GlennQuigley.com

For this instalment of W5, I’m delighted to welcome JP Jackson!

Who is the star of your book?

James Martin is the protagonist of Magic or Die. He is more of an Anti-hero. At the beginning of the book, he’s drunk, living in a studio apartment, lost – just a mess of a human being – when he gets a call from the CMRD (Centre for Magical Research and Development).  That call changes everything and drags James back through haunted memories he’d rather not face. The facility that once saved him now threatens to destroy him.

What is your story about? 

Magic or Die is about a few things.  Survival, becoming part of a team, learning to trust others, and finding out how to let go.

When is it set? 

The story takes place in the here and now – but in an alternate reality where a percentage of the population is born with magical/supernatural abilities.

Where is it set?

I’m always careful to ensure that my stories are Canadian based. But I’ve never really said exactly where the story takes place. It could be Edmonton, (where I’m from) or maybe Calgary, or Saskatoon, or…Somewhere on the Canadian Prairies. That much is certain. I toyed with the idea of it taking place in Vancouver – but Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver always get all the action and I wanted to spread the Canadiana love around.

Why this story?  

I have a serious love of all things dark and magical.  If it looks like it might eat you or maybe help you…that’s my jam.  There’s not really enough Urban Fantasy/Paranormal books out there that dance on that fine line – The Sookie Stackhouse series – the books the TV show True Blood were modeled after, are close. Those were written by Charlaine Harris. She has another series called Midnight Texas.  Love both of them…but I wanted something edgier, a little darker, and of course, where the main characters were LGBTQ+. Both of those series have gay and lesbian side characters, but I’m tired of being the side character. I want books where we’re the heroes.

Magic or Die is the first book in a series, and each book will progressively get a little darker. Hopefully, someone will get eaten.  ;o)

Blurb:
James Martin is a teacher, a powerful Psychic, and an alcoholic. He used to work for the Center for Magical Research and Development, a facility that houses people who can’t control their supernatural abilities, but left after one of his students was killed, turning to vodka to soothe his emotional pain. The problem is he still has one year left on his contract.

When James returns to the CMRD to fulfill the rest of his contract, he finds himself confronting the demons of his past and attempting to protect his new class from a possible death sentence, because if they don’t pass their final exams, they’ll be euthanized.

James also discovers that his class isn’t bringing in enough sponsors, the agencies and world governments who supply grants and ultimately purchase graduates of the CMRD, and that means no profit for the facility. James and his students face impossible odds—measure up to the facility’s unreachable standards or escape. 

Goodreads Link:  //www.goodreads.com/book/show/40361631-magic-or-die 

 Buy Links:

Amazon:  //www.amazon.com/gp/product/1949340023/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 

Barnes & Noble: //www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magic-or-die-jp-jackson/1128975377?ean=9781949340020

Kobo: //www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/magic-or-die

NineStar Press: //ninestarpress.com/product/magic-or-die/ 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J.P. Jackson works as an IT analyst in health care during the day, where if cornered he’d confess to casting spells to ensure clinicians actually use the electronic medical charting system he configures and implements.

At night however, the writing happens, where demons, witches and shape shifters congregate around the kitchen table and general chaos ensues. The insurance company refuses to accept any more claims of ‘acts of the un-god’, and his husband of 21 years has very firmly put his foot down on any further wraith summoning’s in the basement. And apparently imps aren’t house-trainable. Occasionally the odd ghost or member of the Fae community stops in for a glass of wine and stories are exchanged. Although the husband doesn’t know it, the two Chihuahuas are in cahoots with the spell casting.

J.P.’s other hobbies include hybridizing African Violets (thanks to grandma), extensive travelling and believe it or not, knitting.

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Thanks for stopping by, Jeff!

-Glenn

I’m delighted to welcome back M.D. Neu for this instalment of W5!

Who is the star of your book?

I kind of have three stars.

Todd Landon is human, living and working in the United States of America. His life is similar to those around him: home, family, work, friends, and a husband.

Mirtoff Esmi is the first of her clan to be the Leader of the Nentraee. Her sole focus is to find them a home before their fleet of ships can no longer carry the last survivors of their dead world. With her brother, niece, and Faa (her companion animal) supporting her, she carries the weight of her world on her shoulders.

Mi’ko Soemu remembers the Nentraee home world for both its failures and its triumphs, which is why he holds the position of Vice-Speaker, supporting the efforts of the Nentraee Leader. He is father and husband first and will do what he needs to do to ensure his family and his fellow nentraee are safe and make it to a new world.

What is your story about?

The story is about a race of aliens coming to earth in need of our help. It’s about how we deal with this new reality when it throws all that we believe into question. Will we show our best selves or will we let our fear of the other destroy our first contact with an alien race?

When is it set?

The story is set in modern times.

Where is it set?

The story is set both on the alien ships and in San Jose, California. There are of course other locations, but these are the main locations.

Why this story?

I wanted a story that showed a non-typical hero, someone who could be any of us. Not the typical action hero. I wanted to flip the switch on what it means to be a hero. Plus, I really, really, really, wanted to write a space opera.  

Blurb:

A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It’s home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who will soon be told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world, unless they had no other choice. Todd Landon is one of these people, living and working in a section of the world called the United States of America. His life is similar to those around him: home, family, work, friends and a husband. 

On the cusp of the greatest announcement humankind has ever witnessed, Todd’s personal world is thrown into turmoil when his estranged brother shows up on his front porch with news of ships heading for Earth’s orbit. The ships are holding the Nentraee, a humanoid race who have come to Earth in need of help after fleeing the destruction of their homeworld. How will one man bridge the gap for both the Humans and Nentraee, amongst mistrust, terrorist attacks and personal loss? Will this be the start of a new age of man or will bigotry and miscommunication bring this small world to its knees and final end?

BUY LINKS:

A New World-Contact:

NineStar Press: //bit.ly/2CATYjO

Amazon: //amzn.to/2DprWs1

Barns & Noble: //bit.ly/2W75nQ6

iTunes: //apple.co/2CBOpRa 

Kobo: //bit.ly/2Mpr0qk

Website: //www.mdneu.com/shop

A New World-Conviction:

NineStar Press: //bit.ly/2Thk8NK 

Amazon: //amzn.to/2UOebJQ 

Barnes & Noble: //bit.ly/2ujPnhh 

iTunes: //apple.co/2FhmDKY 

Kobo: //bit.ly/2WbsHLZ

Website: //www.mdneu.com/shop

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M.D. Neu is a LGBTQA Fiction Writer with a love for writing and travel. Living in the heart of Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) and growing up around technology, he’s always been fascinated with what could be. Specifically drawn to Science Fiction and Paranormal television and novels, M.D. Neu was inspired by the great Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, Stephen King, Alice Walker, Alfred Hitchcock, Harvey Fierstein, Anne Rice, and Kim Stanley Robinson. An odd combination, but one that has influenced his writing.

Growing up in an accepting family as a gay man he always wondered why there were never stories reflecting who he was. Constantly surrounded by characters that only reflected heterosexual society, M.D. Neu decided he wanted to change that. So, he took to writing, wanting to tell good stories that reflected our diverse world.

When M.D. Neu isn’t writing, he works for a non-profit and travels with his biggest supporter and his harshest critic, Eric his husband of twenty plus years.

Links:

Website: //www.mdneu.com/

Twitter: //twitter.com/writer_mdneu

Facebook: //www.facebook.com/mdneuauthor

Instagram: //www.instagram.com/authormdneu/

Goodreads: //www.goodreads.com/user/show/66488958-md

Youtube: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCfGxw0RBSgsTiyYkA_UGhCw

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Thanks for stopping by!

-Glenn

Up next in my series of 5 questions, it’s M. Rose Flores!

Who is the star of your book?

Cate, a badass bisexual teen girl, immune to the zombie virus.

What is your book about?

The apocalypse, which Cate and her sister Melody must brave together in order to find their scattered family. Along the way, they find that not all zombies are just zombies. Many, in fact, are more like people than anyone could have guessed.

When is your book set?

THE END is a contemporary novel.

Where is your book set?

All along the west coast of the United States.

Why this story?

I had a boy in my head. A skinny, melancholy foster kid with brains for days and a smart mouth that sometimes got him in trouble. His name was Marco. Cate came almost immediately after, a spunky closeted teen girl who was still looking for her place in the world. They were two friends, torn apart by the apocalypse. The rest fell into place.

Blurb:

On Cate Mortensen’s seventeenth birthday, her family is scattered in a fight for survival, and she and her sister Melody are catapulted headfirst into a world where their phones are just hunks of plastic, they must scavenge for every bite, and they sleep with weapons in their hands. Traveling alone, and then not so alone, they follow the route their family planned to Alcatraz Island where the hope of safety and a real life awaits.

After more than a year on the road, Cate has found three things to be true. One: Zombies are a thing now. Two: Not all zombies are just zombies. Three (the game changer): Cate is immune to the infection.

THE END by M. Rose Flores is available now from NineStar Press, Amazon, and other booksellers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M. Rose Flores has enjoyed writing since she learned how to string letters together. She grew up in the vast green Pacific Northwest of the United States, which with its dense forests, four seasons, and proximity to the ocean made a perfect setting for The End. When she isn’t writing on her computer or in a notebook (though scraps of paper and the palm of her hand will do in a pinch), she works as a professional dog trainer and loves every part of it, even the copious amounts of drool. She believes everyone should be represented in literature and all other media. The End is her first novel.

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Thanks very much for joining in, Rose!

-Glenn