Love or Hate Anthologies?

Do you like short stories?

When it comes to writers, it seems like they either go long, or go short. It's rare you have someone who's mastered the art of the short story and the full length novel.

I was always a long distance writer, but could totally appreciate the short story. About 8 years ago I was introduced to flash fiction. (Stories that are 100 to 1000 words long--a paragraph to 2.5 pages.) I was fascinated. It was also my gateway drug to the short story realm.

Fast forward a bit... This year I'm contributing to my 7th and 8th anthologies--one of which I'm super excited to introduce today! (Click on the BOOKS to see the other publications.)

Anthology #7 is one most of you have probably seen about the interwebs, but if not, here it is:

The competition was stiff to get into this anthology, and only 10 pieces were accepted. We (the 10 authors) have started a blog all about the awesomeness of speculative fiction. (Check it out!) We'll be participating in the A to Z Challenge there and may just blow your mind. (In a good way.)

For fun, I thought I'd share a teaser here today from my contribution:

The Mirror People

We think no one is watching behind closed doors, but what if they are? Meet the Mirror People. 

Excerpt:

Every day I look into the eyes of a stone-cold killer. Sometimes he’s straightening his tux bowtie before a fancy shin-dig. Sometimes he’s grinning madly while brandishing a knife. Sometimes he’s spattered in blood.

The point is, it’s my job to look into his eyes, day after day, unable to raise the alarm or warn his victims—like the middle aged woman he’s just finished off—because I inhabit the world on the other side of the mirror.

I’m Jak Ralston’s reverse identity, also known as Jak Ralston. His prisoner.

He wipes his blade clean having already sheared off his trophy, a finger, and turns away from the mirror to the mess of a hotel room. I relax. My shoulders ache from the tension. He is always intense. Always serious. Always angry. But not the explosive kind of angry, the cool, I’m-going-to-rip-your-eyeballs-out-in-your-sleep kind of angry (while he tells you how lovely you look in gray). He’s calculating. Terrifying.

I stand on the other side of the mirror, mimicking his movements like my life depends on it, because it does. Mr. Murder is my twid (twin identity), me in another realm, and if I break from being his reflection while anyone is watching (including him), we’ll both keel over and die. No matter how much I despise him, I’m not ready to die—like Susan, the mirror woman he’s just murdered in my realm. Facing her now, it’s all I can do not to slam my fists into the mirror and scream, but destroying myself won’t bring her back...

Coming May 3, 2016

Preorder HERE

 

Now let's award a WINNER!

Last week Alysia S. Knight shared with us AURORA RISING, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win an eBook AND a super cool bookmark.

The Game:

1. I’ve climbed to the top of the Sidney Australia Bridge.
2. Took my son on his first deer hunt. He shot a big buck and I did a controlled slide with a rope to lower the big deer over a 40 foot shale drop off because my son was afraid the antlers would break if we let it roll.

3. I’m preparing to climb Denali.  

The lie: #3. Alysia likes hiking but prefers warm weather--and she doesn't want to hike anything that steep.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Christine Rains!

Congrats, Christine!

And that's it for this week. There will be another fun Truth or Lie game next week for super cool prizes. Go check out the Parellels blog eh? Or order yourself an awesome anthology.

Do you read short stories? When was the last time you read an anthology? 

Funny, Deadly Love, and Alternate Realities

So, Valentines Day. Do you hate it? Do you love it?

Allow me to make it a little more loveable for you:

Source

Source

Source
(Replace that with cheese and I'm all over it.)

Source

 

Now how about a giveaway?

Last week R.W. Hert shared with us DAEMARKIN, DEMON'S VOW, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win an eBook.

The Game:

1. I climbed a waterfall barefoot and when I reached the top gorged myself on wild raspberries. Best raspberries I’ve ever had (and the most awesome climb I’ve ever done). 

2. I ran over a mile in under 4 minutes because I thought I was being chased by a mountain lion. 

3. I was dropped down a twenty foot hole and left to get out on my own. 

The lie: #3. My brothers did dig a twenty foot hole in our back yard, but they didn’t bury me in that one. Instead they dug another hole, (one I could climb out of), convinced me to climb in, put boards over the top and covered it in dirt, then left me behind. After a while I realized they’d run off and unburied myself. Guess that makes me a vampire!

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Diedre Knight!

Congrats, Diedre!

And now for this week's feature...

In a world where everyone has talents, every child is tested at puberty, carefully screened to help guide them into the field that would coincide with their natural strength and interest. Degrees of talents normally range from low to average, but every once in a while one will spike off the charts, these special few usually become Guardians, protectors of the people.

For nearly two centuries guardians protected from natural disasters, accidents and when someone turn evil. Now guardians face their strongest foe, a guardian strength talent that is gathering a force of other strong corrupt talents to help him wipe out the governing council and the guardians so they can take over the world, turning it into a place where the strongest talents rule and the weaker would be subjected to serve them.

Aurora Rising takes you into the future and off Earth. Aurora Straye is thrust into the role of being the protector she was born to be and has to stop a man of immense power who would enslave everyone to feed his ego.

Taking her place as a guardian also lines Aurora up with the man she’s destined to love forever – if they can survive.

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

I grew up in a small town in Wyoming loving the outdoors, sports, art, and reading Hardy Boys books. After reading them all at least a half dozen times, I started writing my own stories.

Thirty years ago I married a wonderful, honorable man. I’m mother of five children and grandmother of six boys. I love traveling. Through my husband’s work and vacations, I have visited much of the United States, all over Eastern Europe, Canada, Mexico, China, Thailand, Cambodia and Australia, giving me many intriguing locations and experiences for my stories.

I am a storyteller. I write the classic hero story because I think there’s a need for more heroes, love, and adventure in our lives. I’m not out to change the world with my writing; I’m just hoping to make your day a little better.

Hope you enjoy.

Alysia S. Knight

Alysia gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to an eBook of AURORA RISING (Open Internationally) and a FANCY bookmark for U.S. residents only.

You have until Tuesday, February 16 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on February 17.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I’ve climbed to the top of the Sidney Australia Bridge.
2. Took my son on his first deer hunt. He shot a big buck and I did a controlled slide with a rope to lower the big deer over a 40 foot shale drop off because my son was afraid the antlers would break if we let it roll.
3. I’m preparing to climb Denali. 

So sleuths, which is the lie? What's the funniest Valentine you've ever seen? Do you celebrate this holiday? Do you like stories about alternate realities or star-crossed lovers?