Monday 31 August 2015

Release Day Blitz: Memphis Black by M.J. Fields @mjfieldsbooks

*** From USA Today Bestselling author MJ Fields***
Memphis Title trans (1)
From bedroom performances to center stage, Memphis Black’s dreams have come true. Together with his band mates—Finn, River, and Billy B—he takes some time for fun in the sun in Miami while gathering inspiration to finish their first full-length album. Some down time before hitting the road to tour the country, spreading their kind of rock like an STD. Tallia Priest, a preacher’s daughter grew up next door to Madison Black, her polar opposite and very best friend. Tallia has harbored a crush on Madison’s older brother Memphis for a lifetime. A boy like him would never notice a girl like her, yet he did … once. After a tough freshman year of college, Madison invites Tallia to join her in Miami for a much needed break. Madison fails to mention they will be staying with ‘Steel Total Destruction.’ When Tallia arrives, there is no way for a stunned Memphis to miss the transformation of the once awkward, innocent girl next door. Forbidden desires must be hidden, lines cannot be blurred, and no one can ever know. Will the heat in Miami tempt them even further? Will buried secrets destroy lives? Can a broken heart ever be mended? It’s all fun and games until someone gets rocked.

ebook cover

Available on Amazon and will be available everywhere... soon

Memphis1aSTDteaser2
stdteaser3
Note from the author...STD Warning

What you will get....
Humor....
  I look in the mirror one last time, noticing my hair is longer on top than it is on the sides. The gel I use to style it makes it look messy and black instead of dark brown. With my black boots, I stand at six-foot-three, and having spent an hour at the gym every night after school, I finally have great definition. I’m stage ready. I walk out on stage with my guitar strung around my neck, pick in hand, waiting for the nerves to consume me. But they don’t. Why? Because I’m a damn legend; that’s why. The stadium is sold out, and the crowd is going wild. “Hello, New Jersey!” I hold the mic out for the crowd’s roar, and they give me exactly what I want. “I am Memphis Black, lead singer and guitarist extraordinaire for—” Fuck, I hate this part. What the hell is the band’s name? “Black Hawks,” my sister Madison whispers. “The Black Hawks!” I yell to the crowd. “That name is so lame.” I hear my sister’s friend Tally giggle. “You two, out.” “No, you said, if we videotaped this, you would—” “Out!” “Come on, it’s our first dance. We need to learn how!” Madison stomps her foot. “Well, you didn’t hold up your end of the deal, now did you?” I lift the guitar strap over my head. “Come on, please,” Madison says with huge eyes. “Yeah, please,” Tally joins her. I consider telling them to fuck off, but they would tell Mom. I consider a simple no, but they’d tell her that, too. Therefore, I choose the safest answer. “Fine. But you both have to shut the hell up.” Tally covers her mouth, looking horrified. The girl is a train wreck in epic, adolescent proportion. She has kinky brown curls and a ribbon always wrapped around her head. Freckles bridge her nose and dot her face, and she always wears cartoon character T-shirts. Today, it’s Care Bears. “What now, Tales?” I huff. “You said—” “Hell?” I laugh. She giggles again. “Yeah, you did.” “You know what? I think the both of you should just stay home. All freshman girls do at a dance is stand in a corner, giggle, and look like dweebs.” I look at my sister. “Mads, if a boy asks you to dance, you’ll start laughing and snorting.” Next, I point at her friend. “Tall, you’ll get some big-ass grin.” I roll my eyes when she covers her mouth again. The little girl can’t handle a curse word to save her life. “Just keep smiling and laughing, and they’ll think there’s something wrong up in those crazy heads of yours. Besides, you’re both in that—I don’t know—the awkward stage: braces, boobs just budding …” Tally covers her mouth again, while Madison starts to get really pissed off. “I mean, look at that hair. Mads, you’re so used to wearing a ball cap you have permanent hat head. And you—” I can’t resist taking one more shot at Tally—“how the hell are you gonna get a comb through that kinky mess before Saturday?” That’s when Madison finally screams for Mom. Tally just looks at me like that cat from the cartoon, the one with the big, green guy. Shrek? Yeah, Shrek. Puss, Puss in Boots. That’s what her face looks like. Looking back at her, I almost feel kind of bad for giving them a hard time. Mom comes in then and gives me the third degree. She tells me, “Girls are sensitive when they’re going through changes,” and that I should ‘be more thoughtful.’ Finally, I can’t take it anymore. “Okay, Mom, fine. I will buy into their little girl fantasies about that girl with the blue dress, the one with the mice that turn into horses—” “Cinderella.” In spite of herself, my mom laughs. “Yeah, her.” Her face goes from amused to suspicious. “What exactly are they doing in your room, anyway?” “They were supposed to be taping my performance.” I try not to smile as she gives me that look. I know exactly what she’s about to say: that my rock star fantasies are just as lame as some dumb fairytale with talking mice. “It’s not the same thing, Mom. This is my dream, something I can actually make into a career one day.” “I know, Memphis.” She pats my back, smiling. “But maybe their dream is to dance.”   Some more.....   “Damn, check out that little peach,” River says when he meets up with us, running his hands back and forth through his hair, ridding it of some of the Atlantic. He points to a chick laid out on a beach towel, all oiled up, top already undone, and she is turning around to lie on her back. “Oh, fuck no.” I almost laugh as we get past her, heading for the volleyball net. “Sascrotch,” Finn mumbles under his breath. We all bust up laughing. “She’s hot and all, but who the fuck doesn’t look in the mirror and see they need a fucking trim before—” “That’s more than a trim, man; that would require a bush hog,” I laugh. “She’s a moped,” River chimes in. “I’d ride the hell out of her for fun, but I sure as fuck wouldn’t want any one of you to see me on her.” “Hair grows there for a reason,” Billy says. “So does facial hair, man, but you trim that shit so you don’t look like a mountain man.”
Heart
  “One day, your father caught me watching you and said, ‘Do you know what happens to sinners, young man?’ I told him no, I didn’t. I was a kid! He looks at me and says, ‘They burn in hell.’ “I fucking laughed in his face. Hell, he preached God’s love and was pegging me at ten years old as a sinner. He didn’t think that shit was funny. I wasn’t thinking about banging you back then, Tales. I was fucking ten. “He told me, ‘If you have sexual desires for her, you best get down on your knees and pray, young man.’” Memphis shakes his head. “I had no clue what he was talking about. Sex was far from my mind. I was into Legos or some other shit my old man bought, promising he’d spend time doing it with me and then bailing."
And... HEAT
“You looking for a fight? ’Cause you’ve got one,” Ricky snaps. Finn steps between them. “Walk, man, while you can.” Memphis looks at me. “If we’re gonna be playing around for the next couple of days, it’s one on one, you feel me?” “I was just dancing.” I blush and look to see if Mads is watching this. She’s not; she’s dancing with River and Billy. “That wasn’t dancing, Tallia. That was fucking foreplay,” he says, stepping into my space as “Teacher” by Nick Jonas starts. He then takes my hands and puts them on his hips. “Your little hands go here, not on his, feel me?” I nod as he places his hands over mine and drags them up under his shirt as his hips start swaying to the music. As Nick’s voice booms “Oh my, oh my, oh my God” over the speakers, Memphis’s hips circle while he moves down slowly until he is hip level with my hands on his shoulders. I close my eyes and start swaying as his hands run up the back of my thighs and stop right below my butt. Then he lifts the hem of my tank top with his nose and runs it across my stomach before I feel his tongue against my skin. My knees weaken, and I clutch his incredibly strong shoulders while he continues to lick, kiss, and graze his teeth across my now exposed flesh. He senses it and places a kiss on my hip as he slowly kisses up my side and then turns me so my back is against his body. He takes my hands in his and runs them up my body as he sings, “So let me teach ya,” in my ear, sending chills all over my body. My hands now rub up my front and over my chest, and he groans in my ear. “So let me teach ya,” he sings again, my hands now behind his neck. “Hold tight; don’t let go,” he commands against my neck. “Rock with me.”
He sways, and I follow his lead as his hands grip my hips and pull me toward his hard body. And his body is hard everywhere.

Feel free to check out Chapter one on
Giveaway on MJ Fields Books on Facebook and www.mjfieldsbooks.com

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Re-Release Promo: Bullet by Jade C. Jamison @JadeCJamison

Epic Re-Release of Bullet, Jade C. Jamison’s first book in the Bullet Series. Limited Time Only
Bullet special:

                           


The story you love–now bigger and better than ever!

~ ~ ~

An Epic Rock Star Novel

What if you discover the man you want is toxic?

She tasted a little bit of heaven with him, and now they’ve gone through hell and back, but can their relationship take anymore?

