Beginning of Arrogance by Bryan Cole

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Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I’ve had a deep love for the fantasy genre for as long as I can remember. My formative years were spent reading the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy and watching movies like Willow and the Dark Crystal. These examples of the fantasy genre formed an indelible impression in my imagination of epic fantasy, of knights standing on the battlements facing a dragon, of magic and the terrifying beauty it brings to the story. Science Fiction is a potential future we are all moving toward and is fascinating because of what might be. Fantasy is pure imagination of a world that never was and makes for more vivid stories that are more reliant on imagination, at least for me. A major reason I wrote Beginning of Arrogance was so that I could read the epic fantasy story that I couldn’t find anywhere else!

What research is required?

There are countless excellent sources people can reference for research (thank you internet – love what you’ve done for humanity, even if you’re a bit dark and 70% filled with misleading or false information these days). For starters, I am an avid student of history, and the more history you learn, the more you see it in other works of fantasy. The War of the Roses, World War II, the Napoleonic Wars – you can find elements of all of them in fantasy literature. Other research involves literary tropes and themes (like the three-act story structure or the five-man band). Otherwise just learn a little bit about everything. More importantly, if you’re going to include specific elements in your book, then research those elements at least a little bit beforehand! When Krell and his companions get access to a sailing vessel, it’s important that there are some proper terms and terminology present in the story!

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

In my professional job, I often must build consensus. Organize data, present it, and convince others that my plan is correct, though occasionally they give me new data and I learn my plan is a waiting catastrophe, and I reassess. I am constantly working with others, trying to find a great solution for everyone. Krell… is not like that. Krell is going to do what he is going to do and is mostly oblivious to the sheer weight of charisma he is hauling around, dragging others along with him on his often reckless and rarely thought through plans. Writers pour parts of themselves into their characters, and I find it interesting that Krell may be acting as an outlet for my desire to simply just go, and if others join me that’s great, otherwise I’ll be off doing my thing by myself. It was a very strange realization for me!

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

There is a certain amount of mental headspace that I need to find in order to be productive at writing. There are times where I will go and sit, ready to write, and find that I am in the wrong mindset. I don’t question this anymore. If it isn’t the right time, I will do something else – research, entertainment, other work – and see if I can get myself into the correct frame of mind. If it happens, I’ll easily write over five thousand words in a single writing session. There are days when it does not.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m 70% plotter. The outline for Beginning of Arrogance, and for the entire arc of books, was something that I outlined prior to really beginning to write. However, once I began writing there was a certain amount of getting into the headspace of the characters and letting them alter the story as they went. There were elements of the story that changed as I figured out who the characters were and what they were motivated by. Some of the more reckless decisions they made – and the disastrous story consequences those choices led to – came about because of who they became in my imagination.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

A vast array of eclectic items. In no particular order, a USB drive, a tape measure, a five-dollar bill, a tube of crazy glue, two Lego minifigs, a picture of my daughter, a mug she gave me for Father’s Day with her handprints on it, my passport, a pair of wired headphones that I don’t use anymore, a roll of twine, a (paid) utility bill from 2020, four pens, and Darth Vader’s lightsaber. My desk is chaotic most of the time. I really understood Chazz Palminteri’s character in the Usual Suspects when he said, “There’s a system to it”!

Anything new coming up from you?

Onward to book two! The consequences of the actions taken in book one become something our survivors need to deal with, as new characters and challenges present themselves, particularly as the threat from the sea rises in ferocity and tempo. Tentatively titled Foolishness of Love, I’m hopeful to publish in the first half of 2023. I’m also thinking about other writing projects, all while working a full-time job!

Do you have a question for our readers?

I am extremely interested in feedback on my book! You can reach me at www.fatpaladin.ca, and share any thoughts or opinions you have. I put a lot of effort into writing realistic and interesting characters, particularly female characters, and hope you like how they turned out. Otherwise, if you read Beginning of Arrogance and loved it, what would motivate you to add a reader review on GoodReads and/or Amazon? As an indie author, reviews are by far the most important asset I can receive at this point.

I hope you enjoy Beginning of Arrogance, and I look forward to writing more of Krell and his companions in the future!

Paladins are nothing but trouble. Stories about paladins are everywhere, noble warriors riding magic steeds into battle against terrible foes. Champions of their gods. Heroes to everyone, except those who already have everything. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don't worship their deity.

So when Krell is called to service by the capricious god of the seas and skies, ReckNor, those with wealth and power can't help but be concerned. ReckNor hasn't called a paladin in years, and his nature is ever-changing and erratic. The fact that Krell is also an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea turns their concerns into fear.

All of which matters less than the threat clawing its way from the waves, ready to turn the ocean red with spilled blood...

Read an Excerpt

 

“Shortly after the tower collapsed, there was a surge of undead. Some priests came in and did something to contain it, and let it be. Or possibly not, since the story has been retold so many times. However, there is an old royal proclamation that anyone who rebuilds and takes residence there will get possession free and clear of all past obligations, though taxes and other fees would need to be paid going forward should you gain the title to the property.”

She paused, looking at them all.

“Thinking of making a grab for it?”

Kraven shrugged. “No ships in harbor to take me anywhere else, and nothing else to do tomorrow, so yeah, probably. Have others tried?”

Daylan laughed. “Oh yes, many, and hordes of children as well. You’re welcome to walk up there, survey the ruined tower and get scared by the ghost, just like everyone else has been for the last two hundred years. It’s pointless. Much like this conversation. If we could move back to meaningful town business?” Daylan and Amra began discussing the missing fishing vessels again, and what they could do to replace them. Aldrik interrupted, raising a concern about the Black Theocracy and whether Watford would be blamed if one of their trade ships vanished.

Captain Gijwolf walked up to the group of them, gesturing for them to step outside. Aldrik gave an enthusiastic wave as they departed. The evening air was clean now that the rain had stopped, and Krell breathed in deeply, savoring the smell of the sea.

