Author bio:
V. S. Holmes is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. She created the epic fantasy REFORGED series and an archaeological sci-fi series the NEL BENTLY BOOKS. In addition, she runs Amphibian Press, dedicated to helping hybrid authors with publishing and has a blogging residency at Aspiring Authors focused on writing disability and mental illness.
When not writing, she is a contract archaeologist and, as a disabled, gender-queer person, an activist for equal rights and climate change.


Book title:   Travelers
Genre:  Sci-fi
Publish date:  2/27/2016
Publisher:  Amphibian Press


Synopsis:
Archaeologist Nel Bently has her own crew, her own research, and a private patron to fund her passion for dirt. With her trowel barely into the dry earth of Chile’s coast, however, Nel learns she and her crew are being watched.

Los Pobladores, known to Nel only as vandals and looters, take issue with any archaeologist brave or stubborn enough to set boots on their land. Nel is both and far from willing to give up the site that will make her career. She must keep her crew, her friends, and her life’s work safe, but with a benefactor playing chess with their lives, and angry militants who may actually have a point, Nel is ready to fight dirty.

X-FILES meets LARA CROFT in this snarky sci-fi about where we came from, and where we’re going



Author Interview:

Welcome to the Readers' Lounge, VS Holmes, I'm looking forward to hearing about your unique perspective on fantasy writing.  Strap yourself in as this levitating lounge takes off.

VS Holmes: Thanks Kasper.  Looking forward to it.

​Which scene from your book do you like best and why?
I'm a wicked sucker for reunion scenes. The more complex the relationship or reason for parting, the better. I think it's left over from reading copious amounts of Harry/Draco and Watson/Sherlock fan fiction a decade ago. There's a scene in  Blood and Mercy, the final book in my fantasy series, when a brother and sister reunite after 20 years, throughout which he's been searching for her, and she's been avoiding being found. It's awkward and disappointing and touching all at once and I love it.

Aw..that sounds sweet, maybe bitter-sweet.
​
Have you used any real events or places as inspiration for your writing?
In my sci-fi I've drawn a lot from my day job as an archaeologist, not just locations, projects, and science, but the folk legends we all have, and the ridiculous stories we tell.

Archaeology sounds like such an interesting career.

What are you working on now?
I'm currently drafting  Blood and Mercy,  which is the final book in my fantasy series (eek!) and mentioned above, and  Heretics,  the fourth Nel Bently Book. I’m also developing the first season of an email/audio serial set in the same universe as the Nel Bently Books.


What’s your writing routine?
I'm a morning person. Well, I'm not a sleep person, really. I get up between 5:30 and 6:00 every morning and if I'm in the field I'll write until about 10 minutes before we roll out. If it's the off season or a weekend, though I'll write until about 10, visit my parents who live next door for a bit, then continue writing for the afternoon, with a break to take the dog for a walk.


How did you go about developing your cover artwork?
I made the covers for the Nel Bently and my other novels in the Starsedge universe myself. I use Krita and stock photos, as well as custom photoshoots for the figures. My fantasy books are commisioned pieces of art (the Reforged art is by Ben Donahue and Awakened is by Aaron Bolduc). The layout and designs I did myself.

Oh wow, that is so cool.  It must be so rewarding to see your visions come to fruition.

If you could only take three books with you through an interstellar portal, what would they
be?
One would be blank, of course. The next would be  Crown Duel  by Sherwood Smith and the third would be  Cosmos  by Carl Sagan.

Awesome!  I think you're the first person to answer with a blank book for writing.


Do you have a blog?
I don't have a personal blog, but I do have a blogging residency at Aspiring Authors Blog, where I share a monthly article concerning disability in SFF worlds.


What’s your dream job and do you think you’ll do it one day?
I'm lucky--I'm already doing both my dream jobs. Archaeology and writing are my passions, and not too different from one another--both are the search for a story and truth.


Where do you like to travel to?
ANYWHERE. I get to travel around the states for work, but I've also dug in Greece. I like to get off the beaten path to really get to know a place and its culture. I'm also a huge fan of stark landscapes. I just returned from the Iceland Writers Retreat and it was incredible there!
​

Most played song: Hmm, currently Spiritual Machine's cover of "Don't Fear the Reaper," or anything by The Midnight.
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? Plotter once I have the first scene
Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: I enjoy reading fantasy more and writing sci-fi more.
Best superpower: Healing or Flight.
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: Run a writers’ retreat!


Thanks VS.  It has been good fun learning about you and your work.  We have the links here as well as a sample of VS's writing below.

​Links 
Website:  https://www.vsholmes.com
Blog:  https://aspiringauthorblog.blogspot.com/2019/04/you-cant-miss-library-making-fantasy.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorvsholmes/
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/vs-holmes
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VS_Holmes
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/V.-S.-Holmes/e/B014B55FJ0/
Newsletter sign up: bit.ly/nelbentlybooks
Youtube book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Shk0IbaSQU&t=10s
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vs_holmes/


V. S. Holmes
Award-winning Sci-fi and Fantasy Author
www.vsholmes.com



​Excerpt from Travelers:

Vandalism across a perfect site was the best recipe for an archaeologist’s worst day. Apparently, it wasn’t enough that Nel Bently’s visa had met with "authenticity issues" twice on her way into Chile. She ducked under the rope that had served as a barrier. A poor one, she mentally snarled. The site was a disaster. Great gouges carved the formerly pristine soil. The tools stacked under a tarp by the bushes were now scattered, bent and broken. What pits her crew had dug the week before were filled with rotting leaves and back dirt, the perfect, square walls of the trenches ruined and crushed in.
Nel stepped carefully through the mess. This has Founders written all over it. As a rule, Nel was a patron of locals and the people she studied. Coming onto culturally significant land, not matter how old the site, was always tricky and she respected that. The Founders were her exception. They took issue with any archaeologist that set boots near their land, despite admitting there was no spiritual or cultural significance to the sites Nel chose.
"Well, fuck." Her tanned hand raked sweat and sunscreen through her sandy hair. She had permits and this was blatant vandalism. She turned back to her colleague and the two grad students who had arrived early to help. They waited, uncertain, at the rope, tools and packs still held with earnest dedication. "Alright, Mikey, grab pictures of this mess. You two, packs and tools go there, and set up a tent over them. Once Mikey has his pictures, clean it up. Wear gloves, it's gross and smells like a sewer." 
She watched as they moved to do her bidding, eyes wide as they got their first good look at the vandalism. "If you need anything, talk to Mikey. I'll be on the phone." She trudged up the rise, dry soil crunching under her battered boots as she tugged the satellite phone from its case in her pack. She dialed, listening to the clicks as the call connected and surveying the land below her. It was perfect, really. The site was nestled between a stream and the rise she stood on now. The water had carved deep enough to have been there when it was inhabited, but small enough to be on only the local maps. The rise, curving from the north to the west, was covered with artifacts. It was the first place they surveyed, and it provided natural protection from the wind that whipped off the Pacific, just a few hundred feet away.
"You've reached the machine of Dr. Martin de Santos. Leave your name and number and how I can help you, and I'll return your call at the earliest convenience."
"Martos, it's Nel. Site was vandalized, looks like Founders. We could use some extra help -- I don't know if my greens can handle this. Give my cell a call tonight, I'll be in town." As she hung up, she caught site of the rotted mess Mikey was about to shovel out. It was a rough shape of a symbol. “Oi! Mikey wait!" She snapped a few pictures with her handheld, before waving for him to continue and stamping down the rise. She had been unable to see it from the ground. It was the angled symbol with which the Founders signed their papers, websites and protests. As she watched the clean up, she noted two figures on the rise across the stream. Both wore telltale woven bands around their forearms. A cold mix of dread and defiance crawled down her spine. It wasn’t like them to watch. I'll be damned if I'm going to be cowed by radicals. "C'mon," she called to the students, brown eyes fixed on the figures above. "I wanna see you moving dirt by ten!"
She returned to the site and sat on a rock, flipping through her field book. She had been digging since she was an undergrad. She had started with a history major, then steadily worked backwards in the time line, learning about anthropology, prehistorics, and paleolithics. She fell in love with her first dig. Now, with her doctorate defended, she had her own crew, her own research. Not to mention funding from a generous private patron to continue her passion for sweat, dirt, and work that made her body ache. She was staring at the page where she had sketched the site last summer when Mikey sauntered over.
He was a blocky man -- square head, square hands, square shoulders -- with only a slight paunch to round out the edges. "Sucks, eh? Think it was the Flounders?"
Nel smiled at his nickname for their adversaries. "More than likely. I tried to keep this site under wraps, but when you've grown up here, I think nothing escapes notice. They were watching us clean up this morning. Creeps me out a bit."
Mikey glanced at her, a frown crinkling his sun-weathered skin. Mikey was the resident prehistoric ceremonial specialist from their department, but more than that he was her best friend. "Everything OK?”
She shrugged. "I don't know." Her gaze was fixed on stain from rotted debris.
He rose with a groan. "I bet you a beer you pick up a shovel before tomorrow's over."
It was an old tradition. Nel could not keep her hands out the dirt, and even as site supervisor, she often found herself in a pit before long. She laughed. "
You're on."

... the story continues in Travelers


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VS came in for an interview on the Fantasy / Sci-Fi Readers' Lounge
Pop on over for all the latest great reads 
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Featured book

Book title: Mortal Flight, prequel to the Mortal Heat series
· Genre: Urban Fantasy
· Synopsis: Growing up with three brothers, Geri was never destined to be the type of lady society expected. She had long ago written off the American Dream of a husband and 2.5 kids, pursuing her passion for astronomy and flight. She wanted to fly in the Army Air Corps, but the only roles for women in World War Two were as nurses or local pilots, no combat. While Geri is desperately seeking an opportunity to test her skills as a pilot, she meets a mysterious man who seems to be everything she could ever want in a partner: Handsome, witty, and incredibly supportive of her dreams. Geri’s opportunity finally comes, but she soon discovers James is truly unlike any man she’s ever met. Will the distraction of this seemingly perfect man keep her from achieving her dreams? Or will James be the key to accomplishing more than she ever imagined?
· Publish date: May 2019
· Publisher: Self


Author Interview with Laurel Night

Kasper: Hi Laurel, it's a pleasure to meet you.  Come and have a seat on the Readers' Lounge with us.
Laurel: Thanks Kasper, it's great to be here.

Hey, I hear you work for the Air National Guard which really comes across in the themes of your books too.  Let's power up the Lounge and take off with our interview.

1) Do you have a pen name and why?
My pen name is Laurel Night. I decided that for my sanity and privacy, I would not publish under my legal name. Because I will publish in a few genres I may come up with a few different ones.
K:  Write at night.  I like the idea of a secret identity. Do your co-workers know you're a writer?
Yes, they do.

2) What other writing have you done?
I’ve written in one form or another for my entire life, really. I wrote poetry and short stories in school, and I completed my Master’s degree in 2012 so I wrote a lot of papers for that. I work in Public Affairs, so I write a fair amount of Feature and news stories, in addition to video scripts. I have several books in the works, one of which is a YA Urban Fantasy series, and I also have a contemporary action/romance.


3) What made you choose the Urban Fantasy genre?
I love reading this type of story. I love fantasy and magic, smart, clever characters that have something important to discover about themselves, and romantic subplots. Personally I’m not a huge fan of too many details in romances - I lean very slow-burn in what I enjoy - so Urban Fantasy was definitely the way to go. I think the YA paranormal romance is a good option, but I like to write about characters that are a little more mature than the average teenager.


4) Have you used any real events or places as inspiration for your writing?
My YA series, (as of yet untitled) takes place in northern Minnesota in a place called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I worked there for several summers in college, and went to high school in the tiny nearby town of Grand Marais. It’s a magical, preserved wilderness, and seemed like a great setting for a mysterious wolf-shifter story.
K:  That sounds like an amazing place to let your creativity run wild.
​

5) Do you have another job outside of writing?
I’m a member of the Air National Guard. I’ve been in for 11 years now, and have worked full time in Public Affairs since 2017. I would love to write full time eventually.

​10) Do you prefer ebook or hardcopy?
I have some favorite hardcopy books, but honestly I just can’t beat the convenience of e-books. I have most of my hardcopy library on e-book now, because I can read them in bed without having a light on. :)

Quick quiz:
Favourite thing to cook: I love baking, so I’d say cookies
Silliest saying: Well, there you go.
Best holiday spot: Breckenridge, CO - I love Snowboarding!
Most played song: Right now, R.I.P by Sofia Reyes
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? I’m a hybrid. I plot out the main points but make adjustments and let the creativity flow as I go along
Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: Fantasy
Best superpower: Flight
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: Learn to Surf!



Kasper: Thanks Laurel.  It has been fun getting to know you today.  We wish you all the best with your writing, snowboarding and surfing too.

Laurel: Thanks everyone.  I appreciate you stopping by to learn more about me.  Please check out Mortal Flight in May.

​

Laurel's Links

Website: http://www.laurelnight.com 

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


​

Laurel Night is a member of the Fantasy & SciFi Readers Lounge

Currently living in Central Texas with her family, she has begun a new chapter in life that has opened her heart and soul to many great adventures. Her hobbies include fishing, crochet, gardening...and of course reading.


​Book title:  Awakening Fate, The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn, Book Four

• Genre:  YA / Fantasy / Paranormal
• Synopsis: Elizabeth thought the battles behind her were difficult until some of her past came back to haunt her. She struggles to determine what emotions she is feeling that is real or induced by the amulets of the original witches now when an unexpected person becomes the keeper of Prince Petre's items. Protecting a friend comes to the forefront of her newest goal while coming up against an adversary she didn't know existed was troublesome enough, but not to have her powers at her command...that is the true test of her will and strength. Will Elizabeth be able to accept the new keeper? Will Sorina and Prince Petre give their blessings? Can the young witch keep her friend safe as well as herself?
• Publish date: Feb 6, 2019
• Publisher:  Self

​

An excerpt from  Awakening Fate, The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn, Book Four

​Of course, he gently wrapped his fingers in with hers, gave a small nod and looked to the ceiling. “Ready?” Reba asked as her and her sisters finished making the circle around them, she had every intention of keeping them safe. Elizabeth nodded then closed her eyes.
The ground was wet from dew, she had arrived in the morning time just as the sun was rising over the ridge of the horizon. Elizabeth felt the moisture seep through her socks in the high grass. She started to walk and realized Wesley was at her side, she had almost forgotten. Looking at him, her heart leaped when he smiled at her. “We have to find Sorina,” her words filled with determination.
“Lead the way, this is your territory.” He motioned a hand out as if to follow her lead.
Looking to her left, Elizabeth recognized the tree line as the same one Sorina ran into for safety when she was last here. She moved towards it quickly when she glimpsed the corners of a white gown between the trees. Stopping suddenly, Wesley almost ran into the back of her. “What’s wrong?” He whispered.
“She is here, watching,” Elizabeth whispered back. Craning to catch another glimpse she called out, “Sorina. It’s me Elizabeth. It’s safe, you can come out now.”
Moments passed before the soft voice of Sorina called back, “Why have you brought an elf with you? What is this about?”
Twisting her mouth in thought, Elizabeth knew she had to explain things. “Sorina, this is Wesley Roberts. He is Sire Levi’s son. He is… he is the keeper of Prince Petre’s items.”
Sorina suddenly was at the forest line, “No! Not an elf. They would never!” Her voice was filled with shock as she glided towards them in a rush. She circled Wesley, looking over every inch of his body. “You look like him, except for the hair.”
Wesley turned to watch the woman taking him in, “I am honored.”
She smiled at him, “I can see why the amulet chose you. Your heart is good. But I’m surprised, I never considered an elf to be a keeper. You have no magic.”
Lowering his head, Wesley considered her words. “Well, not exactly.”
Both women turned their heads quickly and responded more loudly than they intended and in unison, “WHAT!”
He chuckled. “When the coven was having their battle last year, we left as we are supposed to do. Well, I went to Southern Europe and was studying. My father wants me to take over his house one day, as expected, but he wanted me to meet a distant relative and learn from her. She is an ancestor of an elf and witch, both from Romania.”
That got a rise out of the women, Sorina instructed him, “Please continue.”
“Well, that branch of elves has magic because of their bloodline to you.” Elizabeth gasped and Wesley quickly recovered the conversation, “We would not be related. The bloodline has been so distant that none of that family would be closer than seventh cousins, at best.”
“You are the children of Leagh?” Sorina asked.
Wesley nodded, “No ma’am, not Leagh but Randolph, her twin, he married an elf… During their marriage, they had six children. One was my father's grandfather and one the grandfather of Tiffany. And the rest is history.” As he spoke Sorina covered her mouth with her hand. Randolph and Leagh was the first set of twins born after the magic was gifted to Petre and Sorina, both had returned to Romania after a few years in Northern Europe. They had said they had to be in a place they felt at home.
“Did you know this before you met Elizabeth?”
“No. I only found out when I went to train. Tiffany filled me in on the entire family history and started teaching me spells that we could work.” He turned to Elizabeth, “I wanted to tell you everything.”
She pulled back from him, angry that she hadn’t listened to him. “It was my fault. I was being stubborn and hard-headed and I… I didn’t want to listen. I wanted to be mad. How foolish!” She snipped.
Sorina took Elizabeth in an embrace and whispered in her ear, “My child there was no way anyone would blame you for your actions. You were kept hidden from the world you belonged to and when thrown in did the best you could.” Tears escaped down Elizabeth’s cheeks. Sorina held her tighter, “You are so strong even when you think you are weak.”
Wesley stood watching the two women embrace. He had wanted to be there for Elizabeth, but he knew she had been through so much emotionally, there was no way he could stay angry at her. Sorina pulled back from Elizabeth and took one of each of their hands and smiled, “You two will do great things for our people.” Looking to Wesley, “One day, you will need to meet Petre but not until he is ready. He is not as forthcoming as I am.” She released their hands and began to turn away gliding towards the woods, just at edge she turned to them one last time, “You have our blessings,” then she shimmered into nothingness.
Sitting straight up, Elizabeth turns to see Wesley slowly waking up. She turns to her mother, “He is it. He is the keeper. We have Sorina’s blessings.” Releasing Wesley’s hand, Elizabeth starts to stand when she hears him mumble. Looking back, she realizes he is having trouble coming out of the dream and put a hand on his shoulder to shake him, “Wesley, wake up.” She calls out trying to get him to come around.
He turns his head back and forth like he is fighting something, then suddenly calms down. Inside the dream, Petre came to talk to Wesley but only after Elizabeth and Sorina had gone.
Wesley tried to follow Elizabeth. As he was moving towards her, he felt something grab his arm. He turned to find a man holding onto him and looking quite angry. "Who are you?"
"You say you are the descendant of Randolph?" The man stood tall with broad shoulders holding onto Wesley's arm with a tight grip, nearly cutting off the circulation.
Wesley turned to face the man who wouldn't let him leave. Ripping his arm from the man's grasp he asked with a growl, "Who are you and why have you held me back?"
"Answer my question elf. Are you the true descendant of Randolph?" the man asked once more.
Not in the mood for games, Wesley took a step back. Sorina had said Petre wasn't very forthcoming, could this be him? He was told Petre's personality lacked compassion but this was absurd. "I won't answer anything until I know who you are? I'm thinking you're Petre, Prince Petre!" The man's face softened. The elf was smart and easily figured out who he was without over reacting.
"Walk with me my child... we have so much to discuss."

Author interview with Cheryllynn Dyess.

Oh my goodness, it does seems to be moving around under the cushions.  What on Earth is going on?  ​(A two-toned muzzle pops out from under the cushions, followed by a brown head with cute brown eyes).  Um, Cheryllynn, does this dog belong to you?
Yes indeed, that's my dog: Nyx. Named after the Greek Goddess of the night.  She must have snuck on behind me when we were arranging the cushions.

No worries at all.  I like dogs.  But um, we're a mile up in the air over the Pacific.  I hope she knows how to stay.
Yes, she'll be alright, I'm sure.

Alrighty.  What was the defining event that made you start writing?
That’s tricky. I started writing when I was a teen as an outlet for the things going on in my life that I couldn’t talk to anyone about that were dark and very emotional. Fast forward to 2011, when I met my future husband and he read my earlier writings and couldn’t understand why I wasn’t doing it for a living. So he made things in our lives so that I could come live with him and write full-time and be a stay at home mom to our teen boys (teens at that time) and got married shortly after.  

He really is the best thing to happen to you.  I know you have such a close and loving family.
What other writing have you done?
I have a book of poetry and a cookbook out. I plan to put out some short stories in my future as well.
What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?
I’ve been told I have a poetic style of writing but I like to feel that my ability to describe the world in which everything is going on let’s me stand out among the others.

What’s the basic plot of your Elizabeth Fairbairn series?
Overcoming adversity and obstacles, to be simple and short really.

Which scene from your book do you like best and why?
Oh goodness that’s a hard question. Let me see… Okay, without giving away too much about the story I’ll say the scene where Elizabeth finds herself in trouble and her magic isn’t accessible and she figures out how to get out!

I'm having visions of Buffy the Vampire Slayer over here...seriously I love strong female leads.
Which is your favourite character and why?
Other than the main character, I’d go with Wesley. He’s an elf shifter who is fated to be with Elizabeth and they go through some quite difficult situations in these stories. He’s fun and always supportive of her.

How do you develop your characters?
They grow with each story. I don’t really plan that out, they tend to write themselves.

Have you used any real events or places as inspiration for your writing?
Oh all the time. I grew up in Southeast Georgia and that area shows up in the Born of The Veil. In The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn, I created the area from when I stayed in Virginia. In a book coming out later, The Forgotten Soul, I used the town I was born in. Another book I’m working on called After The Storm, I am using my current hometown as a basis.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to write a book?
Just do it! Write it out and then go from there. Don’t hesitate or overthink it!

What music do you listen to when writing?
Rock mostly and then some pop. I like something with a lot of energy.

What do you do when you have writers’ block?
I crochet or garden or clean! Something with lots of detail to make me not think of the story. Sometimes reading helps too!

How did you go about developing your cover artwork?  I love this Awakening Fate cover.
This particular cover is art from Stella. She also did the cover for book three, A Moment of Darkness, and I asked her to keep with the same theme

Who are your five favourite authors?
C.L. Gaber, RS McCoy, NK Jemisin, Ally Shields, and Jennifer Malone Wright would be in my top favorites.

What do you write about in your Behind the Pages blog?
Things that affect me daily or in my life. I like to be very personal there so readers can get to know me as a person rather than me as a writer.

What are your writing plans for this year?
​My goal is to get 6 more books out this year and have 9 more completely written.

Oh my goodness, you'll be busy!
What’s your experience of the Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers’ Lounge?
As a member, I’d like to say it’s been fantastic. I’ve met new readers and new to me authors! It’s been fun and exciting. I hope we continue to grow as much as we have already!

Which one of your characters would you like to be?
Jewel! She is a fairy. This is a photo of what I envision her to be. 
​

Quick quiz:
Favourite thing to cook: chicken
Silliest saying: This is a PG interview...so I’ll skip this one.
Best holiday spot: Beach
Most played song: Rolling in the Deep by Adele
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? Pantser for sure!
Do you prefer SciFi or fantasy: Oh...Fantasy.
Best superpower: Reading minds.
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: visit the Highlands of Scotland where my ancestors are from.

Kasper:  Thanks Cheryllynn.  It sure has been an adventurous evening.  Please wait until we land, Nyx....  too late!  I hope she's OK after that big leap.
She'll be fine.  I think it's time for her dinner.  Thanks again for having me.  Bye.
​
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Cheryllynn's Links:
Website: www.cheryllynndyess.com
Blog:  www.behindthepages.blog
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cheryllynndyess
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/cheryllynn_dyess
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/cheryllynndyess
Amazon:  www.amazon.com/author/cheryllynndyess
Bookbub: https://goo.gl/zqw1Xy

​

Do you love sci-fi and fantasy?

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She loves hearing from people who enjoy her stories. So, feel free to follow her on social media, subscribe to her newsletter, or simply send her an email!  (details on her website: link below).

Imani's new release:

• Book title:  Dark Descent: A Dark Allegiance Book Prequel
• Genre:  Urban Fantasy
• Publish date: February 13, 2019
• Publisher:  Pyramese Publishing Group (view a picture of the publishers below)

Synopsis:

She had to kill him to save her kind...
Twenty years have passed since Naomi publicly executed a United States Senator on live television. In the beginning, she was celebrated. Magic wielders stood with her in solidarity to save her life and honor her sacrifice. But as the humans became increasingly hostile toward the wielders, Naomi was pushed aside, discarded, and forced to live outside of society. Everything changed the moment Toni waltz through her home, an alley in Channingsburg Nevada that boasted brick walls, broken bottles, and trash that littered her new home. Where once she'd thought she'd disbanded the Fraternity of Purifiers, she is faced with the knowledge they still existed and the daughter of the man she'd killed leads them. Thrust between a woman who wanted nothing more than to see her rotting corpse plucked clean by vultures and wielders who wanted her to stand for their cause, Naomi must make a choice to either sacrifice her life to save the woman who hates her, or stand in solidarity with the ones who'd turned their backs on her.

Author interview by Kasper

Welcome to our levitating Readers' Lounge, Imani L Hawkins.  I'm stoked you managed to squeeze this in with your huge writing schedule.  Your work rate is impressive.
Imani: Hi Kasper.  Nice to be here.  I guess I am rather busy. 
I released my first two stories in December: Last Holiday: A Sweet Revenge Story and Myleah: Fallen into Shadows Prelude. 
Then in January was From Darkness: Fallen into Shadows Book One. 
The prequel ha just been released:  Dark Descent: A Dark Allegiance Book Prequel 
I like to work hard and have plans for plenty more.  

​Wow.  You're going places, Imani.  Speaking of going places, I'll just launch this Lounge into the stratosphere.
Oh, Kasper, wait up a tick.  Looks like we have some unexpected companions running up to join our flight.  These are my children.

Hi Kiddies.  Welcome aboard.  Psst...there is a secret compartment in the Lounge here with mints.  Would you like a sweetie?  OK then, Imani, I know you by a different name.  Is Imani L Hawkins a pen name and why?
 Yes. Imani L Hawkins is a pen name. I wanted a name that represents my reasons for finally pursuing my writing career. And what better reason than these?! Imani for the little girl on the right, and L for my son Lyndon.

I'm sorry to hear about the bullying but glad you found a way past it and at such a young age is remarkable.  I think the same way about The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay.  
What made you choose the Urban Fantasy genre?
Initially, I wanted to write romance. That was until I realized how awful I was at it. (Kasper chuckles).  The men always came out sappy and corny, the type of men I’d like to punch in the face while screaming, “Man up, you wimp!” Okay, wimp isn’t exactly the word I’d use but it’s better to digest. Anyway, I love being able to blur the lines between realism and fantasy, with a cast of characters that wield magic, and avoid those sappy love scenes that make me cringe. Urban Fantasy was perfect for that.

How do you develop your characters?
Simple answer, I don’t. For example, I came up with a character who was supposed to be the sweet innocent type. I wrote up her biography, her looks, her family, her personality, and her likes and dislikes. But when I tried to write her, I could hear her screaming in my ear, “That’s not me! I wouldn’t do that! Why are you doing this to me?!” So, she took on a life of her own and it felt more organic to me. The character became real and I felt I could write her as if I was just getting to know her as I hope the readers would be doing at the same time. *Okay. I’m not crazy! I know there are other writers out there who speak to their characters, right?*

LOL.  That's a great answer.  I like the way they develop.

What are you working on now? 
I am actually working on an origin story about naguals, shapeshifters. I plan to build an entire world around them that spans across nine full length books. 

​What song would you choose as the theme song of your book?
Red: The Darkest Part of Me
 
What do you do when you have writers’ block?
I’m usually working on more than one project at a time. So, when I get stuck on one project, I move on to another.
 
That's a good one. I'll have to remember that.
Are there any writing styles or genres you dislike?
I may upset a lot of writers by saying this, but I actually have two pet peeves that stem from my time spent as a developmental editor. *puts on my bulletproof vest*

1. Erotica. While I love some good heat, I can’t stand a book that is so riddled with corny sex scenes there is no actual storyline to follow. I always find myself skipping through pages of sex scenes, trying to get to the meat of the storyline, only to be disappointed there was none.
2. I am not a huge fan of first-person present tense, especially when they use more than one perspective. *Don’t shoot me!* When I read it, I’m always wondering what is going on around the character? What does the character feel now that they’ve gone through this event? What else am I missing?! I also find it difficult to connect to a character when the perspective is always changing.

 Best superpower: Mind control! Then I could get my husband to stop watching marathons of Star Trek on my days off.
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: Punch Oprah in the face. (Hey, I have my reasons.)
 
Links 
Website: http://www.imanilhawkins.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imanilhawkins/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Imani-L.-Hawkins/e/B07L8W6C11/


Thanks for coming for a ride with us today, Imani and kiddies.  Have you had a good time?
(Much head nodding while sucking on sweets).
Imani:  Yes, thanks Kasper, it sure has been fun.  It's a very comfortable Lounge.

Readers, please check out Imani's links and keep an eye out for her in our Fantasy Sci-Fi writing challenges.

Do you love sci-fi and fantasy?

​Join authors and readers who share the same interests in the Fantasy Sci-fi Readers Lounge.  You can pop in anytime to interact with authors of your favorite genres and participate in games and contests for prizes, giveaways, and more!
​ https://www.facebook.com/groups/2043978469031165.  

* Book title: Boston Metaphysical Society: A Storm of Secrets
* Genre: Steampunk/Paranormal
* Synopsis:
Politics and power. Demons and spirits.
When ex-Pinkerton detective Samuel Hunter married Elizabeth Weldsmore, the heir to one of Boston’s Great Houses, he knew his life would change forever, but he never expected the return of Elizabeth’s psychic abilities. Not only do they have to keep it a secret, but Elizabeth must learn quickly how to master them. For a psychic in a Great House is a political liability which her father, Jonathan Weldsmore, knows only too well. As the Great Houses jockey for power, the three of them must contend with treachery, subterfuge, and potentially a new demonic threat, in this political and supernatural thriller set in an alternate-history Boston of 1890.

The novel is a prequel to the graphic novel, Boston Metaphysical Society: The Complete Series.
* Publish date: Sept. 17, 2018
* Publisher: Brass-T Publishing



Author Interview with Madeleine Holly-Rosing on the Fantasy and Sci-Fi Readers Lounge

Kasper: Hi Madeleine, welcome to our steam-powered levitating Readers' Lounge.  We're looking forward to hearing all about these gorgeous books and the author behind them.  Are you ready?  (kaz turns on the engine).

Madeleine: Sure am.  Thanks for having me here.  Woah! (sound of metal clunking fills the air, acrid stench of smoke and oil).  Um...do you want me to fix the Levitating Lounge for you?
​
Oh how embarrassing.  It's still under warranty, you know.  We're very lucky you're a tinkering kind of author.  Okay, it seems to be levitating properly now, thanks for your prompt attention.  Just pop that wrench on the cushion there.  Now, let's chat about books.  You have told us about your latest release: Boston Metaphysical Society: A Storm of Secrets.   
What other writing have you done up to now?

A lot. LOL. I have an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA, so I’ve written quite a number of scripts. A few have been optioned, but none have been produce. I have also done some work-for-hire and I am a regular contributor to Fanbase Press where I do reviews of comics and novels as well as interviews.

The writing I’m most known for is my creator-owned series,  Boston Metaphysical Society  (BMS) with art by Emily Hu. It began as six issue graphic novel mini-series which is now in trade paperback. While I was producing the series, I wrote a number of short stories and novellas (prose) in the BMS universe which has been published as an anthology (Boston Metaphysical Society: Prelude). Earlier last year, we had a successful Kickstarter campaign for our first standalone continuation of the series, The Scourge of the Mechanical Men (Art by Gwynn Tavares) and the first novel,A Storm of Secrets, came out this year as well. I also have a BMS short story (prose) called, Here Abide Monsters, in the Some Time Later anthology from Thinking Ink Press and I have a number of non-BMS sequential art short stories in various anthologies as well.
I have also published a book on Crowdfunding

Sound like you're a versatile author.

Steampunk sure is a cool kid on the block in the Speculative Fiction genre, he made a good suggestion.  What’s the basic plot of yourBoston Metaphysical series?

The original graphic novel series is about an ex-Pinkerton detective, a spirit photographer, and a genius scientist battling supernatural forces in late 1800s
Boston. The new novel is a prequel to the series and begins five years before the graphic novel when Samuel Hunter (the ex-Pinkerton detective), and his wife, Elizabeth, have just returned to Boston from their honeymoon. However, it isn’t long before Elizabeth’s psychic abilities return and not only threaten her family’s position, but may be the only link to finding a number of men, women, and children who have gone missing.


How do you develop your characters?


I start with writing their family histories since that is a strong influencer on who and what the characters in the book become. I usually go back to their parents and often their grandparents or even farther if it’s important to the world building. This has really paid off especially in the case of BMS. In the original graphic novel, Caitlin’s father was a medium and spirit photographer and when he discovered she had the gift, trained her. You see very little of him in the graphic novel, but his presence is always there, not as a ghost, but as someone who was such an important part of her and Samuel’s life, you feel like you get to know him.


I love that idea of hidden mentorship. 
​Do you have another job outside of writing?


Yes, I work as an instructor for LA Fitness and I do crowdfunding consulting.
Having run five successful crowdfunding campaigns to help fund the comic, I published the non-fiction book, Kickstarter for the Independent Creator, and I lecture on crowdfunding.

steampunk novella.  I took one look at it and said, “That’s the artist I want.” I searched for her on Google, found her website, and contacted her. We discussed clothing, overall concept, as well as hair and clothing color. She did read an early draft of the novel (her idea) to help her capture the character of Elizabeth Weldsmore. The title graphics are done by Anke Koopmann. The cover is currently a finalist in the Authorsdb.com cover contest.

Speaking of awards, a little bird told me you may have some exciting news for us Lounge Lizards.  Congratulations.

Oh thank you.  Well this doesn't happen very often, but Boston Metaphysical Society: A Storm of Secrets has won a Silver Medal in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category in the Feathered Quill Awards. So now I can officially say I am an award winning novelist.   https://featheredquill.com/2019-winners/

That is so cool.
What are you working on now?

We launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund our next standalone graphic novel, The Spirit of Rebellion. Gwynn is still on board as the artist. We launched on Jan. 23 and end on Feb. 22 Link:http://kck.st/2FS2zRo

You're sounding very busy.  I especially like the sound of House Wars.
What’s your favourite pet?

Dogs. I love dogs. Which doesn’t mean I don’t like cats, I do. I’m just really allergic to them.

Do you prefer ebook or hardcopy?
Depends. If it’s someone new I want to try out, it’ll be ebook. But if they are a favorite or become one, I’ll buy the hardback.

Best superpower: Controlling or generating electricity would be cool.

Number one thing to do on your bucket list: Watch Bruce Springsteen live in concert.

Well, it looks like our Levitating Lounge is preparing for landing.  Thank you Madeleine for our entertaining flight; it's been so much fun.  We look forward to checking out your books in the links below.
Thanks Kasper, I had fun too


Madeleine's Links:

Website: http://www.bostonmetaphysicalsociety.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BostonMetaphysicalSocietyComic/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mhollyrosing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcholly1/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6470435.Madeleine_Holly_Rosing

Where to Buy:
Amazon (ebook and print): https://goo.gl/iiyaGk
Nook: https://goo.gl/CjsfYC
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/896295

Do you love sci-fi and fantasy?
​Join authors and readers who share the same interests in the Fantasy Sci-fi Readers  You can pop in anytime to interact with authors of your favorite genres and participate in games and contests for prizes, giveaways, and more!
​ https://www.facebook.com/groups/2043978469031165.  ​​

Russell was 5 when he found that people should be responsible for what they say when he had to write a story to back up his claim to his grandmother that he could do better in his sleep than the black and white movie he had watched. He handed two notebook pads to his grandmother who then agreed with his opinion. That was indeed the beginning!
In the beginning, it was mostly stories about super heroes and the stuff of comic books. Then came the works of Alexandre Dumas and the ideal of romantic heroes. Now there was a need to make women swoon and men weep and poetry was discovered and written. Russell was 12 when he went to his first play, which revealed a love for the stage and was 14 when role-playing games filled his head with the adventures of steel and sorcery. This all concluded with the love of the story and its effect on the audience.
Although life defies understanding, Russell has set about the challenge of teaching through his stories, in small baby steps, the lessons of love and life he has come to treasure since learning so much through the viewpoints of others.

* Book title: Star Chaser: The Traveler
* Genre: Science-Fantasy

Beyond the Outer Rim series 
"You've come to the Rims. This is the place of High Adventure!" Welcome! You have just entered a new realm - a new Universe where there are worlds, races, powers, allies and enemies just waiting to be discovered. Your place may be with the wielders of Iro... or perhaps as a Traveler... it could be that your destiny lies on a ship flying through the stars... or straining your skills on a battlefield... maybe you're most suited to hours spent pouring over ancient tomes... or engaged in a game of chess that will shape the cosmos. Whatever your place - wherever your destination - you will find yourself... Beyond the Outer Rim.

• Star Chaser: The Traveler: Beyond the Outer Rim
• Starblazer: Through the Black Gate: Beyond the Outer Rim - Book 1
• StarFlight: The Prism Baronies Beyond the Outer Rim Book 2
• Pieces of the Dark Eight: Beyond the Outer Rim

Kasper: Hi Russell and welcome to the brand new Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers' Lounge.  We have literally just unwrapped and placed it in this magical realm.  I hope it's comfy.

Russell:  Sure is ... and levitating.   It's a pleasure to be here.

OK, let's take off.  Russell, curiously, you write under the pen name of Reiter and I met you online as Reiter of Th'iam.  How did that come about?

A few lifetimes ago in the lands just east of Atlanta – a place they now called Decatur, an event was witnessed: the opening of a Dungeons & Dragons game box. It was an English teacher, Mrs. Linda Berry, who had provided the item and Christopher Murphy who had opened it. And there we were, Chris, Robert, Willie, Derrick, and me (those days I went by Gary) – rolling plastic, pencils flying, and pages flipping as we delved into the realm of table-top role-play gaming.

As it turned out, after reading the Dungeon Master’s Guide, I came to find the Gygax offering a little wanting. It will always be a cherished work of brilliance to me… but like most books, it needed an edit. Thus, we created Th’iaM, a new system filled with wonders not found on Gygax’s pages.

The Dungeon Master was done away with – we had watched the D&D cartoon and Dungeon Master was too beloved a character, though we kinda poked holes in his part of things too. So, the role of the Planner/Recorder was created (P/R) and the first P/R was given an identity… a name… and that name was Reiter.

As Th’iaM has grown (and we’re working on releasing the source books soon), the role of Reiter remains. So whenever a book covers things found in Th’iaM, the by-line will always be Reiter. Beyond the Outer Rim was the name of a scenario that ran for over three years (real-time) with as many as 22 players in one session. With ten titles of the universe done, it will be in Book Four – Star Tribe where the audience will be introduced to the bulk of characters that were the mainstay of the game session.

Getting back to the question, Reiter comes up in the SylverMoon Chronicles anthologies but there again each story was, at least in part, used in a gaming scenario.

Sounds like fun..
What was the defining event that made you start writing?

Lucille Brown… but I just called her Grandma. She was by far the smartest woman I’ve ever known, and she didn’t spend one day in college.
She was also a splendidly simple woman. You never called anyone a liar – you could say they were telling a story – and you never said something about yourself that you weren’t prepared to back up. Cue a moment when the only TV in the house was preoccupied with black & white movies (kind of dating myself here), only I wanted to watch Mighty Mouse (REALLY dating myself).
So... I whined. Yeah, that did not even begin to register.
Next, I made my case, claiming the movies were stupid and I could tell better stories with one arm tied behind my back. To her credit, she didn’t tie me up… but she did take her whiny little grandson to the drug store where she purchased a box of pencils and a stack of notepads. Getting back home, she whipped out the butcher knife and sharpened five pencils.
“Prove it!”
I was only 5, but I knew that tone of voice… it was the same one she used on the stray animals she would take in. Oddly enough, they all minded her when she used that voice – guess I was just her little puppy that day, ‘cuz I started writing!

To the credit and immeasurable gratitude I owe my late brothers Norris and Jerome, and my sister Simone, one of the things we did during playtime was play with our dolls. Dad was a handyman from hell with enough tools to open his own hardware store and Mom made a few of our clothes. That resulted in having fabric and building materials available to the children at all times. When the parents bought actions figures, Batman and Superman didn’t hang around long. Off came their old and tired costumes and we went to making new one. It’s amazing what you can do with masking and electrical tape when it comes to making wristbands and armour (yes, that spelling was for Reiter). Norris would draw heroes and hand me the final product, telling me to give them powers and a story. So, by the time I received my grandmother’s challenge, I was good to go!

I was on the third pad (remember, I was five... the letters were HUGE) when she picked up the first one. She started to read the second when she told me to put down the pencil (close call, ‘cuz I was on the last one with a point). We left the house again, only this time we went to the library. We invaded an out-of-the-way corner and she sat me down. She took down a book and read to me The Three Musketeers. I’ve been in love with colorful heroes ever since, and Alexandre Dumas remains my #1 author of all time!
On and off through a marriage, a couple of interesting career choices, and the rearing of four wonderful children, I’ve been writing off and on for years. That was mostly script writing though. I didn’t finish my first book until I got flimflammed by Madolyn Locke. But that is another story.

What other writing have you done?

Scripts (mostly freelance stuff), some ghost writing, and a couple of stage plays.

What made you choose the space fantasy genre?

It’s the one I chose when my editor Madolyn screamed, “FINISH A THOUGHT!” Up to that point I had penned an Adventure-Thriller, Science-Fiction, and a couple of other Science-Fantasy pieces.

That Madolyn sounds assertive, I'd do as she said too.  LOL
What’s the story behind your book title?

Beyond the Outer Rim was the name given to the scenario… it seemed fitting to keep it. As for Star Chaser, that was a Life-Stride created in the Th’iaM game specifically for the creation of the Dungias character. The rest of the title denotes how impacted I am with Lord of the Rings.

What’s the basic plot of your series?

Dungias has a simple task, a Star Quest: go the realm of space that is the home of the saviours of his people, find their progeny (humans)… and save them from themselves.

Which is your favourite character and why?

At this point I would have to say that it’s Freund, but he’s not running away with it. He is part bartender, part stand-up comedian, part philosopher, part realist… oh, and he’s also one of the most powerful entities in the Rims. He spends most of his time trying to guard humanity WITHOUT flexing his muscles… or being seen.

Freund sounds intriguing.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to write a book?

Don’t think for a moment that the pages you love to read are the first draft! Likewise for the ones you write.

What music do you listen to when writing?

Yes. It can go from Country to Pop, Hip-Hop, Folk, Classic, etc. One of my best mixes went from Bach and Pavarotti, to Earth, Wind & Fire and Prince, to Patsy Cline and the Florida Georgia Line, to Pink, Bruno Mars, and Maroon V.

What are you working on now?

BTOR – it would appear someone has gone and said, “I’ve got a small press start-up, and I want Star Chaser to be my first release.” As the 9th and 10th titles are finalized (with the 11th title beginning Book Four of the series), we’re focused on trying to make the re-launch successful.

What do you do when you have writers’ block?

I finish a thought. My form of writer’s block is coming up with a new idea. Case in point, I was reading The Da Vinci Code when I came up with a Western. I was writing BTOR when I came up with a gigantic, planet-impacting Science-Fiction story for which I’ve already written the first two books and a script.

Who are your five favourite authors?

Alexandre Dumas
Isaac Asimov
J. R. R. Tolkien
Alice Walker
Shakespeare

Who’s your favourite indie author and why?

Madolyn Locke. She happens to be my editor and the most frustrating writer I’ve ever worked with. I personally believe she’s a better writer than I am, but getting her to write a book is like pulling teeth… of a dragon… that’s breathing fire!

Oh boy!  Sounds like an interesting working relationship.
 What is your favourite quote?

“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible. This I did.”
T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)

What’s your dream job and do you think you’ll do it one day?

Filmmaker and I do truly hope to return to that craft very, very soon!

Maybe you'll have some good material with all your writing. hey?
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

When I’m not writing, or thinking about writing, I’ll let you know.

LOL
What book clubs are you in?

It’s more of a writer’s club, but it’s a Facebook Group called the SciFi Roundtable. I’m also part of a co-op of writers and artists called the Confederacy of the Quill. In addition to our individual work, we publish an annual anthology of serials and short stories. This coming Valentine’s Day should see the SEVENTH volume of the SylverMoon Chronicles (which is the eighth book in the series). You can take a look at what we’ve done here,,, http://confederacyofthequill.com/site/

That's right.  We either met there #SFRT or Twitter.  Feels like I've know you for a while from good old social media :)
 How did you go about developing your cover artwork?

I am blessed! My editor started doing a search and she found a brilliant artist living in Sweden by the name of Thomas Wievegg. After one email conversation and the attachment of about ten pages, he produced the cover you see. It’s a depiction of Z’Gunok Tel Dungias before and after he becomes a Traveler.

Quick quiz:
Favourite thing to cook: Lasagne
Silliest saying: The dog’s name is Tiger.
Best holiday spot: Blue Ridge Mountains
Moist played song: LMAO – MOIST??? Don’t Stop Believin’ and just about anything by Prince, but Kiss and Purple Rain are probably the top two
Oopsy, typo, my bad.
SciFi or fantasy: I prefer Science-Fantasy!!!
Best superpower: crafting anti-devices i.e. a box that emits kryptonite radiation… or an EMP emitter that would fry the Iron Man suit… etc.
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: TRAVEL!!!

Thanks so much for joining me on the Readers' Lounge today, Russell.  Let's check out your links and read a bit from Star Chaser.

​​G. Russell Gaynor's Links

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com.au/Star-Chaser-Traveler-Beyond-Outer-ebook/dp/B07JR9DD5F/www.amazon.com.au/Star-Chaser-Traveler-Beyond-Outer-ebook/dp/B07JR9DD5F/ 

Websites: http://grussellgaynor.com/home/
                 www.b-t-o-r.com

Facebook:www.facebook.com/grgauthor/
BTOR on Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondtheouterrim/

G_Russell_Gaynor on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3024715.G_Russell_Gaynor
 Reiter on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3864794.Reiter

G. Russell on Twitter: @criticion
Reiter on Twitter: @thiamlord



G Russell Gaynor's Beyond the Outer Rim series:

Excerpt from: Star Chaser: The Traveler

“Take hold of the stick back there,” Nugar commanded.
“But I–”
“It’s not the first time you’ve been at the controls of a vehicle,” Nugar snapped. “Now take the stick and trust yourself for a change!” Dungias steadied his breathing as he put his right hand on the control stick and his left on the thruster control. It was a 360o movable handle, parallel to the floor, mounted on a lever that moved forward and back. Any movement from the handle would activate thruster jets. Moving the lever forward would increase forward thrust, and moving it back would activate reverse engines. “Automated landing cycle has been disengaged.” Nugar reported and Dungias could feel the nose pulling down.
“What is that?!” he quickly asked.
“I disengaged our automations; the docking system is not mine to command,” Nugar answered as he activated the armour for his fighter-craft. “And the Traveler docking system is notorious for catching many unwary Travelers at the end of long journeys, only to have them crash at the end.”
“No unnecessary movements,” Dungias whispered as he gently pulled back on the stick and eased the thruster lever forward. His light touch received a quick and ample response from the fighter.
“Instead of what you fear, tell me, what do you feel?” Nugar asked as he closed his eyes. “When you look beyond the fear, what do you feel?!”
Just over ten thousand trams from the docking aperture, Dungias calmed himself and tried to sense what his teacher might be talking about.
“He called it the black sea,” Dungias remembered. “And it is cold… very cold! But there is something else.” Dungias recalled what it was like to go swimming; something he had to plan and schedule in order to keep from encountering ill will. But there were many times when he would swim out to the middle of the pool and just float. “Yes, I see it now. I can feel it!” The thrusters fired, but never at too great a yield, and hardly for too long. The rocking of the ship settled to a slight shimmer and Nugar smiled.
“Well done, Dungi! Superb, in fact!”
Dungias piloted the ship to the allotted docking slip and the fighter was quickly secured. Nugar looked at his watch and chuckled.
“Are you up for a bit of a game?”
“Lead the way, Teacher!”
“That’s a good lad!”
The two of them ran back down the docking slip and Dungias could see Nugar take the stairs up to a catwalk which led to the main entrance for the docking bay … the main spacecraft entrance! He looked hard at his teacher, but the Vinthur’s strides were not shortening, nor were they slowing down. The end of the catwalk was in sight and there was no railing to prevent anyone from falling off the edge.
“There you go again!” Nugar shouted, almost singing what he was sensing coming from his student.
“It’s not about what you fear,” Dungias panted. “… it’s about what you feel beyond the fear!” Dungias looked away from the catwalk and put his sights on Nugar. He did not run like a mature man, but a child running toward a favorite toy. Making the final turn, a smile broke across Dungias’ face and he ran faster, beginning to overtake his teacher.
With very few strides in front of him, Nugar looked to the right. The whooping and hollering of other Travelers reached his ears. Each one of them had a smile on their faces and cheered Nugar on. He waved once at the collective and dove off the end of the catwalk. He was surprised to hear a cry of joy behind him. Looking back, Nugar could see Dungias still climbing from the leap he had taken. Both of their bodies passed through the atmospheric shield.
“Lean to your right, boy!” Nugar directed, holding out his right arm and throwing all of his bodyweight to his right shoulder. Without the artificial gravity, there was little descent to their flight paths, but even outside the station, there was some pressure, warmth, and breathable air. The cool air blew through his long hair and made his clothes flap around his body.
Dungias looked around Gavis as he flew. There was so much more to see from his vantage point. It did not look anything like a space station. The horizon reminded him of Threm, but now he was the slide-sled and he flew high and fast. The construct was massive; from the plating and paneling, to the lights and windows, to a couple filled with eager eyes gawking at the two flying forms that were, for some reason, not dying. He was distracted by the cackling of his teacher and he looked down on the man who was nearly glowing as brightly as the smile which shone across his face.
“Atmospheric curtain,” Nugar called out. “It extends beyond the portals of the station for nearly fifty trams! The trick is staying near a functioning entry port. Release your fear and fly with me, Dungi!”
“What fear?!” Dungias cried out as he soared ahead of Nugar. Keeping his heading going around the station, Dungias threw his body into a spin with his shoulders rotating clockwise. After three spins he threw out his arms and leveled out before diving straight down. Ten trams, then twenty, thirty, fifty, then one hundred and still he flew. He leveled out again and flew along the side of the station, screaming out as he glided around the outside of the station. Dungias performed another spin and Nugar tensed up as it appeared his student was about to hit hard against the side of
the station, but he leveled out with his chest parallel with the plating. Dungias allowed his fingertips to drag along the hull before pulling away from the station.
“Look at him!” Nugar thought, actually having to give some effort to keep up with his student. “I won’t have to teach him how to observe the world around him and gain from it. The landing assignments were on two of his consoles. There are at least three ways we can reach our destination. Leave it to my student to take the most precarious route. Yes, because if he is going to be the next Star Chaser, we want him to play it safe!
“Haa!” Nugar laughed at his own sarcasm and pressed for more speed. Dungias was beginning to pull away, and the danger of the route he had chosen was beginning to look simple for him and potentially treacherous for the Traveler.
As Dungias dove toward the security port, the large doors were only beginning to open and the fast-moving shuttle was making its way inside. Dungias landed on the nose of the craft and jumped clear of it, employing Pax’Dulah to give himself more lift and speed. Nugar timed his landing on the craft and used the blowback of the turning thruster to push him toward Dungias.
“Your left hand, Dungi!” Nugar called out and while laughing, Dungias jumped away from the station and held out his left hand that slapped against the forearm of Nugar’s extended right hand. “Now pull against me!” While the direction of their flight path did not change, the two spun around each other with their arms serving as the axle of this most impromptu wheel. Dungias looked up at the stars; his view, for the first time, unhindered by glass or iro-form. The majesty of them took hold of his mind and soul. As he gazed at them, it felt as if he could hear them singing.
“But what would a Star sing?” he thought.
“Get ready,” Nugar directed, bringing Dungias back to the moment. “And keep pulling!” They both screamed like children as the speed of their rotations increased. “Release!” Nugar commanded and Dungias was slung forward to the next public entryway while Nugar was sent toward the plating of Gavis.
“It can’t be!” Dungias exclaimed, knowing that what he saw was indeed quite accurate and very true. H’Dalvi’s gunship, which seemed so much larger from the outside than it had appeared during the many walks he had taken along its corridors, was making its entry into the station. Dungias smiled as he careened toward the large spacecraft, and he landed on the foredeck just in front of the bridge window. He squatted down and waved at Commander H’Dalvi and his bridge crew.


“Well, it’s been a few dockings since I’ve seen that,” Narwyss said with a smile as he recovered from the surprise. His voice helped the rest of the crew return to their duties more quickly.
“I agree,” Turo added. “And the last time either of us saw it, I believe it was a Vinthur.” The Sub-Officer folded his arms across his expansive chest and smiled. “That was a fine wager you made.”
“I took it as solid advice from a trusted resource,” Narwyss replied. “And speaking of good wagers, tell the crew that we are going to have a celebratory meal at ShoSoro’s. Anyone pulling guard duty gets two plates brought to them.”
“That will be quite costly,” Turo pointed out.
“It is already paid for, and there’s a few credits remaining for me to spoil my officers,” Narwyss said as Nugar landed beside Dungias. “Oh look! They come in pairs! Helm, make this as bumpy of a landing as you can manage.” There was laughter on the bridge as the Commander took his leave.
​
The story continues in Star Chaser: The Traveler

Other books by G. Russell Gaynor:

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​Romania. Sometimes I get chased away. Sometimes people bring me food. Occasionally someone actually stops and listens, which makes me smile.


Author Interview 
​
Hi Jay thanks for dropping by so I can pick your brains.  You've come in to talk about your novels, "Death by Haggis" and "Annie Gomez and the Gigantic Foot of Doom (fun titles).  What other writing have you done?
I’m the lead author of the three test preparation projects for Barron’s Educational Publishing. Two are on the MCAT exam and one is for the LSAT (med school and law school respectively.) Hopefully these works are non-fiction.

What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?
I tend to see the humor in the human condition and this comes out in my books. I certainly enjoy many non-humorous sci-fi and fantasy books, but my favorite authors – Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Jasper Fford, Kage Baker, Connie Willis – leave me smiling because of the humor that flows from them.

Awesome!  I love that about you.  Even the book titles make me smile and want to read them.
What’s the story behind your book title?
Well, I had this nicely completed novel sitting in front of me without a name. Sort of like staring at your new-born baby and wondering what the heck you should call it. “Nigel” was out of the question, as was “Boy” or “Rex.”
Much of the narrative took place in Scotland. The story involved murder. “Some sort of murder via something Scottish” seemed a bit cumbersome, so I shortened it to “Death by Haggis.” Are you sorry you asked?
As for “Annie Gomez and the Gigantic Foot of Doom,” it was the only combination of words that had not yet been used as the title for a novel, as far as I could tell. From now on the rest of you will have to repeat already used titles. I would personally recommend “A Tale of Two Cities.” It has a particular ring to it and you have the choice of any two cities in the world. I’ve heard that Cleveland is particularly interested in being included.

What’s the basic plot of your book or series?
​Death by Haggis – Girl in distress finds bumbling detective. Detective falls in love and risks everything to save girl from being murdered. “Everything” includes his regular supply of tuna sandwiches and possibly his life. His sleuthing takes him to Scotland, where he stumbles across the remnants of an ancient branch of humanity. Then he travels to Greece, where he teaches the natives to make blueberry “cakes of Pan.” Eventually strange things happen.
Annie Gomez and the Gigantic Foot of Doom – A tenth grade girl is being manipulated by two different alien races, one of which is intent on destroying humanity and the other of which is trying to prevent that. But how is she to tell which is which? She and her gang of friends travel to a distant dimension and to a distant planet, meeting many friends, or possibly enemies. In the end Annie alone must face the alien who is about to eliminate humanity. Against overwhelming odds, she is overwhelmed. Will help come? Will it be in time? Or will this book end with all the characters you came to love being brutally destroyed? I’m not going to give it away.

How do you develop your characters?
This is a fascinating process. The characters all seem to be based on aspects of myself, often ones that I have only become aware of through other people or through the actual process of writing the character. The characters are mythological creatures, archetypes, in the sense of the Greek gods, who, unlike the western God, are full of lovable and hateable quirks and flaws.

Sounds like you put a lot of thought into it.  Makes me smile to think they are all you. :)
What are you working on now?
Lately I’ve been writing many short stories. I love writing them. They are like making cookies, as opposed to preparing a banquet for a thousand people (which is how writing novels feels to me.) Many of my recent stories have a very serious or poignant side and humor would not be appropriate in them. Others are silly. But they are all things that I feel need to be expressed and shared.
Just to give a simple example, I recently remember my grandpa – who died at the age of 102 in 1986 – singing “It ain’t gonna rain no more no more. It ain’t gonna rain no more. How in the heck can I wash my neck if it ain’t gonna rain no more.”
From that wonderful memory a story began to spin. It involved an old man living alone in a cabin in the country during a time when most of the water on Earth had disappeared and only the very wealthy had access to water. It hadn’t rained in years. His neck was probably quite dirty.
But what can one little old man with memories of better times do? He takes one last hike up to the only remaining reservoir to sit in the shade by the water, though the security guards there won’t even let him dip his feet in. And then …

How did you go about developing your cover artwork?
​For Death by Haggis I hired the daughter of my friend and co-author Terry Boothman. She has been a fantastic artist since she was two years old. For Annie Gomez I used part of the same artwork to modify a Createspace template, along with some additional public domain images. Did that one myself in a couple hours and I think it works pretty nicely. Or maybe I’m being deluded.

Quick quiz:
Favourite food: Haggis (I greatly enjoy not eating it.)
Silliest saying: Eat a nectarine. It’s the best fruit ever made.
Best holiday spot: Poughkeepsie
Favourite song at the moment: Sa mi canti cobzar batran ce va
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? Both actually.
Star Wars or Lord of the Rings: Star Wars
Best superpower: I can leap really short buildings, though it may take me a couple bounds.
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: Meet Mel Brooks

​Jay, thanks so much for sharing with us.  You're such and interesting and relatable guy to chat to.  Best of luck with your writing.

​Folks, we have some special sneak peeks of Jay's novels, so keep reading and prepare to be entertained. :)

· Publish date: 2015
· Publisher: self


· Extract:

When a 10th grade girl who has flunked every quiz and test for the entire semester aces her biology final with a perfect score, there is only one explanation. What bothered Dr. Tripledoor, the biology teacher, more than the score itself, though, was the answer that Annie Gomez had put down for the extra credit essay question: What in your opinion most makes biology relevant to our lives? Instead of the ever popular I love biology because it lets us eat and sleep or (giggle, giggle) Without biology there would be no reason for Saturday night dates, Annie had written:
The human race faces the very real and immediate danger of total extinction NOW.
She had also decorated each end of her sentence with a very neat but not biologically accurate picture of a flower, colored with pink highlighter.
The reason this answer caused Dr. Tripledoor undue anxiety was that he feared she was right. There was only one thing that would explain a 10th grade girl flunking every test and quiz and then achieving a perfect score and writing that essay. Alien intervention.
Dr. Tripledoor stroked his small, graying goatee and stared into space. He wasn't musing or contemplating or wondering. He was purposely staring into space because that, he knew, was where the danger, and just possibly the solution, lay. And, truth be told (though Dr. Tripledoor may not have liked it to be told) he was gripped by a cold, hopeless fear. Compared to the immensity of space, he suddenly felt infinitely tiny. Compared to space, he was, in fact, infinitely tiny1, but being a biologist and not an astronomer, he had never considered the fact before. To make things worse, he suddenly realized that, as it was five o'clock on Friday, he was probably the only person left in the school building. A shiver ran up his spine. He jumped up and began collecting the papers he still had to grade, along with his lunch bag, walking stick, sunglasses, and a freeze-dried scorpion that he planned to add to his "terrarium of death" (his favorite hobby) over the weekend.
Before he left the room, he wrote a small note to himself and stuck it on the middle of his desk. "Monday. Warn Annie." Then, keeping his eyes down, he scurried (in a shuffling sort of way) out of the building, into his car, and away.
Annie Gomez was not the type of person who usually needed warning. She was also not the type of person who usually flunked quizzes and tests. She was, even by her own acknowledgement (though she never said so out loud) the brightest person in Highbotham High School. Something had to be terribly wrong for her to mess up so badly. Something far beyond the normal terribly wrong things that she had recently become aware of. Injustice, for example. It had been just at the beginning of the school year – only nine months ago now – that she had noticed that not only was injustice rampant but that its opposite – the supposedly noble justice – hardly seemed to exist at all.
How just was it, to take one random example, that she, the smartest kid in the school and the tallest girl in 10th grade, hardly had any friends? That most of the other students in her class couldn't find anything even faintly interesting to talk about? That the girls were all obsessed with hair and makeup, whereas she was obsessed with justice, hair, and makeup? That boys could barely talk to her at all, except for cracking jokes that would strike a third grader as unsophisticated?2
Clearly, injustice was rampant and the main victim of it was her. But not only her! There were others as reviled and denigrated3. It had been her task to find these people and protect them. That was how Annie's Coterie4 had come into being at the beginning of the school year. The AC (as it was referred to by the members of the AC, as opposed to the Goatery, as it was referred to by those who were not members of the Goatery) currently comprised six fellow miscreants. Annie had carefully chosen students who were outsiders, who were radically different, and whom the mindless pack of normal kids instinctively shunned. And of course her members all adored her. Who wouldn't?
Her first recruit had been Andy Kanayurak. Andy's father was Inuit (Eskimo, to the uninitiated). Andy's mother was African-American. Nobody knew what to make of Andy. The round, cheery cheeks and almond-shaped eyes he inherited from his father twinkled like Arctic snow. The chocolate skin he inherited from his mother spoke of the African sun. His father's genes had relaxed his hair just enough to make his abundant Afro cascade like a fountain. He seemed to transcend race and that scared a lot of kids. It's also what made Andy incredibly cool. He would tell people, "Hey, race is a non-issue. If you went far enough back and figured out who your ancestors really were, everybody would seem like your cousin." Andy had a fantastic sense of humor about identity. If a cop hassled him, he'd say, "Is this because I'm an Eskimo?" which usually left the officer with his mouth hanging open.
Andy was the second smartest person at Highbotham. According to Annie, there were a number of second smartest people but most of them were smart in one particular area. Andy was
smart in everything. He was even a good cook. His best grades were in math5. However, his real passion was theatre. He loved becoming a new character and bringing that character to life. His portrayal of Anne Frank (in drag and with serious amounts of makeup) had brought tears to the eyes of, well, none of the students, since it is not at all cool to cry in high school, but to most of the faculty and parents in the audience. Even Keri Jenkins, reporter for the school newspaper had admitted:


Andy Kanayurak's performance as a Black Eskimo Anne Frank was the most unusual thing that this reporter has ever seen, and I've seen Sharon Anderson in a bikini (no offense, Sharon)

Barlow's desperate search takes him first to the Highlands of Scotland and then to the Aegean. But time is running out. Not only for Jane but for the human race. Barlow's only possible hope lies at the bottom of an ancient cavern, a remnant from the time when a different kind of human populated the Earth, a kind of human that could have saved mankind. Alas, they are long extinct. Or are they?


· Publish date: 2013
· Publisher: Self


· Extract:
A Tuna Sandwich, A Redhead and a Magnum
Sam Barlow, Private Eye, sat in his cluttered office, working tuna salad on Kimmelwick and cold coffee, and watching the light from his tiny window make French impressionist rhomboids on the desk when she walked in, sporting a body like a Japanese sneak attack, a face that could make him crawl all the way to Sandusky wearing nothing more than a rain hat and a two-dollar phony smile, and a trained parrot that said, “Touch her and I claw your eyes out.”
"Are you half the man they say you are?" she purred from the doorway. Barlow stopped in mid bite. He had no time for beautiful, intelligent, sensitive dames who desperately needed his help. Ok, ok, he did have time. He just couldn't quite make his mouth work.
"Yeah, sure. No," he mumbled. He pointed to the straight-backed wooden chair in the corner, half covered with old magazines. "Ya wanna sit down or something?" He wiped a dribble of mayo off his mouth with the back of his hand and then held his hand in the air while he looked in vain for something to wipe it with. He could tell she was looking at him. There was no place to hide.
"I … didn't mean that you're half a man …" Barlow managed to look up. Her face was starting to flush. God, she's beautiful, he thought. And she's almost as nervous as I am. "I just meant that they say you're a swell detective and I didn't mean that you're short or …Ohhh." Dabbing at her eyes with her left hand, she swept some magazines off the chair and collapsed into it. "Could you please look the other way? My stocking is driving me crazy."
He couldn't. He tried to move his head but his eyes were glued to her leg. Finally he put his hand over his eyes. "Sorry. Neck problem. Go ahead."
"Ok. You can look now." Barlow put his hand down. He looked at her. She sat there, quietly, not talking, just looking at him, like … like … a dog, he thought. Yeah, like how a dog just looks at you like your its best friend and it's happy just to wait there and look at you until you think of something to play…
"Say, do you happen to have any cookies, Mr. Barlow?"
"Cookies? Sure. Hey, just sit, ok? Stay." He got up and walked over to the filing cabinet. He always kept a few snacks there but he never remembered if they were under S for snack or C for cookies. He found an oatmeal cookie that had been filed under F for no particular reason and brought it over to her.
“Thank you. I’m sorry,” she said. “I haven't eaten much for days. Please, Mr. Barlow, I need help. I just found out that,” and she looked off as though watching a distant thunderstorm approaching on the horizon, “my world is collapsing,” she thought to herself. “But I can’t tell him that.”
Barlow followed her gaze off into the distance but he didn't see anything. "I can't help ya if you don't talk to me," he said. "I know it's hard. I see dames like you all the time." No, I don't, he said to himself. I've never seen a dame like you. "What say me and you go downstairs to the Filthy Barrel and talk over a beer?"
"What say you and I go downstairs," she intoned.
"Yeah, sure. That's what I said."
"No. You said 'me and you'."
"Ok. This conversation is getting crowded. Oh, and by the way, you do have a name, don't ya?"
"Oh, Mr. Barlow. I'm sorry. It's just that I'm so nervous. You can call me … Jane."
"Jane, eh? Ok, 'Jane'." Barlow grabbed his coat off the back of the chair, grabbed his magnum from the desk and walked over to Jane. “You can call me Sam.” He stuck his hand out and she took it in both of hers and gave it a squeeze. Barlow froze. In his mind time rewound itself and he was suddenly on a playground in front of a swing set, waiting and waiting for a turn that never came until Susie Lonergan took his hand and gently led him over to the nearest swing and asked the kid there if he would let this little boy have a turn …
Time returned. They left the office. Barlow stopped to set the thirteen locks and five booby traps that kept every thug in town out of his records. They stepped into the elevator. The door closed and they found themselves pressed a little too closely together for either one's comfort, but for different reasons. "Down, Pepe," he half shouted.
They stopped on the 1st floor. He took Jane by the elbow and lurched into the lobby of the old Stansfield Building. They walked briskly to the magazine stand where Barlow dropped two bits for a copy of Modern Bride - he liked the pictures - then to the street.
“I have to tell you the truth,” Jane said as they walked in the light drizzle. “Sam, I think someone’s trying to kill me.”
Barlow grabbed her by the arm and yanked her out from under the shadow of the piano that was falling from five stories up. It crashed loudly on the street, playing the final chord from some Rachmaninov concerto, if there was such a thing.
“Why do you say that?”
“It’s just this creepy feeling. And this note." She pulled a crumpled bit of paper from a hiding place in her blouse. It read, “Somebody's trying to kill me, I think."

Hey folks, check out Jay's links before you go:

​Links:

Website: https://cuttsbooks.wordpress.com
Blog: same
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5523585.Jay_Cutts
Twitter: @jaycuttsbooks
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzC2Hu3N6Cw&t=5s
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Jay+B+Cutts&search-alias=books&field-author=Jay+B+Cutts&sort=relevancerank
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/jcutts

There's a whole interview to explore with Alina and I on the Fantasy Sci-Fi Network. http://fsfnet.com/2017/11/11/kasper-interviews-author-alina-sayre-2/
Here are a few of the best bits:
*   Writing the last book in the series was a big challenge for Alina
​*   I'm intrigued by her diverse writing music.
​*   Alina's favourite quote is interesting.  Kind of a self-fulfilling prophesy
*   I may have a crush on her writing buddy.  He is seriously cute.

For these and more juicy titbits, check out the full FSFNet interview: http://fsfnet.com/2017/11/11/kasper-interviews-author-alina-sayre-2/
​

​Alina's new release is The Illuminated Kingdom

Juli D Revezzo is an author I have followed on Twitter for many years, and I'm delighted that she joined me today on the Fantasy Sci-Fi Network for an author interview.
Here are some of my fave bits:
​*   In her mythological fantasy, Juli tries to keep true to the well-known portrayals of the characters and to work her story around them.
​*   I like the fact that Frigga's Lost Army is set in World War II and not in ancient times.  Kinda reminiscent of Wonder Woman or Captain America, which I love.
​*   Juli's aspirations include knitting, like her goddess character.  As a crafty type myself, this appealed to me.
​*   She has written 100,000 words this year, yet still worries about the dreaded writers' block.  I'm thinking there isn't a problem there.
​*   One question I asked was quite relevant due to Juli's evacuation for Hurricane Irma.  Can you spot the reference in the interview?
​For these and many more fun facts, check out the full interview on the Fantasy Sci-Fi Network.


​Juli has a new release due in a few weeks, in the meantime check out her latest:
Frigga's Lost Army.
​

David and Melissa did an interview with me for the Fantasy Sci-Fi Network.  Here are a few of my favourite bits:

• David started writing for a very touching reason
• Their blog has a huge following
• If you're in the National Library in England, you can check out some of David's poetry
• David and Melissa thrive on positivity and seek to encourage it in others
• Their silliest sayings are sure you make you giggle
• You'll find a lot of cool information about Wales in their blog

​To read the full interview, zoom on over to the Fantasy Sci-Fi Network

​