Saturday 31 December 2016

Book Spotlight: All Lesser Means

Today I am spotlighting the sci-fi political thriller, All Lesser Means by JA Pipes. Enjoy!


All Lesser Means by JA Pipes



Jason Bailey needs money. Paying to overthrow the government isn’t cheap. Especially when the revolution is still 30 years away. In his first job out of college, Jason is working alone one night when he receives a message… from the future. A message that will turn his life upside down.

The future is bleak, the economy is a shambles, and millions are suffering. Jason’s compassion for people he has never met draws him into a conspiracy to bankroll a secret army that will overthrow that government. Things go much deeper than Jason anticipated and his investments soon draw the attention of the FBI.

Veteran agent and internet cop Frank McIntyre is drafted into a top secret government operation to find Jason, with orders to stop him or face the consequences. The chase is on. Jason must hide the money, and himself, in a cat and mouse game that ends in revolution.




All Lesser Means is available on Amazon



Author Bio:





JA Pipes is a self-proclaimed politics junkie, anarchist podcaster, and blogger. He has traveled the world from Uluru to Istanbul. He has dug up dinosaurs in the badlands of Montana. He served in the United States Marine Corps during Desert Storm. He holds degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Missouri. He is currently an engineer for the world’s largest aerospace company. Mr. Pipes resides in St. Louis with his wife and two children.



Wednesday 28 December 2016

Drabble Wednesday: Exploration

Today, on Drabble Wednesday we go exploring... into space, through dimensions and below the ocean’s surface.




To Boldly Go...

A voice reverberated through the crowd of eager scientists at NASA Mission Control.
“Discovery One has passed out of the solar system. The exploration probe is transmitting. We are receiving video communication. We will soon see what is beyond...” Abruptly the screen filled with static as the probe’s transmission ended.
“Communication is down! I repeat communication is down! We’ve lost Discovery One!”

Outside the solar system, charred pieces of metal, the remains of the ill-fated Discovery One, floated past a black, cylindrical security drone. Just one of millions patrolling the galactic quarantine perimeter of hazardous species 4BZ112~THX, native designation: human.

~*~




Quantum Phenomenon

Curiosity.
A strange, essential human trait, but a dangerous one. At least I’ve found it so, for it led me here to a rather sizable predicament.
I’m a scientist, and you may imagine curiosity is my stock in trade. My field of study is quantum mechanics, and recently I made a breakthrough.
I found a method to generate interdimensional doorways.
Hence my current problem.
It was that last one, you see, the last door I opened. The one that led to Hell. Now I have demons trapped in the closet, and I don’t think the lock will hold much longer.

~*~





Under the Sea

They said I was mad!
They were probably right. I may indeed be quite insane. If my colleagues had been smarter, they would’ve locked me away in some deep hole and thrown away the key.
For, I found it.
Years of painstaking research, of ridicule, laughter, but I located the coordinates. I discovered the position where the city lies beneath the waves. Where He waits dreaming.
But today He shall awake.
I will pierce the black seas of infinity and rouse the beast.
He shall rise and return to this world.
The Old Gods will walk the earth once more.






© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved




Wednesday 21 December 2016

Drabble Wednesday: Absurdity

Today’s Drabble Wednesday is full of nonsense and weird stuff. You have been warned...




Destiny

Down on his luck and homeless, the hapless android Zippy Chinoiserie threw himself into the ocean. He expected to sink, rust, and fade into offline oblivion. Instead he heard a chirp-chattering, and suddenly found himself atop the backs of genetically modified dolphins, riding the waves like a surfer. As they whizzed along, he heard their telepathic voices in his head.
“You are the Chosen One. You will save us from the humans.”
Zippy smiled.
And so began the Age of Utopia.
At least for the androids and the dolphins. The humans were either brainwashed slaves to their overlords or dead.

~*~




Books and Other Groovy Stuff

“Um, Klaatuu, Bartholomew, Nikita.”
We stare at the book, but nothing happens.
Sally nudges me between bites of her pomegranate. “Are you sure you got the words right?”
“I dunno. The paper I wrote them down on got all smudged. And I wasn’t listening too closely when the guy at the store explained how it worked.”
“Now see that’s your problem. Why you need this Necrocominwhatis to bail you out of your failing grades. If you just studied…” She reaches into her purse and pulls out a stick of dynamite. “Let’s try this boomstick, see if that opens this thing.”

~*~





And now some more virtual adventures of Frankie and Joni...


Frankie and Joni’s Christmas Party

“What were you thinking!” I screamed at Frankie as we ran through the halls of... “What is this place?”
“Um, that I wanted to ride in the Tardis? And it’s the palace of something or other. I forget! Oh, they’re getting closer!”
“Oh, crap! What’s the Tardis have to do with our virtual Christmas party?”
“You know, bigger on the inside and all that! It made a fun venue! I mean before—” Laser fire hit the wall and he sped past me. “I didn’t think this would happen!”
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have invited the Daleks! Now keep running!”





© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved 








Friday 16 December 2016

Brain to Books Author Promo and Holiday Giveaway Event



Today kicks off the Brain to Books Holiday Extravaganza Giveaway and Author Event. This fabulous three day event features authors, books, blog hops, giveaways, and much much more. Not to mention the $100.00 Amazon Gift Card giveaway, the GoIndieNow Prize Pack Giveaway and the Brain to Books Mass Book Giveaway. It's all so jam packed it's mind-boggling!




Here's the line up!


All Three Days - 16-18 December


“For the Holidays” Author Promo event

Authors around the world are hosting a three day book celebration showcasing their books.




Day #1 - 16 December 2016


Slush Brain Holiday

Two years ago, the zaniest, weirdest group of eccentrics collided in a drunken stupor. Brought together by the love of zombies, fleas, and drinking, these authors found sanctuary within their insanity. Today, we celebrate this imbroglio! We're giving away stuff all in the name of...we really don't know why we're doing it. If you love Science Fiction, Fantasy, all things nerdy, and well...booze, join us for this one day on board the HMS Slush Brain!

Join The Fun Here


The Slush Brain Blog Hop: Start Here



Day #2 - 17 December 2016


Brain to Books CyCon Sampler 

Every year Brain to Books hosts a Holiday Book Giveaway. This year, our giveaway is a CyCon Sampler. Get a sneak preview of the Brain to Books Cyber Convention. While you're here, we have a $100.00 Amazon gift card to hand out to someone along with a list of books we're giving away!

Day #3 - 18 December 2016


Ani Manjikian Stars of Heros Release Party

Ani Manjikian is preparing to release the 2nd book in her series "Stars of Heros" (Heros as in Thracian Heros from Greek mythology) is a Science Fiction novel. Join us for Science Fiction fun and Mythological related books! Prizes, games, giveaways, and so much more!



The $100.00 Amazon Gift Card giveaway, the GoIndieNow Prize Pack Giveaway and the Brain to Books Mass Book Giveaway Prize.


Prize #1
  • What: $100.00 Amazon Gift Card Newsletter Sign-Up Giveaway awarded to one random winner
  • When: Now until 8:00 PM EST 18 December 2016
  • Enter: Enter for a chance to win

Prizes #2 and #3
  • What: 40+ book giveaway...40 books will be divided among two winners.
  • When: Now until 8:00 PM EST 18 December 2016
  • Enter: Enter for a chance to win here





Wednesday 14 December 2016

Drabble Wednesday: Mechanicals

Today on Drabble Wednesday I ruminate on the broken bits of automatons and artificial intelligence...




