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The Sun God’s Heir: Rebirth, Book 2 – Excerpt

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Welcome to the Book Tour for The Sun God’s Heir: Rebirth, Book 2 in Elliott Baker’s new series!

 

Excerpt

René looked out over the Belle Poulé’s forecastle at the stern of his other ship, the Seahawk. The horizon and sky were an unremitting gray, a dull sameness that closed in around him. The northwest coast of Africa crept along their port side. The faster brigantine had taken the lead as they cut through the dark brown, silt-filled water at the delta of the river Bou Regreg, home to the very corsairs who had attacked the Poulé a fortnight earlier. An unnatural quiet belied the tension on the faces of his crew. Both ships ran easily over a dead calm sea, tacking west by southwest, on a steady southerly wind.

Making four knots, the Poulé glided by the northern shore of the river. The Seahawk ahead of them reduced sail and tightened the separation between the ships to three hundred yards. A forest of masts came into view off the port side. The full might of the Moroccan slave trade stretched in an endless line across the harbor. Bristling with weapons and filled to the gunwales with swarthy men, the corsair’s ships remained motionless as the Poulé and the Seahawk sailed before them. Fifty ships of all sizes, from the large Xebecs carrying upwards of two hundred and fifty men, to small swift sloops with twenty men, bobbed with the tide. Waiting. The silence was oppressive. The wave of hatred and frustration that came from the pirates was so great that the air itself seemed thicker, harder to breathe.

Even standing off a thousand yards, the fortress on their port side brooded dark and menacing as they approached the slavers’

homeports. Within these two towns, one on each side of the river’s mouth, lived the fathers, brothers, and sons of the recently deceased pirates who had attacked René’s ship. The same pirates who had killed thirty-nine good men from the Belle Poulé in an attempt to enslave them all.

Of the three hundred slavers who had attacked the Poulé, not one survived. Not one. The sheik’s daughter, Akeefa, had assisted every corsair within the reach of her sword in finding their final resting place at the bottom of the Mediterranean. As lethal with a blade as anyone René had ever met, with the possible exception of the Maestro, Akeefa had stormed through the remaining pirates, her face rigid with vengeful zeal that even one might escape her blade.

“Emile, keep the gun ports closed. Signal the Seahawk to do the same.” Seconds would be lost having the gun ports closed, but there was no advantage in provoking a battle.

“Aye, sir.” The big captain of the Poulé yelled orders to his first mate. Signal flags passed the order to the Seahawk, producing an immediate and ordered activity aboard her.

René sensed, rather than heard, Akeefa come above deck followed by the sheikh, Miguel Zaportas, and her brother Abdul-Karim. René turned toward them, never quite losing his focus on the emerging ports of Salé and Rabat. Akeefa was robed in a dark blue burqa, but as evidenced by the scimitar she held, she was dressed differently beneath to allow her greater movement should her sword be required.

The men nodded. There was no way to reach Casablanca without passing the homeports of the Barbary pirates. Given the number of pirate vessels based here, only death or slavery awaited them if the corsairs chose to ignore the sultan’s command to allow them safe passage.

Tension increased as the two ships made way past the silent northern fortress, the only sound, that of the waves crashing against the dark pockmarked volcanic rock that robed its lower walls. Although it would put them beyond the range of its fixed cannon, moving farther from shore would avail them of nothing.

The number of men and ships sent on the wings of vengeance would surround and overwhelm René’s two ships, no matter how fast or well armed.

Akeefa came to stand next to him. “At least you have not asked me to remain below.”

“If we are attacked, there will be no need for a reserve force.”

“Coming up on Salé, sir,” Emile called out.

“Merci, Captain.” René stood at the port gunwale and peered through his spyglass.

The English called them Sallee Rovers. Slavers by trade, they had decimated villages along the southern coast of Europe, stripping away whole towns, men, women, and children. The old, the infirm, and those children too young or unable to survive the mattamore, the infamous slave pens, were killed. Their ships, like hungry sharks, lurked along the Mediterranean sea lanes often sinking the ships with their cargo, taking only the men.

The Seahawk and the Belle Poulé continued to make way before the pirate fleet. The Poulé shuddered. A fluttering sound accompanied the ship’s change. René looked up at her expanse of sail dreading what he might see. One by one the sails luffed in the dying wind. Both ships settled as their headway bled off. Motionless in the center of the channel. Nothing moved, no flags in the wind, no birds. Nothing. Almost as if the port held its breath. Minutes passed in tortured silence until finally the wind picked up, mere gentle gusts at first teasing the waiting canvas and then exhaling its power as one sail after the next filled and his ships began to move.

As the town of Rabat on Bou Regreg’s southern shore receded astern, René exhaled, and willed his muscles to relax.

 

Book Information:

Title: The Sun God’s Heir: Rebirth, Book 2

Author Name: Elliott Baker

Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Release Date: April 18, 2017

Grab Your Copy from Amazon:  http://amzn.to/2lEnUke

Visit the Tour Hosts:

http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/book-tour-schedule-sun-gods-heir.html

About The Sun God’s Heir: Rebirth, Book 2:

The Count of Monte Cristo meets ancient Egypt in this riveting sequel to The Sun God’s Heir: Return.

Set during the wave tossed years of white slavery and Barbary pirates, this is the epic story of René Gilbert, a journey that defies time as he must draw on a larger awareness earned in previous lifetimes.

The plague’s dark fingers curl around Bordeaux. René must return home to save those he loves. But first he has to escape a Moroccan sultan’s clutches. In Bordeaux, an enemy waits, filled with a hatred three thousand years old. Only René can defeat this dark power, and only if he reclaims his own ancient past. In this arena, death is but the least of failure’s penalties.

