Alyson Serena Stone's Blog, page 33

August 22, 2017

Sale!

All items in my teacherspayteachers store are 20% off for today only!

I don't know if any of you are teachers. If you don't have any idea what I'm talking about, carry on with your amazing day.

For those of you who know what I'm taking about here's the link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...



Most of my stuff is primary grades, but I do have a few items for our older kiddos.
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Published on August 22, 2017 05:11 Tags: jungleworld, promotion, teacherspayteachers

August 18, 2017

Storytime Teaser

Hello! I am hard at work on Storytime. My goal is to have it published sometime in December. For now, here is a teaser from the book, in which Dak gets a little jealous and we meet a couple of new characters.


Out of all the dinners she had been too, this was by far the strangest. Tamsin had been right about the hotel’s food, it was to die for, but the pirates themselves were another story. She inhaled the wonderful food, while trying to tune out the pirate’s bloodily tales. True, she probably could tell some that would make their hair curl, but it was just wasn’t proper to talk about beheadings at the dinner table.
It didn’t seem to be bothering Dak though, who was on his second helping. Like herself, he did wait and make sure someone else had taken a few bits of whatever dish he wanted. She fought back a smile. At least, she wasn’t the only one who didn’t trust their new friend.
Kody raised his wine cup in her direction for what seemed like the millionth time. It was going to take a lot not to slit his throat. Plus, it didn’t help that Tamsin was making coughing into her goblet either.
“It looks like you have a fan,” Tamsin whispered.
Dak took a rather long drink from his goblet.
Ryanon smiled. “Ah, yes, I am told I can be quiet the charmer. My bed has been feeling kind of cold lately too.”
“And Kody certainly does like to keep his bed warm,” Tamsin said as she took a bit of meat.
Ryanon raised her eyebrow. “Are you and him?”
Tamsin just snorted. “Not hardly. He’s far too arrogant for my liking. I like them quiet and simple, those are the ones who will treat you well.” She paused. “If you are looking for someone to please you though, he certainly is the one.”
Dak coughed rather loudly into his goblet.
Tamsin raised her eyebrow. “Are you doing okay over there, Captain Morninghelm?”
“Just fine,” Dak coughed.
“You really should slow down on your drinking,” Ryanon said, keeping her voice sweet. “Everyone knows you are a bit of a lightweight.”
Tamsin burst out laughing, while Dak gave her a dark look.
Ryanon jumped as a hand rested on her shoulder. Frowning, she turned to find that Kody had changed seats and was now looking at her with a rather large looking smile. “I thought we could talk better if I were down here.”
Ryanon nodded. “Yes, we most certainly can.”
Tamsin sat back further in her seat, her knuckles stuffed tightly in her mouth. It was as if she was trying to keep herself from laughing out loud.
Dak just took an even longer drink of wine. Ryanon hoped he didn’t get too drunk. She didn’t want to have to take care of him.
Kody looked around at his crew. “Our friends have travelled a long way.” He leaned closer to Ryanon’s chair-a lot closer than she would had liked. “We are just here to show them a good time tonight!”
“Here! Here!” the crew yelled as a bar maiden came out from the back and refilled their goblets.
“Let us show them what the pirates of Moldatun have to offer!” Kody took a long drink, winking at Ryanon. “I will certainly show you a good time.”
Ryanon shoved her goblet across the table. It was taking every bit of strength she had not to kill him; men were such pigs. “I hope you will.”
“Captain Morninghelm, you won’t mind me borrowing her for the night, will you?” Kody asked.
Dak just glared darkly at him. “I’m afraid that she is rather difficult to please as she has a really bad habit of killing the men who she takes to bed. So, it may not be in your best interest.”
Kody just stared blankly at him for a moment before laughing. He clapped Dak on the shoulder. “I knew there was something about you that I liked.”
Tamsin smirked at the pirate lord. “I don’t think he was kidding.”
Kody just shook his head. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing here.”
Ryanon smiled. “Well, I guess we will have to see about that.”
Kody returned her smile. “Oh, sweetheart, I think we most certainly will.”
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Published on August 18, 2017 13:45 Tags: sneak-peek, storytime

August 15, 2017

Review Copies

Hello all!

This has been a problem. I know on various Goodreads' groups, I have been posting topics offering up review copies of Once. I am still offering review copies. However, I do request that you please message me or post on the topic instead of asking it in the questions section on Goodreads. If you post it in the question section of my Goodreads author page, I will not respond nor will you receive your review copy.

Where can you message me?
Goodreads: Alyson Serena Stone
Fanfiction.net: Aphrodite-venus-u.k
Fictionpress: Alyonserenastone
Live Journal: serenastone.

(I do not always get the Live Journal messages, so that may not be the best place).

Peace out!
Serena
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Published on August 15, 2017 14:05 Tags: once, review-copies

August 9, 2017

Promotional Chance

Hello! I am currently working with NJ Paige to set up a promotion. The sign up link is: https://goo.gl/forms/ku0XQSng2WvKfs273.

She wants to have this set up by August 14, 2017.


(If you are my friend and an author on Goodreads, I tried to send you an event. If I missed you, I'm so sorry. )


Serena
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Published on August 09, 2017 05:37 Tags: promotion

July 28, 2017

Sale!

Hello!

For this weekend only, Once is on sale for $0.99.

Cheers,
Serena
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Published on July 28, 2017 11:55 Tags: once, sale

July 21, 2017

Free!

Hello!

Once is currently free on Smashwords.

It will be free on Amazon from July 22 to July 26.

Best,
Serena
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Published on July 21, 2017 17:58 Tags: free, once

Free!

Hello! Once is free for a limited time on Smashwords and wherever Smashwords sells books. I'm hoping it's free on Amazon, so stay tuned.

Best,
Serena
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Published on July 21, 2017 13:18 Tags: free, once

June 28, 2017

Once Sneak Peek Tour

Hello! I am pleased to announce a mini sneak peek tour of "Once!" Below are the dates and locations.

June 27, 2017: Author Interview: Livejournal
Link: http://serenastone.livejournal.com/43...

June 30, 2017: Once: Review Post: https://totallybooknerd.com/2017/06/2...

June 30, 2017: Once Sneak Peek: Livejournal.
Link: http://serenastone.livejournal.com/pr...


July 4, 2017: Once Sneak Peek: Fictionpress.com
Link: https://www.fictionpress.com/u/773118...


July 7, 2017: Once Sneak Peek: Inkitt
Link: https://www.inkitt.com/alysonserenastone
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Published on June 28, 2017 09:07 Tags: once, sneak-peek, tour

June 20, 2017

Once Sneak Peek

Okay, so I've decided to share with everyone a little sneak peek of Once, out July 11, 2017. It's not very long. I'm thinking about putting up a couple of sample chapters on my livejournal and ficionpress page.

Here it is:


Ryanon Cinderspear closed the book as she got to her feet. The noise outside her window made it next to impossible to focus. Besides, she had read this book so many times that she pretty much had it memorized.
She peered out the window, watching the street urchins beg some rich merchant for scarps, only to be pushed away. Shaking her head, she let the curtain fall. She had been like those children before-before Karlen had found her and shown her the better life.
Ryanon tied her brown hair back into a lose braid. Speaking of Karlen, there was still the matter of her payment.
The Assassin's Guild was not a terribly large place, but it was still plenty big enough that it made keeping track of where everyone was rather difficult. The guild was spread out over three warehouses, each one as old and wretched looking as the next. Karlen tried to keep the buildings looking as proper as necessary while trying not to draw attention to themselves. Besides, it did not do well to have a well put together mansion in the slums of the city.
As Ryanon rounded the corner of yet another creaking stairwell, voices echoed up from the bottom.
"Are you saying that the rumours are true then?" Karlen was asking.
"Yes, my father told the council that he believes all the riches are still there, untouched and rotting away. You know how my father is about his wealth," a male said, lowering his voice.
Ryanon carefully made her way around the steps that she knew would creak. Sometimes it really pay to live in the same house your entire life. The other assassins did not know the secrets of the guild like she did.
"Yes," Karlen said. Through the floor's cracks, Ryanon could see her boss run her hand through her thick blond hair. "I'm surprised he hasn't tried to personally rob it himself before." She paused. "So, he believes that Trelia was a wealthy as the Duke bragged about?"
"Yes, he does. Throughout history, it appears that Trelia did always have more than Xandria." The dark haired assassin stepped into view. His dark hair and heavy features made him stand out in the crowd. His beauty made it even easier for him to get wives to tell him of their husbands business. Being the captain of the guard made him the prefect assassin. He was supposed to be the Crown Prince of Xandria, but due to a reading problem, his father had forced him out of the position in favour of his younger brother. His mother hadn't taken too kindly to her favourite son being ousted and had sent him to train with Karlen.
Karlen smiled at Dak. "And our cut?"
Dak smiled a sinister smile. "My mother assures me that we will be paid greatly when my father doesn't return for this mission. She would like more than anything in the world for the man to have some kind of freak accident."
Karlen pulled Dak closer and whispered something in his ear. Nodding, Dak turned and walked out the front door. Ryanon held her breath until the Leader of the Assassins disappeared into her study.
Ryanon got to her feet and rushed back up the steps without even bothering to hide the thudding of her boots. She paused at the third floor landing, forcing the window open. With one final glance over her shoulder, she darted out the window, stepping onto a small window sill. She forced the window back shut, before turning to look down at the street.
It stank far worse out here than she had thought. The winds were driving the fishy smell form the harbours into everything. Pulling her cloak up to her nose, she jumped down off the sill and onto the neighbouring roof.
Tucking in, she landed as smooth as a cat. Getting to her feet, she peered down over the edge. Dak was making his way slowly through the crowds, in clear line of the cameras. Even though he wasn't in uniform, the people around clearly recognized him. Shaking her head and keeping low, she ran across the building to a fire escape on the other end of the roof.
Gripping the ladder tightly, she began her short climb down. If she had timed everything correctly, which she knew she had, she would intercept him at the next alley. He really was being downright mental for being out here in the middle of the day. It would do him some good to get roughed up a little bit.
Ryanon stepped out into the busy streets. People were crazy for thinking there was no life Skalavik's slums. In fact, she thought that the slums had more life to them than the rich sector. Her eyes darted around as she took in the many sights. Treasures from all over Eaken were right in front of her. Most people could never afford the goods, but it did not hurt to dream.
She was going to have to come shopping as soon as she got her payment from Karlen.
Dak was still walking in a prefect straight line in front of her. The crowd just seemed to part as he made through them. Knowing that kind of people that worked the street, Ryanon really couldn't blame them for getting out of the captain of the guard's way.
Ryanon winced as yet another person stepped on her foot. People should be getting out of her way; she was a lady after all. Plus, if this kept up, she was going to lose Dak.
As soon as she was able too, Ryanon ducked down an alley. While this alley was normally busy after hours, it was empty now. Running, not even bothering to hide her footsteps, she darted around the corner to the connecting alley.
The cameras in these parts were trained not to look at anyone in the alleys. It was the only way that the elites could get away with their illegal activities.
Ryanon skidded to a stop at the end of the alley, scanning the thick crowds, wincing as a raw fish went flying right in front of her nose. Dak had to around here someplace.
She moved further out into the street, wincing once again as fish guts caked her boots. She shook her head. Well, that was another thing that she was going to have to buy.
Ah, there he was. Ryanon kept her head down as Dak moved closer to her. His hand was resting on his sword, as he glared at the courtesan who was slowly making her way toward him. The known drug lords disappeared into their holes as he walked past them.
Ryanon kept walking. Dak still hadn't realized that she was almost right in front of him. Some captain of the guard he was.
With a jerk of her arm, she reached out and grabbed onto him, slowly pulling him closer to her. He reached for his sword, but stopped once he got a true look at her face. "You," he hissed, as he allowed her to pull him into the alley.
"Yes, me," Ryanon hissed back.
Dak twisted his arm around so that his nails digging into her skin. "What do you want?"
Wincing, Ryanon attempted her best to glare at him. "I want you to tell me what you are doing."
"And why would I do that?"
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Because we are supposed to be partners."
He snorted. "Yeah, right. When have we ever told each other everything?"
Ryanon eyed him. "I could be of some help to you."
"Or you could just get in the way. Women are not supposed to be assassins."
She drew back her foot and brought it back hard between his legs. Yelping, Dak fell to the ground. Raising a foot, she placed on it his back. "Don't ever say anything to me like that," she growling, placing a knife under his chin."You would never think about saying anything like that to Karlen and I expect you to show me the same respect."
Dak tried to rear up, but her boot was positioned in the just the right place that made it impossible for him to do so. "You bitch," he hissed.
Ryanon dug her knife down a little harder on him. It would do him some good to lose some blood. "That is not nearly as bad as what you called me earlier. I can do anything better than you can, so you just remember that." She removed her boot and knife, letting him up.
He got to his feet, rubbing his throat. Ryanon smirked at the sight of blood when he removed his hand. "I don't have to tell you anything. If I turn up dead, people will come looking for you."
She wiped her knife off on a fold in her cloak. "You may think you don't, but you will." She paused. "You know why? You cannot stand to have a job when I don't."
Dak frowned at her. "And you know what?" He wiped some more blood off his chin. "You can't stand not knowing something."
Ryanon glared at him. "Just tell me so I don't have to kill you."
"You and I both know that you won't." He shook his head. "I never took you for a fool and, yet, here you are, picking a fight with a man in close quarters."
"I can take you," she hissed, "and you know it. That's why you haven't tried anything. Besides, I don't think you have the nerve to do it anyway."
"Do what?" He moved closer to it. "Go ahead and say it."
"To kill your father."
Dak's hand came up so quickly and she found herself pinned to the brick wall before she even had the chance to react. "Who told you?" His voice was dangerously low.
Ryanon struggled underneath his tight grasp. He had better not leave any bruises on her or there was going to be hell to pay. "Why? Are you worried that they might give the job to me?"
Dak hissed.
Ryanon seized the moment by kicking him in the knees. Though he didn't drop, his death grip did lighten up just enough for her get free. "You are playing a dangerous game, you know that? Why do you put so much trust in your mother? She could be the death of you."
Dak glared at her, gasping. "I thought this was about my father."
"And your messed up family." She paused. "Come on, Dak, you really can't believe that there are still riches in Trelia. It's been how long since the curse? It's not like you can just walk in there anyway. Not even the drones have survived a mission there."
"There are things that you don't understand." He straightened his uniform. "Now, I have a job to get back to, so I suggest you get out of my way before I have you arrested."
Ryanon snorted as she stepped to the side. "You do know that I will get to the bottom of this."
He turned and smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way, but I'm not going to make it easy for you."
She walked as he walked out into the crowd, giving him until the count of ten before stepping back out. By the time she emerged, he was gone. She really didn't expect him to hang around, but she had kind of expected him to linger to make sure that she got back to the guild okay. Granted, she could take care of herself, but Dak had this kind of honour that made it impossible to him to see a female walk home alone.
Sighing, she turned and started walking back to the guild. She hadn't meant to make him that mad.
Still, he was mental for thinking that they could break through the walls of Trelia. The land, though once rich, was completely surrounded by a wall of thorns that destroyed anything that came within their reach. The things that did actually manage to make it over the wall came back so brunt that they were almost unrecognizable. Many had hinted at the possibility of there being some kind of dragon on the other side.
Even for all the riches in the world, Ryanon could not see King Teodric Morninghelm risking everything for money. No, there had to be something else and she was going to find out.
She pushed open the guild's doors. Silence greeted her and she hoped that everyone was on a mission or just simply gone. There was work to be done.
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Published on June 20, 2017 11:13 Tags: once, sneak-peek