The Lights of Time by Paul Ian Cross - Book Tour + Giveaway
The Lights of Time
Engella Rhys is alone, adrift and on the run. Pursued by a secret agency, known only as the Hunters, she must stay ahead to stay alive.
As she travels through space-time using dangerously experimental technology, she only has one wish: to be reunited with her lost parents. After a close shave with a Hunter on the streets of New Shanghai, Engella escapes to find herself on a deserted beach. When she meets a kind stranger, who offers her food and shelter, Engella feels safe and protected for the first time in years.
But who is this woman? And why did their paths cross at the most convenient of times?
Engella soon discovers their lives are intertwined in more ways than she could ever imagine.
As she travels through space-time using dangerously experimental technology, she only has one wish: to be reunited with her lost parents. After a close shave with a Hunter on the streets of New Shanghai, Engella escapes to find herself on a deserted beach. When she meets a kind stranger, who offers her food and shelter, Engella feels safe and protected for the first time in years.
But who is this woman? And why did their paths cross at the most convenient of times?
Engella soon discovers their lives are intertwined in more ways than she could ever imagine.
Purchase Link
https://www.amazon.com/Lights-Time-Chronicles-Engella-Rhys-ebook/dp/B07KCZ3GGG
Excerpt
Excerpt
1998-JAN-22 16:07 – Rubha
Shlèite, Skye, Scotland
Engella opened her eyes, awoken by the distant crash
of waves. She found herself on her side, her face pressed against the cold
ground. She could feel damp clumps of sand between her fingers and a cool spray
in the air. It wasn’t long before she realised she’d arrived on a beach, and
that it was intensely cold.
As she lifted her
head, she scanned the surrounding area. Pieces of brick and dust lay in the
sand. They must have been caught in the portal as she shifted away. The Hunters
had never made it so close before. Their attacks were becoming more targeted,
finding her location in space-time with improved accuracy. At least it had
taken them several weeks to find her this time. Yet, it was a concern she
couldn’t brush away lightly.
Engella sighed. ‘Still wet,’ she said.
Rolling onto her back, she gazed at the sky. The cumulus
clouds looked like candy floss. A freezing wave splashed over her, forcing her
to focus on the task ahead.
‘Time to move,’ she muttered.
The beach was relatively silent except for the
squawks of seagulls hovering on the upwind. It was late evening; the sun was
low and the sky was turning pink.
Engella dawdled along the sand, her cape catching
the wind. She placed her hand on her belt, and then reached inside her
rucksack, eager to check she hadn’t lost any of her gadgets or supplies.
The chilly air began to bite. Feeling
uncomfortable in the cold, she wrapped her long coat tightly around her body.
In addition to her braces and fitted T-shirt, she wore a grey-tinted utility
belt fitted with various objects, cargo pants and black boots with silver
laces. Engella was particularly proud of her belt and lace combination. She’d
chosen the colours to match her current choice of hair colour. Silvers, greys
and a dash of purple too. Super stylish. After years on the run, many of them
on the streets, Engella still knew how to accessorise.
The wind picked up, and Engella shivered, so she
lifted the hood of her cape covering her hair. The waves tumbled over the shore
with a splash. White foam washed away to reveal glistening sand which reflected
light from the sunset. She remembered how she’d always loved the beach as a
child; going on day trips with her parents, building sandcastles, and eating
ice cream. It was always a treat to get away from London’s metropolis.
Engella remembered her mother’s face.
‘At least the weather’s better here,’ she said.
She paused as her favourite holomovie came to mind, The Wizard of Oz. She smirked as she thought of a quote which was
appropriate for the situation.
‘We’re not in Kansas anymore, that’s for sure.’
Engella had always pretended to be the little girl
with the pet dog while her father took on the role of the Tin Man. She reached
for her wristband, anxious to check it was still there, and was relieved to
feel the cold metal between her fingers. A red warning light flashed, so she
clicked the reset button. Engella had never shifted through space-time without
coordinates before, so she didn’t know what it meant.
Along the beach, a figure came into view.
Engella’s neck prickled. She usually tried to avoid people, it was easier that
way, even though she often pined for human contact. The loneliness had
continued for too long. Using a device which she removed from her utility belt,
Engella scanned the area to identify the approximate space-time coordinates.
She didn’t have time to find the exact date, but the scan quickly determined it
to be sometime in the late twentieth century.
As she activated her holoprojector, her real
clothes were quickly concealed by a hologram: a grey hooded jumper, black jeans
and black Converse trainers, which suited the timeframe perfectly. Her plaited
hair was now neatly placed inside a holographic pink bobble hat. She looked at
her reflection briefly, using the metal of her wristband as a mirror.
‘Retro!’ she said.
As they approached each other, Engella could now
make out the other person: an older woman, walking a chocolate Labrador who was
splashing through the surf. They eventually met halfway along the beach.
‘Good evening, dear,’ the woman said, as she surveyed
Engella through her black spectacles. She was probably in her fifties, her
curly brown hair greying at the roots. Her skin was pale white, yet she looked
slightly red-faced and flustered, wrapped up in her winter coat and scarf. The
Labrador bounded toward Engella, panting and tail-wagging, before he sniffed
her holographic trainers.
‘Sorry about Rupert! He does get overexcited now
and then!’ the woman said.
Engella patted Rupert on the head. ‘It’s okay.
He’s very sweet.’
‘We don’t often get visitors around here, you
see.’
Engella nodded. ‘Where exactly is here by the way? I’m a little lost.’
‘Rubha Shlèite, dear. My favourite place on the
Isle of Skye.’
‘The sky?’ said Engella, a little unsure of what
she’d heard. ‘Erm, yes, of course. I remember now.’ Engella pretended to know
what the woman was talking about, but she had no idea.
‘Did you travel here via the road or by ferry?’
asked the woman, who then proceeded to rearrange her scarf so it was almost
touching her bottom lip.
Engella looked away, not sure how to answer. She
had hoped she wouldn’t need to explain her sudden appearance. Although she was
used to it by now. It wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last either.
Author Bio –
Paul Ian Cross is a multi-award-winning children’s author and scientist from London, UK.
Paul works in clinical research (developing new medicines) and he’s also involved in science communication; presenting science to non-scientists. He enjoys his science career but he also has a real passion for writing stories! He likes introducing children to the wonders of science, especially reluctant readers. By introducing science creatively, he aims to spark their interest; allowing them to gain confidence with their reading. As a previous reluctant reader himself, he understands how hard it can be. But it’s all about making reading fun and interesting!
Paul’s nephew Hayden influenced his decision to become a writer. He loved seeing Hayden’s reaction when his sister Michelle first read one of Paul’s stories to him!
In his spare time, Paul likes to visit new and exciting places. One of his favourite places is Scotland, especially the Isle of Skye.
Paul’s debut picture book, Praxx and the Ringing Robot, won second prize in the ‘Picture Books 5 and Younger’ category at the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards 2017. The book trailer also won first place in the ‘book trailer’ category at the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards later that year.
Paul’s second book, Planet Scrabbage and the Vegerons, won an honourable mention in both the ‘Picture Books 6 and Over’ and ‘Health’ categories at the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards 2018.
And that brings us to now... Paul is currently working on several new books. Paul’s debut upper middle grade novel will be published in 2018. The Lights of Time is the first novel in a brand-new series: The Chronicles of Engella Rhys.
Paul hopes you enjoy reading his stories as much as he enjoyed writing them!
Social Media Links –
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