R. Kyle Hannah's Blog, page 2

I've been pondering, what would I do/where would I go if I were an Assassin at the futuristic Assassin's Guild?

Would I visit the JFK Assassination?  How about Pearl Harbor in December 1941?  Watch as Charles Lindbergh launched his historic trip?  Maybe find my way to NASA to see the Apollo 13 repair.  The possibilities are almost limitless.

As I prepare the research for the third and final Time Assassin's novel, I can't seem to narrow down where I would like to visit.  The world is a big place, and there are literally centuries of historic events to choose from.  How do I narrow that down?


I ask for your help, of course...and make it a contest!

Yes, you have the opportunity to see your "favorite" historical event uncovered in the final Time Assassins novel.  And, perhaps a "walk in" part in the event!!

So, for the month of April, I will be open to submissions for your favorite event, or any event that you'd like to know more about.  It can take place anywhere in the world, but only from 800 bc to present to fit into the parameters of the Time Assassins universe.

Submit your event and tell me why you picked it.  That's it.  That's all you have to do to possibly get a part in the final Time Assassins novel.  Too easy, right?

At the end of April, Dark Dragon Publishing and I will be 3-5 winners.  The winners will get a signed copy of ASSASSIN'S GAMBIT, due out in late April!


Submit your entry to [email protected].

Good luck and thank you for supporting Time Assassins!

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the cover for the upcoming ASSASSIN'S GAMBIT, due out around the 4th of April!


  First Excerpt from the book, ASSASSIN'S GAMBIT. Stay tuned to https://www.facebook.com/RKyleHannahWriter over the next few weeks for additional excerpts!

Assassin 101 stood, right arm stretched before him, his hand held toward the white o...paque void of the time stream. He moved his hand in a small circle and the sensation of crawling ants assaulted his fingers and palm. He pulled his hand away, rubbing it to rid himself of the static tingle. His eyes stayed focused on the static currents of the vortex as they discharged and swirled.
He turned to the Control Room Director, Mr. Tomlinson. “A little stronger than usual, isn’t it?”
Mr. Tomlinson, dressed in his usual yellow, full length smock, adjusted his glasses and typed a query into the data pad held in his right hand. He stole a glance at the open time portal and the slight swirl of the maelstrom beyond as he typed. He vaguely heard a technician across the room state that the mission was a go. The pad beeped and displayed the results of his query. Tomlinson’s brows arched noticeably and he whistled softly. “Sunspot activity is creating a sharp increase in static charge.” He smiled weakly as he focused on the Assassin. “You could make the skip today, but you’ll definitely feel it.”
“Hell, I feel it every time.” Assassin 101 gave a half-hearted smile, feeling less nonchalant than his remark. He again held his right hand to the Time Skip Door. A small, blue bolt of electricity leapt from the vortex and pricked his finger. He jerked his hand back, shook it, and then sucked on his finger to kill the pain. He failed. “Damn.”
“It’s your call, Assassin. We can postpone this until the sunspot activity has decreased.” Tomlinson typed in another query on his pad, received a response and looked up at the Assassin. “Seventy-two hours.”
The Assassin took a deep breath. “No. We’ve had four delays already and the Council is anxious to get underway.” Assassin 101 straightened his leather jacket and ran a hand through his hair. “We finally have a location and, sunspots or not, we need to take care of the situation.”
Pointing at the door with his left hand, Tomlinson replied, a little more condescending than he meant. “This is a door to time. He will still be in Ecuador in seventy-two hours.”
Assassin 101 smiled. “You’re not the one being called into the Council Chambers to be asked ‘Why haven’t you left yet?’” He sighed, shaking his head. “Sunspots or not, I’m going. It’ll be worth the pain just to get away from the Council for a few days.”
Tomlinson looked at the pad again then back to the Assassin. He turned the pad to show the readout. “Are you sure?”
Assassin 101 studied the pad, sighed again, and then shifted his vision around the room for a moment of reflection. The yellow painted walls surrounded the horseshoe shaped time-skip control consoles. Tomlinson’s office sat atop a set of stairs at the base of the horseshoe, the office’s large bay window presenting the Time Skip Director a commanding view of the consoles. Control monitors covered one entire wall, several of them showing historical events; other missions currently underway. The Assassin paused and watched the monitors for a moment.
“Yeah, I’m sure.” He smirked and turned to face the door again.
The Assassin took a deep breath, straightened his clothes in anticipation, closed his eyes, and stepped into the vortex. A waterfall cascade of air washed over him as he entered the time stream. The wave of air quickly changed to tingling electricity as he picked up speed; freefalling through time. The static discharge consumed his body; a million ants crawling along his skin. Assassin 101 exiled the sensation to the recesses of his mind and the electrical current faded, temporarily subdued. His mind focused on the time skip and he opened his eyes.

