Michele Israel Harper's Blog, page 3

Silence the Siren has a Release Date!

Cue all celebrations everywhere—Silence the Siren has a release date, finally!

As those of you who receive my newsletter already know, this lovely book releases August 24, 2021, and preorder swag is available Right. Now. :D

(It is extremely limited, so if you want some, now is the time to snatch it up!)

Can you tell I’m just the smallest bit excited over here? :D

Okay, so do you want a peek of all the bookish lovelies I will send you for embarking on this siren-pirate-huntress adventure with me? Here ya go!

First up, character sketches by the lovely Laura Hollingsworth!

You guys, she is my dream artist. The fact that she even agreed to immortalize my characters in her illustrative glory still has my head spinning. Aren’t they gorgeous? Happy sigh.

(You will be hearing a lot of happy sighing from me, let me tell you.)

It is no secret I love stickers. And thanks to H.L. Burke (If you haven’t read her Supervillain Rehabilitation Project Series, you need to do so post-haste! I am in love with that series), I am now addicted to holographic stickers.

What better way to commemorate Silence the Siren’s lovely cover by Sara Helwe Digital Arts than holographic stickers? I am seriously addicted. So shiny. Hopefully you’ll enjoy playing with them in the light as much as I have. (Or reflecting the light off them on every surface for your cat. That’s fun too.) :)

And can I just say how much I love that siren coming out the water, ready to tear Ro to shreds, and she’s just calmly shooting at her as if she’d used to these kinds of things? I’d be throwing that bow and running, let me tell you.

Some art I had commissioned for my book release, and others I contacted the artist and asked permission to give them to you as a thank-you for buying my book. So many artists were so gracious to agree!

Magnetic bookmarks by Happy Hello Co.

This artist is just the sweetest. When I contacted her about snatching up every last one of these magnetic bookmarks for preorder goodies, she happily dug up more so I could have them ALL! :D We’ve got mermaid, huntress, and siren-ish bookmarks here, and I adore how the magnets just suction to the page and don’t allow you to lose your place no matter how many times you drop a book on your face when falling asleep.

(Can a get an amen from my fellow late-night readers?)

I love them. So much.

Mermaid dreaming sticker by Karen Hallion.

Oh. My. Goodness. How can you not love these stickers? I was blown away when the artist let me include these as a thank-you for going on an adventure with my huntress, Ro. The sirens in my story are adamant that they are not mermaids with their bright colors and happy dispositions and always-dreaming qualities. Since we meet mermaids later in the series, I had to include these!

Llyr “Sea Curls” siren sticker and Cordelia “Extravagant” siren sticker from Lin308.

Since she’d already drawn two of my characters exactly, this lovely artist happily agreed to let me include her gorgeous art in my thank-you packs. I am one of the happiest authors in the world right now. Llyr with her gorgeous hair and optimistic personality becomes friends with the huntress, and Cordelia is so enamored by all things siren, she can’t help exploring her new world. (And that’s all I can say without spoilers!)

I love them both so much.

Bookplates: When I designed these bookplates, I had no idea they would be this gorgeous in person! I love all things red, all things roses, and all things Beauty and the Beast, so these bookplates are perfection.

I also got new business cards for this release, so let’s just face it. You’ll probably get one of those too. (Email me anytime! I’d love to chat with you about all things bookish.)

And for those of you ordering signed copies directly from me (extremely, extremely limited) . . . You. Guys.

Not only will you get the most gorgeous coloring book in the world (the gold foil and thick pages and Little Mermaid quotes are divine!), the girls at LCC Boutique handcrafted these rose-stud earrings exclusively for this release.

The studs are hypoallergenic, the earrings are delicate and smooth and beautiful, and the red glitter catches the light just right and looks exactly like the magical rose in Kill the Beast, the first book in the series.

I am in love with them. (And yes, I have my very own pair!)

I only have 20 coloring books and 20 earrings, so once they’re gone, they’re gone.

{Link to order signed copies right here.}

{Already ordered the ebook or paperback via another retailer? Here is the signup form for preorder swag!}

Let’s just take a moment to revel in the awesomeness that is bookish art. Happy sigh.

