Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Interview & Giveaway: H. A. Goodman


Favorite reads? 
   I am drawn to books with existential themes and stories that make me think about humanity and the world in a different light. For this reason, George Orwell is my favorite author and his 1984 is my favorite read of all time.  

Inspirations for the book?
   Breaking the Devil’s Heart is an out of the ordinary novel primarily because it deals with grandiose themes in a light hearted, almost tongue and cheek manner. For example, Hell is an office, Satan is the CEO, and demons sell evil as a product. However, there are some serious, real world issues that I address in the story. Honor Killings, genocide, the Civil Rights Movement, Hiroshima, and other historical events are mentioned in the novel, but in ways that readers can learn from and find palatable. There’s even a game show in Heaven called Heavenly Charades, where the protagonist goes back in time and has to find the one word that can defeat evil entirely from planet Earth.
    Basically, I wanted to write a story that years from now, people might find not just amusing, but thought provoking. The overall inspiration for Breaking the Devil’s Heart comes from my belief that human beings, although innately good, are sometimes easily misled by their own belief systems into committing horrific evil in a casual, almost bureaucratic manner.  

Did you know you wanted to be an author when you were little?
   I wanted to be a fireman.

Any Pet Peeves? 
   Waiting in long lines, traffic (which is kind of like waiting in long lines), and when my cell phone loses reception.

Chocolate or Peanut Butter?
   Chocolate, no question about it.

The weirdest thing you've ever done?
   When I was young, I used to be quite chubby. So, my buddy and I hatched a plan to use my weight to our advantage. He would run alongside me while grabbing hold of the side of my body and when we’d reach a group of our friends, he’d hurl me at them like a bowling ball hitting pins. So, I became an eleven year old bowling ball. This story is more an example of stupidity than anything bizarre, but I guess that’s the first thing that comes to mind.

Is there a soundtrack to the book?
   I’d say punk music, probably something from the Ramones. Really, any Ramones song would do just fine.

Do you need anything to write?
   I like to write with a documentary in the background; something thought provoking or inspiring. I must have watched Martin Scorsese's Public Speaking about 50 times while writing the novel. 

How long do you write on any average day? 
   For Breaking the Devil’s Heart, it varied from eight hours some days to a couple of minutes, depending on if I was stressing out about a word or sentence or if I trusted myself to let the story flow from my mind to the page.

Give us the number one reason to read your book.
   I can assure you that you’ve never read a book like Breaking the Devil’s Heart in your life. This sounds a bit arrogant, but I’ve heard that sentiment time and time again in reviews.

Author Info: 
H. A. Goodman Author on Facebook 

   When Stewart and Layla recruit a demon to spy on the Devil, their decision takes them on whirlwind ride through the afterlife. Journey alongside this young couple in H. A. Goodman's new novel, Breaking the Devil's Heart, and join forces with a teenage Angel outcast to bankrupt Satan's underground Company and save Heaven from civil war. H. A. Goodman's Breaking the Devil's Heart is a rollercoaster afterlife experience that tests a young couple's love, their grasp on reality, and the essence of human nature. What happens when Stewart and Layla tour Hell's Marketing Department and Stock Exchange? What happens when their relationship is tested by Satan? This book is unlike anything you've ever read, or ever thought the afterlife might be like. Breaking the Devil's Heart is an enlightening look into an alternate world, a new afterlife, and a profound journey inside the human conscience.


*Giveaway*
Ends 9/25
1. Paperback Copy (US/Can Only)
2. Free Ebook Copy (Up to 100 total)

No mandatory entries for this one.
Like H. A. Goodman on Facebook (+1)




Tell your friends! They can effortless add Breaking the Devil's Heart to their online library!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Cover Feature & Excerpt: Perception by Lee Strauss

  
 Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.
Her brother Liam is missing.
   Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.
   Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn.  She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.

