Introducing Linda Foster and Unnatural Souls

I want to welcome Linda Foster on my blog today.  Linda was born and raised in Colorado, where she still lives with her (very patient) husband, two (very spoiled) ferrets and (equally spoiled) dog. Linda became an avid reading enthusiast the moment she picked up her first book, and has grown steadily worse. By the time she was fifteen years old, her library had become too big for her shelves, and she was forced to donate all her books to the local school, just to make room for new ones. She started writing short novellas for her friends in middle school, and expanded into full-length novels several years later.

The Realm of the Claimed novellas are her first published work.

JET: Please, describe yourself in three words and tell us a bit about yourself!

LINDA: Wow, three words. Dreamer, Overthinker, and Passionate. I live in Colorado with my wonderful husband, two loveable ferrets and the cutest dog in the world. I work at a middle school, where I fit in quite nicely because I’m still a kid at heart. I love to do anything artistic and creative. Painting and writing are my favorites. When I’m not working or writing I really just enjoy hanging out with my family and friends.

JET: “Unnatural Soul” is a prequel to your forthcoming series “The Realm of the Claimed” with “Soul Bound” releasing early 2017. Please, could you introduce us to the world of the protagonists Kali and Ash?

LINDA: Ash was just another high school student, intent on living life to the fullest, winning his next lacrosse game, and making it to this weekend’s party in time. Until he was forced to sell his soul to a demon to save his sister’s life. Kali is a demon who fought in the first war in Heaven against – the now King of Hell – Adrian who dragged her down with him when he was cast out. Now she is trying to earn redemption and get back home by working with the angels, and making up for the sins she’s committed while in Hell.

Unnatural Soul is the story of Grace, Ash’s sister. She is just trying to save her brothers soul before the demon he sold it to comes to collect. She ends up being unwittingly responsible for forcing these two to work together in Soul Bound where they are tied together in a desperate fight for freedom, and an angel revolution that could lead to salvation … or the end of the world.

JET: Do you have a favorite genre to write? Or do you write any genre, depending on the ideas you get?

LINDA: YA is my favorite. There is so much you can do with Young Adult books, and so many ideas yet to be written for this market who is always thirsty for something new and exciting. Which pushes me, as a writer, to come up with something unlike anything else out there. As far as my sub-genre I like to believe I nicely mix drama, mystery, fantasy, paranormal, and romance together in one nice little package.

JET: Have you always wanted to become an author and how did you become an author?

LINDA: I have always, always, always wanted to write a book. I honestly started writing for myself, for the simple fun of it and because I had a story in my head that I wanted to read. I honestly never even thought I would someday become a published author. Once I finished the Manuscript I thought, why not try and get a publisher. With each rejection I grew a little more determined to actually make it happen. I just want to share my stories with the world, and hope that I bring some of the joy to readers that’s I’ve gotten from other authors over the years. I got very lucky when submitted to Carrie White-Parish and Glass House Press. She saw something in my writing and signed me. The rest is history.

JET:  How is your writing process? Are you a pantser or a plotter? And how well do you plan your characters and story before you start writing?

LINDA: I think writing is always a little bit of both of these. I find freewriting to be especially helpful when I have writers block, but my publisher has taught me it is always good to have a solid outline to keep a sense of where I am going next. I do basic plot outlines, character descriptions and settings, but having an outline doesn’t mean some things don’t change as I’m actually writing the story. It’s a roadmap and sometimes, when I’m lost in the creative world of writing, I like to take detours.

JET: Do you happen to have a playlist you use while writing? 

LINDA: I have an entire list of Spotify of over 50 songs that make up my Realm of the Claimed playlist so I’ll give you my top ten.

1. A demons fate - Within Temptation
2. Monster – Skillet
3. Truth – Seether
4. Comatose – Skillet
5. Light ‘em up – Fall Out Boy
6. I don’t care – Apoctalyptica
7. Leave out all the rest – Linkin Park
8. Always – Saliva
9. The Successions Studios Playlist
10. I’m not Okay – My Chemical Romance

JET: Thank you for answering my questions! Good luck for the future!

LINDA: Thank you for having me!

Firedragon Rising Interview with Aurelia & Cover Reveal

 

Why do people call you “the Firedragon”?

Because in this world, monsters are given straightforward names that are mishmashes of words, like bloodwolf or fleshsnake. And I’m so good at fighting that to them, I’m the monster. I don’t know exactly who came up with the nickname, since by the time I heard about it, everyone was already saying it behind my back. Best I can guess is that it’s because I fight like I’m on fire, and I’m scary like a dragon. But also one of the good guys. I like to think that dragons aren’t like regular monsters—they’re good monsters. But no one’s ever seen one, so I don’t know. I think they’re actually myths.

What’s going on in your life?

School, of course. But it’s not a regular school. I’m a Cadet at the Academy of Supernatural Defense, which means I study how to fight monsters. You know, what kinds there are, what their weaknesses are, what weapons work on them, and where they like to hang out. But only half my day is spent on the classroom stuff. The rest is for training. Except when there’s a monster near the Capital—then I’m sent to gank it.

What kind of training do you do?

What do you think? How to kill monsters! Since there are so many kinds out there, you’ve gotta be good at a lot of different types of combat. You can shoot some of the monsters with a gun, but most have super-healing powers and will just regenerate. Arrows work on some of them, since the monster can’t heal around the shaft. Personally, I like stabbing weapons the best, because all monsters are vulnerable to silver blades. Double swords are my favorite.

What’s the most dangerous monster out there?

Ugh, fangbeast. When you first look at one, it doesn’t seem so bad. Just teeth and claws like any old wolf. What makes it scary is its ability to multiply. And it’s pretty much invulnerable, even if you have magic. Spells, bullets, and everything else just bounce right off. To even have a chance, you’d have to chop off its head—then chop off the head of the next clone, then the next one, then the next … until they’re all gone. If you can survive that long, yourself.

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?

I dunno… Well, here’s something: I’ve never worn a dress. Can’t fight if you’re worried about tripping over your skirt. Maybe someone put me in one against my will when I was a baby—I wouldn’t know, since Triumvirate-run orphanages don’t exactly take sentimental pictures—but I don’t remember ever putting one on. And I wouldn’t be caught dead in one. Not my thing.

Tell us about your friends. Who do you hang out with?

I don’t really have time to “hang out,” but when I do, it’s with Connor. He’s been my friend for ages, which is kind of weird because he’s pretty much the opposite of me. Like, I have zero magic, and he’s a whiz with a wand. I’m awesome at fighting but not so good at the frou-frou book stuff, and he’s awesome at the book stuff but kind of sucks at fighting. Plus I’m an orphan, and he’s the Gold Triumvir’s son. Basically a prince around here. I never expected him to be my friend—more of a brother, if I’m being honest—but I’m glad he found me. If he didn’t, I’d be a loner.

Connor sounds like a nice guy. If you could give him any one thing—an object, a skill, a power—what would it be?

Can I take something away instead? Because then I’d take away the fact that his dad is a freaking scumbag who thinks he owns everything. Technically, we’re ruled by three Triumvirs, but everyone knows the Gold Triumvir—Connor’s dad—is the one with the real power. And he uses it to keep Connor on a leash. That pisses me off, because I know Connor hates being part of the system that treats everyone without magic like garbage. The old guy’s got a dozen other kids—why can’t he just let his youngest go? I hate him. I hate the Triumvirate. Wish I could do something about them. Wait … they’re not going to see this, are they?

Let’s change the subject. What do you do for fun?

Don’t have much time for fun, but when I do, I usually mess with Connor. Make fun of him and stuff. I’ve always wanted to pull a practical joke on him, but he catches me every time I even think about it. He’s gotten me a few times, though. Once, he replaced my bow with a dud that couldn’t shoot an arrow more than ten feet. Made me think I was losing my edge for a whole five minutes before I realized something was up. Stupid magic.

What do you hope to be doing in ten years?

You’re sure the Triumvirate won’t see this, right? Well, to be honest, I hope to be living in a world where they’re no longer a thing. Where people like me and people like Connor will be treated as equals. There might still be monsters that need ganking of course, and I still want to be the one to do it, but I hope to be doing it on my own terms. Not because the government ordered me to.

If you could cross over into another reality, where would you go, and why?

A lot of people would say they want to go to a version of this world where there are no monsters, but I don’t know if I agree. I’ve spent my whole life fighting. In a world without monsters, I don’t know what I’d do. So I guess I’d want to cross over into a world that’s just like mine, except not run by the Triumvirate. Which is kind of what we’re fighting to create.

What are you planning on doing next?

Kick some monster butt. And maybe find a way to join the rebellion. Hey, you’re sure-sure that the Triumvirate’s not gonna see this interview, right?

Add Firedragon Rising on Goodreads

Sinister plots. An underground rebellion. And a treacherous road filled with monsters and enemies unknown.

It's been three months since Aurelia survived the International Challenge—an elite monster-fighting competition. And the Triumvirate has been keeping a close eye on her ever since … as if they expect her to cause them more trouble.

They’re right.

Now that she knows about the underground revolution—and the dark secrets of her own past—Aurelia is hell-bent on escaping the government’s watchful gaze and joining the rebels. Finally, she’s found a cause worth fighting for. A way for her kind, the Norms, to take back their freedom.

Then, when she overhears a Triumvirate official’s conversation, she learns that it’s even worse than she realized. The government knows about the rebels, and the rebellion. They’re searching for people who sympathize with the cause. And they’re coming after her next.

Suddenly the time for dreaming about the rebellion is over. Aurelia must make contact with the rebels and plot a quick escape … before the Triumvirate has a chance to capture her. But government forces and miles of monster-filled wilderness stand between her and the rebel headquarters, and dangers she never imagined lurk in the shadows.

Before she can fight for the freedom of her people, she must achieve her own—or die trying.  

Publisher: Glass House Press

About Mary Fan

Mary Fan is a hopeless dreamer, whose mind insists on spinning tales of “what if.” As a music major in college, she told those stories through compositions. Now she tells them through books—a habit she began as soon as she could pick up a pencil. Flynn Nightsider and the Edge of Evil follows a well-received debut novel, a space opera titled Artificial Absolutes (2013), and is the first in the Flynn Nightsider series. Mary would like to think that there are many other novels in her bag, and hopes to prove that to the world as well.

Mary lives in New Jersey and has a B.A. from Princeton University. When she’s not scheming to create new worlds, she enjoys kickboxing, opera singing, and blogging about everything having to do with books.

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Tash McAdam Blood in the Water Cover Reveal

Glass House Press is proud – and slightly giddy – to announce Tash McAdam’s latest YA Fantasy novella, BLOOD IN THE WATER – the first in the Warp Weavers series!

BLOOD IN THE WATER is Glass House’s first book by a queer author, and features brand new LGBTQ characters and storylines. We’re very excited about this novella, and hope you will be, too!

If you covered the release of Tash’s first novella SLAM, you know what an exciting read this is going to be!

Sea Serpents. In the Thames.

There have always been warps—tears between realities—and they’ve always been a threat to humanity. Most people are blind to them. But Hallie’s eyes are opening. Now that she’s going to school at the Protectorate, she’s learning there’s more to life than fun and games.

The truth is, she’s just become part of Earth’s only shield against the monsters of the warps. Before, she didn’t think she was anything special. Now, yanked from her relatively normal life, she realizes that she doesn’t have a choice.

When the emergency alarm sounds, calling everyone in the school to arms, even the young and inexperienced are needed. As one of the warp weavers—capable of closing the warps and stopping the monsters—Hallie must now work to save lives. And she must do it in the most complicated situation she’s ever experienced. Because there are sea serpents in the Thames, and Hallie has to close the doors that are letting them in.

The problem is, the warps are underwater. And the sea monsters are hungry.

Now everyone is relying on her, and Hallie must find a way to do her job—with a brand new partner—before it’s too late. Because if she fails she’ll die, along with everyone who’s depending on her.

(Release date: July 7, 2015, ebook-only: YA: Fantasy/Magic/Monsters/LGBTQ; ISBN: 9780981676838; Price: $.99; Pages:  30; Amazon link: pending)

Glass House Press Release Day Blitz!

StoryTime is a tri-annual event created by Glass House Press.  All proceeds from the StoryTime events will be donated to SDDAS Spirit Fund, a
nonprofit society dedicated to giving homeless animals the medical care they need. For more information, visit their website at sddac.com/donations.asp.

 

In Mary Fan’s second novella from Glass House Press, a teen girl wakes up in an icy cell, alone and frightened. She has no memory of who she is or how she came to be there.

She does know that she must get out, at all costs. And that escape must start with remembering the simple things – her own name. Her place of origin. Her possible powers.

When a group of dark magicians reveal themselves to be her captors, she finds herself in the clutches of those who will stop at nothing to uncover the secrets locked within her lost memories. With her life fading under their merciless spells, the need to escape becomes dire.

But can she get out when she doesn’t even know who she is? Can she count on one unlikely ally for help? Or is it already too late for her, a girl without a name?

Tell Me My Name introduces the main characters in Mary’s new fantasy series, Fated Stars, with the first book, Windborn, due in late 2015.

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/Zjgx5F

About Mary Fan

Mary Fan is a hopeless dreamer, whose mind insists on spinning tales of “what if.” As a music major in college, she told those stories through compositions. Now she tells them through books—a habit she began as soon as she could pick up a pencil. Flynn Nightsider and the Edge of Evil follows a well-received debut novel, a space opera titled Artificial Absolutes (2013), and is the first in the Flynn Nightsider series. Mary would like to think that there are many other novels in her bag, and hopes to prove that to the world as well.

Mary lives in New Jersey and has a B.A. from Princeton University. When she’s not scheming to create new worlds, she enjoys kickboxing, opera singing, and blogging about everything having to do with books.

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Telepaths, torture, mindwipes ... the Institute has it all, and they use each of their brainwashed children as weapons, the way they see fit. To control society, repress its people. To make certain that they stay in power, no matter the cost. Serena’s baby brother Damon is one of those children, and these days he’s so altered that he doesn’t even recognize her.

When it comes to getting Damon away from those who kidnapped him, there's nothing Serena won't do. Even if she has to kill him to save him. First, though, she must prove to her father that she has what it takes to be a soldier against the insidious threat of the Institute. Her first mission has to be perfect.

But with inaccurate intelligence, unexpected storms, and Gav Belias, people’s hero of the Watch, on the prowl, will she even survive? If she doesn't succeed, they'll never let her go after her brother.

And that would be unthinkable, when it was her fault that he was taken in the first place.

Slam is Tash McAdam’s first work with Glass House Press, and serves as a prequel to her series The Psionics, with the first book, Maelstrom, due in 2015.

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1z1XHk1

About Tash McAdam

Tash McAdam’s first writing experience (a collaborative effort) came at the age of eight, and included passing floppy discs back and forth with a best friend at swimming lessons. Since then, Tash has spent time falling in streams, out of trees, learning to juggle, dreaming about zombies, dancing, painting, learning Karate, becoming a punk rock pianist, and of course, writing.

Tash is a teacher in real life, but dreams of being a full-time writer, and living a life of never-ending travel. Though born in the hilly sheepland of Wales, Tash has lived in South Korea and Chile and now calls Vancouver, Canada home.

Maelstrom, the first book in The Psionics, is Tash’s first published work. Visit the website or facebook for news, gossip, and random tidbits about Tash’s adventures.

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Soul Bound Cover Reveal

Ash laughed -- an evil, hollow sound – and grasped his knife more firmly. Kali blinked slowly, her heart breaking. This wasn’t her Ash, she reminded herself. This wasn’t the boy who’d sold his soul to save his sister, or fought by her side. This wasn’t the boy who had changed everything she thought she knew about life, love, and herself.

“I’ll die before hurting you,” Kali repeated, lifting her chin. He possessed the greater strength now, she knew, and would beat her even if she fought. At least, in the end, she would die at his hand rather than someone else’s. Maybe he would still win his soul back that way.

A boy who sold his soul to save his sister’s life.

A fallen angel turned demon, seeking her redemption.

And a surprising love story that could save them both … or destroy the world.

Join Ash and Kali, and a cast of dark characters, as they fight for the fallen angels of the world, the right to choose their own path, and the one thing they never thought they’d find – true love.

www.glasshousepress.com

Today is a joint cover reveal of three authors from Glass House Press, PT. McHugh, Linda Foster and Mary Fan.

Ash never thought going to a party could be dangerous. He certainly never thought it would change his life. But when a man with red eyes begins following him – and his sister – he realizes he was wrong. Soon they’re running, leading the man on a desperate chase over icy roads. When Ash crashes his car, nearly killing his sister, the red-eyed man offers Ash a choice – save his sister, but pay the highest price possible. Bring Grace back to life, at the cost of his own soul. Suddenly, Ash is facing a choice he never sought. But will he use that choice to save his sister? And if he does … what will it mean for Ash himself?

***

Someone has started a revolution in Heaven, his betrayal and lies tearing the fabric of the angels apart. Things are coming quickly to a head, and before long the angels will find themselves at war … with each other. Friends and allies will turn against each other, each choosing their own side of right and wrong. If that happens, the world as they know it will end. It's up to Kali, protector of angels and humans, to stop the treachery before war breaks out and peace is shattered forever. But how far is she willing to go to save the lives of the angels? Will she turn against her own dearest friend to save her world? And if she does … will anything be left for her to come home to?

***

Join Ash and Kali on their individual adventures as we see what – and who – led them to find each other in Soul Bound, the first book in the Realm of the Claimed.

About Linda Foster

Linda Foster was born and raised in Colorado, where she still lives with her (very patient) husband and four (very spoiled) ferrets. Linda became an avid reading enthusiast the moment she picked up her first book, and has grown steadily worse. By the time she was 15 years old, her library had become too big for her shelves, and she was forced to donate all her books to the local school, just to make room for new ones. She started writing short novellas for her friends in middle school, and expanded into full-length novels several years later. Soul Bound is her first published novel. Visit Linda at www.linda-foster.com to connect with her personally, or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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Hop over to the other blogs to see the cover reveals from PT McHugh and Mary Fan

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1. Kelly P's Blog	2. Mythical Books	3. Wicca Witch 4 Book Blog
4. Here is some of whaf I read	5. Bookishly Devoted	6. Avid Reader Musings
7. Never Judge a Book by it's Movie	8. Mommy's Late Night Book-Up	9. Cover2CoverBlog
10. Jody's Book Reviews, Giveaways & Tours	11. Books Over Reality	12. Margay Leah Justice
13. Fabulous and Fun	14. Shooting Stars Reviews	15. Our Wolves Den
16. Books and Their Worldly Realm	17. In The Pages of a Good Book	18. Infinite House of Books
19. The Reading Geek	20. Blog of Erised	21. JET-Fueled Fiction Interviews and Rants
22. Zigzag Timeline	23. No Minor Characters	24. A Dragons Love
25. Mommasez. . .	26. Every Day Books of Gems	27. My Book Crushes
28. The Other Shelf	29. Magic Immortals and Being A Good Monster	30. The Cover (and Everything in Between)

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Author Interview Series - PT McHugh

I’d like to welcome debut author PT McHugh to my blog today. 

PT McHugh didn’t start out as a storyteller. He was, however, born into a family that encouraged imagination. He became a fan of history in school and then went to college to become a construction engineer, to build a world of straight lines, angles, and equations.

He was just as surprised as everyone else when he realized that he believed in magic, and might just know the secret of how to jump through time. Since then, he’s been researching the possibility and learning everything he can about history. Just in case the opportunity arises.

PT was born and raised in New Hampshire and currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, two daughters, and a dog named Bob, daring to dream of alternate worlds and cheering for his beloved New England Patriots.

With a wife, two kids, two dogs, and two cats, and a full-time job, how do you find time to write?

This is a great question, and it’s a perfect of example of turning a negative in one’s life into a positive.  I’ve been a chronic insomniac ever since high school. Instead of hitting the pillow and falling asleep, I’d go to bed and stare at the ceiling, worrying about things that in most cases I couldn’t control. Not a good practice, to be sure.  But I’m sure a lot of people out there can relate. Sometimes your brain gets going, and just won’t stop. Game over – you’re up for the night, and it’s going to be awful.

Then several years ago, a doctor and friend of mine suggested that instead of thinking of this inability to sleep as a curse, I should treat it as a positive. After all, Benjamin Franklin only got three to four hours of sleep a night, and he seemed to do okay.  Maybe it didn’t have to be as bad as I was making it. With those comforting words in mind, I set out to find a hobby. Something I could do quietly at night in the comfort of my own home.  Something that wouldn’t keep my family up or damage them in any way.  Something that would keep my mind busy and – maybe – be fun at the same time. I couldn’t paint worth a lick, but I always had an over active imagination, and I wanted to do something with it. 

So I started writing. A lot of it was bad, and very little of it saw the light of day, but it kept me busy, and it was the beginning of a sometimes beautiful and sometimes terrifying relationship with the written word.

When it comes to Stone Ends and Keeper of the Black Stones, the idea started with the realization that most schools weren’t teaching history anymore. At least not to any serious degree. Reading, writing, and linear Algebra were being treated with more importance, and it rubbed me the wrong way. Now don’t take that wrong– I can certainly see why those things are important, but that didn’t mean I liked it. My daughters didn’t know who Napoleon was, let alone Richard III, and they certainly didn’t understand the impact that our founding fathers had on today’s America. We were slowly losing track of our past, and missing out on some really fantastic stories along the way.

I was fortunate enough to have a father who cared deeply about history, and who enjoyed telling me stories about what happened hundreds of years ago.  Those stories had caught me in their spell when I was young, and I became fascinated with the idea of the men and women who created them. What were they like? Why had they made the decisions they made? What if I was in that situation?  What would I have done?  Would the world we live in today be the same?

From there, it was a quick hop, skip, and jump to forcing Jason into those very situations, and making him – and his friends – decide how they were going to handle it. It allowed me to put myself in those situations, and really live them. Getting to tell kids about history is just icing on the cake.

Why did you choose YA, and who are your inspirations?

“Dad, don’t embarrass us!” Those words are uttered quite frequently by my two daughters, who are both my inspiration and my test subjects in regard to how the younger generation thinks and acts.

To be honest, my girls aren’t quite teenagers. Although my twelve year old believes she is in fact going on eighteen, and should have her own apartment and car by now.  Thanks to her, music, movies, texting etiquette, and a refreshed vocabulary for a modern 21^st-century teenager are at my fingertips 24/7, providing me with an excellent reference. I just have to look across the table at her to see how a young adult lives and thinks. 

Even with all the differences, though – technology, the world, the quicker aging of young people – I’ve come to realize that teenagers now are a lot like they were twenty, thirty, and even forty years ago.  They certainly have more now than I ever did … computers, iPhones, Twitter, Facebook, instant information at your fingertips (remember when you actually had to go to the library to do your research?).  But in the end, everybody’s teenage years contain a lot of the same problems and challenges – relationships, fitting in, questioning authority (parents), wondering what they’ll be when the grow up, wondering whether they even want to grow up (I don’t believe I ever did). And many of us never grow out of those questions. In that way, we’re all still teenagers at heart.  

That’s why I chose to YA. I can still identify with so many of those questions, which makes it easier to write. What’s more, I know that those years – the years when you’re so lonely and doubtful about who you are – are also the years when you form yourself. It’s when you have your first love, first heartbreak, dreams, anxiety, fear, euphoria … and all those feelings are compounded by a boatload of testosterone and estrogen. It’s a roller coaster on crack, and we’ve all ridden it. All those ups and downs make for amazing, realistic characters and stories, and I can’t imagine writing about anything else.

Now, I realize that I’m forty years old and a lot of people won’t believe that I can remember those years in my own life. But guess what, I do. In fact, some of the characters, the town, and many of the day-to-day situations in my books come from my own experiences.  That means I get to relive my childhood through my characters, and – even better – put them into situations I never had to deal with.   

Which is your favorite character and why?

Ironically, my favorite character in the book wasn’t even in the first version of the manuscript – the one that was signed to Glass House.  When the publisher, editor, and I met face to face, though, I was given a list of ‘notes.’ Top on the list: create a prominent female character to round out the story, and give both boys and girls someone to follow in the story.

“So you mean I have to write the entire story all over again?” I asked. 

“Yes,” was my curt response. A helpful hint to all of you aspiring writers out there – when you feel like your story is done, you might have to take a deep breath and realize that you might have to write it all again.

I argued a bit, because I thought this should be a book for boys, but eventually I realized that my editor knew what she was talking about. And I started writing Tatiana. When I was done, I realized that she was a combination of my wife and my two daughters – tough, sure minded, willful, and stronger than I could hope to ever be.  I have no doubt that the boys reading the story will fall in love with her, and the girls will cheer for her.  She says things that I could only dream of saying, and of course does things that are far beyond my reach.  She was an absolute kick to write, and quickly became one of the characters I looked forward to in every scene.

Where will she go in the future? I’m not sure even I know the answer to that – Tatiana has a mind of her own, and a way of dictating her scenes for herself. She doesn’t always listen to what I think, and she almost never does what I think she will. No matter what she does, though, I’m sure it’ll shock and delight all of us, myself and my editor included.

Keeper of the Black Stones

A Stone Ends Book

Jason Evans, a shy, introverted high school freshman, thought that his mundane life was all there was - girls, golf, physics, and the occasional bully. Until he found out about the secrets his grandfather had been keeping from him ... a set of stones that allowed him to jump through time ... a maniacal madman who used the stones to shape history to his liking ... and Jason’s role as one of the few people in the world who could stop that man.

Against impossible odds, a fourteen-year-old boy must take up his legacy, learn everything he needs to know within one short day, and travel helter skelter into the Middle Ages, to join Henry VII’s fight against Richard III, end the Dark Ages, and stop the man who now holds his grandfather captive. In this romp through history, Jason and his friends must race against time to accomplish not one, but two missions.

Save his grandfather.

And save the world.

To find out more about PT McHugh, please visit http://www.glasshousepress.com

Until next time,

Ciao

JET

Keeper of the Black Stones review by William F. Houle

Hello,

I'm pirating my mother's blog so I can tell you about a book I read recently.  One that my mom recommended because she knows I like history and time travel and adventure.  Of course, I was a little skeptical and thought she was just trying to get me away from the video games.

My first thought when she mentioned time travel was the predictable machines you find in every time travel novel these days. However, when I started reading and found out that the stones were the things that allowed time travel, I was impressed. The author created a new and really different take that sucked me in.

P.T. McHugh did a great job pulling me in and the pages flew by. I got lost in the story and opted to read instead of playing my Playstation 3 - which if you know any other thirteen-year-old, you know it takes a lot to pull us out of our gaming world.

The ending was so mind blowing that I'm already looking forward to the next in the series.

As a writer myself, I have a great respect for Mr. McHugh's talent and as I said, I'll be one of the first in line when book two comes out.

Peace Out...
Billy Houle (a.k.a. William F. Houle)

Keeper of the Black Stones Cover Reveal!

My friends over at Glass House Press have this new book coming out early next year and I thought I'd help spread the word...

"I've gone by many names, but it has always been me. I met Anne Frank before she wrote her diary. I consulted with Churchill on political doctrine. I crossed the Potomac with Washington. And I even polished Napoleon's shoes, once, though it's not a story I like to tell. I realize that these boasts won't be taken seriously, but I must remind each of you that at one time the earth was flat, the atom unbreakable. And the thought of reaching the moon was just as ridiculous as time travel.


I know, because I was there.


My name is Jason Evans. I'm ten days shy of my fifteenth birthday, and this is my story..."

Keeper of the Black Stones

A Stone Ends Book

Jason Evans, a shy, introverted high school freshman, thought that his mundane life was all there was - girls, golf, physics, and the occasional bully. Until he found out about the secrets his grandfather had been keeping from him ... a set of stones that allowed him to jump through time ... a maniacal madman who used the stones to shape history to his liking ... and Jason’s role as one of the few people in the world who could stop that man.

Against impossible odds, a fourteen-year-old boy must take up his legacy, learn everything he needs to know within one short day, and travel helter skelter into the Middle Ages, to join Henry VII’s fight against Richard III, end the Dark Ages, and stop the man who now holds his grandfather captive. In this romp through history, Jason and his friends must race against time to accomplish not one, but two missions.

Save his grandfather.

And save the world.

Excerpt from KEEPER OF THE BLACK STONES:

“What is this place?” he asked breathlessly. We were in a dark underground room, much smaller than our basement. The room was lined in thick concrete blocks. There was no light coming from the outside, and I guessed that the room was probably soundproof as well. Not a room built for entertaining. A room built for keeping secrets.

Paul found a cord in the ceiling and pulled it. We both jumped as several light bulbs clicked on and flooded the room with harsh artificial light. The light revealed a small metal desk with an old wooden straight-back chair against the back wall. A computer monitor and hard drive sat on top of the desk, along with several pens and pencils and one red three-ring notebook. Beside the desk stood two wooden bookshelves, filled to bursting with books. Next to those, a large map of England was taped to the concrete wall.

I ran my eyes over the map to the floor on the left, and froze. The desk and map were odd, but at least they were everyday items. The large black slab of stone lying next to them was not. The cold chill ran down my spine again, and I shuffled backward several steps.

“Oh my God, is that it?” Paul asked nervously.

I ignored the question and inched my way forward, toward the stone. It was large, perhaps 7 to 8 feet wide and 10 to 11 feet long. Easily 3 to 4 inches thick. Hundreds of symbols were etched into the dark surface, in a language I’d never seen before. The stone was glossy, but didn’t reflect light the way it should. Instead, it seemed to suck the light from the room around us, building its own dark aura. And it hummed. I could feel the pulse of the stone in my bones, like a giant, steady heartbeat. It beat again and again, matching my own heartbeat, and I forgot to breathe. Doc hadn’t been lying, then. The stone did speak to him. And it called to me the same way it called to him. I’d been hearing it for days. I just hadn’t realized it.

As I stood there, transfixed and listening, the writing on the stone began to glow. I blinked and looked again, to see that the glow was gone.

“Did you see that?” I gasped, reaching for Paul and taking my eyes off the stone for the first time.

“See what?” Paul whispered. “The only thing I see is that creepy stone.”

“The symbols … I think they moved,” I said, surprised that Paul hadn’t seen it.

Paul shook his head. “Didn’t see anything like that, buddy.” He took a step toward the stone and bent over to look at it.

I followed slowly, wondering if I’d been seeing things. Then the humming started again, louder than before. This time it went straight to my head, and I gasped and fell to my knees. The stone thrummed louder, and took on its eerie glow, burning brighter and brighter until the symbols themselves lifted up off the surface. They hovered just above the stone’s surface, ghostly, dark reflections of their physical counterparts. Then they began to move, dancing around the edges of the stone to the humming rhythm of its heart.

“Holy…” I breathed. It was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.

“Hey, what on earth are you doing?” Paul asked nervously.

I stood, keeping my eyes fixed on the dance in front of me. “You’re honestly telling me that you can’t see that?” I whispered.

“See what? This isn’t funny anymore.”

Paul grabbed my arm, and the dance ended as abruptly as it had begun. The symbols fell back into place, and the stone lost its glow. I moaned quietly. The symbols had been strange, eerie, and frightening, but they’d also been surprisingly familiar. Losing them was almost physically painful. I focused on the stone, trying to bring them back, or make the slab glow again.

“So how exactly does this thing work?” Paul asked, breaking my focus.

I cleared my throat and tried to find my voice. “Doc didn’t exactly leave directions in his journal. He just said that the stone … spoke to him.”

“Well what the heck does that mean? That stone doesn’t look like it has any kind of speech capabilities.”

I smiled. “Actually, I think I know exactly what it means.”

Paul didn’t hear me, and reached out to touch the stone. “So this is it,” he said, bending down. “This is the stone that can take us into the past.”

“Stop! What are you doing?” I grabbed his hand and pulled him back.

“I’m just touching it. Why?"

“I don’t know. Who knows what might happen? Maybe you’re not supposed to touch it,” I answered.

“Ah.” Paul nodded. “Good point.” He shoved his hands back into his pockets.

As he spoke, though, a jolt of energy shot from the stone into my bones, and the unearthly glow returned. I felt an irresistible urge to put my own hands on the stone, and allow the symbols to race across my skin. Confused, I closed my eyes, trying to focus and clear my head. All I could feel, all I could hear, was the stone’s humming, drowning out all other sight and sound. Drowning out thought. Then it was gone, leaving in its place a feeling of calm contentment. Of readiness. And a clear, precise light in my mind.

I could feel the stone beneath my hands, as though I were already touching it. My mind explored the deep, cold grooves in the surface, and felt the light touch of the symbols as they moved. A shot of heat moved from the stone, through my hands, and down my spine.

“I wonder what the symbols mean,” Paul said quietly.

I heard him through the haze of the stone, as though he were standing on the other side of a wall, or under water. I suddenly became acutely aware of my surroundings – the smell of mildew and garlic, the friction of a cricket rubbing his back legs together outside. I could taste the sodium that clung to the salt water embedded in the concrete of the walls around us, and felt Paul’s heart beat as if it were in my own chest. I heard sounds that didn’t make any sense. Horses running, and the sound of metal screeching against metal. Men yelling, or cheering.

Looking down, I saw a hazy, half-formed path in front of my feet. Listening closely, I heard exactly where it would lead. And when.

I opened my eyes, breaking the spell, and turned to face Paul. His face had gone slack and white as he stared at me.

“I know exactly what the symbols mean,” I said quietly.

“How do you know that?” Paul asked.

“Because,” I replied slowly, “the stone just told me.” 

 

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Look for Keeper of the Stones  in stores in February of 2013!

 

Thanks for dropping by.

Until next time,

Ciao

JET