“Well, gentlemen, your work was done and done well. However, more warriors arrived today looking to join the charter. I sent all but one away and was wondering if you’d like to meet him or not. He’s at the Netminder’s Friend, so he is likely at your destination, anyway. What say you?”

About the Author:

Bryan is an avid reader, and has loved the fantasy genre since he was a child. His love of stories of mighty knights, terrible dragons, and noble steeds has inspired him for decades.

WEBSITE: https://fatpaladin.ca/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/FatPaladin
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GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22517522.Bryan_Cole

AMAZON.COM: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228868661
INDIGO CHAPTERS: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/beginning-of-arrogance/9780228868668-item.html
BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beginning-of-arrogance-bryan-cole/1141715221
BOOK DEPOSITORY: https://www.bookdepository.com/Beginning-of-Arrogance-Bryan-Cole/9780228868668
KINDLE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5JJ338K
APPLE BOOKS: https://books.apple.com/us/book/beginning-of-arrogance/id6443055348

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Body Snatched by Ana Diamond

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What’s worse than losing a body from a funeral home? Losing two. But mortician and amatuer sleuth, Lily Reynolds has a hunch. The new visitor in town, Rick Drakon, may have charmed his way into her life but she’s not fooled by his smooth talking ways. Problem is, Rick is a long-time friend of Lily’s new husband, Detective James Rivers. While James is busy convincing her to look elsewhere, Lily embarks on a dangerous path toward uncovering the truth. Will this case come between the couple or will Lily find herself closer to evil than ever before?

Read an Excerpt

Black River reminded James of one thing: murder.

Hidden in dense foliage, the river stretched out far beyond his view and also happened to be a perfect spot to dump a body. He had no doubt there had been many missing people over the years who wound up weighed down by rocks at the bottom of the river until their flesh disintegrated into nothing.

His boss, Donald Abrams had a bad habit of telling him about their worst cases, probably to freak him out. The sicko with the garden of people floating upright like weeds was particularly gruesome. The chills he got from that one made the hairs on his neck stand up. However, since Manorview’s crime rate was low, James wasn’t entirely sure if the stories were folklore or not.

“Congrats on your last case. I heard you’re a big boss detective now,” Rick said as he reeled in his empty line.

James impaled a worm on his hook and swung the line out into the water. “Thanks. I wouldn’t say big boss though. More like maybe I’ll get to keep my job.”

“Have you ever caught anything here?” Rick asked.

“No, but I hear there’s trout.”

And bodies.

About the Author:When Ana Diamond isn't writing about tough gals finding love in unexpected places, she’s at work by day in the medical field. She writes romantic cozy mystery novels with feisty strong women and alluring men who can’t resist them. Her books are fast paced, entertaining and heartfelt all at once.

Ana is a 2020 Tara Contest Finalist for Body Conscious and 2015 Melody of Love contest finalist. She lives in New York with her husband, two children and two needy but wildly entertaining kitty cats.

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Silhouette by Paul Swingle

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On the night of a blue moon, while walking his dog, middle-aged widower Jim sees Gladys on the roof of a neighboring apartment building and is inspired to speak with her. There’s just one problem: she can’t hear him.

Indeed, Jim isn’t even sure that Gladys truly exists—that she isn’t just a rooftop patio umbrella silhouetted against the moon. Hampered by debilitating social anxiety, he cannot work up the courage to even wave.

Yet Jim returns to the same spot night after night, and Gladys—who is indeed real—sees him and becomes equally interested. She even contributes to their “conversation,” though he cannot hear her either. And while Gladys struggles with her own demons—self-loathing and depression—she is lifted by Jim’s attention, even as she describes how difficult her life has been.

Two characters, driven by sadness and a longing to connect. Will they?

Read an Excerpt

Women aren’t jumpers. Did you know that? We don’t use guns either—at least not on ourselves. We’d shoot a prick on a moment’s notice, though. Ha ha. Anyway, John—although I’d love to throw myself off this planet, it ain’t going to happen. But you never know, do you? Sorry. Not trying to fake you out. Are you lonely, John? God, it’s getting cold and miserable out here. Walk Bowser, John, so I can leave my post and get warm. I’m going to stay very still until you leave. Maybe you’ll forget that I’m a real person. We can continue our chat some other night. I’m going to stay very still, so you can drift away.

About the Author:

Dr. Paul G. Swingle can be considered one of the founding fathers of Clinical Psychoneurophysiology, one of a select few, directly responsible for bringing Neurotherapy out of university labs and clinics to the general populace in the 1980’s.

His academic positions include, Professor of Psychology at the University of Ottawa from 1972 to 1997, Lecturer in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School from 1991 to 1998, Associate Attending Psychologist at McLean Hospital (Boston), Head of the Clinical Psychophysiology Service McLean Hospital (Boston). Professor Swingle was also Clinical Supervisor at the University of Ottawa from 1987 to 1997 and Chairman of the Faculty of Child Psychology from 1972 to 1977. Dr. Swingle is a Registered Psychologist in British Columbia and is Board Certified in Biofeedback and Neurotherapy. He is actively involved in research and practice. His numerous publications include nine books and numerous peer reviewed journal publications.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Silhouette-Paul-G-Swingle/dp/B09C3D527K
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Paul-G-Swingle/e/B09F2518KP/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

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Heal Your TMJ by Dr. Haissam Dehan

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TMJ clicking. Jaw locking. Headaches. Migraines. Ear pain. Stiff Neck. The evidence is overwhelming: the roots of these issues may be caused by your TMJ! TMJ is the name of the joint of the jaw, and groundbreaking research has now revealed that it may be the cause of many chronic pains we suffer. TMJ is the second most common musculoskeletal pain, and as many as 1 in every 3 people will experience TMJ pain in their lifetime. For the longest time, people suffered in silence with TMJ pain, but new breakthrough advancements in research and treatment reveal that you can life a life TMJ-pain-free!

