Reading, Reviewing, Guest Authors, Giveaways and more.
Michael and Alesia have been married, loving, fighting, and writing together for 20 years. They live together with their two goofy dogs and a spastic cat in Northern California.
Author, needlework enthusiast, aspiring Buddha, RPGer, gardener, tech-geeky, herbalist, pirate. Married to Michael, her co-author, for 21 years. Two grown sons, two goofy dogs, one eccentric cat. Writes for her own entertainment, and hopefully yours.
Connect with Alesia at these sites:
Michael wrote his first book at age 12. A 24 page masterpiece hand typed onto letter paper folded in 
half with a construction paper cover — hand illustrated, of course — the tome was none-the-less a best seller in the family. Since then he’s been an airman; a commercial fisherman, the third generation to go to sea in his family; a lobbyist; truck driver; counselor and minister; and general contractor. All the while, writing has remained an important creative outlet and a cornerstone of his marriage to his equally literally gifted wife. Having retired from his construction firm, he now writes and publishes full time from his home in Northern California.
Connect with Michael at these sites:
The first questions we get asked are usually “how can you write with the person you’re living with, every day? How are you even still married?” There’s a bit of disbelief that a husband and wife team can function professionally as well domestically, and for good reasons: You’re going to sleep next to the person with whom you just spent an hour arguing plot developments. The rent is overdue. The car just broke down. The kids have the flu, the last chapter you wrote is crap - and you know you’ve got to get up the next morning and try again. Life. It just keeps happening, whether you want it to or not.
Well, one answer is that we keep all the knives locked away during working hours.
Seriously, as a couple we are polar opposites. Alesia is the extrovert, Michael the introvert. Alesia’s strengths are emotional and intuitive, Michael’s are intellectual and logical. Alesia writes in snarled bursts of words that she straightens out later. Michael edits as he writes. Alesia wants poetry and flow and music in the prose. Michael prefers wordy, legalistic prose. For Alesia, the world is right if it feels right. For Michael, the fantasy world must make logical sense or it drives him crazy. (No guarantees inferred or implied that his logic makes sense to anyone else.) We problem solve in completely different ways - and when we clash, it’s usually spectacular.
But so is the makeup sex.
We don’t really have any easy explanations for how we do what we do as a married couple. We fight a lot. We scream, storm off, write angry emails. We also spend hours at our keyboards, pulling love and lies and trust and danger out of our imaginations to weave these stories together. It’s not easy - insert tired maxims about hard things being worth it all, here. But when a thing is important to you, you keep finding new ways to navigate through the minefields, whether you’re writing a book or raising a family. Or both. One of our strengths as a couple turned out to be that we never quit on each other, on ourselves, or on our characters. That always keeps us coming back to the computers, to our stories, and to each other.
It’s fair to say that our work/marriage paradox is a work in progress. We’ve learned a bit about how to disagree and still go to bed together at night. In the end, we hope our readers enjoy the results of it as much as we do.
A con turned cop. An urchin turned lady. Two webs of lies. An epic love. Sir Vincent Sultaire is the Raven, rakehell, playboy, con, serving a term of indenture for the crimes of burglary and extortion. His lover, Lady Angelique Blakesly, seems to be a wealthy, widowed baronness and devout member of the conservative Guardian Paladin church. But Angel’s careful poise and reserve conceal the Iris, one of Fernwall’s most successful high-stakes burglars; and beneath the collar of Raven’s indenture, he’s playing the cops and the cons for fun and profit. Their deceptions intersect explosively after the brilliantly executed theft of the priceless Tôrg-Dernäd. Sir Vincent is put in charge of the investigation, a thief set to catch a thief. Angelique, beholden to forces beyond her control, is desperate to stop him. Will Raven discover the truth? And will it be enough to set Angel free before their lies destroy them both?
BOOK DETAILS:
Series: The Raven & The Iris
Paperback: 418 pages
Publisher: Metaphor Publications
Publication Date: November 26, 2013
ISBN-10: 097541075X
ISBN-13: 978-0975410752PURCHASE LINKS:
YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM
Striving for new heights on the literary landscape, along with his late wife Lois, Jon Foyt began writing novels 20 years ago, following careers in radio, commercial banking, and real estate. He holds a degree in journalism and an MBA from Stanford and a second masters degree in historic preservation from the University of Georgia. Jon is 81 years old, an octogenarian prostate cancer survivor, a marathon runner (60 completed), hiker, and political columnist. He currently resides in a large active adult retirement community near San Francisco. Jon Foyt is the successful author of 11 fiction books.
Connect with NAME at these sites:
Things are not quite what they seem at Sunset Gardens, an active adult retirement community in California. The directors of the Homeowner’s Association has been handling money in questionable ways, there’s secret meetings occurring at The Silent Front, a former speakeasy, and an influential resident recently committed suicide. Reporter Willy Herbst, approaching retirement, is curious about what’s going on in the neighboring community “over the hill.” He and his eager intern, Sally Saginaw, team up to investigate. Their discoveries are surprising…
Time to Retire is filled with mystery, romance, and adventure, as Willy and Sally explore the lifestyles of aging retirees.
“A gripping narrative that reads like a mystery, entertaining and thought-provoking.” – Doug Hergert, columnist and author of Nothing in Paris and Can’t Get It In France
“A realistic description of a retirement community. Living in such a place, I recognize the foibles of members, the clubs, and the Board as vivid and humorous. Holds your interest… an enjoyable read that I recommend.” – Samuel P. Oliner, author of Altruism, Intergroup Apology, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, and The Nature of Good and Evil
Chapter Six
Willy and His Sunrise Sentinel City Editor, Carolyn Whyte
For some time prior to Heinrich’s death, Willy had been peering across the hills toward Sunset Gardens, speculating about the wisdom of its aging and aged residents. Now, he hoped, with his new assignment from Carolyn Whyte, he would be able to investigate both Heinrich Gossard’s suicide and to learn more about retiree’s lives and perhaps their loves. Before, he’d not gotten such an assignment from his editor. Yet, hadn’t Carolyn emailed him Sunday morning about investigating Heinrich Gossard’s suicide?
With expectations high, Willy decided to drop by his editor’s desk the following morning.
“Carolyn—”
“—Ms. Whyte—”
“—Uh, sorry.” Willy rushed on, “I read your intern Sally’s obituary on Heinrich Gossard’s suicide.”
“And?” Carolyn Whyte mumbled, pencil in hand, decreeing story edits.
Willy faltered, “Well, I’m curious about what goes on over there. In addition to my interest in the suicide, I’d like to write some human interest stories.”
“The suicide, yes,” Carolyn interrupted gruffly. “The other stuff, no. Retirees are in a world all their own. We have some readers over there, but not many. They have their own weekly newspaper, the Clarion Call. Our Sentinel readers are mostly younger folks living in Sunrise City. We have plenty of interesting stories to cover for them.”
“But—” Willy started to protest. He wanted to challenge her assumptions. “You were the one who wanted me to let you know what I found out….”
“All right,” the editor cut him off, seeing Willy was not about to back down. “When you do investigate, other than the suicide, it’s on your own time. No mileage, no overtime…after hours some night after you’ve walked your dog.”
Willy quickly replied, “Do you have any contacts at Sunset Gardens?”
Looking up from her editing again, Carolyn thought out loud, “My dear old Aunt Hattie—retired, of course—has lived in Sunset Gardens for years.” The editor added, “She once told me about a guy—Arnold somebody—who runs the pub there, The Silent Frog. He has the inside scoop. Try talking to him.” Returning to her editing, Carolyn continued, “Like I said, nobody here in Sunrise City is much interested in what those retirees are doing.” She looked up again at Willy, this time smiling. “Prove me wrong, Mr. Eager Reporter.”
Willy smiled back.
BOOK DETAILS:
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: October 13, 2013
ISBN-10: 1480075698
ISBN-13: 978-1480075696PURCHASE LINKS:
YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM
Mike Smart has spent over 30 years in the IT industry. Gatekeeper draws on his firsthand experiences witnessing the remarkable acceleration of our dependency upon computer software and systems. In doing so, he highlights many of the issues in the IT industry that have been overlooked. Smart is based in West Sussex and is already working on his second novel The Platinum Solution which is set in South Africa following the death of Nelson Mandela.
Connect with Mike at these sites:
Do you draw from personal experiences and/or current events?
A mixture, I have been fortunate that I have travelled pretty extensively either for pleasure or business and this has provided me with a lot of interesting perspective when one “looks back” at the UK or other countries such as the USA. Understandably people see themselves very differently in many cases than how they are perceived from afar. I also take a great deal of interest in current events and look to bring current themes into my work. Gatekeeper for example is a great story in its own right but at the same time sets out to highlight the very real problems we all face with data privacy and our total reliance on IT to support us in our everyday lives.
Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the story line brings you?
