Eden: The Final Solution by Pascal Bouquillard – Spotlight

 

Dystopian Novel

Date Published: May 2, 2025

 

 

In 4029, Homo convertibilis has replaced Homo sapiens and their
scientists study the “Pierre de Vent,” a collection of political, historical,
and ancient sacred texts written by the “founding father,” who is the
reference of the new society.

2054, to combat the chronic anemia of the sedentary population, who live
cloistered and under government tutelage, the pharmaceutical company Orson and
Orson, of which Nucleus is the main shareholder, developed a regenerative pill
called Jouvence. Everyone is clamoring for it. “Unfortunately,” the side
effects of the miracle product affect the libido of the consumers, causing
them to literally die of pleasure.

Nucleus manipulates governments to gradually rid the planet of the surplus
humans who no longer have a place in a society where finance has supplanted
mass consumerism. His hope is to turn Earth into a true Eden for his people
who are, in his eyes, the only humans worthy of survival. However, a
persistent infertility crisis amongst his kind, casts a dark shadow over his
once-promising vision of a utopian future. Meanwhile, in the Metropolis, some
Sedentaries, including Winston, manage to escape the systematic and inevitable
extermination set in motion by Nucleus.

Will they be able to survive the persecution of the army of liberty and the
reactivation of the GMO seeds of hyper-accumulating hyacinths that has covered
the entire planet?

Gripping, provocative, and chillingly prescient, Eden: The Final Solution is a
dystopian tour de force that challenges the limits of progress, morality and
reimagine the Orwellian dystopia, shaped by the excesses and anxieties of our
time. Fans of Brave New World and 1984 will find themselves
enthralled—and terrified—by this haunting vision of the future.

About the Author

Pascal Bouquillard is a jack-of-all-trades. After graduating from the
“Baccalauréat économique et social” in France, he pursued
classical music studies at the “École Normale de Musique de
Paris”, taught for almost 30 years, acted on American stages in South
Carolina and published acoustic versions of his favorite songs on the YouTube
channel, “pascalsguitar”.

At the end of the ’80s, he spent several years touring Europe and
French-speaking countries with the “Trio Français de Guitare”,
which he co-founded and which specialized in transcriptions of works by early
20th-century composers. Unfortunately, focal dystonia prevents him from
pursuing a career as a classical guitarist. He then obtained a scholarship to
the “Maitrise de Musique Baroque de Versailles”, where he played
tenor and was introduced to conducting.

In the ’90s, he co-founded the progressive rock band Saens, in which he
was composer, singer, bassist and acoustic guitarist, and with whom he
released three albums: Les Regrets d’Isidore D, Escaping From The Hands
Of God and Prophet In A Statistical World.

In 1997, he conducted Benjamin Britten’s opera “Noah’s
Ark” at the Cathédrale Saint Louis in Versailles, the Église Saint
Augustin in Paris and the Théâtre de Poissy. That same year, he was invited to
conduct a group of musicians from the Orchestre National de France at the
Théâtre des Champs Élysées, on the occasion of Mstislav Rostropovich’s
70th birthday.

He then moved to the USA to find the woman he was to marry. Interested by the
turn the world economy is taking, he returns to his original political
passions.

After more than 5 years of research and reflection as part of a virtual
focused group of French citizens, and driven by the anxieties provoked by his
discoveries, he launched into the writing of “Eden” and the
“Practical Guide toward an Atomic Democracy”.

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Ideal Writing Space by Colin Sephton – Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Colin Sephton will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Ideal writing space

My ideal writing place is my study at home. It is my little sanctuary away from everything. It’s my own little world if you like. I can I like to work in my study surrounded by my inspiration. I am surrounded by bookshelves of fantasy books; my favourite authors being Michael Moorcock and Robert E Howard. These shelves also contain lots of Marvel graphic novels, science / astronomy books, art books, philosophy books, lots of notebooks and sketchbooks, and lots of curios gathered over a long time. I have prayer wheels, singing bowls, comic figurines, meteorites, Buddhist and Hindu statues. I draw all my ideas from these. I find it really relaxing to thumb through my books, especially the art books. These are for traditional artists like Monet, Turner, Constable or Da Vinci, but I also have fantasy art books by Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Roger Dean, and others. I use these for my own art and sometimes find it easier to paint a character before I use him / her in my writing. My artwork helps me to visualise characters so I can describe them in detail in my novels. I am a very visual person, and I think that probably comes across in my writing.

However, I can work virtually anywhere because I do a lot of my writing either on an iPad or by hand in a notebook. The notebook is also where I keep a lot of my ideas and research. I will scribble chapters down at speed, which leaves my handwriting looking dreadful. I defy anyone else to be able to read some of it. Then when I type it up, I will refine it, add additional detail, and move some text around. I am able to work like this anywhere, in coffee shops, hotels, even the beach or around a pool. I then edit all of this on a laptop in my study. I find it easier to move whole chunks of text around and look at several pages at once on my laptop. I drink lots of tea when I’m working and sometimes listen to music, but I can find that a distraction depending on the track. My music taste is very eclectic. After writing a piece or a chapter, I will think about it overnight and usually come up with additional ideas that I can add. So will edit to a certain extent as I go along. Anything I remove, I keep. I never delete anything, you never know when it will come in handy.

When doppelgangers start appearing in Oxford, Union Jack agents Ignatius and Indigo find themselves on another cosmic quest, one they didn’t set out to investigate.

Drawn into the search for the elusive and dangerous Book of Shadows, they find themselves traveling across the cosmos once again, racing against other versions of themselves, and visiting the Oracle to be given prophecies of terrible destruction that will engulf the cosmos in darkness. Only these two heroes—or their doubles—can open the book, which would lead to dreadful consequences for themselves, the world and the whole of creation.

The agents must outwit their own mirror souls and invade the impregnable Administorium, which holds the answers they need but also fearsome enemies of both the Union Jacks and the entire cosmos. In this quest, Ignatius and Indigo must protect not only England and the Empire, but the world and the cosmos.

Enjoy an Excerpt

As the shadowy figure moved from shelf to shelf, ornate gilt decoration caught what dim light there was on his grey-turquoise armour. Carvings of ancient scribes and tomes written to record the passing of aeons on many worlds across many planes. The books he tended were part of the vast repository of information that he had collected through his long lifetime. Books here took the form of sacred texts carved in clay, or written on scrolls of vellum, or even human skin. Enormous tooled leather-bound volumes with gilt pages or with golden clasps, some were chained and bound, their knowledge too dangerous to be shared or accessed by mere mortals. The shelves had been arranged by subject and ordered in a timeline for each category. There wasn’t any index system. The Librarian worked using only his memory, knowing each and every volume, regardless of when it was written or when it was obtained. Nothing was forgotten, his memory was a storehouse of wisdom and knowledge from across the cosmos.

With his brother and sister, they had probably gathered the entire history of the cosmos. From time to time, they would travel the astral planes in search of new knowledge and rendezvous every millennium to discuss and compare notes to set quests for each of them to fulfil in the search of even more ancient texts. Legend had it the three siblings were born of the Goddess of Wisdom and their father was a High Priest of the Ti-Botta.

About the Author Colin was born in Coventry and worked in the automotive industry for over twenty years before becoming an Engineering teacher. Obtaining his first library card at the age of thirteen, he became an avid reader of Fantasy and the mysteries of the Universe. He has an inbuilt curiosity for lost knowledge and ancient texts that may help to unlock the secrets of consciousness and the universe. Living in Oxford for many years, he has now moved back to his home county of Warwickshire where he enjoys creating and working with his wife on their garden in which he writes and entertains their two grandsons. He has always been an artist and writer and is inspired by the worlds created by Robert E Howard and Michael Moorcock, with the artwork of Frank Frazetta.

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Character Creation by Alex Zenk – Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Alex Zenk will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Character Creation

Having strong, relatable characters will help your story. They do not need to be overpowered and unrealistic, but should feel real. Establish core traits, names, age, background, and role in the story. Work out their personality, identifying key traits such as bravery, cynicism, or compassion. Is your character flawed? What motivates the character to do what they do? Build out the character’s backstory, what was their upbringing like, and what moments shaped their worldview. Who does your character have relations with: friends, spouse, parents, or kids? Does your character have any wounds? Work out their arc and potential growth. Does the character have a positive arc, a negative arc, or a flat arc? The character should have an external conflict to drive growth and reveal the character. As you work out your villain or conflict in the story, use this in connection to various actions that your character could participate in. As you show development, does this show in dialogue and behavior? Where were they once shy, and now they talk to everyone? What does that dialogue look like? Keep your character consistent and stay true to the core of who they are. Try to steer clear of overused tropes, like the “chosen one”. What supporting characters do you have? Do they bring out the best in the main character, or the worst? Avoid the tropes, but you should still use the familiar archetypes, like hero, mentor, or rebel. Add your unique twists to these archetypes. There is a lot to be said about character development. Generally, authors who flesh out their characters extensively tend to have better stories, while those with weak characters often struggle.

In a world where ancient magic is fading and darkness grows, one dwarf mage stands between his realm and destruction.

Ordi, a gifted mage with the rare ability to command all elemental magic, is summoned by his king on a perilous quest. Accompanied by his loyal posh hound Mira and his warrior brother Verdun, Ordi must recover the legendary Otthroite Gems—powerful artifacts thought lost to time.

As they journey through forbidden forests, abandoned dwarven cities, and haunted valleys, they discover these gems are the only hope against the rising threat of the long-banished Dark Lord. With each step, they uncover secrets of ancient magic and face betrayals that test the bonds of brotherhood.

Rich in world-building and filled with magical encounters, “The Chronicles of Ordi” blends classic fantasy elements with fresh perspectives on courage, loyalty, and the price of power.

Enjoy an Excerpt

The battle intensified. The witch’s minions—a mix of twisted abominations and resurrected corpses—swarmed the clearing. Galen led the paladins in a valiant charge, striking down skeletal warriors only for them to rise again. Ordi and the mages unleashed torrents of arcane energy, incinerating the dark creatures. Despite their best efforts, the witch’s power seemed endless. She began summoning more skeletons to add to the chaos of the battle. Mira charged in, pounding and ripping bones apart. The skeletons reformed effortlessly, keeping her busy.

The skeletons pressed in, their bony fingers scraping and clawing, as Ordi and Mira fought back to back, the sounds of battle filling the clearing. Ordi summoned bolts of arcane magic that pierced through the skeletal frames, incinerating them to ash, but it was a fleeting victory. The skeletons reformed with unnatural speed, their rattling bones an unsettling soundtrack to the ongoing fight. Read more – link in comments.

About the Author Alex Zenk brings a fresh voice to the world of epic quests and magical realms. Born and raised in the midwest, Alex’s love for fantasy was kindled early by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and nurtured through years of immersive role-playing games. As a pastor by day and a storyteller by night, Alex brings a unique perspective to his writing, weaving themes of morality, redemption, and the complexities of good and evil into his narratives.

Drawing inspiration from his experiences in World of Warcraft, Alex has crafted a rich and immersive world in his debut series, “The Chronicles of Ordi.” His background in theology and his deep understanding of human nature inform the complex characters and intricate plot lines.

When not writing or tending to his pastoral duties, Alex can be found exploring the natural beauty of Iowa with his family, using these adventures to fuel his imagination and inspire new fantastic landscapes. With plans for multiple books set in the world of Asheros, Alex Zenk is poised to make a significant impact on the fantasy genre, offering readers a blend of classic epic fantasy with a modern, thoughtful twist.

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As an Author, What Scares Me the Most by Tom Haward – Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tom Haward will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

As an author, what scares me the most is…

The most contradictory fear as a writer is the fear no-one will read my books but also that everyone will read my books. I’m always scared about putting so much time, love and effort into these stories and then no-one ever reads them. I’ve learnt over the years not to care about what people think and not to be validated by other people. It’s taken a long time to get there but now I genuinely don’t care about how people view me. As long as I have integrity and stay consistent in that, then people liking or disliking me is their subjective thing. So, when it comes to writing I feel safe in myself and my own ability not to care if people don’t like my books. But there’s something different about people liking your books and actually reading your books!

And that’s my fear: having books no-one has read. But then then other fear I have is all of my local community reading my books. And it’s not because I worry if they will like it, but because I worry about them finding any grammatical mistakes and stopping me in the street to point then out.

Again, I’m not fearful of what people think; I’m fearful of realising my own mistakes via other people! It sounds silly but being a writer means most of our fears are probably contradictory and absurd! And on that note, I do hope all of you reading this pick up my books and give them a read.

With Grand Protector Faust missing and Caesar dead, Senator Frigus is trying to hold the fraying threads of the Empire together by keeping this information secret. The Empire is already fragile, and if the truth spills onto the streets of Rome and beyond, the Empire could crumble.

Faust is prisoner of the giant Bjorn Askå and his cellmate is the rebel leader, Boatman King. Abducted by Askå, they’re now part of his grand plan to rule the entire world, with the Empire his next target. Can Faust and Boatman forge an alliance or are their own ambitions stronger than any desire for a truce?

A continent away, Bella, Maverick and the other rebels have escaped to the RIA where they lick their wounds from the disaster of Faust and Askå’s attack on their underground headquarters. They believe they have covered their tracks and hope the 35, leaders of the RIA, will equip them to take the fight to Rome again, this time with the advantage of surprise.

Olivia King, though, she is tired of the fight. Traumatised from being tortured at the hands of Maximus Nero and conflicted about her husband’s relentless desire to crush Rome, she is unsure whether she has the energy to keep fighting those who have caused her so much pain.

With the world and its people in turmoil, one thing is for certain: chaos remains in a world needing redemption.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Southwark London 2030

Marcus flipped his eyepiece up and walked away from the vantage point he’d found for spying on what Maximus was doing. There were other crosses lining London Bridge, but in the cold January night, the bodies nailed to those crosses were quiet. If any were still alive, they were conserving energy, swapping between trying to breathe and trying to push themselves up on their nailed feet so their lungs were able to intake some life-saving oxygen. The orange glow of street lights showed the odd misty puff of breath feebly forming and then dispersing, like death swatting away the attempt at clinging on to life.

Indeed, the early morning, just before the arrival of dawn, was quiet. Quiet didn’t mean calm and he was feeling the pulse of adrenaline rushing through him. All the soldiers around him were because if they were guarding the son of Caesar then there was a good chance rebels would be appearing. It wasn’t guaranteed, but Maximus wanted to make a show of crucifying someone and he believed twenty-five soldiers as his protection was a necessary element to that.

When Marcus and his comrades were called up to be ready to go immediately, a few soldiers pulled out their phones and texted their loved ones saying they were going on a dangerous shift and to be prepared. Marcus scoffed at their fear and told them so. The response was that Marcus was new to this city and he should prepare himself for encountering Boatman King or The Beast, because that encounter would likely be his last on this earth.

About the Author: Tom was born in Essex and at 4 months old he and his identical twin were adopted into an oyster farming family. Tom now runs the business as generation eight of Haward oyster farmers. He has a fiancée, baby daughter and a cockapoo.

Tom has an MA in Creative Writing and has loved telling stories since he was a child, whether verbally or through prose.

The Path of Chaos was his debut novel. He is also working on a six episode comedy screenplay and tweets passionately about his family’s industry and the challenges it faces.

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Standing at Heaven’s Doorstep by Judy Cohen – Spotlight

 

 

Fantasy and Sci-fi

Date Published: 05-11-2025

 

 

Standing at Heaven’s Doorstep is a book of 31 short stories. They are of
fantasy and science fiction. I have revised old fairy tales. We will ravel to
new worlds and assist in solving their problems. You will meet three devils, I
have known. Tooth fairies and dreamers are waiting. Join me… Judy

 

 

About the Author

 My name is Judy Cohen. I taught kindergarten, and new teachers for 27 years.
During that time I was a blogger and a part time writer. My family encouraged
me to write my book. The question they posed was, what am I waiting for?
Standing at Heaven’s Doorstep was born..

 

Contact Link

Website

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Goodreads

 

Purchase Links

 

Amazon


B&N

 

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The White Deer of Kildaire by Christy Matheson – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Christy Matheson will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour and a fine writing notebook with personalized art to a second randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

There’s a deer sorting Christmas decorations in Maura’s kitchen…

All Maura wants is a peaceful winter holidays in her dilapidated Irish castle, but her ex is threatening her with family court, and her second grader has invited a strange–completely unclothed–friend, to spend the holidays with them. Oh. And the friend’s dog, which is not actually a dog but probably one of the white deer of Celtic myth.

Maura distracts herself from her husband’s threats by trying to discover why a Fae deer is in her kitchen, when the two women accidentally end up in the Ireland of ancient myth. The White Deer was the human queen of this castle, but it appears she has husband trouble too. Perhaps…the deadly sort of trouble.

Can Maura rescue her new friend — or is Maura herself so tangled in the White Deer’s fate that she won’t make it home to her children alive?

This novella will appeal to readers who enjoy cozy fantasy, ancient history, Irish folklore, and uplifting stories about motherhood and found family.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Raindrops slide down the windscreen of the Peugeot, and condensation creeps up the windows as we let the minutes tick by. We got to Cork airport early, but Aiden and Kaylee haven’t changed their minds. No way, no how are they getting on that plane back to America.

Aiden lifts his phone and snaps a picture of the distinctive swoop of the departures building, then turns and gets me in the frame. Ca-tip. Ca-tip. He hunches and his thumbs fly over the screen.

“Okay,” Aiden says. “Done. It’s official now.”

He’s trying to prove that I did my best to drop them off, but I know it won’t be enough. The teens’ biological parents are both going to blame me for violating the custody agreement.

Within seconds, my phone buzzes against my leg. In the back seat, Kaylee’s pings, then dings, then chirps. Aiden, who at 16 always plans ahead, switched his to silent mode before unleashing the storm of recriminations. I should have done the same. I close my eyes and lean my head against the cold window. Buzz, buzz, chirp, ding.

“Are you sure you won’t get out…” My voice can’t turn this into a question.

“Have we missed the plane yet?” Kaylee demands.

“No,” Aiden and I say together.

We sit without talking. More pings.

Amber: Please.
Please please please please please.
One mother to another. Please.

In my heart of hearts, I sympathize with Amber. I’d want to see my children for Christmas, too.

About the Author: Christy Matheson writes award-winning fiction about friends, family, and finding one’s place in an ever-changing world.

She is the author of “The Castle in Kilkenny: Fairy Tales” novella series. Each one sets a traditional Irish fairy tale within a modern blended family, perfect for readers wanting a cozy family adventure.

Christy’s regular historical work (sans fantasy elements) can be found in the award-winning “Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women,” of which she is also an editor. Her Regency novels are represented by Kristina Sutton-Lennon and have won pre-publication awards for women’s fiction.

Christy is also an embroidery artist, classically trained pianist, and sews all of her own clothes. She lives in Oregon, on a country property that fondly reminds her of a Regency estate (except with a swing set instead of faux Greek ruins), with her husband, five children, three Shelties, one bunny, and an improbable quantity of art supplies.

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Among Us by V.G. Harrison – Spotlight and Giveaway

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. V.G. Harrison will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

She’s in the most dangerous place in the world.

Prof. Meridia Vail, a member of the Bridgeway Space Station, has escaped the government stronghold and is on a mission among the human population of this “new” Earth. She needs to find scientists, engineers, researchers, anyone who can help her and her crew get back to their derelict space station that has crossed over into a different dimension. The sooner the better, too. The Bridgeway is in a decaying orbit and has the potential to kill millions, if it crash lands on the planet.

Trusting anyone in this New Earth is going to be hard to come by. The authorities have branded her as a maniac who has escaped from a mental hospital. For the past five years, multiple countries have colluded in declaring no survivors from the Bridgeway Space Station incident. When Meridia’s finally able to convince a university professor, Dr. Dana Haden, of who she is, Prof. Vail realizes she’s not home-free yet. She has to convince the entire world who she is and expose the lies nations have been telling their citizens. Will governments be forced to free her crew so they can work the problem…or will they take their chances and nuke the station from orbit to bury their secrets?

Read an Excerpt

“Wait! Stop!” Dr. Haden grabbed the chair, but wasn’t able to yank it from my grip. She placed herself between me and the window. “What are you doing? Put this thing down.”

“He threatened you,” I replied. “I can break the glass with this and we can make it out on the ledge. I might be able to even carry you in my arms and we jump–”

“Oh my God, no.” She shook her head before smiling and motioning for me to lower the chair. “It’s okay. I swear. He’s a friend. Put the chair down; he won’t hurt us.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She eased the chair out of my hands and placed it back on the floor. A sigh released the tension from her face and shoulders. “You would’ve seriously thrown that thing and tossed me across your shoulder before jumping three stories to your death?”

“Of course. I don’t know if I would’ve come away unscathed, but I would’ve taken the chance, as you’re my only chance to get back to my space station right now.”

“Wow. That’s some friendship.”

“You’re welcome…I think.” I half-smiled.

“I’m not even sure my husband would’ve gone to those depths.” A chuckle seemed to calm her more as she made her way to the door. Her hand motioned for me to relax. “It’s just my colleague, Professor Carlin.”

She opened the door and motioned for him to enter.

About the Author:Amazon best-selling author, V.G. Harrison enjoys creating smart heroines who are more comfortable dealing with things like Fine-structure constant and quantum entanglement than the fallout from their conflict. She loves to write stories that leave her audience so engaged they can’t sleep at night, thinking about the possibilities.

V.G. holds a Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering and a Masters in Information Technology. When she’s not writing, she’s an IT manager for software company.

Her ever-growing list of hobbies include astronomy, attending comic cons, keeping an eye on the cryptocurrency and stock markets, hydroponics gardening, hiking, and connecting with her daughter on a cool level. Building Lego sets at night with milk and cookies on the side come in handy for that.

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Between the Living and the Dead by Sophie Jupillat Posey – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sophie Jupillat Posey will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The dead won’t leave her alone. For Cavilla, it’s one case after another…

Cavilla Ramirez is an average Peruvian teen, tethered to the 1990s rhythm of clarinet rehearsals, dog-eared Agatha Christie novels, and low-stakes schoolyard mysteries. But when a hit-and-run claims her two best friends, her world implodes—and then restructures itself in a seemingly impossible and unnerving way. Her friends aren’t gone. Their ghosts linger, needing her help in solving their murder so that they can cross over. And it’s not just them. Ghosts are everywhere, and somehow, she’s the only one who can see them.

With a protector in the form of a god-turned-cat, Cavilla becomes a reluctant guide between Peru’s realms of the living and the dead. Solving murders and helping the dead find closure becomes her new normal. But every answer she uncovers tugs loose something else: long-buried secrets about her own heritage, secrets her aunt Tia Luz would rather keep six feet under.

And as Cavilla finds out, not all ghosts need guidance. One presence stands apart, watching her… waiting.

And he isn’t asking for help. He wants her – or something she has.

Enjoy an Excerpt

I knew something was wrong when dusk wasn’t followed by night. It was happening again; my third time this year. The sun just set over the hills, but the light froze, as if a greedy hand had seized it and squeezed it. The motes of ashen light trickled through the violet clouds into my bedroom window. I passed my hand through the dull sunbeam, my brown color paling as it mingled with the dusk. Even my gold leaf bracelet lost its luster and glow. The hoarse calling of Tia Luz Marina for dinner time quieted and softened until her always angry-sounding voice was nothing but a hush.

That time, I held still and breathed slowly, slitting my eyes until my vision doubled. Focus on the intangible, I coaxed myself. The withered light impregnated every corner, every detail of my messy room. It turned into ghosts the coloring books, the woolen dolls, the half-empty bottles of acrylic paint. When it fell on the spirits of my deceased friends, Niko, and Angelica, sitting on the floor by my bed, it brought them further into focus.

The queer dusk light slipped into my short bathroom hallway and vanished. I stared at that dark entryway, convinced there was something more there. For years, I’d been telling Tia Luz Marina
that there were ghosts in the bathroom, but she tossed the notion aside. She said believing in ghosts was a gringa thing. Yet, when I pressed her on ghosts and gods from stories of our Peruvian culture, she shied away.

About the Author: Sophie Jupillat Posey has an enriched passion for writing and music that allows her to captivate audiences with her unique style in poetry, novellas and novels. As she lives her life around the beauty and art and the inspiration from others, Sophie manages to create worlds that her readers will find themselves immersed in. With her passion for the arts, she has also studied music and writing at Rollins College, which can be found as guiding pieces in her works. She is the author of several pieces, including the YA fantasy “The Four Suitors”, the short story sci-fi collection “The Inside Out Worlds: Visions of Strange,” several bilingual children’s books and a poetry chapbook. Having lived in the US for many years, Sophie now calls France her home, bringing more of her passion for the arts in her books.

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Ten Things You Might Not Know About Lauren Wagner – Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lauren Wagner will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. I want to climb Machu Picchu someday. Because what’s more fun than hiking up an ancient mountain and pretending you’re in enough athletic shape to actually pull it off? But seriously- it was the inspiration for my first book: Awaken.

2. Sleeping is basically my secret superpower. I can fall asleep anywhere, anytime. Meetings, planes, after five cups of coffee — boom, out like a light.

3. I’m all about that pitch-black, silent bedtime vibe. But my husband? He needs the TV on, like it’s his personal sleep podcast. I let him win because, well, love means suffering through reruns of bad television.

4. I wasn’t much of a reader until after college. Before that, everything I read was always for a school assignment, and I never picked up anything unless it was required reading. Back then, I read things at the surface level and never thought about what the words actually meant. Once turned into an “actual reader,” I felt so guilty about it that I went back and reread everything from my high school and middle school reading lists. I had missed out on so much, and I promised myself that I would never again take a book for granted.

5. I wish I could sing.

6. I hate the smell of ketchup.

7. If I could choose another career, I’d be an archaeologist. Digging up history and wearing a hat? Sign me up. History is where I find most of my inspiration. The world is covered by so much forgotten knowledge, buried beneath layers of earth and time. Every artifact is like a puzzle piece, waiting to reveal the stories of those who came before us. I love the idea of uncovering secrets that have been hidden for centuries—reconstructing lives from the fragments they left behind. It’s like being part detective, part historian, and part adventurer.

8. Hiking is my happy place. Give me dirt trails, fresh air, and a good view — I’m in heaven.

9. Music is my muse. When a song gets stuck in my head, it’s usually a sneaky little story begging to be written.

10. Outer space terrifies me. All that empty blackness? No thanks. I prefer to keep my feet firmly on the ground and avoid thinking about floating alone in the void.

Following a catastrophic nuclear war, Sara lives in a town where the government controls every drop of water. Strict rationing tightly regulates residents’ lives, and to fall sick is to be executed. Sara’s life becomes more dangerous and complicated when she first hides and cares for a small boy who has fallen sick, then takes him in when his parents are taken by the authorities.

Determined to care for the helpless child while struggling to keep alive the memory of her long-dead best friend, Sara leans on her friend’s older brother, Josh, an employee of the domineering water company that controls the water rationing. But Josh is under suspicion, and the city’s enforcement unit begins to observe their daily activities. Despite knowing that she’d be executed if her actions were known, Sara finds herself deeply and distressingly attracted to the lead investigator, navigating a complicated romance and finding a glimmer of hope in a world long dominated by fear and control.

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United Region Water Laws: Established May 2167
Water restoration and conservation laws formed with the intent to restore and maintain the physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters are our nation’s highest priority. Any ill citizens will be removed from government-proclaimed safety zones for the public’s well-being.

Black SUVs line the street, their dark tinted windows and their sparkling silver rims reflecting impending doom. But the windows cannot keep out the screams. Not the cries, nor the banging from inside the vehicles. It’s random health inspection day, and dozens of citizens have already failed, by the count of SUVs.

Josh stands to greet me with a kiss on the cheek, his silence speaking louder than words. I smile back and try to ignore the ominous SUV’s and to ignore what is happening.

“Sit down. Don’t draw any more attention to yourself than necessary,” Josh says.

My pulse is pounding, and my chest rises and falls quicker than I can control. Sweat drips from my brow. My stomach is tied in knots. I assess my body for early signs of illness. No sore throat. No muscle aches. No nausea. All I can do is wait in silence. Our words would be lost anyway, so I sit down at the table.

About the Author: Lauren Wagner’s love for reading started as a young adult after discovering her town’s public library. After carrying out piles of books at a time, and re-reading them over and over again, she discovered her love for writing. She writes fantasy and science fiction as well as post-it notes about her future stories.

She grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago where she presently resides with her husband and two children. She currently teaches upper elementary students to love and obsess over written works of art.

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Stellar Heir 2: Syndicate Moon by Scott Killian – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Scott Killian will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Jael and his crew are on the run, searching for an ancient machine that could save the galaxy, but the syndicate-controlled moon has other plans.

After uncovering an artifact that grants him extraordinary powers, Jael thought he had gained the upper hand in the lawless fringes of space. But news of his newfound abilities has spread throughout the galaxy, and a bounty is placed on his head for crimes he didn’t commit. New enemies emerge to claim the reward and old foes remain relentless in their pursuit of the artifact.

Jael is unwillingly thrust into a high-stakes game that determines control over the moon. The four crime syndicates use this brutal contest to decide who will rule, and now Jael’s fate is entangled with theirs.

Complicating matters further, a mysterious woman with a similar artifact stalks Jael across the moon, sabotaging his quest. With each step, the stakes rise, and every decision could mean life or death. Jael must fight to stay alive, protect his crew, and uncover the second Antiqui lock—before time runs out.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

Black crystalline scales erupted from Jael’s skin as he threw himself in front of Merzi. The scales absorbed the impact of the slugs and heat of the beams, crystal shards crackling off with each hit.

“Whoa, whoa, hold your fire!” One of the members stepped forward —a younger man who showed obvious signs of being a human hybrid.

His skin had a subtle, iridescent sheen and bony protrusions framed his jawline. His eyes scanned Jael, one a piercing blue, the other a glowing amber. Unlike the others he was clad in a weathered leather vest with various alien ornaments dangling from his belt.

The man continued. “We’re here for Ked’Korhva, not the woman.”

“Who the void cares, Lorvel?” one of the others said. “Just waste the skwer so we can get our payday.”

Jael straightened, breathing heavily. His scales dissolved back into his flesh. “Since when do syndicates go into bounty hunting work?”

Lorvel stepped closer. “Since the price on your head hit six digits.”

“You’re really willing to die for a payday?” Jael asked, motioning for Merzi to retreat into the abandoned building.

“For that kind of money?” Lorvel grinned, raising one brow. “Absolutely.”

Jael stole a glance over his shoulder to make sure Merzi had taken cover inside. When he saw her get into position behind the broken window, he turned back towards Lorvel and the rest of the Legion lackeys.

Jael quickly raised his slug thrower, aiming for Lorvel, but a shot rang out. The gun was knocked from his grip, skidding across the walkway. He swore under his breath and cradled his stinging hand.

Lorvel had his weapon steadily trained on Jael. The two men locked eyes. Jael shook his hand, ignoring the throbbing pain and dropping into a fighting stance. The wound had already healed thanks to the Antiqui bracelet.

About the Author: Scott Killian grew up in California where he consumed every bit of sci-fi, fantasy and horror media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, and H. P. Lovecraft, those portals in his mind were opened, and his obsession with reading began. Storytelling, in any form, is his only passion.

Inspired by epic sci-fi space operas, Killian crafts tales of interstellar adventure and space wars, blending thrilling martial arts combat with galactic-scale conflict. His works often feature gritty fight sequences and complex characters caught in the heart of a stellar conflict, creating a unique blend of space opera thriller and sci-fi epic.

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