Summer Splash Blog Hop!

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 I am offering a free ebook copy of Run into the Wind 

for everyone who subscribes to my newsletter!

If you prefer not to subscribe, you may leave a comment with your favorite summertime treat for a chance to win a free copy!

Run into the Wind, is one of my favorite books. It is about Sabrina, a young woman who is in hiding so she dresses up as a boy(Will), to conceal her identity. She falls for Brock, the hot new Sheriff in town, who thinks she's a boy. 

Hope you enjoy this excerpt!

Sabrina was having another bad day.  She had gotten a splinter in her hand when she was closing one of the stalls and her cramps were not letting up. She sat on a bucket in the sunlight trying to pick the splinter out with a needle. Suddenly a shadow blocked out the sun.

Irritated, she poked herself and winced. She glared up at her visitor. Brock. Perfect.

“What do you want?”  she asked irritably.

“I was stopping by to see if you could help me but it looks like you need some help,” he said, kneeling next to her to take a look at her hand.

“It’s just a splinter; I don’t need your help. I’m behind on my work here, so you’re just outta luck, Sheriff,” she said emphasizing the last word.

“Will!”  A voice sounded from behind her and she cringed. Jack Swanson came up to them and shook Brock’s hand. Sabrina scowled even more if that was possible.

“You do not talk to the good Sheriff or any of my clients that way. I don’t know what’s come over you lately.  You’ve been as wound up as a rattlesnake.  I just came from the saloon. Mac suggested Sheriff Stafford have you show him available places, and I think that’s a great idea. Go get some fresh air, boy.”

Gnawing on her bleeding hand, she shot Brock a dirty look as she moved very slowly to comply. He just kept popping up like a bad penny and she muttered a string of curses to herself as she saddled Star. He could saddle his own damn horse.

Sabrina set a steady pace as they rode out of town. She was familiar with both places that Mac had suggested and decided to head for the shanty first since it was farther away. It was a warm day and Sabrina was sweating under the layers of clothing she wore to hide her curvy figure.

She refused to acknowledge his attempts at casual conversation as they rode. She was hot and mad and figured it was better to just not talk at all. She heard the running brook before she saw it. She slowed to allow Star to drink from the fresh water.  Taking her canteen from her saddlebag she hopped down to refill it upstream. She swallowed her fill and refilled it with fresh water.  Taking her bandanna off, she dipped it in the water and washed her face and neck before wringing it out and wrapping it around her neck. She felt much better.

She noticed Brock and Troy on the other side and walked over to him in spite of herself.  She took care coming up behind Star; it was never a good idea to startle a horse. Horses had a mean kick.  Even the gentle ones could be spooked.

“In a hurry?”  he asked, referring to the quick pace Sabrina had set.

“I’ve better things to do,” she said tartly.

Brock grinned at her.  For some reason he enjoyed taunting the boy. “Sure is warm; maybe we could go for a swim later. If my information is correct, I was told there was a swimming hole nearby the place.” He took his hat off, wiping his face and neck with his own bandanna.

Sabrina couldn’t help staring at the wet curls clinging to his neck and face. She had an urge to push them back in place and bit her lip as she looked away, chastising her thoughts.

“I don’t swim.” Sabrina mounted Star and nudged her into a trot, using the stream as a guide.

Brock easily caught up to her with Troy’s large stride. She had felt like galloping but didn’t want to labor the horse in the heat.

“I could teach you if you don’t know how,” Brock offered generously as he rode next to her.

Sabrina looked over at him, annoyed to see him smiling at her. “I know how to swim, I just choose not to.”

“Your loss,” Brock replied, ending the conversation for now.  He was surprised a short while later when Will announced they had arrived. 

Built into the countryside, the “shanty” as Mac had called it, was an earth dwelling. Three sides were made out of fallen timber that had been cut and hewn to fit together and the back was packed earth as it was dug out of the hillside. The earthy cover extended out and over the roof. The house blended in perfectly with the landscape of trees.

Brock dismounted and went to inspect the inside. He looked back at Sabrina to see if she was coming and was surprised to see her still on Star. “Coming?”  He asked.

She snorted, “Those places are always crawling with bugs. I’ll wait here, thanks.”

“Ya scared of bugs? Aren’t there bugs in the stables?” Brock asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“Of course not! I bet you couldn’t find one spider in my whole stable. I keep it clean.”

Brock grunted something and turned around to enter the house. He moved too quickly and banged his head on the low door frame. He cursed, checking for blood as he held his hand over his forehead. Behind him he could hear laughter.

“Watch out for the low ceilings.”

Gritting his teeth, he disappeared inside. The inside was actually larger than he had expected. It had a small stone fireplace and a wooden floor. It would suit his needs for now but he was thinking of the future. There were cobwebs everywhere with insect carcasses caught inside. He turned around to head back out the door and BAM! He hit his head again on a roofing timber.  Grumbling as he stooped lower, he crossed it off his list.

Sabrina snickered as he came out covered with cobwebs and holding his sore head.

“A bit small,” he mumbled as Sabrina laughed out loud. She leaned down and grasped a piece of cobweb trailing from his hair.  Her hand accidentally brushed his cheek and he looked up at her, catching her eyes for an instant.  He frowned as he watched Will.  The boy seemed embarrassed for some reason. Brock wiped his face again; it was hot.

 Brock spied a glint of light dancing on the surface of a pond partially hidden in the trees.  “Let’s eat before we head off, “ he said. He took Troy’s reins and walked over as Sabrina followed on Star.

“I didn’t pack anything to eat.”

“I had Mac pack enough for two,” Brock said, tying Troy to a nearby tree.

Her eyes narrowed at his response. “So you just assumed I would volunteer to go with you?”

He shrugged “Ordered, Volunteered, what’s the difference?” Brock took his hat off and hung it on his saddle horn. He then started undoing his shirt. Sabrina looked on in horror as his intentions sank in.

“Wh…what are you doing?” she asked, not sure if a real boy would look away or not. Of course, a real boy would not ask someone what he was doing when it was quite obvious what he was doing.  During her moment of indecision, Brock had stripped down naked.  He had thankfully turned his back to her as he removed his pants.

This, of course, gave her a great view of the backside of his body. She stood staring unabashed at his smooth bronze skin stretched taut over his back and buttocks. He was bronze all over just slightly darker on his arms where he was exposed to more sun.  He either skinny dipped a lot or…

“You’re an Indian?” she found herself asking in surprise continuing to stare at his naked form as he waded into the cool water.  She was grateful and dismayed at the same time as Brock ignored her question and dove into the water. He popped up in the middle of the pond a few seconds later.  He tossed his head back to clear the hair out of his eyes as he grinned at her. The water weighed down his curls and they hung straighter and longer just curling a bit at the tips.

 “Sure you don’t wanna take a quick dip?” Brock asked.

“I don’t have time to splash around in the water.  I need to get back to work and so do you.  Banks probably getting robbed as we speak.” She swatted  irritably  at the small annoying insects circling her head. 

The water looked so cool and refreshing, she was sick with envy. She felt a drop of sweat roll down her back to be absorbed in the bundling she wrapped in to cover her breasts and make her waist straight. Defeated, she sank into the grass swatting at the gnats she’d stirred up.

A thought suddenly popped into her head.  She probably stank. That’s why he wanted her to go swimming. She probably smelled of sweat and horses and poo. It was hard for her to sneak off and bathe undetected.  Plus, boys didn’t normally go for bathing very often. It had never bothered her before but all of a sudden, she wanted to bathe, to smell good, to be noticed, and all because of him. Sighing she gave herself a sniff. A bit sweaty but not too bad.  What the heck does one expect in Oklahoma in the middle of summer?

After several minutes of swimming Brock regretfully swam over and climbed out. Sabrina forced herself to look away this time. Brock pulled on his pants and Sabrina took note he didn’t wear any under garments. Leaving his shirt off so he could dry off in the sun, he pulled lunch from his saddlebags.

As he sat down across from her, she tried not to stare at his bare chest and muscular arms as he divided the food.  Mac had packed his specialty: roasted chicken and corn on the cob. Sabrina’s stomach growled as the wonderful aroma was carried to her by the light breeze.

To distract herself, she tore into the food.  She felt she had never been so hungry before. It was as if her body craved food since she wasn’t satisfying its other needs. In addition, she figured with her mouth full she could not say anything stupid, right?

Wrong.

“How can you have curly hair if you’re an Indian?”

Brock raised an eyebrow. “Why do you think I’m an Indian?”

She blushed at this; she couldn’t help it. “Um..well---you’re tan all over. I grew up with Indians; I must have been daft not to notice before.”

“I’m half Comanche.”

“Which half?” Sabrina asked, wondering curiously how he came to be.

Brock laughed at that. “I’ll tell you another time.  What do you mean, you grew up with Indians?”

Sabrina smirked back at him. “I’ll tell you another time.” Finishing her food, she stood up and stretched. Questions were bringing on more questions.

“Why do you pretend to be white?”

“I never said I was white. People see what they want to see.”

She nodded at that; she knew all about people making assumptions. It is what she’d counted on to keep her secret safe for the last couple of years. “You’ll like the McAllister place much better. It’s closer to town and has a barn that’s big enough to house several horses.” She picked up her pace, now eager to show him the place.  Brock stared after her, a thoughtful expression on his face.

