Hey everyone! Today I have Amylea Lyn visiting with me. So, pull up a chair and join us lol!
~ What was your favorite character to write, and
why?
Think out of all the many characters I’ve
written about, my very favorite would have to be Cael from my book Dream a Little Dream. He was my first
little, damaged hero and I’ve loved him from the very beginning. J
~ You’re marooned on a small island with one person
and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?
Hmm, If I were marooned on an island I’d have to take at
least sunscreen (SPF 80) because my fair skin always burns and a sunburn would
suck. LOL.
As for my person, I’d
have to take Bear Grylls, from that Man Vs Wild show. Not only is he cute, but
he would be able to take care of us both while we were stranded. *winks*
~ Take one of your stories and tell us what you would
change about it if you would do it over again.
I don’t think I’d
necessarily change anything about my books, but if I could go back and change
something, I think I’d add a lot more detail to Nature of the Beast. I feel I could have described things a bit
better and more in depth, but other than that I wouldn’t change a thing about
what I’d written.
~ When do you do your best writing… morning,
afternoon, evening, night?
I write mostly in the
evenings and early afternoons, either before I go to work or after I get off.
Most of my best writing is done on my days off from the dreaded “day job” when
I can just lock myself away and focus completely on the world of my own making.
J
~ Who’s your favorite horror villain and why?
Oh, wow…. I actually don’t think I have one, in all
honesty. I don’t really watch horror movies. But If I had to pick my favorite
villain, it would have to be Maleficent from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. She
was just so cool and remember being wide-eyes and terrified of her when I was a
kid and watched the movie for the first time.
Plus, I’d love to get a
hat just like hers!
~ What has been the toughest criticism given to you
as an author? What has been the best compliment?
I think when someone
reads my books and there’s only one thing they dislike, like too much romance
or “mushy scenes” so they decide to give the book a bad review and then proceed
to write off the rest of the series, or even all of my books as a whole. I get
upset because sometimes if feels like they are attacking you as an author
personally, but them I remind myself that everyone has an opinion and for every
one that doesn’t like my books, there are dozens more who do.
I think the best
compliment I’ve received was when someone reads one of my books, then proceeds
to go out and buy my entire back-list. They then wrote me an email and gushed
over my books, and knowing that I was able to help them escape for just a
little while from the real world was the best compliment I’d ever
received. J
Latest release: Solid as Stone (The Brotherhood 1)
Blurb:
The Brotherhood is
seeking their freedom, and one man holds the key. When the father's sins come
to light, can one shy doctor and a tough assassin work together or will past
scars be too much for them to overcome?
Stone's life is one of ordered control. As a child he was experimented on and turned into something more than human. Now the leader of The Brotherhood, an elite group of soldier assassins, he is given the task of eradicating the man who possibly holds the key to his freedom.
When Dr Wesley Folcomb finds himself targeted by the government group that killed his father, he is forced to seek safety from the very assassin sent to eliminate him.
On the run for their lives, Wesley and Stone grow close but with such different pasts, can they find love? Or will the danger hunting them cause their relationship to crumble before it has a chance to become as solid as stone?
Stone's life is one of ordered control. As a child he was experimented on and turned into something more than human. Now the leader of The Brotherhood, an elite group of soldier assassins, he is given the task of eradicating the man who possibly holds the key to his freedom.
When Dr Wesley Folcomb finds himself targeted by the government group that killed his father, he is forced to seek safety from the very assassin sent to eliminate him.
On the run for their lives, Wesley and Stone grow close but with such different pasts, can they find love? Or will the danger hunting them cause their relationship to crumble before it has a chance to become as solid as stone?
Excerpt:
Slamming the large
metal door shut behind him, he flipped the locks and leaned back against the
cool steel. Bending over, he gasped for breath, wiping the cold sweat from his
brow. His heart raced, feeling like it would beat right out of his chest given
half a chance. Fear and adrenaline fueled him, keeping him from crumbling to
the floor in a shaking heap after what he'd just witnessed.
That one had been too close, much too close; he'd almost been caught this time.
Dr Steven Folcomb straightened, pushing a shaking hand through his dark brown hair. He ignored the fact his white lab coat was askew, and gazed about the lab; the place where everything had all began, and ironically enough, about to end.
Odd though, the simple lab didn't look like somewhere the very basis of the human structure had been altered; what with its glass beakers, stainless steel worktops and sterile air filtration system. No, it really just looked like any ordinary laboratory found in just about any university in the country.
Except this one held a dark secret; something so horrifying that it would only be a matter of time before it lead to the death and destruction of all he held dear. He hadn't meant to be the cause of so much turmoil; oh no, all his intentions had been for the best, truly.
He'd only wanted to end the pain his beloved wife, Tonya, suffered from every day, due to the debilitating disease ravaging her body. He'd only wanted his son to have a life where both his parents were whole and healthy, to be able to watch him at ball games and graduate from college, even to marry some day. He'd only wanted to give his loved ones the life they deserved; instead, he'd destroyed every chance of that ever happening.
Oh, don't get him wrong, the formula he'd spent most of his career working on and the resulting serum had worked, very well in fact. The formula just hadn't worked for what it had originally been intended.
He'd thought he had found the cure for Tonya's multiple sclerosis, to rebuild the muscle strength the MS had stolen from the once bright and vibrant woman he loved. Instead he'd created a drug that did nothing to combat the disease, but instead enhanced the physical attributes in the most average of people. Better hearing, eyesight, strength, speed, agility, and healing. It mutated their DNA, making the receivers of the drug more than human.
The formula was science in its finest form.
He'd created a way to better all of humanity and possibly change the world; except he couldn't change anything for the one person he'd really wanted too. He didn't know why the formula had no effect on the test rats that he'd infected with many other disorders to create something akin to MS, no actual explanation could be found. The effects of the formula on the physically healthy and fit subjects had been astounding. The younger the subject, the easier the formula altered the subject's DNA, thus creating the ultimate creature.
The next step in the evolutionary ladder had been born.
What a fool he'd been, to believe the government agency funding his work had the best interest for all involved. When they'd first approached him, wanting to use his formula on soldiers stationed at the front lines, he'd warned them the drug was still in the first stages of testing, and that he'd only had a small batch of serum available. He would create more after additional testing had been completed.
Dr Folcomb hung his head in shame. What a fool he'd been to believe they'd wait for him to be sure the formula was ready. He'd been blinded by his own ambition, and now it was much too late.
But he knew better now, didn't he? He'd seen the small faces of the orphaned children injected with his drug; stomachs gaunt, eyes hollow and empty, working together to become the best, most mindless killers the world had ever seen. He'd counted six, but there could have been more that he didn't know about. Horrified didn't even begin to cover his reaction. Those were children, not soldiers volunteering for assignment! These children had no choice. Good God, they couldn't have been much older than his own son, Wesley!
Those poor babies; and he'd helped in destroying their lives.
Well, no more, the doctor decided, moving away from the door and to the refrigerator filled with hundreds of perfected formula doses. Every small vial waiting patiently for delivery to the very government that could no longer be trusted. Punching in the passcode and opening the door, he shuddered, but not at the cold draft wafting out of the steel box. No, the vials upon vials of milky green substance stacked on ever shelf caused his unease.
He knew he didn't have much time. The ones sent to kill him would no doubt be showing up soon; he'd only gotten maybe an hour head start.
But it was enough time to do what must be done.
Quickly, in what could only be described as a frenzy born of desperation, he began knocking the vials off the shelf; the shattering sound of glass echoing in the empty room satisfying to hear. He had to destroy all trace of the drug from existence, so it could never be broken down and created anew.
So his work could never again be used to harm the innocent.
Closing his eyes, he swayed with weariness at the knowledge of what was to come. But he must. Thank goodness he'd already sent his wife all she would need to know. Information no one but he had, things he knew she would take to her grave. He hoped she hid everything well; no doubt there would be an investigation when this was all said and done.
Reaching over to each of the four separate worktables, he started cranking different knobs; the low hiss of fumes being released hardly noticeable over his harsh breathing. So caught up in the moment, the doctor almost missed the sounds proclaiming he was no longer alone in the building.
What was that? It only took a moment to identify the sound. The rhythm of slow, stealthy footsteps softly thumping down the hall outside the lab, headed his way.
So, the end had begun.
A sense of calm descended over him as he walked to the door and pushed the large red emergency button, the one that was to be used when there was chemical contamination and instantly sealed the lab door to outside forces. He could hear them better now, pounding on the door loud enough to be heard over the emergency sirens, but he hardly noticed. The room was heavy with vapors, and the time had come.
He gave a grim, humorless smile. He hoped he took as many of the bastards with him as he could.
Sparing a quick thought for the wife he would never see again, and the son he would never get to watch grow up, he reached over and lit a Bunsen burner.
Dr Steven Folcomb and his formula went up in flames.
That one had been too close, much too close; he'd almost been caught this time.
Dr Steven Folcomb straightened, pushing a shaking hand through his dark brown hair. He ignored the fact his white lab coat was askew, and gazed about the lab; the place where everything had all began, and ironically enough, about to end.
Odd though, the simple lab didn't look like somewhere the very basis of the human structure had been altered; what with its glass beakers, stainless steel worktops and sterile air filtration system. No, it really just looked like any ordinary laboratory found in just about any university in the country.
Except this one held a dark secret; something so horrifying that it would only be a matter of time before it lead to the death and destruction of all he held dear. He hadn't meant to be the cause of so much turmoil; oh no, all his intentions had been for the best, truly.
He'd only wanted to end the pain his beloved wife, Tonya, suffered from every day, due to the debilitating disease ravaging her body. He'd only wanted his son to have a life where both his parents were whole and healthy, to be able to watch him at ball games and graduate from college, even to marry some day. He'd only wanted to give his loved ones the life they deserved; instead, he'd destroyed every chance of that ever happening.
Oh, don't get him wrong, the formula he'd spent most of his career working on and the resulting serum had worked, very well in fact. The formula just hadn't worked for what it had originally been intended.
He'd thought he had found the cure for Tonya's multiple sclerosis, to rebuild the muscle strength the MS had stolen from the once bright and vibrant woman he loved. Instead he'd created a drug that did nothing to combat the disease, but instead enhanced the physical attributes in the most average of people. Better hearing, eyesight, strength, speed, agility, and healing. It mutated their DNA, making the receivers of the drug more than human.
The formula was science in its finest form.
He'd created a way to better all of humanity and possibly change the world; except he couldn't change anything for the one person he'd really wanted too. He didn't know why the formula had no effect on the test rats that he'd infected with many other disorders to create something akin to MS, no actual explanation could be found. The effects of the formula on the physically healthy and fit subjects had been astounding. The younger the subject, the easier the formula altered the subject's DNA, thus creating the ultimate creature.
The next step in the evolutionary ladder had been born.
What a fool he'd been, to believe the government agency funding his work had the best interest for all involved. When they'd first approached him, wanting to use his formula on soldiers stationed at the front lines, he'd warned them the drug was still in the first stages of testing, and that he'd only had a small batch of serum available. He would create more after additional testing had been completed.
Dr Folcomb hung his head in shame. What a fool he'd been to believe they'd wait for him to be sure the formula was ready. He'd been blinded by his own ambition, and now it was much too late.
But he knew better now, didn't he? He'd seen the small faces of the orphaned children injected with his drug; stomachs gaunt, eyes hollow and empty, working together to become the best, most mindless killers the world had ever seen. He'd counted six, but there could have been more that he didn't know about. Horrified didn't even begin to cover his reaction. Those were children, not soldiers volunteering for assignment! These children had no choice. Good God, they couldn't have been much older than his own son, Wesley!
Those poor babies; and he'd helped in destroying their lives.
Well, no more, the doctor decided, moving away from the door and to the refrigerator filled with hundreds of perfected formula doses. Every small vial waiting patiently for delivery to the very government that could no longer be trusted. Punching in the passcode and opening the door, he shuddered, but not at the cold draft wafting out of the steel box. No, the vials upon vials of milky green substance stacked on ever shelf caused his unease.
He knew he didn't have much time. The ones sent to kill him would no doubt be showing up soon; he'd only gotten maybe an hour head start.
But it was enough time to do what must be done.
Quickly, in what could only be described as a frenzy born of desperation, he began knocking the vials off the shelf; the shattering sound of glass echoing in the empty room satisfying to hear. He had to destroy all trace of the drug from existence, so it could never be broken down and created anew.
So his work could never again be used to harm the innocent.
Closing his eyes, he swayed with weariness at the knowledge of what was to come. But he must. Thank goodness he'd already sent his wife all she would need to know. Information no one but he had, things he knew she would take to her grave. He hoped she hid everything well; no doubt there would be an investigation when this was all said and done.
Reaching over to each of the four separate worktables, he started cranking different knobs; the low hiss of fumes being released hardly noticeable over his harsh breathing. So caught up in the moment, the doctor almost missed the sounds proclaiming he was no longer alone in the building.
What was that? It only took a moment to identify the sound. The rhythm of slow, stealthy footsteps softly thumping down the hall outside the lab, headed his way.
So, the end had begun.
A sense of calm descended over him as he walked to the door and pushed the large red emergency button, the one that was to be used when there was chemical contamination and instantly sealed the lab door to outside forces. He could hear them better now, pounding on the door loud enough to be heard over the emergency sirens, but he hardly noticed. The room was heavy with vapors, and the time had come.
He gave a grim, humorless smile. He hoped he took as many of the bastards with him as he could.
Sparing a quick thought for the wife he would never see again, and the son he would never get to watch grow up, he reached over and lit a Bunsen burner.
Dr Steven Folcomb and his formula went up in flames.
Author info:
Amylea Lyn is a little odd, a lot weird, and just plain
strange. At least that's what everyone tells her. She lives in the middle of a
desert, filling her laptop with too many stories to count. Most days, Amylea
can be found sitting in her favorite chair after work, bugging those around her
for fun tidbits to make her stories more interesting. When she's not writing,
Amylea spends her time daydreaming her fantasies while talking to herself
without realizing it, experimenting with different baked dishes that she force
feeds her family, and plotting ways to get back at her psychotic cat. All in
all, she likes to think of herself as pretty normal... even if it's only by her
own standards.
Website: www.amylealyn.webs.com
