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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 trilogy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trilogy. Show all posts

Thursday 4 April 2019

The Circle of conspiracy by Cas Peace - Spotlight and #Giveaway




I'm thrilled to be part of fellow Brit, Cas Peace's book tour. I love fantasy, adventure and horses and really enjoyed the Artesans of Albia Trilogy. Sullyan is a brilliant heroine, I've rarely been able to empathise with a female lead character in the way I did with her. She is such a strong, courageous, charismatic person, and yet very vulnerable and sensitive beneath the tough exterior. The other characters are all excellently written too, including the horses. I'm sure I will enjoy The Circle of Conspiracy just as much as I did Artesans. Congratulations on the release of this new boxset Cas. Now let's find out more about the book:


Nine months have passed since Brynne Sullyan helped forge an alliance between the realms of Albia and Andaryon. A fragile peace reigns as both sides recover from the events of the previous year. Then mysterious raiders strike Andaryon villages. 

Attempts are made on the life of Albia’s High King. As Sullyan scrambles to find those responsible, unseen enemies threaten to pull apart everything she has worked for, including her marriage.

The alliance begins to crumble, and Sullyan finds herself caught between two monarchs: the king she’s sworn allegiance to, and the man she loves as a father. To betray either one would break her heart, but if conflict is inevitable, she must make a choice…
Book Buy Links



Cas lives in the lovely county of Hampshire, southern UK, where she was born. On leaving school she trained for two years before qualifying as horse-riding instructor. During this time she also learned to carriage-drive. She spent thirteen years in the British Civil Service before moving to Rome, Italy, where she and her husband, Dave, lived for three years. They enjoy returning whenever they can. 
Cas supports many animal charities and owns two rescue dogs. She has a large collection of cacti and loves gardening. She is also a folk singer/songwriter and is currently writing and recording nine folk-style songs to accompany each of her fantasy books. You can listen to and download all the songs from her website: www.caspeace.com 


See the video of her performing live at the King’s Envoy book launch here: http://www.caspeace.com/cas-peace/the-wheel-will-turn




Author Facebook ~


Facebook ~ Website ~




 ~ Blog ~ Amazon ~ Reverbnation ~

Author Social Media Links:



Excerpt #3 - from Book 3 Full Circle:
Sullyan turned at last to the one who waited patiently beside her, watching her quietly. Jessy’s warm blue eyes, lighter in shade than her brother’s, sparkled with the life she’d lost too soon, and they smiled her love into the golden eyes that gazed back in wonder. She stood happy and proud, as she’d never been in life, radiating thankfulness, approval and … something else. Anticipation?
Jessy?

We greet you, Brynne Sullyan. We’re very pleased you’ve come back.
Jessy’s gentle voice, a treasured memory for so long, broke another barrier within Sullyan. She accepted back her name, and all that went with it. She felt whole again, although until now she hadn’t been aware of her fragmentation. She raised tear-filled eyes.

Oh, Jessy!
Two arms came around her and held her tight as she wept out all her despair, all the self-blame, all the regret, the longing, the fear, and the shame. In a cleansing rush it came out, and when it was gone, it left her spent and helpless. She was held all the while, although it was the sense of presence in her heart, now beating again with warm lifeblood, that gave her the most comfort. And she realized, with a start of shock, that they had always been there, those comforting influences, the source of her strength and control.

Then the pressure of the arms eased and the spirit of Robin’s sister stepped back.
Come, Sullyan. Time grows short and there is someone yet you must speak with.
The words sounded in her mind—Jessy’s smiling lips didn’t move. Sullyan felt her hand clasped and she didn’t resist the gentle tug. She followed Jessy and, although her surroundings didn’t change, they left the others behind, their eyes watchful. She felt no sense of loss as their figures faded. They were always with her.

Then another presence appeared before her. A thrill of recognition and shock ran the full length of her soul. A woman, delicate and slim, like herself. A fine mane of tawny hair, although not as long as her own. A fine-featured, oval face. Beautiful, warm brown eyes. A welcoming smile that said more than words could ever express. The woman stepped two paces forward, her arms held wide.
Sullyan stopped dead. It just couldn’t be.


Song List:  
Circle of Conspiracy Songlist.







To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 





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Tuesday 10 October 2017

Running Out Of Space - Release Day Guest Post by author #S.J.Higbee

Running Out of Space banner

This is my stop during the blog tour for Running Out of Space by S.J. Higbee. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 11th till 31st October. You can check see the tour schedule here

For a limited time Running Out of Space will be only $0.99 on Amazon


I'm thrilled to feature a fellow 'Brit' author, S J Higbee on the Flight Deck today, and to be able to help celebrate her release day! Congratulations and wishing you many sales, Sarah!
(Replicator -  a celebratory drink is called for, I think!)

Now I think it's time you heard from Sarah Higbee herself. Over to you, Sarah -

Thank you so much Hywela for taking part in the blog tour for Running Out of Space and letting me loose on your blog to answer your question –
"I'd be interested to know if this was always intended to be a trilogy or just developed that way from the first book."

The inspiration for writing Running Out of Space came from listening to Regina Specktor’s song ‘Samson’ which I fell in love with the first time I heard it. I then vividly dreamt the opening sequence of the book, deciding it would make a great short story. That was my excuse for dropping the project I’d been working on and continuing with this one. However, a week and six chapters later I knew it would be a novel. And very quickly after that, I knew it would be a trilogy.

Running Out of SpaceThere were two main strands I wanted to explore. The first is Elizabeth’s personal journey where she is consumed by her longing to serve as an officer on her father’s ship, Shooting Star. Living at home and helping her alcoholic mother with her five younger brothers until she gets married and has a large family of her own fills her with horror. So when she is offered the opportunity to serve on her father’s ship, she is thrilled. However, it’s not turning out the way she’d hoped.

Throughout the first book, Elizabeth is constantly reacting to the changing circumstances around her – often with resourcefulness and courage, but she isn’t able to determine her own future. Right at the end of the book, however, she makes a life-changing choice that will hopefully lead her onto being able to take charge of her life.

The next part of her adventures happen in Dying For Space. This book had been thumping around in the back of my head for a while and more or less wrote itself. Breathing Space was the logical conclusion where all the main storylines that occur throughout the trilogy are tied up satisfactorily – apart from a couple of dangling plotlines I intend to pick up again in the spin-off series.

The second major strand is Elizabeth’s personal relationships. She falls in love with Wynn very fast – it is debatable whether she is running towards her chosen lover, or running away from her dysfunctional past. As she matures throughout the next couple of books, there is some resolution about the people in her life as she finally takes control and gets to lead the life she wants, rather than being constantly reactive.

There is also the spinoff series I have planned, where Elizabeth ends up being a P.I. in at least four murder mysteries which will also continue following her personal journey, as well as – hopefully – provide some entertaining whodunits. I’ve wanted to write a crime series set in space for a long time and sat down to plan out my protagonist when Himself looked up and said, ‘Why don’t you use Elizabeth?’ And the moment he said it – I realised it would work really well. As luck would have it, I hadn’t then completed Breathing Space so was able to just tweak some of the plotpoints in the second half of the book to set that up. I’m hoping to publish the sequel to Dying For Space, which is the sequel to Running Out of Space in December.

Thank you, Sarah, that was a fascinating insight into how the series developed. It seems the series grew naturally from events in the first book (unlike my own trilogy, which grew from a short story because I couldn't bear to say goodbye to my characters! ðŸ˜‰) I love the idea of a 'sequel to a sequel' too, and a  crime series set in space will, I'm sure, tick a lot of boxes for a lot of readers, including myself. It sounds like you have a wonderful series going here, and I wish you much success with it!

Now let's find out more about the first book!

