Book Review: Paul the Apostle: A Graphic Novel

Tags

Beartruth Collective, Ben Avery, Book Review, BookCrash, Graphic Novel, Mark Harmon, Paul the Apostle, Sci-Fi

Title: Paul the Apostle: A Graphic Novel

Author: Ben Avery

Illustrator: Mark Harmon

Published by: Beartruth Collective, LLC; 1st edition (2016)

Page Count: 144 Pages (Hardcover)

Blurb: Looking for new ways to inspire your children to read the Bible? Experience the biblically based account of Paul the Apostle in a COMIC BOOK format kids LOVE! Paul’s life story, told to us in the Book of Acts, is filled with bravery, adventure, miracles, faith, and salvation, yet many people are not aware of Paul’s amazing life. In Paul the Apostle: A Graphic Novel, we have made the action packed Bible story of Paul more accessible for kids of all ages, using a visual language they love and understand: science fiction COMIC BOOKS! Our 144-page full color graphic novel (a fancy term for a really long comic book) uses awesome looking cartoon creatures, set in an action packed futuristic science-fiction universe. Kids LOVE it! And parents do too!

My Take: I always find myself enjoying the opportunity to read a graphic novel; sadly, they simply don’t surface on my reading radar often enough. So I jumped at the opportunity to read a Sci-Fi-themed retelling of the story of Paul the Apostle. After reading this book, I am convinced that I really, really need to read more graphic novels in the future because this one was a lot of fun to read.

First off, the visuals in the book are amazing. Mark Harmon did an excellent job in bringing a diverse futuristic universe come alive on the pages of this book. This is packed with colorful images that contain immersive scenery and a plethora of alien beings that are plentiful. This is a very appealing book to flip through even apart from the experience of reading the text. And if that was all there was to this book, that would be enough to make this a wonderful experience.

But the text itself is great. It follows the story of Paul, recounting scenes such as his transition from being Saul the Pharisee to becoming Paul. The scenes stay true to the source material, being innovative yet faithful along the way with this retheming of a familiar figure from the Bible. And, to boot, there are frequent references at the bottom of the pages to where a person can find the corresponding scenes in their Bible. It all works well together to take a story that is exciting and well-known and transitioning it to a medium where many can really enjoy the story. This is perfect for children and for adults, and makes a good material for a father to use as bonding time with their children.

I can’t recommend this enough. While some might hesitate due to the idea of taking a Biblical story and putting it in space, the author stays very true to the material and always points the reader back to the Biblical source. It functions as a great way to build interest early, even in those who already know and are interested in the Biblical stories. I cannot wait to see what other volumes they release through the Beartruth collective, although I’m hoping for Joshua, Judges, Elijah’s story, or King David’s stories. All of those would be great in graphic form.

**The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of the book through BookCrash in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase the book at the following link:

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Apostle-Graphic-Ben-Avery/dp/B01MSMVD1I/ref=nav_signin?ie=UTF8&qid=1493844461&sr=8-3&keywords=paul+the+apostle+graphic+novel&

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Book Review: Tales from Our Write Side

Tags

A.L. Mabry, A.M. Rycroft, Anthology, Book Review, david wiley, E.C. Jarvis, Elizabeth Abel, Emma T. Gitani, Eric Keizer, J.K. Allen, Katheryn J. Avila, Lorah Jaiyn, Mandy Melanson, Nancy E. Miller, OWS Ink, LLC., R.G. Westerman, Stacy Overby, Stephanie Ayers, Tales from Our Write Side, Tara Roberts, Wendy Strain

Title: Tales from Our Write Side: An Anthology

Authors: Various

Published by: OWS Inc, LLC. (November 25, 2016)

Blurb: From Lewis Carroll and Shakespeare to tales that will keep you up at night, make you cry, and touch your heart comes Tales from Our Write Side, OWS Ink’s debut anthology with 17 authors sharing 17 stories, 2 poems, and one creative screenplay.

My Take: Anthologies are among my favorite things to read these days, because they offer a reading experience that completely departs from what you’d get with a novel, or even a collection from a single author. In this particular anthology there are 17 unique voices sharing poetry, screenplays, and short stories that are categorized. Don’t like Horror or Speculative Fiction? You can clearly see which stories were thrown into that section, although I would recommend not skipping any of these. They are all short enough that, even if it isn’t a genre you particularly like, it will be brief enough to be worth your time. And you might just find that you enjoy at least a few of the tales in every category.

And that is the particular strength in this anthology: the stories are short, they are sorted by category, and they represent a diverse range of authors. It begins with some delightful tales revolving around the theme of Summer kidnapping Winter, and it is fun to see how seven different authors approach that theme.

While I enjoyed them all on different levels, my favorites include Solstinox by Lorah Jaiyn, The Next Best Seller by A.L. Mabry, Dawn’s Light by Wendy Strain, and Patterns by Katheryn J. Avila. Pick this collection up, as you are bound to find some stories you enjoy and might just discover some new authors who you wish to read more of in the future.

As a side note, several of the contributors to this anthology will have their own works published this spring by OWS Ink, LLC. More details on those books will appear here in the future, so if you want to get a feel for whose works you might enjoy, this anthology is a great starting point!

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

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.

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.

 

   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.

The 100 Book/TV Show Blitz

Tags

Book Blitz, Kass Morgan, Little Brown Books, Rockstar Book Tours, Sci-Fi, The 100, The CW, Young Adult

 

I am so
excited that THE 100 returns to TV tonight! And to help celebrate the show’s return Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Rockstar Book Tours are giving away 5 Boxed Sets of the Complete series! So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the
Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

 

About The Book:

 

Title: THE 100 Box
Set (Books 1-4)

Author: Kass Morgan

Pub.
Date: January 3, 2016

Publisher: Little,
Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 1360

Formats: Paperback

Find it: Amazon, Goodreads

All four thrilling novels in The 100 series, now available in a paperback
boxed set! 

Ever since nuclear war destroyed our planet, humanity has been living on
city-like spaceships hovering above the toxic surface. As far as anyone knows,
no one has stepped foot on Earth in centuries–that is, until one hundred
juvenile delinquents are sentenced to return and recolonize the hostile land.
The future of the human race rests in their hands, but nothing can prepare the
100 for what they find on this strange and savage planet. 

 

 

Read the series that inspired the hit TV show. The 100, Day 21,
Homecoming, and Rebellion are gathered together for the first time in this
striking box set, perfect for fans and series newcomers alike.

 

 

About Kass Morgan

 

Kass Morgan
studied literature at Brown and Oxford, and now resides in Brooklyn, where she
lives in constant fear of her Ikea bookcase collapsing and burying her under a
mound of science fiction and Victorian novels. Kass is currently working on the
sequel to The 100, which she’ll finish as soon as she finds a coffee shop that
allows laptops on the weekend.

 

Twitter | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

 

5 winners will
receive the complete boxed set of THE 100 Series, US Only.

 

Ends on February 8th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour and Review: The Remnant by William Michael Davidson

Tags

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

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

◊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?

 

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.

 

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

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.

Book Review: Service Goat by Piers Anthony

Tags

Alien Invasion, Book Review, Dreaming Big Publications, Goats, Piers Anthony, Sci-Fi, Service Animals, Service Goat

Title: Service Goat

Author: Piers Anthony

Published by: Dreaming Big Publications (10/9/2016)

Page Count: 154 (Paperback)

Blurb: Orphaned and blind seven-year-old Callie has a service animal – a goat with extraordinary powers.
Ben Hemoth is a down-on-his luck news reporter facing prison. Needing to save his job and his reputation, he teams up with Venus, a young seductress caught up with a teenage drug gang.
When a mysterious letter arrives detailing a top-secret investigative operation, Ben and Venus think they’ve found their chance for redemption. The mission? Investigate a goat.
In exchange for an extravagant paycheck, Ben and Venus must piece together the wild rumors swirling around Callie, her supernatural goat, and a possible UFO visit.
Piers Anthony’s Service Goat is an extraordinary tale rich with adventure, extraterrestrial visitors, secrecy, dangerous governmental operations, and the classic hints of mischief that readers have come to expect and love from the New York Times bestselling author of the Xanth series.

My Take: This is a hard book to review. I read and enjoyed a decent number of his Xanth novels in my younger years, which was the reason why I agreed to read this book. Anthony’s humor and style are definitely on display in this novella, starting with the idea of using a goat as a service animal. There are some very compelling reasons to read this story, in spite of its few flaws.

Alien invasion stories are no longer the hip thing to write about, which is what makes this entry a refreshing tale. It is no longer being oversaturated by anyone and everyone, which makes it an enjoyable plot to explore once again. In this case the invaders are aliens that look like goats, and this is nothing more than an initial scouting party looking to find a planet where they could live in relative peace and harmony. This goat, Nanny, is the first to land and finds Callie, a young girl who just lost her parent and her eyes in a car crash. Touching the goat helps her to forget the pain, as well as allows her to see through the goat’s eyes. What ensues is a large conspiracy where those who interact with the goat are brought in on the goat’s side and, in all cases, become part of a conspiracy of silence.

On the other side is detective Ben Hemoth and his girlfriend, Venus. I’ll admit, it got to the point where I rolled my eyes every time it mentioned they had sex. Because that gets mentioned about half a dozen times in every chapter from Ben’s POV. It never bothered me, per se, but it got to the point where I just got fatigued from reading that kind of like how I got tired of hearing about Nynaeve tugging her braid during the Wheel of Time series. I get having character quirks, but there are times when they can be taken to the point where they are overused, like this one.

Overall, though, it was a fun and short read. It may not have been quite as good if this had been turned into a longer work. The length fit it well for what this was, and I am grateful I had the chance to read this one. If you like a little humor mixed into your Science Fiction and you are looking for a book you could potentially read in a day, this is definitely one that would be a nice match for you.

**Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Reveal: Ocean of Stars by Belle Malory

Tags

Belle Malory, Cover Reveal, Fantasy, Ocean of Stars, Sci-Fi, Twelfth Keeper, Xpresso Book Tours, Young Adult

Today we have a reveal of the cover for the third book in Belle Malory’s Twelfth Keeper series. Check it out and let me know what you think of the cover. Have you read any of Belle Malory’s books before? If not, does this book make you interested in reading her previous books in the series?

 

Ocean of Stars
Belle Malory
(Twelfth Keeper #3)
Publication date: January 7th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

One keeper down. Eleven to go.

Kennedy Mitchell has just survived an alien attack, but at what cost? The world still isn’t safe. The keepers still aren’t strong enough to defend it. The people still have no idea how much is at stake.

The Department of Extraterrestrials is planning an important mission, one that means seeking the help of another planet in order to save theirs. Kennedy is reluctant to leave at such a critical time, but her role in the mission is essential to its success. With everyone she loves still at risk, she’s willing to do anything to find the key to survival.

Even if that means crossing the universe.

Add to Goodreads

Previous books in the series:

 

Author Bio:

I don’t consider myself a writer. I’m a storyteller.

My two great loves are books and coffee. If it weren’t for books, my heart wouldn’t feel as full. And if it weren’t for coffee, I wouldn’t know what mornings are. That being said, the guy at Starbucks knows me well. He sings to me sometimes.

I live in Orlando, Florida with my family and two rescue mutts. Their personalities are like night and day. One is gold. The other is black. The gold one doesn’t like to sleep in. Before I’ve had my coffee, we are enemies.

You can visit me at http://www.bellemalory.blogspot.com. I love hearing from readers!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

Author Interview: Clayton Graham

Tags

Alien, Graham Clayton, Indie Author, Interview, Milijun, Paranormal, Saving Paludis, Sci-Fi

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

Hello. Thanks for the invitation.  My name is Graham Clayton but I write under the pen name of Clayton Graham. I was born at Stockport in the UK and settled in Victoria, Australia in 1982. A retired aerospace engineer, I am married with two daughters and five grandsons.

MILIJUN is my debut novel.

What motivates you to write?

I guess I’m from what used to be called a ‘working class’ family in the UK, growing up immediately after World War 2. Reading the Science Fiction of H G Wells and Jules Verne was no doubt an escape into different worlds, somewhere to forget the poverty and hardship left by war – at least for a while.

My childhood was spent among cobbled streets, rations books,  two rooms up, two rooms down terraced houses, milkman’s horses, coal dumped in the cellar, fish and chips [on good days], bread and dripping [on bad days], and low-paid footballers. We survived on the basics.

In a nutshell, my early environment encouraged reading, and from that sprung the urge to write. I don’t think it’s anything more than that, other than perhaps having an innate creative urge.

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

The title of the book is ‘MILIJUN’, which is a Science Fiction story with a hint of the paranormal. The action takes place primarily in the Australian outback in the year 2179.

The heroine, Laura Sinclair and teenage son, Jason, witness aliens descend to Earth. They are the primary characters in the novel, and everything revolves around them.

The extra-terrestrials are trying to form a symbiotic relationship with humankind, the critical part of which is a spiritual connection. So the adventure begins.

The novel explores the deep relationship between a mother and son. How far can it be stretched before the links break? How far would a mother go to save her son? Would she be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, or undertake actions she would never have deemed possible prior to the alien incursion?

Laura finds herself surrounded by a relentless web of frightening new technologies, human weaponry and alien mystery, but forged by the undying love of her son, she gains a strength of character she never thought possible. She and Jason become different people. They have to, really, or they would not survive.

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

I would say the spirituality of the aliens. They possess advanced technology, but it is tempered by a mysterious sanctity. That being said, they can make mistakes, too.

Also the difference in Laura and Jason’s personalities – the interaction between them, which is a catalyst spurring many events in the novel.

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 am working on ‘SAVING PALUDIS’ at the moment, which is set in the year 3898 AD, some one hundred and forty light years from Earth. It explores the conflict and the links between an alien culture and mankind, interplanetary economics, military force and ultimate power. It also asks the question: what happens when a culture concentrates on a single purpose-driven technology over a period of hundreds of years?

There are several subplots, but as a swift share − when the bottom drops out of the Paludis economy, desperation is seeded as the planet begins to suffer. However, the discovery of a new technology that can dramatically change the way humans explore the universe looks like it will save the day. The mother planet, however, does not see it that way, especially when several savage attacks on Earth appear to emanate from Paludis.

Inevitable conflict results, and it is only the combined efforts of a group of renegade humans and their alien allies which can ensure the survival of Paludis. But can they overcome the military might of the mother planet?

Are your characters pure fiction, or did you draw from people you know?

My characters are definitely pure fiction. I do know people [male and female] who would behave like Laura does when she first comes across the aliens, but I cannot guarantee that those people would react to later events like she does.

The same goes for Jason. My grandsons are not teenagers yet, so there are no clues there. My own teenage years were a mix of study and play, and I certainly did not come across anything unusual in the form of extraterrestrial events.

When all is said and done, Laura and Jason behave like many people would do when faced with the unknown. Run away or walk forward – take your pick.

Having said that I do have two daughters who have five sons between them, so maybe something rubbed off there.

Who should buy this book?

I believe MILIJUN would appeal to readers who enjoy alien-based action set primarily on Earth, or any other planet for that matter; people who don’t necessarily want space wars or battling stellar craft with super weapons in a Sci-Fi Novel, but are interested in technology and where it can take us, for better or worse.

It would also greatly appeal to mystery, thriller and paranormal genre readers, and people who enjoyed the movies Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Contact, and going back a bit, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

In addition, it would most certainly captivate people who cherish their mother and son relationship. Laura and Jason, I feel, have the connection which most mothers and sons would want – full of love, strong and unbreakable. It would be wonderful if all relationships were like that!

If you had to choose, what would you say are the most important ideas you’re sharing in your book that is really going to add value to the reader’s life?

The idea that, like humans, intelligent alien life will more than likely have a spiritual side. Humans have developed their spirituality through thousands of years. We are growing closer to understanding it, and where our place is in the universe. An advanced alien society will have progressed much further – for example, maybe they will have proven the existence of the afterlife, or maybe they will have entered other dimensions. Anything is possible – we should not deride anything even if it’s outside our comfort zone.

I wanted Milijun to explore how humanity would react when faced with an intelligence it cannot comprehend. It’s a good question, for it may happen someday. We are not currently prepared, of course, we are light years away from understanding how we should behave in such a circumstance.

Basically, Milijun challenges the reader’s mindsets through the eyes of a mother and son, and as such is perhaps more powerful and meaningful than if that challenge was through the eyes of the United Nations or the President of the United States.

How often do you write?

Whenever spare time and the urge to create combine. Sometimes it’s frequently; on other occasions there may be powerful conflicting forces – like holidays or grandchildren.

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

Probably Dean Koontz, who just happens to be my favorite scribe. I enjoy short chapters and I employ them a lot. Koontz is a master of the paranormal, making it almost seem like an everyday occurrence.

Who are five of your favorite authors?

Five is not a lot, but I enjoy:

Dean Koontz

Three of the old masters – H G Wells, Isaac Asimov and John Wyndham

Also Kate Atkinson [for the grittiness] and Agatha Christie [for the flow of the mystery]

What are you currently reading?

Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven. A revisit, and how Mars should be, or perhaps was!!

Time for some quick questions:

• Favorite Quote?

 

One I used towards the end of Milijun – The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.  [Robert Lee Frost, (American Poet), 1874 – 1963]

• Favorite Book?

 

Midnight by Dean Koontz

• Favorite Book Series?

 

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

• Favorite Movie?

 

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

• Favorite TV Show?

 

Midsomer Murders

• Coffee or Tea?

 

Definitely Tea, usually green

• If you could have one superpower what would it be?

 

Time Travel, which may eventually become a non-super power.

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

Jason Sinclair in Milijun. For one thing he is a teenager! He also possesses an insatiable thirst for the unknown and is seldom phased by anything. He doesn’t mind challenging what he sees as nonsense, and voicing his opinion accordingly. Perhaps like most teenagers?

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

We can start with the obvious one – read your genre. Don’t start to write before reading, that’s like running before you can walk. If you have done your reading, and you have the urge to write, just write and see what comes out. Never throw anything away – a lot easier now with the advent of computers.

Also keep a pencil and pad on your bedside table. Quite often you will wake up with an idea, a thought, maybe just a sentence or phrase, or even a piece of dialogue. Scribble it down, file it somewhere safe.

Also don’t release your book too soon. Check out marketing options and get some reviews.

*****

Clayton Graham was born and raised in the cobbled streets of Stockport, near Manchester UK. He graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Salford University in 1966 having attained a Student Apprenticeship with English Electric Aviation.

He settled in Victoria, Australia in 1982. He is a retired aerospace engineer who enjoyed working in the field of efficient lightweight structures and watching them fly around the world. He has always had an interest in Science Fiction and where it places humankind within the universe we know and love. He loves the ‘old school’ science fiction written by authors such as HG Wells, Jules Verne and John Wyndham. Also the works of Isaac Asimov.

Milijun is his debut novel, but there are further adventures to come.

Clayton loves animals, including well behaved pets, and all the natural world, and is a member of Australian Geographic.

When he is not writing, walking, travelling, or gardening, Clayton enjoys fine food with family, friends and five energetic grandchildren.

Web Site: http://claytongraham.com.au/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/claytongrahamauthor/

Authors Show Radio Interview: http://claytongraham.com.au/authors-show-interview/

BOOK LINKS:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28525954-milijun?from_search=true

https://www.amazon.com/milijun-would-alien-interaction-really-ebook/dp/B01A4XY0UI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478232229&sr=1-1&keywords=milijun

Book Spotlight: November Fox by E.E. Bertram

Tags

Augmented Reality, Book Release, Book Spotlight, E.E. Bertram, Following Joy, Guest Post, Indie Author, Metaphyiscal, November Fox, Sci-Fi

• Book Name: November Fox – Book 1. Following Joy
• Subtitle: A Metaphysical Visionary Fable
• Genre: SciFi/Fantasy/New Adult/Metaphysical/Visionary Fiction
• Audience: Broad age appeal. YA, New Adult & Adult
• Word Count: 71204
• Unique Bonus: 39 Augmented Reality Images
• Author: E.E. Bertram – Visionary Fiction Author & Music and Media Producer
• Subjects: Metaphysical/Consciousness/Perceptions of Reality/Philosophy/Adventure
• Success: Ran a Successful Kickstarter campaign raising over £11000 to print the larger than A4 Limited First Edition Hardback
• ISBN: 9780995381308
• PRICE $9.99-$19.99 (USD)
• EDITION: Ebook and Paperback
• Author and Book Info Link: http://www.eebertram.com
• Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv7_pceqsg0
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/estherbertram

 

• Blurb:THE STORY: Little does she know, The Architect, from the race of philosophical beings who create our world of form, has been watching over her all her life.Architect’s fascinating letter in a glass bottle washed ashore on Brighton Beach. Pages continue to magically appear as she, too, is compelled to follow November’s quest.Combining elements inspired by the new thought movement, the law of attraction, magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder, November learns that she can use the power of dreaming, imagination and positive thinking to remake herself and her world. November Fox will be enjoyed by readers who liked wisdomfilled, visionary fiction fables like “The Alchemist,” the escapism ofAs an idiosyncratic fantasy/science fiction crossover, it is suitable for teens and adults alike.“Things aren’t always as they seem, do we wake or do we dream?”
• It comes with 39 illustrations with an Augmented Reality technology feature, enabling readers to further expand their experience.
• “Alice in Wonderland” or the Mind-bending nature of the movie “The Matrix.”
• Realities eclipse as we embark on a metaphysical adventure through time and space. November learns that harnessing the power of her mind and heart is fundamental, if she wishes to unlock the cube and escape the sometimes sinister, sometimes wonderful dimensions into which she is propelled.
• Grieving Erica, a teacher and writer from London, finds The November Fox has never even heard of other dimensions when a teleporting magical cube appears on her doorstep. With a hole in her heart and a cosmic identity yet to be discovered, the orphan rock star accepts an invitation to find the key within herself that will unlock the mysteries of form.
• Think you’ve read it all? This revelatory chronicle will have you thinking otherwise. Into the swirling vortex, you will be drawn – whether you think this is your sort of book or not. You just might find yourself questioning your own perceptions of reality and be left craving more. + 39 Augmented Reality Illustrations.

• LINKS:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orphanrockstar/
• Amazon: http://bit.ly/NFVT09
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32608639-november-fox-1following-joy—a-metaphysical-visionary-fable
• Book: www.novemberfox.com

Advance Praise/Reviews

The 1st edition of this book was successfully funded on Kickstarter at the end of 2014, raising over £11000 for the creation of the limited edition (larger than A4) print version. The 2nd edition is due for release, in Ebook format, November 1st 2016. Kickstarter

Link: http://bit.ly/NovemberFox

 

*****

You will be irresistibly drawn into the extraordinary adventures of November Fox, orphaned rock star, as she finds the answers to life’s most confounding and compelling questions. November battles her personal demons through adventures that straddle identities and realities and finds her way through real and fantastical realms to a new awareness. Challenging situations, provocative theories and fantastic characters will tease you on. Expect the unexpected and to be confronted with other ways of thinking, seeing and being as the incredible becomes the credible and then back again, and time, place and characters take on new dimensions and realities. Effortlessly interwoven sub-plots subtly build behind the story, giving the tale depth and intrigue. The Augmented Reality illustrations give this book a unique visual and audio element, adding to the many ways November Fox and her cast of real and bizarre characters will challenge you. There’s no question you will be left craving more. – Lynne B.

 

*****

Wow, thank-you for a wonderful story, it really moved me and I cried at least 3 times. I love the soundtrack album as well! – Simon

Woolven

 

*****

‘She paused for a moment as the mood in the room went quickly from a light-hearted cake break to being as deep and reflective as a moonlit lake at midnight.’ This excerpt from the book describes this idiosyncratic fantasy chronicle perfectly. It’s a journey through the fantastical and is not just escapist but reflects the real world though departing from it. On November’s adventure, the reader gets to re-examine their conceptions of time and space and leave behind ‘real world’ mundanity. In that departure, we are shown that reality has more fantastical elements than first realised. November Fox is a stream of consciousness narrative which renders a flow of myriad impressions… visual, auditory, physical, associative and subliminal. The writer incorporates snatches of incoherent thought and free association of ideas, images, and words to capture the total flow of their characters’ consciousness. A promising narrative with a truly innovative digital experience, one can look forward to the next in the series. – Di Ebert

 

*****

 

From the first page it pulls you in with the phrase that decorates the back cover, “Things aren’t always as they seem, do we wake or do we dream?…” and the reader is introduced to the mysterious Architect who is to become an integral part and narrator of November Fox. As well as providing the reader with a curious plot and interesting characters, author E.E. Bertram has created this book to have an augmented reality: an additional component to the book accessed using an app that you download onto your phone or table. Scanning the pictures that accompany the chapter then activates this. Using this method the reader discovers a beautiful animated video paired with the chapter that is described as ‘taking a critical look at current events’ and follows a mysterious figure on a journey towards ‘inner peace”. November Fox is a refreshing, different book reminiscent of the curiosities of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. It is an interesting read and one that sticks in your head long after you’ve finished reading it. – Sussex Life Magazine

************

November Fox – Book 1. Following Joy

A Metaphysical Visionary Fable

By. E.E. Bertram

 

Introduction

 

Things aren’t always as they seem, do we wake or do we dream? Are we dreaming life or living the dream?

The answer may be we do both.

*****

A letter from me, to you. The dawn is near. How delightful. This being my first ever letter, I must apologise, as it may be on the long side as far as letters are concerned. My Father always said, if you are going to do something, do it properly, or not at all. They call me The Architect. I am much more accustomed to construction and landscaping, which is worlds away from writing language on a page. Although of late, I seem to be doing far more observing than designing.

Never could I have imagined I would become an observer and a letter-writer. Funny thing, life; how it sneaks up on you like that. Your World of Form fascinates me so—curious, busy people, always doing, doing, doing.

I must admit that I tend to be the same myself, although in a different way, as you will come to witness. Perhaps you and I shared some things in common? (It is, of course, no coincidence that you found my message.) I sense that you have spent some tick-tocks, or at least a few moments, wondering who you are? What is this life all about? How did we get here? Where are we going? I myself cannot give you any fixed answers to these questions, yet I can perhaps share with you another perspective on this wondrous ride we call life. My observations of one fascinating young lady—who you will soon know as November Fox—may also shed some light. In writing you this letter, I intend to show you a glimpse behind the curtain. This is a world not seen by anyone in your sphere, until now.

Before we get started, I must say I am rather joyous to meet you here, in this peculiar part of the universe. This invisible space; the distance of approximately 46cm or 18 inches that the black letters of these words travel to your eyes, which then absorb, filter, and process them. Yes, this is indeed a rather fascinating location, out of all the possible places to connect. This unique space is one where we can both float free in a dialogue of sorts, sharing this moment.

Although perhaps reading this, you may think I existed in the past, writing this letter?

Maybe you believe you are here, now, alone, scanning words I left behind for you to find? Is this the case? Let me say that the universe is far more mysterious than you have ever imagined. Are you open to the possibility that it may only be you travelling down linear tick-tock? I do hope so, because the truth is, I float here with you in this moment. Hello, (insert me shaking your hand and smiling,) I am delighted to make your acquaintance in this curious part of the cosmos.

My Father always called me a dreamer He was right about that. Dreamers are also important; I realise that now. As a young Architect, I spent any spare moment I could, stretched out across my magic flying carpet, Charlie, staring into the heavens and wondering how everything came into being. I shall tell you more about Charlie a little bit later. I still wonder why my Father displayed a notably more negative tone than his default persecutory edge when he called me a dreamer. Perhaps dreams and those bestowed with the job to explore them, are not so simple to understand; perhaps even frightening? I am rather sure, as one of the ones with my head in another dimension, that it is not always easy to be a dreamer. You will need to trust me on that, unless you are a dreamer yourself. Are you?

Oscar Wilde, the fine chap he is (or perhaps was, from your perspective), once said, A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. How true that is, and how punished I have been because of my dreaming. I say this with heartfelt sincerity; life can be a double-edged sword of tranquillity and loneliness, when living in the solitude of shadows. Yet I am not writing to dwell on such dark affairs. Today the precious dawn is soon to arrive, and I just cannot contain my excitement anymore. I can sense change in my bones; although, to be clear, I carry no skeletons as such. My TMD machine (I will also explain him later) is doing his utmost to translate, and “Bones” is the best the poor fellow could come up with. Anyway, the sun is near, my dear friend! So let this letterwriting business commence.

