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Book Blast Tour: SILVER SPHERE

12/31/2012

Today, author Michael Dadich is here to promote his recent release, The Silver Sphere. At the end of the tour a random name will be drawn among those who leave a comment, Michael will be giving away a choice of a $75 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. Make sure to leave an e-mail address in case your name is drawn.

The Silver Sphere, by Michael Dadich

BLURB:

Shelby Pardow never imagined she could kill someone. All she wants to do is hide from her troubled father… when she is teleported to awaiting soldiers on the planet Azimuth. Here she is not a child, but Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members whom Malefic Cacoethes has drugged and imprisoned. He seeks to become dictator of this world (and then Earth by proxy).

His father, Biskara, is an evil celestial entity, tracked by the Assembly with an armillary device, The Silver Sphere. With the Assembly now deposed, Biskara directs Malefic and the Nightlanders to their strategic targets. Unless….

Can Shelby find the other Kin, and develop courage and combat skills? Can the Kin reassemble in time to release or replace the Assembly, overthrowing Malefic and restraining Biskara?

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

I’ve been writing since first setting pencil to steno pad at age 8. A year later, I began developing the world of my current series-in-progress, and even created its title, The Silver Sphere. Now, with the support of years of experience, those early maps and back stories have progressed into what I hope is a fresh and entertaining take on the classic young adult fantasy adventure.

Despite my frequent escapes into parallel worlds, I root myself firmly in my very real family and community. When not pacing the yard maniacally after every few pages of writing, I spend as much time as possible hanging out with my studly 9-year-old son, and my inspirational wife Jenna. I also coach several local youth sports teams in Beverly Hills, and alternate between yelling at my two crazy Corgis and hiking with my trained German Shepherd.

For more, join me in my favorite fantasy worlds, from Lord of the Rings to the creations of C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey and Terry Brooks. Even more importantly, stop by and say hello on my Facebook page at AuthorMichaelDadich, tweet me at @MichaelDadich, and stalk my website at http://www.thesilversphere.org.

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FINDING POE Fans: Please Read and Share!

12/27/2012

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Finding Poe fans: please consider voting for Finding Poe in this year's P&E Readers' Choice Awards in horror novels. There's no registration required. All you have to do is click on the link, check the box beside "Finding Poe," fill out the info below (for verification purposes) and click on the verification link in your e-mail (which P&E will send you to ensure you're not a spammer). It would mean a lot.

Finding Poe has been named a finalist in the upcoming 2013 EPIC Awards, but that alone is not enough. To push this novel into the mainstream, I need readers to back my work, and that is where other awards like the P&E Readers' Choice Awards comes into play.

Here's the link: http://critters.org/predpoll/novelh.shtml

My thanks for your readership and support!

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Please Welcome Guest Author John Paul Allen

12/24/2012

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I've been so fortunate to have some great guests over this past week, and today I'm proud to feature author John Paul Allen, who recently contributed to the Fresh Blood Old Bones anthology. Here's what he has to say about the new release:

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.” – Lao Tzu

A couple months ago my newest story, "Little Miss," was released as part of the Fresh Blood Old Bones anthology – a project developed by Kasey Lansdale with Biting Dog Publications presenting works by well-known writers (Old Bones) mixed with several who are new to the market (Fresh Blood). How exciting it was to be included with names like Neal Barrett Jr, Nancy A. Collins, Joe Lansdale and others I have enjoyed since getting turned on by the horror genre and after reading the works of my fellow newbies I realized what an honor it was to be part of this collection. To paraphrase a review, “there’s not a weak story in the lot” and added to the enjoyment of each tale the editor shared with the readers how she became connected with each writer. I like stuff like that – the inside info of how things come to be so before reading the seventeen stories and one poem I read these mini-intros first.

OK, I read the one about me first and then the others. Hey, I like it when someone says something nice about me, so I clicked through the pages until I got to my name and read that I am … “a great writer but a bit quirky”. The words belonged to Dave Dinsmore of Biting Dog – someone in the business who knows me better than most. Still I had to see how the other writers were described. Let me share:

Juan Perez is “selfless” - Tim Bryant “has a unique skill” - Neal Barrett Jr. is “one of the greatest writers” - “This girl is good” describes Sara Brookes - Rhonda Eudaly is called “talented and good folk” – Nancy A. Collins is “extremely talented” – Stephen Mertz is “a fan favorite” – Folly Blaine is “a talented up-and-comer” … on and on it goes, all descriptions perfect fits and after reading them I returned to my own – John Paul Allen is “a bit quirky”.

I shared the above with Lisa, my girlfriend and three friends at work. Their reactions were the overused DUH. Two of the three added, “You did write Monkey Love.” Thus I have no defense, but I do have a better understanding of who I am and what I do – what writers do. We take the obvious, add a twist, then extended it with a “What if”.

Fresh Blood Old Bones anthology is full of What If stories – tales (and one poem) all wonderfully entertaining by some of the best writers I’ve had the honor to work alongside. This is a winner without my story in it and well worth your time. I highly suggest you add it to your reader or app.

Note: I’d like to thank the following:

Free Book Dude (freebookdude.com) for putting together this book tour and for all they’ve done to help writers promote their works. Check out their site.

Biting Dog Press/Publications (Bitingdogpress.com) who puts out some damn good stuff.

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Please Welcome Guest Author Michael K. Rose!

12/22/2012

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Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Michael K. Rose, author of the new release, Chrysopteron. Similar to both my motivations and reservations in writing Myths of Gods, Michael has tackled the sensitive issue of incorporating religious themes in his literature. If you're a Myths of Gods fan, you'll appreciate what he has to say. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Religion: Touching on a Touchy Subject in Fiction

My new science fiction novel Chrysopteron deals with religion. It deals with religion along with issues of self-determination, human nature, sex, the future of our planet. All good stuff, to be sure! But that first one always seems to cause the most trouble.

For many religious people, any discussion of religion, even in fiction, puts them on their guard. Unless they know they are reading religious fiction, I get the notion from reviews I’ve read on Amazon that anything critical of their belief system is unacceptable. I’ve even seen them justify their low ratings on the grounds that the author seemed anti-religion.

For the non-religious, they seem to want religion treated antagonistically. They want a knowing wink from the writer, telling them that he or she is on their side.

I’m generalizing, of course, but these are the attitudes I’ve encountered. So how does a writer handle the issue without alienating a good percentage of potential readers? I don’t know. I’ve still yet to see how my treatment of religion will be received, but I can tell you what I tried to do to address the issue fairly.

First, I used an invented religion. In the novel, the Chrysopteron is a generation ship sent to colonize a distant star. Near the beginning of the book, an event occurs which some of the ship’s inhabitants identify as a miracle and, as a result, a new religion is born. When the ship ultimately reaches its destination, this religion will shape the society that they build and, ultimately, decide how they respond to visitors from Earth hundreds of years later who have come to see why contact was broken off.

Second, I attempted to address the issue from two sides. In Chrysopteron, there are characters who are religious and those who are non-religious. Neither group has a monopoly on “good” or “bad” behavior. How cliché would it have been for me to say “all those people are bad and all these people are good?” Aside from being bad fiction, it does little to reflect the truth of the matter. Religion does not make people good or bad. It can, of course, but a list of good things done in the name of religion and a list of the bad things would not be very different from one another in length. So I have a religious character named Kayti who is a very sweet and sympathetic person. It broke my heart to have to do to her some of the things I did. Then, I also have a priest figure who you will not like at all. The non-religious characters are likewise more complex than being cast as simply “heroes” or “villains.”

Finally, I have attempted to let the reader decide for him or herself whether or not the members of this far-flung human society have, ultimately, made their lives better or worse than they would have been had they lived on Earth. Earth in the future depicted by Chrysopteron is not a particularly pleasant place. Over-population and climate change have led to a planet on which wars are commonplace and misery and suffering is plentiful. The way of life on the planet settled by the Chrysopteron’s crew, however, is a seemingly idyllic, generally peaceful existence—as long as one doesn’t go against the established religious order. I don’t ask the question directly, but would giving up one’s freedom of religion be worth living in such a peaceful society? And do the visitors from Earth have the duty—or the right—to upend this way of life in the interests of the truth?

