Welcome To 2016

  
Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season went well and you parlayed that into a great start to the new year.

The end of 2015, the fun time of the year for me (October – December), brings the holiday season, football season, and cooler temps. And as usual, those months raced by and brought us here to the new year.

For me, the good news is that we still have a couple of more months of winter. Now, I know that’s not good news to everyone out there, but my reason is purely in the spirit of creativity. I find the Winter to be the best time of the year to write – and reading for that matter. If I’m not too distracted by the NFL season and playoffs, I usually get a lot accomplished.

Many projects are on the books, so to speak, and deadlines are on the calendar. But those things are for me in the solitary confines of the writing world. 

As for all of you, no matter where you are, covered in snow or basking in warmer temperatures, I just want to wish you all a great start to the new year and I hope you accomplish any and all the goals you have set!

Happy writing, reading, and creating!

ALJ

Queen of Spades releases Spaded Truths

coverbannertruths2Blurb:

This is not your average bowl of Alphabet Soup. Substitute the broth with Beliefs and the meatballs with tinges of Controversy.

Now, attempt to take a spoonful into your mouth. Does it sting your bottom lip and the tip of your tongue? Does it feel too hot for you? Do you know this, yet want to have more?

Excellent!

Indulge in Spaded Truths: Themes and Proclamations—a delectable mix of creative uses of the letters A-Z with social and political viewpoints from the twisted mind of Queen of Spades. This dish is engineered to provoke multitudes of reactions to reach the ultimate pinnacle: mental stimulation and satisfaction.

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Blurb:

Truth has no expiration date.

A second helping of Spaded Truths has arrived in the form of Life-O-Suction. Seasoned with a rich blend of prose with poetry, this follow up explores the human condition with a simmering of stimuli that lingers long after one has reached the end.

Note: Both books in the Spaded Truths collections have content which may not be suitable for those under eighteen.

Also, from now until the end of 2015, the electronic version of “Themes and Proclamations” will be at a discounted price to celebrate the release of “Life-O-Suction”.

To connect more with Queen of Spades and her Verses of Sovereign Diction, please visit her at these locations:

A Queen’s Ramblings


Facebook Author Page


Twitter @authorqspades


Amazon

A Look Into My Collaborative Effort With Author, Y. Correa on “Peter Blade”

A couple of years ago, Y. Correa approached me with about working with her on, Peter Blade, a novel about an infamous serial killer stalking New York City backstreets and alleys. She went over the plot and more important, the legend behind the main character. I was intrigued and jumped into the project. We have both had other commitments and projects/deadlines due, so we have worked on Mr. Blade’s story as best we could. With things getting closer, Y. announced this project to the public while offering great insight into her thoughts and the creative process … and a few more questions for me.

Y: When I was a little girl, my father told me the story of a man he used to know which in the end turned out to be a sadistic murderer.

The story went a little something like this:
“As a kid I was connected to a gang, not a very good one. Because of my connection to it, I met a lot of bad people, but none like V. V had a hard life when he was a kid in Puerto Rico. It eventually drove him crazy and in the end, he became a prostitute killer, living right here in New York. It was a really scary story.“
Of course, my father (bless his heart) was never among the most eloquent of individuals, so in his limited verbiage he’d depict an anecdote that he understood little about. Except to say the unnecessary and violent murder of many women. As the years went on, my father slowly but surely provided me with tidbits of information–what little he knew about it.
The man had been murdered and was never convicted of his crimes, as he was killed long before he was caught and identified.
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In 1978 a salsa song was written called “Pedro Navajas” in which salsa artist Ruben Blades (whose last name actually translates into “navajas” in Spanish) talked about a criminal who relished in killing prostitutes.
My father was convinced that this song was the tale of the man he once encountered, as the details in the song were too coincidental. My father swore that his name had been changed, perhaps to hide the man’s identity.
Now, I cannot say for sure that the story my father told was true, let alone accurate, but what I can say is that it left a lasting impression. Every time I heard the song I could vividly picture the occurrences and to this day, it remains that way.
Was it the elaborate mind of a writer at work? Was it that lasting impression that the story left? Perhaps the intrigue of an ominous tale that ended horrifically? Who is to say?
A few years ago I decided to write the story … well, not verbatim, but my fictional interpretation of the same.
It was around that time that I met an amazing horror and dark drama Latino author named A. Lopez Jr.
I said to myself “How cool would it be if two Latino authors joined together to tell the tale? It would be amazing!” And just like that, in came A. Lopez Jr.
A, can you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your side of the story?

A: Hello everyone, my name is Junior, but I write under the name, A. Lopez, Jr. I like to dabble in the horror/thriller/suspense genres, but am very open to writing in all categories and sub-genres. I enjoy the dark and macabre settings I put a reader in with my stories, but I always leave a way to escape, if need be!

I grew up in Texas where sports ruled and I participated heavily and still do to this day, now living in Arizona. A fact you may not know, is I’m an avid chess player. Creativity from all sides can only help…yes?
On the entertainment side, and since I can remember, the horror movies and books seemed to draw my interest. Over time, they became the focus and favorite of any aspiring creative activity. My fascination with the unknown and the shadows lurking in every dark corner has led me to my writing in the horror genre.
I feel that I have a great imagination and am able to create on a whim. But, having a background and interest in the macabre has made my writing bit easier. I love when the ideas flood in so fast, at times, that I have to fight them off (as one of my main characters would) and put them on a shelf where I can grab them as I see fit.
So if you ever find yourself in a dark room and a bit of fear creeps in, think of me, because at that moment I’m sure I’ll be channeling your fear and using it to pen my next chapter!
Y: For the past two years we’ve been trying to complete “Peter Blade” and let me tell you that it has been a challenge. The narrative is highly convoluted and all of it happens in the span of 1 night.
One grim, malefic night of pain and manslaughter.
The story starts at the end, and ends at the beginning, chronicling the saga of a man gone mad and turning to violence as an outlet to his anger. It is a dramatic, profound, intense and labyrinthine depiction.
I’d be lying if I said that I can wait until the completion of the project. I’m actually jumping in my boots to want to finish it.
What say you, A?
A: Since the beginning, we have both looked forward to seeing it through and admiring the finished product. But as life has it, other things jumped in and out of the way – especially our own solo projects. Even with all that, Peter Blade has been stalking me in my mind, just as he does with his victims, giving new life to completing this story and passing it along to our readers.
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Y: A, I have a question for you: what were your thoughts and feelings when I approached you about participating on this project with me?
A: When you approached me with this project, I was honored, having read and enjoyed some of your previous works. Once you explained your idea for the story and after reading what had been penned, I was excited to get going and be a part of a fast-paced story like this.
My feelings toward Peter Blade are simple. It is a story with dark violence at times and takes the reader into the mind and soul of a serial killer. This falls right in line with my appetite for creativeness.
Y: A, do you know what I remember?
I remember when we first started. I came up with the character of Sheila, but it was YOU that decided that her character needed expanding. Tell us a little bit about what and why.
A: When I read the very first draft or first installment, the character, Sheila, hit me as a strong-willed, no-nonsense person. I could see the hard life of her past and how it has affected her present state. I also envisioned her as someone who doesn’t give up easily, especially on herself. I felt there was a story to tell about her, and Y. Has been very gracious in allowing Sheila’s story to expand and breathe some life.
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Y: A, you also came up with the character of Detective Alvarez. What does this character mean to you and why was it so important to put him in the story?
A: With a story as dynamic as PB, and with it taking place in New York City, the story must have a realistic feel and capture the true essence of the back streets and alleys where much of the action takes place. Writing a story set in an era before electronic technology became prevalent is very intriguing. To get a story like this correct and make it worthwhile for the reader to spend their valuable time reading it, we could not rush it or speed it along to editing and production. This novel has marinated now and it is time to complete it and round it into shape. I have complete faith in Y. and her creativeness and vision. I look forward to reuniting with Peter, Sheila, Detective Alvarez, and all the other characters we can’t tell you about … just yet.
Until then…
Y: I’ve got to say that I don’t know if I believe that the legend of Pedro Navajas is real or not, but I do know that I think it makes for an amazing adventure. Of course, I don’t think it matters if all of this actually happened or not. I think that the only thing that matters is the justice we do the story once it’s completed.

Nethanyel’s Lady Lune Book Release and Book Trailer by C. Desert Rose

Happy Halloween!
Today I am happy to announce a book release and book trailer from fellow author, C. Desert Rose
The title: Nethanyel’s Lady Lune
After taking a seat and reading this novelette, I can say that Ms Rose has drawn me in to her style of writing and this genre of this story. Give her a look! Here you go…

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Today, we would like to congratulate Author C. Desert Rose on the release of …

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Blurb:

Even the moon has secrets …

Traversing the globe—from Louisiana, USA to New Zealand—on an enterprise to discover the hidden secrets of the moon, Nethanyel finds that everything may not be as it seems. Accompanied by a consequential companion named Jax, Nethanyel is taken to a place … even a time … that he would have never expected.
Set in the year 1940, is Nethanyel’s Lady Lune exploration, fate or both?

Excerpt:

“Bartender …?” Nethanyel called, his voice drenched in the quintessential inflection of the Bayou—a collective accentuation of English, French and Creole. Tapping his glass twice on the counter he indicated that he wanted a refill. Nethanyel was a quiet person; always collected and controlled. Wise men were strong, calm and reticent, or so his father had taught him. Nevertheless, Nethanyel preferred to be that way, for in a multitude of words sin does not lack.

The bartender turned to Nethanyel, slipping him another drink. It was at a moment like this—when he could sit quietly to enjoy his drink—that Nethanyel thanked the heavens that he was a mere child during the Prohibition. Now, a man could enjoy a hard drink after a long day’s work.

Nethanyel could hear someone stumbling in, drunk and disorderly. This was nothing new. Things like this happened in bars all the time. What happened next was new however. The man who had barged in obnoxiously called, “Bartender, pour me a cold one, would ya?” Nethanyel considered that the man had a funny accent, but could not place it and furthermore said nothing. He didn’t so much as turn around to acknowledge the drunken bastard.

The bartender poured the stranger his drink, as the man came waltzing over to sit right next to Nethanyel. “You’re not from around here.” the bartender commented matter-of-factly.

“No, my good man. Indeed I’m not,”

“Where from?”

“Far from here, my good sir. Oceans away …” he said as he extended his arm, waving it in one large circle towards the horizon.

“That didn’t answer my question,” the bartender was an older man. I’m too damn old to play “name that accent” with this fool, thought the bartender. So he kept his conversations straight and to the point.

“Ah, well,” the odd stranger commented with a subtlety that made the words slip off his tongue, “I am from New Zealand, mate.”

“Why you callin’ me ‘mate’? You don’t even know me.” the bartender said in an unvarnished tone then turned his back to the drunkard.

Feeling the awkwardness of the moment the man’s eye shot to the floor and then looked around the room, lifting his glass to whom ever made eye contact with him. Tilting his body’s weight into Nethanyel, he murmured, “Lively crowd we got here.” sarcasm absolute.

“Mhm.” Nethanyel hummed. Why must idiots like this insist on bugging me? Nethanyel pondered, then attempted to turn away from the man. No luck.

“Well …” the man huffed “it must be the weather then,” thinking his comeback was funny. It wasn’t. Extending his hand towards Nethanyel and offering a handshake, the inebriated man attempted to introduce himself. Nethanyel was in no mood for chit-chat, formalities, or anything of the sort. Nethanyel grabbed his drink, offering his back as a response to the drunk nitwit’s attempt.

Not catching on to the hint, the inebriated fellow maneuvered his already extended hand to Nethanyel’s shoulder and patted it, then continued with his conversation, “Jax here. Nice to meet you.” Then intentionally talked through his teeth, “Not that I actually met you, or anybody else for that matter. Wow! And I thought that Louisiana was a friendly place. You know? Considering the Mardi Gras and all.”

By now Nethaniel was very uncomfortable, so he stood up, taking his drink along with him and sat a few feet away. Attempting to find a new chatting partner Jax, the intoxicated New Zealander, turned to the bartender once more and asked cynically, “So are parties this lively all the time?”

“Just about.” the bartender replied with a nod. Noticing that Jax wasn’t going to give up on trying to form conversation he asked, “What brings you to Louisiana? It’s not Mardi Gras season.”

“Yes, yes. That I’m well aware of, mate. I’ve actually come to America to do some research. Louisiana, is merely where the boat docked. So, here I am. Tah-dah!”

“Oh.” was all the bartender replied, not once asking Jax to elaborate. Truth be told, he wasn’t even interested.

Jax continued, “You see, I’m doing some research on the moon. There is an old legend where I’m from that talks about the moon. However, I’m told that there are more resources here than there are back home. I intend on finding those resources and taking full advantage of them. The moon really is quite interesting, actually.”

Nethanyel’s ears tuned into Jax’s conversation. The moon? Yeah, that’s what he said, Nethanyel thought. Picking up his glass he walked back over to Jax.

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Want more?

Then come and get your copy of “Nethanyel’s Lady Lune” by Author C. Desert Rose!

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Cover Reveal – Night Dreams 6 SOUL REAPER

ND6SOUL REAPER, the 6th episode in the Night Dreams series will be released October 30th, just in time for Halloween. Soul Reaper connects the cliffhanger in the fifth episode, and takes us further into the lives of Michael and Sarah and reveals how Joseph begins to lose control of his gift, putting everyone in danger. The three must work together to solve the mystery and evil of the beast stalking Patterson Lake and the souls taken over the last hundred years. This episode brings us one book closer to the seventh and final episode of the series. As always, each episode is a novella with 20,000 to 25,000 words each.

Keep writing, keep reading!

ALJ

“A Quick Take” With Author, Y. Correa

Welcome, All, to my new interview series, “A Quick Take”

I will be doing interviews with authors I either follow, like or don’t even know – so that should about cover all of them! The idea is to get to know a different side of them. Some questions have been asked before and some not, while others allow us to get to know the author on a more personal note. AQT is only 7 questions, followed by the – one-word only – answers in the Rapid Fire section.

It is always fun to answer questions in an interview, but I am finding, asking the questions can just as fun.

First up is, Y. Correa, multi-genre author of several short stories and novels. And as a bonus…her ebook MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis is FREE through Sunday the 27th!

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1.  We all get inspiration from different people, places or things, but which person (author or not) has inspired or influenced you most to get creative and become a writer?

This is a great question. I cannot say for sure that my inspiration has come from a person. I find that my inspiration comes from other things, places and situations. It’s odd, because for the most part, authors are inspired by people. I, however, am inspired by the things that surround me—Sounds, smells, circumstances. Also, science and history, which I love. Things of that sort.

 2.  If you could sit down with one person, dead or alive, famous or not, and have dinner with them, who would it be and why?

It would be my Abuela (my grandmother). She passed away 22 years ago and I miss her more than words can say. She was my everything and a true saint. She may not have been famous, but she was more than enough for me. It would be her because I would love to hear what she would have to say about my accomplishments in life. I would also love to hug and kiss her and tell her how much I love and miss her.

3.  Of your stories or books, which is your favorite? Tell the readers why…

Woooow! Good question. I have favorites that I haven’t even completed yet, and some that I have. From my completed stories, I’d have to say I have two that I adore.

erath882cover“Earth 8-8-2: The Genesis Project”. I love this one because I dared to venture into a mash-up of genres that most cannot marry well. It’s a Science Fiction, Paranormal, Thriller, with a tad bit of horror at the end (not anything gory) but just enough to leave the reader with his/her mouth wide open.

ma“MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis” is my other published favorite. This one is also a mash-up (most of my works are). It ventures into the medieval past and explores that notions of true love, romance, history, adventure and paranormal fantasy. The goal of that story was to consider the phrase “Love is the result of all things conquered.”

Then there are my unpublished works.

First there is “Peter Blade”, my first collaborative work with, Mr. A. Lopez Jr, (what!? no one told me lol) and a psychological horror/suspense. This story I love because of the fact that I’m writing it with a fellow author whom I truly admire, and because I am daring to enterprise in a genre that I’ve not tampered with before. I’d like to make a name for myself in this genre, and I believe that “Peter Blade” will accomplish that.

 This story takes place in the not so distant past—the 1970’s—and talks about a serial killer whom the media has dubbed “Peter Blade” although no one really knows his name. The entire story (beginning to end) is narrated during the span on one night. It’s a convoluted mess of flashbacks and events taking place at that very moment. However, I can assure you that the action never stops. It’s intense!

“Genesis Ellipse …” I love this story because I dare to venture into a number of religions and folklore, science, history, even arithmetical figures, utilizing it to tell a Science Fiction tale—or retelling, if you will—of the story of Adam and Eve. I can promise you that you’ve never read a story like this before.

4.  And from that book or story, can you give us your favorite passage or quote.

From all of them? Whoa! Okay. Here we go.

“Earth 8-8-2: The Genesis Project”

Walls pulverized, the ground crepitated upwards beforehand, then concaved, creating gaps of pavement that slowly descended into the abyss below.

“MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis”

The sisterhood were an alluvion of transcendental beings which flooded the room in a tsunami of vengeance.

“Peter Blade”

The sun began to peak over the horizon, his father now crouched on the ground in front of the smoking embers, exhausted and surrendering to the fate of his home and wife. Still Papo stood and stared.

“Genesis Ellipse …”

Tranquility. Peace incarnate. Serenity and docility—all married together in the form the flawless absolution of the timber filled pasture in which they basked. Paragon was the transcendental plenitude of the vastness of valleys and plains which surrounded them.

5.  Some authors can create their stories as they come to them, without any personal attachment; How personal is your writing?

Very! To me writing is a form of art. What artist do you know that doesn’t consider his/her works a piece of their soul? None, that I know of.

That is what my stories mean to me. They are an extension of me, therefore they become incredibly real to me. The characters become my best friends, or family members. Unfortunately, I do not have the knack for detaching myself from my stories, for they represent who and what I am.

6.  As writers, we all have our routines or quirks. As you sit down to create, do your words flow better listening to music (who?) or do you prefer dead silence?

This is a fantastic question!

My method varies from book to book, and day to day.

Sometimes, I need music. (Thank heavens for Pandora. LOL) The music I listen to is completely contingent on what I am writing at any given time. Other times, I need utter silence. This happens when I am in the middle of a scene that requires meticulous research and/or narrative.

Sometimes, I have to have the television on as background noise.

It all really depends. It’s never the same for me, and I think it’s because I depend highly on “vibe”, this is to say the emotional sensation/feedback of my characters. So if my characters are feeling sad, I am also. This means that I need soft music … sometimes even chocolate. So on and so forth.

7.  If a movie was made of one of your books (which one), and what actors do you see playing your main characters on the big screen?

That’s another fabulous question!

I would love to see what “MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis” would look like on the big screen. Mostly, because it’s been compared to the likes of “Romeo & Juliet”, “Tristen & Isolde” only with a paranormal twist. It would be incredibly interesting to see how it would pan out on the big screen.

I would cast as follows:

David Bisbal (Spanish Singer) as MarcoAntonio.marco

Amanda Seyfried as Amaryllis/Mother Haydie. Although, she may have to gain a few pounds. LOL. Oh, and learn an English accent.ama

Admittedly, I am not certain who would play the roles of Aishé and Damian, but I’m positive that I’d know them when I saw them.

Nevertheless, I must be honest here. I am a bit of a control freak—true story. So, if movie producers tried to change, alter in any fashion or cut any parts of the story out, then I wouldn’t do it. The movie would have to be just as good as the book, or it’s a no go.

Rapid Fire – One-Word Answers

Vanilla or chocolate?

Chocolate!

Cold or hot weather?

Cold!

Coffee, tea or …?

Coffee.

Fuzzy or tube socks?

Fuzzy.

Do you make the bed in the morning, or say “screw it”?

Screw it. (ß … Wait! Technically, that’s two words. Did I fail the test? LOL.)

 Be honest…have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on inside out?

 Yes. LOL.

Before we let you get back to your creative writing lab, do you have any upcoming works you care to share with the readers?

 I have several works brewing in the lab.

 “Peter Blade”, which I already spoke of.

“Genesis Ellipse …” which I mentioned already too.

The 2nd installment of “MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis” which does not have a title as of yet.

The 2nd installment of “Earth 8-8-2”.

“A.L.O.M.” the novel.

And, an entire slew of short stories and anthology pieces. LOL.

My mind is never quiet. LOL.

There you have it! I hope you had fun learning something you may have not known about, Y. Correa.

To learn more about Y. check out her webpage or the rest of her works on her Amazon page. Twitter Facebook

“Malevolence” – Night Dreams 5 ~ Cover Reveal and Release Date

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Night Dreams #5 Malevolence Cover Reveal and release date: June 1st at all eBook retailers and soon in print.

“Something evil lurks in those woods.”

Malevolence introduces new characters into the series, namely a ten-year-old boy named, Michael. His bike rides into the woods opens a door to a beautiful and fascinating world…at first. But it becomes a world he wishes he’d never unveiled. The only good thing about the woods is, Sarah – a girl he meets, around his age, who tries to help him understand the true meaning of the dark side of the woods. Michael begins to have strange visions and violent nightmares, leading his parents to seek help.

The line of help eventually leads to Father Lombardi, who in turn, reaches out to his good friend, Dr. Joseph Rickettes. Joseph finds himself dealing with his own recurring nightmare about Andrea, which seems to never end. After hearing Michael’s account of his dreams, things move fast and Joseph unknowingly opens another portal into the dark and evil world that took his wife’s life. A dark and violent world, he is not sure he is ready to face again.

Short Story Spotlight: Mind Games by A. Lopez Jr.

Da’ Kharta Rising was kind enough to have me on her blog and take a behind-the-scenes look into my short story “Mind Games” from my collection of the macabre, “Purgatory”.

Cave of a Slightly Anti-Social Socialite

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A. Lopez, Jr.
Website “The Multi-Genre Project”
Twitter @acehilink
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“Mind Games”, part of Purgatory
Book Baby (multiple outlets)

Blurb

In the spirit of King, Laymon, Little, and Keene comes a collection of 13 tales of horror and the macabre. In the name of research, a world-famous horror author spends the night alone in one of the most haunted houses in the land, “Ritter House”, only to discover that reality is much more horrific than fiction. In “Road Trip”, a man must travel across state lines to identify his brother’s dead body and drive him home in the back of his station wagon to a mortuary run by a dead man. A man has 2 hours to try and prevent a catastrophe in the building that his wife works in. Only, he can’t recall how or why, his only clue is the recurring nightmare he had 2 hours earlier. The…

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