Zero point

Hey All!!! Well I have a post for you all. In todays post I have an excerpt for Zero Point by Nafeez Ahmed.

Zero Point, by Nafeez Ahmed

Genre: action-adventure, science-fiction, political-thriller

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Publication: August 14, 2014

Find Zero Point Online:

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22245323-zero-point?from_search=true) 

| Amazon US (http://amzn.com/B00MPZCGOQ) | Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/

dp/B00MPZCGOQ)| Barnes & Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zero-point-nafeez-

mosaddeq-ahmed/1120143213?ean=9781620075395) | Kobo (http://store.kobobooks.com/en-

US/ebook/zero-point-6)

Description:

Near future Great Britain is on the brink of collapse. Mass riots. Economic meltdown. Blackouts. 

And a new oil war in Iraq to keep the world economy afloat.

Iraq War veteran and war crimes whistleblower David Ariel is sick of violence, and trying to 

make ends meet working for Specialist Protection. But after Prime Minister Carson is brutally 

assassinated by extremists on Ariel’s watch, he is covertly targeted by a compromised police 

investigation.

When forensics discover that Carson’s assassination inexplicably defied the very laws of 

physics, bodies drop like flies as key witnesses are murdered in impossible circumstances.

Fleeing for his life while London is locked-down under martial law, Ariel gets a phone call 

from Iraq he will never forget. His estranged girlfriend, journalist Julia Stephenson, warns that 

the Carson killing is just the beginning of a wider plot to bring the West to its knees. Then she 

disappears.

Ariel’s blood-soaked race against time to track the terror cells behind Carson’s death tumbles 

into the cross-fire of a hidden battle between mysterious rogue intelligence agencies. The goal: to 

monopolise black budget technologies which could unlock the universe’s darkest, arcane secrets.

As the world he thought he knew unravels, Ariel faces off against bent coppers, double-crossing 

agents, psychic killers and super soldiers to complete a black ops mission like no other: stop 

Quantum Apocalypse.

--

About Nafeez Ahmed:

Nafeez Ahmed is a bestselling author, investigative journalist, and international security 

academic. He writes for The Guardian via his Earth Insight blog, reporting on the geopolitics 

of interconnected environmental, energy and economic crises. The author of five critically-

acclaimed non-fiction works addressing humanity’s biggest global challenges, Nafeez’s 

forthcoming book is a science fiction thriller, ZERO POINT, due out 18th August 2014.

Nafeez has also written for the Independent on Sunday, The Independent, The Scotsman, Sydney 

Morning Herald, The Age, Huffington Post, New Statesman, Prospect Magazine, Le Monde 

Diplomatique, among many others. He has been a talking head for BBC News 24, BBC World 

News with George Alagiah, BBC Radio Five Live, BBC Radio Four, BBC World Today, BBC 

Asian Network, Channel 4, Sky News, C-SPAN Book TV, CNN, FOX News, Bloomberg, PBS 

Foreign Exchange, Al-Jazeera English, Press TV, Islam Channel and hundreds of other radio and 

TV shows in the USA, UK, and Europe.

Nafeez is also cited and reviewed in the Sunday Times, Times Higher Educational Supplement, 

New York Times, The Independent, Independent on Sunday, The Observer, Guardian, Big Issue 

Magazine, Vanity Fair, among others

Find Nafeez Ahmed:

Website (http://www.nafeezahmed.com/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/

DrNafeezAhmed) | Twitter (https://twitter.com/NafeezAhmed) | Goodreads (https://

www.goodreads.com/author/show/117513.Nafeez_Mosaddeq_Ahmed?from_search=true)

ZERO POINT excerpt 3

Meria Stafford wept. So many people. So many innocent people. She 

shook uncontrollably as the tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped 

into the sink.

She ran the tap and, cupping some water, splashed it onto her face. Then 

she deliberately slowed her breathing.

She gazed at herself in the mirror, through eyes glistening with tears. With 

another deep breath, she shut off the tap and dried her face with a paper 

towel. She blew her nose with it.

Then the door slammed open, and Helen Golding, Meria’s senior lab 

assistant, stepped in looking flustered.

“Dr. Stafford?” she snapped.

“What is it, Helen?” Meria replied sourly. “I told you I just needed five 

minutes.” She flicked her paper towel into the waste basket and grabbed 

her jacket from the peg by the mirror.

“You’re going to want to see this.”

“See what?”

“The lab analysis of the residue from Carson’s car. Or what was left ofit.”

“What is it?”

“Um, I think you’ll want to see it for yourself.”

“I’m coming. Now can you just spit it out?” She threw on her jacket and 

shoved past her assistant into the cold, grey corridor of Counterterrorism 

Command’s Forensic Investigations Unit at Scotland Yard. Golding ran 

after her, hurrying to keep up.

“Dr. Stafford, it doesn’t make any sense. The residue is―well it’s 

definitely not a result of depleted uranium. Or any type of explosive we’re 

aware of.”

Meria stopped in her tracks, and turned to face her assistant. “What the 

hell are you talking about?”

Golding gulped. “The sample we’d gathered contained primarily steel, as

expected. But the tests show it was superheated to―well, to temperatures 

our instruments cannot really measure.”

“What do you mean?”

 “Well, we are looking at temperatures exceeding a million degrees 

centigrade. To be honest, we don’t really understand how anything 

survived. It looks as if parts of the steel frame of the car―specifically the 

area surrounding the passenger seats―seems to have literally evaporated. 

But not all of it.”

Meria just stared her assistant blankly. “That’s impossible,” she mustered.

“I know.”

Meria turned back and continued walking. “It must be a mistake. What 

you’re talking about would require some kind of nuclear reaction. In 

Carson’s car?”

“I know.”

“Impossible. Run the tests again.”

“You’re right, and we have. We ran the tests twice.”

“Well, run them again!” shouted Meria, as they both jogged back to the

lab.

For now Trisha Signing off.

Broken Forest Review

Hey All!!!! I have a review and cover reveal for you today the book is the first book in the Daath Chronicles Broken Forest by Eliza Tilton.

 Blog Tour Teasers:

Avikar:

1) The wagons surrounded the site in a semi-circle. Sweat pooled in my palms. I had to take

out the guards closest to that entrance. If I failed, so did the mission.

Get a grip.

I clenched the arrow in my right hand. Brushfire shifted nervously, sensing my fear. I

rubbed her neck. I felt safer with her. She’d been with me since Jimri’s death. At night

when the nightmares taunted me, I’d sneak out, riding until dawn forced us home. I’d

rescued her from the burning woods, she’d rescued me from despair — today, I prayed

both of us would make it out alive.

2) For what seemed like hours, I held her in my arms. The fire had died to barely a flicker.

She’d fallen asleep, and I was content to hold her until morning, but I told her I’d leave

and I needed her to trust me.

Sliding out from underneath her, I moved the blanket to create a pillow, and then tucked

the rest around her. Her damp hair hung around her face. I bent down and swept it back

behind her ear.

You are so beautiful. I grazed her cheek with my finger. I wish you could understand how sorry I

am. I never meant to hurt you.

I kissed the top of her forehead and left.

Jeslyn

1) He glided towards me like a swan on water. I combed my fingers through my hair,

smoothing out the wild strands. He sat down on the cot. I was surrounded by the scent of

cold winter air.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

I should have replied, but fear closed my throat.

He smiled and held out his hand. “My name is Lucino.”

“Jeslyn.” I placed my hand in his, anxious and uncertain.

He gently kissed my hand. I shivered. No man had ever looked at me with such desire—not

even Derrick—and it frightened me.

2) I puffed out my cheeks and crossed my eyes. She giggled, and I jumped to my feet and ran,

taunting her to chase me. I could hear her high-pitched laughter catching up to me, and I

turned around. There, creeping towards her, were three unfamiliar men.

Three men that should not have been this deep in the forest, so far from the local routes.

“Calli, come here, now,” I said in a stern voice, trying to hide my fear. A worried look

crossed her face, and she hurried to me. I grabbed her as soon as she was close and wrapped

my arms around her. No one was touching my sister.

Lucino

1) Outside, the sky bled, looking vicious and deathly, streaks of grey and indigo amongst

the clouds. A hovercraft sat nearby, waiting. One of the royal guard stood watch. I did

not need a babysitter. I was more than capable of handling any threat, but Father took

precautions. Times were dangerous and our people frightened.

From here, I could see the triangular structure. “Take me to the gate,” I said as the guard

opened the door.

“Yes, my prince.”

The hovercraft sped across the dry and barren ground. The Council was right, we had

little time left.

2) “Martha, nothing is―” Susie turned around, her mouth hung open at my sudden

appearance. “Lord Lucino.” She immediately bowed. “I didn’t realize you were out here.”

“I like to stroll the gardens this time of night.”

She lifted her head, daring to look at me. Her eyes wandered. I assumed she was searching

for her friend.

“I told your companion to return to the party. We’ve had a bit of trouble with wolves out

here. I didn’t want anything to happen to one my guests.”

“Oh, I had no idea.” Her lip quivered, and I noticed her hands fidgeting.

“I’ll escort you back.”

She hesitated at first, and then when I stepped into the moonlight, her eyes widened.

“I know the way back. I wouldn’t want to trouble you,” she said, frantically looking behind

her.

I grinned, enjoying her fear. “It is no trouble at all.” I sensed her desire to flee. I did enjoy a

good chase. “If you’re thinking of running, I’d start now.”


Now for the review.


This book is very interesting and if I gave stars I would give this book a 3 the details are quite good but i feel that the characters lacked depth. The main character was interesting but I felt more could have come from the character more detail and personality. The Storyline was very interesting and I loved that she was on a farm and it seemed quite accurate as far as how they lived but like said my only real complaint is the characters and I personlaly dont like the father.

Interview with Stan Swanson

Hey all!!! Well I got to do an interview with the author of the Misadventures Of Hobart Hucklebuck. Stan Swanson. Before we get to the interview here is some details about the book..Enjoy!!! 

The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck: Magic and Mayhem, by Stan Swanson

Genre: middle-grade, action-adventure fantasy

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Publication: August 7th, 2014.

Cover Artist: Ricky Gunawan

Description:

Things are not as they should be in Pennywhistle. Enchanted toasters are not toasting, enchanted 

sprinklers are not sprinkling and Hobart Hucklebuck’s origami messenger birds are suddenly 

attacking him.

Someone seems to be draining the power from all of the enchanted items in the village. But who 

could it be and why have they implicated Hobart’s grandfather?

“The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck” follows Hobart and his friends, Specks 

Spacklethack and Rosie Rumpleskirt, as they try to solve this mystery and free Hobart’s 

grandfather from the Tower of Tribulation on Mumblemonk Mountain.

The trio’s investigation into the mysterious happenings on Druid Lane gets them into hot water 

more than once and ultimately brings them dangerously close to disaster not only for themselves, 

but the entire village of Pennywhistle.

Find The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck: Magic and Mayhem Online:

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

--

About Stan Swanson:

Stan Swanson is a Bram Stoker award finalist and author of eight books including Forever 

Zombie (a collection of short stories), Write of the Living Dead (a highly-praised writing guide 

written with Araminta Star Matthews and Rachel Lee) and Return of the Scream Queen (co-

authored with Michael McCarty and Linnea Quigley). He is also editor/publisher for Dark 

Moon Books and Dark Moon Digest. Upcoming titles include Horror High School: Return of 

the Loving Dead (the first book in a young adult horror series co-written with Araminta Star 

Matthews), Dead Sparrows (a collection of apocalyptic poetry) and The Methlands (a horror 

novel co-written with award-winning author Joe McKinney).

Find Stan Swanson Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

1.Where did you get the idea for your book?

I never have a problem coming up with ideas for books. I have a list I have added to for 

years that now probably has over 200 book ideas. My problem is that the newest idea is 

always the one I want to start writing – even if I already have something in the works. I 

have always loved the fantasy genre, so this was just one of many ideas. The trouble was 

that Harry Potter came out as I finished it. I put the manuscript on a closet shelf until 

my wife read it one day and told me I needed to finish it. Now I’m glad I did.

2.How long did it take you to write it?

I took a strange approach on this one. I actually wrote it twice. I wrote the first draft, 

then put it away for a couple of months. Then, referring only to my outline, I wrote it 

again. When I was finished, I took both versions and merged them keeping the best stuff 

and deleting other parts. It worked out well, but as you can imagine, it took a long time. 

(I also wrote both versions by hand.) The second book in the series only took me about 

six months to finish. (And, no, I didn’t write it twice. LOL.)

3.How did you come up with your characters?

I love creating characters. By the time I start putting pen-to-paper (or fingers-to-

keyboard) I know my characters well and pretty much know how they will react to any 

given situation.

4.What made you want to write a children's book?

It was really accidental. I was writing another fantasy adventure (Dragontooth) and 

suddenly realized that it was not really an “adult” novel. Since then I have enjoyed 

writing for young adults and the middle grade audience. (I have also written two picture 

books, but they have never been published.)

5.Do you have a favorite character and who is it?

I don’t really have a favorite character although Hobart might have a slight edge simply 

because he is the main protagonist. But I like all of my characters as they become real 

to me. And I know they are “real” as sometimes they do things while I am writing that I 

didn’t even expect them to do.

6.Will you be writing anymore children's books?

The second book in the Hobart Hucklebuck series is currently with the publisher and 

I have started the rough draft for the third book. I have also started two young adult 

novels. Both are in the steampunk genre which I have really come to enjoy.

Cover Reveal

Hey All!!! Well today I have a new Cover reveal. Todays cover reveal is for Gods Play by H.D Lynn.

God’s Play, by H.D. Lynn

Genre: young-adult, urban-fantasy

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release: September 18, 2014

Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson http://gothicfate.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22895484-god-s-play

The review tour is scheduled for 10.06.14 - 10.17.14; excluding weekends. If you’re interested

in participating, please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/a/curiosityquills.com/forms/d/

1OBMbZ056k5CYHdtmuilpWkMY85cdL1U9iWVYHz_SOro/viewform

Description:

Sixteen-year old Toby was trained by a family of hunters to kill shape-shifters — but he has a

unique weapon in his arsenal. With a touch of his hand, Toby can lift the magical protection shape-
shifters use to disguise themselves as human. It’s an unusual skill for a hunter, and he prefers to kill

monsters the old-fashioned way: with a blade.

Because of his special skill, Toby suspects he may be a monster himself. His suspicions deepen when

William, a jackal-headed shape-shifter, saves him from an ambush where Toby’s the only survivor.

And Toby doubts William helped him for purely altruistic reasons. With his list of allies running thin,

Toby must reconcile his hatred of shifters and the damning truth that one saved his life. It’ll take

both of them to track down the monster who ordered the ambush.

And Toby needs his unlikely alley because he has a vicious enemy — the infamous Circe, who has a

vendetta to settle against the hunters. Toby has to unravel the mystery of his dual nature. And he

has to do it on the run — before Circe finds him and twists him to her own ends.

--

About The Author:

H.D. Lynn is like Harry Potter in one way: she’s currently renting an apartment with a bedroom

under her building’s stairs. Other than this, she explores fantasy worlds through storytelling like

anyone else. She loves books with a mix of humor, adventure, and horror, and especially enjoys the

urban fantasy genre. GOD’S PLAY is her first published novel.

When not writing, she enjoys hiking, climbing, and running. She’s a voracious reader, and has found

listening to audiobooks while backpacking to be a perfect mix of two of her favorite things. She

currently lives in Connecticut, but finds herself on the road often.

Find H.D. Lynn Online:

Facebook () | Twitter () | Goodreads ()

How To Date Dead Guys By Ann Noser Guest post Take me to the River.

Hey All!!!!! Today I have a Guest post from Ann Noser author of How to Date Dead Guys. Check in out below.

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER

My goal for How to Date Dead Guys was to make everything as realistic as possible. Along with the research I undertook to make Emma's transformation from bookworm to powerful witch seem logical, I used actual locations for the settings.

At the start of the story, Emma Roberts is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire.

In high school, our state music contest was held on this campus. I’d fallen in love with the trees, as well as the river running directly through the college grounds. I thought this was a place I could feel at home, but I was wrong

We spend the next day shopping at Oakwood Mall on the other side of town.

Chrissy examines the racks of flattering jeans and hip, trendy tops. “I need something great to wear on our date tonight."

Angie tries on a series of organic, loosely flowing clothes.

I pick out a blue and green shirt and hold it up in front of me.

Chrissy frowns. “I don’t know what it is about you, Emma, but everything you wear looks exactly the same.”

I sigh and hang the shirt back on the rack.

[image: Figure 4:  Fanny Hill Restaurant and Dinner Theater]

Angie sits beside me. “Why don’t you come with us tonight? Won’t you be lonely here all by yourself?”

Chrissy throws her a horrified glare.

I hesitate a moment before answering. Could I really tag along? No, that would be stupid. “I don’t want to be a third wheel.”

“Fifth wheel, actually,” Chrissy corrects.

Then they’re off to dinner at that fancy Fanny Hill restaurant, and I don’t know what to do with myself.

[image: Figure 5:  The Beautiful Chippewa River]

[Image: Figure 6:  Chippewa River]

We cross the bridge towering over the wide expanse of the Chippewa River and dividing the college campus in half. A rosy sunset glimmers over the water. Trees line the river in both directions. Charming old mansions peek out among the leaves, shrinking from view as we leave the main campus. Close to the Fine Arts side of the bridge, I pause at a sign attached to the metal railing.

Chrissy wheels around, hands on her hips. “What’s taking you so long?”

“Check out this sign: ‘The Chippewa River is beautiful but dangerous...’ Have you ever read this before?”

[image: Figure 7:  Sign posted on the campus bridge overlooking the river]

 “Yeah, I know all about it. Some guy drowned last year trying to swim the river a week before he graduated.”

“Really?” A cool breeze raises goose bumps on my arms.

[image: Figure 8:  Putnam Trails along campus]

Head down, I blend into the Putnam Woods. I have to see what they’re doing. I creep between the tall trees high above the river until I spot the bright yellow vests of the rescue workers near the water. My feet crunch on fallen leaves as I pace back and forth, trying to get a better view. Small rocks dislodge and fall down toward the Chippewa. For hours, I watch the dogs pace along the riverbank as I curse and question myself.

Where’s Mike? How can this be happening? I never should’ve let him swim, but I didn’t know what else to do.

[image: Figure 9:  The walking bridge connecting the two halves of campus together]

In my dreams, I stand upon the bridge in the middle of a chalk-drawn pentacle, lighting Angie’s candles one by one over the river. After the last wick goes up in flame, I turn to watch the river thrash and boil. The churning waters deposit dead bodies all along the shoreline, every one of them dressed in the same red shirt Mike wore the night of his party.

Mike is dead.

He is gone.

And it’s all my fault.

[image Figure 10:  The edge of the river where one might find objects floating up to the surface...]

At first I don’t notice that the river sounds hungry. Then I hear the same eerie noise from the night I brought Sam out of the river. The fierce sucking sound echoes far beneath us. I smell every plant and rock rising from the bottom of the river.

[image: Figure 11:  More gorgeous campus trails. One could spend hours here.]­­

The bridge connects the past to the present,

Emma's moment of cowardice to her growing strength,

and death to life.

For now Trisha signing off.

(All excerpts are from the book How to Date Dead Guys by Ann M. Noser)

FLASHBACK FRIDAY!!!!!

Hey all!!!

Today is Flashback Friday. In this segment I talk about old books that are considered classics. If you want to see what this weeks is keep reading.



This weeks book is......

This book was published in 1818 by Mary Shelly. Mary Shelly started writing this book when she was 18 and it was published when she was 20,she had really gone to the places mentioned in the book and she also had met an alcamist. When she was 18 she was trying to come up with the perfect storyline and Dreamt of an

 alcamist  who creates life and is horrified by his creation. She wrote a horror novel that later on in 2014 is still being found in stores and being republished every few years.

I had watched pretty much every movie about Frankinstine and still they did no justice to the book it is a gothic roller coaster of fear, death and science. I highly recommend this to those wanting a taste of the old horror novels. For now Trisha signing off.

COVER REVEAL!!!

HEY ALL!!! Well I have a very exciting post today, I have a Cover reveal for the book The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck: Magic and Mayhem by Stan Swanson.

The Misadventures or Hobart Hucklebuck


Genre: Middle Grade, action adventure, fantasy

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Publication: August 7th, 2014.

Cover artist:Ricky Gunawan.

Description:
Things are not as they should be in Pennywhistle. Enchanted toasters are not toasting, enchanted sprinklers are not sprinkling and Hobart's origami messenger birds are suddenly attacking him.

Someone seems to be draining the power from all of the enchanted objects in the village. But who could it be and why have they implicated Hobarts grandfather?

The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck  follows Hobart and his friends Specks Spacklethack and Rosie Rumpleskirt, as they try to solve this mystery and free Hobart's grandfather from the tower of Tribulation on Mumblemonk Mountian. The Trio's investigation into the mysterious happenings on Druid Lane gets them into hot water more then once and ultimately brings them dangerously close to disaster not for themselves but the entire village.




  About the author

Stan Swanson is a Bram Stroker award finalist and author of eight books including
"Forever Zombie" {A collection of short stories}
Write of the liveing dead{A highly-praised Writers guide written with Araminta Star Matthews and Rachel Lee}and Return of the loving dead {Co wrote with Araminta Star Matthews}

Well I hope you all enjoyed this and check back next month for the blog tour. For now Trisha Signing off.