Making Light of Being Heavy by Kandy Siahaya

About the Book:

These days everyone has a society-driven mindset and totally forget to laugh, especially at themselves. This may be cliche but I truly believe that laughter is the best medicine and I think everybody should laugh every day. Period. Over the years as a person blessed with the fat gene, I have been in many situations where if I could not find humor I probably would end up on the couch in the psychiatrist's office. This book is about as politically incorrect as it gets for such a subject but it is also based on reality. This is a reality that many women have just like me, but do not think they can (or should) at times just laugh about it.

My intention when I started writing this book was to hopefully give insight to many who could never relate but at the same time perhaps provide a different perspective to women just like me. It is a point of view that has given me the strength to live my life happily and project these feelings onto everyone I come in contact with. I have a great sense of humor and a quick with and guarantee you will be laughing (and thinking) with each chapter of Making Light of Being Heavy.

About the Author:

Kandy Siahaya was raised in a small town in Maine where she graduated from high school in 1984. She worked her way up from her first job as CSW to Manager of Kentucky Fried Chicken and ended up in Brunswick, Maine. When she decided to leave the fried chicken business at age 22, she packed up her little Chevy Chevette and moved to Fort Myers, Florida where she worked as a waitress and had a great time as a single girl in her 20's. Reality hit when she was 25 years old and went back to Maine and received her Associate's Degree at Beal College and promptly moved back to Florida and started a career in medical transcription. In 1995 at age 29, she met her future husband and moved to North Miami Beach, Florida, and continued with transcritpion starting her own business.

In 2002, Kandy left North Miami Beach and moved back to Maine with her five-year-old son and eventually divorced in 2005. Kandy still does medical transcription but had an unexpected decline in work which left her with a lot of time on her hands. This is when she decided to write a book. this is something she had been thinking about for a few years but never had the time because she was always so busy with her business. It was meant to be a quick and funny read, something to brighten the outlook of many that really do not see the light through their own tunnel vision. It was also intended to be insightful for those that could never possibly relate to this specific subject. Kandy has succeeded in doing just that with Light of Being Heavy.

For more information please visit http://www.makinglightofbeingheavy.com/

I was lucky enough to be able to interview this fantastic lady. Here's what she had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

Making Light of Being Heavy is short comical rant from the perspective of a fat chick with a sense of humor in today's society.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

About five years ago a friend and I were walking with our kids along the sidewalks of Old Orchard Beach in the summer when a cute guy driving a pedicab stopped beside us waiting for the light. Joking around with him I asked him if there was a weight limit on that ride. My friend and I both were over 300 pounds and he was looking at us I think trying to come up with a "safe" number and he said "500 pounds" smiling. My friend and I started laughing and I jokingly said that we would have to have individual rides. While walking away we started talking about all kinds of instances like that one that we could laugh off and my friend said we should write a book.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

My own personal experiences and having been fat ever since I was a kid.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My son and my friends.

Your biggest critic?

Anyone without a sense of humor.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

No specific cause I am passionate about but I am a strong believer in the more you give the more you will receive and I love to help people and encourage my son that in life it is better to give than to receive.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

My 23-year-old stepdaughter and young granddaughter who turns 3 in April moved in last June so I think I will say my ability to have more patience has improved.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

I am not sure if just being true to myself and being real would be considered rituals but that was how I based Making Light of Being Heavy in the hopes that the book would not only be entertaining but insightful as well.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

Making Light of Being Heavy is my first book but I would say that society in general influenced part of the book and then my own personal goal to make people laugh with a different perspective on such a touchy subject.

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

Raising my son.

What are you currently working on?

Actually, my son and I are working on a children's book in which he uses is great artistic ability and illustrates it.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

Always be positive. Remember...it takes more muscles to frown than to smile!

What are some of your long term goals?

I am not really good with long-term goals but for the short term I would say actually sticking to a diet and also helping my son in his achievements as he gets older.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

Getting my point across and having the effect on the reader that was intended.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

I always finish what I start and do what I say I am going to do.

Biggest weakness?

Good food :)

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

There are not too many that I could find in the same genre but a couple that I did look at seemed to be more "fat and proud" or more bitter towards people and their thoughts on weight. At this point in my life I have no reason to be bitter at a boy in the fifth grade that did not pick me for the kickball team and I am not proud of being fat but I am proud of myself and who I am.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

I am hopeless romantic and believe in happy endings so I would say it would be something in the historical romance department like Judith McNaught or Lisa Kleypas, two of my favorites.

If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?

None. The decisions (good and bad) I have made throughout my life have made me who I am and I have no regrets.

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago? In what way/s?

I was going through a divorce five years ago which was very stressful because I really do believe in happy endings but also believe in being emotionally healthy which I am now.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

Always treat others as you would want to be treated yourself. Always.

Is there anything you regret doing/not doing?

Not yet...maybe a further down the road something will come to mind...

What is your favorite past-time?

I love yard sales and thrift store shopping.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Thank you for the interview. I hope everybody enjoys reading Making Light of Being Heavy.

MAKING LIGHT OF BEING HEAVY VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on May 1 and end on May 29. You can visit Kandy's blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in May to find out more about this great book and talented author!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.

A Carousel Tale by Elisa Kleven

Ernst loves the carousel near his house, and his favorite animal to ride is the dog. When the dog's wooden tail comes loose just before winter, the carousel keeper gives Ernst the important job of watching over it until springtime. But the tail looks so sad sitting on Ernst's shelf without its dog that Ernst can't help but try to cheer it up. It isn't long before he has transformed the lonely tail into something wonderful!

As spring approaches, Ernst wonders if he will have to give up his special creation. And if he doesn't, what will the poor dog have to wag? The inventive blue crocodile from Ernst and The Puddle Pail shines in a story children will cherish.

I was lucky enough to get the author to agree to an interview. Here's what she had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

It tells the story of a young blue crocodile, Ernst, ( featured in three other books of mine), who uses his creativity to make something wonderful out of a loss. Ernst is sad when his favorite carousel is covered up for winter and vexed by finding the his beloved carousel dog's tail on the ground. When the carousel keeper tells Ernst he can take care of the tail over the winter, Ernst finds himself turning the tail into a friendly bird, which keeps him company all winter. Ernst, however, is also loyal to his old friend the dog, for whom he creates a nice new tail in spring.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

It's the story of my life! I have always cheered myself up by making things with my hands

Who is your biggest supporter?

The children who read my books.

Your biggest critic?

Myself and the occasional ,critical book reviewer!

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

Saving planet earth, because it's our one and only, and very beautiful, home.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

I am always trying to learn to paint and draw better.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

I usually feel very tired, and take a replenishing walk along the beach. Or eating a crispy and comforting vegetarian meal.

What are you currently working on?

I'm doing finished pictures for a story about a young elephant named Stanley.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

Read as much as you can. Try to write at least a few sentences a day, just for yourself, and try not to worry about how polished or "good" they sound.

Is there an author that inspired you to write?

I think that Hans Christian Andersen gave me "permission" to delve into my imagination and animate the world around me, even after I was supposed to "grow up" and abandon these childlike activities.

What are some of your long term goals?

I hope to keep creating stories and pictures for children, and I hope to inspire children to make things with their hands and to appreciate their innate imaginative gifts.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

Getting published at all, since I am self taught and really didn't know what I was doing when I started creating children's books 20 years ago.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

I remember how it felt to be a child .

Biggest weakness?

I wish I drew and painted better.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

Every book is unique because every author and illustrators' way of seeing is unique.

You know the scenario you're stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

The collected works of Shakespeare.

If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?

9/11 -- I wish I could have stopped the bad guys. Or I wish I could have prevented Hitler from being conceived!

What is your favorite past-time?

Walking on a grassy slope above the ocean.

For more information about the books or the author please visit http://www.elisakleven.com/

Grayrider by Bruce Skye

About the Author:

A former technical writer, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the Deathsong Chronicles included medieval armor and fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. "If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that's what I strive for Grayrider's world to be. I've built a database of material for each of the Deathsong Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book.

"When I wrote Grayrider, I followed the advice of Stephen King. I did not write the book following any sort of outline. I have no more idea than my readers do when I write a novel what will happen in the midst of the story. It makes it more exciting for both the readers and myself."

You can visit his website at http://www.bruceskye.com/.

About the Book:

Gabriel, the exiled king of Rivalin, comes before King Airell to warn him the Ansgarian army will invade his kingdom before the night is over. Airell tells him he has no one to send. Gabriel wants revenge for the murder of his family by the Ansgarians. He decides to fight the incursion without help.

As this takes place, Deirdre (Airell’s daughter), flees the kingdom of Cynyr north of Boadhagh. She knows now her mentor, Morrigan, created the Ansgarian army her father has fought for years. She goes south to warn him of her. Because Deirdre does not believe in herself, the young sorceress has difficulty in performing magic.

Once she is reunited with her father, she tells both he and Grayrider about Morrigan. Her power is growing; only Gabriel’s magical sword may yet destroy her. He must go to Cynyr to fight her. He agrees if Deirdre attends him, seeking her counsel. On that journey they fall in love and foil many efforts by Morrigan to kill Gabriel by both armies and sorcerers.

Grayrider fights Morrigan and sees his beloved slain by the sorceress before he is finally able to kill her. He returns to Rivalin brokenhearted. The ending is a complete surprise the reader will not expect at all.

I had the opportunity to ask Bruce some questions. Here's what he had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

Gabriel the Gray is a refugee king driven from his land by those who murdered his family. He is an exile in the kingdom of Boadhagh, helping in defending that land from the same army which invaded his own realm. To do that, he has a powerful magical sword known as Deathsong. The sword and its abilities scare him on occasion.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

Being a writer has been a lifelong dream of mine. A divorce made me decide to finally begin to live out my own dreams.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

I had a troubled childhood. The Grayrider character has been in my mind for years.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My fiancé. She pushed me to attempt to publish the book. She’s dying of cancer. And I dedicated the book to her.

Your biggest critic?

I am.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

I fear radical Islam. I have studied Muslim terrorism and it truly frightens me.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

My writing has improved because I constantly work at it. My goal is to have every novel I publish be better than the last.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

No.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

Two writers have influenced my writing: Jack Higgins and J.R.R.Tolkien

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

Succeeding as an author.

What are you currently working on?

Grayrider is the first volume of the Deathsong Chronicles series. The second volume is finished and I hope for it to be published later this year. I’m working on the third book in the series now.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

For writers I suggest not to give up. Being published can be quite daunting. And there is much to know in doing it wisely. Find out everything you can before attempting self-publication.

Is there an author that inspired you to write?

Again, Jack Higgins.

What are some of your long term goals?

To have a New York Times bestseller.

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

Writing suspenseful stories both reviewers and readers enjoy.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

Having the humility to be willing to constantly learn and grow in my craft.

Biggest weakness?

The fear of failure.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

This fantasy novel is actually a suspense story combined with sorcery, swordplay and romance. One reviewer wrote of Grayrider "I found that I could not put the book down."

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

That is a difficult question!

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago?

Absolutely!

In what ways?

I’m certainly more mature and level-headed.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

Never give up. If I had, Grayrider never would have been published.

Is there anything you regret doing/not doing?

I have yet to go skydiving, scuba diving and getting my sailplane license.

What is your favorite past-time?

Reading.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I think the message I want Grayrider to give to people is not to give up, no matter the odds against you.

WIN PRIZES:

GRAYRIDER VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '08 will officially begin on February 2 and end on February 27. You can visit Bruce's blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in February to find out more about his new book!As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.

Bleach/Blackout by David S. Grant

Join David S. Grant, author of the literary fiction dual novel, Bleach/Blackout (Offense Mechanisms, May '08), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in December on his third virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the author:

David S. Grant is the author of Corporate Porn, published by Silverthought Press in 2006. David's first novel Bleach and sequel titled Blackout are now available through Offense Mechanisms, an imprint of Silverthought Press. Also, newly published in 2008 the novel The Last Breakfast and short story collection Emotionless Souls through Brown Paper Publishing. David lives and works in New York City.

About the book:

Fans of fluffy romance novels and that all-too-familiar, over-hyped, edge-of-the-seat crap should steer clear. This is life at its most jaded. Offense Mechanisms is proud to present Bleach | Blackout by David S. Grant, two novels about drugs, sex, revenge, the corporate crunch, and the inevitable unpleasantness of life and death.

You can visit David's website at www.davidsgrant.com/ to read an excerpt!

I had the chance to interview the author and here's what he had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

Bleach|Blackout explore a group of people living in the moment, yet not necessarily aware they are in the moment, but rather wasting time to get to the next point in their lives. Is it boredom, or more a feel of today’s generation and lack of cause, or motivation to find a cause?

Bleach is more the type of in your face read that forces you to either accept or not accept the lifestyle being led, there really no room for the in between. Blackout details more of these same characters pulling from their past and being forced to use instinct, rather than wait for life.

Bleach opens during the last 60 seconds of 2003 in a bathroom where a girl lay dying and a jaded 30-year-old named Jeremy, who navigates the reader through the endless repulsiveness of the world, watches. Before diving into an explanation of what the is going on, Jeremy doubles back eight days where you find him in the office ready to embark on a vacation back home to the Midwest. The question is whether Jeremy makes it back to New York.

The entire story builds up to the climax of the "The Party" on New Year's Eve where all the men are dressed as prostitutes, all the women look like pimps and decadence and debauchery dictate the rules. Everything seems to be spiraling out of control, and Jeremy realizes there are no guarantees for him or anyone else.

Blackout picks up two years after Bleach in Las Vegas where Stoner and friends are celebrating his bachelor party complete with strippers and crack cocaine. The ride home is blurry and the next morning in Los Angeles brings a surprise when Stoner’s friends, Chip and Jeremy, wake to find police officers and a dead body they are allegedly responsible for, but neither can recall.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

As a writer, being able to interconnect multiple stories and plots while keeping the reader looking off to side focused on the guy with a shaved head chain smoking cigars.

What are you currently working on?

Next year my novel, Blood-the New Red, will be published through Offense Mechanism. Blood-the New Red begins at an after party where Mickey, an ex-adult movie star turned supermodel, is aligning himself with a top Designer of Seventh Avenue.  In addition to landing a runway job, Mickey is thrown into the center of a scene where sex is used as motivation, the wine is served by year, and cocaine is back in style.

I am also working on a travel memoir titled “Locations, Libations, and Locals”. This will be many travel stories with a “Fear and Loathing” tone searching out the corners most tourists pass by.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

Continue to read and write. Between Guitar Hero and flat screen televisions we as readers and writers are the minority. The good thing is there are rarely any lines when you go and by a book. The bad, well, let’s keep this positive…

Is there an author that inspired you to write?

Several authors have inspired me. The way Bret Easton Ellis displays a scene to the reader with no emotion, true literary story telling. The sharp wit of Hunter S. Thompson, how it bites you as you read his work. The romance, with an edge of F. Scott Fitzgerald during a time America was finding itself. And finally and maybe most important in today’s age: Chuck Palahniuk's ability to shock through social commentary.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

Transgressive novels are everywhere. This is a good thing (remember, keeping this positive). I believe the humor in my books, specifically in Bleach|Blackout, is what sets my book apart from the others. The humor with the use of the corporate world as a backdrop, a party of debauchery that kicks off my story, and the strippers. My God, let’s not forget the strippers.

WIN PRIZES!

THE BLEACH/BLACKOUT VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on December 1st and end on December 23rd. You can visit David's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in December to find out more about his latest book!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner will be announced on December 23rd!

The Book of Names by Dean Barkley Briggs

Join D. Barkley Briggs, author of the young adult fantasy novel, The Book of Names (Navpress Publishing Group), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in December on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Author:

D. Barkley Briggs has worked in radio, marketing and new product development. He also pastored for 11 years. After losing his wife of 16 years, Briggs decided an epic fantasy might inspire his four boys to live courageously through their loss. The Book of Names is the first in a series of adventures set in the Hidden Lands of Karac Tor. Briggs has since remarried and now has eight children. Learn more at www.hiddenlands.net.

About the Book:

It was supposed to be a routine Thanksgiving break. But when Hadyn and Ewan Barlow discover an ancient Viking runestone buried on their family farm, they unwittingly open a magical portal to another world. Fleeing grief and broken dreams over the loss of their mother, the two brothers find themselves hailed as Champions in the Kingdom of Karac Tor. But all is not well. Nemesia the witch is releasing shadows over the whole land. Names are being stolen from The Book of Names, the most sacred relic of the kingdom. Before long, the Barlows realize they must find the courage to fight, or they will never find their way home. There’s just one problem: even if they win, will anyone know how to send them back?


I was lucky enough to be able to interview Dean. Here's what he had to say:

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

On one level, I’ve always loved fantasy stories. I’ve always loved the adventure and magic. But there is a deeper story here. The Book of Names is partially my attempt to define and reclaim my life (and my kids), from some very painful events.

The Cliff Notes version: I was married to my dream girl for 16 years. We had four boys. At age 36, I lost my wife to cancer. My world crashed. It was the most wrenching, utterly disorienting, soul-shredding experience of my life. My young family felt exiled from the world we had known. We felt dumped into a strange, new world. If I could have, I would have laid in bed and withered away, but I had four young boys who needed me, and who needed to know that life can still be good. Together, we embarked on a journey, and thus my tale. It’s been strange, and it’s not over. The Book of Names is part of that journey. My four boys serve the role of heroes, struggling through the loss of their mother, then becoming magically ensnared in the perils of another world. It is my attempt to write my way through grief and inspire my sons to fully engage in life.

The premise is Narnia-esque, with a decidedly modern twist on the legend of King Arthur. Four brothers in rural Missouri are magically transported to another world. In the Hidden Lands of Karac Tor, names are being stolen from the mystical Book of Names, and it falls to the Barlow brothers to figure out what is happening. Through the perils they experience, the boys discover more about themselves, grow as brothers, and learn to live heroically. That part is fun, wild, straightforward "hero fantasy". But there’s a deeper side, too, and I think that helps set these books apart.

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

I want to live life on simpler terms. I want to impart a value system to my kids that is antithetical to the consumerism that defines the American dream—it’s no longer a dream, it’s a nightmare. The sum total of life has become acquisition. I’m as guilty as the next person, but I want to escape. I want my kids to escape.

What are you currently working on?

The Book of Names is the first book in a series called The Legends of Karac Tor. The second book comes out in Spring, 2009. It’s called Corus the Champion. I’m currently about halfway through the manuscript for book 3, called the Song of Unmaking.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

As a writer? I really strive for a certain lyrical quality to the way I write. I want to imbue the narrative with a sense of meter and rhythm. Once upon a time, I also painted watercolor so I also try to write kind of like I paint, by layering light washes of words to build various scenes and characters. I’m also fairly organized, which helps with plotting.

Biggest weakness?

I suppose I might have a tendency toward symbolism that some might find annoying. To me, appropriate symbolism adds depth to a story if it’s subtle enough, like a treasure waiting to be found. Some might also fault me for being more of a classical fantasist, rather than something more trendy, such as urban or gothic fantasy.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

It’s gritty and heartfelt. It’s got a raw core that most teens today will readily identify with. In fact, chances are they’ll feel like this is their story in some way or another. I don’t try to whitewash some of the deeply felt struggles teens face every day. And yet it does all this in the context of another world they can escape to, rather than having to slog through the disappointments of their own lives. Like all good fantasies, The Book of Names helps to stir a sense of wonder, which is increasingly rare in a jaded, cynical age.

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago? In what way/s?

I’m more compassionate. I have a greater sense of scale for what matters and what doesn’t. You know, like Richard Carlson, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff...and It’s All Small. That’s really true.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

Forgive. Forgive others. Forgive yourself. Be forgiven.

Excerpt:


(By now, the chilling truth has sunk in: Hadyn and Ewan are in a strange, new world. It’s not a dream. As they journey toward the capital city of Stratamore, hoping to find someone who can send them back home to Missouri, they are attacked by an angry mob of birds and five drone-like teenagers who have been following them for unknown reasons. Accompanied by Sorge the Gray Monk, Asandra the mirling, and a grumpy, stouthearted gnome named Flogg, the brothers take temporary shelter in a small structure called The Stone House.)

Sorge glanced out the peephole cut into the wall, “The birds that attacked us are a Flight of Crows. Sorcery makes the birds fly swifter, with focus and greater rage. They even seem to multiply. It’s Nemesia’s doing, I’m sure. Ewan, lock the door. Everyone else up against the east wall. Stay flat and still.”

Scooting on all fours, Ewan found the latch and slid the bolt. They all pressed against the stone wall, though Flogg seemed more irritated than afraid. Outside, amidst scattered, low voices, a sound drew near. Feet crunching on pebbles.

Memory jarred Ewan. “Sorge, the hole you made!” he hissed.

Quickly, Sorge smeared the rock face with his fingers. The surface sealed under his touch as if made of paste. At the wall, he drew himself to his full height, staff in hand. Pacing feet now ringed the Stone House. Only the four walls stood between the hunters and the hunted.

The five outside circled the Stone House with slow, deliberate movements—once in full, then twice. The light sound of flapping wings returned. Claws scratched against the thatched roof. Squawking. On the third circuit, something like fingernails began scraping the rock wall. Inside, the air strangely thickened, so that Ewan found it hard to breathe. A strange heaviness began oozing under his threshold of conscious thought, like smoke slipping under a door, making it difficult to think clearly. He fought it, trying to focus on a spot on the far wall. Beside him, Haydn leaned hard against the stone, as if using it to hold himself up. Matted blood was stuck in his brother’s hair, smeared on his face. His ragged breath strangely comforted Ewan, to know he felt it, too. They were both fighting the same thing.

Though Sorge had counted five, only one voice arose from the artificial calm. It was creepy and directionless, drifting like a leaf in the wind, leeching through the stone, shiftless and flat.

“Who travels...so far?” the voice said. It was male, not old. He sounded neither curious nor fearful, stringing words together like pearls on an open loop before letting them tumble thoughtlessly to the ground, unclaimed. Other voices rose faintly in response, moaning like wind on a barren plain. “Who journeys...through...the skies to the home...of despair?”

More soft strides on padded feet. More scraping. More bird noises. Strangely, none of them even attempted to peer through the high windows. Perhaps they didn’t care. Perhaps this was all some bad dream, or a very bad joke.

When a hard fist suddenly rattled the wood planks, Ewan jumped. So much for that theory. Sorge reached out to his left and right, placing a steady hand on the shoulders of both boys. He put a finger to his lips to focus their thoughts. Shhh...

Another thump, this time harder, as if one of the people outside had taken a heavy stone from the pond, and was trying to smash the door apart.

“Who crosses the hidden...barrier...”

The door rattled again, a bone-jarring sound. Thwack!

“...to trouble holy men?”

Thwack! By now, the birds had gone wild, dancing and squawking, flapping and pecking.

“Plans come to nothing. Yours...ours. Nothing. The world will...come to nothing. Hide and prove us true. Emerge and join us. Fight and be consumed. We are...the Name—”

Thwack! Another blow and the door would surely shatter. Ewan found himself straining to concentrate. The what? What had he called them? The last word had drowned in the clatter, but Ewan thought he heard it: the Nameless. The boy’s voice had an gooey, sticky quality. The words formed questions, yet at the same time seemed passionless to any answer that might be given. Ewan’s head spun. The voice in his head felt foreign on the one hand, yet it entered his brain with a sense of relief, leaving a residue of thought he could not wipe away. He shook his head angrily, saw Hadyn making a similar gesture. Ewan wanted to scream, to force it out of his head.

The same young man kept droning on:

“Do not think proudly, outlanders. You have come for no great purpose. Let me show you the beginning...of the way of peace: Nothing matters.”

The other voices joined in, creating a soft, uneven chant: “Nothing. Matters. Nothing.”

It seemed to crescendo. Ewan braced for the door to splinter. Wings flapped wildly. Sorge’s knuckles were white on his staff. Asandra’s face glistened in the half light.

“Nothing matters...”

Then, simply nothing. They were gone, the sound of their feet trailing away to the south, lost amongst the whispering grass and the generous curves of dimpled land; lost in the slow circles forming on the water where silver perch topped the pond, gulping for mosquitoes. Birds and voices alike—gone.

Hadyn sank to his knees. In the warmish light, his face was pale. “We shouldn’t have come, Ewan. We should be home right now, with Dad. Not here, wherever this is. I’m so sorry.”

Ewan struggled to catch his breath. He felt the same. But home was a long, long way away...


Review:

"In the same vein as such master fantasy writers as J. R. R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, author D. Barkley Briggs has penned a superb tale... The Book of Names is fast-paced and compelling. Readers will be clamoring for Briggs's next installment in this exciting and worthy new series."
— Teenreads.com

Win prizes!

THE BOOK OF NAMES VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on December 1 and end on December 23. You can visit Dean's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in December to find out where he is appearing!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner(s) will be announced at the end of every month!