Tina Traverse's Blog

"B-blog Hop? What's that some fancy 60's dance?"
I stare at Gerard in disbelief and smack him upside the head.
"No, you dummy. The ASMSG Electorate Interview Blog Hop is where various bloggers from my writer's group all sign up to interview and promote various authors. I get to interview Ian Hutson and I'm so excited!"
"Ian Hutson? Is that the fellow who wrote that cool book, NGLD XPX?"
"Yep."
Suddenly I feel a vibration that shakes the wharf.
"Jayus, Mary and Jo Henry! An earthquake! Hide!"
Gerard grabs me to pull me down but we see the source of the vibration coming around the corner. A fine looking gentleman dressed in safari attire flanked by an elephant wearing a Diesel-Electric Elephant company sweatshirt. I rush to embrace Ian and his elephant and guide them to the shed.


Welcome, Ian, have a seat, sorry that it is not more comfy, but a poor fishing season has forced me to reduce my furniture to two milk crates, but I have plenty of refreshments, care to have one?

Splendid - while you’re at the bar mine’s a pint of Hendrick’s Gin please, ice and no slice.


Thank you for coming, Ian. Though I have known you for years, these yahoos drinking beer in the back are unfamiliar with you, share a little about yourself, pretty please.


Me, myself and I hmm? Bit of a mongrel really. Father was a radio-operator on deep-sea fishing trawlers (when radios on trawlers were new-fangled, cabin-sized things). He was recruited by Her Majesty’s little grey men during the Cold War era and morphed into an elctronic-warfare expert - all jamming of spy signals and setting up beacons for nuclear V-Bombers to home in on, that sort of nonsense. Mother gleefully adapted to whatever our family’s extremes threw at her, and did whatever was necessary or possible from being a scary person in the Civil Defence Corps to factory work to home-making to Lord and Lady event-hopping elegant socialite. We moved to Hong Kong when I was born and as a consequence I grew up speaking mostly Cantonese with just a little pidgin English. Later we moved to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides where I had the joys of being the only sassenach sprog in our village. I had twelve schools and seventeen different home addresses as a child, I used to think we were on the run. We may have been.


When I was all growed up (sic) I got recruited myself by Her Majesty’s Very UnCivil Service and did some very icky jobs indeed. Ten years later Her Maj threw me out on my ear, so I left and made myself miserable by working for huge, soul-less, vile corporations with acronyms instead of names: ITSA; ICL; IBM; EDS; AVIVA and suchlike. They then threw me out too (can you see a pattern emerging here?) so I started my own companies doing various things, and promptly met the Big Global Meltdown. I found myself slightly tipsy and very officially bankrupted in court, homeless with car and valuables carted away by the official receivers (yes, that still happens). I had the last laugh though bygetting up at dawn tosyphon all but a teaspoonful of fuel out of my car before the men in warehouse coats took the keys and drove her away, loaded with some of my stuff. I gave them a cheery wave and an estimate of a quarter of a mile before they would need to push.


I now live in a hedgerow in Lincolnshire as a vegetarian of some forty years, the past five years a vegan, non-theist, peacenik hippie and my hobbies are budgeting on pennies, watching clouds and darning my underwear. I love dogs; cats and I just don’t understand each other. In the interesting affliction line, I am terrified of wasps and bees and hornets etc, and I have trypophobia - the sight of patterns or formations of holes in things upsets my equilibrium mightily, both mentally and physically. The world is only just starting to believe that it is a genuine condition, albeit a very silly one indeed. One of my favourite colours is tangerine. I love curries and my idea of serious exercise is my usual daily five-mile walk through the lanes, ranting at sparrows and traffic.


Lovely. Purple beans or Green eggs and ham for breakfast?

I say - I don’t suppose that I might have a pot of thick, black French coffee and a stack of hot toast and Marmite instead could I? Or porridge made to my personal “Poonah in ’43 or ’44 Indian Army”recipe? One cup of oats, one cup of whisky, heat and serve immediately, repeating as necessary until the day looks either approachable or is cancelled altogether by the M.O.

I have seen NGLND XPX on The Diesel-Electric Elephant Company website and I would love to pick it up, but before I do, could you tell me a little about it?


Well, perhaps the first thingie to explain is the title! I loathe “text speak”with a vengeance, so using NGLND XPX in lieu of ‘England Expects’is tongue firmly in cheek. I also reckon that most of the world takes itself far, far too seriously, so this book is an anthology of semi-scifi blatherings all taking the Michael. Victorian inventors spend their days as drunk as skunks and crashing steam trains, Queen Victoria shoots the last “no-win no-fee”solicitor, the human species leaves the planet altogether in Mr Sir Richard Branson’s latest invention - the space-worthy Model-T Virgin, and a labrador dog vomits in a goldfish-bowl spacesuit helmet while some terribly English chaps play cricket and deal with a rogue comet hurtling towards Earth.


Wow, NGLND XPX sounds intriguing, is there a particular part of the story that you really enjoyed writing?

I enjoyed them all at the time of writing, and I dislike them all now! I love the freedom of the blank page, the licence to create any kind of world and any kind of situation. Fiction is so much better than real life...
I knew it was too good to be true for the back of the shed gang to be this quiet. Jack rudely interrupts. 
"Hey dude, tell us who your favourite character(s) are!"

My favourites? Well, I quite like the various steam-locomotive engineers and inventors that I mercilessly caricatured. While they all had the morals and politics of Victorian sewer-rats, they did rather invent the “modern”world for us.
Sorry about that, but Jack's question brought another question to light, "If NGLND XPX were to be optioned for a movie, who do you see playing your main character(s)?
Well, assuming rather wildly that Canal+ or Ealing Studios or some such were to fork over a squillion Euro-Lira-Pfennigs for the rights and then choose the story “Blood-Curdling Screams and The Whitworth Screw-Thread”... Maggie Smith would need to play an irreverent Queen Victoria, Bill Nighy could choose whatever inventor character he wished and I’d love to see the cast filled up with Timothy Spall, Paul McGann and Paul Bettany and a host of similar others. That’s assuming that I can’t instead somehow go back to the era of James Robertson Justice, Fenella Fielding, Dirk Bogarde and Margaret Rutherford...


They will be perfect, Ian. I could really see that actor(s) playing that part. I was wondering, as a person who writes on the side, during my down time, my writing process starts with forming the story in my head before I put pen to paper, what is your writing process like?

Chaotic. The inside of my mind is a clutter of constantly-playing cartoon versions of the world, sometimes I can grab one and start to write it down. I force myself to plan the whole story but then write it piecemeal and stitch it together in the laboratory, usually during electrical storms.
Who would you rather see in a string bikini, Queen Elizabeth or Prince Charles?
What a treasonous notion - and how bilious a notion in either case. Do please excuse me while I vomit and then ring for the Yeomen Of The Guard to have you carted off to The Tower. Are you sure I couldn’t stumble upon Clive Owen in just wellington boots and a smile instead?

Out of the corner of my eye I see Terrance stagger towards us, beer in hand and trip over the lobster pot on the floor, spilling beer all over Ian and his elephant. I bury my head in my hands as he belches and demands to know: 

"All of this sounds fascinating but I heard writing is a hell of a lot of work, why do you do it, what do you get out of it?"
[After wringing out my shirt and lapping up the spilt beer - waste not sober not, as Mother used to say.] Writing is a huge amount of work, and if you add on marketing it is a ridiculous amount of work, and I have no idea why I do it. None of my friends or relatives have a clue. My best guess is that since I am destined to be depicted upside down and hanging like a loon from my branch of our family tree, I might as well leave some proof of insanity lying around.
Thanks for the awkward segue, Terrance, now go over with the rest of the b'ys and let me and Ian have our yarn. Terrance asked you why you like to write, now I want to ask you, is there anything about writing you don't like?
Nope. There are some things about reading that I dislike - gratuitous sex scenes; poor spelling, grammar and “global”English make me cringe. Violence seems to have replaced variety in this era, and vampires and zombies leave me stone cold. Political correctness can make me groan and consider burning a book.
I reach over and hide the vampire manuscript I'm currently working on, under the crate.
When you write, what is it that you hope your readers take away from your story?
A chuckle; a seriously alternative view of some of the world; slightly less weight on their shoulders; a few ideas to ponder when next they are stuck in the bathroom for desperate, lonely hours, pondering the addition of more fibre to their diet.
Do you have any other stories you are currently writing or are planning to write?
Enough to occupy me full-time for about two years! I’ve just about finished the next anthology - ‘The Cat Wore Electric Goggles’(more terribly English scifi) and then I must dive into a time-travel romp on the world’s oceans - ‘Rupert Of The High Seas’. Lingering in the background I am slowly compiling a factual account of my disasters, close shaves and hairy brides from the years when I worked as an Edwardian-style, bellows camera flash-bang-wallop photographer - ‘Confessions of a Vintage Photographer’.
The latter includes true tales about the octogenarian bride who formally accused me of stealing her three-foot wide purple straw hat, and of the time when I was all set up on the Southbank in London and some cretinous oik whom I shall never forgive delivered Mr Johnny Depp to the wrong venue, so our session was cancelled. Oh yes - and the day when I was running an exhibition at a stately home in Cheshire and quite without knowing it I calmly served the stately home’s resident ghost - ‘The White Lady’.
A very important question about protecting the environment, in your honest opinion do you think a vehicle run on farts would run efficiently and stop our need for theothergas?
It would if it were mine and if I were to be fed a diet of Jerusalem Artichokes, yes. Seriously. I am one of a tiny minority who have a ridiculous allergy to the things, and it manifests itself with life-threatening, uncontrollable, cartoon-worthy farts. On the last (the very last) occasion when I unknowingly ate Jerusalem Artichokes I kid you not, I was on the verge of dialling 999 for an ambulance and having to explain why. Hooked up to a road-vehicle I would have broken world land-speed records and probably single-handedly re-popularised the Sousaphone as a musical instrument. Imagine that being read out by the coroner as cause of death - he died of terminal flatulence, M’Lud. His buttocks simply couldn’t take the stress.
 Thanks a million for answering all my questions…and the others, Ian me ol' chap. It has been a real pleasure. You and the elephant are welcome anytime. As I said before, I have seen NGLND XPX online at The Diesel-Electric Elephant Company, is there anywhere else your book is available and what formats?

