Friday, May 31, 2013

~ * ~ SEBASTIAN ~ * ~ by CHRISTOPH FISCHER


 
Sebastian is the story of a young man who, due to an unfortunate accident, has his leg amputated shortly before World War I. When his father is drafted to the war it falls to him to run the family grocery store in Vienna, to grow into his responsibilities, bear loss and uncertainty, and hopefully find love.

Sebastian Schreiber, his extended family, their friends and the store employees experience the ‘golden days’ of pre-war Vienna, the time of war and the end of the Monarchy, while trying to make a living and to preserve what they hold dear.

Fischer brilliantly describes life in Vienna during the war years; how it affected the people in an otherwise safe and prosperous location, the beginning of the end for the monarchic system , the arrival of modern thoughts and trends, the Viennese class system and the end of an era.

As in the first book of the trilogy, “The Luck of The Weissensteiners” we are confronted again with themes of identity, nationality and borders. The step back in time from Book 1 and the change of location from Slovakia to Austria enables the reader to see the parallels and the differences deliberately out of sequential order, so as not to see one as the consequence of the other, but to experience them as the reality it must have felt like for people at the time.

Review from Goodreads:

The strength of this author lies in the choice of his characters, a large ensemble cast around the title character Sebastian. Each of them seems to represent a different class, a social or an ethnic group of the melting pot that is the Habsburg Vienna of 1913. The family shop with its wide selection of goods and changing staff serves almost as the perfect symbol for the forced Austro-Hungarian state that has run its cause. With much research gone into the setting Fischer however focuses more on the human side of his characters and their conflicts. As before, he never points the finger or favours one group in particular but manages to give a great and authentic feel of the times. Self-doubt and a fear of the future oozes out of most his characters, particularly the physically fragile Sebastian and his family.
It seems the old generation is holding on to what they know and what is slipping through their fingers; the young ones are unsure how to be themselves in a modern world where old values are becoming meaningless and their own initiative and expertise will be needed.
With a hint of irony and a love for sentiment and nostalgia Fischer portrays the stubborn heroes, the errant and self-defeating and often silly ways in which the characters trod along in their search for happiness, be that seances, amateur psycho-analysis or risking all for a piece of the past.
This second part of his trilogy is less intense in terms of historic background and has an easier flow of writing. Greatly evolved Fischer gently shows the falling apart of the old order, showing some of the innocence of the time. After having first written a book about the brutal times that follow this is a daring concept that fortunately paid off. Just like the leg amputated Sebastian has to learn to walk through life with what he has left, so will the new shrunken state of Austria need to find a new stance in a changing Europe.
Having read in an interview that the story is based on his own grandfather makes the story all the more touching and a small piece of history come alive.
 
 
Image of Christoph FischerImage of Christoph FischerImage of Christoph Fischer
 
 

 
Christoph Fischer was born in Germany as the son of a Sudeten-German father and a Bavarian mother. Not a full local in the eyes and ears of his peers he developed an ambiguous sense of belonging and home in Bavaria. He moved to Hamburg in pursuit of his studies and to lead a life of literary indulgence. After a few years he moved on to the UK where he is still resident today. 'The Luck of The Weissensteiners' is his first published work. "Sebastian" has been released in May 2013. He has written several other novels which are in the later stages of editing and finalisation.
 

From Canada S. L. Ross and the Immortal Island Series



Spellbound Spellbound – Sarah is your typical American girl, happy, loving parents and off to college. She even falls in love for the first time with a perfect take home to mom kind of guy Jeff. But like everything all things must come to an end. Trust is now an issue with Sarah. Jeff had destroyed her feelings on love and all that comes with it. It’s now Sarah’s senior year of college when strange things begin to happen to her. She meets a mystery man she feels she knows and the only problem with it is that she had a vision about it before it happened. Then her parents go missing. Sarah is a strong person but with everything falling apart around her she doesn’t know how much more she can handle. Especially not the news that her new boyfriend is a vampire and her ex is a werewolf…

Spellbound (Immortal Island, #1)
   

The Vampire MasqueradeThe Vampire Masquerade – Sarah is devastated to learn that Chase will not be coming back any time soon. The council is unhappy with Chase and what he has done. Humans are never to be made aware of their existence. She begged for his life but that made no sway in their decision to punish Chase. Now Sarah has a worse feat. She has been invited to a Masquerade by one of the most powerful Vampire ever created. He wants her dead and she can’t figure out why. Victoria and Draven prepare her for the event that she cannot run from. Erick the mystery man who seems to be saving her life recently also tries to help her against a sinister vampire named Ambrose. There is shocking news about Chase’s return and Sarah is devastated that she may not survive this masquerade. The pressure is on and now it’s not just her life she has to worry about anymore…

The Vampire Masquerade ( Immortal Island, #2)

 The Fallen – Things have gotten way out of control. Alaina is missing. The coven have taken her from the wolves. Sarah is still with Ambrose despite her best efforts to kill him. It’s time to take back what is hers, and the only way to do this, is to find her daughter Alaina and bring her home. Along the way she meets someone, Lennox. Lennox knows things about her that she couldn’t imagine possible. He is a little over zealous at wanting to help her. She is skeptic with his eagerness to remain in her life but what else can she do. She must face the largest coven in Romania with someone else at her side. Sarah has now built an army stronger than she thought possible. Now with the battle so close there is only one person she trusts, problem is . . . she can't find him…

Coming Soon Book 4
The fallen The Reckoning – Chase is determined to find Sarah and bring her out of hiding once and for all. The council has been defeated. They can finally be together as they were destined to be. Unfortunately there is a big problem with his plan the bond has been severed. With Erick’s rebirth as Samuel, Chase uses him to track down Sarah. Years later they are reunited only for her to be ripped from his arms. Sarah’s souls is cleaned by the Hierarchy. Chase will never find her again. When his hopes of finding her soul again fail he beings to give up and settle in a rundown community where a large coven of vampires have gather. A hunter is on the loose and she means business. She is powerful taking out an entire coven in one day. She almost kills Chase when something happens between them and their fates change. Sarina was trained her entire life to destroy the evil in this world but when she meets Chase it is hard for her to do this. Then when she sees a photo of the woman he calls Sarah she suddenly realized what she must do. She must protect her daughter at all costs end this war once and for all. Her daughter will not have this life, the choices Sarina will make from that day forward are hers and hers alone.
The fallen (Immortal Island, #3)
 


















My Photo





Born and raised in Canada. S.L. Ross devoted her time to writing and arts at a young age. She has a strong desire to create an alternate universe while writing. Her dream was to become an Author of fiction novels in several genres.

 
 

Corr Syl the Warrior–EcoFiction Adventure, Romance, True Evil, and A Few Bad Jokes

Corr Syl the Warrior CoverMap of Wycliff DistrictCorr Syl the Warrior Cover

Corr Syl

Garry Rogers debut Sci-Fi novel, "Corr Syl the Warrior" will be available free on Amazon on Friday, May 31. Learn more about the book here: http://garryrogers.com.



Title: Corr Syl the Warrior

Author: Garry Rogers (email: grogers@sigmaxi.net)

ASIN / ISBN: B00CYT082U / 9781484989890

Number of eBook Review Copies: Unlimited (Free on Friday, May 31).

Book Giveaways: eBook Free on Amazon Friday, May 31.

Genre: Science Fiction, Eco Fiction (conservation theme)

Audience: Middle Grade and up

Rating: Violence, but no profanity or erotica

Mood: Optimistic, Humorous


Purchase: Kindle, $3.99, trade paperback, $14.95. Purchase on Amazon

Description: The adventure takes place on an Earth on which intelligence evolved long before humans appeared. When conflict flares between humans and the ancient multi-species Tsaeb civilization, the Tsaeb send a young warrior named Corr Syl to investigate and recommend a response.

Synopsis: Tensions are rising between humans and the ancient multi-species Tsaeb civilization. When an armed human patrol crosses the border into a small neighboring Tsaeb district, the district council asks a young Tsaeb warrior named Corr Syl to investigate and prepare a response plan.
To this point in his life, Corr Syl's only responsibility has been to meet the requirements of his warrior training. Things are changing, however, for Corr has developed an interest in the beautiful but aloof Rhya Bright. Pressure from his warrior mentor forces Corr to accept the council's request. He quickly learns that spies have infiltrated his district, and he realizes that many lives are at risk. He catches a glimpse of something truly evil, and with no time to spare, recommends a plan that will end the immediate dangers, but that might start a war.
Rhya helps Corr develop the plan and the two become very close. The Tsaeb apply the plan this unleashes global reactions from powerful enemies of the Tsaeb.

 

Garry Rogers, PhD
Author, "Corr Syl the Warrior"
President, Agua Fria Open Space Alliance, Inc.
PO Box 1011, Humboldt, AZ 86329-1011
Phone: (928) 925-7191 (for Garry)
Email: grogers@sigmaxi.net
Website: http://garryrogers.com
 

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I became sentient on a small farm in the wooded hills of eastern Oklahoma. Usually undistracted by other children or parental concerns, I was free to wander barefoot and barely clothed through woods and meadows, and along the banks of a sparkling creek. There were many discoveries of brilliant insects, iridescent fish, huge acorns, and giant spotted turtles. These formed the standards of sight, scent, and sound against which I will forever compare all my experiences.
At age nine, we moved to a small town in northern Arizona. There I made lifelong friends, and became addicted to the whispering wind and treeless vistas of the Colorado Plateau. I read day and night, and by the time I reached high school, I had decided to become a scientist or a business entrepreneur. I never noticed then that all my heroes were authors. After a few detours, I earned a PhD, joined a university faculty, and found my place among enthusiastic students and altruistic colleagues. Early excitement for teaching cooled and I took a full-time research position, and after a while, I became a full-time business entrepreneur.
When the adventures of business began to dull, I bought a small farm on a small stream in central Arizona. On Coldwater Farm I focus my energies on protecting wildlife and wildlife habitats. I write natural history and science articles, books, and news stories about wildlife conservation. I also write novels and stories about an earth on which intelligence appeared long before humans.
On my earth, sentience arose in the first complex creatures. After millions of years and countless failed societies, sapience appeared. The first sapient creatures formed a powerful warrior guild and served as the guardians of earth and of the Tsaeb, the multi-species civilization that eventually spread across the globe. You will find stories about the Tsaeb at in my blog and on the fiction page at http://GarryRogers.com.
I miss the farm. Its deep reservoir of possibilities for discovery gave me an eagerness to explore that filled every morning with expectations. The eagerness continued through my years in academia and business, and only faded after those goals were satisfied. I don’t know if the enthusiasm will ever return, but I am hopeful. I purchased the old farm a few years ago. Only a pile of rubble from the fireplace shows where our house stood, but the creek still sparkles and swirls. The hayloft in the old barn is a good place to write. I will go to stay one of these days.

Curriculum Vitae

The things we do fill buckets of boring debris containing very little passion or promise. The chronological list of things I’ve done fits this description with a few exceptions. Here’s one:
I am ordained, but have no religious beliefs. I’m not an atheist since I have no sense there is an entity to oppose. I am opposed to intolerance and promulgated ignorance.
My ministerial duties have been limited to writing wedding vows, organizing ceremonies, and serving as the wedding Officiant. Recently, someone I cared about died and the family asked me to perform the funeral service. Though I do not like to speak at funerals, I agreed. This is all I said:
“We are born, we live our lives, and we pass away. We come from the earth and return to it. Who we were and the things we did become stories that live on in the memories of those who knew us.”
I called for stories then, and spent the next half hour learning things I never knew about my friend. I will lead no more funerals though. For me, the deeper engagement and requisite emotional control deepens and extends the desolation.

Corr Syl the Warrior CoverCorr Syl the Warrior CoverCorr Syl the Warrior Cover
 
 
 
 

Thursday, May 30, 2013

4covert2overt ~ A Day in the Spotlight: On The Spotlight Prolific young Author BRANDI SALA...

Image of Brandi Salazar4covert2overt ~ A Day in the Spotlight: On The Spotlight Prolific young Author BRANDI SALA...: Click Here Sometimes, relationships can be deadly. Terri thought she was marrying a strong, loving man, only to find that beneath that ha...

Do you consider yourself lucky?

 Come take your chance at fate, and maybe you could win some money in our Rafflecopter contest or some autographed book swag. Do you consider yourself SUPER lucky? Well, this time you have to work for it. Get your creative brain pumping, take some awesome themed photos, and you could find a brand new Kindle Fire waiting for you at the post office! Come celebrate with Novel Publicity and author Thaddeus Nowak as we close down the Mother's Curse whirlwind tour with a giant book appreciation part-ae!!! Get ready to grab your ereader, numchucks, and perhaps even your wizard robes, but first read on for the full contest info. These contests have been extended until Friday, May 31 at 12 noon EST. Be sure to get your entries in before then!  

The Mother's Curse Photo Contest

The Set-up: Everybody loves a photo contest. Right? RIGHT?! Put your thinking hat on and come up with a fun, pictorial way to represent Mother's Curse. The most creative photo scores its taker a Kindle Fire. Sweetness! We’ve also got two $50 Amazon gift cards to the folks who take the most epic fantasy photo and the most kick-butt combat photo. Just remember the book cover has to be visible in order for your entries to be eligible. What to do: Submit your photo entry at the official contest page or email it to emlyn@novelpublicity.com. ***The cover of Mother's Curse must be visible in the picture on an eReading device.*** You may submit multiple entries for more chances at the prizes, but you can only win once! So be original, show us your creativity, battle prowess, or love for epic fantasy. The Fabulous Prizes...
  • Most Creative: Kindle Fire
  • Most Kick-Butt Battle Scene or Warrior Pose: $50 Amazon Gift Card
  • Most Epic Fantasy: $50 Amazon Gift Card
Special Stipulation: We need at least 10 photo entries to declare the winners; otherwise the contest will be extended until we achieve that number. As photo entries are submitted, they will be added to the Novel Publicity Facebook page and included in a widget on the Novel Publicity website. Submitting a photo means granting permission to Novel Publicity and the author to post!  

The Mother's Curse Rafflecopter Contest

The Set-up: It's true; you have even more chances to win some mega moolah. Just visit the author around the social media interwebz. Aaaaw, isn't that nice? What to do: Pick and choose the options that appeal to you in the rafflecopter form at the official contest page. The more you do, the higher your chances of winning. Bonus Prizes... By entering these contests, you also have 4 chances to win autographed copies of Mother's Curse or its sequel, Daughter's Justice, and don't forget to snag them while they're reduced to just 99 cents for Kindle--they return to their normal price next week, and trust me, you don't want to miss out. Good luck, and may fortune be on your side.   As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Mother's Curse and Daughter's Justice eBook editions are just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing either or both of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include a Kindle Fire, $450 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
  1. Get your copy for just 99 cents
  2. BONUS: The sequel is also discounted to 99 cents
  3. Enter the Rafflecopter contest below
  4. Visit the featured social media event
Mother's Curse is a coming of age story about the youngest Princess of Cothel and her efforts to save her father and brother from her mother's schemes, while at the same time, coming to terms with what it means to be a witch. Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes. Daughter's Justice continues Stephenie's journey of discovery, where she must overcome national opposition to her being a witch as well as lead her friends and protectors on a mission to stabilize her countries finances. Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes. Thaddeus Nowak is a writer of fantasy novels who enjoys hiking, photography, and the outdoors. Visit Ted on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

On The Spotlight Prolific young Author BRANDI SALAZAR

Product DetailsClick HereImage of Brandi Salazar

Sometimes, relationships can be deadly. Terri thought she was marrying a strong, loving man, only to find that beneath that handsome face lies something cold, brutal, and dangerous. After years of abuse, Randy takes things a little too far, and Terri finally summons the courage to take matters into her own hands and make her escape. But freedom comes at a price. Forging a new life, Terri tries to forget her past, but she can't help looking over her shoulder at every turn. When prison bars can no longer hold Randy, and her past comes knocking, Terri finds that the strength to trust again may be her only salvation.

Product Details  Click Here


How do you live with yourself when you don't even know who you are? On a chill October night, a girl goes missing setting the small town of Oakridge on edge. James has spent the last five years running from a past that still haunts him to this day. Now he finds himself thrust back into a life he thought he left behind. Finding out his new home may be haunted and reconnecting with an old friend while being thrust into a murder mystery, James finds himself trying to figure out which end is up while questioning his own sanity.

Product Details  Click Here

Laurel Adam’s was a normal teenager with dreams, aspirations and a bright future ahead of her…until the night her parents were brutally murdered. And she saw it all. With no promising leads, the killer is still out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike again. Now Laurel’s life has been turned upside down. Haunted by reoccurring nightmares and forced to live in a cramped apartment with her screwed up sister and her sister's two kids, depression is her constant companion. That is, until the boy she’s been pining after all year finally notices her. Suddenly Laurel’s future is looking brighter than ever, everything she could have hoped for is coming true. She has the attention of the hottest guy in school, a date to Prom, and the only thing standing in the way of her happiness is his girlfriend, Amanda Price, the queen of her daddy's checkbook…and Laurel’s mortal enemy. Worse yet, the mysterious killer seems to have turned up again. And his sights are set on Laurel.


Product DetailsClick Here


Tossed into a world of magic she'd only ever read about in books, Valerie Williams goes from teenage drama queen to tooth faerie almost overnight. Struggling to maintain her social status in a high school where designer clothes and having the right boyfriend makes the person, she finds that what's on the outside doesn't always determine what's on the inside. Having a hard time adjusting to the maturity she's been forced into, Valerie finds love and makes mistakes that could cost her everything. To make matters worse, she discovers that her new employer, Enamel Wear, Inc. is hiding a secret that may just leave her future hanging in the balance.


And more.....



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Brandi resides in Ohio as a devoted wife and mother of three beautiful children. She has many passions in life, writing being one. Unlike a lot of writers, Brandi doesn't see this as a job, but as a passion, and it comes naturally to her. Throughout her life she has played with it, writing quirky poems and short stories bordering on the bizarre, which no doubt reflects her self-proclaimed "weird" personality, but only over the last three years has she really focused on finding her voice.

Writing is an outlet. It's what offers relief when she is overflowing with creative juices. It is what keeps her company on a quiet night. And, as all writer's can relate, it is what keeps her up far too late when she should be snuggled into her pillow.

As of now, Brandi has quite a few projects she is working on, all unique in their own way, but all with an element of fantasy. A perfectionist at heart, she constantly strives to make each work better than the last. Here's to hoping you enjoy her work because there is more to come.


Find Brandi Salazar @http://brandisalazar.weebly.com/

http://www.facebook.com/brandellavalena?ref=hl

http://twistingyourmindonewordatatime.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

STEVE K SMY and IMAGINEER


Published Works





Hello Steve and welcome to your day in the spotlight. When did you first discover the desire to write was so strong in you?
I guess it was way, way back.  I tend to pick the arbitrary point of when I was 13 years old.  That's when jottings began to become more recognisable as real writing.  In fact, it was then that I wrote what was, to me, a novel!  Even then, it was science fiction.  It was all handwritten, on what I suppose would today be A-5 sheets, kept in a ring binder.  There were an awful lot of pages. 

Do you usually write in the same genre you tend to prefer to read?
To a degree.  I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, which I also write in.  Then again, I also read a fair number of books from historical fiction and modern military "true stories".  I've read some of the classics, including the heavyweights of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, but many of them leave me cold. 

When reading, do you prefer traditional printed books or ebooks?
I'm afraid I prefer traditional books!  I have a large collection of them, though not as large as it once was.  I've acquired a fair number of eBooks, though.  I find getting some books in print is impossible, so ebooks are the only option.  I read them mostly on my kobo mini or computer.  Ever since I got the kobo, I've discovered the advantages of eBooks.  But they'll never replace the feel of real books, or that wonderful smell when you enter an old fashioned second hand book shop! 

Have you been influenced and/or inspired by another writer, or writers?
That's a tricky one!  I think every book you read influences you, and if you have favourite authors, then their influence will be stronger.  Early on, Ray Bradbury and J R R Tolkien both had a big impact on my understanding of what writing could achieve. 

Do past or current events in your life have an influence on your writing?
Not really, except in terms of creating new characters and in describing emotions and reactions to situations.  After all, I'll never enter a fantasy world, other than by reading, and science fiction is equally set well beyond normal life. 

Have you got a favorite author, who stands well ahead of all others?
I have several!  Alexander Kent, for his Bolitho novels.  J R R Tolkien.  C S Lewis, for his Narnian Chronicles and his science fiction trilogy. Ray Bradbury, for his many short stories but especially The Martian Chronicles.  Gordon R Dickson for his many works but especially his Dorsai books.  There are probably more... 

Have you got both printed and digital books published?
Sadly, no!  I've only got eBooks out right now.  I had a few poems published years ago, in small press publications, but nothing more significant.  Perhaps it will happen one day. 

Do you try to write to satisfy what is fashionable, or do you write pieces that you would want to read?
I'm afraid I'm selfish.  I write what I would like to read but hasn't been written yet.  I've never been accused of being fashion conscious LOL!  I guess I don't relate to fashion because it's so ephemeral. 

How do you fit writing into your life? Do you have set times for writing?
It just happens, usually whenever the mood strikes.  I'm pretty much housebound, so I've got more than enough time to write, usually.  I do tend to reduce my writing time when my wife, Jenny, is home.  I can be caught writing at all kinds of weird hours. 

Do you keep every jotting of ideas, just in case they might be developed at some later date?
I used to, but most have been lost over time.  I've got a few odds and ends on computer, which may or may not grow at some time in the future. 

Do you write freeform or do you faithfully plan every piece meticulously before you start on a piece?
I write freeform.  I can't plan ahead.  By the time I finish constructing a plan, the spark has gone and I lose interest.  I know that that's frowned upon, but it's very much in keeping with my character. 

When writing, most authors now use a computer of some description. Which do you find more satisfying: writing using any means available, using a computer, using a typewriter or using a pen/pencil?
I always loved writing using either a pen or a huge old manual typewriter I once had.  There's a satisfaction in putting the words on paper using a pen.  The typewriter was wonderful in terms of the sounds involved and the speed I could write at using it.  My first PC, many years ago, had a word processing program but it couldn't handle the size files that were necessary, so I tended to discount it as a writing medium.  Now, illness having wrecked my handwriting, I use either my Desktop PC or my little netbook.  They lack the same satisfaction level, and can be soulless, but they get the job done and do make amendments much, much easier.  I also dabbled with writing on iPod Touch and iPhone but that was pretty much a flop.
 

Have you ever been somewhere and discovered a copy of a book that's extremely difficult to find, and drooled over the discovery?
Yes!  Many times!  The biggest was when we went to a fair at Ipswich Docks and I found a book of fairy tales illustrated by the great Arthur Rackham!  I was actually trembling, I was so excited. 

What is your greatest ambition in writing?
That's difficult.  I guess it would have to be to write a major work, with huge scope.  A real epic! 

Where can we find more information?
 

Short Story eBooks:

Novelette eBook:
For the Sake of Mercy (Amazon UK, also available on all other Amazon sites)
The Ossilan Affair (Amazon UK, also available on all other Amazon sites)
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Ancient Blood:A Novel of the Hegemony By Brian Patrick McKinley

Ancient Blood:

A Novel of the Hegemony

 

By  Brian Patrick McKinley 

Avery Doyle loves vampires; he’s read every novel, seen all the movies, and researched the folklore.  When his first one-night-stand, Caroline, turns out to be a true vampire on the run, he jumps at the chance to leave his ordinary life and join her as a “child of the night.”  The honeymoon ends, however, when Caroline’s brutal Creator Sebastian enslaves them on his island estate and Avery must confront the dehumanizing reality behind his dreams.

In order to survive, Caroline and Avery take their place as servants in Sebastian’s household during a gathering of the most powerful vampires on Earth, the Hegemony, and soon find themselves involved in the myriad intrigues and deceptions that form the night-to-night existence of The Order.

A society of wealth, power, and inhuman decadence whose existence is protected by human complicity and disbelief, The Order is the immortal aristocracy hidden behind the giant corporations and political leaders of the world. Sebastian, however, has a plan that will change The Order forever and shatter human civilization.

To avoid this terrible fate, Avery and Caroline will not only have to defy the most powerful creatures on Earth, but also confront the darkest aspects of themselves. For in the world of the Hegemony, even victory may cost them their souls . . .

A fast-paced thriller that both re-imagines and pays tribute to the traditional vampire, Ancient Blood is a story of love, ambition, sacrifice, and betrayal that is frighteningly human.

 

About the Author

Brian is a lifelong vampire fan from New Jersey and has written four screenplays, a stage play which won a state-wide contest and was produced by a NJ community theater, and numerous short stories which have been published online in various magazines.
 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brian.mckinley.13
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ancient-Blood-A-Novel-of-The-Hegemony/393476997370425
Excerpt:

 

She gave me the earring and, as delicately as I could, I pierced one of the smaller arteries at the bottom of her neck. I handed the earring back to her and bent to drink. While I did, she punctured my neck in the same way and put her lips to the wound. This is probably the one major advantage a starving Vampyr has over a starving human, this mutual-cannibalism we can perform. I guess it’s a little like having sex while freezing just to generate bodily warmth, but among Vampyrs, this is considered the purest form of lovemaking. It didn’t have the climactic intensity of sex, but it was a warmer plateau, like riding that pre-orgasmic moment forever. Or, for those of a more gastronomic bent, imagine eating the best chocolate sundae you ever had and never reaching the bottom of the dish and never losing your appetite for it. It made me feel close to her in a way that was impossible with any other form of verbal or physical expression. At that moment, we were literally one being, one system circulating its life between our separate halves.

We fed and kissed and comforted each other for the rest of the night. When sunrise came, we fell into our daytime hibernation coma holding each other.
 

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Blood Rose By Jacquelynn Gagne




 

BLOOD ROSE

by Jacquelynn Gagne


It’s true no one can out run Death. But Death doesn’t always want your existence. In Lianna’s case wants her mortality.

Long have Lianna’s dreams been a window into another time. A place that is as magnificent as it is dark. Frightened and weary from the physical toll the nightmares take on her body she turns to her psychic friend for guidance, which results in prophetic visions of Lianna’s death.

Mercenaries come after Lianna to stop her from fulfilling her fate. A destiny at her beloved’s side while rediscovering the real magic within her. Facing demise brought down on her by the hands of the mercenaries, the power of love offers her a new life as a vampire which ultimately fulfills the same epic fate the murderous villains fought to keep her from. 
 

About the Author:

Jacquelynn F. Gagne is an obsessive compulsive author of all things paranormal. When she cannot be found in the real world she is usually found covered in paint, pastels or most usually words. Among writing, photography and art, Jacquelynn is also an editor and cofounder for Ambrosia Arts and Midnight Hour Publishing.

Jacquelynn began working on her first novel in January of 2008, while still working full time. Though Jacquelynn has been writing most of her life, it was never her intention to become a professional writer. But when obsession grabs you, it doesn’t tend to let go. In addition to writing, Jacquelynn enjoys reading everything she can get her greedy little hands on. Currently she lives in Rogersville, Missouri with her husband James and their two sons, though she has declared to one day build a library that will substitute as her house. 

Excerpt:

There was an alley to the right. Too small for the car, or could he follow? Would it be a dead end and he’d have me cornered? It was my only chance. I lunged for its opening.

My knee gave as my foot twisted off the curb sending me stumbling forward. My arms thrust out instinctively. I landed snapping my wrist back. They hadn’t softened the blow to my face as I hit the cold wet concrete.

Blood spattered from my nose and mouth. My lungs were too fatigued to even muster a scream. Instead this sickened pathetic whimper gurgled out through the stream of blood.

As I lay there, trying to muster enough will to get up, the tires squealed to a stop right next to me. My ears rang in a high-pitched echo combined with the sound of my blood rushing in my ears. “Anna!”

My whole body shook violently when I heard a rough baritone voice scream my name in an intense rage. There was no way I could run from him anymore. Would I die here? Would he take me somewhere else to prolong my suffering? How long would it take?

Another dark thought. Is this what Neesa and her mother had seen?

Futilely my eyes closed. If I had to be conscious, I refused to watch my own death. “Anna! Look at me!” One hand held onto my shoulder turning me slowly as another hand carefully took a hold of my chin, tilting it up and making me cough on my own blood.

“No.” Worthlessly defiant. I gurgled coughing on the blood filling my mouth relentlessly.

 “Alright. Just hang on. I’m going to move you, okay,” his voice filled with laughter. Though weak and painful, it flooded with the sound of relief.

“No!” The scream was weak and sprayed blood as I spoke. My hand shot up defensively swiping at his face to try to push him away from me. The hand at my chin released to take my wrist gently.

 
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