Friday 23 February 2018

Zombie Turkeys: A #Fantasy by Andy Zach

With his first book, "Zombie Turkeys" Andy blazed new ground in paranormal humor. The second book in his Life After Life Chronicles, "My Undead Mother-in-law" is now on sale for Amazon Kindle and Createspace print edition.

Andy Zach was born Anastasius Zacharias, in Greece. His parents were both zombies. Growing up, he loved animals of all kinds. After moving to the United States as a child, in high school, he won a science fair by bringing toads back from suspended animation. Before turning to fiction, Andy published his Ph.D. thesis "Methods of Revivification for Various Species of the Kingdom Animalia" in the prestigious JAPM, Journal of Paranormal Medicine. Andy, in addition to being the foremost expert on paranormal animals, enjoys breeding phoenixes. He lives in Illinois with his five phoenixes.


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Sam Melvin, an underachieving e-reporter from a small town, changes forever when he meets turkeys that won't stay dead. You can shoot 'em, chop 'em, burn 'em—they come back stronger. The undead plague of poultry spreads uncontrollably, rocking the whole country. As Sam tracks down the zombie turkeys and how to eradicate them, his editor, Lisa Kambacher, nags him to turn his stories and expenses in on time. During their years of working together, Lisa has mellowed into an irascible pinchpenny.

Lisa snipes at Sam for plebeian writing but uses her intelligence to pursue the lucrative carnivorous turkey story. Sam and Lisa ricochet across the landscape, tracking turkeys and fleeing the bloodthirsty hordes. Careening from shell-shocked grocery store owners fighting turkeys crawling out of refrigerators, to machine-gunning turkey farmers, to secret militia, Sam and Lisa doggedly report. Throughout the turkey apocalypse, they dare ravaged cities, plow knee deep in gore and corpses, and upload streams of zombie turkey video news to the world.

With paranoid militias clashing with the federal government and unkillable turkeys, Sam and Lisa doubt their ability to survive. Sam and Lisa have no superpowers. If you have a heart condition or lack humor, you should not read Zombie Turkeys, no matter how much you want to find out what happens.

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Keep reading for an excerpt:


Bill Westcot, the coroner of Midley, Illinois (population 512), had seen his share of grisly deaths, but this one took the cake. Two hunters apparently pecked to death by turkeys. How could this be? Wild turkeys were normally shy and secretive, not even as aggressive as geese. Bill looked up as a man came in—average height, maybe five nine, medium build, not fat, not skinny, roundish face, hazel eyes, and brown hair. He would be hard to remember. But Bill had known him all his life.

Sam Melvin, the reporter for Midley Beacon, dropped in for his daily chat. Sam and Bill had been friends since elementary school, and they had both stayed around Midley all their lives. Bill, a short, stocky guy with blondish hair, had gone off to school and become a coroner.

Sam had stayed in Midley after high school, doing odd jobs, until he got on with the Midley Beacon. As a reporter and blogger for a small-town weekly paper, Sam wasn't especially busy, and he liked to socialize.

When he saw what remained of the corpses on the mortuary slabs, Sam exclaimed, "Gowlurp! Gaawka-urop!" He ran to the bathroom and puked. After washing out his mouth, he returned, eyes averted.

"Who in the hell were those poor bastards?"

"Peter James and Robert Smithville, according to their drivers' licenses and their shooting permits."

"They look like someone went at them with a thousand pickaxes."

"Yup. Pretty gruesome, even for me."

"What in the world happened?"

"As far as I can tell, they were pecked to death by a flock of wild turkeys."

"I've never heard of anything like that!"

"Yeah, that's not really normal turkey behavior."

"Could they be rabid?"

"Turkeys don't get rabid, Sam."

"They don't attack hunters either. Is 'death by wild turkey' what you'll put on their death certificates?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Well, that's what I'll put as my story headline then. It'll be in tomorrow's paper."

"Make sure when you write it up, people know that 'wild turkey' is a bird and not liquor."

"How can you joke when you have these poor fellows on the slab over there?"

"It's a job. You get used to it."

Wednesday 21 February 2018

Godwine Kingmaker: A General #Fiction #Novel by Mercedes Rochelle

Born and raised in St. Louis MO, Mercedes Rochelle graduated with a BA in Literature from the University of Missouri. She learned about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical fiction ever since. A move to New York to do research and two careers ensued, but writing fiction remains her primary vocation. Her first four books are historical novels about 11th century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest. Mercedes now lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.






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Harold Godwineson, the Last Anglo-Saxon King, owed everything to his father. Who was this Godwine, first Earl of Wessex and known as the Kingmaker? Was he an unscrupulous schemer, using King and Witan to gain power? Or was he the greatest of all Saxon Earls, protector of the English against the hated Normans? The answer depends on who you ask.

He was befriended by the Danes, raised up by Canute the Great, given an Earldom and a wife from the highest Danish ranks. He sired nine children, among them four Earls, a Queen and a future King. Along with his power came a struggle to keep his enemies at bay, and Godwine's best efforts were brought down by the misdeeds of his eldest son Swegn.

Although he became father-in-law to a reluctant Edward the Confessor, his fortunes dwindled as the Normans gained prominence at court. Driven into exile, Godwine regathered his forces and came back even stronger, only to discover that his second son Harold was destined to surpass him in renown and glory.

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Canute's housecarls—his personal fighting force—had eventually settled into their own section of London, near the king's residence, complete with barracks, brothels, and alehouses. It was to one of the latter that Ulf directed Godwine, to celebrate his good fortune.

But the Saxon had something on his mind that was more important than celebrating. With his new status came an elevation in rank that placed him almost on a level with a Jarl. Surely this must bring him closer to wedding the woman of his choice. He tried to drink the ale that Ulf shoved into his hand, but the liquid tasted bitter to him. Godwine was not really thirsty; it was time to screw up his courage now before his companion was too far gone in drink.

"Ulf," he said earnestly, putting a hand on the Jarl's arm. Jesting with an old acquaintance, it was a moment before Ulf gave Godwine his full attention.

"Eh? What is it?"

"Ulf, there is something I must ask you."

"Well, out with it lad. We have some heavy drinking to do."

"It is about your sister."

Grimly, Ulf put down his mug. "I hoped I was imagining things. Godwine, do not press me on this."

"Ulf, if I am to be an Earl, does that not make me worthy of her suit?"

The Jarl slapped his hand on the table. "Curse you, man, are you mad?"

Godwine's eyes flashed. "I have never been more serious in my life. I love her."

"Godwine, you are my friend. Else I would throttle you for your insolence. Mind your place. Earl or not, you are the son of a Thegn, and son of a Thegn you will remain. She is not for you."

Ulf did not seem to notice he had attracted an audience. But Godwine did and pushed the mug back into Ulf's hand. "I understand you all too well, Ulf. I am good enough to be your friend, but not your brother-in-law."

"Now, do not take it that way. I am very fond of you and wish you well. How does my sister take your suit?"

Frowning, Godwine did not answer.

"I thought so. Forget about her, lad. She is too proud, too haughty. Why do you think I have not married her off yet? She has not found a man good enough for her."

Thinking the issue closed, Ulf ordered more ale. He was soon so immersed in conversation with the others, that he didn't notice Godwine slip out the door.

Friday 16 February 2018

Atlantis: A #Fantasy Novel by Carol Roberts

Carol Roberts is a freelance writer with particular interest in cultural myth. Originally from Vienna, she has spent all of her adult life in the Far North of New Zealand. Her work took her to several different countries, where she indulged her fascination with stories, particularly those dealing with the creation of man. 'Atlantis' is her first full-length novel; speculating on concepts of the human condition, the meaning of individual and collective destiny, and the choices within that.


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About the Book


When Alanthea, high-priestess of Atlantis, connects to a woman in her dreams, she becomes haunted by a mystery. Compelled to trace the other woman's life she finds coded poems that hold clues to the predicament of her people. Now she has to venture ever farther into forbidden territory to link past and present and understand the real danger threatening Atlantis.

Arakon always thought of himself as an orphan, a loner without any real belonging. But after a strange encounter his life changes, and he is drawn into events beyond his control.

They move parallel in their search for answers until their destinies converge, and the weave unravels. Yet what they finally uncover lies deep at the heart of collective evolution, and what has been set in motion cannot be undone.


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Keep reading for an excerpt:


Time shifted as he carefully turned and dug his heels into the horse’s side. A good horse, a strong horse, just like the old man’s had been. The shade of the trees embraced him, and the sound of the water came closer. Would he still find the track? Was there a track? Time shifted further, and he felt an eerie sensation between his shoulder blades. The forest was too quiet, the water overly loud. Gideon started to slip, and he reined the stallion in even further.

The filtered light threw strange patterns onto the ground, and when the moment came he let go of the reins and let Gideon run. Leaves slapped him in the face, and as the noise became deafening he could see the glistening spray which lay like a shimmering web ahead of him. Gideon shied but could not stop. They raced on until the tree-line opened up, and he could see the gorge falling away in front of him like a black, open mouth.

Wednesday 14 February 2018

To Break a Warrior King's Curse: A #Romance by Kryssie Fortune

Kryssie reads everything and anything, from literary fiction to sizzling romance. Her earliest memory is going to the library with her mother. She can’t have been more than two at the time. Reading, especially when a book’s hot and explicit, is more than a guilty pleasure. It’s an obsession.

Kryssie needed a world for her Scattered Sibling adventures. With its green sky, carnivorous plants and rats bigger than cars, the otherworld is a violent place. Lykae, Fae, and vampires all live there. If the characters come to our mundane world, they often visit the North Yorkshire resort town of Whitby—British home of all things gothic and weird. For Kryssie, mixing reality and fantasy is the best entertainment.

Kryssie lives on the coast, about thirty miles from Whitby, and she know it well. She enjoys gardening, travel, and socializing with her author friends. You’d be surprised how many erotic romance authors live in the north of England.

This year, Kryssie’s main publisher—Loose id – decided it could no longer compete with Amazon. Sadly, they close their doors permanently in May. For Kryssie, getting her book rights back is a chance to go indie. To Break a Warrior King’s Curse is the first book she’s self-published
And the title change?

When she started writing, Kryssie didn’t realize how much she’d fall in love with the otherworld. All her Scattered Sibling series books have a title starting with TO… She simply brought this in line with the rest. Please, read and enjoy.

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Leonidas can fight anything except dark magic.


He inherited his father’s curse along with the Fae throne. Thanks to a rogue witch, if he doesn’t bed a different woman every month, he’ll turn feral. A man can only stand so much meaningless sex. No wonder he hates witches.

When he meets Meena, he intends to seduce her, not love her.

Meena’s a witch who never developed any powers.
Banished to the mundane world, she masquerades as human. When she accidentally bonds with an escaped war dragon, Leonidas comes to reclaim it. His enemies strip him of his powers, and his month’s almost up.

What happens when he discovers she’s a witch? And how will this warrior king cope when his curse kicks in and forces him into another woman’s bed.

PLEASE NOTE This book was previously sold with the title CURSE OF THE FAE KING.

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


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


I was born in Athame Hollows, the witch homeland in the otheworld. My childhood was idyllic, my adolescence, not so much.

What is the happiest memory from your childhood?


Just before puberty, my friends were coming into their powers. We'd sneak off and celebrate. One night with blaring rock music and illicit sips of fermented apple juice is branded in my brain.

If you could compare yourself to someone from another novel, who would it be?


First, I'm not in a novel. I'm flesh and blood, thank you very much. Although, I almost share my name with a Gothic heroine. Ever read Dracula? One of the women there is called Mina. I'm Meena. I even live in the town mentioned in Bram Stoker's book. His Mina was sensible and down to earth. Me? I'm a dreamer, but I am loyal and good with figures. I still long to be a fully fledged witch, but I'll probably end up as an accountant. I already do all the paperwork for mum's herb farm.

Who is your enemy?


There was a fool kid who boasted about her cover, aka her school friends working skyclad on the North Yorkshire Moors. Really? It's cold up there when the sun's shining. Stripping off by moonlight to work a spell is stupid. She got me fired for saying that. Now, I'm Meena the unemployed. I don't think of her as an enemy as much a vindictive and misguided.

Perhaps you mean that Fae warrior I met earlier. He was all stiff and stern, but he almost lost it when he realized I'd fed his escaped baby dragon. Apparently, that meant I'd bonded with the poor little thing, but it was hungry. Anyway, that warrior couldn't decide whether to kill me or kiss me. He'd make a bad enemy, but I'll probably never see him again.

What was the most embarrassing moment in your life?


Almost letting that drop-dead gorgeous Fae seduce me. I don't want to be a notch on up himself warrior's bedpost.

What is the strangest situation you've ever found yourself in?


This is easy. Talking to a Fae warrior and his baby dragonet up on the clifftop by the abbey. No one but me could see them and it's a tourist hot spot. Thankfully it's not the holiday season and we were alone, otherwise, someone might have called the men in white coats.

What is the greatest obstacle you have ever had to face?


Not developing any witchy powers. I know the words in spells and can recite them perfectly. I do the right actions and brew the right potions, but nothing happens. Accountancy is looking better by the minute, and at least it will pay my bills.

Do you have any hobbies?


Does dieting count? I mean, I'm not a porker, but I don't know if I'm immortal. I never get ill, so maybe. The thing is, if I'm going to live forever, I don't want to do it with a bum the size of a beach ball.

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


I'm not the secretive type, except... Earlier, I almost let the Fae warrior seduce me. I've never reacted to a man the way I did him. He had kissable lips, stunning emerald eyes, and muscles in places I didn't know could have muscles. Gorg-e-ous. Thankfully, I resisted him. It was the sensible thing to do, but boy was I tempted. I still am, really.

Have you ever been in love?


No. Love brings pain and heartache. Some nights, my mother still cries for the jerkwad loser who got her pregnant then dumped her. I mean, get a backbone. He left you before I was born.

What kind of clothing do you prefer to wear?


I love to dress Goth, all swirling black cape, opera gloves, and bright red lips. My latest lipstick is called scarlet kisses. Apt, when that's what I wanted from that Fae.

Name some of your bad habits.


I've got a snarky tongue. I think if I get in with the offhand stuff first, I won't get hurt.

What do you regret most in your life?


Normally, I'd say never developing into a fully fledged witch, but that Fae earlier... Talk about stuck up but scrummy. Lickable, even.

Monday 12 February 2018

my life as a pop album: A #Romance Novel by LJ Evans



Award-winning author, LJ Evans, is known for binge reading, binge-watching, and binge writing. She is routinely inspired by music and will pull over the car to write a book scene when a particular song strikes her imagination. Her my life as an album series debuted in 2017 with my life as a country album which won The Independent Author Network’s Young Adult Book of the Year. The second in the series, my life as a pop album, released in January. By day she’s a 1st-grade teacher in a public school in California’s Central Valley. By night, she’s a wife, mother, and pillow for the 3 terrors known as cats.





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About the Book


From Award Winning Author LJ Evans comes a novel about surviving sibling loss and fairy-tale romances!


Good Girl Mia feels guilty for her brother's death. It was her kidney that killed him after all...


Four years later, Mia is back home after college and trying to pretend that she's got it all together. She’s set to take over the family car dealership and is determined to never make her mama cry again, but she’s also running from guilt and a boy who never really loved her.

Derek Waters has just signed with a record label and is determined to spend his summer touring with his band far away from his alcoholic dad and the whole L.A. scene. Dealing with anyone of the female persuasion is the last thing on his mind.

But then the sexy musician walks into Mia’s dealership, and they both find themselves throwing their best-laid plans aside. Which leaves Mia wondering how she’ll survive the guilt of touring with this tattooed rocker in her dead brother’s Camaro. And what will become of Good Girl Mia when Derek Waters is done with her?


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Keep reading for an excerpt:


I’d known that particular question was going to come out of his lack of privacy-loving lips as soon as he started talking erotica and oral sex with me the day before. And yet, I wasn’t sure I could answer him. Embarrassed. Not embarrassed. I didn’t know what to feel.

“Do you mean like we’ve been sleeping together or do you mean had sex with?”

“That’s your ten,” he grinned at me, and I eye-rolled him which earned me a quick kiss. “And you know what I mean,” he told me. “Full on naked, body part inside body part sex.”

I couldn’t help the blush, and I put my fingers up like I was counting to give myself time. Like it was hard to think about the right number. I could see his eyes get dark and stormy over the tips of my fingers like he wasn’t happy. Finally, I showed him one finger. He looked down at it for a second before realization kicked in. And he reached over and bit my finger, keeping it in his mouth and turning my whole body to a quivering mush pot.

“You are going to be the death of me,” he said, like he had so many times already. But he said it with a huge smile.

Then he kissed me again. Hard, demanding, like he wasn’t going to stop ever. And I kissed him back. Hard, demanding, like I’d always wanted to kiss a boy. With feelings blossoming deep inside me as the walls crumbled and Good Girl Mia hid behind the curtains.

Friday 9 February 2018

Anything: A #Fiction Novel by Jamie Weaver

Writing is my life. I love it and can't imagine a life without it. I'm twenty-six years old and I work in an office as an office assistant. While that's my day job, for me it's more of a way to fund my real job, writing. I've had many dreams in my life, but the one that has never left my mind or my heart is writing. So I do as much as I can when I have the time and the energy and when my two cats will let me...or when I'm not sucked into a video game. While I may not ever be a famous writer, what's important to me is that my work is just out there for people to read, connect with, and enjoy.





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About the Book


The darkest parts of our lives can be the very things that destroy us as well as shape us. Maxine Woodbury knows the dual sadness and strength of this truth. From child neglect, drug addiction, mental illness, love, friendship, and betrayal, Max has seen it all. She's tasted every heart wrenching and inspiring maelstrom life could throw at her. And just when she thinks it's over, there's more for her to face than she ever dreamed possible.

Ripped from her mother's arms by police at the age of eleven, Max was made an orphan before she knew what was happening. Most of Max's childhood memories are of a small, dirty apartment in which she watched her mother try to put a stop to her drug addiction and then relapse right back, over and over. So when she's put in the care of her wealthy aunt and uncle in the suburbs outside New York City, she's not sure how to feel. However, Max's older cousins put her in her place rather quickly with their tricks and tormenting.

Max continues on through her days feeling all too much like a ghost until she finally makes a friend in the back of the school library. On the outside, Sasha is everything Max isn't. She's outgoing, confident, and colorful. Yet as the two spend time together, they quickly find that they are more alike than they ever would have thought. Max and Sasha keep each other strong, but when their relationship is tested by frustrating situations and horrific secrets, Max can't help but feel hopeless.

Nearly ten years later, Max finds herself lost and alone once more as she is struggling her way out of a toxic relationship, dealing with a dead-end waitress job, and facing the holidays with her mother's family. In her desperation, Max falls into the arms of a married man from which she simultaneously drowns in guilt and relishes the deliciousness of revenge. Max knows she's probably hit her lowest low and she doesn't know how to get out. Just when she thinks things can't get any crazier, Max is faced with a ghost she thought she would never see again.

The holidays leave a bloody mess on Max's aunt's dinner table, chaos and love dance through Max's every waking moment, and hope is just out of reach. Will reconnecting with Sasha be Max's downfall? Can she stay away from the married man that helps her escape reality? Or will she self-destruct and find herself at death's door for a second time? Whatever comes next, Max realizes that good or bad, anything is possible.

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Keep reading for an interview with the author:


Why did you decide to be a writer?


Well, I didn't so much as decide to be a writer as realized I just was one. I've been writing for as long as I can remember, which was about first grade. We had frequent writing projects in which we would write a little story and draw pictures to go with it. So, I guess that's where it all started.

Do you have a "day job"?


I do. I'm an office assistant. I do a lot of data entry and background checks. It's not the most thrilling job, but the people I work with are great.

What genres do you write?


Oh man, so many! Psychological horror, general fiction, LGBTQ, supernatural thriller, poetry, children's, and I've even self-published a non-fiction book about the modern practices of witchcraft. I'm kind of all over the board.

Is there a genre that you've been wanting to experiment with?


I definitely want to do more writing for children's books. I'm currently working on a collaboration with artist Alexzandir DeBaun to create a kid's adventure series which he's going to illustrate. So far all of our concepts are coming together really smoothly and we're having fun with it. And that's what brought my attention to the children's genre. It's fun and whimsical, which is unlike what I usually write. All of my work has humor and great sarcasm, but not much whimsy. I think working on this project will help me relax more and have some more fun.

What inspires you to write?


Everything. Things I've experienced, things people close to me have experienced, dreams and nightmares that I have. Sometimes I'll get inspired by a movie or a video game, but often my work is inspired by what I observe in the day to day, outside of myself as well as inside.

How often do you write?


I try to write a little every day. It helps with work because we have mandatory twenty-minute breaks in the morning and afternoon as well as an hour lunch. I try to use that time to write, but if it's a stressful workday and I need to detox with a coffee run or watching some YouTube Let's Plays, then I may not get to it that day. Sometimes, I'll go months without writing. That time is hard and I'm usually pretty hard on myself for it, but if I'm not feeling it, even after trying to make myself do it a few times, I won't force myself to do it. Then it's a task, it's an obligation, and for me, that's not what writing should be. It's not my taxes. It's my escape.

If you could be one of your characters for a day, who would it be and why?


Max. For sure. She's had it hard in her life, but she's so resilient. Even when she feels weak and stupid, she's still pulling through and staying true to herself. That and she had the courage to drop everything for a possibility, multiple times. I'd like to think I have that kind of courage, but I haven't been faced with those kinds of big, life-changing decisions yet.

What is the oddest thing you've ever researched for one of your books?


What types of pharmaceuticals can make you have more lucid dreams? That one was for my psychological horror novel. I found some answers but ended up also using my imagination to make up some.

What is the most difficult thing you've ever researched?


What types of anti-depressants you can try to overdose on, but won't. This one is for my next general fiction novel. Suicide and mental illness are tough subjects, but they need to be addressed more so that those who are suffering can feel heard, understood, and that they can seek out any help they may need.

What book has most influenced you?


The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - this book resonated strongly with me, it helped me feel like I wasn't crazy, that I wasn't the only person who felt similarly. That's what I want to do with writing. My goal is to create something that other people can connect with and for a moment feel not so alone in what can often be a very lonely world. That's what The Bell Jar did for me. Thanks, Sylvia.

Do you feel the support of family and friends is helpful to you as an author?


Absolutely. I am very fortunate that I have so many friends and family that are as supportive as they are. They may not always read my work, but when I'm doubting myself and my work they encourage me to keep going. I love and appreciate them all.

What is the best compliment you've ever received as an author?


"I cried." Haha, it seems horrible, I know! But when you write a scene that causes someone to feel that much emotion, you know you've done a good job.

What is your writing process?


This is probably super taboo...but I don't really have one? I just go with it when it hits me and try to get it flowing when I'm not totally feeling it. Sometimes I'll listen to music that I feel goes with the novel and have a glass of wine to help loosen the tension from the day and weaken those brain barriers to get the creativity flowing. Sometimes I'll sit at a cafe and write or just in my cubicle at work. I just kind of do it, though. It just sort of happens, like dreaming.

What are you working on now?


Currently, I'm working on three separate projects. One is my psychological horror novel that explores nightmares and the subconscious. Another is a general fiction novel that starts off with a girl finding out just how crazy life can get when a stranger climbs through her window just as she's ready to give up on everything. And the other one is the children's adventure series that I'm working on with artist Alexzandir DeBaun. Obviously, I don't have much of a social life haha.

Do you have any advice for other authors?


Never stop writing.

Wednesday 7 February 2018

The Follow 2: Blocked - A #Romance Novel by Eliza David




Eliza David is the author of the six-book Cougarette series. She was born and raised on the noisy South Side of Chicago, but now lives in super quiet Iowa. When she’s not writing, working full-time, or raising two children with her loving husband, Eliza enjoys reading throwback Jackie Collins and indulging in the occasional order of cheese fries.

Eliza is a blogger as well, having served as a contributing writer for Real Moms of Eastern Iowa, Good Men Project, and Thirty on Tap. She was a featured panelist at the Iowa Soul Festival and Iowa City Book Festival.

Eliza's ninth novel, The Follow, dropped in July 2017. Its sequel (The Follow 2: Blocked), slated for release on February 16, 2018, is available for preorder now. She's currently working on a spinoff to The Follow duet - The Lamar St. Jon Experience - a novella slated for release in March 2018.

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“They say walking away from the one you love is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do…”


King Smith is blocked.

The R&B superstar's latest project is producing the soundtrack for the book-to-film, Everything in the Stars. When the crooner hits a writer's block, he links up with his former songwriting partner (and former lover) songstress Silk Matthews for inspiration. Soon, the two rekindle their creative spark and the sensual memories of their romance resurface.

Social media exec Shauna McIntyre supports her boyfriend King, but struggles with his reunion with Silk. King’s late nights at the studio with the sexy siren begin to take a toll on her. When tensions reach a fever pitch, Shauna finds comfort in an unlikely source: Everything in the Stars novelist Jake Vasquez.

This anticipated sequel to The Follow finds a love affair in peril. Will a shot at a hit song destroy King and Shauna’s love, forcing them to find solace in the arms of new (and old) loves?

BONUS CONTENT: The first chapter of the spin-off novella, The Lamar St. Jon Experience, is included.

Pre-order it today on Amazon!



Keep reading for an interview with the author:


Why did you decide to be a writer?


I've always been (and still am) an avid reader. Once I felt the percolation of a story inside of me, I had no choice but to write it. Three years and ten novels later, here I am!

Did you have a hard time sharing your work with the public?


Not really. I'm a natural extrovert and I knew that if I wrote a book, at least one person (my mother!) would read it. That was enough to give me the gumption to write and self-publish my first novel, The Cougarette (which is permafree on Amazon Kindle: https://goo.gl/to89SS)

Where are you from?


I'm born and raised in Chicago but have spent the last two decades in Iowa City - which has a wonderful literary community. I've worked with the Iowa Writers House, the local UNESCO org, and am a board member at my local library.

What genres do you write?


Contemporary romance, roughly 3.5/5 on the heat scale.

Is there a genre that you've been wanting to experiment with?


My latest WIP (a spinoff of my Follow series) will be my first knack at M/M romance. It's entitled The Lamar St. Jon Experience, a novella I plan to release in late March/early April. I'd also like to try my hand at romantic thrillers and erotic short stories.

What inspires you to write?


I love being an escape for my readers. When you crack open one of my books, you'll need a glass of whatever calms your mind nearby. I write for women who need a sexy break from their daily grind.

What is the quirkiest thing you've ever done while writing?


All of my books have a musical muse. For The Follow 2: Blocked, my musical muse was Amy Winehouse. So, before I wrote, I'd listen to my Amy playlist for a few tracks to get me in the mood for writing the words.

What is the oddest thing you've ever researched for one of your books?


The mechanics of male masturbation.

What are your goals as an author?


After the release of The Lamar St. Jon Experience, I'm taking a short break from noveling to get back into scriptwriting. I plan to turn my Cougarette series into a TV series one of these days. Within five years, I hope to have been selected for at least on network TV writing program.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, and you could only have five books with you, what would they be?


Sula x Toni Morrison, Sex and the City x Candace Bushnell, The Great Gatsby x F. Scott Fitzgerald, In Search Of Our Mothers' Gardens x Alice Walker, and Fear of Flying x Erica Jong

Do you have any advice for other authors?


Never stop writing. Keep pushing the pen. Also, don't compare yourself to other authors. Imposter syndrome is real and should be avoided as much as possible. Every word you write brings you closer to your writing voice and your specific writing journey. Keep at it!

Do you have anything specific you'd like to say to your readers?


My cup runneth over for every single soul who ever read, reviewed, tweeted, FB posted, or told someone else about any of my books. You will NEVER know how much you inspire me to keep writing the sexy tales. I love you all!

Monday 5 February 2018

The Rose Thief: A #Fantasy Novel by Claire Buss

Claire Buss is a science fiction, fantasy & contemporary writer based in the UK. She wanted to be Lois Lane when she grew up but work experience at her local paper was eye-opening. Instead, Claire went on to work in a variety of admin roles for over a decade but never felt quite at home. An avid reader, baker and Pinterest addict Claire won second place in the Barking and Dagenham Pen to Print writing competition in 2015 setting her writing career in motion.

The Gaia Effect, a hopeful dystopian novel and winner of the 2017 Raven Award for favourite Scifi/Fantasy novel, was published in 2016.

Tales from Suburbia, a collection of humorous plays, blogs and short stories was published in July 2017.

The Rose Thief, a humorous fantasy inspired by Claire's love of Pratchett was published in November 2017.

Claire has had two short stories published in 2017. 'Underground Scratchings' can be found in the sci-fi and fantasy anthology Tales from the Underground, published by Inklings Press. 'Patient Data' can be found in the sci-fi anthology The Quantum Soul, published by SciFi Roundtable.

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About the Book


Ned Spinks, Chief Thief-Catcher has a problem. Someone is stealing the Emperor's roses. But that's not the worst of it. In his infinite wisdom and grace, the Emperor magically imbued his red rose with love so if it was ever removed from the Imperial Rose Gardens then love will be lost, to everyone, forever. It's up to Ned and his band of motley catchers to apprehend the thief and save the day. But the thief isn't exactly who they seem to be, neither is the Emperor. Ned and his team will have to go on a quest defeating vampire mermaids, illusionists, estranged family members and an evil sorcerer in order to win the day. What could possibly go wrong?

Get it today on Amazon!






Keep reading for an interview with the author:


Why did you decide to be a writer?


I've always wanted to be a writer but never had the confidence to actually commit to writing a book. Then I saw a local writing competition and for some reason I thought, let's have a go at that and submitted an opening chapter without realising that those shortlisted would have to submit the rest of the novel. After getting shortlisted I had three months to write the rest of the book - definitely a baptism of fire! The book, The Gaia Effect, went on to place second in the competition and was published in December 2016. That gave me the confidence to keep writing and I went on to self-publish two additional books in 2017 - Tales from Suburbia and The Rose Thief - as well as two short stories in sci-fi & fantasy anthologies Tales from the Underground and The Quantum Soul.

Do you have a "day job"?


My 'day job' is a stay at home mum to my little boy, four and a half, and my brand new daughter. At the moment finding the time to write is proving to be somewhat of a challenge but I hope to find some kind of work balance soon.


What genres do you write?


I write fantasy, sci-fi and humour. I expect I may well try some other genres in the future as well.

What is the oddest thing you've ever researched for one of your books?


I had to research how to blow a building up using remotely triggered C4 and then what the building looked like as it collapsed. I was so nervous doing the internet searches but it was worth it because I think that scene in The Gaia Effect is really strong.


What book or series do you enjoy reading over and over again?


I continually re-read the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. I have now added to my re-readable bookshelf the Peter Grant novels by Ben Aaronovitch. I do enjoy re-reading books. I have also re-read the Eragon & Harry Potter books.


How many books do you have on your "to read" list?


My Goodreads TBR list is over 4000 strong. It's not my fault. There are too many exciting looking books out there! The last ten books I added were:

  • The Waking Land by Callie Bates
  • If I Wake by Nikki Moyes
  • The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
  • At The Table of Wolves by Kay Kenyon
  • Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys
  • Twelve Days by Steven Barnes
  • The Moon and The Other by John Kessel
  • Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann
  • Into The Fire by Kim Vandel
  • Book Launch Blueprint by Tim Grahl


About how many books do you read in a year?


Last year I read 100 and I was pretty chuffed with that. This year I have set my target at 52 because of the new human.

Do you prefer ebooks, print or both?


I prefer print books although ebooks take up less space and are excellent for when you're travelling. I sometimes find it trickier to get into an ebook because I can't easily see how long the chapters are etc but there is something very satisfying about pressing the next page button.

Are you a pantser or outliner?


I am a complete pantser. Outlining or planning, to me, would be the ultimate procrastination exercise. I am much better off just diving straight into the writing process. I usually aim for 1000 words at one sitting and I never read back what I wrote the day before, I just carry on and deal with all the plot holes after the first draft has been completed.

What are you working on now?


I am currently working on the sequel to my debut novel The Gaia Effect. I managed to knock out 50k words during NaNoWriMo but now I am itching to get back to it and continue working on the story. It is a very, very rough draft and I will need to go back and re-read The Gaia Effect to ensure I have remembered my characters personality and quirks. It's quite scary writing a sequel because you want to be able to do the first book justice and make the sequel just as exciting. There have been lots of questions from readers as well so it would be great to be able to answer some of those. It may develop into a trilogy, I just don't know yet because I haven't finished the current storyline.

Do you have anything specific you'd like to say to your readers?


I'd like to say thank you so much for taking a chance on my books. It's amazing that people I don't know have been drawn to read my novels and when someone leaves a review I am always so excited to see what they thought and what they took away from the book. I love that different people get different things out of the same story. I'd also like to say - keep leaving reviews! It really is the best thing you can do for any author.

Friday 2 February 2018

Life, Liberty Series: A #Romance by Piken Sander



Piken Sander lives among sprawling oak and aspen in Northern California to where she escaped from colder climes many years hence. Her randy Auntie asked her to ‘tell her a story’, demanding that there be strong women and steamy passion, and this began the writings of Piken as she crafted stories of girl meets boy, girl and boy go through the torture of life and beyond, with at the very least hopeful endings. When her Auntie passed, she left her niece a one sentence note in her will: “Now publish the damn things.” Piken’s day consists of writing and social media, and such difficult decisions as which of her dizzying array of wildly colorful pajamas she should wear on a given day. She loves s perfectly steeped cup of good tea. She has few she calls friends, but those in this cadre are cherished and fostered. A political liberal since preteens, she tolerates no racism or bigotry or inequality of any kind, especially in her stories.


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About the Books


Follow Hollywood power couple beautiful singer-actress Sanapia Jones and her love, Hollywood hunk actor Marc Brand (MY personal fave Book BF!), through more than a decade of ADVERSITY, TRIUMPH, CHALLENGE, REINVENTION, ROMANCE, PASSION. All four available separately at Amazon under PIKEN SANDER.

LIFE, LIBERTY, PURSUIT
LIFE, LIBERTY, PURSUED
LIFE, LIBERTY, PURSUANT TO
LIFE, LIBERTY, PURSUANCE


Get Them Today!


Amazon (Book 1)Amazon (Book 2) | Amazon (Book 3) | Amazon (Book 4) | Smashwords (Complete Series)





Keep reading for an excerpt:


Late that evening Marc turned off the outside lights around the pool and patio and in the kitchen. He walked up behind Sanapia where she stood staring out the living room windows at the city lights below the hilltop neighborhood. He slipped one arm around her across her collarbone and pulled her back against his tight body.

“Are you seducing me?” she asked, looking up at him.

“I already have,” he replied. “We just haven’t consummated it yet.”

“Confidant,” she smiled. “I like that in a man.”

“You’re convenient and willing,” Marc said. “That’s a potent combination, and I’m trying valiantly to be a gentleman.”

Sanapia turned within the circle of his arm and looked up into his rimmed blue eyes silvery in the half moon. “You think you’re yet another complication in an already complicated life.”