• About
  • Book Reviews
  • Books & Stories
    • A Merchant in Oria
    • After Avalon
    • King of Ages: A King Arthur Anthology
    • Monster Huntress
      • First 3 Chapters of Monster Huntress
    • Monsters: A TPQ Anthology
    • Quickfic Anthology 1
    • Sci Phi Journal, Q1 2016
    • Tales from Our Write Side: An Anthology
  • My Blog
  • Review Policy
  • Words Like Rain

Author David Wiley

~ Author of science fiction and fantasy stories, choosing to write the stories that he would love to read.

Author David Wiley

Category Archives: Book Release

Book Release: A Merchant in Oria by David Wiley

28 Friday Apr 2017

Posted by David Wiley in A Merchant in Oria, Book Release, Books and Reading, My Writings, OWS Ink, LLC.

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, Book Release, david wiley, Fantasy, Novella, OWS Ink, LLC., Willow Wings Press

Today is the big day. The novella is officially out! You can snag an electronic copy through several venues, which I’ve shared on my Author page and will share again soon.

From 8 am-10 pm (central time) today and tomorrow an event will be running on Facebook where tons of authors are helping to celebrate the release by giving away free books, hosting little games, and sharing a little about themselves.

So hop in as you are able to and maybe you’ll find an author or two that you might enjoy reading. Join in on some games for chances to win prizes.

https://www.facebook.com/events/269239190204356/

 

18121751_10213127214395843_2084459849936439235_o

 

If you want to order a copy of A Merchant in Oria, here are some links.

Please note: The paperback version has been delayed a little in order to ensure it is the best quality product. It may be another week before that is able to be purchased. When it does go live, there will be a post on this blog to reshare the links so you can order a paperback version if you prefer to have a copy.

https://www.amazon.com/Merchant-Oria-David-Wi…/…/ref=sr_1_1……
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/720264
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-merchant-in-o…/1126276961…
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-merchant-in-oria

 

Advertisement

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

A Merchant in Oria Releases Soon!

25 Tuesday Apr 2017

Posted by David Wiley in A Merchant in Oria, Book Release, Books and Reading, My Writings, OWS Ink, LLC.

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, Fantasy, Novella, OWS Ink, LLC., Prerelease

I can hardly contain my own excitement because my first novella, A Merchant in Oria, will finally be available this Friday. It was a story that first begun in 2012 and I can’t believe it has finally matured into the work you will be able to purchase.

The team at OWS Ink, LLC. have been fantastic to work with during every step of the process.

Consider helping to spread the word. The more people who know about this release, the better things will (hopefully) go during the first days of this novella’s release. A good release will hopefully lead to their willingness to look at my first full novel, Monster Huntress.

Join us on Facebook this Friday and Saturday for two days full of authors coming together to help celebrate the release of the book.

Link to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/269239190204356/

And if you are a reviewer and would like to get a review copy, please reach out to me.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

A Merchant in Oria – Social Campaigns

11 Tuesday Apr 2017

Posted by David Wiley in A Merchant in Oria, Book Release, Books and Reading, Fantasy, My Writings, OWS Ink, LLC.

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, david wiley, Fantasy, Headtalker, Novella, OWS Ink, LLC., Thunderclap, Willow Wings Press

The cover reveal is still to come, but in the meantime the wonderful people over at Our Write Side have started up a Headtalker and a Thunderclap campaign to help spread the word about this upcoming release.

Don’t know what those are? They are very simple. You sign up to allow Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr/LinkedIn permission to make a one-time post on the day of the book’s release. It will auto-generate a message for you, which you are able to customize as you desire.

It takes minutes to contribute to the campaign and makes it so you don’t have to try and remember to post about it on the actual release date. We need 100 people for the Thunderclap to be a success, so please consider taking a moment to sign up and help spread the word.

Thunderclap: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/55573-a-merchant-in-oria-debut

Headtalker: https://headtalker.com/campaigns/a-merchant-in-oria-release/

And as a bonus treat, here is the blurb for this upcoming release:

 

Firion is a young merchant descended from generations of merchants. His first big break comes along when he sets out to trade with the wealthy dwarven kingdom of Oria. He has always dreamed of visiting this grand kingdom, having heard his father describe it in detail a hundred times when he was younger. But when Firion arrives in Oria, he is jarred by the details present that contradict with the image etched in his mind.

Something dark and sinister seems to be afoot in Oria, but Firion knows he is no hero. He is just a simple merchant, and what can an ordinary person do in the face of danger and deception?

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Announcement: Coming Soon

06 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by David Wiley in A Merchant in Oria, Book Release, Books and Reading, Cover Reveal, My Writings, OWS Ink, LLC.

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, Announcement, Cover Reveal, david wiley, OWS Ink, LLC., Willow Wings Press

If you are a regular follower of the blog you may have noticed a sudden decrease in posts. I would like to say that all of that extra time has gone into writing, but I can honestly say that a good chunk of it has. I’ve been working hard at getting my first novel polished with one more big revision before trying to get it accepted.

I’m at a point now where I can feel confident about the timeframe for finishing those revisions and, if all goes well, this book could be coming out this fall.

And if that wasn’t exciting enough by itself, I also have a novella coming. April 28th is the tentative release date.

And there is a cover. Oh my, is the cover fantastic. OWS Ink, LLC. is impressing me at every step in this process, and I hope that all of our hard work will pay off. A cover reveal is coming soon. Very soon. There is a teaser image at the bottom of this post.

So apart from the occasional review, look for the next slew of posts to contain a cover reveal, preorder information (and why you should preorder!), and then release information. So keep on checking back! I will finally have a book in print, with just my name on it, after years of short stories, anthologies, and rejections. And I couldn’t be more excited to have you read it and share your thoughts.

So, coming soon:

untitled

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Book Release: The Weightless One by Anais Chartschenko

31 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Indie Author Spotlight

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Anais Chartschenko, Book Release, Indie Author, poetry, The Weightless One

The Weightless One by Anaïs Chartschenko is now available on Amazon!

51hocl72bj2l

After a party changed everything, Miranda loses her appetite. She is placed in an eating disorder treatment program, where she must be brave enough to face the truth she was trying to bury.

anaishood


Anaïs Chartschenko is a poet, singer, and artist I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for some time now. The Weightless One is her third book of dark, gritty, and honest poetry.


Anaïs Chartschenko hails from the Canadian wilderness. She has come to enjoy such modern things as electric tea kettles. Her published works include two collections of poetry, Bright Needles and The Whisper Collector as well as a novel in verse, The Weightless One.

You can find her on several social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and YouTube— and none of them are boring.

Additional places to wander:

Website: http://anaischartschenko.weebly.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15387157.Anais_Chartschenko

BEWARE: Anaïs is suspected of actually being a fairy-in-disguise.

Other Books By Anaïs:

The Whisper Collector

Buy Bright Needles

Interested in Anaïs music?

Buy Howling at the Moon: Live from my Living Room

Buy Immigration

Excerpt from The Weightless One

 Reasons I Have To Stay

I was signed in,

I have no choice.

They tell me

My heart is failing.

They tell me

When you starve

Long enough, your body

Starts to eat your muscles.

Your heart is a muscle. It becomes

Your unwilling dinner.

They show me charts with

Low iron, low this and low that.

They tell me I need to take this

Serious.

But it doesn’t seem real.

All that is real is my sudden

Total lack of control, total

Forced surrender, it feels

So broken it can never be

Fixed-

I can’t agree to any of these

Things. Not even when I

Feel my heart forget a beat.

Not even when I’m hooked

To machines.

Reasons I Should Get To Leave

I don’t count calories.

I don’t weigh myself.

I don’t obsess over models.

I don’t exercise.

I don’t take laxatives or

Diuretics.

I don’t make myself

Throw up.

I don’t care what you think.

I think for myself.

I’m not this, I still have

My period.

Okay?

 

Little Fish

 We lay in a tight row

Like sardines,

Wrapped tight in

Blankets and thick

Fuzzy pajamas

Getting our blood

Pressure checked

Lay down, and close

My eyes to the other

Girls’ gossip, they

Try to include me,

But I have nothing

To say in the morning

This is a strange torment,

Laying so close to the others

Trapped between laughter

And the talk of having to

Drink ensures or not,

Of having to go to an

Increased nutrition plan,

Of family therapy sessions

Coming at the end of the

Week.

 

Doll

 Kara began

Pulling out

Her hair

Extensions

Bundles of

Blonde lay

On the floor,

Her lion mane

Alopecia found

“I’m sick of

The lies!”  She

Twisted her

Face up her

Hands knotted

In hair

“Where did this

Come from?

I didn’t grow it!”

We watched

In horror

We watched

Unable to

Look away

From her

Transformation

Underneath she

Was so small

Like a fragile glass

Doll,

Her features too

Large for her head

Her hair was only

A few inches long

Thin dirty dishwater

Blonde strands like

Weeds dried out

In the sun

She smiled

She laughed

She burrowed

Her face in

Borrowed hair

And

Cried.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Urban Mythology by Eric Keizer

28 Tuesday Mar 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Indie Author Spotlight, OWS Ink, LLC.

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Release, Eric Keizer, LLC., OWS Ink, poetry, Urban Mythology

Coming soon from OWS Ink, a poetry collection by debut author Eric Keizer. Read on for a few sneak peeks at the contents, a link to preorder, and links to a Headtalker and a Thunderclap campaign.

Consider taking a few minutes to, at the very least, sign up for those two campaigns. It takes a few minutes and costs nothing, but can go a long way toward helping this author’s first publication become a success.

Headtalker Link: https://headtalker.com/campaigns/urban-mythology-book-release/

Thunderclap Link: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/54029-urban-mythology-debut

Preorder on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Urban-Mythology-Eric-Keizer-ebook/dp/B06XSHVDQ8/

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Book Release: Maharia by Joshua Robertson

22 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Crimson Edge Press, Fantasy

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Release, Crimson Edge Press, Dark Fantasy, Indie Author, Joshua Robertson, Maharia, Thrice Nine Legends

Maharia Synopsis

In Valor There Is Hope!

Branimir has remained hidden from the enemy, withholding the cursed dagger from their erroneous hands. When a stranger arrives, and offers the chance to end his never-ending battle, Branimir sets off for the City of the Gods for answers. Now, hoping his faith has not been misplaced, Branimir undergoes his darkest adventure yet. He can only trust that he has the courage to survive the truth.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06W5NG5VR/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1487769958&sr=1-1&keywords=maharia+fantasy+epic+dark

**The first book, Melkorka, is on sale for 99 cents and the box set is also available now.
Melkorka Buy Link (99 cents)https://www.amazon.com/Melkorka-Kaelandur-Book-Joshua-Robertson-ebook/dp/B00R7CMJ4O/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Box Set Buy Link (5.99) https://www.amazon.com/Kaelandur-Box-Set-Thrice-Legends-ebook/dp/B06X9PX68K/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Author Links:

https://www.twitter.com/RobertsonWrites

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoshuaRobertson

http://www.robertsonwrites.com/

Author Bio:

Joshua Robertson is a bestselling author in dark fantasy. Robertson is a Licensed Master Social Worker, who received his degree from Wichita State University. He has worked with children and families for the past fifteen years in a variety of unique venues: a residential behavior school, a psychiatric treatment facility, and the child welfare system. He has functioned as a supervisor, an educator, a behavior specialist, and a therapist during his career. Mr. Robertson has presented trainings for hundreds of professionals and military personnel on topics that include child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, strengthening the parent and child relationships, and the neurobiological impact of trauma.

