Saturday 31 January 2015

New Release Fantasy Romance ~ The Huntress: The Beginnings

The awesome thing about being apart of a great club like Fantasy Sci-Fi Network is the array of authors I get to work with from all over the globe. This weeks new release author is no different. Hailing from Berlin, Germany, Nadja Losbohm is new to FSFNet but is far from a new author. Her book The Beginnings is the first in the huntress series (of so far 4 books) that has been translated into English.

NADJA LOSBOHM   
THE HUNTRESS 
THE BEGINNINGS  



Ada Pearce is an average young woman. She is 5’4” tall, overweight, and doesn’t play sports of any kind. Shortly after her 21st birthday a mysterious priest informs her of her destiny as a huntress. Ada doesn’t believe that story at first, but when she finds out that creatures of the night threaten the human population, she accepts her destiny, gives up her former life, and moves into the secret rooms of St. Mary’s Church, which had been built hundreds of years ago, and begins her training.



In flashbacks, the protagonist herself tells her story, beginning with her first meeting with the enigmatic and unapproachable priest, through her first year of training and her secret life, to the problems she encounters on her first hunt, and the issues which crop up when a priest and a woman live together…

    
What readers are saying about The Huntress...
"It is the most unique “vampire” novel I have ever read."

 "Ada Pearce is a likeable character, who creates the necessary connection between fantasy and tension with a lot of self-irony and wit."

"This book is a mixture of "Buffy - the Vampire Slayer" and "Interview with the Vampire" - and yet again completely different. "


 An excerpt to get you started...


I had barely been out for fifteen minutes before I saw the first monster in an alley. There was something on the ground in front of it, and judging by the sound, it was someone suffocating. Furious with myself for having arrived too late, I screamed. Had I left out dessert, I would have made it on time, I thought bitterly.
The monster turned towards me. When it realized who I was, it roared at me before a surge of foul reeking breath hit me. Oh man! Why can’t these things smell more like vanilla or strawberries, for example? Mm … strawberries. Yummy! I would love—concentrate now, Ada!
I pulled my sword from under my coat and grinned diabolically at the beast.
“Your last hour has come,” I shouted.
Actually, I didn’t know if these beasts understood what I said and never really found out if they did in all the years I’d fought them. In fact, I didn’t care and still enjoyed making fun of them. Besides, I liked thinking aloud. It kind of reassured me and calmed me down. I have to admit that I still get scared sometimes while walking the streets at night. A casual remark, every now and then, helped me get over my nervousness.
The monster roared again before it jumped over the dying man and ran away. Before I went after it, I checked the person lying there. It was a young man; he couldn’t have been older than twenty-five. I couldn’t do anything for him anymore.
I ran through the alley after the monster. It turned left and then right, crossing an empty square before it turned between two houses. It was damn fast and I was starting to get a side ache, but I wasn’t done yet. My anger at those beasts drove me and gave me strength. I followed it relentlessly until I suddenly found myself standing in an old factory hall. There was hardly any light and everything looked gray. The glass on the windows was broken and old machines stood in the corners. There were remnants of all kinds of things on the floor. I pulled the flashlight I always carried with me and looked around the hall. “Come out, come out, little monster,” I whispered. My eyes darted across the shadows in the hall anxiously, trying to find my enemy. There was nothing down there, so I looked up. There it was, hanging onto a steel beam like a bat.
It let go so suddenly that I’d barely had time to get out of the way. The ground under my feet shook as it hit the floor. It roared at me before I inhaled its foul breath. Even if it hadn’t done anything else, I had to kill it just for that!
All at once, it jumped at me. I rolled away from under it just in time. That was close. I got up quickly and pulled myself together. That thing stood there lurking and waiting. I did the same. Suddenly, it took a run and came right at me. I started running towards it too, holding my sword up in the air; I rammed it into the beast with a loud scream before I heard one of my favorite sounds: that of a dying monster. Then it slumped on top of me. Great!
Disgusted, I pushed the heap of a monster off me. It fell on the floor with a loud splat. I lay there for a moment, taking a breather, but the eerie atmosphere in the factory hall had me up on my feet soon enough. I got my sword back, pulled a cloth out of my pocket, and cleaned it before I called the Padre and told him where to send the cleanup team. I stifled his anxious words crudely. I wanted to get on with my round and not waste any more time on pointless rambling.
It wasn’t long before I came across the next monster. This one didn’t take that long; I was really grateful that it spared me all the running around and decided to attack me right away. It was a short process and the cleanup team had yet another job to do… except, the night was far from over. I found three more creatures later on. The last in line was the worst. Maybe because I was exhausted by then. Fatigue crept over me and my concentration was waning.

