Faeted Mates!

   

If you're looking for your new favorite boxset you found it! I've ordered my copy and can't wait until Dec! 

If your like me and can't wait for this, snag the first chapter from 10 of the stories!

Preview Chapters!

They aren’t nice, and they aren’t trying to get along.

The fae, shifters, and humans of this world are not one big happy family, and in this massive collection of new fantasy romance tales from 19 authors, their worlds are about to collide. There won’t just be danger; there will be an a ll out war. 

Whether meeting shifters, witches, engaging in duels, stolen brides and arranged marriages, or navigating the worlds of magic that are at war with worlds of man, these books from today’s New York Times, USA Today, and new and upcoming authors are sure to blur the lines between the seelie and unseelie.  

Now only one question remains: Can our heroes and heroines prove that love knows no difference between the winter and summer courts before they tear each other apart?  

Join the Wyld Hunt and explore the mystic forces of Faery as fate calls unlikely lovers to each other with primal magnetism. This collection includes academy romance, enemies to lovers, urban fantasy, retold classics, friends to lovers, and all-new fare.  

One thing is certain: these are not your childhood fairytales!

Preorder here!

So many amazing authors have come together to bring you this book!

Faeted Mates features stories by Celia Kyle & Marina Maddix, Reina Torres, Rianne Thaxton, Cassidy Kristi O'Connor, Gracen Miller, Terri A. Wilson, Riley Hunt & Amelia Grey, Jamie Dalton, Christopher D. Schmitz, Channie Cocker, Breezy Jones, Elle J Rossi, Adalynd Grayves, A.M. Mason, Brenda Lore, and Tori Kellett

Sneak peek!

Bone Stars Preorder!

3,500 more words than the original story published in Once Upon Academy Vol. 1!

                                                             Preorder

                  .99 for the ebook until July 23rd.

Grenna isn't happy about attending the prestigious Once Upon Academy. She was hoping for something less magical and more Ivy League. Then she meets Mandevar, a magic physics major who’s hot under his apparent nerdiness, and things start looking up.
What can go wrong on a first date in an enchanted forest? A lot! Everything is perfect until the forest has other ideas, and Grenna and Mandevar must combine their wits and intelligence to survive.

Both the ebook and paperback versions are available for preorder. 

Preorder goodies include Grenna's acceptance letter. To get them screenshot your preorder and email it to booksbyelle10@gmail.com. Be sure to write Bone Stars in teh subject and include your address so I know where to mail them.

 

 

6 more days!

 In just 6 days Chelsea Evan's Girls Vol. 4 will be released!

The pre-order is available now. This is the longest yet of the Evan's Girls series. Enjoy the couple excerpts. No spoilers :-)

Excerpt 1:

We stopped in the business hallway. It was located in the back of the school, several hallways from the crowded cafeteria. In the quiet hallway we settled against the wall, our tushes on the floor. I’d worn shorts and hiked my gown up so it wouldn’t collect the dirt. 

It was my moment to tell James everything from the last couple days. I wasn’t sure how he’d take it but I needed someone to confide in because I felt like I was about to burst like a balloon. He didn’t interrupt as I spoke, but didn’t hide his emotions either. They were painted all over his face as he narrowed his eyes in skepticism then widened them in concern with an upper lip quiver.

“Have you talked with your foster parents?”

Now that was a silly question coming from him. A guy who never spoke to his dad or had any confidence in adults. 

“No, you know how I am. I’d feel guilty. They’ve taken care of me. Do you know any other foster children that have it as good as me? They’re all packed into houses.” I thought of the trucks again and took a deep breath to force the image away.

“But not you. You ever wonder why?” he asked.

No, I never had. Not really. It was just a thing that I got lucky. “I was high maintenance.” It was an easy answer that was my way of diverting the focus.

“All kids are high maintenance and don’t give me the martyr bit. Look, they got paid for having you there.” He rubbed his hands along his jeaned legs, turning away from me.

“I guess so.” Silence persisted between us for a few moments before I spoke again. “The other child who got out – Tyrus - I want to meet him.”

He sighed and spoke low, “Why? What is he going to tell you?”

