17th Day of Twisted: Guest Post by Dannika Dark

It's the 17th day of Twisted, and we have Dannika Dark, author of Sterling.  Story sounds awesome, and the cover looks great! 

When I was a little girl, I never dreamed of Prince Charming sweeping me off my feet. My head was always in the realm of fantasy, just not that kind of fantasy. I wanted to step through mirrors into alternate worlds, shapeshift, or discover I was a magical being with hidden powers I never thought possible. Fantasy has always been a huge part of my life because it is the heart and soul of imagination. It cannot be explained by numbers, analyzed beneath a microscope, nor does it have limitations.

Then I grew up in a world where everything has an explanation. Yet, there has always been a part of me that is completely fascinated with mythology. What really lurks in the dark shadows? Why do some things have no explanation?

When I started writing, I thought about the very definition we have placed on every fantasy creature from vampire to mage to ghosts. Some like to think the rules are set in stone. I like to think that if these creatures did exist, that they have removed themselves so completely from humans that everything we thought we knew was wrong. Perhaps they even contributed to some of the false beliefs that have floated around for centuries. It keeps them safe; it keeps them misunderstood. Before technology came along, people lived isolated lives. They feared outsiders and those that were different from them. Someone with power or unique abilities would create fear and jealousy. Therefore it became easy to tell those bedtime stories to children about vampires, the big bad wolf, witches, and trolls. That became the foundation for "Sterling", my first novel.

Zoë Merrick is a woman living an ordinary life when one evening she is brutally attacked and murdered. Except, she isn't really dead. She has been changed into something else, something not human. The really exciting part was discovering right along with her that she was a Mage. I didn't want to stray completely from the idea of what a Mage was - which is a sorcerer or warlock. By definition, it is a person with power. In "Sterling", a Mage is an energy source that uses power and manipulates it. I loved this door opening because it paved the way for each breed that I've written about and allowed such flexibility. A writer’s world is not made of concrete walls; it is expansive and ever changing. It is a never ending canvas. What I love about writing is that I get to unleash that world into written form and allow readers to cross over. I'm very excited to be able to share my books and hope that you love "Sterling" as much as I do.

Dannika Dark

"STERLING" IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Mageri-Book-1-ebook/dp/B005LHI8K6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315708957&sr=8-1

My Blog: http://dannikadark.blogspot.com/

16th Day of Twisted: Guest Post by Ty Hutchinson

It's the 16th day of Twisted, which means I've got Ty Hutchinson, author of Chop Suey.  Happy reading!

I hate writing about writing.

I try to like it but I don’t. Some writers are very good at it. They’re interesting and informative. I’m not. That’s why I let them handle it. I also suck at writing about the industry too. There are a lot of authors out there who have their fingers on the pulse of this business. They can read an article and in minute spit out a blog post breaking it down, complete with opinions. I’m happy to let them own that. I’m also pretty bad at keeping the two big author arguments alive: traditional versus self-publishing and ninety-nine cents versus two ninety-nine. Boy, some authors are really good at sucking people into that debate.

I know it looks like I don’t contribute much to the conversation. You’re right, at least not in that way.

However, I am pretty good at killing people. I push them off buildings. I’ll slice their necks with a butcher knife. I can dismember them. I’ll beat them until they’re almost dead and then let the animals finish them off. I don’t know how I got so good at it. I never took classes. The gift of gutting doesn’t run in my family. Prodigy? Perhaps. In any case, I’ll stick with what I know. This is how I contribute. I hope I’m helpful to other writers in the same way they’re helpful to me.

Excuse me. I’ve got some killing to do.

Ty Hutchinson is a writer living in Northern California. When he’s not writing, he might be traveling, gaming, eating or sharpening his knife. You can buy his latest book, Chop Suey on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It’s a wickedly funny, action thriller. Visit his blog at tyhutchinson.wordpress.com for more nonsense.

15th Day of Twisted: Scary Movies

It's the 15th Day of Twisted, and I have to admit that I must be asleep at the controls because I can't find today's featured author's post!  I made a calendar with people's names on each date that they volunteered to post on, and I have my author's first name written down, but I can't find her post anywhere in my email or anywhere else.  So, my fault and I apologize. 

So since I don't know how to contact this first name only mysterious author, I decided to talk about scary movies.  It is almost Halloween after all.  I saw an article on MSN.com the other day about the 50 scariest movies of all time.  After flipping through the slide show, I had to admit I just didn't agree with them.  I mean, they had some stuff on there that I had just thought was funny, like the Exorcist.  Don't get me wrong, that is fun to watch, but I don't really find it scary.  Weird, yes.  Creepy, kinda.  Scary, no. 

Scary movies seem to go a few ways for me: terrifying, amusing, or let down.   Could also be a combination of these labels.  For example, I found Thirteen Ghosts terrifying.  I would not watch that again if you paid me.  I hated that guy with his head in the box.  I already said I found the Exorcist amusing.  I just watched Paranormal Activity and I found that to be a combination of all three labels.  It was creepy, not terrifying.  I laughed at the part where she got dragged out of her bed and down the hall.  And I hated how the movie ended, total let down. 

So what are your thoughts?  Scariest movie of all time?  Supposedly scary movie that you found to be more of a comedy or stupid?  Comment away!

14th Day of Twisted: Guest Post by Tammie Clarke Gibbs

It's the 14th Day of Twisted and we have Tammie Clarke Gibbs, author of Island of Secrets.  Looks intriguing! 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as an author it’s that an idea can come from anywhere.

The loose concept for ISLAND OF SECRETS, my debut novel, came from a family history. The small red book, compiled by a distant family member was written to give each of us insight into our ancestors. In addition, it contained a historical account (whether accurate or legend I couldn’t say) that inspired me to elaborate, and the result was the #1 Bestselling Gothic Romance and #5th Bestselling Time Travel 9/14/11 at Amazon US.

Imagine a family crest, a ship held up to land by a severed and bloody palm. Imagine a woman struggling with her own problems, pretending to be somebody else to help a friend out who discovers a note of warning dated hundreds of years before she was born and addressed to HER. Imagine an Island of Secrets.

I love an old manor with a grand staircase and hidden passageways. I love secrets that span centuries just waiting for fate to step in and reveal the answers and right the wrongs of the past that lingered. I love a love story that can withstand the test of time and grow stronger despite evil forces' interference.

I’ve always had a preoccupation with old books, family histories, old houses, unexplained phenomena and such. The books I enjoy reading the most are those that keep me guessing, those with a little mystery and page-turning suspense woven throughout. When it comes to real life historical accounts like old diaries and such I’m drawn like a moth to a candle. 

Spooky houses have always fascinated me and when I’m traveling, I watch closely for prospects for future books. You never know when you’ll come across a place, a story or an object that will spur your next novel. That’s why I’m always looking. As morbid as it sounds, I visit graveyards to research names appropriate to a time period and scour books that were actually written in the time period my characters will live so that I can get a feel for what they would say and do, first hand. You’d be amazed at how many people depend on histories written by contemporary authors, when the most reliable sources are those who lived during the period. 

I’m working on a new book actually based on a couple of lessor know legends that caught my attention and spurred my imagination. 

Whether you’re a writer or just enjoy the written word, we share one thing in common, the love a good story told well. For now, I’ll endeavor to uncover those little nuggets of information whether via an unusual house or forgotten volume in a dusty library that will prompt my creative juices to flow freely. Until, the next time our paths cross, I’ll leave you with a snippet and invite you to visit an ISLAND OF SECRETS...

Tammie Clarke Gibbs

Excerpt:

Still clenching the scribbled note of warning, Lila Fitzpatrick stepped out of the carriage and into the crisp, cool, night.

The haunting silhouette of Winship Manor towered above like a savage animal, crouching in the darkness waiting for its prey.

Large, strange-looking statues were poised protectively on either side of the door. Above them, an eerie glow emanated from the flaming torches that lit part of the narrow pathway.

Lila shivered. She wished she’d thought to bring a sweater. She wished she was wearing some comfy sweats and not this straight, black skirt she could barely walk in.

She reached for the door then paused. Something about the coat of arms bolted under the heavy knocker unnerved her. It wasn’t a very friendly picture. A ship held up to land by a severed, bloody hand and the name Winship.

She stood staring for the longest time. She’d been invited, but felt reluctant to announce her arrival.

Lila looked down at the note then slipped it and the other purse inside her own. She was sure the note had something to do with her jitters, that and the fact that this place looked nothing like the brochure.

She was beginning to understand why the heiress and her new hubby fled. Winship Manor did not look like any posh resort she’d ever seen. It looked like a haunted castle.

The night was chilly. The howling whistle of the wind had followed the carriage the entire distance from the shore to Winship’s tangled gates of iron. Now, however, there was nothing. The trees were oddly still. The only sound, her heart thumping in her breast, echoed in her ears.

Lila lifted the knocker. It was cold against her fingers, and she dropped it sending a loud, quite annoying thud reverberating through the still evening air. She’d known better than to let Cassie talk her into such a hair-brained scheme.

Not only was she stuck on an island pretending to be someone she wasn’t she was getting warning notes from more than three hundred years ago too.

Tammie Clarke Gibbs is the author of ISLAND OF SECRETS, a Time Travel, Gothic Romance and several other non-fiction titles. She is awaiting the upcoming release of her second novel THE COUNTERFEIT, A Mid-Western Historical Romantic Suspense. You can purchase her books via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and at most online ebookstores.

