Author Teresa Geering

Hello my little chickadees

Recently on the Thorstruck FB page I came across a lovely fella called Jeff Blackmer. Like me he was a sort of Billie no mates. It came about due to all the Thorstruck authors 'buddying up' to assist each other in the editing process. i.e. "You edit my book and I'll reciprocate by editing yours."

Jeff and I both realised that we had nothing sitting waiting for editing so we decide to blog each other instead and hold up on the buddying system until later. It's my turn to blog him first and then he's going to turn the tables on me. So then first of all a little bit of info on the man himself. Take it away Jeff...

Nice relaxed picture by the way....

Having lived there almost all his life, where he and his wife raised their four children, Jeff is pleased to call Portland, Oregon, his home. In retrospect it was almost perfect synchronicity; a very early passion for reading and writing, growing up just a few blocks from the library, in a city well known for its many bookstores; what other vocational choice made sense but writer?

Early indications predicted Jeff would focus on science fiction since he devoured all the local library had to offer. After begging his mother to use her typewriter at age eight he even began to write his first story, but the stories of Ray Bradbury threw an element of fantasy into the mix, and a sudden and unexpected fascination with ancient history added yet another dimension to his ideas.

After receiving his BA in English with a minor in writing he worked for several years as a technical writer, but the novels would wait no longer. He published Draegnstoen, a historical fantasy, in early 2011, followed by the sequel Highland King before the end of that same year. Gears of Uriel goes into far greater depth with spiritual ideas first hinted at in Highland King. The first of a trilogy, the next one being Tyrian. Jeff hopes to someday get back around to Science Fiction, this time without the typewriter.

So tell us about your books then Jeff?

Product Details

I’m an author of Historical Fiction/Fantasy with two novels published on Amazon; Draegnstoen andHighland King. Both of these novels are set in 5th century Britain. I enjoy looking for times and places in history where there are ‘gaps’, niches were there may be untold stories, where, if told well, seem as if they could have actually happened.

I’m also doing final edits on my latest novel, Gears of Uriel, another historical fiction/fantasy with a spiritual/metaphysical flavour to it. It’s somewhat different, but I've already begun the sequel to it – Tyrian.

Preface to Gears of Uriel

I was supposed to be a Science Fiction writer. This genre consumed my childhood and teenage years. I read every single science fiction novel at my local library and my great desire was to add more to the canon of Asimov, Clarke, and Bradbury.

But a few unexpected things happened. Ray Bradbury flavored my science fiction with fantasy; and the fantasy found other paths to explore.

I developed an intense interest in history; not all history, but certain times and peoples called out to me and I desired to tell their stories. I wrote Draegnstoen, a Historical Fiction/Fantasy, and Highland King, the sequel.

Then I had an unexpected spiritual awakening which took me away from organized religion and brought me to my own individual spiritual journey. This story, The Gears of Uriel, is the first of three books to metaphorically discuss that journey.

There is a device, which I learned about a few years ago, constructed of brass gears, called the Antikythera Mechanism. It was discovered in the midst of a shipwreck, in 1901, off the coast of Antikythera, Greece. For many years no one had any idea of what it was or did. However, not too many years ago, scientists determined this apparatus was constructed around 150 BC and when functional, accurately predicted the motions of Earth, the Moon and known planets as they orbited the sun. After carefully studying it, scientists built an exact replica and found it is accurate even now, able to predict the location of planets and future eclipses. The original is on display in the Archeological Museum in Athens, Greece.

The Antikythera Mechanism is an anachronism, as unusual as finding a laptop computer among the ruins of an early American ghost town. No one knows its story, but to me it was an ideal metaphor for telling this tale of inspiration; of truth in an age of ever increasing ignorance. It was the perfect vehicle for telling my story.

So there you have it folks and if you're into fantasy as I am you will love this series of books I'm sure.

Here are the links to Jeff's books for you.

Link to Jeffs books on Amazon

Laters potaters

Hello my chickadees

Well I was in this small Cessna being flown over Africa and wouldn't you know my luck. It took a nose dive. We all survived of course, but landed in a vast amount of grassland and scrub. (for want of a better word) Fortunately, I was able to rescue my back pack, which included my pith helmet, machete (lord knows what I would want that for) and hiking boots. High heels and designer dresses just don't cut it out here. So with a cheery wave to my fellow survivors, I set off to find my intended quarry. A wild, but lovable creature that never sleeps. As it happens, we were quite close to where we intended to land and if that damn pilot had stayed off the booze we might well have made it. With bottle in one hand, he raises his hat to me in fond farewell as he sinks to the ground to sleep it off.

Geared out in my touristy clothes I begin to trudge over the scrub land, occasionally wondering if I'm mad. My inner voice in true '50 Shades' fashion sez "you know you are woman. Get over it." So critical at times is my inner voice. Anyway it's getting hotter as it's now midday and I stop for a drink from my water flask. Yes it's water, sighs... Looking around I can see a cordoned off area which looks a bit like an animal park. Trekking over that way I become side tracked by the sound of running water. Eventually I come across a waterhole, based at the bottom of a waterfall. It's magnificent and just pouring out from the rock and grass. I sit for a while enjoying the coolness of the water. I can see a small hut close by to the animal park, and I know that I have to check it out. It could of course house my quarry, but only time will tell. Getting closer, I hear a strange clicking sound.With great trepidation I slowly push open the door and there sitting at a desk laden with computer equipment and paperwork is ..... Author Poppet!! Pencil propped behind her ear.

"Hello Tee you found me then. I do like to come out here in the solitude to work from time to time"

After all the usual niceties we got down to business and she updates me on all her past and current work. Poppet has at least 50 books to her name (just Goggle her name) but she was keen to talk about this particular one. A new kid on the block which escaped in August...

Scarlet Vamporium – YA Paranormal Romance

It's an Audiobook, Paperback, and EBook, and Poppet promised to give me the links after I'd read through an excerpt. I thought you might like to have a squiz at it as well, but first take a read of the 'blurb'...

..........Ellie is exiled to Glencoe for misbehaving in Cape Town. On her first day there she meets Douglas MacLeod and attraction ignites. His ancestor married a fairy so it's not hard for him to accept that she's different; his best mate Roddy has other ideas.

Fighting uncles and aunts, demons and angels, Ellie and Douglas forge a love that will last a lifetime in the shadow of his forefather's castle. From Dunvegan Castle to the Devil's Staircase, this Scottish romance will capture your heart. Love is bittersweet, complicated, and heartbreaking. Only a MacLeod can love a vampire like Ellie.

This is a love story with death threats, secret lairs, and a couple who are desperate to stay together no matter how many try to pull them apart........

Cool huh? Here is the excerpt:

This day is the longest I've ever lived. I started it a simple lad and have ended it with a complete paradigm shift.

Ma superstitions ha'e been confirmed and instead of terrifying the livin' daylights outtae me, it exhilarates me.

Lifting her so her feet dangle, I kiss her until I'm breathless and my hearing is dulled by oxygen deprivation. It feels right with her arms locked around my neck, tilting her head back and laughing softly into my mouth.

“You're going to get me into lots of trouble, I just know it,” she smiles, her voice lilting with emotion.

“Ah'm innocent. Don't be accusing me of instigatin'. I just met an unusual lass while out fishin' and she decided tae turn ma tranquil world upside down.”

Pressing a last kiss on my mouth, she stokes ma Celtic blood tae near boilin'. “You have to go or we'll never be awake in time to go cheer Roddie to victory.”

Firmly kissing her, with all ma might I squeeze her curves in a crush tae me, loathe tae release her. I finally set her feet back on the ground, refusin' tae say good-bye. I cannae say how final this feels, or how much I dinnae want tae go. I dinnae want tae leave her, I want tae take her with me, tae flee her mad family and escape tae somewhere safe.

Giving her hand a squeeze, I take the four steps tae the car, turning back to drink her in before leaving.

Hidden behind the open door I imprint her image in ma soul; hip long thick hair the colour of spider silk, elegant legs in slinky black jeans, and eyes sparkling like two clear pools on a starlit night.

This isnae farewell. It cannae be. I won't let it be.

Blowing me a kiss with a swollen pout, her smile widens, and then she's gone and I'm standin' here alone smiling at a tree like a numpty.

The air blusters and the hairs on the back of ma neck raise. Hinging tae the spot ma instincts holler from, I spy the two poker red eyes advancing toward me from the thickets, stampeding through the trees.

I dinnae ha'e tae even think about it, I dive intae the car, punch the engine into frantic life, and slam the gear shift intae reverse, scooting backwards downhill without the lights on, prayin I don't hit anythin'.

The whack of angry palms on the trunk force me tae jam my foot on the brake, the lights flaring hellish red intae the dark.

Looking forward, the dude from her garden is already at the grill, leaning both hefty arms ontae the hood and glowering at me through the thin glass separation' us.

His focus flicks tae the front of the car where the other shadow blocks ma escape, and ma leg starts jitterin' compulsively where it depresses the brake pedal. The sidhe growl shakes the metal and plastic interior, rippling through the car like thunder.

Standing straight, he flicks something at the windscreen, and I duck instinctively, shunting intae neutral tae prevent stallin', but it dies anyway. Waiting fer somethin' tae happen, it takes me three seconds tae look back up again, straight at the card stuck tae the glass.

Looking back at the other figure, the hulking shadow stumbles around and yanks ma door open, big hands clamping ontae ma jacket and hauling me out. The car starts rolling without ma foot on the brake and I struggle against ma assailant, smashing my forehead intae his nose, my leg coming up of its own volition tae knee him hard.

His grasp slackens with the impact and I break free, bolting efter the car, divin' in and yanking up the hand-brake. I've barely had time tae catch ma breath when a hand finds purchase in ma jean's waistband and I'm flung backwards with force, impacting brutally with a tree trunk.

“No more shite Doug, ye've got some explainin' tae dae.”

Shaking ma heid, clearing ma vision, I shunt forward using the tree as a brace, ramming my shoulder intae him, forcing him backwards on the slippery mulch, all the way back tae the vehicle.

“Get in. If ye want tae live get the hell intae the car and let's just go!” I yell, not caring what he does, I'm just trembling tae get away from that man with the red eyes and deep voice.

Starting the engine again, flicking the lights on, I pause while I stare at the nine of diamonds, terror quelling my hope that everythin' will work out with Ellindt.

Roddie slams his door closed tae glare at me, then he looks at the windscreen.

We look back at each other not knowing what tae dae.

“Floor it, Doug.” His voice is shakin' and he's paler than pyre ash.

Swallowing hard, I nod, slamming the car back intae reverse and zooting backwards down the rustic path, all the way down, backing ontae the road. Shiftin' intae first gear, I pump ma foot on the accelerator tae speed away, shunting intae second gear, then third, my heart racing faster than the pistons.

Darin' tae look in the rear-view mirror I see them standin' side by side in the middle of the road, their bright eyes glowing intae the predawn and siphoning the sanctity out of ma soul.

The damn nine of diamond's is still stuck on the windscreen and I wind down ma window, scrabbling tae get it off. Finally gripping it I flop back in ma seat and quickly close the window, flicking the card ontae the dashboard.

“Who was that?” Roddie asks me, his voice still trembling, looking behind us while we race away.

“A long gruesome death.”

Glancing from the road to the rear-view mirror, and back tae the card, dread fills ma body like a deathly opiate.

The nine of diamonds is the Curse of Scotland. It's the promise of massacre and death.

Did you enjoy that? I hope so and here is the stunning book cover.