Roxanne Rhoads's Blog
September 18, 2025
A Bewitching Thursday
A Round-Up of Daily Virtual Book Tour Stops
Blood Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/r7F6n8O
Joe Mack is back, solving cold cases and kicking demon butt. Times Change is a non-stop thrill ride full of paranormal action, found family, dark magic, and loyal friends #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/S6RwmXb
The Inspiration Behind Blood by K.T. Rose #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/CWcEDE0
Gail Z. Martin Playing with Yarn #Crafts #AuthorsandCrafts #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/8kkQMwe
Roxanne Rhoads Bookshop Store
https://bookshop.org/shop/RoxanneRhoads
“I gazed on her with terrible understanding. I had to try to stop her, but I knew, deep in my gut, that she was beyond my power. I was only human. She was not.” #nicolasolvinic
Excerpt from The Sister’s Curse by Nicola Solvinic from
@berkleypub PreOrder: https://bit.ly/4jBXbCc
K.T. Rose's Top 10 Favorite Dark Reads #Horror #DarkReads #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/GbqYyp1
September 17, 2025
A Bewitching Wednesday
A Round-Up of Daily Virtual Book Tour Stops
The Inspiration Behind Blood by K.T. Rose #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/CWcEDE0
Times Change by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/XgRo73a
Gail Z. Martin Playing with Yarn #Crafts #AuthorsandCrafts #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/8kkQMwe
10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer with Lauren Carter #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/MofWSwN
K.T. Rose's Top 10 Favorite Dark Reads #Horror #DarkReads #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/GbqYyp1
Roxanne Rhoads Bookshop Store
https://bookshop.org/shop/RoxanneRhoads
“The Hunter’s Daughter is an incredible, dark novel about overcoming one’s past and seeking redemption through actions.” -
@fxbgadvance
https://bit.ly/3YDcQHB
#nicolasolvinic #thehuntersdaughter #mysteryauthor #crimeauthor #thrillerwriter #bookreview #FXBGAdvance
September 16, 2025
A Bewitching Tuesday
A Round-Up of Daily Virtual Book Tour Stops
Times Change (Joe Mack Shadow Council Files, Book Five) by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin ~ Urban Fantasy #UF @GailZMartin #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/7ELvtpw
Lakegrave School For Young Women by Lauren Carter #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/uhYFFDT
10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer with Lauren Carter #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/MofWSwN
K.T. Rose's Top 10 Favorite Dark Reads #Horror #DarkReads #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/GbqYyp1
Roxanne Rhoads Bookshop Store
https://bookshop.org/shop/RoxanneRhoads
In the Kitchen with KT. #InTheKitchen #TurkeyProteinBowls #bewitchingbooktours https://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/...
“The Hunter’s Daughter is an incredible, dark novel about overcoming one’s past and seeking redemption through actions.” -
@fxbgadvance
https://bit.ly/3YDcQHB
#nicolasolvinic #thehuntersdaughter #mysteryauthor #crimeauthor #thrillerwriter #bookreview #FXBGAdvance
Ghost Hunting Tips with Lauren Carter
https://paranormalists.blogspot.com/2...
Gail Z. Martin Playing with Yarn #Crafts #AuthorsandCrafts #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/8kkQMwe
Lakegrave School for Young Women by Lauren Carter #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/GxySKpE
September 13, 2025
Free Read September 13- 17 Armored Hours by Stephanie Hansen #Romantasy #MagicalRealism
Get it Free September 13- 17
Cable Girls meets Peaky Blinders meets Titanic
Armored HoursStephanie Hansen
The girls had forged a bond together like iron that could not be broken. Claudia, Kiersten, Lina, and Florian were on the brink of making history with their powerful feminist movement, but then they suddenly disappeared without a trace. Alexander was a desperate bootlegger who was willing to risk it all to search for them.
Not only were they in cahoots with him to help smuggle feminist con-traband and forbidden booze, but Claudia had also unknowingly captivated his heart. He vowed to find them at any cost, but little did he know that their disappearance was part of a much bigger and sinister plot from the upper echelons of society.
Set in 1920s Paris of the Plains, Armored Hours is a thrilling tale of love and mystery interwoven with hints of magical realism.