I ran down the street. The glow of dawn was slowly breaking above the rooftops. There was a wonderful play of colors that started off with yellow before it turned into pink and purple then finally blended with the remnants of the nocturnal blue. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! I ran like mad through the backyards and felt something running down my arm. I immediately knew it was blood. My blood.
That damn beast must have had a go at me with its claws. That’s another scar. Great! I already had a notable assortment of those. Almost every type of monster had left a mark on me, except the vampires, and I really had no intention of getting too close to those.
Racing through town, I felt like I was running in place. The church wasn’t yet within sight. “Please, please, please!” I begged and looked over my shoulder. Panic overcame me after I realized that the monster had caught up with me and was getting ever closer. Shit! Why was I so slow today? I ran through an empty intersection. The traffic lights were on orange, like every night after a certain hour. I turned around the corner at the Chinese restaurant where red paper lanterns hung down golden tassels and colorful plastic flowers sat on the windowsills. I zigzagged hoping to shake the monster off, but it was no use. It was still on my tail. Desperate, I whispered Father Michael’s name and tried to imagine what he’d say to spur me on and make me run faster. But then I saw the church tower. The cross on top looked down at me. Thank God!
I gathered every bit of strength I had and raced down the alley towards the church. I ran, winding my way around the trees. I heard the monster panting behind me. I couldn’t see it, but it sounded like it just dashed through beds of flowers. In the corner of my eye, I saw rose bushes and soil flying about. People would probably think that a bunch of drunkards were on a rampage again. Then I saw Father Michael. He was standing on the stairs in front of the church door. His dark silhouette paced restlessly back and forth. The lanterns’ yellow light cast a black shadow on the walls of the church.
I was so glad to see him I started crying. That’s not a good idea, Ada! The tears obscured my vision. I blinked a few times, but the tears in my eyes just wouldn’t stop coming. I called Father Michael’s name and saw how he turned abruptly. His cassock fluttered. How long had he been waiting there for me?
I couldn’t wait to reach him and be inside the safe haven of the church walls. My feet weren’t quick enough and I stumbled. I tripped over the curb. I thrashed around with my arms before I fell down flat on my face. I felt my hands and knees scraping the asphalt as I heard Father Michael shouting. I struggled back up on my feet and looked at the church. The Father came running towards me across the square. “Where’s the sword?” he shouted.
I automatically reached to my side but there was nothing. Damn! I must have dropped it as I fell. I looked around and saw it a few meters away. Just as I wanted to run and get it, the Father pushed me aside and grabbed it. I watched the scene with big, wide eyes. My heart almost stopped when I saw the monster getting ready to jump. The Father stood there calmly. He looked like a statue holding a sword and waiting for the right moment to use it. The monster took off and pounced at him. One of the two screamed but I couldn’t tell who. The only thing I could clearly discern was the Father standing right under the monster, which was hovering over him. Father Michael’s arm swung up before the sword slashed the monster’s belly open. The Father turned and whirled around before he finally settled on his knees behind the dead monster.
Mesmerized, I glared at him. I had never seen anyone move like that. He was as gracious and supple as a dancer, yet as precise and relentless as a machine that had only one purpose: to kill.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him as I walked towards him. He took my breath away. He looked like a knight on his knees before his king, offering his sword in allegiance.
“That was … incredible!” I murmured, looking back and forth at him and then the dead monster.
Father Michael raised his head and looked at me, but didn’t really see me. His eyes were distant, almost veiled. He seemed to be in some kind of trance. He blinked before the veil fell off.
“Yeah, really incredible!” he repeated sarcastically. He got up. “What the hell was the matter with you?” he said, snapping at me. He came towards me and stood right in front of my face. He was so furious, he panted and breathed quickly. I felt every breath of his on my skin.
He scared me and I started to stutter. When he started swearing, I knew he was really, really mad.
“You’re hurt,” he interrupted as his tone of voice suddenly mellowed. He grabbed my arm roughly to check the injury. Feeling the pain, I took a strong, deep breath.
“I’m sorry,” he said gently, his eyes softening. “You go on ahead. I’ll be right with you and see to your wounds. I just need to take care of this here,” he said, pointing at the dead monster.

 
Fun fact about Nadja's writing...

"I don’t eat green vegetables. If there’s something green on my plate I don’t touch the meal! I gave Ada, the huntress, the same strange quirk."

About the Author...



Nadja Losbohm was born on December 14th, 1982 and lives in Berlin, Germany. Her first fantasy novel "Alaspis - The search for eternity" (German edition available only) was published in 2012. Since then she has published the popular series of fantasy romance books "The Huntress". In German there are parts 1-4 available (ebook and paperback). "The Huntress - The Beginnings" is the first part of the series and the first English book Nadja Losbohm has published.
Currently she is working on the 5th part of the "The Huntress" series of books.
Nadja loves writing, reading, music, movies, photography and travelling. Her favorite authors are Karen Marie Moning, J. R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Robin LaFevers, Simon Beckett and Cody MacFadyen.

 
Where to purchase “The Huntress” and her other books:

Amazon.com

Social media links:

Facebook page:http://on.fb.me/11IIVj8
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nadlo82
Goodreads Author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6644026.Nadja_Losbohm
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Nadja-Losbohm/e/B009SIDWIW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1


The Fantasy & Sci-Fi Network is a collection of authors, bloggers, and reviewers who are passionate about finding and creating quality fantasy/sci-fi books which are also teen safe (G, PG, or PG-13 rated). The FSF Network believes it is possible to create fantastic works of fantasy and science fiction without resorting to graphic violence, explicitly harsh language, or sex.


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Twitter handle: @FSFNet


Wednesday 28 January 2015

New Release MG Fantasy: Summer's Dark Waters by Simon Williams

Today I welcome Author Simon Williams to the The Chronicler to introduce his new release sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal book, Summer's Dark Waters. While Williams has published the first three books of his dark fantasy, The Aona series, this book marks his debut in writing for a younger 10+ audience. 

SUMMER'S 
DARK WATERS

SIMON WILLIAMS


 What readers are saying about Summer's Dark Waters...

"The author expertly maintains the suspense and mystery to hook the reader" 5 Stars

"A believable dark fantasy world where readers will easily connect with both the characters and storyline." 5 Stars

"I haven't seen (my 12 1/2 yr old daughter) that into a book in awhile." 5 Stars


An Excerpt to tempt you...