Tomorrow, March 17th, is St. Patrick's Day...and the day chosen for the cover reveal for the second book in the Time Assassin's series:  ASSASSIN'S GAMBIT.

If you haven't joined the reveal party, click here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1552640184960239/1561477917409799/?notif_t=like

Once the cover has been revealed, I will be posting small excerpts, teasers if you will, from the book every few days all the way up to the book release on the 4th of April.

So, stay tuned to my facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/RKyleHannahWriter to find out more information about the upcoming release and to get the first look at the teasers for ASSASSIN'S GAMBIT.

Oh, if you haven't read TIME ASSASSINS yet, you still have some time before the sequel comes out.

 

Greetings everyone...been awhile.

Well, after returning from my final deployment, I took a few months off to enjoy family and friends.  But now...its back to the grind.

And what is a great way to get back into that grind...how about a cover reveal party!?!?  Join me on the 17th of March as I talk with fans and reveal the cover for ASSASSIN'S GAMBIT, the second book in the TIME ASSASSINS series.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1552640184960239/?ref_notif_type=plan_user_joined&source=1

I'll be releasing little excerpts from the book over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, check out the back cover:

Saving the futureBy preserving the past.
 Pulled forward in time by the Guild of a distant future, Assassin 101 is tasked with tracking down a rogue agent before he can return to his time. What he finds is a web of espionage bent on destruction and domination. To complete the mission, Assassin 101 must confront an unimaginable foe and in the process of saving the Guild, a family secret makes the Assassin doubt his own future. 

Sebastian Caine, a certified genius and top level Apprentice, has duped the Guild into complacency and killed his fellow apprentices. Sentenced to death for his crimes, he escapes into the past. A peaceful Rick Brewer has been a guinea pig for Guild scientists since his capture. The only light in his life is his friendship with the woman who had hunted him down. Brewer, along with Assassin 97, is sent to retrieve Caine. Brewer’s growing affections towards her becomes more pronounced as they bounce through the Renaissance in search of Caine. When Assassin 97 is captured and tortured by Caine, Brewer must choose how best to help her.
To rescue Assassin 97, Brewer and Assassin 101 must violate Guild law and, with it, accept possible execution.  Can Assassin 101 save his wife and his future, or will the Guild leave her to history?

I received another 5-star review for TIME ASSASSINS!  If you've read it, I'd love to hear what you think!  If you haven't, don't you think you owe it to yourself...


5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put It Down!, June 4, 2013
By Valerie

Time Assassins by R. Kyle Hannah was an intriguing book and a sensational read! The author vividly described each situation in so much detail that I felt like I had watched a movie! There were multiple characters, all of which were crucial to the storyline. The Assassins as well as the Council had more personality than I had expected. It was nice to be reminded that they were still human in the midst of a futuristic world in which the concept of supernatural time travel was a reality. I was reminded of The Butterfly Effect in that any change, ever so small, can change history's "timeline" forever! It was exciting to "rethink" history and imagine what the world would possibly have been like if there were such thing as The Guild that was capable of changing the history of the world, in this case, with the assassinations of powerful leaders. The author obviously has an amazingly creative mind, but also knows how to create a complex, historical story that still keeps you emotionally involved and anxious to see what happens next. I would definitely recommend this book to people of any age! I look forward to reading his next book!

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3MNMFNJIO09AE/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0987972642&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=


The sequel, FUTURE HISTORY, will be out this fall!

Ok, ok...I know.  I haven't written anything on the blog in months.  I'm deployed!  Isn't that a good enough excuse?

Actually, no, it's not.  I have truly neglected this blog for the simple fact that I have been writing quite a bit.  I have finished the sequel to TIME ASSASSINS, it is called FUTURE HISTORY and should be out this fall. 

But that's not entirely accurate either.  I haven't only been writing.  I've been working, doing my bit for God and Country, playing at being an athlete half my age (playing sports with the younger crowd) and being lazy when I can (watching TV and movies.)   Frankly, it is a miracle I actually did get any writing done.

But, enough about me.  What I really wanted to discuss is inspiration.  Where does a writer get his or her inspiration?  We like to think there is a muse, mine looks a lot like the blind cupid from One Crazy Summer, that follows us around and smacks us in the head every once in a while with a fantastic idea. 

What? Oh?  Sorry.  My muse just informed me that is only me...<shrug>  Who knew?

Anyway, inspiration can come from anywhere: dreams, songs, wild imaginations, a cloud.  My latest came in the form of one vivid flash while I was walking home from work: lasers exploding outside a cockpit window and the pilot yelling, "Enough with the shots across the bow!"   Somehow, I can see a Washburn type pilot (you know, from Firefly) yelling that out of a canopy window.  Well, I took that and starting sketching out the outline to my fourth novel. 

I've heard that many artists, authors, songwriters keep a notepad by their bed or with them at all times.  I can tell you that I do that as well.  I have a notebook full of ideas, dreams, songs, and poems. You never know when your blind-cupid-muse will smack you upside the head and give you the next bestseller, so keep a notebook handy!!

So, what did we learn today?  Well, I have a new book coming out in the fall, I have plenty of free time while sitting overseas, I have a very vivid imagination and a sad sense of humor. 

I hope everyone has a great summer and KEEP WRITING!

A Lifestyle Change for Peace | Justin Steckbauer: Interview with Author & Deployed Soldier R. Kyle Hannah

Thank you Justin for the opportunity to expand my fan base!

Greetings from Fort Hood, Texas - The Great Place!  Well, that's what it says on the sign.  I don't know how "Great" it is, but I can say I've definitely been to worse places...

Things are going well out here as we prep for our little vacation overseas!  Army training, PT, and quiet nights...it could be a lot worse!!!  You can follow the adventure on FaceBook at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/135th-Expeditionary-Sustainment-Command-ESC if you are so inclined.

As I'd hoped, I've had some free time and written several chapters for TIME ASSASSINS II. The  rough draft is, well, rough, but coming along nicely.  I may break down and post a little excerpt in a few days.
TAII has a little darker flavor so far and I will admit, I'm having fun with some of the timelines.  I don't want to get it too complex (its real easy to get crazy with the time travel), but I do want to keep the readers guessing!  There is still a lot left to go, including a trip to the 16th Century...be ready for a little more history and a lot more sci-fi in TAII.

Reviews are coming in for TIME ASSASSINS: readers love it!  I want to thank each and every one of you for the encouragement, the word of mouth advertising, and the suggestions to make the next one even better.  Thank you!   Speaking of TA,  I've been contemplating working on a screenplay...movie or TV?   Although a movie based on the book would be great, I think the story and set up lends itself to TV.    I'll be working on a few episodes of that over the next few months as well.

I'm partnering up with one of my Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and we will be working on a military/sci-fi story involving clones during the upcoming deployment.  Yes, between the mission and the writing, I'm going to be busy...but it will make the time go by faster and I'll be home before I can catch my breath.

I wish everyone safety, health and happiness!  And, as always, tell our service men and women thank you when you can!


