Top Ten Tuesday: #1 All-Time Favorite Authors

My friend Denise pointed me in the direction of the Top Ten Tuesday blog, and I was intrigued by the idea so I thought I'd try it out. This week we're to name our top ten all-time favorite authors. Well, this might end up being longer than ten, because you know there are just so many to choose from, but I'll give it a whirl and see what happens. These are in no particular order, I might add, just as they come to me.

1. Mike Carey - He wrote the Lucifer graphic novel series, which I simply adore, worked with Neil

Gaiman on Sandman, and on Hellblazer, which of course produced John Constantine, whom I love. And he wrote the Felix Castor series. I would love to meet this man and pick his brain. I bet he has a lot to say.

2. PG Wodehouse - I love his sense of humor, he's hilarious and he creates the best characters, especially Jeeves and Wooster. But pick up any of his books - Blandings, Jeeves and Wooster, or any other title - and you're in for a great read.

3. William Faulkner - There is something about him that draws me to him, and he's been a great

influence on my writing, although some might say not for the better, as I think I learned how to write incredibly long paragraphs from reading him. He especially writes about Southern characters, and I especially love the books set in his imaginary Yoknapatawtha County in Mississippi, about the Snopes family - The Hamlet, The Town, and the Manse.

4. Edgar Allan Poe - This man was a master of the short story, and the father of the modern detective story, with his Purloined Letter featuring his detective C. Auguste Dupin. He had a way of sending chills down your spine, with stories and with poetry. Everyone knows The Raven and can quote it. I really love The Black Cat and the Cask of Amontillado, and the Tell-Tale Heart.



5. Margaret Mitchell - I've read Gone With The Wind 17 times so I must like it lol There's something

about Scarlett that you can't help but like even when she's at her most unlikable. She's got a lot of spunk, even if her taste in men is questionable. A Southern belle at the beginning of the book, she is forced by circumstance to adapt or be winnowed out. She chose to change, and nothing could knock her down. She only wrote one book, but it was a dandy.

6. Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child - So sue me, they're two people. But the series they created featuring FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast is amazing. These books are mystery, thriller, science fiction and fantasy rolled into one, and they are real page-turners. I hope they adapt them to the screen some day (not counting the awful version of Relic that's out there). I think Benedict Cumberbatch would make a great Pendergast.

7. Charlaine Harris - I loved the Southern Mystery series, with Sookie, Bill, Eric and the rest. The books are mostly better than the series, although I loved the series, but it veered so far left it flew off into space and lost itself. Her books have a great humor and fantastic imagination. I could easily hang out with Sookie Stackhouse.

8. John Milton - I didn't read Paradise Lost until a couple of years ago, but I loved it right away, basically because of Lucifer. He's a fascinating character, and I have to believe Milton admired him, whether he admitted to it or not (probably not a popular thing to do back then). The poetry is beautiful, although the parts without Lucifer are less interesting. Even better than the Inferno by Dante.

9. Thomas Harris - I've read all his Hannibal Lecter books, more than once. Hannibal is a great

character, well-developed. I could never fear him. Respect him, yes, but fear him no. I was more afraid of Jame Gumb, because he was unstable, an unknown quantity, and you didn't know what he might do. In Red Dragon, I felt rather sorry for Francis Dolarhyde, and wished him well, but in the end his grandmother's evil influence was too strong for him to break. I wish Harris would write more Hannibal, but I don't expect that to happen.

10. James Michener - Known for his sweeping historical novels, he wrote some wonderful books. Some of my favorites are Hawaii, Centennial, and Chesapeake. Rich in characters and brilliant in detail, he gives you a real feel for the age and people he writes about.

11. Irving Stone - He wrote some very amazing biographies, including one of Van Gogh, Michelangelo, and Andrew Jackson's wife. One of my favorites is about the artist Pisarro, and features a bunch of the Impressionists, who are my favorite artists.

12. Isaac Asimov - One of the best science fiction writers ever, I love the Foundation books, especially the story of the Mule.

13. Frank Herbert - Another great sci fi writer, I love his Dune books, my favorite being God

Emperor Dune.

14. Sherrilyn Kenyon - Her Dark Hunter books are amazing, and I can't get enough of them.

15. Charlotte Bronte - Jane Eyre speaks for itself, a great book and a great love story.

16. Thomas Hardy - While I didn't care for him in school, I learned to love him after I graduated, and I especially enjoyed The Return of the Native, and have read it a few times. Also The Mayor of Casterbridge.



I think this list is long enough now lol  Happy Tuesday, and let's try this again next week, shall we?

Guest Blogger: Shyla Wolf

Please welcome author Shyla Wolf, who is here to tell us about her new release, Shadows Horizons. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

Love is a flame we embrace with open arms.

Kiera, a young warrior, adopted off the streets and raised by a group of psychic brethren—encounters the first pangs of infatuation after rescuing a computer prodigy.

Her destiny entails protecting the life and work of Carlin, genius geek, along with a mate who will pull her from death’s clutches.

From the moment she saves Carlin’s life, fate steers her into a series of events that opens her world to the sensuous allure of danger and desire.

Carlin, an electronics scholar, develops the means to bring this country to its knees. Lacking evil intent, his intellects pushes him to test the limits of possibilities.

Kyley, kidnapped as an infant, is the means to an end for Roth. Her psychic talents are the key to unleashing biologic, chemical, and financial terrorism, inducing total anarchy in the USA. A collector of psychic talents, he enjoys indulging his inner sociopathic OCD.

Kyley’s years of abuse at Roth’s hands have yet to crush her spirit, buy if Roth isn’t stopped soon, chaos will reign, destroying all within its path.

Taylor’s strong telekinetic power and military background have allowed a  seamless blend with the paranormal force working to help others with psychic abilities. When he happens upon a terrified young woman in a restaurant making a bid for freedom, they’re both set on a new path, filled with death, destruction, hope, and passion.

Two groups of warriors, their unique skills unknown to mankind, live and fight in the shadows with courage and honor, to preserve our way of life. Their incredible stories are a spirit-stirring journey that speaks to the dreams we all share.

Excerpt

Carlin strode beside his bodyguard through the dimly lit parking garage fidgeting with his keys. “Adam, this does not make it to my top five favorite places to visit.”

A rat skittered across the floor in the shadows, and he imagined it turning a gimlet-eyed stare on its intruders. Filth, gas, and pizza from a nearby restaurant thickened the air, reminiscent of the alley apartment he occupied during college. Small pools of dingy light challenged macabre shadows for dominance—and lost. Clashing of the bleak rays and murky silhouettes added an ominous, prophetic feeling he couldn’t shake. Water stains mingled with the shadows to create fleeting two dimensional monsters. Carlin was not a fan of Rorschach. Crap, I haven’t been spooked like this in years.

Adam shrugged. “Sir, as your bodyguard, I admit this isn’t my idea of a secure location either, but it is the closest enclosed parking available to meet with your client. The open street leaves you too vulnerable. As much as you cherish your privacy, I’m surprised you agreed to help at all.”

“He’s a college buddy, needed help with a simple, high-tech security task. Seems twenty-first century technology left him in the dust.”

“Next time, why don’t you at least suggest meeting during the daytime?” Adam’s narrowed eyes and tilted head as if listening to a far-off sound—usually spelled trouble.

“Next time, remind me a proctologist’s exam would be more enjoyable, okay?” Sweat beaded his forehead despite the cool December breeze drifting over the graffiti-covered knee wall.

“Yeah, I’m feeling it too. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Carlin’s skidding on a badly patched piece of concrete prompted his bodyguard to scan the area around them. Dirt and crumbles skittered, their audio report echoed off the walls.

"Watch your step, sir, we don’t need to broadcast our location." Adam murmured as he reached out to steady him.

“You know…” Carlin muttered, “Folks generally think of me as a good analytical and concrete thinker. Perhaps whatever higher power gifted me with intuitive abilities for logistics and computers decided on a mental tariff—common sense.”

"My sixth sense says trouble’s GPS has already locked on. Stay close.”

The gentle slide of Adam’s gun from its shoulder rig compelled Carlin to suck in the cool night air, searing his lungs.

“Sir, instincts are the best survival tool we have. They’re rarely wrong. Better safe than sorry.”

Sharp chirps split the silence, Carlin’s cell threw his heart rate into overdrive. Hair on his nape prickled as he fumbled in his pocket. With an all-thumbs equivalent, he extracted the nuisance and hit ignore.

Massive pillars supported the five-story concrete structure. Rounding one to his left, his foot stalled mid-step when Adam snatched him sideways. The colossal thug he almost plowed into blended into the shadows.

“Jesus!" The man personified hulkish features with abject malice in his gaze. The split-second observation brought Carlin a rush of adrenaline. "You're huge!" Brown hair pulled back in a ponytail swept his shoulder giving the look of a mob enforcer. A bulge of pitted, tanned skin separated a straight line of bushy eyebrows. Dark eyes appeared to hold a terrible knowledge and gave his hard stare a cold calculating look.

The brute’s gaze raked Carlin's body head to toe. Chipped yellow teeth appeared as his thin lips pulled back in a wide grin. "Time to meet your maker, prodigy." He mimicked Carlin's sidestep in a lightning-fast move and knocked Adam's gun from his right hand. Its ricocheting underneath a nearby Toyota produced multiple tin-like clinks.

Time seemed to fracture. Adam's left arm shoved Carlin to the side. His assailant took wily advantage in that flash of time. He watched his bodyguard go down hard from his attacker's leg sweep.

One blink and a dagger appeared in the thug's hand. Its arc and swift speed toward his belly made it little more than a glimmer in the weak light. His neurons couldn't fire fast enough to follow its passage. Two feet stood between Carlin and a trip to his maker, complements of this walking nightmare.

  

 https://www.facebook.com/shyla.wolff

http://shylawolff.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/wolff_shyla

http://shylawolff.com/

Amazon buy link

http://www.amazon.com/Shadowed-Horizons-Anath-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00RC7QOIQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422718443&sr=1-1&keywords=Shadowed+Horizons

Bio

Life teaches us many lessons. One of the most important ones Shyla’s learned is to take the time to enjoy family and friends. Our circumstances change on a daily basis. However small the differences may seem, they add up over time. Through a lifetime of various trials and tribulations, she’s discovered the enjoyment of sharing her stories with those that would relish participating in the journey of extraordinary people through their everyday lives.

After years of employment in various fields including medical, law enforcement, and private investigations, Shyla’s experiences inspired the stories she brings to life. From the horrific to the awe-inspiring, life’s lessons affect us all, regardless of the virtual walls we build or the blinders we don.

The way we incorporate these into our daily life helps determine our character and how we affect those around us. A simple and small kindness can go a very long way and have a profound effect on others.

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My Sexy Saturday: When Will I Be Loved

Good morning and Happy Sexy Saturday! Last week, I gave you a peek into When Will I Be Love, my m/m paranormal romance/mystery sequel to When Will I See You Again. Today I am going to give you a different glimpse of Holt and Miller, and tell you that When Will I Be Loved has been contracted by Amber Quill, and will be released on June 7th!  Hooray!

In this scene, Miller and Holt have left Charisma for Miller's apartment. I think the rest is self-explanatory. Enjoy! Then visit the other authors on the hop, whose links follow my tale!

Slowly but surely, the blond unfastened every button on Miller’s shirt. As each bit of bare flesh was revealed, he kissed it, tenderly. The care he took with Miller’s disrobing was without a doubt the sexiest thing Miller had ever seen in his life, and it took his breath away. Passion and desire flamed together inside of him, creating something new, something unrecognizable.

And what was he saying that sounded suspiciously like mine?

Finished with the buttons, the shirt was gently removed and allowed to flutter to the floor. The blond turned his attention to Miller’s jaw line, kissing a slow tender trail along his neck. Miller felt his skin warm at the contact, a white-hot heat that did not burn. He found himself turning his head to allow for better access. The blond’s tongue sucked lightly at the tender hollow just beneath Miller’s collarbone. Miller’s nostrils filled with the scent of the other man. A most intoxicating bouquet, earthy and musky, with slightly floral undertones, like freshly pressed wildflowers. The earthiness reminded him of the sensual aroma of cumin. Somehow he knew he’d never look at that particular spice in the same way again.

“Let’s get you comfortable,” the blond suggested, casting an incredibly sexy, half-lidded look up at Miller. It took him half a second to react as a strong shiver coursed through him, but Miller managed to nod, and once again he was lifted up in those powerful arms, this time carried the short distance to the bed and gently laid upon it. He leaned over Miller, nuzzling Miller’s neck. Miller took advantage of his proximity to plunge his fingers into his honey blond hair, marveling at the soft texture. The blond drew back, and Miller’s hand flopped back to the bed, empty.

“Soon,” he promised, as if sensing Miller’s disappointment, and the smile he gave Miller was dazzling. He turned his attention to finishing what he’d started, this time beginning at the bottom, with Miller’s feet. He carefully removed Miller’s dress shoes and they joined the shirt, followed by his socks. Next, Miller’s belt was unbuckled and unthreaded from the loops, before he turned his attention to the zipper, against which Miller’s erection bulged, begging for release. The blond’s fingers were gentle as he undid the single button, then pulled on the zipper, careful not to catch the fabric beneath in their teeth.

“Raise your hips,” he directed, and Miller obeyed, which facilitated the removal of his trousers, and then his dark blue boxers.

And now Miller lay completely naked, exposed to the view of this exquisite man. One of them was definitely overdressed, and it wasn’t him.

A last farewell to Raylan and Justified

**SPOILERS GALORE***

Well, it's over, and it was certainly great fun while it lasted. Lots of great characters. But would you expect any less from an Elmore Leonard story?And now Elmore has passed, and Justified has concluded.

I always knew Raylan and Boyd would come face to face again, and they did. If you watched the

episode before this, you know Ava shot Boyd and took the money, and Boyd and Avery - and every one else, including Raylan, whose CI she was - were after her. Well, not Wynn Duffy. You know, at the beginning I didn't care for him a whole lot. He came in to the story with Winona's no-account husband, whose name I've already forgotten, and he was rather sleazy. But he's grown on me, and I'm glad Mikey saved him, and sorry Mikey died.

Raylan has been hung up on his ex, Winona, since the series started. But that didn't stop him from getting involved with Ava Crowder, in her pre-Boyd days. This was back when Boyd's daddy was around, Bo Crowder, and he wasn't a very nice man. But Raylan's love for Winona won out, he dumped Ava and went back to her. And then she disappeared on him. Not surprising, considering Natalie Zea was also in Californication and The Following.  Toward the end of the series, Raylan decides to move to Florida, to be a part of his baby daughter's life - and Winona's. But things keep holding him in Harlabn County. I still expected them to get together at the end, but that didn't happen, although Raylan is in his daughter's life, as we see in a scene that takes place a few years after the end.

Okay, then, just because of a chance photograph (the FBI still searching for Ava, of course, although Avery Markham is long dead), Raylan knows where she is and goes to see her. She fears he is going to take her back to prison, and she finally agrees to show him something - or someone, actually - but only after he swears that Boyd can never know (Boyd is in prison, where Raylan put him, rather than kill him). Apparently Ava had Boyd's child, a son she named Zachariah, after the only man who never wanted anything from her, her late uncle. So Raylan promises, secure in the knowledge she will do no harm. I have to wonder if he'll go to visit her now and then?

Finally, Boy and Raylan. Raylan goes to visit Boyd at the prison, where we discover that he has gone back to preaching the word. He is told he has a visitor, and finds Raylan waiting to see him. They talk, and in the end, it all comes down to one thing - they dug coal together.

And that's all she wrote...

A season finale and a series finale - waving good-bye to Raylan and Boyd... and even Four Kidney Dewey

Last night we watched two finales - Face Off and Justified.

This is our second season with Face Off, and we like it pretty well. It's interesting to watch characters come to life in the hands of some pretty talented people. I'm sure some of these people will end up working in the industry, and we'll see their names in movie credits.

****SPOILERS**** Last night they were down to three artists - Emily, Darla, and Logan. I figured the real battle would be between Emily and Darla, and it was.

For the finale, they brought back all the eliminated contestants and divided them among the final three. The theme was teams in films, such as Guardians of the Galaxy. Each finalist received a genre, and they had to create four characters. Then they drew words from a board and had to make a title.

Logan got SciFi, and his film was The Fortress. His characters were similar to ones perhaps found on the Island of Dr Moreau, mutant animals with intelligence. He had some good aspects to his characters but his were the least interesting of the three finalists.













Emily got Post Apocalyptic and her film was titled Paradise Reckoning. Her characters were mutated after the apocalypse and she did rather well with them.

Finally, Darla got Fantasy, and her film was The Spirits of Eden, and involved four elementals.

I became aware of Darla's work in the last few weeks of the competition, as she began to shine. She does very beautiful, very detailed work. And I was rooting for her last night, although I think Emily is talented too.

Then the moment of truth came, and Darla won!

Congrats to Darla and everyone for a great season! I'm looking forward to the new season, which comes out in July. And btw, just for the record, my favorite judge is Glenn Hettrick - I'd love to have a conversation with him!

And now on to....

    to be continued

Wednesday Briefs: Don't Look Back #41 (8.2)

Happy Wednesday, one and all, and welcome to the Wednesday Briefs! The Briefers are a group of authors who bring you flash fiction on a weekly basis - stories between 500 and 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts. Enjoy!

Last week, in Don't Look Back, Marshall is faced with someone from his past - the mother  he'd hoped to never see again. How did she find him? More importantly, what does she want? Don't forget to see what the other Briefers are up to. Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!

Don't Look Back #41 (8.2)

“What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” Her smile sent cold shivers coursing down his spine.

“Where’s your manners? Ain’t you gonna ask your momma to come in?” She took a step toward the door, as if she had the right to just walk inside, and Marshall found his tongue at last.

“No!” he blurted out. “I’m not. What are you doing here, and what the hell do you want?”

That seemed to take her aback, at least for a moment. She narrowed her eyes at him and frowned. “Is that any way to talk to your mother, Marshall Clinton?”

“You picked a hell of a time to remember that,” he retorted. “You were quick to forget about me when I was a kid.” He glanced toward the travel trailer parked in front of the house. Must be hers. A male head appeared in the passenger window of the truck that pulled it, then ducked back out of sight.

“That’s Murray,” Rhonda explained.

“I don’t care—”

“My husband,” she went on, ignoring Marshall’s outburst.

“Good for you, I guess. You and Murray can just move along. You’re not wanted here.” He took a step back, intending to close the front door on her. Surely she could take the hint. It wasn’t all that subtle.

“I know what’s going on here.”

Her words froze him in position, as his brain tried to process what she’d said. “What, you  mean running a business out of our home?” he bluffed. “We have a permit, and it’s none of your business, so why don’t you take your trailer and your husband and just leave us the hell alone.”

She threw back her bleached head and laughed. “You think I came all this way because of your business? You always were a stupid child. Take after your daddy, I guess.”

“Don’t talk about Lee like that,” Marshall snarled. “He’s always been there for me, which is something you sure as hell can’t say.”

“Is that what you call it?” If his accusation struck a nerve, she didn’t show it, her face impassive beneath the layers of make-up. “I know what he’s done to you, and I think it’s disgusting.”

Marshall’s heart beat fast, his mind going a mile a minute. He didn’t care what she knew or didn’t know. He wasn’t ashamed of what he had with Lee. Trouble was he knew the rest of the world wouldn’t necessarily agree, and she might be able to cause them trouble. They had a good life here. They didn’t need her fucking with that.

“He has a name, and it’s Lee, or did that slip your mind?” he snapped at her. “Lee hasn’t done anything but love me. I guess that’s an alien concept to you, though, isn’t it?”

“You don’t think I was a good mother? I took you away, tried to give you a good life—”

“You took me away from the only home I knew, and from my father, who always loved me!” Marshall yelled. “And for what? You were too busy for me, too busy fucking around to remember I existed. You locked me in closets and made sure I never talked to anyone. What kind of love is that?”

Rhonda cringed at the barrage of accusations, taking a step backward. Marshall hoped she’d just turn around and keep going, but that was a forlorn hope.

“And what do you call Lee fucking you, his own son? What kind of love is that?” she sniped back. “I saw the video. Saw the two of you acting like lovers. Saw him kiss you like that… well, it turned my stomach when I realized the truth. No wonder he was so hot to steal you away from me, what he had in mind—”

“At least he cares about me, that’s more than I can say about you. And anything else is just none of your business. Now get the hell away from here, and never come back!” He started to close the door again, but again her words held him in check.

“I’ll tell,” she said, her voice as flat and  unemotional as if she was discussing the weather, or what she was going to have for lunch. “I’ll tell everyone about the two of you. Don’t you think that’ll ruin that nice little business you got going on? I know you’re doing pretty well. I’ve done some digging of my own. Two can play the private detective game, you know.”

Marshall sagged against the door. His whole world was crashing down around him. He was as helpless as he’d been when she’d had him in her clutches before; when she’d locked him away in the dark and there was nothing he could do about it. Lee. He needed Lee. But Lee was down by the pond, waiting for Marshall to come back, and had no way to get back to the house short of walking, which he wouldn’t think to do just yet. Maybe that was for the best. Marshall wasn’t sure what Lee would do if he saw her here at their home.

“It’s bad enough my ex-husband and my son are both queer,” she continued in the same even voice, “but when people find out you’re queer with each other? There’ll be hell to pay, and you know it.” 

She straightened up, looking more confident now. “But it doesn’t have to be that way, not if…”

“Not if what?”

Marshall was startled out of his reverie by the sound of Roy’s voice. Marshall had been so distracted, he hadn’t heard Roy pull up, but he stood behind Rhonda, wearing his sheriff’s uniform.

Rhonda turned, taken aback by Roy’s appearance. Marshall remembered they’d never met, so she had no way of knowing who he was to them.

“Morning, Sheriff,” she greeted him. “No trouble here, just talking to my son—”

“Ma’am, I know who you are, and I think you need to move along.”

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Carol Pedroso

Kazy Reed

Sarah Hayes

Cia Nordwell

Ravon Silvius

Jim Dunaway

Johayan

Virtual Book Blast: The Eye and the Arm

Please welcome my friend and fellow author Andrew Q. Gordon, who is here to talk about his latest release, The Eye and the Arm, the second book in his Champion of the Gods series. I have read both these books, and I loved them. I highly recommend them.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Eye And The Arm Series: Champion of the Gods Book 2

BLURB:

After defeating Meglar at Belsport, Farrell returns to Haven to recover from his injuries, but Khron, the god of war, has other ideas. He gives Farrell a new mission: free the survivors of the ancient dwarf realm of Trellham from their three-thousand-year banishment. To fulfill Khron's near impossible task, Farrell will need the help of his distance ancestor, the legendary wizard Kel. But Kel has been dead for a thousand years. Farrell finds information hinting that Kel is alive, so he moves his search to Dumbarten, Kel's birthplace. To reach Dumbarten unannounced, Farrell and Miceral disguise themselves as mercenaries on board a merchant vessel. Their journey is disrupted when pirates attack their ship. While attempting to subdue the attack, Farrell is struck down by one of Meglar’s minions. Unconscious and trapped in his own mind, Farrell's only chance for survival rests with Miceral and the peregrine king Rothdin entering his thoughts and helping him sort fact from illusion. To reach Farrell, they will need to rely on an untested spell from one of Kel's spellbooks. If they succeed, Miceral can guide Farrell home safely. If not, Farrell will destroy not only himself, but Miceral, Rothdin, and everyone around him. DSP Publications Length: 99,775 words/296 Pages Release Date: April 14, 2015

Video Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk6OfKOU6nc&feature=youtu.be

EXCERPT:

“Relax, my friend.” Klissmor’s presence calmed Miceral’s growing anxiety. “You won’t feel my presence.” Miceral took a deep breath. “Will I be able to hear?” “Every word. Ready?” “No, but let’s do it.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “I need your eyes open for everyone to see.” He snapped his lids open, blinking several times before could focus again. “Sorry.” “Master Teberus.” Miceral knew the words came from him, but as promised, he didn’t feel anything. “I have Masters Erstad and Wesfazial as well as Wizard-Priestess Glendora. Ask your questions to Miceral and we four will also hear you.” “Astounding.” The elder Arlefor glanced at the high priestess. “All four at once?” “Wizard.” Miceral had heard that tone enough to know Klissmor’s mood. “Maintaining this link, this far away with this many minds, is a strain. If we are to save Farrell, you must focus on him.” “Of course. My apologies.” Teberus bowed deeply. “My examination of the one who did this to Farrell confirmed that he is no wizard.” “Then how in the eight gates of Neblor did that man defeat Farrell?” Even though Teberus couldn’t know, Miceral recognized the voice as Wesfazial’s. “The obvious answer is the correct one. A wizard gave this man the weapon.” “But Farrell could defeat all four of us and all the other wizards you brought with you and not be tested.” Erstad’s steady temperament sounded tested. “No weapon used by a nonwizard should be capable of this.” Teberus raised the crest of his hairless eyebrow. “But since that is what happened, we must use it as the basis of our search for a cure.” No one answered. As the silence dragged on, Miceral’s anxiety slowly returned. If Haven’s senior wizards didn’t know what to do, who could? “Tell us what happened.” Erstad’s request almost didn’t register with Miceral. “No,” Klissmor said. “Show them. Let them see the memory.” Miceral closed his eyes and focused on reliving the attack. The clarity of the image caused his chest to tighten, making it hard to breathe. He knew the result, but watching it again, almost in slow motion, added to his agony. When the image played over again, he realized Klissmor must have been guiding his thoughts. “My apologies, old friend—the need is great.” Klissmor’s voice didn’t interrupt the stream of images. “Do whatever you need. Just find a way to save Farrell.” “Your friends are doing all they can. Have faith that Lenore will send us what we need.” When the memory started for the third time, he didn’t find any comfort in Klissmor’s assertion. The Six wouldn’t—couldn’t—help. He needed something that didn’t exist—a great wizard like Heminaltose or Kel. “In theory, I recognize the magic.” Erstad sounded confused. “But I’ll need to find a reference to be sure.” “What about Farrell?” He knew he shouted, or at least what Farrell told him passed for shouting, but he couldn’t prevent it. “He could be dead before you find that.” “It can’t be helped, Miceral. I need to be sure before I suggest a counterspell. If I’m wrong, whatever I try might kill him.” “He is in no immediate danger.” Teberus put his hand on Farrell’s forehead. “But my fear is the number of spells that draw on him for power. I can only give him but so much. If he doesn’t wake, his body will burn out.” “Do what you can, Master Teberus. We’ll begin searching immediately and contact you when we find the answer.” When Erstad stopped speaking, Klissmor’s presence left with him. “Hurry. Please.” Miceral knew no one heard him.

BUY LINKS

DSPP Link: http://www.andrewqgordon.com/2015/04/champion-of-the-gods-books-one-and-two-available-now/ Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Eye-Champion-Gods-Book-ebook/dp/B00VGZB6SS Amazon UK Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Eye-Champion-Gods-Book-ebook/dp/B00VGZB6SS Are Omnilit Link: https://www.omnilit.com/product-theeyeandthearm-1773344-234.html

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew Q. Gordon wrote his first story back when yellow legal pads, ball point pens were common and a Smith Corona correctable typewriter was considered high tech. Adapting with technology, he now takes his MacBook somewhere quiet when he wants to write. He currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his partner of eighteen years, their young daughter and dog. In addition to dodging some very self-important D.C. ‘insiders’, Andrew uses his commute to catch up on his reading. When not working or writing, he enjoys soccer, high fantasy, baseball and seeing how much coffee he can drink in a day and not get the shakes.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Website: www.andreqgordon.com Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/andrewqugordon, Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/dominic.andrews.7568 On Twitter: @andrewqgordon, Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AndrewQGordon/posts Email: andrewqgordon@gmail.com

GIVEAWAY

FIVE Winners will win one e-copy of ANY book* each from DSP Publication’s backlist. *Giveaway is of any currently released DSPP book, which excludes the books that are on pre-order and “The Eye And The Arm”. a Rafflecopter giveaway