Posts Tagged ‘Science Fiction’

Land Of Two Moons By D. L. Gardner ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: March 4, 2026 in Action/Adventure, giveaways, Guest Post, YA
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Political unrest, war over valuable mines, forbidden love,
and a homesick dragon bound in chains threaten the land of two moons.

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Land of Two Moons

by D.L. Gardner

Genre: YA Epic SciFi Fantasy Adventure

“The gritty
reality of trench warfare and the smoky chaos of riots is striking in D. L.
Gardner’s Land of Two Moons…a rich and ambitious fantasy novel that
successfully builds a world trembling on the brink of magical and political
upheaval. This is a delicate, intricate novel that rewards patient
reading.” – Independent Book Review

Arthur and Hallie are twin siblings, son and daughter of the
Duke of Lodesmoor. Humble teenagers who befriend the village people and
sympathize with their grievances. Their father, Lord Balmier, whose duchy is
approaching financial collapse, uses his subjects as pawns in a battle over a
string of valuable mines.

Lord Balmier sees his son’s sympathy toward the serfs as an
alliance against him and soon acts to squelch Arthur’s sedition.

Hallie clings to a forbidden love, and both siblings must
resist their father’s harsh rule.

All the while they are unaware that their mother keeps a
mystical dragon named Killian, bound in chains by a spell, whose fate will
affect them all.

As the twin moons approach a rare and magical eclipse,
alliances shift, secrets unravel, and Arthur and Hallie must choose between
loyalty, freedom, and sacrifice to save their people and themselves.

 

“With strong
pacing and a cast of memorable characters – including a homesick dragon, this
is the perfect book for fans of the ‘fantasy’ genre. Highly recommended!” – The
Wishing Shelf

***Check
out the kickstarter campaign!**

Amazon * B&N * Books2Read

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Land of Two Moons will be a limited edition leather
hardcover signed and numbered, a special edition case laminate hardcover, an
eBook, and a paperback with printed edges. A rigid slip case is available for
the hardcovers.

***Check out the kickstarter campaign!**

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Prologue

     Pattin didn’t know what they were fighting for. All he
knew was that when their commander yelled the order he was to let loose his
arrows toward another trench opposite theirs somewhere in the Red Sands desert.
Rumor was they were fighting over mines, dukes, power, and money. Nothing he’d
ever be privy to. It didn’t matter. He was here because he’d been conscripted.

He’d been in this trench for nine days straight. Hot,
drenched in sweat, sick to his stomach, and with little to eat or drink. Tired
of swatting flies and stepping over the bodies of his comrades, he was ready to
leave. No one wanted to be here, especially not the lads from Bidsworth, and
especially not on the front lines.

He spat the dust out of his mouth and bit another piece
of jerky.

“When is she going to come for us?” he asked his
friend.

“Tonight, they said. Maybe,” Ivan whispered.

“What do you mean, maybe? She promised.”

“She can only take five at a time.”

“Bloody Marks, she’s been here every night for a week.
What’s she going to do, get everyone but us? The more people who leave, the
less chance of survival for those who stay. I’m too young to die in this rat
hole.”

Ivan shrugged—a hint that he wasn’t happy about the
situation either.

“We could try and make a run for it on our own,” Pattin
whispered, his lips barely moving, glancing around the desolate countryside.

Over the sand, the heat waves danced, crafting a mirage
of water, a deceptive illusion that only a fool would pursue. Bait for the
enemy. Pattin licked his lips, wishing for a drink of cool water from the
springs in Bidsworth, his homeland, a wealthy duchy whose stone structures
mirrored the color of the red earth. Here in the wasteland, iron ore poisoned
the vegetation, and there was nothing but dust as far as the horizon. The
soldiers hated this place, and rumors of desertion were burning the ears of the
agents at base. The officers were watching the troops like hawks.

“Fool. We’d have bolts in our backs, dead. Is that what
you want? If I’m going to desert, I’m doing it with Kezia.” Ivan wiped the
sweat from his brow; his face caked with red earth. Even his eyelashes were
laden with dirt.

“What makes her so special that she can get us out with
no one noticing?”

Ivan snickered and glared at him. “She’s the duke’s
daughter, remember? Plus, she’s smart, crafty, and wicked.”

“Duke sabotages his own army through his daughter!”
Pattin mumbled.

“Stop complaining or she’ll never come and get you.”

Pattin wiped his brow, his mouth fixed in a frown. She
might not come for him at all. It’s everyone else’s luck to be saved by a
duchess.

“Heads up!” The dreaded warning arrived just
as a flurry of bolts blotted out the sun.

Pattin covered his head with his shield. Ivan lifted
his own targe to cover his body while the plummeting projectiles thundered on
it.

“Move!” came the command.

Like a terrified beetle, Pattin crouched on the ground
and joined the others, locking his shield with Ivan’s as the company crawled
through the trench, hands and knees bleeding, while avoiding the corpses of
friends who didn’t survive. Away from the onslaught they moved, abandoning
their supplies. Someone would be sent back for them when the sun settled on the
horizon and the two moons rose.

Soon everyone here would have to leave the trenches and
charge at the enemy. That was a standard maneuver, and it was just a matter of
time. Hand to hand combat would kill him, Pattin was certain. With practiced
ease, he could loose an arrow, always striking the mark. But his end would come
by the cold steel of a sword. He hoped it would be tomorrow. He wasn’t ready to
die today.

Maybe Kezia would draw his name and come for him
tonight. Maybe he would live through this bloody war, after all.

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What kind of world ruler would you be?

Ha! This is a loaded question. Thank you, Silver Dagger Blog Tour for posing it to me.

Shall I start my campaign now? Or should I wait until the deep freeze?

In all honesty, I would probably be the worst world leader ever. But then, you can’t be a leader unless someone follows you and I was never very successful at having more than a cluster of children running along behind me.

Why wouldn’t I be a good leader?

