Eden's Gate

Just sent back to Midnight Showcase the final Errata of Seeds of Chaos, Book One. It should be available some time next week. So keep on checking http://midnightshowcase.com/
I’m taking a two-week holiday with no access to a computer, so I won’t be around when it will be published. Darn, the suspense is killing me. I’ve been waiting a long time to see the book in print. I started writing it a few years back, put it aside, worked on some other stuff, then I picked it up again. When it was finally finished it was too long for one book. I enjoyed writing it, but everything has to come to an end at some time. Book Two, Hell’s Gate, will be published in April.

Here is an excerpt from Book One:

We headed for our first destination, a system not far from Korillia. It took us a couple of days to get there. I was in one of three transport-shuttles, all of them full of heavily armed men. I wondered if they dragged me into some kind of war.
Our shuttle landed beside a settlement of considerable size. The houses were plain, mainly single story buildings of simple design. The area around the settlement looked desolate. Nothing seemed to grow except for some kind of tall, purple multi-leafed plant. I recognized the plant.
Mexacline.
The bulbous roots held the hallucinogenic substance in almost pure form. A natural drug that needed very little processing. Expensive on the market and dangerous to use.
Landry, the leader of our party of twelve men was a big brute with a wild beard and a bald head. He looked us over with little pig’s eyes as we stepped from the shuttle.
“Hey, you,” he addressed me. “You’re the new guy. I’m supposed to watch you, but I don’t have time for that. Behave yourself and don’t get into any trouble. Carry your weapon always in sight…remember that. We are not exactly welcome here. These people are dangerous, ruthless, and rebellious. They’ll kill you if you give them a chance. If in doubt, shoot first, and then talk. Understood?”
“I think so,” I said. I had misgiving about this whole thing, but I had no choice but to go along, realizing from the beginning that I took part in a raid.
We were met by a group of twenty men and eight women. They blocked the road into the town. The weapons they carried might as well have been wooden clubs, compared to the weapons we had.
“We can’t give you anything this time,” said one of the two men who stepped into our path.
“You don’t say? Who gives you authority to speak for this town?” Landry asked him. I noticed the way he held his laser-pistol.
The man drew himself erect. “My name is William Carrel. I am the new mayor of Blacktown.”
“Well, well, I am just so pleased to meet you.” Landry made a mock bow. “And who are you?” He gave the other man a long stare.
“I am the new chief of police. The name’s Burrows. We have decided to make a few rules here. From now on, you will pay us for what you take. No more free merchandise!”
“Listen, little man,” Landry spoke coldly and without emotion, “you don’t make the rules here, we do.”
“What gives you the right to come here and rob us blind?” Carrel’s said boldly, unable to hide the tremor in his voice. The man was scared, but he bravely stood his ground. I knew what was coming, but found myself unable to stop it, because I couldn’t afford to put myself and the mission in jeopardy.
“This!” Landry said, lifted his gun and shot the man. More shots fell, and before the people standing behind their mayor could even react, five men and two women lay dead.
“Anybody else wants to object?” Landry waved his laser-pistol, aimed it at another man. “You maybe?”

Seeds of Chaoes, Cover

Here is the new cover as created by Mae Powers

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. Hard to believe it is the year 2007. Let’s hope it brings more good things than bad ones. For us the year 2006 ended with a snowstorm, but what else is new? This is Manitoba, Canada, we’re used to it. Saddam Hussein is dead. Will it change anything in the world? I doubt it. His death will not stop the killings in that part of the world. I will never understand why people hate each other just because they believe in something different, or because their color of skin or shape of the eye is not the same. Difference is what makes our world colorful and exiting. How boring would it be if everyone believed the same thing, ate the same foods, looked the same, read and wrote the same stuff? That’s why it is so important that we read and write, educate each other, open our minds, learn and experience new things. One question I ask myself a lot. Why is it always religion that spawns this evil? I was taught that to be religious is good. Is it? Somewhere I heard once that no atheist ever murdered another human being for his religion. There is some truth to that. Killing another human being is murder, not matter what the reason.
When I woke up this morning the following ’Words of Wisdom’ popped into my head and I wrote them down. I don’t claim all of them are original, but I believe they are valid.

To be timid is to fail.
No success comes to the one who doesn’t try.
Speak to be heard, stay silent and be ignored.
Only a fool swims against the stream.
To reach the end one must begin.
To give up is the way of the coward.
Acting the fool makes you one.
Loves comes to the one who gives it, so does Hate.
An evil act does not spawn a good act.
Even a tiny spark can produce a large flame.
To deny the truth is to lie.
Even the tallest tree was once a tiny seed.
To give in does not show weakness, to be stubborn, does.
To try does not guarantee success, but not to try guarantees failure.
To give is to receive.
Lie and you shall be lied to.
A cheater is a liar
To be trusted one must show his true face, to hide behind a mask invites mistrust.
To forgive doesn’t mean one is forgiven.

But enough philosophizing. Book One of ’Seeds of Chaos’ may be available from Midnight Showcase as early as a week from now.

Finished

Just put the finishing touches on my story 'A Taste of Paradise'. It reached 16,767 words. I sent it in this morning to Midnight Showcase. I proof-read it a couple of times, and now I skipped over it again and already discovered two mistakes. I guess I'll correct those when the final edit comes. Now I should be able to relax for a while, but I can't. I have to get busy with editing 'Seeds of Chaos, Book 2, which is due to be published in April. Book One will be out in January. And I'm still not finished with the book I worked on before I started A Taste of Paradise. That book is 'Mark of the Cobra'. I'm afraid it will have to wait a little longer. It is almost done, but after that comes the editing and correcting of mistakes.
It will be a busy year 2007, but I'm looking forward to it.

A Taste of Paradise

I'm almost finished with my story 'A Taste of Paradise', which I'm writing for the digest 'Men of Eros', due to be published in March 2007 by Midnight Showcase. It turns out it will be a little longer than anticipated. I'm up to 15,200 words now. That happens sometimes. At first it seems I don't know what to write, but once I start with the story it begins to almost write itself. It's weird. I had this one already laid out in my head, but it went its own way. The basic outline is still the same, but the story changed. I think it turned out better.

Here is an excerpt:

Parker followed her as she gingerly walked across the overgrown sidewalk, careful not step into the cracks with her high-heeled red shoes. The wooden steps creaked dangerously when they climbed them. While Ms. Hanover fiddled with the rusted lock, Parker studied the veranda, which ran along the front of the whole house. The boards looked rotten, also in need of repair, as did the railing.
The rusty hinges of the entrance door screamed in protest when Ms. Hanover pushed it open.
“Nothing a few drops of DW40 can’t fix,” she said and stepped across the threshold into the vestibule.
A tepid odor assaulted Parker’s nose and even Ms. Hanover held her breath.
“When was the last time a living being set foot into this place?” Parker asked.
Ms. Hanover shrugged. “Fifteen years?” She let out a little yelp and clawed at the spider web covering her face.
“Really?”
“Just kidding.” She spit something out of her mouth and laughed bravely. The couple I told you about lived here about ten years ago. After they left it stood empty. The River East Holding Company sends someone to check it over at least once every couple of months.” She shrieked when something ran across her foot.
“They must have missed it for the last few months, possibly years,” Parker commented dryly.
Ms. Hanover flicked a light-witch, but nothing happened. “I haven’t been inside the house ever since Mrs. Applebee died.” She smiled uncomfortably. “You’ll have to look past the dust and spider webs. Like I said, we can have this place cleaned up in no time at all.”
“I’m not worried about cleaning it up,” Parker said. “How long until the whole place collapses on top of me?”
“I don’t believe that will happen. These homes are well built. They used good lumber in those days.” Ms. Hanover peered into the next room, reluctant to enter it. “I think the kitchen is through this door. I was told it has new cabinets.”
“New? How new?”
“Mrs. Applebee had them installed just before she passed away. So I’m told.” She sighed. “Poor woman. Didn’t even have time to enjoy them. What a bummer.”
“In other words they’re at least sixteen years old. Who knows what has taken up residence in those drawers.” Parker shook his head. “I don’t know. I had something more modern in mind.”
Ms. Hanover gave a little laugh. With a sudden movement she slapped at something on her neck. “You won’t find it in this town. Unless you want to move into one of those condos down by the river.”
“No, thank you. No condo for me. I want to get away from people. I need some solitude for my work.”
“Your work? I never asked what you did for a living. What do you do, Darrin?”
“I’m a writer. I write horror stories.” He chuckled. “This house could be a great setting for one of my stories. Does it have any ghosts?”
Ms. Hanover threw him a quick glance. He couldn’t miss the slight tremor in her voice when she answered. “Would you like to have some ghosts in this house?”
“Not particularly, but as it happens, I don’t really believe in ghosts, even though I write about them.”
“Good, because rumors have it, there are strange things going on in this old house. At least there were until a few years ago. Haven’t heard anything lately.” She forced a little laugh. “Those are just rumors. Teenagers, you know. And Mrs. Dawson, your neighbor. But she’s old and a little crazy, anyway. Wouldn’t put much faith into her stories.”
Parker stepped over some debris on the floor. When he looked down he thought they were dried-up sausages. He didn’t want to think what else they could be. “I’ll have a look around in the kitchen.”
The cabinets did actually look quite descent. Dusty, but solid. He couldn’t see many details because of the dark curtains on the window. There was a door at the end of the kitchen. “I guess there is a basement?” he called over his shoulder.
“Yes, there is. I don’t know where the door is, though.”
“I believe I found it, but I won’t go down there. We should have brought a flashlight.”
“How about checking out the bedrooms upstairs?” Ms. Hanover called. Her voice sounded strained.
“Alright.” Parker left the kitchen and joined her in the foyer.
Every step creaked when they climbed the stairs, but they seemed solid enough.
“The wood is dry,” Ms. Hanover commented. “Once you live in the house and create some humidity, I’m sure the wood will come alive again.”
It’ll take more than humidity, Parker thought, but kept it to himself.
The bedrooms were actually quite large, with built-in closets. Many of these old homes had small bedrooms without closets.
I could use this one as my study, Peter thought as he inspected one of the smaller rooms. Walking to the window, he peered through the spider webs and dust. He saw large apple trees in the back yard, laden with fruit. Beyond them a number of tall, stately Elm trees.
A fence surrounded the small orchard. The boards looked gray and weathered, some of them broken, pushed in by someone from the other side. Most likely vandals.

Seeds of Chaos, Excerpt

Here is an excerpt from Book One of Seeds of Chaos

The village lay on the shore of a frozen lake. The strong wind blew the snow off the ice, and the rays of the setting sun painted the glinting ice red. I saw a pair of fishermen pulling small sleds behind them, on their way back to shore. Everything looked very peaceful.
Sharina and Kabrina had disappeared into one of the buildings. A sign above the door proclaimed it a tavern. Who would have guessed? The only tall building in this forsaken place, and the drunk falling out of the door should have been a dead giveaway.
There were two air-sleds parked in the small parking lot, they held no markings, but they gave me the shivers. These were no ordinary air-sleds.
I followed the girls into the tavern.
The place didn’t look crowded, no surprise, considering the size of the village. The surprise came with the man sitting at one of the tables. He didn’t wear a uniform. However, the man with him did. I recognized the uniform and the insignia on the man’s left sleeve. A high-ranking officer in the United Planet’s Space Navy.
I approached the table slowly.
“Hello, Thomas, good to see you again.”
“Admiral,” I said, but I didn’t salute.
He smiled. “We had a hard time tracking you down, son,” he said.
“Had I known you wanted my company, I would have left you a note, Father,” I said. No, I was not bitter.
He sighed. “I can’t blame you if you hate me.” He indicated the empty chair across from him. “Sit down.”
I shrugged and sat down.
“This is Colonel Voltaire,” Admiral Curtis said.
The Colonel gave me a courteous nod. “Pleased to meet you, Commodore Stone. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I’m sure you have. You can drop the ‘Commodore’. I’m just plain ‘Thomas Stone’. I don’t believe they missed to mention that small detail when you were briefed about me.”
Colonel Voltaire smiled thinly. “I am aware of your situation, Commodore. I know that you have been discharged without honor from the Service. I also know that there are people out there who want you dead. You are the victim of a conspiracy, Commodore, but you know that already.”
He possessed hard eyes, this colonel, they showed no pity, but they were honest.
“You didn’t come here to tell me that you feel sorry for the way I was treated, Colonel. What do you want from me?” I glanced at Admiral Curtis, but his face remained passive.
The Colonel laughed. “Coming right to the matter, Commodore. I like that.”
“It’s been a long day and I am very tired.” I said. “I need a meal, a bath and a good night’s rest.”
“We have made arrangements for a room where you can sleep safely. You won’t have to fear for your life tonight, you’ll be well guarded.”
My turn to laugh. “Are you afraid I’m going to escape?” I asked. I had seen the two Colonial Marines at one table and the two Special Troopers at another.
“You are not a prisoner, Thomas.” Admiral Curtis said. “By the way, your mother sends her regards. She misses you.”
“I miss her too,” I said, speaking the truth, especially since we hadn’t seen much of each other for the last two years.
“You shouldn’t have left.” The Admiral said softly. I always thought of him as just The Admiral, even though he was my stepfather. We had been close, or so I thought. After I was court-martialed, he buried himself in his work, refused to see me when I attempted to contact him.
“I feared for my life,” I said. “They murdered everyone else. Why not me, why was I humiliated like that?”
He stared at me. I saw the pain in his eyes. “Because you are my son, that’s why. I am not very popular with certain people, but I am in a position of power; they cannot get rid of me that easily. You were the more convenient target.”
“That may be true, but there is more to it, isn’t there?”
He nodded. “You carry dangerous knowledge inside your head.”

After Author Day

I successfully survived my Author Day. It went well. I gave away quite a few copies of my book ‘Daughter of the Dark’ to the winners of my contests. There were not as many visitors as I would have liked, but the ones who came took an interest in my writings.
I finally finished my short story (15K) ‘The Kiir’ for the digest ‘Launch the Raunch’ and sent it in and I have written about two thousand words for my next short story ‘A Taste of Paradise’.
Some writers plan their story from beginning to end before they start writing it. Scenes and characters are in place and the story just needs to be fleshed out. I found out, again, that it doesn’t really work for me. I had this story already in my head, all mapped out, but as I started to write it and the characters (so far only two main characters) and the setting came alive, it began to go its own way. It was supposed to be an adventure/love story. Not anymore. The mood is totally different and it looks like it is going to be a gothic-type story. I’m not sure yet. We’ll see where the characters want to go. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it, but that’s the way it works. That is what makes writing so interesting and exciting. Like reading a book, almost. I could never be a ‘formula writer’. I have to follow the flow, wherever it leads me.
Maybe I’ll take my other idea and write that story some other time. I just have to find a different beginning.
I noticed quite some activity on my blog this last week. 76 visitors. I hope everyone who visits me takes something away with them. Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by. Come again.

Upcoming releases

These are my upcoming releases from Midnight Showcase

January 2007 Book One of ‘Seeds of Chaos’
January 2007 Novelette: ‘Cliffs of Time’

March 2007 Novelette: ‘Orion, The Hunt’
March 2007 Title forthcoming, Short Story for ‘Men of Eros’Digest

April 2007 ‘For Love of Arilee’, Short Story for ‘Sweet Challenge’ Digest
April 2007 ‘The Kiir’, Short Story for ‘Launch the Raunch’ Digest
April 2007 Book Two of ‘Seeds of Chaos’

October 2007 Book One of ‘The Stardogs’

January 2008 Book Two of ‘The Stardogs’

It’s going to be a busy year. I still have to write the short story for ‘Men of Eros’, but I have it already in my head. The tentative title is ‘A Taste of Paradise’. And I need to do the final edit of Book Two of ‘Seeds of Chaos’. All this before the end of the year. I hope I’ll make it.
The book I’m writing right now ‘Mark of the Cobra’, a Thriller, is almost done, but I had to put it on the back burner for awhile.

See you on Author Day. Hope you come and visit, maybe even ‘chat’ with me.

Author Day

December 1st is my Author Day at Midnight Showcase.
There will be excerpts from my books and short stories. Also some contests and prizes. That’s right: Free stories and books.
Anyone reading my blog (I mean, really reading everything) has already an advantage. Some of the answers can be found right here. If you want to take part you’ll have to join the yahoo group (it’s free) to get access to the postings.
This is the site address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Midnight_Social/
Come visit me there December 1st, 2006. The first contest starts at 8:00 am. The answer is below.
You’ll have to send the answers to my email address: hegro@shaw.ca

Living the Dream

Living the Dream

Book One of ‘The Xandra’ has picked up in sales, but Book Three ‘Goddess of Life’ didn’t do as well as I hoped. Maybe after my Author Day some interest will be kindled again.
I’m still trying to find out what readers like to read and buy. What type of story turns them on? I’m not really into love stories. I love Science Fiction, but there has to be adventure, mystery, and some erotica. It’s just a matter of finding the right balance.
Before my first story was published I sent another story of mine (Blood of the Virgin, still unpublished) to a couple of publishers. They didn’t accept it because it didn’t fit their type of stories.
Then I sent ‘The Anniversary Gift’ to Midnight Showcase for the Sweet Revenge Digest. It was accepted. I was thrilled.
The story was an experiment, not really the kind of stuff I usually write. I got lucky. Jewel Adams, who is now my editor, liked it and all my other writings.
Then followed ‘Remember me Next Christmas’, the three Xandra books, and the short story ‘Gin and Tonic’.
There is a whole bunch of stuff coming out next year.
Like my son told me. I’m living the Dream.

Update Book Three, The Xandra

I am excited and anxious. The Goddess of Life is at number three position at Fictionwise.
http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/MidnightShowcaseeBooks.htm
Maybe it will make it to number one. Unfortunately, Book Two never made it that far.
Other news, I just finished the final edit on The Seeds of Chaos, Book One, Eden's Gate. It is scheduled for release in Januare 2007.
The book I'm working on right now is not Science Fiction, but a Thriller. The Mark of the Cobra. So far I've written a little over 51,000 words and still a bit to go. I'll post an excerpt later on.

Release of The Xandra, Goddess of Life

The day has arrived. Book Three of the Xandra series is available now from Midnight Showcase. http://www.midnightshowcase.com/ Check it out and read the excerpt. While you're at it check out the first two books, if you haven't done so already.
The beautiful cover was designed by Mae Powers.

 

Sales at Fictionwise

How quickly it happens. Last week The Xandra, Book Two, Mother of Light was at Number five position. Today, when I checked it, I find to my disappointment that it has dropped to Number 16. But Book One, Daugther of the Dark, is Number 15. I can only hope that when Book Three, Goddess of Light comes out in October, it will spawn some interest in the first two volumes.
If you happen to check out Midnight Showcase at http://www.midnightshowcase.com/ you won't find Book Two, even though it is being advertised in the banner at the top. Some glitch when they updated the site. I hope it will be fixed soon. You can find the books also at http://www.dppstore.com/ (look under Authors, then click on my name) or at
http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/MidnightShowcaseeBooks.htm/
Right now I'm working on a short novella, which I wrote years ago, but now I'm re-writing it, because I liked the story, but it needs a lot of editing, since it is not just for my own eyes only. It is, what else, SciFi with erotic content. So far the title is 'Orion-The Hunt'. It will be 30,000+ words when it is finished.
Here is a short excerpt. Warning: sexual content.
Orion woke in the middle of the night to find Sheenah gone. He slightly opened up his senses, carefully searching for her mind pattern. Even her artificial mind shield couldn’t suppress it completely. A strong telepath could easily find her. He detected her almost immediately, which meant she was alive and close by. And in no danger.
He relaxed and pulled back his mind tentacles, falling asleep again.
When he awoke a second time and she still wasn’t beside him, he quietly crawled out of his tent. The air felt sticky inside the cave and smelled foul. At least he didn’t have to worry about insects attacking his nude body, since Giles had set up a light power screen to seal off the entrance.
From one of the tents came soft whimpering sounds and harsh breathing. Through the nearly transparent material, illuminated by the faint nightlight, he could see the outlines of a female body kneeling on the floor. A man, he recognized the profile of Andrew Trongsan, loomed over her, his lean buttocks pumping with strong powerful strokes.
Orion shrugged. He had no monopoly on the cat-woman’s favors. She could do as she pleased. I guess I didn’t satisfy her, he thought and went back to his tent, to find it occupied.
“I thought I’d visit you, since you are obviously alone.”
He stared at the blond woman. “What about Whyte?”
Lu-oona lifted her shapely shoulders, shaking her long golden hair out of her eyes. “He’s asleep. These last few days have been too much for him. He is exhausted, which suits me just fine.”
Orion crawled under the thin blanked and lay down beside her. “Did you come to talk?” He felt her warm skin touching his.
She smiled, reached up and switched off the nightlight. He caught a glimpse of her full round breasts and pink nipples before they were plunged in darkness. Her breath came faster and her long hair fell across his face as she slid on top of him. “We can talk later, let’s get to know each other better first.”
Her hot breath washed across his face. It hinted of perfume and flowery scents. His hand stroked her smooth back and moved across her fleshy buttocks, his finger gliding into the crease. He enjoyed the soft and spongy feeling of her large breasts against his chest.

News

It's September. I can't believe it. This coming Friday is beginning of Fall. I guess this means the hot days are over. Time to read a good book and a hot story to warm up. Summer Heat 3 from Midnight Showcase has toppled from Number One, but that doesn't mean it's not a good read. My story 'Gin and Tonic' is in that digest, among other excellent hot stories.
A little disappointment, Book Two, The Xandra, Mother of Light, never reached Number One spot . It is down to Number Five right now. Book One, Daughter of the Dark, is still selling well. Last I checked it was at spot thirteen. Book Three, Goddess of Life, should be available in October. I've done the last edit on it. So look for it.
I sent in another story of 21,000 words, a novella, I guess, to Midnight Showcase. It's a time travel story, 'The Cliffs of Time'. I also sent in my new book 'The Stardogs' to Midnight Showcase. I've received word that it will be accepted, but I haven't signed any contracts yet. The book is over 120,000 words long, so it will be published as two volumes. The first title is 'Return to Redsky', and the title of the second volume will be 'Redemption'.
Once I have more details about the publishing dates I will post it here. Maybe I'll even post an excerpt.
Check all of my books and stories at http://www.midnightshowcase.com

Reflections

Anyone asking me why I write might as well ask why I breathe.
Why erotica? That’s a little harder to answer. Actually, I write mainly Science Fiction, with erotic contents.
A friend of mine, after reading my book ‘Daughter of the Dark’, kept snickering about the sex-scenes. I was happy he liked them but I hope my readers see more in my books and stories than the erotic scenes.
Writing can be used as a vehicle for many things. It can be entertaining, arousing, thought provoking, teaching. Not only for the reader but also for the writer. To write a convincing story, a writer has to do research, has to be familiar with the topic he/she writes about.
I like writing Science Fiction because that’s a milieu I’m comfortable with. I’ve been reading Science Fiction novels ever since I discovered SF as a teenager. I don’t remember the first book or story, but the great SF authors Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Philip José Farmer, Poul Anderson, Leigh Brackett, Andre Norton, A. E. van Vogt, Jack Williamson, they all created worlds and stories of such wonder I could never get enough of them. After awhile just reading wasn’t enough, so I started to create my own worlds and peopled them with my own characters.
There are other writers who definitely influenced my writing, like Larry Niven, Roger Zelazny, Jack L. Chalker, Piers Anthony, and even Non-Science Fiction writers, like Mickey Spillane and Norman Mailer.
One of my favorite writers was E. C. Tubb, who created the character Earl Dumarest of Terra, a man from a far future Earth, lost among the stars, searching for his home planet Terra, considered a myth. After over twenty novels, he still hadn’t found his home world. I don’t know if he ever did.
I didn’t read only Sci-Fi. There was a time when I read nothing but Sword-and-Sorcery. Authors like Robert E. Howard (Conan), Karl Edward Wagner (Kane), Lin Carter, and Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan, Carson of Venus, John Carter of Mars) were among my favorites.
In the late 1960s, Berkley Publishing printed a number of books by Ted Mark (a pseudonym for Ted Gottfried). The first of many titles was ‘The man from O.R.G.Y.’, definitely erotica, but not as explicit as the stuff one can download these days from e-publishers. I read most of them and enjoyed them. Some of the material probably stayed in my head and might influence my writing today, who knows. Everything one reads will leave some residue behind.
I don’t write anymore for just my own entertainment. Now I’d like to share my imaginary worlds with others. I hope that I can bring to my readers at least some of the sense of wonder and excitement I found when I read the stories from my favorite authors. If I can do that I have achieved my goal and my dream.

News flash

I'm all excited. I checked out Fictionwise and found that my book 'Mother of Light' has moved from number 7 to spot number 3 and 'Daughter of the Dark' is at number 11. Still selling. I'm hoping to make Number One again with 'Mother of Light'.
The digest 'Summer Heat 3' from Midnightshowcase, which contains my story 'Gin and Tonic', has reached the number one spot.
Another bit of news. I finished editing Book Three of 'The Xandra, Goddess of Life' and sent it back to Midnight Showcase. The book is scheculed for release in October.
I also finished my story 'The Stardogs', a 119,000+ erotic SciFi novel. I'm not quiete sure what to do with it. Should I send it in as one book or should I make two books out of it?
You can buy my books at http://www.midnightshowcase.com/
or at http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/MidnightShowcaseeBooks.htm
or at http://www.dppstore.com/ go to Author, find my name on the list and click on it.
Happy hunting.

The Xandra books at Fictionwise

I just checked the site Fictionwise and I saw that Book Two, Mother of Light, is at spot number 7 and Book One, Daughter of the Dark, has fallen from number 11 to number 15, but still good.
Summer Heat 3, which contains my story 'Gin and Tonic' is at spot number 3.
Actually, I'm a little disappointed with the sales of Book Two. But it is just beginning. Hopefully it will do as well as Book One. I think 'Mother of Light' turned out better than 'Daughter of the Dark'. But that is just my opinion. It would be nice to get some feedback from readers.
Go, check it out at http://www.midnightshowcase.com/ or go to Fictionwise.

The Xandra, Book Two, Mother of Light

Book Two of 'The Xandra', Mother of Light' is available now from Midnight Showcase
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/

I'm just so happy with the cover. The artist Jinger Heaston did such a marvelous job, even better than the first one 'Daughter of the Dark'. That book is still available from Midnight Showcase.
Book Two is a continuation of Book One, except the events take place a thousand years in the future of Book One. There is no need to read Book One, but it makes it easier to understand Book Two.


 

Gin and Tonic, an excerpt

Here is a little appetizer for you from my story 'Gin and Tonic'

The sun burned hot on her skin; even the strong wind that blew in from the ocean didn’t cool it down. It was a perfect day for windsurfing. She watched the many multicolored sails skimming the high waves, like giant butterfly wings.
Only a few people braved the surf, but they seemed to have a great time as they let themselves be carried back to shore when a wave lifted them up.
It looked like fun and Ginger decided to join them.
She had bought herself a new bikini. Maybe it was s little skimpy, but she didn’t care. It felt strange to wear only a thong; she’d never been this bold.
The water was warm. The first wave was stronger than she had anticipated and it slammed her face down into the rough sand and beneath the water. Rolling, she tried to get up and almost managed, then a second wave bowled her over.
She felt strong hands grabbing her, pulling her to her feet.
“Hang on!” a man’s voice said, “here comes another one.” He held her when she almost lost her balance again. “Too dangerous to be in the water right now,” he said. “Didn’t you see the red flag?” He walked with her back to shore, still holding on to her.
“Thank you,” she said. “I feel real stupid.” She looked at him, recognizing him. “It’s Donald, right?”
“I’m flattered. You remembered my name.” He flashed her a smile.
He looked good in his small trunks. Like one of those cover-models from a men’s magazine. Narrow hips, broad shoulders, marvelous looking chest and great biceps.
“I’ve possibly saved your life,” he said and grinned. “Now I’m responsible for you. You owe me your company at dinner tonight.”
She laughed, still embarrassed. “Alright.”
“Come, I’ll buy you a drink,” he said.
She didn’t bother covering herself up, and neither did he. When they slowly walked to the beach bar, they drew stares from men and women, alike. He must have noticed it, also, because he chuckled. “I think we make a good-looking couple,” he said and looked at her. “You have a nice ass.” He grinned.
She felt heat rise to her cheeks and thought My God, I’m actually blushing. I can’t remember when that happened to me the last time. “Was that a compliment?” she asked

read the whole story in 'Summer Heat 3' from Midnight Showcase at http://www.midnightshowcase.com/

Summer Heat 3

It's been a hot summer and it is getting hotter. Summer Heat 3 is coming out this month. You'll find my story 'Gin and Tonic' in this digest, along with seven other hot stories. Check it out at
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/
I'll let you know when it is ready to be downloaded