Author Spotlight – Rebekah Dodson

Introducing Rebekah Dodson

Rebekah Dodson is a prolific word weaver of romance, fantasy, and science fiction novels. Her works include the series Postcards from Paris, The Surrogate, The Curse of Lanval series, several stand alone novels, and her upcoming YA novel, Clock City. She has been writing her whole life, with her first published work of historical fiction with 4H Clubs of America at the age of 12, and poetry at the

age of 16 with the National Poetry Society. With an extensive academic background including education, history, psychology and English, she currently works as a college professor by day and a writer by night.

Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.

Hello! I am a world traveler and history buff who started writing about 20 years ago, and publishing just 5 years ago. I dabble in a little of everything: romance, fantasy, science fiction, and time travel. I enjoy playing piano and have a band with my two teenage kids, and we are huge video game enthusiasts!

Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?

Beyond the Mask is an anthology put together by Fiction-Atlas Publishing, and I’m excited to work with an excellent team of writers! This anthology benefits Alex’s Lemonade Stand, which donates money to aid families who have children with cancer. It’s an important cause I’m passionate about, and I’m excited to donate my story, Super Sam, to this project.

Super Sam is about a lonely housewife who, after a car accident, discovers her husband’s “lab work” has given her super powers. Among super sense and strength, she also developed kinetic energy weapons. When a drug dealer moves on to her street and tempts her teenage son, Sam realizes she must jump into action before someone else’s baby is harmed.

Who is your intended readership?

My readers are anyone that enjoys action, suspense, and rich, detailed dialogue. I love to share worlds with readers as well.

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I started writing when I was about 12. I was home schooled, and my mother often let me choose between language arts or math. I picked language arts every time! I was an avid reader and enjoyed writing my very own “fan fic” about characters from Lord of the Rings, Anne of Green Gables, and Chronicles of Narnia.

By the time I was 16 I had already written a novel (though it is now lost to the ages on some abandoned 3.5″ disk!), and after graduate school at the age of 30, I published five books which eventually become the Postcards from Paris series. In the last five years, I have written and published 25 novels and seven short stories.

Do you have a favorite author, or writing inspiration?

One of my favorite authors right now is Cassandra Clare. Her ability to craft another world in her urban fantasy, and especially her historical fantasy, is just amazing. I aspire to write like her. I am also a huge fan of Charlaine Harris (of True Blood fame) and her first-person story telling!

What advice would you give beginning writers?

My advice would be before you finish your novel, connect with as many people in your genre as you can. Social media is a great tool for this! As soon as you finish your novel, however, make sure you give it to professionals. Hire a good editor and a professional cover designer. Don’t ever try to edit yourself!

Do you have any amusing writing stories or anecdotes to share?

My most recent releases, the science fiction/dystopian series Life After Us, all started because I heard the song “Leaving on the Jet Plane” about four years ago. I had the image in my head of boyfriend leaving his girlfriend behind in the Portland, Oregon (my home state) airport. Then I thought: what if the airport is attacked? Blown up? And the boyfriend is to blame? It snowballed from there…until I mentioned it to my best friend at the time, who made it even worse by giving me idea after idea after idea. Over the next 9 months the entire series was written, all becuase of a little song and a golden idea.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Any hobbies?

I play piano and also like to play dungeons and dragons. I’m a huge fan of video games such as Tomb Raider, Skyrim, and Fallout, and I’m really looking forward to the new Kingdom of Hearts release! In my other off time, when I’m not teaching, I love to study history. I will watch any documentary and often get lost in TEDtalks about different historical issues, specifically British or medieval.

What’s your next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?

My next release is the final book in the Life After Us series, Daisy Song, which is out on February 12nd with Happy Ever After Publishing. I’ll be putting out some romance thrillers and contemporary romance after that, but I also plan in completing my time travel series, The Curse of Lanval, in 2019. Stay tuned on my website for more release dates!

Beyond the Mask: A Fiction-Atlas Superhero Anthology

There’s so much more to each hero beyond the mask…

Fighting crime is not always a walk in the park.

The power to protect citizens comes at a price… your identity.

How do you live an ordinary life when you can do such extraordinary things?

All proceeds from the print and digital sales of this book will be donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, an organization that is a superhero to the many children diagnosed with childhood cancers. ALS’s mission is to change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.

Buy Now: E-Book

Author Pages:

Amazon

Where to find Rebekah Dodson:

Website (Rebekah Dodson), Twitter, Instagram, Newsletter, Facebook

Character Spotlight – Alexandra St. James (from “Tattoos” by Stacy Overby)

I have to say, I love Alexandra St. James. She stars opposite Eli Thorson in Tattoos. Alexandra, but she goes by Alex, is a stubborn and strong-willed woman—just the kind of woman to stand up to Eli and not brook any of his nonsense. She’s calm under pressure, intelligent, and good-hearted.

Alex was born to mid-level United Earth Government officials. They had just enough clout to mean something, but not enough to be scrutinized at all times. This turned out to be a

good thing, despite their efforts to advance their careers, because from a child on, it was clear Alex was an empath. Her mother had the genetics for it, but her empathic abilities were so minor as to be ignored by the UEG. Alex, on the other hand, not so much. She showed exceptional sensitivity even as a child. By the time she was twelve years old, her parents could not hide her abilities anymore, particularly with all the testing and empathophobia gripping the citizens and UEG. They did manage to find a corrupt empath regulation official who agreed to place the empath tattoo on her hip instead of on her arm. He also allowed Alex’s parents to have the tattoo worked into an image where it wasn’t quite so obvious.

Alex, with the help of her parents and their efforts to shield her, managed to hide her abilities until adulthood. She finished her compulsory education and went to the local university where she studied medicine. Alex figured she’d have a good chance of hiding her empathic abilities some with a career in medicine. She did well in medical school and got a job at New Washington Hospital. Alex did well hiding her empathic abilities there until an accident happened. A patient assaulted several nurses and aids. Alex stepped in trying to calm the patient down, but to no avail. However, security staff noticed Alex’s efforts and started asking a few too many pointed questions.

With her secret out, the UEG required she consent to the second tattoo marking her strength as an empath. Thankfully the same corrupt UEG official provided the second tattoo. He couldn’t keep it off her arm but moved it high on her shoulder instead. Again, he also allowed them to have the mark worked into a larger tattoo.

Alexandra is one of the stronger empaths the systems under UEG control has ever seen. She has to regularly work to block out the emotional auras of those around her or she’s overwhelmed with their emotions. This is why she finds Eli so comforting—she can’t sense his emotions. The prevailing theory is that evolution has maintained a genetic balance by creating a small subset of beings who can stymie some empaths, though the exact mechanism is still unknown. Another down side to her strength as an empath is the level of fear and hatred for empaths in UEG controlled space. She would regularly be a target for these hate groups if her secret were known.

Overall, Alex is an interesting mix of strength and fragility. She sees the inherent good in people but isn’t afraid to be hard when needed. Yet, each time she has to be hard, it crashes back down on her emotionally afterward. Her ultimate goal is to see empaths guaranteed the same rights as all other sentient beings within the UEG. Not just on paper, but in practice as well. To that end, she supports what her foster parents, Jeremiah and Ruby, do to promote civil unrest and dissidence in support of this.

So, there you have her. Alex St. James. Now, check out her role in Tattoos and let me know what you think of her!

“Tattoos” By Stacy Overby

One hushed cry in the middle of the night and Eli Thorson’s life unravels. A highly trained Black Ops specialist, he is used to danger, but Eli’s path forces him to confront the illusions he’s been taught his whole life — ones that make him question all the good he thought he was doing.
Unable to work for a command that defiles the oaths he swore, he works to untangle the web of lies and deceit he finds woven throughout his worlds. The tattooed marks of his profession run more than skin deep. As a Specialist, it is his duty to protect the people, the laws, and all the United Earth Government stands for, even if it means taking down the entire Black Ops division to do it.

Buy Now:

• E-Book (Amazon)
• E-Book (Smashwords)
• Paperback

Someone Else’s Words – Levar Burton on “Readers”

Author Spotlight – Jacob Rundle

Introducing Jacob Rundle

I proudly served in the United States Navy for eight years. After my time as a Navy Sailor, I decided to move to New Orleans to start a new life. I worked mundane, retail jobs in the Crescent City until I decided to pursue my passion of writing. And now, I am finishing up my debut novel, and it’ll be released February 2019.

Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.

I love everything to do with the Fantasy genre. The world has so much going on currently, and we all need an escape. I don’t love just one sub-genre of Fantasy. They all have a place in my heart.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?

My debut Novel, Augur of Shadows, is a twist on the idea that the universe is maintained by ethereal beings who are omniscient. My main character, Henri, starts having prophetic dreams of an evil the predates anything anyone or any being has ever encountered. The Primordial Evil makes its way to the Earth to devour it in entirety. With the guidance from other spiritual beings and deities, Henri and his two friends, Etlina and Siméon, venture on an adventure to complete a task that will bring forth an event that’ll aid them with the future evil.
My writing process is quite different than other writers. I outline the big ideas and characters, and while I am writing, I allow the story to flow and to take its own form. I always keep in mind, “if I was in this world, how would it go”.

Who is your intended readership?

Personally, my intended readership would be everyone. Now, officially, my novel falls under the Young Adult/New Adult areas, so the age range from 12-25 years-old.

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

Growing up, I always had so many stories in my head. My mother always wanted my brothers and me to embrace our imagination. I allowed my own personal self-doubt and fear prevent me from writing the novel that I have always had in my head. Now, I am embracing my passion for creative writing, and I have learned so much about myself.
Since I have embraced my love for putting words to paper, I am always jotting down notes about new stories, characters, etc.

Do you have a favorite author, or writing inspiration?

I have alway loved Stephen King, Anne Rice, JK Rowling. Currently, I am really enjoying the works of Jenna Moreci and Vivien Reis. They have written so beautiful work.

What advice would you give beginning writers?

The biggest piece of advice would be to just start writing those words. Your first draft will not be the best, but who cares. Getting that first draft completed is an amazing accomplishment, and you should be proud. Don’t worry about editing, revising, or anything else you worry about. Secondly, you must believe in yourself. You can do it. You can write the story in your head. Thirdly, surround yourself with positive and motivating people.

Do you have any amusing writing stories or anecdotes to share?

As I was editing Augur of Shadows, I got into my main character’s mind, and I started to think that I was Henri, realizing that that wasn’t the case at all.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Any hobbies?

I love to beta read for other authors. It motivates me to better my writing and critical analyzing skills. Besides reading, I love to study foreign languages and cultures. There is so much knowledge in this world, why wouldn’t I want to learn it all?

What’s your next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?

I am currently writing Book 2 of the Destined Series, and I am participating in National Novel Writing Month, and my project will be the first book in a new series that I will be putting out later next year.

Augur of Shadows: Book 1 of the Destined Series

When grief stricken seventeen year-old Henri starts having prophetic dreams that tell of a future where he and his two friends, Etlina and Siméon, are burdened with the responsibility to bring about a cataclysmic event in order to save the entirety of existence from the primordial evil. Through the guidance of otherworldly beings, Henri and his friends venture on their paths to fulfill what is needed to ensure the survival of the universe.

With their intertwining endeavors, Henri and the others venture on

exploits through lands of myth and mystery. In the process of fulfilling their obligations, they begin to form a much-needed bond, which helps propel them forward to do what is needed to guarantee existence in the future. Will Henri and his friends achieve what is necessary to save the entire universe and reality itself?

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Author Pages:

Amazon

Where to find Jacob Rundle:

Website (The Writer’s Alley), Twitter, Instagram, Blog (Author Jacob John Rundle Blog), Facebook

Someone Else’s Words – C.S. Lewis on Random

Someone Else’s Words – Dr Edwin Land on Creativity

Someone Else’s Words – HP Lovecraft on Writers

Someone Else’s Words – Stan Lee on Reading

Someone Else’s Words – Ralph Waldo Emerson on Writers

Someone Else’s Words – Albert Einstein on Reading