Friday, November 28, 2014

Liza O'Connor interviews Tompa Lee from the Triumph of Tompa Lee, by Ed Hoornaert

Today I’m interviewing a very special person – Tompa Lee, the protagonist of The Triumph of Tompa Lee by Ed Hoornaert, the final volume of The Trilogy of Tompa Lee.

 Liza: Welcome, Tompa, and thanks in advance for responding to my questions.

 Tompa: You're welcome in advance then.

Liza: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

 Tompa: Why do you want to know? Is this a maggoty damned trick? If it is, I—

(Ahem. Sorry for this interruption. My author, the guy who writes me, just told me to cool it with the attitude and answer politely. If I don’t, he’ll invent even more disasters for me. But I warn you in advance, ‘polite’ is a foreign language I don’t speak well.)

Thank you so very, very, very much for asking, kindest, gentlest sirs and madams and alien sentients. My name is Tompa Lee, and I’m a ravishingly gorgeous twenty-four-year-old seductress who—

(Ahem. My author again. He says to answer truthfully, as well as politely, and without sarcasm. The man is never satisfied.)

Truthfully? I’m okay-looking, if you like short, flat-chested orphans with great survival instincts. I escaped the worst ghetto on Earth by diligence, hard work, and larceny—mostly larceny—and clawed my way into Earth’s Space Navy. When I got to planet Zee Shode, the intelligent natives first tried to kill me, then proclaimed me a goddess. Stupid of them, right?
But one of the natives, an old, working-class guy named Awmit, became my friend.
I never had a friend before.
Never.

Liza: I can't imagine why not. What is your role in the story?

Tompa: I’m the title character, so obviously I’m the heroine. Let me clue you in on something: you do NOT want to be the title character of a science fiction adventure novel. Problems, problems, endless, life-threatening problems.

The bit about becoming a goddess happened in another book—I’ve endured three novels’ worth of disasters—but since each book is a separate disaster adventure, you can start with the latest. That’s The Triumph of Tompa Lee. I adore the title but abhor the problems I’m expected to triumph over.

Liza: Now that I understand. What is your favorite hobby?

 Tompa: You’re kidding me, right?
I know the word hobby, of course. I’m very smart, even though my schooling ended when the orphanage was destroyed when I was twelve. Someone like you probably sneers at someone like me, self-educated and without a degree. Well, screw you with a cactus, Jack.
Hobbies are the stuff that gordos (rich fat cats) do to keep themselves from getting bored. Told you I knew the word. Thing is, I’ve never had the luxury of spare time.
I guess you could say my hobby is staying alive.

Liza: Other than staying in live, what is the challenge you’re trying to overcome during the story?

 Tompa: Because I’m a so-called goddess (hah!) the most powerful organization in the Galaxy is determined to squash me. Yep, the Galactic Trading Council. They think I’m getting uppity and threatening their monopolies.

The book opens when an alien from the Council projects himself into my bedroom—while I’m getting dressed, the pervert!—and orders me to commit ‘honorable’ suicide. After I refuse—of course I refuse!—they hire a bounty hunter who kidnaps Awmit and Ming. (Ming is a brave, handsome, talented Space Navy undercover agent who wants to marry me. Him I don’t refuse.)

So now I have to search the ruins of an alien city, alone, and rescue Awmit and Ming before the bounty hunter kills them. Or me.
I told you—problems, problems.

Liza: Don't envy you. If you could make one wish, what would it be?

 Tompa: Peace and quiet on a cute little terraformed moon I’ve been told about. And no more cockroachy disasters and sequels!


Liza: Yeah, I wouldn't count on that happening. There may be no ends to your sequels. Now let's find out about the book.



Title: The Triumph of Tompa Lee
Author: Edward Hoornaert
Genre: Science Fiction

Tompa Lee—orphan, anti-social loner, and homeless street meat—has clawed her way up to the stars. There, on planet Zee Shode, she finds the galaxy’s greatest treasures: friendship and love.

Happily ever after? Not if the Galactic Trading Council has its way. The Council rules by divide and conquer, and Tompa commits the unforgivable crime of forging an alliance between humans, Shons, and Klicks.

The Council hires Lily Kilsing, earth’s most feared bounty hunter, to deal with her. Kilsing lures Tompa to a deserted alien city by kidnapping her fiancĂ© and her best friend.

Aided only by the voices of dead people, can Tompa outsmart the huntress, or will she be forced to sacrifice her own life to save her loved ones—and the future of the Shon race?

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Liza O'Connor interviews Ember from Winter's Kiss by KG Stutts



Liza: Today, we sit down with Ember Wilson, the leader of a team known as Amethyst. Ember, thank you for joining us. I'm going to do my best to behave, because she's got a big gun with her. 

Ember: Thank you for having me.

Liza: All right, let’s get started. You have a very unique look to you.

Ember: Do you mean my purple eyes?

Liza: For starters

Ember: I love my eyes.

Liza: How did your eyes become purple?

Ember: I assumed you had done your research on me. Isn’t that why we’re here?

Liza: *clears throat* Um, yes. I have a little information on you. You were in the Air Force before joining a special project. I don’t have much more information than that.

Ember: No, you wouldn’t. No one does.

Liza: Are you still with the Air Force or are you a member of the Intergalactic Security Commission?

Ember: We are classified under the ISC, but Commander Emmitt Stewart knows he couldn’t control us if we go against his orders.

Liza shifts uncomfortably in her chair: I see.

Ember: The thing you have to understand is this: We don’t work well with others.

Liza: Does that include a certain Air Force Major?

Ember: You mean, Liam Ross? It sure does.

Liza: I’ve met Major Ross before. He’s really handsome.

Ember: It takes more than a handsome face to turn my head.

Liza: And what would it take?

Ember: I am a strong, powerful woman. I would need a man tough enough to handle me. Quite frankly, I don’t think he exists.

Liza: You have a close bond with Michael Lewis

Ember: I’m close with all three men in Amethyst. We have a special bond.

Liza: Are you as close to your father and sister as you are to them?

Ember *narrows her eyes*: Amethyst is the only family I need.

Liza: What do you love?

Ember: I never use that word.

Liza: Love?

Ember: Yes. That word has too much power behind it. I would never give anyone that much authority over me.

Liza *quickly changes the subject*: Do you have any fears?

Ember: Do you have anything other than dumb questions?

Liza: Um… probably not. Their my forte.


Ember: Then I’m going to leave before you waste anymore of my precious time. 

Liza: Let's check out the book. (I think I would have been happier if I had interviewed it.)

Winter's Kiss

Amethyst Chronicles
by KG Stutts

Amethyst is a secret team of genetically enhanced humans which is Earth’s greatest defensive weapon. Leading the team of super soldiers is Ember Wilson, a tough woman with a huge chip on her shoulder. The team gets their name from the after effect of the Genesis Project which turned their eyes and even their blood purple.

 For decades, Earth has been ravaged by unpredictable weather which began to cause crops to fail. Most of the planet’s food sources have deteriorated. Dr. Clayton Rudo has proclaimed he has the means to save the soil. He has created a weather machine to regulate and help replenish. But Ember knew the truth. He didn’t want to save the planet. He wanted to control it. Amethyst destroyed the machine, but was placed in stasis. Two years later, Rudo recreated the device and has frozen Washington, DC and the west coast of the United States.
General Tom Blanchard brought Amethyst out of stasis to work with an elite Air Force team, led by Major Liam Ross. Tensions between Ember and Liam rise as they butt heads. Can they work together before Earth is completely under ice?
General Blanchard pulled a large painting of him and his daughter, Laura, from a wall and revealed a security key pad. He punched in a security code and motioned Ross over. A portion of the wall gave way to reveal a secret room. The room looked like a lab with white walls, a gray marble floor, and various computers and equipment he didn't recognize. Against the back wall were four pods with people asleep in stasis.


The General stood in front of the first pod, stroking his unkempt bearded chin. The sleeping man had extremely short black hair and was the shortest and skinniest of the four in the tubes. As they approached, a holographic image appeared on the glass next to the man’s face. The picture was of a smiling man with wire-rimmed glasses on his thin nose, brown eyes, and longer hair.

"This is Bryan Morris," the General introduced. "Best tech man I've ever seen. Smart, quick on his feet, and crafty."
 Liam looked at the General curiously, but he didn't elaborate further. Blanchard moved down to the next pod. The man inside was slightly taller than Morris and had curly red hair. The holographic picture displayed another smiling man with light blue eyes and hair sticking out everywhere.
 "Alexander Nova. He was the best pilot Earth had to offer. And this," the General pointed to the third tube, "is Michael Lewis. Brilliant military mind. He was second-in-command."
 Ross wrinkled up his nose as he gazed upon the strong specimen of a man. Lewis was tall and clearly well-built with brown hair that stopped just above his eyebrows. The image displayed was of a serious man with brown eyes.
 "Command?" Ross questioned, but the General didn't address it.
 He moved down to the last pod which had a woman in it. Ross looked at the tall woman with jet black hair who was somehow scowling even though she was asleep. The picture showed a strikingly beautiful blonde woman with blue eyes.
 "Ember Wilson," General Blanchard softly said. "She's the leader of this team known as
Amethyst."
His voice pulled Liam’s attention away from her. "Amethyst, sir?"
"A group of genetically enhanced super soldiers. They were Earth's greatest defense."
"I've never heard of Amethyst."
"Nor would you. The gene program was top secret. They were named after a side effect of the genetic manipulation causing the quartet's eye color to change to a brilliant shade of dark purple."
"Gene program? Purple eyes? Sir, this is a little unbelievable."
"They had it all," General Blanchard continued, still not answering the Major's questions.
"Super strength, speed, endurance, skill, stamina, healing, and intelligence. They could withstand several kill blaster shots before they even felt a twinge to their central nervous system. Their natural talents increased tenfold."
Liam let out a low whistle. "What happened? What led them here?"
"You remember two years ago when the weather computer designed by Dr. Clayton Rudo was destroyed?"
 Liam nodded. Of course he remembered. Rudo was proclaimed a hero when he introduced a super computer that could control Earth's climate.
 "Ember came to me and said Rudo had plans to control Earth, but I didn't believe her. As a result, Amethyst attacked Rudo’s lab in Abilene and destroyed the system.”
“They were the ones behind the assault? Sir, I helped designed the security protocol for
Dr. Rudo’s base myself.”
“I’m aware, Major. I haven’t met a security platform which Amethyst couldn’t disable.
Because of their actions, they were on trial for treason and convicted. Due to the team's enhanced abilities, it was decreed they would remain in stasis until they could be rehabilitated."
"But we later found out she was right."
"Yes. Of course it would take us two years to realize. It took, but Rudo rebuilt his machine. I even assigned several top scientists to help speed the process along after Amethyst thoroughly destroyed all of his work. And now ..."
 And now Rudo used his weather system to bring the world to its knees. Washington, D.C., New Mexico, and Texas were now completely under ice. Everything was frozen solid.

B&N




Growing up in Texas and later South Carolina as the youngest in a house full of science-fiction fans, K.G. Stutts had her natural curiosity and imagination nurtured since birth by family movie nights where they would watch Star Wars, Indiana Jones and even timeless Disney favorites.


A prolific writer of sci-fi, romance and mystery, K.G. draws much of her inspiration from those amazing works that gave her an appreciation for telling rich, compelling, character-driven stories for all audiences.

Book one in her science-fiction writings are out now by the wonderful group at http://distinguishedpress.com and a romance ebook launched at the beginning of June from http://lazydaypub.com. She is also a contributor to http://iwassociation.com and http://thewritingnetwork.com.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband, Brad and works for a customer service call center full time. She's a lover of Star Wars, Star Trek (original, TNG, and Voyager), Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis, Muppets, Garfield, Disney, Indiana Jones and is a big football, wrestling, and hockey fan.

http://www.Facebook.com/KGStutts
http://www.twitter.com/KGStutts
http://kgstutts.blogspot.com
http://kgstutts.com


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