Write Stuff: April 2013

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Celebrating the release of WITCH HEARTS by Liz Long

WITCH HEARTS by Liz Long LIVE on Amazon!

To my friends and readers: Thanking you is the first thing on my list. Writers do it for the readers and I am so excited to introduce this new story to you. For the fellow authors, the book bloggers, the Twitter friends, and support groups in my writing life, know that we're in this together and I couldn't do it without you. I am so honored you joined me for this fun ride.

I am proud to say that my second title WITCH HEARTS is now LIVE on Amazon for paperback ($8.99) and your Kindle ($2.99).

Witch Hearts is an adult paranormal thriller meant for those who liked to be a little creeped out and also enjoy a murder mystery. Touted as a "Criminal Minds" meets "Charmed" story, Witch Hearts contains three of Liz's favorite things: Magic, Murder, and Mystery.

Below you'll find the cover and blurb, as well as a bit about Liz Long plus a special excerpt not available anywhere else.

Witch Hearts Synopsis:

How does a witch stay safe if a killer can get through her protection spells?

Witches like Ruby and Courtney can take care of themselves. So when Courtney is murdered, Ruby’s world crashes to a halt. The only thing keeping her grounded is the return of Courtney’s brother, Cooper. He seeks revenge, but Ruby wants to help other witches stay alive. To do that, she’ll have to reunite with her old coven’s High Priest, who also happens to be her cheating ex-boyfriend.

If that wasn’t awkward enough, when the killer gets too close, Cooper temporarily moves into Ruby’s place while a police officer tails her every move. Cooper’s presence distracts Ruby as they fight their desire against their need to stay safe. Then Courtney begins to haunt Ruby’s dreams and secrets are spilled, things from Cooper’s past that could get them both killed. The killer continues to stalk Ruby and the more she discovers, the more she fears she won’t be able to keep her heart in her chest.

Excerpt:

Cooper and Ruby hopped on his bike and drove back to her place. She even managed to peek out from beneath her helmet to see the city whip past her in a blur. When they finally came to a stop, she untangled herself from him - albeit a tad regretful about it - and handed him back the helmet.

“Thanks again for everything tonight. I know it wasn’t the most fun you could have, but I want everyone to be safe,” she said.

“I understand. I’m glad I went, too. I don’t want anyone else in danger. Plus, you’re good company.” He stood up as he said it, hooking the helmets on his bike.

“You don’t have walk me in or anything. I don’t want to keep you any longer than you need.”

He snorted. “You’re not keeping me from anything. I want to do it, but especially because I want to make sure you’re safe.”

Ruby bit her bottom lip. Her nerves fluttered a bit at the thought of a possible goodnight kiss. She could hardly believe how immature she sounded in her head.

It’s your best friend’s brother. This is Cooper we’re talking about, a voice in her head screamed at her.

Another voice spoke up. Yeah. It’s Cooper. And your thoughts about him have never been exactly brotherly.

Shaking both voices away, she swiped her key fob by the entrance door and Cooper held it open for her. They took the stairs up to the second floor and walked around the corner to her apartment. Ruby stopped as soon as she saw her door.

“Something’s wrong,” she said.

“What? How can you tell?” He looked up and down the hallway.

“There was a barrier when I left. Remember I checked, put my hand on the door when we left? My spell was in place.”

“There was a soft glow on the door,” he said absentmindedly, as though remembering. His eyes narrowed and Ruby could see his veins throb in his neck as his jaw tightened.

“Only witches would be able to see it, but it’s not there.” Ruby took a few steps forward, placing her hand on the door, which was now simply cool and wooden. She retrieved her key and turned the lock, but Cooper stopped her.

“I’ll go in first.”

He swung the door wide open; he held his hands up in case of a fight or a spell, but silence greeted them. Cooper did a quick sweep of the apartment while Ruby waited in the entryway. He returned with Aziza in one arm and a letter in his hand.

“This was on your coffee table,” he said grimly. “Aziza was hiding behind the couch. She hissed until she realized it was me.”

Ruby took the note from him. As she opened it, Cooper stood beside her to read over her shoulder.