You may recognize him as the dude whose dragons were said to destroy George R.R. Martin’s and Christopher Paolini’s dragons in a very biased Twitter poll. His first novel, Melkorka, was released in 2015, and he has been writing fantasy fiction like clockwork ever since. Known most for his Thrice Nine Legends Saga, Robertson enjoys an ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers.

He currently lives in North Carolina with his better half and his horde of goblins.

 

Excerpt 1:

Branimir’s heart jumped at the thought of leaving Gaetana. He spun around and rose to his feet. Adamus faced him, beard hanging to his chest, and blue eyes wild with excitement. Witigor, a head taller than the Ariadnean, joggled his head in agreement, the overhanging flap of his ridiculous brown hat bouncing over his brow.

Sulanna stilled them with her hand. “What about Dorofej? The Stuhia has not survived this long simply to stay captive in a dungeon. Are we to continue to trust that he will find a way to escape?”

“Tis a thought I hope to be true, Sulanna,” Adamus said, “though the odds are not favorable. I am not proposing we attempt to free Dorofej. We simply cannot stay here much longer. Besides, if Dorofej does escape, he can always find us with that thing he does.”

“Klukas,” Branimir said. “Yes. He can find us in the shadow world.”

“Oh, here we are again, talking of this mysterious, all-knowing man called Dorofej.” Wit grimaced, pulling the sleeves up on his shirt. “The man might as well be a god, the way you speak of him.” Wit’s eye twitched. “Still, you are correct on this matter. The Stuhia can find anyone in Klukas if they have come across them before. Their gift of scrying supersedes the skill of the greatest oracle. He would be able to find you no matter your destination, I assure you.”

“Oh. Are you suddenly an expert with the Stuhian people, Wit?” Sulanna mocked, twisting her mouth with suspicion. “Funny you have not said a word of them until recently.”

“Well…I have read Tom Flitter’s Mystagogical’s Forlorn Folio and Colin Turney’s Unchanted and Unequaled.” Wit crossed his arms, leaned back like he had taken a blow to the bits, and then wobbled his head back and forth in disbelief. “Do you not know I have access to every book in the known world, Sulanna? I would have been reading about the dragon people long before now if I had known anyone cared to know about them. But you three keep your tongues wrapped so tight, I would not be surprised if you did not have any tongues at all. I don’t know how you expect me to help.”

Branimir stuck out his tongue. “No one asked for your help. We asked for one book on ancient religions, and here you still are—”

“Yes, I remember. The Compendium of Infernal Light by Emrys Trudgeon.” Wit widened his eyes. “No other man could have gotten you that little treasure. If you don’t want me, I can be on my way.” He stomped the back of his foot against the earth, indicating he had no intention of budging. “You know, it is not everyday someone asks about a text not highlighting the Lightbringer.”

“Czern’s breath. You mustn’t go anywhere,” Adamus said, angling an eyebrow at Branimir.

Sulanna flashed her teeth, chiming in, “Indeed. Your input is always welcome, but our business will remain our own.”

“Of course, my Lady,” Wit said, nodding his head again with enough momentum to bounce his hat. “And I don’t mean to pry, but anything you need to know, I can find.” He winked, pointing at Branimir. “Don’t get me wrong. The Kras have wicked memories, but none are as old as books. None can know how their minds have twisted their words over time.”

Excerpt 2:

Again, the bearded Kadari and Beryl tightened their hold on his arms.

With a flash in her eye, Kveta pulled aside Branimir’s cloak and pulled the dagger from the belt. Kaelandur stayed hanging from its sheathe around his waist. She barely looked at the copper blade, twisting the iron dagger in her hand. The sharpness of the weapon gleamed in the firelight.

Her free hand grabbed his shoulder roughly, balancing her weight to keep pressure off her bandaged leg. “Should I wedge this in your leg, your eye, or your dear, little bits?”

Beryl’s blithe snigger robbed the air from Branimir’s lungs. “Why choose only one?”

Disbelief and horror seized Bran, his timorous lip quaking with realization. He twisted against the Kadari holding him, hardly budging.

He dared to break from Kveta’s ghastly expression to look at Falmagon. The twisted smile under the Patrician’s mustache screamed of gratification. After Harrowhal, he realized how far gone Falmagon truly was. He once thought Falmagon, at least, considered himself decent, but nothing was left of the Highborn Long-Walker.

Nothing could have readied Branimir for the shockwave of pain riddling through his body as Kveta speared him with the dagger. He reacted at instinct, thrashing violently against the two Kadari holding him hostage, his wail causing the very flames of the distant fire to waft. He could not pinpoint where she struck him at first, only knowing the pain surged from beneath his belly. The heat of the immediate wound was only diluted by the warmth of the thick blood flowing down his slender leg.

He moaned. Tears descended from his cheeks with heaved sniffles, snorting his slick snot back into his nose and off his upper lip.

Kveta twisted the blade, grating the sharp edge against his femur, isolating the dagger’s location. Branimir blubbered softly, catching the saliva on the edge of his tongue, hatefully glaring at the Kadari woman.

He gagged in effort to keep his throat from closing, gasping for oxygen. He needed to breathe. He had to shake away the abysmal pain. Inhaling the metallic odor of his own blood, Branimir gazed to Falmagon and exhaled the bitter thoughts flooding his mind. “I will kill you! I swear it! Marheena will leave you broken and deformed!”

Excerpt 3:

Branimir could not guess how much time had come and gone since they entered the gate and started up the never-ending staircase. Not only did the sun stay at its apex over the City of the Gods, giving constant warmth and light in every crevice, but also something kept his stomach from hunger and his body from exhaustion. Every time his foot lifted and fell, his body seemingly had forgotten he repeated the same movement a hundred times before. In the beginning, the mundane climbing had been a game; but after a couple hours, he lost interest in playing. He stopped counting the stairs after reaching the thousands. Yet he felt no aching in his back, legs, or feet. Bran supposed he should be thankful for being away from the snow and wind on the mountain pass, but the monotony was wearing on him.

“You would think,” he said, after several hours, “with all the magic in this place they would find a quicker way to the top. I bet the Svet’s gateway takes them straight to the top of the peak.”

Alyona ambled along behind him, responding with a dull tone. “Close. You arrive on the seventh tier, near the temple.”

“Nine Lands. And no one thought to put one of those gateways at the bottom of these stairs?” Branimir asked, gazing at the rocky wall on either side of them. He was certain a dragon could fit on the staircase without discomfort. Which did not matter much, considering the dragon could fly to the peak of the mount.

Tyr held the smile on his face, climbing besides Branimir on the right. “Bah! Can you imagine when we go back down to leave? I bet we will lose our minds going back down these stairs.” Tyr swung is giant arms back and forth as he climbed. Branimir hardly noticed he had six fingers anymore. “How about if we were to arrive through the doorway up there? And then, when we went to leave, we were faced with this? At least, we know, right?” Tyr rumbled, peering over his shoulder for an instant. The bottom of the winding staircase could no longer be seen. “I might consider flinging myself down the steps, or simply lying down and rolling. Maybe the gods will spare me if I crack my head.”

Alyona’s dry tone answered the unasked question. “No, they will not.”

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Blog Tour: Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson & J.C. Boyd

21 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Crimson Edge Press, Fantasy, Guest Post

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Anaerfell, Blog Tour, Cover Reveal, Dark Fantasy, dragon, J.C. Boyd, Joshua Robertson, Thrice Nine Legends

2016-facebook-banner-meltitletextIn case you missed it, yesterday I reviewed this book. It is a fantastic dark fantasy book and serves as an entry point into their larger Thrice Nine Legends world. In celebration of a new edition, with an outstanding cover, they are currently running a blog tour to generate awareness and interest in this book. Pick up a copy if you are a fan of dark fantasy and check out the excerpt included below.

BLURB

Drast, cunning but reckless, is on the hunt for admiration. Tyran, calculating but tactless, is in search of affection. Bound by a friendship thicker than blood, the two brothers have been hardened by their father’s ambitions. Drast and Tyran are forced to set aside their own hopes and dreams during their struggle to fulfill their father’s desire for immortality. Now, the two will face skin-switchers and dragons, ultimately leading to a final clash with Wolos, God of the Dead.

BIOS

robertson

Joshua Robertson was born in Kingman, Kansas on May 23, 1984. A graduate of Norwich High School, Robertson attended Wichita State University where he received his Masters in Social Work with minors in Psychology and Sociology. His bestselling novel, Melkorka, the first in The Kaelandur Series, was released in 2015. Known most for his Thrice Nine Legends Saga, Robertson enjoys an ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers. He counts R.A. Salvatore and J.R.R. Tolkien among his literary influences.

http://www.robertsonwrites.com/ @robertsonwrites

boydpic

J.C. lives in the Midwest with his wife and two dogs. He recently earned his MA in English Literature and is working on his debut novel for his own fantasy world. Despite growing up with Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and a collection of both Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms novels, J.C. has an abiding love of classics and spends his free time reading anything he can get his hands on.

http://www.crimsonedgepress.com

@jcboyd_author

LINKS

Amazon

Excerpt One

Erzebeth convulsed. Her fur and skin shedding away while she wheeled about on the ground in agony. The bones readjusted and organs reset from beast to human. Where a beast had stood was now the naked figure of Erzebeth. Cuts and scratches patterned her body, but none were fatal.

Tyran had no place for modesty. The Vucari woman, within the privacy of the ice dome, struggled to her feet. Again, her dark eyes met his own, filled with compassion.

“You need to be put down, young Red.” Her voice was calm as her feet crossed in front of one another, closing the distance between them. “Your power is greater than any I have seen before, even from the Anshedar.”

“What?” Tyran said, forehead wrinkled with confusion. He had never heard of the race before, whether beast or otherwise.

“You are like a rabid dog, young Red. You are the perfect companion, loyal, and possibly even loving somewhere deep inside,” Erzebeth bit her lip. Her breasts, barely covered by her dark hair, touched the front of his chest. She halted her feet. “But, you are tainted by a disease that is stronger than the goodness in you. You cannot be left to live in this world, or you will corrupt every living thing around you.”

Tyran tilted his chin, lips parting. His free hand touched her pale skin, as whitish as the ice fortress that veiled this moment.

“You would taint me, young Red.” She stepped up on her tiptoes. “As with the rabid dog, you need to be put down.”

He grabbed her by the back of the neck, and pulled her to him. He kissed her with more force than he had ever kissed any woman.

This woman was not Isolde. This woman was battle hardened, and a warrior. She was not plain.

She grabbed his shoulders and returned the embrace, her tongue touching his lips. Her body was far warmer than his own, as if it were heated by the darkness.

He did not know what he was doing in this moment. It may have likely been the first time that his mind was clear from thought, acting without thinking. Though, in time, he may consider that when his death was nigh, he found that this was something he wanted to do before death found him.

