Win Free Books!

On 5/1/15 Crazy Duck press is releasing the new edition of My Fearful Symmetry. Friday is launch day. The first 50 people to RSVP will receive a FREE EBOOK. We will also be giving away  five paperback copies.

Mysti Parker's New Release: The Roche Hotel

 The Roche Hotel

Season One

A serial romantic comedy by Mysti Parker

         

   After her husband ditches her for a blonde actress wannabe, Jane Seymour needs a job that pays the rent. The struggling Roche Hotel needs a miracle. With the former owner’s wife butting her nose into the renovations and new owners who are in way over their heads, Jane may be the answer to their prayers. Sure, she can handle The Roche Hotel’s quirky staff. But, can this skittish divorcee keep it all together when handsome Henry the Donut Guy makes his first delivery? This collection of serial fiction stories is a Tudorific romantic comedy that will leave you laughing out loud and hungry for more.

****

The Story Behind the Stories

THEY say a lot of things, don’t they? Like don’t wear white after Labor Day or don’t fry bacon with your shirt off (that’s probably good advice, come to think of it). Most of what THEY say goes right in one ear and out the other. But, in terms of writing, when THEY say “write what you know”, it makes a lot of sense. So, that’s where The Roche Hotel got its start—from my own experience working in a hotel way back in the ‘90s.

Many of these first 10 episodes are based on some very real incidents that happened during my days as a front desk clerk in a little mid-priced hotel. Sure, a lot of stuff’s made up purely from my crazy imagination, but there were 5:00 AM donuts—delicious being fresh from the bakery. Henry the Donut Guy—not real, but I wouldn’t have argued one bit if he had been! Among the many other true-to-life items that appear at the Roche Hotel are a popcorn machine, a Muzak (think elevator music) that never played at the right volume, at least one “lady of the night”, and a dead body.

Thanks so much for your support! Happy reading! ~Mysti Parker

****

Mysti Parker (pseudonym) is a wife, mom, author, and shameless chocoholic. She is the author of the Tallenmere standalone fantasy romance series. Her other writings have appeared in the anthologies Hearts of Tomorrow, Christmas Lites, Christmas Lites II, The Darwin Murders, Tasteful Murders and EveryDayFiction.

Other writing pursuits include serving as a class mentor in Writers Village University's seven week online course, F2K. She finished her first historical romance this spring and has one children’s book (Quentin’s Problem) soon to be published, with one more waiting for illustrations, and many more stewing in her head.

When she's not writing fiction, Mysti works as a freelance editor and copywriter. She also reviews books for SQ Magazine, an online specfic publication, and is the proud owner of Unwritten, a blog voted #3 for eCollegeFinder's Top Writing Blogs award. She resides in Buckner, KY with her husband and three children.

Subscribe to my blog, Unwritten 

Visit my webpage: www.mystiparker.com (in construction)

LIKE my fan page on Facebook! 

Follow me on Twitter @MystiParker

Fantasy Author Anne Marie Lutz

Today, I welcome Anne Marie Lutz back to Immortyl Revolution! She has agreed to share some insights into the main character of her novels.

AM: It’s great to have an opportunity to tell you about the main character in my fantasy novel, Color Mage, and its sequel, Sword of Jashan. 

Q:  What is his name?

AM:  His name is Lord Callo ran Alkirani. He is a man who struggles with a rare magical power -- a power that brings him the contempt of his friends even as it draws the attention of Kings and mages. He journeys to the enemy land of Ha'las with his manservant and the young healer, Kirian. There, he learns of his heritage -- and finds that great power is his birthright, but only if he sacrifices everything he has ever stood for.

Q:  When and where is his story set?

AM:  The novels are set in the fantasy world of Righar. This is a feudal land ruled by a King who magically Collars powerful mages to force them to use their magic to protect the land. In return for this magical servitude, the Collared Lords have unimaginable power, and they tend to use it without regard for the wishes of others. Here’s a link to a blog post I did a little while back about the Collared Lords of Righar.

Lord Callo is the illegitimate son of the King’s sister. He occupies a strange position – because of his rank he is nominally accepted, but his bastard status means he is scorned. He is used to seeing the turned back, hearing the whispers as he passes. His only true friends have been his manservant, Chiss, and his half-brother Lord Arias, who befriends him in spite of the disapproval of his peers.

Q:  What is the main conflict? 

AM:  Callo finds out who – or, should I say what? – his father is. And then finds out something unsettling about himself, something that sets even his half-brother against him.

Callo (and Healer Kirian) flee the country ahead of the anger of a powerful Collared Lord. When Callo discovers he has a power that corrupts everyone it touches, he wants to learn how to keep others – especially Kirian, whom he has come to care for – safe from his dangerous magic.

Q:  Can we read more about Callo and Kirian?

AM:  Yes! Color Mage – which I’ve talked about above -- is the first story of Callo and Kirian. It’s available from amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. It was published in September, 2012.

In Sword of Jashan, the walls Callo has maintained all his life to guard against his dangerous power are failing. Fighting with his own abilities, Callo still resolves to protect the young heir to the throne from the intrigues of the King. And Ander himself must decide whom to trust, as he becomes the target of an assassin. Sword of Jashan was published last fall and is also available from amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

A very big thanks to Anne Marie for stopping by!

Anne Marie was part of the “Meet my Character” tour, which continues with two other speculative fiction writers discussing their main characters. Please check out their blogs – you may find something you’ll enjoy reading!

Marian Allen has been lying ... er, creating fiction for as long as she can remember. She has had work published online and in print, working mostly in speculative fiction and mystery, but with some mainstream, romance, and horror tossed in to keep things lively. She is a member of the Southern Indiana Writers Group and is one of three owners of a new micro-press, Per Bastet Publications.

You can read about her character beginning September 15 on her blog, here.

Tracy Lawson's New Adult dystopian thriller, Counteract, was released on August 6, 2014–which just also happens to be her birthday! The sequel, Resist, is slated for release in spring 2015, and she’s currently working on the third volume in the series. Tracy lives in Dallas with her husband, daughter, and three spoiled cats.

You can read about her character at her website, beginning September 15.

Danielle DeVor's Vampire Mathias

Today, Danielle DeVor is here to talk about a character from her upcoming release. 

1. What is your character's name? 

Mathias Drvar.

2.) Is he fictional or a historic person?

Completely fictional, though his last name is my family’s original last name.

 3.) When and where is the story set?

The story is set in the present and alternates between a school in Siberia and a demon’s castle.

 4.) What should we know about him?

He’s very torn. On one hand, he really wants to be a good person, but on the other, his rage makes him do things he isn’t proud of.

 5.) What is the main conflict? What messes up his life?

The king of the vampire world has been kidnapped and because Mathias is the only one who has an object in his possession that once belonged to the king and has not been cursed, he must embark on a quest to save the king.

 6.) What is his personal objective?

To save his own skin and the skin of his friends without too much trouble. That, and get some sleep.

7.)Is this novel part of a series, and where can we read more about it?

The official title is The Devil’s Liege. It is the sequel to the novel, Tail of the Devil. 

Here’s the blurb for The Devil’s Liege:

Being a vampire isn't all it's cracked up to be- in fact, it kind of sucks.

After surviving his duel with Lilith, Mathias thought that he could relax. That is until he discovers that, Nossy, the new king, has been kidnapped.

When the investigating vampires seem to have no clue how to rescue Nosferatu, Mathias must step in. Everything is peachy until Mathias is named the next new king in order to stop the man behind Nossy’s kidnapping from taking over the throne.

Suddenly, his life is not his own again, and Mathias must make a choice: risk his life to find his friend, or sit back and watch disaster unfold.

8.) When can we expect the book to be published?

It will be published on September 26, 2014.

Thanks for being my guest today, Danielle, and good luck with your new book. Readers can find out more about Danielle and her books at her blog.

Meet Faolan O’Connor

Today, I'm featuring Brian Mckinley. He's here to talk about  his character Faolan O'Connor from his upcoming release Drawing Dead. 

1.) What is your character's name?

His name is Faolan O’Connor.

2.) Is he fictional or a historic person?

He is fictional, though he interacts with many historic people.

3.) When and where is the story set?

Drawing Dead is set in the late 1930’s in New York City.

4.) I love that period! What should we know about him?

Faolan is not the typical protagonist, and certainly not a “good guy.” In fact, he’s the type of person who would probably be the villain in someone else’s story. He’s a gangster, a cold-blooded killer looking to move up in the world by any means necessary. He does have a good sense of humor, however, and a very practical view of the world that I think is attractive to many readers despite his lack of traditional morals.

5.) What is the main conflict? What messes up his life?

The story begins when Faolan is recruited into The Order: the global society of vampires who secretly control much of world politics and society. He’d been serving them as a mortal agent previously, but this is his big promotion. More than anything else, he wants to run New York. The Big Apple is his city and the current boss is a brute and a megalomaniac, so Faolan thinks that he can do better. The problem is that the boss has a pretty strong set-up and Faolan has to walk a fine line between appearing loyal and finding others who see things the way he does. Ironically, the thing that messes everything up for him is the reappearance of his conscience. The more he sees of how the boss runs things, the more Faolan wants to see it changed, but his humane motives come into direct conflict with the brutal and treacherous things he has to do to achieve his goals.

6.) What is his personal goal?

Faolan’s personal goal is to be a “somebody.” All his life, he’s felt over-looked and unappreciated. He wants respect and believes that the best way to achieve that is by acquiring power.

7.) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

The book is called Drawing Dead: A Faolan O’Connor Novel and it’s the first in a planned series that will span several decades.

8.) When can we expect the book to be published?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a release date from my publisher yet, but the novel is currently in the formatting stage, so I expect it to be released before the end of the year.

I'd like to thank Brian for being my guest. Keep posted for publication info at Brian's blog Ravings of a Sick Mind

Meet my Character Blog Tour: Interview with Cedric MacKinnon

Welcome to Immortyl Revolution!  

I’d like to thank Laurel Anne Hill for inviting me to take part in this MEET MY CHARACTER BLOG TOUR.  Please visit Laurel’s blog and read an interview with her character Juanita and learn about her books.

I've recently signed with a new publisher, Crazy Duck Press, and we’re about to bring out a revised edition of my urban fantasy novel, My Fearful Symmetry, the story of a rather unconventional Scottish vampire named Cedric MacKinnon. 

My Fearful Symmetry is part of the Immortyl Revolution series, which can be read as a stand-alone novel. The rest of the books in the series will be issued within the next year. 

Since Cedric is running a little late (he loves to make a dramatic entrance), I’ll set the stage for him.

Imagine a remote palace in India, where life in the present day continues much as it did thousands of years in the past.  Here, the Chief Elder of the Immortyls holds the power of life and death over his subjects.

In a secluded section of the palace, we find a spiritual retreat, an ashram, where devidasi, servants of the goddess Kali perform their devotions.  At the center is a courtyard, surrounded by lush gardens, where a sacred spring bubbles. Over this stands the many-armed image of Kali Ma. 

A tall young male Immortyl enters the courtyard.  With his milky skin, long auburn hair and green eyes, he’s an unlikely inhabitant of this exotic location. A wicked grin inches up the left side of his face. His saunter suggests a tiger’s deadly grace.

CEDRIC: My dear authoress, what brings you here at this hour?

DENISE: Some people would like to meet you.

CEDRIC: (Executes a flawless bow) Always a pleasure.

 

DENISE: So Cedric, I’d like you to tell the readers a little about yourself—and do try to behave. If you’re a good boy, I'll write some new adventures for you.

CEDRIC: (He sinks into the Lotus Position) Promise? I'd like that.

DENISE: First off, they’re probably wondering how a boy from Scotland ended up a vampire in India?

CEDRIC: My dear authoress, you know we don’t care for the V word. We are Immortyls, semi-divine children of Mother Kali.

DENISE: You don’t believe that.

CEDRIC: I’m not as skeptical as I once was.

DENISE: Why is that?

CEDRIC:  (Nods toward the statue) It seems Kali Ma has plans for me.  Why would this ginger-haired Scot end up in the Chief Elder’s court at the moment revolution threatened to tear it all down?

Look where I came from; I was nobody. 

My parents died when I was little. I grew up in a children’s home and ran away to London when I was fifteen with dreams of becoming a rock star—needless to say, not a great idea. I ended up on the streets and made my living selling the only thing I could. 

To make a long story short, rent boys in London have a 33% HIV infection rate, and I became a statistic. I turned to playing my guitar in the underground to supplement what I got from the government. One night I encountered this lovely Indian man—or so I thought. Rakesh made me the man I am today, that is to say, an Immortyl.  

DENISE: You have an unusual occupation.  Elaborate on that.

CEDRIC: I’m an adept of the ancient arts, an Immortyl temple artist in service to Kali Ma.  We dance and sing to her glory.

DENISE: But there’s a bit more to it, isn’t there?

CEDRIC: (His eyebrow rises) Indeed. Adepts are employed as courtesans in political intrigues by the Chief Elder of the Immortyls.  The Chief needed me to smooth things over with elders of the Grand Council, to curry favor, so to speak.

DENISE: Any elder in particular?

CEDRIC: (Satisfied smile) Lord Liu. Of all of them, he knows how to treat a lad right. Liu Li Cheng is a true gentleman.  As for the rest of that lot, I’d cheerfully cut their throats, given the chance.

The job is a total drag—except for the singing and dancing bit. No one does a blues riff on a sitar like me. Music is my true passion. I play the guitar as well as Indian instruments. My prized possession is a vintage Stratocaster. I love all kinds of rock music, especially that of David Bowie.

DENISE: You do love the flamboyant.

CEDRIC: (Chuckles) Despite my vows, flashy clothes, fast cars and the latest electronic gadgets are my weakness—and beautiful lovers, male and female.

DENISE: Ah, you mentioned Lord Liu, but is there also a special woman?

CEDRIC: My guru, Sandhya. She’s the senior adept.  Until I knew her, I was a selfish, little tart. She showed me that I’m more than just a pretty face and taught me so many things…

DENISE: Any last secrets to reveal?

CEDRIC: (Shakes his head.) They will just have to read my tale when it comes out and learn all.

If the nice boys and girls leave me a saucy comment and a contact email, the authoress will draw a name for a free ebook of Annals of the Immorytls. There’s a short in there, featuring yours truly. You can read another of my adventures in Vampire News. And don’t forget to check out my blog, darlings. You can also chat with me @cedricmackinnon on Twitter or at my Facebook page. 

DENISE: Yes, I did indeed create a monster. 


Thanks for stopping by! Next week, 9/8/14, the tour continues with Anne Marie Lutz, Brian McKinley and Danielle DeVor. 

Anne Marie's Blog

Danielle's Blog
Danielle's Facebook Page

twitter @sammyig


Brian on Facebook

Brian's Blog

Please give them a look and learn more about their books. 

What's Up with Denise?

Insane Author Person

Okay, I promised not to drop off the face of the Earth, but right after that I received edits for the Crazy Duck Press edition of My Fearful Symmetry. After I finished those, I had to do some re-writes on Cara Mia, which I should be done with tonight.

Happy Dance!

All that being said, I'm looking forward to a July release of My Fearful Symmetry from Crazy Duck Press. I hope to have copies of this new edition at Confluence in Pittsburgh.

In addition to all these new editions of the Immortyl Revolution books, I've been doing research for a fantasy novel set in an 18th century-esque, South Seas culture.  A lot of this has been on exotic diseases and archaic medical practices. A serious yuck factor, but it's interesting stuff. Yes, I'm one of those crazy people who read the CDC and NIH sites for fun. 

For the urban fantasy novel I finished last summer, it was bugs that had me obsessed. Giant centipedes to be exact. Have you ever seen a centipede fight? If you haven't, look at this video on YouTube. 

Seriously, you'll never sleep tight again.