Sneak Peek of Child of Destiny by George Elder

Welcome back to the Child of Destiny blog tour! Today, you lucky readers get an excerpt from Child of Destiny. But wait! That’s not all. To further whet your appetite, we also have a synopsis, and a little but about George Elder himself. Missed the first part of the tour? Click here to read Elder’s thoughts on Sci-fi and religion.

 

Child of Destiny (The Genesis Continuum trilogy #1) by Dr. George H. Elder

Edited by Julie Tryboski & Illustrated by Randall Drew

 

THE ANCIENTS BELIEVED THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO EVOLVE SPECIES THAT CAN PERPETUATE THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTINUED EXISTANCE THROUGH THEIR THOUGHTS AND DEEDS — WITH THOUGHT BEING A SEMINAL POWER THAT CAN OVERCOME THE DARK FORCES THAT DRIVE ALL THAT IS TOWARD NOTHINGNESS (“NOTLOH THE OLDER” OF HARKAD PRIME).

CHAPTER 1: ISHTAR’S CHILD

 

Kara had worked tirelessly piling heavy boulders around her hillside cave’s entrance, leaving a thistle-covered opening on the mound’s top that was barely wide enough for her to squeeze through. Over the years, successive layers of soil and jagged rocks were heaped on the boulders, and the humble shelter could now resist the fiercest storm and harshest winter. Long razor grass, thorny briars, and shrubs flourished on the stout construction, providing Kara’s home with a camouflaged barrier that served well against both four- and two-legged predators. The only drawbacks were meager lighting, invading spiders and centipedes, and the poor ventilation provided by the narrow entrance. Yet these were relatively small prices to pay for security. Moreover, the shelter was adjacent to a spring-fed stream that froze for only part of the winter. Of course, there was a constant need to collect firewood, gather fruits, nuts, and berries, and hunt, but Kara was proficient in these arts. She had to be, for such is an outcast’s lot.

She sat cross-legged on the cave’s floor, bathed in a shaft of sunlight that poured through the entrance. The flint tip of her spear needed sharpening, and she deftly chipped away tiny flecks of stone with a hard rock. Kara’s father had taught her the ancient art of blade-making, not that Torok ever envisioned his daughter would depend on such a skill to sustain a solitary existence. No, he had felt she was destined for great things within the tribe, which was only appropriate for the child of a Labateen chieftain such as Torok. And Kara grew to be a most unusual girl, a precocious child who tagged along behind hunting parties and played violent war games with the tribe’s boys.

By her fifth season Kara’s deftly thrown spear was regularly taking down prey that was nearly as large as she, all of which were proudly dragged back to the great cave. She even learned the old storyteller’s sacred litanies, repeating without error the lengthy and complex tales to the delight of family and friends. Torok was proud of Kara’s intelligence, strength, and courage, and considered her an ideal daughter. Never a man of many words, he once told her, “Blood of my blood, you are a very special child. God has blessed you in many ways and you make my heart proud.” Kara basked in the warmth of his approving smile, and found confidence in the tribe’s universal acknowledgment of her rare talents.

Yet neither Torok nor Kara knew about the awful mark she bore high on her scalp, the one her mother had worked tirelessly to conceal since Kara’s birth. The Labateen were the true Children of God, and only the most perfect in form could be accepted into the tribe. And to all appearances Kara’s long, thick, red hair, green eyes, hazel skin, and lithe athletic body were ideal, the quintessential elements of a Labateen woman. Indeed, all was perfect, except for a dark brown birthmark that hid underneath a luxurious mane of hair.

Leah, her mother, was horrified when she first saw the blight, although there was no one to share her shock in the isolated birthing cave. Her labor was long and difficult, and there were times Leah thought death would be a welcome reprieve. And a lonely, painful demise for mother and child was the inevitable penalty for a failed childbirth. This most sacred process was overseen only by God –- and God alone would dictate if both mother and child survived. But survival was only the first step, for then came the mother’s responsibility of ensuring that the child’s body was perfect in all ways. This was God’s test of a mother’s will to abide by the sacred laws that guided the Labateen for countless generations. These were the same laws Torok was sworn to uphold as the tribe’s Dorma, and thus Leah felt particularly driven to follow the ancient codes.              

The birthmark’s grotesquery compelled Leah to contemplate bashing Kara’s tiny head against the jagged walls of the birthing cave, the floor of which was richly littered with tiny bony reminders of Labateen mother who had done their duty. Every Labateen woman knew that allowing an unfit or marked child to live would introduce impurity into what were God’s chosen people. The only right and merciful thing was to end such a star-crossed life swiftly. Leah roughly grabbed her writhing daughter, who still wore the blood and slippery wetness of a new life. She stared into the infant’s eyes, and suddenly her will to follow the old ways evaporated. Perhaps it was the long torment of giving birth, or maybe it was the blood loss, but Leah felt that God was guiding her thoughts and deeds. ‘Yes, God must want this infant to live,’ she thought, ‘And to live for a divine purpose.’

Leah deftly severed the umbilical cord with an obsidian blade and suckled the crying infant. With every passing moment the bond between mother and child grew stronger, as did Leah’s conviction that she was doing God’s work. But Leah’s convictions were the stuff of sacrilege, and that would lead to a dreadful fate for any Labateen. However, it was customary for a new mother to remain away from the tribe for ten suns after giving birth, which was yet another trial to help ensure that only the most able would walk amongst the Labateen. Leah took the time to make dyes from nearby plants and berries, being well versed in the art of marking. Indeed, as the daughter of an Elder and wife of the tribe’s Dorma, Leah was expected to be an exemplary marker and healer.

She carefully dyed her infant’s head, hands, and feet deep black, all signs that the child was one with God’s earth by thought and deed. She repeated the procedure over the coming days until the rich dyes were absorbed by Kara’s skin, hiding any sign of the blemish. When the day came to rejoin the tribe, friends and relatives saw the baby’s markings and she was quickly dubbed “Kara,” meaning, “Companion of God.” Many in the tribe thought it odd that Leah didn’t change Kara’s markings as the child matured, but few dared question a Labateen aristocrat. The query might be seen as an insult, and only blood could assuage such folly. The ploy served well in giving Leah’s daughter time to grow a thick and luxurious mane of dark red locks that hid the sin, at least until the age of ascension.

The spear’s tip was nearly ready, and Kara examined it in detail. A good spear and sharp knife were as essential as stealth, speed, and strength when hunting. Yet the hunt had gone poorly for seven suns, and Kara did not know why. Normally, late spring provided ample game, although one had to be ever watchful for the swift grenlobs that followed the migratory herds. The large, bipedal reptiles were armed with sickle-shaped claws and serrated teeth that turned many hunters into prey. However, a hunting party of Labateen was more than a match for any animal. Even a small party could bring down a tork, a hulking, wooly, four-legged brute with a nasal horn taller than a man. Yet tribal lore aptly described a lone hunter as the personification of a “sad thing,” and Kara was reduced to stalking relatively small rodents and marsupials, with an occasional fish supplementing a meager vegetarian diet.

She preferred hunting in the nude. But it was a chilly morning, so Kara donned a pair of well-worn moccasins and the long rawhide tunic her mother once wore. Although much-patched, the tunic was one of Kara’s prized keepsakes, and as she put it on thoughts of that terrible day wafted anew. The Right of Ascension takes place during the 14th springtime of every Labateen’s life, and the ritual is overseen by the tribe’s Elders. For women, Ascension entails having the head shaved with dull blades, being tattooed with sacred symbols, and silently enduring purification via the excruciatingly slow application of steaming hot water to the clitoris. The unremitting pain often caused visions, and these were a blessing from God if their meaning could be divined.

 

Want to know more? Here’s the synopsis I mentioned:

 

Child of Destiny (The Genesis Continuum trilogy #1) by Dr. George H. Elder

The universe is nearing its inevitable end, everything is being rapidly devoured. The last hope of a dying universe is to awaken the Seeker, a legendary metaphysical being known only through ancient tales. The Seeker has the capacity to link the entire universe; they alone may be able to spark the rebirth of the universe.

Many of those that remain desperately want existence to continue. As the remaining races struggle to survive and fight over saving existence, lofty ideals give way to brutal pragmatism. Missions are sent out in search of the Seeker. One such mission encounters Kara an outcast noblewoman of the Labateen, a Stone-Age warrior culture. Kara is well versed in the Seeker’s litany, beyond what would be considered coincidence –to Kara the litany is simply the ways of God. Will Kara be able to help locate the Seeker?

Those who wish the universe to end in disorder, with no more than a whimper are not willing to sit by as others race to alter the end universe. As these opposing forces mount their defenses, racing to see their goals are achieved one question stands out…

Is Kara the key?
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. George H. Elder has a Ph.D. from Penn State in Speech Communication and a Masters Degree in nonfiction Writing from UNH. He also has a very eclectic work and personal history. He has been a college teacher, custodian, upper-level scholar, drug addict, weight lifting coach, bouncer, and much more. He has authored numerous articles in the popular press and even a scientific text book that examines the neuropsychological basis of human communication. He has also addressed subjects such as philosophy, free speech, weight training, drug use, nutrient effects, street life, and a wide range of other issues.

His varied life experiences and education give him a unique and interesting perspective, and he often weaves philosophical insights and pathos into his texts. His books are action-oriented, but they do not have simplistic plots wherein good vs. evil or some other hackneyed approach is used. Instead, Elder employs plot shifts that allow the characters and readers to question the relationships we often take for granted. For example, a hero may do great wrongs while a species once perceived as malicious can be revealed to be honorable and wise. This offers refreshing and exciting perspectives for readers as they delve into Elder’s texts, for one never knows what to expect.

 

You can buy a copy of Child of Destiny here.

To learn more about George Elder, visit his website here.

Hope everyone enjoyed the sneak peeks! Happy reading, happy writing!

Guest Post by author George Elder

Today we are hosting Dr. George Elder, author of Child of Destiny, the first book in his Genesis Continuum series. While many would shy away from introducing religion into a Sci-fi book, Elder embraces it. Below, he explains why.

 

On Sci-Fi: The Question of Religion

By Dr. George H. Elder

 

I know few Sci-Fi devotees who like the idea of shoving religious beliefs down the throats of readers, either covertly or overtly. Indeed, Sci-Fi is often used as an escape from such travails. Yet there are several examples of stories that have strong religious overtones, such as Dune and For I am a Joyous People. Even in Sci-Fi comedy cartoons we find the Robot Devil character in Futurama. The 50s are replete with numerous Sci-Fi morality tales with religious themes (e.g., The Nine Billion Names of God, The Last Question, The Reformers, Childhood’s End, Immortality, Inc., etc.). In contemporary times we have The Accidental Time Machine, Escape from Hell, Nothing Sacred, and many more. Religion and Sci-Fi are often conjoined for better or worse, and have been for many generations.

When writing Genesis, I thought religion a worthy area to explore—although not dwell on. For example, Kara is from a religious society with a strong idea of what God is and fairly advanced metaphysical concepts considering their stone-age technology. She is a Labateen, a tribe which views itself as God’s only chosen people. They are a rule-bound people who adhere to a religion that views physical and intellectual perfection as the ideal and the rule of the strong as only natural. Thus beating or killing someone who slights you is perfectly acceptable and being born with a birth defect warrants instant death. As for Kara, she firmly believes God has destined her to do great things, despite being an outcast.

Kara learns and experiences much during her adventures. Eventually she discovers her people are a manufactured species and her personal history is nothing more than a plaything of an advanced species. She is left adrift—without any guiding purpose or reason for being. She hates herself and the concept of God—whom she wishes to kill. It was a fascinating exercise to develop this descent into hopelessness, for being so reduced allowed a subsequent elevation that makes us care for Kara all the more.

As for the crew members who have taken Kara aboard their time/space craft, Anita has a strong belief in the “Great Maker,” but her guiding principles are a set of rigid moral values that go beyond religion. For example, she would rather die than harm another, and believes she has no right to live if her deeds or misdeeds cause the direct or indirect death of another. These beliefs are incompatible with Kara’s, and the two have a profound impact on each other’s views.

Ezra believes in his family above all else, and yearns to be back with his wife and children. They are his moral and ethical center, and function as a belief system in their own right. Ezra’s physical condition declines as the story progresses and his yearning to return to kith and kin increases. However, his inherent fear and reluctance to act wanes. He becomes a leader of sorts, and puts Anita, Ral, and Kara in their places when the need arises.

Ral is an artificial intelligence that finds religions interesting, but he does not subscribe to them. He finds the beliefs and views of most biological beings defective in one way or another, but in the end he falls in love. He even sacrifices himself to achieve an altruistic end, albeit an act that will come back to haunt the entire crew.

In a greater sense, the entire story revolves around the issue of being versus non-being, which allows us to examine the themes fundamental of all beliefs: is there life after death and what is the purpose of our existence? I will not claim to provide any definitive answers, but I believe the reader may come up with some ideas that go well beyond those stated in the texts. For example, it is implied throughout the text that adhering to strong beliefs and ideals in the face of circumstances that vitiate them is dubious. Conversely, beliefs form a large part of what we are, and when we lose them—we also lose part of ourselves.

Indeed, the title Genesis is what the story revolves around; although it certainly differs from the Biblical account in many respects. The accounts concerning God, destiny, free will, and many other issues stray from standard conceptualizations, and I hope they invite exploration on many levels.

 

Stay tuned for more on Child of Destiny. My next post will include a synopsis and short excerpt. Hope to see you back here soon!

Is that a Shadow I see???

Why yes! Yes it is! It is a Shadow on the Wall… on a bookshelf near you! Not sure what I’m talking about? See the awesome trailer below. Still need more incentive?? Read my review, where I gush uncontrollably about the awesomeness of this book here.

Happy Release Day Pavarti! You done good, kid.

7 Authors Who Should Only Publish in E-Formats

Some of these authors you may know; some of them are from our bookshelf at home; some are known by reputation. Regardless, here’s my point: for the love of your joints, please only buy these books in e-format. Otherwise your state may require you to get a license for a concealed weapon.

R.A. Salvatore

Now, on their own, Salvatore’s book aren’t that lengthy. We’re talking 352 pages in Siege of Darkness. The real problem is the prolific body of work the man has put out. He’s a machine. You can either buy his over 50 published fantasy books individually, or in the interest of cost and bookshelf space, buy the compilations. There’s at least 6 that I know of currently. Oh, did I mention saving space on your bookshelf? As it happens, the compilations are a double-edged sword. I’m looking at Legacy of the Drow right now. It contains four books, including Siege of Darkness. One is easier to keep up with than four right? Oh, no wait! This book has 1077 pages. Doing a rough count, there are 533,115 words in this book. And there are five more just in this universe. I think I just caught arthritis.

4 of the offending books, with my dog for scale. Yeah, I know. She's fat. So are those books.

David and Leigh Eddings

This cute little couple didn’t start out writing giant novels. Much like R.A. Salvatore, they wrote a bunch of regular sized novels all in the same world. Then after they finished those two series containing five books each, the wrote two heifer sized companions. Let me break it down for you. One book, just one book as an “add-on” to their big series has approximately 318,285 words (Polgara the Sorceress). A good day for me is writing 2,000 words. In other words it would take me 5 months and change, writing every day, consistently hitting my word goal, straight. Forget editing, this is just getting it out. Ow.

David Eddings. "Oh, you thought that was all? I'm sorry, that's only the first installment. Heh heh heh."

J.K Rowling

Are you noticing a trend here? These authors start out small, then go batshit insane. The Sorcer’s Stone 76,944 words. The Deathly Hallows 198,227. That’s more than double the size. Did I love every word of it? Absolutely. Did I have to wear wrist braces from holding up the hardcover edition for my all night read through? Um, yeah.

Hey Jo, guess what? We're going to buy it no matter how long it is. I bet if you broke it up into 2 or 3 you could make a ton of... oh. Right.

George R. R. Martin

As far as authors go, I’m convinced this guy’s a sadist. Not only does he kill of characters willy nilly, regardless of their prominence in each book, he makes them long as hell. And then, to add insult to injury, he takes seven damn years to write one. Seven years! Between books four and five! Arrgh! If I didn’t want to read it so bad, I’d just pummel myself with it a few times and end it.

You bastard.

Victor Hugo

Before Les Misérables was made into a Tony winning play, it was actually a book. No, not a book by Cameron Macintosh, and actual author named Victor Hugo wrote it. And wrote it. And wrote it. For seventeen years. After that, 513,000 words doesn’t seems as impressive, does it? Well, forget how long it took, it incited serious social change in 19th century France. Have some flipping respect.

It took him 17 years to write and what did we do? Make it into a musical. No wonder the French hate us.

Leo Tolstoy

This guy is what your high school English teacher threatened you with. “Look, it’s not like I’m asking you to read War and Peace, now am I?” Back then it was just something adults said to try to guilt you into doing your assigned reading. Little did you know! War and Peace is actually 560,000 words. Finishing this book gets you an honorary degree from some universities. From the Google machine, I’ve found out that you can probably read 200-250 words per minute, if you’re a fast (not speed) reader. That means it would take you forty-six hours to finish this book, as long as you kept up that speed. Doesn’t sound so hard? Go here to see how many WPM you read. I hit 200, and I burn through books.

He stopped shaving when he started his first read through. This is from the moment he finished.

Ayn Rand

Okay. Here’s what I understand: you want to write a piece of fiction that makes a political statement. You want to introduce your philosophy to the world. Fine. All I’m saying is that if it takes you 645,000 words to do it, maybe you should think about paraphrasing. This woman is the poster child for learning how to write a mission statement. I know it’s popular. I know it’s considered a great work of literature. But damn. 645,000 words? No wonder she became depressed after finishing. How would you ever have anything left to say?

This is the exact face I made when I read the word count to Atlas Shrugged.

Look, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with any of these books, or the authors. Just, for the sake of the rainforest and your future medical bills, buy the eBook.

Happy reading, happy writing.

4 Fictional Characters I Never Should Have Fallen For… But Did Anyway

In honor of Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought I’d take a moment to pay homage to those dashing literary characters who’ve broken my heart. Did I know they were bad news when I met them? Yes. Did I blindly become a worthless pile of goo at their smolder. Yes. Do I regret it? I don’t think so. At least if they’re fictional, they should keep me from looking like a fool in real life. You know, if you do that whole “learn from your mistakes” thing. Why four you ask? Because I couldn’t think of five. Stupid writers block…

***SPOILER ALERT!*** If you haven’t read the books listed below, save this post until you have. Wouldn’t want to ruin it for you.

Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding

A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin

 

Now, in no particular order, let’s begin.

 

4. Bill Compton from Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series

Why I fell: He was mysterious, and the first vampire you really met in this world. There’s something about an old fashioned gentleman who is at a bit of a loss in modern times. He is/was very protective of Sookie, and having someone who wants to fix your problems can be an attractive thing.

Why I should’ve run for the hills: Things were a little too convenient, weren’t they? A vampire just happens to move in across the cemetery from you, who wants to be the white knight of the crazy girl in town. Really??

Who I should’ve run to: Alcide, Sam, hell even Eric. At least you know where you stand with these guys. Alcide wants a normal life as soon as he gets over girlfriend issues, Sam likes you just the way you are as long as you don’t do anything too dangerous, and Eric… well, Eric’s an asshole, but at least he’s up front about it. With Bill, his motives are a mystery until someone else spills the beans.

Turns out Sam looks atrocious in red.

3. John Willoughby from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Why I fell: He’s handsome and charming and everything you want in a Regency period novel. He flaunts the rigid social norms for the love of Marianne. Awww.

I want to see you... without a chaperone!

Why I should’ve run for the hills: He’s everything I mentioned above, but he uses these qualities to have his fun and leave. Eventually, he marries for money, because, hey. What good are good looks and a bad boy personality if you can’t live at the top of society?

Who I should’ve run to: Col. Christopher Brandon. Inside this reserved man is the heart of a poet. He’s everything Marianne wanted, in a slightly less flashy package. This is a case where the nice guy wins, and the girl is damn lucky to have him.

Nakatomi Towers? I have no idea what you're talking about. More tea?

2. Daniel Cleaver from Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding

Why I fell: C’mon! He was Hugh Grant Brit without the bumbling. He was flirty and allegedly liked Bridget’s curves and her awkwardness. Plus office romance with the successful, handsome exec across the way? Um, yes please.

Why I should’ve run for the hills: If life has taught us anything, and if literature has reinforced it, it’s that the”perfect” guy is usually an ass. Sadly, Murphy’s Law says that if you think he could be dating someone of supermodel caliber, he probably is. You’re the bit on the side.

Who I should’ve run to: Mark Darcy. He’s a little stiff around the edges, but he’s great once you get past that. In fact, just tickle him. In moments he’ll be giggling hysterically and letting you see one of those cute British half-smiles. Oh, and you know… he’s also an updated version of Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Who’s Daniel Cleaver again?

If everything I just wrote doesn't make sense, look at the picture. That pretty much sums it up.

1. Sir Jorah Mormont from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series

Why I fell: I’m a sucker for an older man wanting to take care of you. Hell, it’s who I married. Sir Jorah is no exception, and given his tragic history with another younger woman… sigh. Yeah, I wants to hug him.

Just pretend it's not creepy that Daenerys isn't thirteen and pregnant in the book, and it's all good.

Why I should’ve run for the hills: Part of this guy’s tragic story is betrayal. For love, yes. But if he’s willing to give up everything including his honor, family, children, well… maybe I should have remembered that before I threw in whole heartedly with Team Jorah.

Who I should’ve run to: Jamie Lannister. Yes, in the beginning he’s a total tool and has a messed up sex life to boot. Really messed up. But cut him down to size, take away some of his vanity, and at least for now he seems redeemable. Of course now that I like him, Martin will probably have him flayed and crucified, but as of today I see a glimmer of hope for Jamie.

Wait, is that Jamie or Prince Charming from Shrek?

 

Finally, while researching this post, I found a great article about bad boys and why it’s best to leave them in the realms of fiction. Click here to read it. I definitely will make my daughter read it the first time she brings home “Snake” who likes motorcycles and piercings.

Until next time, happy reading, happy writing!

Six Sentence Sunday

Last week there was a bit of Linky issues, so if you weren’t subscribed to my Twitter or Facebook feeds, you probably didn’t see my submission. This week should be fine. Here you go:

As always with Ben, I felt there was more that needed to be said, but the timing wasn’t right. Yet another thing I promised myself I’d deal with tomorrow. I had an unpleasant clean up ahead of me, not to mention I was still worried sick about Mike. Possibilities were forming in my head about who would’ve taken him and why, and they all made my skin crawl.
I pulled myself up from the ground, wincing as I noticed my sore legs for the first time, and suddenly feeling incredibly tired. I had never realized how much energy it took to engage in full on combat with my own kind.

I’m starting to agree with some of your comments: I do use comments an awful lot. I think that’s because I put in commas where I would breathe or pause in conversation, and that’s how I hear Claire. And I did it again. This is why I need an editor, (sorry Honey!)

To read more from other Six Sentence authors, click here.

To read a reviews of Second Death, click here.

You can purchase Second Death in eBook format at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week! Happy reading, happy writing!

Farsighted Monday — The First

Hello and welcome to my little part of the Farsighted Blog Tour! To start things off, I’d like to introduce you to the author, the delightful Ms. Emlyn Chand. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know her over the past few months through the Novel Publicity Network, and besides being a genius when it comes to indie book do-it-yourself PR, she’s an amazingly talented writer as well. Also, my kid is in love with her bird, Ducky, the Novel Publicity mascot.

So, all that being said, here’s a guest blog post Emlyn has done for us on the top 5 ways to kill your love of reading. Also, be sure to check out the rest of the tour info located at the bottom of the post.

Congratulations on your publication, Emlyn!!

This is a guest post by Emlyn Chand, author of Farsighted

Did you resolve to read more this year? Maybe you’ve dubbed this year as the year you finally start your own book club. To be successful with either of these goals, you’ll need to keep that all-consuming passion for reading alive. Here are five examples of what NOT to do.

I have been guilty of each and every one of these bibliophile misdeeds. To avoid making these mistakes, it helps to be cognizant of what they are and how they may put-off your love of reading. My list is, of course, not exhaustive. Please feel free to add other ways in which your enthusiasm for the written word has been destroyed or derailed.

1. By taking too long to finish reading a particular book – many a decent book have been utterly destroyed for me simply because I took too long to get through them. Sometimes this is because of a busy work or personal life that interferes with my time that is generally allotted to reading; others it is because I am reading the wrong book.

2. Because of reading the wrong book—what makes a book wrong? Some people say that if a book does not grab you in the first 50 pages that you should give up reading it. I don’t know if I, however, subscribe to an exact number of pages that must be read before giving up. Sometimes books get started a bit late. Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Everything is Illuminated” for example takes a while to get heated up, but once it’s there, this is one of the most incredible books.

3. Through turning your leisure activity into a chore—if reading as a hobby is very important to you, it’s best not to subject yourself to reading materials that can be deemed more as work than pleasure. A classic example of this phenomenon is graduate school. I am not suggesting that you forego higher education to maintain your zeal for the written word; rather i’d like you to understand that you may undergo a 2-, 3- or even 5- year hiatus in this instance.

4. In choosing to miss out on other activities to sit at home and read—so you’re a book-worm that probably means you, like many others who share your passion, are an introvert. That’s great, but don’t use reading as an excuse to miss out on some of the other things life has to offer, like a social life. Don’t get too caught up in the fictional realm that you forget that life exists outside of the pages of a novel!

5. Upon assigning too much meaning to fictional characters—Loved ‘Twilight’ and now find yourself pining for a boyfriend just like Edward Cullen? No man even comes close? Surprise, surprise. Never measure real people up to invented ones, everybody loses. Similarly, if you find a glimmer of someone you know in a villainous character, you may start subconsciously assigning some of the fictional player’s deeds to your real-life loved one. Don’t do it!

Blog Tour Notes

THE BOOK:  Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t.  When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com’s Kindle store or the eBook retailer of your choice. The paperback edition will be available on November 24 (for the author’s birthday).

THE CASH PRIZES:  Guess what? You could win a $100 Amazon gift card as part of this special blog tour. That’s right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post you just read, and you’ll be entered into the raffle. I could win $100 too! Please help by voting for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll. To cast your vote, visit the official Farsighted blog tour page and scroll all the way to the bottom. Thank you for your help with that.

THE GIVEAWAYS:  Win 1 of 10 autographed copies of Farsighted before its paperback release by entering the giveaway on GoodReads. Perhaps you’d like an autographed postcard from the author; you can request one on her site.

THE AUTHOR:  Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

MORE FUN: There’s more fun below. Watch the live action Farsighted book trailer and take the quiz to find out which character is most like you!

Take the Quiz! Which Farsighted Character are You?

http://apps.quibblo.com/static/flash/qwidget/qwidget.swf?s=&theme=black&quiz=fDlEAGP

What I need from you, Character.

Okay, Monkey is entertained so maybe I can get a few thoughts in. I love my daughter, I really do. But Daddy is out of town and Mommy is sick, so she’s bored and we’re wearing on each others nerves. That being said, let’s talk about books.

I’m currently reading book 2 in Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series, The Good, The Bad, and The Undead. I really can’t decide if I like these books or not. I’m having a hard time really getting behind Rachel. I guess I need to feel like I’d be friends with them in real life, and she doesn’t seem to laugh at much. But I am really interested in the world Harrison has created. I hope I get to find out more about being a living vampire entails and all kinds of stuff about the pixies, whom I love. I guess we’ll see. Feel free to add comments about this series if you’ve read it.

Wow… Monkey is actually giving me more time. Okay, let’s see. More on books. Are there any books that you love but can’t believe you do? For instance, I love the Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin, but neither me or my husband can figure out why. Often mid-book, we look at each other and ask, “Why do I read these?” Because, honestly, nothing good ever happens. Any little bit of happiness you find is snatched away. I think it must be the characters he writes. They have so much depth, so many facets to their personalities that you can’t help empathize with almost everyone. (I say almost, because there are still some bastards you’d gladly kill yourself.)

And then there are the characters that don’t have to have tons and tons of complexity, but are great enough that you’ll read their books over and over, or other series that are basically the same situation, and just more of the same people. I think of David and Leigh Eddings’ series The Belgariad and The Mallorean. There’s not much of a difference in what happens as a whole between the two sets of books, but I’ll read more Belgarath, Ce’Nedra, Pol, Durnik, and Silk any day. Can they just have drinks one night for a little novella? Please??

I think I’ve pushed my free time limit about as far as Monkey will allow tonight. Comment and tell me your thoughts!