Teaser Tour: Baxter's Draw by Juliette Harper

Teaser Tour: Firebird Vengeance by Orren Merton

Teaser Tour: Charter To Redemption by D.J. Blackmore

I'm excited to host a teaser tour stop for Charter to Redemption by D.J. Blackmore. Charter to Redemption is a historical fiction novel that is now available for sale.

About Charter to Redemption by D.J. Blackmore:

At the close of 1821, the penal colony of Newcastle looks to be every bit as black as it's painted. Emma Colchester charters a ride to Australia with a promise of marriage to a man she has never met. But appearances aren't always as they seem. And with a commitment unavoidable Emma learns that shackles are not always forged from iron. Tobias Freeman longs for redemption and hope. After a rough journey to New South Wales, Tobias learns the rations, the regulations, and the reprisal. But neither Emma nor Tobias expect the repercussions.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 

Britain’s penal colony of Newcastle is as cruel as it is beautiful. With a pledge to marry a man she has never met, Emma sons learns that appearance can deceive, and that shackles are not always forged in iron. Tobias Freeman is anything but what his name suggests. As a convict awaiting ‘his majesty’s pleasure’, he realises he has no rights, especially concerning Emma Colchester. When the unexpected happens, neither Emma nor Tobias bargain on the repercussions.

Excerpt:

The man she thought was the commandant led her down the garden path and clicked shut the white picket gate behind them. Emma glanced up hesitantly and her hand shot to her mouth to still her gasp of surprise.

‘You’re alive.’
‘Aye,’ he nodded, ‘for now, at least.’
‘The commandant?’
‘He is otherwise occupied with a convict who has nothing to do on a Saturday night other than hide in the bushes.’

‘What are you doing wearing his clothes?’ Emma whispered as she glanced back at the manse. Laughter tinkled through the open windows like silverware on china.

‘I am about to take the air with the landed gentry’s niece, and it was hardly fitting, miss, that I should be in the garb of a government man when one such as you appeared before me.’

Emma felt herself colour deeply at the audacious compliment. She looked up in sudden breathless nervousness. Emma saw his eyes glitter and the butterflies in her stomach fluttered madly at the consequences of being in the company of a convict; both for her and him.

‘As a gentleman you should be aware of the fact that a young lady is first asked before being led down the garden path by a perfect stranger.’

The convict swept her a gracious bow and displayed a military bearing that looked as though it had been born to him.

‘But then, miss, I am neither perfect nor a stranger, and certainly no gentleman. I’ve no more chivalry than most of the soldiers in the barracks.’

‘You forget yourself I believe, sir. You cannot know any of the regiment, for you have been here no longer than I.’

‘I heard enough in the garden to know you were destined as the sweets course, that’s for sure.’ Emma frowned at the coarse insinuation.

‘Considering that I am betrothed to Officer Quinn, I hardly imagine that the commandant had any such thing on his mind.’

‘Aye, then perhaps it was not undisguised lust I saw on his face.’

Emma flushed with indignation at his words. ‘I wonder if your thoughts are somewhat the same sir, for the appraising eyes you fix on me have an altogether familiar stare.’

‘I beg your pardon, miss. I never realised I was staring.’ They stood silent for a moment.
‘Can you waltz?’ the convict asked.
‘You are asking me to dance?’

‘That I am,’ he said with a bow from the waist.

Emma took the hand held out to her, but glanced away from the parsonage, away from Gideon Quinn who stood at the open door. She could not see his features, but she could make out the indecision in his stance. Would he cut in on her dancing partner in displeasure? Yet he mustn’t have seen the commandant as a rival,because after a moment’s thought he retreated. Emma had feared he would surely see through this man’s disguise.As the strain of the single violin reached them, he took her in his arms and began to sway in time to the music. Emma noted that the convict’s movements were both strong and fluid.

‘I will say nothing against you,’ she said.

He nodded.
‘Aye, I know.’
‘What you are doing is folly, to say the least.’ She said. He didn’t justify his actions, so Emma continued.

‘Do you know what will happen to you if you’re caught?’

‘Aye, I do.’ For the first time Emma saw him smile. She was surprised to see that his teeth were strong and white, even as she wondered at his apparent unconcern.

