Just checked sales at Fictionwise. Stardogs 1 is still not available there. My publisher wants to keep new releases at http://www.midnightshowcase.com/ for a while for sale before they go to Fictionwise, because we hardly make any money from the sales there. The only reason the books are sold at Fictionwise is the fact that readers get to know our books and hopefully, they will visit our site and buy books there in the future. Next year should be better for profits when Midnight Showcase has its own store.
Even though I don’t have a new release with Fictionwise, my books keep on selling. They are moving up and down on the chart. Book 2 of Seeds of Chaos (Hell’s Gate) is at number 8 spot in overall sales in the last 20 days. Not bad. Today it is at number 9. Tomorrow…who knows? Book 1 (Eden’s Gate) is at spot number 23, up from number 50 two days ago. The Xandra series is also in the running with 35, 41, and 50. Last week Book 2 was at number 14.
Dual Visions has slipped to number 62 from number 7 a month ago, but it is still selling. Incidentally, last month Book 1 of the Xandra (Daughter of the Dark), reached position 6 in overall sales. It was at spot 4 exactly a month ago. That’s how the sales weave through the cycles. Quite interesting. It is important to have many books out there to keep all of the books in the reader’s minds. They read one and if they like it, they’ll buy more.
I only wish these sales would be huge numbers, but maybe it will happen some day.
I’m busy re-writing and editing a number of short stories I wrote over the years, featuring Orola, the Warrior Priestess. The first story in the series, The Kiir, has been published in Midnight Raunch it has received a nice review. All of the stories are connected, but they do stand alone. I am planning to have them all published in one volume, which should reach about 60,000 words. They are not sweet romance. I would consider them dark stories, but they always have a happy ending. They contain a lot of erotica and violence but they always have a story to tell. I don’t write erotica or violence for the sake of writing it. They do play a part in the story, sometimes a very important part, but they are not the story.
My book ’Tarnished Valor’ has been put aside for a while until I can get it going again inside my head. Sometimes I do have to take a break from what I’m writing and start something else.
I finished re-writing ’Orion, Symbiont of Passion’, a 56,000 words SciFi novel. I still have to do some editing, and then I’ll send it in to Midnight Showcase. Hektor Orion, the main character, has already been featured in my story ’Orion, the Hunt’, one of the stories in Dual Visions. It will soon be available by itself from Midnight Showcase. The other story ’Cliffs of Time’ will also be sold as a standalone novella. I’ve already seen the covers for both novellas. They look good.
Well, back to writing.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
2007 Deer hunt
It’s been a while since I posted something on my blog. I have a good reason for that. I took my yearly deer hunting trip. For the last twenty years or so I take a week off in November and spend it in the wild, together with my son and four of my friends. During the day we hunt and in the evening we sit in the camper, play cards and talk about the hunt and old times. Over the years we’ve had some great times. This year we didn’t have any snow, other years we’ve had snow coming up to our knees. A little snow is welcome for tracking, in case we don’t put the deer down on the spot.
Some years it is freezing cold and I ask myself what I’m doing freezing my butt off. Other years, like this year, it gets too warm and we worry about the meat spoiling. When it is cold the bears are already sleeping, last year and this year they weren’t, but we didn’t see any, only their droppings.
I had an unexpected treat this year. I saw a bull elk from my stand lumbering across the clearing I hunt. It was unexpected, because their aren’t supposed to be any elk in there. One of my friends was also lucky to see one.
Why do I go deer hunting? Good questions and easy to answer. I like venison and I like the outdoors and the hunt. There is nothing more exciting then being in the bush, a rifle in your hand, and hoping a deer will come by. When it does, you usually have only seconds to react. Rifle up, finding the deer in the scope, lining up the crosshairs and then squeezing the trigger. That is the fun part, then comes the work if you didn’t miss. Gutting. If you only wound the deer, it has to be tracked until it is found. That is the law.
I’ve been fortunate most of the time. I usually put them down with one shot. Most of my deer I shoot at about 350 yards. I shoot a 7mm Remington. I like it because of its low trajectory. My rifle is adjusted to shoot 2 inches higher at 100 yards, which means at that distance I have to aim a little higher.
This year I was not lucky. I had 3 chances, not good, mind you, but not impossible. I noticed too late that I had adjusted my scope down to power 3, instead of power 9. I didn’t shoot a deer, but that is okay, because my son shot 2 nice bucks.
Maybe next year.
It is not only the shooting of a deer that makes the trip successful and enjoyable. That is part of it. Just being out there with nothing to worry about but the weather. No computer, no telephone, no obligations. Time to reflect and time to regenerate. Walking through the dark bush in the early morning to get to my stand. Watching the geese and crows fly overhead. At night, listening to the howling of the coyotes and watching the stars overhead, clearer in the night sky and more visible than at any time in the city, with the lights obscuring the view. Sleeping in a sleeping bag to the sound of a propane heater, waking up, because it is either too hot or too cold. Getting up at 5:30 in the morning to get ready.
Spending time with my son and friends. That’s what it’s all about. I don’t know how many years I can still do it, it is getting harder for me every year to climb into my tree stand. Next year it will have to be re-built. It is rotting away, it won’t be safe next year. I already picked a spot for the new stand.
Some day I won’t be able to do it anymore and that will be a sad time, but by then my grandson (or granddaughter!) will be old enough to take my place and carry on the tradition. Let’s hope there will be enough deer around for them and they will be able to enjoy what I have. I am grateful and thankful for the opportunity and I don’t take it for granted.
Some years it is freezing cold and I ask myself what I’m doing freezing my butt off. Other years, like this year, it gets too warm and we worry about the meat spoiling. When it is cold the bears are already sleeping, last year and this year they weren’t, but we didn’t see any, only their droppings.
I had an unexpected treat this year. I saw a bull elk from my stand lumbering across the clearing I hunt. It was unexpected, because their aren’t supposed to be any elk in there. One of my friends was also lucky to see one.
Why do I go deer hunting? Good questions and easy to answer. I like venison and I like the outdoors and the hunt. There is nothing more exciting then being in the bush, a rifle in your hand, and hoping a deer will come by. When it does, you usually have only seconds to react. Rifle up, finding the deer in the scope, lining up the crosshairs and then squeezing the trigger. That is the fun part, then comes the work if you didn’t miss. Gutting. If you only wound the deer, it has to be tracked until it is found. That is the law.
I’ve been fortunate most of the time. I usually put them down with one shot. Most of my deer I shoot at about 350 yards. I shoot a 7mm Remington. I like it because of its low trajectory. My rifle is adjusted to shoot 2 inches higher at 100 yards, which means at that distance I have to aim a little higher.
This year I was not lucky. I had 3 chances, not good, mind you, but not impossible. I noticed too late that I had adjusted my scope down to power 3, instead of power 9. I didn’t shoot a deer, but that is okay, because my son shot 2 nice bucks.
Maybe next year.
It is not only the shooting of a deer that makes the trip successful and enjoyable. That is part of it. Just being out there with nothing to worry about but the weather. No computer, no telephone, no obligations. Time to reflect and time to regenerate. Walking through the dark bush in the early morning to get to my stand. Watching the geese and crows fly overhead. At night, listening to the howling of the coyotes and watching the stars overhead, clearer in the night sky and more visible than at any time in the city, with the lights obscuring the view. Sleeping in a sleeping bag to the sound of a propane heater, waking up, because it is either too hot or too cold. Getting up at 5:30 in the morning to get ready.
Spending time with my son and friends. That’s what it’s all about. I don’t know how many years I can still do it, it is getting harder for me every year to climb into my tree stand. Next year it will have to be re-built. It is rotting away, it won’t be safe next year. I already picked a spot for the new stand.
Some day I won’t be able to do it anymore and that will be a sad time, but by then my grandson (or granddaughter!) will be old enough to take my place and carry on the tradition. Let’s hope there will be enough deer around for them and they will be able to enjoy what I have. I am grateful and thankful for the opportunity and I don’t take it for granted.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Dual Visions
Who would have believed it? Dual Visions is at number 7 (seven) at Fiction Wise. It goes to show, never give up. Sometimes it takes a while for things to happen. The Xandra books are also still up there (11, 13, 15) Book 1 of Seeds of Chaos is at 19. Not bad Five of my books in the best selling twenty list. I wonder what's going to happen when Stardogs is being offered at Fictionwise. Looking forward to that.
I sent the revised version of Stardogs 2 back to Midnight Showcase. It is scheduled to be released in January 2008.
I sent the revised version of Stardogs 2 back to Midnight Showcase. It is scheduled to be released in January 2008.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Link to Stardogs
Here is the link to view Stardogs and to read the first chapter
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/RedskySD.htm
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/RedskySD.htm
Monday, October 29, 2007
Stardogs
Here is the cover of Stardogs. The link to the MS authors site is only accessible to members so I thought I'll put the cover on my blog.
Fiction Wise
Just checked my books at Fiction Wise. The Xandra books are doing well again. I have no idea what happened there, but I’m not complaining. They are at positions 4, 7, and 9. A total surprise: Dual Visions is at number 11 (from 82). Now that is amazing. It will be pulled off the shelves, because so far it hasn’t done anything and the 2 novellas will be published separately.
The ‘Seeds of Chaos’ books are at 36 and 50. Midnight Raunch at 49, but that will change now, since it got such a good review. Sweet Challenge (my story ‘For Love or Arilee’ is in that one) is at number 22.
The ‘Seeds of Chaos’ books are at 36 and 50. Midnight Raunch at 49, but that will change now, since it got such a good review. Sweet Challenge (my story ‘For Love or Arilee’ is in that one) is at number 22.
A nice review
The digest Midnight Raunch got a 5 Angel’s review from Linda at Fallen Angel. Here is the review for my story:
Orola, the Warrior Priestess-The Kiir is an intense read, keeping this reader spellbound. It is robust and entertaining. The story takes on different twists and turns that I enjoyed. This is not my first story by Herbert Grosshans that I have enjoyed. He knows how to capture the essence of his characters and weave a great tale.