  • I can’t hear very well. My husband and I spend more time saying “What?” than having a real conversation.
  • My voice doesn’t carry. I’ve been to book events and said “Hello” to a dozen people and they walk on by.
  • I hate talking in front of an audience. So much, I stutter. I was in a play in high school once. I was the Countess in You Can’t Take it With You. I looked really pretty in this gorgeous dress with a shiny tiara in my hair. I was so nervous I forgot all my lines. It was embarrassing and everyone was mad at me. I never got cast in another part again, thank goodness.
  • I find it difficult making a decision. Just the other day I was ordering something from a home-based business, and I changed my mind so many times I flooded them with emails. No one knew what I was ordering.
  • When I do make a decision, I think about it afterwards until I conclude I made the wrong decision. Then it’s too late and then I feel guilty.
  • I don’t fly. If I had to go to a country overseas, I’d have to take a cruise boat. That would hold up a few meetings, I think.
  • As far as the campaign? I detest competition. Once they started slandering me, I’d drop out. I’m not much of a soldier. I am certainly not officer material. I can think of having a backbone. I give my characters in my stories plenty of valor and honor. It’s all wannabe for me. I have inner strength, but rarely does it show outwardly. Unless I’m mad. Then everyone hides.

So. In conclusion, please do not nominate me for world leader. I don’t even want to tell them how to do their job!

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D.L. Gardner is an
award-winning author, artist, filmmaker, and screenwriter with over 28
published works to her credit. Writing and painting are her passions and
fantasy her forte. When she’s not pounding keys on the computer, she’s canning
salsa, picking apples, listening to the voices of critters in the woods, or
watching flowers grow. She loves visiting far-off lands through books by both
reading and writing.

Her genres include all fantasy, historical, and mystery.

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Get to know D.L. through her websites and blogs or send her a message her on Kickstarter.

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Currently a FINALIST (2025 March) in
the Cannes World Wide Film Festival for her screen adaption of her book An
Unconventional Mr. Peadlebody.

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Other awards include Wishing
Shelf book Award 2023 for audio, B.R.A.G. Award 2022 for the Cho Nisi series,
Book Excellence Award 2019 and 2015 for Ian’s Realm and Cassandra’s Castle.
Best Screenplay adaptation from her book Dylan at the Paris Screenplay Awards,
Mile Hill International Screenplay Awards, L.A. Edge Awards, European
Cinematography Awards, and Moondance Film Festival. Best Screenplay Award for
adaptation from her book An Unconventional Mr. Peadlebody at Veers Film
Festival, Best Screenplay Award for adaptation of Ian’s Realm at the Twin Falls
Sandwiches Film Festival and many more.

  

Website * Newsletter * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!

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Enter the Land of Two Moons Giveaway Here

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Synchrotron By Rain Hunter ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: July 9, 2025 in comedy, Excerpt, giveaways, Guest Post, Science Fiction
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The End of the World has Never Been This Incompetent!

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The Synchrotron

by Rain Hunter

Genre: Science Fiction Comedy

✔️A deadly virus.
✔️A
world overrun by monsters.
✔️
Six scientists on a dangerous mission to cure the world.
We are screwed…

They only wanted a
Nobel Prize. Instead, they will have to save the world.

It was going to be the experiment of the year. Preparing to blast x-rays
through a piece of palladium at the most dazzling European synchrotron, Anna
and five of her fellow scientists expected a few hiccups.

Not a horde of hungry spleen-eating zombies.

The world has succumbed to the virus, leaving only scattered
survivors.

When Anna and her friends realise that the infected can be cured back into
humans, they pledge to find a cure no matter the cost. Equipped with a lab
wrench and questionable lab ethics, Team ID26 are humanity’s last hope.

But what is the price of saving the world?

Running out of time, Anna and her friends will face the
impossible choices between life and death, morality and cure. When the future
of the world is at stake, what will they have to sacrifice?

**Only .99cents!!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Day 17, 21st of February, Wed

Steve didn’t call back. After I’d checked my phone for the millionth time, Kay patted me on the shoulder and took my phone away for safekeeping. I guess she meant my poor heart, not the phone.

“I heard that’s called ghosting,” Edsie told me.

“I heard that’s called tone-deaf, Edsie,” Kay bit back on my behalf.

Some say there are no heart wounds that a bucket of ice-cream cannot heal. How about treating those with instant noodles?

No?

Our noodle supplies are running dry, and even the chocolate bars we’ve hauled through the Ring back to ID26 won’t last us more than a day or two.

On a positive note, we’ve progressed on the spleen front.

After consulting Google Images, we agreed that the blob we initially identified as the pancreas was the spleen, the key to transforming people into blood-thirsty monsters.

We wrote and attached new labels.

“What do we do with the rest of it?” Tanya asked after we put the spleen aside and packed the other Ali’s organs into plastic sample boxes.

“Bin it. We’ve got the spleen,” said Dan.

“I’ll throw it into the biological waste,” Tanya said, loading the boxes onto a small trolley.

She was going to wheel Ali’s remains back to the wet lab. We could officially rename that wet lab into “Spleen-eaters’ Mortuary”. As one of them, Ali belonged there, too.

“I’ll help you,” said Edsie. “What if you have another seizure?”

Kay, Dan and I stared at them in confused silence while Edsie grabbed the trolley and rolled it out of the hutch. Tanya picked up the hammer and followed him.

Okay. What have I missed?

Since Tanya started taking her meds again, she seemed to be back to her usual self, no issues with her whatsoever, apart from this unexpected feat of helpfulness from Edsie. Had he been bitten?

“What now?” Kay asked after the door closed behind them.

“I don’t know. That’s weird. I’ve never heard him offer help before,” I said.

“No. What do we do with that?” Kay pointed at the chunk of flesh on the workshop table. It smelled rancid and unhealthy. Was it a typical smell of a slowly rotting spleen, or did the presence of the virus make it foul?

“If the virus is in his cells, we should find and isolate it,” I said.

“No shit,” said Dan.

“Microscope?” I suggested.

“We have to cut it very thin for a microscope,” said Kay.

“Not with a knife, I suppose.”

“It’s not a piece of meat, Anna, of course not with a knife. With a microtome. I even know where we can find one,” said Kay.

 

Quotes from reviewers:

 

“Like The Martian meets Zombieland—serious survival mixed with dark humour and fast action”

“surprisingly deep for post-apocalyptic science fiction”

“a mix of science, survival, and zombie action with added dark humour, this book will keep you hooked”

“a totally different take on the genre!”

“absolutely loved it!”

“surprisingly robust contemplations on life scattered throughout this fast-paced book”

“Sad. Humorous. Suspenseful.”

 

Quotes from the book:

 

Sunday! What a holy day for our unholy undertakings!

 

Before I start hyperventilating, let me focus on the facts. Dan says that when emotions are bigger than you, facts never are; they are short and precise.

Octopuses have three hearts.

A day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus.

