Claire C. Riley
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Eli Constants Dead Trees 2 'Release Day' Spotlight!

29/5/2014

2 Comments

 

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If you've been following me for this long, then you'll probably know that I like to help pimp out talented authors. Well, one of my favorite authors is a wonderful lady named Eli Constant.

Eli is one of those authors that writes stories that completely suck you in, using both realistic characters and fantastic world building. Her stories range from the crazy to the beautiful, and she writes with such poetic skill that even when she writes a genre I don't normally read, I find myself lost within her words.

I first met Eli over two years ago, when we traded review chapters for our then first books. Mine was Limerence, and hers was Dead Trees. I instantly fell in love with it. 

It wasn't without its flaws--just as Limerence wasn't. The science lost me at times, but I was both equally amazed that she knew so much the subject as I was drinking it all in. Plus those damn characters were so easy for me to relate to, and those monsters, Jesus, they were so inventive and well thought out. 

Two years later, after much nagging and hounding from me, and I got to beta read Dead Trees 2. And it is AWESOME. It's the right amount of strong female protagonist, hot male (hubba hubba), well thought out plot, tear-evoking (oh, the feels!!!) and scary monsters that every great book needs.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I PREDICT GREAT THINGS FOR THIS AUTHOR! 

Dead Trees 2 doesn't release until tomorrow, but I'm going to give you the chance to win a copy of either Dead Trees 1 or Dead Trees 2. I'm literally putting my money where my mouth is. So have a read through, get a taste for the series, and for Eli (but no biting her) and enter!


Good Luck

Claire


Ps. Congratulations, Eli. I'm so freaking proud of you!


                                  *                     *                  *                  *


Author Bio


Eli Constant is a genre-jumping detail junkie, obsessed with the nature of humanity. She believes that there is beauty at the core of most everything, but that truly unredeemable characters create the best stories. Eli is the author of “Dead Trees,” “Dead Trees 2,” “Mastic,” “DRAG.N” and is a contributor to the charity anthology “Let’s Scare Cancer to Death.” (LSCtD: TW Brown, Editor MayDecember Publications) 100% sales proceeds go to the V Foundation, a leader in cancer research for the past twenty years).

Her works-in-progress include the final book in the Dead Trees Trilogy, a 3-author anthology exploring the psychosis of serial killers, a 6-author anthology exploring humanity in the face of hopelessness, the second companion novel to DRAG.N, and a zombie origins novel (this last work in progress comes as a huge surprise to Eli; she honestly thought she’d never write about zombies, but somehow, she fell down the zombie hole and couldn’t crawl out, or rather, didn’t want to crawl out). 


Keep posted on these upcoming publications by following Eli on any of her social links below.


Eli's Social & Website Links

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www.eliconstant.com | Twitter | Facebook | Books on Amazon | Goodreads | Wordpress


Dead Trees 2

Release Information: “Dead Trees 2” is the sequel to Eli Constant’s début book, “Dead Trees”. Fans of the series include- Claire C. Riley (Odium Series, Limerence), Jerry Benns (Editor/Owner Charon Coin Press), Author TW Brown (The Dead Series, That Ghoul Ava) & more. 
book prices from Friday 30th May!

Dead Trees Book 1 on sale @ $1.99 

Dead Trees Book 2 @ $3.49

Set: Book 1 & 2 + Bonus Short Story (“Day of Amarok”) @ $4.49

Paperback: full price, available next week

Book Blurb

Two years of peace in a primitive setting can make anyone forget a past full of science, beasties, and blood. 

On the day of her son’s birth, the past invades the Yukon valley where Elise and her family reside and they are once again forced to travel survival-road. The General has found her… tracked her across the miles. Elise is his obsession; he wants her for reasons beyond comprehension.

H2H was supposed to be the answer, but the world’s ‘savior’ has created a new pack of demons. The Rippers, beasties on steroids. Wild undergrounders are a mild nightmare in comparison.

Thankfully, humanity has an ace up its sleeves.

The question is: This time, when a new solution for saving humanity is put into action, what will the consequences be?

Dead Trees 2 Trailer


Book Excerpt

Cocking my head, I was able to see the beastie pounce, its body perfectly positioned to mount mine and slam me to the ground.

I fluidly rolled, tucking the pickaxe into my body and avoiding the unsharpened point. The undergrounder hit the forest floor where I’d just been crouching. In a flash, I was on my knees, my weapon raised above my head. The beastie also rolled, but towards me, not away. Like the proverbial window of opportunity, I knew it was my time to strike. The beastie realized it too, a screech escaping its mouth as it saw my weapon raised high. The monster took an instant too long to move out of my way. Hesitation will kill you.

With both hands gripping the handle, I brought the pickaxe down. The weight of the weapon’s head combined with gravity increased the velocity of the fall, amplifying the force. When the pickaxe made contact with the very centre of its chest, a bone-busting crack shot like gun fire through our surroundings.

The undergrounder’s rib cage was split apart, the cavity opening like a clamshell to reveal internal organs. The heart was still beating wildly, pumping blood to an injured body. I reveled in the sight.

My right hand, of its own volition, moved from the pickaxe handle toward that moving, thumping heart. It was warm in my hands, fluttering. I squeezed.

I squeezed.

The sack formed of myocardium muscle burst in my hands, spraying my face with warmth, getting into my hanging-open mouth. And when I contemplated eating its brain, I knew myself in the darkest places, the mental rooms in my mind that housed nightmares and ghouls. Half-beastie. Fully-realized.

I was frozen in horror, my human-self flooding into my mind and tossing out the beast. No intelligence could bear under the weight of such psychological turmoil.

The curtain of beasties had fallen, the path was open.

More undergrounders would come, attracted to the smell of blood, ready to eat, ready to consume the banquet of flesh memory we’d provided. 

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Click To Enlarge

Dead Trees Cover & Reviews

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Horror author TW Brown had this to say about Dead Trees.



~Twisting the post-apocalypse story in a GOOD way!~

DEAD TREES is a morlock-esque take on the apocalypse. This reads much different than what you will find in the zombie genre (NO, this is NOT a zombie book, but rather a post-apocalyptic tale with "Beasties" as they are dubbed by the narrator hat have emerged from underground a la H.G. Wells.) First, know that there is some exceptional attention to detail here that is often lacking in the genre.

One thing that makes this book stand out is a strong female protagonist. SO often this genre is dominated by uber-military MacGyver types that have all the answers and can get out of every scrape. Elise is a mother simply trying her best to keep her daughter's alive, and while she does "hook up" with Jason, you get the impression that she can do with or without him just fine.

What you need to know is that this book is a page turner. It has plenty of action and strong character development. There are time when it gets "sciencey" but those times flow within the scope of the story and are not cumbersome. There are some editing flaws, but nothing that will make you pause or detract from the flow of the story (and the author has worked to make improvements in that area for those wondering). This is a strong book and you WILL be pestering her Ms. Constant about the sequel. I did not rate this book 5 stars because it was perfect. Truly, nothing really is. I rated it 5 stars because it took chances (that paid off) and it kept me wanting to read more.

Author TW Brown

The Dead Series, That Ghoul Ava Series

@maydecpub |
Amazon Author Page


Jerry Benns Owner of Charon Coin Press had this to say




~ What would you do if the world we knew didn’t exist anymore? What would you do to protect your children and survive? ~ 

Eli Constant answers these questions and takes the end of the world to new levels in "Dead Trees". Starting on page one, readers are immersed into a world where humans are no longer at the top of the food chain and survival is measured in hours. Constant’s storytelling abilities bring the characters, setting, and the 'beasties' to life, making "Dead Trees" one of the most engrossing and ghoulish dystopian tales I have read in quite some time.

-Jerry Benns: Editor for State of Horror Anthologies, Charon Coin Press

State of Horror Anthology Facebook Page | Charon Coin Press Website

Dead Trees Prize Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
As Always... Happy Reading you fabulous little book whores!

Claire C Riley
2 Comments

Dead Trees By Eli Constant, On Sale NOW!

21/3/2014

0 Comments

 
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One of my favourite authors has her first novel DEAD TREES on sale.

If you're a follower of this blog, you'll have heard me big up her talents on  numerous occasions, and today is no different.

With the release of DEAD TREES 2 only weeks away (Woooo- freaking-hooooooo) it's time to grab a copy of DEAD TREES while it's on SALE catch up with Elise and her family, and be prepared for the sequel. 

If you love post-apocalyptic horror novels with a taste of innocence, you'll love this book.                     
       
                           





Eli's Social & Website Links

www.eliconstant.com | Twitter 
Facebook | Books on Amazon
Goodreads | Wordpress


Dead Trees Blurb

Subterranean humanoids, existing since the dawn of man, arose from the belly of the planet. Humanity was unprepared. The undergrounders came with nails and claws and speed to kill people in the night, dragging bodies downward into dark tunnels teeming with rabid life. Civilization is now a ghost of yesterday and the remaining humans fight for survival.

One thing’s for sure- a scientist mommy battling beasties better be handy with a scalpel.

Elise Swanson is a widow and mother. She fights and prays that she can keep her little, broken family safe. She drives and drives, day after day, trying to escape a threat that seems… inescapable. Her hope fades, food is scarce and she watches her eldest daughter’s attempts to soothe the younger babe. Then she meets Jason- a father mourning the loss of his son, masking his pain with bravado and charm. He’s strong, despite his sadness, and love re-grows within him. Weeks pass and Jason’s singular desire becomes the continued safety of Elise and her daughters.

Bloody fights with beasties define the survival-road the companions travel. Even a few moments of safety and relaxation elude the group; time and time again, Elise must kiss her children goodbye, just in case tomorrow never arrives.

Against all odds, they reach a government safe zone. Even there, Elise finds that there’s no rest for the weary.

Doctors O’Toole and Peters have been studying the beasties under lock and key, trying to find an answer, but the doctors aren’t interested in saving humanity. Forced to lead two lives, Elise assists the good doctors in their pursuits while working secretly in sublevel lab 8 with her own team, Nick and Jamie. Their combined knowledge may be the key- the only hope humanity has of reclaiming the planet from the beasties. As long as they can keep their research secret, safe from O’Toole and Peters, they might discover the way home, the formula to click Dorothy’s sparkling red shoes three times and begin to recreate Earth as it was… before the humanoids came out to play on the surface.

What will happen when Elise, a neural engineer, Jamie, a medical researcher, and Nick, a computer wizard, are humanity’s best hope? The answer might be surprising. Wrapped up in all the uncertainty, violence, science lingo and beasties, they will find a strange solution to a new Earth.

And her name is Margaret.

Below is an excerpt to give you a taste of how brilliant Dead Trees is!

Dead Trees Excerpt & Cover

As my eyes adjusted, the details became clearer.

The form seemed to be a human child, well past the normal gestation period. It was roughly the size of an 18 month old toddler, maybe a tad smaller… or bigger. It was hard to tell through the distortion of water and curved tank walls.

There was a feeding tube connected to the lower abdominal area that stretched to the side of the tank where an external device pumped nutrients. The hair was under grown for the age and floated away from the scalp- about two inches in length.

Something in the appearance of the child wasn’t quite normal. The face was a tad too elongated and the fingers a bit too bony.

The reality of what was before me hit me like a freight train. I staggered back in horror and fell over my own feet. My ass hit the ground hard and my tailbone ached from the impact. The jolt gave me a reminder of my not-so-healed ribs and bruised side.

“No… no way. No way did they do… what I think they did.”

I got up from the ground and stumbled to the monitor. The lines of code and command had stopped. In its stead was an analysis report on subject: Sheila-2.

I moved the cursor around the screen. When it hit the subject name, an underline appeared. I clicked and the screen shifted. Now I could see a conception date, vitals history, and a link to a genetic profile. That link confirmed my fears.

The human genome had been crossed with undergrounder and not by splicing or cloning. It was achieved through basic fertilization of Sheila-1 eggs with Anonymous-XY sperm. I had a feeling I knew who that XY might be. One of two candidates…

Like a bad accident on the highway, I couldn’t stop looking at the data.

Sheila-2 was growing at a fast rate, but not nearly as fast as a pure beastie. Obviously, the human factor had tempered that growth. The vitals were stable. The heart beat a little faster than the average human heart, but not so much that Sheila-2 could be identified as nonhuman during a normal physical.

I was pouring over the makeup of the synthetic amniotic fluids (which had been modified to accommodate new needs), when I heard a door open in the distance and lights spring to life in Lab-3. I quickly flipped the screen back to the analysis report and ran. Then I realized that this lab only had one exit- and that exit involved strolling right through Lab-3.

“Shit.” I exhaled the word softly and scanned the room desperately. Another door in the back. Thank goodness. This door had no window. Inside was dark and small… a closet.

I worked my body between obstructions on the left and right and ended up contorted and restricted, but able to pull the door closed behind me.

