Guest Post: Going Where You've Never Been (Clive Johnson)

Clive Johnson, author of the new book ‘Arabian Nights & Arabian Nights’, suggests that there can sometimes be joys to be had when writing about a subject or a place that is different to an author's own experience.

One of the things that I love when creating a new story is researching the biographies and day-to-day experiences of the types of characters that I want to write about. Sometimes, this involves imagining circumstances and places that I've never encountered myself – including periods in history that might be a little before my time.

This was the case with the story that I wrote to accompany one of the tales of the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor. Given that Baghdad features so strongly in many of the tales of The Nights – it was descriptions of the colorful souks and magic that played out in this very city that excited my interest in some of the tales as a child – I was keen to set one of my stories in this very city.

I've never been to Baghdad, nor does it seem likely that it will be safe for a budget conscious, independent traveler like myself to do so, at least in the foreseeable future. Even if I do eventually have the chance to set foot in the Iraqi capital, I'm sure that many of the wonderful sights that would have greeted the visitor 50 years ago will no longer be around.

This is a real shame. I would love to have seen Baghdad in its heyday, at least as it was around the middle of the last century. The personal recollections that I came across when I was researching my story painted a picture of a magical place, which attracted travelers from all corners of the globe.

But any regret that I have about not being able to experience this once great city must be one million or more times less than the sorrow those who live in Baghdad must feel. The city literally seems to have gone backwards through each of the past few decades. It's well known that many Baghdadis say that life during Saddam Hussein's era of power was far better than that of the experience now.

My story spans life during the time of Saddam and beyond – yet another experience that is very far from my own. Fortunately, some very evocative descriptions of the lives of those who did witness that period are available. Feeling into these is difficult, but I could imagine being transported into the situations that some of the document is described, albeit as an observer.

Reading, storytelling, and writing can all have this effect – time travel, and journeying to foreign lands, can be important aspects of a story’s offering. This is why I sometimes like to work with a subject that is alien to my own experience. Research forces me to discover, reflect upon, and to learn. These are three quests that I hope I never lose a hunger for.

Classic tales from the Arabian Nights retold alongside modern interpretations.

Magic carpets and flying horses, caverns glittering with gold, unexpected plotlines following the fortunes of heroes and villains–who cannot fail to be enchanted by the magic and wonder of the tales of the One Thousand and One Nights?

This most celebrated collections of tales feature shape-shifting and miraculous transportation across continents, powerful jinn who rise like smoke from simple vessels, dreams that delve into the secrets of the subconscious, and gigantic, man-carrying birds.

The backdrop for the tales moves from barren deserts to spectacular cities, from the edge of the world to the inner sanctuaries of mighty rulers. Kings and paupers, benevolent sages and devious magicians, worthy princesses and unscrupulous harlots–all play their part in teaching important truths and providing lively entertainment.

This innovative book offers retellings of a selection of tales that have captured the imaginations of countless people over many centuries. Accompanying each is a short story set in a contemporary context, which reframes the messages and teachings of the original, specifically written for an adult audience.

Here are stories of betrayal and murder, exploitation and sibling rivalry, soul-searching and discovery. The modern parallel tales swap the busy alleyways of old Baghdad for the horror of Saddam's prisons, move from following caravans sweeping across the Sahara to modern day pilgrims trekking along the Caminos of northern Spain, and lift Aladdin out of his cave to unwittingly face Triad gangsters and antiques smugglers.

Arabian Nights & Arabian Nights / Traditional Tales From A Thousand And One Nights, Contemporary Tales For Adults by Clive Johnson is published by Labyrinthe Press and available in paperback, Kindle, and audible versions. (ISBN 978-0-9932029-6-4)

This innovative book offers retellings of a selection of tales from the One Thousand and One Nights that have captured the imaginations of countless people over many centuries, alongside short contemporary stories, which reframe the messages and teachings of the originals, specifically written for an adult audience.

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You can find more info about Arabian Nights & Arabian Nights / Traditional Tales From A Thousand And One Nights on Goodreads or The Autistic Mystic (Clive's Website/Blog)

Guest Post: M.L. Sparrow on 'Do You Believe In Age Limits for Books?'

Hi everyone! 

I’m M L Sparrow, the author of Ghetto, The Demon Inside, No Rest for the Wicked and the soon to be released, Player. Two of my books are YA novels, whilst No Rest for the Wicked is an Adult Romance and Player is aimed at the older end of the New Adult spectrum, due to sexual scenes. Which brings me to the subject of this post: Do you believe in age limits for books? 

Personally, I don’t. Having discovered Adult Romance at the age of twelve, with Keri Arthur’s Full Moon Rising, I instantly fell in love with the genre. Shocked at first by the content, I was instantly intrigued and went on to discover authors like Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh and Gena Showalter, who remain some of my favourite writers. I had always loved reading and writing, but Adult Romance opened up a whole new world I was previously unaware of, or at least, uninformed about. 

Now, I know what some of you are thinking. Twelve, that’s far too young to be reading books of a sexual nature! But, before you faint, think of it this way. If teenagers are reading about sex, from books that also explore the emotions and context behind the act, surely that is better than simply searching for porn on the internet… They are being allowed to explore sex in a safe environment, rather than remaining uninformed and potentially going out and doing something irresponsible or dangerous.

Of course, in this day and age, where anyone can self-publish whatever they want (I’m not knocking it, after all, I’m also a self-published author), its easy to stumble upon BDSM or dark romance masquerading as simple romance novels, so a little caution to young readers is advisable. But then, if you avoid them like the plague, how are you ever going to know whether or not you enjoy them? And there’s no harm in reading about kinky sex! I discovered Cherise Sinclair (an erotic novelist) at fifteen and it never did me any harm! To be fair, by that age, teenagers should know the difference between right and wrong and where to draw the line, so I honestly don’t believe reading certain material can do any harm. 

Sex isn’t the only thing to worry about though. I talked to several people about this post, just to gauge general opinion, and most agreed with my view, but one disagreed strongly and used a book called ‘Fight Club’ to make his point. Not having read ‘Fight Club’ I immediately went out and got a copy, but was a little disappointed that it didn’t actually shock me. Sure, it was twisted and violent, but no more so than some of the programs that are on TV or some video games, which makes my point. Why should books for teenagers be censured when video games and films are often worse. And yes, I know those things have age limits, but lets be honest, very few people actually listen to those!  

If you still have doubts, as yourself this; Would you prefer your teenager to be reading about sexual acts, thereby educating themselves, or to remain ignorant and perhaps later end up in trouble?    

At the time I thought my addiction to Adult Romances was a great secret; I’d hide my books in draws – before I got a Kindle, anyway! – and then, when my collection got too big, I’d put them on my bookshelves with the spine facing the wall! Now, I’m well aware that, since I was using her card (with permission of course) to purchase my books from Amazon, my mum was likely aware of the type of books I was reading, however, she never tried to stop me from reading them which I’m intensely grateful for, since I believe they helped me grow up with well rounded opinions and a healthy attitude towards sex and relationships.

So, whether you’re a teen or in your hundreds and you like sweet, sexy contemporary romances, check out Player, which will be released on the 1st of September! 

Before I go, a quick thanks to Kailei and Shell for letting me have some space to chat on their blog. 

And a big thanks to M.L. for taking the time to chat with us! We adore your view on age limits, and strongly agree. We have many (hundreds, probably) of erotica books on our JOINED Kindle account....and both of us read it and discuss the books. Saying someone isn't allowed to read/watch/play something doesn't mean they won't go out and do it...nor does it mean that they won't witness or experience it on some level at one point in their life. We think it shouldn't be based on age, so much as maturity.

As always, you can find all of M.L.'s links below, if you're interested in checking out her books! We'll include the blurbs and cover photos for them below.  Reviews for Ghetto, and Player are to come! Kailei has already reviewed The Demon Inside, so you can see that below as well!









When a rich gentleman finds a beautiful young woman lying in the snow, on the brink of death, he takes her back to his house and, when she has recovered, employs her as a maid. Immediately Elira realizes that Anthony Luther is no ordinary man and nothing about the house she now lives in is as it seems, for Anthony is a powerful wizard.

Inexplicably drawn together, they begin a tentative romance, but it’s not just Elira’s uncertainties and the rules of upper-class society which drive a wedge between them; rivalries and a precious family heirloom, a priceless necklace of unforeseen power handed down through generations, threaten not only the couple’s happiness, but also their lives and the safety of the people around them

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Let the game begin…

After a tragic accident which leaves her tormented by guilt, Chloe Newman
accepts a scholarship to study a St. Joseph’s University. Traveling from England to Texas, the last thing she expects is to meet the schools charming quarterback on her first night. However, Parker Mitchell is a player both on and off the field.

Parker is immediately fascinated by Chloe and, after a rocky start, they manage to find a way to make their relationship work despite interference from others on campus, including Parkers jealous ex, and the ghosts that haunt Chloe’s conscience. But, the real test comes when they visit Parker’s family over Christmas break and he finds himself being pulled back into their lifestyle...

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My name’s Sunny Grace Beaumont. Branded SGB/2/6895/03.12.93. Only child, self-taught computer geek and cancer survivor. Oh, and did I mention my dad’s the President? As you can imagine that’s sometimes a little problematic, especially when I want to sneak out. But it never got me into quite as much trouble as the night I ventured into the Ghetto – don’t ask me why I was there in the first place… it was stupid. Everyone knows that the Ghetto is where hardened criminals are sent to live out the remainder of their lives. At first the men that kidnap me are just as I’d imagine, mean and thoughtless, but slowly I begin to have doubts.

I meet a guy. His name’s Sin, he has no Brand – a crime punishable by death – and he’s the rebel leader. I should hate him… but I don’t. Instead he opens my eyes to a whole other side of the Ghetto, where people are innocent of the crimes they’re accused of and helpless children suffer dreadful poverty. Is it possible that I’ve been lied to my entire life… that the governments been deceiving everyone? And how can I challenge the law my own dad is adamant to uphold?

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Darcy was a perfectly normal teenage girl, enjoying the summer after completing her A Levels with her boyfriend Alec. Until the night strange creatures begin falling from the sky, infecting people and transforming them into crazed, animalistic cannibals.
Having lost everything in one foul swoop - her parents, her home and all future plans - all Darcy can do is try to protect the people she does have left. Together, she and Alec, along with her younger sister, sarcastic best-friend, Alec's alcoholic father and the family dog, set off on a journey to find somewhere safe in a world where everything is different.
However, when they do finally discover a haven, a place to call home again, can they remain? And who will survive?

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Guest Post: Author Rival Gates on 'Being and Author Today'

My father was a magazine and book editor for years.  Getting published was a mountainous task.  Writers didn’t have spell check, word processor programs, email or inexpensive printers to help them in their task.  They used typewriters and dictionaries to produce a manuscript and copy centers to “Xerox” copies to be sent out.  Then they had to research on the phone and at the library to find publishers and more specifically, the editor to whom you would send your work.  After all that you would pay to mail multiple copies out and then wait for months for a letter or phone call which may never come.  At the publisher it was no cakewalk either.  Editors would sift through piles of manuscripts trying to find two or three to fit the slots open in the publishing season.  It all came down to the cover letter.  Getting published was hard but if you were chosen you had all the marketing resources of the company behind you.  The publisher got you reviews and media attention.  They placed your book in big-box book stores and set up media events for you.  Book tours were set up and they held your hand all along the way.
Today the world is far different than the one my late father left behind.  Everyone now has a computer with software that makes writing easier than ever.  When we have a finished product we don’t even print it out.  We research publishers on the net in a few hours or look for an agent.  Then we send out all the emails of our work that we want for free.  Thanks to e-readers, online book sales have grown dramatically over the years as have the number of publishers.  This explosion has allowed many authors to be published who otherwise would not have had a chance under the old system.  Readers have more selection now than any time in history.  Instead of waiting for months for books to be printed, they can now be made available on Amazon.com in days.  When it comes to marketing it’s another story.  My publishers have been kind enough to be of some help with their writer’s publicity.  For the most part, however, you are on your own.  You must balance social media with finding kind blogs like this one who will allow me to come on and promote my latest book.  At the same time, you must find people with the time and willingness to do a book review for you.  Getting into bookstores is solely your responsibility as well.  But the fact remains; you are published!  You have a chance to make your dreams come true.  And it still all comes down to that cover letter.  Even today’s publishers are bombarded with emails.  If they actually take the time to read that paragraph you wrote about your book, you better have something there that grabs them and makes them want to read your manuscript.  Many things changed but this one stayed the same.  Editors only have so much time and patience.  Be sure you latch onto them with that paragraph.  If you don’t, your hard work will end up in the trash folder.

Rival Gates was born in Port Huron, MI and moved to a suburb of Toronto, Canada at age 5 due to his father’s work as an editor.  He was educated through high school in Canada and then returned to the United States for college at Michigan State University.  Rival began working on this series of books at age 13 and spent his life honing the stories to be just right.  The series would be called “The Sapphire Chronicles.”  His first book, “Quest for the Red Sapphire” drew excellent reviews and was followed up by his second book, “The Sapphire Crucible” which was received even better.  Now Mr. Gates has published his third book, “Mandrean Revenge” and plans to carry his readers along on the battle-tested trail of Linvin Grithinshield.  Dreaming of sword fights and perilous journeys he has no trouble finding material for his stories.  And his latest story awaits.

It has been more than 2 years since the half elf, Linvin Grithinshield returned from his life altering quest with the Red Sapphire as his prize in the medieval world of Letheria.  Apart from surviving the regular assassination attempts he thought life had returned to normal.  Far to the north in the Mandrean Empire, however, trouble was festering.  In spite of Linvin’s best efforts, Lord Mandrean the 13th survived their confrontation and has been plotting his reprisal.  With his empire on the verge of revolt he needs a show of force to display his dominance.  Dispatching Linvin in front of his subjects would fill that role most handsomely.  With the help of his evil Necromancer, Mandrean kidnaps Linvin’s Uncle Anvar.  The elderly elf is the closest family Linvin has remaining and has been a father figure to him for much of his life.  The emperor promises to release Anvar only after Linvin has surrendered himself for execution.  Though Mandrean’s word has slight credibility, Linvin is given a terrible decision to make.  With little choice Linvin sees no other option but to set out for the empire.  He cannot delay as Anvar’s life will expire at the first frost of fall.  That will become more troubling by the obstacles he faces along the way.  Can Linvin reach the empire in time to sacrifice himself in Anvar’s place?  Will Lord Mandrean kill them both?  Or maybe, just maybe, Linvin can pull another miracle and save them both.  One way or another, blood will be shed.

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Guest Post (D. Alyce Domain): Ten Reasons Why I might Be Enticed Into Reading A Book

Though I am a writer…I was a reader first, so I have been on both sides of the fence.  (The grass is not greener, its just a different shade of brown.)  Writers are always in a lather to discover the one elusive thing or short list of things that readers are looking for in a book.  This one thing doesn’t exist.  Even for me…There is no one specific way that I pick all the books I read.  It’s a combination of things.  Sometimes for inexplicable reasons, I go on a bender reading a certain genre (this could last for months or years).  There truly is no rhyme or reason to it.  However, here are some of things that might entice be into reading a book….

Intriguing, and well-written Premise.  I say well-written because I’ve actually read the premise of some books and was totally clueless afterward.  Some authors write the premise to be cryptic, but really its non-informative to the point where there’s not even enough info there to make a decision.  Or its confusing as to what the subject matter is.  Some books, I couldn’t even determine what the genre of the book was.  The worse offenders are premises I read on Blog tour sign-up pages.  Some of them are so awful until I honestly have no clue if I want to read/review the book or not.  One I read was just a bunch of questions…meant to invoke curiosity.  It didn’t.  Another one used short two to three words sentences throughout...not sure why.  I even read one that was just a character’s thoughts written out.  I know its hard, I struggled with writing my own premise to both my books…but its very important to have, because its how I (and a lot of other readers) choose the books they buy and read.

A Pretty Cover.  This one is not so true anymore.  I mean, pretty covers still catch my eye at the same rate, but I don’t buy/read the book based solely on this nearly as much as I used to.  (I been burned a few too many times).  I will say this though…a pretty cover will guarantee that I read the premise and in some causes, the sample chapter.  So, for me, its still worth it to spend some time on cover design.  Cause, it will get you noticed…storyline/premise has to do the rest.  

An Ugly or Bizarre Cover.  I know, this is odd, but I am honestly just as intrigued by a weird, hideous or weirdly hideous cover as I am by a pretty one.  It’s the mundane ones in between that will get you ignored…in my opinion.  Like the clichéd ones, that everyone’s seen a million times.  Avoid those.  Go for the eye-catching, the weird or the ridiculous.  That’s what gets my attention, as a reader.

A Scandalous Title.  Forget the cover…sometimes just the title can get me hooked.  Examples, “Unzipped” by Lois Greiman and “The Naked Duke” by Sally Mackenzie.  I was book browsing…and these titles stopped me in my tracks.  I bought them on the spot and now I’m on #8 in Greiman’s “Un” series…and have read all the “Naked” series.  Both are hilarious!  

Mixed Reviews.  I know this one is odd too.  But I honestly am pretty skeptical of a book that only has glowing reviews, with nary a bad word to say.  I am generally more persuaded by mixed reviews.  I read both the good and the bad…if the bad ones point out stupid or nitpicky things, I ignore them and read the book.  One bad review I read, the reviewer admitted that she/he hadn’t read the book but that she/he was turned off by the fact that the author had described the hero as “alpha” but that the book was not about shape-shifters…claiming that this was ‘misleading’.  I immediately ignored this review.  I know that authors get bent out of shape by bad, unfair, or weird reviews but really I don’t think they should worry so much.  Readers are pretty savvy…and probably ignore the worse offenders…I know I do.

A Killer Prologue – I adore prologues.  Honestly, I prefer reading them over the first chapter because they tend to give a short little glimpse at the larger work, whereas Chapter 1 has to do set-up stuff that is less representative of the rest of the book).  Prologues are a quick way to get a feel for the tone of the book, the storyline and its possibilities…and the writer’s style.  An intriguing prologue is all it takes sometimes for me.  On the opposite side of that…I have been equally turned off by overlong, confusing, or lackluster prologues.  So, it’s a double-edged sword.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…a prologue is like a movie trailer.  Its an advertisement of the book.  If its too long, confusing, random or any number of other negative adjectives, it will kill interest in reading the rest of the book quicker than anything else.

A Decent First Chapter – I didn’t used to even read the first chapter “sneak peaks” that online booksellers like Amazon, Smashwords, and B&N provide, but I’ve been duped so much down through the years by lovely front covers and expertly written back cover blurbs, only to crack open the book to a nasty surprise.  Now, I always read the first chapter to make sure that the book is something that I want to read (esp. in absence of a prologue).  I have dodged many a bullet this way…and found several gems also.  However, I’m much less judgmental when it comes to 1st chapters (as opposed to prologues).  I use them more or less to eliminate than to choose.  Its doesn’t have to be perfect because I know as a writer how hard it is to get things off the ground (intros, descriptions, settings, etc), but it should show the potential of the book.  For example: Let’s say I’m interested, but my foot’s right on the line.  I’ll read the first chapter and find out its written in 1st person narrative (a personal pet peeve), I might pass on it.  Or, my foot’s on the line because the premise is only semi-interesting…and then I read the first chapter and its this explosively interesting scene (I’ve had this happen)…yeah, I’m reading it.  

Interesting Character Quotes – Sometimes these come as part of the back cover blurb…other times I see them as ad images blinking on Amazon, Goodreads, or sometimes as teasers on the author’s blog/website or part of the banner/teasers in Blog tours, etc.  I’m not advocating shelling out money for any of these things…but, I will say this, an interesting or intriguing character quote or two HAS caught my eye a time or two.  Enough so that I clicked and read the full ad or followed the link to the book’s premise.  I’ve never actually read a book based solely on a character quote that caught my eye…but I’m not ruling it out.

Attractive, Informative Author’s Website/Blog – If I am considering a book written by an author that I have either never read before…and/or never heard of before, then I generally always drop around their blog or website so I can get a feel for their writing style and see if they have other books that I might be interested in…helps me decide if I want to take a chance on them/their book.  Also, if the author does not have a website or blog…or if its woefully outdated or has lots of missing info, broken links, useless stuff on there (Ads & pop-ups)…I generally am much less likely to take a chance on their book.  In the same way that I would be skeptical of any business (however small) that had absolutely NO web presence at all.  Ads and pop-ups annoy me.  (If the ads/pop-ups are book related, they annoy me less than say a shampoo ad.)  Honestly, though, if the site is attractive and informative, with stuff I like and have interest in reading, I just endure.  But if the site is clunky with no info, bios, posts, book lists, etc…and on top of that lots of pop-up ads…<Ugh>.  

Random Mood, Event, or Inclination which alters my normal reading preferences/habits– This could be anything from a bout of illness or injury that traps me in bed with nothing to do but read all day….to sitting on a long flight only to learn that I forgot my book in the car and borrowing something to read from my left/right neighbor.  Who knows.  But generally with this one…my threshold for what I read gets lowered just a tad, which means…anything goes.  It is times likes these…unpredictable…when I am the most open to suggestion, new authors/series, etc.  This is the mood to catch me in.  Its rare but it happens.

D. Alyce Domain

We hope you liked her instight into her book choices! While you're here, why don't you stop by her blog and check out the post Kailei wrote for her: Kailei's View on Cliffhangers. Make sure you guys check out D.'s book, Dominic's Nemesis, as well! It's queued up for a review right now.

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Guest Post: Andrew Joyce (Resolution: Huck Finn's Greatest Adventure)

My name is Andrew Joyce and I write books for a living. Shell and Kailei been kind enough to allow me a little space on their blog to promote my latest book RESOLUTION: Huck Finn’s Greatest Adventure. I think it’s good, but what do I know? Anyway, I’m kinda shy about tooting my own horn. So I think I’ll turn things over to my dog Danny and let him toot it for me. He always has an attitude and usually does not speak highly of me. But please understand that we co-exist as the old Soviet Union and the United States once co-existed. We tolerate each other. So without further ado, here’s Danny the Dog.

Good morning. I’m Danny the Dog, teller of tales, bon vivant, all-around good dog, and lover of hotdogs. Andrew took me away from my very busy life to help him out here. For a person that works with words for a living, he has very little to say in real life. He wants me to tout his book for him, but I don’t think I will. Instead, I think I’ll tell you about our latest adventure. We’re always having adventures, I like to write about them and what I write is 100% true.

What a time I had yesterday. I went to the beach!

I like to wake Andrew up early and take him for his walk before it gets too hot out. And I like our walks because there’s a whole lotta good sniffing out there. But yesterday it was Andrew that roused me from a sound sleep. I was dreaming of hotdogs. I was about to bite into a big, fat juicy hotdog when he shook me awake. I almost bit him.

Anyway, he told me we were going to the beach to watch the sun come up. When we walk, I lead the way, but when we go to the beach, Andrew drives the car because I don’t have a driver’s license. Can you believe it? Florida doesn’t give dogs driver licenses! I emailed the governor about this injustice, but I haven’t heard back from him yet. I know that not having thumbs might be problematic. How would I grip the steering wheel? But I figure I’ll worry about that after I get my license.

Sunrises, and sunsets for that matter, don’t do much for me; they have no scent. So what’s the big deal? But I allow Andrew to take me to the beach because I have my own agenda. I love to bark at other dogs. The beach we go to is secluded, and dogs are not allowed (another email I must send to the governor). However, dogs take their humans there in the early morning and as long as everyone is gone shortly after the sun comes up, there’s no trouble. And it’s a good thing for the human cops because if there was trouble I’d bite them.

So we get to the beach and Andrew sets up his folding beach chair. He’s such a wuss; can’t he just sit on the sand like everyone else? Me, he ties to a palm tree. Then he waits for the sun to come up. What does he think . . . it’s not going to come up unless he watching?

As I said, I have my own reasons for being there, so I start my nose a-twitching. I can smell another dog from a mile away. If I were a super hero, I’d be known as SUPER SNOOT. I would sniff out my nefarious nemeses and bring them to justice. I think I’d look cool with a cape. I look good in blue, so it would be blue with a big red “D” emblazoned right in the middle of it. Danny the Dog, mild-mannered dog by day, SUPER SNOOT by night! I like the sound of that.

I digress. Back to my story.

Andrew’s getting excited because the sun is coming up (what a surprise!). And I’m sniffing for dogs when all of a sudden I detect something good, as in chicken-bone good. So I put my super snoot to the ground and start my search. Of course, being SUPER SNOOT I find the bones right away. They were only a few inches under the sand. But before I take one of those delightful morsels into my mouth, I give Andrew a surreptitious glance to make sure he isn’t going to ruin my fun. I needn’t have worried. His attention was on a red ball coming up out of the ocean, turning the clouds a bright pink and orange; some clouds were still purple. So he was engaged. That’s when I bit into the first bone. CRUNCH! At the sound, Andrew turned and saw my find. I didn’t know the old guy could move that fast. He was out of his chair, and before I could do anything about it, he had my whole stash. At least I had half a bone in my mouth and he wasn’t going to get that.

The short of it is, I distracted Andrew from his precious sunrise. He took my bones, and I didn’t get to bark at a single dog. What a bust! On the ride home, I didn’t go over and lick his face as I usually do. I was mad at him and he was mad at me. But when we got home, all was forgiven and he gave me a hotdog. That’s why I keep him around.

My next adventure will be published in SUPER SNOOT Comics. Look for it at your local comic book store.

That’s about it from Dannyland for now. If I hurry, I might be able to get home in time to catch that Rin Tin Tin movie on TCM.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot—go out and buy Andrew’s new book and make the old guy happy.

This is Andrew again. On behalf of Danny and myself, I would like to thank Shell and Kailei for having us over. It’s been a real pleasure.

It is 1896 in the Yukon Territory, Canada. The largest gold strike in the annals of human history has just been made; however, word of the discovery will not reach the outside world for another year. By happenstance, a fifty-nine-year-old Huck Finn and his lady friend, Molly Lee, are on hand, but they are not interested in gold. They have come to that neck of the woods seeking adventure. Someone should have warned them, “Be careful what you wish for.” When disaster strikes, they volunteer to save the day by making an arduous six hundred mile journey by dog sled in the depths of a Yukon winter. They race against time, nature, and man. With the temperature hovering around seventy degrees below zero, they must fight every day if they are to live to see the next. On the frozen trail, they are put upon by murderers, hungry wolves, and hostile Indians, but those adversaries have nothing over the weather. At seventy below, your spit freezes a foot from your face. Your cheeks burn—your skin turns purple and black as it dies from the cold. You are in constant danger of losing fingers and toes to frostbite. It is into this world that Huck and Molly race. They cannot stop. They cannot turn back. They can only go on. Lives hang in the balance—including theirs.

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http://andrewjoyce76.com/