RELEASE DAY & REVIEW: OMEGA RISING BY DOUGLAS S. PIERCE

Welcome back to the final week here at Black Words-White Pages!! We are so pleased to inform you that today is the day we have all been waiting for, RELEASE DAY and my review!!! Please make sure to pick up your copy of OMEGA RISING for 99 cents today!! This sale is only good until May 30 and then the price will go up!! So without further adieu, let's jump right on in!!!

OMEGA RISING

ORIGINS OF AGENT RUSTY BONES BOOK 1

DOUGLAS S. PIERCE

COVER ARTIST: REBECCA POOLE, DREAMS2MEDIA

“It’s going to be a wild one tonight.” I uttered those prophetic words on Halloween. The same night I died in the line of duty.

In life, I didn’t believe in magick, monsters, religion, or souls. Funny how waking up dead with my consciousness trapped in an amulet provided such clarity.

My name is Agent Rusty Bones, and this is my account of the rather dubious life-choices that landed me in the clutches of the ultra-secretive Omega Project. To solve my own death, I must now escape those holding my very essence in an iron-clad grip. But the clock is ticking. Can I bring my killer to justice before anyone else suffers my same fate?

Fans of dark humor and action-packed urban fantasy will love the undead adventures found in Omega Rising: Origins of Agent Rusty Bones Book One, by Douglas S. Pierce!

 99 CENTS

You know, this stuff just keeps getting weirder and weirder. -Rusty Bones

No truer words have ever been spoken!! This book reminds me of Frankenstein meets RoboCop and that's my summary of it in a nutshell without giving away any spoilers.

The characters were phenomenal!! Getting to meet and connect with the main character, Rusty, on a personal level was incredible. With his witty and sarcastic remarks to his bad ass skills, he made this book so very addicting and hard to put down. And I will add that Rusty does also have a caring and heartfelt side as well, which made me love him even more. There was a real connection with me and Rusty and I also loved meeting all his friends and enemies that he made throughout his journey.

The story-line was out of this world amazing!! Pierce has a wickedly weird imagination and really knows how to reel you in and keep you guessing, entertained and sitting on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I was craving this book so bad that my NEED to read it was a must!! The way the author wrote this story was...dare I say....GENIUS!!! The author took this story to a whole new level of intrigue and interest for sure. This book has made it to my top five favorite reads for 2020!! I must say that I have never read anything like this book before in the ten years that I have been reading and reviewing books and I can't wait to join Rusty on some more of his adventures!! I highly recommend this read!! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Douglas S. Pierce is a son, husband, and father who lives in the Metro Detroit area with his wife Patricia (of more than 25 years), his daughter Kerry, two Shiba Inus (Suki and Akira), and a pair of black cats named Harley and Stella. He is a proud veteran of the United States military and a practicing pagan. Raised on weekly trips to libraries and bookstores, Doug has had a lifelong love affair with the kind of stories that inspire hope, kindness, and love. 

AUTHOR LINKS:

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EXCERPT: OMEGA RISING BY DOUGLAS S. PIERCE

Welcome back to Black Words-White Pages and this week, we are getting a sneak peek at an excerpt from Douglas S. Pierce's release, OMEGA RISING. The release for this book is on May 15, 2020 but not to worry, you can pre-order it now and won't have to worry!! It will be sent directly to your kindle of release day!! So without further adieu, let's check out the excerpt!!!

OMEGA RISING

ORIGINS OF AGENT RUSTY BONES BOOK 1

DOUGLAS S. PIERCE

COVER ARTIST: REBECCA POOLE, DREAMS2MEDIA

BLURB

“It’s going to be a wild one tonight.” I uttered those prophetic words on Halloween. The same night I died in the line of duty.

In life, I didn’t believe in magick, monsters, religion, or souls. Funny how waking up dead with my consciousness trapped in an amulet provided such clarity.

My name is Agent Rusty Bones, and this is my account of the rather dubious life-choices that landed me in the clutches of the ultra-secretive Omega Project. To solve my own death, I must now escape those holding my very essence in an iron-clad grip. But the clock is ticking. Can I bring my killer to justice before anyone else suffers my same fate?

Fans of dark humor and action-packed urban fantasy will love the undead adventures found in Omega Rising: Origins of Agent Rusty Bones Book One, by Douglas S. Pierce!

EXCERPT

“Working on Halloween sucks. I can’t wait until I get enough seniority to get this night off.”

“Yeah, Morgan, it’ll be a few years before your rookie ass will get there.” I looked at the taller man as he studied the duty roster for the night. “But I can tell you one thing for sure.”

“What’s that, Smitty?”

“It’s going to be a wild one tonight.” 

“What makes you think that?” Morgan turned towards me.

“It’s Halloween. It’s a Friday night.” I shrugged my shoulders and slipped past him on my way into the dingy little closet-like space we called a lunch room. “And I heard something on the radio on my way in about a rash of robberies over in Detroit. I’ve just got this feeling that something’s coming our way tonight.” I eased down onto a creaky metal folding chair and pulled my right leg up so that I could start lacing up my boot.

“Damn, I sure hope so. It’s about time I found some excitement in this job,” Morgan said. He remained standing, looming over me like a skeletal giant.

“Be careful what you wish for there, Rook,” I snorted. “You’ll get enough action on this job without wishing for it, trust me.”

“You crusty old vets are all the same, hoping for a quiet shift spent at the donut shop.” He ran his right hand through his dark, oiled curls. “Man, if I could only get on the Tactical Ops team like you, I wouldn’t need to hope for some action.” He paused for a moment and shot me a look. “Hey, why are you even working tonight anyway? I thought you old guys booked off shifts like this?”

“Since the divorce, I’ve got nothing better to do,” I muttered, dropping my right leg down, and pulled the left one up to work on those laces. Sitting back in the chair, I interlaced my fingers behind my head and closed my eyes. “So, I might as well babysit the likes of you. It keeps me from thinking about other shit.” I kicked my feet up on a second chair and leaned even further back. “Hey, be a good rookie and wake me up for roll call.”

“Yeah, sure thing, hoss. It looks like you’ve got about fifteen minutes.” His shadow passed over my eyelids as he sauntered off.

I waited until his footsteps faded away before opening my eyes again. I didn’t much like the kid and didn’t want to answer any more questions. Not tonight, anyway.

As the ancient Coke machine gurgled back into action behind me, I surveyed the small, cramped room. It was dominated by two oblong Formica tables sitting in the center that bore the scars and stains of more than twenty years of hard use. Six mismatched folding chairs were shoved haphazardly around each table, while another half-dozen lay strewn about as if to make an obstacle course of the place.

Along the far wall, a large cork pegboard hung over the small condiments table. It was covered by an assortment of unread safety bulletins and three stacks of yellowed and dog-eared ‘Wanted’ posters that were more fun to read than the dry technical bulletins.

The sharp tang of freshly-burnt coffee overlaid the older, staler odors of gun oil and boot polish, meaning that Sergeant Mason was pulling desk duty tonight. That man hadn’t made a good pot of coffee in the twelve years that I’d known him. The coffee maker uttered a wet belch of agreement with my assessment and hissed as yet another drop of the acrid mixture slid onto the hot plate beneath the overflowing pot.

I dropped my hands down to cover the small bulge of my gut, buried my chin in my chest, and tried not to think about how much I missed spending time with Kenny and Jasmine.

I drifted into a fitful sleep.

***

“Daddy, Daddy!” Jasmine ran towards me from the corner bus stop, her pig tails flopping and her shoes scuffing the pavement.

“Yeah, baby girl?” I turned in time to catch and twirl her in the air like a helicopter.

“All the kids at school,” she said in a breathless rush, “are talking about our house and how SCARY we made it! Mrs. Thompson even mentioned it in class today!” She giggled when I swung her around again before putting her down.

“Awesome, Jazzy!” I gave her a gentle chuck under the chin. “We did an amazing job this year, don’t you think? I loved your idea of having that witch coming out of your bedroom window. That was a great choice, Jazz.” She beamed.

We both turned to face the ghoulish menagerie of death and doom that covered our front yard and admired the results.

From top to bottom and side to side, the Smith homestead was one wicked Halloween set piece. The front yard fence was dressed up to look like the wrought iron fencing of those old-time cemeteries, while every available square foot of grass was packed with the headstones of both famous and infamous characters. One gravestone was marked by its tilt and the wax hands reaching out of the soil as a zombie sought to escape its earthly prison. Another decaying corpse hung from the large maple tree in the front corner of the yard. It was being pecked at by a battery-operated raven that had an eye dangling from its beak. Ghouls, ghosts, and mummies of all kinds peeked out from behind every conceivable hiding place. A giant spider dangled from a massive web strung between the garage and the flag pole. Piles of skulls and other bones lay scattered everywhere.

Every window but one in the front of the house was boarded up, giving the impression that the place had been condemned. The lone exception was Jasmine’s second-story window where a green-faced and scary-looking witch was positioned to appear as if she were emerging to look for her next fiendish meal. A headless corpse was strewn on the low part of the front roof, as if he had been carelessly dumped from above.

The garage, however, was my pride and joy. The normal backdrop of hanging hand tools and lawn equipment was covered by a painted screen that gave the appearance of an evil laboratory. The scene was further set by a moving Frankenstein body laid out on a metal table that would sit up every few minutes, groan loudly, and then settle back down with a sigh. A mechanical piano pounded out spooky music. A dry ice machine sputtered and spilled out a roiling fog that immediately sank to the floor and drifted out into the driveway.

I felt a small hand tugging on my elbow. I dropped my calloused hand down and squeezed her tiny, warm hand in mine.

“I love Halloween best of all, Daddy,” she said in a happy voice. “It feels like our own special holiday.”

***

I jolted awake. One of my legs had slipped off of the chair where I had propped it up. I blinked, wiped the drool from my chin, and tried to get my bearings.

The sharp tang of the burnt coffee and the subtler smell of stale gun oil brought me back to the moment.

I sat up and checked the clock. 

7:55. 

Damn. Muster began five minutes ago!

Standing up, I stretched my arms and back before stumbling over to the Coke machine. I threw a quick glance back to make sure no one else was watching before I balled up my fist and gave the thing a sharp whack in the sweet spot. The satisfying thud of an almost cold can of Diet Coke landing in the dispenser was almost as much of a reward as the drink itself.

I’m already late, so I may as well enjoy this.

I popped the lid on the can and sauntered down the hall towards the motor pool garage where Sergeant Mason held his musters, even in the dead of winter. The heels of my boots echoed on the linoleum of the empty hall. Pausing before the gray steel door that opened into the garage, I sipped my pop and listened to the muffled voice of Sergeant Mason already briefing the rest of the shift.

Bracing myself for the shit storm I was about to face, I took another swig from the can and stepped through into the bright lights and chilled air of the garage. 

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Douglas S. Pierce is a son, husband, and father who lives in the Metro Detroit area with his wife Patricia (of more than 25 years), his daughter Kerry, two Shiba Inus (Suki and Akira), and a pair of black cats named Harley and Stella. He is a proud veteran of the United States military and a practicing pagan. Raised on weekly trips to libraries and bookstores, Doug has had a lifelong love affair with the kind of stories that inspire hope, kindness, and love.

FOLLOW THE AUTHOR

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PLEASE MAKE SURE TO JOIN US FOR THE FACEBOOK PARTY ON MAY 16, 2020!!

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AUTHOR Q&A: DOUGLAS PIERCE

Welcome back to Black Words-White Pages!! This week, we are interviewing, Douglas S. Pierce!! So without further adieu, let's get started!!

DOUGLAS S. PIERCE

Most of my favorite authors are indie or self-pubbed, what made you decide to go that route?

Answer: I really love the freedom that I have with indie publishing. I hire my own editor, I hire the cover artist and the formatter, and I am learning every day how to better market myself and my books. So, I am involved in every decision about the final product and how it will look. And if I want to take risks on how something is written, or experiment with a style, or to get a really kick butt cover and interior formatting, I can do that, as long as I can afford it. And I have been truly blessed in that I have been able to afford to do this so far. 

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Answer: I think the most surprising thing is that in order to find success, it isn’t enough to just write a great story. An audience doesn’t magically appear once you’ve turned out your masterpiece and clamor for an opportunity to buy it. I’ve found that success comes from a combination of many things — 1) you have to have a cover that speaks to the story, that appeals to your readers, and fits the genre, 2) you have to have someone very skilled and professional edit your story, because no matter how good of a writer you are, there will be mistakes, typos, mismatched details, grammar and spelling issues — and those things are super hard for you to catch yourself. 3) interior formatting cannot just be plain text, there should be some nice touches in your book that show the reader that you care as much about the presentation of your story as you do the story itself. Creating aesthetically pleasing touches to the interior takes skills that I don’t have. 4) You have find to work to find your market, or build your audience — sometimes one reader at time.  

Which of your characters are you most like? Least like?

Answer: There is a little bit of me in every character I write, even the villains. In this book, Omega Rising, Rusty is a lot like me. He is sarcastic and a bit of a smart ass. He tries to project a hard exterior, but at heart, he is a big softie. He hates injustice, and he tries to right it when he can. And, while there is a bit of me in Drake Kampmann, I would say that I am the least like him. He is cold and calculating, willing to make hard decisions to accomplish what he feel needs to be done, no matter how many people will be hurt by those decisions. There is so much more to him than is seen in Omega Rising, we are just scratching the surface of who he is and what he is capable of. You will definitely be seeing a great deal more of him in future books. He will be haunting Rusty’s (un)life for quite some time!

Do you have a particular writing habit??

Answer: That is actually quite hard to answer in this moment where we are going through Covid-19 with all of its massive disruptions on our ‘normal’ lives. Even before the novel Coronavirus hit us, my life has been disrupted for several months where my father fell ill, was hospitalized, and eventually passed away in February of this year. This project, Omega Rising was actually a book I had written and previously released on a vanity press about a decade ago. I took it back up as a project because I had wanted to get it cleaned up, professionally edited, and a new cover and formatting done. I was able to work on that during my father’s illness rather than the raw writing of my other series, so it has been a while since I have had a regular rhythm to my writing where it would be an actual habit. But this is something I am going to be striving to do in the coming days and weeks. 

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?  

Answer:  That’s another great question. There’s no one author that I look up to and say, ‘I want to be just like them’. But there are many authors that I look to as inspiration for various reasons. I love Rue Volley’s consistency on developing her world and her series over a long arc of a number of books. I love how quickly Stacey Rourke can turn quality books out and get them published and into the world. I love Xander Cross’s world building. So I learn something from every author that I interact with…and I try to help each one in any way that I can as well…because I think true mentoring is a two-way street.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Answer: Oh easily. NM Thorn and her Fire Salamander series. Kara S. Weaver and her Ilvanian Chronicles. Xander Cross and his The Atlas Dystopia Apocalyctica series where the lead character is an angelic creature that has fallen into demonhood. 

What is the hardest part of your writing?

Answer: Lately, it has been finding the time. Oddly enough, in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic, I am having a hard time finding both the time and the inspiration to write at the same time. Sometimes I am inspired, but don’t have time, and then other times, I have the time, but can’t muster up the energy and inspiration to do anything that seems worthy.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Answer: It feels like I have given this answer before, but the main thing is to read. Read everything you can, and take mental (or physical notes, if you need to) on how the authors you most admire create characters, set the story in motion, and weave a tale that keeps you engaged. Then think about the stories you want to read, and try to write one of them. It will probably suck the first half dozen times you try to get the story out. But keep plugging away. Keep practicing. And seek feedback from the readers in your life, and listen to things that help you to improve. And try it again. Keep working and honing your craft, because writing is a craft.

Describe yourself in three words.

Answer: Kind. Patient. Hopeful.

I know characters are like children but if you could chose, who’s your favorite from your books?

Answer:  Right now, I would have to say Rondel (aka Mouse). I’m really coming to love him and his journey. It used to be Seldy was my favorite main character, but it really kind of feels like with the conclusion of The Seedling’s Song, that she has blossomed into who she needs to be. Not completely, yet, but she is most of the way there. Rondel has some work to do yet, in that regard, and I really love him for it. Rusty Bones was my first main character ever, and in preparing this book for re-release, I have come to fall in love with him again. And as I dig into writing his future books, maybe my love for him will rival that of both Seldy and Rondel.

Any song or songs that could basically sum up the overall mood of your writing?

Answer: There are different artists for both Rusty Bones, and Seldy and Rondel’s series. Linkin Park’s A Thousand Suns was in part the inspiration for the Seeds of Hope series. And I listened to Green Day’s ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ a thousand times as I wrote Rusty’s story the first time.

Do you plot out your books or just freely write them and let the characters tell you what to do next?

Answer: I am full on pantser, and my characters are ALWAYS surprising me. Whenever I sit down to plan something, one my characters whispers to the others and says ‘Oh that’s what he thinks will happen, here, hold my beer.’ That’s when I know that the plan is exactly how the story won’t be going…

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider the biggest influence in your writing?

Patrick Rothfuss. I aspire to write as well as he does. I’m not sure I will ever achieve it, but I do try.

What are your current projects? Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Answer: I have two WIP’s, the first, is The Guardian’s Quest, which is Book Three of the Seeds of Hope. I have completed the first five chapters of that story, and I am getting really great feedback from those who have read them. It has been much slower going, because of all of the ‘life’ that has happened lately. But I am super excited for how the story is shaping up. And I will soon be starting to whip the blog entries I have of Rusty’s next book, Omega Falling, into shape for his next release. Writing on Rusty’s story goes much faster and easier than the Seeds of Hope. So I am hoping to switch between the two genres will help me develop some consistent writing habits one again. Rusty’s story is going to be raucous and fun and full of shenanigans. And The Guardian’s Quest is going to be gripping and powerful as we learn more about the sacrifices that both Rondel and Seldy will have to make in order to defeat the Enemy.

I wanna take a moment and thank Douglas for stopping by and chatting with me!! I really enjoy talking to you!!

You can follow Douglas on his social media below!!

Instagram : Twitter : Patreon : Facebook  

ALSO.....

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF OMEGA RISING RELEASING ON MAY 15, 2020!!

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO JOIN THE FACEBOOK PARTY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 16, 2020 FROM 4PM-10PM EST.

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INTRODUCTION: OMEGA RISING by Douglas S. Pierce

Welcome everybody to Black Words-White Pages!! For the next four weeks, we will be featuring Douglas S. Pierce and his re-release of Omega Rising!! Also, keep an eye out each week for a new blog post where we will reveal more about this book and the author!! Right now until May 15th, you can pre-order this amazing story and it's only 99 cents and it will only be 99 cents until May 18th!!! So, without further adieu, let's find out more about this book below!!!

OMEGA RISING

ORIGINS OF AGENT RUSTY BONES BOOK ONE

DOUGLAS S. PIERCE

COVER ARTIST: REBECCA POOLE, DREAMS2MEDIA

BLURB ARTIST: STACEY ROURKE, THE BLURB DOCTOR

EDITOR: SHERRIE-DOLBY-ARNOLDY

“It’s going to be a wild one tonight.” I uttered those prophetic words on Halloween. The same night I died in the line of duty.

In life, I didn’t believe in magick, monsters, religion, or souls. Funny how waking up dead with my consciousness trapped in an amulet provided such clarity.

My name is Agent Rusty Bones, and this is my account of the rather dubious life-choices that landed me in the clutches of the ultra-secretive Omega Project. To solve my own death, I must now escape those holding my very essence in an iron-clad grip. But the clock is ticking. Can I bring my killer to justice before anyone else suffers my same fate?

Fans of dark humor and action-packed urban fantasy will love the undead adventures found in Omega Rising: Origins of Agent Rusty Bones Book One, by Douglas S. Pierce!

Please make sure to mark your calendars and join us for some fun, games and prizes on release day, May 16th from 4pm-10pm EST from the comfort of your own home!! Click the pic below and click on going!! We hope to see you there!!

RELEASE DAY: Seeds of Hope by Douglas S. Pierce

Welcome back to Black Words-White Pages and Happy Release, Douglas S. Pierce!! I am so excited to be a part of this release!! First off, I wanna remind everybody that you can still purchase The Maiden's Song, which has both books one and two in it!!

The Maiden's Song

The stranger arched a knowing eyebrow and closed Mouse’s fingers around the flute. “Someday, perhaps, you can return this kindness by giving the gift of music to someone else in their time of need.”

Mouse—a fugitive and former stowaway—had no way of knowing that his benefactor was the very man that the Captain of the Hunter’s Ghost was hunting…or how playing music again would lead to a series of impossible choices…

“The Enemy comes for you, child. A foe like no other. The night will be long and dark. The dangers will seem too great. But you must find your song, child, even when that seems impossible...”

Those dark words by the kumpania’s ancient Seer are Seldy’s first warning that the life she adores—in the only home she’s ever known—is coming to a quick and violent end...

The Maiden’s Song is a tale of love and sacrifice of how Mouse and Seldy must endure intertwined journeys of self-discovery while being hunted by an implacable foe who will stop at nothing to claim the power of her secret heritage for himself.

   OR   

NOW AVAILABLE....

Before we go on, I want to add a HUGE thank you to Rebecca Poole, owner of Dreams2media for the cover art and interior design and to The Blurb Doctor, Stacey Rourke for the new blurbs for books one and two!! If you are like me and LOVE signed paperback copies, you can also purchase directly from Douglas S. Pierce too of all three books!!

THE HUNTED MAIDEN

SEEDS OF HOPE BOOK 1

“Return this kindness by giving the gift of music to someone else in their time of need.”

Mouse—a fugitive and former stowaway—dreams of becoming a musician. By following the melody of his heart, he hopes to escape the grueling work and harsh punishments doled out aboard the Hunter’s Ghost. Gifted a flute by an enigmatic man, he finds himself closer than ever to achieving his goal. Yet to his surprise, it’s not freedom the music leads him to but a strange Fae prisoner. She alone is the sole being he’s ever encountered without a personal song. 

“The Enemy comes for you, child. A foe like no other.” 

Those dark words spoken by an ancient seer haunt aerialist and animal trainer Seldy’s every waking thought. When dangerous strangers kidnap her in the midst of a deadly Fae storm, she fears this malicious threat is coming to pass. Now, her survival depends on escaping from the ship she’s being held on, and finding a way back home before the shadowy being—known only as the Enemy—comes for her. 

Forced together by their intertwining fates, Mouse and Seldy embark on a quest to uncover the secrets of Seldy’s past. Can they arm themselves with her precious truth in time to fight the dark forces eager to claim and corrupt her? 

Fans of epic fantasy will love the journey of sacrifice and hope found in The Hunted Maiden!

   OR 

THE SEEDLING'S SONG

SEEDS OF HOPE BOOK 2

“The Songbrother’s blood is turning sour…and the ancient one is dying.”

Cast adrift over her shattered world on a small rescue skiff, Seldy must find it in herself to help those who risked everything to save her. Taking solace in the death of the Enemy, she focuses on her quest for her song, knowing it could be their only hope for salvation. 

Poisoned and trapped in a hellish nightmare, Mouse must fight to escape his own mind. Only then can he help Seldy embrace who she was truly meant to be.

But evil doesn’t die as easily as they hoped. A storm is brewing—whipping and churning with malevolent intent. It lurks in the shadows, laying in wait for the perfect moment to strike. 

Can Seldy find a way to harness the power within her? Or will the looming darkness find a way to twist it to their own devilish delight?

Fans of epic fantasy will be whisked away on a journey of unconditional love and selfless sacrifice in The Seedling’s Song.

   OR   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My name is Douglas S. Pierce and I am a father, husband, and author living in the Metro Detroit area. I have been an avid reader and writer for as long as I can remember. I have a particular passion for creating compelling characters who find themselves in seemingly impossible situations and exploring how those characters use their intelligence, skills, and wit to survive those situations while finding a way to make the world they inhabit a better place.

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