Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Guestpost: The Origin of a Story by J.T. Bock

The Origin of a Story
by J.T. Bock

          In the beginning, I didn't know anything about the characters in my book, A Surefire Way. I had envisioned the first scene, the first action sequence. I knew what they were wearing: Surefire wore a gymnastics leotard and luchador mask, and Raven had on a tight black rock-climbing outfit and a Zorro-like mask.

          But who were they? What did they want out of life? How had they gotten here? And why the hell was my heroine wearing that ridiculous mask and leotard? Talk about a fashion don't. Even Carrie Bradshaw couldn't pull that look off.

          In comics, many heroes' names are alliterations: Peter Parker, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Bruce Banner ... you get the point. Someone explained to me that these heroes were named this way to make it easier for people, especially kids, to remember these character names. Not sure how true that reason is, but I decided to go that route with Surefire's real name: Synthia St. John.

          Has a nice ring to it. Plus, Synthia is a derivative of Cynthia, meaning from Mount Kynthos in Greece, the birthplace of Diana, the huntress.

          Thought it was a nice connection to Surefire's transhuman power—perfect aim. Plus, she's hunting Raven and about to catch him.

          Before she was an UltraAgent (a law-enforcement agent with extraordinary abilities), Surefire had been a gymnast, which is why she could easily balance on the metal beams in the warehouse, swoop down from the beams to the floor, climb vines out of dimensional portals, contort her body in Aztec ballgame. Like Batman's Robin, who worked the trapeze in the circus, Surefirecould use her skill to keep up with the bad guys in high-flying situations.
          But she missed out on her chance to go to the Olympics when she missed her landing on the balance beam because of a distraction. Years ago, I worked as a graphic designer at a small newspaper. A young ad salesman at my job had screwed up his chance at the Olympics trials, too. As a teen, he was a local ping pong champion and well on his way to playing in the Olympics until he lost out by a few points. After that, he hung up his paddle and refused to try again. A decision he regretted whenever he saw magazine ads for ping pong products featuring opponents he used to beat, who were still on the circuit, still competing, and still making money in the sport.

          Surefire didn't regret not making the team for the glory of hitting it big like her twin sister, but for the approval of her family, her father in particular. Which is why she is working at UltraSecurity and breaking the rules to catch this thief on her own—to prove her worth. When I was writing this story, I realized that her journey mirrored mine in a way. Because I pushed myself in writingSurefire's story to prove that I could do it, that I could be a writer and follow my dreams by believing in myself and not relying on the approval of others to take control of my passion and my life. This is Surefire's journey—belief in herself, not relying on others for approval, not having to prove her worth to receive love.

          It wasn't until I was revising the story that I realized her journey mirrored the villain as well. Ari wanted approval from the magic community. He wanted love and respect, but he went about it in a totally different way than Surefire. His narcissistic personality caused him to handle his rejection and need for respect by stopping at nothing—even murdering his cousin and possibly destroying the world—to find that fulfillment.

          Surefire had a few physical flaws—a bump on her nose from when it had been broken, a trick knee, mismatched eyes. I'm not one for heroines who are perfect. I'm not perfect. I want to read about women who are like me, who have physical as well as emotional flaws and who can still find love and fulfillment in spite of not being perfect. You don't have to be Snow White, beautiful and sweet with an amazing singing voice that soothes any woodland creatures. Surefire's physical flaws remind her of her mistakes and how she doesn't want to make them again.

          Her eyes have a genetic flaw. I had watched 28 Days Later as I was writing this story, and the young boy, who was immune to the zombie virus, had two-tone eyes. I decided to use that feature for my heroine because of her being a twin, and this abnormality occurs with twins. Also, I wondered if this was an indicator of her transhuman sure shot ability, just like the boy's eyes in 28 Days Later marked him as special.

         Looking back on the journey of writing this story, it's interesting how so many things from pop culture to mythology to a friend at work to my personal conflict influenced my heroine's traits and her journey.

About the Book:

          Surefire just broke the number one rule of her employer, UltraSecurity, a niche security firm that solves crimes committed by genetically enhanced humans like Raven. She trailed Raven into a warehouse without backup. And something more powerful than any transhuman is waiting inside.

          Raven’s plan is simple: Atone for his past crimes. Return stolen spiritual artifacts to restore the world’s balance. Don’t get caught by UltraSecurity.

Easy, right?