My website - http://www.dieselelectricelephant.co.uk [The Diesel-Electric Elephant Company]


Twitter - http://twitter.com/dieselelephants
 [ @dieselelephants ]

NGLND XPX
on Amazon.com - http://amzn.com/B00FU4BSUW
on Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/366646
 
on Itunes - http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/nglnd-xpx/id731856778?mt=11
on Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/nglnd-xpx

Ian was kind enough to leave behind his personal album for us to have a gander at:











If seeing and listening to Ian wasn't a treat enough, we are offering you an opportunity to win some cool prizes. Put your entry in the coffee tin here:

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This hop has many other dates check them out here:



March 18, 014
Kirstin Stein Pulioff http://www.kirstinpulioff.com
Ceri London http://cerilondon.wordpress.com/

March 19
Stefania Mattana http://dailypinner.eraniapinnera.com

March 20
Maer Wilson http://maerwilson.com/
Marsha Roberts http://mutinousboomer.wordpress.com/

March 21
Sandra Robinson http://missscarlettflame.blogspot.co.uk/
Luca Rossi http://www.lucarossi369.com/search/label/EN

March 22
Melodie Ramone http://revenge-of-the-ginger.blogspot.com/
Anna George Othitis http://annaothitis.tateauthor.com

March 23
Khalid Muhammad http://agencyrules.com
Su Williams http://dreamweavernovels.blogspot.com/

March 24
Christoph Fischer http://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/
http://www.christophfischerbooks.com/


March 25
Hunter S Jones http://www.thehuntersjones.blogspot.com
Lillian Roberts http://lilianroberts.blogspot.com

March 26
Murielle Cyr http://www.muriellerites.wordpress.com

March 27
Ian Hutson http://www.dieselelectricelephant.co.uk/
Jinx Schwartz http://bit.ly/PSAAxI

March 28
Dianne Harman http://dianneharman.com/blog/
Shane KP O’Neill http://www.draculachronicles.co.uk/

March 29
Tina Power Traverse http://writersonthewharf.wordpress.com/
Ann Rothchild http://christinamandara.wordpress.com/

"All These Pieces of Me Jay-us is that some new horror flick?" Jack questioned as he read the title of the new book I was reading.
"No you dummy. It's a contemporary romance."
Jack rolls his eyes and groans. "Not another chick book!"
I pick up Corinne Kilgore's novel and held it to me. "This is not a chick book, it's so much more. I love how this author turned the genre upside down!"
"Oh yeah, how?"
"Why don't you and the rest of the b'ys stay? The author is coming by in a few moments to tell us all about it."
Jack thought for a few moments before answering. "Is it okay we bring by some beers?"
"Only if you promise to stay in the back and keep quiet."
Jack flashed me his most sincere smile. "Now, haven't we always behaved ourselves?"
Before I could fire off a retort, Jack slipped away, chuckling to himself.
The gang were settled with their beer when Corrine arrived.  Welcome, have a seat. I know you probably heard that I had only milk crates to sit on but have since acquired these Lazy Boy recliners. I hope they are more comfortable.
Nice chairs. Coffee, please? No cream, just too much sugar for my own good.

Thank you for coming though I have known you for years, this yahoos are unfamiliar with you, share a little about yourself.
Glad to be here. Hmm, well. I am thirty-two. I currently live in West Virginia, but have lived in seventeen different places, from Texas to Ontario, Canada. I don’t stay in one place too well, but I’m trying this time to sit still. I have two degrees – one in Anthropology and one in History, neither of which I have done a thing with. I do suppose they have helped in my writing. I work on a contract basis as a web developer, part time, and write any time I’m not doing something else like eating. Sleeping is sometimes optional. My husband and I are parents to two cats.

I'm the proud owner  All These Pieces of Me could you please tell us a little about it?
It’s a Contemporary Romance, but I tried to be a little different in my approach to it than your typical romance. I’ve noticed that many romances lately are full of tiring angst and loose plots driven by characters making dumb decisions. While this can sometimes be entertaining, it wasn’t what I wanted for my series.


It’s set in my old stomping grounds – Dallas, Texas, and contains characters that are a little off the beaten path. They struggle with personal issues, ranging from physical deformities to mental health problems like autism and obsessive compulsive disorder. I also included light elements of the BDSM lifestyle. I wanted to show both that people with real issues can find love and that the BDSM lifestyle doesn’t always take place in some dark dungeon with whips and chains.
It’s all a bit of a risk – not having a bunch of angst, not having the typical dungeonesque BDSM and using characters who are functionally and physically flawed, but I don’t like writing topics that are typical.

Wow, sounds intriguing, is there a particular part of the story that you really enjoyed writing?
Dealing with mental and physical issues is always an interesting path to walk down as a writer. You have to consider how those issues will affect how both the character is perceived by others and also how that character’s worldview is shaped by their own hang-ups. I also enjoyed exploring how BDSM can be a lifestyle that normal, everyday people can and do partake in. It’s still taboo and not something you typically announce to your friends and family, but you don’t have to go to a black-windowed club to find it, either. 
 "Hey dude, tell us who your favourite character(s) are!"
I hang my head in shame. I should've known that Jack wouldn't keep his trap shut.
Well, hello Jack. Brandon is the main protagonist in this book, and he was a real joy to explore. He is dealing with the mental and physical scars left behind from incidents in his past and has basically given up on women. That is, until Emma stumbles into his world and blows it apart. Ian, who is the main protagonist for book 2, Obsessive Compulsion, was also one of my favorites.
Sorry about that, but Jack's question brought another question to light, "If were to be optioned for a movie, who do you see playing your main character(s)?

Hmm, I’m not much of an actor buff, but I would guess that I’d like Henry Cavill to play Brandon, Zooey Deschanel to play Emma, Tom Hiddleston to play Ian, Alexander Skarsgard to play Saul… but I think I would actually look for some non-star actors, too. I suppose that’s what a casting agent is for.
They will be perfect, I could really see those actors playing that part. I was wondering, as a person who writes on the side, during my down time, my writing process starts with forming the story in my head before I put pen to paper, what is your writing process like?

A lot of dreaming and very little planning. I am a total “pantster”. I just start typing and let whatever comes out have it’s say. I don’t try to force things in a certain direction. Most of the twists and things in my books happen by surprise to me, and I often wonder where it all comes from. So, I wish I could share some sort of writing secret, but I don’t have one. I just write. Period.

I'm enjoying this conversation with Corrine and the minimal interruptions, until Terrance approaches us, tripping over the fishing net Frank carelessly left in the middle of the floor, spilling his beer all over my guest. I'm horrified. Not missing a beat he rudely states "All of this sounds fascinating but I heard writing is a hell of a lot of work, why do you do it, what do you get out of it?"
Careful now, don’t waste the brew! I enjoy writing. I like creating little worlds, giving characters basic shapes and then setting them free in these little worlds and see what they do with it all. I used to play video games, and still do on occasion, but I was always playing for the story lines and not the action. I decided I could have even more fun if I wrote the stories myself, and so now I spend most of my free time writing worlds instead of playing in worlds someone else has created.

Thanks for the awkward segue, Terrance, now go over with the rest of the b'ys and let me and Corinne  have our yarn. Terrance asked you why you like to write, now I want to ask you, is there anything about writing you don't like?
Publishing. It’s hard being self-published, trying to market your book and getting people to read it and provide feedback. I like the control of being self-published, but I’m still trying to figure out everything else.

When you write, what is it that you hope your readers take away from your story?

Perhaps a new way of looking at things? I try to offer unique and unexplored perspectives in my books, and I hope that the reader is able to enjoy the story, openly relate to one or more of the characters and continue thinking about the story and characters after the book has been finished. As a reader, I love books that stick with me long after I’ve moved on, and I hope my books are like that for some readers, too.
Do you have any other stories you are currently writing or are planning to write?

All These Pieces of Me is the first in a four book series called The Stables. Book two, Obsessive Compulsion, will be released in January of 2014. I also have a Space Opera series, The Corwint Central Agent Files, and book 4 for that series is also coming out in 2014. Book 1 for that series, Ghost in the Machine, is free. I know not many people have experience with Space Opera outside of Star Wars and Star Trek, so I hope they are willing to give a free book in the genre a try.

Thanks a million for answering all my questions…and the others, it has been a real pleasure. As I said before, I have seen All These Pieces of Me online at Amazonis there anywhere else your book is available and what formats?


Thanks for having me! All of my books are available from Amazon and Smashwords. My Space Opera series is also available for Nook, iBooks and Kobo. I’m working on getting All These Pieces of Me available at those outlets too. All these Pieces of Me is also available on All Romance / OmniLit.

For all the links to my books, you can go to http://www.cekilgore.com

Jack and Terrance stand on my wharf and gaze up at the pale blue moon in awe.
"That's one pretty moon out there tonight b'y."
"Ya, that's some nice."
I wander over with a glass of red wine and observe the stunning vision with them. "You know that this moon reminds me of my friend Simon's new novel."
"Oh really, how?" Inquires Terrance.
"He has a moon like that on his cover with a stunning woman on it."
"I love Simon's stuff! That lad has been here before and his novels are exciting!" Jack added a little too enthusiastically.
"I'm glad to hear it Jack! Did you read this latest one, Luna Aeturnus?"
"What did ya think?"
"It was a dizzy ride but I loved every moment!"
"Well, the shed is packed full dying here what Luna is all about. Care to tell them?"
Jack thought for a moment and agreed. "Be happy to!"
                    
LUNA AETURNUS BY SIMON OKILL
 
              
              
 
 
As Eternal’s memory is recovered so her destiny nears and as her strength returns her evil nemesis discovers her and attacks.
 










Luna Aeturnus Blurb:
Rural France, June 1925 - The witness to the Moreau massacre, Eternal, is still incarcerated in an asylum, trapped by her amnesia. Only her true love, Edouard, can help rediscover her identity. But the startling truth attracts the attention of The Count, the secret leader of a vampire cult. The Count needs Eternal’s blood to achieve his destiny at the Eternal Hour and he has the forces of evil to help him.
With little time remaining, Edouard must unravel Eternal’s vampiric past, unmask The Count, and plot their escape. But at every step, dangers beyond his understanding lurk in the shadows, and Eternal is vulnerable to attack the moment he leaves her.
With the Eternal Hour at hand and the forces of darkness converging, Edouard and Eternal must fight to rid the world of this evil. If they lose, The Count will reign supreme and unleash the dogs of war and chaos upon the world. Let the final battle begin.  
 Author Simon Okill


 
MY BIO:
I live with my wife, Shirlee Anne in a pretty coastal town in South Wales, UK. We both love Stephen King and had read many of his books and enjoyed their transition to the screen. Due to our love of books, my wife and I dabbled in writing for some years as a hobby. We were approached by a film company to write a paranormal TV series. We struggled most nights and all through weekends to come up with 22 episodes only for the company to go bust. Then after an accident at work, I was forced into early retirement due to disability. I used my newfound skills as a writer to help with my depression. We decided to use our TV series episodes as templates for film scripts and novels. My writing became more serious as certain A-list actors expressed interest in my scripts. I now have 3 books published - Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe - Luna Sanguis and Luna Aeturnus.
 Luna Historica is the final episode and will explore Eternal’s birth during Khufu’s reign as Pharaoh to her death in the French Revolution.

Bigfoot Episode 2/3 – it’s a secret!


SS-steppenwolf is a supernatural retelling of WWII involving the Occult Warfare department run by Himmler. Think Indiana Jones searching for a werewolf.

Scripts:

‘Flip Side’ is one of my most exciting screenplays to date with its unusual slant on a supernatural gangster story that encompasses music and dynamic dance sequences to portray the action.

‘Nightmare Circus’ is a supernatural revenge mystery script set in the Australian outback.

‘Dark House’ is set in Massachusetts, US, where a lonely female artist must overcome her agoraphobia to escape from three kidnappers holed up in a house haunted by a witch finder’s hanging tree.

‘Circus of Blood’ is a horror script set in Rome AD79 where two citizens go on a dangerous quest to kill a brutal serial killer. Their adventures end in Pompeii.

‘Hunter’s Moon’ is a contemporary supernatural western script set on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall.

The Last Warlord is set during WWII and tells of Major Stewart of MI6 who must find the Nazi’s secret Atlantis base in Antarctica or the entire world will be doomed
 SYNOPSIS:
Luna Aeturnus is set in the French countryside June 1925.
Delicate Rose is a young woman nearing her Eternal Vampire state as her 19th birthday approaches. She was born on June 6th, 1906 at precisely 6am during the zenith of the Eternal Moon. And in less than 24 hours the Eternal Moon shall shine once more to bring forth Eternal, a vampire so powerful, nothing can stop her. But, she is held captive within the walls of an asylum with no means of escape.
     Eternal wakes up in her tiny prison-style room with just one thought - her true love must rescue her and help her escape. Something stirs in her subconscious. Something otherworldly yearns to be set free by the next full moon – the date of her Eternal Birthday, just 24 hours away. Can she survive long enough for the final transformation? Her only hope is Edouard, her designated true love and psychiatrist treating her. But the more memories that surface the stronger Eternal becomes and yet she must depend on her true love for her very existence for out there somewhere, the evil Count Lucien is relishing the hunt for her blood – and nothing will stop him from becoming Eternal.
     As the Eternal Hour draws closer, Count Lucien and his two other Suckling Vampires track down her unmistakeable allure to the village of Douvrey. She is so close Lucien can almost feel her. His hatred boils over as his addiction to her blood fries his brain.
     The Count leaves a trail of corpses as his rage boils over. Where is his Delicate Rose? Having slaughtered all those who might know her whereabouts he has no choice but to hide from the sun. Mother nature has given Eternal a moment to succeed. But as Lucien sleeps to regain his strength the demonic Bonbon attacks Eternal with the intent of devouring all her blood for himself.
     Eternal wakes. She opens her eyes to face the demon Bonbon, while Edouard lies exhausted on his bed. She is alone and must summon her darkness. Can she survive long enough for the final transformation? Can Edouard defeat Count Lucien and so free her of his infernal curse - a curse that stretches back thousands of years.
 Excerpts:
Edouard:
Edouard stepped into a vacuum of eternal love. He went rigid with shock as the patient was indeed the woman of his dreams. He recalled the strange feelings since his arrival and the reoccurrence of the word Eternal. This beguiling woman was connected to him as if fate had welded their souls together. He breathed deeply to calm his jangled nerves, but it was of no use. He was reminded of that first kiss and nervously cleared his throat.
The patient seemed oblivious to his presence, almost staring right through him with her wondrous black eyes. And that music filled his soul to bursting. He had a strong desire to take her from this place at that very moment.
His heart skipped a beat as her eyes changed to the sweetest umber brown and her hair took on a more reddish hue. The music stopped as abruptly as it had started.
 Eternal:

Eternal reached out with a frail hand and grasped Edouard’s strength. He shuddered with her divine ecstasy, her ancient power coursing through his flesh, blood, sinews and nerves. She allowed him to gently pull her from under the bed and help her to her feet.
She looked around the circular stone room with the slit window and thought she was back at the chateau. Eternal smiled into those green eyes. She had loved this man ever since their first meeting at Troy. Once again, they stood together upon the ramparts of the fortress laughing down at the folly of Agamemnon’s army. Her beloved Paris hugged her closely in a wondrous embrace. With lips parted, Helen gently brushed Paris’ full lips in a moment lost in time – a moment lost in eternity that lasted for a mere heartbeat. The moment evaporated as he drew back from her kiss.
 Count Lucien:

Lucien brooded, silently listening, waiting to hear her dark music. He could feel her presence; but where and how close. She would never enter a place of worship, but he had been fooled by her. Could his mind violate the sanctity of the church? He tried. He got nothing.
Lucien’s black heart pounded like a sledgehammer in his chest at the thought of his Delicate Rose begging for mercy. He grew a hard on with the thought of her offering herself in reconciliation for their abrupt separation, before he drank every drop of her ancient essence to be Eternal. As for Jacques and Claudette – so what if they needed Eternal’s blood as badly as he did. They could suffer the consequences. Let their addiction burn their blood dry and fry their brains. Her blood was his alone, no more sharing. 
 
 
For reviews and more info:
http:// bit.ly/164nBWE   Aeturnus Goodreads page.
 Personal Media Links:
http://facebook.com/simondokillwriter
 http://twitter.com/simonokill
https://www.amazon.com/author/simondokillwriter

http://goodreads.com/tassyoneill

http://tassyoneill.wix.com/the-phantom-bigfoot

Buy Links:
http:// amzn.to/19e22PQ    us
http:// amzn.to/17JKfAS   uk
 LUNA AETURNUS BY SIMON OKILL
    TOUR DATES:  

              
              

 

 
   
 



 
 


                         




                                
   
           
                 

                



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  

I'm enjoying a nice moonlit night sitting on my wharf and enjoying some rare solitude and warm weather waiting for my friend Thomas to drop by share a drink and give me the inside scoop on not one but two of his latest works! How lucky can a gal get?
Normally I only do either an interview or a promo for upcoming releases, but Thomas is an old hand around this wharf, often helping the gang mend fishing nets, so I wanted to do both for him.

