Saturday, 12 April 2014

#TourKickOff :: The Crossover Year by Bhargavi Balachandran

7:00 am 0 Comments


About the Book


Meet Sri Anuprabha, aka Anu, a twenty-nine year-old banker who is terrified of entering her thirties. She dreams of quitting her job at the bank, sporting yoga pants and traipsing around the world. Her world turns upside down when things go awry and she is faced with the prospect of spending her days watching Tamil serials. She comes up with a five-point plan for reclaiming her life back before she hits the big 30. But things are never as simple as drawing up a flowchart in real life, are they? Especially with a ghastly recession rearing its ugly head…. Anu bumbles through the corridors of domesticity and travels on a funfilled roller coaster ride in a bid to discover her passion in life.Along the way, she meets new people, experiences crazy new things and learns some hard lessons in marriage, friendship, parenting and life. The Crossover Year is a funny, yet heartwarming story of a woman in search of her identity, and a chronicle of her hilarious quest for discovering her inner mojo. Bring out a platter of cookies and a steaming mug of chai, and join Anu on the ride of her lifetime.


About the Author



I am a part-time writer,a part-time entrepreneur  and a full time mom.

Blog I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads









Tour Schedule

Giveaway
1 Copy of The Crossover Year by Bhargavi Balachandran. Open to Indian Residents only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, 7 April 2014

#TourSchedule :: The Crossover Year by Bhargavi Balachandran

3:35 pm 0 Comments
Meet Sri Anuprabha, aka Anu, a twenty-nine year-old banker who is terrified of entering her thirties. She dreams of quitting her job at the bank, sporting yoga pants and traipsing around the world. Her world turns upside down when things go awry and she is faced with the prospect of spending her days watching Tamil serials. She comes up with a five-point plan for reclaiming her life back before she hits the big 30. But things are never as simple as drawing up a flowchart in real life, are they? Especially with a ghastly recession rearing its ugly head…. Anu bumbles through the corridors of domesticity and travels on a funfilled roller coaster ride in a bid to discover her passion in life.Along the way, she meets new people, experiences crazy new things and learns some hard lessons in marriage, friendship, parenting and life. The Crossover Year is a funny, yet heartwarming story of a woman in search of her identity, and a chronicle of her hilarious quest for discovering her inner mojo. Bring out a platter of cookies and a steaming mug of chai, and join Anu on the ride of her lifetime.


I started writing the Crossover year a few months after my twenty eight birthday. In at way it was supposed to be my advance thirtieth birthday gift to myself. Though it is not my story, the premise of the book is very autobiographical: I had just quit my new job of three months as I had hated it thoroughly. It had never occurred to me before that there was life beyond a nine-to-nine job, working for someone else. We are conditioned to live our lives in a certain way – go to school, then college,  get a job, get married , procreate and grow old. In our quest to remain in the rat race, we rarely pause for a minute to figure what we really want. I was exactly in this rut.  

I can’t remember how the germ of the thought that I wanted to write a novel got planted into my head. Writing was not this fashionable back when I started writing. The Chetan Bhagat revolution had just begun, so I don’t think I wanted to jump on the bandwagon mainly because of the novelty of the idea. India has been blessed with a rich crop of talented writers, but writing had been restricted to the literature graduate. With Chetan Bhagat’s popular writing, many first time readers grabbed a book other than their study guides and text books.  Chetan had somehow connected with a generation that was bred on video games and demanded instant gratification. My reasons were extremely selfish: I wrote the book because I felt compelled to. It seemed to me that unless I breathed life into the story that was masticating in my mind, I wouldn’t be left alone. 

I started writing with no idea of how to write a novel. My plan was to just put one word next to another, and discover that one lakh words later, miraculously the book would be done. Or so I thought. The real work only starts after one finishes writing the book. Stephen King , in his tome for writers,  On Writing says,“Kill your darlings , kill your darlings, even if it breaks your egocentric  little scribbler’s hearts. Kill your darlings.”I discovered the truth in these words only when I started on ‘Project re-writing The Crossover Year’. Most of the plot was re-vamped; I chopped off almost fifty thousand words from the novel and spent sleepless nights thinking about the characters in the book. It seemed like I was alternating between intense highs and equally intense lows during the period I was re-writing the book. This is what writing a book, autobiographical or otherwise is for me. It consumes my every waking moment that I feel antsy till I am done. 

It is almost five years since I whimsically typed “The Crossover Year” on a word document without even having thought of the plot .The book is now in print. I am in the process of finishing up my third book that is giving me sleepless nights again, but I can still vividly remember the first time I fell in love with writing, nor can I never forget the bitter fights and cold wars I have had with the manuscript. The Crossover Year will always be my first baby. And every time I see the book sitting on my book shelf, my heart soars and everything in the world seems just fine.  


About the Author



I am a part-time writer,a part-time entrepreneur  and a full time mom.

Blog I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads









Tour Schedule

Giveaway
1 Copy of The Crossover Year by Bhargavi Balachandran. Open to Indian Residents only

Saturday, 5 April 2014

#TourAnnouncement :: The Crossover Year by Bhargavi Balachandran

3:18 pm 0 Comments
Meet Sri Anuprabha, aka Anu, a twenty-nine year-old banker who is terrified of entering her thirties. She dreams of quitting her job at the bank, sporting yoga pants and traipsing around the world. Her world turns upside down when things go awry and she is faced with the prospect of spending her days watching Tamil serials. She comes up with a five-point plan for reclaiming her life back before she hits the big 30. But things are never as simple as drawing up a flowchart in real life, are they? Especially with a ghastly recession rearing its ugly head…. Anu bumbles through the corridors of domesticity and travels on a funfilled roller coaster ride in a bid to discover her passion in life.Along the way, she meets new people, experiences crazy new things and learns some hard lessons in marriage, friendship, parenting and life. The Crossover Year is a funny, yet heartwarming story of a woman in search of her identity, and a chronicle of her hilarious quest for discovering her inner mojo. Bring out a platter of cookies and a steaming mug of chai, and join Anu on the ride of her lifetime.


Excerpt

I locked my coordinates and planned on falling on the direction in which I spied a sturdy-looking guy.

15 degrees north. Launch missile. 

Uh-oh. Missile aborted. I was standing rooted in my tracks. 

“Let go…These are your friends. Trust them.”

20 degree north. Launch missile.

Mission successful. But wait…

“Ouch…!” I heard a squeak. 

Something poked me. I realised that I was lying on top of a thin, bony…thing. 

I opened my eyes to find people frantically trying to get me off a thin, sub-40 kilos waif-like girl.

About the Author



I am a part-time writer,a part-time entrepreneur  and a full time mom.

Blog I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads









Giveaway
1 Copy of The Crossover Year by Bhargavi Balachandran. Open to Indian Residents only

Monday, 17 March 2014

#TourKickOff :: Taming Romeo by Rachelle Ayala

12:00 am 0 Comments
Evie Sanchez is recovering from heartbreak by working at her parents’ Filipino restaurant when in walks Romeo Garcia, the boy she left behind. Only now, he’s a hot movie star surrounded by gorgeous actresses and adoring fans.
Bad boy Romeo Garcia never understood why Evie stood him up at the prom. When he rescues her from a flying coconut in the dumpster, he is determined to dig into her heart for the reason. Their mutual attraction and unresolved feelings ignite in a scintillating night of daring sex, and Romeo shows Evie what she’ll miss the rest of her life if she walks away again.
Evie lands a part as Romeo’s co-star and falls into her role, totally in love. He plays his part, too, with his romantic gestures and skillful lovemaking. But is the fantasy real or revenge? Evie and Romeo are about to discover if their buried feelings will explode in pure delight or utter disaster.



*** Taming Romeo is a contemporary romance featuring family secrets, delicious food, and hot, steamy loves scenes. Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+ ***

Excerpt #1 – Taming Romeo by Rachelle Ayala

[Evie is hiding in the dumpster to avoid Romeo and his new girlfriend when they come out of her family restaurant, Barrio XO, with a dessert in a coconut shell.]

“I’m not carrying that coconut shell,” she complains.

“It’s buko.” He enunciates clearly as if she were a small child. “They’re not easy to come by.”

You’re darn right, Romeo.

Buko is a young green coconut we Filipinos take pride in, using its soft meat and pure juice in pies, cakes, gelatin, and salad. Okay, the salad is more like a custard made with condensed milk, no lettuce in sight. Take that, Vegan Barbie.

A shot of pain bursts on the top of my head.

“Ow!” I yelp and fall on my behind onto something squishy. The dessert laden coconut shell bounces off me, showering me with ube, or purple yam bits, jelly cubes of many colors, shaved ice, tapioca balls, mango pieces, red bean, and ice cream. Boy am I glad Mr. Dee got his golf cap back before I came out here.

My lower lip quivering, I wipe the chilly ooze off my face, unable to resist a lick. Maybe he didn’t hear me. Maybe he’s getting on his bike. Didn’t his friends say to meet and set up for a film shoot? The coast will be clear soon.

“Evie.” A masculine, brown-skinned hand sweeps gelatinous hair from my face. “Are you okay?”

Dreamy eyes soften into luscious pools of dark chocolate as the signature Romeo grin slides across his, gulp, chiseled, manly face.

Five years ago, he was cute. Now, invincible.

“Let me help you out.” His voice croons, low and sexy.

Before I can respond, he lifts me out of the dumpster as if I were a rag doll and puts me on the motorcycle.

“Who’s she?” Beach Slapped Blondie sneers. “Eww… you’re dirtying the seat.”

Romeo tips his finger in a ‘one-minute’ gesture and turns to Blondie. “I’ll call you a cab. Take a nap before meeting us at the shoot so you won’t be so cranky.”

“I’ll call my own cab.” She stalks off, making sure to drive her displeasure home by kicking gravel onto the shiny fender of Romeo’s bike.

We both wince in unison.

Romeo examines my head. “I’m really sorry. I had no idea you were in the dumpster. What were you doing there?”

“Looking for my contact lenses?” I squint and avert my eyes from his shining lip ring. Dang, he’s hot.

He puts his arm around me. “You should have said something. We could have shared the dessert together. Now it’s wasted.”

If my heart was palpitating earlier, now it’s practically in arrest. “I’ll get you another. Let’s go in.”

“Later.” He traces the side of my sticky face and licks his finger, touching his lip ring. “I could eat you right now, but first, answer my question.”

“Sure.” I suck in a shuddering breath as visions of tonguing his lips and handling his man parts raise my core temperature.

“Why did you ditch me at the prom?”


Buy Links:

Rachelle Ayala was a software engineer until she discovered storytelling works better in fiction than real code. She enjoys writing love stories and has always lived in a multi-cultural environment. The tapestry of characters in her books reflect that diversity. She is an active member of online critique group, Critique Circle, and a volunteer for the World Literary Cafe.
Check out her four romantic novels. Michal’s Window is a powerful, emotional journey as lived through the eyes of Princess Michal, King David’s first wife. Broken Build is a story of healing where a man learns to love and trust the woman who destroyed his life. Hidden Under Her Heart is a heartfelt love story combined with controversy over difficult decisions, and Knowing Vera is a suspenseful, cross-cultural romance mixing an unsolved murder, adventure, and hot, steamy love scenes.

Connect with the Author:
Website I Blog I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads



Giveaway:
~ $10 Amazon Gift Card to the Best Review on the Tour
~ 1 Paperback Copy of Winner's Choice of Rachelle Ayala's Books
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

#TourSchedule :: Taming Romeo by Rachelle Ayala

2:07 pm 0 Comments
Evie Sanchez is recovering from heartbreak by working at her parents’ Filipino restaurant when in walks Romeo Garcia, the boy she left behind. Only now, he’s a hot movie star surrounded by gorgeous actresses and adoring fans.
Bad boy Romeo Garcia never understood why Evie stood him up at the prom. When he rescues her from a flying coconut in the dumpster, he is determined to dig into her heart for the reason. Their mutual attraction and unresolved feelings ignite in a scintillating night of daring sex, and Romeo shows Evie what she’ll miss the rest of her life if she walks away again.
Evie lands a part as Romeo’s co-star and falls into her role, totally in love. He plays his part, too, with his romantic gestures and skillful lovemaking. But is the fantasy real or revenge? Evie and Romeo are about to discover if their buried feelings will explode in pure delight or utter disaster.


*** Taming Romeo is a contemporary romance featuring family secrets, delicious food, and hot, steamy loves scenes. Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+ ***

Buy Links:

Rachelle Ayala was a software engineer until she discovered storytelling works better in fiction than real code. She enjoys writing love stories and has always lived in a multi-cultural environment. The tapestry of characters in her books reflect that diversity. She is an active member of online critique group, Critique Circle, and a volunteer for the World Literary Cafe.
Check out her four romantic novels. Michal’s Window is a powerful, emotional journey as lived through the eyes of Princess Michal, King David’s first wife. Broken Build is a story of healing where a man learns to love and trust the woman who destroyed his life. Hidden Under Her Heart is a heartfelt love story combined with controversy over difficult decisions, and Knowing Vera is a suspenseful, cross-cultural romance mixing an unsolved murder, adventure, and hot, steamy love scenes.

Connect with the Author:
Website I Blog I Facebook Twitter I Goodreads


Giveaway:
~ $10 Amazon Gift Card to the Best Review on the Tour
~ 1 Paperback Winner's Choice of Rachelle Ayala's Books



Tour Schedule:

17th March - Namrata - Book Review
17th March - Elizabeth McKenna - Promo Post
17th March - Literary Chantuse 2 - Promo Post

18th March - Aimee - Book Review
18th March - Annamaria - Promo Post
18th March - Deea - Promo Post

19th March - Milto Psomas - Book Review
19th March - Rae Quigley - Promo Post

20th March - Kay LaLone - Book Review
20th March - Mindy Wall - Book Review
20th March - Angelique - Book Review
20th March - Dawn Heslin - Promo Post
20th March - Jaideep - Promo Post
20th March - TB Markinson - Promo Post

21st March - Amrita Dasgupta - Book Review
21st March - Dani Chapman - Promo Post

22nd March - Maniparna Sengupta Majumder - Book Review
22nd March - Sanchit - Promo Post

24th March - Books are Love - Book Review
24th March - Ruth Hill - Promo Post

25th March - Christie Mitchum - Book Review
25th March - Raizza Mae Cinco - Book Review
25th March - Lori - Promo Post

26th March - Kumiko Lei - Book Review
26th March - Vicky - Promo Post

27th March - Laura Greenwood - Book Review
27th March - Christina Livingston - Promo Post

28th March - Nikita - Book Review
28th March - Philomena Callan - Book Review
28th March - Jacquel Chrissy May - Promo Post

29th March - Paula - Book Review
29th March - Jessica Webb - Book Review
29th March - Cinta Garcia de la Rosa - Promo Post

Monday, 3 March 2014

#TourKickoff :: In Pursuit of a Lesser Offence by Sujata Parashar

9:00 am 0 Comments


About the Book:

A chance meeting between Avinash Vyas, a married man and Sangeet Mishra, a young divorced woman turns into something more than what they had ever wanted or asked for. Both part ways, nurturing a dislike for the other in their hearts. They meet again under different circumstances. Their prejudices keep them away until both learn that they had committed similar offences in the past that had not been fully dealt with. It was a past they wanted to avoid. What was their offence? Why do people marry? What is the relevance of the institution of marriage in modern times? Bestselling novelist Sujata Parashar's third novel attempts to answer these questions and more as she takes you through the intricacies of modern day relationships.



Buy Links:
Flipkart I Homeshop 18 I Amazon India

Short Excerpts:

Kanupriya laughs at her friend’s innocence. “You are such a darling. Don’t be so worried about me. I told you, I can never fall in love. I can be attracted to a guy. I can sleep with him. But love? Well, that is something entirely different. I think love is an overrated term. The only true love I believe in is the love between a mother and her child. Other kinds of love are mere transactions,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

I think, with the passage of time, marriage as an institution will either fade away or people will start getting married on a contractual basis. The contract will end with something like: For the next ten years we promise to remain committed to each other. After the stipulated time period expires, both the parties will review it and then decide whether to apply for a renewal or say goodbye to each other amiably.

Both the above statements have been made by Sangeet's close friend Kanupriya. Sangeet (the main female protagonist) is a divorced young woman from Kolkata who goes through a bad marriage before deciding to end it. She's still trying to cope with her painful situation when she meets her rebellious friend Kanupriya in Delhi and this conversation takes place.

About the Author:


Sujata Parashar is a best-selling novelist, poet and activist. Her debut novel, In Pursuit of Infidelity (2009) was a bestseller. The second in the series, In Pursuit of Ecstasy (2011), was long listed for The Economist Crossword Book Award 2012. In Pursuit of a Lesser Offence, completes the ‘pursuit’ series. Her book on poetry, Poetry Out and Loud, was awarded the first prize in 2012 by Butterfly and the Bee, a literary agency.





Links:
Website I Goodreads


Tour Schedule:
3rd March - DDS @ b00k r3vi3ws



Giveaway:
1 Paperback Copy of In Pursuit of a Lesser Offence by Sujata Parashar (Open to Indian Residents Only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

#TourAnnouncement :: ProtoStar (Starcrossed #1) by Braxton A. Cosby

10:00 am 3 Comments
On the brink of Civil War, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his Council, King Gregorio Derry has agreed to send his only son William, on a mission to restore honor to his family. What starts out routine, becomes a lot more complicated as an inopportune crash landing delays the assassination. During this time, William begins to form a 'connection' with Sydney that challenges his inner being. But this conflict is the least of his problems, as a conspiracy back on his home planet Fabricius threatens the lives of those he loves and his father's royal legacy. Along with that, he must unravel a hidden threat here on Earth that seeks to secure a vested interest that threatens both his and Sydney's safety. Will William be able to complete his mission or will he choose love, sacrificing everything he stands for?


Find out More at the Website

ProtoStar is the Readers Favorite Book of the Year Award Winner for the Romance: Fantasy-Sci-Fi category.

About the Author

Braxton A. Cosby is a dreamer with a passion for inspiring others to love, in spite of circumstance and convenience. Braxton creates stories in his mind that he desires to put on paper and share with the entire world. His calling to pen a young-adult series that is smart, witty, and thought provoking, has challenged readers to answer the question: What would you choose, love or irrevocable duty? Braxton lives in Atlanta, GA, where he co-hosts a local radio show on WAOK which is a mash-up of current events and health and wellness. He also has a blog where he discusses everything from health and entertainment to spirituality and relationships.


Contact the Author:

Giveaway:
~ 1 Signed Copy of ProtoStar by Braxton A. Cosby


To Sign up fill out THIS FORM

~ HTML code and Media Kit will be provided to all those who sign-up. 
~ Post needs to be up at 9am PST on the chosen date.
~ This has to be the top post!

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

#TourSchedule :: In Pursuit of a Lesser Offence by Sujata Parashar

6:16 pm 0 Comments

About the Book:

A chance meeting between Avinash Vyas, a married man and Sangeet Mishra, a young divorced woman turns into something more than what they had ever wanted or asked for. Both part ways, nurturing a dislike for the other in their hearts. They meet again under different circumstances. Their prejudices keep them away until both learn that they had committed similar offences in the past that had not been fully dealt with. It was a past they wanted to avoid. What was their offence? Why do people marry? What is the relevance of the institution of marriage in modern times? Bestselling novelist Sujata Parashar's third novel attempts to answer these questions and more as she takes you through the intricacies of modern day relationships.



Buy Links:
Flipkart I Homeshop 18 I Amazon India

About the Author:


Sujata Parashar is a best-selling novelist, poet and activist. Her debut novel, In Pursuit of Infidelity (2009) was a bestseller. The second in the series, In Pursuit of Ecstasy (2011), was long listed for The Economist Crossword Book Award 2012. In Pursuit of a Lesser Offence, completes the ‘pursuit’ series. Her book on poetry, Poetry Out and Loud, was awarded the first prize in 2012 by Butterfly and the Bee, a literary agency.





Links:
Website I Goodreads



Giveaway:
1 Paperback Copy of In Pursuit of a Lesser Offence by Sujata Parashar (Open to Indian Residents Only)


Tour Schedule:
3rd March - DDS @ b00k r3vi3ws

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

#TourAnnouncement :: Taming Romeo by Rachelle Ayala

3:15 pm 0 Comments
Evie Sanchez is recovering from heartbreak by working at her parents’ Filipino restaurant when in walks Romeo Garcia, the boy she left behind. Only now, he’s a hot movie star surrounded by gorgeous actresses and adoring fans.
Bad boy Romeo Garcia never understood why Evie stood him up at the prom. When he rescues her from a flying coconut in the dumpster, he is determined to dig into her heart for the reason. Their mutual attraction and unresolved feelings ignite in a scintillating night of daring sex, and Romeo shows Evie what she’ll miss the rest of her life if she walks away again.
Evie lands a part as Romeo’s co-star and falls into her role, totally in love. He plays his part, too, with his romantic gestures and skillful lovemaking. But is the fantasy real or revenge? Evie and Romeo are about to discover if their buried feelings will explode in pure delight or utter disaster.


*** Taming Romeo is a contemporary romance featuring family secrets, delicious food, and hot, steamy loves scenes. Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+ ***

Buy Links:

Rachelle Ayala was a software engineer until she discovered storytelling works better in fiction than real code. She enjoys writing love stories and has always lived in a multi-cultural environment. The tapestry of characters in her books reflect that diversity. She is an active member of online critique group, Critique Circle, and a volunteer for the World Literary Cafe.
Check out her four romantic novels. Michal’s Window is a powerful, emotional journey as lived through the eyes of Princess Michal, King David’s first wife. Broken Build is a story of healing where a man learns to love and trust the woman who destroyed his life. Hidden Under Her Heart is a heartfelt love story combined with controversy over difficult decisions, and Knowing Vera is a suspenseful, cross-cultural romance mixing an unsolved murder, adventure, and hot, steamy love scenes.

Connect with the Author:
Website I Blog I Facebook Twitter I Goodreads


Giveaway:
~ $10 Amazon Gift Card to the Best Review on the Tour
~ 1 Paperback Winner's Choice of Rachelle Ayala's Books


To Sign up fill out THIS FORM

~ HTML code and Media Kit will be provided to all those who sign-up. 
~ Post needs to be up at 9am PST on the chosen date.
~ This has to be the top post!

Sunday, 2 February 2014

TourKickOff :: From Thine Own Well by Norm Hamilton

10:23 am 0 Comments
Canadian society has been altered, seemingly irrevocably; water resources have become scarce and individual freedoms cast off.
It is now 2036, only 24 years since the most devastating of a series of international accords, one simply known as The Agreement, set the precedent for many that followed – effectively causing the federal government to collapse into ruin and dependency on corporatist rule.
Unrestricted fracking and irresponsible mining practices have caused major watersheds and underground streams to become contaminated, the precious fluid - noxious.
The sole purpose of The Coalition, a regulatory body created by the world-wide conglomerates that took over the governing of the country is to ensure the profitability of its corporate members.
In Yukon, Canada’s far north, a baker’s dozen of unknown, everyday people and one dog are loosely thrown together in an effort to combat The Coalition and its impact on Canadian lives and the environment.
Join Landon, Nora, Galen and the others who, through no design of their own, have become the unknown hope for Canada’s future. Will they prevail in the small jurisdiction they reside in and set the bar for the rest of Canada?
Only time will tell.


Buy Links:

Norm Hamilton lived in Whitehorse, Yukon for 40 years. In December 2012 he retired and is currently on Vancouver Island with his wife, Anna, where he is meeting people and experiencing new adventures to write about. He trusts that retirement will afford him the time to delve further into his writing. This photographer, freelance writer, copy-editor, proofreader and novelist is currently enjoying Lake Cowichan, B.C.
Norm’s latest project is a novel titled, "From Thine Own Well," a story about a dystopian Canadian society brought about by unrestricted gas fracking and irresponsible mining techniques. It all began with a FIPA agreement in 2012 that left the federal government open to lawsuits - that they lost.
Norm has written one non-fiction book, "The Digital Eye." It is a compilation of articles for people wanting to improve their photography skills or for those who want to learn digital photography. This book is available as a paperback on Amazon, and as an eBook on Amazon Smashwords, Kobo and other online retailers.

Contact the Author
Please Note : For the first 2 weeks of February (duration of the Tour and the week after) The book will be available for a reduced price of $2.99


Excerpt

Chapter 1

The vastness west of Whitehorse was bathed in a golden glow as the sun rose over McIntyre Mountain. No stirring of animals or ruffling of birds signalled the beginning of the day; there hadn’t been any for over 15 years.
Landon McGuire grunted as he rolled over on the makeshift bunk in his cabin at the south end of Coal Lake. He squinted against the blazing sunlight that flooded the single window beside the wooden slab door. The smell of the rough-sawn plank floor permeated the air and dust particles sparkled in the glowing rays that streamed through the chinks in the walls. The 45-gallon drum wood stove in the corner had seen better days as a pile of fine ashes dribbled on the floor beneath its door.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and pushed his six-foot frame to a sitting position. His head ached from the effort to drown his memories with home-distilled spruce gin. Gawd, he thought, my mouth tastes like sap. Breakfast was out of the question. After pulling his greying hair back and securing it into a pony-tail with an elastic band, he scoured the floor for his clothes.
His mind wandered back to the years he’d worked in mining exploration, spending weeks at a time in the wilderness staking claims. It had been a wonderful period in his life; time outdoors and Wenda waiting at home when he came back. He remembered the mines taking pains to ensure they caused as little interference to the environment as was humanly possible.
Then it had all changed. After The Agreement, the mining industry got careless in their approach to resource extraction. He became saddened and ashamed to be a part of it. His sadness had turned to despair when Wenda died. It was then that he had quit and moved to the cabin. He still questioned if the carelessness of the mines or oil and gas companies had contributed to her death. Since then, he’d sought solace as a recluse and had as little to do with other people as possible.
A scratching on the floor from beneath the mattress interrupted his thoughts and announced the awakening of his husky-shepherd cross dog, Bob. Landon interrupted his search to watch as Bob stretched, pointing one hind leg at a time behind him. Then, ears up and tail switching back and forth, he wiggled his white and black body over to Landon.
“What d’ya think, Bob? Should we head out to the horseshoe?” His question was met with a vigorously wagging tail. Landon was planning a hike to a hidden location where he could collect fresh water without having to purchase it from The Coalition.
His eyes took in the cabin—spartan, but always kept clean and tidy. Wenda had always insisted their home be spotless. A cracked mirror on the wash stand reflected a day's growth of stubble on his leathered face that he decided could wait another day. He pulled on an old pair of blue jeans and shoved his socked feet into a pair of well-worn boots. The early August sun beat down on the cabin as he stuffed a warm fleece and waterproof jacket into a backpack in preparation for the drop in temperature during the hike into the mountains.
Things have sure changed, he thought as he strapped a 44-magnum around his waist and slid a pair of throwing knives into sleeves prepared for them on his bandoleer. He could remember when there was no need for weapons other than a rifle in case of bears. Now, with the water situation, it was desperate people that were of more concern. After slinging a .308 calibre Winchester over his right shoulder, he headed out the door with Bob following close behind.
As soon as they were in the open, Landon stopped to listen, peering in all directions, looking for any indication of others. Satisfied that no one was around, he grabbed the handle of the cart with the empty water vessels and struck off on the 14-kilometre trek to the crescent-shaped bowl west of his cabin near Coal Lake that had been formed by the Ibex volcano in some distant past.
Clean water was no longer readily available as it was in the days before The Agreement. Even the water near his cabin was suspect. They were headed for one of the few spots left where the water ran clean and pure.
Landon smiled, noticing the forest trail was showing signs of lack of use as the vegetation began to overgrow it. He always liked it when nature reclaimed its space. As they walked, Landon kept an eye on Bob, watching for any reactions to their surroundings. The dog could feel, instinctively, when someone, or something, was near.

Giveaway
- One $10 Amazon Gift Certificate for the best Review on the tour (will be selected by an unbiased Judge)
- One eBook to a random commentor on the tour posts