Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Safety (One Eighteen: Migration) by Will Ross @WillRossWriter

Safety (One Eighteen: Migration)

It's 2008 in America, and the world has gone very, very wrong. Radio and televison signals drive men to madness, the dead hunt the living, and the ties that hold mankind together have severed.

Isolated, the town of Greenly, South Dakota has walled itself off from the horrors of the wider world. Safe behind their makeshift wall teenage lawmen prowl the streets and men and women struggle to survive in a town where electronics are banned.

In the center of it all, Jonas Waight, an academic in the wrong place at the right time. Waight does what he can to survive and trade, documenting his experiences in his journal. But when Jonas starts asking too many questions, will he be able to handle the dark secrets his curiosity reveals?

Welcome to Greenly...


Behold the Child by Harry Shannon @HarryShannon

Behold the Child This short novel first appeared in the Cemetery Dance anthology "Brimstone Turnpike." Each character was to be given a brief encounter with a wise old man named Johnny Divine, and one object that would affect the outcome of the story. In Harry Shannon's entry, Sam Kenzie is an LAPD cop who can't escape his obsession with a serial killer due to demons of his own.
(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Kick Your Fat in the Nuts by T.C. Hale @kickitinthenuts

Kick Your Fat in the Nuts

Not only will Tony have you laughing out loud while he reveals the secrets behind weight loss and how the human body functions, you will also learn how to look at your own body chemistry to understand the underlying cause of YOUR weight issues. Since the reasons for weight gain vary from person to person, once you understand what is going on with your chemistry, this book will help you understand what foods, supplements, or lifestyle changes could eliminate your need to continue buying bigger pants.

http://www.twitter.com/kickitinthenuts
http://www.kickitinthenuts.com          
http://www.facebook.com/kickitinthenuts

Monday, January 28, 2013

Interview with Lara Reznik

Lara Reznik, a native New Yorker, attended college at the University of New Mexico where she studied under esteemed authors Rudolfo Anaya and Tony Hillerman. Ambidextrous from birth, Lara preferred her right-brained creative side, but discovered she could make a better living with her left-brain skills so entered the I.T. field in 1985. Lara launched her debut novel, The Girl From Long Guyland on Amazon last November. The novel has received rave editorial reviews and consistently ranked the #1 spot in Suspense, #1 in Contemporary Fiction, and #4 overall “Free Books,” during it’s Amazon Kindle Select Promotional Days 11/16-11/20. In addition to her novels, Lara has written and optioned three screenplays.

The Digital Ink Spot: Tell the readers about your book, The Girl From Long Guyland
Lara Reznik: Readers have told me that The Girl From Long Guyland reads like memoir-meets-psychological-thriller. Set against a 1969 psychedelic love-in backdrop, the story is shared through the eyes of I.T. executive, Laila Levin, when decades later, an unsolved murder pulls her reluctantly into her past. Facing a dramatic collision of then and now, Laila is forced to make choices that endanger her marriage, family, profession and ethics.

The Digital Ink Spot:  How much of you is the main character, Laila Levin?
Lara Reznik: This is a great question. Numerous people have told me that the characters, in both the hippie days of the late ‘60s and the corporate world of 2012, seem very believable and real. A few Amazon reviewers are convinced the novel is my autobiography. I’ll take that as a compliment that I was successful in creating a fictive world with a plot and cast of characters that are composites of people I’ve known. I’m at an age when I’ve begun reflecting on different periods of my life and examining what I’ve learned from them. For me, the late sixties was an aberration from the rest of my relatively conservative life. I wasn’t near as naïve or crazy as Laila, but I was a quintessential hippie, feminist, and anti-war protestor. Evidently, the novel has struck a chord with other baby boomers’ memories.

The Digital Ink Spot: The book cover is simple yet tells a lot, what do you want readers to get from it?
Lara Reznik: The cover is the result of a collaboration with two members of my critique group, authors Cynthia Stone and Tosh McIntosh. It was Cindy’s brilliant idea which Tosh spent endless hours fine-tuning in Photoshop. Marijuana leaves falling from a woman executive’s briefcase are symbolic of how Laila is forced to deal with the dark secret from her hippie past that has come back to haunt her now.

The Digital Ink Spot: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Lara Reznik: It often takes the threat of losing everything to appreciate what you’ve got! As corny as it sounds, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, Laila comes to realize, “There’s no place like home.”

The Digital Ink Spot: What can readers expect from you in the future?
Lara Reznik: More novels. I’m working on two. The first is a novelization of my screenplay, The M&M Boys. It’s about a troubled Little Leaguer who meets Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle as they compete to break Babe Ruth's home run record in the summer of '61. The second, Dance of Deception, is a thriller set in the mid-seventies about a wealthy young woman who enters the dark world of Go-Go dancing, while a serial killer, imitating the Son of Sam, targets exotic dancers in Manhattan.

http://www.larareznik.com/ 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Review: Samurai Vs. Robo-Dick by Steve Lowe @Steve_Lowe

Samurai Vs. Robo-Dick

Summary:

It’s been a few weeks since Benson returned to his parents’ home in the idyllic gated community of Grand Acres. He hasn’t seen them since. Ever since locking himself in the house with his supply of junk food and pot, he hasn’t seen much of anyone. When he’s finally coerced from the house and joins an ominous neighborhood group know as the Brown Shirts, Benson realizes things in Grand Acres aren’t nearly as tranquil as he thought. Even worse, there’s a samurai on the loose who is settling grudges in very violent ways.

Review:

Samurai Vs. Robo-Dick  is a great redemptive story about a habitual masturbating pot head. He lost his job, his home and his spark. He's come home to lick his wounds from his current failures and loses touch with reality at the most inopportune time ever. The world outside has gone to hell but it goes completely unnoticed by Benson due to the ironfisted rule orchestrated by the Brown Shirts that patrol the streets of the idyllic Grand Acres.
I loved the story and the characters Lowe introduces through the novella. Benson evolves from burnout to rebel leader in a manner not out of his character. I appreciate that Lowe doesn't make Benson break character in order to advance the story. Lowe is a extremely talented and creative storyteller.

http://steve-lowe.com  
https://twitter.com/Steve_Lowe

Marrying Mallory by Diane Craver

Marrying Mallory

Is Mallory Harrington jinxed because her name means luckless? Things have gone wrong for Mallory since she was a small child. All she ever wanted was to have a complete family and live happily ever after. It appears she has it all when she marries Toby Harrington and they have a son. Unfortunately, their marriage ends when Toby has an affair with his law partner. Divorced Mallory doesn’t want to date, so she isn’t happy when her girlfriends try to fix her up with a minister friend.

Mallory decides to do something for herself, and get the nose surgery that she's always wanted. What she doesn't expect is her instant attraction to her surgeon.

Sometimes faith is about accepting what can't be changed and grabbing what God offers her. Life must go on.

http://www.dianecraver.com
http://www.dianecraver.com/blog


Monday, January 21, 2013

Talisman Of El by Alecia Stone @Alecia_Stone

Talisman Of El

WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.

Two Worlds.

Population: Human ... 7 billion.
Others ... unknown.

When 14-year-old Char­lie Blake wakes up sweat­ing and gasp­ing for air in the mid­dle of the night, he knows it is hap­pen­ing again. This time he wit­nesses a bru­tal mur­der. He's afraid to tell any­one. No one would believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago - the day before his dad died.

Char­lie doesn't know why this is hap­pen­ing. He would give any­thing to have an ordi­nary life. The prob­lem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home.

He belongs with the others.

www.aleciastone.com  
www.talismanofel.com      
www.facebook.com/talismanofel
www.twitter.com/alecia_stone
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12701339-talisman-of-el



Thirst by L.A. Larkin

Thirst

Antarctica is the coldest, most isolated place on earth. Luke Searle, maverick glaciologist, has made it his home. But soon his survival skills will be tested to the limit by a ruthless mercenary who must win at any cost. The white continent is under attack. The Australian team is being hunted down. Can Luke stay alive long enough to raise the alarm? Can he avert a global catastrophe?
The countdown has begun. T minus 5 days, 2 hours and 53 minutes …

http://lalarkin.com/blog
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/editprofile.php?sk=basic&success=1#!/LALarkinAuthor
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/lalarkinauthor

Friday, January 18, 2013

Ghost Stories by John Kachuba @JohnKachuba

Ghost Stories

Ghosthunters and students of the paranormal will find intriguing the four original stories in Ghost Stories by John Kachuba. These stories are not the scary—and cheesy—stories of terror, violence, and gore found in cheap novels and B-movies. Based on his own experiences as a ghost hunter, Kachuba’s stories are something new in paranormal fiction. You might call them stories for the “thinking man” (and woman!). These stories will challenge your ideas about spirits, ghosts, and haunted locations. Just in time for Halloween, Ghost Stories is a must-read for your paranormal bookshelf.

www.johnkachuba.com             
@johnkachuba 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/john.kachuba.1

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

H10N1 by Marsha Cornelius @marshacornelius

H10N1

A deadly influenza virus rages out of control. There is no easy-fix vaccine. No eleventh-hour containment. Only death.
With no workforce, power plants are unmanned so there’s no means of communication; police and fire departments have collapsed so no one is safe; looters are scavenging everything from big-screen TVs to canned peas.
When Dr. Taeya Sanchez finds herself unceremoniously dismissed from an emergency medical facility in New York, she decides to steal the hospital’s armored van for a midnight escape.
Unfortunately, Rick DeAngelo, a driver for the hospital, has already stocked the van for his own getaway.
Thrown into an unfriendly alliance, these two must pick their way across the dangerous wasteland of America in search of a safe haven. And as the miles roll by, they discover that the living should be feared much more than the festering corpses out there.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/marshacornelius
Website: http://mrcornelius.com


(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

A Gateway Made Of Bone by Iain Grant @IainMGrant

A Gateway Made Of Bone

16th, 17th & 18th January 2013

The Seelie Court controls an empire of a thousand suns, each world linked to the next by the black oneirium gateways of the Sacred Guild of Gatemakers. While the empire plunders the conquered worlds to stave off its own destruction, Edenist rebels fight for independence. Caught somewhere in between is Celandine Brey, orphan, apprentice gatemaker and key to a treasure of untold wealth.

Chased by imperial agents and corrupt soldiers, Celandine is aided in her quest by Mr Sukh, mute veteran of the Engine Wars, Orlando Swaan, Edenist and naïve schemer, and Ana Zanbir, a demon-hunter on the run from her husband-creator, now bound to Celandine by an unbreakable oath.

