AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Katrina Sisowath

1. When/why did you decide to become a writer?

I always wanted to write, but could never think of a story. Plus I was really busy running a pre-school and raising two small children. A drastic change of circumstances along with long-term health problems meant that for 3 years I was almost immobile. So I had a lot of time to read and I found myself slowly crafting a plot in my head, getting excited about the story itself and the characters.

2. What authors inspired you when you were younger? What books do you enjoy reading today?

I loved all the classics—Shakespeare, George Eliot, Jane Austen, Tolkien, C.S.Lewis, the Brontë Sisters, Edmund Spenser and Agatha Christie. I was an early reader and always had my nose in a book, but my parents were strict about what reading material I was allowed to get my hands on. As I got older I started to enjoy Historical Fiction and Fantasy. I still enjoy those two genres the most, though I will read anything that catches my eye.

3. What was the inspiration behind your novel Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki?

I’ve been drawn to Zecharia Sitchin, Laurence Gardner, Michael Baigent and Graham Hancock for many years. They all write about the Annunaki, Ancient Civilisations and a bloodline that once ruled and, according to some, is still in existence, though it is either non-powerful, or ruling from behind the scenes, depending on who you ask. Nicholas deVere called this group the ‘Imperial Order of the Dragon’. The more I read about it, the more I found myself thinking it should be written as a story, starting with the Sumerian account of the Annunaki Pantheon. There isn’t too much on these characters outside of the non-fiction books, yet their stories are fascinating.
Serpent Priestess is centred on Ninkha (Ninkharsag) and her husband Enki, who were given the task of creating workers on Earth to mine gold and gems for the Annunaki. They called the workers ‘lulu amel’, or humans. There is conflict with others when they go beyond their mandate to create workers who can obey orders and instead breed humans who can think and reason.

4. What can readers expect from the sequel and how many books do you plan on writing in the Dragon Court series?

The book that is next in the series is due to be released sometime in Feb/Mar. It is about Cronous and Rhea and the destruction of Atlantis. I’ve based the story on the Emerald Tablets of Thoth the Atlantean (which appeared sometime in the 6th to 8th century A.D). I’ve also read Plato’s account, Paul Schliemann and the theorists who claim that Cronous was the original-or the prototype for the- ‘Antichrist’.  I’ve taken all of those theories and placed them up alongside the claims of other authors of the ‘Imperial Order of the Dragon’ to create a story that, I hope, offers a plausible explanation of who Cronous really was and how those heinous acts that are attributed to him came about. Next in the Series is Innana and her wars. After that I’d like to venture further into Asia to write about the Serpent Cult there (the Serpent Cult was the religious arm of the Dragon Court) with figures such as Lara Kidul in Indonesia, and Himiko in Japan, before tackling the Annunaki presence and its descendants in Africa. Then I’ll come to Europe to write about people like Rene d’Anjou and Elizabeth Bathory. I know what the last book in the series is about---it’s been outlined, but there are a few to go before I can start writing it
So I guess while Dragon Court is fantasy, it’s based on mythology, alternate history and secret societies lore.

5. Is there any symbolism behind how the dragons interact with their masters?

The legends of the Seraphim (fiery serpents with wings) in connection to the Nephilim, or Annunaki, the decision of their descendants to name themselves the Order of the Dragon, the prevalence of Dragons all over the world in mythology and legend—that led me to include them  in the tale of Serpent Priestess. How their bond developed from Dragon and Annunaki as separate beings to the mixing of genes was due to images such as these:--How did these beings come to be? Why do we feel trepidation at the thought of reptilian beings? Where/When did they originate? And what were they really? Are these statues metaphorical or literal? In Serpent Priestess there is some genetic manipulation in order to create the lulu amel, so I took it one step further and had the Annunaki experiment with other life forms. David Icke certainly has a lot to say about reptilian beings, and as someone crafting a story I have to look at all angles and decide what to include and how to present it (and hopefully make sense, even if it is fantasy).

6. What sparked your interest in the Greeks, Romans, etc.?

I’ve always loved mythology, and grew up reading the Greek and Roman myths. The Sumerian Pantheon was something I discovered in adulthood, as it’s not given the same amount of exposure or garners the same amount of interest, which is a shame.

7. What other genres would you like to try your hand at?

A high-fantasy novel that’s not based on mythology and alternate history, but on a world that I’ve created from scratch would be interesting. I would also say horror and sci-fi are probably the most likely of the other genres that I could try and maybe pull off, only because there will be elements of both in the Dragon Court series.

8. What would you do if you were Ninkha?

Would I have become attached to the Lulu Amel and decided to better their lives, not listening to those who warned of the risk to my fellow Annunaki? Probably. It is easy to want the best for those we love while being blind to consequences.

9. If you could go back in time and be a part of some ancient culture, which would it be and why?

That is a really tough question. I love history and the study of ancient cultures, yet so much was flawed in each one.  Our modern world is not perfect, yet it is better in so many ways for us than it was for our ancestors. The short answer is it would depend on whether I was a high-born or low-born female as there were some cultures that granted high-born women certain rights, yet their impoverished sisters had none.

10. Would you like to see Serpent as a film? Who do you want to see play your characters?

I would like to see it as a film, though I have no idea who should play the characters. There are too many good actors and actresses to choose.

11. Where do you see yourself and your career in the next ten years?

Still writing and hopefully enjoying a successful career as an author. I know the stakes are very high and the likelihood of being able to be a full-time writer without needing a second career is slim, but you have to set yourself goals and always work on achieving them.  I hope to have sets of posters of the characters out soon to complement the books, so eventually I will have enough material to start going to conventions. In 10 years’ time my daughters will be old enough to help out at gigs (provided they don’t declare their independence and bunk my plan).

12. What would you be doing if you weren't writing?

Hmmm, I honestly don’t know (is that a good sign?).

13. Can you tell KSR what you're working on next?

The Doom of Undal—which is the second book in the series. Though I’m twiddling with the idea of writing accompanying novellas for some of the characters in Serpent Priestess and Doom of Undal, as there were so many with stories of their own, yet there just wasn’t space to include them in the book. It may also help people who are unfamiliar with the Annunaki to understand Serpent Priestess better.

14. What authors, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?

I would have loved to have met Laurence Gardner as he possessed a tremendous amount of information on the topics I’m researching. He probably wouldn’t have collaborated on a work of fiction, though. Graham Hancock is someone I would love to bounce ideas off of and maybe work with. He is able to write both fiction and non-fiction.

15. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?

--I spent a lot of my childhood in Asia, so I love Asian food. The spicier, the better. I find food in Europe too bland and am not a fan of potatoes, gravy, cheese or bread.
--However, I hate the weather in South-East Asia. It was just too hot and I never became acclimatized.
-- I have often tried and failed to learn to ride a motorbike. My younger brother learned it easily and once at the beach, decided to give his poor older sister an impromptu lesson. I drove it down the beach just fine and then had trouble turning around and ended up in the sea. Lucky for me the beach was shallow for quite a ways out.

                  
P.S. Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki has been added to this list on Goodreads. If anyone sends some votes my way, I would be more than ecstatic, especially as it’s up against really good books by established authors.
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/78740.Hugo_2015_Eligible_Works?ref=ru_lihp_up_ulv_0_mclk-exp71cell164_exp69cell157-up2099249340

Find Katrina Sisowath online via:

Official site (has all other links)

BOOK REVIEW: "The Devils That Have Come To Stay" by Pamela DiFrancesco

A tale that turns the American western on its head.
California, late 1848. A nameless saloonkeeper has been alone for months while his wife, Joanna, is in Coloma caring for her ailing mother. Joanna’s letters, which tell of her mother’s nervous health crisis and the destruction of the surrounding land, have become darker and stranger. Meanwhile, the saloonkeeper witnesses several unexplainable events—voices speaking in strange languages in places where he sees only familiar faces, the mysterious death of a creekful of fish, a Stranger with a mouthful of gold teeth, and a dying Native American man who trails white feathers everywhere he goes.
The fields of Sutter’s Fort, near where Joanna is staying, haunt the saloonkeeper’s dreams, and soon he decides he must leave the sanctuary of his saloon and travel to her. Caught up in a journey north, the saloonkeeper witnesses the sometimes horrifying, senselessly violent shifting Gold Rush landscape. Amidst the chaos, he finds his only refuge in thoughts of Joanna. But when his troubled past emerges in glimpses he struggles to repress, the nameless traveler is left with a decision that will change not only his life but the lives of everyone around him.

Devils, when you read the title, immediately makes you think of paranormal novels, right? Wrong. This story, a horror-laced desperate story of a man haunted by nightmares, is a Western...but not your typical John Wayne type of Western.
I don't know a lot about the Gold Rush, so if there are any mistakes in geography or timeline, I can't tell you. What I can tell you is that, below the horror, is a love story of a man who is desperate to see his wife. It might not be prevalent in the middle of all that suspense, but this is a love story, deep down where it counts.
It is suspenseful, and you can tell the author did her research on mining in late 19th century California. It's the amount of care that was put into creating this story that makes it worth reading. Our nameless hero is three-dimensional and relatable, a great lead.
Will everyone like this? No. Should everyone give it a chance anyway? Definitely!

4/5--worth a read!

Purchase The Devils Have Come To Stay via:

Goodreads
Amazon
Google Books (Android users)
Amazon UK

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "Desolation" by ML Banner

Title: Desolation
Author: ML Banner
Genre: Science Fiction
A #1 Hot New Release in Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

A world devastated: a sky filled with magical auroras at night and deadly radiation during the day; technology all but gone; hundreds of millions dead by fire, starvation, disease and violence. The survivors will have to face their own desolation.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Three groups struggle to endure and hold onto what little they have, while others will do anything to take it all. On a beach in Mexico, a small town in Wyoming, and a rural ranch in Illinois, epic battles between good and evil will be fought. Winners will have to face forces of nature never seen before.
But there is a dim light on the horizon. A 150 year old secret may lead the lucky few to a place that holds the promise of a new future, unless the sun sets on humanity first.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The stunning follow up to the #1 Amazon Best Seller STONE AGE.

Movie Rating: PG-17 for descriptions of violence and language.

Author Bio:
Hello lovers of apocalyptic fiction!

I devour the same books I enjoy writing: science fiction, but especially anything apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic or dystopian. I love stories about regular people being put into extra ordinary circumstances, and having to rely on their own cunning and that of others to survive.

Stone Age & DESOLATION are that kind of story. They're fast moving, have some regular and amazing characters who must make life changing decisions, all while the world is experiencing an apocalypse unlike anything imagined.

When not writing fiction, my wife and I split time between Tucson, Arizona and the sunny beaches of Mexico. I also write for a few blogs, and I still write articles to assist small business owners for one of the companies I founded, SmallBiZ.com.

Links:

http://www.amazon.com/DESOLATION-ML-Banner-ebook/dp/B00OQJEGTC

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23508928-desolation

http://mlbanner.com

Excerpts:

From Chapter 1:
Deadly Waters
Rocky Point, Mexico

A loud screeching cut through the raw morning air, rousing Bill and Lisa King from a fitful sleep of restless nightmares. 
The uproar was one more in the endless list of sounds they had never heard before, which made up their life after the apocalypse. It wasn’t the frightening death-throe-screams that followed distant gunshots across the town’s estuaries, or the constant electrical buzz that filled the atmosphere all around them. This sound was a monstrous and powerful outcry immediately outside their beach home.
Bill sprang out of bed, a .45 in his hand, ready to bring death to some poor S.O.B. who was probably just hungry and looking for food.
“What is that?” he bellowed.
“Don’t know, but it’s close,” Lisa shouted barely loud enough to be heard, flying to the window, scarcely touching the carpet.
Impossibly, the roar grew louder. Its deep, penetrating tones were undaunted by their walls and attempts to muffle the assault to their eardrums. It sounded like some angry mechanical leviathan, tearing at the sand and coral with its metal claws.
Standing at the window, Bill pried open the blinds, his jaw dropping farther with each inch revealed. The source of that racket was worse than the prehistoric monster he imagined.
“It’s a cruise ship?” He blinked, transfixed in disbelief. His wife’s eyes mirrored his distrust.
The dark behemoth was a passenger ship but no less terrifying than a T-rex might have been, made malicious by the green auroras illuminating its hull, as though it had been belched out of the depths to destroy them. It crept up onto their beach, slowly pushed by some invisible force, intent on burrowing a bloody trail to town.
The screeching persisted for what seemed an endless amount of time, until the beast ran out of inertia. The high incoming tide deposited it less than one hundred meters from their property.
When the dreadful noise ceased, the relative quiet made the constant thrumming sound of the wind-driven sand drubbing the home’s windows and outside walls sound louder. The hulk lay unmoving, as if asleep, and they stood motionless for fear of waking it.
The light from tonight’s auroras was bright and pulsating, outlining the massive vessel’s form. Out of the water, it looked much taller, not listing as expected but sitting upright almost as if it were properly parked in the port five miles up the coast. Each spectral blast of green revealed more of the ship’s evil presence. A fire on the port side, evidenced by blackened scarring, made it appear that the devil’s own giant hand had reached out from the ship’s bowels, leaving molten prints burned into its hide from the first row of balconies up to the silent chimney stacks. When the pulsating light ebbed, shadowing the ship in a momentary darkness, it almost looked like a normal cruise liner awaiting tourists that would never come. For a ship normally carrying a couple thousand crew and passengers in its belly, there were no signs of life.

BOOK REVIEW: "Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki (Dragon Court Book 1)" by Katrina Sisowath

The Annunaki on Nibiru lack precious metals, stones and minerals, which they desire, food on Nibiru is also running low. Their solution: establish a colony on a distant planet teeming with wildlife and vegetation. When the Annunaki discover they are ill equipped to labor under the harsh conditions found on Earth, they create a workforce called humans, a hybrid manufactured from their DNA and a species known as hominid. 
The Serpent Priestess Ninkha and her husband Lord Enki are charged with this task, battling not only the challenges faced adjusting to life on Earth, but Enki's brother, Enlil, as well. Will the humans live as Enki and Ninkha envisioned--able to learn, create and above all, reason? Or will they subjugate themselves to Enlil and his rule willingly? 
At stake is the future of the Priestesses of Damuth, who, along with their serpents, service the Annunaki with their own blood, providing those who partake of the cocktail of blood and venom the ultimate in achieving a higher state of consciousness, along with youth, vigour and longevity. If Enlil, whose disdain of them is well-known, wins, what will happen to them? 
To protect themselves and their descendants they form the ‘Dragon Court’, but is it enough? 
Serpent Priestesses or Witches, Gods or Demons, 
Aliens or Ancestors, Oppressors or Creators? 
Perhaps all of the above..............

In Serpent Priestess we find out that humans were created to work for a godlike alien race who have dragons as pets and desire precious metals. (Like dragons do in the old tales.)  The story has roots in many ancient stories, from Greek, Roman, Egyptian and, of course, Biblical. Adam and Eve are prevalent, but so are ancient goddesses from various sources.
The story, about creationism and survival, is very well written. This isn't as much a character driven story as it is plot driven. The characters, being based in history and mythology, aren't wholly original, which does taint my view a bit. I also found that there were too many cultures referenced here, making it, when the description is given, seem a little hodgepodge. It's a melting pot of mythos, and I love it, but at times it's a bit overwhelming. Perhaps it would've been better had each book had a little of a different culture, instead of them all at once.
But the idea of this other planet, these dragon pets and this war (based off Adam, Eve, the Serpent and the Garden) is enticing. If you don't mind an overload of information, I think you'll like this book. It was easy for me to read because I know all about the ancient world that's referenced here, but those unfamiliar with mythology might be a little lost.

4/5--a well-written book!

Purchase Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki via:

Amazon
Goodreads
Barnes And Noble
Smashwords
Booktopia (AUS)

BLOG TOUR: "Scott's Solace" by Lyn Brittan Book Review

Name of Book: Scott’s Solace
Author: Lyn Brittan
Genre: New Adult Paranormal
Word Count: 20K

Description:

A standalone novella following the Gormly Clan...

When Jessica left the farm to start over in the city, she had her future all laid out. Too bad her plan for success went from super awesome to complete crap in twenty seconds, and all because of that stupid lightning catcher, Scott Ares. He looked a lot different from their small town days, all suited up and stuff, and it's not necessarily a bad look...

The only thing standing between Scott and his plan to destroy his father is Jessica Freaking Solak. The nerd he knew then and the tattooed motorcycle riding chick in front of him now couldn't be more different. Still, she's in the way and has gotta go. Although, it shouldn't cause too much drama if he kissed her once or twice first.

Excerpt:

His hands, all on their own, clasped around her waist and hoisted her up.
Her objection was a little vocal. And kick-y. “Put me down!”
“I’m trying to help.”
“You’re copping a feel!”
Okay, maybe it’d started out that way, but a bit of his finger grazed the space where her shirt and shorts met. The power in her, untapped energy, tingled his hand. “You grew up, Jessie.”
“Jessica.” She did a two-step away from him, but he knew she’d felt it too.
There had to be a million and one ways to play this to his advantage, but at the moment, he couldn’t think of one.
Really, he couldn’t think of a single thing beyond touching her again.
And that scared the shit out of him.

Review:

I was contacted by Red Moon Book Tours for an honest review of Scott's Solace, the fourth book in a series, but one I read as a standalone novel. That's the a very rare thing, too, to write a series that could also be read as standalone novels. While I'm sure it's better to read them all, I love that Ms. Brittan was able to write her stories this way, especially since a lot of readers don't like committing to a long-running series.
The story seems typical, but what it has is a very atypical female lead: a tattooed biker gal, a badass and a very realistic woman. I liked reading a story that felt so familiar, because the characters seem more like real people than characters. I also love that Scott is what society considers "normal", yet he falls for Jessica despite her being different and unique.
The tale is short, but it's full of heart, a few laughs, sexy fun and a level of paranormal activity that makes it rise above your usual smattering of NA romance. I think I'm going to go download the rest of this series...

4/5--great writing!

Purchase Scott's Solace via:

Official site (has all the purchase links in one place)

Stan Lee LiveJournal Video Contest!

LiveJournal (www.LiveJournal.com) launched a new video hosting feature and comicbook icon Stan Lee is the first person to utilize this new capability on the site, uploading a video about his contest – the worldwide search for Stan’s Biggest Fan – on his LiveJournal page:http://therealstanlee.livejournal.com/3008.html.  LiveJournal boasts over 70 million users so lots of people will be able to see the video!  Here's an article Fast Company wrote about the partnership: http://www.fastcompany.com/3041368/fast-feed/comics-legend-stan-lee-is-first-person-to-upload-video-to-livejournal

Just wanted to give you a heads up and ask if you can put up a quick post about this news and the fan contest before the contest ends January 30th….

 

The contest was announced by Stan on his LiveJournal page (http://therealstanlee.livejournal.com/) at his 4th annual Comikaze convention in Los Angeles over Halloween. Details about Stan’s Biggest Fan contest, as well as the link to submit entries, can be found here:http://therealstanlee.livejournal.com/856.html

 

Quote from LiveJournal CEO Katya Akudovich:

“LiveJournal is known as a place for people who want to share their views and thoughts without restriction. In a world where everyone else is trying to edit and shorten everything, we celebrate long-form content, which is why the site continues to be a popular place for many respected writers and creators such as Stan Lee,” said Katya Akudovich, LiveJournal CEO. “Today we’re thrilled to offer our community the opportunity to tell their stories through the power of video, which will undoubtedly bring more creative expression to LiveJournal. We're excited to see what our community will share!"

BOOK REVIEW: "Relative Strangers (Sophie Morgan Vampire Series Book 1)" by Helen Treharne

Sophie Morgan is 23 and has always done the right thing. She’s caused no stress for her family, worked hard through university, has taken a successful leap onto the career ladder and nurtured a reasonably healthy bank balance. It’s no small surprise then when, on a post relationship break-up, mini-break to Antwerp, she pursues a pair of thieves who steal her friend’s handbag. But this is only the start of her world being turned upside down. She quickly learns that vampires exist, her neighbors aren't what they seem and new boyfriends can be found in the strangest of situations.

Despite the description talking about vampires and boyfriends, don't expect a romantic tale with a sweet, sexy vampire. This is a modern vampire tale where the undead are exactly what they're supposed to be: killers.
The characters in Relative Strangers are very three-dimensional; you feel like they could be your neighbors or coworkers. Sophie is surprisingly average for a female lead, but her ordinariness is what makes her so endearing and makes this story believable. It could happen to you, too.
I know this is a shorter review than I usually post, but this book needs no more talking up! Reading this is like Deborah Moggach and Bram Stoker had a lovechild who decided to write a book. The scenes are vivid, the people are likable and the vampires are deadly. What more could you want?

4/5--a new vampire classic!

Purchase Relative Strangers via:

Amazon

Goodreads

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "Black Ice: The 66 Degree Conspiracy" by Max Morgan

An international conspiracy to gain control over vast Arctic oil and gas resources touches close to home in Max Morgan’s riveting spy thriller Black.

As a senior intelligence officer with the Norwegian Police Security Service, Magnus Ose enjoys both personal and professional success. But his loving family and his career suddenly hang in the balance as he attempts to solve the mysterious deaths of several of his assets.

After discovering that confidential industry data has been stolen from oil and gas executive Finn Aspen, Magnus vows to identify the thief. But his efforts prove too late when Aspen is found shot in the head.

Shortly after, Norwegian diplomat Alf Evenson is found dead in an “accidental” apartment building fire—the second of Magnus’s assets to die in twenty-four hours.

Magnus’s investigation uncovers an elaborate network of spies and double agents that involves assets from North America, the Balkans, Western Europe, Russia, and the CIS.

It’s only as he gets closer to the truth that he realizes he might be too late—and that the web of lies he’s trying to penetrate might have already infiltrated his work…and even his own family.

Max Morgan is a former government official with insight into the workings of security intelligence issues. Having traveled and worked around the world, the author is currently employed as a private consultant. For the author’s outstanding work, Morgan was awarded the State Security and Intelligence Cross of Merit by a friendly country.

Purchase Black Ice: The 66 Degree Conspiracy on Amazon.

BLOG TOUR/BOOK REVIEW: "They Call Me Crazy" by Kelly Stone Gamble

Cass Adams is crazy, and everyone in Deacon, Kansas, knows it.  But when her good-for-nothing husband, Roland, goes missing, no one suspects that Cass buried him in their unfinished koi pond. Too bad he doesn’t stay there for long. Cass gets arrested on the banks of the Spring River for dumping his corpse after heavy rain partially unearths it.
The police chief wants a quick verdict—he’s running for sheriff and has no time for crazy talk. But like Roland’s corpse, secrets start to surface, and they bring more to light than anybody expected. Everyone in Cass’s life thinks they know her—her psychic grandmother, her promiscuous ex-best friend, her worm-farming brother-in-law, and maybe even her local ghost. But after years of separate silences, no one knows the whole truth. Except Roland. And he’s not talking.

Cassie has always been considered crazy by everyone in her small town, except for her grandmother, who is a seer, and Roland, the man she married. But Roland turned out not to be the man she thought he was. He drinks, he cheats, he forces her to take medication she doesn't really need.
Then she kills him.
Why? That's what we read to find out, through the eyes of Cass, her brother-in-law Clay, her ex-best friend Maryanne, the police chief Benny and a couple of others.
Aside from being about a woman with PTSD from her mother's suicide, this story is about the entire small Kansas town where it's set. Many characters come into play, almost all of them having dark secrets that tie in to the murder and Cass's fate. There's betrayals, war horrors, and paranormal elements mixed together to make a truly stunning piece of work.
Ms. Gamble's take weaves you in, like you're a part of the town abd the characters' fates. Her style of writing reminds me of an American Maeve Binchy: she creates a world that feels so real it's like you're a part of it.
Mental illness is a serious issue, and it's talked about thoroughly here. I especially like the fact that she states that PTSD isn't only from war: it's from any traumatic event. And, if left untreated, could completely destroy the afflicted.
There's also a very complicated love triangle set here, one that may very well turn out to be the root of the issue...or not.
Great storytelling, great plot, great characters. A definite must read!

5/5--wonderful!

Purchase They Call Me Crazy via:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OSTANDS/&tag=redadeppubl-20

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/they-call-me-crazy-kelly-stone-gamble/1120724390?ean=2940150472624

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id939743200

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/they-call-me-crazy  

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kelly_Stone_Gamble_They_Call_Me_Crazy?id=vI1GBQAAQBAJ  

 

 

Author page on RAP: http://redadeptpublishing.com/kelly-stone-gamble/

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23357907-they-call-me-crazy

 

Reader Contest Code:

 

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COVER REVEAL/BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "Death in the Family" by Helen Treharne

Death in the Family

Sophie Morgan Vampire Series Book 2

Helen Treharne

AVAILABLE 14TH FEBRUARY 2015

 

 

 

 

Book Description:

 

Things are on the up for Sophie Morgan.

She fended off vampires on a holiday to Antwerp, escaped them on her return in Coventry, stabbed her neighbor and is slowly rebuilding her life in her hometown of Bethel. Running the family property business may not be lucrative but she's happy. Since returning to Wales, she has only had to kill one vampire and thanks to the linoleum on her kitchen floor, even that was an easy clean up.

Then a mixed blessing arrives in the form of Mickey Kelly, the barman she had a brief flirtation with in Antwerp. After being missing for months, he arrives on her doorstep one rainy night. His brother has been murdered and vampires are coming for her. Little do the pair know that Sophie's estranged father is among their numbers. He's coming for his daughter… and he's not the only one.

Death in the Family is the long awaited sequel to Relative Strangers, with some familiar faces as well as some new ones.  Will Charles Ferrers, Sophie's former adversary, pursue her to South Wales and if so, to what end? Who is the mysterious man following her? Will Sophie and Mickey finally consummate their relationship and where will it lead them? Or will there be more than one new man in her life?

Find out how our practical, resilient, if not slightly insecure, Sophie deals with a whole new range of challenges in the second in the ‘Sophie Morgan vampire series'. This time she has bigger problems than vampires to deal with. This time she has family visiting.

Death in the Family is the second Sophie Morgan vampire book and will be available from Amazon from 14th February - the perfect valentine gift for the vampire slayer in your life!

 

To celebrate the forthcoming release of the book, the author is making the first book in the series, Relative Strangers free on Amazon on the following dates:

January 24th

January 26th

February 14th

February 28th

 

It is available for free NOW for Kindle Unlimited customers.

 

Buy Relative Strangers here Amazon

 

 

Relative Strangers:

A Modern Vampire Story

Sophie Morgan Vampire Series Book 1

Helen Treharne

PUBLISHED 23 AUGUST 2014

 

Book Description:

 

Meet Sophie Morgan… practical, Welsh, prone to occasional profanity, and seemingly a vampire magnet.  

 

Sophie Morgan is 23 and has always done the right thing. She's caused no stress for her family, worked hard through university, has taken a successful leap onto the career ladder and nurtured a reasonably healthy bank balance.  It's no small surprise then when, on a post relationship break-up, mini-break to Antwerp, she pursues a pair of thieves who steal her friend's handbag.  But this is only the start of her world being turned upside down.  Ripped from the streets into a dark alley she is violently attacked, barely alive when quirky Irish bar worker, Michael Kelly, stumbles across the scene.

 

The pair, shocked by their experience and uncertain whether they have killed her attacker in the brawl which follows, go into the night for answers.   They get more than they bargained for. Sophie quickly learns that vampires exist, her neighbours back home aren't what they seem and new boyfriends can be found in the strangest of situations.

 

Relative Strangers is the first in a new vampire series with a distinctly British flavour, but which will appeal to everyone.  Reviews call it "a vampire tale with bite", with "brilliant characters that draw you in" and a very fresh take on the genre. Read it now to find out what reviewers are raving about.

 

Available at Amazon  

 

 

RELATIVE STRANGERS BY HELEN TREHARNE - EXCERPTS

 

Excerpt 1

I tried to scream, but I couldn't, the arm was curled so tightly around my throat it was making it impossible to breathe. Breathing through your nose isn't easy when you're in a blind panic, but I tried anyway.
Cold fingers were clamped over my cheek and the side of my mouth. I tried to move my jaw to at least get a bite of my attacker, but it was impossible. Why didn't I go back with Mickey? Please Mickey, come back. Anyone, help me, please, please.
As we struggled in the confines of the doorway, I hoped that someone would come to my aid. Bars and nightclubs would be shutting their doors soon and that would surely mean someone would have to come by soon? All I had to do was stay alive long enough to be found. Surely Mickey would see me soon? But why would he? He would probably assume that I was totally unhinged by now and that I'd wandered off somewhere. My thoughts were racing as I struggled and my head was throbbing.
Then the searing pain ripped through my body. I couldn't tell what was happening, but I knew it wasn't good. First, there was an ice cold stabbing sensation in my neck. Then came the burning, a river of heat surging through my veins. I'd never felt anything like it before. Coherence was terminated the instant I felt my flesh tear open. Blood poured down my neck.
I wasn't sure what weapon he could be using, but I could feel his nose resting on the side of my chin, his mouth maneuvering itself around my neck, moving in a circular gnawing motion. Oh my God, I'm being bitten. Someone is actually biting me. What next? This cannot be happening? This can't be real. What the ***? I can't die like this.
Then everything went black.

 

Excerpt 2

Rachel hadn't felt so good in years. The colours of the world were vibrant and laid out before her like a beautiful carpet, a glorious vibrating kaleidoscope of nature. Birdsong echoed in her ears like a concerto and the golden welcome of the rising sun made the world look like a furnace, molten lava pouring over it all.
She sipped the coffee that she had made. It tasted bitter and she spat it out over the perfectly dressed window sill. She'd made it out of habit. Ferrers had instructed her to appear as ordinary as possible. The routine of everyday existence would eventually help her contain her urges, or rather the singularly dangerous one, the one to kill. So far, it wasn't working. Perhaps it was time to succumb to the hunger and to all the other suppressed desires now angrily bubbling to the surface.
Her reflection in the window surprised her. She had half expected it to be absent. Her hair looked thick and luxurious; her eyes sparkled and the hazel flecks in her irises danced in the sunlight. It had been years since she'd felt this good, hell, maybe a lifetime, maybe never at all. She felt strong, powerful, and alive. Had she always looked this beautiful, she wondered. Had her new vampire state made her better, or only imbued her with a new found confidence? Either way, she liked it. She could feel every nerve ending in her body, everything performing in precisely the right way, like a well-oiled machine. It was magnificent.

 

Excerpt 3

Every hair on his scalp stood to attention, every skin cell tingled, every neuron fired. Warmth spread across his chest. His heart pounded hard in his chest as she finally came to a halt before him, inches from his face. This was a new feeling - excitement maybe? He was aroused beyond his understanding, like the hunger of a starving man. She was stunning. Is this what real desire feels like, or is it the drugs? Had he ever felt this excited before? It was as if he had just been born, experiencing the world and all its sensory pleasures for the first time, all in one hit. The thought that he might not be able to perform under the drug's influence flashed across his brain, but he shook it off; there was nothing that was going to stop him from having her. He didn't care if they were in some dirty, a hundred people could walk past and he wouldn't have given a toss. He would have her, devour her. The feeling was amazing.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In addition to being the creator of the developing "Sophie Morgan" series, Helen is an urban poet and social commentator who can frequently be found ranting in the Twitterverse.  She knew the degree in Sociology would come in handy some day!
Helen lives with her husband, three cats, an entrenched tea addiction and an increasing collection of stringed instruments. When she's not writing she spends her time daytime hours working in communications and volunteers for a feline welfare charity. She also spends too much time watching Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
She also can't be trusted near stationery and has probably had more come backs than Cher.

 

 

Blog www.helentreharne.wordpress.com

 

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

 

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1vOSmXq

 

GoodReads: http://bit.ly/Vg7voh 

 

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Helen-Treharne/e/B00LFVTXME/

 

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helen-Treharne/e/B00LFVTXME/