Another Book Under My Belt

I can't tell you how excited I am that Booktrope is going to be publishing Undead Obsessed.  They are the ones who put out The Appeal of Evil, and they are fantastic to work with.


I was a little disappointed that the agent route didn't work out, but I honestly wasn't surprised.  How many books have I queried for?  At least five, and not one of them enticed an agent.  But I'm not letting it get me down.  I can't.  If you think about it, I have quite a lot stacked against me.  I live in Wyoming, I don't have an MFA degree (although I do have my Master's in English), and I write genre.

These may seem like inconsequential things, but when agents want you to have a platform (which is just a fancy way of saying they want lots of people to know/follow you), I'm at a disadvantage.  I'm not near any major cities.  And I'm definitely not near New York.

Having an MFA degree would mean that during my education I would have had access to the publishing industry and famous writers.  Sadly, when I was getting my master's, the university I attended didn't have a formal MFA program.  They do now, but I'll be damned if I'm going to go back to school.  (And yes, I'm well aware that this is a personal choice that could affect my career, but I'm OK with that too.)

Writing genre is really difficult.  For one, there aren't necessarily a lot of agents who represent that genre.  For another, the genre can be so saturated with authors or have greats that still dominate that it's hard for a newbie to break into.

Now, don't get me wrong, new authors with less connections than I have make it big in the publishing world. I have a close friend who landed an agent.  All I'm saying is that I have a lot stacked against me.  But, again, I'm fine with that.  It doesn't bother me.  At least I can say I tried.

In addition, it's not going to stop me from writing.  I've come a long way since 2009 when Coming from Nowhere was published, and I really enjoy creating books.  Just because an agent doesn't want it, that doesn't mean I'm going to stop.


Wow.  I kind of got off on a tangent there for a minute.  Let's get back to Undead Obsessed!

I spent a year writing this book.  In the scheme of things, a year really isn't that long, but it's also really long.  I dedicated a year of my life to this one project.  And I'm damn proud of it.  I've always wanted to write about zombies, but I never knew exactly what I wanted to say.  When the inspiration for this book hit, it just took off.

There were ups and downs along the way, some criticism that cut deep, but in the end, it all contributed to making Undead Obsessed what it is.  And I can't wait to share it with the world.  And I can't thank Booktrope enough for agreeing to help me share it.

As I mentioned yesterday, we are currently looking for reviewers.  You don't have to be a formal reviewer or have a blog, you can be an average reader with a love for zombies and access to Amazon.  A secret group was set up on Facebook, so if you're interested, let us know and we'll add you.  You can download the ARC from there.

I didn't need another reason to enjoy Halloween, but now I really can't wait for it to get here!

Zombies Will Soon Be Unleashed Onto the World

It's been a great week.  I met my deadline for projects at work, and I set a date for the release of Undead Obsessed:  Finding Meaning in Zombies.  We're planning on having it available by Halloween.

The agent route fell through for me--again.  Even after all the drama and miscommunication with one particular agent, I never received any response after sending my full manuscript.  But, hey, it's all good.  The book still has a home and will be available for readers to read.

Before that happens, my book manager and I have set up a secret group on Facebook for people who are interested in reading the book.  The only stipulation is that you have to post a review.  If you're interested in being part of the group, please send me an email (address on right hand side of blog) or my book manager Pam (pamela.labbe[@]booktrope[.]com) and we'll add you.

For your information, here's what the book is about:

My obsession with zombie films started when I was in junior high. They are a great lens to examine concerns society has about modern science. Let’s face it, when it comes to horror movies, science has a bad reputation. Blind ambition, experimental serums, and genetic experiments are often blamed for the giant monster terrorizing the city or the reason aliens are taking human prisoners or the cause of the dead rising from the grave to consume living flesh.

Using film, literature, and interviews with experts, my nonfiction book,
Undead Obsessed: Finding Meaning in Zombies (approximately 65,000 words), examines how zombies portray real-world fears such as epidemics, mind control, what may or may not exist in space, the repercussions of playing God, and the science behind the fears.

Science has made it possible for us to live the way we do; it has given us numerous advances in all fields of life from medicine to agriculture to entertainment. Yet, with all of these advantages, there are a multitude of disadvantages that could prove to be detrimental to humans and society. Weapon technology used in wars is one of these major disadvantages, but anything that is beneficial to humanity, including medicine, has the potential to harm us. My goal is to explore how zombies become a metaphor for our fears of science and what could happen if science gets out of hand. 


Love Spirits by Diana Cachey‏


Diana Cachey is a licensed attorney, published academic, and former adjunct law professor. She also holds a BA in English, and while in law school, she was the first female editor in chief of her university’s law review. The author of the novel Love Spirits, she has trained with several New York Times best-selling writers, including Robert Allen, with more than seventy-two million books sold. For more than a decade, Cachey has been traveling to Venice, the setting of her novel, on extended trips several times a year. The cafés, restaurants, and many other haunts of Venice play a prominent role in her sexy paranormal mystery-romance about a beautiful American lawyer guided by the Ghosts of Venice in the investigation of a hushed-up crime.



Louisa Mangotti is a gorgeous American lawyer and Interpol expert who, after being offered a job working with the international crime unit in Venice, receives a mysterious postcard from the Venetian Ghosts, the ancient protectors of the Republic. But Louisa assumes her bad-boy ex, Matteo, sent it in a quixotic attempt to gain her attention. Louisa may have dismissed the ghosts, but the ghosts aren’t quite done with her.

When the bodies of two glassmakers wash up on Murano Island, the cryptic messages persist. Reluctantly, Louisa calls upon Matteo to help decipher the clues. And before she knows it, a flame that was never fully extinguished is rekindled. Sensing that her sister is in over her head, Barbara Mangotti rushes to the rescue, only to be lured away by two handsome Venetian men.

With time running out, can the two beauties solve a crime that could threaten the city of Venice itself?


Book Trailers:
Love Spirits -- Take One
Love Spirits -- ghost story

Q) What inspired you to write this story?
The romantic and beautiful city of Venice, Italy and it's ghost legends.



Q) How long did it take you to write?
It took four years to write all three books in What Happens in Venice: The Trinity, of which Book One, LOVE SPIRITS, has just been released.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
I love making up stories, characters, describing locations and watching it all unfold on the page. I adore writing love scenes! Nothing lights me up like that. It's delicious fun.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
EDITING! I'm a perfectionist and used to edit law review articles and legal briefs so I drive myself nuts getting it just right. Crazy stuff like that isn't a fun time, but I can't help myaelf. I will reword it until it flows and is a great read.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
Mick Jagger. It would be so awesome to have that kind of confidence, sing and dance around on atage to the world's greatest musicians playing with me then strut offstage to my Lear jet. Lady Gaga wouldn't be so bad either

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
One of those bottles of salad dressing must be 100 years old by now.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future? 
 Two more volumes of What Happens in Venice: The Trinity will be out soon! Besides Book One - Love Spirits, just released, there will also be Book Two - Lagoon Lure , Fall 2014 release, and Book Three - Magic Island, Winter 2102 Release. I will release PLAYLISTS for each book!

Besides the second and third books of this What Happens in Venice Trinity, I've already started a new book set in Venice, which involves the same characters with new ghosts, new puzzles to solve, and a different mystery and crime to expose. I also started a science fiction time travel story, which will feature another strong female lead character.

One more thing: Each October, I do an online Halloween party called, HauntedPalooza. This year we will have lots of prizes, guest blogs, recipes, playlists. So let your readers and writers know and contact me if they want to participate or write for it on www.dianacachey.com.

As Seen with Wonder and Excitement

Yesterday, I had to make a return at Walmart.  As expected, there was a huge line and the cashier was having issues.  In her defense, I think it was actually the equipment and not her fault, but I can't be 100% sure.  Anyway, while I'm standing there, I started thinking about how tired I was.  I mean, I was just exhausted, and I had so much to do.

There was a mom with a young son standing in line in front of us, and he was just cute as the dickens.  He thought my boys were pretty cool, and he reached out to touch my youngest's hand.  My youngest really likes babies/young children, so he was more than happy to indulge this young kid.  The baby giggled as their fingers touched.  It was really sweet.

As time clicked by and the line wasn't moving, the mom let her son down to run around.  He was thrilled.  Curious about everything, he promptly took off to check out the world, laughing and smiling the whole way.

As I watched, I couldn't help but smile.  His wonder and excitement were infectious.  At the time, my oldest was entertaining himself by walking around the cart, dragging his hand over the bars and me when he passed by.  My youngest was content sitting in the cart watching.  None of them were upset that we had to wait in line.  I was the only one that was inwardly annoyed by the process.

It made me think about how our world view changes the older we get.  How the crushing weight of disappointment, failure, and unfairness bend our backs.  It made me sad.  I mourned losing the ability to see the world through excited eyes.  I looked at my kids and became sad that they would lose that ability also.

After all, the world really is an awesome and cool place.  I'm often reminded of that watching shows on Discovery or reading articles about Ebola patients being cured.  I mean, think about the new lease on life they've just been given.  They were at death's door and didn't go through.  That has to change your outlook on life.

I decided at that moment that I needed to do something to regain my sense of wonder and excitement about the world.  I haven't figured out exactly what that is, but I'm working on it.  I'm excited to see how this is will turn out.

Pain that F*cks with Your Brain

I have been living with chronic back pain for 20+ years.  I don't talk about it often because it's just become a way of life.  Plus, who really wants to hear me complain all the time. :)  I originally injured my back when I was in junior high.  My friend and I were practicing dives off the side of the pool, and I scorpioned myself (kicked myself in the back of the head).  It hurt at the time, took my breath away, but I didn't say anything.  I was too embarrassed.  (I have absolutely no reason why, but at the time it seemed important.)

As the years went on, I continued to swim.  My back never got better.  In high school, I wasn't eating properly and getting enough nutrition, so my body turned to itself to compensate. According to the doctor, it had started digesting that muscle in my back.  But that's as far as any tests went, and the matter was dropped.  I was given supplements and told to go on my merry way.

Even after swimming, my back never got better.  Every so often it would flare up and put me in pain.  During those times, I headed to the chiropractor.  I was adjusted, massaged, put on tens units, given ultra sound treatments, told to wear a brace, did exercises with a band.  When I was pregnant with my second child, I went to physical therapy to relieve the pain.  None of it did anything.  My back would still flare up and put me in a really bad mood.

Within the last few months, I decided I wasn't going to go to the chiropractor anymore.  I had been to two different ones, and they were't helping.  Plus, the thought of being adjusted was panic inducing.  I hate being adjusted.  Instead, I went to bone and joint specialists in town.

Long story short, the doctor upset me.  I felt that he wasn't listening to anything I had to say and based on x-rays (which I have had several times before and never show anything), he basically told me nothing was wrong and put me back into physical therapy.  At close to the 6-week mark, nothing was improving and the therapist told me to make my follow-up visit.  I did, and the doctor said he didn't want to see me for another 4 weeks.  That wasn't helpful.  Something needed to be done, so I found another doctor.

I was really nervous about going to see the new doctor.  After all, every visit I had up to this point wasn't helping, and I was still in a lot of pain.  I questioned why I had even bothered.  I had been compensating for this long, I could continue to do so.  On top of the pain, I was living with the frustration of no one helping me.  I was constantly in a bad mood.

I have to say, this new doctor was amazing.  He listened to me and sympathized with my plight.  He asked if I had ever had an MRI, which I hadn't, and it genuinely shocked him.  He didn't understand how people were treating my pain when they didn't know where it was coming from.  I had thought the same thing, but I didn't question.  On hindsight, I probably should have.

After the MRI, it became apparent that I had a herniated disk.  As the doctor described it, my disk is like a jelly donut and all the jelly has been squeezed out.  The doctor thought it was odd that it had bothered me for 20+ years since they often heal in 1-2, but he said it occasionally happened.  I'll admit it:  that news depressed me.  I was hoping it was something that could be fixed.  I was hoping something could be done to take the pain away.  Instead, I was told I would have to live with this for the rest of my life.

The dark disk at the bottom of this picture is the injured one.  

There were several different options for me to choose from to correct the problem, one of which was surgery, but I didn't want to do that.  In the long-run, it could cause more issues with the rest of my disks, causing the need for more surgeries.  So, the first course of treatment was to have steroid injections.

I'll admit it, it scared the sh*t out of me to think of having needles shoved into my back--and I'm not afraid of needles.  I have five tattoos and I've had steroid injections in my shoulder and my wrist, but getting them in my back was nerve wracking.  I had to go to a surgery center to have it done; it couldn't be done in an office.  I almost didn't go through with it.  But then I told myself: what else did I have to lose?  I'd tried everything else and nothing worked.  Might as well give it a go.

I have to say, I'm really glad I went through with it.  Although I was sore at the injection site, the rest of my back felt great.  They say it takes at least a week for it to fully kick in, and I can't wait.  If it's already helping now, I can only assume things will get better.  For that, I'm so thankful.  For those of you who have lived with chronic debilitating pain, you know how fantastic it is to get even a shred of relief.

I find it amazing how much pain has ruled my life over these years.  When my back flared up, it totally changed my thought process.  All I could focus on was how much I hurt.  My patience was nil to none; I often yelled at my boys for minor infractions, my job irritated me, it was difficult to interact socially.  My writing suffered because I didn't think I was good enough or just couldn't sit long enough to work on it.  It put me in a really bad spot.

Now, however, knowing that there is a way to relieve it, I'm looking toward the future with optimism.  Fixing a herniated disk isn't really possible.  There's really no way to put the jelly back in the donut.  Even though I don't have a permanent solution, there is a temporary one, and that gives me hope.  Some days, that's all I can hope for.

Twinfinity: Nethermore by Chris Podhola‏


The author is a 43 year-old United States Air Force veteran of the first Iraq War. This is his debut novel in the Twinfinity urban fantasy series. He was born and raised in south-eastern Michigan and served his country in California, Germany, and Turkey.

http://twinfinitynethermore-novel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008110578089
http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Podhola/e/B00LZDKIEO/
https://plus.google.com/108904941895775375335/about
http://www.wattpad.com/user/Christopher_Robert


Whitney Leighton has a secret. She is both blind and deaf but that’s not what she’s trying to keep hidden. Her secret is that she can both see and hear through her twin brother Tommy. They call it piggybacking because she can shift her consciousness into her brother’s mind.

Whitney’s not the only one with a secret; Tommy has one too and it’s Whitney that he’s keeping it from. His secret is that Whitney isn’t who she’s supposed to be. He has dreams of her, but in his dreams she has tattoos, battle-scars on her face, and a formidable look of determination. If Tommy’s dreams come true then Whitney is in serious trouble and so is everyone else. The simple Whitney that is, doesn’t stand a chance against the evil that exists in his sleep, and the world will be thrust into chaos.

The teen twins end up at Camp Tumbling Waters and Lake Amicolola where something is waiting for them. Something as dark as Whitney’s vision and as insane as Tommy’s dreams and IT needs Whitney to escape the prison that IT calls … Nethermore.

Book Trailer
Available at Amazon

Q) What inspired you to write this story?
A) As with almost everything I write the original inspiration came from a singular vision of the main character. With Twinfinity it was different in the fact that the story went through a major evolution. In the beginning Whitney was named Tammy, and she was neither blind nor deaf, but the basic premise was very similar in the fact that the twins were plagued with dreams of a different world colliding with the one that they lived in, but didn’t originate from.

Q) How long did it take you to write?
A) I wrote the first scenes of the story about seven years ago, but let the story go for about five years. I picked it back up a couple of years ago, tinkered with it again for a while and dropped it again. It wasn’t until I realized that Tammy’s name should really be Whitney, and that she was supposed to be blind and deaf, that I was able to write the story to completion. Once I had it right it took me about seven months.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
A) For me writing a story is very similar to reading one. For me it is about finding out what happens in the story. I never have the entire story figured out before I write it. I explore the story as I’m writing it and it is the discovery, character development and navigating the twists and turns that keeps me going.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
A) Editing. For me that is the “work” of writing.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
A) Stephen King. And I would want to be him so I could pick the most intimate parts of his writing brain.

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
A) A six pack of Billy Beer. I don’t even know why I’m keeping it, but that six pack has been there since those beers were for sale.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
A) There is still a lot more to write in the Twinfinity series. I am currently working on the last of the shorts before I begin the second volume and I think there may be as many as ten volumes altogether for the series. That will keep me busy for quite a while.


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The Devil’s Jukebox by Marcel Feldmar


Marcel Feldmar was born in Vancouver, moved to Boulder, ended up in Denver, went back to Vancouver, moved to Seattle, and ended up in Los Angeles. He is married with three dogs, and enjoys well made cocktails. He is also a coffee addict and an ex-drummer for too many bands to mention. He recently traded in his drumsticks for a couple of pens, and proceeded to complete his first novel. The Paranormal Pop Fiction tale entitled The Devil’s Jukebox.

http://www.marcelfeldmar.com
http://www.facebook.com/jukeboxdevil
https://www.goodreads.com/MFeldmar


A group of friends are reunited after twenty years to learn that their destinies are entangled with the immortal Muses and a mysterious lost jukebox.

From Vancouver to a New Orleans cemetery, roaming through Los Angeles to Las Vegas; it’s a supernatural road trip laced with rock ‘n’ roll.


Available at Amazon iTunes BN Smashwords

Q) What inspired you to write this story?
The inspiration for the story hit me initially in 1996. I was in a band, and we were on a very short tour, driving from Portland to Saskatoon. I had this vision of the new Muses, how they would work in a modern setting since the old ideas of worship had changed. The new icons of a new land. This idea grew and shifted and became a sort of undercurrent that flows through The Devil’s Jukebox

Q) How long did it take you to write?
This is a slightly loaded question, since you could say I started writing it 18 years ago. I had bits and pieces that kept growing and haphazardly fitting together until I was carrying around pieces of a story that made no sense and was about three times longer than it should have been. I decided to actually get my words in order and write a book in 2010. I set out writing the first draft in 2011. I took some excellent advice and found a great editor. Five drafts later it was early 2013 and it was done. So—two years to turn a mess into something I felt was ready for publication.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
Just the simple act of getting the thoughts and visions in my head solidified onto the page - it continues to give me a thrill when I re-read something I wrote, and it perfectly captures that idea that had been floating in the atmosphere above me. That feeling of creating something out of nothing. Love it.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
I really don’t like when I get lost within the words. It happens more often than I care to admit—which is why I need an editor. Sometimes I can’t tell if it’s me or my characters, but there are times when I want the story to move forwards, and I end up going off on some tangent for too many pages about completely irrelevant things. Totally off track and off topic. It doesn’t sound that bad, but it’s really frustrating.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
If I could choose the day, I would be Nick Cave on the day he performs on stage in some dark and crowded beautiful theatre. He’s one of my heroes, in his music, his writing, his presence. To be on stage, singing those songs—holding the audience in the palms of his hands as he riffs on “Stagger Lee” or pulls the heavens down with a rendition of “Tupelo”… I’d love to do that just once.

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
The oldest thing within the depths of the fridge is probably a jar of Fig Spread. I don’t even like Figs, let alone jars of spreadable ones. The expiration date faded long ago, and I shudder to think the evil it might unleash were it to be opened. I think that it is only the anti-fig power held within the silver finish of the fridge door and the temperature inside, which tends to run consistently 5 degrees colder than you want it to, that’s keeping the unholy spread at bay.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
Great things! Well, maybe. Good things, hopefully. I am working on another book of poems to go with the one currently available (The Typewriter Keeps Me Awake At Night). I’m trying to get that finished by Christmas—not because it’s festive or holiday fueled, but because it might make a nice gift for some family members who prefer my poetic side more than my attempts at Paranormal Pop Fiction. “More poems, less blood!” they say. I am also working through novel number two, which will definitely hold more blood than poetry, and a lot of alcohol. There might be a Devil’s Jukebox sequel, but not definitely. I think I need to hear from more readers who want to know what happens next to my little group of Muses and their protectors before I commit to continuing those adventures.

-Marcel Feldmar
The Devil’s Jukebox

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Wrath of the Highlander by Sky Purington


Sky Purington is the best-selling author of eleven novels and several novellas. A New Englander born and bred, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.

Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at Sky@SkyPurington.com

Interested in keeping up with Sky's latest news and releases? Visit Sky's website, http://www.skypurington.com to download her free App on iTunes and Android or sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

Love social networking? Find Sky on Facebook and Twitter.

Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest


Bookstore owner and ghostwriter, Cadence wants nothing more than to be part of the unending draw between her Broun heritage and the medieval MacLomain clan. When an unexpected Claddagh ring appears on her finger, the distant past soon becomes her future. Though sure she was brought back in time for another man, the laird’s cousin soon draws her eye, then her every thought.

Recently widowed by a traitorous wife, Malcolm MacLomain has no use for love. Merciless, he swears revenge on his enemies and embarks for war. When courageous and persevering, Cadence becomes part of his endeavor his broken heart starts to mend. Caught in an unexpected journey of forgiveness and discovery, two worlds collide and heal despite the, Wrath of the Highlander.


Available Now- Mark of the Highlander (Book 1), Vow of the Highlander (Book 2) and Wrath of the Highlander (Book 3). Coming Soon- Faith of the Highlander (Book 4) and the final in the series, Plight of the Highlander (Book 5).

Available at Amazon BN Kobo 

Q) What inspired you to write this story?
Its hero, Malcolm MacLolmain. I first met him in book one of The MacLomain Series- Next Generation and have been eager to dive deeper into his character.

Q) How long did it take you to write?
A little under six weeks. Probably the fastest I’ve ever written a novel.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
I’d have to say getting to know the characters better. It’s always interesting crawling inside their minds. I really enjoy the challenge of offering a wide variety of personalities.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
Editing! Ugh. Never fun.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
Lately I’ve been on a Spartacus kick (love that series!) so I’m going to go with Lucy Lawless. I adored the evil part she played in it. And I’m hoping she’s friends with several of the actors in the series. I’d love to meet them all. (R.I.P. Andy Whitfield)

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
Chinese take-out. Two days old.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
I intend to keep very busy. Plight of the Highlander, the final novel in The MacLomain Series- Next Generation series will be released in November. Then I’ll be starting a Viking series that stems off of the MacLomain series. You’ll learn more about a few of those upcoming characters in next month’s release, Faith of the Highlander, book four.

Thanks for hosting me. Loved the interview!

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Cade by V.A. Dold‏


V.A.Dold is the bestselling author of the Le Beau Brothers series, New Orleans wolf shifter novels. A graduate of Saint Cloud University, she majored in marketing. Prior to becoming a full time writer, she was a publicist to the authors, owning Innovative Online Book Tours and ARC Author & Reader Con's (ARC NOLA) (ARC Phoenix). Still is. The companies mesh so well together, much like PB&J.

Her idea of absolute heaven is a day in the French Quarter filled with nothing but her computer, her coffee mug and the Brothers, of course.

A Minnesota native with her heart lost to Louisiana, she has a penchant for titillating tales featuring sexy men and strong women. When she's not writing, she's probably taking in a movie, reading or traveling.

Her earliest reading memories are from grade school. She had a major fixation with horses, and the Black Stallion was a favorite. Then junior high came along and teenage hormones kicked in. It became all about the Harlequin Romances. She has been hooked on romances ever since.

www.vadold.com
www.facebook.com/pages/VA-Dold/1404660546458551
@VADOLD


Anna James is single again, finally. In her opinion, men are self-centered and will never love her for who she is, a beautiful, plus sized woman. All except the fantasy man that she’s been meeting in her dreams for five years.

She just never expected her fantasy to be a real live alpha shifter...

Cade Le Beau isn't what he seems. He’s a billionaire wolf. A Shifter. He laments his missed chance six months ago to meet his fantasy woman in the flesh. Just as his second chance presents itself, his fantasy woman, his mate, is threatened by the local mob boss and her ex-husband. Now, he has forty eight hours to deal with this threat once and for all or chance losing her again.

Is it Anna who’s in danger, or the humans who unwittingly threaten her?

The heat is on the moment they lay eyes on each other. Neither, age, children, horrid ex-husbands, nor mob bosses will stop this love affair.


NOTE: Complete novel. No cliffhanger. Dual POV. Rated 18+ for language and strong sexual content. This is an adult paranormal romance with erotic content. The series centers on wolf shifters but also includes vampires, voodoo priestess, a Marine, and magic. These are stand alone books that create a series. They do not need to be read in order.

Variants by Michelle C. Reilly‏


Michelle C. Reilly is a single mom of two wonderful boys. She spent ten years in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman Preventive Medicine Technician, which meant she was actually attached to or stationed with the U.S. Marine Corps. She has a Masters in Science in Public Health, but she is generally an IT geek and a geek of many other things as well. She currently resides in Las Vegas, NV, with her two cats, Meowdy and Moose, and her dog, Katie aka “The Old Lady.”

Make sure to visit her website www.michellecreilly.com for more information about her and her upcoming books.

Feel free to visit, ask her questions, and hang out with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michellecorareilly

And if you’re a tweet-a-holic (or even if you’re not), follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MichelleCReilly

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Twitter: @MichelleCReilly
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Sworn to Protect the Very People Bent on Destroying Them

POWERFUL

Auden, the king of the immortal Anathergian race, came to Earth five thousand years ago when he and his people escaped from their destroyed planet. His power is immense, but is threatened because he has yet to take a Lifemate.

WITCH

With the blood of an Anathergian and a witch running through her veins, Leah is a force to be reckoned with. After leaving her foster family to learn how to master her new-found powers, Auden finds her. With him, she discovers her heritage, her strength, and her love.

VARIANTS

An Anathergian is using variant strains of his DNA to turn humans into Anathergians. This enemy’s goal: use the Variants to take over the world and take Auden’s place as king. Auden and Leah’s goal: Stop the enemies and discover what connections Leah has with them.


Q) What inspired you to write this story?
This book came to me in 2004. Actually, chapter 10 came to me first. So, it wasn’t really an inspiration of one thing. Just an idea that came to me. I know that I wanted something rather paranormal with characters that had fangs, but not necessarily vampires.

Q) How long did it take you to write?
I started the book the middle of June 2013 and I finished it by October of that year. I also work two jobs and I was out of the country for a few weeks during that time where I basically got not writing done. This also includes all of my research time. Then I had my awesome critique group take turns with it. The editing process took about two to three months. I wasn’t rushing the process.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
I really love when the characters take on a life of their own. They become real to me when that happens. It’s like they’re real people and I just love to see what they’ll say or what quirks they’ll take on. It’s so fun!

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
I wish I had more time. Working two jobs and helping my elderly aunt takes a lot out of me. I wish there was a way to have a stenographer ingrained in my mind so all of the characters’ voices could be recorded while I was just driving from place-to-place. :)

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
The one person I really look up to is JK Rowling. She inspired thousands of kids to read who would have otherwise spent time playing video games or doing something else. I’d love to see how her brain works.

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
Okay, are you ready to laugh? I have a half-full bottle of Pumpkin Juice from the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, Orlando. The opening took place in June 2010. Gross, huh? But I just can’t bring myself to throw it away.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?

I’m working hard on Witches, the second book in the Anathergians Trilogy. I’m also working on a very sensual novella. It will be about one of Auden’s men. I won’t tell you who, though. But you’ll love it!


Black Moon by Becca C. Smith & F.M. Sherrill‏


Becca C. Smith received her Film degree from Full Sail University and has worked in the Film and Television industry for most of her adult life. In 2010 Becca published her first novel, Riser followed by the sequel, Reaper, in 2011, and the finale, Ripper in 2013. In 2012 Becca wrote the children’s novel Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Beale’s Treasure. She is also the co-author of the teen graphic novel Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted. Most recently Becca released Atlas, the first book in a new urban fantasy series. She currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, Stephan and their two cats Jack and Duke.


Aren't author's bios boring? I always wanted to read one that went something like this:

F.M. Sherrill: recent citizen of earth. Plans on ruling the planet once she gets over the common cold. Or, F.M. Sherrill: time traveler. Decided to alter the space-time continuum by writing a novel, thus changing history slightly, which will eventually lead to the rise of a new human species.

But here it is. F.M. Sherrill is a novelist, A.K.A. an avid bullshitter; that's why she lives in L.A.. She's been writing for as long as her ancient mind can remember, devouring tales like an anemic vampire roaming the streets in hot pink heels, always thirsty for more. When she's not writing, she's making steampunk weapons, sewing giant plant-eater Mario plushes, making costumes for some film bloke or cosplayer, and sculpting/casting movie prop replicas while gardening in her urban apartment. Her favorite tools? A soldering iron, a blowtorch, a band saw, a sonic screwdriver, a replicator and an active imagination.

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Shea Harper is forced to stay in boring, hot and dry Phoenix, Arizona for college. But once she meets the enigmatic yet positively egocentric Lucian, Shea’s life changes forever.

She finds out that she comes from a long line of descendants called Vessels. In her soul is the key to destroying an ancient prison protecting the world from darkness itself: Lucian’s father.

Up until now, Lucian has captured every descendant except Shea. With her powers awakening, all vampires want to drag her down to the pit. But Lucian is territorial. She’s the first female Vessel… and he’s convinced she belongs to him.

Saucy and tauntingly surprising, Black Moon captures the struggle between burning alive with desire and castrating the heart. This is a love story that will drain you dry.


Q) What inspired you to write this story?
We both wanted to write a vampire novel since neither one of us had tackled that genre yet. With our completely different writing styles we thought it would be a great experiment to try blending the two. Becca has more of “teen” voice (innocent, naïve etc.), whereas Faith’s voice is more dark and intense. By having Becca write the “Shea” chapters and Faith write the “Lucian” chapters made for a pretty crazy mix, but it worked really well.

Q) How long did it take you to write?
From the inception of the idea to the finished copy, it took about six months.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
Becca: Creating worlds and experiencing new adventures through my characters.

Faith: The explosion. The birth of a new life as filtered through my grid of experiences. For me it’s like a kettle. If I don’t let a little steam off through creation my over-active mind can’t slow down.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
Editing!!

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
Becca: Joss Whedon. Because who wouldn’t want to be Joss Whedon!!

Faith: The President, so I could get all the government secrets.

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
Becca: Dry yeast. Two years.

Faith: I’m minimalist so as soon as it’s old it’s gone.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
Black Sunrise is the 2nd book in the Black Moon Saga and will be out by the end of the year. Faith and I have just finished separate novels of our own. Faith’s is called Cry Wolf and it’s a werewolf apocalypse novel. It will be published in September. Becca just finished the second book in her Atlas Series called Atlas: Grigori Returned and it will be released in August.

Glimpse of Darkness by Nicole Delacroix‏


Nicole Delacroix was born in Frankfurt Germany to a German mother and American Military father. Her parents instilled in her a deep love of the written word and a profound respect for literature in all forms. So it's little wonder that from the moment she could first write she knew that writing would always be a part of who she is. From short stories to dabbling in scriptwriting she passes her time with her day job as an IT professional but feverishly writes well into the night. Her passion for literature encompasses many different genres but her heart beats true with fantasy and science fiction. She's fiercely loyal to friends and family and is eagerly awaiting the day when she can move to London England, her childhood dream.

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Charlene (Charlie) Bennett is a simple waitress in the wilds of Hyder, Alaska whose father has just gone missing. Isolated and alone, her fathers' disappearance is nothing new to her, but this time things are a little different.

For starters, there is a handsome stranger, Daniel that has come to town and while Charlie has never taken more than a passing interest in strangers, she has an immediate and intense attraction to this one. Secondly, she's soon to find out that this stranger isn't what he appears. He's about to throw Charlie's entire world into a major upheaval.

Now Charlie has to decide if she believes this strangers' incredible story and follow Daniel or if she wants to stay in the only home she's ever known for an uncertain future and an absentee father. As she comes to terms with what Daniel shows her, she realizes that he's the only true thing in her life and leaves everything she knows behind to follow the handsome stranger.


Q) What inspired you to write this story?
I’ve always had a fascination with angels and the story of the Nephilim. I had been studying religious texts (for fun) and kept digging deeper into the legend. Before I knew it I was seven books deep and could name all the listed fallen angels. That’s when the story first began brewing.

Q) How long did it take you to write?
I spent about 7 months researching every detail that I felt was integral to my story, and I found that preparation helped in the writing process as I easily moved from one location to another and changed characters without having to stop and look at notes or look something up (Thank you Google!)

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
I love creating new and interesting characters and getting lost in their story. For the most part, my writing is more of the characters telling me their story so I can put it down on paper for everyone else to read. So when I start a story I write down everything I want to cover in the story from start to end and then move back in expanding the story.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
I guess it would be the endless editing. I have such a hard time starting a story because I’ll write the first few paragraphs and spend endless days writing and rewriting the same thing to make it better. I’ve tried to be better about turning off my internal editor, but sometimes I find myself doing the same thing over and over again.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
What an amazing question… I would want to be Chris Helmsworth so I could hang out with Tom Hiddleston for the day, because let’s face it, Mr. Hiddleston is awesome!

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
I think there is a bottle of wine from 2012. I never developed a taste for wine, and I think a friend came over and put it in the door and I’ve just never discarded it. Of course, now I’m going to run home and throw it out immediately.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
I’m actually working on several things. I make a point of writing my ideas down in the program I use for my actual writing, so I have all my ‘stories’ in various states of readiness. Currently I’m focused on book two for the series which I’ve entitled Blind Horizons, and when I get to writer’s pause (I hate calling it block) on that story, I have a ghost/horror story that I’ve been kicking around for a while; horror is not my genre for writing, but I find that writing outside of my comfort zone helps release writer’s pause. My pet project is a non-fiction book that focuses on bravery, tentatively titled How Brave Are You? I’ve finished that book and am currently shopping around literary agents.

A Week of Frustrations

I apologize for not posting yesterday.  I had some things to get done in the house, and I needed to get my head back on straight.  Last week was an incredibly frustrating week, and it was all stupid sh*t too.  Things like having to go to the paint store four times before they got the color to match or waiting in line in a drive thru for 10 minutes and still not having my order taken or trying to figure out the intentions of an agent when I only use my mind reading powers for evil.

I realize how silly all of these things are and that getting upset over them wasn't going to change anything.  I mean, eventually we got the paint to match, and I'm the only one who suffered at the drive thru because I didn't get any ice cream.  With the agent, well, that will turn out how it's going to turn out.  But I'm still human, so I'm allowed to have emotions, and those emotions aren't always pretty.

BUT since I can't change any of these things now, all I can do is move on and make this next week better than the last.  Things WILL be better.  I hope the rest of you have an awesome week too!

The Blue Effect by Rose Shababy‏


Rose Shababy and her family reside in eastern Washington State. Rose grew up in the Northwest but swears she’s going to move to warmer climates someday. She’s claimed this for over 20 years, however, and has yet to move more than 75 miles away from her mother.

Rose has a deep love of all things Star Trek and yearns to travel the heavens, as well as an intense desire to be bitten by a radioactive spider.

Unfortunately she sucks at science and math so she hasn’t been able bring her dreams to life, instead living vicariously through books, comics, television and film. She hopes to someday make a million dollars so she can afford to buy her way to the international space station, but she’d settle for being able to fly around the world and leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Rose also loves to cook and worked for years in a gourmet Italian grocery and deli where she learned to hone her skills. She prepares culinary masterpieces for her family, but fervently wishes the dishes would wash themselves. Especially now that her dishwashers/children are nearly grown and only one still lives at home.

Rose likes to use her free time wisely. For instance, she likes to daydream, will often read for hours until she falls asleep on the couch with an electric blanket and a warm tabby cat curled up on her hip, as well as spending cozy weekend days watching Syfy movies like Sharknado and Mega Piranha with her husband.

If Rose were a cartoon animal, she’d prefer to be a wise old owl or a sleek and sexy jaguar, but in reality she’d probably be a myopic mole with coke-bottle glasses.

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Blue Brennan is jaded and bitter despite her pinup girl looks and quick wit. Night after night, she scours the Seattle club scene looking for someone or something to fill the emptiness inside.

When she meets the mysterious Kasey, her world stops… literally. He claims she has the ability to control time and stuns her even further when he reveals his own gifts.

Blue is inexplicably drawn to Kasey and reluctantly enters his world filled with a new breed of humanity. They’re misfits like her, blessed or cursed with powerful abilities, struggling to hide their differences from the rest of society.

Then the group discovers a nameless, faceless sociopath with nightmarish powers; and he’s coming for Blue. She’s left reeling when they discover her gifts are the key to defeating his terrible evil and saving them all.

Now she must race against the clock to harness her own powers and save her new friends. Can she be more than a renegade? Can she be a hero too?


Q) What inspired you to write this story? 
The Blue Effect is my way of paying homage to science fiction and comic books/graphic novels. I love the genre. It started with a dream which got me thinking about a book I read as a teenager called Harry and Hortense at Hormone High by Paul Zindel. It’s about a boy who believes he’s Icarus, which got me to wondering what if there was a boy who believed he was a superhero and no one else believed it? And what if it turned out that he really did have powers? Of course, The Blue Effect is nothing like that original idea, but that was the genesis of it. It still has superheroes, and someone that vaguely resembles that boy, but that’s about it!

Q) How long did it take you to write? 
About 15 months total. That was after finishing, editing, editing again and again, reworking chapters, scrapping whole sections and rewriting and finally pushing it away and saying, “I’m done!” At some point, you just have to send things to your editor come hell or highwater!

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
I love building the stories in my mind, imagining what could be, but I think what appeals the most to me is the chance to touch the reader. If I can make you laugh or cry… well, I can’t think of anything more satisfying, especially knowing that it was me, Rose Shababy, that brought forth that emotion from a total stranger.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing? 
You have to be so organized! If you’re not, it’s really hard to write a book. The good thing is, organization can be learned.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why? 
That’s a great question and one I’m not sure how to answer. I guess I could pick another author I admire like Stephen King or JK Rowling so I could be inside their head and see how the creative process works for them, maybe learn a little for my own use. Or maybe I could pick a really bad person like Charles Manson so I would know what it’s really like to be inside the head of a villain. Or maybe I could get inside the mind of someone really notorious like Monica Lewkinsky or Mel Gibson so I could know what it feels like to come under fire and endure harsh criticism, thus preparing me for the reviews and critiques I’ll receive as a writer. I guess the final answer would depend on the moment the opportunity came to me and the mood I was in at the time.

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it? 
I think there’s a bottle of homemade Kahlua in there that was a Christmas gift from 4 or 5 years ago. We don’t really drink Kahlua, but fortunately it doesn’t really go bad. I do have to add that I received another bottle the following year, so there’s a slightly younger, unopened bottle of Kahlua next to the first one!

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future? 
A lot! The Blue Effect is book one in the Renegade Heroes series. This will be a three book series. In the second book we’ll meet a new hero, learn more about other characters in the series, encounter a wicked villain, find love, adventure, conflict and action. It’s going to be amazing! I’m hoping to release it sometime in 2015. The third book will tie everything together. There is no time frame for the release of the third book at this time.

I’m also working on the finishing touches of a book called Shadows of Night. It’s a ghost story about a man who loses everything and has to find himself again. I’m hoping to release it sometime in November or December.

I have other stories in the works as well. I’ve been working on a time travel story, a YA series based on Irish folklore, a contemporary lesbian romance/drama, and a book about a young girl experiencing horrible bullying in school and her reactions to it. I have no release dates planned for any of these books at this time.

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Finding Midnight: A Hellhound Tail by T. Lynne Tolles‏


T. Lynne Tolles can be found most days, juggling one of two cat muses and a laptop, tripping over an ancient Newfoundland dog and washing a never-ending pile of laundry. When life doesn’t get in the way, she writes paranormal romances for new adults.

Her passion for witches, ghosts, and vampires together with a light-hearted wit are reflected in her loveable characters and the adventures of mystery they unravel to find their happily ever after.

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Life raising a hellhound is no easy task. Unforeseen problems can and will arise at every turn. If things weren't crazy enough juggling a job, a blind dating a vampire and being stalked by a demon, then life in Paradise is about to get a whole lot worse for Summer when her landlord demands she unearth the RAT or the BROOM will have her head.

What does that even mean? Is the landlord insane? Summer's best friend Tori thinks so. Top it off with a visit from a fallen angel, a dragon, and Summer's got herself a whopper of a mystery to solve.


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Q) What inspired you to write this story?
I guess I needed a change from writing about just vampires and werewolves, so I made a list of supernatural creatures I liked and decided Hellhounds would be a fun subject to write about. Plus I had raised a Newfoundland and had some fun stories I could relate to a hellhound subject that might make the story humorous. So Hellhounds it was.

Q) How long did it take you to write?
I believe it was about six months. Life seems to get in my way and interferes with my writing.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
Research. I love learning about bizarre and interesting things and then relaying them in my stories.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
Editing...UGH!

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
Gosh...Um I think there is a jar of Maraschino cherries from 3 or 4 years ago when I was making some desert that required them.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
I’m presently writing a pirate/steampunk-ish book and after that I will be starting the sequel to Finding Midnight which I’m tentatively calling Autumn Calls

The Magick of Dark Root by April Aasheim‏


April Aasheim considers herself an ‘expert’ in the paranormal. Her mother dabbled in the occult and her father was a martial artist who believed that true power came from an unseen energy that you could tap into.

As a child, April claims to have lived in a haunted house and to have been visited by relatives who had passed on. To combat her frightening experiences, April spent her youth studying world religion including Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Later, April branched out in her studies with a focus on psychology, anthropology, sociology, and the paranormal.

April is married with children and currently resides in Portland, Oregon where she spends her days writing, watching movies, and attending Zumba classes at her local gym.

The Magick of Dark Root is the second in The Daughters of Dark Root series, and her third novel.

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“There are rules that must be followed, Maggie.”

“Even in witchcraft?”

“Especially in witchcraft. What someone puts into the world comes back to them.”

“You mean karma?”

“Like karma, yes. But for a witch it comes back threefold. Never forget that.”

“That doesn’t seem fair.”

“Who said life was fair?”

In the second installment of The Daughters of Dark Root series, Maggie Maddock and her sisters are back, training under their coven-leading mother Miss Sasha Shantay to take over as the new leaders of The Council. But life isn’t as smooth as Maggie had hoped it would be. Harvest Home’s taxes have come due, and her mother’s illness has returned, stronger than ever.

Desperate, Maggie and Eve devise a scheme to make money through witchcraft.

And that’s when things go terribly wrong.


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Q) What inspired you to write this story?
The Magick of Dark Root is the sequel to The Witches of Dark Root. It is a continuation of the saga of the four Maddock sisters and their coven-leading mother Miss Sasha Shantay. I wrote it because, although the first book can be read as a standalone, people wanted to know what happened to Maggie and her sisters after the first book ended. The first book lays the groundwork for these ladies, while the second delves deeper into their lives in Dark Root.

Q) How long did it take you to write?
It took about 9 months. That included three drafts and an edit. Each time I accomplished a major task (like finishing a draft) I’d go out and celebrate. Then a few days later I would come back to it. Initially I write a few hours a day but as the story gets closer to being finished I can push 10 hours a day. Its so lovely and liberating when a project is completed and you feel good about it.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
Writing helps me understand people and the world I live in better. When you are writing a character you become that character, and your empathy increases. I used to be a social worker and writing is just another way of healing people, yourself and your readers.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
It would be really cool to be Oprah for a day though, although I think I’d just spend the day lounging in her big house and checking out her shoe collection. Then I’d throw a big party that night and invite EVERYONE in her contact list. Can you imagine how many incredible people she knows?

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
I just cleaned out my fridge two days ago. There were three containers of sour cream inside each with expiration dates over 6 months old. Maybe I need to stop buying sour cream.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
They will always get a fun read from me, no matter what story I’m telling. Relationships are very important in my stories, and not just male/female relationships, but family relationships, work environment relationships, etc. This is the root of women fiction and I hope to continue to grow and develop in this genre, be it paranormal or another romantic comedy.
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Poisoned by Deceit (Book 4 of The One Rises) by Anna Wolfe

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm a college professor with a Ph.D. so new it squeaks. I have a husband, a heterolifemate, and two cats. I'm willing to try any food I've never eaten at least once. I have jumped out of a plane (awesome), blown fire (also awesome), learned that having accelerant soak into your sports bra hurts like hell, and am a pagan (please note that this does not mean I'm a satanist).

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Sooner or later, the past catches up. Summoned to the Bay area enclave, Edie knows her past mistakes are big enough to swallow her whole. Makeda DiBaba, the Bay Area enclave’s coven leader, member of the West Coast High Tribunal, and Edie’s ex-mother-in-law, was the one who exiled Edie from San Francisco in the first place. That the air witch now wants Edie to return can only mean trouble. Still, it would be foolish to refuse the summons of such a powerful witch. Edie can only hope that her assistance will be enough to make up for nearly killing Makeda DiBaba’s son and that the witch is no longer out for blood. 

“There is another world touching ours that is filled with demons or, at least, that’s what we call them. They call themselves something else entirely, though that is neither here nor there. Every now and again, human beings manage to pull these demons through to our side. The human dies, of course, and the demon gets a person shaped suit to live in. We call these creatures the demonridden.”


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Q) What inspired you to write this story?
The idea for "The One Rises" series was first born while I was cooking dinner with my husband. I was complaining that I'd never managed to write my own novel and that I was sick of working on my dissertation. He kept asking questions and then by the end of it, I'd gotten a very rough outline of the hierarchy of the demonridden. After that, the first book in the series boiled out of my brain.

Q) How long did it take you to write?
It took somewhere between six and twelve months. I have a start-and-stop writing style so bits of Poisoned by Deceit existed quite early in the writing process. I started jotting notes, outlining plot points, and writing the scenes the popped into my head as I was working on Addicted (Book 2 of "The One Rises" series). By the time the third book in the series came out (Ensnared by Magic), Poisoned by Deceit was eighty percent complete. Since I didn't sit down and write it one long rush, it's hard to keep track of exactly how long it took.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
I have really enjoyed the way the characters have taken on a life of their own. I'll start writing a scene expecting it to go one way and then keeping the characters true to themselves ends up pushing the story in a new direction. It makes the process feel very dynamic.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
It always takes longer to get the idea/scene out of your head than it feels like it should.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
This question sent my brain haring off in some truly disturbing directions. In what way would I "be" this famous person? Would I have their memories? Their skills and talents? If so, I would want to be a chef like Alice Waters or Thomas Keller. Or maybe a musician like John Coltrane or Nina Simone. I'd want the chance to experience a level of skill that only comes with talent, passion, and commitment. And I would want to do so in music or food because these are things I love but for which I will never be especially talented.

If I don't get the memories and talent, I'm not sure it would matter. I've never much wanted to be famous, though it would be fun to go on a shopping spree of epic proportions.

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
I've got some year old curry paste that I've been meaning to replace. It doesn't go bad, exactly, but it becomes much less flavorful over time. Unfortunately, you can't buy it at any old grocery store so, for now, the curry paste stays.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
I will definitely be finishing "The One Rises" series, which will be seven or eight books. After that, I'm not sure yet. I have some ideas for other story arcs, but I'll have to see where life takes me.

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Lotus Petals by Gina Drayer‏

Gina Drayer is an avid reader, writer, and Ubergeek. Her latest book Lotus Petals, a paranormal thriller, is forthcoming in July 2014.

Growing up a Navy brat, Gina has traveled extensively, living all over the country, but now she calls Indiana home. Currently she spends her days running the family’s Home Health Agency and her nights creating fantastic world.

Gina writes gripping, fast paced thrillers with a magical twist and steamy contemporary romances. She creates stories centered on strong, witty, independent women facing situations that test their will. And of course their male counterparts have the depth and character to keep up with these leading ladies.

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Olivia Harmon feels safer separated from everyone else. Her empathic powers not only lets her experience other people’s feelings, but also influence them. It’s a heavy burden to carry, and the main reason she’s always been more comfortable around the dead. As a small town funeral director and assistant county coroner, Olivia is able to keep her distance from the day to day drama of the living.

But after a series of seemingly unrelated deaths, Olivia discovers a hidden connection that puts her right in the middle of the investigation. In order to stop a killer, she must face a menacing dark magic and her own family’s hidden past. When confronted with the truth, Olivia will be forced to choose between the carefully constructed life she has tried to maintain and the reality of who she really is.


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Q) What inspired you to write this story?
I’m a big fan of Urban Fantasy. And one of my first loves is The Dresden Files. Jim Butcher does a wonderful job of not only telling an interesting tale, but crafting fascinating supporting characters. Dr. Waldo Butters is one of my favorites. I often wondered what one of Harry Dresden’s adventures would have looked like from the point of view of an outsider. Someone like Butters.

Thus, Olivia Harmon was born. She’s not a detective or investigator, but she’s thrust into the middle of a series of murders.

Q) How long did it take you to write?
My first draft took me seven months to write. Then another three months editing before I sent it off to a professional editor. Working with the editor took almost two months, and then another month getting everything ready for publication. From start to finish thirteen months.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
I’m a very creative person. I also think my background in Biochemistry contributes to my love of storytelling. I constantly ask why and what if. I love telling the unexpected story. I’ve got a long list of stories I’m just itching to write.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
The writing. I love to edit. Once the words are on paper, I love to spit polish them and craft them into a great story, but every word I put on paper was hard won.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
I’d love to be Neil Gaiman for a day. I love his stories and he’s so creative, not just with his writing, but with all his endeavors. I would just love to take a peek inside that brain.

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
Wow, now I want to clean out my fridge! Unfortunately, I have some olives in the back of my fridge that have been there since I moved in six years ago.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
Lotus Petals is the start to a series. Expect to see more of the Armstrong’s Funeral Home gang. I have three short stories planned. One about Olivia’s Grandmother. One about how Charlie and Olivia met. And Finally, a short about what happened to Armstrong’s after Lotus Petals. Not to mention the next book in the series.

I’ve also planned a four book contemporary romance series, the first one due out hopefully at the beginning of the year and the next by summer.

And because I don’t have enough on my plate, I’ve just started collaborating with another author on a series of Paranormal Romance novellas, featuring Rock Girl Shapeshifters. It’s bound to be fun and very steamy.

Keeper vs. Reaper by Jennifer Malone Wright


Jennifer Malone Wright is best known for her short story series, The Vampire Hunter's Daughter. Other works include the follow up to The Vampire Hunter's Daughter series called The Arcadia Falls Chronicles and her vampire novel called The Birth of Jaiden. Jennifer also co-authors a series called Once Upon A Zombie Apocalypse.

She resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children where she practices preparing for the zombie apocalypse. Just kidding!

But seriously, between the craziness of taking care of her children, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on her beloved fiction or chatting with her equally crazy friends.

Jennifer also loves coffee, has a passionate affair with red bull, wishes the sushi were better where she lives and dances while she cleans.

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When her father died, Lucy Mae Estmond inherited the family business. She has known all of her life that she would be in line to watch over the souls of the recently passed, keeping them safe from the Reapers.

The soul eating Reapers have been a plague upon the Earth, stealing souls and leaving the Keepers as the only thing that stands between Heaven and Hell. The factions despise each other and have warred for generations.

Then Lucy discovers an ancient legend predicting the arrival of the Chosen One, destined to bring forth an end to the Reapers. The surprises continue when she realizes she is that person. For Lucy, being the Chosen One doesn’t change much. Fighting Reapers is just another day in the life of a Keeper.

When she meets Jack Walker, they both realize they have an insane, mutual attraction. Too bad that he’s been sent to prevent the prophecy from coming true.

His only mission: to kill the Chosen One.


PreOrder at Apple and BN

Details for the Keeper vs. Reaper pre-order giveaway
-Entries will be accepted until September 1st.
-Winner will be chosen on Sept 5th.
-To qualify for the B&B stay you must live in the United States.
-You must be 21 years of age to enter and winner must be able to verify their age.
- Date of B&B stay is February 2015. The actual date will set by Jack and Lucy who will discuss it with the winner to see which days would be best for them.
- The custom wine and chocolate will be waiting for the lucky winner at the B&B
- The only items covered in this win are the cost of ONE night stay in the bed & breakfast, the wine and the chocolate, which will be waiting for the winner at the B&B when they arrive. Winner is responsible for getting to the location, spending money, meals, ect.
-Winner is responsible for any damages or incurred costs during their stay at the B&B.

How to Enter
To make this super easy, we are just going to do a rafflecopter, so click the link to enter. Again, I am going to state that you must be 21 years of age to enter and winner must be able to verify their age.

There are several ways to enter, however one is to pre-order or purchase (after release on Aug 12th) Keeper vs. Reaper. Unfortunately, there is no pre-order for Amazon, but the iTunes / iBooks app and the Nook app are free to download. These apps can be used on devices like tablets, phones, and computers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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