Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Lumina

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions

Paddy Tyrrell will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour

See below to sign up for the Giveaway


A generation designed by sorcery to destroy your people. Two races mired in conflict. Can a pair of outcasts unite them against an enemy who would enslave them all?

The birth of ‘bronzite’ babies in Lumina heralds the onset of war. The people take fright at the golden children and banish them from the land. A dangerous move. King Zheldar, commander of the black dragon, is attacking Luman borders. If he wins bronzite support for his army of monsters, Lumina is lost.

Davron Berates cannot share his people’s hatred of the children and, on discovering he has a bronzite brother, sets out to find him. At his side travels Chrystala. A bronzite, she has twice his strength and three times his determination.

When the black dragon kidnaps Chrystala, Davron is faced with a terrible choice: save his friend or save his nation.

read an excerpt...

“We go.” Teibera padded to the mouth of the cave. “Meet cubs.”


He raised his head, ears back, closed his eyes and howled a message into the hills. Two white shapes flashed in the distance. The first to arrive shuddered to a halt on sight of the stranger. He was larger than she had ever imagined a wolf could be. Tall and strong, he panted from the race and sized her up with eyes of chestnut brown. His nose twitched to catch her scent.

“Ice, eldest son.”

With a flurry of leaves, a second snow-wolf appeared. Salazai’s heart stopped.

“Wow, you’re beautiful,” she whispered.

“Smallest daughter, Sapphire,” Teibera said proudly. Amber eyes, tipped with snow-white lashes, stared at Salazai. The young wolf’s face was as delicate as the seed puffs that floated in the air around her, her nose black and shiny with health. Her fur was white, only the ears laced with a fringe of gray.

She stared at Salazai and asked, “Our pack?” Salazai glanced at Teibera, who gave a short bark of acknowledgement.

“Yes, Sapphire, your pack,” Salazai said.

The snow-wolf padded forward and licked her legs. Salazai put out her hand, and Sapphire held it gently between her jaws. Salazai stayed calm. It seemed easy to give this animal the trust she begrudged her own people. The wolf released her hand, sniffed her clothes, and licked her face. With her finger, Salazai touched a mark that hung like a black teardrop beneath the snow-wolf‘s eye.

Teibera barked. “Sapphire small, pack rough. Teach fight. Heart of lion.” 

about Paddy Tyrrell...
I was raised in Kent, the garden of England, and lived in an Oast House whose round rooms were once used for drying hops. Must be why I’ve enjoyed a drink ever since!

At university, I fell in love with medieval French writing, discovered The Gormenghast Trilogy, and became hooked on fantasy.

I have sailed down the Yangste, survived an earthquake in Cairo, and picnicked in the Serengeti. My travels for work and pleasure have inspired my fantasy world. I now live in France with a naughty Australian Labradoodle, a jealous cat and a squash mad husband. Our two huskies, Ice and Sapphire, are sadly now gone but are transformed into wolves and immortalised in my book. Lumina is my debut novel and the first in a trilogy.




The book is $0.99.


Personal "stuff" about Paddy...

Does this book have a special meaning to you? i.e. where you found the idea, its symbolism, its meaning, who you dedicated it to, what made you want to write it?
This is my debut novel and so very special to me. I had wanted to write a fantasy book since childhood but the need for it to be perfect blocked me from making the attempt for many years. Finally I realized I didn’t have to discover the meaning of life and it was OK to write an adventure story that readers would enjoy – in fact the sort of story I enjoyed.  
Fantasy writing had appealed ever since I followed a course on mediaeval French literature. The writers at that time were the first to write in a normal language rather than in Latin. They loved fantasy and all their ideas and images were so fresh and new. When I later read my first modern fantasy, The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake, I was entranced and decided to write a fantasy myself one day. The richness of the writing and images, as well as the escapism involved in entering the fantasy world, were all part of the attraction.
Where do you get your storylines from?
I had in mind that I wanted to portray two contrasting societies. One, Lumina itself, is sophisticated and civilised, governed by reason not magic; the other, Kuhla, is brutal, barbaric and controlled through tyranny and sorcery. That gave me a context for the story.
I also wanted to address racial prejudice. The idea for the bronzites came when I was walking with my husband and our two huskies. There was a pond near us and waterways criss-crossing the land and, with all that water, came dragonflies.  In Lumina they are transformed into dragonlites who clean the dragon’s scales. The magic of a sorcerer leads the dragonlites to bite and inject pregnant women and so create the bronzite race.
Although I start with a rough outline of the plot so I know where the story is heading, who the main characters are, and how I would like it to finish, the major storylines are developed out of the conflict and obstacles the characters face and how they overcome them.  That again depends to some extent on the skills or weapons they possess and the nature of the threat. I get inspiration for some of these from five different main sources.
Firstly, nature. For example, we lived in the midst of French marshlands with canals covered in a green algae. In places, methane gas would bubble up. These friendly waterways became the dreaded Maugraine Swamp with gas that could kill and slitherns lurking beneath the surface.
Secondly, animals. One of the key protagonists, Salazai, can commune with animals. Our two Siberian huskies transformed into the two snow-wolf cubs, Ice and Sapphire, who fight alongside Salazai in the battle with the Kuhlans.
Third comes memories, particularly from travelling around the world for my job. A banquet in Cairo inspired the parade of 500 waiters at the queen’s birthday celebrations, when the Kuhlan king gives her the kidnapped bronzite, Chrystala, as his present.
Next there is research. I was struggling to imagine the demon’s temple in the desert and wanted a dragon involved. By researching I discovered a serpent eating its own tail signifies infinity and the cycle of birth and death. That led to this description:
‘An immense rock formation dominated the horizon. It was shaped like a sleeping dragon, body curled in an elongated circle, great spines exploding from its back, their jagged edges following the swollen curve of its body to the sinuous snaking of its tail. At its forked end, the tail was held between the dragon’s gaping jaws. Two towering figures loomed beneath, demons carved from black stone. They guarded the entrance to the Temple of Irithnos, consecrated to Rach, ruler of all demons, and guardian of the Dragon King.‘
One of the most important sources of inspiration is of course people. When I need to be nasty I think of bad bosses I’ve had and the sort of things they would rage about when in a temper.
Was this book easier or more difficult to write than others?  Why?
Since Lumina was my first novel, I suspect it is the hardest book I will ever have to write. That’s because it was such a journey of discovery. For example, what pace to aim for – how to give  the reader enough adventure versus pauses to recuperate, or how to balance description with action.  I loved finding out how to interweave the growth of the characters with the development of the plot, or how to write a battle scene, or portray multiple points of view. I did this sometimes through experimentation, sometimes based on critiques from other authors, and sometimes after reading advice from authors in their blogs.
Do you only write one genre?
Although I love to read thrillers and crime novels, I don’t want to write one. So at the moment fantasy is the only genre. However, I am a great fan of  Eleanor of Aquitaine (she married the French king, then the English king, and gave birth to both Richard the Lionheart and King John. She also introduced chivalry and courtly love to England, transforming knights from thugs to noble heroes!). So I have started  a novel based on her life.
Give us a picture of where you write, where you compose these words…is it Starbucks, a den, a garden…we want to know your inner sanctum?
One of the rooms in our house has become an office and I use this and my computer in the winter. Against one wall is a book case that took my husband three days to assemble from a pack! There is a big comfy leather armchair by the window which a friend gave me when they moved back to England, and a TV to help me procrastinate! Our latest acquisition is a tall wooden piece of furniture for filing which has loads of slots I can use and which we found via our local ebay.
In summer I like to use a veranda next to the kitchen and here I have to write longhand. There are vines and grapes twining around the roof, and geraniums along one low wall. It looks out on one side to the garden, with wisteria and a fish pond, and on the other side, over woods, a river and the valley.
And finally, of course…was there any specific event or circumstance that made you want to be a writer?
It happened when I was very young. My sister, who was older by a year, had difficulty falling to sleep and I started inventing stories about princesses and princes to help her relax and drift off. That was the beginning of my wish to write some day. Throughout my childhood I loved reading and would bury myself in a book whenever I got the chance. The desire to give the same pleasure to others grew and grew over the years.

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Monday, March 30, 2020

Paragon



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Shauna Alderson will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stopson the tour.



Now that high school is over, Randi just wants to live her quiet life in her little town, but it doesn’t feel right without her friends there. Ever the daredevils, they’ve gone to seek adventure in the capital city of Grandin, and Randi can’t help but feel left behind. Not to mention she definitely can’t stop thinking about that kiss she and Eddy shared before he left.



When Randi discovers a mysterious mark on her skin that matches an illustration in “A Handbook on Paragonhood”, she’s thrown into a world of powerful gods and ancient magic that she thought only existed in the myths. She’ll have to step out of her comfort zone—and into the dangerous streets of Grandin—to find a way to protect herself and the people she loves.



Randi’s not the only one with a secret, though, and she finds herself questioning who she can trust. Randi will have to wrestle with what it means to be a Paragon and how far she’s willing to go to do what’s right.



With the fate of the world on the line, can she live up to being one of the chosen?


Read an Excerpt


Louis comes into view as I round the corner of the restaurant into the simple, well-kept yard. He's facing the other way, holding a wooden staff, not even wearing a coat. I'm about to call out and let him know I'm there, but before I can, he spins in a circle, extending the stick as gracefully as if it were a part of his arm. His movements are soft and flowing as he twists around a large cobbled circle in the middle of the yard. It looks like a gentle dance, but it's evident from the way he maneuvers the stick and guards his torso that it's also a fight.



Louis comes back to a neutral position and bows to an invisible adversary before him. “That was the swan,” he says, making me jump. “And this is the dragon.”



He steps aggressively, each strike hard and fierce. He jabs the staff out before him and twirls, nearly horizontal with it. A few stances later, he accidentally whacks himself in the shoulder with the practice weapon.



He bursts out laughing. “It’s not my best form.” He approaches me while massaging his shoulder. “Good thing you’re not my grandma, or you’d make me practice until I got it right.”



“I like the swan better, anyway.”



“Me too.” He blinks as a raindrop falls on his cheek. We both turn to the sky as thunder rumbles in the distance. “Looks like it’ll be a downpour.”



About the AuthorShauna Alderson began writing teen fantasy even before she was a teen. After she “grew up", she completed creative writing courses (and a BA in Development Studies) at the University of Calgary. When not reading or writing, she can usually be found teaching ESL, composing on the piano, creating art, or volunteering abroad. She also enjoys dessert, Studio Ghibli films, and being the silliest person she knows.




Website: https://shaunaalderson.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AldersonShauna




Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Paragon-Shauna-Alderson-ebook/dp/B0851YGGTW/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paragon-shauna-alderson/1136514085?ean=9781643901275

Chapters: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/paragon/9990058018816-item.html

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/paragon-8




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Double Blind





Mystery Thriller
Date Published: March 31, 2020
Publisher: Anchor House Publishing

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A young boy disappears in the chill of North Iceland. Twenty years later, a mysterious poem lands on the desk of his twin sister Brynja, a forensic geneticist, and rekindles her hopes that her brother might be alive. As Brynja unravels the clues, more poems arrive, each bearing dire consequences for those who receive them: the guard of the medieval manuscript of Icelandic sagas that possibly has the answer to her burning question, the prime minister’s secretary, the local pastor.

Is the poet out to stop Brynja from finding her brother and shut down her access to the DNA database? Or is the verse maker simply a psychopath copycat killer?

Fighting the visual auras that have plagued her since childhood and now threaten everything she holds dear, Brynja must summon the strength to navigate the twisted labyrinth of the poet’s mind and confront the dark secret buried in her family’s past.

DOUBLE BLIND is a wild ride through the cultural landscape of Iceland, from rural farmsteads to icy fjords to the high-tech world of DNA forensics. This crime thriller packed with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.




About the Author




Sara Winokur is a geneticist and researcher who reinvented herself as an author. She writes historical fiction and cultural thrillers hoping to inform readers while they’re being entertained. 

Sara has a Masters in Cytogenetics for cancer diagnosis and a Ph.D. for her work on Muscular Dystrophy, identifying mutations that cause disease. She is also a consultant at the University of California and an Associate Researcher at the Biological Chemistry School of Medicine at Irvine. She was part of the team that found the genes associated with Dwarfism and Huntington’s Disease.

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Sunday, March 29, 2020

Feed Your Reader



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Thursday, March 26, 2020

Love, Lies and Bad Guys

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions

Bill Blodgett  will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour

See below to sign up for the Giveaway



When US Marshal Jay Stonewalker sees a possible terrorist comment in a chatroom frequented by anti-government radicals suggesting a nuclear threat to New York City, specifically the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, he can’t get it out of his mind. Against his boss’s orders he heads off to NYC to investigate on his own time. While there he follows a suspicious character into a secluded recess of the New York Subway system and foils what he believes is the terrorist event.  In a shoot-out with his suspect he’s wounded and calls the NYC PD for backup.  When he sees NYPD Detective KC Daviau and other uniformed officers slipping into the darkness from the subway platform he’s relieved, but to his surprise he’s met with resistance and disrespect by Detective Daviau. Against his objections, KC takes custody of the evidence and leaves the scene. When Jay asks an officer if she is always that way he’s told that, “Since her parents died, she’s been… let’s say… a little cold.”   When they are assigned to work the case together,  KC’s icy exterior soon begins to melt away as they begin to fall for each other, but KC has to hold back. She has a dark secret and knows he can’t ever know her truths because if he did he would hate her just as she hates herself for what she’s about to do.

 
my review...
Really and truly fun. A U.S. Marshal and a NY cop try to team together and yet there’s a little territory competition type struggle going on.  Sometimes we all make decisions that seem the right thing to do at the time but later begin to wonder what we’re doing. That’s the case with KC. At the time it seemed so important. Then along comes Jay, a good cop; one who operates on gut instinct.


The title of this book is 100% the story of this book. There really are bad guys and good guys and plenty of lies. There is fortunately only a teensy amount of love & sex. The romance genre is not my thing. Bill Blodgett wrote a story so good that putting up with a little love was worth it. Heck, we all fall in love sometimes.

These are really well-defined characters, even the smaller roles gave you a picture, not just the main characters. I liked that the story was really based on modern issues. Some of the authors “lies” were what kept a lot of tension in the story. I found myself thinking “come on, come on” but it wasn’t the author slowing down the story; it was the author writing so well to create that tautness that you’re on the edge of your seat. You know, the kind where you can’t scan for the chance of missing something, but you also are trying to read as fast as you can.

Well, that’s this book. If you want a good ride...read it.

Bill Blodgett has several other books published. All with good reviews.



read an excerpt...

 “I was surprised to see you had body art.”

“It isn’t body art. It is my belief. I guess that’s why I don’t show them.  It’s personal. They are of my Goddess, Mother Earth and the symbol of our tribe, the mighty eagle. The Mother Earth Tree Goddess demonstrates the circle of life. Where all things on land, air and water are connected. They are all one. If one element is removed, the tree will wither and die. We believe that it is the same for people. We must be as one or we will all eventually suffer. The Eagle is our symbol for bravery, something that is essential to take on such a derêp.” He saw her puzzled look and continued before she could speak. “Derêp is our word for job or chore. The Eagle is dedicated to protecting our tribe, which is a very difficult job. I use his image to remind myself each day that my task is difficult and not to falter.  If you were just another chick, maybe I’d say they were body art, but I want to share that part of me with you.”

“So…” she teased. “How many other chicks have admired your body art?”

He laughed lightly with maybe a hint of a gallows laugh, “Not as many as you might guess.”

about Bill Blodgett...
I still live in the community where I met and married my lovely wife, Janice. Actually, she
lived around the corner from me and we both ignored each other until our teen years when the hormone thing kicked in and we suddenly realized that the cute little girl skipping rope and that goofy boy riding a bike had both grown up.
We are the proud parents of April and Lindsay; both of whom are now married. April married Darren and they have two beautiful boys, Brian and Owen. Lindsay married Tim and they have two beautiful children: Kailyn and Evan.
 I enjoy hiking, kayaking, camping with my family, golfing, making candles, and restoring my antique European sports car, a 1972 MGB.
They say to write from what you know, so I do. I write of love, life and relationships. In addition to the romantic plot we all expect from a Romance novel all of my books deal with a real-world issue as a sub-plot  that we all have had to deal in some manner in life, but not in a preachy way.  I find that including this sort of theme helps me identify with my characters on a personal level. My hope is that the reader will also feel that connection with my characters.
I have four other published novels. Dead Or A Lie and Saint’s Sword are vampire Romances. Unrequited is a contemporary novel with romantic elements and received 4 stars from Romantic Times Book Review magazine. The Last Prejudice is a family saga that deals with the issues a family must address when a family member comes out.
I have been a member of the RWA and the Central New York Romance Writers since 2004 and have held various posts in my local group. By day I am a construction inspector for an engineering company.

Please visit my website: www.billblodgett.com   or email me at  bill@billblodgett.com You can also find me on Facebook at @authorbillblodgett and Twitter @bill_blodgett
Buy link:
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Double Blind





Mystery Thriller
Date Published: March 31, 2020
Publisher: Anchor House Publishing

 photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png

A young boy disappears in the chill of North Iceland. Twenty years later, a mysterious poem lands on the desk of his twin sister Brynja, a forensic geneticist, and rekindles her hopes that her brother might be alive. As Brynja unravels the clues, more poems arrive, each bearing dire consequences for those who receive them: the guard of the medieval manuscript of Icelandic sagas that possibly has the answer to her burning question, the prime minister’s secretary, the local pastor.

Is the poet out to stop Brynja from finding her brother and shut down her access to the DNA database? Or is the verse maker simply a psychopath copycat killer?

Fighting the visual auras that have plagued her since childhood and now threaten everything she holds dear, Brynja must summon the strength to navigate the twisted labyrinth of the poet’s mind and confront the dark secret buried in her family’s past.

DOUBLE BLIND is a wild ride through the cultural landscape of Iceland, from rural farmsteads to icy fjords to the high-tech world of DNA forensics. This crime thriller packed with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.






My Review
Interesting read. Sort of a scientific blend. Not usually what I read but it kept my attention.

About the Author




Sara Winkour is a geneticist and researcher who reinvented herself as an author. She writes historical fiction and informed cultural thrillers hoping to educate readers while they’re being entertained.  

Sara has a Masters in Psytogenetics for cancer diagnosis and a Ph.D. for her work on Muscular Dystrophy, identifying mutations that cause disease. She is also a consultant at the University of California and an Associate Researcher at Biological Chemistry School of Medicine at UCI, Irvine. She was part of the team that found the gene that causes Dwarfism and Huntington’s Disease. 

Sara is an avid reader of historical fiction, mystery-thrillers, and Scandinavian Noir. She also loves to travel and has already visited over 60 countries. 

Being an ovarian cancer survivor gives Sara a sense of gratitude, strength, and perspective that she extends to family, friends, work, and her writing.  A mother of three, she resides with her husband of 37 years in Southern California. 

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Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Critical Offer






Political Thriller
Published: November 2019

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A car bomb explosion horrifies Jerusalem.

Head of the Mossad, a former Israeli Air Force fighter pilot Gershon Shalit, is enraged by the murder of his daughter, frustrated by his wife’s decision to leave and distrusts his prime minister - seeks revenge. But, his first priority is to eliminate the fundamental threats to destroy the State of Israel's existence.

His random encounter with a beautiful Chinese diplomat, leads to an impossible love affair, where he is exposed to a once in a lifetime offer that could diminish the threats to his country and save Zionism from collapse. Nothing will keep him from making this offer a reality, despite a heavy personal price.

The Critical Offer is not just a 'run of the mill' thriller. Its futuristic and believable plot is based on a wide spectrum of inside information and suggests bold and 'out of the box' solutions to the Jewish state's main dilemmas…

Can the Chinese megalomaniac initiative "Belt & Road" solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

If you care about Israel's destiny - The Critical Offer is a breathtaking book that will keep you awake for many nights...




About the Author




Yitzhak Nir is a former Israeli fighter pilot, trainer and operations planner in the IAF. He retired as an El Al captain and IAA supervisor. He took part in 86 combat missions, shot down 2 enemy planes and documented some 30,000 flight hours.

Yitzhak Nir is an author, painter and curator. He is also a former urban planning and road safety activist. His paintings can be found in art books, private collections and on book covers. He has published short stories and professional papers and holds a BA from New Haven University in Air Transport Management.

He is deeply involved in changing the Israeli public opinion about crucial security issues, towards a new "out of the box" vision and ideas.

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Monday, March 23, 2020

False Light


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Claudia Riess will be awarding Claudia Riess will be awarding one $50 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter via rafflecopter during the tour, and a set of Art History Mystery Books: Stolen Light and False Light (US Only) to three randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.



Academic sleuths Erika Shawn, art magazine editor, and Harrison Wheatley, a more seasoned art history professor, set out to tackle a brain teaser. This time the couple—married since their encounter in Stolen Light, first in the series—attempt to crack the long un-deciphered code of art forger Eric Hebborn (1934-1996), which promises to reveal the whereabouts of a number of his brilliant Old Master counterfeits. (Hebborn, in real life, was a mischievous sort, who had a fascination with letters and a love-hate relationship with art authenticators. I felt compelled to devise a puzzler on his behalf!) After publication of his memoir, Drawn to Trouble, published in 1991, he encrypts two copies with clues to the treasure hunt. On each of the title pages, he pens a tantalizing explanatory letter. One copy he sends to an art expert; the second, he releases into general circulation. The catch: both books are needed to decipher the code.

When the books are at last united 25 years later, Erik and Harrison are enlisted to help unearth their hidden messages. But when several research aides are brutally murdered, the academic challenge leads to far darker mysteries in the clandestine world of art crime. As the couple navigate this sinister world, both their courage under fire and the stability of their relationship are tested.
Read an Excerpt

“You must try a crostini,” came a vaguely familiar voice from above. Harrison looked up, surprised to encounter the striking figure of Aldo Fabbri pressing forward a fair young tray-bearer, his hand at the small of her back.

Harrison’s love fest with Florence was instantly tarnished. “Good to see you,” he said nevertheless, extending his hand to Aldo before plucking an hors d’oeuvre of bread and chicken liver pate from the waitress’s tray. “Come sit down,” he suggested with a near-genuine smile.

“Certamente,” said Aldo. “But first we must request the wine—from the Fabbri vineyard, of course.” Aldo turned to the waitress. “Per favore, a bottle of the Chianti Classico riserva,” he slickly commanded, with a proprietary ogle. “As you might recall,” he said, turning back to Harrison, “it’s our signature wine, made from the Sangiovese grape. This year’s crop”—he glanced heavenward—“supremo!” With a nod, he dismissed the waitress, then pulled out a chair.

“I didn’t see you at the conference,” Harrison said, trying not to recollect in vivid detail Aldo’s play for Erika’s affections at their encounter in Tuscany over a year ago. The seduction attempt had taken place when he and Erika had visited the Fabbri estate as part of their art recovery mission. Erika had not succumbed to Aldo’s efforts, but her moment of hesitation had caused Harrison great consternation. What a presumptive asshole! he silently hurled at himself. Erika had been in the initial stages of breaking free of her mistrust in men because of what she was beginning to see in Harrison, and he had not shown her the least bit of empathy in response. “The lecture hall was rather crowded,” he said, thrusting his attention to the subject at hand. “Perhaps you were hiding in the rear?”

“Alas, I arrived too late to attend the talks,” Aldo said, smoothing back his coal black mane.

He’s lost the golden highlights, Harrison realized. Gives the bastard a less flighty look.

“However, I did hear your talk on Gericault was admirable—ah, here’s our wine,” Aldo noted, at the waitress’s approach.

The wine was uncorked; the glasses filled; hearty samples downed; Harrison’s authentic praise begrudgingly delivered.

“To a successful book tour!” Aldo sang, raising his glass. “Salute!”

As they clicked glasses, Aldo cocked his head, as if at a sound in the distance. “I’m wondering. Whatever became of that woman you were with—Erika Shawn was her name, una donna molto bella e special! As I recall, a free spirit finding herself tethered to Puritanism, or merely conflicted by it. Either way, a pity.”

“Tethered to me, if you must know,” Harrison said, as coolly as his clenched jaw would allow. “As my wife.”

“Ah, lucky man to have tamed her!” Aldo looked about. “But where is she? Another toast is in order!”

“Back home, in New York. Working.”

“Yes?” Aldo gave him a bemused smile. “Quite a long tether, I’d say.”



About the Author:

Claudia Riess, a Vassar graduate, has worked in the editorial departments of The New Yorker and Holt, Rinehart, and Winston and has edited several art history monographs.

https://www.amazon.com/Claudia-Riess/e/B001KHYQK2

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3052782.Claudia_Riess

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