Meet the Author:

Award winning novelist and international playwright Elliott Baker grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. With four musicals and one play published and produced in the United States, New Zealand, Portugal, England, and Canada, Elliott is pleased to release his first novels. The Sun God’s Heir: Return, book one of the trilogy, was released this past January, and book two, Rebirth will come out on April 18th, followed in July by the third and final book of the series, Redemption. A member of the Authors Guild and the Dramatists Guild, Elliott lives in New Hampshire with his wife Sally Ann.

Grab Book 1, The Sun God’s Heir: Return, Book 1 on Amazon:

(P.S. – Book 1 is Free!)

http://amzn.to/2mklqLB

Book One, Return https://books.pronoun.com/the-sun-gods-heir-return/

Book Two, Rebirth https://books.pronoun.com/the-sun-gods-heir-rebirth/

You can find Elliott at the following places:

Website: http://elliottbaker.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElliottBakerAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElliottBaker?lang=en

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8423737

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The Sun God’s Heir: Return by Elliot Baker – Excerpt

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Welcome to the Book Launch and Free on Kindle Promotion Tour for
The Sun God’s Heir: Return, Book 1.

From Jan. 18-22, 2017,  the Kindle version of The Sun God’s Heir: Return, Book 1 will be FREE for everyone.

About The Sun God’s Heir: Return, Book 1:

The Sun God’s Heir is a swashbuckling series, set at the end of the seventeenth century in France, Spain and northern Africa. Slavery is a common plague along the European coast and into this wild time, an ancient Egyptian general armed with dark arts has managed to return and re-embody, intent on recreating the reign of terror he began as Pharaoh. René Gilbert must remember his own former lifetime at the feet of Akhenaten to have a chance to defeat Horemheb. A secret sect has waited in Morocco for three thousand years for his arrival.

Book Information:

Title: The Sun God’s Heir: Return, Book 1
Author Name: Elliott Baker
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: January 2, 2017

Excerpt:

The boatswain, a large man with scars on his arms and face, walked over to stand in front of René. “Chain him to the mast.”
Their gazes met.
“Don’t look at me, boy.” He backhanded René in the face. “Look down at the deck when I talk to you. You’re some over-fed nobleman’s kid thinkin’ you make the rules. Surprised you ain’t cryin’ for your mama. You got a mama, boy?” he asked and laughed. When René didn’t answer, he hit him again. “I asked you a question, boy. Don’t try my patience, ‘cause I ain’t got none.”
“My mother died when I was born.” René studied the man’s feet to see how he moved. All the while he cataloged everything in his peripheral vision.
“Well, not to worry, you will be seeing her soon.” The boatswain turned to walk away then turned back and hit René again. His bitter laugh floated across the deck. “I just had to do that.”
Though they had chained him in a way that forced him to stand, René had enough slack to turn and see most of the ship. He was aboard an English slave ship. She was an older carrack in design with the raised forecastle. She had seen better days, though. The fact that she was still on the seas suggested either a cutthroat reputation or an experienced captain. Under the wear, the ship was surprisingly clean, her ropes and sails newly repaired and in good order. Second rate though she might be, she was seaworthy. This was a veteran crew, competent in their tasks, and not likely to make mistakes that might allow him to escape. Escape. Even if he could, where would he go in the middle of the ocean?
Do not rush fate. One thing at a time. Do what you can do.
His master’s voice echoed within his head.
He had to pick a fight and hope he survived long enough to create allies. The next time the big boatswain walked by, René laughed. “What are you findin’ so funny, boy?” The man stuck his face within inches of René’s.
The boatswain’s right leg was shorter than his left and René doubted anyone brought that fact to his attention without regret.
“You walk funny.” René called out loud and clear. There was no profit to him if he got beat up and no one knew why.
All work within the sound of René’s voice stopped. Silence reigned. René had guessed right, and now he needed to survive his insight.
The boatswain froze, disbelief written on his face. The disbelief changed to rage. “What did you say?” Spittle flew from his mouth.
Even the captain had turned to watch. René counted on the fact that Gaspard’s agent had given the captain a great deal of money along with explicit instructions that did not include throwing a dead boy overboard. What he could not know was how close to dead the agent considered acceptable.
“I said you walk funny,” René said— louder this time, so there was no mistake in his words.
“Do you know what a cat is, boy?” The veins in the man’s neck pulsed. His eyes were shot red with blood.

Amazon Link:

Visit the Blogs Participating in the Book Launch and Free on Kindle Promotion:

Praise for The Sun God’s Heir: Return:
A great read! From the first sword fight I could not put it down. Adventure, romance, action with just the right amount of his history and mysticism. The main character Rene displays all the qualities a true hero should; loyal, smart, humble, and a ferocious warrior all opponents will fear before their end. I could not help but feel fully immersed in the story. One of the best reads I can remember, I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series!! ~ Jason Battistelli
The Sun God’s Heir is a page turner. The development of the characters made you really care what happens next to each person, good or evil. The descriptions of the ships, homes and countryside transported me into the era and made me feel like I was one of the onlookers or a part of the story itself. The moment I finished I had to have the second book to see what happens next. Fabulous!” ~
Karyn Krause Cumberland, Esquire
The Sun God’s Heir is a fascinating combination of historical period fiction, sci-fi, and political intrigue. Elliott Baker weaves a tale that one would have to be catatonic not to enjoy. The character development ranks among the best I’ve read; truly, by halfway through the book I found myself thinking like Rene (the main character) in my own daily life. This is the sign of mastery of character depth which is so often lacking in contemporary fiction. And the pacing! Rarely does a book seem to move at the speed of a movie without feeling haphazard. I applaud Elliott for pulling that off, as only an experienced screenwriter or playwright could. If you like a quality story that bridges traditional genre boundaries, then the Sun God’s Heir is for you! ~ Joshua Bartlett

Meet the Author:

Award winning novelist and international playwright Elliott B. Baker grew up in Jacksonville, Florida but has spent the last thirty-five years or so living in sunny New Hampshire. With four musicals and one play published and produced throughout the United States, in New Zealand, Portugal, England, and Canada, Elliott is pleased to offer his first novel, Return, book one of The Sun God’s Heir trilogy. Among his many work experiences, Elliott was a practicing hypnotherapist for seven years. A member of the Authors Guild and the Dramatists Guild, Elliott lives in New Hampshire with his wife Sally Ann.

You can find Elliott at the following places:

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Exclusive Excerpt from The Time Traveller’s Resort and Museum

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New Release by David McLain!

Title: The Time Traveller’s Resort and Museum

Author Name: David McLain

Illustrator: Felix Eddy

Genre(s): Time Travel, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Comedy, Steampunk

Release Date: November 17, 2016

Publisher:  Mirror World Publishing

(http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/)

Follow the Tour:

http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-tour- schedule-time- travellers.html

About The Time Traveller’s Resort and Museum:

“If you need to know men’s secrets

Or if there’s something you need to find

If you want to see the dinosaurs

Or the insides of your mind.

If you want to watch the earth begin,

Or see what the apocalypse will leave behind,

You need to thank Alice Anderson,

For Alice is the mother of time.”

That was how the rhyme went. Every time traveler knew it. Everyone that is, except of course, for Alice herself,

since she hadn’t invented time travel yet. Since returning to London, Alice’s life has been turned upside down. She’s

been accused of murder and lost her position in the scientific community. Her only ally in this journey is a strange

man who seems to think that Alice may be about to open up a strange new world of possibilities, but is probably not

telling her everything he knows.

Read an Exclusive  Excerpt:

It didn’t seem like a place for a king to die. He lay there on a simple stretcher, with no more ceremony than a common soldier might have. His beard was bloody, and his arms looked disjointed, but he didn’t look like he was dying. Maybe it would be all right. It was difficult to tell. The young man knelt down beside him. The smell was overwhelming. ‘The smell of death,’he thought. ‘I have to pretend. I have to pretend I don’t smell it. Just look at him. He looks fine. Just look at him.’ The young man looked at the King’s face and tried to smile. The King opened his eyes and stared at him.

“Hwæt!” he said. He spoke with a small laugh, as if all of this were a practical joke on him. “Adam,” he said. The young man nodded. He had never been sure why it was that the King called him that. It wasn’t his name. Normally he would object, but of course things like that didn’t matter just now. With great effort, the King raised his hand to his chest. It was only then that the young man noticed the sword.

The King’s beautiful sword was still clutched in his left hand; or rather, the hilt of his sword was still in his hand. The blade had shattered, leaving only a small stub where the deadliest weapon in Britain had once been. The cold flat steel of the hilt was still perfect, but its power was gone now, gone forever. It had shattered like a chicken bone, or an old piece of wood.

“Wē wunne,” the King said.

“Wē wunne,” the young man repeated.

“Ond min deað,” the King gasped.

“No,” the young man said firmly, as if his insistence would be enough. The King laughed again.

“Nū morgen,” the King said. “Nū cyning. Ic Fæder fæþmum, ond Ic spræce mit mitig.”

And with that, he died.

***

They buried the King at the abbey. He was laid in the hollow of an oak tree, near the men who had died so willingly protecting his kingdom and his throne. The hilt of his sword was laid on his chest. The young man had a local blacksmith lay down the engraving on the hilt, so that the world would know him for all time. It was nothing extravagant, just a simple dedication in Latin. The plot was marked with a stone pyramid and nothing more. The funeral was attended by the men who had survived, and those who were there were convinced that he would have been honoured. He was now the past, and the future.

A new morning. A new king. I embrace the Father and I speak with might.

Those were his last words, and they haunted the young man until he became an old man, long after the old king had become a myth and a shadow. When the young man was asked about the old king, and he was asked more times than he could remember, he would usually talk about his love of the people, of all people, and the way he could make men laugh. But sometimes, just sometimes, when it was late at night, he would tell people about the last words of the King, and the engraving the blacksmith had put on the sword:

 

HIC IACET

ARTHVR

Meet the Author:

David McLain is the author of the two novels: Dragonbait, and The Life of a Thief. His stories have

been published in the anthologies Metastasis, Penny Dread II, and the Doctor Who Anthology Time

Shadows, as well as over two dozen magazines. He has been featured on NPR’s Off the Page and the History of

England podcast. He lives in New York.

Connect with David McLain:

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-

mclain-63b77963

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show

/5814869.David_McLain

Meet the Illustrator:

Felix Eddy graduated Magnum Cum Laude from Alfred University. She is the author and illustrator of A

Bestiary Alphabet, and has illustrated several book covers and children’s books. You can find out more about

her at www.felixeddy.com

Purchase Links:

MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING:

Paperback: http://mirror- world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/poetry/products/the-

time-travellers- resort-and- museum-paperback

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Chosen by the Valkyries – A guest post by author Sharon Ledwith

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If you are ever lucky enough (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) to be chosen by the Valkyries, it says a lot about your character and the warrior within you. In Book 2 of The Last Timekeepers tween and teen time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, an eccentric baron named Baron von Roth teaches Jordan and Amanda about the significance of the Valkyries, runes, and the most important and granddaddy of all Nordic gods, Odin.

