Blog Tour: Kidnapped by Maria Hammarblad - Guest Post + Excerpt

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour stop! Kidnapped is a sci-fi romance. I don't normally read sci-fis but I must say this looks really good! I can't wait to read and review it! :) So yep, do enjoy the post, Maria will be joining us with a guest post later on!

Kidnapped by Maria Hammarblad

It's a late winter night when Patricia Risden heads home in her car, on a road she's driven many times before. She doesn't have a care in the world, that is, until a man appears from nowhere, right in front of her.

The next thing she knows is being a prisoner of the unscrupulous Alliance Commander Travis 152; an intimidating man who demands information and complete cooperation. Travis soon realizes his mistake; Tricia doesn't know anything, and she is incapable of even getting a glass of water from the ship's computer.

Infamous for being a ruthless executioner, conditioned since childhood to feel nothing besides fear and pain, he still deems her harmless, and finds enough pity for the lost young woman to let her out of the cell; a decision that will change both their lives forever.

Kidnapped Upcoming releases: Undercover, to be released by Desert Breeze Publishing September 11, 2012.

What author Lynette Endicott has said about Kidnapped:

"Kidnapped is a well-written Science Fiction story of a woman kidnapped from earth and taken on a whirlwind tour of the universe with a captor whose heart is thawed by her innocence. This does not please his commander, who pursues, captures and loses both characters. In the process there is fun, adventure, sizzle, and an introduction to different worlds and their impact, one day, on our own. Be sure to pick up Kidnapped by Maria Hammarblad available from Desert Breeze Publishing."

Maria Hammarblad

Born in Sweden in the early 1970's, Maria showed a large interest for books at an early age. Even before she was able to read or write, she made her mom staple papers together into booklets she filled with drawings of suns and planets. She proudly declared them, "The Sun Book." They were all about the sun. She also claimed, to her mother's horror, that her being on Earth was a big mistake and that her alien family would come and bring her home at any moment. This never happened, but both the interest in space and the passion for bookmaking stayed with her.

As an adult Maria's creativity got an outlet through playing bass in a number of rock bands, and through writing technical manuals and making web pages for various companies and organizations. She did write drafts for a few novels, but the storytelling muse was mostly satisfied through role playing online on Myspace.

It was here, while writing stories together with people from around the globe, she stumbled onto Mike. They started talking out of character, and she moved over to Florida to him late 2008. Today the two are married and live in the Tampa Bay area with three rescue dogs.

Besides writing and playing bass, Maria enjoys driving off-road, archery, and Tameshigiri.

Books by Maria Hammarblad include:

The Goddess's Saga, a series of novels consisting of Touch of the Goddess, Wrath of the Goddess, and Return of the Goddess.

Embarkment 2577, a series of novellas consisting of Brand New World, High Gravity, and Adam and Eve.

Invasion and other short stories

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Maria's Publisher's Website

YouTube Trailers!

Kidnapped | The Goddess' Saga | Embarkment 2577 | Invasion

Time for a short excerpt!

Time passed and she lost track of it. She tried to call out, "Hello," but no one seemed to care, and there was nothing to do but wait.

The erratic movements of the room still made her feel miserable, but it eventually settled down, and an unknown amount of time later, a portion of a wall seemed to just dissolve, showing the dark silhouette of the man. From her position, sitting on the floor, he seemed impossibly tall, and his clothes impossibly black. Even his boots appeared just to absorb any light that might come their way.

He hunched down in front of her, and watched her pale face thoughtfully. "You're space sick."

Patricia knew agreeing would be the safest thing to do, but she couldn't stop herself. She shouted, "No! I can't be space sick because I'm not in space, because that's crazy! I rolled with my car and I'm just unconscious. Leave me alone."

The man ignored her and reached out with his ungloved hand, plunging her into a fit of panic. She scrambled to get backwards away from him, but there was nowhere to go. "Sit still. If I wanted to hurt you, you'd be dead now."

His words didn't really soothe her; she was still convinced he wanted to kill her, that he'd just snap her neck, and she so wanted to live a little longer. Earlier in her life she had wasted time recklessly, and now every minute seemed precious.

Her expression must have amused him because a shadow of a smile tugged at his lips. It didn't quite reach his eyes, but it was the first emotion she'd seen on his face, and it made her feel marginally better. Maybe he was human after all. She stopped fighting when he pressed a finger against her skin, explaining to her frightened glance, "Pressure point. This should make you feel better."

To her surprise he didn't hurt her, and she did feel better. Once the queasiness receded she even dared ask for a glass of water. Her voice sounded small and pathetic, reminding her of a cornered mouse, but it got steadier after a couple of words, and she had to settle for thinking this was a good thing.

Her warder shrugged and went over to a portion of the wall, pressing his hand against it, making a console fold out of what seemed to be solid metal. He punched a couple of buttons and returned with a cup made from a soft, plastic-like material. Patricia clutched it, trying to force herself to sip, but water had never tasted so good.

The silence in the cell seemed almost tangible and she swallowed hard. She didn't have much hope that pleading to the cold eyes staring at her could be successful, but she still tried her best, "Please don't rape me."

It was her biggest fear after being murdered, and she wasn't at all prepared for his response; he started laughing.

She had the impression he didn't laugh often, and it changed his entire appearance. The handsome side became boyish and even better looking, and the nightmarish part of his face somehow softened. "Rape you? Now why would I want to do that to a skinny little thing like you?"

The response made her feel both relieved and offended. Someone looking like he didn't even have a thought of having sex with her?

He surprised her again, by sitting down on the floor next to her, mercifully turning the ruined side of his face away. "I'm Travis 152 of the Alliance space control."

The phrase wasn't exactly "space control," but it was the closest thing her brain could interpret it to. And, "Travis?" What kind of name was that for someone like him?

"You're my prisoner, and this is a holding cell. You're charged for interacting with the rebel leader William Reynolds."

He paused, as if checking if his words made any sense to her. Patricia did understand, she understood just fine, and she burst out, "I am an American citizen. Whoever you are, you can't just take me like this."

He answered dryly, "Yes, actually, I can. I did. And it's not like your little planet, what did you call it, America, will be able to do anything about it. I can assure you everything will be much easier if you just cooperate and tell me what you know. Do you have a name?"

Patricia managed to sound cheekier than she felt when she replied, "I'm Patricia Risden. The name of the planet is Earth, America is a country. It's a democracy and we have a constitution, and people will come looking for me!"

He didn't smile, but he lifted an eyebrow, and removed a gadget from his belt. To Patricia, it looked a little like an iPod. It wasn't, of course, unless Apple had developed interstellar connections. "I'm sure they will, but look here."

She recognized the solar system, it was the only thing it could be, and on the little screen it looked like they were making good time on Pluto. Glancing over at him, she wondered if he was lying, but it didn't feel like it.

And now, let's welcome Maria to the blog!

Thank you for having me on the blog, I'm delighted to be here!

From time to time people ask what challenges me the most when it comes to writing. There are some evident answers, like time, inspiration, or creating characters. I have another one; I come from Sweden originally, a non English speaking country, and for me, it's language and cultural differences.

There is the obvious part with grammar and spelling, of course. I learned British English in school, and if I just type without thinking about it, the words come out like colour, labour, harbour, realise, and defence. I even got a refusal letter once, saying the story was good, but my constant misspellings of these words made it unappealing. I thought, "What? That's the way you spell harbour. How else would you spell harbour? Oooooh, harbor, that looks funky..." I've gotten used to writing realize with a z, but defense with an s still looks wrong.

Some words mean different things too. In my first draft of one of my books, I wrote that the heroine wore a jumper. On the other side of the pond, it's sort of a nice sweater. Now I know she's supposed to wear a blouse, a shirt, or a sweater, not a jumper… Words for food are difficult. A biscuit back home is something completely different than a biscuit in America. It's not too bad once you figure it out, but it took a while before I understood why people here found it peculiar to have biscuits, cheese, and grapes. Same thing with chips; in Sweden a chip is a potato chip, just like here, but in Britain, a chip is a French fry. Life is filled with little oopsies!

Another amusing problem surfaces when writing dialogue. I have a solid frame of reference to how Swedish couples talk to each other. When it comes to Americans, I've only been in one relationship; the one with my husband. He is filled with sweet words, making me feel beautiful and loved, and I tend to assume everyone talks like him.

I got an e-mail from my publisher the other day, saying the base premise of my new story is good, but I need to do something about the way the hero talks, because repeatedly calling the heroine "sweetums" is awkward. I started laughing. My husband asked, "What's so funny sweetums?" I said, "Your fault!" and it took a little while to explain. Well, if people don't say sweetums, it's time to start; it's a nice word!

The cultural differences are also tricky. On the surface, the countries seem pretty much alike, but the longer I'm here, the more I realize how big the differences really are. Sometimes, I write people's reactions in a way that seems perfectly natural to me, and readers here say, "That doesn't seem believable at all. Who would do that?" I used to think, "Well, I would, am I really that weird?" but now I know it's just a cultural thing. For Kidnapped, I've had wonderful editors who helped me straighten all these things out. I'm learning new things every day!

So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Heritage Avenged by Marsha A. Moore - Promo + Giveaway

Hey guys! Today, I will be hosting a tour stop for Heritage Avenged. Heritage Avenged is a fantasy romance, and is something really very different. It is the 2nd in the Enchanted Bookshop Series, with the first book being Seeking a Scribe. There will be a tour-wide giveaway at the end, so do keep an eye out for it!

Heritage Avenged by Marsha A. Moore

Lyra McCauley receives an alarming letter from the coroner who evaluated her deceased aunt, originally thought to have died of cancer. The news causes Lyra to take leave from her job and travel from sunny Tampa to the frozen island community in northern Michigan. Questioning whether Dragonspeir magic was responsible for her aunt’s death, she resolves to learn the truth and accepts the Imperial Dragon’s appointment into the Alliance sorcery training.

Additionally, becoming proficient in magic craft is the only way she can bridge the gap between her mortal human world and her lover’s. Cullen, a 220-year-old wizard, is dependent upon his Dragonspeir magic for immortality. He is her only family now; she cannot lose him.

Evil forces block her and try to steal her inherited scribal aura. Riding a stealth dragon, a cloaked rider pursues Lyra. Both the Alliance and Dark Realm alchemists lay tricks and traps. Her aura equals that of the first and most powerful Scribe, but will Lyra’s novice training allow her to discover the truth? Will she be able to be with Cullen, or will the Dark Realm keep them apart?

Buy it from Amazon ~ Available for only $1.29

Want to start from the first book in the series, Seeking a Scribe? Get it here! Available for only 99 cents, what are you waiting for? :)

Marsha A. Moore

Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Her creativity also spills into watercolor painting and drawing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she’s happily transforming into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors.

Crazy about cycling, she usually passes the 1,000 mile mark yearly. She is learning kayaking and already addicted. She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and that spiritual quest helps her explore the mystical side of fantasy. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at new stories with toes wiggling in the sand.

Every day at the beach is magical!

Website | Fantasy Fiction Staff Page | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads| Google+

Time for a short excerpt!

From Chapter 1: The Letter

Lyra worried about Cullen on his flight home. Despite the fact he was over two hundred years old, it was only his second plane trip. The few wizards of Dragonspeir who visited the real world seldom traveled far, and then not conventionally. He kept her safe in his world last summer. She intended to keep him safe in hers.

“Next!” the heavyset postmistress belted out.

“I’ve got to hang up,” Lyra quickly whispered into her cell phone. “Be sure you call me when you land in Sault Saint Marie. Love you.”

She sighed and maneuvered to the clerk at the far end of the counter. If only they could live together in one world. She needed to learn more magic first and hoped to make a start in a few weeks, when she took her winter break from teaching to attend his Solstice Festival. Unfortunately, her formal lessons would have to wait until next summer.

When Lyra approached the counter, the woman peered over the top of her reading glasses as she shuffled papers. “Yes?”

“I’m here to pick up my mail from a vacation hold.”

“Theme of my day,” the postmistress muttered and then barked, “Name and ID.”

“Adalyra McCauley. Just since the day before Thanksgiving.” She fumbled in her purse and pulled the driver’s license from her billfold.

The women sighed, slid off her stool, and shuffled into a back room. A few minutes later, she lumbered back, carrying a small stack of letters, glossy ads, and magazines. She scooted the mail across the counter.

Lyra stuffed it all into a tote bag, then scurried to her silver Subaru sport wagon and tossed it into the passenger seat. Driving Cullen to the Tampa International airport and this stop barely left enough time to make it to the university in time to teach her ten o’clock class. But the memory of those lingering goodbye kisses made it worth the consequences.

She stopped for a red light at a twelve-lane interchange, tapping the wheel impatiently. The edges of the mail peeked out of the sack, tempting her. She pulled it into her lap and riffled through the letters. The usual bills. The signal remained red.

Thumbing quickly through familiar envelopes, one unusual return address caught her eye, William T. Betts, M.D., Washaw, Michigan—the island village location of Aunt Jean’s cottage on Lake Huron. Although addressed to Lyra, it had been sent to where her aunt lived prior to passing away. She couldn’t place his name as one of Jean’s doctors. Multiple postmarks revealed a path of forwarding, the oldest dated last August, a few weeks after the funeral. She checked the traffic light—still red.

She ripped open the envelope and yanked out the letter.

Dear Ms. McCauley:

I am writing this correspondence in my capacity of Birch County coroner. Please accept my condolences for the recent loss of your aunt, Jean Perkins. Prior to delivery of her remains to the Michigan State crematorium, her attending physician, Dr. Everett Schultz, requested an autopsy. Dr. Schultz and I wish to meet with you to discuss my findings at your earliest convenience.

Respectfully,

William T. Betts, M.D.

A horn honked from behind and jolted Lyra into a panic. Her limbs froze and her eyes returned for another glimpse of the letter. She wildly scanned the page, searching for additional information. Aunt Jean had died of cancer. What more could they tell her than that?

At the time of Jean’s death, the abrupt change in her symptoms puzzled Lyra and made her question the visiting nurse. Hours before, her aunt’s mind had been lucid. Her eyes were clear and her breathing soft and steady, not a raspy death rattle. Now those initial concerns seemed grounded.

The driver behind her laid on the horn.

The noise jarred Lyra to the present. She exhaled an arrested breath. To brace her shaking arms, her free hand clamped the steering wheel. Unable to coordinate, her foot slid off the clutch and stalled the car.

A chorus of horns blared.

After fumbling with the ignition, she restarted and herded her Subaru into the stream of traffic. She locked her eyes squarely ahead to avoid angry road-rage stares from passing motorists.

One car pulled alongside and tooted. Her eyes shifted onto the driver who flipped her off before speeding away.

Shaking, she gave up rushing to be on time. Keeping her car safely on the road was challenge enough. She hung back to allow other cars to pass.

Plodding in the slow lane, her thoughts drifted to the letter. What had the coroner found? In September, the funeral home wrote, indicating they stored her aunt’s ashes, as Lyra directed, until she returned to collect them. The director never mentioned any question about the cause of death.

Lyra shifted before engaging the clutch. Grinding gears vibrated the car. White-knuckling the wheel, she gratefully turned at the sign for Southern University. Finally in her assigned parking spot, she slumped into the seat.

Before getting out, she reread the letter to search for clues between the phrases. She found none, but the words “earliest convenience” loomed. The doctor wrote the letter three months ago. Would that lost time make a difference?

Was it possible someone harmed Jean? Hundreds in the village visited the funeral and expressed sorrow. What about that strange man, Revelin? He came to Jean’s home, supposedly working as an aide from the home care division of the local clinic. He acted suspicious, trying to read Lyra’s computer screen, open to her draft of the new version of the Book of Dragonspeir. Maybe a person from Dragonspeir? A few supporters of the evil Black Dragon could enter her

world. But who? His alchemist, Tarom, possessed enough power and talent. A chill ran down her spine, thinking of his glowing red eyes and crimson cloak with moving tentacles at its hem. She sighed. No obvious evidence linked either man.

Sun rays reflected light through her windshield from the modern glass and concrete English building. This alerted her to pull herself together and go inside. After sucking in a deep breath to steady her nerves, she opened the car door and stepped out. Her legs shook under her weight. Her shoulders sagged under the load of the briefcase and bags. With an awkward gait, she ambled toward her building.

She stopped cold. Students raced around her to make their classes. What about Eburscon? Alchemist for the Imperial Dragon’s Alliance. She clenched a fist, recalling his haughty, antagonistic manner. He openly disapproved of Lyra’s influence on anyone in Dragonspeir.

Opening a side door off the parking lot, she checked her watch. Five minutes past the start of class time. She braced herself, rearranged her bags, and climbed two flights—a short cut to the classroom which avoided the department offices.

Three minutes later, she arrived in the room, out-of-breath and shaking, in no shape to teach. But, the chairman kept careful tabs on all his non-tenured professors, including Lyra.

Thankfully, the lesson was an easy one, reviewing short story reading assignments. The students in her American Lit course, just returned from a long Thanksgiving weekend, didn’t want to hear a rigorous talk about Emerson and Thoreau. Most eyed her with groggy stares, heads propped on elbows. A handful of alert and prepared students vied to contribute, snapping out responses to Lyra’s discussion questions. Usually she enjoyed pitting them against each other, but today she merely appreciated their participation.

Her mind wandered two thousand miles away. She watched the clock, counting the minutes until she could talk with Cullen during his layover in Detroit.

And now, enter the tour-wide giveaway here! Marsha is giving away 10 digital copies of Heritage Avenged!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Dissolve by Andrea Heltsleys - Promo

Hey guys! Welcome to today's stop on my blog!

Dissolve by Andrea Heltsleys

Everything seemed to be going right for Cora. She had a wonderful fiance, a great best friend and a fulfilling life. One day, a tragic event causes that life to crumble around her. She turns to her best friend in her time of need. They embark on a search for answers, delving deeper into a web of magic and destruction. The closer they get to the truth, the more questions they have. To Cora, magic was the stuff of fairy tales. Immersed into a very different kind of world, the real storm was just beginning to take hold.

“It felt like I was nowhere yet everywhere all at once. I was invisible and completely panicked. The millions of pieces I had dissolved to drift on the breeze and away from my nightmares. It was kind of like floating weightless in a pool, perfectly relaxing. The warm breeze from the window embraced and soothed me. I let the air current carry me as far as it could through the summer city.” “Defeated, I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths trying to relax myself. I pictured the dandelion in the park today and took a deep breath as to blow the fluffy seeds in all directions. I pretended I was light and fluffy and started to feel a tingling in my body. I began to feel as light as the dandelion seeds and soon I felt like mist floating. This time, I tried to keep myself in the room, swirling in a humid block.”

Andrea Heltsleys

I am a biology nerd who loves reading just about anything paranormal and some chick lit. I enjoy sunshine and my two Italian greyhounds with my husband. I always write to music, it helps the creative process. Dissolve is my first novel. I have been writing ever since I was in grade school and have finally decided to make a career out of it. More books to come summer 2012 and 2013.

Email | Blog | Facebook

Time for a short excerpt!

I rushed into the front room only to find the nightmare playing out just like in my dream. Soon it was all a blur and I felt as if I was coming apart at the seams. I felt light, weightless. I saw myself mist into a million particles before I dissolved.

It felt like I was nowhere yet everywhere all at once. I was invisible and completely panicked. The millions of pieces I had dissolved into drifted on the breeze and away from my nightmares. It was kind of like floating weightless in a pool, perfectly relaxing. The warm breeze from the window embraced and soothed me. I let the air current carry me as far as it could through the summer city.

I just floated through the air as my frayed nerves softened and the edge of panic subsided. I felt so at peace and relaxed. I eventually made my way to Water Street and then I tried to force myself into Nessa’s building. My particles seeped at the seams of the door all around, splitting.

Once inside, the air died and my particles began to form again. In a matter of seconds, I swirled into my human form. Naked and freaked, I looked up to see Nessa witnessing the whole thing with her jaw dropped. The coffee mug she had been holding fell to the floor and shattered on the cherry wood. We stood like that for several seconds before I broke out of my own shock.

“I could really use some clothes, Nessa. This is kind of awkward,” I admitted, trying to shake her out of her shocked trance.

She snapped her jaw shut and left the room in silence. Just as quickly, she returned and tossed me a fluffy, white bath robe. The shock in her eyes had yet to dissipate and I wasn’t sure I could blame her. I was still in a state of shock myself. I wasted no time wrapping myself in the bath robe and having a seat on her brown leather couch.

Nessa stood there for several seconds before breaking out of it and joining me on the couch. I threw my arms around her and the tears began to flow without regard.

“Please tell me that was a figment of my imagination,” Nessa said.

So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Book Feature: Michal's Window by Rachelle Ayala + Author Interview

Hey guys! Today, I'll be featuring an author and her book on my blog. Rachelle's novel is a very intriguing one to be sure, and one about a Bible character we know so little about. It seems really interesting and I honestly feel that it will be a very good read. Hehe, let's get started, shall we? :)

Michal's Window by Rachelle Ayala

In ancient Israel, where women are property, Princess Michal loves her father's worst enemy, the future King David. She sacrifices all to save his life, but will her heart survive war and separation?

A novel of betrayal, forbidden love, and redemption, Michal's Window is an imaginative retelling of King David's story through the eyes of the woman who loved him first.

Michal's Window is a story of one woman's journey through love and heartache to self-realization. As one reviewer said, "So, once I let the modern feminist inside of me relax, I realized how timely her story is, because, sadly, many of the things she has to deal with are things that women still face today.”

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Rachelle Ayala

Rachelle Ayala was a software engineer until she discovered storytelling works better in fiction than real code. She has always lived in a multi-cultural environment, and the tapestry in her books reflect that diversity.

She is currently working on a romantic suspense involving software engineers. When her hyperactive imagination is in the mind of her characters, Rachelle enjoys social networking, reading and music.

Rachelle lives in California with her husband. She has three children and has taught violin and made mountain dulcimers.

Pinterest | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Mailing List | Google+ |

And now, let's welcome Rachelle to the blog to have a little chat with us!

Hi Rachelle, it’s lovely to have you on the blog today!

It’s nice to be here, Victoria.

For starters, why not you tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

Oooh… we’re going for the secrets already. Okay… something clean. Ha, got one. I had to wear corrective shoes in fifth and six grade, because they said I had flat feet. Those things were ugly! And every time you jumped off from climbing a fence, your feet would sting because they took away the flexing of your arches with those “supports.”

What made you want to become a writer?

I am an avid reader, as you are, and I get so engaged with the story, the plot and characters that I get angry when it doesn’t turn out the way I wanted it to. Writing is a way for me to express myself, as well as get the endings I like. Pretty selfish, huh?

Did you have other aspirations/dreams in the past, or have you always wanted to be a writer?

If I told you all my dreams, I’d have to write another book. I don’t think I grew up one day and said, “I wanna be a writer!” It all started with a character, soon a story grew around it, and then I did my research and wove more stories around the character and before I knew it, I had written a novel. I’ve had several false starts in the past. I wrote a children’s “Alice in Wonderland” type of story for a college Honor’s course, and my computer is littered with a few drafts I’d rather not think about.

What gave you the inspiration for the plot of the book?

Michal’s Window is a re-enactment of the life of a rather minor Bible character, Michal, the princess who became King David’s covenant wife. She is an ignored woman who had some rather startling characteristics. She not only crossed class boundaries to love a common man, her father’s servant, but she married him and defied her father, the King of Israel, to help him escape. Later on, she again defied a king, only this time it was her husband, King David. The Bible does not treat her kindly and reports that she had no more children after that incident.

I wondered what happened to her and what kind of relationship she had with her husband and how she dealt with being a woman in a world where she was not allowed to chastise her husband even when she was correct in her assessment.

Are your characters based off real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

The characters in Michal’s Window are a mixture of real characters from the Bible and fictional characters. Because it is a work of fiction, I did fill in their personalities from my imagination, but I left their stories intact to fit the Bible narrative. I was able to embellish a lot more with the fictional characters, and I had a lot of fun with them.

The characters in my next book, Broken Build, are entirely imaginary. I don’t base characters off real people because invariably it gets too difficult to keep track of motivation and conflict when you have a real person in mind. Besides, I can’t make them do outrageous and stupid things without feeling guilty!

Could you tell us a bit about your book and why it is a must-read?

Michal’s story resonates with women everywhere. She was put in a position where she had to make choices between following her heart or adhering to the rules of society. She faced heartbreak, loneliness and grief when David, the man she loved, took on other wives. Her journey toward self-acceptance was more tragic than most, but her story is timeless, because many of the things she faced are the same for women today.

What do you love most about the writing process?

The first draft, when ideas are brimming all over the place and I can just write free flow. I literally live and dream my characters in this phase. They are alive, moving, feeling and acting. I never suffer from writer’s block. If anything, I’m too verbose and I have to do major revision and cutting later on. But the first draft is love at first sight when everything is rosy and wonderful.

And of course, do you have a particular favorite character? I know an author will love most if not all of the characters he/she creates, but I’m sure there must be a favorite of yours! So who is it, and why?

Well, of course we love our little darlings. But we do know a little too many of their warts. Ha, ha. So I’ll leave mine to the side and find someone who still holds some mystery for me.

My favorite character is Claire from Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. She is perceptive, smart, conflicted, yet caring. She’s a bit of a scientist, yet a romantic at heart. And of course, she is paired with the dashing Jamie. I have no time for her husband, what what was his name again? That Randall guy? Yuckola. I only wish Diana hadn’t brought Claire back to the twentieth century to spend the prime of her life away from Jamie. [the big gap between Book 2 and Book 3]

But Claire is just as spunky in her fifties as she was in her twenties. So I wish her a long, long life and plenty of adventures.

Will you tell us a little about your plans for the future?

I plan to be a best selling author, of course. J I will continue to write more stories and entertain my audience. What more can a writer hope for?

And of course, are there any other books that are in the works? (Ideas thought out, perhaps even a rough draft?)

“Who broke the build?” Words you do not want to hear when you’re a software engineer in front of a major deadline.

My next book, Broken Build, is a fun caper through the world of a Silicon Valley startup with a deadline on Black Friday. As if broken builds were not enough to contend with, we have a murderer on the loose, bad driving, a confused but sexy hero, and a build engineer heroine with a high tolerance for pain.

I’d love to eventually do a time-travel with a twist and a psychological thriller. Time is my only constraint, since I will never run out of ideas.

And now, just some little random questions!

Favorite colour?

Red

Favorite place?

Anywhere with my husband.

Favorite book?

The Holy Bible, King James Version

Favorite thing?

Honestly? My laptop. I feel as if I have tentacles attached from my fingers to the keyboard.

What you do when you’re free:

I go to school functions, volunteer for field trips and go places with my family. But my characters never let me go until I’m finished with their stories. So I’m never completely free.

Favorite day?

Sunday! All four of my children were born on Sunday. How statistically possible is that?

Hmm, I think that should be about it for today! It was a pleasure to have you on the blog today! Wishing you all the best in your career! :D

Thank you, Victoria, for having me here. Good luck with school, and maybe one of these days we will see a book from you, too. J

I welcome readers to contact me. Goodreads is a nice place if you want to discuss my book. Feel free to yell at my characters or rant on how differently you wanted the book to turn out. Who knows, maybe there is a budding author who might be inspired to write her own story after screaming at mine!

-Rachelle

So yep, that's about it for today! I do hope you've enjoyed yourself and found a new book to add to your TBR! :)

The Duchess of Love by Sally MacKenzie

First Published: 24 April 2012
Publisher: Zebra
Pages: 104
Format: Ebook
Finished Date: 4 June 2012

Synopsis

A Duke In Disguise...

The day was as hot as the pond was inviting. It’s not as if anyone in Little Huffington was going to happen upon a secluded vale on the Duke of Greycliffe’s lands. And Venus Collingswood didn’t want to get her shift all wet. It was the perfect setting in which to plan her lovely bookworm of a sister’s betrothal to the mysterious new duke arriving seven days hence. If only she had a suitable accomplice...

Andrew Valentine, Duke of Greycliffe, never thought arriving at his own household a week early would cause so much trouble. The housekeeper thinks he’s his own cousin. Actually, the chance to not be the duke for a while is a pleasant opportunity indeed. It might even help him interrogate the delectable little nymph he’s discovered swimming in his pond—if he can manage to get a word in edgewise...

My Rating

My Review

Note: This is just gonna be a really short review. I simply have way too many reviews to write and not enough time :(

The Duchess of Love was a very fun read. I did wish it hadn’t been a novella though, there was a lot of scope for the plot development. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading it. When I first saw the blurb, I just knew I had to read it. It seemed like everything I would enjoy. I mean, mistaken identity, headstrong heroine, what’s not to love? I don’t normally read novellas, but this was a really enjoyable one.

To sum up the plot, it’s basically about how a duke came to Little Huffington and the heroine, who wanted to marry the duke off to her sister. However, as you can guess, things didn’t turn out the way that she wanted.

The heroine, Venus, was a very nice heroine. A little headstrong and not someone you bully at all. I liked how she stood up to Drew. I had hoped for more character development, but I felt the author did really well, with what little space she had to write. Drew was a rather good hero. Though I would have liked him to be older, I felt that he was very mature for his age.

The storyline was interesting and I was addicted. I just kept on reading. Though there wasn’t enough angst for my liking, the love depicted in the story was still very good and I really enjoyed reading about it. The plot was intriguing and I loved that mistaken identity part to it.

After reading this book, which I got free off Amazon, I read the teaser to Bedding Lord Ned. Instantly, I just knew I had to read it. Which is what I’m about to do! I finally got my copy and now I can’t wait to get started.

So yep, I really enjoyed this book. Lighthearted, easy read. If it was a full-length novella, I am pretty sure I would have loved it even more. Overall, it was a very fun and easy read. If you’re looking for something easy and short, then this is the book for you!

Ok fine, it wasn’t short as it should be. I don’t know, I guess I can’t really write short reviews?

Book Feature: Hiren’s Magical Adventure by Kathleen Patel + Author Interview

Hey guys! Today, I'm going to be featuing an author on my blog! She will also be joining us for an author interview. So yep, let's begin and have fun! :)

Hiren’s Magical Adventure by Kathleen Patel

A tween to young adult, paranormal, mystery, the charming fable unfolds in in India. Hiren visits his grandparents for the summer. Nothing could have prepared him for this strange world filled with magic and mystery. He encounters exotic creatures, a forbidden jungle, and a ghost that haunts the eerie palace. He meets a mysterious girl who leads him closer to the secrets. He finds himself facing life-threatening danger in his quest to solve the family mystery.

Buy it from Amazon!

Kathleen Patel

Kathleen Patel is a happily married, peace loving fiction writer. Her books are fun to read, but always educate and contain a message. As promoter of acceptance, she believes knowledge is the key.
"With ignorance comes fear- from fear comes bigotry. Education is the key to acceptance."
Kathleen is also an activist that fights for those without a voice. This includes abused children, animals, and especially victims of bullying. She wrote a short handbook, 'The Bullying Epidemic-the guide to arm you for the fight' and offers it free of charge.
"I hope that my books can open new worlds for my readers."

Books | Blog

And now, let's welcome Kathleen to the blog for a short interview!

Hi Kathleen, it’s lovely to have you on the blog today!

Hi Victoria, I’m so happy to be here.  Thank you for inviting me.

For starters, why not you tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

Before I started writing books and doing book reviews, I spent the bulk of my career as a software sales executive. I was a “Start-up Expert”. Software companies would hire me to help them grow the business and groom it to go public.

What made you want to become a writer? Growing up in a middle class suburb in the Midwest, life was pretty bland. Then something happened that rocked my world. I learned to read. When it all finally ‘clicked’ and I was able to comprehend the letters on the page and read the stories, my life changed forever!  

I love reading. It opened so many new worlds for me. I want to open new worlds for my readers.

Did you have other aspirations/dreams in the past, or have you always wanted to be a writer?   I have had a few other dreams. I wanted to be a movie star. I also wanted to be a famous chef with my own show on the cooking channel. My current dream is to continue writing, while I run a small organic farm/vineyard, make wine, and gourmet cheese with sheep’s milk (from my own sheep). I will sell the wine & cheese to local upscale restaurants.

What gave you the inspiration for the plot of the book?  My husband is from India.  Along with the stories he has shared, from his childhood, I have spent extensive time in India, hanging with my in-laws, traveling and learning the culture.

Are your characters based off real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination? Some of the characters slightly resemble real people, but some were born in my mind : )

Could you tell us a bit about your book and why it is a must-read? "This book is the perfect complement to my anti-bullying cause.  I like to think that it is fun to read, full of magic and adventure, but most importantly, it has an educational aspect to it. So many Indian families have immigrated and are raising their children in America, yet most Americans know very little about the Indian culture. Asian American children are the most bullied children in America.

“With ignorance comes fear- from fear comes bigotry. Education is the key to acceptance.”

What do you love most about the writing process? I love when the story takes on a life of its own. Sometimes I dream about the book and use those images in the book.

And of course, do you have a particular favorite character? I know an author will love most if not all of the characters he/she creates, but I’m sure there must be a favorite of yours! So who is it, and why? I really love Hiren, He is young, but he is wise with a strong morals and bravery. Most importantly, he’s kind and loving.

Will you tell us a little about your plans for the future? I will continue to write, but I intend to spend more time on my anti-bullying cause. I am creating seminars for teachers, parents, and students. There is a need for education. People have to learn to recognize the signs of bullying and the steps to take, once they identify the behavior. I plan to spend quite a bit of time on speaking engagements.

And of course, are there any other books that are in the works? (Ideas thought out, perhaps even a rough draft?) I’m working on book two in the “Magical Adventures” series. I am also working on book two in the ‘Cousin Connection” series. It will follow ‘The Dolls’.

And now, just some little random questions!

Favorite colour? Purple (Even though most of my wardrobe is black : )

Favorite place? Close to the sea in Sligo, Ireland.

Favorite book?  Gone with the wind

Favorite thing? My Kindle

What you do when you’re free:   My perfect day would be spent gardening and then spending an evening with my family- my husband, mother, two sisters, two brother in-laws, two nieces, two nephews, one dog, one bird.

Favorite day? Saturday (least favorite is Monday)

Hmm, I think that should be about it for today! It was a pleasure to have you on the blog today! Wishing you all the best in your career! :D

Thank you so much- this was such fun.

So yep, that's about it for today! Hope you enjoyed it:)

Blog Tour: Rupture by Curtis Hox - Excerpt

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog stop. Sorry its a bit late, was extremely busy today. So yep, Rupture is a YA Dystopian Fantasy. It really looks good and from the excerpt itself, I can't imagine why I haven't read it yet. I certainly can't wait to do so, it looks pretty amazing, and everything I would love! So yep, enjoy this short post then go pick it up! :) hehe:P

Rupture by Curtis Hox

Simone Wellborn is a Transhuman with an attitude. She’s been genetically engineered from birth to be super smart. The problem? All that tinkering her parents paid top dollar for provided a few unexpected results, like an annoying ability to blast telekinetic energy at the worst possible times. She also has another tricky issue: strange entities possess her and, worse, transform her into something dangerous.

Simone's mother sends her to the Sterling School for reject Transhumans. While there, she meets a few other students with similar problems. They’re all Transhumans with dirty secrets. Heartthrob Hutto Toth is a charming gladiator. He annoys Simone from day one, but he’s also a Werebear who accidentally killed a boy in a glad match, and Simone can’t stand how much she likes him. There’s two-foot tall Wally Dorsey, who’s determined to pilot a personalized mech. His best friend, Beasley Gardner, is a mountain of a young girl with enough muscle to beat up any boy at school, but she’s suffers from a rage disorder. Finally, Simone meets Kimberlee Newkirk, an unassuming Succubus who fears she’ll kill the next boy she kisses.

These defective students find themselves at the center of a deadly conflict when another student, Joss Beckwith, attracts a Rogue Artificial Intelligence, the new power brokers in a society radically changed by science and technology.

The Transhuman Warrior Series tells the story of Simone and her friends as they’re transformed into highly specialized human weapons. They must challenge the increasing power of the Rogues as these enemies push into Realspace with one goal in mind: total domination.

Curtis Hox

A little about me:

I’ve written six unpublished contemporary, literary science fantasy novels in the last decade, all of which I finished and promptly put away. I didn’t even let my wife read one until this year. (I know, ultra critical and self defeating as hell, but that’s me.) I did rounds of agent hunting with little luck, and since everyone is talking about epublishing, I thought I’d give it a try by writing a series of three YA novels with all the juicy stuff I love from Sci Fi and Fantasy and just have fun with it. I’m also forcing myself to be open to everything that goes along with the business side of marketing without griping, “Frack it! I just want to write.” So this site will, at first, probably be a bit about process, plus be a place for me to explore ideas related to my projects. Then, if all goes well, a way to market my novels.

As of now, we’ve soft launched Bleedover, a contemporary science fantasy novel I wrote a few years ago. We’re using it to learn the marketing side, while I finish working with an editor on the first three books in my Transhuman Warrior Series, the fun YA novels I wrote last summer. These have all been drafted, with covers. And Rupture (Book One in the Transhuman Warrior Series) is in round two of the edits.

Website | Transhuman Warrior Series Page

Time for a short excerpt!

"Sterling is for rejects. Tranz rejects."
The words exploded out of Cooter Dawkins' mouth before his girlfriend, Simone Wellborn, could stop him.
The two of them sat across from each other in a booth at Mo's Coffee Shop, Cooter gripping a can of Dr. Pepper, Simone a mochachino topped with a mountain of whip cream.
Simone was an attractive girl with jet-black hair that stood out in two flaring pigtails. She wore baggy clothes that hid a lean but athletic body. She wasn't much more than a hundred and ten pounds, soaking wet, and Cooter was over six-feet tall, and his shoulders were so wide she had to lean to the side to see who walked in.
“Oh, great,” Simone said.
"What?" Cooter swiveled in his seat as if his life depended on it. He spilled his soda all over the sleeve of his navy-blue Ellington Preparatory letterman jacket but kept his eyes glued on the oddball walking to the counter. "Tranz."
The little Transhuman was only two feet tall. He wasn't an infant, or even a dwarf. He was proportioned well enough to look like a shrunken teenager who might do some ollies on a shrunken skateboard. He even wore shrunken clothes.
"Look at that,” Cooter said. “He's wearing a sweet pair of Bermudas, probably special ordered from Freaks-R-Us."
"Shh," Simone replied and pulled on his sleeve. "Don't let him hear you. I know who he is."
Cooter faced her. "So? What's he going to do? Ever since the Sterling freaks started coming to town, everyone has to walk on eggshells. Fuck that. Just because you're transferring there doesn't mean I have to like it."
The coffee shop wasn't a big store, but like most of the businesses in Cranton, Georgia, it was located on Jefferson Davis Road, where the stores lined up one after the other along the only strip in town. Simone liked Mo's because of the mismatched couches, the free WiFi, and the posters of pop stars all over the place. She wondered if the little Sterling student had taken a cab because he was too short to drive, and the Sterling School was several miles out of the town limits in the countryside.
"I wonder how he got here," Simone said.
"Maybe he walked," Cooter replied, then burst out laughing.
The defective Transhuman looked their way. He carried a huge can of soda in his hands, way too big for him, and it was enough to make Cooter laugh again.
"Shh—"
"Don't get your titties in a twister, Simone. Deformed Tranz like him should stay locked away in their school for the fucked-up-and-useless."
Simone sat up straight and considered getting nasty with her jerk of a boyfriend because that two-foot tall Tranz also had a premium intellect package—at least that was what she'd heard.
Cooter continued. "Otherwise, they'll be coming to town all the time. Soon, they'll be cruising up the street, hanging out at the movie theater and game store, and probably applying for summer jobs."
And Cooter couldn't have that, she knew. Cranton was a regulated township for the privileged and wealthy, like Cooter's family, and hers. "He didn't do anything. Leave him alone, Cooter. I'm warning you—"
"Hell if I care what you do. You've been a pain ever since you got kicked out of Ellington. He's one of the Sterling freaks. And don't say a thing, not after Dustin got killed."
"It wasn't this kid who did it—"
"Doesn't matter."
As the little Sterling student neared their table, he almost dropped his soda. It was slick with condensation; he used his entire shirt to wipe it down. "Just want a straw. Can you get it for me?"
His voice was faint and tinny and caused Cooter to sit rigid. He glanced at the sugar counter. "Get it yourself, freak."
Simone stood and admitted to herself it had been a mistake to spite her mother by dating Ellington Prep's star quarterback. She smoothed out the oversized clothes she always wore and considered telling him off but said nothing to her boneheaded (and soon to be) ex-boyfriend. She glided to the counter, grabbed a straw, bent over, and handed it to the little guy.
"Hey, I'm Simone. He's an idiot."
"I'm Wally."
Cooter snorted. "Lucky you she's so nice. I could strangle you with that straw." Again, laughter. And then to Simone: "I'm an idiot?"
Simone and the stranger from outside of town both saw that Cooter was only half kidding. He may have been the best-looking guy around and so socially acceptable and perfect it made Simone’s mother insane with annoyance, and, worse, he'd been engineered by his rich parents to be what he was: Mr. Perfect, but Simone had always known he had a mean streak. He was everything wrong with their new society: Unforgiving. And that made them worlds apart. And, damn it, she hated it when her mother was right.
Wally backed away, eyes locked on Cooter.
"How'd you get here?" Cooter asked.
Wally took another step, almost stumbled.
Cooter slid out of the booth. Simone moved to hold him back, but he pushed her aside and she stumbled backward.
"Ow!"
Another local, a young natural girl, saw it from behind the counter, but did nothing. She obviously knew who Cooter was and didn't want to piss him off. She stood with her hands at her sides, and watched.
"Yo, turd man," Cooter said, “how did you get to town on those little stick legs?"
Wally remained calm but kept backing up, his eyes on the massive young man in front of him. They were so disparate in size that Cooter could toss him across the room.
When the door opened and a figure appeared, Cooter was only one step away from maybe giving Wally a goal-winning kick. The new man was Cooter's equal in size. But he was dressed in a black woolen robe that hid his hands and feet and made him look like some mendicant friar in need of a bath. His long hair hung in strands from his head, nearly covering his face. His skin was sallow, as if he'd never been in the sun a day in his life.
The coffee girl bumped into the espresso machine behind her and spilled a jug of milk.
Cooter paused in mid-step as if someone had used a remote to freeze him. He put his foot back where it had been, not where he'd intended it to go.
The stranger scanned the room. "Wally, get in the car." His voice was soft and broken, and very weak, as if he'd been screaming all night from the bottom of a well.
Wally seemed saddened by what was happening, paused, then turned and walked out.
"Miss Wellborn," the man said, "I'm Coach Buzzal Vaughn. We'll be seeing you later today at Sterling?"
She nodded. "Yes, sir."

So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Rock Killer by S. Evan Townsend - Guest Blog + Excerpt

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! Rock Killer is a science fiction novel. Read the blurb, doesn't it look great? I know I sure can't wait to read it! So yep, without further ado, let's begin!

Rock Killer by S. Evan Townsend

Space Resources, Inc. (SRI) mines asteroids for the riches a populated Earth needs without degrading the planet. Yet there are those opposed to progress in whatever its form such as the Gaia Alliance, a front group for eco-terrorists. During a violent attack on the Moon, the terrorists steal an exploration ship, arm it, and rename it the Rock Killer.
Charlene "Charlie" Jones of SRI security is trying to infiltrate the Gaia Alliance's cabal to find evidence linking them to the murder of her fiancé. But a run-in with the law threatens to reveal her identity to the dangerous men of the Alliance.
Simultaneously, SRI Director Alexander Chun is traveling to the asteroid belt to bring a kilometer-long nickel-iron rock back to Earth orbit to mine for its valuable metals. Following him and his multi-national team is the Rock Killer. Without armaments, millions of miles from help, Chun must stop those who threaten him and the lives of his crew.

S. Evan Townsend

S. Evan Townsend is a writer living in central Washington State. After spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch, he returned to civilian life and college to earn a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington. In his spare time he enjoys reading, driving (sometimes on a racetrack), meeting people, and talking with friends. He is in a 12-step program for Starbucks addiction. Evan lives with his wife and two sons, aged 17 and 20, and has a 22-year old son attending the University of Washington in biology. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, history, politics, cars, and travel.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Trailer

Time for a short excerpt!

DeWite moved into the observation room and Prince followed.

The room looked almost exactly like a bar since it was a VIP lounge for watching ships land and take off. A large window looked over the shipyard, where various types of spacecraft were resting on the lunar dust. The window, made of Crysteel, invented by SRI's orbital laboratories, began about half a meter from the floor and extended to the ceiling and was about five meters wide. Crysteel, made in a factory in Earth orbit one atom at a time, was almost as strong as aluminum. Its one weakness was a very high index of refraction due to tightly packed oxygen atoms. It made great lenses but was not good for use where a clear view was needed such as spaceship windows and pressure suit helmets. But the picture window in the lounge would have been impractical without the Crysteel.

Four pressure-suited figures were moving across the plain. The suits were not SRI issue and they were carrying submachine guns. DeWite recognized them as a South African made 9 millimeter caseless that were favored by criminals who bought them on the black market.

One, carrying a 40-millimeter recoilless rifle, knelt just a few meters from the window and aimed. Fire shot out of the rear of the weapon, dying almost immediately in the airless environment. A flame licked a small intra-lunar shuttle followed by an explosion. The ship's skin crumpled and it folded in on itself in a slow, macabre death dance. An explosion marked the rupture of the fuel tanks. Fire burned until the oxygen ran out.

"Goddamnit!" DeWite exploded. "We need to get to the airlock."

Just then one of the four figures outside noticed the two Security guards. He tapped the others on their shoulders and pointed. The other three turned and again the recoilless rifle spat a fleeting flame. DeWite dived behind the bar—an easy task in the low gravity. The window exploded inward. Prince was thrown against the rear wall, his body shattered by the impact. Then the window exploded outward as the room decompressed. Prince's body was slammed against the bottom of the window and sucked out into the harsh sunlight.

DeWite heard the emergency door slam shut locking him in the room. He knew it would never open until the pressure in the room equalized with the pressure in the hall.

He stood, aimed his shotgun, braced his leg behind to compensate for the low gravity, and fired. He was surprised he heard it at all. Must still be a little air in the room, some part of him thought.

The figure with the recoilless rifle was thrown back and blood ejaculated from its torn body. It was freeze-dried before it hit the lunar plain. The remaining figures turned with their weapons firing. DeWite barely heard the bullets hitting the wall behind him. His ears felt as if they were going to explode. He screamed, not in fear, but to empty his lungs to prolong his already forfeit life a few more seconds.

Pump, FIRE, Pump, FIRE, Pump was DeWite's whole existence. Another figure crumpled, spouting blood. Then the bullets ripped into DeWite. Blood flowed like a fire hose. FIRE—DeWite could no longer stand, even in one-sixth gravity. He sank to the floor and died in a puddle of his blood that was boiling and freezing simultaneously.

And now, let's welcome S. Evan Townsend to the blog to talk with us about his book! :)

Bunnies

Sometimes doing these guest blogs is, well, a challenge. You have to write something witty, meaningful, intelligent that will make people want to buy and read your novel. Frankly, I'd rather be working on my next novel. But, alas, these are the tribulations us writers have to go through.



So I was sitting at my computer trying to come up with a new subject to write about for this guest blog and I was completely flummoxed. I had no idea. Then I got a text from a friend. She asked me about something, and then I answered. Then I texted back: "Got any ideas about things I could write about about Rock Killer?" and she replied "Bunnies." And I said "There's no bunnies in Rock Killer." And she said, "So?" And I replied "So how do I write about bunnies?" and she said, "I don't know, you're the writer."

Rock Killer is my latest novel. It is a science fiction novel set in the not-too-distant future. I estimate somewhere between fifty and 100 years from now. The premise of the novel is that in order to supply a crowded planet Earth with raw materials without degrading the environment, a company called Space Resources, Inc., mines asteroids for their valuable metals. But some people are against this as they are against all human progress because they see it as a threat to nature. And in Rock Killer, they use violent means to stop this progress.

My villains in Rock Killer are eco-terrorists. The novel was partially inspired by the eco-terrorist attacks in the Pacific Northwest where I live. One of those attacks was at the University of Washington in Seattle where the terrorists thought they were genetically engineering fast growing trees that could be used for lumber and paper. But faster growing trees would actually help the environment because we wouldn't have to cut down old growth and other slow-growing trees to make wood and paper that our economy still needs. But the eco-terrorists were against it, so they burned what they thought was it to the ground.

And they probably did it thinking they were protecting bunnies. Bunnies are cute. Bunnies are fluffy. Everyone loves bunnies. Everyone wants to save the bunnies (not that they are threatened). But this desire to save something cute runs through humanity, it seems. So when my eco-terrorists in Rock Killer turn to violence, they probably think they are saving, among other things, cute fluffy bunnies.

A movie is coming out called Big Miracle about saving three whales that are trapped in arctic ice. Once the ice covers all the water, they won't be able surface and breath and they would drown. This movie is based on a true story that happened in 1988. But these three whales came to the world's attention and massive resources were spent saving them. Estimates on the cost of saving the three whales range from half a million to a million dollars. According to the book The Whales: How the Media Created the World’s Greatest Non-Event by Tom Rose, those three whales had the good luck to get trapped in ice near a satellite uplink. "Had the facility been located far away, these whales, like dozen of others each year, would have died ordinary deaths.” Rose writes. (http://blog.beliefnet.com/moviemom/2012/02/the-real-story-big-miracle-and-the-alaskan-whale-rescue.html)
What if we'd taken that million dollars and spent it on cancer research? Or finding a cure for AIDS? But everyone loves whales.

Human actions have consequences and the environment is so complicated it is very difficult to know what actions we take in the environment will have what repercussions, even if we think we are helping the environment there might be blowback. For instance, you might want to save the bunnies, but the bunnies eat all the rabbit food, and the gophers die off because the bunnies ate all their food.
There are no bunnies in Rock Killer. But what the humans in Rock Killer do could affect the bunnies and all life on Earth.