Drawing on his private practice, where he works with people suffering with TMJ, Dr. Dahan reveals in this book his 6 steps to eradicating chronic TMJ pain from your life. He will draw experience from his years working with TMJ sufferers to teach you how to heal your TMJ and live your best life ever!

Read an Excerpt

Sleep is one of the most overlooked causes of pain disorders. Studies have shown over and over again that if you don’t get proper sleep, you will have pain. Numerous recent research has shown the importance of sleep in healing the body and protecting against chronic pain. It only takes one week of poor sleep for people to start experiencing pain.

About the Author:

Dr. Haissam Dahan became a dentist in 2005, and furthered his education by completing a clinical fellowship in orofacial pain at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He conducted TMJ research, earning a PhD from McGill University in 2014. He has lectured at Harvard, McGill and Tufts University, and has spoken at national and international conferences. He has a successful private practice in Ottawa helping patients who are suffering with TMJ pain.

Dr. Dahan lives in Ottawa with his wife, and has two young boys and a girl. He enjoys running, cycling, and spending time outdoors with his family and friends.

Paperback: https://amazon.com/dp/0228882281
Kindle: https://amazon.com/dp/B0BCHQRZY7

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Avalon by Vanessa Morgan

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Avalon is now also available in French!

Some cats need nine lives to make a difference. Avalon only needed one.

From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.

With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even the landlord ordered to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon's demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.

Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.

Read an Excerpt

Around three o’clock that night, Avalon was fed up with the strange man in his bed. He plonked his rear down on Gilles’ pillow, complaining fretfully in his ear while tapping him on the face.

After nearly an hour of incessant wailing and poking, more drastic measures were required. The new solution: pushing Gilles out of bed.

Avalon succeeded.

Climbing back under the covers wasn’t an option. Unable to sleep, Gilles got up. "I guess I didn't pass the test."

"Give Avalon some time. Maybe he was just irked because you took his side of the bed."

But Gilles had already understood that this wasn't going to be a one-time event.

For several minutes, Gilles and Avalon sized each other up. Then Gilles said, "I’d better leave the two of you alone now. It’s clearly what the little guy wants."

I swear I could see Avalon smirking when Gilles put on his jacket and left.

Instantly, Avalon leapt onto me, and compensated for the evening before. He entered a kiss-induced trance. This cat was all about exclusivity, and when granted that exclusivity, his love was immense.

"Are you really that happy that Gilles is gone?"

In reply, Avalon looked at me with swoony eyes and purred loudly, then swatted out his paw to urge me to continue to pet him, which I did.

A phone call interrupted our tender moment. It was Gilles.

"There won't be any train to Brussels for hours," he said. "Is it okay if I come back to your place for a while?"

"Of course." His return would offend Avalon, but I couldn’t possibly leave Gilles outside in the rain for several hours.

As soon as Gilles appeared at the front door, Avalon’s pupils widened to a pitch black.

Let's see who's the boss here, he seemed to be thinking.

Being a cat of action, Avalon went through his usual attention-seeking routine: making a selection of irritating noises, scratching the wallpaper, and pushing objects to the ground.

When that didn't work, Avalon opened Gilles' overnight bag and threw out a piece of clothing. His eyes so dark and evil they could be gateways to hell, Avalon stared at his adversary and waited for a reaction. He then pulled out a box of gel wax. Again, he looked up at Gilles to make sure he understood that all this bungling was meant to get a message across. A third object followed, then a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, until there was nothing.

Hell-bent on winning the game, Avalon took Gilles' coat in his mouth and towed it toward the front door. There, he used his right paw to tap the keys hanging from the wooden doorframe.

Avalon’s message couldn’t be any clearer: there was room for only one man in my life. A feline one.

About the Author:

Vanessa Morgan is the editor of the movie reference guides When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals, Strange Blood: 71 Essays on Offbeat and Underrated Vampire Movies, and Evil Seeds: The Ultimate Movie Guide to Villainous Children. She also has had one cat book (Avalon) and four supernatural thrillers (Drowned Sorrow, The Strangers Outside, A Good Man, and Clowders) published. Three of her stories have been turned into movies. She has written for myriad Belgian magazines and newspapers and introduces movie screenings at several European film festivals. She is also a programmer for the Offscreen Film Festival in Belgium. When she's not working on her latest book, you can find her reading, watching movies, eating out, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats.

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The French version of the book can be purchased at Amazon for only $0.99.

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Momma Llama's ABC Book of Latin America by Momma Llama and Friends

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Momma Llama's ABC Book of Latin America is both fun and educational. This multicultural adventure includes people, places, and things from Central and South America - from Mexico to Argentina. The charming illustrations will make you and your child smile. Additionally, each page names the country or region of the subject; parents might learn something too.

About the Author:

Momma Llama envisions a world in which Mom becomes the star and the hero of each fun-filled adventure, giving a new perspective to the way children learn and play.

Each story showcases Momma Llama, a hard-working independent, and adventurous mother, promoting ideas such as teamwork, determination, respect, and the idea that Moms give more than we realize.

Momma Llama aspires to unify the diverse cultures of the Americas by promoting multiculturalism in a fresh new way.

There’s always something new in Momma Llama’s magical world, so join us for more adventures.

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Cutter Kauai Sea Adventures Series by Edward Hochsmann

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be?

My mom. I wasn’t a bad kid, but I could have been better and she certainly deserved better.

If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?

A dragon, of course! How cool would that be?!

How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

My stories may be unlikely (e.g. the odds against all these adventures happening to one crew are astronomical), but they are always plausible. If you really want to see how ridiculously unreal the action/adventure genre has become (for movies, anyway) watch a few of Ryan George’s Pitch Meeting spots on Youtube. They are hilarious!

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?

Best—find a good editor and proofreader
Worst—that Facebook/Twitter/Instagram ads are worth the money.

Are the experiences in this book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Some are. The fishing scene in Dagger Quest is an absolutely true account of an experience I had on patrol with Dependable. Ben is from Northern Illinois, the son of an airline pilot and had a choice of the Naval and Coast Guard Academies but chose the latter (like me). Emilia Hopkins and Joe Williams are based largely on two of my former coworkers in the Coast Guard (right down to some of the conversations in the books).

An aging Coast Guard patrol boat is all that stands between the world and nuclear annihilation!

The world is on the brink of war, with NATO mobilizing to counter a Russian threat to Poland and Lithuania and leaders openly discussing war options. In the midst of the crisis, a Russian bomber collides with a U.S. fighter off Florida causing the accidental launch of a nuclear-tipped hypersonic missile.

A Coast Guard cutter on a routine patrol finds a drug-laden sailboat smashed and adrift north of the Florida Keys. The boat’s damage is from a near miss by the Russian missile which has not harmlessly flown deep into the Gulf of Mexico as initially thought, but crashed somewhere in the Keys.

The Coast Guard crew is in a race against a vicious and powerful international crime syndicate to find and recover the Russian nuke before its discovery can trigger a nuclear war.

Exploring the friendship and teamwork of a typical ship's crew, in the face of unexpected and hazardous challenges, Dagger Quest provides a fast-paced, taut story - excellent fare for both sea adventure and military thriller fans.

Mission: Five days to destroy the enemy in the Caribbean before a catastrophic weapon is unleashed—but all he can think about is the woman he left behind…

The deadliest nerve gas ever made has fallen into the hands of a murderous Caribbean drug cult. The criminal 252 Syndicate has the gas in a secret lab on an oil rig servicing ship, but the ship has been taken for ransom by the Salinas Cartel in a violent drug war. The U.S. can’t use airstrikes and calls on Coast Guard Officer Ben Wyporek to lead his crew through a risky covert raid on the Salinas cult’s fortified island base. He accepts the assignment, but remembers a previous lethal encounter with the 252s and struggles to say goodbye to the love of his life, Victoria Carpenter.

Ben and his crew aboard the stealth-equipped Cutter Kauai must sneak into the harbor and tow the ship away. But if Kauai is detected and defeated, death by gas or at the hands of vicious adversaries will follow. Now, every decision Ben makes will determine the fate of his entire crew—and the chances of reuniting with Victoria.

This second book of the series builds on the friendships and teamwork of Kauai's crew, this time in the face of several challenging missions and one potentially lethal encounter. It is a worthy sequel to Dagger Quest that sea adventure and military thriller fans will enjoy.

Young Coast Guard Lieutenant Haley Reardon has not even gotten her feet on the ground on her new patrol boat command when she finds herself and her crew supporting a dangerous covert mission. They must insert and retrieve a Defense Intelligence Agency operations team trying to seize a transnational criminal syndicate boss from a small Caribbean island controlled by a front company of the Chinese government and protected by a superior military force.

A honeymoon period would be lovely, but, as always, the world gets a vote.

Can Haley avoid leaving the DIA team to their fate, when attempting to rescue them could destroy her crew and boat and lead to war?

This third installment of the series conveys the humor, friendships, and teamwork of Kauai's crew from the previous books, with a new series of exciting actions from search and rescue to combat. The crew and their new skipper must come together for the toughest mission they have ever faced.

Read an Excerpt from Bravely and Faithfully

Another burst landed and detonated off the starboard side, and Hopkins ordered a course change to the right. Haley knew their luck would not hold for long—as soon as the gunboat captain realized what they were doing, he would go to rapid-fire. She selected UHF and keyed her microphone. “Starfish One Seven, Orchid Actual. Where’s that help? Over.”

“Orchid, Starfish One Seven. I’m on with a flight of F-16s from the 93rd. They’re three minutes out, over.”

“One Seven, Orchid Actual, roger, tell them to step on it! Out.”

Hopkins had just altered course to the left again, and the game went on for two more salvos. Then, as Haley feared, the Chinese captain tried a long burst. The twelve shells missed, falling on both sides. Two were close enough to pepper Kauai with shrapnel, sharp pings ringing through the Bridge like hail on a tin roof.

Their luck ran out on the next burst: one shell exploded on the left side of the mast, knocking out the EO camera and showering the Flying Bridge with shrapnel. Another struck the special operations boat and started a small fire. The fire itself was not an immediate danger to the ship, but it provided a beacon that brought hell down on them. Shells were bursting on the rear of the superstructure and in the water around Kauai. The bridge crew huddled behind what cover they could find as the windows in the rear doors shattered and debris scattered around them. As they kneeled together between the command chair and the FC3 console, Haley looked into Ben’s face and, seeing the same fear she had, reached out and gripped his hand.

About the Author:

Edward Hochsmann is the pen name of a retired U. S. Coast Guard search and rescue and law enforcement professional. The veteran mariner, aviator, college professor, and defense analyst has added “author” to his list of experiences. Ed likes reading, police procedurals, contemporary music on the road, and classical music in the office. After a career traveling from Australia in the west to Italy and Germany in the east, Ed has settled into a quiet life in the Florida Panhandle to focus on writing (and not shoveling snow!)

Ed has two novels published right now (plus one launching in August 2022) in the Cutter Kauai Sea Adventures series about a Coast Guard patrol boat assigned to "special" missions. Dagger Quest takes place in the Florida Keys and involves an aging Coast Guard patrol boat dragooned into a search for a lost Russian nuclear weapon in a time of international crisis. The second, Caribbean Counterstrike, features the same patrol boat and crew, now with equipment and training upgrades, sent to recover a deadly nerve gas from a murderous Caribbean drug cartel. Bravely and Faithfully has Kauai, under a new captain supporting a covert raid on a Caribbean island held by the Chinese.

Ed's second series, C6S: Patrol Force deals with a combined defense establishment and constabulary for a galactic economic empire called the Confederation of the Six Systems (C6S). Ed has published two novellas and a novel-length collection late last year.

Website: https://www.edwardhochsmann.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20594307.Edward_Hochsmann
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edhochsmann/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/edward-m-hochsmann

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Black Murder Mystery by Polly Holmes

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Careful what you wish for!

Graduating to a fully-fledged witch on my upcoming birthday should be a momentous occasion, but when a local hairdresser turns up dead, I know it’s going to be one hell of a week.

Saltwater Cove’s resident infuriating fae looks like a good suspect for the murder, but insists she’s innocent and reveals a huge secret too amazing to be a lie. But if she didn’t do it… then who did?

The murder triggers the return of a dark force… dark enough to send even the most experienced witches into panic mode. Harriet, Jordi and Tyler join me as I try to find the culprit, putting my magical abilities to the ultimate test.

When the killer strikes even closer to home, I need to up my game if I’m going to keep evil at bay.…or have I finally met my supernatural match?

Read an Excerpt

A vibration jumped my phone across the dresser followed by a chorus of Dance Monkey. I picked it up to see Jordi’s smile plastered on the screen.

Now what?

“Hello, Jordi. Did you forget something?” I asked, prepared for a quick talking answer.

“Um, no not really.”

The awkward tone in her voice put me on edge. My free hand gripped the edge of the dresser. “Jordi, what’s wrong?”

“I think we have a problem,” she said, an urgency in her tone that sent my blood cold.

“What are you talking about?”

“I was on my way home and drove past Salty Snips. There were police cars with sirens and flashing lights, and they’d cordoned off the entrance with tape.”

Please don’t say it. Please don’t say it.

“Being the sticky beak that I am, I pulled over to check it out. Although they won’t confirm it, I think you better get over here and fast. I believe we have a murderer loose in Saltwater Cove.”

She said it.

Jordi wasn’t wrong. As I turned down the road toward Salty Snips, blue and red police lights flashed while sirens pierced the air. A pile of cars had blocked off different parts of the street and the entrance to the hairdresser. That didn’t stop the nosy onlookers from planting themselves at any available advantage point, mobile phones ready to take a photo or recording of what or who was the main attraction.

I pulled to the curb in the first available parking spot and grabbed my phone to call Jordi. I needn’t have bothered; she was on a beeline for my car. My stomach tensed as I got out to greet her.

Three days out from my birthday and we have a new dead body in town. And I didn’t even need a party!

About the Author:

Polly Holmes is the cheeky, sassy alter ego of Amazon best-selling author, P.L. Harris. When she's not writing her next romantic suspense novel as P.L. Harris, she is planning the next murder in one of Polly’s cozy mysteries. She pens food-themed and paranormal cozy mysteries and publishes her books solely with Gumnut Press.

As Polly Holmes, Cupcakes and Corpses was a finalist in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America’s 2019 IDA International Digital Awards, short suspense category. Cupcakes and Curses claimed second place and Cupcakes and Cyanide gained third place making it a clean sweep in the category.

She won silver in the 2020 ROAR! National Business Awards in the Writer/Blogger/Author category and for the second year in a row, she was a finalist in the 2021 ROAR! National Business Awards winning bronze in the Writer/Blogger/Author category with Gumnut Press taking out the gold in the Hustle and Heart category.

2022 saw Polly Holmes’ books Muffins & Magic and Mistletoe, Murder & Mayhem long-listed in the Davitt Awards, a prestigious award run by the Sisters of Crime, Australia. Muffins & Magic also placed in the finals of the cozy mystery category in the Nashville Silver Falchion Awards. She lives in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, with her Bichon Frise, Bella.

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Stairway to Heaven by Alex Stevens

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A $50 Amazon/BN GC will be provided to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be?

I’d need to apologize to much more than one person. I made a lot of mistakes when I was younger. Certain things haunt me to this day.

If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?

Definitely a dragon.

How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

One thing I do that I haven’t seen anyone do in fantasy fiction is write from first person and use multiple perspectives. My stories and how I tell them is the other factor. Even when you think you know, you never know the spin I’ll put on things.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?

The best was before I started my first book. I wrote a paper for college and shared it on social media and a friend said that I really had a voice and should consider writing. The worst is that I was a horrible writer. I’ve actually heard that several times.

Are the experiences in this book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

All of the above.

Corporal Jack Graven should be dead. Murdered by a vengeful angel at his own father's funeral, Jack is resurrected and returns to life carrying a terrible secret: he is the Archangel Gabriel reincarnated.

Jack's not the only one with secrets. His older brother, Lieutenant Colonel Tyler Graven "Demon of Kyoto", has just inherited his father's fortune and legacy as Lord of War, with no intention of stopping there: Tyler will someday rule the world.

The brothers reunite their elite military unit, “The Four Horsemen,” with Tyler’s longtime flame Colonel Diana Levitas and the mysterious Lance Corporal Jin Xialong. Together they seek to uncover the truth of Jack’s past life and propel Tyler to his impossible destiny.

Thrust into a supernatural war, the Gravens find salvation through the Black Muramasa, a cursed black katana and the only weapon that can destroy immortals. As they uncover more mysteries behind the ancient blade, they come face to face with the Devil himself, but in the most familiar of faces. Their pasts, presents, and futures all linked, the Four Horsemen must end the war once and for all to survive with their souls intact. Failing could mean the end of the world.

A follow up to the explosive first book in the Ballad of Fallen Angels series, “Sympathy for the Devil,” Book 2 is an action-packed, gun-slinging adventure that packs the punch of a military thriller with high-stakes supernatural intrigue.

Read an Excerpt

Before the man could blink, I pulled the twin Berettas from their holsters, my fingers hammering the triggers. Time for a bloodbath.

I had died once, and it wasn’t pleasant. An angel had swooped from the sky and smashed through my chest as if it were thin wallpaper at my father’s funeral. Since then, I realized, amongst other things, that I could move with godlike speed as necessary, which saved me from anguish on most occasions. The drug dealer's trigger squeeze stretched longer than the instant it took me to draw and fire, as I rolled to the right while dodging the threat of the man’s final shots. I fired several more times before he could accomplish the same feat.

He was the first to die.

I could feel the rounds closing in on me furiously, like an angry storm of tiny projectiles absent of remorse. I leapt forward into a dive and rolled to dodge several of them, sprinting to cover behind a cluster of barrels in the room’s corner. I would regenerate if anything pierced my armor, but after taking quite a few rounds over the years I realized pain was never enjoyable. A roomful of men would soon learn a powerful lesson: everyone is a hero until it’s time to reload. Unfortunately for the amateurs before me, they had begun firing simultaneously, and thus would be incapacitated in tandem while reloading.

A few seconds could stretch into a lifetime.

About the Author:

Alex Stevens is a Marine Corps Veteran with two deployments and a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Interdisciplinary Studies program, a unique undergraduate degree that caters to students with various interests of study. He is also an advent traveler and philosophy enthusiast who has spent a lifetime studying religions, with a focus on Non-denominational Christianity. Alex spends most of his time going for walks, spending time with loved ones, and when the juices are flowing, writing. Fantasy fiction is his great escape from the mundane and he likes to create fantastical realities that are blended with non-fictional people, places, and events.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DemonofKyoto

Amazon Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Stairway-Heaven-Ballad-Fallen-Angels-ebook/dp/B0BCMKVFQP/ref=sr_1_1

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A Diet of Death by Jinny Alexander

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Welcome to It's Raining Book. What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoyed everything about writing A Diet of Death. I even still enjoyed the story when I was editing and proof-reading it! I love the world I have built for this series and I find it easy to slip into the head of the main character, amateur sleuth Jess O’Malley. Cozy Mystery is such a fun genre to write in, and a genre I love to read. With Cozy, there are certain conventions to adhere to, and certain reader expectations, so this gives a useful framework to work within. Some typical features of Cozy Mystery are the inclusion red herrings, false accusations, and a large bunch of characters who could easily be the perpetrator of the crimes. When I began writing the book, I had no idea who the perpetrator would turn out to be, and only uncovered it for myself as the story unfolded. This was a really fun part of the writing process, as it kept me invested in solving the puzzle just as I hope it will keep the readers guessing.

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?

I’m currently in the final module of a Creative Writing MA, so I’m mostly writing towards that. This final module is to write a novel. My work-in-progress novel is quite different from my other novels. It’s the first time I’ve had a male viewpoint character, and the first book I have set in a city rather than in a rural village. It features an elderly bookshop owner, a quest, and a puzzle and is set in the 1980s, which is fun and nostalgic and I’m enjoying the soundtrack of my teenage years while I write.

I’m also working on the third Jess O’Malley book (the second is already finished and will be out in 2023) and making good progress with that – Jess and I both love a new mystery!

Can you tell us about what you have planned for the future?

My immediate plans are to finish the third Jess O’Malley book, and my MA, including the standalone book mentioned above. I’ll be doing National Novel Writing Month in November, and will dedicate that to one of these two books, so hopefully one of them will finished before the year’s end. Luckily, I already have ideas for the fourth Jess O’Malley AND for another standalone!

How long have you been writing?

I’ve enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember, and one of the earliest stories I can recall was also a cozy mystery! I even illustrated it. I imagine it was around the time Bob Geldof’s daughter was born as it featured a poodle called Fifi Trixibelle. It also featured some missing jewellery and the rich owner of the jewellery (and, I presume, also the poodle). I don’t remember the woman at all, but I do know she must have been rich, and not just from the ‘lots of nice jewellery’ clue, but because the culprit turned out to be her butler. And only rich people have butlers. I must have been aware of cozy mystery conventions even way back then (Thanks Mum and Dad for the love of old Agatha Christies!) because I knew enough to give the butler a solid alibi, and for the finger of blame to be firmly pointed elsewhere. It was also absolutely impossible for the butler to have committed the crime, and the detective (now long-forgotten) solved the mystery purely on the cliched argument that it must have been the butler, because the butler always did it. In more lucrative news, my first published work was a letter to Horse and Pony Magazine. I was ten, and they accidently paid me twice. £50 for a ten-year-old in 1983 set my writing-for-payment expectations extremely high!

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Yes! Dear readers, please keep on reading! Writers across the entire globe appreciate you more than you know. Just knowing that you read our books is what keeps us writing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Also, keep reading the books you want to read and love to read. Reading for pleasure should always be a pleasure. Thank you to, for your support and interest in my books. I always love to hear from readers, so don’t be shy about following me or sending me a message.

Ballyfortnum Get Slim group--putting the die in diet.

In the close-knit Irish Village of Ballyfortnum, getting slim might just get you dead. Mystery-lover Jess O'Malley is distraught when her elderly friend dies, but that's not all--he's the third of the local slimming group to die this year and it's only February. Is something amiss in the Get Slim group?

Jess, aided by her sidekick Fletcher, her boisterous Labrador, must convince local policeman Marcus that there may be a murderer at large in the village. If she doesn't solve the mystery, will another of the dieters end up dead? Or worse--if she doesn't stop asking awkward questions, will Jess become the next victim?

Read an Excerpt

“What is it that’s worrying you?” Marcus asked, his voice soft and caring.

Jess got up again, reached for the tin of biscuits Linda had pressed into her hands that morning, bus herself with finding plates. She kept her back to Marcus as she voiced her concerns.

“It’s like I started to say the other day,” she eventually said, “it just seems, well … odd.”

“Odd?” Marcus prompted, raising an eyebrow.

“Odd … I mean … all of them in the slimming group … all of them from this small village; all of them dying kind of unexpectedly, I mean … I know Bert was getting on a bit, but eighty isn’t so old these days is it? And Dave was young enough … and poor Angela—she wasn’t much older than me.” Jess clenched her fingers around a piece of shortbread and it crumbled onto the plate, such was her indignance at the thought of someone dying in only their earliest forties. “I know Dave drank, and all that, but …”

About the Author:Jinny was first published in Horse and Pony magazine at the age of ten. She’s striving to achieve equal accolade now she’s (allegedly) a grown up. Jinny has had some publishing success with short story and flash competitions and secured a publishing deal in December 2020 for her first three novels. The first of these, Dear Isobel, was released in March 2022. A Diet of Death is Jinny’s second novel and the first in her Cosy Mystery series. Jinny is currently studying an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Hull, UK.

Jinny also teaches English as a foreign language to people all over the world. Her home for now is in rural Ireland, which she shares with her husband and far too many animals. Her two children have grown and flown, but return across the Irish Sea when they can. She quite likes to shut the door on them all and write.

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Website: https://jinnyalexander.com

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Kaine by Megan Slayer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A randomly drawn winner will be awarded a necklace created by the author. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

I call on the fates to bring my love to me. As I will it, so mote it be… Nikki Sinclair isn’t interested in love. She’s happy as a model and doing her own thing. Besides, keeping people at bay means she won’t get hurt again. Then she runs into Kaine. He’s nothing like she expects and exactly what she never realized she needed. But he’s got a past. It’s up to her to decide if she’s willing to summon this bad-boy mechanic or keep going on as a solo act.,br>
Love can be a tricky thing. What if fate has its own idea for Nikki? She’s not willing to argue, especially if it means having her bad boy. Time to do some summoning.

Read an Excerpt:

“He gives you hell often, doesn’t he?”

“He does.”

“You turned him down.”

“I did.” She disengaged from her pretend suitor. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure. I’m game to help a lady in distress.”

“I appreciate it.” She held out her hand. “I’m Nikki.”

“Kaine.” He kissed her knuckles.

“It’s nice to meet you, Kaine. Thank you. I should mingle, but you’ve saved me from a huge headache.” If she didn’t start circulating again, she risked losing her job.

“Okay, but if Eunice gives you a problem, you direct her to me. Just tell her Kaine McDermott wants to discuss it, and she’ll know.”

“You don’t have to cover for me.”

“Who says I’m covering? It’s an archaic rule. If you’d met me outside of tonight, we could be together, no problem. Inside, it’s off-limits? Silly.” He nodded. “I don’t want you to get into trouble.”

“Thanks.” She smiled, not wanting to leave him. He was a nice guy. Not grabby. Cute and seemingly sweet.

If only that no-dating rule hadn’t applied tonight. “See you.” She resumed circulating until the end of the event, then joined the other girls to change into little black dresses for the after-party.

She wasn’t a fan of mingling and schmoozing, but if she could actually flirt with Kaine again, then it might not be so bad.

About the Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj

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Island of Dreams by Harry Duffin

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Harry Duffin will be awarding a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I don’t write sci-fi, horror, or crime. Most of those genres have basic formulas and I don’t like writing to a formula. I wrote many hundreds of hours writing drama for television and that was usually to a formula, so I avoid that.

So, I don’t know where my ideas come from. They can from something I read, or something someone has told me. They are often about one particular person and, for some reason, I especially like stories about strong women. My characters May Sharpe [Chicago May] and Anna Mueller are strong, feisty women, and the main characters in my novel ‘Birth of the Mall Rats’ are Amber and Ebony. They are both are leaders.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

The main thing is never give up on your ideals and dreams. Keep trying.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I may start with an idea of the story, but then I let the characters take control of their lives. I often don’t know what they are going to do. I let them surprise me. If what they do feels good and right, I go along with it. If not then I have to start again.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I am just researching the sequel to my first novel, ‘Chicago May’. It is set in Los Angeles in the 1920’s when the film industry in Hollywood took over the city. It was a crazy, fun, exhilarating time. I am looking forward to going back there and seeing what my characters get up to.

Do you have a question for our readers?

Sometimes do you put down your phone and read a book? If not, you should, because there are so many wonderful stories out there for you to enjoy.

In May 1939, when Professor Carl Mueller, his wife, Esther, and their three children flee Nazi Germany, and find refuge on the paradise island of Cuba, they are all full of hopes and dreams for a safe and happy future. But those dreams are shattered when Carl and Esther are confronted by a ghost from their past, and old betrayals return to haunt them.

The turbulent years of political corruption leading to Batista’s dictatorship, forces the older children to take very different paths to pursue their own dangerous dreams.

And - among the chaos and the conflict that finally leads to Castro’s revolution and victory in 1959, an unlikely love begins to grow - a love that threatens the whole family.

Having escaped a war-torn Europe, their Island of Dreams is to tear them apart forever.

Read an Excerpt

Freddie stopped the car in the path, and watched Anna get out.

Freddie was surprised. ‘Oh, well, goodbye,’ he said.

‘Can you get out, please, Freddie,’ she said quietly.

Very curious, Freddie got out. Anna came and stood in front of him. She looked around, then taking his arm, she led him into the forest. Freddie was very puzzled now. Did she think he might go back and tell the police where the camp was? Surely, she knew he wouldn’t do that? She led him to a clearing, out of sight of the path.

‘You don’t think I’m going to go back and tell the army where the camp is, Anna?’

‘Is that what you think?’

Freddie shrugged. He had given Anna his gun in the car. ‘You’ll need it more than me,’ he’d said. Not that he would use it on her anyway.

Anna came close to him. As he was about to speak again, she put her fingers to his lips. ‘You don’t know, do you?’ she said.

‘Know what?’

She reached up and pushed a lock of his hair back from his forehead. ‘Freddie, I hated you from the moment you picked me up and dragged me off the boat.’

Freddie attempted a smile.

Then her fingers ran softly down his cheek. ‘And loved you just as much.’

Before he could speak her lips met his. It was a long kiss. Twenty years in the making.

About the Author:

Harry is an award-winning UK screenwriter, who won the Writers’ Guild Award for Best TV serial, while writing for Granada Television’s ‘CORONATION STREET’. Before that, in 1985, he was on the first writing team for the BBC’s ‘EASTENDERS’.

Before beginning his career writing drama for television, Harry spent a dozen years working in British theatre, as stage manager, writer, designer and director, working with actors such as Nigel Hawthorne, Anne Reid and Lesley Manville.

After script-editing the BBC’s HOWARDS’WAY, he freelanced for series like DISTRICT NURSE, THE BILL, BOON, THE BRETTS, EMMERDALE.

In 1994 he became Head of Development at the UK independent company, Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment. As the script executive he was responsible for seven major television series, included ‘SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON’ starring RICHARD ‘JOHN BOY’ THOMAS, and ‘TWIST IN THE TALE’, featuring WILLIAM SHATNER. He also wrote the film, RETURN TO TREASURE ISLAND.

In 1998 he was the co-creator of the UK Channel Five teen-cult drama series ‘THE TRIBE’, which ran for five series, numbering 260 episodes. ‘THE TRIBE’ has been sold world-wide, and all series is on YouTube.

His first novel, CHICAGO MAY, is the first book of a two-part series. He has also written JAIL TALES, about his wife’s 20 year career in the prison service, and the novel BIRTH OF THE MALL RATS, the prequel to THE TRIBE.

He has just finished his third novel, ISLAND OF DREAMS, to be published on December 1st 2022.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4674467.Harry_Duffin
http://www.harryduffin.co.uk
https://twitter.com/duffin26

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Sophia Freeman Series by T.X. Troan

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EARTH AWAKENED ... SEED PLANTED ... PATH REVEALED.

What begins as a special trip for eleven-year-old Sophia Freeman and her father, leaves her trapped on a mysterious island with a tree boy and fantastical creatures. Later, she learns she is dying from an eternal curse and the only way to prolong her life is to drink the island’s sacred water. Can Sophia and her companions reach the fountain and defeat the guardian before time runs out?

THEY MUST RISK IT ALL TO REGAIN THEIR FREEDOM ... OR BE SEALED AWAY FOREVER.

Sophia Freeman and her best friend, Tim Charnal, must beat all contestants in a three-round Beyond Event organized by the mighty arbiters to free him from the penalty of murder and gain the islanders' trust. Entering the hologram and surviving environments filled with everything from hammer-throwing cave giants to a slimy tentacled sea monster, they will need all their courage, wits, and skills. But how are they going to win when magic is forbidden?

EVIL RISING ... ISLANDERS MISSING ... AND FRIENDS BETRAYING.

With the increase in deaths of Pandilone Islanders, the arbiters devise a strategy to free the god demon within five days to lift the Eternal Curse. All goes as planned until iron-masked creatures kidnap magic users, weakening the army. To gain reinforcements, Sophia Freeman, Tim Charnal, and rescued Allen Chan must gather all six items to cast the Dream Spell, connecting them with Sophia’s father and his air force. But how can the trio succeed in time while surrounded by enemies and traitors aiming to stop them at any cost?

Read an Excerpt from SOPHIA FREEMAN AND THE ERA OF DARKNESS (book 3)

Another flaming whip slashed between Sophia and Tim, and they swiftly dodged it. Who could possibly be using Dark Art spells? They looked over and saw Allen’s smoking wand in one hand and Sophia’s scroll in the other.

“S-sorry, guys—I got curious,” said Allen, trembling.

Tim roared, “Curious? You’re not supposed to—”

Sophia raised her hand like Dad did to her, to silence him.

“Allen, can I have my scroll back?” she asked calmly, easing toward him.

Staring at it, he said, “Um … yeah,” and handed it to her.

“Did you hurt yourself?” Sophia asked. “Do you feel any different?”

“I’m fine—actually, I feel good,” said Allen, with a tiny grin.

“Interesting—could you show us how you did that spell?”

Allen gave her a puzzled look. “You mean I’m not in deep trouble? Uh … sure.” He shifted into the attack position and shut his eyes.

“Sophia, I don’t understand—why are you wasting our time?” Tim demanded.

“Shh … Mona was right—you should really work on your temper.” She kept staring at Allen without blinking. “Just watch.”

A moment later, a strong gust howled past them as his wand lit up.

“Allen, break that tall boulder with roots wrapped around it!” Sophia shouted.

He struck with an aggressive roar. “HELLFIRE LASH!” The third flaming whip was unleashed, and it was much bigger than the previous two. It struck directly at the target.

KABOOM!

The spell left a hole through the boulder the size of Allen’s fist.

“Wow, that was impressive,” Tim mumbled.

Sophia handed him the scroll and turned to Allen. “Do you feel any different this time?”

Admiring his wand, he said, “Yes, I felt … confident. Something I didn’t think was possible.”

I get it—he’s attracted to Dark Art spells! At that instant, an absurd idea came to her mind.

About the Author:

Thuan Doan was born in Indonesia, and grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.

Thuan has been fascinated by art from a young age, especially fantasy. He would wake up hours before school, sit outside the classroom, and scribble in his sketch book.

After college, he worked on a series of jobs, including: an advergaming association as a storyboard/concept artist, gaming company as lead concept artist, and graphic designer for various clients.

Thuan conceived his first middle-grade fantasy novel, Sophia Freeman and the Mysterious Fountain, during a trip to Gabriola Island, British Columbia in the summer of 2013. Then he took his work and settled in a small town of Enderby, where it’s peaceful and quiet. 4 years later, the story is complete. While book 1, 2 and 3 are being shared with the world, he's writing and illustrating book 4 of the Sophia Freeman series.

Thuan is writing under a pen name of T.X. Troan. “X” stands for Xu, his grandmother’s name who passed away. And “Troan” is a combination of his parents' names.

“No matter how this turns out, I want my family to be a part of this wonderful journey.”

T.X. Troan married Sarah, his original fan and longtime love, in 2016. They live in Enderby with their pack dogs and school of fish!

AWARDS

★ Entrada Publishing Incipere Award, 2020
★ Readers' Favorite 5 star Badge, 2019, 2021 and 2022
★ Literary Titan Badge, 2020

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