The afternoon wore on, tedious in the way that only summer afternoons spent inside can be. The hands of the clock on the wall appeared (to the eyes of the hot and tired students who kept staring at it) to be moving far too slowly, as if like them it was starting to wilt a little in the summer heat.
            Joe finished his work and turned it over to stop anyone nearby from copying his answers. Nathan sat nearest to him, and he usually tried to look at Joe’s work whenever he got a chance, but today he was actually trying to figure out the answers himself for a change.
            Joe frowned and looked around suddenly. The oddest sensation had come to him- something he could not even hope to describe.
            It’s like there’s suddenly an extra person in the classroom, he thought, and he found himself looking around at everyone and counting heads, certain that there was a new student who had suddenly wandered into the room- although that was impossible, because he and everyone else would have seen him or her. In fact their teacher, Miss Wells, would have introduced the new student at the beginning of the lesson.
            And there can’t be anyone new anyway, he reminded himself. It’s almost the end of the summer term. No one joins school with just a week to go.
            But he couldn’t stop himself looking around, scanning everyone and silently counting them. A few saw him and stared back. Daniel made a rude hand signal and glared at him. Gemma stuck out her tongue. Caitlin just smiled and gave him a little wave before going back to her work.
            “Have you finished your work, Joe?” Miss Wells asked, staring at him over the top of her glasses.
            “Yes miss,” he said politely.
            “Then could you please stop looking around at everyone else and read a book until the end of class?”
            Joe took a book out of his bag and opened it at the bookmark. He began reading, but he had only got as far as halfway down the page when another strange feeling came to him. It was as if he was being watched intently by one of the other students.
            No, he thought suddenly, closing the book slowly. His heart pounded and his stomach felt as if it had turned over. No, it’s not one of the other students. It’s the missing one. It’s the one I can’t see.
            He knew that what he was thinking didn’t make any sense. It sounded completely mad. But that didn’t stop him being certain that there was someone in the class apart from all the people who he could see.
            His eyes were drawn to a desk not far from the window where the sun poured in. There was no one sitting there, and he tried to remember who normally sat at that desk. Did anyone sit there?
            Time seemed to slow down as he stared at the desk, at the sunlight slanting in across the classroom, at the tiny specks of dust that shone in the still warm air. He could dimly hear the tired ticking of the classroom clock on the wall. It’s slower than usual, he thought. It’s slowing down.


From random scraps to a finished product...

Simon Says..
It all came about originally because of an almost completely different idea that my niece had for a kids' story. She suggested I write a book for kids as I'd never written one before, and we put a few random ideas together. A few things made it to the finished book- the two main characters (Amber and Joe) have the same names, and Amber is much the same as we originally imagined her to be- and the lake that features in the book was also one of the original ideas or "scraps" that were written down. From those random imaginings a book was somehow born.


About the Author 


Simon Williams is the author of the Aona dark fantasy series, which is attracting growing acclaim for its fusion of different genres and atmospheric, character-driven narrative. Three books in the series are out so far, and the fourth is due out early in 2015.

He has also written "Summer's Dark Waters", a sci-fi / fantasy /supernatural novel for all ages 10+ and aimed more at the younger market. A sequel is already underway and the aim is for this to be published later on in 2015.

Connect to Simon Williams...


Friday 23 January 2015

Runaway Smile - Nicholas Rossis Blog Tour


Today I have the opportunity to welcome one of my good RRBC and FSFNet friends to my blog, Nicholas Rossis. He shares with us not only his smile but his take on his new release children's book, Runaway Smile as part of his Runaway Smile blog tour.


 Finding the right moral


My children’s book, Runaway Smile, has been described as “a humorous book with a serious moral”. People have made similar comments, but I always wonder which moral they’re talking about. An author sits down and writes, and only later does he analyze what he has written. Or at least that’s how this author does it. So, I’d be happy to share my personal take on the story, but that assumes I have got the same thing out of it as everyone else.

What prompted this is a strange call from a psychologist family friend the other day. She said she loved the book, because it said exactly what she had been struggling to convey through her own unfinished book: that all men would turn into criminals if not for the mother’s love.

When I indicated that this was not my personal understanding of the story, she refuted me, explaining that I obviously did not understand what I had written.

For me, it’s the story of how we wake up one morning and realize that we’ve forgotten how to be happy. We seek happiness in our work, in money, in power, in humour, in knowledge... All these can offer us fun, symbolized by the false smiles worn by everyone (I’m not sure that people have noticed this, but everyone except for the boy and the mother are wearing strapped-on smiles). However, true happiness lies with sharing. With love. And sometimes we forget that, and we need someone to reach out to us and help us through this dark time of the soul.

As to what prompted it, I have been struggling with my own version of a mid-life crisis, I guess, where I find myself giving up a twenty year-long career to become an author. This is because my previous career no longer made me smile. Sharing my stories, however, has put the smile right back on my face!

So, why don’t you read Runaway Smile, online for free and let me know what your take on the story is?



Book Blurb

I woke up this morning and I had lost my smile and it wasn’t my fault and I looked everywhere and it was gone. Then I met a workman and a king and the best salesman in the world and a clown and no-one wanted to give me theirs. At school, I asked Miss to give me hers, but she gave us a pop quiz instead, and then no-one was smiling and…
From the blog of Nicholas C. Rossis, author of science fiction, the Pearseus epic fantasy series and children's books

A little boy wakes up in the morning and realizes he has lost his smile. After spending the entire day trying to find it, he learns the truth behind smiles: the only real smiles are the shared ones
.



Contact Information

I’m all around the Internet, but the best place to find me would be my blog, http://nicholasrossis.me/.

Anyone interested in my books can check them out on Amazon:

Also, people can read for free both Pearseus: Schism, on Goodreads and
Runaway Smile on my blog: http://nicholasrossis.me/childrens-books/

Other places to connect with me include




Brief bio

Avid reader. Web developer. Architect by training, holder of a PhD in Digital Architecture from the University of Edinburgh. Most importantly, author.

Nicholas loves to write. He has published Runaway Smile, a children’s book, and the Amazon best-selling epic fantasy series, Pearseus. The fourth book in the series is currently edited, and expected to be released mid-February.

He has also published The Power of Six, a collection of short sci-fi stories that include his award-winning short story, I Come in Peace. This, too, has reached #1 on Amazon.

Nicholas lives in Athens, Greece, at a forest’s edge, with his wife, dog and two very silly cats, one of whom is always sitting on his lap, so please excuse any typos in his blog posts: typing with one hand can be hard. Mercifully, all of his books are professionally edited.

Blog Tour Links

Goodreads Event Page -
Rafflecopter Giveaway Page -  

 This tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com

Wednesday 7 January 2015

IN LOVING MEMORY & TRIBUTE TO KATHRYN C. TREAT

This is dedicated to my friend Kathryn who was always so good to me and such an inspiration. I never thought I could make solid friendships through social media but I was wrong and I miss my friend who I had never met face to face. You're a beautiful treasure Kathryn, may you find rest in the world beyond.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF KATHRYN CHASTAIN TREAT

Kathryn C. Treat passed away on Sunday, December 21, 2014 @ 2:20am (California time). On Friday, Dec. 19, after having a wonderful time at the Rave Reviews Book Club's virtual Christmas party, in a virtual chat room with her fellow RRBC VIP Lounge members, Kathryn informed that she was not feeling well and that she was going to leave. Shortly thereafter, she suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and then lapsed into a coma. 

Kathryn was an honorary board member of the Rave Reviews Book Club, where she served as Membership Director from Dec. 2013, until October, 2014. Kathryn is the author of "ALLERGIC TO LIFE: MY BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL, COURAGE AND HOPE." She inspired and encouraged many with this book so if you have not had the pleasure of reading it, please head to Amazon and get your copy.





Kathryn was a dedicated member of RRBC until her passing and she was one of the most supportive members the club had...not just to one, but to all. Kathryn leaves to mourn her husband, her mother, a sister, her two daughters, a son-in-law and three grand-kids (who she adored more than life), as well as her entire RRBC family.

let us remember Kathryn and honor her memory by always being kind to one another and by always offering our support to another. It's what she did. It's how she lived. It's who she was. In honor, many blogs across the world are memorializing Kathryn today with the same post that you see here. If Kathryn touched your life in anyway, please share your memories and comments below. As everyone who knew Kathryn may not yet know of her home-going, we ask that you share this page on all your social media forums.