          Until a spunky UltraSecurity agent is suddenly on his tail, although Raven wishes she was on … well, never mind … he can’t get distracted from his mission. Because she’s followed him into a warehouse filled with his reclaimed relics, and Raven’s ex-partner in crime is about to unleash a supernatural-sized complication into his plan.

          His old partner has accidentally summoned an Aztec god who will destroy the world unless Raven stops this spirit with a superiority complex. To do this, Raven must team up with Surefire and reveal the truth about his powers, exposing her to a force that can either save the world or destroy them both.

          Following Raven into that warehouse throws Surefire into a surreal world filled with moody gods, day-glo skulls, dizzying dimensional portals, maniacal half-roach magicians, and a sexy thief who is more than he appears under his snug t-shirt. Is Raven a criminal, or is he working for a higher power? Surefire needs to be certain, because if she joins him on this mission, she’ll have to surrender everything she believed in for a surefire way to save the world, discover her destiny and find true love.


About the Author:

          When J.T. Bock was a child, she wanted to be James Bond or Indiana Jones or a vampire hunter or Wonder Woman. Whatever brought her the most action, adventure and romance while play acting on her stage—otherwise known as her grandmother’s basement. Now J.T. has assembled her own team of action heroes, supernatural creatures and maniacal villains and set them on adventures far from her basement to exotic lands and alternate dimensions.

          From a secret location outside of Washington, DC, J.T. conjures these pulse-pounding tales to share with those kindred readers looking for an exciting escape. Her alternate identity enjoys spending time with her workaholic husband and their sidekick rescue dog, traveling to interesting locales (San Diego Comic-Con), and enjoying life to the fullest with an amazing group of family and friends and a good glass of wine.

          Check out J.T.’s latest adventures on her website (www.jtbock.com) or find her by flashing her initials in the sky, opening up her favorite bottle of Pinot Noir, or by email at jennifer@jtbock.com.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Review # 292: The Quiet Road by Annie Frame

Description:
     Frankford Lucas is the chief superintendent in the police force. He is well respected and well thought of... however, he has a secret. Ever since childhood he has visited The Quiet Road in his dreams. He thought it was a good place, this Quiet Road, but events unfold to prove otherwise. 
     Gruesome murders are being carried out on his patch and trophies turning up in his flat with no rational explanation. Who is slaughtering the innocent victims and why? 
     Profiler Lenny Docker introduces a clairvoyant into the investigation and The Sarsaparilla Duchess, seems to know more about Frankford Lucas than she should - even more than he does himself!
     In time Frankford Lucas learns the true secret of The Quiet Road and realises he is dealing with a force beyond his control. Can he save his soul from darkness, and can he save the souls of others who cannot help themselves? 
Review:

     I was a big fan of Annie Frame's last book, Imprint, because it detailed the existence of reincarnation, as well as the aspects of clairvoyance. Her characters had me mesmerized and on edge, never knowing what was about to occur, and those in The Quiet Road were no different! Her stories are always strangely ethereal and mind-bending, with plot-lines that bridge the gap between suspense and the paranormal. I was thoroughly captivated by the secrets of The Quiet Road and its characters, especially the realistic interactions and dialogue. The only parts that I disliked were the slowness of the pace and the events leading to the ending (no spoilers!). I also thought that there could have been a little more character background. Overall, I was quite interested in The Quiet Road, and I will definitely be looking for more Annie Frame titles in the future! Recommended read!

Rating: Bounty's Out (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 291: Evidence of Life by Barbara Taylor Sissel

Description: (from book-jacket)
          On the last ordinary day of her life, Abby Bennett feels like the luckiest woman alive. But everyone knows that luck doesn't last forever.… As her husband, Nick, and daughter, Lindsey, embark on a weekend camping trip to the Texas Hill Country, Abby looks forward to having some quiet time to herself. She braids Lindsey's hair, reminds Nick to drive safely and kisses them both goodbye. For a brief moment, Abby thinks she has it all—a perfect marriage, a perfect life—until a devastating storm rips through the region, and her family vanishes without a trace. 
           When Nick and Lindsey are presumed dead, lost in the raging waters, Abby refuses to give up hope. Consumed by grief and clinging to her belief that her family is still alive, she sets out to find them. But as disturbing clues begin to surface, Abby realizes that the truth may be far more sinister than she imagined. Soon she finds herself caught in a current of lies that threaten to unhinge her and challenge everything she once believed about her marriage and family.
Review:

          When I received this book, I was desperately craving a mystery that I could get lost in. The last few titles I had read were nonfiction and romances, so I found myself drawn to Barbara Taylor Sissel's mystery/ suspense, Evidence of Life. The premise was original and full of possibility, and the cover art gripped me. Abby's emotion-fueled journey to find the truth definitely got my attention from the start, her true-to-life determination and response to a heart-breaking and terrible situation were deeply real and poignant. I was instantly drawn to her story and the mystery behind her family's disappearance. However, around the novel's midpoint my initial interest began to dwindle. The character dialogue and interactions became slow and repetitive, although the somewhat predictable mystery still managed to keep me intrigued. The overall story-line was well-written, but not as full as I expected. This made it a quick and easy read, besides the pacing problems, but I still wish that the ending had held the excitement and emotional level that I experienced in the beginning. I recommend it as a lazy day read, but not for those who want a serious full-throttle mystery.

Rating: On the Run (3.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. 


Thursday, April 18, 2013

Review # 290: Tickling Daphne H. by Veronica Frances

Description:
     Tickling Daphne H. follows the ticklish journeys of Daphne, Dave, Carol and Harold, exploring how tickling deeply affects the lives of these four people. The story deals with the many different faces of tickling; the addictive and torturous, the pleasurable and erotic and the humorous and romantic. 
     This is the very unusual love story of Daphne and Dave, two people facing their tickle-demons together. It is primarily the journey of Daphne, a 21-year-old very ticklish woman. Daphne finds herself in a world where every important person in her life has a tickling fetish, including her boyfriend Dave. She finds herself constantly surrounded by feathers and wiggling fingers, unable to escape the taunting sounds of her own laughter. She is also unable to escape her own mixed-up feelings about tickling. 
     As Daphne’s relationship with Dave grows, she must learn to face her fears and deeper feelings about tickling, for the sake of their relationship and herself.
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | ITUNES
Review:

     Sometimes I choose to read outside of my comfort zone and am very surprised by what I find; Tickling Daphne H. was one of those welcome, albeit unconventional, surprises. At first glance I wasn't particularly thrilled by the premise of "tickling fetish erotica", especially since I am normally not a fan of the genre, but after a few chapters I began to understand the appeal. Daphne and Dave's strange relationship started out a little odd - Daphne's stepmother's actions creeped me out a little bit - however, as the story progressed, the characters and their unique personas started to grow on me. Daphne was a very complex character, deeper than I expected for an erotic novel. Her brat-like attitude was a turn-off at first, but her character seemed to evolve as the book continued. I did not really understand the plethora of tickling fetishes that were swirling around in the beginning, but once I got into the novel I realized how each of the characters viewed tickling and its role in their daily lives. Dave, Daphne, Carol and Harold all had reasons for their actions and sexual preferences, each one of them well-developed and highly relatable. Before I met these characters I had never viewed tickling as a sexual device, nor had I believed it to be a type of torture. I cannot imagine being so ticklish that I was in constant fear of someone poking me and causing an outburst; something the main character lives with daily. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the back-story, but I was not a fan of the drawn out sex scenes or the laugh-riddled dialogue. I would have preferred if some sections were not so immature sounding, but I did laugh quite a bit throughout the experience.

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

About the Author:

     Veronica Frances is the pseudonym for a creative writer, residing in New York City. She has had a love of tickling for her entire life. She enjoys singing and writing songs. She also writes non-fiction and poetry. Her latest book is Tickling Daphne H.



Tour Schedule

Monday, March 4 – Book Review, Chapter Reveal & Guest Blogging at Close Encounters with the Night Kind

Tuesday, March 5 – Interview at A Little Bit of R&R

Wednesday, March 6 – Guest Blogging at Wickedly Sexy Writers

Friday, March 8 – Guest Blogging at Inside BJ’s Head

Monday, March 11 – Interview at Literarily Speaking

Tuesday, March 12 – Guest Blogging at The Story Behind the Book


Wednesday, March 13 – First Chapter Reveal at Lori’s Reading Corner

Thursday, March 14 – First Chapter Reveal at Spicy Romance Connection

Friday, March 15 – Book Featured at Delphina Reads Too Much

Monday, March 18 – Interview at Pump Up Your Book

Tuesday, March 19 – Guest Blogging at Bookingly Yours

Wednesday, March 20 – Book Featured at Between the Covers

Thursday, March 21 – Book Review at Offbeat Vagabond

Monday, March 25 – Book Featured at Book Marketing Buzz

Friday, March 29 – Interview at The Writer’s Life

Monday, April 1 – Interview at Examiner

Tuesday, April 2 – Book Review at Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Wednesday, April 3 – Guest Blogging at The Paperback Pursuer

