Author Spotlight, James K Burk

Let's Welcome Author

James K. Burk

Some of Mr. Burk's current works are:

"The Twelve"

Valtierra, a city-state, is governed by archetypes. Every two years they choose twelve men and women to wear the masks and to become the Wise Old Man, the Fool, the Mother, the Harlot, the Warrior, and the rest of the council. 

But now Valtierra faces hunger, decay, and an enemy on their border. When the need for leadership is greatest, one mask is worn by a foreigner and one mask hides a traitor.

"Strange Twist of Fate"

“SMOOTH ENTERTAINMENT FROM A BORN STORY-TELLER. Burk’s works are a pleasure to read. He gives you believable people in unbelievable circumstances. This creates an assured tone that tells you to relax, he knows what he’s doing. And you do relax, until he brings out the dentist’s drill. For a good time, read on!” —Rob Chilson, author of Black As Blood

“I truly enjoyed Jim Burk’s STRANGE TWISTS OF FATE. The word-smithing was very professional, the characters lived, and the stories themselves were a pleasure. Two of the four stories were written in the first person, in the manner of Raymond Chandler’s and Philip Marlow’s private eye stories, and Jim handled the narrative monologs exceptionally well. Very nicely done. Now if he will just sit himself back down at the keyboard and write some more...” —John Dalmas, author of Soldiers, The Lizard 

War, and Three-Cornered War

Here are a few works by Mr. Burk, himself...

"I have four works in the pipeline at this time. Two weird western novellas are on their way. and it was a pleasure using the western vernacular. In my younger days I was a Sunday gunman at an amusement park. The sequel to my fantasy, HIGH RAGE should be out in late summer or fall and is called TAKING HOPE. It's not just an elaboration of the first book but a three-years-after story in which the protagonist must take apart the kingdom that he's built. Another work due out within eighteen months is a science fiction with aliens who have their own aims and most of the humans, in a nod to reality, are either Chinese or Indian. The title is REDEMPTION and is concerned with a man who has to deal with his past to make his future."

More books by Mr. James K. Burk can be found at Amazon.com

Guest Blog Post, Nadia Kilrick

Let's all welcome Nadia Kilrick author of 

Escape: Rough Hewn Book 2

Thank you so much for having me over for a visit today, Y. Correa. I'd like to talk a little about my trilogy. Specifically, the second book, Escape. But, first, I'll give a little background on book one, and follow with a peek at the third.

Ultimately, this trilogy is the story of Carolyn Dunsmorrest Breckenship. It begins after the Revolutionary War in America. In the first installment, People of Kilmservy Village, two families journey from its Eastern shores to the green hills and valleys of Appalachia. Their search for a new life leads them to a lush river valley, surrounded by cave-laced mountains. Kilmservy Village springs from their hope of a better life for their children and grandchildren. This is a short story length introduction to the families of the trilogy. And, shows how their connections, secrets and burdens are carried through generations.

Escape moves the story forward nearly two hundred years, Carolyn, her parents lost in a suspicious accident, settles into her new life on the mountain above Kilmservy Village. Married to a man far more evil than even she could imagine, she makes the best of her situation. As a young wife to a man who lives as his father and grandfathers had, she is quiet and obliging, until certain death stares her in the face, and threatens to take away all that she loves. Her determination to keep secret that which she holds close, will prove more powerful than the most evil of men. 

The third Rough Hewn book finds Carolyn and her closest friends on the run. It remains to be seen whether their hiding place will be the safe shelter they expect it to be. Back on the mountain, the police continue to search for a serial killer – one who seeks to take, not only their lives, but what is even more dear to Carolyn and her friends. Book three will be released after the first of the year (2014). 

Here's an excerpt from Rough Hewn II: Escape:

Gabriel recalled talk of that room being the old man’s private study. The story was that the elder Breckenship kept a padlock on the door. The only person allowed in his study was his eldest son, Jim. Jim spent countless hours locked behind that door with his father. No one knew what they did in there. Once, when Jim was about ten, a telephone technician installing a new line to the study said he’d seen chains bolted to the floor with steel cuffs attached to the ends. The technician also told friends there was a hidden room behind one of the walls. A narrow room no more than four feet wide that ran the length of the back wall and extended under the staircase. He knew, he told them, because while drilling through the wall to run the line, a large piece of plaster fell through to the other side. Those were only stories, of course. No one had ever been inside to check it out, as far as Gabriel knew. I wonder if Carrie has seen anything in that room? 

Jim listened on the other side of the door to the spare room and tried the knob, but it didn't give. “Hey gal, are you asleep already?” Silence. With less restraint, he asked again. “Gal?” 

Inside the room, Carolyn sat on the side of the bed watching the doorknob jiggle, held her breath, and waited for him to go away. When the doorknob stopped moving, she heard Jim’s boots on the stairs. “Go to bed, go to bed, go to bed.” She murmured, willing him to go away. 

Gabriel continued to watch the house until the lights went out. Then, he watched for another two hours before crawling in his tent to sleep a few restless hours. When he emerged at daybreak, he grabbed his thermos and made his way to the perch near the ridge rock. It surprised him that the coffee was still warm, and he took a big swig of the warm liquid, before lifting the binoculars up to his eyes. There, on the front porch swing wrapped in a red, white, and blue quilt, was Carolyn. One elbow rested on the arm between the chains that suspended the swing from the roof. Her other hand pressed a cloth to her face. 

Escape at Amazon.com

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Some Cool Short Stories

So recently I've written a couple of really cool short stories.

The best part is that they are FREE!

Please enjoy!

Ryan

Smashword Free Download

Blurb:
A Short Story

Minnie has an enormous crush on Ryan. Everything about him makes her skin tingle. Without being able to control it, she finds herself daydreaming about him every single day.
What she would do to him if he were her's!

Loving... Them!

Smashwords Free Download

Blurb:
Odette seems to have a problem finding true love. The kind that fairy tales are made up of, the kind that inspires and changed a person.

Reminiscing, Odette tells us about the men she's loved and lost.