J.M. NORTHUP's BLOG

Monday, October 28, 2019

An Interview With CG Blade

Author CG Blade's Interview 

1) How about a brief synopsis of your life? 
I dreamt of being a writer since I was a child. After high school and some college, I went into the Navy. After eight years in the Navy, I went to more college classes. I became a robotic engineer. Heredity disc disease in my back would see my dream of being and doing what I always wanted to do as an engineer go down the tubes. After thirteen back surgeries and pain 24/7, I decided to start a journal of my life and my pain. The journal turned into nightmares I would have, and from there it was story plots. Since English and Creative Writing were my favorite classes in college, I decided to give Cobalt, my first novel a go. Little did I know I had sixteen stories in my head that needed to come out swinging. It was driving me crazy. If I was not writing, I felt awful. It turned into a compulsion and homage to Jackie, my wife, and all of the women in my life, for taking care of me during all of my surgeries. I now write every day even if it is notes, story ideas, or napkins. “Hello, my name is Chris, and I am addicted to being an author.”

2) What made you want to write books? 
It was more like a compulsion, at least now it is. I have always been a big fan of Philip K. Dick, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, and the list goes on… The possibilities of science fiction, robotics, artificial intelligence, and the incredible twists and turns inside the books always made me admire how they were written. Watching and reading science fiction as a teenager through my adult years fueled my efforts to write my own series. The very first movie I ever saw was the Hammer (Bray) Studios production of ‘Five Million Years to Earth’ (Quartermass and the Pit). I was so enamored with this film, and it started my sci-fi train rolling. I grabbed every fiction book I could get my hands on and never stopped reading. I swore to myself if I ever began writing, I would make it a science-fiction story that I would have loved to read. It means so much to me that I was able to see this dream through and that lovers of the genre are very accepting of this series.

3) Where or from whom do you get your inspiration? 
You could almost answer this question by looking above, mainly movies, books, and actual real-life technology. Technology is moving so fast that it is hard to keep up with it as a writer. I also have three muses. One is my lovely wife Jackie, who is a character in my books, and the other is my editor, Cindy Calloway a character in Emerald. I run my writing past my wife, read it to her, and she will give me a thumbs up or a “that may need to be rewritten” look. As far as the technical aspect of things, my editor Cindy is my go-to muse. Besides being an editor, she is a chemist and a biologist. This works out very well with the technical aspect of my writing. Cindy will suggest other ideas or thoughts on my work. Both of them are crucial to my writing throughout its inception, development, and completion. The other muse is Karen Smiley. Sarcasm helps quite a bit.

4) I personally hate this question, but my editor suggested that I ask it. Do you have a favorite book? 
Without a doubt, it would have to be Philip K. Dick’s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” for so many reasons.

5) Who is your favorite character? 
I would probably have to say the foul-mouth four-year-old prodigy, Jaesa. She is so complicated and turns out to be the consummate woman at eighteen. Her character is complex in the way that she is one of 22,000 Pseudosynths that have gone through “reverse Transhumanism” and become organic out of something machine. This has never been done in a book before as far as I know.

6) How do you come up with your characters? 
All of my characters are real people in real life. I just give them something to aim towards, some twists and turns, and make them a protagonist or an antagonist. It is so much fun to twist people you know around a bit. In addition, the cover art on all of the novels is the main character and is a real person. Some characters are anagrams of famous people.

7) Why should people read your books? 
On the following colorful pages of the Pseudoverse Series, you will find the exciting Pseudoverse Series novels of the genres, and sub-genres of Conspiracy Kitchen Sink, Pulp Fiction, Historical Science Fiction, Genetic Engineering, A.I., Pop Culture, Music, Magic, Fantasy, Witchcraft, Robotics, Horror, Sex, Romance, Mystery, and Noir Crime.
The underlying mythology that transcends from novel to novel is an enigma or a puzzle. Who is human and who is a "Pseudo-Synthetic"?
Each novel is a different theme or genre, but the sub-plots remain the same and moves forward from book to book. Can you guess who is a "Pseudosynth," a synthetic robotic replacement, and who is human in this captivating and thrilling series?
Pick up one of our novels today, and lose all control over tonight...we guarantee once you begin reading the series it is tough to stop!
Our readers say, “This series needs to be movies, and if they are not it is a damn shame.” 
I have written them so that they are script ready. The Pseudoverse Novels are completely original, and we have been told once you pick one up and start reading it, you will be up all night trying to finish it. This is a great compliment. These novels are 50% fiction and 50% historical accuracy. Taking the reader down many thrilling cyber roads and mysterious paths, the plots, and narratives rely heavily on past and present scientific, historical research, and the human condition. Melding the past with the possible future, these novels are carefully mixed and stirred with music lyrics, real people, historical fiction, and the potential of artificial intelligence run amok. Fused with satirical commentary and the first musical “Grindhouse” intermissions in novels (Including poetry), the writing continues with Amaranth, Turquoise, Amber, Gold, Copper, Radium, and Granite.

Connect with C.G. Blade

Links for CG Blade & His Books




Sunday, October 27, 2019

I CAN READ - Superhero Books for KIDS

EVEN YOUNG READERS CAN ENJOY COMICS & HEROES

Books make great gifts.  
Why not give some super stories for the young readers in your life?

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

New Release from James J Cudney - the 5th Braxton Campus Mystery


WIPs and New Releases

Haunted House Ghost: Death At The Fall Festival (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 5) by [Cudney, James J.] B07KRQR6BN
1)  Tell us about your work-in-progress, or WIP, as it’s known as in the industry or New Release…
Ø  What is the story about?
·   Haunted House Ghost: Death at the Fall Festival is the 5th Braxton Campus Mystery. It’s Halloween, and excitement is brewing in Braxton to carve jack-o’-lanterns, go on haunted hayrides, and race through the spooky corn maze at the Fall Festival. Despite a former occupant’s fervent warnings, Kellan renovates and moves into a mysterious old house. When a ruthless ghost promises retribution, our fearless professor turns to the eccentric town historian and an eerie psychic known for her explosive predictions, to communicate with the apparition.
·   Construction workers discover a fifty-year-old skeleton after breaking ground on the new Memorial Library wing. Could it be Prudence, Judge Hiram Grey’s first wife, who disappeared during a fiery Vietnam War protest that destroyed parts of the campus? While Kellan and April dance around the chemistry sparking between them, a suspicious accident at the Fall Festival leaves Hiram in a coma and another dead body to investigate. Kellan’s research digs up a tale of horror and pain about the true history and dastardly connections of the Grey family, forcing April to accelerate her plan to capture the elusive killer and placate the revenge-seeking ghost.
Ø  Who is the main character?
·   Kellan Ayrwick, a ~30ish college professor who solves crimes in his spare time. He’s a single father, falling for a woman in an influential position, and renovating a new house. Nothing is going well, and then he finds another body.
·   Other key characters in this include: Sheriff April Montague, Mayor Seraphina Danby (Nana D), Judge Hiram Grey, Prudence Grey, Bartleby Grosvalet, the O’Malley, Lawson, and Nickels families, and Madam Zenya.
2)  What inspired this tale?
Ø  How did the story come to you?
Ø  Did you have to research for this novel, and if so, why?
·   A little bit. I needed to verify the timelines of the Vietnam War protests and what happens when you find a 50-year-old skeleton. I wanted the details to be authentic but clever too. It came together nicely, and the concept of what you see versus what you don’t see is very important – especially in a book that is not paranormal but deals with ghosts and psychics.
Ø  If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn, and why?
·   I was most surprised to learn the details of how you can identify a person through their skeleton and remaining DNA. I don’t get into too many details, as this is a light mystery, but it makes for a charming and scary conundrum.
3)  Do you relate to your character?
Ø  Is your protagonist anything like you personally?
·   In this specific tale… not as much as normal. Kellan struggled when he found the skeleton. He’s cool with finding a dead body, when the victim was only murdered a few hours earlier. When he finds a 50-year-old skeleton, his stomach can’t take it! I’d be fine. Things like that don’t bother me… although, I’ve never found one, so I suppose I can’t say that with certainty. Nor do I really want to find out!
Ø  What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?
·   Kellan is the lead, so I’m going to focus on the victim, Prudence Grey. She was barely 20 years old, married, a new mother, and having a breakdown. She tore off to campus to confront her husband about something only to be killed in a fire that occurred during a Vietnam War protest. She was such an innocent young woman… and no one protected her. Kellan thinks she’s haunting the house she once lived in, his new home, because someone needs to help her find the truth. When the skeletal remains are finally found, the haunting doesn’t stop. Now that’s a scary story. I had to unleash it on my readers…
4)  Is there anything you, specific, want readers to know about this piece of work?
I intend it to be both a fun foray into a slightly paranormal direction without truly saying there is a ghost. It’s mean to evoke Halloween, autumn, and the mysterious questions of life – is there life after death? Hopefully, readers know something like this would probably never happen… and I definitely pushed the envelope in terms of coincidences… but that’s what fun literature is about, especially when you strive to make me feel jumpy and to laugh about the situation.
5)  When will the novel be available for purchase?
It is available now - http://bit.ly/HHGhost

Monday, October 21, 2019

James J. Cudney's Hiram Grey

MEET MY CHARACTER

Haunted House Ghost: Death At The Fall Festival (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 5) by [Cudney, James J.]
1.   Who are you?
o   What is your name?
·   Hiram Grey
o   Are you a fictional or historical character?
·   Fictional
o   What should we know about you?
·   I’m the Wharton County magistrate and have been presiding over trials in this jurisdiction for nearly 40 years. I’ll be retiring soon, as I’m almost 75 years old and in need of a lighter schedule. My first wife, Prudence, disappeared shortly after giving birth to our son, Damien. I believe she was killed in a fire on campus, but since we never found a body, we waited a long time for her to resurface. She never did. It saddened me, but I went on to marry five more times. There’s a possibility that I’m distantly related to King Henry VIII, but I promise you I never beheaded any of my wives. Ignore the rumors. They all left of their own free will.
2.   Tell us about your story:
o   When and where is your tale set?
·   Braxton, Pennsylvania. It’s 1 of 4 towns in Wharton County in north-central Pennsylvania. We have the Saddlebrooke National Forest, the Wharton Mountains, Crilly Lake, and the Finnulia River surrounding us. And the story takes place on the campus of Braxton College, where that nosy professor, Kellan Ayrwick likes to pretend he’s a detective. This time, he also bought one of my houses and keeps telling me that it came with a ghost. What a nut!
o   What is your personal goal?  I mean, what do you ultimately want?
·   I’m searching for my 6th wife. I have 5 sons by 5 different wives. I might be almost 75 but I still need a daughter. Got any suggestions? Oh yeah, I also want to put to rest that ugly rumor that I killed my first wife, Prudence. She disappeared, and I had nothing to do with it.
o   What is standing in your way?  What conflict(s) do you face?
·   Nothing really… I was happy to let people tell their tall tales… until that skeleton was found. Now I look even guiltier.
3.   How do I get a copy of your book?
o   What is the title or working title for this piece?
o   Is it available now or when can we expect to see it released?
·   You can purchase it now or in the future @ http://bit.ly/HHGhost
 B07KRQR6BN

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Deals for Young Readers

Give The Gift Of Knowledge


With school back in session, our students are going to need to focus on reading.
As the holiday season approaches, we need to start looking for gift ideas.
Feeling the chill, we want to wrap ourselves in warmth.

ALL THE MORE REASON TO LOVE BOOKS!

Friday, October 4, 2019

Mermaid Themed Titles

eBooks for $2.99 or Less

Mermaid, Divider, Gold, Separator, Vintage, Old, Retro

Braxton Campus Mysteries Book Tour Information

Haunted House Ghost: Death At The Fall Festival (Braxton Campus Mysteries) by James J. Cudney


TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 1 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 2 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW
October 2 – The Book’s the Thing – SPOTLIGHT
October 2 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 3 – Reading Authors – SPOTLIGHT
October 4 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT – Sapphyria’s Books   
October 4 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 5 – Diary of a Book Fiend – REVIEW
October 6 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
October 7 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
October 8 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT*
October 9 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
October 10 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW
October 10 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
October 11 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW
October 11 – Ebook addicts – REVIEW
October 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
October 13 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 14 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Marnie Cate's Character - Jeremy Whittaker

MEET MY CHARACTER

1.   Who are you?
o   What is your name?
·   Jeremy Whittaker

o   Are you a fictional or historical character?
·   The ladies that have been with me tell me that I’m the best lover they’ve had in all of their lives. Sounds pretty historical to me

o   What should we know about you?
·   I can’t help it that women throw themselves at me. Isn’t it nice to share?

2.   Tell us about your story:
o   When and where is your tale set?
·   I’ve been told both my bitter ex wife and mistress have written steamy tell alls. Of course they both have painted me in the worst possible light. Being with me, I made them both better women. Christ, I saved one of them from ending up on the pole.

o   What is your personal goal?  I mean, what do you ultimately want?
·   Success and hot women

o   What is standing in your way?  What conflict(s) do you face?
·   Insecure and vindictive women

3.   How do I get a copy of your book?
o   What is the title or working title for this piece?
·   Chasing Caitlyn. Book 1 of A Broken Girl Collection
·   Forgiving Ginger, Book 2 of A Broken Girl Collection

o   Is it available now or when can we expect to see it released?
·   Now

    

NORNS TRIAD PUBLICATIONS' BLOG