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A colleague of mine, whom I first met ten years ago (online) in the Online Writer’s Workshop, is celebrating his book release today. He has a beautiful writing voice and this story is well-researched, a work of both passion and philosophy. I’ve only read excerpts of it so far, but I am looking forward to reading the whole thing.

Visit Dragonwell and learn more about W.B.J. “Walt” Williams and his new fantasy novel The Garden at The Roof of the World. Or just head over to Amazon and grab the book! Today only if you buy a copy and send a screen shot of your proof of purchase, Dragonwell will give you a $5 gift certificate toward one of their other books.

In fact, I can recommend most any of those too, such as Assassin’s Gambit by Amy Raby,
The Princess of Dhagabad by Anna Kashina, Crossfire by Nancy Kress–she had good books on Writing as well, by the way–The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede, and Spellbent by Lucy A. Snyder. Dragonwell Publishing is one of those super awesome small presses that give voice to new and exciting authors the larger publishing industry too often overlooks. If I hadn’t decided to go indie, I might have gone with them myself.

So, go on, check out The Garden at The Roof of the World.

P.S. I just bought it, quickly snapped a screen shot (Ctrl, Shift, 4 on my Mac) and emailed it to Dragonwell at dragonwellpublishing(at)gmail(dot)com and they sent me the gift code, just like that! Thank you, Dragonwell!

Incubus: The Daughters Of Lilith: Book 2 by Jennifer Quintenz

Braedyn Murphy used to think nothing important ever happened in her sleepy town of Puerto Escondido. But that was before she learned she was a descendent of Lilith, the mother of all demons.

Now Braedyn fights to protect humanity from the Lilitu – the beautiful, souls-stealing daughters of Lilith. As she fights the Lilitu, Braedyn must also fight her growing love for her boyfriend Lucas – because giving in to temptation could end his life.

Their only ray of hope is an angel’s offer to make Braedyn human, but it’s an offer she can’t accept until the world is safe from the Lilitu. Braedyn knows she’s a key player in this ancient war…

…but she’s not ready to believe she just might be humanity’s best hope of surviving the final battle for Earth.

What readers are saying…

“I had already fallen in love with the author and the story line, but this is the best book. The plot twists were amazing, and as an avid reader many books can be pretty predictable. I will continue to look for new books by this author!”

“I couldn’t wait for book 2 to be released. I enjoyed the first book and this one was just as good. It had a lot of twist and turns and I just couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the 3rd book!!!”

“Despite the long wait between THRALL and INCUBUS, it takes only a couple of pages before author Quintenz pulls you back into the world of Braedyn, the teen who has to battle all the regular first-love high school insecurities plus training with the Guard to protect the world against her own kind… The road is rough; the ride a rollercoaster. The story well written… to the author I say: Please be writing volume 3. I can’t wait that long until the end!!”

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Check out “Incubus” on Amazon

Mist by Cheree Alsop

Mist takes us to the world of Shadows when the royal family is threatened by an assassin and a handmaiden puts her life on the line to protect them. Rya is then sent to tend the injured prisoner as soldiers search for the true source of the threat. Battling volatile mist, Sathen, and revelations about her past, Rya is pushed far beyond the limits of a normal Duskie. She finds strength and love where she least expects it, in a pair of light grey eyes and strong hands ready to catch her should she fall.

Mist tests the limits of love and strength during a time when Lumini and all within the Shadow kingdoms are threatened by darkness far more sinister than any they have ever faced before.

You can find more from Cheree on her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Alien, Mine by Sandra Harris

THE BLUTHEN HAVE ONE CONSUMING PASSION: THEMSELVES.

Torn from modern day Earth and stranded on the far side of the Galaxy, Sandrea Fairbairn must use every particle of courage she possesses to adjust to her new life and live for tomorrow.

Eugen Mhartak, a general in the Tri-Race Alliance Army, refuses to bow to the merciless Bluthen. Haunted by the loss of far too many innocent lives he has vowed to drive the ruthless invaders from Alliance space.

The strength and valor of Eugen Mhartak attracts Sandrea as no man ever has, but she struggles to read the enigmatic general’s heart. Determined to help him triumph over the Bluthen she uncovers a diabolical plot against the Alliance.

Drawn by the courage and exotic beauty of Sandrea, Mhartak battles to overcome the barriers of cross-cultural differences that separate them and claim her ardent interest. He must conquer his deepest fears to be the man she needs. When his principles are betrayed by his own government and he is faced with the impossible prospect of taking Sandrea’s life in order to save his home planet, Mhartak desperately searches for a way to keep safe both his world and the magnificent woman who has stolen his heart.

Excerpt

Fleeing Bluthen (the antagonists) hunting groups, Sandrea (the heroine), and a secondary character, T’Hargen (the hero’s long lost brother) have taken refuge in the house of a family recently murdered by the Bluthen. Sandrea has just been secretly adopted by the family’s empathic pet.

“What, no food replicators?” she asked.

“I beg your pardon?”

She flapped a hand at him. “Never mind. Long story.”

A quizzical frown crossed his brow. “This planet is recognized as an agricultural haven. People come here to pursue a simple life.”

“Is that what you did?”

He opened cupboards and drawers and pulled out plates and cutlery. Long strides took him to a refrigeration unit where he withdrew an assortment of food. A couple of minutes later, he placed a loaded plate on the table.

“Yes. Sit,” he ordered.

Okay, I won’t pry, not my business.

She stared down at the repast and an image of three fresh graves sucker-punched her vision. Her appetite fled.

“They would have been disappointed had we refused their hospitality,” T’Hargen murmured, “should they have been here to receive us.”

And that’s supposed to make it easier?

Oddly enough, it did. She would not disrespect this last generosity of the unknown family. She sat and speared a piece of fish with a two-pronged forked. A warm, strong, moist tongue flicked against the inner crook of her elbow.

Don’t get anxious, I’ll feed you.

T’Hargen seated himself across the table from her with his own plate.

“Do you know . . . Did they have any pets?” she asked.

T’Hargen stared at her as though she’d suggested the family indulged in the kind of activities that took place only when the planets aligned, under cover of darkness and involving naked skin, prosthetics, and oil. Possibly feathers.

Or goat leggings.

“Such as?” he asked.

She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. What sorts of pets are kept on this planet?”

His lids lowered then rose with his eyebrows. “Pets are not useful on a farm.”

“Ah, I see.” Got news for you, T’Hargen, pets are always useful.

She picked up a piece of fish in her fingers, placed it in her mouth, and bit off a portion.

“Some of the locals have not objected to caped lizards taking up residence in their external storage sheds. They keep the vermin down,” he said. “If you see one, though, keep away from it. They’re extremely dangerous.”

Yeah, they’ll steal your heart with just one emerald-eyed glance.

Find more from Sandra Harris on her website and Facebook.

Book Trailer: DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth

The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw by Suzy Turner

Adopted sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane are polar opposites, but when the same strange ‘tattoo’ suddenly appears and winds its way up their bodies within days of each other, they soon realize there’s more to their relationship than they could ever have imagined.

Sent off to London for two weeks of ‘work experience’, the Morgan Sisters soon find themselves being initiated into the ancient Praxos Foundation, one that protects the innocent while fighting evil, both human and supernatural.

At the same time, Lana Beth and Emma Jane must also investigate why the sweet but sometimes pesky ghost of Josiah Grimshaw just won’t leave them alone.

For more from Suzy Tuner, visit her website, blog, Facebook or Twitter.

Gray Skies by Brian Spangler

Centuries ago something catastrophic happened. Historians claim it was an accident that spilled the clouds out of the sky, leaving humanity under a relentless veil of gray.

For young Declan and Sammi, all they’ve ever known is a world of gray skies and dense fog. Now, at odds about the past and uncertain of their future, they’re of age, and it’s time to build their lives together.
Yet the coming of the End of Gray Skies has been declared. For a world shrouded in the mysterious fog, the promise to fix a centuries-old accident brings new hope that they might one day see and feel the warmth of the sun on their faces.

But questions begin to surface. Questions of whether there ever was an accident. Questions asking what really happened that changed the Earth and what will happen if their world once again sits under the sun.

Gray Skies is a 38k word short novel, and is Book 1 of the Gray Skies series. Don’t forget to check out the other books in the Gray Skies series, available and coming soon on Amazon:

Find more from Brian Spangler on his website.

Call of the Herald by Brian Rathbone

It’s been thousands of years since anyone on Godsland has displayed anything beyond normal human abilities, but that’s about to change. When power returns to Godsland, no one is prepared and the course of the world will be changed. There are legends that tell of the last age of power, but it was so long ago that what remains is scattered and out of context. One thing that remains clear is the prophecy of the destroyer, which says that one will come to destroy entire nations. When Catrin Volker, a teenage horse trainer, accidentally fulfills this prophecy, she must find a way to convince the rest of the world she’s not out to destroy them.

This ebook is permanently free, and the premium audiobook read by Chris Snelgrove is just $1.99!

Download Call of the Herald on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Sony Reader Store, Google Books, Smashwords, Feedbooks, PDF (direct download), EPUB (direct download), MOBI (direct download) and audiobook and ebook bundle (direct download).

Excerpt

Sitting on a bale of hay with his knees pulled to his chest, Chase kept to the shadows, not wanting to cause any trouble for Strom, who was busy saddling a pair of horses. So many things had changed in such a short period of time that Chase could hardly believe it. He no longer felt safe in places where he’d once felt quite at home. People he had considered friends no longer met his eyes, yet he could feel the stares that lingered on his back as he walked away.

“Sorry about that,” Strom said once the customers had ridden around the corner.

Chase just handed him the jug of huckles juice they were sharing. “Do you remember when things used to be normal?”

“I remember,” Strom said. “I remember things were sometimes good and sometimes bad, but it always seemed like things would get better. Now . . .”

“I know what you mean,” Chase said. “I really made a mess of things.”

Strom laughed. “You’re still blaming yourself for all of this? You sure do think a great deal of yourself. Are you so powerful that you can control everyone else? I don’t think so. You need to face the fact that you’re just as helpless as the rest of us. Whatever happens just happens, and there’s not a thing you can do about it.”

“Thanks for the uplifting speech,” Chase said. “I feel much better now.”

“Don’t come to me if you want sunshine and roses. That’s not how I see the world. You could go talk to Roset. She still lives in a land of buttercups and faeries; maybe she could make you feel better.”

“She won’t even talk to me,” Chase said, his mood continuing to be dour in the face of Strom’s humor.

“You see? You’re utterly powerless. Therefore you can’t possibly be at fault. Doesn’t that make you feel better?”

“If I said yes, would you stop talking about it?” Chase asked.

“Probably not.”

Find more from Brian Rathbone on his website, Twitter and Facebook.

Karin Kross Defends Pacific Rim

I took my three little boys to see Pacific Rim when it was out. Giant robot dudes versus godzilla-monsters? Heck, yeah. They loved it. They had their transformers fighting their godzillas for a whole week afterward. (Later I think Angry Birds were involved as well. And Rainbow Puppy. They are eclectic.)

In a piece for Tor, Karin Kross asks why people feel compelled to insult movies they like:

There’s a kind of meme going around right now with regard to Pacific Rim that really gets up my nose: that Pacific Rim is a “dumb movie.” As in, a friend recently asked on Facebook if anyone had seen it, and amongst the responses was a comment along the lines of, “It was a dumb movie, but I really liked it.”

…Respectfully, I would like to disagree. Or at least, insist that we stop using the word dumb. Simple? Sure. Uncomplicated? Absolutely. Spectacular, in the truest sense of the word? Hell yes. But none of these things are dumb…

When people say that Pacific Rim is a “dumb movie,” what exactly do they mean? Is it code for “I liked a movie about mechas fighting monsters, but I’m kind of embarrassed about it, so I’ll say it’s dumb to prove that I’m smart”? Is it a reaction to the fact that the plot wasn’t some convoluted mess that you had to “figure out” á la Inception or the later Matrix movies? Is it discomfort with the absence of an Important Life Lesson neatly spelled out over the closing credits? Is it just that it wasn’t dark enough? It’s probably one or more of all of the above.

…As thrilling as the kaiju fights are, the greatest pleasures of Pacific Rim are, dare I say, simple, old-fashioned, and humane. A lot of people don’t seem to know how to deal with this anymore, or accept it without irony.

Read the whole thing.

I like how she phrases it, “Simple doesn’t mean dumb.” After I came home from the movie, I wondered why I find it so hard to write a story that is simple enough to be made into a movie. I tend to pile on characters, and points of view, and storylines and timelines, and complications, until the whole thing is a tangle. That can be its own kind of pleasure, granted, but I think that to write something simple–but not dumb–is not at all as easy as it seems.

Whisper of Memory by Brinda Berry

Weapons training and winter formals… a deadly combination

All Mia ever wanted was to fit in at Whispering Woods High. But being a portal-finder who dates a guy from another dimension sort of makes it hard. Mia’s brother disappeared over a year ago, and now agents from the IIA are policing people’s movements through dimensions. She’d trusted Dr. Bleeker from the local university when he’d told her the IIA were the bad guys. But even a girl with an extraordinary ability to sense things can make mistakes.