✨Light Romantasy set in the Prohibition Era✨Strong Female Friendships✨Magic Realism ✨Mystery ✨Found Family
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLZSLFNY/
#Romantasy #MagicalRealism #FoundFamily #HistoricalFiction #ArmoredHours #FreeBook #FreeRead #KindleFreebie
September 12, 2025
A Bewitching Friday
A Round-Up of Daily Virtual Book Tour Stops
INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN CARTER (Lakegrave School for Young Women) #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/SStGyx3
Joe Mack is back, solving cold cases and kicking demon butt. Times Change is a non-stop thrill ride full of paranormal action, found family, dark magic, and loyal friends. #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/RPbERWR
Lakegrave School for Young Women by Lauren Carter #PoetryCorner #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/Uod3fOs
Blood by K.T. Rose #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3MF7q6A
Top 10 Vampires in Fiction According to Gail Z. Martinhttps://paranormalists.blogspot.com/2...
In the Kitchen with KT. #InTheKitchen #TurkeyProteinBowls #bewitchingbooktours https://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/...
Roxanne Rhoads Bookshop Store
https://bookshop.org/shop/RoxanneRhoads
K.T. Rose's Top 10 Favorite Dark Reads #Horror #DarkReads #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/GbqYyp1
Ghost Hunting Tips with Lauren Carterhttps://paranormalists.blogspot.com/2...
September 11, 2025
A Bewitching Thursday
A Round-Up of Daily Virtual Book Tour Stops
Lakegrave School for Young Women by Lauren Carter #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/uccCtWt
Blood (Trish Vampire Horror Series, Book One) by K.T. Rose #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/XA4CPQh
Top 10 Vampires in Fiction According to Gail Z. Martinhttps://paranormalists.blogspot.com/2...
In the Kitchen with KT. #InTheKitchen #TurkeyProteinBowls #bewitchingbooktours https://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/...
Roxanne Rhoads Bookshop Store
https://bookshop.org/shop/RoxanneRhoads
K.T. Rose's Top 10 Favorite Dark Reads #Horror #DarkReads #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/GbqYyp1
Ghost Hunting Tips with Lauren Carterhttps://paranormalists.blogspot.com/2...
September 10, 2025
A Bewitching Wednesday
A Round-Up of Daily Virtual Book Tour Stops
Lakegrave School for Young Women by Lauren Carter #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/3mcwGJV
In the Kitchen with KT. #InTheKitchen #TurkeyProteinBowls #bewitchingbooktours https://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/...
Times Change by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/qZX3j9s
Roxanne Rhoads Bookshop Store
https://bookshop.org/shop/RoxanneRhoads
“An unstoppable force, with clawed hands and rot-speckled skin. She was beyond human law, beyond control. She’d have her revenge, twenty-five years after her death, under the same unblinking moon.”
Excerpt from The Sister’s Curse by Nicola Solvinic from Berkley Publishing Group. Now available for pre-order: https://bit.ly/4jBXbCc
#nicolasolvinic #thesisterscurse #mysteryauthor #crimeauthor #thrillerwriter #criminology #crimefiction #crimethriller #crimenovel #suspensenovel #thrillerbook #murdermystery #mysteryreads #booklovers #bookclub #newrelease #bookreview
K.T. Rose's Top 10 Favorite Dark Reads #Horror #DarkReads #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/GbqYyp1
September 9, 2025
Times Change by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin #UrbanFantasy
Interview with Gail Z Martin
What inspired you to become an author?
A: I have wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember. When I was six years old, I dictated my first book (about a vampire) to my grandmother because I couldn’t spell yet.
Do you write in different genres?
A: Writing as Gail Z. Martin (or collaborating with my husband, Larry N. Martin) I/we write epic and urban fantasy as well as comedic horror and steampunk. As Morgan Brice, I write male/male paranormal romance/urban fantasy.
If yes, which is your favorite genre to write?
A: I like all of the ones I’ve chosen to write in, and switching among them keeps things fresh.
How did you come up with the title for your latest book?
A: Joe Mack became immortal in the 1890s, and the first four novellas (collected in Forged) tell stories from that time through the Roaring Twenties. Times Change brings us into the current era, fast-forwarding a century, so it’s an appropriate description!
Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?
A: I usually title the book first because while I’m writing it, I also have to arrange for the cover art, so I need the title!
Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?
A: Romantasy. I’ve written four epic fantasy series and they all have a strong element of romance, but the focus is primarily on the action/adventure. I have a couple of ideas for something that brings the romance to the fore in an epic fantasy setting, but I’m not sure when it’ll get written.
Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
A: Probably Martris Drayke from The Summoner because he was my first main character and it took me twenty years to get his book finished and published.
If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?
A: Times Change is part of the Joe Mack Shadow Council Adventure series. We have three more books under contract to Falstaff Books, so there will be more! And if you’re new to the series, check out the first four novellas, collected in Forged.
What books/authors have influenced your life?
A: So many books have inspired me, and so many authors past and present continue to inspire and encourage me. I couldn’t name them all!
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
A: David Drake (no relation to my character, who was named long before I met him), was very kind to me when I was just starting out and shared a lot of knowledge and experience—and barbecue—with us. I am very grateful for his help.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
A: I’m currently working on the next Night Vigil book (written under my Gail name), and under my MM romance name (Morgan Brice) I am working on the next Treasure Trail book—with plenty more in the queue for after that!
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
A: Fight scenes take a lot of mental choreography. It’s challenging to be telling people what is going on but try to do it in a way that they perceive it as action.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
A: Never give up.
What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
A: I have an MBA in Marketing and Management Information Systems from The Pennsylvania State University.
When you’re not writing, what do you do? Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?
A: Larry and I love to go on cruises or go to the beach. It’s the ultimate chill-out. We also love to watch action movies with a lot of explosions.
What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled events?
A: I don’t have any conventions left in 2025 after DragonCon over Labor Day Weekend. The only con that is confirmed so far for 2026 is Coastal Magic Convention in February, but I’m hoping to get a couple more for next year. As for releases beyond what I’ve already mentioned, I try to bring out a new book in each of our active series every 1-2 years, which is a challenge with 12 active series!
Times ChangeJoe Mack Shadow Council Files Book FiveGail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin
Genre: Urban FantasyPublisher: Falstaff BooksDate of Publication: July 23, 2025ISBN: 979-8293995790ASIN: B0DFDZ4S4TNumber of pages: 122Word Count: 30,000
Cover Artist: GetCovers.com
Tagline: When you ask a god for favors, be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.
Book Description:
Joe Mack is back, solving cold cases that eluded Eliot Ness and kicking demon butt.
Josef Magarac was a brave man, a strong man, a hard-working immigrant who only wanted a better life for his family. Then he was murdered, and an ancient Slavic god brought him back to life, gave him new abilities, and a mission to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Now he's Joe Mack, immortal thanks to the Slavic god, and a champion against dark magic, demons, and things that go bump in the night.
Joe's previous collection of adventures spanned the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition. Now he's in the modern era, working with new partners and adjusting to a whole new century. But old cases have resurfaced, and demons never die. A supernatural serial killer has returned, and some of the evil Joe thought was done and dusted has returned to wreak havoc. It will take all of the supernatural abilities, wit, and will of Joe and his partners—past and present—to stop the dark forces once and for all. If they fail, it will unleash a wave of demonic vengeance, blood, and death unlike anything Cleveland has ever seen.
Times Change is a non-stop thrill ride full of paranormal action, found family, dark magic, and loyal friends.
Excerpt2:
Shelit candles and seated herself across from me at a small table with ablock-printed covering with protective sigils blind stitched into its complexpattern. The area was well-warded and protected with powerful magic. I’dlearned a long time ago that Sicilian and Corsican witches had special talent,and I could feel the energy in the air as Mrs. Brandino settled into the chairand centered her magic.
“Takemy hands.”
Delicatefingers closed around my meaty digits, feeling fragile in my grip. I noted thethin, crepey skin mottled with age spots that contrasted with my rough palms. Iwas far older, but she seemed ancient.
“JackWest and Sarah Grace McAllen Harringworth, your friend has come to speak withyou.” She closed her eyes, and her features relaxed as she tranced to open theconnection to the Beyond.
Whenshe opened her eyes, I knew she had stepped to the back of her consciousnessand allowed the spirit of Jack West to move to the forefront.
“Hiya,Joe. Been a while.” The voice was Mrs. Brandino’s, but the tone and inflectionwere pure Jack West.
“How’slife on the other side?”
Sheshrugged, capturing West’s mannerisms perfectly. “Still can’t play a harp forshit,” he joked. “What brings you here?”
“Ifinally finished the Moonville case—for good, this time.” I told him about thefight with the woman’s ghost and the railroad spirit and how I torched thetunnel and took the spike. “I think it’s finally done.”
“Wethought that before,” West pointed out.
“Iknow. And for a while, things died down—I think it took a while for the spiritsto power back up again. But this time, I really believe I broke what washolding them there.”
“Nicework,” West said. “Glad to know you’re still on the job. Those new partnersworking out okay?”
Ihad told him about Adrian and Jenna the last time I’d come to Mrs. Brandino,and while I knew West wouldn’t begrudge me mortal companionship, I think hehated to be excluded. While he’d never admit it or want me to join them in the hereafter,I think he missed our adventures.
Apparentlyin heaven there are no heists to bust.
“They’renot bad—for kids,” I admitted, even though I had figured out that my newpartners were about the same age that West and Sarah Grace were when we workedtogether. “Pretty sharp, actually. But I miss hanging around like we used to.”
“Lookat you, getting sentimental over Prohibition,” West teased. “You might miss us,but I bet you don’t miss the bathtub gin.”
Hewas right about that, and recalling the taste made me shudder.
“True.Is Sarah Grace floating around in the ether?”
“Tiredof talking with me already?” West joked. “Yeah, she’s here. If you wrap up anymore old cases, let us know. The afterlife is pretty boring.”
Ifelt the energy shift, and Sarah Grace’s presence moved to the forefront.
“Hello,Joe. Nice of you to drop by. What are you up to these days?” Damned if shedidn’t sound just the same a hundred years after some of our best exploits.
“Stillon the job, not lollygagging like you two. I’m cleaning up loose ends. Wrappedup the Moonville case—and I think the fix will stick.”
Herlaugh was as infectious as I remembered. “Never a dull moment with you. Glad tohear it. How are you—really?”
Leaveit to Sarah Grace to get to the heart of the matter. I shrugged, uncomfortable.“You know. Same old, same old.”
“Um-hum,”she replied, and even channeled through the medium I sensed her disapproval. Inmy mind’s eye, I imagined the tilt of her head and her skeptical expression.“Being immortal isn’t a free pass not to take care of yourself. You can have apurpose and still be happy sometimes.”
Evenfrom beyond the grave, she had me dead to rights. Maybe that’s one of thereasons that West and Sarah Grace were so special to me. Our partnershipmorphed into deep friendship. While I had liked and respected all my partnersover the years, some were closer to my heart than others. West and Sarah Gracewould always be among my favorites.
“I’mhappy when I solve cases.” I knew it was a weak comeback.
“Joe—youknow what I mean,” she chided. “Even watchdogs chase a ball now and then.”
“Pointtaken. Fetch more, bark less?”
About the Authors:
Gail Z. Martin writes urban fantasy, epic fantasy, steampunk and more for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, Falstaff Books, SOL Publishing and Darkwind Press. Urban fantasy series include Deadly Curiosities and the Night Vigil (Sons of Darkness). Epic fantasy series include Darkhurst, the Chronicles Of The Necromancer, the Fallen Kings Cycle, the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, and the Assassins of Landria. Together with Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of Iron and Blood, Storm and Fury (both Steampunk/alternate history), the Spells Salt and Steel comedic horror series, the Roaring Twenties monster hunter Joe Mack Shadow Council series, and the Wasteland Marshals near-future post-apocalyptic series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance, with the Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow series. Gail is also a con-runner for ConTinual, the online, ongoing multi-genre convention that never ends.
Larry N. Martin is the author of the new sci-fi adventure novel Salvage Rat, and the new portal fantasy series, The Splintered Crown, A Tankards and Heroes novel. He is the co-author (with Gail Z. Martin) of the Spells, Salt, and Steel: New Templar Knights series; the Steampunk series Iron and Blood; and a collection of short stories and novellas: The Storm and Fury Adventures set in the Iron and Blood universe. He is also the co-author (with Gail) of the Wasteland Marshals series and the Joe Mack - Shadow Council series from Falstaff Books.Website: www.GailZMartin.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dd5XLj
X.com: https://x.com/gailzmartin
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/gzmartin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WinterKingdoms
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gail-z-martin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganbriceauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gail-Z-Martin/e/B002BM8XSQ
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MartinShadowAlliance
Lakegrave School for Young Women by Lauren Carter
Lakegrave School for Young WomenLauren Carter
Genre: Horror, Dark Academia, Historical FictionDate of Publication: 9th September 2025ISBN: 9781739376444 ASIN: B0F74BRMC3Number of pages: 237Word Count: 54k wordsCover Artist: Grim Poppy Designs
Tagline: Lakegrave is unlike any other school
Book Description:
Here, we do not care where you are from or who you are. We care that you are women. And we care about your minds.
Lakegrave is unlike any other school. Hidden in the mountains of Scotland, it only accepts one bright woman per specialist subject. With no teachers and no curriculum, the self-taught establishment offers its students the tools to expand their skillsets to then go onto being masters in their fields.
When Raven and her cousin Rowan are accepted, they are excited to refine their crafts and converse with fellow classmates.
That is until students go missing.
Some come back but they are not as they once were. Something is off about them. Something is misplaced.
So when fellow student Esme wants to investigate and invites Raven to join, they uncover that there’s much more to the school than they thought with chilling secrets kept tucked away in its history. But with ghosts stirring and the cohort decreasing, will any of them make it to graduation?
Excerpt:
Thereisn’t much known about Lakegrave School for Young Women due to its remotelocation and it being a new school, but it is the only school in the worldknown for its unique education style—it’s completely self-taught. There are noteachers, just one headmistress. The school only invites the best and brightestwomen from across the globe to study there for one year before being scouted togo on to their dream careers. This didn’t mean smart in absolutely everythingbut a genius in our own field.
Thatis the other unique thing—it also only invites one person per specialistsubject.
That’swhy Rowan and I were lucky enough to be accepted. Rowan is only just old enoughto attend at one and twenty years of age; I, on the other hand, have two yearson her. Luck was also on our side when we were encouraged to pursue differenthobbies instead of the same, otherwise we wouldn’t have been acceptedconcurrently.
Leadingup to the school, I can only make out the tops of the building as the hedge hasovergrown so much. It’s as if the place has been neglected over the summer, ifnot over the years. Such an odd notion for a new educational establishment but,then again, it was something else before.
Ireach the main gate and see a crest at the top. In the middle, there is a sprigof lavender and on each side of the shield are bees facing inward. This lookslike it’s been cleaned recently.
Couldn’tsay the same for the rest of the gate.
Itlooks like it once was black, but it is brown now due to the rust. I don’t wantto touch it, so I nudge it open with my elbow and shut it again once I’m in.
It’scalled a school, but it would be better off compared to a castle, just likeevery other boarding school that exists. The windows stretch tall and look likethey are modelled after a church. Although it is a fairly new build, itsappearance is like it has been designed as old-fashioned on purpose, fitting inwith something from the 1600s rather than the 1800s. And it almost looks likeit’s falling apart, the brickwork cracked and turning the walls into a darkercolour rather than its usual sand. It is preposterously big for a school thatdoesn’t admit too many students. There is definitely some sort of beauty to thebuilding but for some reason, even in the daytime, it appears a littleominous—as if the place is lifeless. It seems as though the garden hasovertaken everything as greenery and moss is growing alongside the building. Tothe west of the school there are some greenhouses and to the east of the schoolis a church.
Theground crunches as I walk up to the building. There is a huge fountain which isbordered by the driveway on either side but appears not to work, and a hugestatue coming out from the middle of it. I’m not that knowledgeable about Greekgods but I know it’s Aphrodite.
Itseems fitting to have her standing guard over us.
Ipause by the front door, already hearing voices coming from within, so I gripmy violin case tighter and push the double doors inwards—letting them shut meaway for the next year.
Lauren (she/they) is a library assistant by day and writer by night. She is the author of WHEN THE DEMONS TAKE HOLD and YOUR DARLING DEATH. She has published several short stories including: ALIVE, JUST with The Horror Tree, THE CHILDREN OF OWL WILDS with Haunted Words Press, and THE SACRIFICES WE MAKE with Rooster Republic Press.
https://x.com/writerlcarter
https://sleekbio.com/writerlcarter
https://www.instagram.com/writerlcarter/
https://bsky.app/profile/writerlcarter.bsky.social
A Bewitching Tuesday
A Round-Up of Daily Virtual Book Tour Stops
In the Kitchen with KT. #InTheKitchen #TurkeyProteinBowls #bewitchingbooktours https://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/...
Excerpt: Lakegrave School for Young Women by Lauren Carter #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/mNE72xm
Times Change by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin #UrbanFantasy #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/XS3iHWw
Roxanne Rhoads Bookshop Store
https://bookshop.org/shop/RoxanneRhoads
“An unstoppable force, with clawed hands and rot-speckled skin. She was beyond human law, beyond control. She’d have her revenge, twenty-five years after her death, under the same unblinking moon.”
Excerpt from The Sister’s Curse by Nicola Solvinic from Berkley Publishing Group. Now available for pre-order: https://bit.ly/4jBXbCc
#nicolasolvinic #thesisterscurse #mysteryauthor #crimeauthor #thrillerwriter #criminology #crimefiction #crimethriller #crimenovel #suspensenovel #thrillerbook #murdermystery #mysteryreads #booklovers #bookclub #newrelease #bookreview
K.T. Rose's Top 10 Favorite Dark Reads #Horror #DarkReads #bewitchingbooktours https://buff.ly/GbqYyp1