Pushing a curl behind my ear I said, “I don’t know, but we’re both victims. Maybe he remembers something.”

“He was rescued by a killer and you were left outside a burning home. He went back to his family and you to a life of foster care.” His words hit the nail on the head. That was exactly it.

I leaned forward and drew circles on the tile. “Yeah. Why him and not me? It makes me angry. I was three years old, drugged and left to die!”

“I get it, Chelsea.” He brought a hand to my chin and lifted my head as my eyes focused on the invisible circles my fingers drew on the tile. I glanced away and into his eyes. “You’re not doing this alone. OK, I’m coming with you.”

I gave him a quick hug. It wasn’t the response I expected but it was me and him against the world for a few years now so it shouldn’t have surprised me. If he wanted to find his mom, I’d be right there with him.

Excerpt 2:

He handed me the card. “That’s the officer. He asked you to call or come by the station if you saw anything out of place.” His tone one of questioning, as if he knew I spent the evening talking to someone who didn’t belong.

Like a stab to my heart. A pointed finger at the young man I’d spent the evening talking with. I didn’t know Leandra well. We’d had a couple classes together over the years and she joined the robotics club her sophomore year but left after a few weeks. We had a running inside joke as school twins because everyone mistook us for sisters, even occasionally mistaking one of us for the other. She had darker hair and neither of us saw the resemblance. 

So much for never an incidence at the grad party. I’d spoken too soon. James’s words of warning grew louder in my head. I left early, but what did the dangerously too hot guy I was talking with do? Did he stay? Had he lied to me? Who was he? James was in my head. He’d said something seemed off, like something was in the woods... 

Nonsense. The guy was easy to talk with and I felt good in his presence. Was he the kind of person that would attack someone, and why? What would he have to gain? There was no answer to that question or even a great excuse like those I made for my file not being where it should be. I knew absolutely nothing about him, not even his name, so I had nothing to offer the police.

“We’re glad you’re OK,” Judy said, her voice sincere and filled with unease.

I cradled the card in my hand. “If I think of anything, I’ll call, but there’s nothing I can think of. It was as normal as an alcohol party with a bunch of gradates could be; loud music, makeshift bars, and dancing.”

When I got to my room I took several deep breaths. All the little organized boxes in my brain were opening, their contents spilling out in a disjointed fashion. My breathing sped up as I collapsed against the closed door. The bed in front of me, moving closer, the walls closing in. I was having a panic attack.

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Song of the Reaper character interview with Lyra Piper

With me today is another student from Once Upon Academy. Welcome Lyra Piper!

TTO: Welcome Lyra. So tell us what is your major at Once Upon Academy?

Lyra: Spell Casting with Concentrations in Reaper Studies and Musical Empathy

TTO: That sounds exciting and busy. Is there any special reason you chose Once Upon Academy?

Lyra: My sisters and I were accepted after my Dad (Reed Piper) took the position as the new music professor. Honestly, I didn't want to go, but I've been having some uh, anger issues lately and the only ones who've stuck by me are my dad and sisters. They were so excited to go that I didn't have the heart to ruin it for them.

TTO: It sounds like a great opportunity. I hope you are enjoying the school now that you are there. The school is filled with magic. Do you have any special abilities?

Lyra: My whole family can play pretty much any instrument. I can totally lose myself when I play my violin.  Oh wait, you mean "special skills"... The night I arrived at OUA I found out that my dad, sisters, and I can compel people with our music. Apparently, it's a skill passed down from my great (x10 or something like that) grandfather. But that wasn't the biggest surprise. We also have a family curse that I couldn't avoid. I'm still kind of dealing with it. Do you mind if we don't talk about it?

TTO: No problem! Piercings and tattoos are so popular these days. Do you have any?

Lyra: Besides the holes in my ears, nope. Now that I'm 18 though I'm totally getting a tattoo!

TTO: What would you consider you greatest accomplishment?

Lyra: My day of my greatest accomplishment is also my worst day ever. Last year, I'd been accepted by Julliard to audition for a spot in this years class. My performance was flawless. Afterward, they hinted I was going to be accepted. 

Then I blew it. 

It's so embarrassing...Like I mentioned earlier...I've been having a hard time dealing with my anger and some other girl auditioning was a total asshole...I mean jerk. Crap, can you bleep that out? She made me so mad I couldn't just walk away...not my finest moment. 

Julliard decided I wasn't a good fit after that.

TTO: When one door is closed another is opened. How would you describe yourself in three words?

Lyra: Loyal, Badness, Fun

TTO: Not talking about the thing we aren't talking about. Do you have any handicaps?

Lyra: No, not unless you count my family's curse (she shrugs).

TTO: Would you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert?

Lyra: Normally, I'd say extrovert but lately I've been kind of pissing most people in my life off so...I've become an introvert by default.

TTO: I think you're great! How about food. What is your favorite?

Lyra: Pizza. Hands down. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

TTO: Me too! We should grad a slice sometime. How about movies or books, do you have a favorite?

Lyra: I'd have to say, Princess Bride. It was one of my mom's favorites and when I watch it...it makes me think of her.

TTO: Before we wrap this up, is there anything else you'd like to add?

Lyra: My sisters and I started a band before we came to OUA, Rockin' Sirens. Maybe you could let your readers know. We play at parties, coffee houses ~ really anywhere and can play pretty much anything.

TTO: Definitely! You heard it, look out for the Rockin' Sirens! Thank you so much Lyra for joining me today.

Find out more about Lyra in the Once Upon Academy Anthology!

Song of the Reaper by Stephanie Harrell

Lyra and her twin sister Aria already had their gap year figured out. They would follow the path of their older sister in getting a job, then spend their evenings playing in their band, captivating audiences with their entrancing, rock and roll sound.

Then Lyra and her sisters learn they’ve been accepted to Once Upon Academy, a school they'd never heard of, and only because their dad was chosen to be the new music professor.

Figuring her way around a new school, having a princess for a roommate, and learning fairy tale creatures do exist is just the beginning. Not only does she have to balance classwork, homework, and a new social scene, but she now has to deal with the consequences of a family curse that will definitely take up all of her free time…

It also doesn't help that she can’t stop thinking about her new reaping partner, Cole, who barely acknowledges she exists.

This semester may just be the death of Lyra Piper.

Grab Lyra's Acceptance Letter here!

Preorder the ebook.

Get your hands on the paperback! 

The Ice Queen by E.C.Moynier

The Ice Queen by E.C. Moynier is her debut story and it's featured in the Once Upon a Zombietale Anthology by C.M. Wright's Author Services.

Preorder it on Amazon

Learn more about E.C. Moynier
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Facebook Anthology Party




I think this is my favorite anthology cover. The ice castle and dripping blood catches my attention. And the ugly zombie below. It along with all the other covers and teasers were made by C.M. Wright's Author Services. The entire book, each story submission, editing, formatting was done by C.M. Wright's Author Services!

The Little Zombie Girl by S Cu'Anam Policar

The little Zombie Girl by S Cu'Anam Policar is twisted fairy tale from the Once Upon a Zombietale Anthology brought to you by the talented staff at C.M. Wright's Author Services.

Preoder at Amazon

Learn more about S Cu'Anam Policar:

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads

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Join the Facebook Anthology Release Party

Once Upon a Zombietale Anthology

C.M. Wright's Author Services brings you a zombie filled anthology. This book is wholly brought to you by C.M. Wright's Author Service from the cover design and editing to the authors of each story. 




This anthology is a cluster of various classic children's fairytales with a zombie twist. 
These new tales are sure to give you the brain-eating, heart-thumping excitement you were looking for. 
After all, who can resist a zombietale?

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Trailer also made by C.M. Wright's Author Services!

Visit C.M. Wright's Author Services

Join the Facebook Anthology Event!

And get your Once Upon a Zombietale Official T-shirt here.

Over the next couple weeks I'll be bringing you excerpts from the authors including mine.

J.C. Boyd Strong Armed Book Release

BLURB

Balvoc had always earned his bread with blood on his hands. But when he is forced to protect an amoral merchant to keep his wife safe, he must decide whether his wife's life is worth the havoc caused by Sin-sim's greed.

BIOS

J.C. lives in the Midwest with his wife and two dogs. He recently earned his MA in English Literature and is working on his debut novel for his own fantasy world. Despite growing up with Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and a collection of both Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms novels, J.C. has an abiding love of classics and spends his free time reading anything he can get his hands on.

Buy Links

Pre-Order Strong Armed Amazon
Pre-Order Strong Armed Smashwords
Website

Welcome!

When did you start writing?

As I recall, my brother suggested we write stories one lazy, summer afternoon. I thought the idea was ludicrous, but being the younger, I followed his lead. The memory still lurks in the back of my mind as one of the best. Over the years, Joshua has continued to push me to write, so it is only fitting that my first published work, Anaerfell, was co-authored with him.

That lazy summer afternoon was in about 4^th grade. I started writing my first novel, a horror story which featured kids from my class. Unsurprisingly, I did not finish. A similar attempt with a fantasy novel in junior high brought similar results. Not until my fourth attempt at writing did I finish my first novel, completing it my senior year of high school. The final product still makes me cringe, but elements, themes, and even characters from that book still creep into what I write now.

What motivates you to write?

After I had first put my highly illegible pencil to paper, I never really put it down again. While my brother certainly pushed me, he knows as well as I do that I don’t do anything I really don’t want to and his task would have been fruitless if I didn’t find something engaging in the task.

In the end, what motivates me to write is, well, everything about the process. I love putting down the first words as much as I do the last. I cannot help but getting swept away in the imaginary world I

create with the characters I craft to face that world. I enjoy tropes as much as I enjoy turning tropes on their heads—one of my first pieces in the fantasy genre featured an evil Gandalf character, seeking to betray those he was meant to help.

However, the ideas and characters only inspire me as much as the words themselves. In fact, my family still pokes fun at me about reading the dictionary during my high school years. While I, like many of my contemporaries, list Tolkien as a major influence, I like to think I do so from the evidence of his philological background within his works rather than his epithet as the Father of Modern Fantasy.

What genre do you write in and what made you choose this particular genre?

While much of my reading has been in Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, and Sword and Sorcery, I tend to lean (quite heavily) toward Dark Fantasy. I don’t know that I really chose Dark Fantasy. I simply realize that this is the genre in which I write. Because I like to play with certain tropes, I tend to lose traditional aspects that make me a writer of other subgenres. As I mentioned earlier, it is not so much that I dislike these tropes, but I cannot always reconcile myself to them within my stories. I have a desire to have exceptionally flawed individuals and, coupled with my rather morose outlook on life, they generally fail or step on others to achieve their goals. Real heroes are both rare and special. I simply haven’t found one in anything I write.

What is your goal in writing? Do you have dreams where your writing should take you?

I want to write stories I can stand behind with which people can identify. But I want my readers to have to think. I want more than simply a good book. I have read plenty of good books, at the end of which I can exclaim, “Thumping good read!” I then put down the book and never open it again. I don’t want to be in that stack. I want my readers to finish my story and immediately hand it to a friend (or stranger) and say, “Read this and then come talk to me. I need to discuss it with someone.”

Ambitious, I know.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and if yes, how do you deal with it?

I would like to say that I don’t, but it just wouldn’t be true. I have simply figured out an effective way of dealing with it for myself. When I encounter writer’s block, I usually end up pacing. I walk back and forth in my house and talk to myself. A lot. Usually I talk through the plot, themes, character motivations. And my workout ends with me spouting dialogue back and forth to myself. I have found that the most people deal with their problems by talking and if I let my characters talk to each other, I usually figure out what had me stumped to begin with.

What advice would you like to give new, hopeful authors?

Start over. I have seen too many authors carrying the same novel around in their back pocket’s for years, trying to get it published without luck. They edit the piece over and over again, but can’t get it accepted. I am sure there are plenty of people who would like you to stick with your tattered manuscript, but throwing it out and starting over is usually best. If you are married to the story, read a chapter and re-write from memory. Don’t keep editing. You are a better writer at the end of your novel than you were at the beginning, but editing can only do so much.

Please, tell us about your work.

My first published work is Anaerfell, co-authored with Joshua Roberston, in the Thrice-Nine Legends setting. Strong Armed will be released on 08 March 2016 in the same setting. Meanwhile, Joshua and I are working on another co-authored novel, which will take place in a setting of my own creation.

Thank you for being my guest. It was such a pleasure to have you here!!

Witches of Bayport Enchanted Secrets Free!

Not only is book 3 in the Witches of Bayport series available for preorder but book 1 in the series Enchanted Secrets is free February 19 and 20!

Let's take a quick look at the series.

Witches of Bayport Book 1 
Enchanted Secrets - FREE right now!


Description:

A modern day tale of romance, mystery, and witches. 

When shy, eighteen-year-old Kendra meets the new guy at school, Tyler, she can't help but be drawn to his irresistible charms. Later, she agrees to visit his family's new shop, Secrets, and is drawn into a world that takes her breath away. Unfortunately, where magic reigns, so does danger, and she is forced into an adventure that leaves her racing against the clock to stop an evil curse. 

Enchanted Objects Book 2

Description:

The clock ticks once again... 


Kendra goes in search of a legendary wand in Salem. Meanwhile, her long, lost cousin, Willow, tries to stop another family curse, by enlisting the help of a dark witch. A woman on her own agenda...


Enchanted Spells Book 3
(Special pre-order price of $2.99. Will raise to $3.99 after release

date!) 

Now that Kala possesses the Black magic wand, Penelope, she must learn how to control the enchanted object. Unfortunately, this proves to be difficult and the young witch soon finds herself surrendering to the wand’s dark influences. 

Meanwhile, Vivian finds a way out of the magical globe and begins plotting her revenge. 

Find out more about the series and Kristen's other books here.
Website
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page

Character Building

Building characters that make the reader feel something is an important task for an author. Readers don't get attached to flat characters. As a reader if the story and character's don't grip me and make me feel a spectrum of emotions than I lose interest in the book. I expect nothing else from readers of my books.

Not long ago I received a review for one of my books and the reviewer went on and on about hating the protagonist. I had to laugh. Love or hate she felt strong emotions. As an author I felt success. 

Months ago when Eye of The Storm was on jukepopserials I had a reader tell me how much he hated Sunshine and why he didn't like her. To me it was a huge compliment. He felt strong emotions for my character. Recently, I had a conversation with a reader who informed me after beta reading a copy how much she loved, despised certain characters as well as felt emotion for co-protagonist Eilida. She made my day. I want my characters to come to life in the reader's head.

Click here to read her review as well as others.

Here is a piece of Sunshine who is perfect, maybe a little too perfect. That is her place in the story sharing the spotlight as co-protagonist.

Today, though had not been a typical day, so let’s rewind, when Sunshine walked into the office at eight forty five, the office swarmed with activity; breaking news didn’t manage on a nine-to-five schedule, as Sunshine did. The past weekend had been one of those times. Sunshine’s foolproof life was fashionably distorted from reality, making her feel out of sorts with the extensive buzz and commotion surrounding her. A constant flow of discussion, vigorous fingers tapping across keyboards, rivaled only by the swoosh, and the beeping of printers filling the air, while her colleagues bustled around. 

She composed herself, running her palms down her impeccably ironed pin skirt and flipping her hair back. She maneuvered to the coffee pot. The current pot emptied, except for a brown sludge jiggling at the bottom. The table it sat on covered in sugar, dribbles of creamer, and used coffee stirs lined the trash can. She busied herself with a new pot, and cleaning the mess left behind from her coworkers. Unsure how her associates managed without her, she imagined most of them lived in messy homes.

“Sunshine, you’re a dream, what would we do without you?”


Déjà vu, she thought as the words spilled from Joe's mouth. 

As the story progresses she begins to notice a slow change inside her.

Samantha, dressed in a dark blue dress suit and three inch heels, clacked her way over to me. “You’ve been falling behind. Look at the amount of files on your desk,” she leaned in running her fingers across their open edges. “I understand it’s been busy, but that doesn’t mean you neglect your work.” She ridiculed in a sweet tone undercut with daggers. Her temple pulsed rapidly behind her thin ghostly white skin. At that moment I felt a deep hatred for her consume me. Considering I had undergone two accidents in less than twenty four hours and my body felt like a Mac truck had hit it repeatedly, I thought I was making great progress. 

I painted on my best smile and used my most syrupy voice, “Samantha, can I help you?” 

“Since you’ve been so interested in that woman,” she said in a buttery voice, planting her skinny ass on my desk, “I thought you would want to know they think they’ve identified her. A police report had been filed and the description matched. The police are on their way now to talk with the sheriff. ” 

“Thanks, I appreciate that bit of information. The files really aren’t as bad as they look. I’ve organized them and now I’ve started putting them away.” 

“Uhh… make sure you have that completed before you go home and...” her eyes radiating a hole inside my noggin, “Why are you walking like a geriatric mishap today?” 

Embarrassed to say since I’d always been very graceful, but with no choice I responded. “I tripped yesterday at the hospital.” 

“You,” she almost chuckled, “Maybe you should get your ears checked, your equilibrium could be off.” She had never been my favorite person but I had never hated her either. At this moment, it became official, yup, I hated her. I couldn’t believe my own thoughts stemming from an unknown part of my temporal lobe.

Her change has caused conflict with her fiance. 

I approached with caution, “Jerry, I love you,” my eyes pleaded for his understanding, “I need your opinion on something.” I searched his face for understanding. “Recently, I have seen this image, a person; she even knocked me over one day. At first, I didn’t pay attention. Then, I thought maybe I had a brain tumor. I even contemplated that I was seeing a ghost.”

Jerry firmly replied, “I think honey that you have been working too hard. You spent last week in Chesterville where you met some strange characters and found out some disturbing news about a horrible murder. You were a reporter for a couple days and chose not to write up what you had. You gave that to Joe.” He searched my eyes. “You’ve been on the computer trying to find information haven’t you?” He asked. 

“Yes, I have...” I chose to be somewhat honest hoping for his support.

Without allowing me to finish he interjected, “There is a lot of false information out there. It’s most likely a coincidence that you keep seeing this person. The story about Eilida Riley has been boggling your mind since the day you heard about it. Maybe your mind is looking for her so you notice her now when before you never did; like if I told you I want a red sports cars, you would probably start seeing them everywhere, right?”

So much for support! Jerry was twisting my thoughts with male trickery. “Not exactly, I started seeing this woman right away but it’s more than that. How did I know the entire gruesome crime scene? She’s in my head.”

“In your head?” he questioned raising one eyebrow higher than the other. I had decided to appeal to another side of him. “Have you noticed anything different about me lately?”

“Since you’ve returned from Chesterville, no. You’ve been very normal,” he said matter of factly. 

“Before my trip?”  

His eyes rolled to the top as they did when he was deep in thought. “OK yeah, you fell at the hospital, made a trip out of town without telling me, ate Chinese food without chopsticks, and have a whole new taste in clothing.” 

There we go; he finally got it out. “You see, you’ve noticed it too.”
Something else suddenly struck me and maybe it meant nothing but since I was on a roll I blurted it out. “Remember that first night I came home from Chesterville alone.” He started to speak but I cut him off. “Don’t speak; allow me to finish. I had gone to her house, Eilida’s, but I didn’t know then that it was hers. I was driving and before I knew it, I was there. My legs turned to mush and the scene in front of me shifted dimensions or something. It was like watching a TV with bad reception. Then lightning hit the ground beside me. It came within inches of me along with a massive rain storm. I made it to my car and off the mountain. That’s not the first time the rains have come when I remember her thoughts or saw her. It’s sporadic but it happens. 


He contemplated everything I told him then chuckling softly he said, “People don’t control weather and just because it doesn’t rain around my Sunshine, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t rain. 

Sunshine is only half the story. Eilida is the other half. She see's something that scares her from the inside out.

Silently, she stole across the street, but instead of going to the front door, she put her ear up to the wall and listened. From somewhere buried inside her a primordial instinct welled up, which frightened her more than the storm brewing overhead. With her body close to the Turnwell’s house and her chest facing out, she advanced to the back. Trembling sobs alternated with short, shallow breaths told her ears that a small child was wailing inside. Her eyes caught sight of a dim light shining from the door which had been left open a crack. As she slid along the wall of the house. The back deck steps unfolded in front of her deck. She cocked her head, glancing towards the window and slowly progressed up the steps without a creak, something like a cat stalking its prey. As she reached the final step, she melted along the wall until her head became flush against the door frame. Taking a deep and silent breath; her guts inside wrenching and twisting, she peered inside the cracked door, gasping at the scene before her eyes. Eilida tore down the steps at warp speed, descending the tree stuffed mountain, while tears cascaded violently down her cheeks. 

Thoughts raged through her brain churning and contorting. Her legs charged down the mountain as if on auto-pilot. The horrific scene inside the house played like a broken record in her head. Tree branches tore at her clothes and scratched at her flesh as she dashed down the ridge. She barely felt them stinging as her mind was too consumed by the vivid spectacle she had witnessed inside the Turnwell’s home. Bleeding gashes covered her arms, face, and legs. Gnarled tree branches grew arms jutting into the path before her eyes. The rain began to pour across her forehead, leaving flowing rivulets washing away her tears and blood. Chunks of hair plastered against her face. 


The solid earth had become bombarded with water rushing hard under her feet, causing her to slip in its wetness. Eilida reached her hand out for something to grab hold of but the trees curled in their disfigured appendages while her feet slipped further beneath; digging into the wet savage ground. Desperate mud covered hands penetrated the sludge groping for a large tree root. Her feet sank further into the ooze until they hit a large rock, sending Eilida flying  like an unwanted toy, down the ridge. Tree trunks and small rocks got their licks in bouncing her to and fro. The inertia of her body halted by a large boulder nestled beside the river, leaving her petite frame motionless against the flooding rains. A mess of blood curled and flowed from her head, leaving tributaries along her cheek. Shreds of fabric that used to be clothing clung to her bloody skin as the shadowy moonlight bathed her immobile and unconscious body.

She "wakes" up in the hospital with no memories and starts her own transformation as the memories slowly come back.


Bits and pieces glistened through my head, yearning to break the surface. My body felt as though I was gliding weightless through a vast space. Fluorescent lights flickered above me and distorted voices hovered close, their faces long and misshapen as if I were looking at them through carnival funhouse mirrors.


A new image begins to form within the cobwebs of my mind; it fights vehemently to take hold. Through the fuzziness the form of a person struggles to exist, but instantaneously vanishes, leaving a warm, melty feeling inside me. I focus, once more and I can see a smile with straight teeth. Teeth that make me want to climb my tongue inside and feel around. I explore further and can taste sweetness and spice at the same time. Music plays in the background. 

A man coalesced before me, his face ambiguous, and his voice that of demon spawn. It mocked my existence. My feet took hold and pounded the saturated earth until a wooden chest manifested before my eyes, it represented safety from the beast. 

Oh my head! Static reverberated against the walls of my skull leaving lacerations across the folds of my brain. A familiar warm feeling squeezed my hand. It was that of my mother. I recognized her face from the pictures but the warmth of her hand native to my existence. She was indeed my mother and comfort washed over me.

My memories have been pouring into my mind at an exponential rate. It’s like my subconscious has been dormant and now has awoken. The beast from within aches to free itself from the chains that tie me. The chains that keep me posted to this bed where my family and friends take vigilant watch over me. 

When Sunshine and Eilida come together.

Sunshine- I stood up and took her hand in mine; the electrical impulses had a heyday inside me. It’s OK now I whispered into her ear. The very same words the tall elevator man had said to me. Her eyes flashed open again and stared straight into mine.

Eilida-  An electrifying jolt pulsed through my body. I fluttered my lids and a blond me was staring back at me whispering, “It’s OK now”. For that split second, my entire memory overwhelmed my brain but then the connection was severed and all my memories receded to their hiding places.

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Eye of The Storm Cover reveal and preorder link

"An electrifying jolt pulsed through my body. I fluttered my lids and a blond me was staring back at me whispering, “It’s OK now”. For that split second, my entire memory overwhelmed my brain but then the connection was severed and all my memories receded to their hiding places."

Eye of The Storm: Eilida's Tragedy volume 1 in the Ruthless Storm Trilogy is now available for preorder at .99 after its release 10/24 the price will go up.

Eye of The Storm: Eilida's Tragedy (Ruthless Storm Book 1) 
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Visit John Reinhard Dizon author of The Triad, Transplant, and Nightcrawler blog and read his editorial review.

Blurb:

A disturbance at her neighbor's house piques Eilida’s curiosity. What she discovers is so shocking it sends her running through the mountainous woods during a thunderstorm. She slips on the wet ground, plummets down Mount Wilde, and slams into a large boulder beside River Freedom. Eilida is transported to Lyden, where Sunshine, a receptionist at the local paper becomes engrossed in her story. The further Sunshine delves into Eilida’s life the more entangled their lives become. Paranormal events, frightening dreams, and terror filled memories draw the women together into an unthinkable web of horror. 

Excerpts:

Sage lay in bed beside me flat on her back. Her hair sprawled behind her mingling with mine. “You remember the day we first met?” she asked. No, no I didn’t. Not paying me any mind she continued, “We were in kindergarten. You were eyeing my Sunburst bar. The little yellow cupcakes with the smiling sun mixed into the frosting and the white filling in the middle. You had a Twinkle bar with the colorful coconut topping. I loved those things! So I really wanted your Twinkle bar and you wanted my Sunburst bar but you were too shy then to ask. I marched right up to you, sat down, and asked, ‘You want to trade?’ You smiled and handed me your Sunburst in exchange for my Twinkle. Then, I introduced myself, ‘I’m Sage.’” 
She made little girl voices as she told the story and I heard myself say, ‘I’m Eilida’. She couldn’t say Eilida. The ill part threw her and she called me Lida. She has stuck with it since calling me Lida to this day. She wore a little green cotton eyelet sundress and I wore a little blue t-shirt with a bright yellow sun flower and my favorite pair of jeans. I remembered! I remembered her and a flood of memories with her washed over my brain.

Getting up she kissed my cheek and said, “I’ll see you later cheeka-babe, I gotta run but someone else will be here soon to fill my void. I think you’ll be pleased,” and off she ran blowing kisses my way as she flung her purse over her shoulder and exited the room.
I remembered the summer her parents got divorced and how she didn’t want to go home. We were eleven and she spent almost the entire summer with us. The house was huge and we would sneak downstairs at night and turn on scary movies. We huddled together and buried our faces into one another’s arms during the bloody parts. We thought we were sly and pulled the wool over my parent’s eyes but they knew all along. I can’t see my mother’s face but I can hear her voice as she walked in and overheard us creating a horror story of our own. "It’s those crazy movies you two watch at night. I wish someone would create parent filters for TV channels." My life hadn’t been mundane. Sage had filled it with adventure and fun. She was like the sister I always wanted but never had.


I could hear my parents’ voices outside my door but I couldn’t make out what they were saying…

Upstairs were two bedrooms with a Jack and Jill bath between them. Instinctively, I knew which was hers. It was very tidy. An opened laptop sat on a roll top desk. I pushed the button and it started right up. A password box popped up on the screen and intuitively I typed the words Chloe. A Dear Delilah letter filled the screen, it said…

Dear Delilah,

This is Ted again. I want to thank you for your advice. I have been in touch with my sister. In fact, I will be meeting her and her family tonight. Thank you, Ted.

A follow up to the letter I had found and copied? It was dated May eighth. Swishing the date around my head a few times an epiphany struck me. May eighth was the night she had her accident. I closed that letter and worked through all the new ones giving them each a reply. When I was finished I submitted them all. Completing the activity was second nature although I had no idea why I did it except to say I felt compelled.

As I pranced down the stairs, I caught a glance out the front window. The sky had turned black with clouds and night quickly approached. From the corner of my eye I caught movement in the house across the street. A shadow passed in front of the window and then disappeared. My heart stopped for a split second and blood drenched the walls. Not the walls of the house across the street but another, the paint underneath baby blue. I held my eyes closed and counted to five, and when I reopened them all was normal and the sky outside was turning to dusk. 

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