Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 245

Cover Reveal The Dark(ish) Faerie Tale Quadrilogy by Candace Blevins

SlaveA Dark(ish) Faerie TaleBook OneCandace Blevins
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Romance
Publisher: Kaleidowords PublishingDate of Publication:  April 20, 2018
ISBN:  9781386590101ASIN: B07CBZPXSD
Number of pages: 133Word Count:  36,000 words
Cover Artist:   Willsin Rowe
Book Description:
Because you’re never too old for Faerie Tales...Halflings born in the human realm can stay if they can pass for human, but a baby with bright red and yellow hair, pointed ears, glowing green eyes, and swirled purple and green nails had to be relocated. With no family in Faerie to claim her, the newborn was auctioned off as a slave.
In Faerie, slaves are property with no rights. The baby is now an adult, and has been given in tribute to The Winter Queen.
Queen Mab has worked hard to make everyone in Faerie fear her, but her new pleasure slave enjoys the kiss of her whip. Can the Dark Queen have a tender side? The Dragon King once loved her, after all, so there has to be more to her than the evil, ruthless queen we’ve seen so far.
Climb aboard and experience the best and worst the Winter Queen can dish out.
Slave is book one in the Dark(ish) Faerie Tale quadrilogy. The series takes place within the greater Kirstin O’Shea universe, but can be read without being familiar with the other books and series.
Books2Read
LadyA Dark(ish) Faerie TaleBook TwoCandace Blevins
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Romance
Publisher: Kaleidowords Publishing
Date of Publication: April 27
ISBN: 9781386120636ASIN: B07C2Q3SSS
Number of pages: 204Word Count: 56,000 words
Cover Artist: Willsin Rowe
Book Description:
Even the Dark Queen can’t change destiny.
Tabitha has so much to learn about living with a family, and she makes her grandfather and cousins terribly uncomfortable when she doesn’t fit in. She was punished for looking free people in the eyes all her life, so it’s understandable she has trouble learning to maintain eye contact. And making decisions is impossible — from what she wants for breakfast, to when she’s tired enough for bed, and everything in between.
Her grandfather’s horses don’t judge, and working with them finally helps her begin to find a path towards figuring out this new life, where clothes must be worn all day, every day.
Just when she’s resigned herself to this life and is certain she’ll never enjoy sex again, an invitation arrives to attend one of the Winter Queen’s balls — along with a fancy gown that raises more questions than answers.
Lady is book two in the Dark(ish) Faerie Tale quadrilogy, and should be read in the correct order.
Books2Read
ConsortA Dark(ish) Faerie TaleBook ThreeCandace Blevins
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Romance
Publisher: Kaleidowords Publishing
Date of Publication:  May 11, 2018
ISBN:ASIN:
Number of pages:Word Count: 50,000
Cover Artist: Willsin Rowe
Book Description:
We don’t get to choose our lives, we only get to live them as they’re handed to us.
Mab wanted Tabby to get comfortable with life at the castle before being stressed with the responsibilities of Consort, but Prince Rowan’s timetable means some decisions must be made sooner rather than later.
Mab’s a rip-the-bandage-off kind of Queen, which means Tabby and Rowan aren’t in for an easy time.
Most people are terrified when they find themselves at the mercy of The Dark Queen.
Consort is book three in the Dark(ish) Faerie Tale quadrilogy, and should be read in the correct order.
QueenA Dark(ish) Faerie TaleBook FourCandace Blevins
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Romance
Publisher: Kaleidowords Publishing
Date of Publication: May 25, 2018
ISBN:ASIN:
Number of pages:Word Count: 43,000
Cover Artist: Willsin Rowe
Book Description:
Life can take some complicated paths to get you where you need to be.
Prince Rowan can’t live in Mab’s castle forever. If he has any chance of holding onto his title and one day being King, he’ll need a wife and heirs, and he’ll have to live in his own castle, in his own demesne.
Mab is finally confident of her place in Tabby’s heart, so she isn’t jealous of the pain and sorrow her little one feels at the loss of Rowan.
It’s up to Mab and Rowan to find a way to hold their threesome together despite the political minefields in their way. Can they do it by making it a foursome?
Princess Tabitha has been slave, Lady, and Consort. She never wanted more, but sometimes destiny makes your choices for you.
Don’t miss the exciting conclusion to Tabby’s story!
Queen is book four in the Dark(ish) Faerie Tale quadrilogy, and should be read in the correct order.


About the Author:
Candace Blevins has published more than thirty-five books. She lives with her husband of twenty years and their two daughters. When not working or driving young teens all over the place, she can be found reading, writing, meditating, or swimming. The family’s beloved, goofy, retired racing greyhound is usually at her side as she writes, quietly keeping her company.
Candace writes Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary BDSM Romance, and a kick-ass Motorcycle Club series.
Her urban fantasy series, Only Human, gives us a world where weredragons, werewolves, werelions, three different species of vampires, and a variety of other mythological beings exist.
Candace's two paranormal romance series, The Chattanooga Supernaturals and The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club, are both sister series to the Only Human series, and give some secondary characters their happily ever after. 
Her contemporary Safeword series gives us characters who happen to have some extreme kinks. Relationships can be difficult enough without throwing power exchange into the mix, and her books show characters who care enough about each other to fight to make the relationship work. Each couple in the Safeword series gives the reader a different take on the lifestyle. 
You can visit Candace on the web at candaceblevins.com and feel free to friend her on Facebook at facebook.com/candacesblevins and Goodreads at goodreads.com/CandaceBlevins. You can also join facebook.com/groups/CandacesKinksters to get sneak peeks into what she's writing now, images that inspire her, and the occasional juicy teaser. 
Stay up to date on Candace’s newest releases, and get exclusive excerpts by joining her mailing list at http://bit.ly/cb-new-release
NEWSLETTER ➔  http://eepurl.com/W_Cij
CANDACE'S KINKSTERS READER GROUP ➔  https://www.facebook.com/groups/CandacesKinksters/
AMAZON FOLLOW ➔ http://amzn.to/2gYAj3m
FACEBOOK ➔ https://www.facebook.com/candacesblevins    
INSTAGRAM  ➔ https://www.instagram.com/candaceblevinsauthor/
PINTEREST ➔ https://www.pinterest.com/candacesblevins/
BOOKBUB FOLLOW ➔ https://www.bookbub.com/authors/candace-blevins
TWITTER ➔ https://twitter.com/CandaceBlevins
WEBSITE ➔ http://candaceblevins.com/
GOODREADS ➔  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4489132.Candace_Blevins
INSTAFREEBIE ➔ https://instafreebie.com/author/candaceblevins

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A Bewitching Wednesday

Bewitching Blitz Interview Electric Gardens by M. Black
http://www.roxannerhoads.com/2018/05/...

The Golden Rose of Scotland Ladies of Lore Series Book Two Marisa Dillon #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/3RVW30jN22n

Interview with M. Black, author of Electric Gardens
http://www.candrelsccc.craftylife.net...

Monsterland Reanimated by Michael Okon: Book Tour Spotlight
http://simplykelina.blogspot.com/2018...

Interview with M Black
https://www.tsstuff.net/2018/05/elect...

Green Tips from Monty the Spider #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/suPH30jN1Zk

Everything under the sun BOOK TOUR + A special Excerpt
https://teaseraddictsbookblogblog.wor...

Dragoius Reborn: Fate and Whispers by Adom Sample #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/WPL830jN1UV

Interview David L. Wallace Author of Preordained
http://www.tenastetler.com/interview-...

Electric Gardens by M. Black
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2018/...

SPOTLIGHT w/GIVEAWAY - The Enchanted Garden Café (South Side Stories, #1) by Abigail Drake
https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blog...