From the narcotic grasslands of Aphid to the ancient temples of Nachista, from the high-rise cityscape of Termagore to the junk world of Immonda, A Gateway Made Of Bone is a fantastic journey through the conflict and chaos of a civilisation on the verge of collapse.

http://mrclovenhoof.blogspot.co.uk/   
http://www.pigeonparkpress.com/           
@iainmgrant

A Summer Siege (Medieval Romance) by Samantha Holt

A Summer Siege (Medieval Romance)

1216 England

The country is torn apart by a rebellion as the French invade. Reunited after five years, Madeline and Tristan find themselves caught up in the war and in a fight to save their love.

Tristan is thrilled when the girl that he has loved, and missed, for five years returns to him, but the time apart has changed Madeline and she feels herself incapable of depending upon another. Can Tristan convince her otherwise?

As the French close in upon them, Madeline has to summon the courage to fight for her home, her country and for a love lost. Will she succeed or will their love and lives become another casualty of the rebellion?





www.samanthaholt.org.uk 
http://www.facebook.com/romanticfiction

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

BEFORE THE CRASH by Jasmine Schwartz @JASMINEWRITER

BEFORE THE CRASH: A MELISSA MORRIS SHORT STORY (MELISSA MORRIS DETECTIVE SERIES)

Melissa Morris is a thirty-something single New Yorker who works in one of the trendiest boutiques in Manhattan. She has it all, until the night she discovers something dreadful and frightening and just plain weird. Her life will never be the same.

Before The Crash is a prequel short story to the Melissa Morris Crime Novels, Farbissen and Fakakt.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JASMINEWRITER
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5837848.Jasmine_Schwartz
Author website: http://www.jasmineschwartz.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jasmine-Schwartz/358390810885383

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

The Rose Hotel by Rahimeh Andalibian @DrAConnect

The Rose Hotel

A country in chaos and a family torn asunder... In the midst of the upheaval and violence of Iran's 1979 revolution, a young girl struggles to make sense of a complex swirl of mystery and change.

In the novel, The Rose Hotel, Dr. Rahimeh Andalibian tells the true-life story of her Iranian Muslim family and two brutal crimes - one that her father solved and another of which her brother is accused.

The Iranian-born author takes us first into the early intimacy of her pious family as they lived in prosperity in their luxury hotel in Mashhad, Iran. Their life of beauty and tranquility is ruptured by revolution, followed by a fall from grace, as her homeland is forever altered and her family uprooted, first to London, and finally to California, where they suffer a different kind of revolution. Struggling to acculturate and adjust to a new host culture in America, they soon discover that although they escaped Iran, they were not free from their own lies and hidden truths.

Heartbreaking and intimately told, The Rose Hotel is a story of healing, rebirth after tragedy, and hard-won redemption.

http://www.draconnect.org/index.html              
https://twitter.com/DrAconnect
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6469936.Rahimeh_Andalibian

The Rand Principle by Jack Thompson @jack_writes

The Rand Principle

It's open season on Leeland Rand when his own government targets him for elimination. Is he a deadly killer, or a pawn in a game of cat and mouse? Or both?

A mysterious stranger warns Rand to run or die, but where do you go when you are public enemy number one? Will Rand uncover whoever has targeted him for termination before the U.S. Marshal Service's best tracker can find and kill him?

Think Jason Bourne and The Fugitive, and enjoy this political thriller. Great characters and interaction.

http://jackwrites.com               
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jack_writes

The Maze - The Lost Labyrinth by Jason Brannon @themaze35

The Maze - The Lost Labyrinth (Suspense Thriller)

A near death experience transports Jamie Burroughs into The Maze, a realm every bit as peculiar as Lewis Caroll's Wonderland, yet engineered with the moral intent of C.S. Lewis' Narnia. Built by angels and demons and filled with traps and riddles, The Maze gives whoever enters a face-to-face encounter with their sins.

For Jamie, The Maze becomes a terrifying journey through a world of darkness where his soul and the lives of those he loves hangs in the balance. With his family in danger and his soul in peril, Jamie is forced to reevaluate the kind of man he truly is as he struggles to escape The Maze before it’s too late.

http://jbrannon.net/
http://jasonbrannon.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/themaze35



(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Interview with L.A. Larkin @lalarkinauthor


L.A. Larkin’s first book, The Genesis Flaw, launched a new voice in thriller writing in Australia. Larkin’s gift of combining her understanding of environmental science with a fast-paced read won her many fans. In her new book Thirst, using the backdrop of the Antarctic, L.A. Larkin has produced a novel that will have you on the edge of your
seat. L.A. Larkin travelled to Antarctica to research Thirst on a former Russian oceanographic research vessel. She learnt about crevasse rescue, Antarctic survival and how to sew up a wound (nobody was harmed, the pig’s leg she practiced on
came from the butcher). After the success of her first thriller, L.A. Larkin gave up her climate change consultancy role, and now divides her time between writing thrillers, public speaking engagements and running thriller writing courses both in the UK and Australia. She lives in Sydney.

Thriller author, L.A. Larkin, has been likened to Michael Crichton and John Grisham. Her debut novel, The Genesis Flaw, was nominated for four crime fiction awards. She goes to extremes to research her stories: to write Thirst she went to Antarctica, learned about Polar survival, explosives, and how to sew up a wound. Larkin writes fast-paced thrillers that tap into the fears of our time. Born in the UK, she now lives in Sydney, Australia.

The Digital Ink Spot: Please tell the readers about your book Thirst.
L.A. Larkin: Thirst is a thriller about a maverick glaciologist on a remote station in Antarctica, who is hunted by killers, and must survive long enough to prevent a global catastrophe. So if you like fast-pace, high stakes, action adventure set in a stunning and chilling location, then you will love Thirst, which has been described as “The best Antarctic thriller since Ice Station” (James Phelan).

