Introducing Max Fragg - New Book Release by S.A. Check

    

Maxx Fragg, V.P.I.

S.A. Check

Genre: Young Adult / Sci-fi / Paranormal

Release Date:09/03/15

Publisher Ink Smith Publishing

Cover Designer: Macy Stom

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When Maxx lost his brother in a car accident, his world fell apart.  It didn't help he was driving the car when it happened.  Finding an escape inside the virtual world of Other Syde, Maxx runs the Maxx Fragg Virtual Paranormal Investigative Agency with his best friend, Tane. But in a world where dreams become reality, can nightmares be far behind?

      When a real ghost attacks Maxx inside the program, he's saved by the last person he ever expected to see again, his brother. Risking everything for a chance to say he's sorry, Maxx, Tane, and Maxx's almost-girlfriend Emi, need to figure out why real ghosts are haunting a virtual world while on the run from a murderous cyber-geist, high-tech security guards, a corrupt corporation with their own plans for the technology, the recluse genius who created the program, and Maxx's own demons.

About the Author

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Excerpt

Tucked between the shadows and the night, standing in a darkened corner of the room, Maxx Fragg watched the young couple huddled on the couch. They had no idea what he had in store for them. He almost felt sorry. Almost. He watched as Travis stroked Debbie's hand and whispered something in her ear. Maxx locked eyes with her as he moved across the apartment. He saw the desperation mixed with fear in her eyes and he grinned. He liked it that way. Pulling a pair of gloves from his belt, Maxx cinched them tight around his wrists. The rush of adrenaline rose up from his chest. This was far from his first job but he still got a thrill each time. He clicked off the lamp and the room went black.

         Debbie gasped. "Can't we leave a few lights on?"

         "I prefer to work in the dark. It helps me concentrate," Maxx said. It really didn't matter but he felt it intensified the experience.

         "I think I'd rather see what's coming." Travis pulled a cushion on his lap, clutching the fabric.

         "Why? You expecting a pillow fight?" Maxx dropped the equipment bag slung over his shoulder.

         Debbie jumped. "What are you going to do with that?"

         "What I'm being paid to do. My job." Maxx nodded across the room to his partner, who shook his head in disapproval. Bending next to the couch, Maxx slowly unzipped the bag. He was close enough to see the goose bumps on Debbie's arm rise with each click.

         "I don't care what it takes. Just get that thing out of my house," Travis said.

         "Don't worry. You'll be ghost free in no time." Maxx knew his clients needed to believe he could make it better, take away their fears. If only it was that simple. Everyone wanted to name the night, put a label on their personal horrors. He wished someone could shut the door to the monsters in his own closet.

NOGIKU Series Blog Tour - SJ Pajonas

This is my stop during the blog tour for the Nogiku Series by SJ Pajonas. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours . The blog tour runs from January 20 till February 2, you can view the complete tour schedule on the Nogiku series blog tour page on the website of Lola's Blog Tours.

I've asked SJ Pajonas to do a guest post, and here's what she chose to write about. I'm sure you'll find it fascinating. Admittedly, growing up in Barbados, with Japanese parents, I can't recall ever having played any of these.

History of Japanese Gambling Games

The history of gambling in Japan has been quite rocky. Did you know that operating casinos in Japan is illegal? Yes, they do not have casinos, of all things! Now, I love to go to the casino. I wouldn’t say I’m much of a gambler, but I enjoy going once or twice per year. I play roulette, my husband plays craps, and we get a blessed night or two away from the kids. But this just isn’t possible in Japan. They only have a few legal forms of gambling and many illegal gambling places are run by the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia. I sometimes wonder what a Japanese Las Vegas would be like…

When I introduced the Japanese clans in REMOVED, I westernized the Maeda, Yazkuza, clan. I figured it was a new time, a new continent, and running western style casinos would be good way for Yakuza to make a (relatively) legal foray into society. Of course, many illegal things happen but Noburu Maeda, the head of Maeda clan, is fairly respected and reputable, even if he’s a tough nut to crack. Sanaa spends a good amount of time discerning how to woo him. It’s not a stretch to say that I wish that were my job.

But the casinos in REMOVED and the rest of the Nogiku Series don’t touch on any of the traditional Japanese games except for mention of pachinko parlors, so I thought it might be fun for this post to highlight the three most popular historical gambling games from Japan.

Chō-han

Are you a fan of the old samurai movies? I’ve seen several dozen and the gambling that usually takes place in them happens illegally behind closed doors. A dozen or so men crowd into a small room, drinking and waving money around while a shirtless man, the dealer, sits in the kneeling seiza position. Two dice are mixed into bamboo cup while players bet on either chō (even) or han (odd). Bets are placed and the dealer slams the cup down, pulls it away, and reveals the dice. That’s it. That’s the extent of the game! It’s a game of odds.

One of my favorite Japanese heroes is Zatoichi, a blind swordsman who is cunningly adept at cutting down his enemies despite not being able to see. He can even tell when he is being cheated at chō-han! It’s hilarious when he makes fools of the people who try to take him to the cleaners.

And yes, chō-han was and still is illegal and run by the yakuza. Supposedly, it’s still popular in Japan.

Pachinko

Pachinko is one of the few forms of legal gambling in Japan, and it is its own beast. I walked into a pachinko parlor in Tokyo and was immediately overwhelmed by the sounds and smoke. Pachinko machines are like upright pinball machines and there are over 12,000 in Japan run by private companies [source] You cannot win money directly at pachinko. Here’s the deal. You play the games and there are many different varieties just like slot machines at a western casino. When your ball gets into a special slot, you win more balls. Eventually you can exchange those balls for prizes or for chips. The chips are the interesting part. You take your chip, usually next door, out of the pachinko parlor, and exchange it for money. The exchange place is usually owned by the same company that owns the parlor. It’s a pretty sneaky way around the laws.

Wouldn’t opening casinos be easier? I have no idea. Pachinko is pretty popular in Japan and, next to the lottery and sports betting, is one of the few legal ways to gamble there. Next time I go to Tokyo, I’m promising myself I’ll really play pachinko. I walked out the last time without playing once.

Hanafuda

I just learned about hanafuda a few weeks ago. I walk my kids to school everyday and one of the crossing guards has become a good friend. He served in Vietnam and while he was stationed overseas, he also lived in Okinawa. One day, on our way to school, he presented me with these cards. I had never heard of them before so I was excited to find out that it was one of the first original card games in Japan.

Japan was a very closed off society for most of their history which is a very interesting subject all its own but from the mid-1500s to the mid-1600s, they opened their ports to foreigners and missionaries. The Portuguese brought playing cards from Europe and they became extremely popular amongst the Japanese. But once all foreigners were banned from Japan and the ports closed, the government banned the playing cards from being used.

So, of course, someone had a great idea to make their own Japanese style playing cards. But those cards were banned. So more were made, and then they were banned. (This feels like a Monty Python skit). Until finally, the government relented and decided that some card games would be okay as long there were no numbers on them to be used for gambling. Hanafuda cards were then invented to fill this gap. (Of course, the yakuza have figured out how to use hanafuda for gambling by assigning points to the images on the cards. Those yakuza are very crafty.)

The most popular game using hanafuda cards is Koi-Koi which means “come on” in Japanese. Because this game is super complicated and there are so many varieties of games just like there are varieties of Poker, Gin, Bridge, etc. I highly recommend you check out this article on Wikipedia and it’s sub-articles on the different games. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanafuda I now own my own set thanks to my crossing guard friend so I need to learn soon!

One last cool fact about hanafuda cards is that they are now produced by Nintendo. Nintendo has issued sets of hanafuda cards with Super Mario and Pokemon on them. Super cute. This review on Youtube is pretty helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XMMYji88pA

Interested in Gambling in Japan?

The Japanese gambling experience is unique to say the least. If you want to see more, check out these photos on Flickr.

www.flickr.com

More photos or video tagged with Japan gambling on Flickr

So far this series contains two book: Removed (Nogiku series #1) and Released (Nogiku series #2).


Removed (Nogiku series #1)
By SJ Pajonas
Genre: Science Fiction Romance, Post-apocalyptic
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: September 11, 2013

Blurb:
Duty knows no family. Love has no price. Secrets can cost you everything. Twenty-year-old Sanaa Griffin, a sweet and smart half-Japanese girl, is about to get more than she bargained for when she wishes for love and excitement on New Yearís Eve 3103. Mark Sakai, who knows more about her than any stranger should, thinks Sanaa is the perfect person to spy on the heads of the three biggest Japanese clan leaders in Nishikyo. He wants her to gather enough evidence to keep them from going to war when they land on Earthís colonization planet, Yusei. Nishikyo, built by the Japanese 300 years ago to house the rest of mankind, is failing and everyone is preparing to leave. Sakai has known Sanaaís family all her life but she knows nothing of him! And despite all the time they spend together, he keeps his distance from her. Then one day, he brings her to Jiro, his nephew, to learn sword fighting, and it changes her life irrevocably. Between falling in love with Jiro and the information she is gathering on the clans, Sanaa realizes Sakai is holding back secrets about her family and her deceased parents, secrets as to why she was chosen for this job, and learning the truth puts her and all of Nishikyo in danger.

You can find Removed on Goodreads
Want to view some inspirational images for Removed, visit the Removed inspirational Pinterest board

You can buy Removed here:
- Amazon (Paperback)
- Amazon (Kindle)
- Barnes & Noble
- iBookstore
- Kobo
- Wattpad

You can watch the trailer for Removed here:







Released (Nogiku series #2)
by SJ Pajonas
Genre: Science Fiction Romance, Post-apocalyptic
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: December 17, 2013

Blurb:
**Contains spoilers for those who have not read REMOVED (Book 1) Left in the desert to recuperate from her injuries, Sanaa Itami paces the floors and contemplates her mistakes. She trusted too easily, and now people she loved are dead, killed at the hands of men coming to assassinate her. Sanaa feels beaten, but life awaits her at home. While Nishikyo recovers from the earthquake, negotiations for Sanaa's eventual rule on Yusei continue. New allies must be made, new friendships brokered, new skills acquired -- at all costs. Life at the top of the chain is complicated and lonely, though. With relations in Sakai clan rocky and uncertain, Sanaa must learn to trust others again more than she's willing. Who amongst the clans is left holding a grudge? And will the new family Sanaa has found with Jiro support or betray her? From Nishikyo to Yusei, RELEASED, Book TWO of the Nogiku Series, is the second book in a captivating New Adult post-apocalyptic romance series that harnesses the cultures and traditions of Japan and sweeps them into the future between Earth and a faraway land.

You can find Released on Goodreads

You can buy Released here:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo

About the Author:
S. J. Pajonas loves all things Asian and has been in love with Japan for as long as she can remember. Writing about Asia and Japan came naturally after studying the culture and language for over fifteen years. She studied film and screenwriting first and eventually segued into fiction once she was no longer working a full-time job.

Released is S. J. Pajonasís second work, book two of four in the Nogiku Series. The first book in the series, Removed, is described as ìa wonderful storyî with ìengaging characters, seamless world building, and an action packed plot.î Itís an ìup-til-3am-because-I-read-it-in-one-sitting book.î She also writes contemporary romance and her upcoming first book in the Love in the Digital Age series will be published in 2014.

S. J. lives with her husband and two children just outside of New York City. She loves reading, writing, film, J- and K-dramas, knitting, and astrology. Her favorite author is Haruki Murakami and favorite book is The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.

You can find and contact her here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Pinterest
- Flickr
- Instagram
- Tumblr

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of the Nogiku series. These are the prizes you can win: Amazon Gift Cards, copies of REMOVED, and eBook copies of two fantastic Japanese books: JAPANESE SOUL COOKING and THE SAKE HANDBOOK. Both will be gifted through either Amazon (kindle) or Barnes&Noble (nook).
Here are the links to both books on Amazon:
Sake Handbook on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sake-Handbook-John-Gauntner-ebook/dp/B007H9GVMI/
Japanese Soul Cooking: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BVJG5GC/

You can enter the tour wide giveaway here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Well, there you have it folks! Sounds fascinating, right? I've already downloaded my copy of Removed and I'm anxious to start reading it.

Cheers, and thanks for stopping by.

Meet Wayne Basta - Aristeia: A Little Rebellion Blog Tour

Today, I'm welcoming Wayne Basta, science fiction writer.  I met Wayne through SFFS (Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday) where a collection of SF and F writers meet regularly to post little snippets of our works.

Wayne is about to release his second novel in the Aristeia series, and I'm just one stop on his blog tour.  Let's get to know a little more Wayne and his books...

Aristeia: A Little Rebellion

Unlike her brother, Saracasi Ocaitchi has always known that her loyalties belong to the ideals of freedom and democracy, not the government of the Alliance, and that protecting those ideals would require a fight. But now that the rebellion she has dreamed about has finally begun, she must come to terms with what that truly means: for herself, for her brother, and for all of the people who will die in the coming war.

The second novel in the Aristeia Series by Wayne Basta. Available June 1, 2012.

You can visit the authors website at http://waynebasta.com for more information and to enter a contest to win FREE books.

You can find the first book, Aristeia: Revolutionary Right on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo in ebook, paperback and hardback.

Website: http://waynebasta.com

Contest Link: http://waynebasta.com/aristeia-contest/

Wayne is also offering a Prelaunch Blitz so check it out: http://waynebasta.com/aristeia-contest/prelaunch-purchase-blitz/

And just what is Aristeia?  Wayne explains for us...

Aristeia (Greek): is a scene in the dramatic conventions of such works as the Iliad in which a hero in battle has his finest moments

The main inspiration for much of my writing comes from my love of history. In this case, the American Revolution. One thing that fascinates me about history is the difference between actual events and the common perception of the story. Here in the US, the Founding Fathers who participated in the war are larger than life heroes. In reality, they were just ordinary men in an extraordinary time; flaws and all. This in no means diminishes their accomplishments, but instead raises them up from caricatures of ideals to genuine people.

When writing Revolutionary Right, I set out to combine that flawed aspect of historical heroes with the concept of aristeia; and to tie them together in a fun space adventure setting. This book follows Maarkean Ocaitchi as he goes from a man down on his luck but still loyal to the Alliance to a man the galaxy at large perceives as a heroic revolutionary leader. Throughout the book he faces his aristeia moment while his loyalty is torn between his government, his family and his beliefs. In the end, he has to decide if he is the traitor he thinks he is, or the hero everyone else says he is.

In this new book, A Little Rebellion, Maarkean has made his decision about where his loyalties lie. This book moves to follow his sister Saracasi, as fate moves her toward her moment and she has to decide what kind of person she wants to be; the peaceful idealist or the fiery revolutionary.

While each book heavily features one characters aristeia moment and follows their personal journey, the books include a wide array of interesting characters. No hero is ever alone on their journey and no revolution is ever won by one person. It takes a large swell of people, each with their own unique story to tell.

Here's a little bit more about Wayne:

As a child, Wayne Basta was introduced to science fiction at a young age by his father. Mainstream hits like Star Trek and Star Wars were followed by old Tom Swift novels and then classics like Asimov and Clarke. Growing up on Florida's space coast only served to fuel his imagination and love of space, science and adventure.

At the age of 9, his family got their first home computer, an old Macintosh Plus, and he immediately used it to start writing science fiction adventure stories. He continued writing as a hobby all the way through college at the University of Florida, where he initially pursued a career in the US Navy until an injury changed his plans. Wayne then spent several years teaching high school and working in the education non-profit sector before coming back to his old dream of writing.

Wayne currently lives in Houston with his wife, son, and dog. He remains a fan of geek culture, board games, video games, fantasy, science fiction and all around silliness.

Well, there you have it.  Now show Wayne some love, leave some comments for him to smile over.

Thanks for stopping by,

Cheers!

Meet Raymond Masters (Forging Truth Blog Tour)

Today I'm hosting Raymond Masters as he stops by on his Forging Truth blog tour.  He tells us a little bit about himself, as well as about his book, aptly named Forging Truth.

Hello, everyone. My name is Raymond F. Masters; and like many of you, I wouldn't be where I am today without the love and support of my mother. We just celebrated Mother's Day over at my grandmother's house, and it was wonderful to be around the family again. So, what did I get for the mothers in my life? Well, books, of course. I gave my mom the newest Dark Tower novel, The Wind Through the Keyhole. My son and I gave my wife the latest in the Infernal Devices and Mortal Instruments series.

My mother has always been an ambassador to other worlds. When I was in elementary, she and I would travel into various Hank the Cowdog or Rats of NIMH books. In high school, these were shelved to make room for the Star Trek: The Next Generation novels. She introduced me to the joy of not only being read to, but also of reading aloud to others. Oftentimes, we would trade off reading by alternating chapters.

Oh, and the voices…! She would do the most incredible variety of characters. Though neither of us realized it, this was the biggie that would forever shape my future writing. Thanks to mom's characterizations, I developed a real ear for dialog. Of course, I'm biased here, but I feel the beats between characters, and even the voice of my stories, come across much better than they would have, otherwise.

I feel this has also shaped the type of story to which I am drawn. I like action, drama, and comedy as much as the next reader, but if the story is lacking character, then I find myself checking out sooner rather than later. Moreover, I have carried that love of character over to my writing. I do have the elements I listed, above, all throughout Forging Truth, but it's the character interactions between Kade and Caduceus or Kade and Mao that truly makes it real.

As a way of offering thanks, I dedicated my first novel, Forging Truth, to my mother. As it says, she's been my lifelong friend and grammar coach. Naturally, my novel has some grammatical errors, but as the song says, "Momma tried."

I dedicate this novel to Fonda Masters, the best mother a boy could ask for. Any love and power that show through the character of Tabitha Truth comes directly from her. She’s my lifelong friend and grammar coach.

Tabitha is, of course, Kade's mother. As the reader discovers, there have been certain hardships in their relationship. As the story begins, that relationship is pretty strained, in fact. The two haven't spoken in far too long. It's revealed over time that Tabitha had a reason for taking the actions, which caused the rift between mother and son.

Moms always have their reasons. Sons often forget this.

Tabitha is, indeed, a very strong and caring mother. She's spiritual and deeply rooted in her beliefs. She has passed this along to her son, as did my own mom. It is this compassion that has helped to wind Kade's moral compass.

But will his compass always point to true north? Well, you'll have to wait until Corrupting Truth for that answer.  Until then, please, check the first book in the series via the links below. Thanks for letting me play in your sandbox. Oh, and please, drop me a line and let me know what you think of the book.

Well, there you go.  Thanks Raymond, it was a pleasure to meet you and letting us get to know you a little.  And if you'd like to find him or his book on the web, see the links below:

Blog: http://raymondmasters.wordpress.com/

Where to find Forging Truth:
Kindle 
Paperback

Kickstarter Fundraiser:

“Fund The Truth Saga Book 2 and Get Books 1 and 2″

Thanks everyone for stopping by.

Cheers!