Electric Gardens by M. Black
http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...

Electric Gardens by M. Black

Electric GardensElectric World
Book One
M. Black



Publisher: Creativia
Electric World Series
Book Description:
Lexi019, like many other young adults, are confined to what is called a Compound controlled by Tins. Upon their eighteenth birthday they are relocated to serve in the Electric Gardens. But Lexi019 has never been compliant, being glitches frequently for misbehavior that leads her into many hot nights in the cells of the Compound.
Friend Kyle53 wants to escape too, and with a war raging inside of him after his sister was taken to be Meshed (tries inserted into the human brain to render humans compliant), the two embark on a dangerous journey of escape. When they run into some unlikely friends, the two eventually enter the Electric Gardens to forge a way out of the Compound, but will they get out in time or will the Tins, like with the rest of world, find the first?
4 Book Electric World Series:Electric Gardens, Electric Grids, Electric Wars, Electric Ends
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/86xJ8lDtVOw
Amazon     Goodreads

About the Author:
M.Black is a TOP #100 AMAZON Bestseller. She is the author of EXOTIQA WORLD (Cyberpunk Dystopia), GRAPH WORLD (SFF Post-Apocalyptic), SIM WORLD (SciFi Dystopia Post-Apocalyptic) and ELECTRIC WORLD (Robot Post-Apocalyptic).
A semi-finalist author of Lauren Hemingway Contest, she is now published with CREATIVIA.
ENTER TOMORROW with M. Black are YA and NA Dystopias or Post-Apocalyptic stories with a healthy does of SyFy, Fantasy, Future Tech or Robots.
Her books are socially relevant, original, dark & sexy, with characters that dig into your heart, and plot lines that really do surprise. Stories focus on robots, AI, SIMS, genetics, climate, environment, wildlife, grafting, social divisions, neural laces, and future tech.
M.Black is passionate about the Earth, animals, robots and technology. You will find all of these concepts as parts of the themes used in her brand of books ENTER TOMORROW.
M. Black loves to explore future worlds that are falling apart and she likes to keep the reader guessing.
You can find her at http://MBlackDystopianThrillers.blogspot.com
https://www.amazon.com/M-Black/e/B01MU32XQK

Dragoius Reborn: Fate and Whispers by Adom Sample

Dragoius Reborn: Fate and Whispers
The Bloods Passion Saga
Book Two

Adom Sample
Genre: Fantasy Vampire / Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: March 31, 2018
ISBN-13: 978-1987401202ISBN-10: 1987401204ASIN: B078QSMDBG
Number of pages: 415Word Count: 104,000
Cover Artist: Adom Sample
Tagline: How far will you go to be with the one you love?
Book Description:
We all have a choice in life. Sebastian and I made our choice—to be together.
The Shadow Lands became our sanctuary after everything we'd sacrificed. Our desire for one another only deepened as time passed. We'd broken Coven Laws, defied the human government, and put our families at risk to pursue our passion. The Courting Moon bonded us on that night, sealing our fate.
Nevertheless, our work is far from complete. With the Coven searching everywhere to find us it's only a matter of time before death befalls those we love. We are left with no other choice, but to finish what my father died trying to accomplish. To reestablish the Alliance Sanctuary, rebuild the Kingdom of Dragoius, and bring an end to the Coven of Vampyre's tyrannical rule.
The most powerful Vampyre in all the lands, Sebastian's father, the Count of Orias has vowed to stop at nothing until we are found, and our bond is broken. We're racing against time and it all hinges on discovering the Coven's one secret—
Why romantic love is forbidden…
Amazon
Excerpt:
He stands there looking upon her radiant beauty, unable to form words. She’s so luxurious to him; he still can’t believe he’s found someone like her to love him unconditionally. She exits the shower, bright pink hair soaking wet. He becomes aroused yet fades into the background. He must fight off the temptation; otherwise, his plans will lie in ruins. He isn’t supposed to be here—not at this moment. For months he tried and failed to express the passion burning within him in the form of words, but those words never came to fruition. Like a sly snake, he went into their room and placed a note on the bed. Now, only now, is he able to tell her the depths of his unending love for her. Not just the sexual, but the emotional and spiritual as well—something no Vampyre or human could ever understand in a world built on emotional suppression. He exits the room just as she approaches. Slowly, he closes the door and goes back to fixing the steps that caused them to tumble into the bunker where they now dwell. They’ve been trapped in the bunker for three days, and while everything they need is provided for them, they still would like to have an exit readily available.  The door creaks. “Sebastian, is that you?” she calls out.She looks around, but seeing no one, she wraps one towel around her head and one over her body before closing the shower doors. As glaring as the sun beyond the Shadow Lands, the note is there when she nears the bed. “I can’t believe this man,” she says with a bright smile. She tightens the towel around her body and sits on the bed, taking the note in her hands. The words “From Me to You” are written across the front. She unfolds the note carefully so as not to tear any part of it. That’s when she notices the Courting Moon’s glow as it shimmers on her skin. A flush of emotion overcomes her heart. They are safe from the Coven, from Daven, from the Council, from anyone looking to do them harm. Now is the time to enjoy each other, to learn more about the emotions they’re experiencing. She finishes unfolding the note and reads the delicate words Sebastian has written for her.Kyra, my love, my everything,Space and time have no validity when we are together. The nights I have stayed awake wondering how I could be blessed with such an angel are innumerable. You, Kyra, are my heart . . . if that’s what you wish to call it. Love itself is a word that couldn’t possibly hold bearing on what I feel for you. What we have is so much more than that—I can’t explain it. All I do know is the connection we have will last longer than anything in this world. As bright as the moon shines in the night, I will love you, never fail you, always be there for you, give my life for you, and live for you. Whatever this journey may bring, just know that I, Sebastian of Orias, am within you every moment until my immortality gives way. I love you, Kyra—always.  Holding her hand to her face, she tries to keep tears from ruining the note. “Kyra,” says Sebastian, holding a collection of pink roses. “Did you read it?” She removes the towel on her head and places the note on the nightstand near their bed. “Yes, it’s beautiful.” Sebastian takes a single rose from the bouquet he’s holding and places the bud of it in her hair. “No, Kyra, you’re beautiful.” She takes the bouquet from him and breathes its scent in deeply, then sets the roses on the nightstand near the note. She embraced him in a time-stopping kiss. With Sebastian by her side, Kyra is left with a decision. And the fates of both Vampyre and humankind hang in the balance. The choice is hers and hers alone.   


About the Author:
Adom Sample was born in Kansas City, Missouri and currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia. He holds an MBA from GMU, an MHA from ATSU. He served in the United States Air Force from 2001 to 2008. He is an independent author who enjoys reading and writing romance, erotic, and paranormal stories. Writing is his passion and he lives to give others ideas and inspire stories to push the limits of creativity.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Adomwrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdomSampleAuthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14234506.Adom_Sample
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adomwriting/
Website: http://www.adomsample.com/

A Bewitching Monday

Marisa Dillon's Muse- Author Guest Blog
https://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com...

Children's Horror with Kat Hawthorne
https://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com...

Green Tips - Threshold by Patricia J. Anderson #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/A2gK30jKoj4

Favorite Top 5 Lists with YA author Michael Okon + Excerpt #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/ayrA30jKnSO

Everything Under the Sun by Jessica Redmerski: Book Tour Spotlight with Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/NXDU30jKnOK

Book Spotlight: When A Vamp Falls by A.M. Griffin #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/23GD30jKosc

Day Reaper Night Blood Book Four by Melody Johnson Book Tour and Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/82md30jKnsQ

Dragoius Reborn: Fate and Whispers by Adom Sample #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/TnE430jKnCz

Preordained by David L Wallace
http://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/2...

