Author David Bennett

Hi all!

Please welcome David Bennett to my blog. His new book, The Crimson Clan comes out today!

Here is the Author Bio:

David R. Bennett is a family man. He lives with his wife and son in Spring, Texas. Spring is a suburb of Houston. He is a graduate of Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. Not only is he an author of YA Paranormal fiction, but as Bryan Rainey (his real name), he illustrates the covers for his novels.
David loves to write his novels in the paranormal realm of ghosts, goblins, witchcraft, werewolves, zombies, vampires, mummies, and other freaky monsters.

Book Blurb:

The Crimson Clan is the first book in David’s series; Destiny Phoenix. 
Destiny’s biggest wish for her sweet 16 is getting her driver license. Or let’s say… was her biggest wish. Right now she will take surviving her birthday as being the best thing ever happened.

Destiny don’t know, but she is no ordinary young girl – she’s from a long line of angels born to Earth in human form, and when they die, their knowledge is passed down to the next. On her 16th birthday, everything changes and she finds herself in more trouble than she ever bargained for, but luckily not completely alone. On her journey, she has family she never knew of, friends and her boyfriend. Now all they have to do is survive and outrun some of the biggest bad out there to hopefully right the wrong and fulfill their fates.

Here are some links to David:

http://davidrbennett.wordpress.com/

www.facebook.com/david.bennett.96

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6949962.David_R_Bennett

Twitter: drb2031

Let's thank David for giving his information. Please wish him good luck on his new book! Buy it today!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Lanvin Kgoale and Gangland

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Lanvin Kgoale to my blog today!

Author Interview:

What is your name? Do you use a pen name (if so, why?)?

My real name is Lanvin Kgoale; I don’t use any pen name… yet.

Tell me a bit about yourself:

I was raised in a small town called Moteti, in South Africa, at a young age I never really did fit in with the other kids, to which my grand ma force me to read books. For a while I didn’t like it, until I got hold of my father’s Atlas which contained some information about the solar system, from there I moved on to the casual Sunday paper with Prince Valiant as my weekly fixture; I’d collect its strip till I had a huge portfolio, then I started making my own stories from there on.

What type of genre do you write?

I’m not really into one kind of genre, my thoughts are broadened by the people around me, if you had ever had a one on one conversation with me, chances that you spawned one of the characters in my works are great. But I’d say since publishing the Gangland, it seems I do love Thriller more than anything.

What genre to you personally read?

History, Detective, noir, sci-fi, adventure; anything that I find interesting and informing.

Tell me about your latest?

Its about a reporter who has given up on his life, has lost his wife and is about to lose his job. After his daughter is involved in an accident he goes back to his boss to ask for his post back, to which he is given but at a price. He is told that he has to go undercover in a notorious drug cartel that’s running the city. And when he finally has gotten himself in, everyone he knows turns a cold shoulder at him, leading him to trust the same people he was trying to expose.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story?

I blame all of this to my grand ma, she made me believe that you can find words in anything, and that everyone has a story within them.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way?

…Mhh that’s a tricky one, I’d say Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. But the one that really ran away with my imagination as a child was called seven detective stories, the way its chapters were set in different cases such as the case of the tumble doll and my favourite the strangest case. It got me lost in time. But sadly I lost the novel without even knowing about the author; now I’m doomed in trying to find it.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

Most definitely, don’t look at another person’s life and belittle it, because anything can happen to change yours.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career?

I’d say having enough time to write and still hang out with friends.

What has been your best moment as a writer?

Seeing that last drop of ink on the manuscript’s last chapter.

Who is your author idol?

Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

…Embarrassingly (ahem) yes!

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do?

There is a lot more to do.

What does your workspace look like?

Its geeky, have a pen holder, two monitors on the desk, some cd holder on the side that hold coins and everything; on the far right are some couple of novels and in the centre of it all is manuscript and a diary.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit?

Yep, but I’m always reminded when I go to bed what I’m fighting for.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Read, play games, watch movies/series and documentaries

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

Remembering what you fighting for…

Did you have a moment when you realized you were meant to be a writer?

Mhh not really, I guess it was one of those things that I told myself I should do before I die.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

One of the things I was asked by my friends after finishing Gangland was why did I write about crime when I wasn’t affected by it, and I never gave them an answer; but it should have been this way; you don’t need to be a victim to have empathy, look at the world around you, the society you live in, it’s inspiration enough.

After this book, what is next?

Am almost done with my follow up novel called Amaterastu’s key, and then after that I’ll see if I can wait for the planned date for the sequel to Gangland or start on it immediately.

Your website?

http://ltgangland.comli.com/

Your blog?

http://aplusbudgetgames.blogspot.com/

Other websites?

None.

Where can your book be found?

At Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/299757

And Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lanvin-Kgoales-Gangland-Neiburg-ebook/dp/B009VJC3LU

Please help me thank Kgoales! Check out his websites and book!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Author Ann Snizek

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Ann Snizek to my blog today. She is promoting her first book, Tunuftol's Fortress of Light!

Biography:

I grew up in Vermont mostly and now live in Virginia with my family (those still at home). My husband and I have a blended family of seven kids. My childhood was spent moving around a lot. (non-military) About five years ago, we started home-schooling our youngest children. Now there are only two remaining in home-school. I have tried to nurture the love of books in our children and now our grandchildren -- always nurturing their imaginations. Recently, I have become active in our community with literacy, starting a local (and online) creative writing club and volunteer tutoring at the Adult Learning Center.

I struggle with Fibromyalgia and PTSD. So, have to be careful not to overdo things... I don't always listen to my own advice. I have a dry, sarcastic and corny sense of humor and always try to look at things optimistically. (again not always successful) However, I feel that if I don't give up -- for long -- then things will work out for the best eventually. I am a self-published author of the Tunuftol series (pronounced: Ton uf toll) -- Tunuftol's Fortress of Light book 1 -- and the Payton Chronicles (To Eris - Human book 1) as well as My Rambling Anthology of Teasers (sampling of stories and articles) and Raelynn Dreams (a children's book). I am also a homeschooling mom.

Blurb:

Krissa and Micah have been pushed around the foster system until they find themselves in the care of "Grandma" Athey. Krissa begins having unusual dreams Their new friends, Pin, and her twin brother, Khevin, and other friends from school join forces to unravel the secrets. Krissa has become The Chosen One and is drawn into a mission against an evil faction that usurped the twins royal family. Krissa struggles to adjust to the emotions she feels that aren’t her own, to the strange voice that only she can hear, and to the bizarre and violent reactions both she and her glowing key have towards a fellow student, Marc Jebel. Questions pummel her mind as butterflies ravage her stomach. Why does she feel so instantly comfortable around Grandma Athey and Pin after years of guarding herself? What are her dreams trying to tell her? Why does she hate Marc so much? What’s the strange energy she can feel coming from Khevin? And, why is Micah acting so strangely? Shakespeare asked, “What’s in a name?” Krissa learns that the answer is bigger than she ever imagined. Her name means: chosen one, but chosen for what, and why? The answers lay in a place called Tunuftol, where names pick people, and have mind-boggling results. A world she had forgotten even existed because her dad somehow blocked her memories to protect her identity…Until she receives more names to help her unlock her secrets and lead her to the truth about who she is, what her parents died for, and where she must go. Nothing is as it seems…especially her undersized baby brother.

Excerpt:

“The Wheels on the Bus” played once more during the two-hour ride already endured that morning.  Ironically, the sedan’s wipers kept tempo with the childish song.  Thirteen-year-old Krissa inwardly groaned.  She had a pounding headache from the musical torture, but forced a smile at her undersized brother, Micah, who sat in the seat beside her.

An intense flash of lightning and violent crack of thunder rattled the car windows and raised the hair on her arm.  It also echoed Krissa’s mood as desperation started taking over.  Krissa struggled to remember how many placements they had gone through over the years, but lost count.  She shrugged in frustration as she stared out the window at the rain-blurred scenery.  This would be their third placement this year alone, and it was only April.  If they didn’t find a place soon to keep them out of the Children’s Home and away from their caseworker, Mrs. Johnston, Krissa feared that Micah would be taken away from her. 

Mrs. Johnston had privately admitted to Krissa that she delighted in finding the worst families available in the foster system and relocating them as often as possible.  Occasionally, the disturbed woman slipped up and the Wittek children found temporary sanctuary in a decent home.  Krissa felt sure the woman had escaped from some institution, or perhaps had been part of some depraved preschool program for terrorists. 

The sedan turned down a dark, dirt road overhung by the branches of the old trees that lined the sides, making it feel more like a dismal tunnel from a nightmare.  

“We’re here!” Mrs. Johnston said as they pulled into the driveway of an ancient farm.

A looming, white two-story house came into view with its tattered black shutters and tired, covered porch stretching across the front.  The red barn, no longer red, had faded into pink and drastically needed repair, as did all of the smaller sheds.  Lightning struck so close everyone jumped, and Krissa’s hair stood up on her arms again. 

“Oh, my!  What a grumpy Gus today.”  The caseworker patted her chest as if to restart the heart Krissa didn’t believe she had, and both kids rolled their eyes. 

The short, round, forty-something woman, who always wore a brightly colored, flowery dress with a pink sweater and a fake pearl jewelry set, fumbled with her teddy-bear raingear and bag.  She climbed out under her matching umbrella to head to the house as dry as possible.

Krissa and Micah each gathered up their trash bag of belongings, and swallowed hard before plunging out into the drenching rain and slick red mud.  The never-ending pattern, of being dragged from one home to the next, caused butterflies to not simply dance, but have a full out rave in Krissa’s stomach. 

An oddly-agreeable looking, elderly woman stood just inside the rusty screen door and a round old beagle pushed past her to greet the children with a happily wagging tail, completely heedless of the rain or mud.

“Daisy Mae, get back in here you crazy old dog.”  The woman’s voice rang with laughter.

The old dog responded with a horrific baying, but turned and slowly waddled up the worn steps ahead of the new arrivals.  The screen door creaked as the old woman pushed it open.  She stepped aside for them to enter the mudroom as Mrs. Johnston shook the rain from her umbrella.

“Good morning, Mrs. Boske,” the caseworker said.  “Here we are.”

“Yes, I see that.  Good Morning,” Mrs. Boske said in a bland reply.  Her expression appeared much warmer as she waved for the kids to enter.  “Come in, come in.  Please leave the mud here.  That means you too, Daisy Mae.”

The stiff old dog looked up at the tall, slender, old woman then hung her head and scratched fiercely at the floor mat.  Micah giggled as he and Krissa peeled themselves from the dripping jackets and shoes.  He stood wide-eyed in his stained socks and baggy clothes, clinging to his bag with one arm and Krissa with the other.  Krissa forced the butterflies back down, her hardened defenses in place and ready.

“Have a seat,” the old lady said as she beckoned them into the kitchen.

Krissa instantly felt off about the room, a picture-perfect, old farm kitchen…a little too perfect to her mind.  The smell of chocolate-chip cookies flooded the air, making her mouth water as she looked around.

