Imagine this; a world where certain individuals have the ability to jump inside your mind, wander through your thoughts, feel what you feel - literally become you. Body Jump explores such a notion with endless possibilities. Naturally, in the hands of a seedy low-life this 'gift' teeters on the edge of sexual depravity, but when Walker jumps inside the mind of a woman at the point of her own murder, he's never to be the same again. With each bloody slash of steel, the pain is unfathomable and the fear all encompassing. He's witnessed a murder, but who would believe him? Susan Claw, all round seductive, hard-ass cop, has a hard time believing Walker's story. But after a little show-and-tell, and a quick rummage through the dangerous compartments of her mind, Walker makes a believer out of her. The trick now is using this gift to her advantage. How can a sexual deviant like Walker be serious long enough to help them catch this killer? And what happens when the killer discovers their methods and tries to beat them at their own game, hunting them down like animals? Needless to say this interesting concept is heavily explored and brilliantly executed. I even enjoyed Walker's perverted nature and incessant rambling. With one action-packed scene after the other and explosive moments of true terror, I had trouble putting the book down. Characters were imaginative, underhanded and decidedly consistent in their roles. The imagery was descriptive and when combined with the no nonsense approach of the detectives involved in the case, the facts were clearly delivered and hard-hitting. With an unexpected twist at the end, I will happily be rating this novel four and a half fangs out of five. Synopsis: Susan Claw is a no nonsense, straight-talking homicide detective with a dark side and a penchant for licentious sex. But when a serial killer starts murdering his victims in the bedroom, Susan’s carnal cravings take a nose dive. She has witnessed horrific murder scenes before, but nothing compares to these gruesome killings. The killer has an unparalleled lust for blood and flesh, and will do anything to satisfy his unnatural appetite. Their only suspect, Walker, is a smart-mouthed sleaze who possesses the unique ability to body jump. He has seen the killer’s face but the truth is something the police won’t believe. As Susan and her partner continue their investigation they’re unaware that they’re being stalked by the serial killer they have dubbed “the butcher,” who has his own special plans for Susan. What will happen when Susan comes face to face with the butcher?
Today I have the pleasure of being one of the tour stops for a dear friend and fan, author Tianna Scott. Symphoni is Tianna's first novel, and like all Indie author's, she needs our ongoing support to keep her writing dream alive. So please, take the time to have a read through the synopsis for both Symphoni and her short story, Legend, as well as check out her links. And please, feel free to leave comments or ask as many questions as you like. Oh - and check out the interview!!!!! Symphoni: Life hasn't been too easy for Greg Daniels lately. When he arrives at school on the first day back from summer vacation, he finds that things are much worse than he could have ever thought. Stuck in the middle of an ancient feud between the Olympians and the Titans, Greg discovers that the line between good and evil isn't always clear, and his allies might be more dangerous than the enemy.
Legend Blurb: MY Symphoni. All mine. All Legend had to care for in his life was his twin sister, Kassandra. They did everything together, including various jobs for the Titans who were their creators. That is until Legend meets Symphoni. Strong, beautiful and extremely difficult, Legend finds himself wanting to know more and more about his new enemy. But as they get closer, his loyalty is tested and he must choose between his family and the woman he loves. With Obsession Comes The Ultimate Betrayal. Will Legend be able to sacrifice everything for Symphoni?
Author Bio:
T.M Scott loves writing. With passion, drive and a taste for the unusual, she enjoys reading and writing new and different things. Doing her best to always think out of the box, her writing usually starts off as an insane scheme of some sort before she works out the finer aspects and turns it into something great! Her heroines and heroes are never the typical 'beautiful' people, meaning they all have some sort of quirk or oddity about them that makes them unique and refreshing characters everyone can relate to. Symphoni was her debut novel and her work has been featured in the horror anthology, The Withering Darkness. She lives in Los Angeles, California with her daughter Ariyanna.
Author Interview: 1. Describe your novel in twenty words or less. Greg meets his soul mate only to discover that he’s the deciding factor in the war between the Olympians and Titans. 2. What were some of the biggest obstacles that you had to overcome while writing? Getting over the worry that people might not like my work and just writing what I wanted to write. 3. Are you also a reader, and if so, what’s your preferred genre? I love Adult Paranormal. Big fan of Kresley Cole and Kerralyn Sparks! 4. If you could have dinner with one person dead or alive, who would it be and why? It would probably be a toss up between JK Rowling and Bette Davis. I know... weird choices but I absolutely LOVE Harry Potter and just being around JK Rowling would make me happy forever. As for Bette Davis, I’m a huge fan of her movies and would love to have a chance to talk to her and see how she really was outside of Hollywood. 5. Do you have any weird little habits that get you in the writing mood—downing a bottle of wine, eating an entire bar of chocolate, fornicating on a porch swing? MUSIC! Music is a huge part of my writing process and I definitely need music to get my juices a-flowin! 6. What sets your book apart from others in the same genre? I think what sets my book apart is... the main character Symphoni. She’s strong, beautiful, has a few extra pounds on her, but is completely comfortable in her skin. She doesn’t need someone to save her constantly and I think YA needs that more now than ever. 7. Okay, so I bet you secretly hate one of the characters in your novel. Who is it and why? There’s a character named MJ. She pisses me off to no end. So much so that I considered killing her off but she DOES have some redeeming characteristics that saved her. 8. You’re on death row and it’s your last meal. What will you choose to eat? Well I WOULD say a food that I’m allergic too... in an attempt to cheat them out of my killin... but since I’m not allergic to anything yet... chicken enchiladas, salad, chicken rice, and tequila. Gotta go? Mind as well just go drunk!! 9. Tell us three crazy things about yourself that you wish no one else knew (I promise I won’t post this … but I lie). Ok... um... 1) I’m afraid of Nuns. They freak me out. All... judgey and stuff. 2) My room is insanely messy and I hardly ever clean it. It drives me nuts but I always forget. Lol. 3) Sometimes when I’m nervous... I speak with an English accent. Lol. A BAD one at that! 10. Are you a scruncher or a folder? (Yes, this is a toilet paper question) Definitely a folder. Lol. But I use A LOT of tissue even though I don’t always need it. 11. If you had to pick one song to be the soundtrack to your novel, what would it be and why? For Symphoni it would be... Sugar, Were Going Down by Fall Out Boy. For Legend... Under The Water by The Pretty Reckless or Slept So Long by Jay Gordon
12. Do you have any future projects lined up that you want to tell us about? Right now... I’m working on a book called Dragon's Revenge. It follows Kaida Dewi, a Dragon Princess, on a quest for revenge against men who came and destroyed her Kingdom. It should be out later this year hopefully! 13. E-book or paperback, what’s your preference? Paperback definitely! They have the best scent! The feel of them in my hand is amazing too. I love my kindle and kobo but they can’t compare. 14. What books or authors have most influenced your writing style? Ummmm... Gail Carriger maybe. 15. If you were stuck on a deserted Island would you choose: a) A total hottie to keep you company over the lonely nights ahead. b) A solar powered Kindle with limitless reading potential. c) Tom Hanks and Wilson to help get your ass off the Island. Well.. it depends... is this a smart hottie that will help me build a raft to leave?? If he is... then A... lol. If not then... c.
16. Who has been your biggest support on your writing journey, and please, feel free to add my name here … Well other than the AMAZING Kristy Berridge... there’s my mom, dad, my daughter Ariyanna, my cousin Tiarra who helped me name my characters, my cousin Kim who helped me come up with the finer points, my sister Nesha for just being there. 17. What is one of your favourite scenes from your novel? Feel free to provide a small excerpt to entice the readers. “Symphoni!” I yelled. “You need to calm down!” She still glared at MJ, her lip curling up at the corner. “Symphoni, you’re gonna hate yourself in the morning!” Finally she turned and looked at me, not looked, glowered at me. “I mean it!” She stepped towards me, dropping her hands, the wind dying down. “There’s nothing going on here, Symphoni. I promise.” The wind was gone and her eyes were turning back to hazel but the tears continued to flow, hopefully we could deal with that next. “Did you know that we had sex?” MJ said, in her most condescending voice. Black eyes. That’s all I saw before all hell broke loose. The hurricane picked up, swirling at full speed. I stumbled backwards onto the bed as Symphoni stepped towards MJ. The air crackled around her as the two faced off, I scrambled to my feet to only be slammed back down by wind. “Symph-” She clapped her hands together and thunder erupted in the room, bouncing off the walls and busting out the windows. I clamped my hands over my ears and ducked as the glass rained down around the room. MJ shrieked and I looked up as she dove to the side. Symphoni paid her no attention as she continued to walk over to the window.
18. If you had to cast your characters, who would you reconcile to play their parts? Greg: Michael B. Jordan Symphoni: Logan Browning MJ:Elena Satine Legend: Ben Barnes Kassandra: Anna Popplewell 19. Any last words? (feel free to write Kristy Berridge is super awesome right here) First things first.. Kristy Berridge is AWESOME!!! lol. And I want to thank everyone for joining me today for the interview!!!
Wow. What a surprising little novel. Rae of Hope explores the exciting new world of magic for an almost sixteen year old girl oblivious to the world of gifted individuals. Marked by tattoos inherent from a singular parent, Rae Kerrigan is the unknowing recipient of such a mark. Starting at a new school filled with students at the cusp of accepting these tattoos, Rae soon learns more about her past, the unusual coupling of her parents and the power of each tattoo. Speed, visions, strength, dream domination and the chameleon ability of adapting to others are just a few to name, and naturally everyone expects Rae's to be something extra special. But with power also comes greed, and since Rae is a suspected prodigy, there are more than few characters at the school trying to muscle in on her gifts and exploit the darkness of her past. Interestingly, I rather enjoyed reading this novel despite the fact that the plot was not interspersed with hard hitting action, riotous humour or bouts of horror. In fact, it was rather sedate but ironically engaging through character dialogue and the mysterious unfolding of Rae's past. With a touch of simmering romance and plenty of promise for an interesting second collaboration, I happily rate this novel three and a half out of five fangs. Synopsis:
How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth of the past? Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan has never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is a very unique, gifted school. Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become marked with a unique tattoo (tatù) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatù enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their marking. Both her parents were marked though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young and never told her. Learning about her family’s past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope for her own life.
Today I have the fabulous James Garcia Jnr visiting the blog, an author I've admired for his cleverly crafted novels and constant appreciation of my ridiculous blog posts and Facebook statuses. We both share a passion for vampires, treadmills and the written word - so let's see what he has to say about my twenty warped questions ...
James Garcia Jnr
Describe
your novel in twenty words or less.
Paul Herrera inherits an old house and comes to
grips with ghosts that haunt both his past and present. *wipes forehead*
Nineteen! That was too close!
What
were some of the biggest obstacles that you had to overcome while writing?
Well, I’m a late bloomer. Although I discovered a
love for reading and writing back in junior high school, it really wasn’t until
middle age that I began to put the proverbial nose to the grindstone. I’m
forty-four now, but was when I turned thirty-eight that I really began to
feel the regret that I would feel when I was old and gray if I never gave
writing the college try. My latest novel will be my third. I have an
understanding family. They don’t love the time I spend on my laptop, but they
allow me that space. The only obstacle I have is provided my eleven hour day
job where I’m an Administrative Supervisor.
Kristy: I hear you, Jimmy! I want to kick those authors who brag about staying home all day to perfect their craft while we're slaving away only getting better at pen-pushing.
Are
you also a reader, and if so, what’s your preferred genre?
I prefer horror and suspense. I won’t read just
anything, however. I much prefer The
Silence of the Lambs over The Texas
Chainsaw Massacre. I do like to deviate from that now and again. My
favorite novel is actually not frightening in the least. It is Beach Music by Pat Conroy.
Peter O'Toole
If
you could have dinner with one person dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Hmm? That’s a tough one. We run the risk of
discovering that our heroes are creeps sometimes. Lots of names popped into my
head when I saw this question. Being a huge music fan, I thought of the late
Freddie Mercury of Queen. I have read a few biographies and was struck by one I
read on the late Katherine Hepburn. However, I think I’ll go with actor Peter
O’Toole. I just love to listen to him speak, and I know he won’t be much longer
on the planet. I should like to sit with him for a few hours...sip some wine...and
just chat (See, he’s rubbing off on me. I sound like him already).
Kristy: *Shakes Head*
Do
you have any weird little habits that get you in the writing mood—downing a
bottle of wine, eating an entire bar of chocolate, fornicating on a porch
swing?
Sadly, no. Although I can very easily down a bottle
of white zin during a networking session, I really don’t have the time to play
around. I usually only attempt one writing project every year and a half or so,
thanks to my long day job. If I’m writing I have to race home, clean up and
squeeze it in.
What
sets your book apart from others in the same genre?
Recently, I found myself answering a question like
this one by saying I might very well be the Nicholas Sparks of horror. I never
meant to say it. It just came out. Perhaps it’s fitting. We’ll see what the
readers think.
Okay,
so I bet you secretly hate one of the characters in your novel. Who is it and
why?
Interestingly I don’t. I guess as being their
creator I hate the things some of them do, but use those dirty deeds against
them and spin them for good.
You’re
on death row and it’s your last meal. What will you choose to eat?
Eat, Hell! Where’s the Crown and Coke?? I guess I’d
go with a steak. Maybe a T-bone, cooked medium. I’ll take the mashed potatoes
and green beans. Can I get a Margarita with that, please? No? Damn!
Tell
us three crazy things about yourself that you wish no one else knew (I promise
I won’t post this … but I lie).
*Crickets* Seriously, I’m so square! I’ve got
nothing. *lies* Hand over that Crown and Coke and maybe I’ll sing...
Are
you a scruncher or a folder? (Yes, this is a toilet paper question)
Folder, and I probably use more than a woman. Ask my
wife. She’ll tell ya’.
Kristy: Sorry, folders must be slapped. No one should be that organised in the toilet.
If
you had to pick one song to be the soundtrack to your novel, what would it be
and why?
“Heaven” by Warrant. I’m an old 80’s headbanger, but
when you read the novel you’ll see why.
Do
you have any future projects lined up that you want to tell us about?
Sleeping. Taking my kids to the movies – they don’t
need me to do it anymore since they’re 15 and 19, but I miss hanging out with
them. My treadmill. Sitting with my wife without whipping out my smartphone
every ten minutes. *Laughs* Okay, okay. I’ve got a collaborative writing project
that 13 authors are working on, but that’s all I am at liberty to say about
that until it’s done. I’ve never done anything like this and am a bit nervous.
I might start the third novel in my crossover Dance on Fire vampire series, but we’ll see. Stay tuned.
E-book
or paperback, what’s your preference?
I would prefer a hardback, so I’ll say paperback.
However, I also much prefer old record albums, too. There was nothing like
reading the lyrics and staring at the album artwork while the record played;
the smell of a brand new album. Yet, there I am every Tuesday, sniffing around
iTunes, trolling for new music! You just can’t beat the ease of buying, storing
and reading books on an e-reader. A year or so ago, I remembered that Sammy
Hagar had an autobiography out that day. I grabbed my Kindle and less than one
minute later I was reading that bad-boy!
What
books or authors have most influenced your writing style?
For this, I will once again refer to the genius that
is Pat Conroy. If I could write half as well as he does, I could die a happy
man. In my genre, I will note Author Michael Slade. That is the pen name of the
father/daughter team that writes the Special X Royal Canadian Mounted Police
thrillers. The first one, Headhunter,
might be the greatest horror/crime novel I’ve ever read.
If
you were stuck on a deserted Island would you choose:
a) A total hottie to keep you company
over the lonely nights ahead.
b) A solar powered Kindle with
limitless reading potential.
c) Tom Hanks and Wilson to help get
your ass off the Island.
The hottie would be lovely for the first couple of
days, but eventually I need someone to really talk to. I know it sounds corny.
I can read a lot, but not that much. I guess I’ve got to go with Hanks and
Wilson. Wait! Was the hottie gorgeous and
intelligent? Nah! Never mind. She’d just get rid of me, so she could end up
with Hanks and Wilson...
Where
can we find you?
Sun Maid Growers of California for eleven hours,
five and sometimes six days a week... What? Oh! ;) I’m in the California
Central Valley, near Fresno. Beyond that, you can find me attached to this
laptop. Just ask my wife. She’ll tell ya’. I hope you’ll look me up on
Facebook, among other places.
Who
has been your biggest support on your writing journey, and please, feel free to
add my name here …
Kristy Berridge. She’s both super awesome, a hottie
and supremely intelligent. Unfortunately, I think she’s secretly planning my
demise so she can help Tom Hanks get off the island and forget all about Helen
Hunt... Seriously, it’s the wonderfully supportive writing community. They have
encouraged me and cheered my meager success, and have offered a shoulder when I
have thought about giving it up. They are the greatest, and Kristy Berridge is
definitely among their number.
Kristy: *fist pumps the air* See? Coercion works every time.
What
is one of your favourite scenes from your novel? Feel free to provide a small
excerpt to entice the readers.
In Seeing
Ghosts, there are ghosts both inside and outside a large two story house
that my main character has just inherited. Paul has befriended one of them, a
very young boy who has become lost. He reads to him at night. His name is Paul,
too. In this scene, he has misplaced his Kindle...
Gingerly,
I turned the knob and pulled. I braced my left knee against the door, in a
manner of preparing for someone or something
to attempt to rush me and gain access. I peeked through the tiniest of gaps in
the door and glanced about. There wasn’t much moon, so I had to wait quite a
while before my eyes adjusted to the dark. When they finally did, I opened the
door a little more.
The
overturned bench still lay where Flora had thrown both it and me much earlier
the previous evening, but I could see no further. I stuck my head out into the
night air and quickly checked behind me. As I opened the door just a bit more
to accommodate this, something fell. I couldn’t stifle a surprised cry and a
curse. I looked down.
My
missing Kindle. It had been left for me, propped up against the door. Perhaps
it was to be a peace offering after all.
I
knelt down and retrieved the device. I slid the switch on and a moment later,
it came to life. Cool to the touch after having sat outside, it appeared none
the worse for wear. As I prepared to rise back to my feet, the wind started again.
I looked up just in time to see it and realized—it was no wind at all, but a
man. One no longer the man he’d once been. He glowed white and ran past the
front of the porch. Beyond him in the yard were more just like him. I dropped
the Kindle.
They
were all shapes and sizes of ghosts. Men, women and children, even the occasional
dog and cat. One of the dogs was barking and it sounded familiar. Thankfully,
it didn’t seem to be looking for me this time. They all seemed to ignore me and
one another. They just ran. Some waved their arms. A few stomped about like
zombies. From the expressions on their faces, none were at rest. This was a
horror among horrors.
I
sat down there and watched the pain as it unfolded about me, frozen by it.
Somehow it felt as if I’d just survived a plane crash that had killed everyone
else and my brain was short-circuiting because it was simply too much to
fathom.
“They’re
so sad,” a voice said beside me on the left. I nodded, but couldn’t pull my
eyes from the dead. “This is because of the bad lady,” Paul announced. He stood
beside me in the doorway. Mercifully, he didn’t touch me. It might have been
the last straw that, once removed, would make the whole construct that was me
crumble towards nothingness.
“Yes,”
I said, finding my voice.
“We
must do something to stop her.”
I
turned at this and looked upon the boy standing there before me, who stared
past me at the scene in the yard. Interesting to behold—he was very young, but
unafraid. Glancing down at me, he nodded as if resigned to some duty.
“We
must,” he said. I felt very proud of him at that moment for some crazy reason.
I recall shaking my head in astonishment.
If
you had to cast your characters, who would you reconcile to play their parts?
Hmm? You know, perhaps it has to do with my limited
time, but I have never dreamed of actors for any of my characters. Perhaps I’m
boring that way. That’s not to say that I haven’t dreamed of selling film
rights or being summoned to Hollywood to assist with the screenplay. I have
dreamt of that quite a lot. *laughs* Especially the part where I pen my two week’s
notice and walk away from the eleven hour day job. That’s a favourite dream of
mine!
Any
last words? (feel free to write Kristy Berridge is super awesome right here)
I believe we have covered quite well the fact that
Kristy Berridge is super awesome, even discounting the part where she plans my
death in order for her to leave the island with Tom Hanks. Whether it was our
short time together on the island or this interview, it was fabulous while it
lasted!
Seriously, I want to thank you for this opportunity,
Kristy. I thank you and your readers for taking the time to give my writing a
chance. For the writers out there I urge you to press on. If we push ourselves
and give it our all, no one can take it away. What we don’t want is to sit in
our rocking chairs in our old age and be saddled with regret for not ever
having tried. Happy reading and writing, my friends.
Well, thank you so much, Jimmy! It's been great having you, and an absolute pleasure to support a talented author like yourself. Make sure you all check out James's work and get yourselves a copy of his books ASAP!
So it might be obvious that I'm planning to read and review the entire series in Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires. Midnight Alley is book number three and I don't see any signs of this fast paced supernatural fiction from slowing. With an ever-thickening plot, enriched characters and a whole host of unfurling action that never seems to get tiresome, I can honestly say that I'm hooked. Just when you think you can't be exposed to any more two-faced vampires, raping college students and the sick and twisted minds of the humans spewing vampire hate, I'm thrown into the washer of a thrilling wordsmith. Morganville is a town run and dominated by vampires, the humans that co-habit are either fodder or chess pieces easily manipulated for nefarious intent. Those who choose survival often find themselves faced with soul damaging choices and almost always wind up hurting or killing someone they love. Claire Danvers is no exception. Recently making a deal with the founding vampire known as Amelie for protection, Claire is once again out of her depth. Teamed with a crazed vampire with a brilliant mind, she is tasked with absorbing his knowledge, unlocking the secrets of Morganville's extraordinary powers of concealment as well as finding a cure for a damaging vampire virus. Yes, the vampires are slowly going out of their minds. And if crazy fangers wasn't enough to have you hiding under the bed sheets, then perhaps an ex-con who enjoys the slow torture and mutilation of the local college girls will do it for you. Rachel Caine has once again produced a effortlessly spun plot of intrigue, suspense and action. With character consistency and well constructed imagery, I'm always tagging along on unfolding events. Once again, this novel rates highly at four and half fangs, though I do wonder how long this high-paced conflict can continue without numbing the reader to expectation. Synopsis:
When Claire Danvers learnt that her college town was run by vampires, she did what any intelligent, self-preserving student would do: she applied for a transfer and stocked up on garlic. The transfer is no longer an option, but that garlic may come in handy. Now Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. The protection her contract secures does little to reassure her friends. All of a sudden, people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire’s past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.