Although zombies are a fictional concept, there are “zombie” ants that are infected by fungus and jump off heights, killing themselves.

Ah, crap, ignore this last one!

 

We didn’t see it, Dan! In the movies, zombies are always dead, right? But our zombies – no, our spleen-eaters – they are alive. The virus doesn’t kill them, so we can… cure them. Right?”

“We? As if, in us, the five chemists? Since when does a doctor in your title involve treating monsters back into people?

 

A couple of years after we’d dealt with COVID-19, the UN, WHO, and other important people got together to prepare the world for the next outbreak. Their plan, called “Lock and Block”, prescribed establishing a total area lockdown within 24 hours. Isolate the area, move in the military, fence off the perimeter, and shoot anyone who tries to escape.

The last one’s a joke. Sort of.

 

“How did you know they would make good samples?”

Have I told you about Louise’s proprietary stare? Here it was, telling me all I needed to know about my level of intelligence.

“Good brain samples are the ones that you do not need to scrape off the floor,” she explained, in case the stare was not sufficient.

 

If something walked out on us in search of a late-night dinner, I’d have to fight it off with only my charisma.

Zero chance, then.

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If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

 

I’d love to have an unknown actor play Anna, the main character. Anna is a narrator, she is full of backstory and opinions, and I would not want the previous roles to overshadow this. On the contrary, I’d love someone famous to play Dan. I’d think Vin Diesel or Jason Statham. Why these guys? Because Dan in the book is bald, has tattoos from his previous – not so intellectually-driven – life and knows how to make Molotov cocktails. With all that, he is a British Chemistry professor, and I thought it would be hilarious for, say, Jason Statham to be a chemistry professor, for once. Hasn’t he played a mechanic, a taxy driver, a courier, a diver, etc? Why not a scientist? He’s bald, too.

Have I mentioned? I have a soft spot for good irony. Life has a habit of dumping it on us by the bucketload, and if you’re not careful, it’s easy to mistake irony for failure. You need a certain kind of immunity to tell the difference.

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What is similar between science and postapocalyptic
survival?

Everything that can, will go wrong.”

Rain Hunter is a writer of post-apocalyptic science fiction.
Having spent years as a materials researcher, Rain intricately weaves
scientific precision into the stories. “I’ve had a fun lab run over the years
and might have picked some degrees on the way,” laughs Rain. “But the most
important thing for my books is that the science has to be real. No more
can-and-know-it-all characters! If I know how to cook meth from baking soda and
cough syrup, I won’t be able to start a rocket engine, full stop. Even in fiction!”

Rain is a huge fan of the zombie genre, both in movies and
books. “I’d kill to be a zombie extra in a film. Even if they smash my brains
out in the first two seconds. Sign me up anytime.”

Dark humour and irony are the main ingredients in Rain’s
novels. “I am sure the world will die laughing. That’s what I would do.”

Rain lives in Birmingham (England), which serves as a main
inspiration for the goriest post-apocalyptic scenes. In their spare time, Rain
plays a harp in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

​

Nah, not really.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $25 giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Syndicate Moon By Scott Killian ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: May 6, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Science Fiction
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Syndicate Moon organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Scott Killian will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Syndicate Moon

Stellar Heir #2 

By Scott Killian

 

 

Genre: Science Fiction 

Synopsis

Jael and his crew are on the run, searching for an ancient machine that could save the galaxy, but the syndicate-controlled moon has other plans.

After uncovering an artifact that grants him extraordinary powers, Jael thought he had gained the upper hand in the lawless fringes of space. But news of his newfound abilities has spread throughout the galaxy, and a bounty is placed on his head for crimes he didn’t commit. New enemies emerge to claim the reward and old foes remain relentless in their pursuit of the artifact.

Jael is unwillingly thrust into a high-stakes game that determines control over the moon. The four crime syndicates use this brutal contest to decide who will rule, and now Jael’s fate is entangled with theirs.

Complicating matters further, a mysterious woman with a similar artifact stalks Jael across the moon, sabotaging his quest. With each step, the stakes rise, and every decision could mean life or death. Jael must fight to stay alive, protect his crew, and uncover the second Antiqui lock—before time runs out.

 

Enjoy this peek inside:

Black crystalline scales erupted from Jael’s skin as he threw himself in front of Merzi. The scales absorbed the impact of the slugs and heat of the beams, crystal shards crackling off with each hit.

“Whoa, whoa, hold your fire!” One of the members stepped forward —a younger man who showed obvious signs of being a human hybrid.

His skin had a subtle, iridescent sheen and bony protrusions framed his jawline. His eyes scanned Jael, one a piercing blue, the other a glowing amber. Unlike the others he was clad in a weathered leather vest with various alien ornaments dangling from his belt.

The man continued. “We’re here for Ked’Korhva, not the woman.”

“Who the void cares, Lorvel?” one of the others said. “Just waste the skwer so we can get our payday.”

Jael straightened, breathing heavily. His scales dissolved back into his flesh. “Since when do syndicates go into bounty hunting work?”

Lorvel stepped closer. “Since the price on your head hit six digits.”

“You’re really willing to die for a payday?” Jael asked, motioning for Merzi to retreat into the abandoned building.

“For that kind of money?” Lorvel grinned, raising one brow. “Absolutely.”

Jael stole a glance over his shoulder to make sure Merzi had taken cover inside. When he saw her get into position behind the broken window, he turned back towards Lorvel and the rest of the Legion lackeys.

Jael quickly raised his slug thrower, aiming for Lorvel, but a shot rang out. The gun was knocked from his grip, skidding across the walkway. He swore under his breath and cradled his stinging hand.

Lorvel had his weapon steadily trained on Jael. The two men locked eyes. Jael shook his hand, ignoring the throbbing pain and dropping into a fighting stance. The wound had already healed thanks to the Antiqui bracelet.

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About Author Scott Killian:

Scott Killian grew up in California where he consumed every bit of sci-fi, fantasy and horror media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, and H. P. Lovecraft, those portals in his mind were opened, and his obsession with reading began. Storytelling, in any form, is his only passion.

Inspired by epic sci-fi space operas, Killian crafts tales of interstellar adventure and space wars, blending thrilling martial arts combat with galactic-scale conflict. His works often feature gritty fight sequences and complex characters caught in the heart of a stellar conflict, creating a unique blend of space opera thriller and sci-fi epic.

Facebook / TikTok / Instagram / Twitter

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Free To Read On Kindle Unlimited : Amazon

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Shadowed Skies By Haley Cavanagh ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: April 14, 2025 in Dystopian, giveaways, Guest Post, YA Fantasy
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His mountain solitude shattered.

Her lab prison escaped.

Together they’ll find refuge or die trying.

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Shadowed Skies

by Haley Cavanagh

Genre: YA Clean Dystopian SciFi Fantasy Romance

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Hunted for their blood. Fighting for their future.

River

He’s the last of his kind, a winged warrior
hidden in the mountains. River Shaw has lost everything: his sanctuary, the
only shield from a world that fears and hunts him. When Delene, another of his
kind, crash-lands into his life, wounded and on the run, his solitude is
shattered.

Delene

She’s a fugitive
with a secret, escaping the clutches of dark forces that took everything from
her. Delene Fairborne’s flight to freedom leads her to River and the spark of a
bond neither can deny.

In a landscape
scarred by betrayal and danger, River and Delene must navigate their growing
feelings and the sinister scientist who will stop at nothing to harness their
power. Shadowed Skies is where love takes wing, hope soars, and destiny
entwines. Dive into a world where every heartbeat is a rebellion, every glance
a promise, and every flight a taste of freedom.

Amazon * B&N * Betterworld Books * BAM * CollectiveInk * Thriftbooks * WalMart *  Goodreads

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I wake to a muscular, silent figure looming over me, his wings
casting unnerving shadows. Intelligent dark eyes scrutinize
me from his smooth, brown face framed by cropped black hair
and raven quills. He’s been around the block.
My guard shoots up. I’d stand, but my body’s too weak from
the climb. “Your nest, huh? Sorry, I didn’t see your name on it.”
“It’s carved right over there.” He points past me to the
rockface. My eyes travel over the stone, where he’d etched River
in craggy letters. The carved name is so tiny I didn’t notice.
“Now you’re supposed to tell me your name. That’s how this
goes.”
I blink. “Delene Fairborne. Listen, would you mind if I––
ow,” I scrape against the wall and suck air through my teeth. I
clamp my eyes shut.
“Are you okay?”
I shrug the blanket off, and my injured wing flops lamely
near my shoulder. River’s eyebrows lower, and he comes closer.
“Let me look.”
He stows his serrated hunting knife, presents empty hands,
and crouches to examine my injury. “Relax. I won’t hurt you.
Let’s see the damage.” He’s gentle, avoiding the wound and
handling my feathers softly. He lightly touches the bandage.
“Dr. Lytle runs the Stockade, the underground bunker and
lab where the humans imprison and experiment on our kind.
His men hunted me down and shot me with a crossbow as I tried
to escape. The wound is still healing––I changed the bandage
earlier, but without a spare set of clothes, I had to tear strips off
my pants to re-dress it.”

“Hmm.” He examines the back with a frown. “There’s an
exit wound.”
“Yeah, I pulled it out.”
“Well, that was stupid of you. You could have died if those
goons pierced a blood feather.”
My temper flares. “Oh, as opposed to leaving it in. I’d rather
take my chances, thanks.” My voice is hostile, though I’m
grateful for his help. I still don’t know who he is or what he
wants, and my mother warned me to be on my guard.
River sits back on his haunches, sighs, and meets my eyes.
“Doesn’t look good. How long have you been here, kid? A day
or so?”
“I’m no kid. I’m seventeen.”
“Well, I’m eighteen. So, you’re a kid.”
“By what, a few whole months?” I snicker. “Okay. If a kid
free-climbed in the pitch-black up a hundred-foot cliff to get
here, I guess I’m a kid.”
After examining the wound, he says, “The damage looks
fixable. Let’s clean this well to prevent infection.”
“I’ve cleaned the wound.”
“Clean deeper,” he admonishes. “I don’t have antibiotics, but
I’ll try to get some. Or at least honey. Honey heals.”
He hesitates before retrieving water, then takes a rag from
his pouch and soaks the cloth. With the knife still in hand, he
comes closer.
“Look … You seem all right, but I’m a lone wolf. I operate
solo. You have a target with a big ‘X’ on your back. I feel bad for
you. I do. But you know how it is with our kind.” He gives me
a blatant look, so here’s your cue to leave.
“Gee, I’d kindly vacate the premises, but I can’t fly.”
He rubs the back of his neck, agitated. “The valley’s full of
drones. And they’ve got at least a dozen soldiers combing the
forest.”

“I’m sorry.” I shift my eyes down. “You never asked for any
of this.”
“None of us did,” he waves me off. “The soldiers are here.
I’m screwed either way.” He pauses and assesses me. “Stay the
night. Then after that, I’m sorry, but you need to find somewhere
else to hide.”
The night might be all I need. “Thank you.”

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Behind the Scenes: The Inspiration for Shadowed Skies

Every story has an origin, and Shadowed Skies was no exception. This novel was born out of a mix of inspiration, personal experience, and a love for dystopian adventure with a touch of the fantastical. Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes to explore how this story came to life—from its first spark of an idea to the fully realized world of the Evol-humans.

  • The Spark of an Idea

The first whispers of Shadowed Skies emerged during NaNoWriMo 2019. At the time, life was a whirlwind of responsibilities, and most of my writing sessions took place in the carpool lane while waiting for my kids. It was during those stolen moments that River and Delene’s world began to take shape. I wanted to write a story that blended high-stakes survival with the emotional depth of identity, freedom, and resistance.

  • Wings, Science, and the Ethics of Experimentation

I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of science and ethics, particularly the unintended consequences of genetic experimentation. What if human beings were engineered for a purpose—only to be discarded when that purpose no longer suited their creators? This question became the foundation of Shadowed Skies and the plight of the Evol-humans. Designed as super-soldiers with avian DNA, they were meant to be resilient, capable of thriving in extreme environments. But as history often repeats, humanity fears what it does not understand. The same people who created the Evol-humans turned on them, leading to their persecution, imprisonment, and fight for survival.

  • A World Shaped by Dystopian Influences

I’ve always been drawn to dystopian fiction, from classics like 1984 and Brave New World to modern YA series like The Hunger Games and The Darkest Minds. These stories highlight resilience in the face of oppression, a theme that resonated deeply with me. However, I wanted to add a unique twist—rather than a purely tech-driven future, Shadowed Skies introduces an evolutionary shift, where biology itself becomes both a weapon and a weakness.

