here i am: the bag disaster

here i am: the bag disaster: So...Jboy , being a chap of determined and narrow likes, has a black bag which he takes every day to the Most Marvellous Day centre...it is ...

The Bowes Library Corner: Editing through Kindness - Skirt Yankers who care ...

The Bowes Library Corner: Editing through Kindness - Skirt Yankers who care ...: I watched a lovely lady wander through a church buffet once and gasped in horror at her terrible faux pas. Having visited the toilet, she...

A story of magic, mythology, other realities and ancient evil.

Thank goodness for bubble wrap. Otherwise my Ming Dynasty tea set would be in pieces.

This latest review caused Colin's head to swell again.

This novel is a mix of sci-fi and fantasy that explores the battle between good and evil.

Katheryne has terrifying nightmares where she is surrounded by evil until a man appears in the dream to save her. She then sees the same man when awake, who explains will lies ahead and how life changing it will be. And so begins a story of adventure, courage and other worlds.

The writing in this book contains magic, mythology, other realities and ancient evil. All these elements are mixed up into a imaginative, coherent story. The story explores morals, relationships and what is out there? It makes you think.

The author has paced the story well and it never flags. He has created a range of interesting characters who work well together. Narrative and descriptions are well written and the dialogue seems natural.

I enjoyed myself in parallel universes and in different times. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next book. A great read.

Free on Kindle Unlimited
Also available in audio and paperback

Tonight I listened to CJ Rutherford and Katie Welburn bring the dragons back into the universe. I must say, these audio book things are a great idea. Now, if I could only get a pair of earphones to fit. Oh, the trials we dragon kind face.
I have been asked to say that the ebook(whatever that is), is free with kindling wood...oh, sorry. Kindle Unlimited. I'm not sure what makes the least sense. Giving a book away with fuel to light fires, of giving a book away with a Kindley thing.
But I digress. Wonderful job so far. Oh, and the prequel and book one are already available...hold on while I get my reading glasses on. CJ left me a note. Oh, he has codes for free downloads. Well I never. Codes for free downloads. I'm so excited. 
Hmm, perhaps my nephew Cedric can tell me what they are.

The first ever imaginary dragon giveaway

A while ago, my human took part in a Halloween giveaway called Dark Dreams. One of his prizes was an imaginary dragon, so who does he come to? None other than his very own imaginary friend.

The winner, Niki, requested a male dragon, so I I wracked my brains and called round the family.

A distant cousin, Zjann, expressed his interest. He hasn't inhabited a human's mind since the Great Saladin during your little conflict in the Middle East a few years back, so wanted a refreshing change.

I doubt this human is quite so violent, so I think it's a good match.

He's still quite young as you can tell, a mere seven centuries of age.

Niki, enjoy your new imaginary friend.

FREE! Origins of the Never

Origins of the Never is the Free short prequel to the series.
It now has an awesome new cover!

Consistently getting five stars. Find out how the dragons died. 

For Halloween lovers. Read this anthology from some awesome authors.

Humans, this is free. Buy it or I may come around and burn you.

Oh, and Colin has a short story within it. It make scare you. 

Today's Daily Dragon is ...Heather Osborne, author of the award winning Rae Hatting Mysteries.

Greetings, humans.

May I introduce you to my good friend, and talented author, Heather Osborne.

Besides being an outstanding writer(for a human, at least), she is my friend. I know, she is incredibly lucky. Not many of you squishies can claim to be dragon friends.

But, down to business. I could talk about myself all night...and frequently do...but tonight it's all about her. 

The Rae Hatting Mysteries is one of my favourite series. I admire the way this human writes, and I think Rae is a perfect example of how a dragon might behave, if she was a police...person...human...squishie. Hmm, none of these work, but you get the general idea.

Luke, on the other hand, is all too human, I'm sorry to say, though he does have some dragon qualities. Brave, honourable...good looking. Human women seem to enjoy his company, however, and Heather likes him, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

As I say above, he's attractive to human females.

Over the next few days Heather is running one of those promo thingies. Apparently you can get Crushed Gardenias, the short start to the series, for free. I personally loved this. It is quite charming, if you enjoy serial murderers and evil humans. I especially enjoy them roasted on a spit with a little mint sauce.

One of my favourite characters throughout the series is Grace. Her name depicts her perfectly, and Heather captures her teenage years with a wonderful depth.

And then there were two. Book two brings Rae and Luke together for the first time, I have no idea where they are headed, but I know I shall be sticking to their sides the whole way. 

The Fairest Of Them is only 99 of your cents for the next few days.

Heather Osborne was born and raised in California. She has a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Victimology, as well as coursework in Early Childhood Education. In 2009, she met her husband and moved to Scotland, very much a dream of hers since she was a small child. Heather has been writing short stories for as long as she can remember. She also has written and directed several plays. In her spare time, Heather enjoys reading, writing (of course!), theatre, as well as caring for her young son. She also reviews for Readers’ Favorite

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HAOsborne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hosborneauthor

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/1/+HeatherOsborne27

Blog: https://heatherosborneauthor.wordpress.com/

Today's Daily Dragon is....Mom and Dad!

They caused quite a stir when they posed for this picture. The human armed forces surrounded them and foolishly tried to capture them. 

They tried to pass the ensuing battle off as a gas explosion. Ha!! If I know my father, he probably did actually ignite one of his bottom burps.

I'm sorry for all the squishies who were singed in this occurrence. My parents have a strange sense of humour.  

It's FREEE!!!

Book one in the Tales of the Neverwar is free this weekend only! Pick up what's been described as the next Mortal Instruments.

Katheryne thinks she's just a normal 20-year-old, until her dreams descend into terror and pain. 

At the edge of the universe, an ancient evil awakens. It wants into our world; and it's coming through her. 

As the dreams become reality, Katheryne is pitched into a battle that has raged for thousands of years. The fate of all reality rests in her hands. 

This is Book One in Tales of the Neverwar. An epic adventure through time, space and alternate realities. Suitable for the Young Adult audience.

One of the best books I have EVER read!

I just posted the review for one of the best books I've EVER read. It's just been released and is available now on Amazon.

I was given a copy of this in exchange for an honest and constructive review. I was totally unprepared for what I read.
I don’t often get book hangovers, but right now I’m suffering from the worst one ever. For those of you who don’t know what a book hangover is, it’s when you’ve just finished a book that drew you in so much that the outside world just disappeared.
Iron Mike is such a book. I lost control of my will after the first few pages. I couldn’t stop reading, as this end of the world epic grabbed me by the heart strings, and dragged me through a tale that had me laughing one minute, and crying the next. And there were plenty of both, believe me.
The main character is a young man called Mike, who survives the initial alien attack along with his kid sister, Jenny. How Mike becomes ‘Iron’ Mike is a story in itself, and brilliantly executed. It’s up to him to get his sister to safety, but along the way he picks up a few stragglers, desperate survivors who you will grow to care for deeply.
Patricia’s character development is wonderful, and she carries out ‘show, not tell’ effortlessly. I can’t believe this is her first book.
The story is fast paced and exquisitely imaginative. You will live this book through the eyes of some of the most loveable side characters I’ve ever met, and yes, it felt like I knew them all, so much so I broke down in tears quite a few times.
Along the way there are strokes of genius where Earth history is subtly brought into play, and some of the humour had me laughing out loud. I did actually snort coffee down my nose at one point.
The enemy is brilliant portrayed. The main monsters are quite horrific, but the alien master race will surprise you. I won’t spoil it for you.
A love story comes in about halfway through though it’s obvious it would happen from the start. It’s a wonderful relationship, a light part among the dark of the post apocalyptic world.
Oh, then there’s Hershey, the most loveable and funny character I have ever met. Again, I won’t spoil it for you, but be prepared to smile a lot as you read his parts. I defy you not to.
Now for my rating, and you’ll probably know I’m giving it a five. If I could give it more I wouldn’t hesitate. This has been an absolute joy to read, and I feel privileged to have been asked to read it in exchange for this completely honest and heartfelt review.
One of the best books I have EVER read!
http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Mike-Patricia-Rose-ebook/dp/B015ELC31S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443385075&sr=8-2&keywords=iron+mike

Worlds of the Never is coming on audio book!

