About Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

I'm a science fiction author of the Star Trails Tetralogy, retired after two decades working at NASA, defected from my physics training to become a professional astrologer, and various other acts of rebellion. More recently, I've teamed with Pete Risingsun in writing "The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon: Cheyenne Spirits" which was released in July 2020 with all three books in the trilogy now complete. Check them out at https://dead-horse-canyon.com.

Writing Process Blog Tour

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

This blog tour originated with Kelly Lewis who stated, “The purpose of this tour is to showcase fellow writers with emphasis around the writing process itself to spread great words, get insights, and to show support in this isolating craft we embark on.”
Kelly Lewis passed the baton to author, Susanne Leist, who in turn passed it on to me in her blog. http://susanneleist.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-writing-process-blog-tour.html

Susanne is the author of the popular thriller “The Dead Game.” If you enjoy scary books check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Game-Susanne-Leist-ebook/dp/B00F3IWF70/

Here are the questions and my answers:

1. What am I working on at the moment?

I’m currently working on “Refractions of Frozen Time,” the fourth and final book in the Star Trails Tetralogy science fiction series. I have it drafted but my characters have gotten themselves into such a mess that it’s going to take a while to sort it all out and wrap it up.

2. How does my work differ from others of this genre?

In addition to being science fiction it’s also a family saga. When a family is scattered across the galaxy there is just too much going on in too many places to tell it through a single viewpoint. So at one time or another you get inside everyone’s head. I know it’s breaking the rules but that’s how the story flowed and so far my readers have liked it.

What’s interesting, though, is how everyone seems to relate to a different character and see him or her as the protagonist. While it was originally intended as a young adult series I’ve been told multiple times that it’s suitable for all ages. Another reviewer told me that the “human element raises the bar in this competitive genre” which points out that the setting may be on another planet but it’s the people that matter most, even though the brutal star system their planet is in drives the story.

While much of it is science fiction, I base as much as I can on what is known and pass it on in lay terms. I hope to build an audience of young people interested in science and engineering who will learn something painlessly along the way. I also have a section on my website for parents and educators with hints on how to use the stories as a springboard for discussion on various topics. If I can inspire one person to go into a career in science my work here is done.

3. Why do I write what I do?

I write science fiction because I love science as well as writing fiction so, as we say in physics and math circles, it was “intuitively obvious.” Speculating on the many weird and wonderful theories out there and what the future holds as we gradually get a grip on them and apply them to technology is my idea of fun. What most people don’t realize, though, is I got the physics degree so I could write authentic science fiction, not the other way round.

4. How does my writing process work?

I have an overall view of the story’s premise but once the characters are created most of it comes to me as I write. I’ve never been one who stuck to a chapter outline very closely because the story is sure to deviate based on what the characters do. The story seems to have a life of its own and it feels as if it’s being dictated to me. My characters always take over. I learn more about them all the time like you would someone you meet in real life. Many times they’ve gone off in directions that surprised me or new characters, sometimes important ones, have sprung up out of nowhere. I enjoy writing even more since what comes out usually surprises me.

Of course there are times when I have to do some serious crafting or brainstorming to tie it all together for which I have to give a lot of credit to my muse, Kalliope. I’m an astrologer as well as a writer and a few years ago I discovered that an asteroid named Kalliope is very prominent in my horoscope, which explained a lot.

I tend to do a significant amount of rewriting. My first draft is mostly action and dialog and I have to go back to make sure it includes sufficient imagery and renders appropriate emotion. I use the acronym IDEAS (Imagery, Dialog, Emotion, Action, Suspense) to check on whether I’ve included everything required. I’m one of those authors who never finishes a novel but rather abandons it because I can always find something I can say better or add.

I write a fair amount of nonfiction as well. Once I get an idea it tends to flow so I can produce blogs and articles with ease. I love doing research and have a gift for finding what I’m looking for almost as if I’m being guided by some invisible force. Back before the internet I could walk into a library and just somehow walk down the right aisle and lay my hands on exactly the book I needed. I love writing blogs about science at a level anyone can understand, kind of a “Physics for Dummies” series if you will. You can find them here on WordPress. However, my first love is writing novels and watching the characters evolve.

MY NOMINATED WRITER – John Reinhard Dizon

Now I’d like to hand off the blog baton to Literary Chameleon, John Reinhard Dizon. I conducted an interview with John a while back in which I conferred that title on him which you can find here: (https://marcha2014.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/interview-with-author-extraordinaire-and-literary-chameleon-john-reinhard-dizon/). He writes in numerous diverse genres and handles them all in a masterful way. No matter which genre is your favorite I would be willing to bet dollars to donuts that he’s written something you’ll love. If you enjoy reading a variety yet had to limit yourself to one author, he’s the only one you’d ever need.

In the interview I asked him how he changed his style so easily. Here’s his response:

“I think it’s more a question of adapting rather than changing. My four main ingredients are a dynamic plot, compelling characters, snappy dialogue and a powerful finish. You’ll find that common quality in all my novels. As far as genre goes, I made it a point to explore as many as possible in order to give a future fan base a wide variety of reading material. The way I saw it, there would be something for everybody. At this point in time I’ve been working on sequels, the logic being that it gives readers something to latch onto in following their favorite characters. You know how it goes, if at first you don’t succeed.”

What’s Behind the Science in Science Fiction? Part Two – Atomic Theory

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

I know you’re anxious to get to the good stuff like other dimensions and time travel, but you need to be patient just a little longer. After all, this blog is about what’s behind the science in science fiction, not the final result. Think of it as similar to those documentaries you see on TV which explain how they do the special effects in your favorite movies. I don’t know about you, but knowing how they do that makes me appreciate the movie even more. If you couldn’t care less, then you’re probably reading the wrong blog and need to just go back to reading sci-fi novels. Those who are left need to just bear with me a little longer as I explain the basics of atomic theory which is more relevant than you may think. Ready? Okay, here we go.

As far back as 400 BC or so early Greek philosophers pondered what constituted matter and decided that it could only be divided down so far, from which atomic theory was born. The term “atom” even originated with their adjective atomos, which means indivisible. Back then the elements were believed to be water, air, earth and fire. Clearly they are all important, particularly to life, but not a one of them is an actual element in the chemical sense.

However, proving it was another story and it wasn’t until the 18th – 19th century that scientists gradually discovered that water was comprised of hydrogen and oxygen; air is mostly nitrogen with hydrogen, oxygen and various others in the mix; earth is made up of too many elements to count; and fire is a process that involves oxygen and thus called oxidation but isn’t an element in and of itself. As they confirmed that certain chemicals could only be broken down so far the Periodic Table of the Elements was born. Periodically more are added (pun intended) though in most cases they are manmade.

By the early 20th century experiments involving electromagnetism and radioactivity revealed that, would the truth be known, the atom was not indivisible after all, but consisted of other particles which were identified as protons, neutrons and electrons. These were suitably dubbed subatomic or elementary particles and scientists conveniently ignored the fact that the etymology of the word “atom” no longer applied, figuring most people didn’t know Greek, anyway.

How these subatomic particles were arranged was a matter of debate that went through numerous speculations. J. J. Thomson’s idea was sometimes referred to the “plum pudding” model where protons and electrons were lumped together in a glob of positively charged fluid. After that, Ernest Rutherford decided that the positive charge as well as most of the mass were concentrated in the center with the electrons surrounding it in some unknown way.

In 1913 Danish physicist, Niels Bohr, proposed his version of the hydrogen atom which remains the mental image many retain today, i.e., a nucleus in the center with electrons revolving around it much as the planets orbit the Sun as shown at the beginning of this blog. Bohr still believed that electrons orbited the nucleus but he placed restrictions on them to certain discrete distances or allowed orbits so that it would agree with what experiments thus far had revealed. At this point they considered the electrons to be itty-bitty particles that orbited the nucleus according to the laws of classical mechanics, in other words like the planets orbit the Sun.

The electrons would change orbits based on either emitting or absorbing a photon, as shown in the animation. This was getting closer, but still had problems.

Nonetheless, the idea of specific orbits was a definite step toward quantum theory and the fact that only specific energy states were allowed. The real problem was thinking of electrons as tiny specks of matter which behaved according to Newton’s Laws pertaining to gravitation. WRONG!

In 1924 a scientist named Louis de Broglie (pronounced de-broy) proposed that all moving particles could exhibit wave-like behavior. Erwin Schrodinger liked this idea and developed it further, into a probability wave. This theory helped explain behaviors that previous ones couldn’t but still didn’t cover everything. This was ultimately solved by Max Born (no relation to Jason Bourne) who theorized that Schrodinger’s equation represented all possible positions where the electron might possibly be. This conveniently reconciled the two ideas and the wave/particle duality of electrons was born (pun intended).

However, trying to figure out the atom was not taking place in the proverbial vacuum (though admittedly some experiments were). During this same time numerous other scientists were hard at work investigating what interested them most and ultimately led to so many different scientific disciplines. Things were getting too complicated for any one person to have a firm grip on everything anymore.

Light was also under scrutiny since it was apparent that atoms and electromagnetic radiation (a.k.a. light) were related. If you’re scratching your head on where that came from, it derived from having established that atoms emit a photon when they change states, like that cute little animation shows. And in case you’re wondering, yes, even the Sun, our greatest source of energy and light, is no more than a giant glob comprised mostly of hydrogen atoms which bond with each other under pressure to become helium at which time a photon is emitted. Lots of them, true, but that’s the process. Simple.

Most people think of light as what we can see which is conveniently broken down into its various colors by a prism or in some cases a rainstorm that occurs when the Sun is out and thus produces a rainbow. Visible light, however, is but one small portion of what is known as the “Electromagnetic Spectrum.” It also includes various other wavelengths that span a vast variety of wavelengths and energies ranging from radio waves and infrared (heat) on one side to ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma radiation on the other. In the picture you can see the rather small portion of visible light in the middle where it looks like a rainbow.

Albert Einstein theorized that similar to matter, light could also only be broken down so far, the smallest unit of which was ultimately called a photon. He even proved it and received the Nobel Prize for his paper on the photoelectric effect, which stated that a photon could change an atom’s energy state and that principle is used widely today with all those automatic doors you encounter everywhere from the grocery store to Wal*Mart.

Physicists conducted numerous experiments with light which revealed that it, too, had both wave and particle characteristics. Since photons originate with atoms the fact that they share some of the same characteristics shouldn’t be any more surprising than the fact your have your father’s nose or your mother’s smile. True, photons are massless, but electrons aren’t. Nonetheless, they also show wave and particle traits.

This is a good place to ponder Einstein’s famous equation, E=MC2, which states energy is equal to mass times the square of the speed of light. If you rearrange it algebraically you have energy divided by the square of the speed of light is equal to mass, which essentially declares that mass and energy are the same thing.

Now we’re getting into the good stuff. So give that some thought until next time when I introduce you to the true beginnings of weird science which originated with something called the double-slit experiment.

See you then.

Confessions of a Reviewer from Hell – Part Four

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

As a person who worked in a technical environment for two decades, I have to admit one of my pet peeves is when details relevant to a novel are ignored or inaccurate, particularly when they relate to the protagonist’s or key characters’ livelihoods. If you’re going to place him or her in a particular career or situation such as a police investigation or military setting, then you should know something about their SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). Otherwise, especially if one of your readers is familiar with such an environment, they’re going to be put off by inaccuracies or glaring errors regarding how that particular field operates. Do you really want someone from one of those professions to pick up your book and laugh themselves silly? Probably not. Not only will you lose a potential fan but may garner a scathing review which will discourage other readers.

Understand that people in most professions including big business, the military, aerospace, law enforcement and most other fields, even including those who labor in fast food establishments, tend to speak their own unique language, often replete with various acronyms. If you want your story to sound authentic then you need to reflect those details in your story. In other words, if you’re going to write a medical thriller then you’d do well to learn some physiology so those gory scenes are accurate and be familiar with emergency room procedures and jargon. In case you haven’t noticed, novels that make it to “Best Seller” status tend to meet these standards of accuracy.

If you’ve followed this blog from the beginning you’re probably getting tired of hearing this, but if you’re going to do something, freakin’ do it right! If nothing else, realize that failing to reflect appropriate details to bring a character, profession or even location to life is a classic example of why authors are continually advised to “Write what you know!” The good news, particularly as far as authenticating a location is concerned, is that as a writer you can vacation in such places of interest and then write off at least part of it as an expense on your income tax. It doesn’t get any better than that. Just be sure to take notes, keep your receipts and not expect immediate book sales to pay off your credit cards from such a jaunt.

If you don’t already know the necessary details through life experience, then you need to do some research. This doesn’t have to be onerous or boring. You can always talk to someone who does that for a living and pick their brain. Most people enjoy talking about what they do and are even flattered that you asked. Use them later as a beta reader to make sure you captured it correctly. You’d be surprised how much more interesting your story becomes when you’ve done your homework. Often new plot twists surface as a result and your finished product will be more convincing and deserving of praise, including by those within or without that particular occupation. If they like it they’ll tell their coworkers and bring more readers and fans your way. You may even inspire someone to go into that line of work as they get a bird’s eye view of what it involves.

The world these days is filled with too much mediocrity. Please don’t contribute to it with your writing. Standards have plunged now that literally anyone who possesses a little computer and internet knowledge (or perhaps sufficient money) can get their novel published in ebook or even printcopy format. No writer today is forced to deal with rejects and a plethora of revisions to get their work published so the incentive to edit and in some cases even run the spellchecker have been lost. Doesn’t anyone own a good dictionary anymore? Okay, okay, I’m one of those weird people who would actually read the dictionary from time to time. I’m not a perfect speller but I can usually tell when a word “looks” wrong and know where to look to find out. My grammar isn’t always correct and one thing I’ve never mastered was punctuation, especially the use of commas. I admit it, I’m far from perfect. But I’m closer than I was 30 years ago.

Please. If you must produce sloppy work, keep it far away from me. If sufficiently provoked by bad writing I can become “The Reviewer from Hell.” Of course that depends on your attitude. Regardless of which stage you’re in as a writer from stark beginner to already published, if you’re a true professional and want to know the truth, then I may be able to either help you move in that direction or validate your efforts as on-track.

That said, before I close what has turned out to be a rather lengthy blog/rant I have one more thing to say: All I’m really trying to do is make this a slightly better world for readers of Indie authors, one sentence at a time.

Namaste.

Confessions of a Reviewer from Hell – Part Three

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

Needless to say, as I learned these lessons in humility, many of which were difficult and ego-deflating, I became quite adept at editing, if I do say so myself. I’ve been an avid bibliophile my entire life, right back to those Little Golden Books my mother read to me, so I have developed a strong concept of character and plot development as it pertains to fiction writing as well.

I didn’t get it all through osmosis, however; I also read books on writing, attended classes which included obtaining an English minor in college, and went to various workshops dealing with writing technique. I point this out not to brag but to show how serious I was about learning how to do things correctly. It’s only when you can admit how little you know that you open yourself up to really learning something. Long before my own books were in print I helped several friends edit their books, two of which eventually got published and earned me a place in their “Acknowledgements” section up front. Seeing my name in print in their work gave me hope that maybe someday I could do the same.

I evolved into “The Reviewer from Hell” thanks to some God-given talent and experience. I was raised with the mantra “If you’re going to do something, then do it right,” as well as its complement, “If you want something done correctly, then do it yourself.” I’m still extremely self-critical but every now and then I’ll read something I wrote, usually far enough in the past that I’d forgotten about it, and realize it’s actually pretty good. At that point I have one of those Han Solo moments when “Sometimes I amaze even myself.”

So, when I read someone else’s work all of this experience comes to bear. If there are spelling errors they jump off the page and hit me between the eyes. Grammatical errors make my ears ring. Plot or character inconsistencies evoke a spoken comment toward the author, often not complimentary and along the lines of “WTF are you thinking?”

I do try to review in context. If something is intended to be an afternoon read at the beach I will not judge it based on standards that would make Hemingway sweat. I realize that all authors don’t obsess on research and accuracy like I do. (You should have picked that up from the fact I got a physics degree to write sci fi.) However, when I encounter something in a novel that just doesn’t ring true it makes me cringe. Kind of like my rant elsewhere in the blog world about the movie “Armageddon” which is entitled “A Roughneck and a Rocket Scientist Went to a Movie.” Do it right or not at all.

But do you know what this is really all about? It’s simpler than you may think. If you only remember one thing from this blog, remember this: A novel should take you to another place, immerse you in another world which may or may not include this planet, and involve you deeply in the lives of its characters. Agree? Good. Now listen up, writers! Bad writing, which includes anything that distracts the reader, breaks that magical spell! Whether it’s misspelled words, typos, incorrect grammar, choppy writing or plot inconsistencies, the reader loses connection with the story.

Thus, if a story makes me both laugh and cry it has an extremely good chance of earning a 5-star review (provided my reaction was motivated by the story and not the author’s lack of technique). Why? Easy. Because I got emotionally involved with the story which meant there were no distractions which meant it was well-written. If I didn’t laugh or cry but enjoyed the story without stumbling over a figurative garbage-strewn path of author carelessness, it may still get 5-stars, especially if it was a thriller or murder mystery which is usually not intended to elicit that kind of response. After that, my ranking goes downhill steadily, depending on how many whiplashes I suffered as I was jerked back into editor mode.

All reviews are subjective and authors can learn something from them all, even if it’s the simple fact that not everyone will love their work. It’s difficult to edit your own writing and another set of eyes can find all sorts of things which can do you a huge favor. In most cases when I find quite a few things that distract me from the story I simply pass on my observations to the author without putting some horrific review out on Amazon or Goodreads. I really don’t want to upset anyone, I want to help make their work better, just as those red pen wielding engineers helped me. I want to raise the bar, especially for Indie writers, so that no reader ever has to suffer through another novel that simply wasn’t ready to be made public.

Capiche?

(To be continued)

Confessions of a Reviewer from Hell – Part Two

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

When I finally got around to writing novels it was in the “old days” when you not only had to write it on a typewriter but also hoped to find a publisher. Self-publishing was available through various places known as “Vanity Presses” but they cost a lot of money I didn’t have. So I went the query-submission-reject route multiple times. This, of course, didn’t exactly help my confidence since I was certain it was because my work was not perfect enough. Thus, I’d go back to the manuscript with a critical eye, rewrite and retype.

Revising meant retyping with the most fun when the pagination changed. Then you had to retype everything up to that point or perhaps do some more editing so it fit correctly. I became a master at fitting it in the available space, a skill that came in handy later when I designed pamphlets and other promotional material to say nothing of Twitter. Today’s young authors have no idea what it was like prior to work processors! OMG, it gives me an anxiety attack just thinking about it!

Of course I didn’t realize, naïve as I was, that in most cases getting published was largely political and a matter of who you knew and schmoozed as opposed to genuine talent. My lack of confidence made self-promotion like that impossible as I hoped to be “discovered” and thereby validated. Thus, getting published was often more a matter of confidence as opposed to ability which of course explained why so many books that I considered inferior, or at least no better than mine, made it into print.

I was a late bloomer, which was also a confidence issue. I felt like I wasn’t good enough, mostly based on the number of rejects I’d collected, and was afraid that everyone else would figure that out.

But I wanted to be a science fiction writer and a good one so I figured that I needed to get the education required to do so. So at 35 I went back to college to get a bachelor’s degree in physics. No one was more surprised than I was when I actually graduated and eventually went to work at NASA where my writing skills were often the tie breaker between me and another candidate competing for the same job.

One particular job I held at the space agency was that of a technical writer. My duties were to take minutes at safety review panel meetings which entailed recording the proceedings and capturing action items, writing them up, then submitting them to the engineer for editing and eventual approval. And again I found out how very imperfect I was! It was really hard on my pride when the engineer would bleed all over my hard work with red ink. (Years later, when I was the editing engineer I would use green ink, which somehow seemed far less hostile.)

After limping through hundreds of pages splattered with red ink, however, something I could actually classify as transformational occurred. Eventually I became jaded to criticism and thus got past the shame of producing an inferior product. After overcoming that emotional milestone I could see more clearly and recognize that my writing was greatly improved by the joint effort. I learned to collaborate and eventually let go of my pride. My attitude changed. When people edited or criticized my work I saw it as helpful because it improved the product. I finally realized that I was actually a pretty good writer even though my work still came back with numerous edits sprawled all over the paper like blood-thirsty worms. Writing was subjective and there was probably no such thing as perfection once you got beyond “See Jack run.”

Little by little I had become a “professional” writer.

(To be continued)

Confessions of a Self-Admitted Reviewer from Hell

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

Part One

One does not achieve such an honor easily or overnight. As I think about it, I realize that it started when I was a baby. Even before I started to talk I must have been aware of proper speech because my mother told me that I would form the words silently and obviously be thinking about their meaning, yet didn’t say anything out loud until I was three. Since I was an only child it was easy for her to find time to read to me and I was reading myself by the time I went to kindergarten. I remember sitting in first grade wondering why the other kids didn’t know what the words were, probably the first rumbling of that internal editor coming to life.

I learned how to write thank you notes as soon as I could hold a pencil and started writing letters to my favorite aunt about that same time. My mother was a perfectionist (yes, a Virgo, for those of you who know anything about astrology) and thus always corrected my grammar. By the time I reached 6^th grade I was writing stories for the enjoyment of my fellow students (science fiction stories, I might add, mostly related to the planet of origin of our teachers).

Around that same time my mother taught me how to use a typewriter. An old manual one that took some serious effort to command the keys. Years later after I graduated from high school I took a typing test at a job agency where I achieved 98 words per minute with two errors. Putting words on paper were obviously never a problem. While everyone else hated essay exams I loved them. Even if I didn’t really know the answer I could B.S. my way through because I’d write so much the teacher probably got tired reading it and would just give me an A. Many years later when I worked as a NASA contractor and did quite a bit of technical writing, one of my bosses nicknamed me “The Mistress of Bullsh*t.” I was flattered, of course.

But there was one catch to all this. I had no confidence, in my writing or anything else. My mother’s criticism permeated every aspect of my life, including the one thing I was good at. It inhibited my creativity for fear whatever I did was not perfect. If you’re a parent, give that some thought. This is not to say that a parent should tell their child that something is prize winning material when it’s clearly not but honesty cuts both ways. If it’s good, say so, and it doesn’t have to be perfect. There’s a difference between coaching and criticism. If you don’t know the difference, then figure it out. I mean it.

Nonetheless, I loved to write, mostly nonfiction and journalistic articles. I worked as a stringer for a small hometown newspaper for a while. I can’t even remember how many newsletters I’ve edited, many of which I created in the first place, back when they were written on a manual typewriter and duplicated on a mimeograph or ditto machine. Some of you probably don’t even know what they were, those early precursors to modern day copy machines. I’m talking about the days before Kinkos much less home laser printers.

If you’re a writer who doesn’t remember those days, give it some thought. Would you have had the patience and perseverance required to retype an entire manuscript? That was business as usual for us old-timers. Yet that is how it used to be. Could that possibly explain the quality of books available back then versus now, when you’re always at risk of purchasing a real dog of a story filled with typos, grammatical faux-pas’, cardboard characters and an inconsistent plot? Might someone consider your book a dog?

Think about it.

(To be continued)

Interview with YA Author Shannon Thompson

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

Shannon Thompson is a young, upcoming author with a bright future. She’s beautiful, talented, intelligent, perceptive and in touch with today’s young/new adults in a way that truly explains and assures her success. As you’ll be able to tell from her responses below, she is truly an amazing person. This young woman has her priorities straight and is definitely going places!

1. You wrote your first novel at sixteen. Had it been brewing inside your for a while or did it come upon you as a rush of inspiration?

My first novel was inspired by a dream I had, but I turned it into a novel after my mother died. Her sudden death had a profound effect on me. I knew I wanted to live doing what I loved, and I already knew how much I loved writing, so I began pursuing my dreams of writing right away.

2. How did you find time to write when you were in high school? Did you participate in extracurricular activities or did you shun them for writing?

I always find time, no matter what’s going in my life. In high school, I had a full-time job, and I was in tennis, Goal O, and yearbook on top of writing my novels. If you want to find time, you can. It just takes sacrifice. You might have to use that Friday night for writing instead of seeing friends. For me, it is always worth it because I love writing.

3. What did your friends think of your writing? Were they excited for you and supportive or did they think you were a little weird?

When I was in high school, most of my friends were very supportive, but I also believe most of them thought it was a “just for fun” thing I did after school. It wasn’t until I got older that I began hearing, “Are you still trying that book thing?” and other lines that were underlined with negativity, but I try not to keep negative people in my life, so my friends today are just as supportive as anyone could hope for.

4. You’ve developed a world with shades and light. Is there a deliberate metaphor operating or did it just come to you that way?

The Timely Death Trilogy is a deliberate attempt to challenge traditional archetypes and stereotypes in literature. For instance, the trilogy revolves around the Dark and the Light, but the Dark is good and the Light is evil. (Or so we are told at the beginning.)

5. It takes a lot of discipline to write a novel. Did you have to develop it or was it more of an obsession?

Both! It begins as an obsession, but it becomes reality with careful discipline, focus, and the passionate belief that you cannot give up.

6. Who is your favorite character from your books?

Choosing a favorite character is impossible because I love so many of them, but I tend to fall in love with my protagonists’ best friends. (Probably because I’m in the protagonists’ heads so often.) In that instance, I always enjoy Pierce (a.k.a. Jonathon Stone) in The Timely Death Trilogy.

7. You are a whiz at social media and are the social media marketing manager for your publisher. Did this come easily as part of your tech-savvy generation or did you have to learn how to manage it?

A lot of it came easily, but I had to learn a lot, too! I’ve spent hours researching social media marketing, and it is a constant learning process considering how fast the environment changes.

8. Every writer dreams of being “discovered.” How did you feel when your publisher found you? Tell us about how that contact came and your reaction.

This is fantastic. Okay. So originally, I was going to self-publish Minutes Before Sunset as I pursued finding a traditional publisher for Take Me Tomorrow, so I started a website for my social media platform. A few months later, AEC Stellar Publishing saw me through Twitter. (Yes, Twitter.) And we started speaking about whether or not I wanted a representative for Minutes Before Sunset. A few months later, we had a contract, and now I’m also releasing Take Me Tomorrow with them soon. Funny how things work out.

9. Was there one particular author, story or movie that inspired you more than others? Which are your favorites?

I’ve looked up to so many authors and writers overtime, but I found that I was simply inspired by words – how the different combinations of words can render a reader speechless. My favorite authors are endless, but I particularly like Meg Cabot, Billy Collins, Cassandra Clare, and Lynne Ewing.

10. What part of writing is easiest for you and which is the most difficult?

The easiest part is coming up with the story and the characters, but the hardest part is letting them be completely true to themselves when controversial topics come up. For instance, my upcoming novel – Take Me Tomorrow – revolves around a clairvoyant drug. But it took me months to decide if I wanted to share such a piece with the world.

11. Where do you want to be as an author in ten years?

I just want to be an author. If I could be helping young writers more, that would be perfect.

12. What advice do you have for aspiring young writers?

My mantra has always been “write with passion; succeed with self-discipline.” Loving what you do will make every painful moment easier, and you will be more likely to embrace the pain in order to continue to grow. You will always grow. Art is a never-ending adventure.

Shannon’s Links:

Website: http://www.ShannonAThompson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorShannonAThompson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShanAshleeT23

Blog: http://shannonathompson.tumblr.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6880615.Shannon_A_Thompson

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Shannon-A.-Thompson/e/B00AXANG76/

Minutes Before Sunset: http://www.amazon.com/Minutes-Before-Sunset-Timely-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00CKN4RFE/

Seconds Before Sunrise: http://www.amazon.com/Seconds-Before-Sunrise-Timely-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00KX6FN4E/

November Snow: http://www.amazon.com/November-Snow-Shannon-Thompson/dp/0979556511/

What’s Behind the ‘Science’ in Science Fiction? (Part 1)

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

You don’t have to be a scientist to enjoy science fiction. If you’re lucky, you may learn a few scientific facts painlessly while enjoying a good read, or at least that’s my goal as a science fiction author. But what exactly lies behind stories categorized as science fiction?

Science, of course, but it goes beyond that because it often addresses the impact of technology on society. Science alone is a real snoozer if you don’t combine it with how it affects your life. Unless you happen to be a rocket scientist, however, much of the actual science in science fiction stories often gets lost in the plot. But guess what? Then you’re missing a lot of the fun, too. If you’re someone who thinks that science is really cool stuff, you may want to know more about the actual science behind such things as time travel, teleportation, other dimensions and telepathy. But here’s the bad news. You needed to learn to crawl before you could walk or run and know the alphabet before you could read, so before you can get to the good stuff you need to know the basics.

In the Beginning there was Classical Physics

Originally physics only dealt with, big surprise, physical phenomena. It related to mass, motion and time, things which were apparent in the world around us. Math was used to create formulae to calculate their relationship to one another. Using algebra, if you knew two of the quantities you could figure out the third. A common example is D=vt (Distance equals velocity times elapsed time) which when rearranged become v = D/t. If that sounds vaguely familiar maybe it’s because in a more familiar form, velocity = miles/hour or miles per hour.

Classical physics derived from D=vt. To do so gets into higher math called calculus which is an interesting subject in and of itself. It was invented simultaneously way back in the 17th century by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Liebniz in order to solve more complicated problems such as orbital dynamics. More on that some other time. For now just file away the notion that the world of classical physics mostly involves the movement of objects in your everyday world such as how long it takes to get to work or school, how much momentum a baseball has when hit by a star player or how much energy there is in a garbage truck moving at 65 mph.

For a long time scientists thought that these basic formulae could explain everything in the universe. After all, they do a pretty good job of dealing with everyday life. They also thought that if you took everything down to the most fundamental level you could predict anything that might happen in the future. This was called determinism and in many ways reinforced the concept of fate and denied the idea of free will. This was the philosophy of the day, as noted in the movie “A Knight’s Tale,” where it was pointed out that it was extremely difficult if not impossible to “change your stars.” You were dealt a certain hand in life that you had to play. Period.

As is often the case, however, when an individual or group of like-minded people think they know everything there is to know, they eventually find out otherwise. Indeed, life isn’t that simple and toward the end of the 1800s and early 1900s new discoveries showed that indeed they were flat-out wrong. Not just a little wrong, but really wrong. For starters, the elements definitely did not consist of air, water, earth and fire.

More on that next time when we get into atomic theory. Stay tuned.

Meet the Other 8 Authors of the 15 who comprise the “Dreams, Fantasies, Nightmares & Visions” Facebook Group

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

(Chris Birdy, Ditter Kellen, A.L. Kessler, Elle Klass, Khalid Muhammad,

Shannon Thompson, Jason Wallace, P.S. Winn)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1439009819683643/

Event Dates: June 18 – 22, 2014

Chris Birdy

Saturday, June 21, 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Sunday, June 22, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

For almost twenty-five years, I did investigative work for small law firms conducting business in rough housing projects and crack house neighborhoods. I met with clients in every jail in the area even the now defunct Charles Street Jail and Deer Island House of Corrections. On good days, I got to take the .25 caliber handgun out of my pocket and the 9mm out of my purse and go to court. Then the real show began!
Several years ago, while sitting in a courtroom with a client, I watched as a police officer was lambasted by an attorney. The attorney was defending a young woman who crashed her car into two other vehicles before she passed out drunk behind the wheel. The occupants of the other cars were seriously hurt and the cop, a former EMT, tried to assist the injured while waiting for ambulances to arrive. The attorney questioned the cop’s every move, shredded his testimony and made him seem inept.
Embarrassed, the cop returned to his seat beside me and muttered, “Everybody lies. The judges lie, the lawyers lie, the witnesses lie…” I wanted to tell him not to worry that in about five years he’d be just as good a liar as they were.
The seeds for The Girl in White Pajamas were planted in that courtroom.

Connect with Chris:

Website: http://www.chrisbirdy.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CHRISBIRDY1 @chrisbirdy1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CHRIS-BIRDY/143255175852695

The Girl in White Pajamas

Bogie McGruder returns to Boston after his brother, a cop, is gunned down on the street. Since the Boston police are investigating the death of one of their own, Bogie believes his trip will be a short condolence visit and a chance to meet his secret love child.
Although Bogie wants to contact his ex-lover, Bailey Hampfield, he’s reluctant to do so since Bailey dumped him four years earlier. Knowing that Bailey had his child after she cut him loose, Bogie thinks it’s time to establish a relationship with the three year old daughter he’s never met. While he considers his options, Bailey gets in touch with him and asks for protection. Someone is trying to kill her.
Bogie doesn’t want to get involved in the BPD investigation into his brother’s death, but he continues to be drawn into it while trying to discover who is attempting to kill Bailey Hampfield. The investigations seem to parallel each other, then intersect and become intertwined. As the story develops, Isabella, a precocious child obsessed with martial arts, slowly becomes the focus.
The underlying theme of this fast-paced mystery is lies. Everyone seems to be running on lies and half truths. The only true character is The Girl in White Pajamas.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Girl-White-Pajamas-Chris-Birdy-ebook/dp/B00JEHQ75M/

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girl-in-white-pajamas-chris-birdy/1115417678

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17994253-the-girl-in-white-pajamas

Alibris: http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?browse=0&keyword=the+girl+in+white+pajamas&mtype=B&hs.x=0&hs.y=0&hs=Submit

Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-The-Girl-in-White-Pajamas-Birdy-Chris-AUTOGRAPHED-COPY-/161108945402?pt=US_Fiction_Books&hash=item2582d769fa

Ditter Kellen

Wednesday, June 18, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

A former 911 dispatcher turned author, Ditter Kellen has been in love with romance for over twenty years. To say she’s addicted to reading is an understatement. Her ebook reader is an extension of her and holds many of her fantasies and secrets. It’s filled with dragons, shifters, vampires, ghosts and many more jaw-dropping characters who keep her entertained on a daily basis.
Ditter’s love of paranormal and outrageous imagination have conspired together to bring her where she is today…sitting in front of her computer allowing them free rein. Writing is her passion, what she was born to do. I hope you will enjoy reading her stories as much as she loves spinning them. Ditter resides in Florida with a guinea pig named Shadow. She adores French fries and her phone is permanently attached to her ear.

Connect with Ditter:

email: ditterthegreat@hotmail.com

Ember Burns

USA Today recommended series of erotic suspense.

Love Romance Cafe’s Best of 2013 nominee.

Ember Wells knows the fear of having a serial killer set his sites on you. For one horrible year she became the target of one man’s twisted game. But with the killer convicted and behind bars, Ember’s life as a photojournalist has finally returned to normal. That is, until Angelo Dimitrov moves in next door.

http://www.amazon.com/Ember-Burns-Seeker-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00H8BP5BS/

Ember Learns

Ember is quickly falling for the mysterious Angel who entered her life only days before. He possesses her body, but she’s guarding her heart. With so many questions unanswered and a serial killer on the loose, her trust isn’t something she’s willing to give.

Even without her trust, Angelo has sworn to protect Ember. But she’s determined to go after the Seeker. With her stubborn disposition and quick wit, she foils Angelo’s plans again and again.

http://www.amazon.com/Ember-Learns-The-Seeker-Book-ebook/dp/B00IIYY510/

Ember Yearns

After a night of incredible passion in the arms of Angelo Dimitrov, Ember betrays his trust to save a young woman from the serial killer known as the Seeker. With determination as her guide, Ember faces her biggest fear and runs headlong into the killer’s path, but things aren’t always as they seem.

Angel has never been more frustrated with another person than he is with Ember Wells. The beautiful vixen captured his heart, even as her reckless behavior spawns his rage. Amidst the lies and confusion, one thing is clear: Ember’s in danger. Now Angel must become the hunter and pray he’s not too late.

http://www.amazon.com/Ember-Yearns-The-Seeker-Book-ebook/dp/B00KH11JG6/

A.L. Kessler

Sunday, June 22, 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

A.L. Kessler is a paranormal romance author residing in beautiful Colorado Springs, Co. Since she was a teenager she has loved spinning tales. She can easily be won over with gifts of coffee or chocolate.

Connect with A.L.:

Facebook Author Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/alkesslerauthor

Facebook Series Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/darkwarchronicles

Website: https://www.amylkessler.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A.-L.-Kessler/e/B009SVG9RK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1389554823&sr=8-3

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/a.-l.-kessler

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/alkessler

In the Light of the Moon

A shifter with no control…

As a panther shifter stripped of her control Kassity has no choice but to be a killer for Lucius. Obeying the vampire was simply her way of life. Until Jaxon comes to town, bring trouble with him. When she recognizes Jaxon as her fated mate, Kassity must deal with betrayal, secrets and Lucius in order to be with him.

A war rages on…

Jaxon must decide who he is fighting for and against. What started as a simple job turns into a complicated game of hearts when he meets Kassity, the woman he thought he was rescuing.

But not everything is as it seems in Lucius’ territory…

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Moon-Dark-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00DAN29TY/

Dance in the Moonlight

Renee’s life had been normal until the shadows reappeared and the legendary stone was sent to her. As the arrival drags her further into the paranormal world, the last thing Renee expects is to be swept off her feet by a brooding werewolf.

Yet Coran captures her heart and attention. Small problem—he doesn’t want a mate. Coran still suffers from the loss of his first mate, but when Renee is attacked by shifters he is forced to protect her at all costs. Things heat up when he realizes fate has wickedly granted him a second chance at love. With the war causing the body count to rise, now is not the ideal time to find a mate.

The Circle is becoming desperate and something has Lucius worried which means trouble for his followers. It’s a dance between danger and fate in this second installment of the Dark War Chronicles.

http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Moonlight-Dark-War-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00IXB6E30

Midnight Symphony

It starts with a legend…

The legend of the Gypsy Lady had been passed down for centuries, and now it is Cora’s turn. Giving people hope and taunting the Demon King is what she lives for, until she catches the attention of Darius, prince of the demons.

Add a secret…

Hidden behind her mask, she keeps her identity from him until the king captures her. With her magic on the verge of waking and the village on the brink of war can Cora tame Prince Darius’ heart before it’s too late?

An obsession

The night Darius kissed the Gypsy Lady became his undoing. When his father captures the woman people believed to be a spirit, Darius takes the chance to observe her. His obsession with her grows into something more.

http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Symphony-L-Kessler-ebook/dp/B00BEJDH6U/

Elle Klass

Wednesday, June 18, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Thursday, June 19, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

I was born in Redwood City California sometime in the late 20th century. Since I have lived in various states including Virginia and Florida. I graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in education and have spent over a decade teaching junior high. Writing has been my passion since about as long as I can remember. It is an outlet for my overactive imagination. I enjoy creating and sharing with others. I also love to read. As Snow Falls is my first publication but it won’t be my last as I have many more tales to share.

Connect with Elle:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElleKlass

Website: http://elleklass.weebly.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElleKlass @elleklass

Blog: http://thetroubledoyster.blogspot.com

As Snow Falls

It is the 20th century in California and the main character, a woman, has lived her life to the fullest. Nestled in her favorite spot during a snow storm she recalls the events of her life from her earliest memories of resisting birth and losing that futile battle to finding her true love and their beautiful family. There are monkey wrenches thrown in at every turn as she struggles to find her place; demonic teachers, cliquish students, her nightmare job, a love lost, and an earthquake that threatens her family. Life continues to dismay her until she can’t take it anymore and sets off on a journey. She is a lost soul with no destination, a wandering heart until something happens, something so incredible she could have never imagined it! Through her harrowing and dark story she finds light, justice and true love. She is a humble and lovable character who is quite ordinarily extraordinary. Her story is anyone’s story.

http://www.amazon.com/As-Snow-Falls-Elle-Klass/dp/1482779706/

Baby Girl Book 1: In the Beginning

Baby Girl Book 1: In the Beginning is the first book in this series.
Follow Cleo on her epic saga which begins when she abandoned by her mom at twelve. She has no other family which she is aware of, and in order to survive she leaves her home and lives on the streets. She meets some interesting characters and gets into some amusing predicaments all in the name of survival, such as jumping trains, being chased through the woods by a crazy man with a loaded shotgun and witnessing an unspeakable crime. After a few months on the streets she runs into another group of kids, Einstein is the oldest and a leader in the group, and they form a family of sorts. For survival and money they lean towards a life a crime which inevitably breaks up their family and sends Cleo and Einstein spiraling into their own adventure. Eventually they settle into a “normal” life however their pasts can’t be hushed forever …

http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Girl-Book-1-Beginning-ebook/dp/B00GYP1DXS/

Khalid Muhammed

Friday, June 20, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Born in Pakistan’s troubled Swat Valley, educated and raised in the United States, Khalid returned to Pakistan almost 17 years ago and fell in love with his country. His debut novel, Agency Rules – Never an Easy Day at the Office, is a journey behind the headlines about Pakistan, the world’s most dangerous place, to deliver an intense story that will challenge the reader to question what they have been told.

Connect with Khalid:

Website: http://agencyrules.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AgencyRulesPK @AgencyRulesPK

Facebook: http://facebook.com/AgencyRulesPK

Agency Rules: Never an Easy Day at the Office

Celebrated as a ragtag force that defeated and broke the Soviet Union, no one predicted the Mujahideen would bring with them a plague that would spread like wildfire through Pakistan in the years to follow. When the battle-worn fighters returned with no enemy or war to fight, they turned their sights on the country that had been their creator and benefactor.

From the same battlegrounds that birthed the Mujahideen, a young Kamal Khan emerges as a different breed of warrior. Discarding his wealthy family comforts, Kamal becomes a precision sniper, an invincible commando and a clandestine operative bringing intimidation, dominance and death with him to the battlefield. Ending the plague is his prime directive.

Shrouded in political expediency, hampered by internal power struggles, international espionage and doublespeak that makes Washington’s spin doctors proud, Kamal’s mission is a nightmare of rampant militant fundamentalism that threatens to choke and take Pakistan hostage. For him, the fight is not just for freedom, but the survival of a nation.

http://www.amazon.com/Agency-Rules-Never-Easy-Office-ebook/dp/B00HUZOED2/

Shannon Thompson

Saturday, June 21, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

I’m a 22-year-old author, avid reader, and a habitual chatterbox. In 2007, I was 16 when I published my first YA dystopian novel, November Snow. In 2012, I was featured in a poetry collection, and in 2013, I signed The Timely Death Trilogy with AEC Stellar Publishing, Inc. After releasing the first installment, my young-adult, paranormal romance, Minutes Before Sunset, became Goodreads Book of the Month. My life changed. Since then, my first short story, Sean’s Bullet, was also published in an anthology, and my poem was featured in a Norwegian magazine. My latest novel, Seconds Before Sunrise, released on March 27, 2014. Writing is what I do, and I love it more and more everyday.

Outside of my publications, I graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing. This little fact also means I live in Lawrence, Kansas–home of the Jayhawks. Rock Chalk! After also working for my publisher as a Social Media Marketing Manager, I became the C.O.O. While most define a C.O.O. as the Chief Operating Officer, my fellow AEC author, Ryan Attard, redefined it as the Cognitive Operations Overlord. I think I prefer his creative definition.

Connect with Shannon:

Website: http://shannonathompson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorShannonAThompson?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6880615.Shannon_A_Thompson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShanAshleeT23

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AuthorShannonT/

Minutes Before Sunset

AWARD WINNING NOVEL! – GOODREADS.COM BOOK OF THE MONTH IN GENERAL FICTION FOR JULY 2013

Two destinies. One death.

“Her kiss could kill us, and my consent signed our death certificates…”

Eric has less than a year left before his fated battle when he meets her. She’s a shade like him, but separated from the Dark – and with more power than she should have. And he can’t stay away.

Jessica is new to town and desperate to figure out who, or what, her birth parents were. But she can’t find them without overcoming Eric, and she won’t let him stop her.

Minutes Before Sunset happens through the minds of two young adults as they struggle to survive their paranormal realities and find balance in their human lives.

http://www.amazon.com/Minutes-Before-Sunset-Timely-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00CKN4RFE

Seconds Before Sunrise

Two nightmares. One memory.

“Chaos within destiny. It was the definition of our love.”

Eric has weeks before his final battle when he’s in an accident. Forced to face his human side, he knows he can’t survive if he fights alone. But he doesn’t want to surrender, even if he becomes the sacrifice for war.

Jessica’s memory isn’t the only thing she’s lost. Her desire to find her parents is gone and so is her confidence. But when fate leaves nightmares behind, she decides to find the boy she sees in them, even if it risks her sanity.

http://www.amazon.com/Seconds-Before-Sunrise-Shannon-Thompson/dp/1940820030

Jason Wallace

Friday, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Jason Wallace is an Indie author from the Midwest, aspiring to bring his works to the masses and through this, bring joy into their lives. He has been writing for more than 20 years, mostly poetry, but since 2011, he has been writing novels and short stories, in various genres.

Connect with Jason:

Website: http://korndawg8.wix.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepageofauthorjasonwallace

Website related to this Facebook Event: http://korndawg8.wix.com/hot-books-boutique#!dfnv-5-day-mega-multi-author-event/cla1

Shattered: On the Edge of Insanity

Attorney Richard Ratner awakes in a mental institution, accused of killing his only child. Unable to cope, unable to understand, Richard escapes and sets out to discover who really committed the murder, how, and why is there much more going on than Richard understands, much more in his own mind? If it were a movie, imagine Edge of Darkness meets Identity meets Shutter Island.

http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Edge-Insanity-Jason-Wallace-ebook/dp/B00JFLTN3U/

P.S. Winn

Saturday, June 21, 10:00 pm – Midnight

Help! The thoughts are spinning!I write because I have to. I cannot fall asleep without thoughts for a book going through my head. They also invade my dreams, so I have to put them on paper. I have to do this long hand. I always write my books first with pen and paper. If I just try and type them for some strange reason,the flow of words is interrupted. So, I am always carrying around my pen and notepad. Which I am more than glad to do, because of my love for it. I will continue writing, even if my books don’t sell, but I hope they do and I hope the readers will love them and want more. I’m not sure how to classify my books. Although the supernatural plays a big part and a bit of the spiritual without being religious. I hope when the readers out there pick up my books they will enjoy my stories. I also have my short stories on Story Star all with great ratings, and poems on All Poetry. Here’s to happy reading for years to come!

Connect with Pam:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pswinnauthor @pswinnauthor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pswinnbooks

Tunnels

What do we actually know about traveling through something like a wormhole? Is it possible to travel to another world instantly? How about an alternate world? If it was possible would they tell us. Where could we go and what would we discover?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tunnels-P-S-Winn-ebook/dp/B00FAS3HIY/

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Tunnels-P-S-Winn/dp/1492764213/

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/P-S-Winn-?store=ebook&keyword=P.S.+Winn+

[NOTE:–If you read the first installment of this blog you may remember that I originally said there were 16 authors. I goofed, there are 15, but there is another person associated with this event, our promoter, Ashley Haines. Many thanks for all your efforts, Ashley!]

Connect with Ashley:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.haines.52

Meet 7 of the 16 Authors who comprise the “Dreams, Fantasies, Nightmares & Visions” Facebook Group

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

(Lilo Abernathy, John Reinhard Dizon, Marcha Fox, Terri Klaes Harper,

Samantha Jacobey, Susanne Leist & John Tucker)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1439009819683643/

Event Dates: June 18 – 22, 2014

* * *

Lilo Abernathy

Friday, June 20, 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Saturday, June 21, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Sunday, June 22, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

I’m currently forty-two, but that could differ depending on what year you read this. Unless some fundamental laws of nature change, I expect that number to only get higher. I am half Italian and half Irish. Well, the Irish side is sort of an Irish/German/English/French/Scottish mix, but since I believed I was truly half Irish until my mother’s foray into genealogy, I’m sticking to that story.

I live amidst the Smoky Mountains and can sometimes see the shadows of clouds lying on the mountains from my front porch. I am not yet snobbish enough to call it a veranda, but time will tell. I’m a great believer in the proof being in the pudding. Sometimes my young adult daughter joins me on the veranda… err, porch to admire the view. Often my Australian Shepherd runs around the veranda looking for things to shepherd in the yard. Because we are decidedly lacking in livestock, he frequently presents me with slobbery balls to throw. I, in turn, do my best to ignore them. I feel justified in this neglect because I am planning on adopting a girlfriend for him soon so they can wrestle over the slobbery ball together to wagging tails’ content.

I started working full time while in high school and haven’t stopped since. My illustrious career began with a smattering of service experiences at various fast food and restaurant chains, went on to fine jewelry, slipped into property management for housing projects, morphed into corporate real estate, then ended up in mergers and acquisitions. Please don’t ask me how that happened as I would have to kill you if I told you.

My home is a modestly sized ranch, recently purchased and still not completely unpacked. The walls are a boring light beige, but they make the perfect backdrop for my brightly colored Gustav Klimt canvas prints. Van Gogh hopes to join Klimt on my walls soon, but right now the brakes on my Cube need to be fixed, and the washer overflows if I place the water level on super-duper high. Priorities, priorities.

More importantly than all of the above, you absolutely must know that my favorite color is purple. Not Barney purple, no offense to Barney, but more of a medium eggplant purple. I like to think of it as a “mature” purple, but deep down I know it is really just purple.

Connect with Lilo:

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/

Blog: http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7789942.Lilo_Abernathy

Google Plus Account: http://google.com/+LiloAbernathy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy

The Light Who Shines

When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it’s obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimiore that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire.

Blue and her clever wolf Varg follow a trail that starts at the Cock and Bull Tap and leads all through the town of Crimson Hollow. Between being sidelined by a stalker who sticks to the shadows and chasing a suspect who vanishes in thin air, the case is getting complicated. If that isn’t enough, Dark Vampire activity hits a record high, and hate crimes are increasing. However, it’s Blue’s growing feelings for Jack Tanner, her magnetic Daylight Vampire boss, that just might undo her.

While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, it seems someone else is conducting a search of their own. Who will find whom first?

Danger lurks in every corner, and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim.

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Shines-Bluebell-Kildare-Book-ebook/dp/B00HYH3ZU4/

John Reinhard Dizon

Wednesday, June 18, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Thursday, June 19, 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Sunday, June 22, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

John Reinhard Dizon was born and raised in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn, NY. He participated in local and high school sports at Bishop Loughlin MHS, excelling in wrestling, hockey and football. The lead vocalist of the Spoiler and the Ducky Boys, he was a key figure on the Brooklyn rock scene during the Punk Revolution of the 70’s. Relocating to San Antonio TX in the 80’s, he moonlighted as a pro wrestler while working as a legal assistant. He successfully pursued a BA at UTSA and degrees in Korean martial arts during the 90’s. He currently lives in KC MO where he is studying for his MA in English at UMKC. Mr. Dizon has been writing suspense and thriller works for over twenty-five years.

Nightcrawler

Nightcrawler is about the exploits of Sabrina Brooks, the heiress to the Brooks Chemical Company. Bree is trying to pick up the pieces after her father’s death, and is now in a position to live up to a personal commitment to use her resources to benefit the oppressed. She is intrigued by the notion of conducting a guerrilla campaign against drug gangs in New York City, and accesses top-secret archives detailing Government contracts for developmental research of chemical weapons. She uses her wizardry in chemistry to concoct weapons for her own use as a vigilante known as the Nightcrawler. NYPD undercover officer Hoyt Wexford becomes friends with Bree, and begins to suspect she knows the identity of the Nightcrawler. Her sudden interest in a series of terrorist attacks in the New York area makes him believe she may be investigating a group called the Octagon. He tries to follow her but is too late to prevent a showdown between the Nightcrawler and the mysterious Reaper. Hoyt rescues Bree and learns her secret identity, and together they plan to stop the Octagon once and for all in preventing a chemical attack in NYC on the Fourth of July. This is a pulse-pounding thriller straight out of world headlines, with an unforgettable heroine fighting impossible odds against fiendish arch-criminals. For suspense fans looking for some chick lit with international intrigue, Nightcrawler is one not to be forgotten.

http://www.amazon.com/Nightcrawler-John-Reinhard-Dizon-ebook/dp/B00I0K9QEI/

Tiara

Tiara is an action-packed, historical fiction, romantic thriller centering around the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998. The main female protagonist is Princess Jennifer of Edinburgh, a civil rights activist involved in the negotiations between the British government and the coalition groups in Ulster. She becomes an object of fascination to Berlin Mansfield, an international terrorist of Irish descent who is equally intent on attending the historic event as it transpires. The two eventually cross paths in a tale of intrigue and suspense with the future of a nation at stake.

http://www.amazon.com/Tiara-10th-Anniversary-John-Dizon-ebook/dp/B00IPS7R64/

Marcha Fox

Saturday, June 21, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Marcha Fox is a prolific writer who has addressed a wide variety of subjects but her favorite is science fiction. It began as a love of astronomy which eventually led to a bachelor’s of science degree in physics from Utah State University followed by a 21 year career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas where she held a variety of positions including technical writer, engineer and eventually manager. Her NASA experiences included trips to Cape Canaveral in Florida, visiting other NASA centers in Mississippi, Alabama and Maryland as well as trips to the European Space Agency in The Netherlands but the most memorable was the sad task of helping to recover space shuttle debris in East Texas following the tragic Columbia accident in 2003.

Her Star Trails Tetralogy Series incorporates her knowledge of physics and space travel within a family saga set on a primitive planet where survival is an ongoing struggle further complicated by political intrigue. While some of the science is speculative, her goal is to represent it as accurately as possible so that her readers learn accurate principles in a painless, entertaining manner within the context of the story. More information on the individual novels in this series, the science behind them as well as the status of the fourth and final volume can be found on http://www.kallioperisingpress.com.

She is the mother of six grown children, 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and lived in New York, California and Utah before making her home in Texas.

Connect with Marcha:

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Marcha-Fox/e/B0074RV16O/

Author Homepage: http://www.kallioperisingpress.com/abouttheauthor.htm

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marchafoxauthor

Star Trails Homepage: http://www.kallioperisingpress.com/startrails/star_trails_tetralogy.html

Twitter: https://twitter.com/startrailsIV @startrailsIV

Blog Page: https://marcha2014.wordpress.com/

A Psilent Place Below

Finding refuge in Cyraria’s underground network of caverns to survive Opposition, it doesn’t take Dirck Brightstar long to discover these are no ordinary caves. When he and his mother share a shocking veridical dream its clear his imprisoned father is in grave danger with immediate action required. Following a harrowing prison break the entire family plunges into a world of intrigue as the Integrator’s hold on the planet tightens. At long last Creena makes it home only to find her family still can’t be together because her father’s now a virtual prisoner in Cira City working covertly to oppose Integration. With the caverns located deep within enemy territory the risk of being discovered not only threatens their personal safety but assures Integrator victory if cristobalite crystals fall into enemy hands. Squabbling between Creena and Dirck resumes in short order, jeopardizing their ability to recognize yet another grave threat that leaves them reeling with regrets as this volume concludes amid technological challenges, political intrigue and culture clashes in yet another volume of high powered science fiction adventure. This is the 3^rd volume of the Star Trails Tetralogy which can be enjoyed out of sequence.

http://www.amazon.com/Psilent-Place-Below-Trails-Tetralogy-ebook/dp/B0082CW8QC/

Terri Klaes Harper

Thursday, June 19, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

For someone who loves to write, I never really know what to say about myself. I’ve lived a fairly “normal” American life, and I’ve been writing for about as long as I can remember. I started with stories about the origins of camels’ humps and strange planets one could only travel to while riding a flying cat, and now I keep a blog of randomness and am writing a young adult book series.

Inspired by my own ninth grade English teacher (the one who discovered that my love for writing might actually be a hidden talent), I too became a high school English teacher, a chapter in my life I very recently closed. I am blessed with an amazingly supportive husband and two beautiful and hilarious Australian shepherds who fill my life with love. I have an appreciation for good literature and words and a hatred of human trafficking. I hope to continue writing fun fiction, but I would also love to put my talent to use to help battle modern day slavery. Other than that, I enjoy running, or rather the benefits of running, and long walks on the beach. After all, I do live in Florida. However, a part of me always considers Virginia, where I spent middle school through college, as my home.

Connect with Terri:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Terri-Klaes-Harper/e/B00AAEGY74/

website: http://terriklaesharper.wix.com/author

blog: cavernsofmymind.com

Memoirs of an Ordinary Girl: Fresh-Meat Year

It’s just another extraordinarily ordinary year in Drew Hotchner’s world, and one she faces again with wit and sarcasm. Freshman year is the only thing that just might be more horrific and awkward than middle school, and Drew cannot avoid it. Thankfully, she is not alone and still has her support crew of friends, because some things never change, no matter the setting. Old enemies return and new distractions abound, such as a new crush, even while she holds onto the old, the advent of the grunge music movement, helping to plan a wedding, and the creepy neighbor boy down the equally creepy rural road. Drew must again learn to hold her own in the unknown and to stay true to her identity while also learning that doing the right thing is not always the easy thing and may take a degree of maturity a fourteen year old often doesn’t realize she has.

http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Ordinary-Girl-Fresh-meat-Year-ebook/dp/B00KMYJ3DO/

Samantha Jacobey

Friday, June 20, 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Saturday, June 21, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Sunday, June 22, Noon – 2:00 pm

Anyone who knows me could tell you, I am a friendly kind of person, never met a stranger and take up conversations anywhere at any time. I work hard, and my mind never seems to shut down, as I wake up often in the middle of the night with ideas pouring out and demanding to be dealt with. Of course that means much of my books were written in the middle of the night.

I grew up and still live in the great state of Texas where everything is bigger, where we have warm weather and a central location. I love my state, my town, and my family, which includes my four sons, my significant other, and many friends as well.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the books that are currently available and hope you will enjoy reading them just as much. And of course, there will be many more stories to come.

Connect with Samantha:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-Jacobey/165092307031832

https://www.facebook.com/ANewLifeSeries

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00GEB5LX0

Twitter: @samjacobey

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7335383.Samantha_Jacobey

Captive

To what lengths would you go to break away from a life filled with pain and suffering?

Tori Farrell has lived a dangerous life. When you grow up with a Motorcycle Gang of Mercenaries and Drug Lords like the Dragons, a normal life is more like a fairytale. For years, she accepted her dark reality, a world consisting of drugs, sex, violence and murder. In the end, she learned the most valuable lesson: survival.

After years of being ruled by the Dragons, Tori uses her skills of seduction and assassination to free herself from the grasp of the people who vowed they would never let her go. Taken in by the FBI, she fears not everything is what it seems, and soon finds herself lost in a web of lies and deceit. She thought getting away from the Dragons would put her on a path to a new and better life, but now she must face the cold hard truth” there is always a price to be paid.

Tori’s story begins with CAPTIVE for ONLY 99 CENTS (sale price) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J1AO3JE

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/captive-samantha-jacobey/1118955652

Bound

Raised by bikers and held by the FBI, Tori Farrell has literally walked over dead men to get to where she is today.

When she broke the ties to her dark and twisted life with the Dragons, she thought it would give her a fresh start and a chance to live a normal life. However, she soon discovered the demons from her past have no desire to let her go.

Bound to a halfway house under orders of the FBI, Tori takes things day by day, working to move forward and to face her own addictions. With her true identity a mystery and no family to turn to, she must learn to accept the love and support of those around her. When a mysterious and charismatic man walks into Tori’s life, she believes she’s finally found someone who wants her for who she is. But sometimes danger doesn’t hide cloaked in darkness” It comes out into the light of day in the form of a smooth talking bad boy who appears to be everything you’ve been looking for, but is really the one thing you should be running from”

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J1AO2C2

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bound-samantha-jacobey/1118955657

Entwined

There is nothing crueler than getting a taste of something you’ve fought hard to reach, only to have it ripped away, sending your world into a tailspin

Tori wants to put the past behind her, but it’s a daunting task when you have the FBI trying to force you back into the life you’ve escaped. When a ghost from her past visits, it could be the leverage they need to do exactly that, put her back into the game of murder and deceit. Tori has decided to run, in an attempt to protect her new friends, by fleeing from LA.

Wanting a place to call home and feel safe from the madness, she sets out with a plan to disappear and hide in anonymity. Her idea only holds one flaw, a man she can’t shake, who won’t take ‘No’ for an answer.

She soon discovers that getting a new life means she must first lay to rest the demons of her past.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J7F2NTA

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/entwined-samantha-jacobey/1118955781

Exposed

[Exposed is being released that weekend so purchase links are not available until then.]

Susanne Leist

Thursday, June 19, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Sunday, June 22, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Susanne Leist graduated with an MBA in finance. Her life has led her through the hectic commodities market and the number-crunching field of budgeting, but she always continued to read and daydream…which ultimately led to the fulfillment of her dream to put one of her stories on paper for everyone to enjoy. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband, two daughters, and Maltese dog.

From the Author

I have always loved to read books. My goal has been to write a book different than any other book that I’ve ever read. And I believe I have accomplished this goal. The Dead Game is a supernatural thriller with plenty of mystery and romance. The once peaceful town of Oasis becomes a haven for murder. Dead bodies are found on the beach. Tourists disappear from the hotel–never to be heard from again. Once the sun sets, dark shadows can be seen roaming the streets of town. With two of their own missing, Linda and her friends must locate THE DEAD and determine whether their members are humans or creatures of the night.

Connect with Susanne:

http://amazon.com/author/susanneleist

https://www.twitter.com/SusanneLeist

http://susanneleist.wordpress.com/

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+susanneleist/

http://thedeadgameblog.tumblr.com/

http://susanneleist.blogspot.com/

The Dead Game

From the Inside Flap

How could evil exist in a perfect paradise? The town of Oasis is famous for its sunshine, picturesque streets, and white-sand beaches. Yet evil haunts the streets at night. Dark shadows stalk the innocent residents. Tourists disappear from the fancy Oasis Hotel.

In the center of it all, stands End House, with its long, dark history of disappearances. Linda and her friends are invited to a party at this house. It is not at all what they had expected. The young residents find themselves trapped in a deserted house where they must flee for their lives through revolving rooms and terrifying illusions. Or are they illusions? With two of their own still lost in the house, they decide to investigate on their own. Not knowing if their stalkers are vampires or humans, they must uncover the evil one controlling the game and everyone else in town.

Let the games begin.

Book Description

Linda moves to a small town to live a quieter and simpler life. She opens a bookstore and makes new friends. Life is simple–that is until the dead body washes up on shore. Linda is horrified to find that dead bodies and disappearing tourists are common for this town. As soon as the sun sets, she and her friends are stalked by dark shadows. But this is only the beginning.

Linda and her group receive an unsigned invitation to a party at the deserted house on the hill. They are pursued through revolving rooms and dangerous traps, barely escaping with their lives. Two of their own remain trapped in the house. Or so they think. To save themselves and the town, they must reveal the true face of evil–the one controlling the game and its elusive players.

The Dead Game has begun.

http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Game-Susanne-Leist-ebook/dp/B00F3IWF70/

John Tucker

Wednesday, June 18, 10:00 pm – Midnight

Friday, June 20, 10:00 pm – Midnight

Saturday, June 21, 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Sunday, June 22, 10:00 pm – Midnight

A life-long Georgia native, John D. Tucker has burned through three wives, raised two sons, and has persevered despite being brought up in a wonderfully dysfunctional family.

He is a multi-genre author with psychological thrillers (DIVISIVE, THE FIFTH GAME, AND SPLITS IN THE SKIN), a Romantic Dramedy Series called BEMUSED AND BEDEVILED (TERPSICHORE IN LOVE, THE MARK OF CAIN, and THE SEVENTH SEAL), a young adult Mystery (THE LITTLE GIRL YOU KISS GOODNIGHT), an Adult Contemporary novel (ROMANCING THE FOX) and the Erotica sizzler (TWELVE DOORS TO ECSTASY).

He plans to release five more books over the course of the 2014 – the final chapter in the Rask Trilogy – THE EIGHTH FAMILY, a Hostage Drama called THE WISDOM OF LUNATICS, a Contemporary Romance – eTERNALMATES, the second book in the Steph Linder Trilogy – THE LITTLE GIRL WHO CRIED AT MIDNIGHT, and a collection of short stories entitled FIVE FORKS IN THE ROAD.

He is a proud member of IWW (The Internet Writers Workshop) which he highly recommends to aspiring authors.

Connect with John:

Facebook Author Page —- http://www.facebook.com/hutt1234

Amazon Author Page — http://www.amazon.com/JohnTucker/e/B005GQUH3I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hutt1234John @Hutt1234John

Blog: http://johntuckermustlive.wordpress.com/

Twelve Doors to Ecstasy

Due to her religious upbringing, Tristina (Tryst) Sanyon has become a sexually repressed woman with intimacy issues. After breaking up with her boyfriend, who called her a fairy tale princess incarnate, Tryst becomes determined to push her sexual boundaries. She just doesn’t know how she’s going to do it.

Enter a mysterious millionaire who runs an organization that promises to ‘cure’ sexually inhibited women. When Tryst answers a newspaper ad that promises to make her more ‘complete,’ she finds herself in a situation where her deepest fantasies could end up becoming a dangerous prison.

http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Doors-Ecstasy-John-Tucker-ebook/dp/B00EWBWUT2

The Little Girl You Kiss Goodnight

Steph Linder dreams of being an Atlanta policewoman when she graduates high school in 1980’s Georgia. After her estranged mother is killed in Woody Pines, Steph is forced to stay with the grandmother and uncle she blames for her parent’s divorce in order to secretly investigate the murder. In the small, insulated town, Steph encounters a hunky teenager with intimate ties to her mother, three disreputable men who worked with her at a seedy bar, and a friendly librarian with several motives to be the number one suspect.

With only six days to catch the killer before going back to Atlanta to finish her senior year, Steph deals with a lecherous uncle, residents who view her as an unwelcome stranger, and long distance problems with her boyfriend and two BFF’s. Will she find the killer, or fall victim to the same fate as her mother?

The Little Girl You Kiss Goodnight is a teen-noir crime mystery that features a plucky, but flawed heroine, a broken family unit that bands together after eight long years, and a tension-filled denouement that will stay with you long after you finish the novel.

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Goodnight-Steph-Linder-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00ANCRJ9A

Divisive

The Connors are your All-American dysfunctional family. Carolyn, the matriarch, is a hard-drinking single mother with no desires to be a “sitcom mommy.” Elizabeth, her seventeen-year-old daughter, is a Goth dressing, snarky teenager who lives to protect her baby sister and to find love. Precocious Emily, twelve, is the peacemaker of the family saddled with issues of her own. Enter Dennis Rask, a charming rogue who insinuates himself into their family and brings them together as a self-appointed messiah – becoming loved by Carolyn, idolized by Emily, and accepted with reservations by a suspicious Elizabeth. Little do the Connors know, Rask has united three families before them, with every unit destroying themselves from within by his hellish machinations. Rask views the Connors as a hobby – a game – which has left no survivors in the past.

Divisive starts the reader off at the end of their story. Detective Frank Bostick attempts to unravel the reasons behind a tragic event in the Connors house, resulting in a “supposed” death, a “questionable” overdose, and a brutally “perceived” attack of Rask by one of the members. Switching back between the past, and the present, Divisive ensnares the reader in a thriller that goes back several years in the life of Dennis Rask until ending in a grim battle for the soul of the one he has hand-picked to be his “Queen.”

http://www.amazon.com/Divisive-Rask-Trilogy-John-Tucker-ebook/dp/B005GAAZW2

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Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

Random ponderings on the state of the Universe

Author Archives: Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

About Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

Writing Process Blog Tour

What’s Behind the Science in Science Fiction? Part Two – Atomic Theory

Confessions of a Reviewer from Hell – Part Four

Confessions of a Reviewer from Hell – Part Three

Confessions of a Reviewer from Hell – Part Two

Confessions of a Self-Admitted Reviewer from Hell

Part One

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