Category: Thrillers

The Battle Continues

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As I sit here on release day for my second novel, I’m in awe. I have two books published. It’s surreal.

Three years ago, almost to the day, I began this journey. I finally gave in to my sisters’ urging (The none too subtle or gentle urging. More like shoving me off the cliff!), and sat down to start writing a book. I hit the keyboard with no idea what I was doing, no concept of how to get where I wanted to be.

I just wrote.

I stopped overthinking, let my fingers fly, and out poured the story that had been churning in my gut.

I was scared. Terrified, really. Putting so much of my own life into the tale was…exhausting, nerve-wracking, embarrassing, crazy-making, eye-opening, gut-wrenching, and so much more. I poured my blood, sweat, and tears onto those pages. Quite literally at times. I worked through my issues as Liz worked hers out on the page.

I faced my fears.

I unearthed those hidden hurts I’d buried so deep.

I confronted the rage inside me, rage I thought I’d conquered.

I walked through the agony, despair, and abandonment.

I met myself in those pages.

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The self I’d tried to forget and pretend didn’t exist. The self with her heart still isolated, cut off and determined not to really let anybody in. The self that never fully let herself trust. The self who raged at the world, at those who had hurt her, and yes, a little at God, for “letting” some of those things happen to her.

The self who had yet to forgive, and had no idea she was poisoning her life, holding herself back, limiting her own potential and hurting the ones she loved.

And as I climbed up in the middle of all that mess, as I waded through to find the true me, the true Liz, the whole story underneath all the debris, a miraculous thing happened.

I began to heal.

I cried. I laughed. I threw things. I laid into the heavy bag and split my knuckles open several times. (Don’t forget gloves.) I shivered and screamed and begged God. I opened myself up, every dark recess, every secret corner, and I looked that broken girl who had no idea she was still broken right in the eye. I begged her to forgive. To laugh. To love. To fight. To trust, like she’d never been capable of before.

She did.

Though the battle rages on, she continues to stand tall. To face her fears. To step into the hot zone and eliminate the threat.

And every time I write another installment of this story, my story, I pick up my sword and I face down those demons.

But I don’t go it alone.

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They say it takes an army. I’m convinced that is true.

The army behind me and my story? Second to none.

The only way I’ve gotten to this point is because they’ve been with me. No way could I have undertaken this mission on my own and succeeded.

It’s overwhelming when I really think about it. The sheer number of people I have supporting me is unreal.

My husband. My kids. My sisters. My brothers. Aunts and uncles and cousins. My friends. My publishing team. My Realmies. My loyal readers. There are too many to label individually, unless I wanted this post to be three days long.

These people have fought countless battles with me. They’ve guided me, cried with me, laughed with me, held me, taught me, encouraged me, and kicked me in the butt when I needed it. This series would not exist if not for them, and I am forever grateful.

So as I celebrate another release, another piece of my story out in the universe, I think of these people. I think about the army that surrounds me. The Realm Warriors. They’ve got my six and I’ve got theirs.

As this battle continues, I know I will never fight alone.

Tags #Adventure, #Fiction, #MyStory, #Paranormal, #Reconciliation, #ReluctantWarriorChronicles, #StandTogether, #Supernatural, #thriller, #Truth, #Warriors, Romance

#Paranormal Christian Fiction New Adult Romance Speculative Fiction Thrillers Urban Fantasy

Reconciliation is Coming!

On January 24, 2017, the battle rages on.

Are you ready?

Today is a big day around here. We are revealing the cover and blurb for Reconciliation! Since you’ve been champing at the bit, I won’t make you wait any longer.

I have to warn you, though, this story is not for the faint of heart! In this second installment, Liz and Ryland face an even more brutal enemy, and challenges they never saw coming.

Challenges that may tear them apart.

If you think you have what it takes to stay in the fight, read on.

Some ghosts from the past refuse to stay dead.

Finally. Finally everything is coming together for Liz Brantley. She’s marrying Ryland Vaughn, the man of her dreams. She’s embraced her calling and battles the minions of hell bent on her destruction. And she’s left her dark past far behind her. Or so she thought.

A secret she holds close, stuffed down deep, surfaces at the wrong time for everyone in Liz’s life, leaving a trail of devastation. Left reeling, Liz wonders if she made a mistake, putting her trust in God, her guardian Arie, and Ryland. And the demon Kade capitalizes on her shaken faith. With a vengeance.

Torn between her tortured past and the future she craves, Liz is desperate to defeat every demon that stands in her way. Before all hell breaks loose and swallows her whole.

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Website Preorder Link: http://bit.ly/2h0CoeY

For more information, sneak peaks, and behind the scenes content, follow me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyBrockMcNewAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyBrockMcNew

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/26955721-amy-mcnew

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AmyBrockMcNew/

Tags #Adventure, #Christianfiction, #Fiction, #LoveandWar, #NewRelease, #Paranormal, #Reconciliation, #ReconciliationIsComing, #Supernatural, #thriller, #Urbanfantasy, Romance

#Fantasy #Paranormal Speculative Fiction Thrillers Urban Fantasy

Blood Mercy

Houses of the Dead cover

Today I have the privilege of hosting two creative, interesting women on my blog, and highlighting their new paranormal novella, Thicker Than Water, the first in the Blood Mercy series. It’s an illustrated novella, something I haven’t seen a lot of in adult genres.

This was a no-brainer for me. Paranormal is my favorite genre, of course. And vampires? As long as they don’t sparkle, I’m all in. I was more than happy to dive into this story and be a part of the blog tour.

Now, this was originally supposed to be a character interview with Melrose and Lucy. But, saying those two have issues is a gross understatement. Melrose cancelled, muttering something about a spot on his suit and things he had to do. And Lucy, well bless her heart, she’s been hiding out all week, asking herself questions out loud (and answering them). Every time I got close to ask her if we could talk, her eyes filled with blood lust, she got a weird look on her face and…Yeah. I may be a pretty good fighter, but against a vamp? Nah. I prefer not to be her sanguine meal, thanks.

So, I talked their creators into having a little convo with me instead. Without further ado, I give you Janeen Ippolito and Julia Busko.

What inspired your collaboration? How did you get started?

JB: I’m the type of person who is constantly creating new story ideas, and Janeen’s the type of person who is constantly connecting ideas and pushing towards a finished goal (which is something I lack, hahaha). We’re similar enough that our visions meld well, and different enough that we each bring something unique to the table. We both have a love for horror and monsters, and we both are inspired by the lessons we can learn through their stories.

JI: Ditto.

I love the premise and the new take on vampires and how they are made. I also really love the issues you’ve given each one. What inspired this book?

JB: It started as a role-playing game with friends, and then eventually Janeen and I realized the stories we were telling would make a fantastic book, and here we are!

JI: Yeah, Julia and I met at work and started talking about stories. From there it was text message after text message writing scenes and characters and plotting all kinds of awful disasters.

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I’ve never collaborated with someone else in writing before, though I have a few joint ventures in talks. So, I’m curious about the process. What does a typical writing/creating session look like for you?

JB: Oh, gosh. Insanity. Both Janeen and I are attracted to shinies (Janeen) and rabbit holes (me), so in the span of a few hours we will have discussed the plot of the book itself, backstories of the characters, tweaks to world-building, and the exact nature of a Jackalope and its relation to a Unicorn.

JI: The Jackalope and Unicorn discussion was VITAL. As are all the random music searches on YouTube. And the other YouTube videos. All part of the creative process.

JB: So, although incredibly non-linear, our creative sessions tend towards fun, energetic, and, oddly, focused. We both love to play, but we also both know when to be serious.

I definitely understand the rabbit trail of searching for music! I can get lost in finding the perfect song.

If you could tell yourselves anything when you first began collaborating, what would it be?

JB: Stop throwing in the kitchen sink, your story arc looks like a glacier.

JI: Write more things down. Text message is a bear to transcribe. Once I discovered Google Chats, life got easier, because we could copy and paste from transcripts. Oh, and when painting a prop for a student play, open the window. And definitely don’t ignore the fumes in favor of story-texting with a friend.

JB: But when all-else fails, forgetting to open the window when using Goo-Gone will result in making an awesome new friend.

JI: Yes! As well as nausea. But not over the friend.

Okay, I don’t think I’ll ask any more about the fumes and the results of that! So…

I have a thing about names. In my own stories, I like the names to have particular meanings. I can spend hours pouring over name sites. How did you select character names for Thicker Than Water?

JB: I look at either a portrait of them I’ve sketched or the face reference I have for them, and I consider their journey, their backstory, and their personality. From that, I generally get an idea of how I want their name to “feel” (strong, bold, gentle, weak, timid, etc). Often times, that’s paired with a sound I want in their name (be it an “Oh” sound, or I want their name to start with a “Jay” sound, or even I have a specific first letter in mind). From there I either narrow my search to a specific language (the website I use has a “sort by country” filter) and go through the list, comparing them to my character’s reference.

