Claire C. Riley
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Feed the Zombies Author Spotlights!

27/11/2013

4 Comments

 
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So who wants a zombie ebook collection that'll make your friends jealous? How about if i told you it would be less than a $1 a book? Well right now, and for today only, some of the coolest names in horror are having a special ZOMBIE SALE. here's the full line up and the books that they are offering.

First Activation - D. A. Wearmouth
Autumn: The Human Condition - David Moody
Last Bastion of the Living - Rhiannon Frater
The Infection - Craig DiLouie
Domain of the Dead- Iain McKinnon
Downfall and Betrayal - Michael S Gardner
The Forgotten - Jackie Druga
Six Feet From Hell: Crisis - Joseph A. Coley
Game of Straws Origins - SB Knight
Beyond the Barriers - Tim W. Long 
Fish to Die For (666 Fish) - Keith Milstead
The Undead Situation - Eloise J. Knapp
Roms, Bombs & Zoms - Katie Cord (Evil Girlfriend Media)
Epic Apocalypse - Apocalyptic Box Set ($1.99) James Cook, John O'Brien, Joe McKinney,
Armand Rosamilia, Heath Stallcup, Shawn Chesser, and Mark Tufo


So what are you waiting for? Go feed that kindle!
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.co.uk

I was also lucky enough to interview some of these very cool authors, keep reading and see what they had to say, read some excerpts and get a heads up on some great Z' Plans.

Joseph A. Coley Interview

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Getting to know you & your book.

Name, contact and purchase links, shoe size… actually, you can leave off the shoe size, that’s not really important…

Joseph A. Coley, author of the Six Feet From Hell series.  You can hit me up on 
FB  www.facebook.com/joseph.a.coley
Twitter: @JosephAColey
Blog: www.sixfeetfromhell.blogspot.com 

I am not a hard person to get hold of. Shoe size is 11 ;)  
    Tell us the name of the book you have in the Feed the Zombies event and a little bit about it.

My offering to the event is Six Feet From Hell: Crisis, the fourth book in the series, and the newest entry.  It was released on September 1st of this year.  It is the beginning of a second set of three books in the 6FFH series.

Tell us something unusual about it.

It is set nine years after the end of the third book, and is the first one to be professionally edited by Monique Happy Editorial Services.

Who’s your favourite character? And do you have a worst?

My favourite character has got to be my series’ chief villain, Lieutenant Andrew Wyatt.  He is based off of Michael Biehn’s Navy SEAL character in The Abyss.  I really don’t have a least favourite one, they all have their good points, and if they don’t, then I just kill ‘em off…  

  What work do you have coming up in the future?

I have the fifth book in the Six Feet From Hell series coming up after the first of the year.  The title of it will be Six Feet From Hell: Unity.  I also have a serial novel available for free on Smashwords and Amazon titled R.I.P. Van Winkle that is an undead retelling of the Washington Irving classic…with a few surprises thrown in as well.

Zombies, books & other things.

What are some zombie books that you would recommend to others and why?

I absolutely love The Remaining series by D.J. Molles.  I try to read the first book in a series, but I have such a backlogged “to be read” list that I have a hard time getting to them.  I recently finished The Retreat #1 – Pandemic by Craig DiLouie, Joe McKinney, and Stephen Knight.  It isn’t straightforward zombie, but is a very good post-apocalyptic series.

Do you have a Z’ Plan in place? You know if the apocalypse started a plan on what you are going to do and where you will hide out, and if so will you share it with us?

For fans of the series and anyone who has read Six Feet From Hell: Response, all I have to say is “blueberry pancakes” – I can’t go into details…I’ve already said too much…

What makes you want to write about zombies?


Zombie fiction – in any form – is one of the best forms of escapist fiction out there.  It draws you in with the premise of “what if?” and takes the average person and puts them in a situation of survive and adapt, or die.  I think that many people are intrigued with what would happen if their bills, problems, and worries of everyday life were taken away and replaced with the simplicity of a survivalist mentality.  Survival instinct is one of those things that you either have or you don’t, and there aren’t many that have it.

How do you like your zombies?

Slow and shambling
or
Fast and clever?


Both. Depends on the background of the story. I lean towards slow and shambling, though.

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Michael S. Gardner Interview

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Getting to know you & your book.

Name, contact and purchase links, shoe size… actually, you can leave off the shoe size, that’s not really important…


Michael S. Gardner

outbreakad@gmail.com

http://www.amazon.com/Betrayal-Novella-Michael-S-Gardner-ebook/dp/B00C0BVS1C/ref=la_B00C0C28MO_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385512203&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/Downfall-Michael-S-Gardner-ebook/dp/B00CS94UL6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1385512278

Tell us the name of the book you have in the Feed the Zombies event and a little bit about it.

Downfall: Downfall is a tale about one man’s struggle to find out who he is in a apocalyptic landscape. With the help of friends, Mathew Ryland forges through the wastes of what once was and battles the infected and demented to secure a foreseeable future.

Betrayal: Betrayal is a novella set in a world where an infection has destroyed nearly all mankind. The undead roam the lands, and one colony sends out the last of their marines to forage supplies before the onset of winter. When all goes awry, the survivors are forced to entrust their future with a cocky pilot who is more selfish than he lets on. But in the city, there is more than supplies and undead waiting for them. Much more.

Tell us something unusual about it.

Downfall is a novel where the infected mutate and learn to hunt the living, providing, in some cases, to be fierce predators.

Betrayal is a story in which science plays a fantastic role of changing the way the world once was.

Who’s your favourite character? And do you have a worst?

Downfall: My favourite character is also the worst character, a man by the name of Randy Clyde. He is all that is wrong with the world and enables certain characters to grow into themselves.

Betrayal: My favourite character, again, is also the worst. Trevor Spencer is a cocky son of a bitch who will stop at nothing to ensure his success. Characters like this always make it fun for the other survivors.

What work do you have coming up in the future?


Downfall’s sequel, Aftermath, and Betrayal’s unnamed sequel.

Zombies, books & other things.

What are some zombie books that you would recommend to others and why?

I would highly recommend Z.A. Recht’s Morning Star Saga and David Dunwoody’s Empire series. Both, in my opinion, are game-changers and should be on every fan of the genre’s shelves.

Do you have a Z’ Plan in place? You know if the apocalypse started a plan on what you are going to do and where you will hide out, and if so will you share it with us?

My plan is simply to rely on myself and what I’ve accumulated over the years. I’m a very friendly person, but in a real-time zombie apocalypse, it might just be best that you stay away. *grins*

What makes you want to write about zombies?

I grew up on zombies—before they had their time in the limelight—so it was only natural for me to write about them when I took up the craft. They, however, are just like vampires and werewolves and so on when it comes to writing: they put ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. For me, it’s not the zombies; it’s the characters. I prefer character-driven stories, so my preference of zombies is only because I am such a fan of their “villainy.”

How do you like your zombies?

Slow and shambling
 or
 Fast and clever


Slow and shambling. Also, eating the person behind me, so long as they’re not a friend or loved one. ;)


Excerpts For Betrayal & Downfall

Excerpt for Betrayal:

Two years after the infection wiped out nearly all of mankind, the walking dead rule the lands.

One small patch of humanity endures in a small, fortified farm on the outskirts of Stryker City. Constantly surrounded by the hungering dead, the survivors are at the mercy of the Colony's remaining marines to fly out and bring back foodstuffs, meds, and other necessities to make day by day living manageable.

And the last of the marines have just perished...


Excerpt for Downfall:

Heroes aren’t born; they’re molded from the surroundings in which they live. Dejected from the loss of his girlfriend, Mathew Ryland finds himself leading a motley crew of survivors in a world where the dead stalk and consume the living. Having taken the life of a man in cold blood, Mathew now searches for who he is and who he once was, risking his life and the lives of those close to him in order to secure the foreseeable future. Mathew, along with his best friend, Cole, forage the lands, leaving behind those loved and those known only for days. Through their journeys, they learn that oftentimes enduring means to forego that which has been instilled in us from the time we were children. Action-packed and fast-paced, Downfall is the first installment of a three part series.

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Keith Milstead Interview

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Getting to know you & your book.

Name, contact and purchase links, shoe size… actually, you can leave off the shoe size, that’s not really important…


My name is Keith Milstead. I was born and raised in the great State of Texas. Currently I am a displaced Texan since my wife Rhonda of 16 years asked that we move to Colorado. We bought a home in the mountains and now live with the wildlife and our rescue dachshund Baxter. If I could move the weather from Colorado down to Texas, it would be awesome but then it wouldn’t be Texas then, would it? Size 12 shoes btw.

e-mail - univofnoco@yahoo.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Psychman1957

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Keith.Milstead.Author

Publisher website - http://www.jellingtonashton.com/keith-milstead.html

Purchase link - http://www.amazon.com/Fish-Die-For-666-ebook/dp/B00FGL8A5K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380348169&sr=8-1&keywords=Keith+Milstead

Tell us the name of the book you have in the Feed the Zombies event and a little bit about it.

My book is called FISH TO DIE FOR and basically it is the story of a television fishing show that is losing viewers and ratings. In a last gasp effort, the main character, James Poraque (which incidentally is an electric eel that is known as THE ONE WHO PUTS YOU TO SLEEP!)) heads to the Middle East and risks his life and the life of his crew to catch the rarely seen and extremely dangerous “Zombie fish” and “Cannibal fish”. Together with these predators and located between the Afghanistan /Pakistan borders, will James catch this living creature of the dead or become bait food for the fish? That is the tale I have spun!!

Tell us something unusual about it.

Interestingly, the live version of this fish, the Wallago Attu is an actual fish, catfish actually that can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds. They have been known to eat anything that fits in their mouths, even small animals, babies and young children. The people of Afghanistan and Pakistan actually fish for these creatures that can easily feed an entire village.

Who’s your favourite character? And do you have a worst?

My favourite character is Cat Scratch. He is never given a name other than that because all he listens to is Ted Nugent music. He is a wild man and a multi-talented ex-military sharp-shooter. Who could be a better person to have than a guy with a gun when you are between Taliban and Al Qaeda troops, fishing for a killer fish!

What work do you have coming up in the future?

I am working on a novel set in East Texas called BAPTISM about a visitor to the down that starts making the main character Jeremy Steelwagon and the town citizens a bit nervous about their mortality.  Will Jeremy overcome the psychological and physical abuse by his grandfather? How will the stigma of abuse affect Jeremy in the long run? How will it affect the people in Uncertain? Time will tell. I am also working on a novelette called HOLE IN THE HEAD, a story about goldfish diseases that cross the human / fish species barrier and become infectious. I am also working on another novelette called ENTOMOPHOBIA which is the term for fear of insects. I should have HOLE IN THE HEAD done very soon, BAPTISM by January and ENTOMOPHOBIA soon after that.

Zombies, books & other things.

What are some zombie books that you would recommend to others and why?


The DEAD CITY series by Joe McKinney has some of the finest writing about the living dead I have read in a long time. Jonathan Mayberry continues to show he is an established writer of the genre. I have been given the opportunity to read a lot of new writers such as THE HARVESTING by Melanie Karsak, which has left me drooling for the next instalment because she has written a truly original plot in the genre. Ray Wallace has written a couple of  One Way Out books where you make certain moves throughout the book that can lead to your demise or find the one way out. The one I have read most recently was ESCAPE FROM ZOMBIE ISLAND. Thom Brannon has written a fantastic story of apocalyptic event where certain people develop certain powers to fight the Dark Lords called LORDS OF NIGHT. There are

Do you have a Z’ Plan in place? You know if the apocalypse started a plan on what you are going to do and where you will hide out, and if so will you share it with us?

Well, I live in Colorado so I am near the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) in Cheyenne Mountain which is the most protected place in the world and supports the NORAD missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control and provided warning of ballistic missile or air attacks against North America. So I would run by Mickey D’s and grab a few crates of McRibs; a truck load of Diet Cokes; download all the Kindle e-books from all the authors I love and head to the hole in the mountain, live with the soldiers down there blowing the crap out of the zombies. Oh yeah, I’d also take my wife.


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What makes you want to write about zombies? 

I actually hadn’t intended FISH TO DIE FOR to be a zombie story, it just sort of fell in that category. I had intended the creature to be a by-product of nuclear weapons and just the DNA it fed on. Then, I guess since zombies are the genre of the present, I was led into the tale by my love of all things zombie!!

How do you like your zombies? 

Slow and shambling
or
Fast and clever


I like the mixture of the two; that adds an amount of suspense for when you encounter them. You don’t know whether they are fast or slow so you’re not sure if you can just wander away or if you have to run away at top speed. Either way, I am a fan of the saying “I don’t have to run faster than them, I just have to run faster than  you!!

Fish To Die For Excerpt & Cover

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Excerpt from FISH TO DIE FOR –

As we travel to Jalalabad, we can see the Kabul River running along the side of the highway. We stop and speak to a man who has set up a lean to with corrugated metal, shaking reams of fish he had pulled out of the river. Just out of courtesy, we buy a few of his fish and ask him about this legendary fish, the Cadaver fish. He told us he has never heard about this fish so we move on. We stop as we approach Jalalabad and notice that traffic was gridlocked. I asked a local riding a bike what was causing such a snarl. He told me in Pashtu, the local language, that it has been like this since the Taliban lost control. As we were leaving, he yelled out “At least with the Taliban, the trains ran on time.” Now, where had I heard that before?



So what have we learnt today about these amazing writers...apart from the fact that they all have exceptionallly large feet?
Well, Keith seems to have a bad-ass survival plan worked out and there should be room in his vehicle for us since he most likely forgot his wife, stay away from Michael though because he might just push you in front of the next shambling zombie to make his getaway, and Joseph may or may not have some blurberry pancakes to share with us, but he won't tell me so I can't be a 100% certain on that...
...Oh yeah, and all their books are priced ridiculously low for today only, so go get your zombie fix now before it's too late!

As always...

Happy reading!

Claire
4 Comments

Alison Williams & The Black Hours Spotlight

20/11/2013

4 Comments

 
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I'd like to introduce to you all Alison Williams, the lovely and newly published author of The Black Hours.

She's a great and fascinating writer, who writes dark historical fiction. It's not something that I normally read myself, but having met Alison previously on another writing site I decided to give it a go. You know my motto is to try everything! Well, I'm glad that I did, because I'm loving it. She writes with an eloquence that you don't normally see, and the book itself is both gripping and fascinating.
Inthis post you'll find an excerpt and a giveaway, so make sure to enter and get yourself a copy of this great book and support  this lovely indie writer!

I'll let Alison tell you more...

I have been writing ever since I can remember – scribbling down and (badly) illustrating stories in exercise books whenever I wasn’t actually reading (which was most of the time when I was awake). After getting married and having two children, I worked in education until deciding to bite the bullet and do what I have always wanted to do which is to write full-time – it only took me until my forties! I now work as a freelance writer with articles published on line and in magazines. From 2011-2012 I studied for a Masters in Creative Writing with the University of Glasgow. As part of my studies I wrote my first novel ‘The Black Hours’ – available now on Amazon.

History fascinates me – but not so much the kings and queens, the emperors, the military heroes or the great leaders. More the ordinary people whose lives were touched by the decisions, the beliefs and the whims of those who had power over them and who now fill our history books.  When I was about ten years old I went with my family to visit Winchester Cathedral.  As we wandered through this magnificent building with its arches, its pillars, its carvings and beautiful windows, my mother was looking less than impressed. Wasn’t she inspired? Awed? No, not at all – ‘All I can think of’ she said ‘is the poor buggers who had to build it.’ And that remark has stayed with me since. What was it like to be one of those ‘poor buggers’ toiling to create the soaring gothic arches of Winchester cathedral? Or a 17th century mother living in London, scared to death as the plague took hold? How did it feel to a woman in Berwick-Upon-Tweed in 1296 watching the English troops storming through the town? And what about all of those accused, tortured and horribly murdered in the witch trials that swept through Europe? How did it feel to be one of those women, terrified and desperate? It is this that fascinates me – how it was for the ordinary people, caught up in events they couldn’t control. It is their stories that I want to tell.

Links:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Black-Hours-Alison-Williams/dp/1492801402/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383328662&sr=8-1&keywords=the+black+hours

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Black-Hours-Alison-Williams-ebook/dp/B00G505UUO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1383328662&sr=8-1


The Black Hours Blurb

‘Look upon this wretch, all of you!  Look upon her and thank God for his love and his mercy.  Thank God that he has sent me to rid the world of such filth as this.’

1647 and England is in the grip of civil war. In the ensuing chaos, fear and suspicion are rife and anyone on the fringes of society can find themselves under suspicion. Matthew Hopkins, self -styled Witchfinder General, scours the countryside, seeking out those he believes to be in league with the Devil. In the small village of Coggeshall, 17–year-old Alice Pendle finds herself at the centre of gossip and speculation. Will she survive when the Witchfinder himself is summoned?

A tale of persecution, superstition, religious fundamentalism, hate and love, ‘The Black Hours’ mixes fact with fiction in a gripping fast-paced drama that follows the story of Alice as she is thrown into a world of fear and confusion, and of Matthew, a man driven by his beliefs to commit dreadful acts in the name of religion.

Alison Williams Interview

Name:      

Alison Williams

Website:         

alisonwilliamswriting.wordpress.com

Link to your Amazon page and or any other place that your books can be purchased:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Black-Hours-ebook/dp/B00G505UUO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1383080839&sr=8-2&keywords=the+black+hours

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Black-Hours-Alison-Williams/dp/1492801402/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1383080839&sr=8-2

Where did you grow up?

Born in Bromley, Kent, then moved to Basingstoke, Hampshire at the age of seven.

What made you start writing?

I've always loved reading and have written 'books' ever since I was little. I trained as a journalist but I always wanted to be a novelist. When I hit forty I decided it was really time I did something about it and began to draft the first ideas behind 'The Black Hours'. It was really difficult juggling work, looking after two children and writing and I knew I needed to have some sort of structure to force me to spend a reasonable amount of time on the writing. So I decided to study for a Masters in Creative Writing. This really helped as it gave me deadlines that I needed to stick to and also provided me with some wonderful readers and editors who still read through my work.

Is it something that you have always wanted to do?

Definitely. If you had asked me at the age of ten what I wanted to be I would have said a novelist. And if you'd asked me at twenty and thirty!

What is your favourite genre to read, and do you have any favourite books or authors you would like to recommend?

I have a real interest in historical fiction (obviously) particularly Hilary Mantel. I think 'Wolf Hall' is fabulous but I actually prefer the somewhat lesser known 'A Place of Greater Safety' about the French Revolution. Outside of historical fiction, I think Alice Walker is wonderful. Elizabeth Kostova writes beautifully - 'The Swan Thieves' is brilliant.

