Devil's Hit List Excerpt Frank Creed

I'm kicking off the Splashdown Books Blog Tour for October's new release, Devil's Hit List: Book Three of THE UNDERGROUND by Frank Creed. Book one is Flashpoint, published in October 2009, and book two is War of Attrition published in October 2010. After two years, readers get to hop on board for another exciting ride through the cyber-punk world of Frank Creed. Here is the blurb:

The One State has contracted the Ash Corporation to produce virtual-e, a brainwave technology chip so highly addictive that it's eventually fatal.

The chip is used in the hottest new entertainment product that will hook any who experience it.

Calamity Kid and his crew fight the production of virtual-e and get backing from the Body of Christ to run an operation to keep the chip from being marketed in North America.

But how far can the underground heroes get when the global government and a megacorporation work together?

Today, we have an excerpt from the new novel to wet your appetite. Enjoy.

The train grunted and chugged out of our way. We strolled the pedestrian walkway across the tracks, a crude asphalt footpath, and then the sidewalk toward Main Street. Specialty shops lined the street and we took our time scanning their windows, giving other walkers a good head start. By the time we’d made it to a pottery shop, the block was empty of travellers.

“By the way,” said e-girl, “Serene got the Body Surfers’ cell back up and running. I finally have some hack support.”

“That’s good.” We passed a fabric store and a small antique seller. I thought I heard something.

“You know, Lethe likes you.”

“Uh-huh. I like her too.”

“Hello? I know! You told me the first time you saw her!”

Hurried footsteps sounded behind us and I ignored my sister. “Not right now, okay?”

“What ever.”

Two sets fell, paced to catch up with us by the next corner. I looked to e-girl. She still gazed in the store windows with no idea at all about our tail.

My electro-magnetic sense displayed something like an old photo-negative, and I did a slow blink to check my mind’s eye. With dark jackets and lip piercings they matched the loitering guys I’d recorded at the station—the image was not clear enough to tell if they were the same guys.

If these jokers were who I suspected, it would be better to lose them while there were still only two. Near the first block’s end, the Spirit spoke to me in the Word. Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir.

I turned around. “Wait here,” I told my sister, and walked back at them. They were now only five meters away so I closed quickly with big strides.

One was nearly as short as I. His big friend stood a bit over two meters. They stopped and muttered to each other, unsure of what to do. They stepped under the awning of a confectioner, and tried to hang out by its front door.

I stopped alongside them.

Draw. Both pistols obeyed my thought. They left their bicep holsters and sprang down coat sleeves to my ready hands. I snugged one under the ear of the short ganger, pointed the other at the tall one, and namedropped, keeping my voice low, to assure their compliance. “Tailing the Calamity Kid is not a prime career move. Tell me why I should not shoot you.”

The tall one hesitated before speaking. “’Cause then you won’t have security at your meet with Toad.”

I growled and pushed the short ganger into the tall one. Backing toward e-girl I said, “Thanks for your concern, but we’re safer without you drawing attention to us. Stay here or I will shoot you. And tranq rounds leave a mean headache.”

With another thought I holstered my pistols, holding my arms out so they could watch them disappear. Snagging e-girl’s arm, I led her across the street.

She kept sneaking peeks at me from her eyes’ corners.

Frank Creed's Links:

Homepage: http://frankcreed.com/
Blog: http://blog.frankcreed.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/frankcreed
Twitter: https://twitter.com/frankcreed
Devil's Hit List Amazon link (print): http://www.amazon.com/Devils-Hit-List-Frank-Creed/dp/1927154316
Devil's Hit List Amazon link (kindle): http://tinyurl.com/92j7amx
Join the Lost Genre Guild: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lost_genre_guild/
My publisher has other great Christian spec-fic: http://www.splashdownbooks.com/

Blog Tour Links:

R. L. Copple	http://blog.rlcopple.com
Ryan Grabow	http://www.egrabow.com/rm.php?e=Prime
Grace Bridges	http://grace.splashdownbooks.com
Caprice Hokstad	http://caprice.splashdownbooks.com/
Diane M. Graham	http://dianemgraham.com/blog/
Travis Perry	http://travissbigidea.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Rodgers	http://jfrogers.blogspot.com/
Greg Mitchell	http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com/
Paul Baines	http://www.pabaines.com
Keven Newsome	http://www.kevennewsome.com
Kat Heckenbach	http://www.katheckenbach.com/
Timothy Hicks	http://fantasythyme.blogspot.com/
Robynn Tolbert	http://ranunculusturtle.blogspot.com/
Fred Warren	http://frederation.wordpress.com/

Interview: Seeking Unseen by Kat Heckenbach

Today we have a treat for our readers. Kat Heckenbach's new title, book 2 of her The Toch Island Chronicles, Seeking Unseen has just been released this month. For the Splashdown launch party, I'm kicking off the blog tour to feature her and the two books, Finding Angel and Seeking Unseen. Here's her interview:

Did you always want to be a writer?

Well, yes and no. I actually grew up wanting to be an artist. I drew all the time and was very good. But, when I got to college (after deciding I'd like to teach art), I lost some of my interest in it. I had some phenomenal science teachers at the community college and ended up changing my major from Art Education to Biology. I never really went into science as far as work. I ended up teaching and tutoring (mostly math) until I had my son. Then I became a stay at home mom and eventually started homeschooling. Then, a couple of years ago I was overcome with the desire to write. I love reading Young Adult fiction--became completely addicted to the Harry Potter books and movies and Cornelia Funke's InkHeart series--and decided one day I just had to give it a try. Memories came streaming back that showed me it was a desire I'd always had. I read all the time from the time I was very young, but never thought I could do what those authors do, so I pushed the idea out of my head for so long. But, I suddenly remembered sitting on my bed when I was in high school trying desperately to start a novel. I also remembered writing fourteen-page notes to my friends all the time, which should have been a clue that I like writing :). And I always got A's on my papers and essays. I just think I was so focused on my art and never had the self-confidence in writing. I didn't think I was interesting enough to come up with any grande and creative ideas. And, I was too young back then. I didn't have enough life experience. Now, I've been through a lot and all of that comes out in my writing.



Tell us about your relationship with your publisher Splashdown. Any surprises as you’ve worked with them?

The whole experience has been one surprise after another! I had no idea what to expect from working with a small publisher. But it’s been awesome. Grace Bridges is wonderful, and the whole group of authors work really well together as a team. We brainstorm back cover blurbs and such for each other, and everyone is respectful of each other’s suggestions. I will admit, I love the creative pow-wows Grace and I have when it comes to cover art. We seem to totally connect most of the time and it’s ridiculously fun. Those moments of, “What if we….?” followed by, “Oh, yes, that’s brilliant!” happen a lot—in both directions. There have been far too many for me to doubt I’m in the right place.

---

Kat Heckenbach grew up in the small town of Riverview, Florida, where she spent most of her time either drawing or sitting in her "reading tree" with her nose buried in a fantasy novel...except for the hours pretending her back yard was an enchanted forest that could only be reached through the secret passage in her closet...

She never could give up on the idea that maybe she really was magic, mistakenly placed in a world not her own...but as the years passed, and no elves or fairies carted her away...she realized she was just going to have to create the life of her fantasies.

Now she shares that life with her husband and two kids. Ok, maybe "share" isn't the right word--more like lives that life in her writing and tries her best to be normal the rest of the time...

Kat is a graduate of the University of Tampa, Magna Cum Laude, B.S. in Biology. She spent several years teaching, but never in a traditional classroom—everything from Art to Algebra II—and now homeschools her children.

Author Website: http://www.katheckenbach.com/

Toch Island Chronicles

Book 1: Finding Angel (Sept. 2011)
ISBN: 978-1927154137

Book 2: Seeking Unseen (Sept. 2012)
ISBN: 978-1927154298

Visit the other blogs in the tour:

Grace Bridges	http://grace.splashdownbooks.com
R. L. Copple	http://blog.rlcopple.com
Ryan Grabow	http://www.egrabow.com/rm.php?e=Prime
Diane M. Graham	http://dianemgraham.com/blog/
Travis Perry	http://travissbigidea.blogspot.com/
Paul Baines	http://www.pabaines.com
Caprice Hokstad	http://caprice.splashdownbooks.com/
Keven Newsome	http://www.kevennewsome.com
Greg Mitchell	http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com/
Robynn Tolbert	http://ranunculusturtle.blogspot.com/
Frank Creed	http://blog.frankcreed.com/
Fred Warren	http://frederation.wordpress.com/

Excerpt from Faith Awakened by Grace Bridges

Today we have a treat. As part of my publisher's blog tour, I'll be sharing an excerpt from her novel, Faith Awakened. The tour runs from 8/13 through 8/19/2012. Be sure to check out the other web sites as the week progresses to find more goodies about Faith Awakened.

Excerpt from Faith Awakened - Mariah All Alone

One morning in the early part of summer’s heat, the restlessness got to me a little more than usual and I decided to go for a long walk. Inquiring among the others and finding none to be similarly inclined, I set off alone for the hills beyond city limits. It was a long way, but at least up there the country was much as it had always been—it was pleasanter to be in than the town where I was always aware of its unnatural stillness. I stepped out briskly and was soon passing through an area that had once been termed industrial. The large square buildings were made for practicality and not style, so I was glad to get past them and out towards the open country. I walked at first on a broad expressway that cut through hills and bridged yawning gullies, but when this road turned away from the coast, I left it and crossed fields where long-haired sheep were still fending for themselves. One or two of them looked up placidly as I passed by, then went back to grazing. I was no danger for them.

After leaving them behind, I came across a dead sheep. Flies buzzed around the body. I wrinkled my nose and gave it a wide berth, but not before I noticed it lay in a pool of congealing blood. Can sheep get Ebola? I decided to ask Anna about it later.

I pondered many things as I walked along; when one is alone, thought processes tend to multiply. There was, after all, more than plenty of time to reflect.

Sighing, I admitted to myself that I was not happy. It was not for any kind of physical lack, that much was sure—in fact it seemed more than likely that I was now better off materially than I had ever been in my life during the Trouble. Then why could I not be content? I dug deeper and pressed myself to answer the question. Come on… there must be a reason. I moved my hand to stifle a yawn, then thought better of it. Who would see anyway? A worldwide disaster had all but ruined my own life. Manners no longer mattered at all.

Time slipped by, and the sun rose higher towards noonday as I tramped on. Eventually I came upon another once-busy highway that led up to a hilltop, where I left the road and struck through the bush on the steep slopes. Coming to a cliff’s edge, I squatted down with the sea spreading out below me. Even in the old days it had always been quiet up here—so it nearly felt normal and I could almost imagine none of the dying had ever happened. I knew the spot well from long-ago outings with family or friends, when we had travelled in cars and arrived fresh and lively to chase about and splash one another on the beach below. But now I was alone and miles away from all humanity—not that all humanity was very much these days.

Find Grace: http://grace.splashdownbooks.com http://www.facebook.com/gracebridges1 http://pinterest.com/splashdown Info on Faith Awakened

Blog Tour Sites: R. L. Copple                         http://blog.rlcopple.com Kat Heckenbach                 http://www.katheckenbach.com/ Diane M. Graham               http://dianemgraham.com/blog/ Travis Perry                          http://travissbigidea.blogspot.com/ Paul Baines                           http://www.pabaines.com Caprice Hokstad                 http://caprice.splashdownbooks.com/ Keven Newsome                  http://www.kevennewsome.com Robynn Tolbert                   http://ranunculusturtle.blogspot.com/ Frank Creed                          http://blog.frankcreed.com/ Fred Warren                          http://frederation.wordpress.com/ Ryan Grabow                       http://www.egrabow.com/rm.php?e=Prime Greg Mitchell                        http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com/

Final Rift Jump 2-Question Interview

Rift Jump by Greg Mitchell

The day Michael Morrison died was the day his life began.

A sinister threat is growing in the void between realities, and Michael has been recruited to stop it. Ripped from his own violent life, he is sent rift jumping to other worlds seeking out the agents of the Dark and putting them to an end by any means necessary. The love of his life, Sara, joins him as he battles Civil War space ships, sea serpents, superpowered humans, and even his own duplicate from a parallel timeline.

But the darkness he fights is growing within him too, calling him to the same destiny as every other Michael from every other world. If he is to change his fate, he must learn to love, to forgive, to trust, and to let the man in the Stetson guide him to become the warrior of the Light he was always meant to be.



Interview with Greg Mitchell



How would you summarize your style of writing?

Cinematic. I’m a screenwriter first, so I naturally lean towards my narratives being very streamlined, fast-paced, and action-packed. But I also love to live inside a character’s head and just get their reaction to the events they find themselves in. That’s a depth of detail that I can’t do in a film, so I like that super-intimate insightful approach that only prose can offer. I like to keep things moving, though. I love action scenes. I love to blow stuff up. And then I have my characters wax philosophical about it afterwards ;)

How has Splashdown helped you to be a better writer?

Well, there are always little technical things that I pick up with every book I write. No matter how many editors I work with, I always learn something about sentence structure or verbage or what-have-you. All boring behind-the-scenes things that most Readers don’t want to know about.

What are your contact links: web sites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter links, your book's page, etc.?

I’m everywhere!

Website: http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thecomingevil

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TCEauthor

To order Rift Jump: http://www.splashdownbooks.com/darkwater/rift-jump

Visit the following blogs on this Splashdown Blog Tour for Rift Jump by Greg Mitchell.

Grace Bridges             http://grace.splashdownbooks.com

Fred Warren                http://frederation.wordpress.com/

Caprice Hokstad         http://caprice.splashdownbooks.com

Paul Baines                 http://www.pabaines.com

Travis Perry                 http://travissbigidea.blogspot.com/

R. L. Copple               http://blog.rlcopple.com

Keven Newsome         http://www.kevennewsome.com

Kat Heckenbach         http://www.katheckenbach.com/

Ryan Grabow              http://www.egrabow.com/rm.php?e=Prime

Diane M. Graham       http://dianemgraham.com/blog/

Robynn Tolbert           http://ranunculusturtle.blogspot.com/

Frank Creed                http://blog.frankcreed.com/

2-Question Interview With Greg Mitchell

Rift Jump by Greg Mitchell

The day Michael Morrison died was the day his life began.

A sinister threat is growing in the void between realities, and Michael has been recruited to stop it. Ripped from his own violent life, he is sent rift jumping to other worlds seeking out the agents of the Dark and putting them to an end by any means necessary. The love of his life, Sara, joins him as he battles Civil War space ships, sea serpents, superpowered humans, and even his own duplicate from a parallel timeline.

But the darkness he fights is growing within him too, calling him to the same destiny as every other Michael from every other world. If he is to change his fate, he must learn to love, to forgive, to trust, and to let the man in the Stetson guide him to become the warrior of the Light he was always meant to be.

Mini-Interview with Greg Mitchell

So your new book Rift Jump is about this guy that travels to parallel dimensions inside of a sheet of paper. You have got to tell me the story behind that.

Yeah, the paper thing. The seed of Rift Jump began as a dream I had one night, waaay back when I was, like, fifteen or something. I remember, distinctly, that it was about this kid (a much cooler version of my young self) who traveled the worlds in a sheet of paper. I can still see the paper in my mind’s eye. It gently rode the winds and you could see flickering images on it, like a movie was being projected on it. It fascinated me in my dream and I translated it exactly into the story. What does it all mean? Who knows. It’s just my unbound id. Draw your own conclusions about the power of simple sheets of paper to carry us to strange and wonderful worlds.

You say you had the idea for Rift Jump when you were fifteen. Have you been writing it all this time?

Not the incarnation that’s out now, no. I wrote a whole series of Rift Jump short stories on and off over the last couple decades—just for the fun of it. It was a sandbox where anything was possible and I had no rules or boundaries of logic. I just wrote whatever I felt about life at the time. I never intended anyone to read them, as I honestly never tried very hard while writing them. It wasn’t about making a professional product—they were more like journals, chronicling my journey into adulthood and my spiritual walk. It wasn’t until a year or so ago that I looked back at this long trail of weird stories and I realized there was something beautiful buried underneath all those personal ramblings. I dug all the old stories out of my desk drawer, dusted them off, and set to work to rewrite them into something that made some semblance of sense to everyone who wasn’t me. I’m very proud of the end result. It’s basically the story of my adolescence—only with a lot more monsters, gangsters, and high-flying adventure :p But, in the interest of full disclosure, that original Rift Jump story that I wrote when I was fifteen is included in an Appendix of the new book that’s out now. It’s a hoot.

Greg Mitchell can be found at:

Website: http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thecomingevil

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TCEauthor

To order Rift Jump: http://www.splashdownbooks.com/darkwater/rift-jump









Visit the following blogs on this Splashdown Blog Tour for Rift Jump by Greg Mitchell.

Grace Bridges             http://grace.splashdownbooks.com

Fred Warren                http://frederation.wordpress.com/

Caprice Hokstad         http://caprice.splashdownbooks.com/

Paul Baines                 http://www.pabaines.com

Travis Perry                 http://travissbigidea.blogspot.com/

R. L. Copple               http://blog.rlcopple.com

Keven Newsome         http://www.kevennewsome.com

Kat Heckenbach         http://www.katheckenbach.com/

Ryan Grabow              http://www.egrabow.com/rm.php?e=Prime

Diane M. Graham       http://dianemgraham.com/blog/

Robynn Tolbert           http://ranunculusturtle.blogspot.com/

Frank Creed                http://blog.frankcreed.com/