Thursday, April 4 – Guest Blogging at Passionate Encounters

Friday, April 5 – Guest Blogging at Butterfly-o-Meter

Monday, April 8 – Book Review at Sweet n’ Sassy

Tuesday, April 9 – Interview at Blogcritics

Wednesday, April 10 – First Chapter Reveal at As the Pages Turn

Thursday, April 11 – Interview at As the Pages Turn

Friday, April 12 – Guest Blogging at Love Books! Book Reviews

Monday, April 15 - Book Feature at Beyond the Books

Tuesday, April 16 – Interview at Paperback Writer

Thursday, April 18 – Book Review at The Paperback Pursuer

Friday, April 19 – Book Review at My Reading Obsession

Friday, April 19 – Guest Blogging at Naughty Readers

Monday, April 22 – Interview at American Chronicle

Tuesday, April 23 – Guest Blogging at Socrates Book Reviews

Monday, May 6 – Book Review at Nightstand Novels

Tuesday, May 7 – Interview at Straight From the Author’s Mouth

Wednesday, May 8 – Book Featured at You Gotta Read

Thursday, May 9 – Interview at Between the Covers

Friday, May 10 – Book Review at Janna Shay’s Blog

Monday, May 13 – First Chapter Reveal at Literal Exposure

Tuesday, May 14 – Interview at Book Marketing Buzz

Wednesday, May 15 – Guest Blogging at Literarily Speaking

Thursday, May 16 – Interview at Beyond the Books

Monday, May 20 – Interview at Review From Here

Tuesday, May 21 – Book Review at Blog a Book ETC…

Thursday, May 23 – Guest Blogging at The Writer’s Life

Friday, May 24 – Book Featured at Plug Your Book

Monday, May 27 – Book Review at Sara’s Organized Chaos

Friday, May 28 – Interview at Broowaha

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Guestpost: Veronica Frances on Tickling Daphne H.

Is There More To Tickling Daphne H. Than Meets The Eye? 
By Veronica Frances 

     At first blush, some people might come to the conclusion that Tickling Daphne H. is a lighthearted, fun romance. The cover perhaps gives that impression. But isn't it true what they say, that you can’t judge a book by its cover? Is there more to Tickling Daphne H.than meets the eye?

     Tickling Daphne H.is indeed a love story and it does have some very fun and romantic moments. However, lighthearted would not be the word I would use to describe it.

     One reader recently commented that she expected Tickling Daphne H. to be primarily a light, chick lit kind of a novel, based on the fact that the book’s subject matter is tickling. Instead of finding a lighthearted ticklish tale, she found characters behaving in ways that didn't seem typical, definitely not fitting your every day romance novel.

     Tickling has many faces and comes in many flavors. It can be romantic and fun.But it can also be incredibly hot, naughty, and fraught with BDSM, as is the case with Tickling Daphne H.

     I am not one to write light, fluffy stories. I am all about creating heated situations, intense challenging characters and breaking the mold. What is socially acceptable in real life does not matter in fiction, at least not to me. It is all about unusual people, living on the edge of their fervent, steamy lives.

     Daphne is an intense and feisty character. Is it any wonder why it is so much fun to tickle her? Some people have asked me why I made her so bratty and difficult and I tell them this;if she were a bland, agreeable character, there would be no story. I feel that in fiction, the more challenges the characters face, the more there is to write about. I feel that to be especially true if the challenges that the characters face are on an emotional level.

     Daphne and Dave are two very complex characters. There is much more to discover about them as time goes on and as they both get closer and closer to each other, and the truth about their tickling obsessions.

     People want to know what to expect as they enter the mysterious realms of Daphne’s ticklish life. As the author of Tickling Daphne H., I can honestly say that the characters continuously surprised me. Even I did not always know from moment to moment what directions the characters and plot would take.

     I can tell you this much. Expect to be taken into a world where laughter and erotica are intertwined and where the characters are caught between their tickling desires and common sense. Daphne’s life is but a feather, yet it is not a light journey. It is an intense journey, where boundaries are few and desires are plentiful.

     You may be wondering what kind of emotions this thick, intense tickling novel might evoke in you. You might wonder, is tickling really the gateway to sex? Is it really?

About the Author:

     Veronica Frances is the pseudonym for a creative writer, residing in New York City. She has had a love of tickling for her entire life. She enjoys singing and writing songs. She also writes non-fiction and poetry. Her latest book is Tickling Daphne H.

About the Book:

     Tickling Daphne H. follows the ticklish journeys of Daphne, Dave, Carol and Harold, exploring how tickling deeply affects the lives of these four people.

     The story deals with the many different faces of tickling; the addictive and torturous, the pleasurable and erotic and the humorous and romantic.

     This is the very unusual love story of Daphne and Dave, two people facing their tickle-demons together. It is primarily the journey of Daphne, a 21-year-old very ticklish woman. Daphne finds herself in a world where every important person in her life has a tickling fetish, including her boyfriend Dave. She finds herself constantly surrounded by feathers and wiggling fingers, unable to escape the taunting sounds of her own laughter. She is also unable to escape her own mixed-up feelings about tickling.

     As Daphne’s relationship with Dave grows, she must learn to face her fears and deeper feelings about tickling, for the sake of their relationship and herself.

Tour Schedule

Monday, March 4 – Book Review, Chapter Reveal & Guest Blogging at Close Encounters with the Night Kind

Tuesday, March 5 – Interview at A Little Bit of R&R

Wednesday, March 6 – Guest Blogging at Wickedly Sexy Writers

Friday, March 8 – Guest Blogging at Inside BJ’s Head

Monday, March 11 – Interview at Literarily Speaking

Tuesday, March 12 – Guest Blogging at The Story Behind the Book


Wednesday, March 13 – First Chapter Reveal at Lori’s Reading Corner

Thursday, March 14 – First Chapter Reveal at Spicy Romance Connection

Friday, March 15 – Book Featured at Delphina Reads Too Much

Monday, March 18 – Interview at Pump Up Your Book

Tuesday, March 19 – Guest Blogging at Bookingly Yours

Wednesday, March 20 – Book Featured at Between the Covers

Thursday, March 21 – Book Review at Offbeat Vagabond

Monday, March 25 – Book Featured at Book Marketing Buzz

Friday, March 29 – Interview at The Writer’s Life

Monday, April 1 – Interview at Examiner

Tuesday, April 2 – Book Review at Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Wednesday, April 3 – Guest Blogging at The Paperback Pursuer

Thursday, April 4 – Guest Blogging at Passionate Encounters

Friday, April 5 – Guest Blogging at Butterfly-o-Meter

Monday, April 8 – Book Review at Sweet n’ Sassy

Tuesday, April 9 – Interview at Blogcritics

Wednesday, April 10 – First Chapter Reveal at As the Pages Turn

Thursday, April 11 – Interview at As the Pages Turn

Friday, April 12 – Guest Blogging at Love Books! Book Reviews

Monday, April 15 - Book Feature at Beyond the Books

Tuesday, April 16 – Interview at Paperback Writer

Thursday, April 18 – Book Review at The Paperback Pursuer

Friday, April 19 – Book Review at My Reading Obsession

Friday, April 19 – Guest Blogging at Naughty Readers

Monday, April 22 – Interview at American Chronicle

Tuesday, April 23 – Guest Blogging at Socrates Book Reviews

Monday, May 6 – Book Review at Nightstand Novels

Tuesday, May 7 – Interview at Straight From the Author’s Mouth

Wednesday, May 8 – Book Featured at You Gotta Read

Thursday, May 9 – Interview at Between the Covers

Friday, May 10 – Book Review at Janna Shay’s Blog

Monday, May 13 – First Chapter Reveal at Literal Exposure

Tuesday, May 14 – Interview at Book Marketing Buzz

Wednesday, May 15 – Guest Blogging at Literarily Speaking

Thursday, May 16 – Interview at Beyond the Books

Monday, May 20 – Interview at Review From Here

Tuesday, May 21 – Book Review at Blog a Book ETC…

Thursday, May 23 – Guest Blogging at The Writer’s Life

Friday, May 24 – Book Featured at Plug Your Book

Monday, May 27 – Book Review at Sara’s Organized Chaos

Friday, May 28 – Interview at Broowaha