Wednesday, January 15, 2020

New World by Liza O'Connor



                            NEW WORLD

                                Blurb
With much of Earth burning presently, soon Earth will fall into a very long ice age.
Fortunately, a group of women, men, half-saires, and one full-saire are hidden on a lovely island. The full-saire has a spaceship capable of leaving Earth and traveling to a more reliable planet that never grows too cold or hot.
However, when they arrive, the planet looks much like prehistoric Earth, with giant reptiles everywhere. Fortunately, Keelan and Tiburon are strong and mighty warriors. By noon, they have killed most of the deadly creatures that their life bubble protects. They also saved the life of a twelve-foot chicken-like creature who turns out to be sentient and a great help when locating dangers.
The two warriors were able to remove most of the T-Rexes as well. Only two had to be killed for refusing to leave their valley. Thus, they have survived day one.
But how long will their bullets and luck hold out?

EXCERPT
3. Fear sets in, due to all the crap they brought.

Finally, the ship was ready, the skies were clear, and the winds were calm. Jesse had not realized how much had to be right before a ship could take flight...or whatever it did to pop into the space next to their new home.
After serving the children an early breakfast, Jesse and Keelan led them to the invisible spacecraft which he had moved near the mansion so they would not have to go into the jungle. Still, it took several hours to properly secure each child in their soft cocoon attached to the wall. Per Enigma’s instructions, which only Keelan heard, the children were soon safely secured, but unhappy with the tight cocoons that prevented any movement.
While Jesse tried to sooth and calmed the children, Keelan returned to their beautiful home and rounded up the adults.
“Where exactly is this ship? Mechel demanded.
Keelan turned off the cloaking devise so they could see the ship.
Unfortunately, seeing the mass of junk attached to the exterior of the ship seemed to terrify them more.
Keelan attempted to calm them with assurances.
“While the hop from one place to another will not harm the massive amount of crap strapped to the ship, the ascension from earth and descension on their new planet would rip everything to pieces if not for a bubble device that I will  activate around the ship, leaving only the exhaust sections of the main rocket uncovered.
Now everyone was reconsidering the wisdom in going to an unknown planet in such a poorly built ship. Many now stated a wish to burrow into the Earth for the rest of their lives.
Keelan tried to assure them that the bubble device would keep them safe during both entry and landing. Unfortunately, many of the adults didn’t believe him.
Keelan was most put out. “I realize none of you have the competency to grasp the concepts of true space travel, but my existence here on this planet should be sufficient for you to believe space travel is possible.”
“Excellent point. How do we know you actually came from space?” Kyle challenged.
Tiburon glared at Kyle. “I have seen the ship from inside. It is far beyond our comprehension, but our inability to actually fly this ship is no reason to hide underground. I dare say none of you can fly an airplane, but you don’t question whether a plane can fly!”
“We don’t have time for this nonsense,” Keelan yelled. “Jesse and the children are already secured inside. Either enter the ship or stay here.”
Fifteen feet above them, large metal doors opened and a ramp extended to the ground. Jesse stood in the entrance. She spoke to the adults outside. “We have worked so hard to go to a better home. Why are you doubting this is the right path now?”
“This island is a good place to live,” Kyle yelled. “Why do we need to go anywhere else?”
Mike stood next to his father. “I agree that we should wait until there is a true need to leave.”
Jesse stared at her frightened family. “We cannot predict the exact moment this planet will cease to be a haven for humans, but the signs are already here. Why are you doubting this is our best chance for survival?”
She focused on David, then Carmella. “You two may be the smartest people on Earth. How can you wish to go underground for the rest of your lives than to blink across two galaxy’s and create a new home in a better place?”
David chuckled. “Oh, I’m going. This is too enticing not to do.” He then turned to the others. “I know you are all concerned about dying. But we will eventually die, no matter what we do. Now, you can stay here and die a gruesome death of starvation since I never filled the bins with food, or you can join a grand adventure.”
“Why didn’t you fill the bins?” Kyle demanded.
“Because we had all agreed going to a new world was better. I’m aware that many of you are shocked at the external shabbiness of the ship’s appearance. It disturbed me as well. Had they not put the bubble around it, I would still be concerned. But they have confined all our messy junk we insisted on taking, and I believe it can do its job.”
“But is it not safer to stay here?”
“The answer is no on many levels. First, you will run out of food within a month. Second, this island will be underwater in less than two years. Third, without Jesse’s soothing nature, you will all be fighting within a week.




About the Author
   Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens in a myriad of genres.

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Monday, January 13, 2020

Personal blog: Gallifrey falls no more



Sorry, this isn't a blog about Doctor Who. The title will make sense, I assure you.

Recently I wrote a downer but true blog about how I was feeling. I didn't post the link on my social media but I didn't want to leave such a sour note on here. Yes, I am doing much better and am in a better mental state than I was when I last updated here.

How I was feeling was deeply affecting my husband. It was affecting so many aspects of our lives it wasn't fair to him. It broke my heart hearing him confess that he was afraid it was going to damage our relationship. I just couldn't let that continue. It took some soul searching to pull me out of the funk.Instead of focusing on the bad, I found the good again. My positive nature eventually won out.

There's a reason why people make new years resolutions. A new year feels like a fresh slate, a clean notebook waiting for the pen. Suddenly I couldn't wait to fill pages with my purple ink marks. I don't have to wallow. I can take control. A new shift bid will be coming out soon at work that will help with feeling like all I do is work and sleep. In the meantime, we started on a better daily routine that has been a huge help. All my life, time management has been a huge problem for me, but it's getting better.

Also after a few missteps, I have started back on the keto lifestyle. I just want to physically feel good again and today I started that journey. The first goal is to be under 200 pounds by Valentine's Day. Got 30 days to lose the first 15. I think that's manageable.

I will carve more time out to write. Ember has been getting in my ear lately, painting a beautiful picture of the fourth book. I can't wait to start exploring it more. Soon I will have three lovely new covers to update on the Mirror series with. I also plan to update the paperback so expect a new post about that soon!

I really am feeling better about myself and the new year. I am excited for the challenges that lie ahead with the next few months.

The Doctor thought his world was gone. All he had left was a painting depicting its destruction. I felt that in my heart over the last month or so. Like what was good in me had vanished and all was left was a shell. But he learned that all was not lost, his planet and his people was restored. Today, I am that painting. No longer a shell of who I was, but a shining example of what I am and will become. Gallifrey Falls No More

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

New year, same me

Last day of the year is usually the time most of us get retrospective. Everything we have gone through, what we want to accomplish next year. New years resolutions. I believe I said it last year, I don't set resolutions. I make goals. This year, I don't even feel like I have that in me.

I had lost over 80 pounds. Then I had to have surgery and derailed everything. I got lazy and complacent. When I tried to get back on it, I didn't lose any weight, just maintained, but that was okay. I was happy where I was. Then came the excuses. It's too hot to cook. I don't have time to meal prep. Went on vacation. Wasn't going to stick to keto while I was in Florida. Come on! It's Disney, bring on the sugary goodness! Came back, said I was going back to my dietary lifestyle. Got strep. Oh, here comes the holidays. Why restrict myself around Thanksgiving and Christmas?

I gained nearly all the weight I had lost back in slightly over 5 months.

I felt awful. Upset at myself for giving in when I was so strong for so long. I had fully embraced the keto lifestyle, it was more than a diet. Then I fell back into the same nasty routine that got me overweight to begin with. The health problems returned. I work in a call center and while reviewing one with my manager, I could hear how heavy my breathing was. My asthma was back. I was tired all the time. The migraines have returned and seriously kick me in the tail. Woke up one morning barely able to move because my back was in so much pain. I wouldn't even take Christmas pictures with my family because of my failures. I became someone who would ask how someone was doing as I was walking away, not because I didn't want to know their answer, but because I didn't want them to ask how I was doing. I just wanted to hide.

I stopped caring about myself. I'm not even sure when that happened. I began to feel resentful. I'm always someone who puts others before myself but even then, I allowed myself to fall so far down I couldn't see it. My husband does. He sees the change in me and is worried.

It's more than just the weight gain, although that's the easiest thing to see and point at. I feel insignificant to just about everyone but my husband. I feel like I could disappear and no one would notice. I wouldn't really be thought of either. Not by friends or most of my family. I would cross Brad's and a handful of others minds. I couldn't pull myself out of my funk to send the "Merry Christmas!" texts. Of course, I was working anyways. Some of my friends reading this will suddenly remember that I didn't text them. Then they will remember they didn't text me either. Or they will check to see if I had texted. Anyways, will be working on New Years as well. Can't even ring in 2020 with the person I love most.

I have failed so much and so hard this year that the little victories don't seem to matter. I don't matter in the grand scheme of things. Times when I'm in a genuine good mood seem fleeting. All too often my smile is fake, unable to fully meet someone's gaze out of shame. Shame for my failures, shame for how I feel. All too often I push through, having to gear up for the fight that's inside my head. It's exhausting.

I'm middle of the road at best. Decent enough writer for some to have purchased a few of my books. Decent enough employee, but not great enough to really be considered for other opportunities down the line. Always just average or just below. What's the point in working hard anyway if in the end you don't even get the satisfaction of a job well done?

It's doubtful I will post a link on Facebook or Twitter to blog. Although maybe I should, if only for those who care to know what I've been going through for a while. I'm writing this because I feel like if I don't, these thoughts will drown me. Mouthfuls of water gurgling to get out before disappearing under the bubbles. This isn't for sympathy or a chorus of "Of course you matter!" comments. I'm not looking for affirmation. I just don't want to drown. Maybe if someone else reads this who is going through something similar will know that I understand. And I'm here. Just bobbing at the water's edge.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

The Enemy Within by Liza O'Connor


THE ENEMY WITHIN
                                                By Liza O’Connor
                                                       Book3

                                                                                 BLURB

MAC, the computer that controls the SkyRyder Corp discovers that soldiers within its ranks wish to stop its Breeding Project to make superior flyers. When a great many of these special talents are murdered over a two-week span, MAC quickly gathers the remaining assets, modifies their fingerprints and alters their looks, then sends them to the last place in the world that anyone would look for them.
Welcome to Fort Dismal, Alaska,
The absolute worst fort in the Americas.

 

EXCERPT

Eliza woke to excruciating pain. However, beyond the pain, she could feel someone holding her hand. She opened her eyes to a very worried Captain Hudson. She was disappointed it was not the colonel, but he was a battle soldier. She could not expect him to spend his time waiting for her to wake up. She tried to smile at Captain Hudson but smiling hurt her lips too much.
“Don’t try to talk,” he said. “I just want you to know that the girls who hurt you are no longer here. You are completely safe now. I’ve brought you both paper and pencil.” He smiled. “I know you will be terribly bored, sitting here with nothing to do. Therefore, I’ve placed a mathematical problem on each of the pages to keep that wonderful brain of yours challenged.”
She wrote, thank you, on the paper.
He pressed her hand to his lips. “You are more than welcome, Eliza. I only wish I could have prevented this.”
“She’s awake?” Colonel Polanski’s voice spoke from the door. Just the sound of his voice brought a smile to her face, which caused her to groan in pain.
The colonel leaned over her, examining her face. “I know you’re in pain, but it’s damn good to see you awake.”
Captain Hudson excused himself, giving Eliza’s hand a gentle squeeze before leaving.
The colonel stroked her hair. “I see I’m not the only one you’ve mesmerized,” he teased. “Well, lucky for him, he will be accompanying you to your new place of residence. Captain Hudson’s job will be to make certain you remain focused on your studies, and my job is to ensure you are safe and secure.”
Eliza stared at him in surprise and then wrote her question on her pad: Am I not going to college then?
“No, this attempt on your life has MAC concerned. He wants you better protected, and I’ve been assigned the onerous task.”
She wrote: It will be a task requiring frequent rewards.
He smiled. “I imagine it will.” Then his eyes saddened. “But first you must heal.”
For a bunch of girls, they sure did hit hard.
His face turned dark and frightening. She imagined this was the man the enemy faced. She squeezed his hand bringing back the man with the sparkling eyes.

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About the Author
Liza O’Connor lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, skydive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet throughout her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels.

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