The Digital Ink Spot: From the very beginning of Thirst the action starts but then quickly settles down. The reader still has this cloud of doom lurking in the background. I read that you are a self taught thriller writer, what was your process to becoming so good at drawing the reader in?
L.A. Larkin: I believe that the best way to learn to write thrillers is to read the masters of the genre: work out what works in the story, and even what didn’t. That’s how I did it, and that’s what I tell me students who attend my thriller writing classes. I have a degree in literature from the University of London, but we certainly didn’t study modern-day thrillers. In thrillers, it’s critical the opening of the book grabs your attention and makes you want to keep reading. It must thrill from the very first page! I tend to write openings that create a mystery and raises lots of questions. My central character is plunged into danger fast, and the adversary is seen doing something terrible. In Thirst, we see an unidentified assailant murder two members of the Antarctic team and he makes their deaths look like an accident. Our hero, Luke Searle, goes on a rescue mission, unaware they are already dead and soon he is isolated, hunted and totally cut off from the outside world, unable to warn anyone that a global disaster is about to be unleashed.

The Digital Ink Spot: How did you get to the point in your research for Thirst to decide to jump on a boat to Antarctica? Do you think your personal adventure added to the book?
L.A. Larkin: I believe that to write a convincing and exciting story is such an alien and hostile environment, you need to experience it. I did a lot of research for the story: I spent time with the Australian Antarctic Division and British Antarctic Survey. I learned about the Polar survival, crevasse rescue and even how to sew up a wound! But it wasn’t until I went to Antarctica that I began to understand what the extreme cold can do to you (the coldest temperature ever recorded is at Vostok Station at -89.6°C or -129°F) and that without shelter you cannot survive for very long. I discovered that fire is the biggest fear on an Antarctic station, that deep crevasses can be hidden under snow bridges that look safe to walk on, that you can smell penguin colonies from quite a distance and that there are abandoned station, fifty or a hundred years old, still standing and still equipped, left as if the original occupants might return at any moment. One such station will feature in Thirst and will offer Luke the chance to survive his ordeal, or will it?

The Digital Ink Spot: How much of the book is realistic?
L.A. Larkin: Thirst is set on and around the Pine Island Glacier which is a real glacier in the Amundsen Sea Embayment, Antarctica. This NASA footage will reveal why I picked this particular location for my action adventure:
I have tried to make the experiences and potential catastrophe of Thirst as real as possible and I spent time understanding the science behind my story. Luke Searle is Antarctica’s champion and his passion for, and knowledge of, Antarctica, was inspired by a man I met on a ship as we traveled there. Likewise, Luke’s buddy, Vitaly Yushkov, and the Russian ship’s captain, were not part of the original story but after sailing with a Russian crew to Antarctica, I knew they would make intriguing and fun supporting characters for my hero.

The Digital Ink Spot: What can readers except from you in the near future?
L.A. Larkin: I am working on my next thriller, as well as a young adult crime fiction series.

*bonus question - Can an adult leopard seal really eat a human?

L.A. Larkin:Yes, it is rare but they can. They are the predators of the Antarctic and can grow to 3.5m or 11.7 feet long and have huge mouths. In 2003 a female British researcher was killed by one. My hero knows this only too well, but can this knowledge save him?




Blog, Larkin's Latest http://lalarkin.com/blog

Friday, January 11, 2013

Sexy Babe by James L. Conway @jameslconway

Sexy Babe

Grace Taylor is an adorable young actress trying to make it in Hollywood. But she’s having a really bad day. She is dumped by her boyfriend, fired by her agent, and kicked out of her apartment – then things get really nasty…

Grace comes to the rescue of friend, Madison, a gorgeous redhead with a deadly secret. During the struggle Grace kills a man in self-defense – a dangerous man with a lot of dangerous friends – forcing Grace and Madison to run for their lives.

Pursued by the mob, wanted by the cops and the FBI, Grace and Madison find themselves in a firestorm of bullets, blood, betrayal, kidnapping and murder.

Sexy Babe is a wild and wicked thriller full of humor, unforgettable characters and nonstop action.

jameslconway.com               
@jameslconway

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Pagan's Sphinx by William Webster @huwdthomas

Pagan's Sphinx

A battered journal left by the lone survivor of a plane crash provides a tantalising clue to an ancient mystery…

After years of leading overland expeditions all over the world, Ben Drummond is trying to settle down in England and forget the woman who broke his heart.

But he is summoned to Oxford by maverick archaeologist Dr Sarah Pagan, who believes she has discovered the whereabouts of a lost statue. Pagan believes the statue - of an ancient sphinx - could be even older than the Pyramids.

Proving its existence would turn conventional history on its head –allowing Pagan to vindicate herself and reclaim her lost reputation.

Pagan wants Ben to lead an expedition that will take her team deep into the desolate landscape of the Western Sahara.

Their first hurdle is to find the unmarked wreck of the crashed plane – but Ben soon realises they are not the only ones on the trail. A gang of art thieves have got wind of Pagan’s quest and are trying to follow the team so that they can loot the site for themselves.

http://hdthomas.wordpress.com               
https://twitter.com/huwdthomas
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Huw-Thomas/136699986472122

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The Goldenwealth Light by Scott McCloskey

The Goldenwealth Light (The Traveler of Ord)

01/09/2013 - 01/10/2013

What do you do when a magic spell tries to cast YOU?

Theodore Nathan Ellsworth must be the only kid on earth who hated winning the lottery. His peaceful junior high life was turned upside down when his once-loving parents shipped him off to a stuffy prep school where bullies pick fights with him every day. Add in Marie, his overachieving little sister who loves to tease him, and it's no wonder Theo would rather escape into his beloved fantasy novels than read that fresh copy of the Wall Street Journal that's waiting for him at the breakfast table every morning.

When Theo dodges a crabby librarian and borrows a strange book he found deep in forgotten aisles at school, he's whisked away to a world that's not like anything he's ever read about before. There are a lot of important lessons to be learned in this strange land, like how many hooves an escarot has, and NEVER to stare at a reflectia tree! The good news is, it's a time of peace and prosperity for all. The bad news is, everybody's calling Theo a Traveler of Tarad Ord, sent to restore the balance between good and evil. But if the world is already good, then what team is he supposed to be playing for?

With the promise of high adventure and the fate of an entire world on his shoulders, Theo learns he'll need to grow up fast if he's going to protect Marie and survive for long in the Gossamer City, capital of the Goldenwealth Light of Quaylund!

...but you know what the worst part of all is? Theo's little sister can cast magic spells, but he can't. That just sucks.

http://www.ordonline.net/           
http://storyfinds.com/author/1297/scott-mccloskey
http://www.facebook.com/goldenwealthlight
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16164289-the-goldenwealth-light
http://www.shelfari.com/books/31802841/The-Goldenwealth-Light-%28The-Traveler-of-Ord%29

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Reality's Dawn (The Reality Chronicles) by R. L. Copple @rlcopple

Reality's Dawn (The Reality Chronicles)

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, reality invaded the world.

When the presence of reality emerges from under the façade of perception, lives are changed. Forever.

A mystical ring binds Sisko to bless others with miracles and avoid using its power for himself, which would lead to a curse. With his friends Josh the wizard and Seth the leader of a gang of thieves, Sisko explores the emerging reality through his travels and adventures.

Journey with Sisko as reality’s presence confronts and changes the greedy, the killers, the trapped, the demonic, and Sisko himself.

…Reality has dawned, and no one will be the same.

Visit the author's website: http://blog.rlcopple.com/
Follow the author on Twitter:  @rlcopple

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Killing Plato by Jake Needham @JakeNeedham

KILLING PLATO (A Jack Shepherd crime thriller)

Plato Karsarkis was an international celebrity straight out of Vanity Fair until a New York grand jury indicted him for smuggling Iraqi oil and charged him with racketeering and espionage. There was also the matter of a woman he may or may not have murdered to cover it all up. When Karsarkis flees the United States just ahead of the FBI and promptly vanishes, the world's media whips itself into a frenzy.
Jack Shepherd was a politically connected American lawyer until he traded the fierce intrigues of Washington for the quiet life in Bangkok. Then one day he walks into a bar on the jet-set island of Phuket and finds the world's most famous fugitive waiting for him.

Karsarkis wants to hire him. He wants a presidential pardon so he can return to American and he knows Shepherd's connections to the White House just might get it for him. But the U.S. Marshals are in Phuket as well and they want something from Shepherd, too. They're there to kidnap Karsarkis and take him back to the US for trial and the Marshals want Shepherd to help them set a trap.

What Shepherd wants is for everybody to go away and leave him alone. At least he does until he discovers a chilling secret, one that plunges him a violent spiral of friendship and betrayal and pulls him straight back into the life he thought he had left behind in Washington.

The Marshals aren't really in Phuket to arrest Plato Karsarkis. They're there to kill him.

www.JakeNeedham.com             
Twitter - https://twitter.com/JakeNeedham
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jake-Needham-Novels/301948476492115
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5742462-killing-plato

 (Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

The Vault by Huw Thomas @huwdthomas

The Vault




01/08/2013-01/12/2013

From award-winning novelist Huw Thomas, a story of hidden secrets, childhood drama and murder…

THE VAULT

Adam Strong has two main problems in life: how to keep the gang from the local council estate out of the woods where he has his den and how to get the new girl at school to notice that he exists.

But the ancient woods next to Compton Fosse contain more dangers than just the risk of a beating from the town’s teenage psycho.

Hidden in Hobthrush Wood is the key to a mystery that weaves four disparate stories into a single web.

* The mansion: A gang of professional robbers mount a night raid on the secluded country home of a reclusive billionaire.

* The dead: Three decaying bodies, wrapped in plastic and chains, are found lying at the bottom of an ornamental lake.

* The convict: A sex offender is released from prison but breaks his parole and goes on the run after giving into temptation once again.

* The friends: Two boys stumble across an eerie secret…

IN AID OF SHELTERBOX

The Vault is being published on Kindle in aid of the disaster relief charity ShelterBox, which provides emergency shelter and vital aid for families who have lost their home as a result of earthquakes, floods, volcanoes etc.

Half of all royalties from sales of the Kindle edition of this book will go to the charity to help its work around the world - see www.shelterbox.org for more information.

http://hdthomas.wordpress.com              
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Huw-Thomas/136699986472122
https://twitter.com/huwdthomas
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6863453.Huw_Thomas

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Interview with Matt Bower @boweratbat

Matt Bower has had several short stories published in the literary journal, The Crucible and his full-length play, If Leopold Could Talk, was a finalist in the 2002 New Century Writer playwriting competition. He is a writer and performer for the professional comedy troupe, the Cellar Dwellers. At this moment, Matt is relaxing on his deck, sipping on a Dogfish Head IPA, and listening to a Pirates baseball game on his shortwave radio. He resides in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Digital Ink Spot had the pleasure of asking Matt a few questions about his novel, Save Me, Rip Orion.

The Digital Ink Spot: Please tell the readers about your novel.
Matt Bower: The following is a short synopsis for my independently published novel entitled Save Me, Rip Orion: An abandoned house is set aflame. Roscoe stumbles upon evidence that reveals the arsonist’s next target. Evoking his childhood icon, the mighty Rip Orion, Roscoe decides to become the real life version of the superhero and apprehend the pyromaniac. However, the fantasy rapidly unravels when events don’t unfold in classic comic book fashion. To save the world, Roscoe must play the role of villain. However, SMRO is not a typical hero versus villain tale. As the plot unfolds, the classic superhero origin story deconstructs until the line separating the heroes and the villains blurs. Capes and cowls become silly props, and prayers for a savior to swoop from the heavens go unheeded. As the cliché goes, "Good guys wear white, and bad guys wear black." Not so. Everyone wears grey, and superheroes only exist in comic books.

The Digital Ink Spot: Can you describe the journey you took to get your book written?
Matt Bower: An idea occurred to me during the summer of 2009. Although I will not admit the idea here (you’d likely cringe if I revealed it) I decided to clear my schedule the next several months and write a novel. The problem was I had no clear idea of how the plot would unfold, nor did I prepare any outlines, notes, etc. I probably broke every rule in Novice Novel Writing 101. I simply cobbled together the plot off-the-cuff until I realized about 35,000 words in that my work was a meandering mess. I decided to halt my efforts and regroup. Although my first attempt at writing a novel went awry, I was able to flesh out the two main characters (who later became Roscoe and Marcy in SMRO); I had really grown affectionate toward both in the short time I misused them. I conjured a new story for the two main protagonists—more closely resembling SMRO—and set to writing another novel. Embarrassingly, I did not construct an outline again and simply steered the action as I wrote. I’m unsure why I thought I could form a tight, interesting plot in this manner. Regardless, I managed to complete the project. However, once I set the novel aside and began to distance myself from the writing process I gradually began to understand that the manuscript needed much work. So, I scrapped the second draft too. Finally, I took the appropriate time to fashion the novel’s outline. I kept in mind the whole “inciting incident, rising action, climax”, etc. that I recalled from 8th grade English. The plot had now evolved to very closely resemble SMRO, less the superhero angle. I also read three books on novel writing. Again, I took to my computer about 3 hours per night, most nights for the next 6 months. I emerged with a completed third draft of my novel. I knew the plot itself was much more complex, and the characters more realistic and interesting. In the meantime, I also joined a local writing group and received some helpful criticism. Again, after having set aside my newest draft for 2 months or so, I realized I still had more work to do. As had become the tradition, I dumped the third draft in the trash and decided to start anew. By this time, I was struggling with the notion of simply abandoning my novel, or conceiving a whole new plot. I knew the third draft had taken great strides from the first two, but I was unsure how to make it really blossom. One day, during the doldrums of my 9-5 desk job, the idea struck to integrate the superhero element into the plot I had at the ready. Again, I took ample time to cobble together a new outline of the latest version of the novel. I also wrote the details of each scene on a separate notecard and then translated the notecards into a journal. Things seemed to be clicking this time; the superhero angle mended the storylines together extremely well, and added a level of depth to the story that was previously lacking. I went to work and hammered-out the fourth draft in less than three months. I should mention that my wife was pregnant at the time and I had little choice but to complete the manuscript ASAP. Even after finishing the latest draft and allowing a couple of months of reflection, I still felt I had managed to write a very competent novel. I hired an editor and tied some loose ends and set off to independently publish. I once read that a novel is never really finished; it is merely abandoned by the author at some point. My novel, now entitled Save Me, Rip Orion, was abandoned after three years of commitment. If readers are interested in a much more in-depth reflection of the writing process for SMRO, I have posted a 4-part essay entitled “From Negative Zero To Rip Orion” on my blog Crooked Lullabies.

The Digital Ink Spot: How have you conquered editing?
Matt Bower: While writing each of the four drafts, I maintained the same habit: I would write for a bit over two hours, and then go back and re-read what I had just written. After each draft was completed, I would re-read the entire manuscript and tighten up the dialogue and cut out the fat. Of course, writing four drafts, front to back, was all a part of the editing process, too. I also had a few friends read the drafts and provide a few suggestions along the way. I mentioned earlier that I joined a writing group. I admit that I’m not sure this option is for all authors. While I participated in about 8 meetings, only one of those meetings was spend discussing my work. Yes, I did get some helpful comments but I also spent several hours dissecting others’ manuscripts and focusing on works beside than my own. A participant in a writing group also must be able to decide which criticism to consider and which to leave. Finally, after I re-read the fourth and final version of my novel, I hired an editor to proofread and provide both small and big picture suggestions.


The Digital Ink Spot: What was the book that most influenced your life — and why?
Matt Bower: I’m not sure any one book has really influenced my life or my desire to want write, at least not in any significant way. There are certainly a handful of books that I enjoyed very much: Lord of the Flies, Catcher in the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Johnny Got His Gun, and The Stranger to name a few. When I was in elementary school I was hooked on the Hardy Boys novel, and I fondly recall reading Where the Red Fern Grows. During high school English, what most astounded me was reading novels and understanding that what was significant wasn’t just the story itself, rather the universal or timeless subtext which allowed the novel in question to endure generation after generation. Although the authors of many of the novels were long dead, here we were, a bunch of eleventh graders still being quizzed on what the author really meant. I found that concept fascinating.

The Digital Ink Spot: What can readers except from you in the future?
Matt Bower: Good question. I look back at the last three years of my life and consider how many hours of work I committed to SMRO, be it brainstorming, outlining, or actually writing and editing the novel. I have a newborn now and I’m not sure if I can sacrifice the time necessary to complete another full-length novel. The most invaluable lesson I learned, albeit accidentally, is that writing a novel requires tons of work and patience. I was foolish to think I could simply sit at my computer and create a layered plot with multi-faceted characters as fast as I could type the words. On the other hand, I have been encouraged by the results since publishing SMRO, both in terms of critical reception and sales. Recently, I have formulated a few new ideas and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before I set off to write that dreaded second novel.

Contact +Matt Bower here:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6533848.Matt_Bower

Blacklisted by Luke Romyn @LukeRomyn

Blacklisted
Luke Romyn

Nobody can escape their past. It will always be there, returning to haunt you in the darkest times of your life.

Mike Swanson knows this - his past torments him daily and he sets himself upon a path of death and misery. He justifies his dark deeds by enacting them upon those he perceives as evil, not knowing that the real evil lies within himself.

Killing the scum of society, Mike becomes one of them and draws the attention of a group who require people with his skills. Unwillingly enlisted into the notorious 'Blacklisted Brotherhood', Mike must first survive horrendous training in order to hunt down a madman whose deeds will see the world plunged into anarchy if he succeeds.

Blasting across continents in their pursuit of justice, the team will come together in ways that they had never imagined and must learn to trust each other if they are to survive.

For if they die, it could mean the end of freedom.

Will Mike survive the confrontations in order to see out the mission, or will he cut loose and run from the responsibility that has been placed upon him? Why should he care for the people of the world when they have never cared for him?

Why indeed...?



(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

FEATHERS AT LAS FLORES by Linda Talley @joanmarsh3

FEATHERS AT LAS FLORES Gossip Children's Picture Book (Fully Illustrated Version)

This version of FEATHERS AT LAS FLORES includes all the luminous illustrations just waiting to enchant children of any age, and especially the read-to set.

If the text-only version is better for your needs, then please click on FEATHERS AT LAS FLORES in the Text-Only Version for the serious young reader - ages 6-9.

Happy reading in either Version.

REPEATING RUMOR AND GOSSIP

Fly into Miami Beach and meet a parrot who talks too much.

People never stop talking, do they? And from his perch at Las Flores cafe, Feathers hears every word-and repeats a good deal of what he hears.

The problem is that the words sometimes get a little jumbled up, turned around, stretched out of shape.

That's what happens one morning when Julio finds a ten dollar bill on the sidewalk. By the end of the day-and with the help of the talkative Feathers-Julio's bit of good luck has grown to immense proportions-at least in the minds of the regulars at Las Flores.

Feathers' misadventures take place within sight of the palm trees and blue ocean waters of Miami Beach, Florida. Illustrator Andra Chase's sunny watercolors depict a kaleidoscope of local color and characters, not least, the multihued, madcap Feathers .

Author Linda Talley's comic story about a parrot determined to keep up his end of the conversation will remind readers of the children's game of "gossip," where what goes in the ear is not always what comes out the mouth. It will give readers young and old a moment's pause to consider the hazards of hearsay and the unreliability of rumor.

A SURPRISE and added bonus is the "Enrichment Information" which includes lots of facts about Florida, the Sunshine State, Miami Beach, Parrots - A Favorite Pet, Parakeets, Amazon Parrots, Cockatoos, Macaws and African Gray Parrots. This is fascinating detail that did not make it into the story itself, but is very rich in interesting description.

A second big plus is the "Letter to Parents and Educators" which includes many relevant questions and comments to facilitate conversation with young readers about the message of the story...the perils and dangers of repeating gossip. So even though on the surface this is just an engaging story for children, it is also truly helpful in a real way.

http://childrensebooksbyjoan.com          
@joanmarsh3
+Joan Marsh

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Banished by William L. Deen @WilliamDeen

Banished: The Gods Among Us Book One

Always Free

Enki is the son of Anu, God King of Nibiru. Heir to the throne and his father's closest confidant, his only rival is the malevolent god Inlil, his half-brother. 
Having committed transgressions against other gods, Inlil is put on trial. His father, Anu, banishes him to Earth. There, he is given the ability of versipellis, a shapeshifter. He chooses to reside in the form of a wolf and rules within that realm. With this banishment, Anu places one decree on Inlil. He must not encroach upon the domain of man.
Inlil cannot resist. He discovers the pain and suffering of man strengthens him. He determines this empowerment can be used for a return to Nibiru. Once there, he plans to overthrow his father, and seek vengeance upon those responsible for his banishment. 
In response to Inlil's latest offense, Anu sends Enki to Earth. Also given the ability of versipellis, Enki chooses the form of a great white eagle and the adventure begins. 
Using myths and religious legends, Inlil recruits followers as the Egyptian god Apep and Zoroastrian demon Ahriman. For two thousand years they battle through ancient Egypt and Pakistan, with the future of mankind in the balance.

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Bad Juju by Dina Rae @HalooftheDamned

Bad Juju

A Haitian bokor mentors two teens in the dark arts. Their spells backfire.

Lucien Nazaire flees his Haitian homeland and meanders around the United States for decades. He settles in a Wisconsin trailer park filled with elderly tenants. He meets Jake and hires him for odd household jobs. As their relationship progresses, Lucien invites the boy into the world of Voodoo.
Jake LaRue lives in foster care with his abusive uncle. The Voodoo lessons give him a sense of power within an otherwise helpless situation. Despite his loner status, he instantly connects with Henry, his only friend in high school.
Henry Novak has Asperger’s Syndrome. He fixates on historical events, most recently the 2010 Haitian earthquake. Like Jake, he becomes passionate about the dark side of Voodoo. They learn how to cast spells on those they hate and lust, leading up to dire consequences.
Months after the Haitian earthquake, Henry convinces his family to volunteer for the island's reconstruction. Their mission turns into a nightmare when he mysteriously walks off of the campsite.
Bad Juju is a balance of horror, romance, and literary fiction intended for adults and mature teens. The plot uses research involving the Voodoo religion.

http://www.dinarae.co           
@haloofthedamned
https://www.facebook.com/DinaRaeBooks
http://www.dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com/
http://pinterest.com/dinaraebooks/
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15997183-bad-juju

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Mirror Face by Meredith Lorimar @violetflamed

Mirror Face

In Mirror Face, we meet a young woman of means named Ursula Baker. As she struggles to secure the balance between life experience and sensibility, we descend into her curiosity for a world she is so fascinated by. The novel is told through a series of inter-woven reveries, which explore what it means to love and live with purpose in a challenging, complex society. Will Ursula be able to secure her niche in life, when her closest friends are threatened by the consequences of their dangerous and out-of-control lifestyles? One friend has lost all ambition to become a singer/songwriter and has descended into a world of amphetamine and an obsession with Lady Gaga; another lies in hospital, battling the effects of HIV/AIDS. It will take conviction to be of assistance to those in crisis but will this strength be at the expense of something Ursula needs to maintain her own sanity?

http://the-educated-imaginary.blogspot.ca/                
https://twitter.com/violetflamed

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Review: Mio Padre, il Tumore by Steve Lowe

Mio Padre, il Tumore

Summary:
Four tales of Bizarro oddity and psychological horror…

Born of radiation exposure on the set of The Conqueror, the worst film ever made, the stomach tumor that killed John Wayne lived on. It found a home in a new body and became Lucchesi, Northern Italy’s top bomb technician, a man loved by women and despised by men in equal measure. After an attempt on his life and years spent in hiding, Lucchesi must return to America to protect his only son, Vincenzo, from the shadows of his past, and to uncover the explosive secret hidden inside the World’s Largest Egg.

Just To Spite Your Face

Mickey Pringles and the Boy

Jumpers

Review:
Mio Padre, il Tumore take up the bulk of the quartet of stories. Each of them are independent of each other but share the same surreal approach to storytelling. If you can jump on board the sentient tumor train, you are on the railway of bizarro fiction. I love the genre. I look forward to reading any and all stories of this type.
I enjoyed Lowe's writing. He gives the reader a wonder sense of atmosphere. He writes in beautiful detail and imagery. It is a an awesome read. The stories are interesting and well done. I have one thing negative to say and that is Lowe will spoon feed his readers too much detail in order for us to all be on the same page as to how things work in the universe the author created. I caught myself thinking, "Yes, I get it. The body is an avatar."
I liked all four stories. The first being the longest of the four but if I had to choose, Just to Spite Your Face, would be my favorite. Now that one is really out there and that's exactly where I want this author to take me.

http://steve-lowe.com/

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Captain's Day by Terry Ravenscroft @terryrazz

Captain's Day

Jan 3 and 4, 2013

At Sunnymere Golf Club meticulous plans put in place by club captain Henry Fridlington and his good lady wife Millicent ought to have guaranteed that his Captain's Day would be the best day of his life. However Henry has recently enforced a strict 'no swearing on the golf course' policy, a policy which has not gone down at all well with the membership - and a policy which is largely instrumental, along with more than a little help from Henry himself, in ensuring that far from being the best day in his life his Captain's Day turns into the very worst day of his life.

www.topcomedy.co.uk               
twitteer @terryrazz
Facebook http://on.fb.me/GH11Sb   
UK http://amzn.to/n43cwq

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.

The Body in the Parking Structure by Jerold Last

The Body in the Parking Structure

Suzanne Foster discovers the body of a Bolivian scientist in the parking garage next to the Medical School at UCLA. The police treat the killing as just another drug deal gone bad. P.I. Roger Bowman, Suzanne, and his team investigate the murder, which seems to be linked to a small biotechnology company and a new anti-cancer drug they are developing. The reader is off on a whirlwind tour of Los Angeles and Westwood in search of clues. The clues are all there: Can you figure out whodunit before Roger does? This fast-paced short story features characters from the author's popular South American mystery novel series working on a murder case at home in Los Angeles.

http://rogerandsuzanneomysteries.blgspot.com

(Prices may change at any time. Before downloading, confirm that this book is still free. Some become Prime Eligible, with Prime, Kindle owners can choose from thousands of books to borrow for free.)

And feel free to share this post via your social network of choice. Let's help these authors get the word out to other readers.