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Welcome to the 2013 Summer Splash Blog Hop, brought to you by the writers of Indie Writers Unite.  There's all kinds of swag to be won as well as some amazing grand prizes (see below for grand prize information)

Each writer will be hosting their own giveaway on their blogs and offering their own prizes in addition to the grand prizes.  Click HERE to start hopping the author pages.
...

Want a teaser of some of the items up for grabs on the author pages? Click HERE

 As the for the grand prizes, there are 6.  What are they?

#1 Kindle Fire 8.9 HD

 

#2 $100 Amazon Gift Card

#3 $50 Amazon Gift Card

#4 15 paperbacks personally signed by our authors

#5 38 Ebooks gifted to you from our authors



#6 38 eBooks (yep, we're doing this not once, but twice)!

HOW TO ENTER GRAND PRIZES 1-3

TWEET USING THE HASHTAG  #splashwithus

It's that simple. We'll keep track of all the tweets and then draw for the grand-prize winners at the end of the hop. Winners will be announced on or before July 31st on this site. 

RULES: 
 
Tweets MUST include:
 
1. The hashtag #splashwithus (This is how we track them)
2. A link to the blog hop.

You may tweet as much as you like throughout the hop. 

More Tweets = More Chances to WIN!!!

***As a side note, our authors will be tweeting about the hop as well, but they are not eligible for any of the grand prizes.***

Here are some sample tweets you can cut/paste:

WIN a $300 Kindle Fire, Amazon gift cards & more at the #bloghophttp://ow.ly/nfebP #giveaway #win #freekindle #splashwithus #amreading

WIN FREE SWAG at the author #bloghop http://ow.ly/nfeChprizes include a kindle fire! #freekindle #free #giveaway #win #splashwithus 

ENTER TO WIN A KINDLE FIRE at the author blog hophttp://ow.ly/nfeRZ #kindlefree #free #lovebooks #win #giveaway #splashwithus #win

WIN BIG at the author blog hop. More than 50 prizes including a kindle fire HD! http://ow.ly/nffyV #kindlefire #amwriting #splashwithus

HOW TO ENTER FOR GRAND PRIZES 4-6

To enter to win the free signed paperback books and the free booksfor your kindle, you MUST visit every single author blog hop page and enter whatever contest/giveaway they are running.  Once you've visited them all, send an email HERE, with the subject line: FREE BOOKS. 

***NOW GET HOPPING 
AMAZING AUTHOR GIVEAWAYS AWAIT YOU!!!***

Guest Post by Author M J Holmes: Seeking the Zen of the Golden Word

Hi MJ and welcome to my humble abode. 


My blog is  BYOB. Bring your own book. ;-)


MJ shares his view on the wacky world of writing. Be sure to check out his book at the bottom and share your favorite drink in the comments!






Seeking the Zen of the Golden Word

“You can write a million words of s***, before you write one word of gold.”

     


      I don’t know the origin of this quote exactly, but I heard it from a traditionally published author.  Three years ago, my first book was only in planning stages with a few pages of the manuscript written.  I was taking a break tooling around Myspace when I saw Mr. Dolley’s page. 

He was kind enough to answer my email asking which way to publish was better: traditionally, or by “Vanity Press”.  He cited the merits of both, however, he suggested in the time I spend waiting for answers I should keep writing.  I even titled my weblog page “A Million Words of $#!t” to keep me in mind of the issue.

So it’s about 3-4 years later, and here’s me with one book published, book #2 a fifth of the way finished, and a handful of blog entries to my credit.  That, and doing a guest blog – my first – appreciative of the writing space I’m graciously allowed.  Which gives me pause for thought: did I ever figure out what my Golden Word was?

What is word 1,000,001?  Is it golden by status or is this some sort of riddle dropped on me that I have to figure out if I want to consider myself a good author?  Are there other authors in the world that share this Golden Word or do they have their own?

I see it as more of a question one meditates upon concerning whether or not it’s such a good idea to pick up the pen.  It’s the kind of question that isn’t answered by thinking, but rather by doing. 

I’m not satisfied with calling 3 years of somewhat steady writing (by very loose standards of averaging) my million words of s***.  I don’t factor in several spotty phases of writing where I thought a good idea should find its way to the page, but never gave it much thought to write a story around it (yet).  I don’t include social forums I’ve posted complete twaddle on for the fact that to me it equals striking up a conversation comprised of small talk with a total stranger.  So what shall I count as my million words – or my Golden Word? 

It’s a Zen question for me more profound than: “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”  The answer to that one is, of course, completely pointless.  It’s so, because a clap is the desired sound traditionally made from a hand striking another hand to achieve a report.  You look like a complete moron to others waving one hand around trying to hear something. 

I suppose the first thing to consider is what fundamental need clapping with one hand satisfies.  I then compare that need with the pursuit of authorship.  You need two hands to create a clap, just as readers need authors to keep writing.