Running Out of Space (The Sunblinded Trilogy#1)

By S.J. Higbee
Genre: Science Fiction
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: 11 October, 2017
Elizabeth Wright has yearned to serve on the space merchant ship Shooting Star for as long as she can remember – until one rash act changes everything…

I can’t recall whose idea it was. Just that me and my shipmates were sick of wading through yet another unjust punishment detail. So we decide to take ourselves off on a short jaunt to the lower reaches of Space Station Hawking to prove that fertile English girls can also deal with danger.

The consequences of that single expedition change the lives of all four of us, as well as that of the stranger who steps in to save us down in lawless Basement Level. Now I have more excitement and danger than I can handle, while confronting lethal shipboard politics, kidnapping, betrayal. And murder. 
You can find Running Out of Space on Goodreads

You can buy Running Out of Space for only $0.99 on Amazon!

About the Author:

Born the same year as the Russians launched Sputnik, I confidently expected that by the time I reached adulthood, the human race would have a pioneer colony on the Moon and be heading off towards Mars. So I was at a loss to know what to do once I realised the Final Frontier wasn’t an option and rather lost my head - I tried a lot of jobs I didn’t like and married a totally unsuitable man.

SJ HigbeeNow I've finally come to terms with the fact that I’ll never leave Earth, I have a lovely time writing science fiction and fantasy novels while teaching Creative Writing at Northbrook College in Worthing. I’ve had a number of short stories, articles and poems published – the most recent being my story ‘Miranda’s Tempest’ which appeared last year in Fox Spirit’s anthology Eve of War. I recently signed a publishing contract with Grimbold Publishing for my science fiction novel Netted, which is due to be released in 2019.

I live in Littlehampton on the English south coast with a wonderful husband and a ridiculous number of books. I can be
found online chatting about books at my book review blog https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/ and you’re very welcome to pop
onto my website www.sjhigbee.com and my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sjhigbeeauthor/

You can find and contact S.J. Higbee here:

- Website
- Blog
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads




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Saturday 22 July 2017

Snippet Sunday: Starquest - Time to get things out in the open!




Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to read and write! We've got a variety of genres and talented writers just waiting for you to come sample their work.

Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the other writers - they're listed Below:

If you'd to share your own 8-10 sentence snippet, whether published or not, follow the link and sign up. It's a great community to be a part of! 




I'm currently sharing snippets from Starquest, the first book in the SF Romance series,  The Destiny Trilogy.
Thanks so much to everyone who's commented to date. (I was away at the RNA conference last week so had to miss a week but I'll try to catch up on last week's posts if I can. I decided to put in an additional snippet this week, so here we go -

Summary of snippets so far:

Having been rescued from her sabotaged starship by the crew of the Destiny, Jess has persuaded them to help her save the inhabitants of the planet Phidia from a cruel invader by the name of Ayandos. Kerry Marchant, the ship's second in command, has had to revise his initial mistrust of her. He is also somewhat stunned on learning that far from being the deceitful character he'd thought her, she is not only on a mission to save a planet, but is in fact an interstellar missionary - and he's finding it hard to deny that he is becoming rather more than attracted to her!

Punctuation slightly Edited from published version to keep within sentence count.

In this excerpt Jess attempts to ease the awkwardness between herself and Kerry.


They could not go on like this until they reached Phidia.

 “Look, I know you and I haven’t exactly hit it off. I can understand why you didn’t trust me, but now you know my reasons for not being honest with you in the first place, can we at least attempt to get along? Can’t we try to...just...be friends?” 

“Oh, no, Jess. I doubt if you and I could ever just be friends.”

So he would not even give her that. She was about to make a sharp retort, when she saw the expression in his eyes, the way he looked at her, and realised with a feeling of shocked disbelief, what he was implying.

He closed the space between them, placing a hand on her arm, and, taken by surprise, she dropped her guard, trembling at his touch. His blue eyes searched hers, as if determined to see the truth she tried to hide from him...and she knew he would find it, for she could conceal nothing from him now. She closed her eyes, conscious that it was already too late. Very gently, he stroked her face with the back of his fingers, before placing his hands on her shoulders, drawing her even closer to him. 

“You said I needed no one and nothing except myself,” he went on slowly, taking both her hands in his. “I thought it was true, but you were wrong, Jess, although I did not realise it until now.” 


BLURB: When Jestine Darnell is rescued from her sabotaged starship by the crew of the Destiny her only objective is to complete her mission and keep her promise to save a world from slavery. Love is the last thing on her mind. However, she has not counted on losing her heart to Kerry Marchant the ship’s second in command, who makes his distrust of her painfully obvious, despite the chemistry between them. The completion of her mission has consequences that neither of them could have foreseen.

Enter Dahll Tarron, who becomes involved in a long and dangerous quest to find the Destiny. Fates become intertwined, perils shared, culminating in the realization that sometimes love may be so close that there is a danger it will not be recognized until it is too late…

Purchase all three books (or just one)  at https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B01MRY3XXT










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

Saturday 6 May 2017

Weekend Writing Warrior - Sunday Snippet

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hops for everyone who loves to read and write! This is a new venture for me but such a great idea - 


Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the other writers - they're listed Below:




My series 'The Destiny Trilogy' started with one character - Kerry Marchant. Each book is a complete story but features some of the same characters. The series began with 'Starquest' and the third in the trilogy is 'Beloved Enemy (currently nominated for a RONE Award😊)  Although Kerry is not the main character Starquest, he is my favourite. He doesn't feature in the second book but stars in the third one! I thought it would be nice to introduce him to folk who may not have read the books, so here are ten sentences from Starquest. 

(Jess, the main character has just been rescued from her stricken starship by the Destiny)

"When we received your distress signal, we ran a computer analysis. The conclusions were obvious. The only option was for you to abandon her (the ship) before her drive reached critical.”

The stern-faced man turned to look at her now. His blue eyes, cool as gunmetal, fixed on her until she felt herself blush under his relentless scrutiny. He smiled slowly, as if unaccustomed to such an action. He was, in fact, very attractive when he smiled. “Welcome aboard.”

The commander nodded in his direction. “Let me introduce Kerry Marchant, second-in-command.”

Although Jess still could not help feeling a little suspicious, she managed to smile back at him with a degree of confidence she did not feel.


If you haven't voted yet, MAY 7th
IS THE LAST DAY TO VOTE!
Only a select few will go forward to the next round so votes would be so much
appreciated!

BELOVED  ENEMY - Nominee for Best Fantasy/SF

VOTE HERE - voting for this category ends May 7th! (You'll have to sign in or register to vote. (It's free and you're not committing yourself to anything.)

Thank you so much, your support means more to me than I can say.



My Page at the  Wild Rose Press -http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/138_hywela-lyn







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

Wednesday 21 December 2016

Beyond Every Mirror



Beyond Every Mirror
Anachronistic Dimensions Trilogy
Book One
Christine Church

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

Publisher: Grey Horse Press

Paperback Publication: 10-31-16
Kindle Publication: 11-30-16

ISBN: 978-0692782705
ASIN: B01MG56AW1

Number of pages:  370
Word Count: 130,000

Cover Artist: Christine Church

Book Description:

Beside his own image, Dane Bainbridge sees another; a ginger haired beauty--behind her, red mountains and clouds as if from another world. He's seen her his entire life, a life filled with glamour and fame... and loneliness. For the woman in the mirror is his one true love. But, this he does not know, not until he is dragged into her world--one of beasts and lands beyond imagination. One where his sacrifice is the only thing keeping her and the world in which she resides alive.

Once they are together, he remembers it all, and that knowledge means his doom for all eternity. But if he escapes her world, she will perish as will all others behind the looking glass. He is the key that keeps her alive, and she is the key that gives him hope. Can they break the curse that keeps them separated by torture and death? Can they escape together from a world that exists beyond every mirror?

5 Star Reviews

"I have never read anything quite like it and I loved it. Brilliant and well written. Superb!! And the writing style of the author was amazing." Rabia Tanveer, Readers’ Favorite

"Fans of Lord of the Rings, Anne Rice, and all fantasy novels will really enjoy this book! Truly one of the best books I've ever read!" Bonnie, Amazon Customer

“Christine Church gives readers a lovable protagonist. A wonderful love story. Like a dangerous but beautiful animal, this romance novel comes with some nail-biting moments that are definitely worth reading. I recommend this book to vampire fans."  ~Benjamin Ookami

"I actually fell asleep with the book in my arms and woke up to read it in the morning." Amazon Customer

"Great fantasy and very exciting, a real page turner." Amazon Customer


Five-Star Reader’s Review Favorite
Love's Grasp
December 20, 2014
He remained perfectly still as the chains were wrapped around his body.  The metal cooled the heated flesh of his bare chest.  All around him echoed a cacophony of screams, bellows and stomping of feet that almost crushed him beneath its weight.  The air tightened with the chains and a rush of collective exhilaration and nervousness swirled through his senses.  He glanced quickly at the red-faced, muscular man standing beside him, who finished fastening the chains and stepped away.
He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. And then he waited, anxiety pounding in his breast. The air was thick with heat and sweat and smoke, but he'd grown accustomed to it through the years, as with the rest of the ritual. The one thing he could never get used to, however, was the flip-flop in the pit of his stomach that occurred as the platform he stood on slowly lifted into the air, revealing him to the anxiously awaiting crowd that crushed nearer. Starving animals before a feast.  He looked straight out, refused to look down, lest the vertigo take him.
How he hated heights.
He listened for the eerie orchestration of strings and organ that marked the beginning of his leisurely descent back to earth. The notes began with a rhythmic resonance that was almost conquered by impatient bellows that quickly turned to a roar of frenzied excitement.  As the platform lowered, a muzzy sensation circled Dane’s mind and his throat felt as though his stomach had been hoisted up into it. 
He held his breath in anticipation.
An amplified voice echoed over the din. “Ladies and Gentlemen.  Through the misty storm they come. Battles rage and blood is spilled and tonight you will feel…the rage of the... Dark Myst!”
           
The crescendo of notes rose with the screams and soon the vast crowd, shrouded in the mist of machine smoke and lighting from the trusses above, came into view.  The platform touched the stage simultaneously with a deafening blast of canon fire, blinding light and searing heat from the pyrotechnics.
Dane thrust his arms outward in an ostentatious display of feigned strength and released his long held breath as the chains fell free of his body.  As he leaped forward the crowd crushed against the stage, nearly 20,000 screaming fans all at once a serried mass swarming towards him.
Tingles of excitement clawed at his spine, a feeling that never waned with the years.  He ran to the front of the stage and grabbed up the microphone as Bruce struck the first hard note on his Strat.  The music pounded out its heavy rhythm and the audience's cries warred with its volume. Sharp beams of laser light cut a zigzag through the haze. Dane twirled around and his heart jumped.
Oh what fresh hell!
He was staring at himself!
The stage had been set up like a room in a lover's palace; giant mirrors everywhere—behind, to the sides, even above, stretching as high as the trusses.  Due to a severe snow squall the truck carrying an important part of the band’s stage set had gone off the road and gotten stuck. No one was injured, but the set had not arrived in time to be set up in the sold-out Target Center.  Someone had decided the light show would look better reflected. Dane, however, was aghast. Not only was their stage set designed to coincide with most of their songs, but the effects of the colored lights continuously bouncing from mirror to mirror would inevitably result in the whole band plagued with a throbbing headache by concert’s end.
Their manager had to have approved this—someone had to have approved it. No one had told Dane! The mirrors must have been erected last moment. Everyone associated with the band knew how Dane hated mirrors. But now, no matter which direction he turned, he saw himself in his black costume and ragged-edged cloak; which portrayed him as the yin to the band's yang.  They were the mist, and he the dark storm.
To keep his attention from the mirrors, Dane fixed his gaze on the audience and the speckled glow from thousands of cell phone flashes, resembling a sparkling star-filled evening that stretched out before him. But he knew he would eventually have to turn around.
            By the third song it became maddening, not able to dance around as he normally would for fear of what might be hidden in those mirrors. But, thankfully, half way through the song he spotted one of the girls he'd met the last time he was in town.  At last, something to keep his mind and eyes busy.  In the front row she stood, arms raised toward him.  The bulldozing horde had her pressed against the stage, long auburn hair flittering about as she bobbed her head to the beat of the music.  He smiled in her direction, despite his sudden dread at remembering the promise he'd made to her the year before.  A promise—ashamedly—he had no intention of keeping.
He had never seen her before that night a year ago, so she hadn’t been a regular.  Conquering new territory was always fun. She’d displayed the looks normally reserved by the group of girls who always seem to know just how to be chosen above others and handed backstage passes.  This one, however, had taken a different approach. She had approached him on the floor of his hotel as he made his way to his room. Fortunately he had been alone—a rarity. He had invited her in.  Ample breasts and a nice round bottom offset by a perfectly slender waist. Dane knew he would be having a good time that night.
She had wanted too much, however, a commitment he couldn't give. Teasing him and denying him her favors until he'd made the vow. What else was there to do? And so he had said exactly what she wanted to hear. And, as naïve as she was, she had believed him. He couldn’t, after all, say no. Not when she lay there in his hotel bed displaying all her luscious charms. But he couldn't keep his promise, either.  There were plenty of women in countless towns, women the band’s crew knew were his type. Women who would be offered passes just so he could meet them, drink with them, bed them. And there would be more waiting in the next town after that.
Now, a pass with the name of a local radio as sponsor dangled around her neck. So, she had won backstage passes this time. There would be no avoiding her tonight. What would he say to her? He could not even recall her name. As her fiery glare burned through him, he absentmindedly turned away, catching Bruce’s smug grin as he looked from the girl to Dane.  He mouthed the words “there she is,” as he switched guitars with an assistant for the next set of songs.
Dane smirked, shook his head at his friend, then strutted to the other side of the stage as the next song began—one of the band’s trademark tunes that he wrote about a medieval land of lords and knights.  He wielded a sword, one of many from his collection, and proceeded to dance around in choreographed mock swordplay as the hired orchestra played their bit.  
At this point, his disappointment surged that the integral element of their regular stage set had not arrived.  The video wall depiction of a castle and rolling green hills was installed. However, mirrors now replaced the large faux-stone steps that were to lead to the balcony above the stage, giving Dane the appearance of riding atop one of two red-eyed dragons that should, at that moment, be gazing menacingly down at the crowd, smoke, laser and fire effects erupting from the eyes and fanged mouths. Those that came for the show would be fervently disappointed.
During Bruce’s brief guitar solo near mid-song, Dane closed his eyes for a moment and raised the sword high, drawing in the deep odor of sweat and heat. Machine-created fog crept along the stage and curled around his feet like a chill mist in a graveyard.  The lights were so dim he could scarce see even the front row of the audience as the laser lights sliced through the stadium and across his body like sharp-edged blades.
In accordance with his routine, and without second thought, he twirled around—and was suddenly staring right into one of the tall mirrors that littered the stage.  The lights brightened.  His craggy-hemmed cloak billowed as he spun from the ghastly reflection of his own sweat-soaked face only to catch the same image in the mirror beside that one. His gut wrenched and he tried to turn away, back to the front of the stage, back to the audience. But he froze as movement caught his eye and when he turned his head, she was there—the “Mirror Lady.” His illusion. His own delusion.
Onstage.
            As real to him as his own reflection.

            No! Not here!
Her thigh-length ginger hair was loose, rather than pulled back in the usual braid. The shining tresses poured over her shoulders like a rushing waterfall and cascaded down a beautiful gown of burgundy velvet that hugged her slim form. The tears in her golden eyes told a tale of sadness that wrenched at his heart, and he felt himself take an involuntary step forward. More familiar to him than Martha or Lance or Sir Kori, the sight of the “Mirror Lady” twisted his gut, a tornado rampaging through him, a tangled enrapture of perplexity and fear, love and pain—as if he had known her for more years than his life was long. And that familiarity drove him somewhere beyond her presence in some glass. 
            His dilemma with the redhead in the front row disappeared.  The girls he’d met in the past or would meet in the future no longer mattered. It was this stranger, this illusion. She alone meant everything—and she scared the hell out of him.  But deeper than fear lie an unbearable urge to leap into the mirror and gather her into his arms. 
Protective impulses tugged at him relentlessly and he was suddenly frightened not of her but for her. Terror seized his heart, and refused to let go, pounding through him harder than the music that continued to fill the stadium, confusing him profoundly.  Passionate emotions thrashed at his brain and his head ached with the need to bring them to the surface.  But he couldn’t.  A mental barrier walled off the needs screaming for release.  Why couldn’t he just go to her; feel for her the love he’d been missing his entire life?
            Behind him, the glass’ surface reflected a flurry of activity; lambent light bounced from one mirror to the next, heightening the pain in his head.  The small section of audience visible moved and swayed, their images like dancing ghosts in the dark mist of the stadium.  Stephan’s long strawberry hair swayed as he bobbed his head up and down while he plucked away at his bass. He hadn’t seen her.  At the time Dane didn’t think anyone else saw her, but her form was as solid in the mirror as was his own, as she had been in every mirror throughout his life. 
Concentration became impossible. He faltered, his voice cracked and he missed the chorus altogether. Familiar with the music, the mistake must have been quite obvious to the crowd. But he couldn't turn from that damn mirror.
Dane tried to force his mind back to the song when a searing bolt of pain sliced through his head. The clank of the sword and the microphone sounded loud to his ears, even above the music, as they dropped from his hands and crashed to the stage. Feedback screeched from the monitors and the music stopped. The burden of emotion and conflict pressed him downward and, like Alice, he found himself falling. Down. Down. The spotlights swirled like shooting stars and agony screamed through his shoulder as he hit the hard stage floor. 
The fog consumed him.
The stadium went dead silent. Bruce and Stephan rushed towards him. Adrian leapt from behind his drums. Road crew members and strangers circled above. The audience pressed closer to the stage, security guards frantically tried to hold them back.  Their lips moved, their hands pounded the stage. He saw them all, yet he heard nothing. And then he was forced into a vacuum of darkness.

About the Author:

Christine Church has been writing since she was 9 years old. As a kid, she wrote and drew her own picture books, then moved on to short stories as a teen. By her 20s, she was writing full-length novels, but her first success in publication was a nonfiction book about the care of indoor cats, Housecat, published by Howell Book House in 1998. Several more nonfiction books followed, including the major award winning book, Indoor Cats (TFH publications),  which won the Iams Responsible Cat Ownership in 2001. After a broken hand, she took a hiatus from writing for quite some
time, then returned to find everything had changed and her world turned upside down. She decided then to take a stab at self publishing. Her first novella, Sands of Time, Fate of the True Vampires won Finalist status in the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Her second book, as well as Beyond Every Mirror, have won five-star status on Reader's favorite.




Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/christinechurch   @christinechurch




Tour giveaway

$15 Amazon gift card
3 copies paperback, signed.
5 Handmade metallic bookmarks
10 handmade jewelry items themed to the book.



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