Countdown to Halloween & Billy Purgatory 2!

Fall is uponeth you! (unless you live in maybe New Zealand or Antarctica because I’m not really sure how science works and it might not be the same there because they’re upside down).

Science. Respect, bitches!

As many of you probably don’t know because how could you because I haven’t told anyone and it’s not like I ever Tweet or anything,

“Jesse James Freeman is an extraordinarily gifted writer and storyteller. You might think urban fantasy isn’t your thing-I might have before I read ‘Billy Purgatory.’ Freeman is smart, keenly observant, and has this uncommon combination of being sardonic and wistful at the same time. He humanizes his characters–even the villains–all in a commanding, masterful writing style that you wear like a warm sweater on a cool night or cactus prickles in your pants.

‘Billy Purgatory’ is a shocking, rollicking, wholly satisfying read. So get out there and get your copy and read it. You’ll feel as though you’ve gone on holiday with one of the sharpest young social philosophers of our day.”

I have been furiously putting the final touches on the sequel to Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird (Book 1 in the series, if you’re into counting and the alphabet and that kinda nonsense).

This!

Wait…

No…

This:

From my Science Adviser Dr. Shay West: “But they are…aren’t they???
I’ll need to go down and observe for myself. So you buy the plane ticket and I’ll do the research.”

Writing a sequel has been a long and grueling process and it has proved to be a lot of financial responsibility on my part. My accountant keeps assuring me that we can write the tequila costs off as research but he’s not sure sure about the massages. I really feel like my writing arms have to be limber for me to achieve maximum output. This should also justify the manicure expenses and the tanning bed. I’ve also been on a strict diet of Taco Bell and Zima:

This infographic was created for purely educational purposes.

I have had the love and support of the entire Booktrope family the whole way through this exhausting process.

“Where’s my sequel? Where are my cupcakes?”

“Are you done yet?” – Tracey Hansen, Write for the Fight

“Do you still write books?” – Tess Hardwick, Riversong

“It’s just… you’ve been drinking a lot of malt-liquor and I’m really not sure if running scenes using LEGOs and not just making an outline is the most useful way to brainstorm”  - Steven Luna, Joe Vampire

“Are you snorting Carpet Fresh again?” – Marni Mann, Scars from a Memoir

They have cleared me to release the tantalizing (which is like a bedazzled-Tarantula if you really think about it) official description for Billy Purgatory and the Curse of the Satanic Five. Please sit down and brace yourself before reading any further. I don’t have any money and can’t be responsible if you fall down or didn’t take your Flintstones Blood-Pressure Gummisaurs yet today:

Billy Purgatory is a man plagued by questions – about his mother’s disappearance, his love-hate relationship with vampire fatale Anastasia, and why the Time Zombie keeps stealing his girlfriends. The search for answers frequently leads him into danger and the darker corners of the world, corners he would prefer not to see. 

 

In his quest for answers, Billy begins using the Zombie’s powers for his own designs, hurtling into the past in a time-bending attempt to create an ideal present. No one can predict the outcome of such a plan – especially not Billy. This time, his adventures take him high above the African plains, through the sleek, marbled halls of a mysterious mansion brimming with sinister science, and across the U.S. on a heated road trip with none other than Anastasia at his side. Vampires, demons, and an evil cabal known simply as the Satanic Five are all hot on his trail. 

 

Some answers don’t come easily…but that’s never stopped Billy Purgatory.

 

As you can see, that kinda badassary don’t grow on trees. It took Evel Knievel months to plot out that jump over Snake River Canyon, and I’m sure it involved a ton of science and hookers to get everything just right. Well, I can’t be sure about both of those components.

What I can be sure of is that it’s almost Halloween, and very soon Billy Purgatory will skate again!

Bob the Goat is counting down…

Find me (there’s Ninja-Cake):

Tumblr : Facebook : Pinterest : Amazon : Goodreads

Check out

The Chosen (Portals of Destiny) by Dr. Shay West!

Sci-Fi Fantasy Badassary. Click it!

11 Questions of Badassary w/Stephanie Fuller : Billy Purgatory Bets He’s Tastier Than Free Pizza & Wins!

This week America has once again shown it is all about celebrating freedom + there was getting drunk, and setting off tons of fireworks, and my Uncle Jebediah got incarcerated again for running an illegal chupacabra smuggling operation.  In his defense, there’s not really a legal one.  Until such time as calmer heads prevail in Washington I’m sure he’ll remain a chronic recidivist, or in his words, “A political prisoner due to the oppressive forces of the Illuminati and the soft-serve yogurt industry.”

You loose your job at Dairy Queen and start smuggling chupacabras to try and support three ex-wives it tends to put you at ideological odds with the principals our country was founded upon – and the inherent need for processed yogurt with crushed up Jolly Ranchers sprinkled atop it.

I guess my point is that a person’s word should be their bond.  A bet’s a bet.

Stephanie Fuller has become a friend of mine over the past few weeks due to…  Well, I’ll let her tell the strange circumstances as she answers

11 Questions of Badassary!  The Reaching Out To Readers Edition!

Stephanie Fuller aka @ImaFuller aka Pop-Culture Goddess aka She Read My Book So She’s Fucking Awesome!

1.
You describe yourself on Twitter as follows: Married, Mom, and Geek at heart. I’m into books, TV, movies and crafty things (crochet and scrapbook/card making). That is me in a nutshell. I’m pretty cool.

Please rattle off some of your geek credentials in the field of books, TV, and movies. We’ll save the crocheting and scrapbooking so you’ll have questions to answer when Martha Stewart’s blog comes a’callin’

-Wait…you’re NOT Martha Stewart???? No, ok…um…I feel so put on the spot…gah! Well, movies and TV…I’ll watch pretty much anything. If it sounds interesting, I’m game. If I have the time. Geeky stuff? I’ve watched all the Star Trek movies…and pretty much all the TV episodes. Also all the Star Wars movies (yes, all 6…Ewan McGregor is in 3 of those…hot damn!). I’ve watched many of the “super hero” movies…Batman, Superman, Spider-man, Iron Man (I apparently like to watch the men…he he he) and went to the theater for the latest Avenger movie. 

There was an ass-kicking woman in the Avenger’s too you know? Oh right, you were staring at Loki.

I like lots of pop culture movies and tv too. I rattle off random quotes from movies/tv too. Is that geeky? Oh and I LOVE Doctor Who!!! And Sherlock, both the BBC series and the Robert Downey Jr movies. 

Guy in the back in the blue shirt, “I can’t believe I’m getting paid right now to lean against this railing and stare at Black Widow in a rubber outfit.” Try to come up with a better caption than mine and I’ll send you a free Kindle copy of Billy Purgatory if you make me laugh! Put it in the comments below.

And Merlin (another BBC show!) Books…um…well, I don’t think I’m very geeky there. Most of the stuff I read are recommendations from friends or the occasional one that I saw on The Colbert Report. If I don’t like a book, I will not finish it. That is why I base my choices on recommendations. I read everything from John Grisham, Stephen King to um…well, a certain book w/a certain number of shades. Yes…I read it!!! Did that answer your question?

2.
Can you describe how we met on Twitter, and the wager, of Game of Thrones epicosity, that was constructed between you and I?

-Well. I met you as a “friend of a friend of a friend” on Twitter. Basically, a certain person *cough*StevenLuna*cough* is always throwing books my way to read. 

Surprisingly before now, I hadn’t picked Billy Purgatory up. Probably because it didn’t seem like something I’d like even though I have no idea why I thought that. Anyway…so, he brings you into the conversation. Words are exchanged and you end up promising me that if I buy your book and I DON’T like it, you’ll give me my dollar back. I really was kidding around with you, but then…THEN…you said that if I DIDN’T like Billy Purgatory, you’d buy me a PIZZA! I bought it right then and there!

3.
So you bought Billy Purgatory, and yet, you had Teriyaki Chicken for lunch the next day according to your Twitter feed. Were you trying to trick me, and in essence, the internet with your bold, yet confusing, choices?

-For the record, it wasn’t the next day. I bought the book on Tuesday (June 26th). The Teriyaki Chicken (and fried rice) was Wednesday (July 4th). I don’t play by the rules, so you’ll never understand my choices in food and what they really mean. Mwhahahaha! That Teriyaki Chicken was amazing though. *drool*

Oh, sorry I was off by a few days. Now tell me, what did I have for lunch yesterday? Cause I’m guessing you might have sources to clue you in.

4.
Do you think that people should still handle our differences by challenging one another to duels?

-That would be so awesome. Just not with real guns/bullets. Cause then people would be dueling over stupid shit like “She said my ass looked fat in this dress!”. Or “Hey, that was my parking spot, didn’t you see my turn signal from two isles over???” And then they’d be dead. Maybe water guns instead??? You aren’t planning on challenging me to a duel are you? If so, I change my answer. I’m too chicken for a duel.

If we start dueling again, I vote for the Sanjuro-stand-off!

5.
This is your “I’m a mom” question: Waterparks. WTF?

- As a child that didn’t have a pool growing up, the rare visit to the water park was the coolest thing ever!!! As a mom…I see it as a cesspool of germs, annoying people you don’t know, nor want to know and panic attacks when your child isn’t immediately within sight. Also, I hate being in public wearing a swimsuit.

Even creepier when they’re abandoned and all the kids have grown up and become restless and haunted young adults IE characters in a Marni Mann book.

6.
At one point, we were neck and neck in our battle for free pizza. Do you think you showed your hand too soon by revealing online that your ringtone is the Dr. Who Theme?

-Nah. If you go to my Twitter homepage, my wallpaper is covered in the TARDIS. Go check…I’ll wait. *whistles* It was never a secret that I love myself a Time Lord. Also, It is Doctor Who…not Dr. Who. 

7.
Are you ready to publically make peace with Amy Pond? Or, can you just not let it go?

-No. Never give up…never Surrender!

I don’t know what Amy Pond did that was so bad – but I’d sure as hell forgive her!

8.
Are you geeky enough to have ever gone to a “con”? And if you did/have attended a con did you dress up like a comic book character, a Star Trek character, or are you one of those ‘Magik The Gathering’ kinda gals?

-I did go to a “con” just a few months ago…my very first one! I live in a Chicago burb, so the whole family (husband, kidlet and I) went to C2E2 in Chicago. I got to meet Val Kilmer

Atari-Era Val.

and John Barrowman (Jack Harkness from Doctor Who/Torchwood) as well as a quick “Hi” with a couple cool Twitter friends I hadn’t met before. 

Wait! Lazlo wasn’t there?!?

I did not dress up for C2E2. It was kind of last minute, so I didn’t even have a way to throw something together as I am lacking in the geeky clothing department. I have no idea what I’d even go dressed as…probably something Doctor Who. Any ideas for next year? I’m a girl, so it will probably have to have the word “Sexy” in the beginning, right?

Don’t even roll your eyes, y’all knew I was gonna post some shit like this.

9.
As you read Billy Purgatory, what was the tipping point for you when you realized that you weren’t gonna get free pizza delivered to your house?

-Honestly, I never planned on getting the free pizza. As hilarious of a story that would be for my future grandkids to hear, I went in fully expecting to like and/or love Billy Purgatory. My friend *cough*StevenLuna*cough* has never steered me wrong yet w/a recommendation, and I was sure this wasn’t going to be the exception. However…there was one line that got to me hook, line and sinker and I knew this was going to be the end of my free pizza no matter how much I joked about it. Chapter 17, part 2. The whole part that I LOVE is 2 paragraphs starting with “The best times are the uncertain ones and the spontaneous ones.” The first line of the 2nd paragraph “Time is what always ruins no matter what.” Holy fucking shit, I felt like I had been kicked in the gut and had the wind knocked out of me. It made me start crying. Seriously. I’m not going to tell you why, but believe me…it resonated with me and still does. And it still makes me want to go cry. Make me feel feelings. Jerk.

Art by Thomas Boatwright

10.
What kinda geeky stuff would you like to see more of in entertainment? What would you like to see a lot less of?

-More Benedict Cumberbatch!!! Although, I don’t know if Benedict Cumberbatch qualifies as geeky, does he? I mean…he IS BBC’s Sherlock…and will be in the new Star Trek movie. Yeah, I think that will work…more Cumberbatch!!! 

She means this dude.

Less??? Um…well…it isn’t geeky, but less Kardashians and Reality TV!!!

Now she’s talking about this.

11.
What kind of pizza would you have ordered? Better make it a good one, cause I wasn’t springing for cheesy-bread or wings or any of that stuff. You could have had all the packets of grated cheese you wanted though – that shit’s free!

-There are so many options out there. Good ones, ok ones, terrible ones…and I live near Chicago, so Deep Dish or Stuffed is always amazing! But, I have my guilty pleasure pizza…Jets! 

Was this meant to taunt me?

That stuff is so freaking greasy…and so yummy! *drool* It has to be square though. Not that round shit! With the crispy corner pieces. And I don’t even need a lot of fancy toppings…just simple pepperoni (hell throw in mushrooms too) are good enough for me. 

To wash the Kardashian out of your eye-sockets!

Ok…now I know what I want for dinner tomorrow or maybe this weekend. Wait…I think I’ve changed my mind about Billy!

* * * * *

Thanks Stephanie, you’re badass!

Stephanie is a great sport for agreeing to do all this and letting me interview her.

This is the review that Stephanie wrote up for Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird:

“Billy Purgatory: I Am the Devil Bird” in one word…BADASS. You can’t see it, but both my hands are throwing up devil horns right now. It feels appropriate to do it with that word. I’m sorry…what? A one word review isn’t enough for you? Alright…fine.

This book combines all sorts of crazy and off the wall stuff all in one book. We’ve got vampires (no sparkles), zombies (not the walking kind), mythological peeps (think snakes) and one ring (er…boy) to rule them all.

Billy Purgatory isn’t your everyday kid. Not even close. Armed with his skateboard and badass (see, told you it was a great word to use to describe this book!) attitude, we start the book out with Billy’s memory as a 10 year old kid. And he meets a girl. *sigh* And just like Billy, she is nowhere near normal. And this will not be the first time they meet. *sigh*

Along the way, we learn more about Billy. The story is about him, after all. Time gets all wibbly-wobbly for me while reading this, as the author (Jesse James Freeman) has left a lot of age/place type information for your own minds to decide. I’m not complaining, though. It works. I’m just weird like that. During Billy’s life, he meets a few other people who are important to his journey. I’d go more into detail, but then you wouldn’t read it, would you?

Mr. Freemen is absolutely amazing at describing, well, everything. Amazing! So many times I felt like I was right there along with Billy. Like I could smell the zombie…hear the rain…this man is good. Real good. I found myself gasping a few times. And…he even made me cry once…or twice. Maybe. Also, he gives you the single most badass birth scene you’ll ever encounter..think “Kill Bill”…no joke!

My favorite books are the ones that keeps me up late reading, multiple nights in a row, until my eyes cannot stay open any more, trying to push through “one more chapter”. LOVE! So…if you haven’t figured it out yet…go read this book. Now. Do not pass go. Do not collect free pizza. Enjoy the badassery! Me? Now I have to wait for Billy to return…

Time Zombie says CLICK the picture!

Billy Purgatory is Jesse James Freeman’s first novel. He’s also studied psychology and film and scripted comics. When he’s not writing books, Jesse James trains falcons to kill Leprechaun Robots, and will continue to do so until the world is relatively safe.

Jesse James recently contributed 4 essays to the book Write for the Fight: A Collection of Seasonal Essays, co-authored by Tess Hardwick (Riversong) and Tracey Hansen. All author proceeds will be donated to charities engaged in the fight against breast cancer.

Jesse James is currently working on Billy Purgatory and the Curse of the Satanic Five, MythCop, Vehemently Jones, Blood-Love, R. Cane, and Witches vs Robots.

Billy Purgatory Leprechaun-Robot Awareness Day Goodreads Giveaway Extravaganza!

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Billy Purgatory

by Jesse James Freeman

Giveaway ends March 17, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

The Tess Hardwick’s “Riversong” / Jesse James’ “Billy Purgatory” Conspiracy!

I have gathered you all here today to talk about my new novel, the epic love story of our age, Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird. There has never been (I quizzed some chicks hanging out in the Romance section of Barnes & Noble) a tale which so richly embodies what it means to be hopelessly in love. If you’re looking for shirtless pirate dudes that look like that guy who sells that fake butter on TV, you have come to the right place.

This should be an internet rule: DO NOT Google 'shirtless pirate dudes'

Billy Purgatory is, I dare say, the new template for romantical fiction. I know tons about this subject, being in touch with my feminine side and all that nonsense, and it will be my pleasure to show you just exactly what an expert I am and prove my point.

Why is this not a relationship status choice on Facebook?

I am friends with tons of writers, but the ones who I really feel a connection with are those who are in the heart-string-pulling business. My sisters and I are in the trenches every day, sipping lattes and typing away on our laptops with the Hello Kitty stickers, trying to bring some class and culture to the general readership population of the world. It’s not only our goal, but our immense joy, to push on your little cold-dead-heart.

You tell him, sister!

That heart of yours: The very emotionally destitute organ that got all stomped on the last time you trusted someone’s profile pictures were current on Match.com.  That heart that believed the phrase, “It was just a barista, they aren’t real people.”, or, “How can I be fully invested in our relationship when my guild is taking such a beating in World of Warcraft? That just wouldn’t be fair to you.”

Love is a tough business, especially for a rainmaker. I have taken my knocks to the head from the whack-a-romance hammer. People like to categorize me and my writing into these really unfair boxes – they say I’m not in touch with my feelings and that I don’t understand what it means to share stuff, and – like – talk to other human beings about adult topics. I am here to express to you that I have feelings, and they are legitimate. I am not some reality-TV automaton attention-whore who makes it all about me. I want to share secret love poem what-have-you’s with that special someone.

Don’t try and put Baby in a corner! I will not let you box me in.  Just because I like barbecue, and motorcycle explosions, and gunfire, it doesn’t make me at all distant to your inner monologue of candy-cane hopes and dreams, or crying, or beautiful sunsets.

In life, and in literature, it’s time for love outside the box!  Okay, that just didn’t sound right…

That'll teach that dude to smack-talk Downton Abbey.

Anyway.

Nobody has taught me more about girl-type books than author Tess Hardwick.

I didn't have a Tess comic book panel to put here. I did consider Gwen Stacy, though.

She wrote a book called Riversong, and when I told her I was going to read it she said, “It’s a girl book.”  What did that mean exactly? It had girls in it? I like girls just fine. So, I read it and I figured out that what she meant was it had to do with ‘girl problems’. This was unfamiliar territory for me at first, I’d never read anything like it, aside from Wonder Woman comics – and those have an entirely different kind of girl problem – it usually involves Wonder Woman getting kidnapped and tied up. It really makes me think that actual women don’t have anything to do with the creative process of Wonder Woman.

No, Wonder Woman is not kidnapped and tied up in that barn. What is wrong with you people?

What surprised me, were all the parallels I was able to draw between Billy Purgatory and Riversong. The VP at Booktrope, Katherine Sears, explained to me that Riversong was actually something called ‘women’s contemporary fiction’. I asked her what Billy Purgatory was considered and she told me that she had to get off the phone and go to a meeting.

Suddenly, we're at Billy Purgatory and we're back to comics images. Notice the lack of tears this time.

Genre classification should not be sexist – genres should stay out of women’s utereses. So, if Tess can do it – so can I. I have pulled some excerpts from Riversong to illustrate my point. I didn’t ask permission to print any of them, but I have my lawyer on speed-dial.

Riversong is about a woman named Lee whose life becomes unhinged when she finds out that her husband took some money from the mob to start up their tech company and live their fancy life in Seattle. Billy Purgatory is about a boy whose life becomes unhinged because he talks to a giant drunken rooster in his backyard and finds out that his Pop has been lying to him about why his Mom ran off and left them. Mobsters are cool and so are giant drunken Devil Birds – so that’s EXHIBIT A.

Where did all the hot chicks in love go? Why is Quincy M.E. there?

In Riversong, Lee is forced to go on the classic Campbell Hero’s Adventure of self-discovery and learn about herself. In Billy Purgatory, said protagonist is also forced to go on a quest and kinda learns nothing about himself. This does not negate EXHIBIT B in any way, because while Billy remains partially confused throughout the entirety of the book, he loves barbecue potato chips and Tess’s Lee Tucker starts a restuarant in her home town. I feel we’re both going with the tried and true Rachael Ray trope of homestyle comforts in the midst of epic tragedy. So, score one for me again!

Hiding behind that jar of Prego is a love beast ready to be unchained.

Lee meets this guy who’s a Fireman/Musician (I know, it writes itself) and falls madly in love – yet, she’s cautious and gunshy because she’s been hurt before and isn’t sure who she is, or, even worse, who to trust.  Allow me to examplificate using Tess Hardwick’s own words:

He smiled but there was something in his eyes and how he wanted to kiss him then, to feel his body next to her. He pulled the ponytail holder from her hair, and she felt him breathe her in and out, the scent of his breath chocolate.
“Does your hair smell like strawberries because of it’s color?”

-Riversong

Billy Purgatory meets Anastasia, who is a vampire/sociopath that repeatedly tries, at best, to bite him, and at worst, to kill him. Billy isn’t sure if he should trust her either, because, although she’s really hot, she might not be the best choice for a compassionate and fullfilling relationship:

Long black hair swayed about her back to his approach. She moved in this really great way, like the top part of her body wasn’t attached to the lower. She was the Goth-kid at belly dancing class,and as her hair swung from one side to another, Billy got the flash of gold hoop earrings, which might have been the most out of place fashion enhancement he had ever seen a cold-blooded killer wear.

She downed the beer and threw the now empty bottle at the barred doors of the Tiki bar. A shriek left her lips and mated with the breaking glass to form one continuous frightful war cry.  Grown men screamed in terror from the other side of the barred door. Anastasia was having a good time, and she laughed at their fright.

She looked good. Billy knew he really shouldn’t be staring at her ass. He was rubbing his neck as he watched her, he realized that he
had stopped and his full attention was on her. Billy pulled it together and jerked his hand from his neck like he’d just touched a hot stove.
This action came fast enough so it ended before she looked back and saw him. Ana had been just about to swing the crowbar at the doors of the bar.
“Billy Purgatory.” Her face lit up even more. “Want a beer?

-Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird
EXHIBIT C: emotionally-unavailable ties it all together.

Anastasia: doesn't bring milk-shakes to the yard

And meanwhile, in Riversong, to further complicate her love life, Lee just happens to be pregnant with her dead ex-husband’s baby (I know where you think I’m going with this – it’s not zombies this time). Billy Purgatory, while not pregnant, has to be born – and this happens in a nifty little flashback I came up with because I watched too much LOST.

Please, grab your Jiffy-Pop and compare and contrast with me:

The doctor, hair disheveled, was between Lee’s legs. “Just one more push and we’ve got a baby.”
Lee flopped back onto the hospital bed, looking first at Tommy and then Ellen. She’d pushed for two hours and she was beyond fatigue, almost delirious. “I can’t do it. I’m too tired.”
Tommy’s voice was in her ear. “Just one more push and you get to see the baby.”

-Riversong

VS…

“What’s all the commotion?” asked the Doctor. He checked his arm and realized he’d forgotten to put on his wristwatch.
“End times, Doctor!” Humphrey screamed and sounded like
one of his little sisters when he used to scare them on Halloween.
Karma had never met the big teddy-bear of a man in any situation where it was rooting for Humphrey. “Dead moved out of the graveyard.”
Emelia drew the sword as the doctor readjusted his ass on the stool. Doc Mitchum didn’t seem at all fazed by the prospect of the end of days, or didn’t hear, or was too pre-occupied by the idea of having a sandwich if this baby could ever be squirmed out.
“One more big push. Really try this time. I know it’s hard for your generation to get excited about anything without rock music blaring.”
The doctor watched little Billy Purgatory making his entrance into the world: mother and son were really trying, as if they were as anxious as the Doc to move on to the next act.
“Come on out, bucket-head,” Doc Mitchum coaxed in his googoo voice. “You got a worthless hippie’s life to lead.

-Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird

In conclusion, what have we learned (beyond the fact that I’m a romance/girl-book genius!)?

A)  Finally giving yourself completely over to love and staring into the eyes of the fireman/musician that you’ve come to care for deeply while working through the pain, and magic, of childbirth – comforted in it all by the realization that you have finally completed your quest to build the perfect life for yourself and those you love.  That is love right there. That is high romance!

Alright Ladies, you read the whole post almost so I Google'd 'Fireman Musician' for ya. You're welcome.

B)  Unsheathing your stolen, dark magically enhanced, +5 sword of undead slaying while giving birth to the skateboarder who is probably (not) going to save the planet from the forces of evil – EXHIBIT D: it just don’t get any more women’s contemporary fiction than that.

Read an amazing book of essays and help in the fight against breast cancer!

Write for the Fight: A Collection of Seasonal Essays  (all author proceeds for this book donated to the fight!)  Tess Hardwick & Tracey Hansen along with 11 other writers…

Click on the picture to be magically transported to B&N and help in the fight!

Riversong by Tess Hardwick:  When Lee Tucker’s husband commits suicide, he leaves her pregnant and one million dollars in debt to a loan shark. Out of options, she escapes to her deceased mother’s dilapidated house located in a small Oregon town that, like her, is financially ruined, heartbroken and in desperate need of a fresh start. Lee’s resilience leads to a plan for a destination restaurant named Riversong, to new chances for passion and love, and to danger from her dead husband’s debt as her business blooms.

Click for Riversong for Nook!

Jesse James Freeman wrote Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird.  It’s a stupid book about guy stuff that has vampires and Time Zombies and Sword Witches and skateboards in it.  The cool part about it is all the romance, mystery, and exotic intrigue involved as intelligent female characters try their best to interact with Billy and drag any emotion out of him they can get.  He, like all men, just doesn’t know how to express his feelings and is completely undeserving of their love.

Click to Billy Purgatory for Nook!

Billy Purgatory Official Valentine’s Season Book Giveaway!

I’m giving away two copies of Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird on Goodreads.  Entry is free – look in giveaways or here.  These are physical (exists on the Prime Material Plane along with you) book books – I will sign them and all that fancy author stuff.  Contest runs from February 14th until February 21st.  Good luck!

(RM Stringer Photography)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Billy Purgatory

by Jesse James Freeman

Giveaway ends February 21, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

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Review: Thank You, Emily S.

From Goodreads:

“Billy Purgatory: I am the Devil Bird is a rare instance of a book that has something for every demographic, both men and women and children and adults, (even my notoriously picky cousin and niece, 12 and 14 respectively who have no attention span to speak of could not set down their kindle) In the first installment of Billy Purgatory, the reader finds a masterfully composed blending of its whimsical and fanciful characters with raw and familiar emotions. In the genre of young adult fiction, it is easy to fall into the overwhelming sea of plots that are female-centric, with little appeal to the male audience, or the author feeling the need to center in on the tame and generic even bordering on peachiness – all of which the author has successfully dodged. Each of the characters possess an extreme depth and maturity, as the author takes you through the events of their lives; from the tender years of youth, through the confusing adolescence age, and into adulthood. Showing an acute grasp and knowledge of history and classic mythology, the reader finds themselves wanting to go back and read more of the characters and events introduced by the pages. The main character, Billy, not only tugs at your heartstrings, he shows an amazing amount of strength, determination, honor and a fierce loyalty, in the way that sometimes only a young orphaned eight year boy can truly convey. All the while a sense of true and bold innocence and dignity are completely left in tact, but the naiveté is stripped away as you follow the characters through wars, losses, facing their fears, and the loves that everybody encounters through their formative years, and continue to chase and cherish through the maturity inflicted by adulthood. Nothing is sugar coated or swept aside. This novel takes you on a whirlwind of adventure, loss and emotional feats that range from a young boy looking out for his single father, protecting a mysterious and intriguing young girl who is in over her head by forces unimaginable and even takes you to the jungles of Vietnam and the pristine shores of ancient Greece, all the while employing a naturally fluid dialog that highlights a relatable charm to each unique character.