When the Last Son of the Glory of Heaven lost his father's attention to the first man of dirt, he vowed revenge. Paradise was lost.  

Banished from his home and left to wander the mortal world until The Judgment Day, Sammael has lived more lives than he cares to remember.

But  he can't forget.

Haunted by his memories, he is drawn to places of  turmoil, always looking for ways to hasten the day when the Gates of Heaven  opened and his father would allow him to return home.

Sammael's act of  vengeance at the dawn of man destroyed a love that was meant to be and left his  rival broken. What he didn't know was that the strength of that love left him  vulnerable to losing his Glory forever.

In 1996, a chance meeting at an  innocuous fundraiser renewed that ancient rivalry. Two men pursue the same woman  but with vastly different intentions. She must choose between the man who has  the world at his fingertips and one who wears his heart on his sleeve. Can true  love overcome the burning need for revenge?

For a sneak peak at Glory visit one of the links below to either Amazon.com or Smashwords.com! This is one Christian Fiction novel you won't want to miss!

Amazon.com / Glory

Smashwords.com / Glory

P.s. The prequel to Glory, The Messenger, is also available as a FREE download at Smashwords.com!

Get to know the author, Scott J. Toney!
 
Five facts that people won’t know about you. Can you juggle? Ride a bike with no hands? Drink beer upside down? Something unusual… GO!
 
1. I sing all the time, in the grocery store, the restaurant, at work, at home, while gardening, heck I think I even hum while writing sometimes. I once took opera lessons and was told I should have gone into opera or some singing avenue professionally.

2. My favorite character in any novel is Don Quixote. I would rather be insane and good than sane and nasty.

3. My family holds more value to me than anything else.

 4. I would rather my writing help and move people than sell in mass quantities.

 5. I have a dark side. It's called Lasagna.


 
Five facts about your newest book that people won’t know. Some background history on one of your characters maybe? Maybe it was going to be called something completely different to start out with? Is it the same genre it started out as?...


 1. I decided to write Hearts of Avon because my wife has a great like of Nicholas Sparks' Romantic Suspense novels. 

2. The hurricanes in this book, Irene and Sandy, were both real hurricanes that hit the us east coast and Sandy actually hit as I was writing the book and made for a great addition.

3. Many bits of this book were taken from my real life experiences with my wife.


4. I did not begin writing Hearts of Avon with the intent of it having faith playing a major role, but because faith plays such a strong role in my life it easily weaved its way in.


5. I’ve had such a strong response from Hearts of Avon that a sequel is now in the works and will be released sometime in 2014.


 
Five facts about your next book… Name, genre, expected date of release…

1. NAME: Bishop: Book I of the NovaForge Trilogy

2. GENRE: Epic / PULP / Sci-Fi {Yes, I am a proud genre hopper!}

3. PITCH: On Solaris, a planet eons old, stones from the crust of a meteor give inhuman powers to their symbiotic pairs. Good battles evil to survive.

4. First chapter beginning: Darkness consumed Ineal as the voices tore at his thoughts. The sole survivor of the planet Eon, he wanted to shut off his brain, to destroy his consciousness and be
nothing. But the voices would not let him.

The stones, he thought, encased in this meteor hurtling through space. The stones destroyed us. I am the last. They take me for their own. He did not know when the glowing stones first came to his planet. Men and women claimed the gems for their own, pressing them to their bodies and allowing the stones to become necessary symbiotes of the flesh. The symbiosis with the stones gave his people powers and abilities beyond their dreams. But the price, the price of the flesh was great, and an ultimate death of sacrifice and pain was given in return. Ineal was the last, and the only being of Eon who had not taken up the stones.
 
But you took me, he thought as they spoke with their unintelligible voices, whispering in a constant
echo through his mind. When my planet died you came to me. You took my body to keep yourselves alive...

5. To be released early 2014, but a stand alone excerpt will be published in the Breakwater Harbor Books’ Anthology later this year.


Three tips that you think might be useful for other authors… anything you want. It
could be, to write a certain amount every day, only write after midnight and never get Gizmo wet (Sorry, that’s Gremlins not writers! My bad.) Maybe it’s some information that was given to you that has helped your process…


1. If you write an hour each day you will quickly realized how fast a novel can actually be written.

2. If you have faith and confidence in your writing then your work will thrive. If you doubt your abilities then that will show up on your pages.

3. Make sure to make time for family first and writing second, but always both. Without family,
writing is worth nothing. but writing, as we all know, is an integral part of every author and cannot be separated from them.


To view Scott J. Toney's Amazon Author Page follow the link below.

Amazon.com / Scott J. Toney

About you.

Name: 

Scott J. Toney

Website:
 
www.scottjtoney.weebly.com 







Other contacts/social media sites:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4883112.Scott_Toney

Link to Amazon page and or any other place that your books can be purchased:

 http://www.amazon.com/Scott-J-Toney/e/B0098JRXWC/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

 https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ScottJToney

 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/scott-toney?store=allproducts&keyword=scott+toney

Where did you grow up?

The Suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA

When did you start writing?

It all began as a youth when I wrote tales to go with the computer game Oregon Trail, creating stories to go with Jimmie getting typhoid or Susie getting small pox. Oh the fun of younger days... but one must advance. From there I tackled poetry and received a $100 prize in High School for winning a poetry contest. In college I earned degrees in Journalism and Public Relations.

What made you start writing?

I originally began writing as something to do with my neighbour. We both loved Oregon Trail. But the poetry… that began because of a girl. All the best things happen because of a girl, don’t they? :)

Is it something that you have always wanted to do?

I've wanted to be an author since I was in Middle School. My family and friends always said that I had an excellent voice and should pursue voice, doing opera or something else vocal, but my passion is in the written word.
 
What is your favorite genre to read, and do you have any favorite books or authors you would like to recommend?

I have two favorite genres, Fantasy and Historical Fiction, preferably a mix of the two. As for favorite authors… Here’s my current top 3.

1. Tad Williams. Read him, there is no other in the world like him and he is truly amazing.

2. Jim Darcy. Jim is publishing his first novel later this year with BHB. He is a phenom. If you miss out on Fire Lord’s Crown then I pity you.

3. Mike Lee. If you enjoy Sci-Fi then you have to run and go check out StarFire. Lee is amazing.

I could list so many more, but these are my true and honest top 3. I am a huge fan of all of our BHB authors. We have immense talent being birthed here.
 
What is your favorite genre to write?

Oh, you’ve caught me; I am definitely a genre hopper. So far I’ve dabbled in Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Christian and Romantic Suspense. And up to this point, I have to say that I enjoy writing Fantasy / Sci-Fi the most. I like the chance to control all aspects of a character’s world and not be restricted by earthly
things like gravity. Who needs gravity anyway?

Do you write full time? If not, what do you do?

Right now I have 3 jobs. I’m a Stay-at-Home-Dad, full time Founder of Breakwater Harbor Books and I’ll soon be waiting tables again at TGIFridays part time. I’ll also be the Vacation Bible School teacher for a group of three year olds soon, which should be a blast. But my most important and valued
job is always that of Father and Husband. I am incredibly blessed.
 
Do you ever base your characters on anyone that you know, or are they solely from your imagination?

In case anyone I’ve based them on is reading ;) NEVER. Lol. But seriously, I’m not sure I’ve ever based a character on anyone I knew. I’ve been told that Maanta and myself in The Ark of Humanity are quite similar. That would probably be as close as it gets. I’m also told that I reflect Ben in Hearts of Avon.

Tell us about your latest book. The story/plot.


I’ll let the pitch speak for itself. The book is Hearts of Avon.


In Avon, a beach town along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Ben is falling fast for the beautiful and intelligent Caroline, even as they both deal with her stalker ex-boyfriend who has followed her south on vacation.

As Ben learns the depths of the other man's madness his and Caroline's relationship runs into another wall, level 3 Hurricane Irene moving quickly toward the Outer Banks. When the storm arrives, all of their lives will be drastically changed. 
 
How will they learn to cope with the consequences? When they are tested with a disaster on the brink of their comprehension, how will they pick up the pieces of their lives
  
What gave you the idea?

My wife is a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks, and Hearts of Avon was written specifically to dedicate something in her favorite genre to her. It is a Romantic Suspense novel with faith woven in.

Who is your favorite character?

My favorite character is probably Caroline, Ben’s love interest. I worked in some of me and my wife’s real-life experience’s between her and Ben, and so I guess that’s why I like her so much.
 
And worst? 

Caroline’s ex-fiancé John. Stalker, jerk, you get the gist.

What are your hopes for it?

Well it’s one of my most popular books so far, and so a sequel is in the works, but what I want most is to have this book forever to share with my family and know that generations to come will have it and be able to read it and know me a little better through my writing.

What’s the next project that you’re working on? 

Bishop: Book 1 of the NovaForge Trilogy, a PULP Sci-Fi novel. Talk about switching genres ;).

What’s the best piece of advice that you have been given in regards to your writing?

Stick true to who you are and write for you first. Publishers and others will tell you many things to change, and that’s good to take in and consider, but in the end you want your books to show you as a writer, not something the industry has chewed up and spat out through you. Oh and, prepare to never sleep ;).

The Messenger - Sammael's Lost Memory

Seventeen years was not enough time for my immortal soul to forget the stench of war.  My next life had already begun but while it was still in it's infancy, again I heard the message my father plied upon the mortals.  Again words of peace and love and brotherhood reached my bitter ears. 

Again I was compelled to meet the messenger. 

The year was 1962.  The place was Albany, Georgia.  I told myself I would not be drawn into this mission.  I only wished to see if this was my father's hand at work.  What I found was a chance to redeem myself to one I'd wronged many ages ago; the only soul I'd ever met in more than one lifetime.  And I embraced that chance.  That small redemption meant so much that I even agreed to uphold the messenger.  But there is no limit to the cruelty of my existence.  

Now I only wish to forget.

A glimpse into the novel...

THE MESSENGER

 

            I flew a long way. The trip was a number of nights and I’d expended even the strength I’d stolen in my rage and grief.  I longed only for the solitude of this place I came to for shelter between my false lives and the time to forget.

            I considered remaining a raven for a while longer, there was far less conscious thought in that form, there was mainly instinct.  I might have even enjoyed the disruption to my self-loathing had exhaustion not been a greater priority.  

            I approached my door under the dense black cover of a moonless night where I took my loathsome earthly form and entered, but immediately I knew I was not alone.

            “Why are you here?”  I asked the darkness.

            “She asked me to check on you.  She did not think you would want to tell her about it.”

            “I had hoped she did not see this time.”  I sighed.

            Raphael laughed.  “Evangeline sees all when it comes to you, Brother.  Do you wish to tell me what happened?”

            “No.  My anger is too deep.  I came to rest and to hide again until it is time to take on my next guise.”

            “You know my strength, perhaps I can help you.”

            “I ask for nothing.”  I told him, turning away.

             “I know.  Yet, I would give what I have freely.” he answered gently, which only inflamed my bitterness.

             “Do you not see, Raphael?”  I said angrily, turning on him.  “I would wish more than anything to destroy the bond between you and our father, make you bitter as I am.  I wish his ending and the destruction of all things.  I wish nothing but hate upon all creation.”  I said venomously.

              “What happened?”

              “He destroyed that which I wished to save.  He took redemption from me with no mercy even as I tried to help his messenger.  I wish with every ounce of the spirit within me to annihilate him.”

            “That is not your wish, Sammael.  I know you.  You are an Angel, the last son of the Glory of the Father.  You wish to return to him, to our home.  You wish to return to Evangeline,” he reprimanded.  But then he looked at me appraisingly. “You are the taker of souls, and yet you do not take them indiscriminately, nor even consistently.  I should think if you felt nothing but hate you would be much more devious and perhaps more vicious.  I suspect someone touched you this time.  You made a connection,” he said laying his hand upon me. 

            I did not answer him.

           “Sammael, I remember what it was like.  I am sure my brief experience was far different from all you have done and seen, but I remember what it was like to care for someone.  Come, tell me what has befallen you.”  Raphael whispered as his warmth spread though my overtaxed body and my will to hold on to my pain drained away leaving me exposed and riddled with guilt.

            But my desolate soul spilled its tale.

            For more, look for your FREE ebook copy on Monday 5/13/13 at the link below.

            Smashwords.com

Hidden in the Pages is an upcoming work by Breakwater Harbor Books author Mindy Haig.

When his mother unexpectedly died just before Christmas, Jantzen Burke's world fell apart. He lost his father to his grief and the cold grandfather he never knew came to stay. Lonely and afraid Jantzen looked to his grandfather for some comfort, but instead of sympathy he was given a journal with a magical power; the power to find his perfect match.

A decade later, Jantzen's life is in status quo. His time is spent running the company his father signed over to him, finishing his education and maintaining an empty house. His only companion is the stranger who writes back to him in the journal, the person he's promised his heart to though he's never seen her face. 

But one day an accidental meeting changes all he thought life had planned for him. Suddenly comfort wasn't enough. A decision had to be made. Would he break the promise he'd made and take a chance on love or was his fate tied to the words in the journal?

Follow the links below to Mindy Haig's debut novel, The Wishing Place, and get in to a great read today!

Barnes&Noble.com

Amazon.com

The Wishing Place was magical. You went to sleep and you could be there, if it chose to take you. On those lucky nights you could do anything you wanted. You could have anything you could think to ask for. You could even see the future. But what if you had to wait 16 years for the vision to become reality?

Valerie Porter was a lonely little girl. Her world fell apart when Granny passed away and her parents troubled marriage ended in a bitter divorce. Her only solace lay in Granny's fairy tales and the secret Granny had shared with her alone - the secret of the Wishing Place. 

Granny said what The Wishing Place showed was real and would happen. She promised Valerie that there was true love out in the world meant for her. But a promise wasn't much to hold on to when Valerie became an unwelcome stepchild. 

One night, Valerie asked The Wishing Place to show her something special - something  really important. What she got was an eight-year-old boy named Nickolas Rossi  who was everything she could want in a friend. But was he just a dream or could  he fulfill Granny's promise and make happily ever after a reality?

Barnes&Noble.com

Amazon.com

A quick get to know the author!

Five facts about you that people won’t know about you. Can you juggle? Ride a bike with no hands? Drink beer upside down? Something unusual… GO!

Well, most of the unusual things about me are the reason people who know me, know me!

1. I Have amazing recall for names and places. 

2. I can find someone I know everywhere I go. (Seriously) Airports, other states, Disney world...

3. I was a DJ in college, also technician for college basketball broadcasts at Rutgers

4.  If you tell me something can't be done, I will go to great lengths to prove it can.

5.  I can jump rope pretty darned good!

Five facts about your newest book that people won’t know. Some background history on one of your characters maybe? Maybe it was going to be called something completely different to start out with? Is it the same genre it started out as?...

1. Nick's early chapters are based on my son Who was almost 9 when I started writing it - not the character himself, but his speech patterns.

2. The Wishing place itself is based on a recurring dream I had when I was a child.         

3. My favorite character was Levi Bonham.

4. Apache Velasquez got his name from an email I was copied on at work.

5.   The sequel to The Wishing Place, called:  The White Room is about Nick and Valerie's children.

Five facts about your next book… Name, genre, expected date of release…

1. The novella prequel to Glory, called: The Messenger, is going to be available for free download this month!

2. I am a mythology lover, so there are a lot of references to various myths and folk lore in my books.

3. The flashback to Bethany is based very loosely on the Gospel, supposedly written by Judas.

4. In Glory, the house Dominic lives in is a real house, one town away from my home town.

5. In Glory, every name Sammael uses has meaning to him. Arrio Dominic Thanos roughly means warlike prince of death.

Three tips that you think might be useful for other authors… anything you want. It could be, to write a certain amount every day, only write after midnight and never get Gizmo wet (Sorry, that’s Gremlins not writers! My bad.) Maybe it’s some information that was given to you that has helped your process…

1. Write about things you are interested in.  Doing the research helps ward off writers block.

2. Jump around in the story as you write it.  If you have a great idea for a later chapter, draft it!  If you wait until you get to that point, you're likely to forget the ideas, but if you write them when you have them, you can build the story up to that event.

3.  Do your homework.  Small details draw the reader into the story.

To enter The Wishing Place, click the link below to Amazon.com.

The Wishing Place

The Wishing Place was magical. You went to sleep and you could be there, if it chose to take you. On those lucky nights you could do anything you wanted. You could have anything you could think to ask for. You could even see the future. But what if you had to wait 16 years for the vision to become reality?

Valerie Porter was a lonely little girl. Her world fell apart when Granny passed away and her parents troubled marriage ended in a bitter divorce. Her only solace lay in Granny's fairy tales and the secret Granny had shared with her alone - the secret of the Wishing Place.

Granny said what The Wishing Place showed was real and would happen. She promised Valerie that there was true love out in the world meant for her. But a promise wasn't much to hold on to when Valerie became an unwelcome stepchild.

One night, Valerie asked The Wishing Place to show her something special - something  really important. What she got was an eight-year-old boy named Nickolas Rossi  who was everything she could want in a friend. But was he just a dream or could  he fulfill Granny's promise and make happily ever after a reality?

About you.

 

Name:  Mindy Haig

Contacts/social media sites: 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mindy.haig

Twitter: @mindyh101

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CJF2UY8

Amazon UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00CJF2UY8

 

Links to Amazon page and or any other place that The Wishing Place can be purchased:

The Wishing Place is available in the iBooks store for Apple

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Wishing-Place-ebook/dp/B00BNHQ9FE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366979407&sr=8-1&keywords=The+wishing+place

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291257

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wishing-place-mindy-haig/1114821406?ean=2940044363649

Kobo:  http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Wishing-Place/book-V8r31uCxjEan9VfR4dLWBg/page1.html?s=86ph2bumekaRly5hR7jkWg&r=1

Sony eBookstore: https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/mindy-haig/the-wishing-place/_/R-400000000000000988391

 

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, just 15 minutes from the George Washington Bridge so I spent a lot of time in New York City.

When did you start writing?

I started writing in High School.  I had a few poetry pieces published in our school paper.  I used to write stories in notebooks all the time, but I had not considered writing for publication then.  When my husband and I were first married, I started writing again, but my job didn't leave a lot of time for  my hobby and then kids came along and my stories were pretty much all bedtime/bath time stories for my kids.  In 2009 I decided I was going to give it an honest effort, and I haven't stopped since.

What made you start writing?

I don't think there was a defining moment.  When I would make up stories for the kids and they would laugh, that was my best motivation.  When I started writing novels, I wrote about things I was interested in.  Writing is a great learning experience! I have researched history, mythology, physics, ballet, psychology, so many things to keep my work accurate.  It keeps my mind sharp and my vocabulary expanded!

Is it something that you have always wanted to do?

Yes, but I also wanted to be a Chemist and a Radio DJ!  (I was a DJ in College- loved it!)

What is your favourite genre to read, and do you have any favourite books or authors you would like to recommend?

I love to read fiction, particularly comedy with an element of romance.  Christopher Moore and Douglass Adams pulled it off fabulously!    I also love a good plot twist!  Guy Gavriel Kay is the master of the 'I did not see that coming' ending!  I like books that are character driven, that days or weeks later I am still thinking about them.  I read the Harry Potter series after it was completed, all seven books back to back.  By the end I felt like they were my family so when it was over I missed them!

What about to write?

I like to write books with an element of the fantastic:  fate, angels, the reincarnation of Paris of Troy.  Imagine him falling in love again with the woman who's face launched a thousand ships and how the modern world would burn.  Imagine the last angel made from the Glory of God being banished to walk the earth until the Judgement Day and wonder what he would do to make that day happen.  Imagine if you had a journal and every time you wrote in it someone wrote back.

Do you write full time? If not, what do you do?

No, I do not write full time.  I work as a contractor for Applied Materials in the Global Trade Division.

Do you ever base your characters on anyone that you know, or are they solely from your imagination?

I don't base my characters on people I know, but I tend to write stories about things that inspire me.  A lot of The Wishing Place is based around a song from my childhood. 

Sometime last month I posted on the blog that my work and I were trying to raise $750 for March of Dimes, and that if we did then I would shave my head. I also asked for help from you, my readers, saying that every dollar I made off of sales for a two week time period I would donate to that cause. Well, as you can see, we reached that $750. We actually reached over $1,000 and so I had my goatee shaved too.

Thank you so much for adding to that donation by purchasing my books. Without you, I'd still have hair ;) NBC29 in Charlottesville, VA will be airing news coverage of my hair cut at 5:30 today. The video will be available on their site after that, until around 2 weeks from now.

Of course if you're interested in reading one of my novels and you haven't yet, I would be honored and would love to hear what you think of them! I'll list what's available on Amazon.com below.

Lazarus, Man
Paperback
Kindle - Free
Audiobook 


Eden Legacy
Paperback
Kindle - Free
Audiobook

Hearts of Avon
Paperback
Kindle - Free

The Ark of Humanity
Paperback
Kindle - Free

Eden and Ark Fantasy Twin Pack
Kindle

Dusk Crescence
Paperback
Kindle


Have a wonderful day! Thank you so much! The link to Amazon.com is below.

Scott J. Toney, Amazon.com

Do you know, it never ceases to amaze me how much comments left on my books can mean. Since Hearts of Avon's release in February I've received lots of excellent feedback. It's quickly becoming the most read of any of my books, 6,800 copies and climbing, and I thought it might be fun to share some of the comments that have been left on Amazon.com recently by my readers.

"I enjoyed this book so much. It showed us how important prayer is in a true love relationship and how even the worst of storms, between a couple in love, can bring a new rainbow when they pray together for the good of everyone in their lives. I love the way this author writes as it reminds me of the way Nicholas Sparks writes. The ending left me wanting to know more about the outcome of each life. A book worth reading. Easy to read and clean." - Sharon M. Ellis

"As someone who went through hurricane Irene on the outer banks this is a good description of events here. A very good read." - Melanie Toler

"A boy and girl running from and confronting a relentless stalker in the midst of a hurricane is a thrilling story. Beginning with the girl leaving her abusive boyfriend after he's though he's been able to control her for three years, the path to catastrophe is set. Ben is a nice boy, and Caroline finds relief and happiness in their new playful friendship, while John continues to watch and grow more and more attached to Caroline and desperate for her every day. He thinks of nothing else, and barely seems to notice when he sets his own house ablaze. This is scarily true to real life stalkers, any reader who has been stalked now begins to get very afraid for the heroes. It's exactly what I love in a story like this." - Kestrellian

"Although not a chick-lit fan, I really enjoyed "Hearts of Avon". Ben falls in love with a beautiful and intelligent Caroline who does her best to escape her ex-boyfriend, but there are so many other obstacles in the way of Ben and Caroline's love that it's difficult to say if their feelings for each other will be stronger than whatever tries to separate them. "Hearts of Avon" is abundant in twists and turns, and you never know what will happen in the next chapter. I'll gladly reread the story of Ben and Caroline sometime soon, because it's an extremely enjoyable book." - J.W.

These are just a few of the reviews that I've had the pleasure of enjoying recently for Hearts of Avon. The book's pitch is below, along with a link to Hearts of Avon in both Paperback and Kindle version in case you'd like to take a read!

In Avon, a beach town along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Ben is falling fast for the beautiful and intelligent Caroline, even as they both deal with her stalker ex-boyfriend who has followed her south on vacation.

As Ben learns the depths of the other man's madness his and Caroline's relationship runs into another wall, level 3 Hurricane Irene moving quickly toward the Outer Banks. When the storm arrives, all of their lives will be drastically changed.

How will they learn to cope with the consequences? When they are tested with a disaster on the brink of their comprehension, how will they pick up the pieces of their lives?

http://www.amazon.com/Hearts-of-Avon-ebook/dp/B00B90KGOK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

If you have read one or more of my books and not yet written a review, I would be incredibly honored if you would go to Amazon.com and review and star rate it/them so that others might read what you write and decide to delve in and enjoy.

Have a wonderful day!

- Scott J. Toney