Valkyrie - from The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret by Sharon Ledwith
Valkyrie

Valkyries were female figures, closely associated with Odin, whose function it was to select those slain in battle for Valhall (a.k.a. Valhalla). The name Valkyries literally means ‘choosers of the slain’, and Valhall means ‘hall of the slain’. These slain warriors were gathered for Odin’s ghostly army, fed boar’s flesh (yum), and allowed to drink ale before they trained to hone their skills for the final battle at Ragnarok (the end of the old world). After the slain warriors are chosen, it was the Valkyries job to keep the warriors’ horned goblets filled to the brim with booze. In other words, besides being grim reapers, these ladies were also glorified waitresses.

Odin - from The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret by Sharon Ledwith
Odin

Odin is in a class all by himself. His name means ‘frenzy’, and he was also known as the god of magic and wisdom. Odin was often portrayed as a grey-bearded old man with one eye, his face hidden by a hood or a broad-brimmed hat, because he had cast an eye into Mirmir’s well in return for a drink of its ‘immense wisdom’. He gained insight another way by hanging himself (sacrificing himself to himself) from a mighty wind-swept ash tree named Yggdrasil. Odin survived in this state for no less than nine days and nights. At the end of the ninth night, he at last perceived shapes in the depths: the runes! His sacrifice had been accepted and the runes (which mean both ‘letter’ and ‘secret’ or ‘mystery’) were shown to him, revealing to Odin not only their forms, but also the secrets that lie within them. Having fixed this knowledge in his formidable memory, Odin ended his ordeal with a scream of exultation. Whew, that’s a lot to endure for an ancient alphabet system!

Rune list from The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret by Sharon Ledwith
Rune List
Only a true hero can shine the light in humanity’s darkest time.
Book Details:
Title: The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret
Series:  The Last Timekeepers, Book 2
Author Name: Sharon Ledwith
Genre(s): Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, WWII
Release Date: October 17, 2016
Publisher:  Mirror World Publishing
About The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret:
Fourteen year-old Jordan Jensen always considered himself a team player on and off the field, until the second Timekeeper mission lands him in Amsterdam during World War Two. Pulled into the world of espionage, torture, and intolerance, Jordan and the rest of the Timekeepers have no choice but to stay one step ahead of the Nazis in order to find and protect a mysterious book.
With the help of the Dutch Resistance, an eccentric baron, Nordic runes, and an ancient volume originating from Atlantis, Jordan must learn that it takes true teamwork, trust, and sacrifice to keep time safe from the evils of fascism. Can Jordan find the hero within to conquer the darkness surrounding the Timekeepers? If he doesn’t, then the terrible truth of what the Nazis did will never see the light of day.
Read an Excerpt:
“I wonder what else is down here.” Drake beamed his cell phone across the basement, hitting jars of jams, pickles, and relishes. His stomach growled.
Jordan pulled the cheese from his pocket and handed it to Drake. “Trade you for your phone.”
“Best. Trade. Ever.” Drake passed his phone to Jordan.
Jordan walked over and grabbed a jar of pickles off the dusty shelf. At least they wouldn’t arrive at the baron’s place hungry. He hoped his uncle had managed to stop Amanda’s bleeding. His hand tightened over the jar, the ridges of the lid cutting into his palm. A scrape from behind the shelves made Jordan jump.
“Hello?” he asked, pushing jars aside. He flashed the cell phone into the small, dark area.
“Who ya talking to, Jordan?” Drake asked with his mouth full of cheese.
“Shhh, Drake.” Jordan listened. Hearing nothing, he shrugged and turned back around.
“I thought I heard—” Jordan stopped and pointed the phone at Ravi. His jaw dropped. “A-Are you serious, Sharma?”
Drake spat out his cheese, snorting with laughter.
“Is there a problem?” Ravi asked, tying the bowtie of his tuxedo.
“You look like a penguin with attitude!” Drake slapped his knee.
“Say what you want, but I’m glad we didn’t hit the cleaners on the way to school now,” Ravi replied, pulling down his sleeves, “or else I wouldn’t have these dry clothes.”
Jordan chuckled. Suddenly, he heard a door creak open, followed by heavy footsteps squeaking down the stairs. Panicking, Jordan stuffed Drake’s phone in his track suit jacket’s pocket and waved Drake over by the shelves. Drake slipped behind Jordan just in time, before the small light bulb above the bottom of the stairs clicked on. Jordan swallowed hard. There, staring directly at Ravi was a portly man in a blood-stained apron. Tufts of blond hair sprouted from the sides of his balding head. His brown trousers were pulled up past his waist, making him resemble an evil garden gnome. In one of his hands, he held a huge butcher knife, its blade flecked with blood.
Wielding the knife, the man pointed at Ravi. “Who are you?”
Ravi licked his thick lips nervously. “The name’s Bond. James Bond.”
Purchase Links:
Mirror World Publishing:
Amazon:
Amazon.ca:
KOBO:
Barnes & Noble:
Meet the Author:
Escape to the past and have a blast.
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her WEBSITE and BLOG. Look up her AMAZON AUTHOR page for a list of current books. Stay connected on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, GOOGLE+, and GOODREADS. Check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.
Connect with Sharon Ledwith:
Sharon’s Website: www.sharonledwith.com
Sharon’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/seledwith
Twitter: @sharonledwith: https://twitter.com/sharonledwith
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Exclusive Excerpt from The Secret in Mossy Swamp

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Things are never what they seem… in a foggy Louisiana swamp

 

Exclusive Excerpt:

“How old is he?”

“I believe he’s about your age,” Mama said.

“Did they find his boat?”

