Name Before the Masses Tour: The Unholy

Please welcome author Paul de Blassie III, who is here to talk about his latest release, The Unholy.  Paul will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  The more  you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find out where the rest of the stops are, go here. Look for the rafflecopter at the end of this post.

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? I’m with my wife, Kate, and my guitar because I love Kate and wouldn’t want to ever be without her, the inspiration and muse of my life and writing and the planter of seeds regarding all of the dark fiction I write to include The Unholy. My guitar comes in as the thing I’d bring along because I like ending the day singing boleros, love songs, to the one I’m with—Kate.

2)      Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life – and which character in that musical are you? You know, I’m not generally into musicals, but if I had to pick one it might be West Side Story as it explores ethnic tensions that are also dramatized within The Unholy as the propagators of white misogynistic religion prey on innocent and vulnerable souls, one fierce woman out to set things right.

3)      Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scenario using them:  insurance, owed, talk Insurance as in fire insurance for the soul as is proferred by the dark side of religion can never be counted on for much except to set up the vulnerable party to always feel they are owed an explanation as to why the mumbo jumbo of eccelesiastical talk never came through in the way it was supposed to!

4)      What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other? Kate and I enjoy fine dining and listening to soft jazz recordings done on the Blue Note label as we discuss our reads and the mind bending twists and turns of the characters.

5)      When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot? A gut-wrenching scene kicks the story into gear and then scene after scene flashes onto the white screen of my mind as each dramatization impresses upon me the truth that story emerges not so much from characterization or plot as from the archetypal images and symbols that animate the characters and plot

6)      If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you? To play me, you’d have to resurrect from the dead Algernon Blackwood, the great gothic horror master, and ask him how to and who could interpret in modern terms and context one who lives in a way remarkably similar to his character, Dr. John Silence.

7)      Who’s your favorite horror villain and why? My favorite horror villain is H.P. Lovecraft because even as a writer he is the ultimate villain in his stories, the one who creates the scenarios that terrorize and transmogrify!

8)      Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it? Yes…my  wife Kate is my historical crush since my dreams have repeatedly narrated that she and I have live through many passionate lives together, the one preceding this one having taken place in turn-of-the twentieth century Victorian New York.

9)      Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it? Actually, I struggled with whether the world was ready to receive the reality of dark side of religion as depicted in The Unholy. Now that The Unholy has been unleashed and is largely being received with great fervor, I’m getting ready to reveal in the next year Dark Goddess---a novel about love and whether bad love is better than no love. I’m not sure the cosmos is ready for the answer, but it’s about ready to be jettisoned forth with the same phantasmagoric vigor as The Unholy!

THE UNHOLY

By

Paul DeBlassie III

BLURB: 

A young curandera, a medicine woman, intent on uncovering the secrets of her past is forced into a life-and-death battle against an evil Archbishop. Set in the mystic land of Aztlan, The Unholy is a novel of destiny as healer and slayer. Native lore of dreams and visions, shape changing, and natural magic work to spin a neo-gothic web in which sadness and mystery lure the unsuspecting into a twilight realm of discovery and decision.

EXCERPT: 

“Help me? Help yourself! Face what is yours to face,” Elizabeth hissed. She yanked the door open then forced it to slam behind her.

Claire stood still for a moment, feeling as if a tornado had swept through the room. Elizabeth’s demand had left her shaken. She drew a deep breath, then went to her desk and picked up her tea, noticing her trembling hands.

Turning toward the window, Claire saw a muscular orderly accompanying Elizabeth to the locked ward at the far end of the hospital compound. A flock of crows circled high overhead, seeming to follow the two receding figures. As they arrived at the outer doors of the locked unit, the orderly reached for his keys. The crows circled while the two crossed the threshold of the unit, Elizabeth suddenly pausing, turning, and looking outside, her gaze riveted on the flock of birds.