The crashing against the ice pulled him from the moment. Tyran pulled back, moving the Vucari’s hair from her cheek. “You won’t kill me, Erzebeth.”

“No,” she breathed. Her hands fell to his chest. “But, it still needs to be done.”

Excerpt 2

His brother looked at his hands, now covered by great warm mittens. “Drast?”

“Mm?” Drast grunted, mimicking his brother.

“How are they going to remember us?”

“Who?”

Tyran shrugged his heavy shoulders. “The Stuhia. The Vucari. The world, I suppose.”

“By our apotheosis.”

“Does it always come down to glory?”

Drast snorted. “Yes. If we fail we will not be remembered. It must come to glory.”

Tyran shook his head. “But is what we are doing glorious?”

“We are off to kill a god. How could it not be?”

Tyran stopped and turned. “But if we are wrong. If killing Wolos is somehow an evil act. Or, if we fail and we are remembered because of our tyrant father—”

“Tyran the Tyrant,” Drast interrupted, chittering.

“I am serious. How do we know that we should even be doing what we are planning on doing? How do we know it is right? How do we know we can?”

“Tyran, you are overthinking this. Why do you even care how people will remember you to begin with? It will not matter. We will either succeed, in which case we are allowed to tell whatever tale of our victory we choose, or we fail and are dead and it doesn’t matter. Regardless, people will remember us for the height of our lives, when we faced a god.”

“I want to believe that I did something right for this world before I died.”

dragon

Excerpt 3

The room still whirled from last night. He tried to close his eyes to keep his stomach from doing the same, but closing his eyes actually made it worse. Drast was somewhat surprised that the drink was still affecting him like this. He had been having more than his fill for—he did not know how long. How long ago did Tyran leave? His mind was too foggy to remember. And Walstan was gone, too.

Vaguely, Drast saw that the sky was just turning blue with the rising sun. At least, he was fairly certain it was sunrise. None of the hues of sunset had begun to color the sky.

“Ser Drast?”

He turned his head to the entrance into his chambers and pulled himself more upright to lean against the nightstand beside his bed. One of the serving women stood just inside of his room. “What?”

“The Arkhon wishes to speak with you.”

He was not certain what string of curses came from his lips, but the maid blanched and her face grew pink, almost to the color of her hair. The room swirled again while she spoke.

“What?” he asked again.

“I said, Ser Drast, the Arkhon instructed me to remain with you until you came to meet with him.” Her voice quivered.

She was right to fear him. Her voice was fuzzy, just like everything. But, he knew he had not been particularly kind to any of the servants of late. He had managed to avoid his father by effectively frightening the servants. Their fear, combined with late nights, ale, and sleeping until the sun set, had allowed him to avoid talking with anyone who did not enjoy a mug or two.

A few of the servants had initially joined him in drinking. He loosely recalled this maid among them. Ura? Mura? Lura?

“Kura,” he finally muttered. He had been a little too handsy and she had since avoided him like—he could not clearly comprise a simile. Like. Like? Like the moon avoided the sun? Good enough.

“Yes, Kura,” she murmured.

Drast spat at the chamber pot. He was fairly certain he missed. “Well, come on in, Kura.” He belched. “I know how we can pass the time.”

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Author Interview: M.T. Thomas + Flash Fiction Story

09 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Sci-Fi

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Alien Invasion, Author Interview, flash fiction, I'll Rescue You, Indie Author, M.T. Thomas, Sci-Fi

Welcome! Please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.

img_20160430_041632

Hello! My name is Michelle Thomas, also known as “M.T. Thomas” and I am the author of the book “I’ll Rescue You” that you can find on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble as a paperback or on Kindle and Nook as an ebook.

I enjoy sunsets and long walks on the beach…just kidding! 😉 My true passions range from all forms of art, to church and family, and to science. I am a Medial Laboratory Scientist by day and an author by night. I have two daughters and a wonderful husband whom I’ve been with for 12 years.

What motivates you to write?

I’ve always wanted to write. I had a couple poems published back in the day and planned out my novel years ago but never had a chance to write it down. I was a double major at the University of North Dakota, majoring in Medical Science as well as Music (I play 4 instruments, 5 if you consider a 4 key Euphonium different than a 3 key Euphonium).

Between 2 majors (one requiring 6 semesters of Microbiology, 4 semesters of Chemistry, 2 semesters of Biology, 2 semesters of Hematology, 2 semesters of Immunology, and a few other “ologies” that you don’t care to hear about), many concerts (I once played for an audience of 12,000 people and I have performed twice on TV), a job at a bio analytical research center as a lab assistant (the lab experience helped me land a job after graduation), and a husband and baby at home who deserve as much attention as I can feasibly give them, there was no time to write anything not homework related (there was also no time to sleep either, I literally lived on coffee and once worked a 36 hour shift)

I always thought, “I’ll write my book right after graduation! I just have to make it till then.” However, right after graduation, I started my new job and we began building our dream house. Again, there was no time. After our house was built and I became comfortably settled in my job, I became pregnant with our second daughter. It would be another 2 years before I felt I had another moment to breathe and actually think about my book. Now, here I am, 5 years post-graduation and I have finally written the story I came up with 10 years ago.

I am motivated by sheer desire to finish what I started so long ago and hopefully continue on after the finish line to write other books.

What is the title of your most recent book? Give us a brief overview on what the book is about.

ill-rescue-you 

   My book is called “I’ll Rescue You”. It’s a science fiction story that takes place 40 years after an attempted alien invasion which also happens to be the present day. I have 3 main characters, one of which is an alien villain whose eyes are opened to the fact that he may be on the wrong side. My readers will follow along as he goes from thinking that he is a hero to realizing that he is, in fact, the bad guy.