I won’t give away the answers, of course. I have my own perspective—I’m sure readers of the novel will be able to detect it—and I want them to have theirs. I am not trying to make anyone agree or disagree with me. I simply want to explore religion from the unique perspective afforded by science fiction. If these issues interest you as much as they do me, I hope you’ll have a look at Chrysopteron, and if the novel sparks questions or comments, I am always available to chat with my readers. Whatever your perspective, though, I think it is important to remember that there is no reason we cannot all treat each other with kindness. No matter our differences, no matter our religion, ethnicity, culture or—in the case of my novel—our planet of birth, we are all human beings, and we are all trying to make it in this universe, we are all searching for joy for ourselves and our loved ones. If there is any message I hope readers take away from Chrysopteron, it is this simple yet easily forgotten fact.

About Chrysopteron:

Captain John Hayden, haunted by memories of war and still grieving the death of his wife, is about to embark on the most important mission of his career: to discover the fate of the Chrysopteron, one of five generation ships which left the Earth centuries earlier. The descendants of the Chrysopteron’s original crew had successfully colonized their planet, but less than a hundred years later, all contact was lost. Hayden knows that a mysterious new religion which was formed aboard the ship may have played a role in determining the fate of the colonists, but there is no way to know what he and his crew will find when they finally arrive.

In a story that touches on issues of faith and self-determination, Chrysopteron explores the fundamental elements that define our species. Even though we may leave the Earth, we cannot leave behind that which makes us human.

About the Author:

Michael K. Rose is primarily an author of science fiction who also dabbles in horror, fantasy and paranormal fiction.

His novel Sullivan’s War has been called "...a sci-fi thriller that definitely delivers!" and his collection Short Stories has been praised as "...the purest form of literature, as rich as a bottle of Montrachet 1978 and as tasty as a generous cut of Wagyu beef."

His newest novel, Chrysopteron, is already being hailed as a "...gem of a novel..." and "a masterpiece."

Sullivan’s Wrath, the sequel to Sullivan’s War, will be released in early 2013.

Michael K. Rose’s new novel CHRYSOPTERON is now available on #Amazon! US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00APQI9MA UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00APQI9MA @MichaelKRose

Michael K. Rose’s new novel CHRYSOPTERON is being called “A masterpiece.” Get it for #Kindle or #Nook: http://www.michaelkrose.com/chrysopteron @MichaelKRose

For more information, please visit http://www.michaelkrose.com

Links

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble

Other

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Please Welcome Author Sara Brooke

12/21/2012

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Today I have the pleasure of hosting Sara Brooke, author of The Zyne Project. She's tackled a subject dealt with by many of us who have written erotica and/or horror. Take it away, Sara!

Why my parents are not allowed to read my books:

First and foremost, I just want to say that my parents are my biggest fans. They’ve supported me throughout my writing journey and have never criticized my decision to pursue the craft. If anything, they’ve been wonderful.

My father always wanted to be an author, and tells me (often) that he needs to try to get that first book done. I listen and smile, knowing intimately how hard it is to write an entire novel. There are so many distractions, life gets in the way, there’s a great movie on TV…and so on…

So, suffice it to say – my parents are great.

However, they are not allowed to read my books.

Why not?

Well, let’s start with my mother. This is the woman who birthed me, bathed me, and watched me turn into a woman while trying to instill good moral values. She is a kind, smart woman who appreciates sports and family.

What she might not appreciate are things like horrific, gruesome death, terror, untamed sex (some of it harsh), and people going crazy and killing each other.

I can hear the conversation now:

Me: So mom, what did you think of The Zyne Project?

Mom: Well, it was very scary, but why all the gore and the sex? I think you need to write about nice things.

Me: Mom, it’s a horror novel.

Mom: Yes, I know. But nice things can happen in a horror novel. I think you should add something about all of the characters’ parents and maybe more about their dreams and hopes in life.

Me: Mom, that doesn’t really fit into the story.

Mom: I don’t understand why you’re fighting me. You never listen to your mother. Go to your room.

Sigh.

My father is another story. He would read the book and then want to discuss it, chapter by chapter, debating all of the issues. And to be honest – that just doesn’t sound very appealing to me. Particularly because some of the scenes involve sex.
Name one person you know who wants to debate a sex scene they wrote into a book…with their father.

I think you’re getting my drift.

Now, that isn’t to say my parents haven’t asked to read one of my novels. But it is a hard discussion to have because I am constantly dodging their questions about what the books are about. And that takes work. Here’s an example:

Dad: So, your mother tells me you’ve finished another novel. That’s great!

Me: Thanks, I appreciate that.

Dad: So, what is this one about?

Me: Umm…it’s about a clinical trial that goes horribly wrong.

Dad: That sounds interesting. Did you do a lot of research?

Me: Yes, dad.

Dad: Well, when am I going to get a chance to read it?

Me: Well, it’s in editing and will take a while. I’ll let you know.

I think by this point, my folks are starting to catch on and realize what is happening. The other day, my brother revealed that my father actually read an excerpt of one of my books on Amazon’s free preview and is looking forward to reading the entire novel.

Thankfully, the previews only have the first few chapters and none of my novels begin with the lead characters engaging in voracious sex while killing people at the same time (though that does sound interesting). In addition, my parents are “holding out” for the free copies from me as opposed to simply buying my books themselves.

So, I’m safe for now…

But it won’t last forever. And then, when I least expect it, they’ll be diving into The Zyne Project and my world filled with terrifying nightmares will be revealed.

My parents may never be the same again.

Excerpt from The Zyne Project:

The piano music mixed with the air. It sifted through the silence and danced amongst the invisible gentle winds that swept through the palatial mansion. Crystal glasses clinked in the distance, followed by laugher augmented by the blushing freeness of intoxication, while outside, warm breezes flowed freely through the palm trees and exited out towards the southern skies.

She walked quickly through the halls, her high heels clicking as they swept across marble floors. Gentle lights glittered from the chandeliers hanging overhead. As the door to her bedroom approached, she increased her pace, quickly reaching out to grasp the bronze door handle and escape inside.

Once in her room, she removed the now-quite-uncomfortable shoes and dress, choosing to sit in front of the vanity mirror wearing only lace thong underwear and a matching strapless bra. The vision that stared back was most impressive to many and certainly to the majority who were attending the dinner party.

But it didn’t look the same way to its owner.

Slowly, the woman began running her fingers through her hair, looking almost distracted as her vision seemed to glaze over. Sinking deeper into her thoughts, she furrowed her brow and began to push elegant fingertips through ebony hair.

As time quickly ticked by, she pushed her fingers harder and harder against her scalp until each motion was more of a scratch…

She began to pull her hair out. Piece by piece she continued yanking out strands, while scratching her scalp, causing it to bleed. Crimson, stained skin lodged itself under her fingernails as the act continued, again and again. She tugged and mutilated herself for twenty minutes until she realized that her 10-year-old son was standing in the doorway, watching.

“Mom, what are you doing? What are you doing?”

About the author:

Sara Brooke is a horror and suspense novelist living in South Florida. A lifelong avid reader of all things scary, Sara's childhood dream was to write horror books that force readers to sleep with their lights on.

Her first novel, Still Lake, was released Spring 2012.

Sara's influences and favorite authors include Bentley Little, John Saul, William Blackstone, and Joe McKinney.

For more information on Sara Brook and her books, visit her Amazon page.

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Interview at A NOVEL IDEA LIVE Radio Show

12/16/2012

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I was interviewed today on A NOVEL IDEA LIVE. I had a great time chatting with host Krista Kedrick. You can listen to the feed here. You can also access it through YouTube:

My interview begins at about thirteen minutes in. There are a couple of technical glitches, as the show's producer wasn't able to make it, but I think you'll enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed being there. Thanks for listening!

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The Next Big Thing

12/11/2012

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My thanks to Richard Schiver for inviting me to be a part of this week’s Next Big Thing blog posting group. The Next Big Thing is a meme trickling through author blogs of numerous genres, with each participant answering the same questions about either a work in progress or a work currently being marketed. Each author then chooses five other authors to keep the chain going. The following is my contribution:

What is the title of your book?
“Mused” is a 10,000-word novelette.

How did you come by the idea?
I wanted to expand upon the concept I had explored in my novel, Finding Poe, only switching to the author’s point of view.

What genre does your book fall under?
Horror.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters if it were a movie?
I would prefer a cast of talented no-names, which I think would be fitting for a story written by a relatively unknown author.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A writer gets more than she bargains for when she borrows the muses of well-known authors.

Will your book be self-published or traditional?
I currently have the story under consideration by a traditional publisher.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It took me roughly a month and a half to finish the first draft, slow by my standards, but forgivable given recent health issues.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I can’t think of any books that have tapped into this particular theme. The story is, as far as I know, unique.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
The muses inspired me; I wrote this story for and about them.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Readers who enjoyed Finding Poe will not only derive similar pleasure in reading this story, but they might find that it also sheds more light on the mystery behind the main character’s enigmatic identity.

The five authors I’ve chosen to continue the chain on December 18 are:

Jaime Johnesee
Dan O’Brien
Erik Gustafson
Clayton Bye
Blaze McRob (will be posting on December 19)

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New Fans Pages Article

12/10/2012

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The Walking Dead fans: Missing the show yet? How about getting your fix through a short commentary on Carl and the slow transformation that has occurred in his character through the seasons? Check out my latest Fans Pages article here.

For more updates, you can also check out Fans Pages on Facebook.

Don't forget to "like" and share!

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Why I Write

12/8/2012

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I’m sure you’re preparing yourself for some clichéd rambling about my writing because I must, or that I knew I was a writer since I was seven, or something else to that effect. While all that might be true, I thought I’d delve a little deeper into the subject, while at the same time offering a few candid words behind my motivations in sharing the written word.

I’m not your typical thirty- (around the corner from forty-) something. I’ve spent much of my life observing rather than participating, documenting rather than doing, and analyzing instead of simply enjoying the moment. I can only assume that a good number of other writers have shared a similar path, although it is a difficult one to admit.

If not in talent, then at least in demeanor, I am a Salinger … a Dickenson … a hermit. I strive to understand the human condition, many aspects of which thoroughly confound me, by exploring it through my writing.

I write from an outsider’s point of view. This is both to my detriment and to my advantage. It is only human to want to connect, and so my greatest wish is to reach others in the only way I truly know how. Throw me into the heart of a booming party, and I’m clueless. My heart will race, my body will glisten with sweat, and I will stand awkwardly in the corner of the room, unsure how to interact. The truth is, I don’t fit in. I’ve never fit in. And it is painfully obvious to anyone who has encountered me in person.

I spent my childhood clinging to my books and my studies for some sense of grounding, while bullies singled me out and chiseled away relentlessly at my self-esteem. They saw my weakness, and as any young person will do, my peers exploited it to their greatest advantage. I spent my high school years finding ways to stay as invisible as possible, lest someone notice the bull’s eye painted across my forehead and the word “outcast” visible within the furthest depths of my horrified eyes. Some people fear spiders, some fear snakes, and some fear the dark. I fear none of those; I fear people.

One of the greatest motivations behind what I write is a stern desire to understand all that eludes me. I seek to gain as much from my works as I would hope others might gain in reading them. Of course, what we each derive will likely be very different, and that is the beauty of it. I write because it is my way of reaching out to you, readers of the world—people I might never otherwise have the chance with which to connect. I write because, although I might not understand you, I know you. I know you very well. That is the gift and the curse of people like me.

So I entreat upon each of you: pick out one of my books, one that might suit you better than the rest. Let us connect through that book. Let me touch you, if I can; in the process, let me offer you a tiny piece of who I am. That is all I have to offer you.

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Facebook Update

12/6/2012

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Friends, family, peers, and readers:

I'm done with the politics, the BS, friends and family using Facebook as their personal soap boxes then getting pissed when someone doesn't like it, and other issues I'd just as soon not advertise here, so here's the deal: I'm no longer using Facebook to keep up with family and friend events. Those who want to stay connected know how to get a hold of me.

For those who are interested in staying connected with me on Facebook on a professional level and those who are interested in staying up-to-date on my writing, I will be switching to and solely using my Leigh M. Lane author account. Here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLeighMLane

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