Kyle

I'd like to thank Ella Medler for taking the time to review my book TIME ASSASSINS.  Here is her review:

Review: Time Assassins, by R. Kyle Hannah http://www.amazon.com/Time-Assassins-ebook/dp/B009V3FN7M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1355654564&sr=1-1&keywords=time+assassins

An original take on time-travel, Time Assassins skirts the fine line between a brief digest of historic events and an action movie. A guild of trained assassins is manipulating history to the benefit of mankind (mostly). Things don’t always go to plan, and there are secrets that mustn’t be revealed. Rick Brewer, an apprentice with special abilities escapes a reality where he is sentenced to death, travels back in time and amuses himself over several centuries by first attending and then attempting to change certain events in world history.
I have to say at this point: hat off to the author for what must have been a backbreaking amount of research. Every event – a tiny portion of the book in itself – was detailed, vividly described, presented as history has it, explained and originally ‘tweaked’ until it fitted perfectly. I can’t even begin to imagine trying to keep hold of so many loose strands and getting them all to make sense in the end.
So, objectively, here’s the crux. Descriptions – very good. You’ll get the picture, whether in a German bunker, Islamabad, the Smithsonian or Boston Commons. Plot – intricate. I did lose myself in the twists once or twice and had to back-track, but all makes sense in the end. To be honest, I thought this book could have easily filled two or three, with the amount of information in it, and maybe that would have been easier to follow. As it is, you won’t get to catch your breath. The action is continuous. And just as I thought the author missed the obvious solution to the corrupt businessman problem, he served it up as the very satisfying conclusion.
Characterization – good enough. Whilst there is nothing wrong with the way the characters come across, I could not work out which one was the protagonist and I could not get close to them. I didn’t read the blurb, but dove straight into the story, so I had no idea Rick Brewer was of major importance. It might as easily been Donovan, or Apprentice 101 or 97 or both, as the relationship between them develops, but leads nowhere certain, or it could even have been Mayweather and his corrupt business associates.
All in all, Time Assassins was a thoroughly enjoyable read, a rollercoaster ride, unexpected, dizzying and imaginative. If you like action, you’ll love this book. If you like a different approach on time travel, you’ll love it. If you like originality, you’ll love it. It’s definitely one of the best. 4.5 to 5 stars.

The smoke has cleared and I can finally see the carnage and destruction in my wake.  Torn, twisted and ripped carcasses litter the landscape.  I hang my head, happy to be alive, and breath a sigh of relief.

Is this a soldier leaving a smoldering battlefield?  A mass murderer that just committed an atrocity?  Did the Joker that just outwit Batman?

No, its simply the aftermath of the Book Signing and Release Party of TIME ASSASSINS!

November 10th marked the start of Veteran's Day Weekend, where people showed their support for Veterans with praises, hugs and simple thank yous.   I received my share of those and to all that support our Veterans...I thank you.  November 10th also marked the Release Party for my second novel, TIME ASSASSINS.

TIME ASSASSINS was a work of painstaking research, frustration, writer's block, complete lack of motivation and edit after edit after edit; I'm still amazed that it is complete and out.   The Book Signing and Release Party was an absolute success, millions of copies flew off the shelves and I'm still wondering when the New York Times Best Seller List will have my name at number 1! 

Seriously, it was a lot of fun, a lot of work, and a great day.  I met dozens of people, saw some old friends and made some new fans.  The energy was great motivation to continue on...to continue the search for the Holy Grail:  A big time contract.

But, until that day, I will stand amidst the carnage, the torn pages, and ripped covers.  I will risk the carpal tunnel by signing too many autographs.  I will do it...because it must be done.  And when the smoke clears, I'll be there, laptop in hand, writing the next one.

TIME ASSASSINS available at:

http://www.amazon.com/Time-Assassins-R-Kyle-Hannah/dp/0987972642/ref=la_B00876V5LW_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352911030&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-assassins-r-kyle-hannah/1113130101?ean=9780987972644

http://darkdragonpublishing.com/timeassassins.html

http://rkylehannah.com/

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/241919


Discuss it at:

www.facebook.com/rkylehannahwriter

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16067747-time-assassins


Contact me:

@rkhannah

www.facebook.com/rkylehannahwriter

[email protected]