  • Survival in the Wild

Much of Shadowed Skies is set in rugged, mountainous landscapes, inspired by the breathtaking wilderness of Utah. I wanted to capture the raw beauty and danger of the wild—how nature can be both a sanctuary and a merciless force. River, one of the main characters, has learned to live off the land, a skill that not only defines his character but also plays a crucial role in the survival of those like him.

  • Characters with Heart and Struggle

At its core, this story is about two people who refuse to be caged—literally and figuratively. River, haunted by loss and determined to stay hidden, must confront his past and decide if he will fight for more than just his own survival. Delene, who has suffered unimaginable losses, refuses to let fear break her spirit. Their journey is one of trust, resilience, and ultimately, hope.

  • The Journey from Draft to Publication

Like any novel, Shadowed Skies went through multiple drafts, revisions, and deep dives into worldbuilding. Thanks to an incredible editorial team and supportive readers, the story transformed into what it is today—a thrilling blend of action, suspense, and heart.

  • Final Thoughts

Writing Shadowed Skies was an adventure, one that challenged me in ways I never expected. I hope readers find themselves lost in this world, rooting for River and Delene as they navigate a future shaped by both humanity’s cruelty and its potential for redemption.

Thank you for joining me on this behind-the-scenes look at Shadowed Skies! I’d love to hear from you—what are your favorite dystopian worlds, and what elements make them unforgettable to you?

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Haley Cavanagh is
a military veteran, wife, and mother. She was awarded the League of Utah
Writers 2020 Silver Quill Award for Retaliation, the second novel in her
Oceanstone Initiative series. Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical
theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley
resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her
husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers
and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

Website * Facebook
* X * Instagram
* Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Poseidon’s Daughters: Reckoning By Reign Reeves Pearson

Posted: April 4, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Science Fiction, thriller
Tags: , ,
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Poseidon’s Daughters: Reckoning

by Reign Reeves Pearson

 

(Poseidon’s Daughters, #1)
Publication date: March 21st 2025
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Thriller

They trained her to be a weapon. Now, she’s turning the blade on them.Eirianwen was Poseidon’s crowning achievement—until she walked away from everything. She’s evaded them for years, carving out a life in the shadows, leaving behind the bloodstained world they forced her into. Now, the past she’s been running from has finally caught up. A storm-wracked night. A breach in her sanctuary. Someone is watching. Someone is waiting. And this time, they don’t just want her dead—they want her to doubt herself. They want the world to believe she’s lost her mind.

They’ve been watching her. Manipulating her. Preparing for her downfall.

Now, the elite organization that built her is coming to collect. Not to kill—to control. They don’t need to break her. They just need to make sure no one believes her when she starts screaming.They want her to understand that her escape, her freedom, was all an illusion.

Erased. Discredited. Untouchable.

But Eirianwen has spent her whole life surviving. And when the walls start closing in, she doesn’t run. She hunts.

Poseidon wants her desperate. Unraveling. Helpless.

They’re about to learn just how dangerous she can be.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Eirianwen ripped out the earpiece and slammed it onto the desk. Panic swirled at the edges of her mind, but she forced it down. Now wasn’t the time. She grabbed a larger bag from under the desk, slung it over her shoulder, and stormed out. In the closet, she set the bag aside, pressing a hidden panel on the side of her bed. A drawer slid open, revealing her arsenal. Her hands shook as she armed herself, snapping a knife into its sheath and loading a handgun with quick, practiced movements. Now, to find them. Moving swiftly, she ran through the house, slipping out the back door and straight into the storm-charged air. Sullivan’s workshop. If she was going to do this right, she’d need a shovel. She yanked open the heavy wooden door, eyes darting over the mess inside.Where the fuck is it? Why is this place always such a goddamn disaster?

A glint of metal under the workbench caught her eye. She crouched, snatched up a spade, and bolted back outside. The rain had started in earnest, cold drops slicing through the thick humidity. She sprinted to where the trackers last pinged, her boots sinking slightly into the softening earth, almost tripping thanks to a low spot. Looking back at the spot, it was all wrong. She knew something was buried there.

Gripping the shovel tightly, she drove it into the ground. The soil gave easily…far too easily. The clay should have been a nightmare to dig through. Someone had already done the work for her. Within moments, her blade hit something solid, and dread curled in her stomach. She dropped to her knees, clawing at the loose earth with bare hands until the objects were free. Her breath hitched. Six trackers. All of them. Cold, useless, and buried like a mockery of her own paranoia. Eirianwen sat back on her heels, mud caking her fingers as she stared at the pile in her hands. Someone knew.

Her cheeks burned hot, but the rest of her body felt frozen. Tears welled, spilling silently down her face as the questions flooded in. Why? Why would Sullivan do this? Had he done this? He wouldn’t put the kids in danger—would he? Where were they? How long had he planned this? Her stomach twisted. Then, her phone buzzed—a single notification. Hands trembling, she wiped her palms on her pants and yanked it from her pocket. Wi-Fi restored—a new alert. Someone had just crossed the perimeter.

“It better be Sullivan and the kids.”

Eirianwen exhaled sharply, swiping at the sweat and tears streaking her face. Standing, she brushed the dirt from her clothes as best she could, shoving the useless trackers deep into her pocket. She locked her phone and steadied herself. If the kids were with Sullivan, she needed to stay calm. Normal. They couldn’t see the weapons strapped under her clothing. At least the incoming storm gave her an excuse to rush them inside. She’d get them safe first—then she’d deal with Sullivan. She turned toward the tree line, heart pounding in her throat. The property was massive, and she had built the house at its farthest edge. Finally, headlights cut through the gloom. A vehicle emerged. Not Sullivan’s truck. A cold, electric jolt shot down her spine. Every instinct screamed at her.

No one came out here. No one. She had made sure of it. For years, she had meticulously crafted the illusion of a perfectly ordinary life. She knew everyone in town—just enough to avoid suspicion, but never enough to invite curiosity. A delicate balance of friendly but distant. She never gave anyone a reason to visit. She didn’t even use their real address! She picked up all of their mail and deliveries in town. So who the hell thought they had the right to pull up to her house? The SUV slowed to a stop, tires crunching against the gravel. The doors swung open in near unison, and two men stepped out. Sheriff Ford. Deputy Pines. Ford adjusted his jacket, his gaze steady, unreadable. Pines lingered a step behind, eyes sharp, scanning. Ford closed the gap between them and gave Eirianwen a curt nod.

