Time-traveling gamer, Max, embarks on a harrowing journey through the Wild West of 1881! After a huge fight with his parents, Max tries to return to his love and his best friend, Bero, in medieval Germany. Instead he lands in 1881 New Mexico.
Description:
Published: February 26th, 2016
Time-traveling gamer, Max, embarks on a harrowing journey through the Wild West of 1881! After a huge fight with his parents, Max tries to return to his love and his best friend, Bero, in medieval Germany. Instead he lands in 1881 New Mexico. Struggling to get his bearings and coming to terms with Dr. Stuler s evil computer game misleading him, he runs into Billy the Kid.
To his amazement Billy isn't at all the ruthless killer history made him out to be. Trouble brews when a dying Warm Springs Apache gives Max a huge gold nugget to help his sister, Ela, escape from Fort Sumner. Shopping for supplies Max attracts the attention of ruthless bandits. Before Max can ask the Kid s help, he and Ela are forced to embark on a journey to find his imaginary goldmine.
This is book 2 in the Escape from the Past trilogy."
“Escape from the Past: The Kid is a magical fictional mystery interwoven with historical facts and exciting adventures. The reader experiences the twists and turns of the story while gaining a greater appreciation of the challenges of life in the Wild West during the late 1800’s. Max, a typical teenager of today, is thrown into a series of arduous challenges he must overcome in order to return to his former humdrum life. Along the way, he and we gain valuable insights and appreciation of the hardships encountered by the new western settlers and the Native American people amongst outlaws and the formidable desert climate of the New Mexico area. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable experience you will not want to miss.“ —Richard Rafes, Ph.D., J.D., President of East Central University
“As an English teacher of 43 years and as a life-long student of the Wild West and Native Americans, I found Annette Oppenlander’s, The Kid, to be an accurate, well-researched and thoroughly entertaining novel for young readers. The portrait of Max, the adventurous and risk-taking protagonist, is spot on;he has the language of young men his age and all the angst, dreams and longings that are hallmarks of a typical 17 year-old adolescent male. Ms. Oppenlander has a keen eye for detail, and her ability to create cliffhanging situations of high suspense makes for a great read. I strongly recommend this novel for any imaginative young reader who likes to have one foot in fantasy and one in reality.” —Bill Hays, English AP/Honors Teacher, Retired, Bloomington North High School
EXCERPT
I leaned forward because all of a sudden my chest was killing me. I was stuck in a truck-sized vise, my ribs squeezing together, body compressing. My lungs throbbed and I couldn’t breathe, not even a little. My arms and legs felt numb. Do something, I thought. I pushed myself to stand. Something is wrong with the game, stop the game, my mind urged. But I couldn’t. Lights exploded behind my eyelids and I had to pay every shred of attention to the task of breathing.
It occurred to me that I was having a heart attack. My mother’s face flashed by. I wanted to shout for her, but my lungs had quit for good, my tongue a rigid piece of meat. She’d find me in the morning dead on the carpet. My sight turned foggy then black. I was passing out. I sucked frantically and drew in a bit of air. Slowly with each breath the crushing heaviness disappeared.
Blinking away the haze, I wiped my sweaty forehead. I should make an appointment with the family doctor.
Something moved ahead. There at the edge of a clearing cowered the man in rags holding his right elbow. He trembled and now that I was closer, I saw blood dripping from his wrist.
The three riders had surrounded him, their blades pointing toward the man’s neck. One rider dismounted, his face shadowed by a half helmet and curled brownish beard, his hands covered by steel gauntlets like lizard scales. The other two sat motionless, waiting. I tried to get a better view of what the horsemen were doing when I looked down.
And froze.I stood on the root of an oak tree. Surely I imagined things. But those were definitely my Nikes I’d forgotten to take off when I returned home. I moved my foot. Leaves crackled. A twig snapped. Something terrible had happened, something I couldn’t wrap my mind around. I blinked and looked to my right. Trees and undergrowth were losing themselves in the gloom. I remembered the mouse in my right hand, but when I lifted my arm, my fingers came up empty—except for the smear of something sticky on my palm. I was bleeding.Wait.The bush next to me was covered in blood. Not mine, I realized with relief. Disgusted I wiped my shaking hands with a fistful of leaves and turned to look behind me. The woods stretched into darkness—shadows within shadows nearly black.
