Horny Hump Day Blog Hop

Welcome back to Horny Hump Day.

I am so elated to be a part of this blog hop and present to you my three sensual sentences from An Unexpected Desire; a lesbian romance fiction presently being edited.

An Unexpected Desire is a story about a young lesbian woman and an older woman who meet in a work environment that pushes them into an unlikely friendship that develops into more.
And here is the excerpt of their sensual moment together:

"Fiona passed the palm of her hand over the woman’s body, feeling and memorizing ever crevice, every curve, and every bump. She saw the reaction of her warm hands on the Nyasha’s chocolate skin when Nyasha writhed from side to side. ...Nyasha reached up to kiss her and she pulled away, “tsk tsk tsk” she said through a smile, “be patient my love,” Fiona brought down her mouth and placed a small kiss on Nyasha’s flat stomach, smelling the strawberry scent of her skin and feeling it envelop her mind. "

Thanks for stopping by and reading my excerpt now head on over to Horny Hump Day Site and read all the other wonderful excerpts by a bunch of talented folks.

Muah, xoxo.
Anjie

Authors: Beware of Vanity Presses

As a new and unpublished author this week's post was an eye opener for me. It is very informative and a must read for all who are aspiring to become published. So I am pleased to introduce this week's guest on the TTC Virtual Blog Tour: Nikki Noffsinger.

Vanity Press: The Truth About Why They Are To Be Avoided

BY: Nikki Noffsinger

 

It was 2009 when I wrote my first novel, Renegade Night. I had labored over it and poured everything I had into writing it. Looking back, that was the easy part. Getting the courage to let someone other than my sister read it was the hard part but even harder was looking for a way to get it looked at by a publishing company or a literary agent. I sent out eighty query letters to eighty different places and some were automatic rejections and some didn’t bother ever replying. Then one afternoon I got a call from Publish America. The guy on the line told me they had accepted my manuscript and wanted me to be part of their team. I was on cloud nine. The next step was the E-Mail where the contract was sent. I read through it and I thought it was probably a typical contract. They wanted no money to publish my book but they would have book rights for seven years (which did seem a long time but hey what did I know, right), and I would get 10% of each book sold. I signed the contract not knowing what I was getting myself into.

           

            Weeks and months passed by and finally I got my author’s copy which was a standard soft cover but when I began reading through the horror sunk in. The perfect manuscript they had gotten from me was not what was in those pages. There were sentences cut off, grammar errors right and left, and the cover picture was as generic as a Walmart plastic bag. I cried. I tried to tell them immediately about the errors but they said it was too late but that was the least of my worries. Since my book has officially been with them the price has been between $25.99 and $35.99. I can’t get book stores to carry it, because either its price points or because of their return policy. They email me a dozen or more offers per day and some of them range from paying 7 to over 100 dollars all in the name of “promotions”. I have written to them to only get condescending messages back from them that scold me because they’ve been out all this money making my book. My book is not stock piled. They are print upon payment-meaning when someone buys my book it is printed up so I don’t understand what costs they’ve incurred.

            Publish America is a Vanity Press. They do not make money off mass market sales-they make money off the writer. A traditional publisher does not want to make money from the author-they want to put it out in mass market and perhaps that is why a lot of publishers are very picky about the manuscripts they read and authors they publish. These companies buy up web space and some even rent office space like Publish America does in Maryland; and anyone who submits a manuscript-they publish it. They will mark up a book’s price sometimes 5x what it is worth and they can determine what is; “royalty eligible”. They make all sorts of promises and paint a very colorful picture of “if you just pay this amount of money we can have your book at this event or send it to notable established authors”. Last year Publish America made a big boo-boo and tried to get people to pay money to have J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books. Her lawyers immediately went into action and Publish America had to withdraw that offer yet on their site, they made sure they cited that Ms. Rowling owed THEM an apology. Yeah, they’re lucky she didn’t sue them to high heavens. I have been sent offers to have my book reviewed by Nora Roberts, James Patterson, Stephen King, Disney, CW, and even Kathy Lee Gifford and her co-host, Hoda. I was also told that they could send my book to be made into a movie and even boasted that the likes of James Cameron would see my book. All lies. I am a gal that does my home work and found that none of those people were reviewing books let alone had given consent for them to review books.

            So what does one do?

