Monday, May 26, 2014

Book Blast, Giveaway & Top Ten: Dancing with a Dead Horse by @sammyig

Dancing with a Dead Horse

Danielle DeVor

Genre: YA Thriller

Publisher: Eirelander Publishing

Date of Publication: April 30, 2014

Word Count: 65,104

Cover Artist: Buffi BeCraft

Book Description:

Sometimes lullabies aren’t soothing; they’re deadly.

Sixteen-year-old, Jason Miller, wants three things: to become a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter, graduate from high school, and avoid his mother’s ballet classes.

When he finds the body of the most popular girl in school, he has a major freak-out session, and then calls 911. But if finding a body wasn’t bad enough, when a horse doll made of human skin and hair is found in his locker, the entire town accuses Jason of the murder.

As the body count rises, so does the hostility. Jason is left with a choice: To run and hide or to clear his name and find out why the killer is targeting him before it’s too late.

Available at Amazon

Palomino

Living in a small town is like living in a bubble. Everything seems to go the way it has for eons, until something comes along and POP! The bubble bursts. That’s when mass panic sets in.

The panic doesn’t come immediately. Usually, it takes some loser redneck with a chip on his shoulder to say something like, “Kyle Crabtree has always been weird. Weird ain’t good.” And the next thing you know it all goes to hell and poor Kyle has a mob surrounding his house demanding justice. Unfortunately, Kyle has no idea what’s going on. Then, they drag him out of his house. If Kyle is lucky, they don’t beat him to death.

Thank God, I’m not Kyle.

My name is Jason Miller and I almost died today. Believe me, it sucked. All I wanted was a normal life, instead, I ended up with a giant mess.

But, today wasn’t the beginning. It all started about six weeks ago…

“Jason,” Mom said. We were in the kitchen. She had done a lot of work to it over the years. The formerly green metal cabinets were replaced with white wooden ones, and the sink was made of some type of soapstone. She’d spent hours trying to decide on the right colors, the right design, but I never really paid much attention. Kitchens just weren’t my thing. Not that I really paid much attention to the rest of the house either, but that was beside the point. I looked up from my cereal. She was wearing her do-what-I-say-mister-or-you’ll-be-sorry look. Her brown hair was pulled back into this severe bun. It was so tight that it seemed to stretch her eyebrows up towards the top of her skull. People said I looked like her. I guess it was the brown hair and blue eyes. Who knew what I’d done this time. Mom was kind of obsessive compulsive.

“Yeah?” I asked. I fought not to roll my eyes. I didn’t feel like dealing with her weirdness this morning.

She put her hands on her hips, not that she really had any. She’d once been a famous ballet dancer for the Kirov Ballet, but then she’d met Dad while trying to find some obscure Chinese restaurant in New York when the company was on tour, and the rest was kind of history.

“You left towel on the floor again,” she said. It was interesting. Mom had lived in the States all these years and her Russian accent was still as strong as ever. I guess the “homeland” never left her. Not really.

But, shit. The way she acted, you’d think I just shot the dog—not that we had a dog, but whatever. I’d hit on her worst fear. She was a germaphobe of the highest order;at least that’s how it seemed to me. I didn’t mind it though.

The thing you have to know about Mom is that she has these fears because she lived through Soviet Russia. When she was a kid, she lived in an apartment with carpets on the walls to try to keep out the drafts. Everything was saved to be reused, even aluminum foil. So now, when she has something, it all has to be perfect, so it can stay good for many years. Somehow the American disposable society and her ideals still work. That is- if you can keep her from having a conniption fit when the TV breaks. Her culture was set on making things last because they didn’t have a choice. I think she resented that Americans didn’t pay much attention to things like that anymore.

Her head was probably running rampant with images of mildew snaking its way up the walls of my bathroom like some kind of space monster. And honestly, my bathroom wasn’t that bad. It was one towel for crying out loud. I mean, a little soap on the sink wasn’t that big of a deal and I’d cleaned up that part of it this time. Plus, Mom had a cleaning lady come in once a week. The place wasn’t going to turn into mold central that quick.

“Sorry, Mom. It must have fallen.” I gave her what I thought was a I’m-just-your-little-boy smile. Hell, even I had to admit, coming out of my mouth it sounded fake and hokey, but you can’t blame me for trying. Playing innocent was the only way I knew to get by Mom. But, she was getting better and better at ignoring my charm. At least I hoped it was charm.

She huffed and gave me the look. Apparently, my charm was not working this morning. “Don’t you lie to me, Jason Nicholas Miller, or I’ll make you take advanced class this afternoon.”

Oh, God, anything but that. Dealing with her reaming me out for not hanging up my towel was one thing, taking one of her classes was another. “I’m sorry,” I said. And I meant it. I did not want to spend the afternoon in tights and having sweat stick to my balls like glue. The itching would be bad enough, but the “unclean” feeling would drive me crazy.

Last thing I wanted to do was take ballet classes again. Mom owned her own studio here in town. Town was Orinth, Ohio. It wasn’t a bad place if you still liked picket fences and lots of gardens. Orinth was known for its yearly garden show. We never participated.

I felt the look of disgust creeping onto my face and I forced my facial muscles to relax and remain neutral. I needed to be strong. If I caved now, I would be so screwed. Besides, I didn’t need the “ballet dancers are manly” talk again.

Because Dancing with a Dead Horse’s MC, Jason, is obsessed with becoming an MMA (Mixed Marital Arts) fighter, I thought it might be fun to put up a top ten list of MMA books that Jason has likely read.

10. Iceman: My Fighting Life by Chuck Lidell

He was and still is one of the best known stars of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships). Known for his knockout power, he was an amazing fighter to watch. And, is one of Jason’s idols.

9. It’s Time!: My 360-Degree View of the UFC by Bruce Buffer

Bruce Buffer is the voice of the UFC. At every event, he announces the fights and the fighters.

8. This Is Gonna Hurt: The Life of a Mixed Martial Arts Champion by Tito Ortiz

Another huge name in MMA. Jason has watched his fights and has been watching his current comeback in Bellator Fighting Championships

7. Randy Couture: The Mixed Martial Arts Legend by Roger Jackson

Fighter who was unusual in that he held the UFC champtionship for both Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight throughout his career.

6. Raw Combat: The Underground World of Mixed Martial Arts by Jim Genia

In depth view of NY’s MMA scene. Mixed Martial Arts is still illegal in New York.

5. No Holds Barred: The Complete History of Mixed Martial Arts in America by Clyde Gentry III

For Jason, this is a great book that gives a nice overview on how MMA formed and became a sport.

4. Pound for Pound: The Modern Gladiators of Mixed Martial Arts by Brian D’Souza

A book featuring mini-biographies of some of Jason’s favorite fighters.

3. Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence by Rory Miller

Jason is very interested in public perception of MMA.

2. Fighting Words: In-Depth Interviews with the Biggest Names in Mixed Martial Arts by Mike Straka

More with some of Jason’s favorite fighters.

And,

1. Fighting for Acceptance: Mixed Martial Artists and Violence in American Society by David Mayeda and David Ching

Features comments by Jason “Mayhem” Miller- the man and fighter whom Jason’s character in the book is in honor of.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Danielle DeVor spent her early years fantasizing about vampires and watching “Salem’s Lot” way too many times. After living briefly in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she moved back to her hometown to write. When not writing and reading about weird things, you will find her hanging out at the nearest coffee shop, enjoying a mocha frappuccino.

Pages