Kimberly Shursen Shares the Prologue from HUSH @KimberlyShursen #AmReading #Thriller #TBR

-Prologue-
June 21, 1997 

Thirteen-year-old Ben Grable stared out the window of his father’s car. He wished he could close his eyes and be somewhere—anywhere else—just not on the way to the nursing home.He hated today.

Every Sunday, his father dragged him to visit his grandmother. Two years ago, the woman who had laughed at all of his jokes, baked him chocolate chip cookies, and played Chutes and Ladders with him growing up was given a death sentence. It wasn’t fair to his Nana or the people who watched her die an inch at a time.

“Come on, son,” his father said when he parked his car in the lot. “Put on that smile your Nana loves to see.”

The one-story, all-brick building sat on an acreage surrounded by pine trees. The scene was serene, but the moment Ben stepped inside, the smell of urine and decay was overwhelming.

Old people with crinkled faces and withered hands who had shrunk to a portion of their original height sat in chairs lined against the wall saying nothing. Nothing. The years had sucked the life and voices out of them. Nursing assistants offered cookies and a smile along with a pat on the patients’ decomposing backs and told them it was a beautiful day. What did they care if the sun was shining or a tornado was about to sweep them away? Every moment of each day was the same. Pain. Loneliness. Humiliation. And fading memories of who they once were.

“Nana?” Ben said, and walked to the elderly woman sitting in a wheel chair that faced the window. Even before he reached her, he noticed the spastic movements of her hands and head were worse. He bent down next to her in the room the size of his closet, a crucifix hanging on one wall.

Her tired, puffy eyes stared at him, and Ben’s heart sank when he realized she didn’t recognize him. He could have been Batman or a poodle, and she wouldn’t have known the difference.

After a few minutes of trying to understand what she was saying, Ben turned to his father. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

His father gave him an understanding nod.

He’d wandered down the hallway, blinking back tears of anger and pain. Angry that his grandmother was never going to get better and the pain of knowing he’d already lost her.

On the other side of the nursing home, he spotted another set of double doors. Staring inside, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

Babies, children, and young adults filled the long, narrow hallway; some lay flat on their backs on bare mattresses, their heads rolling back and forth in slow-motion succession. Others traipsed the floor mindlessly with unblinking, glazed eyes, their backs hunched over. Heads too large for their bodies—slanted eyes, some missing limbs, a couple with wide, open gashes in their upper lips. Where did these monsters come from, and why were they here?

Nurses changed diapers, or knelt beside mats and held baby bottles for children who looked as old, or older, than Ben. Long, guttural moans and helpless cries filtered through the doors, the smell of feces was disgusting.

He jumped when he felt something touch his shoulder.

“Sad, isn’t it?” a young nurse said.

“What’s wrong with them?” Ben asked, tasting his own sour bile.

She shrugged her shoulders. “Different things. Most were born this way, and their parents just couldn’t take care of them.”

“Why are they here? In a nursing home?”

“Part of the building is for a nursing home and”—she nodded to the other side the window—“this part is controlled by the state. There are so many nursing homes for old people and not enough institutions for people like this that a few months ago we started taking in the overflow.”

“Will they ever get better? Go home?”

The nurse shook her head. “I’m afraid not. This is the only life they’ll ever know.”

When he looked back through the windowed door, he gasped and jumped back. On the other side of the window, only inches away from his face, a pair of eyes pleaded with Ben for help.

“It’s okay. They won’t hurt you,” the nurse told him.

Ben shook his head back and forth slowly, tears welling in his eyes. He turned and raced through the halls toward the front door of the building. The face on the other side of the door burned into his memory—the bulging, watery eyes, the slobbering drool running down the glass, the hopeless and far-away look of misfortune and doom.

Heart racing, his temples throbbing, he was going to vomit. Breathless when he reached his father’s car, he found it locked. Panicked, he pulled at the handle over and over. “Open, please, open!” he sobbed uncontrollably.

He turned, leaned back against the door, and slowly sank to the concrete. If his friends saw him, they’d call him a sissy-boy. It didn’t matter. Those things, those sad, awful looking creatures weren’t human. His parents had always told him that all of God’s children were created equally. But it wasn’t true.

He brought his knees up to his chest and covered his tear-streaked face with his hands, trying hard to get the images out of his mind.

It just wasn’t true.

Soon after Ann Ferguson and Ben Grable marry, and Ben unseals his adoption papers, their perfect life together is torn apart, sending the couple to opposite sides of the courtroom.

Representing Ann, lawyer Michael J. McConaughey (Mac) feels this is the case that could have far-reaching, judicial effects -- the one he's been waiting for.

Opposing counsel knows this high profile case happens just once in a lifetime.

And when the silent protest known as HUSH sweeps the nation, making international news, the CEO of one of the top ten pharmaceutical companies in the world plots to derail the trial that could cost his company billions.

Critically acclaimed literary thriller HUSH not only questions one of the most controversial laws that has divided the nation for over four decades, but captures a story of the far-reaching ties of family that surpasses time and distance.

*** Hush does not have political or religious content. The story is built around the emotions and thoughts of two people who differ in their beliefs.

 EDITORIAL REVIEW: "Suspenseful and well-researched, this action-packed legal thriller will take readers on a journey through the trials and tribulations of one of the most controversial subjects in society today."

Katie French author of "The Breeders," "The Believer's," and "Eyes Ever To The Sky."

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Genre – Thriller

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://www.kimberlyshursen.com/

Lori Lesko Asks Why Writers Put Themselves Through Torture @LeskoLori #SelfPub #AmWriting #TBR

Inside the Mind of the Author

Why do writers put themselves through such torture? We get an idea for a book and we’re off to the races with it! This is it! I know this one will be my breakthrough novel. I’ll win every award there is to win. Movie producers will call me endlessly to option my book and make it into a screenplay. Move over J. K. Rowling, there’s a new writer in town.

Yeah, right. The truth is, unless you’re a genius or have been writing since you were a child, that’s not going to happen. It takes a lot of time and effort to transform an idea into a novel. The idea is only the beginning of the journey.

“For a commercial airliner to even consider hiring you as a pilot, you’ll need to have logged approximately 3,000 hours of total flight time, including at least 1,500 hours in a multi-jet engine, and at least 1,000 hours as pilot in command of a turbine powered aircraft. These are just the minimum requirements, and anyone that’s ever been up in a single engine plane will tell you that an hour in the air takes much more effort (and money) than an hour at the keyboard.” ~ The Write Practice

I heard recently that writing anything, short-story, screenplay or novel can be compared to the letter U This made sense to me. You start at the top of the U with your incredible idea. Guns are blazing and your first couples of chapters fly off the keyboard. Yeah, this one will be great! Then, you hit the bottom of the U and you realize you should have done more planning.

The bottom of the U is where most beginning writers quit. I did in my novel COPYRIGHT. I didn’t quit because I ran out of steam, although that happened to me as well, no I simply wrote myself into a corner and found a flaw staring right at me. Mocking me, saying stupid woman, when are you ever going to learn? You can’t be a writer. You have neither the skills nor the time to follow this through. Give it all up! So I did. I told everyone I quit and wished them well. My Facebook lit up like crazy!!!!  Everyone demanded me to continue. Take a walk, take a break. They told me I was smart enough to find a way through.

Now, I’m on the other side of the U. I can see the light of the end of the tunnel. I know how it will end, and I owe it all to my friends and fellow writers. Here is my favorite quote from www.writerswrite.co.za “A novel usually takes me about two years. A year to research and plan and dream. Then a year to write.” ~ Rose Tremain.  If that’s true, I have a bit more time and so do you! Keep calling out for your Muse and she will appear. If you’re really desperate and ready to quit, give me a shout and I’ll tell my Muse to drop in on you till you’re feeling better.

Amber Tyler is living every author’s dream: her books are all best sellers and she writes full time. She has worked hard and is well-accomplished in her career, and she has the support and love of her beautiful children and girlfriend. 

But the dream soon turns into a terrible nightmare when her latest manuscript is stolen. She decides to fight for what is rightfully hers, only to find that the harder she tries, the easier it all slips through her fingers, putting her career, her family, and her life in jeopardy.

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Genre – Thriller

Rating – PG-13

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Into the Mind of #Author @MarcADiGiacomo & His Small Town Series #Thriller #AmReading

Beware! Enter at your own risk. Just kidding, really, come on, authors are just like everyone else, right? Maybe. Since I published my second book, people still look at me the same although, I am much more recognizable to my hometown crowd. I constantly get asked, “Is that part true?”

There is a concern as to how people view me since my books are so graphic in nature. There is a lot of violence, as police work can occasionally be. Mostly, I feel for my wife, especially when she gets asked about the sex scenes within the books. People assume that is part of your real life when in reality, these situations are complete fiction. An author can fantasize about anything and incorporate those thoughts into a working manuscript. It happens to me all the time. I’ll meet someone or hear something and boom, it’s in the book. Of course, I change it all up to protect identities but most people would kill to be portrayed within the pages of a novel. It’s a cool thing, like being an extra in a movie.

I don’t know exactly how I come up with the stuff I do, I guess I’m lucky in one way, I have good material. I just hope, the well doesn’t dry up anytime soon. Because if it does, I’ll have to take this job on the road.

The small town of Hutchville, New York is turned upside down. No longer is it the quaint, sleepy, suburb of New York City. Detective Matt Longo is back on the job and embroiled in his latest nightmare. Further complicating matters is the revelation of his partner’s corruption and organized crime ties; Donny Mello has left a bitter trail of lies and deceit. With his kid brother and newly promoted Detective Franny Longo by his side, will Matt be able to put his past behind him?

Special Agent Cynthia Shyler, (F.B.I.) has been reassigned due to her meeting with Matt Longo. Will this move complicate their relationship? Or will a new stranger in town spin a web that entangles the entire Hutchville Police Department, especially our most seasoned detective, Matt Longo?

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Genre – Thriller

Rating – R

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4* for Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro @biagiotrader #ReviewShare #Economy #Thriller

Zero Alternative by Luca Pesaro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first impression was - Even from the beginning there was more than one surprise in this well-written story. Scott Walker is a different kind of hero who offers the reader a fascinating read.

As I got to the middle, I felt - It's not the case of usual suspects and as the mystery thickens, Scott Walker does whatever it takes to survive. "History is full of people and institutions that grew to positions of supremacy only to come crashing down." This quote pretty much sums up Scott Walker and anyone who has been through an economy crisis realises the severity of the situation on an individual or a company.

As I neared the end, I thought - Many chapters in the book reminded me of the TV series "Damages" where everyone has something to hide. The ending is not a cliffhanger but was open ended enough to insinuate another Scott Walker book.

My final impression and recommendations - I liked it very much but the secondary characters did not always make sense. Definitely worth reading.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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FATAL GREED #Excerpt by John W. Mefford @JWMefford #Suspense #Thriller

The visit had been all too brief, abrupt even, but Karina Silva squeezed her brown eyes shut and hugged the pillow against her curled-up, naked body. She took in a slow breath and caught a waft of black orchid and amber, tantalizing scents from the perfume she’d recently given to the one and only person who’d captured her heart—wholly, completely.

This evening was supposed to have been special.

She shuffled her feet under the thousand-count, white, cotton sheets, which soothed her feeling of loneliness. Clutching the down pillow against her chest, the thirty-something editor of the Times Herald turned over and took notice of the elaborate burgundy-and-gold pattern on the paneled drapes, fashionably clinging to the plush carpet.

The soft, green glow of the clock radio illuminated the room inside the swankiest boutique hotel in the ’burbs—albeit a full county away from her home base. But it had to be that way, considering she had succumbed to an unavoidable attraction that had clawed at her moral compass ever since she gazed across the green lawn at her husband’s client-appreciation party and locked eyes with her future soul mate. It was a moment she would never forget. A rush of emotion had engulfed her body, as a realization set in as to who she really was. The true Karina.

A smattering of distant car horns could be heard six floors below, but Karina glared off to the darkened corner of the room, recalling the sparkle of her lover’s blue eyes and the resulting flutter of her own heart. Karina had peered into those eyes and had found more feeling, more depth, more of a bond than she’d ever thought possible with another human being.

Her friend, her lover of the last three months, had arrived at the hotel two hours prior, and after a single embrace and two warm kisses, it ended before it really began. A familiar jingle had interrupted their intimate moment, noting the arrival of a new text on her lover’s phone. Karina never saw the words, but the response told her their rendezvous was over. Rigid movement, an instant detached demeanor, and a quick explanation about an emergency at work, followed by the sound of the door clicking shut, had left Karina alone in a king-sized sleigh bed.

A feeling of emptiness crept back into her conscience, a tiny seed of doubt sprouting inside her gut. Could this life-altering affair be nothing more than a one-sided mirage? She couldn’t keep her journalistic instincts from attempting to connect dots. She recalled every possible aversion of her lover’s eyes, each word of affirmation that may not have been as sincere and heartfelt as the previous.

And now this.

Behind the façade of every corporate takeover executives pull levers this way and that, squeezing the last profitable nickel out of the deal. But no one knows the true intent of every so-called merger. 

No one knows the secret bonds that exist. 

An Indian technology giant swallows up another private company that has deep roots in North Texas. For one unassuming man the thought of layoffs, of losing his own job to a bunch of arrogant assholes feels like a kick to the jewels. 

Until the day Michael’s life changes forever.   

Perverse alliances. An affair of the heart. A grisly murder. A spiraling string of events thrusts Michael into a life-or-death fight to save a tortured soul and hunt down a brutal killer…one who lurks closer than he ever imagined. 

Greed knows no boundaries.

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Genre – Suspense, Thriller

Rating – R

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Website http://www.johnwmefford.com

Practical Writing Advice for #Fiction Writers from @Stone_Rik #SelfPub #WriteTip

The truth of the matter is a full length manuscript is nothing more than an expanded short story. And a short story is a blown up account of something that interested you over coffee, or in a pub, or a musing on the way to work, a joke, an anecdote, a newspaper article, an idea of what you might have done if you’d won the latest lottery (we’ve all been there). The source is endless. But whatever it is you come up with, it should have a beginning, middle and an ending. Obvious maybe, but having a complete idea of what you want before putting pen to paper is important.

The Story: A writer formulates a tale from a basic idea and helps it grow; no one sees every word, line, or chapter of their text in the preamble of thought. At some point it might take on a life of its own where you feel your hand is merely being guided, but that can’t happen until you’ve made a start. Write your idea down in its simplest form. As I said, it needs a beginning, middle and an ending. Beginning; Tom falls for Mary and she likes him too. But Mary is seeing a boy called Harry. Middle: Harry is a bully and Mary has been afraid to break up with him for as long as she can remember. Tom is no hero but feels compelled to be with Mary. Ending: Tom is forced to stand up to Harry. Things go wrong; Harry gives Tom a good thrashing. But this gives Mary the strength to dump Harry and go off into the sunset with Tom… Not a blockbuster in the making, I’m sure, but you can see where I’m going. Those few short sentences provide a skeleton to put flesh on. Now you have your own idea written down, think about it before going further. It’s better to rearrange the bare bones before you have to start pulling flesh out the way to get at them.

Research: Okay, the words flowed, your ideas were brilliant – but were they accurate? Unless you’re writing something like Sci-fi or fantasy there is a high probability that your narrative will incorporate real events – make sure what you write is correct else the reader will lose belief in your ability: try to use more than one source to verify your work.

Patience equals quality: You finish your tale, great, you’re excited, the world of readers must see it, and they must see it now. Nope! From my own standing, you must complete at least 4 drafts – up to you, but that’s my unwritten rule. Done it, good, but you’re not finished. The work should be edited by a pro, and that even goes for the pro editor who writes; it is too easy to overlook your own mistakes. You’ve got it back from your editor – rewrite. Do not look at it and say they were wrong. They might be, but their interpretation is how they understood your written word, so if they didn’t get what you meant then you probably didn’t make it clear. Accept the criticism, that’s what you paid for.

Finished: Not yet, you’ve rewritten the book and you love it. It couldn’t be better. So how come it isn’t finished? Well, it might be, but you’ve just messed about with work that has been professionally edited and the quality might have taken a dip. Pay out to have it copy-edited/proof read. The few extra pennies you spend will be worth it.

Done it all? Great, you’re finished – good luck with the next steps.

Set against the backdrop of Soviet, post-war Russia, Birth of an Assassin follows the transformation of Jez Kornfeld from wide-eyed recruit to avenging outlaw. Amidst a murky underworld of flesh-trafficking, prostitution and institutionalized corruption, the elite Jewish soldier is thrown into a world where nothing is what it seems, nobody can be trusted, and everything can be violently torn from him.

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Genre - Thriller, Crime, Suspense

Rating – R

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Website http://rik-stone.simdif.com

5* for Wicked Greed by John W. Mefford @JWMefford #Thriller #Suspense #SummerofGreed

Wicked Greed by John W. Mefford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My first impression was - You know some thriller books that start with a bang and then go all over the place and you’re not quite sure what is happening. This is nothing like that. The introduction for Wicked Greed had a slower pace in comparison to Lethal Greed but oh how it made me sit up and wonder where this was going. It was the movie Seven coming to life from a whole new perspective.

As I got to the middle, I felt - The greed of flesh and lust seemed the most prominent in Wicked Greed. If we crave it and we have it and then keep going back for more in any shape or form, how do we snap out of it? Mefford’s writing style is the same as with the other books. Concise yet he pulls the reader in with powerful imagery.

As I neared the end, I thought - There is no logical explanation to how these people act, the possibilities of human behaviour in its wildest form made this book an entertaining read. Some scenes are not for the faint hearted and I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a twist.

My final impression and recommendations - Very well-written and it is a topic, plot twist that many readers will be able to relate. Highly entertaining. Highly recommended.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.



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5* for The Kramski Case (Tales of Mi7) by J.J. Ward @MI7Ward #Thriller #ReviewShare

The Kramski Case by J.J. Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My first impression was - Books with introductions like these can easily give someone a heart attack. There I was thinking pretentious, okay, dialogue, bla di bla bla and then BANG. For those who have followed Ludlum’s Bourne series, you will have high expectations of books that have anything familiar. I assure this book will not disappoint.

As I got to the middle I felt - It is fast-paced, developed with a sense of style and intent so you know everyone’s going to end up somewhere and all that secrecy of the MI7. Excellent plot. Theme execution was well done and the concept of espionage was consistent throughout the book.

As I neared the end, I thought - A slight tinge of James Bond appears on and off. In Skyfall when you see and M and Bond develop a sense of trust when she trusts him above everyone else, I felt that in this book as well.

“MI7 isn’t a holiday camp. If she can’t cope with the army, what’s our interest in her?”

“We both know we’re the opposite of the army. We train individuals to accentuate their individuality. The army’s about corporateness.”

My final impression and recommendations - Overall, this is one of those rare novels that is unique, totally engrossing, cleverly plotted and keeps you hooked until the very last word. Highly recommended.

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.

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@KellenBurden on 'The Old Man & the Sea' #AmReading #Mystery #Thriller

Q. What book genre of books do you adore?

A. As an adolescent and into my teens I used to love reading Zombie books and Aliens or Predator novelizations. Anything that was an adaptation of a movie that I loved. They were easy to digest and really kept me engrossed in a time when there was a lot of competition for my attention. Now I’ll read almost anything.

Q. What book should everybody read at least once?

A. The Old Man and the Sea. It’s brutal and cruel and the essence of us.

Q. Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?

A. I grew up in a small town in California, near the water. I loved the water and I’d surf in the ocean and stare out at the horizon and watch the sun set and let the waves thump me into the sand. I still love the water. My town became too small though and it became clear that there was nowhere for me to go in it. Not if I wanted to do the things that I wanted to do. I moved to Denver, Colorado with my girlfriend and we rented a room in a beautiful brick building off one of the most infamous streets in the Denver Metro area. 

I got a job doing Undercover Loss Prevention work for grocery stores in the area and in the process I met the people who would become the characters in my book. I got in fights in the snow in parking lots over kit kat bars, and wrote in my backyard while our chickens pecked for worms and learned and learned and learned. When it was time for me to leave again I did. I went back to California and from there to Portland OR, where I joined the Army National Guard and finished my book. My new job as an investigator promoted me and moved me to Washington, which is where I live now.

Q. How did you develop your writing?

A. It took my whole life. I’m still developing it. In every terrible, ridiculous thing that I write there’s a lesson. If I pay attention, the next thing is less terrible and ridiculous.

Q. Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?

A. My family and friends are my everything. They aren’t support of, so much as they carry me. I would be nowhere without them.

Q. What other jobs have you had in your life?

A. I’ve been everywhere from golf cart attendant to private investigator, shoplifter fighter, I was even a rock climbing instructor for a year.   

Q. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

A. I really love the city that I’m in. Seattle is a beautiful city and I really love the feel of the Northwest area. But there will always be a place in my heart for Denver.

Q. Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?
A. I would like to thank my girlfriend for putting up with me talking about nothing but this ridiculous book for a year of our lives. My parents for supporting me in all of my insane endeavors.

Q. Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?

A. A successful career in writing, to me, is like anything people can be successful in. Me, happy with what I’ve done.

 

Sebastian Parks is drowning in a flood of his own creation. Dishonorably discharged from the Army, he's wracked with night terrors and an anger that he can't abate. Unemployable and uninterested in anything resembling a normal job, Parks makes his living in fugitive apprehension, finding wanted felons on Facebook and thumping them into custody with his ex-military buddies John Harkin and Eric "Etch" Echevarria. When the body of a teenage Muslim boy is found in front of a downtown Denver nightclub Parks, Harkin and Etch are called on to do what they do best: Find bad men and make them pay. 

First-time author Kellen Burden serves up edgy humor, brutal action and characters you can't get enough of. Flash Bang will keep you turning pages until the end.

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Genre – Thriller, Mystery

Rating – R

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Night's Favour #Excerpt by Richard Parry - #GoodReads #Action #Fantasy

Val felt like he’d been hit by a car.

Curling over the bowl, he retched again, hands shaking.  He didn’t remember waking up; he didn’t remember getting home, or what might have happened after his tenth beer last night.  He hoped it was only a night — he had a big meeting with the boss this morning.

It wouldn’t be the first time he’d lost days of time down the bottom of a bottle.

“Get your shit together, Val.”  He spat into the bowl, bracing himself on the edge of the porcelain.  Standing up shakily, he felt the nausea rise and curled back over, retching again.  He failed to get his tie out of the way this time, and it came back out of the bowl covered in —

How in God’s name was he wearing a tie?  He didn’t even have any pants.

He tried standing again, this time managing to get to his feet.  Holding himself up on the walls of the toilet, he controlled the shuddering, awful urge to throw up.  He spat into the bowl again then hit the flush button.

Slowly — and quietly — he made his way out of the toilet and into the bathroom.  He caught a glimpse of stubble in the mirror on the wall and felt confident it was only a night gone.  Maybe if he could just get in to the office before nine — God, what time is it now? — it’d be ok.

He pulled back the mirror, his fleshy reflection pushed aside as he exposed a collection of white bottles set against a backdrop of tired cardboard boxes, tubes of expired ointment, and half-empty boxes of Band-Aids.  The bulk box of store-brand acetaminophen came away disturbingly light — I bought that just last week — and he tossed the empty hundred box to the ground, hand trembling towards the Pentazine.  Expensive gold, he dry-swallowed four of the tabs.  Motion sickness be damned; the drug would take the edge off wanting to throw up his feet.  He chased it with some ibuprofen, a generic brand in a white box of fifty.

He started up a good lather to get rid of the stubble.  It was then he noticed that his left arm’s shirt sleeve was missing, ripped off by the looks of it.  The shirt wasn’t in great shape overall; it had that creaseless arrogance that only came with being rained on.  The sleeve was missing from the elbow down, give or take, the frayed end of a blue thread trailing to wrist level.  He’d been lying in a pool of good Merlot unless he missed his guess, the sleeve and side of the shirt a gentle pink.  The thought of Merlot almost made him heave the pills back up, so he stripped off the shirt and let it drop to the floor alongside the empty box.  If he just left all that crap there Baitan would sort it out later.

His belly wasn’t an admirable sight, the booze and the desk job leaving their toll, the flab hanging out over his underwear.  John kept nagging him like an old woman, saying he needed to get back to the gym, do some exercise.  There was time for that later — it was important to get more drugs, and maybe shave, if he was going to get to work today.

Focus, Val.

Valentine’s an ordinary guy with ordinary problems. His boss is an asshole. He’s an alcoholic. And he’s getting that middle age spread just a bit too early. One night — the one night he can’t remember — changes everything. What happened at the popular downtown bar, The Elephant Blues? Why is Biomne, the largest pharmaceutical company in the world, so interested in him — and the virus he carries? How is he getting stronger, faster, and more fit? And what’s the connection between Valentine and the criminally insane Russian, Volk?

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Genre – Action, Thriller, Urban Fantasy

Rating – R16

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 Connect with Richard Parry on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://www.rage.net.nz

DOUBT (Among Us) by Anne-Rae Vasquez @Write2Film #Paranormal #Thriller #YA

Zero: “Shadow is on his way to bring you to Graphix. Saw your text about Shadow. Sorry but you are going to work with him whether you like it or not. I won’t change the mission instructions.”

Cristal looked down at her watch. She had been standing outside the Global Nation’s building for thirty minutes.What was taking Kerim so long?

Before she started texting Harry to find out if he had heard from Kerim, she heard an engine roar from a distance. She looked up and saw Kerim, aka Shadow, dressed in a leather jacket and black jeans riding into the Global Nation’s parking lot on his black and yellow Ducati.

He slowed down and stopped his bike in front of her. He removed his black helmet to reveal his dark wavy hair, slicked back against his head. He pushed his sunglasses on top of his head, his grey steel eyes shining against the sunlight.

He waved for her to climb onto his bike and handed her an extra helmet. Really? He wants me to ride that thing? She paused for a moment before placing the helmet on. Kerim motioned with his head for her to climb on. Is he serious? Am I one of his fan girls?

She refused to budge, standing with her arms crossed in front of her.

“Come on, get on,” he said.

Still, she didn’t move.

Finally, he reached out his hand, waiting for her to grab it. She paused for a second, pushed it away, and climbed on the bike by herself.

“Hold tight, Cristal,” he called back to her as he started the engine.

Mmm, I love his sexy accent. She glanced around. Where did that come from? Focus on the mission.

Cristal leaned closer to him but tried not to hold too tight. No need to give him the wrong impression. She closed her eyes as the motorcycle started moving, the sound of the motor roaring underneath her. The bike sped through the streets, but she dared not open her eyes. Her heart was pounding hard; her knees felt weak, and her head was spinning inside the heaviness of the helmet. If I’d known he was going to pick me up on a motorcycle, I could have taken a cab, she thought to herself.

Cristal had never felt comfortable in enclosed places, partly due to her fears of having an asthma attack. As a child, her father had not wanted her to rely on a puffer. Instead, he had trained her to control her breathing when she felt an oncoming attack. Unfortunately, this was hard to do now with a helmet on her head.

After what felt like a roller-coaster ride, she noticed that the engine had stopped and opened her eyes. She took in her surroundings and realized that they were parked in front of Gabriel’s apartment building.

She let go of Kerim and slowly got off the bike. He climbed off and removed his helmet. Her legs felt like rubber bands beneath her. She swayed off balance. Kerim grabbed her by the waist with one arm. She felt her stomach squirm. Get this helmet off. I can’t breathe!

As if hearing her thoughts, Kerim reached over with his other hand, unsnapped the strap under her chin and gently removed the helmet before tying it to his bike. The cool air caressed her cheeks. She took deep breaths, drinking in the oxygen. Kerim’s other arm was still wrapped tight around her waist. Once her head was cleared, she glanced up at him.

This close, she was able to see that his skin was a smooth olive color; his nose perfectly straight and Romanesque, and his grin was mischievous but playful.

She removed his arm off her waist and firmly pushed him aside. He stepped back, letting her pass. She didn’t know why she was so irritated by him being there. Yes, he was extremely attractive but that was a superficial asset. And yet, she always seemed to be drawn to the Christian Bale or Johnny Depp rebellious type of guys. Just like her chocolate ice cream addiction, she knew she had to stay away from bad boys, even if they were delicious desserts. She felt herself blush and hoped Kerim hadn’t noticed.

Do you love shows like J.J. Abrams’ Fringe and read books like Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones?

“Doubt” mashes fringe science, corporate espionage and paranormal encounters to catapult you into an out-of-this-world experience.

At 21 years old, Harry and Cristal are fresh out of university with their PhD’s. Labeled all their lives as being ‘weird’ and ‘geeky’, they find true friendships with other outcasts by playing online virtual reality games.

Harry Doubt, a genius programmer and creator of the popular online game ‘Truth Seekers’, has a personal mission of his own; to find his mother who went mysteriously missing while volunteering on a peacekeeping mission in Palestine. His gaming friends and followers inadvertently join in helping him find her; believing that they are on missions to find out what has happened to their own missing loved ones. During Harry’s missions, Cristal and the team of ‘Truth Seekers’ stumble upon things that make them doubt the reality of their own lives. As they get closer to the truth, they realize that there are spiritual forces among them both good and evil, but in learning this, they activate a chain of events that start the beginning of the ‘end of the world’ as they know it.

Doubt is Book 1 of the Among Us Trilogy. Among Us is a book series which delves into the world of the supernatural and how it intersects with the everyday lives of seemingly ordinary young people as catastrophic events on earth lead to the end of times. Among Us weaves the theme of a young man and woman, who while not fully understanding their ‘abilities’, are drawn together in their desire to find out the truth about the world they live in which is similar to themes used in J.J. Abrams’ TV shows Fringe and Lost.

What readers have to say…

As a big fan of the show Fringe, this book appealed to me tremendously. The writing was well done, and the way the “supernatural” forces were introduced was great.

A good, clean read for any age.

It was an excellent story that I’m sure both adult and teen urban fantasy fans will enjoy. You don’t have to be a gamer or know one to identify with the characters. They’re very well developed and definitely feel like people. I would definitely recommend it to a friend and I’m really looking forward to the second book.

…the novel is written in such a languid style, it moves on effortlessly and absorbs the reader into the story completely. Although the story itself revolves around the online gaming industry, one does not have to have an in depth knowledge as it is ably explained and discussed within the plot line.

OMGosh! I just finished reading “Doubt” INCREDIBLE! I couldn’t put it down.

˃˃˃ >>> Depth and Substance mashed up with Fringe Science. Will entertain young and old alike.

This book is intended for mature young adults and new adults. Ages 16 to 45 +

˃˃˃ >>Inspired by real Truth Seekers Aaron Swartz and Harry Fear

The main character Harry Doubt was inspired by Aaron Swartz, internet prodigy and activist, co-founder of the Creative Commons and Reddit, and Harry Fear, journalist, documentary filmmaker and activist whose coverage of the conflict in the Middle East was seen on UStream by millions of viewers.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Young Adult, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Thriller

Rating – G

More details about the author

Connect with Anne-Rae Vasquez on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://amongus.ca