Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 326

Review: HIDE & SEEK: A Murder Mystery by Thomas Kaplan-Maxfield

5 of 5 stars



When I agreed to review "Hide & Seek," I had no idea what to expect. Mysteries is not a genre that I usually read so I thought why not branch out a bit and try one. I can tell you that I was not disappointed. "Hide & Seek" is a classy story, literary. The main characters are from the high brow section of Boston known as Beacon Hill.  I could relate to the descriptions and locations being so familiar with Boston myself.





This murder mystery starts off backwards. We know who the killer is, one David Draper, but it is the way the author weaves the story through so many twists and turns that keeps you interested. You feel David's remorse and guilt over what he has done and his trepidation of being questioned by the police for Melanie Carson's murder. The police have no evidence though and David  is not considered a suspect, that is, until he is invited by his sister to go on a murder mystery weekend at an historic hotel on a tiny island off Cape Cod.  He is convinced that one of the guests knows his secret and is using the murder mystery weekend to flesh him out.





"Hide & Seek" is a psychologically suspenseful story at its best. It seems that every one of the guests knew Melanie Carson and David is convinced that they all know his secret, but do they? Or is there another reason why this group of 9 people have been gathered together for this particular murder mystery weekend?





Just when you think you have everything figured out, the masterful Mr. Kaplan Maxfield throws another curve ball.  You won't know the truth until the story ends. If you're a mystery reader, you'll definitely want to read this one and NO peeking at the last page.  Recommended.

Review: BOB MOORE: NO HERO by Tom Andry

3.5 stars of 5

Sometimes a free book can surprise you and this was definitely the case of BOB MOORE: NO HERO. I read this novella in one sitting and found it quite engaging. 

Bob Moore is an average guy (a tippy) in a world full of "supers" – beings that have super powers.  Bob is a PI and his clients run the full spectrum from jealous tippy husbands to angry super beings. Being a PI for supers has its perks, but more than likely, the only good thing about one of these jobs is the money he gets paid to complete the job. Having an angry super being that throws fireballs at you is not a normal day at the office.  Bob takes it all in stride until he gets a call from the local police who want his help with a puzzling case.  Bob doesn't want to become involved, and reluctantly agrees, but with the most outlandish fee he's ever charged hoping the client would balk at the price. No such luck and Bob is on the case trying to solve the disappearance of several people. 

The author's voice reminded me of film noir. At any minute, I expected the film to roll and hear the voice-over from our PI's internal voice. You know the type of film I mean – "The dame walked in and boy, was she a looker."  You can't help but smile and I found myself laughing out loud in some places.  The pacing is good and the dialogue snappy, but I would have liked to see Bob more involved in this crucial case. The author skips over the two-week investigation with a sentence or two.  I would have also liked to see a bit more with some of the secondary characters. If you like PIs with a sense of humor, then you should definitely read this story.

Spotlight: THE BISHOP MOVES DIAGONALLY by Steve Silkin

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Book Blurb:

A poem about Bobby Fischer, Jimmy Page ... and me and my dad.

Buy links:

http://amzn.to/qkqusi

Author bio:

Steve Silkin was born in New York, grew up in Los Angeles, lived in London and Paris, studied at La Sorbonne and has worked as a journalist in France and Southern California. He has written a novel, The Cemetery Vote, and three collections of short stories, The Telescope Builder, Too Lucky and Forbidden Stories.

 

Interview with Bryan R. Dennis

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?My debut novel, An Epitaph for Coyote, is about an anal-retentive clerk who has conned himself into believing his materialistic, work-centered, life is perfect. But when he meets a mysterious and comically eccentric woman from the desert, the blinders fall away, and he begins to see himself and his life for what it truly is.   

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?No. It seemed like too much of a hassle. I like the speed of self-publishing and the control over my work. And I'm against the idea of a small circle of gatekeepers determining what books the public should read.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?Yes. For my short stories, I often use Critique Circle. Critiquing and getting critiqued has strengthened my writing. There is, however, a danger that your work will become oppressed and uninventive if you rely on these groups too much. They're a good starting point. Knowing what the rules are has always helped inform my decision to break them. 

