Legend of the Mothman #Paranormal

By Jason W. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/fokket/4011253068/) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Have you heard of the Mothman? Have you seen him?

The first sighting happened in November 1966 near Clendenin, West Virginia. Six men were digging a grave and saw a winged figure fly overhead. Three days later, two couples in Point Pleasant stated they saw a similar flying figure.

"A flying man with ten-foot wings. Its eyes glowed red when hit by the car lights."

During the next few days, there were several other sightings. Some claimed to have premonitions about a bridge collapse. A month later, a local bridge, the Silver Bridge, collapsed and killed 46 people.

Was the Mothman trying to warn them?

The legend is mixed up with UFO sightings and visits by 'men in black.' A wildlife expert suggested the sightings were a sandhill crane. However, there are too many 'reliable' eyewitness accounts of the creature and strange lights for the 'mothman' to be so easily dismissed.

In 2016, more sightings of the Mothman were reported in Chicago. I have to wonder what this elusive being wants. I have to wonder in general.

On a trip to the remote Oregon town that inspires Settler (the town where The Rifters is set), I misread a sign. I can't remember the 'mundane' words, but I recall reading, Premonition Center. At the time, I was looking for ideas for book 4 in the series, and the Premonition Center stuck with me.

The Mothman is a natural fit with premonitions, and I mixed in a little Mothra as well. Moths are very abundant in the summer months here. When I'm astronomizing, they often bombard me in the eye or cheek.

Oregon always inspires my stories, especially The Rifters series.


The Tracer, Rifters Book 4 releases March 13 and is available for preorder!

The portal connecting Earth to other worlds reopens, and Daelin Long stands ready to rescue her sister. After a winter of strenuous training, she’s prepared to battle the evil her sister warns against.  Only, the rift is more unpredictable. The Mothman arrives whispering of death and transports Daelin to a land with seven moons. There, she faces a monster that can exist in two universes at the same time. Refusing to believe her fate is sealed, Daelin searches for the way home. With only her staff, her wits, and an uninformed detective, she dares to lead the fight. Otherwise, her sister and Earth don’t have a chance.

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Amazon / UK / DE / AU / CA / FR / ES / NL / IT / MX / BR / IN / JP

And the Rifters Box Collection Books 1-3 is on sale for 99c!

A monstrous secret hides in the backwoods of a remote western town—a portal connecting our world to forty-two other universes. The visitors—most would call them terrifying—often have devastating effects. Their destruction hasn’t been intentional… until lately. The usual band of protectors, The Rifters, defend us with daring and weapons built from coils, gears, and crystals, which is no longer enough. Earth’s survival depends on an outlaw from 1888 and a librarian with a knack for ghosts.

The Rifters Box Collection includes: The Rifters, The Initiate, and The Reader.

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Premonitions: Supernatural or Science? #paranormal

A premonition is a strong feeling something is about to happen. They're mostly associated with bad events. Perhaps because impressions of tragedy are stronger than impressions of wonderful.

The premonitions I most clearly recall are those associated with bad events. Way back when I lived in Northern Virginia, I stopped at a corner market after work to pick up a few things. There was this man standing there. When he looked at me, I had the most unshakable feeling of awful. I mean, I felt horror in my bones. Later that evening, my car was stolen.

When I moved into a new apartment in NYC, I had a nasty dream about a dark shadow trying to get inside. I couldn't run down the hall to shut the door fast enough. Needless to say, they were the worst landlords ever.

Are they premonitions, or am I picking up on information my brain doesn't know how to fully process? So it comes across as a terrible vibe, a really terrible vibe?

I've also had good ones. Usually if I dream I did well on a test, I did very well on a test.

Premonitions are actually quite common. There may be a scientific explanation for them. They may be bred into our genes. Being able to react quickly to information that isn't easily quantifiable would have helped our ancestors survive. It can help us survive, if we listen.

I believe in my case, I was picking up on signals and information I wasn't fully conscious of at the time. What do you believe? Is it scientific or is it something more?

Premonition came into my life recently when misreading a road sign. Oddly, it was while visiting the real Oregon town that inspires Settler, the town featured in my series, The Rifters. I thought the sign said, Premonition Center. It did not. I can't remember what it really said, but I took the sign literally as a sign for the next book.

It was such a funny occurrence in a place associated with my series, I knew I had to use it. It's 'a sign' after all.

The main street in Fossil, Oregon. I use it almost exactly as the main street in Settler. Just past the stop sign on the left-hand side is the library. At the end of the street is the high school and the fossil beds. Sight of the infamous volcanic killer bee attack.

Have you ever had a premonition? What about?

Reality vs Fiction. Settler, Home of The Rifters! The Reader, Rifters Book 3 is HERE! #SciFi #Fantasy

In the Rifters series, I based the little, wilderness town of Settler on an actual town in Oregon. Settler is roughly based on Fossil, Oregon.

Fossil has a population of about 500. Settler is 2x that at 1000. So that I fictionalized.

Fossil is located in a county which houses the Painted Hills and the Ochoco Mountains.

I wanted it closer to where I live, so moved this lovely town to the Newberry Caldera. Here we overlook the two lakes and the obsidian flow. Between the two lakes is the pumice cone. All of this is inside a big volcano. I stuck the town in the middle of all this.

In Fossil, the library is attached to the fire house and city hall. In Settler, the fire house is on the other side of the library and city hall is elsewhere.

Fossil is very quiet. You can stand on a street corner and not see another soul or another car for hours. The same is true in Settler.

Here's the Paleo Institute I base the one in my books on, complete with dinosaur fossil.

This park is also included in my books, but I changed the mural and in the books this is behind the library:

Here is the county courthouse that inspired the Caslow County office building in Settler. In Settler, it's closer to the library. In Fossil, it's next to the Paleo Institute.

The people in Fossil are awesome. So if you ever go out that way, pop in and visit them. I'll for sure go back. Wheeler County is one of my favorite places in Oregon.

With views like this, I'm always eager to return:

The Reader, Rifters Book 3 is here!

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With the rift closed for the season and no more monsters to fight, Daelin Long gets bored as librarian in the podunk town of Settler, Oregon. A job interview and her brother's arrival present a tempting opportunity to escape, until her brother and her best friend, a ghost, disappear.

While Daelin searches for them, more mysteries pile up: dead people coming back to life, portraits of the town founders replaced with strange white trees, and people on the other side of the rift returning. It’s impossible. The portal that allows monsters from other universes to come to Earth is sealed until next summer.

The Rifters, a secret group protecting our world, believe the troubles are nothing more than the tantrums of an offended ghost. Daelin disagrees. If she’s right, the evil hell-bent on destroying Earth has new technology making the rift more deadly. Before the monster summons the next apocalypse, Daelin must find it and destroy it.

Book 3 in the Rifter series.

Need to get caught up? You can read books 1 and 2 in the series for free by becoming an M. Pax Reader.

A to Z Challenge - G is for Gangsta Ghost.

The A to Z Blogging Challenge is underway!

If you haven't heard of it, check out the A to Z blog and join in the fun.

Here at Untethered Realms, we're taking on the Challenge as a group. Each day, one of us will be sharing with you a teaser from one of our books.

George "Haw Shot" Hawley is a ghost with a lot of attitude.

The Rifters by M. Pax

5 Star Review from CHOOSE YOUR OWN END: "The Wild West meets Ghostbusters with some Stargate and a bit of Steampunk thrown in. Even though everything seems a bit familiar, it’s not, which is what makes The Rifters compelling"

Join us for #SpecFicChat:

What happened to the future? The flying cars & time machines? Next #SpecFicChat Fri. April 17th, Noon EDT. Hosted by @UnRealms & @EllieMGarratt

Tuesday Tea with Mistress Snark

Welcome to the Untethered Realms edition of Mistress Snark's Tuesday Tea. Afternoon tea is a most civilized British invention – an opportunity to snack with impunity. However, in Mistress Snark's parlor, you never know what might be floating in your tea or what those cute little sandwiches are hiding under the bread. 

As full disclosure, any guest appearing here must sign the usual waivers regarding food poisoning, bodily harm caused by Jezebel, random attacks by minions, or permanent brain damage resulting from the questions posed.

Today's guest is M. Pax, prolific Untethered Realms author of both The Backworlds series and The Rifters. It's so nice to have you here today. Would you like some tea? Or perhaps Jezebel's special punch? I don't know what's in it but it could prove detrimental to your health.

M. Pax: Mistress Snark, how are you? It's been awhile since I've been in your parlor. It's as fascinating as ever. You know I'm always game for the special punch. What are those bits floating in it?

Mistress: Jezebel has added ground dinosaur bones to flavor this special UR blend. She calls it, “Author Inspiration.” *winks at audience* Are you feeling inspired yet, now that you’ve had a chance to taste it? I must say the feathers you’re sprouting out of the top of your head are rather fetching. I can tell our gentle audience is stunned by the change. As an author, how might you incorporate your current condition into a storyline?

M. Pax: Did you ever read about those giant carnivorous birds that roamed the Earth after the dinosaurs? Yeah, I think I'd have to use those birds. I want meat. Mmm, meat.

Mistress: I think your stomach rumblings just registered on the Richter scale. Don’t worry though. Motion sickness bags are being passed out to the audience. More punch? *waves Jezebel over to refill M.’s cup* Oh, and please be careful with your pinions. That’s quite a wingspan you’ve got going there. Wouldn’t want to knock someone down…unless they’re meat…

So, here’s a scenario for you. While searching for a meaty snack, you wing into the town of Settler, OR, the town that your series, The Rifters, is based in. What do you find there? A filling meal or big trouble?

M. Pax: Look at them all jiggle. Like Jell-o. I like Jell-o. Meat Jell-o. Yes, more punch.

Settler has a lot of weird. That dude from 1888 probably is past his expiration date, so I'll avoid him. The librarian chic looks tasty. I should stew her before she learns to kick my ass. Can I say ass on this program? The ghosts aren't filling at all. I'd have to spit them out. Those bee things... hey, maybe they'd give me fire. I might go for those. What's next for beasties descending on Settler? You'll have to wait for book 3. I do know, though.

Mistress: Perfectly acceptable. Jezebel says ass – and worse – all the time around here. The stringy dude might get stuck in your teeth as you chew but the ghosts could add some flavoring to the stew, don’t you think?

Oh dear, I see our gentle audience stampeding toward the exits. You do look a mite menacing, M. Perhaps you should go home and sleep off the effects of all the punch you consumed.

It was lovely to have you here in the parlor. Please walk, don’t fly, out of the studio. We don’t want a citywide panic to ensue.

M. Pax: The tentacles are harmless. I swear! Thanks for having me Mistress Snark. Every time I have tea here, I get my wings.

      

Congratulations, M. Pax! You’ve earned the Tuesday Tea Survivor badge, suitable for your blog or hanging on the bathroom wall. Go ahead and take it with you.

M. Pax is author of the space adventure series The Backworlds and the urban fantasy series The Rifters. Fantasy, science fiction, and the weird beckons to her, and she blames Oregon, a source of endless inspiration. She docents at Pine Mountain Observatory in the summers as a star guide, has a cat with a crush on Mr. Spock, and is slightly obsessed with Jane Austen. There are more books and stories credited to her name. Learn more at mpaxauthor.com and pick up a great read for free.

Mark your calendar! February 17^th will see author Angela Brown sitting in Mistress Snark’s parlor, guzzling one of Jezebel’s famous concoctions.

Happenings in the Realm: Huzzizzle October 2014 #SpecFic #SciFi #Fantasy #Horror

Twisted Earths is HERE!

Nine twisted stories from nine twisted worlds.

Purchase from: Amazon / iTunes / B&N / Kobo

Only 99 cents for a collection of fantastic stories!

*

Contributing authors:

Angela Brown

River Fairchild

Gwen Gardner

M. Gerrick

Graeme Ing

M. Pax

Christine Rains

Cherie Reich

Catherine Stine

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Twisted Earths is a collection of tales from Untethered Realms, a group of speculative fiction authors. The stories are as varied and rich as the types of soil on this and other planets—sandy loam, clay, knotted with roots and vines, dreaded paths through unexplored planets, and in enchanted forests, lit by candlelight and two moons.

M. Pax, author of the series, The Backworlds and The Rifters spins a tale called Patchworker 2.0. Specialists with digital interfaces are the only ones who can distinguish between biological energy and mechanical pulses, and “patch” AIs, which hold the world together. Patchworker Evalyn Shore meets up with an AI with deadly intent.

Cherie Reich, known for her epic fantasy series The Fate Challenges and The Foxwick Chronicles, presents Lady Death. Umbria, a beautiful and powerful swordsmith, is given an impossible task by her brother Leon when he asks, “You are the assassin. Are you scared to destroy Death when you are up to your elbows in it?”

Angela Brown is the author of the paranormal Shadow Jumpers and NEO Chronicles series. In her story, In The Know, Jacob, a loyal family man is struggling to stay out of debt when he’s hired to report on big plans for a future Detroit. He’s given a mysterious manila envelope with instructions to “open it alone” or pay the price. With switchback twists you won’t see coming, a debt of a much steeper cost is what he just might end up paying for his involvement.

Catherine Stine, author of the futuristic thrillers, Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire, offers The Day of The Flying Dogs, a sinister tale of brilliant, troubled NYC high-school student, Theo. He experiences a day at Coney Island that includes drugs, delusions, a lonely capybara, Nathan’s hotdogs and a mind-bending lesson in our very twisted universe.

Christine Rains, known best for her paranormal series The Thirteenth Floor, gives us The Ole Saint, a story at once sweet, horrific and heartrending. Ezra longs to fit in and have boys stop calling him witch and freak, yet his unique supernatural skill sets him apart, and the last gift from The Ole Saint cinches the deal.

Graeme Ing, known for his young adult fantasy, Ocean of Dust presents The Malachite Mine, a gripping, scream-inducing ride. Whatever was Mary thinking when she accepted her husband’s gift of a most terrifying twenty-first birthday celebration in an abandoned Russian mine?

River Fairchild, author of her Jewels of Chandra series, presents A Grand Purpose. Rosaya and her cousin, Drianna are soon to be married off, but Rosaya is unhappy with her assigned match. She’s much more intoxicated by the older Firrandor, a wizard she hardly knows. When Rosaya is accused of killing an oracle boy, all bets are off, not only for her love, but her freedom.

Gwen Gardner, who pens the cozy paranormal mystery series, Indigo Eady, adds to her collection with Ghostly Guardian. Indigo and her rib-tickling ghost-busters must travel to a dangerous pirate-laden past in order to unearth a curmudgeonly eighteenth century spirit that is plaguing the Blind Badger Pub.

Misha Gerrick, whose War of Six Crowns series is forthcoming, gives us a story called Red Earth and White Light. Emily, a young ghost bride has long haunted a house. She longs to cross over into the afterlife, but she’s trapped in memories of lilies and betrayal.

Calling All Authors and Writers

I could use your help in getting the word out about this year's Realms Faire. The faire is about you and helping you gain some visibility for your work. It has several opportunities to help you do that. 

1. Be a sponsor and donate prizes. This gets you listed on the Realms Faire scrolly and pages. The events giving away your swag will mention you. 

2. Test your mettle in the joust. People will be cheering for you for five days straight. You will get a spotlight on one of the five days. You get a nifty badge. Limited to 10 knights.

3. Duel with words in Dueling Bards. You and your work are spotlighted on one day. Limited to 10 bards.

Be a sponsor  /  Be a Knight  /  Duel as a Bard

Get The Rifters and The Initiate while they're hot off the press!

The Rifters is a FREE download until 12/31/14. The Initiate is 99 cents on preorder until October 20, 2014!

Download The Rifters from: Amazon / AmazonUK / B&N/Smashwords /Googleplay /

iTunes / Other

Preorder The Initiate from: 

Amazon / Amazon UK / AmazonAU / AmazonCA /AmazonDE / iTunes / B&N / Googleplay / Other

  The Afterlife Series is online!

AMAZON - Available Now

AMAZON - Available Now

AMAZON - Available 10/20

The Turnagain Arm, a prequel to Polar Night which takes place in 1917 during the building of the Alaskan railroad, is now available on Amazon for just 99 cents!  Find out what vampire Aleksei Nechayev was up to when he first made his way to Alaska. It's safe to say it wasn't anything good. 

DORIANNA Launches OCT 24!

Dorianna, Catherine Stine's YA horror/paranormal launches with Evernight Teen on October 24. You are invited to Come join the fun at the release party. Catherine, with Bewitching Book Tour's help, is throwing a Facebook party on OCT 29 with fun games, and two guest authors writing dark YA. 

Also, stay tuned for the tour, with a Rafflecopter chocked full of UR and other authors who write amazing dark fantasy!

Happenings in the Realm: Huzzizzle September 2014 #SpecFic #SciFi #Fantasy #Horror

Marketh thee calendar!

2014 Realms Faire & Joust

November 10-14th

The 2014 Realms Faire and joust is coming. What? Yes, it's time to think about polishing off your lances and your huzzahs. The faire is November 10-14 this year.

2014 Events:

The Joust, hosted by M. Pax

Soak-a-bloke and Drench-a-wench, hosted by Christine Rains

Stockade Brigade, hosted by Mary Waibel

Dueling Bards, hosted by Cas Web

Riddle Me This, hosted by Cherie Reich

Phasers, hosted by Untethered Realms

Interested in hosting an event? Would love to have you join us.  This will be the third online joust and the faire has been a blast for hosts and attendees. If you'd like to host an event and are looking for ideas, I have a few.  This is also the sign up for knights. The joust is limited to 10. And if you'd like to be a sponsor by providing a prize, you can use this same sign up. Want to know more before you sign up? You can email me at mpaxauthor@gmail.com

Sign up!

 

Preorder Giveaway!

Preorder Twisted Earths and get your choice of an Untethered Realms' authored book for free with proof of purchase. For proof of purchase, you can do a screenshot of where you ordered the book. Send this screenshot along with which book you'd like for free (click here for our book list) to untetheredrealms@gmail.com.

Preorder at Amazon, Smashwords, iTunes, B&N, and Google Play!

Two Books for a Buck Special!

Try book one for free!

Download from: Amazon / AmazonUK / B&N / Smashwords /Googleplay / iTunes / Other

Take advantage of the preorder special on book 2, The Initiate. Only 99 cents via preorder from Amazon, iTunes, B&N, and Googleplay. Preorder

That's two books for one buck! But only for a limited time.

For more giveaways and events on the launch of the Rifters series visit MPax's Blog and THIS PAGE

September books & articles with 

Catherine Stine's commentary

  

As writers we like advice from people who have walked the walk. Even better if it's FREE! Authors Carrie Butler and PK Hrezo have compiled "Letters of Advice to my Younger Writer Self" from 60+ authors in this fascinating book, How I Found the Write Path.  FREE on AMAZON & B&N.

This quirky cooking/advice book on writing and love is the brainchild of author, Lois Winston. Catherine shares words of advice on love and writing with a recipe for a tasty fruit pastry.

Get the ebook from Amazon, Nook, iTunes. Amazon paperback here. The blurb:

What do most authors have in common, no matter what genre they write? They love desserts. Sweets sustain them through pending deadlines and take the sting out of crushing rejection letters and nasty reviews. They also often celebrate their successes—selling a book, winning a writing award, making a bestseller list, or receiving a fabulous review—with decadent indulgences. And when authors chat with each other, they often talk about their writing and their lives. Recipes. Writing. Relationships. In this cookbook 105 authors not only share their favorite recipes for fabulous cakes, pies, cookies, candy, and more, they also share the best advice they’ve ever received on love and writing.

Catherine's commentary on marketing tactics for indie authors is included in the latest issue of Publisher's Weekly! Check it out here.

Her new adult novel, Private Internship launches on September 29. It's not exactly spec fiction (although, let's face it, love is often magical or freaky), but if you'd like to join the Facebook party on OCT 2, from 6 to 11 pm (EST) you're all invited! And stay tuned for her YA horror, Dorianna, launching October 24 with a spooktastic Facebook party and giveaways from some of your fave Untethered Realms authors! 

Okay, just got the cover for Dorianna... wanna see? You get the first peek!!!

Big Geeky News

Christine Rains has signed a 3 book contract with Ellora's Cave for their special line "Geekgasm." Her hilarious and nerdy trilogy is called Dice & Debauchery. It's about an online gaming group meeting for the first time at a convention and the crazy fun that follows. The stories are full of geeky jokes, sweet romance, and sizzling erotica. The first book, "Loose Corset" will be released on January 9th, 2015.

 

 

 

New Release!

 

Gwen Gardner has another new release on 9/22. The same quirky characters from her Indigo Eady novels are back to solve mysteries, only now they're working directly with the ghosts via some very special majick. Pre-order HERE.