RGPorter

Crossing genres, vampires and writing

2012-02-26T15:12:00.000-06:00

Happy weekend everyone! I know I know, I've not written much on my blog lately. Things have been, for lack of a better word, crazy here. I'm nearing the release of my epic fantasy KEEPERS OF WATER and have also been plotting some new stuff. One of the items I'm working on starting involves vampires, but not in the way my other vampire book was. This made me think a bit about the direction of that species and how it relates to the ability to cross between genres.

Most of those who have read my work know that I tend to write mostly fantasy based novels. That was true up until my release of my horror novel WHEN DARKNESS FALLS. Since then I've decided to expand what I write and see where it goes. I have to say, it's almost scary the different catagories some of the plot ideas can range into. For instance.

My upcoming release KEEPERS OF WATER could easily be put into high fantasy, epic fantasy or even urban fantasy. More and more the lines are become blurred between genres. Where once an author was forced to stay true to one line of writing, we are now breaking through those barriers and writing what we want. I think this option can ultimately lead to so many more fantastic books for readers to have available to them to read. Though some may still remain focused on one line, many authors are embracing this change.

Along with this change, I've also noticed more authors expanding the genres they write. Some great indie authors are venturing into both fantasy, mystery, thrillers and other outlets. Though this might seem daft to some, it is a great thing. You get fresh new voices, but it also allows the mark of these great authors to be exposed to a great audience that might not otherwise know of their work. The biggest issue I can see with this, is if you have readers that are turned off by the other genres you might right. Hopefully, if you can keep things catagorized well enough, it shouldn't allow cause a stir of waves from your readers.

So what am I doing that will be crossing things over you say? Well for one, I have a short novella I am going to be starting next month titled BLOOD, WINE, and RAZOR BLADES. Catchy isn't it? :) This one has a vampire who is a lead dectective that works on crimes. In this one, Vampires are part of society, even though there is still animosity between the races. Think of this as more of a supernatural mystery murder type novel. Vampires, magic, humans and an unsolved murder. SO much fun.

So I guess my ramblings today is mostly that, genres are no longer the cut and dry they used to be. Whether this is good or bad will always be left up to the reader to decide. From my standpoint, as both a writer and reader, I think it is fantastic. My question to you, my friends, is what is your thought?

As always, happy reading and writing everyone!

R.G. Porter

Print print print....

2012-02-17T18:04:00.000-06:00

I love ebooks, the electronic age is a fantastic thing. However, I still love the feel of a physical book. The smell, look, feel, is something that never gets old for me. So, I am beyond excited to say that all my full lengths novels are now available in print. Look at all the pretty covers. :)

All of the above novels are on sale for $7.99 per book. Follow the links in the post to go to the sales website. :)

Shades of Night: Print

Shadow of the Wolf: Print

Kiss of the Wolf: Print

Cry of the Raven: Print

When Darkness Falls: Print

Innok’s Curse: Print

To those who read and enjoy my adventures, you are all the best. I love hearing from you and hope to continue to give you more stories as the days go on.

Happy writing and reading.

R.G. Porter

Dragons, Curses and soulmates

2012-02-08T20:36:00.000-06:00

I'm excited to say that the first installment of my Dragon's Legacy is finally out. If you love dragons, swordplay, sarcasm and a love that stands the test of time, this is it. Innok's Curse is the beginning of the adventure, and if you've ever seen the movie LadyHawke and loved it, you will enjoy this novel. I adore dragons. They are mystical, magical and amazing to read up on. I loved writing this adventure, and I hope those of you who read it will have your breath taken away as you follow our hero and heroine as they try and break the curse.

Blurb:

A man cursed by a demon.
A woman who’s memories are more than just her own.

An enemy sworn to destroy all their dreams.

A destiny that none of them expected.

Cursed to live by day as a dragon and by night as a man, Gabriel believes he will forever be alone after the murder of his beloved Danielle. That is, until the night he meets Alayia.

Together, they must figure out the truth of the curse that Innok has placed on Gabriel as well as those from his visions. Their quest will bring them deep into the heart of the evil, but with her abilities and the spirit of the dragon within, they might just unlock the truth of the past and break the curse. If they can keep the demon from winning too fast.

EXCERPT:

Gabriel’s eyes shot open. Red and black hues filled his vision in a rush of color. High pitched screams sliced through his mind like a knife. The smell of smoke and sulfur engulfed his senses, his stomach churning in disgust. Looking around, Gabriel couldn’t place where he was, nothing around him looked familiar. His memory felt blank, as if wiped clean of all he knew, yet the one thing that kept filling his vision was the sight of a wheel turning backwards. It made no sense but the vision refused to go away. There was an ominous feel to the turning of the wooden wheel. Suspended in time, he felt like it called to him, warned him of something. Still, he found no answers in its movement, no words to tell him where he was or why, just a black void that surrounded his mind. Trying to step forward his body felt heavy with each step, his muscles unwilling to listen to his commands. Cries of frustration ripped from his throat as he continued to try and force movement throughout his limbs. Gabriel closed his eyes, forcing his body to comply, determined to make some progress.

The moment his foot moved forward, shadows crossed his mind; a roar of thunder filling his ears. Gabriel’s eyelids closed in protest. The wave of pain eased and he cracked his lids open once more, his mind determined to find out where he was. What he saw shocked him to his core. Broken trees and mist covered mountains surrounded the area; the ground ashen as if scorched by flames. It didn’t feel as if there was even a light breeze in the area, though he could hear the remaining leaves in the trees rustle in movement. Something was near him, a presence he couldn’t place, yet no matter where he looked all he found were shadows. Scents of sulfur and charred wood filled his nostrils. Gabriel turned to his left. There had to be a reason for why he was here. This was not his home. There was nothing familiar about this place, not to mention all life appeared to have been removed long ago. How had he gotten here? Each step he took shook the ground as he walked, crumbling the earth into dust. It was as if the whole area had been burnt to a crisp. Had there been a wildfire that had ravaged the lands? Gabriel found the notion hard to grasp, not with the magnitude of the destruction he saw. If such a thing had occurred there would have been records of it, something told of the history of the area, yet nothing came to mind. No, there had to be something more to this. His skin prickled with uneasiness. Everything around him felt strange, even the air had a sense of unease. Why couldn’t he remember where he was?

With every step he took the air swirled around him in a thick cocoon of dust. His body felt like lead, and his head pounded with the echoes of a thousand sounds all going off at once. He couldn’t tell if they were voices of those he knew or not. He felt distracted, his concentration not what it should be. The heaviness that moved through his body bothered him, his mind a haze of chaotic thoughts that made no sense. His mind raced for answers while his pulse hammered with hunger. It felt as if he’d not eaten for years, his stomach convulsing in protest. Every part of his body felt as if he’d been through a battle, his muscles burning as if on fire. Gabriel shook his head to clear the cobwebs that covered his mind. He needed to focus and figure out what was going on, to find out where he was and how to get out of it. Searching his memory for anything, Gabriel tried to recall what the last thing was he’d seen. Nothing but that persistent black void stared back. Pushing past the blackness, he came into contact with a hard invisible wall. Had he been killed? No… pain rushed through him with every movement he made, a clear indication he was very much alive.

“This isn’t natural.” His voice felt hoarse as he spoke. Waves of nausea washed through him. “This place can’t be real.” Nothing felt real about this place he’d woken in.

“It is natural, or was at one time, it’s just not what you are used to or what you expected to see.” An unfamiliar voice stopped Gabriel in his tracks, his body twisted around to locate the source. His gaze came to rest on an older woman, her jet black hair twisted up on top of her head in an intricate design. “This land used to be quite beautiful long ago.”

Gabriel’s eyes drifted across the area, the remnants of the land littered with dead trees and withered fields. “I’ll have to take your word for it. From what I can tell there is no life left here.” He couldn’t even tell what the place might have looked like when it had been alive; the shell of what remained slowly fading into the past. “What happened here?”

“Ah that, I fear, is a long story.” The sadness in her voice drew his attention. Her large dove eyes held knowledge and pain. “There is much you do not know Gabriel, many things that have been awoken that have lain dormant for far too long. There is a time of change coming, one which has long been foretold. This is but the beginning.”

“I don’t understand. What has been woken?” He asked, his eyes still taking in the surroundings.

The woman’s hand rose to hush his words, her body ethereal as she moved about the area. “You will find the truth as you fully wake to who you are.” He could hear her voice echo both around him and inside his mind, reverberating with every syllable she uttered. There was a shift in the area with each step she took, the ground welcoming her touch. “There is great deception and evil on the road before you, be wary of those you will see. The past you’ve left is only the beginning; your true path still lies before you.”

You can find the above novel at the following retailers: Amazon US Amazon UK ARe B&N

As always, happy reading and writing everyone!!

R.G. Porter

IWU blog tour with Jeremy Bates

2012-02-01T17:40:00.001-06:00

Good Morning everyone!

Well today, I'm turning over my blog to the fantastic Jeremy Bates. (Check out his site, you will NOT be disappointed). Let me give you a bit of background on him first and then the floor is all his.

Jeremy Bates has spent the last ten years traveling the world, visiting more than thirty countries. He has lived in Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.
Bates is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with a degree in English literature and philosophy. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Inc, and Crime Writers of Canada.

His frightening debut novel, White Lies, is set in a small village in the Cascade Mountain range of eastern Washington. In the book, he succeeds in bringing world-class terror to this tranquil community.

Okay, enough from me :) Take it from here Jeremy!

Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold .... And it's about damn time!

I know everyone tells you to write what you know and read what you write. I write suspense fiction, so that's what I like to read. But I've always had a soft spot for epic fantasy. If you enjoy fantasy, you've no doubt heard the name Terry Brooks. He was, in fact, the author that got me interested in writing. I was in grade eight. Up until this point I had been reading Hardy Boys and Choose Your Own Adventure kind of stuff.

First edition cover

Then a classmate gave me the Tommyknockers by Stephen King. It was the first Big Book I ever read. And I have to say I only got about halfway through the beast. But then a few months after that the same someone gave me Terry Brooks' The Elfstones of Shannara. I devoured it. Read the entire thing in like two weeks, which was an absolute milestone for me, at that age, when I'd been used to spending all my spare time at hockey practice or playing Sierra computer games (yes, it was early nineties!). I finished it on the very day I graduated, and I remember feeling doubly sad: sad I would not see many of my school friends again—and sad I would not see any of my fantasy friends either.

Then I discovered the Elfstones was part of a trilogy. I went to the used bookstore down the street and immediately picked up the first and third books: The Sword of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. I read them both quickly. To my delight, there was a fourth book coming out; to my dismay, it wouldn’t be released for months.

Recent cover

In the meantime I tried to write the sequel myself...and I guess that's what got me into writing! I didn't write anything else for about ten years. Then, after I graduated university and the party died down, I started writing again. Roughly ten years after that I sold my first book.

Anyway, not to diverge, to fill the gap until the Scions of Shannara was released, I decided to try his Landover series. I wasn't sure I was going to like it. At that time I had become a big fan of the epic fantasy worlds of elves and dwarves and the like, and I didn't want modernity to intervene. (If you don’t know, the Landover series is about a New York City lawyer buying a magic kingdom.) Regardless, I gave it a shot—and I loved it.

Now, it appears it is coming to film. I know Terry Brooks has been working on getting any one of his films adapted for a while. For a bit it looked as though it would be a Shannara novel, but that was scraped. I guess it makes sense. To do a Shannara adaptation justice, it would have to be something on the scale of Lord of the Rings. A Landover film, on the other hand, would require a much smaller budget, and it would likely appeal a wider audience—especially with the alternate-world craze a la Harry Potter.

I’m excited about it, and I think any fantasy fan should be. If you haven’t read the novel, you can read the first 50 pages of Magic Kingdom for Sale: Sold! for free via Suvudu.
And who knows? If this is a massive success, maybe the studio will have the guts to take on the world of Shannara after all!

Here’s a blurb from Terry Brook’s website:

MAGIC KINGDOM FOR SALE – SOLD! To Warners and Weed Road
Warner Brothers has optioned Terry Brooks’ best-selling MAGIC KINGDOM OF LANDOVER series of books for Akiva Goldsman’s Weed Road Pictures and Andy Cohen’s Grade A Entertainment. Goldsman and Cohen will produce with Weed Road’s Kerry Foster and Alex Block overseeing for Weed Road. Warner Brothers’ Matt Cherniss brought the book series into the studio and will run point. Brooks was represented by Anne Sibbald of Janklow &Nesbit Associates.

The film will be based on the first book in the series, MAGIC KINGDOM FOR SALE – SOLD!, which was first published in 1986 by Del Rey Books, a division of Random House. The most recent book in the six book, ongoing series is A PRINCESS OF LANDOVER which came out in 2009. Other titles in the series are: THE BLACK UNICORN, WIZARD AT LARGE, THE TANGLE BOX, and WITCHES BREW.

Brooks is a prolific author best known for the LANDOVER series and the SHANNARA series of fantasy books, which began with THE SWORD OF SHANNARA. There are currently 19 books in the SHANNARA series with the next book due out later this year.

Weed Road is in preproduction on A WINTER’S TALE written and to be directed by Goldsman. Recent credits include PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 and FAIR GAME.

Cohen last produced UNTRACEABLE starring Diane Lane. He’s currently working on the stage show, HEATHERS – THE MUSICAL and the indie film, IN SIGHT.

Jeremy Bates
White Lies, Oceanview Publishing, May 7, 2012
www.jeremybatesbooks.com

Thanks for visiting Jeremy and what a fantastic post. I'm a sucker for Fantasy (of course!) but your site and the mysteries you write are just up my ally. Hope everyone enjoyed!

As always, happy reading and writing everyone.

R.G. Porter

New release alert!

2012-01-22T11:27:00.000-06:00

I'm proud to say the third book in my Darkness Unleashed is now available all normal online stores. Amazon, B&N, SW, Apple, Kobo etc. I'm so excited to have this novel out there. It is the next to last book in this series and has tons of fight scenes and brings more information in from the previous books.

His desire for revenge would lead him to a truth he isn’t prepared for…

His brother dead, Galen now hunts for the beast who murdered Julian.

Determined to follow his path of revenge he never expects to find a band of warriors under attack by the darkness nor the leader that hides behind their swords.

Her past unknown, Kaylena had been raised by a family not her own. The visions that continue to plague her dreams she ventures out with a group of warriors in search of the truth of her past. Surrounded by the minions of the darkness she finds help in the one man she fears more… the man from her dreams.

To unlock her past they must fight the one beast responsible for it…
But first they have to accept the past to fight for the future.

EXCERPT:

A rustle behind her drew her attention, her breath catching in her throat. He’d come again. She couldn’t help but look at him from underneath her hood. His hair had come loose from its band and now flowed wildly in the evening breeze. His face reminded her of granite, no real expression could be seen. That was till she reached his eyes. A mixture of colors she nearly gasped as the moon’s rays lit them on fire, their vibrant steel blue color taking her breath away.
“I see you’ve left the camp again.” She was too far away from the others to get their attention, yet she found her voice nearly gone once more. He moved closer and she felt her heart beat begin to race. “You and I need to have a talk. There is no reason for these games of mystery.”
Mystery? Since she’d first heard his voice she’d done all she could to keep herself from revealing who she was to him, yet he saw it as her being secretive. If she’d been anywhere else she would have laughed. Still the closer he got to her the harder she found it to think, his body’s heat igniting her’s on fire. She put her hand out to stop his advance, her palm coming to rest on his chest. The moment she touched his body lightning arched across her skin, her nerve endings going into overload.

“I will not back away. You have no right to hide from me.” No right? She wanted to laugh. She had every right. He was a man who would think a woman had no place but in a home with children. She’d seen too many who’d thought that same way. She needed to move and fast. Turning she began to hustle back to the camp when she felt the tug on the neck of her cloak. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t get him to let go, his grip stronger than she’d considered. “You will not race back to your guardians.”

Anger rose in her body like a wildfire. Turning she did the first thing that she could think of. Her leg rose and connected with his shin, a muffled groan escaping his lips. She’d not wanted to hurt him but she’d had enough. Her body was tired and her emotions were acting up. He’d just have to deal with a bruised shin bone in the morning. Turning back she headed toward the campfire, her pace increasing. Behind her she heard another movement. She was about to turn when she felt strong arms on her back, pushing her to the ground. A strangled cry lodged in her throat as she felt his weight press on top of her. Her first reaction to scream, Kaylena moved her hands to her face to shield her face from his view.

Unable to move she was sure he would do something to hurt her but she didn’t care. She’d fight him with everything she had should he try. She could hear words leave his mouth but she couldn’t understand them. Afraid to move she could hear the men around the fire continue their discussions of their past, the lives they’d left and what they hoped to accomplish. How she wished she’d not left the security of the others. But she also knew it was too late to think about that now. She was cornered with no where to go and a man who’s strength was more than she could ever have imagined on top of her.

Hope you all enjoyed the tidbits. I'm working hard on the last book in this series titled Call of the Raven, and know it is going to tie this series up nicely. I've enjoyed the journey this has taken me to, and hope all those of you who have read it have had as much fun as I have.

Happy reading and writing everyone!

R.G. Porter

#SampleSunday 15 Jan Shadow of the Wolf (Darkness Unleashed Book 1)

2012-01-14T20:42:00.000-06:00

A quest to save the future from the darkness is more than it seems…

Saleene is a healer of her people. Sent out to find the root of the darkness, she finds more than she bargained for. Demons and ghouls at every turn, Saleene soon finds she has more than just an unknown evil to battle. Drawn to an abandoned cabin for shelter, she's met by the stare of a man who is more than he appears, and may be her only hope.

Dartian is a warrior sent out to find the cause of the death that continues to spread. With his friends lending assistance, they find that the evil is deeper than first thought. Ending up at an abandoned shack he finds more than just a place to rest. Inside its four walls is a woman that calls to every part of his being.

Fate has drawn them together--- to battle the darkness that has been released…

But first they must learn to trust their own bond…. And start to reform the circle once more.

Available on Amaozn US

EXCERPT:

Raising her eyes upward, she could see a large creature flying in the night sky above. Its wingspan alone was at least three feet. From what she could tell it wasn’t like any kind of bird or creature she had seen in the past. Squinting she caught the flicker of talons along what looked to be arms. Her breathe held tight in her lungs.

“It can’t be.” She’d never seen one of these alive. Books had written about them, talked about the danger they presented, but last recorded sight had been centuries ago. “Where did you come from?”

From what she could tell, it had not noticed her yet. Looking at the damage to the body next to her she now knew how it had come to being alone in the field with no footprints leading to or from it. The poor man had ended up a meal for the monster flying above. Searching the area, she needed to find a place to hide before the creature noticed her presence. Certain it was still high off of the kill, she prayed it remained distracted enough for her to find a place to hide.

Spotting a large fallen oak at the nearest entry to the forest, Saleene began to run. Keeping her body close to the ground, she made sure her movements didn’t draw unwanted attention. Step by step she got closer to the trunk, the sounds of the beast above fading behind her. As she made it to safety, she crawled around the side of the trunk to hide. Looking back at where she’d come from, she could still see the wings flapping above the dead man. Her heart continued to beat hard in her chest.

“Why are you here,” she asked quietly. There was an answer, one she did not want to face, but she knew was true. Another creature had been released by the evil. It was the only answer that made sense and it was one she knew would mean more would die.

In the distance, she could hear the footfalls of men approaching the open field. She needed to move. There was nothing more she could do for the man. From the sounds of the group approaching, she could tell they were well armed. More than enough to deal with the creature above if it came to it. Perhaps at least one of the creatures that had been released could be sent back to the hell it came from. It was just unfortunate that it had cost the life of another person. Turning around she quietly made her way back out from under the log. Keeping low to the ground she made sure not to make any noise that might alert the beast to her whereabouts.

The moment her feet hit the interior of the forest she picked up her pace to increase her distance from the edge of the grove. Lifting her face to the wind, she breathed in the scents of the forest, looking for any telltale signs of danger. She needed information from the animals on where she could find shelter. As always the forest provided the answer she needed. Turning to the right she took off in an even paced run. Through trees and underbrush she moved, nothing slowing her down. Allowing her gaze to drift upward she took in the canopy of trees that shrouded the forest from the sky. Flickers of moonlight were able to filter through the branches, the small rays of moonbeam lighting her way.

