you write? Why? 

I write fantasy novels because I have always loved absorbing creative stories, through movies, games, and especially fantasy books. Imagining a different world and relating to the characters provides a mix of escapism and challenging reading. I aspire to write fantasy novels with compelling characters and serious themes.

Do you use an outline or just start writing?

I have tried different methods of writing, but only one works for me. I first come up with an idea, there is no structure I use for that, I just wait for an idea to come and write it down when it does. I typically have a store of ideas. Then, I flesh out the basic setting, world, characters, plot and themes. I know basically what will happen, but not the details, sub plots or side characters. I then jump in and start writing, developing and expanding as I go, and often going back to change what I have written.

What is your next project?

I am working on a hybrid fantasy series of novels, I am not talking more about it, but it will be available soon :). The sequel to Steel, Magick and Faith is also about half way done, and is titled 'The Shard of Palrinah'.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Snippet: Death and the Journalist by J.L. Petty


The flight attendant faced the passengers. Over the roar of the engine, she spoke in a firm voice with a hint of quiver, “We are going to be okay, please put your oxygen masks on,” then she sat down and buckled her seat belt. The fat man and I were still standing. Grimacing at my cramping hands, I kept my grip on the black metal bar.

In the midst of the now-panicked passengers sat one woman, calmly flipping the pages of her Cosmopolitan magazine and taking occasional sips of her Pepsi. She seemed so calm and serene; I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She had long black hair and her face was like that of a fashion model or actress. She was wearing a black dress and needed no jewelry to define her long ivory-colored neck. This woman had the whitest skin. Her limbs were long. She seemed to ignore everything around her and was patiently waiting for the plane to crash.

As though she felt me staring at her, she turned to look at me. Gooseflesh popped up all over my skin when I looked into her cold gray eyes, then shifted my eyes to the ground. I could smell the heavy smoke rising from the engines I stared at the rain drops that splattered against the exit window. Smoke drifted into the cabin of the plane.



 

Find Death and the Journalist by J.L. Petty at Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords

Author Interview: J.L. Petty

What genre do you write? Why?
I write horror/ science fiction. I have always been a huge fan of horror and science fiction growing up. I've always been the type to watch scary movies or frequent haunted houses during Halloween.

What inspires you?
I am most inspired reading works by other horror/ science fiction authors. I primarily read Alfred Hitchcock's Murder Mystery Magazine. I have always dreamed of writing short fiction for that publication.

Do you use an outline or just start writing?
I just start writing. I think it depends on if I get a spark of creativity and I will sit at the computer and write 10,000 words in one day. But sometimes, I get writer's block and won't write for weeks. So it depends on my mood, or whats going on in personal life.

What is your favorite memory?
My favorite memory is going to Disney World and Universal Studios as a kid. I still frequent those amusement parks. I love their themes!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop!

Receive a FREE e-book! Details at the bottom.

You have a chance to win two e-books!
Forbidden Temptation of a Vampire (Sídhí Summer Camp #1)
and Vampire's Forbidden Territory (Sídhí Summer Camp #2)
YA paranormal Romance

A special thanks to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Oasis for YA
for hosting this awesome giveaway hop!


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Cover Reveal: Exile (The Prequel) by Jodie B. Cooper



Sarah's story, the third book in the Sídhí Summer Camp series.

Love and danger is just the beginning.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Snippet: Klutzy Love by Sharon Kleve



 

Blurb:

Corny is a hot chick with a great job that she loves. All that changed in the blink of an eye when her boss had an accident involving an oversized rubber band. She’s still a hot chick, but her boss is dead.


Steve Spears is a seasoned narcotics cop who ends up wanting to strangle Corny on a regular basis. After finding out Corny’s dream of opening a pet detective business, he decides he doesn’t want a girlfriend who routinely puts herself in danger. That’s his job!

Corny misses Steve, but she’s getting on with her life. She decides to get a month’s worth of dating out of the way in a single night, by combining her three favorite things—men, food, and alcohol.

Steve’s big gun and cop’s intuition saves Corny’s life, but not from another trip to the emergency room. He makes Corny promise never to get hurt again—she agreed, but has her fingers crossed behind her back.

Excerpt:

I raised my salty-rimmed margarita, "Let's make a toast to Mr. Langfield; he was kind, kooky, and had poor taste in women."

"Here, here. God bless the silly romantic fool," Kitty cheered and twirled her hair around her finger.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Snippet: The Killing Depths by Martin Roy Hill



Commander Johnson paced the small amount of open floor space in his stateroom. As he walked back and forth, he studied Schag's face. His own was like a slag of lava.

"Okay," Johnson said. "I want to know what the hell you're doing here, and what you're doing wearing those clusters."

Schag took a deep breath and glanced at Culver before answering.

"Captain, I am a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service," he finally said. "I am currently serving as an agent-afloat aboard the USS Halsey, investigating crimes that occur within her carrier task force while deployed. The USS Encinitas is attached to that task force."

Johnson stiffened in mid-stride. He looked quickly at his exec, whose gaze was frozen on Schag. Culver's mouth was agape. The skipper composed himself and stepped close enough so Schag could feel his breath.


Saturday, December 8, 2012

Author Interview: Rune Woodman

1. What genre do you write? Why?

Currently I am writing a lot of children's fantasy. I enjoy writing in that genre but I have ideas for some children's science fiction and some young adult drama too. When I decided that I was ready to write my first book I was trying to choose between some adult drama ideas, a science fiction idea and a science fiction comedy. But I was distracted from all three by the first sentence of The Ordinary Animals, which had started to pop into my head at inconvenient times, like when I was trying to sleep. I ignored it for as long as I could, but eventually gave in and explored the story about the boy who is being chased by bullies and gets onto the wrong bus. Once I knew how exciting the book was going to be I put all thoughts of writing for adults aside and concentrated on writing The Ordinary Animals. Now there are a dozen or so children's books sitting on a shelf in my mind waiting for me to write them.

2. Do you use an outline or just start writing?

I always have an outline. When I get an idea for a story I write it down immediately, I have a terrible memory. I try to keep the original idea as open as possible, giving just enough detail to ensure I've captured the essence of the story. Years can pass between having the idea and writing the story. When I start writing I explore the story and characters while I develop the plot. Then I think about it some more before sitting down to write it. With The Ordinary Animals the plot was very open when I began. I think this is because I didn't know all of the characters or have a full understanding of the universe in which the story is set. I needed to send it off to every possible angle, then pull things back in to keep the story tight. I'm currently writing the second book in the series, called The Ordinary Animals and People. I have found that plotting this book was much easier, possibly because I had already explored a lot of it while writing the first book.


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Christmas Wishes Blog Hop!

You have a chance to win two e-books!
Forbidden Temptation of a Vampire (Sídhí Summer Camp #1)
and Vampire's Forbidden Territory (Sídhí Summer Camp #2)
YA paranormal Romance


A special thanks to Book & Trailer Showcase (BTS Virtual Book Tours), Coffee Beans & Love scenes (CBLS Promotions), and Full Moon Bites (FMB Blog Tours)  for hosting this awesome giveaway hop!
Guess what? The hosts will be giving away a Kindle Paperwhite, A Nook Glow, and a $90 choice giftcard for either amazon or barnes and noble.  Both Tablets will come with a book bundle!! Visit their blogs for details.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop


Everyone that stops by receives a FREE e-book! 

Details at the bottom  :P

You also have a chance to win two e-books!
Forbidden Temptation of a Vampire (Sídhí Summer Camp #1)
and Vampire's Forbidden Territory (Sídhí Summer Camp #2)
YA paranormal Romance



for hosting this awesome giveaway hop!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Snippet: The Ordinary Animals by Rune Woodman




The snippet comes from Chapter Three. Albert has jumped onto the wrong bus to escape capture by the school bullies. When he gets to the end of the line he has to wait twenty minutes for the next bus. After a while he gives up waiting and looks for another way home. Across the road from a park he finds some shops and hopes there is someone who can help him, but the shop-keepers have all put out their garbage and closed for the day. He slumps to the ground in despair as it starts to rain...


Albert was so busy feeling sorry for himself that he didn’t notice a rustling sound coming from one of the piles of garbage. He took a deep breath to clear his head and the pile of garbage rustled again. He wiped his eyes and took another breath, the garbage rustled once more.

This time he heard it.

Instant fear caused his jaw to clench and his muscles to freeze. Somehow he managed to force his eyes to look around, scanning for the cause of the sound.

There it was again! The pounding rain made it hard to identify and his brain churned through all of the possible causes. Was it a spider? No, spiders aren’t that big. Was it a dog? No, dogs aren’t that small. Was it a rat? His eyes widened. Could it be a rat?

Rustle, rustle.

Rats rustle.

“I hate rats,” he whispered through a crack in his lips.

Rustle, rustle.

Albert scanned the rubbish again. One of the bags had a split down the side and some of the contents spilled out. He saw something move, something hairless and horrible, skinny and squirming. It was a rat’s tail.

Clenching his fists, Albert tried not to scream but a grunt of disgust escaped from his throat. It rolled up into his mouth and out through his nostrils. The tail stopped moving. The rustle stopped rustling and the rat was now aware that someone else was there.
Albert squeezed his eyes shut. Perhaps the tail was a figment of his imagination, perhaps, when he opened his eyes again, it would be gone. Cautiously Albert opened his eyes and the rat’s tail had disappeared but in its place was a rat’s head!

He saw four long, yellow front teeth exposed by an open mouth, whiskers that danced on either side of the nose, black beady eyes that glinted in the streetlight and a leering smile that appeared on quivering lips as the rat sniffed the air. The smile disappeared as the mouth opened further and a stream of drool dangled from the top lip. Albert jumped to his feet; he wasn’t going to hang about with the rat infested garbage. Rain or no rain he sprinted across the footpath, across the road and into the shadowy park.

Website: http://www.theordinaryanimals.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theordinaryanimals
Blog: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6588989.Rune_Woodman/blog
Short stories coming soon: http://www.theordinaryanimals.com/detective-oliver-mysteries

 
Find The Ordinary Animals by Rune Woodman at Amazon

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