Author Interview – J.L. Lawson @J_L_Lawson

Last book you purchased? Tell us about it.

It was the final book of the Witchlight series by Debora Geary. Here’s the review I sent her directly:

Okay.

I picked up “A Modern Witch” out of curiosity. Six days later, and ten novels of pure spell-binding obsession, I find I have a distinct difficulty forming the words for this review—from an author with even more and longer novels under his belt that is a little embarrassing.
It’s like this: You walk the same steps to your job everyday, knowing that there aren’t but a handful of people who will ever really know what you do and how you do it. Then the toe of your shoe catches something in the path that wasn’t there the day before. When you look closely at what tripped you, you find it’s the root of a tree that had been sneakily inching its way into your path all along. Then it hits you like a ton of bricks: Even if not another living soul knows the particulars of the toil and tears you struggle through to make what you do something worth while, a tree with the drive to seek deeper earth and brighter sun most certainly does!

That, is what finding “A Modern Witch” series and the integral Witchlight trilogy is to me. A stellar reminder that insubstantial rays of thought and storms of tears can become something solid and beautiful through the words of a gifted writer. Characters aren’t just descriptions and dialogue. They are vital people with their own lives and unspoken history. Conflicts of plot and subplot aren’t literary devices. They are the victories and failures of individuals, daring and shy, for whom you care deeply, even love.

The world in which such magic such as this truly exists, makes stumbling down the ordinary path of my days an ineffable joy.
Now get back to work!”

What’s your favorite place in the entire world?

That’s not actually an easy question to answer directly. I love Tahoe; always have always will. I also really liked living in the San Lorenzo Valley south of the Bay area. Perhaps my favorite residence was the shortest: Orca’s Island in the San Juans above Seattle. My wife and I have stayed on that island more often and longer than almost anywhere else we’ve traveled and visited—always on holiday, not as actual residents. We love the town on East Sound, the State Park, Mt. Constitution, and island hopping on the ferries. I’d love to build a bigger sailboat than the one I built last year and ease right into that life. I’ve thought about permanently relocating there many, many times. Who knows. Perhaps if this writing thing gains even more traction than it has already, we may be checking out real estate on an island after all! But then my heart comes alive when I’m in Santa Fe.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to discover?

Absolutely!

Next question.

How much of the book is realistic?

That’s not really a fair question of a science fiction/Fantasy/Future History writer. But as it’s not entirely off the tracks—An awful lot is very realistic. I can only offer this caveat by way of example: if there was a train, or ocean liner, or Broadway show, or event of any kind referred to in my books (only up to the present day, naturally) then that arrival/departure, showtime, described appointments, etc. most certainly occurred as stated. For my first five books I scoured everything from 1864 forward that had any perceived touch to my characters, their actions and world events—from the price of gold on a certain date in 1864 to who the Oslo newspaper interviewed concerning the theft of “The Scream” during the Lillehammer Olympic Games. From the first rail line into Tahoe City from Truckee in the latter nineteenth century to what delayed the first reorganized Oriental Express run from Venice to London in the twentieth century. From when the first toilet was invented and debuted into popular markets to the astounding absence of toilet bowl plungers until a few decades later… (still find that disgustingly anomalous.)

Have you included a lot of your life experiences, even friends, in the plot?

Life experiences: Yes.

People I know: No. There can’t help but be composite characters, in my opinion, in anyone’s work of fiction and there will inevitably be hints of what is already familiar to the author. But fashioning characters from acquaintances as Chaucer was reputed to have done? No.

How important do you think villains are in a story?

That entirely depends on the genre and the author’s intent for the story to be told. Would Star Wars have suffered without Darth Vader? Yeah. Would Of Mice and Men been any less heart-wrenching without Curly’s wife… questionable. And not that all antagonists are necessarily villains. In the real world where struggle is part and parcel of life, it’s not always imperative to put a face on the troubles a character must endure. Sometimes it’s just the luck of the draw.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Metaphysical/Fantasy/Action Adventure

Rating – G

More details about the author & the book

Connect with J.L. Lawson on Facebook

Website http://voyagerpress.org/

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Science Fiction/Metaphysical/Adventure

Rating – G

More details about the author & the book

Connect with J.L. Lawson on Facebook

Website http://voyagerpress.org/

The Elf & Huntress is the beginning of a long and winding trail from power to obscurity, from infamy to glory for a naïve lass from the highlands. On a simple off-planet assignment she’s dragged screaming into an underworld she couldn’t have fathomed existed. A scarred and liberated prisoner, she rises to become the feared Captain of the Lascorii Secret Services, avenging nemesis of the vilest pirate plaguing the worlds underwritten by the Seranath Trade Guild, with a hand-picked crew—and one diminutive, rather officious Seranim Guild Agent who learns for herself that Wish is the most powerful thing in the Universe…

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Science Fiction/Metaphysical/Adventure

Rating – G

More details about the author & the book

Connect with J.L. Lawson on Facebook

Website http://voyagerpress.org/

Author Interview – Catherine Astolfo @cathyastolfo

Have you included a lot of your life experiences, even friends, in the plot? Absolutely! My characters are usually a hodgepodge of different friends, acquaintances and family members. I exaggerate or change their qualities and quirks. Thus my characters become people with their own personalities. My heroine is an elementary school teacher, which was my role just before I retired. I based some of my plots on experiences I had in schools – again, exaggerated or twisted or transformed by my imagination.

