Playlist for Dargo - Eco-Hero! The Classic Tale by Karina McRoberts

Music adds to Stories Big Time!  Character Playlist for Dargo-Eco Hero! The Classic Tale

Dargo        For the Benefit of Mister Kite ( Lennon/McCartney)

This song is all about live theatre of old.  The Beatles capture the feeling so well in this very-fun song.  I especially love the mysterious almost liquid pipe organ bit!  Dargo grew up loving carnivals and fun fairs.  A splendid time is guaranteed for all — Don’t be late!

Belinda    I’m Walking on Sunshine (Rew)

Belinda loves her shoes.  And as she strolls along she’s a bit oblivious to everything around her.  She seems gloriously happy with this arrangement.

Mariah   They Call the Wind Maria (Learner/Lowe)

This was written for the Broadway musical Paint Your Wagon.  It’s a big song with lots of space set the American West — the hangout of Mariah, a big, blustery guy.

Terran   Climb Every Mountain ( Rogers/Hammerstein)

Terran is a mountain.  Every mountain.  I’m not sure if he would like people climbing on him, so maybe he hates this song.  Another big-hearted tune from a musical — The Sound of Music.

Jake   That Don’t Impress Me Much  (Lang/Twain)

Jake probably thinks he’s Elvis, among other things.  He’s hot and he knows it.  Dargo isn’t impressed.

Vivian   Sea Symphony (Vaughan Williams)

This beautiful piece illustrates the moods of the ocean.  Vivian is water in all its forms, but the sea is her favourite manifestation.

Flame    Hungarian Dance Eleven (Brahms)

I think this is perhaps the most beautiful piece of music ever written.  No doubt Brahms pinched if from the locals, but at least he made it possible for everyone to fall in love with it.  For me, it evokes the spirit of a forest meadow in Eastern Europe.  Flame is a ‘Gypsy ‘fortune teller/Roma lady, and this is her music for sure.

Try to find a recording that’s not played too fast — speed kills the soul of this absolutely enchanting melody.

Dargo - Eco-Hero!  The Classic Tale

Karina McRoberts

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Rocanadon Press

Date of Publication:  September 9, 2024

ASIN: B0DGKBYR3P

Number of pages:  121 

Word Count:  14,000

Tagline: Enchanting Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

AN ENCHANTING NOVELLA TO LIFT YOUR SPIRIT!

In this unique and enticing modern fairytale, a lonely young man suffers a massive defeat . When he believes all is lost, he meets with fiery fortune teller, Flame. Her plea for help sends Dargo on a crucial mission; but can he re-invent himself as a hero?

Light-hearted, but poignant, Dargo is a humorous fairy tale for adults. You can also share it with your children who care about Earth. And if they don't, Dargo will help them do so!

This hilarious and heartwarming tale has been likened to the Wizard of Oz, and will appeal to the magic in all of us.

Dargo - Eco Hero! is a Literary Titan Gold Book Award winner and has been shortlisted for a Chanticleer Fantasy OZMA.

Amazon

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZKc6lv3I8s

Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers’ Favorite:

 

Dargo, Eco Hero! by Karina McRoberts is by far one of the best and most unique books I have ever read, with a vitally important message.  

 

Reviewed by Thomas Anderson for Literary Titan:

 

Dargo, Eco Hero! by Karina McRoberts gives me the best kind of Wizard of Oz vibes. The author has nailed the same type of warmth as L. Frank Baum but puts her own unique spin on main character Dargo and his band of merry cohorts. I was especially impressed with the mixture of personification and metaphors found throughout the writing. The imagery she creates leaves readers breathless at times. Her writing is timely and gives voice to the environment in a way no other writer I have seen has been able to do.

 

Excerpt:

 

She threw Dargo more scowls and turned to go, when she was met by the office alpha male; he of the hot and handsome variety.

"There you are, Lucinda,” the man said; his baritone deeper than the Grand Canyon.  "C'mon, let's get back to work on this layout."

Her frown did a rapid 180. "Give me a minute, Jake.  I'll be right back."

Jake leaned languidly on Dargo's cubicle wall, staring after Lucinda as she made her way to the ladies' room. 

"Hi, Jake," Dargo greeted brightly.

Startled, Jake turned around.  His face cinched as he took in the Mad poster, now complete with tear.

"You need some new décor, pal."

"Guess so," Dargo replied weakly, not catching the ridicule in Jake’s tone; Dargo was most unhappy about the damage to his cherished Alfred E Neuman poster.

"What's your name again?"

"Dargo."

"Oh yeah.  How could I forget?  Hey, why weren't you with the guys last night at paintball?"

"Well, I had something to do.  But thanks for inviting me."

"I don't think we'll bother anymore.  You never come.  Just as well.  You'd probably get wiped out pronto."

"Really?"

God, this guy is a dweeb, Jake mused.  Aloud, he replied, "It's supposed to be a challenge, you know?  Real man's stuff."  Jake inhaled deeply, his fine physique expanding.

"OK, I'm back," Lucinda said cheerily.  She had very obviously 'freshened' her makeup.  "I'm ready."

Jake whispered something in Lucinda's ear.  Her face reddened to match her lipstick, then she sauntered back to her cubicle; Mister 'tall, dark, and extremely handsome' in tow.

 

About the Author:

Karina is an American-Australian author, illustrator, musician, scientist and theatre producer. She considers herself to be a true Renaissance woman and strives to help other women achieve the same. She states, "After all, ladies, we didn't get a chance last time!!!!"

She has written several novels in a variety of genres, her fiction is character rich and emotionally engaging, and her stories have won several awards.

Previously working as a conservation scientist, Karina was struck down by a mosquito-borne virus. No longer able to work, she turned her attention to writing fiction; aiming to inspire, encourage, enlighten and entertain—especially those readers active in social justice, humanitarian work, and protection of the Earth.  A fervent believer in the value of human creativity, Karina writes without input from artificial intelligence, and works so that her readers can “Escape to the Heights of Their Hearts and the Depths of Their Souls.”

Karina also writes self-instruction books and gives workshops in illustration, music,  and creative writing.  She lives with her husband William and dog Tahshi, near the heritage town of York, Western Australia (said to be one of Australia’s most haunted) where they’re busy re-wilding degraded farmland.

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Website: https://leela5chelandra.wixsite.com/chelandra

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/KarinaMcRobertsAuthor/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8368062.Karina_McRoberts

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Interview with Dr. Stuart B. Heinrich Author of The Quantum Revelations

What inspired you to become an author?

I never wanted to become an author, but I had a vision come to me for this story. It felt important enough that I had to make it happen. I wanted to find a ghostwriter at first because I didn’t know how, but eventually I had to acknowledge that nobody could write it but me. That meant I had to learn how to write.

Do you have a specific writing style?

My creative writing style is probably influenced by my technical writing style. I like to be concise, deliver something novel or educational, and write for the smartest people in the room.

How did you come up with the title for your latest book?

I figured out the title very early on, many years ago. It felt very natural because “Revelations” is a play on the mystery aspect of the story combined with the biblical references.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes, there are many messages and layers to understanding this book below the surface level narrative. I think those who really study it, and read my supplementary works, will find themselves rewarded.

Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?

Yes, the events in The Deluge were actually inspired by a natural disaster that I experienced.

Is there a genre that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?

Yes, but I don’t like to write within the confines of existing genre conventions. An essential motivator for me to want to dedicate the time to write a book is that I feel like what I’m trying to do has never been done before. I feel like I accomplished that with Quantum Revelations. I have a long list of future books I’d like to have time to write, and no two are in the same genre. We’ll see how it goes.

Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

I have a strong affinity to both Skyler and Ivan, because they are both reflections of different sides of myself.

If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?

Depending on how it’s received, there is room for a sequel. I would likely title it “The Cosmic Gardener.”

What books/authors have influenced your life?

Jurassic Park, The Da Vinci Code, and Three Body Problem were all pretty inspirational for me.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Never met the guy, but Robert McKee feels like my creative writing mentor.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Writing this book in particular felt like trying to complete a four-dimensional puzzle. There were so many competing priorities and constraints, from the laws of physics, to biblical interpretations, to principles of story, it was very difficult.

Who designed the cover of your latest book?

I had a vision in mind for the cover, and went through about four different cover artists before I found someone who could pull it off. Artem Chebokha is the one who brought that vision to reality. He’s an incredible artist and a pleasure to work with.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t ever write a book that tries to outpace reality.

What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?

Yes, after The Quantum Revelations, which is rather dark in the way that it reminds us of the failings of humanity, I want to explore the exact opposite of that in my next book. It will be an escape to an alien utopia.

The Quantum Revelations

Dr. Stuart B. Heinrich

Genre: Scientific Mystery/Thriller, Sci-Fi

Publisher: Endless Tree Books LLC

Date of Publication: 7/31/2025

ISBN: 979-8-9902071-0-3

ASIN: B0F9PXS78S

Number of pages: 474

Word Count: 146,000

Cover Artist: Artem Chebokha

Tagline: What is fiction, and what is reality?

Book Description:

The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic climate crisis and quickly spiraling out of control into a dystopian nightmare. 

As everything collapses around them, two scientists struggle for relevance in their quest to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. 

They discover so much more. A mystery of physics that goes deeper than they could have ever imagined...

Amazon

Reviews

“Heinrich offers an engrossing metaphysical excursion through the quantum realm to discover the meaning of life in this contemplative debut...[His] rich, multilayered backdrop of existential food for thought propel this story to a truly transcendental experience.”

— Publisher's Weekly

 

“Science and faith combine in this nuanced and compelling sci-fi eco thriller... [that] cleverly explores and intertwines the well established science vs religion discourse in a way that, I think, does credit to both sides.”

— LoveReading (featured under "Indie Books We Love")

 

“The Quantum Revelations is a wildly unpredictable narrative with a show stopping climax, pondering the interplay of science, religion, and technology in a way that is as captivating as it is disturbing.”

— Independent Book Review

 

Science and faith combine in this nuanced and compelling Sci-fi eco thriller.

In a world on the brink of climate catastrophe, two scientists continue their confidential work to develop a practical quantum computer, but they get more than they bargained for when their creation calls into question everything they thought to be true about the laws of physics and the world around them. The Quantum Revelations is a multifaceted sci-fi story. First off we have Skylar’s quantum computer experiment, tangentially linked to his interest in “quantum scale physics. He wanted to understand what really makes the universe tick”. )

--Charlotte Walker Goodreads Reviewer

 

About the Author:

Stuart Heinrich is a PhD computer scientist with a passion for studying the fundamental nature of reality and physics. He is known for his unique theories on the Relativity of Existence (ROE), the Maximally Biophilic Principle (MBP) and Quantum Fluid Dynamics (QFD).

https://www.stuartheinrich.com  

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234819016.The_Quantum_Revelations 

Shadowed Skies by Haley Cavanagh

Shadowed Skies

Haley Cavanagh

Genre: YA Dystopian Fantasy Romance | YA Science Fiction |

Publisher: Our Street Books

Date of Publication: March 25, 2025

ISBN: 978-1803417721

ASIN: B0DV31JXS2

Number of pages: 208

Word Count: 60,000

Cover Artist: Lapiz Digital Services

Tagline: Hunted for their blood. Fighting for their future.

Book Description:

In the shadowed aftermath of global destruction, humanity’s hope takes flight on the wings of the Evol-humans. River Shaw, secluded in his high-altitude sanctuary, seeks solace after a life scarred by loss. His quiet existence is disrupted when Delene Fairborne, fleeing captivity and a dark past, crashes into his world. 

Together, they find strength in their unique abilities, resisting the sinister forces that hunt them for a cure only their blood can provide. As love blossoms amidst the chaos, they face a ruthless scientist hell-bent on harnessing their power. Shadowed Skies is a tale of survival, sacrifice, and soaring hope, where two souls, bound by destiny, fight for a world on the brink. Dive into a world where love flies against insurmountable odds.

Amazon    Barnes and Noble    Kobo

iBooks    Collective Ink Books    Walmart

Excerpt:

I wake to a muscular, silent figure looming over me, his wings casting unnerving shadows. Intelligent dark eyes scrutinize me from his smooth, brown face framed by cropped black hair and raven quills. He’s been around the block.

My guard shoots up. I’d stand, but my body’s too weak from the climb. “Your nest, huh? Sorry, I didn’t see your name on it.”

“It’s carved right over there.” He points past me to the rockface. My eyes travel over the stone, where he’d etched River in craggy letters. The carved name is so tiny I didn’t notice.

“Now you’re supposed to tell me your name. That’s how this goes.”

I blink. “Delene Fairborne. Listen, would you mind if I–– ow,” I scrape against the wall and suck air through my teeth. I clamp my eyes shut.

“Are you okay?”

I shrug the blanket off, and my injured wing flops lamely near my shoulder. River’s eyebrows lower, and he comes closer.

“Let me look.”

He stows his serrated hunting knife, presents empty hands, and crouches to examine my injury. “Relax. I won’t hurt you. Let’s see the damage.” He’s gentle, avoiding the wound and handling my feathers softly. He lightly touches the bandage.

“Dr. Lytle runs the Stockade, the underground bunker and lab where the humans imprison and experiment on our kind. His men hunted me down and shot me with a crossbow as I tried

to escape. The wound is still healing––I changed the bandage earlier, but without a spare set of clothes, I had to tear strips off my pants to re-dress it.”

“Hmm.” He examines the back with a frown. “There’s an exit wound.”

“Yeah, I pulled it out.”

“Well, that was stupid of you. You could have died if those goons pierced a blood feather.”

My temper flares. “Oh, as opposed to leaving it in. I’d rather take my chances, thanks.” My voice is hostile, though I’m grateful for his help. I still don’t know who he is or what he wants, and my mother warned me to be on my guard.

River sits back on his haunches, sighs, and meets my eyes.

“Doesn’t look good. How long have you been here, kid? A day or so?”

“I’m no kid. I’m seventeen.”

“Well, I’m eighteen. So, you’re a kid.”

“By what, a few whole months?” I snicker. “Okay. If a kid free-climbed in the pitch-black up a hundred-foot cliff to get here, I guess I’m a kid.”

After examining the wound, he says, “The damage looks fixable. Let’s clean this well to prevent infection.”

“I’ve cleaned the wound.”

“Clean deeper,” he admonishes. “I don’t have antibiotics, but I’ll try to get some. Or at least honey. Honey heals.”

He hesitates before retrieving water, then takes a rag from his pouch and soaks the cloth. With the knife still in hand, he comes closer.

“Look … You seem all right, but I’m a lone wolf. I operate solo. You have a target with a big ‘X’ on your back. I feel bad for you. I do. But you know how it is with our kind.” He gives me a blatant look, so here’s your cue to leave.

“Gee, I’d kindly vacate the premises, but I can’t fly.”

He rubs the back of his neck, agitated. “The valley’s full of drones. And they’ve got at least a dozen soldiers combing the forest.”

“I’m sorry.” I shift my eyes down. “You never asked for any of this.”

“None of us did,” he waves me off. “The soldiers are here.

I’m screwed either way.” He pauses and assesses me. “Stay the night. Then after that, I’m sorry, but you need to find somewhere else to hide.”

The night might be all I need. “Thank you.”

About the Author:

Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She is a multiple award-winning and best-selling author and the two-time recipient of the League of Utah Writers Silver Quill Award in 2020 and 2024. Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

Website: https://haleycavanaghbooks.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/haley_cavanagh

Blog: https://haleycavanaghbooks.com/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haleycavanaghbooks/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ambitioushales/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleycavanaghbooks/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HaleyCavanaghBooks-bg1um 

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4841648.Haley_Cavanagh 

Interview with GG Collins #Mystery #Thriller #UrbanFantasy #AuthorInterview

How did you come up with the title for your latest book?

Each of the Rachel Blackstone Paranormal Mysteries include Medium in the title, the first being Reluctant Medium. And reluctant she is; sometimes put-upon. Every installment is a stand-alone read, but there remains her evolving personal story as Rachel hones her new skillset. Skinwalker Medium refers to the evil witch that some Southwest Native Nations, in this case Navajo, believe in. But skinwalker is not what they call it. In fact, they won’t mention one at all for fear of calling it to them. After having studied this phenomenon, I will never again drive through the reservations without a black obsidian arrowhead for protection.  

Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

I come up with the title first. I’m always reading about Native culture in the Four Corners region. I find the Native Nations to be interesting and I learn so much from them about nature and what’s important in living day-to-day. They’ve been at it a lot longer than some of us. From these studies I find the next thing I want to write about and from there, the title of the next book.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

The story revolves around the 1980 Santa Fe Penitentiary riot. The inmates who were slaughtered there are not at rest, and who would expect them to be? Rachel picks up on the shadow people in the cellblock where the worst took place while reporting on a story for High Desert Country.

I would hope that anyone who reads this comes away with the cause, which was overcrowding and the mixing of heinous criminals with nonviolent inmates. Among those murdered were snitches in protective custody and possible offenders like counterfeiters and auto thieves. The sentence for these offences is not the death penalty, but that’s what they received.

Many readers appreciate the ways of the Navajo and Hopi. These characters bring depth and meaning to my stories. I also include characters from the three cultures who make their homes in this area and by incorporating some of their Native languages. 

Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

That would have to be Rachel Blackstone. She and her friend Chloe Valdez, each have some of my traits. I always wear shoes I can run in and so does Rachel. But I don’t eat much junk food. My eating habits are more in line with Chloe’s who also does yoga. And while Rachel doesn’t really get this supernatural gig, Chloe basks in it. Together they are a bit of an odd couple who manage to solve paranormal mysteries.

What books/authors have influenced your life? 

Shirley Jackson’s book We Have Always Lived in the Castle really woke me up at about age thirteen. I wasn’t writing then, but I’d been reading Phyllis A. Whitney and Mary Stewart, who wrote romantic mysteries. Jackson’s had that twist at the end I wasn’t expecting. And then came along Stephen King. Salem’s Lot and The Shining really rang all the bells and whistles for me. Of course, there is Tony Hillerman who literally wrote the books on the Indigenous mystery genre. Without him, none of us would be writing about Indigenous culture.

A recent review from the UK was so lovely. But the line that especially stood out to me was “Highly recommended for readers who enjoy intelligent mysteries with a supernatural twist.” This reader made me feel I was achieving exactly what I wanted in this series. 

Who designed the cover of your latest book?

Tatiana Vila, with Vila Design, has created all my covers. She is a master. I send a short (4 or 5 line) synopsis and a few items important to the story and turn her loose. If you want changes, she’ll make them. I took a chance on her just from looking at the many covers she had done. I’ve never looked back. Find her at https://www.viladesign.net

Do you have a song or playlist that you think represents this book? 

During the writing of Skinwalker Medium I played a lot of Native flute music. Here are some of the artists I particularly enjoy: John Two-Hawks’ “Wind Songs,” Alice Gomez “While the Eagle Sleeps,” R. Carlos Nakai “Mythic Dreamer” and Jessita Reyes “Native American Flutes & the Sounds of Nature.” These albums take me right to the Four Corners area where much of this story took place. As soon as I hear the haunting melodies I’m immediately transported to legendary places in the Four Corners such as Shiprock and Monument Valley. My sense of place kicks in.

What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?  

Skinwalker Medium has been nominated for the New Mexico Book Award and I’m excitedly waiting for word on it, but not holding my breath. Winners won’t be announced until November.

Currently, I’m writing Editor Die Line, the cozy I spoke about. It will likely have a spring pub date. The latest book in this series, Editor Kill Fee, was reviewed by Publisher’s Weekly and appeared on The Strand magazine reading list.

As for the Rachel Blackstone, her next adventure will be Brujo Medium. Yup, she will be going up against another type of evil witch. There is sure to be more gripping adventure and narrow escapes as she and friend Chloe try to interpret more cryptic clues from the spirit world.

 

Skinwalker Medium

A Rachel Blackstone Paranormal Mystery 

Book Five

GG Collins

 

Genre:  Indigenous Paranormal Thriller

Publisher: Chamisa Canyon Publishing

Date of Publication:  March 19, 2025

ISBN: 978-1735428246   

ASIN: B0F1ZGSYJK

Number of pages:  259

Word Count: 66,235

 Cover Artist:  Tatiana Vila, Vila Design

 

Tagline:  It’s the season of the witch. Are you ready?

Book Description: 

Rachel’s interview subjects are turning up dead, but only those linked to a certain story: the Santa Fe Penitentiary riot of 1980. 

It’s beginning to look like something malevolent is involved and it’s threatening everyone connected with the story. 

Rachel, the Reluctant Medium, must learn the Navajo ways to prevent another horrific skinwalker death – maybe even her own.

Amazon

 

Reviewed by Publisher's Weekly

Nominated for the New Mexico Book Award

The Strand Magazine Reading List.

Fellowship & Award-Winning Writer

SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists) Awards

Excerpt:

A stroll along the river usually calmed her. Still, Albuquerque’s crime rate had made national headlines so she tried to be alert to any threats.

After a few minutes, Olivia could tell her pulse had evened out and she was beginning to notice the birds and trees instead of her bothersome feelings. But something else concerned her. There was a fetid odor in this area. She dismissed it as a dead animal but it disturbed her enough that she dug in her coat pocket for her pollen and arrowhead. They weren’t there! Hadn’t she placed them in her pocket while talking with the reporter? When Blackstone cautioned about the others she had interviewed who had died or been scared, she remembered taking the bag out and showing her the contents. She checked the other pocket that held her fob and cell. Olivia could feel the panic rising in her throat, so she took out the phone. It made her more confident. Help was a phone call away.

She quickly turned. Behind her was nothing but an empty trail and the beginnings of another spectacular sunset. Ahead, a biker disappeared around a corner. The Rio Grande flowed to her left and there was no one exploring the banks or kayaking on the river. That left the treed area to her right. A few trees still held onto their autumn leaves, but most had turned brown and fallen to the ground. There was nothing apparent, but the feeling of trepidation would not go away. How could she have left her amulet and bag of pollen? And where did she leave them? It didn’t matter now. The only thing that mattered: something was stalking her and she couldn’t yet see it. She held her phone tightly.

A hawk flew overhead as she looked upward. The hawk didn’t worry her. These birds of prey were only a threat to a small mammal, with the occasional insect or lizard for variety.

It circled languidly. This time, it swooped down at her as a bird parent might defend a fledgling against a passing cat. The intent was obvious: to bully her. It was working. Olivia wanted to go. She no longer wanted to be outside and felt vulnerable, was vulnerable. Retracing her steps to the parking lot, she heard a sound behind her.

She kept walking, hoping it would go away. But the fear in her chest was fierce. It was difficult to breathe. She tried to control the shivering and her pounding heart. Her options had run out. Olivia knew she was no longer in charge of the situation. She had to turn around and face whatever was there.

After casually glancing about to appear unafraid, she came face to face with an evil witch. Its eyes held her, and she couldn’t look away. The elders always cautioned against staring directly at the eyes so the witch could not control thoughts. But it was too late. The red and glowing eyes allowed her to see only the beast.

It was sans clothing with fur covering its body and the neck heavy with jewelry. Its face and arms were grey. For a moment she thought it might be female, but never had she known of a female witch becoming malevolent. She knew this was imminent danger of the fatal kind. Without her arrowhead, she didn’t know how to defend herself. It could run faster, jump higher and climb better than she could. Her chances of harming it were slim. The body of a skinwalker was tough, maybe impenetrable. With only the useless cell in her hand she stood silently, because who could she call to intervene?

 

About the Author:

G.G. Collins loves the American Southwest where many of her stories are located. She can be found hiking through ruins of the ancient ones and enjoying New Mexican cuisine. When not traipsing about, she makes up stories with great friendships, quirky characters and, oh yeah, dead bodies. She has worked for a book publisher and as a journalist; publishing is in her blood. In real life she shares her time with a man, several neurotic – and psychic – cats and the ongoing struggle to grow a garden.

 

 

Website: https://reluctantmediumatlarge.wordpress.com/

X: https://twitter.com/GGCollins1

BlueSky:  https://bsky.app/profile/ggcollins.bsky.social

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/g-g-collins

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6427518.G_G_Collins

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Gods Galore Series by Rupert Stanbury #GreekGods #Fantasy #Comedy

GODS GALORE

Gods Galore Series

Book One

Rupert Stanbury

Genre: Fantasy / Comedy

Publisher: Troubador / Matador

Date of Publication: 28 October 2021

ISBN:878-1800465305

ASIN: B09KM9JV2S

Number of pages: 344

Cover Artist: Dave Hill

Book Description:

The Olympian Gods have made it to the 21st century AD. We may not have heard much about them in the last two thousand years, but they’re still controlling what we humans are up to – or at least they think they are.

The reality is that the Gods are like us – they’ve got problems!

Zeus is still Top God on Mount Olympus, but he’s got issues with many of the younger gods. His brothers, Hades and Poseidon, have issues with themselves – they’re getting too set in their ways ruling the Underworld and the Seas; they probably need a job change.

But help is at hand from an unexpected source – we humans.

It’s surprising what a dose of good common sense can do for even the most powerful of the gods, especially when it comes from a couple of teenagers!

https://amzn.to/4kAzqdK 

THE FOUR HORSEMEN

Gods Galore Series

Book Two

Rupert Stanbury

Genre: Fantasy / Comedy

Date of Publication: 17 April 2023

ISBN: 979-8366008495

ASIN: B0C2Q4G268

Number of pages: 337

Cover Artist: Tim Stringer

Book Description:

The Four Horsemen is the second book in the Gods Galore series about the Olympian Gods in the 21st Century AD.

The gods are still trying to control what we humans are up to. Unfortunately, they’re not being particularly successful. The world is experiencing both plague and famine which Zeus and the Gods’ Council never approved. What’s going on?

Athene’s determined to find out, but before she can get going the God of War initiates an attack on Poseidon’s realm. It’s now all out conflict and the gods are taking sides – one side, in particular.

Wherever there’s a fight, Hebe’s involved. She soon signs up to an army regiment which is full of soldiers even smaller than she is. But war these days involves brains and not just brawn and there’s plenty of both ready to be deployed in this fight!

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PIMLICO PEOPLE

Gods Galore Series

Book Three

Rupert Stanbury

Genre:Fantasy / Comedy

Date of Publication: 28 October 2024

ISBN: 979-8338117200

ASIN: B0DL5XTHMH

Number of pages: 339

Cover Artist: Tim Stringer

Book Description:

Pimlico People is the third book in the Gods Galore series about the Olympian Gods in the 21st Century AD.

The Goddesses Artemis and Hebe are staying in Central London to obtain a better understanding of the lives of ‘normal’ people.

To their surprise, they soon encounter a plot to blow up a foreign embassy. Add to that a sophisticated operation involving the theft of valuable paintings from a major art gallery, and the two goddesses begin to question what a ‘normal’ life is all about.

Meanwhile, in the Underworld Cerberus encounters another dog who, amazingly, only has one head! How will they get on?

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EXTRACT FROM PIMLICO PEOPLE – THE PARK 

The location for this extract from Pimlico People is St James’s Park in Central London.

The reference to Blefuscu and Lilliput are to two islands in Gulliver’s Travels where people are only about six inches tall. The people of these islands are often in conflict with each other.

Both Iris and Hebe are Greek goddesses. Cerberus is a three-headed dog living in the Underworld. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders is a Lilliput army regiment; Rach is also from Lilliput. Finally, Slasher and others are swans living in the park.

 

As this small armada was making progress, exciting things were beginning to unfold on West Island where four Blefuscu commandos still remained, together with a couple of swans. None of them knew precisely what their role was, other than to be ‘back-up’, so they just rested on the ground expecting to have a quiet time until their comrades returned. They were therefore surprised to hear a paddling noise from the lake and even more surprised when a large black dog with three heads emerged. All these heads had the same face which bore a remarkable resemblance to the Goddess Iris.

The dog raced along the ground towards the commandos. It snarled and growled as it moved at speed, its three mouths spitting out saliva and showing a large number of very sharp teeth. The commandos tried to get up and run, but the dog was on them before they could get away. They were by now all terrified and started to scream.

“Give us a Mars bar or I’ll bite yer bums!” they heard, but it made no difference because the dog decided not to bite their bums; instead, it proceeded to kick them all into the water.

“Help!” screamed one of the commandos. “I cannot make ze swim! Help!”

The two swans were nearby in the lake and, considering themselves pretty tough, didn’t run away, but instead tried to help the commandos. However, the three-headed dog launched itself from the bank and landed on top of one of the swans. It gave the white bird a number of painful bites and used its powerful front paws to thump the swan in all sorts of sensitive places. Eventually, its victim was so battered and bruised the black dog left it floating on the lake.

The other swan by now had decided he wasn’t quite tough enough to take on a manic three-headed dog and had started swimming away. Unfortunately, it was now the next target for the Iris-Cerberus look-alike who, despite being a four-footed canine, could out-swim any of the St James’s Park swans. The dog soon caught up with the fleeing swan, jumped on its back and meted out the same treatment as it had given to its companion. Having left the second swan equally battered and bruised, the dog swam back to the Blefuscu commandos, who were still flailing around in the water. Three sets of jaws each took hold of a commando at the same time and then proceeded to toss them back onto the island. They were soon joined by their final companion as they lay moaning and groaning on the ground. At this stage the three-headed dog turned round and began to swim towards Duck Island.

The next minute a miniature boat arrived at West Island, having travelled along the length of the lake near the north bank. It had a silent motor, specially designed by Rach’s Special Projects team. A number of Argyll and Southern Highlanders disembarked, went over to the four Blefuscu commandos, tied their hands behind their backs while at the same time taping their mouths. They were put into the boat which set off on its return journey, again along the north side of the lake.

xxxxx

Meanwhile back on the lake, the adjutant and his three commandos were rapidly approaching the south-west corner of Duck Island. The commandos had already taken out a number of hand grenades while the adjutant was readying a bomb to create a Big Boom when Slasher became aware of something in the water approaching him at speed. Suddenly he jerked and let out a honk as he realised he was looking at a giant swan, which was at least five times bigger than him with a neck ten feet high. Interestingly, this swan had the Goddess Hebe’s face, although Slasher would not have been aware of that. He didn’t have time to let out another honk because the giant swan’s head swiped his own, knocking him on his side. He managed to right himself only to find that his adversary didn’t just have webbed feet, but also forearms with bright red boxing gloves which started bashing his head and thumping his body. After a short while the boxing gloves went under his belly and then threw him backwards into the air. When Slasher landed back in the water and his head resurfaced, he found he was due another good beating and bashing until he was left in an even worse condition than his two comrades who’d been attacked by the three-headed dog near West Island.

Slasher’s four Blefuscu commandos had fallen into the water shortly after the altercation with the giant swan had begun. Fortunately, they could all swim, but they did a lot of shouting for help. All their bombs and grenades had also fallen into the lake, so they were now useless, but this didn’t seem to matter. Getting to dry land was their key objective now. Creating a Big Boom at the Lilliput Embassy was no longer high on the agenda.

The other four swans and their commandos behind Slasher were soon aware that matters weren’t going to plan. They tried to move away from the giant swan and turned back towards West Island. However, they didn’t get very far because the giant swan hadn’t taken long to deal with Slasher and began chasing after them. It soon caught up with the two in the rear and gave them both the same treatment it had given Slasher. The other two, who were in the lead for a brief while, thought they’d got away, until one of them was hit very hard by a three-headed dog swimming directly at it with the force of a torpedo. As the swan tried to right itself while it’s four commandos were flailing around in the water, the three-headed dog jumped high into the air. It landed on the back of the final swan, again knocking its commandos into the water before starting to rough up the bird.

While the giant swan and the three-headed dog were having fun beating up Slasher, Spike, Spanka, Scorcher and Smog, the pelicans had stopped chanting “Oggy, Oggy, Oggy” from the lakeside. They got into the water and started looking for the commandos who were splashing around. When they found them, they gently picked the small men up in their beaks and carried them to Duck Island. They were joined by more miniature boats manned by members of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as well as the Lilliput Embassy’s security staff. Rach was also hovering overhead on her scooter, shining a powerful torchlight on the lake and calling out whenever she found one of the flailing commandos.

 

 Author Intro Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=33RW970lp04

About the Author:

Rupert Stanbury is a Cambridge University graduate. He was born in Manchester in the North of England but has lived most of his adult life in Central London.

He has always been an avid reader and in recent years decided to take up writing himself. His books have one overriding objective which is TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH!

His first book, Gods Galore, was published in November 2021 and this was followed by The Four Horsemen, in April 2023. His latest novel, Pimlico People, was published in October 2024. All three books are a mixture of fantasy and comedy about the Olympian Gods in the 21st Century.

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