If you like gunslingers and Westerns. If you like dystopian fiction, Greek vampires and shaman- then my short-story They is a must read. Enjoy!
It begins with a boy searching for his father, a father missing these last two and a half years. It continues with a man living his life one day at a time about to marry his best friend and the love of his life. Somewhere along the line the two meet, this boy and this man; what they discover about each other, and who they really are, will change everything.
Frightful signs in the heavens and on earth...
'A Gathering Darkness' is the exciting first book in the Valerian Series, a contemporary urban fantasy where 16th and 21st centuries collide. What comes after will change everything!
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Most know me as Kaelynn Carroll, Theo's fiance, curator of the New York Museum of Art. What you don't know, is the darkness that stirs within me, a Pandora's Box of hunger and anger and disease.
What began as a simple trip to Britain to catalog a 16th Century Art collection would soon turn into a nightmare beyond anything I could imagine. For you see, between the darkness beneath the museum, and the return trip home, I lived another's life, another reality. Inadvertently I set something free.
Six years in the making- Well worth the wait! Coming late 2020!
Spanish Edition-
La vida de Theo, un ingeniero de diseño de éxito, se pone patas arriba cuando conoce a Phillip, un chico de trece años que vive en las calles de Nueva York cuyo único deseo es encontrar a su padre. Juntos se embarcarán en un viaje épico, descubrirán una historia increíble, emprenderán la misión de encontrar una tierra mágica perdida en la historia y se enfrentarán a un enemigo despiadado dispuesto a hacer lo que haga falta para detenerlos.
Portuguese Edition-
Um novo prodígio, enfatiza E. Finlayson de Staffordshire, UK.Este livro pode igualmente ser apreciado tanto como um livro adulto, quanto juvenil. O elenco é fora do comum e o autor constrói o suspense e a atmosfera da história habilidosamente. Assim como outros críticos, eu dificilmente diria que esta história acaba aqui, e eu espero muito pelo Livro 2. Like other reviewers I could hardly put it down until it was finished, and I hope very much for a Book 2.
Italian Edition-
“Per rinascere, una fenice deve morire!”
Se avessi l’opportunità di cambiare la storia, lo faresti?
Immagina di essere un tredicenne solo al mondo, che vive per le strade della contorta e frenetica New York, di non avere alcun luogo per riposare, alcun luogo da chiamare tuo. Immagina che tutto ciò che sapevi essere vero, la storia della tua famiglia, del tuo paese, la ragione stessa della tua esistenza fosse una bugia, qualcosa che nessun altro al mondo conosce.
A crown with no King, a sword left undrawn. The Summer People tells the tale of heroes and foes, cloaked men and sorcerers, serpent people and the enigmatic Romani. An unlikely band of heroes, young Jake and the Twins Eli and Ash, join forces with a mysterious stranger, Merwin of the Order of Rasputin. Together they seek to recover what was taken; their parents, a Kingdom's lost throne, a hero lost to the Ages, and the truth behind the mysterious Summer People.
A crown with no King, a sword left undrawn.
The Summer People tells the tale of heroes and foes, cloaked men and sorcerers, serpent people and the enigmatic Romani.
An unlikely band of heroes, young Jake and the Twins Eli and Ash, join forces with a mysterious stranger, Merwin of the Order of Rasputin. Together they seek to recover what was taken; their parents, a Kingdom's lost throne, a hero lost to the Ages, and the truth behind the mysterious Summer People.
Leave it to the Serpent people to steal everything, including Jake’s parents. Determined to find them, Jake seeks out his next-door neighbors, the Twin’s Ashley and Elijah. Together with Merwin, a mysterious stranger of the Order of Rasputin, they begin a journey of discovery and fear, of a people called the Summer People, and their age-old enemies the sibilant.
Our story continues, as Jake, Ash and Eli find themselves thrown in the midst of conflict between the Summer People, and the Serpent People. An ancient enemy appears, even as Jake finds out what it takes to be a Hero!
In Book Three, Jake and crew find themselves cast into chaos, as their 'just getting away's' get closer and closer to 'being caught's'. Can Jake find the strength to stand against the Serpent People, and free his parents?
With everything on the line, parent's still missing, and the Cloaked Man stalking them, it will take all the courage Jake, Ash and Eli can muster, to defeat the darkness, and free their friends.
Leave it to the Serpent people to steal everything, including Jake’s parents. Determined to find them, Jake seeks out his next-door neighbors, the Twin’s Ashley and Elijah. Together with Merwin, a mysterious stranger of the Order of Rasputin, they begin a journey of discovery and fear, of a people called the Summer People, and their age-old enemies the sibilant. Narrated by the amazing Rachael Sparrow!
If you had one chance to change anything in your life, would you? If you could turn back time, live one more moment with a beloved parent,visit an old friend- or taken a road left untraveled, would you? If you had a second chance to right a terrible wrong, and perhaps remake the world and your soul in the process, would you grab it?
The Lady caught him just as he passed over- from the bitter cold, into summertime warmth.
Darkness into light.
“You made it,” the Lady cried, cradling him in her arms. Errant strands of platinum-blond hair tickle his face.
The Lady smelled of lavender and rose.
On ‘this side’- wherever ‘this side’ was -the Finger resembled a pillar of rose-colored stone about ten feet tall. It looked like something the Romans would have built back in the day. Ivy crawled its length, from tip to base, like a bushy green serpent.
Jake cried out, remembering what brought him here- how they had just barely escaped the sibilant. His blood turned to ice. “Are we safe,” he asked, struggling to set up. Snow and ice slide from his hair to become tears on his cheeks. “Where’s everyone else?” He couldn’t see anyone but the Lady!
The Lady, smile on her face, leaned back, letting him go.
Gaining his feet, Jake began turning in ever-widening circles, sword banging against his shins. “Where’s Merwin,” he asked. The last time he’d seen the Russian, the man had been holding his own against overwhelming odds- four sibilant and their wolves!
The Lady remained quiet, her sky-blue eyes watching him, hands folded serenely in her lap.
Jake stopped spinning, but his mind didn’t. “I asked you a question,” he said, feeling anger rise. One minute he had been scared to death, now, he just wanted answers. He was about to continue his rant when he realized it was no longer winter, more like spring, or late summer-
It was true! He and the Lady were somewhere else.
But where? The sky and air around him seemed filled with radiant light full of warmth.
“Where are we,” he asked, voice screechy. He needed answers, because the last time the sky looked like this, he was at the Renaissance Festival in White Sulphur Springs, where he and his mom ‘bumped’ into the Lady, and sibilant, for the first time.
“You’re safe,” the Lady replied. The lowering sun caught a glint off one of her earrings, setting her hair afire. “Ash was able to bring you here safely.”
Here. As in no longer ‘there!’
The thought bothered him. Not as much as the thought of Ash being in danger- which she had been.
They all had been!
He came to a standstill, one hand on the hilt of his sword, the other held out before him as if struggling for balance.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, he studied the Lady kneeling before him.
At first glance, it appeared the Lady was wearing the same dress as before when he first ran into her sitting on the steps of her wagon. The dress then, and now, was antique, white, and lacy.
But it was different, too. Every time she moved or straightened the pleats on her skirt, the dress would turn black as ash-cloth.
Sometimes white, sometimes ash-cloth- like she was in mourning or something!
Just one more thing to wonder about! Ever since meeting the Twins, his life had become one big question, followed by a hundred thousand others.
Before he could say or do anything more, a familiar cry cut the air. “Jake! Jake! You’re safe!” It was Ash, running from behind the pillar and towards him. Melanie appeared next, as if riding the coattails of the blond girl’s heels. Both appeared to be out of breath. Ash was in tears.
“You made it,” Melanie cried, falling to her knees. She glanced over at the Lady, then at Jake. She gripped his hand, “There for a moment, I thought- we thought…”
“What?”
Before Melanie could finish, Ash was all over him, wrapping her arms around him like he was going to fly away. “Oh, thank goodness you’re safe,” she said. “I was so scared! I thought I’d lost you!”
“How could you lose me,” Jake asked, hugging her back. Suddenly walking widdershins seemed very dangerous indeed.
“I see how it is.” This time it was Eli, followed by Alex. They too stepped from behind the pillar, like it was a giant elevator letting everyone off. Alex was brushing ice from his hair, Eli holding his injured arm.
“I don’t see why we can’t get a welcome like that as well,” the older brother said.
“You could,” Ash added, “If you weren’t my brother! And you weren’t always such a pain!”
“Guys…” Jake was looking at the three of them, trying to draw their attention to the Lady.
Ash took time enough to glare at her brother, before burying her face in Jake’s neck.
Eli made a face. “Maybe I don’t want all that attention after all,” he said. He was about to say more when he finally saw the Lady. “It’s you,” he said.
“It is wonderful to see everyone,” the Lady intoned. “Please, find your rest here, with me.”
Jake tried to step back from Ash, “I don’t know how you did it,” he said. “And I probably don’t want to know how- but thank you.”
“For what,” Ash murmured, holding on tight.
“For saving us!”
“You’re welcome,” she said, cheeks coloring. “It wasn’t all me though.” She turned a glance first to the Lady, then her mom. She looked like she was about to say more, when Merwin made his entrance, stumbling from behind the pillar-like a drunk, huffing and puffing like a freight train, face as pale as snow.
Upon seeing the Russian, Jake rushed forward, barely catching the old man before he collapsed completely. Alex and Eli were quick on his heels. “Are you hurt,” Jake asked. The old man looked horrible.
“I fine,” Merwin managed, struggling to gain his feet. “I’m just a bit winded, is all.”
“That’s all,” Melanie replied, looking stern and concerned at the same time. “You manage to hold off four sibilant, buying us the time we needed to get away, and all you are is a bit winded?”
Merwin looked at her and shrugged.
“I… I don’t know what to say,” Melanie replied.
“You can say it was a close one,” Merwin added. He almost appeared embarrassed. Inclining his head, he touched Melanie on the arm before making his way over to the Lady. He stopped just in front of her.
The Lady smiled and extended her hand.
The Russian kissed it before sheathing his blade and kneeling.
No one said anything, all eyes on the old man and the Lady.
“I’ve never seen him kneel before anyone,” Ash hissed. Even Eli seemed stunned.
“Are we safe,” the Lady asked. She was looking past Merwin, to Ash. “If four have arrived, then perhaps more may follow?”
Ash seemed hesitant; “I don’t know,” she began. She took a moment, lowered her eyes. “At least I don’t think so,” she added, glancing over at Merwin.
“You don’t think so what,” Jake asked. What was the Lady asking her about, ‘if four, then how many more?’
“Then we need to move,” Melanie said, almost as embarrassed as Ash. “Just in case they can follow us here.”
“Follow us here? Are you telling me those… things might follow us,” Jake cried?
The Lady inclined her head.
“This is crazy,” he added. His world felt so out of control. “This feels like a nightmare I can’t get away from,” he mumbled. Ash grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
“We’ll figure it out,” she said. Nodding towards Merwin and the Lady. “They will figure it out. It’s what they do. You gotta believe me!”
Believe you, I don’t think I even know you anymore! Jake wanted to say.
Recent Review:
5 out of 5 stars- Visually gripping!
March 15, 2019 Format: Paperback
From page one this book grabs you and refuse to let you loose! The scenic descriptions rival any other. I honestly felt like I was dropped into the world of Jake, Ash and Eli taking part in their adventure. I can’t wait for the next part of this amazing tale!
But wait, there’s more! During the beta trials, etc. I was contacted by no less than (4) audio book narrators to turn this little beauty, into an Audible Book! (And it doesn’t even have any ratings yet- it’s so new to the world.) All this in less than a day of it’s ‘non-official’ eBook release! As such, I am pleased to announce I have signed a contract with the amazingly talented Rachael Sparrow to produce The Summer People- Book One. (Currently, it looks like late March or early April 2019 for the Audible Release!)
Rachael Sparrow is a voice actor whose voice has been heard on a variety of national commercials, video games, educational training videos and podcasts, from Amazon, Amazon Alexa, Xfinity and Google, to the Video Game Fairy, Cross of Redemption. Voicing “The Summer People” will mark her debut, full-length audio book.
As a Platinum member of voices.com, Rachael’s work was recently spotlighted, and she was interviewed as a mentor for new voice artists. Rachael is also the proud director of Sing! Voice Studio, where she trains and coaches young singers and actors. Rachael lives with her husband and two children in Bucks County, PA.
I am honored to have her tackle this project, and cannot wait to hear the final product.
Book Description:
Leave it to the Serpent people to steal everything, including Jake’s parents. Determined to find them, he seeks out his next-door neighbors, the Twin’s Ashley and Elijah. Together with Merwin, a mysterious stranger of the Order of Rasputin, they begin a journey of discovery and fear, of a people called the Summer People and their age-old enemies, the sibilant.
“To create peace the Summer People basically gave up their king,” Ashley said. “put in him shackles and chains, carried him off to the Sibilant homeland, a dark and terrible place with lots of screaming and pain. That’s the only way the Sibilant would stop fighting.” She leaned in then, began whispering. “According to stories, he’s still there today, waiting to be freed. Waiting for a hero to be born.” Eyes narrowing, “Waiting times such as these.”
“Time such as these?” he asked. “What’s so special about these times?”
“You,” Ash replied, eyes narrowing. Grabbing his hand. “It’s you, Jake! He’s been waiting all this time for you!”
Bestselling author S.M Muse writes, fun, action-packed adventures full of everyday magic, and darker than Mid-night foes. His characters are clever, fearless, and resilient, but in real life, S.M. is afraid of spiders, things that go bump in the night, and roughing it in the great outdoors. Let’s face it. S.M. wouldn’t last ten minutes i
Bestselling author S.M Muse writes, fun, action-packed adventures full of everyday magic, and darker than Mid-night foes. His characters are clever, fearless, and resilient, but in real life, S.M. is afraid of spiders, things that go bump in the night, and roughing it in the great outdoors. Let’s face it. S.M. wouldn’t last ten minutes in one of his books.
S.M Muse is best known for his Heir of Nostalgia fantasy series, and soon to be Urban Contemporary thriller, The Summer People.
Visit him at http://www.heirofnostalgia@gmail.com