Perception is the first book in a YA Sci-Fi series and one of several from author Lee Strauss
~
Chapter 1

PART ONE
ZOE

Chapter 1

I balanced on my surfboard, right thigh burning and salt water stinging my eyes, while the best wave of the early morning carried me like a goddess on a pedestal to shore. My older brother Liam and I shared a friendly competition, and it gave me a certain, blissful satisfaction to catch the same wave and to get to shore first.
Beat ya! I shouted over the noise of the crashing surf.
Seagulls flocked and circled over us, squawking loudly, adding to the cacophony.
The sun glistened off Liam’s damp blond curls as he shook them out. His eyes sparkled as his lips tugged up into a grin. I let you win.
Did not! I smacked him playfully on the arm. One more ride?
Liam unzipped his wetsuit letting the top half fall down past his waist. He was in fine form, and I understood why all the girls raved about him. He was responsible for a long list of broken hearts.
I gotta get going,” he said, lifting his board.
I fell into stride beside him, my feet sinking into the cold, wet sand. So soon?
He nodded, the glint leaving his eyes. My lips tightened into a frown You’re taking off with Jackson again?
Jackson was my boyfriend but lately he’d been spending more time with my brother than he had with me. It was starting to tick me off.
Liam stared straight ahead. Lab stuff.
What are you working on? I rushed to keep up with my brother’s long, strong strides. He flicked his head, tossing the hair out of his eyes but didn’t answer.
“Come on,” I knocked into him sideways. “Tell me!”
“It’s just stuff.
“Just stuff? Like what? Top CIA stuff? I know you’re smart but I think the government has been doing a good job without your help.”
I meant it as a joke, but Liam huffed. “It’s just stuff, okay? So leave it.”
I stopped short shocked that he’d snapped at me.
He turned around and exhaled, “Zoe, I’m sorry.”
“Fine. If you can’t tell me, you can’t tell me.”
We resumed our trek along the beach, and I pushed back my frustration. Liam used to include me in everything. It was always him and me against everyone else. Him and me against Alison and Paul, aka our mom and dad. Him and me against the surf. We were a team. When did we start keeping secrets from each other? Rather, when did he start keeping secrets from me?
I re-adjusted my board under my arm. Maybe I could get Jackson to unzip his lips. Especially if I helped him. He could be easily persuaded if I poured on the charm. I hated to go behind my brother’s back for information, but something about all this--this, whatever it was that Liam was doing--made me uneasy. I couldn’t pinpoint why, it just did.
We reached our home, a massive glass box with two floors of windows facing the Pacific Ocean. It was built after the San Andreas Fault shifted and triggered the Big Quake that, along with the subsequent tsunami, wiped out ten miles of shoreline.
A nearby white-stucco storage shed housed all our water toys. We stopped there to hang up our wetsuits to dry.
Thanks for surfing with me today.” Liam said, smiling at me, back to his jovial self. I know it was a sacrifice for you to get up so early.
I smiled in return. No problem. It was fun.” Surfing with Liam was one of my most favorite things to do.
“You’re back for dinner?” I asked.
Liam didn’t know it, but once he left, I’d be spending the rest of the day preparing for his surprise birthday party. He’d turned twenty-one yesterday and had celebrated at a bar with his friends. I couldn’t go because I was underage, and it irked me that Jackson went and that he and Liam had once again shared a significant moment without me. I took consolation in the fact that Alison and Paul gave me free reign to plan this party. My heart beat with excitement, and I couldn’t wait to see his face when he got home and found the house full of his friends.
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” he answered.
I bit my cheek to keep my voice even. “Good.We’ll see you, then.”
Our property tiered twice before connecting with the sandy beach. Three glass doors slid open disappearing into the corner and creating a wall-less view of the stone patio that encased an eternity pool. Its waters slipped over the far edge into a waterfall that was collected again on the second tier.
Liam strode into the house, through the living room and down the hall to his bedroom at the back, his wet shorts dripping on the glossy white tiles.
I tightened the towel around my waist and climbed the open-slat staircase to my room.
As I passed the maid, Saundra something, her brown face blanched. She stumbled slightly before grabbing the rail and catching herself.
Excuse me, she said softly at my astonished look.
The woman really didn’t look well, and I was thankful for my enhanced immunization. I was glad I didn’t have to worry about diseases brought in from the outside.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She nodded weakly, and proceeded to clean the rails. I’d requested extra staff to get the house ready for Liam’s party.

A trill of anticipation reclaimed my thoughts. I couldn’t wait for tonight.
The door beside my bathroom opened into a second room, a walk-in closet big enough to house another bedroom set. Racks of clothes and shoes lined the walls, a well-lit mirror station was located near the sky light and a cushioned leather bench was placed in the middle for sitting. I stood in my closet and stared at the rows of sundresses, blouses and shorts.
What to wear?
I settled on a lace blouse and cotton shorts, then went to take a luxurious shower, rinsing the sea water out of my long, blond hair. I leaned into the built-in seat that was designed specifically for my body height and shape. Laser lights mapped my head and twenty-eight silicon fingers reached out to massage my scalp while shampooing and conditioning my hair. Most days I had to watch or I’d doze off, but today I was excited. I commanded the water to turn off as soon as the rinse was done.
When I was dressed and my hair combed out and tied back, I slipped my platinum Communication Ring onto my left middle finger. I tapped it which produced a holographic image of my phone apps on my palm. I touched the clock icon and holographic digital numbers appeared in the air.
Ten already? Where did the time go? That was the thing with summer holidays; every hour ran languidly into the next.
I imagined the cook and her crew were busy preparing for the party in the kitchen. I’d requested fresh sea food and simulated roast, fresh fruit and vegetables, an assortment of fancy chocolates and baked items plus a three-tiered, surfer-themed birthday cake.
I skipped down the stairs to check on the progress, but in my hurry to the kitchen, I slammed into a body.
Sorry, a male voice said.
I stepped back agitated. I recognized the dark-haired boy wearing the white tunic my mother made the male staff wear. He was the maid’s son and I guessed he was part of the extra staff. He held a wet mop in his hand, and I figured he’d been cleaning up Liam’s spotty water trail.
He stepped politely out of the way, but the expression on his face was stoic. Even though he was clearly from the outside and the help, I still expected some small sign that what he saw when he viewed me was pleasing. A twinkle in the eye, a slight upturning of the lips. These were the responses I got from all the boys. The straight ones, anyway.
He wasn't especially attractive but I didn't see people with his appearance very often. He had eyes the color of imported coffee beans and skin like caramel candy. His nose was wide and his jaw-line sharp. I was suddenly intrigued by him and surprised myself by thinking he looked exotic.
“Excuse me, what was your name again?” I asked.
“Noah.”
Right. I remembered now. I waited for him to say something, but he stayed quiet.
Footsteps echoed from the hall above. My parents spoke together, their muffled voices floating across the high ceilings.
Do other maids send their sons to do their work? Alison's voice had a brassy tone that carried through the cavernous space.
I felt a flare of red creep up my neck when I realized Alison was talking about Noah. My eyes darted to his, but he kept his averted.
He does a good job, Paul responded. “That's the main thing. Besides you know they need the money.
“So we're charity now?
What's wrong with a little charity? Besides, they're not just anybody.
I don't care. I still don't trust him.
I was mortified. My feet felt cemented to the floor and I didn’t know what to say. Anything would come off as trite since nothing I could say could undo what Noah had heard.
Did you know the Pikes have a household robot now? Alison, again. Apparently it’s very efficient, and at least Mary doesn’t have to worry about things going missing.
Noah’s jaw tightened and he turned his back to me. He attacked Liam’s dried and dusty water spots aggressively and soon had disappeared around the corner.
Zoe? Alison click-clacked down the wooden stairs. She wore a pale yellow pant suit and high heels even though it was Saturday. She was in-between careers now, having spent the last fifteen years in law. She barely looked thirty years old and with lots of time ahead of her, she could do anything. Probably several things.
“Mom! You have to keep your voice down. How many times do I have to tell you your voice travels in this glass box?
“Oh.” She looked mildly shaken. “No matter. Is everything coming together to your satisfaction?”
“I’m just checking in on things now.”
“Your father and I are meeting people for lunch. What time is the party again?”
I blew a frustrated breath. She could at least pretend she cared enough to remember details I’d told her a dozen times already.
“Seven.”
“Right. We’ll see you at seven.”
Things proceeded throughout the day as planned and I was pleased with my ability to pull off an event like this on my own.
The decorators showed up at 1:00 as promised.
The band arrived to set up at 3:00.
I got dressed at 4:30, having bought a thigh-length mini-dress that sparkled with tiny crystals just for the occasion.
My hair and makeup girl arrived at 5:00.
I tapped my ring and called Jackson at 5:30.
“Where are you?” I said to the three-inch holographic image of him that popped up above my palm. “You said you’d help.”
“Sorry, Zo. Got tied up at home.”
“Are you okay? You don’t sound so good.”
It was odd. No one in Sol City ever got really sick, but it wasn’t unheard of to get run down if you pushed yourself too hard. Jackson had been working a lot lately.
“I didn’t sleep well last night. Uh, spent most of the day in bed.”
I felt a little panicky. “You’re still coming, aren’t you?”
“Of course. I’ll be there soon.”
Alison and Paul arrived at 6:30 along with all of mine and Liam’s friends.
I hushed everyone at 6:55, giving instructions on when to shout “Surprise!”
It was all a wasted effort.
Liam never showed.

~
Exciting, right? Perception releases September 12. Be sure to keep an eye out!

Goodreads-Perception

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

   
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, 
   She'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 
   Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

   The Throne of glass made big promises. Promises which it delivered and more.
    Celaena was a beautifully written character. She was smart, sassy, sensible and everything I look for in a heroine. It was easy to identify with her and forgive all her faults, and the dynamic between her and Dorian and Chaol was very catching. Even with only phantom glimpses into her past, I felt like I knew where she was coming from. Her strengths and weaknesses made sense. Though all the characters were very clearly defined, Chaol was perhaps my favorite, and he displayed a depth that left me thinking.
Characters: 5 Stars
     This was not your average assembly line book. No plot twist took the easy way out, and when I thought I had it pegged I couldn't have been more wrong. The action never felt stale and rolled out of the pages like water. There was a nice blend of suspense, action, magic, and intrigue. Though romance was a moderately small aspect of the plot it was very refreshing! Instead of spoon feeding the reader pages and pages of the characters feelings, Sarah Maas let the characters discover it themselves. Consequently when things came to a close it felt very genuine.
Plot: 4.9 Stars
      I hadn't read a satisfying book in a long time. It felt good. Sarah Maas' narration never got in the way or distracted from other elements of the story. Her world-building was clear and concise, pushing  her creations forward for the reader to explore and enjoy. She created a story without hiccups or stutters. I'll definitely have a hopeful eye out for a sequel!
Style: 5 Stars

Rating: 5 Stars
Source: Amazon
Genre: Fantasy
YA Fiction

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Interview & Giveaway: Jody Gehrman

  Jody Gehrman is the author of seven novels and numerous plays. Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is her most recent Young Adult novel. Her other Young Adult novels include Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love, (Penguin's Dial Books). Babe in Boyland has recently been optioned by the Disney Channel and won the International Reading Association's Teen Choice Award. Her adult novels are Notes from the Backseat, Tart, and Summer in the Land of Skin (Red Dress Ink). Her plays have been produced in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L.A. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She is a professor of English at Mendocino College.

Favorite reads?
   Some of my favorites in the realm of “classics” include Nabokov, both of the Brontes (but especially Charlotte) and Jane Austen. Southern writers like Ellen Gilchrist made a big impression on me as a young writer. When I found Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones Diary, Nick Hornby's High Fidelity and Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series I became fascinated with British comic geniuses. I read a lot of YA these days and some of my favorite writers are Beth Fantaskey, Nina LaCour, Maggie Stiefvater and Stacey Jay.

Inspirations for the book?
   I'm interested in witchcraft. I guess I'm sort of a pagan at heart and have always connected nature with spirituality, which is a fairly central idea in the book. 

Did you know you wanted to be an author when you were little?
   Yes, pretty much. When I was eight I learned to use a typewriter and wrote my first "novel." It was actually a super long letter sent to my best friend about us riding around on our flying dogs. We'd moved to Canada for the year and I missed our imaginary games, so I wrote about them instead. I guess writing for me has always been about delving into imaginary worlds. I still tend to think of each of my novels as long love letters—to a place, a time in my life, a person, a feeling. 

Any Pet Peeves?
   Ads with misused or missing apostrophes. 

Chocolate or Peanut Butter?
   Both! 

The weirdest thing you've ever done?
   Went to Roswell, New Mexico with my father to interview a bunch of UFOlogists.

Is there a soundtrack to the book/Favorite music?
   Spooky Little Girl Like You by The Zombies. 

Do you need anything to write?
   Caffeine and nature sounds on my iPod. 

How long do you write on any average day?
   Varies, but I try to get at least three hours in.

Give us the number one reason to read your book.
   Because it has magic chocolate cake, necromancers and cute boys in it. I guess that's sort of three reasons--oops! 

Author Info:
Facebook Jody.Gehrman
Twitter @JodyGehrman

   Falling in Love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer—it’s all in a day’s work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training. When her mother goes missing and her twenty-one-year-old witchy cousin shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something’s gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it’s up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother’s secret past.


Giveaway 1. US/Can only: Paperback
Giveaway 2. International: Ebook
(Ends 9/11)
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Extra:
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Interview & Giveaway: Ioana Visan


    Ioana Visan has always dreamed about reaching the stars, but since she can't she writes about it. Her stories have been published in several Romanian anthologies and magazines. Her English debut came with the short story "Unhinged Reality" published by Every Day Fiction. "Human Instincts" is her first novella in English and she also has a story included in the upcoming "Evolution 2" anthology published by Evolved Publishing.


Favorite reads?
   I like to read what I write or more like write what I read, it can go either way. Science fiction is my favorite genre. I'm not much into cyberpunk and steampunk, but everything else works for me. Fantasy comes close in second, though I read considerably less. Don't ask me for author names and book titles because there are too many to list them all.

Inspirations for the book?
   The story was initially meant for an apocalyptic anthology, but I didn't want it to be something depressing. Therefore, I focused on an isolated case and not on the post-apocalyptic world itself. I also knew I wasn't interested in the technological part but more in the psychological concepts and issues. It worked so well that the story ended up longer than planned and, when the project fell apart, I decided to publish it as a novella.

Did you know you wanted to be an author when you were little?
   It all started with daydreaming as a kid. Then for a long time I knew I wanted to write, but this was a plan for the distant future. When I turned 30, I decided it was time to happen NOW. And it did. :)

Any Pet Peeves?
   The lack of manners and education and resistance to change that.

Chocolate or Peanut Butter?
   Peanut butter? Eww! Give me chocolate every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I'll be happy.

The weirdest thing you've ever done?
  Probably helping little brother come up with Halloween costumes. Yep, that would be it.

Is there a soundtrack to the book/Favorite music?
   I used to listen to all the Muse albums on repeat while writing Human Instincts. I don't know if it reflects in the writing, but some people think it does. No need to say I haven't listened to Muse since. LOL

Do you need anything to write? 
   Not really, I'm really low maintenance when it comes to writing. Silence is always good or at least not being disturbed every other couple of minutes.

How long do you write on any average day?
   The amount of time spent writing tends to vary, but when I'm not editing I usually write 1,000 words daily, except for the weekends.

Give us the number one reason to read your book.
   It's a bit of a rollercoaster ride with plenty of twists and turns without forgetting what makes us all humans at the core. There's action, drama, loss, and also a bit of hope. And if you like strong, compassionate female characters then you're all set.

Author Info:
Website: Ioana Visan 
Facebook: Author Ioana Visan
Twitter: @weirdvision
Goodreads: Ioana Visan

   Dr. Deanna Nichols is a geneticist searching for a cure to save the world. After the war nearly destroyed it by releasing an aggressive virus, it was the vaccine that killed the humanity’s chances for progress and survival. Deanna feels guilty because she has participated in creating the vaccine, and General Mackenzie never lets her forget that.
   Their luck changes when they are contacted by the convicts held in a secret military prison hidden in the arctic desert. The C deviance criminals are willing to negotiate and provide unaffected DNA samples in exchange for supplies and a visit paid by the doctor herself. Suddenly there’s hope, so Deanna embarks on a dangerous journey to a grittier reality than she had expected. 
   Could a woman alone save the world?



*Giveaway*
(Ends 9/4)

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Monday, August 6, 2012

Interview: Michael West



MichaelWest-CinemaPhoto-ForWeb.jpg   Michael West is the critically-acclaimed author of Cinema of Shadows, Skull Full of Kisses, and The Wide Game. He lives and works in the Indianapolis area with his wife, their two children, their bird, Rodan, and turtle, Gamera.

