Tag Team in Space going more interactive...

For those followers who don't already know, I and author J. Naomi Ay have been intertwined in a collaborative blog saga named: Tag Team in Space (TTiS).

This is the story of Dr. Jerry Waldman (The Two Moon of Rehnor) and Sgt. Derrick Thomas (Dark Side of the Moon) and their epic struggle to protect Earth from aliens and diabolical devices.

To this point, the task of entertaining has been solely divided between J. Naomi and myself (be that a good thing or not).

For the first time ever, we are opening up our story to new writers. 

If you are out there, interested, and between WIPs, please contact us and we will see if there is a good fit there.

This can be a great way to work on your craft, gain new followers, and self-promote by leading readers to your other works.

We are looking to bring in a new author(s) every 3-4 weeks to add new characters and situations to the story.

If you are interested you can email me at: ahmad (at) ahmadtaylor.com or J. Naomi at: NaomiSweets (at) gmail.com.

Join in the fun and gain some new exposure.
Join TTiS!

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Authors! Do you want to join the Tag Team in Space? We are looking for new contributors and new characters to keep the story going.
Requirements: 300 - 500+ words in first person that tie into and expand the story line with any character of your choosing every 3 - 4 weeks.
Compensation: Features on this blog, facebook and other places.
Interested? Send Naomi an email at naomisweets at gmail.com.

Author Interview: Mathew Bridle

Hey Folks. 

Welcome back! Hope everyone had a great holiday season and are off to a great start in this new year!

We're back Live, with author Mathew Bridle. 

Mathew is the author of: The End of Mor.

Thanks for stopping by to talk to us today Mathew. I hope your holidays were good. 

Yes they were Ahmad. Thanks for having me.

My pleasure. Well, let's get to it if you don't mind.

I'm ready if you are.

So tell us Mathew, where do you currently reside, and why did you choose this place?

I Live in West Sussex in the UK near to where I was born.

What inspired you to begin writing?

It's the one thing that I seem to be able to do that I really enjoy doing.

Tell us about your latest novel: The End of Mor, in 20 words or less:

Dark fantasy tale of a young warlock fighting both his inner demons and enemy forces in a land on the brink of war. That's 23, but we'll let you slide...

What has been the most exciting part of being a published author?

Having people you don't know read your work and leave their thoughts; hopefully positive, though sometimes not.

What do you do to prepare for a writing session?

Making the time is more difficult than actually writing.

Does writing get easier with each project?

Yes it does. Some people have given some truly helpful advice, which though simple, has been immensely effective.

What has been the worst part of being a published author?

Some people on the internet believe that it is their given right to be abusive and destructive with their comments. Those kind of people could be damaging if what they wrote was accurate. 

I would tend to agree with you, but that is the fortunate and equally unfortunate reality of our digital age. Everyone has a voice and, EVERYONE has a voice.

What books have influenced your writing? 

I try not to let anyone or thing influence my writing, though some styles of writing probably will. I like books by Steven Donaldson, J.R.R. Tolkien and others like those of Cressida Cowell.

Is there an Author (past or present) that you would really like to meet?

I would like to have sat in on a conversation between J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

If you could talk to your former self, what advice would you give him?

Be tidier with your work and spend more time honing it.

Words o' wisdom for sure!

What has been the harshest critique you have ever received concerning your writing?

There are two comments on Amazon about the book that are both inaccurate. One reader slates the book which he did within 2 hours of it going live. The other was sent a proof copy to review but failed to mention in the write up.

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?

Just have a go yourself and see if you can produce a flawless novel.

Well put...

 

Are you currently working on any other projects?

I'm working on the sequel 'Fire and Thorn'

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

I've just finished reading a children's, Mr Stink, which was okay, but not as good as I had hoped. I often read a heavy duty novel then something lighthearted.

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

That would be Blade Runner: Directors cut, still looking great after all these years.

Where can readers find your works and follow you (links)?

The book is available from:

Smashwords.com: SmashWords

Amazon.com: Amazon

It will be available at most ebook outlets over the coming weeks as it filters through the system.

My personal site is: www.theonesaga.com

Facebook: FaceBook

Twitter: @mathewbridle

Goodreads: GoodReads

Well thanks for stopping by and chatting with us Mathew. Please feel free to come back and talk with us at anytime.

Thank you Ahmad, to you and your audience. Happy New Year!

Marissa Carmel Cover Reveal - iFeel

We are honoured to join Marissa today as she reveals her brand new cover for iFeel.

iFeel has been regenred as New Adult and we think this is the PERFECT cover!! We hope you agree too!!

Lust. Anger. Hate. Desire. Love. Happiness. Joy. iFeel. Liv Christianni is isolated, alone, tortured and withdrawn, saddled with the torrential downpour of the world’s emotions. 

Accepting of her providence Liv has lost all hope, until one day fate steps in and spins the course of her life like a spiraling top. Hunted by a Spirit Stalker, Liv is forced to gain control of herself and her surroundings, threatened by the touch of her immortal love; she must find a way to survive both physically and emotionally as her reality is shaken up like dice on a Craps table. 

Can she find the courage to accept her true self? Can she love unconditionally cognizant of the condemning consequences? Can she rise from the ashes to become the person she was always meant to be? 

Funny, witty, real, and poignant, iFeel rips into your soul, and sets your emotions on fire. If you are a fan of Charmed or Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries or The Secret Circle this series is for you! 

Create Space 

Amazon

Marissa Carmel has been writing since a young age and although it has always been for personal enjoyment, she finally decided to break out and share her imagination with the world. She hopes that her universe is as fun and intriguing to her readers as it is to her. 

Marissa Carmel is originally from NJ but moved to Maryland several years ago, she enjoys reading, writing, and catching up on her DVR library. She is currently working on the sequel to iFeel, Gravitational Pull, which she hopes to release sometime in 2012.

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

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TTiS Episode 22 - Noodlier Dive

"Marshall! Get your ass over here and help me with this Big Head! You know we need that chip!" Officer Marshall looked like hammered hell but his addictions were the least of my concerns.

Marshall leaned in and grabbed Fogweet by the neck. He was a a man a some size, and lifted the Big Head with ease. I climbed off of the doctor and got to my feet. "Hey, hold him up in front of me" I told Marshall and slugged Fogweet hard in the gut.

"Hey Derrick, what the hell man! You can't just go punching...", the doctor stopped short as I picked up the shiny gold chip off of the ground. 

"Doc, I'm pretty patient with you and your freak Martian buddy over here 'cause I know you're not really a military man, but you have no clue how important this chip is. It is no toy, nor candy, nor anything else to be played with. I've been through hell and high-water to acquire this from that agent, to keep it hidden from those wild Big Heads, and to keep its location secret from those monstrous traders. I've been beaten quite severely, chained like an animal with no hope of escape, and bitten by what you tell me is probably some rabid alien trader, all with the intent of reacquiring this chip and completing my mission, so if you think that your sensitivities or the sweet tooth of this little Martian is going to stand in my way, you are sorely and sadly mistaken. Are we clear?" 

I hadn't even noticed but I had my good arm across Jerry's chest and had him pinned against the far wall of the conduit. My anger subsided a bit and I took my arm off of the doctor. His eyes were glassy behind his glasses. A tear streamed down his face, but I could tell this was not a tear from fear, but more from adrenaline and his own anger. He collected himself and put his finger in my face; "You listen here you obnoxious brute. I may not be a cold-hearted, violent, murderous soldier like you, but I am a military man and I have made plenty of my own sacrifices just to find and help you on this bullshit quest of yours. So remember that next time you lay hands on me or my freak friend over there. Now, if you don't mind... Tell your massive minion over there to release Fogweet before he chokes him to death and explain what the hell is so important about this chip of yours, because your secrets are getting boring and old."

(Read the rest of Episode 22 and catchup on the hit Episodic Saga here)

Tag Team in Space is a collaborative blog by authors J. Naomi Ay (The Two Moons of Rehnor) and Ahmad Taylor (Darkside of the Moon)

TTiS Episode 20; Derrick's Escape

 

The trader and his minion continued shoving me forward down the conduit. I was getting fed up with being pushed around but I knew that this was not the time to try and protest. The head trader was at least eight feet tall and probably at least four hundred pounds. Combine his stature with the weapons around his belt and the sharpness of his fangs and I was certainly at a slight disadvantage. I knew in order to escape I'd have to find or create a moment but this was not it, not yet.

"Stalling is making me angered. Show me chip now or die to death."

As if their foul breathe and pushing wasn't bad enough, their blatant butchering of the English language was grating on my nerves. 

I scanned the area ahead of me, continuing to count the steps we took in my head. It was four hundred feet between emergency beacons and I was nearly at the next one. Through the darkness, dragging my feet, I came up on the next beacon. I pretending to trip again, and as I fell to the ground I initiated the next one. 

"What you do? What that light?" I heard over my shoulder as a mammoth foot came crashing down on my back. The weight of the blow knocked the air out of my lungs. I regained my senses and turned over; "It's a marker I placed to show me the way to the chip I hid." It was a blatant bluff, but it was all I could come up with at the minute. The head trader leaned down over me, his vile breathe making me nauseous. He seethed over me for several moments before he acquiesced. 

"You get up now and find chip, or you find your head under foot next time."

I got to my feet and continued to stumble forward. All I could do was pray that somewhere, someone was monitoring the feed from the emergency beacons and was alerted to the distress signal, because I was certainly in plenty of distress.

(Read the whole Episode and follow the series here)

Amazon's Daily Deal

I usually ignore the constant onslaught of marketing emails from Amazon, trying to sell me a new age crock pot or overpriced toaster, but after yesterday's "Daily Deals" email I think they are finally getting it right... 
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Tag Team in Space Episode 18: Derrick's Plan to Escape

Episode 18 - Derrick

The trader released my shackles from the wall and I came crashing to the ground. Immediately there were hands under my arms dragging me across the floor. My head was still throbbing and I was in no shape to attempt to fight back against these creatures so I allowed myself to thrown around like a rag doll for the moment.

We exited the room we were in and found ourselves back in the conduit, “Now, you tell me where you hid the chip and this can all be over very soon Human.” The distaste for me and all humans was evident in the trader’s voice. I knew this was not going to end well, but I also knew the value of the chip and that I had to protect by any means possible, including losing my life.

I had no idea of whether Jerry was out there looking for me, or if anyone else was searching for my location, but I did have one idea of how I might bring some help my way. I directed the group down the conduit away from the link to the lift shaft, and thus away from where I had hidden the chip. The creatures crawled along the path I set forth and dragged me along behind them. Ahead of us was a faint light. As we approached the source of the light I could see the floor of the conduit was broken through providing another link to the lift shaft. I wanted desperately to keep them out of the shaft, but they were already descending and I was still shackled and being dragged along so I could not provide much resistance. There was a sudden tug and I slid through the opening and fell several feet to the bottom of the shaft floor.

 

(Read full Episode and catch up on previous episodes HERE)