To achieve authorship we write like mad until our hands cramp, heads hurt, and fingers callous attempting to fill several dozen pages with something worthwhile for others to read.  We go back over our writing several times to figure out what we did wrong and try to correct every aggravating mistake.  Sometimes, we do such a job that all we have left is a handful of pages we’re satisfied with while the rest of the manuscript sits on the recycling pile.  We’re then forced to go write more material that still pertains to the work just to flesh it out to avoid writing nothing more than a short story.

If we’re inclined, we’ll throw money at someone who’ll professionally sieve the lot for the good stuff before handing back roughly the same thing.  Back to the desk to write some more and repeat the cycle.  Correct the errors, pick out the bits we like, and then write some more and that’s just to get the first draft of the manuscript finished.  Don’t get me started on other aggravations like correcting plot holes, culling out anything and everything ending with –ly, or changing from one kind of quotation mark to another…passive voice…show, don’t tell…strike head soundly against closest wall…

Even after the manuscript is finished we look to publishing avenues that work for us.  Do we go traditional or do we make it quick and augment the MS to fit the requirements of Print-On-Demand?  Do we accept the fact we’ll probably see enough rejection notices to paper the office walls from floor to ceiling (unless we’re writing well in a genre that’s the height of fiction fashion at the time)?  Do we resort to writing for the readers instead of ourselves?

Finally, we’ve made our work available to the public at a price we find is the acceptable norm.  We sit and wait for sales not gained from only friends and family.  We scour library and internet resources pertaining to methods that help sell books.

Some gauge the future of their work by the numbers.  They believe that great sales ranks or other contrived figures will keep them from languishing in obscurity.  More will spend half their day – like me – attempting to find the quickest/cheapest ways to advertise so those contrived numbers shrink to acceptable visibility in the Top Whatever.  Others will blindly follow every bit of “advice” given about how not to kill your sales and in the process learn what a good idea that wasn’t.

Please, for the love of all that’s good in this world, do not get me started on seeking out reviews.  That in itself is an entire blog not worth writing for all the fear it would instill in the hearts of new authors.  The trouble there is finding people who’ll take the time to tell you what they think.  May your personal god(s) help you if you find the ones who tell you before they’ve thought at all.

Once the satisfaction has set in we finally have our works polished as much as possible and in the public view; we have to start thinking about the NEXT project.  I’m guessing it would be at this point in my work that I’d ask myself, “Is this where I look completely mental swatting at invisible flies?  Will anyone read what I’ve written?  Is this worth all that effort each time I want to write a book, with or without the aid of a Publishing House?”

Yes!

I am either completely mental talking to myself like that or I can look back on it all and find the good in what I was doing all along.  Seeing both sides of the issue brought me to the conclusion of finding my first Golden Word:

Diligence.

            Despite every disheartening or negative response, every unkind pursuit against the SPA community in part or whole, writer’s block, data loss, revision after revision after revision…

            The diligent writers command their pen and do what they must to succeed.  They continue to write even though they are confronted with doubts and uncertainties.  They look past bad reviews, and voting wars.  They couldn’t give the southern end of a northbound rat about who thinks whatever about them.  They don’t have time to; they’ve got a self-appointed deadline to meet.  I for one don’t even have time to care about deadlines.

            I learned I have to ignore false labels like nuisance, liar, cheat, fraud, and other adjectives too unsavory to mention.  I learned I must respond to insults, snarks, and What-you-should-have-done-isms with politeness I surprise myself that I am capable.  I understand I’ll be exposed to the kind of emotional sapping that would normally make me wonder why it is I continue. 

The truth is I am writing for myself.  If I write how others say they think I should I’ll be cheated of the pleasure and the stories I want to share.  I would be cheated of the kind of fun being completely mental provides.

            In retrospect, my million words is the embodiment of all the work I’ve created to reach that crazy enlightenment where I can sum the entire experience in one word.  Like a cross-referenced database in the depths of my consciousness, I can see that word for what it represents to me.  It is the sum of my writing so far.  I’ve marred the surface and proved its worth to be pure and invaluable.

            However, whether I reach this ink-soaked Zen alone or with others, we all know that a little bit of gold will only get us so far or buy us so much.  I’ve completed too much to not continue slogging through the process, finish writing the next book, write another blog, and seek the Zen of the (Next) Golden Word…

            …because I’d be f***ing insane if I stopped now. :-)

-M-

§

Book Blurb:

M.J. Holmes sets the stage and narrates the travels of strangely assorted characters in their pursuits to save the post-cataclysmic world of Bu’Kre’Knunkt. Based on a plot written for a Role-Playing Game, in Act 1; Book 1, Holmes lays the foundation of the Scorched Reality Project: Gamma Series, and creates an enigmatic flashback of events. 

