Guest post: An Excerpt from GOTH TOWN by Jesse Giles Christiansen

GOTH TOWN by Jesse Giles Christiansen

PROLOGUE

JAKE RAYNER is the only one, other than Samantha Bryant, who had the vision.

He’ll never forget the first time it happened. He was out for a walk in the woods by himself, a practice highly discouraged by the Overseers.

He was always surprised at how little everyone questioned the rules of the Overseers. Many of them seemed so ridiculous. Then again, they owed everything to them. There would have been no life here at all, if not for them.

That afternoon the hazy air was happy and it seemed to seep into everything. Jake was reckless to allow it to seep into him. His feet, his legs, his fingers, even his thoughts, were reckless.

I know they’re going to find me. I just know it. Then they’re going to hook me up to the Recalibration Machine again.

But that day he didn’t care about a single thing. He was mad with life. Life was mad in his veins. Life was livid in his veins. 

Everything spoke to him. The birds’ songs were like shrilly operas stuck in fortissimo. The creek sneaking along by his side crackled and popped the way a long-asleep radio wakes up hungry and eager to play. The wind in the pines moaned softly like a lonely lover. 

Then it happened.

He felt dizzy at first, his head so light he thought it might float away. Something surged inside him that could have been swallowed lightning, rising, writhing, and climbing up to his head.

The memory came.

Memories were demons; they were even more forbidden than being all alone; they were not allowed to even start. When they went in for their weekly screening, any evidence of memories prior to the Anti-Emotion Movement was immediately erased. It was for their own good. Really. They had to believe in the Overseers. They gave them everything, and asked for so little in return. The Overseers picked them up after the Great Fog.

He just stood there and could not stop the memory. Oh, it was so warm. That swallowed lightning curled up, balled up in his head and took to nuclear fusion, forming a miniature sun to melt all the work of the entire Overseers’ brilliant technology.

But what an afternoon it was.

The first flash was of shiny boxes wrapped in fancy bows under a tree that someone had stuck in a living room. What a bizarre image. Why would someone put a perfectly good tree in a living room? Perfect madness. Perfect madness, indeed. And the poor, poor tree.

The tree was wrapped with winking lights, and as he stood there, letting this memory take root, he could see the pines around him dressed the same. They were beautiful, and he overflowed with the urge to take all the pines in the forest, shrink them down, and put them into everyone’s homes.

Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

He heard footsteps, and the beautiful, horrible, absurd memory vanished. The memory vanished like the scent of a woman riding with you on a train—a woman you know you will never see again.

He waited for the Goth Town Police to arrest him. And he cherished those seconds as the taste of a curious and wild memory remained for a few seconds on his lips. Those few seconds were more blissful than the rambunctious air that crept all through the forest that afternoon and shot rays of perilous hope into everything. In those few seconds, he tried to chase the echo that was home to that taste. That scent of a woman on a train. He tried to return to it with the desperation of a legless man waking from a Boston Marathon dream.

But at least the taste was there when they handcuffed him.

At least the flicker.

A gray haunt … at least … 

Jesse Giles Christiansen is an American author who writes compelling literary fiction that weaves the real with the surreal. He attended Florida State University where he received his B.A. in English literature. He is the author of Pelican Bay, an Amazon #1 list bestseller, outselling Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. One of Christiansen's literary goals is to write at least fifty novels, and he always reminds himself of something that Ray Bradbury once said: "You fail only if you stop writing."

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Goth-Town-Jesse-Giles-Christiansen-ebook/dp/B00P8QFUTW

Web Site: www.jessegileschristiansen.com
Blog: www.jgchristiansen.wordpress.com

Twitter:https://twitter.com/JesseGilesChris

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jesse.gileschristiansen.7

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5261095.Jesse_Giles_Christiansen

Guest Author Jesse Giles Christiansen and his GOTH TOWN Character Interview

Today's special guest post is from American author Jesse Giles Christiansen, and he has a great blog tour lined up for his newest release, GOTH TOWN. Welcome, Jesse! :-)

Character Interview: Inside the Mind of GOTH TOWN’s Founder, Lord Gothly

  

JGC: Why Christmaslessness around the whole world? Isn’t Goth Town enough?

LG: Ha-ha. Your thinking is so limited. What a lousy physicist you would have made! My grandfather’s vision was to not just stop pesky, debilitating emotions in one small place, but everywhere. You see, Goth Town was only the testing ground, so to speak. The world is suffering from omnipresent locusts. Oh, you cannot see them, dear fellow, but they are just as devouring. Tell me, would you stop global locusts in only one place?

If you were to stop all emotions, wouldn’t you stop all thinking, too? Memories?

Ha! Not so dull-witted as I expected! Of course, you boldly assume that thoughts and feelings are hopelessly tied together. How erroneous you are, dear fellow! Yes, thoughts breed emotions, but there are pure thoughts that have no emotions. No sappy, disabling memories … just those of truth and unequivocal existence. What bliss they are! They flow like the quiet symphony that accompanies the swift movements of logic. They walk like barefoot women through Times Square! Only 33 days left!

How do you plan to accomplish such a feat?

Again, such limited thinking! I would not expect someone like you to understand dark physics, especially one who thinks in such two-dimensional terms. Accomplish. Ha-ha!

How could the world exist without fond memories?

We define fond quite differently, let me assure you. Take this hideous, pitiable thing called Christmas, for example. Is it fond? Really? The primary components of Christmas are love and giving. Yuck! It turns my stomach to event think of such things! Do love and giving make the world a better place? Do they save the environment? Allow for interstellar travel? Do they keep one warm at night? No! I shall tell you what they do. They make the world stronger rather than weaker. One day the world will see that they have had it all quite reversed. They will thank me! To love someone is to erase his or her purpose and individuality. To give to them keeps them from fending for themselves. Do you not see? Christmas is really not good for the world. My grandfather believed it was the root of the failure of humanity.

GOTH TOWN has already sold over 100 copies, and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. How do you feel about that?

I am so tired of hearing about this book. I am positively sick with it! You see, this is the pathetic sentimentality that I am trying to save everyone from. Do you not see how pitifully absurd the notion is? As if a book is going to stop anything. A hundred you said? Ha! How many stars are there? How much dark energy can we siphon from a black hole? Take your books and burn them; perhaps they might warm a small group of Christmas urchins!

You seem very emotional. Isn’t that a contradiction?

You seem to have an extremely impoverished sense of time. You promised fifteen minutes. I have work to do. The Global Re-Constitution Device must be ready on Christmas morning. I bid thee adieu!

Jesse Giles Christiansen is an American author who writes compelling literary fiction that weaves the real with the surreal. He attended Florida State University where he received his B.A. in English literature. He is the author of Pelican Bay, an Amazon #1 list bestseller, outselling Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. One of Christiansen's literary goals is to write at least fifty novels, and he always reminds himself of something that Ray Bradbury once said: "You fail only if you stop writing."

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Goth-Town-Jesse-Giles-Christiansen-ebook/dp/B00P8QFUTW
Web Site: www.jessegileschristiansen.com Blog: www.jgchristiansen.wordpress.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/JesseGilesChrisFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/jesse.gileschristiansen.7Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5261095.Jesse_Giles_Christiansen

The Stories of Robin Hood is Inspiration for The Rebels of Cordovia

Today's special guest is author Linda Weaver Clarke, whose new release, THE REBELS OF CORDOVIA, celebrates the fight for liberty and equality. Welcome, Linda! Please tell us about your book.

We celebrate Independence Day, remembering the freedom we fought for centuries ago. Many patriots had to pay for this freedom with their lives and we are grateful to those who fought for our liberty. In this new novel, you get a glimpse of what another country had to fight for, as well. The freedom of speech, the freedom of equality, and the freedom to worship as we please! No one could have a greater gift than this.

This tale will entertain those who enjoy bits of adventure, humor, mystery, and a tender love story. The stories of Robin Hood have enchanted readers for years. In our youth, we enjoyed hearing the escapades of Robin Hood and were spellbound by each story and how he cared for the people. How awesome would it be to live during that time period just because of Robin Hood! In The Rebels of Cordovia, a similar story is created but centuries after the legend of Robin Hood. But this time, there are two major groups of rebels fighting for the rights of the people. Daniel, a good-looking rogue, would be the leader of the Freemen. Robin Marie, a young woman, would be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Each leader is an expert archer and swordsman. With bits of adventure and delectable kisses, this tale will entertain anyone who enjoys a sweet romance.

In The Rebels of Cordovia by Linda Weaver Clarke, the time period is set in the late 1700s. Centuries after the legendary Robin Hood, a group of men and women find themselves fighting for the same cause: for their rights, for freedom of speech, and equality. Robin’s Rebels realize they must fight against the tyranny of a wicked king and help the people survive this oppression. In the small country of Cordovia, groups of rebels begin springing up, but its Robin’s Rebels who get the attention of the king.

In this battle for freedom, a tender love story begins to blossom. Daniel, a rogue and a leader of the Freemen, doesn’t realize that the sweet feminine woman he has met and is falling for happens to be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Realizing the importance of uniting all the rebel groups, Daniel tries to recruit Robin’s Rebels but they refuse. Now he has to find a way to convince them. When he finds out the leader is actually a woman, what will his reaction be?

Author Anna Del C. Dye wrote: “What a fun and interesting tale The Rebels of Cordovia is. A very good story to keep you glued all the way to the end. I really enjoyed the romance mingled with the fights. It is a well-paced tale to give you entertainment next to a warm fire in the rain. Linda writes a good, clean, and sweet romance, for young adults and adults alike. You will enjoy this story to the end.”

Read a sample chapter here: http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/rebels.html

The Rebels of Cordovia by Linda Weaver Clarke

Genre: Sweet romance

ISBN: 978-1484147658

Purchase Book Link: http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/purchasebook.html

Price: $12.95, Ebook: $2.99 

Special Guest Omon Hart chats about: A Near Death Experience and the Magic of Fantasy

Today I welcome author Omon Hart to my blog...and, boy, does he have a story to share with you! 

Many years ago an extremely good friend of mine had a Near Death Experience. When I first met her, she explained to me that there was nothing “near” about it. She was as dead as a door nail until someone revived her back to life several minutes later.

I had met her when I was getting into the throws of writing. Little did I know she was about to change my life forever, especially in the writing field (not to mention every other field I entered into).

Her name is Deborah B. Gregg, and this is how she died.

She was standing at the edge of a river, looking down at the water, feeling the gentle breeze across her body as she pondered if she should take a dive or not. The instant she jumped, she saw something that the algae in the water had masked moments earlier—a large boulder inches below the water's surface.

As her arms splashed into the water, she felt her hands hit the boulder. She pushed against the boulder in an attempt to guide her body away from it. Her hands slipped and she hit her forehead against the large rock, splitting her head open, tearing several ligaments in her neck, and temporarily paralyzing her.

She said she did the dead man's float—face down, bobbing up and down, unable to move. All she could do was watch the flurry of tiny fish swimming around, observe the busy water bugs moving about, and look at the beautiful sand stirring into a cloud, then settling to the bottom; all along not being able to do anything except wait to die.

And it wasn't a terrible death. It wasn't ghastly, horrific, or terrifying. No demons came out of the ground and snatched her, taking her to the depths of an unforgivable hell. It was the opposite. It was peaceful and the most loving experience she had ever had.

When the last seconds of her life started to fade, she popped out of her body, went up a tunnel, had a life review where she felt the wrongs and rights she did to others, then spoke with someone she called her “guide”—all in a place where time doesn't exist. She was told wondrous things and given many insights.

When she came back, it was to a very broken body. A body she had to learn to live with in order to cope with the horrible pain that accompanied such a tragic accident. 

It was years after her Near Death Experience when I met her. Fifteen years later we're still friends.

[Get her story and experience at www.deborahbgregg.com]

As I've stated above, she learned a great deal during her Near Death Experience, most of which I've been able to listen to and incorporate into my own life, leading me to success in many endeavors. In fact, I've learned just about everything I know through her Near Death Experience, even writing.

Yes, writing.

I'm a writer, or at least that's what I told her when I first met her. I had no idea at the time that I had to be a “good” writer in order for others to understand what I was trying to communicate. She pointed that out many times, making me practice and practice this sacred art. It helped that she was a damn good teacher and a literary genius to boot—something her “guide” also told her during her death experience.

Then it happened. A day I won't ever forget. A writer's dream come true.

I was walking into my bedroom after a long day of work when an inspiring idea, or rather a story, exploded in my mind. The detail, the story line, the characters—everything—was so vivid and real. I don't know how long I was standing in my room, silent, staring at nothing but the book showing itself in my mind, but when it stopped I immediately wrote down the summary of what I saw, thinking that I'd get writing as soon as possible.

Two years later, I had the summary and a couple of completed chapters. Life had gotten in the way and I hadn't written much.

Then it happened again. This time I was asleep, dreaming.

I was dreaming of the book, the characters, the dialogue, the landscape, the map, and much more—for months! This prompted me to start writing and writing. Everywhere I went—to work, the park, a restaurant, you name it—I carried a pad and pencil, jotting down the story as I saw it, weaving Deborah's words and wisdom of her Near Death Experience into it. I even made a character with her personality. I named her “Snow Tree”, using her voice to carry us into the profound texture of my book. When I got deeper and deeper into the story, I realized that Nova, one of my main characters, was taking on a portion of my friend's disposition. Nova's dialogue was very similar to Deborah's, almost mimicking the way she spreads her sage-like advice and important messages.

It wasn't until the middle of the book that I realized the name of it, “The PureLights of Ohm Totem”. It made perfect sense. You'll understand its title when you read it. It's a fantasy built in a world like none other, with characters like nowhere else, simply because it originated from a unique point, the point where the story exploded in my mind, offering itself to me on a silver platter, finishing with a series of dreams, and combined with fifteen years of study and friendship with my Near Death Experience friend, Deborah.

A reviewer said it magically: “I couldn't put it down. I liken this book to doing yoga—it allows your mind to escape the daily trials and tribulations of life while simply being reminded to breathe. It is as much a spiritual retreat as it is a great fantasy adventure. I loved this book as it took old themes of warring groups and put a completely new twist on it. The book becomes a philosophical journey around fears and insecurities and what the usual physiological responses are but then explores creating new responses and a different way of being. All the while the author has crafted a book with all the tension, drama, humor and excitement of any great fantasy book.

“The main characters are siblings named Zoey and Coda who happen to wander into a mystical world of spirit animals. The reader is quickly thrown into the action as conflict erupts between the Dims and Sihu Tribe. As the story develops, the characters struggle with their responses to conflict while being gently guided to respond in new ways.” —chbailey, OR

By combining the insights of a Near Death Experience with the magic, intrigue, and plot of fantasy, you come away with a very rich experience. One that I think you'll love and enjoy.

If you feel drawn to my book, “The PureLights of Ohm Totem”, then I hope you feel transported to a new, incredible world where adventure mixes with a myriad of important life lessons, taking place in a world where dreams and reality merge into one—the world we call Fantasy.

Thank you very much,

Omon Hart,
www.thepurelights.com

Purchase The PureLights of Ohm Totem for .99 cents at: http://goo.gl/a2Uoy

About Omon: Omon Hart was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up on the outskirts of the city in a little town known as Gladstone, where he graduated high school and moved on to college. After studying Therapeutic Bodywork at East-West College of the Healing Arts, he excelled in his field, becoming one of the Pacific Northwest's leading Therapeutic teachers and bodywork professionals. After several years, the love for writing tugged at his heart so much that he decided to put things aside and live his passion - write. He's now fashioning story after story, creating imaginative worlds of inspiration and art.

Cheryl's "Craig Ferguson Campaign" grows

My endeavor to be a guest on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson has attracted some attention. Emails are flooding into CBS (okay, I have no idea how many really) from my fellow author friends who have caught the craze.

I belong to a "Shameless" group on the thriller forum over at Amazon.com, a forum where authors from all over the world have united to help get the word out about each other's books, and now my friends there have pitched in to help me get Craig Ferguson's attention, so that I can see one of my dreams come true.

Here is one of the emails that has been sent so far:

Dear Mr. Ferguson,

Okay, I must apologize for the torrent of emails that you may be receiving this week from the regular and may I be so bold to say talented participants of Amazon's absolutely crazymadnuts discussion "Shameless Self Promotion by Author (2)"..... but our dear friend Cheryl is dying to be on your show. Well, not her dying personally, since it's her business to kill off other people through her books.

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet - I'd watch if she were on! And it's all about the viewers, right? ;) Plus, Cheryl's a very determined woman. Her presence is everywhere she can get her hands on, on the internet and elsewhere - again.....more viewers for you! So it's a win-win situation for you, the network and for Cheryl. And Cheryl can finally knock this off her list of things to do in life before the big guy in the sky writes her off.

Seriously, she's a fantastic, talented and funny author, and she would be a great asset to your show.

My best to you and yours for a Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Jeannine R. Reardon, Esq.
a/k/a J.R. Reardon
author, "Confidential Communications"

Some of the other emails sent are just priceless and I will post them here later. :)

So what do I need from you??

Please email Craig Ferguson and tell him you'd like to see me on his show. Maybe let him know why you think I'd make a good guest. :)

craigferguson@cbs.com

Past Update: Calling all Cheryl Kaye Tardif fans! I need your help!

Update: Whale Song heads to CBS

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention
http://www.cherylktardif.com/

Craig Ferguson, I want to be a guest on The Late, Late Show

My motto for years has been "Dare to Dream...and Dream BIG!"

One of my dreams is to be a guest on Craig Ferguson's show. Maybe I should let him know this.

I love Craig. Ok, not the romantic kind of love, but more the 'I love his wacky sense of humor and he never fails to entertain me' kind of love. I watch his show almost every night. I've even sent in emails. And when I went to Las Vegas 2 months ago, I was stunned to find out he was performing live, so of course I had to get tickets. I've written about that. That was the time I was mistaken for a "movie star". God Bless that lovely young woman for making that mistake!

So Craig...here's the plan. You see, I've got it all figured out. You have had authors on your show before. And I know you often have people who are "on their way up" the success ladder. So, here I am a few rungs up and I could use a boost. Plus I like to talk. And I love meeting new people.

Craig, these are the TOP 10 REASONS why I'd be the perfect guest for you...

10. I am Scottish too. Ok, well my grandfather was Scottish. I never met him though; he died when my Mom was a child. I still have distant family in Scotland--in Glasgow--but I forget their names. Last name: McLellan. Do you know them? Are we related somehow?

9. I am apparently part Welsh, British and German too. Veener Schnitzel! I have no idea how this relates to you.

8. I am Canadian! You've said you like Canada and Canadians, so you should like me. In fact, I believe you said you came to Edmonton recently (how the heck did I miss you?) and enjoyed it. Call me next time you're in town and I'll personally escort you around West Edmonton Mall--as long as you don't mind getting lost.

7. I would bring your audience free books. Preferably copies of my bestselling suspense novels set in various Canadian locations. I can tell you and your guests about the mysterious Nahanni River--"the Bermuda Triangle of Canada"--which is the main setting in my thriller The River (close to your own book title--see how much we have in common?)

6. I seem to have no problems chatting about just about anything. You name the topic; I'll wing it. Antidisestablishmentarianism, you say? Sure thing. Of course, we can definitely talk about my favorite topic--killing people off. I do that regularly in my line of work. Uh, I write suspense fiction, in case you've forgotten already. You can even do your Angela Lansbury impression: "Has there been a murder?" To which I'll answer, "I'm plotting one right now."

5. My good friend Alexia Melnychuk is a sensational singer-songwriter. I'll bring her with me for one of your entertainment segments. You'll like her music. She'll give you a free CD that'll get you singing in your car or your chair. It could be an all-Canadian show. Except for you. And most of the audience. And the camera men...

4. I'll even shred the notes they leave you myself and throw them on the floor. This would be a case of Divine Intervention. I'll even bring my paper shredder if you'd like. We can do it right. Don't forget to recycle.

3. And if you invite me to come down soon, I may be able to get you and your guests a copy of my critically acclaimed novel Whale Song, which I've just been told will be going out of print soon. Maybe a publisher will watch your show, see me on it, contact my New York agent (yes, I have one) and offer me a major 5-book deal, then sell a movie about a Canadian author who really hits it big after being a guest on the Craig Ferguson show.

2. I can also show you my iPhone and tell you about the novel I'm writing on it. Finding Bliss has attracted a lot of media attention and 2 companies are already vying to be the first to release it. When I'm done showing you the iPhone and how it works, you'll want one too. Maybe Apple will give you one after they sponsor me and my novel.

1. And the #1 reason why you should have me on as a guest is because I'll bring you chocolate. I'll bring Bliss chocolates! They inspired my iPhone novel Finding Bliss. No, it's not a story about killer chocolates; the main character's name is Bliss. And yeah, she'll eat a few chocloates in the story. Probably while she's watching Craig Ferguson on The Late Late Show.

So Craig, Mr. Ferguson, Sir Ferguson...please have your people call my people ASAP.

Actually, please just email me. I don't really have "people" yet. Unless you count my husband. Or my daughter. Or my mother and father. Or my puppy. I'd be very happy to chat with Lisa Ammerman; she'd did a great job as your impromptu guest a few months back.

I will now wait with the phone in one hand and the other clicking the "receive/send email" button every 5 minutes--until I hear back from you...

Hello?

Darn, no email from Craig Ferguson yet.

Calling all of my fans!!!

Please email Craig Ferguson and tell him you'd like to see me on his show. Maybe let him know why I'd make a good guest. :)

craigferguson@cbs.com

Update 1: Calling all Cheryl Kaye Tardif fans! I need your help!

Update 2: Cheryl's "Craig Ferguson Campaign" grows

Update 3: Whale Song heads to CBS

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention
http://www.cherylktardif.com/