‘It’s been a while since I danced,’ he admitted, and Emma stared at him, slightly open-mouthed. ‘And it’s nothing short of boring in a cottage with Kevin.’

About the Author:

D. J. Blackmore is a Hunter Valley, New South Wales author, born and raised. Her convict heritage

and love of history have seen the author explore this in 'Charter to Redemption.' Yet is is perhaps Australian dogged determination has seen this debut author as a new name in fiction. Although amazon reviews reflect her work, it is pertinent to note that the author's story is not unique, although her journey in writing has been. Numerous rejections never daunted the author, and many years after her dream was envisaged, so was the reality. Yet for all the countless doubts that niggle every writer who has lived in hope, it is humbling praise indeed when reviewer F. Stanford writes of 'Charter to Redemption' and Ms Blackmore's work: "this could very well be the benchmark for the standard of modern-day classics."

D. J. Blackmore is currently working on the sequel, 'Consider the Ravens.'

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway:

Two copies of Charter to Redemption 

Open to US, Canada, UK and Australia

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tour: Beasts of Burdin #2: Burdin of Choice by Alexander Nader

Welcome to the teaser tour for Burdin of Choice, book two in the Beasts of Burdin series by Alexander Nader. Burdin of Choice is now out and the first book, Beasts of Burdin, is only .99 cents for a limited time! To celebrate we have Alexander Nader on the blog to talk about the books and himself. Stick with us, there's a giveaway at the end!

Interview with author Alexander Nader:

Can you tell us about your book in 10 words?

Smart mouthed, alcoholic private eye decapitates dastardly demons with style.

Tell us 10 interesting facts about yourself.

I’m not very interesting. Does that count as number one? No? Eh, I’m counting it anyway. #2 I have a hard time answering questions seriously. #3 I find idiocy to be among the highest forms of comedic gold. #4 I’ve dubbed myself ‘The class clown of word smithery.’ #5 Someone else named my blog ‘Eloquent Until the All Caps Cussing’ after I sent them a particularly profane (yet enlightening) email. #6 My hair is the source of my hidden super powers. What’s that? What super powers? Shoot, I wasn’t supposed to tell, now they’re not hidden. *Waves hand, erasing memory of last three seconds* #7 I consider my wife and kids the greatest accomplishment in my life. No. Really, that one’s serious. They rule. #8 I can only come up with 8 quasi-interesting facts about myself.

What was your biggest obstacle you had to overcome when writing?

My stomach. You see, I write on my laptop which I keep on my lap;portable computers are aptly named like that. So anyway, depending on how many cakes I’ve had that day, my belly sticks up. The thing blocks my view of the bottom part of my screen and I can only suck it in for so long before I blackout. After I blackout, I usually wake up in another state wearing someone else’s fez and that really interferes with my writing. I should probably go on a diet. Maybe low cal. Or low carb. Or…ooohhhhcake.

Where do you get your ideas?

I keep a house elf named Darby. Every time I need a new story I just ask Mr. Darby what he thinks I should write about. You should hear some of the stuff he comes up with. It’s literary gold. Hopefully no one ever finds out that I have him or they might….*Stares suspicious* *Waves hand, erasing 5.3 seconds of memory*

Where do you like to write?

Atop a pile of $100 bills on a beach that never sees anything but slightly overcast days with a temperature of a consistent 73 degrees Fahrenheit while Alton Brown cooks me scientifically correct hush puppies and a Vintage Trouble plays ‘Jezebella’ on repeat. But I usually just settle with my couch.

What kind of research did you have to do for your books?

So much demon research. All of the demons from the Burdin series are real. It took a lot of time to pick out which ones were good to use. You wouldn’t believe how many demons gave me bad directions and misinformation while I was scouring the underworld for perfect candidates. It took a long time, but finally I traded a crossroads demon my soul if he would just write the book for me. I like to think things worked best that way.

What is your writing schedule like? Do you force yourself to write daily?

My writing schedule stays busy. I’m constantly working on writing when I’m not working. As motivation to keep my writing up, I’ve allowed Mr. Darby to kick me in the shin if I go more than 24 hours without writing. It’s the only form of payment I offer the little guy, but he seems to get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?
Welp, I’d like to say a whole lot. I’d like to say I’ve got a story in an anthology called ‘Memoirs of Dr. Renfield’ coming out December 1st. I’d like to say Burdin 3 comes out in June 2015 and I’d like to tell you about the secret super hero novel I’ve been working on, BUT I made a deal with a crossroads demon and I think my soul is due any minute now. OH MY GOD HERE HE COMES SOMEONE SAVE….

About Burdin of Choice (Beasts of Burdin #2):
Ty Burdin is back. Back to drinking and back to avoiding demons. He is, of course, the leading expert in his field. In both subjects.

That’s probably why, when a customer offers him way too much money just to locate a missing car and some mysterious cargo, he readily agrees. The dude is human after all—Ty’s prime target client base.

Along with the money comes a slew of disappearances which Ty tries to ignore while tracking down that car, because, of course, those missing people might be demon related, and as he’s said before, that’s agency business. Not his. Period.

Until today.

Ty Burdin is to back drinking as well as everything he vowed never to get involved with again.

Question is, which one will kill him first? The booze, the demons, or the Agency?

Burdin of Choice at J. Taylor Publishing | Goodreads | Amazon

Don't miss out on book one, Beasts of Burdin. Now only .99 cents at Amazon for a limited time!

About Beasts of Burdin:

Demon hunter Ty Burdin hung up his guns, knife, trench coat and fedora a year ago. Bags packed, hands washed of all demon politics, he’s done. Forever.

In fact, to get far far away, he dragged Nora, his rockabilly secretary, from Miami to the Tennessee mountains where he’s lived a life of peace—if peace can be defined as drowning in scotch and taking private eye jobs to keep the lights on. Jobs for real people. Not demons.

No demons.

He’s retired from that. Remember?

Demon hunters aren’t a dime a dozen, though, and when Ty’s brother asks him for a favor—just one—what’s a brother to do? Agreeing to take down one hillbilly demon shouldn’t take that long. In. Decapitate. Out. Favor complete. Back to the office where Nora and his bottle of whiskey are waiting.

Unfortunately for Ty, staying retired doesn’t seem to be in the cards, and an avalanche of bad luck draws him right back to an agency he despises and the career that nearly cost him his sanity.

This time, Ty has no way out and will have to face his own demons just to survive.

 

Also find it at J. Taylor Publishing | Goodreads

About the Author:

Alex lives in the tourist infested hills of east Tennessee with his amazing wife/muse and three superb children. He would tell you more about how awesome they are, but you probably wouldn’t believe him. When he’s not hanging out with them he’s making pizzas. When he’s not doing that he’s working at a bookstore and occasionally he jots a few words down. He’s a big fan of good music, good storytelling, and mixed martial arts.

He once wrote a short story about pirates to his wife via text message that blossomed into a full length novel and never stopped after that.

Facebook |  Twitter |  Goodreads | Website

Giveaway:

$10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tour: Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly

Today we have a teaser tour for Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly. 
This is a young adult thriller and is available for sale now.

Margo Kelly’s Debut Who R U Really? was Ripped from a Real Life Event

After her daughter narrowly survived a man she met in an online role-playing game, Kelly wrote a breathless young adult thriller with the hopes of helping others spot and unmask internet predators.

When a Nampa, Idaho, police detective said to Margo Kelly’s daughter, “It is your job to tell others—your real everyday friends that you go to school with—tell them what happened to you, so nothing like this can happen to them.” … she agreed.

“My daughter is my hero,” Kelly said, “for being willing to share her personal choices, conversations, and feelings in order to help others, regardless of the negative judgment she might receive as a result.” Additionally, Kelly realized if she wrote a novel about her daughter’s experience, they could help more people avoid the trappings of internet predators. Who R U Really? is primarily a work of fiction, but the essence of the plot is what happened when Kelly’s daughter was nearly abducted. The
fictional elements are based on what has happened to young women across the country on a too frequent basis.

“Inspired by her own daughter's terrifying story, Kelly has painted a realistic picture of how a smart girl can get caught up in something dangerous online,” said the School Library Journal. “Guaranteed to give readers goosebumps—particularly as events heat up toward the end. … A good
choice for families to read together.”

According to the Fall Preview issue of Kirkus Reviews, “Thea’s mistakes, while frustrating to encounter, are frighteningly plausible, and the relationships among characters are well–fleshed out, especially between mother and daughter. Kelly’s first novel is a suspenseful page-turner with multiple suspects, a little bit of romance, and a strong but not overbearing message.”

About The Book:

Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly
(ages 12-18)

When Thea discovers a new role-playing game online, she breaks her parents’ rules to play. And in the world of the game, Thea falls for an older boy named Kit whose smarts and savvy can’t defeat his near-suicidal despair. Soon, he’s texting her, asking her to meet him, and talking in vague ways about how they can be together forever. As much as she suspects that this is wrong, Thea is powerless to resist Kit’s allure, and hurtles toward the very fate her parents feared most. Who R U Really? will excite you and scare you, as Thea’s life spins out of control.

“Kelly has painted a realistic picture of how a smart girl can get caught up in something dangerous online. … Guaranteed to give readers goosebumps.” -- School Library Journal. (http://www.bookverdict.com)

“Thea’s mistakes, while frustrating to encounter, are frighteningly plausible, and the relationships among characters are well–fleshed out, especially between mother and daughter. Kelly’s first novel is a suspenseful page-turner.” -- Kirkus Reviews (www.kirkusreviews.com)

Amazon | B&N | AdamsMediaStore | Goodreads

About The Author:

Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest and currently resides in Idaho. A veteran public speaker, she is now actively pursuing her love of writing. Who R U Really? is her first novel. Margo welcomes the opportunities to speak to youth groups, library groups, and book clubs.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads  

Giveaway:

Hardcover of Who R U Really?

US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tour: Lady Firebird by Orren Merton

Today we have a teaser tour for Lady Firebird to celebrate the release that it's now available for sale! This is a young adult urban fantasy series and this is book two in the Sedumen Chronicles.

Let's see if this news report piques your interest...

News Report from Cambridge, Massachusetts

Carla: This is Carla Hennington from WGBC in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the scene what will no doubt have repercussions far outside the greater Boston area; indeed, this may change everything we know, or think we know, about the universe in which we live.

I'm standing here with Laura Meeks, a junior at John Adams High School. Laura, can you tell me what you saw?

Laura: It was crazy. Some huge guy with, like, two bears or wolves or something grabbed this blond girl—I think she was a sophomore—who was walking home. She started screaming, my buddy Bruce and I were thinking we should do something, when we heard that girl, Lady Firebird, start yelling—

Carla: Can you describe the girl, Laura?

Laura: Oh, yeah. She was off the charts! Her hair and eyes were on fire, her skin was like leather or stone or something, I dunno, hard, you know? And she ran right at the kidnapper and his wolves, swinging her huge curved sword—it had blue flames.

Carla: The man responded?

Laura: Oh man, he sicked his wolves on her. Then Lady Firebird, like, opened up a rip in the air or something—it was crazy—and her wolves started coming out. The wolves fought, she fought the guy, but he cut her open and he and his wolves got away with the girl. It was intense—and really sad.

Carla: And that's when you and your friends aided—

Laura: Lady Firebird, yeah. I walked up, and she talked to us, that's how I know her name. Here, Bruce, why don't you...

Carla: Bruce Williams, ladies and gentleman, another eye witness. Bruce, why don't you tell us what happened from here.

Bruce: Thank you, Ms. Hennington. Yeah, um, we approached Lady Firebird, me first. She was hurt bad, but she could still talk. She told us what to do—we took her blade, and, like, waved it in the air like she said. It made like a slice in the air, and we couldn't see into it or through it, it was all black. I'd never seen—or done—anything like that.

Laura: Some other guys on the scene from John Adams dragged her wolf over, and they all were pulled through the hole in the air by these huge ape hands or something.

Carla: Were you scared?

Laura: Oh my God you have no idea.

Bruce: The whole thing was so intense! We were like...how could this be real? But there it was, in front of us. Some huge monster dude and his wolf kidnapped a girl from my school...it was crazy. But Lady Firebird tried to save her, and said she was going to bring her home.

Laura: Yeah, I hope she's okay, and she can bring that poor girl home. I can't imagine...

Carla: We're all praying for the victim of this horrible crime, absolutely. What a terrifying event. Were you two afraid, not just of the kidnapper, but of the mysterious flaming swordswoman?

Bruce: Were we scared of Lady Firebird?

Laura: I mean, sure, she was scary and all, but I think she was after that kidnapper, you know? She was trying to help.

Carla: We all hope so, that's for sure. Bruce, Laura, thank you both. And I'm Carla Hennington from WGHC, on the scene in Cambridge. For more on this breaking story we return to our Boston studio.

 About Lady Firebird:

Alexandra Gold leads two lives. 

In a universe filled with powerful spirit beings, she is the half human, half-demon Lady Firebird of the House of Keroz. She stopped Dirk Raum from murdering humans whose fresh souls he fed the House of Raum. This won her the respect of some but the enmity of others.

On Earth, she appears to be like every other eighteen-year old girl, but she longs to step forward as Lady Firebird, and let people know that she will protect them—but she worries that once people see her flaming hair, eyes, and long fangs, she will terrify those she wants to help. When Dirk returns and starts a kidnapping spree as part of his plan to conquer both universes, Alex races to the rescue. 

She is ready to meet the challenge; but is the world ready to meet Lady Firebird?

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author:

Orren Merton started writing fantasy and science fiction at an embarrassingly young age, mostly for his own

amusement. In high school, he listened to a lot of dark and moody rock, which inspired him to pick up guitar and start playing up and down California in a few bands, culminating in his Industrial rock group Ember After releasing their debut album, Grasping At Straws, and subsequently The Misery EP.  During that time, magazines, developers, and corporations began to pay him to write and edit music software related articles, manuals, and  books. Since then he has written the urban fantasy novel The Deviant and the science fiction novel Skye Entity before working on his current series of YA novels. He lives in Southern California with his family, pets, collection of sci-fi/fantasy memorabilia, and curiously large stuffed animal collection.

Website |  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

5 ebook copies of Lady Firebird by Orren Merton (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Teaser Tour: Phantom's Dance by Lesa Howard

Welcome to my stop on the teaser tour for Phantom's Dance by Lesa Howard. Phantom's Dance is a YA modern retelling of Phantom of the Opera and it's available for sale, right now!

About The Book:

Christine Dadey’s family uprooted their lives and moved to Houston for her to attend the prestigious Rousseau Academy of Dance. Now, two years later, Christine struggles to compete among the Academy’s finest dancers, her parents are on the brink of divorce, and she’s told no one about her debilitating performance anxiety and what she’s willing to do to cope with it. 

Erik was a ballet prodigy, a savant, destined to be a star on the world’s stage, but a suspicious fire left Erik’s face horribly disfigured. Now, a lonely phantom forced to keep his scars hidden, he spends his nights haunting the theater halls, mourning all he’s lost. Then, from behind the curtain he sees the lovely Christine. The moldable, malleable Christine. 

Drawn in by Erik’s unwavering confidence, Christine allows h​​erself to believe Erik’s declarations that he can transform her into the dancer she longs to be. But Christine’s hope of achieving her dreams may be her undoing when she learns Erik is not everything he claims. And before long, Erik’s shadowy past jeopardizes Christine’s unstable present as his obsession with her becomes hopelessly entangled with his plans for revenge.

Links: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads | Smashwords | iTunes

Guest Post:

Since I've been a huge fan of Andrew Lloyd Weber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, having gone to the theater alone to watch the 2004 movie with Gerard Butler as the phantom--helloooo hotty--attended a live presentation at the Hobby Center in Houston, bought the audio for the car and the DVD for the house, well it would stand to reason that it was what I listen to for inspiration while writing PHANTOM'S DANCE. And even I thought I would. But this piece, Dance of the Knights from Romeo and Juliet, turned out to be the inspiration for Erik, the phantom. It's also the piece Christine is listening to when she senses she's being watched while attending Romeo and Juliet. The heavily metered rhythm was almost intimidating to me. At the same time, it has these softer more tender elements that speak to Erik's character, too. 

Excerpt:

“You scared the crap out of me—again!” I wailed, and a low chuckle rumbled from behind the heavy, velvet drapes.

With my hand pressed to my overexerted lungs, I breathed deeply. “I see you’re still behind the curtain. But I suppose that’s where a stagehand would be, wouldn’t he? Behind the curtain?”

“Ouch. And here I thought you were a nice girl—not like the Academy snobs looking down their noses at the hired help.”

“Ah-ha! So you are a stagehand.”

“I never said that. What I said was you’re a snob.”

“I am not!”

He half laughed half snorted.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him.

“I came to see the ballet. Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“Of course, but that’s not what I meant. The ballet has been over for an hour. Why are you still here?”

“I might ask you the same thing.”

The pink flower chose that moment to fall from my hair and float to the stage floor.

“You were playing the ballerina, weren’t you?” He teased.

His voice had moved from where it started at my right to the curtains behind me.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll keep your secret.”

My face heated and I bent to recover the flower then stood to face his voice.

“You won’t tell Mr. Darby or the theater manager?”

“I said I wouldn’t tell.”

Spinning the flower between my fingers, I asked, “Why do you stay behind the curtain?”

“I don’t like the stage.”

“But you said you’re a dancer. What kind of dancer doesn’t like to be on the stage?”

“This kind.”

He’d been yanking my chain long enough. Two could play this game.

“So, are you handicapped or what?”

An unpleasant silence stretched between us and I realized I’d stumbled onto something.

“Oh, God, you are.”

About The Author:

Lesa Howard lives in the greater Houston area where she works as a writer-in-residence for the nonprofit organization Writers in the Schools, but her students know her as Lesa Boutin. Lesa was passionate about writing for teens before it was even labeled Young Adult, and her latest YA novel is PHANTOM'S DANCE, which is a modern retelling of Gaston Leroux's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. She has two books written under the name Lesa Boutin: AMANDA NOBLE, ZOOKEEPER EXTRAORDINAIRE, and AMANDA NOBLE, SPECIAL AGENT. Visit Lesa at www.lesahowardboutin.com or contact her at lesaboutin@gmail.com

Giveaway:

$20 gift card to choice of book store

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tour: Firebird Alex by Orren Merton

Today we’re excited to introduce you to Firebird Alex by Orren Merton.  Firebird Alex is a YA/NA urban fantasy that is available now at all online retailers.

Firebird Alex by Orren Merton

216 pages

Alex knows she’s different; other girls don’t burst into flames when they get angry. After she nearly burned the house down when she was twelve, her mother confessed that her father was a demon.

Now eighteen and mourning the death of her mother, Alex sinks inside herself until she discovers a dagger that can open a portal into her father’s realm. Although she yearns to meet her father, nothing terrifies her more. When an unknown threat from across the portal menaces her friends and her loved ones, Alex knows she must act.

Alex will do anything to save her friends—even risk appealing to her father in his strange universe of bizarre creatures, unfamiliar alliances, and unimagined power. She knows that to face a tormentor from across the portal, she’ll need to learn to fight fire with fire.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

*********************************************

Firebird Alex: Introducing the main characters

By Orren Merton

The protagonist of Firebird Alex is—wait for it—Alex. But she’s got a cast of characters around her which contribute to her journey and to The Sedumen Chronicles as a whole. Here’s a brief introduction to the main characters:

Alexandra Gold:  Smart and compassionate, 18-year old Alex grew up with the love of a doting published poet mother, and haunted by a horrible secret: that her father was a demon. The fear that one day, despite how much she wanted to be a good person, she might turn into an evil monster kept her from wanting to associate with anyone. So when cancer killed her mother, Alex felt that the cancer had also taken her only bridge to the world around her. And yet, in the back of her mind, she knows that her mother would want her to be part of the world, and so she tries, slowly, to claw her way back.

Rachel Silver: Short and bug-eyed, 13-year old Rachel was orphaned young, but not before her mother asked Rabbi Normal Hirsch to foster her. She’s gregarious and snarky but sweet and caring to the core of her being—just the righ girl to help pull Alex out of her shell. The two girls hit it off quickly, not simply because of their mutual loss, but because of their love of gaming.

Rabbi Norman Hirsch: Father of Rachel, rabbi to Alex, and a kindly, deeply spiritual man who wants only to facilitate the enlightenment and fulfillment of everyone he can, especially wayward souls. He doesn’t have a judgmental bone in his body, which makes him the perfect for Alex, who judges herself so harshly she initially retreats from everything and everyone.

Jacob Harman: The moment 19-year-old Jake may seem like a stereotypical computer science major—tall, gawky, too thin for his own good—but he has a soulful streak, alove of cars, and will own up to the occasional foray into electronic data harvesting on the less-than-completely-legal side. For all that Jake may flirt with hacking, however, he has an unshakable sense of loyalty and a strong moral code.

Detective Hector Godinez: A lifelong friend of Rachel’s father, he repeatedly runs into Jake and Alex when the pair decide to investigate a missing persons case of his. Like most good detectives, Godinez knows far more than he lets on. Before long, he ends up being a sort of mentor to Alex, trying to pick her brain and keep her out of trouble at the same time.

                                                  ********************************

Firebird Alex: Rachel Interviews Alex

By Orren Merton

In my novel Firebird Alex, the main character is 18-year old Alexandra Gold. Early in the novel, she befriends 13-year old Rachel Silver. If Rachel were to have interviewed Alex after they’d first become friends, it would have gone like this…

Rachel: Thanks so much for agreeing to this!

Alex: Sure, Rachel, you’ve been so good to me these past few weeks, I’m glad I can help you out. Just don’t…

R: I know, nothing too personal. So let’s start with your full name.

A: Alexandra Shoshana Gold.

R: Your middle name’s Shoshana? I can’t believe I didn’t know that! That’s beautiful!

A: Aw, thanks.

R: Were you named after anyone in your family?

A: Not really, but kinda. My mom just wanted to call me Alex, so she named me Alexandra. And Shoshana is actually my mom’s Hebrew name. There’s no Hebrew translation of Stacy, so they just gave her that because it was pretty. She never went by it, but she liked it, so she gave it to me as a middle name.

R: Now I feel bad. I’m sorry if I made you upset. I didn’t want to bring up…

A: No, it’s cool. I mean, I still think about my mom every day, she only died a month ago, you know? And your dad’s been great, taking me in and helping me get my life together. And you’ve been a massive help, Rachel. I feel like I’m finally becoming myself again for the first time since losing mom.

R: I’m so glad, Alex. And it’s been really good for me to talk, too. My mom died a long time ago, but…yeah, it’s always right there.

A: Yep.

R: Okay, so are you thinking about the future? Do you want to get a job? Go to college? Run off with Jake and have boatloads of super tall babies?

A: [laughs] Come on, Rachel! We’ve only met a couple of times. And I’m not that tall.

R: You’re tall and pretty and shut up or I’ll punch you.

A: You mean you’ll try, girlie!

R: Okay, so no babies yet. But he likes you. Maybe you could go to University of California, Irvine with him!

A: UCI is a good school. I think about it. I don’t really want to just get a job, I’d want to go to school first. I also think about…

R: About what?

A: Um…if you’re going to turn this in, let’s just say visiting my dad. You know, in...his place.

R: Do you think he wants to meet you?

A: I don’t know. I mean, I guess so. He left me that…um…key to his place. So he has to want to meet me, don’t you think? But I never met him, and I have no idea what he’s like, so it’s pretty scary to think about.

R: Yeah. But thinking about dinner isn’t scary at all—let’s eat!

A: Okay, sounds good!


Orren Merton started writing fantasy and science fiction at an embarrassingly young age, mostly for his own amusement. In 2001, magazines, developers, and corporations began to pay him to write and edit music software related articles, manuals, and books. His music technology articles have appeared in magazines and online in Electronic Musician, Computer Music UK, Music Tech Magazine,MIX, Cubase.net and Gearwire.com.

His music articles and reviews have been published nationally and internationally, online and off in Dark Angel, OC Weekly, and The Scene LA. His Industrial rock group Ember After released their debut album, Grasping At Straws, in 2008. Since 2010 he has written the urban fantasy novel The Deviant and the science fiction novel Skye Entity. He lives
in Southern California with his family, pets, collection of sci-fi/fantasy memorabilia, and curiously large stuffed animal collection.

http://orrenmerton.com

Giveaway:

5 ebook copies of Firebird Alex (INT)

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.