My room was gone.
Goodreads ** Amazon ** Barnes&Noble ** Indiebound ** Kobo ** The Book DepositoryAbout the author:
Annette Oppenlander writes historical fiction for young adults. When she isn’t in front of her computer, she loves indulging her dog, Mocha, and traveling around the U.S. and Europe to discover amazing histories.
“Nearly every place holds some kind of secret, something that makes history come alive. When we scrutinize people and places closely, history is no longer a number, it turns into a story.”
Author's Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
Apr 30, 2016
The Kid (Escape from the Past #2) by Annette Oppenlander
The Sons of Gyges (The Girl in the Mirror #2) by Philip J. Gould
"The characters are well-developed, complex and unforgettable, adding high-intensity and drama to this intoxicating page-turner. Sophie Jennings whose body develops faster than her brain absorbs information like a sponge. [...] "The Girl in the Mirror" is a heart-stopping thriller that you can't put down until finished. I loved it and can't wait for a sequel." - Goodreads, Wendi
Published: March 29th, 2016
With her mother murdered and her traitor father taken by the CIA, could things possibly get any worse for Sophie Jennings?
In her quest for the truth Sophie travels to America in search of the bio geneticist father responsible for the genetically enhanced DNA that has given her super-human abilities.
Wanting an explanation for recent tragic events and a cure for her invisibility, Sophie finds herself in Washington DC. With the help of the British Secret Intelligence Service and her own unique deadly skills Sophie uncovers a terrible truth. Plunged into the middle of a battle involving the American army, Sophie is faced with a task that threatens both her morality and sanity - save her father or save thousands of lives.
The Sons of Gyges is the explosive, action-centric second novel in The Girl in the Mirror series.
Abduction. Theft. Murder. Betrayal.Created as a prototype for a soldier of the future, sixteen-year-old Sophie Jennings possesses abilities like no other. With exceptional strength, intelligence, endurance, longevity and the ability to become invisible, she is a force to be reckoned with, but many will try.
Her father, a bio-geneticist with a murky past, has ties to a corporation whose motives are questionable. His unease with their intentions, prompts him to run, taking Sophie with him.
Their journey unleashes a malicious chain of events that will pin Sophie up against a sadistic and equally powerful opponent and force her into a position to utilise every skill necessary to outwit and outrun her pursuers.
Fight or flight? Hide or seek?For Sophie, the decision is simple.Unbeknownst to her, taking out two armed men will only be the beginning of what she’ll face during the next forty-eight hours.Will Sophie, inexperienced and untested, prove to be their worst enemy?The Girl in the Mirror is a gripping action adventure that twists and turns, and twists some more. Like Sophie Jennings, you won't see the end coming...
EXCERPT
EXCERPT from The Sons of Gyges
Emily Porter felt like she’d barely had time to take a breath as she followed Sophie’s voice at a run through the corridors, down flights of stairs and eventually out of the hospital.
Armed police heading into the building gave her little notice, assuming her haste was due to fear and the continuing racket of the alarm system. An invisible hand occasionally grappled with hers, leading her in directions less obvious.
Street lighting illuminated the paths surrounding the hospital buildings. Running to the left of the Critical Care Centre, passing the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer and the Pasquerilla Health Centres, Sophie brought her to a stop outside the garage entrance of the Georgetown University Hotel.
Out of breath, Emily doubled over in her standing position, trying to recover. She looked up to where she imagined Sophie was standing, just a step away from her. “I guess...” she started, “... I owe you one...” Her words were punctuated by gasps for oxygen.
“What were you and Ryan thinking?” Sophie scorned. “You could’ve died in there!”
“I...” Emily couldn’t think of an excuse. She stood upright. Her heart was still pumping fast. Instead she said: “I know. We are trying to help you!”
“And I appreciate that.” Sophie sounded quite the opposite. “Just do it from the end of a phone. I can do without these... distractions...”
“I think you are forgetting something.” Emily held up Agent Roberts’ shoes. “Without me we wouldn’t know how important these are.”
“Size nine brogues... Classy.”
“He hid something in the heel of one of them.” Emily turned the shoes over to inspect the soles. Not seeing anything obvious, she put one shoe down and paid closer attention to the one still in her hand. With a finger she probed the inside, feeling the lining for any signs of a secret compartment. She turned it back over and tapped the sole with the nail of her index finger. It sounded solid. She discarded the shoe in favour of the other.
“It’s beginning to look like you nearly died for nothing...”
Emily repeated her actions from the first shoe. Probing the lining inside the shoe again, she turned it over and ran the flat of her hand over the surface of the sole. The treads were rough for the most part but worn smooth in others.
“Just ditch the shoe and let’s go...”
Emily tapped the sole with the nail of an index finger once again. Solid... until the heel. The sound of the tapping changed pitch slightly ─ more dull, hollow.
“You were saying?” Emily noticed a very minute line of an indentation just above the surface of the flat of the heel. She tried prying it off with her nail but it seemed stuck down fast. “Do you have a knife?”
“Do I look like someone who carries a knife?” Sophie countered.
“Um, yes... actually you do!”
Sophie ignored the comment. “Here. Give it to me.”
Emily held the shoe out. It abruptly disappeared into thin air as Sophie snatched it away.
“Hmm. I see,” Sophie made a few more noises of affirmation. “Yes. Got it.” She placed the shoe back into Emily’s hand where it suddenly reappeared.
“A sliding compartment,” she grunted satisfactorily. “Should have guessed that.” A thin piece of hard rubber at the base of the heel had been pushed from the centre outwards to the back, to reveal a small square compartment big enough to hide any object the size of a small matchbox. Whatever was hidden in the secret compartment was steeped in shadow. Emily upended the shoe and gave it a gentle tap with the flat of four fingers. A small flat piece of plastic the size of a thumbnail came dislodged and fell out into the palm of her hand. Carefully, she examined it under the soft light of a neighbouring streetlamp.
“A flash card,” she said with an air of bewilderment, turning it over one handed with her thumb. In her head she heard Agent Spencer Roberts:
“In my... shoe... you’ll find... what you... want...”
EXCERPT FROM Book #1
Sophie was now standing in front of the fallen soldier. He slowly reached up to his ear and removed the earpiece, electronic voices continuing to whisper commands and instructions, oblivious to what had concluded in the apartment. He pulled the microphone out from his jacket and tossed it aside.
“I’m done,” he repeated hoarsely, then spat a globule of spit and blood out.
Sophie reached down and picked up the ear and mouth piece, holding it up to her ear.
“Alpha Team, what’s going on? Report? Back up team will be with you shortly. Do you copy?”
Sophie walked over to the place where the window had been, the curtains billowing in like an unfurled flag. She peered out just as her father had done earlier.
“Why won’t you leave us alone?” she asked into the microphone. “We’ve done nothing to you!”
At first the radio went silent.
In the distance the sound of sirens wailed as they fast approached in answer to all the gunfire and an elderly neighbour who’d been crudely woken from a nap in his armchair from all the hullabaloo. A small gathering of nosey onlookers had gathered at a safe distance down the road, their macabre fascination for blood, death and destruction fuelled their appetite to watch, no matter the risk to themselves.
“It’s not what you’ve done… Sophie. It’s what you are programmed to do.” An electronic voice secreted from the earpiece now held in the palm of Sophie’s right hand.
“You should stop. Whilst you have the chance. Stop now, I’m warning you.”
A police car appeared at the end of the road, tyres screeching, siren blaring, flashing lights splashing blue translucent colour urgently as it drew closer, coming to a halt outside the apartment block. Another police vehicle arrived moments later and still more sirens sounded in the background.
“Sophie… It doesn’t have to be like this. We could be friends, you and I.”
Sophie knew the voice at the end was playing with her, stalling for time, time which she didn’t have. She had to leave, and leave immediately, but before she did there were things she had to retrieve, things essential to her (and her father’s) survival.
Speaking as she worked, Sophie replied: “I doubt that very much.”
Retrieving a backpack and a large sports holdall, she filled the backpack with things she absolutely needed; spare clothes; provisions, water, food; the iPad which had miraculously survived the gunfire and violence; a mobile phone; a torch; her fluffy kangaroo from the safe room. What she couldn’t fit into the backpack, she placed into the holdall. She then emptied the refrigerator of every vial of serum, not forgetting to pack the jet injector.