Thank you so much for joining me today, and I hope you love your new adventure and all the goodies that come with it! <3

In Him,

Michele

About the Book:

Huntress Ro LeFèvre is offered a job to hunt the sirens who have been sinking the king of Angleterre’s ships, and in turn, vast amounts of his wealth. All who have gone before her have failed.

 

Fleeing heartbreak, Ro gladly accepts, but there’s just one problem. The king will credit the Marquis de la Valère, and no other women are allowed on the voyage.

 

Ro will just see about that.

 

Hiring an all-female pirate crew without the king’s knowledge, Ro hopes they will follow her to the Caribbean, not take the gold and flee.

 

But when Ro is plunged deep into the ocean by the siren she’s being paid to kill, presented the sirens’ side of the story at knife point, and pressed to join them or die, Ro must decide whether to complete her mission, join the sirens, or something in between.

 

Before the sirens sink the ship full of men above.

 

This fast-paced, high-action adventure is a Little Mermaid reimagining of the Hans Christian Andersen persuasion and the second book in the Beast Hunter series.

About the Author:

Michele Israel Harper spends her days as an acquisitions editor for L2L2 Publishing and her nights spinning her own tales. Sleep? Sometimes . . . She has her Bachelor of Arts in history, is slightly obsessed with all things French—including Jeanne d’Arc and La Belle et la Bête—and loves curling up with a good book more than just about anything else. Author of nine published novels as well as an award-winning freelance editor in her spare time, Michele prays her involvement in writing, editing, and publishing creates many enjoyable books in the years to come. Visit www.MicheleIsraelHarper.com (or www.L2L2Publishing.com) to keep in touch or sign up for her newsletter.

Beast Hunters Beast Hunter Author: Michele Israel Harper
Series: Beast Hunters, Book 0
Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling

This is the story that started it all: How Red Riding Hood killed the wolf, escaped the beast, and became a huntress. This prequel novella weaves seamlessly into the first book of the Beast Hunters series, Kill the Beast.

More info →Signed Bookplate Kill the Beast Author: Michele Israel Harper
Series: Beast Hunters, Book 1
Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling

This heartfelt and magical adventure is a Beauty and the Beast reimagining where Red Riding Hood is hired to hunt and kill the beast.

More info →Signed Bookplate Silence the Siren Author: Michele Israel Harper
Series: Beast Hunters, Book 2
Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling

Silence the Siren is available now!

Preorder swag is available until the 24th or while supplies last.

I hope you love your new adventure!

This high-seas adventure is a Little Mermaid reimagining of the Hans Christian Andersen persuasion and the second book in the Beast Hunters series.

More info →$5 Damaged PaperbacksSpecial Edition HardcoverBeast Hunters Series PackSigned PaperbackPreorder Goodies Quell the Nightingale Author: Michele Israel Harper
Series: Beast Hunters, Book 3
Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling

Quell the Nightingale is the third book in the Beast Hunters series.

Coming soon.

More info →

Supervillain Rehabilitation Project Series

Prism and Fade are my jam.

Seriously, this is one of my favorite superhero series in the world, and I am so invested in each one of these characters.

I just started reading book four last night (even though it’s been on my Kindle for a few days now), and it’s already promising to be just as good (or even better), than the last three books.

Author H.L. Burke did such an amazing job! I seriously can’t get enough of these books and won’t be upset if the author decides to add another book (or twenty) to the series.

(And can I please freak out about those covers for just a moment? They are so fun! They were the first thing that drew me to the series, and they absolutely fulfill the promise that these books will be a fun—and intense—read.)

Check out the full series right here:

{Supervillain Rehabilitation Project series: Reformed, Redeemed, Reborn, Refined.}

Plus, there’s a fun spinoff novella that I read in less than a day.

{Blind Date with a Supervillain: Supervillain Romance Project}

About Reformed, Book One:

Once a villain, always a villain?

 

Optimistic and idealistic superhero Prism is determined to redeem her father’s legacy by rebooting his supervillain rehabilitation program. To do so, she sets her sights on Fade, the relapsed supervillain who was the reason the government canceled the original program in the first place. However, when she petitions for Fade to be released into her custody, she finds out things might not be as simple as she thought.

 

Convicted of an unforgivable crime, Fade received a choice: surrender to trial and possible execution or endure a memory erasure so he could start fresh. Now with no recollection of his time before incarceration, Fade doubts he has the ability to be anything but the villain the public believes him to be.

 

A series of attacks by a mysterious power-swapping villain points back to Fade’s past and the crime that cost him his freedom and memory. With her father’s legacy and her own reputation on the line, even Prism has to wonder: can a villain truly be reformed?

>>>Important note: If you haven’t read the series yet, potential ***SPOILERS*** ahead! (Just scroll down to the next pic.) <3

About Redeemed, Book Two:

An idealistic heroine. A reformed villain. A troubled teen.
Can the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project form a family out of this mess?

 

Still working out her team’s dynamic as well as her own fledgling romance with former villain Fade, Prism is blindsided when her superiors order her to take on another rehabilitation subject or risk having her team broken apart. Then her best friend and fellow superhero, Tanvi, foils a robbery but injures a super-powered teen in the process. Guilt stricken, she begs Prism to let the young girl, Alma, AKA Soulbird, be their next project.

 

Alma fills a gap in the team and works her way into the group’s hearts. However, her past stalks her, as the villain who forced her into a life of crime in the first place doesn’t want to let her escape into hero life without a fight.

 

Can Prism and her team redeem Alma from her past, or will the villain life drag the girl out of the SVR and out of their reach forever?

About Reborn, Book Three:

The worst blows come from those closest to your heart.

 

Idealistic superhero, Prism, has taken the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project to new heights. With her team thriving, her marriage to former supervillain, Fade, blissful, and her first child on the way, the life of her dreams is within reach … but supervillains never rest.

 

When a mysterious gang of criminals targets superhero facilities, Prism’s team springs into action. However, these villains have a nasty surprise in store for Prism: all its members are already dead … and one of them is a ghost from Prism’s past. One she can’t bring herself to take down.

 

Faced with an enemy who always strikes for the heart, Prism has impossible decisions to make. Choices that could cost her the things—and people—she cares for the most.

About Refined, Book Four:

It’s hard to be a hero when crime is in your DNA.

 
Now a full time hero with a beloved wife and treasured daughter, former supervillain Fade is certain nothing could take him down a dark path again. However, a mystery from his past lies in wait, a mystery tied to a part of his life he’d rather forget.

 
When DNA evidence reveals that Fade’s biological father is the elusive and enigmatic assassin known only as Syphon, Fade wants nothing to do with that mess. Unfortunately, Fade can’t shake the target this newly discovered connection puts on him—and the backs of his friends and family.

 
Fade’s only chance to fix things is taking down Syphon himself. But Fade’s long absent father has his own plans for their reunion. Plans that could cost Fade everything he’s fought and bled to create.

If you like Brandon Sanderson’s The Reckoners series (Steelheart, Firefight, Calamity), Jason C. Joyner’s Rise of the Anointed series (Launch, Fractures), Marissa Meyer’s Renegades series (Renegades, Archenemies, Supernova), or Hope Bolinger’s and Alyssa Roat’s Dear Hero/Dear Henchman duology (Book two coming soon! Yay!), then this is exactly the series for you.

Have you read any part of the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project series? Or is it on your TBR list?

I would love to hear what you think!

In Him,

Michele

Coming soon: Silence the Siren has a RELEASE DATE. Excuse me while I hyperventilate over here! (And wait impatiently for things to be “in place” before the official announcement. Gah! This writer doesn’t have that kind of patience!)

About Author H. L. Burke:

H. L. Burke has written more books than she can count—because she’s written a lot of books, not just because she can’t count very high.

Easily distracted by shinies, she has published in many sub-genres including fantasy romance, Steampunk, and superhero, and always creates storyworlds with snark, feels, and wonder.

