Tag Team in Space: Episode 15 - Derrick

What mess has Derrick gotten himself into now? And will Jerry return to save him?
Follow the episodic saga of Dr. Jerry Waldman & Sgt. Derrick Thomas by J. Naomi Ay & Ahmad Taylor

 
Tag Team in Space: Episode 15 - Derrick: My eyes opened to a dim light across the room. My head was cloudy and throbbing, and I could feel the knot on my head swelling by the...

Raynetta's Soapbox: Soapbox Spotlight: Ahmad Taylor Interview & Review of DSOM

Raynetta's Soapbox: Soapbox Spotlight: Ahmad Taylor:

Dark Side of the Moon is about Derrick Thomas, a 28-year-old government agent, who finds himself caught up in a whirlwind mystery of intrigue and covert, top-secret intel--only to find that his father and sister are somehow dangling at the center of it.  This book has all the things you love about a great sci-fi story: futuristic weapons, engaging fight scenes, government cover-ups and an extensive list of dead bodies.  The twists and turns this novel takes are inventive and intricate as the plot builds from one discovery to the next...

(Read Interview & Review Here)

Tag Team in Space: Episode 12: Derrick

Tag Team in Space: Episode 12: Derrick is now LIVE on the official TTiS Blog

Derrick:
 
I can't believe I'm being dragged up by this Martian freak with his weird extendable arms. This was exactly the last thing I imagined would be happening at this point in the day when I woke up this morning.

Fogwat finally hauled us up into the conduit and I asked doc to pull out his torch so we could gain our bearings. 

Suddenly I heard some voices; "Hey shut that damn thing off now! Turn it off!" I whispered intently, slapping Jerry's hand down to try and get the light out.

"Wait, what? What the hell..." he began, but I quickly threw my hand over his mouth.

"Shhhh. Shut the hell up Jerry. Just be quiet, please!" I looked over to the Big Head, "Hey, dim that dome of yours right now, and keep your trap shut!"

Fogwat looked confused, but Jerry gave him a nod to obey, and the glow from his huge head went out.

"You two stay right here, and don't make a sound" I commanded as I began crawling along the conduit toward the noises I heard...

(See the full Episode as well as all the previous and future Episode Here)

Tag Team in Space: The NEW Blog

The hit new Episodic Saga of Dr. Jerry Waldman & Sgt. Derrick Thomas, created in the minds of authors J. Naomi Ay & Ahmad Taylor has a new home: TTiS Blog

You can of course continue to track the story on Naomi's and mine separate blogs, but you can now get your Sc-fi/Adventure fix in one place.

Be sure to keep up with these two characters, and coming soon, we will be adding new authors and new characters to the mix. The storyline is fluid and changes with the whim of the current author, so anything can happen and anything goes.

Readers, fell free to chime in a where you would like the story to go, and we'll see if we can make that happen for you.

Thanks for all the great words and support. We aim to please.

Author Interview: Tallis Piaget: Black Boogiemen

A hearty Tuesday to you all.

Today we have author and radio host Tallis Piaget joining us.

Tallis Piaget is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Black Boogiemen.  He is the editor of the Insight2Incite Magazine, as well as a co-host of the Insight Radio Show.  Though Black Boogiemen is his first published material, he has been refining his craft for over 20 years.

Welcome Tallis.

Thanks for having me Ahmad.


Tell us a little about your work: Black Boogiemen.

This book follows Dr. Trenton Branch, a scientist whose extremely meager upbringing came from his grandmother and the cruel inner city streets. He grows to become a world renowned biochemist, living in one of the wealthiest suburbs in the country. Chalked with witty banter and an introspective look into the soul, Black Boogiemen is a tale of humanity’s ongoing struggle between love and hate, right and wrong.

Sounds like an interesting and thought-provoking read.

Let's let my audience know a little about you and your work, if you don't mind?

Absolutely.

As a writer, it is considered unprofessional and inappropriate to give a retort to a critic or criticism. Were it “politically correct” to address your critics personally, what would be the one thing you would say to them?

Now that is a really good question.  And though almost everyone loves my book, they still offer areas where they would have done things differently.   I take it all in stride but if I were to ever offer my honest retort it would be, “Well how about you go write a five hundred page document, and then scrutinize over it for a year.  Afterwards, see how you feel when people criticize your work.”

Are you currently working on any other projects?

Yes I have been working on one piece for over eleven years now.  It will be my greatest work ever; I honestly don’t foresee its completion for another few years. Because the fans really want a continuation of Black Boogiemen, I am also writing that sequel and plan on having it completed by next summer. 

What is the last thing you read? Did you like it, hate it?

The last thing I read was Riptide by Paul S. Kemp.  It’s just another story in the Star Wars Saga.  It was OK, it wasn’t bad at all, but it certainly wasn’t one of the greatest stories in the annals of Star Wars.

What was the last movie you watched? Did you like it, hate it?

Cook County with Anson Mount is the last movie I watched.  Being a writer and an avid reader, I am very brutal when it comes to critiquing movies.   I am one of the well read people out here who can not be entertained with lack luster acting or horrendous writing.  So with all of that being said, I have to say I really liked Cook County, and would certainly encourage anyone else to watch it.  It is a good, movie. Very gritty.    

Where can readers find your works and follow you?

Readers can find my work via my website.  From there they can access all other forms of social media or just follow me on Facebook or Twitter.  

http://blackboogiemen.authorsxpress.com/  

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Tag Team in Space... Derrick's secret!

The episodic saga continues...

Tag Team in Space by J. Naomi Ay (The Two Moons of Rehnor) and Ahmad Taylor (Dark Side of the Moon) bring you the collaborative adventures of Dr. Jerry Waldman and Sgt. Derrick Thomas.

Check out Episode 9: Fogwat is Hurt! here...

Episode 10
Derrick's Secret

Derrick:

I ran passed the head Big Head and up the tube. I could barely see anything in front of me, but I needed to put some distance between Jerry, Fogwat and myself. I stumbled a few times over who knows what, but I was able to guide myself along the electro-magnetic guide rails the lift ran on. The dim glow from Fogwat’s head grew darker and then it was gone. I knew I only had a few moments to myself before they would catch up to me, and I knew that with three eyes, Big Heads had better than average sight, so I had to act fast if I was going to keep my actions a secret.

I dropped to my knees and began groping around in the dark. I felt across the ground, moving my way along the wall of the tube.

“Here we go… Got it” I said under my breath as my hands located what I was searching for. I found the release handle, turned it counter-clockwise and pushed in. The door to emergency access panel slid open and I quickly took a piece of restraining cloth from my bag and adhered it to the underside of the door. As I pulled the door closed and locked the handle I could see the dim illumination from Fogwat’s head growing brighter. I stood up and turned to face my pursuers.

“Hey Derrick, wait up man! Why would you just run off into the dark like that?” Jerry asked, as he approached me. He slumped over trying to catch his breathe.

“You should probably sit down a minute doc, your wounds look like they need some tending to.”

“Phew! You may be right. Thanks man, here you go” the doctor said, extending some sort of medical kit in my direction.

“Uh yeah, I’m good man. You get yourself stitched up there. I mean, you are the doctor aren’t you?” I replied, pushing the kit back at him and rolling my eyes.

What the hell did he expect me to do with that? I was in no mood to do triage, and I was certainly not in the mood for anymore of his sanctimonious speeches about killing those Big Head freaks. I just needed to be polite enough until I could lead them out of this tube and away from the chip I had hidden in the emergency access panel.

Jerry had no idea what the true value of the chip was or what it could really do, because if he did, he would not be trying to help these stupid Martians hand it over to that interstellar terrorist. If he knew what my contact had gone through to smuggle the chip out of that Martian research facility and into my hands so I could get it off this planet and to some place safe. It was supposed to be a simple hand-off in the lift, but then genius spilled that blue goo all over the ground and then everyone was slipping and sliding around. She barely had the chance to pass it on to me as we tumbling outside the lift. I don’t even know if she was even able to make it out of the terminal and to safety, but that was no longer my concern. I had to keep the chip safe until I could figure out a way to get it off this planet and into the hands of the scientists who could put its power to good use.

“Well, thanks for all your help there Derrick. Could you at least give me a hand standing up?” the doctor whined at me, putting his kit back in his bag, and extending his arm in my direction.

I had no idea how long it would take to get us out of this tube, but I hoped my temper would hold long enough. I reached my hand down and yanked Jerry to his feet.

“Fogwat arm feel funny, many tingles” the Big Head said, as we noticed his arm had almost grown all the way back in.

“Alright Fogwat, you got the light. Lead us out of here. But if I see one more of your Martian buddies, and they flash those teeth my way; I can promise that your arm won’t be what I cut off next time. And let’s see how long it takes for your entire head to grow back!”

“Let’s go people and things… We needed the get the heck out of dodge and we need to do it sooner than later” I said, ushering Jerry and Fogwat on.

I made a mental note of the location of the access panel door, and followed them onward.

Check back for next addition by J. Naomi Ay soon

Guest Post: Joyce T. Strand: From Spin to Spillane

Today's guest is not only an accomplished author, but a great resource in the literary community. She has been a huge help to me, and her knowledge and work ethic are truly amazing.

Joyce T. Strand

Mystery author Joyce Strand, much like her fictional character, Jillian Hillcrest, served as head of corporate communications at several biotech and high-tech companies in Silicon Valley for more than 25 years. Unlike Jillian, however, she did not encounter murder. Rather, she focused on publicizing her companies and their products. Joyce received her Ph.D. from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and her B.A. from Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA.

She currently lives in Southern California with her two cats, a collection of cow statuary and art, and her muse, the roadrunner.

Website: http://joycestrand.com

Blog:  http://StrandsSimplyTips.blogspot.com

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEf-FXjO1y4&feature=youtu.be

Purchase sites – Amazon.com

Book Blurbs: Jillian Hillcrest Mysteries

ON MESSAGE

Murder intrudes on PR Executive Jillian Hillcrest's routine as head communications executive at a small Silicon Valley biotechnology company. When someone near to her is murdered, a determined San Francisco police inspector involves her in the investigation, convinced she is key to solving the crime. She co-operates fully only to find that solving a murder is more hazardous than writing press releases. ON MESSAGE is the first in the Jillian Hillcrest mystery series. As with all the novels in this series, it was inspired by a real California case.

On Message

Paperback:  http://tinyurl.com/d8wbtem

Ebook:  http://tinyurl.com/crog4om

OPEN MEETINGS

Jillian Hillcrest returns as a PR Executive to join with a local Silicon Valley reporter who is uneasy about the supposed DUI death of an informant. He solicits Jillian’s help along with that of her neighbor, a retired police officer, to look into events in his hometown north of the Napa/Sonoma wine country. Jillian’s ex-husband grows more and more certain he wants to re-marry her.  OPEN MEETINGS was inspired by a network of criminal ex- and current police officers in the broader San Francisco Bay Area.

Open Meetings

Paperback:  http://tinyurl.com/d7leoyh

Ebook:  http://tinyurl.com/cent6zr

 

From Spin to Spillane

By Joyce T. Strand, Author

Most of us are not born authors. We start out earning our living in a variety of ways. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a physician. Stieg Larsson and Michael Connelly were successful reporters – Connelly even was a finalist for a Pulitzer for his coverage of the 1985 Delta Flight 191 plane crash. Nora Roberts was a legal secretary, albeit briefly.  Mary Higgins Clark worked as a secretary, copy editor and stewardess. Isaac Asimov was a biochemistry professor.  Raymond Chandler decided to become a writer when he lost his job as an oil executive during the Depression. Our host – Ahmad Taylor – was involved in law enforcement. 

I was a public relations specialist practiced in the art of spin. I am currently a mystery writer ala Mickey Spillane.  Hence – “From Spin to Spillane.”  Well, I’m not claiming to be as good at creating a story as the artful, down-to-earth Mr. Spillane.  But I am a former spinner of products turned current writer of mysteries.  

Many authors exploit the experience from their work environment to tell their story or enhance the credibility of their characters. Kathy Reichs created Temprance Brennan—known on TV as Bones—patterned on her own career of forensic anthropologist. Ahmad uses his background in law enforcement to create credible government agents. Lawyer Erle Stanley Garner created Perry Mason. John Grisham practiced law for more than 10 years before starting to write his legal thrillers.

When I decided to write mysteries, I set them in the world I knew for more than 25 years as a Silicon Valley PR pro. Jillian Hillcrest is basically just doing her job when she is thrown into criminal situations where she must respond. Of course, I had to check with law officers, psychologists, and other experts to help with those parts of my novels not covered in the career of a PR executive. But I was able to reach into my work experience to define characters, create situations, and lead readers astray.

How important is this real-life career experience to the credibility of any story? We know if we’re writing historical fiction, we rely on research for back story and characterizations. And certainly those writing fantasy and paranormal don’t need the benefit of experience to enhance their stories. But for modern day fiction, is the added insight of practical experience significant? 

I truly believe that Grisham’s legal thrillers are greatly enhanced because of his career in the law. And certainly Kathy Reichs’ degree and work in forensic anthropology contributed to the credibility of her books about Temprance Brennan. Being a crime reporter most likely helped Michael Connelly deliver a more believable Hieronymus Bosch and Mickey Haller.

But how helpful was Tom Clancy’s insurance background to his detail-oriented spy novels? For Micky Spillane, how useful were life-guard duty or trampoline artist at Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus? 

OK. So maybe we don’t NEED the added insight offered by real-life experience for successful story-telling. However, I do believe that we readers benefit when a story is set in an author’s familiar environment or includes characters from his/her profession.  In my genre of mysteries, for example, we can broaden and deepen the clues, red herrings, and characters with knowledge based on experience. 

Bottom line: There are many aspects to creating a good story. We readers can benefit just a little bit more with stories that exploit an author’s background.