First, our lively chat:

 Welcome, Thomas Rydder  have a seat, sorry that it is not more comfy, I did have two Lazy Boys here but the shed was robbed last evening, leaving me with these milk crates.
 Hi Tina, and thanks for the hospitality. Milk crates are fine - I've sat on worse. Since it's getting into fall, I'd like a White Russian.
  Thank you for coming Thomas though I have known you for years, those who are spying on us around the shed, don't, so please tell us a little about yourself.
 Hoo boy. Something I'm not really good at. Okay, I'm 56, have been a Marine, warehouse worker, handyman, strike security guard, data entry clerk, auto body repairman, land surveyor, and most recently, the project manager for a civil engineering firm. Been around the world once, visited a dozen states, lived in five more, along with Japan and Okinawa for a year. Now, I draw on all my life's experiences in an effort to entertain folks with my books.
 Could  you please tell me about The Clearing and Restless Souls? 

"The Clearing", my debut thriller, actually came out this past March, but due to some review remarks on one particular aspect of the book, I decided to re-write a couple parts, and am now re-launching it. It's about a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania that gets some unwanted visitors - the large kind, with lots of hair and super long fangs. The residents discover their new occupants through a series of grisly events, and spend the rest of the story trying to rid themselves of some very distasteful neighbors. Not everyone lives through this.
 Restless Souls started out as something to do while I worked through editing my "The Clearing."
All the stories are about spirits who are trapped in our world. Each of them seek out - or are sought out by - live folks. All with disastrous results, I might add...
 Wow, The Clearing and Restless Souls sounds intriguing. Are there particular parts of your stories that you really enjoyed writing?
 In "The Clearing", the process by which everyone becomes aware of the nature of their problem is pretty entertaining to me. (Not to sound morose, just sayin').
 In "Colors" (short story), my favorite part was when the main character, Harrison Street, smacked a guy in the mouth. Not that he did, but why he did.
 In "Do Unto Others" (short story), Jeremy's way of dealing with life I find fascinating. (Since I wrote it, that might sound odd, but it's true.)
 And in "Simona Says" (novella), my favorite scene is the one where she gets her wish - through a visitor both she and her friend Mary are ill-prepared for.
It was a peaceful yarn so far with Thomas and I was enjoying it, until a far away voice shouts:  I groan because I know it's Jack.

"Hey dude, tell us who your favourite characters are!"

 Great question - uh - dude, whoever the hell you are. Not all of them were the main characters of the stories, actually.
 In "The Clearing", there's a big farmer by the name of Dan Wigand who is no-nonsense. He's a simple fellow, honest and hard-working, and doesn't suffer foolishness. I picture him as the backbone of the area in which the story is set. A salt of the earth type, you know. 
In "Colors", which is a story centered around a biker gang, a fellow by the name of Mountain figures heavy in the story line. As you can imagine, Mr. Mountain is, well, let's say large. He's also very affable and an all-around likable chap.

 In "Simona Says", I actually took a liking to the cop in the story. He's carved out of the mold that created the flatfoot detectives of decades past. Nose to the grindstone, keep at it until you get answers, don't take crap from anyone.
 And in "Do Unto Others", Jeremy, who is the main guy, is street mean and has learned how to deal with situations in a very straightforward, let's say reactionary way. Not that I have violent tendencies, but I envy him that freedom.
 Sorry about that, but the question brought  another question to light, "If The Clearing or your other stories  were to be optioned for a movie, who do you see playing your main characters?
 Whew. Tough one. Jack's a real pain in the derriere, right?
 I did actually thing about this with The Clearing, and since the county sheriff is rather the main character, I'd like to have Timothy Olyphant play him. Tim is one of the best actors on TV, and I think he'd do a bang-up job of it.
 In "Do Unto Others", I picture Jeremy looking a lot like Adrian Brody, and with the same off-hand manner.
 In "Colors", Harrison is a bit of a coward, but yet tall and stalwart, so I'm thinking Chris Pine.
 In "Simona Says", I'd would have loved to have a young Helena Bonham Carter play Simona, but I'll go with Bonnie Wright, oddly enough another actress in the Harry Potter series.
 They will be perfect, Thomas I could really see those actors playing that part. I was wondering, as a person who writes on the side, during my down time, my writing process starts with forming the story in my head before I put pen to paper, what is your writing process like?
 Yep, that's the start. I typically have the first germ of a story spring up at the darnedest times - and believe it or not, twice it's been in the shower. I've learned to carry a notebook with me, so I can jot down the idea when I think of it. After that, the ideas tend to roll around - stewing, if you will. I get little snippets here and there about things and characters I'd like to see in the story, and once again, I have to jot them down. By the time I actually sit down to write a story, I have a good idea what I want to do.
 I should have known that the rest of the gang would be curious about what Thomas was saying to me, so I wasn't surprised when Terrance, obviously drunk, staggers over to us. He trips up in a loose board and spills his drink on Thomas and gets a little rude and nosy.

All of this sounds fascinating but I heard writing is a hell of a lot of work, why do you do it, what do you get out of it?
 At least Jack didn't spill crap all over me. How did you get saddled with these winners?
If it will make you leave me alone, I'll answer you, Terrance, big fella.
You know, I kind of tripped over writing. I didn't have the type of beginning that many have had. I didn't yearn to write all my life and so on. It was quite accidental, and it doesn't feel like work to me. Work is doing something you don't enjoy. I enjoy writing, a lot. I've done a few things from a creativity standpoint - played the trumpet in various bands, sang, some other things. But man, you get to create worlds with writing. Your very own worlds, where you create the people, places, and best of all, the rules. What could possibly be more fun than that?
 Thanks for the awkward segue,  Terrance, now go over with the rest of the b'ys and let me and Thomas have our yarn. Terrance asked you why you like to write, now I want to ask you, is there anything about writing you don't like?
 Re-writing is very hard. As I mentioned above, I re-wrote parts of my first book, and that, I have to say, was work. Once you get a particular scene or scenes in your head, along with the characters, it's rough to back up and take it all at a different angle. I had a tough time of it, but in the end, I really like how it came out.
  When you write, what is it that you hope your readers take away from your story?
 Oh, I don't know. I really don't write to send messages or convey any particular moral. I like to think my stories are reflections of life, and I hope people are moved, amused, or horrified. Um - I mean by my stories, not my writing skills.
  Do you have any other stories you are currently writing or are planning to write?
 Oh, yeah. The list is building, and my one complaint is that the flippin' landlord won't let me stop paying rent so I can write full time.
A sequel to "The Clearing" is on the way, I have an idea for another full-length book about a group of ghost hunters, one about a serial killer who uses biological weapons, a YA novel about time travel, and yet another centered on a young married couple who has the ghost of a murdered woman invade their country home. I'm good for a while.
 Thanks a million for answering all my questions…and the others, Thomas it has been a real pleasure. Since we are being spied on, might as well make some money off the news bags. Where are your books available?
 Both are available currently on Amazon:
 The Clearing
 Amazon paperback - http://www.amazon.com/The-Clearing-ebook/dp/B00BMEVA0W/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1382141815&sr=8-6&keywords=the+clearing 
Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/The-Clearing-ebook/dp/B00BMEVA0W/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1382141815&sr=8-6&keywords=the+clearing 
 Smashwords Kindle - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/290578
 Restless Souls: 3 dark fables

 Amazon paperback - http://www.amazon.com/Restless-Souls-3-dark-fables/dp/1909636045/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1382119056&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=thomas+rydder
 Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Restless-Souls-3-dark-fables-ebook/dp/B00FYQ59K6/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1382118924&sr=1-3&keywords=restless+souls
 Smashwords Kindle - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/368653
 And if anyone is actually foolish enough to wish contacting me:

 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ThomasRydder
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thomas.rydder
LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/thomas-rydder/5a/994/23a
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6644323.Thomas_Rydder
Blog - http://thomasrydder.wordpress.com/
 You look a little cold,Thomas, its getting kind of chilly. Is there anything you like to add?

  Tina, you've been most generous with your crates and your booze, and I'm most grateful for both. I'd just like to say that the ebook versions of both my works are available for an introductory price of 99 cents, so swing by and grab one with that price lasts!
Now, if you'd be so kind to fill my thermos with some more of that fine grog, I'll wander back home now :)
 Good night, Thomas, it's been a real pleasure.

Now as promised the Promo!

    The man of the hour:   The Clearing:

  Restless Souls: 
More info:
Restless Souls Book Descriptions: 1. "Do Unto Others" (short story) - Jeremy is a street hood, lawless and unchained. When he is wronged by a local businessman, it becomes his mission to seek revenge. But his new enemy has friends - ones that don't take kindly to intruders. 2. "Colors" (short story) - Harrison Street. attorney, biker wannabe, coward. When he finds the bike of his dreams, it seems too good to be true. It is. 3. "Simona Says" (novella) - Simona has had it rough. Death, disenchantment, and disappointment are all part of her life. She wants to be happy for a change, and she's willing to do just about anything to find some. Anything.   The Clearing Book Description A small town in western Pennsylvania – quaint, simple, peaceful. That is, until The Elder takes up residence. He has an agenda – one that is 1,000 years old, and cannot be denied. One that will change the lives of many – and end the lives of any who interfere.
Restless Souls  -
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/368653  Amazon kindle http://www.amazon.com/Restless-Souls-3-dark-fables-ebook/dp/B00FYQ59K6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1382107809&sr=1-1   The Clearing -  Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/The-Clearing-ebook/dp/B00BMEVA0W/ref=sr_1_2_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382107889&sr=1-2
Bio I was born in 1957 in a small town in Western Pennsylvania that had - and still has - one traffic light. There wasn't a whole lot to do there, and we had few neighbors, so I learned to play quite a bit of make-believe - soldiers, cowboys and Indians, that kind of thing. At the same time, I loved to read and watch old movies. On Saturdays, my dad played in a country western band, and I stayed up to wait for him. It was during that stretch that I discovered the horror movie. You know the ones I mean. Karloff, Chaney, Lee. The masters, right?

Fast forward 40 years. I'm now the project manager for a small civil engineering firm in picturesque Charleston, South Carolina with my lovely wife and four rescue pets, two dogs, two cats. Oh - and eight feral cats outside that put up with us because we give them two squares a day.

Anyway, since childhood, I've loved to create. I played trumpet, sang, even dabbled in genealogy. Nothing quite did it for me. Over the years, I'd composed quite a few term papers and theses (there are a few ex-teenagers in this world who owe their English grades to yours truly), and unfailingly earned an "A". My wife knew this, and one day just suggested that I try writing.

What the hey, I thought. So I sat down and found a writing site called Hubpages. Nice little site, and I started getting the basics of writing a little from some of the inhabitants. I wrote a short story, and everyone liked it. So, I wrote another one. Except it kept growing, and I kept getting more ideas, and it lengthened to 20 thousand words, then 30, then 40. By the time I sat back, I had the rough draft of my first novel, except back then it was called "Werewolves and Flapjacks". Somewhere along the way I decided to submit my work (now called "The Clearing) to three publishers. I was turned down twice, and miraculously was accepted by the gentleman who gently rules this site, Mr. Tim Taylor. And the rest, as they say, is history. By the way, you need to like Tim...he's a great guy, and I owe him much, which can never be repaid. I now have a second book availabe - “Restless Souls: 3 dark fables” - an anthology (novella and two short stories) of ghost stories, and life is grand.

Even though I make wise cracks about all of it, this is all like living a dream - and I don't plan on waking up for a very long time. Thomas Rydder - writer FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152566352530075&set=a.10150433393420075.633557.542890074&type=1&comment_id=18674155&offset=0&total_comments=23 BLOG: http://thomasrydder .wordpress.co   GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6644323.Thomas_Rydder ‎ PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/thomasrydder/ TUMBLR : http://thomasrydder.tumblr.com/ TWITTER : https://twitter.com/ThomasRydder  
 
 
 
 

"Lord heavens above, Tina! Put on your sunglasses and come out side and look at this!"Gerard's bellowing woke me from my nap, jarring me awake and knocking my copy of Web of Light onto the floor. I look out the window and see this staring at me:  
 It was indeed bright with the light hovering in cupped hands, but it was beautiful. "Relax, Gerard, that's just Kyra Dune's new release, Web of Light.""Forgive my poor memory, but didn't you just have that up in August?""Yes, but that was to announce it's upcoming release in October. It is now October and Web of Light is available to everyone to enjoy!"Gerard puts his hat back on walks away, shaking his head, mumbling. "I never understand you author types." I chuckle and stand back to admire Kyra's work: Available Now!  WEB OF LIGHT  Genre: YA Fantasy

Blurb: 
When Queen Eanndra calls the leaders of the Territories and their heirs to Star Mountain for a Conclave, none of them expect to have their lives changed forever by the repercussions of a war that ended three hundred years ago.

With the return of the Web of Light, chaos and destruction must surely follow. Sides will be chosen. Friendships won and lost.

For within every heart lies the dark seed of betrayal.
  Excerpt: His mother had always warned him to beware of the gods. They were a capricious lot, she had said, with little care for the frailty of mortal life. And if one was calling Seva into the temple, then her life was at risk.  Valdor didn’t hesitate, didn’t take even a moment to think on what might happen, he simply ran. What he hit was not a solid wall, but a sort of thickness. For him, passing the statue was like walking through water with weighted feet. The air pressed against him, trapping the breath in his lungs. And it was cold. So cold what little breath he could manage frosted before his eyes.   He broke free to the other side as Seva entered the temple. After glancing back once at the other heirs, Valdor sprinted across the open space and up the steps to the door. There, he paused. Before him was a wide chamber, almost every inch of which was covered with a mosaic depicting a bloody battle between figures unlike any creatures he had ever seen. It hurt his mind to gaze too long upon any one of them.  Instead, he focused his attention on Seva, who was standing in the only clear spot in the chamber. A twisted rope painted on the floor made a circle around this spot and above it a Gari-Z a woman in flowing gray robes sat on a throne of flames. A benevolent smile touched the woman’s lips, but her eyes were cold black orbs.   Seva’s head was tilted back as if she were looking up at the woman, but her eyes were closed. Valdor moved cautiously forward, wincing as his footsteps echoed in the silence. His lips parted and he started to speak her name, but the word wouldn’t come. The feeling in this place was something so foreign to his senses he couldn’t name it. It crawled across his skin and made his ears buzz.  He came to a stop when he reached the rope circle. Fear was an acid taste at the back of his throat. Much as he wanted to reach out for Seva, there was a deep feeling of alarm inside him that would not allow his feet to move forward.  If things had gone on much longer, he might have worked up the nerve to do it, because he was not really as much of a coward as his father had made him believe he was. But he didn’t have to.           Seva’s entire body bucked, her back arching and her neck snapping back. She drew in a gasping breath, then collapsed. Valdor caught her before she hit the floor as her upper body crossed the line to his side. She shivered as if cold, then grew still. Valdor pulled her the rest of the way out of the circle, then lifted her up into his arms. She was light, but he was unused to such labor and staggered under her weight. Still, he managed to carry her out of the temple. Once they were down the steps and crossing the open space, Seva stirred and her eyelids fluttered open. Valdor gazed down into her bright blue eyes and was lost. Any uncertainty about his feelings toward her evaporated in that moment.      “If I put you down, can you walk?” he asked.            “I...I think so. Yes.” She looked over his shoulder toward the temple.  “What happened in there?”             “Don’t you know?” He carefully put her back on her feet Her eyes met his again as she shook her head. “I remember looking up at the statue and hearing Iza talk about the chosen one. Then everything is a blank. Except...” She laid a steadying hand against his arm. “I don’t know. I feel...something, but it’s...” She sighed. “I’m so tired all of a sudden.”   “Come on.” He slid his arm around her waist. “Let’s get you back to the carriage.”  To celebrate the release of Web of Light, Kyra is holding a contest for some free copies! Enter here:a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
  To purchase Web of light:
Purchase link

Book Trailer

 About the Author:
 Kyra Dune was born in Oklahoma, but spent most of her life travelling with her family. She is the author of eleven fantasy novels, including: Shadow of the Dragon, Elfblood, and Firebrand. As a child, her favorite stories were those that told of ordinary children being whisked away to magical lands. She has yet to find her own secret wardrobe or rabbit hole, but she hasn’t given up the search.Yo 

 
 

Can you keep a secret for me?
I have a very intimate secret that must be kept only between you and me. If the Back of The Shed gang find out about what I'm about to do, they swarm the Shed of Solicitation like flies to honey and ruin what could be my most important promotion yet.
This promotion carries an important message at the same time being ultra sexy.

Today the Shed of Solicitation takes on a another meaning.

I'm hosting the autobiography of an international call girl-Violet Ivy.

This Australian beauty tells how her life went from being an innocent farmer's daughter to a sexy world travelled woman who pleasured others for money. Do what I did, save your judgement for the black robed people sitting on the bench...or at least after you read Lucky Girl.

  Lucky Girl – How I survived the Sex Industry
By Violet Ivy
 
Synopsis/
The intimate autobiography of an international call girl. Scary, funny and bizarre stories recorded for your amusement, edification or simply for interesting dinner conversation.
The sex industry is clouded in mystery. It has to be to some extent or it wouldn’t survive. But in this age of internet porn, buying pubic hair trimmings online and wife swapping parties it’s about time the veils of mystery were taken down.
For moralists, let’s visit the chicken and the egg scenario. Which came first the prostitute or the client? If there were no clients then obviously there would be no sex workers. But what if there weren’t any prostitutes? Would guys wank themselves silly to porn? Harass their post-menopausal wives? Frequent bars trying their luck? Or hassle the secretary and risk being charged with sexual harassment? Would statistics for rape be on the increase? Is prostitution a necessary evil in our society? Don’t mindlessly believe and quote information spoon fed to you by friends, family or the media. Make an educated decision.
Although it was never my intention to get into this industry, I’ve travelled the world, had incredible experiences and bought several properties. I won’t have to rely on the government pension when I retire.
My closest friends are co-workers, madams and clients. Brilliant people who I would never otherwise have had the good fortune to meet. I will never regret my decision to enter this field. It has not always been a bed of roses, but when I compare it to what my life might have been; cleaning job, shitty boss, marriage, perhaps divorce, mortgage, kids, living in the burbs, scraping by to give my kids a better life than I was destined for, I feel that I have been rescued…..thank God.
Blurb
Money doesn’t make you happy? Tell that to someone thrown out of his house because he can’t make the payments or the mother who can’t afford Christmas presents for her kids again this year. I’ve been poor. Money equals choices. Options of how to travel on this journey we call life. Did I make some mistakes? Sure! But there’s not too much I’d change. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Money gives security. Poverty causes ulcers. Financial hardship can also make you compromise yourself in ways that being a sex worker never will.
This industry eats its young and damages those not strong enough to cope. Every worker has a different personality, head space, upbringing, personal history and therefore experience. This book is a glimpse of mine. I am not advocating anyone join the profession. That is a personal choice.
When I started out I could never have imagined what my life journey would look like or where I would be now. I don’t even know where in the world I will be in twelve months. What I will be doing? Who I might be bonking, caning or smearing with hot wax? Exciting isn’t it? Carpe diem – seize the day. I’m a lucky girl.
“Lucky Girl – How I survived the Sex Industry” is available as a paperback or E-book version;


Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/LUCKY-GIRL-Survived-Industry-ebook/dp/B00BJKJ3W6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362005847&sr=1-1&keywords=violet+ivy+lucky+girl
Booklocker
http://booklocker.com/books/6711.html
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lucky-girl-violet-ivy/1114490376?ean=9781621419952
Book Depository     
http://www.bookdepository.com/Lucky-Girl-Violet-Ivy/9781621419952
Kobo
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lucky-girl-how-i-survived-the-sex-industry
Author bio
Violet Ivy grew up on a small wheat and sheep farm in the outback of Western Australia. A spray of freckles across her nose, pigtails streaming down her back as she swam naked in the local creek to cool off during the endless summers.
 Who could have predicted her transformation into one of the world’s most elite, international escorts? The wanton woman satisfying the needs and desires of the most affluent men and women of the globe.
Life was not always easy for Violet. Hers is a rags-to-riches story from the seedy brothels of the mining town Kalgoorlie to attending the Kentucky Derby and the Oscars on the arms of the most influential men on the face of the planet.
Violet continues to work in an industry that can either make or break it's players. She has had to learn how to adapt and hone her expertise to climb to the top of her game. Based in Melbourne, Australia, where sex work is legal, she travels to far flung places, (if the money's right), as either a courtesan or a fetish Mistress, fulfilling her clients' needs and desires. Encouragement from friends and family to share her adventures led her to begin a series of books exposing the realities behind the veil of the oldest profession in the world. She introduces her readers to myriad bizarre, scary and hilarious people and situations she comes across in her travels.

Read what other esteemed authors are saying about Violet Ivy’s Debut novel…
‘From the opening paragraph to the final words I was hooked, no pun intended. Frankly there is no other book like Lucky Girl whether one reaches for Diary of a Call Girl or The Happy Hooker. Well, there is one comparison...the work of Nancy Friday who wrote in a similar fashion. When one writes about bondage and discipline it is necessary to keep in mind the sensibilities of readers who may not understand these matters. For me it was an eye-opener. Lucky Girl gave me an understanding of B&D that now makes complete sense to me. People should read this and understand the life and mind of a sex worker. It becomes obvious very quickly that not all are uneducated drug addicts who can't hold down a job anywhere else. I look forward to the follow up books. Violet Ivy is a writer, and that is the highest praise any reviewer can give. To possess such talent suggests that Violet Ivy is indeed a Lucky Girl.’
Graham Whittaker, Author, The Girl from Kosovo
‘…gripped me from the start …very readable, an honest account of someone 'who's been there'. An important work worth publication.’
Ruko Kitamaru, Author, No Ice Cream in the Land of the Cannibals
‘I read every chapter and want more. A fascinating look into your world presented with straight forward honesty, warmth and colour. Such a fresh contrast to the drab, dark or dirty shades that the media and society paints your career. I’m completely fascinated to know more about Violet, she's so real.’
K Malone, Author, Twell
'I was interested in comparing this with Belle de Jour’s books which I read last year. Whilst I remember almost nothing of hers, I’m pretty sure parts of your diary will stay with me. You’re not afraid to tell it as it is; warts, unpleasant odours and all!’

Camac Johnson, Author, Hemingway Quest

 ‘A light and humorous but overall compelling biography….an in depth and revealing picture of the life of a sex worker, at the same time demonstrating that someone working in this industry has the talent and perspicacity to write a biography of this quality. Well done…..it’s really very good.’
Janet Holt and Helen Parker, Authors, The Stranger In My Life
 
What readers are saying about Lucky Girl – How I Survived the Sex Industry
‘Is this woman real? She must be. You couldn’t make this story up. I feel that I know her, the way she thinks, her motivations. Can’t wait for the sequel.’….Mel H, Birmingham, England
 ‘A real page turner.’…..George W, Ontario, Canada
 ‘More, more….more please! I got to the end and still wanted to keep reading. Fantastic!’ Irene K, Sydney, Australia
 ‘Very Belle de Jour.’ Fred C, Port Douglas, Australia
 ‘Good to see the Aussie perspective. You go girl! Can I take you out for a drink sometime? I know you’ve got more stories to tell.’ Dirk B, Brighton, England 
Cover Art



 
 
 
  Cover pic
 
 
                 Author Pic
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Social Media

https://twitter.com/VioletIvy2 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Violet-Ivy/245288678937176
  Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17387092-lucky-girl
  Email [email protected]
    Website violet-ivy.com
 Tour button

It has been a busy summer with fishing and all the fun promos I have hosted, but it is time for the Lazy boy to get some use as they are starting to get dusty.
That is why when the lovely and prestigious author Gay Ingram texted me about coming over for a beverage and chat about her work, I welcomed her with much enthusiasm.

I just hoped that Gay would be okay with my little shed gang.


Welcome, Gay Ingram have a seat. I know you probably heard that I had only milk crates to sit on but have since acquired these Lazy Boy recliners. I hope they are more comfortable. Would you like a drink?
 Hey, we use tree trunks as seats around our place so a milk crate will do just fine…for a little while, at least until my bum gets sore. I will never pass up a cup of coffee, black please.
 Thank you for coming Gay though I have known you for years, this yahoos are unfamiliar with you, share a little about yourself.

 Well I camp out on some acres in the piney woods of east Texas. My great husband and I have been there thirty-plus years. We’ve been married over fifty years so that gives you a ballpark of how old I am. I have one living son who lives fairly close by but I don’t see him as often as I’d like. My two granddaughters recently moved from Oregon to Arkansas which made me very happy because that’s quite a bit closer and perhaps I’ll get to see my two greats, Josh and Lexi more often.

  I have seen Second Time Around (on) http://www.amazon.com/Gay-Ingram/e/B008VS6AJIand I would love to pick it up, but before I do, could you tell me a little about it?

 Well, it’s about a recently widowed woman who has an accidental meeting with a man who she suspects is her first love of twenty-five years previously. The hitch is that he supposedly was killed in a train wreck on his way to propose.
 Wow, Second Time Around sounds intriguing, is there a particular part of the story that you really enjoyed writing?

 I really enjoyed doing the research. I set the story in Dallas, Texas in the 50’s because I lived there at the time. Then I found a forum online where folks were posting their memories of Dallas in that time period which really gave my remembrances a kick-start. The shed is pleasantly quiet until Jack belches and shouts out his favourite question.  
 Hey dude, tell us who your favourite characters are!
 Hmmmm, favorite characters. Well, I really connect with authors rather than their characters. Madelyn L’Emgle is one of my favorites and so is Terry Brooks. I recently discovered Deborah Macomber and am really enjoying reading her stuff.
 Sorry about that, but Jack's question brought another question to light, If Second Time Around were to be optioned for a movie, who do you see playing your main characters?

 What an interesting question. I’ve always envisioned Susan Sarandon playing Dolly Summers. Not sure who I’d choose for the role of Douglas, maybe Richard Gere.

  They will be perfect, Gay I could really see Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere playing those parts. I was wondering, as a person who writes on the side, during my down time, my writing process starts with forming the story in my head before I put pen to paper, what is your writing process like?

 It seems, with my fiction writing of course, my stories always begin with a character who insinuates himself/herself in my thoughts. I spend a lot of time interacting with them subconsciously and as they reveal more of themselves, their particular time period and situation begin to develop.

