by Aiden James
“I pressed my face against the window for a better look. It wasn’t white like the moon beams. A golden hue, through the small gaps in the oaks’ branches I could tell this unusual radiance was extremely bright. It seemed to grow brighter by the second, and soon rivaled the very brightness of the sun. The entire oak became a darkened silhouette in front of it.
“I stood in awe and couldn’t move at first. I wasn’t aware my mouth had fallen open, and couldn’t control the soft moaning coming from deep within my throat. I finally managed to look away, but not before I heard my grandfather call from the bottom of the staircase.
“‘Are you okay, Jack?’
“‘Yeah, Grandpa. I’m fine!’
“I moved to my bedroom door. Just as I was about to open it, the golden light receded, and disappeared altogether within the next few seconds.
“I walked over to the window and peered into the backyard. A much softer glow hovered near the edge of the woods where Grandpa had thrown the thing earlier. I stood there, wondering if I should alert him and Jeremy about the light’s presence. I didn’t want to upset my grandfather again and felt certain my brother would climb over the wall to retrieve the object most likely responsible for the strange light. Yet, if I didn’t tell anyone, what would happen if the light was sinister?
“The light continued to dim, and since Grandpa was likely on one of his surveillance rounds when he called to me, I decided to let the matter rest. It could probably wait until breakfast the next morning, unless he or Jeremy encountered something bad before then. I seriously doubted either one saw the light, despite how bright it was.
“I stood at the window for a few more minutes, but all that remained was the moon’s natural luminance. I finally moved to my bed and crawled under the covers. I remember how the moon’s glow filled every inch of my room that night, clearly illuminating everything, including the cherished pictures of my mom and dad on top of the dresser. I drew comfort from having the photographs close, never giving up hope my parents would someday return.
“Thinking about them I started to drift off to sleep. A wild animal, perhaps a wolf, cried out from the nearby woods. Soon after, I was drawn into a restless night of strange dreams.”
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I began writing stories roughly sixteen years ago, after pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter in Denver and later in Nashville. My writing career could’ve been a brief one, as it started one night when it was my turn to read a bedtime story to my two young sons. Rather than read the ‘Mouse birthday book’ for the umpteenth time, I began a ramble about a mystical world parallel to our own, a world where sinister creatures sought to take a little boy into their hidden lair…forever.
My first critical reviews from my young audience were mixed. My youngest child, Tyler, was enthralled about the magical place I created, and eagerly awaited more. However, my oldest, Christopher, thought it was the dumbest tale he had ever heard! Luckily, my wife, Fiona, listened nearby. She thought the idea had potential, although she kept that fact a secret until the following spring, 1997. When she suggested I create a fuller blown version of this story, it marked the beginning of my love affair with writing stories.
I wish I could tell you that the experience has always been a glorious progression, where crafting characters, incredible landscapes with captivating plots, and surprising twists was easy. Far from it. It took nearly three years for me to complete my first novel—based on the bedtime story to my boys who by then were young teenagers—and another two years to decide if I liked it enough to show it to anyone else. Signed to a small independent publisher in 2004, “The Forgotten Eden” in a previous version was released to small critical acclaim in 2006. But the book found only a very limited audience, so the search for that elusive ‘bigger’ audience continued.
While pursuing a bigger book deal for my paranormal adventure series, The Talisman Chronicles, of which “The Forgotten Eden” and “The Devil’s Paradise” are the first two of five installments, an itch to dabble in something a little different hit me. A ghost story, and one dealing with a murdered teenage girl who waited nearly a century to enact her revenge became my next creation. Completed in 2007, “Cades Cove” was my second release on Kindle, last August. The sequel to this ghost story soon followed in September, entitled “The Raven Mocker”. But, I’m getting a bit ahead of myself, so allow me to fast-forward to July 2010, when my good friend J.R. Rain talked me into leaving the elusive NY book deal treadmill, and try something new: ebooks. Specifically, ebooks on Kindle, Nook, and eventually other outlets such as Sony and the Apple IBook store.
I just mentioned the releases for both “Cades Cove” and “The Raven Mocker”. But before those books were released on Kindle, there was another—my very first ebook: “Deadly Night”. Released in July 2010, it is the first installment of what promises to be a unique and exciting ghost hunting series. Based on a fictional exaggeration of Fiona, and me “Deadly Night” is a mixture of ‘now’ and where we were 20 years ago as ghost hunters (and in my hard-hitting’ days as a Nashville rock n’ roller).
“The Vampires’ Last Lover” was my first release specifically written for the Kindle and Nook audience. One that pushed the personal envelope for me, the story was written from a female perspective. Like Stephen King, when he wrote “Carrie” so many years ago, my wife provided precious insights into how women view the world around them, and in particular, their true perspectives on males—something I’m sure would surprise most of us guys. Anyway, as the first installment for my new “The Dying of the Dark” series, the story brings a fresh perspective to the vampire genre, focused on what it means to be unique and alone, both for the living and the undead, and how self sacrifice for the good of others remains the most noble aspiration for all creatures—above and below our beloved earth.
Flash forward to summer, 2013.
The book business and my career have evolved since I released “The Vampires’ Last Lover” at the end of 2010. Two more vampire installments in The Dying of the Dark series have happened since then (“The Vampires’ Birthright” and “Blood Princesses of the Vampires”), and a fourth book is possible for 2014. Deadly Night has spawned a sequel (“The Ungrateful Dead”). Meanwhile, my most successful series to date, “The Judas Chronicles” started in the spring of 2011 and has seen four bestselling installments published (“Plague of Coins, Reign of Coins, Destiny of Coins, and The Dragon Coin). There will be five more books in this series, which will likely reach its conclusion in mid 2015.
Earlier this year, I embarked on a joint publishing venture with Curiosity Quills Press. To date, we have four brand new series in operation, along with coauthored books to continue The Talisman Chronicles and The Dying of the Dark Vampires. The first series is coauthored with Michelle Wright, and is entitled “The Judas Reflections”. Much more meditative than The Judas Chronicles, we are taking the immortal Judas Iscariot back in time with each new book. It is an interesting perspective, since as he moves backward through time, his personality and soul show less and less likeable characteristics, as compared to the Judas Chronicles. This series promises to be a lot of fun, and the first two installments (“Murder in Whitechapel” and “Curse of Stigmata”) are available now.
But there so much more, beginning with “The Serendipitous Curse of Solomon Brandt”, co-authored with Lisa Collicutt, and set for release in late July. A tale about the true nature of good and evil revolves around a wicked plantation owner in Savannah, Georgia and an unusual Hoodoo curse. This will be followed by a fun science fiction series co-authored with James Wymore, entitled “The Actuator”. Lots of genre bending that effects the physical world—literally. Following this is serialized supernatural thriller in pint-sized installments called “Mind’s Eye”, coauthored with Grace Eyre.
Curiosity Quills is also handling the remaining installments for the Talisman Chronicles. The last new project for this year is the long awaited book 3 from that series.
I am happy to announce that “Hurakan’s Chalice” will be available sometime in September.
That brings us up to date. My commitment to you all remains the same…to create the finest stories my imagination can concoct. And, as always, I want to hear your thoughts. We share this journey together, and I aim to please!
Peace and love always,
Aiden
Aiden James resides in Tennessee with his lovely wife, Fiona, their two sons, Christopher and Tyler, and a feisty terrier named Gypsy. An avid researcher of all things paranormal, he still spends time visiting haunted locales throughout the Deep South. Please visit his website: http://www.aidenjamesfiction.com
Patrick Burdine is an author and screenwriter residing in Los Angeles, California with his wife and three daughters.
He’s the author of several short stories including a Shell Case Short winner, The Bone Carver and most recently released the chilling novella, The Monitor. Patrick also writes for film and is the screenwriter of the indie-horror movie Slaughterhouse Phi: Death Sisters.
He enjoys spending time visiting the worlds of Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, JK Rowling, Dan Abnett, Jim Butcher, Larry Correia, HP Lovecraft, John Carpenter, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, JRR Tolkien, Guillermo del Toro, Robert Rodriguez, and pretty much any other author, director, or screenwriter with a great story that he can sink his teeth into. (**please note: Patrick is not a vampire … most of the time)
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Please visit http://curiosityquills.com/reader-survey/ to share your reading experience with the author of this book!
The Judas Reflections: Murder in Whitechapel, by Aiden James & Michelle Wright
(http://j.mp/1ggRe65)
Emmanuel Ortiz holds an ancient and dark secret: his real name is Judas Iscariot. Forced to walk the earth as a cursed immortal, Judas’ disguise as Emmanuel does little to ease his eternal loneliness.
But when the brutal murders ascribed to Jack the Ripper in poverty-stricken Whitechapel, London in 1888, he recognizes the bloody signature of killing that speaks to the unholy talents of a fellow immortal… an enemy from long ago.
The Serendipitous Curse: Reborn, by Aiden James & Lisa Collicutt
(http://j.mp/1922q3Q)
The soul of Solomon Brandt, an evil plantation owner murdered by his slaves, has been safely contained by the Hoodoo circle over his burial site. But construction work has disturbed the seal, and the essence of Solomon emerged at last into the modern world – but forever changed.
Will the Hoodoo priestesses that imprisoned him give Solomon a chance at redemption? A chance at true love? A chance to find himself again?
Will the good in him triumph, when his soul’s evil side comes knocking?
The Forgotten Eden (Talisman #1), by Aiden James
(http://j.mp/1438PMy)
Hidden within the deep woods of rural Alabama, lies an unseen world feared for centuries by the residents of the tiny town of Carlsdale. Only one person has ever survived a visit to this place. His name is Jack Kenney.
After the brutal murder of a noted archaeologist, Jack and his older brother, are abducted by the FBI.
Special Agent Peter McNamee gains Jack’s trust, and after so many years of sworn silence, Jack leads Peter on an extraordinary roller-coaster ride involving a mystical and deadly realm located in America's Deep South.
The Devil's Flower, by Lisa Collicutt
(http://bit.ly/1qtM9yo)
In a town called Nowhere, angels and demons battle for salvation—who will win—what will be the cost?
Killing isn’t exactly on Rosalie Lockwood’s list of things to do when she runs away from home. But despite her search for peace; guns and motorcycles become her latest fashion accessories as Divine interference leads her to Steele, co-leader of the Fallen Paladins motorcycle club.
But falling for the half-human you are fated to kill has consequences.
The Dark and Light Realms collide as Rosalie chooses between life, death, and the ever-after to become that which she is fated to destroy.
Appetizer:
Book Cover
Copyright & Publisher
Title Page
Books by Aiden James
Main Course:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dessert:
A Taste of The Judas Reflections: Murder in Whitechapel, by Aiden James & Michelle Wright
A Taste of Reborn: The Serendipitous Curse, by Aiden James & Lisa Collicutt
A Taste of The Talisman Chronicles: The Forgotten Eden, by Aiden James
About the Author: Aiden James
About the Author: Patrick Burdine
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