Author: jccassels

Max Fragg V.P.I.

On By jccasselsIn Author Spotlight, Cover RevealLeave a comment

Tucked between the shadows and the night, standing in a darkened corner of the room, Maxx Fragg watched the young couple huddled on the couch. They had no idea what he had in store for them. He almost felt sorry. Almost. He watched as Travis stroked Debbie’s hand and whispered something in her ear. Maxx locked eyes with her as he moved across the apartment. He saw the desperation mixed with fear in her eyes and he grinned. He liked it that way. Pulling a pair of gloves from his belt, Maxx cinched them tight around his wrists. The rush of adrenaline rose up from his chest. This was far from his first job but he still got a thrill each time. He clicked off the lamp and the room went black.

Debbie gasped. “Can’t we leave a few lights on?”

“I prefer to work in the dark. It helps me concentrate,” Maxx said. It really didn’t matter but he felt it intensified the experience.

“I think I’d rather see what’s coming.” Travis pulled a cushion on his lap, clutching the fabric.

“Why? You expecting a pillow fight?” Maxx dropped the equipment bag slung over his shoulder.

Debbie jumped. “What are you going to do with that?”

“What I’m being paid to do. My job.” Maxx nodded across the room to his partner, who shook his head in disapproval. Bending next to the couch, Maxx slowly unzipped the bag. He was close enough to see the goose bumps on Debbie’s arm rise with each click.

“I don’t care what it takes. Just get that thing out of my house,” Travis said.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be ghost free in no time.” Maxx knew his clients needed to believe he could make it better, take away their fears. If only it was that simple. Everyone wanted to name the night, put a label on their personal horrors. He wished someone could shut the door to the monsters in his own closet.

pasted image 0 (1)Maxx Fragg, V.P.I.
S.A. Check
Genre: Young Adult / Sci-fi / Paranormal
Release Date:09/03/15
Publisher Ink Smith Publishing

Cover Designer: Macy Stom

When Maxx lost his brother in a car accident, his world fell apart.  It didn’t help he was driving the car when it happened.  Finding an escape inside the virtual world of Other Syde, Maxx runs the Maxx Fragg Virtual Paranormal Investigative Agency with his best friend, Tane. But in a world where dreams become reality, can nightmares be far behind?
When a real ghost attacks Maxx inside the program, he’s saved by the last person he ever expected to see again, his brother. Risking everything for a chance to say he’s sorry, Maxx, Tane, and Maxx’s almost-girlfriend Emi, need to figure out why real ghosts are haunting a virtual world while on the run from a murderous cyber-geist, high-tech security guards, a corrupt corporation with their own plans for the technology, the recluse genius who created the program, and Maxx’s own demons.
About the Author

 

Saturday Snippet: Jail Time Part 4

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS10 Comments

It’s  Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. Snippets of ten to fifteen sentences designed to reel you and leave you screaming for more!

We’re back with a young Blade Devon, a 23 year-old special forces combat veteran home on medical leave (or has he gone AWOL?) When they arrested him, he had three forms of ID on him, each in a different name. He’s been booked under the name Dev Fossey and he already made believers out of the other miscreants sharing the holding cell with him.  Unlike the other miscreants in holding, Blade has a straight-arrow brother who’s posted his bond. Now all Blade has to do is not kill anyone before he’s remanded into his brother’s custody. That may be the most difficult task ahead of him.

***

With one insistent tug, the guard dragged him out of his thoughts. His boots felt like someone had activated gravity plates as he stumbled the first few steps, trying to match the other man’s pace down the hallway.

It would be so easy to overpower the man beside him and free himself.

Elbow to the face. Cut off air supply with the binder chain. One quick twist of the head to snap the neck. Sharp blow just so on the hinge…

Fine beads of perspiration broke out on his forehead.

Blade lifted his gaze to the surveillance network tucked into the ceiling.

Disable the power supply by shoving the broken edge of the binder into the servomotor and set up a chain reaction of power failures along the line.

They passed a transparisteel observation cage with another guard inside. An NS‐10 energy rifle leaned against the wall behind him.

Blade clenched his jaw so tightly a muscle twitched in protest.

***

There’s more, but this was all I could swing for this snippet. Come back next week for more! In the mean-time, I’m going to spend my days feverishly working on BARRON’S LAST STAND. If you’re interested in reading more about Blade, you can pick up your ebook copies of SOVRAN’S PAWN and HERO’S END for Nook and Kindle at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or you can follow the links to the right over there.

If you’d like to read a sneak peek at BARRON’S LAST STAND you can find the first chapter at the end of HERO’S END and here on my website.

The Website Twitter Doesn’t Want You To See

On By jccasselsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

After all these years, Twitter has flagged the website for Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday as being automated or spam and won’t let us post the link. What is so subversive about a bunch of Science Fiction and Fantasy writers posting snippets of their work? Please share and spread the word. This is censorship!!!

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Saturday Snippet: Jail Time Part 3

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS8 Comments

It’s  Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. Snippets of ten to fifteen sentences designed to reel you and leave you screaming for more!

We’re back with a young Blade Devon, a 23 year-old special forces combat veteran home on medical leave (or has he gone AWOL?) When they arrested him, he had three forms of ID on him, each in a different name. He’s been booked under the name Dev Fossey and he already made believers out of the other miscreants sharing the holding cell with him.  Unlike the other miscreants in holding, Blade has a straight-arrow brother who’s posted his bond. Now all Blade has to do is not kill anyone before he’s remanded into his brother’s custody. That may be the most difficult task ahead of him.

***

Blade glanced around for any other last-minute confrontations. The other men in the holding cell suddenly found their nails or the cracked floor completely engrossing. Blade nodded to the guard.

A hollow thump, followed by a shrill plink echoed through the cell as the lock disengaged. The guard tugged the heavy door aside. It rattled on its rails as it slid open.

With outward docility, Blade presented his hands for the requisite manacles. Once the heavy, metal binders clicked shut around his wrists, the guard took hold of his arm in a painful grip.

Instinctively, his biceps flexed against the insistent fingers digging into him. Taking a deep breath he slowly released it, focusing on relaxing and meekly submitting. Adrenaline pumped through his body as his will battled to suppress his training.

***

There’s more, but this was all I could swing for this snippet. Come back next week for more! In the mean-time, I’m going to spend my days feverishly working on BARRON’S LAST STAND. If you’re interested in reading more about Blade, you can pick up your ebook copies of SOVRAN’S PAWN and HERO’S END for Nook and Kindle at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or you can follow the links to the right over there.

If you’d like to read a sneak peek at BARRON’S LAST STAND you can find the first chapter at the end of HERO’S END and here on my website.

Saturday Snippet: Jail Time Part 2

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS9 Comments

It’s  Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. Snippets of ten to fifteen sentences or less are yours for the reading!

While I keep working on BARRON’S LAST STAND here is the next segment of a Blade Devon short that I’m REALLY excited about. This is Blade during the darkest period of his life, after his stint with the Inner Circle and before his fame in holofeatures. Suffering from PTSD, Blade is drifting through self-destruction, picking fights, gambling, and getting arrested. Last week we met him as he was preparing to leave the holding cell, but he was interrupted by a thug who promised that his boss Deo was going to kill Blade.

***

Blade glanced at the unconscious lump of hairy muscle and filthy leathers that lay on the floor then he smiled at the posturing little tough in front of him. “I’m heartbroken,” he said. “After all Deo’s pretty promises? He said he was going to make me his bitch.” He tsked and shook his head. “You bangers can be so fickle.”

Blade’s smile faded.

“When Deo comes to, you can tell him I said to take a number and wait his turn,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “He’s going to die soon enough. No sense rushing it on my account.”

The Tenpa’s bravado crumbled. The color drained from his face and he swallowed hard. Slowly, he eased back onto the flat of his feet, his shoulders hunched protectively as he lowered his gaze. He backed out of Blade’s way.

***

If you’re interested in reading more about Blade, you can pick up your ebook copies of SOVRAN’S PAWN and HERO’S END for Nook and Kindle at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or you can follow the links to the right over there.

If you’d like to read a sneak peek at BARRON’S LAST STAND you can find the first chapter at the end of HERO’S END and here on my website.

Saturday Snippet: Jail Time

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS9 Comments

It’s  Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. Snippets of ten to fifteen sentences or less are yours for the reading!

Hi! I’m back…again! BARRON’S LAST STAND is coming along nicely and you’ve all been so patient with me. I thank you! Last time, I showed you a little snippet from one of Bo’s solo short stories. This time, I think Blade himself deserves equal time. So many of my readers have asked for a bit of back story on Blade Devon, so I thought I’d accommodate you.

This snippet is an opening salvo from a short story about a dark period in Blade’s life after his stint in the Inner Circle and before he started his holofeature career. In this short, Blade is around 23 years-old, and on medical leave home for the first time in seven years. He is no longer the young man who impulsively joined the Consular Guard at the age of 16. This Blade isn’t sure whether he goes by Dev Fossey or Blade Devon. He also is suffering from PTSD. So what does a man like Blade Devon do when he’s being self-destructive? He gambles, picks fights with dangerous thugs, and winds up in jail. That’s where we find  him in this snippet.

***

“Mister Fossey!”

The guard’s gruff tone gave way to annoyed impatience as he repeated himself for the fourth time.

Slowly peeling one eye open, Blade Devon peered at the guard who glowered at him from the other side of the thick metal grate.

The guard’s face flushed and a vein or two throbbed prominently on his forehead. “Look, you worthless piece of shit, your brother’s posted bond and you’re free to go! Don’t make me come get you!”

Blade slowly uncrossed his arms and stiffly climbed to his feet. It had taken some time for his back and buttocks to grow numb enough for the hard narrow bench and cold wall to be anything close to comfortable. Needles of sensation prickled through his backside and down his legs, protesting the change in position.

The other detainees shuffled quickly to clear a path for him. A greasy, little Tenpa, dressed in ragged gang leathers planted himself in front of Blade. His hands curled into fists. He slowly rolled onto the balls of his feet, lifting his chin as he strained to match Blade’s height. His scarred lips peeled back from discolored stumps of teeth in what passed as a sneer.

“When Deo wakes up, he’s go’n to hunt you do’n and kill you!”

***

If you’re interested in reading more about Blade, you can pick up your ebook copies of SOVRAN’S PAWN and HERO’S END for Nook and Kindle at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or you can follow the links to the right over there.

If you’d like to read a sneak peek at BARRON’S LAST STAND you can find the first chapter at the end of HERO’S END and here on my website.

Saturday Snippet: Efficient Prison Cell

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS13 Comments

Welcome to Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. Snippets of ten to fifteen sentences or less are yours for the reading!

Hi! I’m back for another round this week! It’s nice to be back for Saturday Snippets after all the busy writing on BARRON’S LAST STAND. I’m also working on a collection of short stories about Bo’s solo adventures after HERO’S END titled BARRON: A New Hero Rises. Today I give you a third and final look at one of those short adventures: DEVIL’S BARGAIN.

In the previous post, Bo And The Pirates, we met Gray, a thoroughly vile crime boss with whom Bo develops a complex relationship which carries through to BARRON’S LAST STAND. Gray has a cargo and personnel that he wants Bo to transport for him. The problem is, He offered her a laughable amount to do the job. In this snippet, Bo has taken the cargo and passengers on board and now has cause to regret her decision.

***

 

Throbbing pain slashed through her temples, bisecting her skull into two equally painful halves. Drawing a deep breath of stale air, Bo forced her eyes open.  Bile climbed into her throat as a wave of nausea crashed over her. Groaning, she turned her head, setting off a fresh explosion of fireworks in her head. At least if she vomited, she wouldn’t choke on it. She lay there, unmoving, breathing through the first crushing moments.

It was dark; black as deep space. She lay on her back, her knees bent to her chest. Bo tried stretching her legs out, but came up against a solid barrier. Reaching out with her hands, she measured the cramped space around her, finding there wasn’t enough room to stretch out her limbs or stand. Curling her hand into a fist, she banged against the barrier in the darkness. A hollow thump reverberated around her.

Cargo container.

It made an efficient prison cell.

***

If you’re interested in reading more about Bo, you can pick up your ebook copies of SOVRAN’S PAWN and HERO’S END for Nook and Kindle at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or you can follow the links to the right over there.

The first short story of the upcoming collection, THE OSTRA CHILD, was offered as a free download for Mother’s Day. Follow the highlighted title which links to the post that will tell you all about it and how to download.

If you’d like to read a sneak peek at BARRON’S LAST STAND you can find the first chapter at the end of HERO’S END and here on my website.

Saturday Snippet: Devil’s Bargain

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS14 Comments

Happy Fourth Anniversary to Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. Snippets of ten to fifteen sentences or less are yours for the reading!

Hi! I’m back! It’s nice to be back for Saturday Snippets after all the busy writing on BARRON’S LAST STAND. I’m also working on a collection of short stories about Bo’s solo adventures after HERO’S END titled BARRON: A New Hero Rises. Today I give you a second look at one of those short adventures: DEVIL’S BARGAIN.

In the previous post, Bo And The Pirates, we met Gray, a thoroughly vile crime boss with whom Bo develops a complex relationship which carries through to BARRON’S LAST STAND. Gray has a cargo and personnel that he wants Bo to transport for him. The problem is, He just offered her a laughable amount to do the job.

***

 

“You’re a liability, Barron,” he struggled to keep his voice to a hoarse whisper. “You top the Commonwealth’s most wanted list. I know you’re sucked dry of funds which is why you won’t meet groundside. I come to you with a good offer and you’re quibbling over price?”

Unperturbed, Bo lifted the glass to her lips and finished off her drink. The Gallis Rye burned its way down her throat and touched off a cozy bonfire in her chest. Setting the glass on the table with a solid clunk, she dropped her feet from the table. Her lips twisted in a small smile.

“You’re right,” she said. “I’ve got a price on my head that would make it worth my while to turn myself in.”

She leaned forward, bracing her forearm on the table. Her other hand dipped to cover the butt of the antique blaster strapped to her right thigh.

“There are plenty of other pilots and ships out there who can fly this job for you,” she went on. “If you’re coming to me, either you’re setting me up to collect on the reward, or you have a job that requires Barron Clan skills and I’m not just a Barron, I am THE Barron. Either way, I’m worth a hell of a lot more than sixty thousand.”

***

If you’re interested in reading more about Bo, you can pick up your ebook copies of SOVRAN’S PAWN and HERO’S END for Nook and Kindle at Amazon or Barnes & Noble or you can follow the links to the right over there.

The first short story of the upcoming collection, THE OSTRA CHILD, was offered as a free download for Mother’s Day. Follow the highlighted title which links to the post that will tell you all about it and how to download.

If you’d like to read a sneak peek at BARRON’S LAST STAND you can find the first chapter at the end of HERO’S END and here on my website.

Where Can I Download Sovran’s Pawn For Free?

On By jccasselsIn Uncategorized1 Comment

I had an eye-opening experience last night. I found a discussion thread in which someone was trying to find out how to download my books for free. On one hand, I’m delighted that people want to read them. On the other, I feel as though I’ve just had my purse stolen.

I was conversing with an acquaintance the other day and she was bragging about how she’d illegally downloaded “thousands” of MP3 files. She couldn’t understand why I was aghast. Her rationale was that she couldn’t afford to download so many if she hadn’t found pirated sites. I couldn’t believe she couldn’t understand that she’d stolen from someone else.

You see, every book of mine that someone illegally downloads is a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread that is taken out of my kitchen. When my children stand at the checkout line and ask for a candy bar, it’s the difference between yes and no.

It doesn’t seem like much to the person who stole the book. THEY got a free book. It’s the world to my kids.

Put another way, how would you feel if you worked twelve or more hours a day for six months to a year for no pay and at the end when your check was due to come in, someone decided to help themselves to your wages. That is what piracy is, whether it’s MP3 files, book downloads, or the latest movies. The creative people who make the music, books, and films that others enjoy are entitled to just compensation for their labors.

I am not wealthy. I get no huge advance. My royalties would have to increase mightily to be considered modest. I can’t afford to absorb the losses incurred by book piracy and free downloads.

Please, if you feel you have to steal my book to read it, I’d rather not have you for a fan. I can’t afford you.

The Ostra Child

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles4 Comments

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It’s taken some creative doing, but to thank you for your patience, I am offering THE OSTRA CHILD as a free download in epub and Kindle formats. All you have to do is follow the link for your format (highlighted in blue) and it will take you directly to your download link. From there, you can transfer your copy of the short story to your reader.

***

It’s one thing to be The Commonwealth’s Most Wanted. It’s something else entirely to be The Commonwealth’s Most Wanted *and* a new mother. When Bo Barron is faced with motherhood as a wanted woman with a price on her head, there is really only one choice she can make to insure the safety of her child, and only one man she can turn to for help.

***

The Ostra Child is the first of a series of short stories chronicling Bo Barron’s life after HERO’S END which will appear in the upcoming short story collection – Barron: A New Hero Rises.