Friday, October 27, 2017

Vril Society and the Nazis

The Vril Society, a secret society in which Hitler and his top officials believed in, was made famous by an old book, The Coming Race (1871) by Edward Bulwar Lord Lytton.  The book is about an underground world of aliens that use a power source called Vril.  The aliens call themselves the Vril-yas and have special powers of healing and telepathy.  The Vril-ya were also descendants of Atlanteans.  Hitler linked his Aryan ideology around this race of aliens.  The Coming Race was considered a 'cult-classic' among occult elite circles of Europe.  
Still today, there is little evidence about the Vril Society that Hitler made so famous.  Some believe it never existed.  Others believe it was the precursor for the Thule Society.  
The Vril Society used mediums such as Maria Orsic to channel aliens before and during World War II.  She and the other mediums were women who grew their hair as long as they could, believing the hair helped communicate with aliens from other planets.  She and the other mediums received futuristic technological blueprints for super-weapons.  
No one can argue that Hitler and his engineers were ahead of world in terms of their air program.  Were extraterrestrials helping them?  After the war, some say that Maria Orsic and her followers took a flying saucer to another planet. Others say she and other Vril members took up a residence in Antarctica.  
Does the Vril Society exist today?  I had a very difficult time finding an answer one way or another.  There are links with the Black Sun Society, Albert Pike (American Freemason), and the Theosophical Society, but no proof of the group's continuation from Germany.
The Best Seller and The Sequel fictionalize some of the occult linked with Hitler and his Nazi Party.


The Sequel: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076VXT46B/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1509065720&sr=8-3&keywords=dina+rae
The Best Seller: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Seller-Dina-Rae-ebook/dp/B01G2AKGMS/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1509065793&sr=1-2
@HalooftheDamned
Blog: https://dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com/
Facebook: Dina Rae Books


Thursday, October 26, 2017

Goddess Fish Book Tour Presents: Saving Nary by Carol DeMent

Saving Nary
by Carol DeMent

Giveaway Below!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guest Post-Genocide of the Cambodian People

Multicultural fiction provides a gateway for exploring, risk-free, another way of living and thinking.  In this day and age of racial disharmony and misunderstanding, that opportunity is more important than ever.  In writing Saving Nary, a novel about the genocide of the Cambodian people and their subsequent resettlement in Western countries, I chose fiction as the vehicle to tell the story in the hopes that such a format would be more accessible to the general public and reach more readers. 

The tale of Cambodia’s woe is a largely forgotten story. Even among my own contemporaries, people like me who’d witnessed the carnage on the TV news, the fall of Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge was a blip on the radar, consumed by the larger conflict of the Vietnam War. 

And so it has been very heartening to me to hear from readers that Saving Nary has awakened their interest in and compassion for not just the plight of the Cambodians, but for refugees in general.  Readers have said the book spurred them to action-some did research on the Khmer Rouge to find out more about what really happened in Cambodia.  Some looked with fresh eyes upon their immigrant coworkers and colleagues and inquired about their customs, their countries, their impressions of America.  Some visited mosques or temples for the first time. In all of these instances, readers said their lives had been enriched by reaching out to a new culture.

The best multicultural fiction not only teaches us about a new culture, but makes us question our own, for no culture yet exists that has gotten it all “right.”  Some may excel in scholarly pursuits but lag in civil rights protections.  Others may soar to spiritual heights but lack basic education.  Cultures that pride themselves on manufacturing and technology may downplay the importance of protecting the environment.  What drives these differences in cultural development is usually due in part to both core values and economic or existential reality.  And without new perspectives and insights, cultural attributes may become rigid, unyielding and entrenched.

Enter the multicultural novel.  As readers become engaged with the characters, they begin to root for them, and to see a new culture through sympathetic eyes.  They may learn ways of thinking or behaving that surprise or inspire.  We may particularly admire the way a character’s culture promotes graciousness or bravery, and hope to cultivate those qualities in ourselves.  By opening our eyes to new belief systems and different modes of problem solving, multicultural fiction can spur discussion and enrich the way in which we perceive and relate to the world around us. 

Now, more than ever, such openness is needed as we bumble our way through issues and challenges that are increasingly global in nature.  By combining the best of a myriad of cultures, we may someday get it right.  Indeed, our very survival may depend on it.




GENRE: Fictional

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

A Finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Saving Nary explores the losses, loyalties and secrets held within families broken by war and genocide. This compelling novel presents a palette of unique characters who struggle to make sense of the events that led them to America, even as they ponder the bewildering culture and lifestyle of their new homeland.

Refugee Khath Sophal lost everything when the Khmer Rouge swept into power in Cambodia: his livelihood gone, his family dead or missing; his sanity barely intact from the brutality he has been forced to witness.

Now resettled in the Pacific Northwest, Khath treads a narrow path between the horrors of his past and the uncertainties of the present. His nights are filled with twisted dreams of torture and death. By day he must guard constantly against the flashbacks triggered by the simple acts of daily living, made strange in a culture he does not understand.

Then Khath meets Nary, a mysterious and troubled Cambodian girl whose presence is both an aching reminder of the daughters he has lost, and living proof that his girls, too, could still be alive. Nary’s mother Phally, however, is another matter. A terrible suspicion grows in Khath’s mind that Phally is not who or what she claims to be. A split develops in the community between those who believe Phally and those who believe Khath. And those, it seems, who don’t really care who is right but just want to stir up trouble for their own personal gain.

Khath’s search for the truth leads him to the brink of the brutality he so despises in the Khmer Rouge. His struggle to wrest a confession from Phally ultimately forces him to face his own past and unravel the mystery of his missing daughters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:

“Go back to Cambodia?” Pra Chhay stared at Khath with puzzled eyes.

Khath nodded. “What choice do we have, brother?” he said. “Our people are being forced back across the border into the arms of the Khmer Rouge. My daughters will have no chance now to get into Khao I Dang. We must go back to continue our search for them.”

Pra Chhay, dressed in saffron monk’s robes and cracked rubber sandals, stood framed by the setting sun outside the open doorway of the bamboo and thatch shelter he shared with Khath and five other families. The odor of too many human bodies crowded into a small living space hung heavy in the air spilling across the threshold.

The rectangular shelter was partitioned by side walls into six open-faced cubicles, three to a side, facing a center corridor running the length of the shelter. There was no privacy other than what could be attained by turning one’s back to the open side of one’s cubicle or crawling inside a mosquito net hung over the thin kapok sleeping mattresses on the floor. The shelter’s only doors were located at each end of the central corridor, opening directly to the outside.

With no way to secure themselves or their meagre belongings, the refugees lived in helpless fear of night visits by bored Thai soldiers, whose transgressions ranged from theft to rape. Pra Chhay and Khath occupied an end cubicle by the door, making them even more vulnerable to unwanted attention from the soldiers, but because of Pra Chhay’s position as a monk, they were usually left alone.

As Pra Chhay slipped his calloused feet out of his sandals, stepping barefoot into the corridor, a gentle breeze puffed out the hem of his robes and blew camp dust into the shelter.

Khath motioned to Pra Chhay to shut the door. Careful not to waste a drop of the day’s ration of precious water, he barely moistened the corner of a rag and ran it over random surfaces in their cubicle that might attract and harbor dust: the wooden altar in the corner, the cracks and edges of the bamboo slats that formed the walls of the hut, the straw mats that covered the floor. A squat wooden bench, left behind by the prior resident, completed the amenities of the living space.

Pra Chhay took off his outer layer of robes and hung them on a sliver of bamboo pulled out from the wall to serve as a peg for clothing. Turning, he watched Khath rub his cloth over the wooden bench, back and forth, back and forth, harder and harder, the knuckles gripping the cloth turning white with effort.

“Khath, stop it. You will polish our only seat away to nothing,” Pra Chhay said. “Tell me exactly what you heard today that makes you say we must return to Cambodia.” The monk settled himself comfortably on the floor.

With an effort, Khath slowed his rubbing and carefully folded the rag and laid it on his lap. His eyes followed the tiny particles now dancing in the single ray of golden sun that slipped through the crack between the outer door and its frame. He laced his fingers tightly together to stop their reaching for the rag as, mesmerized, he watched the motes settle onto the areas he had just cleaned. The sight of dust on surfaces where it ought not to be was still intolerable to Khath, though nearly six years had passed since his obsession was born on the day the Khmer Rouge killed his wife and son.

“Silence that boy,” the soldier had said to his wife on that awful day. Khieu gathered their son Bunchan into her arms, but how is one to soothe a toddler who cries from hunger when there is no food? Khath, Khieu and their three children had been walking for three days in the heat and humidity, shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other refugees inching their way out of Phnom Penh by order of the Khmer Rouge. Already hunger, thirst and exhaustion had thinned their ranks: the elderly and the ill simply dropped along the sides of the road, patiently awaiting the mercy of death.

Given only minutes to prepare for their exodus, the food Khath and his family carried was gone in a day. After that, they bought, scavenged and bartered for whatever nourishment they could find along the way. Now, they stood next in line before a table of grim-faced cadres in the simple uniform of the Khmer Rouge: black cotton shirts and pants with kramas, red-checkered scarves, wound around their heads or necks. The cadres were checking identity papers and quizzing the refugees about their prior occupations.

Bunchan’s incessant crying enraged the soldier. “Silence him or I will,” he warned Khieu.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Carol DeMent worked in the field of South East Asian refugee resettlement for seven years, and completed master's level research into international refugee resettlement policy. She lived for two years in Thailand as a Peace Corps volunteer and has traveled extensively in South East Asia. Her first novel, Saving Nary, was a  Finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Nary-Carol-DeMent/dp/1522982906 https://www.amazon.com/Carol-DeMent/e/B01CRJ1EVA
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15089080.Carol_DeMent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE


Carol DeMent will be awarding $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Who are the Reptilians?


Short Answer: The Reptilians are a race of aliens that resemble reptiles.  They come from the Draco constellation.  They are some times called Reptoids or Lizard People.  They tend to be tall with green eyes and scaly skin.  Like other races of aliens, they can communicate with others by using telepathy.
Draco Constellation

Long Answer: The Reptilians have been at the root of several conspiracy theories.  Some believe this race of aliens can shapeshift into very human beings.  They choose to impersonate heads of state, royalty, CEOs, celebrities, and other people of influence. Their goal is to genetically engineer humans and manipulate Earth to their advantage.  They landed on Earth over a thousands years ago on the continent of Lemuria.  Some say they were on Earth before the Atlanteans of Atlantis, some say after.  Either way, they have shaped the world to suit their own purposes.
The Reptilians became famous through author/personality/conspiracy theorist David Icke.  Icke took the race of aliens to a new level by claiming they shapeshift into Queen Elizabeth, Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, and George Bush.  He believes that the Illuminati share many of the same DNA as the Reptilians.  They are behind the Freemasons and Illuminati.  New World Order is their ultimate goal.  Icke is a very interesting conspiracy theorist, but is also very controversial.  Some of his beliefs are anti-Semitic.  He also once called himself the son of the Godhead, causing some to question his sanity.
Reptilians also make an appearance in demonology.  The snake is mentioned in both Christian and Muslim religions.  Some believe the Annunaki, a race of aliens from Sumeria, were the Reptilians.  They are responsible for much of the evil in the world.  Some say that they like to eat human flesh and drink human blood.  
A great deal of theories and fiction have been written about the Reptilians.  What do you think?  Are they running the world, waiting for the moment to lead us all into New World Order?

The Sequel, my latest and greatest novel, will be available October 26th via Solstice Publishing
Oct. 26 Release Day!





Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Goddess Fish Presents:Hide and Seek by Desiree Holt

Hide and Seek
by Desiree Holt


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Romantic Suspense

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Anything can happen when you let your guard down . . .

After receiving a violent threat on the heels of her father’s disappearance from the town of Arrowhead Bay, Devon Cole fears for her life—until Vigilance, a local private security agency, steps in to shield her from danger. Although she isn’t usually quick to surrender her freedom, she has no problem stripping her defenses for her new sexy bodyguard . . .

Tortured by the painful memory of lost love, Logan Malik is determined not to fall for a client again. So when he’s tasked with watching over Devon day and night, he’s focused on doing his job. Day is no problem, but as tensions rise at night, nothing can protect them from giving in to unbridled passion . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:
“Your father is missing.”

Devyn Cole tightened her grip on her cell phone and tried to make sense of what Sheridan March had just told her, as fear swept through her. Maybe she hadn’t heard right.

“What do you mean, missing?”

“The Coast Guard found the Princess Devyn drifting five miles off shore early this morning,” the Arrowhead Bay Chief of Police explained. “But there’s no sign of him anywhere. And no clue to anything in the house. We went through every inch of it. The alarm was fried, probably needs to be replaced, but otherwise the place was clean as a whistle.”

Devyn clutched the phone. “Was there anything on the boat? Something he might have had with him that could give us a clue?”

“Nada.”

“Where’s the boat now. Would the Coast Guard hold onto it?”

“In its slip at the Bayside Marina. After the Guard went over every inch of it they had one of the men on the cutter bring it back in and berth it. I have the keys.”

Devyn swallowed to ease the tightness in her throat. “When was the last time anyone saw him?”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

BIO:

Desiree Holt is the world’s oldest living published author of erotic and spicy romance. A graduate of the University of Michigan with double majors in English and History, her earlier careers include agent and manager in the music industry, public television, associate vice president of university advancement, public relations, and economic development.
She is three times a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award (and a winner in 2014), a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio as well as twice a CAPA Award winner for best BDSM book of the year, a USA Today Bestselling author and winner of the Holt Medallion for Excellence in Romance Literature.

She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast,
USA Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times, The Huffington Post and numerous other national and international publications. She is also the Authors After Dark 2014 Author of the Year.

“Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling then the last.” (Romance Junkies)

Learn more about her and read her novels here:

www.desireeholt.com
www.desiremeonly.com
www.facebook.com/desireeholtauthor
www.faceboook.com/authordesireeholt
Twitter @desireeholt
Pinterest: desiree02holt
Google: https://plus.google.com/113212301982441064210
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desiree-holt-a7272526/


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE


Desiree will be awarding a Kindle Fire 7 with Alexa to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, October 16, 2017

Who are the Reptilians?


Short Answer: The Reptilians are a race of aliens that resemble reptiles.  They come from the Draco constellation.  They are some times called Reptoids or Lizard People.  They tend to be tall with green eyes and scaly skin.  Like other races of aliens, they can communicate with others by using telepathy.
Draco Constellation

Long Answer: The Reptilians have been at the root of several conspiracy theories.  Some believe this race of aliens can shapeshift into very human beings.  They choose to impersonate heads of state, royalty, CEOs, celebrities, and other people of influence. Their goal is to genetically engineer humans and manipulate Earth to their advantage.  They landed on Earth over a thousands years ago on the continent of Lemuria.  Some say they were on Earth before the Atlanteans of Atlantis, some say after.  Either way, they have shaped the world to suit their own purposes.
The Reptilians became famous through author/personality/conspiracy theorist David Icke.  Icke took the race of aliens to a new level by claiming they shapeshift into Queen Elizabeth, Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, and George Bush.  He believes that the Illuminati share many of the same DNA as the Reptilians.  They are behind the Freemasons and Illuminati.  New World Order is their ultimate goal.  Icke is a very interesting conspiracy theorist, but is also very controversial.  Some of his beliefs are anti-Semitic.  He also once called himself the son of the Godhead, causing some to question his sanity.
Reptilians also make an appearance in demonology.  The snake is mentioned in both Christian and Muslim religions.  Some believe the Annunaki, a race of aliens from Sumeria, were the Reptilians.  They are responsible for much of the evil in the world.  Some say that they like to eat human flesh and drink human blood.  
A great deal of theories and fiction have been written about the Reptilians.  What do you think?  Are they running the world, waiting for the moment to lead us all into New World Order?

The Sequel, my latest and greatest novel, will be available October 26th via Solstice Publishing
Oct. 26 Release Day!





Sunday, October 15, 2017

Xpresso Book Tours Presents: Greg Levin's In Wolves' Clothing


In Wolves’ Clothing
Greg Levin
Publication date: October 11th 2017
Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller
Zero Slade is not a bad guy—he merely plays one when saving children’s lives.
During his seven years on a team fighting child sex trafficking, Zero’s become quite good at schmoozing with pimps, getting handcuffed by cops and pretending not to care about the Lost Girls he liberates. But the dangerous sting operations are starting to take their toll on his marriage and sanity. His affinity for prescription painkillers isn’t exactly helping matters.
When the youngest girl the team has ever rescued gets abducted from a safe house in Cambodia, Zero decides to risk everything to find her. His only shot is to go rogue—and sink deeper into the bowels of the trafficking world than he’s ever sunk.
It’s the biggest mission of his life. Trouble is, it’s almost certain death.

“A truly original and enthralling novel. Levin’s blazing prose and acerbic wit capture the madness—and the humanity—of working undercover in the darkest corners.”
Radd Berrett, former Jump Team member, Operation Underground Railroad
EXCERPT:
I can’t remember if I took an oxy during the flight, so I eat two. They pair nicely with the scotch.
It’s good to be home.
I should be upstairs sleeping, especially since I didn’t catch a single wink on the flight from Guadalajara. But there’s something I have to finish first.
An eight-letter word for gradually losing one’s edge.
Slipping.
I fill in each box of 27 Down with my black pen and take another sip of scotch. It’s times like these I turn into God. The crossword squares fill up by themselves in a secret blurry code. A few of the answers might even be correct.
The black pleather couch makes love to me as I solve 32 Across.
A four-letter word for spouse.
Neda.
She’s leaning on the banister, wearing a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants that might have fit me when I was ten. Her eyes, almond-shaped during waking hours, are half open.
“You’re home?” she says, pre-dawn gravel in her voice.
“Hi, baby,” I say while trying to conceal the nearly empty lowball glass in my hand. “Sorry to wake you. I’ll be up in a sec.”
Neda yawns and combs her hand through a shining cascade of black hair. “What time d’you get in?”
I scratch my shaved dome, feeling the perspiration forming, and say, “Uh, a little after one maybe.”
Neda opens her eyes the rest of the way. “You’ve been here for nearly two hours? Why didn’t—”
“Baby, I just needed to unwind a bit before bed.”
Neda’s eyes open wider than the manual recommends. “Why must unwinding always involve single malt and a crossword?” she asks. “You know, some men unwind by spooning their beautiful wife. Especially when they haven’t seen her in four days.”
I ponder the answer to 36 Across.
“Zero!” Neda shouts.
The sound knocks the pen from my fingers, and I go, “I didn’t want to wake you.”
“And look how that worked out for you,” says Neda. “At least if you’d come up when you got home you wouldn’t be getting yelled at.”
I tell her not to be mad, then get up from the couch as gracefully as a man two drinks and twenty milligrams in can. “I knew if I woke you right when I got home, you’d want to talk about the mission.”
I realize this is not what God would say. I can tell by Neda’s face.

Q & A for Xpresso Book Blitz



You write about issues that most authors would tiptoe around. Care to comment on that?

Sure. I do it because there are already so many novels about vampires, zombies and wizards, and I don’t want to have to compete with them. Besides, it’s exciting to explore subversive and controversial topics. To go underground and get a little dirt on my pajamas while I’m sitting in the house writing. Also, I’ve never been big on tiptoeing. Sometimes it’s better to charge straight toward a dark or dangerous topic and see who flinches first.


And where does your dark sense of humor come from?

I guess you could say it’s a survival tactic. I don't use dark humor to offend—I use it to defend. Humor is a magnificent weapon, one that, instead of destroying, keeps us from being destroyed. Nietzsche said, “We have art in order to not die of the truth.” I feel humor serves the same purpose. In fact, humor—when deftly wielded—is art.


What motivates you to write?

The desire to remain sane. Kafka was spot-on when he famously said, “A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.” I can sometimes make it two or three days without working on a novel, blog post or grocery list, but after that I absolutely MUST write. Even when I’m on vacation in paradise with my beautiful wife, I need to scratch out a page here and there to keep the crazy away. Too much sun, surf and relaxation terrifies me.  


What are your biggest writing distractions?

My beautiful wife’s desire to go on vacations in paradise. That, and any kind of noise other than the clicks of my own keyboard and synapses. I wear silicone earplugs whenever writing to avoid being pulled out of my fictional world by such annoying sounds as my wife saying good morning, my teenage daughter sneaking back into the house, or my cats begging me to feed them. I know this makes me seem a little selfish and mean, but in my defense, I’m not a very good person. 


How has your upbringing influenced your writing?

I had a pretty happy childhood, which normally dooms a writing career. But I managed to overcome all the unconditional love and support and still become a tortured writer of dark and twisted tales. That’s not to say my upbringing didn’t help me at all. I was a very talkative kid, and when all my family and friends finally got sick and tired of listening to me, I turned to the written word. Nobody can shut you up when you're alone in a room typing ...  nobody except my cat, Dingo, who loves to sit on my laptop right when the prose is flowing.


What would you say is your greatest strength as a writer?

At the risk of sounding a tad redundant, I’d say it’s my ability to bring levity and humor to dark topics while simultaneously revealing the heart and humanity of my main characters. I love getting readers to root for a well-meaning sociopath or serial killer or just plain loser, and eliciting laughter and tears in the process.


As a reader, what is you favorite book quote?

I have to choose just one? That’s like asking me to choose a favorite snowflake or Rocky film. Hmmm, I think I’ll have to go with the following staggeringly good one from Denis Johnson—an amazing writer we lost earlier this year:

“Talk into my bullet hole. Tell me I'm fine.” (From Jesus’ Son.


Who is your favorite book hero and/or villain, and why?

I have two favorites, but (spoiler alert) they are really the same person. The first is the unnamed protagonist of Fight Club, and the second is Tyler Durden of Fight Club. I could go on for days explaining why they/he are/is my favorite hero/villain, but I must respect the first rule of Fight Club and not talk about Fight Club. I’ve already said too much.


What book has influenced you the most as a writer?

This may shock you, but it’s Fight Club. It’s the book that really got me into contemporary transgressive fiction. While it’s not my favorite book by Chuck Palahniuk, it is the one that awoke in me a fresh new way of writing­—dangerous prose with a minimalist bent. Prose that is dark and startling, but also peppered with pathos and humor.

You know, this would be the perfect time for me to share a humble-brag. I was fortunate enough to be one of a dozen writers Chuck Palahniuk selected to participate in his inaugural “Writing Wrong” workshop in Portland this past spring. Every Monday for ten weeks I got to sit in a room with him, read sections of In Wolves’ Clothing (which was a work in progress at the time), and have him tell me everything I had to fix to make the book as good as I had deluded myself into thinking it already was. The whole experience was extremely rewarding, and humbling. More importantly, it gave me the ability to name-drop Chuck Palahniuk during interviews for the rest of my life.


Tell us a little about In Wolves’ Clothing.

It’s about a guy named Zero Slade who travels the world posing as a pedophile to help rescue victims of child sex trafficking. I’m not kidding, and the book is no joke. There are men and women in real life who carry out the kind of elaborate sting operations that Zero, along with his cohorts, carry out in the book.

In Wolves’ Clothing is definitely not a dark comedy like my previous two novels, however, there is an ample amount of subversive humor and comic relief in the story. But let me assure you, not once do I (or my characters) make light of the horrors of child sex trafficking. The humor in the book never comes at the expense of the Lost Girls. It comes from how my protagonist and his fellow undercover “pedophiles” cope with the harrowing missions—and the absurd role they must play in order for those missions to succeed.


So, while I geared the book to enthrall and entertain readers, I also I aimed to do right by all the victims of human trafficking—and all the women and men who’ve dedicated their lives to liberating and caring for those victims.   

Author Bio:
Greg Levin is an award-winning author of contemporary fiction with a dark comedic tinge. He’s gone from being read merely by immediate family and friends to being read also by extended family and Facebook acquaintances.
Greg’s novel The Exit Man was optioned by Showtime for development into a TV series, and won a 2015 Independent Publisher Book Award (a.k.a., an “IPPY”). He earned a second IPPY with his next novel, Sick to Death, which Craig Clevenger (The Contortionist’s Handbook) called “a tour de force dark comedy.” Greg’s upcoming book, In Wolves’ Clothing, is due out October 2017 and is his most dangerous work yet. He wrote much of it during a ten-week-long workshop led by the great Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club and lots of other books Greg sleeps with at night).
Greg resides with his wife, daughter and two cats in Austin, Texas. He is currently wanted by local authorities for refusing to say “y’all” or do the two-step.

XBTBanner1

Monday, October 9, 2017

XPresso Book Tours Presents: Ophelia Bell's Sleeping Dragons


Sleeping Dragons Series
Ophelia Bell
Publication date: October 2017
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Erika’s spent her entire post-graduate career searching for it. The elusive dragon stronghold her archaeologist professors scoffed at as being only a myth. Now she has the perfect team and has led them into the deepest reaches of the Sumatran jungle. At the edge of the discovery of the century, she’s finally about to prove to everyone how wrong they were.
But when the seven intrepid explorers pass through the doors, they’re barely prepared for the conflict of lust versus logic they’re faced with on the inside. Ages-old magic lingers in the stronghold, dictating that they perform a ritual to awaken the long-slumbering beasts within. And beasts that beautiful only awaken to one thing: the unbridled release of their fated mates in the throes of ecstasy.
The Sleeping Dragons Omnibus is a series of six novelettes. It includes all kinds of fun kinks involving shapeshifting mythical beasts who breathe magic smoke and have very long, prehensile tongues.
EXCERPT:
The dreams always began with the scent of spice, a distinctly male aroma that enveloped her before the images themselves solidified. He appeared then, leaning against a tree in a misty garden beside a brick path.
She thought it might be one of the paths that led between the buildings of the university where she’d tagged along with her father for work as a child, and then eventually attended herself after high school. But this man who greeted her looked nothing like any of the male students she’d ever encountered.
“I missed you, Erika,” he said, standing up and stalking toward her with that intense red stare of his. He wore a loose-fitting linen shirt and breeches that looked to be from another era. “When are you coming for me?”
She smirked and tilted her head. “As soon as you make me.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You are a wicked girl. I will make you come soon enough, but you know what I mean. I’m going out of my mind waiting for you. You and all those delicious orgasms I plan to give you once we’re together in the flesh.”
“My life is about more than sex, you know. I have a lot of work left before I can find you. Now that I know where you are, I need a team who I trust. I’m making a list, but I’m missing one more member. Once I find the last person, you bet your ass I’m coming.”
“Good,” he said, lifting his hand and cupping the back of her head. She tilted back to gaze up into his handsome face and those fathomless eyes that beheld her like two smoldering embers. Her core heated as his exotic scent grew thicker, the fog around her turning red as he bent and covered her mouth with his.
“Sweet Mother, I wish you were real,” he murmured as he laid Erika down on the damp grass, unbuttoning her shirt as they went and baring her breasts to the cool air.


Author Bio:
Ophelia Bell loves a good bad-boy and especially strong women in her stories. Women who aren't apologetic about enjoying sex and bad boys who don't mind being with a woman who's in charge, at least on the surface, because pretty much anything goes in the bedroom.
Ophelia grew up on a rural farm in North Carolina and now lives in Los Angeles with her own tattooed bad-boy husband and four attention-whoring cats.
If you'd like to receive regular updates on Ophelia's publications, freebies, and discounts, please subscribe to her mailing list: http://opheliabell.com/subscribe/

XBTBanner1

Saturday, October 7, 2017

XPresso Tours Presents: Winter's Siren by Krystal Jane Ruin


Winter’s Siren
Krystal Jane Ruin
Publication date: November 1st 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
For the last five years, Fawn has been the star soprano of a secluded opera house, forced to sing for her kidnapper.
His daughter, Devi, waits patiently in the shadows, hiding a face so horrible that no one who’s seen it will look at it again.
As Fawn plots her escape, whispers spread through the shaded corridors of dark sorcery, warning her that she must flee by the next opening night.
But when Fawn draws close to the exit, it’s Devi who’s standing in her way, leading Fawn to suspect that Devi has something to gain if she fails.
(a dark reimagining of Swan Lake)
EXCERPT:
Frosty air nips at my nose. I stand almost knee deep in fresh fallen snow, letting the diffused sunlight hit my face. There is no sound. Peace settles over me. In this moment, I truly feel like I’m in the middle of nowhere.
Something cold and wet explodes on the back of my neck. For a moment, I fear the worst. A boil. Pus. My father’s description of my mother’s face plays out in my mind.
But then I hear Andrew laughing behind me. I touch the rough skin on my neck and bring a shaky and damp glove to my face. Snow. It’s just snow.
It’s the middle of the day, and my face is uncovered. To make everything worse, it’s bright outside. Freezing and overcast, but bright.
My hands fly to my face automatically.
“Are you going to let me get away with that?” Andrew laughs again.
I twist around and peek at him through my fingers.
He stands before me, his arms spread wide. A thick coat covers his arms, and in his gloved hands, he holds another snowball. “You have two seconds to stop me!”
I flip my hood over my head and drop down to gather snow in my hands.
Another snowball bursts against my head. The wetness plasters my hair to my face. I hurl my deformed ball in his direction. It misses him completely.
Another wad of snow lands on my neck while I gather a larger, rounder ball of snow. “Cheating!” I throw my handful at him. It lands weakly by his knees.
“Here, let me help you.” He climbs towards me and gathers a nice, solid ball in his fist. He hands this to me, and then stands back and spreads his arms wide again. “Try again.”
I throw it square at his nose.
“Ow!” He covers his face and cries out dramatically. “It’s in my eyes!”
“Stop it! Are you serious?” I navigate closer to him, and he falls back into the snow. I run to his side and hear laughter bubbling out from behind his hands. “Jerk!” I shovel snow over his body, and he laughs all the while.
Then he goes still. I stop.
“Andrew?” I lean in close. “Andrew?”
He lunges out of his shallow grave and tackles me to the ground.
A panicked scream leaves my body as he lands on top of me, heavy and warm. Then a strange sound comes out of my mouth. Something that’s never come out of it before. Laughter.
His braid hangs down, inches from my sunken cheek. Suddenly aware of how close his head is to mine, the laughter dies in my throat, and I slap my gloves to my cheeks.
“You have such beautiful eyes,” he says.
My breath is trapped in my chest. It hurts. I don’t know how much he can see of my face—my hood is pulled low and my hair and hands cover everything else—but I fear it’s too much.
“Andrew . . .”


Author Bio:
Krystal is the author of supernatural and paranormal fiction, living in the Tennessee Valley with a collection of swords and daggers. When she's not hoarding stuffed pandas, hourglasses, and Hello Kitty replicas, she can be found in YouTube hole or blogging about books, writing, and random things at KrystalSquared.net.

XBTBanner1

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Movie Review: It

The movie It is a remake of Stephen's King famous novel.  The novel was made into a made-for-TV series almost three decades ago.  The late John Ritter held a big part in the film.  I loved the book and the TV series, which is why I went to see the updated version.  Last year some people were dressing like clowns and walking around various U.S. cities.  I wondered if the remake cashed in on last year's clown terror.

Like the book, the story begins with the main character's little brother, Georgie, going out in the rain and sailing a paper boat.  The boat falls into the sewer.  Georgie follows the paper boat as it falls down the curb-side drain and meets "It".  He disappears immediately afterwards.  Georgie is not the only missing child in Derry.  Georgie's brother and his gang of friends courageously try to find him as well as the other missing children.
The story is basically the same as the book and TV special, but there are some great changes that make the story even better.  The movie people added some characters-a girl who was molested by her father and a black boy who was home-schooled.  One of the bullies joins forces with It.  The time period remains the same, late '70s/early '80s, but has a new ending-goodbye spider!  
My Review: Overall, the story was much more scary and the characters were much more interesting.  I loved everything about the new version, including how they left off with Chapter One.  It made me wonder if Chapter Two would be a fast-forwarded version of the kids grown up with kids of their own and Derry once again being overtaken by It.  One of the boys, Richie, was extremely entertaining.  The writers gave him all of the hilarious one-liners which worked well throughout the horror scenes.  Great acting, special effects, and suspense!  5/5 Stars!

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

XPresso Book Tours Presents: Fallen Halos by Erin Hayes and Rebecca Hamilton


Fallen Halos
Erin Hayes & Rebecca Hamilton
Publication date: October 3rd 2017
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Haunted. Cursed. Helpless. Life is dangerous this close to the Door to Hell.
Half insane after the death of his wife and daughter, Rahym runs a lodge near the Door to Hell. With a sector curse that causes anyone to collapse into Hibernation after four hours of exertion, a stay at the lodge is the only way for people to cross the Karakum Desert without falling victim to fire or demonlings.
Then Nakir, an old friend and the angel leading the rebel group known as Halos, appears with a plan to break the curse. He’s brought Rahym’s childhood love Jennet whose special witch powers may be to be the tipping point the resistance needs to win.
But first, they’ll have to brave Hell itself.
They just need Rahym to show them the way. He’ll have to decide if he’s willing to risk his life for a cause he once believed in. Or if there’s even enough left of the world worth saving.
EXCERPT:
“Rahym? Rahym Tezel? Is that you?”
I still, recognizing the voice. A million and one memories seem to physically hit me, sucking the air out of my lungs.
“Yes, it’s me,” I say warily. “Who are you?”
Please don’t let it be him. Please don’t… both my subconscious and I chant.
I really don’t want to deal with that asshole right now. Or ever again, for that matter.
I get my answer. One of the hooded riders dismounts, landing in the sand. He lifts the hood back and looks at me, his emerald green eyes glowing with unearthly power. The sharp planes of his face are exaggerated by the light from the Door as he gives me a lopsided smile.
Goddammit.
“Nakir,” I say, with a false sense of bravado, and I wish I were seeing him under different circumstances. I’ “What are you doing here?”
The smile grows, as a second rider swings a leg over the side of their horse. The rider strides up next to the asshole that I blame for the shattered remains of my life. This much closer, I can see that it’s a woman, although she doesn’t lift her hood, so I can’t see her face.
“We’re on the road, Rahym,” Nakir says, drawing my attention back to him. “And we need your help.”
My help?” I ask.
He nods.
“I’m flattered, but I don’t do that anymore. People tend to die around you.”
To my surprise, the woman next to Nakir chuckles mirthlessly. She may be crazier than I am. Not a good sign.
Nakir smirks. “Dying. Right. That’s exactly why we need you, Rahym.”
“Why?”
Nakir exchanges a glance with the woman. She pulls back her hood, and from the depths of my memory, I recall her.
Shit.
Well, this night has taken an unexpected turn.
“Jennet,” I say, calling out her name. It’s been years, and the last time I saw her, we were teenagers, but the curve of her lips tells me that I identified her correctly. A new sort of horror overtakes me; what is Jennet doing with Nakir?
“Hello, Rahym,” she says in a clear voice. “We’re going to lift the curse. And we need you to lead us through the Door to Hell.”


Author Bio:
Sci-fi junkie, video game nerd, and wannabe manga artist Erin Hayes writes a lot of things. Sometimes she writes books.
She works as an advertising copywriter by day, and she's an award-winning New York Times Bestselling Author by night. She has lived in New Zealand, Hawaii, Texas, Alabama, and now San Francisco with her husband, cat, and a growing collection of geek paraphernalia.
You can reach her at erinhayesbooks@gmail.com and she’ll be happy to chat. Especially if you want to debate Star Wars.
NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author Rebecca Hamilton lives in Georgia with her husband and four kids, all of whom inspire her writing. Somewhere in between using magic to disappear booboos and sorcery to heal emotional wounds, she takes to her fictional worlds to see what perilous situations her characters will find themselves in next. Represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA, Rebecca has been published internationally, in three languages.

XBTBanner1

Review of Universal Studios and Fright Night

Last October, I went to Universal Studios (Hollywood) and Fright Night with my two young adult daughters. Below is a summary and review of t...