The News Was Interesting Today

Twelve years ago, I sat down and began writing my novel, Beneath the Tor.  Using books like Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln and Bloodline of the Holly Grail by Lawrence Gardner for research into the subject matter of Beneath the Tor.  (Much like Dan Brown did for The DaVinci Code.)

Fast forward a couple of years, I'm still writing and Dan Brown releases The DaVinci Code.  Me, I finish Beneath the Tor and place it in mothballs - not wanting to appear as if I were trying to ride the coat tails of his success.

This year, I brushed it off - edited, revised, edited and revised again and this time I published it.  Currently available for the Kindle, I plan for it to be in every online bookstore before Christmas.  

Beneath the Tor went live earlier this week and then on the news this morning was this story:

Did Jesus have a wife? - CBS News Video

Got to say, I find it all exciting.  Although I always believed that he was married and probably had kids.  This little scrap goes quite a way of at least opening the discussion once more.

Could this have been released at a better time?  Not for me - it's perfect timing for interest in my book - Beneath the Tor.  The paperback version should be available within the next two weeks.

Beneath the Tor - Released!

At long last, my first full length novel - Beneath the Tor - is available for the Kindle and Kindle reading apps.    With luck, by the end of the next week the paperback version will be available as well.  How exciting (at least for me).

The Blurb:

Miriam is a priestess from the Isle of Avalon.  Yahshua is the love of her life.  Because of that love, her father Joseph of Arimethia forces Miriam to Jerusalem in an attempt to keep the lovers apart.   Fleeing her father's house after an attempted rape, Miriam faces stoning and death when she becomes a priestess in the Temple of Isis.  Her one hope for a happy future is the return of Yahshua.  Once reunited, the two lovers change the course of destiny.

An alternative history/fantasy Beneath the Tor is sure to excite readers of both the Mists of Avalon and The Da Vinci Code as it blends both into a spellbinding thriller that will keep you reading from the first to the last page.

The Disclaimer:

If reading or watching either The Last Temptation of Christ or The Da Vinci Code upset, disturbed or offended you - this book may do that also, so be forewarned.

Finally on Kobo Books

After a couple of weeks, both Vengeance is Mine and Journeys Into the Velvet Darkness: Revealed Evil are now available for the Kobo eReader at the Kobo Book Store.  Kobo has been responsible for the majority of my sales - aside from Amazon - for Revealed Evil over the years, so I am glad that Vengeance Is Mine is available there also.

It's looking like a late September opening for Beneath the Tor and I'm really getting excited about it.  Not only does it have an awesome cover, by the truly talented Neil Jackson, (whose website Pig & Cow Design is under construction but will be open for business Sept. 24th), the story itself is bound to kick up quite a stir.  Anyone remember the controversy surrounding either The Last Temptation of Christ or The DaVinci Code? - something similar to that is what I am hoping for.

Following on the heels of Beneath the Tor will be my thriller The XIII.  All of this in time for the Holiday buying season to help fill up those brand spanking new eReaders that were announced earlier this week.  I know I have one on my wish list.  :)

Reviews are coming in for...

The Truth of Becoming short story.  And they are good - nope, scratch that- they are great.  Both rated 5 stars and that makes any author happy.  So just in case you are interested, here they are:

*****
Interviewing a Vampire, September 2, 2012
By armand rosamilia (Palm Coast, Florida) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Truth of Becoming (Kindle Edition)
The sparse narrative style of the story hooks you in from the beginning, and doesn't let go. The author doesn't waste time with flourishing prose intent to pad the word count. Instead, you get the truth from the narrator in his own words, and it simply works.

Looking forward to reading more and more from this author!

I received a review copy and I'm glad I did. Will be buying and reviewing every new release from now on.

Armand Rosamilia

*****
5.0 out of 5 stars not exploded, nuked!, August 31, 2012
By Vix Kirkpatrick (Basingstoke) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Truth of Becoming (Kindle Edition)
WOW where to start with this review - this gripped me from the start, held me down and splattered me into submission.
A blast of an introduction on the turning of a vampire. Explode the myth? I think Kat Yares has nuked it!
Sharply written, so tense it gave no room for emotion, leaving you as devoid as the new Vamp.
This left me in wide-eyed shock and relief as the "new man" saunters off into the moon light!

My first novella by this author and blimey I feel a little dazed and confused, but ready for more.

***

Now that people are reading it, I'm hoping that when they see the adaptation on the screen - they will like it just as much.  For those in or around Arkansas - your first chance to see The Truth of Becoming will be at the Offshoot Film Festival in Fayetteville, October 4th thru 7th.

Until then, why not grab a copy of the short story - it's less than a cup of coffee from MickeyDs - and will stay with you much longer.

The Truth of Becoming

On Wednesday, better half and I received the news that our short movie, The Truth of Becoming had been accepted into the Offshoot Film Festival in Fayetteville, AR as an official selection for screening.  That was big news - at least to us.

The movie version was based on a short story I had written several years ago by the same name.  Published twice in print - it was always one of my favorites.

So, in honor of the stories new life - I have released the original short story (in all its glory) for the Kindle.  At only 99cents, it is a bargain.

So take a look - grab a copy and enjoy.

Never know, one day soon you too, may see the minor motion picture on the big screen.

A Great Review of Vengeance Is Mine

It Is a wonderful thing to discover a fantastic new review of your work when you first get up in the morning.  I know it has made my day!

A.E. Drury "Ed Drury" had this to say about Vengeance Is Mine while giving it 5 stars on Amazon:

What makes this story so gripping is that cults such as the one described in this story really do exist, as do the abuses described. The story is riveting as the patterns of abuse are passed from father to son. Vengeance is not a concept I support, and as it turns out, that it is not what the main character seeks either. She is rather a conduit for retribution. The story is very well written and I would venture to guess aspects of it were carefully researched. Paranormal aspects aside, the so called normal events of the cult are quite in keeping with several known cults in the US. I found it impossible to put down once I opened it on my kindle. "just one more chapter and I will take a break," I kept telling myself. Great little ghost story with a surprising conclusion.

It is so gratifying as an author to read a review from a reader who gets exactly what you were attempting to say in your story.  And this one did.  And I thank him.

Now, I know it's only a matter of time until I get a bad review on one of my stories.  It's going to happen because the tales I tell are not for everyone.  And that is just the way it is in this storytelling world.  Yet, when that happens, reviews like this one (and the other 4 & 5 stars I have) will definitely help take the sting out and put a smile back on my face quickly.

One More Time - But Not The Last

Finished with round three paper edits/revisions on Beneath the Tor yesterday afternoon.  I think my eyes were crossed all night long.  Now it's time to do the revisions in Word - print it out - and do it all over again.

Slightly disappointed that I didn't get everything done in June, but with any luck I'll have it done by the end of July and ready to go.  Really looking forward to the covers that the amazing and talented Neil Jackson is creating for both this book and its sequel The XIII.  The man does extremely awesome at designing beautiful and provocative covers that force a person to pick up the book - even if only for the artwork.

Now I could say that I like revising and editing, but that would be a lie.  A big, bold faced one.  But, I also know how necessary it is.  I have read more than enough Indie books to know that many writer's do very little, or no editing at all.  And their work suffers for it.  I can't count the number of times I've simply moved on to another book on my Kindle because the writing was so bad.  (Not to say mine is perfect, but it is as close as I can make it)

Watch this space, I'll announce the release of Beneath the Tor very soon.

Btw, if you need a great cover for your book - Contact Neil Jackson on Facebook.  You can find samples here:

https://www.facebook.com/neil.jackson.50596

and here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pig-and-Cow-Design/244609328915936