An Inside Look by Elrod Stanton Into His Book, Hunting Ground

Following is Elrod Stanton's  inside look into his book, Hunting Ground.

About Hunting Ground

a science fiction novel by Elrod Stanton

Outskirts Press, December 2008

I began writing Hunting Ground while working a temp job, trying to make ends meet. I’d been trying to get a couple of my short stories published with no success when another writer friend suggested I try writing a novel. Writing was all that was keeping me sane, so I figured a novel would keep me going a lot longer than short fiction, whether I got it published or not.

I had the idea for the alien race, what they were all about, and how they came to be interested in our planet. What wasn’t clear to me were the human characters and their interactions with each other–what they was all about.

Sci-Fi: Hunting Ground, by Elrod Stanton

Hunting Ground, by Elrod Stanton is a science fiction thriller that takes you through the plains of East Africa where entire herds of animals are being slaughtered. Professor Jacob "Buddy" Brown has taken a trip to video the illegal slaughtering that is taking place across East Africa by poachers. On his plane ride over from Georgia, U.S.A., he meets Molana, a very large African woman whom he can't seem to get away from, no matter where he goes.

As their paths keep crossing, Molana and Buddy end up taking a journey together with Molana's niece Lil, to find out who, or what is killing all of the animals. What they discover is that it isn't just animals who are being hunted.

What I enjoyed about this book is that the concept of the alien beings was different than what is mainstream. The technology wasn't hard to understand or follow, and the whole premise was educating as well as entertaining. The only problem I had with the book were a few "cheesy" moments, as well as the ending. Though I liked the overall ending, I felt that it could have been a little bit better developed.

* There is sexual content and violence in this book.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3.

This book was published by Outskirts Press.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-3211-0

Thank you to Elrod Stanton via Donna Higgins Colson for the gift of this book.

Happy Release Day...and GIVEAWAY!!!

I would like to wish a very happy release day to Jess Haines, author of the Shiarra Waynest series. Her first book in the series, Hunted By The Others, was released early last year. Today we are celebrating book two in the series, Taken By The Others. In honor of today's celebration, I am happy to have a guest post by Jess Haines, followed by a GIVEAWAY!!!!

AND THE WINNER CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG IS BARBARA HIGHTOWER!!! CONGRATS!


Hello there! Jess Haines here. I’m the author of the new urban fantasy HUNTED BY THE OTHERS (link: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=16761), and its sequel TAKEN BY THE OTHERS (link: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=18148). I’d like to take a moment to introduce you to some of the cast—Shiarra Waynest, the lead character, Arnold, a mage who lends her a hand, and Alec Royce, a vampire Shiarra meets in the course of her adventures.

Shiarra Waynest Talks About Using Magic


By Jess Haines


Shiarra’s friend Arnold is going to tell you a little bit about how he uses magic. Over to you, gang!
____________________

Arnold: Woo hoo! You bitches know this one is all about me.



Sara: Honey, that’s not very nice.




Chaz: Eh, the David Blaine wannabe just wants his fifteen minutes.




Arnold: Hey!




Shiarra: This could either be really interesting or really boring.




Royce: I don’t find it very interesting, personally. Magi are common, generally useless creatures.




Arnold: Same to you, buddy.


Chaz: The leech has a point. Your kind is the most common supernatural in our world. That isn’t very out of the ordinary.



Arnold: Oh, please! I can summon beings from another world. I’d like to see the furball or the walking corpse do that.


Sara: It’s okay, love, I think you’re special!


Chaz: Get a room, you two.


Shiarra: Babe? Stop teasing my friends. We’re supposed to be on the same side.


Chaz: Aw…


Royce: Why don’t we just let the mage get this over with? I’ve got an appointment to keep.


Shiarra: Oh, well excuse us for taking time out of your busy schedule.


Royce: I don’t much care for your tone, Ms. Waynest.


Sara: Hey, you behave yourself. Both of you.


Arnold: As I was saying…


Chaz: …I’m gonna go watch the game…


Shiarra: Shush!


Chaz: Sorry.


Arnold: Ahem! So. I can make things appear and disappear at will—


Royce: Like any common stage magician. My, how exciting.


Arnold: Hey! Whose time in the spotlight is this?


Royce: Yes, yes, go on. Move it along, will you?


Arnold: Yeesh. I’m not great at conjuration. My specialties are defensive runes and glyphs. Some magi can snap their fingers and hurl a fireball—but that sort of thing takes me hours of prep time in advance to store the spell in a wand or some other focus.


Shiarra: Holy shit, you can cast fireballs?!


Chaz: DUDE. We need to go find something to blow up!


Arnold: …did you not hear what I just said?


Royce: Of course they didn’t. They have the attention span of a gnat.


Shiarra: Hey!


Chaz: Come say that to my face, buddy.


Royce: I’m not about to risk wrinkling my suit. I have an appointment with the Times I need to keep. Is this excuse for an interview over yet?


Sara: You are such a freaking killjoy, you know that?


Royce: Ms. Halloway, words cannot express how thrilled I would be to bring this travesty to a close.


Sara: Arnold hasn’t even said how he casts his spells yet!


Shiarra: You know, I hate to say it, but I’m with the vamp on this. I vote we go watch Arnold explode stuff!


Chaz: Seconded!


Arnold: Well, I did make a ring that stores kinetic energy after I read that Jim Butcher book…


Shiarra: Let’s go!


Royce: Praise the Gods, you mean it’s over?


Sara: *grumble*



____________________





You can learn more about Shiarra and the rest of her friends—and how Arnold casts his spells—in HUNTED BY THE OTHERS (link:  http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=16761 ) and TAKEN BY THE OTHERS (link:  http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=18148 ).