The Boatman by Kat Hawthorne
http://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/2018...

Threshold Patricia J. Anderson #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/1Uel30jKohn

New Release! Day Reaper, by Author Melody Johnson ***Excerpt - Giveaway*** #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Sr6J30jKndC

Dragoius Reborn: Fate and Whispers by Adom Sample #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/TnE430jKnCz

Day Reaper, by Author Melody Johnson ***Excerpt - Giveaway*** #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Sr6J30jKndC

Marisa Dillon's Muse- Author Guest Blog

Let me introduce you to my muse. She prefers to go to bed late and sleep til noon. She’ll wear a tutu to the grocery store because she likes to dance. She doesn’t want to be responsible and will disappear for days if she’s criticized. But she’s also the creative spirit that allows me to write from a place that my logical mind doesn’t understand. Those who are versed in this concept call the place where she lives the subconscious, the right side of the brain.

Stephen King speaks of his muse in his book, On Writing, The Memoir of the Craft: “There’s a muse, but he’s not going to come fluttering down into your writing room and scatter creative fairy-dust all over your computer. He lives in the ground. He’s a basement kind of guy.”

However, you do need to be wary of the muse’s sister, the critic, the conscious mind. Where the muse can put down beautiful words and a compelling story, the critic checks the work for poor structure and unbelievable characterization. She lives in the left side of the brain and has no time for play. She has a ‘to do” list that must be meticulously checked off. 

Conflict will arise between the two and everyone who seeks to tap into their creativity subconsciously, will have to grapple with these opposing forces. A good example of this battle is explained by actor and film writer, Steve Martin, when he talks about his writing experiences: “The conscious mind is the editor, and the subconscious mind is the writer. 

And the joy of writing, when you’re writing from your subconscious, is beautiful—it’s thrilling. When you’re editing, which is your conscious mind, it’s like torture. And I’ve just kind of decided that anytime it’s torture, I want to stop. I’ll put it down and wait until becomes not torture.” 

By now, you may be interested in inviting your subconscious mind to come out and play. How do you make that happen when the conscious mind is guarding the door? The secret lies in getting your muse distracted, to work on a problem in the background while you’re doing something else. 

Remember, my muse loves to dance. Not only does that get my “arse” out of the writer’s seat, it also gives me much needed time for my plot to thicken. This works best when I’ve been writing for a few hours and want to eat all the ice cream in the freezer. Instead, I dance. For you, it may be a repetitive activity like folding laundry, taking a shower, or meditating. 

Now it’s your turn. Set your unconscious mind free and see what music, art, poetry…you fill in the blank type of creatively you can set free into the world.



The Golden Rose of Scotland
Ladies of Lore Series
Book Two
Marisa Dillon

Genre: Historical Romance


Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of Publication: November 22, 2017
ASIN: B077678SYH
Number of pages: 247Word Count: 78.955
Cover Artist: Anna Lena-Spies
Tagline: Romantic Adventures, Not for the Faint of Heart
Book Description:
When poisonings are an everyday occurrence, healer Rosalyn Macpherson must be ready with an antidote. Unless it’s for the English Lord who means to claim her clan’s Highland castle.
What’s in a name? Everything, for Lord Lachlan de Leverton, a charismatic English aristocrat. He’ll break the law to sever his ties to his notorious family. But first, he must secure the deed to Fyvie Castle before the feisty Scottish lass wins it.
Because of their conflicting claims, Rosalyn and Lachlan are ordered to appear in Edinburgh’s royal court, and in an unusual twist of fate, they are assigned as guardians, rather than prisoners, to a caravan carrying the Golden Rose, a papal gift for the King of Scots.
When the royal decree becomes a forced union between the two, it’s not the remedy Rosalyn had hoped for, but by now she doesn’t hate this Englishman quite as much.
Before the knot is tied, the Rose is stolen and Lachlan’s suspected of the crime. Rosalyn then faces the hardest decision yet. Must she sacrifice her precious Philosophers Stone or the land she loves, or both, to save him?
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/x4m12yodRR4
Amazon    BN

Excerpt:Rosalyn closed her eyes, trying not to panic, and took in a long, calming breath, until Lachlan squeezed the air right out of her and she started gasping.“Just a little lower, my love. With this kind doctoring . . .”“Let me go,” she demanded, interrupting whatever suggestive words he had for her. She squirmed against his hold. “You don’t understand.”“All I know is that one moment I’m winning a horse race against the bishop, and the next you are in my arms.” He gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “You are a gift from God. The bishop knew what I needed to be right again.”“God’s teeth, you are not right in the head,” she said, her tone more irritated than she meant. “God would not punish me to make you whole.”Rosalyn wasn’t sure if it was her words or her wiggling that had the desired result, but after a few moments of pushing against him, she broke free.Rising up from Lachlan’s chest, Rosalyn smoothed her tousled hair away from her eyes, then with a tsk, she adjusted her bodice back in place.When she gazed down, wondering why he’d given up so easily, Rosalyn was greeted by a placid Lachlan, looking very much like he was asleep.She wanted to slap him and tell him to quit pretending. But then she noticed his heavy breathing and relaxed, almost angelic, face.Lachlan angelic? A hero? No wonder Ursula had looked at her as if she’d joined the ranks of the jesters. Where had her sensibilities gone? Was it that disarming smile?Just then, the wagon jolted forward and began to move, rocking her onto his chest again. As much as it flustered her, this time he did not grab her. Instead, he lay still, her body rising and falling rhythmically with his breathing. This time she was able to move away at will.The poison.No doubt it was giving him some lucid moments between bouts of delirium. As she gazed down at the peaceful, sleeping aristocrat, she was reminded of her dislike of everything English. Could she make an exception for Lachlan? Was she going all soft on him because of his one kind gesture? But she sobered when she considered the consequences of her actions without his intervention.For now, she would try to like him until he did something to change her mind. At least until she saved him.Rocking back on her heels, Rosalyn touched his forehead to check for fever. She was grateful to find him cool now, but she was still concerned. Ursula had said she’d made the poison strong enough to make him sick, not kill him. Could she trust her?Rising, Rosalyn headed to the low altar and busied herself preparing the herbs, thankful that she was able to do this alone and not under the eagle-eyed scrutiny of Ursula.Besides the herbs, it didn’t take her long to find the other items she needed stored neatly under the altar’s skirting: a pestle and mortar, and a flask of water. She unwrapped the bishop’s herbs from the fuchsia silk and laid them out.Taking pinches of valerian, horehound, and sage, she placed them in the mortar, then added a few drops of water. Using the pestle, she formed a sticky paste. Once satisfied with the concoction, she headed back to Lachlan’s side, on a mission to save him.“Lachlan,” she whispered, “wake up.”He groaned and flipped over on his side facing her.“Lockie?” She tried the nickname he’d asked her to use, hoping it might illicit a better response.“Ursula?”Ursula! What? “Yes,” she lied. “It’s Ursula. I want you to eat something.”“Eat? No!” He almost shouted the response.Hmm. What to do if he refused the antidote? Time was her enemy now, and she couldn’t wait until his constitution changed. She glanced about the tidy wagon trying to figure out how to feed him the herbs. Nothing. No bread or fruit to use as a serving tool. Stumped for a moment, she relaxed her breathing and began to sort through what might make Lachlan open his mouth.Finally, deciding saving his life was more important that her squeamishness, Rosalyn scooped up some of the paste on to her middle finger, then she lay down on the floor facing him.
Because his arm was draped under his head, she was able to scoot right next to his chest and get close enough to suit her needs. Once situated, she said a little prayer, asking God to let the herb and his power save Lachlan.
About the Author:
With a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Marisa has spent many years writing for the television industry. As an award-winning producer/director/marketer, she has worked on commercial production, show creation, product branding and social media.
Marisa has always enjoyed reading romance novels and now realizes a dream come true, writing page-turning romantic adventures.
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/de5Htv
Website:  https://marisadillon.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisadillon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisadillonauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10792736.Marisa_Dillon
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Children's Horror - The Boatman by Kat Hawthorne

I’m just going to say this: Children’s horror stories are not often about simply scaring kids. In my opinion, spooky books for kids are about teaching kids how awesome they are. 

When I tell people (adults, mostly) that I write spooky books for kids, I am often met with the kind of nervous laughter that comes from a person who has just learned that there is a spider in the room but who doesn’t want to admit to a fear of spiders. Makes me feel like one of my villains, which is both cool and sad. And I can see their point. Why would anyone want to scare a child? Is that not morally questionable? 

Today, I’d like to tell you why it is not wrong to scare a child through literature. On the contrary, I think it is important that we do so. 

The main reason is this: books are safe. They are made of paper. A reader can open or close the book whenever they want. That in itself gives the reader power, and isn’t that the thing about fear? We are frightened about what we cannot control—about that which robs us of our power? So that’s one thing.

The next reason is that inside a book we are given the opportunity to face something that cannot actually hurt us. By experiencing fear, sadness, confusion, betrayal, loss, or anything else through reading, we will be given some tools to face them should they ever crop up in real life. We can explore different possibilities—make good decisions, make bad ones—without it having any of it impact on our lives unless we want it to. How does the main character handle the experience of losing a loved one, for example? What will she do when something is happening that she knows is not right? How will she handle fear? Confrontation? Disrespect? How will she keep herself safe when she is in danger? And most importantly, which of those tools will benefit her in real life, because at some point we all must face difficult things. That’s just a fact.

Children’s horror is about exposing kids to worrisome things in a controlled environment. Probably, none of our kids will ever come up against a half-octopus man that wants to trap them in his rickety old boat forever. But, though we may not want to admit to it, there is the possibility that our kids may one day come up against a real man who wants to lure them into his car. By showing kids that they are smart, by teaching them that they have some tools to handle those situations even when they are frightened, they will become strong. That is power, friends. That is a way the child can learn to grow powerful.

Through the medium of spooky children’s literature, it is my goal to show kids that they can handle anything. By exposing them to fear, they will become fearless—or at least better equipped to handle their fear. Let the characters in the novel show us some great ideas and some bad ones. Observe the outcome of their choices. 

So that later, when the Boatman comes for them, they will know how to defeat him.

The BoatmanKat Hawthorne
Genre: Middle Grade Horror, Fantasy
Publisher: Common Deer Press
Date of Publication: April 30, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-988761-20-6 paperbackISBN: 978-1-988761-21-3 ebookASIN: B07BFFQS1D
Number of pages: 126Word Count: 25,000
Cover Artist and Illustrator Dora Mitchell
Tagline: Eleven-year-old Isabel Wixon retreats into a fantasy world to cope with her grief
Book Description:
Isabel Wixon is weird. Not only does she see dead things, but her list of friends consists of a talkative ventriloquist’s dummy and the gentlemanly spider that lives in her hair.   Real friends? Too hard. Inventing friends is much easier.   Inventing the Boatman—a terrible monster that lures kids into a strange sleeping sickness and never lets them go—probably wasn’t one of her better ideas though.
Amazon     Amazon CA     BN
Common Deer Press    Chapters/Indigo

Book Depository
Excerpt: Izzy froze as the spirit of a young girl appeared before her. This morning, as she did on occasion, the girl had taken off her head. The ghost’s body hefted the head a few times, obviously fixing to lob it at Izzy. She stiffened. Izzy had never been hit by a detached head before, but she doubted it would be much fun.“The Boatman is looking for you,” the ghost-girl said so quietly Izzy couldn’t be sure if what she’d heard was the ghost’s voice or the leaves on the trees above laughing as the rain tickled them. “You should be very careful not to—GAH!!”Just then, and for no reason Izzy could see, the body fumbled and dropped the head. It crashed to the ground and began rolling away. “You cumbersome hunk of junk!” the head squealed as it bumped into a tree and came to an indelicate halt.Blindly, the body bent over and began feeling around on the forest floor. Looking for something round, it located a large rock. It spent a few moments trying to lift it, but as everyone knows, ghosts cannot lift things. The head sighed. “Hello! I’m over here you brain dead oaf!” it hollered from its place near the tree. Finally, the body stumbled toward it. After poking a finger in the head’s eye and shoving another up its nose, ghost-girl’s body heaved the head up by its stringy hair and placed it back onto its neck hole, spinning it around a few times as though it were screwing in a light bulb. When finally the head was fixed into place, though slightly crooked, the now-whole ghost-girl stretched as if she were stiff. “Silly, clumsy thing,” she said. “I swear, one day my body will lose me! How will I ever get a head then?” The ghost put a hand on her belly and chuffed at her own joke. But not Izzy, she was too afraid to laugh. Instead, she swallowed. Usually when the headless ghost-girl appeared, Izzy ran away. But not today. There was something she’d been meaning to ask, and she knew that the only way to get the answer was to be brave and ask it. Besides, after the whole dropped head debacle and the thing about cracking jokes, the ghost seemed too distracted to be menacing. So Izzy stood as tall as she could and hoped the ghost would not notice her rattling knees. “Um,” she stammered, “who is the Boatman?”The ghost crossed her arms over her chest. Her lips looked like a pair of bloated worms, particularly when they were pooched out, as they were right then. She tilted her head to the side, or at least she tilted it more to the side than it already was. “Did you just speak to me? Are you not frightened?”“Yes—I mean no.” Izzy nodded and then shook her head. She peeled a slithering wet clump of hair off of her forehead. She looked back at the ghost, who still waited for an answer. “Oh...Um...I mean, yes I spoke, and no I’m not afraid.” It was half true at least.The ghost-girl slumped, which made her seem far less frightening. “Really? Am I losing my touch? That would be the pits. I’ve been trying so hard.”“Oh!” Izzy scrunched her eyebrows together. She didn’t want to hurt the ghost’s feelings. She simply hadn’t considered how the ghost must be feeling. After all, scaring people was the ghostly way. Everyone knew that.Izzy scratched her pointy elbow then continued. “Well then, I admit that you’ve done a wonderful job scaring me these past few weeks. I mean, the head thing and the song—very creepy. Truly top notch material. However, I don’t know who this Boatman fellow is. I’m not sure if I ought to be afraid of him or not. Perhaps you could explain? That might help.”The ghost rubbed her chin as if considering. “Well, if you think it will help.”Izzy nodded. “I do.”Theatrically, the ghost hovered a few inches off the ground and faded in and out as the trees swayed and small shafts of morning light blinked right through her. Her voice was low-pitched when she began to speak, very unlike the shrill soprano she took on while singing. “The Boatman is a hideous monster who lives in the world of dreams.” With this, the ghost waved her arm as if indicating that they were in the world of dreams currently. “He sails his rickety boat around on the lake of your thoughts. He is the one responsible for every nightmare you’ve ever had; he’s the one who controls your fear and...”The ghost sighed and visibly deflated, seeming displeased by the quality of her storytelling. Izzy had to admit, the ghost’s tone had lost some pizazz as she went on. “Too over-the-top?” the ghost asked.
Izzy shrugged one shoulder. “Perhaps a teensy bit.”
About the Author:
Kat Hawthorne is a nerd times three. Besides writing, she enjoys creating visual art and playing her cello. She is mother to three small boys, who are unwittingly the inspiration for her need to write.
Goodreads: 
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7772294.Kat_Hawthorne


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