Guest Blogger Lily Sawyer

Today, my friend and fellow author Lily Sawyer has come to visit and talk about her newest release. Please give her a warm welcome!

This story struck a personal chord for me. I suffer from depression and I felt this subject just doesn’t get the attention it deserves. I am hoping my story shed some light on a condition that’s very misunderstood. –Lily

Blurb:  Harry Goldberg appears ordinary. But he secretly suffers from depression–leading life alone except for his cat. Then Harry meets a new delivery man where he works–someone he is attracted to. Can anyone love him–emotional baggage and all?

Excerpt:
Harry had a wonderful job; he worked at a deli on Long Island. He loved to watch the looks customers gave him when he served them his special mile-high sandwich. Despite the huge piles of hot pastrami and corned beef on rye with a pickle and coleslaw on the side, they somehow left a clean plate.

The people around Harry told him that he was a likeable kind of guy with a great sense of humor. All his co-workers loved him. Truth was, he had them all fooled. When he left the deli at the end of the day he went home to an empty apartment; his only company, aside from assorted houseplants, was his cat. Tom was a grey and white shorthair Harry had rescued from the local pound. No one knew about Harry’s lonely existence, just like they didn’t know he suffered with depression. The only ones who knew, aside from his immediate family, were his counselor and a support group he went to from time to time.

Most people thought it was just the blues; at least that was what his parents thought at first. His mom was the worst. When Harry was fifteen, he’d buried himself in his bed and wouldn’t come out. She kept telling him stop being lazy, get his ass out of bed, and snap out of it.

Unfortunately, they didn’t understand what it was like to feel as he did. No one knew how much Harry wanted to be normal; he didn’t want anyone’s pity. No one could know the deep pain he felt. Some days it got so bad he just wanted to lie down, go to sleep, and never wake up.

* * * *

Nicholas could never stand being cooped up inside some stuffy office building. Nope, that was never going to happen. So when his uncle offered Nicholas a job with his delivery company after he graduated high school, he jumped at the chance. That was almost ten years ago–driving a truck was in his blood now.

Stern’s trucking specialized in delivering kosher food to all the Jewish delis and kosher markets on Long Island and in the five boroughs of New York City.

He checked the manifest; there was a new restaurant on the list. He’d been to Carle Place before but never to Nosh Deli. But a job was a job. He’d done so many deliveries he could do them in his sleep.

He loaded up his truck in Queens Village and headed east to Long Island. He took the local roads, completely avoiding the Long Island Expressway.

* * * *

Harry was handling the lunch-hour-rush crowd. He’d lost count of how many pastrami and corned beef sandwiches he’d made and how much homemade coleslaw and potato salad he’d scooped out onto the plates.

“Can I have a chicken on whole wheat bread, please?” Harry stopped his automaton-like movements, taking notice of the customer behind the voice–a blonde woman who appeared to be in her thirties, dressed in business attire.

“Bless you. Thanks for breaking the monotony.”

She laughed. “You must get tired of the same old orders every day.”

Harry was on the receiving end of that brilliant smile. The woman seemed to be flirting with him. He had to admit she was an attractive woman. He noticed there was no ring on her left hand. There was one problem, though–Harry was gay. He’d known that girls didn’t do anything for him that way since he was fourteen. It was one more thing his mother had nagged him about–dating women–until he came out to his parents. He couldn’t say they were thrilled, but at least they didn’t throw him out of the house. They just didn’t talk about it. Besides, Harry hardly ever went out. He had one experimental encounter with a buddy in high school. They had given each other a hand job and that was that.

Harry’s self-esteem was in the basement. Who in their right mind would want to date a guy who was a killjoy? Depression robbed Harry of being able to really enjoy life. He was glad no one at work was aware of the sad sack in their midst–and no one would find out if he could help it.

He buried himself in work, fixing orders for people like the woman who stood before  him–he wouldn’t let anyone get too close.

* * * *

About the Author:

Lily Sawyer has to credit her late mother for her interest in reading and writing. She used to take her to the library and opened up to her the world of books. She took a writing class in an adult enrichment program and got hooked. She started off writing stories set in various fandoms she was interested in like Star Trek and Brokeback Mountain. After getting some encouragement from family members and friends, she finally decided it was time to write her own original stories. Lily recently returned to drawing and was in an art class. Also loves to garden and loves everything about nature. Including going to the beach and looking up at the stars

You can purchase Lily's book at Silver Publishing!

