The Thursday Excerpt

Thursdays will now feature a short excerpt from a new or upcoming book release!

Authors interested in having their book featured here, please contact me.

Spunky will kick off this first Thursday Excerpt with a piece from The Circle of Friends, Book III...James.

* James is home on Spring Break from the University of Florida...

He sauntered out to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Small cans of juice sat on the top shelf and James grabbed one for himself. As he popped open the top, the side door opened and his father came in from the garage. He stared hard at his son as he washed his hands in the sink. James quickly finished his drink, wary of Ben’s skeptical expression.

“When are you going to cut that mop off your head?” his father growled as he dried his hands. He immediately opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer.

James tossed his empty can into the trash. “I’m not,” he said firmly, turning to leave.

His father followed James into the living room. “You need a haircut,” Ben said in a booming voice. He set his beer on the end table and fixed his eyes on James. “Let me get the shears and we’ll do it right now.”

Upon hearing that particular tone, James knew he’d best retreat to his room. After years of scrapping in the Sheppard household, he knew when a fight was about to commence. He did not feel like dealing with his father tonight.

“You’re not touching my hair,” said James forcefully.

He moved toward the hallway, but his father stepped directly in his path. There was no mistaking the stubborn determination in Ben’s expression. Out of the corner of his eye, James saw his stepmother lean forward, her eyes on the two antagonists.

“Why, does your little girlfriend like it that way?”

James glared angrily at him, his fists clenched at his sides. “Yes, she does!” he said in defiance.

Ben snorted. “Well, you look like a damned girl!” he said, grabbing a handful of James’s hair.

“Do not!” James shot back, attempting to pull away his father’s hand.

The gesture only angered his father and he reached for James’s shoulder. Desperate to escape, he shoved back and attempted to retreat to the safety of his room. Ben had not forgotten any of his military training and instantly snapped into action. Before James could react, his father had his right arm pinned painfully behind his back. He shoved his son against the wall and leaned heavily into his back. James cried out as his father grasped a good chunk of his hair and pulled hard.

“Lynn, get me a pair of scissors!” Ben demanded.

“No!” James frantically protested. He did not want to be forced to explain what had happened to his long hair.

“Ben, stop it!” cried his stepmother, rising to her feet.

“Damn it, just get me some scissors!” he yelled.

James could see the fear in his stepmother’s eyes and knew what his father would do if she refused. His father’s head turned in her direction, James decided to take advantage of his momentary distraction. Pushing away with his free hand, he managed to place a foot on the wall and shoved back with all of his might. His sudden movement caught his father off guard and he staggered into the opposite wall. Ben lost his grip on his son’s hair, and James twisted his arm free. Before his father could react, James bolted down the hall.

Upon reaching his room, he quickly slammed the door. The second he turned the lock, his father crashed against the surface. Frantically, James yanked his bed in front of the door and wedged the headboard underneath the knob. The next time his father hit the door, the frame visibly moved. James leapt to the end of his bed and braced himself between the footboard and the wall. His father continued to pound at the door, screaming obscenities. James kept his back against the bed frame and his feet planted firmly against the wall.

Author Mike Dellosso

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Scream Realms (March 3, 2009)
by Mike Dellosso

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mike now lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jen, and their three daughters. He writes a monthly column for Writer . . .Interrupted.
He was a newspaper correspondent/columnist for over three years and has published several articles for The Candle of Prayer inspirational booklets. Mike also has edited and contributed to numerous Christian-themed Web sites and e-newsletters.
Mike is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, the Relief Writer's Network, and International Thriller Writers. He received his BA degree in sports exercise and medicine from Messiah College and his MBS degree in theology from Master's Graduate School of Divinity.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Otherworldly Screams...
A Madman on the Loose...
This Time the Stakes Are Higher Than Ever
While talking to his friend on the phone, Mark Stone is startled by a cacophony of otherworldly screams. Seconds later, a tragic accident claims his friend's life. When this happens several more times--screams followed by an untimely death--he is compelled to act.
Battling his failure as a husband and struggling with his own damaged faith, Mark embarks on a mission to find the meaning behind the screams and hopefully stop death from calling on its next victim. When his estranged wife is kidnapped and he again hears the screams as she calls from her cell phone, his search becomes much more personal and much more urgent.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Scream, go HERE
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1599794691

Photo Tuesday - The Little Details

Our photo club often goes out on sunrise shoots. And while a gorgeous sunrise is not to be missed, I usually find my attention wandering to the surrounding details. A blade of grass with dew. A fuzzy caterpillar. A ripple on the water. These are the scenes I tend to capture.

As writers, we can't forget these small details. Some aspects are best left to the imagination, and I love a book that allows me to envision the characters and surroundings on my own. But what is so clear in our minds may not be apparent to the reader. We must remember to provide our readers with a clear sense of place.

The feel of wet dew on bare feet. The scent of pine on the wind. The glistening of ice on a frozen pond. The smell of coffee in the morning. The gentle hum of the computer. The hint of garlic in a pasta dish.

These little touches bring a story to life!

Espresso Book Machine

Coming to a bookstore or library near you!

Lightning Source had this to say about the device, which On Demand Books demonstrated this weekend at Book Expo:

“Lightning Source is pleased to announce the launch the Espresso Book Machine (EBM) Channel officially at BookExpo America starting this Friday. The EBM, an ATM for books, is located in bookstores, libraries and other sites. The Espresso Book Machine is the latest pioneering distribution channel to join the Lightning Source family of publisher-to-market pathways.

"The Lightning Source Espresso Book Machine Channel will give publishers the option to make available the books they have stored in the Lightning Source digital library, and have those titles printed, bound, and delivered at point of sale, on demand, in minutes.

"The compact size of the Espresso Book Machine® 2.0 (3.8 feet wide by 2.7 feet deep by 4.5 feet high) dramatically expands the opportunity to place machines in a variety of retail and library environments worldwide...

"On Demand Books will be demonstrating the new Espresso Book Machine Version 2.0 at BookExpo America in New York at Booth 4069. Visit either the Lightning Source booth (Booth 3859) or the On Demand Books booth for more information on the EBM and the Lightning Source Espresso Book Machine channel.”

What do you think about this new machine?