   He loves to walk on the beach, but he still doesn’t think it’s safe to go back in the water.




Favorite reads?
   The Stand and 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King, The Books of Blood by Clive Barker, and Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.


Inspirations for Poseidon's Children?
   The idea for Legacy of the Gods series came to me in a dream—a very vivid, very strange dream. Some dreams fade as soon as you open your eyes. Others stick with you for days. This particular dream has been with me for over twenty years. It involved an ancient stone temple, with odd markings etched into its walls, and a very seductive sea-creature. Most people have fantasies about movie stars and musicians; mine get directed by H.P. Lovecraft. Go figure.


Did you know you wanted to be an author when you were little?
   Not really, but I’ve always loved telling a good story. Before I could write, I drew pictures to illustrate the tales that were spinning inside my head. Then, as I got older, I wanted to be the next Steven Spielberg or James Cameron, so I wrote screenplays and made films with my parents’ video camera. And when the stories that I wanted to tell finally outgrew my meager budgets, that's when I turned to writing short stories and novels.


Any Pet Peeves?
   I hate writing that first draft. For me, that’s the most difficult thing in the world, just getting all the
words out onto the page and giving the story a beginning, middle, and end. But once it’s out there,
once I get into the editing process and the re-writes, that’s when I’m most happy. I’ve spoken to writers who feel just the opposite, they love getting it all out there and hate doing edits, but I view it the way a sculptor views a huge block of marble; it’s a pain, getting that stone into the studio, but, when you start to chip away at it, when it starts to look like what you envisioned, or, in some cases, better than what you envisioned…there’s no greater feeling in the world than that.
   I also hate weak or poorly written characters. I think the most important element of writing is creating good, believable characters. You can have the most original plot in the world, an amazing monster or villain, but, if the reader doesn’t care about the people in your story, they’re not going to read it. That’s why a lot of movies made from horror novels fail. The filmmakers concentrate on the Big Bad—the vampire, demon, what-have-you—and the characters get short shrift. When you really care about the people in a story, you get lost in the narrative and you feel things on a very visceral level. That’s the type of connection I strive for in my own writing.


Chocolate or Peanut Butter?
   Chocolate. I'm deathly allergic to Peanut Butter.


The weirdest thing you've ever done?
   What happens at the 1988 Def Leppard concert stays at the 1988 Def Leppard concert.


Is there a soundtrack to the book/Favorite music?
   I do tend to listen to a lot of film scores while I write. Usually it is Jerry Goldsmith or John
Carpenter...something that fits the mood of what I'm doing. For this novel, I did listen to a lot of
Leviathan, The Fog, and Total Recall.


Do you need anything to write?
   I’ve got a coffee mug covered in artwork from my short story “Jiki.” I usually fill that up and turn on music, either film soundtracks or 80s music, I can’t work when it’s totally quiet. I also like the room to be as dark as possible, so I will turn off lights or close blinds before I start.


How long do you write on any average day?
   It depends. There are some days I work on a project for hours at a time, and other days when I'm lucky if I can type for five minutes.


Give us the number one reason to read your book.
   This is a story that has something for everyone: ancient civilizations, Cthulhu-style monsters, mobsters, action, sex, violence...you name it, it’s in there. I think it is unique in that it weaves these very different elements together into a coherent, cohesive story that moves along at a break-neck pace and offers characters that are real and engaging. As one of the reviewers has already commented, “You’ve never read anything like this before.”

Author Info:
My website: http://www.bymichaelwest.com
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Man no longer worships the old gods; forgotten and forsaken, they have become nothing more than myth and legend. But all that is about to change. After the ruins of a vast, ancient civilization are discovered on the ocean floor, Coast Guard officers find a series of derelict ships drifting in the current-high-priced yachts and leaking fishing boats, all ransacked, splattered in blood, their crews missing and presumed dead. And that's just the beginning. Vacationing artist Larry Neuhaus has just witnessed a gruesome shark attack, a young couple torn apart right before his eyes....at least, he thinks it was a shark. And when one of these victims turns out to be the only son of Roger Hays, the most powerful man in the country, things go from bad to worse. Now, to stop the carnage, Larry and his new-found friends must work together to unravel a mystery as old as time, and face an enemy as dark as the ocean depths