He begins by introducing the Council of Control (“The 5”) – a shadow government of sorts – as they oversee events. Their watchful eyes follow the pursuits of “The Two”: A Necromancer and a mysteriously disguised Narrator who relates to him the tale of The Dhuras Protectorate. 

Quested by Divine Intervention to locate and destroy the source of a threatening instability, “The Otherworlders” begin their trek having neither any knowledge of the world they’ve been transported to nor idea what they should do next. Thrust into one peril after another they struggle to adapt and survive; becoming bounty hunters, exterminators, and conscripts of the city religion on their way to entitlement as a Protectorate. An item found in their questing is identified by a benefactor to be part of an ancient weapon, thus providing them their first concrete lead of the Quest to follow since their arrival.

The Author looks to draw in his readers the same way he draws in players of his Role-Playing Game: characters with individuality, a setting with substance, and a story that leaves the reader wondering what will happen next.

Buy Links:

For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Tyme-Serpent-Serpents-Tail-ebook/dp/B004FPZ0BU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&am p;qid=1335508531&sr=8-1

For Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tyme-and-yon-serpent-mj-holmes/1028739638?ean=294001187131 3

Hardcover: http://www.lulu.com/shop/micah-holmes/tyme-and-yon-serpent/hardcover/product-14917452.html ;jsessionid=9145C687C463BDB1B90A67AFFDFB39F9

Softcover: http://www.amazon.com/Tyme-And-Yon-Serpent-Serpents/dp/1257083449/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&q id=1335510492&sr=8-3

 

Book & Blog Site:

http://whenrealityburns.weebly.com

 

Thank you for taking an interest!

-MJ Holmes-

§

Meet Author Laura Vosika

 Write from the Heart warmly welcomes Historical Author, Laura Vosika

 

Hi Laura, Congrats on your new release, The Minstrel Boy.  Please tell us about your series:

Hi, Lynn.  Thank you! 

 

The Blue Bells Chronicles is the story of two men, polar opposites except for their looks and love of music.  Shawn Kleiner is an arrogant, self-centered philandering musician of the twenty-first century who finds himself caught in the life of his cross-century look-alike, Niall Campbell, with the fate of medieval Scotland resting on his irresponsible, party-loving shoulders.  The devout medieval Highlander, Niall, is no happier to find himself in Shawn's modern life of ease, dealing with the fallout of the messes Shawn has left behind--a pregnant girlfriend, angry mistresses, amorous fans, and a conductor threatening to 'fire' him--as he tries to find a way back to save his people.

 

As their story progresses through the series, they each grow and change, influenced by one other and the unlikely friendship that springs from their original animosity.

 

 

These books give a different twist to time travel. Where do you get your ideas from?

I think it is less common to have a time travel story where two people switch places.  Blue Bells of Scotland was originally Shawn's story, but the rest grew from asking questions about what the other characters were doing while he was gone and the What if's that kept popping into my head as a result.  I'm fascinated by the way people view times and places different from what they know, and how attitudes change through the years.  It was interesting to me to see how someone from medieval times might react to what Shawn considers normal, while at the same time seeing how Shawn reacts to Niall's world and what he considers normal.  As the story progresses, they have some discussions about this.  At the same time, I think many parts of human nature, emotions, and experience never change, and this is a place where Shawn and Niall find that we're not so different underneath it all.

 

If you could time travel would you go to the past or the future?

Definitely the past.  I would love to witness some of the events we know of from history, or learn more details, learn the things that we don't yet know from historical records, learn more about the way people really lived and thought.

 

Which character do you like the most? The least?

Wow, that's a tough question.  I like most of them in different ways.  I like Niall because he's definitely more of my mindset, but Shawn is fun to write.  (Or should I say, it's fun to watch and see what he'll decide to do next?)  Yes, he's arrogant and obnoxious, but I think these characters are often fun because we all sometimes wish we could bulldoze through life doing as we please.  I also like him because, despite his many, many flaws, he is usually cheerful, makes people feel valued, and is capable of finally learning and redeeming himself.

 

I guess the character I'd have to say I like least is Rob.  He certainly thinks he's nicer than Shawn.  He behaves with more integrity and morality, and would never cheat on Amy, but he's an annoying, clueless sycophant who is, in his own way, as unable as Shawn to think of what anyone else wants or needs.  And it takes Rob awhile longer than Shawn to see where he needs to make changes.

 

 

What inspires you to write?

Well, I think I'm similar to many writers in that these stories and people are just there, and they really need to get out of my head.  I can't not write.

 

Where is your favorite place to write and why?

I'm not very particular.  My laptop goes everywhere with me, and whenever I have spare time, I write--in my music studio, at my kitchen table, in my office, living room, in my car in a parking lot or at a coffee shop or the library if I'm out and about and have time in between appointments.

 

You are blessed with many children, are any of them interested in writing?