The clean, well-used room had a deep, white double-sink; a small, round table with mix-matched chairs; and lots of cabinets.  All of the cushions matched with the curtains in a small, red and white plaid.  Handmade potholders, doilies, and figurines of roosters, pigs, and cows traversed the walls, windowsills, and shelves.  Decorative plates lined the tops of the cabinets. 

“Would you like a snack?” Mrs. Boske asked, looking from Krissa to Micah.

Micah’s round eyes grew even larger as he nodded his head enthusiastically.  More cautious and suspicious, Krissa mumbled a quiet “yes please” and pulled her chair closer to her brother.  Mrs. Boske’s eyes smiled as she collected cookies and milk and placed them on the table in front of the children. 

The whole thing seemed too unreal to Krissa.  However, a feeling of comfort spread over her.  Startled, she glanced up at Mrs. Boske through narrowed eyes.  The comfortableness certainly didn’t match how she had felt up to that point, and she struggled with the odd mix of comfort and unease.  How could this place have such a strong, immediate, and contradictory reaction with her?

Krissa saw the old woman’s eyes come alive, as if she won some priceless prize.  She struggled with the emotions while Mrs. Johnston, still in her raingear, struggled with her bag for some paperwork.

“Here are your copies of the paperwork.  I’m afraid I must be on my way.  Duty calls, you know.”  She handed Mrs. Boske a manila envelope as she sang out her words.  “You have my number if you have any problems.” 

The caseworker threw a withering and penetrating glare at Krissa, who clenched her teeth and swallowed the cookie with difficulty.  The comfort and warmth faltered within Krissa, and a cold feeling struck her butterflies, creating a frozen weight in the mosh pit of her stomach.

“Let me walk you out then,” Mrs. Boske said and stepped forward, blocking Krissa’s view of the much shorter woman and forcing her back into the mudroom.

The odd, old woman winked at Krissa as she left the kitchen.  Krissa didn’t understand the wink and brushed it aside a personality quirk.  A flood of warm acceptance washed over her that seemed to thaw her gut, but caused her to choke on the cookie at the unexpected sensation. 

Certain that Mrs. Johnston would say something to tarnish their new guardian’s first impressions, Krissa strained to hear the caseworker‘s words.  However, with only the screen door between them and the irate storm that continued to blow, Krissa had a hard time. 

Mrs. Johnston instantly dropped her bouncy tone into a harsh and scratchy growl.  Venom laced every word.  “That girl’s nothing but trouble.  She’ll rob you blind, and probably your neighbors too.  On top of that, you had better watch your back.  She’s a fighter.  Several of her previous homes sent them away for fear of their lives.  I don’t know why on Earth you asked for them both, or how you actually managed to get them.  I warn you though; you’d be better off sending her back with me and just keeping that little boy.” 

Krissa bristled at the woman’s words.  How dare she!  How dare she tell such lies?  How dare she try to take Micah from her?  Anger, resentment, and a sharp stab of fear struck Krissa’s heart as multiple bolts of lightning struck nearby.  She silently, and automatically, formed escape plans in case she had to grab Micah and make a run for it…with, or without, their shoes. 

Here is my review of the book:

Tunuftol’s Fortress of Light was a wonderfully woven story full of fun, charisma and entertainment. Ms. Snizek has fully developed characters what are loveable and make you feel a gamete of emotions throughout the story. She writes in a manner that the reader feels like they are right there as part of the group in the story and the things there are actually happening around you. You are put right into the story as you read it.

A young girl and her brother are pushed around through the adoption system until they are found by a caring Grandmotherly type old lady. Krissa, the main character starts having inexplicable dreams and her little brother Micah knows more than she gives him credit for. Krissa’s new friend Pin and her twin brother Khevin start to unravel Krissa’s questions about her dreams. She has become The Chosen One and is taken on a mission to take over the faction that has upset Khevin’s family from the throne. She has to learn her powers and follow her dreams which Pin helps out with as she’s a dream weaver. The group of friends accumulated at school take on a trip to find this other place they left as children and struggle against the evil they face. Will they succeed in the end? Who is the most valuable and who keeps the most secrets? Will Krissa know what to do when the time comes?

Author Ann Snizek creates a world where any reader would like to go. The travel she puts this young group on is a treat for the reader. As you learn along with the main character, you feel for her and learn some interesting facts. She gives you a whole world where you can emerge yourself for awhile and follow along with this group of friends. I would recommend this as a must read for anyone who likes to get themselves entirely involved in a story. This is a page turner that is hard to put down. It’s an easy read with short chapters that move you along through the story at a quick pace. Ms. Snizek has done a great job creating a story that everyone should read!

Websites:

www.annsnizekauthor.blogspot.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6702687.Ann_Snizek/blog

I run a Creative Writing Club: http://www.facebook.com/groups/383408198406266/
           Volunteer as an English Tutor: http://www.facebook.com/CharlotteLearning?fref=ts

 Freelance: 
 Yahoo Contributor: http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/1709840/ann_snizek.html

 Founded:
 Snow Flower Publishing, Editing & Reviews: https://www.facebook.com/SnowFlowerPublishing 

Please thank Ann for joining us and being so honest! Her Tunuftol series is excellent. I've read book 1 & 2 and I really got into them and can't wait to read book 3! Check out her websites and buy one or more of her books, they are worth the read!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Ann Snizek Tunuftol's Fortress of Light: Tunuftol Book 1 (Tunuftol Series) (Volume 1)

Hi all!

Please help me welcome the amazing and fantastic Author Ann Snizek to my blog today!

Bio:

I grew up in Vermont mostly and now live in Virginia with my family (those still at home). My husband and I have a blended family of seven kids. My childhood was spent moving around a lot. (non-military) About five years ago, we started home-schooling our youngest children. Now there are only two remaining in home-school. I have tried to nurture the love of books in our children and now our grandchildren -- always nurturing their imaginations. Recently, I have become active in our community with literacy, starting a local (and online) creative writing club and volunteer tutoring at the Adult Learning Center. I struggle with disabilities. So, have to be careful not to overdo things... I don't always listen to my own advice. I have a dry, sarcastic and corny sense of humor and always try to look at things optimistically. (again not always successful) However, I feel that if I don't give up -- for long -- then things will work out for the best eventually.

Blurb:
Krissa and Micah have been pushed around the foster system until they find themselves in the care of "Grandma" Athey. Krissa begins having unusual dreams Their new friends, Pin, and her twin brother, Khevin, and other friends from school join forces to unravel the secrets. Krissa has become The Chosen One and is drawn into a mission against an evil faction that usurped the twins royal family. Krissa struggles to adjust to the emotions she feels that aren’t her own, to the strange voice that only she can hear, and to the bizarre and violent reactions both she and her glowing key have towards a fellow student, Marc Jebel. Questions pummel her mind as butterflies ravage her stomach. Why does she feel so instantly comfortable around Grandma Athey and Pin after years of guarding herself? What are her dreams trying to tell her? Why does she hate Marc so much? What’s the strange energy she can feel coming from Khevin? And, why is Micah acting so strangely? Shakespeare asked, “What’s in a name?” Krissa learns that the answer is bigger than she ever imagined. Her name means: chosen one, but chosen for what, and why? The answers lay in a place called Tunuftol, where names pick people, and have mind-boggling results. A world she had forgotten even existed because her dad somehow blocked her memories to protect her identity…Until she receives more names to help her unlock her secrets and lead her to the truth about who she is, what her parents died for, and where she must go. Nothing is as it seems…especially her undersized baby brother.

Book Review by Sabina Dangerous Romance:

I enjoyed this book immensely. (Thank you Ann!) I loved to see how much Krissa grew in this book, how she stepped up to the challenges and how fiercely protective she was of her baby brother, Micah. On her journey she learns new powers, how to control them and that her choice can affect many, many people.

Micah is a real surprise once he shed his shy façade. Ina way he just wants to be a normal kid, but in reality... he's far from it.

Not to forget the rest of the Travelers; Daisy (the tracker), Pinelopin - or Pin (the dream weaver), Philetus (the collector), Khevin (the crown Prince), Lorenzo (the watcher) and Sealey (the champion). Each of them contributes to the journey in their own way and our friends are in deep trouble even before they get to their own world.

It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I got into the characters I couldn't put the book down and I kept turning page after page wanting to know what happened. I found myself digging deeper into the story, loving each second, every twist and turn Ann delivered. I can't wait to read the next book; Secret of the Shielded, it's being released on March 9.

Here are the link to her:

Amazon author page

http://www.amazon.com/Ann-Snizek/e/B00B1U5J9K

Smashwords author profile:

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnnSnizek

Amazon link
http://www.amazon.com/Tunuftols-Fortress-Light-Tunuftol-Book/dp/1481920103/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369745563&sr=1-3&keywords=%2Fann+Snizek

Please thank the wonderful Author Ann to my blog today! This book is a MUST READ! Check out her links and buy her book. You won't be disappointed!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Nancy Means Wright

Hi al!

I want to welcome Nancy Means Wright to my blog today!

Biography

I'm the author of seventeen books of fiction, non fiction, and poetry; five contemporary mystery novels from St. Martin's Press, a novella, "Fire and Ice," in the Worldwide Library anthology, CRIMES OF PASSION, two children's mysteries, one of which, THE PEA SOUP POISONINGS, won the Agatha Award for Best '06 Children's / YA Novel. A sequel, THE GREAT CIRCUS TRAIN ROBBERY followed in '08 and was an Agatha finalist. Now I've a mystery series based on the turbulent life of passionate 18th-century feminist Mary Wollstonecraft: MIDNIGHT FIRES came out in 2010 from Perseverance Press in spring of 2010, followed by The Nighmare in 2011. Of course there are dozens of poems (including two chapbooks)and short stories in the literary mags--both mainstream (American Literary Review,et al.) and mystery (Level Best Books and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine). "The Outpost" and "Religious Wars" are now on Amazon Shorts. Vermont is my primary writing landscape! I love its mountains, valleys, autumn leaves, winter snows--even mud season, which inspired my first mystery. I live with my life partner, aerospace engineer Llyn Rice, and two huge demanding Maine Coon cats. Seven grandkids, all in Vermont, complete the scene. Please visit my website, www.nancymeanswright.com and say hello!

Book

When puppeteer Marion collapses during a performance of Sleeping Beauty, her friend Fay Hubbard will carry on. But Fay already has her hands full with three demanding foster children—Apple and Beets, who have a fractious jailbird father, and sixteen-year-old Chance, who has a crush on an older guy in a band called Ghouls. And now Marion’s husband Cedric seems more interested in a drop-dead-gorgeous French teacher than with any string puppets. And who is the mysterious Skull-man who warns of death if the show goes on with one of Marion’s offbeat endings? When an autopsy reveals that Marion had swallowed a dose of deadly crushed yew—and a friend finds her half-sister dangling from a rod like a marionette, a shocked Fay goes after the killers.

Please thank Nancy for joining us today. You can find the link to her new book at http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Strings-Nancy-Means-Wright/dp/0615743552/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1369744146&sr=8-3&keywords=nancy+means+wright

Check out her website and buy a book!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

The Twisted Truth

Hi all

Author AD Starrling

Hi all!

Please welcome Author AD Starrling to my blog today!

Author Interview:

What is your name? Do you use a pen name (if so, why?)?

My name is AD Starrling. And yes, it’s a pen name. There are two reasons for it. First, I am still a practising MD and, as such, want my two careers to be separate. Second, it’s a marketing strategy; I feel an author’s name should be memorable! My real name is difficult to spell, let alone say.

Tell me a bit about yourself:

I am originally from the island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. I came to the UK 18 years ago to enter medical school. I am a practising Pediatrician, currently working in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. But my first love has always been, and will always be, writing.

What type of genre do you write?

My current series is in the supernatural thriller genre. I have written light-hearted fantasy and children’s fantasy-adventure in the past. I’m planning a dark-fantasy trilogy as well as a steampunk-scifi YA trilogy in the future. I kinda tried my hand at a romantic action novel once but faltered pretty quickly. I was having hot flushes when I had the characters kissing. What the hell was gonna happen when they had sex? Spontaneous combustion?!

What genre to you personally read?

All sorts. Fantasy, thrillers, sci-fi, satirical humor, romantic action, manga, comics.

Tell me about your latest?

King’s Crusade is the second novel in the supernatural thriller series Seventeen. The timeline overlaps slightly with that of the first novel, Soul Meaning.

Here’s the pitch:

‘A perfect immortal warrior must recover a set of priceless artifacts to prevent an ancient religious sect from bringing about the downfall of human civilization.’

I think the book is not what people will be expecting after Soul Meaning. I hope it’s a good surprise (gulps). The beta readers and the editors seemed to like it.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story?

My love story with the written word started when I was around four years old. My father is a retired teacher and he used to take me to bookstores since I could walk. We were in this tiny, dusty bookshop in the capital when I laid my hands on my first Babar book. I was kinda hooked from then on.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way?

I can’t think of a specific book but I can think of several authors whose writing have affected me as a writer myself. In no particular order, Terry Pratchett, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Clive Barker.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

A flavor of what is to come in the rest of the series. Seriously, I just hope you are entertained! That’s my goal.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career?

Making the time to write while doing a crazy job. Publishing the book. Avoiding spending too much time on social media. Stopping rewrites and letting the book go out into the big wide world (seriously, I could rewrite till the cows come home!). Organizing marketing.

What has been your best moment as a writer?

Having a reader say, ‘When’s the next one out? What? A year?! WRITE FASTER!’

Who is your author idol?

Terry Pratchett. I met him at a writers’ conference a few years ago. He’s a lovely man.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Not really. Although people who know me personally did tell me that they could ‘hear’ me in the first few chapters of the first novel in the series. I kinda worry about that. There are guns, swords, and fight scenes aplenty in the first few chapters. I hope I don’t comes across as a ‘violent’ Pediatrician...

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do?

Part of the dream has come true, definitely. Seeing my books out there in the world is a wonderful feeling. But there is more, so much more to do. I think the dream never really comes true. As humans, our dreams continue to evolve. There is always the next step, the next horizon, the next goal. We should always aspire to grow and be ‘something/someone’ better.

What does your workspace look like?

I work on an iMac, in my study. I have a small French writing desk, a comfortable ergonomic chair with a back support, and a newly acquired footrest. I have a chrome desk lamp, an old dial telephone, a trio of reference books (The Elements of Style by Strunk & White, Schott’s Original Miscellany by Ben Schott, My Grammar and I by Caroline Taggart and JA Wines), and a mouse mat on the desk. The study has a cream chaise longue which is perfect for curling up with a book, several bookcases, a printer, and a shredder. There are several paintings on the wall, as well as a picture box containing the original proof-copies of Soul Meaning. Oh, and there’s a sign just above the computer. It says ‘Do not disturb...I’m disturbed enough as it is’.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit?

No. I have the odd bad days when I fleetingly wonder whether I’ve made the right life choice and whether I should return to medicine full time. But these moments are just that. Fleeting. I did a lot of soul searching before I committed to giving writing a serious go in 2006. I’m going to see this journey to the end.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Mostly working at the moment! Seeing friends, going for walks, catching up with my very long list of books I want to read, going to the movies. And spending FAR too much time on social media. Honestly, it’s an addiction.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

Try to find a balance. I still haven’t achieved one. Think ‘there is life and then there is my writing life’. If like me, writing is your passion, obsession, and the one drug you can’t live without, it’s very easy to forget that ‘life’ came first. You will be a healthier and happier writer if you aim for a balance between the two.

Did you have a moment when you realized you were meant to be a writer?

Yes. I was twelve years old and I had written a short story that was completely slated by my father. I went on to write several more to spite him. I quickly realized that I kinda had a hidden skill there.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Keep writing. Keep learning not just how to be a better writer, but also about the changing landscape of the publishing industry (don’t be an ostrich about this! It will come and bite you in the ass in the future). Keep reading (I had found it more difficult to find time to read since I started writing!). Be ruthless about the amount of time you spend on social media.

After this book, what is next?

I’m currently writing the third novel in the series Seventeen :)

The perfect immortal warrior. 
A set of stolen, priceless artifacts. 
An ancient sect determined to bring about the downfall of human civilization. 


The exciting, action-packed follow-up to Soul Meaning and the second installment in the supernatural thriller series, Seventeen.


When a team of scientists unearth scriptures older than the Dead Sea Scrolls in a cave in the Eastern Desert mountains in Egypt, a mystery lost to the tides of time is uncovered. Heading the expedition is Dimitri Reznak, the Head of the Crovir Immortal Culture & History Section. But the monumental discovery is spoiled by evidence of looting and half the priceless artifacts Reznak has been seeking for centuries have disappeared. 

Alexa King is a covert agent for the Crovir First Council. When she is approached by her godfather for a mission that could help elucidate the enigma of her lost past, she finds herself delving into the dangerous and shadowy world of secret religious societies. Assigned by Reznak to assist her is Zachary Jackson, a gifted human and Harvard archaeology professor. 

In their search for the missing artifacts, King and Jackson stumble upon the existence of a deadly sect whose origins are as mystifying as the relics they are searching for. From North Africa to the doors of Vatican City itself, they unveil a centuries-old plan that aims to shatter the very structure of civilized society.

With the help of Reznak and a group of unexpected allies, King and Jackson must stop the enemy and uncover the astonishing truth behind the missing artifacts and King’s own unearthly origins before all is lost.

http://www.adstarrling.com/

Your blog?

I don’t have a blog (deliberate choice on my part), but I regularly update the News section of the website.

Where can your book be found?

Smashwords ebook

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/309540

Amazon US ebook

http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Crusade-Seventeen-ebook/dp/B00CICVP9I/ref=la_B008KS77GO_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1366994837&sr=1-2

Amazon UK ebook

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kings-Crusade-Seventeen-ebook/dp/B00CICVP9I/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1366993002&sr=1-6

Amazon Canada ebook

http://www.amazon.ca/Kings-Crusade-Seventeen-ebook/dp/B00CICVP9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366994687&sr=8-1&keywords=king%27s+crusade+ad+starrling

Amazon France/Italy/Germany/Spain/Brazil/Japan

http://www.amazon.fr/Kings-Crusade-ebook/dp/B00CICVP9I/ref=la_B008KS77GO_1_2_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1366995701&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.it/Kings-Crusade-Seventeen-ebook/dp/B00CICVP9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366995745&sr=8-1&keywords=king%27s+crusade+ad+starrling

http://www.amazon.de/Kings-Crusade-Seventeen-ebook/dp/B00CICVP9I/ref=la_B008KS77GO_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366995786&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.es/Kings-Crusade-Seventeen-ebook/dp/B00CICVP9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366995633&sr=8-1&keywords=king%27s+crusade+ad+starrling

http://www.amazon.com.br/Kings-Crusade-Seventeen-ebook/dp/B00CICVP9I/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1366995820&sr=1-1&keywords=king%27s+crusade+ad+starrling

http://www.amazon.co.jp/Kings-Crusade-Seventeen-ebook/dp/B00CICVP9I/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366995852&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=king%27s+crusade+ad+vstarrling

Waterstones paperback

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/a-+d-+starrling/king27s+crusade/9794166/

Blackwell paperback

http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/id/Kings_Crusade/9780957282612

Book Depository paperback

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Kings-Crusade-Starrling/9780957282612

Foyles paperback

http://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/kings-crusade,a-d-starrling-9780957282612

Ebook coming soon to B&N/Nook, Sony, iTunes, Kobo!

Buy Links:

Please thank AD for joining us today! Check out the links and get a book!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Author Doug Dillon

Hi all!

Please welcome Author Doug Dillon to my blog today!

AUTHOR BIO:
A former award winning educator, Doug writes about things paranormal and historical. His
interest in the paranormal comes from personal experiences as detailed in the nonfiction adult
book he and wife wrote titled, An Explosion of Being: An American Family's Journey into the
Psychic. Out of those events and extensive historical research, he then created Sliding Beneath
the Surface for young adults, Book I of the St. Augustine Trilogy. Doug set his trilogy in the
oldest and most haunted city in the United States, St. Augustine, Florida. Books II and III of the
trilogy are on the way.

Book Title: Sliding Beneath the Surface (Book 1)
The St. Augustine Trilogy
Author: Doug Dillon
Release Date: August 24, 2011
Print Length: 166 Pages
Genre: YA Paranormal
Presented by: As You Wish Tours

Hello St. Augustine Fans! Let’s not forget the YA Paranormal Fans!

For two days, the Kindle version for Sliding Beneath the Surface will be available FOR FREE
on Amazon.com—a special promotion. Those days will be May 18th & 19th. Spread the word
and tell everyone you know about this wonderful opportunity.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS:

In old St. Augustine, Florida, fifteen-year-old Jeff Golden’s recurring dream of being
stabbed in the chest and bleeding all over his bed is driving him crazy. It’s causing him to lose
sleep and giving him severe headaches. When his psychically gifted friend Carla and an ornery
Native American shaman named Lobo try to help, Jeff is inundated with terrifying paranormal

Reaching out of Florida’s distant past, something increasingly entangles Jeff in tentacles
of danger that threaten his sanity and eventually his life. But the harder he tries to understand,
the deeper he gets. When comprehension finally dawns though, time has almost run out. Lobo
does his best to prepare Jeff for what he must face in order to survive but it may be too little and

It’s at this point that both Jeff and Carla find themselves swept headlong into an
alternative reality from which they may never return. If they don’t quickly and fully adapt to this
situation, all hope is lost. From Lobo they know how it might be possible to change what is
happening but the question is, can they? Repeatedly, Lobo has told both teens, “You create your
own reality whether in this world or in another.” If acted upon properly, that advice just might

save their lives and end suffering on an even wider scale.

BLURB:

A new resident of America's oldest and most haunted city, St. Augustine, Florida,
fifteen-year-old Jeff Golden suddenly finds himself up to his eyeballs in frightening paranormal
experiences. At the end of his rope in trying to figure out what is happening to him, Jeff decides
to rely on his friend Carla Rodriguez, and Lobo, an old Native American shaman, for help.