Thanks for stopping by, Lily!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Show Us Your Lark - Guest Blogger Lark LaTroy!

Today I am proud to welcome Lark Latroy, whose latest novel, Here Be Dragons, releases from Silver Publishing tomorrow! I have asked Lark the infamous Rick Reed questions. Do you dare read the answers? Do you dare ask Lark any questions of your own?  Be careful - teeth can be sharp!

Thanks for being here Lark! Would you like a drink? Go ahead and have a seat on my virtual beach, while I grab us something with an umbrella, and go ahead and answer those questions.

The Questions

1)      You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?

a.       Steve Jobs and my BlackBerry. Get your entertainment where you can, I always say.

2)      Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life – and which character in that musical are you?

a.       “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” Prof. Crackatus Potts. He succeeds, in spite of himself.

3)      Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scenario using them:  formulator, tearless, neaten

a.       Well, if I could neaten up the formulator for this stupid database migrate, it might turn out to be a tearless weekend. Unfortunately, the developers won't let me access their formulator. I foresee many tears.

4)      You’ve just been let loose in the world of fiction, with permission to do anyone you want. Who do you fuck first and why?

a.       Wow, now there's a loaded question. I would say the Celtic Goddess Brigid. Why, because I'd never get bored with a three-fold goddess. Second, she's just the best.

5)      What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?

a.       A long drive so far out of the city, you forget there is civilization. Put the roof down on the car, slide the seats back, cuddle and kiss till our clothes are in the back seat. Boink like bunnies. Cuddle a whole lot more as we watch the stars come out. Boink all night long. Get back home just before the sun comes up.

6)      When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

a.       It depends on the story. “Druids Dawning” started with a character, developed in to many characters, and the plot formed around them. “Here Be Dragons” started with a photograph, the character and plot popped into my head while looking at that picture and I started to write.

7)      If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you?

a.       Someone totally unknown, who will then go on to become successful. Give the new guy a chance.

8)      Who’s your favorite horror villain and why?

a.       Great Cthulhu. I don't settle for weak, lesser evils.

9)      Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?

a.       Hypatia of Alexandria. Brains, beauty, strength of will. All the right traits in the right place, just at the wrong time.

10)   Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?

a.       No, not yet. However, if I ever do come up with that story, I don't care if the world is ready or not. It is my story to tell, and I will damn well tell it.

 Wow, great answers, Lark! Here, have another drink, and tell us about your new book.

Blurb: When a dragon arrives in New England, the Druids are thrust into the remnants of a war waged before history. Kolsomon wants revenge against the Dragon-Kind, and he will kill Durinllew to get it. The Druids must use all their skill to keep the pretty woman alive, and protect our world.

Excerpt: When she stepped from the woods, into the clearing, Mitch thought he was back in a dream. The woman moved in his direction, walking on top of the new fallen snow. Her eyes focused on him with an intensity he never saw before. The woman had power, a power he dared not contemplate. Instinct told him that the woman approaching him possessed magic beyond his ability to understand. He did not know what to do or say to a creature of such beauty and strength.

The strange woman came within twenty feet of Mitch before stopping. She sniffed hard at the air then cocked her head slightly to one side. Her expression became a look of anger or malice. As she started to raise her arms towards Mitch, she uttered one word in an acrid tone of voice.

"Volnotcht."

Mitch vanished from the clearing just as ribbons of white light flashed from her fingertips. The light struck the trees on the far side of the clearing. Those trees turned gray and fell to the ground like ash. The woman crouched slightly and spread her arms. She started to turn slowly, looking for her target. Mitch stood at the railing of the water tower, gripping the frozen steel with his bare hands. For the life of him, he did not understand why this woman attacked him. Nevertheless, she did, and he had to stop her. He waited a moment then blinked, appearing directly behind the strange woman.

He grabbed her hard and fast, pinning her arms against her body. She struggled in his arms, and, a second later, Mitch realized he couldn’t hold on. Her strength seemed beyond human, and, as she broke his hold he again blink-stepped to safety. He watched from the railing of the water tower as the powerful woman searched for him. Then intense pain struck him without warning. Mitch grabbed at his head and screamed in agony. His last sight before falling over the railing was the powerful woman looking at him.

Here Be Dragons is being released April 23rd at Silver Publishing - you can order your copy now at  http://silverpublishing.info/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/here-be-dragons-p-267

Here Be Dragons is the second in the NeoDruids series, which began with  Druids Dawning.

You gotta love dragons, right?  Thanks so much for being here, Lark!  Now, let's have some Q & A!