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?Amazon has a large customer base, and Kindle is still the e-reader to beat. Most of my sales are through Amazon, which I expected based on reports from other self-published authors.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?No. I used beta readers this time for financial reasons. But an editor will be part of the process for future works. With an editor I'll be a more prolific writer and will be able to afford the extra cost. 

What have you've learned during your self-publishing journey?There's a lot of advice being thrown around by people who aren't experts. Best thing to do is read as much as you can from several sources and a picture will start to emerge.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?My books are also on Smashwords and at Barnes & Noble.



What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Kindleboards, LibraryThing, Authonomy, and blogs are the main tools for my promotion. I'm using all of them.

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?Yes, but I don't expect to market this heavily indefinitely. I think it's unwise, if nigh impossible, to combine creative writing and marketing -- at least for me it is. I plan to market for a while and then disappear to work on my next book.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

What's next for you?My next novel, Saw a Rainbow, comes out in September. This is a metaphysical thriller with a Twilight Zone feel, which is the direction my writing is going. And I'm also about to embark on a five-part fantasy series (sort of a cross between the Wizard of Oz and the Seven Samurai). While I'm writing that, I'll periodically publish short stories.



 

Sponsor: STAKED by Sandra Edwards PLUS Bonus Book

Author Sandra Edwards has a treat for all of you today.





BROKEN WINGS (Soul Searchers, Book 1) is currently FREE at Amazon. Click on book icon to download. 





 In this opening book of the Soul Searchers Series, a con-artist who's been hired to locate a buried treasure finds more than she bargains for.





Rio Laraquette thought the legend was nothing more than an enchanted tale about star-crossed lovers who left behind a fortune. That is, until she figures out that she--in a past life--was the culprit who stole a shipment of gold and silver and buried it somewhere in the hills of northern Nevada.



While searching for the treasure, Rio's heart begins to ache for a man who's been dead more than one hundred years. They say time heals all wounds, but what if it doesn't...?** Book One in the Soul Searchers Series is a novella of approximately 45,000 words.



SPONSOR BOOK OF THE DAY:

Buy Links:



US Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052MSYRW



UK Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0052MSYRW



BN Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Staked/Sandra-Edwards/e/2940012611826





Book Blurb:



Ava Valentine is a time-traveling bounty hunter from the distant future. She's chased her fugitive back to present-day New York City, where she anticipates an uneventful capture even though she's a little on edge because she's meeting a new contact.



Dexter Stone is a mysterious soldier of fortune who's agreed to take Ava to her bounty--for a fee. What Ava's not expecting is to get mixed up with a man she suspects is a vampire!



After a run-in with an unsavory character from Ava's past, she and Stone are forced into an uneasy alliance. But very soon she'll discover she could be Stone's saving grace--or his downfall.



Review Snippets



"The stage has been set for a great series" --Bitten by Paranormal Romance



"These characters were witty, sexy and altogether great" --Readers Favorite Book Reviews



Excerpt:



"Okay. So let me see if I've got this straight..." His words fell off into meddlesome laughter. "You're not an ordinary bounty hunter. You come here from the future—wherever here is," he said, looking around. "You're a time traveler—sorry, broker. You can carry people through time with you." His laughter rang scarily prophetic. She imagined this very place they were in was exhibit A inside his head. "Not everybody can broker time. Only Karellians, of which you are half." He pointed at her offhandedly. His tone was calm, but still, there was something in his voice that suggested he was trying hard not to believe a word of what he was saying. Even so, he continued, "But not all Karellians will broker time because it hurts...except for you. You've developed a tolerance to the pain." He flashed her with a skeptic's smile. "I leave anything out?"



No, but she had. Plenty.



"Oh, yeah..." He interrupted her thoughts. "And all this—" He waved his hand around. "—is just a figment of our imaginations."



Nodding her head, she almost said, "yes," but stopped short. A more appropriate answer was sort of, but not really. If she put it in terms that he could easily identify and understand, it'd have to be a comparison to Star Trek: The Next Generation's Holodeck.