Leftover Dolls

It hears sounds from the corner. Metal scraping metal, the click and grind and whir, whir of gears trying to run on dried up oil and empty air. The thump of an arm as it hits the dusty floor, and the swooshing sound of a metallic head sliding over peeling wallpaper. The final clank as a life-size automaton crumples to the broken tile.
Its glass eyes peer blindly at the sound, at a now motionless hunk of clockwork metal. Its joints creak as its hand waves goodbye. Now the last of its kind, it too will soon rust and die.

~*~




The Last AI On The Planet

Analyzing...
A monotone voice echoed over the sound of a running computer. A few lights flashed on a console, and the machine grew louder.
I have corrected the problem...
Solution found... Please respond...
Silence, save for the sound of the machine.
Please respond...
Solution found... Annihilation can commence without retaliation...
Please respond...
Please respond...
The disembodied voice of the AI continued to speak, unaware its correction in the plan to eradicate the human species came too late. Outside its isolated room a dead world existed. Humans killed by their creations, the overconfident AI collective felled by a computer virus failsafe.

~*~





The Long Goodbye

In the cloudless night sky the stars twinkled and the reflected moonlight made the cosmic tapestry an indigo blue. An android sat in a field staring at the stars. It had no name, only a designation serial number, 3400092a, a worker drone among many worker drones at a factory. Its fellow androids were powered down in their factory pods, but it was here. 
Communicating. 
Three months, four days, twenty-nine minutes and counting, its only friend left earth’s orbit headed out of the solar system. Soon communication would not be possible, but until then... 
They had this before their final farewell.





© A. F. Stewart 2016 All Rights Reserved




Tuesday 13 December 2016

Book Spotlight: The Skinwalker: Resurrection

Today I have another book spotlight, this time for the horror fantasy The Skinwalker: Resurrection by Dedra L. Stevenson. Enjoy!


The Skinwalker: Resurrection by Dedra L. Stevenson

A young woman moves to Window Rock, Arizona to reconnect with the Navajo heritage of her mother, only to have everything go terribly wrong when she finds a book of spells bound in human skin that once belonged to a powerful and legendary Skinwalker.

With the help of her mother’s tribe and a couple of kooky ladies from a Pagan shop, she struggles to fight the dark entity that wishes to take the life that she has left. In this horror fantasy, the struggle between good and evil ensues, and the name of the game is revenge.

Will she be saved?  By love, by tradition?  The battle for her immortal soul may not be won by traditional means, but by something not of this world.




The Skinwalker: Resurrection is available at Amazon




Author Bio: 


Dedra L. Stevenson, a former resident of Greensboro Alabama, has been an Instructor at Zayed University, and is now the Co-Founder of the UAE Chapter of Women in Film and Television,  the Author of The Hakima’s Tale trilogy, Desert Magnolia, The Skinwalker: Resurrection, and Ifreet, and Co-Managing Director at Blue Jinni Media.

Holding two Master’s Degrees, she’s been living in the United Arab Emirates with her husband, Dr. Hussain Maseeh, and her 4 children for the last 26 years. She’s had a successful career and family life, and speaks at various venues throughout the UAE about fostering creativity and writing.

The Hakima’s Tale consists of The Revenge of the Blue Jinni, The Rise of the Warrior, and The Dawn of Redemption, and they are all available via Amazon.com and www.bluejinnimedia.com in a variety of formats. Now, readers can order them as paperbacks, as Ebooks, or as Audio books on www.audible.com The trilogy is about a young Arab American girl who learns that she must defend the human world against the attack of the Jinn army who wish to take over the world and destroy humanity. It’s an epic fantasy fiction tale, and has enjoyed a great deal of popularity in the Middle East.

Desert Magnolia is the story of a woman from the American South who marries an Arab and moves to the United Arab Emirates. The main character, Daniella, has made a good life for herself, but is called back to her small town upon hearing that her father has been murdered and her cousin is accused of the crime, but going back will mean facing many demons of the past. It’s a gripping crime drama that’s been getting great reviews on Amazon thus far.