“How beautiful, don’t you think?” Her eyes lowered to the wolf that padded next to her. “I see you didn’t take my advice from earlier.” For as far back as she could remember, she had always preferred the company and especially the wolves that roamed wild.

Everything around her felt calm. From what she could tell, the evil had left, at least for a little while. The woodland creatures had begun to sing songs into the night once more. The music helped to ease the stress of the day.

Saleene focused her attention back to the wolf, his stance not faltering. “You really must go my friend. There are evil things happening and I do not know if I can keep you safe.” As much as she enjoyed his company, she needed him to understand. “I’ll find you later. Now it’s time you went home to your family.” The wolf licked her hand before taking off into the darkness of the woods.

“Stay safe my friend.” She called out to him. He had been with her for most of her journey, but she knew this was for the best. Returning her attention back, she sprinted in the direction of shelter. Thunder had already begun to roll in the distance. It was getting closer and she wasn’t about to get stranded out in the middle of a storm. .

Around a bend and through a small dip in the path she rounded one more corner to the left. Passing a large tree, covered with moss, she found a small wooden shack hidden behind it. Looking it over she could tell that it was old and unused. Years’ worth of decay had started to rot out the boards. Vines from some of the closer trees had begun to wrap their way around the foundation, reclaiming it back to the ground. Lightning arched above her, turning the clouds into a kaleidoscope of colors.

“Guess it is better than nothing,” she whispered. Stepping over protruding roots and brush, she made her way through the door and into the shack. Once inside, she took a closer look. The room looked to be sound; no water looked to have leaked through. Although mother nature appeared to have reclaimed most of it back, she had left the interior in good condition. Outside she could hear the wind pick up in speed. If she had thought about checking elsewhere, the elements had made that choice for her. From the sounds she heard outside, the heavens would be unleashing their fury on the world below in minutes.

As she crept further into the room, Saleene allowed her senses to survey the inside. She felt nothing, not even discarded remnants of its former owner. Walking toward the middle of the room, she rested her leather satchel on a smooth rock and turned toward a circle of stones next to it. Picking up twigs, she put together kindling to start a fire before the storm arrived. After a few tries, flames sprang to life.

“Ah, warmth at last.” Outside the wind increased. In the distance a wolf howled, alerting her to strangers approaching. From the warning, she had a good feeling it was the men she had heard approaching the field. Could they be looking for her or just for shelter? If she had gauged the sounds right, there were at least three of them in the group, all well-armed. “Damn.” She muttered into the darkness.

As thunder continued to rumble outside, another flash of lightning arched through the sky. By the sounds, she heard the men would be at the door as the storm arrived, of that she had no doubt. Removing her blade, she backed up into the corner to allow the shadows to embrace her. Listening to the night, she caught the footfalls of the men as they approached. Leaves rustled under their steps, the crunch of grass and brush loud between the silence of the thunder. The closer they got, the more her heart drummed. They took their time, looking over the shack for any hidden dangers

A moment passed and two men entered through the doorway. They crept to opposite sides of the shack, never once letting down their guard. They were good; she had to give them that. She could tell they were searching for the source of the fire, to determine if the individual was friend or foe.

Who were these men, she thought to herself.

Without warning, she felt the third man’s presence close to her. The moment the information settled in her mind she spun around and touched her dagger to the throat of a very large man hidden within the shadows. Their gazes locked. Deep blue eyes stared back at her. How had he gotten so close without her knowing? Her blade remained close to his throat yet he smiled back. Nodding at her, she followed his line of vision only to see the blade of his sword pointing at her chest.

Anger coursed through her. “Who are you and what gives you the right to enter my camp?” She continued to keep her voice low. The others hadn’t noticed them yet, and she still didn’t understand their motives. Staring back at him, she refused to relinquish her blade, and held her breath until he answered her question.

“I am not your enemy. My friends and I are traveling and only need shelter for the night. ”The deepness of his voice lightly caressed her skin. His eyes never left hers, even as he spoke.

“Why are you here? You could have easily found another camp.” She knew her voice held a challenge but she didn’t care. Not when so much was at stake. They inched closer toward one another, to test the resolve and strength of the other, neither giving a hint of trust.

After a few minutes passed, Saleene watched as the man finally lowered his sword and sheathed it behind his back. In response, she lowered her dagger. She watched as he moved back over to the fire, his hands spread out over the flames.

Saleene approached the trio of men and secured her weapon before sitting at the fire. Where did they come from and why did she feel safe with them? She looked in the direction of the lone warrior, his frame filling the room. Each time her gaze moved in his direction, the stranger would glance her way. Steel blue meeting deep green locked in a battle of wits, with neither one truly backing down. It was a game she had played countless times as a child, but this was on a level she never expected, and the familiarity she felt from his stare was unnerving..

“I’m sorry, but have we met?” Saleene inquired. “You seem very familiar to me.”

At her question, the stranger’s right eyebrow furrowed. Was he surprised by her question or bemused that she could have thought they might have met in the past. Either way, it annoyed her that he played off her inquiry so easily.

“I’m sorry, but I do not believe we have. I am certain I would have remembered you if we had.” His fingers pointed toward her. “Especially since you held a blade to my throat only moments ago and by all accounts, wish to once more.”

Looking at her hand, she realized that she had withdrawn her dagger again. “Sorry, force of habit.”

Embarrassed, she put her blade back again. Her nerves were shot and this man wasn’t making the situation any better. Why had they decided to come to this shelter? Her world would have been easier if she could have remained alone. Looking up, she found him staring back. Hard emotions swirled in the depths of his eyes. What they were she had no idea.

“My name is Dartian Delaru. My companions are Raku Vasin, a huntsman from the clan Ravenclaw, and Jeremiiah Neva, from the neighboring village in Zulisa.” He rattled off the names one by one, never missing a beat. “Who are you?”

IWU Blog Tour King Arthur, History and Wales

2012-01-09T18:21:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday everyone and welcome to another wonderful guest post. Today I have visiting us, Sarah Woodbury. I'm letting her take over for the day and hope you find her discussions about writing historical fiction as fascinating as I do. So, without further delay, the floor is yours Sarah! First, a little bit about Sarah:

With two historian parents, Sarah couldn’t help but develop an interest in the past. She went on to get more than enough education herself (in anthropology) and began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded she let them out. Her interest in Wales stems from her own ancestry and the year she lived in England when she fell in love with the country, language, and people. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.
She makes her home in Oregon.

Set in sixth century Wales, Cold My Heart tells the story of Myrddin and Nell, a journeyman knight and a former nun, who share a vision of a terrible future—one which encompasses the death of their King and the loss of their country

. . .

Writing historical fantasy set in the dark ages requires research that goes beyond the world building of epic fantasy, but carries with it similar characteristics, since we know so little about that era in Britain. For my Arthurian novel, Cold my Heart, I start with the knowledge that the Saxons (in actual fact, a combination of several Germanic groups) invaded Britain after the Romans abandoned the island in 410 AD. King Arthur, if he existed, would have been born around 480 AD, but whether the real Arthur—the living, breathing war leader who defeated the Saxons for a generation—ever existed has never been proven.

The paucity of historical documents from that time period is to blame. What we have are three sources:

1) Y Goddodin—a Welsh poem by the 7th century poet, Aneirin, with it’s passing mention of Arthur. The author refers to the battle of Catraeth, fought around AD 600, and describes a warrior who “fed black ravens on the ramparts of a fortress, though he was no Arthur”.

2) Gildas, a 6th century British cleric who wrote De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae (On the Ruin and Conquest of Britain). He never mentions Arthur, although he states that his own birth was in the year of the siege of Mount Badon. The fact that he doesn’t mention Arthur, and yet is our only historian of the 6th century, is an example of why many historians suspect that King Arthur never existed.

3) Taliesin, a 6th century Welsh poet, who wrote several poems about Arthur. Including the lines: “ . . . before the door of the gate of hell the lamp was burning. And when we went with Arthur, a splendid labour, Except seven, none returned from Caer Vedwyd.”

From these seeds grew the myth of Arthur, which the Normans (and then the French) co-opted, adding the Lancelot-Guinevere-Arthur love triangle, the sword in the stone, Merlin, and Arthur’s incestuous relationship with his sister Morgan along the way.

By 1191, the monks of Glastonbury were claiming knowledge of his grave, and soon after, the link between Arthur and the Holy Grail, which Joseph of Arimathea supposedly brought there. By 1225, monks in France had written The Vulgate Cycle, telling of the holy grail from the death of Jesus Christ to the death of Arthur. This story became the standard version used throughout Europe.

Whether or not King Arthur was a real person is an either/or query. He either was or he wasn’t. Many scholars, researchers, and Arthurophile’s have strong opinions on this topic, both for and against though much of the academic work has come down on the side of ‘wasn’t’—or at least if Arthur was a real person, his name was not ‘Arthur’ and he possible wasn’t even a king.

For the purposes of my book Cold My Heart, I choose to believe that Arthur was real, that he was backed into a corner by his duplicitous nephew, Modred, and did not die at Camlann as the Norman/French/Anglo version says, but lived to see his country securely in the hands of a worthy heir. At the same time, the world of Cold My Heart rests in the balance between the historical Wales of 537 AD, and the quasi-medieval Arthurian world that readers have grown to love throughout the ages.

Links:

Web Page, Twitter Facebook

Links to books: Amazon US Amazon UK and Smashwords

I hope you all enjoyed the post by Sarah, I know I did. As always, happy reading and writing everyone!

R.G. Porter

"Last Way Station" Virtual Book Tour

2012-01-06T06:12:00.000-06:00

Good morning everyone and happy Friday! Sorry I've been MIA, but with the holidays, things have been hectic. I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas Holiday Hop we had going on. Tons of prizes were to be found and everyone seemed to have a bang up time. Now we are into 2012 and it proves to be even more exciting. Lots on tap this year. More releases and a huge amount of writing will be happening. First thing I want to bring up for today is a great tour I'm going to be a part of. "Last Way Station" Virtual Book Tour". Here's a bit about it from the official site.

Compete for Prizes ... Including a Kindle Fire!
In between trips to our various book blogger "ports of call," where you'll compete for ebook giveaways and signed paperback and hard cover books, you'll have opportunities to increase your odds of winning a series of major tour sweepstakes prizes: bundles of ebooks and a Kindle Fire! We also hope you will take time to get to know as many of our featured authors as possible. Visit their sites, read their writing samples and books, and let them know what you think. They value your comments, so share them one-on-one. Who knows, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Visit Our Intrepid Book Bloggers
Our ship will be making 30 stops at 15 exotic book-blogging destinations. (We'll stop once at each port-of-call on our way out to sea and then, again, on our return trip.) At some of these stops, you'll learn more about my book, The Last Way Station and me, but at others, I'll be joined by groups of our 'resident' authors, who will regale you with personal tales and adventures, engage you in lively discussions and take part in topical round tables, live webinar panels, contests, games, Q & A sessions and much more.

Check Out 60 Up-And-Coming Indie Authors
As an 'indie' writer (which simply means a writer who either 'self-publishes' or works with non-traditional publishing firms), I've discovered that the Internet supports many lively communities of fascinating writers, and I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to a few. As a group, we offer a broader, more diverse range of works than has ever been available through booksellers before. Why? Because thanks to the economics of our 'virtual," online world, we do not have to write books strictly for mass-market appeal. We can be successful while appealing to narrower tastes and preferences -- in ways similar to the more specialized nature of cable TV programming vs. traditional, network television. We're also highly accessible, fun and eager to engage with you.

Get All the Details
So, welcome aboard! To learn more about the cruise (its destinations, schedule, and key events, etc.), our 'resident' authors and the book tour sweepstakes (prizes and rules), just click on the link below.

Blog Tour official site also you can visit Mega Book TourTM

I look forward to seeing everyone wandering around and visiting all the great authors.

Happy reading and writing everyone!!

R.G. Porter

And the winners are.....

2011-12-27T17:21:00.000-06:00

Okay, sorry for the delay. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. I've loved reading everyones stories. They were wonderful and made the season that much better!

So, I'm sure you are all wondering who won the books. I went through Random.Org to keep things on the up and up and this is what we've been given.

3rd Place: Bookaddict

2nd Place: Tressa Oliver

Which gives us our grand prize winner of a copy of both Shadow of the Wolf and Kiss of the Wolf. Without further delay....

Grand Prize Winner: Meghan Page!

I will be reaching out to each of you in the next day. Again, congratz!!

I hope you all enjoyed the blogs and hops that we've had out for you. I've enjoyed everyones stories and am so blessed to have met you all! Here's to a wonderful remainder of the year and an even better 2012.

#SampleSunday Dec. 25th. Horror and the things that make you jump

2011-12-24T21:15:00.000-06:00

First, Happy Holidays to everyone out there. Okay, so figured I would try this out. My first delving into SampleSunday and thought it would be great to bring you the first part of my new horror novel, WHEN DARKNESS FALLS. This story rides the line between life and death and all that could happen in between. Hope you enjoy!

You've got nowhere to run.

Screams, cries and a loud crash of doors slamming shut echoed behind her. Death was on her heels and she wasn't about to stop and ask questions. Everything around Lisa kept changing. Rooms were gone, friends had vanished and hallways were longer than before. No matter where she turned, she couldn’t get out. She had been dropped into a labyrinth that didn’t end.

“There’s got to be a way out!” she cried.

Not stopping to listen, she kept going, running further and further down the hall. Her feet were going as fast as possible, but it didn’t feel like enough. She was moving in slow motion or so it felt, stuck in a movie that was drawing to a close. Lisa slammed her fist against the nearest wall. She wanted out.

A sharp turn to the left, and she found another long hallway sprawled out ahead of her. This wasn’t right. She had been running for hours but hadn’t made any progress. She had been careful to not run in circles, but the place had morphed into a maze that didn’t end. Every turn she made led into another, none of them leading anywhere useful. Stopping to catch her breath, she tried to calm her mind.

“Where did we end up?” Thunder cracked from outside, the walls shuddering in response. The place had turned into a warped version of a fun house. “House of horrors is more like it,” she muttered.

You won’t get out.

The voice continued to haunt her, its bone-chilling monotone ripping straight through to her soul. The voice wasn’t coming from around her; of that much she was sure. No, it was sent directly into her mind. People would say she was going crazy. Right now, she would prefer that than the hell she now found herself in. If this thing hunting her wanted to drive her over the edge, it was doing one hell of a good job.

Stop and accept your fate.

"Go away!" Lisa shouted, her breath coming in gasps. "Leave me alone! I’ve done nothing wrong."

Her cries fell on deaf ears. Over and over the voice kept hounding her. She wanted to scream, to give in and make it go away, but she couldn’t. Deep down she knew she had to find a way home. Stubbornness ran thick in her blood, and she wasn't about to stop now. Adrenaline pushed through her body in response. She had survived this long; she would find a way out.

Biting the inside of her lip, Lisa drew a deep breath. "No, I won't let you win," she cried out. "You can't have me."

Her eyes raked left and right, looking for her tormentor, searching for something she might have missed. The hallway was vacant, except for her. At least, that's what it wanted her to think. She had learned quickly that nothing was as it seemed in this place. In the distance she heard a growl, the same sound that had hunted her for the last twenty-four hours. Every time she looked for the source she found nothing. Now, in the distance, she sensed movement that hadn’t been there before. Shadows began to crouch closer but never more than that.

"Go away," she whispered. “Let me go home.”

Silence was her only reply. She was beginning to hate the quiet creek of the old place. She had come with her traveling companions, now they were missing. The screams she had heard over the last few hours had been more than enough to make her want to get out. Getting out had proved to be much more difficult than she had first expected. This place was determined to keep her put.

Another growl made her turn. She felt a cold wind rush across her and shuddered at the touch.

"It's not real," Lisa called out. "It can’t be."

Many doors led from the hall but none had helped her. Her body pressed against one after another. None budged.

"Come on, please," she begged, every part of her body feeling weak. "You can't all be locked." One of them had to be unlocked. Still each one held fast, the thick wood rebuffing her. As she came to the end of the hall, a window faced her with one door on either side. It was like a mirror image of the rest of place. She peered through the dusty glass only to find the same view as all the rest. As with the other windows, shutters were secured against the window pane. From the small slits, she caught sight of faint grey fog outside. It was all she could see through the tiny cracks.

"Dammit." It was the same thing she had seen since coming to this place. "I swear I never want to see fog again."

Another stomp and she turned to find something approaching from the far end of the hallway. Darkness and shadows cowered in the corners. She tried to focus on what was approaching but found she couldn’t. Her stomach knotted at the small glimpses she caught. It wasn't possible, it couldn't be real.

Deep growls filled the air, louder than before. If she screamed she wasn't certain. Her heart pounded in time with the knocking of the wind outside. She had to find somewhere to hide and quickly. The thing that faced her wasn’t something she could fight and win. Given the chance, it would rip the flesh from her skin if she remained; that was a death she didn't want.

Her arms pushed against one of the doors. It didn't budge. Turning, she held her breath as she pressed with all her remaining strength against the opposite one, the wood softly creaking beneath her weight. She felt hope spring within her. "Please God, let it open."

It would give, she knew it, she had to believe it or else all was lost. Another push or two and it creaked even more. Backing up a step, she closed her eyes and kicked out with her leg with every bit of strength she had left. The door gave just enough for her pry it open and squeeze through the crack. Rushing inside, she could still hear the sounds of hell approaching. Slamming the door behind her, she bolted the lock and placed a chair in front of it, leaning her body against the dark wood.

“Thank God!” she exclaimed. A hard slam against the door made her jump. Whatever had followed her wasn't happy. She prayed with everything in her that it would go away.

"Hey there, what are you hiding from?"

A deep voice startled her. Turning she found her guide, Drax, staring back.

"What are you doing here?" From what she had heard, he had been one of the first that had gone missing. Her head felt clouded the closer he got - a buzzing that had come and gone many times before that she had learned to ignore. "Where were you hiding?"

His face held no emotions. "I'm fine. Can't you see that? I just took off for a bit." He moved closer. "You seem scared. Relax. Everything is going to be fine. Here, come with me. I've found a great place to hide. Nothing can get us there." He motioned to her to follow. Part of her wanted to run, but the pounding on the wood was a stark reminder of what waited for her outside the door. Glancing about the room, she tried to find another alternative but there was none. Two doors were available. One in the direction that lead away from this room, the other back the way she had come. The latter wasn't an option. She turned back. “Fine then,” she whispered. “Lead the way.”

He was gone as soon as she spoke. How he had moved so fast was unsettling. Nevertheless, she could still hear him in the adjacent room. She could hear him speaking, but she couldn't understand his words. From what she could tell, the area he had gone into looked brighter than the rest of the rooms she had been in. Torn as to whether to follow or not, she found her feet taking her forward of their own accord. Lisa tried to stop but found she couldn't. There was a compulsion she couldn't find the strength to resist.

As she entered the room, she looked up to find Drax facing her. "You're fine, now come on." His hand reached out to her, but she hesitated. "Why are you afraid of me?"

"You seem different," she answered without thought.

"Now stop it. Everything will be fine. I promise." His thick accent hadn’t lessened since she had met him before the tour.

"How can you be sure?" she asked.

His smile faded. "I know more than you know. You are right where you need to be."

"What do you mean, right where I need to be?"

"Trust me. The answers are perfect."

Curiosity as well as concern pushed her forward. She didn't stop, didn't try to this time. He might have the answers to where everyone had gone. She was tired of trying to find out for herself.

"Hey," she began, "do you know where the rest went?"

"They are where they need to be as well," he answered, not once turning to face her. "Now let's go."

Through the doorway and into another room, she could feel her skin grow cold even with the warmth that the room appeared to hold. Turning to look back into the room she had just left, her body shook. Darkness crouched and waited for her. Never in her life had the shadows taken on a life of their own as they had in this place. A flicker of something in the darkness caught Lisa’s eye. There was a familiarity to it she couldn’t place.

"There is something very wrong with this place,” she whispered. “Why were we brought here? It doesn’t make sense." Confusion filled her mind with unanswered questions. More than that, she just wanted to go home. Gwen would make sense of it all, she always could.

Turning, Lisa found Drax was back in front of her. She noticed that his skin was torn around his neck, stretched with strange patterns. Biting her lip, she was too scared to ask what they were. As she tried to recall where she had seen it, he drew his arms around her and pulled her close. The coldness of his skin felt odd in the warmth of the room. Nothing seemed right, but she couldn't pull away; his embrace was too strong. Leaning back to ask him a question, her words died before they were formed.

Soulless eyes stared back at her, his skin no longer a healthy tone but pale blue and lifeless. The spark of humanity she had seen previously had been replaced by something else, a vision more sinister that now held her in its grips. She tried to turn away, to get out, but found she couldn't. His strength was greater than hers. In the seconds that followed, the cold and darkness began to wrap around her, sucking the life from her soul.

“Your turn has come.” She recognized the monotone voice she had been hearing in the hallway. “All comes in time.”

The memory of all that had happened before came rushing back. How had she forgotten?

Drax had killed himself, or so they had thought. Hung from the rafters from what the others had said. Why hadn't she remembered? Around her, the room began to darken, shadows taking what remained of the flickering light.

Reap what you sow.

“Oh God, Gwen, I’m so sorry.” Her whimpers barely escaped the darkness. “Forgive me.”

The doors opened and slammed back shut, her screams lifted high into the air only to be silenced by the wind.

Hope you all enjoyed it. You can find this novel at all your usual online outlets for only $2.99:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/When-Darkness-Falls-ebook/dp/B006KRYMM4

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Darkness-Falls-ebook/dp/B006KRYMM4

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/113372

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-darkness-falls-rg-porter/1107952640?ean=2940013832718

AllRomanceEbooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-whendarknessfalls-657317-140.html

IWU Blog Tour Vampires, kilts and the holidays

2011-12-19T06:01:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, today I have the pleasure of speaking with Laura. So, pull up a chair, grab a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy.

Good morning Laura, so, tell us a bit about yourself. :)

Laura spent her early years in Scotland attending a very old and supposedly haunted Catholic school. The place terrified her but she loved the idea that there was a "Headless Nun" roaming the halls.
In her pre-teens she moved to the United States. She spent her first two years in college writing poetry and managed to lose her entire collection. She knows it's out there somewhere!
Writing is her passion! She is currently working on a psycho-thriller set on the Washington coast, a fully illustrated children's book, and a collection of poems.

Scotland? I am so jealous!

So, tell me about your book:

Ahhhhh! Vamps in Kilts! Run for the hills!

Through the misty moors and aching crags, she calls you!
In her manor, on the loch, you’ll find her.
Take a leap, lay down to sleep, for you may never wake, your soul at stake.
A dark-haired beauty, with fangs so sharp, lips so red but a human heart.
Alesta! She dares you!

Alesta is a nurse with a secret. When babies start disappearing from her hospital, the police investigation implicates her. The police, however, are the least of her problems, as her past comes back alive. Such is the way with vampires.

Alexandria, Scotland has no idea what’s coming!

This tale is fast-paced, thrilling and delivers it all, with a bit of bite, fear, all wrapped up in Scottish humor.

Awesome! Love that idea.

What inspired you to write it?

I wrote this book simply because I love vampires and I wanted to play with the idea of the soul and eternal life.

What’s your writing process like?

I write a general outline first, then a more detailed outline as I hit each chapter leaving room for changes.

Do you write at the computer or with a pen and paper? Do you edit as you go or just get it all out and then go back and make changes?

I just get it all out--then make changes. I find my story flows better that way.

I can understand that. I do the same thing. That and the voices in my head yell at me if I stop. :)

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I focus on my family and building memories with them. They are so dear to me.

Tell me about your job, your hobbies, your pets...

My main job is my writing. I work from home part time.
Hobbies: Besides enjoying the outdoors, I like aerobics and going to the movies.
Pets: Sadly enough, I am allergic to everything. If I could have a pet I would like to have a cat.

Aww, that is such a bummer! I adore my animals and I am such a cat person.

What made you decide to self-publish your work?

I love writing and I want to do it, so I went ahead and jumped right in.

Have you ever submitted your work to a traditional publisher? Would you consider doing so in the future?

Yes. The process was long and I wanted my books up quicker-- so I went with Amazon.

What has your experience of self-publishing been like so far? Would you recommend it to other writers?

Self-publishing is wonderful and if you are great working on your own, it’s a great way to go.

What have your marketing strategies been so far? How successful were they? Any advice for new indie writers?

I put most of my focus into the sites where my book is. It has been successful for me so far. For new indies---I would say, do what works, blogging, tweeting, etc. I think everyone has a different way of doing it and you have to find out what works for your book. Read as much as you can about how to do it.

I agree totally! I know that quite a bit can depend on genre etc as well. Try something, if it works, great if not, keep working at it. :)

How would you respond to those who argue that self-published books are of inferior quality to traditionally-published ones?

I don’t feel that they are wrong. I feel we are all entitled to whatever views we want. Some like the color red and some like blue. There’s a wide range of books out there.

What type of genres do you like to write and read?

I like to write on the spooky side of life, but I prefer to read tragic romances. My favorite is The Thorn Birds. I can’t stop crying after I read it--makes me so sad, but I love it.

What is your favorite Holiday food?
Boy!!!! If it’s a holiday food---I’ll eat it. Believe me that’s all I’ve been doing since the Holidays came rollin round.

You can find Laura at:

Laura's Blog

You can find her book at:

Amazon
Amazon UK

Holiday Hop!!!

2011-12-14T20:45:00.001-06:00

Hey Everyone!!

On behalf of all the amazing authors taking part in the Holiday Hop this year, I would like to welcome you to the 2011 Holiday Blog Hop!

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

DATES
The hop runs from December 15th to December 25th. Winners will be chosen after the contest has ended and the results will be posted on their websites/blogs between December 26th-December 31st.

HOW IT WORKS
New to blog hopping? No problem. To begin, go to the HOLIDAY BLOG HOP page in the tab above. Start with the first author and work your way through everyone. Click on the name of the author to be directed to their site. Once there, check out their contest and enter to win. Yes…it’s that easy!!!

Each author will post the details of their contest on their site. There are some amazing prizes being given away from these authors including: holiday mystery bag, signed books, gift cards,
To get hopping, click HERE.

Happy Holiday Hopping, Everyone!

For my contest I will be giving away two copies of Destiny's Light to the second and third place winners. First place winner will get book 1 and 2 in my Darkness Unleashed series. All you have to do is comment on my blog about your favorite Holiday memory. I want to know what made your holiday special and everything.

Have fun and get to hopping!

R.G. Porter

New Release Day!!

2011-12-11T18:10:00.001-06:00

Okay, so some might say I should have released this back in October, and if I could have I would have. I am excited to say, that my newest release is now available. WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is my first journey into horror and I must say I had a blast writing it. Horror can be so much different than fantasy and paranormal. Though both have the ability to go beyond reality, the venture into the dark and disturbing was quite an eye opener. You can find WHEN DARKNESS FALLS at all the usual outlets:

Amazon US, Amazon UK , Smashwords and AllRomance Ebooks

Blurb:

A desire to be reunited with her dead twin is about to become very real….

Gwen's had a tough year. With the anniversary of her sister's murder approaching, she finds she isn't ready for the real world. Her friends have another plan in mind. A visit to the mountains, and a weekend of fun, is what they promise. None of them expect it to be the trip to somewhere they didn't plan and one that may cost them more than they could have imagined.

On a deserted road, they collide head on with another vehicle. Certain she is about to die, Gwen never expected to wake up in a strange hotel. With the presence of hotel’s caretaker, and a vague request to follow the rules, she begins to wonder just where they ended up. As her friends begin to vanish, Gwen knows her time is running out.

With danger around every corner Gwen searches for a way to escape---

before one wrong choice is made and she loses her soul forever.

Excerpt:

You've got nowhere to run

“There’s got to be a way out!” she cried.

You won’t get out.

Stop and accept your fate.

"Go away!" Lisa shouted, her breath coming in gasps. "Leave me alone! I’ve done nothing wrong."

Biting the inside of her lip, Lisa drew a deep breath. "No, I won't let you win," she cried out. "You can't have me."

"Go away," she whispered. “Let me go home.”

Another growl made her turn. She felt a cold wind rush across her and shuddered at the touch.

"It's not real," Lisa called out. "It can’t be."

Many doors led from the hall but none had helped her. Her body pressed against one after another. None budged.

"Dammit." It was the same thing she had seen since coming to this place. "I swear I never want to see fog again."

IWU Blog Tour Tacos, Pantser and Neo :)

2011-12-02T11:16:00.000-06:00

Today I want to welcome Mike to the group. Hey Mike, grab a chair and relax:

Mike: Hi everyone! I’m Mike Cooley (no, not the guy in Drive By Truckers… the other one). I’ve been writing for many years in one form or another and really enjoy storytelling. I grew up reading every science fiction and fantasy book I could get my hands on, so I tend to write mostly “genre fiction.”

Fantastic, love Fantasy and Scifi. So, tell me about your book:

Mike: Which one? I’ll start with the novel. It’s called Crystal Warrior and it’s a very action-oriented sword and sorcery style book. It was fun and hard to write since it’s the first full length novel I ever attempted. Previous to that I considered myself more of a short story writer.

The main character in Crystal Warrior is a teenage girl named Larissya. The book is about her struggle to survive and how she fits into the Legend of the Crystals. It was a fun book to write because it has lots of different races, characters, and monsters—all of which I got to make up. There is also a great deal of back-story I had to invent in order for the novel to be written properly. Although the crystals give Larissya powers, the powers are not without a price. At its core the book is about the characters, good and evil, and triumph and loss.

Love the name! So, what’s your writing process like?

Mike: I’m supposed to have a process? Dang!

Actually I do have a process—win! I write in Scrivener (which is a super cool application I’ve been using for years). I don’t edit much as I write, instead I keep notes in a ToDo file about things I’m going to fix later. Once I’m done with the first draft I do consistency checks on every character mentioned, fix my ToDos, and fix any typos or other problems I find as I go. I don’t typically go through and rewrite chapters very much. Once I think the manuscript is close enough to done I enlist my horde of Beta Readers to find any problems I didn’t see. Then once those changes are implemented (or mocked) I send my manuscript to my copy editor for final spelling and grammar checks. Once all of that is done and editorial changes are implemented, I’m ready to publish (I trained my cat to hit the publish button for me).

I really need to look more into Scrivener, especially now that it is available for Windows J

Okay, so, what do you do when you aren’t in the writing cave?

Mike: Saying I’m always busy would be a huge understatement. Besides writing fiction I am in a couple of bands (I have a recording studio in my basement [I don’t play live much but I do record and release CDs]). I also work full time, and have one wife and one kid (he’s 12). I like Mountain Biking through the woods and hills for exercise, but I don’t get out as much as I would like. I do a lot of social media things (have my own blog, participate in writing-oriented groups on Facebook, use twitter,…). I also read—on my Kindle 2—when possible.

Bands? Music… ohhh busy man. Love music, couldn’t write without it.

RG: What made you decide to self-publish your work?

Mike: I have a lot of reasons for self-publishing (a full list is in my book Traditional Publishing Is My Bitch!). The two main ones for me would be: control of my work, and time to market.

RG: Have you ever submitted your work to a traditional publisher? Would you consider doing so in the future?

Mike: I have submitted short stories to various magazines over the years (all rejected). But I wasn’t very diligent about it and the six month turnaround on responses wasn’t working for me. Many of the rejections concerned my stories not fitting properly into the little “genre boxes” that they had decided on. I got tired of being rejected because my fantasy story had a little SF in it (or vice-versa). The story IS the story. I’m not changing it to meet some arbitrary rule based on a business model that is obsolete.

RG: I think a lot of us have come to that conclusion. I know I have. J

RG: What has your experience of self-publishing been like so far? Would you recommend it to other writers?

Mike: I love it. I would recommend it to other writers. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s a lot of work. But there are a lot of positives: control of your work, ability to write in many genres, interaction with other indie writers, direct interaction with and feedback from readers. I’m not selling a ton of books, but I am selling books. That makes me smile.

RG: And that’s what matters. In the end we are selling books and selling the ones we WANT to write.

RG: What have your marketing strategies been so far? How successful were they? Any advice for new indie writers?

Mike: I’ve tried a lot of different strategies. Some of them have been more successful than others. My advice would be: produce the best book you can, get it edited, get a great cover, write a great blurb, and then advertise it intelligently (don’t piss off people with constant spamming).

RG: How would you respond to those who argue that self-published books are of inferior quality to traditionally-published ones?

Mike: There are a lot of terrible books out there. There always have been. Proper spelling and grammar doesn’t make a book good. Sel-publishing didn’t invent “terrible.”

Yes, I agree that the ease of self-publishing means that more books will be published that shouldn’t be. But it also means that more books will be published that deserve to be (even if they would have been rejected by traditional publishers). That’s a fair trade-off for me. It’s very rare that I have to read more than one page of a book to tell if it’s worth reading or not. The terrible stuff will be obvious.

RG: What type of genres do you like to write and read?

Mike: I used to mostly read just science fiction, fantasy, and horror. When I bought a kindle and started self-publishing, my reading list expanded into other genres. I don’t care much for formula books in any genre (mystery tends to have a lot like that) but I’ll read anything good.

I like writing in every single genre. I’m working on a Culinary Post-Apocalyptic Mystery with werewolves in it (just kidding). I mostly like writing science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I write the occasional parody or non-fiction piece, but fantasy and science fiction are my strength.

RG: Who is one of your favorite characters and which book and why do you like him/her?

Mike: I’m fond of a lot of Phillip K. Dick characters--because they are complex and flawed. I would pick Decker (best known as Harrison Ford in Bladerunner) who appeared in Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep if I could choose only one.

RG: If you could be any character from any book, who would it be?

Mike: Tough question. I usually say Elric from the Michael Moorcock novels. I definitely can’t pick a character that lives happily ever after. Today I think I’ll go with Seth from The Nature Of Personal Reality by Jane Roberts. He’s a non-corporal entity that realizes he’s a multidimensional being and speaks through Jane while she’s in a trance.

RG: Pantser or plotter?

Mike: I started out as 100% pantser and still do that on short stories. For longer work I now plot about 3 chapters ahead on each plot thread (although by “plot” I just mean jot down a sentence about the chapter on a 3x5 card in Scrivener).

RG: What is your favorite food?

Mike: Having spent 7 years in New Mexico I got hooked on spicy food. I love Mexican, Thai, Middle-Eastern, and Indian food. If I can only pick one I’ll pick Lamb Vindaloo. Yum.

Okay, that makes me want a taco now.. YUMMY!

RG: What is your favorite movie and movie hero/heroine?

Mike: It depends on the day. I have lots of favorites. Today I’ll say Bladerunner for movie, and Harold from Harold and Maude for hero.

RG: Is there a character you would love to be for a day?

Mike: Myself--although I don’t see that happening. Second choice: Neo (The Matrix).

Love Neo. He was made just right in my opinion.

You can find Mike at: Blog, Amazon Author Central and Smashwords

Hope everyone enjoyed the above interview, I know I did. Thanks for visiting Mike and here's to many days of writing, music and fun.

Happy reading and writing everyone!

Warm regards,

R.G. Porter

World Building: Breathing life into a story

2011-11-30T20:03:00.000-06:00

This is something that every writer/author has had to deal with. Many ask us what is our method, our thought process and how do we go about it. If you’ve ever read a fantasy novel, you know there are worlds that are created out of the author’s mind. It’s something I’ve thought about as I’ve written and read other works. How does one come up with the world they write in?

First, for me, I tend to watch everything around me. From the people that wander past, to their movements and body language, to the way they speak to each other. I try and get a feel for how I respond to questions and discussions, and how I would try and describe it to someone else. Most take daily interaction as part of life and do not look further into it. I take everything in. Some of my friends tend to think I’m quiet, and I can be, but most times I’m just taking in everything. I try and go over it in my head and pull it apart. Now take that to a different level.

When I am out and about I am still watching everything. (Not when I’m driving of course!) But when I’m walking around the store or outside my house and neighborhood I’m still jotting down what I see and making a mental note of it. Heck, there have been times when I’m at my son’s concert and it is a wealth of noises, sounds and sights. Learning how to see the world as more than just something that passes one by helps me, as a writer, become more adept at describing and building worlds based on reality. For instance. When I’m looking out my window during a storm (when we actually get them here in Texas) I think about the movement of the clouds, the texture, the colors and how they float in the sky. Taking in the strikes of lightning that arc across the sky and the resounding thunder as it cracks above. Pull that into a new world. Take the sounds, the visuals and twist them and see what comes about. An example is something that is going to be in one of my upcoming releases KEEPERS OF WATER.

In this novel I took that storm and transformed it into much more than just a life giving moment. This act of nature I’ve used as an instrument of destruction that sparks off the storyline. It is no longer the simple rainfall that drops to the ground, but storms of energy and lightning that ripple across the lands. It’s fierce and it is powerful, something that I was able to use my own experiences to manipulate it into something quite different.

This is just a small part of world building. Taking in everything we see, hear, feel, sense and using it to help formulate what works. From the lands and waters, to the mountains and forests. Knowing how they work and finding the right balance to make it real and then finding the best way to describe to you, the reader, so that you feel what we feel and see what we see. A true gift, and one I strive for, is to have you immersed in a world I create and see it through your mind’s eye as if it is real. That is the ultimate goal of world building, to make it as real to you, as it is to the characters that inhabit the new world.

Again, this is my way of doing it. I am sure every author has their own ways and steps they go through when creating the world of their books. None are wrong and only the person wielding the pen (or in my case keyboard) can know if what they tried to create really worked.

As always, happy reading and writing my friends.

War regards,

R.G. Porter

New release: Destiny's Light

2011-11-27T10:28:00.000-06:00

I'm proud to say, that my first novella is finally released. This is different than most of my other books, but still holds true with the fantasy genre. You can find this novella on sale for $1.49 at Amazon, B&N, Smashwords and AllRomance Ebooks.

Love’s Light

Love’s light, so strong and true;

The world of chaos surrounded the two;

Paths that crossed after searching lifetimes unseen;

Two hearts interwoven as fate has deemed;

Obstacles tossed to deter their progression;

Broken souls drawn together in an endless obsession;

Purity of their feelings they long to be together;

True love is their gift to be shared as one forever.

Blurb:

A wish to go back would unlock more than she expected…

For as long as Eutrepe could remember, the Muses had always been sent to help inspire mankind. She longed to go back again, but man had lost his faith. Centuries drifted by and Eutrepe was certain she would never walk among the humans again. The night Zeus summons her for a final task in the mortal world she jumps at the chance. It was a quest she was willing to take, that is, until the interference of a God and her memory is lost.

Ceris is a loner and musician. Stuck at an impasse with a song he needs to complete, but cannot, he wonders if the words will be locked inside his soul forever. Sure he will never release his thoughts, he ventures out into the night in hopes of some kind of inspiration. Never in his dreams did he expect it would come in the form of a woman with no memory who nearly dies at the hands of an oncoming car in the dead of night.

In order to reveal the song that fills Ceris' soul they must first unlock Euterpe’s past before it’s too late….

Their future is at stake, but first they must beat back the darkness before it time is up.

Excerpt:

Euterpe paced outside the great hall. She had done all she could to learn of the world of men. There had been great changes and she found that her amazement for the ingenuity of the mortals increased with each new thing she discovered. Still, she could not help but wonder where her quest was going to lead her. True, man had created wondrous inventions, but in another way, their creativity seemed to have dimmed over the ages. It broke her heart to know that so many had lost the ability to use their imagination. She knew it was there, hidden deep inside, but they had forgotten how to unlock it. Too much had been lost since the time of the gods.

“You may enter now, Euterpe. Zeus is ready to see you.” A deep voice she had not heard in years broke through her thoughts. Before the door to the inner chamber stood her uncle, his eyes held hers for a breath or two. Taller than she had remembered, his onyx eyes matched his black untamed hair. He was as stubborn as her father was, but held hardly any of the fairness Zeus possessed. No, he was usually out for only what benefited him, and most of the time, that did not bode well with anyone unlucky enough to be in his path. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she held her head high in defiance.

“Hades, what are you doing here?” She asked. The last she had heard, Zeus had forbidden him to come up to Olympus. Too many times, he had tried to overshadow Zeus with trickery. “If I remember right, you were told not to return.”

Hades’ hand held fast to his scepter. “That’s very cute niece, but unneeded, not to mention far from the truth. I came up here to speak with my brother. For as long as we have existed, I have never been forbidden to enter Olympus. I have chosen to remain below. You would do well to remember this.” There was a bite in his words she could not missed it.

Hades moved close, his mere presence sending chills across her skin. “I hope you aren’t issuing a threat, dear Uncle. I would hate to have to mention this to Zeus, or your wife. They would both be very disappointed.” Deep down, Euterpe wanted to push past him, but his body continued to fill the entryway.

His finger reached out and brushed the side of her cheek. “Dear Euterpe, we will have a long conversation one day about threats. I will explain them in depth to you, this, I promise.” Before she could counter him, Hades’ body burst into a dark mist evaporating before her eyes. Every encounter she had had with him always left her feeling out of sorts. He wasn’t evil, but he’d always known what to say, or do, to unnerve her and tonight was no different. Just his touch felt tainted with darkness.

“Don’t you hate when they get the last word?” Hestia’s voice warmed the area, dispelling the shadows that had crept in. It amazed her how light seemed to emanate from her every pore. Even her golden blonde hair glowed in the darkness of the clear night. How could they be brother and sister when they were such opposites?

Hope you enjoyed the blurb and excerpt. You can find this novella at the following locations.

Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR, Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks and Barnes & Noble

Happy writing and reading everyone!

Warm regards,

R.G. Porter

Winner of Cover contest: Micheal Rivers

2011-11-20T21:20:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, tonight I'm featuring Micheal Rivers, the winner of a cover contest. I must say, his cover was fantastic, so I'm not surprised he won. :) So, here's a bit about the elusive Michael.

Bio:

Micheal, born in 1953, is an American author. His writing genres include Fiction, Horror, Thriller and Paranormal. Micheal has been writing for several years. In the past he concentrated on Romantic Poetry. In recent years he has focused on writing Fiction and Paranormal stories.

His book titled "Ghosts of the North Carolina Shores" has been published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Micheal also published the eBook "The Black Witch" which is the first of a series on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Micheal has over thirty years of investigating and collecting stories of the paranormal. He is the lead investigator for the Smokey Mountain Ghost Trackers of Western North Carolina. www.facebook.com/SmokeyMtnGhostTrackers

He served his country as a United States Marine during Vietnam. He is a native North Carolinian. He lived in the Chicago area in the past and furthered his education there. He served the community as an Emergency Medical Technician while living there. Micheal currently resides in the mountains of North Carolina along with his wife and his Boxer he fondly calls Dee Dee.

Now, without further delay, here's the cover that won and a bit about it.

Blurb:

Edward Caulfield was not a simple man. Losing his wife early in their marriage he continued to live his life as a shrine to her. In his twilight years he encountered a troubled young woman. There were lessons to be learned from each other. With the spirit of his deceased wife by his side Edward Caulfield left behind a legacy in his words to ease a troubled heart.

You can purchase Micheal's books at the following locations.

The Black Witch: Amazon

Ghosts of the North Carolina Shores: Amazon

Moonlight on the Nantahala: Amazon
Feel free to link up with Michael at the following locations.

Micheal's Website and Blog

Hope you've enjoyed meeting Micheal and delving into some of his writing. I think his books look fantastic and will checking them out myself.

As always, happy reading and writing everyone!

Warm regards,

R.G. Porter

IWU Blog Tour Week of Nov 15th

2011-11-15T19:22:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone! I know I skipped a week, but we are back to our great blog tour of indie authors. Today I have the pleasure of having a fantastic writer with us. So, without further delay, let's get this party started.

Okay, so, pull a chair and introduce yourself to everyone.

My name is Athanasios. I’ve been interested in religion and entertainment in all its forms since I was a child. I’ve always been creative but in my earlier life I studied art and illustration. I was also always interested in storytelling and fantastic even horrific stories both mythic and contemporary fiction.

Very interesting. Mythical stories have always kept me enthralled. So, tell me about your book. Any tidbit is great to know. What inspired it, all that good stuff.

My story is Predatory Ethics, which began as Mad Gods in 1990. It’s about the duality of man and how most modern religions focus on our higher aspects and deny out baser instincts. Older faiths embraced both. Predatory Ethics was inspired and continues to be inspired by the world around us and our history both officially sanctioned in our text books from school and the alternate histories we all call conspiracy theories.

Oh, now that is very interesting. I used to take classes back in the day that discussed many of the old religions.

So, what is your writing process like? Do you jot things down or just tap away on the computer?

My process is as follows. I do the rough outline first, building the basic structure of the plot and character development with pen & paper. Then I write out the first draft following the outline but not too strictly, it’s used mostly for direction rather than a specific guide.

Sounds familiar. I started out with doing no outlines, but have since evolved to do more rough outlines for different storylines.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I currently work as a graphic/video artist in a dvd production house at Montreal, Quebec, Canada. My hobbies are very varied, from home renovation, to movie & television watching to martial arts and weight lifting. My pets are Fred the Yellow Lab, George the Main Coon cat, Charlotte the Tortoise Shell cat, & Ali the ???? cat.

Cat!! I adore the feline animals. I keep telling the hubby I want to get a full grown leopard one day. He keeps saying no. J

What made you decide to self-publish your work?

I tried to have it traditionally published but was a complete failure in getting anybody to publish my work. I still believed in my story so I decided to put it out there anyway. There are still times though that I feel I’m deluding myself that anybody wants would enjoy my stories but then I pick it up myself and am still compelled to read further, despite having written it.

That’s the best thing. In the end, one must believe in their own work if anyone else is to.

Have you ever submitted your work to a traditional publisher? Would you consider doing so in the future?

I have submitted to a traditional publisher and wouldn’t do so again unless I was asked to. I don’t need further rejection, I’ve had my fill of it.

I hear you there. Rejection is hard.

What has your experience of self-publishing been like so far? Would you recommend it to other writers?

I would recommend it to other authors. What have you got to lose? It costs nothing to do so and if you have a good work ethic all you have to do is keep putting out and doing anything and everything to promote your work. Just keep doing it. Not to be trite but: A thousand mile journey begins with a single step.

Great advice! Never give up people.

What have your marketing strategies been so far? How successful were they? Any advice for new indie writers?

My marketing strategies have borne little fruit, thus far. I believe my reasoning is sound though, do anything and everything that crosses your path. Don’t say no to anything if it’ll get you more exposure. There’s nothing and nobody who can stop somebody from self publishing their own work. The challenge is if they last long enough to gain an audience. That’ll only come with time and patience. If your work is good it’ll find a readership. It probably won’t be riches but who’s to say? If everybody believed the odds there would be nobody willing to gamble on themselves.

Very true. The more your name is circulated the better chance others will become interested.

How would you respond to those who argue that self-published books are of inferior quality to traditionally-published ones?

Taken on an author to author basis they’d probably be right. The only reason that is true is that there are exponentially more indie writers than traditional. Numbers alone will do that.

True, numbers are not on our side currently. Hopefully that will fade with time.

What type of genres do you like to write and read?

I like to read fantasy, horror, historical and documentary. I’ve only written in occult/horror.

That’s fantastic. I love the horror and fantasy, love watching documentaries though. Not really read any.

Who is one of your favorite characters and which book and why do you like him/her?

I don’t have a single favorite character, so I’ll cheat on this question. My two favorites are the main characters of Kostadino & Adam Paleologos. They are me, unadorned & in the raw. The only differences between myself, and an amalgamation of those two, are that I’m more physically imposing that either of them, and I like to work with my hands. I’ve got the scars to prove it.

Nothing wrong with having more than one favorite. J

If you could be any character from any book, who would it be?

Conan. The one in the Robert E Howard & L Sprague DeCamp books, not the poof in the movies. Conan the Cimmerian would’ve kicked those pansies asses.

Books tend to have more going for them, character wise, than any move can. I agree with you there.

What is your favorite food?

I don’t have a favorite, but I hate Vietnamese, not enough flavor. Blander than bland. Yuck.

Mad Gods:

The Antichrist lives. He is wanted dead or alive by Satanists, the Catholic Church and the Dark Nobility.

Kostadino must save him or let the world turn into hell on earth.

Amazon

Smashwords

Commitment

Adam watched Mad Gods drag his father to Hell.

Melusine Rothschild, Grande Dame of the Black Nobility wants to raise him. She is part of the World Elite that live by Predatory Ethics and seek to guide him in wielding the power and influence of his dark birthright.

Adam, the teenage Antichrist/AntiXos, wants none of this. He watches his TV shows in one of Danvers Mental Hospital's nice padded rooms, snugly dressed in his own long sleeved, buckled, canvas jacket. He feels safe here away from a hostile, ravaging outside world.

He's horribly wrong.

LINKS

Amazon

Smashwords

You can find Athanasios here:

Website and Blog

Thanks for joining us today Athanasios! It was great having you here.

Hope everyone enjoyed the read.

Happy writing and reading.

Warm regards,

R.G. Porter

TGIF and Happy 11/11/11 :)

2011-11-11T09:57:00.000-06:00

TGIF Everyone and Happy 11/11/11!!

Okay, so today I decided to give a nice big promo of my upcoming release: KISS OF THE WOLF. This is the second book in my Darkness Unleashed series and I had a blast writing it. The heroine's name is Kara and she is one spunky woman. She keeps the hero, Zachius, on his toes (among other things). I've included the synopsis and a short snippet from the novel. It will be released Nov. 15th. Enjoy everyone and hope you all have a very wonderful weekend!

Blurb:

A promise made is more than he’d bargained for…
Fiery and strong, Kara had always walked alone. Gifted with magick, she was a born healer, sent out by her people as her older sister had been to check on the village across the Baylo Sea, a burden shed gladly accepted. Had she known the danger that followed her or the man who’d save her would she have gone?

Sent to find Saleene’s sister, Zachius is plagued with the vision of the woman who haunts his dreams. A warrior and loner, he never imagined the woman he swore to save would indeed be the one from his dreams. His soul torn from his duty to protect Kara and the need to be near her clashing in his heart, he unsure which will win.

Can he save her from the evil before it’s too late….

or will he be the one needing to be saved…

Excerpt:

Kara moved through the darkness of the forest. Each step she took forward her stomach twisted into knots. Holding a small torch, she allowed the flickering flames to light her way. Low bending branches fanned above her as the moon glowed a shade of crimson. She knew the legends. Blood moons always foretold of death or danger. Her warning system was in agreement with it tonight. She hurried along the trail, her gaze darting back and forth along the path. A cool wind had begun to push through the forest, its caress light across her skin. Leaning her back against one of the old oak trees, her mind began to wander. Something was off, she was certain of it. Her internal warning system kicked in earlier, alerting her to the subtle disturbance in the air. It was as if the forest was changing, taking on a life of its own.

Sending her senses out in every direction, she waited. Turning to look up, she found a dark blanket of clouds had begun to move in. Shrouding the moonlight from the ground below, she wondered what else was at work. Her head spun back to the woodlands when she caught a flicker of movement.

“Oh no, gods please don’t.” A feeling of dread began to spread through the night like a web. Cocking her head to the side, she closed her eyes. She tried to listen for any sound of movement, anything that might give direction, but silence was all she found. Opening her eyes she found an opaque mist begin to swirl towards her. Its size increased with every breath she took. A shift in the fabric of the forest brushed against her and she knew it wasn’t for the better. Mist descended upon her, enveloping her small figure in a dense cocoon. It wasn’t nature, and the force of it drove the air from her lungs.

Kara closed her eyes. She needed to find the right sound. Her friends had disappeared ahead of her, but she knew they could not have gotten too far. Minutes later she heard them, walking and laughing, their voices growing more distant. She knew they didn’t feel the change in the area. Unaware of the danger, they never stopped. They continued into the darkness, their footsteps an echo on the wind. Above the canopy of the forest, two owls called out to her, their voices eerie in the silence of the night that surrounded her. Kara watched as they bolted skyward and out of sight. Their sudden departure, though, was a warning she was not about to dismiss. Something lurked in the shadows and it was hunting her friends. Looking around, she attempted to take in her surroundings, to memorize where she was and where the danger was headed. Every step she took forward, it felt as if some phantom was following her. No matter which route she took it was there, just out of sight. Shaking her head, she knew she needed to find her friends and get out of there before something bad happened. Turning to the left, she caught a flash of red. Whatever it was vanished before she could focus.

“This isn’t funny Gaaby, where are you guys?” She called out.

Deep down she knew her cries could not be heard. Gaaby and the others had gone too far ahead. She continued to sprint through the foliage, calling for her friends, hoping to hear some faint sound from up ahead. Each step forward drew a cold veil of foreboding across her. For as long as she could remember, she could sense when death was near. Tonight was no different, except the strength was more than she was used to. Falling to her knees, she clasped her hands against her head, trying to push out the calls of the souls. Dropping the torch to the ground, Kara allowed the warm glow of the light to illuminate where she was. Slowly the flicker of the flames began to spread across the area; the sudden light pushing the shadows back into the forest. Her eyes adjusted to the increase in light, a stifled cry lodged in her throat. In front of her lay her friend, her body convulsing as she gasped for air. Gaaby’s eyes, wide with fear, searedd in her mind. The agony on her friend’s face tore at her.

“Help...me...please...” Her words, mere broken whispers, were laced with terror. The ominous glow of the light flickered across her ashen skin, showing the seriousness of the injuries she had suffered. Crimson blood flowed from her wounds; the sight more than Kara could take. Pushing the state of her friend’s body from her mind, she moved forward. She needed to see if she could save her friend. Giving up on her was not an option. As she advanced, a movement behind her friend caught her attention.

The moment her gaze found the source of the disturbance, her stomach dropped. Time slowed to a crawl, as her vision took in what lay past Gaaby. There were so many dead, their bodies torn to pieces and tossed about the area as if garbage. Her eyes darted to the darkest part of the area. From within the shadows she found a pair of red-rimmed eyes staring back at her. A malevolent smile crossed its placid skin to reveal canine teeth protruding from its mouth. Such evil made her skin crawl. It shouldn’t exist, couldn’t exist in this peaceful place. That is what she had been brought up to believe. Yet, here in front of her, stood the spawn of evil. All around her lay the bodies of her dead companions, their cries echoing through her mind. She moved to cover her ears from their cries, but it would do no good since the cries do not echo on the wind, but inside her head. The screams of ghost that now surrounded her.

“No.” Her whispered denial fell on the ears of the dead. Staring at her enemy, she refused to back down. It was pure evil. The stench of death emanated for its very pores. Wave after wave of emotions washed across her, the force of them knocking her to her knees. Desperate to wade through the onslaught of emotions she had captured from her friends, Kara tried to reach Gaaby, to save at least one soul. As she inched closer to the still figure of her friend, the ghoul’s talon-like fingers laced around Gaaby’s fragile neck and pulled her limp body into the shadows and away from the light. A soft crack of bone being broken drifted on the wind and back to Kara.

“No! You can’t have her.” Anger pulsed through Kara like a wild storm. She threw her cries out into the night. Come hell or death she would not leave her friends here.

Frantic to retrieve their bodies, Kara reached deep inside and called upon the elements to help her. Jumping back onto her feet she moved towards the darkness. Like a lion on the prowl, she allowed the wind to bring her news of the direction her friend had been taken. It didn’t take long before she got the answer she sought. Inch by inch she approached the place she knew the ghoul had gone. Her heart began to beat harder in her chest the closer she got. Desperate to find her, and her enemy, her eyes raked the area for any hint of movement. She still had no idea why it had chosen this place and this night to attack. Questions, without answers, continued to assault her mind. Pushing them to the side, she focused her mind on finding Gaaby. In the distance, a blood-curdling scream echoed in the silence of the forest. The sound sent the animals of the forest running. Above her the owl had returned, its call of death impossible to miss.

“No, it can’t be.”

Racing ahead, she found downed branches and scorched earth. There were small patches of clothing and hair on the ground, her mind trying to register everything she saw. Through another bush and around the bend she came to a dead stop.

“Gaaby!” Kara cried out into the night. Though in her heart she knew her friend was dead, she continued to move in the direction of the scream. Cobwebs and branches whipped against her skin as she continued forward. Refusing to allow her fear to keep her at bay, she continued ahead, stubbornness running thick in her veins. She prayed she could at least retrieve the broken shell of her friend, to take her lifeless body back to their village for a proper burial. As she pushed through the thick underbrush, Kara found herself face to face with the very thing that had killed her friends, its mouth curled in a snarl. Deep crimson blood dripped down its chin. Startled to see the creature so close, she fell and landed on her back. Kara’s hand moved to block the outreaching of the ghoul’s fingers, her skin crawling at the slimy touch of its hand.

“Dumb mortal, you should have stayed away.” Its voice slithered across her skin like a thousand snakes.

Hope you enjoyed the excerpt everyone. Here's to a wonderful and happy weekend of reading and writing!

Warm regards,

R.G. Porter

Excerpt Sunday!

2011-11-06T17:15:00.000-06:00

Okay, so Friday was chaotic and Saturday was bonfire day, which made getting my excerpt out impossible. :) So, without further ado, here's an excerpt from my current release. Shades of Night.

His heart stopped at the truth in her words. Alex’s simple answer provided more questions than it answered. The fact she’d heard them and not read them in some book worried him. Someone had to have given her the incantation. It wasn’t common knowledge even in his world. His head began to pound with all the possibilities of who could have provided the binding words to her. So engrossed in his thoughts he barely felt Alex move away from him.

“Don’t go, Alex. This is far from over.” His words were harsher than he’d planned - he found that he didn’t want her to leave him. Not till he explained exactly what she’d done. “I need to tell you what the words you said mean. It’s important.”

“I don’t think it matters at this point. You’re alive and I’ll figure out the rest.”

She was closing herself off to him. It’s not what he’d wanted and he had to make sure she didn’t pull too far away. Not with sundown only an hour or so away.

“Alex… Please, listen to me. This is important. There is more to what you said than you think.” He softened his voice as much as he could. He watched as she nibbled on her lower lip in uncertainty, her mind searching for the right path to take. Relief swept through him the moment she sat back down on the bed, her legs curled up to her chest.

“Okay, fine. Explain to me what I said last night and how it differs from what I thought I was saying?”

Her defenses were up and that didn’t bode well for what he was about to tell her. Yet, he owed her the truth, regardless of what she thought about it after the fact. “True, what you said last night was a blessing of sorts. If you’d died, I wouldn’t have been branded a murderer, at least not in my world.” The vision of Alex’s ashen face flickered in his mind, his heart heavy at the knowledge he’d almost killed her.

“Okay, but there is something you are still not telling me. Out with it, Krys. If there is one thing I don’t like, it’s secrets. I’ve had my share of them in this lifetime.”

Krystoff shifted his weight. His chest felt as if a vice had secured on his heart, threatening to squeeze the life from his body. The innocent he’d taken, her life, was more than enough to condemn him to death. “Those words were a binding, Alex.”

If he had known better, he could have sworn all life had drained from her with those few words. She pulled her knees further into her chest, her head leaning down against her kneecaps. He had not wanted this. Not for Alex and not for him.

“Binding… What kind of binding?”

Her words were so quiet he barely caught them. She was scared and he couldn’t blame her.

“Alex, don’t.”

“No, Krys. You started this conversation now finish it. What kind of binding were they?”

He couldn’t miss the small edge of power in her words. He knew she didn’t realize it as of yet but she was already starting to change. A part of him actually felt anxious to have her in his world. At the same time, he owed her the full truth.

A deep breath in and he returned his gaze back to hers. Such innocence in her gaze it broke his heart. “When said by someone who is giving up their life for another, it offers their life to the other’s safekeeping. If that person saves their life, they are forever bound together, in this world and any others.” He didn’t want to tell her that rarely was the ritual done as most never fully understood the extent of the binding. He had a feeling neither did Alex.

“So… You’re saying we are bound together for all time?”

Her words held steel in them he’d not expected. She was putting up a barrier and not wanting to let him in. That small action hit him like a ton of bricks. “Alex. This is not something I take lightly, believe me.”

True, the moment he had realized what she had done a part of him had wanted nothing more than to hold her forever in his arms, but her reaction to the result frustrated him.

“I’m glad you don’t take it lightly. Now find a way to reverse it. I am not bound to anyone.”

Krystoff watched with guarded emotions as Alex stood up and began to pace. He knew her mind was working through the words she’d spoken, trying to find a loophole she could use. He also knew there was none.

“Alex, sit down and stop pacing. You’re going to wear a hole in your floor.”

You can find Shades of Night at the following outlets:
Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble , Smashwords and AllRomance Ebooks

Hope you enjoyed the snippit.

Happy reading and writing everyone!

R.G. Porter