Authors needed! Free promo!
Lisa Burton Radio exists to help authors promote their books to a new audience. This spot has worked well for over a year now, but we need guests to keep it going. Here is a little data about how it works, and some past posts to browse to see what you’re getting into.
Tell your friends, maybe one of them needs a place to post.
Drop me a line at coldhand (dot) boyack (at) gmail (dot) com. Let Lisa promote your books for you.
It’s my pleasure today to welcome Jaye Marie to Entertaining Stories. She and her sister have a blog tour going on, and it’s their first one. Please make them feel welcome, and share this post across your social media.
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Interview with David Snow/Broken Life
I have interviewed David Snow before, but usually in my office. This time I am visiting him in the hospital, where he is recovering from the horrendous injuries he sustained in The Broken Life, the third book in my mystery thriller series.
I’m not sure what condition I will find him in, but I believe he is almost ready to be discharged. As my job as editor I have to find out what his plans are for the future. Rumour has it that he will be retiring, but I might have other ideas about that. It would be a shame to lose him now, as…
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Sue Taylor Grafton is a prolific author of detective novels. She is best known as the author of the ‘alphabet series’ featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California. The daughter of detective novelist C. W. Grafton, she has said the strongest influence on her crime novels is author Ross Macdonald. Prior to success with this series, she wrote screenplays for television movies.
Grafton began writing when she was 18 and finished her first novel four years later. She continued writing and completed six more manuscripts. Two of these seven novels were published. Unable to find success with her novels, Grafton turned to screenplays. Grafton worked for the next 15 years writing screenplays for television movies, including Sex and the Single Parent, Mark, I Love You, and Nurse. Her screenplay for Walking Through the Fire earned a Christopher Award in 1979. In collaboration with…
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Luke Callindor– This is a really odd topic. Even stranger is that we’re the only ones in the room. Are we supposed to answer questions?
Nyx– Maybe after we talk for a bit. Sounds like we have to voice an opinion on something the author has dealt with.
Luke– Oh, you mean how people react to the losses, torture, injuries, beatings, and victories that we have. Well, it isn’t as bad as it used to be. Mostly because people aren’t paying as much attention to him now as before. Although, I assume people have gotten used to how he operates.
Nyx– I think you missed the part where you explain the topic. As usual, big sis, to the rescue. That isn’t even a joke. I think I’ve saved you and the others more times than anyone else. Yet, there are people who still got sensitive when I was the one needing to be rescued. I’m not perfect, so I do need help at times.
Luke– Not to mention you leap into battle as quickly as I do. You aren’t very strong without your magic, so anyone who gets around that will dominate. Even so, you give as good as you get. It is funny how I get beaten within an inch of my life and nobody bats an eye. You gaining a victory while getting injured used to get a lot of uproar. Remember one person a few years back that was angry about you getting punched in the face?
Nyx– I was captured at the time too. Wonder if that person read a little farther when I escaped, with your help, and went back on the offensive. Wow, the two of us really have taken a lot of physical, mental, and emotional beatings. Sari might beat us on two and three and Dariana is up there too. Still, I can’t remember a book where you and I don’t need a healer.
Luke– Technically the first book since you hadn’t debuted you. Is this really a question that has to be answered? Then again, there is the torture I went through in Ritual of the Lost Lamb. That might put me ahead.
Nyx– Definitely, but I don’t think as much people cared about that as they did when I get a little torture in Family of the Tri-Rune. That was unexpected, especially since I was defiant the whole time and it ended with me coming out on top. Well, sort of. Passing out is fine as long as you don’t tell the bad guys what they want. Do you think people expect you to get hurt more than me?
Luke– I don’t know. Being a warrior, they might expect me to get into more close range battles. Casters tend to be in the back, so you’re unique in that respect. Maybe people aren’t used to casters getting punched like warriors. Then again, you have the more positive fan following. Too many see me as immature and obnoxious, so they might just enjoy my suffering.
Nyx– To be fair, I’ve been called a bitch at times. Is this where the conversation was supposed to go?
Luke– Maybe we open the floor to people asking us about our experiences. I think we’ve established that we’ve both had it pretty badly.
Nyx– Hey, how are you still talking considering what happened to you in the last book?
Luke– I don’t think those things carry over onto these types of posts.
Nyx– Okay. So . . . any questions?
I’m actually writing this on Wednesday because I’m tired and might not be on the laptop, so much as my phone. Today, I finished the final editing run on Legends of Windemere: Warlord of the Forgotten Age. Although, I’m considering switching the title to Legends of Windemere: The Forgotten One. Anyway, this means final edits on all the Windemere books are done and I handed them over to the alpha writer for clarity. Things get a little shaky in the last book since revelations are made to shed some light on the evolution of the prophecy. Fingers crossed that everything falls into place and people enjoy it. Not everyone gets a positive or clean ending.
It was easier to get through this run since it was editing. Think I teared up a bit more on Path of the Traitors. It’ll be much stranger when I hit publish on these books because of all the characters I’m saying good-bye too. Some will return in cameos, but the others will officially be retired. Part of the weirdness is that many people don’t realize that the end of this series isn’t the end of Windemere. Creating a world with multiple series doesn’t seem to be a common thing in the indie world. At least, I haven’t come across many people who either do it or expect it. Guess we’ll have to wait and see since I’ll have to find a new cover artist too.
Speaking of covers, the Ichabod Brooks contest is coming along nicely. Come to think of it, the voting should be starting up by this point. (The voting is going on!) 99designs is an interesting site that can get you a cover in a week or so. I will keep it on the list for the future in case I need it for Quest of the Broken-Hearted and War of Nyt. It does look like 2018 won’t have much in the way of side projects. Not 100% certain of another Bedlam story due to time and focus. Maybe I will since the outline and characters are prepped. Hard to tell since I love writing the series, but it doesn’t really sell.
Outside of writing, things have been a tad chaotic. We went to the small zoo on Sunday and the heat got to me, which made Monday difficult. My car has to in for inspection and the wife’s needs a part. My laptop decided that it didn’t get along with the audio drivers, which caused a mess. Finally go that fixed after depending on my phone and the desktop computer. At least I think it’s fixed because you never know with machines. There was also Flag Day at my son’s school and he got to perform with his class. As usual, he was a bouncing ball of excitement in front of the crowd, which made some people laugh. He’s also been told that the bigger zoo has baby bison, so that might be a weekend trip once he’s done with school.
Next week is going to be slow and partially dull. It’s the last week of school for my son, but it’s kind of comical. He has two full days, two half days, and then an hour on Friday. I’ll be relaxing and tinkering with one of the Sin stories in the hopes of getting that done before he’s home for a week and a half. There’s a new idea in my head that I’m trying to decide on, but I won’t mention it here until have more. The concept is missing a lot like characters, setting, and goals. Not sure if it will go into Windemere or Super Earth, but it could be its own. Maybe I’ll make a midday Tuesday post to get feedback for the general idea.
So, what’s the plan?
Don’t think this is true, but Samus is badass
Zee Finale!
The Code
Our secret weapon
Giving us a needed edge
Against unfair foes
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The Olden Days of Blocky Limbs
Razor edged pixels
A step above stick figures
Acknowledge your past
*
Striving for Beyond Realism
I see fluid curves
As if they are real beings
Nearing graphics pure
*
Are You Mouse, Man, or Master?
Choose how hard to play
Testing your skills to their peak
Be easy or hard
*
The Inevitability of Death and Rebirth
All lives are fleeting
Which is why you have many
Earn more on the way
*
Gauged in Hearts and Bars
Shrinking with each blow
The life blood of the hero
Work to raise the bar
*
Another Chance After the Final Light
Your final life spent
After hours of hard work
Try again or fail
*
The Horrifying Click of an Empty Chamber
You unloaded all
Wasting ammo at a pawn
Now the boss is here
*
Nobody Wins as a Level One
Hours spent to grow
Bounding up the XP tree
Strength with every kill
*
Earning the Tools of a Champion
Start with weakest gear
That you replace on your quest
To win the hard fights
*
Homes of Monsters, Traps, and Festering Evil
We dive into them
Whether space or fantasy
To clear out the hive
*
Testing Your Thumbs and Mind
Forcing us to think
After bashing our way through
Puzzles block our path
*
We Shall Battle Because You’re There
Monsters out of air
Not seen until the fight starts
Pray you have high health
*
Why Do Monsters Have Cash and Relics?
The rarest of gear
Held by monsters in the wild
Who have no pockets
*
Wishing for a Time Out
Battle rages on
While I cycle through items
Searching for an edge
*
Jab, Cross, Mule Kick, Backhand, Mega-Uppercut
Masters chain their moves
Not allowing their foes to swing
Move goes into move
*
Ancient Nectar of the Gamer Gods
The precious potion
Returner of stolen life
Stocked within our bags
*
Oldest of the Storage Units
We all know you, box
Holding gifts or traps or air
We always open
*
Extra Toys for the Buying
You have beat the game
In time for newer content
Time to play again
*
Let No Table Go Unbashed
Take your sword or gun
And destroy all that you see
Break the scenery
*
Go About Your Lives as if I’m Not Here
Stranger in the house
Searching for items and cash
He is the hero
*
Movies within the Games
The plot has moved on
Using scenes that you just watch
Some push your patience
*
A More Pleasant Distraction, I Have Not Heard
I hear the music
That gently takes me away
Wishing I could pause
*
Where Did All Our Toys Go?
The hero returns
Yet stripped of all his up-grades
Now he starts again
*
The Hidden Treats We Hunt For
Not needed for plot
They bring to us great glory
Because we found them
*
An Ending Not Worth Earning
Thank you for playing
The most worthless of endings
After days of work
*
An Ending is a New Beginning
You have beat the game
And sat through all the credits
Now play level one
*
The Goal of the All True Gamers
One hundred percent
It is the number of dreams
Proof that we did all
*
(This was going to be hidden in the artwork. The title and haiku add up to 100 letters. Would have been a lot of fun if I got this off the ground.)
The Secret Level at the End of this Haiku Collection
All gamers seek you
But only the best will find
Without a walkthrough