How important do you think villains are in a story? Villains are extremely important. In my stories, they are the catalysts for all the action. I am fascinated with evil and how some people evolve into monsters. So my evildoers often take center stage.

What are your goals as a writer? I would love to acquire worldwide acclaim. Honestly. I’ll likely have to be satisfied with being known only in my little corner of the world, but I would truly bask in the glow of becoming a famous writer. Of having a book made into a movie. I have lofty goals that are mainly dreams, but you never know…

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)? I am fortunate to be able to travel and experience the flavor of a country or a city so I can include the sounds, smells and ambiance in my novels. Italy factors into my latest work in progress and Mexico appears in a planned book.

What books have most influenced your life? Two great writers—every single one of their novels—have had a huge impact on me: Margaret Laurence and John Steinbeck. I keep my eye on the quality of their writing as a model. Then I do my best. More recently, I have been influenced by Canadian Louise Penny, both personally and professionally.

Can we expect any more books from you in the future? I have now written five books. Four are published and the fifth is with its first readers before it gets submitted. Number 6 is a dark comedy-mystery. I have two young adult books on the go and an inspirational non-fiction. After that, I have a generational book for which I have the outline and a couple of chapters only. So – yes – expect more books from me!

Do you have any advice for writers? Don’t stop! If you are truly wired for authorship, you need to finish. You can always go back and fix the mistakes later. That’s what the editing process does. Take the editor hat off and create first. Persevere through the boring/bad parts and get ‘er done! Then get others to critique, edit, proof and advise to make the novel even better. These days you don’t even have to wade through the difficult publisher maze. You can do it yourself, so there’s no fear of never having an end product after all your hard work.

If I knew what I know now, would I have searched so hard for the truth?

Anne Williams says she killed her best friend, Karoline. But did she? Or is there more to Karoline’s mysterious death than meets the eye?

Anne embarks on a compelling journey to discover her past and exposes an unusual history, horrific crimes and appalling betrayals. Through unexpected turns and revelations, Anne learns about love, family and who she really is. Can she survive the truth?

Editorial Reviews

“A deliciously vibrant portrait that realistically muddles good and evil.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Astolfo’s wonderful first sentence in Sweet Karoline explodes on the page and resonates right to the end of this twisting examination of dangerous minds. Never have I encountered a narrative voice that alternates more deftly between alienating and enticing.” —Mel Bradshaw, author of Fire On The Runway

“A deliciously twisted story about the perplexing power of adult female relationships. By turns scathingly funny and darkly insightful, Sweet Karoline is a hedonistic journey with all the right ingredients: lust, betrayal, true love and mystery. Grab a glass of wine and have the bottle handy. A compelling read from the start through to the surprising end.” —Robin Spano, author of Death’s Last Run

“In Catherine Astolfo’s chilling new novel Sweet Karoline, things aren’t always as they seem. Anne, the multifaceted anti-heroine in this noir tale takes a fateful journey into her forgotten past, uncovering the painful roots of her childhood. While furrowing for answers, a mystery unfolds, truths swirl to the surface, a heinous murder occurs. Who’s the killer? Caught in a tangled web of greed, lies and deceit Anne must come to terms with her past, present and future, and the bleak realization that those we hold close may be the last ones to trust. Compelling, visually descriptive, deftly delivered…Catherine Astolfo’s got the goods!” —Douglas Wickard, author of A Perfect Husband

“Sweet Karoline is a multi-layered mystery, where nothing is as it seems. The story grips you on page one and leads you through a maze of history, twisted relationships, and ultimately the darkness of the human mind.” —Liz Bugg, author of Oranges and Lemons

“In Sweet Karoline, Astolfo has created a daring hybrid mystery that combines elements of romance, history, and suspense in a carefully crafted story that keeps you guessing to the very end. Astolfo explores new boundaries as she extends her reach beyond the cozy mystery in this psychological exploration of the mind of a killer. A unique exploration of guilt and revenge.” —Michael J. McCann, author of The Fregoli Delusion

“The clever plot twists in Sweet Karoline will enrapture you from page one through the last paragraphs of this fast-paced modern mystery. Author Catherine Astolfo exhibits a strikingly perceptive gift for believable dialogue and rich character development. Her dry wit and colorful descriptions will have you howling in laughter at points, but in tears at others as she digs deep into the themes of guilt, race, and relationships. The powers of love and redemption are strong, but does the heart of an Ice Queen ever really melt? Enjoy the romp from Los Angeles, through Canada, to a priceless Italian rendezvous—all in the pages of Sweet Karoline, where long-buried secrets lie.” —Lisa Pell, award-winning author of Who’s Your Daddy, Baby?

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre –  Psychological Suspense

Rating – 18+

Connect with Catherine Astolfo on Facebook  & Twitter

Website http://www.catherineastolfo.com/

#Pain&Gain What inspired me to write this book? by Marc Schiller

I started to write the book almost 17 years ago when after my ordeal had ended I wrote 200 pages of detailed notes. Soon afterward I made a halfhearted effort to see if anyone would be interested in publishing it. With no visible interest I put my notes away.

In 2008 I did a television program about my ordeal and once again did a halfhearted effort to find someone that would be interested in publishing the book. I saw no interest in my story and once again desisted from the idea. In 2012 a friend informed me that Paramount Pictures and Michael Bay were making a movie based on an interview I did in 1997.

