Ana Ban's Blog, page 3

October 31, 2022

New Distribution for Catching Shadows

Catching Shadows is now available in a wider market! As always, you can order through Amazon by following the links below:

Kindle

Paperback

Hardcover

Yes, you read that right--Catching Shadows is now in hardcover! But that's not all: here are more links (with more to come!)

Apple e-books

Kobo

Coming Soon:

Target.com

Walmart.com

Barnes & Noble

PLUS: you can now request Catching Shadows from your local library or bookstore. They would order through IngramSpark.

Help me spread the word, and soon more of my books will be as widely available.

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on October 31, 2022 08:13

September 26, 2022

New Release: Tangled Threads

The wait is over! Get your copy by clicking here or the cover below.

The blurb, in case you missed it:

From the moment she turned eighteen, Iris sought freedom and meaning in her life. When a chance encounter with a stranger saves her life, Iris is plunged into a world of magic and mythological beings that makes her question everything.

Why does she have a deep-rooted fear of water? Could all the old stories be true? And most of all, is the dark and mysterious man really meant for her?

After centuries battling the darkness, Damien has been given a new lease on life. He is determined to right his wrongs, but the last thing he expects is to find his mate—or be reunited with his long-thought-dead sister.

With everything he's ever wanted in his grasp, Damien must help Iris face her past and unearth the power hidden deep within them both.

Tangled Threads is the twelfth book of The Gifted Series.

Enjoy! And make sure to drop a review after reading; it's really appreciated!

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on September 26, 2022 20:06

September 2, 2022

Cover Reveal: Tangled Threads

You read that right--it's finally here!

Book twelve of The Gifted Series will be available on SEPTEMBER 27, 2022.

Yes, you have less than a month to wait until you get to find out what's happening in the world of the Elementals.

What's that? You want to see the cover? Your wish is my command.

Check back soon for the link to order your very own copy. In the meantime, allow me to whet your appetite...

The OFFICIAL BLURB

From the moment she turned eighteen, Iris sought freedom and meaning in her life. When a chance encounter with a stranger saves her life, Iris is plunged into a world of magic and mythological beings that makes her question everything.

Why does she have a deep-rooted fear of water? Could all the old stories be true? And most of all, is the dark and mysterious man really meant for her?

After centuries battling the darkness, Damien has been given a new lease on life. He is determined to right his wrongs, but the last thing he expects is to find his mate—or be reunited with his long-thought-dead sister.

With everything he's ever wanted in his grasp, Damien must help Iris face her past and unearth the power hidden deep within them both.

Anyone else get chills?

Uncover the secrets on September 27 and remember to check back here and on social media for the latest updates.

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on September 02, 2022 04:00

January 6, 2022

Book Spotlight: Night Shift

A dark and mysterious man, a writer on the brink of her next big novel--what more could you ask for? This month's book spotlight features the third book of The Gifted Series: Night Shift.

Quick Blurb:

Meet Reese, an author who decides to move to a small town in Minnesota to research her next novel. She dives into the world of the supernatural only to discover that not all myths are fiction.

Dominic is set on a path of revenge, and he doesn't have time for anything--or anyone--else. That includes the woman he knows immediately is his mate; a woman who carries plenty of secrets of her own.

When Reese is captured and Dominic is left to die, she must make the ultimate decision. Only she has the power to save Dominic--even if it means sacrificing her own life.

I will--in the book, available here.

Night Shift ties the first three books of The Gifted Series together in a solid way. Not only does Reese meet Jade, Talon, and Pearl from book one, but a chance encounter puts her in contact with Reya, Tristan, and the rest of the gang from book two.

This isn't the last you'll see of Reese and Dominic, either. They make an appearance in Stowaway (book four), along with Shadowed Soul (book six), Vows at Dusk (book seven, a reunion), By the Light of the Moon (book nine), Seeking Redemption (book ten--where Reese finally gets questions about her past answered!--), and a cameo in Shelter of Smoke (book eleven).

One of my favorite things about Reese and Dominic is that even though they've both lost their family, they manage to create their own. We start to really see that in book six, but book ten takes a deep dive into the interrelationships of the mishmash of people who have risen from the ashes of their pasts and created an unbreakable bond.

Catch up on The Gifted Series before February 22, when Tangled Threads (Book 12) is slated to release!

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on January 06, 2022 04:48

December 26, 2021

In the Works: December 2021 Update

Snow has covered the ground, presents have been opened, and it's time to look at the year ahead. What will 2022 have in store for us?

That's a question I'm afraid to ponder for the world at large, but for my little corner of it, exciting things are afoot.

After a slight delay on the originally planned release, Tangled Threads (Book 12 of The Gifted Series) will be available in February! Following that, book 13 is slated for April and book 14 (the second "reunion" book that will feature all the characters so far) will be ready in October.

The official announcement for books 2-5 of The Strangers Saga: Baton Rouge will be coming soon, but I will say this: the wait is almost over!

Parker Grey is also currently undergoing a giant makeover, so make sure to keep an eye out for the big reveal early in the year.

May this year bring you and yours health and happiness, and here's hoping the worst is over!

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on December 26, 2021 04:00

October 19, 2021

New Release: Shelter of Smoke

It's here! Book Eleven of The Gifted Series is now available on e-book and kindle. PLUS, for one day only, the e-book is only $.99!

Shelter of Smoke: the blurb.

For the last six months, Taya has been on the run—from an evil man, from her dark past, and from her own secrets. When her car breaks down outside the small town of Sun Valley, Taya must come to terms with all three before she can truly begin living.

Grey arrived in Sun Valley for a wedding, only to stay after discovering long-lost family. As the only mechanic in town, meeting Taya is inevitable—but earning her trust is another matter entirely.

Together, they must face one of the biggest threats the Elementals have ever encountered. For only when this evil is vanquished can Taya stop looking over her shoulder and start looking forward.

Get your very own copy by clicking here! And let's look at that cover one more time:

As always, thank you for reading and a review after would be greatly appreciated!

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on October 19, 2021 04:00

October 16, 2021

Preorder Issues: Shelter of Smoke

There were some technical difficulties with the preorder, and while I’m in talks with Amazon to fix it, the problem will not be resolved before release day. This means that anyone who preordered should have gotten an e-mail that the order was canceled.

This is the new link to purchase Shelter of Smoke, and as a way to make up for the inconvenience, the e-book will be on sale for .99 on Tuesday, October 19!

The sale will only last one day, so make sure to click that link on release day. The paperback will also up and ready to order if you’d prefer a physical copy.

I wanted to thank you all for being the best supporters an author like me could ask for. Without you, I would just be a girl with a bunch of voices in her head ;)

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on October 16, 2021 11:12

October 7, 2021

Book Update: Shelter of Smoke

Can you believe the eleventh book of The Gifted Series will be out in less than two weeks? Me either!

To order your e-book, click here. Check out the full blurb and beautiful cover below:

For the last six months, Taya has been on the run—from an evil man, from her dark past, and from her own secrets. When her car breaks down outside the small town of Sun Valley, Taya must come to terms with all three before she can truly begin living.

Grey arrived in Sun Valley for a wedding, only to stay after discovering long-lost family. As the only mechanic in town, meeting Taya is inevitable—but earning her trust is another matter entirely.

Together, they must face one of the biggest threats the Elementals have ever encountered. For only when this evil is vanquished can Taya stop looking over her shoulder and start looking forward.

Who is excited? Me!

So, what's next? The twelfth book of The Gifted Series is scheduled to release in December and will follow Damien and Iris. Damien will be headed home, but he has no idea what kind of surprises are in store.

That's it for today, but join me next week for an author interview with Matt Seltzer as we talk about his debut book, The Creative Catalyst!

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on October 07, 2021 05:33

September 30, 2021

Writing Tips: Social Media Posts

Let me guess: you want to contribute fun, engaging, relatable posts. Every. Single. Day.

I hear you. I do the same thing, and let me tell you: it can be a huge, giant pain. Luckily, I've learned some tricks over the years, and I'm willing to share. I am by no means an expert, but I hope what I have to offer helps spark some creative ingenuity of your own.

Have more ideas for me? Please feel free to share in the comments, or reach out via social media. I may not answer right away, but I promise I will eventually.

Now, onto some ideas for social media posts.

First, let me tell you about how I post every single day. I preschedule 99% of what goes on social media. Most of us do not have the time to fiddle with eight different sites every day. I've also narrowed down the platforms I use so that I don't get overwhelmed. Choose what works for you. Personally, I use Facebook and Instagram. I also have a Pinterest account, but I'm not very active. When I have time for more, I will add Twitter.

For today, I am going to focus on Facebook and Instagram, as that's what I use.

One, use a program to design fun, cohesive pictures. People look at pictures. People rarely read posts. Make what you want to convey quick and clear. I use Adobe Spark, which has a free version, while a lot of others I know use Canva--also free. There is no excuse for crappy looking posts.

Two, I have found that the most engaged posts have absolutely nothing to do with me or my books. People are selfish. I'm not saying this as a criticism, more as an observation. If you make it about them, they will engage.

With these two things in mind, this is how I post.

I pick a certain topic for each day of the week. This is an example:

Monday: Motivation Monday (post a short quote)

Tuesday: Tip Tuesday (For me, I post tips about writing)

Wednesday: Question of the Day (Funny Predictive Texts, random questions)

Thursday: Book Quote (from my own books)

Friday: Friday Funny (usually related to reading or writing)

Saturday: Single book promo

Sunday: General promo (my website, other social media sites)

Using this, I would then create four motivational quotes, four tips, four questions...and so on. Four of each, and you have a month's worth of posts. You'll notice that only three of the days have anything to do with the things I sell.

There seems to be an endless supply of hashtags for each day of the week, so if you don't like these, there are plenty more to choose from. Throwback Thursday is great for recycling your own material, like blog posts or product releases.

You can intersperse news articles related to your field (if I see these, they tend to be my second post of a given day) or promote someone else in your field. Especially on Instagram, this is usually reciprocated.

Now tell me, how do you deal with social media posts?

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on September 30, 2021 04:00

September 23, 2021

In the Works: September 2021 Update

Fall is my favorite time of year. The crisp air, gorgeous colors, the final garden harvest, and, of course, candy. I mean Halloween.

I planted my first big garden this year (thanks fiancé for building it!) and it was so fun to go out and pick fresh vegetables every day. I mean, can you believe this stuff came out of MY garden?

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But this isn't a food blog. You want to know what I've done writing-wise in the last month. Fine, I'll tell you.

Shelter of Smoke has gone through its final editing and is all set to release next month: October 19, to be exact. In fact, if you want to preorder the e-book, click here.

My attention has now shifted to Tangled Threads, which is slated to release in December. The twelfth book of The Gifted Series will focus on Iris and Damien and will be set in New Zealand--but I won't say anything more than that ;)

Those that know me know that I rarely work on only one thing at a time. What fun would that be? Well, I have good news. Are you ready? On the edge of your seat so you can jump up and do a happy dance?

I have not only been working on the next four books of The Strangers Saga: Baton Rouge, but it is my mission to release them ALL in 2022. Commence happy dance.

You're welcome.

That's it for today, but check back next week for Writing Tips: Social Media Posting.

What are you in the mood for?

,Paranormal Romance?

,Murder Mystery Romance?

,Crime (oh wait...with romance)?

,Young Adult Crime (yeah okay, there's some romance too)?

Happy Reading!

Always,

Ana

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Published on September 23, 2021 04:00

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