Now two people are dead, and as a portal gatekeeper for the IIA, Mia needs to find Dr. Bleeker before he hurts anyone else. And her boyfriend Regulus, an Agent for the IIA, carries secrets of his own. Between learning about weaponry, finding the perfect dress for the winter formal, and catching bad guys, who has time to fit in?

Excerpt

Fight Training

“Portal finder. I can do that. I didn’t sign up for this other part.” I shivered in the cold morning. Deep in the woods, a fine mist hung in the damp, sticky air. We had walked at a brisk pace to match Regulus’s for a couple of miles, and now my hair clung to my neck and cheeks. Irritated, I shoved the strands off my face.

“These skills are necessary for all agents of the IIA, portal finder or not.” Regulus nodded at Arizona. “Arizona is adept in judo, jujitsu, and several other martial arts. He is small but quick.”

I looked at Arizona, a head taller than myself.

“I am skilled in everything from hand-to-hand combat to weaponry. You do not have time to become skilled in anything,” Regulus said.

“Gee, thanks,” I answered.

“You will rely on your ability in marksmanship, which you recently demonstrated irresponsibly.” Regulus referred to an incident over a month ago at Dr. Bleeker’s involving a gun and a precise shot into the thigh of a bad guy holding Regulus. Video gaming had paid off for once.

Arizona smirked. “I think she did pretty well. Saved your backside,” he said.

Regulus shot him a look that would wilt most people, but Arizona grinned even wider. Then he took off his backpack and removed two weapons, setting them in a precise line on the ground: a black-handled, five-inch-long knife, and the silver box from Regulus’s world that I called a stunner.

Examining the knife, I imagined slitting someone with it. Nah. The knife wasn’t my style. I picked up the stunner.

“Be careful,” Regulus said as if I were a child. “You could hurt yourself.”

“Do I finally get one of these?” I asked the question and then stuck out my tongue at him. The wind blew and twirled leaves around my head in a kaleidoscope of red and orange. I pushed hair out of my eyes.

“This is how you hold it.” Regulus took the rectangular box from me with deliberate care. He held it much like a cell phone and said, “Make certain that the opaque end faces out.” He then pointed somewhere in the distance. “See that tree with the knot in the center?”

I shook my head.

“I will take the limb off. The one that is a foot above our heads.” Regulus pointed the stunner and squeezed both sides. A high-pitched whistle sounded, and the tree limb fell to the ground. “Now, you shall hold it. No pressure should be exerted in this hold.” He handed me the box. “Hold it lightly.”

I studied the object in my palm that I’d held in the past without a clue as to its inner workings. The sides were malleable with a gel-like quality. Anxious, I tried not to squeeze. A mockingbird chattered and startled me into a jittery bundle of nerves.

“What makes it go off?” I asked.

“You do,” Regulus said. “Now you will exert pressure with your thumb and forefinger and tell it to discharge.”

“Tell it?” I shifted uncomfortably at the thought of talking to the stunner. Regulus hadn’t done that. I raised my eyebrows, unsure that I had heard him correctly.

“You can do it with your voice, but it isn’t necessary. Direct the command with your mind.” Regulus nodded his head toward the tree. “This is going to take all morning if you must question everything that I tell you to do.”

Arizona had carried a sword into the woods and began executing slicing motions parallel to his body. Ever since we had taken the sword from Ms. Amazon, he had been obsessed with it. He ignored us.

“I don’t get it. Where is the trigger? My voice?”

“Stop talking.” Regulus stood behind my shoulder and brought his arm forward, covering my hand with his. “Hold it like a gun. Steady.”

“Nothing is happening.” I pressed with my thumb and finger.

“Close your eyes,” he whispered. “Think about the discharge and mentally tell the weapon to obey. Be certain that your fingers make firm contact.”

For once, I didn’t argue. I concentrated on the weight of the weapon in my hand and pressed while I wished for it to fire. I heard the faint whistling sound and opened my eyes to see what I had done. Nothing looked different. If a branch had fallen, I couldn’t tell.

One hundred yards away to the left, an ancient oak tree bent in half and popped in protest. Several jolting shrugs later, the top five feet bent at a forty-five degree angle and creaked as it drooped toward the ground. A displaced flock of birds chattered while settling in another treetop.

Arizona chuckled to himself without making a comment.

Regulus rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “I think you have it. Now let’s try with the eyes open. But this time, think less forcefully. It may be important to keep the landscape intact, and there is a rather small mountain over there quivering in fear.” A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.