All but two flew off, disappearing into the piñon-covered hills. The two that remained came to rest on the red brick wall adjacent to the locked unit, their black eyes boring into Elizabeth. She looked panicked then enraged and, shaking a finger at the creatures, yelled something. Her frantic gestures told Claire that she was screeching curses to ward off evil.

Claire took a step back from the window, from the impact of Elizabeth’s rage.

The orderly grabbed Elizabeth roughly by the arm and pulled her inside.

The crows waited, watched, then flew away.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Paul DeBlassie III, Ph.D., is a psychologist and writer living in Albuquerque who has treated survivors of the dark side of religion for more than 30 years. His professional consultation practice — SoulCare — is devoted to the tending of the soul. Dr. DeBlassie writes fiction with a healing emphasis. He has been deeply influenced by the mestizo myth of Aztlan, its surreal beauty and natural magic.  He is a member of the Depth Psychology Alliance, the Transpersonal Psychology Association and the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. 

LINKS

Author Links

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Paul-DeBlassie-III/e/B00E5TBJXY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Website: http://www.pauldeblassieiii.com/

Blog: http://pauldeblassieiii.blogspot.com/

Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Unholy-Novel-Paul-DeBlassie/dp/0865349592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379592287&sr=8-1&keywords=the+unholy+paul+deblassie

BN.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unholy-paul-deblassie/1116061527?ean=9780865349599

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Name Before the Masses Tour: A Darker Rain

Please welcome author Claudine Kapel, who is here to tell us about her newest release, A Darker Rain. I'm currently reading this book, and will review it once I'm done. Claudine will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find out where the rest of the tour is going to be, go here. Be sure to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.

Responses to Interview Questions from Claudine Kapel, author of A Darker Rain

For Full Moon Dreaming

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?

I’d pick Siddhartha Gautama and a satellite phone. The phone would get us rescued, and we could have some fascinating discussions about the origins of Buddhism while waiting for help to arrive.

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

I’d be Alice from Alice in Wonderland, because life really is an incredible journey! I’ve also known a few interesting cats.

3)      Take these three words and give me a 100-word or less scenario using them: insurance, owed, talk

Scenario: It’s 1965. Julia is talking to her niece, who is afraid to tell her boyfriend what she thinks about civil rights because she doesn’t want to jeopardize the relationship. Julia says:

Don’t be afraid to talk about how you feel. You don’t owe anyone your compliance and you’re not owed that by others. Being yourself is the best insurance you’ll find for a joy-filled life.

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

For me, some elements for a romantic evening would include a delightful meal, some beautiful music, and a moonlight walk along a warm sandy beach, bare feet kissed by the lapping water.

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

I generally start with a scene that is central to the plot. This may be the opening scene of the book, but sometimes it’s a scene that occurs much later. From there, I map out the rest of the plot as well as the related characters.

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

A friend of mine suggested Lena Dunham. Alternatively, perhaps Jennifer Lawrence. They’re both (a-hem) a tad younger, and perhaps a tad taller, but it could work.

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

I don’t really read horror novels or watch horror films, so I don’t have a big inventory of possibilities to choose from. That said, I think I’d go with Dracula, because few historical characters have sparked the imagination of writers over time the way he has.

8)      Do you have a historical crush and if so, who is it?

I’ll go with Marco Polo, who not only engaged in an epic journey of exploration, but also wrote about his travels so others could learn from them.

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

Not really. I wasn’t sure the world was ready for a story about aliens on Earth, but I wrote it anyway. J

A Darker Rain

by Claudine Kapel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

“It’s definitely not a good time to be going into the woods of Hawkley Ridge.”

When a red-eyed wildcat starts threatening ranchers in the Pacific Northwest, Ryan Cole recognizes the danger is far more menacing than the ranchers realize. Cole specializes in tackling unconventional security threats, particularly those with alien origins.

His investigation puts him in the crosshairs of Antoine Drake, an international arms dealer with a penchant for weapons from other worlds. Both men are hot on the trail of powerful alien artifacts known as guardian stones.

Cole and his team of investigators embark on a dangerous quest to recover the guardian stones before they can be assembled into the ultimate alien weapon. To succeed, Cole must also decipher the wildcat’s deadly secrets.

But in the woods of Hawkley Ridge, it’s easy for the hunter to become the prey.

A Darker Rain is the first book in the Ryan Cole series.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

Suddenly Cole stopped, raising his hand to halt Dalton’s progress. He heard something. It sounded like a growl, off to the left of the path. The forest became deathly quiet. The night creatures were also aware of the danger in their midst.

Cole reached for his gun. He sensed Dalton doing the same. The cool metal in his hand was reassuring, although he couldn’t forget what the leopard had done to Scofield.

Then he saw the shadowy figure, maybe twenty yards away. Red eyes watching him in the darkness, but well shielded by the forest.

Cole remained still, pondering his options. Memories of countless military operations that had unfolded in forests and jungles flickered through his mind. He had faced many opposing forces in his life, but never anything quite like this.

Cole knew they weren’t in a position to get a good shot, not with trees and brush in the way. He hoped the leopard’s options were equally limited. The animal was large as far as wildcats went, so it was unlikely it could advance through the brush with ease.

Suddenly the red eyes were gone. Within moments, sounds of life returned to the forest.

Cole heard Dalton exhale.

“What the hell was that?” asked Dalton in a whisper.

“A genetic nightmare on four legs,” replied Cole.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A Darker Rain is Claudine Kapel’s first novel. She lives in Toronto and enjoys books, music, and travel. When not working as a consultant, she can be found writing, reading, or contemplating what else may be out there.

The second book in the Ryan Cole series is planned for release in 2014.

Claudine loves to hear from readers. You can reach her at www.claudinekapel.com.

Buy Links:

Available for purchase on:

Amazon-US   http://www.amazon.com/Darker-Rain-Ryan-Cole-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00HHF4E8U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1388776108&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Darker+Rain

Amazon-CA    http://www.amazon.ca/Darker-Rain-Ryan-Cole-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00HHF4E8U/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397007047&sr=1-1&keywords=a+darker+rain

Apple iBookstore/iTunes-US    https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-darker-rain/id784213486?mt=11

Apple iBookstore/iTunes-CA   https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/a-darker-rain/id784213486?mt=11

Barnes and Noble   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-darker-rain-claudine-kapel/1117923653?ean=9781483513324

Kobo Books   http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/a-darker-rain

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Name Before the Masses Tour: Twist of Fate

Please welcome author Shawna C. Jones, who is here to tell us about her latest release, Twist of Fate. Shawna is going to award, to one randomly drawn commenter, his choice of: a $50 Amazon GC, a $50 Starbucks GC, or a crystal from Middle Earth store in Mt. Shasta. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find out where the other stops on the tour are, go here. Look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.

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? My Aunt Emma. The item would be a crystal ball so we would know our future prospects.

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

would say Wicked, which is based on the Wizard of Oz. I would be Glinda, the good witch, as I’m always on the side of good.

   3)    Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scenario using them:  insurance, owed, talk.  My brother Gary owed me half a million dollars, and he refused to pay up. After years of haggling, I’d reached the end of my rope so to speak. He can’t treat his sister like this. So I kidnapped his wife Loretta, as an insurance policy. I knew he’d pay if I had her. I drove us to a cabin that I owned, which no one knew about. I tied her up, and sent Gary a letter which stated clearly: I have your wife. If you want her back in one piece, call me. We’ll talk.

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

My husband and I spend a romantic evening at home, with a candlelight dinner, soft music, and a vegetarian meal. Afterwards, we usually head to the bedroom…

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

      So far, character seems to be the driving force.

6)     If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you? Madonna seems like a good

choice to me. Hopefully she’s up for skydiving and hang gliding.

    7)    Who’s your favorite horror villain and why? My favorites are the ones you can’t see, yet they are doing all sorts of scary things to visitors in houses, and that sort of thing. There’s no blood or gore, yet what they can do to you or make you do is frightening.

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

      It would have to be Columbus or someone of that caliber. Mainly because he was adventurous and took

chances.

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

   I wonder about my next book, since it’s pretty out there. I think we’ll just have to see.

Twist of Fate

by Shawna C. Jones

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Shawna grew up with a secret that she couldn't share with anyone. She thought of it as her "inner demon" and it shaped her life. When she became an adult, it sent her on a quest to try to find her Real Home. In Paris, she fell in love with a fellow traveler who changed her life, for better or worse. Their relationship was full of discovery and of lessons learned.

How could she come to terms with her "inner demon"? Can we change our fate or karma? Does love really conquer all?

This book is based on a true story of an independent woman's search for her true self and the meaning of life, and how she found answers in unexpected places.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

“Are you alright?” I asked, touching her hands, which were now empty, but still shaking a bit.

“I will be. Give me a minute.” She closed her eyes.

I bent down and started picking up the pieces of the cup. Tea leaves were splashed everywhere. One group looked like Tower Bridge, but one group caught my eye. As I looked at it closely, it seemed to be a face. I couldn’t tell if it was male or female, but it had slits for eyes and mouth. I tried to get closer still, when my aunt’s foot tapped it and it disappeared.

I quickly picked everything up and went to get a broom and dustpan. My aunt looked at me and smiled a little.

“I’ll take care of everything. You just relax.” I went inside and came back out. I cleaned everything up. When I came back out I found her standing at the edge of the patio; she was staring at the ocean.

She turned and looked at me. Color had come back into her face and she appeared calm.

“I don’t know what happened there. But there was definitely an unknown entity around. You have a lot of protection around you. Make sure white light surrounds you at all times. Be very careful of the future you’re stepping into. Some of it is a problem. I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.”

“I’ll change it.”

“Yes. Some of it, you might be able to. You can always try.” She didn’t sound convincing.

“You don’t know what it is?”

“No. But veils are not a good sign. Just be careful and try not to be too concerned about anything.”

“You know that won’t happen.” We both smiled. I hugged her tightly. What would I do without her?

I knew I liked to live in the fast lane. Perhaps I would have to move over to the slow lane for a while. No. That would not be me. And besides, Paris was waiting for us.

 Lesson: Always protect yourself. And when a psychic warns you, pay extra close attention.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Author bio:  Shawna C. Jones lives in the US, when she's not traveling the world. She lives with her husband, and "inner demon" quite peacefully now. She is continuing her mission of helping others, and encouraging young people to travel and follow their dreams.

https://www.facebook.com/ShawnaJonesAuthor

http://www.shawnacjones.com/

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Name Before the Masses Tour: Mythical Ireland

Please welcome author Christy Nicholas, who is here today to both answer my infamous Rick Reed questions and to talk about her newest release,  Ireland: Mythical, Magical, Mystical.  Christy will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to one random commenter on the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. If you want to know where her other tour dates are, go here.

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?

Doctor Who and the TARDIS – endless possibilities!  Given my druthers, I’d choose either the 4^th Doctor (Tom Baker), or the 11^th Doctor (David Tennant).

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

Oddly enough, I’d have to say Tevya from Fiddler on the Roof.  He has worked hard all his life, and wishes

he was rich – but realizes he has happiness in his community and family. 

3)      Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scenario using them:  insurance, owed, talk

She knew she owed him a stern talk, but she avoided it like the plague.  She couldn’t get past the fact that she had discovered the insurance policy he had bought – was there something sinister behind it?  Or was he just being cautious?  She just couldn’t read him.

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

Usually a night out for sushi, and cuddling on the couch with a good movie.  Of course, a good movie is likely something fantasy or science fiction, as we are both incurable geeks!

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

Since I write non-fiction travel, I start with the myth and history of a place.  My research always reveals interesting things I didn’t know, and it fuels my inspiration for the rest of the book.

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

I would love Betty White – a sweet, innocent exterior with a wicked, dirty-mind center!

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

I think Hannibal Lechter is my favorite – he is a genius who orchestrates everything in his life like a

symphony.  He’s in control even when he’s being controlled in a prison.  Perhaps it appeals to the control freak in me!

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

Definitely – Brian Boruma, the last true High King of Ireland, 1000 years ago.  What a man!  He evicted the Vikings from Ireland, brought the whole island under one rule, and died in battle – at age 84, according to most accounts!  How could this man be anything less than vital, compelling, and full of charisma?  I am looking forward to the movie they are producing on him, for 2014 – 1000 years after the Battle of Clontarf, which took his life.

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

I am starting to write the story of my parents’ love and eventual marriage, 30 years after I was born – we shall see if people want it or not!

www.greendragonartist.com

www.facebook.com/greendragonartist

www.facebook.com/greendragontravel

Twitter:  greendragon9

http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Nicholas_Christy/ireland-guide.htm

IRELAND: MYTHICAL, MAGICAL, MYSTICAL

By

Christy Nicholas

BLURB:  

Do you find yourself drawn to the magic of the Emerald Isle? Would you like to see places beyond the typical tourist traps? Come, join me on a journey through the mists of legend, into the hidden places of mystery. Immerse yourself in the legends and myths, the history that has made this island precious in the hearts and minds of millions. Along with the tales and history, there is practical information on planning your trip, budgeting your costs, and finding the best places to while away the magical hours of your holiday.

EXCERPT:  

The Magical Facet The Fair Folk

Everyone has heard of fairies, of creatures with supernatural powers to curse, to bless, to find gold, or to cause mischief. Literature and art is full of them from Shakespeare to contemporary artists Amy Brown or Jasmine Beckett-Griffith. Western culture, especially in the US, is bred on Disney’s Tinker Bell, children’s books of flower fairies from Victorian artists, and grim tales of the darker side of these Fae folk.

In Ireland, fairies, known as the Sídhe (pronounced shee) or the Good Folk, originate from the Tuatha Dé Danann, the people who immigrated to the island before the Sons of Míl. Supposedly full of powers, the Tuatha Dé Danann could not bear to be near iron, and therefore their superior skills were for naught. Rather than leave the land they loved, they agreed to reside below the earth. For this reason, caves are said to be entrances into their underworld homes. Traces of this legend can be seen in the classic film, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, where Darby is led under a mountain to the Fairy King’s palace. 

Ireland has countless portals, be they hills, hawthorn trees, caves, wells, or other sacred places.

A more Christianized origin of these creatures claim they are angels which fell to Earth before humans resided there. They live beneath the waves or gardens, and while some are evil, others can be helpful as long as they are treated with respect.

While many modern legends show the fairies to be sweet, kind, magical creatures, this is really a Victorian creation. The traditional views in Ireland and Scotland show the Sídhe to be mischievous to the point of cruelty a force to be reckoned with. They are not sought out by the wise. In fact, most of the herb and spell lore of an almost forgotten era is meant to instruct how to keep you from coming to the Folks’ attention.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

My name is Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon. I do many things, including digital art, beaded jewelry, writing, and photography. In real life I'm a CPA, but having grown up with art around me (my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected me, as it were.  I love to draw and to create things. It's more of an obsession than a hobby. I like looking up into the sky and seeing a beautiful sunset, or a fragrant blossom, a dramatic seaside. I then wish to take a picture or create a piece of jewelry to share this serenity, this joy, this beauty with others.  Sometimes this sharing requires explanation – and thus I write.  Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. I do local art and craft shows, as well as sending my art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad.

Find Christy here:
www.GreenDragonArtist.com

www.facebook.com/greendragon9

www.facebook.com/greendragonartist

www.facebook.com/greendragontravel

www.facebook.com/music-from-ireland-for-your-pleasure

www.facebook.com/musicfromscotland

www.twitter.com/greendragon9

Find Christy’s book here, and at other eBook stores:

http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Nicholas_Christy/ireland-guide.htm