Saturday Sample and Weekend Writing Warriors

  

 Welcome to my blog. Today I'd like to share an excerpt from my all time favorite book Blue 52. On Sunday when you finish here you can go to www.wewriwa.blogspot.com for more excerpts from a talented group of authors. 

Blurb:

"First Lady Kills President Lovinggood" 

December 5, 2018 

Thirty years later, Hank Lovinggood embarks on a quest to prove his mother's innocence and punish the killers who took his family from him. Together Hank and lovely physicist Dr. Kathryn Sinclair confront an implacable, twisted, and merciless enemy who'll do whatever it takes to hide the truth forever.

Last Week's Excerpt: 

Hank put his hand under his grandfather’s elbow as they made their way to the Jaguar, but Senator Lovinggood scowled and jerked away. “Stop that! I’m not an invalid.”

They had left the mortuary grounds before he spoke again. “The trail’s pretty cold, but even after thirty years you never know what you might turn up if you shake the bushes a little.”

A cool little grin played along Hank’s lips. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking.”

                                                                   ***

They exchanged a look which visibly startled Senator Lovinggood. If he hadn’t known that Richard still lay in his coffin at Sinclair’s, he would have sworn that his son rode beside him again after all these years. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but just maybe it was a new look in Hank’s eyes, a look that promised justice for his mother and retribution for his father.

Today's Excerpt: This is the final excerpt I'm sharing from Blue 52, and I realized that even though you've met Hank, you don't know much about Kathryn. In this excerpt Hank and Kathryn meet for the first time.

Today's Snippet

“Mr. Lovinggood, Dr. Sinclair is here to see you.”

Hank rose to his feet. He didn’t know what he had expected, a person his grandfather’s age maybe, but the woman who appeared in the door behind his secretary looked almost as beautiful as his mother. In fact, as impossible as it seemed, she might be even more beautiful. She was about five six and had dark hair and eyes even bluer than his own. He guessed she might be about his age. Her figure would make a blind man stare, but the expression on her face attracted him as much as her physical appearance. Intelligence, curiosity, and life shone from her eyes. She glowed with an eagerness he didn’t understand.

As she approached his desk, she held out her hand. “Mr. Lovinggood, how are you? I’m Dr. Kathryn Sinclair. Thank you for seeing me.”

She had a firm handshake and looked him right in the eye. “Not at all, Dr. Sinclair. Please, have a seat. May I get you a cup of coffee?”

“Yes, that would be lovely.”

Hank filled a disposable cup with coffee. The cups biodegraded in three months’ time, so nobody hesitated to use them. The trashcans overflowed with cups by the end of the day. “Cream or sugar?”

“Black, thanks.”

He handed the coffee to Dr. Sinclair and got a good look at her legs in the process. Nice. She wore a well-cut, red suit that looked expensive. He liked her short little skirt, but the neckline of the jacket didn’t plunge quite enough.

Hank flushed. He was no hormone-riddled teenager. The woman hadn’t come here for him to ogle her. “My secretary told me that you wanted to talk to me about a crime,” he said as he seated himself behind his desk, unconsciously smoothing his tie and sitting up straight.

“That’s right, I do.” She didn’t wait for him to prompt her to tell her story. “The crime was committed a long time ago, but there’s no statute of limitations on murder, right?”

Hank nodded. “You want to talk to me about a murder?”

“Oh, yes. A man and his wife were brutally murdered, and the murderers framed the wife to take the blame.” Dr. Sinclair paused to take a sip of her coffee. “Their names were Lovinggood.”

The words hit him hard, right in his gut. “Tell me who you really are.”

“I’m exactly who I told you I am. My name is Dr. Kathryn Sinclair. I work for the Curtis Corporation.”

Hank leaned forward and tried to make sense of this thing. “Bill Curtis? That corporation?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you here as a representative of the Curtis Corporation?”

“Yes, I am.”

All kinds of wild suppositions flashed through Hank’s mind. Joan had only given him the secret files last night. Did Dr. Sinclair’s visit have anything to do with the files? If so, his uncle Scott had truly found something.

He whipped his emotions back in line. If he wanted to solve his parents’ murders, he couldn’t allow sentiment,imagination, or sexual attraction to get in the way. How clever of Curtis to send a beautiful woman to get his attention. It had worked too, but Curtis needn’t have bothered. He’d have listened to anyone who claimed to have information about his parents. “So, what do you know about my parents’ deaths, Dr. Sinclair?”

“It isn’t for me to say. Mr. Curtis would like to meet with you to discuss it further.”

Hank had no idea how or if Bill Curtis knew anything, but he intended to find out. “When and where?”

“Is this afternoon at three agreeable?”

“Yes, it is.”

She smiled at him and almost took his breath away.

“Then meet me in Mr. Curtis’s office. It’s in the Palmer building.”

“I know where it is.”

Dr. Sinclair stood up and treated him to another peek at her legs. “You won’t be sorry,” she promised. Her blue eyes shot sparks of excitement around the room. “Mr. Curtis has waited for years to speak with you. I’ll see you at three.”

She set her cup on the edge of his desk and hurried away, leaving Hank to fret for the rest of the morning.

Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/2tyWfr0

Maz, Origin

 

Maz, Origin

by T.L. Ford

 

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GENRE: Sci-fi/Science Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

Entering the witness relocation program after lawfully escaping a massive walled-in prison, teenage Merrill tries to fit into our society. Her background and decisions may not let her.

 

Maz, Origin is a story of growth and love, guilt and innocence, and changing goals. What is morally right and what is legally right? What's legal for humans may not be for aliens...

 

 

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EXCERPT

 

I heard shots being fired from below.  They were aiming at the helicopter or the guy that landed on the scaffolding above me.  The sign offered some level of protection, but they'd move into position directly below shortly.  "It's ok, miss, we'll have you out of here in a jiff.  Are you hurt?"  The man began to wiggle through the bars, which was no small feat because he was wearing some sort of heavy armor.

 

He reached down toward me, and I hesitated, terrified of grabbing that hand and leaving my life behind.  He clenched his teeth in frustration and urged me, "Come on, miss!  Just take my hand."

 

Gunfire from below decided for me.  I lifted my good arm, and he latched onto me.  As he jerked me upwards, pain shot through my shoulder and abdomen.  I gave up life and slipped into darkness.

 

A Word With the Author

 What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Mint chocolate chip.  I'm unable to have dairy, so it's either a vegan one or I'm doing blended frozen fruit.

Which mythological creature are you most like?

Probably a unicorn because they have magic and grace, both of which I wish I had.

First book you remember making an indelible impression on you.

Bridge to Terabithia.  It made me cry.  In school, during our free-period, and I was so distraught, I was unashamed.

How do you develop your plot and characters?

Mostly with feedback and a lot of thought on what they would do based on who they are and their past experiences.

Describe your writing space.

My computer area falls into chaos very quickly, with art supplies, art books, reading books, iPad, and cat toys.  I move around some, carrying my laptop with me, and will write whenever the story wants to be told.

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                                                            AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

T. L. Ford is a programmer, writer, and artist. She spent most of her professional career supporting the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in southern Maryland.  Her science fiction novels imagine possibilities while focusing on society and personal relationships and decisions.  Her fantasy novels are heavily influenced by Dungeons & Dragons and are light "weekend reads".  She's also created two art books, a thriller novella, and an interactive math iBook.  She enjoys sailing, hiking, and spending time with her family.

