Under the Troll Bridge: An FBI file (Fairyland Border Investigations)

So, I published a short story several years ago introducing Tess, your average small-town cop, and Shondeen, your average 7-foot-tall black elf border patrol agent. The town of Goose Creek is invaded by two red-caps on a murderous rampage and it's up to the police duo to catch them and return them back across the border to Fairyland. It's dark and weird and very silly.

I published a second story in Hadrosaur Productions' anthology Exchange Students, this time featuring Señor Howitzer, an immortal talking chihuahua from Fairyland tasked with stopping an invasion by unicorn crime lords.

Now it's time for another installment in the Tess-Shondeen story. Trolls are bringing drugs to Goose Creek, or so it's rumored. And not just any drugs, these are the ones banned even in Fairyland. Who knows what mayhem will ensue if they are imbibed by unsuspecting humans and their pets? Cosmic catnip causes serious side effects in cats - wings, horns, magical powers manifesting, and even cats opening their third eyes prematurely!

Can Tess and Shondeen find the trolls before it's too late? You'll have to read and find out!

Installments 1-3 are free on Kindle Vella, the rest are dropping one a week until the madness is resolved and balance is restored to the border.

Under the Troll Bridge

Interagency Cooperation

Exchange Students

New Book Release - Newtimber Fractured by Karen Hoover

My good friend, Karen Hoover, is releasing a new book. I'm here to help her celebrate and to entice all of you good people to check out the book. Karen writes some great fantasy so I'm sure it will be an entertaining read. She's even offering her book, The Sapphire Flute, for FREE! Check out the links at the end of the post.

Newtimber Fractured:

There was absolutely no way a black dragon hovered outside of Newtimber. Sianna rubbed her eyes, but the dragon was still there, clutching a round object that looked like a spotted egg. And then the egg fell, hitting the ground like an atomic bomb, sending out waves of a slow-moving fog that distorted everything it touched.

The citizens of Newtimber change. The old man down the street stretches into a screaming tree. Sianna’s skateboarding friend, Matt, transforms into a giant green dragon. Pegasus. Sirens. Griffins. Vampires. Zombies. Creatures from the myths of every culture come to life through the people.

Even Sianna changes, her skin becoming stone hard, and she gains the ability to travel from the human realm into the dimension of the fae, using it to free her father from prison and enlist his aid in battling the evil bent on taking over the world.

One person to heal a family, a town, and save the world. It seems an impossible task, but with the help of her new friends, it could happen. 

Right?

Purchase Links: 

Amazon

B&N 

Goodreads 

Author Bio: 

Karen E. Hoover has loved the written word for as long as she can remember. Her favorite memory of her dad is the time he spent with Karen on his lap, telling her stories for hours on end. Her dad promised he would have Karen reading on her own by the time she was four years old … and he very nearly did. Karen took the gift of words her dad gave her and ran with it. Since then, she’s written two novels and reams of poetry. Her head is fairly popping with ideas, so she plans to write until she’s ninety-four or maybe even a hundred and four.

Inspiration is found everywhere, but Karen’s heart is fueled by her husband and two sons, the Rocky Mountains, her chronic addiction to pens and paper, and the smell of her laser printer in the morning.

Author Links – 

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Blog

Amazon

~ Get The Sapphire Flute (The Wolfchild Saga, Book One) by Karen, FREE! ~ 

 ~ Amazon

 ~ B&N

Basket of Book Reviews

The Void; Brett J. Talley (release date July 2012)

 I don't usually read horror. I indulge in the occasional bad monster movie or classic Poe or A.A. Merritt tale, but not the freaky scary horror. But my new publisher, Journalstone, publishes mainly horror. (My books aren't horror, they're SF; just FYI) This is one of their new titles, coming in July. I read the blurb and thought it sounded interesting. I got an ARC (advanced reader copy) for review. Now that you've heard my whole saga of why I read this book, let's move on to the review.

The Void is a great science fiction novel, with some creepy horror bits. Or you could call it a horror novel with lots of science fiction. It's not a monster alien attack story, it's more suspense. Interstellar travel triggers dreams in those who travel. If they try to stay awake, they go insane. But the dreams are much more sinister than anyone realizes.

If you're looking for a great suspense story with plenty of drama and action, pick this one up. You won't regret it. This is Brett Talley's second novel. His first was nominated for a Stoker award. He's good.

I give this one 4.5 stars and a PG rating (no language, no steamy bedroom scenes, but plenty of creepy scariness.)

200 Crochet Blocks for blankets, throws, and afghans; Jan Eaton

I was wandering through my local library a few weeks ago, and found their crochet pattern books. I enjoy crocheting. It's something I can do when I'm tired and watching tv and too lazy to do anything else. My only problem is that I have no patience for long-term or large projects. I want something I can finish quickly. This book was perfect. Blocks don't take long to make. Get enough of them finished, and you can sew them into an afghan. Ta-da! Large project completed. I was thinking of making up a bunch of these squares using cotton yarn. Two sewn back-to-back would make a nice hot pad. One could be a nice facial scrubber. Or you could sew four together to make a pillow top. Or doilies. Or doll blankets...

The instructions were clear and easy to follow. I give this one 5 stars. Ages: anyone who wants to crochet

In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace; K. D. McCrite


I bought this book for my daughter's ninth birthday, and to support my friend and fellow author, Katie. It was a little too old for my daughter, mostly because she isn't quite ready to read at this level.

April Grace is eleven and starting summer vacation. Her family lives in the Ozarks on a farm, which is just fine with April Grace. When the new neighbors stop by for directions, April Grace finds them stuck-up and rude. They're city folk with no appreciation of the country.

This book is hilarious, especially the dinner scene. Set in the 1980s, it brought back a lot of memories for me. Not that I was ever accused of being an Ozark hillbilly or that I ever had an older sister with delusions of glamor or that I ever had a feud with impossible neighbors...

I give this book 4.5 stars, rated G, recommended for ages 10+, especially girls who wonder how they are ever going to fit in.

Monsters and Mormons; Wm Morris & Theric Jepson


Disclaimer: I'm one of the authors in this collection.

Back in the days of pulp fiction, Mormon settlers were easy villains to add to stories. Turn it upside down. Let the Mormons be the heroes and give them some great monsters to fight, then see where the authors take the stories.

This collection has a wide variety of stories, everything from monster slasher horror, to suspense, to science fiction, to sweet romance, to humor. It's a great look into Mormon culture. Don't expect doctrine, just a lot of good entertainment, 500 pages worth.

My two favorite stories are Other Duties by Nathan Shumate (a new bishop finds out about the duties in the top secret handbook) and The Other Wife by Emily Milner (a woman who can see ghosts marries and finds out about her husband's previous two wives).

I give this one 4.5 stars, rated PG mostly for violence and scary monsters.


(I've reviewed A Moth in Darkness before, but I'm including it here because it is book 1 of the trilogy)

The Fly in Paradise, Spiders from Memory; Frances Pauli

Fly and Spiders finish off the story started in Moth. Liz Larson and her friends opened the gates between our world and the Fey world. Now, a decade later, she's no longer part of it. Until people start to go missing and things unravel between the worlds.

This is urban fantasy with a great twist. No vampires or other undead, just elves and fairies and a twisted mystery with consequences greater than anyone imagined. If you're looking for suspense and intrigue and fantasy with a dose of romance, these are great books. And the kelpie? I don't want to ever meet one of those, even in broad daylight.

I give this trilogy 5 stars, PG rating.

Author Interview - Denise Verrico

Please welcome Denise Verrico to The Far Edge of Normal! How can we find you?

http://www.immortylrevolution.blogspot.com/
http://www.deniseverricowriter.webs.com/
https://www.facebook.com/#!/Immortylrevolution
https://www.facebook.com/#!/cedricvampire
http://twitter.com/#!/deniseverrico

What do you currently have in print and where can we find them?

The Immortyl Revolution series: Cara Mia, Twilight of the Gods, My Fearful Symmetry and Servant of the Goddess.  They are available through all the big online outlets like Amazon, B&N, Fictionwise, Omni Lit etc. in multi format ebook and trade paperback.  They can be ordered through major bookstores.  Some indie bookstores do carry them.

What genre do you write?

Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Sci Fi and Horror

Do you have cats or other pets? Why or why not?

I have six birds, belonging to the parrot family. I love parrots because they are so intelligent and entertaining.  They’re social creatures that form strong bonds with their human “flock members”.  They also tend to see one person as their “mate”.  My two favorites are my Timneh African Grey, Gromit and my son’s cockatiel, Pippin.  The funny thing is, Pippin chose me as his person, while Gromit, who is my bird, chose my son as his favorite.  I like to put parrots and other kinds of birds in my books. Rooks, birds related to crows and ravens, feature in a book I’m currently writing.

What inspires your stories?

Gosh, I find inspiration everywhere.  I love reading about science, history and other cultures, which helps in world building. I usually come up with characters first and create the world and plot around them.  Mia, the heroine from my vampire series, came to me in a dream when I was reading a lot of Anne Rice. 

What events do you have coming up?

I’m at the Ohioana Book festival on May 11th and at The Piqua Ohio Public Library Author Fair on May 18th.  I’m currently on a blog tour, and I also have an online book launch event put on by Bewitching Book Tours on June 2nd.

How do you like your romance, sweet or spicy? Or do you like romance?

I’m not a fan of romance as a genre, but I do like an exploration of relationships as a subplot in all kinds of stories.  I find the romance genre puts too many restrictions on an author and idealizes relationships too much.  My taste in men isn’t conventional, and I don’t like that the hero has to be a stereotypical “alpha male”. I’m far more attracted to edgy, artistic types, and my heroes tend to be pretty rather than rugged—but they are tough and smart, not wimpy. My vampires are pansexual, poly-amorous creatures, so no monogamous romances for them.  I’m an earthy gal, and I tend to like the sex hot, but not parts specific.  Blood is drawn and vampire tantra practiced. 

What is your current WIP?

I’m writing a fantasy set in an eighteenth century technology.  I’d call it picaresque in tone.  The world is somewhat inspired by the geography of New Zealand and Maori mythology. 

The island nation of Maritania has just emerged from an oppressive theocracy.  Feona Carmodi, the main character, is a seventeen-year-old actress of mixed blood who secretly practices native magic.  This leads to all kinds of trouble for her.

It’s a lot of fun for me, because I get to draw upon my theater background and write lots of what I hope is witty dialogue.

I’ve also got some shorts and another urban fantasy novel in the works.

Do you write to music or not? If so, what type of music inspires you the most?

I listen to a lot of music, but I love rock and classical best.  I’m a freak for Queen and David Bowie.  Cedric, one of my vampires, is a musician who adores Bowie.  Kurt, another of my vamps, was child prodigy classical pianist.  Someday, I’m sure I’ll have a character that belts out show tunes.  Hmm… Sounds like a role for John Barrowman.

Queen and Bowie, gotta love them. What hobbies do you have that you want to share?

I’m a roller coaster enthusiast.  Last estimate, I’ve ridden over 100 different coasters on the East Coast and in the Midwest.  I’ve yet to make it to parks in the West.  My favorites are Millennium Force and The Raptor at Cedar Point in Ohio.   Living in Central Ohio is great because I’m about halfway between Cedar Point and King’s Island.

Did you always want to be an author? Who inspired you?

No, as a child, I wanted to be a marine biologist or veterinarian.  Later, I was bitten by the theater bug and became an actress.  In college, one of my acting professors used to say I was destined to become a writer because I was so into theater literature and used to write humor pieces to entertain my friends.  Eventually, I turned to writing plays and fiction.  Blame it on Anne Rice.  She killed off one of my favorite characters and made me want to write my own vampire world. 

What are your favorite movies, tv shows, or books to read? Is there one that you could watch/read over and over without ever tiring of it?

I love Robert Graves’ Claudius and Mary Renault’s Alexander the Great novels.  I read Marian Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon, over and over, but my favorite book of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird.  My favorite TV shows are Game of Thrones, Dexter, Torchwood, Being Human, Dark Shadows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly.  Movies, hands down, are the Lord of the Rings films.  Yes, I’ve watched them and all of the appendices about thirty times.  Of course, the eye candy makes it easy.  I’m obsessed with Elijah Wood.

What characters are your favorites from your books?

Kurt Eisen in my Immortyl Revolution books is one of my most complex characters.  He was in Dauchau as a teenager and was forced into a sexual relationship with an SS officer in order to survive. Later, his vampire master, Brovik, rescues him.  Kurt falls deeply for Brovik, only to find himself second in his master’s affections and a slave in status.  Then Kurt meets Mia.  These two slaves are jaded by the corruption and oppression of Immortyl society.  As a Holocaust survivor, Kurt sees the implications of vampirism all too well.  

Kurt is full of contradictions and torn by aspects of his nature, both sexual and vampiric.  He’s driven by bloodlust, but he has an innate sense of justice that makes him want to rectify things by finding a biological cure for his condition and others.  Kurt keeps his own counsel and is intensely private, yet he becomes a revolutionary leader.  He’s shy, but can be eloquent when he’s moved to speak.  He loves and admires Mia, his fierce consort, more than anyone he’s ever known and swears to never hurt her, yet he denies her political power.  He also takes male and female lovers.  Of course, Mia is no angel either in that respect.  She fights tooth and nail for recognition and power.

From any work of fiction?

Doesn’t everyone want Atticus Finch as a dad?  I thought he was the coolest character ever, standing up for what he believes in, even though it’s dangerous for him and his family.  I admire his moral courage.

I also love Bagoas from Mary Renault’s The Persian Boy.  Bagaos was a real person, a male courtesan in service to Alexander the Great.  He was someone who had to navigate a lot of intrigue to stay alive, but eventually gained some power and status.

Bagoas inspired me to create another of my favorite characters, Cedric MacKinnon, the male vampire courtesan in My Fearful Symmetry.  Courtesans are interesting figures because they have to be smart and talented as well as beautiful. They often are involved in political intrigue.  I needed a character that could observe and move within my vampire ruling class.  Because the chief elder’s court in India is somewhat cut-off from the modern world, it gave me the opportunity to do some neat world building for Cedric’s book.  I liked writing about a world so apart from our own.  This is when I discovered my need to start writing some fantasy projects outside of the urban fantasy sub-genre.

If you could meet one historical person for dinner, who would it be and why?

It’s a toss-up.  Elizabeth I of England spent her childhood and young womanhood always on the edge of danger.  She never knew what her fate would be.  By all accounts, she was fiercely intelligent.  I’ve read a lot of books about her.  I don’t think we’d be cozy friends, but I do admire her.  I’d also love to have Oscar Wilde over for dinner and hear him say say wicked, witty things.  I’d warn him to stay away from Bosie, but I know he’d never listen. 

If you could travel anywhere on Earth, where would you want to go? If you could travel anywhere, fictional or real, where would you go?

I’d love to go to New Zealand and India.  I fell in love with the topography of New Zealand from the LOTR, and the Maori have a fascinating culture.  Sure, I also want to watch the toilet water go down the opposite way. 

I did a lot of research on India and Indian culture, art and mythology for My Fearful Symmetry.  Indian classical dance is amazing.  Also, so much of vampire lore can be traced back to India.

Fictional, I’d have to say either Hogwart’s Castle or Rivendell.  Hogwart’s has the moving staircases and living paintings.  Rivendell, as seen in the films, is just so cool and art nouveau that I want to live there. 

If you could time travel, what is one event you would want to see in person, either future or past? 

The Big Bang.  I want to be there at the beginning. 

What's your favorite color? Food? Reading spot?

My favorite color is red, the color of power and blood.  I also look my best in it. 

My favorite food is lobster.  I never get enough!

I read mostly in bed, because that’s the only time I get to relax.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Sure, I’d like to ask the readers who their favorite fictional character is and why.

Thanks!

Thank you for stopping by and sharing a bit about yourself. I love getting to know other authors. So, readers, who's up for the challenge? Tell us who your favorite fictional character is and why. There may even be a prize of some sort... 

From Denise: I'm giving a free ebook of Annals of the Immortyls to all commenters. Simply provide an email, and I'll send you a coupon code as soon as it's released.  Also, to enter my monthly blog drawing to win an e-copy of Servant of the Goddess, follow this link and comment on this post: http://www.immortylrevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/sexy-cedric-reveals-all.html

Book review - Monster Hunter International, Larry Correia

Warning: This post is written under the influence of a migraine and allergy medication. If it sounds loopy, it's because the author definitely is.

I met Larry Correia at a local con recently. He's a nice guy. A total gun nut, but still a very nice guy. In many ways, he resembles the main character in his novel, Owen Pitt.

Monster Hunter isn't the kind of book I usually pick up. It involves the undead. But since they are basically cannon fodder for the book, I decided to buy a copy off him and try it. Did I mention Larry is a really nice guy? (And, no, he isn't paying me to say that. Not yet, anyway.) I added the book to my tottering WTR (want to read) and HTBR (have to be read) piles. I'm happy to say his book landed in the first category. Then, life happened.

My husband picked up the book and asked me if it was good. I said, "I don't know, I haven't read it yet. But Larry is a nice guy." My husband read the book in one weekend. Considering he dumps books he doesn't like by page 50, it was a good sign.

So I finally read the book over the weekend. Very fun read. Lots of monster slaughter happens, usually with heavy firepower, but the story is more than just pasting various undead with large-bore silver ammo then burning them with grenade launchers. Larry manages to create hordes of mindless undead that make sense. Their creator has a purpose for them and the world that nobody with any brains is going to like.

Monster Hunter International could have devolved into the usual zombie/vampire gore novel with big guns and hot women, but it doesn't. The writing is a bit clunky at times, but this is his first book and the story carries it past the minor flaws. Owen Pitt is engaging, fun, sweet in a weird way, and somehow carries an air of innocence total incongruous with his skills of mass destruction.

The ending leaves the story open to a definite sequel, which I have to admit, I'm looking forward to reading. If you like quirky characters, piles of undead carcasses, massive firepower, and gun talk, check out Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia. You'll only be sorry if you actually *like* vampires, zombies, litches, etc. (They die, a LOT!)

Tracy S. Morris on BU Blog Tour

Today we welcome Tracy S. Morris to our tour.

Tracy S. Morris is a writer, photographer, gardener, herbalist and self-proclaimed kamikaze speller. She is the author of the Tranquility mysteries, a series of books that have been described as "Jeff Foxworthy writing the X-Files set in Cicily, Alaska."  The newest book in the series, Bride of Tranquility was a finalist for the Darrell Award in 2010. She has been awarded an Honorable Mention by the Writers of the Future on three separate occasions.

Morris's other works include short stories with the Esther Friesner anthology Strip Mauled and the Grantville Gazette, both by Baen books, essays with the Benbella books Smart Pop anthologies as well as numerous short stories in the Bubbas of the Apocolypse zombies vs. rednecks line of anthologies by Yard Dog Press.  You can find her on the web at http://www.tracysmorris.com

She lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas with her husband and two dogs.  The dogs are in charge.

1. How can we find you? Website, Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc. - please share your public links.

The best way is through my website: http://www.tracysmorris.com
All my other accounts including, facebook, twitter, livejournal link through that.

2. Tell us about your writing - What genre do you prefer to write? What books, stories, other publications that you've written are your personal favorites? Anything new coming up?
Mostly I write urban fantasy.  Or more accurately, rural fantasy since the settings are generally towns in the Ozarks with smaller populations.  My best known work is the Tranquility series, which is sort of what you would get if Jeff Foxworthy wrote the X-Files and set every episode in the town of Cicely, Alaska.  The second book in the series, Bride of Tranquility, just received an honorable mention for the Darrell Award. 

My tendency is to write offbeat, satirical genre stories.

In June one of my short stories will be released in the Yard Dog press Rednecks vs. Zombies anthology A Stitch in Time Saves None.  This is the 5th anthology set within the Bubbas of the Apocalypse shared universe.


3. What about you as a person? What do you do to relax? Favorite movies or tv shows? Hobbies?

I actually spend a lot of time in front of the computer.  My day job involves writing content for websites.  I write a lot of how-to articles, travel articles and gardening articles.  No surprise that my hobbies include photography, travel and gardening.  Things that I can get dirty doing, as opposed to sitting in front of a computer. If I have down time, I try to read for fun.

4. What gets your creative juices going? Do you write to a music, and do you want to share your playlist?

I don't write to music because it's distracting.  Stirring music makes me want to jump up, run around the house, choreograph the next fight scene that I am going to write, etc.  I actually carry a journal and pen with me everywhere so that I can write when the inspiration strikes. Usually it strikes when I have to be in a meeting and I'm daydreaming, so at least I can look like I'm taking notes.

5. "All writers must have cats, especially if they write fantasy or speculative fiction." Do you have a stand on this one? Any cute pictures of your kitty or other pet?

I'm not a cat person.  I've got two Shiba Inu puppies that my husband and I adopted.  They keep me company while I'm writing.  Mostly they lay around getting fat.  Occasionally when the mood strikes me to get in shape they will take a run with me.  Dogs have friends.  Cats have staff. 

I used to have three ferrets, which are the inspiration behind the ferrets in my detective novels.  They're partially a tip of the hat to all the great pet mysteries out there.  The thing with ferrets is that they're not really focused animals.  So while dog and cat detectives might help their owners out, a ferret will be off sleeping in your sock drawer or hiding your keys. 

6. What organizations do you recommend for those wanting to become writers? Any advice you'd like to share about writing?

Writing is a process of collecting rejection letters. Don't get discouraged, because rejection is a part of it.  Today was a good example for me. I checked the mailbox and found a certificate for an Honorable Mention award that I was recently given by Writers of the Future tucked in next to a rejection letter from a major publisher. 

I would also suggest finding a good (emphasis on good) writing group.  That kind of mentorship is invaluable to your growth as a writer. If your writers group is not helpful, or if it's just stroking your ego, it's time to move on. 

7. What writers inspired you to become an author?

I was a huge reader before I ever wrote, but I made the decision to write when I was about 12 years old.  I can't remember just what it was that I read at the time, but I put the book down thinking that I would love to write like that and put out books and short stories.  

8. Any special appearances or events coming up that you want to mention?

I will be at ConQuest in Kansas City on May 28-30, and then Soonercon in Oklahoma City June 4-6.  Soonercon is helping my publisher, Yard Dog Press celebrate their 15th anniversary.  They will be releasing their anthology A Stitch in Time Saves None at the convention.

Thanks for everything

Thank you for joining us. Good luck on your upcoming release!