From one of the fallen soldiers she unholstered a handgun and collected all the ammunition she could find (from them both), six magazines in all.
“We need to meet Sophie. I’m sure we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Lastly, Sophie located the place where her father’s floor safe was, hidden beneath a section of carpet that was easily lifted. She pulled up the floorboard, exposing the digital combination lock of the safe. She keyed in her date of birth − a combination, or version thereof favoured by her father:
1-6-0-4
The latch clicked as the door from within was released. Sophie opened the door and reached in; removing her father’s laptop and two thick A5 envelopes which she knew each contained a thick wad of fifty pound notes. These last items she dropped into the holdall without much ado, and zipped it closed.
“Nice talking to you creep. Let’s do it again… not!” Sophie dropped the ear and mouth piece back to intruder number two, and unseen she left the apartment carrying the big holdall in one hand and the backpack over the shoulder of her opposite arm. She passed the policemen who were busy marking their territory, some armed and taking up strategic positions, rifles aimed ahead of them; others cordoning off the area at a safe distance, trying to assess the situation.
She passed further the group of bystanders who’d gathered into a very large force of spectators, busily gleaning and gloating at the theatrics now playing out ahead of them. Ignoring them, she continued at a pace putting distance between her and the Chelsea apartment, passing the black car that had gained her father’s attention but which hadn’t quite convinced him that there was an occupant staking them out, despite the possible sighting of a riflescope or the glass from a pair of binoculars.
She paid the car little more than a sideward glance, deep in concentration as she tried to make sense of what had just happened and formulate some ideas as to what next to do.
Sophie knew there was only one place she could really go, one place where the people who lived therein she could honestly trust. Although angered to be leaving all her worldly goods and her home behind, she was equally excited at the prospect of seeing her sister again, the only friend she knew.
The rear window of the black car, now behind her, electrically wound down. The passenger watched from a safe distance, night vision binoculars held against his eyes. For all intents and purposes he looked like a Peeping Tom. He watched the girl religiously, unseen by all she passed, her dishevelled appearance and determined look concealed to all except one. The man picked up a walkie-talkie and spoke into it.
“Bravo Team, stand down. Do not engage; repeat, DO NOT ENGAGE.”
About the author:
Philip John Gould, was born during the hot summer of August 1974 in Suffolk, England. From an early age he escaped reality by spending many hours daydreaming and aspiring to be an author. It's owing to positive feedback on the back of a short story when, aged 13, Phil's English teach wrote an encouraging phrase at the end of his assignment, that inspired him to persevere with his ambitions deep into adulthood.
In 1990, Phil left school and took a job in shipping, where he worked as an Export clerk for a very abusive manager. He changed careers in 1993, joining a large insurance company, where he undertook a number of positions, including training guide writer, and culminating in a junior manager role which he maintained until he was made redundant in 2003. A day after the announcement of losing his job, he had blood tests in relation to a growth in the side of his neck. A month later he was diagnosed with having Hodgkins Lymphoma.
In 2002, work on The Book of Alternative Records had begun, written with the assistance of Ralf Laue who owned the second largest database of achievement records in the world, behind the Guinness behemoth. Together, the book was compiled and completed in 2003 and published in 2004 by John Blake Publishing. In 2005 a German translation of the book was produced. Phil's ambition to be published was fulfilled, but his health and personal circumstances thwarted any hopes to pursue an immediate career in writing.
In fact, it wasn't until 2011 that Phil got the itch to write again. Having been working back in insurance for a while, he decided that he would leave his paid day job early the following year to fulfil two things. One, to spend more time with his family (his wife had given birth to a son in October 2011 and Phil wanted to be more hands-on with his newborn's upbringing, an opportunity he'd missed with his two daughters), and two, to start working on a new writing project. Actually, an idea for a series of novels had been at the back of his mind for some time, but it wasn't until September 2012 (after an extended holiday), that Phil finally sat down and started working on what would be The Girl in the Mirror.
Still spending too many hours daydreaming, Phil continues to live in Suffolk with his wife, Beth, and three children, Rebecca, Sophie and Matthew.
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Bravo: Apocalypse Mission by Summer Lane book blitz
Bravo: Apocalypse Mission
Summer Lane
(Bravo Saga, #1)
Publication date: April 22nd 2016
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult
Civilization, collapsed. Society, gone.
The apocalypse rules all, and mankind struggles for survival.
But there was a dog, and his name was Bravo.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
First, there was the training.
Bravo, a strong and loyal German Shepherd, is born and raised to be a bomb detection dog in the Marines by his handler, Nathan Ingalls. Together, they prepare to become fighters.
After the training, there was the desert.
Deployed to Afghanistan, the brutality of desert warfare shows no mercy to neither man nor dog.
And then, there was the Collapse.
When the apocalypse strikes, Bravo is cruelly torn from his handler in the dying days of society. Bravo fights for survival in the city, longing to be reunited with his handler, his friend.
His journey will take him into the most dangerous parts of the city and country, into the heart of the apocalypse. He will meet new friends, and he will fight for them.
Bravo will not stop until he finds his partner.
This is the story of a dog. This is the story of a hero.
This is the story of Bravo, the bomb dog, and his apocalypse mission.GUEST POST:
The most interesting part of writing Bravo: Apocalypse Mission was being able to look at the apocalypse through the eyes of a dog. What does he see? What does he care about? How does he survive, and more importantly, how does he deal with loss?Think Like A Dog By Summer Lane
I’ve always loved dogs, so it was a great treat to be able to write this story. I had the idea a little over a year ago. Bravo himself was inspired by an offhand comment from a child who had read my books and exclaimed, “You should write about a dog in the apocalypse!” From that comment, I immediately pictured Bravo in my head. And thus he was born! First as a sidekick in The Zero Trilogy, and now as the star of his very own story. I had always wanted to write a story about a dog, and this was my chance.
I think the most challenging thing about getting into the head of a dog is realizing that 1) dogs don’t necessarily have a reason for everything they do. They simply do it because they are creatures of instinct. And 2) a dog can be just as emotional as people when it comes to losing a friend or handler. I had to find a balance between instinct and emotion when it came to writing Bravo’s adventure, and I think I was able to locate the sweet spot and make it work!
Author Bio:
Who is Summer Lane?
Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 12 thrilling books, including the phenomenal bestselling Collapse Series, Zero Trilogy and Collapse: The Illustrated Guide. Her newest series, The Bravo Saga, is releasing April 22nd, 2016, and is hotly anticipated in the reading community.
Bravo: Apocalypse Mission is the first installment of the Bravo Saga. It follows the story of a military working dog named Bravo who is separated from his beloved handler when the apocalypse strikes. It is a poignant and thrilling tale of love, loyalty and survival.
Summer also owns WB Publishing and Writing Belle, an online magazine where she has interviewed and worked with countless authors from around the globe.
GIVEAWAY!
$40 Amazon Gift Card
Collectible Bravo Desk Plush
Surprise Autographed Gift from Author
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Wilder By G.K. DeRosa – Blog Tour
Wilder: The Guardian Series
All that Celeste Wilder ever wanted was to meet someone who would sweep her off her feet like she had seen in countless romantic movies. When she meets the gorgeous and mysterious Constantin brothers her senior year of high school, she gets much more than what she had bargained for. As they introduce her to an exciting supernatural world that she never knew existed, she makes a startling discovery about her own family legacy and is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever.Celeste Wilder’s mundane world has been completely turned upside down, and it all started when the intriguing Constantin brothers strolled into her small town last summer. After discovering the truth about her destiny and making a life-changing decision, she is now forced to deal with the consequences of her new supernatural reality. Gone are the carefree days of high school and homework, now she must fulfill her
Wilder Revelation
(The Guardian Series #3)
by G.K. DeRosa Fulfilling her destiny and becoming the Guardian has meant a world of sacrifices for Celeste Wilder, but her most difficult challenge is yet to come. The supernatural forces at play are far more powerful than she ever expected, and she will have to trust her instincts if she hopes to survive. Lilliana Constantin is back from the dead. Alek is free and somehow stronger than ever. A pack of rogue werewolves are wreaking havoc in her small town. And on top of all of this, Celeste faces what is at best an uncertain future with the love of her life.
While battling the forces of evil and saving the human world alongside Stellan and the handsome Constantin brothers has become second nature, Celeste had no idea what accepting her duty as the Guardian would actually cost her. When she faces an unspeakable tragedy, she is pushed to her breaking point. After fighting her most formidable enemies, Celeste is about to discover that sometimes the greatest evil is the one that comes from within.
Excerpts
1. Celeste’s eyes widened and her breath hitched as she stopped dead in her tracks to take in the nightmarish scene before her. Dani took advantage of Celeste’s momentary distraction to quickly squirm away as everyone’s attention was diverted to the scene at the altar. After all the commotion of the past half hour, the room had suddenly become eerily silent and no one dared to even breathe. Celeste could only see the back of Roman’s head as he, Nico and Alek encircled the white marble altar. Lilliana Constantin sat straight up, partially covered by a linen sheet and taking shallow breaths, her bright blue eyes frantically examining her unexpected surroundings. As she scanned the room, her gaze fell upon Celeste for a brief moment and Celeste couldn’t help but turn away, unnerved by those penetrating yet oddly familiar clear blue eyes. She noticed that Stellan and Dalla, too, refused to meet her gaze, as if that one act would make this surreal scene irrefutably real.
2. Celeste scrubbed feverishly at her blood-stained hands in the once pristine bathroom sink. Why won’t it come off? She scrubbed harder and harder until her fingers were nearly raw. Then she stared entranced as the crimson-hued water circled the drain and finally disappeared, leaving only small pinkish droplets around the rim as the only remnant of what was once her schoolmate, her friend, someone’s daughter and sister.
3. Immediately after Celeste’s departure, Roman headed out the back door and into the cool wintry air. He often found solace in the quiet of the forest, and there was never a time he needed it more. The sound of his footsteps crunching through the dead leaves and the occasional squirrel scurrying underfoot was all that could be heard for miles around. He took a deep breath and to his relief found that the fury burning inside of him was beginning to dissipate.
“Are you going to follow me all day, little brother?” asked Roman as he spun around to face his unwelcome shadow.
Nico stepped out from behind a leafless tree, looking abashed. “I wanted to make sure you were all right.”
“You thought perhaps I would storm off in a rage and ravage an entire small town?” he teased, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Nico gave him a wry grin. “You have done worse…”
“Please, don’t remind me.”
4. Celeste trudged up the pathway to Roman’s apartment, her heart as heavy as her steps were slow. She paused at the door hoping for a sign or something - anything that would tell her what she should do. Nothing.
“Are you going to come inside or just stand out there all day?” said Roman as he swung the door open, startling her.
“Yah, sorry. I was just trying to – ”
“Remember how to use the doorbell?” finished Roman with a grin.
Celeste knew Roman well enough to know that he was trying to make light of the situation. She could read his face like her own, and he knew something bad was coming. She hated to see him hurt like that, especially when she wasn’t even entirely sure what she was going to do yet.
1. Celeste’s eyes widened and her breath hitched as she stopped dead in her tracks to take in the nightmarish scene before her. Dani took advantage of Celeste’s momentary distraction to quickly squirm away as everyone’s attention was diverted to the scene at the altar. After all the commotion of the past half hour, the room had suddenly become eerily silent and no one dared to even breathe. Celeste could only see the back of Roman’s head as he, Nico and Alek encircled the white marble altar. Lilliana Constantin sat straight up, partially covered by a linen sheet and taking shallow breaths, her bright blue eyes frantically examining her unexpected surroundings. As she scanned the room, her gaze fell upon Celeste for a brief moment and Celeste couldn’t help but turn away, unnerved by those penetrating yet oddly familiar clear blue eyes. She noticed that Stellan and Dalla, too, refused to meet her gaze, as if that one act would make this surreal scene irrefutably real.
2. Celeste scrubbed feverishly at her blood-stained hands in the once pristine bathroom sink. Why won’t it come off? She scrubbed harder and harder until her fingers were nearly raw. Then she stared entranced as the crimson-hued water circled the drain and finally disappeared, leaving only small pinkish droplets around the rim as the only remnant of what was once her schoolmate, her friend, someone’s daughter and sister.
3. Immediately after Celeste’s departure, Roman headed out the back door and into the cool wintry air. He often found solace in the quiet of the forest, and there was never a time he needed it more. The sound of his footsteps crunching through the dead leaves and the occasional squirrel scurrying underfoot was all that could be heard for miles around. He took a deep breath and to his relief found that the fury burning inside of him was beginning to dissipate.
“Are you going to follow me all day, little brother?” asked Roman as he spun around to face his unwelcome shadow.
Nico stepped out from behind a leafless tree, looking abashed. “I wanted to make sure you were all right.”
“You thought perhaps I would storm off in a rage and ravage an entire small town?” he teased, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Nico gave him a wry grin. “You have done worse…”
“Please, don’t remind me.”
4. Celeste trudged up the pathway to Roman’s apartment, her heart as heavy as her steps were slow. She paused at the door hoping for a sign or something - anything that would tell her what she should do. Nothing.
“Are you going to come inside or just stand out there all day?” said Roman as he swung the door open, startling her.
“Yah, sorry. I was just trying to – ”
“Remember how to use the doorbell?” finished Roman with a grin.
Celeste knew Roman well enough to know that he was trying to make light of the situation. She could read his face like her own, and he knew something bad was coming. She hated to see him hurt like that, especially when she wasn’t even entirely sure what she was going to do yet.
About The Author
Wilder Destiny
duty as a Guardian…no matter the cost. Luckily, she has the love of her life by her side as she battles the supernatural forces of evil, but will that love really last forever? As new challenges arise and old enemies reappear, Celeste must find the strength to overcome the biggest threat she’s ever had to face.
Submit your email address below and we’ll send you the first two chapters of this exciting novel for free!
Interview
The best book/s you ever read?
I am a huge fan of The Hunger Games, I’ve probably read the entire series 3 or 4 times. I also love Vampire Academy and Outlander.
How did you get into writing?
I don’t think I ever realized how much I loved writing until I started doing it one day. I’ve always been a fan of fantasy/paranormal TV shows. Some of my favorites growing up were Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, Angel, etc. then as I got older I started watching True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals and many more. I’ve always had a vivid imagination, I just hadn’t used it proactively. I had been doing a ton of reading and just decided to start writing one day. I didn’t have a plan or an outline or anything. I just started typing away and within a few days I was addicted!
Who inspires you?
A lot of authors inspired me to start writing. I had binge read The Vampire Diaries series and the Sookie Stackhouse series prior to when I started. Honestly, after reading them I remembered thinking, I could totally do this! While the Vampire Diaries book series was not my favorite, I did get totally sucked into the TV series. I watched like 5 seasons over a few weeks and absolutely fell in love with the characters of Damon and Elena. They were really what inspired me to write Wilder, but I wanted my heroine to be a kick-butt demon hunter too.
Did you do any kind of research to determine the details of your characters lives / lifestyles?
I didn’t do much research to be honest. That’s the great thing about writing urban fantasy, you can just make it all up as you go along. I grew up watching a lot of supernatural TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and Angel so I had a pretty good background to start with.
Did you always plan for more than one book? What can we expect from the sequel?
Yes, I knew I definitely wanted to do a series. All of my favorite books are series. I think that one book just isn’t enough to fully develop a character’s arc. Wilder Revelation is the third book in The Guardian Series and it has a much darker feel. The first book, Wilder, is more light hearted as Celeste learns about her supernatural destiny. After dealing with it now over the course of two books, it’s starting to get tougher for her. She’s getting stronger but also a bit more jaded which I think is a natural progression. And of course there’s always her love life which is torn in a few directions as she grows and changes.
Did any real-life political incidents or maneuvering make it into the book?
No, I try to stay away from real life and fully delve into the fantasy. The only parts that I do take from my own personal experience are the locations Celeste travels to in the second and third books. She gets to go to Warsaw, Poland where I am now living and in Wilder Revelation she makes a quick stop in Rome which is one of my favorite cities in the world.
Do you have strange writing habits? If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be and why?
I think my writing habits are pretty normal! I try to write daily and a minimum of 5 pages in Word. I’m currently writing full time now so I feel like that’s the least I should do. It’s hard to eliminate distractions. There’s always something pulling me away from the writing, but once I sit down and get going, I absolutely love getting lost in it.
How did you come up with the title? Names?
Most of the names I picked were names that I’ve always liked or been drawn to. I tried to pick more interesting names for the supernatural characters and went with more “normal” names for the humans. I actually did some research into the last name Wilder which means “hunter” in German. Then I really liked it and decided to use it as the title. Then from there, I just added an ending to Wilder which described the theme of the sequels.
What gender you prefer for your main character will be? why?
This is my first series so I’ve only written a female main character, but as a female I think it’s easier to relate. I did write a novella in first person in the voice of Nico Constantin one of the other characters and it was more fun than I expected. A few of my readers commented that I had done a good job of capturing another voice, but then again most of my readers are female so I’m not sure what a guy would say lol.
What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
I definitely rely on looks first as terrible as that sounds. Of course personality is a huge factor but if you’re not attracted to the person at first, then it probably wouldn’t go anywhere for me. I like the typical tall, dark and handsome lol.
What sacrifices have you had to make to be a writer?
Luckily not too many! When I first started writing, I was working full time so it was mostly just juggling time. Now that I’m writing full time, it’s been pretty awesome!
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
Absolutely! Just like with the opposite sex, there has to be something to attract you at first. Especially in the competitive market that we authors are in, there are hundreds of new books being published daily. You have to get someone to click on that thumbnail when they come across it on Amazon or Goodreads. For me, creating the cover is one of the hardest parts!
What do you think of “trailers” for books?
I think a well-done trailer could be quite useful, unfortunately there are so many poorly done ones that I haven’t given it a try myself. I’ve considered doing one, but if I did I would want it to be very professional looking and I don’t know that I want to spend the money on that just yet lol.
Name one thing that drives you crazy in the publishing industry
Amazon drives me nuts sometimes! I decided to go exclusive with them as an indie author and it’s a decision that I battle with daily. I like having control of my books which is why I didn’t go the normal publishing route, but I feel like Amazon has so much control over everything!
What’s the best thing that anyone said to you when you were in a writing low spot?
“Just keep writing!” And it’s the truth. There’s no better way to improve your writing skills or increase your revenue than by writing more.
How do you celebrate when you finish a novel?
By taking a break for a day lol. I’ve been writing a lot lately, I plan to have 4 books out in one year which is pretty demanding. I love sharing the news on my social media when I finish, it’s such a great sense of accomplishment.
Where did you grow up? tell us a little about yourself
I grew up in Palm Beach, Florida and it is the best! It’s a small town on the beach with beautiful palm trees and great weather. I went to Catholic school just like Celeste all the way from pre-school through 12th grade. Then I went to the University of Florida – go Gators! I really had awesome but tough English teachers growing up and they made us read a ton! At the time, I didn’t find as much value in it, but now as an adult I really appreciate it. They were the ones that instilled in me my love for reading and writing. I still stay in touch with a few of them today and some even came to my first book signing! I am living in Poland right now because my husband is from here and his family lives here. It’s been quite an adventure and has left me with a lot of time for writing.
What do you consider your best accomplishment?
Writing my first book, Wilder, was a huge accomplishment. I had no idea that it would turn into a career. I never knew that I could make money from doing something that I love. After writing the first one, I was hooked and I knew that was what I wanted to do forever.
What is your favorite quote?
“Life is what happens while you’re making plans.”
I never thought in a million years that I would be living in a small town in Poland. But if I hadn’t come here, I wouldn’t have been able to write full time, and definitely wouldn’t have been able to write 4 books in a year. Now when we return to Florida at the end of the year, I should be able to continue my writing without having to get a full-time job. It’s amazing!
This is stolen directly from James Lipton, but what the heck. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Welcome!”
What’s the best joke (keep u clean) that you’ve ever heard?
I have the worst memory so I’m sure there are some way funnier ones that I’m forgetting, but I heard this one recently -
“My dog used to chase people on a bike a lot. It got so bad, I finally had to take his bike away.”What’s the worst job you’ve had?
I think I’ve been pretty lucky in life because I’ve never really had a horrible job. I hate sales jobs and I worked in financial services on two occasions and really didn’t love those. But no horror stories to share!
Giveaway
3x print copies of Wilder
$25 Amazon gift card
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