DAY #3 "HEED THE PROPHECIES!"

On our last day of the blog tour for Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper's "Berinfell Prophecies," we're featuring the great new website dedicated to the series: HEED THE PROPHECIES (dot)com

On the site you'll find the latest news on the series as well as a public forum where you can interact with the authors and other fans. And if you want to know a bit more about Wayne and Christopher, there's also some great biographical info as well.

DAY 2 : THE INTERVIEW!

Joining me today are Christian Fantasy authors, Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper. Wayne is the bestselling author of the Door Within Trilogy as well as Isle of Swords & Isle of Fire. He is also a middle school teacher with a heart for kids and their eternal destiny. Christopher is the author of the White Lion Chronicles as well as a Pastor and Worship leader. Both of these men have a passion for Christ and have joined forces to bring us a new Christian Fantasy series entitled "The Berinfell Prophecies." Book One, "The Curse of the Spider King," has just recently come out and is quickly moving up the charts. As you can see these guys are serious about their fiction--so buy their book or they might "cut yor 'ead off!"

Wayne was gracious enough to take some time, from his busy schedule, in order to fill us in a bit on this joint effort and the Berinfell Prophecies. Tomorrow we'll feature more cool STUFF on Berinfell Prophecies!

Wayne, how did you two come up with the premise for The Berinfell Prophecies?

I have a file folder on my Mac that contains somewhere around 30 "story kernels." These are kind of cool little nuggets of plot that have the potential to be fleshed out as a novel. One of these I was particularly keen on, I proposed to Christopher. It was about a young boy who thought of himself as pretty unremarkable but was noticed (in a suspicious kind of way) by the school's librarian. CH loved it and together we brainstormed what could be going on here. It soon became apparent that this one boy was not alone. There were seven youths in the mix and there were dark forces stalking them.

Did you have any fictional inspirations for the story?

Tolkien always inspires me. But there wasn't any other story that gave me inspiration.

How about any biblical inspiration for the story?

Biblical inspiration, definitely. The scriptures that speak of God grafting us in, adopting us as sons (and daughters), calling us "friend," those are powerful influencers of this novel.

Describe your process for coordinating the writing between two novelists.

Thank God for technology. CH is a 7-hour drive from me in Upstate NY. So we have used cell phones, iChat, Yahoo Messenger, texting, etc. to be able to go back and forth. We begin by outlining together. We need a road map, so we took quite a bit of time to flesh out where we thought the story would go. We broke it down into scenes, rather than chapters and divided those scenes between the two of us depending on who was most passionate about that scene.

Can Christians learn any important lessons from the Elves in Berinfell? Please describe any allegory taking place in the story.

Curse of the Spider King, as well as, the other Berinfell books will, we pray, encourage believers to stop fighting over things and start fighting the enemy. Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces in this dark world.

Will Berinfell be a trilogy and what are some things we might see in the next installment?

The Berinfell Prophecies, God-willing, will be at least a trilogy. We're nearly finished the second book, Venom and Song, and are already batting ideas around for a 3rd book.

Where did you two learn to swordfight?

On the Fantasy Fiction East Coast Tour. We actually met a stage combat teacher while doing a signing in Barnes & Noble, I think in Virginia. She taught us some basic moves. And the rest we kind of just make up as we go. Though, I think CH might have some more formal training.

CURSE OF THE SPIDER KING: BERINFELL PROPHECIES #1

CURSE OF THE SPIDER KING by Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper, is the huge kick-off to a brand new Christian Fantasy series. And while intended for young readers, there's plenty for young adults and adults (young at heart) to enjoy and keep you turning pages furiously all the way to the end.

Be sure to stay tuned tomorrow for an interview with Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper!

Curse of the Spider King Reivew:

Nevermind the old cliche, one or two heros to the mix, in Curse of the Spider King we find seven Elf Lords who've been transported to the earth realm as infants. Caught in the Spider King's web during a major overthrow of Elf power in his realm, these infants cannot be killed without unleashing a terrible curse. The Spider King's servants defy his orders and send the infant lords to earth in order to avoid the curse and the wrath of their king. But now the children, adopted by human parents, have grown to maturity and their individual Elf abilities are manifesting themselves. For their part, the children have no idea of their real heritage until the Spider King's assassins begin to move in. Only their secret protectors among the elves can stop them. But the race is on to get them back to their homeworld, where these seven lords will face the Spider King himself in a battle that could save or end the Elves forever!

Spider King is a non-stop fantasy thrill ride that kids will love. It's hard to pick a favorite Elf lord out of the bunch, because each has their own special power which makes them volatile to say the least. It's almost like trying to pick your favorite among the X-Men and both girls and boys will find someone they can empathize with in this exciting tale. Batson and Hopper have overcome the long distance obstacle to seamlessly stitch this story together. I've read both of their individual works and honestly could never figure out who had written what. By the time you reach the cliffhanger ending Spider King will have you locked in its web of action and intrigue, ready for the bigger adventure still waiting in Book 2!

HAUNT OF JACKALS BY ERIC WILSON

Haunt of Jackals by Eric Wilson When Jesus was resurrected, ancient scripture says many rose from the grave. Today, 36 from this group of undead remain. Known as the Nistarim, they are here to watch over the world.When Judas hung himself, his blood mysteriously gave rise to another group of undead: the unholy Collectors. Now very much alive, they feed on souls and human blood.Both groups of immortals still walk among us in an eternal struggle. Now both are after a single target--a boy named Pavel who may possess the key to the Collectors' unlimited power...or ultimate downfall.Gina, a woman fleeing for her own life, is determined to protect the boy at all costs. She has survived one battle with the undead already, but has no idea how long she'll be able to stay a step ahead of them.The Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy takes readers on a riveting journey, as imaginative fiction melds with biblical and archaeological history.

Amazon Reviewed: I found Haunt of Jackals to be an awesome read. This is not usually the kind of book I read but I won the first book of the series, Field of Blood and I was very anxious for the second one to be available. I love Eric Wilson's writing style and I couldn't put the book down once I started it. I can't wait for the next one. Vampires are really intriguing.

What's So Great About Salvation?

The Lord has led me to do some non-fiction Bible study writing based upon my sermons. The first Kindle E-book is "WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT SALVATION?" which is an in depth look at all the different things we've been given as believers through the free gift of salvation. Many you'll know, but hadn't realized just how great it is...others you may have never considered before. But we have a whole lot of reasons why salvation is the greatest thing mankind has ever been given!

THE VANISHING SCULPTOR by Donita K Paul

The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul : is a delightful tale of otherworldly adventures laced with heavenly meanings. Author Donita K. Paul skillfully transports you to a fantasy world populated with emerlindians, tumanhofers, speaking grand parrots, wizards, and magical librarians; where flying dragons communicate and mysterious portals whisk you across the world. Readers young and old will love journeying along with the enchanting questing party on their mission to save the world and discover a loving God.



“Have you ever looked at a painting from a distance and thought it beautiful, only to draw nearer to it and realize it was more exquisite, complex, and wonderful than you ever imagined? The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul is like that. I began reading and liked it. As usual, I found myself happily enveloped in a vivid world full of emerlindians, tumanhofers, and dragons. But then, just when I thought the work was beautiful, something deep within me started to tingle…and I began to see that The Vanishing Sculptor was far more than simple entertainment or escape. I had one ‘Ah Ha!’ moment after another. Clues everywhere, right in front of my eyes, blossomed into truth until, at last, I put down the book and swam in the rich waters of adventure, peace, and blessed melancholy–that rare state revealing you’ve been touched by the story of an inspired author. The Vanishing Sculptor is sure to be loved by readers and re-readers of every age.”–Wayne Thomas Batson, bestselling author of The Door Within Trilogy, Isle of Swords, and Isle of Fire



“Stunning beginning to a new series! Rarely does an author re-capture the exquisite charm and the bold freshness first discovered in their initial series. Donita K. Paul fans are in for a treat as they uncover new wonders and enchantment in the world of Amara. New readers will revel in the magical blend of mischief and mayhem woven with wittiness and intrigue throughout this engaging tale. From the zany disposition of Lady Peg to the spirited charm and wit of Tipper, her youthful daughter, The Vanishing Sculpture, tingles our most fervent emotions of love, joy, and hope. An exciting complement to The DragonKeeper Chronicles and a fantastical adventure for inaugural audiences of all ages.”–Eric Reinhold, author of The Annals of Aeliana, Ryann Watters and the King’s Sword and Ryann Watters and the Shield of Faith

OFFWORLD by ROBIN PARRISH

I thought Offworld by Robin Parrish was very well written. The premise drew me into the story with the idea that everyone on Earth has disappeared while this team of astronauts has been away on Mars. However, the premise on the book cover isn't accurate...not everyone has disappeared at all, even though it appears they have during the first half of the novel. There's a good deal of action in Offworld and as I said, it is well written. However I found myself disappointed at the end by the reason for everyone's disappearance. I don't want to give spoilers, but with all of the suspense during the first half of the story, I was just expecting something a bit more monumental...something better explained than the Quantum machine thing.

A page turner until I began to see my expectations let down toward the end.

"THE REALM SHIFT" has been RELEASED!

After some time, trial and a title tweak, THE REALM SHIFT has been released on Amazon.com under the KINDLE BOOK format. The novel is also available as a TRADE PAPERBACK. The second novel, THE ORDER OF SHADDAI, (updated: Has been released) and the final Installment, THE SWORD OF GIDEON, will release early spring 2010. I've done the cover work on these and was very pleased with how they've turned out.

Synosis: THE REALM SHIFT - "The strangest thing about Ethan's first encounter with a demon was not that he could see the creature, but that the demon could not see him....Hunted by these malevolent spirits and the Warlord allied to them, Ethan struggles to stay alive in the midst of a growing rebellion within his homeland. As war erupts, he must flee to the white walled city of Emmanuel, in hopes of fulfilling the long held prophecy of "Shaddai's Deliverer," or die in the attempt. At every turn, enemies, both seen and unseen, conspire to kill Ethan before he discovers how to unleash the awesome power of the Realm Shift."

"The Realm Shift's intrigue is second only to its action!" -- Wayne Thomas Batson, author, The Berinfell Prophecies and The Door Within Trilogy.

"The Realm Shift doesn't just draw you in, it sucks you in! The story is full of mystery, adventure, danger and inspiration. I highly recommend it!" -- Brian Tubbs, Pastor, Sligo Baptist Church.

"The Realm Shift is written in a grand mythic type of storytelling reminiscent of Tolkien's Lord of the Ring Trilogy. It grabs the reader from the get-go and takes you on an intense ride through its thrilling, unstoppable trajectory!" -- Rai Aren, author, The Secret Sands.
"The Realm Shift is spiritual warfare as you've never read it before. An awesome book!" -- Betty Dravis, author, Toonies Invade Silicon Valley and 1106 Grand Boulevard.

ENCLAVE by KAREN HANCOCK

ENCLAVE by KAREN HANCOCK: When Lacey McHenry accepts a prestigious research fellowship at the world-renowned Kendell-Jakes Longevity Institute, she sees it as a new start on life. But a disturbing late-night encounter with an intruder leads to an unexpected cover-up by Institute authorities, and she soon realizes there's more going on than she ever imagined.
She finds a supporter in genetics researcher Cameron Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt is a favorite of the Institute's director, and she can't help wondering if he, too, is in on the cover-up. The brilliant but absentminded researcher turns out to have his own secrets, some of them dark and deadly.

I hate to be negative, but I just couldn't get into this novel. While I realize Mrs. Hancock is a wonderful writer, this particular story seemed to have so much going on that it became muddled up for me...I couldn't find a place to hold on to in the story, an anchor for my interest, I suppose. I didn't particularly care about the characters or where the plot was going.

Maybe its just my own preferences here...I'm used to her fantasy and found it more enjoyable, personally.

HALLOWED GROUND now AVAILABLE!

"HOLLOWED GROUND," the sequel to my thriller novel, "HALLOWED BE THY NAME," is now available! This intense sequel jumps thirty years into the future, allowing me to add some near future tech into the mix in an "I-ROBOT," sort of setting. Jonathan Hallowed is back in this one as well as my ever mutating villilan, Nemesis. And there's a completely new threat in this one, Samuel Stokes, a young man, born as part of a eugenics type breeding project, possessing powerful Telekinetic abilities and out for vengeance against those who created him. Think, "Akira," if you enjoy Japanese Anime and you'll get an idea of the kind of non-stop action available in this one!

Check it out on AMAZON KINDLE, where my other novels have been doing very well recently. "HALLOWED GROUND," is also available as a PAPERBACK with links here in the sidebar!

TOM PAWLIK'S "VANISH"

In Tom Pawlik's "VANISH," Three strangers each encounter the same mysterious storm and awake the next day to find that everyone else has vanished. There's Conner Hayden, a successful but unscrupulous trial lawyer who has forsaken his family for his career; Helen Krause, a middle-aged model struggling to come to grips with her fading beauty; and Mitch Kent, an enterprising young mechanic unable to escape a past that still haunts him. Afraid and desperate for answers, their paths eventually cross and they discover they are being watched. Elusive and obscured in shadows, the "observers" are apparently forcing them to relive vivid hallucinations of events from their past. They discover a mute homeless boy in tattered clothing and believe he may hold the key to the mystery, but the "observers" soon become aggressive and the four are forced to flee. When the boy disappears, the four decide to head from Chicago to Washington, D.C., in search of answers...and more survivors. Winner of the 2006 operation first novel contest, Vanish is a nonstop suspense thriller in the vein of Ted Dekker.

NEW NOVEL SERIALIZATION!

I'm serializing my new novel, placing new chapters on a new blog site for it each week, (hopefully). The new novel is called "APPRENTICE," and is geared toward fans of G.P. Taylor's "Shadowmancer" series, as well as Susanna Clarke's "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel."

CLICK THIS LINK -- APPRENTICE - NOVEL BLOG

SYNOPSIS--"Brody West has traveled to London with his father, but soon finds himself robbed of his father, his sanity and very nearly his life. Brody encounters a mysterious benefactor who tells him he has a work to do, but gives no detail about it. Brody's journey leads him through London streets, the company of thieves, Faerie Lords, Angels and realms beyond human sight. A sinister plot is brewing in London and threatens to enslave the populace and a ten year old boy may be the only one who can stop it!"

TUCK BY STEPHEN LAWHEAD

TUCK BY STEPHEN LAWHEAD--"Pray God our aim is true and each arrow finds its mark."
King Raven has brought hope to the oppressed people of Wales--and fear to their Norman overlords. Along the way Friar Tuck has been the stalwart supporter of King Raven--bringing him much-needed guidance, wit, and faithful companionship.
Deceived by the self-serving King William and hunted by the treacherous Abbot Hugo and Sheriff de Glanville, Rhi Bran is forced to take matters into his own hands as King Raven. Aided by Tuck and his small but determined band of forest-dwelling outlaws, he ignites a rebellion that spreads through the Welsh valleys, forcing the wily monarch to marshal his army and march against little Elfael.
Filled with unforgettable characters, breathtaking suspense, and rousing battle scenes, Stephen R. Lawhead's masterful retelling of the Robin Hood legend reaches its stunning conclusion in Tuck. Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medieval Britain, Lawhead's trilogy conjures up an ancient past while holding a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare for an epic tale that shatters everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.

REVIEWS FOR TUCK:

"For those who haven't read Hood and Scarlet yet, I would highly recommend doing so before reading this. The focus of the book is on Tuck, but there are a lot of supporting characters and plots that surround Tuck. As with the other two in the series, this is a book filled with action/ adventure. Once you enter the forest, you will not want to return to civilization!"

"I am huge fan of Stephen Lawhead and 'Tuck' secures the reason why. The King Raven trilogy has been amazing from the beginning. His real world interpretation of the legend of Robin Hood is haunting, stunning, and thought provoking. 'Tuck' is the final book in the series and it does a wonderful job of wrapping everything up. The plot never slows down, but never feels rushed. I kept thinking to myself, "How is he going to finish this whole series when there are only 50 pages left in the book?" Twist after twist will keep you engaged in this book until early in the morning. The action in the book is so well written you feel as if you are in Celyddon with Rhi Bran and his followers. The intensity is communicated so well. I can think of no down side to this book except that it wasn't longer! Highly recommended. If you haven't read any of this series before, make sure you start with 'Hood' and read 'Scarlet' next. 'Tuck' won't make much sense unless you read it last."

"PERDITION'S GATE" NOW AVAILABLE!

Hey folks, my new Suspense-Thriller, PERDITION'S GATE, is complete and available. You can get the novel on Kindle Books at Amazon.com or as a PAPERBACK NOVEL as well as the novel being downloadable for free in pdf form on the paperback link! Click the cover to see the back cover synopsis. Anyone willing to download the pdf at the paperback link and review it over on its kindle book page on Amazon would be greatly appreciated!

CONCEPTS AND ACTUAL BOOK COVERS: BY ME

ANYONE NEEDING BOOK COVER HELP, JUST LET ME KNOW...I'M WILLING TO HELP IF I CAN PROBABLY JUST FOR A REVIEW OF ONE OF MY NOVELS...YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT :)

NEW MORE DRAMATIC COVER!

Hey folks, I've done some revision to the cover for my Christian Action-thriller, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. See if you think this is more dramatic! Click the cover to check out the back copy description. "Jonathan Hallowed undergoes a real trial of faith as he tries to understand why God has allowed this situation to happen to him and whether or not to sacrifice his life in order to use the power he's been given in order to save those around him."

"PERDITIONS GATE" COMING SOON!

I've got several new novels about to be released in the near future..."Hallowed Be Thy Name" has already been released as a paperback and Kindle book as well as "The Chronicles of S0one: Rise of Lucin."

PERDITIONS GATE is coming soon. This is a Christian action-thriller involving special ops, in a near future setting, lots of intrigue, etc. Check out the back cover copy when you click to blow it up :D

For any self published authors interested in Book Cover work, I'm also willing to do that and CHEAP. email me jamessremos(at)yahoo.com and we'll talk. This PERDITIONS GATE front and back cover is a sample of my work--click it to see full size.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME - PREVIEW

PREVIEW: FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF "HALLOWED BE THY NAME"--now available!

1 PROWARD STREET STATION

Only an idiot would dare travel through Donalee at night. That’s what Dr. Trenton Hallowed had read in today’s newspaper. He opened the door of his Lexus sedan, a tall man of slim build, dark hair and stepped into the street at the intersection of Walnut and Vineyard. New-car-smell segued into late evening after-the-rain. He toggled the trunk switch and the lid popped open. Trenton placed his key set in the pocket of his suit pants and removed a knee length white lab coat, folding it up as he walked around to the rear bumper and set it inside. A Genetic Corp employee pass-badge lay clipped on the front pocket face up.
Trenton removed a brown suit jacket from the trunk and pulled it on. He paused a moment to wipe his wire-rimmed glasses with a monogrammed white handkerchief then seated them securely upon the bridge of his nose with an after-push. He retrieved a beige fedora and black leather briefcase and capped his outfit before closing the trunk lid.
Trenton scanned the area and then crossed Vineyard Street reaching into his pocket to depress the keychain. The hazard lights on the Lexus flashed behind him with a chirp as he stepped up onto the sidewalk. Rainwater splashed his hat brim from the streetlight as he passed under. To his right, a digital billboard flashed the date and time in between advertisements. Trenton scanned the Rolex on his left wrist. His timepiece read two minutes fast at 10:30 PM.
Trenton opened one of the glass double doors to the Vineyard Street Subway station and walked inside. This late in the evening, the station was virtually abandoned. Custodians operated sweepers while a few others waxed the floor. Walking through the station, he noticed how impeccably clean everything was.
The marble floor showed very little signs of wear as did the costly leather couches and mahogany tables sitting in the vestibule. The custodians performed a duty, not a necessity. Only then did Trenton consider that most people living in Imperial City’s Hilton borough didn’t need public transportation. It held a stigma here.
As Trenton approached the turnstiles, he saw a burly security officer leaning against one of two attendant booths. One stood dark, while the other housed a lone female attendant with curly blonde hair who was engaged in conversation with the officer. They seemed surprised to see anyone actually coming into the station, especially at this time of night.
“Good evening, sir,” the security officer said. He straightened and Trenton wondered if all he did every night was stand there talking to the pretty girl in the attendant booth. “Would you like an escort?” the man asked.
“No thank you.” Trenton kept his fedora at an angle shadowing his facial features. He passed his right hand over the turnstile sensor and it automatically scanned the Hilton identification band on his ring finger. A green light on top of the turnstile flashed and Trenton walked through unhindered. “Have a lovely evening, sir,” the security officer said.
Trenton kept walking and did not reply. An escalator carried him down to the train platform. Two more security officers sat at a desk to his right. They were already looking at him by the time he cleared the short hallway leading onto the platform. He made a mental note of several camera mounts positioned in the ceiling corners. “Hello, sir,” one of the men said from behind the counter.
Trenton nodded to them with a slight tug on his brim. Neither of the guards showed enough interest to actually come over and investigate. He examined his watch again. 10:37PM.
A train howled coming through the tunnel on approach to Vineyard Station. The automated train engine emerged from the tunnel trailing five passenger cars. When the car doors opened with a hydraulic hiss, the yellow barrier gates followed suit—five gates swung open giving access to this lone passenger. Trenton boarded and sat down in the empty train car.
The computer controlling the train waited two more minutes, sounded an intent-to-board alarm bell then closed the passenger cars. Trenton pulled a current newspaper from his briefcase, began reading and waited. No other passengers had boarded while in Hilton, just as he had expected.
In a matter of minutes, the train covered miles of underground and overland track. It left the Hilton borough altogether—immediately entering the Branton borough. Trenton read with the pages held aloft blocking his view of any passengers who might board. All he heard at each stop were the doors. He waited.
When the computerized female voice announced that his train had passed into the Donalee borough, Trenton’s palms began to sweat. This was it—his field experiment was about to happen. The train stopped at the Proward Street station—the same as the news article Trenton had read. The door hissed and opened. The smell of sweat and cigarette smoke invaded the train car along with several sets of footsteps.
Trenton’s newspaper exploded away from his hands revealing four armed men—two with knives, one with a lead pipe, the last swinging a thick chain. Trenton noticed two overly made-up young women waiting outside the subway car door. One held a .38 caliber pistol—Saturday night special. Two of the men grabbed Trenton out of his seat and slung him out of the train onto the platform. Trenton stumbled but did not resist. The doors closed back into place. Seconds later the automated train left the station, leaving the famous geneticist behind.
Trenton stood on stained gray concrete in the midst of the four men and two women on the Proward Station platform. Graffiti adorned every wall. “The wallet and briefcase now, fancy pants!” one of the men said. Trenton searched for camera mounts and found all of them torn down.
He smiled. Perfect.

2 CHAOS

Detective Michael Stamos depressed the button to roll down the passenger side window of his unmarked police cruiser. “Richard do you have to smoke those things?” he asked. “You’re gonna get cancer.”
“At least I’ll die happy,” Richard said. He blew a stream of cigarette smoke out the window.
“Well I don’t want cancer. My dad passed away last year.”
Richard looked at him. “I thought he had a heart attack.”
“What’s your point? He died…I don’t want you to kill me with your nasty habit.”
Richard chuckled, drew a final drag and flicked the butt out the window. “Happy?”
“I will be when you finally quit.” He rolled the window back up.
“Maybe I’ll quit when you get married.”
“Hey now, I like my space,” Michael said. He turned a corner keeping one eye on the GPS screen.
“You’ll never find a woman with that attitude. You gotta give a little—stop being such a lone wolf.”
“I like lone wolf and who says I’m looking?” He turned another corner and ran through a red light—siren blaring outside and police lights flashing. “Besides, I’ve got you,”
“Now that’s scary,” Richard said, rolling his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah…I mean, if I want someone to nag me about what I’m doing and where I’m going, I’ve got you. I don’t need a wife for that.”
Richard ran his thick fingers through his wavy gray hair. “Do we have any information on this one?”
“Just six dead bangers.”
“A Joy deal gone bad?”
“Sounded more like a robbery that backfired,” Michael said.
“Vigilante?” Richard mused. “Interesting.”
“That’s all we need. If they’re any of Ming’s people, we’ll have a bloodbath on our hands.”
“I should’ve capped him when we had the chance,” Richard said.
“They’d have locked you up on that one.” A multitude of police lights flashed down the road ahead of them—a swarm of angry fireflies. “The guy was unarmed.”
“Yeah, but he was guilty,” Richard said.
“You know how that goes.”
“Would’ve been nice to get him when he was still just a two-bit punk,” Richard said as he checked his sidearm beneath his beige sport coat. “Now nobody can get near him.”
Michael pulled up to the subway station at Proward Street. He and Richard got out of the car with their badges ready just in case some rookie tried to stop them crossing the police line. They ducked under the black and yellow tape and walked through a nest of black and whites.
The two detectives entered the Proward Street subway station, passing several officers they knew well. An emergency entrance bypassed the turnstiles and all the traffic flowed through it. Mike and Richard walked through with several forensics technicians and followed them down three flights of stairs to the large subway platform below.
Emergency lighting had been imported because most of the platform lighting had been damaged. Fluorescent bulbs still flickered. A uniformed police officer vomited into a station-labeled trashcan. “Oh boy.” Richard sighed. “It’s gonna be one of those nights.”
“Nothing we haven’t seen before,” Michael said. But as he and his partner entered the crime scene, Michael realized he was wrong.
Crime scene investigators and technicians worked like ants gathering food for the winter. The entire platform was showered with gore. Cameras flashed almost continually. Richard stood wide-eyed. Michael felt like joining the uniform at the trashcan.
The area had been taped off to prevent officers from messing up the crime scene. Michael and Richard remained behind it. The call involved six gang members. One, a female, lay dead with her own pistol shoved halfway inside her mouth. A Caucasian male had been wrapped like a horseshoe around a support pillar with his back broken. An Asian male, gang member lay ten feet away crumpled in a heap beneath a blood-smeared wall. It appeared as though he had been swung by his legs and repeatedly smashed into the graffiti and white tile of the Proward Station platform.
Another female lay on the dirty concrete floor—her body nearly unrecognizable as being human. An African-American male had been bludgeoned to a pulp and thrown up into the roof girders—ten feet in the air.
A team worked feverishly to manually back up one of the automated passenger trains. When the men finally got it pushed back to the point where technicians could examine it, Michael saw evidence of the sixth gang member. All that remained of the man was the splash of crimson left on the front of the automated subway engine—the final resting place of a wayward insect.
“Who could’ve done this?” Michael asked.
“—Or what?” Richard licked his lips as though something fowl had been belched up.
One of the crime scene investigators, Linda Phelps, signaled Detective Link to come through the tape barrier. “Hey, Mike, we're in.”
The two detectives passed under the tape and cautiously made their way around technicians collecting forensic data. They walked over to the first female victim where Officer Phelps knelt examining the body. “The gun was forced into her mouth through her teeth,” she said. “The killer broke her fingers forcing her to pull the trigger.”
“One person did all this?” Richard asked.
“There is only one set of shoeprints besides the victims—my first impression is a loafer or dress shoe, size eleven. Whoever did this is incredibly strong—the guy in the rafters is 220 lbs easy,” Linda said.
Michael noticed the bloody prints smudged in various places on the concrete.
“So we’re looking for a linebacker on angel dust?” Richard asked.
“Try a grizzly bear,” Michael said.
“Actually, you’re both wrong,” Phelps said. “The bruising patterns suggest someone with normal handbreadth.”
Michael looked closer at the bruising on the girl’s arm. “How is that possible?”
“That’s why you’re a detective, Detective.”

BLAGGARDS MOON by George Bryan Polivka

BLAGGARDS MOON by George Bryan Polivka, the author of the Legend of the Firefish series, has come out with another excellent novel from the world of Nearing Vast!

This piratey tale reminded me very much of recent pirate novels I've read by my friend, Wayne Batson. However there are some differences. Isle of Swords & Isle of Fire were generally slated for a little younger audience and carry a faster pace than Blaggard's Moon by far. Polivka's voice tends to be a bit more literary. He's taking his time to really craft a tale here, where the others are more of a thrill ride. Both are excellent for what they are and it simply depends upon your personal taste. If you liked the Legend of the Firefish then you won't be disappointed, but if you tend to enjoy the "thrill ride" more, then prepare to take some time with this one. One thing that jumped out at me right off the bat was Polivka's use of "Sea Monkeys." How many of us can still remember the lovable little sea monkeys in comic books that you had to send off for...I believe you ended up with a packet of sprinkles or something in the end...well, these sea monkeys may just scare you out of your wits! Enjoy :)

HUNTER BROWN AND THE SECRET OF SHADOW

HUNTER BROWN AND THE SECRET OF SHADOW by The Miller Brothers is one of the latest Christian YA fantasies to come our way and appears to be quite a hit with young people already.

The novel is set for young teens and is very similar in scope to Wayne Batson's Door Within Trilogy. Hunter is your typical awkward teen, but codebearers in another dimension already know who he is as do the vile Shadow. When Hunter is led to discover a mysterious book in a bookstore that suddenly isn't there anymore, his whole existence is turned upside down. Soon he's being hunted by Mysterious creatures he never even knew existed called the Shadow. The Book transports him into another world where an epic battle is underway and Hunter Brown is already a vital key to the ultimate outcome.

I'd recommend this one for teens and tweens and both boys and girls who enjoy portal fantasy novels will likely enjoy it!

HALLOWED BE THY NAME

Hello Everyone, I've been busy writing as always it seems and I've just released a new Christian Thriller, Action, Horror novel entitled "HALLOWED BE THY NAME."

"Feeling sure he has finally cracked the secrets of man's evolution, Dr. Trenton Hallowed uses himself as a guinea pig for his new genetic mutagen. He soon finds himself upon the threshold of unbelievable power. But a vicious beast is waking within him. An increasing number of people turn up brutally murdered in the lower districts of the city as Trenton celebrates new success. Jonathan Hallowed, the victim of a mob hit during one of Trenton Hallowed's exhibitions, wakes in a morgue drawer wrapped in a body bag. His flesh is riddled with bullet wounds, yet he lives. Jonathan must figure out what has happened to him and why the police are calling his cousin Trenton a vicious murderer. Even worse, Jonathan may be the only one who can stop him."

Click the link to purchase a paperback copy for merely the print cost -
HALLOWED BE THY NAME - PAPERBACK COPY
This has been a little bit of a departure from the YA stuff I've been working on, but I've really enjoyed it. As always, the story zoooms along with plenty of action.

CYNDERE'S MIDNIGHT by JEFFREY OVERSTREET

CYNDERE'S MIDNIGHT by JEFFREY OVERSTREET is the new sequel to Auralia's Colors by Waterbrook Publishing.

House Abascar has fallen in a torrential firestorm and Auralia has been transformed and taken by the mysterious Northchildren. In the wake of the destruction King Calraven tries to hold together the refugee survivors of his once great house, Auralia's young friend, ale boy, now impervious to flame, roams the land saving people from the ruins and from Cent Regus beastmen seeking to plunder the remains. Meanwhile, the heiress, Cyndere, has lost her husband to the beastmen as he sought to find survivors in Abascars ruins and she hopes to fulfill their dream of freeing the brutish beastmen from the Cent Regus curse of the Essence.

Mr. Overstreet has not lost his flare for dramatic prose. It is quite lyrical at times and while some complain of the broken conventions of writing, I say, rules were made to be broken--at least if it produces an interesting product. On the upbeat, Cyndere's midnight seems more focused than its predecessor and Overstreet being a Christian novelist we can begin to find the allegory that may be lurking beneath the obvious. Personally, I'm glad to see that element coming out...at least I believe I'm seeing it :)

On the downbeat, Cyndere's midnight suffers a bit from the lack of Auralia. And while I understand the progression of the plot, she was a very interesting character. Still Cyndere begins to become endearing, though I have to say, my personal favorites here are the ale boy and the beastman, Jordam. The beastmen are great characters and add the action element here. Unfortunately the novel doesn't MOVE swiftly, but for the patient reader, you'll find an enjoyable sequel.

CHRONICLES OF SOONE:RISE OF LUCIN AVAILABLE!

HEY FOLKS, I wanted to let you know that The Chronicles of Soone: Rise of Lucin is now available in two formats!

1. 
   
   TRADE PAPERBACK EDITION:


2. 
   
   AMAZON KINDLE EDITION:

Lucin, the Fallen One, is victorious on planet Castai and the reign of the king has ended in a savage coup. The final days of mankind's hope are fading with the rise of a sinister foe.

THE MIGHTY FALL
King Tiet Soone and a small band of warriors have barely escaped planet Castai with their lives. No place is safe for them with Lucin on the hunt.

A FINAL PROPHECY
A mysterious prophet has come to direct the king towards his destiny—a second confrontation with Lucin and his army of assimilated humans. But with the reconciliation of Lucin's Mithrial brethren, the Agonotti, the odds for success are worse than ever. Outnumbered and outmatched, the king must risk all he has left or witness the end of mankind.

This sequel to COS:Heir to the King has tons of action and a lot of plot twists...I don't want to give it away, but a major character meets his demise in this one! Thanks to Jeremy Robinson for another great cover!

NEW "BIBLE-SMART" STUDY BLOG LAUNCHED!

Please take a look at my new Bible-Smart blog!! This is "a bible study for the average joe" in hopes of making God's Word more accessible and understandable--check it out and leave comments and questions at will.

ANOTHER DAY IN HISTORY

WEll, we stand upon the making of history today with our first Black President. Some people are mad, some sad, some worrying themselves to death over what this all portends for Christians. I for one am not the least bit worried.

I know some may think our next president is the anti-christ or something or the kind, but biblically I'm sure that isn't the case. That person will ride into history after the Christ removes the church (according to the order given in Revelation).

I'm reminded that God has not lost control of the world for even a moment and the same goes for today. The next administration should be an interesting one to be sure, but God is still in control. WE are a day closer to the coming of the Lord Jesus today-the same could be said for yesterday, and the day before that.

Beyond everything happening in the world, I'm confident that no matter my personal circumstances, God is firmly in control. I'm saved by his gracious sacrifice for my sins and no one can take away Eternal Life granted unto me through faith in Jesus Christ. I'm glad God elected/ chose to accept everyone who would believe on His son and glad that God convinced me to receive him as my personal savior and become a part of that elect group.

Everything is right with the world...God's plan and purpose is right on schedule...and believers must simply strive to do the work we are left here to do--proclaim salvation through God's son, his sacrifice for the cleansing of sin, his resurrection for our justification and his soon coming again!NOthing in the world can stop God's purposes...that allows me peace which passes all understanding!