1. Kudos to Laura Johnston and Donna K. Weaver! These ladies set up Authors United Against Child Slavery.
It's inconceivable that someone could hurt a child, but sadly, it happens every day. There isn't much we can do alone, but united, we can do something. We can donate books, buy books, and/or spread the word.
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| Buy/ Donate/ Share!! |
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| My son, Carter, in the navy shirt. His friends and fellow scholars, Hunter and Troy. |
3. The Seckman family has a new member. Meet Wilbur, the lab rat. He was my oldest son's psychology test rat. Wilbur's college days were over, so my son had the choice of bringing him home or euthanizing him. The rat comes to his name for crying out loud- he had to bring him home!!
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| Wilbur Seckman |
Welcome Chrys Fey!!
Thank you for letting me steal your blog for the day, Elizabeth.
Since I’m releasing two
short stories nearly at the same time, I decided to put both of my first
paragraphs up for a battle.
First paragraph from
Ghost of Death:
I’m
dead.
Jolie Montgomery didn’t
know how she died, but all of a sudden she stood over her body in an alley. Her
dark hair swam in a pool of blood. Her pale skin glowed in the moonlight,
making her look like a porcelain doll, and her blue eyes shone with the metallic
sheen of death. Across her throat was a deep slash. No blood pumped from the
slit in her flesh as all her blood pooled outside her body.\
VS.
The first paragraph from
Witch of Death:
The moon was a ceramic
bowl overflowing with milk in the amethyst sky, and all the stars were sugar
crystals. At three o’clock in the morning, the suburban neighborhood slept with
its manicured lawns, matching mailboxes, and cars parked in spotless driveways.
All the residents were asleep in their beds, dreaming dreams of beauty,
emptiness, and horror. Outside, insects hummed a chorus of noise. Even the
frogs roared.
VOTE for your favorite in the comments.
Title: Ghost of Death
Author: Chrys Fey
Genre: Supernatural/Suspense
Format: eBook Only
Page Count: 41 (short story)
Page Count: 41 (short story)
Release Date: April 22nd, 2015
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Blurb:
Jolie Montgomery, a twenty-one-year-old woman, wakes up
in an alley next to her corpse. She has no memories of her murder or the night
she died. She didn’t even see the killer’s face before he or she took her life.
Wanting justice, Jolie seeks answers in the only way a ghost can...by stalking
the lead detective on the case.
Avrianna Heavenborn is determined to find the person
responsible for a young woman’s death. She gets closer to the killer’s identity
with every clue she uncovers, and Jolie is with her every step of the way.
But if they don’t solve her murder soon, Jolie will be an
earth-bound spirit forever.
Book Links:
Available
for PRE-ORDER:
Blurb:
Detective Reid Sanders doesn’t believe in the
supernatural, but when he’s faced with a crime scene that defies the laws of
nature, he has no other choice but to start believing. And solving a magical
murder involves working with a witch.
Liberty Sawyer embodies the look of your classic evil
witch, so, it’s no surprise when she uncovers the murderer is a witch that she
becomes Reid’s number one suspect. If she can’t convince him otherwise, more
people could lose their lives to dark magic, including her.
Book
Links:
BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30
Seconds. She is currently working on the sequel to Hurricane Crimes that’ll
serve as book two in the Disaster Crimes series.
When Fey was six years old, she realized her dream of
being a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve,
she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later
rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next
hurricane to come her way.
Will have to look into the child slavery book/donation drive.
ReplyDeletePointless fact: My maiden name is Carter and my niece named hr son Carter, after her dad (my brother) to keep the name in the family.
Chrys: I vote for Ghosts of Death! :)
Have a great weekend. X
shahwharton.com
Thank you for voting! I hope you enjoyed both paragraphs and both blurbs, though. ;)
DeleteShah, I took the name from Dr. Carter on ER from the 90's, so I was using a last name too.
Deleteyer son is soo photogenic
ReplyDeleteThanks Mac!
DeleteThe lab rat at home? That's a good one. I'd still be freaking out. Will find out about the book drive. It's a damn good cause.
ReplyDeleteHe's a sweet rat. Only the tail is creepy. Really creepy.
DeleteYou're a brave woman to let a rat in the house.
ReplyDeleteI like the opening to Ghost of Death best.
Thanks, Alex! I admit that the opening paragraph for Ghost of Death is more exciting.
DeleteI am brave. I deserve a medal :)
DeleteThe name Wilbur always makes me think of the pig from Charlotte's Web. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Chrys - I vote for Ghost of Death.
Thanks for voting, Madeline! It's nice to see Ghost of Death getting all the votes because I worked extra hard to make it good. The opening to Witch of Death is a bit boring but the story has better prose, I feel. :)
DeleteThat's exactly who he was named after Madeline, because he was saved from certain death.
DeleteThat's an awesome cause. Child slavery makes me sad.
ReplyDeleteHi, Wilbur! I'm glad your son brought him home.
Thank you for hosting me today, Elizabeth! :)
So glad to have you over Chrys! Thanks for holding down the fort while I was assimilating kids back home for the summer.
DeleteVery brave to put one of your openings against the other, but then I think that is you - brave. Vote goes to 'Ghost of Death' by a whisker.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Roland! I figured that it would interest people and create conversation.
DeleteI agree that Wilbur should have a comfy retirement after his days of tough work! Have a great weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteI vote for Ghost of Death. Both openings are fantastic, but I love the image and the mystery of the first one.
Thank you for voting, Christine! :) It seems Ghost of Death is in the lead with all the votes so far.
DeleteYes, he does Christine! Hope you had a great weekend too. :)
DeleteCongratulations to your son - you should be a proud mom! And Wilbur is cute. I'm sure he'll love his new home.
ReplyDeleteCongratulation, Chrys!
Thank you, Theresa!
DeleteWilbur is becoming more comfortable every day. He used to sit on your lap like a good, scared rat, but now he likes to run all over.
DeleteBoth are great openings, #1 gets my vote though.
ReplyDeleteA rat and a cat, hmm is that going to end well? lol
Thank you, Pat! And thanks for voting. :)
DeleteSo far, it's the dog who has the problem. He gets his muzzle bitten nightly.
DeleteWitch of Death is my vote! Both are fascinating, though.
ReplyDeleteAw, Wilber is adorable. Congrats to your son, that's awesome!
Yay! A vote for Witch of Death! I love both of my stories. Ghost of Death has my reader's heart, but Witch of Death has my writer's heart. :)
DeleteHe is a cute little rat!
Deleteso psyched for Chrys!! :) and Elizabeth you should be so proud of your boys! I'm so happy Wilbur has a home, he's adorable! and must be super smart if he knows his name :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth! :)
DeleteHe is pretty smart for a rodent!
DeleteI would hate to be a lab rat. I don't blame your son one bit for bringing his home. I don't think I could kill it either.
ReplyDeleteAs for the competitors... give me Ghost of Death.
Thanks for voting between my stories' openings, Robin!
DeleteThere is no way I could kill him. I'm proud of my son for rescuing him.
DeleteCongratulations to your son. Oh, I like Wilbur. Of course 'you wanna go where everybody knows your name', right?
ReplyDeleteLove the comment competition from Chrys! I'll go with Ghost of Death, for 300 please!
Thank you, ladies.
I'm thrilled you like the competition, Dixie! :)
DeleteCheers! One of my favorite shows!
DeleteAw, I'm glad Wilbur found a new home!
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna vote for Ghost of Death. I like the graphic imagery in that one :)
I like dark themes so graphic imagery is something I do whenever I can. ;)
DeleteI'm glad to have him. He's a friendly rodent.
DeleteI vote for the first paragraph from Witch of Death - it immediately made me want to read more. Great job, Chrys!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, you have to read of my psych lab exploits. Your son would appreciate it.
http://www.cherdoontheflipside.com/2014/04/gary-cherdo-go-to-psych-lab.html
Yay! I was really starting to worry about Witch of Death. ;P
DeleteI can't wait, Cherdo. Headed there now!
DeleteMy vote is for Witch of Death! Both intros are cool, but that one I like a little better for whatever reason!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy your son decided to keep Wilbur instead of having him euthenized. Rats are wonderful pets. I had one and he was so smart and cuddly. :)
Anything that hurts children bums me out. What a great cause!
Another one for Witch of Death. Thank you, Madilyn! :)
DeleteThank goodness you saved poor Wilbur! Rats can make great pets.
ReplyDeleteI'll vote for Ghost of Death's first paragraph. They're both wonderful, but that one captures my attention right away.
Thanks, Cherie. It's interesting to see which one captures who.
DeleteCongrats Chrys and all the best with your books. You have loads of reasons to celebrate Liz and that's your handsome son huh?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sheena-kay!
DeleteYup, I vote Ghost of Death as the best paragraph but they both sound good stories. I have a friend locally who loves rats, we all think she's nuts. So Liz, are you falling in love with your rat? 'Cos if so!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you think both sound good, Jo. :)
DeleteIt is inconceivable that anyone would hurt a child!!!! Great Cause!!! Hello Wilbur!
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats to Chrys. Her book sounds amazing!!
Thank you, Cathrina! :D
DeleteChrys - I vote for Ghost of Death. How could 'I'm dead' not win as an opening to anything!!?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth - I'm trying to work out why psychology needs a test rat - do they counsel him on his reluctance to use his wheel? :-D
LOL! Good point. ;)
DeleteCongrats to your Future Scholar son! I'm normally not a fan of rats, but Wilbur is a cutie. Who could say no to him? Congrats to Chrys on her new releases! They both sound great, but I like the first para better. Have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lexa! :)
DeleteElizabeth- Congrats to Carter! Wilbur sounds like he's very smart to respond to his name :)
ReplyDeleteChrys- I vote for Witch of Death.
Thank you for voting for Witch of Death, Elizabeth! :)
DeleteLove that line. That's quite the hook. congrats to Chrys!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you, Elizabeth, for mentioning the Operation Underground Railroad campaign.
Thank you, Donna! :)
DeleteI vote for Ghost of Death, although I also like #2.
ReplyDeleteI would keep that rat, too.
Thank you, Medeia! I was curious to which way you'd vote. :)
DeleteFighting against child slavery is a great cause. I joined their facebook page and would like to donate something in the very near future.
ReplyDeleteAs for which opining I liked more: Ghost of Death. :-)
Well, I think it's official...Ghost of Death has the best opening. :)
DeleteCongrats to your son. How cool is that? I just finished Ghost of Death. It was awesome...and it isn't a long book. It was so good, I read it in two treadmill sessions! I even went a little over on my treadmill time, which is always a sign that a book is good.
ReplyDeleteYour comment made my day, Stephanie. Thank you so much! :D
DeleteWhat a great cause! Congrats to your son, and to Chrys as well :-) The rat is cute!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, this is hard. Because, I like the fast pace of the first one, taking us right in to the action, and, I like the slow very visual ethereal quality to the second one. I think I'll have to go with the first, because it's the one I'd more likely read from the blurb. Congratulations Chrys!
ReplyDeleteI saw this donation on Alex's blog as well and went to the link but can't find anywhere to donate a book! I might have been brain dead at the time. Have to say I LOVE that he brought his rat home, especially since it's named Wilbur. My daughter brought home the "science class" python one summer. It was an experience. Lisa @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
Oh no, not a snake. I don't know what I'd have said to that. Especially if the snake had to be fed live critters.
DeleteI'll email you with where to donate books.
Congratulations to your son, Elizabeth. He really must be kind hearted to adopt Wilbur. I hope Wilbur is a well-behaved family member. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDelete