Monday, September 22, 2014

Author Spotlight Timothy Broyles

         BLADES & BULLETS             


                        Prologue
     In the year 5052 A.D. the city of Kingfisher was named for the river that ran beside it. In turn the river was named for the amount of Kingfisher birds that hunted on it. The city its self was basically low tech. Filled with thieves and bandits. Reku Gen was a fair man and used his police wisely to control the vermin in order to protect the innocent. Many merchants came to trade and sell merchandise. But many more travelers came to study the magic at the mystic temples. In this age and time only the strong survive……
     Ruki Ito’s fat butt smacked the ground hard but he wasn’t really hurt. Just his pride, and the fact that he wasn’t man enough to do a damn thing about it. Being a rich merchant had its perks but bravery wasn’t one of them. His extra dessert, one more piece of chicken, and let me have just one more glass of apple cider, gulping gut was to out of shape to fight his own battles. Gold coins spilled out of his coin purse with a clang.
     Ten armed bandits surrounded him and his bodyguard. A loud yell from one large particularly muscular bandit had frightened him into stepping backward and slipping on a loose stone. With a crocked smile the lead bandit stepped forward with his katana out stretched in Ito and his bodyguard direction.
     ‘Give up the Dragon’s Kiss fatso.”The bearded man said harshly.”
“You gave up your chance to live when you attacked us.” The body guard said directly.
     Shina Nightblade took a defensive stance and readied her weapon for action. She lightly gripped the black handle of her katana and slowly moved it to a better position. The samurai solder’s jet black shoulder length hair was in a ponytail. Armor less wearing only traditional garments, sandals and a white head band on her forehead. She appeared very defensively skilled to the ten well armed men surrounding her and her employer.
     Suddenly, Shina charged forward at the first bandit in front of her. The man was armed with a two handed axe, a large double bladed weapon which was  heavy and slow in combat compared to the choices of light one hand weapons available in the area. But with his large size and muscular build he had split many heads open with devastating power. It has not failed him yet in combat, and he wasn’t about to let it now against a woman whom thought she was a samurai warrior. With a loud battle cry and a heavy step forward the powerful man raised his heavy weapon and came downward at the
charging samurai soldier with crushing force. Shina  adjusted her weapon twisting the blade to the rear and gritted her teeth. The huge battle axe crushed down and struck nothing but the dusty earth in front of it. The huge man shifted his eyes to the right as his target easily darted out of the danger zone and shifted her weight to one side. The katana’s blade was swung at an angle severing the bandit’s head, sending it crashing to the ground with a thud. Blood spread upward like a fountain in the air.
     “What the hell!” One masked bandit blurted in confusion and disbelief. His Conrad’s body collapsed limply. Even as the man and his partners in crime shook off the trauma of what just had happened, the female warrior was headed toward her next target. An average sized man armed with a rifle that was unable to fire before due to a lack of a clear target. The rifle man also had been stunned by Nightblades awesome display of combat skills, which allowed his opponent a few steps closer than before. Adjusting back on his right leg, He threw his automatic rifle up to his shoulder, aimed and fired! Rat-a-tat-tat tat! The gun kicked the 22 calibur bullets split the air but struck only Shina’s sword blade which had been strategically placed to catch the speeding bullets deflecting them from their primary course. Her face, right between the eyes. Glancing off with a loud clang, the out of control bullets hit another bandit in the chest instantly dropping him on his back to the ground dead. His double edged spear bounced harmlessly to the side. With a ruthless cross cut to the rifleman’s shoulder and neck; they were completely sliced through as well as his fire arm. The bandit leader ordered the other six of his men to attack.
     “Nobody can do that!” He yelled trying to cover what just happened with  none credibility. But three of his men were dead and nothing could change that fact. Three bandits armed with a spear, a broad sword ,and a katana rushed with a loud battle cry into the mist of the raging battle. Blocking the katana with an upward strike, Nightblade cut downward  to check her stance on both targets. Spinning and almost stabbing the ground Shina skillfully blocked the broad sword, forcing it downward with her sword hilt and executing a slicing blow to the swordsman’s upper knee. Forcing him to drop to the ground which gave her enough time to meet the swordsman, (whom clearly was not a samurai sense he was not holding his weapon correctly for the proper usage) with a straight jab to his abdomen that pierced his back and extended at least a foot. Ripping it blade back through his stomach with a foot firmly pushed into his chest for leverage she then spun and stabbed the struggling man, who was originally
armed with the broad sword in the neck at an angle. Blood splashed on her face but the master swordsman didn’t notice she simply continued her work.
     “Die you samurai bitch!” The bandit leader yelled as he swung his heavy two handed- sword in Shina’s direction. Only to be block and countered with a powerful cross cut to his shoulders and she spun three hounded and sixty degrees to perform another diagonal cut to his neck chest ,and abdomen in one whirling motion. The other three bandits saw their leader crash to the ground in three pieces. The quickly decided they better quickly change their profession in a hurry. Turing a way and running, they made for the woods and brush they had leaped out of on the Kingfisher trail.  Shina Nightblade stood frozen in a back stance for a few seconds before grabbing her sword scabbard and standing up straight. Whipping her sword blade up high she slowly put it back into its scabbard without taking her eyes off the wilderness.
     “Wow! You’re really something else!” Ruki Ito congratulated his bodyguard.
     “I had no idea you were that bad ass.” He continued as he began to gather his gold coins and money purse.
     “You’re worth every cent I’m paying you.” The fat merchant said sitting on his butt smiling while counting his gold.
     “We should have taken a ship. This entire cross country trip has been a disaster. These men were a test. The magic syndicates have found out that you posses the Dragon’s Kiss. You heard what the bandit said. Real assassins will be coming soon. We better get to the city before night fall or we may encounter more trouble.” The cautious soldier stated to her greedy out of shape employer.


