Download the Kindle Version Free Now Until Nov 28th 2015

Just a few days left to get the digital copy for free!  Click here.

Warmest regards,
Amanda

Operation Read for Free- Success [Promotion Details]

Great news - we have hit 10,000 page views.

The Kindle version of the book will be FREE from Tuesday, November 24th to Saturday, November 28th 2015. 

And if you don't own a Kindle there are free apps and such that allow you read on most devices.

10 Reasons you should snag the free copy:

1. Because it's something to read this Thanksgiving to escape from the unfurling drama at your family's dinner table.

2. Because you've read all the other books on your tablet 3 times over and after fours hours of camping out for Black Friday sales you need something new.

3. You have a compulsive need to get all the great bargains this retail season.

4. You clicked on an ad from Star Power, Something Positive, or one of the other sites we advertise on.  I know, it's disappointing that this isn't a full fledged comic, but if we can get enough support I can finally bribe artist J. Duran to provide more amazing art.  (speaking of comics, if you haven't checked it out already, she has her own comic, The Accursed Cabinet )

5. Because you take the train/bus to work and you need something to cheer you up on the ride in.

6. Because you're broke but you've enjoyed the sample chapters.

7. Because Alan Moore recently made comments supporting the self-published-book industry, thus you feel it prudent to read some new authors, lest you incur Lord Moore's wrath for your insolence.

8. Because you love free things.  A stress ball with a pharmaceutical name on it? Sure, why not? It's free!  Cupcakes someone brought to work? Sure, why not? They're free! That couch at the side of the road? No... you really shouldn't take that.  No, not even if it's free, you don't know where that couch has been.

9. You are getting restless waiting for George R.R. Martin to publish another magnificent tome, so you're willing to slum it with some other authors in the mean time.  It's okay, I am also disappointed the TV show is moving past, and diverging from, the books.

10. You have nothing to lose--and you stand to gain a new favorite series/author.

Seriously, I need to bribe Jo to make this into a comic.

Update - Read for Free

We're getting closer - we reached the 9700 page mark today.

Share Accidentally Heroic with friends to help us close the gap on 10,000 pages! 

More of Jo's Amazing Promotional art.

Operation: Read for Free

Look at this book; that's a fine looking book.  You want to read this book.  You want to find out why the super strong Cartouche was left for dead.  You want to know Sonali's history.  You want to find out what happens to Luke's Lady Gaga CD that Larry threw out the window in Chapter One*.  You want action, mystery, humor, and romance that isn't too steamy so you can read at work.  You want to read Accidentally Heroic, but there's one problem.

You're broke (or maybe you're not sure if you should pay for a book by a new author).

So let's make a deal.  This blog has been close to the 10,000 page view mark for some time.  If this blog reaches 10,000 page views I will open up a promotion on Kindle where you can get the digital copy free for a limited time.  

So read up on the first few chapters, share the link with your friends and family, post the link in your signature, and send the ravens to all your banner men.

Click here to read chapter one.

**Disclaimer: The book never returns to the lost CD. 

Now Available on Kindle

I am pleased to announce that Accidentally Heroic is now available for Kindle.

You may purchase the e-Book at: Amazon.com

Prefer to flip physical pages?  You may still purchase the print copy at Create Space or simply search "Accidentally Heroic" or "Amanda Kozik" at Amazon.

By searching my pen/maiden name you will also pull up some of the collections I've had pieces featured in.

If you'd like to read a sample before purchasing check out the  Table of Contents

Unfortunately, due to an agreement with Kindle, further sample chapters will not be supplied here on the blog until further notice.  Please like our Facebook Page to keep up with updates, fun facts, goodies, and (of course) any announcements regarding book two.

Chapter 5: The Woman Afraid of Bunnies

New? Click Here to Read Chapter 1 or Click Here for the Table of Contents

Luke:

I had begun to relax.  Sure, I was surrounded by weird people, but what else was new?  I enjoyed a cold cola, sat next to a cute girl, and Linus was too preoccupied by other things to give me any grief.  It was the largest gathering of our kind I had ever been in.  We were free to talk about our powers, the way things were.  It was liberating, and damn, it felt good.  I had almost forgotten we could have been killed earlier, that was, until Larry fell to the ground.

“LARRY!”  I shouted, my voice hopping up an octave like some kind of prepubescent punk.  I knelt beside him and was relieved to find he was breathing.  It was incredibly pansy of me, but I didn’t care.  Larry had been like a brother to me.

            

“We need to get him inside,” Linus said.  Thank god Linus was with us.  If anyone could help Larry, it was Linus.  Linus hollered to the others back in the trailer.  I looked up to the stars. I lifted up Larry’s head, crying like a sissy.  I didn’t mean to panic, but I had lost my dad and my mom was what they called “bat shit” crazy.  Larry and I didn’t always get along, but he had always looked after me.

            

Cartouche made it outside and picked Larry up as though he was nothing.  She hauled him into the trailer and placed him on the kitchen table.  I followed Linus, I wasn’t thinking, I was just reacting at that point.  Reacting and sobbing like some damn kid.

            

“Luke, get a grip.” Linus didn’t raise his tone, but I felt the anger.  Linus had his hands on Larry’s head.  Linus breathed in and the air felt cool and fresh.  Sonali reached over and grabbed my hand to comfort me.  At least someone still had a heart.  Linus was a healer, despite his less than congenial personality.  There was a warm glow and a light fell over Larry.  After a few nerve-wrecking moments, Larry’s eyes fluttered open.  He turned his head to Cartouche, grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.

            

“Heeeeeyyyyy.”  He smirked.  Cartouche rolled her eyes.

            

“He’s an idiot.”

            

“What happened Boss?  I was talkin’ to you and then, suddenly, everything went black.”

            

“The next time you get hit in the head by anything, anything, you tell me,” Linus said calmly, taking a seat.

            

“Boss,” I interjected, “Larry had dried blood on his head, what did you think happened?”  I realized Linus wasn’t the sort of man to let a detail slip by.  Linus was the meticulous, almost anal retentive, type.  Linus tried to feign annoyance, but he seemed bothered by his own lack of observational skills.

            

“So a healer, a techno-kinetic, and,” Betty looked to me, “you.”

            

“He’s a thermodynamic,” Linus responded.  Everyone turned and looked to me.

            

“What?”

            

“Hun, Thermodynamic is a mighty fine skill to have.  Why haven’t I seen your fancy skills yet?”  Betty brushed a few strands of her dark purple hair out of her face.  It was odd, the woman talked like a country bumpkin but dressed like a washed-up Raver.

            

“Late manifestation,” Linus cut in.  I wanted to sink into the floor.  Sure, I allegedly had a nifty power, but it controlled me more often than I controlled it.

            

“So…” Betty looked around and turned to Cartouche.  “The Elite, what are they planning?”

            

“I… I don’t remember” Cartouche struggled with the words; she was clearly unaccustomed to saying them.  All eyes were on her.

            

“Great…” Linus muttered, pushing up his glasses.  “There is a way to get her to remember.”  As he said this Cartouche turned to me and shook her head.

            

“No, it’s fine.”

            

“Fine?”  Betty narrowed her eyes.  Wagner’s flight of the Valkyries began to play out of the thin air.  I turned my head briefly for the source and remembered this was Betty’s power.  “FINE?”  The music increased in volume.  “Honey, I hope you do remember what a sick SOB that Gable is, and I’ve heard rumors about the people he keeps in his circle.”

            

“I know,” Cartouche replied somberly.  “But I believe we’d do more harm than good seeing her.”  She looked at me again, why did she keep looking to me?

            

“Luke,” Linus turned to me.  Why did they keep looking at me? “We need to see your mom.”   Linus turned back to Cartouche.  “They know you’re alive, so they may be seeking her out anyhow.  It’s best to be safe.”

            

“What does my mom have to do with any of this!?”  I didn’t know how it happened, but suddenly I was shouting at the others.  Betty stopped playing the Wagner and turned to Linus.

            

“Luke, let’s just go, alright?”  Larry urged; he was looking like his normal self again.  “I want to see Aunt Vera.”  I turned to him and sighed.  I wasn’t comfortable with the fact everyone seemed to know something about my mom that I didn’t know. 

            

It was a long trip, whoever thought an impromptu trip across several states was a great idea was crazy.  Larry used one of his vans for the occasion, since six people weren’t fitting in any sedan for longer than an hour.  Larry insisted on a stop at Black Rook the moment we passed one in Utah.  Cartouche braved the unholy banquet of burger and, to my shock, was unfazed.  She was indeed strong.

            

Sonali had not fared so well.  Larry convinced her to try Black Rook.  She refused a burger, something about "Hindu guilt" but she did try a chicken slider.  We were mopping her off the floor of a bathroom an hour or two later.  Betty gave Larry grief for taking advantage of a girl who had no recollection of how dangerous Black Rook is.  The upside of the trip was Betty’s music.  Betty somehow appeased the clashing tastes of all the people in the car.  She introduced me to Dub-step, but kept it light.  She had all the best hits of the 80s for Larry.  By Colorado we were all singing along to the Culture Club… well, everyone but Linus.  For Linus she had some classical music which could only be described as “dirge-tastic”.

            

It was back in Utah, a few hours before sunrise, when I got a chance to speak to Linus.  You’ve probably wondered why Larry and I put up with Linus aside from the fact the man is a walking Band-Aid.  Larry, despite his appearance, was above average in school, and I wasn’t so bad myself.  Linus, however, made us look like two idiots from the country.  We had tried to be careful about our identities, but we were lost and inexperienced.  Linus found us.  

            

Larry had always kept quiet about his ability.  He had only told one person, my dad.  Larry was never close to his parents, his mama was never sober long enough to be there for him.  His dad, wanting a better life for Larry, sent him to live with me and my folks when Larry was 12.  I had always wanted a big brother.  I never knew Larry had a secret.  When I manifested my powers for the first time, Larry was there.  I had caused every can in the house to burst open from the pressure and the heat; the place was a disaster.  I was freaked out, and that was when Larry opened up and told me what he could do.

            

Shortly after that day, we got it into our heads to play heroes.  We were two otherwise average guys from the Midwest.  And let’s face it, with all the shit on the news we wanted to make a difference.  America was sinking deeper into the Recession, people were getting desperate; we wanted to help.  Larry could fix the cars of stranded motorists; it wasn’t fighting Lex Luthor, but it was incredibly helpful.  Myself, well, sometimes I managed to help.

            

One day two years back, we helped this man stranded in the middle of nowhere.  That man was Linus.  Linus figured out immediately that there was no way Larry could have had the necessary part to fix his car.  Linus then explained to us what he knew.  At first we were skeptical, but the next thing we knew, he was our Boss and we were two goons following his orders.  Larry had thick skin; Linus never bothered him.  Me, on the other hand, I didn’t like the idea of Linus talking to my already-fragile mother.

            

“Boss,” I braved, “Why are we going to see my mom, what does she have to do with this?”

            

“Luke… Did you ever notice how you and Larry are cousins and you both have abilities?”

            

“Yeah, I’m guessin’ it’s genetic?”

            

“Yes,” Linus took a deep breath, “Mental illness does run in your family, that is unfortunately true.  Your Aunt took up drinking to cover up her pain.  Your mom, however, was strong. I wouldn’t expect any less from a Psychic.”

            

“Psychic, Mom?”

            

“There is much debate about the nature of memory.  Your mom has the ability to help people recall memories, as though they were fresh.  At least, she had the power until she met… him.” He emphasized the word with venom.

            

“Hiiiimmmmm?” I echoed flippantly.  Linus reached back to smack me.

            

“What?”  I asked lightly.  Linus only stared at me, he was dead serious. “Who is him?”

            

“Gable and the Elite, they are all exceptional, even amongst our kind.  Gable is evil, I don’t use the word lightly, but he is not the worst of that group.”

            

“I don’t understand Boss.”

            

“Have you ever had a nightmare Luke?”

            

“Yeah?”

            

“I think you misunderstand what I am saying.  Have you ever had a nightmare, the sort in which you realize midway through that you are dreaming?  The sort of dream from which you try to wake, but you can’t seem to make it end.  Have you ever felt as though the pains and sorrows which visit you in your slumber were an infestation of maggots burrowing in your mind?  That the horror you feel could only be likened to staring into the eyes of the devil himself, feeling that you cannot breathe and soon, very soon, hell will swallow you up; have you ever had a nightmare?”  As Linus spoke, like some scared kid around a campfire, I felt goose bumps form on my skin.

            

“Yeah…” That was all I could say.

            

“Your mom, she met him, and then… then she lost her mind.”  Linus said calmly, turning his eyes to the window.

            

“How long have you known this?”  I was pissed Linus knew more about my mom than I did.   Had I not been so tired, I may have thrown a fit.

            

“Since I met you.”  Linus added softly, “I didn’t want to drag you into this.”

            

“Can you heal her?”  I had never thought of it.  Linus could heal people’s physical afflictions; perhaps he had a cure for the mind.

            

“No.  I wish I could.”  Linus was sincere.  He looked back to Sonali, who was now sleeping against the window.  I couldn’t help but remember what it was like when Mom had her big break down.  I had come home that day; she was sitting in the kitchen.  From the moment I looked at her I noticed something was off in her gaze.  I said hello, and then she looked at me like I was a stranger.  She grabbed one of the knives she used to cook with, and she screamed at me to get back.  She looked at me like I was a stranger, my own mother…

I woke up several hours later.  Large oak trees framed the cheerful building which housed so much unrest. “Sunny Morning Hospital” was written on the sign at the entrance.  It had been about three weeks since I’d last been to visit Mom.  Linus had us patrolling as far as Nevada, so we were gone for days on end visiting other states.  My legs were spent the moment I hopped out of the van.  Cartouche had to pick me up by the scruff of my neck and set me on the asphalt.

“Thanks…” I muttered.  She looked at me and nodded.  There was only one explanation, Cartouche was a friggin’ robot.  She never seemed to laugh or smile, or tell a joke.

“Let’s go see Aunt Vera,” Larry said, slapping me hard on the back.  I was less than thrilled.  Linus knew so much about Mom, all this time I thought he only knew the things I had told him.  If Mom had lost her mind, how was Linus going to get any information out of her?  What was he going to do?

I don’t know how it happened, but the next thing I knew, Betty was gently nudging me up to the reception desk.  A woman with the most obnoxious “perky” voice greeted me, I asked for the paperwork to see Mom.  The receptionist leaned over and glanced to my group.  Cartouche was still dressed like a cocktail waitress.  Sonali smiled politely to the receptionist.

“Vera Marconi, room 411” The receptionist gestured as she handed out the visitor passes.  We were escorted by a man in scrubs.  Anxiety didn’t begin to describe it.  I felt like there was a rubber band across my heart and lungs.  The door was open.  Mom was sitting in a chair.  She was only 58, but she looked closer to 70.  Her eyes stared vacantly at the television.  Even though it was turned off, she was yelling at Alex Trebek.

“Hi Mom,” I said meekly.  I hated having an audience, but thankfully, no one else spoke just yet.  She turned to me and looked at me as she had done for the last several years.  On some level I had gotten used to it, but on another it still hurt like hell.  She gave a polite smile; it was the kind of smile she gave to a friendly checker at the grocery store.  When I was little her face would radiate unadulterated joy whenever she saw me.  I hated to admit it, being thirty years old, but deep down inside, I wanted to see that look again.

“Hi, how are you?”  She looked to the group half-heartedly.  Larry patted my shoulder and entered the room.  He was the first to approach her.  He offered her a hug.  “Oh, you’re awful friendly.”

“Hi Aunt Vera,” Larry said, giving her a peck on the cheek.  I braved my way into the room and pulled up a chair.

“We should close the door,” her smile was fading into concern, “I don’t want them to get in.”

“I’m sorry, it’s regulations; we can’t close the door,” the man in scrubs replied.  “I’ll be across the hall if you need anything Mrs. Marconi.”  The man added before walking away.  Mom only nodded with a look of growing anxiety.  The moment I feared happened; Linus made his way to my mom.

“Vera Marconi, my name is Dr. Linus Williams and I’m here to help protect you from the Bunnies.”  Linus turned to Sonali.  “Sonali, would you please take my hand?”

“Why?” Sonali looked hesitant.  She seemed uneasy around Linus.  Yup, she was as smart as she was beautiful.  Cartouche stepped forward at this time.

“You can trust him,” Cartouche said, “this time” she quickly added. Sonali glanced from Cartouche to Linus and then grasped Linus’s hand.  Linus placed his free hand on my mother’s forehead.  Larry grabbed my arm before I could move.

“I cannot make this permanent, but for now…” Linus said softly, “Welcome back Vera.”  He moved his hand from Mom.  Mom turned and looked to me.  My heart pounded in my chest and somehow I knew.  She was crying, but smiling through her tears.

“Luke.”  We both stood up and before I knew what was happening I was hugging her tightly, sobbing hysterically.

“Mama I missed you.”  There I was, a little kid again, holding onto my mommy after waking up from a scary dream.  

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Chapter 4: Boss

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or

Go to the Table of Contents

Sonali:

Betty engaged in a shouting match (well, she was shouting, he wasn’t) with the stranger at our kitchen table.  Linus was just as Larry had described.  Larry had referred to Linus as being one of the most infuriating men ever.  Linus let out a soundless laugh when Betty grilled him on picking the lock to the door.  He looked up to me with his green eyes and stared for a moment.  I froze where I stood.  I was unaccustomed to people looking at me that way.  I shied behind Luke, I didn’t know why, I just did.  My heart was beating fast and it felt uncomfortable to breathe.

“Good to know people still hide from me,” Linus grumbled.  Betty groaned and sauntered over to the fridge.

            

“I’d offer ya a drink but you probably already got one.”

          

“Actually, I was waiting on your kind offer,” Linus said.  Cartouche had made her way into the room.  She growled at Linus.  Linus only shrugged.  Larry and Luke turned to the man they called boss.

           

“What was that about?”

            

“Oh, Cartouche possesses a photographic memory, so naturally she remembers.  It’s between me and her though.”

            

“You have got to be kidding me!” Cartouche shouted.  I shied behind Luke once more.

            

“We saved your life back there,” Linus interjected calmly, “Let bygones be bygones.”

            

“Larry, can we go home pretty please?” Luke whimpered.  Larry shook his head.

            

“HEY!”  Larry called out; the small trailer was packed beyond comfort.  “Everybody sit down,” he said.  Linus gave him an icy glare; clearly Linus was the boss of the group.  Larry looked to Betty, “Natural Light for me if you have it, if not, PBR will hit the spot.”

            

“I’ll have a bottle of water,” Cartouche replied as she and I had somehow settled next to one another at the table.  There was something familiar about her, but my mind was still a blank.  Did I actually know her?  Did she just happen to look familiar?

            

“I’ll have a coke,” I replied softly.  Luke smiled at me, sitting on my other side.

            

“I’ll take a coke too, that sounds good.”  He shook some of the dirt, from the earlier run-in with the elementals, out of his hair.

            

Before we knew it, we were sitting around the table, albeit mostly in folding chairs, like some mismatched family.  At first there was silence, something alien to our house because Betty hated silence.  Then there was a sound of a bug hitting the zapper outside.

            

“Today’s confrontation was too close for comfort.”  Linus spoke.  He looked to Larry and then to Luke with genuine concern.  His eyes passed by me briefly, I looked at the table.  “I am in your debt Betty, you and your friend…”

            

“Sonali,” I said softly.

            

“They were lucky they only ran into the sentinels and elementals at that.”  Linus nursed his drink.  I had gone through two cokes, Cartouche a few bottles of water, but Linus was not interested in his refreshment.

            

“Lucky?  They almost killed us; the Grand Am is gone!”  Luke protested.

            

“Why were you driving that hunk of junk anyway kiddo?”  Betty asked, turning to Larry.

            

“Ah, well, I’m of humble means.  If I drove one of the beauties out it would draw too much attention.  Besides, I think a Pontiac fits my personality well.”

            

“Yes, god-forbid we ruin your perfect white-trash image,” Linus quipped.

            

“Well aren’t you nice?”  I didn’t know what had come over me.  The words just sort of blurted out.  That’s how I was, silently brooding underneath the surface till I snapped.  Linus was vexed, but he made no retort.

            

“Look, I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble,” Cartouche sighed.  Larry put his hand on her shoulder.

            

“Don’t listen to Boss; he’s never been good with people.  And Cuz, well, Luke’s the biggest wimp.”  Larry gave Cartouche a comforting smile, “Where I come from,” he glared at Linus, “and in Missouri we’re proud of being ‘White Trash’,” he turned his eyes back to Cartouche, “Back home we don’t leave helpless people behind.”

            

“So what did happen to you honey?”  Betty cut in.

            

“I pissed off Gable,” Cartouche stated.  Betty and Linus exchanged a look.  I turned to Luke, who shared my lack of comprehension.

            

“Who is Gable?”  I asked.  Linus looked to me with indignation.  He just stared for a moment as though “stupid” was written on my forehead in permanent marker.  Outside another bug hit the zapper.  Linus sighed and picked up his drink, taking a sip.

            

“Gable is the second in command of the Elite, if one could say Methuselah hasn’t lost control.”  Linus shook his head, knowing something I was oblivious to.

            

“Gable is the most charming snake you’ll ever meet,” Betty said with a sigh, “but he has a very strong ability and uses it for personal gain.”

            

“Oh?”  Luke chimed in.

            

“Gable is a master of suggestion,” Linus explained, “Whenever our side has gone against him, people have been killed by their own allies under his influence.”

            

“So the question is, how you, sweetie, could have possibly disobeyed his orders?”  Betty’s attention was back to Cartouche.

            

“It is not impossible to go against what he tells you to do,” Cartouche said somberly, “but to do so comes at a grave price.”

            

“Gentlemen…” Betty said darkly to Linus and his crew.  “Could you please leave the room?  Sonali and I need to talk to Cartouche in private.”  After some protest they walked outside.  I looked to Betty and realized what she must be thinking.  Betty reached across the table and laid her hand gently on top of Cartouche’s.

            

“Do you need a rape kit?”  Betty had a gift for breaching difficult topics with honesty and tact.

            

“No.”  Cartouche said, “Thankfully, no.” She closed her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks.  “They did everything but that.”

            

“Thank God,” Betty said kindly.  “It’s ok; you’re here with us now.  The Sirens take care of their own.”

            

“Betty is right,” I smiled reassuringly, “I found myself alone, I didn’t know anything.  But Betty took me in, and she took care of me.  She is a bit rough around the edges, but this place,” I gestured to our trailer, “It is a good home, even as small as it is.”  I reached out and took Cartouche’s free hand and squeezed it lightly.  Cartouche looked to me and smiled.

            

“You were never this nice to me before Sabrina.”

            

“Sabrina?” I asked when the door flipped open.

            

“Cartouche we need your strength!”  Linus called into the room.  We turned to look out the door to see the source of the commotion.  Larry was on the ground outside.  “Somebody should have told me he took a blow to the head earlier!”

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