Have you ever had an exceptionally strong sense of something or a gigantic idea? One so immense that you are unsure your small body or mind can contain the complex monstrosity. You feel you may crack open when you allow it to push your edges too far. Well, the moment is here to let you in on my little secret.

Blog Tour: The Naked Tree by Morgan Lee – Excerpt

Tags

Blog Tour, Excerpt, Morgan Lee, Sci-Fi, The Naked Tree

About the Author

After thousands of hours procrastinating, several hundred gallons of coffee and tea, and endless prayers, Morgan has finally produced a physical book that is now in your hands. Ever since she was a little girl she has always been fascinated with the written word and has wanted to be an author. Morgan received her bachelor of arts degree in creative writing from Kansas State University. It was only in 2013 when she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior that she found her purpose for writing and discovered that her ministry would be to present the glory of God through fiction. Morgan Lee currently lives in Kansas City with her family.

Connect with Morgan Lee!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

About the Book

Life is just a Vapor…

if you were blessed enough to have them that is.

Colette has lived the last seventeen years of her life being hidden away and choosing to hide herself. Colette is a part of a class of people who are even lower than the animals they herd. They are Vaporless. Defects in a perfect world. And Colette was the worse one of them. After the vicious leaders, Eviya, Levi and Adamek of the Triunity put out a bounty for the blood of the Vaporless no one is safe. Disaster has struck. The Tree of Knowl is failing and the once beautiful Vapors are now killing their hosts. A solution must be found and that solution is to sacrifice the Vaporless to the Tree in an effort to appease it so that it will reverse the curse it placed.

Now on the run, Colette meets Rowan and Holden leaders of a well known rebellion group who call themselves R.H.I.S.K. With the help of Rowan, Holden, Anastasia, Kofi, and Kimaya, Colette hatches a plan to discover a way to save themselves and the Vaporless from destruction. When the group enters into the Province Ilan they find themselves the knights of an ancient war. A risky mission over the Edge. A mysterious device called the Eloi. And a war that will shake the very foundation that they have known.

And the story all starts with a single naked tree.

Purchase the book here!

Amazon E-store | Goodreads

The Naked Tree Blog Tour Stops

Monday, October 24: Afterthelastpage.com

Tuesday, October 25: TBD

Wednesday, October 26: authordavidwiley.wordpress.com

Thursday, October 27: b00kr3vi3ws.in

Friday, October 28: jbronderbookreviews.com

Saturday, October 29: TBD

Sunday, October 30: thehoplessreader.blogspot.com

Join in Sunday night 9pm-12am CST for the Virtual Release Party for The Naked Tree!

Author Morgan Lee Fan Page! There will be giveaways, contests, trivia, other authors, and more!

Excerpt of The Naked Tree: Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Colette couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t loathe her entire existence, but at this very moment, she felt lower than she ever had before. Please let him be done. They let out a sigh of relief at the same time, Jax having released his disgusting nut into her and Colette in relief that it was finally over. Jax pulled out of her, bracing the top of the headboard for support. His breathing was heavy and Colette could feel his stomach inflating and receding as he panted like an animal. Colette finally opened her eyes just as Jax brushed his lips across hers in an attempt at a kiss, but Colette turned away.

“You are beautiful.” Jax rested his lips on Colette’s sweaty head instead.

“Great,” she said. “Now get off of me.” Colette shifted under Jax’s weight. He didn’t let up at first.  Colette pushed him hard as she could in his chest in an effort to move him. His hand quickly found her throat making Colette jump.

“Don’t put your hands on me,” he said in a low voice as he pulled her into a deep stare. Colette let out a stifled breath. Her eyes were bulged wide as she looked at Jax, the look on his face stern and serious. She knew what it meant.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, a great amount of edge in her voice. She tried to pull her face from his grasp but he held on tighter. Colette signed heavily and locked onto eye contact with Jax.

“Do you know how many Boors like you would love to be in my bed right now? You should be showing a little more appreciation or I should just throw you out of my domicile and let your ass freeze under the Black Moon.”

Colette sucked in a dry breath.

“I said I was sorry,” she said quickly. Jax groaned, took his hand off of Colette’s face, and rolled over to his side.

“The Community didn’t want you, the Triunity didn’t want you, the world doesn’t want you, Colette. You’re a Vaporless, you’re worthless.” Colette struggled to keep eye contact with Jax as he spoke, his eyes cold and unblinking. “But I want you,” he said finally. “I chose you, remember that sweetness.”

Jax leaned in once more, only this time Colette was too afraid to pull away. His eyes were still caught in hers as he pressed his lips to her own and kissed her in a very strange, and delicate way. Very much unlike the bestial brute that had raped her almost every night since she had met him six quarks ago.

Jax pulled away from her. He let out a heavy groan, tucked Colette firmly and possessively under his arm and fell right to sleep. Colette exhaled. Her position at the Community, the world—Jax wasn’t wrong to say that no one wanted her. Why would they? She was nothing more than a Vaporless after all.  However, just as she seemed to have reached the point of no return, Jax was there and although he had been downright decent to her, she hated him with every ounce of feeling that it was possible to feel. Colette wiggled her hand free from under Jax’s weight and touched in between her legs, cupping it. Her eyes shut tightly around the throbbing pain that failed to quit. Damn. How could anyone ever consent to this barbarism? The feeling of being penetrated and nearly shredded into two halves was unbearable, but it was undeniably necessary as Jax had so plainly pointed out to her. She needed him to survive…no matter what the cost to her own body.

Jax shifted in his sleep bringing his massive arm more tightly around Colette, across her chest, pinning her down to the bed. Colette groaned and curled up her long legs in an effort to wiggle free. She was definitely thin enough to get out, but her height was making the task an absolute nightmare. Though, she had to admit, living with Jax was actually the only highlight of her life. At least under Jax she had a warm bed and food. The next Black Moon was coming soon and the entire Province of Eliam would be bathed in perpetual night, darkness and cold. She’d be an idiot to think that she could survive outside of a Sector.

Colette rolled her head over to look at Jax. His mouth was hanging open as he slept, blowing spurts of hot, moist breaths on her face, make her loose black bangs stick slightly to her skin. The whole room was full of the stench of sweat and fluids. It was a disgusting smell that made her stomach turn. Jax had been satisfied enough, flailing and grunting like a wild boar as he was on top of her, tonight, forcing her to go for hours on end. She studied his face. It’s hard lines and sharp features making him what “normal” women may call handsome, but Colette had never seen anyone more hideous.  Her eye sight moved from his facedown to the arm that was draped over her body. A jolt in her stomach sent a twinge of jealousy flooding over her. By the Tree, they where beautiful. The Vapors. So colorful and plentiful as they danced in misty spirals around Jax’s body. They were the thing that separated people like Colette, the Vaporless, from the normal people of the Land. The Vapors were symbols of their greatness and conformity to society. They were the symbol of everything that the Triunity envisioned when they had created this race of people, and Colette had been born a defect. Vaporless. Born without any clue as to what the Vapors truly are and how, if there were any way at all, she could get them.

She absentmindedly rubbed the spot on her arm where the microchip would have gone if she had had one. In response to feeling nothing there, she touched Jax’s arm where his chip was buried underneath the skin. This tiny chip made life so much easier. Without it, no one could work, buy, sell or even eat. Without the chip there was no existence. She remembered how her parents would always teach her how to survive without one, but Colette was finally tired of just surviving. She needed a new way. Colette wrapped both of her hands softly around Jax’s arm and hoisted it up carefully, so as not to wake him. She slid her body out from under him, landing with a soft thud on the floor below.

Colette had to move fast. She got to her knees and scanned the dark room for her satchel that held her small pile of belongings. The carpet was soft under her hands as she groped the floor. Her hand hit the familiar smooth suede skin and she pulled it quickly toward her. Colette stole a look over her shoulder at the sleeping Jax as she pulled out her pants, undergarments, and tunic. She pulled on her clothes, quickly and hoisted her satchel over her shoulder, crawling to the door.

Supplies. She’d need supplies and lots of them. Food, water, weapons, warmth. Everything. Colette gasped, her head whipping backward to look at Jax again when he mumbled and rolled over in his sleep again. She’d have to work faster if she was really going to get away. Colette tiptoed to closet and grabbed a wool blanket, rolled it into a ball, and stuffed it in her satchel. Also at the bottom of the closet was a small javelin. Colette strapped it to her back. After taking another look around the room, Colette slid the door open and closed it carefully behind her.

Colette’s fingertips caressed the wall as she walked down the long hallway toward the kitchen. A tightening knot was growing her chest and crippled her breathing. She tried to keep one ear trained behind her, listening for any sounds of movement coming from the bedroom. Once in the kitchen, Colette flicked on the light and raced to the cabinets, throwing back the door. A small breath escaped her lips when the cabinet door crashed loudly unto the door of another. She froze. Damn it. It was over. She was caught and Jax would beat her…or worse. The silence was deafening. Colette stood rigid, too afraid to even breathe too deeply, but there was no sound from the room. Maybe he hadn’t heard. Colette let out a slow breath and turned back around, busying herself with filling her satchel with food, careful not to make it too heavy. She’d be carrying it for awhile. Who knows how long she’ll have to journey before she settles down again. There. That should be everything.

Colette shifted the bag and the javelin to a more comfortable position on her back. Suddenly remembering her pain, Colette went to the bathroom and grabbed several of Jax’s capsules, placing them at the top of her haul before closing the bag again.

She clutched her hands around the strap and walked as silently as she could through the house, stopping at a window, she unlatched it and opened the double doors. Colette hoisted her body upward and pulled her long body through the window and landed on the ground below. The chilling air whipped her hair around her face, stifling her breath. She turned around, reaching up, and closed the window behind her. Colette started to back away slowly. This was it. It’s all over now. Flashes of memories from inside the walls of Jax’s domicile played over again in her head. Colette closed her eyes and shook her head. Push them away. Like a true creature of the shadows, Colette turned and ran past the neighboring domiciles and into the darkness, toward the River Eleazar.

~~~

The streets of Eliam were eerily quiet. Her footsteps echoed on the glass streets. Colette kept her head down and pulled her tunic up around her face. She didn’t want the cameras to see her. Finally, she had passed all of the domiciles and was approaching the tree line that separated the Province Eliam from the treacherous Outlands. The sound of rushing water caught her ear at the same time the smell hit her nose. A sense of hope washed over her. Without another look back, Colette took off at a run, weaving through tree after tree as she tried to follow the sound of the water of the River Eleazar. The sound of the rushing current was getting louder the faster she ran. A small smile started to creep up on her face. Colette trotted over to the bank of the river, pulling the satchel over her head and tossing it to the ground beside her. Colette bent down and cupped her hands in front of her and dipped them into the cool rushing water. She brought her hands to her lips and drank, happily.

“You little whore.” Colette’s head snapped up in attention. Her hands clenched and she could feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She didn’t want to turn around. There was no mistaking Jax’s cold, icy voice. He followed her. He actually followed her. Why couldn’t he just let her go? But what had she really expected? He was demented and deranged. She was apart of his game and apparently he wasn’t done playing yet. Colette grabbed her satchel off of the ground and slung it over her back before standing up and turning around. Her chest tightened when she saw the familiar, bestial look in Jax’s eyes. She watched as he stared her up and down, eyeing the satchel bursting at the seams with items she had stolen from his domicile.

“I give you food,” he starts slowly, letting his tongue linger over every word.

“Jax—

“I let you sleep in my bed. I gave you value!”

Colette jumps at the sound of his voice. She started to back up. Jax rushed toward her. Before she could react, Jax’s massive hand closed tightly around her thin arm, making her knees almost buckle out from under her. Colette’s body knocked into Jax’s as he twisted her arm toward him, bringing her face just inches from his.

“You worthless sack of flesh,” he whispers. “Is this how you repay your master for his kindness?” By the tree, he really was delusional. Her master? Colette needed to survive, it was as simple as that. She didn’t owe him anything. Besides, he had already collected his payment and the remnants of it were stained into the sheets of his disgusting bed.

“Let me go,” she whispered through clenched teeth. Jax grabbed her face under her chin with his free hand. He pressed his mouth against her ear.

“Are you trying to making me crazy?” Colette trembled at his hot breath entering into her ear through her long black hair. Jax nuzzled at her ear, using his nose to push her hair away. He suddenly grabbed the lobe of her ear in between his teeth, biting and sucking almost to the point of drawing blood. Colette mustered what little strength she had and hit Jax square in the chest.

“Stop it!”

Jax stumbled backward but easily regained his footing, grabbing Colette forcefully by the shoulders.

“You owe me!”

“I don’t owe you anything,” she said. “I’m worthless, right? You and everyone like you have made that painfully clear, so just let me go, you bastard.”

Without warning, Jax sent his massive fist colliding with Colette’s face. Colette’s body flew to the ground, spilling everything from her satchel. Colette’s hands clenched the ground. The force of the hit sent her eyes into a blurry haze. Tossing her head back, Colette’s eyes flashed to the spilled contents of her satchel. She scrambled to her knees and tried to quickly snatch up what had fallen. She couldn’t let Jax take it. Jax laughed behind her and grabbed her by the leg, trying to turn her around. Colette groped for the javelin in front of her on the ground. As Jax turned her around, she swung the javelin wildly behind her. Colette’s arm vibrated with the cracking of Jax’s jaw as the javelin collided with his face. He screamed in pain, yelling an array of profanities at her.

Colette tried to seize her opportunity to grab her belongings off of the ground and run for it, but Jax recovered faster than she thought and grabbed her arm again. Just then, a loud siren filled the air, forcing both Jax and Colette to cover their ears in protest at the sound. Following the sound, Jax’s arm popped up at attention and displaying a hologram on the air in front of them, coming from the chip embedded in Jax’s arm. Both Colette and Jax froze automatically in order to watch and listen to the coming broadcast. Colette felt the dryness in her throat. Nothing good ever came following these broadcasts, especially not for the Vaporless.

On the hologram in front of them stood the three members of the Triunity, Eviya, flanked by her husband Adamek, and her liaison, Levi. Colette couldn’t get over the Triunity’s beauty, all covered in an array of beautiful Vapors. A tangible silence hung thick in the air as Eviya stepped forward to speak.

“Greetings Province of Eliam. As you are all aware, there has been a disastrous threat to our livelihood and our beloved Tree of Knowl. For many Black Moons now, the Tree has been steadily decaying. The Triunity may finally have an answer.” Eviya pauses. “Through careful research at our facilities here in Ilan, we have finally pinpointed the cause for the degradation of our beloved Tree. As you well know, during the last Age, a new breed of human was born, known to many as the Vaporless or Outlanders. Previously we have been able to coexist with these barbaric versions of human beings, but no more.”

She should run. Now. Nothing good could come next. However, Colette couldn’t move her legs. She had to hear the announcement. The hologram continues when Levi marches up next to Eviya and continues speaking.

“A bounty has been placed on the Vaporless. Our research has found that they are to blame for the condition of the Tree of Knowl. Unfortunately, it is only a matter of time before we ourselves begin to lose this gifts the tree gave us and ultimately–our own lives.”

“In order to appease the Tree,” starts Adamek, “every Vaporless and their conspirators will be sacrificed as an offering.”

Eviya then continues speaking.

“A hefty reward will be given for every Vaporless and their conspirators that are captured and brought alive to the capital city in Ilan. Stay alert for future broadcasts regarding the safety of our Tree. Happy hunting, my fellow humans.”

The little air left in Colette’s lungs made her chest tight and made it difficult to breathe normally. The image disappeared leaving her staring at Jax’s gleaming and excited face. Jax lowered his arm slowly.

“Congratulations Colie. I guess you do have some value after all.” Immediately, Colette began pleading with him.

“Please,” she said breathlessly. She held her hands up as a barrier between them as she started to back away slowly. “Just let me go. You don’t have to do this.”

“Of course I do,” he said, laughing slightly. “Not only for the reward, but the simple fact that your life threatens mine. Thanks to you and your kind the Tree of Knowl is dying. Which means I’m dying.” Jax began walking slowly toward her. Colette had no where else to back up to. She looked down at the rushing river behind her and then back at Jax.

“My Sector has almost figured out how to penetrate the barrier around the Tree of Life. Do you even know what that means? We are that close to discovering the secret to immunity and I’m not going to let a disgusting piece of trash like you mess that up.”

Without another word, Jax lunged at her but Colette jumped out of the way. She picked up the javelin off of the ground next to the bank of the river. Colette took a flying leap off of the edge and landed with a loud splash into the rushing water. Immediately her head went under. Colette flailed her arms in an attempt to stay afloat. She gasped for air as her head broke the surface of the water. Water clouded her vision, but she heard another splash behind her as Jax jumped into the river. Don’t look back. Colette continued kicking and fighting the waters that were continuously trying to pull her under and further down the river at the same time.

“You’re going to get us both killed!” Jax yelled at her from behind. For a split second, she decided to turn around and see where he was. Jax had retreated and swam back to the bank they had just come from. The current of the river was too strong for Colette to keep fighting. The weight of her satchel on her back and the javelin in her hand was weighing her down. Colette’s body gave out in exhaustion and the rush of the current sent her down the river at the mercy of Eleazar.

“This isn’t over,” Jax yelled. His voice was getting farther away. “I’ll find you!”