Free on KindleUnlimited

I've just given the go ahead to my awesome narrator, Katie Welburn, to start the audio production of book two in my Tales of the Neverwar series.

On Teralia, where magic has hidden for thousands of years, the Darkness arises to challenge the Veil spell. The barrier is weakening. 

Magic is returning to the universe. Only an outsider can prevent the destruction of the Glade and the people she loves. 

On Sanctuary, the supporters of Tenybris have taken control. The universe teeters on the brink of all out war. 

Standing against them are Katheryne, the Foundation, prophesied to rid the universe of Tenybris forever, and Derren, the other half of her soul. Along with a small band of extraordinary friends, they need to raise an alliance against Sanctuary, but incur terrible losses along the way. 

Unseen, the Beast plots the release of its Master. But Tenybris's freedom is not enough to sate the monster's depravity, as it sets out to corrupt and destroy whatever, and whoever it can. 

This is the beginning of the end. Who will remain standing?

War of the Never...updates.

Greetings, humans.

CJ has almost completed the final book in his Tales of the Neverwar series, and wanted me to share the initial draft of the cover. As you can see, dragons play a large part in this book. He's even offered to give me a cameo role in it.

The whole series is available for free with KindleUnlimited, just click the dragon. Watch out, he may bite!

Today's Daily Dragon is...Scott C Davis

Greetings, humans. 

Once in a while an author comes along with a truly unique idea. Scott is such a writer. My Kingdom, Your Heaven is set in the time of a squabble you squishies call the American Civil War. I remember it well, and Scott has drawn on his reenactment experience to create a completely authentic experience.

He doesn't leave it there, however, and as the story unfolds, we are drawn into a battle between Angels and Demons, with human souls being the prize.

The unlikely hero is the Grim Reaper. I shall say no more. Read this. You will enjoy it.

Today's Daily Dragon is...Patricia Rose, author of the excellent Iron Mike.

My human has just finished reading this wonderful book. Except for the absence of dragons, it's otherwise perfect. I've decided to share the words he wrote about it.

I don’t often get book hangovers, but right now I’m suffering from the worst one ever. For those of you who don’t know what a book hangover is, it’s when you’ve just finished a book that drew you in so much that the outside world just disappeared. 

Iron Mike is such a book. I lost control of my will after the first few pages. I couldn’t stop reading, as this end of the world epic grabbed me by the heart strings, and dragged me through a tale that had me laughing one minute, and crying the next. And there were plenty of both, believe me.

The main character is a young man called Mike, who survives the initial alien attack along with his kid sister, Jenny. How Mike becomes ‘Iron’ Mike is a story in itself, and brilliantly executed. It’s up to him to get his sister to safety, but along the way he picks up a few stragglers, desperate survivors who you will grow to care for deeply.

Patricia’s character development is wonderful, and she carries out ‘show, not tell’ effortlessly. I can’t believe this is her first book. 

The story is fast paced and exquisitely imaginative. You will live this book through the eyes of some of the most loveable side characters I’ve ever met, and yes, it felt like I knew them all, so much so I broke down in tears quite a few times.

Along the way there are strokes of genius where Earth history is subtly brought into play, and some of the humour had me laughing out loud. I did actually snort coffee down my nose at one point.

The enemy is brilliant portrayed. The main monsters are quite horrific, but the alien master race will surprise you. I won’t spoil it for you.

A love story comes in about halfway through though it’s obvious it would happen from the start. It’s a wonderful relationship, a light part among the dark of the post apocalyptic world.

Oh, then there’s Hershey, the most loveable and funny character I have ever met. Again, I won’t spoil it for you, but be prepared to smile a lot as you read his parts. I defy you not to.

Now for my rating, and you’ll probably know I’m giving it a five. If I could give it more I wouldn’t hesitate. This has been an absolute joy to read, and I feel privileged to have been asked to read it in exchange for this completely honest and heartfelt review.

One of the best books I have EVER read!

Dark Dreams Trailer

Dark Dreams, a multi author, Halloween Giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today's Daily Dragon...Dragonflies!

Most of you squishies think they know what a dragonfly is; you know, that gossamer winged insect.

Think again, humans!

This is a very rare picture of an actual dragonfly hatchling. I hope you like it.

Today's Daily Dragon is Lex Allen!

The premise of these books is that Christianity, and by extension most other organised religions, are a lie; that Jesus was in fact an alien called Eloa from another dimension. To be honest, Chris de Burgh’s song, a Spaceman Came Travelling would be a great theme for it.

The story is told over three novels, No Heaven, No Hell, and No Religion. I flew through the first two books and received an ARC copy of the third which I finished in a day. It was that good, and I was sorry when I finished it.

It has something for everyone. Alternative history, mixed with paranormal and science fiction. It’s set in present days, and has a backdrop of world affairs that makes what happens in the books entirely plausible. Lex is a master of making people think about what is going on before their eyes, and how the news media is putting their own slant on things.

The characters are real, and likeable, enough that you will care about what happens to them. The story line is fast paced and detailed enough to pull you into the pages, and drag you along an amazing tale of good versus evil. The villain in this book is one of the best characters I’ve ever read. I REALLY hated him by the end of the book.

All in all, I would thoroughly recommend this to the adult audience. 

A well deserved five stars!! 

Another Awesome five star review...oh god, there go my plates

Wow! Never a dull moment in this interesting and thrilling blend of fantasy and science fiction.
The storyline is complex and attention grabbing.
All the characters were well-rounded, not just the main ones.
The world building was creative and the author puts his own twist on the idea of alternate/parallel universes. He must have a vivid imagination.
There are dragons, faeries, brownies, a horrifically evil bad guy, plus love, romance, trust, and betrayal all wrapped up in an amazing story.
I'm looking forward to reading Worlds of the Never.

Today's Daily Dragon is...CJ Rutherford

Well, ok...it's really Colin, but just this once he's done something to make an old dragon proud.

His latest venture was to turn Souls of the Never, book one in his Tales of the Neverwar series, into an audio book. It's quite a complex process, at least it appears so to me. However, Colin said it was actually quite simple. He tried to explain it to me, but unless it is a recipe on how to cook sheep, I find my attention wandering. He's agreed to blog about his experiences on another post, but for now, here is the highly anticipated release cover of the audio book.

A young adult, scifi, fantasy adventure. Katheryne thinks she's an ordinary 20-year-old girl, until her life is turned upside down. An ancient evil has awakened. It wants into our world...and it's coming through her. Only the dark presence from her dreams can help her, but she's terrified of him. She knows she's powerless to fight her feelings for him. Stand by to embark on a roller-coaster ride through time and space. This is the beginning of the end!

Funny humans

Sometimes your human jokes amuse me. This is one of those times.

Another awesome five star review for Souls of the Never!

In Origins of the Never, friends Olumé and Tenybris seemed like two mischievous, fun-loving boys. Appearances were deceiving. Olumé manipulated magic, while Tenybris grew more skilled at using magic to get what he wants.

Now, in Souls of the Never, the boundaries between dreams and reality merge and blur. In a world filled with fantasy, scifi, romance, and time travel, with dragons, elves and faeries, the characters grapple with issues like bullying, friendship, and deciding what’s wrong and right.

C. J. Rutherford's Souls of the Never is a wonderful book. In the story geared toward young adults and teens but suitable for all ages, Mr. Rutherford deftly moves the reader back and forth through time. The chapter graphics are lovely.

Origins of the Never: A prequel to Souls of the Never serves as short introduction to Souls of the Never. The tale weaves complexities of emotions, surrounding them with magic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO4e4nCYBEo

Today's Daily Dragon is... the incredibly talented author, Heather Osborne

Heather Osborne is a talented and diverse author. She has written books in several genres, including historical romance, mystery, and even erotica. 

Bio: 

Heather Osborne was born and raised in California. She has a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Victimology, as well as coursework in Early Childhood Education. In 2009, she met her husband and moved to Scotland, very much a dream of hers since she was a small child. Heather has been writing short stories for as long as she can remember. She also has written and directed several plays. In her spare time, Heather enjoys reading, writing (of course!), theatre, as well as caring for her young son.

She also reviews for Readers' Favorite.

Social Media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HAOsborne

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hosborneauthor

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/1/+HeatherOsborne27

Blog: https://heatherosborneauthor.wordpress.com/

Her latest foray is into the realms of mystery, with her Rae Hatting series. Rae is the female main character, but the books are written in first person POV from the viewpoint of Rae and her partner, Luke. I'm not normally a huge fan of first person, but Heather has nailed it with these books.

Crushed Gardenias is the short intro to the series, and is a great set up that introduces us to Rae.

Special Agent Rae Hatting has been sent to a small town in Colorado to investigate the disappearance of young girls from several surrounding states. What she finds is not at all what she expected.

The Fairest of Them brings Luke Thompson into play for the first time.

Once upon a time, there was a murder...

Detective Luke Thompson is a hero cop, with a string of solved serial killer cases under his belt. He comes to California, thinking he can disappear quietly into the forests, isolated from the rest of the world. His expertise is called upon to help with a mysterious serial killer, dumping bodies dressed like fairy tale characters in the woods outside of Mendocino County. With the help of a profiler, Luke finally gets the break he needs, as well as finding romance for himself. Tragedy strikes, and Luke is left despondent, unable to carry on as a detective. Can a fiery redhead from the FBI help him out of the slump?

Determined to leave the life of solving unsolvable homicides behind, Special Agent Rae Hatting tries to settle into a normal life with her adopted daughter, Grace. However, her reputation precedes her, and Rae finds herself back in the fray, called upon to help solve a series of gruesome fairy tale style murders in California. Her only obstacle is Detective Luke Thompson. Broody, stubborn, and an all-around pain in the ass, the pair must work together before another victim ends up never finding their happily ever after. 

Book three, Misfortune, is Heather's upcoming novel in the Rae Hatting Mysteries.

Death is on the cards...

There’s a new serial killer on the loose, dumping bodies in sinister relation to tarot card meanings, preying on his victims’ vices. With roving psychics, all claiming to have knowledge of the killer, to a mysterious Cajun woman, who just so happens to be related to Dr. Sabine Lawson, will Luke and Rae solve the case before another person ends up tempting fate and succumbing to an unfortunate mishap?

The series so far has kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I can't wait to read book three.

Imaginary dragons...a good thing or a bad?

Evening squishies.

As you may know, I'm an imaginary dragon.

There have been several famous members of my race over the recent years, notably in the works of authors like J.R. Tolkien.

I wonder, however, how many of you know that we've been around for eons.

As long as faer have walked in your dreams, we have played alongside.

I am Claude. I take many shapes. Do you know any dragons?

No?

Are you sure?

Today's Daily Dragon...ME!

Souls of the Never is #2

Come on, lets help the squishie to #1

The beauty of being an Indie Author.

Book updates, covers, blurbs etc

Let's say your book has been out for a while. Let's also say it's not selling as well as you'd hoped. 

Now, if you had gone down the traditional route, odds are you have a professional cover, but it's possibly not one you had any say in, and may not, in your opinion, be selling your book to the audience you intended.

Now I come to the subject matter. Independent, or Indie authors, have complete control over their work, so if the cover or blurb aren't working, it's a simple matter for them to change it. Well, maybe not simple, in that a new cover and blurb takes a lot of work. 

I know, because I've just gone through the whole process. Book two in my Tales of the Neverwar series has been out for a month or so. Sales have been okay, but I know myself the cover I made wasn't great, and wasn't 100% indicative of the genre and story. So, I sat down, talked to a few friends who have read it, and came up with a few ideas.

What we came up with is this image, which is now up on Kindle. It captures the genre and the plot perfectly. 

Free on KindleUnlimited

Today's Daily Dragon is...me!

I asked Colin for a part in his new book, but he has surpassed my wishes.

He has had his book two, Worlds of the Never, out for a while now, and though I liked the cover(it was a Dragon, do the math), the new one is amazing; and I'm on it!

Today's Daily Dragon...not really a dragon, but a great picture

I found this. I thought you might like it.

Digital libraries...the pitfalls.

Some of you may have read the recent articles about digitizing public libraries, doing away with print copy completely. Now, I'm all for technological progress, but I think this is wrong.

For me, libraries are all about books, paper ones. They are places we can go to take in the smell of the ink, and the touch of the pages under your fingers; but there is another reason, albeit a rather paranoid one.

What if there was some sort of disaster, either natural or man-made? How would we rebuild if all knowledge is lost to us?

A very good friend of mine, Zeecé Lugo, has written such a scenario into her series of books, set in what she has called ‘The Daniel’s Forks universe.’ The books are set in a future devastated by a global pandemic. Up until now, they have been a mixture of romance and mystery, with very little detail on what actually happened.

This has changed in her upcoming novel, which goes back to a time shortly after the event. I’ve been privileged enough to read the first few chapters, and the subject of digital libraries appears here.

Decades from now, print books have all but disappeared, but with the end of civilization, and electricity etc, so have all the digital copies. The task of rebuilding the world as we know it has been rendered impossible, due to even the simplest of jobs becoming an unknown art.

Print books are now the most precious commodity in this world, but the libraries that would normally have held these repositories of knowledge are now gone. Why shouldn’t they be, when ‘the Cloud’ held everything ever printed? But now the Cloud has blown away.

This is why I think the libraries are doomed if they digitize. They should remain a haven for bookworms everywhere.

One a slightly separate note, Zeecé has one of her books on special offer over the next few days. Strongheart’s Woman is a sexy romance, set in this future universe, decades after the event. It shows the way the lack of knowledge has affected the lives of the survivors. The world has become a simpler place, and Zeecé’s tagline, ‘Welcome to the future past,’ serves well. It’s frightening in its realism and probability.

Will this ever happen? I truly hope not, but they way the human race is going, we risk total technological breakdown.

The upcoming next installment in Tales of the Neverwar.

Here you are, humans. Due to popular(excuse me while I choke) demand, Colin has allowed me to preview this latest attempt at a cover and blurb for book three in the Tales of the Neverwar.

Now, normally I'd cringe at the though of him publishing another book. I've only just got the inside of his head back in order after the last release; but living inside his head has allowed me access to some of the ideas swirling around there. I of course, have given my own meager input, advising him that he needed more dragons. 

On this occasion, I'm happy to confirm he listened to me, and the last third of the book will feature my kind prominently. I'm trying to bag a cameo role. So far Colin isn't biting. I may just bite him.

Anyway, here you go. Enjoy, squishies.

The end of the end is near! Tenybris is free from his prison, and his hunt for the dragon eggs begins.  In the Glade, Gwenyth, the only human in the Lands, stands no chance against the power of the Darkness. With the fall of the Veil, the magic escapes to flood the universe, and the first stop is Earth. What can Katheryne and the others do to save her world and the rest of reality? How can the planet Sanctuary face the hunger of Tenybris? How will Gwyneth save the race she has come to love?

  

Let's face it, Dragons are HOT, baby, yeah!

When someone writes a series with dragons in it, even if they aren't readily apparent in book one, he really should stick to the genre.

Colin had a perfectly good strategy. A free short prequel.

Followed by the first book in the Tales of the Neverwar. Now this is where I have to step in. Colin had the foolish idea of changing it all around, changing the cover and categories to attract the female humans. 

Now, I have no issue with the new cover. It's very well done, but does it say 'Dragons?' No, it doesn't. So, I'm grateful he's seen the light, and has agreed to put the old cover back. 

And let's face it...Dragons are HOT, baby, yeah!

And if you don't believe me, read book two in the series. 

The dragons are back, along with a few other races. Witness the death of a civilization, and the birth of a new era.

Did I mention dragons are HOT? 

Today's Daily Dragon...Cousin Declan, Red to his friends.

Declan and I are great mates. There's nothing he likes more than a good old sheep hunt. Although his Irish ancestry sometimes causes him to have...unusual urges, all in all, he's a great chap.

Romance is in the air.

Colin has decided to rebrand Book One in the Tales of the Neverwar.

Apparently, a lot of you human females seem to enjoy the romance element in it. I don't get it myself.

The last time I targeted females was in my youth, when the locals insisted on sacrificing virgins.

He has a new cover and tagline as well.

Can the brightest love withstand the darkest evil?

Today's Daily Dragon...my brother in law, Bert.

Of an evening, Bert and I can often be found in the local pub. The beauty of being a dragon is our ability to shift, so we can blend in anywhere. Unfortunately, even though we may appear human, our dragon appetites remain. It's quite common for us to eat and drink an establishment dry.

Sorry about that.

But next time you're in a pub, look around. You may be in the company of dragons!

Today's Daily Dragon is...my sister, Gwenyth

As children, Gwen would scorch me at every opportunity. As you may know, dragon scales develop over the centuries of our youth. Gwen has a LOT of payback coming her way.

Free this weekend!

Worlds of the Never, Book Two in the Tales of the Neverwar, is free until tomorrow.

On Teralia, where magic has hidden for thousands of years, the Darkness arises to challenge the Veil spell. The barrier is weakening. 

Magic is returning to the universe. Only an outsider can prevent the destruction of the Glade and the people she loves. 

On Sanctuary, the supporters of Tenybris have taken control. The universe teeters on the brink of all out war. 

Standing against them are Katheryne, the Foundation, prophesied to rid the universe of Tenybris forever, and Derren, the other half of her soul. Along with a small band of extraordinary friends, they need to raise an alliance against Sanctuary, but incur terrible losses along the way. 

Unseen, the Beast plots the release of its Master. But Tenybris's freedom is not enough to sate the monster's depravity, as it sets out to corrupt and destroy whatever, and whoever it can. 

This is the beginning of the end. Who will remain standing?

Names Starting With 'Z': Free Until Monday Only!

Names Starting With 'Z': Free Until Monday Only!: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Worlds-Never-Tales-Neverwar-Book-ebook/dp/B00TH5BC1U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1434010771&sr=8-4&keywords...

Today's Daily Dragon is...my good friend, and amazing author, Heather Osborne.

Title: The Fairest of Them

Series: Rae Hatting Mystery #2

Author: Heather Osborne

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Crime Thriller

Release Date: June 6, 2015

Once upon a time, there was a murder...

Rae Hatting returns in her first, full-length novel, “The Fairest of Them.” 

Detective Luke Thompson is a hero cop, with a string of solved serial killer cases under his belt. He comes to California, thinking he can disappear quietly into the forests, isolated from the rest of the world. His expertise is called upon to help with a mysterious serial killer, dumping bodies dressed like fairy tale characters in the woods outside of Mendocino County. With the help of a profiler, Luke finally gets the break he needs, as well as finding romance for himself. Tragedy strikes, and Luke is left despondent, unable to carry on as a detective. Can a fiery redhead from the FBI help him out of the slump?

Determined to leave the life of solving unsolvable homicides behind, Special Agent Rae Hatting tries to settle into a normal life with her adopted daughter, Grace. However, her reputation precedes her, and Rae finds herself back in the fray, called upon to help solve a series of gruesome fairy tale style murders in California. Her only obstacle is Detective Luke Thompson. Broody, stubborn, and an all-around pain in the ass, the pair must work together before another victim ends up never finding their happily ever after.

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The trail led to a clearing surrounded by redwood trees. They provided shade from the harsh afternoon July sun, their shadows dancing on the ground. In the very center of the ring, a woman lay, her hands folded over her abdomen. Blonde ringlets framed her face and her vivid blue eyes were wide open, staring blankly into the abyss. The slender form was draped in a pink dress with lace accents at the sleeves. Over it, she wore a stark white pinafore. Hikers had stumbled on the eerily staged scene in MacKerricher State Park, and called in the authorities.

Yellow crime tape was wound around the statuesque trees. It was as if they were standing guard, tall and silent. Upon closer investigation, a slim book was discovered, poking out of the pocket of the starched pinafore. It was quickly bagged and tagged as evidence before the body, carefully sealed in a black bag, was transported to the coroner’s office. I remember turning my face upwards, gazing at the majestic trees and wishing they could talk. If they could, my job would have been infinitely easier.

I had come to the small town in Mendocino County, California, early in 2003 with no intentions of taking up another job on the force. My legacy was safely tucked away in Dallas, Texas, after I solved a series of prostitute rapes and mutilations. The newspapers lauded me as a hero. The whole situation made me feel completely sick, not good for a detective. We were meant to be impartial and I found myself blaming the working girls I had so often warned about the dangers of streetwalking.

The circumstances leading me to resuming a position as a detective with the sheriff’s department were not something I wished to discuss with anyone. I would simply change the topic when brought up in conversation. I supposed that it was some sort of calling, unable to let me rest until I helped as many people as possible.

I drove back to the station, radio off, the red-taped evidence bag taunting me on the passenger seat. I knew what it contained, but I was reluctant to confirm it. I turned the bag over to the technicians at the lab and returned to my office with an off-hand reminder to let me know what they found. The book would be swabbed, submitted to latent fingerprint testing, and returned to my desk with the same report as last time: no conclusive trace evidence found. As I predicted, it’s what happened. I retrieved the book, setting it down on my desk in the plastic covering.

Snapping on a pair of latex gloves, I ran my hand over the leather cover. It was a first edition, like the rest. I carefully cracked the cover and the black print stood out on the creamy ivory paper: Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

Beneath it, penned in perfect cursive were the words: She should not have taken what did not belong to her. I slammed the book shut in frustration. The taunts were becoming more and more specific as time went on.

Throwing the gloves in my trashcan, I decided to take a walk and see if Dr. Sabine Lawson had found anything on the body. The glimmer of hope had long since faded that she actually would. The curvy, African-American coroner was meticulous in her reports, so I doubted she would be even down to the woman’s breasts at this point. I had to do something to settle my nerves, though, or I would snap.

The squeak of the metal swinging doors signaled my entry into the disinfectant-scented room. I grinned at the sight of Sabine in her element. She wore her hair in narrow braids, pulled back in a no-nonsense ponytail. Her skin was the color of coffee with cream. There were many days I lusted after Sabine, but she made it clear to me from day one she was committed to her job. There was no room for “torrid affairs with wild cowboys,” as she put it.

“Whatcha got for me, Doc?” I went through the motions of putting on another pair of gloves to avoid Sabine’s scowl.

“Nothing yet and you know it. You’re restless, cher.” The drawl of her New Orleans accent came out like liquid silk.

I leaned against the counter and watched her work. “Damn straight. I can’t wrap my head around this guy. He was sticking to the classics and now this jump. Why Goldilocks?”

Sabine was used to listening to my ramblings and offering her interpretations. “Perhaps, she merely fit the profile of that character.”

“He’s not like that though. He plans this all to the letter. Every detail. Stalks these women for weeks!” I jiggled my leg anxiously. The change in the killer’s modus operandi rattled me more than it should.

“Calm yourself.” She began to speak into a microphone positioned above her work station.

“Female victim appears roughly 20 to 25 years of age based on bone development and pelvic placement. She has never given birth. There are signs of sexual trauma, but no ligature marks on her wrists or ankles. A small needle mark indicates that the victim may have been drugged. Sending a sample of blood and urine to the lab for further analysis.”

I interrupted her. “No trace of semen, I take it?”

She frowned at me. “No, like the others.” Sabine carefully made her opening incision in the abdomen of the victim and drew back the flesh. She busied herself with the remainder of her work, and I knew I was dismissed without her saying so. Pinging the gloves into a bin by the door, I walked out.

Heather Osborne was born and raised in California. She has a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Victimology, as well as coursework in Early Childhood Education. In 2009, she met her husband and moved to Scotland, very much a dream of hers since she was a small child. Heather has been writing short stories for as long as she can remember. She also has written and directed several plays. In her spare time, Heather enjoys reading, writing (of course!), theatre, as well as caring for her young son.

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