"Okay." Stone folded his arms over his chest and glared at her. "What kind of drugs did you give me?"



"When exactly did I have the opportunity to drug you?" She pointed the neck of her beer bottle at Stone and then took a healthy swig, still eying him.



Stone's face relaxed for a split-second, as if he couldn't find an argument, but just as quickly he started shaking his head.



"Why is it so hard for you to believe me?" she asked. "How many people believe in you?"



His eyes darkened and she knew he understood her underlying meaning. How many people out there believed in vampires?



Stone sucked in a breath and blew it out dramatically, giving her one of those looks that said he was going to play along but he didn't believe a word of the fish tale she was trying to sell.



"What?" she asked.



"When am I gonna get my jewels?" He gave her a warped smile and waited for her answer.



"Soon," she said, feeling like he was toying with her.



"Yeah, I know. The recovery period." He rolled his eyes and laughed. "You gotta replenish your...what was it called again?"



"Chakra energy," she said in an almost whisper. Ava had no idea why his opinion of her mattered, but it did. The idea that he thought she was trying to pull a fast one on him—or worse yet, that she was nuts—hurt. Ava straightened in her chair and sucked up the urge to feel wounded. The sooner she finished her business with Dexter Stone, the better.



"One thing I don't get though." He looked at her. "If those little stones that you claim brought us here are the means by which you travel through time..." Stone said, shaking his head and his words gave way to a little laugh.

"Something that valuable...why didn't your friend take them?"





Author Bio



Sandra is an award-winning author of romance. She has eclectic tastes, penning tales in a variety of genres such as paranormal (mostly time travel and reincarnation), contemporary and suspense. She lives in the U.S. (west coast) with her husband, two kids, four dogs and one very temperamental feline. Sandra's books often push the envelope and step outside the boundaries of conventional romance. For more info on Sandra's books, visit her website.



My Website ~ http://sandrawrites.com

My Blog ~ http://sandywritesromance.wordpress.com/



       

Review: THE WINTER'S IN BLOOM by Lisa Tucker

4 of 5 stars

Before I start the review, I'd like to announce that I have 1 hard copy of the book to give away. If you'd like a chance to win, please leave your contact info in the comments section. I'll announce the winner on Sat., Sept. 17.



Review:

Doubt is a powerful emotion especially when it spills over into a child's world. Children are very perceptive and can easily pick up on a parent's thinking whether it is verbally expressed or not. I doubt he can climb that tree, so we mustn't let him try. Doubt is pervasive whether we want it to be or not.

Five-year-old Michael lives in an environment of doubt. Although his parents, David and Kyra Winter, believe they are doing everything possible to raise a happy healthy child, what they are actually doing is dampening little Michael's free spirit and making him question every natural instinct he has.  Because they micro-manage every part of his life, the little boy does not realize that it's not part of his parent's well-orchestrated plan when a stranger shows up in his back yard and asks him to come with her. Of course, Michael says "yes."

So begins the worst nightmare for any parent – their child has been kidnapped.  There are no clues and even though both David and Kyra were home at the time, neither of them saw the kidnapper take Michael.  As they struggle to come to grips with the situation, they each must face some horrible truths about their respective pasts.  Neither has been totally forthcoming with each other during their marriage about their past relationships and now they must not only face their demons, but also face each other.  Has their marriage and their life together been nothing but a lie? Can they survive the scrutiny and come out whole on the other side? Does one of them know who the kidnapper is?

These are the questions that Ms. Tuckers explores as she takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions. She does a masterful job revealing the secrets from both David' and Kyra's past.  My one complaint was that the clues surrounding the "Dear Mother" letters were too subtle and it caused some confusion about one of the characters. It wasn't until I had finished the book that I realized who was writing the letters.  The letters themselves make a powerful statement and I would have enjoyed that part of the book more if I had known who was writing them earlier in the story.

All in all, this book is full of wonderfully fleshed-out characters. Ms. Tucker does an exceptional job with little Michael's voice. He was my favorite character of all.  Recommended.

     

Review: WIRED by Douglas Richards

5 of 5 stars



Have you ever wondered what you would do if you had a chance to enhance your intelligence significantly? What if you could double your lifespan? Would you? These are the questions that brilliant scientist, Kira Miller, is working on in her genetic research, but when a trail of bodies start to pile up around her, she becomes enemy #1 in the eyes of the government.  David Desh, a former special-forces soldier, is called in for one more mission. Problem is, this mission is totally off the books. David must rely on his own training and intuition to catch this elusive genius.  David has been told that Kira is working with terrorists on a bio-terror plot that threatens millions, but not everything is as it seems. Who is telling the truth and who is really behind the bio-terror plot?

Mr. Richards weaves a story full of deception, intrigue, betrayal and a mystery that becomes more complicated with each turn of the page. The author draws you in with each little clue. The characters of Miller and Desh are superbly written and the author makes you feel that you're seeing and feeling everything through their eyes. 

It's a cat and mouse game played by two clever players. Who will come out of top? Is there a top to come out on? Just when you think you've got the players figured out, another twist is thrown into the mix.  Are things really as black and white as the government claims? Is the government exaggerating Kira's threat to national security or is she being set up and she's really everything and more that one human being could aspire to be.  The science is mind-boggling and makes you think about what breakthroughs are really possible in today's genetic research. This thriller is non-stop action and will satisfy readers of both thrillers and mysteries.  A must read. Highly Recommended.

      

New Release: GIVE ME by L.K. Rigel

Book Blurb: Give Me, a fairy tale

Once upon a time in a rage of jealousy and obsession, a witch vowed to destroy the prince of the castle and his betrothed. The witch's younger sister intervened to save the lovers, but things went disastrously wrong.

Centuries later, while touring a ruined castle, Lilith Evergreen feels a sudden and overwhelming attraction to guide Cade Bausiney. Cade is instantly drawn to Lilith as well, but can he trust his feelings? Their desire might only be sparked by the ancient curse that afflicts his village.

Lilith and Cade must break the curse before they're possessed forever by spirits who've waited a millennium to consummate their love.

Buy Links:Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Give-Me-fairy-tale-ebook/dp/B005KHHZXS B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1105304874 Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85544

Author bio:   I live in California with my television-watching cat, Coleridge. (His favorite show is Castle, but he was enthralled by Game of Thrones.) I've been a writer since my seventh grade teacher praised one of my stories in front of the whole class. I wrote songs for the 90's band The Elements, scored the independent science fantasy karate movie Lucid Dreams, and was a reporter for the Sacramento Rock 'N Roll News. In my thirties, I returned to school and received a BA in humanities with a focus on religious studies from CSU, Sacramento. Although I'm an atheist, existential speculation informs all of my stories - doesn't everyone wonder what it all means? 

My work has appeared in Literary Mama and Tattoo Highway. 

I write the postapocapunk "Apocalypto" series about the end of the world as we know it and the beginning of a new reality in which the gods return to save humanity from itself - with varying degrees of success. 

My short story "Slurp" about an author with creativity problems on Halloween is included in DEADLY TREATS, Anne Frasier's Halloween anthology published by Nodin Press.