            The first thing a new author can do is to go to a website, www.writersbeware.com. I wish I had gone there to start with. They have threads upon threads of publishers like Publish America to avoid. Do your homework about a publisher before you submit and sign a contract. Look on the backs of books you read at the publisher and look up what their submission guidelines are. I cannot stress enough how important it is to FOLLOW THOSE GUIDELINES TO THE LETTER! Seriously, if you don’t include all the information they are wanting they won’t look any further and you may not get a reply. Expect that you are going to get rejections. Don’t be down about it because even the most successful author will tell you that they had dozens upon dozens of rejections when they first got started. Whatever you do, don’t give up. Keep on trying. If you end up having to self publish that is still better than a vanity press. They are there to make money off you not readers. The second thing to do is read a contract thoroughly. It might cost you a little change but have a lawyer go over it. Believe me you don’t want to get stuck in a contract where you have little to no rights. Ask your publisher questions. Ask what the percentage of royalties you are to get, what bookstores they have that they can send your book to,  ask how they plan to promote you, ask what their annual sales are with their other books, and ask what could happen if your book totally bombs. Any good publisher will answer these questions and more.

            There are few joys that compare to the exhilaration and thrill of getting that call or mail that says, “We love the book and would love to contract with you for your story.” When I got my call, I thought my dream had finally started to come true. I thought I was finally an accomplished writer and that I had the door open wide and was across the threshold. When the disappointment and reality set in, I have to say if I was any less passionate about writing, I would have just tucked my tail and hid under the nearest rock and give up on my dream.

Have you ever been taken advantage of by a Vanity Press, if so which one?

Just remember your story can save someone else. I want to save you dear readers from the pit falls of these parasites of literature and the siphons of dreams. There should be some sort of legislation or law against it but until there is, we all need to keep one another informed.

There are great publishers out there; especially indie presses that are legit. My second book is strictly an E-book that was published through XoXoPublishing and the experience has been wonderful! They promote me any way and every way they can, I got a custom cover that is beautiful, and they constantly are ever seeking to find new ways to get buyers for their author’s books. I mean if you are not selling books-they are not making money. Legit publishers once they take you on, they want to make money. What are some things you think a publisher is responsible for?  What are your experiences with a legit publisher?

            Never quit writing no matter if you’re rejected a thousand times. Thomas Edison said in regards to the invention of the light bulb, “I have not failed, I’ve found 1000 ways that won’t work.” So never give up because you can only learn from each failure and build on that. Very few authors were just overnight sensations. Many authors from every genre have had to pay dues and we’re just on that road. The first thing though is; do not get caught up in the vanity press trap.

Author’s Bio and Links

Nicole Noffsinger or Nikki as she is known is a 37 year old mother of two children and has always loved writing and creating stories from a young age. She lives with her family in a mid-sized Indiana town. Aside from writing she has an eclectic taste in both music and art, loves to travel, and has a great love of all things that go “bump” in the night.

http://www.xoxopublishing.com

http://nikkitrueblue.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nicole.noffsinger

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Realm-Of-Author-Nikki-Noffsinger/191125007586215

How Did We Get to the Beginning?

You have read a novel, enjoyed the scenes, got involved with the characters, shared their sorrows and joys and then when you close it you wonder: How do these people come up with this stuff?
Well here today on my blog to enlighten you to the process of how he comes up with his story and characters is the talented science fiction author Raymond Frazee. Raymond is also one of my colleagues on the story blog StorytimeTrsyts and is featured every Monday.
So, sit back and about Raymond Frazee process of writing and creating characters:

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How did we get to the Beginning?
by Raymond Frazee

Characters and novels.  Jeez, not too much to deal with, is it?  Well, I’m a wordy guy, so hang on as I tear up the countryside to talk about my biggest, but as yet unpublished novel . . .

When I started writing Transporting, I had a very nebulous concept:  guy gets kidnapped to the future, something happens to him, gets über psychic powers, falls in love, goes back in time to see aliens, fights to save them.  There is it:  that’s the story.

 I had a core of four characters—well, five, but you gotta see how I did that.  So, where to start?  How about characters, and how I came up with them?  Sure, you got it.

 First, let’s look at the kidnappers.  As I have in my novel’s notes, here is one of my main female characters, Cytheria:

  

Her Grace Lady Cytheria Lakshanya Warington, Duchess of Scoth, Marchioness of Windslade, Countess of Magdalen ("Cy") (29)

Born Scoth, May 7, 3153 (GS)

Daughter of Duke Scoth, Jeremy (60), Deputy First Speaker for the Council of Lords, New London, and Duchess Scoth, Amishi (deceased). Lady of the Royal Courts of New London, Scoth and University, OHE, CH, PC, FRS. Matriculated Lady Margaret Hall, (3171) with BA in History-Sociology.

Diagnosed as a controlling Talent, 3164. Diagnosed with controllable multiple psychic abilities, 3166. Diagnosed as "psychic twin" (PT) candidate, 3169. Registered with Security Service (MI5) Department of Extraordinary Government Assets (DEGA) (Gifted Beings Division) and Ministry of Science Advanced Psychic Abilities Division (APA) as an Aptitude A-3 Psycho-Manipulative Individual (PMI), 3172. Rating upgraded by DEGA/APA to Aptitude A-1A (Classification Special, PT-Transient) Psycho-Manipulative Individual (PMI), 3177 (GS).

Minor Fellow of Magdalen College (New Oxford). On extended research sabbatical attached to the Quantum Studies Department, Magdalen College, New Oxford, University.

Now, when I started thinking of her back in the late 1980’s, I imagined her as this short, curly-haired woman with a demanding aura, and just a bit on the snooty side.  The person I saw her as—at that time—was Sarah Sutton, who isn’t very well known in the U.S., but is better known as having played Nyssa on Doctor Who.

By the time I started editing the novel in the early 2000’s, I saw her moving away from being small and demanding, and a little more—I guess you could say real looking.  I began envisioning her as being taller and far more curvaceous, as one might hope that twelve hundred years down the time line, society isn’t going to continue perpetuate the Death Camp Survivor look for women, and let people be people.  I still wanted her to have a certain air about her, one that said, “My family has been noble born for 12 generations,” but not so haughty that she’d end that statement with, “Suck on it, commoners.”

 But when it came time to finish the novel, I was struck with something else, something that I hadn’t considered when I started writing the novel over twenty years ago.  After twelve hundred years, humanity would become pretty crossed up, ethnicity-wise, with dozens of generations of intermingling.  One of the major things I changed was Cytheria’s mother, who was a descendent of generations of Indian/Hindustani culture.  So now Cytheria was not only a lovely, curvy, full-figured woman, but one with darker eyes, hair, and skin, than her original concept.  Which is how she remains today.  Still a bit haughty, though:  make certain when you address her, you know you’re speaking with a duchess . . .

Now, for the guy who pilots the time machine:

 Sir Dr. Thomas McCrimmon ("Tommy") (34)

Born Aberdeen, 6 March, 3148 (Galactic Standard [GS])

Director of the Theoretical Sciences ("Quantum Studies") Department, Magdalen College, New Oxford, University. Schrödinger and Hawking Chair (New Oxford), Honorary Lucasian and Newton chair (Cambridge Intergalactic), Knight of the Realm, MHE, PC, FRS, Fellow of Magdalen College (New Oxford), Fellow of Darwin College (Cambridge Intergalactic), Nobel Prize for Physics (3177), Schrödinger/Hawking Medallion for Practical Quantum Applications (3175), Einstein Prize for Physics (3174), Copley Medal (3173).

Developed and constructed Quantum Extra-Dimensional Conveyance (QEDC) ("Q-Scape") 3173-3176. First quantum dimensional transposition: 12 April, 3176 (GS).

 I made him Scottish because—why not?  I liked it, so never the mind.

When I put him together, I imagined Tommy looking a little like Peter Davison.  Why not?  Since Peter worked with Sarah, no reason why he couldn’t work with Cytheria.  His home planet, Aberdeen, was founded by a lot of people from Scotland, but that doesn’t mean Tommy is this pasty-skinned egghead.  He’s got a bit of a tan because, once again, finding someone who’s really light-skinned takes some doing.  (Oh, I have someone like that in a later story—it’s because she comes from a planet that goes around an orange sun.  And she’s somewhat Welsh.  Go figure.)

Tommy is smart:  he’s considered one of the most intelligent individuals of this era in history.  He lives simple.  He doesn’t like to put on airs.  He doesn’t suffer fools, but he’s not completely arrogant.  He actually comes to like the guy they kidnapped, Albert, because he knows, as big of a screw up as Albert can be, he’s also a bright guy who only needs a guidance.  A lot of guidance, but guidance nonetheless.

He’s also a guy who remains calm through most everything—even a discussion about an accident that could be more powerful than several supernovas going off at once, and wiping out all life within dozen of parsecs.  Why?  Science!  That’s why!

Lets bring in another doctor—the Psychic Doctor:

 Dr. Lynette Wesley (41) (GS)

 Born Tsavo, June 4, 3141

Director of Special Talents Development and Psychological Studies, Magdalen College, New Oxford, University. Rhine Chair (New Oxford), MHE, CH, FRS, Fellow of Magdalen College (New Oxford). Randi Emeritus Award (3165).

Doctor Wesley is a person who, when I started developing her, really didn’t have much of a personality.  She was the head of the department where all the shiny Talents when to learn their new-found abilities.  She set up the tests; she helped teach everyone; she kept everyone safe.  And if a Talent ever got out of line, she might just have to drop a dime on their ass and call in the SAS to smoke them.  Because her duty is to Empire and Queen first, the local citizenry second, and to crazy, fire-ball throwing Talents last.

Lynette is a very dark woman, the results of many generations of marriage between people of central and southern African heritage.  Her home world, Tsavo, also revolves around a star that is hotter and brighter than our Sun, and that helps darken her just a little more.  She’s tall and willowy, though “willowy” in the 32^nd Century is a lot different concept than willowy these days.  She’s not rail-thin, but compared to what would be the norm for women in this future, she’s a bit thinner—and this is something that often bothers her.  Oh, if only she could somehow gain those last five kilos . . .

And lets look at the guy who started all this stuff:  Albert Dahl.

Albert was from the 1980’s.  He was working in Chicago as a computer programmer.  He was alone, he was depressed a lot, he was bi-polar.  He had no one in his life, and he didn’t think he’d ever have one, so there came a day when he decided to end it all.

While hanging out at Navy Pier, he was nabbed by Cytheria . . . and as they used to say at Torchwood, Cardiff, that’s when everything changed.

See, when Cytheria was back in the 1980’s, checking on a bit of history, she felt something, and she followed that feeling to Chicago.  She found Albert, and she kidnapped him so she—with Tommy’s help—could have him tested by Lynette.  Never mind that what Cytheria thought about Albert being special was impossible, the feeling was still there.

 What no one knew was that Albert was special . . . because without him, there would have never been Audrey.

 Who is Audrey?  Audrey is Albert.  Or, I should say, she’s what Albert would have been had he been born a girl.  As quantum physics dictates, with unseen events, there are always both possibilities in existence until the event is observed.  So, in the case of birth, there is always a male and female baby until observation—at which point you could have a quantum wave collapse and two universes are created.  One universe had Albert, the other Audrey.

 Problem was, they were always connected.  Somehow—you know, those sub atomic physics are always an issue with me.  But there was some kind of connection there, and when Albert was removed from his environment, it caused things to—well, they got messed up.

As I say in the tale of the tape:

Albert/Audrey Dahl (29)

Born Earth (Terra), May 7, 1957 (GS)

 (Albert) Graduated Purdue University June 1982, with BS in Computer Science. Reported missing Chicago, IL, October 16, 1986. Case closed October 31, 2021, as unsolved. Date of Abduction October 13, 1986 (Monday) (October 11-12 was the date of second meetings between Reagan and Gorbochev.) Arrived New Oxford, University February 1, 3182 (Tuesday Local).

(Audrey) Much of her early history is currently unknown. Believed to have graduated Purdue University June 1982, with BA in Literature. Worked as copy editor, Entertainment Section, Chicago Sun Times, for unknown period of time. Date of disappearance unknown at time of this writing (3183 LS).

First Quantum Extra-Dimensional Transition (QET) occurred February 2, 3182 (Wednesday Local Standard). Second QET occurred May 13, 3182 (Saturday Local Standard). Registered with Security Service (MI5) Department of Extraordinary Government Assets (DEGA) (Gifted Beings Division) and Ministry of Science Advanced Psychic Abilities Division (APA) as an Aptitude A-1A (Classification Special, PT-Transient) Psycho-Manipulative Individual (PMI), 3179 (GS). Granted Extraordinary Duel Citizenship status by Royal Proclamation of Her Majesty Margaret II, Protector of the Interstellar Humanist Empire (IHE) and Defender of the Realm, August 23, 3182 (LS).