Mama shrugged. “Your father found an abandoned boat matching the description the family gave, down at the edge of the Atchafalaya Swamp early this morning. If he’s lost out there,” she bowed her head, “God help him. That swamp is thousands of acres.”

“My teacher, Miss Algood, said it’s over a million acres, and it’s the biggest swamp in the whole United States.”

“That is huge,” she said. “Well, your father is studying the currents down through there to see. If it is his boat, it might have drifted there on its own.”

“I’m sure it’s the current.” I wrinkled my nose. “Why would a kid want to go up in a big ole swamp, unless he thought the fishing was better there?”

“That’s what they are trying to figure out.” Mama stood up and brushed her hands across her apron. “Most of all they are concerned with where he could be now.”

I followed her back into the houseboat.

Papa sat staring at the maps. He rolled one of ’em up and ran his finger over the lines on another one.

“Are you going to eat something before you head out, Jack?” Mama asked him. He didn’t answer. His tanned forehead pulled his bushy brows down over his blue eyes.

Jesse jumped down from his chair at the table. “I’m sorry I colored in your book,” he mumbled with his head down. “I needed some paper to draw on, and it’s aw I could find.”

“Next time, ask me,” I said. “I’m sure I could have found some for you.” I glared at him. I wasn’t ready to forgive The Spaz just yet.

I walked over to Papa, trying not to interrupt his concentration. Lying next to one of the maps was a small key. I reached for it but Papa slapped his hand over it.

I’d grown an attraction to keys. Keys meant someone had secrets and secrets meant adventure. “What does that go to?”

Book Information:

Title: The Secret in Mossy Swamp

Series: Nikki Landry Swamp Legends, Book 3

Author Name: Rita Monette

Genre(s): Juvenile/Middle Grade, Adventure, Mystery

Length: Approx. 204 pages

ASIN: B01KIQNDD6
ISBN Paperback: 978-1987976168

Release Date: Septemer 17, 2016

Publisher: Mirror World Publishing (http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/)

Follow the Blog Tour:
http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-tour-schedule-secret-in-mossy.html

 

About The Secret in Mossy Swamp:

Living in a tiny houseboat, Nikki is stuck with sharing a room with her little brother, Jesse, who does what little brothers do best…torture their sisters. Fed up, she decides to build a place of her own…a tree house where no boys are allowed. Meanwhile, something strange is happening on Bayou Platte. Things and people are coming up missing…and little stick dolls covered in moss, known locally as “signs” from the legendary Rougarou, are showing up in their place.

Is the Rougarou really to blame? Can Nikki get to the bottom of the mystery before things get worse? Find out in this third instalment of the Nikki Landry Swamp Legends Series!

Add the Book on Goodreads:

Purchase Links:

Mirror World Publishing ~
Paperback: http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/juvenile/products/the-secret-in-mossy-swamp-paperback


eBook: http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/juvenile/products/the-secret-in-mossy-swamp-e-book

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cbkPHy

Meet the Author:
 

Behind Every Legend Lies the Truth!

Rita Monette was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana. She loves to write stories set in the beautiful, yet mysterious, bayous and swamps of her home state. She is currently retired and lives with her husband, four lap dogs, and one lap cat, in the mountains of Tennessee. Besides writing and illustrating, She enjoys participating in festivals and craft shows where she does face and body art, along with selling her books.

Facebook: 

http://amzn.to/2d0B4aF

Goodreads Author Page:  

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Cover Reveal – The Last Time Keepers and the Dark Secret

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Welcome to the cover reveal for Sharon Ledwith’s upcoming new novel, The Last Time Keepers and the Dark Secret.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Title: The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret
Series:  The Last Timekeepers, Book 2
Author Name: Sharon Ledwith
Genre(s): Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, WWII
Release Date: October 17, 2016
Publisher:  Mirror World Publishing (http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you ready to see the cover?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret:
Only a true hero can shine the light in humanity’s darkest time.
Fourteen year-old Jordan Jensen always considered himself a team player on and off the field, until the second Timekeeper mission lands him in Amsterdam during World War Two. Pulled into the world of espionage, torture, and intolerance, Jordan and the rest of the Timekeepers have no choice but to stay one step ahead of the Nazis in order to find and protect a mysterious book.
With the help of the Dutch Resistance, an eccentric baron, Nordic runes, and an ancient volume originating from Atlantis, Jordan must learn that it takes true teamwork, trust, and sacrifice to keep time safe from the evils of fascism. Can Jordan find the hero within to conquer the darkness surrounding the Timekeepers? If he doesn’t, then the terrible truth of what the Nazis did will never see the light of day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read an Excerpt:
“I wonder what else is down here.” Drake beamed his cell phone across the basement, hitting jars of jams, pickles, and relishes. His stomach growled.
Jordan pulled the cheese from his pocket and handed it to Drake. “Trade you for your phone.”
“Best. Trade. Ever.” Drake passed his phone to Jordan.
Jordan walked over and grabbed a jar of pickles off the dusty shelf. At least they wouldn’t arrive at the baron’s place hungry. He hoped his uncle had managed to stop Amanda’s bleeding. His hand tightened over the jar, the ridges of the lid cutting into his palm. A scrape from behind the shelves made Jordan jump.
“Hello?” he asked, pushing jars aside. He flashed the cell phone into the small, dark area.
“Who ya talking to, Jordan?” Drake asked with his mouth full of cheese.
“Shhh, Drake.” Jordan listened. Hearing nothing, he shrugged and turned back around.
“I thought I heard—” Jordan stopped and pointed the phone at Ravi. His jaw dropped. “A-Are you serious, Sharma?”
Drake spat out his cheese, snorting with laughter.
“Is there a problem?” Ravi asked, tying the bowtie of his tuxedo.
“You look like a penguin with attitude!” Drake slapped his knee.
“Say what you want, but I’m glad we didn’t hit the cleaners on the way to school now,” Ravi replied, pulling down his sleeves, “or else I wouldn’t have these dry clothes.”
Jordan chuckled. Suddenly, he heard a door creak open, followed by heavy footsteps squeaking down the stairs. Panicking, Jordan stuffed Drake’s phone in his track suit jacket’s pocket and waved Drake over by the shelves. Drake slipped behind Jordan just in time, before the small light bulb above the bottom of the stairs clicked on. Jordan swallowed hard. There, staring directly at Ravi was a portly man in a blood-stained apron. Tufts of blond hair sprouted from the sides of his balding head. His brown trousers were pulled up past his waist, making him resemble an evil garden gnome. In one of his hands, he held a huge butcher knife, its blade flecked with blood.
Wielding the knife, the man pointed at Ravi. “Who are you?”
Ravi licked his thick lips nervously. “The name’s Bond. James Bond.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meet the Author:
Unearthing the uncanny one book at a time.
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.
books

This Night Sucks – Book Tour

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Welcome to the Book Tour for Elizabeth J.M. Walker’s new novella, This Night Sucks!

Follow the tour each day to read reviews, guest posts, and exclusive excerpts.

Book Details:

From the author of She Dreamed of Dragons

Title: This Night Sucks

Author Name: Elizabeth J.M. Walker

Genre(s): Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Vampires, Comedy

Release Date: June 17, 2016

Publisher:  Mirror World Publishing 
http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/

Mirror World Publishing Link:  
http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/this-night-sucks-ebook

Amazon Link: 
http://amzn.to/1U3RQSX

Link to the Tour Schedule:

About the Book:

Lana is a high school senior enrolled in Vampire Education – a class to teach students about the very real presence of vampires in the world. Lana and her classmates don’t really expect to meet up with any undead bloodsuckers. Vampires are a lot like other scary things that supposedly exist but you hope you’ll never come across: nudist colonies, mad cow disease, and your parents’ sex life.

What is part of Lana’s everyday reality is navigating through one last year of high school while desperately trying to be less nerdy. She still loves spaceships, fantasy novels, and cat stickers, but she also recently got her braces removed, grew boobs, and is working on the makeup thing. She never expected her crush-of-a-lifetime Pete to even notice her – let alone ask her out on a date. 

The date is going great until Pete’s ex-girlfriend Katy shows up, all bloody and pissed off. Lana quickly realizes that Katy is not just her ordinary bitchy self – she has been turned into a vampire. After a near death experience, Lana learns that she is changing into a vampire too.

Lana needs answers, and the only way to get them is to find the vampire who started the chain of events – and to find him before sunrise… 

Meet the Author:

Elizabeth J. M. Walker lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She has always loved books and writing. As a teen she discovered zines, which inspired her to publish her own litzine of odd fairy tales for over a decade.
books

Exclusive Excerpt – Black Lightning by K.S. Jones

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About Black Lightning:

Life moves on — no matter what…

Following his father’s puzzling disappearance and his mother’s death, ten-year-old Samuel Baker goes through the motions of living in a world turned upside down. He wears an Apache talisman, a long ago gift from his father, in hopes its promise of strength and guidance is true. But what he truly wants is the power to bring his parents back. 

Heartless Aunt Janis is elated at the prospect of becoming Samuel’s legal guardian. She is sure an orphan boy will elicit such an outpouring of public sympathy that her husband will win his Senate bid by a landslide. But when Grandpa Tate arrives, things don’t go as expected, especially when black lightning strikes!

From the award-winning author of Shadow of the Hawk

Title: Black Lightning

Author Name: K.S. Jones

Genre(s): Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Length: Approx. 132 pages

Release Date: May 17, 2016

Publisher:  Mirror World Publishing (www.mirrorworldpublishing.com)

Follow the Tour for Reviews, Guest Posts, Exclusive Excerpts, and Spotlight Posts:

Read the Exclusive Excerpt:

After his mother’s car accident, Mrs. Abel had driven Samuel to the hospital and stayed until Aunt Janis and Uncle Jack arrived. “Don’t worry,” is all she would say to him. “You must have faith.”
But when Samuel saw the doctors and nurses rush to the Critical Care unit where they had hidden his mother, he worried anyway. He had paced the long hospital hall from end to end while Mrs. Abel read one magazine after another.
At nightfall, Dr. Reed, a frail middle-aged man wearing blue medical garb, emerged through the double doors marked Authorized Personnel Only. With a determined gait, he walked straight to Samuel. Reeking of antiseptic, he asked, “Are your aunt and uncle here yet?” When Samuel shook his head, the doctor stiffened then announced, “Your mother is still in serious condition. We’re doing what we can.” Then, without waiting, he turned and walked back through the double doors as if his job were done.
“What did he mean?” Samuel asked Mrs. Abel.
But instead of explaining, she said his mother was in God’s hands. Then she promised Uncle Jack and Aunt Janis would be with him soon.
Samuel hoped, prayed, and paced. He put all his trust in God to heal his mother.
As the full moon rose high into the night sky, Mrs. Abel fell asleep on the waiting room couch. She was still sleeping when the doctor returned.
“I’m sorry,” Dr. Reed announced. “Your mother passed away.”
With one shove, Samuel slammed the wire magazine stand to the floor, sending the bound pages sliding across the linoleum like racing sleds. “NO!”
He hated the drunk driver who had slammed into his mother’s car and he hated the doctors and nurses who couldn’t heal her. He was especially angry with God for taking her, but the fury that burned most seared straight through his own heart. Why hadn’t his prayers been strong enough to save her?
A fiery pain burned deep inside him, so clear and sharp it almost drove out his sorrow. Raging against faith, Samuel looked up and shouted, “You can’t take my mom!” But when no reply came, he slammed one foot and then the other against the floor. He envisioned cities and people beneath his soles. Bad people. Monsters. He would murder them all as payment for taking his mother. But as he stomped, the truth slowly settled. He was powerless to do anything at all that mattered. Feeling his strength drain, Samuel dropped to his knees, sobbing. His mother was dead.

Purchase Links:

Mirror World Publishing
 http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/black-lightning-ebook

Amazon
http://amzn.to/24H7yrY

Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-lightning-ks-jones/1123660287?ean=9781987976120

Quote:

“If you’ve forgotten the magic that lives in a child’s heart, this book will remind you. Black Lightning is a rare and beautiful mythic journey about one boy’s struggle with paralyzing grief and the powerful bonds that can carry a person through this world and beyond…” W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear USA TODAY and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling authors of People of the Thunder

Meet the Author:

Karen
(K.S.) Jones grew up in California, but now lives in the beautiful Texas Hill
Country northwest of San Antonio with her husband, Richard, and their dogs Jack
Black, Libby Loo, and Red Bleu. Black Lightning is her first middle-grade
novel. She credits her love of fantasy to the early influences of authors
J.R.R. Tolkien, Jules Verne, and H.G. Wells. Her award-winning first novel, Shadow
of the Hawk, a Young Adult Historical, released in 2015.

Visit K.S. Jones:

Facebook
~ https://www.facebook.com/Karen.S.Jones.Author

Website
~ http://ksjones.com/

Twitter
~ https://twitter.com/KSJones2011
books

Cover Reveal – This Night Sucks by Elizabeth J.M. Walker

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I am excited to present the cover for Elizabeth J.M. Walker’s upcoming novella, This Night Sucks!

First, here is what This Night Sucks is all about:

Lana is a high school senior enrolled in Vampire Education – a class to teach students about the very real presence of vampires in the world. Lana and her classmates don’t really expect to meet up with any undead bloodsuckers. Vampires are a lot like other scary things that supposedly exist but you hope you’ll never come across: nudist colonies, mad cow disease, and your parents’ sex life.

What is part of Lana’s everyday reality is navigating through one last year of high school while desperately trying to be less nerdy. She still loves spaceships, fantasy novels, and cat stickers, but she also recently got her braces removed, grew boobs, and is working on the makeup thing. She never expected her crush-of-a-lifetime Pete to even notice her – let alone ask her out on a date. 

The date is going great until Pete’s ex-girlfriend Katy shows up, all bloody and pissed off. Lana quickly realizes that Katy is not just her ordinary bitchy self – she has been turned into a vampire. After a near death experience, Lana learns that she is changing into a vampire too.

Lana needs answers, and the only way to get them is to find the vampire who started the chain of events – and to find him before sunrise… 

Are you ready for the cover?

Book Details:

From the author of She Dreamed of Dragons

Title: This Night Sucks

Author Name: Elizabeth J.M. Walker

Genre(s): Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Vampires, Comedy

Release Date: June 17, 2016

Publisher:  Mirror World Publishing 

Meet the Author:

Elizabeth J. M. Walker lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She has always loved books and writing. As a teen she discovered zines, which inspired her to publish her own litzine of odd fairy tales for over a decade.

She Dreamed of Dragons is her first novel.
books, Writing

Interview with Clarissa Johal – Author of The Island

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The Island cover art
The Island cover art

The Island by Clarissa Johal is on tour now and I’m delighted to be part of it with this author interview.

Interview with Clarissa Johal

Q: Are you superstitious and if so what are you superstitious about?

Clarissa Johal
Clarissa Johal

A: I toss a pinch of salt over my left shoulder if it’s spilled, won’t walk under a ladder, and cringe at broken mirrors. So no…I’m not superstitious at all! My logical self *rolls her eyes* but I do it anyways. As far as my writing goes, nobody is allowed to read a word of my books until they’re completely finished. I don’t post “fifth lines of the fifth page,” I don’t do previews in my blog or on my website, and I’m driven to distraction if someone glances in my general direction while I’m writing. My characters don’t like it. (You may roll your eyes now.)

Q: Have you had any paranormal experiences?

A: Paranormal experiences run in my family. My mother turned a blind eye because it scared her, and my grandmother never talked about her experiences because it didn’t fit in with her religion. I didn’t have either of those issues. Ghosts are part of the landscape and I’ve learned to co-exist. The only experience that rattled me was something that happened when I was ten-years-old. It was the middle of the night and I was sitting on the couch (lifelong insomniac). I heard singing in my ear as if a woman were sitting right next to me. I went back to bed and had the worst nightmare. I dreamt there was a naked woman wrapped in a shower curtain in our bathtub. She was blonde, had a bullet hole in her head and was quite dead. It was a graphic nightmare for a kid, I never watched television and rarely had nightmares. I had it for weeks until we finally moved. Each time, it became more intense—it had gotten to the point where she was clawing her way from the tub and trying to speak to me through the shower curtain. Needless to say, I was a bit of a wreck by the time we moved! Years later, I found out from my parents there was a murder in that house. They didn’t elaborate, but I always wondered of the details. I’ve written of other paranormal experiences in my blog but that one will always stick with me.

Q: What inspired you to write The Island?

A: The Island was inspired by another experience that happened when I was a kid. Funny how childhood experiences stick with you! My parents sent me to camp for the summer. The camp was located on a small island off the mainland and kept solely for campers only. In addition to standard camp activities, the kids were allowed to explore on their own in groups. Unfortunately, because I was a new kid, my group was just me. There were designated paths on the island but you know how that goes—kids explore. I forged my own path into the woods and literally fell into a small cave. The cave was empty…but not empty. Have you ever had that feeling? It felt like whatever resided inside suddenly fixated on me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood, I felt icy cold, and the prick of tears was close, though I didn’t know why. It was almost as if I had stumbled into someplace sacred. I managed to climb out, but it felt like I was being watched. I tossed and turned that night, unsettled. The feeling persisted into the next day, so I returned to the area—wanting to make peace with it. I looked and looked, but the cave was nowhere to be found.

Q: Do you have a writing routine and if so what is it like?

A: My characters and story inspirations usually come to me in a dream. I keep a pen beside the bed for when I wake in the middle of the night and write on my arms and legs (I never seem to have paper). I probably look a bit demented by morning, but it works! Once I have the idea and characters, I’ll write the story from beginning to end until the first draft is finished. Then, I do my research and gazillion edits. A book will take me about a year to complete.

Q: Who is your favourite author and why do you like them?

A: I have two; Gerald Brom and Robert Holdstock. Gerald Brom writes wonderful sympathetic antagonists. The character of Krampus from his novel, Krampus: The Yule Lord is one of my favorites. Robert Holdstock was excellent at incorporating mythology into his stories. Mythago Wood is steeped in ancient mythology and gets into my head every time I read it.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

A: The road to publication is trial and error and different for everyone. Self-publishing is huge right now. If you go that route, you need to understand and be comfortable with promotion and social media (this goes for traditional publishers too). There are many, many books out there and it’s easy to become lost in the shuffle. Don’t be the book that’s been poorly edited or formatted, because it gives people an excuse to pass over your awesome story. As far as going the traditional route—get used to rejection and don’t take it personally. A lot of it is timing and finding a publisher who “gets” your vision. That said, if you’re getting the same rejection feedback, take another look at what they’re saying and approach your writing with that in mind.

Thanks to Clarissa Johal Booksfor answering these questions.
The Island is currently on sale for $0.99 for the duration of this book tour. See the full tour schedule here: http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/virtual-book-tour-schedule-island-by.html

Book Details:

Title: THE ISLAND
Genre: Paranormal Horror
Author: Clarissa Johal
Editor: Marisa Chenery
Booktrope, Forsaken Imprint (2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1-5137-0161-5
ASIN: B010TE7W1G
Number of Pages: 210

About THE ISLAND:

Exploring a remote island can sometimes get you into trouble.
Especially when you stumble upon a cave and awaken two demons.

Rumors and superstition.

That’s what Emma thinks about local gossip concerning her grandmother’s “cursed” private island. Emma journeys to the island to ready it for sale. While out exploring, she unearths a hidden cave–a cave which holds answers to the island’s dark past.
There may be more to the rumors than she thought.

Excerpt from THE ISLAND:

She was jarred awake by a cry. The vestiges of her nightmare dissipated as she orientated herself. Nightmare. Emma let out a sigh of relief. The cry sounded again. A distant sound, high and wailing. A baby’s cry. Her heart quickened. Good god, surely that can’t be a baby?
The fire in the stove had burned down, its embers lending a glow to the living room. Emma looked out the front window. The yard was still. She unlocked the door and opened it a crack. The cry drifted in with the breeze, faint but unmistakable. She ran through her mind what possible bird or animal could make the sound and came up with nothing. Characteristically, the island was blanketed with silence, almost like a vacuum. She stood, uncertain. After several minutes, the sound started again—the unmistakable high wail of a baby. She slipped on her boots and parka.
Fog trailed like cobwebs in her wake. The mournful cry threaded through the trees and came from the direction of the house ruins. In spite of a growing anxiety at what she’d find, she quickened her pace. If that is a baby, it’s still alive, and I need to get to it. If it’s not a baby… She blocked out the possibilities of what else it could be.
She approached the ruins and the sound stopped. Her heart raced. I know it was coming from here. The area held an unnatural heaviness. A branch cracked behind her and she turned with a start. Something dark darted through the trees.
“Hello?” Her voice sounded muffled in the fog. Emma’s attention snapped to the left. The dark figure ducked out of sight. She took one step backward, and fled.
Heavy footsteps echoed from behind as she plunged through the trees. They were catching up with her. Emma pushed herself to run faster, terrified she’d lose her footing on the uneven ground. The cabin loomed large, a haven in the thick fog. Stumbling across the cabin’s porch, she hurdled through the door and slammed it shut, locking it.
Emma rooted her feet to keep from running around in circles. Straining to hear, she was greeted with eerie silence. Several moments passed before the baby’s cry started again. And this time, it sounded from right outside the door.
***

THE ISLAND Buy Links:

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/pxq99em
Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/nwbq3oz
Amazon CA: http://tinyurl.com/q36rel8
Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/zhe7cej


About the Author:

Clarissa Johal is the author of paranormal novels, THE ISLAND, VOICES, STRUCK, and BETWEEN. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing, taking pictures of gargoyles, or swinging from a trapeze. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters, and every stray animal that darkens their doorstep.

Find Clarissa Online:

Author Website: http://www.clarissajohal.com/
Blog: http://clarissajohal.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarissa.johal.9
Twitter: @ClarissaJohal
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4502113.Clarissa_Johal
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Clarissa-Johal/e/B003KVTMPK/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/clarissajohal/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/101586327494596967316/posts

WIN an ecopy of THE ISLAND by Clarissa Johal

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8c2137f420/