Give Me Excerpt: "Give me your hand." The deep, self-confident voice sent a flutter of excitement through Lilith's solar plexus. A man emerged from the mist and steam, his gloved hand outstretched. He was tall and red and big-boned. His ruddy complexion looked like it had rebelled once but had given up the fight. He had shaggy chestnut hair and green eyes that hinted of dangerous sex."Lilith Evergreen, I presume?" The West Country accent was tinged with humor.His face was rough and unhandsome. His voice was jagged like a demon lover's – low and crushed velvety, promising things no good woman should wish for. He tipped his moss green hat, a Mad Hatter's bell crown topper, and bent forward in a sort of bow. "Cade Bausiney, tour guide extraordinaire. Ian has commandeered my rig to haul the lot of you to the Tragic Fall.""Very generous of you to comply." "I thought so." His duster reached mid calf, and his long scarf was also the color of dark moss, identical to the one Marion had been knitting. Again he offered his gloved hand. Lilith's hand disappeared in his, so tiny and pink in its soft little glove. A hot current of desire zapped through her as he handed her down. Their eyes met. She was sure he'd felt it too. She pulled her hand away – or maybe he'd dropped it. The urge to grab this man, this stranger, was almost overwhelming. She wanted to kiss him, tear his clothes off and pull him inside her.She looked around the platform, needing desperately to think of anything else. Tintagos Halt consisted of an old stone building anchored to a wide wood platform. A rusting iron bench at one end looked unused for a generation. Garish posters covered the ancient building's walls. You Might Be Next! Visit Famous Tintagos Castle! Who Will Be Chosen? A Once in a Lifetime Event! Bausiney brushed his hand over Lilith's upper arm. He wrinkled his nose at her bare skin and said, "Dumnos is a land of mist and rain. We put so much effort into our literature, and no one reads it." One side of his mouth curved down in a lop-sided smile. She must have imagined that he had felt the same bizarre heat. He draped his scarf around her, and she caught her breath as he gave her a slight squeeze and said, "That's better now." The steam whistle blasted the air, as startling as a physical assault. She and Bausiney jammed their hands over their ears until it stopped. Fortunately, the shock of the blast drove away Lilith's sex-fiendishness."It's this way," Bausiney said.At the end of the platform the footman loaded luggage into a waiting horse-drawn carriage. His ornate uniform made more sense now, all part of the show. The vehicle was as white as Cinderella's coach with polished brass fixtures and a gold coronet with pearls and strawberry leaves painted on the door. The top was down, and Marion and Ian were seated inside with the laptop ladies. All of them had wool throws over their legs. "This is Bella and Cammy." Marion handed throws to Lilith and Bausiney. "Sisters from Maidstone. They're stopping at the Tragic Fall for the Handover." Lilith sat down on the same side as Bella, the older of the two. If they'd been named in honor of Mr. Trollope's French sisters – a mean trick by a parent – they'd rebelled against the author's description. The younger Cammy appeared shy and sweet. Bella regarded Lilith with a distinctly sour expression and a furrow between her eyebrows. Bausiney eased in between Lilith and Bella. He pushed his hat back and stretched his arms over the back of the seat with a happy grin. He looked less the Mad Hatter and more a glam rocker from the '80s, sans mascara.The footman climbed up to the driver's perch. "Walk on," the driver said to the horses. It felt like being in a story out of Jane Austen – for the first minute. In the next five they hit three ruts in the dirt road, throwing the passengers against each other. This trip was going to be more picturesque than comfortable. The one-lane road from Tintagos Halt down to Tintagos Village wound down a small hill to a village at the edge of the sea. Dusk had only begun. A few lamps came on in the cottages and shops spread over the few streets, but there was plenty of natural light left in the day. "It gets dark later here," Lilith said absently. Bella and Cammy stared as if she'd said a green cow is dancing on the fencepost. Lilith decided they were the very image of Trollope's French girls.Bausiney said, "That's because we're at higher latitude than you're used to." Just then the carriage hit another rut, and the jolt threw Lilith against him. The desire returned, hot and bittersweet. She had the feeling she knew him, knew his body, remembered it, wanted to press closer, to feel his arms around her. His chest was so broad, his eyes so … actually, he looked happy. Happy to find her practically in his lap."Hello there." The corners of his mouth twitched with ironic amusement. She pulled away and closed her eyes to concentrate on her breath. Her heart raced. Her body was on fire. This made no sense. She wasn't even attracted to the great ruddy hulk. Despite the electric sizzle in his touch. She wasn't attracted to anybody. Not now.Gradually the world came into better focus. Seagulls screamed over the bay. Horses' hooves clump-clumped on soft dirt. Marion chattered with Ian about Sharon. Lilith opened her eyes. No one had noticed.She could feel Bausiney watching, but if she looked at him she'd lose it. Instead, she looked at the village and the cliffs beyond. Great gods! Again her heart was in her throat. Just past the village, the oak tree from her dreams clung to the cliffs' edge. A woman stood beside it. Despite the distance, Lilith knew it was Elyse. Watching her. Waiting for her. You've come at last.



    

9/11 Tribute - 10 Years Later

How could anyone forget where they were the day the twin towers were attacked. I was at the university when my daughter called and told me a plane had struck the first tower. We had a TV in the conference room and the entire office stood around and watched in horror as the second plane hit the other tower. It is such a horrifying memory, a day like no other.



















Let's all take a moment to remember all those that died that terrible day at the twin towers, the pentagon and Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, PA. A salute to all those heros that rushed into burning buildings without a moment's thought for their own safety.  



We will never forget you.

Blog Tour Stop: Dianna Hardy

Today I'd like to welcome Dianna Hardy to Two Ends of the Pen. Dianna is currently on a blog tour promoting her new novella, "The Witching Pen." As part of her stop, Dianna has agreed to give away a digital copy of her story. 

Please leave your contact info in the comments for a chance to win the book.  You may spell out your email address if you prefer, i.e. johnsmith [at] yahoo [dot] com. I'll draw the winning entry on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6pm EST and Dianna will be in touch with you about getting the book to you.

Now let's get to know more about Dianna.

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?The Witching Pen is the first in a series of novellas. It's predominantly a paranormal romance, but with a strong urban fantasy undertone. The story stars Elena, who just happens to be the greatest witch on earth because she is the thirteenth in her family line – the first one for centuries.  However, she soon discovers that her powers are a beacon for all and sundry, and before she knows it, a demon is after her, determined to make her his own, so he can harness her powers. However, a host of other issues come to light, and Elena starts to realise that the demon is the least of her worries! It's an adult story, but the characters are a little Buffy-esque – I love that kind of quirkiness.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?I do have an erotic romance title out under another name that was published by Noble Romance Publishing. That involved sending in a submission  and query to the publisher, which I would happily do again. But I'm mostly self-published, as I love the challenge of it. I'm also incredibly impatient, and self-publishing allows me to be able to get work out there much faster than through traditional means.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?I do belong to an online critique group, and I would recommend every writer join one. I can take a while to find the right one, but when you do, it's worth its weight in gold. It's not only helped with my writing, it's helped with all aspects of publishing too.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?The fact that more eBooks are sold via Amazon Kindle than anywhere else. I wanted my work to be easily available to a wider audience. I think you'd have to be crazy not to use Amazon if you want to sell eBooks. Barnes & Noble is also a must, although, being in the UK, I can only get on there via Smashwords.

What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?That people are not actually turned off by it. When I first started self-publishing, I was paranoid that people would judge me based solely on that, and not on my writing, but I was mostly wrong. People are really into indie authors nowadays and will even seek them out to read something different and unique. What we're 'told' and what is actually happening, are often two different things.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?All good eBook retailers: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, Apple iBookstore, Sony eReader Store, All Romance Ebooks, 1PlaceForRomance, etc. Sometimes it takes a while for  them to appear on some of those sites, but they end up there eventually.

What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?You can find me on Twitter, on Blogger and on Facebook, as well as on my own websites. I'm more recently trying out Yahoo, but there's only one of me, and I don't want to stretch myself too wide! My favourite is a combination of Blogging and Tweeting, and I've also made some great writer friends through Facebook. You can find all social network info at my site, www.romancewithbite.co.uk

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?It's not so much difficult, as a pain in the backside. I want to write. Full stop. Marketing may help me to sell books, but it takes me away from writing. When I can finally afford to, marketing will be the first thing I dish out to someone else!

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Get a domain name, get a website, get people who aren't your friends or family to read your work, then get it out there into the public. There's no such thing as failing, there's only learning. And if you do something wrong, you'll just know not to do it next time. Yes, it's important to get things as perfect as you can, but it's also important not to be too precious about it, or you'll never get anything done!

What's next for you?Well, I write under three names (for different genres), so I'm constantly writing something! Book Two of The Witching Pen Novellas is due to be released at the end of November, so I'm going to spend a bulk of time working on that, which I'm really looking forward to as the characters are starting to get really interesting.