The World of Senta and the Steel Dragon: A

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BrechalonAcorn, S.S.: A large Freedonian freighter, the S.S. Acorn carried the first group of Zaeri refugees from Freedonia to Birmisia.  It later made several other such voyages.

Admeta March, Milliner: An expensive supplier of ladies hats and wigs, this shop is located in Brech City on Avenue Peacock.

Adventures of the S.S. Flying Fish, The: The Adventures of the S.S. Flying Fish is the published journal of Brech biologist Tzuriel Brownworth, detailing his journies through the Mullien Islands and describing the unusual fauna and flora encountered there.

Adventures in an Unexplored Land: A pulp adventure novel by Rikkard Banks Tatum, Adventures in an Unexplored Land is one of several tales of adventure hero Ryne Nance.

Agria, Sable: Noted Brech author, Sable Agria is best known for the novels Light of the Moon, Virgins in the Spring, A Marriage of Purpose, Song of Seven Secrets, and Three Marks for a Pfennig. She is considered a mainstream and her works are considered an important part of Brech education, especially for young women.

Akkas: An almost mythical civilization along the west coast of Sumir, Akkas may have predated Donnata and Argrathia.  It disappeared about -3700

And God Looked Down and Smiled: A novel by Momone Lathan, translated to Brech from Mirsannan.

Andreasen, Marcus: A Mirsannan-Brech author, Andreasen wrote many short stories, but only one novel: The Sivler Pendulum.

Ankylosaurus: Ankylosaurus is a dinosaur common in Birmisia.  It is about 20 feet in length and weighs up to 6 tons.   It has a low-slung body and is quadrupedal, with the hind limbs longer than the forelimbs.   Ankylosaurus is herbivorous, with small, leaf-shaped teeth suitable for cropping vegetation.  They are often found traveling in the company of Iguanodon herds.

Ansegdniss, Palace of: The Palace of Ansegdniss is located at the end of Crown Street in Brech City, just south of Saint Admeta Park.  Originally built as a royal residence, for the past 250 years, it has been the official meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Greater Brechalon.

Anurognathus: Anurognathus is a small species of pterasaur common throughout Sumir.  In Brech City, it is common for people to feed them breadcrumbs in Hexagon Park.

Ape Cult, The: The Ape Cult is one of Encleps many organizations dedicated to worshipping animal spirits.  The Ape Cult also practices human sacrifice and frequently attacks and kidnaps outsiders for these rituals.

Archero, Kingdom of :Archero was a kingdom on the west coast of Sumir from about -1100 until -168.  Archero was the first to apply themes from the Zaeri religion to great architectural, literary, and artistic works.  It was this, which so impressed King Marius of Zur, that he engineered the unification of Zur and Archero.

Argrathia (Argrath): One of the world’s oldest cultures, Argrathia dates from about -7600.  Dominating the southeast portion of Sumir, on the shores of Lake Gar, it had expanded to an empire 1,000 miles wide by -6300.  The New Kingdom of Argrath began about -5900, when a series of kings spread their culture to its greatest extent.  Argrathia then began a long, slow decline.  After the death of King Magnus in year 7, Argrathia reformed as one of the Zur successor states.  In 27, Kafirism became the dominant religion in Argrathia.

Arps, Robinson: The author of half a dozen novels, Arps is today remembered mostly for Mirsannan Pastoral.

Arch of Conquest: A large truimphal arch at the edge of the Old City on Prince Tybalt Boulevard.

Army, Royal Brechalon: The Royal Brechalon Army is the land warfare branch of the Brech Armed Forces of the United Kingdom of Greater Brechalon. It came into being with the unification of the the Brechalon Islands in 1707.  The Royal Brechalon Army wears uniforms of blue, or in the case of cavalry, of khaki and blue.

Arsvold, Raamaya: A Skagian writer of the 17th century, Arvold is known for his only work translated to Brech: The Fury of the Mountain.

Augustus P. Dechantagne Park: Augustus P. Dechantagne Park is located on the peninsula in Port Dechantagne and is named for the young officer killed by a lizzie spear in the Battle of Suusthek.  If features a statue of the aforementioned Augustus P. Dechantagne, a gazebo, a copse of shade trees, and an open area where children and adults often play sporting games.

Avenue Boar: The center of the banking and finance industry in Brech City, Avenue Boar is lined with great marble edifices housing the stock markets and lending houses.  One may also find here, businesses which hire out servants to aristocratic Brech families.

Avenue Dragon: Several blocks north of Avenue Phoenix, Avenue Dragon is lined with large buildings—government offices, corporate headquarters, and ancient aristocratic homes.  Number One, Avenue Dragon is the address of the Dechantagne house.

Avenue Hart: A major street in Brech City.  The most famous feature of Avenue Hart is the Great Church of the Holy Savior.

Avenue Peacock: Avenue Peacock is a major street in Brech City.  It is the location of many exclusive shops that feature personalized shopping.

Avenue Phoenix: One of the major streets in Brech City, Avenue Phoenix runs from the Great Plaza to Hexagon Park and is lined with shops of every variety.

Avenue Royal: One of the major streets in Brech City, Avenue Royal runs on the west side of Saint Admeta Park.  Avenue Royal is lined by numerous monuments, as well as Sinceree Palace.

Axemom: Axemom (-1660 to -1592) was a Priest-King of Neo-Zaerphon, and the High Priest of the Zaeri.  He oversaw the construction of the Temple of Axemom in the city of Nurix.

Axemom, Temple of: The great temple built primarily during the reign of Axemom, the Priest-King, it was the center of the Zaeri religion from-1500 to about -500.  Magnus the Great ordered it restored after his visit in -31.  The temple, along with the city of Nurix, was destroyed in 88 by the Rundarians.

The Voyage of the Minotaur – 50% Off at Smashwords

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The Voyage of the Minotaur The Voyage of the Minotaur (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 1) is on sale all during the month of July for 50% off, only at Smashwords.  Follow this link and pick up the book (regularly 2.99) for only $1.50.  Be sure to use the coupon code: SSW50.

In a world of steam power and rifles, where magic has not yet been forgotten, an expedition sets out to establish a colony in a lost world. The Voyage of the Minotaur is a story of adventure and magic, religion and prejudice, steam engines and dinosaurs, angels and lizardmen, machine guns and wizards, sorceresses, bustles and corsets, steam-powered computers, hot air balloons, and dragons.

And don’t forget, you can pick up Brechalon (Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 0) free, wherever fine ebooks are sold.

Princess of Amathar – 50% Off at Smashwords

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Princess of AmatharPrincess of Amathar is on sale for the month of June, only at Smashwords during their Summer/Winter event.  Regularly 2.99, pick it up for 1.50 with coupon code SSW50 by following this link.

Mysteriously transported to the artificial hollow world of Ecos, Earth man Alexander Ashton finds himself in the middle of a millennium-long war between the reptilian Zoasians and the humanoid Amatharians. Adopted by the Amatharians, Ashton must conform to a society based on honor and altruism, ruled by Knights whose power comes from the curious energy forms known as “souls” which inhabit their supernaturally powerful swords, and rife with its own peculiarities and prejudices. When the Princess of Amathar, whom Ashton has longed for since first seeing her, is captured by the Zoasians, he must cross an alien world, battle monstrous creatures, and face unknown dangers to save her. Princess of Amathar is a sword-swinging novel of high adventure in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs. It is the story a strange world filled with alien races, aerial battleships, swords and energy weapons, amazing adventures and horrible dangers, and the man who must face them all for the love of a woman he has never met.

Utah Shakespearean Festival

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I spent Wednesday at the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City.  Along with my wife and me, were my lovely daughter and my equally lovely son (both pictured).  We keep thinking that this will be the last family trip that we all four go on, but the kids just don’t seem to get tired of us.  They keep asking to come along. I guess I can keep taking them until I’m 80.  Then they’re going to have to take me.

We saw Love’s Labour’s Lost, not my favorite play by Shakespeare, but then his worst is still pretty damn good.  It was well-done and we all enjoyed it.  It was just a day trip– up and back.  In previous years, we’ve gone up for several days at a time and have seen 4 or 5 plays in a trip.  I’m too old (and fat) for that kind of thing now.  Plus I had to get back home and get to work!

For those friendly readers out there, take note:  I really love Shakespeare, thanks most probably to my professor at UNLV.  There is at least one Shakespeare reference in almost all of my books.  Some, like both Astrid Maxxim books, have a chapter named for a  play.  Some, like Senta and the Steel Dragon, have some Shakespearean dialog.  And some, like Eaglethorpe Buxton, are filled with Shakespeare rip-offs!

The Young Sorceress – 25% Off

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youngsorceressformobileread1The Young Sorceress is now 25% off at the Smashwords Summer/Winter Promotion.  Use Coupon Code SSW25 at the checkout.

Everyone in Port Dechantagne seems to have an agenda of their own, from mysterious sorceress Zurfina, to agents from the enemy nation of Freedonia, to the kings and witchdoctors of the mysterious lizardmen. On the eve of her fifteenth birthday, sorceress’s apprentice Senta finds herself being pulled first one way and then the other. Will she actually have to split herself into four in order to deal with all her responsibilities?

In this, book 4 in the Senta and the Steel Dragon series, the young sorceress finds herself at a turning point, as she has to step up and fill in for her mistress, the mysterious Zurfina. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Zaeri writer Isaak Wissinger must escape the coming genocide in Freedonia, and ship-wrecked sailor Kieran Baxter must survive alone on a deserted island. What connection do they have the the Drache Girl and her country of Birmisia?

Follow this link to Smashwords.

Senta and the Steel Dragon Book 6

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The Sorceress and her Lovers

A few weeks ago, I put up a poll asking if the next book to feature Senta and the Steel Dragon, should be considered part of the previous series or if (since it is the beginning of a new saga) it should have it’s own series title.

The votes were 83% for keeping it part of the same series.  I think, now that I think about it, that this is the correct way to go.  So, as you can see, the book cover has been changed to reflect the new (old) series title and it is up on the Previews page.

As soon as I finish the revision and editing on Patience is a Virtue, I’ll be jumping back on 82 Eridani, but this story is just waiting there to be told.  It’s all plotted out and the first four chapters are essentially done.  That being said, I would love to hear from any of the readers of the series out there about what they want to happen to their favorite characters.

Casting Blood Trade

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It’s always fun to imagine your book as a movie.  Who might play the characters in Blood Trade?  Here are my choices:

Gina Carano as Xochitl McKenna

Few actresses can pull off MMA fighter and stripper, so there you go.

Keanu Reeves as Dominic Zielinski

Channing Tatum as Lance Rizzello

If you’ve seen the fight scene between Channing Tatum and Gina Carano at the beginning of Haywire, you can see the kind of action scenes possible with those two.

Saoirse Ronan as Novelyne Cavendish

She’s pretty, slight, Irish– perfect.

Steve Buscemi as Lawrence Rothwell

I wasn’t thinking about any of these people when I wrote the book.  Sometimes I do picture a person as I write, but not in this case.  I think though, that of all my stories, this one is easiest to cast.  These actors could really do a great job with this story– given a great director.  Joss Whedon, right?

Smashwords Summer/Winter Promotion

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Just another reminder that Smashwords is having their yearly promotion, featuring literally thousands of books at great savings.  From now until 7-31-13, you can find all kinds of gems.  Plus you can pick up some great deals on my books.

You can pick up Astrid Maxxim and her Amazing Hoverbike at 100% off– Free.  Use Coupon Code: SW100.

Astrid Maxxim Cover

Blood Trade and Princess of Amathar are 50% off– just $1.50.  Use Coupon Code: SSW50.

Blood Trade

Princess of Amathar

The Voyage of the Minotaur, The Dark and Forbidding Land, and The Drache Girl are all 50% off– just $1.50 each.  Use Coupon Code: SSW50.

The Voyage of the Minotaur

The Dark and Forbidding Land

The Drache Girl

The Young Sorceress, The Two Dragons, and the Many Adventures of Eaglethorpe Buxton are on sale 25% off– just $2.24 each.  Use Coupon Code: SSW25.

youngsorceressformobileread1

The Two Dragons

Eaglethorpe Buxton Mini

Follow this link to Smashwords, or follow the individual links on the book page.

Blood Trade: Chapter 6 Excerpt

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Blood TradeIn between my other work, I’m doing my yearly revision pass on Blood Trade.  I talked the other day about how much I enjoyed writing these characters.  As I was reading, I remembered how much I loved writing this passage.

Here in Chapter Six, we find our heroine, Private Investigator Xochitl McKenna hunting for a missing girl.  Dirty Cop Lance Rizzello has, for reasons of his own, decided to help her by taking her to the number one pimp in town.  Caution: Violence and Strong Language.

He stopped in front of a yellow adobe house.  Xochitl couldn’t help but think how, except for color, it was virtually identical to the one where Lance had presumably killed some drug dealers.  She reminded herself that she hadn’t actually seen him shoot anyone.  Lance got out of the car and walked around to her side, looked at her and said, “Get out.”  When they got to the front steps, they found an old woman sitting in a rocker just outside the front door.  Xochitl almost didn’t notice the sawed-off shotgun she held.  Lance opened the door and went inside, pulling the Goth detective along with him by the arm.  They passed through the dining room into the living room.  He pushed her into the middle of the room and then plopped himself down in a shabby rattan chair in the corner, resting his chin on his fist.

This was déjà vu all over again.  It was like being back in Israel’s crèche.  Six women reclined on torn pieces of furniture or on the floor.  Of course none of them were sucking blood, but most of them looked stoned out of their minds.  They either sneered at her or ignored her altogether.

“You’re that crazy inked-up puta!” a man shouted.

Xochitl turned to see a skinny Hispanic man with a shaved head walking into the room from a hallway.  She recognized him immediately—Eskimo.  He was the biggest of the big three.  He ran whores all over Vegas.  He walked past her.

“I knew you were fucked up after what you did to Slither,” he continued, “but you’ve got some seriously giant balls coming into my home, bringing the cops…”

“I kind of expected a nicer house,” she interrupted.

“You want your whores in the gutter,” said Lance from his seat, “you’ve got to stay in the gutter to keep them there.”

Eskimo’s head snapped around and his face went noticeably pale.

“Lance… Lance, I didn’t see you there.”  He formed his mouth into a crooked smile.  “Do you want something?  How about some coke… a little fluff?  Piece of ass?”

“Maybe a cool beverage,” replied the cop.

Eskimo backhanded the closest whore so hard that she flew halfway across the room.  “Get him a fucking beer!”  She scrambled to her feet and into the kitchen.

“So, Lance…” Eskimo stared expectantly at the seated man.

Lance pointed to Xochitl, and then took the beer from the returning girl’s hand.  She took a new seat by his feet and held onto him around the knee.  She had a blue snowflake tattooed on her neck.  Eskimo looked back and forth between the cop and the private detective.  He was clearly more at a loss as to what was going on than she was.  Finally Xochitl pulled out the picture of Daphna Sachs and held it out.

“I’m trying to find this girl.  I want to know if you… if any pimp in town has her.”

The pimp took the picture and looked hard at it.

“Never seen her before.”  He looked at the cop.  “I could find if she’s turned out… as a favor to you, Lance.”

Lance shook his head as he swigged the beer.  Then he swallowed.  “No.  This has nothing to do with me.  This is between you and her.”

Eskimo looked back at Xochitl.  His eyes almost implored her to explain what was going on, and then they turned cold.  He sneered.

“Yeah…fuck it… fuck it.  I’ll find out for you.  A’ight.  You’ll owe me one, you crazy fucking bitch.  I’ll find out about your girl.  Give me a day.”

“My office is at…”

“I know where you are.  Everybody knows the gun-crazy, tattooed puta.”

“It’s nice when you make new friends,” said Lance, getting to his feet and handing his unfinished beer to the girl at his feet.  “Come on.”

He took Xochitl once more by the arm and led her to the front door.

“Hey Lance,” called Eskimo.  “We’re a’ight?”

“We’re cool, Eskimo,” said Lance over his shoulder.  “Just don’t forget to pay your taxes.”

In something of a daze after leaving the pimp’s house, Xochitl stared out the cruiser’s window as Lance drove toward Glitter Gulch.  She knew what Lance was doing.  She wished she didn’t.  He was collecting protection money from the drug dealers and the pimps… probably from everyone in town.  And he was working for the mob—for Tony the Pipe.  She really wished she didn’t know that.  What she did want to know was why he wanted her.  She came back to reality as the car came to a stop, not in front of her office, but a mile away at the Pretty Good Place, pay-by-the-week hotel.

“Come on,” said Lance, getting out once again.

“I’ve got to get home,” said Xochitl.

“Come on.”

“I don’t think so.  I don’t think we should do anything anymore.”

“Don’t worry.  I’m not after your precious body this time.  We just need to talk.  Come on.”

She followed him through the darkened lobby and up a flight of stairs to the second floor.  Unlocking the door of room 211, Lance led her inside.  The room was red—red walls, red curtains, and red comforter on the bed.  It didn’t look any too clean.  In addition to the bed, there was a small table with four chairs and a red loveseat.

“Why do you have a room here?  Don’t you have a house with a wife in it?”

He turned around smiling, and then punched her in the solar plexus.  She dropped to her knees and tried to suck in some air.

“Next time I tell you to come in, you won’t make me repeat it three fucking times!” he shouted, pacing around her like a tiger in a very small cage.

Update: Patience is a Virtue

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PatienceAs I’m writing this, it’s about 3:00 PM on Wednesday afternoon July 3.  I am exhausted.  About 2:00 this morning, I completed the first draft.  Now I just can’t find the energy to do anything.  Today, I’ll make some changes to the manuscript suggested by my writers group Tuesday evening, but I’m not going to seriously start the revision process until Monday (that’s tomorrow for you reading this.)

I have two main things that I will be especially looking at as I do my first revision pass.  The first is to make sure that I haven’t flipped from one point of view to the other.  This story is more from Patience’s point of view, but I know I’ve slipped in a few places and given the reins to Mike.  The second is to balance out how much sex is in the story.  In the first two books, there are some strong allusions to sex, but not a blow by blow, as it were.  This book has a couple of fairly descriptive sex scenes and one not so descriptive.  I have to decide how I’m going to play it.

Of course there are plenty of other changes I’ll have to make.  I need to get them all done before I start editing.

Keep an eye on this blog, because I will be giving out coupon codes for free ebooks as soon as it’s done.  Thanks to everyone who has stopped by or written to tell me how much they enjoyed the other books and how much they are waiting for this one.