Heavyweight by MB Mulhall #AmReading #Fiction #YA

“What do you say, Jules? It’s not like we’ve got anything better to do.” She bats her eyes at her brother, who rolls his.

“Well, I could think of worse ways to spend a Friday night than staring at tight ends,” Julian finally says to Clay with a wink. I think my heart stops. Clay looks momentarily taken aback. Others at the table laugh it up, and I watch Julian from the corner of my eye. Is he being serious? Is it possible that the new kid is more like me than I realized? Too bad he hates me already.

My thoughts are interrupted when Clay nudges me.

“What?”

“You’re not eating.” He points at my untouched food. Rolling my eyes—obviously a teenage trend—I pick up the half sandwich and shove it in my mouth.

“Happy?” I snap after I successfully swallow it without choking. He doesn’t deserve the attitude, but I can’t help myself.

“Yes,” he replies as he hands me the apple. I grab it from his hand and bite into it. It makes a loud, satisfying crunch.

Mei-Li and Julian give us matching weird looks.

“Ian doesn’t like to eat,” Clay explains.

“I like eating just fine,” I counter. “I just don’t like eating a lot.” The twins look at each other, puzzled, before looking back at us. It’s kind of creepy to watch their identical movements.

“He has to stay in his weight class,” Clay says, “and he thought he could do that by starving himself.”

A red cloud of anger hovers in front of my eyes as I slam my hand down on the table.

“Enough!” I’m embarrassed that Julian knows one of my secrets now. Gathering my stuff, I stand up to leave.

“Hey, Ian, don’t go!” Clay is grabbing at my bag. I give him what must be a withering look, because he lets go and drops his head.

“I’ve got to see the coach.” It’s an excuse. I nod to Mei-Li but can’t meet Julian’s gaze.

I leave the cafeteria behind, headed for a bathroom. After a quick check to make sure no one else is there, I enter an empty stall where I perform my other dirty little secret. The one no one can ever find out about. The one they make afterschool TV specials about. The one that involves the second coming of my lunch.

Secrets. Their weight can be crushing, but their release can change everything—and not necessarily for the better. Ian is no stranger to secrets. Being a gay teen in a backwater southern town, Ian must keep his orientation under wraps, especially since he spends a lot of time with his hands all over members of the same sex, pinning their sweaty, hard bodies to the wrestling mat.

When he’s trying not to stare at teammates in the locker room, he’s busy hiding another secret—that he starves himself so he doesn’t get bumped to the next weight class.

Enter Julian Yang, an Adonis with mesmerizing looks and punk rocker style. Befriending the flirtatious artist not only raises suspicion among his classmates, but leaves Ian terrified he’ll give in to the desires he’s fought to ignore.

As secrets come to light, Ian’s world crumbles. Disowned, defriended, and deserted by nearly everyone, Ian’s one-way ticket out of town is revoked, leaving him trapped in a world he hates—and one that hates him back.

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Genre - LGBT, YA

Rating – PG-13

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Website http://keystrokesandwordcounts.wordpress.com/

Robert Breeze on the Bible as a #SciFi Novel Ever Written #AmReading #Fiction #GoodReads

Right let’s get the tongue-in-cheek arrogance out of the way, my contention is that it’s the sixth best science fiction novel because The Chronicles of Hope series (now planned to consist of five books) takes the first five spots on that list. I actually think the bible is a great fiction novel, it’s incredibly well written and some of the proverbs in there are original, great and visionary. Also it’s given us so many great ideas and lessons on how to form a society, so we should be grateful for that. The depth of imagination involved in the fiction is also unrivalled I think. Imagining that there’s this invisible man in the sky, an invisible man who watches over us, a man with a list of ten things we shouldn’t do, that if we do any of these ten things we’ll go to hell – this is unbelievably original character ‘making’.

I do think it’s about time now that we moved on though, I think we’re advanced enough now to stop dwelling on the book and referring to it as some kind of life manual. There are some pretty major omissions in it, the biggest that seemingly it just misses out the first hundred years. It doesn’t really seek to explain how god created the universe, which I would’ve thought should have been covered in the first few chapters, maybe it will be rewritten in time and take into account the timeline of evolution which is now know is based on scientific facts. It certainly wouldn’t have got an agent on board nowadays that’s for sure, I mean just imagine if you sent it to an agent. I imagine their first observation would be ‘hold on are you suggesting the protagonist created homosexuals then bans homosexuality, why would he do that?’. And also ‘how could God have possibly been an advocate of free will? It says that he gave us free will but then he seems to tell us exactly how to use it? He says thou shalt not kill, but then this doesn’t seem to apply if you’re talking about witches, homosexuals, heathen enemies, muslims, slaves, the adulterous, rebellious kids, and blasphemers. The book says that God gave us free will then you expect people to swallow that he would then command us to use it exactly as he told us to?’ I don’t think it’d get very far, original, well written but far too many implausible anomalies. There might be a God, you might have hit on something in creating this character who could’ve created the universe, but to think anyone will believe in it is ludicrous. How can you possibly think people will believe in anything for which there’s not one single shred of evidence? That’s probably what the rejection letter would point out.

The first book in The Chronicles Of Hope series, ’2082′, sees an experimental intergalactic project when the government get the chance to colonise a recently discovered planet that’s habitable for human life. Fuelled by overpopulation on Earth making life increasingly unsustainable they offer Frank Noon, a politician, the chance to lead the project, largely because of a stir caused by a speech he does on global warming. Frank finds himself in charge of a cross section of the population at odds with themselves and the situation. As the story develops they discover more and more about the project and start to realise just how far-reaching the consequences for the future of humanity might be.

Frank Noon divides opinion. Whilst some say he’s a philosophical genius, some say he’s a fanciful dreamer who deliberately courts controversy with his anti-establishment views about the failings of modern society.

Seemingly nearing the end of his life in politics, he reluctantly fronts an experimental inter-galactic government project late in the 21st century aimed at making life on an overpopulated Earth more sustainable. As he battles to gain control of a relative asylum, consisting of a cross section of the populous as much at odds with themselves as the situation, he unwittingly embarks on a life-changing journey of self discovery.

As they learn more about the project and its intentions how far-reaching might the consequences be for the future of humanity?

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Genre - Political Fiction

Rating – PG

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Carin Kilby Clark's Thoughts on Why Mentors are Important #AmReading #AmWriting #NonFiction

If you were to interview someone who is successful – in any field – there’s a really great chance they will mention a mentor. Someone who supported them on their path and showed them how to replicate the success they’ve experienced in their own endeavors.

Before I had a mentor, I didn’t know how important mentoring was. I really didn’t see the point at first. I was determined to figure it all out on my own and thought it may be better that way. And that I’d learn more through hands-on, rather than listening to someone else tell me how they did this or that.

I first became associated with my mentor, Natalie MacNeil, in late 2013. I had followed her work for some time and was really moved by her philosophy, ethic, and vision for women entrepreneurs. When she opened applications for her founding Concord mastermind group, I jumped right in.

Why Mentors Are Important

Mentorship means not doing this alone. It means having someone to show you the ropes  – and someone who will be there to cheer you on. Once I started working with my mentor, she was the perfect person who I could bounce my ideas off of. She gave me valuable feedback, and helped me to develop my plans. When I told her that I wanted to write a book she was the first person who said YES, you should. And she showed me how to plan my book proposal and query letter, and how to research agents and publishers. My mentor’s advice has been critical to my success as a writer, and as a business owner.

When you work with a mentor, their industry knowledge is at your disposal. You benefit from their years of training or information gathering. You are put on the fast track by being able to avoid the pitfalls and curve balls that they experienced. Mentors are important because they help you replicate what works, so that you can be successful in what you do.

If you are considering a mentor, here are a few thoughts to help you make the right choice.

• Look for someone who has in-depth expertise in your industry
• Find a mentor that has actually accomplished what you are looking to do
• Personality is important – find a person who you click with
• You want a mentor you respect, and who you can admire and look up to
• Look for a mentor who is humble and has a deep respect for all people
• Find someone that you feel is relatable and approachable

Carin Kilby Clark is the author of the ebook, Time Management Made Easy for Busy Moms: 5 Simple Tips on How to Control Your Time and Get Things Done (April 2014, Clue Consulting, LLC). If you want to learn how to finally put time on your side, then this book has the goods that you need – and for less than the cost of a cup of coffee. Buy your copy today!

Do any of these excuses sound familiar?

I’m just too busy

I have too much on my plate

There’s never enough time

I have to do it all

I don’t know how to manage it all

If you answered yes, then prepare to put an end to the overwhelm once and for all. In Time Management Made Easy for Busy Moms, Carin Kilby Clark shares five simple tips that moms can implement right away to improve how they control their time and get things done.

Time Management Made Easy for Busy Moms offers insight into the one major block that prevents us from maximizing our time, gives readers practical information that is easily applied to everyday life, and helps you along the path to your “aha” moments about how and why you’ve been ineffective in managing your time; and how to to finally put time in its rightful place {on your side, of course!}.

As the mother of three very active children who also works full-time, runs a business in her “spare” time, publishes a lifestyle & parenting site, manages a growing motherhood community, and regularly contributes parenting advice to many popular sites in the parenting/family life niche, Carin’s advice is solid; based on methods that she has successfully implemented in controlling her time and getting things done.

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Genre – Parenting, Relationships

Rating – G

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@Ted_Tayler's ‘Daylight Robbery’ in A STING IN THE TALE #Fiction #AmReading #ShortStory

The safe doors were then closed securely and fifteen minutes later the shop was ready to receive its first customer. Jenny let herself into the staff room and made a cup of tea for Mr Jenkinson and a coffee for herself. They had five minutes to drink up and have a chat before the final member of staff would join them. Daniel French was a craftsman. Daniel was single and lived alone in a flat above Coleman’s the butchers which overlooked the High Street. The word ‘oddball’ could have been coined just with him in mind.

As Jenny Turner and Chris Jenkinson made their respective ways towards the front door of Shatner and Sons each morning, Daniel would be watching them from behind his faded lace curtains. He would look at the old clock on the mantelpiece and check that they were on time. Once they were inside, he would shower, get dressed and fill his large flask full of hot sweet tea; then he would leave his flat and walk down to the door at the rear of the building. From there it was a brisk walk up the alleyway between the butcher’s and the Western Counties Building Society, into the newsagents for a copy of The Times and then Daniel would cross the High Street and ring the imposing brass door bell of the jewellers. His two colleagues would open the door, let him into the shop and the business day could begin. Daniel French would take up his position in the back of the shop to carry out his duties. Through the large one way glass window which afforded him a perfect view. Daniel could see everything.

As Jenny Turner picked up the empty cups on this particular morning, she heard the bell ring. She smiled at Daniel through the glass door and quickly deposited the cups in the staff room, then joined Chris Jenkinson and they opened the door. ‘Good morning Mr French’ said Jenny. ‘Good morning Daniel’ said Chris. Daniel gave them a brief nod, and then disappeared into his inner sanctum, flask and newspaper in hand.

Jenny looked at her boss and giggled. ‘Nothing changes much around here does it?’

Chris Jenkinson shook his head ‘Our Mr French isn’t a people person I fear, but he’s an excellent craftsman and has worked here ever since he left school. After his parents died, he sold their house and bought the flat over the road, apart from coming here to work during the week, I’m not sure that he gets out that much. His only interest appears to be the theatre. Mr Singh at the newsagents mentioned to me one day that it was Daniel that always put the posters in his window advertising plays put on by the Weston Amateur Dramatic Society.’

Just then a young woman entered the shop, looking for a watch for her husband. The day’s business had begun!

A collection of twelve short stories with an unexpected twist at the end. There are love stories, ghost stories and tales of revenge, all sprinkled with a touch of humour. In fact there’s something for everyone, young or old. There are characters and situations you will readily recognise, but will you identify ‘the sting in the tale’ before you turn the final page?

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Genre - Short Story Collection

Rating – PG

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Connect with Ted Tayler through Facebook & Twitter

Website http://tedtayler.co.uk

#Excerpt from IS YOUR CHAIR KILLING YOU by @KentBurden #AmReading #AmWriting

If you are struggling with your weight, listen up. The work that Marc Hamilton, PhD and Dr. James Levine are doing points directly to one conclusion: Sitting down is your worst enemy. Even if you look at only healthy people who exercise regularly, the ones who sit the most have larger waistlines and have more unhealthy markers like higher blood pressures, higher blood sugar levels and more heart disease and cancers than those who sit less often. Even more proof that remaining in the seated position for too long adversely affects your waistline even if you exercise. 

In fact, people who sit for more than three hours each day are just as fat whether they exercise or not. You may be thinking that this is just not possible; after all, the people who are exercising are burning more calories, so it follows that they should be thinner, right? Wrong. Hey baby, the numbers don’t lie. The problem is that we burn only a small percentage of calories during exercise. Most of the calorie-burning we do during the day happens not while we are “exercising,” but while we are just living our everyday lives. 

When you spend most of that time sitting, your body’s metabolism is basically in hibernation mode. Sitting is one of the most inactive things you can do. You burn more calories standing around twiddling your thumbs or chewing gum than you do just sitting in a chair doing nothing. When you are seated, electrical activity in the muscles drops — “the muscles go as silent as those of a dead horse,” Hamilton says, which leads to a series of harmful metabolic effects. Your calorie-burning rate immediately plunges to a third of what it would be if you got up and walked. Insulin effectiveness drops within a single day, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes rises. So does the risk of being obese. The enzymes responsible for breaking down lipids and triglycerides — for “vacuuming up fat out of the bloodstream,” as Hamilton puts it — plunge, which in turn causes the levels of good (HDL) cholesterol to fall.

The average person can burn an extra 60 calories an hour just by standing. Now, you may not be able to stand all day, but if you incorporate one to five minutes of movements every hour that use upper and lower body strength, balance and flexibility in short bursts like the ones in this book, you are right back up there near that 60 calorie mark. These short bursts of movement also keep your body from going into that hibernation mode that happens when you sit without getting up for long periods of time. “But just avoid the chair is the simple recommendation, as much as you can,” according to Dr. Hamilton. Ok, so we’ve got all figured out now, right? The biggest problem with sitting for long periods is that you burn less energy, which makes it easier to gain weight and, conversely, harder to lose weight…or is it? There also seems to be a “physiology of inactivity” that has a cascading effect on lipids, enzymes and body chemistry that is detrimental to our health and may cause us to gain weight. So the problem is two-fold. Not only are we burning fewer calories as we sit but our body is producing-or not producing- chemicals, enzymes and fats that stymie our ability to stay lean and healthy.

This is where many people throw up their hands and say “I’m screwed, just dig a hole and I’ll jump in.” But there’s evidence that the solution to this problem may be a simple one. To find out more read Is Your Chair Killing You?

Sitting for extended periods of time is as bad for your health as smoking cigarettes. And exercising for 30-60 minutes a day isn’t enough to undo the damage from extended periods of sitting. Is Your Chair Killing You reveals shocking new research showing that sitting for long periods greatly increases your risk of developing obesity, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. 

Our bodies were designed to move constantly over the course of the day, but most of us sit for hours a day at work and at home! Fitness and wellness expert and award-winning author Kent Burden has created brief, simple movements you can incorporate into your daily life to combat the damaging effects of sitting. 

These simple movements, done standing for 1-5 minutes each hour will burn calories, energize and refresh you, and you won’t even break a sweat; you’ll even improve your back pain. This book is a how-to for weight loss and disease prevention. Read this book–you’ll be healthier in as little as 8 minutes a day.

Nominated for the Dan Poynter Global Ebook Awards and won honorable mention at the Los Angeles Book Festival

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Genre – Non-Fiction

Rating – G

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Website http://www.kentburden.com/

#Excerpt from Unfinished Business by Ted Tayler @Ted_Tayler #GoodReads #Thriller #BYNR

‘Will someone please track down his passport photograph? He holds a British passport; he only got one at the last minute so he could get away to The Gambia with his boss when we were closing in on him over the Gibson girl’s murder. At least it will give us something useful to match against any CCTV images we can come up with.’

Phil Hounsell was warming to his task now; he could feel he had the room with him, there were no heads looking out of a window or staring at the ground, indicating that they thought this was a waste of time.

A young female officer spoke up. She was seated at the back; Phil couldn’t remember her being introduced when they arrived perhaps she had crept in while he was in full swing earlier.

‘It would be useful to get a credible image of this man out to the police authorities immediately surrounding our patch. He won’t be sitting around in the city waiting for us to pick him up. Our role in this investigation could well be all but over.’

Danny saw that Phil was about to explode; he stood up and walked forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with his old boss.

‘We didn’t come all the way up here to pass the ball on to someone else, okay?’ he said, fixing the young woman with a stare, and then looking at each of the other officers in the room ‘This is personal for us. We know this guy. You would all walk by him in the street without a second glance. He’s invisible; which makes him extremely dangerous. Phil Hounsell touched Danny Bevan on the arm, a silent thank you for the support, but also a signal that he was back in control of his emotions and ready to continue. He carried on Danny’s theme.

‘We had our suspicions about the deaths of both of his parents; sloppy police work and Bailey’s cunning and intelligence left us with very little except suspicions. After Sharron Bailey’s death her parents both went off the rails for some time, who wouldn’t? Karen Bailey hit the bottle and her husband was cheating on her with his boss Sue Owens. In 2003 a local councillor started a campaign to clean up the gang culture that was rife in the town and was shot dead by a member of one of the gangs. We believe now that Colin Bailey had some personal grudge against this councillor and when someone else took him out, this was the final straw and nine people were killed inside a couple of hours only a few days later.’

‘We were persuaded to believe at first that it was the two gangs flexing their muscle, but one of the dead men was the doctor who had delivered Sharron Bailey fifteen years previously and had performed a hysterectomy on her mother. Subsequent inquiries by the medical authorities suggest that this doctor was rather too keen to subject patients to the knife and eliminating the possibility of Bailey’s wife ever having any more kids was almost certainly too hasty; knowing what we know now about Colin Bailey’s attitude towards people who have caused him grief, then this doctor was yet another long term target.’

‘Karly Gibson was a young girl who, like many of her generation, was footloose and fancy free. There was no evidence she was particularly promiscuous, but she had friends and boy friends like I have Indian takeaways. She was also pretty much the age his daughter would have been if she had lived. Colin Bailey killed her. We could prove that. She met Bailey in a pub and chatted to him when she felt like it and ignored him once too often. It was as simple as that; I don’t believe he was attracted to her sexually; I reckon she reminded him of Sharron and he would have taken her under his wing like the daughter he had lost.’

‘We were so close to picking him up! He got away by the skin of his teeth and joined his boss in The Gambia. She had sold her home, her business, cashed in everything so they could be tucked up in a safe haven while we were left powerless to react. How much she knew about what Colin Bailey had done, who knows? If she did know and helped him escape then they must have had some incredibly strong bond. What sort of woman could love a stone cold killer like that?’

The room fell silent.

The young female officer spoke again ‘Are you on his radar Sir?’

Phil Hounsell looked at her again. She wasn’t much more than twenty five, maybe five foot five and about seven stones wringing wet. She blinked at him from behind her distinctive red rimmed glasses.

‘I didn’t catch your name, sorry’ he said.

‘Mouse, Sir’ called out Dave Butcher one of the senior members of the local team. Several of the other people in the room laughed. The young girl blushed.

‘DS Zara Wheeler, Sir’ she replied.

‘I’m afraid so Zara’ answered Phil.

‘We had better find this Colin Bailey then, before he finds you’ Zara said, blinking again.

The sequel to the award winning ‘The Final Straw’ sees Colin Bailey return to the UK after almost a decade abroad. With a new name and a new face he still has scores to settle. His meticulous planning takes him ingeniously across Scotland and the North of England ticking names off his list with the police completely baffled. 

DCI Phil Hounsell pitted his wits against Colin before and so he is sent to Durham where he teams up with super intelligent young DS Zara Wheeler; together they track their man to Manchester and then eventually south to Bath. 

The final scenes take place on the streets of the Roman city; Phil Hounsell’s family is threatened and in a dramatic conclusion reminiscent of Holmes and Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls, the two men struggle above the foaming waters of the historic Pulteney weir. 

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – Thriller

Rating – PG-18

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Connect with Ted Tayler on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://tedtayler.co.uk/

Scott Moon's Definition of a Successful Writing Career @ScottMoonWriter #SciFi #AmReading

What motivates you to write?

Reading, listening to, or watching a great story. I’m also inspired by artists, athletes, and professional people who have taken their vocation to a high level. I first noticed this while watching American Idol with my family. I sat on the couch thinking how talented the performers were, and wished I could do something that fantastic—like write the Great American Novel. 

What writing are you most proud of?

I really like my novel Enemy of Man, though there are several sections in Dragon Badge that have serious legs. This is a hard question to answer, because I always want to make the writing better. As an Indie author, I can polish a book after publication. Dangerous, but a nice option to have.

What are you most proud of in your personal life?

My kids. They’re amazing, and they think their dad’s pretty cool.

How did you develop your writing?

I started writing as a panster, and still prefer to explore characters with writing instead of character sheets. However, the more books I read, and the more reviews my published books receive, the more I study plot and structure. From the beginning, I’ve sought to improve grammar. I read, write, and study a lot.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Books, movies, music, dreams, and the blank page.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?

Landing a traditional publishing deal seems almost impossible. I tried that for years, but spent too much time writing and not enough time submitting. As an aspiring author reading the Writer’s Market, I took the ‘no simultaneous submissions’ seriously, which meant I’d wait two years for a reply. In one case, I waited seven years for the final rejection. The initial response to the manuscript that eventually became Dragon Badge was very positive, but after seven years I was finally advised it didn’t meet the publisher’s current needs. Disappointed, but encouraged, I re-wrote the story and pursued self-publishing. Writing is the most fun, so I’d say it is the easiest part of the success triangle. Marketing isn’t rocket science, but it’s a lot of work and no matter what anyone says, is easier with a fat budget.

What marketing works for you?

I’ve used the KDP free day technique with decent success, though the industry has changed a bit since then. Currently, paid promotion sites like Orangeberry Book Tours, Bargain Booksy, and Ereader News Today do well. I also recommend World Literary Café tweet teams, though I haven’t tried the paid promotions there yet.

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

When I can justify writing four or five hours a day, I’ll have made it. I often write the much now, but it makes me look crazy. The competition is fierce. Last I heard, there were about 1,500 new books published each day. Making a full time career is almost more than I can hope for. It would be nice, but it’s not a requirement for me. I must write. In a perfect world, I would write four hours a day, workout two hours a day, attend Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class every day, watch three or four movies a week, read constantly, and still have time for my family. That makes it sound like I want to be a full time writer able to make my own schedule. Guilty as charged.

It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?

Finding your niche is the key to success. How easy would it be to sell your book if you knew exactly who is looking for it? There are a lot of marketing books on newsletters and mailing lists, claiming this is the key to world class success. I can’t argue with that, but it is a process I have not mastered. My first novel, Dragon Badge, best fits in the urban / contemporary fantasy genre, but not perfectly, and is hard to market as a result. But I love it and a lot of readers do as well. It has fifty-two reviews and a 4.1 star average. Enemy of Man fits well in the science fiction genre and outperforms my other books, though sales ratios change month to month.

The basic marketing formula is to be friendly and helpful with social media, pay for advertising that works, avoid paying for what doesn’t, and make every book you write the best it can be. I rarely do free days, though I often price my books at $0.99 to gain exposure. In the beginning, I tried starting several blogs. Now I recommend focusing all of your blogging effort in one place, and possibly have a separate static web page that is product oriented and informational. Ask me again next year, and I’ll have a different answer.

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

I am working on the second Chronicles of Kin Roland book, Son of Orlan. I wanted to get deeper into the characters and take the plot to the next logical, but hopefully surprising, level. In the first novel, Enemy of Man, the protagonist is established as someone who refuses to commit war crimes. Son of Orlan puts Kin the position to reconsider his choices, but also focuses on a villain from EOM and his son. The son, of course, holds the secrets of the universe. The villain is a surprisingly dedicated father, if a bit violent and rash.

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?

My mother’s father Jack, my father’s mother Ruth and my aunt Debbie, and my wife’s grandfather Joseph. I wish I had a chance to know them better. As for famous people, I’d have Stephen King, Michael Connelly, J. K. Rowling, and George R. R. Martin over for dinner as long as they promised to tell me I’m a great writer. 

Lost Hero

Changed by captivity and torture, hunted by the Reapers of Hellsbreach and wanted by Earth Fleet, Kin Roland hides on a lost planet near an unstable wormhole.

When a distant space battle propels a ravaged Earth Fleet Armada through the same wormhole, a Reaper follows, hunting for the man who burned his home world. Kin fights to save a mysterious native of Crashdown from the Reaper and learns there are worse things in the galaxy than the nightmare hunting him. The end is coming and he is about to pay for a sin that will change the galaxy forever. 

Books

Enemy of Man: Book One in the Chronicles of Kin Roland was written for fans of military science fiction and science fiction adventure. Readers who enjoyed Starship Troopers or Space Marines will appreciate this genre variation. Powered armor only gets a soldier so far. Battlefield experience, guts, and loyal friends make Armageddon fun. 

Movies

If you love movies like Aliens, Predator, The Chronicles of Riddick, or Serenity, then you might find the heroes and creatures in Enemy of Man dangerous, determined, and ready to risk it all. It’s all about action and suspense, with a dash of romance—or perhaps flash romance. 

From the Author

Thanks for your interest in my novel, Enemy of Man. I hope you chose to read the book and enjoy every page. 

If you have already read Enemy of Man, how was it? Reviews are appreciated! 

Have a great day and be safe.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Science Fiction

Rating – R

More details about the author

 Connect with Scott Moon on Facebook & Twitter

Rising Tide: Dark Innocence #Excerpt by Claudette Melanson @Bella623 #Paranormal #AmReading

And today, of course, the sun was shining miserably on my head, as I quickly headed for the oak-tree shaded bus stop.  In my rush to get out of the house, I’d forgotten to put on my dark sunglasses, but I dug them out of my pack now, twisting around awkwardly as I made my way into the comforting shadows.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Katie Parker coming out of her house across the street.

“Great,” I muttered under my breath.  Placed beside Katie’s blonde, tanned perfection, I looked all the more irregular.  I tried to put on a happy face anyway and be sociable, a definite struggle for me.

“Hi Katie,” I said with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.  I refused to ever say ‘good morning,’ as I hated mornings and saw nothing good about them whatsoever.  I didn’t expect much in the way of a reply.  Katie, annoyingly perky in her cheerleading uniform, was miles away from my end of the social spectrum.  So, I was shocked when she turned her bright blue eyes on me dazzlingly, and spoke to me in a way she never had before this day.

“Hi Maura!”  She was so chipper, it was stifling.  “Beautiful morning isn’t it?”

I wondered briefly what she would say if I shot back:  “Actually, I like the rain,” like I was thinking.  I thought better of it and replied, “Sure is.”

“Aren’t you excited about prom?” she bubbled.

Oh, so that was it.  She was overexcited about prom and probably just needed an outlet for venting all her pent up enthusiasm.  Prom was in a few weeks and no one had asked me, not that I really wanted to go.  The thought of my pale shoulders exposed in some fancy dress made me cringe.  I tugged at the edge of one of my long sleeves unconsciously in response.

CHOSEN AS ONE OF 400 FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARD FOR 2014!!!

ARE YOU A FAN OF VAMPIRE ROMANCE?

Rising Tide will sink it’s teeth into you, keeping you awake into the wee hours of the night

Maura’s life just can’t get any worse…or can it?

Isolated and sheltered by her lonely mother, Maura’s never been the best at making friends. Unusually pale with a disease-like aversion to the sun, she seems to drive her classmates away, but why?

Even her own father deserted her, and her mother, before Maura was born. Bizarre physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring, drive Maura to fear for her own life. And her luck just seems to get worse.

Life is about to become even more bewildering when her mother’s abrupt…and unexplained…decision to move a country away sets off a chain of events that will change Maura forever. A cruel prank turned deadly, the discovery of love and friendship….and its loss, as well as a web of her own mother’s lies, become obstacles in Maura’s desperate search for a truth she was never prepared to uncover.

Featured on one of the most popular health blogs on the internet as a giveaway!

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Genre – YA Paranormal Romance

Rating – PG

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Website http://claudettemelanson.wix.com/author