Genre: Romance, Suspense
Publication Date: October 22, 2018
Pages: 318
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Hot soldier + brilliant doctor = a thrilling romance in the desert sands.

Doctor Mae Jones had no idea when she agreed to assist the army in vaccinating children half-way around the world what she’d face. She didn’t sign up for a sexy British officer trailing her every move, his giddy smile and sunshine good-looks distracting her. Nor did she expect the sudden rebel attacks and bullets flying while she attempts to try to cure an unexplainable virus about to threaten the whole world. It’s up to her to try and stop a war before it even begins while she keeps falling for this man who’s her total opposite in every way but the heart.

In the second entry of the Inquisition series, this stand-alone novel presents Alistair Young. For those tired of the alpha who want someone sweet as cotton candy, Alistair is your man. Easy on the eyes, and light on the heart — he’s prone to cracking jokes and playing card games with the sick kids. For all his easy-going ways he knows how dangerous growing close to the new genius doctor can be, but he can’t look away either.

Ellen Mint adores the adorkable heroes who charm with their shy smiles and heroines that pack a punch. She recently won the Top Ten Handmaid's Challenge on Wattpad where hers was chosen by Margaret Atwood herself. Along with her husband and black lab, she spends a lot of time with her skeletons -- don't worry, they're just Halloween props.

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publication Date: October 24, 2018
Pages: 302
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A TRUE WOLF IS BORN, NOT MADE…
Raven Cade is new to the sleepy little town of Wolcott and desperately in need of a job. So it seems like a good idea when she hastily accepts one at a seedy dive bar she finds along the side of the road. Especially when she ends up meeting an unbelievably gorgeous man who arrests her attention and inflames her desire like never before. But when two terrifying men start an equally terrifying bar brawl in an attempt to kidnap her, she realizes she made a horrible mistake. Her first night on the job becomes an incomprehensible nightmare that threatens her life and her sanity, and has her questioning everything she knows.

Emmett Weylin isn’t human. He and his family are part of a pack of werewolves living in secret in the tiny town of Wolcott. Drawing undue attention to himself is the last thing he can afford, so hitting a shady bar outside of town with a questionable reputation is a necessary evil when he needs to scratch an occasional itch. He never expected to find his mate and the love if his life there. And when he sees her, both the wolf and the man inside him instantly take notice. Wanting. Needing. Coveting.

But when two evil and inhuman abominations show up to take her away from him, can he keep her safe long enough to do something about it? Or will the shocking truth about what he really is, and what they are to each other, scare her off before he even has a chance?

Samantha is a self-professed nerd from the Midwest, who loves anything with a good plot. She'll watch anything with werewolves, vampires, or zombies in it. She is a voracious reader and loves smutty romance novels and contemporary fantasy. Samantha started writing her first erotic romance in February of 2015, and now she can't stop. It's a passion that she can't shut off, nor would she want to. She loves animals, especially dogs, and if her husband let her, she'd have a dozen, but 2 are his limit. She's looking forward to sharing more of her books with the world.

Genre: Novella, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: October 25, 2016
Pages: 136
Format: ePub
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This was a decent retelling of the Little Mermaid (Disney, not the Brother's Grimm). Skye, too, couldn't let Vince drown. Rescuing him thrust her into his world and him into her world. Sometimes it takes living in one another's "shoes" to really understand what each other's life is about.

Skye is bright, intelligent and compassionate. When she should have done as she had been taught, she found her humanity and saved the boy. Trading places taught Skye the lessons she needed to go on in life.

Vince is a rich, spoiled party boy slowly dying. Although he clearly had friends, he was very lonely and I feel like Skye was one of his first true friends.

However the romantic interest between Skye and Vince was really quite bland. I know this was a clean romance, but there was no spark there. It was a little too innocent for my liking, I feel.

But for those who enjoy a clean romantic fantasy read, this is a decent enough one.

Angel Leya focuses on creating clean young adult fiction with a touch of magic and romance. It also happens to be what she enjoys reading, and she blogs regularly about her latest reads. With a tendency towards writing different shades of fantasy and light sci-fi, her stories are intended to transport readers into worlds of possibility and wonder. When not writing, you can find her daydreaming about her stories and searching for her own adventures. Feel free to drop her a line any time. She hopes you enjoy her fiction as much as she enjoys writing it!

Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Anthology
Publisher: Troubador
Publication Date: February 19, 2016
Pages: 144
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Where do you get your ideas for your books? Who or what inspired your idea?
SPO: The inspiration for my stories comes from all sorts of places, often unexpected and sometimes unexplained. It can come from an overheard snippet of conversation, something I have seen in passing and so on. A good example is an especially vivid dream which became 'Sleep, Think, Die,' a story about the zombie apocalypse. This story ended up being a trilogy. Another example is when I overheard a young child mispronouncing 'Madagascar' as 'Mad Gasher.' He became a prominent character in the first book of the trilogy.

How did you develop the plot and your characters? Are your characters based on anyone?
SPO: I try not to base my characters on people, although I may borrow a trait or a characteristic. I often think that writers subconsciously create characters that my be based in part on 'real' people. Speaking for myself, I don't do this deliberately.

Do you write when you're inspired? Or do you have a schedule you keep to?
SPO: I write when I am inspired, in the main. This can often mean in the wee small hours, when everyone else is asleep. I know this is a cliche but in my case, for reasons I won't bore you with here, it is true! Usually with my little Cocker Spaniel for company. The only schedules I have to keep are self-imposed in the main. I try to be disciplined but it is not always easy!

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Maybe a piece of advice that stuck with you from your adventure into the world of publishing?
SPO: Don't give up! Learn from your mistakes, take on board constructive criticism and professional advice whenever you are fortunate enough to receive it, and learn from it. Don't let the detractors and nay-sayers stop you. No matter the size of your audience, just keep writing. And keep reading too - it helps enormously and you learn so much without even realising it. Plus of course, it is thoroughly enjoyable.

Tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspires you to write?
SPO: Another cliche coming up, but again, it is true. I have always had the desire to write. Ever since I was a very small child, I was writing little stories and poems, and I just kept on doing it. The older I got, the more I wrote (when other commitments allowed) and the more willing I became to share it with audiences other than my family. I have learned a tremendous amount in the process and I am still learning.

How much of yourself goes into your writing? Or do you keep yourself separate and base the character on someone else entirely?
SPO: In terms of passion, intention and a desire to tell the story, I put a lot of myself into my writing. However, I don't believe I have ever based any character upon myself. I prefer to keep them at arms length, so to speak, so that I can observe their actions and dialogue and 'keep it real' as far as is possible. I don't necessarily base my characters on anyone, at least not knowingly, though I borrow certain traits, I am sure.

What has helped shape and improve your writing?
SPO: Practice! Just keep writing, keep reading, be willing to accept that you are not perfect and that you make mistakes, some of them so glaringly obvious you feel like banging the keyboard off your head, others that only those in the know can spot and if you are lucky, they will point out to you. Be open to feedback, both good and bad, be prepared to learn from it but don't allow yourself to be so changed as a writer that you no longer recognise yourself or your story.

What are you reading right now? Do you recommend it or have any other recommendations?
SPO: I have just finished reading The Falcon of Sparta by Conn Iggulden. I would recommend any of his work to lovers of historical fiction, especially the Conqueror series depicting the life of Genghis Khan. Excellent writing and a thoroughly absorbing read.

Do your novels carry a message or do you feel it's subjective?
SPO: I never intentionally write a message into my work, so it always fascinates me when readers find one anyway. That is the beauty of creative writing, in particular poetry - it allows the reader to interpret it as they may. Wonderful!

What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand?
SPO: All of the above, with the exception of dictation. I need to see the written words on the page as I go along. Dictation has its place, but it is not what I would naturally revert to. I do the bulk of my writing on the keyboard, but now and then I need to do things the old-fashioned way and put pen to paper. It is useful to keep a pen and pad close to hand, to jot down those unexpected ideas that just form in your head out of nowhere, too. For instance, at 2 am or when you are staring out of the bus window...

Thank you to S P Oldham for kindly providing us with this awesome interview!- Leticia

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Publisher: DysCovered Publishing
Publication Date: August 25, 2015
Pages: 192
Format: ePub
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9/11 was possibly one of the scariest times in the Western world. I don't think we ever would have thought things would end up the way it had. But could you imagine a world where the fear of terrorists completely changed how the United States of America functions, right down to continuously creating fear of terrorists? Oh, wait, parts of that is already happening. This is eerily familiar, almost creepy how familiar this is to what is currently happening all over the world.
The Office of Civilian Safety and Defense was created to keep civilians safe from the on-going threat of terrorism. But it functions in a way that what you eat, drink, listen to, watch and so on is determined by the OCSD. Keeping the people ignorant and the people's fear high.

Careen
As a lead character, she is admirable. Careen is smart, enough to know that the antidote wasn't really right as it makes her feel silly and loses hours. She's independent enough to try to fight it. Questioning the motives of the OCSD is brave, especially as people who speak out are often detained.

Tommy
He was tough to read about, having to grieve the loss of his family and be contained to his house with a broken leg. The antidote became more of an escape for him from his reality, even though Careen's presence makes him question what really happened to his parents, what the antidote does and what the OCSD is up to.

So with the chaos of the end of the book, it will be interesting to see if Careen and Tommy have what it takes to bring down the OCSD. If you enjoy dystopian, young adult, new adult genres, this might be a very good read for you.

Once upon a time, Tracy Lawson was a little girl with a big imagination who was obsessed with telling stories. Her interests in dance, theatre, and other forms of make-believe led to a twenty-year career in the performing arts, where “work” meant she got to do things like tap dance and choreograph musicals. A mid-life career change has yielded six books–a four-volume series of thrillers for young adults, and two nonfiction history books based on the lives of her pioneer ancestors.

Tracy, who is married with one grown daughter and two spoiled cats, splits her time between Dallas, Texas and Columbus, Ohio.

Whew, 2018 though, am I right?

New year, new goals.
2019 will be a year of continuing my personal journey of growth. Like learning time management AND to not be hard on myself if I fail that. The latter will be toughest, ironically.

So what is to come with 2019?
Well, I suck and fell super behind on my 2018 reviews. My goal is to try to pump those out as quickly as I can so that my current reviews don't fall super behind as well.

Second, I decided to change things up a little and challenge myself, knock some TBR off with my reviews and shelves, add some new recommended reads from people in my life. One of those being that I sat and read Bird Box by Josh Malerman in one evening because my friends would not stop teasing me with info about the movie! Haha.

The change is this: POPSugar  Reading Challenge
Essentially it's to encourage me to read a bit more and to branch out with different prompts to follow. I will make a page on here to show off which prompts I've followed through with. I think this will be awesome and it'll help me strike off some of my review books as well.
There are 50 prompts in total, however, to be fair to my review books I am only going to read the first 40. I might throw an advanced prompt in but I think 40 is fair, I can then focus the other 10 on more review books.

I've also changed my blog just slightly and I'm going to be more focused on posting in it, even if it's just posts like this or updating my side bar of my reads, featured books, etc.

Third, I have added a Guest Post feature. It's in the little drop down bar under Requests. I really hope to see some authors take me up on that. I've offered some prompts but you're welcome to write your own as well.

My other goal is to do much more self-care. Things that are important to me. Like sitting in the living room late at night, snuggled up in my nest, reading books and listening to music instead of gaming. To put makeup on just because (especially since I received some awesome lipsticks!). Drink tea. Challenge myself to take a walk. To not let myself get stuck in my head and go back down the dirt road to my abyss of darkness. To write more. To divinate, read my tarots, find peace in the moonlight.
Instead of a resolution, I am focused more on just improving what I already have with the things I need to do more of. I think it's a pretty important step to take.

I think this will be a much better year for me, and I do hope, dear Book Dragons, it is a good year for you as well! If you do the POPSugar Reading Challenge, be sure to let me know! I encouraged my bestie to try too, but I so hope that others do as well.

Be well, Book Dragons, be well!

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: C.J. Standal Productions
Publication Date: June 28, 2017
Pages: 150
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The most recent issue (10): Amazon
Act 1 to 6: Amazon

Rebirth of the Gangster is CJ’s first comic work, but he has been active as a writer in other contexts before that.

He wrote for the now-defunct Slant and is now writing for Graphic Policy; he also writes a blog at his own site, cjstandalproductions.com.

In his spare time, he teaches high school English, including a class on graphic novels, bringing his lifelong love of comics to academia.

When not writing or teaching, he can be found snuggling up for a good read next to his girlfriend and cat in Wisconsin.

With 2018 ending soon, I thought I would touch on some of my favourite books that I read this year. Some of these books are also review books and I haven't gotten to their reviews yet. I'm still working on that and digging out my inspiration. Those are coming, bit by bit. As always, your patience is appreciated.

As I said, a couple will be review books that have had reviews done or are awaiting reviews. I will write a little blurb as to why I enjoyed it so much and why I'd recommend it, even if I haven't reviewed it.

The One Unspoken by Sarah Bryant
I'm still recovering from this book, even though I read it earlier in the year. 1841 with a forbidden love between a white woman and a freed slave's son. It was a beautiful tale with so many emotions right from the get go.

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
This was one of the rare times that both the book and the movie were absolutely awesome. While the zombie genre is quite overdone and it's tough to dig out new ways to spruce up the genre, this book manages to do it with ease.

Graveminder by Melissa Marr
The world building in this story was so inventive. It pulled you in immediately. I loved the idea of a grave minder helping a mortician with the fantasy element of keeping the dead in the ground.

The Martian by Andy Weir
As terrifying as the thought is to be left behind on an alien planet with dwindling food and no access to be able to tell NASA what is going on with you. But Mark Watney had to be one of the most likable characters. His sense of humour made him seem more human and I enjoyed every time he defied the experts and did things that would have probably killed him any other time. It was great.

These were my 5 star reads, but many others also hit the mark of being pretty dang good. It was a good year for reading for me. I hope if you haven't read these books and that you're looking to something new to read that you give one of these reads a chance.

Genre: Holiday, Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: October 8, 2018
Pages: 114
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Is it ever too late for happily ever after?
Callahan is one of the hottest guys to move into Harper’s Corner in a long time, partly because he’s also a complete mystery. He keeps to himself and leads a quiet life, rumors swirl around that he used to be in the military...but no one knows where he came from, or what brought him to their small town.

When Stevie’s parents have a health crisis, she’s forced to take leave from her very New York existence: including a high-powered job at a big publishing house and explosive sex life with her wealthy, handsome and appropriately pretentious boyfriend, to step in and ensure the preservation of the family’s longstanding bookstore.

With the first order of business being to fire Callahan, the unqualified shop assistant her dad hired. Though as many women from Harper’s Corner can tell you, things change when you come back home.

So firing this attractive, brooding, secretive man turns out to be much harder than she originally planned…
And when his past comes back to challenge him, he can’t keep hiding from what happened. I invite you to tuck into another Harper’s Corner story about finding love when you least expect it…once upon a time in a bookstore…

I’ve worked in publishing for twenty years and I sincerely love books and authors. I started this journey with my own books planning to write just one, and then well – all I can say is the stories kept coming. My original series The Publicist, follows Kate, Mac, Nick, Vivienne and a host of other awesome characters as they make their lives in New York, amidst the chaos that publishing often brings with it.
I am now exploring a fictional small town called Harper’s Corner. This series is so fun, because there are so many characters in this town, from sexy firemen and hot Army guys, to an awesome group of women that I affectionally call “the coven.” These books will explore each of these characters, and their journey to finding the loves of their lives.
I love writing, and I love reading and if I’m not actively writing a book, I’m probably dreaming of what I’ll write next.
Please feel free to email me at authorchristinageorge@gmail.com with your thoughts on any of my books.

Well.
That was one helluva year. And it's not even over yet.

So as I posted in the beginning of the year, losing my Great Uncle was quite the slap in the face. It hit me pretty hard and I'm still learning to handle all the feelings. After some grief counseling, I feel much better but there are still instances where something or someone reminds me of him.

In that time of grief, someone I cared about decided that I wasn't giving them enough of myself while I grieved and essentially kicked me while I was already down. Thanks bruh, heh.

So I stepped the hell back and I dedicated 2018 to me.
Unfortunately, my blog baby suffered greatly. I struggled to make posts or even acknowledge my blog some days. Depression had gripped pretty hard.
I was also dealing with changes within my personal home involving roommates moving out and stresses that come with that. Finally things are beginning to even out on that front. It feels much more like home now.

So with 2018 coming to an end, the ass kicking it gave me in the beginning and my need for self-care after, I've revamped some things on my blog. Namely my request forms.
At this moment, I'm still not accepting review requests. I'm still swamped. Sorry for that.
However, I revamped my Featured Author form. My Featured Book form is still awesomely active. I also now have provided an option for Guest Posts with a form. So please, feel free to fill out whatever form you feel is right for you to advertise your books. I want to help while I dig my way out of my swampy book nest (even though it's super comfy here with tea, books and good music, bliss!).

I would also like to apologize to authors who may have been waiting for posts that I never got to. I am sorry for that and please, feel free to send a new request in. I absolutely encourage it!

Title: Defensive Play
Series: A Boys on the Brink Novella
Author: Jamie Deacon
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Release Date: November 30, 2018
Genre: Gay YA Sports Romance
Length: 21,500 words
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The rain has stopped. A soft mist hangs in the air, turning the distant streetlights a hazy orange. After the stuffiness of the clubhouse, the night is bitterly cold and I pull on my sweatshirt against the chill. I sit on the steps overlooking the car park, heedless of the damp that seeps through my jeans. Elbows on knees, I rest my chin in my hands and close my eyes, attempting to clear my mind. I don’t want to think anymore. I just want to sit with nothing but the dark and the quiet for company.

I haven’t been hunched there long when the door opens, ejecting a stream of warmth and thumping bass. I glance behind me, although I know who it will be. My body goes still. Adam lets the door swing shut and, just like that, we’re alone.

He doesn’t seem surprised to find me on the steps. Perhaps he saw me leave. Has he followed me? My insides clench. What if Adam thinks I did it deliberately, that I meant to lure him out here. Maybe I had. Maybe, deep down, a part of me hoped Adam might come, even while the rest of me prayed he wouldn’t.

This time, when our gazes connect, there’s no one to see, no football match to act as a buffer. I drink him in. Even in the faint glow filtering through the frosted pane in the door, his eyes are a vivid blue.

“Hey,” Adam says. Such a simple word that expresses so much. There’s recognition there, like we’re childhood friends meeting after years apart, but uncertainty, too. He has a nice voice, I register through my turbulent thoughts—warm and slightly husky.

“Hey.” My reply emerges somewhere between a croak and a squeak. Cringing, I stare down at my feet.

“It’s Davey, right?”

I fling him a startled look. Had this boy—this confident, gorgeous boy—actually gone to the trouble of finding out my name?

One side of Adam’s mouth lifts in a crooked smile. “Well, I had to know who the lunatic was who almost took my leg off.”

“God.” I bury my face in my hands. Of course Adam was going to ask about me after what happened on the pitch. “I’m so sorry.”

He laughs and nudges my thigh with the toe of his trainer. “I’m kidding. Seriously, you did us a favour.”

I dare a peep at him, unable to rid myself of the thought that he has pursued me out here to take the piss. That wouldn’t be anything new, after all.

“It’s true.” Adam crouches on the step beside me, his expression amused but without malice. “Rob warned me about you. He said the rest of your defence was pretty solid, but probably weren’t quick enough to catch me. You were the real threat.”

I grimace. “I’m guessing he wasn’t expecting me to take you out quite so spectacularly, though.”

“Funnily enough, that wasn’t included in the pep talk. Still, I should be thanking you. You made our job a whole lot easier.”

“Don’t remind me. You should’ve heard the guys after the match. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

Adam laughs again, and I can’t hold back a smile. Here I am, having an actual conversation with an amazing-looking boy—a boy who’d caught me checking him out, no less—and I’m not making an ass of myself.

The door behind us bursts open and several guys spill out. I tense, guard raised. Will they think it odd us sitting out here alone? I scan their faces, but none are from Farnstead. A moment later, they barrel down the steps without giving either of us a second look and head for one of the cars parked nearby.

As they pile in and the engine growls to life, I exhale, shoulders slumping. I can feel Adam studying me and keep my gaze lowered.

“You’re not out,” he says, “are you?”

“What?” My entire body goes rigid. He knows. I’d already guessed as much, but suspecting it is one thing; being confronted with the indisputable truth sends me spiralling back into panic mode. Why had he really followed me out here? I’d thought…been sure I’d read something in his eyes when they locked with mine, but what if I’m wrong? Do I truly believe someone like Adam, someone popular and self-assured, would have sought me out? Unless…

I see again the Brookminster players in their huddle, sniggering, moments after Adam caught me staring. I’d reassured myself they weren’t laughing about me, but perhaps my fears had been well founded. The cold certainty settles like a snowball in my gut. I’d given myself away, and now the other lads have sent Adam out here to chat me up, trick me into an admission I won’t be able to take back. For all I know, his mates are somewhere close by as we speak, listening in.

“Hey.” Adam extends his palms in what is probably supposed to be a calming gesture. “It’s all right. I know and it’s all right.”

“You don’t know anything,” I snap. The instinct for self-preservation, to keep my protective wall intact at any cost, propels me to my feet. “You hear me? You don’t know anything about me.”

Before he can respond, I’m down the steps and sprinting into the darkness, phone already out to call my parents. All I want is to go home, crawl into bed, and forget today ever happened.

 Jamie lives in a tranquil spot close to the River Thames in Berkshire, England, and has always been just a little out of place—the only redhead in a family of brunettes; an introvert far more at ease with dogs than with people; a connoisseur of simple pleasures in a society intent on the quest for wealth and fame. Despite an outward cynicism, Jamie is a romantic at heart, and, when not immersed in a book, can mostly be found writing emotional stories where young men from all walks of life are forced to navigate the sometimes painful reality of growing up, coming out, and falling in love.

To celebrate the release of Defensive Play, Jamie Deacon is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card. For your chance to win, simply enter via the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway is open to entrants world wide, and closes at midnight EST on Friday December 7, 2018.

Good luck!

Enter to Win

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Inkitt
Publication Date: November 27, 2017
Pages: 208
Format: ePub
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Evil comes in all shapes and sizes. It's up to three kids, brought together by extraordinary circumstances, to save their school from a monster hiding in plain sight...before it finds them.

When Theo Aldrige loses his family in a gruesome murder, he sinks into a bottomless pit of depression. After a failed suicide attempt, he meets Sally and Reuben - classmates of his who are also in dire straits. Sally is dying of a rare disease that steals her sleep, and Reuben is struggling to relate to the people around him while hiding the darkness of his home life. One day, the three unintentionally discover that they've acquired powers that seem to fix their worst flaws. Where did these abilities come from? And how do they control their newfound powers without being exposed?

While trying to make sense of these changes, the new friends come across a disturbing secret in their very own high school. A force of destruction that only Theo, Sally, and Reuben can stop.

Amazon
*Please note that this is in a series and I've only read the first book.*

I was thoroughly impressed by this story. The novel was written well. Although the concept of the story was not new, the author handled that well and managed to put a new spin on the idea. It was awesome. I also enjoyed the unique characters and how each managed to connect with each other, the blossoming friendships and the realization how much they needed each other.

Sally
She seemed like the invisible girl. Quiet, kept to herself. Having spent a better part of her life trying to avoid the spotlight while suffering from an inability to sleep. She also tried to avoid the spotlight due to bullying. But I enjoyed watching her blossom, start to trust Theo and Reuben. It's like her new magical skill woke up the real Sally.

Reuben
He is a loner and a troublemaker. Which is interesting because troublemakers like to draw attention to themselves, and rarely are loners because of it. He had this larger than life personality. But oh man, once you find out what his home life was like, it was no wonder he struggled so much.

Theo
Oh man, Theo. He was the most broken. A former jock with all the glory. Losing his family wrenched all of that out of his hands. He battled so much depression and even contemplated suicide while living with his foster family. My heart broke for him.

Jane
Although Jane isn't a part of the group with Reuben, Theo and Sally, she's also going through her own changes. She's even more of a ghost than Sally, which means very few people would notice any changes about her. Not-Jane then comes along and livens things up for her. It will be interesting to see how these two fair with the other three in the future.

So I definitely recommend giving this a chance. Hopefully it garners the same interest that I had in it.

McKenzie Rae is the author of the book Dysfunctional: Origins. She attended the University of Minnesota where she received a Bachelor of Science in technical writing, however, she's been writing fiction and telling stories since she was a kid. Currently, she works as a software system tester and uses her spare time to continue writing fiction. Origins is her first published novel, with many more novels waiting in the wings. McKenzie lives in a Twin Cities suburb in Minnesota surrounded by family, friends, and her cat.

Website | Facebook

Germany, 1954. Jozef grows up in a happy household – so it seems. But his father Gerhard still harbours disturbing National Socialism ideals, while mother Catharina is quietly broken. She cannot feign happiness for much longer and rediscovers love elsewhere. Jozef is uncertain and alone. Who is he? Are Gerhard and Catharina his real parents?

A dark mystery gradually unfolds, revealing an inescapable truth the entire nation is afraid to confront. But Jozef is determined to find out about the past and a horror is finally unmasked which continues to question our idea of what, in the last hour, makes each of us human.

A terrifying and heartbreaking story.

Amazon

Who or what inspired your novel?
GB: One person, Juliet – my wife. She is the most amazing, most kind and warm person I have ever met. She has a spinal cord injury from a car accident and naturally got me interested in disability rights and how they are behind civil and gay rights as effective movements and forces of real change today. The stories I could tell you about a lack of disabled rights here in the UK – through my shared experiences with Juliet - would take your breath away. Equally, I think attitudes are changing and have changed. People are more understanding and tolerant. The big thing for me maybe now would be the commercial world and big business has to adapt to make places – shops, hotels, restaurants – much, much more accessible. Access, even in a brand new hotel say, is often quite poor and unacceptable for the higher premium they force disabled people to pay. It’s a quiet scandal in this country no-one is really addressing.

What would you say is the genre of your novel?
GB: Historical fiction.

How did you develop your plot and characters?
GB: I had the plot in the back of my mind for a while. Then it all just came together in a moment when I wasn’t consciously thinking about it. I knew then where I was starting from and where I wanted to end. The rest I honestly didn’t really think through, which was naïve and foolish. I just went for it. I read a lovely quote – I can’t remember by who now – that all a writer can do is follow his lead characters and try and keep up. I felt like that a lot of the time. The plot just grew organically while I was writing. I was very, very lucky I didn’t really go off piste.

Who or what inspired your protagonist?
GB: Apologies! I am very politely not going to answer that one. All I will add is that I believe in leaving mystery to the reader. People can read what they want into things. As a reader and viewer, that’s how I like to be treated, so I in A Quiet Genocide I am returning that courtesy.

Who or what inspired your antagonist?
GB: I can honestly answer this question and say nobody. Who then? I don’t really know – subconsciously then a complete mix of lots and lots of characters from lots of books and films and dramas I have read and watched over the years.

What was the most difficult part to write in the book?
GB: The climax, certainly – creating that drama and fitting finale, and ending the race, so to speak after all the build-up of pace and events throughout the second half of the story. Lots of intense writing and then forensic sharpening up of chapters afterwards. The final scene itself – and the final punchline to the plot - came very quickly and naturally though, conversely. Maybe I had earned that bit of luck.

What was your favourite part of your book to write?
GB: The middle part of the story where Jozef, the main character leaves home and tries to find his feet at university. I just enjoyed writing it. It felt good; it felt like my story was really working. I was happy in that flow.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
GB: I studied modern history at university [in Dundee, Scotland] and got a first job in regional newspapers, as a trainee reporter in Lincolnshire about an hour from where I grew up. It was a tiny weekly paper with only five reporters – and four of us were trainees on terrible money. But it was great fun; really exciting; I loved it. Everyone did a bit of everything really. I used to do court reporting in the week, which was in on old converted church, so the press bench really was a bench and an old pew. You had a numb bum by lunch! I also reported on football, my love at the weekend. It was a special time, looking back.

Who or what inspired you to be an author?
GB: My inspiration to become an author really came from a sheer of love of writing and of writing for people potentially interested in the stories I had to tell. If I had to name one person it would be my English teacher from my teenage years at school, Mr Roger Staniforth. A fantastic man and mentor, who – 100 per cent – is embodied in the character Herr Slupski in A Quiet Genocide.

Are you a full time or a part time writer? If part time, what do you do besides write?
GB: I am very much a part-time author. Full-time, I work in content and communications for a company in finance in Berkshire, west of London.

What are you currently reading?
GB: I am currently reading Savage Continent, a wonderful and breathtakingly comprehensive history of mainland Europe in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. It is by Keith Lowe. Keith’s history – of how whole communities and places had literally disappeared by 1945 – inspired the front cover of A Quiet Genocide. That idea and image of total absence and decay of things we have left unattended.

What are some of your favourite books or authors?
GB: There is a theme here. I love Catch-22 by Joseph Heller and Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Pioneers and titans really of 20th century literature. Their work is fearless and immensely moving, in a way that can inspire and change the way you view history.

What are your future projects, if any?
GB: None at present. I just need that seed of an idea though and that deep urge to follow it, and I might be very quickly away again!

What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you and your books?
GB: You can contact me on Twitter @GlennMBryant. Or I am very happy for people to email me at gm.bryant@yahoo.co.uk

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
GB: Never. Ever. Give up. You are good enough; your ideas are good idea; your writing is good enough. You never know when that breakthrough will come.

 
 Genre: Fantasy
 Publisher: Creativia
 Publication Date: February 26, 2018
 Pages: 235
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Strafe Rocknus has suffered hard losses in his life, but now things are looking up for the college graduate.

He has a sizzling girlfriend, good friends and a bright career ahead of him. But one day, Strafe awakes in a mysterious cavern, discovers an ancient artifact, and unwittingly ignites a war that spans two worlds: his own, and one he never knew existed.

With the abyss of the unknown before him, Strafe enters the swirling darkness. Desperate, he must navigate a new and hostile world on the brink of catastrophe, and learn the truth of who he is, while facing a darkness with the power to destroy everything Strafe has ever cared about.

Soon, he will discover that his greatest strength comes from those he fights for.

 Genre: Fantasy
 Publisher: Creativia
 Publication Date: March 2, 2018
 Pages: 252
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Strafe and his friends have become the most wanted fugitives in the world. They have no other choice but travel to Crotona, to convince Eternia’s leaders of their innocence before they are hunted down.

But first, they need to stop the Senti from gaining the powerful Guardian Key. Guided by a mysterious visitor in his dreams, Strafe and the group press on, despite the danger. But even with their new-found powers, will it be enough to take down their ruthless adversary?

As tensions in the realm reach a boiling point, lives are on the line at every moment. Strafe is getting closer to freeing his family and getting back home, but it will only come with great sacrifice. He will face the greatest challenges of his life, and fight against not only an enemy, but an ideal.

Strafe must rely on his friends and instincts to guide him. His fate is in his own hands... but he doesn't have to fight alone.

How do you deal with pain that nobody can see?

Strafe, Yessa, and Zixin have returned to Earth. Strafe believes he has found peace, but the battle to save his family has just begun.

Zixin’s nightmarish past has left him in a fragile mental and physical state. The scars of his past continue to haunt him. When Strafe sees the self-harm beginning, he knows he can’t save Zixin alone. A mysterious group offers help, but it doesn’t come without a sacrifice.

The abduction of Yessa's parents forces her to decide whether to stay with Strafe or go find them. She finds a possible solution to find her parents by joining the new Space Force branch of the military. She is torn between those she loves. Leaving could mean the end of her and Strafe.

Unknown to Strafe and Yessa, something has followed them back to Earth. It is hunting them. Its thirst for blood and death is abhorrent. It leaves no survivors in its wake.

It wants revenge.

Strafe will fight not only to save his family, but to stop this new hunter from taking everything away he cherishes.

The Venerate Saga continues!

Troy Dukart is the author of the Venerate Saga series (The Venerate Order, The Venerate Redemption, and the upcoming The Venerate Salvation. Troy grew up outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota: Twin Cities. Troy is recognized by Toastmasters International as an Advanced Communicator Silver and Advanced Leader Bronze. He's lived in Japan as well as California. He loves to travel. He currently lives in Minneapolis. Make sure to stop by his website and sign-up for the newsletter to stay in the know!

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Richard feels trapped in his hectic life of commitment and responsibility. From the daily mayhem of having young children, an exhausted wife and pushy in-laws who frequently outstay their welcome, Richard’s existence fills him with panic and resentment. The only place he can escape the dark cloud descending upon him is the bathroom, where he hides for hours on end, door locked, wondering how on earth he can escape.

Often staring out of his window, Richard enviously observes the tranquil life of Bill, his neighbour living in the bungalow across the road. From the outside, Bills world appears filled with comfort and peace. Yet underneath the apparent domestic bliss of both lives are lies, secrets, imperfections, sadness and suffering far greater than either could have imagined. Beneath the surface, a family tragedy has left Bill frozen in time and unable to move on. As he waits for a daughter who may never return, Bill watches Richards bustling family life and yearns for the joy it brings. As the two men watch each other from afar, it soon becomes apparent that other people’s lives are not always what they seem.

This was a tough read. As someone with agoraphobia, social phobia and depression, I know what it is like to become disillusioned about your life and lose hope. So many people spend all of their lives wishing they had it better or like someone else. Yet they only see the image projected out and not what that person deals with. This is definitely a "water your own grass" and "be kind to others, you do not know what battles they fight" book.

About Richard
I had the most trouble liking Richard, honestly. He was just utterly miserable about everything. He came off as selfish, self-absorbed. Which is what happens when someone is spending too much time in their head, wishing they had it better than they do. He often gazed upon his neighbour Bill and wished he had his peaceful life without two kids, annoying in-laws and his wife doting on him. But I struggled greatly to like Richard, personally.

About Bill
To everyone else, Bill had the life but Bill lived in a house filled with painful memories waiting for the inevitable phone call. He watches Richard's life and he envies Richard's domestic bliss of two kids, a loving wife and in-laws happy to visit every Sunday. My heart ached for Bill and his wife's story. For all of their losses.

Other Points
This deals with some pretty tough topics. Loss of a loved one, murder, suicide and depression. This could be a very triggering novel due to this. So I definitely warn you to proceed with caution.
At the time that I read this book, I, personally, was not in a good mental place so I found this an especially difficult book to read. Perhaps one day I will reread this book and find it a lot better than I did the first round.

M. Jonathan Lee is a nationally shortlisted author who was born Yorkshire where he still lives today with his wife, children and dog, Alfie.His debut novel, The Radio was shortlisted for The Novel Prize 2012. He has spoken in schools, colleges, prisons and universities about creative writing and storytelling and appeared at various literary festivals including Sheffield’s Off the Shelf and Doncaster’s Turn the Page festival.
His second novel, The Page was released in February 2015.
His much anticipated third novel, A Tiny Feeling of Fear was released in September 2015 and tells the story of a character struggling with mental illness. All profits from this novel are donated to charity to raise awareness of mental health issues. This was accompanied by the short film, Hidden which was directed by Simon Gamble and can be seen here.
In 2016, he signed for boutique publishers, Hideaway Fall and his fourth novel Broken Branches was released in July 2017, winning book of the month in Candis magazine for September.
He is a tireless campaigner for mental health awareness and writes his own column regularly for the Huffington Post. He has recently written for the Big Issue and spoken at length about his own personal struggle on the BBC and Radio Talk Europe. His fifth book, the critically acclaimed Drift Stumble Fall is released in Spring 2018.