Another main character is a half-human girl who must rise above the prejudice she faces every day from humans who hold a deep hate for the aliens. She gets kidnapped by our alien villains and her whole-human half-sister joins a group of humans who set out to rescue her. The sister is my third protagonist. She is utterly ordinary and completely relatable to any reader, and yet she must overcome obstacles to rescue her big sister.

I intend it to be the first book in a trilogy so there are a few questions left unanswered and an ending that leaves room for the next two installments of the story.

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

One thing that comes to mind is the fact that my story takes place post-invasion and the humans won the first war. Usually, alien invasion stories take place during the actual invasion while people are learning for the first time that they are not alone or, if they take place after, the Earth is destroyed and people are struggling to survive.

I wanted my characters to start off in a world that already KNEW aliens existed and that they were a threat. I wanted it to be a somewhat fair fight where the humans of Earth know what they are up against and are rushing to prepare for another war with the aliens.

Another thing that makes “I’ll Rescue You” unique is the many illustrations. It has over 30 sketches throughout its pages to draw the reader into my world.

What is the title of your current work-in-progress or the most recent manuscript you’ve completed apart from your most recent book? Would you mind sharing what it is about?

I suppose I have already shared a bit about it. It’s the sequel to my most recent book. Its title is “The War to Come” and it will answer some questions raised in book one as well as introduce a couple new villains that will make life a lot more difficult for our protagonists.

You seem to keep yourself busy. How do you stay sane?

A lot of prayer. Whether you are religious or not, you would be surprised how much a quick “God help me” actually works in any type of stressful situation. Not to mention, if you have time, prayer is so relaxing, like meditation if you are into that sort of thing.

How often do you write?

While I am on break at work and the hour before my kids and husband wake up in the morning. We live on a hill outside of a city where we have a beautiful view of the city lights at night below us as well as the stars above us. One of my favorite things to do is sit at my picture window with my coffee and lap top, while the whole house is quiet and the sun hasn’t risen yet. This is when my writing truly comes to life.

What famous author would you compare your own writing style with?

None. I am a poet at heart (it is where I got my start, after all) so I try to make my narrative as poetic as possible. I love to use play-on-words and repeat the same word with a different contextual meaning in the same paragraph whenever possible (example: “the eye of the storm caught my eye, its gray iris reflecting my own”). It makes my writing stand out, at least, I feel it does.

Who are five of your favorite authors?

Wow, there are so many! Daniel Handler (also known as Lemony Snicket) is my favorite. His handle on irony is genius. J.K. Rowling is another favorite, call me stereotypical but she is a talented writer. Lucy Maud Montgomery, she wrote Anne of Green Gables, a series filled with a surprising amount of wisdom. If you haven’t read it yet, you should because it’s a good story that may actually make you a better person after reading it. Speaking of reading books that may make you a better person, I also enjoy Joyce Meyer. Her books are the only “self-help” books that I enjoy, mostly because she writes the same way as she speaks, with a sense of humor and clear, yet laughable, analogies. Cassandra Clare is another favorite. Her strength comes in her ability to create such interesting characters with amazing histories and yet they are still relatable.

What are you currently reading?

George Martin’s famous series commonly known as “Game of Thrones” but the actual name of the series is “A Song of Ice and Fire”.

Time for some quick questions:

 

  • Favorite Quote? “Health nuts will feel stupid one day when they are lying in a hospital bed, dying of nothing.” – Author unknown

If you could be one character from your own writing, who would it be and why?

I would be Belle. She is slow to anger and quick to forgive. She has her priorities straight and loves others more than she loves herself.

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

Focus as much energy on marketing your book as you do in writing it. Also, be willing to accept criticism and make changes to your book if you are out-voted by your critics on any particular subject. Remember that you want other people to buy your book so you can’t write a story that only YOU like.

***BUY LINKS***

Paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Rescue-You-1-Thomas/dp/1539670252/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485955706&sr=8-2&keywords=i%27ll+rescue+you
ebook:
https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Rescue-You-M-T-Thomas-ebook/dp/B01N3SCE1H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485955706&sr=8-1&keywords=i%27ll+rescue+you
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ill-rescue-you-mt-thomas/1125581268?ean=2940157266561
Exclusive Flash Fiction Story
I offered her the chance to also write a flash fiction piece based on the idea of someone setting foot on Mars for the first time and something doesn’t go as planned. Here is her piece in response to that:

Do You Trust Me?

    The stars, they’re in a different pattern. I’m 225 million kilometers away, forging a new path for human kind on the planet Mars, making the biggest breakthrough since the moon landing, and yet the stars are all I can think about. I’ve had the constellations memorized since I was a child. Fascinated with outer space, I would dream of being an astronaut someday and my dreams carried me here, to this moment in history. I’m here, and yet, I dearly miss the constellations. It’s funny how you can stare at something you knew so well, such as these very stars, and yet, find them completely unrecognizable at a different angle.

“Stop procrastinating,” I scold myself. My shaking hands fasten my suit over my shaking body. I’m about to be the first person to step onto Mars. The door to the lethal atmosphere surrounding my ship opens. “Here I go.”

The sand was softer and less dense than I had imagined.  As I sink slightly into the loose ground below me, my lips curl into a smile. “This is something to tell everyone at home.”

Lifting my eyes to a moving patch of orange sand before me, my smile disappears. What could possibly be moving below this ground? My heart jumps into my throat at the same time that a figure jumps from the sand. He is somewhat small, with a flat, fishlike head and webbed fingers but it is his eyes that captivate me, his very, very human eyes.