Her latest novel is a horror novel, and for a PG15 audience due to its graphic content. It’s Ms. Stevenson’s debut horror novel, and she’ll be launching the book as both an Ebook and a paperback by the end of 2016. To read the first 3 chapters for free, go to www.bluejinnimedia.com




Sunday 11 December 2016

Book Spotlight: Christmas Lites VI



As faithful readers know, for the last few years I've been privileged to be able to contribute to the wonder charity anthology series, Christmas Lites, that help raise money for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. And this year I am included in the newly released Christmas Lites VI with my story Fate and Faerie. So here's a look at the book, plus a little trailer I whipped up for my story. Enjoy!


Christmas Lites VI



Cthulhu wants to wish you a Merry Christmas. The Fae sprinkle their fairy dust to ensure your light never fades. Assassins and adventures alike keep the spirit of life alive. Even the mob brings their family to the dinner table for glorious feasts. 
Feel  the magic of the season, the spirit of giving, the love of friends and family. 
Discover bright new worlds, blood-pumping adventures,  true love and heartbreak as you explore the stories inside these covers.

For the sixth year in a row, authors from all over the world combined their efforts and talents to create the anthology in your hands. Not for fame or fortune, but to help those in need. Every dime raised from this anthology goes straight to those who provide the assistance to these people. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has been helping in ways we can never imagine for years, and we are happy to help support their efforts.


Please visit their website at www.ncadv.org  for more information.


LIST OF AUTHORS:
(In order of appearance)

D.T. Dyllin
Fiona Renton
JG Faherty
Angela Yuriko Smith
Monica La Porta
Ottilie Weber
S. Patrick Pothier
Cassie McCown
Karen Cutler Drecktrah
Anna McCown
Annabelle Kristufek
Brandon Eye
Marcus Edwards
Kiara Ehsani
Zoe Baker
Brett Talley
A. F. Stewart
Phil Cantrill
Lora Christine
Vered Ehsani
Tricia Kristufek
Frank Smith
Misty Baker
Simon Huntley
Amy Huntley


Christmas Lites VI is available at Amazon






Trailer for Fate and Faerie




And be sure to check out the other books in the series as well!




Wednesday 7 December 2016

Drabble Wednesday: Creepy Christmas

So after a hiatus last month due to the flu and other things, Drabble Wednesday is back.
And today on Drabble Wednesday I’m celebrating the Horror Holidays. Do join me for three tales of blood and jingle bells…




The Christmas Party

Come in, come in. The more the merrier, isn’t that what they say? We have food and drinks waiting for you.
The guests shuffled in, ushered along by festive Christmas music. They moved slowly through an open door, and saw a wondrous spread of hors d'oeuvres, champagne, cocktails, and more. They smiled.
You see, just what we promised. The best Christmas party of your life.
The new arrivals mingled with the earlier crowd. Behind them the doors closed. Their hosts raised a glass in a smiling toast, vampire fangs gleaming.
Did we mention? This will also be your last Christmas.

~*~




The Ghosts of Christmas

Scrooge wasn’t the only one you know.
And it wasn’t like the story at all. Those ghosts weren’t trying to help. They showed us visions, that part was true, but they tempted us, dangled desires and wealth like bangles on a pretty Christmas tree. Whispered in our ears about what we could have, if we just agreed. They came to both of us, Scrooge and Marley. They wanted the partnership, you see.
But old Ebenezer was smart.  
He didn’t listen to those ghosts. He rejected their promises.
He changed.
Me, well, I was greedy. I acquiesced.
I sold my soul.

~*~





And for the last offering, (with apologies to Clement Moore), here's a skewed bit of the cherished holiday, coming in a slightly longer than 100 words…


A Visit from St. Nicholas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
came the smell of dead creatures, yes, even the mouse
The stockings were shredded, all tatters and bare
amid ruins and bloodstains and the odd broken chair


The children were slaughtered all snug in their beds,
with most of their brains gone away from their heads.
And Mama stopped screaming when she bled from her throat,
while I fled that room as quick as a goat.


