FALSE SECURITY by Angie Martin

FALSE SECURITY by Angie Martin

This story is written in three parts. In the first part, we’re introduced to Rachel who has a secret and mysterious past. Who is she running from? Against her better judgment and all her fears, she starts a romance with Mark, a man who always thought of himself as a bachelor.

I won’t go into the other parts of the story, as that’s for you to discover. Even though the first part doesn’t have much action in it, as we’re discovering who Rachel and Mark are, the story is so well-written time passes by quickly as you read along. Angie Martin gives just enough clues in the first part to keep you turning the pages, wanting to know more. And there is an explosive revelation at the end of part one. One that Mark wasn’t prepared for.

As I read through parts two and three and learned about Donovan and his character, I kept thinking, what was it that turned him from the benevolent person to the abuser he ended up? Was the abuser always there, but he was able to curtail it by never letting himself become vulnerable by loving someone else? So this story is also about abusive relationships and the denial of their partners.

I really enjoyed this story, and Martin did a fabulous job getting me to feel her characters. I can’t wait to read the sequel. I highly recommend this story and give it 5 feathers.

THE HOWLING CLIFFS by Mary Deal

THE HOWLING CLIFFS by Mary Deal

I was initially drawn to this book because of Vietnam and the search for the remaining MIA American soldiers. When I was in high school, we used to wear bracelets representing the POW’s that were being held while the conflict was still ongoing. I have no idea if the person I wore on my wrist every came back. Then I met my late husband who had served three tours in Nam. He had also been a POW and was one of the lucky ones that escaped. So the concept of this story resonated with me.

The book starts with Sara, Huxley and Esmeralda deep in the Vietnam jungle, searching for the remains of his brother and her daughter. They are with a group of other people searching for remains of their own loved ones. Mary Deal does an excellent job setting the stage and I became involved with the characters as they stumbled upon a few golden links and a barely legible, partial dog tag. Who did it belong too?

The main story starts when Sara returns to her new home in Hawaii, and becomes involved in a cold case disappearance or murder of a girl who suffered from Down’s syndrome. And the girl that disappeared was the sister of her reclusive, psycho neighbor Maleko. As Sara searches for the truth, she is faced with death several times, as the killer tries to eliminate her.

This story is rich with the history and layout of Hawaii and its culture. A little too much for me. The pace of the story died with too much information. But once the action started, it was so fast paced, I couldn’t keep up. And there’s plenty of action. I loved Sara and her strong-willed nature. And I adored her other neighbor, Birdie. We should all have someone like that in our lives.

I thought the ending for the murder mystery a little confusing and anit-climatic, but that was only one ending. The real ending, that made me bawl like a baby, was the identity of the person behind the partial dog tag. Even though I guessed it, the presentation was so well-written that I had to cry for their loss and acceptance.

If you’re intrigued with Vietnam / Hawaii and you love mysteries, drama and action, you’ll want to read this book. I give it 4 feathers.

Meet Tom Tinney & Morgen Batten and their WIP: BLOOD OF INVIDIA

Meet Tom Tinney & MorGen Batten and their WIP: BLOOD OF INVIDIA

TOM TINNEY: Author of THREADS

(I previously read this awesome sci-fi story and gave it 4 feathers.  You can read my review here.)

What is the story about?

10,000 years ago, a majestic race of beings wage war across our galaxy. They were the Invidians and they conquered worlds, absorbed cultures and subjugated hundreds of races during their campaign to impose galactic order. They were driven to build their empire and fulfill their destiny. But they were mortal. They needed to see their efforts to their conclusion, so they sought the secret to eternal life. They found it.

And then they disappeared.
In our near future, on a calm spring day, aliens battle in the streets of New York. Soon after, an interstellar fleet arrives carrying a protective race, the Agorans. They offer to help humans become part of the galactic community, now that we know we are not alone. They ask for little in return and guide humanity into a new age.

Three childhood friends, and a mysterious stranger, make a not so innocent discovery. They are learning the truth about the motives of our alien benefactors. Are we simply another bread crumb in their search along an ancient trail stretching across the cosmos? Whatever they are seeking, the answers all lie within the Blood of Invidia.