My scream echoes inside my helmet and I try to turn and run away but my feet have sunk into this cursed loose sand. I struggle and I fall; my shoulder scrapes against a sharp corner of my ship’s landing gear, tearing a deadly hole in my suit. Tears are running down my cheek and I can’t figure out whether they are tears of fear because of the alien, or tears of hopelessness because I now know for certain that I’m going to die. I feel the air get sucked from my suit, choking the life from me as it’s replaced with a gaseous air that burns my lungs.

At least I won’t die at the hands of that monster. I think to myself with a bittersweet feeling of defeat. I suppose this is equivalent to saying “well this can’t get any worse”; a figure of speech that seems to be followed by another stroke of bad luck that does, in fact, make matters worse. Likewise, it was as if fate responded  “oh really” and, with a smirk, had decided to betray me one last time.

The monster had disappeared back beneath the sandy surface, diving in like a fish into water, only to reappear beneath me, pushing me upwards into a standing position with its unnatural arms. My lungs hurt too much to scream again so I just stared, helplessly, at this alien through my kaleidoscope of tears.  He stares back and I hear a voice; a voice inside my helmet, not reverberated through it from the outside but one that’s INSIDE my helmet.  His mouth doesn’t move but I hear the words “do you trust me?”

The voice was obviously a hallucination due to lack of oxygen, but what was not a hallucination was the cold, webbed fingers that slipped into the tear of my space suit. Their touch on my bare skin sent shivers down my spine and, suddenly, I was alert. My lungs no longer hurt and my dizziness left me. Adrenaline can truly do wonders! After all, what other explanation was there?

The voice returned. “Do you trust me?” I thought of the people who made this suit for me, I had trusted them and look where it got me.

“Do you trust me?” The words echoed in the space surrounding my head. I thought of all the astrophysicists who had come before me, giants who’s shoulders I had stood on, fellow scientists who told me Martians didn’t exist. I had trusted them and look where it got me.

“Do you trust me?”  I thought of my superiors, the ones who bestowed this great mission onto my shoulders and promised that I would return a hero. I had trusted them and look where it got me.

Yet again, the voice repeated “do you trust me?” I forced myself to breathe in whatever toxic fumes were inside my helmet carrying the disembodied voice to my ears; I breathed out my own response into the unearthly air, hysterical beyond the point of caring whether the voice was real or not. “No! NO! No, I don’t trust you! …How could I?”

The human eyes staring into my own human eyes showed a hurt expression. A shadow of disappointment fell across his face ever so briefly, like a cloud passing over the sun. “Then you are not ready to be here.”

The world around me fell into darkness. The lack of oxygen must have finally caught up with me and caused me to pass out. I’m not surprised, I knew this would happen eventually; adrenaline can only last so long. I faded away, thinking about how my lonely corpse will forever be left in this sandy grave where no loved one of mine will ever be able to reach it.

I was surprised after all; surprised when my groggy eyes opened. I awoke warm in my bed inside my space ship. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, followed by a spasm of laughter. “It was just a dream! It was all just a dream.” I hopped out of bed. Today is the day! Today I become the first person to take a stroll on Mars.

I strode over to where my suit hung, ready to keep me safe from the poisonous air outside.  My breath caught in my throat, for a moment the oxygen rich atmosphere might as well have been replaced with the atmosphere of Mars because my shock prevented me from breathing anyway. My fingers reached out, almost unconsciously, and touched a hole that had been torn into the shoulder of my suit.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Blog Tour and Review: The Remnant by William Michael Davidson

31 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Book Review, Books and Reading, Christian, Sci-Fi

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Aberrants, Book Release, Book Review, Christian, Dancing Lemur Press, MC Book Tours, Sci-Fi, The Remnant, William Michael Davidson

banner-3

The Remnant on Tour {+ Giveaway}

Author William Michael Davidson is on tour with MC Book Tours featuring his new novel, THE REMNANT, being released Feb. 7 by Dancing Lemur Press L.L.C.

You can follow Davidson’s tour schedule HERE for reviews, excerpts, interviews, features, and a chance to win a copy of his book.

◊THE REMNANT

◊by William Michael Davidson

the-remnant-by-william-michael-davidson

◊Release date: February 7, 2017

◊$15.95, 6×9 Trade paperback, 242 pages

◊Science Fiction (FIC028000) / Christian Futuristic Fiction (FIC0402020)

◊Print ISBN 978-1-939844-29-3

◊eBook ISBN 978-1-939844-30-9

◊Order through Ingram, Follett, or from the publisher

◊$4.99 eBook available in all formats

One nation, without God…

 

          Colton Pierce apprehends Abberants—those who display symptoms of faith—and quarantines them on a remote island to ensure public safety.  Years prior, the government released a genetically-engineered super flu that destroyed the genes believed to be the biological source of spiritual experience in an effort to rid the world of terrorism. As an extractor with the Center for Theological Control, Colton is dedicated to the cause.

          But Colton’s steadfast commitment is challenged when he learns his own son has been targeted for extraction. An underground militia, the Remnant, agrees to help Colton save his son in exchange for his assistance with their plan to free the Aberrants on the island.

          Colton is faced with the most important decision of his life. Remain faithful to the CTC? Or give up everything to save his son?

 facebook-quote-graphic-two

THE REMNANT is available to order in eBook form at the following sites:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iTunes

The print format of the book is available at these sites:

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

Chapters-Indigo

Book Depository

Foyles

Mediander

Fiction DB

Be sure to add THE REMNANT to your bookshelf on Goodreads.

