Wednesday, September 28, 2016

PROMO: Captain No Beard, the Series by @caroleproman #win #giveaway






Children’s Fiction
Date Published: July 3, 2012 -  December 31, 2015

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The Captain No Beard series has nine published books in the series.  They all take place in the imagination of a young boy who pretends he and his friends are pirates.  Each book teaches valuable lessons. The Captain No Beard series can open discussions on important subjects such as sharing, bossiness, bullying, responsibility, and stranger danger. Using imagination, the crew of the Flying Dragon navigates the waters of the world, learning valuable lessons along the way.  Whether the topic is sharing, tolerance, stranger danger or bullying, the crew resolves their issues together with humor and sensitivity.



                              
About the Author

Award-winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons and combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us. She has two highly successful series and is launching this new exciting series about civilizations throughout time. While she is still working in her family business, this has enabled her to share her sense of humor as well as love for history and culture with the audience she adores. Roman lives on Long Island with her husband and near her children.

Contact Links

Email: cnbbook@gmail.com

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Friday, September 16, 2016

PROMO Blitz: Trojan by @WallaceDavidL



Thriller, Political Thriller
Date Published: February 2016 


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A high-profile US based assassination was just the beginning…

Victor Walker's main responsibility as Sr. Manager of White House Defense Armament Systems, was to ensure America's flagship arsenal remain up and operational, but just days after an assassination on US soil, all flagship armament systems crashed – a complete meltdown. Star Wars, Air Force One, Doomsday Briefcase and Guidance Systems were all rendered useless.

With an attack by a foreign entity seemingly eminent, Victor found something didn't pass the smell test. Indicators pointed closer to home, to a rodent on the loose – to a Trojan with ties to the assassination who was now targeting his family. As he raced to bring the armament systems back online and keep his family safe, he uncovered clues indicating a mole deep within the government who didn’t want him to resolve the crisis, to someone he once thought he could trust.


About the Author 


Before publishing his debut novel, David L. Wallace served over 27 years as an information technology professional working initially for the US Navy, and then the Department of the Navy and various fortune companies. He's a UCLA Writing Program alumnus, who writes both thrillers and children stories.

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Thursday, September 15, 2016

Blog Tour: Fierce Temper by @neilarocks #interview


Fierce Temper (Ozark Magic #2)
Menage Erotic Suspense
Date Published: August 3, 2016 
Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Tessa Lawson has a secret… actually, she has a few. Not only did she used to be known as adult film star Temper Jazz, but she is also on the run after witnessing a murder and stealing $250K from a drug lord. She moved to Magic to hide, but will she be able to hide her heart?
Milo Livingston has his own demons. His guilt over a horrible accident that injured a friend has left him thinking he doesn’t deserve happiness. He surely doesn’t think that Tessa could ever love him.
When Milo’s friend, DEA Agent Archer Collins comes to town searching for Tessa, the trio’s world is thrown into upheaval. Archer is intent on bringing down the drug cartel responsible for his sister’s death. He never expected to fall in love with the key witness he’s been searching for.
After an attempt is made on Tessa’s life, Milo and Archer join forces to protect the woman they care about. Will both men be able to overcome their own demons and trust Tessa with their hearts? And will their love be enough to protect her from the dangerous people who want her dead?

Buy Links


 Interview


Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
I started writing ménage not only because that is something I love to read, but because I really enjoy writing about love (couples, trios, or whatever the combination) that are somewhat unconventional. As long as my main characters are in love and committed to each other, it really doesn’t matter if their situation is unconventional. Love is love is love is love. And that’s all that matters. If my readers grasp nothing else, I hope they get that.



Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
With kids at home, my biggest challenge is carving out that time to write, and getting in the mindset to write some steamy sex scenes even when the setting isn’t optimal. Because sometimes, I need to hit a deadline, and it doesn’t matter if my daughter is shoving her tablet in front of my face trying to show me the latest Disney video while I’m trying to write a BDSM scene that takes place in a sex swing. The writing has to get done one way or the other. Sometimes, that results in late-night writing hours, lots of coffee, and the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack on repeat, but hey, whatever works, right?



How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I have written a total of eight books. This includes the anthology I was part of (Dark Captive), and it includes two books that are completed, but have not yet been released.

