Twin Time by Olga and Christopher Werby

 

Twin Time is a time travel historical fiction urban fantasy by Olga and Christopher Werby. Today you'll have the chance to take a sneak peek into the book, plus some background information from the author. Be sure to let her know what you think! And then follow the tour for more. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Alex and Sasha are twin sisters, physically identical down to their freckles. But the resemblance is only skin deep—Sasha is profoundly autistic, while Alex is not. Sasha can’t communicate and acts bizarrely, and the family revolves around her and her intense needs. Yet the aged, wealthy, and mysterious Aunt Nana seems to have a particular interest in both girls. Offering a helping hand, she encourages the family to move to San Francisco to be near her. And when the young twins discover a tunnel in Nana’s tool shed, it leads them on a journey across the world and back 100 years in time. The tunnel is a pathway to the Firebird Estate, the home of their ancestors, located in rural Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Even more remarkable, through the effect that twisting time has on cognition, Sasha is not autistic when she’s at the Firebird Estate. Now, growing up in two strikingly different times and places, the twins must face their separate destinies among the ravages of the incipient Russian Revolution. Can they save their families on both sides of the tunnel? Can they simultaneously stay true to their own hearts, to each other, and to the people they left behind? Each sister must face her own personal challenge—but only together can they discover their own future within their family’s past.

Read an excerpt:

Boris Blackburg was observing Alex carefully, judging her emotional state and her ability to comprehend what he was telling her. She seemed very confused. He wasn’t surprised. This was the strangest assignment he had ever accepted. At first, he thought it was some silly notion of a well-to-do old woman. But as the years passed, he got to know Nadezhda well, and he liked the old woman, eccentricities and all. And as he got to know the Orlov family as well–vicariously, of course—the assignment grew more and more strange and intriguing.

Boris was also well compensated for his work. He was going to ensure Nadezhda’s wishes were followed. Alex Orlov would inherit her great-aunt’s estate and all the accompanying strangeness that came with it. He would make certain of it.

“Where did you get these?” Alex asked.

“Nadezhda, your Aunt Nana, gave these to me about eighteen years ago, shortly after you and Sasha were born.”

“I… I…” Alex seemed to want to say something, but couldn’t get it out. Boris was prepared to give her time, as long as her parents didn’t interfere with his mission by arriving too soon. At least the girl was now of age and the complications of guardianship had gone away–but he needed to complete his assignment before her parents arrived and complicated matters.

“Who’s the woman in this photo?” Alex pointed to a small black and white print of a man and a woman walking on the street. The image was very small, and it was difficult to identify the people, both of whom were wearing hats.

“Who do you think it is?” Boris asked. He knew, of course–Nadezhda had identified most of the photos for him, and there was information written on the back of most.

“I don’t know. But… it looks like… me?” Alex’s voice was small, barely audible.

Boris nodded.

Buy on Amazon

Read the first few chapters here.

Crafting your fictional world

Strange thing happens when you start writing a work of fiction. You begin to dream and see the world where your characters live. You get cravings for the food your characters enjoy. You listen to certain songs over and over and over again because somehow they give you just the right feel for that fictional place. The more you get immersed into your story, the more vivid that world becomes. It’s very similar to reading really. When I read a book that pulls me in body and soul into its narrative, I see the story play out before my eyes as I read it. I think this is why it is so often disappointing when we watch a movie based on a book we really love. We had formed all those images and sounds and even smells of the story and then the movie just doesn’t match out imagination and it’s a let down. Writing a story is similar…just takes a lot longer!

For most of my stories (all of my novels), I’ve created Pinterest mood pages that help reinforce the visual sense of those stories in my mind’s eye. I always encourage my readers to take a look. Because even if they imagine the world I create differently, they might get a kick out seeing what I was thinking about when I wrote my stories. Here’s a link to “Twin Time” visual mood board: https://www.pinterest.com/OlgaWerby/scifi-book-twin-time/

For this story, I’ve also created a little book trailer, using the illustrations from the book (yes, “Twin Time” is a fully illustrated novel because why not?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHCxRU64hyU

Olga Werby, Ed.D., has a Doctorate from U.C. Berkeley with a focus on designing online learning experiences. She has a Master's degree from U.C. Berkeley in Education of Math, Science, and Technology. She has been creating computer-based projects since 1981 with organizations such as NASA (where she worked on the Pioneer Venus project), Addison-Wesley, and the Princeton Review. Olga has a B.A. degree in Mathematics and Astrophysics from Columbia University. She became an accidental science fiction indie writer about a decade ago, with her first book, "Suddenly Paris," which was based on then fairly novel idea of virtual universes. Her next story, "The FATOFF Conspiracy," was a horror story about fat, government bureaucracy, and body image. She writes about characters that rarely get represented in science fiction stories -- homeless kids, refugees, handicapped, autistic individuals -- the social underdogs of our world. Her stories are based in real science, which is admittedly stretched to the very limit of possible. She has published almost a dozen fiction books to date and has won many awards for her writings. Her short fiction has been featured in several issues of "Alien Dimensions Magazine," "600 second saga," "Graveyard Girls," "Kyanite Press' Fables and Fairy Tales," "The Carmen Online Theater Group's Chronicles of Terror," with many more stories freely available on her blog, Interfaces.com.


Links:

http://www.interfaces.com/blog/

amazon.com/author/olgawerby

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4056895.Olga_Werby

https://www.facebook.com/OlgaWerby/

https://twitter.com/OlgaWerby

http://Pipsqueak.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDE3BNceupMYgvoaoAps2mg

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olgawerby/

Olga Werby & Christopher Werby will be awarding two signed books to a randomly drawn winner (US only) via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an excerpt from Einstein's Compass by Grace Blair and Laren Bright

Timeless Quenchers by Ichirou B

Timeless Quenchers

A mixed compilation of short stories that travels with time. Begins in the wild west era, to the modern world and onwards to the unexplainable until it reaches the final story of medieval times. All mixed into one book. Quench your need to read with this story of six.

Available on Amazon

About Ichirou B

Ichirou hasn’t quite decided what to put in this column. Being quite the story teller and having won prizes spinning marvelous stories, one fine day, Ichirou decided to put these marvelous stories into writing.

A few words from Mark Wakely, author of A Friend Like Filby, currently on Kindle Scout

A few days ago, we introduced you to A Friend Like Filby, the latest novel by Mark Wakely. He has it in the Kindle Scout program, where readers such as yourselves can preview it and vote for it to be published on Amazon. If it is chosen, you will get a free copy of it if you voted for it. Mark had a few words about his book that he wanted to share with you, before you go over to vote for the book:

A Friend like Filby is my second novel. My first is An Audience For Einstein, published by Mundania Press. A special 10th anniversary edition of the book was released last year. 

A Friend Like Filby might best be described as The Catcher In The Rye meets Diary Of A Wimpy Kid. The story begins at the start of the three main characters' senior year at high school and concludes on their graduation day, with all the usual (and unusual) high school events and a parade of colorful classmates. I wanted to write both a funny yet poignant book, so the chapters nearly alternate between the two extremes. 

One of the secondary characters is George's younger brother Kenny, who's autistic. George is extremely loyal and protective of Kenny, especially after their mother died. George's unusual obsession with time travel begins not long after his mother's death, and is a kind of coping mechanism that masks his prolonged grief. Mostly, George is determined to find a perfect friend like Filby in the 1960 movie The Time Machine. His two closest friends, Dave and Nancy (AKA Onion) struggle to understand his obsession, as does George up until the very end.

A Friend Like Filby

True friends can make all the difference.

George has been fascinated with the idea of time travel ever since the shocking death of his mother when he was ten, and hopes someday to find a friend like Filby, the closest friend of the time traveler in the 1960 movie The Time Machine. George’s high school friends, Dave and Nancy (AKA Onion), struggle to understand his odd obsession. The story takes place during the three friend’s senior year, with a major revelation in store for George on graduation day.

Nominate it on Kindle Scout:

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/2ZO3MYRD9SAMW

Sign in to Amazon.com and nominate this great new young adult novel on Amazon Kindle Scout! A Friend Like Filby is a heartfelt, amusing story you won't soon forget. If enough readers nominate it, the novel will be published by Kindle Press and you'll receive a free copy of the eBook when the campaign ends! Read the first three chapters for free and nominate it for free today!

Vote for A Friend Like Filby by Mark Wakely on Kindle Scout

A Friend Like Filby

True friends can make all the difference.

George has been fascinated with the idea of time travel ever since the shocking death of his mother when he was ten, and hopes someday to find a friend like Filby, the closest friend of the time traveler in the 1960 movie The Time Machine. George’s high school friends, Dave and Nancy (AKA Onion), struggle to understand his odd obsession. The story takes place during the three friend’s senior year, with a major revelation in store for George on graduation day.

Nominate it on Kindle Scout:

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/2ZO3MYRD9SAMW

Sign in to Amazon.com and nominate this great new young adult novel on Amazon Kindle Scout! A Friend Like Filby is a heartfelt, amusing story you won't soon forget. If enough readers nominate it, the novel will be published by Kindle Press and you'll receive a free copy of the eBook when the campaign ends! Read the first three chapters for free and nominate it for free today!

Author Jill Cooper's #YA Series Celebration!

Author Jill Cooper just released her second novel in the Rewind Agency Series, Plugged and is currently writing the third novel, Detached. To celebrate her awesome YA series she decided to giveaway a fantastic Lit-Cube that is YA themed! If you haven't heard of Lit-Cube its a very fun company that feeds a hopeless book geek who needs a monthly fix! As the owner says: because book geeks deserve awesome subscription boxes too!

Plugged (A Rewind Agency Novel)

Lara Crane is stuck in her mind, in an indefinite stream of timelines where her life is perfect, just the way she wants it to be. But it's not real. It's all made up to give those who want to use time travel for their own personal ambitions. To give time to finish their experiments and turn Lara into a deadly time travel assassin.

If Lara wants to survive and to stop them, she needs to risk her own mind and soul to get out of a prison so perfect it completes the one dream Lara has always had.

Family.

Order on Amazon for $2.99!

Read book 1 - 15 Minutes

Order the Dream Slayer Series on Amazon, Book 1 is Free!

About the Author:

I could write this in the third person. I could tell you what I like, where I was born, and what my favorite things are.

But instead, I'll say I don't want to write like everyone else. I don't want to craft stories you've read a thousand times before. I want my novels to be a cinematic experience, blending themes, genres, and situations unlike any you've ever read.

I want to break the rules. I want you to break out in a cold sweat as you read my books out of fear, love, and excitement. I want my books to be an experience. When you finish, I want you to feel something. Good or bad.

If you do, then I'll have succeeded. If not, I'll keep trying.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Literary Addicts | Goodreads | Tsu  

Giveaway ends 4/28/15 at 11:59 EST. Continental US only please, 18+ to enter.

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"When We Are Not Trying to Kill Each Other" - A conversation between Rex and Lara from Jill Cooper's 'Plugged'

Rex Montgomery is the chief villain in the ewind Agency Series and Lara Crane is the hero in the story. Despite their better judgement, they have agreed to interview each other in a segment we have entitled When We Are Not Trying to Kill Each Other. 

Lara The Interviewer: I gotta say, this is weird. 

Rex: Stranger is that I’m your distant uncle. And, spoiler, I tried to kill your mother. Or did kill your mother, if we’re talking alternate timelines. 

Lara: I’m the one conducting the interview, so for once, how about you just shut up? 

Rex: Is that a question? I can’t even tell. *Smirk*

 
Lara: You’ve aligned yourself with Patricia James, a woman who wants to use time travel for her own purposes. To get ahead. Why did you decide to do that and not go in business doing something else? Like work with your brother, Jax? 

Rex: *Laughter* Other than money you mean?

 
Lara: It can’t just be about money. 

Rex: Oh, yes it very well can, Lara dear. Money makes the world go around. It fans the flame inside my heart. I’m too lazy to earn it any way else. We all have our limits and our plans. I always knew greatness was right around the corner for me. Jax was happy with a normal life. That’s his problem, not mine. 

Lara: So you have money. Gobs of it. What else do you want? 

Rex: Power. Women. The basics. 

Lara: And you think this is the best way to get it? 

Rex: Yes, and it’s working so far. I do have you, don’t I? Locked in a little cage. With aflick of a few fingers, I can instill as much pain on you as I want… 

Lara: Not right now, we’re on a time out. Remember? 

Rex: *sulks* I forgot. But when I get you back in that cage… 

Lara: You can’t be just a villain. There must be something good about you. 

Rex: Things are not so black and white. I’m not a villain. I…seize opportunity. And right now, Lara, when I look into your eyes, I see dollar signs. And dollar signs make my heart do this little pitter-patter thing that I quite enjoy. 

Lara: Like I said, villain….

Plugged: A Rewind Agency Novel

Lara Crane is stuck in her mind, in an indefinite stream of timelines where her life is perfect, just the way she wants it to be. But it's not real. It's all made up to give those who want to use time travel for their own personal ambitions. To give time to finish their experiments and turn Lara into a deadly time travel assassin.

If Lara wants to survive and to stop them, she needs to risk her own mind and soul to get out of a prison so perfect it completes the one dream Lara has always had.  

Family.

Preorder on Amazon for $2.99!

Read book 1 - 15 Minutes

About the Author:

I could write this in the third person. I could tell you what I like, where I was born, and what my favorite things are.

But instead, I'll say I don't want to write like everyone else. I don't want to craft stories you've read a thousand times before. I want my novels to be a cinematic experience, blending themes, genres, and situations unlike any you've ever read.

I want to break the rules. I want you to break out in a cold sweat as you read my books out of fear, love, and excitement. I want my books to be an experience. When you finish, I want you to feel something. Good or bad.

If you do, then I'll have succeeded. If not, I'll keep trying.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Literary Addicts | Goodreads | Tsu

Follow The Tour here

'Carnelian (Chalcedony Chronicles #1)' by B. Kristin McMichael

Carnelian (Chalcedony Chronicles #1)
by B. Kristin McMichael
Release Date: 02/01/14
200 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Everyone has a past, but for most it isn’t as long ago as Seth Sangre. His past is literally thousands of years ago. Seth’s life led him to the present seeking something that might help him save his country from destruction. He has been in the present for over three years now and just found exactly what he has been looking for.

Mari had dreams that college will be a fresh start, one where she would start over and not fall for the good looking player like high school. Unfortunately for her, that’s exactly what ends up falling into her lap on the first day she moves into the dorms. Now she has to hold to her promise to herself and not fall for the handsome Seth. But he doesn’t plan to make it easy for her. Seth has already marked her as his next conquest. As the semester progresses, Mari learns that Seth might just have a life of his own that’s actually from the past.

Suddenly Mari finds her future along with her past put into question. She’s connected to Seth far more than she ever wanted to be and maybe the player isn’t who she thought he was. If Mari can trust her heart enough to follow him, Seth will lead Mari on an adventure of a lifetime and reveal family secrets she never knew existed.

Buy links

Amazon \ Barnes & Noble \ Book Depository

About the Author:

Originally from Wisconsin, B. Kristin currently resides in Ohio with her husband, two small children, and three cats. When not doing the mom thing of chasing kids, baking cookies, and playing outside, she is using her PhD in biology as a scientist. In her free time she is currently hard at work on multiple novels. Every day is a new writing adventure. She is a fan of all YA/NA fantasy and science fiction.


Author Links:

http://www.bkristinmcmichael.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6889132.B_Kristin_McMichael

http://www.twitter.com/bkmcmichael/

http://www.facebook.com/bkristinmcmichael/

Giveaway:

1 grand prize of signed copies of both Carnelian and Chrysoprase

2 runners-up can get signed copies of Carnelian

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'The Eye-Dancers' by Michael S. Fedison

The Eye-Dancers

by Michael Fedison

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Seventh-grader Mitchell Brant and three of his classmates inexplicably wake up at the back edge of a softball field to the sounds of a game, the cheering of the crowd. None of them remembers coming here. And as they soon learn, “here” is like no place they’ve ever seen. Cars resemble antiques from the 1950s. There are no cell phones, no PCs. Even the spelling of words is slightly off.

A compulsive liar, constantly telling fantastic stories to garner attention and approval, Mitchell can only wish this were just one more of his tall tales. But it isn’t. It’s all too real. Together, as they confront unexpected and life-threatening dangers, Mitchell and his friends must overcome their bickering and insecurities to learn what happened, where they are, and how to get back home.

The answers can be found only in the mysterious little girl with the blue, hypnotic eyes. The one they had each dreamed of three nights in a row before arriving here. She is their only hope. And, as they eventually discover, they are her only hope.

And time is running out.

Read an excerpt:

(End of chapter 12)

It seemed like hours before he got to sleep. The night-beast outside continued to howl, Duss continued to bark, and Joe had to keep getting up to hush him. But eventually, mercifully, the howling ceased. And then Mitchell just lay there, thinking—of worlds upon worlds, layers of existence, side by side. And he wondered. What was he doing in those other worlds right now? Did he have a sister? Were his parents the same? Did they get along, somewhere? Were there really worlds out there where his mom and dad didn’t fight with each other? Were there worlds where Mitchell was confident? Where he could talk with ease, and his tongue worked as fluidly, as effortlessly, as his mind?

“Good night, Mitchell,” he whispered, to himself, to all of his selves, in all of the worlds in existence. His last thought before sleep finally took him away was of a line of Mitchell Brants. They stood, single file, one in front of the other. He started to count them in his mind’s eye, but the line went on and on, forever. He was infinite, endless.

When he counted the two hundred sixty-third Mitchell Brant, the line began to melt away, disintegrating into the netherworld of his dreams.

Buy links

Amazon \ Barnes & Noble \ Smashwords \ Kobo

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Michael S. Fedison was born in Rochester, New York, and now lives with his wife, Sarah, and regal cat, Luke, in the green hills of central Vermont. Michael has been writing creatively for as long as he can remember, and has had short fiction published in several literary magazines, including Iconoclast and The Written Word. He works as a full-time technical writer and also is a freelance proofreader and copy editor.

Michael has been a lover of imaginative stories his entire life. He enjoys any story that takes you by the hand, lifts you up, and transports you to another place, a new and creative way of looking at the world around us.

Michael will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour for more chances to win!