Yes, I have nine children, from 22 down to 6.  At least three of them--two sons and my younger daughter--like writing.  Another draws cartoons with stories.  My older daughter writes movies with her cousin and friend, which they then film.  Most of them are big readers and all are creative in some way, if not writing, then in music or art.

 

A Trilogy is mentioned, do you have a date or title for the last book?

Well, it seems I've inadvertently followed in the footsteps of Douglas Adams, and my 'trilogy' now has more than three books.  So The Blue Bells Trilogy has officially been renamed The Blue Bells Chronicles.  The Minstrel Boy, Book Two, was just released.  Book Three, The Water is Wide, is scheduled for 2013.  The last two books are titled Westering Home and When the Battle is Over, and I'll be aiming for releasing one each year. 

 

Where can your fans find you?

I'm at www.facebook.com/laura.vosika.author and www.twitter.com/lauravosika. I also keep a blog, largely on medieval Scottish history, but also touching on topics in theChronicles such as time travel, music, and instruments, at http://bluebellstrilogy.blogspot.com

 

The books can be found at http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Bells-Scotland-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B002T460DG/ref=cm_cr-mr-title and http://www.amazon.com/Minstrel-Blue-Bells-Chronicles-ebook/product-reviews/B007A389JY/ref=cm_cr_dp_hist_5?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addFiveStar 

Is there Good in Evil? Interview with Athanasios creator of Mad Gods

  

Blog talk radio interview

Note: I was going to call this post "Good Versus Evil" but talking with Athanasios changed my mind. Life is not as simple as that. There is good and evil in everyone; it's a constant battle which roars on in Mad Gods.

Athanasios, welcome to my humble abode! 

As you may (or may not) know, I am a visual person. I love art, design, and your book covers. What do you try to capture in your covers and how long does it take for you to create them? 

It varies with each cover and who I'm making it for.  They can take between a few minutes to a few hours and sometimes days. I'm not necessarily consciously working on it but I'm thinking on it.  I'm a firm believer that no matter how hard you try to do something if it's not coming it won't unless you leave it alone to let your own subconscious, luck, providence or whatever you want to call it, help.  I try to capture what the author intends to portray, sometimes it's enticing a reader to look further than the cover others it's being literal with what the story contained therein conveys. I know in my own covers I first tried to be literal and then saw they weren't doing much for sales so I just switched to being enticing and moody and it's worked better.

Your books give a new twist to darkness. Reminds me a bit of Pandora’s box. Lots of bad stuff going on but there is still hope.Tell us about them.

The darkness I'm taking from your question is evil? It's great that you brought up Pandora's box, the myth I mean, not some bad 1980s Ron Jeremy or Vanessa Del Rio porn. I've researched, not for the writing but because it's interested me, religion and why we must look outside ourselves for justification of our motivations and life's trials. In that research I discovered many other people's works, notable and varied intellects from Thomas Aquinas, Joseph Campbell to Bill Hicks and many of them have a pliant view of darkness. I've come to agree with this view that there isn't any total darkness there's always degrees. Not the trite shades of grays that many use to describe despicable behavior but the darkness or evil within everyone they must accept in themselves. I try to portray EVERYBODY in Predatory Ethics from Mad Gods to Commitment and the forthcoming In Whom To Trust as multidimensional. I want to have GOOD, SYMPATHETIC and BELIEVABLE reasons for what they all do. I think I've even given Satan a reason for becoming the embodiment of evil and a bitter, rejected, fallen angel. Yet I also scuff up and bloody most of the good guys too. Most are portrayed as stiff and humorless to the point of being without compassion or empathy for anybody or anything save their view of good and evil.

Adam, the main character is the Antichrist: introduced through a codex about his past lives. It describes his unwillingness to enslave the world and fulfill the destiny. Satan, his biblical father, still wants to go through with Revelation and Kosta, his adopted father, wants to give him the freedom to chose. Kosta could've just killed him as an infant, or raise him in ignorance of who he really was but wanted to Adam to know everything and make the choice with nothing hidden. He saw what he was doing as the real Revelation and also chose to let Adam see what a life filled with simple pleasures and pursuits could be. 

What inspires you to write?  

I want to see where I'll take the story, something I don't know myself until I start to write. Do you want to call that inspiration, then so be it. I do have an idea of the direction but I don't reach it until I start on it's path. Sounds like artsy-fartsy bullshit I know, but it's true in its sincerity.  I'll go further down the artsy-fartsy, metaphysical, starry-eyed, hippie, tree-hugging road: I liken it to an old pagan belief of paradise, the Elysian Fields where you went and did whatever you enjoyed when you lived. They didn't believe paradise as the modern Christians do, there was no specific direction that everyone shared and  nobody was any different, like walking around clouds and doing ABSOLUTELY nothing.  My inspiration is the Elysian Fields, where I stand without knowing where I'll go but just walking in my feet & imagination go wherever they will.  Then sometimes I go and have a great meal or drink and feel content.

I know you have been writing over ten years. With age comes wisdom. What do you know now that you wish you knew then?  

I wish I knew about indie publishing then. It's been around since that time so I wish I was one of the pioneers. That means I wouldn't still be looking with dread at the fact that it's Sunday tomorrow and then the next day I'd have to wake up extra early to write, before going to work. At least I've got a job that pays the bills, so I'm lucky enough in that respect. 

Do you sleep with the lights on?

No, I haven't slept with the lights on since I was 10 and saw the Omen. 

Boxers or briefs? (This is a romance blog!)

Neither!  if you know what I mean! Unless the mother-in-law is sleeping over, then I've got to resort to briefs.

Where do we find your books?

MAD GODS

AMAZON                 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QOA768

SMASHWORDS    https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/48579 ISBN:9781610612562

COMMITMENT

AMAZON                http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006098CSC/

SMASHWORDS   https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99372

A Peek into Hell - These Hellish Happenings by Jennifer Rainey

I had scheduled an interview with author Jennifer Rainey but she had to cancel at the last minute. The bearded lady needed more shaving cream so off she went to assist. In her stead we have Jack Bentley from the book These Hellish Happenings. Good thing a copy fell from Jennifer’s purse as she ran out the door!

With much ado I give you Jack.

So Jack, it seems like you have lived a charmed life for a while. When did it all go wrong?

There’s not really one moment where it all went wrong. I mean, there are at least fifty. Thousand. Fifty-thousand is probably a little closer. Making a deal with the Devil tends to mess up one’s existence. Any charmed aspects of my life come in waves, I’ve found. I’ve had my fair share of time on the top of the world, but I’ve also spent a lot of time in the mire, to put it politely.

Being a Vampire sounds cool. What are some of the pros and cons?

It’s rubbish! I can’t actually think of any pros. Living forever is not all it’s cracked up to be, the blood-sucking process is time-consuming and after a few centuries, you get bored with it.  Not only that, living without a pulse makes certain sexual acts incredibly difficult. It’s really not that great. I don’t have any special powers, either. I’m just a guy… who happens to need human blood to live.

Do you ever regret your pact with the devil?

I used to. That was before I actually settled down in Hell. It’s really not that bad, and I can’t believe I’m saying that. Think about your worst day on Earth. Multiply it by no more than three and a half. That’s living on The Administrative Level of Hell. It could certainly be worse. I could be on one of the lower levels cleaning up after Cerberus.

I’ve read about your plight in hell. Sounds a lot like my last job but more colorful. Tell us about your day.

I wake up, go to The Registration Office here in Hell, register the incoming dead and send them to wherever in Hell they’re going to spend eternity. Think St. Peter but with fangs (and, I imagine, better looking).  And I work nine to five, Monday through Friday. The weekend is when I tend to get in trouble, usually with Alex. He tends to gravitate towards trouble.

So Alexander huh? I see you blushing, do tell!

He’s a demon who stalked me for fifty years. Perfect way to start a relationship, wouldn’t you say? Alex, despite the fact that he has terrible taste in music (The Doors? Really?), makes Hell very unhellish for me. And don’t tell him I said that. He’s got an ego through the bloody roof already. I’d never hear the end of it.

Well thanks for stopping in today if you see Jennifer tell her she should be very proud.

No, thank you for getting me out of twenty minutes of my shift!

LINKS:

These Hellish Happenings on Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/These-Hellish-Happenings-ebook/dp/B004K1F8KM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1295619680&sr=8-2

These Hellish Happenings on B&N (Nook): http://search.barnesandnoble.com/These-Hellish-Happenings/Jennifer-Rainey/e/2940012372154?r=1&itm=1&usri=these+hellish+happenings&if=N&cm_mmc=VigLink-_-k244266-_-j12871747k244266-_-Primary

Website: http://www.jenniferrainey.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/THH_series

Blog: http://independentparanormal.blogspot.com

Author G.W. Jefferies: Apolo Drakuvich

Author G.W. Jefferies Sharing his new book 

Apolo Drakuvich (Psst! We love the Final Cover!)

The Book

The Blurb

The Man

Amazon link to book: http://www.amazon.com/Apolo-Drakuvich-ebook/dp/B004OEIT7E/

Author blog/website: www.gwjefferies.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/gwjefferies

 

The Book:

----- (Review from Free Book Reviews)

Jefferies grabs you with this book and refuses to let go until you see it his way or no way. They say Texas is raw and gritty and this writer shows this truth in his writing. The story is mesmerizing and refuses to let go until it is finished with you.

Point of View: Jefferies is direct with the point of view and really grabs the attention of the reader.

Voice: The voice again is direct in an entertaining way but the story itself is what draws you in.

Character Development: You can not help but feel for Apolo and empathize with him throughout the book.

Plot: We all know that a corrupt system exists and we all know this HAS happened in some form or another.

Dialogue: Gritty, fast paced and delivered flawlessly.

Pacing: Imagine the open expanse of the Texas Country Side fit inside of Rhode Island and that is how the plot moves. Meaning it feels wide open but the author finds a way to fit it all in between the pages he allowed. WOW!

Setting: Again we all know this could or did happen somewhere in some fashion.

Continuity: The bow is a little skewed but the author does a nice job of making it tied and in place.
-Albert Robbins III of Free Book Reviews
------

 

The Blurb:

G.W. Jefferies' Apolo Drakuvich captures the life of a petty criminal on a strange ride ranging from bizarre and senseless to utterly tragic. Revolving around parasitic journalism, media and government corruption, and a ruthless, conniving judge who milks the citizens out of millions of dollars, Apolo Drakuvich can be described as a compilation of untamed and sheer madness--captivating the readers' attention from beginning to end. With its raw descriptions, penetrating dialogue and crisp writing, this book is like no other.

Within all the madness that so epitomizes the life of Apolo, G.W. Jeffries presents a life of regret in epic proportions. Sitting in a jail cell, Apolo reflects, "One thing is for sure, I let it all slip away...so many opportunities lost." Apolo sadly examines the events and decisions of his life, and the paths he took and should have taken. Apolo seeks peace of mind and justice, but flashbacks of his past continuously haunt him; moreover, he seems to be victimized by a corrupt justice system everywhere he goes.

As an offender, Apolo discusses pertinent issues of today's society, where it is next to impossible for offenders to live normal lives, despite the desire to do so. Essentially, law enforcement and authorities seem to systematically destroy the offender by placing constraints on the offender such as restrictions on where to live, GPS monitoring, registering as offenders on websites, and more.

Apolo Drakuvich is a microcosm of numerous real-life issues encompassing the wild, the bizarre, and the tragic.

Amazon link to book: http://www.amazon.com/Apolo-Drakuvich-ebook/dp/B004OEIT7E/

Author blog/website: www.gwjefferies.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/gwjefferies

 

The Man:

1. Tell us about yourself and how you came to be a writer / poet.

I’m a native Texan and I write contemporary and dystopian fiction.  The themes of counter-culture and dystopian views are usually included in some form in my works.  Some of my literary influences include Hunter S. Thompson, Chuck Palahniuk, William S. Burroughs, George Orwell, and Kurt Vonnegut. 

2. What's currently on your Kindle / Nook / eReader?

I just bought my Kindle last week but I have some books by Vonnegut and Hunter S. Thompson.  I also have works by some indie authors: Melissa Smith, David Gaughran, Jack Wallen, etc….too many to mention.

3. What's next up in your Netflix queue?

I have about 200 hundred movies and tv shows in the que at the moment but I think I’m going to watch the Twin Peaks tv series.  I’m in the mood to freak myself out.

4.  From the description, Apolo Drakuvich seems to be a story about the cyclic nature of a criminal life—how increased scrutiny from law enforcement and the stigma of being a criminal create a spiral that prevents any kind of normal life and in fact perpetuates further criminal activity. Is this a fair assessment? What prompted you to write such a book?

I think that is a fair assessment but I would add to the mix a corrupt justice system and now we have real chaos.  How can people expect criminals to better themselves when the system in play is just as bad as the criminal activity?  Apolo Drakuvich was written to help bring awareness to all sides of the issue.  Let’s stop and really take a look at this system. 

5. You had a post on your blog last week about a badly written, poorly-rated book you found that has made fairly constant appearances on the Kindle bestsellers list. Your conclusion was, cheap sex sells. As an artist struggling for the attention of a wider audience, does it discourage you to see the bestseller lists filled with books that seem so shallow on the surface?

Cheap sex sells…this will never end.  Kudos for the authors making a few extra dollars.  It’s a little discouraging but if this is what the people want, let them have it.

6. Is it fair to say that you've noticed an overall theme in your work? Something that follows you from piece to piece? If so, what is it?

I only have a novella, a short story, and poetry currently published but I would say the themes are dark at the moment.  They are dystopian stories that deal with some form of corruption.  I wouldn’t say this is my overall theme for all of my works but just the theme that is available to the world…if that makes any sense.  I’m interested in character/human/individual growth and I always try to put those type of character traits into my works.

7. What message do you want the world to see in your writing?

Don’t always believe what you see or read.  Be a free thinker.

8. If you could change the world right now, what would those changes look like?

People would be free to make their own choices so the world would probably look more or less the same.  Well, I guess I would like to add…let’s play nice.

9. PC or Mac?

I use both but I write on a PC.