I don't know how I missed it, but a bundle of promotion posters lay rolled up in the middle of the shed floor. Terrance did not see them as he was heading to the cooler for another beer and tripped over them, spilling whatever contents was left in the beer bottle in his hand over Gay. If I had a hole, I crawl in it. This embarrassment did not stop the yahoo from asking his tired question.   
All of this sounds fascinating but I heard writing is a hell of a lot of work, why do you do it, what do you get out of it?

Oops! Careful there, Terrance. That’s going to clash with my perfume I’m afraid.
As to why do I write, well, let me tell you. I just can’t keep from doing it. After Second Time Around was published I went over two years without writing any kind of fiction. Oh, I did my hand-writing three pages every morning a la Julia Cameron’s recommendation, which I urge every writer to do.
I had a personal blog going for a while until it ran out of steam. And I post a blog on Venture Galleries.com every week where I feature some historical facts about not-well-known cities across the US. I’m also the editor of Write With Pen, the monthly newsletter for one of the writing groups I belong to: North East Texas Writers Organization, or NETWO for short.
But I just lost any enthusiasm for writing fiction of any sort even though I had two unfinished manuscripts collecting dust on the shelf. But recently I picked up one and am beginning to work on it a bit. I found out if I don’t write it’s like something is missing in my life.
 Thanks for the awkward segue, Terrance, now go over with the rest of the b'ys and let me and Gay have our yarn. Terrance asked you why you like to write, now I want to ask you, is there anything about writing you don't like?

 Not the writing per se. I enjoy the research necessary because I tend to set my stories in a particular time frame and I’m a stickler for getting it historically correct. I enjoy revision because it usually reads better afterwards. I even like the editing part. In fact, I have an editing service and have done some for a few other writers. What gives me the willies is all the promotion and marketing being required of authors these days to sell their books.

 When you write, what is it that you hope your readers take away from your story?
 My stories are about ordinary people who are thrust into extraordinary circumstances. The take-away I strive to deliver is that we as humans are stronger than we realize and that there is always hope to overcome.
 Do you have any other stories you are currently writing or are planning to write?
 Oh goody! I was hoping you’d ask that. I’m real excited about my latest work, Morgana’s Revenge, which has a release date of Oct. 1st.  It’s about a young woman who loses her parents in a home fire then goes looking for answers. She goes undercover as a tutor to three precocious children…there are two men vying for her attention…lots of intrigue…and it was a pleasure to write.
  Thanks a million for answering all my questions…and the others, Gay Ingram it has been a real pleasure. As I said before, I have seen Second Time Around online at http://www.amazon.com/Gay-Ingram/e/B008VS6AJI  is there anywhere else your book is available and what formats?

  All of my books are available in both print and digital through Amazon. Just check out my Author Page to check them out.

 It was a pleasure having you here and you are most welcome to come back anytime. Is there anything else you like to add before you go?

 Just want to say I’ve really enjoyed our visit…even the beer stains Terrance left with me.


 

            

 
 

I am excited. I am nervous.
This. Is. So. Freaking. Cool!
I am so lost in my anticipation that I do not see the rolled up piece of carpet until I trip over it and land on my hands and knees, cutting them.
"Jesus Tina, watch where you are going! Yelled Frank as he rushed over to help me up and assess my wounds.
"What's got you all in a daze today? I never saw you go around with such a big goofy grin since you were six." Frank commented as he cleaned and bandaged my cuts.
"I just thinking how excited I am about featuring Anita Bell on the shed today."
"Anita Bell? She must be some kind of movie star or something for you to roll out the red carpet and decorate the shed with fancy lights."
"Anita is not a movie star, but close. She is a best seller author, has won numerous awards and... squee! Her latest book is going to become a movie!"
"Sounds awesome, no wonder you are excited!"
"I am, this is the biggest author I promoted yet. I just love her."
"Well, let's hope this puts the Shed of Solicitation on the map. Good luck to you today."
"Thank you."
I stare dreamy eyed into the horizon before I force myself to snap out of it and get to work.




Book synopsis
A Comedy Romance: When a hapless cartoonist is electrified by a small gift from her mysterious neighbor, she falls into a web of intrigue and wickedly funny events, which leave her teetering on a cliffhanger between Love and Disaster...
The lovely lady...



Author Bio
"I didn't wait for Luck. I raced after him with a truck."
I'm that bestselling and award winning author of comedy-mysteries and fun-informative non-fictions with over 2 million readers internationally... currently working the next big stage. Yep! You guessed it! ...[Pssst... if you didn't guess, try catching it on FB or twitter via my webpage AnitaBell.com ...Or smack yourself with one of my books until it dawns on you.]... Hugs for now. You'll probably need it.
Being serious for a sec, I'm also the first author to win an International CrimeStoppers Award for a children's series. [YAY!]
: Tagged by Dead Dogs
Things I LOVE:
When a movie producer calls after reading my books, and my agent has to say 'get in line!'
Things I Hate:
When TV crews show up with their sexiest, skinniest female reporters... and I'm still trying to find the garden rake for my hair.
NOTE: For all of my M+ Rated works see my Pen-Name A.A. Bell [e.g. author of the multi-award winning Diamond Eyes series about the girl who can see through time.]
WARNING! WARNING!: Anita Bell is my real name and pen-name for over 30 titles since 1990. I write all of my own books so I'm always the sole creator, aside from narrators hired by 4 of my Big 6 publishers for the audio editions, who sometimes appear on Amazon as co-creators. So if ever you see a book with my name as a co-writer, or a self-published book that is not listed on this page, then that's another writer who began using the same name for publication. Go figure. Somewhere out there must be a cloning machine. Run now. The world wasn't safe with only one of me!
Pssst: Yes, I also wrote 3 of the Top 10 Bestselling Business Books of the Decade, Downunder 2000+ (Your Mortgage, Your Money, and Your Investment Property, which all have subtitles longer than my arm and a string of other books in that series), but I've never been "CEO" of anything unless you count being boss of my own muses, and even then, I'm usually the one who's bound, gagged and chained to a keyboard with a gun to my head.
Then again; aren't we all?
Author links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePoetTrees
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnitaBell.FanPage
Blog: http://bellsballadyblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/ode-to-million-dollar-apple-pancake-4.html
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Anita-Bell/e/B00CBVAF6A
Author Website: http://www.anitabell.com/home.htm
Book Links
http://www.amazon.com/Killer-Smile-Romance-Anita-Bell/dp/1483999335/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377112647&sr=1-1
Visit the Author’s website to view her other books and Big Screen information
ANITA BELL ACHIEVEMENTS
Killer Smile is filming in Australia. The author will share behind the scenes footage and photos taken of the cast and some other shots so far.
WINNER 2011                    WINNER 2012

  Author of 3 of the Top 10 Bestselling
Business Books of the Decade (2000+)
   

 
 










First author to win the International CrimeStoppers Award
for a Children's Crime Series (2002):

"Constructing Marcus, is that a new construction project the government has on the go?" Jack inquired as he stared long and hard at the Shed of Solicitation's new promotion sign.
"Mar-cus. Hey, I know Marcus. Marcus Murphy, Danny Murphy's son." Terrance commented.
"Who is Danny Murphy?" Jack asked.
"You know, the chap that owns Murphy construction in Burin."
I watch the exchange between Jack and Terrance and put a stop to the nonsense.
"No you yahoos. Constructing Marcus is author Danielle Devoir's new novel."
"Who's Danielle Devoir and what is the book about?"
Rolling my eyes, I handed Jack Danielle's info.
"Here read for yourself." I stated as I walked away.
     Bio:
Danielle DeVor spent her early years fantasizing about vampires and watching “Salem’s Lot” way too many times.  After living briefly in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she moved back to her hometown to write.  When not writing and reading about weird things, you will find her hanging out at the nearest coffee shop, enjoying a mocha frappuccino.
Book Blurb: Sixteen-year-old ghost hunter, Emma Hoffman thought that moving into an old Victorian was going to be awesome-- ghosts galore.
 
Much to her delight, she discovers that the house is haunted—not by a ghost, but by a construct (a spirit created to be a servant). As she gets to know Marcus, the construct, he asks her to help him avenge his maker and find her killer. Emma’s not too sure this is a good idea, she’s a ghost hunter after all, not a detective, but she agrees to help him anyway. 
While trying to discover more information about the killer, Emma begins to have feelings for Marcus- feelings she isn’t ready to admit. Then the sorcerer who killed Marcus’s maker shows up at Emma’s house with an insane plan to capture Marcus and absorb his power- Emma isn’t having it. Marcus is hers. 
When the killer performs a spell that begins to steal Marcus’s life force, Emma risks losing him. It’s a race against time for Emma to figure out how to stop the sorcerer and his spell before Marcus fades away and disappears from her life forever.
Social Media Links:

Twitter: @sammyig
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/danielledevorauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/DanielleDeVor
Blog: http://danielledevor.wordpress.com
  Buy Links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Danielle-DeVor/e/B00CJLIEV0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1376235627&sr=8-1  Excerpt 1: There’s just something about looking at a cardboard box. You know what’s inside, but there’s still that jolt of excitement, energy that licks your nerve endings. Maybe it’s just the anticipation, I don’t know, but I definitely felt something. It could be that this was the last box I needed to account for. All the others, my boxes of books, movies, and knickknacks were checked out and were okay. This…this was the box that mattered the most.The box was in front of me on the bed. I’d carried it into the house myself, not trusting the moving guys to carry it up our new, wicked-cool, wooden staircase. The new house was split between two levels with a landing in the middle that held a beautiful stained glass window. Last thing I needed was for the guy to trip, my box go flying through the air, and taking out that window. So, to eliminate that possibility, I’d carried the box up myself.

