SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - POST-APOCALYPTIC - DARK TOMORROW 2: Cult of the Crow (Dark Tomorrow, #2) by Jeremiah Franklin

Dark Tomorrow 2: Cult of the Crow

Dark Tomorrow, #2

by Jeremiah Franklin

Date of Publication: November 12th 2019

Publisher: Month9Books

Cover Artist: Danielle Doolittle

Genre: Science Fiction/Post-apocalyptic

                                     

BLURB

Kill or be killed is the new normal for Sawyer, Sara, and the survivors of the deadly virus that has all but annihilated the human race.

With the death of Sara’s father and the disappearance of the strange boy known as Mason, the teens are left reeling, but alongside the enigmatic ex-Marine, Edward, they soon forge an alliance with a collection of young survivors led by the sage and charismatic Kai.

Nevertheless, when their new companions begin to mysteriously disappear, the group is once again thrown into a desperate struggle for survival, where only the most cunning and relentless will prevail.

Ultimately, among whispers of top-secret military bunkers, lost gold, and a shadowy group known as the Cult of the Crow, Sawyer and Sara must face the grim realization that death and betrayal lurks in every corner, and when it comes to the end of the world--nothing is what it seems.

Amazon     iBooks

Excerpt:

Sawyer leveled the shotgun at the nearest set of bushes, but just as he was about to begin the countdown, there was the faintest sound of a gun cocking, and suddenly the thick brush ahead of him erupted in a hail of gunfire. Sawyer had once heard his father say that sometimes in war all you can hope for is to “return fire and pray,” but with bullets flying only inches past his body, there was no time to talk with God. Instead, he dropped to one knee and squeezed the trigger as fast as he could, pumping three rounds of double-zero buckshot into the brush.

He heard a shriek of pain and a low groan as the last round of buckshot tore through the bushes, but there was no time to breathe easy. The boy looked back at the cliff behind him and grit his teeth. There was no question that Sawyer had been born with luck on his side, but even he knew that he could not hope to survive another volley of gunshots at such close range. He could hear movement in the brush, and with only one bad option left on the table, Sawyer emptied the last three rounds from the shotgun into the bushes, swallowed hard, and leapt off the edge of the cliff.

Author Info
Jeremiah Franklin is a former private investigator, arm-chair survivalist, and author of the Dark Tomorrow trilogy. When he is not creating thrilling post-apocalyptic worlds, or discussing himself in the third person, the author enjoys reading, staying active, and spending time outdoors with family and friends. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Education, and several other certifications that no one really cares about. He lives, writes, and plays in beautiful central Oregon, USA.

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with Jeremiah Franklin . . .

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?
In one sentence—my writing style is not for the faint of heart.

What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?
Right now, I’m really excited about the launch of the second book in the in the Dark Tomorrow trilogy, Cult of the Crow, which releases on Tuesday, November 12th. Much thanks to everyone at my publisher Month9books and also my agent, Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media for their support. At the same time, I’m also in the midst of finalizing the last book in the series, Dark Tomorrow III: Fall of the Crow. it’s slated to roll out in spring of next year. Besides that, I also have the first book in a new series ready to go, and I’m looking forward to where that may lead.

Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn't quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?
In my opinion, I don’t have a single character that I would ever call 100% ready. Each one of my characters is flawed in one way or another, and it’s been exciting to help them evolve over the course of three books.

If you could spend one-week with 5 fictional character, who would they be?
I’m going to keep it in the literary world and go with Buck the St. Bernard-mix from Call of the Wild, Jack from Lord of the Flies, the illustrious Katniss Everdeen from District 9, the definitive imp known as Tyrion Lannister from ASOFAI/GOT, and my own favorite character from the first book in the Dark Tomorrow series, the teenage badass known as Sara Blake.

Can you share you next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?
I’m currently working on the final edits for the third book in the trilogy, Dark Tomorrow: Fall of the Crow. This chapter in the series takes an unexpected turn and Sawyer and Sara are thrust into a struggle for survival that goes beyond anything they could have ever imagined. It comes out in spring of 2020. Be sure to check out my website at jeremiahfranklin.com for all the latest on release dates, signings, and more.

https://jeremiahfranklin.com 

https://www.instagram.com/jeremiahfranklin_author

https://www.facebook.com/authorjeremiahfranklin/  

https://twitter.com/jfranklinauthor 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR32ERMI1IXn4dAw_K-fCwg  

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SPOTLIGHT w/GUEST POST - YA FANTASY - DEMON IN THE WHITELANDS by Nikki Richard

Demon in the Whitelands

by Nikki Richard

Date of Publication: September 24th 2019

Publisher: Month9Books

Cover Artist: Danielle Doolittle

Genre: YA Fantasy

 

BLURB

Sixteen-year-old Samuel, son of a devout cleric, has endured shame and prejudice his entire life. Though he is destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, he longs for an ordinary life in the whitelands away from talk of demons and holy roots.

When the mayor claims to have captured a mute demon-girl, Samuel is forced to become her caretaker. But as Samuel gets to know the prisoner, he finds her not to be very demonlike. Instead, she is intelligent, meek, and an exceptional artist. Despite her seeming goodness, some more concerning things cannot be ignored. Samuel is hard-pressed to reconcile her uncanny strength and speed, one missing arm, ambiguous gender, and the mysterious scars covering most of her body.

Samuel forms a deep attachment to the girl with predator eyes and violent outbursts, against his father’s advice. As their friendship threatens to become something more, Samuel discovers the mayor’s dark intentions. Now, he must decide whether to risk his own execution by setting her free, or watch as the girl is used as a pawn in a dangerous game of oppression, fear, and murder.

Amazon

Excerpt:

After a while, the buck quieted its struggle. It panted wildly, its dark tongue hanging out the crack of its mouth. Samuel got to his knees, drawing closer. The deer twisted its neck in horror, its dark eyes watching him. They were wide and black. The eyes of prey.

Samuel reached inside his jacket and got the knife.

“It’s okay,” he said softly as he straddled the deer’s torso, making sure to fully secure him underneath his legs. The buck’s muscles twitched, but the creature could do nothing. How had the girl felt when she’d been caught in the bear trap, iron teeth snapping into her leg? Like the buck? Did she think she’d be free? Somehow, he couldn’t picture her as a deer. She was more like a scrappy wolf cub.

Or a demon.

                    

Author Info

Nikki Richard is a sensitive queer writer with moods and coping mechanisms. An MFA graduate from the University of Baltimore, she lives in the city with her hot wife, amazing daughter, and fluffy cat.

My Favorite Five Bands To Add To Any Writing Soundtrack

I’m not sure if you’re like me, but I can almost never concentrate on writing anything down unless I am blaring music from my headphones or Bluetooth speakers. I went through a pretty hard emo-phase in my teenage years, and the need for angsty music hasn’t left my system. Here are my top five favorite bands to listen to while I’m working on any creative project:

1. London Grammar
A mix of bedroom pop synths, piano rifts, orchestral strings, and the classic-style vocals of Hannah Reid, this band has a way of lulling me into the perfect writing rhythm. 

2. Circa Survive
There’s nothing that creeps deeper into my soul than the seraph-like vocals of Anthony Green alongside the experimental indie rock melodies in Circa Survive. Green sings about his struggles with mental health in a way that is honest, poetic, and haunting. Do yourself a favor and check them out.

3. Beach House
I’m an avid fan of the Baltimore-based dream pop band, Beach House. Their 2012 album Bloom is a particular favorite of mine. No matter what sort of playlist I’m making, a Beach House song will always find its way in there. 

4. Drake
I don’t care how basic it makes me sound. Drake makes amazing music. I’ve written some sick poetry with Drake playing in the background. #facts

5. Braids
Art-rock Canadian band Braids is a blend of folk, post-rock, and shoegaze, and Raphaelle Standell-Preston’s dynamic vocals and gut-wrenching lyrics are unmatchable. While writing the second-half of Demon in the Whitelands, I listened to albums Native Speaker and Deep in the Iris on loop for hours on end. True story.

https://www.instagram.com/nikkizrichard/

https://www.facebook.com/nikkizrichard

https://twitter.com/NikkiZRichard  

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SPOTLIGHT w/GUEST POST - SCIENCE FICTION - MERGED by Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl

Merged

by Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl

Date of Publication: September 17th 2019

Publisher: Month9Books

Cover Artist: AM Design Studios

Genre: Science Fiction

GUEST POST 
Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl
How We Write Together

Given that we are a husband-and-wife writing team, we’re always asked how we do it—without maiming each other. In the movies, they often show writing partners working side-by-side on a manuscript or screenplay with lots of frenzied pacing, empty pizza boxes, and the montage of the partners brainstorming and coming up with aha moments. We’ve eaten our share of late night pizza, but for us, we only collaborate like that when outlining the plot. We are plotters out of necessity. Imagine two people agreeing to meet for lunch, but never bothering to communicate about where and when. The chance that they’ll actually end up at the same restaurant are nil. We need to be in agreement about what is going to happen in the story, when it happens, and how the story ends.

The first draft should be about allowing the imagination to flow without someone else (or yourself) critiquing the work along the way. So we divide and conquer, and assign different chapters to each other. This allows each of us to have the freedom to find the wonderful surprises that emerge when writing creatively. But to do this successfully, we need to have the story plotted chapter by chapter. This is actually a great remedy to overcome writer’s block because we know what to work on for that day.

Editing has a totally different process. After we’ve each gone through a few edits on our own chapters, we let the other person have at it. Admittedly, it took a little while to learn how to let go of our egos and not get angry when the other person hacks away at what we thought was inspired writing. But we’ve learned to rely on each other’s strengths. For example, Jim is better at detailed descriptions and line editing, and Stephanie is better at dialogue and cutting unnecessary scenes. Then, we print the whole thing and edit, edit, edit until neither of us remembers who wrote what.

Writing can be a lonely experience, and we encourage all writers to try working with a partner on a project.

Tagline: Great minds don’t always think alike.

BLURB

Seven of our country’s most gifted teens will become Nobels, hosts for the implantation of brilliant Mentor minds, in an effort to accelerate human progress.

But as the line between what’s possible and what’s right draws ever blurrier, the teens discover everything has a cost.

Scientists have created an evolved form of living known as Merged Consciousness, and sixteen-year-old Lake finds herself unable to merge with her Mentor.

Lake, the Nobel for Chemistry and Orfyn, the Nobel for Art, are two from among the inaugural class of Nobels, and with the best intent and motivation. But when Stryker, the Nobel for Peace, makes them question the motivation of the scientists behind the program, their world begins to unravel.

As the Nobels work to uncover the dark secrets of the program’s origins, everyone's a suspect and no one can be trusted, not even the other Nobels. 

As the Mentors begin to take over the bodies and minds of the Nobels, Lake and Orfyn must find a way to regain control before they lose all semblance or memory of their former selves.

Amazon

Excerpt:

Mr. Blue points to the document. “Sign this and change your life. Or don’t. It’s up to you.”

“What happens if I say no?”

“The Darwin Corporation will remain your legal guardian, but you’ll lose the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become one of humanity’s greatest hopes.”

So basically, he’s saying I’m stuck here either way. “Will I always be locked up?”

“That depends on your choices.”     

I wait for him to crack a smile. He doesn’t.

I break eye contact and flip to the last page. There’s one short paragraph stating that I’ve read the forty-one-page document (which I haven’t), I understand the risks (which I don’t), and I buy into the idea that two minds are better than one (or something like that). At the bottom, there’s a line with my name printed below it.

“Is it dangerous?” I ask, really wishing my voice hadn’t cracked.

Mr. Blue hesitates, and for a moment he almost appears human. “Every medical procedure has its risks, but the end result could change the world. And you’ll be one of the few who have the ability to change it.”

What if I could become the next Michelangelo? I’ve been given the chance to create art that makes a difference. For now, and even hundreds of years to come. “What else can you tell me about Bat?”

“He’s very successful,” Mr. Blue says, taking a pen from his suit pocket. “And he’s dying.”

“Can you give me a little more than that?”

“He specifically chose you.”

Nobody has ever chosen me.

I grab Mr. Blue’s pen and sign the document using the name I’m adopting. If I’m going to share my brain with someone and become a ground-breaking artist, I’m doing it as Orfyn.

BLURB

Jim and Stephanie Kroepfl are a husband-and-wife team who write stories of mystery and adventure from their cabin in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. When they aren’t dodging moose, their story ideas appear during their walks with their dog, who far prefers chasing balls to plotting novels. Jim and Stephanie are world travelers who seek out crop circles, obscure historical sites and mysterious ruins.

www.jimandstephbooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jimandstephbooks/

https://twitter.com/JIMKROEPFL

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COVER REVEAL - YA FANTASY - DEMON IN THE WHITELANDS (Demon in the Whitelands, #1) by Nikki Richard

Demon in the Whitelands

Book One

by Nikki Richard

Date of Publication: September 24th 2019

Publisher: Month9Books

Cover Artist: Danielle Doolittle

Genre: YA Fantasy

ISBN: 978-1-948671-41-5

ASIN: B07P9WMZQC

Number of pages: 358

BLURB
Sixteen-year-old Samuel, son of a devout cleric, has endured shame and prejudice his entire life. Though he is destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, he longs for an ordinary life in the whitelands away from talk of demons and holy roots.

When the mayor claims to have captured a mute demon-girl, Samuel is forced to become her caretaker. But as Samuel gets to know the prisoner, he finds her not to be very demonlike. Instead, she is intelligent, meek, and an exceptional artist. Despite her seeming goodness, some more concerning things cannot be ignored. Samuel is hard-pressed to reconcile her uncanny strength and speed, one missing arm, ambiguous gender, and the mysterious scars covering most of her body.

Samuel forms a deep attachment to the girl with predator eyes and violent outbursts, against his father’s advice. As their friendship threatens to become something more, Samuel discovers the mayor’s dark intentions. Now, he must decide whether to risk his own execution by setting her free, or watch as the girl is used as a pawn in a dangerous game of oppression, fear, and murder.

Author Info
Nikki Richard is a sensitive queer writer with moods and coping mechanisms. An MFA graduate from the University of Baltimore, she lives in the city with her hot wife, amazing daughter, and fluffy cat.

https://www.instagram.com/nikkizrichard/

https://www.facebook.com/nikkizrichard

https://twitter.com/NikkiZRichard   

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SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - #YA Fantasy - Neliem by Clare Di Liscia

Neliem

by Clare Di Liscia

Date of Publication: May 21st 2019

Publisher: Month9Books

Cover Artist: AM Design Studios

Genre: YA Fantasy

BLURB

Half the population of the island of Madera are dead, killed by an unforgiving and indiscriminate plague. Oriana dreams of escaping her life of ruthless cruelty from the people who now rule over those who remain. No telling whom the plague will strike next, Oriana means to find freedom for herself and her people. Drawing strength from ancient tales of her enemy, young Oriana transforms herself from victim to warrior with the help of a mysterious and powerful dagger given to her by a kind and dying boy.       

           

Years later, during her enemy’s betrothal ritual, Ezra, a boy she has never before seen, selects her as his mate. With servitude her only option, Oriana accepts the offer. Whisked away to a seemingly perfect world, Oriana discovers sinister secrets at every turn, including the identity of Tristan, a boy with whom she shares an undeniable but impossible connection.

Why would a boy she doesn’t know wish her to be his betrothed? Why does she feel such a strong pull toward a stranger? Someone in Ezra’s family not only knows the answer to both those questions, but also about the dagger Oriana possesses. He will do anything to stop the union. Now, with everything on the line, Oriana turns inward to find the strength she needs to seize the full power of the dagger so that she may protect herself and save her people.

Amazon

Excerpt:

Before I clear the field, I realize too late that it’s a trap. I have been herded like a sheep, far from the few scattered homes, toward the deserted cliffside where no one will hear my screams for help. Another boy with flaming red hair stands behind a tree waiting for me; I recognize him from the market. I can smell him, sweaty with a tangy sweetness that can only mean one thing. He’s been eating apples and waiting for some starving girl foolish enough to think she could steal some fruit.

I reach for my dagger, strength pulsating so deeply that I nearly drop it from my sweaty palm. Then, the voice of the boy of my dreams, whispers, “Hold it steady, Oriana. You can do this.”

I tuck all fear down deep within me. Later, I tell myself; later I will worry.

Author Info
Born in Queens, New York, Clare Di Liscia moved to California as a small child and grew up in the hills by Dodger Stadium. Constantly roaming the woods, she took to embellishing on the stories of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck to fill her imagination. To her horror she soon realized there was no way to fit a miniature tuxedo on a frog. Fortunately in sixth grade, Clare won a short story contest with the grand prize of fifteen happy meals. She would like to point out that two of those meal tickets were missing by the time her mother handed over her prize. After traveling extensively throughout South America and the Caribbean, Clare attended KU Leuven, in Belgium for University where she studied Dutch and French. Clare graduated from Cal State Northridge Film School, earning Dean’s List recognition with a BA in TV/Film. In 2006 she placed in the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting beating out 4700 other applicants. After joining SCBWI, Clare won 1st place HM in the Sue Alexander for her YA novel, now titled NELIEM.

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with Clare Di Liscia . . . 

1) Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?

Oddly enough, both. I believe I was a born writer. My earliest memories are of creating characters I would draw and obsess over their stories. My grandmother, who raised me, had to always have an ample supply of paper for my drawings. Everywhere we went, I would plop down and draw and later tell her all about them.

When I started writing novels, I felt the process was completely organic. I never wrote 10 page summary, or story boarded in my life. I had an image combined with an emotional connection to the character, and went from there. For other writers, it might be different. And that’s okay.

2) Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn’t quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?

Yes. I have this amazing character Osbrook Channing, star quarterback, who’s life takes an unexpected nosedive, who I’m crazy about. He’s got the looks and charm, but that doesn’t come close to defining him. He’s all heart, kind to a fault, and desperate to find true love. He gets a ‘second chance’ for a complete do-over in life and honestly I’m not quite there. There’s so many layers to dive through. But I have faith I will eventually do his story justice.  

3) Can you share your next creative project?

Without going into detail, I have a modern day MG Huck Finn that’s nearly ready. It’s attracted the interest of some top editors which thrills me. It’s about what you do when you see something wrong, that doesn’t directly affect you, but forces you to either dismiss it, or act. The two main characters I simply adore. They’re mischievous, smart, and full of fun. I can’t wait to share it with the world.

www.clarediliscia.org

https://www.facebook.com/clare.d.baird

https://twitter.com/diliclare

https://www.instagram.com/diliclare/

http://diliclare.tumblr.com/   

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BOOK BLITZ w/EXCERPT - YA FANTASY - Neliem by Clare DiLiscia

Neliem

by Clare DiLisci

Publication date: May 21st 2019

Published by: Month9Books

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

BLURB
Half the population of the island of Madera are dead, killed by an unforgiving and indiscriminate plague. Oriana dreams of escaping her life of ruthless cruelty from the people who now rule over those who remain. No telling whom the plague will strike next, Oriana means to find freedom for herself and her people. Drawing strength from ancient tales of her enemy, young Oriana transforms herself from victim to warrior with the help of a mysterious and powerful dagger given to her by a kind and dying boy.

Years later, during her enemy’s betrothal ritual, Ezra, a boy she has never before seen, selects her as his mate. With servitude her only option, Oriana accepts the offer. Whisked away to a seemingly perfect world, Oriana discovers sinister secrets at every turn, including the identity of Tristan, a boy with whom she shares an undeniable but impossible connection.

Why would a boy she doesn’t know wish her to be his betrothed? Why does she feel such a strong pull toward a stranger? Someone in Ezra’s family not only knows the answer to both those questions, but also about the dagger Oriana possesses. He will do anything to stop the union. Now, with everything on the line, Oriana turns inward to find the strength she needs to seize the full power of the dagger so that she may protect herself and save her people.

Goodreads
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

I cringe; not wanting to confess the extent of my obsession of finding the boy I’ve convinced myself for too long never existed. After I’d miraculously healed from the fever, I went half mad looking everywhere for him. Like a maniac, I searched in every room, closet and under every desk at the schoolhouse for any indication where he might’ve gone. Then I took it one step further. Dressed like Neliem himself, I snuck at the crack of dawn into the Untouchable section of town which we are forbidden to enter. I scourged the marketplace, the temples of their false gods, the fields, the hills, our cave, any place I could think of, going as far as to risk my own life for weeks to find him. Just for the chance to see him and touch him again, I would’ve done anything. Me, who hated to be touched, ached for this boy the way a dying man aches for water in the desert.

Author Info
Clare Di Liscia grew up near the hills surrounding Dodger's Stadium. For University, Clare attended KU Leuven, in Belgium. She graduated with a Film Degree from Cal State Northridge, earning Dean's List recognition. Neliem won 1st place HM in SCBWI's Sue Alexander.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram

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