Midnight Raunch is available from http://midnightshowcase.com/ and from http://www.fictionwise.com/
Stardogs, Book 1, Return to Redsky is being released now. It has not been downloaded yet to the Midnight Showcase website, but it should be there maybe today still or tomorrow. If you like to see the cover, it is featured on the Midnight Showcase Author site. Here is the link: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/MSauthors/
Orola, the Warrior Priestess-The Kiir is an intense read, keeping this reader spellbound. It is robust and entertaining. The story takes on different twists and turns that I enjoyed. This is not my first story by Herbert Grosshans that I have enjoyed. He knows how to capture the essence of his characters and weave a great tale.
Midnight Raunch is available from http://midnightshowcase.com/ and from http://www.fictionwise.com/
Stardogs, Book 1, Return to Redsky is being released now. It has not been downloaded yet to the Midnight Showcase website, but it should be there maybe today still or tomorrow. If you like to see the cover, it is featured on the Midnight Showcase Author site. Here is the link: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/MSauthors/
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Men of Eros
The digest ‘Men of Eros’ is available at lulu and should be available from Midnight Showcase within days. My story ‘A taste of Paradise’ is in that one. I’m waiting for Stardogs 1, Return to Redsky to be released. Possibly this weekend. For sure early next week. The cover looks great. As soon as I know when it the book is available, I will post it, including the cover.
Here is the link to lulu to check out ‘Men of Eros’.
http://www.lulu.com/content/1350812/
Here is the link to lulu to check out ‘Men of Eros’.
http://www.lulu.com/content/1350812/
Monday, October 15, 2007
Free offer
Welcome visitors. Just for visiting my blog and showing interest in my writings, I will give you a free ebook: Book One of ‘The Xandra’, Daughter of the Dark in the pdf format. Book two and three are available from Midnight Showcase.
Just send me an email to hegro@shaw.ca and ask for it.
Stay awhile and browse through my blog.
Here are the links to my ‘Seeds of Chaos’ books.
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/seedsofchoaseden.htm
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/chaos2.html
Just send me an email to hegro@shaw.ca and ask for it.
Stay awhile and browse through my blog.
Here are the links to my ‘Seeds of Chaos’ books.
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/seedsofchoaseden.htm
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/chaos2.html
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Welcome
To find out more about my other books visit http://midnightshowcase.com/ or follow this link to Fictionwise http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/HerbertGrosshanseBooks.htm
All my books are listed there.
The flurry of sales has stopped. All of my books are still selling at Fictionwise, but barely. It is time for new stuff to come out. ‘Cliffs of Time’ and ‘Orion, the Hunt’ should be released within the next couple of weeks, I hope, and so should be ‘Stardogs 1, Return to Redsky’. I’ve seen the mock up covers from ‘Cliffs of Time’ and ‘Stardogs’ and I am quite excited about them. They look good.
Dual Visions still isn’t selling and I’m glad it will be released from its misery at last place. I hope releasing the two novellas as separate entities will be a good move. They are great stories and I want people to read them.
Right now, I am at about 86,000 words with my contemporary novel ‘Tarnished Valor’. Slow going, but there is so much other stuff to do around the house and yard at this time of year. Not much time left for writing. I would like to write other stories, but I’m determined to finish this one. Next year my short novella ‘Outpost Epsilon’ is coming from Midnight Showcase and I have this idea about a complete novel set on that planet floating around in my head, but it will have to wait.
All my books are listed there.
The flurry of sales has stopped. All of my books are still selling at Fictionwise, but barely. It is time for new stuff to come out. ‘Cliffs of Time’ and ‘Orion, the Hunt’ should be released within the next couple of weeks, I hope, and so should be ‘Stardogs 1, Return to Redsky’. I’ve seen the mock up covers from ‘Cliffs of Time’ and ‘Stardogs’ and I am quite excited about them. They look good.
Dual Visions still isn’t selling and I’m glad it will be released from its misery at last place. I hope releasing the two novellas as separate entities will be a good move. They are great stories and I want people to read them.
Right now, I am at about 86,000 words with my contemporary novel ‘Tarnished Valor’. Slow going, but there is so much other stuff to do around the house and yard at this time of year. Not much time left for writing. I would like to write other stories, but I’m determined to finish this one. Next year my short novella ‘Outpost Epsilon’ is coming from Midnight Showcase and I have this idea about a complete novel set on that planet floating around in my head, but it will have to wait.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Update of sorts
Not much new to write about. I finished re-editing my two novellas ‘The Cliffs of Time’ and ‘Orion--The Hunt’, which make up ‘Dual Visions’, my white Elephant. I couldn’t believe the mistakes I had in those two novellas. It proves again, when you finish a story it is best to put it away for a while to create a distance from it, and then edit it. Our minds are strange and wonderful things. They tend to ignore certain things our eyes transmit to them. I’m sure everyone has read those ‘essays’ (I can’t think of a better word), where all the letters in the words are scrambled, as long as the first and last letter is in the right place. When you read those, your mind automatically adjusts them in the right order and you’re not even aware that they have been misspelled. That’s how it is when you read your own stories. There might be a score of mistakes, you just don’t see them. A writer is lucky indeed, if he has someone who reads for him (or her) and checks for mistakes and inconsistencies. Someone who is not afraid to point it out. I am glad I had a chance to re-do Cliffs of Time and Orion and make them better reads. We don't always get that chance. Now I hope that not too many people purchased Dual Visions, but I think I don't have to worry about that. Unfortunately, I gave away so many free copies (All those mistakes!)
I sent the new versions back to Midnight Showcase and now I have to wait for new covers and then they will be released…again, as standalone novellas. Maybe then readers will pick them up because they are shorter ebooks and readers like them better than longer downloads. We’ll see.
Book Two of ‘Seeds of Chaos’ never made it past number two position at Fiction Wise, too bad. Right now it is at number 12 and Book One at number 15. The Xandra books are also moving up and down.
Now I can get back to my novel ‘Tarnished Valor’, which I had to put aside to edit those two novellas. I’ve written quite a lot on it, in longhand, over the last weekend, and now I have to put it into the computer. That is my first edit at the same time.
I sent the new versions back to Midnight Showcase and now I have to wait for new covers and then they will be released…again, as standalone novellas. Maybe then readers will pick them up because they are shorter ebooks and readers like them better than longer downloads. We’ll see.
Book Two of ‘Seeds of Chaos’ never made it past number two position at Fiction Wise, too bad. Right now it is at number 12 and Book One at number 15. The Xandra books are also moving up and down.
Now I can get back to my novel ‘Tarnished Valor’, which I had to put aside to edit those two novellas. I’ve written quite a lot on it, in longhand, over the last weekend, and now I have to put it into the computer. That is my first edit at the same time.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Seeds of Chaos
More good news. Hell's Gate is at number 2 and Eden's Gate at number 4 position at Fictionwise.
The Xandra series is also moving nicely. Book 1,2 and 3 are at position 14, 27 and 37 today. Apparently, Hell's Gate is number 19 in sales of Science Fiction books at Fiction Wise. I feel very good about that. It seems there are a number of readers out there who like what I write. I can't wait to see how The Stardogs is going to do. I started writing that book many years ago, put it aside to write other stuff and finally managed to finish it, after re-writing half the book. Since it is too long to be published as one book, I split into two.
The Xandra series is also moving nicely. Book 1,2 and 3 are at position 14, 27 and 37 today. Apparently, Hell's Gate is number 19 in sales of Science Fiction books at Fiction Wise. I feel very good about that. It seems there are a number of readers out there who like what I write. I can't wait to see how The Stardogs is going to do. I started writing that book many years ago, put it aside to write other stuff and finally managed to finish it, after re-writing half the book. Since it is too long to be published as one book, I split into two.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Update
It’s been a good week. I posted a lot, and I had quite a few visitors to my blog. More than ever before in one week. My books are doing well. Since ‘Dual Visions’ doesn’t seem to be selling, for some obscure reason, my publisher and I have decided to split the stories and release them as single volumes. Unfortunately, that means no print version available, only ebooks. So, if anyone wants to have a print version of Dual Visions, then don’t delay, order it now. It will soon be a collector’s item only. In fact, I don’t even own a printed copy myself yet. As I said before, the stories ‘The Cliffs of Time’ and ‘Orion--the Hunt’ are both great stories. They have adventure, suspense, sex. What else could anyone want? Actually, I am editing them again, because I have discovered a few minor errors. Some of them pointed out to me by a couple of people who read an excerpt. They were right, I couldn’t deny them. Well, anyway, I hope they’ll sell better on their own. (They can’t do any worse!). Keep on checking my blog, if you’re interested. They should be available in about three to four weeks, as will be my next novel ‘The Stardogs’ Book One, Return to Redsky.
If you are checking out Midnight Showcase, they are in the process of revamping the site and not all of the books are listed yet or hard to find.
Here are the links to get to Midnight Showcase and to Fiction Wise. They’ll take you straight to my books.
http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/HerbertGrosshanseBooks.htm
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/xandra-series.htm
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/seedsofchoaseden.htm
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/chaos2.html
The free story is still available. Just send me an email at hegro@shaw.ca if you’re interested and I will send it to you. Read more below.
If you are checking out Midnight Showcase, they are in the process of revamping the site and not all of the books are listed yet or hard to find.
Here are the links to get to Midnight Showcase and to Fiction Wise. They’ll take you straight to my books.
http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/HerbertGrosshanseBooks.htm
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/xandra-series.htm
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/seedsofchoaseden.htm
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/chaos2.html
The free story is still available. Just send me an email at hegro@shaw.ca if you’re interested and I will send it to you. Read more below.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
A free story
I've sent in the edited version of Book One of the Stardogs. It should be available from Midnight Showcase possibly in September already. They want to push it to take advantage of the momentum the release of Book Two of 'Seeds of Chaos' has created.
If you are visiting from Beth Wylde you must be interested in Time travel stories. Here is another one: 'Sarah's Gift'. It is another story in my Anthology 'Tapestry of Dreams', coming next year from Midnight Showcase. If you would like to have it, just email me at hegro@shaw.ca and I will send it to you in rtf (rich text format).
My books Seeds of Chaos are currently selling well at Fiction Wise.
Book 2, Hell's Gate is at number 3 position and Book 1, Eden's Gate following close behind at number 5.
This is the link to fictionwise which lists my books available there http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/HerbertGrosshanseBooks.htm
or go to check out my Xandra series http://www.midnightshowcase.com/xandra-series.htm or my Seeds of Chaos series Book One http://www.midnightshowcase.com/seedsofchoaseden.htm or Book Two http://www.midnightshowcase.com/chaos2.html
Here is the beginning of 'Sarah's Gift'
Ever since the death of his wife, Thanksgiving had lost its meaning for Jake. What did he have to be thankful for? Now it was just an excuse to take some time off from a stressful job and lose himself in the little bit of wilderness that was still left.
There was talk that the turkey hunt might be suspended for a few years to give the birds a chance to recover. Hunting pressure had become too great in the last ten years.
It wasn’t like it used to be when he went hunting with his dad. He couldn’t remember when they didn’t have a turkey for Thanksgiving, but this year might just be that year.
Then again--what did it really matter if he got one or not? There was no pleasure in eating a turkey by yourself.
It was beginning to get chilly and he shivered inside his camouflage outfit. His fingers, which held his bow, were getting cold and stiff. The temperature must have dropped at least ten degrees within the last hour. He could smell the snow in the crisp air.
Looking into the sky, he saw the clouds moving in fast. Chances of me getting a bird today are getting slim, he thought, animals are smart, they know when a storm is coming and they’ll disappear searching for cover.
His daydreams were interrupted when he heard the soft cluck. Then he saw the big Gobbler strutting into the open.
Jake had done this too many times, and he reacted without thinking. He had been ready for this moment all morning, and when he released the arrow he knew it would not miss the target.
It was almost anti-climactic when he picked up the limp carcass of the big bird. A quick check of its beard and then he stuffed it into his backpack. Again, he looked up at the rolling dark clouds and realized he had to get back to his vehicle as fast as possible. It looked like a snowstorm was going to hit soon. Unusual for this time of year.
Picking up the rest of his gear, he started walking back the trail he had come. It was a good hour’s walk to his truck and another hour’s drive to get to the highway. He wanted to be out of the woods when the storm hit.
The first flakes began to fall after he had walked the trail for less than fifteen minutes. Gently at first, but after another fifteen minutes he could barely see the trail. Just to be sure he was still on the right trail, he checked his compass and put it away, satisfied he was headed in the right direction.
Listening to the howling of the wind above the treetops, he knew this was a bad one.
After walking for over an hour he had the feeling he was going in circles, but the needle of his compass assured him he was still following the right trail. When he couldn’t find his truck after two hours, he realized he was lost.
All his warm clothing was in his truck, and so was his camping gear. He wasn’t dressed for spending a night outside, not in this kind of weather. When he tried his cell-phone he got nothing.
Damn! How could he have been so careless? He didn’t panic. He’d been an outdoorsman far too long and knew that panic was your worst enemy when lost in the woods.
He didn’t remember taking another trail, but he must have, even though according to his compass he had not. There was no sense floundering through the bush, so he kept on walking.
The trail ended suddenly and it almost seemed as if the veil of whiteness was beginning to lift. He thought he saw a light ahead and headed for it. Coming closer, he saw the outlines of a building, a log cabin.
Thank God, he thought, At least I found shelter to wait out the storm.
He pounded against the heavy wooden door. When nothing happened, he pounded again. After a moment the door swung open a crack and he stared into the muzzle of a rifle. Above it the face of woman.
If you are visiting from Beth Wylde you must be interested in Time travel stories. Here is another one: 'Sarah's Gift'. It is another story in my Anthology 'Tapestry of Dreams', coming next year from Midnight Showcase. If you would like to have it, just email me at hegro@shaw.ca and I will send it to you in rtf (rich text format).
My books Seeds of Chaos are currently selling well at Fiction Wise.
Book 2, Hell's Gate is at number 3 position and Book 1, Eden's Gate following close behind at number 5.
This is the link to fictionwise which lists my books available there http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/HerbertGrosshanseBooks.htm
or go to check out my Xandra series http://www.midnightshowcase.com/xandra-series.htm or my Seeds of Chaos series Book One http://www.midnightshowcase.com/seedsofchoaseden.htm or Book Two http://www.midnightshowcase.com/chaos2.html
Here is the beginning of 'Sarah's Gift'
Ever since the death of his wife, Thanksgiving had lost its meaning for Jake. What did he have to be thankful for? Now it was just an excuse to take some time off from a stressful job and lose himself in the little bit of wilderness that was still left.
There was talk that the turkey hunt might be suspended for a few years to give the birds a chance to recover. Hunting pressure had become too great in the last ten years.
It wasn’t like it used to be when he went hunting with his dad. He couldn’t remember when they didn’t have a turkey for Thanksgiving, but this year might just be that year.
Then again--what did it really matter if he got one or not? There was no pleasure in eating a turkey by yourself.
It was beginning to get chilly and he shivered inside his camouflage outfit. His fingers, which held his bow, were getting cold and stiff. The temperature must have dropped at least ten degrees within the last hour. He could smell the snow in the crisp air.
Looking into the sky, he saw the clouds moving in fast. Chances of me getting a bird today are getting slim, he thought, animals are smart, they know when a storm is coming and they’ll disappear searching for cover.
His daydreams were interrupted when he heard the soft cluck. Then he saw the big Gobbler strutting into the open.
Jake had done this too many times, and he reacted without thinking. He had been ready for this moment all morning, and when he released the arrow he knew it would not miss the target.
It was almost anti-climactic when he picked up the limp carcass of the big bird. A quick check of its beard and then he stuffed it into his backpack. Again, he looked up at the rolling dark clouds and realized he had to get back to his vehicle as fast as possible. It looked like a snowstorm was going to hit soon. Unusual for this time of year.
Picking up the rest of his gear, he started walking back the trail he had come. It was a good hour’s walk to his truck and another hour’s drive to get to the highway. He wanted to be out of the woods when the storm hit.
The first flakes began to fall after he had walked the trail for less than fifteen minutes. Gently at first, but after another fifteen minutes he could barely see the trail. Just to be sure he was still on the right trail, he checked his compass and put it away, satisfied he was headed in the right direction.
Listening to the howling of the wind above the treetops, he knew this was a bad one.
After walking for over an hour he had the feeling he was going in circles, but the needle of his compass assured him he was still following the right trail. When he couldn’t find his truck after two hours, he realized he was lost.
All his warm clothing was in his truck, and so was his camping gear. He wasn’t dressed for spending a night outside, not in this kind of weather. When he tried his cell-phone he got nothing.
Damn! How could he have been so careless? He didn’t panic. He’d been an outdoorsman far too long and knew that panic was your worst enemy when lost in the woods.
He didn’t remember taking another trail, but he must have, even though according to his compass he had not. There was no sense floundering through the bush, so he kept on walking.
The trail ended suddenly and it almost seemed as if the veil of whiteness was beginning to lift. He thought he saw a light ahead and headed for it. Coming closer, he saw the outlines of a building, a log cabin.
Thank God, he thought, At least I found shelter to wait out the storm.
He pounded against the heavy wooden door. When nothing happened, he pounded again. After a moment the door swung open a crack and he stared into the muzzle of a rifle. Above it the face of woman.
Another free gift
The digest ‘Holiday Voices’ is still available from http://www.midnightshowcase.com/ If you would like to read ‘Remember me next Christmas’ but are not interested in the whole digest (which contains some wonderful stories by other authors), then send me an email at hegro@shaw.ca and I’ll send you the story for free. If you should visit Midnight Showcase, check out my Xandra series. It is erotic Science Fiction. In Books 2 and 3 you will meet vampires, werewolves and other creatures. The story Remember me next Christmas is set into the world of the Xandra, but in the future of the events in the three books.
Thank you for visiting. Maybe you’ll be back again.
Thank you for visiting. Maybe you’ll be back again.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Free Gift
Thanks for visiting my blog. If you would like the free story (Blood of the Virgin), just send me an email to hegro@shaw.ca and I will send it to you in rich text format. Please ask for it. This story has not been published yet, it is the first story in my Anthology ‘Tapestry of Dreams’, coming 2008 from Midnight Showcase. If you would like the novella ‘Cliffs of Time’, one of the stories in my book Dual Visions, available from http://www.midnighshowcase.com/ ask me for it and I’ll send it to you free, also.
The other novella in Dual Visions is ‘Orion, the Hunt’. You can read a short excerpt below in one of the others posts.
Read on and you might find something interesting on my blog.
The other novella in Dual Visions is ‘Orion, the Hunt’. You can read a short excerpt below in one of the others posts.
Read on and you might find something interesting on my blog.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Stardogs, Book One
The editing department of my publisher Midnight Showcase asked for another copy of Book One of 'The Stardogs', Return to Redsky, due to be published in October. I did some editing to it and hopefully, I'll finish it today.
An update on Seeds of Chaos: Book Two has moved up to number 5 and Book One to position 6 at fictionwise. Maybe it will move up to number One. Possibly position one and two for both books. That would be fantastic. Here's hoping!
I published a bunch of excerpts today on all my groups. I'm pushing 'Dual Visions'. Such good stories and no readers. That has to change!
Anyone reading my blog and anyone interested, send me an email (hegro@shaw.ca) and I will send you a copy in rich text format of my story 'Blood of the Virgin'. It is one of the stories in my Anthology, Tapestry of Dreams, which will be published next year, I believe in August.
Here is the excerpt from 'The Stardogs, Book One, Return to Redsky:
It was dark when I left his shop, carrying a large bundle with things I needed. I loaded it onto the animal I had left tied to a tree. Slowly, I walked down the dark narrow street, pulling the animal behind me.
It was not very smart to travel through this section of town after dark, and it didn’t take long before I heard footsteps behind me. I knew there were four of them, three men and one woman. The sound of her bare feet was easily distinguishable from the heavier footsteps of the three men. One of them big, he shuffled as he walked on heavy feet.
They circled me from behind, the woman gliding by me on my left under cover of some small shrubs. Two of the men were on either side of me now, slightly hanging back, while the third one stayed behind. He carried a heavy club. I could hear the faint scraping as he rubbed it with his left hand.
My built-in defense system had shifted my body in combat-mode. Tiny implants all over my body let me sense and hear things a normal Human could not.
The woman stepped into the street in front of me. “What’s your hurry?” she said, parting her cape. She wore nothing underneath. She was young, a girl with the body of a woman, her breasts high and full. Two solid fleshy cones with dark nipples jutting from her ribcage. She could have been beautiful, if it hadn’t been for her straggly hair and her calculating eyes. This was no innocent girl. She had seen and done more things than a girl her age should have.
The pale light from one of the moons shone down the length of her slim nude body, revealing the dark triangle below her flat belly. “Well?” she said, smiling. “Do you like what you see?”
She came closer. I could hear the man with the club moving in behind me. The other two were still hidden in the darkness of the houses, but I heard the barely audible whispering sound of a long knife being pulled from its sheath.
She stood close enough now to touch and I could smell the odor of her body. A bath was long overdue. Both of her front teeth were missing.
She lifted her arms, jiggling her breasts. The cape slid off her shoulders, leaving her completely nude. She stepped back slightly, but it had not been necessary for me to see the flicker in her eyes.
As the club descended, my free right arm shot up, deflecting the murderous blow and with the same movement my fist connected with the side of the club wielder’s head, sending him sprawling into the dirt. I hadn’t killed him, but he would be out for some time.
The man with the knife rushed me from the right, the other one stayed invisible behind my steed. I could tell my attacker was an amateur. He held the knife in front of him, his knife arm stiff. An experienced street fighter would never do that. I grabbed his wrist and broke his arm. He screamed and cowered back, holding his injured limb.
Now the last of them stepped around the animal, carrying a heavy axe.
“You fight well,” he rumbled, grinning, his wide chin pointing towards the two on the ground, “against children.”
He was right, the other two were young, but I knew that already. That’s why I hadn’t killed them.
He hefted his axe. “Let’s see how you fare against a man.”
* * * *
An update on Seeds of Chaos: Book Two has moved up to number 5 and Book One to position 6 at fictionwise. Maybe it will move up to number One. Possibly position one and two for both books. That would be fantastic. Here's hoping!
I published a bunch of excerpts today on all my groups. I'm pushing 'Dual Visions'. Such good stories and no readers. That has to change!
Anyone reading my blog and anyone interested, send me an email (hegro@shaw.ca) and I will send you a copy in rich text format of my story 'Blood of the Virgin'. It is one of the stories in my Anthology, Tapestry of Dreams, which will be published next year, I believe in August.
Here is the excerpt from 'The Stardogs, Book One, Return to Redsky:
It was dark when I left his shop, carrying a large bundle with things I needed. I loaded it onto the animal I had left tied to a tree. Slowly, I walked down the dark narrow street, pulling the animal behind me.
It was not very smart to travel through this section of town after dark, and it didn’t take long before I heard footsteps behind me. I knew there were four of them, three men and one woman. The sound of her bare feet was easily distinguishable from the heavier footsteps of the three men. One of them big, he shuffled as he walked on heavy feet.
They circled me from behind, the woman gliding by me on my left under cover of some small shrubs. Two of the men were on either side of me now, slightly hanging back, while the third one stayed behind. He carried a heavy club. I could hear the faint scraping as he rubbed it with his left hand.
My built-in defense system had shifted my body in combat-mode. Tiny implants all over my body let me sense and hear things a normal Human could not.
The woman stepped into the street in front of me. “What’s your hurry?” she said, parting her cape. She wore nothing underneath. She was young, a girl with the body of a woman, her breasts high and full. Two solid fleshy cones with dark nipples jutting from her ribcage. She could have been beautiful, if it hadn’t been for her straggly hair and her calculating eyes. This was no innocent girl. She had seen and done more things than a girl her age should have.
The pale light from one of the moons shone down the length of her slim nude body, revealing the dark triangle below her flat belly. “Well?” she said, smiling. “Do you like what you see?”
She came closer. I could hear the man with the club moving in behind me. The other two were still hidden in the darkness of the houses, but I heard the barely audible whispering sound of a long knife being pulled from its sheath.
She stood close enough now to touch and I could smell the odor of her body. A bath was long overdue. Both of her front teeth were missing.
She lifted her arms, jiggling her breasts. The cape slid off her shoulders, leaving her completely nude. She stepped back slightly, but it had not been necessary for me to see the flicker in her eyes.
As the club descended, my free right arm shot up, deflecting the murderous blow and with the same movement my fist connected with the side of the club wielder’s head, sending him sprawling into the dirt. I hadn’t killed him, but he would be out for some time.
The man with the knife rushed me from the right, the other one stayed invisible behind my steed. I could tell my attacker was an amateur. He held the knife in front of him, his knife arm stiff. An experienced street fighter would never do that. I grabbed his wrist and broke his arm. He screamed and cowered back, holding his injured limb.
Now the last of them stepped around the animal, carrying a heavy axe.
“You fight well,” he rumbled, grinning, his wide chin pointing towards the two on the ground, “against children.”
He was right, the other two were young, but I knew that already. That’s why I hadn’t killed them.
He hefted his axe. “Let’s see how you fare against a man.”
* * * *
Thursday, August 16, 2007
More excitement
Book 2, Hell's Gate, is at number 6 and Book 1, Eden's Gate, at number 8. Midnight Raunch Digest (Orola, the Kiir) is at number 5.
Dare I hope for number One with Hell's Gate? Book One of my Xandra series 'Daughter of the Dark' made it to number 1.
I am competing against some very good books and digests. If I don't make it past number six, well, I guess I'll still be happy.
My white elephant 'Dual Visions' is still at number 76. Can't understand that. 'Cliffs of Time' is such a great story. I really enjoyed writing it. My first time travel story, actually. And 'Orion, the Hunt', has always been one of my favorite stories to write. I have a second story still to re-write. It will be about 50,000 words long, also featuring Orion, under the title 'Bakker's Planet'. It contains a lot of erotica, but it is also a good story (I think). Now I wonder about spending more time on it.
I'm at about 70,000 words now with 'Tarnished Valor'. A long way to go before that one is finished.
Dare I hope for number One with Hell's Gate? Book One of my Xandra series 'Daughter of the Dark' made it to number 1.
I am competing against some very good books and digests. If I don't make it past number six, well, I guess I'll still be happy.
My white elephant 'Dual Visions' is still at number 76. Can't understand that. 'Cliffs of Time' is such a great story. I really enjoyed writing it. My first time travel story, actually. And 'Orion, the Hunt', has always been one of my favorite stories to write. I have a second story still to re-write. It will be about 50,000 words long, also featuring Orion, under the title 'Bakker's Planet'. It contains a lot of erotica, but it is also a good story (I think). Now I wonder about spending more time on it.
I'm at about 70,000 words now with 'Tarnished Valor'. A long way to go before that one is finished.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Seeds of Chaos, Book 2
Things are moving. Just checked Fictionwise and found Seeds of Chaos, Book 2 at number 10 position in sales, up from number 14 yesterday evening. (number 70 in the morning!). And Book 1, Eden's Gate, has moved to number 11. That is fantastic.
Here is the list of my books as they stand at Fictionwise right now. That can change anytime.
The Xandra series:
Book One --- number 62 (down from number 24 just 2 days ago)
Book Two --- number 30 (up from number 51 just 2 days ago)
Book Three --- number 42 (up from number 65)
Seeds of Chaos:
Book One --- number 11
Book Two --- number 10
Sweet Challenge digest (my story: For Love of Arilee) number 75 (down from number 2 a couple of weeks ago)
Midnight Raunch digest (my story: Orola, The Kiir) number 6 (from number 3 yesterday)
Dual Visions --- number 76 (the very last position) no change!
This book is an enigma to me. It has two excellent stories, yet, nobody seems to want to purchase it. It baffles me. I wish somebody would give me some feedback on this phenomena. All my other books are selling. I gave away some copies for free (see below), and I did get a positive review on it from Liz (see comments). Somebody, please, help me out here!!!
Here is the list of my books as they stand at Fictionwise right now. That can change anytime.
The Xandra series:
Book One --- number 62 (down from number 24 just 2 days ago)
Book Two --- number 30 (up from number 51 just 2 days ago)
Book Three --- number 42 (up from number 65)
Seeds of Chaos:
Book One --- number 11
Book Two --- number 10
Sweet Challenge digest (my story: For Love of Arilee) number 75 (down from number 2 a couple of weeks ago)
Midnight Raunch digest (my story: Orola, The Kiir) number 6 (from number 3 yesterday)
Dual Visions --- number 76 (the very last position) no change!
This book is an enigma to me. It has two excellent stories, yet, nobody seems to want to purchase it. It baffles me. I wish somebody would give me some feedback on this phenomena. All my other books are selling. I gave away some copies for free (see below), and I did get a positive review on it from Liz (see comments). Somebody, please, help me out here!!!
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