Link to Amazon: http://amzn.com/B004DNWQ98

13th Day of Twisted: Guest Post by B.J. Whittington

Welcome to the 13th Day of Twisted!  Today we have B.J. Whittington, author of Dragon Soul.  Enjoy! 

As a child, my parents encouraged a strong imagination. I suppose most parents do. ‘Make Believe” becomes a major part of a child’s day.   From Tea Parties, to laser sword fights to building forts in snow banks or sandcastles on the beach or in the local sand lot. Vivid play-acting enriches the lives of children across the world. A sword can be the high-tech toy purchase from the local department store, or a branch shorn of leaves. It only takes the imagination of the child to propel them into a fantasy      world where all things are possible.

Of course, we cannot forget Halloween, where legions of children don costumes and parade through neighborhoods throughout the United States.  My favorite blocks were the ones that some of the houses set up something to scare the kids, a bubbling cauldron, a bowl filled with eyeballs floating in some unsightly goo or even the occasional mini-haunted house. We all knew it was Make Believe, but we immersed ourselves in the moment and screamed in fear or gasped with revulsion.

We loose all this, as we become adults. Oh, sure, on occasion we can play pirate with our kids or the kids next door, if you’re not a parent yet... Nevertheless, as we grasp the role of a grown-up, we discard the daily simulation of living in a dream world.

Except . . . In novels. The pages of a book become our portal to different worlds, different lives, new people and situations. I  confess, I am a Sci-Fi and Fantasy junky. I cannot go long without my fix. Any day I have not had the opportunity to delve between the pages of a good Fantasy or Sci-fi novel leaves me with a gentle itch that something is missing. Should circumstances warrant I have to go several days, well, I am downright twitchy.  I want a deep, immersing tale with multi-layered characters in a world that only exists in the author’s and my imagination.

Fantasy novels are my favorites, they plunge me into Make Believe every time I open the book. Halloween can be a daily event. I get to dress up in my imagination and play a role, and if the writing is good then it is a treat.

When I set out to write my book Dragon Soul I wanted to take the reader on the same type of journey that I crave. There used to be a commercial, about bath oil beads, it said “Calgon, take me away”.      That is what I wrote Dragon Soul to do: to take the reader away to a different world where they’re anxious when characters are afraid, and laugh aloud at some of their antics. Isn’t that the point?

Dragon Soul  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EIBEIU is a 130,000 word fantasy novel, the first in the series Dragons in the Mist. The second book will be out by Jan 2012.

Thol, a goat herder at Vedicville, never imagined he would start his day as a human and end up as a dragon. Who would?   Granted, he lived in a village of the Palmir People that mentored Dragon Hosts, but  there are usually indications that a person is Host to a Dragon Soul. The first indication for Thol, was when his hands began to elongate and turn into talons.   

At Thol's Scholla they taught that Dragon Souls are intelligent and giving. Not so, with his Dragon Soul--Rasdor--he is almost simple in his thoughts. Food, play and sleep are all that cross his mind,      avaricious to please only himself... Unless he is dwelling on his wrath at his perceived ill treatment when he first Transformed, then he is full of a destructive rage verging on madness.

Rasdor is prone to what Thol's dama called a temper tantrum. However, the temper tantrum thrown by a child is laughable in comparison to those thrown by a dragon. Thol finds Rasdor completely      unpredictable. He can see Rasdor's access to skills of his kind coming forth much faster than his      maturity level. Soon an all-powerful dragon would be loose on the countryside with the behavior of a spoiled child...

Vedicville serves as a place to mentor Dragon Souls and Hosts, humans who transform into dragons. When Rasdor emerges unexpectedly and fly's off in a panic, the villagers commence a journey to find him.

The search uncovers more than the lost dragon, the key to saving their entire civilization. If they realize it in time.

I invite you to delve into my world with me, hopefully you, too, will have a Take me away moment!

B.J. Whittington
http://bjwhittington.com/

Available at: 

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dragon-Soul/BJ-Whittington/e/2940013257221

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EIBEIU

12th Day of Twisted: Guest Post by CC James

On the 12th day of Twisted we have CC James, author of Banshee's Cry.  Have fun reading her post--Beware of the Banshee's Keen:

As a child my sister and I loved watching the old movie Darby O'Gill and the Little People. We giggled at Darby's silly antics while he attempted to outsmart King Brian, Lord of the Leprechauns, and giggled even more at James Bond, er, Sean Connery singing sappy love ballads.

And then the Banshee showed up—the spectral keening woman who if you were unfortunate enough to hear her wail—then you were going to die soon. And there really isn't any way to get around it.

I've been fascinated with Banshees ever since. There are legends about them—slightly dif
ferent—from various parts of the world.

In Irish mythology, a banshee (bean si or bean-sidhe) is a fairy who wails if someone is about to die as an omen of death or messenger from the Otherworld.

In Scottish legend, the Banshee most often appears as an ugly, frightening hag, but she can also appear as a stunningly beautiful woman.

The hag may also appear as a washer-woman, or bean-nighe or washer woman of the ford, and is seen washing the blood stained clothes or armor of those doomed to die.

Her mourning call is heard at night when someone is about to die and usually around woods and streams.

So when I began my series with monster and ghost hunting brothers, one of the obvious choices of spirits the boys had to go up against just had to be a Banchee. It was great fun, mixing the Irish and Scottish versions and making her my own variation. Then when one of the brothers hears her keen, figuring out how the other brother could get rid of her curse through contemporary methods became a fun challenge. Ipod anyone?

Banshee's Cry was a blast to write.

Links: http://www.clovercheryl.blogspot.com
And/Or http://amzn.to/rgY29J

11th Day of Twisted: Guest Post by Suzanne Tyrpak

It's the 11th Day of Twisted and for your reading enjoyment I have Suzanne Tyrpak, author of Ghost Plane and Other Disturbing Tales.  Happy Monday!

Every Day Horror

Three months ago I had an accident at work resulting in three emergency operations and amputation of a toe. Since then I’ve been thinking a lot about horror. I’ve been thinking about how horror can occur at any time, not just at night when the lights are out, but when we least expect it: walking down a street, at the gym, the supermarket.

Take an every day situation, twist it, and it can become horrifying. Stephen King said the difference between him and other people is: most people board an airplane, open the overhead compartment and wonder if there’s room for their luggage, but he opens the same overhead compartment imagining it’s filled with rats.

In books and movies, I find every day horror more frightening than supernatural monsters. For me, the most horrifying situation imaginable is to discover that I’m the monster. The monsters in my psyche, and in other people’s psyches, really scare me. I’m interested in exploring the twisted recesses of our minds. While an event can certainly be frightening and horrible by its nature: a plane crash, violence, lack of freedom, being held against our will, torture—what makes that event truly horrifying is the response of our mind. And our minds can twist any situation into something awful.

I’m interested in every day occurrences that become monstrous. For example, the day I had my accident began as a normal workday. I’m a customer service representation for an airline. I check people in and work the gate. These days I don’t work much out on the ramp, where the job can be physically demanding and dangerous. We had finished boarding the aircraft, and we were pulling away the heavy stairs we use for loading passengers. As we pulled the stairs away from the plane one of the wheels ran over my foot. Over a thousand pounds crushed my toes. I fell onto the tarmac, writhing and screaming.

I find the situation horrifying, not only because of the pain and bodily damage suffered, but because of the unexpectedness. One moment everything was fine, I was looking forward to having breakfast, and the next moment my life changed. I had to face the unknown with no preparation. (By the way, the result of the accident is that, after three emergency operations, I lost a toe, had two broken and dislocated toes, and I’m still recovering from the crush injury and nerve damage. There’s a happy ending, because the accident gave me time to finish my next novel, and I’ve recovered enough to walk and drive again.)

Horror is intensified when it’s unexpected. In that way, it’s different from suspense. Suspense builds tension. Suspense can lead to horror, but I believe truly horrifying situations contain an element of surprise. It’s not just the monster, it’s the monster that jumps out at us when we least expect it. It’s not just the murderer it’s the person we trust suddenly revealed as a murderer.

Every day horror takes a normal situation and sets it on its head. Sure, it can be horrifying to enter an abandoned building late at night, but setting horror in an everyday situation can be even more disturbing. The contrast builds more tension, because we’re not expecting something awful to occur. That’s why the shower scene in Psycho is so frightening—it’s any everyday situation gone wrong.

I invite you to play with this idea. Next time you get into your car, you’re waiting at a bus stop, sitting in church, working out at the gym—imagine how the situation could be turned on its head. That’s what I explore in my short story collection Ghost Plane and Other Disturbing Tales. It doesn’t have to be a dark and rainy night for something horrific to occur. Horror can occur on a sunny Sunday morning.  

Ghost Plane and Other Disturbing Tales available FREE at: 

http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Plane-Other-Disturbing-ebook/dp/B0058OX86G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318777235&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghost-plane-and-other-disturbing-tales-suzanne-tyrpak/1104098717?ean=2940011484766&itm=1&usri=suzanne%2btyrpak

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71260

Follow my blog: http://ghostplanestory.blogspot.com/

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Tyrpak/144232238928903?ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SuzanneTyrpak