Monday, September 27, 2010

Cover art for "Early Release for Bad Behavior"


Just received the cover art for my third short story eBook with MuseItUp Publishing. This is my favorite story to date. Can't wait for its release next June.

Print book released


My first print book Darkness Abound, which collects three of my dark fiction short stories, is now available at Lulu.com. It retails for $9.95, but if you enter the coupon code "FALLREAD305" by October 15, 2010, you will receive a 15% discount.

Friday, August 20, 2010

New book trailer

Check out the trailer for my second short story eBook "Earthly Forces" by MuseItUp Publishing.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Cover art for my second book Earthly Forces


Just received the cover art for my second book Earthly Forces. Thanks to Delilah Stephans for another fantastic job!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Entertaining blog by Lin Holmes

Lin Holmes, another MuseItUp author, has a very funny and entertaining look at my short story e-book World of Ash, which can be found at this link. Also, the release date for World of Ash has been moved up from January 2011 to November of this year.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Flash fiction piece/lead-in to World of Ash


Below is a flash fiction piece titled Jax-of-all-trades. It provides background information on a couple of characters from World of Ash and also acts as a lead-in to the story. Enjoy!


“Dan.” With both hands cupped around his mouth, Jax called to one of the workers below. Like a hitchhiker, he lifted his right thumb from a fist formation and motioned upward. “Bring it up.”
Dan, dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, hard hat and gloves, nodded to Jax from two stories down.
Jax looked out the doorway of the windowless office, about thirty feet above the base of the drilling platform, and noticed his boss approaching. “What now,” he mumbled.
The company CEO waved as Jax slowly descended the stairs to ground level. Jax admired the guy’s gutsy fashion motif. Not many people could get away with wearing a sports jacket and jeans, especially with a plaid scarf in place of a tie, but his boss certainly did.
The gentleman extended his hand. “Good to see you again, Jax.”
“How are you, Mr. McCloskey?” Jax inquired shaking his hand.
“Not too bad.” McCloskey grinned and removed his hard hat, exposing the white fuzz atop his head. Jax could barely make out McCloskey’s beady, hazel eyes given his overhanging brows.
“What can I do for you, sir?” Jax rested his hands on his waist.
“How long have you worked for me, Jax?”
Jax took a second to think about it. “For almost ten years, sir.”
“That sounds about right, and during this time you have gone from being a roughneck to the manager of field operations for my company. So, you know how highly I think of you.”
Jax bobbed his head in confirmation, fearing an inevitable ‘but’ was soon coming.
“Good,” McCloskey said, “because I am going to need you for a special project.”
Jax was relieved. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and lifted the hard hat to scratch an itch along his hairline. McCloskey could see Jax’s curvy, russet hair below the front of the hat.
“What kind of project?” Jax asked. “Do you need me to run seismic on the new government leases we acquired?”
“Not quite. It’s something different, but a job you are more than capable of performing.”
Despite growing impatient, Jax was intrigued. “Can you elaborate?”
“I’ll brief you on the details later. In summary, though, I need you to meet up with a couple of business associates in Tellare.”
Jax looked over McCloskey’s shoulder. McCloskey’s right-hand man, Ted Johnson, walked up behind him. “Good day, Mr. Johnson.” Jax tipped his hat to him.
“Ah, perfect timing, Ted.” McCloskey turned to face him. “I was just informing Jax of his promotion.”
“Promotion?” Jax was confused.
“Well, there’s extra money involved should you choose to accept this project.” McCloskey focused his attention on Jax again.
“Larry, we have a situation,” Johnson interrupted.
“Well, tend to it. That’s what I pay you for, isn’t it?” McCloskey took a hard tone with Johnson and then smiled at Jax.
“Yes, but it’s something out of my control. I need your assistance on this one.”
“Fine,” McCloskey said. “Just give me a minute with Jax.” Johnson stepped back, but he remained within arm’s length of McCloskey.
“Excuse me, sir.” Jax intervened. “You said Tellare.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Sir, isn’t that close to the danger zone?”
McCloskey laughed. “Nothing gets past you, does it? Anyway, I’m not going to stand here and pretend this job isn’t a dangerous one. However, if I didn’t think you could handle it, I never would have asked.”
“I understand.” Jax appreciated McCloskey’s faith in him, but he was still skeptical. Jax had never turned him down before, and he did not want this instance to be the first. “I’ll do it.”
“Excellent.” McCloskey rotated his torso and placed his hand on Johnson’s shoulder, continuing to maintain eye contact with Jax. “Ted will hook you up with whatever you need. Gear, weapons, it’s all at your disposal. Oh, and if you want to bring someone else on the trip, just let me know, and I will take care of it.”
“Thank you, sir.” Jax shook McCloskey’s hand.
“Come to my office after hours and we’ll discuss it further,” McCloskey said. He turned to Johnson and retreated with him back to the administrative building.
“Larry,” Johnson whispered, “you might as well be signing the kid’s death warrant.”
“Hey. He’s willing to do it, which is more than I can say for you. Maybe I should make him my right-hand man.”
“Assuming he makes it back,” Johnson said. “Hell, we’re partly to blame for what’s going on out there, and now you’re going to throw him in the middle of it?”
“Watch your tongue,” McCloskey snapped. “Just remember everyone in this company is expendable, including yourself.” McCloskey veered off, leaving Johnson there to ponder his statement.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

An update

There have been many developments over the past few weeks. First of all, my short story/e-book World of Ash has completed edits/proofs, so I am on to promoting it now. Be sure to stay tuned, as I will be posting a free flash fiction piece to the blog soon, along with background information on my writing process for the story. In the meantime, I am working on content edits for my second story Earthly Forces. Last but not least, I have just signed a fourth contract with MuseItUp Publishing, this time with their MuseItYoung/Tween division. The novelette is titled The Vanishing. Very exciting times!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Trailer for World of Ash

I have created a trailer for my first short story e-book World of Ash. Just click on YouTube to view it.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

An Interview with Jax and Ken


A character blog of mine has been posted on the MuseItUp blog. I profile Jax and Ken, a couple of characters from my first two books - World of Ash and Earthly Forces. It's a fun little take (interview style).

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Get to know me a little better


Kat Holmes, another one of the fabulous authors at MuseItUp Publishing, has posted an interview with me on her blog site. She is profiling a new author every day during July, so be sure to check her blog on a regular basis. Also, get ready for her novel The Lighthouse (due out January 1, 2011). Thanks again, Kat!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Skills to survive the Zombie End Times

Check out a fun little blog by Krista Ball, titled "Skills to survive the Zombie End Times."

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Meet Jady from Christopher Hoare's novel "Rast"

Christopher Hoare gives us a look at Jady, the prince's sweetheart in the fantasy novel Rast. To read it, just click here.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Another short story of mine

I am excited to announce that I have signed another contract with MuseItUp Publishing for a third short story of mine. It's currently titled "Early Release for Bad Behavior." I have to make some changes to the story before it's up to par, but I am looking forward to it.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Meet Carolyn Masters from "Dark Side of the Moon"


Terri Main offers a look at Carolyn Masters, a character from her upcoming book Dark Side of the Moon (Sci-fi Mystery), which is due out February 2011. To read the character blog, click here.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Meet "Dancing Cat" of Harvest Moon


Krista Ball has posted a flash fiction piece on "Dancing Cat," a character in her upcoming eBook Harvest Moon that will be put out by MuseItUp Publishing. To read the blog, click here.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Meet Laynald Lockheim, a character from Mary Andrews' "The Fireborn Chronicles: Resonances"

Mary Andrews' Sci-Fi book "The Fireborn Chronicles: Resonances" will be released this December. To read about one of her characters, Laynald Lockheim, just click here.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

World of Ash




I have two short stories/eBooks with MuseItUp Publishing that will be coming out next year. My first piece - "World of Ash" - is currently scheduled for a January 2011 release. The cover art was just completed by Delilah Stephans, who you can read more about at her website.