Writer's Revolution: Ambiguity

Showing posts with label Ambiguity. Show all posts

Friday, June 6, 2014

Allen Renfro Blurbs

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. This week our guest is an amazingly talented author, Allen Renfro.

Today we're going to highlight some of Allen's recent books.

The phone rings.

Will is glad he didn't go straight to bed after his shift. The call is probably Derek. After a night of bar hopping he’s probably too drunk to drive and needs a ride home.

At such a late hour Reverend Wallace wonders which elderly member of his congregation has died.

Nearly asleep Laura knows she shouldn't answer the phone in the middle of the night, but it could be her husband who is out of town.

They are wrong.

In the wake of a senseless and horrific crime a city is torn apart and a nation is in shock. As investigators delve into the lives of the suspect and the victims they unravel an even darker mystery. A grieving community will struggle to deal with the consequences of the secrets that are revealed. Secrets that will leave no life untouched.

Forced to come out of the closet to prove his innocence in a brutal murder, Detective Derek Cooper is warned by the police chief not to get involved in the case. Consumed with guilt, Derek knows he must unravel the secrets of his own drunken actions on the night of the murder in order to help find the killer. When he is asked to work with the detectives on the case he must face his own personal demons that he has ignored for years. As they struggle to solve the bizarre murder, Derek realizes the pieces of the puzzle won't fit and a more sinister element could be involved. He then realizes something even more frightening: he could be falling in love…

The Morrelini saga continues. Adam desperately tries to save his family through the blood of the second life. While he seeks the knowledge and understanding of the journey of the dead he senses a sinister presence watching him. Fearful for his family and his village he unknowingly summons the aid of all who have been changed by the blood. As the surviving victims of Antony's horrific experiments converge on Kensington old scores will be settled and secrets they have kept hidden will be revealed. But their desire for revenge will be overshadowed by armies of men determined to capture or destroy the powerful beings for their own purposes. They must join together to protect those they love from power hungry kings and from the coming wrath of their creator.

Churches are burning. People are being slaughtered. The country is petrified by a rogue criminal known as Killer Ghost who posts videos online of his brutal crimes. Danny, a young hustler, is rescued and befriended by a stranger. As if falling from the heavens the stranger he calls Blue Eyes is a dream come true offering Danny a chance to start a brand new life. Happiness is short lived when he realizes the stranger, tormented by horrific events in his past, could be the Killer Ghost determined to destroy everything and everyone in his way and avenge a past he did not deserve.

Adam O’Brien closed his eyes to go to sleep. When he woke four days later his world was gone. He was alone. His parents had disappeared. The gaping wound on his head and the scratches on his arms were the only testimony to a tragic horror. Waking in a room of luxury that seemed familiar he was greeted by Nicolas, a friendly stranger, who provided him a haven to rest and recuperate. It was not long before Adam realized something was very wrong and all that was held true was a lie. An unnatural presence lurked in the shadows, a force as strong as the devil. As Nicolas slowly offers Adam the answers he desperately seeks and reveals an unspeakable crime, Adam comes to understand that he is connected to a family cursed for thousands of years, born to bear a burden even they don’t understand.

Website: www.allenrenfro.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllenKnoxville

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allen-Renfro/205552842862027

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomAllen_Renfro

Make sure you check out Allen's books on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Allen%20Renfro&search-alias=books

and of course your copy of The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice: http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Blade-Project-Justice-ebook/dp/B00J2HG2H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400788203&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Phoenix+Blade

And remember to rate and review the books on Amazon.com. Everyone has a voice; let it be heard.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Ambiguity Excerpt

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. This week our guest is an amazingly talented author, Allen Renfro.

Here is an excerpt of Allen's new book: Ambiguity

The screams of ambulance sirens flew past Will as his shaking hands held tightly to the steering wheel; the flashing lights illuminated the concrete walls and the trees along the freeway. He kept his car in the far right lane, out of the way of the dozens of emergency vehicles that were racing in one direction: downtown to the Exodus Club. The headlights of his car didn't feel bright enough; the speed of the car wasn't fast enough. The radio was turned to a station reporting live from outside the club, a stern male voice speaking.

"…the SWAT team that was moving into the club has retreated back to what they are calling a safe zone. From what we're hearing, there is fear that the front entrance and all exits have been booby trapped with explosives, but this can't be confirmed. There continues to be gunfire inside the club and several explosions have also been heard. We can see people running with their hands over their heads toward the police barricades, their clothes covered in blood, men and women, screaming and crying. I can see victims of the shooting being attended to on the sidewalks. There have been dozens of casualties…"

Will slid his hand across his eyes, wiping away the heavy tears about to streak down his face. "Please, God, let Derek be okay and I promise I'll tell him the truth."

Will's black Mustang screeched to a halt at the end of Kings Avenue just behind Kyle's rickety old truck. He shielded his eyes with his hand as he stepped out to the street, making sure his badge was displayed at the waist of his jeans. He quickly pointed to the badge as the armed police officers approached him, halting their potential interrogation.

The constant blinding flashes of blue and red were staggering. He could hear Kyle's loud voice above the screams and shouts and sirens as he approached the police car that idled sideways across the street. He felt a numbness climb from his legs up to his heart as he fought his way against the rush of emergency personnel around a long line of ambulances waiting to take the injured to hospitals. He pushed by a reporter, knocking his blue baseball cap to the ground. He was in no mood for the media's cameras.

Kyle was in a discussion with Chet, Will's partner. Will could see Chet's big bouncing belly and his too short tie through the blinding lights. Kyle and Chet stood face to face, talking directly into each other's ears. Only the yellow official tape separated them.

"Yeah," Chet shouted and pointed with his pistol to the far end of the street. "The sergeant is over there with the chief."

Will had just been a few seconds behind Kyle in arriving. From their perspective, they could see three fire trucks aligned in a semi-circle in front of the club. Will knew the chief had ordered the fire trucks arranged in that position as a barricade. They offered a means for officers to move back and forth with less risk of being shot from the gunman, should the gunman choose to fire his weapons from the building. With all the flashing lights and scrambling people, they could not see the chief or sergeant.

"Hey!" Will shouted, grabbing Kyle back by his shoulder and acknowledging him. "What the hell's going on?"

"Hey," Kyle shouted over the noise. "SWAT was about to go in, but they think there's explosives at the entrances and exits."

"Any word from Derek?" Will said.

"No," Kyle replied, his arms folding across his chest in frustration.

"How many of our guys have been called in?" Will asked, trying to filter the flashing lights from his eyes and look for familiar faces. He counted six city police cars scattered in the street, their lights flashing, and he could see more at the far end of the street beyond the black vans, fire trucks, and ambulances.

"All of us," Chet chimed in loudly. "For a bunch of …"

Will's pointed finger silenced Chet immediately. "Shut up! I'm not putting up with your shit tonight!"

Will took Kyle by the arm and pulled him back away from the noise so he could hear better and he didn't have to look at Chet.

"Who's running the show?"

"We still are, but I'm sure the FBI is on their way."

"It's like a war zone," Will said with frustration. "We gotta find the sergeant and the chief!"

"Where's your vest?" Kyle suddenly asked. Will noticed that Kyle was wearing his bulletproof protection over a t-shirt, the white of the t-shirt sticking out near Kyle's slightly plump waist. Kyle's tie and jacket had been discarded.

"Dammit," Will shouted. "It's in the car."

"Go get it!" Kyle insisted.

"We gotta find the sergeant!" Will had nothing but Derek's safety on his mind.

Kyle grabbed Will by the sleeve of his t-shirt, the fabric clutched in his fist. "The sergeant is right over there! Go get the vest! Derek will never forgive me if something happens to you. Now get it! I'll wait right here."

"We don't have time for this, Kyle!" he declared.

"You have time to get your vest," Kyle shouted back and dragged him by the sleeve of his t-shirt. "Now come on! Guess I'll have to go with you!"

"Okay, okay!" Will said loudly, pulling his arm away more angrily than he intended.

The area was clearing of people and the interested onlookers were sufficiently away from the scene behind a line of policemen and “road closed” signs that flashed timid, round orange lights at them. Will fumbled with his keys, attempting to unlock the trunk of the car as Kyle attempted to be patient, pacing nervously behind him.

He wrestled the bulletproof vest over his t-shirt and slammed the trunk closed. They both made sure their badges were visible to any observer.

"Satisfied?" he asked with a glare on his face.

"Yeah, Derek would be," Kyle said back with southern sarcasm his mom would have been proud of.

They ran down the street, the galloping sounds of their feet on the pavement loud for such a chaotic and noisy scene. They ducked under the yellow tape and behind the row of fire trucks, heading for the sergeant and the chief. Will glanced over to the building; the green neon sign that glowed with the word “Exodus” was overwhelmed by the flashing blue and red lights that danced off the wall.

Quick repeating bursts of gunfire from an automatic weapon echoed from inside the building.

They froze in place.

"Sweet Jesus!" Kyle whispered.

"He's still shooting!" Will replied, his eyes no longer hiding the horror of what could be happening inside.

Website: www.allenrenfro.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllenKnoxville

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allen-Renfro/205552842862027

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomAllen_Renfro

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Allen Renfro Interview Part 2

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. This week our guest is an amazingly talented author, Allen Renfro.

Now a little more about you:

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring (excluding family, laptop, or writing utensils)?

Gosh, can I have a week to do the research on this one? Well… letting the accountant side of my brain take over I'd say I need to be practical if I wanted to survive. So I'd bring a cigarette lighter to make fire; tools to build a shelter and a large bucket to carry and collect fresh water. I was a huge fan of the show Lost and we now know that it's still possible to disappear and not be found as with flight 370 in Malaysia so if survival is the key these three things are what I'd bring.

Now…if I'm going to be rescued in a few weeks I'd want my Kindle, a Pandora subscription and maybe Henry Cavill serving me drinks!

We find out the world is going to end tomorrow. How do you live your last day?

That's a simple one for me. I'd be with all the people I love, enjoying their company, just being near them, reminiscing, talking, laughing. Just enjoying each other.

If we were to make a movie of your life. Who would play the part of you?

Aaron Paul. He has that perfect combination of intensity and there's that wild, crazy guy underneath with a twisted sense of humor. And of course, superficially, I want someone to play me who is sexy and people would want to look at!

Okay, crystal ball time. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

I want to still be writing that's for sure. It'd be nice to have a full time career in writing. Who knows? Maybe that's the future for me.

Do you have any questions for me?

I love it when an interviewer asks me this because I love turning the tables. I would ask you the same questions that you just asked me. Especially the question about what you would bring if you were stranded on a desert island. I would also add this question: what inspired you to become a blogger?

I tried my hand at general blogging years ago but felt it was more of a journal than anything and I wanted more from it. My fiancé convinced me to give it another try and I did, but didn’t want to just write about my trials and journey as a writer. I wanted to give other authors their chance to tell their stories and help them gain exposure as well.

If I was stranded on the desert island, I’d take my fiancé with me, a radio and a tool box filled with tools to build a shelter and whatever else I’d need them for to survive.

Where can our readers find you? (Please provide links for everything Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Website etc).

Website: www.allenrenfro.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllenKnoxville

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allen-Renfro/205552842862027

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomAllen_Renfro

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Allen Renfro Interview Part 1

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. This week our guest is an amazingly talented author, Allen Renfro.

Let’s get to know you a little more. Tell us a about yourself.

Thanks for having me, Andrew! Well, I am a graduate of Tusculum College with a degree in business which I utilize in my real world. Back in the early 90s at the height of the zine culture I wrote and drew art pieces for several different zines. Before that I gave screenwriting a shot but that didn't work out at the time but is something I would love to try again. I am an absolute history buff and could watch documentaries all day long. I can see myself taking vacations centered around a location of historical significance.

What inspired you to write?

You know, I think the desire to write is genetic. It seems like I've always been inspired to write though I didn't write for a long period in my life. I discovered I had a knack for writing in the sixth grade when an English teacher praised a short story I wrote for an assignment. I think now what inspires me are stories that haven't been told. Subjects that people haven't really touched before; giving a voice and shedding light on subjects that are in the dark. I think that's what challenges and provokes me, and hopefully it will do the same for those who read my work.

Tell me a little about your book. (Title, plot)

Ambiguity is a story that begins with a shocking and tragic event. This tragedy leads to the revelation of several characters' deepest secrets. It's a story of closets that, due to circumstances, are forced open for everyone to see. There is a ripple effect that moves throughout the book as investigators attempt to piece together the history of a suspect and his connection to his victims. What is believed to be merely another hate crime turns out to be a deeper and darker mystery none of them could ever have imagined.

How did you come up with the story?

The story begged to be written. It's contemporary. It's a reflection of what's happening in our world today. It offered me an opportunity to talk about something that a lot of people are very uncomfortable with. I guess you could call it one my own personal fears, that when someone can't win their argument through respectful debate and with facts that they will turn to violence to accomplish their goal. And personally, in my writing, I want to be challenged myself. I want to take a story that may seem to be only one layer and reveal that there are many layers and that perception is rarely fact. It can make for riveting story telling.

Tell me about your main character. Who is he/she, what makes them special to you?

Ambiguity is the first book I've written that actually has no one main character but several main characters. In essence the tragic even that happens at the very beginning of the book is a character itself that affects all the other living and breathing characters. When I began writing Ambiguity I decided, because of the controversial topic, to bring in characters from my novel Bridge Water and create a complete, stand alone story with them just to see how it would affect them.

The story itself is told by three sets of characters from different perspectives. I think the characters that are the lead characters would be Detective Will Jones and Erik Layton, aka Laylay; Reverend Ed Wallace and his wife Judith; and Laura Jennings. These characters are the centerpiece of the story. They afforded me the opportunity to express all sides of the story in a way that allowed me to tell the story as I wanted it to be told.

What makes these characters special is just that they are all human to me, normal everyday people you could see on the streets. I think we can relate to all of them in one way or another, from the characters desperately trying to keep their secrets hidden, to characters that have to live with the fall out of the secrets that are revealed. I believe Erik's reaction to the tragedy is one that a lot of us would have. Determined to never be a victim again, he wants to fight back. And there's Laura who has her world turned upside down by the tragedy and didn't see it coming, like being hit by a train and never knowing the train was barreling toward her. And then there's Will who makes a promise to God that if Derek is okay that he will tell Derek his deepest secret from his past.

Who has been your greatest writing inspiration?

As far as writing I think I'm not alone in saying it's tough to pick one inspiration, but for me as far the quality and style of writing I would say Anne Rice. I think her novel Interview with the Vampire is beautifully written. She makes vampires human with the same emotions and desires that humans have. And her attention to detail to this day amazes me. And I think her own personal history inspires me especially when she describes how the vampire series came to be.

Website: www.allenrenfro.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllenKnoxville

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allen-Renfro/205552842862027

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomAllen_Renfro

Monday, June 2, 2014

Allen Renfro Preview

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. This week our guest is an amazingly talented author, Allen Renfro.

Allen Renfro makes his home in Knoxville, Tennessee and is a native Tennessean. A graduate of Tennessee's oldest college, Tusculum, he frequently appeared in the small press and underground zines of the early to mid 1990s. A published poet and artist, he has tackled controversial subjects and is making a name for himself in dark fiction. He marked his return to the world of fiction with the publication of his first novel The Raised in October of 2011. In April of 2012 Snap was released to rave reviews. Deemed one of the most original and controversial works of fiction in years, Snap is an unapologetic look at hate, revenge and religion. The Falling, released January 31, 2013 continues the story of the Morrelini family and the consequences of Nicolas' actions in The Raised. Bridge Water, released in August of 2013 begins the mysterious and humorous story of Detective Derek Cooper and his relationship with fellow officers, friends and the neighbor's cat.

Website: www.allenrenfro.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllenKnoxville

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allen-Renfro/205552842862027

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomAllen_Renfro

Phoenix Entertainment and Development

Friday, June 6, 2014

Allen Renfro Blurbs

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Ambiguity Excerpt

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Allen Renfro Interview Part 2

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Allen Renfro Interview Part 1

Monday, June 2, 2014

Allen Renfro Preview