“Not all witches are equal. Some are born with extraordinary gifts; anyone can practice, but few are truly powerful. You are one of the lucky ones, Ruby. I apologize about your friend Courtney. She was powerful, but nowhere near your capabilities. I’m afraid that in order for my powers to thrive, yours must come to an end. I’ll be seeing you very soon. -X”

About the Author:

Liz Long is lucky enough to have a dream career in magazine publishing as an editor and writer, yet still have time to create adventures on the side. If you catch her staring off into space or talking to herself, don’t worry – it’s just her imagination at work.

Liz graduated from Longwood University with a BA in English, though her professors might be disappointed to hear she reads more fantasy fiction than literary novels. She also loves action and thriller genres. This book probably won’t change your life, but she hopes it steals you away from reality for a while.

Her first book, Gifted, A Donovan Circus Novel, is about a murder at a supernatural circus, and is available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback. (To celebrate the release of her new book, Gifted is FREE on Amazon for Kindle from April 30 - May 2, so grab your copy now!)

To learn more about Liz, visit her website: http://lizclong.com

After Reading: GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers

By: Meradeth Houston on 3:00 AM

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart? (GoodReads)

Have I mentioned just how much I love historical fiction lately? Because, honestly, one of the biggest reasons I went into anthropology was because I loved getting sucked into the past in a good book :) And this one totally fit the bill. I enjoyed the detailed and perfectly set up work that LaFevers set up. It was just, well, awesome. I loved the nunnery, the old gods, the intrigue. It was amazing. There was a ton of politics and people to keep track of, which I'll admit get rather confusing at times, but overall I enjoyed this one lots! Looking forward to book #2!

Have you read this one? Do you enjoy historicals?

Don't forget that this is still going on!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Chemistry of Fate is in the wild!

By: Meradeth Houston on 3:30 AM

It's finally here! Chemistry is available for purchase in all formats from my publisher and iBooks and I'll post the other links when they go live :) Woot--now on AMAZON!

(Minor authorial confession for the day: I'm torn between doing little happy-dancing moves down the hallway a-la Tom Cruise sliding in socks in Risky Business, and totally freaking out and hiding under my desk. Don't know why, but there, I admitted it!)

Anyhoot, how about a giveaway to celebrate? You know I'm always game for that :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And thanks SO much to everyone who shared my image-quotes around the web! If you're looking for an easy way to earn some entries for the rafflecopter, there are four images on the previous posts that would be perfect! And that also enters you for the journals :) I'll leave that open through tonight, m'k?

“They are everywhere, can be anyone, and are always the last person you’d expect.”

When Tom stumbles across his grandfather’s journal, he’s convinced the old man was crazier than he thought. The book contains references to beings called the Sary, immortals who are assigned to save humans on the verge of suicide. They certainly aren’t allowed to fall in love with mortals. Which the journal claims Tom’s grandfather did, resulting in his expulsion from the Sary. As strange as the journal seems, Tom can’t get the stories out of his head; especially when he finds the photo of his grandfather’s wings.

Tom’s only distraction is Ari, the girl he studies with for their chemistry class.

Ari has one goal when she arrives in town: see how much Tom knows about the Sary and neutralize the situation. This isn’t a normal job, but protecting the secrecy of the Sary is vital. If Tom is a threat to exposing the Sary to the public, fate has a way of taking care of the situation, usually ending with the mortal’s death. While Ari spends time with Tom, he becomes more than just an assignment, but how far can a relationship go when she can’t tell him who she really is? When she finds out just how much Tom actually knows about the Sary, Ari is forced to choose between her wings, and her heart.

THE CHEMISTRY OF FATE is a companion to COLORS LIKE MEMORIES and is set before the latter takes place.

This is definitely cause for some celebration, and thanks so Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for the awesome weekly hop!

Final Teaser from THE CHEMISTRY OF FATE (with Giveaway!)

By: Meradeth Houston on 6:30 AM

Just what does that photo of Tom's grandfather show? You can find out TOMORROW! (Eeep! Seriously attempting to keep from freaking out here!)

So, share this pretty and let me know in the comments for some pretty journals, and if you're feeling up to it, today is the last day to PRE-ORDER Chemistry for 20% off, so check it out :)

Thanks so much to everyone who has helped me out so far. It means the world to me!!!

More Options for Giveaway Entries!

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Okay, I know, I'm going to stop doing these. Soon. Promise :) I do find them rather fun though! Same rules apply--share the image on the web and earn an entry to win some super cute journals!

Tuesday Teaser from The Chemistry of Fate

By: Meradeth Houston on 6:27 AM

Just a bit of a teaser from Chemistry :) Tom and Ari are a little awkward on their first official non-study date. Poor Tom, he's totally in over his head with Ari!

Same rules apply as yesterday, and sharing more than once does enter you more than once for one of these lovelies:

And of course, more info on Chemistry at GoodReads, and pre-order here!

The Chemistry of Fate releases on Friday (GIVEAWAY included!)

By: Meradeth Houston on 6:22 AM

There's a moment in every author's life when they wake up and realize that their book releases in less than a week. This moment has the tendency to induce massive amounts of panic :) And excitement. And prayers that people will like it. Anyhow, for those of you interested, THE CHEMISTRY OF FATE will release on Friday. Yay! You can read more about the book on GoodReads (and feel free to add it, if you're game!).

You can also pre-order it from my publisher for 20% off here. (Might as well go whole hog on the promo stuff in one post, right? :)

So, the thing about Chemistry is there's a journal at the heart of the story. I'll admit, I addicted to journaling and do so every night. It's my way to make peace with the day. When I came across these adorable journals, I thought there couldn't be a better way to gear up for my release than to give a few away:

How to enter? It's simple: just share the Chemistry image above anywhere on the web and leave me a link in the comments :) I'll be making more of these little quote-images throughout the week and sharing those will enter you, too. Contest ends Friday. Questions--just shout them out in the comments!

Query Dissection for An Absence of Light

By: Meradeth Houston on 1:54 PM

The fabulous Daisy Carter (who you simply should follow, and now on twitter too!) has continued to be her most awesome self and help me with wrangling my query for my wip, An Absence of Light, into shape. Check out her wise words here! And if you have a query or opening you want looked at with her eagle eye, she's great!

Okay, so based on what Daisy had to say, I've taken another stab at my query :) What do you all think?

Fleeing with bloody hands and stolen BMW, Leah must escape murder charges for a crime committed by shadow creatures only she can see. One thing will get her to stop running: making sure they don’t kill again.

Leah has spent her whole life trying to figure out why she alone can see the shadows and how they influence humans to commit rape, murder, and other horrible crimes. Penniless and running from the cops, she stumbles onto a small group of people who can also see the shadows and have learned how to kill them. When they offer her shelter, she jumps at the chance to fight back against the creatures. The shadow-hunter, Adam, makes the opportunity even sweeter. Together the group pieces together that the shadows are from another world and are just beginning their invasion. In order to stop them Leah will have to risk her life, and the lives of the hunters, to keep the world from being lost to darkness.

AN ABSENCE OF LIGHT is a New Adult light Sci-Fi, complete at 80,000 words. I believe it will appeal to fans of Julie Cross’ Tempest series. My novels, Colors Like Memories and The Chemistry of Fate, were released through MuseItUp Publishing. I can be found online at www.MeradethHouston.com.

Source: iiiinspired.blogspot.de via Meradeth on Pinterest

After Reading: INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows

By: Meradeth Houston on 7:20 AM

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life. (GoodReads)

I picked this book up seriously anticipating a series I'd love. I mean, it pretty much has all the elements that attract me: reincarnation, romance, some awesome fantasy. And while I really enjoyed it, there just felt like something was missing. In thinking about it more, I realized that it was the world-building that felt a little flat. The concepts behind a society made up of people who have lived over and over together for so long is amazing, but the descriptions of things, and way things were ordered, well, I felt like there wasn't enough description or emphasis to understand it clearly. How I thought of it while reading was kind of like being in a fog: there's buildings and structures there, but they're not clear, nor is it possible to feel like they're fully formed to understand them well. Despite that, Ana was an interesting character and Sam was awesome. I'll probably pick up the next book to check out what happens, but this didn't quite make it to the top of my list.

Anyone else read this one? What did you think? Does the world-building effect you while reading?

The Final Angel Chronicles Book: A PRIVILEGE

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

A Privilege:

The Angel Chronicles, Book 3

The beloved Angel/Warrior team face pure evil in their final climactic story!

The first time they were sent down, Irish lives were led. Emily, the angel, ended up embedded in murder and lost in the realm of true love. While Matthew, the warrior, took over a life that left blood on his hands and anger in his soul.

With their second coming, Emily found herself facing an oncoming war that brought her to the shores of America. While Matthew tried desperately to unveil the evil character of a young man who was intent on locking his partner in a ‘gilded’ cage.

Now...Emily and Matthew find that their lives are all their own. Yet, all the memories, hatred, longing and regret have come hand-in-hand with this newfound freedom.

In small town U.S.A., Matthew finds himself loving his new life. From his military school existence to a new, ‘odd’ friend who’s arrived in town, Matthew’s looking forward to graduation and heading off into a brilliant future with Emily by his side.

Emily wants nothing more than to hide. Although doing her best to fit in, she lives a life on the edge, wondering when her past love with reappear to either forgive or seek revenge on the angel who let him down. Battling the shadows that seem to be breaking her soul in two, Emily soon discovers that her small, quiet town has a secret that’s beyond dangerous...

As she and Matthew join forces to help a ‘haunted’ victim, they open the door on a mystery neither of them can believe. A true villain has returned from the past, and not even their heavenly family will be able to save them. This time they’re on their own, as they face a fight that could lead them straight to Hell…and end the angel/warrior team forever.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7AT7GY?tag=tributebooks-20" target="_blank">Kindle

* Nook * iBookstore

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* Google * PDF

Excerpt

Without a word, Matthew reached out, took Emily by the hand and pulled her down beside him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “I knew my Emily was still in there.”

Out of the blue, the room became incredibly hot, as if Gabriel had entered in order to give a lesson to his favorite students. “What?”

“That spark.” He pulled Emily’s face closer before she could push herself away. “You’ve been acting all this time like you’re just here to sit and wait it out until you’re lucky enough to go Home. But you’re still in there, Emily. You still have all that energy and belief in there and you want to do something. That’s the partner I know.”

Shaking her head, Emily listened to her own breathing intensify as she stared at his full lips and wondered why she felt so completely and utterly strange...vulnerable even. “I want to help this girl. This is a job, maybe my only job down here. She saw a ghost and she wants me to help her out, that’s all.”

“And you will.” Matthew captured Emily’s lips, and she could no longer feel the breath in her lungs. Completely different than the one kiss they’d shared up above so long ago, this one was far more demanding, as if Matthew was a young man determined to kiss his human love for the very first time.

Sitting back, Emily practically jumped off the bed.

“I’m sorry,” she heard him whisper behind her. “I guess I was just excited to see you again.”

Not trusting her voice, she remained silent.

“We have jobs, but we also have a life to live. Our own lives this time around. Maybe you should think about adding that into your angelic plans.” Matthew continued softly, “Jason isn’t here, Emily.”

The name being said out loud sent a chill down Emily’s spine. It reminded her of the vow she’d made a long time ago—a vow that an angel couldn’t break.

She cleared her throat. “It doesn’t matter if he’s here. We were sent to do a job, and maybe helping this little girl prove her story is what I need to begin.”

Standing up, Matthew looked as if he was a man who wanted nothing more than to turn back the clock and erase the name he’d spoken aloud. He walked to the open window. “Well, I hope the job goes well. Good luck with it.”

“Matthew,” Emily took a step toward him. “Don’t leave like this.”

He nodded at the book on the bed. “You have your mission, Emily...your job. Ghosts, goblins, lost souls—knock yourself out.” He took a deep breath. “I wonder when you’re going to figure out that the living souls around you would like some of your attention as well.”

Closing her eyes, Emily shed silent tears as she heard his feet hit the ground beneath her window. A friend, a partner, the one who actually listened, was now just an angry young man racing back to The Armory—a place where warriors reigned.

Emily sighed. She’d done it again. No matter how hard she tried to be good, her mouth always got her into trouble. She needed Matthew to understand. She’d made a promise to a young man a long time ago; a promise that was supposed to last for eternity. How was she to know at the time that their eternity would include death by her hand?

Had the second time around broken their vow? Emily had no idea. But whatever happened she could not and would not offer Matthew her heart if payment was still due for her past sins. Above all, Matthew was the last person who deserved to be punished for her mistakes.

Author Amy Lignor

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Books 1 and 2 are now 99 cents on Kindle!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After Reading: VORTEX by Julie Cross

By: Meradeth Houston on 3:30 AM

Julie Cross's Vortex is the thrilling second installment of the Tempest series, in which the world hangs in the balance as a lovelorn Jackson must choose who to save
Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, after an accidental run in with Holly—the girl he altered history to save—Jackson is once again reminded of what he's lost. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents not only find themselves under attack, but Jackson begins to discover that the world around him has changed and someone knows about his erased relationship with Holly, putting both their lives at risk all over again. (GoodReads)

Have I mentioned that I love this series? Yeah, totally digging this one! (My review of Tempest, the first book.) So, now we're dealing with Jackson (who is, clearly, swoon-worthy, let's just be honest about it) and his attempts to fit together everything he's changed through messing with timelines. It's fast-paced, has a few new characters who rock, though I totally missed Adam and the normal Holly... I did find myself getting a little tripped up by some of the technical aspects of the changes/timelines/abilities that were going on and I'm not 100% sure I fully understand it all, though I was able to follow along with the story no problem. The ending left me reeling and I swear waiting until 2014 to catch the rest of this is going to be a long wait!

Who's read this one? Did you like it? How about the older characters--this is classic New Adult--what did you think?

And, if you're at all interested in helping me out with my blog tour (May 13-31st), let me know? Pretty please with sugar on top? :)

Interview with Tammy Lowe, author of THE ACADIAN SECRET

By: Meradeth Houston on 3:30 AM

I have another awesome author here with me today, with a great sounding novel you should all check out! (And, yes, I'm still in spotty web connection land, so I do apologize if I've dropped off the map!)

Elisabeth London is keeping her new friends a secret from her parents. Not only do they live on the other side of the world in the Scottish Highlands, they lived more than three hundred and fifty years ago. Her mom and dad would never allow her to go gallivanting about seventeenth century Scotland. They won’t even let her go to the mall by herself yet.

Twelve-year-old Elisabeth is old enough to know there is no such thing as magic, but when her quartz crystal necklace has the power to transport her back and forth in time, she no longer knows what to think. The only thing she is certain of is that she loves spending carefree days with Quinton, the mischievous nephew of a highland warrior, and sassy little Fiona, a farmer’s daughter.

However, Elisabeth’s adventures take a deadly turn when she is charged with witchcraft. At a time and place in history when witch-hunts were common, those found guilty were executed, children included. Elisabeth must race to find her way back home, while trying to stay one step ahead of the witch-hunter determined to see her burned at the stake.

Hi Meradeth,

Thanks for having me on your blog.

(Q) I think it’s pretty safe to say that most writers love reading. What are some of the books that influenced you the most? Anything you’d like to recommend?

I have always loved historical fiction. As a kid, I loved to read books (and watch shows) like Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables. Those types of novels inspired me in every way possible.

I loved anything set in the “olden days”. When I was about ten years old, I began to wonder about time travel. My biggest wish was that I’d end up back in the pioneer era. I wanted to go and hang out with spoiled Nellie Olsen. I don’t remember why I wished for Nellie over Laura Ingalls, but I think it had something to do with the fact that her parents owned the candy shop.

I had it all figured out. I didn’t want to live in the 18th or 19th century; I’d miss my family too much. And I can’t live without modern comforts. I wanted the freedom to travel back and forth through time.

My wish to time travel was so strong; I even dressed the part, as much as I could, without raising anyone’s suspicions. I wore dresses to school every day, when all my friends wore jeans and t-shirts. I had to be prepared just in case it worked and I was whisked through time. That summer, I even begged my mom to buy me a bonnet. She did. I wore that white bonnet everywhere. If I ended up in Walnut Grove or Avonlea, I was prepared.

By the sixth grade I was old enough to realize that time travel probably wasn’t going to be a reality for me, so I decided when I grew up, I’d write a story about a girl who could travel back and forth through time.

(Q) What is your favorite part of the writing process? What about it makes you love it?

My favourite part is the editing and revision process. That seems to be when all the magic happens.

(Q) What’s your biggest pet-peeve when it comes to the writing world? Does anything get under your skin and itch?

I find the whole writing and publishing world fascinating. I am still trying to take it all in and learn as much as I can. No pet peeves yet, but I’m an eternal optimist.

(Q) If you could meet any writer, living or dead, and pick their brain over coffee/tea/hot-chocolate, who would it be? What would be your first question?

Can I pick three? Pretty please?

I would enjoy a spot of tea with the Charlotte Bronte. I’d share a bottle of wine with Jane Austen. And, with Lucy Maud Montgomery…a tumbler full of raspberry cordial, of course!

I’d ask Miss Bronte who the inspiration for Mr. Rochester was. *swoon*

I’d ask Miss Austen if she thought Persuasion was her best work. It’s my favourite. Yes, over Pride and Prejudice. I know, I know.

And with dear Miss Montgomery…I don’t know. I would be speechless. I’d probably sit and stare at her in awe.

Such wonderful answers! Don't you just love that pic of Tammy in the bonnet? So cool! Here's a bit more about this fabulous author:

Bio:

When she isn't writing, you will either find Tammy Lowe surrounded by little children and covered in glitter and glue, or on some grand adventure: inside an Egyptian pyramid, twirling on an Alp or climbing the Great Wall of China. She's part Mary Poppins, part Indiana Jones.

Tammy lives in Cambridge, Ontario with her husband and their teenage son.

You can find her at www.tammylowe.com

Guest Post with SS Hampton Sr, author of INTIMATE JOURNEYS

By: Meradeth Houston on 3:30 AM

I have a great post for you all today! Be sure to chime in with comments :) (I promise I'll respond to them all once I'm back in the land of net!)

I Am a Writer

I have wanted to be a writer, a teller of stories, since I was 15 years old. I enjoy the writing process, from the first idea to the outline, research, the initial draft and the editing. Okay, I don’t enjoy editing that much, but it is nice to see awkward sentences become smoother, and lukewarm words become powerful. When the story is ready I send it off to my publisher. Once it is accepted, I am joined by an editor and a cover artist—all three of us strive to turn my original story into something wonderful (and sellable).

That being said, I remain amazed, and proud, to be part of a magical process that began around prehistoric campfires. Perhaps some of those early storytellers also ventured into deep caves to paint the cave art in France and Spain that amazes and awes us today. Most likely we will never know when nameless storytellers first told stories of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, nor who was the first who later inscribed his adventures in cuneiform on clay tablets. Neither will we know who told the first stories of Jason and the Argonauts and their search for the Golden Fleece, or of Helen of Sparta who became Helen of Troy.

By the way, African and Asian storytelling is just as ancient and imaginative. I know very little of their literary traditions which is why I do not reference their stories.

The reverse of the coin is that there is something within us that wants to hear these stories or to read them. The question then is, “Why?” Is it simply a desire for entertainment, to escape a hum-drum life for another momentary world of great magical adventures or of great love and romance? Or perhaps a momentary universe of star ships speeding past nebulas we can only glimpse in photographs, to orbit distant worlds and encounter alien civilizations.

Writer and reader—we seem to be made for each other.

It has always been that way, whether prehistoric men and women gathered around a campfire under a starry sky, or Egyptian families listening to an aged patriarch, or Achaeans gathered around a flaming hearth in a great hall. It continues today.

The famous World War II European Theater cartoonist Bill Mauldin once wrote, “Soldiers are avid readers: some because they like to read and others because there is nothing else to do…Half the magazines carry serial stories, which are a pain in the neck to the guys who start them and can’t finish them as the magazines pass from hand to hand” (Up Front, 18, W.W. Norton & Company). To underscore the point, Mauldin drew a cartoon of his famous characters Willie and Joe relaxing among building ruins and reading a story, “…so Archibald kissed her agin an’ gently put her head on th’ pillow. She gazed at him wit’ half-shut eyes—tremblin’ hard—don’t forget to buy next week’s installment at yer newsstand” (Up Front, 19, W.W. Norton & Company).

Yes, just as Soldiers are great tourists, they are great readers. When I was deployed to northern Kuwait with a SECFOR battalion (2006-2007), we often received boxes from organizations and individuals filled with books and magazines. I and the other mail clerks put them on a table on the front porch of the company HQ and the Soldiers helped themselves. It didn’t take long for most of the boxes to be emptied.

(We also received goodie boxes filled with candy and other odds and ends, including small stuffed animals—I won’t go into how many combat hardened Soldiers who engaged Iraqi insurgents in numerous gunfights and who survived IEDs, claimed those stuffed animals, nor will I admit to grabbing a few for myself, which my grandchildren claimed for their own upon my return home.)

Well, enough rambling, I suppose. My point is—as writers, whether horror, science fiction, fantasy, erotica, military fiction, YA, MG, New Adult, whatever, we follow in a rich literary tradition that began around prehistoric campfires.

Go ahead, look in the mirror, look yourself in the eye and say, “I am a writer.”

~~~A little about INTIMATE JOURNEYS~~~

Intimate Journeys Anthology, Melange Books, February 2012.

ISBN: 978-1-61235-332-6

BLURB: Every journey through life is an intimate journey simply because it is someone’s personal journey. Sometimes the journey is like being alone in a small boat the mercy of wild ocean currents, and sometimes the journey is like being part of a crew in a strong ship with billowing, wind-filled sails…

EXCERPT: The wintry night of New Year’s Eve 1899 was filled with excitement, hope, and wonder. The world was leaving the 19th century behind and entering the 20th century and no one could guess what wonders the new century offered.

Except Caleb Winston could care less. He was a heavyset man with a thick gray beard and mustache, and long gray hair slicked back over his head. As he sat in his favorite office chair brought from Fort Abraham Lincoln to the newly built home in New York, he let out a sorrowful sigh.

“It’s time to retire,” Abigail, his wife of thirty-six years, and his grown children had reminded him for several years until he gave in.

It was with a heavy and sometimes resentful heart that he turned over the operation of his sutler stores, convenience stores that served the soldiers in their far-flung forts, the local civilian population, and sometimes the Indians, to a long-time and trusted employee. He had two stores each in Montana, Wyoming and Arizona, and a pair of Indian trading posts in Wyoming and Arizona. Before he retired, management was usually conducted by mail and telegraph, though he sometimes visited his distant stores and posts. Though he was no longer a young man he enjoyed the travel.

At last, he and Abigail packed up their home and moved east that last spring of the 19th century; Abigail was ecstatic as their three children and their families lived within walking distance of their new home.

Yet, settling into a comfortable retirement was difficult. Caleb missed the vast wildness of the west with its beautiful snowy, forested mountains, isolated mountain valleys, full rushing rivers, and grassy prairies that extended to the edge of the world. During his travels he sometimes felt that he was watching a hard, yet pristine world, vanishing before the onslaught of endless settlers and a growing, yet mystifying technology. Future generations would never know the West as he had known it.

His resentment and unhappiness wasn’t only due to leaving a beloved life and world behind, but a realization that he was old. His health wasn’t the best and he sometimes felt his path in life was becoming narrower and darker, as if he was entering a deep sunless gorge that he would never leave…

The Ledger

http://www.melange-books.com/authors/sshampton/intimatejourneys.html

SS Hampton, Sr. is a full-blood Choctaw of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, a divorced grandfather to 13 wonderful grandchildren, a published photographer and photojournalist, and a member of the Military Writers Society of America. He is a serving member of the Army National Guard with the rank of staff sergeant, with prior service in the active duty Army (1974-1985), the Army Individual Ready Reserve (1985-1995) (mobilized for the Persian Gulf War), and enlisted in the Army National Guard in October 2004, after which he was mobilized for Federal active duty for almost three years. Hampton is a veteran of Operations Noble Eagle (2004-2006) and Iraqi Freedom (2006-2007). His writings have appeared as stand-alone stories and in anthologies from Dark Opus Press, Edge Science Fiction & Fantasy, Melange Books, Musa Publishing, MuseItUp Publishing, Ravenous Romance, and as stand-alone stories in Horror Bound Magazine, Ruthie’s Club, Lucrezia Magazine, The Harrow, and River Walk Journal, among others. Second career goals include becoming a painter and studying for a degree in photography and anthropology—hopefully to someday work in and photograph underwater archaeology. After 12 years of brown desert in the Southwest and overseas, he misses the Rocky Mountains, yellow aspens in the fall, running rivers, and a warm fireplace during snowy winters. As of December 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Hampton officially became a homeless Iraq War veteran.

Melange Books

http://www.melange-books.com/authors/sshampton/index.html

Musa Publishing

http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=50

MuseItUp Publishing

http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=514&category_id=60&manufacturer_id=249&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Amazon.com Author Page

http://www.amazon.com/SS-Hampton-Sr/e/B00BJ9EVKQ

Amazon.com. UK Author Page

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SS-Hampton-Sr/e/B00BJ9EVKQ

Goodreads Author Page
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6888342.S_S_Hampton_Sr_