I heard voices in the laboratory. Funny. Outside these walls, I hid from undergrounders, but inside these walls, I hid from very different monsters.

I wished I could make out the words, but the voices were just a continuous string of mumbles punctuated by sporadic pausing.

I was stuck in the damn closet for well over an hour. I waited quite a while after the talking died down. Better to be cautious.  

It took forever to wiggle out of the closet. I knocked something over as I extracted my body from the cramped space. Whatever it was hit the ground with a resounding crash.

Opening the door lightened the shadowed closet a bit. I could see the outline of shelving. When I was officially un-stuck, I found the light switch and flipped it upward. I stared at the shelves. They were lined with gigantic mason jars, each containing a malformed fetus. At my feet lay the broken remains of one of those jars.

I was standing on a tiny arm… a tiny arm with tiny fingers.

If I was hoping to leave no trace of my presence behind, I failed. Not only did I leave glass, fluid, and flesh; I left a pleasant smelling and steaming pile of vomit.

Funny how much I vomited nowadays.
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SALE LINKS




AMAZON USA

AMAZON CANADA

AMAZON UK

Pretty Great Right? You Can Purchase Dead Trees At The Following Links!

AMAZON USA | AMAZON CANADA | AMAZON UK

Eli's is also holding a FACEBOOK EVENT for the release of DEAD TREES 2, So please go follow her and show some support to a wonderful author!

DEAD TREES 2 RELEASE EVENT
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As always, happy reading!

Claire ♥
0 Comments

Double-Whammy Cover Reveal: THE LAST CASKET By Jack Wallen & DEAD TREES 2 By Eli Constant

9/3/2014

0 Comments

 
Yeah, you read it right. A double-whammy cover reveal. Two of my favourite authors decided to have kick-ass covers at the same time, so I thought what better way to celebrate the fact than to have both of them reveal all on my blog? Oooh err, not that kind of reveal! Though I'm sure if you ask them both nicely...

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First up, meet Jack Wallen. Jack's been writing books for a long time, as you can see from his long list of books, but he's actually relatively new to me. I met him through a group last year and I haven't been able to put down his books since.

HIs fans call him the Zombie King, and I can see why.


Jack Wallen is a seeker of truth and a writer of words. Although he resides in the unlikely city of Louisville, Kentucky, he likes to think of himself more as an interplanetary soul … or so he tells the reflection in the mirror. He's also the author of:

I Zombie I
My Zombie My
Die Zombie Die
Lie Zombie Lie
Zombie Radio
T-Minus Zero
Hell's Muse
Screampark
Shero
Shero II: Zombie A GoGo
A Blade Away
Gothica
Endgame
Klockwerk Kabaret

If you want to receive an automatic email when Jack's next book is released, sign up here. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Find out more about Jack via the following links:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Amazon
Goodreads

So if you're looking for a new series to sink those pretty teeth into, try out Jack. He has enough to keep you busy for a while, and I highly recommend him

But now for one of the most awesomely original covers I've seen in a while. Be sure to add this to your Goodreads shelf. I was honoured to beta read it, and I LOVE IT!


Jack Wallen's 
THE LAST CASKET COVER REVEAL

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And To Whet Your Appetite, Below Is An Excerpt From The Upcoming Book

Last Casket Excerpt

                ACT 1                 one | a hell of a show Everything has changed





Standing here alone again

It's time for my revenge

You put me in this casket

But this won't stop me

You need to burn in hell

No need to run away

I will find you anyway



                       ...
Bride of the Monster

Wham! The crunch of the heavy Ibanez ARZ-Series guitar against the back of the zombie's skull sent a screeching feedback through the Blackstar Club 50s amplifier speaker. The sound momentarily stopped the undead bar fight.

“Kitty,” Todd Flash shouted. “Run.”

Kitty Casket was at the lip of the stage, surrounded by zombies, mic in hand and ready to crush any skull to get within striking range.

“Come on, baby,” Kitty squealed, “it's open mic night.”

With a quick windup, Kitty drove the back side of the mic through an eyeball of the nearest undead groupie. The pop of the optical membrane sent chills down her arm and bile up her throat.

“Oh hell,” Kitty protested. “I think I'm going to barf!”

Kitty withdrew the blackish-brown goo covered mic and the zombie dropped with a hollow, wet thud.

“Incoming.”

The shout came from behind.

“Kitty, duck.”

The raging voice belonged to Mike Machine. Kitty knew better than to not comply. The second she dropped to a crouch, a golden cymbal flew over her head and embedded itself into the neck of a monster. The beast didn't drop.

“Fuck,” Tom screamed as he continued forward.

“Tom, don't,” Kitty pled.

Tom was never one to listen. He jumped and landed the sole of his creeper into the symbol to finish the job.

The head and the symbol crashed to the floor.

“Come on, ya ugly bastard.” Billy the Bat was still cranking out power chords as he shouted threats to the undead audience. With each chord the zombies stuttered – almost as if the sound was painful.

“Billy, the zombies say you suck,” teased Kitty.

“Oh yeah,” Billy replied. “They can suck on this.”

Instead of battling back the approaching undead duo, Billy began playing a rockabilly take on Ozzy Osbourne's Crazy Train.

The zombies weren't impressed and marched onward.

It was Tom Mooner to the rescue. He hefted his Fender Squire above his head and dropped it down to cave in the skull of one of the zombies.

“That's how it goes,” laughed Tom.

One moaner remained. The entire band gathered together, encircling the monster.

“Here zombie, zombie, zombie. Kitty wanna play. Rowr.” Kitty teased the zombie. When it turned to face her, Billy the Bat ran a switchblade into the base of its skull. As the zombie dropped, lifeless again, to its knees, the band booed and hissed.

“What? I killed it.” Billy protested.

“Yah, but we were feeling kinda playful. Ya know, give the fucker a show and then, blamo, cave in its frontal lobes.”

“Hey, they're all dead. We did it.” Kitty was glowing with pride. “That was a hell of a show.”

Billy the Bat cleaned off his knife as he spoke. “Our best yet...if you take into consideration our entire audience was comprised of the undead. Actually, this kind of sucked. We need real, living people to play for.”

“And to pay us.”

Tom's interjection sucked the wind out of the band.

“This damned apocalypse,” Kitty started, “it's impossible to find gigs. Before, our only competition was the likes of Nekromantix and Horror Pops. Now we're facing down the living dead and empty venues. I thought the apocalypse would bring a sort of perfect storm for us. I mean, come on, this is our schtick. We own this theme, right?”

The band nodded their heads in unison.

“So why in the hell can't we find gigs?”

Billy raised his hand.

Kitty hissed. “Oh for God's sake, Billy, this isn't a classroom. Put your hand down.”

“Did you ever stop to think no one wants live music now because of the noise? I mean, it is noise that attracts the undead, right?” Billy challenged the group.

Kitty stepped in close to the guitarist. “What are you saying, Mr. Bat?”

Billy's eyes darted to the left and the right, his lip quivered slightly, and his forehead broke out into a sweat. “I'm saying...I don't really know what I'm saying, actually.”

Mike Machine stepped in to save the day. “He's saying we need to find some isolated club where our ear-splitting decibels won't attract the attention of the less-than living.”

“You mean the Mengelites?” Tom Flash interrupted.

 The band booed.

“Oh come on, it's a catchy name.” Tom defended himself. “Seriously, it makes sense. The Mengele Virus is what did them in...hence Mengelites.”

“It's offensive,” Kitty spat. “It's almost as if you're glorifying one of the sickest Germans to ever exist.”

The idea that the virus which brought about the apocalypse was an extension of Josef Mengele's work didn't rest easy on the hearts of Germans. Most survivors on the planet were quick to forget that point. To many of German descent, it was a painful reminder of yet another very dark time of their people

“Come on,” Tom chimed in. “Let's pack up so we can try to locate this Nirvana that Mike mentioned.”

After a round of groans, the band began the slow process of packing up their gear and loading it into the Kitty Mobile. The van was a take on the Scooby Doo Van, only with a predominantly feline theme. Splashed on the side of the van was the band's logo and Kitty's coiffed and lipstick'd visage. The van had already been attacked by numerous zombies as well as a few groups of living humans who simply had enough of walking. Unfortunately, there was little extra room once the gear and the band were on board.

Before leaving the club, Kitty made one last walk-through in search of food and booze. As she stood in the exit, she turned back and purrred before hitting the lights and strutting out to the van.

Meow, sexy kitty, meow.

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Eli Constant: DEAD TREES 2 Reveal

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And now reveal number two.

The extremely talented Eli Constant, one of my very favourite authors of 2013, with possibly my most anticipated book of 2014! Seriously, I can not wait to read this damn book.

Dead Trees 2 is coming May 2nd and I can't wait to one-click this. After reading the snippet Eli sent us, I know that it's going to be a killer book.

So, have a read, stare in awe at the creepy as hell cover, add it to your Goodreads shelf and join her event to help celebrate her upcoming release. You won't be dissapointed.

                                                
  *                          *                       *                           *

Eli Constant is a genre-jumping detail junkie, obsessed with the nature of humanity. She believes that there’s beauty at the core of most everything, but that truly unredeemable characters create the best stories. Eli is the author of “Dead Trees,” “Mastic,” “DRAG.N” and is a contributor to the upcoming charity anthology “Let’s Scare Cancer to Death,” benefiting the V Foundation. 

Eli lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters. She is surrounded by battlefield country, farmland and lakes. Currently, she spends her days being a devoted mother and, of course, writing. Eli feels fortunate that her marriage is one of real love and she thinks her children are the coolest people in the world. She also feels so lucky to have an extended family that is ever present with encouragement and kind words.

When it comes to her writing, Eli has one ultimate goal: to become better with each word written. She is obsessed with the nature of humanity- the innocent, the corrupted and the confused. She’s always been a great lover of Science Fiction, but has also grown to truly appreciate other genres, especially Horror and Fantasy. Looking back on her debut novel “Dead Trees,” Eli wouldn’t change a thing. She feels like she learned from the experience and has grown exponentially as an author since its publication. Her most recent work, “Mastic,” is best described as an urban paranormal thriller with a softer side- touches of romance, hidden feelings and bridled lust.

This month, Eli will be featured in a charity anthology organized by the fabulous TW Brown. She is thrilled to note that 100% of sale proceeds will go to benefit the V Foundation, a leader in cancer research for the past twenty years. Keep posted on this upcoming publication by following Eli on twitter or facebook. Eli’s works in progress include the much anticipated sequel to Dead Trees, a 3-author anthology exploring the psychosis of serial killers, a 6-author anthology exploring humanity in the face of hopelessness and a zombie origins novel (this last work in progress comes as a huge surprise to Eli; she honestly thought she’d never write about zombies, but somehow, she fell down the zombie hole and couldn’t crawl out, or rather, didn’t want to crawl out).
(Mwuah ahahaha, sorry, Eli. I'm a bad influence!)

Eli's Social & Website Links

www.eliconstant.com | Twitter 
Facebook | Books on Amazon
Goodreads | Wordpress


Eli Constant
Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy Author
***COVER REVEAL***
Dead Trees 2

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Two years of peace in a primitive setting can make anyone forget a past full of science, beasties, and blood. But when that past comes flooding back- with razor-sharp talons and speed- to pillage the present, who will survive?

**Read a full chapter of DEAD TREES 2** (Pssst, I read it earlier, and it is amazing!)
Haven’t read Dead Trees?

**Read the Teaser chapter of Dead Tress**

**Purchase Dead Trees here**

Join the DEAD TREES 2 release party on Facebook
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 Eli is also the author of: 

Mastic | DRAG.N | & a contributor to the upcoming Let’s Scare Cancer to Death

Read Teasers: 
Mastic
DRAG.N 
Let’s Scare Cancer to Death (Eli’s story)
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See, don't say I don't treat you well!

So you have a couple of new books to look foreward to, but don't worry, I'll be sure to remind you when the time comes, you can also look foreward to reading my reviews of these books when they come out.


As always, happy reading!

Claire ♥
0 Comments

Horror Month Presents: Eli Constant Day 3

25/9/2013

1 Comment

 
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The lucky winners of the pre-release copy of Mastic are: Lauren Dootson, Wulf Francu Godgluck, Ken Mooney & Karen Perkins.

Congratulations. Contact me so that I can pass your details on to Eli and you can claim your prize, and don't forget to add the book to your Goodreads shelf, and leave a review when you're done.


So this is the third and final day of our Eli Constant takeover, and for todays giveaway, she's offering two lucky readers the chance at a part in her next book, Dead Trees 2.
This is a really fun giveaway too, so make sure to join in the fun please and share it around.







Eli Constant contact.

Find out more about Eli on her website: www.eliconstant.com 
Follow Eli on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Author_EliC
Follow Eli on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorEliConstant
http://authoreliconstant.wordpress.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6901568.Eli_Constant

Amazon: 

http://amzn.to/16RUIdW
http://amzn.to/16RUW4U


Dead Trees 2 Contest 

After reading the first chapter (just below), write the first paragraph of the second chapter for Dead Trees 2. The chapter’s title is “The Afterbirth.”

Eli Constant will name a character in Dead Trees 2 after the best 2 entries.

*Entry winners can also provide a physical description of the character as a guideline for the author.

(Note: the entry paragraph is just for fun and will not be used in the actual book).
Leave your entry here or on the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/151001158431798/

Dead Trees 2 Chapter One Teaser 


The Birth

I turned over, my eyes still closed. Jason’s body felt warm and real next to mine. I needed that… after what I’d just dreamt.

I’d never forgotten him- the way he’d looked at me, knowing he was all male. How he’d stood in front of the others, clearly in command… how he’d escaped at the park, how he’d followed us to NORAD. He was truly a nightmare, but I’d never dreamt about him before, not until this night.

Pregnancy will do that to you- cause your dreams to go all wackadoodle. The past nine months of sleeping had been full of crazy images.

Tonight though, he’d been there and my face was wetted with salty tears.

On top of me, forcing me down, shrieking as… as… I hadn’t even known they had those. It had emerged from his body, between the now straightened legs, long and flexible as an overgrown eel. It was slick, coated in a brown salve that smelled like earth and sperm.

I shook my head, trying to dislodge the dream from my brain. It didn’t work. So I got up; Jason rolled away from me onto his side. His breathing was heavy and even.

I knew exactly what made me dream about him. The chorus of shrieking, so close to our little home, that arose after the sound of the helicopters’ thrumming wings had receded into the distance had brought the past flying forward in full color. Jason had stayed up most of the night on watch- squinting into the dark for signs of bestial movement.

Not that the day kept them at bay any longer. For some reason though, they hadn’t chosen to attack us yesterday when the Colonel and his men had left. Maybe there was no challenge in falling upon us unexpectedly. Maybe… maybe, he enjoyed the fear floating to him on the wind.

I’d called him the General for so long, but now, I did not wish to say that name and give him more human attributes. Two years. It had been two years. Why now? I’d voiced my fears to Jason, but he’d brushed them off- saying that he could not have possibly found us and that so much time had passed. No, the shrieks were just a few stray undergrounders; nothing to worry about.

And then I’d ranted about the H2H and that these ‘stray undergrounders’ should be changed by now, fully affected and humanized. Jason had countered with a- they could have been underground all this time and thusly unexposed or maybe they were too far North. “Remember what Benson said, Elise. Our area is too remote to have been affected; the nanotech isn’t stable enough to survive the distance. They could have been roaming these parts all this time or stayed safe underground.”  

His answers and his logic had not satisfied me. And, true to form, I’d beaten the dead horse until it was a rotting, reeking mass of flesh. He’d teased me, but not too harshly; I was carrying his child and that gave me ‘get-away-with-sin’ liberties.

I held my back, pushing gently. It ached this morning, like I’d slept on the stone floor rather than the thick pad. Looking up, my face was bathed in dim light- sunshine peeking through a carved out section of the ceiling. It was deceptive, our cavern home. Journeying into the caves felt like traveling miles beneath the earth’s surface, but in truth, we were less than ten feet from the surface.

I leaned against the hard wall and slipped my feet, one after another, into the leather slippers I always wore. Megan made them for me. They weren’t perfect, the maker obviously a novice sewer, but my daughter made them so I loved them dearly.

Our rooms were interconnected, but many nights, Kara would wake up and travel across the ‘hall’ to sleep next to me on the bed. In the beginning, Megan would follow suit and we’d all be stuffed onto one sleeping pad- a big, happy family. That left Meg alone in the girls’ room, but she never seemed to mind.

Jason used to say that it was the newness of the caverns and the girls would soon sleep through the night in their own room. He’d been right, to an extent. Megan always slept soundly now; Kara, more often than not, would still move in the middle of the night and I’d wake up to the sound of her soft snoring. I never worried about Meg. She was so much more than she looked. I think that’s why Megan felt comfortable staying in their room now- she felt safe with her adopted sister there. Of course, young Abram also had something to do with Megan adapting to this life.

She’d bonded to the young Vuntuta boy almost immediately. I’d seen the way she lit up when he stood in front of the class teaching the history of his people. Abram was several years older than Megan, but, strangely, I approved of their friendship. If it turned into more than that down the line, I’d be happy in the knowledge that Megan had found someone to take care of her and love her. It’s a strange thing to think about when your daughter is not even thirteen years of age, but in this world, archaic social conventions seem of little importance.

I walked across the hall to my girls’ room. Both Kara and Megan were huddled beneath a thick fur, only shiny brown hair escaped their cocoon of warmth. Their room was slightly brighter, the manmade skylight angled better for rays of light. Meg was not in the room, but that wasn’t unusual. She liked to get up before everyone else- enjoy the quiet of the dawn. She knew how to be safe and silent; I rarely worried about her.

I left our cavern wing, working my way through the twisting maze of tunnels that angled slightly upward.

The sun was not very high in the sky; dawn had passed several hours earlier. Normally, we did not sleep so long. We were all tired it seemed. I had less excuse than Jason. I had not stayed up all night on vigil. Many of our friends were already out and about- working the fields, gathering water. I saw several of our men patrolling the outskirts of our encampment. They were armed. I prayed those weapons would not be necessary today.

A strangely high, too-perfect bird call sounded above my head. I looked up, squinting against the light.

“Meg?”

A lithe form descended, branch by slender branch.

“Morning.” Meg smiled, her silvery-blonde hair a long waterfall behind her back.

“You should tie your hair up when you’re climbing.” I’d told her this before, worried the long strands would tangle in the twigs and greenery.

“I don’t like the way it feels tied up.” Meg said, her voice decisive, yet respectful.

I knew this, but it never stopped me from reminding her. She stood in front of me now and I rested both of my hands on her shoulders. I wondered when she’d stop growing. She was nearly five feet tall, signs of womanhood already sprouting. My left hand left her shoulder and I ran my fingers through her pale angel-hair.

“Is he moving today?” She asked, leaning forward and resting her check against my stomach.

“A little.” I continued to stroke her hair. “Why do you always say ‘he’?”

“A boy should be called he, not her.” Meg smiled, knowing she was being coy.

“You know what I mean, Meg.” I used a mother’s tone, but not too harshly.

“He’s,” she pointed at my stomach, “a boy. I’d start thinking up baby names.” With that, my beautiful hybrid daughter turned and sprinted off- her body moving gracefully.

I looked down at my swollen belly; I felt gigantic today, but so very happy. “If you are a boy,” I whispered, “your name is David. He always wanted a son and I only gave him daughters.” My hands were caressing now. When another pair of hands, this pair larger and calloused, covered mine, I was not startled. I knew these hands.

“David?” He asked.

“Yes. David. If Meg’s right and he’s a he and not a her.”

“I wouldn’t place bets against Meg.” He hugged me from behind and I could feel him smiling. I wiggled in his embrace, struggling to turn myself- large belly included- and face him.

“Morning.” A brief, soft kiss followed the word.

“Morning.” He returned my kiss- his less soft and a little longer.

“Girls still asleep?”

“Cuddled down like hibernating bears.”

“Good. I’m surprised Kara didn’t come and sleep with us last night after the…” I didn’t finish the sentence; he knew I was thinking about the screeching. I shuddered in his arms. He held me tighter.

“Elise, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“So you keep telling me.” I pointed to the men walking the perimeter. “They obviously think there’s something worth worrying about.”

“They’re just being cautious.”

A small voice sounded behind us. “Mommy?”

I looked around Jason at the mouth of our caverns. Kara was rubbing her eyes sleepily with one hand, Mr. Grubbykins gripped tightly in the other. It was amazing how long that corduroy bunny was lasting. I washed him weekly, sewing when necessary, glad that the pink material was thick and strong.

Pulling from Jason, I walked to Kara and picked her up with some effort. She was a heavy four year-old. Jostling her to my hip, I felt a sudden, building pain like my stomach was clenching and releasing in scream-inducing cramps. I gasped, quickly setting Kara down. Jason was at my side almost instantly. Kara pouted, upset that I hadn’t held her longer. The cramping lasted a moment longer and then, as quickly as it had come, it left.

“Are you alright?” His hand was on my belly.

“I’m fine. Really. It doesn’t hurt now.”  But I’d been in labor before; I knew what it felt like. Contractions. I wasn’t ready for this… not with the uncertainty in the forest. I could protect my baby… my son… better this way, with him inside of me- layers of skin, flesh and amniotic fluid between his fragile body and the world.

I doubled over as another contraction hit. Jason understood this time; he did not ask me if I was okay.

“Kara, go back to your room and stay with Megan. Wake her up if she’s still asleep.”

The contraction was over. They were short, sharp- like a filet knife cutting through monkfish.

“Jason, that’s too much for her to understand. She’s only four.”

God. It hurt. I should be used to this by now, but it had been so many years. I’d forgotten childbirth, the agony that bonded mother with child.  

“Okay, okay.”

I could see Jason was trying to keep a clear head.

At that moment, a wide-awake Megan walked out of the caverns. Jason sighed in relief, grateful that her appearance had saved him from further thought of Kara.

“Megan, take Kara back into your room. We’ll send Meg in with some breakfast.” His voice was fully calm again; his instance of near-panic completely banished.

I did not double over this time, but my face betrayed the contraction. Jason began to lead me down into the valley- our cavern mouth located at the top of a hill. The pain was strong enough that I stumbled this time. Strong arms caught me.

“I don’t think I can make it that far.”

Delia lived near the edge of the woods; she’d never been comfortable sleeping in the caves- said the hard walls kept her from feeling the earth. She’d been such a comfort to me, coming daily to check on the baby. Her knowledge of childbirth had ensured a safe pregnancy so far; I needed her now.

Jason paused debating and then helped me turn around. We began to walk back toward the mouth of the tunnels. He led me slowly through the passageways. When we were back in our room, he helped me gently down, rolling up our bed coverings and tucking them beneath my head.

“I’ll be back with Delia.” He kissed my forehead. “Megan, Kara?” He called. It took the girls only a moment to tumble over each other into our room, their hurry to arrive making them clumsy.

“We’re here.” They chorused; Kara’s voice so much shriller than her sister’s.

“Stay with your mom. I’ll be right back.” On his way out, Jason kissed both of their foreheads, just as he’d kissed mine moments before.

Not long after Jason left, Meg arrived, her face bright and shining with excitement.

I was struggling against the weight of another contraction when I heard the shrieking; the piercing, blood-curdling cries that could only mean one thing.

The beasties were back.

© 2013, Eli Constant 
I seriously can't wait for this book. As you probably know by now, Dead Trees is one of my personal favourite books, I may even have to enter this prize myself!

Dead Trees 2 Cover

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I hope that you enjoyed meeting Eli and getting to know her work. She's a really lovely woman with a hell of a lot of talent. If you didn't manage to win any of the giveaways, be sure to check out her books. I promise that you won't be disappointed.
Don't forget to enter the competition, leave your paragraphs here or on the event page and the winners will be announced tomorrow night.

https://www.facebook.com/events/151001158431798/

Happy Reading

Claire ♥
1 Comment

Horror Month Presents: Eli Constant Day 2

24/9/2013

1 Comment

 
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The winners for the ebook copies of Dead Trees are: San DK, Milly Stott, Laura James, & Gregory Carrico! (Yep, Eli decided to treat four of you to copies of her book!)

Congratulations. Send me your details and I'll pass them on to Eli and we'll get your prize to you.

On to tonights show. Who wants a pre-release of her newest book Mastic? Of course you do, but if you're unsure if it's for you then read the excerpt below and see what you think. I bet you won't be disappointed.


Eli Constant lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters. She is surrounded by battlefield country, farmland and lakes. Currently, she spends her days being a devoted mother and, of course, writing. Eli feels fortunate that her marriage is one of real love and she thinks her children are the coolest people in the world. She also feels so lucky to have an extended family that is ever present with encouragement and kind words.

Find out more about Eli on her website: www.eliconstant.com 
Follow Eli on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Author_EliC
Follow Eli on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorEliConstant
http://authoreliconstant.wordpress.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6901568.Eli_Constant

Amazon:

http://amzn.to/16RUIdW
http://amzn.to/16RUW4U


Mastic Promo Art

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Here's a little sneaky excerpt from Mastic! Enjoy!!

Mastic Excerpt



4 PM

Moving again. In a car.

Is it a car? Am I moving?

My eyes felt heavy again.

I turned my head, straining to focus.

Mikolas was beside me; my body rested against his. When our eyes met, I could see sadness. His hand lifted to my face and he drew his fingers softly across my eyes. I closed them, unable to resist the gentle touch and my body’s urging to sleep once again.

------------------

I was in the garden, but it felt changed- the flowers were different colors, the air felt heavier. No grandfather, but Mikolas strode out from between the fragrant clusters of flora. I looked at him thoughtfully, far removed from fear and fate in this dream world.

“We’re in a car.” I said simply.

“Yes.” He said, matching my simple speech.

“Where are we going? Are you taking me to die?”

“Yes.”

“Will you be the one to kill me?”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad it will be you.” I turned away from him, walking toward a strange rose– its petals neon yellow with a deep fuchsia border.

“Why are you glad?” He sounded surprised.

“You love me?” I matched his question with a question.

“Yes.”

“I’d rather die at the hands of someone that loves me. Even if the love is cruel, it’s better that way.” I bent over, grabbing the stem of the rose and snapping it. Standing back up, I held the strange flower.

Mikolas was beside me now. He took my hand, the hand that held the rose, and lifted it to his mouth. He took the flower from me and kissed my fingers; his lips came away tinged red.  I looked at his mouth, then at my hand. I had not felt the thorn cutting me.

“Your death will be painless.” He said, lowering my hand from view.

“Like a thorn prick in a dream.” I murmured.

-------------------

When my eyes fluttered open, I was still cradled against Mikolas’ body, but not in the car. I was swaying, feeling the rhythm of his walking. The silver of my dress was brilliant against the bright blue of his robe. I glanced away from him and saw a dark entrance in the ground illuminated only by the dying rays of the setting sun. A circular stair twisted downward into the darkness. Around us were trees, hundreds of trees.

Again I slept.

11:30 PM

It was many hours before I stirred, the sedative tea having lulled me finally into a deep, lasting sleep. My body was cushioned by a thin mat and covered by a soft blanket. I couldn’t see anything. It was so very dark.

I shifted my body, the fabric of the dress rubbing against my thighs uncomfortably. I couldn’t see the silver material, but I knew it was the same dress by the texture. My hair was loose; the long strands tickled my back as I sat up. I touched it and it felt like it was curled into long romantic tendrils.

Tentatively, I let my hands explore the floor area around me.

Hard. Rock-solid. Slightly damp. It was chilly also. When I stood, I lifted the blanket with me, wrapping it around my body against the cool. My eyes were just beginning to adjust and I could now tell that there was an obvious lightening of the dark ahead. I began to walk very slowly, pointing my toes toward the floor and feeling around before planting my foot solidly.

Waking up in the dark had momentarily revived my sense of self-preservation. I’d never liked the dark, not really. Who really likes the dark? We grow away from fear, we leave behind monsters under our bed, but the dark never becomes familiar or comfortable. Evil doings are done in the night and it’s perfectly natural to shy away from shadows. I continued walking, the slow progression of movement no match for the thudding heart in my chest.

I could see a light now- a lantern hanging from a rusted hook in the wall. When I arrived at the lamp, I reached for it, wanting the security of illumination to help me roam the dark passageways. A plink of rock on rock made me freeze and I quickly turned my head to search. A curve in the tunnel lay a few feet ahead; behind me was the dark room that I’d journeyed from.

My fingers were gripping the lamp handle now, holding it out in front of me like a shield. Then they rounded the corner ahead. Three of them.

Fight or flee or give-up? My mind worked quickly.  I turned swiftly and began to run full-speed back the way I had come.

I should have figured it was a dead end. 

Mastic Book Cover

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And now for the awesome giveaway!

GIVEAWAY

For a chance to win a FREE pre-release eBook. Simply answer the question:

Would you rather:

Stay in a small town, marry your high school sweetheart, have two kids and live a long life.

OR

Go on a dangerous adventure, have a passionate tryst and die young


Answers can be posted on the comments below or the event page, or since Facebook is acting completely screwy- private message myself OR Eli Constant.

Happy Reading

Claire ♥
1 Comment

Author Spotlight: Eli Constant

8/2/2013

0 Comments

 

The Eli Constant Interview

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About You.

I live outside Fredericksburg, VA. Our lake community is flanked by historic battlefields and farms – making the area very peaceful and family-friendly. I have two daughters, one fifteen years and the other seventeen months. My husband contracts for the government and is the most hardworking person I’ve ever met- leaving our home at four AM every day to travel the 1.5 hours to work. On the bright side, he comes home to us by three PM every day – leaving us ample family time before bed. Few things are more important to me than family. Having said that, writing books are a birthing process and the characters I write become like family. 

Name: Eli Constant. My full name is actually Elizabeth Constantopoulos, but try putting that on a book cover. It either has to be a small font or broken into two lines. Not pretty formatting-wise. I find I really love my ‘pen name.’ 
Website: www.eliconstant.com 

Other contacts/social media sites:  eli.constant.writes@gmail.com , Twitter: @Author_EliC

Link to Amazon page and or any other place it can be purchased:

Amazon (Paperback)
http://amzn.to/YXKHd9 

Amazon (Kindle) 
http://amzn.to/XYj64X_

Barnes & Noble (Paperback)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dead-trees-eli-constant/1114018217?ean=9781481030083
_
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dead-trees-elizabeth-constantopoulos/1114013956?ean=2940016116440

BooksAMillion (Paperback)
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Dead-Trees/Eli-Constant/9781481030083?id=5594207649787

LuLu (Hardcover)
http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep&keyWords=dead+trees%2C+eli&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=&x=0&y=0

Dead Trees is available at other lesser known retailers also. 

Where did you grow up? I was born in Florida. My father was in the military so we moved rather frequently. I spent the majority of my formative years in Washington State and South Carolina. 

What school did you go to? Out of high school, I headed to Columbia College – a small women’s establishment in Columbia, SC. I quite enjoyed it there, but eventually, found the all-girl environment a bit limiting. Summer after Sophomore year, I completed a research fellowship at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, TX. I fell in love with, not only the beach-y feel of thecollege, but also the well-funded science program. Senior year, I moved to Virginia outside DC to be near my family. After marrying my husband, I attended George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. I began my college career focusing on pre-medical. With each transfer, I found myself changing majors – struggling to figure out who I was and what I was meant to contribute to the world. Eventually, I settled on Biology. It was logical as I had the most credits in the sciences. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever be ‘finished’ with schooling. 

When did you start writing? Years and years ago, when I was quite young. My grandmother has all my scribbling somewhere. I actually attended an art school and majored in creative writing the year before high school. Being a military family though, I was unable to go to the school long. This was probably a good thing as I had a creative writing teacher that lived for red ink on paper. I sometimes wonder if I would have written a book sooner if not for the discouragement of that teacher. In high school, I won the top award for a creative short story at a regional competition day. I don’t remember what the story was about exactly, but do remember it involved alien space-ducks, a little boy, and a lost yellow umbrella.  

What made you start writing? I'm not sure… maybe I was just born with the ‘itch.’ 

Is it something that you have always wanted to do? Yes, but I don’t think I admitted it to myself until about a year ago. I worked my hodgepodge of jobs post-college, staying the longest at a pathology lab in Sterling, VA. I took a short sabbatical from pathology and then back to it – I think after that break from the sciences, I began to realize that maybe I was walking the wrong path. Having my daughter and having the ability to stay home while she is young, has afforded me the opportunity to really dive into writing. Now I find, I can’t seem to stop. 

What is your favourite genre to read, and do you have any favourite books or authors you would like to recommend? I’ve always been an avid Science Fiction fan, but I also have a great love for classics and historical fictions. I’ll never turn down and Orson Scott Card read – his work is fantastic, especially the Ender’s Game series and Alvin Maker series. Although Magic Street ranks up there too. I also quite love author Libba Bray. She has a trilogy that feels very Victorian, but beautifully weaves in the supernatural (the first book is A Great and Terrible Beauty). 

What about to write? So far, I’m finding I like to write in varied genres. Dead Trees is a dark thriller with SciFi elements. Tears of Chios is an urban fantasy with mystery elements. DRAG.N. is a political semi-satire. I honestly think genre definitions are objective and sometimes unnecessary. More often than not, a book will be multi-genre and that’s what makes it so successful, layered, and dynamic. 

Do you write full time? I mother full-time right now; I write secondary to that. 



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About your book

Your latest book is Dead Tress, tell us all about the story/plot.  What’s it about?
Here’s the pitch for Dead Trees: 

A scientist mommy battling beasties better be handy with a scalpel. 

Elise Swanson is trying to give her daughters a decent childhood. This should be a simple task, but the invading undergrounders – subterranean humanoids that have existed since the dawn of mankind – make outdoor playtime a tad tricky. 
After fleeing Georgia and surviving six months of bumbling self-sufficiency, Elise and her daughters meet Jason. He's tough and nature-savvy. Pit stop fights with beasties define the survival-road that the four companions navigate. The bloody pavement finally ends in Washington State at a government safe zone where the trekkers hope to build a stationary life. 
A little rest and rehab would be nice, but Elise is quickly led down a path of research and deception where humanity's future isn't a priority. She becomes leader of a secret plan and long nights in the lab keep her busy. She strives to destroy the undergrounders and the life of an underhuman crossbreed hangs in the balance. 
Haphazardly conceived and manufactured, the H2H (Humanoid-to-Human) chromosome-targeting nanotech has a small probability of success, but Elise has to believe it will work. Hour by hour, she becomes less confident and more emotionally compromised by the rapidly growing, stunning underhuman. Her maternal nature leads to a late-night escapade resulting in a platinum-haired, third daughter and a million uncertainties. 
Fleeing her home, Elise had two loved ones to shelter. That number has risen. When the not-so-safe zone is invaded by beasties, she will save her family... no matter the consequences. 
DEAD TREES is a 111k word, mature-reader Dystopian that weaves horror, levity, and science. Underneath the layers of storyline, a simple core exists – the limitless distance a mother will go to protect her children, both physically and mentally



What gave you the idea for Dead Trees? It all started driving home from visiting my parents. My dad had about half a dozen large, white sealable paint buckets in his basement – each were filled with a dry foods product. Next thing I knew, I had my recorder out and I was dictating the first chapter to what would become Dead Trees. 

Who is your favourite character? That’s a bit of a tossup. I quite like Elise – finding she is, in my opinion, a very real character with very understandable worries and challenges. Then again, I’m also quite in love with Sheila-2 / Meg. The challenges she will face in the world are impossible to predict or quantify. 

What made you decide to upload it onto authonomy?  I don’t really care for the rat-race premise of Authonomy (i.e. get enough supporters, get to the editor’s desk, maybe you’ll get published), but I do love it as a tool to gain feedback during the early stages of writing. I actually have three or four more works up on the site now. 

You recently self-published. What made you decide to go down this route instead of the traditional way? Oh… about eight rejections! Also, I find self-publishing gives me a certain sense of control. 

What are your hopes for Dead Trees? I hope Dead Trees will continue to be well-received and my number of readers will slowly increase. As a debut, I’m quite happy with it. I must confess though, self-editing was a very difficult task. Even after publishing, it took me a month to work out all the kinks. Now though, I am confident that when someone purchases Dead Trees, the will be getting a put-together product. Having said that, I’m sure there’s a misplaced comma or two  - they are tricky little buggers after all. 


What’s the next project that you’re working on? DRAG.N. – A Novella, will publish next month. It’s a brief, (~20k word) imaginative look at the future of America – paying special attention to a stylized viewpoint of National Healthcare. It’s been quite fun to write and was spawned during a writing contest hosted by the Kernel Magazine of London.  After DRAG.N., I’ll be hard at work preparing Tears of Chios for a late Summer release. 



What’s the best piece of advice that you have been given in regards to your writing? Go with your gut. Just like with childrearing, a book is best ‘raised’ by its parent. 


Additional Questions


At the end when the beasties are screeching, does that mean they are near the camp? Ah, spoiler-alert! Guess it doesn’t ruin too much though. Yes, at the end of the book, wild-beasties have been attracted to the camp by the military helicopters. That’s all I’m saying though. 

When is the sequel out? Dark Wombs: The Underground, Book Two has been planned out to the last detail. I’m hoping to tackle it after Tears of Chios is out. I wouldn’t expect it until end of this year or beginning of 2014 though.
 
Bone-popping sound of Undergrounder joints ?:
I supposed I was a bit sick of the overly-used norm for sounds in regards to monsters/humanoids/alien antagonists. I felt like it was always hissing- reptilian like. I do take some inspiration from reptiles in the jerking of the heads back and forth. Anyway, it dawned on me that as the undergrounders adapted and became 'more humane-esque' that the legs (originally inverted) were moving forward and that would bring with it some bone-on-bone contact and deterioration of cartilage. So I envisioned these changing joints rubbing together- thus, the sound. Hope that makes sense. 

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