Married to her high school crush, she spends her time writing, spoiling her cat, and supervising her two supervillains in training (aka her precocious daughters).

An Oregon native, she wilts without trees and doesn’t mind the rain. She is a fan of delicious flavor, a follower of the Light, and a believer in happily ever after.

Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com.

Ways to Connect with H. L. Burke:

My Twitter for random snarkiness and occasional book snippets (www.twitter.com/hlburkewriter)My Facebook for longer-form random snarkiness, occasional book snippets, and #dailydragon posts where I share my favorite dragon-related finds (www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter)My Instagram for #TheodoretheDragon awesomeness (www.instagram.com/burkesdragons)My website and mailing list for news and deals (www.hlburkeauthor.com)My reader group if you want to be the first to hear about beta and ARC reading opportunities as well as my day-to-day struggles and weekly live videos. (www.facebook.com/groups/hlburkereaders)

Lament’s Online Release Party Is Today!

I’m so excited to be a part of Laura L. Zimmerman’s blog tour for Lament!

Laura A. Grace and I will be co-hosting Zimmerman’s online release party for her, and J.M. Hackman, Lee James, and Laurie Lucking will be our special guest authors to chat about their releases this year.

{Click this link right here to join the online release party!}

J.M. Hackman is the author of the Firebrand Chronicles (Spark, Flare, and Burn). Her ADHD heroine goes from stepping through portals to riding griffins to fighting an epic battle against another Firebrand, a wielder of fire. If you haven’t read this series yet, it is a must-read!

Lee James‘s debut novel, Azriel, releases this year from L2L2 Publishing, and oh my goodness, you guys, it is so good! Bree Faro is a hardened warrior who must infiltrate the Watchmen of Azriel to steal something of great value, only to find acceptance and a place among the Watchman—if she’ll but accept it. I cannot wait for this book!

Laurie Lucking is the author of the Tales of the Mystics series (Common, Traitor, and Scarred.) Common is a sweet and captivating novel with nods to Cinderella, and if you’ve read it, perhaps you remember Penelope? Traitor is her story, and guess what? Laurie has a big surprise for you during the party! You’ll not want to miss her time slot!

Laura A. Grace is the author of Dear Author, a book of encouragement for discouraged authors (I often read this when I’m feeling down) and Team Lines, a collection of her poetry. Her clean Christian manga, Gathering Teams, releases soon! (Check out her website to find out when.) If you’ve never been to an online party she’s hosted, you’re in for a treat! This girl knows how to throw a party! :D

And last but certainly not least is the author of the Banshee Song Series herself! Laura L. Zimmerman has enchanted readers everywhere with the story of the banshee Caoine, who thinks she’s a murderer for singing souls to rest in Keen. (And, you know, has to save the world before evil faeries rip it to shreds.) In Lament, we get to follow Caoine into the heart of the Unseelie Realm, where the beautiful and whimsical creatures of Fae try to ensure she never leaves. Highly recommend!

{You can get your own copy of Lament at this link right here!}

Want a sneak peek of a few of the prizes tonight? Of course you do! ;)

Happy sigh. I just love books so much, and I love giving away the ones I’ve enjoyed even more.

We have so many more prizes than those, as well as fun games and exciting announcements about all the lovely new books coming your way this year.

Feel free to RSVP right here for a reminder to join in the fun tonight.

Thank you for stopping by, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you tonight!

In Him,

Michele

My True Self, My Brand

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Branding. Building. Birthing.

All things must start somewhere.

I’ve just come from the Realm Makers online conference, and the sessions and classes have forced me to take a hard look at what I write, whom I write for, and where my writing passion lies.

From the beginning, I’ve written stories of girls a little older, on their own, young women beyond the teen years. All my stories reside there. I’ve been told my tales are not quite adult fiction, for the mature, and they’re not quite young adult, for the teens.

My stories fall into that shaky middle ground, that arena publishers once labeled “New Adult,” that genre/audience that quickly fizzled out due to too-dark themes and borderline-erotic content and the motto “anything goes.”

So my books don’t quite fit there either.

But you know what? I say no more. No more trying to shove and shape and force my stories to fit in a place they were never meant to be. I don’t write YA. I never have.

Even if I couldn’t see that till right now.

I write for the new adult audience, in the fantasy and sci-fi genres and subgenres, that lovely little realm called speculative fiction, and I want to honor God with my stories.

My books are clean. I’ve never pretended to write anything else. Light shines in the midst of darkness. My characters face hard choices, life choices. They seek hope, but it’s messy. And I’m okay with that.

I’m reclaiming what’s in my heart, what I’m passionate about. Whom I started writing for in the first place.

Me.

Scared. Desperately wanting to take risks. Told I couldn’t do it. Afraid I would crash and burn. Forced out of safety. Fleeing toward freedom and grabbing on with both hands. Sick to my stomach, internalizing lies that I was a failure and all I would ever do is fail. Knowing I couldn’t do it.

But I could. And I did.

This is why I write. For FREEDOM’S sake. For those who feel stuck where they are, scared to take that first step, but there they are, and there it is, and they’re stepping, stepping, stepping…and now they’re flying.

Novel. New. Exciting.

I am passionate about books for the twenty year olds. The ones in college. Just finishing college. Going for their masters or adulting for the first time.

College. Career. Complex.

Let’s face it: high school was rough. (At least, for me it was.) I loved when I was past that stage and on my own, experiencing freedom and adventure and yes, even responsibilities for the first time.

Flight. Fantasy. Freedom.

I loved proving to myself I could make it on my own. And that time in my life stuck with me. Burrowed deep within my soul. I can do anything if I work hard enough for it. If I follow the lead of the Spirit within, that voice that says “move” or “stay.” And those are the kinds of books I write.

New Adult Novels.

When high school is over, whether forced to spread your wings or you decide to jump out of the nest on your own, what happens next?

I’m here to show you, mostly by that lovely little question novelists everywhere hear in their heads: “What if?” You have choices. Dreams. Desires. Goals. Take charge and go for them! My novels reflect that. Your world is what you shape it to be. No matter how scared you are, be brave.

Take heart. Seize courage. You’ve got this.

And it looks like I’ve got some rebranding to do.

New Adult Novels.

Reclaimed. Reborn. Redeemed.

Rediscovering my passion for writing, grabbing hold of it with both hands.

I’m scared, but I can do it. And so can you.

In Him,

Michele

P.S. This is my dream, my heart–what’s yours? What have you been too scared to step out and go after with all you’ve got? I would love to hear it!

Fellowship of Fantasy Virtual Book Fair

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Just a quick announcement to say that I will be at the Fellowship of Fantasy virtual book fair this Friday evening (today) and Saturday!

It will be a fun, interactive event, where you can come to my “booth,” ask me anything your heart desires, and browse my books.

I’ll even take requests for stories you’d like to see me write in the future!

{Here’s the link to join me right here.}

I am so honored to be included in this virtual event, especially since all of my physical events this year have been postponed or have gone virtual.

Oh! One more thing.

I want to give a huge shoutout to the mastermind behind this event, Author H.L. Burke, whose latest book, Reformed, kept me up all night. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!

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Be sure to check out the other author’s booths as well, and come prepared for a good time.

Time: 8 PM EST Friday evening through 11 PM EST Saturday evening, May 29th and 30th.

I can’t wait to see you there! {>>> Right here. <<

Thank you so much!

In Him,

Michele

The Burn Blog Tour Makes a Stop Here

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I am so excited to be a part of J.M. Hackman’s blog tour for Burn!

And I’m even more excited about being one of the hosts for tonight’s online release party.

If you want to join me, Laura A. Grace, Jebraun Clifford, and J.M. Hackman, click this link right here, and I’ll see you this evening!

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There are so many awesome prizes, you guys. So many. I especially love the grand prize J.M. Hackman put together for you!

There are several ebooks, a few paperbacks, and even a hardback or two, and all of them are books that the hosts love! Just about each post in the party includes a prize.

I hope to see you there!

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Want to know a little but more about Burn?

Life: 1. Brenna James: 0.

An AWOL talent, an enemy-occupied hometown, and a Life Shade boyfriend—Brenna James just wants something to go right. Although her family has been given sanctuary in Syeira, Brenna will never be safe as long as Rune is hunting down and killing Firebrands.

Can someone please wake her up already?

When a prophecy sends Brenna and Baldwin on a confusing quest, they aren’t sure where to begin. They must find the Caelestis Staff, a powerful object that both cuts and mends space itself. Rune wants it too, and he’ll use any lethal tactics necessary to obtain it.

Yeah, nightmare material right there.

A traveling oasis, plenty of man-eating mermaids, and one Skeleton King later, Brenna seriously doubts she has the edge she needs to confront Rune. When Brenna’s faced with the biggest test of her life, will she burn like the Firebrand she is? Or will she burn out?

Until tonight!

In Him,

Michele

Here’s the blog tour schedule if you’d like to check out more posts!

Monday, May 18th, Guest Post: “Writing a Series,” K.A. Cummins, www.authorkacummins.comTuesday, May 19th, “Interview with Author J.M. Hackman,” Laura L. Zimmerman, www.lauralzimmerman.comWednesday, May 20th, Visual Post: “Burn’s Cast of Characters and Creatures,” Jebraun Clifford, www.jebraunclifford.comThursday, May 21st, Behind-the-Scenes Feature: “Four Cool Facts I Learned While Writing Burn,” Pam Halter, www.PamHalter.comFriday, May 22nd, Guest Post: “Finishing Well,” Tori V. Rainn, www.torivrainn.comSaturday, May 23rd, Visual Post: “Burn’s Magical Tour of Artifacts,” Annie Douglass Lima,www.anniedouglasslima.blogspot.comSunday, May 24th, “Exciting News about the Firebrand Chronicles,” L2L2 Publishing, www.L2L2Publishing.comMonday, May 25th, Behind-the-Scenes Feature: “Living Chosen,” Tabitha Caplinger, www.tabithacaplinger.comTuesday, May 26th, Release-Day Feature, J.M. Hackman, www.jmhackman.comWednesday, May 27th, Guest Post: “Going Dark,” Laurie Lucking, www.landsuncharted.comThursday, May 28th, Release-Party Feature, Michele Israel Harper, www.MicheleIsraelHarper.comFriday, May 29th, Visual Post: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” Laura A. Grace, www.unicornquester.com



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Check out L2L2 Publishing’s website for series info and a buy link!

Ghostly Vendetta Release Day!

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It’s release day for my new book, Ghostly Vendetta!

(Cue all the flailing and dancing and squealing.)

I can’t tell you how excited I am to have another book in the Candace Marshall Chronicles out in the world.

Now, this is actually a prequel to Zombie Takeover, which I wrote while drafting Vampire Feud, the book after Zombie Takeover.

(Have I made things complicated yet? Lol!)

Speaking of Vampire Feud, I have some exciting news about that book too! But more on that in a bit.

So I wasn’t going to celebrate this release at all, just leave a few posts in the internet-ether saying, “Hey! My book’s out today!” But the incredible Laura A. Grace was having none of that.

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She said something to the effect of “Oh no. I’m having none of that. We’re celebrating your release or else.” (Ahem. Drastic liberties taken with paraphrasing said dialogue.)

In other words, Laura surprised me with a release party and wouldn’t take “I’m so busy, I’m drowning in work” as an excuse. She is so wonderful!

So join us tonight to celebrate my new release, all thanks to the glorious Laura A. Grace, author of Dear Author, the most encouraging person in the entire world! (And her book reflects that.)

{RSVP for the FB party right here!}

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And if that wasn’t amazing enough?

My incredible cover artist, Sara Helwe Digital Arts, created the next cover in the series, just so I could have a surprise cover reveal at the end of the party! Oh my freaking goodness!

{Don’t forget to RSVP!}

Here’s a little bit more about my new book:

“Dare to spend the night in mysterious Rutherford Hall! When? The 175th anniversary of the Rutherford family’s unsolved murder. Ghosts guaranteed. Cash prize: $5,000. Want more deets? Ask Tyler, Stewart, or James.”

I laughed aloud as I read the flyer. Yeah, right. To think that I, Candace Marshall, world’s biggest scaredy-cat, would go anywhere near some haunted house, much less spend the night in one. I crumpled the stupid thing, pitched it in the nearest trash can, and went on my merry, oblivious, and soon-to-be-scared-out-of-my-mind way.

* * *

Candace Marshall doesn’t do ghosts. Or zombies. Or vampires. Or mummies.

Anything scary, really.

When she finds herself signed up for a dare she’s gone out of her way to avoid, things spiral out of control. Quickly.

Stuck in a mansion alongside a vengeful spirit, a miffed boyfriend, and a room full of people she doesn’t know or even like (if she’s being completely honest here), she must decide whether to act brave or let the coward within show.

Or kill the person who got her involved in the first place.

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And that’s what my new book is all about!

{Buy Link on L2L2 Publishing’s website.}

Thank you for celebrating with me, and I hope to see you tonight!

(Plus take a small peek at the edges of my new cover below. Want to see the whole thing? Then I’ll be seeing you tonight!)

Love you all, and thank you for all the encouragement you, my lovely readers, have texted, messaged, or shared with me all day!

I appreciate you more than I can say!

In Him,

Michele

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The Candace Marshall Chronicles:

Ghostly Vendetta

Zombie Takeover

Vampire Feud

Mummy Resurrection

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Happy Cover Reveal Day to Me!

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Yes, “new books” as in plural. Three of them.

Can you believe it? I can’t.

If we’re being honest here, I actually wrote five books last year. (More on the other two later.) My cover artist and I have been working on these three covers for a while now, but I’ve been holding them back so I could show you all at once.

I’m so excited!

So, without further ado, here are my new book babies.

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Are you still there? Of course you are.

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Surely you expected no less from me than to keep you in suspense, at least for a little while.

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Oh, come on! I’ve been dying to show you these for months! Do you feel at least a smidgeon of my pain?

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Ta-da! Feast your eyes upon this gorgeousness from Sara Helwe Digital Arts!

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Aren’t they divine? Isn’t Sara the best?

I mean, I can hardly stand how excited I am.

Check out my publisher’s site for closeups and book descriptions, and be sure to check back in (or sign up) for book updates.

I can’t wait to share these beauties with you!

(Oh! Before I forget: I also wrote Vampire Feud: Book Two in the Candace Marshall Chronicles, Quell the Nightingale: Book Three of the Beast Hunter Series, and Ruby Dragon Kingdom: Tales of the Cousin Kingdoms, but they all need major edits.)

(Tales of the Cousin Kingdoms is a five-book series based on stories I’ve been telling my kids for years, so I finally put the first one down in book form. They. Loved. It. So I’ve got the whole series outlined, books two and three partially written, and I know nothing about delving into this new, magical realm of children’s fiction. But I’m learning.)

I can’t wait to share release dates!

Thank you for your patience while you’ve been hounding me–ahem, I mean, asking me–for the next book in the Beast Hunter series as well as more from Candace Marshall, my resident scaredy-cat.

Love you all!

In Him,

Michele

Silence the Siren–Almost!

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As NaNoWriMo barrels down upon writers everywhere (National Novel Writing Month, for those of you unfamiliar with the madness), I have one goal in mind: finish last year’s project, Silence the Siren.

Book two of the Beast Hunter series.

I’m so close, you guys. So close.

Every time I think I have a coherent story, I find a plot hole or a doubled or tripled scene (a scene I wrote several times over, because it wasn’t quite right, which is so fun to find when I think I’ve found them all).

I am so close to victory, I can taste it.

Why has it taken me over a year to self-edit (yes, my editor will have eyes on this when it’s ready) when I wrote over 112,000 words of the story last November?

I am a freelance editor. I am the acquisitions editor for L2L2 Publishing. I approve files and coordinate with the L2L2 team and spend the bulk of my day working on projects for L2L2 and other authors.

We’re deep into making sure everything is in place for the 2020 production schedule, and it’s all I can do to find time for anything else right now.

I travel all over the U.S., hearing pitches from lovely authors who have their own writing dreams, encouraging them to reach for the stars and hone their craft.

And that’s just my professional life. Let’s not even dig in to the personal side of things.

So to have an almost-complete manuscript of my very own work is driving me absolutely crazy!

I’m almost there! If only I could work on it more than an hour or two a day. Sigh.

But this is not me complaining. Oh, no. This is me telling you that if I can write a 112,000-word novel (Down by 12,000 words! Woohoo!) in the midst of the madness that is my life, so can you.

Did you hear me?

So. Can. You.

Sit down, every spare moment you have, and write.

Scribble down ideas in the school pickup line.

Order groceries through your store’s online pickup so you have 30 minutes to an hour more of your day.

Join a weekly writers group (Go Thursday Night Dream Big Writers!) or a critique group so you not only have time to write, you also have other, more advanced writers (hopefully published) who can look over your work and encourage your strengths and help develop your weaknesses.

Do whatever works for you, whenever it works for you, and don’t let your crazy-busy life be the excuse for not following your dreams.

If I can do it, so can you.

Love you all!

In Him,

Michele

Come Celebrate Keen’s Release with Me!

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I can’t tell you how much I love being a part of my authors’ blog tours!

Today I get to rave all about Keen, only the best banshee book I’ve ever read. Seriously, the fast-paced, witty dialogue, edge-of-your-seat action, and sweet, sweet romance deliciously mix together for an incredible read.

But first, let me tell you all about the online release party!

Absolutely everyone is invited (it is online, after all)–all you have to do is show up at 8 PM EST, comment on any of the giveaway posts, and be entered to win so many fabulous bookish prizes!

{But seriously, RSVP right here so FB sends you a reminder when the party is about to begin.}

Don’t believe me? Well then, take a look at just a snippet of these amazing prizes!

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(And that’s not all of them!)

So seriously. Cooooommmmme. You will love it so, so much. (The book AND the party.)

Oh, yes, the book! We can’t move on without telling you more about the book, can we?

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So here’s what the back cover has to say:

You must walk the darkness to find the light.

Half-faerie Caoine has no control over the banshee lament she sings each night, predicting the death of others. A senior in a brand new high school, she expects the same response she’s received at every other school: judgment from fellow students over her unusual eyes and unnaturally white skin and hair. However, when Caoine arrives at West Lincoln High, for the first time in her life she finds friends. Real friends.

But being a teenager is never easy, especially when the star soccer player, Oliver, sets his sights on her. Allowing him to get close means revealing her curse to the human world. She can’t let that happen. Life spins further out of control when her lament comes out during the day, those whose death she predicts die right in front of her, and a dark faerie known only as the Unseelie prince blames Caoine by leaving her the creepiest notes ever. Her curse is not supposed to work like that.

In a race against time, Caoine must uncover the Unseelie prince’s identity and stop a spell before it unleashes hell on earth, all while trying to control her banshee song and finding a place among her peers.

Senior year just got real.

So join Laura and me tonight for only the most epic L2L2 party ever. See you there!

In Him,

Michele

About your party hosts:

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About the Author:

Laura L. Zimmerman lives in a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, three daughters, and three furbaby felines. Besides writing, she’s passionate about loving Jesus, fangirling over anything Star Wars, and singing loudly. She takes her coffee black and spends her days pretending to do yoga. Keen is her debut novel.

All About Me:

Author of Wisdom & Folly: Sisters, Zombie Takeover, Beast Hunter, Kill the Beast, and the soon-to-be-released Silence the Siren, Michele Israel Harper is also a freelance editor and the acquisitions editor at Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, LLC. Harper has her Bachelor of Arts in history, is slightly obsessed with all things French—including Jeanne d’Arc and La Belle et la Bête—and loves curling up with a good book more than just about anything else.