Despite this guidance, things get even worse. Jeff's spine tingling encounters increase
in number and intensity at an alarming rate, scaring him even more. Eventually, he makes
the startling discovery that unresolved circumstances involving a bloody event directly out of
Florida's distant past threatens his sanity and possibly his life.

Finally, overwhelmed by forces he cannot understand or control, Jeff's world shifts from
frightening to downright terrifying. In desperation, and on Lobo's advice, he leaps headlong into
the unknown in order to save himself. What Jeff discovers though is that he has entered a level of
reality he is completely unprepared to handle while unwittingly dragging Carla with him.

Like all the books in THE ST. AUGUSTINE TRILOGY, the premise for Sliding Beneath
the Surface is simply this: You create your own reality.

EXCERPT:

With a final laugh, Carla coughed, caught her breath, and said, “That alarm system is Lobo‘s
way of scaring off unwanted visitors without actually having to use real dogs. So, are you finally

“Anything to get away from you letting me get attacked by wild dogs,” I said, trying to sound
serious, even though I realized I probably had looked pretty silly.

“Oh poor baby,” Carla said with one of her sly, sexy smiles.

God she looks so good when she smiles. I mean she looks good all the time, but her smiles are
something else, like a flash of warm sunshine. Ruining the moment, the screech of a power saw
sliced the air for a short time and stopped. It sounded like it came from the small, unpainted
building. I remembered hearing that saw noise from Carla‘s back yard.

“He‘s in his workshop,” she said. “Not good. He doesn‘t like being interrupted when he‘s
concentrating on his carvings. He might even be a little grumpier than usual, so try not to be

“Great, can‘t wait.” I groaned, massaging my left temple with the tips of my fingers when Carla
turned away. “Sounds like so much freakin‘ fun.” The idea of facing some bad tempered old
man was not really how I wanted to end my day, you know? Bad dream or no bad dream. By
then though, we were approaching Mr. Lobo‘s beat-up truck. To the left of the truck, light shown
between the blinds of the two large windows in the workshop, but I couldn‘t really see anything

“Being sarcastic isn‘t going to make things any better,” Carla said. “We‘re not here to have fun,
we‘re here to get you some help, OK?” She sounded like a mother taking her child to see the

doctor for the first time.

“Yes, momma,” I kidded, using a squeaky child‘s voice, “I promise I‘ll be good.”

Carla rolled her eyes, shook her head and punched me in the arm. “You are absolutely hopeless
sometimes.” When I say punch, I mean punch! For a small person, she packs a wallop.

”Lobo,” Carla said before the man could turn around, ”this is my friend Jeff Golden and he—”
”You know better than that!” The man scolded. What a voice. A deep one, like a big old Harley
cranking up. While using the rag to wipe sawdust off his hands and arms, he turned around and
faced us. “Nobody comes here unless they‘re invited by me personally, especially this boy who
has problems buzzing around him like angry yellow jackets.”

Angry yellow jackets? The guy‘s attitude reminded me of a crappy teacher I had last year. Hated
the man. Not a good beginning.

Lobo didn‘t have a big belly like a lot of older guys. A broad chest matched his big shoulders,
but the man‘s face is what really made me stare. It looked like the front of a ship, as if it could
cut through water. A large thin nose stuck out above a small mouth with full lips that puckered
just a little. From those lips on each side, a permanent frown sliced down to a sharp chin. Other
deep lines across the rest of his face and neck showed the man did have some age on him, like

His eyes though, are what really caught my attention. Deep set under thick, bushy brows the
color of his hair, the pupils looked completely black. Even so, they glittered as if a tiny powerful
light inside each one kept trying to get out. I swear, when he looked at me, I thought for a second
I was seeing twin lasers rapidly firing in my direction. Talk about weird.

Carla walked over to him, placed her hands on her hips and slowly raised her head so that
Mr. Lobo couldn‘t help but look at her. I tell you what, all five foot four inches of Miss Carla
Rodriguez was poised like a little snake ready to strike. I wanted to smile, knowing Lobo was in
for it, but I didn‘t. The guy deserved it.

When Mr. Lobo entered the room, his weird-looking eyes instantly locked with mine.

Without shifting that laser-like gaze, he lumbered over to the recliner opposite me on the other
side of the coffee table and sat down. Even when he picked up the bottle of water Carla left for
him, he kept up that intense stare. Man, I felt like a germ under a powerful microscope—a germ
still fighting a headache.

No one spoke, and the silence around us seemed to get heavier somehow, thick like clear syrup
or something. I tried not squirming in my chair, but it was hard. I mean all that silence got really
uncomfortable, you know? Instead of looking at Carla‘s friend directly, I stared at the Tiffany
floor lamp next to his chair. It‘s glass bowl pointing downward showed little green leaves against

an light orange background. What can I say, looking at the thing kept my mind busy.

And another thing. It wasn‘t freezing in the house, but it sure wasn‘t warm—no heating going
on that I could tell. Carla had her coat on and I wore a heavy long-sleeved shirt, but old Lobo
sat there in that same sleeveless shirt he wore in his workshop. The guy seemed not to notice the

The snapping sound when he opened his bottled water broke the spell, but only when the man
chugged a couple of deep swallows did he look away. What a relief not to have those eyes
slicing through me for even a short time. In seconds though, he was staring at me again, hard
as ever. Still no one spoke. At that point, I figured if nobody else was going to say something,
I would—anything, to get things moving. Yeah, I wanted the guy‘s help but sitting there facing
him in complete silence, especially with Carla watching, wasn‘t working for me. “Ah, Mr.
Lobo,“ I did my best to smile, “Carla thinks that maybe you can—“

“Save it“ His deep voice filled the room. “First rule, don‘t call me Mr. The name‘s Lobo, nothing

“Uh, OK.“ I tried to look and sound as relaxed as possible. Actually, I was starting to get
“Rule number two, Mr. Golden,“ he lectured, like I thought he might. “If you want my help, you
do things my way. Got that?“

“So tell me about this dream,“ Lobo said to me in his rumbling voice as he sat back down in his

“Dream?“ Neither Carla nor I had mentioned my dream yet. If anybody else had brought me
there besides Carla, I would have sworn that person had already talked to Lobo about my

“Am I not speaking clearly enough for you?“ The man replied with this sour look on his face.

“Uh … OK. My dream. Well, for the past three nights I‘ve been waking up with a horrible pain
in my chest like something has stuck me hard while I‘m sleeping. When I sit up and look down,
my bed is glowing and there‘s something long and pointy coming up out of the mattress trying to
get me. Blood is everywhere, all over my chest, my stomach, my sheets and on the pointy thing.
It's all so real, like it‘s actually happening. Then when I jump out of bed and turn the ceiling light
on, it all goes away, but my chest still hurts. I still feel like I‘ve just been stabbed. I‘m telling
you, it scares the crap out of me.“ I hadn‘t planned on saying that last part. It just popped out.

Lobo grunted and looked all around me in his weird way, his unblinking gaze all fiery.

Everybody blinks, right? Not him. I‘m telling you, it felt really odd to be talking to somebody

who keeps his eyes constantly open. Shifting his attention away from me, he put his water bottle
down on the coffee table, got up and went to the display case I had touched earlier, the one with
all the weapons. As I watched him, for the first time I noticed the circular display case over the
fireplace held a huge collection of arrowheads, spearheads and stone knives. I wondered if they
were Seminole. “Come over here,“ he said, his words a rumbling command. I could feel my
stomach twist the way it does when adults try to boss me around, but I resisted the temptation to

When I got to the case, he asked, “That something sharp coming out of your mattress look like
any of the objects in here?“ He squinted as if he somehow wanted to see the answer within me
as much as hear it. I guess by then I was a little paranoid about the possibility of him being able
to get inside my head. After what I had experienced while standing there before, I wasn‘t sure I
wanted to look, but I did. As I searched, my headache intensified, making me wince, but even so,
my eyes stayed glued to this one item.

“No trick, really,“ Carla said with this super serious face. When she spoke, her voice came out

Oh man, that did it. I mean Carla doesn‘t lie, stretch the truth, or anything like that. “Remember
when I told you about Lobo helping me to control my unconscious ability to move things without
touching them?“ she asked, her voice a little stronger.

“Uh, sure.“ I sat there looking at her in awe.

“You see, Lobo … well, has also been educating me so that I can now touch things with my
conscious mind—to do so by thinking about it. An aluminum can is light and soft, so we use
“Do we have your full attention now?“ Lobo asked, as I struggled to accept Carla‘s explanation.
“Oh yeah,“ I said, stressing each word in order to leave no doubt in the man‘s mind. Even so, I
still couldn‘t get over Carla having such an amazing ability. As I wondered how she could do
something like that, I put the crumpled aluminum on the coffee table in front of me.

“Good,“ Lobo replied. “Now we can proceed.“ After getting out of his chair, he grabbed
the carved white ball sitting on the coffee table, and suddenly tossed it in my direction—
underhanded and high in the air. Without thinking, I grabbed the thing as it came down with both
hands, and was surprised it felt so light. When the ball hit my hands, there was a clicking sound.

“Have you ever seen anything like that?“ Lobo asked after sitting back down.

“Yeah, I just remembered. There‘s one like it at the Ripley‘s Believe It or Not Museum.“ I held
it in one hand and brushed my other hand over the intricate designs and holes carved into the
surface. Gradually it became clear to me that the ridges under my fingers tips were actually
dragons curling around the openings. “What‘s it made of?“

“Mammoth ivory,“ Carla replied. “Lobo has it shipped in and then he does carvings.“

“A piece of mammoth tusk?“ I said in wonder, studying it even more intently. Inside all the holes
cut out of the surface, I could see another, completely movable, but smaller ball. Carved into
it were odd shaped stars and more holes leading to yet another ball farther down. Beyond that,
another ball, and so on. All of the balls I could see or touch with my index finger moved. That‘s
why the thing was so light, it had been carved out on the inside, layer-by-layer.


Author Links:

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TheStAugustineTrilogy
Twitter https://twitter.com/Doug__Dillon
Website http://dougdillon.com
Amazon Author http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005ZEJTJ4
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/580090.Doug_Dillon

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005J5L0BO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?
20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005J5L0BO

B&N http://www.google.com/url?
q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fsliding-beneath-the-surface-doug-
dillon%2F1105115468%3Fean%3D2940013079991%26itm%3D1%26usri%3Dsliding%252Bbe
neath%252Bthe%252Bsurface&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE3EFjAU3u8dHYrw1jS8PXiOOd

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12672567-sliding-beneath-the-surface

Book Depository http://www.google.com/url?
q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bookdepository.com%2FSliding-Beneath-Surface-Doug-
Dillon%2F9780983368427&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHcM2qzsEwOxHbQm-

Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e1S62dsEXRc


http://asyouwishtours.blogspot.com/

Please help me thank Doug for joining us today and thank As You Wish Tours for sharing him with us!

Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce