San Francisco, Year 3377. A deadly virus has taken the world by storm. Scientists are desperately working to develop a vaccine. And Robin Johnson – genius, high-functioning, and perhaps a little bit single-minded – is delighted. Because, to cure the disease, she’s given the chance to travel back in time.
But when Robin arrives at the last Ice Age hoping to stop the virus at its source, she finds more there than she bargained for. And just as her own chilly exterior is beginning to thaw, she realises it’s not only sabre-toothed tigers that are in danger of extinction . . .
When I next opened my eyes, sunlight slanted into the cave. Motes of dust danced and sparkled in the air. An acrid, bittersweet odor filled my nostrils, and smoke made lazy spirals in the breeze. I heard a crackling sound, but it was just the fire dying into embers. My bed, if you can call a pile of furs a bed, faced the cave entrance with the fire between me and the opening. The cave was little more than an indentation in the rock, and not deep at all. It hadn’t been lived in long. The fire had hardly any ash. There were no other signs of human presence except the bed of furs and the fire. I would have expected a more structured space, perhaps some baskets, articles of clothing, weapons even.
I started to feel better and sat up, being careful not to jog my arm. I needed to urinate again, so, bracing myself on the stone wall, I stood. My knees wobbled, but I was up. I checked, and saw my comlink was still around my wrist. I called up my vid cam. It flew into the cave like a demented bat, and I winced. It must have spent the night outside and gotten hung up in a tree. A small branch was stuck to it.
I plucked the branch off it and sent it out to scout, and then I opened a floating screen. I didn’t want to walk into danger. If I had to, I’d stay here until the rescue team came and have my vid cam lead them to me. The screen showed the river. And it also showed the cave I was in. It wasn’t the cave I’d seen from the river - no, that one had been high on the cliff. This one was nearly flush with the river and must flood after too much rain. No wonder it wasn’t used as a dwelling. The caveman must have dragged me here from the river and lit the fire for me. And he’d gotten furs for me. His intentions had been good. He’d gone out of his way to help me. Another thought occurred. I hadn’t been wearing my modern clothes. There wasn’t too much about me that screamed “Woman From the Future!”. My comlink was one I’d chosen because it looked so natural - the band looked like leather with three large copper beads on it: one for my floating screen, one for my vid cam, and one for my computer.
I floated my screen in front of me and sent the vid cam downriver looking for the caveman. There he was, trudging along with a pile of sticks on his shoulder, dragging some sort of dead animal behind him. Oh joy. Breakfast.
About the author
Jennifer Macaire lives with her husband, three children, & various dogs & horses. She loves cooking, eating chocolate, growing herbs and flowering plants on her balcony, and playing golf. She grew up in upstate New York, Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. She graduated from St. Peter and Paul high school in St. Thomas and moved to NYC where she modeled for five years for Elite. She met her husband at the polo club. All that is true. But she mostly likes to make up stories.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Branwen OShea will be awarding a prize pack of 1) One signed paperback,2) One Tote bag with the Finding Humanity Series logo (Savas' Compass)and 3) Two different bookmarks for The Calling, one signed by the author, to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Humanity’s wake-up call. Answer it or face extinction.
When Bleu’s little sister shows symptoms of the deadly Sickness, a strange vision directs him to leave humanity’s subterranean haven and seek the cure on Earth’s glacial surface. Joining the expedition team, Bleu expects extreme temperatures, not a surface ruled by ingenious predators.
Rana and her fellow star beings have co-existed with Earth’s top carnivores since the humans disappeared. But when her peers transform into Crowned Ones, the final stage of star being development, she fears remaining Uncrowned like her parents. To prove her worth, she undertakes a dangerous mission—contacting the hostile and nearly extinct humans.
But Rana’s plan backfires, and Bleu’s team retaliates. As war with the more advanced star being civilization looms, both Rana and Bleu separately seek a way to save their people.
Enjoy an Excerpt
She knelt, and with trembling hands, she grabbed the extra piece of soaked wood. If she put one log in the back of the cave and kept one in the entrance, then maybe she’d be safe between them until daybreak. Of course, that assumed whatever predator lurked outside lost interest in her by daybreak.
Two fires were her best chance. Her only chance. She quickly placed the second piece of wood, filled its opening with tinder, and grabbed her stones.
The growling grew closer. At this rate, she’d never get the log lit in time. Her mind raced through possibilities, but they all required skills she lacked and ended with her death.
Wait. Furred ones sense energy. In desperation, she expanded her energy to appear larger and hoped her fake size might give the predator pause.
In this enlarged-energy state, she struck the flint and fire stone together. They sparked, but the log remained unlit. Long claws scraped against the floor. She peered up from the flint. The pale light of the first log reflected off two eyes.
About the Author:
As a young girl, Branwen wanted to become an ambassador for aliens. Since the aliens never hired her, she now writes about them.
Branwen OShea has a Bachelors in Biology from Colgate University, a Bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work. She lives in Connecticut with her family and a menagerie of pets, and enjoys hiking, meditating, and star-gazing. Her previously published works include contributing to a nonfiction yoga book, wellness magazines, and her published science fiction novella, Silence of the Song Trees.
Branwen OShea will be awarding a prize pack of 1) One signed paperback,2) One Tote bag with the Finding Humanity Series logo (Savas' Compass)and 3) Two different bookmarks for The Calling, one signed by the author, to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
A struggle. A war. The past. Would you recover? Nathan Olason picks up the pieces of his life in 1893 and becomes a devoted father and grandfather. Except something from his past is holding him back. His grandson, Mike grows up in a loving family with Nath almost raising him as his own. Mike develops a passion for hunting and guns, while his family supports him with trepid hearts as WWI looms. Nath feels helpless to stop this dangerous chain of events, as Mike announces that he is joining the Great War. Armed and deadly, Mike hones his marksmanship skills to a perfection not seen in any other soldier. He is taken on a wild ride of following his passions, courage and gruesome fighting, arriving at Vimy Ridge, France for the fight of his life. Nath fearing the worst, flees to a place that he thought was his salvation; an old weathered cottage that holds the key to his future. Follow in the footsteps of heroes. Be vulnerable. Would you recover?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt :
She was a stunning woman with beautiful long black hair, shockingly rare blue eyes and tanned skin. She was captivating and absolutely gorgeous. Ivan thought that he didn’t have a chance until he found out that she lived down by the pier with her father. He bought fish from her father regularly, trading vegetables and grains some days. Every time Ivan visited the large fishery at the pier, he was always scanning the crowd for the beautiful blue-eyed fisherman girl. He found out that she was almost the same age as himself; she was 18, and he was 19. How she had managed to remain single was something beyond his stretch of knowledge. Maybe she was too beautiful, he thought. No man was courageous enough to approach her. Until this day, he thought.
Ivan straightened his tie and proceeded to the fishery. He ran his fingers through his hair, adjusting his cowlick. The pesky tuft of hair at his crown annoyed him greatly. It seemed to have a mind of its own, especially in tense situations; it would stick up like a fork in a haystack. Otherwise, he thought that he was quite a handsome fellow, standing at six feet tall, slim but fit, with dark blonde hair, a young uneven beard and captivating green eyes. Women looked at him often, so he knew that he was attractive, but he still felt unsure of himself some days, especially around stunning women like her. Ivan pulled the door to the fishery open, unconsciously licking his hand and smoothing down the cowlick again as he stepped inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
J. A. Boulet is the passionate author of The Olason Chronicles, a historical saga of war, courage,
love and strength. The Strong Within Us Book 2 was released on Amazon November 11, 2020.
J. A. Boulet was born and raised in Western Canada as a first generation Canadian from European
descent. Her father was enlisted with the Hungarian military and fought bravely during the Hungarian
Revolution, changing sides to stand up for what he believed in. He was granted asylum in Canada and
built his family here.
J. A. Boulet was born many years later, raised with strong morals and values, which she stands behind
to this day. She started writing poetry at the age of five and progressed to short stories and novels.
She has a keen interest in settlers, healing, family bonds and military history. J. A. Boulet writes with a
spine-tingling realism like none other, grabbing your emotions and refusing to let go.
The Strong Within Us Book 2 will be the book you’ve been waiting for.
She currently lives in Canada with her two teenaged sons and a crested gecko named Mossi.
Hello and welcome to my blog! Can you tell me a little about yourself, and how you became an author?
Hello! Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I’m a single mother of two teenage boys and ever since they were born, I felt a deep connection to the issues that men face. When I was growing up, I also bonded with my brother rather than my sisters, which lent me some tomboyish tendencies. Curiously enough, I always dressed very feminine and always spent considerable time on my hair and dresses. Although once I was outside, I often ended up in the garage or in the dirt making a terrible mess of my frilly dresses. It was definitely a source of frustration to my exasperated parents.
I started writing when I was five. It started with poetry and progressed to articles, short stories and historical fiction novels.
What is your book about?
The Strong Within Us is the continuation of The Olason family saga. It is Book Two of The Olason Chronicles and starts in 1893, spanning all the way to WWI. Nath picks up the pieces of his life and becomes a loving family man, raising his daughter and his grandson, Mike. Once his grandson chooses to join The Great War, he fears the worst and is forced to confront his deepest fears.
Who is your hero/heroine? Is he/she based on someone in real life?
Nathan Olason is the main character although the supporting character Mike Kozak is a pivotal point in the book, joining the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade and travelling to Vimy Ridge, France. They are both very strong men with admirable values, steel determination and family bonds. Neither of my heroes are based on anyone I know in real life, but as with all my characters, they all contain little parts of my own personality.
What are your favourite times for writing? Morning? Evening?
I write mostly in the late evenings, sometimes until 2 am. I schedule my writing times to keep things consistent. I edit during the day, though, it mostly puts me to sleep if I try editing at night!
Who are your favourite authors? Did they influence your writing, and if so, how?
Ken Follett is my all-time favourite author. He has influenced my writing by helping me develop a style of my own and just generally becoming a better writer. I hope to one day meet him in person and thank him.
Did you have a favourite book as a child? Did it influence your choice to become an author?
I was a bookworm geek when I was a child. In my afternoon pastimes, I would walk to the library and take out five books and be happily skipping home to read them all! I also became intensely interested in Shakespeare during high school, eventually dragging my mother to many plays, including Othello, Caesar, Taming of the Shrew and many more. My teachers in high school were thrilled! I was a sponge for written words and artistic performances.
I don’t believe there was one particular author that had influenced my choice to become a writer, I guess I always just knew that writing was my thing. There was never a question in my mind about where my passions lay. Writing gives my life meaning more than anything I have ever known. The ability to touch so many souls with my words is the most heartwarming feeling in the world.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ella Quinn will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Now available in print for the first time, USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn's second installment in The Marriage Game series is a witty, romantic historical tale about a young lady who must choose between her head and her heart...
Since she was a young girl, Anna Marsh has dreamed of Sebastian, Baron Rutherford asking for her hand in marriage. But that was in another life when her brother Harry was alive, before she vowed to secretly continue the work he valiantly died for. Now as Sebastian finally courts Anna, she must thwart his advances. Were he to discover her secret, he would never deem her a suitable wife...
Sebastian has always known Anna would become his wife someday. He expects few obstacles, but when she dissuades him at every turn he soon realizes there is much more to this intriguing woman. Somehow he must prove to her that they are meant to be together. But first he must unravel the seductive mystery that is Miss Anna Marsh...
Read an Excerpt
Anna had never before been so thankful for country hours. Rutherford had joined them for dinner and tea, and she was still in her room by nine o’clock. Lizzy helped her out of her evening gown and in to bed until she had to dress again. The few months before Christmas were always the busiest for her smugglers.
She woke two hours later, scrambled into her habit, and slipped down the back stairs through the side door to the stables.
Humphrey’s head was swathed in bandages. “Did the doctor remove it?
“Yes, miss, he took out two. Warned me not to wait so long the next time. Said there was a woman he saw that let it go so long she died of the infection. Right glad I am you made me see him, miss. I’ll be good enough tomorrow or the next day.”
“You need to rest. There is no reason at all for you to worry about me.”
“Master Harry . . . ”
Anna sighed. “Humphrey, Master Harry is no longer here. I’ll be fine.”
Anna led Thunderer to the mounting block. Once on the large gelding’s back, she turned him toward the meadow and the sea. After changing at the cottage, Anna arrived at the cliff with time to spare. She descended to the beach to wait.
Kev was the first to arrive. “We’re going to be later than usual. Got word of a patrol.”
“How’d that happen?”
“One of our men was in a tavern in Dover. He heard talk.” Anna could just make out his grin. “They expect to be back in by midnight.”
That was a relief. Harry had given her a contact in the event they were ever caught, but she’d never had to use it and didn’t want to now. “Good. That won’t put us off by much.”
“I sent word to Lizzy that you’d be late.”
Anna nodded. “Have you received the information for the next few shipments?”
“Yes, Mr. Arnold.” Kev gave the dates for the next couple of weeks.
Once the men were assembled and the delivery signal given, Anna climbed back up the path.
About the Author: USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn's studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, was her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.
She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, and a Great Dane. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She's currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement.
