UNEDITED

“Hey boss,” Jean Dukes called out from the back of the room.  She was hunched over, pointing to a design hologram that one of her engineers had erupting from his desk.

“No, don’t push the envelope right here. The Gravitics will warp at that juncture and we will have a problem. Trust me, we went through this issue years ago when we built this ship.  It drove Marcus and TOM nuts.”

“Don’t want that to happen again, do we?” her guy said and then he started subvocalizing commands to the computer running the design software.

Bethany Anne walked up and nodded for Jean to step away.

Jean winked to Eric, “What’s up hombre?”

Eric winked back but didn’t answer. He continued looking around her room and at her people. Jean had a long conversation about trusting her people with John a while back.  She finally realized that none of the Bitch’s assumed anything bad about her people, but what about mind control?

With aliens out there, and what she had been told about Bethany Anne’s abilities, it was a possibility.

Jean turned back to Bethany Anne, “Boss?”

“Just checking in and finding out how we are doing with the projects,” Bethany Anne replied.

“Ah, management by walking around,” Jean stated.  “Ok, Project T113,” she jerked a thumb behind her, “is slightly ahead of schedule if we can fix this gravitic issue that buzzkill back here…”

“Hey!” the engineer called out and then decided to focus really hard on his project when both ladies turned to look at him.

Jean turned back to Bethany Anne, “As I was saying before buzzkill rudely interrupted me.  Project T113 is on track, if slightly. Trying to push this much metal and skipping through the etheric is giving everyone migraines.”

“What about TOM’s Engines?”  Bethany Anne pressed.

“TOM doesn’t know exactly how that works.  He was a pilot…”

“Not an Etheric Fusion Warp Drive Scientist,” Bethany Anne finished for her, “he reminds me of this fact all of the time.”

Not all of the time.

Every time I ask a question related to your engines.

I push the buttons, calculate the accuracy of the location based on the Kurtherian Pulsar and Gravitic Wave information in the database and select my next target.  Then, hit the button when there is enough power in the engines, with reserve, and cross my fingers.

It’s that ability to cross your fingers and hope that made you a pilot, TOM.  Bethany Anne replied.  An unusual characteristic in your people.

True.

So, I know you are aware of a bunch more. I think you just might have a little Kurtherian Rocket Scientist in you, yet.

Bethany Anne could feel TOM considering her comment.  She needed TOM mentally in the game. If she could just get him to admit that he might be able to contribute to this project, as a real skill and not a hack, it might help their game some.

Maybe.

Satisfied that project was on track, Bethany Anne continued with Jean Dukes.

“So, we come to project Gauntlet,” Jean started.

“That’s the Guardians most favorite. I’m surprised Peter wasn’t in here and only had two of his lackey’s outside.”

“That explains why we didn’t have as many interruptions as before.”

“You didn’t know you had two guards outside?” Bethany Anne asked.

“Well, yeah, I knew. However, I hadn’t put two and two together that Peter did it because he noticed how many random people would come in and interrupt the efforts to finish Gauntlet.”

“Did it work?”

“Well, yes,” Jean turned towards another work station.  It was stand-up desk height and was three feet on each side.  Wood on the surface, it was all computer encased inside metal underneath.  The wood allowed those standing around a place to set their tablets down as they talked.

Bethany Anne walked up and took a second side of the desk as Jean pulled up the computer and started going through the complex login procedure before Gauntlet came up in the hologram.  There were three sizes.  One fit a huge, seven foot tall humanoid, one fit a robust male and another fit a strong female.

“These suits allow the Wechselbalg or the Guardian Marines to jump in, suit up and empower themselves to be a one suit walking badass.”

“The biggest one?” Bethany Anne could guess, but she wanted Jean to answer.

“Uhhh,” Jean smiled, “Well, Peter, Nathan and Ecaterina wanted something they could use if they were Pricolici.”

“What’s the backup if they go rogue and won’t change back?” Bethany Anne stuck her hand out, and rotated the mech-suits in front of her.

“The suits internals have been calibrated to ascertain if we have a mentally competent being inside the suit, or not.  If they won’t change back, it can be recalled back to the ship, or it will lock up and one of them will be pissed off when the override opens the suit,” Bethany Anne grimaced.  There were only a handful, including her, who would be on hand if they couldn’t find a way to get one of the Pricolici to turn back.

“When did I authorize,” she pointed to the big suit of armor, “that?”

Jean mumbled into her computer voice node and a form showed up, “Ah, it was during one of the get together’s in All Guns Blazing.”

TOM, when is she talking about?

Ahhh…

I thought you were always paying attention.

Well, If I’m not otherwise focused, yes.

For an alien, you sure act like a male.

Point of fact, I am male.

Then my assertion that a guy is a guy is a guy, no matter what species he comes from, is now proven.

There was a silence before TOM replied, How long have you been setting up this joke?

I have to do something to keep you on your toes.

>> I have the information, Bethany Anne.<<

Great, ADAM.

What constitutes a male?

Huh?

Well, we can discuss the …

Hold it right there! Bethany Anne interrupted. No bringing in the whatchamacallits from Kurtherian System four four seven or some shit.

Why not?  They are real species I assure you.

Really?  Because I have no idea if you are making this shit up or not.

So, I can only bring up species from groups you can confirm?

>> It was during the conversation you had with Peter and Nathan during little Christina Bethany Anne’s party.<<

Bethany Anne was thinking back to the party when TOM interrupted again, What about species you can confirm?

Huh?  Sure, species I can confirm work, TOM.

Jean Dukes noticed Bethany Anne’s classic conversation with TOM face and waited a second before Bethany Anne’s eyes went rolling up.

“Remember now, boss?”

“Yes!” She puffed out, “Those two snakes set me up.” She puffed a stray strand of hair out of her face.

“The Proc-101’s there going to get scrapped?” Jean asked.

Bethany Anne shook her head, “No, don’t misunderstand me.  I’m good with,” she pointed to the hologram, “those. As for the boys, I’ll be ready for them next time. It look’s like our favorite Saint will be involved, too.”

Jean nodded sagely. For the last three years, Saint Payback-is-a-bitch had become almost a religion unto itself among Bethany Anne’s teams.

FROM MICHAEL >>>  This is the ‘day after the day I finished the book’.  We have just about 20 chapters in final edit pass and 5 chapters with the Beta Reading team.  So, we are less than a week (probably 4-5 days) from release 😉

The last indie author I’m highlighting this book came to me via the 20Booksto50k group.  He reached out and asked if I would be interested in a cross-promo (so, he has 5,000 email names and I would promote to my readers (not nearly 5,000 names)) and so on.  I explained I don’t worry about getting something in return I would promote his new release and his lower price.  My readers love finding new authors and if they want to read it, they will 🙂

SO!

I’m happy to fulfill my promise to pimp Brandon Barr’s new Trilogy out TODAY for the low price of $2.99 (Also Kindle Unlimited) from today to November 16th!

Like me, Brandon infuses his stories with a little genre mashup 😉

Song of the Worlds (Boxed Set, Books 1-3)

$2.99 until November 16th, 2016!

Heart-pounding action mixed with flesh and soul characters–Song of the Worlds is the dramatic new fantasy saga. Two women, two worlds, one epic destiny…

A fast-paced fantasy epic that stretches beyond the stars. Begin the powerful new series today!

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE (OR BUY IT) ON AMAZON 😉

For those who are tracking this stuff…We raised Boyd Craven’s book from 72,000 to as high as 8,101 😉  (Brandon has a lot of effort going into this release from myself and others, so here’s to his success!)

Present Ranking as of this post.

• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,858 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #232 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Metaphysical & Visionary
  • #269 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > New Adult & College
  • #277 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Metaphysical & Visionary

UNEDITED

QBS ArchAngel en route, Earth

Bethany Anne, dressed down in jeans and a white sweatshirt, nodded to the two guards in front of Jean Duke’s weapons development area entrance, “Gentleman,” she said to the two guards.  She hadn’t met either one of them.  Not an unusual situation now that they had allowed almost four hundred thousand people to come and join her kingdom.

“I’m sorry, but we will need a pass, ma’am,” the first one told her. Bethany Anne heard a snort come from Eric standing behind her. He then started to grab his collar and mumble something.

“I need a pass?” Bethany Anne asked, confused.

“Yes ma’am,” the second guard explained. “Guardian Peter would have our ass…ets if we admitted anyone without the proper credentials.”  The second guard nodded his agreement.

“Right,” Bethany Anne put up her hand and turned it palm towards her, flipping off the guards.

“Ma’am,” the first started, then his eyes grew large as a three inch, exceedingly sharp nail extended itself out from her middle finger and her eyes turned red.

“Now, what pass does the Queen need, exactly?”

At that moment, the four of them could hear the rapid sounds from running boots clopping on the floor and a “That’s the Queen you IDIOTS!” as Peter turned the corner and took in the two men, eyes aghast, and Bethany Anne’s hand flipping them off with her red eyes staring at them, as well.

Eric grinned as Peter tried to hide his frustration as he slowed down to a jog and joined them. “Sadhi, Ken, didn’t you two pay attention to the most important pictures list?” Peter’s grimace was enough to jolt the men from their stupor.

“But sir,” the one on the left stated, “The Queen was in all black, and… and…” Sadhi licked his lips, his eyes flicking back to Bethany Anne whose hand had dropped, the nail back to normal and her eyes looking towards him without the scary red eyeballs.

Peter turned to Bethany Anne, “Obviously, we have a few holes in our training Bethany Anne, my apologies.”

She patted him on the shoulder, “I applaud the effort, and even if they didn’t recognize me when I’m dressed down, they might have paid attention to Eric’s shoulder badge.”  It amused Bethany Anne to see both of their eyes follow her thumb to Eric’s Bitch patch and then looking over to the same patch on their boss’s arm.  Ken’s eyes slowly closed in the classic ‘how could I be so dense’ move.

Sadhi, on the other hand, seemed to want to argue some more.  Peter reached over, picked him up by his shirt with one arm and told him, “Don’t say a word, are we clear?”  Sadhi looked down at his boss and nodded his head.

“ArchAngel, open this door,” Bethany Anne spoke and the ship’s voice came out of the speakers near the door, “Yes, Bethany Anne.”

Sadhi looked down as the doors opened and the two walked through them. He turned to look at his boss who still hadn’t dropped him back to the floor.

“If you should ever be stupid enough to argue with the wrong people, trust me when I tell you that Bethany Anne and her Bitches have a rough way of teaching.”  Peter opened his grip and Sadhi dropped to the ground.  “Now, you two grab your tablets and open up the book on important people.” He told the two men, “I want you to write up your story on what just happened and maybe a few ideas on how to make damn sure you can tell when the Queen comes knocking, got me?”  he growled out.

“Well,” Ken admitted, “the scary as shit red eyes are a unique characteristic.”

Peter chuckled, “You should be happy, usually she isn’t in such a good mood when those fuckers show up.”

“That was a good mood, sir?” Sadhi asked, his hand trembling some as he pulled up the documents Peter told him to review.

“Fuck yeah that was good,” Peter said as he turned around, calling out his statement over his shoulder as he walked away, “your ass would be dead otherwise.”

His answer seemed to hang in the air long after he had turned the corner, his steps receding down the hall.

Schwabenland, Antarctica

Dr. Abesimmons credentials passed along with those in his group.  He looked around at the large cave mouth, cleaned and hosting different types of vehicles.  Some built recently to go outside the cave, some looking as if they had been built during World War II.

Some of unique design, but built a long time ago.  Abesimmons wished he could go take a look, but his job was clear.

Get in, take notes, ask questions, go back to his job in Washington D.C.

The Schwabenlanders were all looking older, fit, but definitely older.  Hell, if his group waited long enough, they would be able to come back after they all died within the next couple of decades and take what they wanted.

Or, considering how strong one of the guards looked, perhaps they were not so frail.

Half of the group was ushered into a tiny waiting room and the door clanged shut behind him.  Abesimmons noticed the guy behind the glass.

“State your business.” He asked, his Germanic accent heavy. Their main lead, J.J. Aspens spoke up.

“U.S. Delegation to meet with Ms. Orsitsch.”

“I understand you have twelve in your group, Dr. Aspens?”

“Yes,” J.J. responded, pointing down the group, “We have another six outside waiting.”

“Makeup of the group outside?”

“Two ladies, four gentlemen.”

“Understood, Dr. Aspen.  Welcome.”  The door on the other side of the small room unlocked as a buzzer went off.

Abesimmons walked out with the rest and a minute later, the others in their group came out of the room.

“Doctors?” A middle-aged woman spoke from Abesimmons right.  He turned and she continued, “If you would all follow me?”

The group started out after her as she called out, “Please don’t leave the group, that is very dangerous.”

Abesimmons nodded his head in understanding.  They had been told of the potential havoc awaiting those who went sightseeing in their base without permission.

The results were often deadly.

Abesimmons guessed there weren’t too many lawyers in Schwabenland and if they had any to begin with, their curiosity had been fatal.

It took the group about five minutes to walk to the meeting room. Often through hallways that had nothing interesting to see.  Abesimmons, usually good with underground locations, suspected they were close to the entrance and their starting point.  However, they must have planned the trip to skip certain areas.

Interesting.

FROM MICHAEL >>> WOOHOO! WORDS COMPLETE!  (Do a little dance, make a little move, get down tonight…get down tonight!)

That means, I’m done writing the core of the book.  I still have other fiddly bits to go, but all of the main stuff is ‘in there’ (kinda like Prego Spaghetti Sauce).

I’ve got SOOO many cool things to share in this book, and I hope I can figure out a way to shove them all in.  We shall see!

This evening, I’m going to highlight another Indie Author! (Wow, that is SO strange, right?)   However, what is OFF THE WALL about this one is the story that goes WITH the selection.

You see, the last book out (My Ride is a Bitch) peaked at #74 in the WHOLE amazon store (for like, 2 hours.)  Now, lest you think your little indie author had the potential for his head to get too big (possible) the book just to the left in the top 100 list (#73) I put below.

Defeated, our friendly neighborhood author decided to enjoy his good luck and wonderful success and stay quiet about it.

Why?

Because the book that was beating him was titled WELL HUNG.

When I decided I was going to salute the book that beat me, I had to read a bit of the reviews and now (out of sight of everyone) I’m secretly thinking...”maybe I should read this?”  LOL – DAMN YOU Lauren Blakeley!

Now, I’ve read the book blurb and I am thinking..Shit yeah I’m going to read this!  (I’m going to hell, I just know it.)

Well Hung Kindle Edition

From New York Times Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely comes a HOT new standalone romance…

Here’s what you need to know about me — I’m well-off, well-hung and quick with a joke. Women like a guy who makes them laugh. Even better if he’s loyal and hard-working. That’s me.

Enter Natalie. Hot, sexy, smart, and my new assistant. Which makes her totally off limits…

Hey, I’m a good guy. Really. I do my best to stay far away from the kind of temptation she brings to work. Until one night in Vegas…

Yeah, you’ve heard this one before. Bad news on the business front, drowning our sorrows in a few too many Harvey Wallbangers, and then I’m banging her. In my hotel room. In her hotel room. Behind the Titanic slot machine at the Flamingo (don’t ask). And before I can make her say “Oh God right there YES!” one more time, we’re both saying yes–the big yes–at a roadside chapel in front of a guy in press-on sideburns and a shiny gold leisure suit.

We’ll just untie the knot in the morning, right?

The trouble is . . . I don’t know how to keep my hands off my soon-to-be ex-wife.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT WELL HUNG ON AMAZON!

UNEDITED

UN Headquarters  – New York City – USA

“What we have,” the Chinese Ambassador spoke, in the closed room, to the eleven other United Nations members, “is a company, or entity, or group of humans who have partaken of what the world provides and is not giving anything in return.  Selfishness in action.”  Zhou looked around and was pleased.

Everyone was nodding their heads in the right direction, that is to say in agreement with him.

“They are also taking the cream of our people!”  Ambassador Jackson Emeka broke in, right on cue. Almost as if it had been planned hours ago in a private meeting.  One of many meetings Ambassador Zhou held in the last couple of days.

For three years, the Chinese government had tracked the clans in their own country.  A few people had died on both sides, but no technology had been found.  They had captured two of the clan’s members alive and research was going to start on those two, but they had killed themselves and the blood samples were almost useless.

The researchers, he was told, had hope but the secrets of the blood weren’t forthcoming and some of the upper level politicians had run out of patience. It was time to get nasty.

It was time for Ambassador Zhou to use the carefully cultivated alliances and debts China had procured over the years.

“They did not take everyone,” Ambassador Jamil Franklin responded.  Ambassador Zhou did love a well scripted debate.

“Yes, and why is that?” Ambassador Emeka responded, “Is that because they have the ability to know who has our secrets? Perhaps they only look for those who can bring a little bit extra, so to speak, to their efforts?  I know they claim they are going out into the stars to fight other aliens. But, why is it they are building a large space-station?”

“A what?” Ambassador Billony asked, her eyebrows going up in surprise.

“Their space station,” Ambassador Zhou spoke up, taking command of the conversation once again. “TQB has secretly been building a space station out in the Asteroid Belt these past three years. We have images from some of our space assets.”

“What do they need with a space station?” she pressed, turning from Ambassador Emeka to Ambassador Zhou.

“That is a good question,” Zhou replied. “The unofficial official explanation we hear from backdoor conversations is they are using it for the roughly quarter of a million people they have stolen from our respective countries.  The,” he nodded to Ambassador Emeka, “cream of the crop they have taken from our countries, perhaps stifling our own ability to get ahead?”

Ambassador Billony’s lips pressed together. She was new to the group as her country in Europe had recently gone through elections and the old guard was tossed out.  The new President and cabinet were certainly more bellicose in their speeches against TQB.  

It had cost China considerable effort to support the new President during the elections, without getting caught.  The race was close within a month of the vote.  Then, an unnamed source or sources dropped a large amount of email and other documents that changed the election. With so much content to wade through, no one questioned who could have shot the two small video clips showing the President with questionable people that swayed the remaining holdouts and pushed the victory from close to a landslide.

“So how do we stop them?” She asked, “They abide by the rules not to land in our countries, but our people go to other countries.”

“They just used that rule to filter out people who weren’t serious,” Emeka retorted, “the U.S., so far, allows them to take people from their country.  They purchased land and use it for a space terminal. So far, the US hasn’t shut them down.”

“The decision to change that could be close, I understand,” Zhou interrupted.  All heads turned to him, “The present President is not as much a fan as the previous one was.  Right now, the most that has been done against TQB is require them to fill out flight plans which allows the U.S. to test their radar and other defensive location and target acquisition capabilities.”

“A lot of good that does us,” Billony added.

Zhou shrugged, “It isn’t like our people couldn’t leave and go to the U.S. anyway, so they would have to admit they are stopping their whole ‘land of the free’ nonsense if they do otherwise. I know they are stinging from some significant drops in military, science and advanced technology resources themselves.”

“Now they know how it feels,” Billony replied, “to have your people go to another country and stay there, not coming back to help your own country do better with their new skills.”

Many around the table nodded sympathetically. The U.S. was now receiving the rewards for having done the same to all of them, and many other countries around the world for the last hundred years. No one here was going to shed a tear for the Americans who lost some of their own people to TQB.

Mind you, none wanted to admit they might have a country people didn’t want to come back to, either.

“How many are they taking, now?” Ambassador Franklin asked.

Ambassador Emeka flipped through a couple of pages in front of him, “It is slowing down. They have added approximately five thousand to the list of those immigrating for each of the last three months.”

Franklin pointed to the paper from across the table, “If you believe they place all of the names on the list, it could be fifteen thousand and we wouldn’t know.”

Zhou spoke, “We don’t know it isn’t fifteen thousand people leaving Earth for her group. We don’t know they aren’t being straight up with us in this one area, so perhaps we give them the benefit of the doubt?  If the number is two-hundred and fifty thousand to date, and each person would live to be fifty years old on average, that is many, many years of advancement and resources the world is going to do without.”

There was an epithet from the end of the table. When everyone turned, Ambassador Jameson’s face grew red, “Sorry, just did that math.  That’s twelve and a half million years of support they are stealing.”

Zhou, noting the perfect opportunity to stab when it looked like he was being nice answered, “Well, we can assume they would not be that useful before twenty, so we are probably looking at maybe seven and half million years worth of help.”  Ambassador Jameson’s face looked at Zhou and raised an eyebrow.  Zhou smiled and put up his hands, “Sorry, you are right.  Seven and a half is still too much time to allow TQB to take away.”

Zhou turned back to the table, “It seems we are in agreement here, yes?  It is time for TQB to return payment for what they have taken from our world.”

FROM MICHAEL >>> It is getting close!  I just finished Chapter 21 (still needs a double-check before I send to Stephen, but it’s pretty much done!)  I hope to have the book Words Complete by Wednesday night.  It looks like it will finish about 75,000 words.  So, a little longer than typical for me.

I’ll have some new ‘news’ in the Author Notes for this book, so don’t forget to read Author Notes, this time!

Now, about the author below.  In late March, I went to my first Author’s event and sat across the aisle from a dude that frankly reminds me of Scott in the books.  I would say that his arms are a big as trees…Well, if you compare my skinny little stick-figure arms they certainly are! Anyway, Boyd Craven (how cool a name is that?  He should write Paranormal with a name like that) and I struck up a friendship over the next three days and even now, he will help with with stuff anytime I have a question (I just turned one year old as an author…I think he is a geezer with about 4 years under his belt?)

He did this set of books about with his father regarding the “EVILS OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.”

If you support P.C. (which is fine – no judgement on my part), this book is NOT for you!  These books (I think there are four (4)) espouse a certain ideologue, you have been warned!

And, you are an adult, so … here we go!

BREAKING POINT (Anonymous Justice Book 1)

Friday, December 18th, 2015 was the Breaking Point.

We hear with increasing frequency, reports of mass shootings or terrorist activities on American soil. Don’t you get tired of the media sensationalizing everything? Do you hate how the police have their hands tied on how they can react, by politicians who are more worried about political correctness, and getting re-elected? Don’t you fantasize about just giving the bad guys what they have coming to them? That’s what this story is about. It’s guaranteed to offend the crap out of some people! It’s not illegal to fantasize in this country…

Yet.

-Rated R by us, for language and violence – The Authors

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE (or download) ABOUT BREAKING POINT ON AMAZON!

NOTE! When I put this snippet up, the books ranking was:  (we usually affect a Books ranking positively for 3-5 days).

• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,485 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #272 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers > Pulp
  • #355 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers & Suspense > Crime > Vigilante Justice
  • #393 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers > Terrorism

UNEDITED

New York City, NY – USA

Johnnie pulled out a knife, “You have two choices, give it to me freely, or give it to me painfully.  Either way, chica, you are giving me some ass.”  

Tabitha laughed, “Sorry, this ass has a ‘no small dicks allowed’ tattoo,” Tabitha replied, putting up her fingers. “Looks like this with a circle and slash over it,” her thumb and index finger made the universal symbol for very, very small.

“Then, I guess you choose painful,” Johnnie came forward and laughed to himself.  The woman was talking big, but she didn’t even get prepared to fight properly.  She stayed on her two feet side by side a shoulder’s width apart.

Worked for him.

He stutter-stepped to catch her attention and then twisted the knife so that the blade was away from her face and threw a punch.

He might cut her later, but he didn’t want to worry about scarring such a beautiful woman yet.  Especially if a punch was all it was going to…

“The fuck!” he grunted when the woman grabbed his hand and stopped it cold before she pulled it along as she used her right hand to punch him in the forehead.  He collapsed in a heap straight down.

One out of the fight as three others jumped at her.  The fourth kept back, his eyes looking left and right in the shadows.

“Woohoo!”  Tabitha squealed and slightly turned up the speed.  Where they punched, she slid by just a hair’s breadth away.  So close, yet too far away.  She used her elbow upside the head of the second jerk.

Two down.

She swung a kick out and caught the fifth guy in the stomach, causing him to collapse, grabbing his stomach, trying to stop the sudden pain.

“Sorry,” she called out as she dodged a kick from guy number four, “Can’t have someone at my back like that, Hirotoshi would make me do a thousand pushups and I…”  She blocked the next punch from jerk number three with her palm and then quickly double punched the guy in his stomach. She grabbed his  head as he folded and  slammed it down onto her rising knee. As he collapsed she finished, “absolutely hate push-ups.”

The last guy was definitely more brawn than brains as he came to grab her in a bear hug.  Her advanced speed offered a few options and she decided to have more fun and allowed him to grab her.  He laughed as he picked her up off of her feet and squeezed her hard.

“Watch the ta-ta’s, asshole,” she fumed, “they aren’t fucking balloons here, Rickie Bobby!” She slammed her forehead into his chin, staggering him and then she opened her arms and dropped back to the street.  She punched him hard in the stomach and then casually knocked the side of his skull with her knuckles.

“And another one bites the dust,” she finished as his eyes went up and he collapsed to the ground as well.  She looked around. Four guys lights out, one still coughing, grabbing his stomach.  She reached down and grabbed the blue denim jacket collar and started towards the dumpster. “You get the bottom, maybe the worst is in there.”   She grabbed his arm, belt loop and some jean and casually tossed him into the dumpster.  A crunching noise happened and an aroma that made Tabitha’s nose twitch came out of the dumpster.

“Damn, that’s some nasty shit,” she commented as she grabbed two more and pulled them over and tossed them in.  She grabbed the final two, one of them still holding his stomach as she pulled them both by the legs over to the dumpster.

Tossing the comatose one in, she bent beside the last guy, “Sorry number five.  I appreciate you trying, but the best reduction to your sentence is I won’t toss you,” she nodded to the dumpster, “in there.”

She stood up and kicked him in the side of the head, “but you still have to be punished,” she finished explaining to the now comatose guy.

A moment later, she was back out in the street returning to her previously interrupted walk back to the hotel.

Her steps a little lighter than before.

FROM MICHAEL >>> – WOOHOO!

I just finished Chapter 17 yesterday and (for me) it was one of the most fun Team BMW scenes I’ve done in a little while.  It is a uniquely Team BMW way to respond to Terrorists…

I SOOOO want to share, but, I can’t!

What I can share is both the NEW INDIE BOOKS TO REVIEW (Kindles For Military and Supporting Indie Writers) – 16 new books for your review to check out.  CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BOOKS (16 …SIXTEEEN choices…Come one! Come All!)

OR

Today’s highlighted book comes from author Justin Sloan.  He has a new Urban Fantasy series out with Michael La Ronn which is:

Death Marked: An Urban Fantasy Series (Modern Necromancy Book 1)

He wanted to bring his fiance back from the dead. If he’s not careful, he’ll join her.

Rohan Evans’s world was turned upside down when he lost his fiance Senna in a tragic accident. He misses her so desperately that he’s resorted to the dark arts to bring her back.

Frank Altemus is a doctor with strange connections to the occult who promises to revive Senna from the afterlife in exchange for Rohan’s help on a special expedition.

Click here to read more about Death Marked (or buy it, that’s ok, too) 😉

UNEDITED

Inside Schwabenland Base, Antarctica

Maria nodded to her two guards.  Both Hans and Horst nodded back as she stepped into the meeting room.  Their base, once they brought the heaters online, was a very comfortable seventy-four degrees.  All of her people were older, but in great shape.

Unfortunately, she didn’t have the technology to make her people young again as the young Queen did.  

Horst grinned, “Dresses again, Maria?”

She stopped in front of him, “If I knew that a punch would hurt you, I would punch you.  A slap against that granite you have for a head would only hurt my hand, Horst.” He smiled to her as she continued speaking, “You know I’m not fond of the pants women wear today.  Dresses are for ladies, thank you very much.”  

“Yes,” Horst replied as she stepped between the two men to go into the meeting room, “But the pants allow us to see the woman’s weapons so much easier than dresses, Maria.”  The two men chuckled as they closed the door to the room behind her.

Men, Maria thought, freeze them and thaw them out and they still only think of sex, sex, sex.

Maria set her yellow notepad and pencils down.  She preferred to write her notes.  Her note language was completely unique, no one would be able to decipher it.

Except, perhaps, the Kurtherian.  She had asked Bethany Anne, twice now, to speak with TOM and the best she was allowed was communication through one of their phone devices.

“Maria?” Hans called out sometime later. The knocking on the door took her attention away from the notes she had made during the meeting with the Germans the day before.  The history of her country was dramatic, to say the least.  Broken apart after the war and brought back together in October of 1990, there was a lot of good and bad with the reformed country. Either way, it wasn’t the Germany she remembered.

Truthfully, none of the countries were anything like she remembered or cared about. Her last meeting was with the United States of America and then she would have to deliver her decision to her people … those who chose to continue following her.

Wherever that lead.

“Yes?” she replied, looking up from her notes.

“I have Barnabas out here, from Bethany Anne’s group. He is asking permission to speak with you a moment.”

“That is ok, please let him in.” She put down her pencil and stood up.

Barnabas walked in and nodded to Maria, who nodded back.  Barnabas was a very peaceful person, at least to Maria.

“Wie geht es?”  He asked her as the door closed behind him.

“Sehr gut, und du?” she replied as she took a seat.  Barnabas never tried to shake her hand or hug her in any way.  He was always formal in their meetings.  In a strange way he was the most comfortable for her, of those who followed Bethany Anne.

“I’m very well, thank you,” he finished in English and pulled out one of the chairs in the large room.  “Are you ready for this last meeting?”

“As ready as I hope to be.  It seems, to me at least, that speaking with Aliens is a more straight forward exercise than speaking with anyone from the future, or at least my future, on this world.”

“Have you made contact then?” He followed up but then put up a hand, a small smile on his lips, “My apologies. My curiosity knows no bounds, as Frank Kurns will attest.”  

“Yes, another whose curiosity knows no bounds, you two should be brothers,” she replied.

Barnabas nodded, “It was strange, our first meeting. When he and I first got to know one another, I had information he wanted and he was a spring of information I needed.”

“Really?” she looked down at her pad and realized it was the wrong one for her notes on Frank and looked back up to Barnabas. “I thought I remembered him saying you didn’t ask as many questions as he?”

“If we must talk about Frank behind his back,” Barnabas started, then winked, “Then the truth is no one can ask as many questions as that man.  Nor,” he nodded to Maria’s notepads, “does he fail to also make all sorts of notes, in his books, about the answers.”

Her eyebrows drew together in concentration, “I don’t remember him writing much,” she replied.

“Mmmm,” Barnabas put his hands on the table, “Then I would suggest that he was recording the meeting, to jot down notes later, so he could get more questions in during his time.”  Barnabas could see Maria weighing that answer for accuracy, “Or he was so captivated with the answers, he dared not slow down and he expected to write his notes down later.”

“More likely the former, than the latter,” Maria admitted, “He did place his tablet on the table when we spoke.”

“Mystery most likely solved.  I doubt he would trust his memory, as good as it is, without a backup.”

“Is it true he is from my time?”  she asked.

“Frank?  Yes.  He was in the second World War and has been through a medical procedure to reduce his age.”

“That is fascinating.  I wish my contact would have provided that information,” she admitted, “I can’t say I enjoy sitting with Bethany Anne considering how attractive she is.”  She reached up to grab her hair, which was getting longer but not nearly as long as she had it in the stasis chamber.

“Bethany Anne was attractive before she was healed, you were both attractive in your youth and still are I believe.  However, that is not why I am here to speak with you.”

“Yes, I know Barnabas,” Maria picked up a pencil and tapped it on the table. “But you are the only one I feel I can share a little with. You seem to be the only one who just tells me like it is, and isn’t trying to control the situation and my decision.”

Barnabas raised an eyebrow, “You don’t suspect that I am a vicious plant by my Queen to influence your decision?”

Maria laughed, “No! God no. If Bethany Anne wanted me to do something, I imagine she would have Captain Kael-ven tell me.  I am a sucker for an alien and she is the only one that seems to have plenty of aliens around her.”

“Yes, she does seem to acquire aliens without trying.  It is a singularly unique trait,” Barnabas admitted dryly.

“So, if you are not here to influence me Barnabas, what do I owe the honor of your presence?”  She smiled at him, wishing she was about fifty years younger. She would have had a chance to turn his head and make it go in a complete circle if she still had her youthful looks. There was a reason the Vrilerinnen were called the beautiful young ladies of the Vril Gesellschraft.

“I’m here to ask your permission to sit out of the way, unnoticed, and watch the people.” He smiled, “I promise, I will be a ghost, no one will even notice me.”

“There are inquisitive people for the Americans among those who come, Barnabas.  I doubt they will ignore you.”  He just shrugged, smiling enigmatically.

Maria wasn’t without her own resources. She knew he was different, and old, ancient probably although she could never get anyone to admit just how old he was.  She considered it a small victory she figured out how old Frank Kurns was.  She nodded to herself, “No speaking?”  He shook his head, “and if they ask about you?”

Barnabas pursed his lips, “I will step out, then.”

Her eyes opened in surprise, “What would your Queen say if you fail to stay for the whole meeting?”

“Nothing, she is not asking me to join this meeting.  I am requesting it as the leader of the Queen’s Rangers.” He moved in his chair, “We have been chasing a group for three years and I am of the opinion they will seek to be here.”

“They are American?”

“We have been able to track their spaceships into U.S. Airspace.  However, we cannot go further without risking an altercation with the American’s.”

“They can see your ships, now?” she asked.  Barnabas stayed quiet and shrugged. “Ok, keep your secrets,” she continued, “I am but an old woman, what am I going to do?”

Barnabas surprised her by barking out a short laugh, “Old woman?”  His eyes, she noticed, looked nice when a grin lit up his face, “I think you need to perhaps get another set of mirrors in this land, Maria.”  He stood up and moved a chair from the end, near her, and put it in a corner out of the way of everyone, “With your permission, I’ll just sit here?”  

Maria nodded her agreement and wondered how she was going to get work done with him just sitting there.

“Maria,” his voice, clear in her mind though she didn’t notice his mouth moving. “I’m not here … I’ve stepped out. It would be good for you to continue what you were doing before I interrupted you.”

Maria looked down at her notes and turned the page, looking over at a clock on the wall.  The Americans should be here in twenty minutes. She sure hoped Barnabas made it back to her room before they arrived.  He had a way of making her feel peace in such a turbulent time for her people.

FROM MICHAEL >>> Ok, 14 chapters done, 11 to go.  About to write a serious ass kicking chapter or…well, 7 or 8 of them, actually.

I had a one and a half hour conversation tonight with “The Architect of the Fall”.  Our very own consultant on how to make what happens in the future, plausibly true.

On a personal note, Halloween came and went, and I’m ok.  The great candy massacre has been cleaned up and no Butterfingers were killed in the making of the story.

I had one of my Indie Author friends reach out to me this morning (he is in England, so later in the day to him) and let me know his 4th book in his series was just released.  His name is Andrew Dobell (yes, the same Andrew Dobell who does the Bethany Anne covers.  He has shot a BUNCH of new photo’s of our model, so expect new images, soon).

Unfortunately, Andrew has learned that in the Indie Publishing world, publishing velocity is your friend, and even waiting four (4) months between titles can squash the momentum you had going.  So, he is working to revive The Magi Series with his new book!  (Roll of drums, please…) Check it out!

Infinities’ Edge (The Magi Saga Book 4)

After the events and revelations on the Atoll, Amanda is left having to deal with the new information about her past and the new powers she has gained.

As rumours spread, she becomes the focus of attention for Magi throughout New York and beyond. Some just want to meet her, but others want to hurt her.
With all this attention, and her new found abilities, such as being able to cross into the Abyss, she starts to believe the hype, which only serves to alienate those closest to her.

Amanda must step up and fight against those who wish to hurt her and overcome her own hubris before she loses her friends, her supporters and maybe her life.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT INFINITIES EDGE!

UNEDITED

New York City, NY – USA

Tabitha ended up in a smaller enclave where three buildings came together, giving her about a twenty by thirty foot area to play in.  All of the doors had rusted metal bars over them, and there was one which had an old light that was trying its damnedest to shine through the pollution covering it. She turned around as the five guys entered the alley entrance and slowed.

How typical.  Slow down and enhance the terror for the woman so they could feed on it.

There was a trash dumpster on her right by a door that smelled like they made Chinese food. She eyed the men and walked towards the dumpster. With the screech of metal on concrete she pulled the dumpster away from the wall. This would ensure the lid, as she flipped it up, would stay open.

She walked back towards the center and lifted an eyebrow.  A couple of the young toughs seemed to be looking sideways at their friends, but no one wanted to admit the little display of strength startled them.

“Gentleman,” Tabitha stated as they fanned out a little where the alley opened up into the closed in space, “and by gentleman, I mean assholes …” she was interrupted from additional comments.

“Now, that isn’t the proper way to respect the men around you,” the first tough said. He had on a jean jacket with a black sweatshirt underneath.  His accent sounded maybe first or second generation American to her.

“What isn’t proper is that outfit! Didn’t your mother teach you how to dress?”  Tabitha asked, hand on hip as she nodded towards his clothes.

A couple of the guys with him started grumbling, and the main guy in the center put his hands out, pushing down as if he was calming them down, “Now, that isn’t a way to get out of this situation safely.” Head jerk replied, “Nor is talking about my mother.”

“I didn’t talk about her. I asked her son if she taught you how to dress. If she did, and this is what you are dressing in, then you either ignored her, or you are as dumb as a rock. No one,” Tabitha acted like she was looking down at him, “Wears a white t-shirt with a black sweatshirt and an old jean jacket. Shit, didn’t those things go out of style last century?”

“Not where it matters, muffin,” he replied, raising an eyebrow to her.

“You got nothing to make a muffin rise, asshat. Jean jackets are appropriate in the South…and maybe still with metalheads. You are here in New York in the fucking winter cold.  I doubt one girl gives you a second look,” Tabitha replied and looked up the walls on both sides.

“You are about to give me a second and third look with a little …what are you doing?” He looked up the walls, both sides, before coming back to rest on her, smiling, “Oh, now you figure it out?  Now you figure out you have nowhere to run?”

Tabitha turned around and continued looking at the two windows she found behind her, confirming that no one was at either one.  She spoke, but the guys could hear her just fine as she turned back around to them. “I’m just making sure we don’t have any witnesses, Ace.”  Tabitha replied as she looked at him, “The ass kicking I’m going to give you five is only going to give me a few hours of satisfaction.  But, it’s the best I have on offer at the moment so, what’s it going to be?  Are you all lips and no solution?”  She punctuated her comment with a pelvic thrust, “Hmm?”

“Johnnie,” the guy on her left whispered, “C’mon, this isn’t right.”

“Don’t be a pushover, Sebastian,” Johnnie retorted, “she’s as much as dared us to kick her ass. Trust me,” he took a couple of steps forward and made smooching noises towards Tabitha, “When I get done with her ass, she won’t be able to sit down for a week.”

When he finished his statement, he popped his pelvis out towards Tabitha to the catcalls from the guys behind him as they started following.

Sebastian sighed heavily. His cousin was impetuous and foolhardy. His momma said one day he was going to get Sebastian in trouble.

He prayed it wasn’t this evening as he started following the other four, noticing something that concerned him.

Did her eyes just flash red?

FROM MICHAEL >>> One day left until Halloween!  … Crackers, I don’t have any candy yet :-(.   On the positive side, I’ve not been EATING the candy that was supposed to be for the kids, either.

Or Have I ?

Let’s not worry about that, shall we?

DO YOU LOVE TO READ?  Well, Click on this link and it will take you to 16 awesome Indie Books!

No need to choose from 1 choice when 16 are available, right?  It’s like cable, all over again 😉

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LATEST 16 

READERS HELPING READERS SELECTIONS!

UNEDITED

New York City, NY – USA

Tabitha scrunched her shoulders down in her coat.  She didn’t need it for warmth, but rather to cover up the weapons and Bat-shit she had secreted around her body.

She could just kill Bobcat and William.  Those mother-fuckers stole into the Tonto’s rooms and drank beer and watched Batman starring Michael Keaton. Then they followed it up with the Christian Bale version and got to talking about all of the wonderful toys Batman had.

Then, they damn near whispered how Tabitha’s little toys and Batman’s toys were kind of the same, weren’t they?  So now, Tabitha had Bat-toys.  Even Jean Dukes would ask her about her toys when she went to ask about another weapon or weapon idea.

She was so going to grab them by the balls and lift them into the air as they sang like the sopranos they needed to be.  Didn’t they realize this Bat-toy shit was going to last for decades?

God, Vampires didn’t forget anything.  It’s like they savored every little fucking joke FOREVER.

Her watch thumped against her wrist, so Tabitha took a left down a small street that looked like it cut across to the hotel she and the team were staying.  It was getting dark sooner now, and the chill autumn winds were cutting through the street.

If Bethany Anne didn’t need Bobcat and William so bad, she would…

“Ay mamí tù tan caliente!”  a man called from in front of her followed by a couple of hoots. Tabitha focused ahead instead of on her feet, fuming at those two malcontents and could see five guys coming at her from the street’s intersection ahead.  She rolled her eyes. She didn’t have time for this shit, but she sure felt a need to do it anyway.  She looked around and smiled. Across the street was a dark, dank and smelly alley.

Perfect!

She couldn’t do anything to Bobcat and William at the moment (whether they had intended to cause her trouble or not) but these assholes seemed like a pleasant diversion.

“Kiss my sweet ass, you gringo pieces of shit!”  She called out and hurriedly crossed the street, making sure to look like she was trying to get away from the guys.  She smiled when she heard the mutterings and exclamations from behind her and their quick footsteps in her direction.  She didn’t hide her accent, which only made them angrier.

Sometimes, being a Queen’s Ranger, with the duties it entailed, was a real pleasure.

Schwabenland, Antarctica

Dr. Abesimmons shivered despite his long johns and coat. Having to ride on a conventional airplane down to Antarctica was a price he was willing to endure if he got a chance to speak with Maria Orsitsch.

It had taken him more than a week and a half to think how to persuade both Eva and Patrick that they needed to take this chance to learn more from the Thule group.  Since they had been found again, the Thule group had been mostly silent when speaking with the world at large and now the opportunity to see if they knew more than they had divulged so far was a golden chance.

A golden chance they needed to take advantage of.

Abesimmons was shocked when they both accepted his argument the first time.  He wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth and try to figure out why as he went and packed his bags.

Abesimmons looked out the window as the plane turned to start their landing.  There were four of those damned TQB one-person patrol planes stationed in the air that he could see.  One country made the mistake of believing TQB wouldn’t fire on unexpected guests and learned they were right.

But, the Thule group had no compunctions about shooting down the craft, and they did.  Seven people died on that plane and the message coming out of Schwabenland was ‘When we say no, we mean no.’

Message received.

Now, a few invitations had gone out to a few countries, offering to speak with their representatives to see if Schwabenland would like to join with any of those countries.

This, of course, caused an uproar in the UN. That circus was getting worse and worse.  Even Patrick had to admit Schwabenland joining another country was probably going to cause a major problem in the UN.

Not his problem.

The plane hit the ice with only a little swaying back and forth as the pilot got the plane under control. Abesimmons could feel the landing was going to be safe and he let out his breath.

The tension he had felt in the pit of his stomach let up, just a little.

Abesimmons was one of twelve delegates from the United States. None on the plane knew him, so all on the plane figured he had been secluded away in some government program or another and they were right, to a point.

He was here to see if he could find the information that those he worked for were seeking.

FROM MICHAEL >>>  Almost half of the book is written.  The first four chapters are to the final editing pass before it comes back to me and I am trying to knock out a bunch this weekend.  Overall, the book is moving forward 😉

Today, we have a video that will highlight four (4) books (well, five actually but one is mine, so you already know that one!)  I’ve highlighted two of these that I can remember, but the company that is doing these are looking to try and help other indie writers so I’m all about encouraging any success in that area I can!

UNEDITED

Eva pushed down her anxiety and smiled cordially, even if Ztopik’s pink eyes always caused her confusion.  She thought bunny rabbits, with piranha teeth whenever she and Patrick had to come down and have their quarterlies with him or his designate.  He had no teeth that she had ever been able to discern in that small slitted mouth he had.

“Welcome, Patrick, Overseer and Eva, Lead Scientist,” he spoke.  At over seven feet tall, his thin body barely had enough shoulders to drape the silvery robe over without it sliding down his body.

“Hello Ztopik, how do the studies go?” Patrick asked as the two of them took two chairs around a six-foot diameter white table, leaving the modified seat for Ztopik to use when he chose to sit down.

“As always, effectively if more slowly than I would prefer.”  His voice, a little musical, admitted.  Ztopik waited for the two to finish sitting before he pulled out the last chair and sat as well, adjusting himself in his robe. He looked back at the two humans, his eyes never blinking. “I come to understand that there are happenings up on the surface?”

Oh shit, Patrick thought.  He had hoped to keep everything about TQB out of Ztopik’s knowledge.  There had been a critical incident in 1979 with hundreds of people killed.  Killed easily, in fact. Patrick’s goal was a delicate balance of allowing necessary evil to occur to acquire the technologies needed from Ztopik and his people down here in the two levels.

“There are always happenings, but which one are you asking about?” Eva interrupted, her voice cracking.  Ztopik ignored her voice issues, and he was amused at how much she feared these meetings.  Fear is the ultimate indication you are a slave, not a master.

Ztopik feared nothing on this planet.

“I understand that the humans who have expressed they were in communications with aliens almost a hundred of your years ago have been communicating now with outside emissaries?”  The hairless white face went back and forth between the two humans.

“Yessss,” Patrick agreed, drawing out his answer to give himself time to think where Ztopik was going with this.”

“I want one of your people in the meeting.”

“Why?  Isn’t that dangerous?” Eva asked, her curiosity driving her.

Ztopik turned and stared at Eva for a moment, drawing out the silence.  The little power play irritated Patrick, but he and Eva had already argued about her fear for years, and it got him nowhere with her.  Ztopik liked to tweak Eva.

Maybe it gave him an alien version of a hard-on.  Who could say?

Eva mumbled something unintelligible, and Ztopik turned his head slightly before answering, “No, we have the ability to block Dr. Abesimmons memory of this location, and give him a proper cover story, so long as we have the time to do this.”

“You want him to go?” Patrick blurt out.  Of all the members in the human team, Abesimmons was the least likely to want to do this.

“Of course,” Ztopik answered Patrick, “he has a good cover, correct?”

“Well, yes,” Patrick admitted.  Hell, they all had good covers with the government.

“So, my people will protect his mind, and provide instructions on what we wish to know from those who provided the technology.  We shall find out if there is anyone here on this world providing the information she had, or not.”

“What people?” Patrick was confused.  As far as he knew, Ztopik was a singular leader.  He wasn’t aware of other aliens on Earth.  Patrick wasn’t even sure if Ztopik was a proper emissary, or he was his races version of a splinter group.  If there were more of his kind and their efforts, here on Earth that might be a problem.

“That is not known at this moment, Overseer Patrick.”

Ahhhh, shit.  Ztopik was using his title now.  That was equivalent to a parent saying a child’s full name when they called.

“Ok.  How can we help?”

“I thought this was obvious?” Ztopik answered, “I wish Dr. Abesimmons to come down here, and then go on this trip with the American Government to Schwabenland to speak with Maria Orsitsch.  He will ask certain questions, and if she replies appropriately, I will know that we have a problem.”

“What problem?” Eva blurted out.

Patrick raised an eyebrow, what’s got her on edge?

“A name that will mean nothing to you, Dr. Eva Hocks.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not,” Patrick temporized, trying to get Ztopik’s attention away from Eva.  Her interruptions were annoying him.  Like a cat that was disgusted with a mouse trying to fight, instead of flee.

“Go on, Overseer Patrick.”

“We hear a bunch in all sorts of circles and efforts. Perhaps if we know this name, we will either recognize it or make sure to tell our people and our contacts to listen for it?”

Ztopik considered the statement then slightly lowered his head on his fragile looking neck, “You make a good point, Overseer Patrick. The name you and your team should be listening, or looking for…” Ztopik’s eyes, generally never an indication of any emotion, seemed to flash white before clearing to his usual pink.

“Is Kurtherian.”

FROM MICHAEL >>>  So, another snippet down ;-).  The book is shaping up to be a lot of fun.  Well, at least for me to write!  It’s time to close an arc but with three years in between books 13 and 14, a lot has happened that is going to be referred to, but I’ll need to write a short story, or two, before we find out the ‘what’ and not just the result (future writing!)

Today (October 26th) the first four Kindle Paperwhites will hit the Army’s Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio.  Thanks to YOU!  The income from August’s affiliate income was pretty much enough to cover the 4 Kindle’s.  What happens with Affiliate income is Amazon pays me an Amazon Gift Card and I turn around and use whatever is on the card to purchase the Kindles.  It’s kinda SWEET.

Today’s highlighted book comes from author Paul C. Middleton (Primary Author of The Boris Chronicles!)  as he brings out a new Urban Fantasy series.  I’ve highlighted it once on Facebook, but time to bring it to a Snippet ;-).

A Mongrel’s Curse (Breed Matters Book 1

He’s the guy that gets sought after for the stuff beyond scary.

When the wannabes operating out of pubs can’t handle the problem? Sometimes, even the government comes calling.

When those that hunt the thing that go bump in the night become the hunted, he’s the one they call to bump back.

Nobody likes the guy because they don’t know what to expect. After all, he wakes up a new man every morning.

Then there’s the relatives. Being the grandson of a Fury wins him no popularity contests amongst those in the know.

He takes no favorites. Even his family pays for his help.

When there’s a screw-up others won’t touch? You go to the Mongrel.

Click here to read more about A Mongrel’s Curse (or buy it, that’s ok, too) 😉

UNEDITED

Dulce Lake New Mexico, USA

Patrick Brown, principal overseer of the operations side for Majestic 12 nodded to Dr. Eva Hocks as the two of them met at the elevator that went down to floor two-six.

Usually, the good doctor and Patrick would poke at each other, but never on the Quarterly meeting day.

“I hate this,” she whispered to him, as they both turned their keys and punched the separate buttons for the elevator to come up and get them.

Patrick kept his voice low, “This time Eva, I’m completely in agreement.  Whatever the benefits we gain from the technology advances is certainly offset by having to deal with them,” he nodded at the elevator doors, still closed.

Eva breathed in as they heard the elevator arrive, and the doors opened to admit them.  Both wrinkled their nose as the smell from section two wafted up the elevator shaft.  It was unpleasant and nasty.

It was alien, Patrick decided.

Patrick waved his hand out for Eva to go first.  She rolled her eyes, “Sure, be a gentleman when we enter the elevator to go down to the belly of the beast, why don’t you?”

Patrick stepped in behind her and turned, sliding his key in and turning it before punching in the code to go down.

The doors closed.

“Well,” he admitted as they waited to go down the two hundred feet, “I don’t mind being a gentleman, but that puts me into specimen category with you, so I figured out a while back that specimen was a bad thing coming from you.”

“Is that why you are always a pain in the ass?” Eva looked over, not sure if Patrick was giving her a hard time again, or being honest.

“Um,” he paused before shrugging, “That’s probably truer than I care to admit, really.” He didn’t return her look.

Interesting, she thought, he seems uncomfortable.  I wonder what else causes this to occur?

“You are doing it again.”  He spoke, flatly.

“What?”

“You are studying me, again.” This time he did look over at her, annoyance written on his face.

Eva thought back to what she was thinking and closed her eyes, “You can take the scientist out of the lab…”

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened as Patrick finished the phrase, “but you can’t take the lab out of the scientist.”  This time, he stepped forward and asked over his shoulder, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Patrick stopped and waited just long enough for Eva to catch up before resuming his walk, “I mean, I get when you say you can take the guy out of the fight, but not the fight out of the guy or something similar, but a lab?”

Eva shrugged, desiring to chat even less as they went further into the level two-six.

“Lord, I hope we don’t have to speak with Ztopik,” looked behind them as he spoke softly, “the little guys are bad enough, but looking up into his pink eyes just freaks me the fuck out.”

“Would you please,” Eva hissed, “not speak about him down here?”  Patrick pursed his lips and nodded.  After another two minutes of walking down the hall, hewn from rock but having totally smooth walls Patrick and Eva came upon a door a little taller than most human doors would be.

Patrick nodded to the two little three-and-a-half-foot gray aliens beside the door.  Neither wore anything but a holster for their small pistol.  The pistols looked more like a black flashlight with three small buttons that each had three levels of destruction.

Level one sucked, three level three’s supposedly wiped your atoms from existence.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, the little guys didn’t have much in the way of self-awareness.  Most grays are hive-minded to a superior.  For now, Patrick had only ever met one superior.

They pushed the door open and inside the room, the walls, and 10-foot ceiling painted white, stood Ztopik.

FROM MICHAEL >>>  Well, here we go.  The first two (2) chapters are in editing, I’ve completed chapter 3 and will be working hard tomorrow to finish chapter 4 and possibly chapter 5 to deliver to Stephen Russell and team.

I get a little personal below, fair warning!

I’m both excited and have trepidation in sharing today’s Indie Author book choice.  Why? Because I’m going to provide a little personal background that needs to go with it.

I could proffer my Indie mention as I normally would, but I don’t want to do that to either you, or H. Claire Taylor  (I don’t know what the ‘H’ stands for, I’ve never asked her).  You see, Claire and I have a similar background in that both of us were raised in the Church (I’m non-denominational now, but was Catholic young and then Southern Baptist up into my early twenties.)  Both of us see a lot of things about our beliefs we like, obviously even love.

Religion, at least a lot about organized religion, is one piece we both are pretty disgusted with.  I’ve nothing against religion, I have everything against the people that abuse it for their personal gain – hurting a lot of us in the process.

Some of us very deep.

I know just enough of Claire’s background to know it was pretty hard.  Mine own issues had to do with heavy metal music, long hair, and an earring in my left ear while I rode my motorcycle. Didn’t exactly fit the Southern Baptist model for most churches at the time.

However, I was still the caring person inside that would read how we should be acting to others. But I would look around when I went to a HUGE megachurch that spent a million dollars on a pipe organ (this is the 80’s) and think to myself ‘that doesn’t seem to compute’. Was I disillusioned? Sure. I wasn’t turned off because I can tell the difference between what should happen, and what happens when people get involved.

Kinda like government, really.

My books are about justice.  You might remember a scene with the President where Bethany Anne expresses teaching from the Bible (I had expected to get some lip for that, but I never did.  I’m not sure if it is because most readers don’t care, or if readers share the same moral feelings I happen to believe… Or, it’s just a character talking.  I’m personally fine with all of those solutions).

I don’t preach.  It’s not in me and frankly it’s in the walk, not the talk anyway.  Let ones walking be ones talking and the earth might all get along a little better.

I say all of this to say this book is NOT the same as most I suggest.  It is funny, it is satire, but satire born out of a good heart.  For those who will be offended with God having a second child (a girl, this time) please don’t click below.  It isn’t going to be your cup of tea, I guarantee it.

If you think God has a sense of humor and is willing to just about allow anything so someone might think about Him? Oh, I don’t know, like rockers using heavy metal but singing about Jesus*?  Well, then read it quick before those who might want to burn the book figure out how to destroy digital copies 😉

Because, I’m going to plug the HELL** out of this book.

Hey Organized Religion?  Here’s my middle finger…It’s Yellow.

IN KINDLE UNLIMITED

Jessica McCloud is God’s only begotten daughter, and she’s not super thrilled about that. Sure, she can smite and she knows juicy gossip about folks in her tiny West Texas town, but that’s about where the perks stop.

After a close call with a demon, Jessica decides that developing her ability to tell good from evil could be an especially useful survival skill for a messiah. But hopefully that can wait until, oh, high school?

Feel like the world’s gone crazy? You’re not alone. The Beginning is the first book in an epic satire series with unforgettable characters and the fresh take on politics, religion, and feminism that you’ve been waiting for.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON AMAZON – OR BUY IT AND SUPPORT THIS INDIE AUTHOR 

* I’ve seen STRYPER a good amount of times… Good times!

**STRYPER’S “TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL” (Original Cover, ROCK IT!)