Alex J. Cavanaugh

The Discovery of Dragons and Parallels

/ WriterlySam / 21 Comments

Sign of the Green Dragon_BannerLaunching August 2016

A brittle map from 1859, found clutched in the bony grip of the long dead, sends three young boys on a dangerous adventure where an unsolved murder, modern crime, lost ancestors and ancient Chinese dragons reveal the true meaning of treasure.

Sign of the Green Dragon

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C. Lee McKenzie is a 4 & 5 star reviewed author. Her greatest passion is writing for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is her third Middle Grade novel. Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were her first two. She has traditionally published four young adult novels: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets.

Parallels_IWSG Anthology

What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever?

Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Crystal Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!

Really Slow Motion – Battle Angel – Ignite – Daniel Beijbom

Parallels_IWSG Anthology

Available NOW!

Print: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Ebook: Amazon, ITunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

 

 

After wrapping up an ambitious AtoZ tour through my Solarpunk short story, EOS, I’m moving full throttle into edits for Architects of Illusion, a young adult fantasy novel series inspired by the land and legacy of Biltmore Estate, where Greek mythology meets Night at the Museum, Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. A novel that’s evolved into a six book series and a daunting product to deliver. This will be my greatest challenge yet! I tend to juggle multiple media projects at once, but screaming deadlines will force me to focus on this ONE project. Here’s hoping I have enough discipline/kale in stock!!

EOS Review Contest

Post a REVIEW of EOS, a Solarpunk short story available on AMAZON for $0.99, by MAY 31st and you’ll be entered to WIN a signed copy of RSM’s Battle Angel and signed limited edition print from painter, Jenny Vyas! 

Stay tuned for a groundbreaking music video for EOS this May and companion album from Really Slow Motion launching Summer 2016!

Add EOS on Goodreads!

EOS_Amazon Cover

InsecureWritersSupportGroupIWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find  everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!

The AtoZ of EOS_Jellyfish

/ WriterlySam / 10 Comments

E O S_Banner

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Fear takes us down an unexpected road in EOS, a revolutionary Solarpunk story from author Samantha Redstreake Geary, in collaboration with artist Jenny Vyas, featuring music by Really Slow Motion, and groundbreaking graphics via designer Koke Núñez Gómez! 

A new dawn is on the horizon, where boundaries are broken, diversity is embraced, and an optimistic, creative vision of our future on Earth takes center stage.

EOS is a powerful solarpunk story narrated by FEAR, who tackles real-world issues concerning terrorism, prejudice, and diversity, to near-future technology surrounding sustainable energy that restores the balance between humanity and nature. This isn’t a defeatist tale. It is a look through the lens of positive futurism that showcases the courage, compassion and capabilities of humanity as equal partners in building a bridge to a better tomorrow.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish by Jennifer Redstreake Geary

Jellyfish by Jennifer Redstreake Geary

“Wait. Are those real jellyfish?” Vanisa squints at the four soaring water columns teeming with pulsing vibrant clouds of color.

“Not exactly. When I designed the structure, Esperanza suggested some impressively wild ideas. So smart, my mija, like her mother. The jellyfish, glowing plants and koi were part of her vision. I integrated them into the final design.” Rafael sips his coffee, beaming with pride.

Vanisa cocked an eyebrow.

“Obviously, real jellyfish posed a problem, so Zari and I converted them into a cleverly disguised ultraviolet radiation system. Wastewater, filtered through a network underground, collects in the main pool here,” Rafael points to the waterfall, “where algae removes the ammonia, phosphates and nitrates, and significantly reduces the pathogen load. The water passes through our Jellies to kill any leftover pathogens, and a simple pH adjustment later, we’ve transformed wastewater into drinking water.”

Behind the Scenes
– Starring AtoZ rockstars –

Jeremy Hawkins pressed his face against the clear wall of the hovertube, a kaleidoscope of color winking off his ‘Blinded Me With Science’ t-shirt. He tapped his foot to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme looping in his head as he made a mental layout for his next SIX STRINGS edition. The tech at this summit was nuts, and he wanted to document every bit of it the best way he knew how. Retro style.

Jeremy nudged his pal, Alex J. Cavanaugh, when they passed another swarm of crystal jellyfish. Alex, an authority on all things science fiction, had roamed the sentient structure in a slaphappy daze. He sunk into the comforting strap across his back and the goofy grin across his face, for he was on his way to meet Rafael, the building’s architect, to try his hand at some Spanish guitar. A jam session was just what he needed. That, and a close encounter with EOS, the holographic heart of Viridis, who, incidentally, was a big fan of his bestselling Cassa series.

While the boys were unabashedly embracing their inner-geek, Heather Gardner was snapping a few pics of her traveling companion, Stormy the Weather Gnome, enjoying his ride on the hovertube. Well, perhaps ‘enjoying’ was a bit of a stretch. He was, in fact,  terrified, his consternation mounting with every floor the hoverpad shot past. He spent the better half of a day closing his eyes and wishing that he was Already Home, safely stealing sips of Heather‘s coffee. As it was, Stormy‘s sanity, and his feet, were hanging on by a thin thread of epoxy, but Heather insisted that he take one for the team. After all, it’s not every day that one visits a secret sanctuary and she was not going to let this photo opportunity go to waste.

Across the tube, Damyanti Biswas smiled at Heather and the peculiar gnome. Stormy responded with a rather indifferent glare, which, of course, was his resting face and could not be helped. Damyanti’s gaze traveled the length of the soaring columns brimming with brilliant light and she wondered what the children from Project WHY would think. Rafael had extended an invitation to the children for a special youth event at Viridis. After hearing her compelling presentation, he agreed to be a sponsor and help her build up the education program in several underprivileged areas around the globe. 

Really Slow Motion – Battle Angel – Never Ending Adventures – Fran Soto

RSM

EOS Commenting Contest

Swing by and leave us a comment for a chance to WIN a digital copy of RSM’s latest public album, Battle Angel!

Each Comment = One Entry 

Battle Angel_RSM

EOS Review Contest

Starting April 1st, I’ll reveal sensory-rich sneak peeks into the world of EOS, a futuristic sci fi solarpunk short story available on AMAZON for $0.99. Post a REVIEW of EOS on AMAZON by May 31st and you’ll be entered to WIN a signed copy of RSM’s Battle Angel and signed limited edition print from painter, Jenny Vyas!

Add EOS on Goodreads!

EOS_Amazon Cover

The AtoZ of EOS_EOS, Goddess of the Dawn

/ WriterlySam / 12 Comments

E O S_Banner

AtoZ BADGE 2016Damyanti's AtoZ Divas Badge_Final

Fear takes us down an unexpected road in EOS, a revolutionary Solarpunk story from author Samantha Redstreake Geary, in collaboration with artist Jenny Vyas, featuring music by Really Slow Motion, and groundbreaking graphics via designer Koke Núñez Gómez! 

A new dawn is on the horizon, where boundaries are broken, diversity is embraced, and an optimistic, creative vision of our future on Earth takes center stage.

EOS is a powerful solarpunk story narrated by FEAR, who tackles real-world issues concerning terrorism, prejudice, and diversity, to near-future technology surrounding sustainable energy that restores the balance between humanity and nature. This isn’t a defeatist tale. It is a look through the lens of positive futurism that showcases the courage, compassion and capabilities of humanity as equal partners in building a bridge to a better tomorrow.

Meet the Characters

Amandla Stenberg_EOS_Esperanza

Amandla Stenberg as EOS

EOS, Goddess of the Dawn, is the holographic heart of Viridis, a sentient structure built by renowned architect, Rafael Soñador. Imagine an artificial intelligence seamlessly integrated within the environment where you live and work. An emissary of sustainability designed to conserve energy in a more meaningful way during our everyday lives. An interactive search engine, an advisor, an accessible authority of global proportions wrapped in a transparent, high resolution, three-dimensional life-size image.  Modeled after Soñador’s daughter, EOS is the culmination of years of research and genius. But watch her closely, for she is far more than she appears.

Really Slow Motion – Battle Angel – Aleyla – Florian Bur

RSM

EOS Commenting Contest

Swing by and leave us a comment for a chance to WIN a digital copy of RSM’s latest public album, Battle Angel!

Each Comment = One Entry 

Battle Angel_RSM

EOS Review Contest

Starting April 1st, I’ll reveal sensory-rich sneak peeks into the world of EOS, a futuristic sci fi solarpunk short story available on AMAZON for $0.99. Post a REVIEW of EOS on AMAZON by May 31st and you’ll be entered to WIN a signed copy of RSM’s Battle Angel and signed limited edition print from painter, Jenny Vyas!

Add EOS on Goodreads!

EOS_Amazon Cover

 

Honestly, this week has been a hot mess. Between traveling for family vacation, a sick kiddo, and an unfortunate music industry debacle that, for a few days there, threatened the integrity of my EOS project, I’m tapped out. Please bear with me as I regroup and get back into the A to Z swing of things. I’ve enjoyed the first week of A to Z immensely, from meeting new talented folks, to sharing witty banter with dear friends, and look forward to the April adventures still to come.

InsecureWritersSupportGroup

IWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find  everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!

 

Character Driven

/ WriterlySam / 32 Comments

As writers, we need to be more mindful when weaving literary worlds, for they have the power to impact the real one in which we live. Life is bumpy enough a road without writing ourselves into a hopeless ditch, where dystopia takes the wheel, and diversity the back seat. Fiction bleeds into reality through the veins of media, and it’s high time we replace it with new blood, preferably B Positive.   

If we’re to change the world for the better, we must shift our reflection of it. We must create characters that command respect and embrace every culture, creed and chromosome. We must stop feeding the public insurmountable obstacles that starve them of hope and start proposing effective ways to overcome them. Our role isn’t to spread despair, but to conquer it. Life is character driven, and we’ve only one draft to get it right, so make your mark and make it matter.

ANNOUNCING THE “DON’T YOU HATE BOOK TOURS?” Book Tour!

Man, those were a lot of groans I heard out there when you read my title. Yeah, I know.  Don’t you hate it when you visit a blog only to see the same article about some darn new book you’ve already read on the past 10 blogs? But not here!  Thanks to my low boredom threshold, this post will be unlike any of the others I will write on my DON’T YOU HATE BOOK TOURS? Book Tour.

You want testimonials?  Hey, I got one…from Stephen King yet: “I could not put down Roland’s new book!  The moron put super-glue on the cover of the copy he sent me!”

You want SEX? (Me, too … but that’s another story all together). Here is a quote from my book that Stephen King cannot put down:

“McCord, I will make your last moments such ecstasy that you will not notice when I drink your soul.”

“Ah, could I take a rain-check on that?”

You want the blasted title of my new book?  Jeez, you want a lot, don’t you?

Oh, and NOW you want to know what it is about!  Man, you guys want a lot.

Think an insane Abraham Lincoln and a vampiric Benjamin Franklin out to kill the Texas Ranger who foiled their schemes on his honeymoon aboard the XANADU, the first Air/Steamship in 1867.

Think a bumbling Mark Twain and 11 year old Nikola Tesla making matters worse.

Think an evil immortal (no, not immoral! Jeez, I know where your minds are at!) woman trying to reign in her cruelty so as to hold onto her new husband for just a few days more.

Think mailing me $1000.  Ah, too much, huh?

And revealing my decided lack of humility, here is the audiomachine  music I would play in the movie adaptation of my novel when Captain Nemo fires upon the flying Xanadu as it blasts its own weapons at the Nautilus in a dizzying duel of futuristic vessels.

audiomachine – Chronicles – Sands of Time – Paul Dinletir

Do you guys imagine your novels becoming movies?  Aw, c’mon.  You know you do!  🙂

Come this March, you, too, can board the Xanadu for an adventure of a lifetime!  Passage only $9.99. Book your tickets HERE!

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InsecureWritersSupportGroup

IWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find  everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!

 

 

The Bridge Between Lost and Found

/ WriterlySam / 21 Comments

Welcome to “The Bridge Between Lost and Found”, starring the winners of our commenting contest, Alex J. Cavanaugh, Crystal Collier, Yolanda Renee, Lisa Shambrook, C. Lee McKenzie, Roland Yeomans, Djinnia (Mandy), Denise Covey, Michelle Wallace, Arlee Bird and Mikkel Heimbürger. 

Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Snow Angels – Benjamin Zecker

In a sleepy little town nuzzled in the North Carolina mountains, down a yawning stretch of tree-lined gravel, leaning precariously over the embrace of two rushing rivers, was a peculiar place where lost things went to be found…

It was rumored that the rivers themselves reunited the patrons of Mik’s ‘Lost and Found Bar & Grill’ with what they sought. The legend, birthed around a twenty-first century campfire, ran through the waters into the gullible ears of those caught in its currents. It was a tragic tale of a young schoolteacher who was fatally afflicted, and the damaged soldier who loved her. The boy, determined to discover a way to save her, had stumbled upon a hidden shelter where they could live their remaining days in peace. She was to meet him on the bridge beneath the full snow moon. Sheets of ice had coated the planks, and the waters below grew restless. Before he could reach her, his traitorous leg buckled, sending him into the foaming mouth of a waterfall that swallowed him whole. The bridge bore the weight of the girl’s spirit ever since, her fiery hair seen trailing in phantom winds as she mourned the love she had lost that fateful fourteenth of February.   

Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Chaplin Walking – Oli Jogvansson

The locals suspected the sorcery was more likely in Arlee’s white bean chili. A spry chef with an enviable mustache and a mean bottle of moonshine, Arlee safeguarded his recipes as if they were the culinary equivalent to the holy grail.

Mik, the playful proprietor with a penchant for fixing things, and his wife, Yolanda, an amiable force with a fondness for matchmaking, welcomed customers every day of the year for nearly nine decades without divulging a single secret. But that did little to deter anyone within a hundred mile radius from lining up at their door. Valentine’s Day became especially popular, as folks were eager to feed upon riverside favorites that came with a side of spooky star-crossed love.

Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Skeletons Dance – Claudie Mackula

There was no sense in asking their staff, of course, for they were even more eccentric than their employers. For starters, their busboy refused to wear a shirt. Unsuspecting diners would get an earful of fire prevention tips while Roland, tall and topless, cleared nearby tables.

The waitresses, Michelle and Mandy, were a pair of charming identical twin teens who were reportedly adopted by the owners back in 2066, and refused to grow up. Mandy continuously serenaded customers with random song lyrics, while Michelle broke into dance routines at irregular intervals to the delight of the dinner crowd. During the lunch hour, the resident poet laureate, Lisa, would deliver a passionate helping of lyrical prose whether they ordered it or not. Breakfast was often a dicey affair when Denise served up sweet potato pancakes with stinging psych evaluations. Diners either had a breakthrough by the time they finished their hash browns, or they left with a doggy bag of egg salad and shame.

Their cashier, Lee, was also a bit bizarre. She shared heated opinions regarding one’s dietary decisions, often leaving patrons with a customized health plan highlighted beside their bill if they consumed anything deep fried.

Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Hansel and Pretzel – Snorre Tidemand

But the most curious character of them all was Crystal. A striking, red-headed girl who, despite the sixty years spent hostessing, never looked a day over twenty. A wealth of knowledge, she knew even the most obscure historical details. And there was the small matter of her head tilting at odd angles.

The public was more than willing to overlook any peculiarities the minute their food arrived.  

“How many?” Crystal asked, marking off names in the holoscreen.

“Two,” a boy squeaked.

“Some crazy bloke is on the bridge,” a voice snickered from the doorway.  

Her fingers froze in midair. She squinted out the window and shook her head. It wasn’t safe on the bridge this time of year. She knew better than most. She brushed past the line of bundled customers and stepped into the bitter cold that clouded their breaths.  

“Hello?” she called out. The vexing wind whipped around her head, tempting it loose. “The bridge is closed!” she warned, though truthfully, she made a habit of strolling across it every night. 

The man came closer, something about his gait seemed…familiar. He stepped off the bridge with a lopsided smile.

Colossal Trailer Music – Headless Body in Topless Bar – Moon Spell – Alexandros Nikolaidis

“Alex!?” she shouted, darting towards him, hope surging through her, but the momentum caught her head off guard. It toppled from her shoulders onto the snow, where it rolled across the space between them and landed at his feet. 

He bent down and gingerly picked up her head, carried it back to her empty shoulders, and secured it as best he could, considering.

“I see you’re still head over heels for me.”

Crystal wrapped her arms around him. “How…how are you…here?”

“Some kids found me a few months ago while they were camping. Took them awhile to restore my basic functions. After sixty years stuck under a rock, it was no easy task,” he whispered into her hair. “I’m relieved to see you’re safe.”

“It’s everything you said it would be.” She leaned into him.

Alex held her face between his hands. “So they’re not quick to disassemble you for having a screw loose?” he asked with a grin.

“They encourage it,” she smiled. “And there’s more of us, Alex. From all over the country. Entertainers, a nurse and psychologist, a literature professor, even a fireman. All of them damaged…like us.”

“Damaged or not, you’re worth more than a hundred new droids.” Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a small metal object. “I was planning on giving you this gift before I went for a swim.” He placed the object in her hand.

It was a replacement titanium screw for her head. Something impossible to find in a world that considered her obsolete. In that moment, she felt the power of connection. Of acceptance. Of love. And for the first time in her existence, she understood why humans celebrated it.

© 2016 Samantha Redstreake Geary 

996 words

 Music Contest

Share your thoughts on our bizarre Tim Burton-inspired love story and Danny Elfmanesque music in the comments section below by February 24th for a chance to WIN a digital copy of Colossal’s enchanting album, Headless Body in Topless Bar!

Congrats to our album winners and many thanks to our composers, writerly cohorts and readers for joining our quirky adventure!

 Winners

Roland Yeomans
Crystal Hicken Collier
Denise Covey

The Magic of Muggles

/ WriterlySam / 12 Comments

Born to Be Quote Necklace

Eleven years ago today, on a misty southern morning, a Muggle mother met her magical little girl. A willful bundle of beauty, the wee baby was so enamored with the waking world that she never slept for more than a wink. As her wispy charm grew, so did her uncanny ability to transform the everyday into the extraordinary. With the soul of an artist and mind of an inventor, the young girl was bound for nothing short of greatness.

She sought the stories of others, like herself, who were kind, creative and courageous. Stories that stirred her imagination. Stories that encouraged daring and dreaming. She discovered kindred spirits in the characters created by a renowned Muggle mind, and they made an indelible mark on her journey to becoming who she is meant to be.

Muggles possess their own kind of magic. It is a simple, yet powerful force of positive energy that, once cast, will guide and protect and strengthen the spirit.

The power to INSPIRE is the most potent Patronus in our arsenal―use it well.

inspire-art-festival

Really Slow Motion – ELEVATION – Eternal courage – Cesc Vilà Aulina

Happy 11th Birthday dear Isabelle!

author photo HRElevate Your pitch

Enter our music-inspired pitch challenge by January 28th for a chance to WIN a FREE RSM Elevation track license for your book trailer, a digital copy of the album AND signed copy of guest judge, Guilie Castillo Oriard’s The Miracle of Small Things! Swing by HERE for more details!

InsecureWritersSupportGroupIWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find  everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!

Turn the Tide

/ WriterlySam / 10 Comments

World Peace

Humanity is at a pivotal tipping point. We are drowning in a sea of senseless violence that threatens every corner of the globe, every culture and creed. History is marred by the mistakes of ignorant minds. If we don’t learn from these mistakes, then we’re destined to follow the same mindless path, leaving only death and destruction in our wake.

I refuse to embrace the defeatist momentum that’s infiltrated every facet of society, from profiteering politicians polluting government while preventing progress, exploitative media misleading the masses, to corrupt corporations whose insatiable greed bleeds the earth and its people dry.

WE must be the ambassadors of peace. Every voice matters. Every act of kindness and compassion combats cruelty. Every moment spent cultivating understanding, wisdom, and acceptance, is a step towards turning the tide.

Well chosen words have the power to influence and evoke change. Use that power to manifest a positive future, where we consciously turn away from an apocalyptic fate and work towards restoring the balance between humanity and nature, while fostering relationships that respect diversity.

Together, we stand on the precipice of possibility. This world belongs to all of us–it will take all of us to save it.

Wishing you & yours a peaceful, happy holiday!
the-christmas-song-chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire.jpg.500

Aeralie Brighton’s The Christmas Song,  Cover by Ryo Ishido

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) by Aeralie brighton

Available on Loudr

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author photo HRElevate Your pitch

Swing by Dec. 4th to enter our music-inspired pitch challenge for a chance to WIN a free RSM Elevation track license for your book trailer, a digital copy of the album AND signed copy of guest judge, Guilie Castillo Oriard’s The Miracle of Small Things!

 

UntitledTHE MIRACLE OF SMALL THINGS

Available Now:
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epub eBook
Kindle eBook
iBook eBook
Kobo eBook
Barnes & Noble Nook (coming soon)
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What People are Saying about MIRACLE
Tastes of MIRACLE

InsecureWritersSupportGroupIWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find  everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!

Love Notes

/ WriterlySam / 9 Comments
Love Notes Art Quilt by Susan Redstreake Geary (Mom)

Love Notes Art Quilt by Susan Redstreake Geary (Mom)

When is the last time you sent someone a love note? Not the hastily scrawled flirtation with glittering hearts and crinkled notebook paper   meant for a middle school crush, but the sharing of something genuine.

A hand-scribbled post-it of appreciation. A thoughtful message. A supportive email. A compassionate text. A cheerful tweet. In a world where everything rushes by in a blink of an eye, we tend to lose track of what’s worthwhile.

The real currency in this world isn’t money. It’s kindness.

Our lives are a patchwork of moments connected by a running stitch of light and dark. The shade of thread is up to you. Every moment of compassion and respect, courtesy and love, brightens the pattern.

Let this be my love note to you. For your time and support, unfailing encouragement and unwavering optimism, loyal friendship and endless inspiration, and love–I thank you. You add light to my life. 

Hugs, Sam

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Really Slow Motion – ELEVATION – Cascade of Emotions – Tanuj Rattan Tiku

author photo HRElevate Your pitch

Swing by Dec. 4th to enter our music-inspired pitch challenge for a chance to WIN a free RSM Elevation track license for your book trailer, a digital copy of the album AND signed copy of guest judge, Guilie Castillo Oriard’s The Miracle of Small Things!

blog tour banner 02 light-longUntitledTHE MIRACLE OF SMALL THINGS

Available Now:
Paperback
epub eBook
Kindle eBook
iBook eBook
Kobo eBook
Barnes & Noble Nook (coming soon)
Facebook
Goodreads

Truth Serum Press
What People are Saying about MIRACLE
Tastes of MIRACLE

InsecureWritersSupportGroupIWSG, a community of brilliant writers led by Alex J. Cavanaugh, meets the first Wednesday of every month. Visit the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website and database! You’ll find  everything from writing to marketing, along with encouragement and support!

Dragon of the Stars by Alex J. Cavanaugh

/ WriterlySam / 24 Comments

Dragon+of+the+Stars+by+Alex+J+Cavanaugh

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Transformers Age of Extinction – Optimus Is Alive – Steve Jablonsky

The ship of legends…

The future is set for Lt. Commander Aden Pendar, son of a Hyrathian Duke. Poised to secure his own command and marriage to the queen’s daughter, he’ll stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

But when the Alliance denies Hyrath’s claim on the planet of Kavil and declares war on their world, Aden finds his plans in disarray. Entrenched in battle and told he won’t make captain, Aden’s world begins to collapse. How will he salvage his career and future during Hyrath’s darkest hour?

One chance remains–the Dragon. Lost many years prior, the legendary ship’s unique weapon is Hyrath’s only hope. Can Aden find the Dragon, save his people, and prove he’s capable of commanding his own ship?

© 2015 Alex J. Cavanaugh

Transformers Age of Extinction – Best Thing That Ever Happened – Steve Jablonsky

Music is a big inspiration and has fueled many scenes in my books. Dragon of the Stars, which came out April 7, was inspired by a single song. It sparked the idea of a dragon spaceship and the story came alive from there.

Steve Jablonsky’s music has power and strength in it. As part of a movie soundtrack, it makes the scene by adding depth and emotion. A couple pieces from the latest Transformer film really fit well with Dragon of the Stars. ‘Optimus’ has a military feel to it, with hints of a building force. ‘Best Thing That Ever Happened’ reminds me of a brief exchange between characters and a sad moment locked in time.

Music adds a new level to a story. What music does that for your stories?

— Alex

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Transformers Age of Extinction – The Legend Exists – Steve Jablonsky

Cassa Series

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm. Connect with Alex on Twitter!

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Of Mist and Magic ebook

/ WriterlySam / 13 Comments
OF MIST AND MAGIC_Book Cover

Of Mist and Magic cover design by Daniel Pennystone

Available NOW on Amazon

Enter the world Of Mist And Magic, where fairy tales are reimagined under the influence of Really Slow Motion and Epic Music Vn’s inspiring music, in this enchanting anthology of short stories. Proceeds of the Amazon exclusive ebook will be donated to Elevate Life and Art studios, an amazing youth organization in Asheville, NC.

Of Mist and Magic Featured Authors

FIRE by Amy Willoughby-Burle
THE FOURTH WISH by Crystal Collier
THE WULFING by M. Pax
PIPER by Loni Townsend
AWAKENING by Shannon Kenoyer Lawrence
THE SNAKE PRINCE by C. Lee McKenzie
FAIRY GODMOTHERS WALK AMONG US by Vidya Sury
ROOTED by Ruth Long
THE ONE-LEGGED TIN SOLDIER by Michelle Wallace
BY THE LIGHT OF STARS by Lisa Shambrook
UNTOUCHABLE by SM Blooding
HOOD by Sarah Aisling
OF DREAMS AND DARING by Samantha Redstreake Geary

Of Mist and Magic Writing Contest Winners

CHILDREN OF WINTER AND SNOW by Hanah Goetz
THE RETURN by Djinnia

Featured Elevate Epic Writing Students

CINDERS & SMOKE by Jenni Camhi
MAGIC TOWER by Carter Lundgren
CELESTIAL GATE by Jeremiah Mimken
STARCHILD by Josiah Mimken
AEORIEN by James Mimken
COLLAPSING UNIVERSE by Caroline Sprenger

OF DREAMS AND DARING
by Samantha Redstreake Geary
Inspired by Of Mist and Magic’s To Neverland by Cesc Vilà

I am the silent weighted footsteps that shape your destiny. I am the hands that shift the landscape of your world from past to present to possibility. I measure the moments that defy and define you. Moments where your true character rises to the surface, taking a breath, however brief, of your worth.

It is a rare soul whose tether to this world escapes my grasp. Rarer still, when they discover the key to their fate is fastened to the fingers of courage. Heroes are not born, they are created within a single moment that separates those who can save, from those who need saving.

The boy before me stands on the brink of breaking. He is to save himself, before he can save another.

This is his moment.

I watch the fiery soul with the flaming hair and feral eyes scan the horizon for signs of the ship. The slippery sea swallowed its sails beneath the stars, the waves wiping clean its path, leaving only loss and loneliness in its wake.

A heartbeat away from the bluff’s edge, his emotions roil like the restless tide against the shore, threatening to pull him under. His pulse dares to race after her.

Hold fast, child, I breathe into the wind, do not leap.

Not yet.

A shade creeps up the cliff face, gathering itself into its proper place beside the boy. It is no ordinary shadow, for it belongs to no ordinary boy.

He looks towards his inky twin, eyes hopeful, questioning.

The shadow shakes its head.

The girl is gone.

The sea has stolen her, its currents carrying her clear across the world to Neverland, where he cannot follow.

Look, child, I steer his eyes, see beyond the boundaries that bind you.

A crushing sense of defeat grips the boy. She was everything to him that mattered. The connection they shared was beyond anything he could have hoped for. He was nothing more than a creature created from deception and destruction, born of the hell fires that burned in the minds of madmen.

Despite his origins, she believed in him. In her eyes, he was ever so much more than a corporate pawn. She spoke to his soul, just to prove he had one. And now, standing in this sacred place where they so often met, he cannot fathom his soul’s survival without her…

His shadow, unable to console him, paces uneasily across the jagged rocks. The specter could travel anywhere it liked outside of the boy, for the laws once governing its limitations no longer applied. It was a miraculous bit of engineering, a spy that could separate from the body to slip through the seams of sanctuaries and secrets, alike. Try as they may, the shadow was never again duplicated, no matter the manipulation of nanites, nor nefarious trials conducted.

Yet, for all of its astonishing abilities, it could not feel the sand beneath its feet, nor taste the salt of the sea, nor grasp the hand of a girl before she was lost, forever. For you see, even extraordinary shadows have limitations.

The boy’s fists clench at his sides, a fierce determination fueling his desire to break free, to escape the bars of his island cage and steal back what is rightfully his.

Yes, child, I whisper in his ear, you are a glorious thief.

He is a weapon wrapped in the unsuspecting shell of an innocent, playing a dangerous game of pirates and plagues.

You are more than a puppet, I urge him. You’ve only to sever the strings.

Danger drove the girl from the island in the dead of night. He could feel the frantic echoes of her fear. What is she to them? What secrets flow through her blood that Hook should be so eager to spill it?

Ah, yes, Hook. Captain of industry and benevolent benefactor of LOST Technologies. In the eyes of mortals, he is a savior and a saint.

History is lined with the deaths of ignorant men.

Hook is nothing but a sinner and a savage whose thread I long to shear. His time will come. The cutting blade of corruption always turns on its wielder.

Dawn drips from the sky, slashes of red igniting the silver lettering that brands the boy’s skin as lost.

PAN1911

You are more than a number, I remind him, ever so much more.

His shadow, having seen something curious, pulls the boy’s attention from the rising surf. There, scrolled in swirling script in the sand near his feet, was a message.

This is not goodbye.

This is not leaving and forgetting.

This is me, waiting for you,

in the space between dreams

and daring.

– W

Purpose and passion are all the heart needs to soar.

Now, I call to him. Leap!

The boy writes his fate on the wind and does not fall.

Heroes are not born, they are created within a single moment that separates those who fall from those who fly.

© 2015 Samantha Redstreake Geary 

OF MIST AND MAGIC_RSM album cover

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