Peter Pennies

Attention! Attention!


For a limited time, my publisher at the Twisted Library Press has lowered the price of my novel LUCKY STIFF to just 99 cents for the Kindle. 


WHAT! Yes, just 99 cents. 

How can we pack so much Peter in so few pennies? It wasn't easy, so get it while the getting is good. 


Download your copy here today and get lucky!

Mooting Marradith

So I've been on the webserial bandwagon a couple of months and I must say I have enjoyed the heck out of it. I've written way ahead, so I could concentrate on other projects while still releasing the serial week by week. I've even considered collecting the individual sections and releasing them as e-books for the Kindle. (More on that later, maybe.) Railroad! is bursting the 2,500 hit mark, and at 18 weeks that's not too bad for a new serial I think.

I've spent so much time talking about my serial, and encouraging people to read it, and practically shoving it down the public's throat, now I would like to a moment to encourage you guys to read a different one.

My very good friend Lori Titus has had a web on the run since 2009. Yeah, 2009! Her series, Marradith Ryder, is chock full of suspense, drama, romance and blood. Here's her blurb:


"Marradith Ryder has always had powers she can’t explain.  She’s taken from her home by a man named Justin, who claims that he was sent to protect her.  Can she trust him?  And why is she so important to the powerful members of The Circle?"

Marradith Ryder follows the young lady's adventures through the supernatural underworld. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, this story has it all! Part adventure, part paranormal romance, all ass kicking, Marradity Ryder is sure to please every pallet.

On the whole I enjoy Lori's writing. At times, especially early in the series, the writing is not as strong as I have read from her before, but over the whole series it remains strong enough to lure you into the tale and keep you there.

If you get a chance you really owe it to yourself to read it. Go on. I dare you!

New episodes of The Marradith Ryder Series are posted here every Wednesday.
You can also vote for Marradith on Top Web Fiction
To catch up with the author, visit her blog.




Railroad! Contest!

Do you like steampunk? Do you like westerns? Do you like weirdness? Do you like winning stuff?
Course ya do!


A train, a man, a plan. Nlapanmaniarta!
 I've managed to get my hot little hands on a few train key chains, which I have painted to a steampunk attitude. Nothing to fancy, just a little something for fun. I have also found a loverly train pocket watch. (pictured below) It is absolutely gorgeous! 
What do these finds mean for you? I'm so very glad you asked!
In celebration of the completion of the first part of Railroad! I would like to award a couple of them to you nice folks.
Ohh! I want one!
Who wants a prize?You do? Good!
Then here's how you get a hold of one:
1) Visit Railroad! at http://steampunktrain.blogspot.com/
2) Leave a comment about the story under any of the chapters. (be sure to leave your name and a way to get in contact with you, especially if you aren't a member of blogspot!)

It's that easy. At the end of the month, June 30th, I will select four comments at random to win the key chains and the grand prize pocket watch. I'll announce the three winners on July 3rd.




I appreciate all the support for the webserial, and this is my way of saying thanks. Good luck!
Tonia

PS: It has been brought to my attention that some folks are having trouble commenting on the blogspot site. I have had this complaint before, so no surprise there. If you're one of the unlucky folks who can't comment, do not fret. Just email me at the address listed under either the Argus Gazette link or the Pony Express link. And for the love of all that is holy, do yourself a favor and give the story a read. Don't just email me and never look at it again. You're gonna like it. I promise!

Touring Trains

I like trains. I've always had a mild interest in trains, especially their effect on the evolution of our country. Trains have such a rich history in the US. I won't bore you with the details of steam trains, because Wikipedia has done a far better job of explaining them than I ever could.

Because of my recent webserial undertaking, I've been working on the Railroad! all the live long day. (yeah, that never gets old!) It started when I was watching True Grit, and the first few minutes showed a train pulling into a station to pick up a corpse to take back east. For some unearthly reason, that image, combined with the western wonderland that is the movie True Grit, I got an idea for a steampunk western stuck in my craw. The idea incubated while I finished my zombie road trip novel, and in January I started work on what turned into the webserial. Six months and 90k later, I have the first ten chapters posted and am about to finish the first 'novel' collection of chapters.

I love steampunk. I love to read it, listen to steampunk inspired music, watch steampunk movies, and especially write steampunk! So, I like steam trains and I like steampunk. Seemed a natural combination that the two should meet in my work. Only problem was ... just 'cause I like something, don't mean I know jack about it. The first step was to research. I did loads of web browsing and reading. I must admit most of the technical aspects of the Sleipnir were created from the information provided by various rail enthusiast sites and, of course, Wikipedia. I bought a few steam train books to fill out my knowledge and gawk at the awesome photos, but still, I felt like I was missing something. My writing suffered because though I knew how a train worked and the measurements and the history, I didn't have the feel of it.

Then the husband talked me into getting my fat rump on an actual steam train. Good idea, but it can be very expensive. But, by luck of our local, and a little web digging, I learned we live nary two hours from the NC Transportation Museum. And that museum's main feature is, yes, you guessed it ... TRAINS!

We spent all day at the museum, looking at the various exhibits and riding the rails. It was "Family Rail Days" festival, so they had a special where we could ride all we wanted, and we did. The train ride was diesel, but the cars were similar to the ones pulled by the steam trains. They also had special steam train exhibits because of the festival, so I got up close and personal with all kinds of trains. I even got to board and explore an old medical car and a mail car. The private sleeper cars were on display but you couldn't go inside. A few folks from some model train clubs were there, but they were kind of snobby. ( I tried to talk to a few of them about Railroad! and the possibility of adding their link, but no one wanted to talk trains. They just wanted to show off their trains.) A bluegrass band played, and there were some craft stuff for sale, but it was far too hot to really enjoy any of it. (it got about 93 or so)

I came away with tons of pictures (which I won't waste a whole bunch of space here with) and more importantly invaluable inspiration. In fact, I might have to go back and adjust some descriptions of my own steampunk train, now that I understand a few things about them. I had some questions that the web wasn't answering, but laying hands on a steam train cured all that.

I tell you all this because first of all I like to brag about having a good time, especially with my wonderful better half, but also because I would like to encourage my fellow authors to get some hands on research of your own. Reading articles on Wiki, reading books, watching movies ... those are all fine ways to research a topic for your work. But there is nothing like a good old fashioned experience for the win!

All aboard! WHOO WOOOO!

Later Taters,
Tonia

Coveting Cohen

For those that follow me on the FaceBook, you will know that I've been on a bit of a Leonard Cohen kick lately. I tend to do this with artists, be they musicians, or painters, or writers. I get hung up on them, obsess, obsess, obsess and then overdose on them and put them down for a while until I can stomach them again. After which I work them into my usual routine and go about my business whilst obsessing over the next big thing. (not necessarily new thing, just big for me!)

Point being, I have been listening to a LOT of Cohen as of late. I knew him first as that Hallelujah guy. You know, the one that does the slow version of that Shrek song.

Yeah, I know. I suck.

But I made up for it fast when I heard the song Suzanne on the internet radio site, finetune.com. Then another Cohen song played, I think it was Tower of Song. Then another, Light as the Breeze. It seems that when you put in "Folk music" as a tag on finetune, Mr. Cohen comes up quite often. Very often. He might be half the damned lineup for that particular tag. Seems this Cohen fellow was quite the folk musician in his day. One internet search later, and the obsession began.

I fell in love. Though I must admit, at first some of his vocals are a little harsh on the ears. (especially the poppish stuff) But once you get used to his unusual style, you find yourself relishing his unique voice.

Early Cohen is great; epic beat poetry full of strife and anguish and love. I know some folks will want to crucify me for this, but in my humble opinion, this is the man Dylan wished he was.


Later Cohen is rough to get accustomed to when you have the folksy tunes under your skin. His late 70's work melds into a popish feel, then fades back into folksy type work. The nineties still have his great lyrics though the music is a bit electronic.

Then there are a lot of great live recordings. Which is why I am making this blog post. Normally I am the kind of gal that prefers the capture of a really good studio recording to a crappy live one. But, as the man said himself, for you Leonard I will make an exception.

I have come to a strange and definitive conclusion about Mr. Cohen. Listening to his studio recorded work is like aural foreplay. It's like making out with a photo of Mr. Cohen but never quite going all the way.

But listening to his live recordings is like making love with the man. (or maybe just his voice.)

Here is a good example:

This is the song, Who By Fire, recorded in 1974 on the album New Skin for the Old Ceremony.


And here is the same song in 1994, live:


You see what I mean? Yesh! WOOT!

Anyways, I think what I am saying is that if recordings are aural masturbation, and live recordings are electronic intercourse, then what will happen to me if I should ever hear the man play in person?

I can only hope that day comes. (see what I did there? haha!)

Later taters!

ps: I leave you with a link of my favorite song. Enjoy!

Velvety Velvet

Just a quick word to let you know that my Clockworks and Corsets series was featured again at the blog vv32reads. Lady Velvet has generously reviewed Pistons and Pistols, and also posted a brief tale involving a few of the characters getting up to piratical naughtiness.

You can read the story here.

And her review of the novella Pistons and Pistols.

And this month she is doing her wonderful Steampink again, which will feature some characters from my ongoing web serial Railroad! Fun!

later taters!