Valerie Quinn is a naïve college freshman when she meets on-the-rise rock star Ethan Richards. He’s an idealistic, handsome, reckless young man, but he’s captured her heart. She doesn’t give up on him and eventually his walls crumble down. By the time Valerie has given herself to him completely, she discovers he’s damaged and may be beyond help. Can she save Ethan and their relationship before he implodes, or will he self-destruct and take her with him?
                                             


****************************************************************

First and foremost, if you are reading this, you need to know that this edition of Bullet will be on sale for a limited time only.  I will be selling it for three months and then it will be gone forever, so if you want your copy, snatch it up now!

The first fifty orders will get a limited edition FULLY AUTOMATIC guitar pick with their book!

Here’s what you get in this special edition:
•Updated cover
•373 pages of awesomeness! 😉 (These are the BIG pages like the original paperback!)
•Bonus chapter (new last chapter with scenes that occur after the original Bullet and in the timeline between Rock Bottom and Feverish)
•Lots of additional material having to do with the Bullet universe (alternate POV scenes, additional scenes, and a deleted scene)
•First glance at Zane’s book (Bullet #6)

When summer’s over…say bye-bye to this special edition.  It will never be available in any other format and it will never be available again.

I will also sign every copy and will even personalize upon request.  Want to check it out already?

https://squareup.com/market/jade-c-jamison/bullet-special-edition?square_lead=item_embed



Book Review of The Braid: A Short Story by Angela Yuriko Smith



Book Title: The Braid
Genre: Horror
Pages: 18
Author: Angela Yuriko Smith
Date Published: 31 July 2015

Synopsis:

There is something wrong with Cambria's new babysitting job when she gets drawn into a little girl's game of pulling faces—with no one. Cambria's simple world begins to fragment. It all starts when you tie the knot.

The Braid is a satisfying short story that will resonate with readers long after the story is closed.

Review:


The Braid: A Short StoryThe Braid: A Short Story by Angela Yuriko Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a chilling short story. I loved it!

Cambria is a babysitter, looking after a little girl called Missy while her parents are out. When she catches her charge making grotesque faces, Cambria realises that something is not right.

This is an atmospheric short story that sent chills down my spine. I am not a huge fan of horror, but having previously read this author's debut horror story and enjoying it, I knew that I would be in for a ride. However, even I was surprised at how easily I was drawn into this tale. It is extremely easy to picture the scenes as they unfolded due to the descriptive prose. I felt empathy with Cambria as her sanity was called into question. Was the house haunted? Or is it just a wild imagination that leads to an unravelling mind? I don't know the answer to those questions, but this story sure captured my imagination and I was very grateful that I read this during my lunch half hour and not at night. I would have had nightmares otherwise!

I would have liked the story to be a little bit longer, but I'm not sure if the intensity would have been kept if it were. That being said, I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.

Angela Yuriko Smith has written an intriguing short horror story. I loved her fast paced writing style, which was very descriptive and gave the story intensity. The flow was wonderful too. Her writing has improved a lot and I will definitely be adding this author onto my favourite authors' list.

I highly recommend this novella if you love horror or ghost stories. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews


     

About The Author:



Angela Yuriko Smith works for a weekly newspaper by day, blogs at Dandilyon Fluff by night and writes spooky stories as often as possible in between. Her published works include fiction and nonfiction across multiple genres and she has been included in various anthologies and online publications. In the past she has served as a host for JournalJabber online radio talk show and was once interviewed on National Public Radio for her nonfiction work as a military spouse.

Mother of four, author of more, she is on a desperate search to find a cure for sleeping. If you need to know more, visit her at dandifluff.com.

Author's Links:



Thursday 27 August 2015

Cover Reveal: Finding Charity by Jody Pardo @JodyPardo

It's finally time to unwrap Finding Charity!


Finding Charity
A Novella by Jody Pardo



Cover Photography and Design by Shelton Cole of SC Photo
Cover Models: Jami Watts aka Jurnee Lane and William Scott

Cover Reveal: August 27, 2015
Release Date: September 15, 2015





Mark Lyon was a beast in the boardroom. Building websites and branding corporations for success was his specialty, and he was good at it. Mark worked hard to earn his place at the top of his field. He let nothing stand in his way, not even Christmas.

Charity Clarke captured Mark's attention with her dirty mouth at first meeting, but her giving spirit stole his heart without notice. When she goes missing, will finding Charity be the gift with enough love and hope to save them both?




Add to your GoodReads TBR



Enter for a signed paperback copy of Finding Charity on Goodreads HERE






Jody was born and raised in New York City and is an only child of an English professor. After 9/11/2001 and a line of duty injury, she left her role as an EMT with FDNY-EMS for a quieter life. She pursued Bachelor's degrees at Arizona State University in Molecular Biosciences and English. Her love of books and introduction to the Indie book world led to many wonderful friendships, and the drive to write and publish was ignited. Jody loves to travel and meet new people and has lived in four states and has visited 48 out of 50 US states.

Jody is a single mom to her daughter Ariel Elizabeth and her cat, Bullet.










Forever: A Lobster Kind of Love
**On Sale Just 99c**
Amazon AU

Finding Charity
Amazon US

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Audio/Book Review of Miss Penelope's Letters by Miss Mae @AuthorMissMae



Book Title: Miss Penelope's Letters
Genre: Mystery/Romance
Pages: 142
Audio Run Time: 1 Hrs 38 Mins
Author: Miss Mae
Date Published: 14 September 2012 (Paperback)
23 December 2014 (Audio Book)

Synopsis:

The letters arrive unsigned. The writer demands that Penelope meet him in one of London's most ill-reputed and darkest streets. When she dares to keep the assignations, she encounters a man in a black mask who leaves her breathless from his stolen kiss. Yet he claims the reason for their surreptitious tryst is an honorable one. Should she believe him? Can he be trusted?

Review:


Miss Penelope's LettersMiss Penelope's Letters by Miss Mae
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a gifted complimentary copy of this book in audio format from the author in return for an honest review.

This is an intriguing romantic mystery short story set in historical London. I really enjoyed it!

The audio book is narrated by Marcus Hyde, who had previously narrated another one of this author's books, "See No Evil, My Pretty Lady", which I also loved. I love his narration, which is clear and precise. He brought all of the characters to life and gave them their own tone of voice and personality. I would definitely listen to this gentleman's voice in other audio books in the future.

Penelope is a wonderful character. She is a housekeeper in Lord Wellington's household. She receives a letter, which sets her into an assignation with a mysterious stranger.

This book is only one and a half hours long, but it is a very entertaining story to listen to. I was quickly thrown into the danger and the action, but felt a little lost at first, as there was not a lot of context in the beginning. It was only as the story unfolded that the mystery reason for the first letter, which saw Penelope and the stranger first meet, began to make sense. What puzzled me was: Why would Penelope meet someone she didn't know in an ill-reputed street without at least a chaperon, especially in the historical setting? It just wasn't done in those days, as far as I know. And, how did she and the mysterious stranger end up being assaulted to begin with? That not withstanding, the short story was a fantastic romantic mystery full of twists and turns. The mysterious stranger only known as "Soldier" is an intriguing character. His mystique remains through most of the story and is only revealed close to the end. I must admit that his identity was a complete surprise! There is romance, intrigue and espionage in this fast paced tale. I reached the end of the story and heaved a happy sigh. I love a good romantic mystery and this story is one.

Miss Mae has written a wonderful mystery. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting, and the flow is wonderful. I am a huge fan of mystery novels, and one of my favourite authors in this genre is Agatha Christie. However, Miss Mae is an author that I will be keeping an eye on in the future.

I highly recommend this book to young readers who love mystery and suspense, and to adults who love a classic who-dun-it's and are looking for a quick, but highly entertaining read. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

      

About The Author:



Miss Mae is an award winning, best selling author. "Said the Spider to the Fly" has consistently rated outstanding reviews and has won the esteemed title of Best Book of the Week for The Long and the Short of It Reviews and from The Romance Studio. It can be purchased both in digital format and in print. "When the Bough Breaks", a young adult coming-of-age story won the 2009 P & E Readers' Poll in the YA category.

Her first book, "See No Evil, My Pretty Lady" had previously only been available as a digital book. Now it can be purchased in print from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and CreateSpace. Visit her website (http://www.themissmaesite.com) for the links.

The highly acclaimed "It's Elementary, My Dear Winifred" won a 2009 Top Ten Read at MyShelf.com. Out of print for a couple of years, this fast-paced, action filled 'who-dun-it' is now back with a brand new cover! It's in print at Amazon and in digital format at various online estores.

Miss Mae also enjoys writing humor and non-fiction articles. Some of her publications can be found in The Front Porch Magazine, Good Old Days, and WritersWeekly.

Her alter ego, M.M., penned a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek fantasy tale titled "Ahoy Gum Drop!" where her bumbling, fumbling reporter, I.B. Nosey, is introduced to the world wide web of cyberspace. Check him out at Feeling Nosey? (http://feelingnosey.blogspot.com)

Author Links:

Tuesday 25 August 2015

Book Review of Everlost (The Night Watchmen Series Book 3) by Candace Knoebel



Book Title: Everlost (The Night Watchmen Series Book 3)
Genre: YA Romance
Pages: 370
Author: Candace Knoebel
Date Published: 10 May 2015

Synopsis:

One truth will unravel them all.