 

 

https://cattail.nu/books/maz_origin/

https://www.Cattail.Nu

https://www.facebook.com/theresa.ford.52

https://www.instagram.com/theresa.ford/

https://www.amazon.com/T.-L.-Ford/e/B0034Q6Q2S

 

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Maz-Origin-T-L-Ford-ebook/dp/B0BBBXXC2J/ref=sr_1_1c

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just Like Family

Just Like Family

by Barbara Casey

 

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

All in one day, thirty-five-year-old Hallie Marsh learns that the man she loves, works for, and is living with has found someone else and that she no longer has a job or a place to live.  She is also involved in a car accident.  She retreats to her parents' home in the northern part of Florida to be consoled and to decide what to do with the rest of her life only to find out that her mother is planning to leave her father for another man.  Embittered, filled with anger, and wanting revenge, Hallie decides to take a year's sabbatical and write a novel that would reveal the unethical, if not illegal, real estate business practices of her former boss and lover.

 

Determined and focused, Hallie buys a house in the neighborhood where her two best friends and former co-workers live:  Carol Mathews and Gordon Sebastian Cooney.  It is through Gordon and Carol that Hallie comes to know four neighbors, one of whom is Carol's Vietnamese mother who carries a doll and talks into reflective surfaces.  These four neighbors--Cora, Suong, Charlie, and Vince--are all elderly, peculiar, and alone at this stage in their lives until Vince comes up with a plan:  The four of them will form an alliance, buy the old Braswell estate which is located just down the road, fix it up, and live in it almost like family.  Hallie is fascinated by these four people, and rather than write a tell-all book she begins writing about their alliance.  With this new focus and the friendship of Carol and Gordon, Hallie overcomes her feelings of rage, she is able to cope with her mother's sudden death, and she finds true love.

 

 

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EXCERPT

 

Hallie’s heart raced as she walked briskly past the other offices to the executive suite at the end of the corridor.  Since Jeff had sent word asking to see her, it must mean that he was finally finished with that project he had been working on day and night for the past several weeks and that he needed her as much as she needed him.  She knew his divorce had just been finalized, although he hadn’t told her yet.  She had called the courthouse downtown and found out on her own.  He was probably just waiting for the right time to tell her.  Over a romantic dinner at one of their favorite places.  Or maybe he would take her somewhere for the weekend.  He enjoyed surprising her.  And there was the awards banquet tonight.  He hadn’t mentioned that to her either, but naturally he would want her to go with him.  In real estate circles, it was the event of the year.  Even though it was supposed to be a secret, everyone knew that Jeff was getting the Salesman of the Year Award again.  So much to celebrate and what better way than to make love in his office now.

 

“Mr. Darnell is expecting you, Ms. Marsh.”

 

Hallie smiled at the secretary, hoping that her demeanor was that of a public relations director going into a meeting with the president of the company and not of a woman who was going to make love to her boss in his office at four o’clock in the afternoon.  “Thanks, Mary,” she said shifting her notebook in an exaggerated movement from one hand to the other, feeling slightly self-conscious.  She suppressed the urge to giggle, something she frequently did whenever she felt self-conscious, and walked past the secretary’s desk.  On the other side of the ornate double doors was Jeff’s office, a large multi-functional room that had both a southern and eastern exposure.

 

Jeff was standing with his back to her, looking out one of two mullioned, floor-to-ceiling windows, the one facing the intracoastal waterway.  Hallie quietly closed the door and locked it.  The desire she felt for him was tremendous and had somehow managed to gravitate to an area the size of a baseball between her naval and vulva.  Without saying anything she unbuttoned her navy blue coatdress, silently applauding the fact that she had decided to wear it today since it was so easy to take off.  Then she walked up behind him, slipped her arms around his waist, and pressed her body into his back.  “You can’t imagine how much I have missed you,” she whispered when he turned around.  She eagerly sought his lips as she loosened his tie and began unfastening the buttons on his shirt, completely forgetting the self-consciousness she had experienced moments earlier.  He did that to her.  Things she wouldn’t normally do under any other circumstances, she felt no inhibitions in doing with Jeff.

 

“Hallie, I need to tell you something.”  Jeff held her trembling hands in his but she continued with the buttons, stopping only when she reached the buckle on his belt.  She pulled his shirt loose from his trousers and opened it, exposing his bare chest.  Then she tenderly kissed his neck, working her way down his chest and stomach with her mouth and tongue.

 

“Hallie, please.  Stop.  We have to talk.”

 

Hallie looked up into Jeff’s face, breathless and flushed with desire.  Curiously at that moment she remembered seeing somewhere in a magazine two similar photographs side by side, the caption under one of them reading, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

A Word With the Author

Did you always want to be an author?

I believe on some level I did. The first recognition I received as a “writer” was a poem I wrote in the second grade about the red poppys growing in Flanders Fields. When the short story I wrote at the age of 9 won an award, I pretty much knew I wanted to be a writer. I didn’t realize the extent or how great my passion for writing would be until I became an adult and my first book was published.

 

Tell us about the publication of your first book.

I was working at a small co-educational college in North Carolina as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development. In my spare time I edited the manuscripts of professors who were trying to get published. It didn’t take me long to realize I wanted to write my own book, and I knew exactly what it would be about. I had already seen how difficult it was to get published hearing about the rejection letters many of the professors received. So I gave myself one year to write my book—a middle grade novel—and find a publisher for it. Nine months later, I was offered a contract for my first book, Leilani Zan, and an option for my second book. My second book—Grandma Jock and Christabelle—was also a middle-grade novel, and after it was published something strange happened. My inner voice, the voice I would hear when writing, changed from a young person to an adult. That was when I started writing adult novels. When one of my publishers asked if I would consider writing a book-length nonfiction, I agreed to give it a try. Since that first nonfiction book—Assata Shakur: A 20^th Century Escaped Slave—I have written three more nonfiction books and over a dozen novels for adults and young adults.

 

Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

I don’t necessarily have favorite authors; rather, I have favorite books. For example, I loved Rosamunde Pilcher’s The Shell Seekers, and even though I enjoyed reading her other works, they didn’t capture me as much. The same for Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code. Even though I read his other books, they didn’t involve me as much as The DaVinci that was so rich in history and drama. 

 

What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

For me, the best part of being an author is the process: weaving together threads that will make up a story, creating the characters, and throwing in conflicts and drama that will result in strong emotions. When I am actually writing, I am totally involved. I honestly think the house could burn around me and I wouldn’t even notice. 

As far as the worst part of being an author, I am a very private person. Speaking in public, making personal appearances, and just “being out there” is difficult. I have always done it, but it isn’t especially easy for me. I would much rather be sitting at my computer in my office writing.

 

What are you working on now?

I was very fortunate that another publisher picked up three of my adult novels that were no longer in print. Now that they are republished, I have been busy marketing them. I have one new adult novel and two new young adult novels that will be released next year.

One writing project I have been working on for a few years now is a young adult mystery series: THE F.I.G. MYSTERIES. Five books in the series have been published: The Cadence of Gypsies, The Wish Rider, The Clock Flower, The Nightjar’s Promise, and The Seraphim’s Song. I will soon start writing book 6 in this series. I am thrilled to say that THE F.I.G. MYSTERIES has been optioned for a TV series or major film.

Elaine, I can’t thank you enough for your interest in my writing and for this wonderful interview. You have followed several of my books, and I appreciate it tremendously. I wish you and your bloggers my very best. 

~Barbara

You are very welcome. I've always enjoyed your work.

Elaine

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels and book-length works of nonfiction for both adults and young adults, and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Several of her books have been optioned for major films and television series. 

 

In addition to her own writing, Barbara is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. 

 

In 2018 Barbara received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas. 

 

Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with three cats who adopted her: Homer, a Southern coon cat; Reese, a black cat; and Earl Gray, a gray cat and Reese’s best friend.

 

www.barbaracaseyauthor.com

www.barbaracaseyagency.com

https://www.amazon.com/Just-Like-Family-Barbara-Casey/dp/1645407608

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-like-family-barbara-casey/1103301294

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/11413987-just-like-family

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

Barbara Casey will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beyond the Book: Are You Afraid of Ghosts?

 “What’s the bravest / scariest thing you’ve ever done?”

