Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Liam Quane's Top Five Favorite Sci-Fi and Fantasy #SciFi #Fantasy

Usually people on the internet write their top fives or tens of everything but I value the media I enjoy to such an over the top degree that I can’t choose a preference. They’re all like my children and they’re not even my stories. I’m not a reviewer so I’m breaking no rules by doing this so without ado here is are ten SFF properties I love.




Your Name [君の名は。(2016)




This Japanese animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai changed everything when it was released in the winter of 2016. An energetic and playful film, the story follows Mitsuha and Taki, two teenage strangers who form a boundless bond after they find out that their consciousnesses have been crossing over when they sleep, causing the pair to live the life of the other for a period of time. Girl wakes up as Boy, boy wakes up as girl, high jinks ensue, but to call this particular film a “body-swap movie” would be like describing Hamlet as a domestic melodrama. It is so, so much more with its photo-realistic visuals, sweet and sad soundtrack and its impeccable, down-to-earth script penned by the director himself. Your Name balances the perfect line on the tightrope of drama and it is an absolute must-watch for everyone. And no, that last part wasn’t an overexaggeration, watch it.

 

The Prestige (2006)



Small in scale by titanic in imagination. The Prestige is a calm and quiet film that sits with you long after the credits have rolled. This adaptation of the Christopher Priest novel tells a story of two rival stage magicians, throughout the film each of the performers goes to extreme lengths to best the other, leading the audience down a maze of treachery and violence all in the name of entertainment. Directed by Christopher Nolan, who’s trademark self-awareness shines through the fourth wall with minimum effort. The film sets out to bamboozle the audience with its box of cinemagic tricks but don’t fret if you fall for its savvy techniques, you will be entertained.


Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole



My Lord of the Rings. Yes, I know that’s “high praise” but I was taken on an adventure with this film and then it just stopped. No sequel, no spin-off, no closure. I  lie awake at night staring at the moon, entranced by the thoughts of a possible future brightened by the news of a long-awaited follow-up to this animated owl quest. Directed by Zack Snyder (Yes, that one) The film sees a young owl named  Soren (Jim Sturgess) who, along with his two siblings is kidnapped and forced into the service of an evil owl army lead by Metal Beak played by Joel Edgerton. The film is a unique feature from parent company Dreamworks as its cast is majorly made up of Australian actors which gives the film a different feel amongst the usual American or English casts seen in almost all of the company’s other films. I love this film and hope for a future sequel to this underrated gem, or I can just read the books this movie is an adaptation of.

The Bone Clocks



The Bone Clocks is a 2016 science-fantasy novel written by David Mitchell. Like almost all of Mitchell’s previous works, The Bone Clocks takes place in the same universe as Cloud Atlas but where that title concerned a group of interconnected people existing in a connected world, this novel looks more into how the world itself operates as opposed to the character inside it. Holly Sykes is a working-class Essex girl who is lead on a journey over time to defeat a great evil that has plagued the world for hundreds of years. It’s the book that actually got me started on my book-writing journey and I will recommend this to anyone, even if you haven’t read Cloud Atlas, this is a must-read for those seeking be absorbed into a world that is similar to theirs, but differs magically. 

My Hero Academia ((ぼく)のヒーローアカデミア)


Ok, this is another anime, but this is a series and not a movie so it’s different enough I talk about it on a minutely basis and think about it non-stop. for me to include. As if I had a choice. I am obsessed with this show. Based on the popular Japanese Manga by artist and scribe Kohei Horikoshi, My Hero Academia is set in a world where a majority of the population is born with a heroic super power (called Quirks), Midorya Izuku is a shy, kind-hearted middle-school student who wishes to become the world’s #1 hero, taking after his idol, the great All-Might. All-Might is a hero who has it all: strength, influence, power and a smile that never fades, so there could be no better influence for a growing student in the world of quirks. The only problem is that Izuku was one of the few people not born with a quirk. 

One day, Izuku is minding his own business and is attacked by a small-time villain, only to be rescued by All-Might, who, after seeing Izuku’s passion and kind-hearted nature, transfers his own quirk to him, helping up the ladder he couldn’t climb. Izuku then enrols in All-Might’s Alma mater: UA High School and from there learns to better control his newly gifted quirk to attain his dream of becoming the #1 hero. Not only because of the amazing and unique characters, not only for the beautiful animation or the exciting plotlines, but politically, I genuinely believe that this show has the power to help heal the world. I’m actually being serious about that. It is a show of pure empathy, for the poor, for the greedy, for the selfish, for the fearful, My Hero Academia rises above all of the prejudices in its wake and takes the viewer to new heights with its capacity for caring. The show is pure love and I hope everyone watches it so it can do its job and help make the human race the kinder species it is supposed to have evolved into.

Road to Juneau
Liam Quane

Genre: Sci-fi, Fantasy
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
Date of Publication:  18 May 2021
ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-78645-473-7
ISBN Paperback: 978-1-78645-452-2
ISBN eBook: 978-1-78645-453-9
ASIN: B08V51WV9M
Number of pages: 330
Word Count: 109,038

Cover Artist: Holly Dunn

Tagline: How was God supposed to defend Earth from the Monster, when the Monster knew Earth better than God ever could?

Book Description: 

New York: two years after the Third World War. Humanity is rebuilding its cities brick by brick; the damage done to the people, however, is a lot harder to repair. 

Dan Hardacre is one of those people. An aspiring stage actor and experienced draft-dodger, Dan struggles to find his place within the Utopic rebuild of New York City. When he’s not caught up with the duties of work, Dan lives a quiet life in mourning for his mother, Dyani, who went missing when he was a teenager.

One night, Dan experiences a vivid, terrifying nightmare that puts him right on the front lines of the war for which he dodged the draft; it ends with him facing Death itself in the form of a metallic, faceless humanoid creature that calls itself the Valkyrie. To investigate the reason behind his haunting experience, Dan seeks out a meeting with his estranged father, who reveals the startling truth about Dan’s dream: it wasn’t a dream. 

With this newfound knowledge and the powers it brings, Dan makes it his mission to return to the scene of his nightmare. However, he soon comes to know that confronting the Valkyrie not only endangers him but the war-withstanding world he leaves behind.

Amazon     AmazonUK     AmazonAUS     Smashwords 

Beaten Track Publishing     Apple     BN      


Excerpt Chapter 1

8:08 a.m. That’s what my clock says as I burst out of my covers. I must have fallen out of bed again. I know this because I’m staring at it from the other side of my room. There was luck to this particular tumble, however: I’m only sixteen minutes behind! I wheeze as I lift myself up, kicking the sheets from my ankles like a half-swaddled baby. The same old tapping returns, persistent and loud, and I walk over to my ground-floor window, lifting it dramatically in an effort to shoo the seagull pecking at the pane. The blunt-billed bird squawks as it flaps away. I slam the window closed, keeping the cold morning air off my skin for a few more minutes.

My shower was lukewarm and my breakfast fictional. This is the best I can hope for on Tribute day at my place of work: Montage Tower. The building may be taller than most, but the work is still lowly. I lock my bedroom door out of an irrational precaution; my roommate is still upstairs. It’s his third day off this week, and it’s silent, but I know he’s awake because his door is slightly ajar. If anything were to disappear from my room, he would be blamed for it regardless, as either a successful thief or a failing watchdog. I collect my earbuds, phone, and wallet combo and silently make for the exit. As my door card reaches the scanner, a magazine bricks the window, launched from the top of the stairs where Sam now stands.

“Almost hit you, Dan!” he shouts down to me in his usual
excitable manner.

“What is it this time? I’m already late.” I almost don’t reply.

“Page twelve—the blue chaise longue!” He points at the once airborne catalog, which now sits crumpled in my hands.

“I’m not dragging a chaise longue home for you!”

“It’s not for me, it’s for Shanty,” he says, partitioning himself
from the blame.

I spin the catalog around and read the cover. “Scratchwork
Furrrnishings.”

“It’s only small—twenty-five by sixteen.” He holds his hands out
like a puppeteer.

“Can’t your hamster just sleep in your bed with you?”

“No. He has an erratic sleeping pattern.”

A silence lingers.

“Fffffine,” I reluctantly sputter, throwing the catalog onto the
floor in a sulk.

Sam giggles and retreats back into his lair of aspen shavings and
lavender. I finally scan my door card, which sounds a cheery beep of
freedom.

Do you remember the colors of your life? How it used to feel before you became responsible and independent? Everyone does, I guess. Three shades usually cocoon themselves around the memories: the Blue Stage, the Purple Stage, and the Gray Stage. I am at Gray and dreading what comes after. The Blue Stage is the oldest. It consists of the memories of when you were a child. An only child. Not specifically you, but me. I forget how to separate myself from the situation sometimes, Sorry. Anyway, my childhood could only be described as glowing.

Mom and Dad were always here for me, breakfast table mornings and dinner table evenings. They both worked interesting jobs, each excelling in a separate creative field. My mother was a software programmer; a good one too. The start-up she worked at grew from a hole in 5 the wall to an admired business. Similarly, my father was successful in his career as an architect, not of towering superstructures but of small, respectable buildings in which families could live happy lives.

Those homes are gone now. I was around thirteen years old when I realized I’d never heard my parents fight. In fact, I hadn’t seen any anger from them at all. Not toward each other.

