Donna Ball's Blog, page 5
October 31, 2011
RENEGADE
After a wait of over ten years, readers of the Devoncroix Dynasty books The Passion and The Promise finally get to know what happens next! Renegade is available today in print and electronic editions.
Enter a world of lush beauty and dark mystique, where human destiny is controlled by a secret race of ancient, powerful creatures…
Emory Hilliford, a quiet anthropology professor, is drugged, held captive and interrogated by a mysterious stranger who wants only one thing: the truth about an ancient race of beings known as the lupinotuum, half man/half wolf, who have walked among humans for centuries. Once they ruled the tundra, now they rule Wall Street. Once they fought with teeth and claws, now they fight with wealth and power. And Emory Hilliford, an orphan who was raised by a family of sophisticated, influential lupinotuum in twentieth century Venice, is uniquely positioned to chronicle their culture, their history, and their secrets.
Unknown to all but a select few, Emory has also been carefully groomed to play a crucial role in history, one that could have deadly consequences for his own race, and theirs. Now forced to tell his story, Emory must decide how much of the truth he can afford to reveal, and what secrets he will take to his grave… because his own time is running out.
From the ancient legends of Greece and Rome to the mysteries of the Dark Ages and the glitter of modern day New York, RENEGADE is a sweeping saga of passion and betrayal, sacrifice and destiny, that will consume your days and haunt your nights long after the last page is turned.
Enter a world of lush beauty and dark mystique, where human destiny is controlled by a secret race of ancient, powerful creatures…
Emory Hilliford, a quiet anthropology professor, is drugged, held captive and interrogated by a mysterious stranger who wants only one thing: the truth about an ancient race of beings known as the lupinotuum, half man/half wolf, who have walked among humans for centuries. Once they ruled the tundra, now they rule Wall Street. Once they fought with teeth and claws, now they fight with wealth and power. And Emory Hilliford, an orphan who was raised by a family of sophisticated, influential lupinotuum in twentieth century Venice, is uniquely positioned to chronicle their culture, their history, and their secrets.
Unknown to all but a select few, Emory has also been carefully groomed to play a crucial role in history, one that could have deadly consequences for his own race, and theirs. Now forced to tell his story, Emory must decide how much of the truth he can afford to reveal, and what secrets he will take to his grave… because his own time is running out.
From the ancient legends of Greece and Rome to the mysteries of the Dark Ages and the glitter of modern day New York, RENEGADE is a sweeping saga of passion and betrayal, sacrifice and destiny, that will consume your days and haunt your nights long after the last page is turned.
July 11, 2011
New Suspense Thriller
Have you ever done anything you're ashamed of?
Well, hasn't everyone? But if you're a celebrity talk show host with an uncertain past there are some things you would prefer to keep private. Because when secrets fall into the hands of a stalker, shame can quickly turn to terror.
Exposure one of my favorite books (yes, writers have favorites too!) because it has all the elements I actually like to read: psychological suspense, deep characterization, a tad of crime procedure-- but not too much-- and a hint of romance. The twist at the end had even me guessing-- and I wrote it!
From the back cover:
For Jessamine Cray it all started with a a piece of slightly weird fan mail, a single typed sheet that read: Have you ever done anything you're ashamed of? No one takes it as a threat until the second communication comes, and then the third… a blood-stained prom dress, a disfigured photograph from a high school year book, copies of private papers to which no one but Jess should have had access. Every celebrity's worst nightmare has come true for Jessamine Cray: she is being stalked, and shame is her terrorist's secret weapon.
For me, the most fascinating part of developing this book was exploring how that one question-- Have you ever done anything you're ashamed of?-- changed each character who had to answer it. Jess learns things she never wanted to know about her friends, her colleagues, her lovers, and even herself. The way each character answered that question became so integral to the plot that now I don't consider a character sketch complete until I have answered the question, What is this character ashamed of?
I hope you enjoy Exposure, which is now available for
4.99 for your Kindle and other e-readers, and in trade paperback for those die-hard paper lovers. And if you would like to write a review for Amazon.com on this title, all you have to do is contact me (DonnaABall@aol.com) for a FREE digital copy. I do ask that you post your review before the end of July, however, so better hurry-- this baby is 90,000 words long!
Well, hasn't everyone? But if you're a celebrity talk show host with an uncertain past there are some things you would prefer to keep private. Because when secrets fall into the hands of a stalker, shame can quickly turn to terror.
Exposure one of my favorite books (yes, writers have favorites too!) because it has all the elements I actually like to read: psychological suspense, deep characterization, a tad of crime procedure-- but not too much-- and a hint of romance. The twist at the end had even me guessing-- and I wrote it!
From the back cover:
For Jessamine Cray it all started with a a piece of slightly weird fan mail, a single typed sheet that read: Have you ever done anything you're ashamed of? No one takes it as a threat until the second communication comes, and then the third… a blood-stained prom dress, a disfigured photograph from a high school year book, copies of private papers to which no one but Jess should have had access. Every celebrity's worst nightmare has come true for Jessamine Cray: she is being stalked, and shame is her terrorist's secret weapon.
For me, the most fascinating part of developing this book was exploring how that one question-- Have you ever done anything you're ashamed of?-- changed each character who had to answer it. Jess learns things she never wanted to know about her friends, her colleagues, her lovers, and even herself. The way each character answered that question became so integral to the plot that now I don't consider a character sketch complete until I have answered the question, What is this character ashamed of?
I hope you enjoy Exposure, which is now available for
4.99 for your Kindle and other e-readers, and in trade paperback for those die-hard paper lovers. And if you would like to write a review for Amazon.com on this title, all you have to do is contact me (DonnaABall@aol.com) for a FREE digital copy. I do ask that you post your review before the end of July, however, so better hurry-- this baby is 90,000 words long!
July 2, 2011
Bone Yard
Bone Yard
, a modest little Raine Stockton Dog Mystery novella, was released quietly as a digital book on May 15. I'm pleased to announce that since that time it has remained in the top 10 in its category on Amazon.com and has outsold all of my other books put together-- including A Year on Ladybug Farm , At Home on Ladybug Farm 
, Love Letters from Ladybug Farm
and Keys to the Castle in both their digital and print forms!
This is the first Raine Stockton Dog mystery in four years, proving the loyalty of my readers and the tenacity of dog lovers. I guess it's true what they say: If you write it, they will come. Thank you, readers. Look for more in this series soon.
, a modest little Raine Stockton Dog Mystery novella, was released quietly as a digital book on May 15. I'm pleased to announce that since that time it has remained in the top 10 in its category on Amazon.com and has outsold all of my other books put together-- including A Year on Ladybug Farm , At Home on Ladybug Farm , Love Letters from Ladybug Farm and Keys to the Castle in both their digital and print forms! This is the first Raine Stockton Dog mystery in four years, proving the loyalty of my readers and the tenacity of dog lovers. I guess it's true what they say: If you write it, they will come. Thank you, readers. Look for more in this series soon.
May 16, 2011
New Raine Stockton Dog Mystery
I'm so excited to announce the release of BONE YARD
, the first Raine Stockton Dog Mystery since 2007-- and the only book I've ever written for no other reason than the fact that readers requested it! FULL DISCLOSURE: Bone Yard is a novella, approximately half the size of a regular Raine Stockton Dog Mystery, and it is available only in digital format. You can buy it from Amazon.com for your Kindle, or read it on any e-reader with the Kindle app (or wait a couple of weeks and it will be available for IPad, Kobo, Nook, etc.), or on your computer. But the only way you can read it in print is to load up your printer with paper and push the print button. This is why it only costs $1.99!This is breakthrough for me. I have not written a book that was not commissioned by a publisher since 1982. What an oddly thrilling and terrifying experience it was to take my story directly to the readers, and to do it for no other reason than because they asked for it. But because they continued to ask for it, I had the incredibly satisfying experience of going back to a world I love-- the world of Raine and Cisco, the populace of Hanover County, N.C., dog training, search and rescue, therapy dogs, agility trials-- a world which, except for the arbitrary decision of one publisher 800 miles and an entire planet away from the land of Raine and Cisco, I would never have left. So thank you everyone for begging me to continue. Power to the People!
And this gives me the perfect opportunity to answer two of my most frequently asked questions: 1) Why did you stop writing the Raine Stockton books/ The Ladybug books/ the Devoncroix books? 2) Why aren't your new books available in print/ why can I only read them if I have an e-reader?
Everyone, please: I didn't stop writing; the publisher stopped publishing. I loved Raine and Cisco as much as you did, but the publisher was not making enough money to justify continuing to publish the books. The same is true of other series you've loved and can no longer find. Fortunately, e-publishing has created a cost-efficient way for authors to continue to get books into the hands of readers who want them. Whenever possible, I will try to create print versions of these books, but be prepared to pay print prices for them. In the case of novellas such as BONEYARD, however, the physical properties of a print book make it impractical to bind, so it is only available digitally. Of course, you can always download a free Kindle app for your computer, and you don't have to miss any installments in your favorite series.
And now to the good part:
BONEYARD
takes place a month after GUN SHY
ends. Cisco digs up human bones in Raine's back yard and all sort of mayhem ensues. Could this be the work of a serial killer, evidence of a long-unsolved mass murder, or something even more sinister... and closer to home? Raine juggles her chaotic personal life, a persistently disappearing collie, and the ever-whimsical ways of her canine crew in order to find the truth. I have been so encouraged by reader response to BONEYARD that I am planning a full length sequel later this year. Look for SILENT NIGHT, in print and digital format, for Christmas.Thank you to all my readers for cheering me on-- through tornadoes, power outages, and internet blackouts--to get this book finished. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
April 22, 2011
Mother's Day Special on Autographed Books
From now until Mother's Day I'm offering all of the Ladybug Farm books, plus Keys to the Castle, autographed to your mom--or any other special lady in your life---for only $10.00 each. This includes Recipes from Ladybug Farm. You can find an order form by clicking the "Order Books" form at http://www.donnaball.net./
Mother's Day is May 8! 
Mother's Day is May 8!
April 9, 2011
New Book-- Free!
Sanctuary
SANCTUARY is available for your Kindle, Nook or IPad!I am so excited to announce the release of SANCTUARY, a supernatural suspense/horror novel and one of my favorite books of all time. And the best part is, if you are willing to leave a product review for Amazon.com, you can have this e-book free! Just follow this link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50923Scroll down to choose the format in which you would like to download the book, and when you get to check out enter this coupon code:AH67M. All I ask is that you post a review on Goodreads and/or Amazon.com's product page before the end of the month.Warning: Bad things happen in this book. This suspense is intense. If you plan to sleep after starting this book-- wait! The chances are you'll wish you had waited to start reading until you had more time. But if you like good old fashioned scary stories with a strong moral imperative, not too much gore or graphic sex, and characters who could be your next door neighbors... I think you'll like this one. Here's the cover blurb:Fleeing the violence and crime of life in the city, architect Laura Kane and her five year old daughter Christy move to an exclusive planned community deep in the untouched wilderness of the Smoky Mountains. Legend has it that their home is built on holy ground. Other legends tell of hideous beasts that roam the mountainside, Yeti-like creatures so terrifying that no one has ever dared disturb their sanctuary… until now.First there are random acts of vandalism, then small pets begin to disappear, and then men go into the woods and don't come back. When Christy's nightmares begin to suggest that she can actually communicate with the creatures who are wreaking such havoc on their small and vulnerable community, Laura is terrified. Because Christy's dreams tell her that the monsters are coming for her next.And she is right.In the terrifying tradition of the best of Dean Koontz, Sanctuary is a suspense-filled tale of love, courage and redemption that will take you in its grip from the first page and leave you breathless by the last. Because sometimes the real monsters are the ones you can't escape, no matter how far you run... I hope you enjoy Sanctuary!
SANCTUARY is available for your Kindle, Nook or IPad!I am so excited to announce the release of SANCTUARY, a supernatural suspense/horror novel and one of my favorite books of all time. And the best part is, if you are willing to leave a product review for Amazon.com, you can have this e-book free! Just follow this link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50923Scroll down to choose the format in which you would like to download the book, and when you get to check out enter this coupon code:AH67M. All I ask is that you post a review on Goodreads and/or Amazon.com's product page before the end of the month.Warning: Bad things happen in this book. This suspense is intense. If you plan to sleep after starting this book-- wait! The chances are you'll wish you had waited to start reading until you had more time. But if you like good old fashioned scary stories with a strong moral imperative, not too much gore or graphic sex, and characters who could be your next door neighbors... I think you'll like this one. Here's the cover blurb:Fleeing the violence and crime of life in the city, architect Laura Kane and her five year old daughter Christy move to an exclusive planned community deep in the untouched wilderness of the Smoky Mountains. Legend has it that their home is built on holy ground. Other legends tell of hideous beasts that roam the mountainside, Yeti-like creatures so terrifying that no one has ever dared disturb their sanctuary… until now.First there are random acts of vandalism, then small pets begin to disappear, and then men go into the woods and don't come back. When Christy's nightmares begin to suggest that she can actually communicate with the creatures who are wreaking such havoc on their small and vulnerable community, Laura is terrified. Because Christy's dreams tell her that the monsters are coming for her next.And she is right.In the terrifying tradition of the best of Dean Koontz, Sanctuary is a suspense-filled tale of love, courage and redemption that will take you in its grip from the first page and leave you breathless by the last. Because sometimes the real monsters are the ones you can't escape, no matter how far you run... I hope you enjoy Sanctuary!
March 21, 2011
A Brief Commerical Announcement
I just wanted to let everyone know that there are less than ten days left in the great 99- cents e-book sale, so now is the time to start downloading if you are looking for something fun to read. And that price includes my new suspense/thriller NIGHT FLIGHT
(which I don't think anyone would call "fun", but it is a wild ride-- and a great price!).
Other 99-cents titles are:
The 99 cent sale ends March 30, but, as always, anyone who would like to review my e-books can contact me for a complementary copy.
Happy Reading!
(which I don't think anyone would call "fun", but it is a wild ride-- and a great price!).Other 99-cents titles are:
The 99 cent sale ends March 30, but, as always, anyone who would like to review my e-books can contact me for a complementary copy.
Happy Reading!
March 14, 2011
New Suspense/Thriller
An exclusive e-book limited-time promotion for 99 cents!Cathy Hamilton was just a small town schoolteacher who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now her head is full of information that could get her killed, and she is forced to flee through the night across unfamiliar territory in a car that's almost out of gas with no weapon, no money and no phone. A government agent has tried to kill her , the FBI has set a trap for her, and her only hope for survival is a man she doesn't dare trust: a cop who's willing to risk his badge—and his life—to save her.You'll never look at a deserted telephone booth the same way again!Praise for the Work of Donna Ball:"A maelstrom of suspense… gripping, intense"--Rendezvous
"[Ball] knows how to keep a story moving"--Kirkus Reviews "A Major talent of the genre"--Publisher's Weekly"A must read"--Examiner.com
"[Ball] knows how to keep a story moving"--Kirkus Reviews "A Major talent of the genre"--Publisher's Weekly"A must read"--Examiner.com
March 9, 2011
E Book Giveaway
There are a few days left in Read an E-Book Week, so if you got a new e-reader for Christmas this is a great chance to stock up! I am offering these e-books FREE on all platforms until March 12. All I ask is that, when you've read them, please go to Amazon.com and let people know what you think with a review.
The easiest way to purchase these books is to go to http://www.smashwords.com/, and use coupon code RE100. Enjoy!
February 7, 2011
Love is in the Air
February means chocolates, hearts, flowers and...love stories! I have just undertaken an exciting new project in which I plan to bring back into print some of my favorite romance novels, updated, modernized, and rewritten for today's reader. The first book, A Man Around the House, is in print now! When I wrote this book in the early nineties I was busy trying to have it all, and my ultimate fantasy was a man who did the dishes. The more I talked about the concept, the more I realized that I wasn't the only woman whose idea of romance was a guy who made the beds, did the laundry, fixed the roof, shopped for groceries and took the cat to the vet... thus was born House Husbands, Inc. and one dreamboat of a hero, Michael Drake. I think today's woman will find him every bit as appealing as we did back then-- maybe even more so! To celebrate the release of A Man Around the House, I'm offering a special Valentine's Day deal through the month of February for anyone who orders autographed copies of both A Man Around the House and Keys to the Castle
through my website: buy both for $16.00 (plus s&h). And be sure to let me know how you like A Man Around the House!