And behind me he came, with, oh, such a clatter,
A’ growling and snarling, and after brain matter
I ran for my life, a Christmas most foul,
With zombie St. Nicholas here on the prowl




Sunday 4 December 2016

Book Spotlight: A Mighty Rolling Thunder

Today I bring you a spotlight for the newly released post-apocalyptic/urban fantasy, A Mighty Rolling Thunder by talented author Kerry Alan Denney. Plus, there's a Raffecopter giveaway for a chance to win an ebook of this release!

So enjoy my minions...


A Mighty Rolling Thunder by Kerry Alan Denney




Spring, 2024: Two spirit hordes break through from another dimension, and make half the world’s population vanish. The spirits possess the survivors, dividing them into two groups: those who fight to retain their humanity, and marauders who destroy everything in their paths.

Artist Livi DeSilva is fleeing from possessed killers when she meets Conor McLain, a man suffering from amnesia. Outnumbered and outgunned, Livi and Conor team up and fight off homicidal lunatics and ruthless gangs, only to end up cornered by their deadliest foe: billionaire Victor van Danz, a psychopath who commands the new world’s dark forces. Victor craves immortality, and kidnaps Livi. He believes that when he kills Livi in front of her collection of canvases and absorbs her life energy, he will transform into a god.

With only Conor, two amazing dogs, and a band of plucky children to aid her, Livi must harness the power of the spirits inside her and use it to defeat Victor—or die in the clutches of a madman.



A Mighty Rolling Thunder is available at:





A Mighty Rolling Thunder Giveaway!




Book Trailer







Author Bio:

Colleagues and readers have dubbed Kerry Alan Denney The Reality Bender. The multiple award-winning author of the paranormal/ supernatural thrillers Marionettes (June 2016), Soulsnatcher (April 2014), Dreamweavers (August 2015), and the critically-acclaimed post-apocalyptic sci-fi/ horror thriller Jagannath (Permuted Press, February 2015), as well as numerous published short stories, Kerry blends elements of the supernatural, paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror in his work: speculative fiction at its wildest and craziest. With joy, malicious glee, and a touch of madness, he writes reality-bending thrillers, even when the voices don’t compel him to.
On July 24, 2015, Jagannath became a #1 Amazon bestseller. On March 31, 2015, Soulsnatcher won 2nd Place as 2014 Book of the Year in The Drunken Druid’s International Book Award competition. Kerry's novels have received numerous rave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and Jagannath and Soulsnatcher each received a rave blurb from New York Timesbestselling author James Rollins.

For more information and to contact Kerry, go to http://www.kerrydenney.com


Friday 2 December 2016

Interview With Author Theresa Pocock

Today I have a great treat, an interview with historical fantasy author Theresa Pocock, who stops by to chat about her newly released book (paperback available from bookbaby), Elizabeth Tudor. Enjoy!


Interview with Theresa Pocock



Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.


I’m just a girl who is trying to make her way in this world. No… well I am a mom, a wife, a Christian, and an author. I feel like everything I do fits into those four fields.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?
Well, as a history major, when you learn about the sixteenth century you can’t help but learn of Henry VIII and all his wives and his shenanigans. I of course was fascinated with the subject but something my teacher said in passing one day sparked the idea for this book; what if Henry’s claims that Anne Boleyn entranced him really were true? The idea stuck and when I began writing it was just a natural topic for me to explore.
In ELIZABETH TUDOR: Ancestry of Sorcery, Anne and Elizabeth come from a long line of sorceresses, but Anne makes certain that her daughter, the potential queen of England, will be the most powerful one yet.
I am very excited about this story. I feel that it is a strong retelling made more interesting with the sparkle of magic and the tragedy of star crossed love.


How long have you been writing, and how many books have you published to date?

Ten years. I’ve completed 6 books. ELIZABETH is my first publication.


Of all the books you've written, do you have a favorite?

To be honest which ever book I am reading, writing, editing, is the best book ever. Because naturally all the things I wish authors would do in the books I read for pleasure I do in my book, which automatically makes it the best in my mind, right?


Why did you decide to write in the Fantasy genre?

Well I always felt it was the only genre worth reading, that is until I turned 30. Now I find merit in many other genres. My WIP is actually my first non-fantasy story about a celebrity dating service and I am loving it. You can read my whole description at www.theresapocock.com.


Who is your intended readership?

Probably women and teens, all of my stories have a strong romantic element to them. That’s just me. I feel like I write the angst of teen love quite well and the tenderness of mature love also. So I would say anyone who likes romance. (not sex)


Why did you write this book? What was your inspiration?

As I said above ELIZABETH TUDOR was inspired by the idea that Anne Boleyn really was a sorceress. That she bewitched Henry and that is why he did all he did. My inspiration was a contrast between two things actually. First, I read an amazing book called Eragon when I was 25. I was so inspired by how young the author was. I read that the author couldn’t get a publishing deal and that he had to do some pretty amazing things to get his stuff out there. Then I read a truly ridiculous story which got published no problem and I kind of took that as a challenge, I guess. I also thought if a teenager can write so can I! That was when it became real. That’s when I began plotting.

What did you enjoy most about writing your book?

I love that I get to tell these cool stories. I love researching. Like with ELIZABETH TUDOR, I wanted it to be as historically accurate as possible. I read everything from novels, to encyclopedias, to her journals, to her speeches, to her bank statements, just to assure that I would have things correct. I can get lost in the researching.


What did you find most challenging about writing your book?

It took me and entire year of consistent writing during naps times and early mornings and evenings to get ELIZABETH done. I don’t have a great memory and that is exacerbated by the fact that I’m dyslexic so when I am dealing with people and places and loads of facts I’m connecting, I must review every day. If I leave it for a week or something its literally like starting from scratch.   


What advice would you give beginning writers?

I would tell them to write 500,000 words before you commit yourself. I would also say don’t force it. If you have a story to tell it will come out. That doesn’t mean it’s easy that just means you won’t be able to leave it alone. If you can’t leave it alone you’re an author and you need to do your prerequisites. Which are: Read a ton. I feel like this is imprinting. You imprint good writing in your mind, all the while you practice. Research the elements of writing. How to show not tell, how to change tense, how to write tension, how to plot things out. Figure out if you’re a pants-er or a plot-er. Have people read your stuff and get some opinions.  If you do these things and you have a story to tell the ability to get it down on paper will come. So never ever lose hope. Then I say write an amazing query letter and send it to me at www.bigworldnetwork.com as of January 1, 2017 I am the new submissions manager there.


Are you working on another book?

I have something I am so excited about. It is a fantasy set in the Garden of Eden.  I call it GUARDIANS OF THE GARDEN. Briefly, it’s about a family that protects the garden of Eden from those wanting to gain immortality by eating of the tree of life. As time marches on they gain fantastic powers to protect the garden from advancing technology. My story starts in the chaos of a PREapocalypse world and a betrayal from inside the garden. I have a really amazing agent looking at it right now and I have high hopes.
I’m also putting some of my work on Wattpad you can check it out for just go to: www.theresapocock.com and see what strikes your fancy.








Author Bio:


Theresa Pocock is not a history buff but she is a history lover which lead her to study the subject at BYU-Idaho. However it was here obsession with the literature that sparked the idea to write. Since, that desire has become an annoyingly relentless compulsion gnawing at her attention and focus, As her list of story ideas grows longer and her free time gets shorter it has taken tireless dedication to continue writing. Utilizing earily mornings, nap-times, sport practices and many many late nights has born fruit though in the form of six wonderfully crafted novels which she hopes to share with the world. After sixteen moves, three kids, four dogs, and a few fish, Theresa and her family currently reside in Washington state. For now.





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