Showing posts with label Author Spotlights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Author Spotlights. Show all posts

Friday, 29 June 2018

Author Spotlight: Hell Hole: The Official Screenplay by Donald Firesmith #SciFi #Horror | Renee Scattergood

Originally posted by Renee Scattergood:


Welcome to this week’s Friday Author Spotlight! Today I have Donald Firesmith returning to tell us about the screenplay of his science fiction novel, Hell Holes: What Lurks Below. He has also taken the time to participate in an interview so keep reading!
A geek by day, Donald Firesmith works as a system and software engineer helping the US Government acquire large, complex software-intensive systems. In this guise, he has authored seven technical books, written numerous software- and system-related articles and papers, and spoken at more conferences than he can possibly remember. He’s also proud to have been named a Distinguished Engineer by the Association of Computing Machinery, although his pride is tempered somewhat by his fear that the term “distinguished” makes him sound like a graybeard academic rather than an active engineer whose beard is still slightly more red than gray.
By night and on weekends, his alter ego writes modern paranormal fantasy, apocalyptic science-fiction, action and adventure novels and relaxes by handcrafting magic wands from various magical woods and mystical gemstones. His first foray into fiction is the book Magical Wands: A Cornucopia of Wand Lore written under the pen name Wolfrick Ignatius Feuerschmied. He lives in Crafton, Pennsylvania with his wife Becky, and his son Dane, and varying numbers of dogs and cats.

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When a huge hole opens up in the path of a controversial new pipeline, the oil company’s head of safety convinces her estranged husband to fly up to Alaska’s North Slope and investigate. But when the geologist Jack Oswald rappels down into the mysterious pit, he discovers it is unlike anything he has ever seen before. Meanwhile, giant wolf-like creatures slaughter both wildlife and people, and they attack the nearby protester camp, indiscriminately killing protesters and even the oil company’s armed guards. This prompts a reporter to reveal herself as a member of an ancient secret society dedicated to defending humanity from demons. The survivors soon learn there are worse monsters than hellhounds. To repair his broken marriage, the middle-aged geology professor only needs to save his wife, defeat a devil, seal the hell hole, and put an end to Armageddon. What could possibly go wrong?
This movie script for the full-length feature film, Hell Hole, is based on Donald Firesmith’s novel, Hell Holes: What Lurks Below.

Get it Today!

Amazon | Smashwords


Keep reading for an interview with the author:

Do you have a “day job”?
I work at the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, which is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center supporting the US Government, primarily the military. I spend most of my time helping programs acquire cyber-physical systems.
What genres do you write?
I write speculative fiction, meaning a mixture of science fiction, horror, paranormal, and fantasy with a hint of action/adventure.
Is there a genre that you’ve been wanting to experiment with?
I love Steampunk and would eventually like to write some myself. I love the alternative history and the steampunk style.
What inspires you to write?
I have stories to tell that won’t let me be unless I write them down. I also greatly love the positive feedback I get from readers.
How often do you write?
I try to write four or five days a week, but several chronic illnesses combined with my day job mean that there are days when I don’t feel good enough to write.
How long does it take you to write a novel?
Because of my other commitments, it takes me 2-3 years per novel.
What is the oddest thing you’ve ever researched for one of your books?
The third Hell Holes book, To Hell and Back, involves the use of nuclear bombs, including modifying one to make it man-portable. I, therefore, had to research existing bombs including their components and how their controls work.
When did you first consider yourself an author?
When my first book was published. I considered myself a successful author when I started to get great reviews from unknown readers.
What is the biggest obstacle you face as an author and what do you do to overcome it?
My biggest obstacles are (1) I have a full-time job that often requires more than 40 hours a week and (2) I have Crohn’s Disease. I often feel too tired or ill to write.
What is the best compliment you’ve ever received as an author?
“This novel follows on from the first novel, Hell Holes – What Lurks Below and is, again, written in journal form but this time by Dr. Angela Menendez, the wife of the author of the first journal. She follows on more-or-less where the last account ended, and it’s amazing that a book written by the same author (Donald Firesmith) can fool one into thinking that it’s written by a completely different person. Such is the strength of the writing that the new “author” (Dr. Menendez) shines through and her personality & writing style is quite different to that of the other journal’s surrogate author, her fictional husband.” https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RDQUOSZLHKULV/
What is the best thing about self-publishing?
I love the artistic freedom and the ability to make updates whenever I want.
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Wednesday, 27 June 2018

Veznek: A #SciFi #Novel by Andrew Gates | Renee's Author Spotlight

Originally posted on Renee's Author Spotlight:


Formerly an on-site educator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, Andrew Gates is now a Virginia-based science-fiction writer and magazine contributor. He is best known as the author of the Color of Water and Sky series.

Gates has always been fascinated by science-fiction and fantasy ever since he was a kid. His writing style has been compared to that of Isaac Asimov, author of the Foundation series. Gates's multiple POV writing style focuses on world-building and large scope politics. Though his stories take place in a fictional world, his characters are realistically portrayed and grounded in reality.

When Andrew Gates is not writing, he enjoys running competitively and watching films.


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About the Book


Kholvaria has been attacked. Its greatest city destroyed. A cloud of debris now covers the void once filled by Vigilant Behemoth. In the wake of this unexpected assault, the Chiefdom’s leadership is promptly evacuated to a fallback shelter beneath the surface. But the horrors of the Behemoth’s destruction cannot be forgotten. Here in the grimy confines beneath the Earth, Kho Veznek, second-in-command of the Chiefdom, will stop at nothing to claim vengeance on those responsible for his city’s destruction… even if that means going through his own people to do it. As tensions mount between the ranks of humans and Kholvari alike, the fate of the world comes to its ultimate tipping point.

Author’s Warning: This novel contains scenes of graphic sexual trauma and physical torture and is intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion is advised.

Veznek is the third book in the Color of Water and Sky series by Andrew Gates.

Get it today on Amazon!


Keep reading for an excerpt:


Veznek
The biochemist held the stopped vial in his right hand, staring at the vivid color as it gleamed in the light. It looked so pure, like a cloudless sky on a sunny day. It was hard to believe this small sample of liquid could be the key to saving humanity.

It had been too long since there had been any hope.

“It’s beautiful,” Carla added, leaning in over David’s shoulder. She pressed her human hand against his back, comfortingly. “Now just don’t drop it.”

“Very funny, Carla. You know if I dropped this thing, that’s years of research down the drain.”

David carefully placed it back in the tray. Good, he thought, it’s secure.

“I know, I know,” she replied. “I’m just giving you a hard time. I know how much this moment means to you, to the world.”

“It means a lot. That’s why I made a backup. I put it in that case over there,” he said, motioning to a black box on a rack.

“And here you had me worried.”

David removed the safety goggles and turned to face her.

As always, Carla’s robotic left arm was first to catch his eye. It extended well past the sleeve of her lab coat, almost a full hand’s length longer than her natural right arm. The metallic prosthetic came in handy when working with hazardous or heavy equipment. If resources had been what they used to be, David would have gotten the same procedure for himself.

Today Carla wore a lab coat with a pink t-shirt underneath. He always liked the way pink looked on her. It complimented her rosy cheeks and thin lips. Carla’s short brown hair appeared unkempt, suggesting she had gone without a shower for far too long. David guessed his own hair did not look much better.

Vigilant Behemoth
“Now doctor, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were eyeing me up,” Carla noted.

David smiled as he stood to join her.

“Tracking my eye movements, are you? I know you have enhanced vision, but it’s not that good.”

“Oh, you can’t be so sure, mister.”

They leaned in and shared a kiss. Her lips felt soft against his. They held this moment for a few seconds. For the first time in a long time, David felt truly at peace.

“You did it,” she said, congratulating him as they pulled away. “Your formula… it’s done! It’s all done.”

“Mostly done,” David admitted. “Testing on squirrels is one thing. A live human is…” He shook his head. “Very different.”

“It’ll work,” Carla said, reassuringly. “I know it will.”

“It had better,” he replied. For all our sakes.
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Friday, 22 June 2018

Altered Seasons: Monsoonrise - A #SciFi #Novel by Paul Briggs | Renee's Author Spotlight

Originally posted on Renee's Author Spotlight:


Paul Briggs learned to read and write when he was two, the same time he was learning to talk. He spent the next twenty years learning that nobody talks the same way they write, or vice versa.

He lives in Easton, Maryland, has a master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is the author of two middle-grade science fiction novels, "Locksmith's Closet" and "Locksmith's Journeys." He is working on the concluding volume of the trilogy, "Locksmith's War." Paul has also written several short plays, two of which ("The Worst Super Power Ever" and "The Picture of Health") have won awards.



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About the Book


An unexpected chain reaction in the climate creates a new weather pattern, bringing devastating floods every autumn after the droughts and heat waves of summer. Follow five people in their struggle with this new environment.

Carolyn Camberg is trying to save America.

Henry Pratt is trying to save his administration.

Isabel Bradshaw is trying to save her family.

Walter Yuschak is trying to save freedom.

Sandra Symcox is trying to save the world.

Who will survive? Who will succeed?

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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo






Keep reading for an excerpt:


“So you’re the analyst,” he said. “What’s your name?”

“Isabel Bradshaw, sir.” Her mind raced. Had Martineau called her in here because he didn’t trust Eveland and the others anymore? Or was it just that the news was so bad he needed to hear it from as many different people as possible before he accepted it?

“Get over here.”

Sketch of Isabel
Isabel stepped over to his desk, trying to ignore the unmistakable aroma of real coffee coming from the cup on his desk. Then she glanced at the computer screen and made an involuntary noise in the back of her throat that sounded like “eep.” The screen was divided into four parts. The silver-haired man watching from the upper right, bronze-framed reading glasses perched on his nose… You have got to be kidding me, she thought. She’d just barely managed to work herself up to speak in front of the governor of Louisiana and the head of the Corps, and now they’d brought in President Pratt himself… and whoever those other three guys were? But then, the ORCS really was that important.

Martineau quickly introduced them. They were the secretary of the interior and the mayors of New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

“It’s an honor,” she said in a voice that came out a lot smaller than she’d intended. From the looks of the wall behind him, Pratt was on Air Force One right now. She thought about telling him she’d voted for him, but decided not to.

“You’re the one who’s been collecting the info and running the simulations?” said Martineau.

“Yessir.”

“Tell everybody what the situation is.”

“All right,” she said. “With near one hundred percent certainty, the water will crest over the top of the Low Sill tomorrow. As of noon today, we estimate a sixty-four percent chance some part of the ORCS fails.”

There was a long, long silence after that.

“This is the worst-case scenario, right?” the governor finally said.

Isabel glanced at Martineau, hoping he’d say something. He looked expectantly at her. She glanced at Roth and Horrocks. Roth kept his face neutral. Horrocks shook her head.

Crap. They hadn’t told him. Isabel sighed. For her next trick, she was going to make her career disappear. At least she had a hell of an audience.

“Actually, sir, this is the best-case scenario,” she said.

As one, Eveland and Hickman rose to interrupt.

“What she means is, it’s an aggregate of possible—”

“Our analysts are trained to think in terms of—”

“Quiet,” said Martineau, not loudly but firmly.

As one, Eveland and Hickman shut up.

Martineau stood up and clapped a hand on Isabel’s shoulder. “I want everybody but this young lady out of the room now.”
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Author Spotlight: Lovelock Ones - A #SciFi #Dystopian #Novel by Tricia Copeland | Renee Scattergood

Originally posted by Renee Scattergood:


Welcome to this week’s Friday Author Spotlight! Today Tricia Copeland is visiting with her post-apocalyptic dystopian book, Lovelock Ones. Later she’ll be sharing an excerpt from the story, but first, let’s get reacquainted.
Tricia Copeland grew up in Georgia and now lives in sunny Colorado with her family. In addition to the award-nominated Being Me series, her books include Best Book Award Fantasy Finalist series, The Kingdom Journals, Lovelock Ones, a post-apocalyptic dystopian adventure, and Drops of Sunshine, a YA paranormal novella. Find all of Tricia’s books on her website www.triciacopeland.com! Connect with Tricia and other readers on your favorite social media with the following links!

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A post-apocalyptic/dystopian science-fiction adventure…
Jema and Troy manage semi-normal lives at the Port Orford Naval Base despite global warming and mandatory genetic typing. With the threat of a second worldwide flu epidemic, their parents send them to a remote desert community. Jema’s sister contracts the virus, and Jema and Troy must decide whether to compromise the group to save one. Can Lovelock develop a cure in time to avoid mass casualty? As the political stage shifts, who can be trusted?

Get it Today!

Amazon | Goodreads






Keep reading for an excerpt:

Part Two: Bred One
Chapter 1 – Troy
“I’m never going to get this.” I let the bow fall to my side.
“Mark.” Jema used my Lovelock name. “I’ve been doing this for ten years. You’re not going to be perfect in a couple of months. It’s muscle memory, just like with football. You’ll get it.”
We’d been practicing for almost three months, both shooting and adapting to our community names. I called her Cleo about sixty percent of the time and hit the center target only one in ten.
“But for you it’s like breathing, Cleo.” I forced out her new name, trying to make the switch in my psyche. She would always be Jema to me.
“Have you never had to work at anything?”
“Yeah, this.” I held up the bow and arrow.
She kicked at the sand under her feet. “Maybe I’m not a good teacher. I just remember how my dad taught me. Think about it like throwing a football. You aim and then release, right?” Cocking her arm back, she faked a throw.
I dropped the bow. “If you put your arms around me like this.” I took her hands and wound them around my waist, so our lips were inches apart. Even in the dim light, I could see her cheeks flush. I loved feeling the warmth from her face. One day I would get up the courage to kiss her again.
Backing away, I lifted the bow and drew the string and arrow to my ear. “Twenty more and then we’ll run.”
“Might help if you use your night goggles like the rest of us.” Her voice trailed off as she walked away.
Swish. I let the arrow fly and fitted another on the string until my quiver emptied. I jogged to collect the arrows and turned to scan the area for Jema. I grabbed a bag and headed to her. “Commander Butler will be happy.” I held the open sac out to her.
“It’s a big one. It will have to hold him till we’re back.”
“You’d think he’d get tired of these.” I synched the bag closed.
“He loves rabbit.”
We walked to the blacktop, and I set the bow on top of her catch. Bumping her shoulder, I faced into the wind. “You ready for this?”
“You beating me again? Never.”
“No, tomorrow.” I pumped my knees up and down in place a few times.
“Yep.” She started a slow jog beside me.
“Not nervous?”
“Always nervous. I hate that it has to be a different place every time.”
“Yeah, and this is the farthest west we’ve been since our marrow run.” I shook my head, clearing the image of the dead soldiers from my brain.
“I do not like that the rendezvous is half an hour from the border.”
“Butler says they’re tightening security.”
Beside me, Jema’s shoulders trembled. “I feel like General Zhou is waiting for us at Port Orford.”
“Yeah, I can see him sitting at your kitchen table, wondering where you went.” I elbowed her, and she jumped to stay in stride.
“Fine. Whatever. Make fun of my nightmares.”
“At least you don’t dream about punching the commander every night.”
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Wednesday, 20 June 2018

Angel of Destruction: A #Fantasy #Novel by Virgil Debique | Renee's Author Spotlight

Originally posted on Renee's Author Spotlight:





Virgil is an aspiring author who has travelled extensively and uses his experiences to build fantastic and imaginative worlds for his readers.

Using his own personal experiences and taking inspiration from his travelling, Virgil draws upon everything he has seen in his life to create fantastic worlds and insightful characters. An engineer by trade, Virgil has always enjoyed writing, but only recently found the time to follow his passion.

As a self-published author, he has several stories already available for the Kindle, but he has been concentrating on fulfilling his lifelong dream of publishing a novel. With the novel almost complete and several other ideas sketched out, he is on his way to achieving his goal.

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We follow an assassin who was born of deceit and betrayal. Feeling bitter and angry against the world, Salabane decides to find the one responsible and bring him to justice for his actions. So starts his quest, from the floating city of Elysia to the caves in Dhandaruhm, his journey brings him face to face with his enemy. An enemy that has responsibilities to the people, but Salabane’s thirst for vengeance must be quenched.

This book is about those we look up to and how they should be held accountable for their actions. When in power, there is a responsibility to those you are responsible for. ‘If you want to know a man’s worth, ask not his equal, but those beneath him.”

Get it today on Amazon!



Keep reading for an interview with Salabane, a character from the book:


Where were you born, and what was it like growing up there?


Apparently, I was born in a small village called Lohlin. My earliest memories are of growing up in the Sanctuary with the priests.

Did you have a close relationship with your family?


I never knew any of my family growing up. For years I had assumed I was an orphan, my family gone.

What is the happiest memory from your childhood?


I don’t really have any. My time at the Sanctuary was pleasant and I was taught a lot, but there wasn’t really any time for fun. There were always chores to do.

Who was your best friend growing up?


I never had any, but if I had to choose, it would be the priests who taught me.

Who is your enemy?


My enemy is still unknown to me, but I will find him. It is the thing that drives me. He took away my chance of a normal life. He took away my family and made me what you see before you.

Tell us a little about your world, and where you fit in?


My world is like most other worlds. We have kings and queens, witches, sorcerers, good people, bad people and then we have those that watch down on us from above. The angels.

Me? I’m just a small person in a large world looking for revenge. On my quest, I will have to face those who most people fear.

What is the most important lesson you've learned about life?


That you can only depend on yourself. Trust no one and hold no one close to you.

Do you have a secret you've never told anyone?


We all have secrets, it’s part of being human. Unlike most, my secrets are too horrific to discuss in polite company.

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?


I would change everything. I was made this way through circumstance and brutality. I would want parents and friends, but that is never going to happen.

If you had one day left to live, what would you do with your last day?


I hope that happens after I have found my enemy. My only goal in life is to find the one who made me and hold him accountable.
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Monday, 18 June 2018

The Illumination Query: A #SciFi #Novel by Sarah Baethge | Renee's Author Spotlight

Originally posted on Renee's Author Spotlight:


I was born in Houston in 1982. I grew up in Texas and Louisiana. I was an intern for Lockheed-Martin out of high school and got to work on computers at NASA Houston. I graduated with a national merit scholarship in 2000. In November of 2000 I was in a car wreck that left me in a coma for 6 months. After waking, I have written and self-published short fantasy and science-fiction stories.



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About the Book


The Eclipse is a company of evil.

Ronald Carpenter finds himself stuck helping them after they assist him.

Dr. Nigel Hunter gets caught up in mad experiments for The Eclipse, and doesn't know how he can escape once the company turns on him.

Pre-order it Today!






Keep reading for an excerpt:


To regard bats as evil is silly, or so I’d always thought. However, when I came upon that dark shrieking, flapping cloud of shadows, the parts of my life that I’m most ashamed of started.

Before I ever got into business with The Eclipse, most people who saw me at work would say I was a zookeeper. I worked at The Central Park Zoo, in New York City. I might not have ever studied as a vet, but I probably do know some less ordinary bits of animal care that are slightly beyond what is needed for your everyday pets.

I suppose some would have no qualms with calling me a trainer, but I didn’t really train anything. That sounds to me more like what you would call someone who is putting together circus or theme-park shows.

I have actually heard some people say that using animals in such a way is cruel, but those performance animals are generally more loved and better cared for than many a child’s small pet in a cage (you know, that fish or hamster who can get left alone to starve if, perhaps, it’s owner might become a little distracted by something unrelated...)

Because I can usually get along well with animals myself, I was more than happy to spend my time working to provide the feeding and cleaning up that their comfort and display requires. Sure I dealt with escapes a time or two, on a need-be basis- if and when it happened, but dealing with escapes could hardly even be listed as the description of what my job was.

And while you could say that my successful escapee-recovery efforts ultimately led to the change there was in my career, you might also argue that the resourcefulness I used in my problem-solving chained me inescapably into serving as a zookeeper wherever it was that I finally ended up.

My name is Ronald Carpenter. Back at that time, I’d lived in New York for all of my life. I happened to be working, like I said, at The Central Park Zoo, at the time when I first noticed that something had changed in my working environment. On that day, I had one of those automatic split-second thoughts that I felt slightly reluctant to try explaining to someone else.

Don’t make me ask you to get your mind out of the gutter- my thought can hardly be construed as anything other than innocent. The idea that whizzed through my head as I heard the short motor run for the automatic bat-enclosure food-dispenser was: ‘That sounds too green.’
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Friday, 8 June 2018

Author Spotlight: Journey of the Hunted - A #Fantasy #Novel by Tracy Falbe | Renee Scattergood

Originally posted by Renee Scattergood:


Welcome to this week’s Friday Author Spotlight! Today I have Tracy Falbe visiting with her fantasy novel, Journey of the Hunted. She has also shared an article about writing fantasy in a historical setting. But first, she wanted to share a little about herself:
I am the author of 10 novels, including The Rys Chronicles and Rys Rising epic dark fantasy series and the historical fantasies Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale and Journey of the Hunted: Werewolves in the Renaissance 2.
I was born in Michigan in 1972 and grew up in Mount Pleasant. It’s called the “Mountain Town” but there is no mountain and it’s debatable about whether it’s pleasant. They say it’s a party town and based on extensive research as a young adult I can concur.
Because I always had the childhood fantasy of running away and joining the circus, I moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1995 and lived there until 1997. Those who only stay a week are wimps, but I will say that it’s the second year in Vegas that wears you down. Then I realized the pioneers were trying to get to California, so I moved to Chico, in Northern California, and lived there until 2009.
While in Chico, I earned a journalism degree from California State University, Chico. My wandering has circled back, and I’m currently living in Battle Creek, Michigan, and for now, my existence within the post-apocalyptic Rust Belt is suitably fascinating.

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About the Book

The folklore beliefs of the 16th century Renaissance come wildly to life in the werewolf hero Thal. Created by the infamous sorcerer Sarputeen, Thal now battles the dark servants of Tekax, wizard to the Turks and nemesis of Sarputeen. While escaping the Holy Roman Empire, Thal discovers more about his werewolf powers as he struggles to reach a refuge shrouded in mystery.

Get it Today!

Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Falbe Publishing


Keep reading for a guest post by the author:

Writing Fantasy in a Historical Setting
by Tracy Falbe
History offers vast realms of inspiration. When crafting the novel Journey of the Hunted, I drew upon the folklore and mythologies of Early Modern Europe. By making these magical beliefs real, the historical setting of the 16th century Holy Roman Empire easily supported a fantastical tale of werewolves and sorcerers.
A historical setting, however, demands that an author respect the facts of history. The social, political, and religious strife of Early Modern Europe provided me with ample building blocks for complex world building.
The narrative of Journey of the Hunted starts in 1561 Bohemia. The people of this period were afraid. Printing technology was spreading new ideas more rapidly than ever before. Those who craved change continually confronted the guardians of the status quo.
Foreign threats worsened social anxieties. The Ottoman Turks had made considerable conquests in the 1530s and claimed much of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Holy Roman Empire was on constant guard against this hated enemy.
The 16th century was also a time of rising populations in Europe. More land was being cultivated. Capitalism was taking its modern form. Advances in technology in the 14th and 15th centuries had expanded mining operations. A larger flow of gold, silver, and copper from the mountain mines financed exploration and infrastructure. The Fugger family of Augsburg arose as one of the most influential forces in Europe. The family controlled a vast fortune based on mining and banking. Their wealth paid for the wars waged by Holy Roman Emperors.
The broad strokes of this historical canvas presented me with a land where one age of history was shifting to the next. The stable and largely rural populations of the Middle Ages were giving way to population growth and urban development. More resources had to be extracted from the land as cities grew or were rebuilt after incessant wars.
While researching the route of this fictional adventure, I often read about destroyed churches and burned towns. I mention details in the novel to illustrate the conflict that had been wrenching the land. The warmongering or princes and priests would eventually culminate in the horrors of the Thirty Years’ War.
Although the people of Europe at this time noticed their rising population with concern, my view from the future let me imagine a Europe with hundreds of millions fewer people. Deep old forests with few trails still existed, but civilization was biting more deeply with every passing year. Many timbers were needed to build the palaces, homes, mills, and ships demanded by an expanding economy.
The wild places had no defenders, and the ravenous economies and war machines of Europe plundered them at will. Emerging nation states in conjunction with their chosen religious institutions took strict command of the social order. These forces aggressively stomped out old ways of viewing the world. A connection to Nature became a connection to the Devil in the eyes of priests and kings alike. This brutal time forged our modern age.
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