Not about work, or money—something which we were never without. Eventually, as my teenhood set in, I attributed their constant state of bliss to a secret drug habit, hoping to one day join the gang. But I was wrong. I found this out soon after Purple reared its ugly head. My life as a teenager was a lot slower than when I was a kid, and that aforementioned blissful family atmosphere quickly started to crack. Dad’s work hours increased. Taxes were the same, but he wasn’t, not with the stress he carried to keep the family “secure.” The same could be said for Mom. The company she originally worked for was poached and absorbed into a much larger company named Hourglass Industries—the place that now owns the building I work in. I think I repressed the name of the original, probably for the best.




About the Author:
 
Liam Quane is a British filmmaker and author from the working-class town of Skelmersdale, Lancashire. After gaining experience making short films, writing screenplays and editing music videos, Liam turned onto a different storytelling venture in the form of novels. And, after reading six of them, he wrote his own in a hectic hail of key presses and dicey guesses. This bullheaded effort morphed into what would later be called Road to Juneau. It may be his first book, but he has more ideas for further bookcentric ventures.



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Author Advice from Ivy Keating

The best advice I can give a writer who wants their book published is to learn to love criticism.

Do not just accept it—but actually welcome it. 

During the writing process,it’s common to edit several drafts of your story. Making changes to how it’s written, and even the plot, is common. 

In my experience, friends and family tend to be less critical, but if you encourage them to tell you what’s not working, and promise not to react poorly, you might get some honest feedback. 

If you are fortunate enough to find people in the field to read your novel, such as an agent or publisher, listen to what they have to say. 

Keep an open mind. 

It’s wonderful to hear people praise your work, but it’s the critique that will help you improve. 





Sarana and the Dark King
Ivy Keating

Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Champagne Book Group
Date of Publication: March 22, 2021
ASIN:  B08Y81T7C4
Number of pages:  268
Word Count: 82,700
Cover Artist:  Sevannah Storm

Tagline:  The time for hiding is over.     

Book Description: 

The fearsome Dark King of Bounten, with a magical creature known as a Valomere by his side, is on a quest to find the rare metal tarilium. His brutal ways incite the powerful psychic Allani. But when news of his plans to invade the kingdom of Attaveer spread, a new opponent emerges---Sarana, the daughter of a farmer…or is she?

At birth Sarana was sentenced to death for her "cursed" white hair. The delivery nurse, Meriden, whisked the fair-haired babe to a loving home across the waters from Bounten. Her entire life she hid her appearance to avoid prejudice. Things changed when she discovered she too had a Valomere. She strived to learn the creature's magic and master fighting skills with the hope of becoming a warrior. Her dreams came true when she was allowed to join the Attaveerian king's network of spies--a group poised to help defend the kingdom from an invasion by the Dark King and his powerful army.

When word of the white-haired messenger reached the Dark King he vowed to stop at nothing to capture or kill his opponent.

The time for hiding is over.

Can Sarana save herself and her kingdom? Follow Sarana from death to destiny as she joins forces with psychics, Valomeres, and the power of inner strength, to defeat an evil king.

Amazon      Apple Books      BN      Kobo


Bewitching Exclusive Excerpt:

Cabe moved closer and put his arm around her. “Are you afraid?”

“Of what?”

“Of war.”

“Yes.”

“What scares you the most?”

“That I’ll let everybody down.”

“You won’t.”

He stroked the side of her face. She looked up at him and closed her eyes. The next sensation she experienced was the brush of his lips against hers. In the chilled air, he was the warmth she craved. He pulled off the cloth that tied her hair and ran his fingers through it. The fondling awakened her senses. There was nothing else. No forest, no war—just the need to feel his strong body against hers and the taste of his mouth. Her hair blew with the wind. He grasped her around the waist, and she tossed her head back to expose herself to the pleasure of his kisses on her neck and his hands on her body. Their lust enveloped her soul, but it could not contain her mind.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, as she rested her fingers on his chest to gently hold him back.

“Cabe, I want you. But tonight, I am a warrior.”

He held her close and gently bit her neck. The sensation aroused her. “I want you too.”

“Will you find me after the war?” she said into the night.

“I’ll be at your side.”


About the Author:

Motivated by nature’s mysteries and the complexity of human behavior, Ivy Keating writes science fiction and fantasy novels that explore the relationship between mankind and the natural world. A master’s degree in social work helps her understand the nature of her characters as they struggle with the repercussions of their actions.

Her first novel, Camouflage, was inspired by the landscape and natural beauty of New England. Sarana and the Dark King, was imagined from a mental picture of the Great Lakes. The proximity of these bodies of water and the land that surrounds them conjured the images of separate kingdoms—at least they did in her mind. Ivy believes that her challenge as a writer is to take a setting that intrigues her and create a plot that is both clever and surprising.

Website- https://storiestonovels.com/

Blog- https://storiestonovels.com/blog

Twitter- https://twitter.com/ivy_keating

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

Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18471951.Ivy_Keating

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ivykeating/







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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Cover Reveal: Allied in Strife The Cursed Elves Book Six by Diedra Drake #FantasyRomance #CoverReveal



Allied in Strife
The Cursed Elves
Book Six
Diedra Drake

Genre: Fantasy Romance / Mythological Fiction
Publisher: Apache Creek Publishing
Date of Publication: July 30th, 2021
ISBN: 9798201968410
ASIN: B0964C1SQ5
Word Count: 140,000

Book Description:  

The Elves are a disaster. Raymond’s having trouble coping with death and letting go, Priscilla’s drowing in guilt, Nathan’s having a rocky Elf transition, and Nerissa’s dealing with recent trauma.

But Itta and Patrick are on the warpath, Clothilde hates being treated like a traitor, the Woods don’t appreciate being ordered to stand down, and a fire Priscilla lit a couple of years ago is primed to explode.

And just when everyone might be finding out how to move on, a phone call from Erasmus throws them for a loop.

In between, explore the past with a trip to Spanish Florida in 1702, and learn how Priscilla met the first Human she ever loved.

Will the past catch up with them all, or can they find a way to end the strife?


Amazon      Apple  

Except from Book 6

“Do you think we should try adding some kind of prayer or something?” Itta wondered aloud.

“We’re not worshippers,” Patrick responded with a shrug.

“Maybe not, but we are trying to ask for a favor. It couldn’t hurt.”

“At the beginning of the month, we brought them one sacrifice a day over three days,” he said. “Today we’re trying three all at once.”

“So you’d prefer to add only one new thing at a time until we figure out what works?”

He nodded.

“That’s fine,” Itta said with a smile. “It will give me time to do some research on prayers, just in case.”

“I hope that won’t be necessary, I’d like to see the Furies respond to our offering.”

“As would I.”

They both watched from the side of the ruins as several Thornton Elves arranged the three mind-controlled Humans so they remained on their knees. The setting sun cast dark shadows against the grey stone, but the ruins remained adequately lit for their purposes.

One of the Elves approached Patrick and said, “They’re ready, Master.”

When his jaw tightened, Itta asked softly, “Would you like me to do it this time, Patrick?”

He shook his head. “No, my dear. I appreciate your offer, but I will handle this unpleasantness.”

Patrick strode purposely toward the Humans, and withdrew a dagger from his inner jacket pocket. Without hesitation, he ran it across the exposed throat of one Human, then stepped to the side and repeated the procedure twice more.

He handed the bloodied blade off to one of the Thornton Elves, and returned to his previous position beside Itta.

Then they waited.

One Human bled out and tipped forward, dead, their mind no longer functioning to follow the mental commands. In her excitement, Itta reached out to grip Patrick’s hand and felt him squeeze back. The second fell, and finally the third.

All the Elves went silent in the ruins, and their eyes scanned the area in hopes that one of the Furies would arrive.

Minutes passed, the shadows bent with the onset of evening, and Patrick dropped her hand to cross his arms behind his back instead, his face set with irritation.
Itta shook her head and sighed, then asked, “Do you think it could be the quality of the offerings?”

“You mean they don’t meet their requirements for punishment? That they’re too good?”

“Or because they’re Human?”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps. We may need to be willing to give more next time.”

“We have time to think on it and prepare. I’ll research in the meantime and see if I can uncover anything else that might help.”

Patrick nodded and held out his arm, which she took automatically. “We knew this might not be easy. I only hope that we can reach them before it’s too late to save your family.”

“We will,” she said confidently, ignoring the Elves cleaning up behind them as she walked with him toward the cars. “And soon the Furies will punish Priscilla and Raymond, for both our sakes.”

“Our complaint is valid, so I have to believe that they will judge them in our favor,” he said.

“I may have an idea that would allow us to succeed even if we cannot reach the Furies, but it will take some time and planning.”

“I’m not willing to put my trust in another God,” Patrick said, his tone one that brooked no argument.

Itta shook her head. “I wasn’t going to suggest it. But not that long ago, Priscilla made a lot of enemies for the Forester House.”

They reached the vehicle and he paused, furrowing his brow. “Remind me.”

“The survivors of the Morales incident.”

“Ahhh. But what you're suggesting could put your own family at risk.”

“Then we’ll just have to be very careful,” she said firmly.

He held her hand as she climbed into the vehicle, then said, “I’ll give you the number of someone who can help.”



If this sounds interesting, head over to Prolific Works 

to download book one for FREE!

https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/9rzwrjZv
Use Password: bewitching0730



About the Author:

Diedra Drake is a life-long student of mythology and history, with a particular interest in the ways that different cultures tell the same stories using name variations. She is competent in classical Latin, and enjoys reading the classics – particularly Homer, Plutarch, and Shakespeare.

For relaxation, Diedra loves to crack open a new historical romance novel or binge a new series on streaming. After a couple of decades being a business owner in the technology industry, she decided to explore her other interests through the creation of a mythic fantasy romance world.

She lives in Central Texas with her family, which includes a small cat colony and a couple of dogs, and tries to ensure she gets a daily serving of ice cream for continual inspiration.

https://DiedraDrake.com

https://Twitter.com/DiedraDrake

https://Facebook.com/DrakeDiedra

https://Instagram.com/drake.diedra

https://Goodreads.com/diedradrake

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diedra-drake








Monday, June 28, 2021

Character Confessions Lightning Woman by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom #NewRelease #WolfShifters #PNR


My name is Logan Carter, and I’m a Florida detective with a secretive, behind the scenes life as a werewolf. I fight to keep the law, and to keep humans from knowing anything about the werewolves who live and work among them.

To this end, the author of my story, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom, set me a mighty task of traveling to Arizona, a desert locale I know nothing about, to chase a rogue Were who, all wolfed up, has murdered two people outside of a Florida nightclub, in full site of numerous, stunned humans.

To add even more trouble to this mission, Linda places a beautiful she-wolf in my path as soon as I arrived in Arizona, to divide my attention. The very night I arrive, Macy Lyons, a scout for the wolf pack housed in the old, abandoned Desperado fort and tourist attraction, makes it difficult for me to focus on anything else.

Did I mention Linda has given Macy Lyons the ability to see the spirits of the desert’s past? Ghosts. And those ghosts can play a part in helping or hindering my mission?

My job could have been a heck of a lot easier if I had found this rogue Were I’ve been chasing in Florida. And without meeting a gorgeous she-wolf and her ghostly companions in a prickly landscape like the West.

And yet… I know that the author of my story, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom, who has already written forty books, most of them about werewolves, has plans for more stories about wolves in the West. So at least my story will set the series in motion. Right, Linda?


Lightning Woman
Wolves of the West 
Book One
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom

Genre: Paranormal Shifter Romance
Publisher: GothicScapes
Date of Publication:  June 28, 2021
ASIN: B096PTNWZ5
Number of pages: 282
Word Count:  60,000
Cover Artist: Magnetra

Tagline: Meet the Arizona wolf pack and the ghosts that haunt them.

Book Description:

Are the ghosts of Macy Lyons' past stronger than the promise of a future with her new lover?

Macy Lyons is a respected member of the wolf pack housed in an old Arizona tourist attraction. Her special Were abilities make her a good scout, and also enable her to see the ghosts that haunt the desert. When those ghosts lead her to a visiting lawman from another state, she must find out why...and if those ghosts have a hand in shaping her future.

Florida detective Logan Carter has chased a criminal all the way from Florida to Arizona, and now can use the help of the secretive wolf pack housed at Desperado to find the crazy werewolf he seeks. But will his attraction to Desperado's beautiful she-wolf scout be a help or a hindrance to his mission in a landscape so different from his own?



Excerpt:

As Logan studied this female vision that had appeared like a desert spirit borne on the blistering hot wind, he couldn’t help but appreciate her uniqueness. In fact, this representative of the Desperado pack was quite stunning, and radiated enough personal power for her outline to waver.
Pretty and dangerous...
Moonlight slid down each strand of straight black hair that fell to the she-wolf’s waist like sparkling water dripping from the skies. All that hair curtained a narrow body with few noticeable curves and very few wolfish traits, even though she had shape-shifted.
She was tall and slight of frame, with long, shapely legs. Her bare arms were beautifully sculpted with a layer of smooth, lean muscle. One arm bore the swirls of a colorful tattoo Logan couldn’t get a read on from where he stood because his focus kept returning to her face.
A slightly elongated facial structure, shadowed, angular, and with prominent cheekbones, was the real proof of what she was, and made him think this female might be a pure-blooded Were. Under the moonlight, the shadows on her face represented her missing patches of fur, or where fur would have been on any normal werewolf under a full moon. In fact, she bore no fur anywhere that he could see.
Crossing her right eye socket and extending two or three inches beneath it were three stripes of color that could have either been paint or tattoos. White. Black. Green. The effect suggested to Logan she might have Native American roots, though lots of women had unusual tattoos these days.
Damn, though. Maybe she really was some kind of a spirit.



About the Author: 

Linda Thomas-Sundstrom is an award-winning author of 40+ stories in the realms of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy. She has been published by Kensington Publishing, HarperCollins/Harlequin Nocturne and Desire lines, and GothicScapes.




The Dream Team – Linda’s Reader Team on Facebook:

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3pSKqaV 

Follow Linda on Bookbub:







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Author Interview - The Quantum of the Past: Redux! by Louis Corsair #DarkFantasy



- What is your “day” job if you are not a full-time author?

I used to work security at LAX airport and also worked a few hours at a library. These days, I have tried my hand at other jobs. A writer always picks up things from the places they’ve been. 

- If you wrote a book about your life what would the title be?

I would pick a title that has nothing to do with the content, like A STRANGER’S TOWEL.

- What is the hardest thing about being an author?

That’s easy. Selling books is the hardest thing about being an author. Ha! The writing part is quite fantastic. But yeah, the business end of being an author is garbage. 

- What is the best thing about being an author?

There is a difference between being a writer and being an author. Not all writers get to publish their works. An author has decided to put it out there. So, I would say (for me) the best part of being an author is working with other creative individuals to see the book in print. There are artists who make the cover art. There are other authors who help you find your book’s audience. Etc.

- Have you ever been star struck by meeting one of your favorite authors? If so who was it? 

I have never met any of my favorite authors. It would be nice to have a conversation with Neil Gaiman or George R.R. Martin. And if she wasn’t dead, I would spend a whole day with Ursula Le Guin. 

- What book changed your life?

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe. It proved to me that comedy, when combined in genre fiction, could create a successful book. It also told me it was okay not to take myself too seriously (or my fiction).

- What were some of your favorite books growing up?

Wuthering Heights; The Stranger; The Red Pony; East of Eden.

- What books are currently in your to be read pile?

There are so many! Plus, I also read comic books, collected editions, etc. I’m currently in the middle of The Wizard of the Pigeons, which was a very influential novel for me. And I’m also going through a little known book called Odyssey to the North. But I also wanted to read the first Dresden Files book. Then, I want to re-read Harry Potter. And also, some more Sherlock Holmes. 

- Which do you prefer ebooks, print, or audio books?

I am a fan of all three. Smartphones have made audiobook use very, very easy; before you would have to have a CD or cassette player; or if you were in the car, you had to account for road noise. Ebooks are great, but I need my big iPad to really enjoy them (I can’t do it on the iphone screen). And print books are great just because. Though, I wish I had more room to buy more. Working in a library made it easy to get print books too. 

- If you could live inside the world of a book or series which world would it be and why?

I would live in the Quantum Thief series. The world in that story has more or less mastered digital immortality. You exist as date and can grow a body when needed. You could travel the farthest reaches of the universe without aging, in a ship the size of an atom. It is humanity 2.0. Magic and sorcery are fun, but they’re always limited and have all those rules. Boooo!

The Quantum of the Past: Redux!
An Elohim Trilogy Novel
Louis Corsair

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Dark Fantasy 
Date of Publication: December 2020
ISBN: B08J5BGHV4
ASIN: B00IQX0WXI
Number of pages: 633
Word Count: 166,000 words
Cover Artist: Ravven Kitsune

Tagline: A mentally unstable army war veteran, Miles Trevor, seeks to redeem himself by helping a Sprite return to her magical home world and fulfill her destiny. 

Book Description:

The Past that haunts Miles Trevor is relentless, with even its most fundamental fragment... 

Iraq war veteran, Miles Trevor, has survivor's guilt after living through an insurgent attack that killed the rest of his platoon, but left him unharmed. Now, he wants nothing more than to return to the military and be a part of the mission once again. Yet, his mind is crumbling; he sometimes hallucinates, seeing the soldiers who died that day. With madness looming in the shadows, the army will never grant him his wish. 

So, when the supernatural--in the form of a teen Sprite named Kendra--offers him a chance for redemption, he takes it. All the girl wants is to go home to a magical city called Lusphera to fulfill her holy destiny, and find out why her father wants to stop her. 

But with Miles losing his grip on sanity, he may not be the best man for this task. In fact, he may be her biggest threat...


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Excerpt

THE BATTLE OF THE RAVEN MOUNTAINS

As the questers and the nomads drew their weapons, the roars of the mountain lion clansmen stopped. And they could hear hushed movement everywhere, concealed by the darkness. This chilled Miles’ bones more than the night cold ever did.

And then the mountain lion clan dove out of the darkness and attacked and the wild men and questers fought them with apprehension, for they still thought them allies. And in the thick confusion, the puma-men in the host betrayed them; they leaped onto their former comrades and murdered anyone they attacked.

Another burst of mountain lion warriors attacked from the slopes above and from those below. They were in tight packs and tore apart anyone unfortunate enough to meet them alone, even the bear warriors. But the questers and the nomads caught on and began a hasty defense that mutated into a counter-attack.  

Kendra flew high above them and summoned a ball of light as bright as a small sun and as large as her body. This allowed Zan and Draxel to use their power. The two Shadow Walkers were like gophers popping in and out of shadows, slashing the traitors to pieces.

And although Raza was of their same race, he fought unlike them. This warrior leaped from place to place, his agility equal to the puma and mountain lion men, piercing some with the spear, some with the pearl-handled knife; his every move economical, his every strike precise. And sometimes, when a difficult party faced him, he sank into the shadows with them and emerged later, but alone. How like a dancer he was then, the ancient Symphony of Conflict guiding his steps. He was a glory to behold--proud Achilles would fear this man!

The light helped the others as well. Trinath, son of Holgoth, held the Staff of the Waterborne over his head and it glowed like a star, which caused Kendra’s light to fire glowing spears that neutralized many enemies.

And the Tsörs unleashed their weapons. Through the air flew a Hrät here and there and they always caught some cat lunging and they kept their Hrüms in hand for any who dared come within arm’s length of them and the sickening tunks and chunks of sharpened metal on flesh and bone made these weapons red, red with death.

And Polk used the claymore for its edge and weight, chopping and piercing. Next to him, Lord Pharos used the advantage he had in the air and Thunderbolt whistled with calculated and nobler assaults that were no less deadly.

And the wolf-men howled with passion and created their own packs and they met puma and mountain lion clansmen and their ferocious battles were gory displays of tooth and claw as friendships and alliances were forgotten and survival of the fittest reigned.

Miles, Lord Pharos, and Hyman created a triple wall around Kendra when she descended. The captain shouted off more orders and the elk and deer men formed a circle around them with bears intermixed and it alarmed them to see how few were left. Fortunately, the holy sword released wall after wall of electricity that augmented the crack and thunder of Hyman’s pistol shots.

Together they held back wave after wave of the traitors. And then, as suddenly as the battle had begun, there came a hush.

“They won’t attack now,” said Hyman, his pistol in one hand and the silver saber in the other. “We destroyed their only advantage, surprise. But methinks it best if we leave this place.”

“The trees!” said Tsör Florentina. “We can retreat to the Woods of Uzra Doren.”

“Problem is we gotta reach dem,” said Polk, his claymore red and his makeshift armor showing off fresh dents and claw marks.

They started back down cautiously, in a giant circle of strength. The furious sounds of their footsteps were the only talk between them and their eyes were ever-vigilant, using what remained of Kendra’s light. And many wondered where the teeth and claws would come from and if they would be fast enough to stop them.

The most maddening aspect of this retreat was that the mountain lion and puma men began to feast on the fallen and on those too injured to move with the retreating army; the desperate pleas of the victims would become high pitched and then stop all at once. And the traitors were not shy about the sounds they made as they ate or about launching stripped bones onto the trail--this new carnage made some of the elk and deer men nervous and a few trembled and gave out calls of alarm.

About the Author:

Louis Corsair is an eight-year veteran of the United States Army. Currently living in Los Angeles, California, he spends his time reading books, going on walks, writing, and enjoying the occasional visit to the beach—while trying to earn an honest buck. As a Los Angeles writer, he feels the weight of famous Los Angeles novelists, like Raymond Chandler, John Fante, Nina Revoyr, among others.

In 2021, he hopes to finish the Elohim Trilogy and its connected novels, including The Wizards Collide, and Apotheosis: Book Three of the Elohim Trilogy.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5804069.Louis_Corsair

http://louiscorsair.blogspot.com






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Carla Rehse's Top Ten List of Favorite SF/Fantasy TV Shows #ParanormalWomensFiction


Thanks for inviting me to your blog!

This is my Top Ten List of Favorite SF/Fantasy TV shows

*Warning* Except for the top two, this is a very fluid list.

10. Handmaid’s Tale: Sometimes I really love this. Sometimes it’s just so dark and convoluted.

9. Game of Thrones: Why is this not higher on the list after I obsessed over this show for years? And it’s the only one I watched as it aired and refused to answer my phone until the episode finished? Easy answer. I still haven’t recovered from the last season. 

8.  Alias: It’s an oldie, but a goodie. I love the over-the-top antics and Rambaldi mythology. 

7. Midnight, TX: The characters make this such a fun summer show. I really wish Netflix would’ve picked it up for a 3rd season.

6. Falling Skies: Another oldie, but a goodie. Who doesn’t love a dystopian centered around aliens taking over the world?

5. Lucifer: Tom Ellis is the best Lucifer ever!!

4. The Witcher: I must admit, The Witcher only attained this high of a ranking after I watched the season for the second time. When I started watching, I knew nothing about the franchise and missed plenty. The second viewing was much, much better.

3. Grimm: The mythology is so creative and amazing. 

2. The Expanse: Hands down the best sci-fi I’ve ever watched. I currently started reading the books and love them just as much.

1. Firefly: I am still so, SO bitter that this wasn’t renewed. Yes, the movie was okay and yes, a reboot might be in the works, but none compare to the original show. I love the characters, the ongoing mystery with the Reavers, the funny banter, and the western flavor of the show.  I rewatch the series at least once a year. 


The Accidental Gatekeeper
The Accidental Midlife Trilogy
Book One
Carla Rehse

Genre: Paranormal Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Pink Squirrel Publishing
Date of Publication: 06/14/21
ASIN: 9798715331397
Number of pages: 299
Word Count: 82,880
Cover Artist: Damonza 

Tagline: Turning the big four-five isn't a problem for Everly Popa—it’s everything else in her life that's gone to hell in a handbasket.

Book Description:

It's bad enough that Everly's drug-selling husband is in jail and her adult daughter blames her for the situation. But now the FBI wants her to turn witness, while her husband's criminal friends want to keep her permanently silent. With no other safe haven, Everly returns to her hometown. A place she hasn't visited in twenty-seven years. And didn't leave under the best of circumstances.

It’s not that Everly has a problem with her hometown, exactly, but since it sits next to Hell’s Gate, there's bound to be a few issues. Like the archaic rules set by the angels who run the town. Or the fact that the townsfolk feel Everly abandoned her duties as one of the members of the town's founding families. But between celestial politics or getting gunned down by a drug cartel, Everly decides to chance finding sanctuary back home. 

After a little good-versus-evil stunt at the town's border, Everly is let back in and for the first five minutes, things are great. Everly's mom hasn't started nagging and she has a whole bottle of wine to herself. But after minute six, all hell breaks loose. Everly gets bitten by a hellhound, faints in front of her hot-and-single old high school boyfriend, and accidentally becomes the town’s Gatekeeper to Hell.  A job she never wanted, isn't trained for, and can't shake off like gum stuck to her shoe. And as much as she's flipping out, the celestial ruling body aren't too pleased about it either. 

Before Everly can take a deep breath and figure a way out of this mess, an angel gets killed, humans go missing and the town shuts its magical borders. Now Everly is trapped inside with dying angels, rampaging demons, and a witch with a murderous agenda. Plus, an archangel and his army surround the city and are itching to contain the town's problems with a heaven-sent big boom. The only way out is for Everly to learn how to use her newly acquired Gatekeeper powers. But with no handbook provided, there's a snowball's chance in hell she'll figure it out in time. 



Excerpt CHAPTER ONE

When all the good choices have disappeared faster than kids at chore time
If eighteen was the age of exciting self-discovery, then forty-five was the weary age of having zero shits left to give.

What did it matter if my husband of twenty years was rotting in federal jail? And that our chiropractic clinic had gone belly up, leaving me jobless? Or that my friends had turned from “we’ll help hide a body” to “we’ve got your back until the reporters hit our lawn?” I also didn’t care that the DEA had frozen our joint bank accounts and seized our assets. I never liked that house anyway.

Homeless. Jobless. Friendless.

Add in a pickup truck, beer, and an old dog and it would be the most pathetic country song played on the tiniest fiddle ever. I gritted my teeth as the wipers shrieked across the windshield. Nothing like driving through a late-October downpour to add to your misery, and the constantly patched roads in this part of Central Texas didn’t handle rain well.

My phone rang with its cheerful tone that I kept forgetting to change. Sadie’s name lit up on the display, and I almost knocked it off the dashboard holder while hitting the speaker button.

“Sadie? Is everything okay? How’s Laney?” I really hoped the trembling in my voice wasn’t audible. My daughter hadn’t spoken to me in two months, refusing to answer my calls or respond to my texts. Her girlfriend had even gone so far as to block me on her social media.

“Mom? Where are you? God, this connection sucks.” Her voice had a recognizable anxious edge to it. I wanted to ask if she was taking her meds, but at twenty-one Sadie hated coddling. “Someone needs to talk to you.”

“What?” I eased onto the shoulder of the road, then placed the truck into park. “Who?”

“Mrs. Collins? Uh, Everly Collins? This is Sam Duncan, your husband’s attorney? We really must discuss your husband’s case.”

I glanced at the clock on my dash: 10:33 p.m. Duncan was raking in some serious OT.

“What the hell are you doing with my daughter?”

“Mrs. Collins?” He lowered his voice. “I know you’ve been advised not to speak with me. But you really need to before certain other people do. We can meet anywhere you want.”

“Listen to me, you scum licker. Tell my husband and his thug buddies to leave my kid out of their mess. I’m not afraid of their flaccid threats and won’t be intimidated.” I slapped at the phone to turn it off, sending it careening to the passenger floorboard, out of reach and therefore away from temptation.

I didn’t have the money to replace the stupid thing, but the desire to take out my frustration on the helpless and innocent electronic device was strong.

Part of me wanted to turn the vehicle around, race to Sadie’s apartment in Austin, and kick the crap out of that attorney. But I knew the truth. Sadie had taken her dad’s side and was angry I’d snitched on him. She would do whatever she could to get him out of trouble. What was a little money laundering for drug dealers, after all? She might have my dark hair and eyes, but unfortunately, she inherited her father’s defective moral compass.

A lesson for all the kiddies: choose the sperm donor for your progeny well.



About the Author:

Carla holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Angelo State University. Although not a native Texan, Carla prides herself on having mastered the correct usage of the colloquialisms “y’all” and “bless your heart.”

Find out more about Carla and her books at carlarehse.com and connect with her @CRehse on Twitter.






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