Faye Middleton thought the worst had come to pass the night she and her friends barely escaped from Ethryeal City and the clutches of the evil Priestess Clara. Officially shunned from the Coven, Faye is forced to lay low in order to come up with a plan to bring Clara down.

At Jaxen's childhood manor, they were supposed to be safe from any outside issues, and they were… until his long-lost mother shows up. Determined to win back what she lost so long ago, Evangeline reveals a secret that could shatter their beliefs, or be their saving grace.

Now, with two Covens searching for Faye, they must find a way to start over. With the help of the Rebellion, they begin the arduous task of forming their own army. However, the choices they are faced with leave them questioning everything they've ever known.

Review:


Everlost (Night Watchmen, #3)Everlost by Candace Knoebel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in The Night Watchmen Series. I loved it!

Faye Middleton is a wonderful character, although I didn't like her very much when I first met her in Everlasting. She is a teenager who has had some major angst in her life. She has faced the culling and found out that she not only does she have affinity to both witch and hunter powers, she is the only one able to handle the Dagger of Retribution. Now older and wiser after her run in with Clara, Faye finds herself facing an even bigger challenge: dealing with Evangeline Gramm and fighting a war she's not sure she'll survive.

The story is again told through Faye's point of view. It is an emotional roller coaster ride from beginning to end. There are some new characters introduced into the story and they each bring their own personalities and problems, from werewolves to vampires. Evangeline Gramm did what she thought was right in order to protect her boys, but I'm not sure if she did the right thing or not, as she left them with some deeply scarred emotional baggage, especially Jaxen. However, it was the introduction of the other rebels where things begin to get interesting. I loved getting to meet Chrissa. She is a wonderful character, with an innocence that made me want to hug her; she is very sweet. It was also nice to meet Weldon, Jaxen, Gavin, Jezzi and Cassie again. Faye's friend Katie also returns, but she is now emotionally scarred from being held captive and tortured in Ethryeal City.

There is excitement, danger and adventure aplenty in this book, with lots of twists and turns and more than a few surprises. The relationship between Faye and Jaxen moves on to a new level and their intimacy is sensual without being too explicit. The end of the story has a surprising twist and, although it doesn't end in a cliffhanger, it does give the reader the feeling that there are some unfinished loose ends that require tying up. I do hope that there is another book, because I would love to see if Clara and Bael get their comeuppance!

Candace Knoebel has written a fantastic continuation in this YA paranormal romance series. I loved her writing style, which is fast paced and it flowed wonderfully. I haven't read her other series, Born In Flames Trilogy yet, but having read this book, I will definitely be doing so at the earliest opportunity!

I highly recommend this book if you love YA paranormal romances. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews


        

About The Author:




Candace Knoebel is the award-winning author of Born in Flames-book one in a young adult fantasy trilogy. She discovered in 2009 through lunch breaks and late nights after putting her kids to bed, a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. And an outlet for all the voices residing in her head.

Published by 48fourteen in 2012, Born in Flames went on to win Turning the Pages Book of the Year award in February of 2013. In January of 2014, the last book in the trilogy, From the Embers, was released, thusly completing the trilogy. She now works on the Night Watchmen Series, while guzzling Red Bulls and pretending to be a ninja on Heelys.

Monday 24 August 2015

YA Book Promo, Author Interviews & Fan Art Giveaway: Superi Reborn (Superi Series Book 1) by Clint Thurmon & Christina Williams

Today, I have the utmost pleasure in hosting not only one but two authors who have taken time out of their busy schedules to share their new novel called Superi Reborn, book one in a new Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy Series and to answer some questions I put to them. Please welcome Clint Thurmon and Christina Williams!

About The Book:




Synopsis:

On a cursed world, a madman, intent on recreating what was destroyed, begins a quest that entangles the lives of five teenagers. Refusing to surrender to one man's vision for the future, they choose to fight instead. Caught up in a web of lies and betrayals, trust becomes a commodity they cannot afford, as a secret hidden for sixteen years brings them to the forefront of the madman's quest. To survive, they are forced on the run across Superi as they come to terms with the truths revealed. One amongst them is the angeli Reborn.

Add to Goodreads Here!



Purchase Links:


      


Teasers:




Reborn is the first of many series to come from the world Superi;

A thousand years ago one man set into motion a cataclysmic event that will set Superi and Earth as perpetual enemies. Though time has dulled their memory, a new catalyst has emerged, forcing Superians to face their past if they are to have a future. Join us in book one, REBORN, of the Superi Series, where five teenagers begin a journey that will one day make them heroes.

“And from Earth the gods look to the heavens, to Superi, and to the angeli race that resides there. Vigilantly they guard against the day when the dark gate will open again…..”

Excerpt from the journal of Nathon Bealson


Interviews:

Clint:

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Actually after I started writing the first book, and even then I didn’t really enjoy it until I met Christina. I had the stories bouncing around in my head and even after I started to write them down it didn’t become writing until we started working together.

2. How long does it take you to write a book?

About 6 months.

3. What do you think makes a great story?

The characters for sure. You have to fall in love with them and care about what happens to them.

4. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Whenever I can get time. J I work a full time job, fight Muay Thai in the evenings and have 5 kids at home when I get there. So I write whenever I have a free moment which isn’t very often.

5. How do you balance family and writing?

I’ll tell you when I figure it out. Right now it is far from balanced.

6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Completely from my head, most ideas I have will have nothing to do with what I’m doing. I created Superi on a treadmill in a gym and have created most of the world and the rules while driving or trying to relax.

7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book/s?

Latin. There is a very fun back story to why Latin is so important but it was also something I knew nothing about.

8. How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?

We finished one and are working on 4 more. I have ideas for 5 more in one series. 4 adult novels that are action/romance and two dramas that have nothing to do with anything else. My favourite is always the one I’m working on in that moment.

9. Are your characters based on anyone you know?

No, in fact I named one of my sons the same name of a character and didn’t even realize it for months. My youngest son is named Tristan. Technically one of my middle sons is named Seth which was supposed to be Set but the two have nothing to do with one another.

10. Do you have a favourite place you love to write?

At work… lol. When people see me writing there they think I’m writing a contract so they leave me alone. At home no one leaves me alone. Ever.

11. How hard is it to get published?

Not hard at all, I started a company myself and published everything myself. Marketing and all it will probably cost me 30k but I think very much worth it.

12. What do your family and friends think about your books?

Everyone has said they are very surprised at how good it is. J Which I account to Christina.

13. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Martial arts, playing with my kids and doing things as a family.

14. Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they?

Honestly my abilities are far from good but in the last couple of years I have gone from horrible to bad which is a giant leap forward for me. I have made the progress by listening to Christina my editors and practicing.

15. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Fighter or a pilot.

16. What are your favourite books and which authors inspire you?

City of Bones and Dark Hunter Books have been my favourites but honestly the only person that inspired me to write was me, and it was more out of trying to focus my thoughts rather than create a story. I have horrible ADHD and my mind will simply wonder, where I can and do get lost in thoughts about nothing on this planet.

17. For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for getting their material published?

Research everything and don’t read people’s reasons to do or not do things. You are your own person and if you want to do something then do it, reading or listening to someone tell you anything will always have a bias or weighted intent behind it. Whether they mean to or not. Most author Q/A I have read is them telling everyone how hard it was to get published which I would assume has to discourage thousands of people. I say do write if you want to just don’t rely on it as an income until you can.

18. What are you working on now?

Superi series books 2, 3, 4, and 5. Book 2 is 70%, 3 is over 50%, 4 is 30%, and 5 is 20%.

About The Author:



Clint Thurmon is a thirty one year old native Texan. He lives in Southeast Texas with his wife Crystal, and has an adopted daughter, four sons, and a second baby girl on the way. Clint works as the director of projects of high voltage construction. He enjoys an active lifestyle involving several forms of martial arts, as well as physical training and weight lifting. Clint has been waiting many years to share the world of Superi and hopes you will love it as much as he does.

Author Links:



Christina:

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was ten when my mother bought me my first journal. I fell in love with words and have been writing ever since.

2. How long does it take you to write a book?

It took a full year to write the first novel, Superi: Reborn, which I co-authored with Clint Thurman, but its sequel should only take about half that.

3. What do you think makes a great story?

A great story has a code of honor amongst its villains or heroes that shows a loyalty that can overcome all odds. There must be epic battle scenes that changes the course of that word’s destiny. There must be love, consuming love, in whatever form it takes within the story line. A great story pulls you in until the world you belong to fades away.
 
4. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I’m a stay at home mom with three teenage kids. My schedule is insane, and I’m often exhausted when I can finally lay my head down in the wee hours of the morning before it begins again, but writing isn’t something I do. It’s something I have to do. It’s a part of me. Without a pen in one hand and a notebook in the other, or my laptop open with its keys exposed, I am only existing, and I choose to live.

5. How do you balance family and writing?

When Clint and I began this journey we agreed that family would always come first. We work like crazy, but we never forget what and who we are working for…our families.

6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

The idea and development of the world of Superi belongs to Clint. He has been wonderful in allowing me creative freedom to build upon the foundation he has established. Google is great, but when I really need to research for our books I hit the library. There is something about being surrounded by books, and the knowledge they hold, that inspires.

7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book/s?
 
I was surprised by how the little things can bring the writing to halt, while the big things are so well thought out that the scenes practically write themselves.

8. How many books have you written? Which is your favourite? 

Superi: Reborn is our first novel, but there will be many more to come.

9. Are your characters based on anyone you know?

*smiles* Clint and I probably have different people in our minds associated with our characters. For me, in many respects, I think of my boys.

10. Do you have a favourite place you love to write?

Inside four walls, when the door shuts, the writer’s block begins. I love nature. I draw inspiration from its beauty, so I tend to write outside. As to a specific favourite, I would say my grandmother’s place. Surrounded by a hundred acres of natural forest land the real world disappears and anything becomes possible.

11. How hard is it to get published?

I’m so very grateful to answer that I don’t know. Clint handled that part of the process beautifully so that I could concentrate on making Superi everything we both wanted it to be.

12. What do your family and friends think about your books?

They are supportive. They say they are proud.

13. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Exercise and mental focus for me go hand in hand. I enjoy the gym and the physical exhaustion that does not come with sitting for hours in front of a computer, but, second to writing…reading is most often what you’ll catch me doing.

14. Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they? 

Never think you know so much that you know it all, and grow some thick skin, because when you meet your first editor you will need it. 

15. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? 

I wanted to be a lawyer, a teacher, and then I wrote my first poem and knew…my destiny involved worlds that had yet to be created, because I had yet to write them into existence.

16. What are your favourite books and which authors inspire you?

Robert Jordan and the Wheel of Time; Terry Goodkind and the Sword of Truth; R.A. Salvatore and the Legacy of the Drow, these are epic. J.R. Ward and the Black Dagger Brother Hood, she’s an amazing writer. I could write a book on the books I’ve read and they’ve all inspired me. The bad ones inspire me to not make their mistakes and the great ones inspire me to reach their level.
 
17. For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for getting their material published?

Do not depend on your knowledge alone, but reach out to those who have gone before.

18. What are you working on now?

Clint and I are currently working on the sequel to Superi: Reborn, as well as completing the outline and research material for book three.

About The Author:



Christina Williams was born in Claremore, Oklahoma. She currently resides in Southeast Texas with her husband and three children; where she’s spent the last thirteen years focusing on her family. At thirty five, she’s made the decision to turn to the next chapter of her life, by embracing her passion for writing; reaching for her dream with the help of Superi’s creator.

Author Links:



Street Team Request:


We are looking for individuals that are interested in joining our street team. It’s a YA Fantasy book called Superi: Reborn by Clint Thurmon and Christina Williams If this sounds like something you're interested in please message Jenna Perry www.facebook.com/JennaR.Perry. Thank you! :)


Fan Art Book Giveaway!



We also have a fan art contest going on.

Don't forget to go to Superiworld.com after you've read Reborn. Book two is progressing quickly, and we'd love to hear our readers' ideas for new fera descriptions. Pick a few beasts and mix and match. Let us know what you get. If yours is chosen you'll soon see them brought to life in Reborn's evolving sequel.

Book Review of Quantum Level Zero by Ted Grosch



Book Title: Quantum Level Zero
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 305
Author: Ted Grosch
Date Published: 6 January 2014 (Paperback & E-Book)

Synopsis:

Winston Churchill stated that history is written by the victors. Germany terrorized Britain's civilian population with V1 and V2 rockets. The Nazi historians would have a legitimate rational for that had they won the war. Quantum Level Zero takes place in a dystopian society of the near future Earth, where fanatics are about to win the war on terror for the good for the people and the good of society.

Their leader, Matteen Al-Rama has outgrown his fanatical roots. Once an ambassador and secretary General of the United Nations, he now leads a fundamentalist revolution that uses cloud computing, holographic CGI recruitment rallies, computer worms, rootkits and Trojans, advanced communications, and cybernetic enhancements to spread apocalyptic chaos across the globe. If that weren't enough, rumor of an alien race wanting to begin diplomatic relations with Earth threatens to solidify Al-Rama's global stranglehold.

Quantum Level Zero follows three people at the pivot point in the war on terror, one who has knowledge, one who has great need, and one who has the courage to make a difference. Elijah Baraki is a scientist and former official of Al-Rama's revolution. Eight years ago he lost his wife and three children in a suicide bombing meant to show the world that nobody leaves Al-Rama's organization. Since that bombing, Eli has concentrated on research and radial technology with the intention to wage war on the revolutionaries. In a world where reasonable people become dissidents, Eli is joined by two-hundred other scientists, engineers and soldiers, all of whom have their own reasons to leave their former lives and battle the growing chaos.

Trevor Hadley sabotaged his own laboratory to prevent the authorities from confiscating his zero-point energy research. Now wanted as a terrorist, Trevor has been working on Eli's secret project for the past few years as a lab assistant. Eli sends him to reconnoiter an Al-Rama outpost and is almost killed. He teams up with his brother, Eli's former boss, and Sharon Murphy, a former army helicopter pilot also on the run, in a race to report back to Eli and join the fight to free Earth.

Forces of reason have the edge in the war, but will that remain the case if First Contact goes to the revolutionaries? Quantum Level Zero opens as the world awaits the arrival of Al-Rama's latest ally, an advanced alien race offering anti-gravity, zero-point energy, and faster-than-light travel. Al-Rama won't be satisfied with anything less than world domination. Eli won't be satisfied with anything less than total destruction of Al-Rama's empire.

Review:


Quantum Level ZeroQuantum Level Zero by Ted Grosch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love reading science fiction, so when I was recommended this book, I decided to try it. I loved it!

Elijah Baraki is a likable character. He is extremely driven and determined. He is a scientist on a mission. After his family's death at the hands of a terrorist, Eli finds himself distrustful of the current leader and, wanting to get as far away from his influence, gathers together other like minded individuals. But it's not as easy as he first thought.

Trevor Hadley is also a likable character. I must admit I liked this character more than any of the others. He too finds himself on a mission after blowing up his own research lab to stop it falling into the wrong hands. Working with Eli is a challenge, but what he stumbles upon could spell disaster of epic proportions for the whole world.

This is a fantastic science fiction novel that captured me from the first page. It took me on a roller coaster ride of emotion from beginning to end. The story is told from various points of view, mainly Eli's, Trevor's and Sharon's. I am very technically minded but, unfortunately, some of the more technical aspects of the story flew over my head. I never did anything more than high school physics, and trying to understand the more challenging aspects of quantum mechanics written about in this book gave me a slight headache. Nevertheless, the storyline gripped me and didn't let me go. The world building is shockingly believable and sent a shudder through me at the thought of our society (in the not so distant future) being slowly and systematically won over by a charming and charismatic personage like Al-Rama. There are a lot of other characters in this book that I haven't mentioned. However, I really liked getting to know most of them (apart from the bad guys, of course). They all come alive on the page and bring the story to life. They all have interesting, if complicated, lives.

This story is also full of action, adventure and danger that had my heart pounding and my adrenaline pumping! The author delves into some really chilling subjects, such as fanaticism and belief which can be manipulated to create terrorism. There is a saying, "One man's soldier is another man's terrorist", depending on which side of the fence you stand on. This is how cults and other religious groups can become radicalized and terrorism grown in my opinion. Politics also plays it's part and those disenchanted with governments or organisations can also spawn extremism and terrorism. The author has woven these real life issues into a future dystopian backdrop, but it could easily be written in today's world. The scenes are well written and some of them can be a little upsetting in their descriptions. The moon scene with Trevor is a little violent and made me shudder with revulsion at what was happening within the moon base. I must admit that I did enjoy the scene where the spaceship Eli designed and built suddenly disappears. It certainly left a lot of people scratching their heads, including me! I will leave it to you to find out what happened to it. *evil grin*
There are several twists and turns, and a couple of surprises that completely caught me unawares. I reached the end of the book and found myself with a book hangover. I love books that do that, but it also frustrates me at the same time; when a book just won't leave you alone even after several hours or days afterwards, then you know it was a good book. And this one certainly was good.

Ted Grosch has written a fast paced debut science fiction thriller. I love his writing style, which is fast paced but not rushed. The flow of the story was wonderful too. I was worried that the alternating view points would cause the book to be jumpy, but it didn't affect it at all. I would definitely read more of his books in the future.

Due to the technical jargon and the violence in this book, I do not recommend this book to younger readers under 16. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love science fiction, dystopian or thriller genres. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:



Ted Grosch holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. He has been writing science fiction since high school and has placed and won several contest for prose.

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