Do you ever base your characters on anyone that you know, or are they solely from your imagination?

I really enjoy taking a period or person from history and looking at the story from a more obscure angle. So my characters are usually based on real people but the novels as a whole will also be from the point of view of those affected by that characters actions. So in 'The Black Hours' I was intrigued by Matthew Hopkins, the real Witchfinder General, but I also wanted to tell the story of how it must have been to be one of his victims. I think we sometimes forget that these events really happened, that people really suffered and reduce them to a number or to a list of names.

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ABOUT YOUR BOOK
Tell us about your latest book. The story/plot.

'The Black Hours' takes place in 1647 in the small village of Coggeshall, where seventeen-year-old Alice Pendle finds herself at the centre of gossip and speculation. Alice and her grandmother are cunning women - they use traditional cures and herbal remedies to help others, particularly women during labour. Matthew Hopkins, who actually existed, was responsible for the deaths of more than 200 women in a two-year period, a lot of whom were persecuted for being different or for having this sort of knowledge. 'The Black Hours' tells the story of what happens when Hopkins is summoned to Coggeshall.

What gave you the idea?

I've always been interested in the ordinary people behind the well-known stories in history. I think that the women tortured and murdered through religious intolerance, ignorance and superstition through the ages (and now) is a terrible tragedy that is not often addressed in fiction, or indeed in history.  We tend to forget that these were real people, with families, children, hopes, dreams and lives. Whenever I've read about history I've imagined myself in the shoes of those I've read about, and something about the story of these persecuted women really struck a chord. 


What genre is it?       

Dark historical fiction

 Who is your favourite character? And why.

I feel very close to Alice. Although she is the hero of the story in some ways, I also wanted her to be human and to feel how someone would have felt in her situations in. I think that all too often we expect our protagonists to be feisty and courageous, but I wanted Alice to behave and react in the way that a normal, ordinary young girl would in these circumstances. I also love Jennet - flawed though she is. She was so interesting to write.

And worst?

Matthew Hopkins! Although he has some serious competition in the form of Tom Everard!

What are your hopes for it?

I think that in the current climate it is so difficult for any new aspiring writers to break through. I hope that 'The Black Hours' is just the beginning of my writing journey.

What’s the project that you’re going to be working on next?

My next novel is provisionally titled 'Remember, Remember'. It tells the story of the infamous Gunpowder Plot from a rather mysterious point of view. There are rumours and speculation that Guy Fawkes was married but very little evidence to back this up. The novel is based on the premise that he did have a wife, and I find it fascinating to imagine what it would have been like for her, witnessing the persecution of her fellow Catholics and the fear she must have felt at her husband's involvement in such a dangerous plot. It is in the very early stages of research at the moment but I'm enjoying reading up about this period in history.

What’s the best piece of advice that you have been given in regards to your writing, and by whom?

Read your writing out loud. I honestly can't remember who told me to do this, but it works. This helps with so many things - typos, pace, dialogue, flow. I'm lucky that I work from home and the only one who thinks I'm mad when I do this is the dog! 

Now we get an excerpt from The Black Hours!

The Black Hours Excerpt



Chapter 1

Alice pulled her cloak tightly around her as she pushed her way through the crowds. The gruesome shadow of the gallows loomed ahead, five rope nooses creaking in the bitter wind that whipped through Halstead’s bustling square. She wanted only to escape these people who knocked against her, surrounding her with their noise and smells. It had been a hard two days walk from Coggeshall in the biting cold and she was looking forward to the warmth and refreshment she would no doubt receive in Hannah’s home.

Around her vendors called their wares, children laughed or cried in excitement; women giggled and gossiped with each other, their breath cloudy in the freezing air, pausing now and then to slap their unruly offspring. Men told raucous jokes and drank toasts of warm ale, their voices rising above the howl of the wind.

‘It’ll be a good one today.’

‘That it will. Wish I’d got here earlier. Might’ve got a seat inside.’

Alice swallowed, her heart beating faster. This was not an execution then; indeed the accused had not yet stood trial. The nooses swayed as she passed by the gallows. Alice shivered as she imagined the poor souls that would soon dangle from those cruel ropes. She quickened her step, filled with a need to get to the safety and quiet of Hannah’s cottage.

She had not been to Halstead since the previous summer. The months since had been full of worry. Her father, Samuel, had taken ill, gripped by a cough that left him gasping for breath, his eyes wide with a fear that turned Alice cold. The harsh, long winter had only made him worse, and Alice and her grandmother Maggie were becoming desperate. Although skilled in the use of herbs and plants, nothing Maggie had given to Samuel had made a difference. Eventually they had been left with no choice but to seek the help of Hannah Woodbury, an old friend of her grandmother’s. Maggie had known the wise woman all her life, and had a high regard for her ability to cure ailments when all other remedies had failed. However, the two women had not been in contact for the past year. Alice had thought it was because of an argument, but as Maggie had packed her a basket of food to take on her journey, her eyes had been fearful.

‘Take care when you get to Halstead, Alice. Mind you speak to no-one. The fewer people that know you seek Hannah, the better.’

Alice had looked at her grandmother questioningly. Maggie had hesitated, then pursed her lips.

‘These are difficult times, Alice. There is so much suspicion.’

A series of wracking coughs from the bundle of blankets in the corner of the cottage had sent Maggie rushing to Samuel’s side. Despite her fear, Alice had smiled at her grandmother. She had to do something to help her father.

‘I will be fine, Grandmother. Do not worry. Besides, if Hannah knows how to help Father, then I have no choice.’

Now, as she finally made her way out of the crowds, Alice felt that fear again. She took a small, overgrown path that was sheltered from the icy wind by a row of scrabbling crab apple trees. The ground was slippery underfoot, the mud frozen around clusters of sharp stones that Alice could feel through the thin soles of her boots. The bare branches of dogwood and hawthorn snagged in her skirts, catching on her cloak as she left the noise of the square further behind. Hannah liked to keep a distance from others, choosing to live in a tiny cottage on the edge of some scrubland on the very outskirts of the town. Alice could understand why. More than once the old woman had been blamed for the bad luck, bad weather and disease that periodically caused death and destruction among the townsfolk. But Alice was sure that whenever those same people needed something, some curative for an affliction, a draught of herbs to see off an infection, or a potion to restore or relieve, they would turn to Hannah, conveniently forgetting the names they had whispered as she had passed them in the street, or the doors they had slammed in her face when times were hard and she was in need herself. And Alice was sure that Maggie had suffered the same way, though she tried to hide it, knew that it worried her as she watched Alice grow and learn about the powers of the plants that grew around them.

It was silent as she walked on, the cold having driven any creatures to ground. All Alice could hear was her own footsteps as her boots struck the solid earth and the relentless whistle of the wind. The path became more and more overgrown, and she was forced to push her way through the branches, the sleeve of her cloak wrapped over her hand to protect her from the thorns. It was as if no-one had passed this way for weeks. Through the silence came the distant sound of knocking. Alice paused for a moment, the cold catching at her throat, and listened carefully. There was definitely some sort of rhythmic thumping ahead of her. Puzzled, she pushed on, the noise becoming louder with each step. At last the branches grew thinner and she eventually stepped free; Hannah’s cottage standing alone in front of her.

It looked more run down than she remembered; the thatch was patchy in places, ivy straggled thin woody stems across the grimy walls and the door swung haphazardly on its hinges. This explained the knocking then, the door thumping back and forth in the wind. It was not like Hannah to leave her home open like this, vulnerable not only to the cold winds. No smoke billowed from the chimney either. Surely Hannah was at home? After all, she would not be in the town; she was not one to attend such horrible gatherings. Apprehension gripped Alice – no smoke meant no fire in the grate; perhaps Hannah was ill?

Cautiously she approached the cottage, her breathing heavy, fear combined with the cold clutching at her chest with each intake. The door continued to bang. As she drew nearer, Alice saw that only one hinge held the heavy door to the frame; the other was twisted, hanging from a single rusty nail. A boot-sized dent had caused the lower half of the door to buckle, the wood broken and splintering at the edges. Tentatively, Alice pushed against the upper half and the door flew inwards, into the darkness beyond. For a second Alice was taken aback by the stench. The air was musty despite the cold and was under laid by a fetidness that enveloped her, a closeness that made it even harder to breathe. It was as if a brimming pot had been left to stand for days. But Hannah was clean, scrupulous even, despite her poverty. Perhaps she was ill then, or worse.

‘Hannah, Hannah, are you there?’

Alice’s voice sounded too loud in the silence. There was no reply, only the howl of the wind in her ears.

‘Hannah, it’s Alice. Alice Pendle.’

Still silence. Grasping her cloak tighter, Alice stepped over the threshold. It was dark inside the cottage, no candle was lit, and the odour was stronger. Wrinkling her nose, Alice waited for her eyes to adjust. The door slammed behind her and then continued its banging, the hinge creaking in time. She turned and wedged her basket in the gap, relishing the quiet for a moment. Once used to the dimness, Alice could see that the room was in turmoil. Furniture was overturned and smashed. Jars lay broken on the floor. A few scraps of what looked like Hannah’s clothing were piled on the hearth, charred and singed. Someone had tried to start a fire with them – but who would do such a thing? Alice picked up a handful of the blackened remains, shaking her head in confusion, suddenly very afraid. Something dreadful had happened here.

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As always...

Happy reading!

Claire ♥
4 Comments

A.Rosa Spotlight

15/11/2013

1 Comment

 
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I'm so excited to introduce to you all, the gorgeous and very talented Alex Rosa.
I met this sassy chick last year on authonomy, where we read and critiqued each others work, and not only did I love her book, but I loved her. She's one of those people that just bring a smile to your face. I can promise you that her book does that too.

This is her first book, and I know that she's as nervous as hell, so let's bring a smiel to her face. Go buy this awesome book, give her a like and say hello, tweet her a good luck, and let's spread some author love please!

She's giiven us some great teasers to read through and give you a taste of her book, and honestly, she has THE coolest swag that I've seen, so if you buy her book and leave her a review, go ask her for some! It's awesome!

Let's get to know her a little more.

A. Rosa lives in San Diego, California. When she isn’t scouring city parks or cafe’s to write she is more than likely trying to convince her friends to join her on her next adventure. A sufferer of wanderlust, she is always looking for a new mountain to climb, a canyon to hike, or a plane to board. Her resume consists of coroner, to working at a zoo, and most recently as an executive assistant, but finds her home amongst words, whether it be in books, or in film. Her obsessions are on the brink of bizarre, but that’s just the way she likes it.

Author Links:

www.authorarosa.com
https://www.facebook.com/author.arosa
https://twitter.com/_pink_dandelion
https://www.goodreads.com/pink_dandelion

Purchase Links:

eBooks:

http://bit.ly/emotionallycompromisedEBUSA
http://bit.ly/emotionallycompromisedEBUK

Paperback:

http://bit.ly/emotionallycompromisedPBUSA
http://bit.ly/emotionallycompromisedPBUK


Emotionally Compromised Synopsis


"A smile will get you far, but a smile and a gun will get you farther" -Al Capone.

Federal Agent Alex Turner deals better with guns than boyfriends, and prefers it that way. Her emotional range is bleak, but her aim is damn near perfect.

Thinking saving the world is a far easier task than dating, Agent Turner springs at the opportunity to prevent young scientist Marcus Gibbs from selling his biological weapon to the highest bidder. With her goal in sight, and Marcus eating out of the palm of her hand, an obstacle she doesn't see coming interferes. Meet Jeremy Hunt -- the distractingly handsome CEO of Sunscape Biotechnologies, and Marcus's boss and best friend.

A man who is accustomed to getting what he wants, Jeremy's never been one to take no for an answer, which has Agent Turner realizing for the first time that her wit might get her farther than her weapon. With no protocol or training to reference when it comes to matters of the heart, she worries that this might be her hardest assignment yet.

Emotionally Compromised Trailer


EMOTIONALLY COMPROMISED TEASER


TEASER #1


The car pulls away, and I am alone with Jeremy, who is now standing right next to me.

I stare into the distance, not wanting to make eye contact even though I know he's staring at me. I bob back and forth on my heels, waiting for a cab, wishing for this moment to be over. He scoffs next to me, and I still don't budge.

As if he can't take it, he says, "Really?"

The statement almost offends me. I turn to look at him, and it is a blatant mistake. He stands with hands in his pockets in a nonchalant sort of pose. My mouth starts watering. Focus.

"Excuse me?" I ask.

"You're kidding right now, right? That stunt you just pulled with Marcus. Is this all because I grabbed your ass?" He is coming dangerously close to being crude, and I decide to get right to the point.

"Is this because I offered him my number, and not you?"

His mouth forms a hard line, and he is all tough CEO, but I am no mouse and I stare right back. After a moment, he is trying to hold back his smile.

"Maybe it is." He pouts.

When Jeremy pouts, it's a remarkable sight. I gulp over my last thought.

"Well, I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not," I say.

As if dumbfounded, he continues, "Why Marcus? Why him? He's been a drunk slob all night!"

Is he really putting down his friend? I wonder if talking about his friends this way is a habit.

I turn to look away because I can't think of a logical response. He knows I am attracted to him, and I will not let him take advantage of that fact. I can tell he thinks it's funny that I am giving him the silent treatment, and it annoys me. He riles me up!

He leans in somewhat close, and in a mocking tone, he says, "Is it these blue eyes? Are they too much for you?"

Before I can stop it, a laugh erupts from my mouth, and I look at him and roll my eyes.

"Mr. Hunt, you are definitely not used to not getting what you want, and it almost pleases me that I can affect you so."

He bites his lip, nodding his head as he looks away.

"You're toying with me."

Maybe I am.



TEASER #2


I try the distraction technique. I press my lips against his, and though he is shocked by the move, he accepts them willingly. His lips devour mine in need.

He slams my body hard into the wall, and pins me with his hips. His hands drag down my torso, gripping my behind roughly, and his fingers dig into my skin.

This is Jeremy Hunt. Commanding and demanding. Another favorite. With this version, I don't need to think.

He pulls away from me, out of breath. "I need to know we are OK." I realize this is our way of doing things. Sometimes I suck at talking, and this might be my only way of showing him that we are fine.

His mouth covers mine again, and I can't help but whimper. He pulls away once more. "That's better."

The bastard knows that talking like this isn't my thing, and he seems aware of his power over me. I return his heated crystal glare with a wry look. Obviously, he's aware I let him control me. "Fine. Let's not talk, then."

He scoops me up, bridal style. "Jeremy, what are you doing?" I yelp in surprise.

"You don't want to talk. Fine! But I will at least make this more comfortable for both of us." He beelines for my bedroom.

"I am no good at talking," I blurt out.

He raises an eyebrow at me, starting up the steps. "Oh really? I think you are good at it when you are scolding me."

Before I can respond with something sarcastic, he throws me onto the bed. "Jeremy!"

"Oh, are you angry at me now?"

His grin is infectious as I watch his Viking form, in only his boxer briefs, crawl over the bed toward me. My previous anger vanishes, and I smile. How does he do that?

Before I can finish my thought, his lips come down on mine hard, he presses his hips into me, and he grabs my hands, pinning them above my head. His tongue dips into my mouth for a brief moment, teasing me, eliciting an involuntary moan to slip from my lips.

He pulls away looking triumphant. "Now that I've got you calmed down, and right where I want you"—his eyes glitter mischievously—"you need to know that I am glad I am everything to you."

My eyes widen, and the previous panic seeps back into my core. My arms jolt, trying to get free of his grasp, but his grip is firm. I try to speak, but he cuts me off with an authoritative voice. "I am not finished yet." He places a chaste kiss on my lips to soften the conversation. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, and I have to admit that would frustrate the hell out of me, but for now I will let it go. I just want to say a few things. Maybe we don't know what everything means to us, but those feelings are mutual. You don't need to be scared, or embarrassed by your emotions. I can tell this is something you don't know how to handle, and in a way, it's kind of"—he tilts his head to the side as if pondering it for a moment—"cute."

I furrow my eyebrows at the word cute. Teddy bears are cute, not trained federal agents.

He laughs at my look and kisses the soft skin between my wrinkled brows. "You are so much cuter than you let on, but that is beside the point. You are a lot to handle, you know that?"

My lips twitch playfully, hiding my own secrets.. "Oh, you have no idea."

We both let out a belt of laughter, and things feel back to normal. Whatever normal means to us.



TEASER #3


I try to soften my expression and unclench my fists as I stand before Marcus. The deep-seated hatred I feel for this man is indescribable, but I keep my cool. I don't have a choice.

Marcus's eyes feel heavy as they drag down my body and then back up, bouncing as they catch my eyes. His demeanor is harsher than I remember of the pleading boy I first encountered at the club. Despite his transformation, I feel like the man could show a little, I don't know, remorse? Decency? There is no shame in his salacious expression. I'm tempted to comment on his audacity.

Bravo, sir. You have made me feel incredibly uncomfortable in under thirty seconds.

Although, this might be my angle. I take another drag from my cigarette, smiling but eyeing him suspiciously. He lets the silence hang, and my patience wanes.

Fine, have it your way, Marcus. "I hope you don't mind my intrusion." I pout.

He shrugs, and I worry that he either knows my secrets, or is hiding his own.

I'll take option two, please.

"Glad to have some company, actually. What's your excuse?"

I raise an eyebrow, and I let my lip twitch, pondering his question. He doesn't seem too attached to his date. Thinking about that horrid woman, my eyes dart to the glowing windows. I spot Jeremy's towering, broad frame on the dance floor. My heart skips a beat. He is already dancing with her. He's smiling; she's smiling.

It's all going according to plan, isn't it? I feel my stomach plummet with jealousy. I take a deep breath, feeling the crisp night air burning an icy path where the cigarette smoke once was, trying to regain my focus.

"So, I see even you aren't immune to the Jeremy Hunt effect." Marcus interrupts my reverie. He takes a long drag, not taking his eyes off me.

Marcus is either entirely driven by his drug habit, or he has managed to accrue a substantial amount of confidence between now and our front door encounter almost a week ago. It’s in his eyes. Before he couldn’t even hold my gaze, but now his eyes are determined, teetering on piercing. I want to be impressed, but instead, I see it as another opportunity to work to my advantage.

I peruse the veranda, checking for any familiar faces. There is only one other couple out here canoodling, which means few observers. As my eyes swing back around, Derek makes his entrance onto the balcony through the double doors. Perfect timing, as usual.

Derek's lips don't move, and he doesn't make eye contact, but my earpiece buzzes with his disapproving tone. "Are you really smoking right now?"

The corner of my mouth twitches with a lingering smile. I take a defiant stance and take a long drag, bringing my eyes back to Marcus.

Emotionally Compromised Book Cover & Promotional Artwork 

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As always...

Happy reading!

Claire ♥
1 Comment

The Amy Queau FINALE! Spotlight on Rewired (18+)

14/11/2013

0 Comments

 
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**Happy dance** Wooooo, Amy Queau's third and final book in the phenomenal Progress series is finally live. If you've been reading the series and following Jess and Charlie's journey, then you are probably just as excited as me. If you have been waiting for the final book to go buy the series then she has them all to buy in a bundle, and if you haven't read any of them or heard of her, where the hell have you been all year?!

Amy writes with such realistic passion to all her characters  and riveting and diverse story lines that blur the lines between love, lust and infatuation. These books are a roller-coaster for your emotions, and Rewired is no different to the other two in the series. Get your tissues ready, fill those wine glasses up and take the night off. It's time to find out who she chooses...


Amy's Bio

Born and raised in Minnesota, I spent many years in high school struggling to pass my English classes and focused more on fine arts. In college I studied Graphic Design and worked in that field for about two years before I changed my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Now married, and a mother of two, I spend most of my days juggling temper tantrums, mealtimes, dirty diaper's  a messy house and our ten year-old German Short hair Pointer, Saba Lou. And although sometimes I complain, I secretly enjoy every minute of our chaos.

Social Media Links For Amy

Website: www.amyjq.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17567221-progress
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Progress/340436506070934
Tumblr: http://amyqueau.tumblr.com/

Purchase Links For Amy's Books 
Progress:
US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BNYEA1C
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BNYEA1C

Interrupted:
US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DXH238Y
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DXH238Y

Rewired:
US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GNA2J28
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GNA2J28


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Click On Image To Go To Amy's Amazon Page

Rewired Excerpt 



After slamming the front door, Charlie stood, lightly shaking her keys in her hand. With her frustration at its peak, she seethed, unable to control the twitch from the corner of her mouth.

Silence.

Don’t do it, Charlie. Not tonight. I’m in no mood for a lecture.

“You’re a FUCKING coward!” she shouted.

Shit.

She threw her purse across the room, its contents splashing against the wall and bouncing to the floor. Jesse remained with his hands in his pockets and his body motionless, with the exception of a small eye twitch.

Her tone fierce, she continued, “You fight. You fuck. You run. And you’re gonna fucking drown! Welcome to rock-fucking-bottom, Jess.”

“Oh wake up, Charlie! Take a good fucking look!” he shouted, pointing to his face. “This has always been and will always be rock bottom. It doesn’t get much more desperate than this.”

“Then why don’t you do something about it! Be a man for once in your life, and take responsibility for who you are and who you’ll become. What the hell are you waiting for? You think this is going to get any easier?” she continued screaming, emptying her lungs. She took a deep breath before continuing, “Goddamn it! You’re infuriat—”

Grabbing her arm and jerking her forward, he stopped her just as she was about to crash into his chest. His mouth, now devouring hers, removed the fury, the tension, and the rampage. Their lips were engaged in a fiery entanglement and Jesse began tasting the blood from the cut on his lip again. But it wasn’t enough to stop him.

Nothing would be enough to stop him now.

And Charlie showed no hesitation. Her fingers fumbled with the button on his jeans as Jesse ripped her cotton shirt from her back. Taking a moment to absorb the sensation, he allowed his fingers to glide down the length of her back, knowing that the feel of her smooth skin wouldn’t deceive him. His hands found her breasts, and as the white lace of her bra caught his eye, his intoxication with her flared.

I don’t care that none of this makes sense. I’m not going to stop this to ask her why she’s doing this.

I need her.

He lifted her up by her backside as she spread her legs, locking her ankles around him; he then carried her to the kitchen island. Slamming against it, she arched her back for him to set her down.

He pulled himself out of his jeans and boxers and stripped Charlie of the rest of her clothes. With one swipe of his hand, the roll of paper towels, vase full of daisies, and the perfectly arranged dishes went crashing to the floor behind her. He lay her down gently and spread her legs wider.

“I want to taste you,” he whispered.

His tongue, teasing her most sensitive area, began a devoted dance. He slipped two fingers deep inside of her with his lips whispering a secret, meant only for Charlie. She wailed in sweet desperation.

He let out a guttural groan, a reflex of wanting her to hear his desire for her. Her insides clenched around his fingers and he was unable to control his craving any longer.

Grabbing her calves, he slid her toward him. The countertop at a perfect height, he slipped himself inside, reveling in her immediate constriction. She gasped with her eyelids shut tight. After a few seconds, her entire body relaxed as Jesse ran his finger up the side of her leg.

“Are you ready for this, Charlene?” He stood still, waiting for her reply as she opened her eyes. “This is going to be fierce,” he said with a satisfied grin.

She responded by sliding down the counter another inch and lifting her hips, burying him deeper. His backside clenched and his throat trembled with an exaggerated exhale.

Slam after slam, Jesse crashed into her. The countertop creaked and Charlie couldn’t hold back her yearning rasps. Watching her breasts spring against the underwire of her bra, he put one hand behind her shoulder to keep her from sliding backward.

She put her arms straight out on each side, gripping the ends of the countertop. With her knuckles turning white, she slowly lifted her legs into the air, until her ankles were touching his shoulders. He slung them to one side of his neck and held on with a firm grasp, pounding into her, penetrating deeper than he thought was possible.

“Say it,” he said.

She looked at him briefly, asking a question with her eyes.

“Say you love me.”

Spreading her legs back down to his hips, she grabbed his shoulders and brought him onto the counter with her. Reaching her hands around his back, she slid them down to his ass, pushing him inside of her again. “No,” she whispered and arched her back as an invitation.

He continued slowly and stared at her face, trying to maintain eye contact. And even though she kept her eyes shut, she held onto him with an unyielding grip.

Soft and finite, Charlie was no longer just a fantasy but indeed his reality as he swept down and dominated her lips, tasting the flavor he had missed and craved for so long. And even if she wouldn’t say it, her body was whispering the words back to him again and again.

He tried to think of anything else to prolong it, but her warmth was so satisfying and so exquisitely rousing that he could no longer resist the anticipation with every thrust. And as the sensation built, the familiar feeling of his impending climax enveloped him as he thrashed forward thrice, falling to her chest.


The New Cover For Rewired 

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My Character Interview With Jesse  

CCR:- Today I’m interviewing Jesse from the amazing Progress series. Let’s see what he has to say.

CCR:- So Jesse, I’m just going to dive straight in with my questions. So, we all know that you have feelings for Charlie, but can you tell us in your own words what it actually is that you feel? Do you even know yourself?

Jesse:- "Well now, that was out of the fucking blue. Nice way to start an interview. Next question."

CCR:-(Rolls eyes at him.) You can be a bit of a jerk to her and I’m just wondering if you feel like you are worthy of her?

Jesse:- "You're a feisty one. What's your name again? Claire? You're pretty sexy, you know. Have I told you how much I like redheads?"

CCR:- So that’s a no then? You DON’T think that you’re worthy of her—interesting.

Jesse:- (He clenches his jaw and glares, refusing to answer.)

CCR:- You know that she loves Samuel, yet you’re intentionally trying to ruin her relationship with him. Why? Do you not think that she deserves to be happy?

Jesse:- "Alright, I can see you're not interested." (Rolls eyes again)

"Fine. To answer your question, yes, Charlie deserves to be happy. I didn't force her to get in my car that night. She's responsible for her own happiness, not me. I'm not responsible for anyone but myself. We live alone, we die alone. Everything and everyone else in between are just details. Mindless scramble for the decaying race that is 'human beings.' Are you writing this down? Because this is some good shit."

CCR:- How many women have you slept with?

Jesse:- "What the fuck kind of question is that? You think I keep a diary? Don't know. Don't care."

CCR:- Typical! Moving on… What’s the weirdest sexual experience you've had?

Jesse:- "Ha! Now this, I can answer. Mind if I smoke?"

CCR:- Yes actually, but go right ahead since you will do anyway.

Jesse:- (shrugging.) "Yeah, you're probably right.

So I met this chick back in '09. We were at a concert, she had come with some of her girlfriends, and I was there alone.

"She walks up to me, and I hadn't even noticed her before this, and starts kissing me. Well, I'm a guy, right? So, naturally I go with it. Here I was thinking she was gonna take me into the bathroom, or at least somewhere private, but, no. She unzips my jeans, then lifts what little of her skirt there was, and uses the people around us to climb her way on top of me!

"So I'm fucking the hell out of her, listening to this SKA punk band in the background, watching her tits bounce up and down, almost smacking me in the face, all the while we're colliding with people around us. Her arms were flapping around, and she's screaming, 'Oh, god, yes! Yes! Fuck me, Hondo! Fuck me!'

"And all I kept thinking was, 'God, damn. I wish I would have worn a rubber on this one.'"

CCR:- You mean you didn’t? (shudder) Did it not bother you doing that in front of everyone?

Jesse:- (Shrugs again.)

CCR:- What’s your favourite sexual fantasy, and does it involve Charlie?

Jesse:- "I don't have any more fantasies. They've all been used. And what I have with Charlie is reality, and also none of your business."

CCR:- Feisty! (smiles.) Why do you use and abuse women? Don’t you want to be happy?

Jesse:- "If they're happy being used and abused, then I'm happy to oblige. There's a reason I can't get enough of Charlie...we both thrive on the arguments’, the tension, and the abuse. It's what we both know; there's comfort in consist-- wait, don't write that down. Erase it. Never mind. Next question."

CCR:- (writes it all down frantically!)

Let’s get to know you a little bit better

CCR:- What’s your favourite band?

Jesse:- "Of all time? Hmmm, I'd have to say my favorite band of all time is Less Than Jake. But, my favorite album of all time is Progress, by RX Bandits."

CCR:- Good choices (smiles and blushes)Favourite food? And worst?

Jesse:- "Seriously? That's the question you're going to ask me? That's going give you the epiphany you're looking for when it comes to the inner workings of my mind? Fucking women." He shakes his head.

"Steak, tomatoes, respectively.

"Next."

CCR:- We have a lot in common, that’s another good choice. I cook a mean steak. Not that I’m coming on to you or anything,

Jesse:- "Right,"

CCR:- I was just saying!

Jesse:- "Sure, Claire, whatever you say. Why don't you come over here?"

CCR:- Oh hell, forget it…Next question! The last time that you said you were sorry and actually meant it?

Jesse:- "Honestly? I can't remember, but probably never."

CCR: And there’s the jerk again. (sighs) What kind of future do you see for you and Charlie?

Jesse:- "Do you think I'm an idiot? I see what you're trying to do here. You're trying to get me to admit some deep, profound affection for Charlie. You want me to sit here and pour my heart out so that you have something for your pathetic little interview. And you know what, Claire? I'm not going to do it. Because even if I had feelings for her, I sure as shit wouldn't tell you about them. You're a female, therefore your mind isn't capable of wrapping around this one. So, unless you want to take that sweet ass of yours and park it on my lap, there's nothing more I can tell you that you'll understand."

CCR:- (Huffs) Jesus, you could have just said ‘no comment!’ Fine, moving on—again. What were your first thoughts when you saw Charlie?

Jesse:- "Really, Claire? Come here. It's okay, I won't bite. I'm going to speak really slow and use small words so that you're sure to understand, got it? Good.

"The average person has 60,000 thoughts in a day.

"Which means I have approximately 180,612, give or take.

"You want me to recall one random thought I had over two years ago about a girl I didn't know?

"We've been sitting here together for about ten minutes now, and I'm pretty sure you consider yourself an expert on me already. So why don't you just answer the questions yourself, sweetheart."


CCR:- Dick! Okay, I’ll answer it myself. Personally, I think that when you first saw her, you saw her as a victim, someone you could screw with,

Jesse:- "That's enough, Claire,"

CCR:- like a play toy to a cat. But you were shocked when she didn't roll over and play to your game,”

Jesse:-"Shut-up, Claire,"

CCR:- THAT’S why you can’t let her go. She doesn't play by the rules everyone else plays by.

Jesse:- "Fuck you, Claire! You don't know shit."

CCR:- (Raises an eyebrow with a smirk as he lights another cigarette.)

CCR:- How do you feel about Samuel?

Jesse:- "Samuel, who?"

CCR:-(laughs.) Aah, amnesia? Whatever. If you could say anything to Charlie without there being any repercussions’, what would it be?

Jesse:-"Is she gonna see this? Never mind, let's come back to this question."

CCR:- How many tattoos do you have?

Jesse:- "Three."

CCR:- Tell us about them. Every tattoo has a story, what’s your stories?

Jesse:- "The first is this one, on my forearm. It doesn't mean anything anymore."

CCR:- Why not?

Jesse:- (Cocking his head to one side, he then chooses to ignore my previous question) "The second is on my ribcage, here. And I'm pretty sure you already know the story on that one."

CCR:-(Nods) Yep.

Jesse:- "The third is a shooting star, here, under my zipper. Would you like to come over here and find out why? Nah, it's fine, it's probably too long of a story for you, anyway."

CCR:- (Laughs) Shooting star? That’s not what I heard, but moving on…What’s your dream job?

Jesse:- "I've thought about this question before. It's true, I have. I've decided I want to be the Burger King. You know, that creepy fucker that surprises you when you wake up, you roll over and find a man with jewels wrapped around his over-sized head. He walks around the park, down the side walk, scaring the shit out of little kids. Yeah, I want to be him."

CCR:- (Laughs even louder and gets a drink of water) THAT is your dream job? Ha ha, of course it is.

Thanks for answering my questions, Jesse. I know everyone really wanted to get to know you a little bit better- especially women. I only have a couple more questions left for you.


CCR:-Your life, though complicated, was much less confusing before you met Charlie. Do you wish that you had never met her?

Jesse:- "Wishing is pointless. What matters is that I have met her. We don't get to choose our fate, it chooses us.

If I could have let her go by now, I would have. But I've come to realize that I don't really have a choice in the matter, unless she chooses otherwise."


CCR:- I’m going to ask you this question again, if you could be honest with us all that would be great, so here it is. If you could say anything to Charlie without there being any repercussions’, what would it be?

Jesse:- "Alright, if you can guarantee me she'll never see this, I'll tell you.

"I'd tell her that she's the best, and the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I'd tell her that she's the reason I've done everything, been everything, and said everything that I have for the past two years. I'd tell her that she's the epitome of all that is good, wholesome and understanding, and I wished more people were like her. I'd thank her for her honesty and loyalty, when she didn't need to be honest or loyal. And lastly, I'd tell her that I'd give her my last breath if it meant saving her life over mine. Because she's worth it. And I'm not."


CCR:- See, Jesse, THAT’s the reason that women like you. That little glimpse into the kind of guy you could be if you weren't such a jerk all the time. However, we both know that you can’t keep that up for very long.

Thanks again,   It’s been enlightening to say the least.

Jesse:- "It was nice to meet you. Oh, and, Claire? Here's my number," (he says with a wink, slapping my ass on the way out the door.)

CCR:- (Blushes,) Erm, thanks, don’t hold your breath.

Thoughts on my interview with Jesse.

Jesse is a complicated man, and yet in some ways, he’s so simple to understand. Sure he’ll play enough mind games with you to leave your brain scrambled, and he’ll kick you out of bed before you’ve even caught your breathe back, and yeah, he’s going to make you feel like shit every time you see him. When it comes down to it though, he’s more honest than anyone that I’ve ever interviewed. He tells it like it is, he says what he wants, regardless of anyone’s feelings, and he doesn’t sugar coat it or be polite, he is what he is. So in a way maybe he isn’t so complicated after all.

Yes he’s a jerk, and yes he’s going to break your heart, there’s no doubt about that, but regardless of that, everyone will give it a go at trying to tame the beast inside him. Everyone always thinks that they can change the man. What women need to understand about Jesse, is there is NO taming him. At least not where most women are concerned. Charlie however, is another matter entirely.

Did I phone him after the interview? No, I’ve seen how he’s chewed up and spat out Charlie, well that and I’m married!

As always...

Happy reading!

Claire ♥
0 Comments

Armand Rosamilia's new release Keyport Cthulhu

10/11/2013

2 Comments

 
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Hurray for great writing!

The amazingly talented horror writer Armand Rosamilia has released his new book
- Keyport Cthulhu.

If you're a horror fan, and haven't read any of his books, I can only suggest you head over and pick something up now. He's seriously one of the most hard working and nicest guys in the business.

Most famous for his gruesomely gory Dying Days series, Armand is a writer of many talents, writing zombie fiction as well as plenty of other varients of the horror genre. He's written over a 100 stories in the last couple of years, and there's bound to be something for everyone.


Keyport Cthulhi Blurb

"The painting forced him to move back with such suddenness, he nearly fell over the side of the old wooden railing. It depicted a grizzly scene, as if your worst nightmare had been splattered on canvas. Despite his mind screaming to look away, he could not avert his eyes" - Ancient

Keyport Cthulhu

Five stories with a Lovecraftian feel to them… set in the New Jersey fishing village of Keyport, where the Esoteric Order of Dagon has been planning for the awakening of the Deep One all these years…

ANCIENT

BARREN

CABAL

DAGON

EVIL


Includes two bonus stories, the steampunk tale "Rats In The Cellars" and "Cthulhunicorn" co-written with Katelynn Rosamilia

Book Cover For Keyport Cthulhu

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As always...

Happy reading!

Claire ♥
2 Comments

C J Roberts Spotlight (18+)

8/11/2013

36 Comments

 
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Today I'm introducing you to, and possibly just reacquainting you with, CJ Roberts, author of the phenomenal Dark Duets series.

She first introduced us to 'Caleb and Kitten' in Captive in the dark, and then again in Seduced in the Dark, and finally Epilogue.

CJ writes the sort of books that you know you shouldn't enjoy, but can't help yourself from. With captivating three dimensional characters and more depth to her storylines than the freaking ocean.

Her books aren't just romance, they're not even just erotica, they're so much more than that. She says herself that she favours writing stories with taboo twists, and well, if you have read this series then you'll know this to be very true of her.
Let's get to know her a little more.


Name:


CJ Roberts

Website: 

www.aboutcjroberts.com

Other contacts/social media sites:

Blog: http://supersexysmut.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCJRoberts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCJRoberts

Link to Amazon page and or any other place that your books can be purchased:

Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/CJ-Roberts/e/B005KK7CUG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Where did you grow up?

North Hollywood, California

When did you start writing?