Before I start on a book I see an overall picture that I am setting out to describe, so when I know where I am beginning, know what the outcome will be and then in a short punchy style link the front and back with hopefully a good story in between
Your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?
I write quickly and in a highly focused manner, normally between 20.00 and 01.00 – I have a day job so am not able to focus all my attentions on writing.
Is writing your full time job? If not, may I ask what you do by day?
It would be lovely to write all the time but unfortunately to date the income generated doesn’t fund the expenses of an extended family. My background is in the IT industry with a focus on Sales & Marketing and M&A work – so the bulk of my time is spent acting as a management consultant assisting large multi-nationals or smaller entities build and develop their businesses.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Ian Fleming, Tolkien, Dan Brown, Geoffrey Archer, Robert Ludlum – enjoy a good story, preferably delivered with pace
What are you reading now?
Jet by Russell Blake – according to one of the people who read Gatekeeper we apparently have similar no nonsense punchy styles. Am halfway through and would tend to agree
Are you working on your next novel? Can you tell us a little about it?
Gatekeeper is the first in the “Max Thatcher Series” the 2nd The Platinum Solution – it’s about a neo fascist group that is prepared at all cost to return South Africa to apartheid. I started writing the book before Mandela died as I suspect there will be a power vacuum in South Africa much as there was when Tito died in Yugoslavia. There the loss of a world statesman capable of keeping everybody in line resulted in the most recent well publicised Balkan War, south Africa could easily go the same way and the story I’ve written depicts one potential way things might go. A third book is now also underway but not for sharing right now!
Your novel will be a movie. Who would you cast?
The lead character Max Thatcher would be Ben Affleck, the lead baddie Jack Hunter would bee perfect for a younger Jack Nicholson
Manuscript/Notes: hand written or keyboard?
keyboard
Favorite leisure activity/hobby?
Fly fishing, golf and travel
Favorite meal?
Top class Italian food
When a psychotic business man inadvertently creates a computer virus that causes destruction across the world, the UK government finds itself at loggerheads with MI6 and chaos ensues, in this fast-paced, debut thriller.
Businessman Jack Hunter runs a booming software business. Unbeknown to his millions of clients, he is stealing their private and corporate information using a secretive programme called Gatekeeper. When one of his inner sanctum contacts an investigative journalist, Serena Thatcher, in the hope of exposing Jack and taking over his business empire, Jack retaliates by kidnapping Serena and shipping her across to the Dominican Republic on a super yacht. Events take a catastrophic turn when Jack releases the latest version of Gatekeeper, which he has built using Artificial Intelligence (AI) software, without having fully tested it, and therefore blissfully unaware of the dangerous repercussions that are to follow.
To prevent detection, the software effectively hides itself, causing a virus to break out and corrupt the software on any host environment. IT systems begin to fail everywhere the Gatekeeper is installed; traffic control software, banking systems and stock markets begin to crash spontaneously and anarchy starts to stir as the UK government fails to stop the virus from spreading.
Dubious of both the government and MI6, Serena Thatcher’s ex-special forces brother Max takes matters into his own hands, and enlists the help of Jack’s ex-wife, Clare Pryce, a Cambridge professor specialising in AI software. A high-octane chase from Monaco to the Dominican Republic leads them to Jack, who is protected by his evil henchman Sergi, a former member of the Serbian special forces. Things come to an explosive climax after the Royal Navy are forced to step in. Who will make it out alive? Who is responsible for trying to destroy Jack’s business? And what are the Americans’ ulterior motives for getting involved at the final hour?
Gatekeeper is the fast-paced thriller from debut novelist Mike Smart. Highly topical and engaging throughout, Smart explores a world where the infringement of personal and corporate data and privacy is commonplace and insidious. Smart proves that it is entirely feasible for an individual to steal personal data and the novel examines the flaws of living in such a connected world, where inserting code into a global network can result in catastrophic permutations. An action-packed narrative, a heady blend of Ian Fleming and Dan Brown, explores the terrifying effects of one man’s corruption of an apparently harmless piece of computer software.
BOOK DETAILS:
Series: Max Thatcher Series
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition
Publication Date: October 9, 2013
ISBN-10: 1492905860
ISBN-13: 978-1492905868PURCHASE LINKS:
YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM
Graham Wood was born and raised in Manchester and currently lives in Timperley, Altrincham. He works freelance, coordinating large global IT outsourcing contracts for clients of Efficio Consulting. Many of the characters in the book are based on idiosyncrasies he has encountered throughout his life and the ideas for the book have been developing over many years. Wood is already working on the second book due to be released later next year.
Connect with Graham at these sites:
On Writing and Reading:
Do you draw from personal experiences and/or current events?
Yes, is the short answer to both parts of the question. Taking the first part of the question first, I feel it is important for any fictional writer to draw upon a mix of inspiration, life experiences and elements of individual characters and personal attributes they have noticed. For me this brings the individuality of the author into the storyline. In relation to the current events element of the question, this is harder to do for science fiction but I have incorporated more general themes of dictator oppression, rebelling against adversity, energy concerns and extent we rely on our communication structures. In the second book there is more concern on population growth, immigration and differences in culture.
Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the story line brings you?
Zein started with an idea of a different world close to but apart from Earth. This then transformed into a land, unseen to our eyes due to greater alien technological advances, in the sky above Earth. Therefore, I very much start with the idea, threat and struggle facing our heroes and heroines, though once I have established this I do jump to the conclusion i.e. where is this leading me? The old adage, whether you’re writing an essay for an exam or a novel is to have a beginning, middle and end. The rest simply falls into place. For me it’s beginning, the end and then back to the middle. That is how my brain is wired!
Your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?
The reason I have not managed to publish a book until now is due to the extent life is just so busy, always interrupting what you really want to do. The wonderful merry-go-round of family life, bringing up the kids, and acting as a taxi service does not lend to quiet downtime to concoct your first novel. To break the mould I wake up at 5am in the morning and walk out, usually in my pyjamas and fleece and sit in the hut at the bottom of my garden. The hut has heat and power and is very secluded with just birds for company. No phones, no kids asking for lifts and no one knocking on the door or dog barking. Bliss.
This is how I pull together the structure and chapters. I write one or two chapters and then through the day, when the noise starts again, I develop the story whilst doing my errands or walking the dog. I then critique the chapters when I can. The next morning I am up again at 5am and the next couple of chapters are completed. I found that I could write a 90,000 word novel in four months whilst still working my day job.
Is writing your full time job? If not, may I ask what you do by day?
No, it is not my full time job. I am a freelance IT Procurement Consultant specialising in outsourcing. I enjoy working for myself and the type of work I do is demanding and usually away from home. There is an element of flexibility and I do sometimes work at home which allows time to write and then work. I should say that I do not see writing as work but more of a hobby and pastime. My dream is that within the next five years, when I have completed the nine books I have planned for the Zein Chronicles, writing will become my full time career.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
I have no fixed genres or authors that I follow as I read all types of books. However my inspiration was Tolkein and I have recently enjoyed reading Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games trilogy) and George RR Martin (Game of Thrones). If you took a look at my bookcase there are many books from Grisham, James Clavell, Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, David Baldacci to name just a few.
What are you reading now?
I am reading Lee Childs – The Enemy, a Jack Reacher book.
Are you working on your next novel? Can you tell us a little about it?
Yes I am and making very good progress. The second book is nearly all about Zein the planet. The first Joint Human and Zeinonian Task Force set off on a quest to see if there are any survivors back on Zein. The book introduces new, exciting characters as well as the key surviving individuals from the first book. The struggle between good and evil continues and relationship issues between the companions hots up considerably. The book is full of epic fights, new worlds and a growing menace back on Earth. One thing I will promise is that in every Zein book I write the opening chapter will have a battle to remember!
Fun questions:
Your novel will be a movie. Who would you cast?
Good question.Both Kabel and Tyson are tall, good looking guys in early twenties so I would probably have Rob Pattinson as Tyson and Liam Hemsworth as Kabel. Zylar needs to look mean without trying so Christian Bale is the right actor for that role. For the female leads – Jennifer Lawrence for the spiky Gemma, Rachel Hurd-Ward for the fiery Evelyn and Emilia Clarke from the Game of Throne as the beautiful Amelia.
Manuscript/Notes: hand written or keyboard?
Keyboard. Tried the hand written notes and I am a notoriously messy writer, couldn’t read my notes….
Favorite leisure activity/hobby?
Golf, although I am a beginner. As I am over six feet and reasonably strong I can hit the ball far but not always in the direction I want it to go. I do love walking my cross breed dog, Mitzy.
Favorite meal?
Food, I love food, all food. My favourite has to be a toss-up between a good madras curry or a Lebanese meal with many starters.
Inspired by recent events in his personal life, debut author releases first novel in an epic sci-fi trilogy, in which two races must form an uneasy allegiance in order to shield the Universe from total destruction. ”
One hundred years ago, fleeing terror in their homeland, The Zein Expeditionary Force arrived in a new galaxy, where they found planet Earth and its rich supply of the extraordinary and rare raw material zinithium. They also found Earth to be inhabited by humans: an aggressive race similar in appearance to their own, but technologically inferior. The indigenous species were too numerous to conquer, yet too engrossed in their own wars to make peace with. Instead of joining with the humans, the Zeinonians settled in four quadrants in the skies above Earth, masking their presence with their advanced alien technology. For decades they lived peacefully, mining the precious zinithium, awaiting a time when the human wars would cease, and the two might live side by side, in harmony.
One hundred years later and peace continues to allude the Earth. The Zeinonians must now face their own uprising, as the evil Zylar leads a powerful sectarian rebel army against the remaining protected quadrant, to once and for all take control of the Zein Earth Colony. Zylar’s plan is to invade and conquer Earth and plunder the precious zinithium to aid his empirical ambitions across the entire known Universe. Only one Zeinonian can prevent a devastating interplanetary war; young Kabel Blackstone, destined to be one of the most powerful Zeinonians to have ever lived. Following the mysterious ‘Ancient Prophecy’, Kabel travels to Earth where he forms a small band of unlikely human companions. Amongst them is Tyson Mountford, who has recently started to experience disturbing new powers and abilities; signs that he could be the key to the Ancient Prophecy. Kabel and Tyson, two strangers from different worlds, must join forces to overcome the tyrannical forces that threaten their lives, their families, and the future of their races. If they fail, Zylar will stop at nothing to destroy their home planets on his mission to dominate the Universe.
Zein is the fast-paced sci-fi thriller charting an epic battle of good against evil, as an alien species allies with the human race to fight dark forces, both on Earth and in the skies above it. While aimed at a young adult audience, Zein explores pertinent themes of romance, friendship, and adversity which will undoubtedly resonate with many adults too. Author Graham Wood has long wanted to become a novelist, but it wasn’t until summer 2012 that he finally decided to pursue his dream. When his daughter Becky was just fourteen-years-old, she was diagnosed with a potentially fatal congenital condition with a previously undetected major heart defect and underwent open heart-surgery. Astonishingly, Becky diagnosed her own heart defect in a school biology lesson, when her friends were trying to find a pulse on her left-hand side, but couldn’t; a subsequent enquiry with her GP concluded with terrifying heart surgery at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool. Witnessing his daughter face this fearful challenge had a profound effect on Graham Wood, who, inspired by Becky’s bravery, realized life is too short and too precious to be wasted. During many sleepless nights at Becky’s bedside in hospital during her recovery, Wood began formulating the book in order to take his mind off the distress of seeing his daughter so ill. In January 2013 he began to write and after only four months, the first installment of the Zein trilogy was complete. The family are deeply indebted to Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Ronald McDonald House, and will be donating 50% of the book’s profits for the next three years to the two charities.
YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM
Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 60 novels, with translations in 24 languages. Born and raised on the western edge of the beautiful Quabbin Reservoir in rural Massachusetts, Carla grew up with tales of her father’s life as a Dutch sailor and her mother’s childhood in northwest Florida.
At a young age, Carla began penning her own stories on a branch high up in her favorite sugar maple. Now she enjoys spending time at the family homestead (now a tree farm) with her six brothers and sisters and their families.
When she’s not writing, Carla loves to travel, hike, kayak, garden, and, of course, dive into a good book. She lives with her family in Vermont, near Quechee Gorge.
Connect with NAME at these sites:
Being rescued by a good-looking, bad-boy firefighter isn’t how Samantha Bennett expected to start her stay in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts. Now she has everyone’s attention—especially that of Justin Sloan, her rescuer, who wants to know why she was camped out in an abandoned old New England cider mill.
Samantha is a treasure hunter who has returned to Knights Bridge to solve a 300-year-old mystery and salvage her good name. Justin remembers her well. He’s the one who alerted her late mentor to her iffy past and got her fired. But just because he doesn’t trust her doesn’t mean he can resist her. Samantha is daring, determined, seized by wanderlust—everything that strong, stoic Justin never knew he wanted. Until now…
BOOK DETAILS:
Series: A Swift River Valley Novel (Book 3)
Number of Pages: 384 pages
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
ISBN-10: 0778315886
ISBN-13: 978-0778315889PURCHASE LINKS:
YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM
