“Bladesong: 1151 in the Holy Land” (The Troubadours Quartet Book 2) by Jean Gill | Between the Beats

“Bladesong: 1151 in the Holy Land” (The Troubadours Quartet Book 2) by Jean Gill | Between the Beats



My review of this excellent book.

Kristin Gleeson – Author and So Much More | Between the Beats

Kristin Gleeson – Author and So Much More | Between the Beats

Jackie Parry – Guest Blogger: Not Just Another Horse Tale | Between the Beats

Jackie Parry – Guest Blogger: Not Just Another Horse Tale | Between the Beats

An Interview with Author Michelle Medhat | Between the Beats

An Interview with Author Michelle Medhat | Between the Beats

Michelle Medhat, author
of “Connected: The Call and The Shift” was kind enough to consent to an
interview for “Between the Beats”. Michelle is as complex as her books;
brilliant and articulate she shares her thoughts freely. To say she is an
interesting woman would be trite. Her motivation for writing her books is not
what you might expect. It is with great pleasure I introduce Michelle Medhat,
one of my favorite Indie Authors.

What is the title of your latest book?

Connected: The Call and Connected: The
Shift. Both books came out within months of each other, and I now I have
Connected: The Call & The Shift (Author’s Cut) out as well, which is
omnibus of the two books with a slightly different edit (hence the Author’s
Cut!). These books are fast-moving, hard-hitting spy thrillers, peppered with thought-provoking
sci-fi all wrapped up in a never-ending love story. They are shocking
(certainly not for the faint hearted), and have more twists and turns than the
average country lane, but if a reader likes a good, heart-pounding thriller,
they won’t be disappointed.

What inspired you to write this book?

The book, Connected: The Call and The
Shift just came at me soon after the second Gulf War. I’d been watching,
waiting and hoping for a peaceful outcome after so much war, suffering and
devastation, although I knew that different agendas had taken over, and my
hoped outcome wasn’t to be. This train of thought got me thinking about the
nature of good and evil, the workings of the world we live in and what happened
if someone was so powerful the finely tuned balance in which the universe
exists was upended. Would this have repercussions? And would we, as a world have
any way out?

The spy story evolved quickly, as
intelligence is something very close to me. In my past, I have known these
types of people. I understand how they operate, the way governments’ play, the
differing agendas at stake, the brinkmanship and the angst of people just
wanting to get a job done without having to maneuver through political
minefields. This aspect is exemplified in both books.

The story is quite unique in that it
blends comfortably a graphic, political spy thriller with a provocative sci-fi story
that could very well be true. What moves it onto a different plane is the
tremendous love that connects Sam and Ellie Noor – despite what happens to them
(and a lot happens to them!) they never lose that connection. They never lose
sight of love nor hope for their future together.

Do you identify with any of your
characters and in what way?

If there was one character I’d identify
with it would be Ellie Noor. She’s a businesswoman, like me; she’s pragmatic,
strong-willed and focused on what needs to be done. She say’s what she thinks,
(swears far too much, unfortunately like me!) and doesn’t suffer fools. But she
also has a deep-seated faith in what is good and right. She’s a firm believer
in hope. It was a love-at-first-sight moment when she met Sam (just like the
circumstances in which I met my husband), and throughout the book you have the
sense that their love is almost supernatural.

Would you like to share a little about
your next project?

I am working on Connected: The Light, it
is last in the Trilogy of the Connected Series. It will be more shocking than
the other two books before it. The elements it will touch on are much darker
and it will go to places a little unnerving for readers. Core themes include
the battle for energy security, creating a movement to bring the world under
one umbrella of peace and flipping the balance of good and evil. It’s a big
piece, and in parts, quite introspective and philosophical, as Ellie will take
the main voice in first person. It will still however be, in true Connected
form, a heart-racing ride of pure exhilaration, and no, I’m not sorry that some
readers will be shocked to the core by what happens within those pages.

Have you been inspired by any other
writers?

I was inspired as a child by the Bronte
sisters, Enid Blyton, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens and
Alfred Hitchcock. I also loved to read Shakespeare and Chaucer, and deconstruct
what they were really saying in their old English words. When I reached my teens
I was into sci-fi devouring Arthur C Clarke, Douglas Adams, John Wyndham and
Issac Asimov. Around the same time I also started to read espionage novels by
the greats in this genre: Frederick Forsyth, John Le Carre, Ian Fleming, Robert
Ludlum and Tom Clancy. All these writers have in some way inspired me, and
helped me become the writer I am now.

What is your process for writing? Do you
dedicate a certain amount of hours daily? Do you go from beginning to end or
just write in a non-linear fashion?

I wish I had a process for writing. I’d
love that luxury to be honest. I just write in a notebook, whenever and
wherever I can, and then when I have a moment I type what I’ve handwritten.
Before I start any writing, I’ll mind map the entire plot, adding in key
characters across major scenes, and then map the relationships and inter-dependencies.
It’s really weird as when I start I literally see the whole of the book laid
out in my mind. It runs continuously like a movie in my head when I’m working
on the scenes, and it’s always very explicit. That’s why I write as if it’s a
movie and reviewers consider the work to be rather visceral and graphic.

What is your favorite book and why?

Strange that I have read so many books,
and one of my favorites is a short story! It is by John Wyndham and is found in
his short story collection Seeds of Time. The story is called Pawley’s
Peepholes. It is a strange little story that I read when I was in my mid-teens
and I was so amazed by it, and I still remember it to this day. I think because
I could have experienced real time-travel once, the story evokes in me that
sense of true wonder. The premise of the story is that people from the future
decide to use the past (our present) as a playground attraction for them to
have fun and do with whatever they like. It addresses all kinds of issues
technological, theological as well as societal. What would you do if you were
in the shower and a group people from the future just barged through your
bathroom! It is a real case of ‘what if…’ as Wyndham put it. The solution to
the future visitants was ingeniously simple, and one which was streets ahead of
the technological contraptions built to rid them of the visitors. The solution
was simply to reverse engineer, and turn the future visitants into a modern day
attraction and make them the spectacle instead. They soon hightailed it back to
their own century after that! The story showed me, whatever techno-wizardry we
develop, our future is built on the understanding and empathy of each other,
and a need to try to see the world through another’s eyes, rather than impose
the view seen through our own. It is vital that we appreciate the motivations
of others, and comprehend that the story played out before our eyes may not be
in full wide screen. There is always more. We’ve been given intelligence, and
it is up to us to perceive and interpret the parts we don’t see.

If you could make one of your books into
a movie, which one would you choose and who would portray the main characters?

Both books are screaming to be made into
films. Many reviewers have made the same comment: “this needs to be a film”,
“could be a blockbuster” etc. As The Call is part one and The Shift is part
two, you couldn’t make one without the other. Sam Noor is handsome and fiercely
intelligent; but he’s also quite dark and incredibly strong. Actor Jim Caviezel
(currently playing the role of another shadowy guy John Reese in Person of
Interest) would be a perfect match to nail Sam’s intense attitude and ability
to do whatever it takes to get the results needed. Ellie Noor is a real
knockout beauty, brave and smart and I can think of no one better than Charlize
Theron to take the role. She is ideal, with her stunning eyes and beautiful
blond locks she would be as captivating on the screen, as she is between the
pages of the books.

What is the most difficult part in
writing a book?

The most difficult part in writing a
book is avoiding continuity errors, and by that I mean not changing the name of
a minor character half-way through (it happens), or having the character do
something that actually doesn’t make sense at all. Developing a good logic flow
and a mind map is essential in plotting scenes, chapters and characterization.
My books are quite sizable and holding all the different cross- genre elements
together, making the logic and time flow work and ensuring that story is carried
through is the most demanding part of writing the book.

Do you read your reviews and how do they
affect you?

Yes I do read my reviews, but I don’t
get too affected by them unless they are deliberately attacking for no reason.
Someone gave me one star, claimed they didn’t even read the book, and said
they’d given me a one star as they thought all the other reviews including
editorial ones were fake!!! It’s insane. But you can’t let these things get to
you. When you write something, you have to have conviction in it, and stand by
it. Being a writer, you also have to be hard-skinned. You write something and
then put it out for the world to see and judge it. Not surprising that we’re
often classed as masochists. It’s a liberating but self-deprecating act. I do
enjoy seeing good reviews, when readers have been so moved to write a review,
it means so much. It gives you that little frisson, when know your book has
been read by someone somewhere, and for a little while it formed a part of
their life. A literary transplant if you will. It’s immensely gratifying when
you see a reader has enjoyed your toil, and validates your existence as a
writer.

Do you have any special steps or
superstitions you follow when writing?

I always keep a small piece of rosemary
on my keyboard; it is a very lucky herb.

What makes a good book?

A good book has a very simple but potent
mix of ingredients. The first is that it must transport you, so that you do not
recognise what is around you. Total immersion in the moment, visually encapsulating
and visceral stimulation. The second ingredient is the characterization of
primary and secondary characters must be believable and well-balanced. The last
element making the magic is that the book must have a solid, breath-taking plot
line that captures you and doesn’t let go. Keeping you up bleary eyed till the
early hours, and forcing you to give excuses for not making that meeting in the
morning.

When did you first realize you wanted to
be a writer?

I think the first inkling of my writing
ambitions came when, in lieu of any paper, I wrote on the walls and lampshade
with crayons. I was, I might add three years of age, and passionate then about
writing. A year later, at the tender of age of four, following the passing of
my grandfather, I wrote a poem that still shocks and stirs people today.

Beautiful Sleep

When
I sleep my beautiful sleep

I see and hear things in my dreams

Of
voices I no longer hear

And
faces I no longer see

In
my sweet beautiful sleep

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had
a pen in my hand and wanted to write. When I was only a small child, I think
seven or eight, I sat in Charles Dickens’ chair in Bleak House in Broadstairs,
Kent UK, and declared to all within earshot, that one day I would be as great a
writer as Dickens. Oh well we live in hope!

Over the years, I have written short
stories, poems, plays, pantomimes, and even music lyrics. For my work, I’ve
written articles for papers, magazines, and periodicals.

If you could describe your writing style
in one sentence what would you say?

Short, sharp and very fast moving –
rather like being blasted from a canon!

What
is the last book you read and why did you choose to read it?

I’m currently reading The Zebra Affaire
by Mark Fine. I have to say that I know very little about South Africa of
1970s, as I was a child then and more interested in cartoons than current
affairs. The story fascinates and abhors me. That we as humans could behave in
this way is unimaginable. A history steeped in shame.

If you could choose any person living or
dead to read and review one of your books who would you choose, which book
would you choose, and why?

Alfred Hitchcock. As a school kid I
adored him. I dreamed of meeting him. And in a way I did, but very briefly.
Although my family thought I was dreaming. It was April 29, 1980. I was eleven,
and heading back home from school. I stopped at a roadside corner, waiting for
a massive black Rolls Royce to pass. It paused in front of me, the window
rolled down, and Hitchcock smiled at me. I was so stunned, I said nothing, and
by the time I could react, the monstrosity of a car slid past into the next
road and zoomed off. I remember telling my Mom when I arrived home, but they
didn’t believe me. Soon after we heard that Hitchcock had died that day at 9.17
am. So very weird!

I watched all his movies, read all his
books, especially the ‘Three Investigators’ series, as well as all the horror
stories and thrillers. He was the ultimate critic. And I can think of no one
better to have reviewed my books.

In Ray Bradbury’s Farenheit 451 the
characters memorize books to “save” them when all books are being burned. They
are known as Book People. If you were a book which one would you be and why?

I would definitely be 2001 Space Odyssey.
It is such an extraordinary book, giving a glimpse of what could be, a world of
possibilities, but somehow, all connected with a smoothness that has had me
reading that book so many times over. I just loved the philosophical, the
spiritual and the technological messages weaved in. It certainly inspired my
love of all things sci-fi, especially sci-fi that is genuinely
thought-provoking.

http://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Medhat/e/B00IJE5QXA/

http://www.amazon.com/Connected-Call-Shift-AUTHORS-CUT-ebook/dp/B00TCOAOCY/

http://elizabethnnewton.com/2015/03/20/connected-the-call-by-michelle-medhat/

http://elizabethnnewton.com/2015/03/29/connected-the-shift-by-michelle-medhat/

“Sam Noor is mightily pissed off with
his employers; the terrorist outfit Al Nadir (a group so diabolical they make
ISIS look like the Teletubbies) have stolen the latest in quantum nuke
technology and SOMETHING is up with Sam's lovely wife Ellie - Tune in for more
spills and thrills!” Charlie Flowers, Best Selling Author of Hard Kill
and other Riz Sabir Mysteries 

“Michelle Medhat takes on and pulls
off a Herculean feat by seamlessly merging Espionage, Science Fiction and
Thriller genres.” Garrard Hayes, best selling Author of Bourbon and
Blood



Editorial Reviews



“If you are looking for a well thought out story, from a writer that is showing
great early promise, you could do a lot worse than get Connected to this
supernatural, spy-thriller.” Paul
Martin, Self Publisher’s Showcase



“I did enjoy it and for all of those who love syfy or want to get into syfy
this is the book for you. Well written and easy to follow unlike some syfy
books.” Heather Austin, Kindle
Book Reviews



“Violence, short chapters and a large cast of characters works in this
thriller. A well written page-turner, with characters that are developed and
contradictory enough to carry all the action and jargon, without being
swallowed completely, which is a big achievement.” Georgina Parfitt, Towerbabel 

“I, Ripper” by Stephen Hunter – Brilliant Ripper Fiction | Between the Beats

“I, Ripper” by Stephen Hunter – Brilliant Ripper Fiction | Between the Beats

“I, Ripper”
by Stephen Hunter

There are a
lot of books, both fiction and non-fiction, about Jack the Ripper. I have read
many of them. “I, Ripper” by Stephen Hunter is possibly the best fictional look
at Saucy Jack that I have ever read. The tale is creatively told through two
diaries; the diary of “Jack” and the diary of a newspaper reporter who is
thrust into writing about the murders. Besides the obvious cast of characters:
Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Long Liz Stride, Katherine Eddowes, and of course
poor Mary Kelly, Hunter has created a surrounding group that complements the
primary players.

Of course
the story is rife with bloody murder as well as the twisted sexuality one would
expect from the Ripper. Written in incredibly beautiful and accurate Victorian
English in all its varieties, the reader is transported through time and space to
1888 and the streets of Whitechapel. Following the steps of Red Jack as he
chooses, pursues, and savages his victims the tension grows thicker by the
word. As “Jeb”, the reporter’s nom de plume, investigates and writes of the
crimes, his fascination grows. Other characters, some seemingly insignificant,
are woven throughout, catching the reader’s attention and always raising the question,
is that Jack?

With vibrant
descriptions of the streets of London, the political atmosphere of those days,
and the horrific living conditions of the poor versus the well-to-do, Hunter
has created a landscape ripe with realism. His blending of fact with some
believable fiction has provided a story any Ripperologist will enjoy as a tale
built on truth. There are a few surprises that left me with my jaw on the
floor. These shockers serve to make the story even more enticing.

I highly
recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a story thick with suspense and tension
and of course, gory murders.

“Planet Purgatory” by Benedict Martin A 5-Star Read! | Between the Beats

“Planet Purgatory” by Benedict Martin A 5-Star Read! | Between the Beats

“Planet
Purgatory” by Benedict Martin

“Planet
Purgatory” by Benedict Martin is filled with colorful characters that leap off
the page even when you wish they wouldn’t. Chief protagonist David Eno is a
character I alternately hated and loved. Sometimes I found him so frustrating I
wanted to scream at him. At other times I wanted to put my arms around him. In
a story rife with aliens, zombies, witches, demons, and things I’d never heard
of, Martin manages to give his characters defined personalities. Making these
characters even more interesting are the drawings scattered throughout the book
giving them even more substance. David and his dog Rosie are revenants, they’d
died and been revived by the SYS. SYS has also provided David with a powerful
weapon, a gun. It’s an interesting accoutrement for a farmer. David is a very
special kind of farmer; willing to go farther out into the fields to grow his
crops. His most important crop is the sugar beet. It is from this plant that he
makes “chikka”, an alcoholic type drink that he himself is addicted to along
with his constant smoking of cigarettes. There is a family secret that neither
David nor his parents want to acknowledge but it causes tension within the
family. Stranger still, David has decided they are living in Purgatory. Events
take place that cause David to set out on a long and potentially dangerous
journey to seek help for Harkness. It’s on the journey he undertakes with
faithful Rosie at his side that we meet an assortment of enthralling characters,
some helpful and some deadly. This is a brilliant story that kept me up reading
until the very end. Moments of horror are countered with moments of tenderness,
skillfully weaving a story that I highly recommend.

“The Zebra Affaire” by Mark Fine: An Interview | Between the Beats

“The Zebra Affaire” by Mark Fine: An Interview | Between the Beats



I had the privilege of interviewing Mark Fine, author of "The Zebra Affaire".

Birthing a Book: The Launch of “Riddle” | Between the Beats

Birthing a Book: The Launch of “Riddle” | Between the Beats

On Sunday
June 21, 2015 I launched my second book, “Riddle”. She “weighed” in at a
whopping 326 pages. That’s quite a bit larger than her older sister, “View From
the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale” who was a tiny 212 pages. I hope older sister
won’t feel too threatened by “Riddle”; after all “View” has 48 reviews already
and has a delightful 4.5-star rating overall. Not too shabby for a first born.

But more
about “Riddle”; she has some things to offer that her older sister doesn’t,
besides her larger size. The protagonists in “Riddle” are much younger, in
their twenties, which makes them a bit livelier. (Although Bill and Olivia
certainly showed the world that couples in their sixties and seventies can
still act like “twenty-year olds”. Similar to “View”, Kort Eriksen has been
accused and convicted of murder. Grace Donahue, the new girl temporarily in the
town of Riddle, believes in him. Unlike “View” there are more murders; a lot
more murders. The plot twists and turns and as new characters are introduced,
suspicion will undoubtedly shift from one to another.

The subplot
of this book also addresses an injustice. You see, Kort, a First Nations
(Native American), was illegally adopted by a couple who turned out to be
abusive. He is never accepted in Riddle due to his heritage. This is actually
something that has happened to many First Nations children. In fact I address
this in the forward to the book.

The
developing relationship between Kort and Grace has a few twists of its own. Of
course there are others in the town as well. There are enough players to make
you wonder who is a bad guy and who is a good guy. But there are not so many
you lose track. Just when you think you have it all figured out, well, bingo.
Here you go again!

I hope you
will check out “Riddle”. I know you will find it entertaining and exciting. If
you enjoy a good mystery thriller with enough romance thrown in to make you
tingle, then this is the book for you.

Check out
the trailer to get a real feel for the story and the characters. They are
waiting for you in “Riddle”. Step into town and meet them. But be careful, not
everyone is what he or she seems to be.

“Riddle”- Book Launch and Author Takeover | Between the Beats

“Riddle”- Book Launch and Author Takeover | Between the Beats



Come join us! June 21, 2015 at noon Eastern Time. Online at Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/events/1639536059611288/

“The Railroad” and The Hero’s Journey | Where the buck stops

“The Railroad” and The Hero’s Journey | Where the buck stops



A blog by author Neil Newton about his book The Railroad and his philosophy on life's journeys.

“Finders Keepers” by Stephen King | Between the Beats

“Finders Keepers” by Stephen King | Between the Beats

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22453035-finders-keepers" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422630044m/22453035.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22453035-finders-keepers">Finders Keepers</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3389.Stephen_King">Stephen King</a><br/>

My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1301113168">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />

Being a big fan of Stephen King’s writing I was excited when I received my copy of his latest book, “Finders Keepers”. Something of a sequel to “Mr. Mercedes”, a book I thoroughly enjoyed, “Finders Keepers” introduces new characters and brings back some old ones. <br>Beginning with the murder and robbery of a well known and now retired writer, John Rothstein, the book begins somewhat slowly. While the main character, Morris Bellamy, is well developed, his cohorts in crime are throw-aways. Granted their roles are somewhat insignificant in the scope of things, but it seems they could have been used more efficiently. From the beginning Bellamy is a nasty guy. It’s obvious he has a few screws loose. Obsessed with Rothstein fictional character Jimmy Gold, Bellamy hungers for the unpublished works of the soon to be late author. He is also resentful of the turn Bellamy’s writings took in the Jimmy Gold story. In many ways Bellamy is like Annie Wilkes from “Misery”. In fact there are a few similarities to “Misery” in this tale.<br>But not all obsessive fans of writers are as crazy as Bellamy. Peter Saubers loves the works of Rothstein as well. As chance, and King, would have it, young Pete stumbles upon the find of a lifetime. In a hidden trunk he finds a cache of money and the unpublished works of Rothstein. This happens to come along just as Pete’s family is suffering severe trials. Pete’s father is one of the damaged survivors of the “Mr. Mercedes” attack where innocent and desperate job seekers were waiting for a job fair. Pete’s family, barely surviving the loss of both parents’ incomes, is falling apart. While Pete kept his windfall secret, he begins to dole out the cash to keep the family afloat.  However it’s the discovery of those unpublished works that keeps the story churning. After a somewhat slow beginning the story picks up nicely.<br>Beneath the surface of the story the ominous figure of Brady Hartsfield, the crazed Norman Bates type protagonist from “Mr. Mercedes”, is woven into the tapestry. It is through Brady that there is a hint of King’s skill at bringing the supernatural into the natural world.<br>“Finders Keepers” is an excellent sequel to “Mr. Mercedes”. While it is a book that can effectively stand alone, it is enriched when read after “Mr. Mercedes”. My investment in the characters was more intense as a result of reading the books in order. The best part of “Finders Keepers”? It left me wanting me more. I want to find out what happens to Holly on her journey. I want to learn about Jerome’s college experiences. I can’t wait to see if Hodges gets into more crime fighting situations. But most of all, I want to follow Brady Hartsfield wherever he is going. I have a sneaking suspicion it will be a dark trip.<br>If it was possible I’d give it a 4.5. As always, King’s use of words is eloquent. He paints his story with vibrant colors.<br><a href="http://elizabethnnewton.com/2014/06/12/mr-mercedes-stephen-king/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://elizabethnnewton.com/2014/06/1...</a><br>

<br/><br/>

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4737796-elizabeth-horton-newton">View all my reviews</a>

10 Days Until the Launch of “RIDDLE” | Between the Beats

10 Days Until the Launch of “RIDDLE” | Between the Beats



Come on over and grab some swag!

“The Railroad” by Neil Douglas Newton | Between the Beats

“The Railroad” by Neil Douglas Newton | Between the Beats

Charlie Flowers and His Alter Ego Riz Sabir | Between the Beats

Charlie Flowers and His Alter Ego Riz Sabir | Between the Beats

An Interview with Author Charlie Flowers

“Riddle” Book Cover Reveal | Between the Beats

“Riddle” Book Cover Reveal | Between the Beats

“Riddle”
Book Cover Reveal

Thanks to
all the readers who came out to support the cover reveal for “Riddle” today on
Facebook. It was a great turnout and I got to give away an e-copy and a signed
paperback.

Along with
the cover I shared a couple of excerpts from the book. If you missed it here
are the excerpts I shared. I hope you enjoy them and will come to my next
event. I will be doing a book launch on June 21^st when “Riddle” will
be released on Kindle and Createspace.

Blurb:

-"Seven years ago Kort Eriksen went to prison for
killing his girlfriend Desiree. Now he’s back in Riddle and some people think
he got off easy. Others, including long time friend Norma, think he was
railroaded because he’s the only Native American in town. Grace Donahue is
running away from her past. Trapped in Riddle until her car is repaired she
develops a friendship with Kort. Suddenly accidents are happening and people
are dying. Is Kort adding to his list of victim’s or has someone else taken the
reins? As mysteries from the past rise to the surface, more questions will be
raised. The suspect file grows as victim’s fall. Is Desiree’s killer back for
more or is someone trying to avenge her death? The riddle of Riddle will be
solved, but how many bodies will it take to find the answers?"

First
excerpt:

"An attractive young newscaster continued the story.
“Convicted killer Kort Eriksen was released from Eastern State Prison today.
Convicted of manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend Desiree Steele he
served seven years of a twelve year sentence.” A photo of a sweet faced teenage
girl flashed on the screen as the commentator continued, explaining the pair
had been high school students. “Eriksen pleaded not guilty and has continually
denied any involvement in the high school senior’s death.” A shot of a long
haired, slender, and much shorter Kort Eriksen crossed the screen. A close up
of his face showed a somewhat sullen looking boy.

 Grace stared at the
television, mouth hanging open in stunned silence. After a moment she realized
she was holding her breath. It exploded from her body in a whoosh. “Oh my
goodness. He is a murderer.”

Second
Excerpt

            “The room was tilting crazily and she
was unbuckling his belt. His hands had pulled her dress high above her hips.
The colors of the room seemed to run together and blend before separating
again. Suddenly she was above him and in control and he watched her long dark
hair swing over his face, teasing him with its softness and somewhat musky
scent. The blood was pounding in his head and he thought the top of his head
would explode any second. But even when he climaxed he wanted more. It was as
though she was a drug and he was addicted to her.”

Between the Beats | There is no box.

Between the Beats | There is no box.



On May 25th at 9:00 AM ET (until 6:00 PM ET) please join me as I reveal the cover for my new book, “Riddle”. I am very impressed with the artwork of Rachel Bostwick who has captured the essence of the story.
There will be games and prizes and, I hope, fun. So put on your most comfortable clothes, find a relaxing spot, grab your favorite beverage, and join me on Facebook.
What’s the “riddle”? Check out the Riddle page on Facebook for a clue.
https://www.facebook.com/Riddlenovel

https://www.facebook.com/Riddlenovel

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“The Olympus Project” by Ted Tayler | Between the Beats

“The Olympus Project” by Ted Tayler | Between the Beats



When is a bad guy not really a bad guy? When he is Phoenix in Ted Tayler’s exciting book “The Olympus Project”. Tayler wastes no time in getting the action started in this high tech, guns blazing story of Colin Bailey. When I picked this book I didn’t realize Colin Bailey had made his initial appearance in an earlier Tayler book. This says a lot for “The Olympus Project” since it stands perfectly on its own. Tayler does a great job of giving Colin’s back story while weaving a tale of political intrigue, secret organizations, and romance. From the moment Colin Bailey is saved from drowning the story moves forward fluidly. Each new character is introduced and developed cleverly. Colin is drawn into the secret organization, The Olympus Project, and is re-named Phoenix. This seems a particularly brilliant choice since the rest of the world does not know that Colin is still alive. He has in fact, been raised from the ashes of his past life to be reborn as a trained and efficient killing machine. These killings are assigned by the mysterious group of British gentlemen and one very sexy woman based on the evil doings of the targets. These targets have escaped more conventional methods of punishment so the Project steps forward to take out the trash. Over the years they have developed a trained group of operatives with the demand their work remain secret. As Phoenix embarks on his assignments he perfects his already excellent skills and becomes a top champion of good versus evil. Using brilliant details and plans Tayler creates missions that are both exciting and believable. Underneath it all he generates a sexual tension between Phoenix and the emotionally wounded but very sensual Athena. Carrying painful baggage from her past she is reluctant to become involved with Phoenix but the desire increases and soon she has to admit what her fellow cabal members already know. Using current issues of political and economic concern Tayler gives the story an intensely realistic feel.  By the end of the book I was panting for more. I can’t wait to read the next installment. Tayler wisely leaves the reader with questions that demand answers. While I’m waiting for the sequel I plan to go back to Colin Bailey’s roots to learn more about what makes this fascinating character tick.
http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Project-Phoenix-Book-ebook/dp/B00QU9FZTG

Dream | Between the Beats

Dream | Between the Beats

I know that
two hundred and seventy-nine people are going to die tomorrow. I know where it
will happen but not the location. I know the names of every person who will die
but I do not know them. For the last month I have seen their faces in my
dreams. I have heard their screams. The first time I had the dream the only
thing I recalled on waking was the disaster. I watched the plane as it dropped
lower and lower in the sky. The sky was a beautiful cerulean blue. There were a
few fluffy white clouds that resembled puffs of pillow stuffing. The plane dropped,
faster and faster. I opened my mouth to scream but no sound came from my
throat. I jumped awake seconds before the plane would have hit the earth,
leaving a long gouge in the green grass, exposing the rich red earth beneath.
My body was covered in a thin film of cooling sweat.

People dream
about plane crashes. I’ve had friends tell me about dreams like that. They
dream and when they are awake the next day they go about their business, the
dream forgotten. They have pushed the dream to the back of their minds and
unless something out of the ordinary happens they will likely forget it
completely in a day or two. I pushed my dream to the back of my mind. I pushed
it as hard as I could. But when I sat in front of my computer at work, poring
over meaningless information, I could still see the plane dropping from the
sky.

Five nights
later I had the dream again. I had the dream again but it was not exactly the
same. The sky and clouds were the same. The plane was dropping slowly, like a
paper airplane that had lost its hold of the drafts that would keep it
airborne. Now I was inside the plane. I looked out the window to my left. I saw
the crazy tilted angle of the wing. I looked to my right. There was a middle
aged man beside me who I did not recognize. His eyes were wide and his hands
clenched the back of the seat in front of him. Next to him was a middle aged
woman. Her mouth was moving but I could not hear any sound. I thought she might
be praying. Looking out the window once again I realized the green earth was
rushing up to meet us. I wanted to close my eyes but some compulsion made me
continue to watch as death opened her arms to welcome me, to welcome all of us.
There was a jolt and I sat up in bed, breathless, heart pounding, and a silent
scream in my throat.

The next day
I could hardly function as the dream filled my mind. It played over and over
behind my eyes. I accomplished nothing at work. I spent the day staring at the
computer monitor. I placed my fingers on the keyboard but they never moved.
Co-workers asked if I was sick, told me I looked pale, suggested I go home
early. I did not want to go home. If I went home I might sleep and if I slept I
might dream the dream again.

After a
couple of days it began to fade. It never left my mind entirely but it faded
like an old color photo that’s hung on the wall for years, the sunlight
striking it until all the color and life had been leached out of it. I began to
feel safe. I began to sleep through the night again.

I should
have known better. Hope is a funny thing. Hope combined with fear is even
funnier. It lulls you into a false sense of safety because anything else is too
horrifying to accept. I was lulled into that lie, that make believe peaceful
place, where dreams are only dreams.

It was seven
days after the second dream when the third dream came. It came with a newfound
vividness. It came complete with sights, sounds, and smells. The man beside me
smelled of whiskey and sweat. Beads of that sweat stood out on his upper lip
like shiny transparent globes. His voice was a low deep throated moan that
escaped his lips and lingered in the air like a mournful song. The woman was
not praying. She was repeating a name, over and over like an old vinyl record
that skipped on a scratch, unable to proceed unless someone gave it a tap. The
tap came. Te tap came as the plane impacted the earth. I felt the vibrating
seat, watched the grass and dirt fly up outside the window. I smelled fuel and
flames. Mercifully I woke. I did not jolt awake. I did not suddenly find myself
sitting up in my bed. I simply opened my eyes. It was still night. The only
light was the reflection of the streetlight outside my window throwing bars
across the ceiling as it forced its way between the slats of my blinds. I did
not go to work the next day.

I did not go
to work for the next three days. I could not bear to hear the comments on my
appearance, the very polite suggestions that I should see a doctor. I could not
stare at the computer monitor, terrified I would see that man’s face staring
back at me, pleading for me to help him.

Then I had a
week without the dream. Just when I thought I was safe, just when I believed I
could sleep at night and wake the next morning, shower, dress, grab a latte and
head to the office, just then the dream came again.

I was not in
a seat in the cabin. I was in the cockpit. My hands were locked around the
plane’s wheel. I was watching the white fluffy clouds float by in that
beautiful cerulean sky. When I looked straight ahead I saw that bright green
grass; grass that looked as though it had been painted a blade at a time by a
magical brush. The earth was rushing at me. I was not afraid. I was not
unafraid. I was nothing. It was inevitable and I accepted it. When I met the
ground this time it was not a gentle jolt, it was a punch that drove my entire
body sharply back in the seat. I watched the blades of grass separate and fly
into the air and the rich red earth part like a woman giving birth. Only we
were not being born, we were dying. We were being surrounded by earth and grass
and the yellow orange of flames. I did not wake up. The dream faded and I slept
on.

The next
morning I woke and went to work. I waited. I waited that day, I waited the next
day. I waited a week. I walked in a dream. I worked in a dream. Everyone said I
looked much better. I told them I felt better. They said it must have been a
bug, an allergy, the change of seasons. I agreed. I agreed with every one of
them.

On the way
to work I passed a store with televisions in the window. A crowd of people stood
and stared at the screens, every one turned to the same program. I saw the
flames. I saw the blue sky and the green grass, and the angry red gash in the
earth. Two hundred and seventy nine people died. I watched for a few minutes.
The crowd around me murmured horror, fear, and mourning. I went to work.

That was
three months ago. Last night I dreamed I was standing beside train tracks. I
could see the bright headlight of a train speeding toward me. I did not hear
it. I watched it approach, the light cutting through the black night like a
sword splitting dark velvet. Gray fog like mist drifted along the tracks,
clinging to the ground like hungry fingers. I watched the train speed past and
then it leaped from the tracks as though it could fly like the plane. It left
the tracks and began its journey across the grass and the earth, cutting through
it and leaving a swath of red like an open wound. The cars tumbled one on top
of the other, crumpling like aluminum foil that will be discarded when it is no
longer of any use. The lights behind the windows flickered and some went out.

I woke. I
was not screaming. My heart was not racing. One hundred and eighty eight people
were going to die. Sometime in about a month they would board a train
journeying to homes, on vacations, to jobs, until they would be embraced by the
flames. I knew their names. I knew the names of everyone of them. 

“Aria: Left Luggage” by Geoff Nelder | Between the Beats

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15784860-aria" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="ARIA: Left Luggage" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344026577m/15784860.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15784860-aria">ARIA: Left Luggage</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/863686.Geoff_Nelder">Geoff Nelder</a><br/>

My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1242892183">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />

This is perhaps the most innocently thought provoking book I have ever read. What would happen if everyone began to experience memory loss? How would the world be affected by the gradual but constant loss of days, months, and years by every single person on earth? What happens if we all eventually regressed to infancy? Geoff Nelder attacks this question with fear and humor in “Aria: Left Luggage”. When the crew of the International Space Station finds a metallic suitcase mysteriously stuck in the struts of the space station the first question that arises is how did it get there? Then the inevitable question follows, should they open it or send it back to the labs on Earth to be examined? When the case is finally opened using less than secure procedures a virus is released on Earth that is unlike anything scientists could have imagined. Little by little people begin to lose their memories. Called ARIA, Alien Retrograde Infectious Amnesia, it sweeps the world, seemingly airborne and unavoidable. This is a fascinating tale of how important our memories are and how much we take them for granted. Nelder weaves a subtle tale where recent memories go first but as time goes by more and more memories are lost. Tension builds as younger victims are reduced to childhood and even infancy. Professionals like doctors and scientists regress until they are unable to perform job duties because they have forgotten what they learned to do. Panic ensues as violence and chaos sweep the earth. Amazingly there are pockets of people unaffected by the virus because they were able to avoid contamination. Meanwhile another suitcase appears on the ISS. Will this contain a cure or is there an even more disastrous virus about to be released on Earth? This is not simply a science fiction story. This is a story of the collapse of civilization as we know it and the behaviors of people thrust into unknown territory. The characters are real people confronting a frightening new world, some desperate to retain some semblance of normalcy while others struggle to function in spite of their mental deterioration. How much of our humanity relies on our ability to remember? How far would we go to protect ourselves from a sweeping virus that could eventually take everything that defines us? This is a story that confronts basic issues and makes the reader stop and think. A unique and insightful story it is a must read.<br>

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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4737796-elizabeth-horton-newton">View all my reviews</a>

“Aria: Left Luggage” by Geoff Nelder | Between the Beats

The Writers' Lens: Horton-Newton: Senior citizens are protagonists in...

The latest interview about "View From the Sixth Floor" and "Riddle".



The Writers' Lens: Horton-Newton: Senior citizens are protagonists in...: Welcome to this week's guest, Elizabeth Horton-Newton. She was born and raised in New York City. She began writing when she was a chi...