Red: A Modern Fairytale Retelling by Jessi McPherson

Red:
A Modern Fairytale Retelling

by
Jessi McPherson

Genre:YA
Fantasy

Everyone
has read the tale of Little Red Riding Hood... Such a carefree, naïve
girl who fell victim to the wolf and had to be saved by the Huntsman.
I’d like to set that story straight. It all began with a girl, a
curse, and wolf. We all have a hero inside. All it takes is to
believe. Cara knew the legends of her village but she never thought
she'd become one.

Add
to Goodreads

Amazon
* Apple
* B&N
* Kobo

Excerpt:

“Please help me,” a weak voice said in the distance. Cara ran toward the faint

sound, and on the ground found a young man, no older than she, lying covered in

blood and wounds.

“Oh, god. Are you okay?” He was silent. She knelt beside him to check his

pulse. It was there, but it was weak. “Well, hang on. Hopefully Gran has

something to help.” Carefully she lifted him, but it took everything she had to

bring him to the trail. She knew there was no way that she would be able to carry

him all the way there. “Please stay alive until I get back,” she whispered to him

and took off running. It only took a few minutes to make it the rest of the way to

the cottage. “Gran, Gran, please come quick!” she yelled as she headed for the

door.

“Dear child, what has you all worked up?”

“I need your cart. There was a young man in the woods, and he’s injured.”

Her Gran looked up at the moon. “Come, child. Show me where.” They

hitched her horse to the cart and Cara led her Gran to where she had left him.

“Was he alone?” Gran asked.

“Yes, and gravely injured.” As they rounded the bend, they could see that he

was still lying on the side of the road.

“Oh dear. He’s been attacked. Come, let’s get him to the cottage and tend to

his wounds. We don’t have much time,” her Grandmother urged.

“He’s coming,” he groaned. Her Gran knelt beside him and whispered

something. He seemed to relax.

“What did you say to him?”

“Only that he was safe and being treated,” she replied. They walked quietly

back to her cottage. “Place him on the cot, dear. Do you have the elixirs your

mother sent?”

“Yes, here in my bag.”

“Good. I need those− also, some wolfbane and jasmine from my shelf.” Cara

grabbed the plants that she had been asked to get and sat beside her

Grandmother, watching her work.

“I don’t recognize him from the village,” Cara said, placing the plants in the

mortar for her Gran.

“No, I don’t suppose he is a villager.”

“Where do you think he came from?”

“I think we will find out, either when he wakes or when the sun rises,” her

Grandmother said.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see, child, and it’s about time.”

Cara didn’t understand what she meant. She watched as her Grandmother

pulverized the herbs and noticed she spoke quietly as she did. “What are you

saying?”

“Just a little spell to help with the healing. He is in a lot of pain and won’t heal

until he calms.”

“So it’s true. You are a witch.”

“That’s a strong word, but yes. You are, as well. You come from a long line of

them. We are here to help protect the Hylands. That is why your mother sent you

tonight.”

“What do you mean?” Cara asked, wonderment evident on her face.

“She noticed you’ve been changing and slowly coming into your gifts over

the last few months. There’s a lot you are going to learn about, but now we must

attend to this man.”

Cara was in shock. Her Grandmother was, in fact, a witch, and apparently, so

was she. She started to shake.

“It’s okay, sweet child.”

“Why didn’t you or Mother tell me sooner?”

“We weren’t sure if you would inherit any gifts. Not every child that is born

into our line has the power. We had to wait.”

She couldn’t believe it. Their attention was drawn to the young man as he

started groaning and speaking frantically. “Lily, Lily run!” he yelled, thrashing

about.

“Come, hold him down while I work, dear.” Grandmother mixed herbs and

covered his wounds. Cara still hadn’t moved. “Cara, snap out of it. Yes, I know

it’s a lot to process− and not how we intended to tell you− but right now I need

you to focus, or he will die.”

Cara blinked a few times and moved to do what she had been asked. His face

calmed slightly as she laid her hands on him, but the anguish was still evident.

She finally took a moment to look him over. She didn’t know why, but she felt

compelled to gaze at his perfect figure. Even covered in wounds, dirt, and blood,

his beauty was evident− from the sculpt of his chest to the contours of his face.

She slid the blood-matted hair from his face, and he slightly opened the most

beautiful green eyes she had ever seen. As he gazed into hers, he said, “Please

find Lily.” Then he closed his eyes again.

“Who is Lily?” she asked. He didn’t answer. Instead, he started thrashing

again.

Hi
all, I'm Jessi
Mcpherson.
I live in a small town in Iowa right on the banks of The Mighty
Mississippi. I started writing when I was about 10 years old. Almost
every girl has a journal but I not only had fun stories of the day
but poems and short stories that popped in my head. I love fantasy
and romance novels and read almost daily. I like to find my
inspiration in everyday life. That's one of my goals is to find one
thing every day that inspires me. I grew up an army brats so I have
traveled to a few places over the years. I have two amazing children
and a very amazing husband. They thankfully put up with crazy work
schedules because being a mom and a writer isn't enough but I am also
the general manager of Sidelines Sports bar in my home town. No
matter how busy I find time for it all. I do hope you enjoy my books
and I look forward to writing more.

Facebook
* Twitter * Amazon
* Goodreads

Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to the Apocalypse by D L Richardson

Welcome to the Apocalypse

by D L Richardson

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. D L Richardson will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

GENRE: Science Fiction/Apocalyptic

"Players. Welcome to the apocalypse"

Book One – Pandora:



The Apocalypse Games is a state of the art virtual game, yet when it traps over 100 players inside, there’s reason to worry – their simulation pods are designed to last 3 days and the artificial intelligence is taking over.

Book Two – CyberNexis:



When rescue finally arrives, the players are transported to an offsite facility to recover from cyber sickness. Not all the players survived and not all is what it seems. What is CyberNexis hiding out in the desert?

Book Three – Primal Scream:



The disaster known as The Event has plunged the world into icy darkness. Humans can’t survive but a group of mutants can. All signs lead back to the simulation pods. What were they really designed for?



Join these characters on an emotional and fast-paced journey to explore what it really means to survive.

Read an Excerpt from Book Two

"Player twenty-one is about to enter the game."

Orange atoms flashed in front of Jack Minnow's eyes and he felt the lurch of his stomach as if plummeting from a great height, and he thought to himself, I didn't choose a game.

These atoms flashed, sparking as if alive with energy, until finally the show was over and the display vanished. Jack noticed his surroundings had shifted from the bright colors of the pod to the dull grays of a hospital room. Rows of beds were situated along two walls and a desk sat at the far end of the room. About twenty beds. No windows in the room. No flowers either, or fruit baskets or visitors for that matter. But the bitter smell of disinfectant and lost hope was abundant.

Other than the overhead vent humming and his sneakers squeaking on the floor, the room gave off no noise. Patients lay in the beds, as still as corpses with tubes sticking out of their arms and mouths. Alive but sedated, giving him a glimpse of what his body looked like from outside of the virtual reality simulation pod.

Impressions didn't count for anything in this world. Bodies being used for medical or science projects wouldn't be out of character. They might not be human. Androids. Whatever. Pandora wasn't offering up any clue as to why he stood in a hospital ward holding a patient chart.

About the Author:

D L Richardson writes speculative fiction. She is currently a self-published author of three YA novels "The Bird with the Broken Wing", "Resident Spy", and "One Little Spell". She is also the creator of the apocalyptic/sci-fi series "Welcome to the Apocalypse", and the novella series inspired by Tales from the Crypt, "The Shivers Novellas".



A former singer and musician, she credits this stage experience for her ease of public speaking, conducting writing workshops, and appearing on panels. Her books don't feature the usual tropes and this has earned her many loyal readers.



When she's not writing she enjoys playing music, watching Netflix, reading, gardening, and walking the dog.



Website: http://www.dlrichardson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DLRichardsonAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DLRichardson1

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/112189215156085425271

Blog: http://dlrichardsonwrites.blogspot.com.au



Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N01QFTQ/

Book 2: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XQRGG82

Book 3: https://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Apocalypse-Primal-Scream-Book-ebook/dp/B079NYBQDH

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

D L Richardson will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2018/04/blurb-blitz-welcome-to-apocalypse.html

The Rainmaker by Petra Landon blitz

The Rainmaker
Petra Landon
(Saga of the Chosen #2)
Publication date: March 30th 2018
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

As they race to untangle the past and thwart a power-hungry Wizard, Tasia must face her toughest decision yet. Can she take a leap of faith and risk her deadliest secret?
Tasia Armstrong is no longer a nondescript, friendless and naïve Wizard flying under the radar on the fringes of Chosen society. With her fate now publicly entwined with that of a powerful Shifter Pack, she must navigate the minefield of Pack politics while keeping her secrets and cover safe from the Chosen who hunt her. With a Pack to defend her, a powerful Alpha to protect her interests and friends to watch her back, her life is a far cry from before. But living with the Shifters holds new challenges for a Chosen more used to the shadows.
The stakes have never been higher as old fault lines, long-buried secrets, Wizard dysfunction, and Lady Bethesda’s ruthless machinations draw the Chosen ever closer to a civil war. While Tasia grapples to avoid the pitfalls and confront her demons, it is an unlikely nemesis who forces her to face her moment of truth. Tasia finds herself at the crossroads – at stake are her carefully constructed house of cards and her tangled relationship with the man who holds her enemies at bay. Will Tasia risk opening Pandora’s Box or will she disappear into the shadows again?
Author’s Note : The Rainmaker continues the story from The Prophecy. The books are not standalone and are intended to be read in order.

Goodreads / Amazon

On sale for 99¢ for a limited time only!

—

EXCERPT:

“I …” Tasia paused, choosing her words with care this time. “My work with your Pack …” “Fuck the Pack.” His voice was very even. “This has nothing to do with the Pack. I’m talking

about us — you and me.”

“No.” She shook her head, wishing the noise in her head would abate and allow her to think

more clearly. “There’s no us.”

An eyebrow arched up in the near darkness. “So, that kiss in the cave …”

Tasia interrupted him. “I didn’t kiss you.”

He shot her a look.

“You kissed me” she insisted, responding to that look. “Both times.”

“No” he said unequivocally. “We’ve both been willing partners in this dance. I lead, but you’ve

been with me every step of the way.”

They stared at each other, the air between them charged with an awareness that they stood on

the edge of a precipice. She couldn’t discern his expression but she wondered what he read in hers, with his night eyes.

“Any time you’d like a demonstration, let me know” he remarked sardonically.

Tasia flushed. They’d been leading up to this moment, she realized. This was the dance he talked about. She should have put a stop to it before. Now, she’d have to defuse it carefully or the resulting conflagration would destroy her.

“I’ve been around the block a few times, witchling. You and I — we make our own fire, no tinder required. That’s not it. Something else has you stepping back. What is it?”

Tasia thought furiously, through the fog in her head. “You don’t get involved with Pack” she reminded him.

“I’m willing to make an exception for you” he said clearly.

Tasia blinked, once. He wasn’t going to make this easy for her.

“I did tell you once that I’d ignore my principles for the right person.” It was his turn to remind

her.

Tasia, who remembered the occasion well, said nothing.

“Am I to continue with the Pack?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She hesitated. “What happens if things … uh … don’t work out between us?”

He laughed, a sound singularly devoid of amusement.

“You’ve walked away from the Pack before. I didn’t let that stop me from going after you,

when I thought you were in danger. What does that tell you, witchling?”

Tasia couldn’t refute him. There was nothing to say. He would not let his personal feelings get

in the way of his responsibilities to his Pack or to her, no matter how bad things got between them. Then, something seemed to strike him. “Is it because I’m a Shifter?”

Tasia wondered wildly if he would accept that. Perhaps his pride would not let him pursue her if he believed that she wanted no part of a relationship with a Shifter. It would make her sound like a bigot. But she’d take that.

“Will you let this be if … if I have reservations about Shifters?” she asked hopefully.

“Hell no.” His response was immediate and forceful. “I’ll do my damnedest to change your mind.”

He frowned, something about her answer registering finally. “Is that what this is about — being with a Shifter?”

Again, he was forthright with his query, and Tasia realized she could not bring herself to lie to him. Like him, she too was willing to make an exception. For him.

“No” she admitted softly.

There was a short silence while Tasia tried to get her jumbled thoughts into order. The wild cacophony in her head was now so loud that it drowned out everything but his voice, even the gentle lap of water against the wall and the whoosh of the wind behind her.

“Let me simplify this for you” he said, the gold eyes holding her gaze. “Tell me what you want, and we go from there.”

“What I want?” Tasia repeated mechanically.

I can’t have what I want.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know what you want.” His eyes narrowed in the darkness.

Tasia shook her head, her eyes darting away as if to seek an escape. She’d have to walk away, she thought despairingly. She saw no other way out.

His initial fury having abated, Raoul was starting to use his connection to her, much as he had before, when he’d been so attuned to her unspoken words. He had realized it almost immediately, taking it in stride. He wondered if she had picked up on it yet.

“You told me once that you don’t run away” he reminded her, picking up hints of her roiling emotions.

Tasia said nothing.

“If you run from me because you don’t want to deal with whatever is between us, witchling, I will come after you.” His voice hardened as a spike of anger flared in him. “I won’t stand by again while you run recklessly into the fire.”

Tasia looked away from him. There seemed no way out of this impasse. He would not back away, not without an explanation from her. She could not give him one, not without endangering all sorts of secrets, and she was very much afraid that, unless she convinced him to walk away first, she’d eventually succumb to him.

Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire!

Raoul stared at her, puzzled by her inexplicable desire to deny that which sizzled like a living entity between them. He tried to piece together what he could sense from her.

Suddenly, it hit him. “You’re afraid!” he muttered incredulously.

This was the primary emotion he sensed from her, overriding everything else. He had sensed many emotions from her before but terror, the kind he sensed now, had thus far been reserved exclusively for the Clan.

She said nothing, neither confirming nor refuting his statement. Jolted, he took a step back. “Of what?”

Tasia stared at him mutely, her hesitation palpable.

“Of me?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

Author Bio:
An avid reader all her life, only recently has Petra allowed her own imagination to run riot. She loves to travel, loves the outdoors and reads everything she can get her hands on, time permitting. Her taste in books is very eclectic – she tends to like stories with vivid and quirky characters that have elements of fantasy, adventure, romance and mystery interspersed together. A good book for her is one that makes the reader think long after it has been finished and set aside. And, one that draws the reader back to it, again and again.

To share the tales that have lived in her imagination for so long is a labor of love and a lifelong dream come true for her.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest / Amazon / Mailing list

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unbreakable Bond by Jess Bryant

Unbreakable Bond

Fated Mates Duet

BookOne

Jess Bryant


Genre: PNR - Shifter Romance

Date of Publication: 5/15/2018

Number of pages: 258

Word Count: 68,000

Cover Artist: K Creative Designs

Tagline: Fate has a plan all her own.

Book Description:

Sometimes fate gets it all wrong.

Zoey Kent has lived with that fact ever since she turned eighteen and learned that the man she loved could never be hers. He’s a born shifter, a wolf, and she’s a mere human. Fate doesn’t care if on paper they’re a perfect pair. She isn’t his fated mate and she’s resigned herself to the knowledge that someday, she’ll have to watch Michael mate with another. It’s never crossed her mind that there might be someone else out there for her, that she would be the one to mate another, to choose another over everything she’s ever known or wanted.

Sometimes fate gets it all right.

Rafe Hudson left his pack behind years ago. Physically and mentally scarred from an attack that left his parents and twin dead, he walked away from his responsibilities as Alpha. He never intended to return but lone wolf or not, he can’t leave Michael open to an attack he’s learned is coming for his only brother. What he didn’t know was that going home would mean scenting his mate, the one person in the world that could make him whole again, that could give him everything he thought he’d lost. His pack, his home and his family.

But fate always has a plan.

There’s no way Michael’s brother is her future, is there? Just like there’s no way that the girl his brother has loved since they were kids, was always meant to be his, right?

Only fate knows why they were brought together but there is one thing for sure, the sparks between Zoey and Rafe are undeniable. The bond between them is unbreakable. And together… they’ll change the face of the pack forever.

Excerpt 2

Rafe Hudson was going to rip his little brother’s
intestines out and use them to choke him to death. It was a fantasy he’d been
living over and over in his head for the past few hours. It was a fantasy that
he would have fulfilled already if only
she hadn’t stopped him.

Her. Zoey. His mate. He was still trying to wrap his
head around how that was even possible.

All of those years out there in the big, bad world.
All of his time spent roaming from city to town to countryside. He hadn’t been
out there looking for her but he was what he was. He was a shifter and it was
hard coded in him to seek the woman that was meant to make him whole. In the
back of his mind, every time he encountered a new woman, a new wolf or other
shifter, he’d wondered if she was the one.

He’d wondered if he would find her at his next stop
or the one after that. He’d wondered where she was and if she was looking for
him too. And, in his darkest moments, he’d wondered if fate had even seen fit
to give him a mate when he’d already failed to protect those that meant the
most to him once.

He’d failed his family, his entire pack. He had been
the one to run past the boundary line. He was the one the hunters had followed
back to camp. He was the reason they were all dead, every one of them.

His proud father, the leader of
them all. His mother, the sweetest wolf to have ever been born. And Gabe, his
littermate, his twin, his other half in every way. The only member of his
family that hadn’t been in the woods that day was Michael and because fate liked to throw
punches when you were already down, Rafe knew that the reason his little
brother hadn’t been there was because he’d been with her.

Zoey.

To find out, after all of this time, that she was
his? That she’d been his all along? That she was his but that she’d been here
with his brother? Well, that was an
injustice he wouldn’t, and couldn’t, tolerate.

About the Author:

Jess Bryant is an avid indoorswoman. A city girl trapped in a country girl's life, her heart resides in Dallas but her soul and roots are in small town Oklahoma. She enjoys manicures, the color pink, and her completely impractical for country life stilettos. She believes that hair color is a legitimate form of therapy, as is reading and writing romance. She started writing as a little girl but her life changed forever when she stole a book from her aunt's Harlequin collection and she's been creating love stories with happily ever afters ever since.

Jess holds a degree in Public Relations from the University of Oklahoma and is a lifetime supporter of her school and athletic teams. And why not? They have a ton of National Championships! She may be a girlie girl but she knows her sports stats and isn't afraid to tell you that your school isn't as cool as hers... or that your sports romance got it all wrong.

For more information on Jess and upcoming releases follow her on her many social media accounts for news and shenanigans.

www.jessbryantbooks.com

www.facebook.com/jessbryantbooks

www.instagram.com/jessbryantbooks

www.twitter.com/jess_bry

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01ANYTW2Y

Interview with Jess Bryant

Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

Life, music, tv, dreams, stories my friends tell me. Ideas are everywhere if you do enough listening and enough people watching.

How did you do research for your book?

Unbreakable Bond is a shifter romance so for research I basically binge watched Teen Wolf. Ha-ha. I laugh, but it’s not really a joke. I did watch that entire tv show in a matter of weeks. It was fun and quirky but it really came down to family and friendships and that’s something I think all of my books have in common, that thread of friends being a pack, in this case it's just actually true.

Do you have another profession besides writing?

Yes, I work full time. Writing is a side hobby or a second job if you will. I mostly just call it my passion. I spend 9 hours a day crunching numbers and entering invoices in an office environment. When I go home I get to work with what I truly love, words and my imagination. Finding a balance isn’t always easy but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, ya know?

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

Oh, I love this question. I am a time travel geek. If we’re talking about using a machine to go back to any time in the past, I’d love to visit Ancient Greece. I took an entire class in college on the rise and fall of their empire and getting to see it firsthand would be amazing. If we’re talking about going back to one point in my life however, I’d go back to the day I met my ex-husband and stay in bed. Haha!

What is your next project?

Right now I am working on book two in my Fated Mates Duet. It will be Michael’s story and picks up right where Unbreakable Bond finishes off so readers don’t miss a beat. I’m excited to share both books with you all. It’s a genre departure from the contemporary small town romances I usually write and I hope my readers enjoy this little magical trip as much as I have.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Radio Underground by Alison Littman

Historical Fiction

Date Published: November 15, 2018

With swift, bold, and powerful writing, debut author Alison Littman captures the epic and devastating uprising against the Soviet regime in Cold War Hungary, illuminating a time in history when news, rock ‘n’ roll and underground journalism forever changed the lives of those living behind the Iron Curtain. Radio Underground tells the story of a family ripped apart by the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 as a mother and fanatical underground journalist relentlessly goes to battle against the communist government, putting the lives of her daughter and husband at risk when she commits a calamitous murder. She is banished to a secret, underground prison where she faces madness, torture, and a possible death sentence. Years later, her daughter must decide to save the mother who discarded her, or leave her life to fate. A beautiful, relevant novel that explores the lengths and limits of love, family and the power of expression.

“Radio Underground tells a thrilling story of family and loyalty in the face of oppression. Its richly evoked historical setting took me back to the Cold War era, while its warm-blooded characters stole my heart. A propulsive read and a timely reminder that maintaining our humanity requires courage as much as love.” -- Kim van Alkemade, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan #8 and Bachelor Girl

“Set during the Hungarian revolution of 1956 and its heartbreaking aftermath, this vivid and compelling novel is a story of courage, family and the importance of "breaking the silence." -- Susan Breen, author of The Fiction Class.

 Excerpt

A black Zis-110 idled ahead of me, the car’s curtains drawn on its passenger windows. I shivered at the sight of the secret police’s hallmark car, thinking of all the friends who had disappeared for no reason, taken away by henchmen in the middle of the night, never to return. It was no coincidence the Zis looked just like a hearse. I scurried onto a side street, dodging the car and the poor captives I assumed sat, trembling, inside of it.

I tiptoed past the Ministry of Interior, where red geraniums lined the building’s windows. In the secret prisons below, police tortured people with whips, limb crushers, nail presses, and scalding and freezing baths. Or else they just executed them. But the geraniums were always fresh.

I slid my fingers across the building’s dusty exteriors, imagining I could somehow transfer my nerves onto the cold, unfeeling brick. I had snuck through the streets after curfew for years, but tonight was different. I could feel the regime sensing our newfound courage, like a dog pushing its nose high into the air, catching the subtle perfume of a rabbit nearby.

After walking several blocks, I spied smoke unfurling in the path before me, like a languid snake expanding as it digests a fresh kill. Following it, I found Antal, his eyes closed, relishing in a cigarette.

“Antal, it’s me,” I said, coughing on the smoke now choking me.

Antal smiled and opened his eyes, his cataracts reflecting the glow of the street lamps. “Eszter, it’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too.” I kissed Antal on both cheeks, feeling his dry skin against mine and wondering how long he’d been outside waiting for me in the cold.

“Tell me, what information do you have for me today?”

“It will happen tomorrow,” I said. “Today, technically.”

It was already past midnight.

“So it’s here, isn’t it?” Antal said.

“Yes,” I said. “I went to their meeting. The students decided they’re going to march. I heard them talking about gathering arms.”

“How many people are participating in this … this march?” Antal asked as he stamped his cigarette into the ground and lit another one.

“Hundreds, thousands, maybe. I can’t be certain.”

“It doesn’t take a genius to predict how Gerő will react.”

“Gerő will slaughter them,” I said, feeling dizzy as I said aloud what we both knew. Hungary’s leader, Erno Gerő, was a Soviet puppet with an arsenal at the ready. “Without enough people hearing about it and organizing, it will just be a bloodbath.”

Antal fell back against the brick wall, suddenly losing his breath. He was always so levelheaded, so much so it often drove me to even greater heights of anxiety as I tried to compensate for his indifference. His fingers, still clutching the cigarette, quivered as his eyes searched the space behind me.

“The state radio will probably ignore this and just keep spewing out its propaganda,” he said.

“Exactly. We’re going to print with this too. But Realitás won’t reach enough people in time. An announcement on Radio Free Europe is the students’ only hope.” I held on to Antal’s shoulders to steady him. “It has to happen first thing in the morning, so people will have time to plan.”

The closest Radio Free Europe outpost was in Vienna. If Antal left now, he would get there by four in the morning.

“I already have meetings scheduled in Vienna for today,” he said. “I’ll visit our Radio Free Europe contacts as soon as I get there and cancel my other meetings to get back in time for the march. Gerő will think I cut short a routine visit to be by his side.”

Our lives by day were lies—Antal’s more than most. He served as the regime’s Deputy Interior Minister. After being forced to coordinate the executions of his friends—communists who threatened the power structure when they became too popular—he resolved to undermine the regime in any way possible. He began relaying intelligence to the American-run Radio Free Europe. With the freedom to travel at will and deep knowledge of the government’s inner workings, he also became an asset to Realitás, the underground newspaper I ran.

“It’s already one in the morning,” I said. “What will you do when they ask you why you’re crossing the border so late?”

“This is normal for me. I go to Vienna at all times of the day and night, just to keep them guessing. Just in case I run into a situation like this.”

“Smart. Well, you better leave now before Gerő tries to get in touch.”

We both knew Antal’s phone could have been ringing right then. I wondered what it would cost him—or his children and grandchildren—if he wasn’t there to answer it.

“I’ll be back,” Antal said, coughing into his hands, still shaking from what I knew was the fear we all shared.

“Wait.” I pulled out a tattered piece of paper, wincing as the cuts in my hand protested the sudden movement. “Take this with you. A student gave it to me yesterday. It’s a coded list of meeting points and times for the march. You have to get this on air too.”

Antal nodded as I slid the paper into his coat pocket, making sure to secure the meticulously crafted plans of the brave, hopeful students. They probably didn’t even realize that at this moment, Soviet troops were almost certainly readying their tanks at a base nearby.

About the Author

Alison Littman lives in San Francisco where she is a writer by day and standup comedian by night. She has contributed to magazines on John F. Kennedy and The Beatles, writing feature stories on listening to rock ‘n’ roll behind the Iron Curtain and the Cuban Missile Crisis. She produces two comedy shows in San Francisco and performs at clubs, bars and alternative venues throughout the city. This is her first novel.

Contact Links

Facebook 

Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway