Meet James Austin McCormick and Dragon

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

Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?
James: I tend to write speculative fiction; science fiction, horror and a little fantasy. I like to mix these three genres together when I can. For me writing is all about escapism and I enjoy creating imaginary settings and worlds for my stories. The further a story is away from ‘real life’ the more I usually enjoy writing it.
Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?
James: H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, the mix of cosmic horror and sword and sorcery between them really inspired me. Actually, my favorite character of all time is Solomon Kane and I remember deciding many years I I would have to write something similar. I never have though, although some parts of my sword and sorcery novella The Last Synn were heavily influenced by the Kane stories.
Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?
James: When an imaginary setting resolves itself in my mind I get excited about populating it with characters and events. Also, I love writing action scenes.
Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?
James: I think maybe the Silver Surfer (I love the comics but there is also a TV series) because it has quite a lot of depth. Norrin Radd searches for meaning and purpose as he roams the universe, free but desperately alone.
Beverley: Who would you love most to meet 'in person' and why?
James: Shakespeare, so I could ask him if he did write all those plays. I might get a lot of flak for this but in my humble opinion the evidence seems to suggest he didn’t.
Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?
James: Go hiking, I love getting out into the countryside whenever I can.
Beverley:What are you working on now?
James: I have just finished the fourth chapter of a dark fantasy steampunk story. At present I don’t know if it will be a novella or a novel. It’s the most ambitious thing I’ve ever attempted and quite metaphysical, deconstructing reality, identity and morality. That sounds quite pretentious I realize but it isn’t really, believe me.

Blurb for Dragon:

As worlds conspire against each other, Gax, an insane warlord, stockpiles an arsenal of ancient technology in his attempt to rule known space.

Two ill matched and reluctant heroes stand in his way; Sillow, a neurotic and cowardly Sylvan and Brok, a surly and ill- tempered Herkulun warrior. After a chance meeting in a seedy, mobster owned casino the two find their fates interlinked as they are propelled into a series of hair raising adventures that takes them from wanted smugglers to agents of a peace keeping alliance.

Excerpt from Dragon:

Asmara was a small desert moon orbiting its gas giant parent at a distance just great enough to put it outside the planet’s radioactive reach. It was a cold, dusty little place, barely capable of supporting microbic life. Yet it did have one thing in its favor, its location. Asmara was in the gray zone, an area of space almost central to the six worlds. None dared lay claim to it and consequently it was free of all outside authority. That was why the crime syndicates built their Pleasure Dome there, and in the two decades after the Dark Age Wars it flourished.

     It was here, at one of the casino tables, the last three players of a merciless card game studied their hands. Two of them, a human and a reptilian Tuolon, were far from happy, glaring angrily at the third player as he whistled out a tuneless melody. If Sillow had been human, he would have been judged to be no more than fourteen. He wasn’t; he was a Sylvan, and his childlike face and adolescent build were quite normal for his twenty-five years.
     As he looked over his cards from beneath a shock of dark green hair, only his large eyes were visible. It was just as well, for his lips moved frantically as he mentally played through the possible scenarios.
     Finally, he gave a little nod and placed his cards face down. He took his cigar from the ashtray and began puffing heavily on it. The human, a skinny man with pockmarked features, ran a hand over two day’s stubble,
     “Make your damn move,” he growled. “If you’ve got the goods, show them.”

Sillow shrugged. “Hey, give me a break Garrick,” he replied in his soft, musical voice. “You can’t rush something like this.”

     He looked at his cards again, studying them as he blew smoke rings in the air. His little feet tapped all the while on the hard marble floor.
     His fellow players regarded him with extreme irritation, and the human cameto the decision the Sylvan was playing mind games with them. The truth though was far different. Sillow was scared and was trying to decide how best to safely extricate himself and the credits he needed from his present circumstances.
     Although he couldn’t say why, he was certain now the Tuolon was a professional assassin here to kill him. His would be killer even blewhis ship up to stop him escaping.
     Since then the little Sylvan had been busy at the tables making the money he needed to get a freighter off the Dome. There was a royal summons to answer and he’d delayed too long already. The message was just one word, Suleiman.
     “Okay, ready,” he finally announced. “You want to see this hand it’ll cost you…” he paused for effect, “six more credits.”
     The human thought hard for a moment, shook his head then threw the chips into the pot in the middle of the table.

Buy Links for Dragon:

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/674265
Paperback from the publisher’s website: http://www.classactbooks.com/component/virtuemart/science-fiction/dragon-396-detail?Itemid=0

You can find James at:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamesAustinMcCormick/
Twitter https://twitter.com/jimbomcc69
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9860555.James_Austin_McCormick
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/James-McCormick/e/B00F3F9SGY
Class Act Books http://www.classactbooks.com/index.php/our-authors/manufacturers/james-austin-mccormick

Meet Jana Richards, Her New Book & Giveaway

When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal. Her paranormal romantic suspense “Seeing Things” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist.

In her life away from writing, Jana is an accountant/admin assistant, a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf, yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Winnipeg, Canada with their Pug/Terrier cross Lou and several unnamed goldfish.

Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?

Jana: I’ve written in a few romance genres – contemporary, romantic suspense, historical romance set in WW2 – but I always seem to come back to contemporary romance. Sometimes I like adding humor to the writing, or sometimes I’ll add a touch of paranormal, like I did with the Love at Solace Lake series. I enjoy mashing up bits of several genres. However, there’s a World War Two story and a mystery series that keeps calling my name so you never know what could come next.
Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?
Jana: I guess it’s not so much a who as a what. I started reading romance novels in the early nineties and got hooked. I thought “I could write these books.” Then I found out writing a romance novel was a lot tougher than it looks. It took a lot of years before I managed to produce something worth publishing!
Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?
Jana: Talking with other writers. I’ve been lucky enough to belong to several writing groups over the years and being able to talk writing with people whose eyes don’t glaze over at the mention of POV (point of view) is really special. I especially like getting together with other writers in person. One of my groups meets once or twice a year for a writing retreat and it’s so much fun. These ladies are intelligent, fun people and it’s a joy to hang out with them. I always feel totally revitalized and full of ideas after our time together.
Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?
Jana: I’d probably have to go way back to my childhood and go with Bugs Bunny. Bugs is nobody’s fool. He manages to outsmart everybody, especially poor, dumb Elmer Fudd. Bugs is way too slick for him!
Beverley: Who would you love most to meet 'in person' and why?
Jana: I’d really like to meet J.K. Rowling. She sounds like an interesting, intelligent person, and in any story I’ve read about her she seems so nice. I’d like to pick her brain a little, find out where her stories come from. I’d also like to know where her motivation to keep writing came from after she’d been rejected numerous times, and money was tight. I think we all need some of that fortitude sometimes.
Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?
Jana: If one of those rare free days miraculously showed up, I would probably spend it reading, preferably outdoors in a comfortable chair with an adult beverage close at hand. That sounds like nirvana to me!
Beverley: What are you working on now?
Jana: I’ve got a few things on the go at present. I’m working on another small-town series, set in a fictional town in North Dakota. I’ve finished book one and I’m part way through book two, in what I envision as a four-book series. I’ve also got a paranormal/time travel/contemporary series started. When a man arrives at Heaven’s gate, his task is to help give mortals a second chance at love in order to earn his wings and his place in the celestial hereafter. But while he’s helping others, he’s learning what went wrong in his own relationship. Lastly, I’m working on a book to giveaway for subscribing to my newsletter. I’m giving away a short story right now, but I wanted something more substantial to give to new subscribers. It’s going to be a sort of sequel to current my free read, RESCUE ME. So, you can see I don’t have a lot of free days!

Blurb for Secrets and Solace

No matter how deeply buried, secrets rise to the surface

Scarlett Lindquist has agreed to help her sisters rebuild the dilapidated fishing lodge in Minnesota they inherited from their grandparents. Although the lengthy restoration is bringing the three sisters closer together, Scarlett’s support is temporary. Her leave of absence from her job in Chicago is temporary and she has no intention of staying at Solace Lake Lodge, where the lake holds dark secrets. When frightening childhood memories resurface, they are tempered by her fascination with an irritating contractor. If only she could trust her feelings for him. If only he could trust her.

Cameron Hainstock meets Scarlett at his brother’s wedding to her sister and their attraction is instantaneous. But Cam avoids the beautiful marketing executive. All his efforts are aimed at battling for custody of his only child. When the unimaginable happens and Cam faces the biggest challenge of his life, he’s reluctant to accept help to halt his downward spiral. Can they learn to trust each other and fight for a future together or will they go their separate ways?

Excerpt from Secrets and Solace:

The shock on Scarlet’s face, the disbelief and grief,
made him wish he’d kept his mouth shut. The last thing he wanted was to inflict her with the same hell he was going through. He turned away from her,
pushing her hand from his arm. “Go home, Scarlet.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She grabbed his arm again, preventing him from picking up the axe, the
tool he’d used to keep himself from reaching for a bottle. “I won’t leave you alone.”
Ignoring the sweat and dirt, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tightly, resting her head against his chest. His body stirred to life at her touch, disgusting him. His world was crumbling around him and all he could think was that he wanted to bury himself inside her until she screamed his name.
“Go,” he said roughly. If she was smart, she’d run away and never look back. He was a bad-tempered, recovering alcoholic with nothing to offer her. He wasn’t worth the risk.
She looked up at him, her blue eyes clear and steady. “No. I won’t leave you.”
He pushed her up against the wall of the workshop, not sure if he was trying scare her away or make her stay. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She shook her head. “You won’t.”
Cam closed his eyes and groaned. He wrapped his arms around her in a vice-like grip, unable to resist her any longer.
God, he needed her.
He lowered his head and kissed her. There was no subtlety in the kiss, no gentleness or finesse. Only passion and raw need. But she stayed with him, returning his passion, giving solace. He greedily lapped it up, taking everything she had to give.
But he wanted, needed more. He lifted her, and she wrapped her long, slender legs around his waist. He buried his face against her soft, sweet-smelling neck, inhaling her clean, floral scent. At the same time, he snaked his hand up her thigh and began to pull down her panties.
“Tell me to stop,” he rasped. “Tell me now while I still can.”

Buy Links for Secrets and Solace                                                               Amazon Buy Link

You can contact Jana at:
Website:  http://www.janarichards.com
Blog:  http://janarichards.blogspot.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/JanaRichardsAuthor
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/JanaRichards_
Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards
Amazon UK Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B002DEVWWG
Newsletter Signup: http://janarichards.com/contact.html#newsletter
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2892274Jana_Richards
Google+ Profile:  https://plus.google.com/100820406211390323245
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jana-Richards

Jana is giving away some wonderful prizes during this tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below for your chance win Ebook First and Again, Ebook There Goes the Groom, Ebook A Long Way from Eden, $10 Amazon gift card, or $5 Amazon gift card. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here.
                              a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet Rick McQuiston and HisNew Book

Rick McQuiston is a forty-six year- old father of two who loves anything horror related.  By day, he works for a family-owned construction and management company. By night, he churns out horror fiction.

Rick has well over 300 publications so far. He’s written seven anthologies, one book of novellas, and edited an anthology of Michigan authors. He’s also a guest author each year at Memphis Junior High School, and is currently working on his fifth novel, a Cthulhu-based anthology. Rick currently has two novels with Class Act Books:  Fear the Sky and When Only the Nightmare Remains, which was voted #2 in Horror for 2015 by the Paranormal Romance GuIld’s Reviewer’s Choice.

Author Interview with Rick

Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?

Rick: Without a doubt, horror. I like fiction with a bite. To me, the whole purpose of a story is about the conflict and resolution between protagonists and antagonists.
Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?
Rick: My older brother. He wrote an excellent short fantasy novel some years ago (but never had published) and it inspired me to try my hand at it.
Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?
Rick: A hot cup of tea, a comfortable chair, and a quiet house.
Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?
Rick: Bugs Bunny. I like the way he always outsmarts his adversaries.
Beverley: Who would you love most to meet 'in person' and why?
Rick: H.P. Lovecraft. Even though he was an odd fellow, I would love to hear firsthand where he came up with his ideas.
Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?
Rick: I would probably do some writing, watch movies, and work on my music.
Beverley: What are you working on now?
Rick: A short story about nightmares that leak into reality, my sixth novel, and another anthology.

Blurb for When Only the Nightmare Remains:

A town sheriff and three young boys manage to overcome an evil entity threatening their town.

Excerpt for When Only the Nightmare Remains:
Emily nudged closer and closer to the spider-webbed pane of glass. The window offered little in the way of a view—being octagonal and no larger than a dinner plate— but what it did reveal was adequate to say the least. It allowed anyone gazing through it to see the lush rolling landscape surrounding the house…and all it contained.

Feeling her already weak heart pound heavily in her chest, Emily scanned the grounds intently, watching for any signs of movement, for any hint of life. For any signs of William. She held the Book tightly in her small hands, refusing to relinquish it to anything or anyone. She had only scratched the surface of its contents, but that was still enough to impart its importance to her.

Her eyes moistened with tears as she thought of earlier, happier times in her life and her marriage to William.  She should have been thinking about raising a family and planting flowers around the front porch of her home. She should have been thinking about what to cook for dinner when her husband returned home from a hard day’s work. All these simple notions, ones so many young people took for granted, were well beyond her grasp. In their place were terrifying visions of a dim future. Or worse—no future at all.

Movement caught her eye, sending a fresh batch of fear down her already frail spine. She rubbed her eyes to clear them and stared at the spot where she thought she had seen something. It took only a few seconds before her fears were confirmed. Something had moved. She was sure of it, but it was not easily noticeable. Whatever was lurking in the dense foliage was crafty and using stealth to its advantage.

Despite expecting it, Emily found herself cringing from the implications. She knew what it was, slithering around the fields, worming its way closer and closer with each passing minute. She also knew that eventually, inevitably, it would reach her house.

Her house. It was her house and hers alone since her beloved husband died earlier that year. Nearly eight cold, empty months had passed since that fateful day when a bullet found its way into his forehead, killing him instantly. Some said that it was a suicide. Perhaps it was, but Emily was not so sure. William had no reason to kill himself.

The pain of that day pushed its way into Emily’s heart, so slowly at first as to be almost unnoticeable, but gradually increasing in its intensity. William had been a good man and a good husband, at least he was before he had changed into a cold, cruel person wholly incapable of compassion or love.

Emily stepped back from the window and slumped into a small, worn leatherback chair. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and the alluring thought of sleep entered her mind more than once. She ignored it. She had too many problems, too many things to think about to be able to enjoy a good rest. Not that she didn’t deserve it.

Outside the house, nestled snugly within the green vegetation of the fields, something waited for its chance to move, to advance toward the house and reach a solitary figure huddled in the attic of the building, and end her life.

 

Buy Links for When Only the Nightmare Remains:

Paperback available from the publisher's website: www.classactbooks.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/When-Only-Nightmare-Remains-McQuiston-ebook/dp/B00NKX4TAG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479149882&sr=8-1&keywords=When+only+the+nightmare+remains
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-only-the-nightmare-remains-rick-mcquiston/1120364310?ean=2940046171884
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/476484

 

Find out more about Rick at:
Publisher's website: www.classactbooks.com
Author's website: www.many-midnights.com

Izzy Szyn's Tour and New Book

New York Times Best-Selling author Izzy Szyn was born in May of 2014 when a friend dared her to write. Born and raised in Detroit, Mi. Izzy now lives in Oklahoma City with her furchild Misty, the friendliest Chihuahua/Terrier you will ever meet. Currently works in a call center, where she writes in between phone calls.

Izzy is giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Certificate and 2 ebooks of the winners' choice from her backlist. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here.

Character Interview

Question: What’s your name? Lizzy Holloway

Lizzy: Where did you grow up? I grew up in Detroit.
Question: During what time period does your story take place?
Lizzy: Contemporary
Question: What’s your story/back story?
Lizzy: When I was in college, I saw the movie Wedding Crashers and got the idea to do the same. Except I also crashed funerals, bar mitzvahs, retirement parties while in college so I didn’t have to live on a dollar store food budget.
Question:Why would someone come up with a story about you?
Lizzy: Old habits die hard and when I found out my favorite actress Ivory Rodgers was in town and was doing a press event, well I just had to go and see her. I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve always been sort of half in love with her.
Question: What’s your goal in this story?
Lizzy: My goal is to make Ivory realize that I belong with her.
Question: What conflicts are you facing?
Lizzy: My parents are older and have health issues. Because they live on a fixed income I try to help with their medications. They tend to skip their medications to stretch them out. And also, someone that I thought was a friend, turns out she is anything but and is trying to destroy my relationship with Ivory before it gets started.
Question: Do you have a plan for resolving them?
Lizzy: Kicking her ass or finding someone else that will.
Question: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?
Lizzy: I just found out that Ivory doesn’t live here. What I mean is in this realm. Apparently, she lives in a place called Helotry, one of seven different versions of Earth.

Blurb for Lizzy’s Temptation

When Lizzy sneaks into an event where actress Ivory Rodgers was scheduled to appear, she gets more than she bargained for. Ivory Rodgers is hotter, sexier in person and takes Lizzy under her control.

Excerpt from Lizzy’s Temptation

“Looking for the Ivory Rodgers’ party?” asked a soft feminine voice behind her.

“Yes,” answered Lizzy, turning her head. Holy shit, it was Ivory Rodgers. Just be cool, just be cool, she told herself.
“Come with me,” she smiled.
“Okay,” admitted Lizzy.
“I’m Ivory Rodgers,” she introduced herself, holding her hand out.
“Lizzy Holloway. It’s very nice to meet you,” she replied, shaking her hand. Damn, the woman was even hotter in person, tingles ran up her arm. Damn, she’d never been this way with anyone before.
“I love your hair and dress,” complimented Ivory, walking towards a ballroom.
“Thanks.” Self-consciously, Lizzy touched her hair, still getting used to the different shades of purple spiral curls hung down her back. “I just got it done today.”
“I like it,” smiled Ivory, her jet-black hair hung down the middle of her back. Her trademark hazel eyes, made it hard for Lizzy to turn away.
“There you are Ivory,” said a man that seemed to command the room with his presence. Tall, elegant in a black suit. “We’re about to start. Who’s this?”
“My new friend Lizzy Holloway,” introduced Ivory. “Lizzy this is Spencer.”
“Hi,” something about him told Lizzy he was used to commanding attention. That most people he encountered would do whatever he would say.
“Ivory, I warned you about doing this,” he said to her, looking worriedly at Lizzy. “I told you this needs to stop.”
“Why? When I can make new friends like Lizzy,” questioned Ivory. “Get something to eat, and I’ll be back soon. I won’t stay here long, then we can go somewhere quiet and get better acquainted.”
“Me?” Lizzy couldn’t stop the shock from her voice. Lizzy wanted to get better acquainted with her?
“Yes, you,” confirmed Ivory. “I can’t wait until I get you alone.”
Why did it sound like she’d been expecting Lizzy? Maybe she should leave? But then she’d miss the chance to get to talk to Ivory. This could be a night she’d never forget. Walking to the tables that lined the wall, she picked some stuff off the plates.
“Drink?” asked a waiter behind her.
“Thanks, do you have any Pepsi?” she asked. Thinking it might be better to keep her mind clear.
“Of course,” he nodded, “I’ll be right back.”

Buy Link for Lizzy’s Temptation:

Amazon Buy Link

You can find Izzy at:

Email her at izzyszyn@gmail.com
Find her on Facebook :) https://www.facebook.com/izzyszynhome/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/izzySzyn
Blog: https://izzyszyn.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13836241.Izzy_Szyn
Google Plus link: https://plus.google.com/100905614042668276073
Newsletter: https://goo.gl/forms/Qh7MUUMhfmqdPupx2
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