Desert Queen Snippet is here!
The Desert Queen snippet!
Okay, I’m totally excited for this book to come out! Check out that fantastic cover! Wow! This isn’t your average urban fantasy story, so be sure to keep an eye out on Wednesday for the release announcement! Until then, check out the Prologue!
Prologue
Egypt—18th Dynasty
Farrah stood outside the door of the tent and stared up into the night sky. No matter how heavily time etched cruel marks on her face, the view grabbed her breath as if her dark eyes were seeing it for the first time. The lines on her brown face deepened as she pursed her lips. The air around her was pregnant with the future, but her inner sight was dark and full of mystery. Her limited insight into the other world made her uncomfortable. She made the sign of peace to the Dancing Man that hung above her in purple-blackness as he rose above the tribal camp. The Cushite traders called the Dancing Man a different name—Osiris he was called in the Black Lands and beyond—but here in the Red Lands where the red sands swirled and swam about the desert people like a dead ocean, he was known as the Dancing Man.
How long will we travel this path? An endless caravan moving from one rain oasis to another? Many of the clan no longer know from whence they came or that there had once been a place for them. How many Meshwesh must die in the Red Lands before we see those white walls again?
Once the Meshwesh dwelled in a city of white stone, Zerzura. What a city it had been! Farrah could barely remember the feeling of cool stones under her feet, the tastes of orange fruit sweet on her tongue, and the many pools of clear blue water that her young body had swum in. Had it been just a dream? No, Farrah remembered the day when the cowardly old king, Onesu, had fled the city ahead of the horde of giants who rushed in to claim it. But he had not lived one day after he left Zerzura, for Farrah had cut his throat while he slept. When he awoke to see her face above him, she whispered why she had done it as she watched him bleed. He had lost the city and had abandoned Ze, his queen and Farrah’s sister, leaving her to the pleasure of the giants who no doubt raped her to death. Farrah shuddered inwardly thinking of what she had done. Nobody knew, yet it was a spot on her soul. She did not regret it, although the gods had seen fit to take her inner sight from her as punishment for her crime. That had been long, long ago. His face no longer haunted her. Yet often she imagined she heard Ze’s screams in the clear night.
Now, with a silent prayer Farrah considered again the stars above her. Regardless of the constellation’s name, this sour omen was an inauspicious sign for the birth of a royal child, but there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Even her magic could not stop a child who wanted to enter this realm.
Farrah suddenly felt old. Had she, leader of the Council of Old Ones, become too old to consider the deeper meaning of such things? Was she too old to help bring another baby into this increasingly difficult world? The sounds the mother made, the painful moaning, the calling of her name, let Farrah know that she indeed still had a purpose. She took a deep sigh, breathing in the warm desert air and shaking off the unseen trepidation. She tossed her head cloth to the ground. No heads covered this night. She smiled peacefully as she walked to the birthing bed and looked down into the face of the beautiful Kadeema.
What a beauty the young queen had been when she first arrived here as the bride to Semkah! However, the Red Lands had sapped away her pretty softness like it did to all women who were not of true Red Lands’ blood. She had become hard, hard like the clay that lay beneath the rough sand. Kadeema’s olive skin was no longer pale but red, and her hair no longer like bright copper but dark and dull. The young queen’s eyes still had their sea-green beauty, but the sparkle, the joy of love and living, had faded. A wife of a young tribal king tied to the Red Lands people only by the most tenuous of threads—love. Farrah looked into those eyes, saddened to see that where there had been hope and excitement, there was now fear and regret.
When Kadeema arrived, the people had loved her, celebrating her light skin and unusual eyes with poems and songs. She had been like a child—a treasure to them, for the tribe treasured children above all things. Their young prince needed a bride, and why should he not take a beautiful bride like Kadeema? She was the daughter of a faraway Grecian king who was a friend to the tribe, so it was a good match.
Semkah was not a king like his brother Omel, who was fierce, strong and brave yet crafty and changeable. Semkah was steady and ever obedient to the Council, trusting them in all things that concerned the Meshwesh. Omel never displayed such devotion.
Semkah wore the tribal king’s robes early after the death of his father, but he cut a fine figure even as a young man. Farrah remembered that day. She’d watched as his arms were tattooed with the sign of the tribe, the falcon’s wings with a swirl of sand wrapped around it. He had worn his hair long, with two long braids at his temples. His chest gleamed with turquoise and gold necklaces from the mines of the Meshwesh, and at his wrist were the slender snake bracelets that only kings wore.
The young king’s older brother Omel had an unabashed love for all things Egyptian. He wore linen Egyptian tunics that showed his scrawny, tanned legs. Tall and thin, Omel kept his dark hair shaved and his head shone with oils. Sometimes he wore a folded cloth on his head, but always his eyes were lined with black, as if he were an Egyptian royal. There was no doubt amongst the Council that Omel loved the Black Lands and would abandon his heritage if given a chance. But for that, he needed his brother. Semkah and Omel had received a divided inheritance—a smart and seemingly prophetic move by their wily father, Onesu. Semkah held the turquoise mines and Omel the gold, but they shared a workforce and the resources required to continue the work. Farrah suspected that Omel would seek to correct this. Already he drew men to his side like flies to a sweet fruit. She wondered what he promised them.
The brothers had different ideas about the future of the clan. Omel wanted with much passion to bring them into Egypt’s good graces. Farrah spat on the ground at the thought of such nonsense. Semkah’s dream was different—he dreamed of reclaiming Zerzura, as was his right, but he had no way of accomplishing that. No more than his father had.
Omel often met with Semkah and other tribal leaders to try to rally them to his point of view. “We need Egypt, brothers! They have wealth beyond measure and green lands that are just waiting for our plows. Come with me to Egypt and meet with Huya. He has given me his oath that Pharaoh wants to honor us with these lands.” Semkah had laughed at this idea and made no secret that he wanted no part of Omel’s Egyptian ways.
“And what will Pharaoh require, brother?” Semkah had said with a patient smile that only further angered Omel. “The king of Egypt does not simply give away lands to appease his neighbors. What of our inheritance? Have you given up finding our homeland, all for a bag of beans from Egypt’s hand? I know what it will require, and that I cannot do. Pharaoh will take our mines, our cattle—maybe even our wives and children—and for what? Some soggy ground so wet that only mosquitos dwell there? How can you ask this of me? What do I say to my tribe?”
Omel had scowled but said nothing else on the matter at that time. Farrah did not think any of the Council or the other leaders believed they had heard the last of Omel’s desires. But Semkah never saw the dark side of his brother; he only recognized the good. He had a heart of gold.
Farrah mumbled to herself remembering the night Semkah was born. What were the words she had said over him as she cradled him on that first night? “He will pursue love from one end of the desert to another. He will give his life for love, and that is the noblest of deaths.”
That had been her proclamation then. She wondered what the hidden words would be tonight or if her old ears would even hear them. She shook her head, reminding herself to stay in the present; she had a habit of getting lost in the past so many times lately. With authority, she flipped up the dress of the writhing Kadeema. She prayed and swayed, calling on her ancestors to assist her.
“No! Do not call on them. They must not know…!” Kadeema shouted savagely.
Farrah could not help but shudder. In her madness, Kadeema could offend a wandering spirit or worse. Farrah made a secret sign to ward off evil curses. Before she could protest further, Kadeema’s womb burst forth blood and she screamed into the musky night. Farrah nodded and prayed silently as she examined the woman’s body.
Something was amiss. Ignoring Kadeema’s scream, she probed inside her with expert fingers and felt the baby’s head. No! Inside the queen were two babies, two lives struggling to emerge into this world. Without knowing how she knew, she did know—these would be the only children of Semkah and Kadeema. Before they were born, it had been prophesied that from Semkah’s tribe would come the mekhma, the leader who would carry them home. Farrah felt an excitement greater than the fear, an urgency like none she had experienced before. These children must be born!
Who else has chills? I know I do! I sure hope this book goes live fast!
BTF029: Jace Mitchell Discusses Paranormal University First Semester
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In today’s episode of Behind The Fiction: The Book Lover’s Podcast, we chat with Jace Mitchell, half of the duo who wrote, Paranormal University First Semester. This book is part of a new universe being crafted by the brains and creativity of multiple LMBPN authors. The debut of this universe is new for us as we are introducing the universe and two new books in the universe AT THE SAME TIME.
In this episode, Steve and Jace discusses the premise of this new universe and the portion of the story that he has authored. Jace chats about what it is like to write in tandem with another author as it is imperative that their storylines remain aligned, shares a bit about his main characters, and lets us know why he decided to branch out and write an urban fantasy series. You can expect a new book in this series approximately ever thirty days, so this is a great series for all of our fans who do not like to wait long between releases!
Fun fact: Did you know that Jace has a degree in political science and that he did Teach For America for three years?!
This episode is available as a podcast available through your favorite podcast app and through LMBPN’s YouTube channel. If you’d like to subscribe through your favorite podcast apps you can search on Behind The Fiction.
Links:
Read Paranormal University First Semester
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The Uncommon Rider Snippet #5
It’s Snippet Time for The Uncommon Rider!
The release date is getting closer and closer for The Uncommon Rider! I’m getting so excited to start this series! Come on, already! At least we have another snippet today to help keep the excitement at bay for another day.
Chapter Four
In his lifetime, Hiker had lost many, but no one like the person he was approaching. Adam and he had spent several hundred years together passing time. Waiting to be needed again. Arguing about what needed to be done in the meantime.
There was no one who got under Hiker’s skin like the man he was rushing towards. And no one he loved more who still breathed on this Earth, besides Bell, of course.
At the Barrier, Hiker paused, realizing it had been a long time since he’d left the Gullington. He’d portaled out recently, but only briefly and that was different than actually crossing the border.
From his place on the slick grass, he could see Adam and Kay-Rye sprawled out roughly one-hundred yards away. They had made it so close to safety, and yet, close was the difference between life and death.
The guys halted at Hiker’s back, probably sensing his trepidation. Evan hadn’t crossed the Barrier in quite some time. For the others, it had been more than a lifetime. There was simply no reason to leave anymore.
He turned, wishing he’d taken the time to get his dragon—Bell. She couldn’t do anything, but it would have made the next part easier.
“Brothers,” Hiker began, his gaze falling on Evan and then Mahkah and Wilder’s faces. Like Hiker, they were much older than most magicians, having the longevity of their dragons, but it didn’t show. Mahkah and Wilder appeared to be in their early twenties even though they’d both spent over two centuries on this Earth. Evan was still a baby by dragon rider’s standards at just over a hundred years old, but he at least appeared mature enough to drink a beer in a pub. Not that he’d ever been given the chance to do so.
“We don’t know what’s out there,” Hiker continued. “Whatever took Adam down, could still be on the prowl. Stay vigilant. And at the first sign of danger, call your dragon. Otherwise, simply show your respect.”
“Is he dead?” Mahkah asked, stepping forward, his long black hair falling out of his ponytail and into his face.
One of the hardest things Hiker had to do in long time was nod to that question. If the Elite Globe had indicated it, then Adam wasn’t even holding on by a breath. It was too late for goodbyes. It was too late for anything but a burial of the greatest rider and dragon who Hiker had known in many centuries.
Adam should have been the leader of the Elite. He and Hiker both knew it. He was older. More experienced. Magnetized to the larger, more dangerous dragon—Kay-Rye. But the thing about Adam was that he never wanted the role. He preferred the fight rather than to lead. He craved the hunt over determining the strategy. Adam liked detective work without all the responsibility that went with looking after the others. He loved the resolutions that only a dragon rider could bring to any dispute… or he used to.
Hiker was the one who wanted to lead. He always had felt more protective of the others. And so he became the one who led them. Even when there was nothing to lead them toward except for another day of monotony.
Taking in an unfulfilling breath, Hiker pulled his sword and swung around, stalking out past the Barrier. The air on the other side of the invisible wall was different. Colder. Laced with strange smells, reeking of the modern world.
Hiker held his breath as he strode for the bodies laid out on the other side of the field. The dragon and rider had crashed, the heavy beast landing on top of Adam, crushing him. However, the expression on his dead friend’s face, wasn’t one of anguish. Hiker could tell that Adam had died staring into the eyes of his best friend, by the angle of their heads. And he also knew that something dangerous had attacked them based on the scorched marks along their flesh.
He breathed through his mouth, not wanting to remember this moment punctuated by the smell of burned skin, hair and leather.
The guys spread out behind him, each of their weapons held at the ready as they side stepped around the dragon and rider.
Damn it, Adam, why couldn’t you leave things alone, Hiker wondered, studying the many wounds marking their bodies.
“I don’t think there’s anything out here,” Wilder said, his eyes scanning. “Whatever it was is gone.”
Hiker nodded. “They were on their way home when something attacked them, I’m guessing.”
“But what?” Mahkah asked.
The leader of the Dragon Elite looked out at the darkening mountains. “It’s hard to tell. The world out there isn’t the same one any of us knew. That’s one reason we aren’t to return to it yet. We need time. The world needs time to adjust.”
The men all nodded, having heard this argument from Hiker many times, especially in the evening when Adam challenged him over drinks.
“It could have been an accident,” Evan reasoned.
“Maybe,” Hiker said, narrowing his eyes at a brighter spot in the sky between two ridges far in the distance.
“Simi and I can do a patrol,” Wilder offered.
“No,” Hiker said at once, swinging around to face his men. “Adam had been looking for trouble lately. It appears that he found it. I won’t have any of you risking your lives tonight. This only proves what I’ve believed since mortals awoke, seeing magic again. If we are to take back our roles, then first we will have to understand how the world has changed. We can’t simply rush out there or we will get ourselves killed. Mortals, and magical races who have long believed we were dead or knew nothing about us in the first place, will be frightened when we make an appearance. I don’t know what attacked Adam and Kay-Rye, but I can assure it was something that felt threatened by them.”
“And something of great power,” Mahkah observed, his eyes running over the large black dragon who was at least thirty-feet long.
“Rest assured, I will give this matter my full attention, determining exactly what we need to prepare ourselves for when we do finally venture out into the world,” Hiker stated with confidence, trying to hold together his tough exterior as the full implications of his friend’s death sunk in.
“But not yet, right?” Evan asked.
Hiker shook his head. “No, we’re not ready. The world isn’t.”
He waved the men toward the Gullington. “Go back now. Send Quiet to help me. Tomorrow morning we will hold a memorial for our brother.”
The men all nodded, each reluctantly turning their backs, heading for the castle, which wasn’t visible from that side of the Barrier.
When the riders had disappeared, Hiker turned his attention to Adam and Kay-Rye’s bodies. He would only have a few minutes before Quiet, the groundskeeper, showed up to help. He really hadn’t needed the gnome’s help, but rather some time alone. Not to grieve though. That would come later. Hiker needed answers. He needed information.
Waving his hand at the bodies, he muttered a spell he hadn’t used in a very long time. Like riding a dragon, the magic came back to him. Both lived in his bones.
The area around Adam and his dragon sparkled with light that rose a few feet off the ground and began to trail in the opposite direction of the Gullington. Hiker followed it with his eyes until it disappeared behind the mountain ridges.
He lifted his hand into the air, letting out a low-pitch whistle that only his Bell would hear. Within a minute the red dragon soared from the Cave, in his direction. Her majestic wings cut through the air, making fast progress as she approached. Just seeing her, made Hiker feel better.
She had no issues passing through the Barrier, although it had been a long time for her, as well.
Her face turned to the side as she landed, looking over the bodies lying at Hiker’s feet. She didn’t show any emotions in her green eyes, but just blinked, following the track of sparkly dust that trailed in the opposite direction.
“Whatever attacked them is over there, isn’t it?” Hiker’s dragon asked.
He nodded, pulling himself onto her back without difficulty even though she wasn’t suited up for a ride with a saddle and reigns. “Yes, and you know what we have to do with what we find, right?”
The dragon’s gaze returned to the bodies lying in the grass that was quickly growing stiff with frost. “Of course. And tomorrow…?”
“Tomorrow we will grieve, Bell,” Hiker stated, holding onto the dragon. “Tonight, we find out what killed our dear friends.”
Want to know what happens to Hiker? Come back on Thursday to get the next snippet! Or you could pre-order the book now and it will show up in your eReader on November 8th, Probably before you even wake up!
BTF028: “Alexa, What Is Coming From LMBPN This Week?”
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In today’s episode of Behind The Fiction: The Book Lover’s Podcast, we give you all the details on what is coming your way this week from LMBPN!
It’s finally here! It’s launch week for Obsidian Detective and I can’t be more excited about it! I think you are going to absolutely love this series and I can’t wait for you to get your hands on it and let us know what you think.
This week I have 4 great books launching this week and 1 box set. The box set is already live! Woohoo!
Have you checked out the Federal Agents of Magic series yet? If not, you really need to learn all about Diana, Rath and her team. The first four novels are available in the Federal Agents of Magic Boxed Set One! Be sure to check it out!
The last book in the Caitlin Chronicles releases this week! Chasing the Cure might be the last in the series, but from what I’m hearing, it won’t be the last we hear from Caitlin. It sounds like she may be making appearances in other novels in the future. Don’t miss the exciting conclusion!
Explore the legend of Nefertiti with The Desert Queen Collection. This collection contains the four books in the series. Twin daughters of an ancient Bedouin king struggle under the weight of an ominous prophecy that threatens to divide them forever. Royal sibling rivalry explodes as the young women realize that they must fight for their future and for the love of Alexio, the man they both love. One sister becomes the leader of the Meshwesh while the other travels to Egypt as an unwilling gift to Pharaoh. You won’t want to miss this fictional story of Nefertiti, Queen of Egypt.
Marsh, Rogelin and their gang return in Trading Into Daylight, books 6 of The Magic Below Paris. One of their group has been taken, two fo them are in pursuit. Can Marsh and Roeglin catch them before they are lost as well? Find out!
And now for what you all have been waiting for – Obsidian Detective! This series is wide and is available on platforms other than Kindle! Here’s snippet five from Erik. There will be two snippets from Jia this coming week leading to the release. Be sure to keep an eye on the fan group and website for more information. Remember, this book is on pre-order, so place your orders now!
This episode is available as a podcast available through your favorite podcast app and through LMBPN’s YouTube channel. If you’d like to subscribe through your favorite podcast apps you can search on Behind The Fiction.
Links:
Visit the Opus X Website
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Obsidian Detective Jia Snippet #1
Here’s Jia!
So far, all of the snippets have been with Erik. Today, I get to show you Jia!!! Yeah! I’m so excited about her snippet, I think she’s going to steal the show from Erik! LOL
Get ready for the Obsidian Detective Jia Snippet!
June 14, 2228, Neo Southern California Metroplex, Police Enforcement Zone 122 Station, Office of Detective Jia Lin
Jia slapped her hand on her dark desk and glared at the middle-aged man standing in front of it—Detective Ryan Castile, her current partner. Her hand stung from the force of the blow, but she kept a fierce look on her face.
“I can’t believe what you just said,” Jia snapped, her frustration leaking out despite her thoughts about not losing a second partner. “I’ve found some major evidence suggesting this wasn’t some low-end fraud. This isn’t just me pulling something out of the air. I spent all last week correlating those bank transfers with the activity. Have you even looked at any of the information I sent you? Given what you just said, I doubt it, but I’m trying to give you the benefit of the doubt here.”
Ryan adjusted his tie and shrugged, then rolled his dark-brown eyes and ran a hand through his thinning hair.
He might have benefited from de-aging, but it wasn’t like a man on his salary could afford it. “I told you to just kick that case along. You’re looking for some big conspiracy, Jia, but it’s nothing. It’s not worth our time. Not every case that comes across our desks is worth our time.”
“I’ve heard that answer before,” she countered.
He continued, “And I don’t get why a smart woman like you doesn’t understand that yet.”
Hold it in, don’t roll your eyes. You got this. She quieted her thoughts before speaking. “It seems like pretty much none of the cases that come across our desks are worth our time, according to you. And this case is not a big conspiracy, but it is a clear example of felony fraud and misappropriation of funds,” she finished.
He didn’t look convinced.
Jia tapped her PNIU, and holographic displays of several rows of numbers appeared above her desk. She gestured between them. “Look here, they tried to bury the fraud with different invoices and codes, but it’s clear, which you can see when analyzing the different account flows.”
She pointed to another section of the numbers hanging in the air. “They’re basically robbing the taxpayers, and given some of the other outflows, there might even be bribery involved. Now, I know that last charge is unlikely. I mean it’s not like this is some colony world, but that doesn’t change the rest of it.”
She cut through the air with her hand. “Most companies and people play by the rules, so we can’t let those who don’t get away with it. What kind of message would we be sending if we did that?”
Ryan frowned. “Huh?” he scrubbed his eyes in frustration, his voice muffled. “Jia, please tell me you didn’t pull in people to help you crunch numbers on a case you’re not even supposed to be working. The captain was clear. If you did this, you went against the captain’s orders.”
Jia jerked if struck.
She shook her head. “No, what the captain said was he didn’t want any resources being used for the case because there was no evidence, and I understand and respect where he’s coming from, so I didn’t pull any resources. I obeyed his orders. All of the analysis was done off the clock, and I kept all the evidence on departmental systems. No one can complain if I provide the metroplex free investigatory services.” She tried a smile. It didn’t feel appropriate exactly, but there wasn’t any harm in trying. “Right?”
“Wait.” Ryan blinked. “You actually worked a bunch of unpaid overtime to run the numbers yourself, and on top of that, you understand them?” He frowned. “I assumed you brought in the financial forensics guys.” He pointed at one of the numbers. “How else could you have gotten through all this data so quickly?”
“I didn’t need them. It’s easy if you know pattern typing and collation.” Jia shrugged. “It’s just numbers, Ryan. If anything, it’s easier than cases relying on physical evidence. These people tried to cover it up, but the evidence was all there, just waiting to be analyzed and the crime uncovered. It’s straightforward correlational analysis. Come on, I’m sure you did this kind of thing in college, even if you weren’t using it in a law-enforcement context.”
“Too many brains, not enough street,” Ryan mumbled.
“What was that?” Jia asked, furrowing her brow in confusion.
“Nothing.” Ryan sighed. “We’re not supposed to be working this case, Jia. Full stop. Just like we weren’t supposed to work the arson case or the theft case. We were supposed to kick those along and continue on our merry way. Just because you see a conspiracy everywhere doesn’t mean we need to personally solve it at this station. We’re supposed to concentrate on important cases. If you care so much about keeping Earth safe and not full of criminals and insurrectionists, you should wait for those kinds of cases rather than wasting your time on fantasy frauds.”
She pointed to the hologram hanging in the air. “But this might be one of those kinds of cases.” Jia snorted, pointing at the two of them. “We’re detectives. We solve crimes. That’s kind of in the job description, Ryan. And what important cases? Every time I try to solve something, you and the captain insist we just pass it along and it dies, or the others insist it’s not a big deal.”
“Because there’s really nothing there to worry about,” Ryan argued back, his arms opening wide. “Come on. This is Earth, the shining tower in the darkness. We’re fine. You’re worrying too much.”
Jia shot up, her long black hair swaying with the motion. “The duty of a police officer is to protect public order by investigating and preventing crime. For every crime we drag our feet on, the greater the chance it’ll be worse the next time. Small crimes are the seeds of major crimes, and those are the seeds of anarchy. You have to know this. You’ve been on the force for eighteen years!”
“Yes, I’ve been around for a while.” Ryan nodded, his head bobbing in frustration as he squinted at her. “And I’ve got two years to retirement. I don’t need this stress, especially from some rookie with delusions of grandeur.” He shook his head, voice a bit more monotone as he struggled to keep his rapidly rising annoyance in check. “I’m telling you, there’s nothing there.”
“And I’m telling you, I found something in my analysis of the data. This isn’t me operating off my gut. This is me following up on basic evidence.” Jia’s frustration boiled over. “And this isn’t about your retirement. This is about doing your job.” She folded her arms over her chest.
“Doing my job?” Ryan snorted. “Jia, I’m not like you. I worked my way up and made detective. I wasn’t granted a shot at detective because of family connections.”
Jia winced. “It’s not like that. There was an opportunity, and I took advantage of it. That is the kind of initiative needed.” She flung an arm out, finger pointed toward the bullpen with the other officers. “I’m not the only detective who was hired under that policy initiative. I’m not even the only one hired in this enforcement zone.”
She resisted the urge to discuss some of the history of that type of hiring. That didn’t mean the existing personnel were bad at their jobs, just that they could use a fresh perspective.
Ryan pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is stupid,” he ground out. “I’m not wasting time on a case we were already told to pass along because of some glorified Corp doll playing at being a cop.” He eyed her. “You don’t tell me how to work cases. I was working cases when you were still a little girl, princess.”
“You’re over the line.” Jia narrowed her eyes and took a breath to stop herself from shaking with rage. “I’m not playing at anything.” She pointed to herself. “I’ve been a detective for a year, and the only things that are holding me back are my lazy partners, who have forgotten why they became cops because they’re too worried about their retirements.”
She slapped her PNIU and the numbers vanished, but her eyes never left Ryan. “Don’t you understand? We have a paradise here on Earth, but only because everyone is doing their part. Do you want it to turn into some lawless waste like out on the colonies? It’s taken centuries to get Earth to the point where it is a truly civilized planet, and you are more concerned about moving to some beach somewhere than—”
Ryan grunted, turned, and stormed out of their office.
Jia blinked a few times, her mouth still open. She shook her head and hurried after him. He stomped away from their shared office and down the hallway. He passed through the sea of black-and-blue-clad patrol officers gathered at their desks in the bullpen, their gazes a mix of curious and worried as they tore their eyes away from the various holographic displays on or above their desks.
He continued to the captain’s door, not sparing even a quick look in Jia’s direction. His nostrils flared as he stared at the door for a few seconds before nodding and reaching for the doorknob.
CAPTAIN ROBERT MONAHAN, ENFORCEMENT ZONE 122.
Ryan threw open the door. The captain looked up from the budget display projected on top of his desk and squinted in irritation at his detective.
With his broad shoulders, square jaw, and salt-and-pepper hair, Captain Monahan was able to project both wisdom and confidence through his appearance alone, which frustrated Jia all the more since he had been just as resistant to some of her investigations as her partners.
She’d dreamed of working under an experienced and wise captain, but the reality had been far more disappointing.
“I resign,” Ryan declared. He pulled out his badge and stun pistol and tossed them on the captain’s desk, where they landed with a thud. “Effective immediately.” He glared at Jia before shoving past her with his shoulder and heading out into the bullpen, his middle finger raised over his shoulder.
Captain Monahan took a deep breath. “Close the door, Detective Lin. We need to talk.”
Jia complied and frowned. “Captain, I can—”
“Explain?” he interrupted, waving a finger at the quickly retreating man. “You think his action doesn’t explain to me what’s going on? It’s just like your last partner. You’ve been riding Ryan because he won’t help you with the pointless little hunts I have already told you to avoid.”
“You don’t understand, sir. I uncovered new evidence that suggests there’s something there with this case. Serious felony fraud might be going on right here in the metroplex with a company connected potentially…tangentially…to government contracts.” Jia nodded firmly. “We have a duty to follow up, and I’ve already gone through a lot of the evidence that proves something’s off.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowed.
The captain’s voice started off somewhat soft. “Oh, really? Then you should have sent it along. You didn’t need to handle it. If there was a crime going on, downstairs could have taken a look at it, and they would have called us if they needed help. You need to remain on standby for important cases, not chase phantoms!”
Jia was trying to figure out an appropriately respectful way to tell the captain to get off his ass.
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Ok, are you as excited as I am for this tough, take no prisoners character? Then come on over and get your copy!
Obsidian Detective goes live on Friday, November 1st! Look for the audio version as well.
Fan’s Pricing Saturday October 26, 2019
Note: We request the price changes from Amazon on Friday afternoons. Unfortunately, they don’t change all of the prices at one time. Please double check the price before clicking “Buy”.)
It’s Fan’s Pricing Saturday for October 26, 2019! Woot Woot!
Today’s list of books is outstanding! We really worked hard to bring you a killer list of books at deeply discounted prices!
All of these new releases are 99c for one day only!
However, they are also available in Kindle Unlimited!
Grab them today before the prices go up!
Rewriting Justice Boxed Set
The Leira Chronicles: The Complete Austin Series
Thor
Steel Dragon
Chuck Dixon’s Paranormal Double Pack
Unstoppable Liv Beaufont Boxed Set #2
Battle For The Nine Realms
The Idlewood Collection
Death Of An Author
To Find A Witch
If you see this message after October 26th and want to be notified of future price promotions, please sign up for our email list at www.lmbpn.com/email
Week In Review – October 17-26, 2019
Don’t miss out on these fantastic books! Click here to find it: Week in Review
Being a Warrior isn’t easy. But fighting for justice is always worth it. Continue the exciting adventure and magical intrigue of The Unstoppable Liv Beaufont with books 5 – 8 in this Urban Fantasy series today! Check it out!
What if J.R.R. Tolkien’s work wasn’t fiction, but a primer to help humanity get accustomed to a harsh truth? Grab the entire first arc of Middang3ard in one boxed set today! You won’t want to miss it.
A black heron is magically connecting Lily to her destination. But will she find her mother or the witch’s fatal end? Check out this book now!
What if J.R.R. Tolkien’s work wasn’t fiction? What if the works of all your favorite fantasy and sci-fi writers wasn’t fiction, but a primer to help humanity get accustomed to a harsh truth? Get your hands on this novella now!
Dragons rule the world. Their claws are into every aspect of human life, from government to industry. But Kristen Hall is about to throw a wrench into all of that. Get the first book in The Steel Dragons series now!
Can Carrie Jo reach across time again and bring peace to Idlewood? Check out this awesome, new collection today!
Life sucks and then you die. Sort of. Get this collection now!
At the University of Paranormal Studies, class is about to start. Check out this new novel today!
I’m Penny, and Boots is my bestie. Together, we’ve been recruited into the Academy of Myth and Legend. Get this new release to read a new story!
Don’t miss this week’s Week In Review! Click it to find your way to reading pleasure!
Opus X Snippet 5 Is Here!
It’s Snippet Time for Opus X!
Yes!!! It’s Friday and that means you get another taste of Obsidian Detective! Today’s snippet is the last one of Erik. Come next week I’ll be sharing 2 snippets with Jia in the lead up to going live! If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy of Obsidian Detective, you can do so here. And why haven’t you? LOL
The Knights Errant had earned a long leave, and he’d been promised one from up above. Just two more months and a garrison platoon would arrive.
Too bad the Zitarks won’t let us show up and hit their beaches. They’ve got to have at least a few decent ones.
A small silver card clipped to his belt vibrated; it was his PNIU, personal network interface unit. He tapped it and waited for a chime to signal connection, then put up a hand. Those around him lowered their voices and hit those who had loud voices behind them who hadn’t noticed Erik’s raised hand yet.
“This is Major Blackwell.”
“Sir,” came the response. The sound was transmitted almost directly to his ear, granting him some privacy. “That UTC auditor who is evaluating the mine just sent out an SOS. He says he’s under attack by terrorists.”
What the hell? I’d believe the Zitarks showed up all of a sudden sooner than terrorists.
“Terrorists?” Erik echoed. “What are you talking about?”
“We don’t know, sir. Just got a garbled transmission about him being under terrorist attack.”
Everyone fell dead silent and turned to look at him, excitement in their eyes. A little action, especially against terrorists, would be welcome.
Erik frowned. “Do we have any drones in the area?”
“No, sir. We’re getting some transmission errors. I’m also having some trouble communicating with the satellites.”
His frown deepened. “Prep additional drones. We’ll launch them ourselves on the way. Send out an all-call alert as follows.” Erik glanced around. “We’re suiting up. Full battle-rattle. We have a possible terrorist incursion at the mines. Enemy number and capability unknown.”
A moment later, a harsh alarm emerged from everyone’s PNIUs, the sound repeating from nearby rooms as his message was issued. There was intentionally no directional sound for full alerts.
Erik gestured toward the door. “Let’s move. Some poor bureaucrat probably just hit his head and is seeing things in the shadows. I expect everyone in this room to be suited up and ready to go before the rest of the platoon even gets to the armory.”
Terrorists? How could terrorists get from the gate all the way here without the destroyer picking them up? Infiltrators with the company workers?
If this auditor idiot is wasting our time, we’re going to have a loud, vociferous one-way conversation.
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I know you must be as excited as I am! Click here to see the book on Amazon and check out the audio link, too!
BTF027: Ramy Vance Discusses Death of An Author
[powerpress]
In today’s episode of Behind The Fiction: The Book Lover’s Podcast, we chat with Ramy Vance, half of the duo who wrote, Death of An Author.
In this episode, Steve and Ramy discuss the inspiration for the book/title and where Ramy and Michael were when this idea came to be. Ramy shares about the favorite deaths (that is a weird thing to type out) he wrote into this story and about how worked to include fun inside jokes in the book.
He also shares about a new series that is *tentatively* coming to you at the end of November!
This episode is available as a podcast available through your favorite podcast app and through LMBPN’s YouTube channel. If you’d like to subscribe through your favorite podcast apps you can search on Behind The Fiction.
Links:
Ramy Vance’s website
Read Death Of An Author
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The Uncommon Rider Snippet #4
Uncommon Rider Snippet 4
Are you as excited as I am for the next chapter? If you are, then keep reading for The Uncommon Rider Snippet 4 now!
Chapter Three Continued…
The lights on the globe tracked the dragon riders and they blinked when they were in mortal danger. And it appeared that his oldest friend was—
The door to Hiker’s office burst open. Evan stood at the threshold, his chest rising and falling with panic.
“Hiker, you need to know—”
“Adam is in danger,” he answered, cutting off the youngest dragon rider.
Evan’s dark skin wouldn’t register his flush, but the shock on his face did when Hiker responded. “How did…” His gaze flew to the globe. “Oh, of course.”
“He’ll be fine,” Hiker stated, wishing he could turn off the constant beeping that signaled a change in a rider. It told when they were in trouble or new and needed to be picked up. And recently, it hadn’t been entirely accurate. It had been a long time since he’d really heard that, although there had been false alarms from Los Angeles in California, United States lately.
“What has he gotten himself into?” Evan asked, pushing his long dreads out of his face as he leaned over to spy the blinking red dot. read more…