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Welcome to my place in the blogosphere!
feel free to explore the Flight Deck and check out my books and website.
Then fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and let's chat awhile!
I hope you'll stop by again for guest authors and spotlights from time to time.

Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.

Showing posts with label Class Act Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Class Act Books. Show all posts

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Linda Burson author of 'Rage' and 'The Past Returns'

I have a guest of a different genre today - just for a change we're steering away from the stars, and Science Fiction and Fantasy to welcome Linda Burson, talking about her romantic thriller series, 'Rage' and 'The Past Returns'. Over to you, Linda.

Rage is a story about love and murder and the conflict of each.  These mental struggles my characters have tear at them, but they remain firm in their behaviors.

My protagonist, Marcy, appears to be a strong, all-together-type young woman, but on the inside, she is broken. She has anger issues that seem to appear suddenly to her and her boyfriend, Brad. What you eventually realize is it isn’t sudden…it was there the whole time, but buried deep inside her subconscious. She has issues, and you begin to see, throughout the series, just how many troubles she truly has.

Though she always appeared in control to those around her, her friends and family eventually see how Marcy is more than out-of-control.  Her rage devours her. She acts in an irresponsible manner until she receives help from a psychiatrist, Dr. Bengali. He is there throughout most of the series helping her through all of her tragedies and with her love life. She is in love with two men who are in love with her, and she cannot decide with which one to spend her life.

You may say this is impossible, but believe me it isn’t. You may see a review of Rage where someone writes they can’t believe Marcy, who says she is madly in love with Brad, can then fall for another man, Liam, so quickly. Obviously, this person believes if they haven’t experienced this personally, that it isn’t possible. I happen to know, for a fact, it is possible, and has happened. Besides, to understand why she does fall in love this quickly, you have to keep reading. It is a series, and not every question is answered in the first book, though I try to make it as satisfying as possible.

This story is one in where you may be able to put yourself in one of my character’s minds, or you may not. You need to read it with an open mind. It is fiction, but it is a scenario where it is all possible. It’s not fantasy, or science fiction, or paranormal. It’s a deep, passionate love story with a dark edge—a thriller that can be intense at times, and then light and fun at other times.

 I like to think it’s like life. Though it may not be about any life you’ve ever known, it’s Marcy, Brad, and Liam’s life. Their issues are not out-of-the-realm. They are real, emotional, tragic, confusing, but also happy, fulfilling, and full of love, joy, and laughter—again, life.

Blurb for The Past Returns:

Marcy and Brad’s marriage is back on track even with the major changes at play.

A new wedding is planned for New Year’s Eve. This wedding is a complete surprise to everyone, and an unexpected pregnancy may interfere.

The men in Marcy’s life become even closer, and a true bond is formed.

Excerpt:
After a wonderful weekend with Brad spoiling me—taking me out to dinner Saturday and Sunday, playing romantic music and dancing with me while Evan slept, complimenting me right and left, and giving me his undivided attention, he heads off to work Monday morning. Before he leaves, he tells me he’ll miss me, and can’t wait to see me this evening. He hopes I’m not tired from all the sex we had over the weekend, because he’s planning on continuing our sexcapades as soon as we put Evan to bed.

At first I thought he was trying to make up for lost time because he ignored me all those weeks after Evan was born. I eventually realized, even though that may have been a part of it, it was mostly due to Liam being back in my life. Since Liam is at his house in Vermont packing some of his belongings for his condo here, and fortunately and unfortunately, saying “goodbye” to Leesa, his playmate during his “dead” period, Brad had the luxury of the entire weekend to indulge me…to make sure I don’t forget how good the sex is between us and to show me he’ll do what it takes to satisfy me and make me happy.

Liam called me to say goodnight Saturday evening. It was after this that I noticed Brad’s attention to me increased. I mean, after Liam left for Vermont, we went for a nice, long walk. Brad held my hand, continually kissed it, and told me again how much he missed me while he was away on his three-week business trip. It was after Liam and I said goodnight on the phone that Brad pulled out the music and pushed the ottoman and wing chairs back, making room for us to dance. He held me in his arms closely, kissed me repeatedly, and whispered in my ear about how lucky he was to have me as his wife. This is when I knew his insecurities were huge. I certainly don’t blame him. I felt bad knowing it was entirely my fault that he felt this way, so I made sure he knows how much I love him, want him, and need him in my life. I could sense his relief when I returned his affections ten-fold and told him I can’t bear to be without him.

Since Brad and I spend every minute together over the weekend, I’m not able to listen in to the electronic bug I put in Liam’s wallet. Monday is the first time I can, but I have to get Evan and I dressed, fed, and ready to go to work. Then I need to get to my self-defense class. I don’t know what I think I will hear. I guess I’m still nervous about the agreement Brad and Liam made on Friday about sharing me. I still can’t believe they’ve agreed to it and actually worked it out. I feel like the dam’s going to burst at any second, sweeping me away from this surreal, perfect new life.


About the Author:
Linda is an author from Connecticut.
After years of writing and editing for others, raising a family, and over twenty years of running her own businesses, Linda decided to tackle her first fiction novel entitled Rage, which began as a single book. Eventually, the novel became a trilogy, and finally a much longer series. All the books are a part of The Marcy Series, a romantic suspense series.

Find out more about Linda at:
Website is lindaburson.com 
Twitter: @lindaburson23

Buy Links:
Also available at the publisher’s website: www.classactbooks.com










For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join Every new subscriber will get a FREEdownload of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com)

Wednesday 19 October 2016

Linda Nightingale's 'Four by Moonlight' A paranormal anthology


I'm delighted to welcome fellow horselover Linda Nightingale to the Flightdeck again, to celebrate the release of her latest book, a paranormal anthology - can't wait to read it!


Linda Nightingale Bio:


Linda Nightingale is a native-born South Carolinian who has lived in England and Canada, and now resides in Texas.  Before turning to writing, she bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses for thirteen years.

In 2012, her novel, Gemini Rising, was voted Best Mainstream Novel in the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. Her vampire romance, Cardinal Desires won the Georgia Romance Writers Magnolia Award in 2013, and that was followed by her science fiction romance, Love for Sale, being awarded Best SF/Fantasy novel of 2015 by the Paranormal Romance Guild’s Reviewer’s Choice, and also voted one of the Top Ten Romance Novels of 2015 by the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll for that year.

Four by Moonlight is her first novel for Class Act Books.


Blurb:

An anthology of love in the moonlight…in the paranormal universe.

Gypsy Ribbons – A moonlight ride on the moors and meeting a notorious highwayman will forever change Lady Virginia Darby’s life.

Star Angel – Lucy was stuck in a rut and in an Idaho potato patch. She’d seen him in the corner of her eye—a fleeting glimpse of beauty—now he stood before her in the flesh.

The Night Before Doomsday – All his brothers had succumbed to lust, but Azazel resisted temptation until the wrong woman came along.

The Gate Keeper’s Cottage – Newlywed Meggie Richelieu’s mysterious, phantom lover may be more than anyone, except the plantation housekeeper, suspects.

Excerpt from “Gypsy Ribbons”:

Red eyes watched from the grate as she slipped into the cold, empty bed. Simon should have been there to warm her rather than the dying fire. Not pursuing a dangerous dream. Too angry, too miserable to weep, she tossed and turned. The relief of sleep eluded her.

An icy breath whispered through the room. Tory snuggled deeper beneath the goose down covers. Had the weather made up its mind? Was Simon riding in ice and snow? She imagined white flakes in Goliath’s long black mane and on the highwayman’s plush velvet cloak. Poor darling, he would be cold. Tory slowly drifted to sleep unrelated thoughts scrolling in her mind. A soft sound snapped her wide awake. She sat bolt upright, tugging the covers over the breasts.  The room was iceberg cold.  The ghost.

“Not Simon.” She held her breath, ears stained for the horrifying, otherworldly whisper, a warning of imminent death. The sound came again, closer. A slow footstep creeping over the old oaken floor. Tonight, the ghost of Darby Manor wandered its dim corridors.

“No. No.” Tory squeezed her eyes closed and prayed, forgetting she didn’t believe in ghosts.
The footsteps halted. Tory’s heart stopped. She started to cover her ears, refusing to hear. The ghost breathed that heartbreaking sigh at her door.

Shuddering, she slid back under the layers of down. The warmth had no effect on her shivers. She folded into a fetal position.  I’m no longer alone.  Fear chilled her anew.  Though she couldn’t see clearly in the dim light, she knew her breath puffed white clouds in the frigid air. Dread sank its wicked claws into her racing heart.


Buy Links:

Publisher's Website: http://www.classactbooks.com 

Find out more about Linda at:

Twitter: @LNightingale



Thank you for being my guest, Linda, and wishing you much success with your new release.







For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join Every new subscriber will get a FREEdownload of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com)

Tuesday 11 October 2016

James Austin McCormick visits the Flight Deck ...

It's my pleasure to welcome a fellow Brit to the Flight Deck today.


James Austin McCormick is a college lecturer from Manchester, England and in his free time enjoys writing speculative fiction, mostly science fiction, horror and a little sword and sorcery fantasy. He is also a particular fan of classic Gothic and Victorian horror tales and is currently in the process of writing updated versions of these with a science fiction spin.

His novels include the trilogy Dragon (Dragon, Dragon: Smuggler Tales, Dragon: The Tower of Tamerlane), The Last Synn, a sword-and-sorcery story, a Science Fiction novel, Sunfall, and a horror novel, Balec. All are available from Class Act Books.

 HL: So  tell us about your writing and some more about your books, James.

JMcC: For me writing is pure escapism and the more I can create my own worlds, settings and characters the more I enjoy it. After the publication of my first SF novel, Dragon, I realized that I wanted to keep exploring this universe I’d created. So far I’ve written two more Dragon books, Dragon: Smuggler Tales and the most recent, Dragon: The Tower of Tamerlane. They’re not sequels exactly but rather fill in some of the missing periods in the first book.

Sillow, the main protagonist in the Dragon stories, is a semi-comic character. Diminutive, with long green hair, pointed ears and a child- like appearance, he's a restless, neurotic and somewhat cowardly elf who constantly finds himself in dangerous situations. Originally I intended him to be a fantasy character but as my novel developed I decided it would work better as a science fiction with a fantasy flavor. To add to the comedic element in the stories I initially paired him up with a surly, ill-tempered barbarian goliath by the name of Brok. They are the odd couple in space, often at loggerheads, constantly quarrelling but forced to work together as their fates become increasingly entwined, first as smugglers and then as government agents.

In the Tower of Tamerlan,e however, Sillow finds himself a new partner, Titanya, a beautiful and fearless pirate queen, who is more than a match for the cowardly elf.


HL Lol, I can relate to that! My own writing is mainly escapism, and a very similar thing happened to me and my Destiny trilogy - I just wanted to know more about the characters and worlds I'd created in the first book! 

This sounds like a great series, James and the covers are stunning. Thank you for being my guest today, and wishing you every success!

BLURB for Dragon: The Tower of Tamerlane:

After the death of the Tuolon Ambassador Lagua and the failure to bring the non-humanoid worlds into the Alliance, Sillow and Brok’s long partnership is finally at an end. Now a reluctant solo agent, Sillow is called upon to undertake his first mission, investigate the Tower, a high-tech prison complex along with the oligarch who runs it, a mysterious nobleman who calls himself Tamerlane.

Seeking evidence to prove Tamerlane is responsible for a series of terrorist attacks, Sillow quickly uncovers the sheer scale of his plans, a lethal military strike on all four humanoid home worlds. Caught and imprisoned however, the Sylvan finds himself helpless to warn the Alliance of the coming danger.

All the while, something has been evolving, growing stronger inside the Tower, something intangible yet far more dangerous than Tamerlane ever could be, a being implacably opposed to all life in the galaxy.


EXCERPT:

Laser fire and shouts echoed as Sillow was thrown headlong into the cell.

“What are you?” a female voiced asked. “Some type of green midget?”

Sillow groaned and tried to get up. He settled for a slumped kneeling position.
“I’m a Sylvan,” he replied. He squinted into the shadows and saw a figure seated on the upper berth of a bunk. He could make out little apart from a muscular, yet shapely pair of legs. “Who are you?”

The figure jumped down from the bunk. She was an Amazonian, strong and athletic with an impressive cleavage and long chestnut hair falling around her shoulders. She was also extremely pretty despite the artificial eye and cheek implant. She stretched out a perfectly formed silver arm, extending her hand. “Titanya.”

Sillow’s eyes widened. “The Pirate Queen?”

The woman nodded.

The Sylvan took her cybernetic hand and let himself be hauled to his feet. He found himself head high to her magnificent chest.

“Sillow,” he replied, smiling at her breasts. “I’m from the Alliance.”

“Up here, short stuff,” the woman told him.

Slowly and very reluctantly, Sillow turned his attention upwards. He grinned. “Nice to meet you.”

Outside, cries and weapon fire continued to echo through the halls.

Titanya frowned. “Any idea what all that’s about?”

“Whole place is going crazy,” the Sylvan replied. “Something got into Tamerlane’s AI system.”

The woman took a couple of tentative steps toward the door. Screams echoed through the walls.
“Sounds like a warzone out there,” she remarked. “You sure the AI is causing all this?”

Sillow frowned. “You know, this is going to sound kind of crazy but…” he paused, running a hand over his pointed chin.

“What?” Titanya demanded.

“Well, it kind of looks like the one causing all this is Darius Drake. You heard of the guy?”

“Oh yeah,” the Earth woman answered. “We’ve met.”

“Well, somehow he’s put himself into the computer system.” Sillow gave an embarrassed shrug. “Sounds sort of off the wall I know.”

There was a sudden explosion and flames tore through the slits at the top of the door.
“Look out.” Sillow threw himself at Titanya, knocking her off balance and sending her tumbling to the floor. The Sylvan landed on top of her, head buried in her thick auburn
locks. A fireball tore past them, turning the bunks into cinder.

It was some moments before Sillow glanced up. He found himself looking at the stern, beautiful features of the Terran woman.

“You okay?” he asked. “Just so you know, that was me protecting you.”

 “Just so you know,” Titanya replied, “under any other circumstances I’d have busted your jaw for that.”

Sillow grinned. “You mean saving your life?”

Titanya flung the little Sylvan back onto his feet. “Yeah, right. I can’t believe a pipsqueak like you got the drop on me.”


BUY LINKS:





Find out more about James Austin McCormick at:
 








For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join Every new subscriber will get a FREEdownload of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com)

Monday 22 August 2016

It's In The Blood by Juanita Aydlette - Novel Spotlight

I'm pleased to welcome fellow author and dog lover, Juanita Aydlette today, with her latest release 'It's In The Blood'. Be sure to read the excerpt and watch the video below. Sounds like a real edge of the seat read!

BLURB:

Never stare at a shirtless hunk with green eyes. Gabrielle Madsen is drawn in by

such a pair of eyes that captures her soul and leaves her a prisoner of an addictive kind of love--not that she's complaining. But her educational trip turns out to be more than just a fun-filled summer escapade.

She’s faced with a life-changing decision that could affect the world around her.
Her discovery of this ancient, legend-come-to-life proves to be deadly, but her heart can’t break away. She and Josh Van Ness fall in love and must battle the forces that want to keep them apart.


EXCERPT:

Away from the open menagerie was a path surrounded by dense trees. It was across a narrow decorative bridge built into the landscape. The thick greenery provided a shady side to the open garden. A spotlight created by the sun beckoned to me from inside and I walked away from the others. My eyes were fixed on the pink and red groundcover that glimmered with a hypnotic seduction. I ventured toward the fragrant breeze, unaware of how far I had strayed.

After only a few yards inside the cover of the trees, my body was seized again by a rumble and a frightening snarl. A chill blanketed me and I couldn’t move. I didn’t dare look around, for the back of my blouse had already been saturated by the heated moisture from the breath of the beast. My first instinct was to scream, but fear had stolen my voice. So I took a deep breath and held it. The scent of horror filled my lungs. It was familiar. Was I being stalked by the animal that lurked outside my hotel grounds?

Help me please, rang inside my head. My eyes squeezed shut as its sharp fangs pinched my shoulder. Tears filled my eyes and my hands formed a fist. I waited to feel my bones snap when suddenly, it let go. The leaves crunched. The sound grew fainter by the second, then nothing. My eyes remained closed as I trembled and listened.

“Miss?” A woman’s voice severed my nightmare. “I saw you come out here. We’re getting ready to go to another area. You don’t want to be left behind.”

Without hesitation I ran past her, clutching my throat and sobbing. The other tourists were boarding the van and I made my way to the back. The woman I believed saved me from certain death, came and sat beside me.

“Hi. My name is Kara. Are you okay?” She placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Did you see anything?” I searched her eyes for a confirmation. “An animal? It was behind me.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t see anything,” she said and smiled.

“Was it a spider?” the little lady with the blinding yellow blouse asked.

“No. Never mind, Kara. I guess I’m just tired. Thank you for checking on me.”

“You’re welcome, you take care.” She quickly returned to her seat.

My body trembled as the bus came to stop. I ran from the tourist center to the hotel. Once inside the bathroom, I stripped and examined my shoulder. A painful bruise was both in front and in back. I cried out loud, shook convulsively, and then laughed hysterically. Was I going mad?

About the Author:


Juanita Aydlette is from Shreveport, Louisiana, and now lives in Texas.  She’s the only girl in a family of four brothers. She love music, planting flowers and is a dog lover…that’s why she works at an animal clinic.

Find out more about Juanita at:

Twitter: @Juanita Aydlette

BUY LINKS:











For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! 
http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join 

Every new subscriber will get a free download of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com) Every new subscriber will get a free download of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com) and I'll make sure you get your copy.