Invisible Servants

Ez sat down at the table and drew out her wand, and with a few flicks and several muttered incantations, her kitchen was alive with what looked like invisible servants. The eggs floated from the refrigerator and broke in mid-air, throwing their contents into the frying pan which materialized beneath them just in the nick of time. A few slices of bacon made their stately way to the pan, and began sizzling on contact. The pan hovered merrily above the stove as it cooked the food, even though Ez had forgotten to turn the gas on. The bamboo spatula stirred the eggs, scrambling them beautifully, while the tongs darted in and out of the pan, turning the bacon as needed. (From "Scrounger Ez" by Scott Ashby, Bits and Bites) http://tinyurl.com/mc4vbh5

Tree Through the Roof

“Lightening usually hits tall things. We’re surrounded by very tall trees, so we should be okay with that. Light the fire and let’s keep watching.”

She’d no sooner spoken the words when the air in the cabin turned blue with lightening while thunder showered an angry roar around them. The crack of splintering wood followed the sound. Frozen in petrified horror they watched as part of the tree barely five yards from their front door disintegrate ten feet above the ground. The balance of the sixty foot pine shuddered, briefly suspended in the air before it tilted, gathering momentum and closed the distance to their cabin’s roof.

Matt yelled. Katy screamed. Melanie automatically gathered Katy in her arms. The tree settled with Melanie half sitting, half lying on the floor still clinging to Katy, who had buried her face in her mother’s neck. Melanie looked for Matt amid the debris which had been the living room just moments ago. Rain was pouring in on them where the roof had been destroyed, but Melanie ignored it as she turned her attention to finding her son.

“Matt!” Panic filled her. “Where are you?” (From "Hidden Strengths" by Natalie Peck, Bits and Bites) Read More Here

Tanella's Flight Nearing Release!

We're so happy to share the brand new cover for Scott Ashby's book, Tanella's Flight. The book is in the final stages of publication. The various formats will be released as they are ready, over the next three weeks.

The next projects will be Natalie Peck's A Gigolo For Christmas, and the short story anthology Bits and Bites. We're looking forward to getting the new covers from the art department and showing them to you soon.

Chatting with A M Jenner

Today we hear from our third new author, A M Jenner.

ES: Tell me a little about yourself as a person.

AMJ: Like most people, I own many hats (nearly as many as Dobby the house-elf!) Some of my hats are labeled sister, wife, mother, grandmother, writer, letterboxer, budding artist, and newly-retired secretary. When I look in the mirror at me wearing all of those hats, I can giggle along with most of my fourteen (and counting) grandchildren! I’m happy in front of my computer, a cold glass of icy water near my elbow and a plate of chocolate something next to my keyboard. Occasionally my lap holds both, depending on how wild my characters get.

ES: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

AMJ: What I like to do and what I get to do are two different things. I like to travel, read, enjoy a quiet but beautiful flower garden, and watch the different birds in my nearby riparian preserve. What I get to do is muddle through my pre-algebra class, try to understand my art teacher, and care for my family, which brings a joy of its own.

ES: If you could have one super-power, what would it be?

AMJ: I would be invisible. It’s much easier to people-watch when nobody knows you’re looking.

ES: What is your favorite color?

AMJ: Teals, purples, and burgundy.

ES: What’s your writing tool of choice?

AMJ: That depends entirely on if I’m home or on the go. I’ve been known to write on napkins, toilet paper rolls, and fast food sandwich wrappers. Legal pages are nicer, but computers are easier.
ES: What genre do you write, and why?

AMJ: I’ve been known to write poetry (from romantic to horror), and murder-filled suspense with a healthy helping of romance on the side. Friends have often asked me where I’ve been hiding the most recent bodies, as my favorite genre is suspense. At this moment, my friends Scott, Natalie, and I are in the process of separating our careers into our own genres, and I’m really glad the Electric Scroll has taken on the challenge of republishing our several books.

ES: Tell me about your most recent published work, and why people should buy it.

AMJ: Bits & Bites is a collection of short stories that Scott, Natalie, and I worked on together. It has a bit of something for everyone, no matter what genre they like to read. When you finish that, you’ll know the three of us better, and hopefully you’ll like all of our offerings. You can read more about it here.