Excerpt of RELICS, out today in eBook

"RELICS is an intense thrill ride of a futuristic romance; I highly recommend it." Marlene Breakfield - Paranormal Romance


"...an intriguing romance... all the staples of a good science fiction story." - Romantic Times

" ...will keep you captivated from beginning to end." - Gina - Love Romances - 5-hearts rating

"I consider this to be among the best reads of the year!" - Johnna - Fallen Angel Reviews - Rating: 5 angels

BLURB:

The year is 2023, and an alien invader has infiltrated the human race. In a dangerous future threatened by aliens and infiltrated by hybrids, archeologist Celene Dupres witnesses her father's murder. Vowing to avenge him and retrieve his precious alien relics, she finds the perfect ally and protector. But the man she trusts, the man with whom she is falling in love, is the secret agent sent to kill her. Kin, however is more than a killing machine. Despite his love for Celene, can he accomplish his gruesome mission, and save humanity from the threat embedded in her DNA?

EXCERPT:

When the officer walked away with his entourage, Celene thought of following him, but she didn't trust herself to remain calm. Besides, she felt relief at his disappearance, but she found it difficult to breathe, as if the dot of a phase-gun heated her nape. Then she recognized the uneasy sensation. Someone was watching her!


Celene spun around and stared straight at her observer. Twenty feet away, a tall Asian man in a tan Italian suit and black silk shirt leaned against the wall in an easy stance, sipping from a square glass. Who was he? An ORION hit man? Had he seen what happened to her? Was he watching her for personal or professional interest? He looked Chinese, with a curtain of wavy black hair framing a serious face. What a magnificent specimen of raw animal sex appeal. His splendidly muscled frame turned away from her gaze, and the very gesture made her ache for his attention. She hated herself for that weakness but could not help it.

Although troubled by her emotional response to the handsome Chinese, Celene needed to find out why he watched her, so she walked toward the mysterious man who made her pulse quicken. Careful, there. She felt light-headed. Was it the aftermath of her near invisibility, the champagne, or the adrenalin? She wanted him to look at her, she wanted to gaze into the depths of his wide, almond eyes. Even from a distance, he looked dangerous, like a Bengal tiger, never to be tamed.

It took no effort to smile when she reached him. "My name is Celene Dupres, archeologist." She extended her free hand.

With a surprised and slightly embarrassed smile, the stranger faced her in a graceful motion. "Armand Dupres' daughter?" She detected a hint of Mandarin accent. When he took her offered hand in a warm grip, his dark gaze made her legs feel like pudding. "Kin Raidon, avid collector, at your service."

I wish.

"You said something?" His open grin bothered her as he caressed the magnificent jade medallion of an exquisite dragon on his muscled chest. Could he read her feelings?

Celene felt herself flush. "And what do you collect, Mr. Raidon?"

"Please, call me Kin. I specialize in Anaz-voohri artifacts. Found any lately?" His enigmatic expression made the question sound even more dangerous.

Celene cleared her throat. "These relics are rare and most of them have been appropriated by the Global Government. I know of none available for purchase at the moment." She paused. "Why were you watching me earlier?"
His dark brown eyes glinted with flecks of gold. "Maybe I was watching the same man you were watching."
"I wasn't watching anyone." How unsettling to discover she had been so obvious despite her efforts to look natural.

"Yes, you were." Kin nodded in the direction the officer had gone. "He noticed you, and attention from him is never a good thing."

"You know the man?" Celene felt elated at finally learning something useful.

Sipping on his drink, Kin seemed in no hurry to answer. "His name is Jason Carrick, a powerful and ruthless collector. He always gets what he wants, one way or another."

"A collector?" Celene tried to sound casual. "Rather unusual for a military man."

Kin's dark eyes narrowed. "Men of action can appreciate art, too, you know?"

"And what in heaven is wrong with the man's eyes?"

"One of them is made of glass. A battle wound against a hybrid." Obviously, Kin knew much about Jason Carrick.

"Hybrid? As in half-alien, half-human?"

Kin shrugged. "That's his story."

Celene had to take a chance. She looked around to make sure no one stood close enough to hear. "How much do you know about the organization called ORION?"

Kin's face remained guarded. "Not much. They are rather secretive. Are you one of those conspiracy theory nuts?"

Celene did not like the insinuation. "I could take offense, but you know what? For some reason, in the last few days some of these theories are starting to make sense to me. How far do you think Jason Carrick would go to get what he wants?"

Kin sighed. "Whatever it takes."

Celene lowered her voice. "Even slaughtering a team of innocent archeologists?"

Kin remained very still then nodded gravely.

"And what about you?" Celene held his gaze. "How far would you go to get what you want?"

"You ask too many questions." As if to soften the blow, he chuckled, all charm. "It all depends on what I want and why."

The eBook is on sale now at ARE, SMASHWORDS, OMNILIT, and will be in a few days at Amazon and Barnes & Noble


WISHING YOU ALL HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Vijaya Schartz
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/

My Archangel twin books in eBooks in January

ARCHANGEL BOOK ONE - CRUSADER:

Michael Tanner, proud, brash, irreverent, half Native American, and single father, doesn't believe in aliens. When a Blue Angel claims to have fathered him, Michael knows his drinking has gone haywire... But a seductive Prince of Darkness born of a nightmare now targets Michael's family. When his girlfriend disappears and characters from his dreams suddenly materialize to threaten his daughter, Michael must come out of denial and overcome his weaknesses, to face the unbelievable mystery of his birth and fulfill his unique destiny.


"...engaging and fast-paced... a harmonious mix of enticing story... where real people do extraordinary things... humorous and hopeful... fluid and entertaining... quick and often droll dialogue... a marvelous tale of good and evil..." The Charlotte Austin Review

"...Lavishly described, expertly written with stirring descriptions that take one's breath away. Author Schartz has written a solidly absorbing, old-fashioned science fiction novel of good and evil, yes and no, the one and the many." - The Book Reader

"...relationships, angels, aliens and seduction... even Satanism... kept this reviewer riveted... compelling fantasy... you won't want to put it down... superior... enthralls, and, at the same time, awakens!" - Metaphysical Reviews

"A mighty fine tale primed to read through in one sitting." - Curled Up With a Good Book.

ARCHANGEL BOOK TWO - CHECKMATE:

To quench his vengeful lust for the Archangel who scattered his remains at the edge of the universe, the Reptilian ruler orders the sacrificial death of Michael's teenage daughter. Half human and a full-fledged Archangel on his father's home world, Michael must return to Earth to save his daughter from fiendish claws, and his native planet from enslavement or worse... But the way home is fraught with dangers, some more insidious than others. Nothing prepared Michael for the kind of trial he must face, when his rambunctious past catches up with him at the worst possible time...

"Sword-and-shield adventure... aliens and angels and dreams truer than life and depraved shapeshifters and evil sorcerers and parallel universes... Funny and sad and very intelligent." - The Book Reader

"Wickedly insightful. Grab this today along with the prequel, Archangel Crusader." - Five stars - Curled up With a Good Book

"...charm that keeps you reading... A fun piece of escapism... hours of sheer entertainment." - Rapport Magazine

"You will be hooked... a good read from start to finish." - Alan Caruba - BookViews

"Rollicks right along at a good clip... a fun concoction and a fast, zippy read... Really, this one is among the most pleasurable." - Writer's Digest

These eBooks from BWLPP will be available in download from all the usual eBook retailers on the web, where other book by Vijaya are already available:

Amazon.com HERE
From ARe HERE

Happy Holidays.
Vijaya Schartz

Welcome Author Theresa Stillwagon

You need to know them!

Your characters, I mean.

Before you even think about beginning to write, you need to know the hero and heroine of your WIP. You need to know them inside and out, past and present. For me, I need to know everything about them from their names to their favorite color. The more you know about your characters; the easier it'll be to write their story.

How do I get to know my characters?

Every writer is different. I have a few different charts and a list of questions I ask my characters to answer. I usually have to do the in-depth stuff after I start writing, however. In the middle, when the plot starts to bog down, getting out the old list of questions works wonders for me. It's amazing what you find out when you allow your characters to speak for themselves. Knowing your characters this intimately adds another layer to your plot.

For my newest Whispers Publishing release, The Gift, I realized half-way through the story that my heroine (Dana) didn't really have a problem with my hero (Ben) being ten years younger than her at all. Her problems went deeper than that. Dana feels unsure if she'll be good enough to keep a man like Ben interested, period. You see her husband was never satisfied with their sex life, and (what I just found out) he was having an affair with a much younger woman. She didn't find out about this until months after his death. So she wondering, how can I think of satisfying this younger man if I couldn't even manage to keep my husband happy? I would've never known this if I hadn't asked her a bunch of questions when I got bog down.

Another good reason to write stuff down is to keep track of your character's description and background. You wouldn't want the heroine to have green eyes in the beginning of the book and gray at the end, or have the hero be thirty at the beginning and forty at the end, unless ten years have gone by. You wouldn't want a secondary character to be blind than suddenly wear glasses. Keeping track of people is especially important when writing a series of books with continuing characters.

You may not remember Rose was a blonde in book one but turned into a red-head in book three. But you can bet some reader will catch it.

You need to know your characters as well as you know yourself.

Theresa Stillwagon

http://tstillwagon.wordpress.com/

RELICS is coming to eBooks on December 15, 2010

Book Two of the Ancient Enemy series, RELICS will be out December 15, 2010 in all eBook formats, and you can enter my contest to WIN THE PDF VERSION by visiting my website contest page HERE

The Anasazi taken to the stars by Alien visitors eight hundred years ago, have returned to conquer the planet of their ancestors, Earth.

When archeologist Celene Dupres is called to an alien ship crash site and witnesses her father's massacre, little does she know that inside her DNA sleeps a trigger implanted by aliens when she was abducted as a child. Determined to avenge her father's murder and retrieve his alien relics, Celene meets the dangerously handsome Kin Raidon who offers to help, and leads her into a world of international intrigue. But Kin is much more than he appears...


Government agencies like ORION are hunting Celene for the threat she represents to humanity. Not all the factions agree, and Kin seems like the perfect protector for Celene. But this man she chooses to trust, the man she is learning to love, is the secret agent assigned to kill her...

Read an excerpt HERE

"It's an absolute page-turner and I could barely put it down." Beverly Forehand - Round Table Reviews

"RELICS is an intense thrill ride of a futuristic romance; I highly recommend it." Marlene Breakfield - Paranormal Romance

"...an intriguing romance... all the staples of a good science fiction story." Romantic Times

" ...will keep you captivated from beginning to end." Gina - Love Romances - 5-hearts rating

More about this book on my website at:
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/

Wishing you all a fantastic Thanksgiving season.

Vijaya Schartz
Award-winning Sci-fi and Romance with a Kick





"I consider this to be among the best reads of the year!"

Johnna - Fallen Angel Reviews - Rating: 5 angels

 

Welcome Author Stephanie Burkhart

First, I'd like to thank Vijaya for having me here today to talk about the Borealis II Anthology and my story in it, "Shadows and Light."
Just a little about me: After being raised in New Hampshire and growing a wicked New England accent, this Patriot fan joined the US Army. I spent 7 years stationed in Germany and will never find a real gyros here like I did at the Greek restaurants in Germany. In 1991, I married a fair haired boy from California. We settled in Castaic, CA in 2000. I now work for LAPD as a 911 Dispatcher. My wicked New England accent is more like a whisper these days.
Birth of the Borealis Anthologies
Author J. Morgan and Desert Breeze Editor in Chief, Gail Delaney, were talking one day about how they love sci-fi. JMO jokingly said, "You should do a science fiction anthology." Gail, with a devilish gleam in her eye, loved the idea and ran with it.
I pride myself on being able to write multiple genres and I cut my teen writing short stories, but I'd never done science fiction. When Gail asked me to write "Shadows and Light," I jumped at the chance.
The story
Persephone Talon and Elijah Kess are investigating the Uudon Trade on the Borealis for the Rebellion. When they learn they have the same assignment, will their attraction help or hinder their mission?

The Story Teaser
I enjoy watching book/story trailers. I even bought a book once based on the teaser. I think that having a video is a great accent tool for promotion because it gives the reader a visual of the story. I knew I had to have a trailer for "Shadows and Light."

Unfortunately, I have no video skills and paying for a story trailer, which inexpensive if you shop around, makes my nose twitch because I'd rather spend the money on other promotion efforts.

I had to learn to make my own trailer.
Thank goodness for Gail Delaney! We got together and she showed me how to use iMovie on my Macbook. The fun was about to begin.
First, I had to find music. Kevin MacLeod has some great royalty free stuff – you just have to give him the credit. It didn't take long to find the lithium grunge beat I needed. Then I hung out on Dreamstime (a place to find stock photography) and Nasa. Unfortunately, all the good images I had to pay for. The cost was worth it considering my savings. I worked on my textboxes and BAM! I had a great trailer that captured the ambience of the story.

Here's a link to the Shadows & Light Story Teaser on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV2moYlgwCA

Excerpt:
The door slid open to the elevator and Elijah stepped onto SL7. The sickening sweet smell of rotting pineapples hung in the air. He pulled out a small strip filter and placed it over the bridge of his nose. It would absorb the stench and allow him to smell clean air for up to thirty minutes. A small, darkened alcove was just to the right of the elevator. He walked past it and down the dimly light hall. On the surface, it appeared to be a living level. There were rooms, dirty doors, greasy crust on the baseboards. The overhead lights were in need of replacement.
Then it struck him. The hall was empty. Where were the occupants? Granted, they would be slums, as Aachen would put it, but there was no one around. Why?
To keep appearances.
Humph. Appearances. Secrets. Spies. The work was draining. He had to be alert all the time. What happened to that carefree kid with the sunny disposition who learned to cook with his mother in the kitchens of the royal family? He sighed. That kid lost his innocence when he saw the horrors of war firsthand -- sins committed by the TPP. And all he wanted to do was get back at them. Only he was coming to realize that the TPP was infinite and his little part was that -- little. He felt like David in that ancient Earth Bible story David and Goliath. His mother would read to him from it growing up. It would be nice to find that sense of family again.
Focusing, he walked to the end of the corridor. A heavy titanium door marked 'Secure Access Only' stared back at him. The code pad on the side of the door indicated it wanted a retinal verification to enter. Retinal patterns were extremely hard to forge.
Was Dan right? Was the whole level shut off? Why? For what purpose? What were the scientists up to?
A shadow teased the corner of his eye. Spinning around, the shadow disappeared into the alcove near the entrance elevator.

He braced his back against the hallway wall and slithered against it toward the alcove, careful not to make a sound. With his dark uniform and the dim lighting, he should be hard to detect.

The shadow's breathing was normal, taking small rhythmic breaths.
Pouncing, he leapt into the alcove and lunged for the shadow, grabbing its arm. The cloak's hood fell away from her face.

"Persephone?" he whispered.
~~~~
Goodie Time: Leave a response and I'll be back tomorrow, 9 NOV to pick two people to receive an autographed postcard of the Borealis II cover.
Answer this question: How has Star Wars resonated with you? I'll pick a winner to receive a PDF copy of the Borealis II Anthology.
The Borealis II Anthology is available for Kindle, Nook, Sony Ebook Reader, All Romance Books and at Desert Breeze Publishing.
Here's a link to the Borealis II Anthology on the Desert Breeze Site: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-121/Borealis-Space-Anthology-Stephanie/Detail.bok

You can find me on the web at:
Website:
http://sgcardin.tripod.com/
Blog:
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com/
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166?ref=ts

BLACK JAGUAR IS OUT TODAY

BLACK JAGUAR, Book Three in the Chronicles of Kassouk series, is out today from DESERT BREEZE PUBLISHING

When Kahuel sails away from Yalta to explore a new world, it is in large part to escape his past. He also hopes to prove himself as a worthy prince. But when tragedy strikes, and the new continent proves to be inhabited, he discovers that the powerful Mutant of Kassouk who commandeered his expedition has an alternate purpose.


Princess Talina of the Chosen clan, a peaceful native tribe concealed and protected by a race of powerful aliens, believes she can never wed. But when foreigners land on her shores, and they bring with them the legendary Lost Daughter of the Chosen prophecy, she realizes her fate is about to change. But how strange that the foreigners cannot mind-talk, and why to the felines like them is a mystery.

The Estrell people, a galactic race with problems of their own, have a crucial use for the innocent Chosen, and they cannot let a bunch of explorers jeopardize decades of work intended to insure the survival of their dying race.

With the future of the entire planet at stake, the struggle for power and for survival will play on this virgin continent, away from civilization. Can Kahuel, with his warriors and felines, simple weapons and Human ingenuity, prevail against impossible odds?

"This is a good story with a futuristic world building that is written very well. The reader will be drawn into the story and find it very had to put down until the very end of it... The story and people are very believable and engaging to read about." Rating = 4 Roses Red Roses for Authors Review Blog

"From one extreme to another the societal differences in this story keep you riveted. It is much like watching an episode of “Stargate,” where an advanced civilization engineers a primitive culture to suit their needs and perpetuate the image of deities to keep their subjects in line. As the truth comes to light, Kahuel and Talina are not so disparate in their basic beliefs that their love for family, friends, and wildlife cannot bond them tightly, even during the worst of times. This strange blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and sweet romance is a great way to whisk yourself off to another time and place without ever having to leave your comfy chair." Lototy - CoffeeTime Romance - Rating = 4 Cups

"Ms. Schartz has continued her spellbinding series with this fast paced story that ensnared me from the very start... I enjoyed watching the interaction of the humans with their feline friends and how they would do anything to protect each other. The visual descriptions of the jungle scenes brought them to life for this reader. I for one can't wait for the next book in the Chronicles of Kassouk series." Teresa - Fallen Angel Reviews Rating = 5 Angels

Find this title and many other eBooks from Vijaya:

At Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JP7UJ4


At All Romance eBooks:

Vijaya Schartz
Award-winning Sci-fi and Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/