Mini-excerpt: The Light Who Shines: Chapter 01. Double Depravity: Part 03

I stand and open myself up to the world again. Gambino stands well outside the perimeter of my work area wearing a quiet, thoughtful expression. His fellow officer’s face is full of wonder. Gifted sensitive work must be new to him. Well, at least it’s curiosity and not fear that radiates from his expression. I shake off the lingering emotions and try to collect myself as I move toward them.

Most detectives work to blend in with the everyday pedestrian, but Gambino is most at home dressed in a suit and tie with gleaming dress shoes. With his suave Italian looks, he wears it well. However, it only takes drink or anger to bring out the Irish side of his heritage, causing him to turn a signature shade of cherry red. Right now bright red spots highlight his cheeks, announcing his controlled anger to those who know him well. I know him well enough, but his freckled and fresh-faced companion is new to me.

As I approach, Gambino gestures to a man in the crime scene clean-up van. Two men unload industrial-sized power washers and vacuum equipment, obviously preparing for an inefficient bout of manual labor.

“You know, Gambino, any one of a number of magic potions, powders, or spells would do the job more effectively,” I say.

Gambino grunts. “Humph. You know the precinct isn’t ready to use magic craft like that. You can’t change the world in a day, but I’m working on them.”

A familiar exasperation washes over me. It’s the twenty-first century of the Red Ages, and the Gifted have helped keep the Norms safe from Dark Vampires since year one, but still they will not get over their fear and hatred of us. It’s an old, festering wound that I try to ignore. I turn my mind back to the situation at hand.

“Okay, I’ve gotten what I can. What do you have?”

Gambino inclines his head toward his companion. “Officer Warren was exiting the Cock and Bull Tap with some guys from the force when they heard tires squeal. They saw the body when they turned the corner." Gambino indicates the corner where the Cock and Bull Tap makes its home.

I address Officer Warren. “Did you see anyone or see a car?”

Officer Warren stands at attention, eager to divulge any detail that might be required from him. “No, Ma’am. We thought someone was just driving like an idiot when we heard the tires squeal. We didn’t hear anything else. We actually didn’t see the body right away when we turned the corner because of those shrubs right there.” His sweeping hand takes in three medium-sized bottlebrush buckeye shrubs that grow a few feet up from where the body had lain, positioned between the sidewalk and the street. The dense foliage could easily have hidden a body from view.

“It couldn’t have taken more than a minute and a half for us to pass the shrubs and see him lying there. He was already dead, Ma’am. I ran to him right away and checked. No heartbeat, no breathing. The car was long gone.”

“Did anyone move the body?”

Officer Warner’s mouth tightens at the perceived slight to his professionalism. “No, Ma’am!”

I nix my next question, switching it to accommodate his pride. “Do you remember anything else?”

We seem to be on smoother ground with his next reply. “No, Ma’am. Besides that, it was quiet. No cars or pedestrians were on the street. This is the end of the Warehouse District, and there isn’t much between here and the river except the cemetery. Most first shift workers around here get off at three o’clock, and either they head over to the Tap for a drink or they head straight home. It was approximately 3:47 when we left the tap, and we found the boy at approximately 3:49.”

My lips twitch in a smile at the fact that Officer Warren knew exactly what time it was. My guess is that he’s never anything even close to approximate. “Thanks, Officer Warren. You’ve been very helpful."

Gambino turns his intelligent gaze to Warren. “Thanks for staying, Officer. That’s all I need right now. Let me know if anything, anything at all, comes to mind.”

Officer Warren dips his head slightly in deference as he accepts his dismissal. “I sure will, Detective Gambino.”... 
***************************************
Excerpt from: The Light Who Shines

By: Lilo Abernathy 

The Light Who Shines has a Big Sale, Friday, April 11 (limited time)
Only 99 cents (Reg $4.99)

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Light-Who-Shines-Bluebell-Kildare-ebook/dp/B00HYH3ZU4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1392572506

The Light Who Shines - Big Sale Today! (Urban/Dark Fantasy)

Reg: $4.99  Today 99 cents! 
4.8 Stars  | Urban/Dark Fantasy

magic | murder | mystery | mayhem | vampires | wolf 

Meet Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) and her cast of friends for an 80% discount.

• Blue, the heroine, is a smart and gritty detective, determined to catch her perp. regardless of the price.

• Her counterpart, the lethal day-walking vampire Jack Tanner, has broad shoulders, burnished gold curls, and a predatory green-eyed stare. Does he want Blue or not?

• Blue is joined on her hunt by her faithful companion and oh-so-clever wolf Varg! Does Varg have some mysterious powers?

• Don't forget Maud with her kaleidoscope hair! Is it fuchsia, peach, blue, or scarlet today? 

ADULT CONTENT: Recommended for ages 17+ for sex and violence. NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. THIS IS NO COZY MYSTERY! It is Urban Fantasy that crosses into mystery, romance, and has a dark side.

Readers keep saying they want more. Check out the reviews. Don't miss this deal!

Amazon US link: (click here)

Amazon UK link: (click here)

Lilo

Mini-excerpt: The Light Who Shines: Chapter 01. Double Depravity: Part 02

Senior Detective Tony Gambino, who stands on the sidewalk next to the street where the body was found, is spilling over with anger and determination. I can feel so many emotions at a murder scene where the angst runs high. However, the job at hand requires that I focus on the victim’s emotions.
 
“Gambino, can you give me a minute? I have some questions, but I need to take some time here first.” Why can’t someone hanging around here just feel guilty? My job would be so much easier.
 
Gambino nods his assent, and I admire how despite his abundant emotion he looks the epitome of calm concentration.
 
I circle the taped off crime scene, stopping here and there, closing my eyes, feeling with my sixth sense for lingering signs of magic or strong emotion. A biting breeze blows by, sending a chill up my spine. The air, independent of the breeze, is awash with emotion. Coming directly from where the body had lain, a strong, sharp pulse of pain mixed with duller threads of anguish hits me. My pulse escalates and my heart stammers as the pain and torment submerge me. I seek solace in slow, deep breaths, reminding myself that this pain doesn’t belong to me.
 
Another emotion tickles my consciousness a few steps from the body. It’s a small sliver of emotion, which indicates that it only lasted a small moment of time, but it’s intense. Confusion? No—it’s surprise. I walk into the cloud of surprise only to be hit by another emotion. My feet are positioned exactly where the shards of glass were scattered when it hits me. The fine hairs on the back of my neck rise as I am pummeled by a blast of shock and horror in one small space. This emotion is incongruent with the first because it comes with a different signature, a different resonance left in the air. There were definitely two parties here.
 
My feet carry me down the street a few steps and the emotions shift back to the first signature. I do not own these emotions, but I certainly enjoy them. I sense liberation and triumph! Not the usual feelings one would expect to be haunting the body of a severely tortured young man. I sense something else warring with the feelings of liberation and triumph. It’s a deep, primordial fear, the feeling of being prey. This boy was hunted or chased, or perhaps he was hiding from something terrible.
 
I stand still and further ratchet down my normal senses, turning them almost completely off so I can feel more fully with my sixth sense, searching for any hint of magic. Emotions wash over me freely. Reaching past them, I search for something deeper and more elemental.
 
Something is coming from where the boy’s body had lain. It’s nothing more than a light tingling in the air, low to the ground, but I can feel that it has great significance. Moving closer to stand outside the outline of the body, I crouch down and fan my hands through the air close to the ground. A slight buzz zips through my hands, telling me the boy had a magical gift. The magic is clear, but its purpose is vague. It’s something basic yet powerful, but the reverberations don’t speak to a specific gift. I sift my fingers through the prickly air. I can’t feel that any magic was used, but rather just that magic had been there in the boy. Damn it! It’s too elusive, and I don’t have much to go on...
 
***************************************
Excerpt from: The Light Who Shines

By: Lilo Abernathy

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Light-Who-Shines-Bluebell-Kildare-ebook/dp/B00HYH3ZU4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1392572506

Mini-excerpt: The Light Who Shines: Chapter 01. Double Depravity: Part 01

Bluebell Kildare: May 26, 2022, Red Ages
 
The boy is stark naked, and dried blood streaks extend from the crushed area of his forehead down to the hollows of his eyes where it pools like small, bloody twin lakes. The lines of his ribs stick out so much I could climb them like a ladder. A stark white shaft of bone sticks out from his leg, gleaming against the bloody rupture on his thigh. A pattern of crimson, crossed lines decorates his crushed left hip. His skin is dirty and he stinks like crazy, but not from death. Not yet. More like a latrine.
 
Under his layer of grime is a layer of bruising, both fresh and old. His feet and toes are black. How he was able to stand on them, I can’t imagine, as it looks and smells as though they are rotting. Calluses surround his ankles and wrists. I think he must have been tied up. Another pool of blood spills from under his head, spreading wide on the asphalt road. He looks to be sixteen to eighteen years old with the slightest bits of young facial hair growing about his chin. His body sprawls out on the street with his limbs twisted at awkward angles around him.
 
I’m going to catch the person who did this. I want to tear his heart out with my bare hands and squeeze it into a bloody pulp.
 
My fantasy of mushy heart muscle squeezing through my fingers as blood drips to the ground is unsatisfactorily interrupted. Dr. Nathan Perlman leans over the boy’s hand with a pair of tweezers and carefully plucks out a piece of dark red thread snagged on a fingernail. It gets tucked away safely in a clear plastic evidence bag for future analysis. Realizing that my hands are still fisted from my little fantasy, I release them and try not to look like the vengeful murderer I momentarily wish I were.
 
Nathan looks up at me and says, “I’m ready to move the body. Can you step back?”
 
“Sure.” I remove myself from the body, giving room for the Medical Examiner and his assistant to hoist the body onto the gurney.
 
While the men are in mid-lift, I take the opportunity to examine the boy’s underside. With one hand squashing my hat to my head, I lean over until my hair drags on the asphalt. “Holy Plane of Fire!”
 
Nathan’s assistant stumbles at my exclamation and drops the boy’s leg.
 
Nathan’s fury overflows. “Holy shit, Patrick! Hasn’t this boy been through enough?”
 
Four hands jostle the body until they manage to get it on the gurney.
 
Nathan’s foul mood and abuse of Patrick is unusual. His typically jovial face is soured, and his smile lines twist in the wrong direction. My chest tightens at the pained look on Patrick’s face. My heart goes out to both of them, really. I can feel the anger and pain rolling off Nathan. Patrick is feeling empathy for the boy and anxiety at having made a mistake on the job. I try to push their pains aside as I have to focus on the matter at hand, and dealing with my own emotions is enough. Luckily I can’t feel everyone’s emotions all the time, just the stronger ones—unless I open up my sixth sense, that is. Then I can feel it all.
 
When the body is safely enshrouded in clean white linen, I turn to Nathan. “Did you see the lacerations on his back?”
 
Nathan grimaces. “I hate to see shit like this.”
 
I agree, and my heart squeezing fantasy transforms into daydreams of watching the perpetrator’s flesh slowly disintegrate in a vat of acid. Propping my hands on jean-clad hips, I observe Nathan and Patrick load the destroyed body into the hearse.
***************************************
Mini-excerpt from: The Light Who Shines

By: Lilo Abernathy

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Light-Who-Shines-Bluebell-Kildare-ebook/dp/B00HYH3ZU4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1392572506

Mini-excerpt: The Light Who Shines: Prologue: Part 04

I can feel the heat rising, and it burns. I look out at their faces, and even through my fear, I feel their sorrow and their rage. I feel it in me as well. That has always been my curse: to feel others as myself. Their rage now feeds mine. The flames lick my ankles, and the smoke fills my eyes.
 
I look up at the night sky and feel my fury overflow. Months of rage at Torloch, who took the life of our son to try to save himself. But more rage at Lilith, who made him an empty promise and turned him into a monster for the price of our child. Tears stream down my face as I recall my own black pit of grief at losing my lovely little boy. I feel the grief and pain of everyone on this dark night.
 
I smell the smoke from the ash tree I am tied to mingling with the oak kindling about my body. My childhood learnings flit through my mind even in my last hour. While oak gives strength, ash is the bridge between Earth and other worlds. Good! Let it make a bridge to the Plane of Fire for me so that I might reach Lilith and pay her back in kind.
 
I shout to the blackness of the sky above me. I call to the dark with all the rage of my soul. “Lilith, I call on you to hear me. By my blood, you will be destroyed! A light will come. A light that shines through your evil. A light that calls you to answer for your deeds. A light that binds you as I am bound and burns you as I burn. A light that rips you asunder and destroys your darkness.”
 
The pain is so great. The flames sear my legs now. I can’t help but twitch and scream and convulse, though I know there is no escape. I writhe, trying to get away from the fire, but it just grows and grows as my calves blister and melt. A part of my mind wishes the fire where higher so this pain would end more quickly. The only escape now is death, and it fast approaches. The smoke is so heavy that I cough as I scream. The fire has reached my waist now, and it envelops me in its excruciating embrace. I see the horrific faces of the mob, distorted and cast in red from the fire that consumes me.
 
I scream with all the strength that I have, willing my voice to carry through the between spaces. “Lilith, hear me! I call to you! By my blood, you will pay for what you have done!” I cough and hack, unable to get a breath of air. I thrash my head as the tongues of fire lick ever higher, melting my flesh, binding me to the holy ash tree as though we are one. The pain is so great now that I know nothing but the feel of it engulfing me. It seems to be all that was before me and all that will ever come after. I’m being eaten alive by the ravenous fire. The agony and the rage are the whole of who I am now.
 
I think one last thought, unable to even catch enough breath to scream it, unable even to work my mouth to speak it as the flames lick my chin. My dying thought sears into my soul and lifts with me to the Plane of Light. “Lilith, by my blood you will be destroyed!”...
***************************************
Mini-excerpt from: The Light Who Shines

By: Lilo Abernathy

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Light-Who-Shines-Bluebell-Kildare-ebook/dp/B00HYH3ZU4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1392572506

Mini-excerpt: The Light Who Shines: Prologue: Part 03

Niall grabs my arms and starts dragging me into the throng. I try to gain footing, but my right leg will bear no weight. Tadgh grabs my other arm, and together they drag me to the center of town. The mob crowds around, cursing me, throwing sticks at me as I’m roughly tied to a large ash tree. The faces of my friends and my neighbors swirl around me in angry confusion with rays of moonlight shining on a gaunt cheek here and a slashing brow there. The bindings are pulled tight, cutting into my wrists and ankles as I struggle, but I know it is useless. It has been useless for a long time. It has been useless since the day Torloch made his pact with the devil’s handmaiden, Lilith. It has been useless since the day Torloch took my wee baby boy away and returned home without him but with his blood on his hands. It has been useless since Torloch became a bloodsucking monster and spread his disease through the village.
 
I look out at the faces of the crowd, and I see anger and fear. I see despair. It is a mercy they have let me live this long. I curse myself again for not leaving earlier despite the biting cold of winter. I hear one voice among the bloodthirsty yell, “Give her a Witch’s trial!”
 
Another voice responds, “We will give her a trial of fire. If she is innocent, let her be saved!”
 
Bundles of dry oak twigs and sticks are piled at my feet. Oak, the tree of strength. I wonder if the oak will give me strength in the last of my dying moments. I think of Sorcha, the twin of my poor baby boy. I hope only that Mor got her away safely and at least one of our family will be spared.
 
Grainne walks right up to me and spits in my face. “You filthy Witch,” she snarls. “Your monster husband and his kind killed my son. Shredded his neck.” Tears run down her dirt-smudged face. “We are going to watch you burn for what you done!”
 
Una, who lost her husband to Torloch, grabs a torch and sets the wood at my feet on fire. The firelight reflects off her savage face, and I see months of grief and seething anger in the depths of her wild eyes. There is no mercy here.
***************************************
Excerpt from: The Light Who Shines

By: Lilo Abernathy

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Light-Who-Shines-Bluebell-Kildare-ebook/dp/B00HYH3ZU4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1392572506

Mini-excerpt: The Light Who Shines: Prologue: Part 02

Mor leads me past the blacksmith’s shop, behind Fergus’ cottage, toward the forest. I see their torches at my cottage now. A voice yells, “They are gone!” and the villagers continue to chant, “Burn the Witch! Burn the Witch!”

I cast through my mind wildly now, seeking out a remembrance of a place to hide. My mind comes up empty, just as it did all winter when I feared a night such as this would come. I should have braved the cold and gone to the sea caves where the dragon tribe dwells despite the perilous winter journey.

Just then, Sorcha lets out a loud bawl, and I hear Grainne yell, “She is over there!”

Mor and I run around Fergus’ cottage and make for the edge of the woods. The throng is following us quickly with the younger men in the lead. The woods are just up ahead—if only we could lose them in the woods! If only Sorcha would stop crying!

We reach heavy brush, and I hear the thunder of feet behind me. Just at the edge of the woods, my foot catches on a tree root and I tumble to the ground. As I land on the hard dirt, I twist to protect Sorcha from being crushed by my weight, and pain shoots up my leg. Fear strikes my heart as I realize I have a choice to make.

“Mor!” I yell.

Mor glances over her shoulder and sees me on the ground. I try to stand, but my knee gives way. I can see the torches through the dark coming swiftly closer.

“Mor, take Sorcha. It is too late. Run. Keep her safe!”

Mor stands there, petrified. She looks at me, she looks at the woods in front of her, and she looks at the torches that are almost upon us. I thrust Sorcha out while warm, wet tears stream down my cheeks and fall unheeded onto the snow. “Take the bairn! It’s me they want!”

Mor grabs Sorcha and my arms, bereft of their lovely burden, fall uselessly at my sides. I stare hungrily after Sorcha for one last moment, and just as Mor and Sorcha disappear in the dark of the woods, the torches are upon me. First the young men arrive, their faces ugly with rage. I know each of them, grew up with them, broke bread with them, bartered with them, sang with them, but it matters not. It is their fear that drives them this night, and no proclamations of innocence or fond memories will help me now...

***************************************
Excerpt from: The Light Who Shines

By: Lilo Abernathy

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Light-Who-Shines-Bluebell-Kildare-ebook/dp/B00HYH3ZU4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1392572506

Mini-excerpt: The Light Who Shines: Prologue: Part 01

Shaina: Winter, Year 1, Red Ages

I wake to the sound of pounding on the door and Mor’s voice yelling “Shaina! Shaina!”

Sorcha wakes up crying as I rush to open the door. A bloodcurdling scream tears through the night, destroying any illusions of a peaceful return to slumber. When I swing open the door with trembling hands, I see anguish in Mor’s eyes. The words that tumble from her mouth bring to the fore all the fears I’d been trying to suppress this winter.

“Shaina, Conor was found dead, killed by the bloodsuckers. Grainne and Aongus are calling you a Witch and are gathering the town folks to burn you as one! Quickly! We must run!”

I start gathering my things together, but Mor yells, “There is no time! Grab the bairn. We must go now!”

Sorcha is wailing now. Tears streak her little cheeks as she grips her blanket tightly in her tiny fists. I grab my plaid and wrap it around us both as I follow Mor outside.

“You must quiet her!” Mor whispers.

I try to comfort Sorcha in a hushed voice. “Shh, Sorcha, you must be quiet. Shhhh.”

Sorcha pays no heed and cries all the louder as she clutches me with her little fingers.

I hear the voices of the villagers coming now, yelling and screaming. “Burn the Witch! It was her husband who brought this upon us!”

Aongus’ voice rises above the rest. “Let her die too! Why should she be spared?”

***************************************
Excerpt from: The Light Who Shines

By: Lilo Abernathy

On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Light-Who-Shines-Bluebell-Kildare-ebook/dp/B00HYH3ZU4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1392572506

The Light Who Shines: 5 Star Book Review at the Brainy Bookshelf

Blue gets blogged on the Brainy Bookshelf by Alisha Howard!

In Alisha's review of The Light Who Shines, she says, "Bluebell is a bad ass. No questions asked, no further explanation really needed. She may be only human, but she makes up for it with true grit. And the writing is fantastic."

Alisha has been blogging reviews on The Brainy Bookshelf since May of 2013. To read the full review, click here. 

The Light who Shines is currently holding a 4.8 star average rating on Amazon. To purchase, The Light Who Shines on Amazon, click here.

Lilo

Events: Fantasy Book Lane

I visited Fantasy Book Lane today and gave Erica the scoop on what a rebel I am. 

"I’m a rebel. I’m kidding. No seriously, I am a rebel." - Lilo

She asked me why I went Indie with my debut novel, The Light Who Shines, and I gave her exclusive insights into the highly complex algorithms I used to make that decision.

Yeah. I'm kidding again! To learn the real reason, click here.

Lilo

Book Review: THE FURY (Horror, Crime, Mystery)

The Fury
By John Reinhard Dizon
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1JCbcva
#Horror #Occult #Crime #Mystery

Holy Freaking Voodoo Mojo... that was scary!

I'm pretty sure I read most of this book from between the fingers of the hand covering my eyes. It is not gruesome due to explicit detail, but there is plenty of 'WTF! Did That Just Happen?' violence and the suspense is amazing. It will have you clutching a comforter and will freak you the shit out! Seriously.

The plot is anchored around private investigator, Bridge (short for Bridgette), who is hired by a New York Mob Boss to run surveillance on his daughter, Annabell. Annabell gets mixed in with a fortune telling Voodoo crowd and is closeted in a building where horrific murders keep happening. Bridge is a strong female heroine, and I love her. I especially love when she retorts back to an insult by grabbing her breast and saying "Suck on this." She is hard-ass all the way.

The evil Voodoo queen is soooo EVIL! You will quake in your boots. And The Fury, what can I say? It simply destroys.

The intertwining relationships in this story are amazing, both current, and in snippets from generations past. This author did his research well, and you can tell. A lot of this story takes place in New York, between cops and the 'hood. The lingo is believable, the situations, authentic.

If you like New York rough neighborhoods, private detectives, cop investigations, thrillers, horrors, suspense, paranormal, strong heroines, possessions, and voodoo magic scariness, then you will totally love this book.

Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover

Book Review: Bombardier (Vampire / Short Story)

Bombardier

by K. Edwin Fritz

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1HSLgsT
#Vampire #ShortStory #Emotional #Awesome 

A Strikingly Emotional Non-traditional Vampire Short Story

This story grabs your guts and won't let go. It is a HUMAN story of a man recently bitten and facing the life-long curse of Vampirism.

The story doesn't reveal that he is a vampire until the very end. It is a sweet and tantalizing unfolding of the truth. I LOVED the mystery and the slow revealing.

The story is about a man, struggling with the pain and addiction of the vampire infection, seeking solace in the company of others in similar situations. He searches for, and finds it in a bar named Bombardier, where others of his kind gather.

Once there he sees glimpses of what he could be if he held out against the addiction, and what he will be when he eventually gives in. But most of all, he finds human empathy for his struggle against the inevitability of his final human death.

If you want something fresh and unusual, this is it! I highly recommend it.

Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover

Character Letter from Blue to Jack (old)

From the book: The Light Who Shines

June 1, 2022, Red Ages



Dearest Jack,

I am writing because I find myself a tad bewildered about our personal relationship. However, I first feel compelled to address your professional attitude toward me at work in my role as an experienced Supernatural Homicide Detective.

I may not be a Light Vampire skilled in the art of swordplay and able to move faster then the human eye can observe, but I can dispense Holy Water and snuff out Dark Vampires with the best of them. I confess, I am not a strapping specimen of male strength with magical skills that lend themselves to blending in the dark. However, I have my wolf, Varg, who lends me his strength, ears, and eyes. Although I am female and have the seemingly benign gift of being a sensitive, you may find it somewhat relevant that I can SENSE SOULS, and therefore am unlikely to be surprised by any perpetrator I track.

In addition to all of the above, I believe my exemplary record of success in my caseload proves that I should not have to report to you every five minutes. Somehow, I find this to be a smidgen overprotective. Since, you do not require my colleagues to report to you on such a frequent basis, I think we should reflect on why you single me out. Is it because I am a female? Please loosen up! I expect to be treated as the competent, intelligent, successful agent that I am.

Now on to personal matters…

Perhaps it has occurred to you that when you stand well within my personal body space and do such gentle things as tuck my hair behind my ear, that it might have an affect on a healthy female libido? Alternatively, it may strike you as a tad out of the norm of professional behavior to get me in a state of half-undress on the belfry? I don’t recall a course on interoffice undressing during my initial training seminars. Did I miss that?

So, in reflection, you might understand my confusion when you make powerful statements like:

“Don’t even think of me. I am nothing but a boss keeping an eye on an employee who is working on a dangerous case.”

I don’t think it is too much of a stretch for me to conclude that at least some element of our relationship has passed the bounds of the normal boss and employee relationship. Do you?

I’m sorry, I have to run. Varg senses someone on my balcony and I need to investigate!

In haste and confusion,

Blue

Bluebell Kildare

Inspector, Homicide Unit

Supernatural Investigation Bureau

Get this book on Amazon

Tidbits and Bragging Rights

A little over a month ago I published my debut novel: 

The Light Who Shines

I'm proud to say it has achieved the following ratings:
Amazon: 4.8 stars
Goodreads: 4.36 stars
Barnes and Noble: 5.0 stars
Smashwords:  4.4 stars

So far, it appears that it will be a solid 4.0 average rating. Since this is my first book ever, and my first creative writing endeavor since a college composition class over 20 years ago, I hope you understand why I'm ecstatic with this great start!

Wait! There is more.

It has been listed in two giveaways:
Goodreads Giveaway: three autographed print copies offered: 1079 requests
LibraryThing Giveaway: ebook copies offered: 32 requests

It has been reviewed by the following blogs:
Guardian Earth Star
Behind the Curtain of Reality

When I first published it, I had no social media set-up to speak of. Since then I've achieved the following stats:
Facebook Page Likes: 180
Twitter Followers: 680
Goodreads Friends: 134
Goodreads Fans: 10 
Goodreads To Be Read Shelves: 539

Thank you all, for your support!

In just under two weeks I'll be diving into writing Books 2 and 3 of the Bluebell Kildare series. Meanwhile, I hope you will follow along with upcoming happenings available on my website events page. There is more fun to come!  

My Blog is All Dressed Up in New Duds. Check it out!

I've been preparing my website and blog for my eventual press release. The truth is, I'm procrastinating working on my bio, because I hate my bio and I feel it needs to be done before the press release goes out. It is, after all, a key part of the media kit.

I've heard you need a very short professional bio, a fun bio, and a longer bio. No one has explained if the longer bio needs to be fun or not. Do I really need three bios?

So! Now that my website and blog are all bright and spiffy, I need to return to work on my bio. Just kidding! It really means I need to find some NEW way to procrastinate.

But GOOD NEWS! I have something else that requires being done. Something I'm very glad to do in fact. I am heading out to an office center to package up and send three books to three lucky Goodread Giveaway winners! It is very exciting.

I've got to run now, but please, while I'm out, take your time to examine my spiffy new duds. Both the website and blog are linked to each other now. Isn't it grand?
Lilo

Shameless Self-Promotion 

• Read chapters 1 - 10 of my book ‘The Light Who Shines’ here: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/excerpts  
• Please add my blog to your reading list. http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/
• Visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
• If you like my book, please share it with your friends!

An Empty Fridge

So, my Dad looks in my fridge this morning and says, "Man, you're not getting nuttin out of here but a cool breeze!" (My parents drove three hours yesterday to visit with me and spent the night.)

 The photo is not my fridge, but the contents in mine are somewhat similar. Apparently, the freezer contents were even worse... I won't repeat what he said about that.

Thankfully, my fridge isn't empty because I'm broke. It could be worse. It is empty because I am unbelievably busy. Or perhaps it is empty because it is lower on the priority list.

This week I've listed my book for a Goodreads giveaway, and LibraryThing giveaway, did a submittal for Bookbub (yet to be approved), sent my book to a TON of reviewers who all have different submittal requirements, accidentally deleted all my blog photos, reattached all my blog photos, sent numerous twitters, deleted 500 twitter people I was following who hadn't signed on for 30 days, had a birthday, revamped my book description, wrote up a press release, started on my media kit, and cleaned my house from top to bottom for my parents' visit.

All of that work was on top of a 40 plus hour day job. This book promoting work takes so much time, yet is so important that I just let other things fall off the list.

Let me just say that if I didn't have a day job my fridge would look worse than what is above so I must work on promoting the book. Yet, I suppose I should go shopping today.

My response to my father was, "You can choose. You either get a clean house with your visit, or a full fridge. I do not have time for both."  But I know what will really happen. Next time he will either bring groceries or his own food! I have to stop blogging right now because I'm laughing too hard.

Lilo

Shameless Self-Promotion 

• Read chapters 1 - 10 of my book ‘The Light Who Shines’ here: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/excerpts  
• Please add my blog to your reading list. http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/
• Visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
• If you like my book, please share it with your friends!

Book Giveaway! The Light Who Shines ($18.99 value)

(Please share this posting!)
I am currently offering three FREE print copies in a Goodreads Giveaway. 

Title: The Light Who Shines
Author: Lilo Abernathy

• Autographed Copy
• 447 pages (over 136,000 words)
• Debut Novel
• Goodreads rating is 4.56 stars

Deadline: Midnight on February 25.

Requirements: You simply log into your Goodreads account and click to enter. Available to participants in the following countries:

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Australia

Goodreads Entry Link:  click here


The first ten chapters are free on my website: click here

Lilo

News: The Light Who Shines Now Available in Print!

Things have been pretty hectic lately. I've created two print versions of my book on createspace.com, which are now being distributed by Amazon, their parent company.

I've learned a few lessons about writing in the process. The biggest is that I wrote too many words! Almost 140,000 words! The consequence is that it costs a lot to print. Therefore, my price is not as low as I wished I could offer. Apparently, most commercial books are preferred to be between 60,000 and 80,000 words. I hope my potential customers will factor this in when they consider purchasing it or will turn to the ebook version. Meanwhile, I've resolved to do better for Book 2.

So far, the book is averaging 4.5 stars on Goodreads and readers are asking me for Book 2 already. Considering this is my debut novel, I'm sure you can understand my excitement!

6 x 9 version: This one is formatted very nicely with 12-point easy to read font, a little spacing between paragraphs (.3), and nice size chapter headings. It is my favorite!
Click here for this version. 

5 x 8 version: I created this version to offer a cheaper option for those who want print. It is printed in 10 point Times New Roman as that is a bit tighter. It has been tightened as much as possible and relieved of the Author Bio and the Preface.
Click here for this version. 

Both are beautiful books with a glossy cover and white pages! I searched forever to find a cool looking unrestricted use font to use as the chapter headings.

Ebook Version: This is obviously the best value (as always).
Click here for this version.
It is also available on Barnes and Noble and on Smashwords.

My most cherished details about the book itself (not the story) are the chapter names. I love chapter names! Each name received thoughtful consideration so that it would hint, but not reveal the contents of the chapter. Each chapter is a different scene in the book.

Lilo

Shameless Self-Promotion 

• Read chapters 1 - 10 of my book ‘The Light Who Shines’ here: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/excerpts  
• Please add my blog to your reading list. http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/
• Visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
• If you like my book, please share it with your friends!

Who Else Wants a Mind-blowing Epic Hero?

Now, don’t get upset men, I am talking about fiction books or film of course, fantasy really. 

Physical Attributes

I struggled with what picture to place with this blog because I know everyone’s has his or her own ideal physical attributes. While searching, I found men of every race, height and size, all with their own appeal. So I opted for some male eyes. And they are quite male! I think we can all agree there are many men who would fit our requirements, so let’s just generally say we want our heroes to light our fires! 

Heroic Actions

The heroes in our novels are often mildly heroic. Maybe they save the heroine from a bad guy or two or fight in a few small battles. But we aren’t talking your standard run-of-the-mill hero here. We are talking about a staggeringly mind-blowing epic hero. I want a hero who staggers across an entire continent, escaping capture from villains and overcoming obstacles to drop the ring into the Mount Doom. (The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. By the way, thank you Frodo for doing that!) When, an alien mother ship and its daughter ships hovers over the earth with plans to destroy the human species, I want a hero who will fly into the ship in a kamikaze attack to annihilate it, saving the world from imminent destruction. (Independence Day film script co-written by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin). In short, saving the world is essential. 

Personality

I am really tired of heroes who are jerks. A hero who starts out sleeping with every woman in eyesight is no hero at all. A hero who treats the heroine with disrespect sucks as well. Heroes should be decent chaps, okay? At least the epic hero we are talking about here should be. Do what you want with small time heroes. This hero doesn’t lie, doesn’t get mad for idiotic reasons, and doesn’t change his personality as the story moves through. He is kind, works hard, cares about people, is hopefully brilliant, and we like him from start to end. 

My mind-blowing epic hero usually starts out as a common man who stands up to do great things when great things need to be accomplished. I’m sure that many of you men would be that hero if the necessity arose.

What is your hero like? 

Lilo

Shameless Self-Promotion 

• Read chapters 1 - 10 of my book ‘The Light Who Shines’ here: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/excerpts  
• Please add my blog to your reading list. http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/
• Visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
• If you like my book, please share it with your friends!

Disparaging of Indie Authors and Why it is Dead Wrong

 

Author is a fancy word for storyteller and storytellers have been around since before the written word. In no time in our history as a species have we ever before claimed that storytellers can only be those of the most educated and perfect at their craft. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Stories have been carved into trees, painted on cave walls, printed on bone and bamboo, etched into clay tablets, inked onto skins, and finally written on paper. Even while all this was happening stories were still be told orally in the market, around campfires, around the dinner tables and the family hearths, and in small gatherings after church. In fact, storytellers have been so intrinsically woven into our culture we have developed a multitude of words to describe them; bards, gossips, teachers, historians, singers, preachers, writers, poets, wise men, and even liars.

It is true that until recent modern times, and even now in developing countries, only the most educated were able to write at all, let alone to write proficiently enough to produce novels. Even as publishing came into own in the early 21st century, most people in developed countries were only educated to an eighth grade level. Now almost all people in developed countries are skilled enough to write, or type as you will. Among those who are, there is an entire gambit of skill levels with both the weaving of tales and the elegant usage of grammar and punctuation.

At what point did someone decree that only those most proficient at both the weaving of a tale and the editing of their work should be allowed to tell stories in book form? Is there a new law written that I was unaware of in existence? Did the Angels come down from heaven and sing this truth into human hearts? Perhaps it is simply that some publishers and their contracted authors are upset that their bookstore and internet ranking is being cluttered by independent authors telling their own tales?
Storytellers have never been restricted to the most educated. Even my Great Grandmother with her broken English told stories worth hearing while she crocheted on her back porch. I assure you those stories were worth more than $4.99 and I would have paid that, had she asked. She wasn’t polished, but that doesn’t mean her stories didn’t have flavor and value. It doesn’t mean her stories didn’t entertain and enrich my life.

The only real problem I see with Indie Authors is when a reader expects polish and doesn’t get it. They expect polish because in recent history published books have been screened, revised, and shined up to gleam like gold perfection.

I see two ways to solve this problem. The first is that the reader simply look to see if the author and publisher are one and the same. If so, they should beware. They may get a tale written by a master story weaver, or they may get a folktale written by a common hand. Remember, Indie Author is short for Independent Author, not Unskilled Author. The second way, the option I prefer, is that independent rating agencies come into common existence that will rate an Indie Author’s work against a couple of different aspects; such as plot, character development, voice, grammar and punctuation, formatting, etc. That rating could be displayed on the work when it is sold. The Indie Author would have the opportunity to share their story and the reader would understand what they are getting for their money. This would also be an excellent way for the Indie Author to get an unbiased opinion of their work prior to the market place so they can decide if they are ready to publish or if another revision is necessary.

Just remember, we are all storytellers in our own way.

Lilo

Shameless Self-Promotion
•Read chapters 1 - 10 of my book ‘The Light Who Shines’ here: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/excerpts 
•Please add my blog to your reading list. http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/
•Visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy
•Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
•If you like my book, please share it with your friends!

The Gorgeous Crazy Hat Lady (and why you want her in your book.)

Fiction is primarily an escape from the mundane reality of our normal existence. We are trained to behave as robots, pushed by societal consequences into walking a narrow and predestined path. Often for many, for at least some small space of time, an abhorrence of our monotonous existence begins to fester. Or at the very least, we tire of always meeting expectations and obligations. Let’s face it, life can be boring. However, our books don’t have to be!

Not all stories, but many stories would benefit from the Gorgeous Crazy Hat Lady. This eccentricity isn’t typically a ploy for attention; instead, the character simply dances to their own tune. The rules of society seem to have little impact on them. When an idea pops in their mind, they just do it without inhibition. They exhibit the kind of freedom we sometimes wish we had.

This character is usually colorful in dress or personality, which creates wonderful visuals. However, the truly fun part is that their behavior is unpredictable and electrifying to the story. Sensational scenes or circumstances can be written around the Gorgeous Crazy Hat Lady because she is the most malleable character of all.

Of course, the character doesn’t have to be gorgeous or crazy or a lady, the hat is optional as well! Sometimes these extraordinary characters only display their unusual proclivities in one aspect of their personality. Imagine a tough burly man who cuddles with kittens or sings opera. What if the uptight secretary goes home to engage in a threesome? Perhaps the Spock-like brainy computer geek has a secret beanie baby collection. The wonder of creative writing is that the possibilities are endless. Even so, we more often then not see characters whose behaviors are limited to the norm.

In my book, The Light Who Shines, one of the supporting characters is a wiry, feisty older woman with enchanting green eyes. She also happens to change her hair color every other day. And by hair color, I mean fuchsia, ice blue, fire engine red, peach sherbet, and etcetera. She coordinates her hair dye to match her outfits and reads fashion magazines during her leisure. She doesn’t cook, but makes outstanding southern beverages instead. The time she saves by avoiding the stove is used to think of outlandish pranks to play against her would-be suitor.

She is in a word, interesting. Isn’t that what a fiction story should be?

Lilo

Shameless Self-Promotion 

• Read chapters 1 - 10 of my book ‘The Light Who Shines’ here: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/excerpts  
• Please add my blog to your reading list. http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/
• Visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
• If you like my book, please share it with your friends!

Weak Female Character Rant

Why do so many novels feature a weak female Heroine? I DESPISE them! Often the powerless female is paired with an Alpha Male or at least a Studly Hard-ass. I’m not talking about physical strength here. I’m talking about strength of personality, willpower, and circumstances. So many times I have read about the woman who is an abuse victim and the man saves her, or the woman who is poor and a rich man comes to the rescue. Then there is the ever-popular woman who is abducted or pushed around by a man yet ends up in love with him. Let’s not forget the woman who vacillates over her love for the man and stagnates in indecision. Variations on the theme are endless and authors keep writing it into their stories while readers keep buying those stories.

So what is it about people who want to envision a weak woman with a strong man? Is this just the survival of the species instinct where women desire stronger men? Do we women enjoy reading about a woman who is weaker than we are and therefore feel superior? Do we seek validation for our own weaknesses? I really would like to hear your opinions on this!

One of the main reasons I love reading and writing Urban Fantasy is that the heroine often gets to be strong and kick some ass. Give me a woman who knows her mind. Give me a heroine who saves the day. Give me a female character who meets her man on equal footing with comparable strengths. This doesn’t mean that the hero and heroine can’t help each other. They can! Just please stop with the one-way ‘man saves poor weak needy woman’ plots! Uggh! A weak heroine is hardly heroic at all!

I believe that reading about strong female heroines helps empower us in our real lives because we get to pretend we are them for a while and eventually we get used to being them.

Lilo

Shameless Self-Promotion 

• Read chapters 1 - 10 of my book ‘The Light Who Shines’ here: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/excerpts  
• Please add my blog to your reading list. http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/
• Visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
• If you like my book, please share it with your friends!

 

The Alpha Male Character

Who is the Alpha Male? Well, I went hunting for photos of the alpha male and ended up surprised. I expected to land on a photo of a half dressed muscle bound god of a male model that was completely drool worthy and spiked up everyone's libido. I ran into plenty of them, sure. However, none of them said alpha to me. Why? It was in their face, their boyish quest for approval, their preening for the camera, their seeking of attention. The alpha male doesn't seek attention. He simply receives it. (Don't worry; I'll do a post on the muscle bound god in the near future. Just hold onto your drool for a little while.)

So what makes an alpha male? To me it is not physical strength alone, nor is it beauty. It is intelligence, self-possession, confidence, and the ability to accomplish goals. In my estimation, an alpha character is strong internally and doesn't vacillate between decisions. He doesn't jump to conclusions. He is admired by other characters and drives the plot.

The image I chose is not a man who is smiling for the camera. It is a man squinting at the camera in a thoughtful way. He is not waiting to see what you think of him. He is not trying to please you. Instead of troubling himself with the frivolous, he is assessing you instead! In return, you are concerned with what he concludes about you. That is why he has your attention. That is the alpha male.

Lilo

Shameless Self-Promotion (I need all of your support!) 

• Please add my blog to your reading list. http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/  
• Visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy 
• If you like my book, please share it with your friends.