Tracy Falbe's Blog, page 18

Wizard of Ends Blog Tour with Free Smashwords Books and Coupons on Multiple Fantasy Titles

All about the Wizard of Ends novella series  Wizard of Ends is a fantasy ebook series filled to the brim with magic, dark creatures and other exciting elements. In Book 1, the wizard Lashlor Leaflin encounters two Guards of Ends attempting to kidnap their queen. He comes to her aid, only to be pulled into a magical adventure that ends in a battle with a powerful sorceress who believes rulership over the Land of Ends to be rightfully hers.
Releasing October 9, Wizard of Ends Book I will be a permanently free series starter at Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks. In Book 2, Dark Creature, Lashlor is trapped in the Mountains of Eclador, from which no one has ever returned. If he cannot find a way out, he will be unable to remove the curse on the Queen of Ends. To add to the problem, believing that Lashlor won’t make it back, King Lanaran Dragonsbane tries to undo the curse on his wife despite Lashlor’s warning not to meddle with what he does not understand.
Get Dark Creature: Wizard of Ends Book 2 on release October 23 for only $0.99. The special is for release day only. After that it's $2.99. Wizard of Ends Books 1 and 2 will be published on 9 and 23 October at Smashwords, after which they will soon be available from other retailers like Barnes & Noble and iBooks. Book 1 will be permanently free and, on the day of publication only, Book 2, Dark Creature, will be only 99c, after which it will be $2.99.
About Dark Creature:

Escorted by soldiers of Ends, Lashlor sets out to find an old flame, Rune Arcana, the only person who can help to remove the curse placed on the Queen of Ends. Lashlor believes that Rune currently resides in the Mountains of Eclador – a place from which no one has returned in all of recorded history. She could refuse his request. She could be dead. Lashlor and his companions could meet the same fate.
If they do not brave the mountains, however, Queen Narraki will remain in the form of a rabid creature of darkness… forever.
Forever is a long time, and King Lanaran fears the Wizard of Ends will not return. Ignoring Lashlor’s advice not to meddle with the curse, the king employs other magic users to attempt to undo the dark magic.
How many books this series will total is not yet known, but readers can expect a lot more books in the coming years. The author says the story tends to write itself and, as long as there is an adventure to be had, it will continue be written.
The Wizard of Ends virtual book tour is running from 1 – 31 October, during which readers can find out more about the series, its characters and the author. Expect plenty of giveaways and special offers, extracts, posts about magic in the real world and even a recipe for a fantasy castle cake!

Make sure you don’t miss the discounted price on the day of publication by following the author’s blog to receive a notification in your inbox.


Wizard of Ends GIVEAWAY & DISCOUNT DATESAll coupons below offer a 100% discount.

11 – 13 October Dragon Kin & other fantasy stories by Vanessa FinaughtySmashwords coupon code: ZU52BValid: 11 – 13 October
16 October Sorcery & Subterfuge by Vanessa FinaughtySmashwords coupon code: HA38KValid: 16 October
18 – 20 October The Angel’s Voice, Books 1 & 2 by Michelle LouringSmashwords coupon code for Book 1: FH27ESmashwords coupon code for Book 2: EN84LValid: 18 – 20 October
21 October Royal Wizard by Alianne DonnellySmashwords coupon code: XV26R Valid: 21 October
24 OctoberLegends of Origin, Books 1 – 3 by Vanessa FinaughtyBook 1 is permanently free.Smashwords coupon code for Book 2: BP37QSmashwords coupon code for Book 3: YC54AValid: 24 October
27 October The Accidental Wizard by Simon LudgateSmashwords coupon code: FM47ZValid: 27 October Author biography




Vanessa Finaughty is an author of many genres who now focuses on fantasy and science fiction. She’s published 15 books, of which 6 are fantasy. Vanessa grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, and still lives there with her husband of fifteen years, her baby daughter and plenty of furry, four-legged ‘children’.

Vanessa has always been passionate about books, and knew from a young age that she wanted to write them one day. She loves animals, coffee and the smell of wet grass, and hates liars, sweltering weather and long queues. Her interests include reading, photography, the supernatural, mythology, aliens and outer space, ancient history, life’s mysteries and martial arts, of which she has five years’ experience.
Links
Author websiteAuthor blogGoodreadsTwitterFacebookSmashwordsiBooksBarnes & Noble
Publication dates
Wizard of Ends, Book 1: 9 October 2014Wizard of Ends, Book 2: Dark Creature: 23 October 2014



A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

A Real Historical Case of a Werewolf Dying on Halloween?

Today I had the pleasure of being a guest writer at the blog of fantasy author C.L. Schneider.

Because I'm promoting my Werewolves in the Renaissance series, I wrote an article about Peter Stubbe, a famous real-life werewolf who was executed on October 31, 1589 in the German town of Bedburg.

He confessed under torture to using black magic and committing savage crimes while transformed into a werewolf. Of course torture makes me people say anything, and this era is infamous for torturing people into agreeing with whatever their torturers accused them of doing.

If Peter Stubbe was a vicious serial killer or an innocent victim, I can't be sure. But the gruesome historical account of his demise (that also included the execution of his mistress and daughter by the way) offered details that inspired my newest fictional endeavors.

Please read all the gory details in my article about him at C.L. Schneider's blog. 
Free right now! Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale
Nook US - Nook UKiBooksSmashwordsKobo

Journey of the HuntedReleasing November 8, 2014 Preorder only $0.99 at iBooks, Nook, Kobo, and Kindle.

   A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Free Kobo Fantasy Book Union of Renegades Breaks Into Top 50

This week Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I entered the top 50 epic fantasy books at Kobo.
Here are some screen shots of the free kobo book at #45 and #49 this week.

On Thursday, Union of Renegades hit #45 in epic fantasy. The novel is doing well in the fantasy romance category as well at #120. It's been staying well withing the top 200 in fantasy romance lately. 

This morning Union of Renegades was holding onto the top 50 epic fantasy at Kobo at #49. This first book of The Rys Chronicles series had even inched up to #119 in fantasy romance. If you like epic fantasy or are looking for something fresh and different to read, many people before you have found Union of Renegades to be fascinating.

Here are two reader comments from my fan feedback page. 

Brian J.

This series is one of the best that I have ever read!
Your character creation is fantastic. I feel like I know
these people personally and will certainly miss hearing
about the rest of their lives. Well done!!!!

Chris J.

I started reading Union of Renegades at the beginning
of the new year. I read all the books of that series
thinking Tempet and Alloi were evil. I just finished the
final book of Rys Rising and I see they were the good
guys. Both series were awesome. You have just
passed George R. R. Martin and Anne McCaffrey as
my favorite writer.

Union of Renegades is currently among the free Kobo fantasy books for download worldwide. You can also it find it for free at other popular retailers, including Brave Luck Books.

Read the first three chapters right here. This excerpt is easy to share on your social networks too.


Fantasy Book Union of Renegades 3-Chapter Preview from Tracy Falbe

A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Free iBooks for Fantasy Lovers

Do you like fantasy fiction but crave something a little different?
For greater variety, check out indie fiction at the Apple iBooks store. There are thousands of authors like me who write good books that don't quite hang on the marketing hooks of big publishing companies.

Ebook technology has made it possible for authors to directly publish their works for readers. Now we have a literary marketplace that better represents the creative talents of humanity.

And because indie authors like me don't have a big company to buy shelf space at Barnes & Noble so you can notice me, I have to give away some of my fantasy books so you might get curious and give me a whirl.

My obscurity is your gain. You get some free ibooks that are great reads. 

In fact one of my free ibooks Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale just earned a 5-star review that called it a "great read."

Werelord Thal is the first part of the Werewolves in the Renaissance series. It's like a Renaissance faire with paranmoral creatures. The only down side is that people actually get burned to death.

Werelord Thal is properly labeled historical fantasy. I carefully crafted the setting of 1561 Bohemia around historical themes and realities based on my research.

The Renaissance or Early Modern history of Europe has always been one of my favorites. The period fascinates me and terrifies me. The worst part is knowing that it is the rootstock from which my current civilization is grown.



About Werelord Thal:

Thal is wanted for Devil worship and shape shifting but still boldly walks the streets of 16th century Prague. Jesuits hunt him. Mercenaries fear him. Musicians sing his praise, and women are captivated by his alpha swagger.

Born of a witch and a sorcerer, he is summoned when his desperate mother casts the werewolf spell before facing torture and execution. Burdened with her magical call for vengeance Thal seeks the men that killed her. His hunt is complicated when the Magistrate’s stepdaughter Altea Kardas crosses his path. Horrified that her community is burning women to death, she can confide her doubt and fear only to Thal.

He desires her greatly but knows he will bring ruin upon her. Across Bohemia and beyond people who are different are labeled heretics in a restless world hobbled by tyrannical ignorance. The Renaissance has thrown the Holy Roman Empire into turmoil. Printed books are spreading radical ideas. Firearms are triggering a new age of warfare. And the human spirit is shaking off obedience.

Thal embodies the ancient magic of the pagan past. He challenges a world conquered by a spiritual system that denies the flesh and forgets the Earth. And he awakens within Altea recognition of these truths. She believes any risk is worth loving him until she becomes the bait in a trap set by Thal’s enemies.

My other free ibook is Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I. It's the first novel I ever published, and it has earned me a lot praise and a little hate. 

Union of Renegades is epic fantasy. It has no historical references from the real world although history in general deeply inspires my fantasy writing.

Union of Renegades is set in the world of the rys. They are a magical race with a tendency to rule over humans. They often inspire fanatical devotion from their human champions who serve them in wars against their magical enemies.



About Union of Renegades:

Have you ever looked at the facts of your life and realized your dreams won't come true? Have you ever looked into the unknown and seen opportunity? For Dreibrand Veta, a young officer in the Horde of the Atrophane Empire, these questions explode from his spirit in a fit of rage and launch him into an epic struggle. After he encounters a rare super race, the rys, he is forced to choose sides between passionate rivals and navigate his way through a foreign culture all while plotting to seize his own wealth and glory.

In this opening novel of The Rys Chronicles you'll meet a man scarred by bad deeds who answers the call of a heroic cause. An unconventional heroine will tug at your sympathies as she bravely faces adversity with all the strengths and vulnerabilities of her womanhood. And overarching it all are the rys. Their magic makes them superior to humans, but they are not above employing humans in their deadly schemes.

Right now I have two free iBooks available in over 50 countries at the Apple iBooks store. If you've updated your iPhone or iPad to iOS8, then the iBooks app is preloaded. You're just one touch away from an endless supply of reading material.

My novels are also available at numerous other retailers including my website Brave Luck Books. 
 


A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Crisis Among Rebel Leaders in Audiobook Excerpt from The Goddess Queen

One great way to add tension in the middle of an epic fantasy is to have leaders squabble at a crucial point in a war. Internal strife is the worst enemy of all.

In this excerpt from The Goddess Queen audiobook, the powerful rys Shan who is leading the rebellion against the Goddess Onja enters into a bitter dispute with his closest friend and ally King Taischek.

It's been many years since I wrote this novel, but I still feel the power in Chapter 14 from The Goddess Queen. This was the moment when things went from bad to worse. And trust me, overthrowing a powerful rys queen who has ruled for over two thousand years is difficult to begin with.

So far I've produced two novels of The Rys Chronicles as audiobooks. Union of Renegades and The Goddess Queen are available worldwide from Brave Luck Books, Audible, and iTunes. Ebooks and paperbacks also available.

About The Rys Chronicles:

Grandiose ambitions and desperation drive this fantasy epic of colliding civilizations. The Rys Chronicles is a fantasy quartet spanning seven years and revealing the tragedies, challenges, and triumphs of a diverse cast of characters.

Packed with personal duels, epic battles, magic, romance, and the corrupting influence of great power, this fantasy series introduces the rys, a rare super race whose most powerful members can kill across great distances, read minds, influence actions, and even enslave the souls of the dead.
Follow the journey of Shan, a good-hearted rys whose struggle against evil begins to warp his morality. Victories only bring greater challenges when hidden enemies seek vengeance for an ancient genocide and rise to punish the
rys for their ancestors' crimes.

A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Two Free Kobo Fantasy Books

Over the weekend Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I continued to maintain its place in the top 100 epic fantasy category at Kobo Books at #80. I also noticed it made a healthy gain into the romance charts as well, peaking at #175 on Sunday.

Is Union of Renegades a romantic epic fantasy?

Union of Renegades introduces a 4-part series. The relationship between the hero and the heroine is important to their character development, but the novel is not a pure romance in the sense that the relationship drives the plot of the story. The Rys Chronicles is an epic fantasy with rebellions and wars between magical beings (the rys) with romantic relationships mixed in. When I create characters, their romantic desires sometimes become part of the story because that is a normal part of most people's lives. And when you create a big saga that spans seven years, it's hard for me to imagine none of the characters indulging their emotional or sexual needs.

Readers have often told me how real my characters feel to them. When I'm writing I can feel the characters inside me as distinct personalities. They are not necessarily people like me. They are people who serve roles in the epic adventures I create. 

Union of Renegades is currently a free ebook at Kobo worldwide.



Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale just became a free ebook at Kobo. I've put it on a free promotion because the next book in the Werewolves in the Renaissance series is coming out on November 8th. You can even preorder Journey of the Hunted: Werewolves in the Renaissance 2 for the promotional price of only $0.99 right now.

Werelord Thal is a historical fantasy set in 1561 Bohemia during the time of the Holy Roman Empire.

About the novel:



Thal is wanted for Devil worship and shape shifting but still boldly walks the streets of 16th century Prague. Jesuits hunt him. Mercenaries fear him. Musicians sing his praise, and women are captivated by his alpha swagger.
Born of a witch and a sorcerer, he is summoned when his desperate mother casts the werewolf spell before facing torture and execution. Burdened with her magical call for vengeance Thal seeks the men that killed her. His hunt is complicated when the Magistrate’s stepdaughter Altea Kardas crosses his path. Horrified that her community is burning women to death, she can confide her doubt and fear only to Thal.
He desires her greatly but knows he will bring ruin upon her. Across Bohemia and beyond people who are different are labeled heretics in a restless world hobbled by tyrannical ignorance. The Renaissance has thrown the Holy Roman Empire into turmoil. Printed books are spreading radical ideas. Firearms are triggering a new age of warfare. And the human spirit is shaking off obedience.
Thal embodies the ancient magic of the pagan past. He challenges a world conquered by a spiritual system that denies the flesh and forgets the Earth. And he awakens within Altea recognition of these truths. She believes any risk is worth loving him until she becomes the bait in a trap set by Thal’s enemies.
If you're ready for historical fiction that makes the superstitions and folklore beliefs of Renaissance Europe real magic, then try Werelord Thal for free at Kobo. Although it's been described as a different and unique type of werewolf book, its fast pace and historical detail should offer you a new reading experience. 
About Journey of the Hunted: Werewolves in the Renaissance 2


Facing uncertain destinies, Thal and Altea must escape Bohemia. The Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand himself has signed the warrant for Thal’s capture on charges of shape shifting and the killing of Jesuits.
A hefty reward attracts countless bounty hunters into the heart of this 16th century Christian empire. Thal emerges from hiding with his young wife Altea who is barely recovered from torture at the hands of witch hunters. With his werewolf powers, he battles the bounty hunters and begins a daring journey across the Holy Roman Empire.
But more than men stalk him. Servants of Tekax, sorcerer to the Turks, have been unleashed upon his trail.
The werewolf Rotfeng covets the enchanted fur that lets Thal change form at will, regardless of the phase of the moon.
Worse yet comes Janfelter, an undying fext created in the dark fortress of Tekax.
These heartless killers are tasked with stopping Thal from reaching his father Sarputeen, the arch nemesis of Tekax. Thal’s only refuge awaits him in what is left of the Kingdom of Hungary after a Turkish conquest. In the remote castle Vlkbohveza the ancient sorcerer Sarputeen lives untouched despite widespread persecution of magic users and pagans.   
Although Thal longs to be with his own kind, he worries about the reunion with his father. It was Sarputeen’s magic that made Thal a werelord, a master of wolves. But what shall the sorcerer require of his creation now that Tekax aims to settle an old score?
Available for preorder at Kobo for only $0.99.You will receive the ebook automatically on November 8.


A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Who Is On The Cover of This Fantasy Book?

The Rys Rising fantasy series has many characters. For the four books of the series, I gave a lot of thought to who got featured on the covers. Although some beloved characters didn't make it into the cover art, I always knew that I wanted to have Loxane on one of the covers. Here she is on the cover of New Religion: Rys Rising Book III. 

Despite her beauty, she is a dangerous woman. She is not civilized, but will gladly plunder the riches of those she helps to conquer.



About her: Age: Mid to late 20sPhysical appearance: Light skin, red hair, blue eyes, curvy athletic dancer’s body, numerous tattoos of an elk, eagles, snakes, etc. Special skills: Leading shamanic rituals, trancing, dancing, authoritative, and in tune with the universeMagical items: warding crystal and enchanted sword
Loxane belongs to the Kelsur Tribe, a vast nation of northern nomads that look down on agricultural civilization. She is descended from the special “blood of the sun” that denotes a small group of people that immigrated to the Kelsur region from the east. They are racially different than the original Kelsurs, but this adds to her distinctiveness. Loxane is a powerful Shamaness and possesses a very high status, equal but separate from the tribal elders.
Once a year, Loxane attends the Thievesmeet where her people interact with criminal elements from the fringe of the civilized world. After performing her very popular dance rituals, she takes the Overlord of the Kez, a notorious outlaw brotherhood, as a lover until the festival ends.
When Amar becomes the Overlord, he certainly enjoys his role in the Thievesmeet ritual, but he seeks a larger relationship with Loxane. He wants to use her influence with her tribe to entice the Kelsurs into joining his holy war in the service of his rys mistress Onja. Loxane is ultimately seduced by the magic of Onja and becomes her High Priestess. She leads men in battle and kills unbelievers without remorse.
Authors feelings about the character
Loxane springs from my contemplations of the primitive. She is not a civilized person. She looks down on civilized people because she thinks they are mostly ignorant slaves lacking in spiritual awareness. Her dispassionate attitude about life and death spring from her primal acceptance of the facts of life. We are born. We live. We die. Joy and grief weave the same cloth.
The talents of Loxane are mysterious. It’s hard to know if she is using some aromatic potion to influence people or the sheer psychological force of her personality. Perhaps it’s a combination. She is a woman that no man will even think of defying. All women feel inferior in her presence. She dominates because of her sexual potency and imposing physical presence. And Loxane loves power. She devotes herself to Onja even though she believes in her bones that the magical rys is truly perilous. But Loxane serves this power to enhance her own. The temptation cannot be resisted.
Although I’ve given much thought to Loxane as I wrote her, she remains remote to me. As a Kelsur would say I am “born under a roof” and part of civilization. I can never truly understand the Shamaness. 
To meet her and many other characters, begin reading the Rys Rising series for free. Rys Rising: Book I is a free ebook at Brave Luck Books, or $0.99 at your favorite retailer. 
For those who have to hold the real thing in their hands, Rys Rising paperbacks are also available. 

A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Looking For A Free Kobo Fantasy Book? Try Union of Renegades

Currently in the top 100 epic fantasy at Kobo Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I jumped to #87 today. It also just slipped into the top 200 in the fantasy romance category. 

As a free ebook at Kobo, Union of Renegades offers you an effortless way to try out a new series. If you like it, there are three more novels in The Rys Chronicles series. 

About Union of Renegades:

At the front lines of imperial expansion, Dreibrand Veta hoped to rebuild the fortune of his noble family, but he will have to go farther. In his daring travels he encounters the rys, a race far more powerful than the human empire that bred him.

On his journey he will meet Miranda, an unconventional heroine who will tug at your sympathies as she bravely faces adversity with all the strengths and vulnerabilities of her womanhood.

Together they will ally with the rys Shan and launch a rebellion against the Onja, the queen of the rys and Goddess to the tribal kingdoms who has ruled for over 2,000 years. 

You can see fan feedback about my novels right here at this blog. 

Union of Renegades spent most of the summer in the top 100 epic fantasy at Kobo. This is my first novel I published. I started writing it in 1997. I've written 9 more novels over the years, but people are still enjoying Union of Renegades and getting hooked on The Rys Chronicles to this day. 

I've always loved the fantasy genre, but when I decided to be an author I wanted to play with beloved themes in my own way. Dreibrand Veta the hero of The Rys Chronicles is in his early 20s, a little older than the usual teen who stars in most fantasy novels. His story is not so much a "coming of age" story. It is about a man realizing that he will never get what he wants in life by doing what he's told. 

I share the independent spirit of my hero and many of my other characters. I'm an indie author. That means I self publish my novels. It's hard to get a publisher when you don't exactly copy what is already out on the market. I made the huge mistake of not putting dragons in my fantasy series. I like dragons as much as the next person, but so far I'm not a writer of dragon stories. Then I didn't make my hero a teenager raised by his uncle on a remote farm who discovers he has magical powers and a great destiny. Oops.

In The Rys Chronicles magic is reserved for the magical rys race. That's another mistake I made. My magical race is not elves. My bad for trying to be creative. 

If you can stomach a lover of the genre who writes novels that go off the reservation a bit, then definitely try Union of Renegades for free at Kobo or download it from Brave Luck Books. Thousands of people over the years have fallen in love with my fiction and paid real money for the rest of the series. 

 


Book lovers – Be sure to enter my blog giveaway this month. The prize is a free month of access to the Scribd premium ebook catalog. If you win, you’ll be able to use that on your new iPhone too.
A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Grab A Free Fantasy Ebook at iBooks When You Upgrade to iOS8 or Get the iPhone 6

Apple is calling the new iOS8 operating system upgrade its biggest release ever. Becoming available to the public on September 17, the iOS8 upgrade is hitting the scene the same week as the release of the shiny new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus on September 19.
Apple can explain the features of iOS8 better than me, but what excites me most as an author and a reader is that the new operating system preloads the iBooks app.
What is the iBooks app?You may not be aware that Apple has been running a global ebook store for four years. To access it prior to iOS8 you needed to hunt down the iBooks app yourself in the app store and then load it. Most people probably did not even know it was there.
Now with a single touch to the screen, people who love to read will be able to discover hundreds of thousands of titles and read them on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer.
Publishers and authors offer lots of free ebooks at the iBooks store too. I’ll admit we’re clamoring for attention. The benefit to you is you get to sample new authors, especially indie talent, for free.
I invite you to try out one of my titles that is free in the iBooks store. It’s Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I. For four years people around the world have been reading my ebooks at Apple’s store. In the U.S. Union of Renegades has a 4.5 star rating from 24 readers and a full 5 stars from 7 readers in Great Britain.
About Union of Renegades, a free read at Apple iBooksIn this opening novel of The Rys Chronicles you'll meet a man scarred by bad deeds who answers the call of a heroic cause. An unconventional heroine will tug at your sympathies as she bravely faces adversity with all the strengths and vulnerabilities of her womanhood. And overarching it all are the rys. Their magic makes them superior to humans, but they are not above employing humans in their deadly schemes.
As a free ebook, Union of Renegades gives you an easy way to try out reading iBooks after you upgrade your device to iOS8 or get the precious new iPhone 6.
If you enjoy Union of Renegades, I hope you go on to read more of my novels. I’ve been writing them since 1997, and I started publishing them in 2006. The Apple company has been inclusive of indie authors like me since it started the iBooks store in 2010. The Rys Chronicles was in there on day one. People in countries all over the world like the U.S., Australia, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, and others have been discovering my fiction there for four years. Hopefully you’ll take a look at my novels too and like what you experience.
My fantasy ebooks at iBooks
Union of Renegades – FreeBeginnings Box Set: Three Fantasy Series Starters - $2.99Rys Rising - $0.99The Goddess Queen - $4.99Judgment Rising - $4.99The Borderlands of Power - $4.99Savage Storm - $4.99New Religion - $4.99Love Lost - $4.99Werelord Thal: A Renaissance Werewolf Tale - $3.99Journey of the Hunted – Preorder $0.99


Book lovers – Be sure to enter my blog giveaway this month. The prize is a free month of access to the Scribd premium ebook catalog. If you win, you’ll be able to use that on your new iPhone too.

A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.

Book Review - The Murder of Maggie Hume: Cold Case in Battle Creek

This week while at the Willard Library I picked up a copy of The Murder of Maggie Hume: Cold Case in Battle Creek by Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester. Like many people I enjoy reading a true crime book sometimes, and this was an excellent one.

Battle Creek, Michigan is not my hometown, but I have lived here five years, and I thought I would learn some interesting history about the city where I now live.

On August 16, 1982 Maggie Hume at age 20 was raped and strangled to death in her apartment in the middle of the night. The tragic death of this daughter of a well-known football coach at Saint Philip High School appalled the city.

An intense investigation took place but was plagued by mistakes and missed opportunities as a detective with minimal homicide experience likely tried his best.

To this day, no one has been charged with the murder of Maggie Hume. Such a tragedy is difficult to ponder because it shows that brutal killers sometimes get away with their crimes.

The authors did an excellent job of treating this subject with respect while presenting the technical details. Extremely well written, the book presents a gripping read with the evidence and numerous interviews. Although the bureaucratic labyrinth of details was overwhelming at times for me as a reader, I still devoured the book because it was so interesting. I knew I wasn't going to get a definitive answer at the end, but I wanted to consume all the evidence myself and come to my own conclusion.

The prime suspect was Maggie's boyfriend. The book piled on the evidence that included some extraordinary events. And when I was convinced he was the killer, the authors introduced another suspect: a man who was convicted of killing another young woman who happened to be staying in the apartment below Maggie's the night of her murder. This was a shocking coincidence, and for a few pages made me think that the boyfriend actually was innocent.

The second suspect even confessed, but the courts threw out his confession because of numerous conflicts with the physical evidence and his ulterior motive of seeking permanent transfer to a prison in Michigan.

The local prosecutor never brought a case against the boyfriend because the evidence was not a slam dunk. With such a shocking high-profile murder there would be too much political fallout for failing to convict.

As I read the book I came to the realization that's it's ridiculous for prosecutors to be political positions. This introduces variables that the prosecutors have to deal with beyond the job of delivering justice.

A long and twisted tale of turf wars, egos, and petty politics is detailed within the book that shows how a murder investigation can go no where despite the erratic and disturbing behavior of the main suspect.

As a local reader I enjoyed reading a true crime story that included places that I've been around town. This really drew me into the story, but this cold case is sufficiently fascinating for someone to enjoy no matter where he or she lives. The authors did a fantastic job of organizing a tremendous amount of material and imbuing it with emotion.

What struck me most about the story was how much I could relate to Maggie. Her story made me think about when I was 20. I lived in an apartment with a roommate. I had a job and spent my time partying with what little money I had. And I had a lame boyfriend who added stupid drama to my life. I felt like I could have been Maggie if not for the luck of the draw.

That her vicious boyfriend got away with the crime and will likely live free all his days are extremely disturbing realitites. Not all killers are brought to justice.

My condolences to the Hume family.

I highly recommend The Murder of Maggie Hume. The authors created a compelling tale that kept me turning the pages.




Book lovers - Please enter my blog giveaway this month. The lucky winner will receive a free month of access to the Scribd ebook premium catalog. See more here.


A note from Tracy Falbe: Be the first to know about my new releases and special sales at Brave Luck Books. Join the Readers' List. Ebooks and audiobooks available worldwide. Print in select countries.