"Extinction Of All Children" by L. J. Epps

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY

Extinction Of All Children
(Extinction Of All Children Book 1)

by L. J. Epps

Extinction Of All Children is the first book in the Extinction Of All Children series by L. J. Epps. Also available: Journey To Territory M and Journey To Territory U.

Extinction Of All Children is currently on tour with Bewitching Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

Description

The futuristic world of Craigluy has been divided into three territories and three economic classes. A large wall separates the territories, so the poor cannot mingle with the rich.

Since President Esther, the ruler over all of Craigluy, believes the poor do not have adequate means to take care of children, they are no longer allowed to procreate. Pregnant mothers are imprisoned until their babies are born, then the infants are taken away.

Emma Whisperer is the last child to survive. She is the last child born in lower-class Territory L before the law was instituted in the year 2080. She is the last eighteen-year-old.

Emma struggles to understand why she was spared while others weren’t. She doesn’t like the laws and believes they should be repealed. Her family doesn’t agree with her; they discourage her rebellious streak. Yet, she helps them to cover up their own family rebellion. She helps them to hide a big secret, a secret that could be both disastrous and deadly for members of their family.

As she meets new people along the way, Emma learns who she can and cannot trust. And, in the end, she makes a gut-wrenching decision that may be disastrous for everyone.

She finds herself in danger for doing what she feels is right.

Excerpt

My brain checks back in on the conversation. My mother is still going on about her day.

“I was able to pick up some fruit from the market. The apples and pears were fresh. We can have them for dessert on Sunday, along with the whipped cream Emma picked up.” She puts on a fake smile. “They don’t always have it, since it is only for special occasions. Thanks for going back to the store to get it. I forgot it when I was there earlier. I hope you didn’t have a hard time finding it.”

“It is fine, Mother,” I say, softly.

Sundays are special in Territory L. It is the day families are supposed to stay in and enjoy each other’s company. The day we get to eat chicken or fish, instead of beans and soup. It is the day we play old board games and read old books. Pears and apples are what my mother considers dessert. Maybe this Sunday will be even more special because we’re going to have whipped cream on our fruit. We never had it before. I guess whipped cream will make it look more desirable. So, while Territory U has pie and cake, we’ll have fruit with whipped cream topping.

“Is there any more milk?” Theodore asks.

“I had your sister pick some up on her way back.”

“Yes, T,” I say, chiming in. I always call him T, for short. “There is a fresh carton in the fridge. Try not to drink it all. It has to last for at least the next week.”

I watch as he narrows his eyes in my direction, then he stands with his glass in hand and goes to the kitchen. He is such a child, sometimes I can’t even tell he is nineteen.

“So, how was your day, Emma?” My father turns to me. He just put a spoonful of beans in his mouth. He clears his throat and continues. “I mean, before you ran that errand.”

Every time someone talks about the errand, I cringe. It is as if a knife has been put through my stomach because we have such a hard time even saying what the errand is. And the whole thing leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I try to forget about the errand, for now, and dwell on his question—how my day was.

“If you’re asking me if I found a job yet, I haven’t.” I take a sip of water. “There is not much to do around here.”

“There is, if you want to be cashier at the market or a salesperson at the clothing store.”

“Those aren’t real jobs. Sorry,” I add, glancing over at him.

He has always said it didn’t matter what the job is because any job, even if it isn’t glamorous, should be respected. Judging by the slant in his eyebrows that makes the lines in his forehead crease, he didn’t take kindly to what I just said.

“What I meant to say,” I continue, “is I want to go to college and be a doctor like you, Dad, or a teacher like Mom was. It is not fair—”

“We can’t keep having this discussion every night,” Mother cuts in, her voice curt. “I know it is disappointing that there are no colleges and no continued education for you. And I also know you don’t want any of the jobs the territory has to offer—”

“But that is the way it is, and you have to deal with it,” says Father, cutting her off.

“I’m not hungry anymore.” I push my plate aside.

I know it is foolish because around here you don’t always know where your next meal is coming from, but I can’t stomach the same conversation along with the same dry food every night.

“May I be excused?” I lower my head.

“Yes, Emma. You may.” My mother’s tone is soft. “And Em, things will get better,” she says with sad eyes.

She always says that. I think, more for herself than for me. But things never get better. They always stay the same, or get worse.

[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]

Praise for the Book

“Fans of dystopian fantasy will devour this book. L. J. Epps writes a story that, while dealing with heavy subject matter, is still a light, enjoyable read. This dystopian fantasy novel ignites the imagination, and is a must read for fans of The Hunger Games and the Divergent Trilogy.” ~ Kristina Gemmell, Beta Reader

“The Extinction of All Children has an interesting plot and engaging characters. The storyline is so captivating that you’ll want to keep reading it to find out what will happen next on Emma’s journey. Overall, this book is highly recommended, especially if you’re fascinated by dystopian novels.” ~ Rev. Stephen R. Wilson

“Every reader will find relatable messages within these pages. Written toward a young adult audience, this dystopian fiction hits pretty close to come universal truths that readers of any age will find disturbing and thought provoking.” ~ Catherine Grainger

“Stumbled across this book by happy accident and was immediately hooked. I absolutely could not put it down. This story is a special twist on post apocalyptic era. I loved it. I can not wait to find out what's next for Emma. I have already purchased book 2, and it's taking every ounce of will power I have not to start it tonight!” ~ J.Fulfer

“Enjoyable read. The characters were well described and the story moved smoothly. I enjoyed this first book enough for me to get the sequel.” ~ Laurie

About the Author

L. J. Epps is a lover of all things related to books: fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as biographies and autobiographies. She has also been known to sit and read comic books from cover to cover, several times over.

Over the last few years, L. J. has written several manuscripts; her mission is to publish all of them. She enjoys writing fiction in several genres, including contemporary romance and women’s fiction, as well as young adult dystopian, science fiction, and fantasy. She loves to write because it immerses her into another world that is not her own.

Giveaway

Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card.

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"Shadow of the Moon" by Kwen D. Griffeth

GUEST POST and EXCERPT

Shadow of the Moon
(Shadow Series Book 1)

by Kwen D. Griffeth

Shadow of the Moon by Kwen D. Griffeth is currently on tour with Bewitching Book Tours. The tour stops here today for a guest post by the author and an excerpt. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

Description

The grisly murder of a diplomat’s son in Central Park draw NYPD Detective Gerald Meeker and FBI Special Agent Andee Trakes into a twisted and confusing investigation. Within hours, the evidence indicates the man was executed in the manner saved for werewolves. Andee Trakes is assigned to liaison with a history professor, who is an expert on folklore and legends.

Professor Alwyn Lloyd, handsome, articulate and successful, not only agrees the method of death was indeed an execution, he claims to be a werewolf. Andee is torn between the desire to date the man and the suspicion to arrest him.

From the initial killing in the park, a bloody spree is ignited that soon has Andee and Lloyd forced to work together to protect themselves and family members.

Shadow of the Moon explores the world of werewolves and paints a picture of what is good about them, as well as bad. The story explains what is beautiful as well as ugly about the wolf.

The story is fast paced and full of interesting characters and several twists and turns to keep both the fantasy as well as the suspense and romance enthusiasts entertained.

Book Video

Excerpt

“I’m Professor Lloyd’s assistant. Is he expecting you?” Her smile never wavered, though the hand dropped to her side.

“No, as I said, I’m with the FBI, and we don’t normally make appointments.”

Miranda, with smile still in place, walked to the door leading to the professor’s office as she said, “Let me check with him, but I’m sure he will be able to meet with you. I keep his appointment calendar, so I know he’s not overly busy.”

“Hey, I was here first, and I’ve waited thirty minutes.”

Trakes turned back to the office and noticed a blonde had stood to announce her displeasure. She tried to show her indignation with the agent, but her glare fell short.

Trakes smiled at the student and held out her FBI credentials for the blonde to see.

“I’m with the FBI, sweetie. We get cuts.”

Behind her, she heard Miranda say, “Sit down, Shelly, you know as well as I do the professor won’t change your grade.”

Trakes turned back to Miranda and waved the credentials one more time.

“These are really the only announcement I need, but thank you. I’ll just pop in. Then the professor and I will get acquainted.”

Before Miranda could object, the agent turned and stepped through the door.

Her first impression of the office was the desk. It was large, made of wood and appeared antique. The floor was wood, with a large rug that covered most of it. Like the outer office, this one was also wainscoted with dark wood paneling. Opposed to the other space, this one was painted an off-white the rest of the way to the 10-foot ceiling. Again, keeping with the theme set by the outer office, this one also had pictures and paintings on every wall. Bookcases, shelves and glass cases flanked the desk, with two chairs centered in front of it. A two-person sofa along the wall to the left and a coffee table finished the décor. Professor Lloyd sat behind the desk.

He studied papers with his head lowered, and her first glimpse of him took in the breadth of his shoulders and his hair. It was thick and dark, almost black down the center of the head, but shaded to grey by the time it reached the man’s ears. It was combed back, but a natural part down the center caused it to fall to each side. She wondered what it felt like, then forced herself to refocus.

As she stepped through the door, Trakes announced, “Good afternoon, I’m…”

He looked up from his papers.

The eyes were a pale blue. Ice blue. The shade of blue used to sell breath mints, and her intake of air seemed fresher as it travelled to her lungs. The eyes were hard and unwelcoming. Andee wished she had waited to be announced. She stepped into the room and tripped on the edge of the rug. She whispered a curse, caught her balance, held her blush to a minimum and muttered an apology.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

Those eyes, still focused on her, softened enough to indicate his irritation at the interruption had grown into a mild curiosity. As he studied her, he allowed an eyebrow to raise and his head to cant to one side. She suddenly felt exposed, and her blush from the ungainly entry deepened. Her heart paused, and then quickened. Her stomach tickled, then settled into nervousness. Her underarms damped and a question about deodorant flashed through her mind. She tried again to introduce herself, but discovered she had forgotten her name.

“Professor, I’m…a…I’m…”

Her words came in a small squeak. It may have been the squeak a mouse makes when she sees the hawk dive, but it was certainly the squeak of prey. She froze. The corners of his mouth turned.

“Uncle Alwyn, you stop this. Stop it, right now.”

The commands came from Miranda, and the professor looked past Trakes to his niece, who was standing in the doorway. As he broke eye contact, Andee gulped air. She realized she’d forgotten to breathe.

“Uncle Alwyn, I’m ashamed of you,” Miranda continued, and she took Andee’s arm and assisted her to one of the chairs in front of the desk. Andee smiled her gratitude as she felt dizzy. She looked up at the assistant, who smiled down at her.

“Don’t mind my uncle. He does that sometimes. It’s because he is an Alpha.”

“He’s a what?”

Andee felt as if she was clearing a fog.

“He’s an Alpha, and sometimes he takes advantage.”

“An Alpha? Is that a fraternity?”

[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]

Praise for the Book

“Shadow of the Moon takes readers on a journey where they are able to visit the parks, city, and homes of the people who live in the great city of New York. Kwen Griffeth paints a picture of a busy city life and provides a stark imagery contrasted with Trake’s visits to the countryside. Griffeth, as usual, provides a literary masterpiece that will capture the reader's attention with its clever plot line and intriguing characters. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys being kept on their toes as they delve into crime, romance, and supernatural beings.” ~ Thomas Anderson

“WOW!!!! Just WOW!!!!” ~ LaRene

“There is just something about how this guy can write! This is a fantastic book and has a bit of everything for everyone no matter who you are.” ~ Catie Cat

“This is such an original and different story about werewolves. I loved the detail about their history and the wonderful descriptions throughout. Wish it were longer!” ~ Dixie Forsyth

“Loved the story, the romance, the toughness, the determination. I am a true fan of Kwen's writing. I highly recommend all of his books.” ~ Cindy Burbank

Guest Post by the Author

The Story Behind the Story

The most often comment I hear about Shadow of the Moon, is “Why on earth would you write a fantasy werewolf story?”

My response always starts with a smile.

A few years ago, I read a trilogy written by a well-known author, and part of the story was the experiences of a female werewolf. Out of all the fantasy stories, i.e., the Mummy, Dracula, Swamp Creature and such, the werewolf has always been my favorite. In the telling of the story I referenced, I felt the she-wolf was cheated.

When in human form, the character was tough, intelligent, educated, and determined. When forced to change by the moon, she became little more than a wild dog chasing rabbits through the woods. Her ability to shapeshift indeed was a curse.

Fast forward several months and the story was still with me, and a nugget of an idea started to form. I decide to write my own story, and I begin by doing weeks of research about the history of the werewolf, as well as the social order of actual wolf packs. My theory was a family of werewolves would fit somewhere within that structure.

You may know that according to legend, Rome was founded by two brothers, Romulus and Remus, who were nursed by a she-wolf. Is it a leap of logic to say these brothers were the offspring of the wolf? It has never been documented that wolves are kind to orphans. Point two, later, Romulus killed his brother and then named the city Rome, after himself. Such actions are not limited to wolves but certainly would fit the violent nature of the animal.

Perhaps the best beginning of the wolf is the story of Lycaon, a Greek, who tried to trick Zeus. As a punishment, Zeus transformed Lycaon into a wolf and forced him to remain so for many days. Later, he changed him back, and the ability to shapeshift was complete and was a gift from a god. Lycaon went on to father many sons, fifty in fact, and he is said to have started the Lycaean Games, which led to the Panathenaic Games and thus the Olympic games.

I particularly like this part. The old man has fifty sons, all of whom needed wives. He doesn’t start a university, as his boys aren’t the brightest. Nor does he build a debating hall, again, the boys are not so articulate. What his boys are, is the biggest, the toughest, the fastest and the strongest of all the men in the area, so Dad starts physical contests in an effort to marry them off.

Accurate or not, such was one side of the story that came to be known as Shadow of the Moon. The other side was the social behavior of wolf packs. Lone wolves usually do not survive as the dynamics of the pack determines survival. I took that to mean werewolves have stable, as well as extended, families. The wolf pack is a matriarchal society; so must the werewolf family be.

Last, the werewolf would be conflicted. On the one hand, they would be some of the toughest and meanest of us. They would be athletic winners as well as leaders in combat if they could accept the rules of society. If not, they would undoubtedly be capable of being the cruelest of serial killers. They would be the best of us and the worst of us. Underneath it all would be the fear of extinction, as they are also the least of us.

“Why would you write such a story?” is the most common question I hear.

“You almost made me believe in them,” is the most common statement.

About the Author

Winner of Readers' Favorite Silver Award for Historical Fiction/Western, Kwen knew he wanted to be a writer when he was fourteen years old. He felt the urge when he finished Earnest Hemingway’s masterpiece For Whom the Bell Tolls. The story touched him in a way no other book ever had. It transported a kid born and raised on a farm and ranch in Idaho to the mountains of Spain. It took him back in time forty years to witness the Spanish Civil War. Kwen knew he wanted to share that wonder with other people.

John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you make other plans.” While Kwen lived a full and varied life, his dream of writing remained in the back of his mind.

Finally, in 2012, he wrote a novella named “Dear Emma”. He self-published through Amazon and asked people to read it. “The best way to see if I can write is to let people check it out,” he said. Like it, they did. Currently, “Dear Emma” enjoys a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon.

Often asked what genre he writes, Kwen replies he writes stories about people and uses the genre that best fits the story. “I think of the genre, or setting, as another character that interacts to help tell the story,” he says.

His most often received and constant comment is how real his characters seem. Upon the completion of his historical fiction trilogy Sam and Laura’s Story books, a reader telephoned Kwen and directed him to write more stories about the couple. When asked why the reader was so adamant about more stories, he replied he “wasn’t ready to tell Sam and Laura good bye yet.” Kwen considers that comment one of his highest compliments.

Kwen’s books are getting some attention from the literary community. The Law of Moses, the Silver Award winner from Readers' Favorite, and The Tenth Nail both received the Gold Award from Literary Titan Book Review. In addition, The Law of Moses was awarded five 5 Star Reviews from the reviewers of Readers' Favorite.

Kwen’s books are available in several formats; eBook, paperback, and audio. He invites you to check out his writings. Who knows? He might become your next favorite author.

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"Life After War" by Angela White

FREE

Life After War
(Books 1-3)

by Angela White

Life After War (Books 1-3) is currently FREE. It consists of the first three books in the Life After War series: The Survivors, On the Road, and Safe Haven, also available separately. Author Angela White stops by today to share an excerpt.

Also available: Adrian's Eagles, From the Ashes, Where We Stand, The Price We Pay, and Carved in Stone. Coming December 2016: Shattered Dreams.

Description

"The end of the world has given us a harsh, merciless existence, where nature tries hard to push mankind to the very brink of extinction. Everything is against us, between us ... Untold miles of lawless, apocalyptic roads wait for our feet, and the future, cold and dark, offers little comfort. Without change, there can be no peace. Only survivors."

From dangerous trips into dark, apocalyptic cities, to patriotic rescues and furious revelations, Life After War is an action-packed fantasy series where those left alive must come to terms with their mistakes in the old world, while fighting for a place in the new one. Life After War. Magic and reality blended into a post-apocalyptic fantasy series that you won't ever forget.

What can you expect to discover in this apocalyptic fantasy series?

• The end of the world, up close and full of apocalyptic horror.
• A government conspiracy that caused the apocalypse.
• An adventure into the wastelands to find family, supplies, and safety.
• A supernatural romance strong enough to survive nuclear armageddon.
• Invasions, ambushes, attacks from nature and humanity. Guns and magic!
• A refugee camp with very different laws, gathering those who survived.
• A hero you will either hate or love as you ponder the secrets that could cost him leadership.
• A witch, a doctor, a government storm tracker, a star, and three Marines struggling to keep their people alive and together.
• A constant battle for survival that includes deadly trips into decaying American cities, insanity, relics of the past and ghosts that stalk their every move.

Three full-length books, for one great price. Get your copy today!

Book Video

Excerpt

Like most days, the sound of the ocean is haunting. Not much scares me anymore, but the whispers I hear in those powerful swells are terrifying.

My name is Angela. I’m a mother, doctor, soldier, and now, in the year 2017, I am a leader. Thanks to the nuclear war that ended our world, I’ve become the guardian of an American refugee camp called Safe Haven.

Surrounded by carefully observing sentries, I sit by the immense Pacific Ocean as my people work and play nearby, confident my army will protect them while I tell you about the war, and about how we were forced to flee our beloved country in the awful aftermath. The apocalypse was a nightmare from which we couldn’t wake. Some of us still haven’t been able to forget, and soon, we’ll be at the water’s mercy again. In less than two months, we are going home. And I’m the only one who knows. The real America still waits for us to rebuild, but mostly, simply, for us to return. Before we undertake that perilous journey, I have to get the three hundred fifty-seven souls here ready for the trip, and I only know one way it can be done—Adrian has to come back and lead us home, as he promised.

Adrian…

That incredibly patriotic man has been exiled, even though he is the only reason we survived. His secrets were the excuse the camp needed to turn on him, but I won’t do that. I can’t. I swore myself to him the same as the rest of his Council, and like them, I still believe.

I’ve gotten way ahead of myself, far beyond the beginning, when our future didn’t look as good is it does now. Most people here in New America won’t talk about the war or the long, ugly journey we made together. They say the memories have faded, but I know a lie when I hear one. Some horrors you never forget.

Like our final battle with Cesar and his large band of ruthless Mexican guerillas. It’s been five years, but I still see the deep red streams of blood running down rain-soaked trees. I still smell men burning alive in their metal coffins. I dream of it sometimes, of the cold, wet night when I was the bait, and I’m sure Adrian does too. It was the moment we knew our people would live—because of one man’s dream and his terrible lies.

Adrian kept us alive, gave us everything he had, and he always did what was best for the camp, no matter what it cost him personally. He taught us to be stronger than we thought we could be, to defend each other and ourselves and through it all he lied by omission. He knew these scared, hurting survivors would never have trusted him, would never have given him a chance, if they’d known who he really was.

We came a long way together in the year after the war, thousands and thousands of miles of heartbreaking devastation, and it hurts those of us who remain loyal to witness him accept their unfair judgment without a fight. It makes everything we lived through feel less important than it was, weakens the magic somehow, and I can’t allow that.

I’ve been detecting open doors again, and that sly ocean cautions me, says the trip home will be as hard as the one we undertook to get here. If there’s a storm coming for the flock, than it’s our guardian, we’ll need to guide us through it.

So, for Adrian and for those of us standing by him, still ready to die for him, and for the dreams he made me believe in from almost the first minute I set foot in his refugee camp, I will tell our story and leave nothing out. Maybe then, these people will realize what he did for our country, accept how much we owe him, and allow him to reclaim what’s rightfully his—us.

Before I tell you about our harsh, ugly journey, let me show you what happened on that day, what they did to us and what we did to each other.

This is how our story of survival began…

[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]

Praise for the Book

"Seven very gifted survivors are destined to rebuild their country after the apocalypse ... If they can stay alive long enough to find each other. Impossible to put down." ~ The Review Blog

"Set along the lines of The Stand and The Postman, this is a chilling vision of the collapse of all society in the year 2012 and the rebirth of a nation by those who survived. It’s so much more than just another fantasy series." ~ The Review Shop

"These books are great! They're the kind you won't want to put down, even as your eyes are drooping and the clock is reading 1:00 a.m. The story moves right along, there's magic involved, a lot of love and guns. Perfect Christmas vacation reading. As a female, I really liked the strong female characters (even that ho-bag Tonya, as she is a great plot device)." ~ BlueRanger

I couldn't put it down. That is the hallmark of a good book, in my opinion. The ability to weave a engaging story is evident. I read the first 6 books in less than a week." ~ Lucy

"Angela White writes from the heart. The characters in her storys are interesting, complex, and she keeps you on the edge of your seat with each turn of the page. And when you are done with one book you are ready for the next one." ~ Harold

About the Author

I published my first book in elementary - Mystery of the Missing Tabby. The school library still has it, as far as I know. That was my first real work, and writing became priceless to me over the next years. In Jr. High, I had a teacher tell our class that none of us could match the classic authors that we would be studying. We weren’t good enough. I took that to heart and turned in an A-paper with a rookie mistake that prevented me from getting the respect I wanted from that lady. I hated it that she was right.

I still do. I also adore her for waking my brain to the possibility that someday I could be as good as one of the iconic writers that helped frame the world of literature. I’ll never know if she did it intentionally or if she was just stating a fact, but it worked for me. I’ve never wanted to do anything else. Thanks to that drive, the fire she finished waking, I now live off my writing and run my own publishing company. I have more than a dozen novels out and thousands of fans. I have a long way to go before future children study me in schools, but I’m still just as hot for it now as I was in that stuffy, musty classroom in 7th grade.

So, that’s who I am. I am building, and living, the American dream. Who are you and what have you done?

That’s a hard question to answer if you’re still trying to get there. I understand. Here’s some free advice: Follow your dreams, even when the world says it’s crazy. Sometimes, you’ll find a life that satisfies you more than you ever thought was possible and it has nothing to do with cash or fame. Chase that, starting right now, and the next time someone asks who you are, tell them you’re an immovable force, a wild dreamer, a hopeful comet shooting toward the goals that orbit your existence. And then lift your chin. There aren’t many of us left who want to be good at what we do. Everyone else just wants that green shit.

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