Finding Fiction Friday - Brandice Snowden

Paranormal/Fantasy author Brandice Snowden is here to spend some time with us!  Winner of the Nano-Virtuosos 2013 Competition, her first book, Demon's Veil, is out on Amazon.  Before you check it out, let's get to know her a little better ...

Brandice Snowden grew up around storytellers.  Tall tales, family curses, ghosts and goblins, stories of unending love (message her about it sometime, it’s an interesting story).  Soon even the numerous stories surrounding her weren’t enough.  So she started creating her own. She has been an artist, teacher, military wife, mother and now novelist.  She spends her free time indulging in her fantastical side, learning first hand skills her characters use in her books.  She has a passion for history and mythology and uses much of what she has learned to create new worlds. Brandice currently resides on the Texas/Oklahoma border with the love of her life and her children, of both two legged and four legged variety.

Brandice, welcome, talk to us a bit about your journey in writing.  What made you decide to write and eventually try to publish?

            I have always created in one form or another entire life.  I spent much of that creative energy telling stories.  Mostly it was short stories until one night I had a nightmare that just wouldn’t leave me; so I wrote it down.  My friends and family kept telling me that the story would make a great novel and I should write it.  I decided to give NaNoWriMo a try last November and that short story became the start of my novel. 

            The publishing came into play in the form of a contest, which I won.  I realized through that experience that this was what I had been missing.  Despite the hardship of finding time and the difficulties of the publishing process, I wanted and needed to continue writing.

We know what your bio says.  Tell us one thing about yourself that you think might surprise us.

            I actually know how to use a sword.  Through the Society for Creative Anachronism, I have been taught the art of a rapier.

Do you remember what it was like, the feeling you had when you learned your first book was out there in the world?

            I do.  It was a rush and at times it felt like I was watching someone else accomplish this and not me.

I love this cover! - Aaron

The first book of your “Veil Prophecy” series is out, “Demon’s Veil”.  Please tell us a bit about the concept of this series and how it came about.

            I love mythology and I always wondered what the world might be like if myth was real and the majority of the world just didn’t know it.  The biggest issue was, how could such amazing beings stay hidden for so long.  That is why I came up with the idea of the Earth being a dimensional nexus between many different worlds and their being barriers or “veils” over the portals of these worlds.  We know that the veils open sometimes, otherwise we wouldn’t have the legends we do; and the series basically follows a group that has to protect our world as these veils open.

Did you find it a challenge combining something from a world we know (special ops) with the paranormal?

            Not really…coming from a military family I have heard a lot of crazy stories about what they have experienced in battle.  You would be surprised how many soldiers already have a strong belief in the paranormal in real life.  So it wasn’t really a crazy leap to combine the two.

If there is one character you’ve written or are writing that you would really like people to meet, who would it be?

            It’s not in this series, but I have a shape shifting dragon named Ladon that I am currently writing that I think a lot of people would love.  He’s a great mix of tough warrior and sarcastic softy at heart.

What do you have coming up next in the sequel?

            In the sequel we meet death himself, also known as Mort.  We get a clearer picture of who Mr. Raziel is and what his agenda is as well.

What other ideas do you have bouncing around in your head?

            Well I have already told you about my shape shifting dragon, but I have a few more things I am working on as well.  I have an epic fantasy based on the legends of King Arthur but set in a post-apocalyptic future where magic is reawakening into our world.  I have also been jotting down notes for a story involving alien werewolves.

What about being published and the book industry in general has most surprised you?

            I would have to say how many different paths to publishing there actually are.  I have also learned that in the beginning you may think you want one path until you are actually walking it.  The whole thing is a learning process and you have to find the niche that fits you best as an author.

What other things besides writing do you have going on that keep you busy?

            Mostly being a mom; but I make sure that I keep my life balanced.  My hobbies include the sword fighting as previously mentioned; but I also paint, sing, go on fossil hunts with the family, and I just recently started belly dancing classes.

To close the interview, I have ten questions for you, plus one.  Here they go!

1. What is your favorite word? indubitably
2. What is your least favorite word? Axe (as in “can I axe you a question?”)
3. What turns you on? Intelligence and creativity
4. What turns you off? Bigotry and intolerance
5. What sound or noise do you love? Rain on the roof
6. What sound or noise do you hate? artillery
7. What is your favorite curse word? Sh*t
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Pastry chef
9. What profession would you not like to do? Office drone
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? “Hey, sorry about the whole winning the lottery thing.  Acquisitions lost the paperwork and by the time they found it….well.”
11. What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? “What does the little voice in your head actually sound like?”  Just so you know his name is Velvet Blue and he is *Fabulous* and a very funny drunk. 

Brandice, thanks so much for spending time with us.  Can you let us know where to follow you, and where we can go to purchase your work? 

Facebook:    

https://www.facebook.com/BrandiceSnowdenWriter

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/brandicesnowden

I can be found on Amazon.

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Patricia, Dawn, and I can also be followed here:    Facebook              Twitter

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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in Patricia and my published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies.  You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories!  Here's where you can find them:

Evernight Volume 1:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

Evernight Volume 2:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

More news will be coming soon.  Keep up with our books past, present, and future on our Book Page.

Finding Fiction Friday - William Vaughn

William Vaughn spent the first couple of decades of his life as an Army brat. He learned German in Kindergarten, Spanish in elementary school and Thai in High School. He flew helicopters in Viet Nam and fixed-wing planes in Texas. He got his start in the computer industry in the 70’s and retired from the technical side in 2010. He still keeps his hand in with periodic webinars. He’s been writing the whole time and over the years, he got a dozen books published by several mainstream publishers—they translated many of these books into a half-dozen languages. He started writing fiction about five years ago. He also loves taking pictures (especially scenery and wide vistas) and visiting Alaska.

William, welcome, talk to us a bit about your journey in writing.  What made you decide to write and eventually try to publish a fantasy series?

I’ve always been a story teller. There was never an event in my life that couldn’t stand a bit of embellishment. When I got back from Vietnam, I wrote quite a bit about the experience but set it aside—for about thirty years. I took up technical writing as a career at Microsoft but got extremely frustrated with the ‘politically correct’ police and began writing my own tongue-in-cheek versions of the documentation. While initially self-published (in the early 90’s) Microsoft Press, Apress and Addison-Wesley took notice and got me hooked. My books were wildly popular mainly because while technically top-notch, they were also funny in a geeky sort of way. I call this my ‘technical fiction’ days. After a while, I wanted to write something that would have a shelf life longer than a carton of eggs and something my grandkids would appreciate, so I began work on The Owl Wrangler—the first book in my series—The Seldith Chronicles.

We know what your bio says.  Tell us one thing about yourself that you think might surprise us.

Well, I’ve never been to an NFL game. But seriously, I’m an open book. Those that know me are rarely surprised at the directions I take in my writing, my daily life or the fact that I sing bass in the choir.

Do you remember what it was like, the feeling you had when you learned your first fiction book was out there in the world? 

It was amazing. It wasn’t like the joy of holding my first (screaming) daughter, but close. At last, I had something to leave behind.

Your fantasy series is called “The Seldith Chronicles”.  Please tell us a bit about the concept of this series and how it came about.

I’ve always had a very vivid imagination. When I watch any movie or read a book or visit an old castle in Europe I often think well ahead of the plot, trying to open old doors and imagining what life was like behind the scenes. When I read Harry Potter, I imagined the life of the lab rats and critters that Harry and his classmates experimented on. I saw them in a locker room under Hogwarts chatting about their day. A rat walks in with three tails and bemoans that George didn’t get the spell right again. I even wrote a few scenes but soon learned that ‘fan fiction’ is not where I wanted to go—I was too creative for that approach. I started over, but wondered how the owls in Harry Potter knew how to deliver mail. I decided that they must be ‘awakened’ (so they can speak and understand) and the story took off from there. Before long, I had over 250,000 words and the story wasn’t anywhere near ending. I took some classes at the University of Washington and did some considerable trimming. The result was The Owl Wrangler.

If there is one character you’ve written or are writing that you would really like people to meet, who would it be?

In Quest for The Truth, one of my favorite characters is Feesa. She’s a faerie whose family is forced into exile and must hide among the Seldith elves. Unfortunately, many fundamentalist Seldith hate and abhor faeries so she and her family must hide their identity.

What do you have coming up next?  Is it a sequel or something new?

I’m planning to take a short break and shift gears. I’ll be doing more marketing than writing but this should include some short stories. Yes, there is a Volume 4 as there are several story lines left hanging. Because the book is really a political allegory, the current situations generates many story ideas.

What other ideas do you have bouncing around in your head?

Well, there are four groups of Seldith now in the storyline. Each of these can lead the reader into new places. I’m thinking of having children discover and interact with the Seldith and help them discover technology. I’ve also started an entirely new post-apocalyptic novel but the storyline in Gravity gave away the initial scenes (where satellites are knocked out of orbit and the world has to deal with the lack of electronic gadgets and banking.) Perhaps I can integrate both into the same story. I have some experience with helicopter flying, electronics and computer programming which might be useful for some story lines.

What about being published and the book industry in general has most surprised you?

I’ve taken both routes. My first Hitchhiker’s Guide to VBSQL’ was self-published in 1992—long before anyone was doing this on their own. Microsoft Press picked me up after a few years and mainstream publishers have produced and marketed nine of my technical books since then. You could say that I know quite a bit about this (IMHO dying) industry. It seems these giant brick, mortar firms are mostly interested in working with established authors— ones with a guaranteed ROI—and who would blame them? It’s a tough business with retailers dropping like plague victims. While I’m world-famous as a technical writer, this adds very little to my credentials as a fiction writer. Yes, I’ve sent my query letters and even had several publishers show interest, but none of them have panned out. What are my plans? I intend to keep writing. I’m learning the best ways to use social media, I’m visiting all of the local independent bookstores and trying to project a ‘likeable’ public image. After all, readers buy the author. Getting them to pay for the first book is the trick.

What do you feel is the best thing, for you, in self-publishing your work?

It gives me something to do. It’s intellectually stimulating, challenging and does not involve a lot of bloodshed. I can teach, mentor and help others along the way which is also very gratifying. If I can say that I helped some seriously good writer get over a technical issue that stopped her from getting her book done, then I’ve done some good. I’m also learning a lot about the tools. At this point I would say my Photoshop skills are pretty good and I’m still learning.

What other things besides writing do you have going on that keep you busy?

We do quite a bit of cruising and travelling. This gives me an opportunity to take some really spectacular pictures—many of which I use for my book covers and illustrations. I also give a series of webinars, broadcast from my home office. These are fun and again, keep my mind sharp.

To close the interview, I have ten questions for you, plus one.  Here they go!

1. What is your favorite word? Gossamer (I use it far too often).
2. What is your least favorite word? Suposebly.
3. What turns you on? Seeing someone else smile.
4. What turns you off? Ignorance, hatred and ignorant hatred.
5. What sound or noise do you love? I’m an avid Pink Floyd fan, so music (most genres) but I also like Abba and Shania Twain.
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Hip-hop/rap and bombs dropping.
7. What is your favorite curse word? Pooched.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Graphic artist.
9. What profession would you not like to do? Miner.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? “That will do pig, that will do.” ;)
11. What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? “Mr. Vaughn, will you accept the Nobel Prize in literature?”

William, thanks so much for spending time with us.  Can you let us know where to follow you, and where we can go to purchase your work?

http://theowlwrangler.com

http://williamvaughn.blogspot.com/

http://facebook.com/owlwrangler

https://twitter.com/VaughnWilliam

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_14?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=william%20vaughn&sprefix=william+vaughn%2Caps%2C250#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=seldith&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Aseldith

(Or simply search for ‘Seldith’ on Amazon.)

My books are currently stocked at McDonald’s Book Exchange in Redmond, WA and at JJ Books in Bothell, WA. 

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Patricia and I can also be followed here:    Facebook              Twitter

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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in our two published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies.  You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories!  Here's where you can find them:

Evernight Volume 1:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

Evernight Volume 2:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

Finding Fiction Friday - RG Porter

RG Porter is an author of dark fantasy as well as horror and murder mysteries, all with a twist of the supernatural tossed in. For as far back as she can remember, she has always been drawn to coming up with wild adventures. Her dreams and nightmares just fueled her already creative juices.

R.G., welcome, talk to us a bit about your journey in writing.  What made you decide to write and eventually to try to publish? 

I’ve always told myself stories as I grew up. My imagination never stopped as a kid. As I got older, others told me I really should look at putting these stories down on paper. And thus began the journey to write my first novel.

We know what your bio says.  Tell us one thing about yourself that you think might surprise us. 

I play a lot of MMORPGs. I know many people think that a woman, especially an adult, could never play these games, but I love them. They are brilliant for fueling my imagination and allow me to put to image what I see in my head.

Do you remember what it was like, the feeling you had when you learned your first book was out there in the world? 

Excited and terrified. You put so much energy and hard work into getting it all right, that you hope others will enjoy what you’ve provided.

Let’s start with your “Darkness Unleashed” series.  Tell us a bit about that. 

That follows a group of people who come together to locate the source of an evil that has been unleashed from an enchanted sleep. They need to find the source and remove it from their world before everything is corrupted by the darkness forever.

What other books do you have out that you’d like to tell us about? 

I have a few different books out in varying genres. I have two horrors out (When Darkness Falls and Deadly Descent) as well as more Fantasy novels and a couple Paranormal Mysteries. I’ll give you a bit about a couple of them.

Deadly Descent: Think of 28 Weeks Later but with the twist of being stuck hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface on a scientific lab.

Keepers of Water: First in my Guardians of Nature series. Two worlds exists on one planet. One is destroying nature by overuse of natural resources which is causing the destruction of the parallel world. A few from that world decide to take matters into their own hands.

Blood Betrayal: Samantha Stone is an ancient. She’s also a detective for a very special paranormal unit that investigates questionable deaths. This case is no different.

If there is one character you’ve written or are writing that you would really like people to meet, who would it be and from what book?

Most of my characters I love in their own quirky way, but if I had to choose one, I would probably say Sam Stone. She is strong, funny and can be quite sarcastic. She takes no crap from anyone but is the first to be there to find the truth for the victim.

What do you have coming up next?  Is it a sequel or something new? 

This is a new stand-alone horror. I LOVE ghost hunting (series, movies etc) and was inspired to write something of my own. Judgement is the fruits of that labor. I’m shooting for a release date of Oct 15^th, barring any major hiccups.

What other ideas do you have bouncing around in your head? 

Too many to count. I have a few follow-up books I need to write as well as a few new horrors as well. There is an outline for the next horror titled Reflections of Evil as well as the next in the Guardians of Nature series.

What about being published and the book industry in general has most surprised you? 

The support out there for those wishing to go the indie route is immense. I started out with small publishers and never considered (or knew) about the indie route until a friend told me about her experiences. I have to say, though it is much harder work-wise, it is also quite fulfilling.

You’ve lived a lot of places, what is your favorite so far and why? 

I adored growing up in Kansas, however, I’m excited to move overseas down the line. My husband is from the UK and the times we’ve visited over there I’ve loved it. So ask me that in a few years and it will probably change. J

What other things besides writing do you have going on that keep you busy? 

I’ve just launched a new creative endeavor. I’ve branched out into the cover art business. My website just went live Oct 6. I’m a glutton for punishment J

To close the interview, I have ten questions for you, plus one.  Here they go!

1. What is your favorite word? Dream
2. What is your least favorite word? Failure
3. What turns you on? Creatively, storms.
4. What turns you off? Personally, rudeness.
5. What sound or noise do you love? Thunder. It’s beyond relaxing.
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Fire alarms going off. Talk about ear piercing.
7. What is your favorite curse word? Bullocks (but only when hubby says it. Love the accent)
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I always wanted to work with animals. Maybe a marine biologist or something.
9. What profession would you not like to do? Trash collector.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Welcome, come see your family.
11. What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? Have a big producer ask me if they could produce one of my books. J

R.G., thanks so much for spending time with us.  Can you let us know where to follow you, and where we can go to purchase your work?

Facebook

Website

Amazon

B&N

Smashwords

Twitter

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Patricia and I can also be followed here:    Facebook              Twitter

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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in our two published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies.  You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories!  Here's where you can find them:

Evernight Volume 1:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

Evernight Volume 2:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

Finding Fiction Friday - Lauren Cude

Please join me in welcoming YA author Lauren Cude for today's Finding Fiction Friday segment!  First, I'll let her introduce herself ...

I went the university route and picked up three very expensive pieces of paper.  This led to the traditional stream of office jobs and eventually found me working as a project manager.   I quite enjoyed that actually, but decided it was time for a change.  In a complete turnover I leased a farm and opened a horseback riding school.   My time is now spent riding, writing and teaching.  It’s slightly crazy, but all kinds of fun.

Lauren, talk to us a bit about your journey in writing.  What made you decide to write and eventually to try to publish?

Several years ago I took a break from being an adult and went south for the winter to focus on horseback riding.  I started writing a blog at the request of those at home who wanted to live vicariously.  When I returned, a friend challenged me to participate in #fridayflash – which now a large group of writers, was then fairly small.  The challenge was to write a story under 1000 words and post on Friday.  The group was exceptionally welcoming and the writing continued.

We know what your bio says.  Tell us one thing about yourself that you think might surprise us.

My life is always a surprise – even to those who know me.  I’m known for making complete random changes just to keep life interesting.  There are too many amazing opportunities in this world to settle for being less than impassioned.

Do you remember what it was like, the feeling you had when you learned your first book was out there in the world?

It was very much like the day I found out I was accepted to the university program I wanted.  Excitement, disbelief, and terror all warring with each other.  It’s a powerful feeling.

Tell us a bit about your first book, “Beyond the Wall”.  What can the readers expect?

Beyond the Wall is a young adult fantasy novel.  My main character, Jezina, has grown up wanting to know what exists beyond her isolated village.  One night a visitor comes to the village and Jezina takes the opportunity to escape the town she'd known and discover a world beyond her imagining. Struggling to know where to turn in a world of friends, wizards, dragons, and others, Jezina must find the strength and wisdom to discover where she truly belongs.

If there is one character you’ve written or are writing that you would really like people to meet, who would it be and from what book?

From Beyond the Wall, I’d love to meet the professor.  I’m not sure I’d actually like him, but I think he’d be an interesting character to meet.   From my upcoming work – Lissa, my main character, is a riot.  I think she’d be a lot of fun to meet. 

On the extreme other end, Casey, a character from one I’ve written but not published yet, is absolutely terrifying and I’d really rather not run into her.  At least, not if she were having a bad day.

What do you have coming up next?  Is it a sequel or something new?

I’m really excited about the next one; it’s in the editing phase now.  It’s in the same genre, but not a sequel.  It’s going to be the first in a series though, and its sequel is now in progress.  I really enjoy several of the characters in this one so quite looking forward to it.

What other ideas do you have bouncing around in your head?

I have one in progress that’s of the crime-fiction genre.  First draft is done, but now it’s on hold until I have a few more of the YA fantasy out.  This one will attract a very different audience, so I’m holding it back for the moment.

What about being published and the book industry in general has most surprised you?

The amount of support from others in the industry. I’m still slightly overwhelmed by how helpful and supportive other writers are.  People I’d never met, who had no reason to help, went out of their way to help me get going and cheered me on after Beyond the Wall was actually real.  They answered questions about everything from finding an editor and cover artist to how one goes about publishing and marketing.  I found a whole new group of friends from this experience.  It was amazing.

What other things besides writing do you have going on that keep you busy?

I own and run a horseback riding school, so that consumes most of my time.

To close the interview, I have ten questions for you, plus one.  Here they go!

1. What is your favorite word?  Really?
2. What is your least favorite word?   Can’t.
3. What turns you on?   Romance.  Of the old fashioned sappy variety.  It’ll make me roll my eyes, but I’ll fall for it every time.
4. What turns you off?  Ignorance.  In any form.
5. What sound or noise do you love?  My text ringtone
6. What sound or noise do you hate?  My text ringtone
7. What is your favorite curse word?  Frig.  I don’t even know if that counts, but I use it all the time and it amuses me to no end.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?  There’s not enough space or time for all the professions I’d like to attempt.  Any form of academics or research would be amazing, in pretty well any discipline.  More active careers - I’d love to learn to be a pilot.  Or maybe a deep sea diver.  Or any of the other professions you thought would be cool when you were five. 
9. What profession would you not like to do?  Telemarketing.  I don’t like annoying people, I really dislike sales, and I avoid calling people whenever possible.    Combining the three pretty much makes for my nightmare profession.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?   Welcome back.
11. What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you?  That depends who’s doing the asking…

Lauren, thanks so much for spending time with us.  Can you let us know where to follow you, and where we can go to purchase your work?

Personal Blog

Writing Blog

Facebook

Beyond the Wall – paperback

Ebook version available for Kobo and Kindle in their respective stores, and almost all other formats at Smashwords.

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Patricia and I can also be followed here:    Facebook              Twitter

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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in our two published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies.  You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories!  Here's where you can find them:

Evernight Volume 1:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

Evernight Volume 2:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

Souls Around the World Blog Tour - The Realmwalker Prophecy: Heart of the Mermaid

Welcome to this stop on the "Souls Around the World" Blog Tour!  Patricia and I are very happy to have you here to introduce you to our upcoming novel "The Realmwalker Prophecy: Heart of the Mermaid".  We hope you are enjoying the tour, and that you will like this special themed excerpt from the novel, to fit the "souls" and "scares" theme of the month.  First, a blurb.

* * *

"The Realmwalker Prophecy: Heart of the Mermaid"

Rudy MacTavish, at one time, was a pirate.  Captured and indentured into service in the Royal Navy, he had put aside tales told by his late parents of monsters and mermaids, focusing on his duty and an end to his tenure.  A mysterious stowaway affects him in a way he could not have anticipated, and he finds himself thrust into an unexpected adventure that could impact all of history.

Trish had a simple mission given to her by her father.  Sneak aboard the HMS Ursuline and steal an object that no person should be in possession of.  No human, at least.  When your father is the king of the Mer, you do what he says and don't question.  Her encounter with a human sailor unlike any human she had ever met causes her to do just that.

Their journey takes them from the blue waters of the Caribbean to the ruins of a long-lost city, with the fate of more than one world in the balance.  For if the power that Trish's father seeks falls into the wrong hands, it could mean the end of their world ... and the next.

Many Realms.  Two Souls.  One Prophecy.

"The Realmwalker Prophecy"

* * *

The sky had darkened overhead, and the men were scurrying about. Many brandished firearms, either pistols or muskets. The wind had kicked up, and the deck pitched beneath them.

“Load the cannons and prepare to fire! Move like ye lives depend on it!” Stryder shouted over the din.

Rudy made his way to the Captain’s side. “What are you shooting at?”

To Rudy’s shock, Stryder picked up a rifle and tossed it to him. “Ye might be needing that, lad. Because the beastie is here.” He pointed out over the frothy water. Rudy looked, and the surface was broken by a huge dark shape. “Starboard cannons, fire!” The ships shook as every cannon on the starboard side of the ship fired at once.

Several of the cannonballs fell short, but a couple found their mark. A pain-filled roar came forth, and the mass submerged before Rudy could get a good look at it.

“It’s the Leviathan isn’t it?” Rudy’s question was interrupted when something struck the ship from below, throwing them all off of their feet. The crew started firing over the side straight down, as Stryder propped himself up on his elbow and grinned.

“Aye, that it be.”

Rudy got his feet back under him and rushed to the starboard railing with Trish in tow, and leaned over the side. The mammoth beast met the ship spine to spine, slithering under the hull. The monster’s back was deep green and scaly, but that was all they could make out before it disappeared again. The ship seemed to relax for a moment.

Stryder was behind them. “This ship will hold up. It was built for this singular purpose.” Rudy wasn’t sure whether Stryder was trying to convince them or himself.

D’Von and two other men pushed past them, securing what looked like a giant crossbow to the rail. Saffire was behind them barking orders as they inserted a huge harpoon into the weapon. The water burst off the starboard side again and the creature rose up to a height halfway up the mast. They all got their first good look at it.

Rudy gulped as he cocked the rifle. It was snakelike, undulating as it rose. Its head looked like pictures that Rudy had seen in storybooks as a child, of dragons, with rows of tentacles down its side instead of arms. Dragons! It’s almost as crazy a notion as mermaids. Right … He looked over at the woman who had his heart. Yes, about as crazy as that. He turned and fired a couple of ineffectual shots into the writhing body of the lizard.

“Get that gun swung around!” Saffire yelled at D’Von.

Trish turned and called out to them, holding up her arms. “No, no!” He fired, ignoring her, and the spear embedded in the neck of the creature, right under is jaw. It roared, and Rudy could see teeth the size of a man’s torso. Even with the roar, the impression was more of anger than pain.

“I think you made it mad,” Trish said matter-of-factly to Stryder, glaring at him. Rudy couldn’t help but smile ... to her credit she wasn’t acting afraid at all. But then, she could survive in the water where the rest of them couldn’t.

The beast dove again. This time it stayed down. Seconds went by, and then a minute. The crew started to murmur, and a couple of them patted each other on the back.

“Stand fast, mates! It be not done with us yet.” Stryder nodded to D’Von who started to reload the harpoon gun.

Trish grabbed Rudy’s arm. “He’s right. But fighting it this way won’t work.”

The relative quiet was broken as the beast broke the surface on the port side of the ship this time. It didn’t stay up for long. It arched, and dove again, flexing its tentacles and tail as it did. Rudy’s eyes grew wide … “Get down!” He tackled Trish to the deck covering her as several dull thuds came from the deck along with a cacophony of screams.

They both picked up their heads to see long barbs sticking out of three men’s chests, and a fourth man motionless, blood pouring from his throat. A bloody spike was embedded in the wood behind him. “Well, that’s one hell of a development.” The ship shook again as it was struck from below, and this time Rudy could hear a crack.

“They have to stop, that beast will rend the ship in two and send us all to the depths.” Trish gazed into his eyes.

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CONTEST!  Make a comment below with the name of your favorite mermaid from books, television, or movies, and be entered in a drawing for a copy of "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness Volume 1", the anthology that contains our first ever published work, the precursor to "The Realmwalker Prophecy".  The drawing will be October 31st.

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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in our two published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies.  You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories!  Here's where you can find them:

Evernight Volume 1:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe

Evernight Volume 2:   Amazon       XoXo          ARe