 I avoid scary things at all costs. So, what could I write about? Having children and parenting? Leaving home? Taking a first job? Getting married. Coping with the early loss of my mother? It seems to me that every single thing with do in this life does require a certain amount of courage and bravery, and of course that could be very scary because we don’t know for certain how things will turn out. That being said, there is one kind of unusual thing that I might talk about. It was horribly scary to me, although not everyone would be frightened in my situation, and it required great bravery for me to endure it. Truly, I hesitate to say much about it because some people won’t believe me, but here goes anyway.

One summer my sister came from Alaska to visit for a while. We really did have fun that summer. We went places together, cooked together, took the grandchildren on outings, and talked to our heart’s content. However, I’m a person who needs a little quiet time to recharge so I was glad at the end of the day to go into my bedroom, shut the door, and have a little downtime. It was a hot summer that year, but when I closed the door behind me at night everything was cool, quiet, and calming. It recharged me for the next day’s activities. Gradually, though, and I don’t know when it began, it wasn’t as satisfying to have my alone time every night. I started staying awake later watching TV with my sister who was a night owl for sure. Well, one night I hopped into bed, and I realized something. The room was freezing cold, and I was afraid.

Afraid? What of? I had no idea. I just knew that going into that room scared me, and I was always cold in there.

The summer finally ended, and my sister went back home leaving some wonderful memories behind her. I went back to work, and one night I left a magazine on a dresser in my bedroom. I woke from a lovely sleep to the sound of magazine pages turning. The room was so quiet there was no way to mistake what the noise was. A wave of dread washed over me. I kept my eyes closed because I didn’t want to know who was in there. In the morning I decided I’d just had a nightmare and thought no more about it. 

Not long after this episode I woke in the night because somebody was slamming the closet door over and over. It was making enough noise to wake the dead, which is what I was afraid I might be dealing with. 

Other things happened too. The drapes in the living room would move when there was no wind, air conditioning, or heat in the room. I heard footsteps walking all over the house. At times it seemed as if I could hear faraway voices. One night I was especially tired, but I couldn’t sleep because ‘they’ kept running up and down the steps. It made me so mad! I yelled to them to get quiet. “I have to work tomorrow even if you don’t.’ I head a horrible shrieking noise, and it was quiet for the rest of the night. Reluctantly, I concluded that I had ghosts in the house. Where did they come from? I still don’t know. Had they always been there? Not a clue. 

Most of my family didn’t believe me, but my son who lived with me at the time did believe me. He didn’t want to believe, but the look in his eyes told me that he did. I believe he heard some things too.

So how did it turn out? The ghosts went away as abruptly as they came. It’s been many years since I saw the last of them, and believe me I don’t miss them a bit. What about you? Have you had any experiences with ghosts? Are you afraid of them? 

The Guardian

 

The Guardian

by Jen Colly

 

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GENRE:   Paranormal Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Prepared to die...fighting to live.

Savard was in a mood to die, but when a human insists on saving his life, death is no longer an immediate option. He knew of no species – human, vampire, or demon – that could see him while in his invisible Spirit form. Unique to this world, this woman's singularity was a danger to the entire vampire race.

Waking behind bars in an underground vampire city was not how Sera envisioned her night drive ending. She has come to expect nothing from those who pass through her life, but this man, dying on the side of the road, proves to be different. Savard fights to free her from tyrannical vampire laws and to hide her unique abilities. What Sera doesn't understand, is why he would fight his growing love for her.

Savard's haunted past threatens to tear them apart. Soon, Sera discovers just how far her guardian is willing to go, and what he's willing to do, to keep her safe.

 

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EXCERPT

 

A total of twelve Justice had been slaughtered in less than two nights by a single Forbidden. None of them had been prepared for the violent force of unholy power and honed skill that was Devlin Savard.

 

When it was done, the Forbidden didn’t bother to look around, to make certain none had enough life left in them to make a second attempt. Savard knew he’d finished them.

 

Stepping over the bodies and twisted limbs, the Forbidden strode to the trees, toward Gideon. In a flashing moment of panic, Gideon looked down at his body, made certain he remained concealed in his invisible Spirit form. He was, but the confirmation only gave him a marginal sense of security. Savard still advanced up the hill in his direction.

 

The slippery layer of snow on the grass didn’t slow the Forbidden, his injuries didn’t affect him, and Gideon couldn’t help but wonder if there was anyone in this world who could take down Savard.

 

Savard walked into the forest, never slowing, weaving around the bare trees at the top of the hill until he faced the spot where Gideon stood, still invisible and undetectable, or so he’d thought. How the hell had Savard known where to find him?

 

“Afraid to face me?” Savard asked, but not at all in a taunting manner, as Gideon had expected. Then, seeming somehow disappointed, Savard turned his back on Gideon, casually surveying the carnage he’d left in the clearing. “I can understand why.”

 

Gideon didn’t care for confrontation. Never had. It was a ridiculous trait for a man in his position of both Guardian and Justice to possess. Some would say he’d chosen the wrong profession, but few were aware he’d had no choice in the matter. Releasing his Spirit, Gideon appeared not eight feet behind the infamous Forbidden.

 

“Ah,” Savard said in a satisfied manner at the sound of Gideon’s boots sinking into the snow. Turning slowly to face him, Savard looked him over as if he’d already known what he would find. “The man who commanded the Valenna Justice.”

 

Not caring for Savard’s usage of the word command in the past tense, Gideon assured him, “My captain will send more men.”

 

“He always does,” Savard said, his gaze drifting off to some distant point. As his body turned slightly, it was clear the Forbidden’s shirt glistened wetly in the moonlight, sticking to his side.

 

“You’re bleeding.” Gideon smiled, tight-lipped. Behnam had made a damn good strike.

 

“Am I?” Savard said easily, as if he hadn’t noticed, and then his gaze caught Gideon’s sword still secured in its scabbard. “Yet I see you’ve no interest in rekindling the fight.”

 

Gideon shrugged. It was true. He’d tracked him down and set the Justice loose as instructed. Nothing more. He refused to risk his life when Captain Basteen’s betrayal of the very laws Gideon himself struggled to uphold lingered fresh in his mind. “I don’t see the point. This round has been won.”

 

“So the generals live to fight the next battle. Is that the idea?”

 

“Something of the sort.”

 

“Be honest. That was hardly a fair fight. You brought them here to die.” Savard turned his back on Gideon again, boldly walking away. Then, just before he went down the other side of the ridge, Savard called out, his voice echoing in the night, “Want me dead? Bring an army.”

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Jen Colly is the rare case of an author who rebelled against reading assignments throughout her school years. Now she prefers reading books in a series, which has led her to writing her first paranormal romance series: The Cities Below. She will write about anything that catches her fancy, though truth be told, her weaknesses are pirates and vampires. She lives in Ohio with her supportive husband, two kids, one fluffy dog, and four rescued cats.

 

 

Purchase Links: https://www.amazon.com/Jen-Colly/e/B00O13V3YO?

 

https://books2read.com/cbtheguardian

 

Social Media Links:

 

Website – https://www.jencolly.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jen.colly.1/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/collyjen

Blog - http://www.jencolly.com/the-jen-mind-blog

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8634547.Jen_Colly

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/authorjencolly/

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

Jen Colly will be awarding a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday Sample and Weekend Writing Warriors

  

 Welcome to my blog. Today I'd like to share an excerpt from my all time favorite book Blue 52. On Sunday when you finish here you can go to www.wewriwa.blogspot.com for more excerpts from a talented group of authors. 

Blurb:

"First Lady Kills President Lovinggood" 

December 5, 2018 

Thirty years later, Hank Lovinggood embarks on a quest to prove his mother's innocence and punish the killers who took his family from him. Together Hank and lovely physicist Dr. Kathryn Sinclair confront an implacable, twisted, and merciless enemy who'll do whatever it takes to hide the truth forever.

Last Week's Excerpt: 

Senator Lovinggood finally turned away from his son. His face looked so pale he alarmed Hank. “You need to sit down, Grandpa.”

Senator Lovinggood didn’t argue. He allowed Hank to lead him over to a small bench across the room from the coffins. “I could use something to drink.”

Hank asked one of the guards to tell Sinclair his grandfather needed some water. Moments later Sinclair arrived with two glasses of ice water on a silver tray.

“Here you are,” he said. He shut the door behind him once more.

Senator Lovinggood gulped his water, scaring Hank even more when he saw how his grandfather’s hands shook. “I think it’s time we got home, Grandpa.”

The old senator heaved himself to his feet and shambled across the room to Richard’s coffin. “I love you, son,” he whispered. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. I’m glad I could see you once more before I die.”

Hank thought he had finished with his goodbyes, but Senator Lovinggood turned around to say farewell to Elizabeth also. His voice strengthened; he stood erect and straight now. “I know you didn’t do it,” he assured her. “You were willing to give your life for me simply because he loved me. I know better, and so does he, and that’s all that matters, right? Sleep well, my dear.”

Today's Excerpt: Hank and the Senator leave the Sinclair Mortuary after viewing the remains of Hank's mother and father. 

Today's Snippet

Hank put his hand under his grandfather’s elbow as they made their way to the Jaguar, but Senator Lovinggood scowled and jerked away. “Stop that! I’m not an invalid.”

They had left the mortuary grounds before he spoke again. “The trail’s pretty cold, but even after thirty years you never know what you might turn up if you shake the bushes a little.”

A cool little grin played along Hank’s lips. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking.”

                                                                   ***

They exchanged a look which visibly startled Senator Lovinggood. If he hadn’t known that Richard still lay in his coffin at Sinclair’s, he would have sworn that his son rode beside him again after all these years. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but just maybe it was a new look in Hank’s eyes, a look that promised justice for his mother and retribution for his father.

Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/2tyWfr0

Searching: Dragons of New York, Book 1

 

Searching (Dragons of New York, Book 1)

by Rachel Graves

 

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GENRE: Urban Fantasy

 

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BLURB:

 

A dragon terrified of being discovered by the government, Ravenna Drake is constantly on the move. When the woman who raised her gets cancer, Ravenna trades her nomadic work restoring black market magical goods for a steady job. But her cautious life ends after her name is found at the scene of a werewolf murder.

 

Dr. Ian Chen, a sorcerer bonded to a powerful relic, works for the government treating supernatural citizens. He insists on investigating when his patient’s body is discovered completely drained of blood. His search leads him to the beautiful but frustrating Ravenna Drake, who refuses to stay away from the case or follow his instructions.

 

As more bloodless bodies surface, threats from secret societies and corrupt politicians force the dragon and the sorcerer to work together. If Ravenna and Ian can’t catch the killer, the people they love the most may be the next to die.

 

 

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EXCERPT

 

His foot reached out to blur the circle and the ghost changed. Agony forced every other emotion aside. He couldn’t breathe, a heavy weight settled on his chest. Panic set in as he wheezed, his heart racing the way hers had raced. Was he experiencing her last minutes or just panicking at the emotions? Could he trust himself? Darkness started to crowd the edges of his vision. Not enough air. Sweat broke out along his back. Somewhere, Cloak was saying something, but he couldn’t hear it over the pounding of blood in his ears. He was going to die here. The blackness got closer.

 

“No.” The flood of emotions stopped immediately, as Drake stepped in front of him. “That’s not how this works. You don’t get to scream at him.”

 

His head throbbed, stinging like acid dripping down his face, but he could breathe again. The darkness receded. The first thing he saw was Drake moving into the center of the stain, acting as if the blood wasn’t there. 

 

“I’ll give you enough energy to manifest, but start screaming again and I will end you, even if we haven’t heard a damn thing you’ve got to say. Understand?” She paused, then reached her hand out. A shaft of sunlight came in through the window and her hand seemed to glow. Then the end of it disappeared, replaced with a chest. The shape grew outward, a filmy light turning into a woman. The process took less than a minute, and he heard the sheriff whisper to God.

 

“Dr. Chen, she can talk to you now.” Drake said it with a very deliberate emphasis on the word talk. Whatever the ghost intended, it wasn’t going to stand up to her. A deep surge of gratitude coursed through him.

A Word With the Author

 Do you have any tattoos?  Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?

Not yet! I have a pretty impressive scar in the shape of the Eye of Horus, the wedjat eye. It’s a symbol of well-being and protection. I’m searching for the right artist who can outline the scar with a bold black line so it never fades. The scar came from a surgery to correct a birth defect that wasn’t discovered until my mid-forties. The process had some awful complications and really changed how I saw myself. I didn’t ask for the symbol, but I recognized it the first time I took the bandages off. I’ve loved it ever since. 

Is your life anything like it was two years ago?

Not even a tiny bit! I move around a lot, but Salem, Mass (my latest home) is the farthest north I’ve ever been. If you asked me two years ago if I’d ever live someplace that gets this cold, I wouldn’t have been able to stop laughing. But these days, I push myself more. I don’t trust that things can wait. I’m more likely to grab on to an opportunity or force myself to do something now that I was before 2020. The last two years really made me feel like there’s no time to lose, if you want something you have to take a chance and go for it. 

How long have you been writing?

Sixteen years! It feels like forever, but my path hasn’t been a straight line. I spent two years working with a major publishing house only to have those books accepted but not published. My years with a small publishing house were much more productive, but ultimately, I really found myself as a writer when I started self-publishing. There’s just not a lot of publishers who get excited about ghost-dragons or witches solving murders the way I do. Working independently lets me pick the best-of-the-best editors and artists to support my stories. And, when I’m caught up in a good story, sixteen years doesn’t feel like enough time. 

What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

Keep writing. When you finish one book, write another one. If you can’t think of something to write that fits your story, write a description of a place or a person. Above all: write. The hardest part of writing isn’t publishing or getting an agent, it’s having to write and re-write all the time. The ideas in your head are great, but don’t keep them in your head. The story changes as you write it out, and that’s the best part.

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

This is a story about secrets. There are two secret magical societies in the book. One is morally gray, and wants to use magic to get ahead. Another is a group of collectors who spend millions on magical books and objects. On top of that, the characters are keeping secrets. Ravenna is a dragon who can appear as a human or in a form of pure magic, but she’s only ever told three people. Ian became bonded to a magical relic, Cloak, during a terrorist shooting, and has kept that a secret from his family for years. And even though they share a soul, Cloak keeps secrets from Ian. There were so many fun layers of who knows what and when they’ll share it. In a few cases, I got to show close friends being able to guess a secret. Those turned out to be some of my favorite scenes!

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Rachel Graves writes mysteries that blend the supernatural with steamy, sexy scenes. Her work explores the many shades of gray found between the lines of right and wrong. Rachel's books focus on strong heroines who take charge of their own fate, their friends, and their families. Rachel is a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and uses research skills honed getting a graduate degree in psychology to seek out rare folklore and magical creatures. Her writing incorporates popular monsters like vampires and werewolves as well as diverse creatures like selkies and yuki onna. Rachel has lived in a cursed town, taken far too many ghost tours, and counts down to every Halloween starting in November. You can read short stories and learn more about her on her website: http://www.rachelgraves.com/.

 

Amazon.com author page is: https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Graves/e/B011H977D0  

Good reads: https://www.goodreads.com/RachelGraves

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorRachelGraves/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.graves.370

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

Personal Blog: http://rachelgraves.com/

 

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Dragons-New-York-Book-ebook/dp/B0BGFGNF7V/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

A randomly chosen reader will be selected to receive a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Nobel gift certificate.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway