E.M. Hamill's Blog, page 9
March 1, 2020
Love and Thanks
Tomorrow, PEACEMAKER hits all fronts, and as is my tradition, I’m posting my dedication and acknowledgements pages. Without these people (and probably a few more I neglected to mention), whether they were actively involved or simply offered love and support behind the keyboard, I never would have been able to get this book out of my head and into a readable format. Thank you so much!
Dedication
For Renee, Lori, and Ann
Love you three to the moon and back
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Acknowledgements
Once again, this book would not be the same if it weren’t for the input of my fearless critique partners, who keep me on my toes and challenge me to become a better writer. Many thanks to LA Ashton, who alpha read this book, and to my betas Ashley Miller, Janean Dobos, and especially Katherine Henry Alexander for input on martial arts scenes.
Michael Mammay was invaluable for recon of plot holes, critique of military, battle, and weapons scenes, and his insight on combat PTSD. Any remaining mistakes are entirely my own.
Jami Nord, my developmental editor and partner in crime: thank you so much! You are my lens of clarity.
A huge thank you to all the readers who took Dalí into their hearts and have been asking when more stories were coming. I will finally graduate from college at an advanced age just after this book goes to press, so I will be able to write things again that don’t require APA citations!
My eternal love and thanks go out to my life partner, Mark, and my now adult children, Michaela and Gabriel, who tolerated this increasingly frustrated writer over the last two years as I tried to finish this novel and complete my degree (firmly on my list of things NOT to do in the future).
Lastly, a huge and heartfelt thank you to Raevyn McCann, BJ Toth, Ashley Kingsbury, and Natasha Snow at NineStar Press for all of your hard work and accommodation in getting this book published. I am forever grateful to have you in my corner.
February 22, 2020
New Book, New Blog!
So, I’m trying out WordPress because it looks so darn good. Bear with me!
PEACEMAKER comes out on March 2, 2020, and I am so freaking excited the book is finally going to be out in the world. Pre-orders from NineStar Press will be available on February 28, 2020, if you want an early e-book copy! All major retailers like Amazon will have the ebook and paperback available on the release date.
February 15, 2020
Peacemaker releases on March 2, 2020!
The amazing publishing team at NineStar Press (Raevyn, Ashley, BJ, and Natasha–I love you!) worked miracles to help me get this book out on a deadline for Planet Comicon. Peacemaker will be out in the world on March 2, 2020. Preorder links are up on their site, and via NSP you can get the e-book or mobi early on February 28!
I brainstormed with the brilliant and creative Baz Collins this morning about my book trailer, and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with. I’m really excited to work with him.
January 29, 2020
Update on PEACEMAKER!
I am about to turn in my initial edits to my editor, and yesterday, received the mock up of the cover for Peacemaker…oh, my, is it GORGEOUS. It’s always like Christmas morning when I get the cover and makes it real. I can’t wait to share it with you.
As long as everything goes according to schedule, the release date will be sometime in mid March. It’s almost here!
December 21, 2019
ALL THAT ENTAILS
This sweet little romantic short set in an imaginary Georgian-era country is back in my hands, and I have re-released it on Kindle Unlimited. You can reach it here: All That Entails. If you want to read more about the story and why I wrote it, check out it’s page on this website.
December 6, 2019
PEACEMAKER Blurb is up! Coming Spring 2020
In case you missed it, I finally have a blurb for Peacemaker up on the page. Here’s the aesthetic version that went out on social media. The manuscript is in the hands of my editor at NineStar Press, and I’m hoping for a release date sometime in March.
September 16, 2019
Edits on PEACEMAKER are under way!
I got my notes back from my wonderful developmental editor, Jami Nord, and I’m working my way through ’em one by one. My new class started today, so it’s lunch break and weekend work for the most part, but the first seven chapters are done. After this pass, I’ll get to play some more when my fearless alphas let me know where else I need to concentrate. Then the betas get their turn to torture me before I turn it in to my NineStar editor, lol.
Dalí is in a different place in this book, so their arc is evolving. The process of grief, as my editor Jami pointed out, is not linear. It’s a two steps forward, three back, five forward, one back dance that has no pattern or rhythm. Anyone who has been through a life changing loss can identify with Dalí’s struggle to find their place again.
However, that being said, I promise it has plenty of action, intrigue and plot twists as you might expect from our favorite undercover operative. Dalí is still kicking ass and taking names on this new mission, so stay tuned!
February 23, 2019
SERAPHINA'S LAMENT - Sarah Chorn's debut novel will blow grimdark fans away
Every once in a while you read a book that's unlike anything you've ever read. Seraphina's Lament is that book.Part fantasy, part zombie, and all grimdark, the book blew me away. Sarah Chorn's prose is lyrical, heartbreaking poetry in so many places that I just had to stop and digest some of the merciless beauty at times.Seraphina is a fire talent, a kind of Dark Phoenix in a broken body that seethes with rage. Her twin, Varyen, is a water elemental: shapeless and lost without Seraphina, who is enslaved by a dictator. Vaddon is a revolutionary with lightning in his veins, and grief in his heart for the man his husband has become - the dictator Eyad, a despotic and cruel man with mind talents that keep his citizens in fear.When these literal forces of nature come together, manipulated and molded by an ancient god, the world will burn. This book is not for the weak of heart. Cannibalism among starving people is prominent, and the harsh conditions of the Sunset Lands are based on the horrific event of the Holomodor (Ukrainian Genocide) in Russia in the early 30's. I can't say enough good things about this book, but its strengths were some of its weaknesses for me, too. I found myself rushing through the last third to "get to the good stuff" and was completely rewarded. I waffled on a rating between four and five stars because of that, but ultimately, this book is a work of art and deserves five because, goddamn, this is a DEBUT NOVEL and it knocked my socks off.
February 11, 2019
THE VAMPIRE'S QUEST: Another vampire-ish delight from Damian Serbu
The second book in Damian Serbu's Vampire Council series was a much more coherent story for me. I had mixed feelings about The Vampire's Angel, but this one I definitely enjoyed. Xavier's visions of St. Michel lead him on a journey across the sea to America--leaving Thomas behind. Thomas is afraid his love's convictions will cause him to violate the code of ethics to which all vampires must adhere, or face punishment by the Council. But Xavier's quest to fulfill the dying wish of an old friend and remain true to his own moral code is stronger than the threat of punishment by death...and Thomas may not be able to save him this time.The story was exciting and much more efficiently paced than the previous book. The only reservations I had about some of the writing is the use of modern day vernacular, which jolted me out of the period piece more than once. I did enjoy the twist of an historical figure being a vampire, and the major plot twist I suspected after a while, but it was very well done. Yet another enjoyable vampire book from Damian Serbu! Find it on Amazon, or here at NineStar Press: https://ninestarpress.com/product/the-vampires-quest/
January 24, 2019
THE FAIRY POND - Jason Black's beautiful story about love, sacrifice, and the unseen
This has been the best month for short stories. This one left me with bittersweet tears and a chill in my soul. Black's carefully woven tapestry of words brings us close to a simpler time, when innocence and magic exist hand in hand. Young Nevan and his grandfather can see the dark shapes swimming in the pond, but no one else can. The boy can't understand why his grandfather is so frightened that Nevan can see the fairies, too. Nevan's curiosity brings him too close to the pond and threatens to upset dark family secrets and debts left unpaid. Oh, my heart. I adored this. It's beautifully written and just so lovely I still can't find the words I want to say. What a gorgeous short story it was. Please don't hesitate to pick this one up. 
Title: The Fairy PondAuthor: Jason BlackPublisher: Self-pubRelease Date: 12/19/2018Heat Level: 1 - No SexPairing: No RomanceLength: 29 pagesGenre: Fantasy, Horror, historicalAdd to Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... lives a simple life. He works hard in the fields with his brothers and his grandpa, and adores his mother wholeheartedly. He's a good boy who usually stays out of trouble, but even when Grandpa warns him to stay away from the pond, he can't help feeling curious about it...and the creatures that watch him whenever he's near.ExcerptIt had been a long day. Nevan had come out to the fields with lunch after helping with the home chores and stayed to work the rest of the day. He enjoyed this time alone with his grandfather. Each night they were the only ones who stayed awake for the ride home, Grandfather telling stories of times past while Nevan soaked it in like a sponge.That evening, Grandfather was quiet, glancing around as if uneasy with the sounds of the coming night. Nevan turned to look out at the familiar shapes around them. In the distance, he saw the barn come into view and knew their destination wasn't far beyond. As they finished rounding a grove of fruit trees, he could also see the small pond that sat next to the barn; home for geese, ducks, and fish. It also served as a cool respite on a warm summer day.The lack of talk and the swaying of the wagon served to lull Nevan toward sleep. He let a shivering yawn pass his lips, his eyes again turning toward the pond. A splash, a movement. Nevan blinked, now fully awake, and squinted his eyes in disbelief."Grandpa?""Yeah, boy?" his grandfather answered in a hushed tone."There are people swimming in our pond!""T'ain't no one out this late, boy. People be sleepin'." Grandfather's words had a finality to them that told Nevan not to argue.Another splash and Nevan couldn't hold his tongue."But… look!" His finger shot out toward the pond, now directly to the right of the wagon.Nevan could clearly see the shapes of the figures in the water, even the gleam of eyes in the moonlight as they looked directly at them."Boy," Grandfather said sternly, "Don't look and don't be talking about that no more."Purchase at AmazonMeet the AuthorJason Black lives in Texas with his partner and two roommates. He cooks. He writes. He's an okay guy.Goodreads | eMailhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3436925.Jason_Blackvslavetopassionv@gmail.com