           


  ASSASSIN MOON

                            PROLOGUE

     The roof top was littered with dead Spider Clan assassins. The thick rain drops washed the blood from the razor sharp blade of the katana that killed them. Lighting flashed from the over head thunder clouds. The rain beat down on the roof top like a drum. Shina Nightblade stood on the roof top of the Thypon Corporation building frozen like a statue. Her tight black leather outfit reflected the flashing lighting and out lined her sexy female shape. Her white head band held her thick black hair that hung down to her shoulders out of her eyes. The rain made it stick to her face and neck which her employer Ruki Ito thought was just too hot. He watched his shapely bodyguard as she faced down the latest assassin bounty hunter from behind the large garbage can next to the door to the roof. The skillful Nightblade stood with slightly bent knees and her hands gripping her katana over her head with the blade pointing downward at an angle. The windy rain did nothing to break her concentration. Her deep blue eyes focused on one thing. The deadly opponent across from her. Adjusting her left foot for a better stance vibrated the blaster on her side and the dagger strapped to the small of her back. Straight in front of her stood her toughest opponent yet; Myst. A lone wolf ninja assassin whom had built quit a reputation for getting the job done and escaping completely clean. He had killed half of the Spider clan member himself trying to get to Ruki Ito himself. Armed with A six foot staff with twin crescent moon shaped blades on either end of the weapon. The ninja was focused beyond the rain’s distraction. Behind his disguise and blue and black camouflage he narrowed his eyes. Letting out a loud battle cry he charged in Shina’s direction. In turn the skilled student of the legendary Katana King gave her own cry of war and charged. Leaping into the air the two combatants met weapon to weapon with a loud clang. As he landed Myst whirled his weapon low and attacked the samurai soldier’s feet. Shina stepped back twice to avoid the ends of razor sharp weapon’s blades. She countered with a powerful downward cut but the ninja easily blocked her attack. Rotating his staff weapon the assassin countered Nightblade yet again. Turning to the side and shifting her katana diagonally the skilled   swordsman blocked the ninja’s deceptive assault. Whiling her body the opposite direction and dragging her right foot low to the ground; Shina hooked the bounty hunters feet sweeping him to his back. Instantly she turned and bolted in her employer’s direction. Taking a quick glance behind her, she saw Myst was already to his feet and in pursuit. The assassin abruptly stopped and ripped his blaster from his hip. Leaping to the top of garbage container the bodyguard avoided several plasma blasts that streaked in to the wall of the building and side of the trash container.
     “What the!!??” Ruki Ito freaked as Shina crouched beside him.
“You’re supposed ttt… to be out there!” The fat merchant complained. The samurai soldier rose up straight and peered in bounty hunters direction  Myst was charging at full speed.   
     Nightblade quickly unsnapped a pouch on her utility belt and drew out a small white golf ball shaped object. Raising it up high she slammed it to the wet ground between her and Ruki Ito. As it detonated an enormous cloud of white smoke engulfed her and her employer. Myst slid to a halt and fired his blaster horizontally in a sweep into smoke cloud. As the white screen cleared the bounty hunter leaped to the top of the large trash container. Shina Nightblade was gone and so was her employer. Spinning his blaster like an old west gunslinger Myst replaced it in its holster. He scanned the roof top once more from atop the container but only the dead Spider Clan assassins bodies remained. Ruki Ito and the Dragon’s Kiss hand slipped between his fingers for now. He whirled his bladed staff and exited the building roof top.
                 




  Blades of Shadow

                                                      PROLOGUE

              Busy traffic zipped through the Techron City streets while above the air was filled with fling cars traveling to and fro. The bright rays reflected off their shiny paint jobs. Fast paced patrons quickly stepped their way to their destinations. Gigantic video screened billboards covered the building walls with tones of advertisements and sales pitches. A gray and blue police car slowly floated to the street and switched to driving mode. A slime muscular sky boarder zipped through the bustling air traffic and road his board smoothly to a halt onto a nearby sidewalk. His black leather flight jacket with pants and boots to match brought out his light blue T-shirt. He deactivated his magna-lock boots and his magna-lock strip on his board allowing him to step down to the ground. His anti-gravity generator levitated it about a foot above the concrete below. As the board’s engines shut down with a high pitched hum. The twenty five year old African American male grabbed it with one hand and it responding to his touch shut off its anti-grav unit. Jackson Salter with board under arm walked to the Techron City museum and magna-locked it to the bike chain bar outside of the building’s sliding door before entering. The former sky boarding champion checked his cell phone for missed calls but he had none. He had put his phone on silent while he was riding the air waves to help him stay focused.  As he entered the crowded hall way a familiar voice caught his attention.
     “Jackson!” A vibrant male voice called out to him from behind.
     “Man what up!” A slim Chinese man about twenty years of age rushed toward him through the museum doors. Mark Chang’s friendly greeted him with a day brightening spirit. Jackson swung his right hand to slap him five.
     “Man I thought you weren’t gonna show up.” Jackson said smiling.
     “Come on dog, you know I wouldn’t miss this exhibit’s opening for the world.” Mark expressed laughing. The dueo turned and headed back toward the center of the building.
     “So do you think anyone will try for the vase?” Mark asked his friend casually.
     “I wouldn’t doubt it.” Jackson said with a sigh.
     “If any magic users are familiar with the keys they’ll be able to see through its mask.” He added. They threaded their way through the schools of people until they reached the museum elevators.
     “I hope we can get away from this day from being a magic show down fight scene.” Mark joked.
     “I would really would like to see the honeys that are here to check out the vase.” He continued.
      Being mage warriors was getting in the way of marks love life a little. He would be in the middle of a date some night and some creature or monster would show up in his area with sights on him. Trying to get him out of the way. He had lost some pretty hot chicks because something scary attacked him and his date in some restaurant while they were eating. Most girls he knew didn’t like scary hell spawn with three or four eyes and long and sharp teeth. Jackson was feeling it too. The mage warrior thing was a little tough with dealing with women considering how many magical creature they had faced in the last month. They hadn’t had a lot of good nights rest lately. A lot of creepy crawlie’s had showed up in the same place. Four or five trolls or two or three hell hounds. They hardly ever encountered more than one of the tougher creatures at once, but lately they had been showing up in small groups. But this job was different. They were watching out for a magic thief. The vase on the display was an artifact of great power. To the every -day public the vase was a priceless relic dug up in the African dessert. But Jackson and Mark both knew the truth. If a rogue magic user that knew how to use the vase got their hands on it, they would have a problem that wouldn’t go away on its own any time soon. As the elevator stopped the doors slide open and the two young men exited it into the hallway. As they made their way to the exhibit they noticed the large crowd of people swarming around the vase’s window. Photographers snapped photos and reporters wrote columns on their touch screen computers. As they made it to the window a wave of invisible water crashed into them and stopped them dead in their tracks. Other people showed no response as if nothing had happened to them. One older man stepped from behind them and glanced at them for their rudeness of stopping so abruptly in the isle way. As the man made his way on down the isle mark cut his eyes at his partner.
     “Did you feel that?” The warrior mage asked with a serious look.
     “Yeah, somebody just shrouded themselves.” Cutting his eyes to meet Jackson’s gaze. They both scanned the area around them. Checking out the crowd and the exhibit window but everyone was acting normal as if nothing strange had happened. Jackson took a deep breath and looked around the room once more. Mark looked at him with a little disappointment in his eyes. They both new what a shroud spell mint, they were dealing with a strong magic user. A experienced magic user that had detected them first. And there was no doubt that he or she knew what the vase in the exhibit was. Jackson had the ability to detect the mage but he would have to summon his source weapon Emerald Shadow. Its power could see through shroud cloaking cloudy magic but summoning it would cause a little too much of a scene in the general public. Mark looked at the crowd once more then back at Jackson.
     “Do you think they will try for it now.” He asked his partner.
     “I don’t know but they made us that’s for sure. Let’s just see what happens.” Jackson said scanning the crowd once more but still detecting nothing unusual.
     From the center of the crowd a sexy female shape softly freed its self from the droves of people. Her blonde and black streaked hair was whipped with big curls that brought out her Chinese shaped eyes. Her thick curvy shape was fitted to her black jeans and black denim jacket. The woman’s white silk shirt bulged from her healthy breast. Her black high heeled shoes clicked as she made a path to get breathing room. The young woman’s right hand held a digital camera shoulder height to protect it from damage. A small leather camera case was slung over the African American ladies shoulder. Jackson refocused his eyes and made sure he wasn’t dreaming.
     Damn! He thought. The sexy female made her way toward him and stopped a few steps short as her light brown eyes met his.
     “Jackson?” She explained.
Mark turned his eyes to his friend’s direction but Jackson remained focused on the vision of beauty in front of him.
     “I can’t believe it! It’s really you!” The young woman continued.
     “Tameka?” The young mage said with a frown.
     “Tameka Henry? I don’t believe it.”  He continued with a deep breath. Tameka stepped forward a few steps and looked down to gather words.
     “Well it’s been a long time hasn’t it?”  Tameka said with a smile.
     “Yeah it has.” Jackson replied slowly rolling his eyes.
     “So what are you doing in Techron?” She asked.
     “I’m working with my homeboy at the sky boarder convention.” Jackson quickly lied and turned his eyes to Mark who met his gaze with an innocent expression.
     “Yeah auh…Hi I’m Mark Chang assistant director of the Silver Eagle sky boarding competition.”  Mark quickly stated holding out his right hand for a friendly greeting.  Tameka held out her hand and shook marks with a soft manicured grip.
     “It’s nice to meet you.” She said. Jackson lit up a fake smile.
   
      “What are you doing here?” He asked.
     “Oh, I’m working for the Solar Flare a web based news paper here in the city. I’ve lived here about three years with my Grandmother. She needed a little help around the house so I moved from Boston to help her out.”
     “That was nice of you.” Jackson said with another fake smile.  Tameka reached into her jacket pocket raveled her cell phone. It buzzed and vibrated.
     “Oh, it’s my Grandmother; I’ll be working here all week.” She committed.
     “It would be alright with me if you stopped by.” The sexy reporter said with a smile.
     “Hey hold on, let me give you my card.” She reached into her bag and pulled out her business card and gave it to Jackson.
     “I’ve gotta take this, see you later.” She said dipping through the crowd to the elevator.
     “Wow! Who’s Tameka? She’s really hot.” Mark said looking at Jackson with wide eyes and a friendly smile.
     “Just a memory from along time ago.” Jackson committed still staring in the young reporters direction as she vanished into the museum elevator.
     “Any way that magic user must have defiantly made us.” The blade caster said attempting to change the subject.
     “You really don’t want to talk about her huh?”  Mark countered.
     “I’m calling Doctor Hunter.”Jackson stated.

 
      





Shadow War
                                          PROLOGUE                    
     The Techron City Park shook from the explosion. The alley cats and stray dogs scrambled for safety. The battle between the Blade Caster, the Ninja Master and Dark Samurai had climaxed. The awesome power of Honiko Umari’s soul cutter katana had paused and apparently had won the battle. Oak trees and park benches vibrated as Umari stood motionless watching the smoke clear inside his magical dome of destruction.

     Now that they are dead I can get on with my mission to retrieve the Titan Key. The dark samurai thought.  His energy dome deactivated and the smoke and dust floated freely through the air of the twenty foot radius of the park it covered. Suddenly a flurry of machine gun bullets zinged through the air from the dust in his direction! Instantly he magically spun his spirit powered katana on his finger tips and easily deflected the attack. As the smoke cleared Nighthunter faded into view blasting at will! Jackson Salter’s appeared into existence behind the master ninja charging a magical arrow.
     “If you ever shot true Emerald Dawn let it be now!” the Blade Caster softly stressed to his green glowing bow, arrow, and samurai armor combination. Like a detonating light bomb Jackson’s armor blazed into a brilliant energy pulse and fired his super charged missile. Nighthunter blasted heavy cover fire to keep their adversary defending. By the time Honiko Umari realized what was happening and how powerful his opponent’s attack was Jackson’s light arrow slammed against his spinning soul cutter shield and detonated like a cruse missile! The massive explosion was so powerful that it shredded three trees and destroyed a park bench not to mention blew a ten foot creator where Umari was originally standing. In the mist of the smoke, dust, and fiery coals the Dark Samurai crawled toward his magical weapon which was laying a few feet just out of his reach. Smoke streamed from Jackson’s arrow that was lodged fast in his left shoulder.  Nighthunter readied his machines gun by quickly changing his weapon’s clips.
     “Nighthunter!” Jackson Salter’s called from behind him. The Master Ninja turned to see his mage warrior comrade transform from a magic powered emerald samurai warrior back into a highly skilled sky bordering champion dressed in a black leather flight jacket, gens, and boots to match. His long bow too faded and vanished from his hand.
     “I hit him with everything I had.” Jackson said falling to one knee. It was obvious to Nighthunter that his ally had used up his magic for now. He switched his visor to x ray mode. There he was! The dark warrior lying on the ground with Jackson’s arrow lodged in his shoulder! The samurai then grabbed his katana and vanished in a flash of light.
     “He teleported!” Nighthunter yelled to his comrade.
     “Good thing because my battery’s dead.” Jackson expressed.
     “Let’s get out of here before someone else shows up.”  Nighthunter urged to the Blade Caster as he rushed to his side to help him up.










Thursday, September 18, 2014

Promoting Your Backlist

Hey there. I hope you all have had an enjoyable week, it's almost over and I'm looking forward to the weekend.

As you all know I love to host authors who write in various genres in the industry. I've also found some wonderful new books this way too. But before I get off track, I was in the process of promoting my newest release, Ensnared when I thought about my backlist. I know you all can relate that we sometimes focus on promoting our new releases so hard, we tend to forget about the older books. Why is that? LOL  There are many readers out there that probably haven't been introduced to your older titles, and may only be familiar with your new work, as there are a plethora of authors. So why not talk about those older releases on your blog, or an author interview, or even tweet a few enticing lines?  Let's make this a weekly thing.

I have two upcoming titles coming from Evernight Publishing, Lucinda and When Worlds Collide and let me tell you, I'm anxiously awaiting the cover art! So, I'm going to spotlight my vampire romance, Black Dawn.


I'd almost forgotten how well I connected with Dane and Dar when I wrote this story. Dane is my wise-cracking hybrid fae vampire who's a little rough around the edges and totally alpha. Dar, my heroine is sassy and not afraid of him as she ventures into the newly defunct human realm to find her sister, Zari.

Blurb:


Dar learns the king plans to close the portal to the human realm. To make matters worse, her sister is in the now defunct world. Risking everything, she slips into the human world and meets up with a vampire. However, his assistance comes with a price…
Dane is a loner and has his own ass to worry about. He should have never fallen for the sheltered fairy with the bedroom eyes, but she’s stolen his heart. He reluctantly agrees to help the little vixen, but at what cost?
The vampire and the fairy are from two different worlds, but they soon realize just how much they mean to each other.

Excerpt:
Dar eavesdropped on her father’s conversation involving the vampires taking over the human realm. Her mother had informed her that eavesdropping would one day introduce her to something she wasn’t ready to grasp. She swallowed hard and cringed. Today was that day.
Her father, Cyrus, his second in command, Thom, and King Zurion spoke in hushed tones. The large wooden double doors had been left ajar. Thankful for that unnoticed mistake, she stood in the small juncture off to the left of the king’s meeting chambers.
I’m sorry, but we’re still unable to zero in on the exact location where your daughter is being held.” Thom focused his gaze on the king. “We need more time to find her.”
We’ve wasted enough time and energy on this matter. “ King Zurion’s voice thundered through the air like a harrowing storm. “If we don’t seal the portals leading to the human realm, we’ll put everyone at risk.”
Cyrus knelt on one knee and bowed his head. “I beg of you. Please allow me time to find my eldest daughter. If you seal the portals now, she’ll be trapped there forever. Zari balances the dark, just as my youngest, Dar, balances the light. Neither can be recreated.”
“True.” Zurion spoke harshly. “She cannot be recreated, but even if they should cease to exist, that will have no bearing on our world continuing to exist. ”Dar’s fist tightened at the king’s cruel words. She often wondered how her father continued to serve such an asinine ruler. “How can you say that?” Cyrus’s voice was strained and Dar knew her father fought to contain his anger. She wished he’d give Zurion a piece of his mind. “She is my child!”
Zurion’s tone was emotionless. “I sense the vampires are utilizing her powers to bring forth darkness in the human world. Don’t you see, it is the only way to preserve Sychuria? The human population has dwindled greatly, and we can no longer protect the humans the way we used to. They have willingly submitted to the vampires.”
Cyrus stiffened and worry graced his face. “So what you’re telling me is my daughter is expendable?”
I’m sorry, but—it is what it is.” The king stroked his beard and frowned. “This is a most unfortunate matter we’re experiencing. You know as well as I that we cannot risk saving one while placing the entire community in danger.”
Please. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Dar placed a hand over her mouth to stifle a sob. It broke her heart to hear the sorrow in her father’s voice, but deep down inside, anger began to blossom. She grew tired of the hold the king had on their people.
King Zurion sighed. “Lucky for you I’m taking into consideration the honorable service you have done for me, but you will have no more than three days' time to locate Zari. If you do not find her by then, I’m closing the portal, with or without you and your daughter.” The king continued stroking his long white beard. “Do I make myself clear?”
Cyrus nodded. “As clear as rainwater.”
Very well. Go on, you have my permission to continue the search. But remember the time frame!”

* * **

When Cyrus and Thom exited Zurion’s chambers, Dar approached them. She knew it would take most of her energy to convince her father to come along. In case he denied her, she had a backup plan to take care of him.
I’m going with you,” she blurted out stubbornly as they walked down the long corridor. “I heard what King Zurion said.” She shook her head sadly. “I can’t believe he would abandon Zari like that.”
You’d be wise to listen to your father,” Thom suggested as he strode along proudly by Cyrus’s side.
Cyrus grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a corner.  “Thom, meet me outside the gate.” Thom nodded and left them.
You’ll go back to your chambers and wait for me to bring Zari back. I’ve told you no good will ever come of you listening in on conversations.”
 She watched as beads of sweat erupted on his smooth mocha skin. Ignoring her father’s remark and his piercing brown eyes, Dar pulled from his grasp and stood her ground. “Take me with you. I can help find Zari.”
“You’re such a pig-headed child!” Cyrus snorted. “You make me look bad in the eyes of our king! Why do you try so hard to defy me?” Her father sucked in a quick breath and if looks could kill, she knew she’d be dead.
Cyrus lowered his voice. “I didn’t tell the king this, but Zari left of her own accord. She wanted to see what the human realm was all about. I forbade her to go and she defied me!”
“Okay, I’m sure she didn’t have your permission, but you shouldn’t hold that against her. We’ve never cared for Zurion’s strict rules! He speaks for the people, and anyone who speaks against him is shunned. It’s not right and you know it.”
It’s against the law, what you speak!” Cyrus sputtered. “How many times do I have to keep telling you girls?”
“Exactly!” Dar pointed out. “The law. A law that forbids the inhabitants of Sychuria from venturing to other realms is a stupid law. Making one feel like they must walk on eggshells is not living, but merely existing. We are the living dead.”
“Watch your tongue, young lady.” Cyrus warned.
Oh, so it’s okay to have our free will taken from us? Why do you support him? We’re mere cattle. How can we evolve if we do not explore? Why keep us in unseen bondage?”
“Dar, what you speak is treason and is punishable by death!”
“Father, it is the truth! You know it as well as I!”
“Silence, child! I’ll hear no more of this senseless drivel!” Spittle spew from her father’s lips, he was so angry. For a split second, she believed he’d strike her or turn her in to the king. His eyes spoke volumes. He frightened her, but not enough for her to back down.
I disagree with you, father.” She had to continue to stand her ground. What was the use of existing if one was told what to do and not to do in their free time? She put her hands on her hips and frowned. “Once you find Zari, you’re going to turn her into the king, aren’t you?”
“I’m Zurion’s first in command. I must obey the law, Dar. You know that.”
“Even though you know her punishment? Why do you have to say anything? Just continue to let people think she was kidnapped.”
“Your sister defied me and there are a few who know of this, like Thom. If I do nothing, then I’m sending a message to the entire community that it’s okay for everyone to come and go to the human realms. These laws are in force for a reason! To protect us!”
“Thom is a good friend of yours. You’ve known each other since you were young boys.”
Cyrus shook his head in agitation. “That’s not the point, Dar! Oh, child, I’m wasting my time with you. Please go and find something to do. I hope to be back in less than a day. Whatever happens with Zari....” He held his head down for a few seconds, as though he was battling himself. “She brought it on herself.”
“Why do you expect me to sit back and do nothing? I won’t have her punished.” We are close, and I’ll probably have a better way of finding her than you or your guards. Father. Have you ever stopped to think she doesn’t want to be found?”
Cyrus’s brows furrowed. “You leave me no choice but to lock you away in your chambers. I’ll place two guards outside your door.” He turned his back on her and that was when Dar seized her opportunity after observing they were alone in the great hall.
“I’m sorry to do this, father.” In a split second, she’d placed energy zapping cuffs around her father’s wrists. To ensure he wouldn’t escape, she suspended him within an impenetrable ball, one that would keep him subdued until she returned from the human realm. She had her plan all mapped out. Once she had him safely tucked away in her chambers, she had to plan her escape. 




Saturday, September 13, 2014

Author Spotlight on David Russell

I've had the pleasure of meeting a new (to me) erotic author this week and I've invited him on my blog. I've read some of the excerpts and blurbs and all I can say is *whew*

Author Bio: b. 1940. Resident in the UK. Writer of poetry, literary criticism, speculative fiction and romance. Main poetry collection Prickling Counterpoints (1998); poems published in online International Times. Main speculative works High Wired On (2002); Rock Bottom (2005). Translation of Spanish epic La Araucana, Amazon 2013. Romances: Self’s BlossomExplorationsFurther ExplorationsTherapy RaptureDarlene, An Ecstatic Rendezvous (all pub Extasy (Devine Destinies). Singer-songwriter/guitarist. Main CD albums Bacteria Shrapnel and Kaleidoscope Concentrate. Many tracks on You Tube, under ‘Dave Russell’

Contact Links: www.davidrussell-author.blogspot.co.uk

Blurb:

This is about a young woman's self-discovery. Selene is a 'success story', having become a top journalist, while retaining her dazzling looks. However, in the past she has had unhappy relationships, and feels she has missed out on hedonistic fun.  This she obtains, firstly with a young stranger on a beach, and finally with enigmatic Hudson: tryst is preceded by cultural tourism, and careful sizing up of minds. Afterwards Selene returns to her 'I stand on my own' attitude. While she is on holiday, her mind is free to ramble, often into Selene's chequered past. Flashback blurs into the present, past-rooted interior monologue into direct observation. The dialogue is sparse. Selene is a cautious, premeditative type, in whom thought, reflection and analysis outweigh direct action. Selene’s subtle, monitoring mind coolly observes and controls all the events. Maybe she is super-confident, or perhaps has a deep, underlying insecurity. She is many things to many readers.

Excerpt:


 Here she was on a beach, pure and simple. Now the sea breathed heavily, whispering and murmuring to her. It was returning her, stare speaking to her. It was the spirit of love beckoning her with a pulsing, sinewy body. In all its lines, shades, and fleeting forms, Selene saw the essence of pure beauty, all grace of form, flesh, limb and feature. It was in one all the lovers of whom she could possibly dream, conflated into one elemental ideal. He, pure love in soul, bade her to enter his domain and make it hers. His arms moved her hands to unclasp, unbutton, and unzip…the blossom emerged. The sun became the eye of all that was not earth, and Selene loved fully, though the pallor of her skin left her momentarily abashed.
    At first she lay in the tide's path, the top of her head at its most extreme mark. The sand bank made a soft bed. The sea lover smoothly caressed her calves, thighs, hips, breasts, shoulders and cheeks before retreating to pause in his mossy pinnacles. Three times this action was repeated, and then Selene stood up, wading in with arms outstretched. Her arms were linked as she stood up to her neck in the saline flow. The balls and heels of her feet wobbled, slithering on the moss. With the next wave, she lost her balance--her breath heaved in unison with the hissing around her. She threw her head back once again horizontal, and launched into a backstroke, sweeping and circling. She parted her legs wide with each thrust of motion, each sweep of self-propulsion pushing out to answer the cavernous currents of his passion. Seven circles gave her a delicious, warm bliss--then the sea lover, well pleased, carried her back to a near-dry bed. Aching and contented Selene dozed a while.


And here's another 



Blurb

Explorations: Newly divorced and looking for interesting new experiences, Janice takes an art class with live models and the star makes her want more than a coincidental meeting.Art model, Cedric, thinks he knows the lady from somewhere when he sees her again at the pool. Body language says a lot and chance meetings lead to a desire for more. Will Janice ask Cedric over for a private modeling job and will he accept?

Further Explorations: Energised by their lovely liberating experience, Janice and Cedric are determined to ‘spread their wings’ and take the world by storm, a two-person conspiracy. They head off physically in different directions, but remain in constant depth communication electronically, ever comparing notes, monitoring each other’s minds and experiences for a depth of mutual understanding. They may meet again fully equipped with a great depth of self-knowledge, and a knowledge of each other’s depth. They negotiate giddy peaks of high finance; Janice even does into ‘dreamscape’, making a pact with the devil. Further delights of sensuality are explored by both, with exotic partners; the depths and shallows of life are all embraced.


Excerpt from Further Explorations
They beamed at each other, sizing up their physiques again, comparing their respective performances which had led up to that climax. Then Janice breathily broke the silence. “You were an astral rocket, surging, grounding, resurging.” 

“And you the booster supreme.” 

After a final hug, they wistfully shrugged, along with smiles and suspicions of tears. “We’ve both got our planes to catch, darling…we’re all wired up.” They turned their backs on each other going down their separate lanes. 

Janice and Cedric’s bittersweet parting, executed with watertight composure, froze that moment of perfection. Their state-of-the-art arrangements, so efficient in sustaining long-term contact were so effortlessly executed—miraculously, none of the hitches either of them experienced with their other contacts—that they simply had to have been exquisitely premeditated, but all the more because, regarding functioning in the immediate present, they were both prone to fumble and stutter. 

Yet, there was a sense of permanence in that kaleidoscope world of fleeting acquaintances. Shattering glasses always sharpens, enriches the vision. Closet pyromania fantasy makes every dreamer dynamic—visions of the inferno, crashing of all solid architecture, but with the stench of charred flesh blanked off. Such an abundance of good looks and vibrant expressions passing by on the streets; it felt that any one of them had destructive potential, mighty cataracts at close quarters. The diffusion of that potential sustains the world’s equilibrium, global spark potential. 


Blurb

The hero, Percival arranges a date through a contact mag. He and Darlene have a rapturous scenario, handled with superb finesse and supreme command of the wardrobe. He finds some hints of her complicated past. Before and after the encounter, he is eyed up and accosted by malicious-seeming men. The sense of an underlying hornet’s nest is scary, and immediately detracts from the euphoria, which does finally prevail.
Excerpt

At last, the sun peeped through the cloud-blankets after all those overcast days. I needed to be refreshed again. It had now been quite a while since that last fabulous foray, which had so beautifully realized my dreams, and convinced me unreservedly that I had overcome that fumbling clumsiness to attain tactile fulfilment. It had flushed me with a surge of my unrealized teenage —all those things I’d missed in those formative years, now the gaps and fissures filled in— made me feel I’d both frozen the body and mind in their freshness, and kept them pulsing, too. The intervening daily routines had levelled comfortably down, then dullness loomed again. So, it came to me in a flash, with light shards shimmering from my stepping into a puddle—I desperately needed a replay, a recharge—activate the spark plug.
Indeed, there was a twinge of regret coursing through me about having mislaid Sandra’s number. It was so stupid of me to throw out that precious piece of paper in that fit of impulsive spring-cleaning, which often has the effect of unearthing old snippets of sentimental value, and reconnecting with submerged, valid threads which are then slotted into reflective order. Not all was lost, though. No one is finally unique, no matter how exceptional she appears. There are always others. Just cast an eye on those other fish in the sea, those beautiful swathes milling through the shopping precincts, that visual, tactile kaleidoscope, brushing off on me, making me feel rejuvenated.
For some time now, I kept that next in preference, special, alluring phone number lying alluringly in the top of my desk drawer, together with its seductive picture, throbbing in that electric corset, with a bit of plastic sheen, but not too much. The photo was in the back number of Rendezvous magazine. It was Darlene, her firm breasts feeling like power switches throwing out energy to my delicate touch. Some evenings, I alternated between looking at her picture, watching Madonna’s Eroticavideo and looking online at the catalogues of retro lingerie. It was a turn-on flashback to those relics of a repressive era relating in some way to current tastes for bondage and corporal punishment— probably now that the horrid past is now at a safe distance, for some of the people, some of the time.
Everybody is constrained a bit by workaday routines, but the right amount of delay never fails to add relish to any quest.. Contrast is essential to any definition. Going too fast always detracts from the final effect. So there was a happy, breathy anticipatory gap of a few days, which honed the expected savour to perfection, the oven simmering at a low heat to prepare the exotic dish. All through it, I was flooded with a rapturous cocktail of reminiscence and anticipation. It started with the exquisite euphoria of my first, unpremeditated, off-balance one-night stand. This included an opening, long drawn-out kiss, tiptoeing back to the flat, the body revelation, the love, the bath, the idyllic park walk, and the farewell. It was the perfect memory, frozen expressions of affection and always there for replay in my mind in times of stress and depression Now, with the extra bonus of all those breathy film and video scenes to spice it up further, every thought was a metaphorical caress. Cameramen have a good time, which must be great to touch with the eyes, and great to have the senses melt into each other.

David's work can be found at:

David Russell - Extasy Books

www.extasybooks.com/david-russell

An Ecstatic Rendezvous eBook: David Russell - Amazon.co.uk

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Darlene eBook: David Russell: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

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Dreamtime Sensuality eBook: David Russell: Amazon.co.uk ...

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Explorations eBook: David Russell: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle ...

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Further Explorations eBook: David Russell: Amazon.co.uk ...

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FoolsParadise eBook: David Russell: Amazon.co.uk ...

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Self's Blossom eBook: David Russell: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle ...

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Therapy Rapture eBook: David Russell: Amazon.co.uk ...

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