I began writing at a very early age. I’ve always been a bit of a storyteller. I suppose it helped that I was shy and short on friends. My journals were my escape and my place to dump out all the feelings I didn’t feel I could share with anyone.

What is your favourite genre to read, and do you have any favourite books or authors you would like to recommend?

My favorite genre is M/M Paranormal Romance, followed by M/M Romance. I love hot dudes, I love it even more when they’re kissing each other. ☺ As for inspiration, I used to sit in the bookstore and devour all things Anne Rice. When my mother could afford them, she bought me books. We didn’t have much, but I recognize now how much she must have gone out of her way to give us things we enjoyed. She still does.

What about to write?

I write whatever is in me to write. I’m most known for The Dark Duet, a hetero, contemporary, erotic thriller, but I’ve written short stories that vary in sexual orientation and genre. I’d eventually like to write a paranormal novel.

Do you write full time? If not, what do you do?

I write full time – though my job requires me to spend more time on marketing than actual writing (I’m hoping that will change one day).

Do you ever base your characters on anyone that you know, or are they solely from your imagination?

No one in a writer’s sphere of influence is safe from being used for inspiration. That said, I usually only take an aspect of something/one I find intriguing and build fiction around it. My biggest source of character inspiration is actually me – the blank page is my sounding board for everything I don’t know how to express.

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About The Book
Tell us about your latest book. The story/plot.

Well, my latest book is Epilogue: The Dark Duet and it focuses on Caleb’s relationship with Livvie. It’s a nice accompaniment to Captive in the Dark and Seduced in the Dark, because we get to see them in a more normal setting away from all the blood, murder, and betrayal.

What gave you the idea?

The fans begged for it and I couldn’t resist. I’m obviously the biggest Caleb fan there is. Get inside his head and write a book? Yes, please!

What genre is it?


I would say this is more of a romance/erotica than its predecessors which were more action-packed and suspenseful.

Who is your favourite character?

I adore all things Caleb.

And worst?

I enjoyed them all this time.

What are your hopes for it?

Well, it made the USA Today which was AWESOME. I’m hoping my next book does even better.

What’s the project that you’re working on next?

I’ll be working on my next book featuring Agent Matthew Reed. It should be released next year if I can ever convince myself to buckle down and let the writing consume me. Writing a book (for me) is like having a new born: I can’t sleep, I’m always worried I’m going to ruin it, and it takes over my life. I have to amp myself up for it.

What’s the best piece of advice that you have been given in regards to your writing?

My beta reader said (of Captive in the Dark, original draft), “I liked it so much, I wanted it to be better.” I took that advice to heart and went back to writing for another two years before I published. I accept all constructive criticism.

Covers For Captive In The Dark & Seduced In The Dark

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Livvie & Caleb Character Interview 


1.Livvie, Caleb, lovely to meet you both. Am I okay to call you Livvie and Caleb, or is there something else that you would prefer? There’s so many names for each of you.

*Laughs* Livvie: I think most people would agree that’s how we’re known.

2.You’ve both been on a complete whirlwind the past couple of years. For the readers I’m sure that there are a lot of standout moments, however, if there was one defining moment for each of you, what would it be?

Livvie: Hmm, that’s a difficult one. I think I’d have to go with the moment Caleb and I met up again. I’d spent so much time coming to terms with the past and Caleb’s role in it. My feelings toward him were complicated. *glances toward Caleb with a furrowed brow*

I wasn’t sure I should see him again. I didn’t know what to expect. But then I thought how I would feel if I didn’t go and my mind was made up. The moment I saw him again.... *sighs*

So, yeah...that was pretty defining.

Caleb: Mine is...less romantic. It’s been so long, and I’ve discussed it at length so many times it’s much easier to come out with, but I would have to say I began to question everything when I realized my actions had led Livvie to get hurt. The sight of her bruised and bloody was something I couldn’t stomach.

3.I have to say, Caleb, and I think I speak for nearly everyone when I say this. I hated you when we first met you in Captive in the Dark. A kidnapper, a murderer, a rapist, you weren’t exactly a good guy. Now however my opinion has completely changed. How do YOU feel that you have changed?

Caleb: *Rolls eyes* I don’t know. I guess...I let myself think of others more than I used to. I laugh more, I enjoy things I’d never thought to enjoy before. Am I a different person? You could say that, but I think I’ve changed because there’s no need to be the person I was. I struggle with having thoughts others don’t have. Being ‘a better man’ is a constant choice I make.

4.And Livvie, the same applies to yourself. You were a different person when we first met you—a victim, a child, yet now, you’re a woman and very far from a victim. Does that sound about right?

Livvie: Definitely. Everything I went through...I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. However, I can’t deny that my experiences made me stronger. I guess it would have happened anyway, everyone gets older, has experiences, and learns from them. My experiences were obviously...singular. I grew up faster than most, but I’m here. I am who I am.

5.Livvie, so you’re back in contact with your mother and siblings? How is that for you? I know that you wanted your mother to love and care for you for most of your life, do you feel like you have achieved that yet?

Livvie: If my relationship with Caleb has taught me anything, it’s that everyone is capable of change and desires forgiveness. As a child, I couldn’t put myself in my mother’s shoes. I looked to her for all the answers and she didn’t have any. It took me a long time to realize she did the best she could and loved me the only way she knew how. We don’t always get along. We don’t magically understand each other. But she’s my mother and I love her.

6.I personally believe that everything happens for a reason. That every journey and obstacle that we take in life happens to take us to a certain point. You both had incredibly hard upbringings, yet those pasts made it possible for you to find each other. Do you think you would have found each other regardless? And if not, do you think it was worth the pain you suffered?

Livvie: This is a little tricky. Would I go through it again if I didn’t know how it would turn out: HELL NO. *smiles* I love Caleb, and if I had to go through all that shit again to come to where we are...sure, but not blindly.

Caleb: I’m not sure I believe in destiny, no matter how *pauses to think* fateful mine and Livvie’s union might be. She’s the only person I can see myself with. That’s the only way I can answer.

7.Do you ever worry about your past catching up with either of you? You must have made a lot of enemies in the past Caleb.

Caleb: We’re careful and as I’ve said, the ‘old me’ is still in here *points to his temple*.

Livvie: *Hits Caleb with her shoulder* I try to focus on the present. If something comes our way...we’ll cross that bridge.

8.Do you have any plans for the future Caleb? Livvie is at university, she has a job, but you still seem to be finding your feet. Now that you are settling into this new life with Livvie, can you think of any aspirations that you would like to achieve?

*Livvie laughs hysterically* *Caleb sighs deeply, annoyed* Caleb: I’m not exactly a ‘people person’.

9.Livvie, if there is one thing that you would like for Caleb to understand about you, what would it be?

Livvie: That I don’t need him to protect me ALL the time.

10.Caleb, the same question to you.

Caleb: She needs to understand some things are not negotiable.

Livvie: That’s not fair. I’m safe!

Caleb: You trust everyone!

Livvie: Not everyone is a criminal!

Caleb: But you’re not a good judge of that...are you? *smiles smugly*

Livvie: *smiling* Asshole.

Caleb: *shrugs*

11.Finally, what do you think the future holds for you? Do you plan on starting a family yourselves one day?

*Both stare at each other uncomfortably*

Caleb: I think we’re good here. Livvie?

Livvie: *nods quickly* Yeah...totally good.

Thanks so much for speaking with me today. It’s been amazing. The love that you both share for each other really is the things of books.

I wish you both a long and happy life together.

      Claire

C J Roberts Audio-Book Giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I hope that you enjoyed getting to know CJ and her characters a little more, make sure to enter her giveaway, I can't imagine anything more amazing than actually listening to Captive in the Dark!
As always...

Happy reading!

Claire ♥
36 Comments

Horror author Michael Robertson Spotlight

5/11/2013

2 Comments

 
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Today I want to introduce you to Michael Robertson, the author of Crash. I first met Michael last year when we were both on Authonomy together writing our books and critiquing for eachother. I'll warn you before I start, Michaels novel CRASH is a horrific horror book.
There's no monsters, no boogymen and things that go bump in the night. This book focuses on society and the end of the world as we know it. A dystopian nightmare to be more precise. It's dark, grim and made me feel physically sick at times. It was brilliant! Here's a link to my review on Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/748219082

Michael has given me a small excerpt to share with you and also the chance to win a copy of his book, so let's get on with the show!



My name is Michael Robertson and I have been writing for about fifteen years now. My life as a writer started when I had aspirations to be a drum and bass MC in my late teenage years. It was embarrassing, I was rubbish, and I gave it up very quickly. However, what stayed with me was the writing. I wrote lyrics that I turned into poems. I had several of them published but had to accept, when my poems started spanning pages, that longer stories were waiting to come out.

Ideas have never been a problem for me. At present I have at least twenty fully formed novels and novellas queuing up in my head. More are knocking on the door all the time. However, a misspent youth meant that I’d had a poor education and I needed to learn how to write. Over a period of about ten years I have tried to write most days. I have several process novels sat in a desk drawer. None of them are suitable for release.

Winning a competition to have a short story published in a special edition of The Jerusalem Puzzle by Laurence O’Bryan gave me the final push that I needed to put Crash out in the world. Having HarperCollins accept my story has given me the confidence to put my work out there. Having a little boy has given me the push that I needed to follow my dreams and give him a dad to be proud of.


Michael Robertson Interview 

Name:

Michael Robertson

Website: 

http://www.michaelrobertson.co.uk

Other contacts/social media sites:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRobertsonAuthor

Twitter - @MicRobertson

Google + - https://plus.google.com/u/0/113009673177382863155/posts


Link to your Amazon page and or any other place that your books can be purchased:

My website has links to Amazon, Kobo and Smashwords - http://www.michaelrobertson.co.uk/crash --available-now.html


Where did you grow up?

I was born in Croydon in the UK and then moved to a quieter part of Surrey. I spent my youth living at the end of a very quiet private road. It was pretty boring as a kid growing up.

What made you start writing?

I didn't find my brain until after I'd left school. I had a problem with authority when I was a kid and did everything I could to rebel. After leaving school I found my love for writing. It initially started when I tried drum and bass MCing - I was terrible, but I loved writing the lyrics I've been writing now for the last fifteen years. The ideas have never been a problem for me, but it took me a while to learn how to write. I have since studied at university level but wish I'd had made the most of it when I was younger - Cliché I know, but it's true.

Is it something that you have always wanted to do?

Only after leaving school. It's driven me for the past fifteen years.  

What is your favourite genre to read, and do you have any favourite books or authors you would like to recommend?

I'll read all genres. Irvine Welsh is my favourite author. I love Trainspotting. It blow me away how a book can be so gritty and crass at points, yet so beautifully poetic.


Do you ever base your characters on anyone that you know, or are they solely from your imagination?

Hahahaha. Ummmm. Should I answer that? I often base the characters that aren't very nice on people I know. I'm leaving it there. I have joked with my friends about including them and giving them miserable and bloody deaths. 

CRASH BOOK COVER

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Tell us about your latest book. The story/plot.

Crash - A post-apocalyptic / dystopian thriller. 

Chris’ life of luxury is gone, devastated by the collapse of the European economy. Gas, water, and electricity are all cut off. Food is running out. Even his wife and daughter have gone. Huddled in the smallest room of their lavish house with his petrified and dirty eight-year-old son, Chris has made the decision to stay put. A small army of psychotic scavengers is outside, hell-bent on making the once-privileged pay. Chris now knows that not leaving when he had the option was the worst decision of his life. 

Cowering in his home, he watches as his neighbours are dragged into the street and brutally executed. The scavengers have one more house to go, and then it will be his turn. He has to act fast, or he and his son will meet the same fate.

Driven by the need to survive, Chris has decided to keep secrets from his son. Secrets that will make all of the events up until this point seem trivial. Secrets that, one way or another, will come out before the day is done.

What gave you the idea?

I'm just about to release a revised copy of Crash with a new authors note and epilogue, so I thought I'd include that here: -

This is a revised author’s note for the updated version of Crash. 

Some of the feedback I’ve received for Crash is about the lack of hope in this story, which is valid. It’s not that Crash as a series has no shining light, but by judging it simply on book one, it’s easy to make that assumption. With this feedback in mind, I’ve decided to include an epilogue. I always had this scene planned but didn’t know if I should include it in book one. 

Also, I wanted to explain why I’ve written Crash. I like dark fiction and frequently write horror and dystopian sci-fi, but Crash is much more graphic than my usual style. There are a couple of reasons as to why I chose to make it this way. Firstly, the main instigator of the violence in this book is insane. While his grievances are rational, his actions are certainly not.

Secondly, the aggression is a reflection of the venom currently aimed at the most disadvantaged in UK society. The people labeled as ‘benefit scum’, ‘chavs’, ‘a drain on the system…’ The current trend in the media is to blame these people for the state of the country. While this is happening, those actually responsible for the global recession are walking away with huge bonuses and getting tax breaks from our government. They’ve committed corporate crime on a massive scale and the capitalist system pats them on the back for it.

Crash looks at how someone who may have felt helpless and wrongly accused, reacts when the rules change and suddenly there are no consequences for crime. It also takes the venom aimed at those on welfare, and turns it back on the group of people perceived to be the ones making the judgment of them. I say perceived because I don’t believe the identity attached to a group of people is necessarily a reflection of the individuals within that group.

Looking at social constructions like economies and the interconnected nature of our globalised world, Crash questions if money could ever be rejected by the people it oppresses. If a system benefits the few over the many, at what point will there be a revolution? Could the actions of a small country like Greece destroy the world’s greatest system of oppression? 

Thinking of how to portray a dysfunctional society where there are no rules, I looked at both war, and at places like The Democratic Republic of Congo. I am deeply affected by what’s happening there, as I’m sure anyone who knows about the situation is. If you’re looking for the apocalypse, it’s real and it’s there. 5.4 million people have died in The DRC since 1998, and that figure’s still rising. The violence in Crash is toned down compared to what’s happening in that part of the world.

Some may perceive this book as mindless and gratuitous, and that’s their right. I’m not here to change people’s opinions, more to explain why I’ve written Crash.

Crash is a horror story. To me, the most horrifying events in life are real and happening daily.      


What genre is it?

Dystopian Horror. 

Who is your favourite character? And why.

I like George. He doesn't have a huge role in the first book, but in book two onwards, he plays much more of an important part. 

And worst?

I should say Dean, but I enjoy writing him. Probably Dick. He's not a big character, but he's horrible. 

What are your hopes for it?

That it sells millions of copies, is turned into a movie franchise, and Toys R Us start selling Crash dolls. Hahaha. Maybe a bloody hammer next to the transformers?

What’s the project that you’re going to be working on next?

I'm currently editing Crash 2 and a novel called The Game - although that title may change. I'm sad to be missing NaNoWriMo this year because I don't think my brain can cope with another project considering what I already have on. I have the plan for about twenty books fully formed in my head and I want to write them all now.  

What’s the best piece of advice that you have been given in regards to your writing, and by whom?

Keep writing.

Write every day.

Treat it like a job.

It will never be perfect.

Neil Gaiman's speech on making good art really motivates me too. I watch it from time to time - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikAb-NYkseI

Crash Excerpt 

Chris knew that Michael could see straight through him. He’d have given every drop of blood and his final breath to give his son a guarantee that things would get better. But he couldn’t. They currently existed in a world without precedent. Life was now a desperate struggle. Looking at the small, dirty boy in his arms, he had to swallow the lump rising in his throat and blink away his tears. “All I can really promise you…” he coughed to clear his throat, “…is that I will do my best to look after you. I will do everything in my power to…” Before he could finish, a loud crash exploded outside.

In the past, Chris would have rushed to the window if he’d heard such a disturbance. Now he was much more cautious because ‘get off my land’ didn’t quite cut it anymore. He pulled the curtain back slightly and peered out.

The cold breeze hit him, and he flinched. Although it was winter, they left the window slightly ajar to try and let the smell of four dirty bodies out of their living space. As a result, there was more ice on the inside of the glass than the outside.

Their home was one of six large and detached red brick houses in a gated community. The houses horseshoed around a road that was wide enough to u-turn a bus in. Even looking at it now, with the overturned bins and abandoned toys, Chris could still see Michael and Matilda playing outside with their friends. The gates were made of iron, painted black, and did an effective job of keeping people out when everyone was living under the previous, if tenuously balanced, capitalist society. Back then, a gate meant keep out and was effective at enforcing its will. Things were different now. All that was left of the old social structures were memories. New rules were being established, and to survive you had to evolve. Failure to do so invariably resulted in death. With this in mind, Chris’ plan to hide away like a scared fox in a hole didn’t seem like such a good idea. Especially now the hounds had arrived.

“What is it?” Michael asked as he stood on tiptoes to peer through a gap in the heavy curtain.

A black and battered Ford F-150 had rolled through the gates. In spite of the superficial damage, it still looked relatively new. Chris assumed the huge truck must have been taken from the forecourt no more than six months ago because the angry and pockmarked paintwork showed no signs of rust. It didn’t have licence plates, so he couldn’t be one hundred percent sure of its age, but he felt like it was a good hunch. He wondered for a moment where in London one would get such a car until he remembered the American car importer a few miles south. He assumed the driver was local.

A huge battering ram protruded from the front that looked like a steel pillar of about six feet long by four feet in diameter. It gave the truck a fierce nose that looked like it had been utilised many times. Its effectiveness was clear to see because the black gate that had once provided the family with such a strong sense of security had been cast aside like it was made out of cardboard. It now lay useless and mangled like a barely identifiable body part of someone who’d stepped on a landmine.

There were seven men in the back of the truck. They were filthy and bulked up with layers of clothes to combat the January chill. The youngest, Chris guessed, was in his mid-twenties, the oldest no older than fifty.

Chris looked at their weapons and saw steel bars with spikes, baseball bats wrapped in razor wire, long knives and swords, and even a tennis racket that looked like the edges had been sharpened to be as keen as the deadliest blade. Each weapon, without exception, looked like they could end a life with great efficiency. From looking at the fierce men with their deep frowns and blood-splattered clothes, Chris had no doubt that they already had.

He finally replied to his son in hushed tones, the fear of these men discovering them clinging to him like frostbite. “They look like looters.”


Crash Ebook Giveaway

Michael is kindly giving away two ebook copies of Crash to a couple of lucky winners. All you have to do is 'like' him on Facebook  or Twitter (links below) with the following quote:
I crashed into Michael Robertson on Claire C Riley's Blog!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRobertsonAuthor
Twitter - @MicRobertson


If any book should have you curious this year, it has to be this one, if nothing else but to test your own resolve and see how stromg a stomach you have.

As always...

Happy reading!

Claire ♥
2 Comments

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