Wormwood: A Dystopian Trilogy by D.H. Nevins
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Newsflash: I am a terrible blogger!

7/23/2022

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Ah, it's sad, but true. I suck at blogging. If there were awards for sucking at such a thing, I'd probably win. Don't throw tomatoes at me yet. Although it might have been a teensy bit of time since I last posted (2 years... cough, cough), I WAS traveling around the world for the last 9 months. Look at this pic of me in Bosnia & Herzegovina. It's proof!  AND I have some big news to share about Angel of Ashes and Dust, the final book in The Wormwood Trilogy. Hint: it rhymes with "won!" 
More coming soon!
Okay... maybe.
Maybe... 
(Psst... seriously, though. I have a newsletter. That's the best place to hear updates. As you can see, I have good "blogging" intentions, but I've kind of been neglecting this blog. You can sign up for my newsletter through the tab at the the top of the page.)

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Wormwood is an Audiobook!

10/25/2020

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First Things First
Excuse me while I break out the champagne and streamers! WORMWOOD IS NOW AN AUDIOBOOK! I really can’t believe it.

Have a look: 
Click here for the US
​Click here for the UK

​New to audiobooks? You can get Wormwood as part of a FREE 30-day trial as a new Audible member*


​My Journey into the World of Audiobooks

​

I have a confession; up until recently, I had never listened to audiobooks. I have many friends and family members who are absolutely hooked, but for me, this was an exotic realm that seemed just a bit outside my comfort zone. After all, reading is a leisure activity that’s almost sacred to me—is there anything sweeter than relaxing under a blanket with a good book?—and I couldn’t imagine altering that experience in the slightest.

​Yes, yes… I had heard the positives: that audiobooks simply opened up more opportunities to experience amazing stories. We could listen while doing any number of mundane things, like commuting, doing housework, mowing the lawn, painting or gardening, and that listening to books suddenly made those tasks much more enjoyable. Yet despite these testimonials, I never made the leap. I’m a creature of habit, I suppose.

About a year ago, a voice artist reached out to me after reading my first book, Wormwood. She told me that while she was reading it, she couldn’t stop imagining how she would voice the story. That conversation opened up a whole new world to me. To make a long story short, that very talented voice artist, Jessica M. Hepburn, created an outstanding recording of Wormwood, which has just become available on Amazon and iTunes.

Now let me loop back to my original sentiments about audiobooks—I had always resisted them. However, because my own work was now expanding into the realm of audiobooks, I knew I must take a closer look and see what the fuss was all about. Of course, you won’t be surprised to learn that I’m now a convert! Honestly, I hadn’t realized what I was missing. With audiobooks, I’m able to add more stories and enjoyment to my life, and that hasn’t come at the expense of my “cozy blanket reading” one bit. It’s amazing.

However, there is something else that happened that I was completely unprepared for: listening to someone else read my own book. For my fellow authors out there, have you ever experienced this? I never really thought about how that would feel. I never realized that I could experience my book through the eyes of another—through the inflections of voice and the interpretations of meaning that sometimes showed a view that was so different from my own take on the story. It was jarring. Profound. Glorious. For the first time ever, I listened to my own story with unprepared wonder… and perhaps, a little as a reader might. I laughed at parts and at others, I cried. Finally, I think I know what my readers have been talking about. Finally, I believe I was truly able to experience my own story.

Thank you to voice artist, Jessica M Hepburn, for opening this door to me, and thank you, audiobooks, for all the possibilities beyond that threshold. I can’t wait to experience more of it.

*Full disclosure: If you use the link I provided to sign up for Audible's free trial (and your first free download is Wormwood), the voice artist and I each get a small kickback for new members who then stay for 61+ days. This helps compensate the voice artist for her hundreds of hours of work on this project and for myself, the years I spent writing it. I hope you don't mind using my links. ;-)
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YES!!!! It's Angel of Shadow's Big COVER REVEAL Day!

12/9/2017

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   I bet you thought I'd be showing you the cover now, right? 
​Well, at the moment, I can't. But the reason why is soooo COOL! I have given a handful of blogs the exclusive right to post the cover for the next three days. And not only are they posting, but they're also sharing "Fun Facts" about the Wormwood series and the writing process; each host blog has a unique "Fun Fact"; there's a bookish scavenger hunt to find the fun fact with a hidden INSTANT WIN; and there's also a giveaway!!!
​    Take a minute to check out these blogs and if you're feeling awesome, please leave a comment, so we can support our fellow book bloggers!
Hint: if you're looking for today's instant win, read the Fun Fact in the "Dragon" blog.

FUONLYKNEW: http://fuonlyknew.com/
Electively Paige: http://electivelypaige.com/
Book Hooked Nook: https://bookhookednook.wordpress.com/
The Perfect Honeybee: https://theperfecthoneybee.wordpress.com/
Dragons Rule OK: https://aspholessaria.wordpress.com/
Seelie Pages: https://seeliepages.wordpress.com/
Fundinmental:  http://www.fundinmental.com/
Bookworm Brandee: https://bookwormbrandee.blogspot.com/


And don’t forget about the giveaway!!! I will be giving away 2 prizes of a physical copy of Wormwood combined with an Angel of Shadow eARC (Advance Reader Copy), as well as 10 prizes of an Angel of Shadow eARC. Enter the giveaway here! http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/55157da22/
The contest wraps up just before midnight on Tuesday, which is the last day the host blogs have exclusive rights to show off this gorgeous cover. All winners will be contacted shortly afterwards.

Remember, WORMWOOD (book one in the series) is available for FREE right now. Here’s the link: http://amzn.to/2hOcWbq

If you need to be sure you get a copy of ANGEL OF SHADOW, you can easily PRE-ORDER at http://amzn.to/2Axgvyi . Price will go up after release.
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ANGEL OF SHADOW'S BLURB:
D.H. Nevins hurtles you into a world of half-angels, demons and tormented love in this driving, dystopian sequel to Wormwood.
 
Half-angels, known as Nephilim, have all but destroyed the surface of the Earth. Yet for Kali Michaels, her life is now much more complicated than simply surviving.

Grappling with her own powerful identity, she worries her connection to the world of Shadows could destroy those around her. And what if she hurts Tiamat Wormwood, the Nephilim outcast who has given everything to save her? Tiamat and Kali know they have no future—not when outside forces and Kali’s own power push both the humans and the Nephilim to the brink of extinction.
​
As she fights to stop the inevitable, she is led to question who her real enemies are, and whether the ultimate threat may actually be herself.

Thanks so much for joining us for Angel of Shadow’s Cover Reveal event! I hope you had fun. I would love to hear your thoughts about the cover and the event!  
​Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone.


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Angel of Shadow’s Worldwide Cover Reveal: Day 5!

12/3/2017

2 Comments

 
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   Wow. Is it really day 5???  THAT MEANS THE BIG REVEAL IS TOMORROW!!! Nope. Not excited at all. I have really enjoyed this event so far and have truly loved reading people's responses on the host blog sites. Thank you for getting out there and supporting our awesome bloggers!
​    Now, as much as I’d love to give you some clues about the cover and share a few sneak peaks… I can’t! And you know what? That’s a whole lotta awesome, and a big part of the fun.

Each day, leading up to the big REVEAL on Saturday, the following host blogs will post a different cover fragment. These blogs will be the ONLY online places you’ll be able to view these images. Yup, that’s pretty cool. And are you ready for the fun part? Each day, each host blog will post a unique fun fact about the Wormwood series or my writing process, and every day, one of those fun facts will include a chance to instantly win an Angel of Shadow eARC! It’s like a bookish scavenger hunt!!!

​Congratulations to Sherry AND MJ who both won yesterday's instant win!!! Bloggers are so amazing and they really make all the difference to independent authors. Your kind words have seen me through many rough spots and have spurred me on when I wanted to quit. Thank you!

​And congratulations to Nicole, who guessed that my husband's written "feedback" on my manuscripts did, indeed, include some naughty illustrations. My husband is adorable, but he is also a man child! Lol! You are yesterday's winner of an Angel of Shadow eARC (minus the dirty illustrations)!

​Congratulations also to Tuesday's winner, CGWINTER1981, who correctly guessed that the band I listened to the most while writing Angel of Shadow was SIGUR ROS. Woo hoo! For those of you who guessed Linkin Park, Muse or Wintersleep, you weren't far off. I listened to them very heavily while I wrote the first book, Wormwood. Sigur Ros, however, was definitely the most-played "writing" soundtrack for Angel of Shadow. And congratulations to Monday's winner, Marie, who correctly guessed that Wormwood's pre-apocalypse setting was based on the wilderness in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.

Anyone else ready to take a peek, have fun and maybe win a prize? I know you’re curious! Please click on the links below to support our fellow bloggers and quell your curiosity at the same time. Check it out and have fun!
​And here's a hint... today's instant win is hidden in the blog with the word "ONLY" in the title!

Bookworm Brandee  
FUONLYKNEW  
Electively Paige
 
Book Hooked Nook   
The Perfect Honeybee   
Dragons Rule OK   
There might be an instant giveaway each day, but why not increase your chances by also entering the RaffleCopter Giveaway here, for a chance at a physical copy of Wormwood too?  Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Angel of Shadow Cover Reveal and Giveaway - A Worldwide Event!

12/2/2017

2 Comments

 
There is a very exciting event coming up next week and I am so pumped about it!!! Starting on Monday, select host blogs from around the world will each share a fragment from Angel of Shadow's new cover. Each day, leading up to the main cover reveal event on Saturday, December 9th, a new piece of the cover will be shared. But that's not all! There will also be a scavenger hunt with instant ARCs to be won. And we all know, even adults love scavenger hunts--especially BOOKISH scavenger hunts! You can bounce from host blog to host blog to read fun facts about the series, the writing process or the author (each host blog will have different facts), and see if you can find the instant win questions! 
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And here's a teaser for you!!! This is the very first cover fragment from my new release, ANGEL OF SHADOW, book 2 in the Wormwood series. If you look closely, you might be able to see some elements that could be on the cover. Can you guess what it may look like?
This is also the ONLY cover fragment I will share with you. Once the event begins, ONLY HOST BLOGS WILL SHARE ANY COVER IMAGES, until the cover reveal event wraps up on December 11th. 
Stay tuned! I will post links to the host blogs once the event begins on Monday! I hope you're as excited as I am!
​In the meantime, you can get a jump on the GIVEAWAY, which will run throughout the event.
Read on for Angel of Shadow's blurb...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Angel of Shadow, the Blurb:

D.H. Nevins hurtles you into a world of half-angels, demons and tormented love in this driving, dystopian sequel to Wormwood.
 
Half-angels, known as Nephilim, have all but destroyed the surface of the Earth. Yet for Kali Michaels, her life is now much more complicated than simply surviving. Grappling with her own powerful identity, she worries her connection to the world of Shadows could destroy those around her.

And what if she hurts Tiamat Wormwood, the Nephilim outcast who has given everything to save her? Tiamat and Kali know they have no future—not when outside forces and Kali’s own power push both the humans and the Nephilim to the brink of extinction.
​
As she fights to stop the inevitable, she is led to question who her real enemies are, and whether the ultimate threat may actually be herself.
Angel of Shadow releases January 13, and is available for pre-order at select retailers for only $2.99. Price will increase after release day. Click here to reserve your copy today!
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​To help promote Angel of Shadow's release, Wormwood, the first book in the series is FREE for a limited time at all retail sites. Visit your favourite one today (direct links are on my homepage) or quick link to Amazon here.

That's all for now! Keep your eyes open for info about the fun cover reveal event (and bookish scavenger hunt!) coming next week!
2 Comments

A New Cover for Wormwood

7/13/2014

2 Comments

 
First of all, before I say anything else, let me introduce Wormwood’s new cover. Oh, and before I do that, I should forewarn you that I’m a tad biased about this...
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The New:

This beauty took my breath away the moment I saw it. As an author, I couldn’t ask for a better representation of my work. And I’m kind of picky—so that says a lot! The image projects a mood that reflects the feel of my story so perfectly, I knew the cover artist understood Wormwood on multiple levels. But even if we’re just talking aesthetics, well, I might be biased, but I think this is one fantastic-looking cover!

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The Old:
I originally had a different cover for Wormwood. It was a simple black and white etching by Gustave Doré, depicting a fallen angel reaching towards the heavens. The sheer turmoil apparent through the angel's expression and pose not only fascinated me, but seemed a perfect depiction of the conflict raging through Tiamat, a half-angel in Wormwood. However, the etching--although classic--was hardly a trendy cover. The story itself was very well-received, but I found that people had trouble getting past the antiquated-looking cover in order to take a chance on reading what was within. My love for the cover, it seemed, was a lonely one!

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The Cool How:
About a month ago, I was contacted by cover artist extraordinaire, Derek Murphy. He had read Wormwood and subsequently offered to make up a new cover for the book. Curious about the vision he had for Wormwood, I heartily agreed.
Then, as you know, the resulting cover blew my expectations out of the water! Its impact was immediate.

Why it Works:
The image depicts the book genre clearly. The colour contrast is striking, which catches the eye instantly. Plus, it’s incredibly professional.
It also fits the story.
On a literal note, the protagonist is a strong female, adept with a crossbow, yet still out of her element. However, she would never admit it. I could see this in her stance. Yet the cover holds so much more than a simple literal representation of Wormwood. Derek recreated the feel of the book perfectly. The mixture of light and darkness remind me of a review from Tome Tenders about Wormwood, which, in part, said, "The lines will be blurred between good and evil, love and hate, truth and lies, and hero and antagonist." The hazy fusion of sunlight and shadow reflect this beautifully. The unsettled, foreboding skies mirror the mood of this dark, post-apocalyptic story, and the falling feathers are a nice touch. They hint at the half-angels in the story without hitting potential readers over the head with their existence. The fact the feathers are broken and falling is also perfect, but I hesitate to say why... after all, I don't want to spoil the most exciting parts of the book!
The Alternatives:
It was exceedingly difficult to select my favourite cover. Every mock-up Derek created was incredible in its own right, and it would be a shame not to share them. So in all their glory, here are the other options he came up with.
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The third one—the one with the wing obscuring the girl’s face—is so amazing, I’d very much like to use it as the cover for my sequel, Angel of Shadow. What do you think?
My Thanks:
Naturally, I wouldn’t be sharing this with you if it wasn’t for Derek Murphy. His outstanding covers and unprecedented talent can be seen on his website, CreativIndie Covers. Have a look at http://bookcovers.creativindie.com/
2 Comments

Wormwood has inspired music! Leap of Faith, by Orca Flights

2/7/2014

2 Comments

 
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There’s something amazing I simply MUST share with you. The song, Leap of Faith by Orca Flights, is outstanding in its own right. But did you know that it was inspired by my novel, Wormwood? Okay, sure—perhaps you don’t see this as the latest headline news. But for an author, or for any artist who puts their heart and soul into creating something, to hear that that little piece of you, that physical creation, has inspired someone to create more art, is perhaps the purest, most flattering compliment possible. I could very well go into embarrassing detail about how I reacted when I first learned of this song. It was some months ago when the band released the original version of Leap of Faith and to my astonishment, Orca Flights actually placed the book’s name, Wormwood, in brackets beside the song’s title. And well, to be honest, when I saw the title I lost my mind ...just a little bit. =)

When the first version of Leap of Faith (Wormwood) was released on SoundCloud, Orca Flights posted this message below the song: “I wrote this song after reading ‘Wormwood’, my by far favorite novel to read! D.H. Nevins FTW (for the win). A must buy for an all-out heart-pounding adventure of love, war and the great beyond.”

A short time ago, Orca Flights reworked the song and came up with an even more fabulous version. It was just posted on YouTube a few days ago. And though it isn’t yet available for purchase, you can presently listen to it (but not download it) for free. I urge you to check it out. Not only is this tune incredible, but its rhythms, melody and note combinations seem to weave together in perfect balance, creating rare sound blends that actually seem to speak to you. In my opinion, it’s only an exceptional piece of music that can do this, yet I believe Leap of Faith accomplishes it. C’mon... you’re curious, aren’t you? So have a listen—it’s awesome!

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I asked Noah Coty, Orca Flights musician extraordinaire, to share a few thoughts about the tune, Leap of Faith.

“Anything about flying inspires me because as a human, I am jealous of the angels for having wings!” And so, how did he use those feelings to put together such an incredible tune, you might ask? Noah explains, “...when writing the song, I closed my eyes and looked within for the feeling of being in the air. I tried my best to translate what I was feeling into the song. As it progressed, so did the in-flight portrayal of soaring and swooping and being aloft.”

So after the new version of Leap of Faith was completed, I couldn’t resist asking Noah if the re-made tune also had links to Wormwood. Of course, you can imagine what answer I was hoping to hear—and by hoping, I mean fingers crossed, arms crossed, legs crossed, eyes crossed...  “They are both inspired by the book!” he responded emphatically. I was sure he was grinning. Having just received some brand new equipment, Noah had a plan. “I thought I’d put it to the test and give Leap of Faith a more 360 feel.”

The song, although shared on YouTube, is not in video form. The sublime music plays over an arresting, dream-like image of ships moving in and out of a gravitationally impossible harbour. A lush, grassy bridge spans a gigantic waterfall, while beams of ethereal sunlight highlight ships sailing UP the waterfall into the great ocean beyond. Kudos goes to concept artist and illustrator JP Targete, who is a “super-talented art student,” according to Noah. I couldn’t agree more. (Click on his name to visit his site.) The image and music pair perfectly, truly taking you on a journey that’s “UP OUT OVER AND BEYOND.”

Thank you, Orca Flights, for the BEST surprise... ever.



Click here to check out Orca Flights on Twitter
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It's Time! Excerpt from Angel of Shadow, Wormwood's sequel.

1/25/2014

4 Comments

 
PictureImage: Tears on Feathers, Kristaps B.
Something amazing has happened. Just last week, I topped 8,000 followers on Twitter. I couldn't believe it! After acting like a dork and sharing that knowledge with nearly everyone I knew, I decided it was time to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate than to share with my friends?
So without a further ado, here's an excerpt from Angel of Shadow, Wormwood's, upcoming sequel. I hope you enjoy it!

ANGEL OF SHADOW - Excerpt from Chapter 9

I had to stop them, but I couldn’t control my shadow well enough. They could all die. “Please stop.” I nearly sobbed the words, my throat constricted as much by emotion as it was by the intense energy that surged through my body. All around them, the shadows moved. I could see what was coming. The men were only a few paces away. “Stop now or I’ll have to hurt you. Please!”

One of the men snorted, but none of them so much as looked at me. All their attention was focused on Tiamat, sprawled across the bank behind me.

My Shadow surged in from all sides, slipping over the rocks and dirt to gather at my feet.  I could feel its anticipation, its energy wound like a coiled spring. This, I knew, was not the same shadow that had attacked us earlier, invading our bodies and clouding my thoughts. I knew it in my bones—this shadow was mine. But its intentions were as black as its colour. It thirsted for death and yearned to harm. That was its purpose. It poured up my leg and swirled around the inky black of my hand and forearm, folding in on itself as it pressed into my skin.

I tore my eyes from it. One of the men was almost beside me, his expression changing to one of satisfaction. He had a clear shot. Chest puffed up, he squinted an eye and started to pull the trigger...

I lashed out at him, kicking his arm an instant before the gun went off. The shot missed, slamming into the water to Tiamat’s left. Too close... I backhanded the man across the face, almost forgetting my new strength, and sent him flying head-first into the dirt ground. But by attacking him, I had exposed Tiamat. The others moved in like vultures, multiple guns raised at once...

I spun to face them, thrusting an obsidian hand in their direction and willing my shadow to release. “Get back!” I yelled. My voice echoed through the cavern just as a wall of ebony slammed into them. As much as I wished to control it, it was like holding a great beast on a paper leash. I tried to pull back, but the weak restraints severed. The Shadow barrelled into them, throwing each man forcefully away. As its victims lay sprawled around the cavern, it coiled back, preparing to strike the fatal blow. It wanted blood ... pain...

I wanted it...

“No!” I raged. I reached my mind out to my Shadow again, and driving my hands apart in imitation of the breast stroke, I imagined dissipating the stuff and forcing it away. To my surprise, the black mist parted easily, swirling off to either side and disappearing into the folds of the dark. Feelings of frustration washed over me, though I knew they were not my own. I clenched my jaw, not caring how it felt. If it only wanted to kill, my Shadow would have to learn to live with disappointment.

Shoving those thoughts aside, I spun to face Tiamat. He lay exactly where I had left him, and appeared otherwise unharmed. I let my breath out in a puff of relief, and turned to look at the other men instead. They lay scattered in a rough semi-circle around me, unmoving.

“Damn it,” I hissed under my breath. “Damn bloody fools.” I approached the first one beside me, the one I had hit with a backhand. A pink splotch bloomed on his cheekbone, and upon further investigation, he appeared to be simply unconscious. One by one, I checked on all the men that lay sprawled across the damp rocks of the cavern. The others, thankfully, were in much the same shape as the first man. Aside from waking up with some serious bumps and bruises, the people that were trying to protect their encampment would likely be no worse off for it.

Once reassured the men would live, I went back to each of their bodies, checking them for weapons and collecting any I could find. Some had guns, and others, like the man that seemed to lead them, simply had knives. I gathered their weapons in a heap and dumped them unceremoniously on the far side of a large rock. They would likely still have need of them, but I’d rather they were unarmed for our next conversation.

My ears pricked up at a slight sound of scuffling from behind a rocky outcrop. It could have been an animal of some sort, but I highly doubted it. Without turning, I stood from my stooped position beside the last of the men I was checking, and dusted off my hands. “They might have a bit of a headache when they wake up, but they’ll be alright.”

I listened for a response, but none came.

“I won’t hurt you.” I said, turning to face the bulbous outcropping of rock. “I didn’t want to hurt them either, but they attacked us. Do you understand?”

Again, there wasn’t a sound.

I turned from those efforts and went back to Tiamat. Whoever was there would eventually either need to come out and face me or sneak back to the encampment. For the moment, I didn’t really care which it was, as long as I could get back to helping Tiamat.

I knelt by him again, running my hands over his neck and back, and tracing his cheek and jaw with my fingers. “Tiamat. Please wake up,” I whispered in his ear.

“Is he here to kill us?” came a small voice from beside me. “Because I don’t think he is.”

I turned to see a boy of about 12 standing beside me, looking inquisitively on. Then he continued, “But I’m not so sure about you.”

I could feel my lips twitching, but I tried to keep a straight face as I moved into the water to untangle Tiamat’s other foot. Thankfully, it was only hooked in the net and didn’t need untangling at all. How the heck did he end up like this? I couldn’t recall how we had gotten to the shore at all.

“Nathaniel asked us to come here to protect the people of your camp. So, no, we aren’t here to kill you. This,” I said, indicating the men sprawled around us with a sweep of my hand, “was from an unfortunate misunderstanding.” I splashed out of the water and moved to Tiamat’s shoulders, bracing myself to drag him out.

“Yeah, I saw it. They totally had it coming.”

I looked back at him in surprise.

He merely shrugged his shoulders. “They might wake up soon,” he stated, looking around at the men.

“So what?  Now they know to leave us alone.”

I focused again on Tiamat and, bracing my hands under his shoulders, gently tilted his upper torso off the rocks. His head lolled forward, dark locks of hair falling into his face. I bit my lip thinking of how many times we had found each other like this in the past 24 hours—well, how many times he found me like this anyway. This was not a good start to our relationship. I knew it would be difficult, but I never expected anything quite as bad as this…

I pulled on his body, dragging him forward until his legs and feet were well out of the water. Then, before easing him back down, I sat on the ground and lowered his shoulders onto one of my legs and let his head rest on the other. I wished I could flip him onto his back, but, with his wings out, I couldn’t be sure that wouldn’t hurt him.

My heart was breaking. I didn’t know what to do. I ran my hand down his back, along the smooth skin between his wings, and rested my cheek against his head. Tears threatened, but I wouldn’t let them come. Not yet. Perhaps he simply needed some rest. Or maybe, with that filthy shadow inside him, he was lost inside himself, just as I was.

“You want him to live.” It was a statement, not a question, tinged with the wonderment of a child. I had already forgotten the boy was there.

“Yes.”

“Why? He is one of the Nephilim.”

“I told you. We came here to protect your camp.” I was weary of his company and wished the child would just go away. “He isn’t like the other Nephilim.”

“And you love him.”

“Yes.”

He was quiet for a moment. “I saw what you did. People can’t do that. No one can do that.”

I wasn’t certain how to respond. How could I explain to him what I was? If these people were afraid of the Nephilim—which, by all means they should have been—how would they respond to someone like me? “You need special people to watch over your camp,” I replied. It wasn’t really a lie.

He was quiet again. “What are you?”

I let out a long breath and straightened to look at him. I wondered if he could see the sorrow in my face, because I could see it in his. But there was something else there too; I was sure I could see a hint of wisdom that belied his years. It didn’t seem to fit. Who was this child? “My name’s Kali,” I answered.

He picked at a scab on his arm, looking uncomfortable. “What are you, Kali?”

“A friend. That’s all you need to know right now. I won’t hurt you. Neither will he.” I sighed, looking down at Tiamat. I bit my lip to keep it from trembling. More to myself than to the child, I mumbled, “I wish I knew how to help him.”

Tiamat’s dark hair was still in front of his face. Ever so gently, I pushed it back on his forehead, revealing a beautiful, pale-skinned profile. The moment his face was clear, however, I heard a sharp intake of breath from the boy beside me.

I swung my head again to look at the boy. His focus was fixed on Tiamat’s face, his expression strangely neutral. However, I knew I saw it, that glimmer of recognition just simmering under the surface. “Are his eyes blue?” he asked. His voice sounded so small.

“Yes. As far as I know, all the Nephilim’s eyes are blue.”

Without shifting his focus in the slightest, his next words came out as a command. “You want to help? Then burn him.” And with that the boy padded away, swallowed by the darkness at the back of the cave.

This work has not yet been fully edited. Some changes are to be expected.

This work is fully protected by Canadian and International copyright laws and is the intellectual property of D.H. Nevins and Black Wraith Books.

© January 15, 2014

4 Comments

Giveaway ►► Modern Good Reads ►► 12 Books ► 5 Days

5/29/2013

12 Comments

 
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MODERN
GOOD READS PRESENTS:

 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE & OFFICIAL
GIVEAWAY 

 
MAY 29TH-JUNE 2ND

AMAZON
FREEBIES
SIGNED COPIES
BOOKS GIVEN AWAY DAILY!!
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Everyone Burns by John Dolan, FREE ON AMAZON US
May 29th--June 2nd
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The Escape of Princess Madeline by Kirstin Pulioff, FREE ON AMAZON US
May 29th--May 31st
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The Ruby Brooch by Katherine Lowry Logan, FREE ON AMAZON US
June 1st & 2nd
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American Midnight by B.R. Snow, FREE ON AMAZON US
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The Next Big Thing Blog Tag

10/31/2012

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Image by Behance http://ow.ly/eRNYN
I was asked by author Steven Montano to participate in this fun bit of Blog Tag. I considered declining, but he was babbling something about poking me with a pointed stick, so I relented. He’s an amazing author, but I think he might be a bit off his rocker. Anyway, apparently this whole thing originated from the She Writes website. Uh, I’m referring to this Next Big Blog thingy by the way, not the pointed stick.

If you’re an author and I tagged you for this blog hop, your instructions are at the end of this post.

Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:

1. What is the working title of your book?
Angel of Shadow (Wormwood Book 2)

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
Mostly from daydreaming and listening to music. The darker and moodier the music, the more vivid my imaginings. Also, Angel of Shadow is a sequel to Wormwood, so I already had much of it plotted out before I started writing.

3. What genre does your book fall under?
Post-Apocalyptic / Paranormal / Fantasy
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Image from wearemoviegeeks.com
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I had so much trouble with this question, so I posted it on Facebook in order to get some suggestions. The responses I received were amazing, and even helped me better understand how my readers see Wormwood’s characters. It was fascinating! A thousand thanks for all the suggestions. Here’s what I went with:
Tiamat: Ian Somerhalder or Karl Urban (his pic is above). Both have dark, brooding good looks (according to a very special fan!) and I think either of them could bring out that intensity that’s essential to Tiamat’s character.

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Image from wallpapergate.com
Kali: Natalie Portman. This one was tough. I needed someone youthful, yet mature and intelligent with serious butt-kicking capabilities. Portman recently had an extremely physically demanding role in the film Black Swan, and she's one of the few that fit the role of Wormwood's strong-willed protagonist.

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Image from beyondhollywood.com
Richard: Cillian Murphy or Michael Fassbender. They have both been seriously creepy in previous roles and would each add their own special something to the role of Wormwood’s demon.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Through a post-apocalyptic landscape on the brink of a Nephilim war, Kali and Tiamat race to hunt down the demon, Richard, before Kali’s deadly new powers completely consume her.

 6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It will definitely be self-published. I have better things to do than send out reams of query letters simply for the chance to sign Angel of Shadow’s rights away. I suppose I can’t say I won’t change my mind in the future, but for now, I’m quite content the way things are.

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I’m not finished yet, but I expect it will take about a year from the time I started it. If all goes well, that means it will be finished by late spring, 2013.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
It’s a bad-ass, dark, post-apocalyptic version of Hush, Hush or Fallen, but with a STRONG female protagonist, a dangerous love interest, a more adult story-line and a plot that will leave you winded. Quite frankly, this series is about as romantic as the Underworld movies. Guys will enjoy it too.

9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?
My readers. They really want that sequel! If I don’t get it out soon, there’s a good chance they’ll show up on my doorstep.
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10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Not only does this series have a strong female protagonist, but its Nephilim are deadly killers, the landscape is bleak and the love interest is a powerful and charismatic half-angel. Oh, and there’s a twisted demon too. Prepare for fighting, blood, love, suspense and plenty of twists.
For readers of Wormwood, this next bit is for you:
Angel of Shadow continues on exactly where Wormwood left off, with Kali walking towards the encampment, intending to pass her virus on to the survivors there.
In some ways, this book is even darker than Wormwood. It’s written in first person, so you will be in Kali’s mind as she is overcome by her new abilities. Like a living shadow, it seeps in and affects her thoughts, slowly clouding her mind with darkness. Yet she fights the descent every step of the way with Tiamat at her side. Together, they race to hunt down and kill the demon, Richard, before her mind is irrevocably lost.

So if you’re an author and I tagged you for this Next Big Thing Blog Hop, read on. If not, then thanks so much for popping by to read about my latest WIP. You can also read on if you’d like, but then I’d have to kill you. Oh no wait, that’s something else. Sorry. If you read on, it will be boring. That is all.

Here’s how it works….

Rules of The Next Big Thing

Use this format for your post (I have to confess that other participants had this blurb at the tops of their posts. Guess I just can't follow the rules, can I?)
Include an introduction to your interview post and a link to the person who tagged you for participation.
 Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (Work In Progress). Include some pictures if possible.
 Tag five other writers/bloggers by sending them an email and then add their links to the end of your interview post. Their answers should go up the week after.

Your blog post would need to be up between November 5th and the 9th . If you are on She Writes you put the post up there too. Your Blog post will be labelled: The Next Big Thing Blog Tag.

Here are the very cool authors I’m tagging.
Les Floyd
Craig Hallam
Shelli Johnson 
R.M. DuChene
Riana Lucas
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    D.H. Nevins is the author of The Wormwood Trilogy, a Dystopian Fantasy series like no other.  
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