Optimus: Praetorian Guard

Free At Last

2012-01-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

I now have the publishing rights to Optimus. When I published with PA in Nov. of 2006 this seemed like the answer to a prayer. It took me ten summers to write it and two years searching for a publisher. PA has done a roller coaster ride on prices for the book making it nearly impossible to generate sales. I purchased over a hundred copies, most of which I gave away as presents, to family, friends, but very few were sold at book signings. I'm not the most patient person in the world and sitting for 4 hours to sell 2 or 3 books seems like a huge waste of time.
I will do a complete re-edit and e-publish Optimus on Smashwords and Amazon at a reasonable price.

Vander's Magic Carpet

2011-11-21T12:11:00.001-08:00

My fourth novel is now available at Smashwords.com and Amazon.com.

More Titles at Smashwords

2011-10-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

New stories

2011-09-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

Find them at pmprescottenterprises.com

Good News

2011-08-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Publish America has lowered the price on Optimus. The e-book has been dropped from the really stupid price of $27.95 to $7.95. Amazon will be dropping the price for the Kindle edition sometime soon. That's the best price for a really great book in a long long time.
To find all the other novels and stories I've published go to pmprescottenterprises.com

Satisfied Customer

2011-06-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

Met a man in an elevator at the courthouse today. I was wearing my t-shirt with the cover of Optimus on it. He told me it was a really good book. I answered that I knew it was because I wrote it. No sense being modest about something you sweated over for ten years and the last five have worked your butt off and spent a fortune buying copies to sell. He said he bought it at a Hastings book signing and is waiting for the sequel to come out. Guess that's a kick in the pants to get started on writing it.

Have I got a deal for you!

2011-05-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Dear reader click on this link to my page at Smashwords.com and look at my list of books available. I have dropped the price of all short stories to 0.00. That right Free, and what's more you don't need a special app like Kindle or Nook to download the story.

I've reduced the price on my anthologies and novel, but here's the deal. Just for coming to this blog you can download them for free too. Here's how you do it:

For Human Sacrifices when you check out put in coupon code PA52R (not case specific).

For Flash Stories: Married Love coupon code is RR26Q

For Flash Stories: Erotica coupon code is UY58W

For Erotic Flash Stories 3 coupon code is XF25Q

Have some time to read? What are you waiting for?

The coupons expire June 6, 2011.

The stories just keep on coming

2011-05-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

Two new stories published this week and on Smashwords, their free.

Car Hop and Super Erotic Bowl

I think I'm back

2011-04-26T12:15:00.001-07:00

I haven't been able to post in some time due to a mix up with Javascript.
I've published three short stories, three anthologies and one novel at Amazon.com, Barnesandnobles.com and smashwords.com.
Optimus is now at Amazon for $9.99 and at publishamerica.com for $27.99. I don't think PA wants to sell many e-books.
The other books are under Patrick Prescott:
Human Sacrifices $8.99 e-book only
A story about a young woman confronting a demon that feeds on the pain and suffering all around her. She's facing an abusive fundamentalist husband that fights to keep her from divorcing him, starting a teaching career and getting on with her life trying to reach her students and keep them out of the mouth of Mal, the demon she sees in the trees outside her window.
This story has the three things you should never talk about at a party: Sex, religion and politics.
Short Stories:
Bona Dea $.99 at Kindle and Nook, Bona Dea Redux at smashwords (long story)
A lonely security guard's spirit touches the spirit of a goddess that has been trapped in an eagle for hundreds of years. The goddess slowly comes back to life through Steve and his friends to start providing the world with love and happiness again.
Wife Quest $.99 e-book available at the sites listed above.
John Fletcher is a young knight helping escort is leige lord on a tour of his estates stopping at numerous other castles to find the Lord's son and daughters spouses. Set in 1190 England this story explores the different social classes and marriage customs of the middle ages.
Woman on the Beach $.99 e-book
A woman is distraught on a beach and lets her cover slip exposing her to all present. A family with small children and the man who has told her he's taken employment out of state. This story lets the reader understand the viewpoint of all involved in a chance encounter.
Anthologies:
For years I would select a picture from the internet at first describing it in exact detail as an exercise for my summer writing. Quickly the description turned into flash stories (1,000 words or less) telling a story about the picture. The three short stories above started off as flash stories and the story grew. The remaing stories have been compiled into three anthologies.
Flash Stories: Married Love $4.99 e-book
All of these stories deal with marriage in all it's stages from newly weds to divorce, remarriage, mature marriages, loss and grief, fights, making up and many more phases.
Flash Stories: Erotica $4.99 e-book
My stories here are discriptions of the people involved and how they wind up in bed and it's aftermath. Nudity is described, but not the sex act itself. I leave that up to the reader's experience and imagination. Erotica not pornography got it?
Erotic Flash Stories 3 e-book $3.99
Same as the other two.

Going E-book

2011-02-27T08:01:00.000-08:00

The trials, tribulations and blackmail are now over. Optimus is going to be available in e-book format starting 2/28/11. It will finally be available on Kindle and Ipad.
I paid to have it converted in December, but couldn't get ahold of anyone at PA when it didn't materialize, so I submitted my second book and when they wanted me to sign the contract for it, I told them not until I got what I paid for. That finally got their attention. I'm still debating if I'll publish my second book through them.

Optimus: Praetorian Guard Contest

2010-08-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

I'll mail a free copy of Optimus: Praetorian Guard to the first person to post a comment on this site who can answer this question:

What was the Praetorian Guard?

Any takers? Be sure to give me an e-mail so I can contact you and get your mailing address.

New Price

2010-08-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

Optimus is now priced at publishamerica.com @ $9.95 + shipping.
You can also special order it at book stores and not have to pay the S&H.

Be sure to order the PAper back version. The soft cover is at a higher price. There is no difference between the soft cover and PAper back.

Pictures

2010-02-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

Picture taken at Southwest Writers. I'm holding Optimus and Friend's Forever the children's book by Anne Littlewolf that I'm desktop publishing for her.

Another Nice Review

2010-01-30T18:05:00.000-08:00

Yogi, a fellow blogger bought a book a little while ago and has posted a nice review of Optimus.

Two Years

2008-11-09T15:10:00.001-08:00

Two years since the Optimus: Praetorian Guard has been published. Hard to imagine that I started putting pen to paper fourteen years ago. The idea came to me in a Sunday School Class when the church we attend was meeting next door to a Hastings in a shopping mall. The church now has a permanent location and Hastings built a separate building.

To all interested in purchasing a signed by the author book I'm lowering my price to $15.00. They're still retailing at $21.95 so it's a good deal for a collector's item just in time for the Holidays. E-mail me at jtenebrae@yahoo.com for details. Be sure to mention Optimus in the e-mail so I don't delete it as spam.

Chapter 1

2008-09-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

For those interested, but not sure if you'd like the book here's the opening sequence of the story.

"Battering ram, battering ram, don't fail me now?" Optimus wailed. The girl beside him stroked his broad shoulders, and kissed him passionately. There was no response.

The frustrated man looked at the woman he had worked all night to bed. Pale blonde hair, real blonde, not dyed. (Roman law required all prostitutes to have blonde hair, most women around the Middle Sea were dark haired, and their attempts at becoming blonde were sometimes ludicrous.) But she is a real blonde, like spider silk when he touched it; long hair--down to the middle of her back. Eyes the brightest blue he’s ever seen, with arching eyebrows, the kind of eyes that a man could look at for an eternity. Skin almost translucent, the palest white, alabaster was dark by comparison. A small button nose and red thin lips. Truly this was a face that could cause wars. "Then why do my loins refuse to be stirred?" he asked himself.

She shifted her body to rub up against his in another attempt to arouse the sleeping. He felt her large round breasts with tender but firm, youthful skin against him. Such a touch would normally make him rigid for an hour, or send him into the throes of ecstasy instantly. Tonight nothing.

"Jupiter Optimus Maximus, what is wrong with me?" he thundered.

"Master, it is the drink," she whispered in his ear. Her Latin strained, having a guttural accent to it. "We sleep now--try again in morning."

He gently hugged the beauty that the night’s gambling bought, still a virgin the tavern owner had promised (as if you could believe such a preposterous statement). Suddenly the girl’s face shifted. The hair turned an auburn color, the eyebrows flattened over dark brown eyes and he was looking at his beloved Octavia. The woman he had killed just a few weeks earlier on Caesar’s order.

Tears streamed down from his eyes. He gripped the girl in his arms tightly trying to ease the pain constricting his aching heart.

At first the frightened girl thought he would squeeze the life out of her, but after the initial tight hug he merely sobbed into her pale fine hair. She held the sobbing and heartbroken soldier for nearly an hour when a movement on the other side of the curtain screen to her cubicle caught her attention. Slowly the drape was drawn aside and a soldier with a sword entered. She tensed at the sight, and in an instant the giant holding her was on his feet grabbing the intruder by the throat. Another man came up from behind and struck him on the back of the head with the butt end of his sword. The big man crumpled. A third soldier came in to help drag her first customer away. All three stood and gazed on her nakedness, their lust boring into her. The tavern owner shoved one of them out of the way, throwing a cloth at her in order to cover up, and then hurried the men out of the room.

A Whole Year

2007-12-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Hard to imagine that it's been a full year since I received two copies of my first novel in the mail.
To anyone just coming across this site you can e-mail me (jtenebrae@yahoo.com)to work out the details of obtaining an autographed copy for $22.00
The book may be special ordered at any book store, or you can order a copy at Publish America and Amazon.com, but you'll have to pay postage and handling.

Book Signings

2007-11-10T19:28:00.001-08:00

The first major book chain to purchase and sell Optimus was B. Dalton's in Cottonwood Mall the day before Easter 2007. I sold three books and when they called me to let me know the store was closing, which was a real shock, I purchased the rest so they wouldn't be sent back.
I've had book signings so far this year at Bibles Plus, and three Hastings in Albuquerque. Slowly but surely I'm getting the word out and generating interest.
I've held off doing any more book signings while the situation with my sister in Texas has been touch and go. It seems now that she's getting better and after we go out to see her later this month I'll try to set up more book signings during the Holiday season.
I gave the new Public Relations head at Wayland my card at a dinner a couple of weeks ago. He's e-mailed me asking for particulars and will most likely be putting information about the book in the alumni magazine that comes out every four months.

Book Review

2007-11-10T19:26:00.001-08:00

My first book review
Brian at audienceof1 has written a wonderful review of my novel. I decided to print it here for all those interested in what the book is about. Many heart felt thanks for the wonderful words and insights into the story.

I recently finished reading Patrick’s book, “Optimus: Praetorian Guard.” It was thrilling to receive a book from a fellow blogger, especially Patrick who is a member of my profession and a fine gentleman. I only had a vague idea what the book was about when I sat down to read it, but came away very impressed.Like me, Patrick is a history teacher, and his knowledge of Roman history is evident throughout the book. He tells the story of Optimus, a hard drinking, fast living member of Rome’s elite Praetorian Guard. He has slain many on behalf of the Empire, including a girl he truly loved. A master swordsman, he put his sword to use on behalf of his emperor, becoming an acclaimed warrior. When he wasn’t fighting he was drinking, gambling, or engaging the services of Rome’s many prostitutes. He even hired out the services of boys on whom he could beat out his anger and frustration. Optimus is brave and valiant but there is something missing inside. He is miserable in his life, not because he isn’t successful at what he does, but because deep down he knows there is something very wrong with all the killing he does for emperors who don’t deserve his respect. Set during the rule of several emperors including the buffoonish Nero, the book paints a picture of the secret life led by Christians of the day. Forced to keep their faith secret, they formed secret ways of distinguishing those of their faith from those who could persecute them. It was a dangerous time to hold a faith different from that of the emperor’s court.Optimus is assigned guard duty over a troublesome man who is under house arrest. He doesn’t know what to think of Paul, a man of both serenity and intenseness. At first angry that his warrior skills are being wasted guarding a religious heretic, Optimus chafes at the bit, ready for this assignment to be over so he can go back to doing what he does best….fight. He spars rhetorically with Paul and his frequent visitor, Luke. He asks of them the question that so many still ask today. If there really is a God, how can he possibly allow all the chaos, the killing and looting, the rape, the injustices that exist on Earth? If God is all powerful he could simply strike down those who commit these atrocities, couldn’t he? Paul and Luke answer his questions with a focus on the love of God and God’s willingness to forgive the sinner.Optimus finds out that their was a purpose for him being assigned to guard Paul. His superior officer and friend, a secret Christian, had placed him there hoping that Paul would be able to convert him to Christianity. Judeaus has a widowed sister for whom he feels Optimus would make an excellent husband, but fervently hopes that Optimus will become a Christian before they marry. His plan succeeds and Optimus for the first time in his life marries. His wife is a patrician who suffered terribly under the physical abuse of her first husband. She is warm and loving, yet feisty and independent minded. The two of them fall deeply in love.I found myself wishing a happy ending for Optimus and his new wife, but it was not to be. Continued war both inside and outside the empire continued to pull Optimus back in, reminding me of Al Pacino’s “Godfather” character who complained of trying to get out but getting pulled back in. Optimus is both a devoted Christian and a soldier and he tries to navigate these dual loyalties. His faith is put to the test when his wife is murdered and he devotes himself to raising his sons and participating in an under-the-radar attempt to install a Christian on the throne of Rome.Patrick blends the story of early Christianity, growth in personal faith with the intrigues and plots of the Roman Senate and emperor. It is a very well written story with the themes of hope and redemption weaved throughout. You will come away with an increased knowledge of faith, of early Christianity, and a feel for the Roman Empire that you didn’t have before. As I got toward the end of the book I found myself thinking that there is more of this story needs to be told, and I was happy to read that a sequel is planned. I recommend it and urge you to buy a copy. I’m sure Patrick will be happy to autograph a copy for you, and that you will find it well worth the price.

Fantastic Cover Art

2007-11-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

Christian tradition holds that the Roman authorities had to replace the Apostle Paul's guards while he was awaiting trial because he kept converting them. This is a story about one of his guards that becomes a Christian, marries into an influential Christian family and their attempt to place the first Christian Emperor on throne. It spans the reigns of Claudius to Domitian.

My baby (novel) can now be ordered online at PublishAmerica.com, and it will be available in bookstores (special orders) in late January.

I have some copies for those interested in an autographed copy. E-mail me if you are interested and we'll make arrangements.