#Excerpt from BIRTH OF AN ASSASSIN @Stone_Rik #AmReading #Thriller #Suspense

Otto’s mind takes him back to finding his mother at the Serbsky Institute

Inmates had jittered and made signs at him as he made his way through the corridors. “Please help me,” he heard from some and, “They have me here because of my political beliefs,” from others. They’d reached out to him as he passed, and his insides had quaked. With the stench of piss and shit everywhere, revulsion filled him. But he’d felt no compassion for these people. He hadn’t given a fuck about them. Only his mother mattered.

“This way,” the nurse had said. “She’s through here.”

He found her in a large open room. She sat on the only piece of furniture in it. The chair was pushed back against the wall and she rocked slightly, staring blankly into nothingness. Spittle leaked from her mouth and she was barely recognizable as the woman he loved. Her long, luxurious, oily-black hair had been shaven to the skin. Her teeth had somehow been removed and her formerly full face had caved in because of it. Like a corpse, she was yellowed and sunken. Only 47 years old and she looked twice that. He’d wished he hadn’t found her and cried bitterly – in front of those sadistic bastards that called themselves nurses.

More like prison guards. And in reality, that’s what they were. Soviet dissidents ended up in places like Serbsky, out of harm’s way. In mental hospitals where they could be abused and broken. Somewhere to extinguish credibility. He’d seen those inmates beaten, teeth punched or kicked from their faces. And if they still didn’t bow to the might of the people, enforced lobotomy wasn’t unheard of as a final step.

With desperation, he’d hoped his mother hadn’t suffered such cruelty.

*

And now, somehow, she’d made it through to 60. Why, oh why had she lasted this long? All those years, and still she rocked on that old wooden chair and stared at nothing. How could life be this cruel?

He remembered the first time he’d visited the asylum in full Spetsnaz uniform. After calling several of the nurses together, he said, “I know you all have military connections. On that basis, I won’t explain this uniform. Each of you has some sort of responsibility to my mother. The good news is you’re about to receive an extra income. The bad news: if you don’t look after my mother properly and see she gets the kind of care and nourishment she needs, I may have to call on my KGB colleagues. I hope we all understand what that could mean.”

Memories dissolved as he entered the large open room. On his instructions, her hair had been left to grow. But now it was too long and no one had shown it a comb. Still she rocked, gazing into nothingness with the expression of a lunatic on her face.

The burly warder turned to leave but Otto grabbed his arm. “We have an agreement. Next time I come here, I expect my mother to be presentable. Look at her, her hair hasn’t had attention for who knows how long. She needs a bath and a change of clothes. She looks like she’s just puked down them.”

“I err…,” the nurse spluttered with a voice too high for his size.

“Fuck you and your errs. Why do I pay you people so much? I’ll say this once. If I’m not satisfied with the way she looks next time I come, I’ll personally see to it that you have teeth to match hers. And each time after that, I’ll take you a step further down that road. Clear enough?”

“Yes, Captain. I’ll see to it myself.”

The nurse left and Otto looked at his mother. His heart brimmed. The only woman he’d ever loved – could ever love. He got down on his honkers, and took her hand. No sign of recognition, but at least she didn’t pull away.

“Hello, Mother, how are you today?”

Set against the backdrop of Soviet, post-war Russia, Birth of an Assassin follows the transformation of Jez Kornfeld from wide-eyed recruit to avenging outlaw. Amidst a murky underworld of flesh-trafficking, prostitution and institutionalized corruption, the elite Jewish soldier is thrown into a world where nothing is what it seems, nobody can be trusted, and everything can be violently torn from him.

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Genre - Thriller, Crime, Suspense

Rating – R

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Website http://rik-stone.simdif.com

@JWMefford on Doing What Makes You Happy #SummerOfGreed #Thriller #Giveaway

Where do you get support from? Do you have friends in the industry?

I’ve never been around people in one industry that can be so supportive. At times I see their kindness, other times blunt, straight-forward feedback that will light your skin on fire. But when they’re in my inner circle, I listen and I trust them.

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

I can get by on five hours of sleep a night, but I’m much more productive and with eight, although that rarely happens.

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

I’d worked in the corporate sector for twenty-plus years and during that time witnessed some pretty disturbing things. Deep down, I knew what motivated far too many acts in the corporate world: greed. Almost subconsciously, I was driven to write a novel about how people were being treated like inanimate objects, and then I interwove a sizzling suspense, mixed in an emotional connection with the main characters and a slice of romance. And I had to add a dash of sarcasm here and there. That’s just me.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

I honestly don’t have a great deal of time to relax. For instance, I love to work out. It clears my mind, provides me a rational perspective on things in my life, and has very often allowed my mind to go places I’d never dream up staring at a computer screen. When I’m truly relaxing, I enjoy reading a book with my feet burrowed in warm sand, my kids giggling in the background and waves roaring and then sizzling once the water recedes back into the abyss. I guess you can tell I love the beach.

Do you have any tips on how writers can relax?

Move to Colorado? If that’s not possible, or your thing, then do what makes you happy. Sounds simple, I realize, but I think we authors are among the worst of folks who over-analyze even the most simplistic decisions. So, I guess I’m saying that to win the anxiety battle, you need to keep yourself from red-lining within five days of a vacation. So, try to live in the moment. When you feel good about your writing progress, allow your mind to be worry-free during your relaxation task, whether that’s reading, going for a bike ride, taking a jog, lying in the snow and making a snow angel, going to the mall to people watch. Be kind to yourself. If you’re not your biggest fan, no one will volunteer to take that spot.

What’s your most embarrassing moment of your life?

I was the best man at my friend’s wedding a few years ago. It was a monster event, with friends and family flying in from all over the country, and a few from around the world. At the rehearsal dinner, my buddy’s Dad asked if I’d give a toast. I instantly looked around and saw about a hundred fifty people. Let me remind you, that’s one hundred fifty people just at the rehearsal dinner. To further set the scene, amongst the crowd was my buddy’s old girlfriend. I know, it sounds like a romantic comedy in the making. It gets better.

She had on a red dress. And, she wouldn’t sit down. For some odd reason, as my heart started hammering my chest and my palms got sweaty, I stared at this girl, who was socializing with everyone in the room. I then took another look at my friend’s Dad, who gave me the signal.

Despite my mental urging for the ex-girlfriend to take a seat, I stood up and dinged the glass with my fork. I cleared my throat, raised my glass and said, “To David and Renee!” You could have heard a fly buzzing hundred feet away—for about ten seconds. Then, I saw one hundred fifty faces explode with laughter. I had no clue why they were laughing.

Then, I turned to my table and shrugged my shoulders. The response from my closest friends and family ranged from crying (from laughing to hard) to crying (for feeling sorry for me). I don’t remember saying Renee, but apparently I said it. My buddy was marrying Jennie.

The good news is, they’re still married today, and still friends of mine. They’re some of the best people you’ll ever meet.

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?

Maya Angelou touched many people during her life, and I read a quote from her this past week that hit me on so many levels.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

That’s why I write. To make people feel…not just one feeling, but many. That’s the meaning of life.

What is your favorite color?

Green. I used to have greed carpet in my room when I was a teenager. I couldn’t make that up.

Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?

Writing this book was an odyssey unlike any other I’ve ever experienced. In the beginning, when I had no clue what constituted the end, completing that first draft, declaring victory, was a significant accomplishment for someone who’d never been able to clearly focus on one thing for a very long time. Now I look back and see a bloody trail of re-writes, edits, countless versions on my laptop, feedback from beta readers and a dead period when I set it aside for two years. The evolutionary process of growing as a person, developing as a writer taught me that persistence is essential, but still not enough. I’ve learned to persistently strive to improve in every facet of my writing, while maintaining an open mind and positive attitude. At times I think I’ve even shocked my editor. And that’s tough to do.

Can we expect any more books from you in the future?

Glad you asked. My current plan is to release LETHAL GREED (Greed Series #2) in July, WICKED GREED (Greed Series #3) in August and book 4 of the Greed Series (title TBD) in September / October.

Beyond that, I have a framework for a new series, including an introductory shell for Book 1. The title is nailed down, but I’ll share that at another time. I plan to publish four books in that new series, at least one more next year in the Greed Series and possibly a stand-alone novel. By the end of 2015, I should have ten books published, God willing.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Great question. In five years, I’ll be writing, but maybe I’ll branch out into another genre. Regardless, I plan to have ten books published by the end of 2015, and within five years a minimum of twenty-five books.

Behind the façade of every corporate takeover executives pull levers this way and that, squeezing the last profitable nickel out of the deal. But no one knows the true intent of every so-called merger. 

No one knows the secret bonds that exist. 

An Indian technology giant swallows up another private company that has deep roots in North Texas. For one unassuming man the thought of layoffs, of losing his own job to a bunch of arrogant assholes feels like a kick to the jewels. 

Until the day Michael’s life changes forever.   

Perverse alliances. An affair of the heart. A grisly murder. A spiraling string of events thrusts Michael into a life-or-death fight to save a tortured soul and hunt down a brutal killer…one who lurks closer than he ever imagined. 

Greed knows no boundaries.

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Genre – Suspense, Thriller

Rating – R

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Website http://www.johnwmefford.com

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The King of Sunday Morning by J.B. McCauley @MccauleyJay #Crime #Thriller #Action

The Mile End Mambo - 1990

He held him in his arms and looked into the glassy eyes. Yellow flecks dotted the cornea. This boy was dead a long time before Roger had run him through. He knew the look. Too much top shelf and not enough down time.

The body from which life dramatically seeped away began to convulse. It would not be a Hollywood death. It would be a harsh demise for this gangster. Unexpected but unavoidable. He had stepped on the wrong toes and nobody touched Roger’s patch.

The big screen had always glamorised death but there was nothing glamorous about having a gaping 12-inch gash where your stomach had once been. Roger’s white shirt was splattered with blood and sputum. He noted to himself with an air of cold detachment that he would have to dispose of it later. The boy soldier’s back arched in agony. A gurgling noise rushed from his throat and then he was gone.

Roger put his arm underneath the boy’s knees and slowly lifted him from the red morass that had filled the doorway. He cradled him in his arms and walked slowly along the pavement. A young couple averted their gaze as he struggled with the limp body. They knew not to look. This was after all the witching hour in the East End. What you don’t see, you can’t tell. He turned the corner and moved into another shop doorway. It was a Dixon’s electrical shop exalting the latest stereos and TV’s.

Roger placed the body carefully on the ground. He took one final look at what 10 minutes ago had been the epitome of arrogance, bravery and youth, then left. He walked quickly to the edge of Walters Street, turned into Burden and darted through a now deserted car park and onto Rially. He saw a red telephone box just up from Dunston Road. He opened the door and tried to ignore the stench of piss and shit. He dialled the number and waited patiently for the connection.

“Rudi?”

His rich baritone West-Indian voice caressed the receiver.

“Yeah, he’s in Dixon’s shopfront on Walters Street.” He paused, digesting the question on the other end of the line.

“Yeah he’s dead. Dead as a door nail. See you at home.”

With that, he hung up the phone and disappeared into the night. His red Rasta beanie swaying as he loped through the shadows. The victim wouldn’t be missed. Roger had nothing to fear. The status quo had been maintained and an example had been made.
Most of all, Rudi would be pleased.

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Genre – Thriller, Action, Suspense, Gangster, Crime, Music

Rating – PG-18

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Belinda Vasquez Garcia & Her Book Signing Horror Story @MagicProse #AmWriting #Suspense

I was going to Phoenix one time with my husband for a reunion. Why not kill two birds with one stone, to use an old cliché, and set up a book signing? I had just published my first book, a kid’s chapter book.

I called up a Barnes and Noble store in Scottsdale. The store manager was too nice. “Why don’t you come up the month after instead? The store always declares that day as Teachers’ Saturday. It is a month before school starts, and the store gets very crowded that day. Teachers’ Saturday is always the very best time for a kid’s book signing, and we would love to have you. Your book looks so cute and educational.”

“But I’m in the area the month before. I’ll have to make a special round trip of 840 miles a month later.”

“We give the teachers a discount that day. I’m sure they will all want to buy your book to read to their classes. In the flyers to the schools, I will mention your signing.”

I cupped the receiver and told my husband excitedly. “We should go twice to Phoenix. She has assured me that I will sell a zillion books. Blah! Blah! Blah! Kiss. Kiss.”

There were hotel costs, restaurant bills, and gas, so I also booked a Borders book store in Tempe, and a Barnes and Noble in Tucson for a two-day whirlwind book tour. The store managers were all very nice, and said they would order my books for the signings.

We survived my husband’s reunion and a month later we were back in the Phoenix area.

On Saturday at the book store in Scottsdale, I sat there for two hours and about five people came into the store.

“I just don’t understand it,” the manager said. “I sent out all the flyers. I am so sorry no one has bought your book.”

I leaned over the banister, scanning the lone person in the store browsing the aisles. None of the five customers had even come upstairs to the children’s books.

“Here, let me buy a copy,” the manager said and yanked out a ten dollar bill.

I signed the book; my time was up; and we drove to Tucson.

The signing went better there.

The next morning on our way out of town, we stopped in Tempe for a few hours for my book signing. I had called up a cousin to let him know I would be at Borders and given him the address and time.

I waltz into the store, singing. “I’m here for the book signing.”

“What book signing?” the manager said.

“I set one up several months ago. Remember? I spoke with you.”

“Uh. Duh. Flubber. Drip drop. Sorry.”

“Let’s get out of here,” I told my husband.

On the way out of the Phoenix area I said, “Did you notice no one was at Borders? That store is really screwed up; I’m surprised it stays in business.”

The last thing Miranda ever expected was to see her brother's ghost at the fallen Twin Towers.

It's bad enough survivor Christopher Michaels scares her with claims that if one dies violently, his ghost will haunt the place that holds his name. And to top it all, one of those thousands of ghosts follows Miranda to her hotel. The only certainty is the ghost grabbing her under the covers is not Jake.

Their parents' deaths separated Miranda from Jake when they were kids. Michaels insists Jake brought them together and it's no coincidence that of thousands mourning at Ground Zero, it's his best friend she bumps into. Some best friend. Michaels is more like a moocher. The cheapskate never has money, just a blood-stained wallet he broods over. Miranda has no choice but to hang out with the weird Michaels in order to unravel her brother's past.

As Miranda spends time with Michaels, she begins to wonder who he really is. Against her better judgment, Miranda becomes emotionally entangled with Michaels, a bitter alcoholic with a secret linked to her brother and that blood-stained wallet.

I Will Always Love You is part mystery, suspense and romance, a novel that will keep the reader turning the pages!

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Genre – Suspense, Mystery, Romance

Rating – PG

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Website http://belindavasquezgarcia.com/

Kevin Sterling (Jack Lazar Series) on Family & Writing @KSterlingWriter #Mystery #Suspense

1. Tell us about your family.  When it comes to family, I consider myself truly blessed. First and foremost, I married my beautiful soul mate, and my writing career would not be possible without her consultation, love and support. I also adore her entire family, and I have it on good authority that they like me, too! I have a fantastic son, whose life mission is to do his part to help the world, and my mother is a sweet, loving person to whom I am very close. My father was born and raised in Germany, but he met my mother in Amarillo, Texas when he was a high school exchange student. His father (my grandfather) was a senator in Germany before the Nazis took over; and once they did, he refused to cooperate with them. So he picked up the family and moved to a town called Kiel on the Baltic Sea where he worked with the underground against Hitler. There are streets and monuments all over Germany to honor him.
2. How do you work through self-doubts and fear?  That’s an easy answer – meditation. Fear and self-doubt are products of the ego, and they arise when we lose connection with our higher self. Meditation helps us regain that connection, and it opens up the paths to creativity, too! But I think it’s also important to point out here that indie publishing is HARD, and there are a hundred reasons to quit for every one reason to stick with it. But sticking with it, especially when things look bleak and discouraging is exactly what successful indie authors have done. If you’re a good writer creating books that people want to read, work with a crackerjack editor who helps you polish them in to solid works, and invest the requisite time and creativity on marketing, it’s just a matter of time (and a backlist of books) before you reach success.
3. What makes you the happiest? My first thought is spending time with the people I love, which is absolutely true. But I must admit that the release day of each of my books was pretty darn fantastic. The amount of work to make that happen is huge, and there are so many times throughout the process when you just don’t think you’re going to make it, as any published author will tell you, so the feeling of accomplishment is just incredible.
4. What’s your greatest character strength? Probably my ability to remain calm and lucid in difficult situations. My family and friends regard me as someone they can come to for advice and strength when they need it the most, and it always makes me feel good to help them.
5. What’s your weakest character trait? Definitely my inflated ego, but I’m really working on it. I swear!
6. What are you most proud of in your personal life? My son, Preston. He completed both his undergraduate and law degrees in a fraction of the usual timeframe and now serves the people at the Texas State Capitol, earning a much lower income than he would have made at a law firm. He truly cares about others and is dedicated to helping the world, and I am so proud of him for all of that.
7. What books did you love growing up? My favorite book back then was Airport by Arthur Haley. I’ve always been an airplane and travel fanatic and had the unique opportunity to spend many of my summers in Europe growing up. So reading about all the intricacies of commercial aviation in combination with Haley’s gripping story really hit my buttons. I also ate up every single James Bond novel by Ian Fleming.
8. Who is your favorite author? That is so hard to say because I appreciate different things about so many authors. But if I had to pick one, perhaps it would be John Grisham. He does a great job of building a complex story while writing in a style that is quick and easy to read, and I do my best to emulate that style in my own writing. Like Grisham, I want readers to feel like things are speeding along, that they’re not getting bogged down with excessive details, and it won’t take long to reach a resolution to the suspense keeping them on the edge. But then, there’s always something else to take its place! Otherwise, what’s the point in turning the page?
9. What book genre do you adore? Adore? Interesting word choice. In that case, I’ll have to say romantic suspense. Unlike most other authors who write action/mystery/suspense, I am compelled to throw romance (and…ahem…sex) into my books because I personally enjoy reading it. In my opinion, intimate human interaction makes life so rich and yummy that I want as much of it as I can get…and give, too!
10. What book should everyone read at least once? I’m going to steer away from the obvious classics or religious texts and say The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck, M.D. It does such a great job of putting life into perspective and teaching us how to be happy. It encourages us to take responsibility for our own feelings, stop looking “out there” for happiness and/or blaming something or someone else for our problems. Once we do that, we become very powerful and can simply decide to live life however we choose. Happiness is a choice, plain and simple.

"James Bond Meets Fifty Shades of Grey"

Immerse yourself in the world class novels that combine action, mystery & suspense with tantalizing and tastefully written erotica. You’ll find all your sensibilities roused at once with Kevin Sterling’s ultra-sexy, action-packed Jack Lazar Series.

In this fourth action-packed thriller, Jack travels to Denmark for a business venture, but what seems to be a textbook transaction turns into a nightmare after he gets involved with Katarina, a vivacious Danish girl who apparently lacks a moral compass, not to mention an off button. After naively believing their liaison was just a random encounter, Jack discovers she’s connected to his business deal, and there’s a dangerous political group with skin in the game, too.

Katarina makes a convincing case of being a victim, not part of the conspiracy, but can Jack really trust her?

The firestorm gets out of control as Jack digs deeper, unearths the convoluted plot behind it all, and discovers that innocent people are being heartlessly killed. He’s not only horrified by the reason why it’s happening, but how it’s being done, and there appears to be no way to stop it from occurring again.

Then the scheme’s real objective emerges, launching Jack into action with intelligence operatives to prevent it. But that’s not so easy with assassins on Jack’s tail, forcing him to struggle for survival while trying to prevent Katarina from getting caught in the crossfire.

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Genre – Action, Mystery, Suspense

Rating – R

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#AmReading #Romance Ghost, Razer 8 by P.T. Macias @pt_macias

Ghost is an old-fashioned Southern boy fighting hard to forget his pain. He’s forced to protect his Mama and sister from their abusive Pa. Ghost is strong, silent, and soft spoken. He works hard against all obstacles and hurt.

Ghost grows up to become a Delta Force. He meets and falls for a hot Latina who sets him on fire! She captures his soul and brightens his world. He would do anything to protect her.

Duty calls and he’s forced to leave her unprotected. The unspeakable happens! Ghost calls on Infinity. Infinity aids to extract his woman from the clutches of a soulless prostitution mob. Time is running out!

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Genre – Romantic Suspense

Rating – PG13

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Website http://ptmacias.com/