L.M. Nelson's Blog, page 10

Author Spotlight – Frank Martin

Author Spotlight

[image error]Welcome back! Today’s spotlight is on Frank Martin. Frank is a comic writer and author that is not as crazy as his work makes him out to be…seriously.

Since his writing career began, he’s had multiple short stories published in horror anthologies by both Burning Willow Press and Stitched Smile Publications. Frank has also had comic shorts appear in the “fluff noir” anthology series Torsobear and Insane Asylum published by Insane Comics.

Also published by Insane Comics, Frank writes and produces the comic anthology series Modern Testament, which features a wide ensemble of artists throughout its four volumes. Frank’s most recent novel, Mountain Sickness, was published last year by Severed Press.

Frank currently lives in New York with his wife and three kids.

Mountain Sickness[image error]
 Telluride, Colorado. A winter paradise unlike any other. Nestled into a remote canyon of the Rocky Mountains, the old Western mining town rose from the ashes to become a high society ski retreat catering to the rich and famous. But when a mysterious plague starts turning civilized people into ravaging fiends, the resort’s isolation becomes its curse. Struggling through blizzard and whiteout conditions, a band of scattered survivors, guests and locals alike, are forced to work together to keep their friends and family alive. However, with the decomposing horde of bloodthirsty zombies continuing to grow, those still uninfected by the disease must make a choice: escape or prevent this mountain sickness from reaching the world outside.

Grab your copy on Amazon. 

[image error]Skin Deep/Ordinary Monsters
 What happens when an overbearing family drives a teenage girl into the arms of a mysterious, pale stranger? How can a high school junior explain having strange dreams of a Nazi concentration camp after being bitten by his neighbor’s monstrous dog? And who will win when two iconic creatures of the night clash on a desolate WWI battlefield? Dive into a world of werewolves and vampires with SKIN DEEP and ORDINARY MONSTERS, two standalone stories featured in a dual novella from author Frank Martin. And don’t forget to check out the bonus comic short HORRORS OF WAR found in both ends of this double-sided work of pulp and terror.

 
Skin Deep is available for purchase through Amazon.


He currently has a Kickstarter campaign running for his comic, Modern Testament: The Complete Ethereal Collection. Angels, Demons, Four Horsemen, and more enter our modern world in 15 standalone short stories illustrated by a wide range of artists.

 

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Connect with Frank through his website, Facebook,Twitter, or Instagram: 



Is it still a dream if you can never wake up from it…or a prison? Find out in your FREE short story at the link below.
 
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Click here to enter “The Sandman”

 

 

Author Spotlight – Jacqueline Church Simonds

Author Spotlight

[image error]This week’s spotlight is on Jacqueline Church Simonds. Jacqueline Church Simonds is an author and publishing consultant. Her first published book was CAPTAIN MARY, BUCCANEER, a historical adventure novel loosely based on the real pirate women Ann Bonney and Mary Reade.

Simonds has done the usual authorly wanderings in life: she was a lady’s companion, a sound and lights roadie for a small Southern rock band, and managed an antiques shop. She’s sold everything from computers to 1950s pulp magazines to towels and baby clothes. The one constant in her life is a love of words, books and writing. She sold some short stories and poetry early, but didn’t pursue it until later in life.

She has had a life-long love of King Arthur and was always drawn to novels about that great hero. Finally, she sat down and wrote stories from her own point of view.

She lives in Reno, Nevada with her husband and beagle.

Let’s take a look at her book, THE MIDSUMMER WIFE, Book One of the Heirs to Camelot series

[image error]After a nuclear attack on London that heralds The Time Foretold, Ava Cerdwin, the anxiety-ridden high priestess in charge of fulfilling a 1500 year old prophesy, must assist the heirs of King Arthur and Merlin in healing the devastated country. The descendants of Britain’s great men of legend have kept the myths and relics for 61 generations, but no one is quite clear on what they must do next. Nothing goes as planned: Ava falls for the wrong heir, the panic attacks are getting worse, the complex obligations of reincarnation are straining old relationships, and Morgaine and her henchwomen are trying to kill them. Somehow, some way, Ava has to make the Healing happen, or Britain is finished. The Midsummer Wife, Book One of the Heirs to Camelot, is an Urban Fantasy that combines Arthurian lore, love, and a race to a breathtaking finish.

Here’s an Excerpt:

Duke Drunemeton, the first son of the first son of the first son ad nauseum cleared his throat. “Erm, yes. But—and I realize this is obvious—I note you’re not a first or second son.”

“Not all families of the lineage are under the same structure, Your Grace.”

“It never occurred to me until this moment that there were any other families…Cousin,” he said with his lips curled up at the corners.

Ava laughed. No one told me he has a sense of humor! Maybe this will turn out all right, after all. “We’re related so far back, you probably have more genetic history in common with your chef than me.”

“May I ask the sire your branch comes from?”

“Not the sire,” she said. “I’m descended from Anya’s daughter, Arianrhod.”

He looked somewhat nonplused. “And the House of Arianrhod is commanded to do…what?”

“Fulfill Mother Anya’s vision for her line―to see the descendant of King Arthur return, served by the descendant of Merlin’s wisdom.”

He swallowed hard.

Ava had read that outside of the Sacred Grotto, no one in the families was permitted to speak those words aloud. “Almost fifteen hundred years ago, Anya, a priestess and healer of the Rus, fell in love with both Merlin and King Arthur, and eventually had sons by both. You, Duke Drunemeton, are the descendant of Merlin. The Earl of Steadbye, whom I hope to meet soon, is the descendant of King Arthur.”

He gasped. “How do you—?”

Ava rushed on, “Duke Drunemeton, these are The Days Foretold. As was written in the books you guard, this in the hour ‘when the King and Merlin shall come again and, with the Oathstone, heal the Land and its People.’ And as you are well aware, the ‘Once and Future King,’ as the author T. H. White called him, is in waiting nearby. All we need do now is locate the Oathstone. Then we can help Britain heal and regain its place in the world.”

The duke stood up slowly and walked like a mechanical toy around the desk. He stood over her, radiating both fear and outrage. “How? You can’t possibly…” He was struggling to steady himself.

Have I gone too far, too fast?

“Who are you?” he demanded.

“Ava Cerdwen—Arianrhod’s heir.”

Ava decided a strategic retreat was in order. She stood up and drew her purse strap over her shoulder—the universal gesture that the interview was over. “I can see you need time to consider what I’ve said. My driver will stop back here tonight in case you want to reach me. I won’t be far. We’ll speak again when you’ve had time to let this sink in. I know it’s a shock, keeping a secret for so very, very long, then discovering others know, too.”

She rested her fingers gently on his arm, which was swathed in an expensive camel hair jacket. There was a momentary spark, as if she had just run across the thick Aubusson carpet in slippers before she put her hand there. It was unexpected, but also another hopeful sign.

He paled, and she could feel him tremble.

“Don’t let fear overwhelm you. We must act as we’ve been trained to do since birth—and soon.” She turned and walked out of the office.

Ava could feel his raw emotions behind her. He was paralyzed with fear and confusion.

Not good.

Not good at all.

She went out of the house, emotions zinging between terror and…well, not triumph. But ever so slightly hopeful she had succeeded in starting the critical dialogue. She was amused all over again at the car her “chauffeur” chose―a black 1930s Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. Who rides around in such a thing? Well, me, I guess. The duke appeared in the rainy forecourt. His eyes were a bit wild. “Ava!” he shouted. The duke seemed to realize he was attracting attention from the pair of sodden gardeners nearby.Stepping closer to the Rolls, he whispered, “How do I know I can trust you?” Smiling confidently at him, she slid into the car. It started up immediately. She said to his mind: Because we are family

Endorsements:

“Sex, magic, and power collide in this [Urban] Fantasy that begins when a devastating terrorist attack on modern London sparks the long-foretold return of King Arthur to heal Britain. Simonds boldly continues the Arthurian saga into the present day, as heirs to Arthur, Merlin, and the woman both men once loved struggle to understand and fulfill their destinies and outwit the sinister agenda of the sorceress Morgaine.” ~ Lisa Jensen, author Alias Hook and Beast: A Love Story

“Imaginative, mesmerizing, and emotionally complex, Simonds’ unique story boldly expands the Arthurian legend into exciting new territory. The fantastical elements—rituals from old Celtic religions, dark magic, forces of fate—are well drawn and skillfully integrated into a contemporary setting. And then there’s the romance… the palpable chemistry between Ava and Ron (the Arthur heir), complicated by their respective destinies, makes their relationship a riveting read.” ~ Mary Fan, author of Starswept, Artificial Absolutes

Special Notes: Cliffhanger ending; MC Ava Cerdwen has an anxiety disorder; Ron Steadbye is biracial (British-Zimbabwean); tattoos play a part in the story; non-Christian/pagan religion featured; sex-positive romance, but not erotica.

To learn more about or to purchase The Midsummer Wife, visit Vagabondage Press/Strange Fiction Press, Jacqueline’s Author website, her GoodReads Page, or Amazon
See the storyboard for The Midsummer Wife on Pinterest
Connect with Jacqueline on Twitter  or Facebook

Author Spotlight – Bria Lexor

Author Spotlight

It’s time for another Author Spotlight. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Bria Lexor.

[image error]Bria is a multi-published popular YA author of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. Bria has always had a fascination with the supernatural and the paranormal as well as folklore. She enjoys watching creepy ghost shows and is obsessed with anime and wrestling (The WWE). She started writing song lyrics at the age of 4 and was a rapper in a Hip-Hop group Called: Mount West. Bria was inspired to become a writer after reading novels like Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black, The Resident Evil series by S.D. Perry and the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead. A lifelong reader, Bria also became an author after wanting to become a Manga Comic Book Creator as she also draws her own characters for her stories. Born and raised in Colorado, she works on many new Series full-time.

Let’s take a look at her books

Gargoyle Redemption

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A rising star…

Shinka Fox is an up-and-coming teenage Pop Star who’s struggling to fit in at school. Little does she know, her not-so-ordinary life is about to be turned upside down when she meets Abel Lapis, an attractive young man who harbors a secret that could change her world forever.

A dangerous gift…

But Abel isn’t the only one with a secret. Shinka has something that an underground group known as The Hunters wants and will do anything to get. Will Shinka survive long enough to see her career take flight? And will the mysterious Abel Lapis help save her?

The Gargoyle Redemption Trilogy is romance author Bria Lexor’s debut into the world of Paranormal Suspense, where she takes her readers on a fast-paced ride of mystery, romance, and all things dark and powerful.

Excerpt:

Prologue:

I LOOKED AROUND as I suddenly heard stone cracking and looked down to see it crumble to the ground. The creatures began to awaken from their slumber, one by one.  I could feel the fear start to rise in my chest. I turned to the one person who would protect me, and to my horror, he began to transform into one of those creatures. I slowly backed away from him, and my back hit the cold cement wall with a hard thud. I quickly climbed onto the ledge and turned around to face him. As I stood, I lost my balance and began to fall. I saw my life flash before my eyes, and I began to scream knowing I was about to die. Was this the end of my brief existence as I knew it? I looked up to see a dark shadowy figure falling and he grabbed me by my hand. He pulled me close to him. I could hear his heart beating within his chest. When we landed, he removed his arms from around my body. I was shaking violently from the incident. I finally calmed myself down and looked up into my Savior’s eyes. He looked deep into mine and smiled. I realized I knew his secret, and a huge clawed hand came towards my face. I shut my eyes and waited to die …

The Gargoyle Redemption Trilogy Purchase Links:

Amazon US

Amazon CA

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Amazon International

Upcoming release – Rise of the Fallen!

[image error]All the King’s horses, and all the King’s men, couldn’t put the kingdoms together again…

Purchase Links:

Amazon US
 
Amazon CA
 
Amazon UK
 
Amazon AU
 
Amazon International
 
 


Pre-Order Today! All Proceeds are donated to Save The Children Organization! Release Date: August 12th, 2018!


 

Connect with Bria on any of these social media sites:
Website ,  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Pinterest ,  Goodreads ,  Instagram ,  Google+ ,  YouTube ,  Spotify ,  LinkedIn , Inkitt, or sign up for her  newsletter

Author Spotlight – John McKay

Author Spotlight

Welcome to another Author Spotlight. Today’s spotlight shines on Pretoria, South Africa based writer, John McKay. John writes historical fiction and science fiction. He is currently a teacher in a local primary school. His previous publishing credits include The N Days through Night Chaser Ink Publishing in Australia. His second series, The Venom Protocols, was a Summer Indie awards winner in 2016.

Here’s the blurb:

[image error]“You should have left me alone.”

Charlotte Corday was once called the most dangerous woman on the planet by the FBI until she retired. But it’s not so easy to remain retired when the past is determined to drag her back into the hell she wanted to leave behind her.

To uncover the origins of the mysterious Valkyrie program, Charlotte fights through her own dark past, dredged up by those determined to keep her out of retirement… or out of the business permanently…and to find solace in her own razor blade filled mind. Her own words—her own warning—will come to haunt them.

They should have listened.

Let’s take a look inside:

He never had the chance to finish his sentence. My hand was a blur as the pen streaked across the room and embedded itself deeply in his forehead, his eyes went wide with shock before he slumped forward from the chair and fell to the floor. I lifted him up by his now bloody collar and looked him deeply in the eyes.

“Damn you for doing this, damn you.” I raged between clenched teeth, knowing that my life on the island was over. I had been compromised and I had maybe twenty minutes tops before this place would be swarming with government agents.

Move Charlie move. There was no time to waste and every moment counted. I ripped the back of the painting open and removed a stack of dollar bills and two unused British passports from the back. Grabbing a nearby bug out bag with extra clothing and supplies, I headed to the kitchen and ripped out the main gas line before lighting a packet of matches. With one last look over my shoulder, I left my life behind, the glow of the burning beach house lighting up the streaks of tears running down my face.

I had to find Katherine and get off the island as soon as possible. All hell was about to be unleashed and I had no choice but to run again. Run and hope these bastards didn’t find me again. Was it too much to ask to live in peace? Too much to be left alone? To be happy again?

Don’t think, just run. There is still time for you to get away. Run and never look back.

But even as I raced across the dark sand with the sounds of fire engines howling in the distance and a burning building behind me, I knew the bitter truth was staring me squarely in the face. My demons were alive and well and they were coming for me again.

Charlie O’Donnell is dead.

My name is Charlotte Corday.

I am an assassin.

The Venom Protocols is available for purchase on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Kobo, Google Play, and Smashwords

Connect with John on Facebook

Author Spotlight – Michael Timmins

Author Spotlight
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For this week’s Author Spotlight, I’d like to introduce you to Michael Timmins.

Michael lives in Toledo, Ohio with his wife and two sons. His inspiration for writing came from his many years making modules to run for his D&D group. It has been a dream of his to one day get his work published, and now with ease of self-publishing he has made his dream come true.

Let’s Take a Look at His Books
The Awakening: Part One
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War begins with an awakening…

Two millennia ago, a bloody civil war was fought between two Druidesses. Lycans were created to fight this war.

Now, four individuals struggle to cope as ancient powers are awoken inside of them as they shift for the first time. Their lives are thrown into chaos as they learn to control these new powers. Their only hope to survive is to master the beast within as the Druidesses who fought the ancient war have awoken again to do battle here and now.

The Awakening: Part Two
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The world is awakening

The monsters of myths and fairytales walk among us.

While Clint, Shae, Kat and Blain awaken to their powers, the others have too. Realizing that they are not like everyone else, and that they aren’t alone.

Samuel, who was once known as Syndor, has managed to survive all these years preparing for Kestrel’s spell and her arrival.

Five of the original eight bloodlines have awoken, but what of the others? How will their awakening happen?

Sylvanis continues to grow at a rapid rate, much to the bafflement of her parents, but her body recognizes the need and responds. Now, she must make a desperate gamble to call out to her Lycans, knowing Kestrel will be able to find her if she does.

Blood has been spilled already, but the war has only just begun!

Purchase links:
The Awakening Part One
The Awakening Part Two
NEW RELEASE! Prelude to the Shards
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Three exciting tales set in the world of Ismia. A world ruled by the Witches of the Coven. A world of forbidden magics and dark plots. Welcome, to Ismia.

Intellect

Quint is accused of murdering his love.

Innocent, and on the run, his only hope to seek the counsel of the Witch of Time, whose ability to delve a person’s timeline is the only way to prove his innocence.

With the help of his unique companion, Wren, he must travel to Covenhome, the seat of power for the Coven. Hunted by a man for his own dark purposes, Quint must elude capture and avoid becoming a pawn in a much larger game.

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Race of the Witchguard

Who will be chosen to become a Witchguard?

For generations, the Race has been an important event on the isle of Hail. Men and women compete to be chosen for the Witchguard, the protectors of the Coven.

For Sojin and Lyyra this year’s Race was to be like all of the Races of the past, but a mysterious stranger is about to change everything they thought they knew and believed.

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A Town Called Ghost

Ghost isn’t like other towns.

Once it was a thriving port on a vast lake. When the lake mysteriously dried up, so did the town. Once rich and prosperous, it became a town for the lost and forgotten.

A place where, for a price, anything can be had. A place ruled by gangs and thieves.

Whisp isn’t like other thieves.

Barely into her teens, her skill far exceeds her age. That’s because Whisp has a secret- she wields Essence magic, one of the magics forbidden by the Coven.

Now, the Shen, the magic hunters, have come for her, but they have made a mistake. They came to Ghost, and this is her town.

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Prelude to the Shards is on sale through pre-order for $2.99 through August 3rd.
Prelude to the Shards Coven Anthology
Along with the release of this book, Micheal is hosting a giveaway. Anyone who likes Michael’s Facebook page and posts a screenshot of the purchase of Prelude to the Shards, he will gift them a copy of his first book, The Awakening: Part One.

Connect with Michael through his website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram

Author Spotlight – Rachael Ritchey

Author Spotlight

This week’s second author spotlight shines on someone I hold near and dear to my heart. Young Adult author and book designer, Rachael Ritchey.

[image error]Rachael is a writer and book designer for indie authors. She mainly writes YA fantasy fiction, but you can find her dabbling in scifi and contemporary genres too. She has a passion for beautiful books, so book cover and interior designing are high on her list of enjoyable hobbies. When she’s not writing, working on design, spending time with her four kids and husband, homeschooling her youngest, reading a book, or watching movies, Rachael can be found enjoying one of the many beautiful lakes of the Inland Northwest or hiking in the woods of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

Chronicles of the Twelve Realms
[image error]The Beauty Thief

Magic is long dead in the Twelve Realms. At least this is what most believed until an innocent young woman becomes the obsession of a man who defies time by stealing the only thing that sustains his life: true beauty.

Princess Caityn is more than a pretty face. Her beauty runs soul deep, and because of this, her life is priceless to the thief. On the eve of her wedding to the high prince, Caityn is attacked. The thief’s powerful dark magic leaves her a wretched hag with an unrecognizable, shriveled soul.

Stories of old. A quest. Willing sacrifice. These are all that can save her, but doubt is a powerful weapon, and the thief knows it well. He will stop at nothing to keep the prince from undoing the curse.

And this is only the beginning!





She turned the Beauty Thief into a story book.  Isn’t it beautiful?
Look for it on  Amazon

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Other books in Chronicles of the Twelve Realms

Captive Hope

The Treasonous

She has an In-Progress PREQUEL called Ismene & Othniel available on WattPad:
 
​[image error]Ismene & Othniel ​

Ismene has given up her freedom to become wife to the future king of Taisce, all for the sake of her family. She never expected to find love within the castle walls.  But when the corruption of esteemed leaders at court erupts into a full-blown coup, Ismene is forced to choose between forfeiting her duty at the expense of the prince’s life or die with him.

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Get your copy of the Chronicles of the Twelve Realms at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, iBooks, or Auntie’s Bookstore
Rachael also designs book covers, and let me tell you, her work is AMAZING!  Check out her Book Design Services
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You can connect with Rachael through her Website/blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Goodreads.

Author Spotlight – Melanie Nowak

Author Spotlight

Welcome back to another Author Spotlight. This week, I will feature two authors. The first is Melanie Nowak.

[image error]Melanie Nowak is author of the venomous vampire series ALMOST HUMAN, and a happily married mom of two boys. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science. Originally a Long Islander, she now lives with her family on a peaceful mountaintop in the forest of upstate New York. She has always had a vivid imagination and a fascination for the paranormal. Acting and singing are loves of hers as well. However, upon conceiving the idea for her ALMOST HUMAN series in 2003, she discovered a previously unknown passion for writing! Now she puts her over-active imagination to good use, creating characters she loves, and she gets to play all of the parts!

A word from the author:

“Hi – I’m Melanie Nowak, author of the venomous vampire series ALMOST HUMAN. The story may be read either as two trilogies of epic novels (available digitally and in print worldwide) OR as a series of 21 episodic novellas (available in print and on KU). Both are the same story – feast on novels or snack on bite-sized novellas, pick your poison!

I am a completely independent author, doing everything for the series myself, from writing, to editing, cover design and marketing – I am a one woman show! It is hard work, but although I have received offers from publishing houses for the series, none have yet been tempting enough for me to relinquish my complete control – a labor of love for these characters I adore!

I currently have 2 completed series in my venomous vampire saga. While both follow the same characters chronologically, you can begin the Second series without having read the First (although you wouldn’t want to miss out on the juicy back-story!).

Don’t hesitate to send a friend request – I love meeting new readers!”

On that note, let’s take a look at her series.

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ALMOST HUMAN – The First Series, set around a small upstate college town, is a paranormal romantic fantasy of drama, angst and action. An elder vampire struggles with his faith, his crusade to mentor others, and his attraction to a young college woman, who is trying to navigate the hurdles of dealing with her peers, her job, vampires, zombies, and…college.

 

ALMOST HUMAN – The Second Series has more of a paranormal urban fantasy feel, still filled with drama, action and romance, the viewpoints broaden to include more of an ensemble cast of vampires and humans who have traveled beyond college to navigate adulthood, and discover paranormal abilities previously unknown. They must learn to master the difficult nuances of balancing thirst, power and…marriage. Oh, and they may just have to save the world.

 

ALMOST HUMAN ~ The First Series

FATAL INFATUATION

Part 1: Captivating Vampires

Part 2: Tempting Transgressions

Part 3: Venomous Revelations

LOST REFLECTIONS

Part 1: Persistent Persuasion

Part 2: Telling Tales

Part 3: Battles and Bliss

EVOLVING ECSTASY

Part 1: Ecstasy Unleashed

Part 2: Stakes and Sunshine

Part 3: Evolution of Love

ALMOST HUMAN ~ The Second Series

BORN TO BLOOD

Part 1: Vampiress Rising

Part 2: Exceeding Expectations

Part 3: Coping with Chaos

Part 4: Vampire Vertigo

DESCENDENT OF DARKNESS

Part 1: Determining Desires

Part 2: Undying Devotion

Part 3: Emotional Maelstrom

Part 4: Crossing the Line

DESTINED FOR DIVINITY

Part 1: Home of the Bloodthirsty

Part 2: Enemies and Allies

Part 3: Vicious Survival

Part 4: Divining Destiny

ALMOST HUMAN ~ The Third Series

VAMPIRESS REIGNING

Part 1: Uniting Vampires

There are two different ways to read ALMOST HUMAN. There are 6 full novels (2 trilogies), which are quite long, and they were later broken up to also be published as 21 novellas. You can read the story in a feast of novels or as bite-sized novellas – pick your poison! The first trilogy of novels is available in an Omnibus Edition as well.

I recently released another novella: UNITING VAMPIRES – part 1 of my next upcoming novel, VAMPIRESS REIGNING. There will be two more novellas coming out this year. Then all three of those novellas will be combined for the release of the full novel.

This year also marks the 10 year anniversary of the publication of the first trilogy! To celebrate, all of the novels are being re-released in newly edited and formatted editions with beautiful new covers!

Re-release date is set for July 27th!

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Excerpt from FATAL INFATUATION – book 1 of ALMOST HUMAN – The First Trilogy by Melanie Nowak

 Felicity studied the vampire for a moment as he read the inside jacket cover of the book. He looked like an ordinary guy. Okay well, maybe not ordinary. He looked like an extremely attractive guy. Early twenties probably, broad shoulders, very nice build. How could she be expected to fear someone so achingly gorgeous? His hair fell down into his eyes as he looked at the book and he absently swiped it aside, although it fell back again almost immediately. He was a little pale, but he certainly didn’t look supernatural. He looked up from the book to find her staring at him. She quickly searched for something to say. “I suppose you’ll be taking it over to the café?”

“Mr. predictable, that’s me,” Cain answered with a chuckle.

Why should tonight be any different from the last few…just because she now knew what he was? “Right.” She had an odd thought as she swept the change from the counter. “Do you actually drink coffee, or is that just for show?”

He seemed to find her inquiry amusing. She supposed such a direct question might be considered rude, but she couldn’t help wondering. “I can drink what I like.”

She came out from behind the register and began walking him over to the café. She noticed Ben staring, but ignored him. The presence of the man beside her commanded her full attention. “So what do you do besides drink coffee and read?”

He looked a little sobered by the question. “Fight.”

“Other vampires?” she asked quietly.

His gaze travelled over her seductively. “Temptation mostly.”

She wasn’t sure whether to melt or shudder.

 

ALMOST HUMAN is available through Amazon.

 

For more information or to connect with Melanie, visiter her website, Amazon author page, Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

How To Become a Better Writer

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Author Spotlight – Galya Varna

Author Spotlight

Welcome to another week of Author Spotlight. This week’s spotlight is on Galya Varna. Galya is a poet, book reviewer, and visual artist.

[image error]Born in Varna, the summer capital of Bulgaria, on the Black Sea Coast, Galya Varna now lives in Greece, on the coast of the Aegean Sea.

Galya Varna holds an MA in English literature, and linguistics and language acquisition is another passion of hers. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and plays for many years. Dreams You Thought Were Lost is her first published poetry book.

Galya Varna is the driving force behind the new creative project WeArtFriends and the bimonthly online magazine Doorway to Art.

Her debut poetry collection, Dreams You Thought Were Lost, weaves unexpected stories belonging to the realms of aether and the present day. The poems, organized into 8 sections, tell tales of love and endless wonders, voice fears and hopes, take the reader on happy and sad journeys, paint visions of special times and stormy days, share beauty, sadness and moments of joy, hoping for better tides.

If you ever had dreams you thought were lost, this voyage is for you!

 

Let’s take a peek at some of her poems.

True Shape

May the night

bring

dreams

you thought

were lost.

Darkness

lets all things

take

their true shape.

The Wind

Every evening

the wind comes home.

Tired

he sits down

to rest

under the rose bushes,

listening to the song of the crickets.

The birds

leave their twigs

to greet him

with a flutter of wings.

Perched on the fence

they wait to hear

the stories

he has brought home.

The wind takes off

his weary coat,

welcomes a warm summer shower

to refresh his body

and begins to narrate.

The stories,

let free,

become wind

and start their trip

around the world.

You take my hand

in your hand

and off we go

on our journey

into the night.

Fear of the Dark

Sadness

and fear of the dark

pull me back

to a childhood memory

with the feeling

of helplessness.

The warmth

of your laughter

brings me back to the present.

Oh, I know

you  too

have your own fear,

your own sadness,

your own dark.

Standing on the Edge

Standing on the edge

of the rock

I look at the glittering face

of the river

and see

fear of alienation.

Words,

like paper boats,

disappear

downstream.

Gestures and looks

drown

like thrown pebbles.

From the water

emerges our own

hazy illusion of happiness.

Symbiosis

Poppies,

sleeping,

deep into the frozen earth,

dream of

a fresh start

above the ground.

Barren,

the field sighs

with the wind gust

and recalls the red warmth

poppies used to give it

last spring.

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What other poets say about Dreams You Thought Were Lost:

“Galya has crafted a bold and honest collection of poems; the imagery of her verse will truly capture you.” –Nicholas Trandahl

“Galya’s debut book is absolutely beautiful! I did short breaks during my reading to absorb all the serene feelings, the sweetness and the optimistic vibes sent to my soul. Dreamy and tranquil is the poet’s style and this a book to treasure.” –Eden Sleepwalker

“Galya Varna understands what it is to be human. In her poetry, nature and personal reflection interweaves, asking questions and revealing truths.” –Isabelle Kenyon

“When I read this book of magical poems, I was greeted with a gentle voice and ethereal perspective that I’ll not soon forget. This is a collection that will dwell on my bedside table, because it transported me to a world of wonder, impressed me with fresh imagery that I’ve not encountered previously, and left me in no doubt that I’ll want to read it again and again.” –Bianca Bowers

“Astonishing, riveting, a soul bearing experience. A hurricane of emotions as you look through the eye of the storm when reading this poetry.” –Frankie Writez

Dreams You Thought Were Lost is available as a Free download on KindleUnlimited.  Grab your copy through Amazon US or Amazon UK

 

You can contact Galya Varna on:
Twitter @GalyaVarna
Her blog www.galyavarna.wordpress.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009264563302
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/galya-varna-1a9156155/
or through her Website www.we-art-friends.com

 

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