My friend and I were going to collaborate and write a book since we both were the prime subjects of the movie. He insistently made calls and try to reach out to anyone interested in our book. At first it appeared promising, but eventually there were no takers again. During Thanksgiving I flew to New York to film a segment for 48 HRS. As I was leaving for the airport I received an article from another acquaintance of mine through the mail.

The article was about the self-publishing industry and how it had grown and thrived. That instant, a light went of in my head and I decided that I was going to self-publish my book. No more obstacles and no more excuses, no more looking back. When I returned home I immediately went to work on my manuscript that was ninety percent finished, I hired and editor and called my daughter about designing my book cover. The next month was devoted to putting all the pieces together to publish it. On January 25, 2013 the project I had started in January 1995 had finally been realized.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - True Crime

Rating – PG

More details about the author & the book

Connect with Marc Schiller on Facebook & Twitter

#AmReading - I, Walter by Mike Hartner

Walter Crofter was born into Elizabethan England.
In a country and a time where favor and politics were both deadly, can an honest boy stay true to himself?
Especially given his family background?

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Historical Fiction/Romance

Rating – G

More details about the author

Connect with Mike Hartner on Facebook  & Twitter

Website http://accidentalauthor.ca/

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker by Marla Martenson

Quit-witted Marla takes her readers for a hilarious romp through her days as an LA matchmaker where looks are everything and money talks. The Cupid of Beverly Hills has introduced countless couples who lived happily ever-after, but for every success story there are hysterically funny dating disasters with high-maintenance, out of touch clients. Marla writes with charm and self-effacement about the universal struggle to love and be loved.

Martenson’s irresistible quick wit will have you rolling on the floor.
—Megan Castran, international YouTube Queen

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Memoir

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Connect with Marla Martenson on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://marlamartenson.com/

The Dream Rider by Ernest Dempsey

When you wake up, does it seem like your dreams were real? Maybe they were.

Imagine if Stephanie Meyer and Suzanne Collins sat down together to write an up-tempo, action packed sci-fi thriller featuring terrifying nightmares, an evil emperor, a beautiful princess, and gladtiator games on another planet.

That's The Dream Rider, the newest release from Ernest Dempsey, the author who brought you The Secret of the Stones and The Cleric's Vault.

Falling from buildings, being attacked by terrifying strangers, and ghostly hands that strangle in the night are just some of the fears The Dream Rider must overcome.

Finn McClaren is an average college student, mediocre in every possible way, until one day, when strange men try to kill him. Finn wakes up in his dorm room to realize the whole thing was just a dream. Or was it?

The nightmares continue, forcing Finn to face his deepest fears until one night, he stops running and fights back. When he awakens, he is no longer in his dorm room, but on a strange planet on the other side of the galaxy.

After being arrested, Finn is thrust into an underground prison where the inmates are forced to fight to the death in the arena games. While there, he learns he has incredible powers, and of the true reason he has come to the alien world.

The Dream Rider is a fun, fast-paced, science fiction adventure that also asks serious questions about our fears, self-esteem, beliefs, and facing challenges in life.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre -  Science Fiction

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Connect with Ernest Dempsey on Facebook  & Twitter

Website http://ernestdempsey.net/

A 3rd Time to Die by George A Bernstein

Ashley Easton rescues a badly abused horse, deciding to return to show jumping, the passion of her youth. The animal gives unquestioned love, something lacking from her husband, Keith. But when Ashley begins to compete, she is terrified as the show course seemingly changes into an old forest and the jumps appear as real walls, fences and trees. Her thoughts spill through her head in elegant French. As she attacks the fences with an unfamiliar, fearless abandon, she begins winning every competition.

Craig Thornton, an avid horseman, happens upon Ashley’s first competition, entranced as he watches her jump her horse, Injun. Mystically drawn toward each other, it’s as if they knew the other…but from where? After several missed opportunities, they finally meet, becoming fast friends, their love of jumping horses a mutual bond.

Ashley seeks therapy to address a strange terror swamping her whenever she’s intimate. During hypnotic regression, she’s stunned to find herself in two apparent past lives, first in the 17th Century, on a fox hunt as the fearless French horsewoman who fills her head while jumping, and again, 150 years later in Philadelphia, a shipping tycoons daughter. Both times she is fulfilled by glorious romance, followed by the terror of their brutal murder while making fervid love in a forested glade!

The doctor says these are figments of her subconscious, but he’s shaken, knowing the truth. He realizes those were real past lives, and their killer may be lurking again, nearby.

Ashley and Craig soon discover more than friendship. As these two newly rediscovered lovers struggle to free themselves from broken marriages, others plan to fulfill a 300 year-old legacy of death.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Romantic Suspense 

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

 Connect with George Bernstein on Facebook & Twitter

John Hartnett – 10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn’t Know Before

10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn’t Know Before

by John Hartnett

1.There actually isn’t a federal law that writers must chain smoke unfiltered cigarettes, drink copious amounts of alcohol, get into fist fights or carouse with strange women.  It’s strictly a guideline.  In addition, wearing a cardigan sweater while writing is also optional.

2.  Every time you are hard at work writing and in that place where the words seem to be flowing from deep within your subconscious, someone in your family will ask you to come down and get the grill going.

3.  If you use profanity or write long descriptive passages about lovemaking in your work and your mother is still living, there will be at least one unpleasant conversation where you will momentarily wish she wasn’t.

4. There are worse things than having your work disappear from your computer.  Number one is having your list of things that are worse than having your work disappear from your computer disappear from your computer.

5.  No matter how strong your teeth are, you can not “eat” your way through a writer’s block.

6.  If a studio inquires about the movie rights to your book about the invention of the place mat, never tell them to “get in line.”

7.  If people didn’t judge books by their covers, designers couldn’t charge so much.

8.  Rejection of an artist’s work is a natural and common occurrence but if your dog digs your stuff, that’s all that matters.

9.  There is nothing good that can come from stealing from another author.  Unless it’s a power washer.  A good one will cost you more than $300 and there’s little point in buying one since you’ll really only need it maybe twice a year.

10. Never purchase a new car on credit with the intention of paying it off with your royalties.

The Barber’s Conundrum and Other Stories has been nominated for a 2013 Best Indie Book Award by The Kindle Book Review

The Barber’s Conundrum and Other Stories is more than just a collection of thirty-seven short literary humor pieces and humorous jokes that will make you laugh. It provides a treasure trove of tips and invaluable advice to help you navigate safely through marriage and relationships, raising kids and to finally understand the more peculiar aspects of day to day living that up until now, had been tossed into a big heap as just another one of God’s mysteries.

For example, did you ever wonder why weather reporters continue to stand in the middle of raging hurricanes to tell us what hurricanes are like when everybody else already knows what hurricanes are like? Did you ever wonder why people stop their cars in the middle of the street to let geese walk past even though geese have been flying long before Cro- Magnon Man was in knee pants? Did you ever think that if aliens do exist on our planet, most of them work in customer service? They do!

All of that, and more is in the book, so what do you say? At $8.99, you’re guaranteed to receive at least $10.50 worth of terrific advice and life extending laughter, which as we know is the best medicine, and there’s never a co-pay with laughter so you’re up well over $20 already and this is only the back cover. Think of the possibilities to save when you read the whole thing.

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre –  Humor

Rating – PG

More details about the author

Connect with John Hartnett on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://monkeybellhop.com/

The Woodpecker Menace by Ted Olinger

The Key Peninsula floats quietly through time in Puget Sound but exists more like an island in the hearts of her residents. Descendants of the first peoples and pioneers mingle with newcomers washed ashore from distant cities in these stories of small town life in a community too small to have a town.

Young homeowners grapple with the depredations of heartsick woodpeckers. Anarchist loggers nail indignant poems to roadside trees. Shamanic gardeners work to heal a damaged world one lawn at a time. Deceptively simple stories with deep feeling.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Fiction / Short Stories

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Connect with Ted Olinger on Facebook

Website http://www.woodpeckermenace.com/

Living with Your Past Selves by Bill Hiatt

 

He's haunted by the past, but he has an enemy very much in the present. Danger lurks around every corner for the seemingly ordinary teen who is anything but.

Many teenagers struggle to find their identity, but for Taliesin Weaver, that struggle has become life or death--and not just for him. Tal, as he prefers to be called, believes in reincarnation, and with good reason. When he turned 12, his mind was nearly shattered by a flood of memories, memories of his past lives, hundreds of them. Somehow, Tal managed to pull himself together and even to make good use of the lessons learned and skills developed in those previous lives. He even had the ability to work magic--literally--and there was no denying that was cool. No, his life wasn't perfect, but he was managing.

Now, four years later, his best friend, Stan, has begun to suspect his secret, and Stan isn't the only one. Suddenly, Tal is under attack from a mysterious enemy and under the protection of an equally mysterious friend whose agenda Tal can't quite figure out. An apparition predicts his death. A shape shifter disguised as Stan attacks him. An old adversary starts acting like a friend. He and some other students get hurled into Annwn (the Otherworld), face Morgan Le Fay, and only just barely get back alive--and that's just during the first month of school!

By now Tal knows he is not the only one who can work magic and certainly not the only one who can remember the past. He realizes there is something that he is not remembering, something that could save his life or end it, some reason for the attacks on him that, as they escalate, threaten not only him but everyone he loves as well. In an effort to save them, he will have to risk not only his life, but even his soul.

Can Tal save both himself and his friends, or will he have to choose?

From now till 5th August, be a part of Bill Hiatt's "Find Me A Treasure" book tour.

Each blog stop will have a special clue or question.

Answer these in the Rafflecopter below and stand a chance to win a $50 Amazon.com gift card or cash via PayPal

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre - Fantasy / Young Adult

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Connect with Bill Hiatt on Facebook & Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Orangeberry Book of the Day - Your Band Is A Virus - Expanded Edition by James Moore

As featured on Indie-music.com, Think Like A Label, I Am Entertainment Magazine, Antimusic.com, and recommended by countless music publications, "Your Band Is A Virus! Expanded Edition" is the bigger and better version of the best selling book "Your Band Is A Virus - Behind-the-Scenes & Viral Marketing for the Independent Musician". At double the size of it's predecessor, it is the ultimate music marketing guide for serious independent musicians and bands.

Independent musicians in 2012 find themselves more confused than ever before. "Your Band Is A Virus - Expanded Edition" presents a complete paradigm shift in both the way artists promote and why they do it.

Advocating breaking the rules, bringing truly original expressions to the world, encouraging controversy, timing a release for optimum impact, promoting to music publications with his behind-the-scenes method, taking advantage of the user-generated revolution with a freelancers army, properly marketing music videos, embracing the free music model, and thinking outside the box, "Your Band Is A Virus" presents an actionable and inspired approach to music marketing coming from James Moore, founder of Independent Music Promotions. James's words have been shared by the likes of CDBaby, Reverbnation, the Lefsetz Letter, the Indie Bible, Indie-Music.com, the DIY Daily and Buzzsonic.com..

"The intention of the book is to completely wipe out many of the misconceptions musicians have when it comes to music marketing. I'm a music promoter. This book wasn't written by an entertainment lawyer or a label CEO. I'm DIY and I write about what has worked for me, and many of the ideas I'm happy to say just don't get talked about anywhere else. It's all straight talk and actionable advice. Musicians have the most trouble and confusion about generating press, so that's what I focus on. There's a lot of misinformation out there, so I hope this book inspires and brings clarity to artists" says Moore.

This special expanded edition also includes an industry insiders interview series featuring legendary producer Stuart Epps (Led Zeppelin, Elton John), HIP Video Promo CEO Andy Gesner (HIP has worked with Johnny Cash, Bon Iver, Pearl Jam, Of Montreal), Justin Wayne of the Justin Wayne show, Katie O'Halloran of Ithinkiloveit.com and Crystal Lee of Vandala Concepts Magazine.

Buy Now @ Amazon @ Smashwords

Genre - Non-fiction, Music Business, Music Marketing

Rating – PG

More details about the author

Connect with James Moore on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://www.independentmusicpromotions.com

The Mountain City Bronzes by Madeleine McLaughlin

 

When Kevin learns of his mountain town’s evil past, he must struggle to understand his father’s part in it and how it affects himself.

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – Horror

Rating – PG

More details about the author

Connect with Madeleine McLaughlin on Facebook & Twitter

Intoxicated by Alicia Renee Kline (Excerpt)

Chapter One

“Don’t worry, Lauren,” Gracie said, “he’ll come around.”

I twirled my straw in my Coke and stared blankly as the ice cubes hit the sides of my glass.  I hoped her words were true.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gracie rise from the booth.  My gaze followed her as she stood.  Apparently, the pep talk was over.

“And for goodness sakes, enjoy your party.”

Or not.

She latched on to my shoulder as she brushed past, partly in support of my situation, mostly in support of her own body weight.  She teetered unsteadily on her platform boots and let out what could be best described as an intoxicated giggle.  I watched as she made her way to the restroom toward the back of the restaurant, stifling a laugh of my own as she attempted to open the ladies’ room door by pushing rather than pulling.

Ah, yes, this was my party.

I glanced around at the large booth our group occupied.  The familiar faces of coworkers surrounded me.  There had been a good turnout; by my count, twenty people had at least stopped in to say goodbye.  Ten of those twenty still remained, even now, two hours after the official meeting time.

Invariably when someone decided to leave the bank, another employee would take it upon themselves to organize a get-together, usually held at the Mexican restaurant a mile down the road from our branch.  For some, it was a good excuse to gorge on chips, salsa and margaritas.  For others, it was truly an opportunity to celebrate the guest of honor’s new job or retirement and to say farewell.  Whatever the case that brought all these people here, to think they were gathered because of me was surreal.

Neither one of the usual scenarios pertained to me.  At twenty-six, I wasn’t anywhere close to retirement, at least not without a winning lottery ticket in hand.  And I wasn’t quitting.  I had garnered a promotion.

I started at the bank right out of college.  Armed with my shiny new accounting degree, I had landed a position at the local branch underwriting mortgage loans.  My attention to detail – some would call it anal-retentiveness – got me noticed by our corporate office.  After five years of employment there, I had been offered the job.

Director of Underwriting, Mortgage Lending.

The title alone had a nice ring to it.  The thought of actually having a staff at my beck and call was enticing.  The increase in salary was definitely attractive.  The location, not so much.  Corporate was about two hours north of here, and I would have to relocate.  That was really the only thing that had given me pause.

Being considerate of the circumstances, my current boss had instructed me to take a couple days to think it over, pray about it, do whatever I needed to do.  In my heart of hearts, I had known what my answer would be, but I was still relieved that I had a moment to mull things over.  That night, I had made two phone calls.

My father had been ecstatic.

Eric, well, things had not gone so swimmingly with him.

Gracie staggered back to the table.  She fell onto the seat of the booth, the cushion protesting with a squeak beneath her.  This was apparently the funniest thing that had ever happened to her.  Her convulsive laughter brought all other conversation at the table to a halt.

“Maybe time for someone to go home?” Mary from Consumer Loans suggested.

“I’m on it.”  I set down my Coke and went to grab my purse.  “Come on, Gracie, let’s get you to bed.”

“Oh, Lauren,” Stacy, the receptionist, protested, “it’s not fair that you have to leave your own party early.  One of us can drive her home.”

“But it’s tradition,”  Mary chimed in, “Gracie always drinks too much, and Lauren is her designated driver.”

“Oh, no,” Stacy snorted,  “did they include that in the job description for your replacement?”

Gracie still had enough sobriety left in her to shoot both Mary and Stacy a dirty look.  “Shut up.”

I stood to go and Gracie followed suit.  She was pretty wobbly.  She leaned against the wall as I said my goodbyes, thanking each person for coming and accepting their well wishes.  As I made the rounds, my eyes welled up with tears.

This was really happening.  Come Monday morning, the rest of the people at this table would go back to work like they always did.  My desk would be sitting empty.  No manila file folders stacked up on the desktop, their contents spilling over onto my keyboard.

Pushing the melodramatic to the far recesses of my brain, I took Gracie’s arm and escorted her out of the restaurant.  Considering that she towered over me, especially in those shoes, this was no small feat.

The cool evening air greeted us as we spilled out onto the sidewalk.  We continued across the parking lot to my awaiting car.  I unlocked Gracie’s door first and helped her inside.  As I rounded the car and unlocked my own door, I realized that it was as if we were on some sort of a strange date.  I was being rather chivalrous.

“I’m not tired, Lauren,” Gracie whined as I assumed the driver’s seat.  “I don’t want to go to bed yet.  I want to help you with your problems.”

“Oh, Gracie,” I laughed, “I might be beyond help at this point.”

We drove in an easy silence back to her apartment.  I pulled my car into the carport beside her sedan and shut off the ignition.  She made no move to get out of my car. Upon closer inspection, I realized that her eyes were closed.

“Gracie?”

She jumped.  “I’m awake, I promise.  You want to come up?”

I checked my cell phone before answering.  It was only nine.  “Sure, why not?”

The short nap had done Gracie wonders.  That coupled with a fresh pot of coffee might actually transform her into a worthy confidant.  With renewed energy, she exited the car.  I followed behind her, realizing as I threw my purse over my shoulder that my cell phone remained in the center console.  Briefly, I considered running back to get it, but decided not to.  No one would be calling me at this hour.  I had just spoken with my dad prior to the party, I was with my best friend right now and Eric was on some sort of random business trip in some location I was sure he had mentioned at some point during chewing me out.

Gracie kicked off her boots as soon as she made it through the threshold.  She set her housekeys on the table beside the door with a loud clunk, then landed on the couch with a flourish.  I continued on to the kitchen to make said coffee.  Moving around the small space as if it was my own, I set to work opening cabinets and grabbing mugs.

As the coffee brewed, I leaned over the breakfast bar.  From here, I could view the entire apartment.   Gracie’s bedroom was at the end of the hall, right next to the bathroom.  The place itself was bland, walls covered in typical renter’s off white.  Even though the whole of the place was no more than five or six hundred square feet, it seemed cavernous in comparison with my studio apartment.  What made it feel like home were the small finishing touches Gracie had managed to add with her meager bank teller’s wage.

One of those finishing touches, a throw pillow in the shape of a question mark, whizzed past my head.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

I poured the now finished coffee into the mugs and carried them over to the sofa, where I sat down next to her.  She took the mug that I offered, closing her eyes as she tasted the first sip.

I sighed, not sure where to begin.

“He’s probably just upset because I am leaving town.”

For the majority of our relationship Eric and I had been, in one way or another, apart.  We began dating when we were both sixteen.  When it had been time to go to college, we had settled on different universities.  This led to lots of long distance phone calls, internet chatting and romantic reunions during breaks.  After graduation, instead of finally being in the same place at the same time, he had gotten scooped up by a life insurance carrier to be their sales rep.  Even though he was stationed out of their Indianapolis office, the majority of the time he wasn’t anywhere nearby.

It had been a complete shock when he expressed his distaste at my promotion.

“That’s bull and you know it.” Gracie set down her coffee cup on the table in front of us.  She tucked an errant strand of black hair behind her ear and stared at me.  “He feels threatened.”

Threatened?  Maybe, just maybe, he was.

 

When everything she ever wanted turns out not to be enough…

Lauren Jefferies is on the verge of having it all. Hard work and determination have culminated in a promotion that promises to put her on track with her upwardly mobile boyfriend Eric. High school sweethearts and together for ten years, they are young enough to have their whole lives ahead of them, but old enough to have established themselves as forces to be reckoned with.

The news should be cause for celebration.

But taking the job means moving two hours away.

Instead of planning their reign as an up and coming power couple, they find their already tenuous relationship further damaged by their conflicting opinions. Eric doesn’t want her to leave. Lauren refuses to back down. In the end, she packs her things and heads up north to her new life, the abstract promise of figuring this all out later hanging between them.

Lauren settles into her new routine quite easily, thanks largely in part to her fast friendship with her roommate Blake. Blake’s companionship comes in a package deal with that of her older brother Matthew. One night over dinner, an innocent conversation leads to the discovery that the three of them have more in common than they’d ever imagined.

Ashamed of his role in the thread that ties them together, Matthew begins to withdraw. As Lauren devises a game plan to ease his torment, Eric inadvertently pushes them together with his selfish actions.

Lauren’s relationship with Eric continues to flounder. The distance is an issue, but Eric’s indifference does nothing to help. Every bright spot in their courtship is countered by darkness and bitterness. More often than not, Matthew is there to pick up the pieces that Eric leaves behind.

Prior to meeting Matthew, Lauren thought she knew what she wanted. Now that she’s just about to obtain everything on her list, she’s left to question if she ever really knew what that was.

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – Romance / Chick Lit

Rating – PG13

Connect with Alicia Renee Kline on Twitter

Website http://aliciareneekline.com/

Tolomay’s World & The Pool of Light by ME Lorde (Excerpt 1)

Chapter One

“Peace of life,” said the Chideman as he poured the blue water from the glass urn into the pool.  It was surreal.

“Peace of life,” my response was automatic.

My heart pounded.  For thirteen years I’d trained for this.  Still I was not ready.  The machine’s copper pipes gave off a warm smell that drifted to my nostrils as if precious biscuits were baking in the eating room.  The calming scent only made it worse.  I was leaving.

On display before every citizen in the community, my bare feet stepped the few inches further to the edge of the pool.  Fear haunted my mind.  Shivering from head to toe caused my short golden dress to tickle at the tops of my thighs.  I brushed away the itch.  Goose bumps peppered my arms and legs.  I was freezing.  For a moment, the massive musics and sounds on the stage overwhelmed me.  I was small in comparison to everything here, all present and to this wondrous event.  Through dazed thoughts, my focus returned and I remembered to count to three before placing my foot into the shallow liquid.

With eyes watering, my every heartbeat echoed in my ears.  Never again would my father’s eyes look upon me.  Never again would I feel his warm embrace.  I would so miss his calm, loving voice.  How would I bear it?  I fought my great desire to turn and dart to him, or to even just steal a look as he sat in his chair upon the stage.  Instead, I kept my step.  There would not be another last goodbye.  We had already said it, and he wanted just the one.  It would be my greatest honor to him to leave with the dignity, respect, and position that he had bestowed upon me, to act older than my meager thirteen years.  I had to be brave and pave the way for the others, as he had instructed.

The tears nearly choked me as I quietly sniffed them back.  I could scarcely see, but chose not to rub the wet away.  Everyone would notice.  More would only follow and my eyes would be closed soon enough.  The time had arrived.  This was no longer wholly my choice.  I was being led by my duty and so had to keep control of my emotions for these last few seconds here.

The immaculate stage held static, causing the miniscule hairs on my head to stand on end.  They reached toward the beautiful colored glass of the cathedral roof in the Pod Community’s grandest room, as if they too wanted to stay.  The urge to run, to escape consumed me, yet I betrayed my heart, followed my learned directions, and kept my course.

No matter the logic and knowledge in my head, nothing had prepared me for this feeling of claws tearing me apart from the inside out.  I fought off the nausea.  I could not be ill, not here in front of the community while representing my father.

The crystal and copper pool of light lay before the five of us, with solar panels running from floor to ceiling, as the toner’s chorus continued to sing behind us.  The brilliant round majesty beneath my feet, only half a foot deep, held the key to all of our futures and to what would be the whole of humanity.  We were taking these steps for everyone.  Once we left, we could never return home.

Tarron had ordered that we space ourselves just two paces separated, one from the next.  The four older candidates followed closely behind me.  The taste of anticipation mingled with the hum of energy that filled the great room.  My mind whirled.

‘Keep walking forward… do not turn around’ father’s words echoed in my head.

I was horrified.  Chills took residence up and down my spine, causing me to shake further.  How would my days unfold without him by my side?  How could I leave him here?  My heart was dying.

‘The coming light can blind, if you lose protection of your eyelids,’ he had warned.

‘Think only of your training and the swim,’ I reprimanded myself against my inert weakness. ‘Focus.  You are leading the others.’

I closed my eyes tightly.

“Your eyes… don’t forget,” I choked out the words, reminding the four following me to keep their’s closed as well.

The desire to see where my feet landed was nearly more than I could endure as I took my next step.  Blindly, trembling as I’d never thought possible, I walked on until a humming of energy engulfed me.  Then a wall of water, warm and flowing, caressed my face and arms and legs until I was drenched in it.  It unnerved me.  I imagined my skin would feel this way if covered with a million tiny insects. The vision of it in my head sent more shivers.  I rubbed away the feeling.  Fear was controlling me.  I was holding my breath.

‘Do not forget to breathe, Tolomay,’ I remembered father’s training.  ‘Or you may lose consciousness.’

Barely able to manage my thoughts, I took back my air and continued forward.

A light penetrated the liquid as if it were one and the same.  Much too bright, even with closed eyes, it rained down upon my body as if it were the sun and had no limits.  The burning lasted only a moment and rid me of my chills.  Then I was struck hard in the back by a force that seemed more as power than matter.  It propelled me through the air so fast that I nearly opened to see, but instead fell into a rolling somersault, ending in a stand as I had been trained to do.  The grasses felt soft beneath my bare feet.  The air smelled completely different here.  It was fresh and clean.  Was it safe to look?  Sure that the diminished stage music meant safety, I slowly peeked to see what was tickling my toes.  My feet were resting in an unbelievable world of vegetation.  I turned my eyes forward.  Plant life flourished about me.  An insect landed on a bloom and dipped its head inside until all of it was hidden in the bright yellow flower.

With every cell overwhelmed, my delight leapt as I viewed the sky.  Miraculous science!  Holy green gravity, it was unbelievable.  We did it!  I had accomplished what I had trained my entire life to do!

Magnificent and abundant life surrounded me as far as I could see.  The sky was a magical light blue like the ancient’s paintings and pictures; the clouds were bright whites and grays.  It had all been true, or was I only dreaming?

As hard as it was for my mind to accept my surroundings, elation filled me and I could no longer hold my tears.  Crying like a joyous newborn, I breathed in the pure nature of the heaven of the clean world.  Its power bore into my soul.  The energy of a long sturdy tree line reached toward me in the wind, welcoming my spirit to share in this wondrous space.  I looked up to the trees highest branches.  They were much taller than I had imagined they’d be.

This was all real. Father’s machine had worked.  We had succeeded!  We were here!

The much too-loud screech of the hole and the noise of the water pouring itself into this world now drowned out the distant sound of the toner’s chorus.  My heart shook with uncontrolled excitement.

“We made it!” I shouted over the machines deafening pitch, then turned to view the light point from which I had come.

‘But… where were the others?’

The water fell from midair, waiting for them.  As if in warning the sound turned to something altogether different.  First there was silence, and then an angry hiss.  Elation left me as the air changed too.  The color around the running water shifted to a dingy gray.  Impending doom gripped my chest just as Candra’s face peered through the wall of water.  She smiled in disbelief at the world she now saw… but why had the pool not spit her out?  Why did it hold her in itself?  Dread filled my belly even before I heard her shrill scream.

With half of her body through, she was just ten feet away from where I stood, her arms reaching urgently toward me.  The look of astonishment fled from her face as she let out a sound more horrific than I’d ever heard.  I was too terrified to move.  We had no training of this otherworldly power.  A moment later, Teresa was at her side, and next Florentina, and finally Marva.  They had not cleared the entryway either and instead, floated helplessly as the glorious and glowing blue water turned a dirty brown.  It spit out an odor like the scent of a burned out candle.  Candra’s skin was pulling light from the water into itself.  Every blood vessel seeped its treasure from her skin.  The others were bleeding too.  Nearly instantly, they were painted in red.  No longer lit, the water turned as dark as an endless hole and the black backdrop taunted us all.  Panicked, I barked the order.

“HURRY! MOVE! MOVE!” I shouted, but none of us obeyed.

Unable to aide them the slightest bit, I stood shocked at their agony when a brilliant flash of light struck the portal.  Their shrieks filled me with horror as I watched them writhing frantically in midair, deep in the black watery grave.  Like the dark liquid that hung motionless in the air, the moment was frozen in time.  Candra stopped screaming.  Suddenly she was gone.

‘No! No! No!’

Mere seconds dragged like eternity as for a moment longer Teresa’s voice took on a high pitched squeal.  Her eyes nearly bulged from her head.  I viewed my team members disappearing, sucked back into nothingness as the pool of light made a sizzling sound.  Then it slammed shut with a loud and thunderous ‘clap’.  The water disappeared and I stood staring at the now empty space in the beautiful green world, my face full of tears.

What had just happened?  Nothing could be real.  I had lost them all, lost all who I’d known and all in my charge.  Finally, my feet led me running toward the closed light point.  I grasped frantically at the air before me.

“Come back!  Come back!” I screamed.  “Father, take me back!  I want to go home!” I sobbed.  “Bring me home!  I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Guilt annihilated my soul.  Why had I not reached out to my team when they had been in unfathomable pain?  I was the curer, the healer, and I had just stood idly by and watched them die.  I’d failed at my life’s purpose, to lead and keep safe and healthy all citizens in the new community.

“I’m so sorry,” I bawled as if they could hear a single word of it.

I gave way to gravity and fell as a lost spirit to the trembling earth.  Crumpled into a ball, I wailed to the enormous trees.  I was wholly and utterly alone in this strange green world.

Why had I lived?

~SO MUCH MORE THAN A ROMANCE FANTASY~

If you enjoyed Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings, and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, you will LOVE this book. There is no swearing or sex in this series. Due to adult theme, it is Not intended for young YA readers. Genre is NEW ADULT/FANTASY/ROMANCE FANTASY

Author M.E. Lorde creates a gripping story set in the earth’s future, where the youth of the world have the privilege and burden of saving humanity from extinction.

Years before an apocalyptic event, a new means of travel is discovered. The modern technology comes just in the nick of time. Though none can return to a past-time in order to fix what men have destroyed, some candidates can now move forward to begin anew.
Highly intelligent, Tolomay Ramey was trained since birth to do one thing… to lead others into the future of the ‘clean earth’ where both nature and mankind are given a fresh start. Leaving the pod community behind, she arrives as the only living ‘Original’ from the first team of candidates. The clean world, abundant with plant and animal life, is covered in green for the first time in hundreds of years.

Unfortunately for this young girl and despite the beauty of the replenished earth, nothing she experiences from the moment she arrives is as expected. Alone for three years, until others finally join her, she learns to survive off the land, but that will not be what she finds most challenging. What will happen when a strong-headed young man arrives with the mindset that he should have been the first in this paradise? Can independent Tolomay and fiercely confident Kenter meet in the middle? Can the clean world become what it was intended to be for the new community, or will all thoughts of peace be left a thousand years in the past?

The first of a series, the second novel (TOLOMAY’S WORLD and The Mountain of Tegi) will be released March 2013.

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – Fantasy / Romance

Rating – NC17

More details about the author & the book

Connect with ME Lorde on Facebook & Twitter

Blog http://michaelordeauthor.blogspot.com/