The last time I’d seen it was when I handed it to the moving guy. I’d carefully explained to the guy that this was a box to be careful with. Did he heed my warning? Probably not. It’s not like you can really expect anyone to be careful with your stuff except you. At 5’ 6”, I don’t exactly look fierce or anything.

I remembered wrapping everything in it in bubble wrap, taping up the box. I really wanted to carry it to Boston myself, but we were going by plane, and there just wasn’t enough room. I had to hope for a miracle.

So, I did the best I could and I hoped that it wouldn’t come open in transit. I’d even written, “Fragile” and “This Side Up” on the sides with a permanent marker. Now, if they paid attention, which I kind of doubted, nothing should be damaged. If my equipment was broken, I would not be happy. Granted, Dad would probably replace anything that was broken, but it wouldn’t be the same.Memories rushed forward, pushing everything aside. I remembered Florida. I remembered the heat and the bugs. I thought I’d never miss it, but apparently, I did. No more exotic plants to watch out for, no more lizards poking around in the grass of the backyard. It felt dark here, like an expanse of nothingness that I couldn’t cross no matter how hard I tried to walk across the fog. I felt frozen and sedentary.

If the electronics were broken, the new stuff wouldn’t be from Florida, wouldn’t have been in ghost hunts with my friends. We’d called ourselves “The Ghost Chicks.” We’d run around Tallahassee trying to get people let us into their homes so we could investigate possible hauntings; no one ever really let us. Mostly, we’d gotten a lot of pictures of dust. I was really going to miss it.

I stared out the window. It was sunny and looked entirely too chipper. I didn’t feel chipper. I felt scared and uneasy. The unknown was something I dreaded, and this was a huge honking unknown. I opened the box with a pair of scissors and set them down on the bed. It was time. There was no sense in putting it off any longer. I had to do it.

After taking one last deep breath, I popped the cardboard flaps away from the tape and looked inside. Everything had shifted around. I reached inside, pulling out newspaper. At least nothing was missing, now if all of it worked…

Of course the heat might mess with the equipment too. I’m sure I had to be more careful about that in Florida than Boston, but still, it was hot. I wiped the sweat off my brow. The air conditioning wasn’t on high enough. Mom got too cold if the air was on too high. But then, Mom wore sweaters when it was seventy-five degrees. Mom was always cold.Who knew it would be this hot is Boston?

  EXCERPT 2 I grabbed my book bag from the bottom of the staircase and headed off in the direction of where I thought Dad’s home office was. This house was so much bigger than it looked on the outside, but then, the way the yard was, you didn’t see how far back the house stretched into the backyard. The hallways were twisty and seemed to go in all directions. I felt like Alice in Wonderland fighting her way through a maze. I looked for anything that could be a hidden passage, but there was nothing; all the space was accounted for. It figured. But still, the walls felt like they were getting narrower. It was odd.

Finally, I knew I was near the office, but somehow, I’d gone down the wrong branch of the hallway. This hallway was darker than the others and only had one door at the end. My fingers tingled with excitement. Who knew what was on the other side of that door.
I tried the old brass knob. It was unlocked. After opening the door, I stepped inside. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust. Colors of covers burst from the bookcases surrounding me like a multifaceted stone. It seemed to twinkle in the light streaming into the turret window. I’d never seen a library like this. It was the best library ever.
My friends back in Florida always thought I was weird for liking libraries. Yeah, I had an e-reader, but I loved the smell of a book. I liked holding the book as I read. There was some sort of connection I felt with a book if I could touch the paper. Holding a mini-computer just wasn’t the same.This library was the type you’d see in old movies. Large windows that stretched from the ceiling to the floor, built-in bookcases of dark wood that lined the walls; filled with leather bound tomes no one had read in years. I was in Heaven.

I remembered the day we moved in that Dad had said something to the movers about keeping books. I thought he’d been talking about all of the books in his office, but maybe he was talking about these.

I dropped my book bag by the door and wandered into the room. I felt a reverence here. The room smelled faintly of incense and old books. It was perfect. I set my muffin down on a small table that held only a lamp and ventured further where I promptly bounced my shin off a low sitting coffee table.
“Jesus Christ!”After hopping around looking like a wounded duck, the pain calmed down and I limped over to the first bookcase. I let my fingers dance on the spines of the book. Some of them were the classics— Dickens, Hawthorne, Poe. Others, however, were in languages I did not know. Some of them were Spanish, which I could read. I‘d have to ask Dad about the others.

I moved from bookcase to bookcase, looking for something that I just had to read right now. It would be silly to enter a library and not find something to read. When as my eyes settled on an old book whose title had been worn off the jacket, I felt a cold chill creep down my spine. I knew it wasn’t cold in the room, hell it wasn’t cold anywhere in the house. I slowly turned towards the window.Standing in front of the window was a guy. I hadn’t heard anyone come in, and I would have. The floor creaked slightly when you walked across it. I looked away and then looked back. He was still there. That was when I noticed that he was just slightly transparent. I could faintly see the cross bars of the window through him.

I wanted to run and get my camera, but I was afraid that by the time I got it and turned back around, he’d be gone. Who was he?

“Hello,” I said.He turned his head toward me. That was when I noticed he was dressed in clothes like the ones I’d seen in history books of people from around the turn of the Twentieth Century. He stared at me. His eyes were bright green, almost startling in their clarity. His hair was brown and curled just slightly around his ears.

Simply put, he was beautiful.He continued to stare at me. His eyes had a sadness that made me want to do something, anything to take the pain away. I shook myself. No, it wasn’t a power he was transmitting. There was something about him that struck a chord with me.

I realized I’d been staring at him so long, I hadn’t even blinked, and when I did, he was gone.

“Dammit.”

I knew I hadn’t imagined him. If I had, that was one hell of a dream. I walked across the room, grabbed my muffin from the table and walked to the door of the room. I looked back. There was nothing there. My mystery man remained hidden. I snatched my book bag from the floor and went back upstairs to my room. I would have to start being more careful. At the very least, I should be holding my cell phone so I could snap a quick picture. It was stupid of me to not be prepared. Dumb me had left my backpack on the floor by the door. I at least should have taken the camera out of it.

Now, I knew my house was haunted. But by who, that was the question.

Danielle Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card and Miranda’s Book of Spells used to create Marcus. 
 
Get the Entry form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mo1VgNG8xJmug1ZVxnWW-M-wuBBrh0B8Fz-aB4OG9Pg/viewformOr:
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I am tidying up the Shed of Solicitation after a simple birthday party got a little rowdy when this falls onto the floor face down.
    "What is the name of Neptune's ghost is that?" Gerard questioned as he bent over to pick it up. "Take a look at the cover, genius and you tell me." I responded."Tunnel Black, Blood Red, Light True, Hope Dead. Geez, that's morbid.""Of course, The Underlighters is a horror story.""Looks interesting, what is it about?""Here read and see."   August 30th: the Dust is here! Now available exclusively on Kindle and in print—The Underlighters!
Buy from Michelle Browne’s author page here: http://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Browne/e/B00BGWZRCW
 
The Underlighters 
Nightmares are bleeding into her waking world. Children are going missing. To save them, she must overcome her wreck of a personal life and a closet full of skeletons. She doesn’t know if the horrors in the shadows are real...or if she is going mad. 

 18-year-old Janelle Cohen is an electrician in an underground city. The world above has been swallowed by mind-destroying Dust. Her small life changes forever when a dragon attacks her on the way home from work. 
 Her friends worry that she has the Fever, Dust-induced insanity. As more monsters strike down citizens, they change their minds. A terrifying trip to the surface of the world, the ancient and abandoned Up, deepens the nightmare. With no world left above, she and the other Crows cannot afford to fail… 
 5 stars: “…You will be rewarded with a dive into the depths of imagination that may leave you questioning, breathless and inspired.” –www.TracingTheStars.com

5 stars: “… Engaging, ground breaking prose that is not afraid to test the reader’s boundaries. “—Sara Celi
5 stars: “…A wonderful read that is full of life, nightmares, fear, and dreams.” –Casey Peeler
 Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for an exclusive chance to win a very exclusive prize pack! Three winners will be selected…don’t miss out!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
 
  
Art by Kit Foster, © 2013. used with permission of the artist. http://www.kitfosterdesign.com/
 
*****Thanks for dropping by the nest once again. Don't miss any of the phuquerie. Find Michelle on Twitter, Facebook, and on Tumblr. More interviews and witty commentaries are coming. Keep checking back to see those surprise posts, too. This is your darling SciFiMagpie, over and out!