The Heartless by James Ticknor
Eighteen-year-old Menar Redfield, a gifted Healer apprentice, plans to settle in the city of Cajoi with his pregnant fiancée. However, his unexplained visions show him a secret war masked by the king’s political regime, placing them both in danger. When his visions come true, his fiancée is killed in the attack on Cajoi by the Heartless, a malicious raider cult. In his body-strewn path of vengeance, Menar intercepts intelligence revealing the location of Crual, the Heartless’ sadistic combat commander and the one responsible for the death of his fiancée and unborn child. Menar vows to slaughter Crual and sabotage the Heartless’ insurrection. Yet the more blood he spills, the more a dark power grows within him. If he can use this power to overcome Crual, end the war, and disband the Heartless, their increasing control over the debilitated country will be stopped. But he must hurry, because the dark power Menar possesses threatens to consume him. Will Green: Tell us about your books that you have available. James Ticknor: The Heartless is my debut novel, and it is the first in a trilogy. It is about a young man preparing to begin his life with his fiancée, but she is killed by a malicious raider cult. This atrocity makes him catapult himself into a clandestine war hidden by a political regime. As the story progresses through the book and the trilogy, his internal struggle fans the flames surrounding a corrupt political hierarchy and incites chaos among factions vying for control of the country. In this trilogy, I kept the action/pace intrigue of Game of Thrones in mind, and I also drew inspiration from the Eragon Cycle in the sense of magic. (Though, there are no dragons in this trilogy. It is light fantasy.) Will Green: What can you tell us about your next project? James Ticknor: Quite simply, my next project is going to be working on the second installment of this trilogy. This second novel should come much faster than The Heartless. For my audience, I promise that I will write it in six months. For myself, I promise to write it in three months. That way, I can surprise my readers if I finish early, but I can give myself some slack if I need to. In this second book, the political spectrum and factions are given a bigger spotlight, but I really wanted the first book to be focused on introducing and developing the characters. I know how to execute intrigue while still taking my time, something I admire George RR Martin for very much, and he’s played quite an influence in this trilogy. Will Green: Where do you get the information for your book(s)? James Ticknor: Well, at first it was Wikipedia. Then I realized researching was turning into an excuse. It also kind of sucked because I would read something about the era I’m writing in that I found astounding (such as impressing seals as signatures), and I would want to write all about how it’s done. Now, I only research on the edits, and skimp over what I don’t fully know in the first draft. Will Green: What was the most surprising thing you've learned since you started writing? James Ticknor: Without any shadow of uncertainty, I was immensely surprised that writing something could make me gasp and sting my eyes with tears. I am not an emotional man. I didn’t cry at The Notebook, Titanic, or even Forrest Gump. What I find amazing is that for most things, I kinda already knew what was going to happen. However, I remember when I was writing one part of the story and a character said something totally shocking and out-of-character for himself, and I didn’t gasp until after I had typed it- after he said it. I hold that as proof that characters act for themselves, and they can surprise you. Will Green: How long does it take you to write a book? James Ticknor: Oh, God. You know, Stephen King once said that writing a book should never take more than three months. This book took me…oh….nearly 5 years to write. I was writing on and off, because I joined the military and for about 2 years my writing suffered immensely with deployments overseas and training. During that time (before the military) I also experienced homeless and extreme poverty (I’m talking $5 a week to eat off of and nothing else). There were several other personal issues that I would never discuss, but the 5 years it took me to write this is poured with every emotion and influence of going through all this. I will never take so long to write a book again. 3-6 months is ideal, 1 year max. The thing that made it take so long aside from these is I was 16 at the time, and I’m 21 now. My writing style changed very much during that time, and the book was written by a different person in the beginning, middle, and end. Will Green: Who or What inspires you to write? James Ticknor: Sad songs inspire me. Seeing a couple kiss. Seeing a leaf fall. Squashing a spider in my house. Anything inspires me to write, because I will craft the craziest shit from the dumbest stuff. It’s easy to be inspired to write, but it’s practically impossible to maintain that inspiration. Inspiration is like an adrenaline shot, but it takes an Olympian writer to keep working after that boost. Will Green: What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? James Ticknor: You know, I had to think for a second before I answered this, and I actually have a good one for you. I’ve always treated my characters as if they were real. Occasionally, I will have them randomly engage in erotic behavior with one another, kill each other for no good reason, etc. Of course, I know I am going to delete this, but the characters are real, and I think they need a little release sometimes. If you’ve ever seen Monster In Law, you know what I mean. Will Green: What book are you reading right now? James Ticknor: I am reading two, actually. I am reading Under the Dome by Stephen King, and I am also reading A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin. Will Green: Who is your favorite author and why? James Ticknor: Stephen King! Oh God Stephen King! The guy is a freaking literary master, and he has proven it over and over again. He takes the most ordinary things and makes them outrageous, yet still believable. I love hearing how he comes up with stories. However, the main reason I am so enthusiastic about him is because of his interviews. A multi-million dollar entrepreneur, he walks into TV spotlight with blue jeans and a pocket T shirt that only my grandfather would wear. He cusses and engages with the population vocally in the same style of his writing. If I find out he voiced an audiobook of one of his books, I’d buy it and ask him to autograph it. I know it makes no sense, but I’m using “shut up and take my money” logic here. Will Green: What kind of music do you listen to and why? James Ticknor: Quite frequently, Evanescence. Although she said in an interview she doesn’t consider herself dark, I think she is. Nearly everything that I write is dark. I’ll otherwise listen to classical music. Songs can sometimes distract me. Will Green: What do you watch on TV and why? James Ticknor: I watch Netflix, not cable. On Netflix, I watch Futurama, Family Guy, American Dad, and American Horror Story. I love Disney movies too. I watch these comedy shows because comedy, in my firm belief, is the element of surprise, to get you to look at something in a new way that sparks sudden emotion and physical reaction. For American Horror Story, it’s because I like a long story, but still want to move on to other things at one point. For Disney, it’s just a good story. Also I like understanding the fucked up plots I didn’t understand before. My favorite Disney movie is The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and I love looking back at it because I didn’t understand the religious intolerance, lust, and ethnic persecution when I watched it at 5 years old. Will Green: What kind of advice could you give an aspiring writer? James Ticknor: Get the fuck off the internet. That doesn’t mean go and watch TV or check your phone for “just one more text”. Electronic recreational devices or social media is the death of inspiration and writing. How many times have you been inspired from something you read on Facebook? Exactly. No, I’m serious. Don’t argue with me. Get. Off. It. On another note, live in doubt, but don’t let it cage you. Doubt makes us question all aspects of our writing, which is good. There’s going to be people who hate your writing. Listen to criticism, but be aware of who is speaking (Stephen King quote). I remember when I was in high school I wrote the worst, most profane literary piece to no one in particular. However, it got to the principal somehow. There was no violence, no threats or anything- just cuss words. In this public school where assault warranted 1-2 day suspension, I was initially suspended 10 days with recommendation for expulsion based on that writing piece. That is when the biggest critic of my life made me believe (from the amount of controversy and trouble it caused) that I was damned good writer. The message from that is even if someone hates your work, it can be because you are a very powerful writer.
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Title: New Beginnings</ span> By: S.N. Williams</ span> Genre: Contemporary Romance Cover By: Michelle Carroll</ o:p> Editing: Erin G. Ibarra</ span> Release Date: Feb. 10, 2014</ o:p> Blog Tour Hosted By: Book Boyfriend Reviews Love is described as an emotion of strong magnetism, personal attachment, compassion, kindness and pleasure. This is something you always see in the fairytales when the prince finds his princess, but real life, for Elizabeth, isnât all love and fairytales. It all starts with a boy named Reed. She thinks he is her future. Her ideal future consists of getting married, having children, and growing old with Reed. Her happily ever afterâ¦..right? Add To Goodreads</ o:p> </ span> </ span> </ span> âCome over here baby.â I get up and walk over to sit down next to him.âI wanted to talk to you about tonight. I saw how you were looking at that guy and I also saw the interaction yâall had in the hallway. What did he whisper in your ear?âAt a loss for words, I shake my head. âNothing.ââWhy do I have the feeling youâre lying to me? Iâm going to ask you one more time: what did he said to you?â</ span>I swallow hard, wondering where this is going, âHe told me I looked lovely.âHe laughs maniacally. âYouâre âlovelyâ? Really, he used the word âlovelyâ? He really is a douche bag. Apparently you liked it because you were completely flushed. Did you like it? Tell me the truth, Elizabeth.â He stood up, hovering over me.</ span></ i>Nervously I said, âNo I didnât like it. I told him I needed to get back to my boyfriend and...â</ span></ i>âI think you did like it and I donât appreciate it. You have disrespected me. You were eye- fucking him all night long right in front of me. How do you think that makes me feel?âI stand up to look at him. I cannot believe what he is saying to me.I am furious. âWhat the fuck?! I glanced at the band and he was there singing. Itâs not like I singled him out.â</ span>âDonât ever cuss at me again! You canât talk to me that way.âAll I can do is shake my head in disbelief. I canât believe the things heâs saying to me after we just made love. </ span>âExcuse me?!âHe looks at me like he is about to kill me. Next thing I know I am on the floor holding my face and I can feel hot tears rolling down my cheeks. I canât believe it; Reed just hit me.He looks down at me in disgust. âIf you ever do that again it will be worse. And if I ever see that fucker again I will seriously kill him. Youâre a whore, you know? I donât know why I keep you around.â </ span>He grabs his stuff to leave.</ span> Shannon is from Dothan, Alabama. She is married to her best friend and has three kids. Her first book, New Beginnings, was written due to things that happened in her life. She is an avid reader who loves all her book boyfriends. She is also on a blog with two great girls, Sandie and Dee. The blog is Book Boyfriend Reviews. </ span> Goodreads</ span> Twitter</ span> 3 e-books of New Beginnings 10.00 Amazon Gift Card </ a>
After being hurt in the worst way, Taleah Bryant tries to move on with her life. Shes in college has a new best friend and is avoiding her twin brother and ex-boyfriend at all costs. On move in day Taleah goes to a fight with her roommate and meets the most intriguing pair of hazel eyes she's ever seen. Vin has always been a play boy. Fight, sex, and not caring has always been routine. Before his fight he finally sees the girl that will change his world. Family tears them apart, a mistake brings them together, and girlfriends sabotage their love. Who can be trusted? Whose to blame? And will love ever be enough? Due to mature content 18 & over! </ a>
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T.S. Dooley, is a born and raised Texan girl who started a blog and it turned into writing a book. When I'm not at home with my husband and kids, I'm a librarian and still involved with everything books. It wasn't my dream to get to this state in the ebook/novel business, but after a few pushes into a story I was thinking about, my characters came to life and I haven't been happier than to share all of their journeys with you.</ p> a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by: </ a> Happy World Water Day</ a>! And happy cover reveal day for The Water Crisis Chronicles Book 0.5. As a part of today's celebration for raising awareness about water and energy consumption, I thought I'd celebrate with a cover and website reveal! First, here's the cover and blurb for WATERFALL... Waterfall (Book 0.5) The water is gone. The wars have begun. Clean water is a luxury most can no longer afford. Climate change, industrial sabotage, and greed have turned country against country as each one tries to provide for its citizens. Terrorist groups target desalinization plants and frustrated governments hunt those who work against them. Rationing, sequestering, and patrolling have become routine at a time when there are too many people and not enough resources. While the world around them disintegrates into chaos, Zach and Vivienne hope that their life in a government-run complex will retain some semblance of normalcy. But when attacks on their water supplies bring war to their sheltered community, they must accept their new fate. Stay and fight or flee and endure—it’s a difficult decision with lasting consequences. Will they choose what’s safe? Or will they choose to survive? Coming April 22, 2014</ div> And now you can learn more about Zach and Vee's world, the government, the timeline, and what you can do help bring clean drinking water to the millions who don't have it (more about that coming later). You can also read about how the series began with WATERPROOF sporting its new cover makeover as well! Waterproof (Book 1) Dying of thirst is the new reality. Five years after the last drop of clean water disappeared, global societies collapsed and nuclear war shattered all hope of recovery. In a place now only a skeleton of its former self, survivors fight to avoid capture by the government. Forced to work in factories that produce the only drinking water available, those who go in, never come out. Zach and Vivienne have lived as deserters since they were teenagers. Fighting amongst their own and scrounging for the necessities of life, they’ve learned to rely on each other in every way. Yet when tragedy strikes and the true objectives of the government facility are revealed, their world is ripped apart. A fate once thought to hold their demise may be the sole answer to their survival. Who can they trust? Who can they believe?</ div> In this life, it pays to be waterproof. Watch the Trailer</ span> Cover by Creative Book Designs and Amber Garr Find Amber at: Her Website</ a> On Facebook On Twitter Title: Lean On Me Author: Candy Crum Genre: YA Romance Release: March 16, 2014 Goodreads Synopsis: Sixteen year old Bri comes from a wealthy family, allowing her an expensive pass into the popular crowd, though it never much mattered to her. She's on the basketball team and track and is the top in both. Bri has everything a girl could want, but she longs for loving and emotionally available parents. She longs for a traditional family instead of the one she was gifted - cold and very distant. Bri's parents pressure her to be the best at everything instead of just being the best that she can be. As a result of trying for the perfect life for her parents, Bri finds herself in an abusive relationship and pressured into doing what a lot of teenagers are pressured into doing. When Bri becomes pregnant, her entire world is turned upside down and she has no idea who she can trust anymore. Bri struggles to find a place in this world for herself and for her baby - the baby that she is desperate to have and watch grow. Along the way, Bri is given an opportunity to completely change her life and the life of her child - but it may hinder the life of another... binding him to a future he was never meant to have, just for her. Bri is forced to grow and grow stronger as she fights for her baby and learns how to be a good mother - and remain a pure soul. ~Author Bio~ Candy Crum lives in Indiana and is the Author of “The Eternal Series” and other short stories. She published her first novel, The Eternal Gift, in May of 2011 and has been publishing ever since. Candy is an avid lover of the paranormal genre, stemming from years of reading the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice when she was a teenager. Later, she developed a deep love of the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead and the House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, furthering her love of the genre and pushing her to really push to finish and publish her novel. Since then, Candy has released three other books in The Eternal Series and will release another later in 2014. Now, Candy is trying her hand at more contemporary pieces of work, like that of Lean on Me and other books she will release in 2014. Some of Candy’s interests include the usual reading and writing, music (of most types), movies (action and comedy or any combination of the two), cartoons (she loves to say that her children watch cartoons because she does), and drawing. She loves talking with her fans and loves reading the reviews that her fans are kind enough to leave for her. Always feel free to find Candy on Facebook and send her a message. Goodreads | Facebook ~Purchase Links~~Giveaways~
~Review~ An uplifting story about a young teenage girl, who is to become a mother, fighting for her and her little girl and having to go down an extremely tough road to do so.
I enjoyed this story, it was a perfect read for a rainy day and a story that made me smile and lift my spirits up. Bri was a wonderful character. Despite getting pregnant at such a young age, she was mature, realistic, strong and loving and reading the story you knew that no matter how young she was, she would be a great mother and she deserved to get a happy ending. Matt was also wonderful. A little older than Bri, he was a knight in shining armour for her and was so responsible and supportive of Bri. As was his lovely family. The plot surprised me, when I read the blurb for the book I didn't expect so much drama, especially in the form of Mike. But it definitely kept me hooked and wanting to keep on reading to find out what would happen next and if he was going to go after Bri. It was unrealistic but I'm a firm believer that books are there as an escape and sometimes we want to read a story that's unrealistic and would only happen in a fairytale. And because I still really enjoyed reading this book it didn't bother me that it wouldn't ever happen in real life. Overall a quick, easy, and in the end happy read which is exactly what I was looking for. Reviewed by Bethany Title: Covered in Coal (Buried Secrets #1) Release Day: March 17, 2014 Genre: Contemporary Romance/Suspense Goodreads Rating: 4.81 Stars Carly Jo Simon believed that Colton Weston was her future, but he shattered her heart into tiny pieces. Just like any little girl would, she assumed her daddy would always be by her side. Unbelievably, he turned his back on her when she needed him most, leaving her with no one in her life to turn to for support. Without options, Carly runs away from the only home she's ever known, leaving behind her heartache and the betrayal of the two men she loved most. Seven years later, Carly reluctantly returns to Kentucky. Her daddy is dying of cancer and Colton is nothing like the boy she once loved and left. After her daddy passes, Carly must uproot her life in South Carolina and take control of Simon Coal Company, where she has no choice but face the pain of her past. Can Carly keep her secrets buried deep beneath the black Kentucky coal and her heart safe from the fiery Colton Weston? Silla Webb is a Kentucky native, raised in the heart of the coal fields. A coal truck driver's daughter, and a railroader's wife, the coal fields own a special place in her heart. She is a work at home, Super Momma to three rowdy boys, who keep her on her feet from daylight to sunset. As a pass time from her everyday life, Silla started a blog-Momma's Secret Book Obsession, for reviewing romance novels. From there, she realized that not only did she have a natural love for reading and reviewing, but she found that lost love of writing that she once had as a young girl. When she isn't conquering the world as a wife, momma and Super Woman, Silla loves to lay on the front porch swing and read while sipping sweet tea, just passin' the day away. COVER REVEAL Mine to Steal T.K. Rapp SYNOPSIS In life and business, Trey Miller has always been the good guy. Nothing wrong with that, since itâs gotten him everywhere he has needed to be. His startup company is a success and growing so much that he is gaining the attention of larger corporations. By all accounts, Trey has it all, but the one place he fails is love. He thought he might have had something with Emogen Kane, but she was taken before he even had a chance. Now, he hides behind work, unwilling to take any risks in the love department. When Trey finds himself vying for a huge account against Faith Young, he knows heâs going to have to play it tough to win. Faith is smart, attractive and rumor has it, she lands every account she goes after. When Faith is thrown into his path at every turn, Trey starts to feel that it is more than a coincidence. Seeing Faith with her boyfriend douses the flame that he was starting to feel, until he realizes that the guy might not at all be what he seems. Trey let go once, but heâs determined to win it all this time. Does he have it in him to roll up his sleeves and get dirty? And if he does, will he finally end up with the girl? ABOUT THE AUTHOR T.K. Rapp is a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend - a writer. Sheâs a lover of music, photography and raunchy television (the raunchier, the better.) If you asked her friends what words they would use to describe her: an incurable dork, slightly awkward, loyal to a fault, a bit of a gossip, and a bit bitchy. (She tends to agree with all of them in some small measure.) In July of 2013, T.K. published her first novel, Being There. Set in Texas, Being There tells the story of Cass, as she encounters life-altering news and the reemergence of old friends in her life. It was a lifelong dream for T.K. to write something and see it published, a feat she is incredibly proud of. Her latest novel, Mine to Lose, was released in January of 2014. MtL is a story about Emogen Kane - who finds her relationship with her fiancé, Ryan, falling apart. Sheâs left wondering if they were meant to be, or if itâs time to move on. Rapp is currently working on completing the follow-up to Mine to Lose, titled - Mine to Steal - due to release Mid-May 2014. When not writing, T.K. can be found chauffeuring Gidget & Peese (her kids) to their various activities or hanging out with her husband. Contact Links: Website: http://tkrapp.weebly.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/TKAM78</ div> Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tkam78/</ a> Title: Number Thirteen Author: Bella Jewel Release Date: March 20, 2014 Genre: Dark Romance **AUTHOR NOTE - This is NOT a BDSM Romance** Synopsis We're thirteen girls, captive, slave to our master. A master we've never seen. Obedience will become all we know in our shallow existence. It is the only emotion we're permitted to feel. When we're bad, we're punished. When we're good, we're rewarded. Our scars run deep. Yet we survive, because we have to... because HE teaches us to. All of us are special, we feel it with everything we are. He has us for a reason, but it's a reason we don't know. We've never seen his face, but we know that something deeply broken lies beneath the darkness. With every touch, with every punishment, we know it. Then something changed. He showed me who he truly is. Now I want him. I'll go against everything I know to be with him. A monster. My monster. Loving him is a sin, but a sinner I am. I won't stop until I see every part of him. Even the parts he keeps locked deep down inside. I am Number Thirteen, and this is my story. No one said it was pretty, or right, but it's mine. Buy the Book</ strong> About the Author</ strong> Bella Jewel is an Aussie girl through and through. She spent her life in Western Australia, growing up in many different areas of the state. She now currently lives in Perth with her husband, children and mass amounts of pets. She's crazy, fun, outgoing and friendly. Writing is her passion, she started at the young age of 18 but finally got the courage up to publish, and her first novel Hell's Knights was released in August 2013.Author Social Media Links Facebook | Website | Goodreads Giveaway</ strong> ~Purchase Links~A Time for Hope by T Gephart Release: 20th March 2014 Synopsis:Lexi Reed was unstoppable, or so she thought. As the PR manager of international rock band, Power Station and living in New York, she was a long way from her old life in Melbourne, Australia. Having captured the heart and married one of the sexiest men alive (Power Station’s guitarist, Alex Stone) Lexi was living beyond any fantasy she could have ever imagined. Having finally allowed the walls from her past to fall, Lexi had not only learnt to trust again but had given herself completely to Alex, her one true love. Lexi happiness was short lived when heartache and trauma throw everything she knew into turmoil. Her world came crashing down around her, and now Lexi is struggling to regain her sense of self. Unable to regroup and heal under the scrutiny of the media and her well-intentioned loved ones, she can’t seem to find the road back to the old “Lexi.” Alex is devastated. His beautiful, intelligent and once confident wife is now distant and guarded, the product of the brutality she has suffered. He feels powerless but is determined not to lose her. With her gorgeous rock star husband by her side and her eclectic but devoted circle of friends, Lexi starts over. In order to find a way to reconcile the past and build a future, she must let go of all her safety nets and trust those around her. In this final installment of the Lexi series, we join Lexi and Alex on their journey of rediscovery. Relationships are tested, terms are renegotiated and lives are irrevocably changed. With the hope that their love for each other is strong enough to carry them through, Lexi and Alex gamble everything in search of their happily ever after.Power Station Groupie Name GameAbout The AuthorT Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia. T's approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience. With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.</ p> While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have travelled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley the wonder dog. An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident who didn't lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn't let it go. T loves to travel, laugh and surround herself with colourful characters. This inevitably spills into her writing and makes for an interesting journey - she is well and truly enjoying the ride! Based on her life experiences, T has plenty of material for her books and has a wealth of ideas to keep you all enthralled. T self-published her first novel through Smashwords, is about to release her second novel on the same platform and is currently writing the third book in the Lexi Trilogy. Author Social Media Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/T-Gephart/ 412456528830732 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ tinagephart Website: http://tgephart.com/ GiveawayOne winner will receive a signed paperback of A Twist of Fate and the entire series in eBook. Two runners up will both receive $5 Amazon Gift Cards. a Rafflecopter giveawayLoved it! It felt so relatable. Veronica Thomas is married to Richard whom she’s already realized she no longer loves. She decides to file for divorce, and quickly realizes she’s falling in love with Jesse Drake, a counselor at the school she teaches at. The sexual tension between the two makes it impossible to put this book down! I really love the fact that “V” and Jesse make it a point to wait until the divorce is finalized before taking their relationship to “the next level.”
I’m giving this a 4 star instead of a 5 simply because it was a slow start (once you hit the 3rd chapter though – you won’t be able to put it down!) Great read! Reviewed by Lee'Anne Amazon | Goodreads |