 

author-photo

William Michael Davidson lives in Long Beach, California with his wife and two daughters. A believer that “good living produces good writing,” Davidson writes early in the morning so he can get outside, exercise, spend time with people, and experience as much as possible.

A writer of speculative fiction, he enjoys stories that deal with humanity’s inherent need for redemption.

For more on Davidson and his writing, connect with him on Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon Author’s Page.

This is a tour-wide giveaway for two (2) print copies that are available to those living in the U.S. only and one (1) eBook copy available international. The giveaway will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, Feb. 26. You can enter to win at each stop of the tour.

Thanks for stopping by today. Be sure to visit the other blogs on the tour for more chances to win. The schedule is located HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

twitter-quote-graphic-one

Excerpt

1.1.4

 

Colton got home around ten o’clock. He’d stayed at the fundraiser for a few hours after the speech, had a couple more drinks, two plates for dinner, and did his best to socialize and rub elbows with his colleagues despite his misgivings over what had occurred. After a couple more glasses of champagne and a few conversations that encouraged him to apply for the soon-to-be-vacant position of Chief Officer, he’d convinced himself that he must have witnessed some kind of anomaly. Ashton Lampson couldn’t be the favorite to replace Brian Barclay. It just wasn’t humanly possible, and Ashton must have rounded up some of his inner-circle to get the crowd chanting. Once one person starts chanting, others tend to follow. It was almost a law of science. People would have chanted “Toilet Bowl Cleaner!” if the right number of people started and they were deep enough into their champagne.

He poured himself a brandy, kicked off his shoes, and walked onto his balcony, which overlooked the beach. He took a seat on one of his deck chairs. This was where Colton found himself most evenings. He often strolled onto the small balcony to reflect on his day and, when he could see the Quarantine Zone on a clear night, he would pride himself on how many Aberrants he’d personally been responsible for transporting there. It often eased his mind. It was too dark to see the Island now, but such a crisp breeze after a hot day felt refreshing.

Before long, Colton finished his glass of brandy and became restless. Marty was seeing a movie with a friend and his family and wouldn’t be back till nearly midnight. The silence that filled the condominium—the silence that first began when Mona walked out—had never been easy to adjust to. Maybe he shouldn’t have agreed for him to stay out so late. It was much later than his normal bedtime.

Unable to stand the silence any longer, Colton went back inside, poured himself another glass of brandy, and turned on the television to CNN. Drew Harrell was doing a story about the new legislation and various guests—scientists, teachers, politicians—were touting their opinions. A schoolteacher in Arkansas was discussing the safety of her classes and how, without fully exterminating the Aberrants, she feared a possible theological outbreak one day. It wasn’t fair to the children and the country’s future, she protested. The mayor of Chicago discussed how the city’s unofficial polling had proven beyond a shadow of doubt that the people of his city—of the country, for that matter—were behind the new legislation and thought it a necessary step to ensure the public health and safety.

Wandering toward his bedroom, Colton looked at the long corridor covered with plaques, awards, and honorary certificates over the last sixteen years of working at the CTC. He referred to this as his Hall of Fame. He stopped, sipped his brandy, and absorbed the sight. At least twenty were certificates for EXTRACTOR OF THE MONTH, lining both sides of the hallway in mahogany frames. Eight trophies were for EXTRACTOR OF THE YEAR, four on each side of the hallway, sitting like golden artifacts on shelves. There were also five plaques for EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. It had occurred to Colton that soon he would have to find another hallway because there was barely any space left on the walls.

My Take:

Wow, this book’s opening chapter really did a great job of hooking me and reeling me into the story. Unfortunately, I then spent the next third of the book not really liking the main character very much. And I think that was an intentional decision. Colton begins as a Saul, so to speak, being the greatest among those persecuting the Aberrants (those who are caught committing any form of theological action, such as praying). It was an interesting choice to have him as the main character, because there is a very real risk of the reader disliking and not relating to him, which could potentially lead them to set the book down and move on to something else. But that would be a big mistake.

Why? Because this book is amazing. The tension builds and builds and, once the dam finally breaks and Colton’s world falls apart around him, things take off on a thrilling and gripping adventure. I had a hard time putting the book down and, eventually, gave in to the desire to keep reading late into the night to finish it. This is a book designed to be devoured in large chunks toward the end, which is one of my favorite types of books.

Back to discussing Colton, because I feel like more needs said about the Saul-to-Paul character arc. It makes perfect sense, by the end, as to why it had to be Colton, It makes sense, eventually, as to how he would go from the greatest of enemies to becoming a reluctant convert. There are other parallels in the story that align with Paul’s story, parallels I didn’t think about at the time but now they stick out. And casting him, a person whose inflated ego of himself is a massive character flaw, serves as a reminder that God can use anyone for His purposes. He does not call the perfect; he calls the broken and imperfect.

All in all, this was one incredible story. I cannot recommend it enough, and the idea of this future is plausible enough that it should give Christians pause. What would you do if our world went this route? My prayer is that we would choose to form as the Remnant, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next books in the series as they release.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,295 other subscribers
Follow Author David Wiley on WordPress.com
Sign up for my Author Newsletter in order to stay up-to-date about new releases, promotions, and giveaways.

Click here to sign up!

Top Posts & Pages

  • Book Review: The Prince Warriors by Priscilla Shirer
  • Book Review: Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson
  • Book Review: The Carnelian Legacy by Cheryl Koevoet
  • Author Interview: Werner Stejskal
  • Book Review: Dirty Glory by Pete Greig

Categories

Twitter Updates

  • Review of Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples authordavidwiley.wordpress.com/2022/05/07/rev… 9 months ago
Follow @AuthorDWiley
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Author David Wiley
    • Join 278 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Author David Wiley
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: