Synarchy Series & The Dead Boys Winners

I know this is late everyone, I'm so sorry about that.

The winner of the first two books in the Synarchy series is:

Chrizette
(claimed =D)

The winner of The Dead Boys is:

Mary DeBorde (M.A.D.)

(claimed =D)

Please contact me back before the end of Tuesday, November 30th. Thanks so much to everyone who entered the giveaways!

Q&A with DCS (+ INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY)

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Tweet

I'm so very happy to welcome author DCS back for another visit to P.S. I Love Books! It's been such a pleasure speaking with her and reading her work. Her latest release Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension (July 3, 2010 - SVT Publishing) is an exciting continuation in a very unique and cleverly written world!

----------

A little background info before we go on:

DCS is the author of Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening and Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension.  When not writing you can listen to her radio show, In The Mind of DCS every Saturday evening at 7pm CST on the Paranormal Soup Network.  Currently sucking up the creative energy of New Orleans, she is attending the American Institute of Holistic Theology to earn a PhD in Metaphysical Spirituality while being hard at work at the next book in the Synarchy Series, and an upcoming webisode series called The Fallen.  Visit her websites http://www.synarchyseries.com/ or http://www.themindofdcs.com/ to learn more.

----------

Me: It’s so good to have you back. Thanks so much for taking the time out to answer a few questions Crystal.

DCS: Glad to be back, thanks for having me!

Me: Can you tell us a little bit about Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension?

DCS: Book 2 really picks up where I leave everyone hanging in Book 1. It continues with the story of the Terenzio’s and their fight against the Brotherhood to give mankind a choice it’s never been given before. I go a lot more in depth about the Anunnaki, the origins of the Terenzio family and other fun concepts.

Me: How did your writing experience for The Ascension differ from the first book in the series?

DCS: It went a lot faster. It took me about two years to write the first book, I had Book 2 finished in two months, and the whole process from rough draft to polished manuscript took about nine.

Me: You have to admit, the number of characters in the Synarchy world is pretty high. Add in the concept of reincarnation and you could have a potential problem with confusion. What are some things you’ve done or plan on doing to keep the characters straight for readers?

DCS: Well, there’s family tree up on book 1’s website. I also included a cast of characters at the beginning of Book 2 to help readers keep track of them all.

Me: Speaking of reincarnation, that idea and philosophy is a big part of Synarchy and its books. What are your personal thoughts on the concept?

DCS: I’m a believer in it. It’s always made a lot of sense in my brain. Whether it’s a kind of karmic lesson or just something the soul wants to do is always up for debate, but I do believe we’ve been here many times before. And probably other places as well.

Me: If you had to do it all over again would you change anything in The Ascension?

DCS: Not a thing.

Me: I know you are planning for four books in the Synarchy world with one being a graphic novel. Can you tell us in a little detail what we can look forward to from you next?

DCS: I’m actually planning for six. Next up will be Book 3: SVT. Stefano’s story. That’s the one I want to turn into a graphic novel. I also intend to release Book 4: The Black Widow around the same time and that will be co-authored. Fans can also expect an upcoming webisode series called The Fallen, based on a concept I threw out in Book 2 about the Angels and the Anunnaki. And I’ve got huge, bigger news on the horizon, but I’m staying tight lipped about it for now. Soon as a few other things come into play, you can expect a big announcement.

Me: What are some of the books you’re reading at the moment? Any good recommendations you can give us?

DCS: I’m a huge fan of Dean Kootnz and when I have time I intend to dive into his latest edition of his Frankenstein Series which I really enjoyed, Dead or Alive. I also read a lot of non-fiction esoteric type stuff and I’m currently working through a book called The Secret History of the World which is completely fascinating.

Me: Thank you again Crystal for stopping by! It’s always a pleasure to have you here.

DCS: Thanks again for having me!



----------

DCS has generously offered a copy of Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening (read my review) and Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension (read my review) to one lucky reader!! 

To enter simply fill out this form!

Giveaway ends November 10th and the winner will be announced November 11th. Open Internationally!

Good Luck!

Review: Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension

Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension

DCS

Series or Stand Alone: Synarchy series, book two

Release Date: July 2010

Publisher: SVT Publishing

Pages: 442

Author Site: http://www.themindofdcs.com/

My Rating: 4.25/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

“We're villains, as much as we are capable of being heroes…”

A lifetime ago, Stefano Vasco Terenzio saw one way to maneuver his family into a game of betrayal against an unbeatable enemy; walking into a bullet. A generation later, what started with one man’s ego will determine the fate of the whole word.For centuries The Brotherhood and their Gods, the Anunnaki have hidden in plain sight among us. For centuries they have lied, sacrificed man by the thousands, and manipulated humanity into their service. As the clock ticks closer to December 21st, 2012, they will stop at nothing to keep their control of planet Earth.

In the thrilling sequel to Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening, the end is only the beginning. Secrets emerge that will challenge the core of everything you think you believe. All the while a team of scientists must make sense out of the fantastical, and the tenuous link holding together the one family that can save humankind, shatters.

Review:

I'll definitely be limiting the details of my review for those who have yet to read the first book in the series. Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension continues the story of the Terenzio family fighting to save humanity. The Brotherhood have been in control of Earth since the dawn of man - under their Gods the Annunaki. Ruthless and cunning, both the Brotherhood and the Annunaki will do whatever it takes to stay in control. The time is 2012 and as the planets slowly come together for their alignment, humanity is finally given another chance to ascend. When one ascends it is like "waking up" to the truth. All will be revealed during the ascension and every puzzle piece in one's life will finally click in place and make sense.

The Terenzio family is a large and extremely powerful mafia-like organization. They have connections and ties to almost everywhere in the world including to the Annunaki themselves. Not all of the Annunaki believe it is right to enslave humanity. Just like not all of the Terenzios believe the Ascension should happen. Betrayal and loyalty are so heavily enterwined in the novel and its characters. The story leads up to the "D-day", December 21, 2012 - the day of the Ascension. The action and characters will blow you away and definitely leave you eagerly wanting Book 3 to be released!

The Synarchy books are definitely ones to be savoured. The world is complex and filled with strong characters, reincarnation concepts, and chapters that jump back and forth between time and character point of views. It's very easy to get lost with the numerous characters but equally easy to become entirely engrossed in the writing. The story can be somewhat overwhelming at times but again, I have to say that DCS has created something that is so unique and exciting that you won't have a choice but to keep turning the pages.

I enjoyed the detail given to the Annunaki. They were rarely mentioned and remained a mystery in the first book. Also introduced is the Galactic Federation. One can call them aliens but they are much more than that. Different mythical beings, including Angels, found in the novel give the reader an entirely new perspective on the idealogy and religion that has been around since...well forever. The characters are forced to question everything they have ever known and its easy for the reader to ask themselves those very same questions. That in itself creates a bond between reader and character that is very seldom seen in the recent books I've read.

I highly recommend both Synarchy novels because they are filled with so much creativity. I enjoyed Book 2 more than Book 1 because more detail and background information was able to come into play more. I also found myself really caring and connecting with the characters. DCS has much planned for her series and I look forward to continuing on with the Terenzio family and their fight to save the world!

From the Desk of...

...author DCS!






As most of us writers do, I’m always reading articles to improve my craft. There was one particular that has persistently stuck in the back of my mind when I think about this business called writing. Randall Silvis once said, “When was the last time you read something and thought, gee I didn’t know that about the human condition…for any reader with a few books under his belt and access to the nightly news, there is little in this world that can truly surprise us.”

While that statement may be true, as a writer with an over active imagination I feel that to take it to heart would be a sell out to my readers. How many times are we going to read the same ole story? When we pick up those books, aren’t we secretly hoping there will be something new inside those pages? Something a little different? Something that does bring back that child like wonder and make us rethink the world? Don’t we as writers owe it to our readers to raise the bar every time we put pen to paper? Stephanie Miller sucked us in not with just a love story but with a slightly different twist on the age old vampire and werewolf’s tale. We stood in line for Harry Potter because we’d never been in a world quite like that before. When I sit down to write Synarchy I want to pull back the veil on the world you think you live in and show it to you through a new set of eyes. I want to squeeze your heart, and hurt your brain, and make you ponder the real possibility of practical magic.

Fiction should engage our minds and our hearts. Sure, as readers we can be lazy. Sure, we pick up books to leave the real world behind. We read sometimes to be the hero we can’t be in the real world, to have that adventure we think we’ll never take in this lifetime. But, in all the fantastic worlds we’ve visited shouldn’t the most memorable leave us with some clue as to how to draw that very magic into our own lives?

We should never stop striving to change the world, to make it as we want to be; magical creations, beautiful reflections of our heartfelt, childlike desires. When our fiction no longer inspires us to keep dreaming, intending, creating, what are we reading it for? I say as writers, let’s keep trying to raise the bar. Our fans should expect nothing less.

----------

**Be sure to stop by tomorrow for my review of Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension and an interview with DCS (w/giveaway) on Wednesday!!**

Teaser Tuesday [53] - Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

 

-Grab your current read
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given.
-Please avoid spoilers!

----------

 

"What? We're already the rednecks of the galaxy. Im just trying to educate him." Tony shrugged.

Lucien glared at Tony and rubbed his middle finger across his cheek. (52-53)

 

Synarchy Book 2: The Ascension :: DCS

 

**Find out more about Teaser Tuesday at http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/. Join in the fun!**

Book Arrivals

----------



Won:

Dust :: Joan Frances Turner

(September 2010 - Ace Hardcover)

Nine years ago, Jessie had a family. Now, she has a gang.

Nine years ago, Jessie was a vegetarian. Now, she eats very fresh meat.

Nine years ago, Jessie was in a car crash and died. Nine years ago, Jessie was human.

Now, she’s not.

After she was buried, Jessie awoke and tore through the earth to arise, reborn, as a zombie. Jessie’s gang is the Fly-by-Nights. She loves the ancient, skeletal Florian and his memories of time gone by. She’s in love with Joe, a maggot-infested corpse. They fight, hunt, dance together as one—something humans can never understand. There are dark places humans have learned to avoid, lest they run into the zombie gangs.

But now, Jessie and the Fly-by-Nights have seen new creatures in the woods—things not human and not zombie. A strange new illness has flamed up out of nowhere, causing the undeads to become more alive and the living to exist on the brink of death. As bits and pieces of the truth fall around Jessie, like the flesh off her bones, she’ll have to choose between looking away or staring down the madness—and hanging onto everything she has come to know as life…
 

**Thank you Abigail from All Things Urban Fantasy

 
----------
 
For Review:

The Ascension: Synarchy Book 2 :: DCS

(July 2010 - SVT Publishing)

"We're villains, as much as we are capable of being heroes…”A lifetime ago, Stefano Vasco Terenzio saw one way to maneuver his family into a game of betrayal against an unbeatable enemy; walking into a bullet. A generation later, what started with one man’s ego will determine the fate of the whole word.For centuries The Brotherhood and their Gods, the Anunnaki have hidden in plain sight among us. For centuries they have lied, sacrificed man by the thousands, and manipulated humanity into their service. As the clock ticks closer to December 21st, 2012, they will stop at nothing to keep their control of planet Earth.In the thrilling sequel to Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening, the end is only the beginning. Secrets emerge that will challenge the core of everything you think you believe. All the while a team of scientists must make sense out of the fantastical, and the tenuous link holding together the one family that can save humankind, shatters.

Day 187 - From the Desk of...

...author DCS!


I thought long and hard about what to write for this, and I decided I’ve got to talk about the book. I babble on about a lot of things on my blog related to some of the important concepts I’ve interlaced into the Synarchy story but I’m going to take this opportunity and share a secret behind Synarchy that makes me love it so much.

I consider myself really lucky that I’m surrounded by so many creative people and really gifted writers. Some of the characters in Synarchy are not my orginal creations but based off of characters that I roleplay with. When I say roleplay, I mean text based, open ended, whatever your creative heart desires acting online, so to speak. Some of your blog readers may be familiar with it, it’s been pretty popular for a while. I like to think of myself as an old school roleplayer, and I run a game loosely based off the novel, you can find links to that on my website. I think being a roleplayer has improved my writing and really kept my creative juices flowing. I’m always writing something, everyday and that’s an awesome feeling, especially since I’m not always alone. Writing can be a very solitary endeavor, but when you can get with other great writers and create something together it’s almost magical.

There are about five or six snippets in the book that are brief collaborations with another author. They get their appropriate shout outs in the beginning of the book and it’s all done with their permission. I could have written the book without including their creations, I’m so schizophrenic it’s not even funny, but then the Terenzio family just wouldn’t be the same. This makes it better I think and it adds this really awesome dynamic because some of the history behind these characters we really experienced. A lot of it was not planned, it just kind of happened randomly, and when I decided to write Synarchy it was great that I could take pieces of that and interlace it into the book. I feel like the story is more alive because of it.

It also gives me room for some pretty fun contests in the future, like having readers guess which scenes are the ones that are roleplayed and how much history I tweaked for the novel versus what is actually “true”. Anywho, I’m glad to have been given the opportunity to share that and stop by your blog, Mishel! Much thanks and I hope your readers enjoy reading Synarchy as much as I did writing it.

----------

A big thank you to DCS for stopping by and hanging out for the last three days and talking about the book. Make sure to check out my review && go out and get yourself a copy of this book! You won't regret it =)

Day 186 - Synarchy Book One: The Awakening

Synarchy Book One: The Awakening

DCS

Series or Stand Alone: Synarchy Series, book one

Synopsis [from amazon.com]:

A plan is exposed, centuries in the making and so sinister not even the legend himself could have predicted the depth of its impact on the world. In his lifetime Stefano Terenzio had a merciless ambition for absolute power. Two generations later the shock wave he ignited was still being felt. Now, as the world inches closer to 2012 sides are chosen, families divide and an epic battle begins that will determine whether mankind continues existing in a world of lies or shatters the chains that have held us prisoner since his-story was written. "I will die to see my will done, and it will be done." Shocking yet hopeful, Synarchy slowly unravels the tightly laced reality we have created for ourselves. Blending the metaphysical with conspiracy, fact with fiction, debut author DCS has opened up a world that will force you to rethink everything you believe about your own. The knowledge within provokes the question: do you really want to know?

Review:

It’s hard for me to put The Awakening into words for you to understand how much I really enjoyed it. But let me try…

In the beginning, I was thrust into a world I knew nothing about. But as I turned each page I found myself surrounded by heavy emotions: family loyalty, trust, honor, betrayal, vengeance, love, lust. Twists and turns were intricately woven into the novel that had me wanting more. The plot was never really simple; I did have to re-read the entire beginning to get a better sense of the characters. But the complexity of this story became crystal clear as I read the last word and closed the book.

Set in the very near future (2011), the Terenzios are one of the most powerful families in the world. They are also among the very few who will stand up to who’s in charge. It is the Terenzios who are up to the challenge of taking on the Brotherhood - thirteen bloodlines who have been in control since the dawn on man. A battle has begun by an unforgettable character named Stefano Vasco Terenzio, who's mark is still being felt generations later.

The characters and the plot itself are so delicately intertwined that I quickly found myself mesmerized by the story until I just had to finish it. I'd say this is definitely a book you need to take the time to read. No quick skimming through aloud, otherwise you'll lose the importance of every action by these well-thought out characters. And this is definitely a book where every action seems to matter!

I'm eagerly awaiting book two and the next segment into this exciting world that closely mirrors our own. The story made me question so many different things that I have come to accept about the world, including the government and reality in general. I highly recommend you (YES YOU!) pick up this book because it has so many different aspects weaved into one fantastic story! Mystery, a little romance, conspiracies, huge amounts of emotion, and a whole lot of drama for everyone.

Day 185 - Q&A with Author DCS

I'm so excited to have author Crystal Storm, who writes under the penname DCS, here at mis(h)takes today. She's generously agreed to answer some questions about herself and Synarchy Book One: The Awakening.

----------

A lil background info before we proceed:

Crystal was born in Alexandria, VA. She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte intent on earning a degree in Political Science and becoming a lawyer. Instead, she had too much fun not going to class and after a year they politely asked her not to return. [ Their loss =) ]

She now lives in New Orleans, LA and Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening is her debut novel. Crystal is a self taught world student, her studies cover the 2012 mystery, quantum mechanics, metaphysics, parasphysic science, conspiracies and strange phenomenon. Taking full advantage of the creative energy of New Orleans, she is hard at work on the second book in the Synarchy Series, The Ascension and several short stories loosely based off of a few characters from the book, but following more along the vein of the txt based roleplay game, Synarchy 2012. (More info on the RPG game http://www.commandcenter.synarchy2012.com/)

You can find out more about the Synarchy Series by visiting http://www.synarchynovel.com/.

Or visit her blog at http://www.dcs-svt.com/

----------

Me: Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer some questions Crystal. Could you tell us a little bit about Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening.

DCS: In their quest to dominate the world, a powerful crime family, the Terenzio’s, discover who the real players are that control the planet, and just how far they’re willing to go to keep their hold on humanity. Because of sheer arrogance, and the fact that they may be the only ones who can, Terenzio decides to fight back. Now, they’ve got until December 21st, 2012, to stop a sinister, centuries old plan, and give Earth a choice it was never given before. You can get a copy on Amazon, or from now until the summer solstice, I’m offering personalized autograph copies. See the books website at www.synarchynovel.com for more details.

Me: What inspired you to write a story like Synarchy?

DCS: Synarchy was the culmination of a very personal journey for me, and that urge every writer has whose got a story to tell that just has to come out. I don’t just want to entertain, I want to mix in what I think are some important concepts for our times. Ideas that take us out of the mundane and into the possibilities of the fantastical. It is my intent that someone will read Synarchy, find something in there that perks their interest, go look it up and it will be the catalyst that starts them on their own journey of awakening.

Me: Did you always plan for Synarchy to be broken up into different parts?

DCS: My novels tend to write themselves, so no not at the beginning. About mid way through was when I began to realize all the potential there was to really break the story down into a series of books.

Me: Which of your characters would you say is most like you? Why that character?

DCS: All my characters share a few of my personality traits but the one the most like me I would have to say is Simone. She’s handling the sudden changes in her life in ways that are similar to how I would have if thrust into that position.

Me: I definitely enjoyed all of the characters and Simone specifically! If you could write a book about absolutely anything with any other author, who would you choose and what would the book be about?

DCS: Dean Koontz, without question. I love the way his mind works, and he is one of my favorite authors. I have no idea what that book would be about, lol, but I’m sure he and I could come up with something pretty awesome.

Me: Dean Koontz is definitely a favorite author of mine, excellent choice! So, I noticed that a Role Playing Game was created in 2006 in the Synarchy world, can you tell us about the game and how it came to be?

DCS: Synarchy 2012, is very loosely based off the novel and provided a lot of inspiration for writing it. A few scenes from the book were actually roleplayed. I’ve been roleplaying for about ten years now, and I think it’s really improved my writing. In that setting, you’re always being creative, always writing something so, it’s really kept my brain humming with ideas for this and that. I was a part of really great RPG called Shaddai Bloodlines until it closed in ’05, and it was run by a very good friend of mine who is also a brilliant writer, and amazing photographer, Grey Cross. (There are links to his work on my blog, very edgy stuff). Anywho, when his game closed I decided instead of finding another one to go play in I’d create my own. We’re very small right now, there are only four of us, but I’m hoping we’ll get bigger soon because that’s when the real fun comes in.

Me: The best of luck to the RPG game Crystal. Can you tells us what you're currently working on?

DCS: I suffer from too many ideas syndrome so yes, I’m always working on something. The big project right now is getting book two done. I also want to write Stefano’s story but I want it to be a graphic novel so I’m starting to collaborate with a comic artist who is a good friend of mine, so we’ll see what comes of that.

Me: I for one am super excited about book two and a story specifically for Stefano would be awesome. I'm sure you get asked this question a lot but do you have any advice for upcoming writers?

DCS: I read this article discussing the publishing industry and the recession, and at the end of the article one piece of advice for a budding writer was, “write an awesome story.” And I think that’s the best advice. Stick with the basics, yah know? Make it great. Fabulous. Unforgettable. Then dig your heels in, grit your teeth, prepare for a difficult but richly rewarding ride, and everything else will fall into place.

Me: I think that's really great & simple advice. I'm curious though, if you weren’t a writer, what other career would you pursue?

DCS: Something business related. I’m lucky because while I’m a really creative story-teller I’ve also got a knack for the business world.


Me: That's where I'm headed...straight into the business world *sigh*. As long as I have my reading material under one arm I think I can do it lol. Thank you again Crystal for stopping by!

----------





Be sure to come back tomorrow for my review of Synarchy Book One: The Awakening and a really great guest post by Crystal on Wednesday!




SYNARCHY BOOK 1: THE AWAKENING VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially began on June 1 and will end on June 26. Be sure to follow along and find out more about her and the book!



June 1 The Fantasy Pages http://fantasy-pages..blogspot.com
June 2 Zensanity http://zensanity.blogspot.com/
June 3 Scribe Vibe http://www.scribevibe.blogspot.com/
June 4 Book Madness http://bookmadness.wordpress.com
June 5 The Book Connection http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/
June 8 Divine Caroline http://www.divinecaroline.com/49804/75767-interview-novelist-dcs
June 9-11 mis(h)takes http://creativitygone.blogspot.com
June 12 Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell http://books-forlife..blogspot.com
June 15-16 The Plot http://theplotline.wordpress.com/
June 15 Socrates Book Reviews http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com
June 17 A Journey of Books http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com
June 17 The Book Tiger http://www.thebooktiger.co.uk/
June 18-19 A Journey of Books http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot..com
June 19 The Book Stacks http://www.thebookstacks.com
June 23 Self-Publishing Review www.selfpublishingreview.com
June 24 Confuzzled Books http://confuzzledbooks.blogspot.com
June 25 Morbid Romantic http://www.morbid-romantic.net
June 25 Bibliophiles 'R' Us http://nightdweller20.wordpress.com
June 26 Fiction Scribe http://www.fictionscribe.com

Day 157 - Teaser Tuesday [10]

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

-Grab your current read.
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
-Please avoid spoilers!

"If we are all connected, then that means our brains are too. Which means a mind reader is simply getting information they should already know because nothing truly separates us." (61)

Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening :: DCS