JI: They often come named and refuse to answer to anything else. Which is fun when Julia wants to hunt down names, and I’m stubbornly clinging to the ones in my head. I’m also fussy about making sure there is naming diversity within stories.

Julia, your process sounds a lot like mine. Though I have had a few characters, Like Janeen, come to me already named.

How many more books will be in this series?

JB: could be 4 books, could be more. Current plan is 4, but I know us well enough to not limit ourselves.

JI: not including spinoffs!

Okay, last question. What is something you want readers to take away from this series?

JB: There are monsters in every one of us, and we are more than the horror within ourselves.

JI: Being born with an issue, ailment, disability, or other chronic illness can define your life, but doesn’t have to define your identity. Everyone is given a particular set of conditions and life experiences, but there is also hope even in darkness. And everyone should consider carefully what they choose to cling to when life turns horrible. We humans have a nasty tendency to indulge destructive habits rather than healing ones.

Also, dachshunds are amazing.

JB: And onion rings go really well with vanilla milkshakes. Try it! Or with French fries, that’s tasty too.

I could argue chocolate shakes go better with fries, but I don’t think you want to get into that here. 😉

Thank you both so much for joining me today! It was a blast!

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Be sure and get your copy of Blood Mercy: Thicker Than Water!

What would you do if the one you loved was turned into a monster?

Melrose Durante brings order. As founder of the Houses of the Dead, he tirelessly opposes the vampires, and provides refuge for the Blood Kind, those like himself who fight against the blood curse that leads to vampirism. His medical breakthroughs have brought many back from the vampire path. After thousands of years, the Blood Kind finally has the upper hand.

Until a vampire attacks Melrose’s family, then begs for asylum. To his friends she’s Lucy, a disturbed young woman prone to incoherent rants, warning of an imminent attack by vampire leader, Conan. But to Melrose she’s something more.

His lost wife, Jane.

One thing is clear – time is running out. In five days Conan will attack Quebec City, killing or enslaving all in his way. If Melrose cannot unlock his wife’s tormented mind, even his immortal wisdom may not be enough to save Quebec City, the Blood Kind, and the Houses of the Dead.

Blood Mercy Official Website: http://www.bloodmercy.wordpress.com

Amazon Preorder Link: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Mercy-Thicker-Than-Water-ebook/dp/B01L47ILUS

Uncommon Universes Press Website: http://www.uncommonuniverses.com

2016janeenheadshot Janeen Ippolito

Author Bio: Janeen Ippolito is an idea-charged teacher, reader, writer, book reviewer, and the Fearless Leader of Uncommon Universes Press. She writes nonfiction writing help and speculative fiction laced with horror, humor, and cultural tension. Her co-written illustrated novella, Blood Mercy: Thicker Than Water, releases on October 29^th. In her nonexistent spare time she reads, cooks, and sword-fights. Two of her dreams are to eat a fried tarantula and to travel to Antarctica. Go to janeenippolito.com for world-building resources and off-the-wall insights from this sleep-deprived author.

Social Media Links

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitowriter/

Twitter: @TheQuietPen

Website: http://www.janeenippolito.com

Instagam: janeen_ippolito

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14112384.Janeen_Ippolito

Pinterest: Janeen Ippolito

2016juliaheadshot Julia Busko

Author Bio: Julia Busko (like “bus” and “co.”) is an illustrator, designer, writer, and the Elusive Unicorn (art director) of Uncommon Universes Press. In addition to co-writing with Janeen Ippolito, Julia has created book covers, made logos and t-shirt designs, and is planning a series of steampunk fairy tale picture books. In her spare time she dances with a local company and watches documentaries and horror movies. She strives for art filled with creative wonder and the beauty inherent in tragedy. Go to juliabusko.com to dive into a world of remarkable visions and artistic musings.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuliabuskoIllustrator/

Website: http://www.juliabusko.com

Instagram: juliabuskoillustration

Pinterest: Julia Busko

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the stops on this blog tour! Don’t miss out on all the fun.

Monday, October 17th – Deanna Fugett – Interview on Quills and Inkblotts (http://quillsandinkblotts.blogspot.com/)

Tuesday, October 18th – Blood Mercy: Thicker Than Water on The Write Stuff with Parker J. Cole

Thursday, October 20th – Tina Yeager – Blood Kind and Mental/Physical Disorders (http://www.tyeagerwrites.com/)

Monday, October 24th – Laura Vanarendonk Baugh – Dracula, Tropes, other Inspirations(http://lauravanarendonkbaugh.com/blog/)

Wednesday, October 26th – Bethany Jennings – Character MBTI Personalities (http://simmeringmind.com/)

Friday, October 28th – Ashley Townsend – Special Interview (https://ashley-townsend.com/)

Saturday, October 29th – Launch Party on Facebook! 8 pm-10pm (EST) (https://www.facebook.com/events/1846423622258672/)

Monday, October 31st – GEKE’s Article on New Author’s Fellowship (https://newauthors.wordpress.com/)

Wednesday, November 2 – Ashley Townsend – Behind-the-Scenes Feature (https://ashley-townsend.com/)

Friday, November 4 – H.A. Titus – Special Interview (https://hatitus.com/)

Tags #BloodMercy, #Fantasy, #Paranormal, #Supernatural, #ThickerThanWater, #thriller, #Urbanfantasy, #Vampires

Speculative Fiction Thrillers YA

Lost Girls Cover Reveal!

I have a something special for you today!

Normally, I don’t read a lot of YA books. I gravitate toward more adult themes and older characters, so the genre hasn’t really been at the top of my list.

Merrie Destefano is causing me to rethink my position with her upcoming release.

Which brings me to the reason for today’s post. A cover reveal for the soon to be available ‘Lost Girls’.

The first time I read the blurb for this book, my reaction was: “I must read this now!” When I discovered it didn’t come out until January of 2017, I began to wonder how I’d possibly be able to wait that long. I can’t begin to describe how excited I am for this story. It has everything that appeals to me in a book.

If you know me at all, you know she had me hooked at the first mention of underground fighting rings. And it just gets better from there. With lots of action, a normal girl drawn into a dark world, mystery, suspense, and so much more, Lost Girls has all the ingredients for a killer fiction cocktail that’ll knock you flat on your back and still leave you begging for more.

Exactly my kind of story!

I’m certain you’ll share my anticipation, so I want to tell you about this amazing author and the book that must be read.

About the Author:

Born in the Midwest, former magazine editor Merrie Destefano currently lives in Southern California with her husband, two German shepherds, a Siamese cat, and the occasional wandering possum. Her favorite hobbies are reading speculative fiction and watching old Star Trek episodes, and her incurable addiction is writing. She loves to camp in the mountains, walk on the beach, watch old movies, and listen to alternative music—although rarely all at the same time.http://www.merriedestefano.com/

Author Website: http://www.merriedestefano.com/

Author Group Blog: http://supernaturalunderground.blogspot.ca/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/MerrieDestefano

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merrie.destefano

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/816280.Merrie_Destefano

Newsletter: http://www.merriedestefano.com/ (Sign up under the Newsletter tab.)

About the Book:

Here is the gorgeous, intriguing cover!

Lost Girls By Merrie Destefano

Release Date: January 3, 2017

Genre: YA Psychological Thriller

And here is the story that has the potential to turn anyone into a YA fan:

Yesterday, Rachel went to sleep listening to Taylor Swift, curled up in her grammy’s quilt, worrying about geometry. Today, she woke up in a ditch, bloodied, bruised, and missing a year of her life.

She doesn’t recognize the person she’s become: she’s popular. She wears nothing but black.

Black to cover the blood.

And she can fight.

Tell no one.

She’s not the only girl to go missing within the last year…but she’s the only girl to come back. She desperately wants to unravel what happened to her, to try and recover the rest of the Lost Girls.

But the more she discovers, the more her memories return. And as much as her new life scares her, it calls to her. Seductively. The good girl gone bad, sex, drugs, and raves, and something darker…something she still craves—the rush of the fight, the thrill of the win—something she can’t resist, that might still get her killed…

The only rule is: There are no rules.

Goodreads Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939399-lost-girls

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Girls-Merrie-Destefano-ebook/dp/B01GNZ9GH8/

Barnes & Noble Buy Link:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-girls-merrie-destefano/1123683530?ean=9781633756069

iBooks Buy Link:

Kobo Buy Link: https://kids.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/lost-girls-27

Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Girls-Merrie-Destefano-ebook/dp/B01GNZ9GH8

Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/Lost-Girls-Merrie-Destefano-ebook/dp/B01GNZ9GH8/

The Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb55495864/

If you’d like to read the original cover reveal post from Merrie, here it is!

EXCLUSIVE: See the cover of LOST GIRLS by Merrie Destefano!

Be sure to click on the links above to follow Merrie for updates, and definitely check out her other books. You will not be disappointed!

Tags #Adventure, #CoverReveal, #FightClub, #LostGirls, #MerrieDestefano, #MustRead, #NoRules, #Speculative Fction, #thriller, YA

Christian Fiction New Adult Romance Speculative Fiction Thrillers Urban Fantasy

A Full and Grateful Heart

Post author By Amy Brock McNew
Post date May 31, 2016
No Comments on A Full and Grateful Heart

Thank You!

Release week for Rebirth surpassed my expectations, my hopes, and my dreams.

So many bought the book, reviewed it, shared, and practically screamed about it from rooftops. I felt the love! I never imagined that it would blow up like it did. To say that I am grateful is an understatement. My heart is overflowing.

Though a bit overwhelming at times, it was one of the greatest weeks of my life. To have so many show their support for me and my story was something I hadn’t even dared hope for. The bloggers on the tour, the readers, my family, my friends, my fellow authors, and most of all my publisher. Everyone stepped up and got behind me. I’m so thankful for all of you. There’s no way I could’ve gotten through the week without you!

20160527_171830 (Me signing my first autograph!)

Friday night, we had a launch party at Boondocks. We had an amazing turn out. Again, I got my mind blown. Friends, family, and perfect strangers showed up and showed out, making the night a fantastic success. I’m still flying high! Thank you to all who were able to make it out and see us. It means so much.

(Me and my publisher on the left, my handsome hubby and I on the right.)

(My first two autographs, who happen to be great friends!)

Again, thank you to everyone who had a hand in making Rebirth’s first week out in the world an amazing one!

This is only the beginning of the adventure and I absolutely cannot wait to see where it takes me.

Love & Hugs, y’all!

Tags #Fantasy, #gutsonthepage, #Paranormal, #Rebirth, #ReluctantWarriorChronicles, #Supernatural, #Urbanfantasy

Speculative Fiction Techno-thriller Thrillers

Q & A with Thomas Locke

It’s Anything Can Happen Thursday!

I have a treat for you. Today on Guts on the Page, we have a question and answer session with Thomas Locke, author of Trial Run!

There are several links with additional content, so be sure and check it all out. Enjoy!

Thomas Locke is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.

His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.

Thomas divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College at The University of Oxford. Visit Thomas at http://tlocke.com.

Q&A With Thomas Locke, author of Trial Run

Q: What reader did you have in mind when you were writing Trial Run?

Thomas Locke: I suspect there are a lot of readers out there like me, who love mainstream fiction in principle, but are dismayed by how dark it is becoming.

I love to read. I am happiest with a good book in my hands. And most of my purchases are mainstream fiction. Too often, however, I find myself skipping over bits that are just plain not necessary for a good story.

I wrote Trial Run for readers like me. Passionate about story, yearning for the thrill of a great tale, hoping for something that uplifts as well as ignites.

Here’s a video trailer for Trial Run, hot off the press:

https://youtu.be/FS9Vr2Nfc4Q

Q: In Trial Run, you introduce several seemingly unrelated threads at the beginning of the story. By the end of the story, those threads have become woven together in an intricate tapestry. What’s your thought process behind this writing strategy?

Thomas Locke: This concept can best be summed up by the phrase you often hear a Hollywood producer say: “Where is the cut?”

By this, the producer means, what can you leave out of the script so that the audience must figure things out for themselves?

Instead of spoon-feeding the audience every item required to move to the climax, things are left unsaid. This sense of vacuum draws the audience into the action, and hurries them forward to the story’s close.

Q: Several settings in Trial Run (Santa Barbara, CA, the Italian/Swiss border site) depict real places. How do you select these real-life settings for your stories, and do you alter details of these places to suit your stories?

Thomas Locke: The core element of my placing a story is research. And the core element in my research is emotion. For many people, the ‘take’ that I finally use in the story does not jibe with what they like to see as valid for a particular setting, especially when that place is close to their heart and I have used a more negative perspective. But the facts have been carefully studied.

An example from Trial Run is Santa Barbara. For a lot of people who know and love California, this is their absolute favorite place in the SoCal region. And for good reason. It is a lovely town, one my wife and I really enjoy visiting.

For this story, I was granted an insider’s view into the University of California at Santa Barbara, or UCSB. And from the perspective of many students enrolled there, UCSB is filled with hyper-inflated SoCal egos.

The contrast I found between the students with money (and in SoCal, when I say they had money, I really mean they had money) and those who don’t is as sharp as anywhere I have ever been. The student who formed my core source and guide was on a scholarship. He was there to study. He was, to say the least, in a minority.

Everything I described about the school, the bicycle traffic and the events on the beach and the housing, are based on observation. But the perspective was based upon the humorous bafflement with which this student viewed many of his fellow classmates.

I personally love this aspect of building a story. The research at this emotional level grants me the opportunity to see the world through another person’s eyes and heart. Being trusted with this, time and again, is part of the miracle process that happens every time I start a new tale.

Q: I’ve heard there’s a free ebook prequel to Trial Run. How can I get a copy?

Thomas Locke: As I was writing the opening scenes of Trial Run, I found myself continually asking questions about what happened before that door opened and before the party started. I began sketching a sort of parallel story, laying out ideas that formed the story-before-the-story.

“Double Edge” is the result.

The publishers liked the short story prequel so much that they have asked me to write a complete novel based upon these concepts. This novel will form either book three or book four in the series.

You’ll find links on my website http://tlocke.com/fault-lines/ for downloading your free copy of “Double Edge” from your favorite online bookseller.

Q: Trial Run is book 1 in the three-volume Fault Lines series. Please give us a preview of what to expect in book 2.

Thomas Locke: This is a timely question, as I completed the first draft of book 2 on June 8. The working title is Flash Point.

In many respects, Flash Point is a true hybrid. By this I mean that the core themes are the same as in Trial Run. But everything is also very different. I had two key questions in mind when I started book two: How far can I take this? How much can I risk?

This whole concept of controlled out-of-body experiences opens up a completely new vista. I had to develop a new story framework for Trial Run, and everywhere I looked I found myself asking the same questions:

Where does this take mankind?
If this could actually happen, where do we go?
Who are we as people?
How would this remake us?

These questions are first asked in Flash Point. Where we go from here depends mostly upon you, the reader.

So let’s dance!

Get to know Thomas Locke at these online outlets:

Website: http://tlocke.com/

Subscribe to Thomas’s e-newsletter and blog: http://eepurl.com/5cnH5

Receive Thomas’s latest blog posts via your feed reader: http://tlocke.com/blog/feed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlockebooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thomas_locke

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tlockebooks

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tlockebooks/

Tags #Fantasy, #Sci-Fi, #Speculative Fction, #technothriller, #ThomasLocke, #thriller

Speculative Fiction Techno-thriller Thrillers

Trial Run

While an injury and the holiday interfered with my regular Monday post, I have something exciting for today!

I recently read Trial Run by Thomas Locke. I was riveted! I have posted my Goodreads review below, and thrown in a couple other fun things to boot. While not a Christian book, it is clean. If you don’t care for technical jargon, it may not be the book for you. But if you like thrillers, you will love this story. It brings up the idea of a whole new type of warfare. A frightening one.

Read on and enjoy!

Review of Trial Run

I received a copy of Trial Run in exchange for an honest review. Trial Run is a techno-thriller, and one of the few I’ve read that truly lives up to the name. While there is a lot of technical jargon, the author explained it in a way that I felt I had a general idea of the concepts, which is really all that is required to understand the story. Though, I must admit, there were times that I may have wandered over some of the scientific description a bit. If you don’t enjoy such jargon, parts of the story may seem tedious to you.

When I first started Trial Run, I was curious how the myriad of characters would blend together. It didn’t take long to find out. This story wound the players together in a way that was believable and realistic, despite the extraordinary nature of the concepts and happenings. Each character was fully developed with a distinct voice and presence. Some I loathed, some I loved, which was the intent. Of course, I have my favorites, (Charlie and Elene). Though Trial Run is plot driven, I felt that all of the characters played their roles beautifully, which is rare in a plot driven story.

The further I got into this book, the more I loved it. Trial Run was like a rolling wave that didn’t just plow you over, but swept you up in its wake, taking you exactly where it wanted you to go. You have no choice but to hang on for the ride. As the plot folded the characters together and weaved each bit and piece to slowly reveal answers, I was unable to put it down. I had to see what came next.

All in all, a very solid and entertaining book. It may not be a light and easy beach read, but it is exactly what it is intended to be. A thriller. A story that requires you to give a little as well. Trial Run is the kind of immersive read that I enjoy.