Who is the main character?

There are three characters that share the spotlight. Chris Luna (an average American boy working at the newly founded Earth Free Trade and Transfer Port.), Samantha Giacotti (his over-protective childhood friend) and Marek Rychtar, a stranger that has been around awhile. A long while.

What inspired this tale?

My son, Morgen Batten, and I started texting story ideas a few years ago. He lives in Australia (we have never met face to face). I saved the text messages, and re-read them after I published my SciFi book Threads. We wanted to take the classic Paranormal creatures, and their origins, and stand them on their heads in a SciFi universe. He is probably sleeping as I respond to this.

How did the story come to you?

It just evolved as our messages went back and forth. We outlined the races, the history and rules of our universe. Then we discussed the primary plot arcs. We had to avoid the “info dump” of this elaborate universe we were creating, so we touch on it in the book, but never go into full explain mode. We do refer back to our “rules” as we write to stay true to the story. After the initial brain storming and spreadsheets, it was all about getting a structure in place and writing it.

Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?

Yes, lots of research. Since one of the main characters is a vampire, we had to make sure that the events they saw or attended are historically accurate. We also brought alien cultures into this and had to research languages and traditions, as well as make up our own. At one point, Chris and Samantha drive through northern Italy and Southern France. I used “Streetview” and drove the entire route, making sure to include visual cues in the writing, so that if anyone ever followed their route, they would see the same things.

If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?

There are a LOT of vampire stories and lore. We had to toss most of the conventional thinking out and focus on the political and historical ramifications of a long lived being that thirsted for Blood hiding in plain sight all of those years. The fun part was bringing the vampire into our modern age, even though he had the memories of an advanced ancient alien...you know what? No more spoilers.

Do you relate to your character?

I think Morgen and I relate to different characters and different traits. It is a broad story with a few plot arcs. Since it will be a series of four books, we keep getting excited about different characters evolving as we present new challenges and environments. I think I like one of the ”player” characters most. She is Lady Hian Klau, the Hero of Invidia. There is a story to tell behind that character and we will in later works. The glimpses the reader sees of her in this book will leave them wanting more. We modeled her after Aisha Tyler, if Aisha was an Immortal bad ass alien warrior…so that was fun. (Also, we have no proof that Aisha is NOT an Immortal bad ass alien warrior. Please don’t beat us up.)

Is your protagonist anything like you personally?

No. Not at all. There a couple of them in the book, each with a distinct ax to grind. They are pretty myopic in their desires, but plan strategically to achieve their goals. They are not evil, but act in an evil manner. I don’t think I do that.

What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?

I see so many people and groups that have taken the “End justifies the means” approach. Blatant lies, misleading narratives, unfounded “facts”, you’re labeled if you disagree and their criminal actions are justified because they are working for their idea of “the social greater good”. And they damn sure want to make sure everyone else pays for it. It is sad that we have a complicit media helping them.

Is there anything specific you want readers to know about this piece of work?

In our book, we examine human history, relationships and what it means to be human. We do this using action, technology, great characters and their interactions with Aliens, Vampires and Lupines. Morgen and I have been writing this book in the cloud for the last year. He from Adelaide and me from Milwaukee, always 12 hours apart. We are now close to finishing it. A draft preview of the first chapter can be seen here: Hero of Invidia

Morgen is my son. While a Father/Son book may be nothing special to most, it is to us. Morgen (age 31) and I (age 52) have never met. We've never been in the same room. Over the last 10 years, we've talked and Skyped, but our finances, the distance and timing have not worked out to allow us to actually meet and spend time together, face to face, so we are making this effort to produce an enjoyable book that can generate the royalties to allow us this long overdue time together.

We're not asking anyone to fund our travel (although any money left over from publishing costs and marketing will go into that pool), we want to let the book royalties pay our way, through our combined efforts.

When will the novel be available for purchase?

In about 4 months. We have the last few chapters to write, beta readers and then the editing and cover. That is where the crowdfund effort comes into play. On the Gofundme site, you can find the links to the other things I have written, as well as a draft first chapter.

A link available for the “Story behind the Story” and contributions is: http://www.gofundme.com/Father_Son_Book

You can connect with Tom Tinney at:

Website: http://www.conservativebiker.com/pir8-author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOTU_Threads

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FabricOfTheUniverseBooks

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+ThomasTinneyAuthor

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Tom-Tinney/e/B00EAWJWVM

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Meet Dena Nicotra and her latest book: SIMPLE

Meet Dena Nicotra and her latest book: SIMPLE

Tell us about your newest book:

Simple is a post-apocalyptic novel that takes readers into a future that has been forever altered by the same technological advances that were designed to make life simple. Killing zombies would be easier than taking out the biosynthetic humanoids (simps) -- that is if you can tell them apart from a human being before they kill you. The simps are unimaginably clever and equally cruel, which makes for an equal blend of thrills and sarcasm.
(I've already read this book and gave it 4 feathers.  You can read my review here.)

What is the story about?

When war broke out in the Far East, the government sent simp soldiers. It was a perfect solution really. No lost lives. No real risk…until someone finds a way to infect the simps with a bug. Just a tiny string of code that slowly chipped away at the polite veneer of artificial intelligence. Now it’s the year 2038 and humans don’t stand a chance. What’s left of the human race has been reduced to squatters living on the run.

Who is the main character?

Hailey “Lee” Pachello is a tough Italian girl with a bad attitude living in the aftermath. She is alone by choice because she doesn’t do people. That’s just more drama and ultimately more pain. She’s lost everyone she ever cared about, and now it’s just about surviving through another day. That all changes when she meets Leonard “Gizzard” O’Malley, the quirky programmer with a plan.

What inspired this tale?  How did the story come to you?

I got the idea from a dream I had about a young woman walking down the ruins of a collapsed freeway in the dead of summer. Looking for a place to get out of the sun and rest, she finds a cubby in the rubble and comes across a guy with a laptop. I knew I had to write it out to find out why that guy had a laptop in such a weird setting!

Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?

I’m sort of a tech-geek and I blended what I know with my imagination. There are some things that I did research, but if I tell you, it will spoil things in the book. Okay, so I researched 3D printing…that’s all I’m saying.

If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?

I guess I was most surprised by the advances in technology with biogenetics. Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction as they say. The advances with medical technology utilizing 3D printing is equally impressive to me.

Do you relate to your character?

In a way, yes. I think that the difficulties we face in life shape the way we see the world, and the people around us. Learning to adapt to the difficulties in life isn’t an easy process for any of us.

Is your protagonist anything like you personally?

No. Lee is absolutely nothing like me! She’s tough and sassy and I’m…well, just not. In fact, I found it difficult to write her at times because I would have to step back and tell myself “she wouldn’t do this” or “she would do that.” I deliberately wanted a protagonist that would step away from anything natural to my personality. I will say this though; she was a lot of fun to write.

What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?

I wanted to write a novel with a strong, independent female lead that felt confident relying on herself rather than a knight in shining armor. Lee can kick a** and I think that’s pretty great.

Is there anything specific you want readers to know about this piece of work?

Believe it or not, some of the places in the book are real.

It is available now on Amazon in both digital and paperback?  If yes, do you have a link available for buying it?

http://amzn.to/1J3Nl3z

You can connect with Dena Nicotra at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DenaNicotra
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dena-Nicotra/132329676960219
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+DenaNicotra
Blog / website: http://denanicotra.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dena-Nicotra/e/B00BKAFDQK/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Meet Kim Murphy and her new release: WIND TALKER

Meet Kim Murphy and her new release: WIND TALKER

 

 

Tell us about your newest release:

Wind Talker is the second book of The Dreaming series. In the first book, Walks Through Mist, Phoebe Wynne went forward in time from the 17^th century to present day. Many were skeptical of her story, but police detective Lee Crowley became a believer when she showed him the dreaming, a realm that reaches between worlds.

(I previously gave a 4 feather review for the first book of this series.  You can read my review here. I highly recommend this series and I look forward to reading the second book.)

What is the story about?

Wind Talker continues right after Walks Through Mist ended. Seasoned police detective Lee Crowley investigates the scene of a partially buried skeleton which is at least 200 years old. Reconstruction of the face is a mirror image of himself, and he believes that he has viewed his own death.

Who is the main character?

Lee Crowley.

What inspired this tale?

I've always loved history and was fascinated about the colonial witch trials. Salem gets all of the recognition because the records remain intact, but many other areas had them as well. The other part of the story that's often left out during the colonial era is the Native Americans. I wanted to share some of those little known aspects of history.

How did the story come to you?

The story first came to me by reading about the cunning folk, the 17^th century healers. I was fascinated to discover that Europe did indeed have shamans. I also felt this was an aspect of European culture that the Native Americans would understand.

Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?

Yes. I had to research the history, as well as the Native American tribes who lived in Virginia during the 17^th century.

Do you relate to your character?

Yes. I often have a sense of not belonging in this time period.

Is your protagonist anything like you personally?

Not really.

What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?

Being Native American, Lee is split between two worlds. In Walks Through Mist, he has no idea about his heritage because he was adopted at a very young age. Phoebe leads him on a trail through the dreaming, so he can learn more about himself. In Wind Talker, he goes a step further and truly discovers his heritage and the heartbreak that goes along with it.

Is there anything specific you want readers to know about this piece of work?

Walks Through Mist is Phoebe's story, Wind Talker is Lee's, and I'm currently working on the third book in the series, Circle in Time, which is their story.

Has the book already been published?

Yes.

If yes, do you have a link available for buying it? 

 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wind-talker-kim-murphy/1120555648?ean=2940150603806
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/wind-talker

You can connect with Kim Murphy at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mysticauthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kim.murphy1
Website: http://www.kimmurphy.net/new/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kim-Murphy/e/B001JOWG0S/

SIMPLE by Dena Nicotra

SIMPLE by Dena Nicotra

We’ve all seen numerous movies or read plenty of books about the downfall of the human race at the hands of our artificially created robots or, in this case, Simps. This book is no exception, just with a different spin.

We see the events through the eyes of Hailey, or Lee to her friends. She’s a young, snarky, Italian girl that’s seen her world destroyed and has survived by not letting herself get close to any humans again. If she can find any, that is. Unfortunately for her, she does. She runs across Giz, a computer geek, obsessed with building the code to stop the rampaging Simps. Against her better judgment, they team up and eventually finds herself becoming involved with a group of people that need her help to save humanity.

The futuristic world she lives in is a very detailed and believable place, the geeky information appeared well-researched and the story and characters were well-written. Dena Nicotra threw some subtle clues along the way that I later realized was misdirection. I kept waiting for the colossal reveal of what I thought was going on with one of the characters, but it never transpired. Clever girl, keeping me on my toes.

As in all post-apocalyptic storylines, people have to die, including the sweet and innocent ones. Of course, we have the villains, like Sonya, who we hope receive their just rewards. I thought the ending was somewhat anti-climactic so that effected my rating.

All in all, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it for people who like dystopian books. I give it 4 feathers.

A PINK ZOMBIE, WITH A MIST by Jada Ryker

A PINK ZOMBIE, WITH A MIST by Jada Ryker

During a routine day at the college she teaches at, Dr. Olivia West’s classroom is suddenly disrupted by gunshots and one of her students, Molly, is wounded. Detective Steven Lewis is assigned to the shooting, and during his investigation of Olivia, we learn that her best friend Emma Martin has been missing for several months. Both Olivia and Emma are from the area known as Heaven’s Bottom, where the Detective’s wife was murdered several years ago. There are several sub-plots in this story, but the main one is Heaven’s Bottom. What is really going on in this secluded, protected island?

This is the second book I’ve read by Jada Ryker. The first one was MAYHEM TAKES A DARE, which I previously reviewed and gave 4 feathers.

Ms. Ryker writes with a wide range of fun, crazy characters. How she keeps them separate in her mind I’ll never know. Each character is well-written and unique unto themselves. The problem with so many in a cast, it’s easy to lose track of who is whom.

The plot takes you all over the place from Olivia’s zany foster parents to a chemical plant, and of course the final showdown with the Reverend March. The story was told well, my only issues and the reason I’m downgrading my review to 4 feathers, is I thought some of the plot wasn’t as developed as it could have been. Some parts just didn’t mesh that well, like Dante suddenly having paranormal powers that were never discussed anywhere else. I also thought Ashdon and Molly acted more like high school kids than college students. The author also has a penchant for describing a person or an event during dialogue, which could’ve been better served as narration. 

 If you’re looking for the standard zombie book, this isn’t it. But if you want something quirky and different, you’ll enjoy this book. I give it my 4 feathers

THE CARTOGRAPHER by Craig Gaydas

  

THE CARTOGRAPHER by Craig Gaydas 

One day Nathan goes spelunking with his best friend, Sam, the next he’s being offered a job as the new Cartographer for an Explorer’s League from an intergalactic Consortium.  This would be any teenage boy’s dream, to travel the galaxies like Captain Kirk, discovering new planets and life-forms.  But reality sets in, and now Nathan finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and the only Human able to save the planet Earth.

There are plenty of unique alien creatures, all of which are well-detailed and very believable, and the storyline is intriguing and full of action and adventure.  I really enjoyed the story and am interested to see where book two goes.  My only complaint is that everyone is either, roaring or bellowing. 

If you like space faring tales and young adult books; you’ll enjoy this action-packed adventure.  I give it my 5 feathers. 

Meet Amy Gettinger and her new release: ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES

Meet Amy Gettinger and her new release: ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES

 

Tell us about your newest release or WIP:

Roll With The Punches is a humorous, adventurous mystery with a romance wrapped inside. It’s got a thirty-something woman enduring roller derby bouts, a mudsliding house, a street chase on wheels, and a real cliffhanger. Plus, there are two cute hunks and a case of plagiarism. What’s not to love?

What is the story about?

Staying up on your skates, no matter what. Making tough choices between family and work.

You see, Rhonda Hamilton’s got two big problems. The latest novel from a reclusive national bestselling author is a twin to the manuscript she’s just finished and started marketing to agents. Some wild roller derby girls add a hint of crazy to Rhonda’s hunt for the book thief, but can they find out the truth before her reputation tanks?

Plus, Dad is acting odd, storing milk in the garage and throwing away Rhonda’s clothes. Two drool-worthy guys offer to help, guys Rhonda would gladly fall for, if her life weren’t careening between crazy Dad, crazier roller girls, and crazy-cute hunks, then rocketing through derby bouts, giant mudslides and burlesque fundraisers. If she wants to nail the wily plagiarist and keep Dad safe, Rhonda had better stay up on her skates to avoid a very big fall.

Who is the main character?

Rhonda Hamilton. She’s a book lover—a librarian and novelist. She’s also six-feet-one-inch tall. She’s the baby of the family, and her parents are suddenly showing their age. She’s a bit clueless about taking care of them. And so far, she’s been awfully unlucky with guys. They just don’t measure up to her in many ways.

What inspired this tale? How did the story come to you?

I wanted to write a story with romance and mystery, but I was tired of reading and writing about murder. So I chose plagiarism as my story’s crime. Writing takes mucho time for a lot of people. When you walk through a bookstore and see new books out every two or three months by the same best-selling author, if you’re a writer, you have to wonder if that person is really writing them—or not. Then I wanted a tough main character, so I gave her a cool sport—roller derby. Plus, with the athleticism comes the camaraderie of the team. Rhonda had a lot of roller girls to hang with, making the story more fun. The plot line about her dad just added to her woes and gave the story texture--and a reason for Dal to show up.

Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?

Yes, I had to hit some roller derby bouts and learn all about the game to make the bouts in the book realistic. But not real. They’d never pull someone off the street and have her practice with them that fast. But books don’t have endless pages, so I glossed over a few steps it would take to become a real roller girl. I attended several Los Angeles Derby Dolls bouts and an Orange County Roller Girls bout. It was lots of fun to watch. Then, I encouraged a Facebook friend to become a roller girl back East, and she loooooooooooooves it.

If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?

How much injury there is in a normal roller derby practice or bout. Ouch. And how many points they can make. Those jammers skate really fast! Oh, and how much money Indian tribes with casinos make. Wow. I didn’t have to research the Alzheimer’s part. I watched that first-hand in my family.

Do you relate to your character? Is your protagonist anything like you personally?

Somewhat. A lot, actually.

If yes, then how?

She’s a worker bee and an optimist and she’s fairly relaxed about things, like me. Neither of us is a perfectionist. She appreciates her parents, though she may make fun of them a bit. Like me. She’s younger and taller than I am, and her job is less compelling to her and she does more pull-ups than I do. But she is really under the gun in this book. I’m not sure I’ve ever had quite that many problems concentrated in my life at any one time. Well, maybe.

What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?

I wanted to show the close relationship between Rhonda and her dad. I also wanted a main character who could handle the tough stuff when it comes, not always completely gracefully, but with humor and persistence.

Is there anything specific you want readers to know about this piece of work?

It took me ten years to complete and publish it. And it still makes me laugh when I read it.

When will the novel be available for purchase? Has the book already been published?

Yes, it’s out on Amazon for Kindle. And I’m planning on doing a paperback soon.

http://amzn.to/1Dv3Be0

It’s time to meet your character. Come on in. Wow, what a big girl you are, you barely fit through the doorway. Uh, you know skates don’t work on carpet, right? Okay, who are you and what is your name?

Rhonda Hamilton

Are you a fictional or historical character?

I guess I’m fictional, but I sure feel solid enough to be real. No, you can’t pinch my thigh.

Sorry about that. What should we know about you?

Look. Whatever anyone tells you, I DID write that bestseller, Memory Wars, but I named it Memory Serves. Reynard Jackson can just go take a long hike off a short cliff. The book is MINE, not his.

Okay. Uhm, I think I’ll move over just a tad, don’t want to crowd you. Tell us about your story:

When and where is your tale set?

2006—Orange County, California.

What is your personal goal? I mean, what do you ultimately want?

I want my good name back! Everyone says I stole my own book! For god’s sake! Are they nuts? And, of course, I’d like Dad to get back to normal. He keeps throwing my clothes away. Old buzzard. And I’d like a man in my life who doesn’t gamble my life savings away. Right. When pigs fly. I’d also like to rid the derby of all red-haired people. All of them. You’ll have to read the book.

What is standing in your way? What conflict(s) do you face?

Fate. The media. Dad himself. And a tiny little red-haired wasp who I’d like to smush like a bug.

Well, thanks for stopping by and I hope you get everything sorted out.

You can connect with Amy Gettinger at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyGettinger

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Gettinger/1412625005719904

Website: https://amygettinger.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Gettinger/e/B00S9Y99II

OUTVIEW by Brandt Legg

OUTVIEW by Brandt Legg

Several years after his father died from an unexpected heart attack, sixteen year old Nathan Ryder started having “outivews”, living traumatic, painful deaths of people from the past.  Fearing for his sanity, not wanting to end up in a mental institution like his older brother Dustin, Nate keeps his problem a secret, until the “outviews” start happening during the day.  He finally decides to let his best friends, Kyle and Linh, in on his secret.  Between them, they start unraveling the truth about the “outviews” and the death of Nate’s father.  Was it a heart attack, or murder?  Unknowingly, their search into the truth alerts a government agency, and now they’re running for their lives, trying to stay alive.  But all they want is Nathan, because he’s one of the Seven.

The plot of this wonderfully written story resonates in my inner being, as I’ve always believed in reincarnation and the mental abilities that we, as humans, have forgotten in our pursuit of greed and power.  I’m not sure I believe in multiple incarnations at the same time, but who knows; maybe I’ve run across myself before and never knew it.  I do know that my late husband and I shared several past lives together. 

Between a budding love interest, betrayal by a trusted friend and the relentless pursuit of the government, this story kept me very involved.  I loved all the unique characters Nathan met in his search for who he really is and what abilities he possesses.  This is the first book in the series and it ended with me wanting to know more.   If you love young adult stories, with a mixture of paranormal and intrigue, this book is for you.  I give it 5 feathers.

Meet CJ Rutherford and his new release: WORLDS OF THE NEVER

Meet CJ Rutherford and his new release: WORLDS OF THE NEVER



Tell us about your newest release.

Worlds of the Never is book two in Tales of the Neverwar, my YA trilogy. I had a great time writing it, because I was able to figure out a way to bring dragons back into this universe. I made them extinct in Origins of the Never, the prequel to the series. I really didn’t have a clue how to bring them back, as book one, Souls of the Never, has virtually no mention of dragons. Thankfully I had a voice in my head who helped out.

 

    

 
 
 
 







 

What is the story about?

It continues straight after the ending of Souls. It’s bittersweet, because even though Katheryne and Derren have found each other after his decades long search, they realize what they are up against. The people they thought were their friends have been turned into the enemy, and a powerful enemy they are. Thankfully they have several aces in the hole.

Who is the main character?

I suppose it has to be Katheryne, a 20 year old girl from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Thing is, there are several strong personalities, including Kat’s best friend, Perri. Then there’s Derren, the warrior from another world who just happens to be her soulmate, and his twin sister, Krista.

What inspired this tale?

I grew up on my grandad’s farm in Donegal, Ireland. As the eldest, I spent every summer there, helping him to run it. I made things up, including a fictional world under a bridge I rode over each day to get water. You see, we didn’t have running water, so Willy Lyons(my granddad), and I rode the bikes up the hill each morning, with a bucket on each handlebar to get filled from the spring. Eventually, Willy got too old to get up the hill, so I did it myself. I pedaled fast over the bridge, even though I knew there was nothing there. I had an amazing tree house, with animals that lived there. I had a blackbird called Claude, a squirrel called Alfie and a few mice that came and went. At ground level, we had a couple of Clydesdale horses called Titan and Goliath. Then there were the chickens and ducks. I won’t go into their names, but they were all family. It was a magical time in my life.

How did the story come to you?

I grew up. I had children, and each night I told them a different bedtime story. One night my youngest told me she was getting too old for bedtime stories. I was devastated. So I started to write my childhood ideas down, thinking that they’d make a great kids book. Unfortunately the characters had other ideas, and it grew too dark for kids so I changed direction. I wrote Souls of the Never, then the prequel inside two months. Yeah, they needed work, but they were there, and I wanted to write more.

Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?

I had to research some of the science in Souls, as it’s a blend of science fiction and fantasy.

If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?

I found that the ideas I had were actually out there already. Wormholes, time travel were all theoretical, but in my books they are fact.

Do you relate to your character?

Definitely. I’m a born romantic. I believe in a soul mate being out there.

Is your protagonist anything like you personally?

Bit of an odd question this, granted that I modeled Katheryne on my daughter, and Perri on her best friend. Their fights in the book are based on real life.

What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?

I believe that love can ultimately conquer all. Not being corny here, but if enough people care and unite, they will prevail.

Is there anything specific you want readers to know about this piece of work?

Yes. No dragons were harmed during the writing of it.
 
Wait a minute.  why is the floor shaking?  Are we having an earthquake?  Now I smell smoke. Is something on fire?  Oh No!.  What is that behind you?  Why . . .it looks like a dragon. And it's carrying a cup of . . coffee?  What's going on?  Why are you here?  What do you want?
 

 
Silly human. The last time any of your kind tried to whip me they ended up as a side dish. You misspelled whip by the way.

Who are you?  What is your name?

My name is Claude

Are you a fictional or historical character?

Oh, now there’s a question. Quite probably both, though I’m only as fictional as you squishies choose to believe.

What should we know about you?

I’m a Welsh green, one of a long line of distinguished dragons. Although I’m imaginary, I’m a fixture in your history. I am old, but recently I have felt the need to reconnect with the dominant race here. Dominant...HA!! One sight of me in my true majesty would have you running for the hills. Thankfully I exist only in the head of a mild mannered person.

Tell us about your story:  When and where is your tale set?

I have wandered for centuries, settling in the minds of various humans. George was humourous, but he only wanted to make himself look good, so I left shortly after he told the world he’d killed me. Recently, JRR Tolkien was a willing host, until Peter Jackson twisted everyone’s perception of dragons. And as for GRR Martin, well, let’s just say that his heartburn is quite magnificent.

What is your personal goal?  I mean, what do you ultimately want?

Sheep, roasted in mint sauce with a rosemary glaze.

What is standing in your way? What conflict(s) do you face?

Colin, refusing to allow me sheep, roasted in mint sauce with a rosemary glaze. Unfortunately, he is real while I remain imaginary. True, I write his blog, but he writes the books.
 
Whew, he finally left.  What an interesting, ah, character.  Now, back to our interview, when will your novel be available for purchase?

26th April. Available for pre-order now here:
 

http://amzn.to/1N4LTV5

 
You can connect with Colin Rutherford at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coljr3
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talesoftheneverwar
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+colinrutherfordTalesoftheNeverwar/posts
Blog / website: http://talesoftheneverwar.blogspot.co.uk/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/C-J-Rutherford/e/B00NJ0G8I6/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Meet Candace Lafleur and her new release

Meet Candace Lafleur and her new release:

Tell us about your newest release:

Prescription for Disaster: The funny side of falling apart

What is the story about?

Have you ever had those moments in life where you are sure you’re on some sort of hidden camera show? Where you look around and are like “Wait… seriously?” My life had gone from vanilla (not even the nice French kind!) to medical havoc and mayhem within the span of an hour, and it was just way too funny not to share.

PfD is a collection of themed incidents that have happened to me over the last 3 years as a near professional patient; falling surgical elevators, runaway jeans, sobbing student nurses, bed pan disasters, delusional ward-mates and exploding chemo chairs… it just wouldn’t stop (hence the stories still filling my blog each week).

When I was first diagnosed with a serious chronic illness I looked for a book that was funny, uplifting, appreciative and, well, not depressing. I didn’t want to read anything about how illness made people stronger, led them to religion or how they were cured with dried platypus testicle elixir. I wanted a book that took me by the hand and laughed with me, positively howled with me, about all of the ridiculous, insane and completely bizarre things that we as patients so unflinchingly endure. I looked, hard, but I couldn’t find one.

So I wrote one.

Who is the main character?

Oh dear, that would be me. I’m a thirty-something mother of twins, an expat Canadian with really no intention of ever going home and an adventurer, willingly or not.

What inspired this tale?

My friends, friends of friends and friends of friends of friends- of friends... ah, you get the point. I started a blog about a year ago and it quickly became popular with stories of my disaster and mayhem through life. It got to the point where I was never lonely in hospital as friends were lining up to ‘witness’ the things that would happen to me. I’d get out of the hospital and I’d be getting not messages, calls and emails asking how I was doing or if they could help, but wanting to know what happened this time and when I was going to write it out for them to share. My stories became popular on forums, which became somewhat akin to an angry mob jabbing me with pitchforks and pushing me to write.

How have readers responded to your book?

The response from readers has been overwhelming and has sparked a passion in me that I didn’t before really know was there. Nothing swells my heart more than to hear that my book has brought laughter to someone in a moment that they really needed it. Readers and their families message me that throughout they nodded their heads and laughed out loud, some being kicked off of trains and one having the book forcibly taken off of him by a Head Nurse as he kept re-opening his stitches with every chapter.

In all seriousness, if my book can make you pee a little (or a lot), I’m happy. 

Is there anything you specifically want readers to know about this piece of work?

Yes, that this book is simply to be enjoyed. We will always find that which we seek out, but this is not a deep book (it’s about learning to use a bedpan and sneaking into China with chemo needles). This is a book to simply enjoy, laugh and take a break from the constant ache and heaviness of living with and supporting those with illness and pain.

So sit back, take a hit off your oxygen tank and get ready to laugh at the funny side of falling apart.

At the very least you’ll never look at an IV pole or a bedpan the same way again.

When will the novel be available for purchase?

It’s already out! It’s on Amazon at:

As well as on Kobo in Canada.

You can connect with Candace Lafleur at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tofumonkey2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescriptionforDisaster?ref=hl
Blog : www.notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
Website: www.tofumonkey.co.uk