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About Author Reign Reeves Pearson:

Reign Reeves Pearson is a writer, storyteller, and chaos enthusiast based in Houston, where she lives with her husband, four kids, and three cats who may or may not be plotting world domination. She thrives on Kopiko, rainy days, and an endless love for Final Fantasy VII and Dungeons & Dragons.

She’s been writing for as long as she can remember. But in 2019, a health scare forced her to take a hard look at her life, and the answer was clear: writing wasn’t just something she did. It was what she was meant to do.

Her debut novel and series, Poseidon’s Daughters: Reckoning, is her first and only planned adventure into sci-fi. Going forward, expect Southern Gothic chills, cosmic nightmares, and nostalgic ‘90s horror—all infused with her signature mix of heart, humor, and a touch of the macabre.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably dreaming up elaborate D&D campaigns, getting emotionally wrecked by Final Fantasy VII (again), or staring dramatically out a window while it rains.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram

 

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Touch Of The Elegrian By Cheryl A. Arko ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: March 26, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Science Fiction
Tags: ,
26

 

 

Touch of the Elegrian

by Cheryl A. Arko

 

Publication date: March 25th 2025
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction

Prejudice. Legacy. Redemption.

Erys carries a secret that could shatter his world. The telepathic Elegrian has spent his life atoning for his dead father’s role in humanity’s disastrous first contact. Now, as a tech specialist for the Earth-led alliance, he serves in silence—until sabotage threatens the lives of dozens of human children. And the traitor is one of his own.

Forced to work with a brilliant but hostile human engineer, Erys must dismantle not only the deadly conspiracy but also the deep-seated mistrust between their peoples. With time running out, he faces an impossible choice: break the fragile Elegrian-Human treaty and invite the death penalty to forge a forbidden mind link with a human… or let innocent lives be lost.

Two worlds on the brink. A single act of defiance. Can compassion rewrite a doomed future?

The Elegrian Legacy begins here—a gripping sci-fi adventure rich in high-stakes dilemmas, deep character bonds, and first-contact intrigue.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Erys stood in the hospital room’s doorway, every muscle rigid. He’d arrived early, expecting to slip in quietly to take the system readings while the child slept. But, silent and alone, the sick little girl watched him from the bed with shimmering eyes. Purple bruises mottled her face. A red line ran a jagged path from her delicate nose to her dry lips. The stark-white sheet quivered as her small body trembled.

His throat tightened. Maybe he should come back later. It’d be much better for the child to remain unaware of his presence. It’d be better for him too. Not having to deal with the staring or the questions about who he was. Or the judgment.

But no. His job here—this job—should be routine. Easy. At least as easy as anything could be that brought an Elegrian to the foundation colony of the human Alliance on Loridan. Regardless, there was nothing ordinary about the suffering before him. He straightened his uniform jacket and crossed the threshold.

“Zhaaaaa…” He crooned words of comfort in the ancient language of his own people. It didn’t matter that the child was human and he was not—the melody of solace was universal. Besides, he should look human enough to the youngster. The one protein distinguishing his physiology from human was not outwardly visible. The only alien race either Elegrians or humans had encountered was each other, and in appearance they could be next-door neighbors.

The child’s shaking calmed. Her warm response encouraged him.

Brisk steps brought him to the girl’s bedside. Hidden under the covers, the bio-bed’s myriad sensors recorded enough infinitesimal measurements to enable Loridan’s treatment system to cure nearly any affliction. Or would have, if the complex network had not been broken. Loridan’s human techs could not figure out how to regenerate the Intelligent Data which gave the system its power. That was why he was here. Convoluted data issues—living data issues—were his specialty.

He crouched, pulled a sterile wipe from the dispenser, and gently cleaned the blood from the child’s face. “There. Better?” He pronounced the words carefully. The harder he tried, the more the liquid trill of his accent became exaggerated. He hoped she understood him.

Her eyes widened at the sound of his voice. “Are you a doctor?”

She spoke in a whisper, but her plea pinged loud and clear on his psychic senses. “No, shimwa.” He searched his memory for the translation. “Little one.” Deliberately, he relaxed his expression. “I’m here to help your doctors. To repair their equipment, so they can help you get better.” He reached out a finger to dab the wetness from her cheeks.

Her eyes followed his hand, and she stared at his uniform sleeve. At the insignia displayed prominently along with those of rank and division. He recognized the shadow of understanding that darkened her expression. He’d seen it before.

She recoiled, and a sob shook her frail form.

He had no words in any language to relieve this fear.

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About Author Cheryl A. Arko:

CHERYL ARKO is a science fiction author and an accomplished senior data scientist with a long career in IT and medical data analysis. She has loved reading science fiction ever since she could connect letters into words, devouring everything from Andre Norton to E.E. “Doc” Smith to more and more authors through the years who have shared their thought-provoking ideas of imagined places and alternate realities.

TOUCH OF THE ELEGRIAN is Cheryl’s debut novel and was a Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalist for best Science Fiction/Fantasy. She writes stories that take her to the stars, imagining who we might find out there, inviting readers to come along for the ride to visit new worlds and their people. To explore what makes us different—and what makes us the same. And to discover the inherent good that exists in the universe to balance against darkness, no matter how far we travel.

A seasoned dog trainer, Cheryl lives with her beloved Airedales in a tiny house nestled within thirty acres of serene Minnesota pine trees.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

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Optimizer Of Souls By Julian Christian ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: March 10, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Science Fiction
Tags: ,
40

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Welcome to my stop in the virtual book tour for Optimizer Of Souls organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Julian Christian will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Optimizer Of Souls

By Julian Christian

 

 

Genre: Science Fiction

Synopsis

When her mentor Professor Williams disappears after discovering a fatal flaw in SENTINEL’s perfect system, Maya must navigate a world where every thought is monitored and every emotion optimized. With help from James Reed, a damaged neural interface designer haunted by helping create humanity’s perfect prison, she uncovers evidence that could shatter SENTINEL’s control – if they survive long enough to use it.But in a city where surveillance drones hunt for behavioral anomalies and optimization protocols spread through quantum networks, Maya confronts a terrifying possibility: what if perfect control isn’t their enemy? What if human consciousness is evolving into something beyond both chaos and control?

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

Through her pain, Maya watches optimization protocols flow through the crowd like invisible rivers. She sees how each person’s neural implants respond to corporate commands, adjusting thoughts and feelings to maintain perfect social harmony. The amount of control happening around her is overwhelming – too much for even her enhanced systems to process clearly.

Her military tech usually filters all this information, making it manageable for her human brain to understand. But with so many optimized minds in one place, all following Sentinel’s perfect patterns, the filters are failing. Raw data crashes against her consciousness like waves against a beach, each new surge bringing more pain.

The migraine builds as her enhanced vision tries to show her everything at once – the neural patterns of thousands of workers, the hidden messages in corporate announcements, the subtle signs of Sentinel’s control woven through every surface and signal. It’s like having super-powerful eyes that can’t close, forced to watch every detail of how thoroughly humanity has been optimized.

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About Author Julian Christian:

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Julian Christian grew up in New York City, attending the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School specializing in computer science. After graduation he attended New York University where he earned a Master’s Degree in occupational therapy. Julian worked in the New York City public schools as an occupational therapist. His lifelong passion for fitness and health led him into the modeling industry where he appeared on several fitness magazine covers and spreads including Men’s Health magazine. He also appeared in advertisements for Saks 5th Avenue, Adidas, and Diesel. In addition to his modeling work he appeared in several tv shows including Ugly Betty on ABC and Tough Love on VH1, as well as several commercials. The big screen had him featured in several mainstream and indie films in supporting roles. Julian had also had  the romance novel industry calling his name as he has been featured on the cover of over one hundred romance novels. His lifelong passion for books has extended beyond just appearing on book covers as he is an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction books. He is a classic sci-fi and alternate history fan. In the non-fiction realm he enjoys biographies and books on science and technology.  He is a lover of the outdoors and nature. He currently resides in San Diego California where he is an avid bodyboarder and hiker.

 

Author Links: Facebook

Purchase Link: Amazon

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Pilgrims By Michael Leonard ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: January 22, 2025 in Author Interview, giveaways, Science Fiction
Tags: ,
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Book Details:

​ PILGRIMS by M.R. Leonard
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  412 pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher:  Blue Castle Press
Release date:  November 2024
Content Rating: PG-13. There is death in my book. There are also religious profanities “God damn”. There are also a few swears (not many but some “F” bombs said by the villain at the end). There is no description of sex but my protagonist follows an online creator who does adult content (her content is never described at all other than to say it exists). The main thing is the violence in my book. It is not gory but it does involve children dying.

Book Description:

Latin was a dead language—until the aliens arrived.

Out-of-work Latin teacher and borderline alcoholic Austin DeSantis is determined to spend his final days in the arms of a prostitute—that is if the aliens don’t exterminate humanity first.

But when the aliens land at the Vatican, begin speaking Latin, and reveal themselves to be Catholic, the world turns upside down.

Pressed into service as a translator and thrust into the center of humanity’s first contact with a cryptic alien race, Austin must uncover their true intentions before religious turmoil rips the planet apart. But with Austin caught between the Catholic Church, the US military, and an enigmatic alien AI, he’ll have to decide where his loyalties lie as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

PILGRIMS is a sci-fi retelling of Augustine’s Confessions, mixing a high-concept premise à la Children of Time with the ceaseless pacing and rich characterization of Red Rising.

BUY THE BOOK:
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add to goodreads
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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MICHAEL LEONARD:
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Okay. The cover. We need to talk about the cover. How’d you come up with that?

It is a great cover, isn’t it? I wanted something that announced the genre clearly but said to the reader, this book is going to be different.

In PILGRIMS, instead of landing on the White House lawn and saying “take me to your leader,” the aliens land at the Vatican and ask for an audience with the Pope.

Is this like the far future, the past, the present? When do these “Catholic” aliens show up?

It’s set in the near future. I’m vague about the time because I think when books are super specific it kind of dates the story. Like in Back to the Future II Marty McFly goes to the “future” which is 2015. Needless to say, 2015 California in the movie didn’t look a whole lot like the real 2015 California (where is my hoverboard?!!).

So the story starts in a world that looks a lot like ours, with one key difference—humanity discovered an alien ship careening toward Earth five years prior and all attempts at communication have failed. No one knows if the aliens are friend or foe and if their arrival portends a coming apocalypse or a golden age.

As you can imagine, this has a pretty big impact on things, not really for the better.

The aliens are faking, right? Aliens can’t be Catholic. Can they?

You have to read the book to find out 😊.

But interestingly, this is a subject Catholic thinkers have been pondering for centuries (that’s right—centuries). While there is no official Church teaching, there are many scholars, including those who work at the Vatican Observatory, who believe that of course aliens can be Catholic if they sincerely want to be.

Speaking of the Vatican Observatory. That is a real thing. It’s in Arizona and one of the characters in the story—Father Ambrose—is the director. So read my book and learn more!

How long have you been writing?

About three years. This is my debut novel. I came from a business background before but I had this story burning inside me and I just needed to get it out. I’m happy to say the response has been phenomenal. A lot of major influencers have picked up on it. It’s not every day that a book about Catholic aliens invading Earth comes out . . .

Is this a one-off story or is it a series?

The book concludes about fifty days after Catholic aliens arrive on Earth. What happens to society ten years after such a momentous event? Fifty years? There is still so much story to tell and I’ll do it from the perspective for the main character—Austin DeSantis.

I didn’t want to write a book with a major cliffhanger at the end, however. The story is all wrapped up in a bow at the end. It’s very satisfying.

What’s this about you going to the Moon?

Even though I’m a sci-fi author, I’ve never really had an interest in space tourism. I like things on Earth just fine. But I do want to go to the Moon one day.

And here’s the thing—I think that is going to be possible in the late 2030’s. This isn’t a pipe dream. I already have permission from my wife an everything (which we all know is the hardest part about going to the Moon).

Speaking of the Moon, my Instagram handle is @Monksonthe_Moon. It’s about time we had monks on the Moon, isn’t it? I’m gonna work on making that happen. I like to have modest goals . . .