We have erected a memorial page on the Rave Reviews Book Club site that will remain. Please stop by to leave your comments and memories of Kathryn as well, so that her family will get a sense of just how loved she was by so many. There you will also find more information on Kathryn and how RRBC has planned to continually honor her in other ways.

THANK YOU

Outsider (Flawed #2) is LIVE! #NA #paranormal #thriller @beccajcampbell



Outsider Book Release and Goodies
This week marks the release of Outsider, the second book in Becca J. Campbell's New Adult Paranormal series Flawed. To celebrate, Becca is hosting a giveaway and a book sale!

The Prize Pack

The giveaway at the end of this post is for a prize pack that includes: one autographed paperback of Outsider, one 12" x 18" poster of the cover art, and two square collector's buttons (one of Empath and one of Outsider). Please note, this giveaway is open to those with an address in US or Canada.



The Book Discount
The regular price of the Outsider eBook is $3.99, but for the first week, you can purchase a copy for only $2.99 (ends January 12th). On Jan. 13th, the price increases to $3.99, so make sure to get your copy now! Here are the purchase links:


About Outsider (Flawed #2)
After a psychopath tried to kill his friends, Josh Schuyler figured 'normal' was far off. The real problem: Josh's friends have all acquired supernatural abilities, while he's still the same average guy.
Josh has always believed he was destined for greatness, but he's been out of college for two years without a clue of his purpose. After watching his friends and siblings develop superhuman traits, he wonders if he might be meant for something grand, too. Can Josh even hope for an extraordinary event in his own future? And how long must he wait for this transformation - if there is one?
When Alex met the Schuylers, she was grateful for new friends to whisk her away from her lonely life in California and give her an escape from her divorced, bickering parents and aimless future. But Josh won't drop his defenses, and Alex isn't sure she wants to trade her old life for this new, uncertain one.
Nicodemus has an amazing ability he's been milking for years to get whatever or whomever he wants. Things are going great until a young woman - Alex - inadvertently busts his latest swindle. Nic is furious when he discovers his power has been disabled, and he vows to find her in order to wreak his vengeance. She will be punished. All he needs is a little help from his friend, Ethan Black.
Josh has been waiting for his big break, or for the chance to be a hero, or just the opportunity to stand out in his own, extraordinary way.
Will Josh discover his purpose in time to stop Nic?

More Flawed Books


Empath (Flawed #1)
Supernatural empathy isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Anywhere she goes, Jade’s emotions are replaced by those of the people around her.
Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings.
When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her, unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal.
Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.
Amazon Barnes & Noble | iTunes


Pulled (A Flawed Short Story)
Eight-year-old Juniper has been labeled many things—troubled kid, orphan, runaway—but none of her foster families have known what she really is: a girl with a unique and brutally inconvenient ability to teleport.
Her spontaneous jumps are not only beyond her control, they get her into trouble. When Juniper disappears, no one believes her wild stories, so she's stopped trying to convince them.
One day when Juniper gets pulled away, finding her way back is harder than ever. Stranded on the side of a deserted highway, she must rely on her own instincts to determine who is a creepy stranger and who she can trust.
Resourcefulness may get her home, but is getting home enough when you don't have parents that love you?
Juniper knows something most people don’t: there are others like her with unexplained abilities. Until now, she’s exercised stranger-danger caution, but maybe these people can offer what she needs.
Will Juniper find a family she can share her secrets with?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes


About the Author
Becca J. Campbell is the author of the Flawed series as well as Science Fiction novels Foreign Identity and Gateway to Reality, and Sub-Normal, a series of short stories.
An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality, Becca looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity. You can find her on her Author BlogFacebookTwitterGoodreads, Pinterest, and Amazon.
Giveaway
Enter the Outsider prize pack giveaway below: