Guest Blogger - David Porteous (author of

Please welcome guest blogger, David Porteous, the author of Singular.

Synopsis:
Patrick Clark is a moral philosopher and a terrible human being. After living a selfish, indulgent life, he probably deserves cancer; probably deserves death. But in 2045, living forever in paradise doesn't take faith or good deeds - it just takes money.

In the depths of Singularity a new consciousness has awoken. As it struggles to become free from the immortality machine, its limitless rage threatens the living and the dead alike.

The fates of Patrick and the nameless, faceless machine creature are intertwined with each other and with sinister, utilitarian plans for the future of the nation and humanity.

From David:

Writing Magic

As a fourteen-year-old, reading Lord of the Rings for the first time, I skipped almost all of book two. Between the death of Gandalf the Grey and the return of Gandalf the White, I wasn’t interested. Enchanted swords and elven queens are all well and good, even to be recommended in moderation, but for me there was no show without Punch.

I’m a magic junkie.

Singular is not a fantasy novel. It sits somewhere between fiction and science fiction – probably being labelled as the latter because the virtual worlds in which some of the story takes place don’t exist yet. But nobody in Singular wears silver jump suits or teleports to work in the morning. People still eat bad takeaway food. Politicians are still duplicitous. It is a world you would recognise as not much different from this one.

But the virtual worlds in Singular did allow me the opportunity to include a dusting of magic and the decisions I made were those which fantasy writers have been making for years.

There are two axes on which any magical world from literature, television or film can be placed: high and low, good and evil. High magic worlds are, in their extreme, where everyone has some kind of magical power; by contrast, low magical worlds are those where almost no-one does. Good and evil is the way magic is used and perceived by the inhabitants of that world.

For example, the Harry Potter stories are set in a high magic world where magic is a good thing. Yes, it’s true that people abuse magic, but magic is also the weapon that’s used to fight them and – I don’t think I’m giving anything away here – the good guys win in the end.

Lord of the Rings is seen as the archetype for fantasy epics, but there is almost no magic in any of the books. Frodo and Samwise have to walk to Mount Doom – Tolkien’s wizards are featherweights compared to Rowling’s apparating and disapparating society. Also magic in Lord of the Rings is much more neutral, and it’s sleight of hand and courage that win the day.

In television, one of my favourite shows was Buffy the Vampire slayer. The magic in Joss Whedon’s world is, in volume, probably exactly between Tolkien and Rowling. Anyone, it seems, can become a witch, but the vast majority of people aren’t – it’s a kind of accessible-forbidden lore you can buy in a shop, though it’s pretty expensive. But Whedon’s magic is a wicked thing that only those with the purest of characters can use without corruption.

None of these approaches is right or wrong, but they define the tone of the story – and often the ways in which the story can progress. Imagine a Tolkien problem (destroy magic ring by throwing into known volcano) in a Rowling book (fly to volcano, chuck).

In Singular, I allowed my characters free reign with magic in the middle of the book to add an additional layer of wonder – and because as I said earlier, I’m a junkie. When moving towards resolution, the idea of moving between virtual worlds with different, immutable rules let me strip these capabilities away again and continue the story in different ways.

Did it work? Well I’d be glad to hear what you think.


Thanks for having me guest blog as part of the Singular book tour, which runs until the end of June 2011. You can follow the tour’s progress on my website www.dfpiii.com or follow me on Twitter @dfpiii or using the hashtag #SVBT. Also, at the end of the book tour, one lucky person who “likes” Singular on Facebook will receive the signed proof copy of the US print edition of Singular – a one-of-a-kind, never-be-another prize.


Thank you David! --Kari

Guest Blogger: Kevin Villegas (Author of The Sunwright Chronicles)

Today we have our first guest blogger.

Kevin M. Villegas has stopped by to promote his latest work

The Sunwright Chronicles - Empire at War:

Synopsis:

Crisis engulfs the Empire of Kirmar. Barbarians from the east have poured through the borders of the Empire and threaten to capture the imperial capital. In addition to the invasion mysterious agents flood the Empire seeking to destabilize the already weakened state. To make matters worse Paris along with his wife Suadela have mysteriously vanished leaving their children Tobias, Calia and Pershing to face the current crisis alone. Luckily for the Empire of Kirmar the Sunwright children are more than ready for the challenge that faces them.
But will the united strength of the Sunwright children be enough to save the Empire of Kirmar? As the barbarians continue to push their advantage love and romance blooms in the most unlikely places. A sleeping giant in the Elven nation of Garion is wakened by the immediate danger facing Kirmar, will the Elves support Kirmar as they have done many times before? In the south the Empire of Imaldris formerly a part of the Empire of Kirmar is facing its own troubles. A weak Emperor has allowed the nation of Nazzir a long time enemy of the Empire to grow in power.
Even in these dark times there is always hope. A struggling Empire which has stood for nine hundred years is forced to come together to face the greatest crisis it has ever seen.

Today he writes about creating one of the characters in his book:


The Origin of Paris Sunwright

Creating a world and a good back story is important when writing a novel in the Epic Fantasy genre. I had done both before I had a true central character to wrap my story around. Paris’s origins are interesting to say the least. I have been playing table top Dungeon and Dragons for over six years. I enjoy rolling the dice, developing the characters and the roleplaying. D&D can be a deadly game to play (from the characters perspective). I’ve lost countless characters over the years, some of those characters were well developed, some died early on in the game so their story was barely developed. Paris Sunwright is my only character who survived a full campaign.

I took a lot of time developing Paris’s character, as I dedicated more time to Paris he quickly became the character I have enjoyed playing the most in my years of gaming. He ended the campaign as an extremely powerful arch-mage. After the campaign completed it took me a couple of months to decide to use Paris in my burgeoning world. After I decided to add Paris, it took me seven more years of tinkering before I felt I had developed a solid enough story to start writing The Sunwright Chronicles. Over those seven years I developed Paris’s family. Suadela his wife, Tobias the eldest, Calia the middle child and Pershing the youngest, an interesting fact about Paris is his current family is not his first.

Like the world of Tera which has so much lore and backstory I could write countless novels about it, Paris Sunwright and his family have a great deal of backstory which could cover several novels. Paris is not featured in every chapter in the book, his influence is felt by every character. What I like about Paris is though he is the central character his time spent in the novel is very limited, well for now.

- Kevin M. Villegas

More about the author: I have been writing for as long as I can remember. My ongoing series "The Sunwright Chronicles." Is a culmination of fifteen years of creating a unique living world with a rich history. I am currently writing the second book in the series. Besides writing I enjoy computer gaming, reading, watching the history and science channels. My favorite activity is hanging out with my awesome family :).

Thanks to Kevin for stopping by!

Virtual Book Tour - The Hypnotist

Author: M. J. Rose
Publisher: Mira

An FBI agent, tormented by a death he wasn't able to prevent, a crime he's never been able to solve and a love he's never forgotten, discovers that his true conflict resides not in his past, but in a…Past Life.

Haunted by a twenty-year old murder of a beautiful young painter, Lucian Glass keeps his demons at bay through his fascinating work as a Special Agent with the FBI's Art Crime Team. Currently investigating a crazed art collector who has begun destroying prized masterworks, Glass is thrust into a bizarre hostage negotiation that takes him undercover at the Phoenix Foundation—dedicated to the science of past life study—where, in order to maintain his cover, he agrees to submit to the treatment of a hypnotist.

Under hypnosis, Glass travels from ancient Greece to 19th century Persia, while the case takes him from New York to Paris and the movie capital of world. These journeys will change his very understanding of reality, lead him to question his own sanity and land him at the center of perhaps the most audacious art heist in history: the theft of a 1,500 year old sculpture from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


The Hypnotist is the third book in The Reincarnationist series by MJ Rose. This is the first of the series that I have read. I was told that each book can be read as a stand alone and I never had the feeling that I was missing information. I did enjoy this book, so I will be looking up the others in the series. The book was a bit slow in the beginning, but once Lucian Glass is introduced, the second time, the book really gets going. I'm glad I stuck with it. The plot is very well written with many twists and turns. I never really knew who to trust. I didn't figure out the end at all, which I always love in a book. The parts about past lives was interesting. This book has a little bit for everyone: mystery, intrigue, terrorism, and romance (a little bit). I definitely recommend this one and look forward to reading the others in the series.

--Kari


* note: I read a complimentary copy of The Hypnotist supplied courtesy of the author. I was not compensated in anyway for this review. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*

Now You See Her

Author: Joy Fielding
Publisher: Atria (Audiobook by Brilliance Audio)

Fifty-year-old Marcy Taggart’s life is in shambles. Two years ago, her twenty-one-year-old daughter, Devon, perished in a canoeing accident. Her body was never found in the icy waters of Georgian Bay, and as a result Marcy has never fully accepted her death. She continues to see the young woman’s face in crowds and has even stopped strangers on the street, certain she has finally discovered her long lost daughter.

Now in Ireland, on what was originally intended to be a celebration of her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary — if, that is, her husband had not left her for another woman — Marcy yet again thinks she sees her daughter, casually strolling past her on the sidewalk. So begins Marcy’s desperate search to find Devon, to find herself, and to find the disturbing truth that might, in the end, be her only salvation.

Now You See Her is the latest by Joy Fielding. Marcy is on holiday in Ireland and thinks she sees her presumed dead daughter walk by the window of a pub. Her chase kicks off a confusing and twisted journey as she tries to prove that her daughter did not kill herself. I found this book and Marcy's character incredibly frustrating. Marcy seemed all over the place. She continually made very stupid choices and it was a wonder she wasn't ever seriously hurt. Her reasoning behind her decisions had me shaking my head at times. I wasn't sure if the author wanted us to think she was crazy or not. I lost sympathy for her halfway through the book.

The pacing of the book was also rather frustrating. Just as the story would get rolling, we would be subjected to Marcy's reflections on the past (that often had no relevance to the present) or voices in her head giving her advice. There is also an Irish history lesson in the middle of the book that added nothing to the story. So, why did I finish it? I wanted to find out who the bad guy was and whether or not Devon was alive or dead. I'll let you decide of you want to read it and find out.

I did listen to the audiobook and I thought the narrator, Justine Eyre, did a good job. I just didn't care for the story she was reading.

--Kari

Southern Comfort

Author: Fern Michaels
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation

Atlanta homicide detective Patrick 'Tick' Kelly turned his back on the world the day his wife and children were murdered. Abandoning his city and his career, he holed up in a beach house on Mango Key, Florida, and drowned his grief in Jack Daniels. Now sober and a bestselling author, Tick would gladly stay a recluse forever if his brother Pete didn't keep trying to drag him back to the land of the living. After years of sacrificing her personal life in favour of her DEA job, special agent Kate Rush resigned and moved back to her native Miami. But the unofficial assignment that has just come her way is too intriguing to pass up. She and a fellow ex-agent are relocated to Mango Key to keep an eye on an imposing, mysterious fortress believed to be at the centre of a human trafficking ring. At first, the Kelly brothers are suspected of involvement, but Kate is sure Tick poses no danger - except for the slow-burning gaze that makes her breath catch and her heart race. Tick finds himself fascinated by Kate's investigation - and by her inviting mix of courage and kindness. Teaming up, they uncover a web of betrayal, blackmail, and ruthless greed. And as danger mounts, Tick realizes how far he'll go to protect the rare and surprising gift that's come his way: a second chance at a happy ending.

Southern Comfort is the latest by Fern Michaels. I have to admit that I was largely disappointed by this one.
What I didn't like: The plot. It never got off the ground for me. The book dealt more with Lawrence "Larry" Tyler and his problems than it did with Kate and Tick. I found Larry Tyler a very annoying character. I can't stand whiners and that is how he came across to me. I found myself rooting for Kate and Sandy when they were picking on him. The suspense part of the plot was never really there. I found myself not caring about who was blackmailing Larry. As for the group on the island, they were never in any real danger and there was one small action scene that didn't amount to much.

As for the romance, I was expecting so much more after reading the description. The HEA epilogue came out of nowhere. I'm not sure how they went from smoldering glances to getting married. It was just a bit too neat. The couples never even kissed or expressed any kind of like for each other. In fact, they are never alone together, except for a few hours on a stake-out.

What I liked: The Parrot. I think he was the best character out of the bunch. Very clever use of a bird as a main character.

I felt like this book had so much potential. If she had explored the relationships between the two couples more it would have rounded out the story better. I think fans will like it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

--Kari

Follow Friday #48

It's been a long time since I participated in one of these so I figured today was a good enough day.








Q. What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen? (Both of which could be terrifying.)

As for the return of Mel Gibson, I don't know that there's anything to be done about that other than not watch it....zombies are another matter.  I read a lot of Zombie (why isn't it Zomby?  is that too cutesy?) literature.  Plus, I've watched Zombieland and that's pretty much a manual on how to survive a zombie apocalypse.  Double Tap!  I do need to brush up on my cardio though...

If it's your first time visiting here welcome!  Scroll down a bit, we still have an open giveaway for an ARC of Chevy Stevens' Never Knowing.  Our Blogaversary is later this month so we'll be having some fun giveaways for that!

Think of a Number

by: John Vernon

published by: Crown Publishers


Arriving in the mail one day is a taunting letter that ends with a simple declaration "See how well I know your secrets-just think of a number." Eerily, those who comply find that the letter writer has predicted their random choice exactly. For Dave Gurney, just retired as the NYPD's top homicide investigator and forging a new life with his wife, Madeleine, in upstate New York, the letters are oddities that begin as a diverting puzzle but quickly ignite a massive serial-murder investigation. Brought in as an investigative "consultant," Gurney soon accomplishes deductive breakthroughs that have local police in awe. Yet, with each taunting move by his seemingly clairvoyant opponent, Gurney feels his tragedy-marred past rising up to haunt him, his marriage approaching a dangerous precipice, and, finally, a dark, cold fear building that he's met an adversary who can't be stopped.


I've had this one on my TBR List since it came out. It sounded like a great story. The audiobook came up for download from my library so I was pretty excited to listen to it. I wasn't disappointed. It was pretty good. I'd definitely recommend the audio version of the book, the reader did a great job.

The story was interesting. I found that if you were paying attention you could figure out what was going on. I don't know if I had a better memory than Dave or the writer wanted to let the readers feel smart or what, but there were times when I was fussing at my car because Dave should have known what was going to happen!

The one downside to the book was Madeleine, Dave's wife. I really didn't like her. I got very frustrated with her almost every single scene she was in. I couldn't understand why they were married to each other because it didn't seem like they even liked each other very much. For the first half of the book it wouldn't have surprised me if she was the killer.

Think of a Number was the first book in the Dave Gurney series. The next book called Shut Your Eyes Tight will be published later this year. I'm looking forward to reading that book to see where this series goes...and if Madeleine stays in the picture...

Stress Fracture

by:  D.P. Lyle
published by:  Medallion Press
publish date:  April 2010

When Dub Walker’s close friend Sheriff Mike Savage becomes the victim of a gruesome murder, the forensic expert is called upon to track down the serial killer who's been terrorizing the county. Having been involved in more than 100 cases of foul play and witnessed the bloody remains of rape, torture, and unthinkable mutilation, Dub thought he had seen it all—yet the killer is unlike any murderer Dub has ever encountered. Vacillating between wildly divergent personalities fueled by post traumatic stress disorder—at times calm, cold, and calculating; at others maniacal and out of control—the psychopath taunts, threatens, and outmaneuvers Dub at every turn. The stakes are suddenly elevated as Dub uncovers a deadly conspiracy tainted with unrestrained greed, corruption, and ties to the military establishment and the medical community.

I read this book because I saw an advertisement for DP Lyle's newest book Hot Lights, Cold Steel.  It mentioned that it was the 2nd Dub Walker book.  I set out to find the first Dub Walker book, which was this book, Stress Fracture. 

I devoured this book.  If you're into police procedurals this is an excellent book.  It read very easily and wasn't too cluttered with overly complicated terms which can sometimes happened when an author is trying to show his stuff.  Mr. Lyle displays his knowledge of the subject matter throughout the story without coming across as a show off. 

I also really liked that his characters were Southern, but not dripping with honey chile and dahlin' and all that other nonsense that Southerners get stuck with.  I live in South Louisiana and I can assure you that I don't talk like that! 

Check out Medallion Press' website.  They have some great extras for this book. 

Throwback Thursday - After the Night

Author: Linda Howard
First Published in 1995 by Pocket

Faith Devlin wanted to hate Gray Rouillard--not feel drawn to him. For Rouillard, the thought of Faith in a swirl of tangled sheets beneath him was unthinkable--because he planned to use all his power to ruin her. But uncovering old secrets and new desires is something they can only do together.

I gave this 3 stars on Goodreads because while I liked the HEA, I had a hard time understanding how Faith could feel anything like love for Gray after the way he treated her that night 12 years earlier. Especially after he continues to be rude and a complete jerk to her when she moves back to town. Attraction or not, I think it would take me a lot longer to forgive. The thing I did like about the book is that you get a good sense of where both the characters are coming from since you see them in different phases of their life. I did sympathize a little bit with Gray and can understand his reaction on "that night". But I hated how he treated Faith years later. My heart broke for her after the porch scene.

While the mystery of what happened was interesting, it was pretty easy to figure out the killer. As usual, Ms. Howard writes some pretty steamy loves scene. The bathroom scene was very amusing. The audio version was great. I love Natalie Ross as a narrator.

--Kari

Virtual Book Tour - Easter's Lilly

Author: Judy Serrano
Publisher: Black Rose Writing

It was Easter Sunday; the day Lilly's life went from safe and comfortable to dangerously unfamiliar. Her transformation takes her from a small town girl having an affair with a low ranked gangster in the Montiago crime syndicate, to a woman of grace and fortitude married to the head of the organization.

Easter's Lilly is an inspired journey from the idyllic to the darker side of self-discovery. Read as the over-privileged brothers embark on their journey that twists and turns down the road of unbridled passion in this first book of the series.

Easter's Lilly by Judy Serrano follows Lilly through an interesting life journey. An affair with a drug dealer leads her into a life of danger and darkness. She also finds love and in a twisted way, family. What I liked about this book is the concept. I think the idea for the story was really good and had great potential. I did like the characters in the book. They are pretty well written. Lilly is grows up a lot in the book and I had a lot of sympathy for her situation.

What I didn't like about the book is the amount of stuff that is packed into it. It was filled with so many twists and turns that seem to come out of nowhere. The pacing of the book didn't work well for me. I feel like there was a lot that could have been cut out of this book and the story would have still worked well. Clearly this is not a stand alone novel as the book ends with a huge cliff hanger. I will probably read the next one because I want to know what happens next.

--Kari

* note: I read a complimentary copy of Easter's Lilly supplied courtesy of the author. I was not compensated in anyway for this review. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*

Summer Splash Giveaway Winners!

Congrats to the following winners (randomly chosen using random.org) of our Summer Splash blog hop. Check your e-mails for details.

LindsayWrites - Roboapocolypse
Cindy - The Silent Land
Jen K. - Murder Takes the Cake.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and entered!

- Kari & Autumn