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Meet Author Michael Leonard:

Michael Leonard was born and raised in Boston, but the cities he’s spent the most time in are Beijing, Florence and Edgartown (in that order). After graduating from Boston College, he pursued a career in law before becoming a China market entry advisor and accumulating a few lifetimes worth of adventures in just nine short years. Somewhere along the way he lost his faith but he found it again in graduate school at MIT. Married with two young sons, he can be found discussing his next novel with his ten pound dachshund as he strolls around Boston Harbor.

connect with the author: website ~ X ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 
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PILGRIMS by M.R. Leonard Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Bitroux: High Country By Jordan Harcourt-Hughes ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: January 21, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Science Fiction
Tags: ,
63

Welcome to my stop in the virtual book tour for Bitroux: High Country organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Jordan Harcourt-Hughes will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Bitroux: High Country

by Jordan Harcourt-Hughes

 

 

Genre: Science Fiction

Synopsis

If Merouac ever thought his life’s work would culminate in leading the metal workshops of the Transcontinental Railroad Project, he was sorely mistaken.

Now, his true challenge lies in navigating the other-worldly abilities he’s only beginning to understand—abilities that allow him to tune metal to interdimensional frequencies.

While trying to be a guardian to his niece, Evra, he’s realising she may have more to teach him than he ever expected. At the same time, his decision to help an interdimensional race find refuge underground puts him at the centre of an even deeper mystery.

As reality reshapes itself around him, Merouac faces a growing realisation: the world of Ahm is on the brink of a profound transformation, and everything he thought he knew may soon be shattered.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The two men were slow moving, graceful, each with a high mohawk of golden straw-like hair, and heavily decorated with neck jewels. The neck-ware was gnarled, twisted, fibrous, fragments of plant stems dried and interwoven with beads and fresh flowers, trussed with other leaves and organic material, and embedded with strange jewels that seemed to glow and fade, changing colours across a spectrum of blues to greens and then back to blues.

Tundra inclined his head, made a small gesture and a bow.

‘He greets you,’ Kii translated. ‘Tundra does not speak very much, and so I’ll translate for him.’

‘How do you know what he wants to say, then?’ Merouac asked.

‘I can see it, or sense it, in the atmosphere,’ Kii explained.

Merouac watched in surprise as the Tundra gestured again, imparting information through the aether which Kii seemed to easily recieve and decipher.

Tundra then eased himself into a crouching position and cleared a patch of grass. He shook his head and determined it would not suit, and looked for a sandy patch. He moved over to another, more suitable, patch of ground and beckoned the other two to join him. He went through the same process of clearing the ground, and then used his fingers to trace lines into the sand. He was silent as he did so, but then looked at Kii expectantly, and Kii nodded.

‘Tundra said you did the right thing with the race that was escaping their imploding planet. They are safe, and they will rest in the core of Ahm now. Tundra was just drawing a map for me, to show me where they are.’

Merouac felt a shock run through him. ‘How does Tundra know about the Helara?’ he asked Kii.

‘There are things that can be seen in the energetic environment. He is able to perceive the place where the Helara now rest. It is under the power grid, deep below Suron. There is a cave network, and catacombs with very deep canyons. Below those canyons, this is where you found a place for the Helara to enter the core of the planet. It was the right thing to do,’ Kii said, translating as he watched Tundra’s fingers work in the sand.

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About Author Jordan Harcourt-Hughes:

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Jordan Harcourt-Hughes  is an abstract painter, writer and communications professional. She’s passionate about all aspects of creativity, life-long learning and personal wellbeing.  Over the last fifteen years she’s led, coached and developed creative professionals across the Asia-Pacific region.

Jordan’s books, studio workshops, courses, coaching and resources are an invitation to explore the rich landscape of creative experiences open to all.

High Country is Jordan’s second novel set in the world of Bitroux.

Author Links: Website / Instagram / Facebook

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Mindcraft – The Educational Singularity By Darryl Vidal ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 13, 2024 in Excerpt, giveaways, Science Fiction
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Mindcraft organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Darryl Vidal will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Mindcraft – The Educational Singularity

by Darryl Vidal

 

 

Genre: Science Fiction

Synopsis

On the eve of the Global MindCraft Universe Challenge, Justin Turner, a teenage master of the titular virtual reality game, and his friends (known online as the Digital Mavericks) discover a sinister underbelly within the MindCraft Universe that may use artificial intelligence and virtual manipulation to end the world as we know it.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The foray into EduNex’s Curriculum base unfolded like a treasure trove of knowledge, offering a profound depth of data and information across every conceivable discipline and subject. In the core of his academic pilgrimage lay a technological marvel that wove the fabric of education and technology into an academic spider’s web—EduNex. The school’s Learning Management System stood as the bedrock of educational efficacy. A ubiquitous platform that boosts every student’s aptitude in every aspect of their learning experience.

EduNex wasn’t just an LMS; it was an educational ecosystem that had become the standard across all schools in the state. Its influence extended far beyond the confines of a traditional learning management system. When Justin navigated its intuitive VR interface, he often found himself immersed in a world where every nuance of the learning process was invisibly aided. It wasn’t a cheating platform—more of a virtual world book encyclopedia—without the book.

The scope of EduNex was staggering. It served as the central repository for student information¬—a digital canvas where class syllabi, schedules, grades, and academic reports coexisted. But it went further, seamlessly integrating the intricacies of remote and hybrid learning. Voice and video conferencing brought the classroom to life, transcending physical boundaries and fostering an environment where learning knew no limits and no borders.

Everything on EduNex is collaborative. Whether with peer students, teachers, subject-matter-experts, researchers, or anyone else with an Internet connection—every module within the EduNex suite offered the ability to collaborate.

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About Author Darryl Vidal::

Darryl Vidal is an accomplished entrepreneur, author and education technology consultant with over 30 years of experience working with the largest school districts in Southern California. He is a futurist and fan of Artificial Intelligence, and an avid reader of the sciences, philosophy, and techno-thrillers.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Information Management and a Master’s Degree (MA Ed) in Education (Instructional Technology) from California State University, San Bernardino. He has also published eight critically acclaimed books on Educational Technology, Ed Tech Strategic Planning and Digital Transformation, and has developed the formal strategic planning and project management methodology known as MapIT.

Darryl has been a student and teacher of the art of Kenpo Karate for over 50 years. He has been teaching Karate in Murrieta for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for the past 30+ years. He also founded and heads the Murrieta Stick Fighting Club (Filipino Martial Arts). This has led to him earning the highest honor given in martial arts when he was promoted to Grandmaster – Ju Dan, 10th Degree Black Belt in 2012.

He is widely known for his appearance in 1984’s The Karate Kid, playing himself in the tournament semi-finals, as well as acting as a stunt-double for Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi). He is also credited with inventing the iconic Crane Kick.

MindCraft: The Educational Singularity is Darryl’s second novel in over twenty years and his first science fiction endeavor.

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