I think my first book Double Down will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first. In fact, the Ozark Magic series is very dear to me because the four main women in the series are based on the personalities of myself and my three best friends. So far, you can read the stories of Izzy (Double Down) and Tessa (Fierce Temper). Tessa has been my favorite character to write by far. I’ve had the most fun with her than with anyone else, as I’m sure you can tell when you read Fierce Temper. Next up in the series will be Andi’s story and then Jillian’s.




If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?
Fierce Temper is an M/F/M ménage, but out of the three main characters, there is only one whom I had a very specific person in mind while writing it. Readers first met my hero, Milo, in book one of the Ozark Magic series. From the second I wrote about him, I visualized Joe Manganiello. You may know him from Magic Mike, but I still think of him (and probably always will) as Alcide from True Blood. Since he is who I’ve always had in my head when I write about Milo, he is who I would definitely cast in the Hollywood version of Fierce Temper.



When did you begin writing?
I have been writing since I was a kid. In college, my focus was poetry and short stories, and that somehow morphed into a career in technical writing, marketing, and public relations. Once I hopped off the Corporate America train, I came back to the writing I really wanted to do, which is fiction. I have now been doing that for about two years, focusing on erotic romance, romantic suspense, and mystery.



How long did it take to complete your first book?
I can answer this in a couple of different ways. If you want to count the number of times I started, stopped, started over, had a different idea, and started over again—it probably took 6-7 months. If you start counting when I had nailed down the idea I wanted to go with, started writing, and ran with it until I was finished, then it was about 3 months.



Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
I have a few authors who I find truly inspiring, but the one who I really credit with giving me that kick in the butt I needed is Nicole Michaels (Start Me Up, Win Me Over, Draw Me Close). She’d read some of my earlier, unpublished stuff, and she encouraged me to quit pussyfooting around and submit my work. She’s given me some great advice and tips along the way. I really look up to her as a mentor.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?
My favorite part in the writing process is when I hit that sweet spot, which for me is about two-thirds of the way into the book, where I feel like the characters leap off the page and almost start acting out of their own volition. After the initial setup of the book, that first half can be tricky, just making sure you connect all of the dots for your readers. But when you get to the point where it feels like your book is almost writing itself… there is nothing better.


Describe your latest book in 4 words.
Secrets, Suspenseful, Unfiltered, Sexy


Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?
I have another book coming out in November. Explosive Desire is the fourth book in my Love With A Price series, and it is the story of Luke Price and Harper Love. It’s a romantic suspense book, which is a little different for that series, but I am really excited about this one, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.

Aside from that, I have completed a dark romance novella, which is a bit of a different turn for me, but I became inspired after writing a dark romance for the Dark Captive anthology. This dark romance is entitled Trusting the Criminal, and I will be submitting it within the next couple of weeks.

I’m currently heading off the beaten path and writing a cozy mystery. I’ll be using a different pen name for that, but cozies are another genre I really enjoy, so I wanted to explore that as a writer.





I'm a Midwestern girl and a lover of coffee, live music, and horror movies, not necessarily in that order.
I've been writing all my life, and I honestly can't remember a time when I wanted to do anything but write. After many years spent suffering the trials of corporate America and writing about everything from financial risk management to software user manuals to website copy about radiators (sadly, I'm not kidding), I decided take the plunge and start writing books.
I love a good love story with super hot alpha males, strong heroines, a little humor, and a lot of suspense. Sprinkle in some sexual fantasies and a few BDSM aspects, and Boom! These are only a few of the themes you'll find in my books.

When I'm not writing, I'm probably at Starbucks, or fighting evil with the help of my husband, two children, and our houseful of animals.


Contact Links



PROMO Blitz: The Vow by @AutLauraDaleo




Dark Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampire
Date Published:   8/27/2016

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Finals are over, and twenty-year-old Claire Matthews can hardly wait to begin summer break until…she arrives home to an army of police swarming her parents’ front lawn.  Detective Reynolds delivers the dreadful news that the man and woman inside the home are dead, and Claire is forced to identify their mummified bloodless bodies.  Her world comes to a grinding halt when she learns that it is her mother and father who are the deceased, and her younger brother, JJ, is nowhere to be found.  The predator accused…a vampire.

Claire is no stranger to vampires; in fact, these days’ vamps are a dime a dozen.  One-hundred-thirty years ago a vow was made, combining the two worlds.  A vampire’s survival no longer required a human sacrifice.  Vampire Centers were created, offering human blood through transfusion; yet, why were her parents bled dry?  Why now?  What changed?  Could a rogue vampire be responsible?  Was it possible vampires, Nate and Parker, JJ’s best friends, suddenly hungered for human blood?


About the Author


Laura Daleo was born and raised in San Diego, California where she majored in Fine Arts at Mesa College.  She is best known for her love of animals and shares her home with three humorous Basset Hounds, Stuart, Morgan, and Dexter, her toughest critics.  Laura has held positions in several industries, Restaurant, Telecom, Biotech, Research, and Retail.  A creative writing class in junior high sparked her desire to tell stories.  Throughout Laura's professional career, she crafted her writing skills by taking courses and by joining a writer's critique group and Writers Digest.  She enjoys anything paranormal or urban fantasy related and writes in both genres for adults.

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Wednesday, September 14, 2016

PROMO Blitz: Mystra by Crystalphoenix with an #Excerpt



Science Fiction/Fantasy
Date Published: July 15, 2016

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In the wake of the Kryllidar war, creatures of myth and legend, the elder races, and the psychically gifted fled the telepath phobic Alliance worlds in search of sanctuary. They found their safe haven on the planet Mystra. It was a paradise world, then something went horribly. A great cataclysm unleashed a storm of deadly energy that threatened to tear the planet apart. Cut off from the rest of space by a barrier of destructive force, all appeared lost. Then from despair came hope. The energies unleashed by the cataclysm had an unexpected effect. Dormant genes carried by women of an ancient Druidic line were suddenly activated, giving the women the ability to control the elemental forces of nature. The elementals saved Mystra from destruction, but their newfound power came with a price. The incredible forces they wielded, in time, destroyed them. Only by bonding with a male, who also carried the dormant gene, could an elemental be saved and her powers safely harnessed.
An elemental’s power reaches maturity on midnight of her twenty first year. If she is not bonded before the midnight hour, the elemental will go mad, lose control of her powers and destroy herself and everything around her. Tivonna, daughter of King Arcus of Aquilla is nearing her twenty first year. A level four elemental, her father has searched the planet for a bondmate, a kiosan, that can match his daughter in power. Searched and failed. He is left with no choice. For the good of Mystra, at midnight on her twenty first birthday Tivonna must die.
Meanwhile, high above Mystra’s skies a golden starship takes up orbit around the shrouded world. Jasen, telepath and last of his kind, has come to Mystra seeking answers. Beings of fire and light appeared from nowhere and swarmed across the galaxy before disappearing as mysteriously as they had appeared. In the creatures’ wake three star systems lay in ruins. Nothing survived except for one lone world. The planet Mystra was untouched. Now Jasen and his friend Hawk will do what no one has done in centuries. Penetrate the planet’s deadly energy barrier and reach the surface below. What they find there will change their lives forever and may hold the key to saving more star systems from destruction. For the fiery invaders are not gone … only sleeping.


Excerpt
Prologue

The planet Mystra …a world as beautiful as she was mysterious.  Pulses of multicolored lightning flashed through the dense white clouds that shrouded the planet’s surface, hiding her secrets from prying eyes.  Once sister world to a multitude of planets, she is now alone.  Surrounded by the debris of what at one time were viable worlds, she is the last vestige of life in an otherwise barren system.  In solitude, she waits for those who would come to unlock her mysteries…those with the skills and courage to breach the flashing clouds surrounding her and reach the surface below. 

With a rippling of space, the sleek golden starship dropped out of hyperspace and settled into orbit around the jeweled planet.  At long last her wait was over.


Chapter One


2605 Day 232


The exploration vessel Ourora smoothly exited hyperspace and settled into orbit around the nearby planet.  The dark haired young man sitting trance-like in the pilot’s seat, hands resting on the two glowing plates set in the console before him, stirred and opened his eyes.  It was a perfect run.

Breaking his mind‑link with the starship, he stood and stretched.  The Ourora was shaping up to be a sweet ship.  Once the strangeness of joining his mind to the ship’s instruments and controls had worn off, he had found piloting by thought as natural as breathing.  This was not really surprising, considering that his people had built the vessel. In fact, it was on this very ship that he had been found adrift in space as a child, the last survivor of his race, of his entire planetary system.


2590 Day 143


Jake Blackthorn watched as the image of a golden starship grew on his ship’s monitors.  The Wanderer had been returning to Earth after a profitable trading run when they had stumbled upon the derelict.  The ship’s golden skin and graceful lines were like nothing he had ever seen.

“She’s beautiful, but where did she come from?  That’s no Alliance ship.”

Jake had been so engrossed in studying the alien vessel that he had not heard anyone approach.  Turning, he found Dr. Nicole Wright standing at his side.  “I have no idea Nikki but I intend to find out.”

“Uh oh, you have that explorer look.”  She teased feeling the excitement radiating from him.

“Once an explorer always an explorer.  Take us in Pete,” he instructed the pilot.  “I want a good look at this lady.  Any energy or life sign readings?” 

“It’s hard to get a fix, some kind of energy dampener,” came the reply from the science station.  “It’s scrambling our sensors.”

“Captain,” Pete called, “you’d better see this.”

Returning his attention to the view screen, Jake stared as the Wanderer approached the far side of the derelict ship.  A sick feeling began in the pit of his stomach as he saw the gaping hole ripped into the golden metal of the ship.

“No survivors then.”  Jake said sadly, “all right let’s get a tractor beam on her¼”

“Captain, I think I’m getting a life sign reading.”

Jake turned to the science station.  “What do you mean you think you’re getting a reading?”

“Well, it’s faint and it keeps drifting in and out.  The dampener field is playing hell with the sensors, but there is something over there.”

After a heated debate, which Jake naturally won, he and Dr. Wright boarded the damaged ship.  As they explored the craft Jake felt his excitement grow, much of the vessel’s interior appeared to be intact.  The bridge, engine room, and cargo holds seemed untouched.  It was only as they explored the damaged area of the ship that his excitement waned.  As they entered what appeared to be crew quarters Jake froze, nausea rising in his throat.  “Oh, my God, they’re children.”  Jake barely heard Nikki’s anguished whisper.  He was staring at the rows of bunks crammed into the room.  The ship’s passenger and crew cabins were filled with children, children of diverse races, some of which he had never seen before.  They were all dead.  Their lifeless bodies still strapped to their bunks.

“They never had a chance.” He whispered.  “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

“Wait,” Nikki grabbed his arm and pointed to the scanner she held clutched in her hand.  “I’m getting that phantom signal again.”

“Can you get a fix?”

“Yes!  One deck down and to the rear.”

Following the faint signal, they made their way to the rear of the ship.  Rounding a corner, they froze.  Standing in what appeared to be a galley, surrounded by a golden glow, was a raven haired, golden eyed boy about ten years old.

“Hello,” Jake spoke softly and held out his hands in what he hoped was a friendly gesture.  “We’re here to help.”

The boy studied the two space-suited figures intently, but made no move.  Encouraged, Jake slowly approached the still youth.  Suddenly, the glow surrounding the boy intensified and a strong forced hurled him back.

“Please,” Nikki begged.  “We only want to help you. You’re all alone now.  Let us help.  We mean you no harm.”

“Nikki, we have to go,” Jake whispered.  “I think I cracked something, my suit’s losing air.  I can’t stay much longer.”

“We can’t just leave him.”

Keen golden eyes seemed to bore into Nikki’s soul as the boy studied her intently.  She almost gasped in relief when he turned to scrutinize Jake in turn.  Whatever he saw must have reassured him. Indicating that they should follow, he led them into the next compartment.  Nestled in the chamber was a large golden sphere.  Jake and Nikki watched as the boy placed his hand against the side of the globe. A portal suddenly appeared.  Motioning for them to follow, he entered the sphere.  Once inside, the portal closed, leaving no sign it had ever existed.  Gazing around in amazement, Jake turned to find the boy, minus the golden glow, sitting on a plush looking couch against the far wall watching them curiously. 

“A life pod.  Jake, I read a breathable atmosphere, constant temperature… the works.  This is how he survived.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t explain how he can walk around out there with no suit, and what about that glow?”

“That doesn’t matter now, the main thing is getting him, and us, back to the ship.”

A sound of rustling caused them both to turn.  The boy was standing a few feet away holding a silvery suit in one hand and a metallic capsule in the other.  Seeing he had the adults’ attention, he offered the suit to Jake.

Taking the offered garment, Jake examined the delicate material. “I think it’s a spacesuit.”

“You’re right, “Nikki examined the now open storage cabinet, “there’s a whole rack of them in here, but they’re all for adults.  What do we do about him?”

“The capsule must be some kind of carrier.  We put him in there and carry him across.”

With the boy’s help, Jake removed his damaged suit and donned the alien garment.  The suit molded itself to his body and Jake marveled at the freedom that it gave him.  Excitement stirred in him, what other marvels did this ship and its lone occupant hold?  

After checking to make sure Jake’s suit was working properly, the boy opened the life support capsule and stepped inside.  Once more he studied the two adults, then calmly closed the carrier, entrusting himself to the strangers’ care.

Returning to the Wanderer without incident, Jake ordered the derelict ship taken in tow and set course for his most secure research center.  This was too important a find; he was taking no chances.  Leaving the boy in the doctor’s capable hands, he wasted no time in staking his claim to the alien derelict. 

Jake Blackthorn was a powerful man and he now used that power.  By pulling a few strings and cashing in a few favors, he obtained exclusive salvage rights to the alien vessel.  The bodies of the deceased children would be turned over to the authorities, but no mention was made of the boy.  Satisfied that he had taken every precaution to protect his find, Jake headed for sickbay.  He couldn’t say what had made him keep the boy’s existence a secret from the authorities, but his gut told him the kid was special.  There was no way he was going to let some government social worker get their hands on him.  Besides the kid had trusted him, Jake shivered as he remembered the boy’s golden eyes staring into his, searching his soul.  The child was as unique as his craft.  Jake usually had little use for children, but there was something about this one that stirred all his protective instincts.  The kid was his, by God, and nobody was taking him away.


Six months later, Jake was ready to consign both the ship and its golden- eyed master into the fiery depths of the nearest sun.  After six months of intensive study, the starship was still an enigma.  Even his best experts could not fathom how the strange vessel operated.  There were no noticeable controls, just panels of colored crystals set into the consoles.  The engines consisted of smooth sided boxes and crystal globes.  No dials, switches, or knobs were to be seen.  There was no sign of power, though they knew that it existed.  Jake fumed; all that power, all that technology just out of reach, it was enough to drive an entrepreneur mad.

The boy was proving to be as impenetrable as his vessel.  The shock of the accident had severely damaged the kid’s memory, erasing any knowledge of what had happened to him or his ship.  Quiet and reserved, he cooperated fully with the scientific team examining him but volunteered nothing.  Except for a few unknown factors in his DNA and body chemistry, he was remarkably similar to humans.  Yet, it did not take the team studying him long to realize that he was not your typical ten- year old boy.  His golden eyes held wisdom beyond his years; and he always seemed to know what was wanted of him, even before he was shown or asked.  He proved to be extremely bright and learned at an amazing rate.  In a very short time, he mastered enough Galactic-Standard to communicate.  Yet, nothing they tried could unlock the memories buried deep in the boy’s mind.  It was as if every thought concerning his home world or his flight to this system had been locked away behind an impenetrable barrier.  He was a blank slate, which could soak up knowledge, but offered none in return.

Jake was not prepared to give up his discovery without a fight.  Every day, their guest was becoming more relaxed and comfortable with his new home.  With time, Jake hoped that his memory would start to return.  It was another month before the first breakthrough occurred.  Since he could not remember his name, the young castaway had been christened “Kid” by the researchers studying him.  For seven months, the boy answered to the name “Kid”, so Jake was surprised when the youth fixed him with a golden eyed stare and said, “My name is Jasen, not Kid.”  After that, snatches of memory began to return.

On a hunch, Jake decided to see what would happen if Jasen was reunited with his starship.  Maybe the sight of the vessel and the familiar surroundings would jog the boy’s memory.  At least, he might be able to show them how the ship operated. 

It was soon obvious that returning to the ship was a shock for the youth.  He wandered through the vessel as if in a daze.  With each section of the ship revealed and explored, his face grew paler.  By the time they reached the bridge, Jake was afraid the boy was going to collapse.  On one side of the bridge was a large console inset with a panel composed of some type of blue crystal.  Jasen went to the console, placed his hands palm down on the crystal, and closed his eyes.  The panel immediately began to glow and flash.  After a few minutes, the glowing stopped and Jasen opened his eyes.  Removing his hands from the console, he began to tremble uncontrollably and then to cry.  Rushing to him, Jake held the sobbing child as delayed trauma finally hit.

Viewing the information contained in the ship’s library computer, as the console turned out to be, and reliving past events through the psychic traces left in the ship, had broken through the mind block the boy had erected.  Later, when he had calmed down and been reassured that he was safe among friends, he freely answered Jake’s questions.  The ship was totally thought controlled.  It had been built by a race of telepaths, from a planet in the Gamma3 planetary system.  It was a type of ark, a last ditch effort to save a remnant of the people of that system.  Creatures of fire and light had appeared out of nowhere and attacked their worlds.  The attacks had been quick, unexpected, and vicious.  Caught off guard, most planets stood no chance against the invaders.  Jasen’s world was the oldest and most advanced of the system.  They were able to hold out long enough to launch three ships before being destroyed by the attackers.  Only Jasen’s ship had made it out of the system, but not without taking damage.  An energy blast had hit the ship severely, damaging its shields and compromising a large section of the hull.  The ship’s crew had been working to repair the damaged section when they had been caught in an unexpected meteor storm, most likely debris from the destroyed worlds.  The ship’s compromised shielding had been unable to stop one of the huge projectiles from striking the damaged hull and ripping it open. The two adults on board had been caught in the impact zone and killed.  Jasen had been attending to some minor repairs on the side of the ship farthest from the rupture. His telekinetic abilities had allowed him to protect himself long enough to reach the safety of an escape pod.  The others on board had not been so gifted.

The Gamma3 system was an old system with a high level of technology.  They were not novices at space travel or exploration and had even visited the Alliance worlds to observe.  That they could be wiped out so quickly and completely boded ill for the Planetary Alliance.  After hearing the news Jasen brought, Jake became obsessed with the attackers.  Who were they?  Why did they attack?  Had other systems fallen?  He devoted a good part of his empire to finding out the answers.  Jake soon lost his heart to the courageous child.  He was determined to protect the boy, and the unusual gifts he had begun to display once freed from the mind block his fear had created.  In time, Jake adopted him, named him his heir, and helped train him to use his gifts and hide them from the outside world.


Adapting to his new home proved difficult for Jasen.  His planetary system had been on the opposite side of the galaxy from Alliance controlled space.  The people of his world had enjoyed strong, friendly ties with the other sentient races of the nearby systems. They had been respected and honored for their technology and for their roles as peacemakers and diplomats.  Things were far different in this new land.  The Alliance worlds had an inbred, almost manic, fear and hatred of telepaths.  Jake had tried to explain it to him once.

Many generations ago the Alliance worlds had been invaded by a race called the Kryllidar.  The Kryllidar were a militant, barbaric insect-like race that possessed a high level of technical skill and little regard for other sentient life forms.  They were a race that lived to conquer and enslave the populations of other worlds.  The Kryllidar loved order and insured that the worlds they conquered adhered to their concept of obedience.  Using drugs and machines, they subverted the minds and wills of those they invaded, turning them into perfect drones fit to serve the elite Kryllidar race.

The Kryllidar invaders swept across the galaxy like a plague, leaving worlds of mind-controlled zombies in their wake.  Almost half the galaxy had fallen before the Alliance armada had been able to rally.  Joined by ships from the outer fringes, they had been able to turn and repel the attackers.  Once freed from the invaders’ mind-controlling apparatus, the enraged Alliance inhabitants had hunted down and exterminated every Kryllidar they could find, then followed up with an all-out attack on the Kryllidar home world.  The Kryllidar race was totally wiped out, along with a number of neighboring planets that possessed similar life forms.  The drugs and machines used to enslave the conquered worlds were rounded up and destroyed.  The Alliance vowed never again to allow their people to be controlled in such a manner.  A deep phobia of mind-control in any form sprung up among the sentient races within the Alliance systems, which was carefully passed down and instilled in each succeeding generation.  From this phobia, a dread of telepaths emerged, which grew in strength with each retelling of the past atrocities. Telepaths were viewed as the ultimate masters of mind-control.  Machines could be broken, drugs could be neutralized, but the only way to stop a telepath was to kill him.  Also, unlike the Kryllidar, a telepath could blend in with the populace of a given world.  They could lurk unknown and undetected among the citizens of the Alliance.  One could never be sure if his thoughts were his own or being manipulated by another.

Soon the slogan, “The only good telepath is a dead one,” became common.  It was into this climate of hate that the young Jasen had been thrown.  He was the last surviving telepath in the galaxy.  He lived in constant fear of exposure and death.  He was looked upon as a monster, a demon; he was fair game for all.  No one would hesitate to destroy him if he were discovered.

There were few people in his life that he dared trust implicitly.  Fortunately for the young telepath, it was Jake who discovered him.  Jake was a shelter of love in an otherwise dark and hate filled universe.  The explorer did not share the rest of the Alliance’s loathing and terror of telepaths.  He had been born in a remote sector far from the alien invasion.  When that cluster’s sun went nova, Jake had brought his thriving corporation to the Alliance worlds.  Most of those on Jake’s personal staff were refugees from his home system.  Like Jake, they viewed Jasen as different but not horrible.  He was a bright and charming boy and they soon grew to love and admire him as Jake did.  They vowed to protect the vulnerable youth and his secret.  Jake raised the boy as a son and taught him how to survive in his new home.


2605 Day 232


With a shake of his head, Jasen shook off the thoughts of the past.  He was no longer a frightened boy of ten, but a man of twenty-five and he had work to do.  Jake was dead and it was up to him to finish what his adopted father had begun.  He gave the instruments another quick metal scan to assure that everything was as it should be then left the bridge and headed for the ship’s lounge.  Hawk.  He wished his friend had not insisted on coming, but nothing he had said had dented Hawk’s resolve to accompany him.




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Monday, September 12, 2016

PROMO Blitz: Ashia by @lethomasjr with an #excerpt


Science Fiction/Fantasy
Date Published: August 13, 2016

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Plagued by nightmarish visions of apocalyptic battles and burning victims crawling across the desert sands, the slave girl known as Shanda has been trying to keep her growing gift hidden from her abusive master as she knows being able to see images of the future is a cursed gift carrying the King’s ultimate punishment.
But as her tribe seeks solace from the deadly raids by the Mazomi Clan in their magical airships by moving toward the legendary Spire of Ashia, Shanda discovers her past will soon clash with a dangerous future.
A new epic tale full of adventure and discovery by the author of Star Runners, Ashia brings you a story of a world mired in secrets, oppression and a decades-old cover up that could alter the course of events for the entire planet.
This book is a sci-fantasy novel.





Excerpt


The Royal Guard surged forward like a living wave. Grev cut through the men, his sword slashing through their flesh like a rabid animal. He ignored his tiring muscles. He couldn’t feel the wounds from counter attacks, his blood igniting like the fires of the stars.

Spinning, he hurled guards into their comrades, using the close quarters of the hall to his advantage. He yelled as a knife penetrated his bicep. Without stopping, he yanked the weapon from his body and hurled it through the face of an attacker.

A force hit him from behind—an arrow piercing his back. He fell to his knees, swinging his sword with his remaining strength. A blade hit his forehead, splitting his skin. Warm blood spilled into his eyes. Strong hands clasped his shoulders, preventing him from falling into darkness.

“At least, you cannot have my wife,” Grev breathed, his muscles failing as the guards restrained him to the floor. “She has fled beyond your reach.”

The Baron stepped forward, a torch in his hand.

“Oh, no, my dear Captain, we already have her.” He held the fire close to Grev’s face and laughed. “The Captain of his Royal Guard. Bah!”

Blunt force thumped into the back of his head and darkness took him.



About the Author



L.E. Thomas lives in Georgia with his wife and rescued dog where he is currently working on his next novel.


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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Blog Tour: Storm of Arranon by @RESheahan #interview #giveaway



YA Science Fiction/Fantasy
Date Published:  Re-release July 9, 2016, the book has been out since February 2013
Publisher: Rule of Three Press

A forbidden birth. A remarkable young woman. A marauding alien society. The battle begins.

   A brutal alien society invades Korin and Arranon, intent on destroying the two worlds that make up Cadet Erynn Yager's home. Forced to expose her strange abilities and reveal her forbidden birth, a guarded web of secrets unravels.
   Stranded on an unfamiliar planet of eternal winter and predatory wildlife, the mysterious living consciousness of Arranon intervenes, leading Erynn on a mystical journey. 
   Aware of Erynn's potential, the alien enemy pursues her. She struggles to gain control of her growing powers while in a constant race to elude the invaders, and join the forces preparing to fight a mounting occupation. 
   Erynn’s secret may be her worlds' only hope, but at the cost of her life. Swept up in a chain reaction of events, Erynn's dedication extends far beyond service and duty. She learns the true meaning of sacrifice. 
   Along with courage and hope, Erynn finds something unexpected on her journey of awareness and growth.
   Love.


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Interview

Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?

I’d love readers to just enjoy the story and connect with the characters, that’s awesome enough. If there were any messages, I think it would be acceptance, confidence, and trust. Erynn, the main character, wants to be accepted, but she has to learn to trust and accept herself first.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Mostly the after writing tasks like the synopsis, blurb, title, cover design, marketing, and promoting. I’m not good at talking about myself, (my introvert self has difficulty with this sometimes), although, I love helping other people with all aspects of the writing process and can talk for hours.

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

I’ve written seven books, the first three, while good efforts, were kinda just practice runs. I paid editors to go through one, and the education I received was worth every penny. Book four in the Storm of Arranon series is my favorite. The story’s evolving and the characters are growing, I really enjoyed letting them loose to write this book.

If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?

This is an interesting question. I have cast actors for several of my characters, seeing that actor as I write, but not the main character, Erynn. I’d have to guess because she’s so real and clear to me, I just haven’t found an actor that fits her perfectly.

When did you begin writing?

I started writing seriously while living on my ranch, waiting for ewes to lamb in the middle of the night. I had an hour or two between checking their progress, so I’d sit at my computer and write. Sheesh, my first attempts weren’t pretty. I enjoyed writing, though, and took a leap of faith into a new career. I joined critique groups, attended writer’s workshops and conferences, and took writing classes. I love it and wouldn’t change a thing.

How long did it take to complete your first book?

Well, since I wrote and then rewrote my first book two times, (I was still in the learning process), I’d have to say about three years. The second rewrite included cutting two hundred pages of back-story. Ouch. I needed to know all this information about my worlds and the characters, but the reader didn’t.

Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?

Yes! Dean Koontz. I love how he creates a sentence, then a paragraph, then a page, pulling me into the story until I feel I’m right there in the action along with the characters.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I’m reminded of what a character from an old TV series used to say, I love it when a plan comes together. I’m writing, the story is flowing, and a bit of information written chapters before circles around, reveals some important fact, adding depth to a scene or character. Wow. Did I just do that? I’m always amazed. Ah, the strange brain of a writer.

Describe your latest book in 4 words.

Action. Adventure. Romance. Magic.

Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?

I’m currently finishing book four in the series. Book four takes place on both Arranon and Korin, with some surprises about Erynn’s home world thrown in. All the same characters with a couple of new ones added. One in particular, Bryn, could be my new favorite. She’s snarky. Oh, by the way, she’s Sean’s favorite, too. Tam learns she has the heart of a warrior and Jaer, well, he’s Jaer. Can’t say too much, spoilers you know! 


I have always been a reader. I’d come home from grade school with stacks of books every week, and during the summer, I’d get my fix from the library. I love books. Later, while working every day outside at the ranch, I’d listen to audio books on cassette with one of those Sportswalk players I’d hook to my belt. I could go through three or four books a week.
I started writing while working as a Paramedic/Firefighter in Northern California. 
Trust me, it’s not always like it appears on TV. There was plenty of time for reading. 
Writing got serious for me when I moved to my ranch in Oregon. While waiting for lambs to be born in the middle of the night, I would head back to the house for an hour or two and sit down at the computer. Before I knew it, I had a manuscript. One hundred and twenty-two thousand words that desperately needed help, but it was a start. 
The characters demanded their story be told, so I joined critique groups and attended writer's conferences. I was on the fast track to learning what I needed to know to write well, and tell, show, an engaging story. 
In 2013, I received an honorable mention in Writer’s Digest’s Self Published book awards for MG/YA, so I guess I had learned something! BTW, I’m still learning.
      Ideas from dreams follow me into warm sunny days or the quiet of falling snow. “What ifs” feed a vivid imagination. Even mistyped phrases may lead to an "aha" moment. Brain storming sessions standing in dark, windy parking lots with fellow writers release thoughts that pry at the corners of my mind, grasping for purchase. Sometimes the ideas pursue me, with persistence.

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