On extended attachment to the Quantum Studies Department, Magdalen College, New Oxford, University.

 Every twenty-five hundred hours, or so, Albert transitions into Audrey.  Everything in the physical body changes, but the mental part, the mind, the memories, that part all stays Albert—the rest is Audrey.  The upside to all of this is she links to Cytheria, and they become a very powerful entity:  Twins, who are like almost off the scale as far as abilities are concerned.  Not only that, but they’re mentally linked all the time:  they actually have to learn how to keep each other out, otherwise, they’re just chatting up a storm without ever physically saying a word.  Think of them as being like Jean Grey and Emma Frost if they both stopped trying to bang Scott, and decided to hook up and stay together.

It’s assumed the same thing is happening to the real Audrey, wherever she is, and that she’d going through a similar situation.  (Do I know, by the way?  Yes.  Am I telling?  Wait until that story comes out.)  And after twenty-five hundred, or so, hours, there is another transition, and it’s back to being Albert—and not having cool powers, not being connected to Cytheria.  But still having feelings for her, remembering how they were in their heads, how nice things could be . . .

So why the title Transporting?  It’s about change, about transition.  Going from being a no one to being someone.  To being powerless, to being a person that people will never want to mess with.  (I would love to get some artwork of Cytheria and Audrey together.  Cytheria knows cryokinesis and Audrey pryokinesis . . . Ice and Fire.  Yeah, I know:  been done.  But I still like them like that.)  It’s about feeling nothing, and being filled with desires and wants and needs.  It’s about having to deal with the idea that your life is always changing, and every time you turn around, something special—or horrible—may happen.

It’s also about the fact that at the end of the novel . . . you’re just going to have to wait until the novels—yes, the story is so big, it’s in three novels—are published.

And there you have it.  How my characters come to life, and how I do my titles.  At least that time around . . .

****

Raymond Frazee has been writing most of his life, but only in the last year has he seen success.  His first story, Kuntilanak, was self-published, September, 2011, and is available at Smashwords, Barns & Noble, and Amazon.  His second story, Captivate and Control, is published by Naughty Nights Press, May, 2012, and is also at Smashwords, Barns & Noble, and Amazon.

Raymond is currently in the process of trying to publish a novel, and is working very hard towards his dream of becoming a full-time writer.

Follow Raymond on:

His blog, Wide Awake But Dreaming

On Twiter

On Facebook

On Pinterest

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So after reading this are you trying to figure out how your favourite characters or titles from your favourite books came to be? Are you a writer/author? Then share with us how your characters and titles come about, just leave a comment below. Let Raymond know what you think about his process and more. Don't be shy . . . ..

Horny Hump Day July 11

Welcome to HUMP DAY and I am proud to be apart of Horny Hump Day weekly blog loop. This is my first week of participation so I hope I am doing it right.

My post is from my current story running for free on Storytime Trysts from Episode 2

"I felt the huge shaft enter me, stretching my pussy lips apart and pushing its way further and further into me. I cooed and grimaced as Paul lifted my top and pulled out one of my breasts and starting sucking on the nipple. The sensation of his soft tongue and warm mouth nibbling away on my bare flesh sent sensations down to my loins and I started to move my hips and ease my way down the snake-like shaft."




I hope you enjoyed my excerpt. You can read more for FREE at Storytimetrysts and head over to the Horny Hump Day blog and check out the other participants.

Elliptical Trainer + Boring Television + Overweight old guy = Birth of a Novel

Last week I didnt have a guest blogger and things were so hectic for me that I didnt post at all for the week. However, I am very proud to say that Bruce Blake has returned to our corner of the globe with yet another wonderful guest post.
This week we are delving into what got our present works off the ground, how the idea came about and how we pieced it together. I am discussing An Unexpected Desire and Fatal Indiscretions over on Ellie Mack's Blog and over here Bruce Blake is keeping us entertained with his take on the subject.

What kicked off your current book?

That's the assignment this week on the blog tour, but it leads me to ask another question: which current book? The one I'm editing? One of the four I'm writing? One of the two or three I'm planning? Hmm. Since the one I'm editing is almost complete and the second of a series, the answer to the question isn't very interesting: it arose from the first book. One of the ones I'm writing is the fourth book in a series I've been working on for a few years so, to be honest, so much time has passed since I had the idea, I couldn't come up with an answer to this question if you held a torch to the soles of my bare feet and put a clamp on my...finger. To make my own life a little easier, I'm going to choose one of my novels that is in the early planning stages, because the inspiration came very recently.

This book will be one in my Icarus Fell series, though I'm not sure if it will be the next (third) book or perhaps the fourth. I was on the elliptical trainer at the gym and, like at most gyms, the four televisions were on. My memory is a little hazy as to exactly what was on, but it was mid-afternoon, so I'm going to say it was Days of Our Lives on one, a reality show about people who make cakes and/or fix up houses on another, and some exciting spectator sport like competitive staring, on the others. Suffice it to say, none of the choices held my interest. And since there was an overweight old guy on the treadmill in front of me, and not an attractive young lady, I got lost in my thoughts.

What I started thinking about was a few short stories I've started in past years, a line of thought that is unusual for me as I've really set the short form off to the side since I got serious about novels. Actually, you could hardly call them the beginnings of stories; they are more sketches or brief scenes with no real form and no place to go. Specifically, three of them came to mind:

1.      A guy who considers himself a bad luck charm because everyone he cares about dies. His father before he's born, his mother in childbirth, his pets, his friends. Everyone.

2.      A severely depressed teen who decides to end it all and finds that he can't die.

3.      A guy who, after months of having to hack off the tail he's been growing so people don't see it, becomes concerned because he is starting to grow scales.

The inspiration? Combine these three bits of characters/stories into one really unfortunate fella. I know, looking at it on paper in one place, it seems kind of a natural progression, but when each part was written at different times, in different places, on the backs of separate napkins, it's not so obvious. It takes an elliptical trainer and a little boredom to really bring things together.

So now the real work begins: fleshing the character and his background out, then figuring out how he fits into Icarus' world and what problems he creates. I've got a few ideas, a few 'what-ifs' to ask, but there is a ways to go yet.

Time to go back to the gym and hope there are soap operas on TV.

If you're a writer, where do you find inspiration? And readers, do you ever wonder where you favourite stories came from?

Biography

Bruce Blake lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. When pressing issues like shovelling snow and building igloos don't take up his spare time, Bruce can be found taking the dog sled to the nearest coffee shop to work on his short stories and novels.

Actually, Victoria, B.C. is only a couple hours north of Seattle, Wash., where more rain is seen than snow. Since snow isn't really a pressing issue, Bruce spends more time trying to remember to leave the "u" out of words like "colour" and "neighbour" then he does shovelling. The father of two, Bruce is also the trophy husband of burlesque diva Miss Rosie Bitts.

Bruce has been writing since grade school but it wasn't until five years ago he set his sights on becoming a full-time writer. Since then, his first short story, "Another Man's Shoes" was published in the Winter 2008 edition of Cemetery Moon, another short, "Yardwork", was made into a podcast in Oct., 2011 by Pseudopod and his first Icarus Fell novel, "On Unfaithful Wings", was published to Kindle in Dec., 2011. The second Icarus Fell novel, “All Who Wander Are Lost”, is scheduled for release in July, 2012, with the first book in the four-part “Khirro's Journey” epic fantasy coming soon after. He has plans for at least three more Icarus novels, several stand alones, and a possible YA fantasy co-written with his eleven-year-old daughter.

On Unfaithful Wings

I was alive, then I was dead, now I’m stuck somewhere in between.

My name is Icarus Fell. I am a harvester.

The archangel Michael brought me back to collect souls and help them on their way to Heaven--that’s what a harvester does. If I get enough of them before the bad guys do--if I do a good job--I can have my life back. Now people I knew in life are dying, killed by a murderer’s knife, their bodies defiled, and the cops think I’m the killer.

I’m not, but I think I know who is.

But how does a dead man, a man who no longer exists, stop a psycho? I’m not sure, but I’m going to stop him before everyone I know is dead.

I have to stop him before he gets to my son.

Icarus Fell wasn't very good at being alive, and it turns out he's not much better at being dead. When two muggers kill him on a rainy night, he thinks it is the final relief he's been seeking from a life gone seriously awry, but rather than just letting him be dead, the Archangel Michael has other plans.

As a harvester, it becomes Icarus' job to help souls on their journey to Heaven. But when he's sent to harvest the soul of Father Dominic, the abusive priest who raised him, Icarus makes one more bad decision in a long string of bad decisions. Soon, people he knew when he was alive start dying under the blade of a sadistic serial killer, and the police have only one suspect: Icarus. Now he has to avoid capture by the police and figure out who the murderer is before the psycho carves a path through everyone he ever cared about, a path that ends with his teenage son.

“On Unfaithful Wings” is the first novel in the Icarus Fell novel series.

www.on-unfaithful-wings.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/bruce.blake.585

Twitter: @bruceablake

Kindle: http://amzn.to/GKi7mq

bruceblake@hotmail.ca

Blog

Good writing sometimes captures the unlikely reader - with Scott Bury

Sometimes we find ourselves reading works that isn't the normal sort of things we read. Sometimes we check out other genres just for the fun of it. This week Scott Bury is my guest blogger and he has a thing or two to say about a book that didnt target him but captured his attention. Here is Scott:

What I’m reading now

I’m now reading a book that was not written with me in mind—that is, a book whose target audience I really don’t fit into. Paradoxically, it’s a book that I’ve been meaning to read for a couple of months, and now I’m glad that I’ve finally opened its electronic cover.

It’s called Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift, by Elise Stokes. It’s the second in the Cassidy Jones series, sequel to Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula. By now, you’ve probably guessed just why I don’t consider myself in the target audience, and you’re right. Cassidy Jones is a 14-year-old superhero, reminiscent of Spider-Man.

(Sorry, Anjie Hart fans — there’s nothing “adult” here. Elise Stokes and her heroine are both squeaky-clean. Again, the assignment was to write about the book I am reading now. It’s too bad for the erotica fans that the assignment didn’t come along a few months ago, when I was reading Charity Parkerson. Ah, well. Next time.)

Elise Stokes is an independent author, but her books are professionally edited and produced to exacting standards. There is nothing amateurish here. I know — I’ve read a lot of very poorly done self-published titles in the past year. Stokes’ writing is polished, accomplished and clear.

What Stokes does exceptionally well is capture the swirling cascade of emotions of a teenage girl who’s dealing with middle school pressures and rivalries, her confusing feelings about boys, changes in her own life situation and, to top it off, suddenly having super-powers. Like Peter Parker, Cassidy is a poor athlete, which makes her a target of the popular athletic girl in high school. But when she acquires her powers in an accident in a scientist’s lab (again, reminiscent of Spider-Man), she inadvertently breaks the school star’s nose and escalates the rivalry to new heights.

In the second book, Cassidy is forced to resolve the rivaly in some way — which she does using brains, rather than brawn. She must also learn to control “the beast” — the impulses to flex her physical powers and use brute force in every situation.

There’s also a hilarious Sasquatch theme running through the book, with secondary characters tearing through the forests of Washington after the legendary Bigfoot.

I have always enjoyed superheroes, fantasy, science fiction and similar themes. I can suspend disbelief if the author presents a situation with at least some internal consistency and logic. It’s a difficult balance to maintain, but Stokes keeps the story plausible by focusing on the thoughts and emotions of her main character.

No, I am not the intended audience. But I am enjoying this book a lot.

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Scott Bury is a journalist, editor and writer living in Ottawa. His articles have been published in newspapers and magazines in Canada, the US, UK and Australia.
The Bones of the Earth is his first novel to be published.
He has two sons, an orange cat and a loving wife who puts up with a lot. You can read more of Scott’s writing at Written Words and Scott’s Travel Blog, and on his website, The Written Word. Follow him on Twitter @ScottTheWriter.

Allison Bruning's favourite book and author; Mary called Magdalene by Margaret George

Wouldnt you agree that all writers and authors have been inspired at some time in their life by another author, whether their work was famous or not? Isnt there an author or a book that touched your life somehow; inspired you in some way; gave birth to a dream; helped you find your genre, or in some cases took you on journeys to places you could only dream about?

This week I welcome Allison Bruning as my guest blogger as she blogs about the author and the book that moved her.

She was a woman surrounded in mystery, intrigue, and controversy. Mary called Magdalene by Margaret George traces the life of Mary Magdalene from her childhood in the remote fishing village of Magdala to her death. Margaret George asks her readers to imagine life with Jesus through a woman’s eyes. This controversial approach seeks the reader to have an open mind while journeying through first century
Israel. Mary called Magdalene was the second book I read from Margaret George. The first novel read being the Memoirs of Cleopatra. I had fallen in love with the strong female perspective written within an accurately detailed historical setting. Once again, Margaret George did not disappoint with Mary called Magdalene. As a historical fiction author, I love strong female leads that push my readers to think about historical events through the unheard voices of that time. I admire Margaret George’s ability to do this well. It is a hard skill to master in that it often times pushes an author to write about things they may not believe.

Mary called Magdalene is a richly detailed novel that could have only been written after an intense level of research. To understand Mary, Margaret first had to understand the life and times of a woman during that period of history. Mary Magdalene is only mention briefly within the bible. The bible states Mary was cured by Jesus of seven demons, was a prostitute, was financially able to help support Jesus’ ministry and followed him even to the crucifixion. Mary was mention in the bible as one of the first women to be approached by the risen Jesus at his tomb. Recently debates have arisen to suggest Jesus and Mary had a more intimate relationship than is mentioned in the bible. Others have suggested Mary had become one of the first leaders of the church and Jesus had trusted her with sacred information more than the other apostles. Scholars have argued she was never a prostitute but was depicted as one because of her rise to authority within the church. With very little information to go on, Margaret George had to turn to outside resources for further information. George not only travelled to the holy lands several times to understand the setting, she explored this amazing woman’s life by reading Mary’s Gospel called the Gospel of Mary, which was discovered in 1896. She also explored the early church writing from the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh centuries that mentioned Mary of Magdalene and researched traditional legends. Through the combination of her sources, she was able to accurately depict the life of this first female disciple.

Author Margaret George

Margaret George’s depiction of life in Israel is very realistic. She brings tidbits of information that would not have been possible unless she had a through knowledge of the culture. The reader is confronted with Hebrew mysticism. The Israelites struggles through the very dangerous social-economical times are very apparent to the reader. Jesus’ ministry as seen through Mary’s perspective brings the reader to question what they believe they know about Jesus and his ministry, especially how he treated women. When I read the book, it not only was an interesting read but also strengthened my own faith. Mary became a leader among the women. In the story she was a mother and wife who lost not only her husband but daughter as well. She had been exiled and accused of prostitution because she chose to follow Jesus. The pains and struggles of any woman who has been abandoned not only by her family but her husband resonate in the book. She is a mother who wants to be reunited with her daughter and husband but is never given the chance to do so. Jesus comforts and ministers to her. After his death and resurrection, she travels with John and Jesus mother to become one of the leaders of the church. She is able to continue Jesus’ ministry to women and children because she understands them. The story is engaging and fast moving with plenty of interesting plot developments. The reader feels for Mary Magdalene. She is a fascinating character that the reader wants to succeed.

As an author, I look to bring the culture of my characters to the forefront of my readers’ minds. I admire Margaret George’s writings because I want my books to illuminate the unheard voices of the historical times I write about.

Allison Bruning

The Executive Director of the Kentucky Young Writers Connection, a non-profit agency of writers who promote young authors throughout the state of Kentucky. Allison originally hails from Marion, Ohio. Her father, Roland Irving Bruning, was the son of German immigrants who came to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Her mother's family had been in the United States since the 17th century. Allison is a member of the Peter Foree Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution. Her linage traces to Private Reuben Messenger of Connecticut. Her educational background includes a BA in Theater Arts with a minor in Anthropology and a Texas Elementary Teaching certificate. Both acquired at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Allison received National Honor Society memberships in both Theater Arts and Communication. Allison was also honored her sophomore year with admission into the All American Scholars register. She holds graduate hours in Cultural Anthropology and Education. In 2007 she was named Who's Who Among America's Educators. She is also the recipient of the Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards.

Allison lives with her husband in Kentucky. Calico is book one from the series, Children of the Shawnee. It is available at http://amzn.to/JSNRpm. Allison's interest includes Ohio Valley history, anthropology, travel, culture, history, camping, hiking, backpacking, spending time with her family and genealogy. Her genre is historical fiction.

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Do you have a book or author that impacted your life or writing? Have you ever read Mary called Magalene? If so, what are your views on the book.
Want to know whose work impacted me? Check out my post at http://bruceblake.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/this-week-meet-author-anjie-harrte/