Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 319

Guest Blog and Giveaway Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A. Verstraete

Life in 1892 By Christine (C.A.) Verstraete
With today’s technology, it’s hard to imagine living in 1892. It seems like a place limited to old movies and TV shows.
But actually, it was a time of innovation with new, exciting things going on and just around the corner.
Lizzie might have been as curious as anyone else hearing about the most unusual book coming out, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
Even if it wasn’t to her reading tastes, she would have known, and maybe even talked about the horrific novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley published earlier in the century.
Maybe she was among those who picked up a copy of the thrilling new stories, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, published on Halloween that year by Arthur Conan Doyle.Without the “distractions” then like we have now with smart phones, endless video, movies, and 24/7 TV, events and new inventions were huge news to people in those days. Imagine, if you will, the excitement as news of the Columbian Exposition, the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, started to come out. The talk of riding on that huge new wheel by Mr. Ferris, strange exhibits from around the world… Such wonders!
Lizzie Borden had to be as excited as anyone else, even though she was preoccupied, of course, with a murder trial and having her life on the line. Still, she had to think, and even hope sometimes, that she would get to (live) and see the World’s Fair.
Of course, the newspapers of the day went on a near frenzy as word spread about the horrific murders on August 4, 1892 in the mill town of Fall River, Mass. And the idea that an unmarried Sunday School teacher—the daughter yet!—would be arrested for the crimes? Ghastly! Unthinkable! Shocking! Consider these headlines in the August 13, 1892 coverage in the Daily Times, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: IT KILLED THE BORDENS. The Discovery of the Ax Creates Another Sensation. BLOOD STAINS ON THE WEAPON.

Lizzie Borden was the OJ of her day. Word of the murders, the trial, and her being declared not guilty spread across the nation’s newspapers like wildfire. Like rubberneckers peering at an accident today, people gathered outside her home and crowded the courthouse to get a glimpse of her. She was scandal personified.
And then… it was over. Of course, for Lizzie, the crime and the taint of scandal never truly left. The questions remained… did she or didn’t she?
Oh, she did later make some friends and participate in the things that interested her like supporting animals and other charities, but she was still somewhat of a social pariah, a curiosity, and a possible murderess?
No one really knows what happened that day. Boundless theories exist. That’s what Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter offers–a plausible explanation for what happened that August morning in 1892… what if Lizzie did it… because she had no other choice?



Lizzie Borden, Zombie HunterC.A. Verstraete
Genre: Horror/Dark FantasyParanormal/ Zombie/Mystery
Publisher: Imajin Books
Date of Publication:  Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-77223-273-8ASIN: B01KISRS80
Number of pages: 232Word Count: 74,000 +
Cover Artist: Ryan Doan
Book Description: 
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling them.
Amazon

Chapter One
Q. You saw hisface covered with blood?A. Yes sir.Q. Did you see his eyeball hanging out?A. No sir.Q. Did you see the gashes where his face was laid open?A. No sir.—Lizzie Borden at inquest, August 9-11, 1892, Fall River Courtroom
A ugust 4, 1892 Lizzie Borden drained the rest of her tea, set down her cup, and listened to the sound of furniture moving upstairs. My, my, foronly ten o’clock in the morning my stepmother is certainly energetic. Housecleaning, already?THUMP.For a moment, Lizzie forgot her plans to go shopping downtown. THUMP. There it went again. It sounded like her stepmother was rearranging the whole room. She paused at the bottom stair, her concern growing, when she heard another thump and then, the oddest of sounds—a moan. Uh-oh. What was that? Did she hurt herself?“Mrs. Borden?” Lizzie called. “Are you all right?”No answer.She wondered if her stepmother had taken ill, yet the shuffling, moving, and other unusual noises continued. Lizzie hurried up the stairs and paused outside the partially openeddoor. The strange moans coming from the room sent a shiver up herback.Lizzie pushed the door open wider and stared. Mrs. Abby Durfee Borden stood in front of the bureau mirror, clawing at her reflected image. And what a horrid image it was. The sixty-seven-year-old woman’s hair looked like it had never been combed and stuck out like porcupine quills. Her usually spotless housedress appeared wrinkled and torn. Yet, that wasn’t the worst. Dark red spots—Blood, Lizzie’s mind whispered—dotted the floor and streaked the sides of the older woman’s dress and sleeves.Lizzie gazed about the room in alarm. The tips of Father’s slippers peeking out from beneath the bed also glistened with the same viscous red liquid. All that blood! What happened here? Whathappened?She gasped, which got the attention of Mrs. Borden, who jerked her head and growled. Lizzie choked back a cry of alarm. Abby’s square, plain face now appeared twisted and ashen gray. Her eyes, once bright with interest, stared from under a milky covering as if she had cataracts. She resembled a female version of The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Another growl and a moan, and the older woman lunged, arms rigid, her stubby hands held out like claws.“Mrs. Borden, Abby!” Lizzie yelled and stumbled backward as fast as she could. “Abby, do you hearme?”Her stepmother shuffled forward, her steps slow but steady. She showed no emotion or sense of recognition. The only utterances she made were those strange low moans.Lizzie moved back even further, trying to keep some distance between her and Mrs. Borden’s grasping fingers. Then her foot hit something. Lizzie quickly glanced down at the silver hairbrush that had fallen to the floor. Too late, she realized her error.“No!” Lizzie cried out at the strange feeling of her stepmother’s clammy, cold hand around her wrist. “Abby, what happened? What’s wrong with you?”Mrs. Borden said nothing and moved in closer. Her mouth opened and closed, revealing bloodstained teeth.“No! Stay away!” Lizzie yelled. “Stop!”She didn’t. Instead, Mrs. Borden scratched andclawed at her. Lizzie leaned back, barely escaping the snap of the madwoman’s teeth at her neck.“Mrs. Bor—Abby! No, no!Stop!”Lizzie’s slight advantage of a few inches in height offered no protection against her shorter stepmother’s almost demonic and inhuman strength. The older woman bit and snapped like a rabid dog. Lizzie struggled to fight her off, and shoved her away, yet Mrs. Borden attacked again and again, her hands grabbing, her teeth seeking thetender flesh covered by Lizzie’s long, full sleeves.The two of them grappled and wrestled, bumping into the bedposts and banging into furniture. Lizzie yelped each time her soft flesh hit something hard. She felt her strength wane as the  crazed woman’s gnarled hands clawed at her. Lizzie wondered how much more she could endure.Lizzie’s cries for help came out hoarse and weak. “Em-Emma!” She tried again. “Help! Help me!” She knew Emma had come in late last night from her trip out of town. But if Emma already woke and went downstairs, will she even hearme?Lizzie reeled back, her panic growing as her spine pressed against the fireplace. She pushed and fought in an attempt to keep this monster away, yet Mrs. Borden’s ugly face and snapping teeth edged closer and closer.Then Lizzie spotted it: the worn hatchet Father had left behind after he’d last brought in thenewly chopped wood. No, no! Her mind filled with  horror,  but  when  her  stepmother  came  at  her  again,  Lizzie whispered a prayer for forgiveness and grabbed the handle. She lifted the hatchet high overhead and swung ashard as she could. It hit her stepmother’s skull with a sickening thud.As impossible as it seemed, Mrs. Borden snarled and continued her attack.Lizzie hit her again, and again, and again. The blows raked her stepmother’s face and scraped deep furrows into tender flesh. The metal hatchet head pounded her stepmother’s shoulders and arms, the bones giving way with sickening crunches. Mrs. Borden’s broken arms dangled, hanging limp and ugly at her sides… and yet, dear God, yet she continued her attack.With the last bit of her strength, Lizzie raised the hatchet again and brought it down on Mrs. Borden’s head. Only then did her stepmother crumple and fall into a pile at Lizzie’s feet.It took a few minutes for Lizzie to comprehend the horrible scene. It didn’t seem real, but it was. With a cry, she threw the bloodied hatchet aside. She gagged as the weapon caught in the braided artificial hairpiece hanging from the back of Mrs. Borden’s gore-encrusted scalp.Retching, Lizzie ran to the other side of the bed, bent over, and vomited into the chamber pot. She crossed the room and leaned against the wall, her shoulders shaking with each heart-rending sob.Her hands trembled so hard she could barely hold them still, but she managed to cover her eyes in a feeble attempt to block out the carnage. It didn’t stop the horrific images that flashed in her mind, or the many questions. And it certainly did nothing for the soul-crushing guilt that filled her.Why? shecried. Why? Dear God, what have I done? What have I done?
About the Author:
Christine (C.A.) Verstraete enjoys putting a bit of a “scare” in her writing. He stories have appeared in various anthologies and publications including Mystery Weekly, Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crime, Siren’s Call Magazine, and more. She also is the author of books on dollhouses and a YA novel, GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie.
Her latest novel is Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter.
Learn more at her website, http://cverstraete.com  and her blog, http://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christine.verstraete
Twitter: @caverstraete https://twitter.com/caverstraete
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31553183-lizzie-borden-zombie-hunter

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Video Interview - The Summer of Annah: A Midsummer’s Wish by Tinthia Clemant

The Summer of AnnahA Midsummer’s Wish   Seasons of Annah SeriesBook OneTinthia Clemant
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Publisher: River Lady Press
Date of Publication: June 10, 2016
ISBN: 978-0997437119  ASIN: B01DDRLARS
Number of pages: 328Word Count: 102,000
Cover Artist: Covers by Karen    
Book Description:
“The true love I desire shall come to me. I am the lock he is the key. As mine to him, his soul shall speak to me. This I seek, so mote it be.”
When 55-year-old earth-witch, Annah-Belle Henderson, cast a spell for love she never envisioned her wish would be granted in the young nephew of her longtime friend. With a face that rivals the Norse god Thor, and a body to match, the charismatic Eric Ashworth draws Annah into a dizzying current of emotions. Should she accept the chance for love with a man twenty years younger or reject her feelings?
As a past darkness threatens to destroy her, Annah makes a decision that begins a journey fraught with judgement, betrayal, and perhaps death.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/wSTe12lUUBo
Amazon

About the Author:
Tinthia Clemant was born in Medford, Massachusetts, over sixty years ago. In other words, she's old! As a child, she lived happily in a loving home with her three siblings and mother and father. She always wrote. From the time she first picked up a pencil, or perhaps it was a crayon, she wrote. Love stories. Happy stories. Stories about love with happy endings. Her first book was self-published. (At the tender age of seven, she stapled the pages together and presented it to her mother on Mother's Day.)
As contemporary women's fiction's newest author, Tinthia fell in love with love stories and true love when she first learned about true love's first kiss. That did it for her! Unfortunately, she has yet to find that special kiss. Throwing her arms up in defeat, she decided to write about it and live vicariously through her characters.
Tinthia lives on the banks of the Concord River and spends her time teaching science at a local community college, gardening, painting, feeding her multitude of Mallards (follow her natural history blog at: concordriverlady.com), reading, and, of course, writing contemporary women's fiction about romance, relationships, and true love. She also enjoys Chunky Monkey and American Dream Cone and other enticing flavors produced by Ben and Jerry.
Website: http://www.tinthiaclemant.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChm2p75hhhZn8gRt_deyhuw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinthiaclemant
Twitter: https://twitter.com/riverladypress
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15285933.Tinthia_Clemant
Blog: http://www.riverladypress.com/?p=218

Authors- It's Time to Think About Holiday Book Promotion

Are you planning any holiday promotions this year?

Bewitching Book Tours is offering a unique winter holiday promotion this season.

From November 21- December 23 each featured book will be showcased with Bewitching Tour Stops, Social Media Promotion and a multi-author Facebook party in December.

Books will be split into genre specific holiday promotions-

Fangs for the Holidays (PNR and UF), Hot for the Holidays (erotica), Christmas Kisses (Romance) and A Very Scary Christmas (Horror).

The Bewitching Holiday Extravaganza is Open to All Books, Not Just Holiday Themed Books.

To participate I'll need details for each book you wish to promote including a high resolution jpeg of the cover along with a short book excerpt.

Each author will need to provide a Winter Holiday themed guest blog or a short holiday flash fiction story or poem. 

The guest blog or flash fiction materials may feature Christmas, Yule, the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or whatever winter holiday they choose to celebrate with their writing. Guest blogs may be recipes, DIY Tutorials, Holiday Music Playlists, Top Ten Gift Lists, or anything related to the holidays.

For the Facebook Party authors will each need quizzes, games and a few small prizes for their party block.

The fee for this promotion is $100 for the first author/book. If you wish to promote additional authors/books each additional is $50.

You can sign up here https://goo.gl/forms/9Hm6pgqJxeUx5P5K2

Fish Wielder by J.R.R.R (Jim) Hardison

Fish Wielder
J.R.R.R (Jim) Hardison

YA Epic Fantasy
Fish Wielder Series (Book 1)
Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC
August 23, 2016 

Book Description:

Fish Wielder is kind of like Lord of the Rings, set in Narnia, if it was written by the guys who made Monty Python and the Holy Grail while they were listening to the music of They Might Be Giants. 

In ancient times, the Dark Lord Mauron cooked the most powerful magic chocolate dessert ever made, the Pudding of Power.

One thousand and two years later, the evil leader of the Bad Religion, the Heartless One, is trying to recover the lost pudding in order to enslave the peoples of Grome. Only the depressed barbarian warrior Thoral Might Fist and his best friend, Brad the talking Koi fish, have a chance to save the world of Grome from destruction, but that's going to take a ridiculous amount of magic and mayhem.

Thus begins the epically silly epic fantasy of epic proportions, Fish Wielder—book one of the Fish Wielder Trilogy.


Book Videos:https://youtu.be/C2t5JXmhTlghttps://youtu.be/8QQOiB8YssI
Amazon     Kobo     iTunes     BN


Advanced Praise:
“This is one wild romp! I'm not sure I've seen such preposterously determined critic-baiting parody since Xanth or Asprin's Myth-Begotten series. I recommend it to anyone.” ―Piers Anthony, New York Times Bestselling Author 
"Fast, fun, fantastic! Fish Wielder is hilarious and unpredictable, like a drunk bear playing whack-a-mole." ―Logan J. Hunder, author of Witches Be Crazy

"A great time. Fast and funny, it races along in a self-aware tone that should appeal to anyone who loves fantasy but has ever found themselves thinking, huh, that was a little melodramatic." ―Clay Johnson, author of OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD (Ravenswood Publishing, 2016)





Excerpt 3 (346 words) The gate gaped like the mouth of a monster. It was obvious someone had gone to great expenseto have it built that way. Warlordhorse snorted as Thoral squinted into the void. The light of themoon did not penetrate the inky blackness of the fortress. Damn gibbous moons. Thoral swungdown from the saddle and unpacked and lit a torch. Its flame flickered like a dancing wraith asthunder rumbled in the distance.“I’m telling you, lanterns are better,” Brad commented, still in the pouch.“This torch is more than serviceable,” the warrior answered.“It’s all flickery and eerie,” the fish huffed at his side. “Lanterns give more consistentlight for the money.”“Enough,” Thoral growled.He led Warlordhorse through the door and into the courtyard beyond. Once inside, he tiedWarlordhorse to the testicles of a crumbling sculpture and looked around. It was dark andgloomy enough that it was hard to see even with a torch, but Thoral decided not to say anythingabout the poor lighting. He didn’t want to give Brad the satisfaction. Instead, he strodeunconcerned through a door that hung half off its hinges, stumbled over a whole human skeletonand dropped the torch. It went out.Recovering with the agility of an acrobatic dancing cat trained in martial arts, the warriordrew Blurmflard from its sheath and pronounced the magic word that made the rune-coveredblade glow with a bright pink radiance. They were in a small antechamber from which manydoors led. The floor was littered with bones. Thoral glanced down at Brad, who glared back athim from the belt pouch, furious. Before the fish could say anything, however, a soft scrabblingsound came from behind them. The Fist Wielder whirled round, roaring a battle cry, and slashingthe darkness with Blurmflard.A little rat squeaked at him from the bone-strewn floor, blinking in the magic pink light.“It’s just a rat,” Brad sighed with relief.“A mere rodent.” Thoral forced a chuckle. Then he relaxed.Of course, that’s when the evil sorcerer sprang on him.


About the Author:
Fish Wielder is J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison's first novel novel (He wrote a graphic novel, The Helm, for Dark Horse Comics). Jim has worked as a writer, screen writer, animator and film director. He started his professional career by producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature film, The Creature From Lake Michigan. Making a bad movie can be a crash course in the essential elements of good character and story, and The Creature From Lake Michigan was a tremendously bad movie. Shifting his focus entirely to animation, Jim joined Will Vinton Studios where he directed animated commercials for M&M’s and on the stop-motion TV series Gary and Mike. While working at Vinton, he also co-wrote the television special Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy with actor Paul Reiser.

Jim has appeared on NBC's The Apprentice as an expert advisor on brand characters, developed characters and wrote the pilot episode for the PBS children's television series SeeMore's Playhouse and authored the previously mentioned graphic novel, The Helm, named one of 2010's top ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by YALSA, a branch of the American Library Association. These days, Jim is the creative director and co-owner of Character LLC, a company that does story-analysis for brands and entertainment properties. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his lovely wife, two amazing kids, one smart dog and one stupid dog.

Fish Wielder Website     Author Website  

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Release Day Blitz The Raveners by LD Towers

The RavenersBook 1LD Towers
Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Publisher: BadBird Publications
Date of Publication: September 20, 2016
Word Count: 100k
Cover Artist:  Pranav LohaniPhoto by Blackbird Photography
Book Description:
On 26 May 1897, Bram Stoker brought us the story of Dracula; an undead creature who terrorised the living by drinking their blood. He based his creature on the legends of Ireland and Eastern Europe, bringing it to life with all the pomp of Victorian literature. What if his concept was correct, but the execution was not? What if there was not one creature, but a band of twenty-four? Crusader knights who committed such a terrible act that the Pope of Rome and the Rabbis of Jerusalem joined together in petitioning God to bring a terrible curse upon them.Sentenced to eternal life as punishment for their crimes, yet hounded by both the clerical and the secular as they struggle to live them. The Jews called them Ga’ashekelah: the Raveners. To the Catholic Church, they are the Accursed Ones. Feasting on the bodies of the living to maintain their power.
What starts as a simple trip on the Eurostar to the buried trenches of World War One in Northern France is going to take Imperial War Museum expert Dr. Alexandra Horne on a journey she could never have conceived. From the bustling streets of Paris to the azure waters of Collioure and the very Vatican itself, Lexa will discover the Raveners and those who have sworn to hunt them down.
Grab Your Copy Here

Amazon    BN    iBooks    Google Play    KoboExcerpt 3


Somehow, his head was turned to face her. In fact, where his eyes should have been were what felt like two pinpoints of brilliant light. Two diamonds glittering above the beam of the LED. His face was leather, just like that of Major von Gravenreuth. His lips were pulled back and his face was that horrible rictus of a skull. The cheer of the dead. He seemed to be looking right at her. As if he had lifted his head from the desk and was waiting for her. His dark hair had fallen over his forehead. Always longer than the fashion. More like men’s hair from the twenties. Lexa found herself sinking down into a kneeling position. Why was the body looking at her? How could he have frozen in such a position? Like he had been writing at his desk, and turned his head to see this little creature crawling on his carpet? What were the odds that he would die staring at carpet and that she would crawl in here on it. But most importantly, what gave his eye sockets that terrible, piercing sparkle?“Alexandra!” Jubilant. Right in front of her. As if he had moved, but she was sure that the body was exactly as it was. “You found me at last.”Her heart was pounding in her chest. “I swear to God that you just moved. Jesus! I am losing my mind.”There was a terrible snapping and popping noise. It couldn’t have been her imagination. “No.” The mouth didn’t move, but the hands certainly did. “I am sorry you must see me this way.” Open and gesturing. Clawed hands in a welcoming position, palms up and the dry leather stretching tightly.Lexa blinked and started to hyperventilate. “This is a nightmare and I am going to wake up in a moment where I will be in my bed in my tiny little house. It’s a postage stamp and all that I can afford but when I wake up, I will be there and I will be very happy.”The head shook. It had the temerity to shake at her. “You are very much awake and we are very much together.”That’s when she realised that he was speaking in German. Wasn’t that just peachy. She was losing her mind, and she was doing it in her second language. The one she didn’t speak very well. “I am going to close my eyes, and when I open them again, I am going to be in my bed. Or a straight jacket.”Lexa thought it was very brave to actually close her eyes. It gave her a moment to focus on her breathing. But that horrible snapping and popping noise just filled the room. She clenched her eyes tight shut and was ashamed as two tears of pure terror squeezed their way out of her eyes. Oh dear God! Please let her wake up in her own room! “There is nothing for you to be afraid of.” A whisper on the edge of her mind. Like a soft, gentle prayer. “I would never hurt you.”“Stop talking,” Lexa whispered with her eyes still tightly shut. And there was silence. A lot of silence. Long moments of silence. In fact, enough time passed that she could feel the phone dim from inactivity against her eyelids. Then it went black. She was in the dark, on the carpet in a room with a corpse. Or, she was going to open her eyes and she would be staring up at the Edwardian light fixture that she bought on Ebay which hung over her bed.
After what felt like forever, after her heart had slowed enough that it no longer felt like it was pounding its way out of her chest, Lexa opened her eyes. Her vision was filled with the glitter of diamonds not centimetres from her own eyes. In fact, what she could see in the gloom was the reflection of those gems and the dead face they were inside. She was nose to nose with a corpse and it was nearly on top of her. She let out a terrified scream and started to shake uncontrollably. She couldn’t breathe. Nothing in her body was working. She was paralysed with fear.

About the Author:
LD Towers travels the world like a rootless vagabond! A military historian, she searches out places of conflict to find a deeper insight to the things she writes about. Presently enjoying the warm weather and azure seas of Central America, she has lived all over Western Europe, including 5.5 years in the incomparable Berlin.
Primarily working in Historical and Military Fiction, LD sometimes sneaks in the odd Dystopian or Modern Thriller piece. In fact, her new book is a complete redo on the vampire concept. Look for The Raveners; coming September 20, 2016.https://ldtowers.net
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4309377.L_D_Towers
https://www.facebook.com/LDTowerswalks
https://twitter.com/L_D_Towers
http://www.amazon.com/LD-Towers/e/B00ZMFTJTQ
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Unleashed by Shelley R. Pickens

UnleashedThe Haunting of SecretsBook ThreeShelley R. Pickens
Genre: Paranormal YA
Tag Line: With her ascension, she gained great power. Now the lure of infinite power over others will cause the monster within to be Unleashed.
Book Descripton:
Aimee killed a man. Worse yet, she enjoyed it.
Aimee has survived a bombing, a killer’s torture chamber, countless evils harbored deep within the minds of psychopaths and killers, and even death. But now, the greatest threat is the evil barely contained within.
With her ascension, Aimee gained great power. She no longer needs to touch a person for their every memory and thoughts to be divulged. With that power, she now feels the pull to become judge, jury, and executioner to those who commit evil in this world.
Despite her desire to be alone with Logan and live a normal life, she soon realizes that she, in fact, is the greatest threat to the normality she craves. Without control of her own powers, she inadvertently causes harm to those she loves the most.
Aimee is forced to seek out the only other person in this world that can help her: Brett.
Together, they explore the world as ascended beings, reveling in the intoxication of mind control, as flames of love ignite between them. With each new emotion explored, the reasons behind the origin of her powers are slowly revealed.
But a dark threat looms in the horizon —a sinister plot that will cause the monster within Aimee to emerge.
With Logan kidnapped and Brett unable to face his sinister father, Aimee must battle the lure of infinite power to save the two boys that hold her heart captive.Or risk being lost to the evil forever.

Also Available
The Haunting of Secrets Book 1
Lulu      Amazon     Amazon UK
Smashwords     Barnes and Noble

Unhinged The Haunting of Secrets Book 2
Lulu    Amazon     Amazon UK
Smashwords     Barnes and Noble
Book Trailers
The Haunting of Secrets https://youtu.be/cQvKX0rb-Zg
Unhinged https://youtu.be/bLbiytP_bEk
Excerpt: PrefaceI killed a man. Worse yet, I wanted to kill him. The darkness I’ve fought so hard to keep out of my life had somehow seeped into my soul without me knowing it. My ascension brought great power, but at a horrible price. All it took was a moment. A fleeting thought, and when it was over, the man before me, lay dead and my soul cried out in agony. I stand above him now, watching my reflection as it bounces off his lifeless eyes. This isn’t the girl I’m supposed to be. The girl I know would never have harmed a living soul. Yet, here’s the proof right in front of me, staring lifelessly into nothingness. I know he never saw death coming for him because his expression is a strange mixture of pain and surprise. I want to help him, but there’s nothing I can do, he’s gone. I watched his thoughts end, his soul disperse to the sky above. Still, his face remains stubbornly determined; like he wants nothing more than to return so he can admonish me for my sins. But he can’t.And I’m the reason why. I slowly back away from him, still unsure of what to do. My progress is halted abruptly when I run straight into a solid wall of muscle. His arms come around to embrace me from behind. It’s comforting despite the complete inappropriateness of it in the face of death. He holds me as I stare helplessly; hovering over the body of the man I just destroyed. “It’s all right,” he begins in a soft tone. “You did what you had to do.” I turn around and look at my companion, my equal in both power and stubbornness. “No, I didn’t. I did what I wanted to do. For that, I’m going to burn in hell.”My self-proclaimed soul mate stares at me with a puzzled look on his face. He seems confused, as if hell is a place that shouldn’t be feared. After all I’ve been through in the short sixteen years of my life, I’m more certain than ever that hell is very real.  And it’s a place I now seem destined to visit. Though my companion seems understanding and empathetic of my remorse, he isn’t quite able to hide the pride he feels for my eliminating someone with my powers. I don’t need to see his thoughts; it shines clearly through every aspect of his expression.
He moves his hands up to cup my face, catching the latest tear as it falls from my regret filled eyes. “Then we shall burn in hell together, my dark princess.”
About the Author:
Shelley Pickens is a Spanish teacher by day and a novelist by night. She's been in love with everything paranormal since she can remember. After years of teaching high school students, she decided to take her firsthand knowledge of young adults and apply it to her passion for creative writing and fantasy. When not teaching or writing, Shelley likes to spend time with her husband and two beautiful children in Atlanta, Ga. Her escape from reality is her love of complex thriller and science fiction TV series like Supernatural and Sleepy Hollow. In her spare time she is an avid watcher of little league baseball. THE HAUNTING OF SECRETS is her debut novel.
You can connect with Shelley Pickens at:
Website: www.shelleypickens.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelleypickensauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shelleypickens

Goodreads: http://goo.gl/u7r0E1a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Jamie McFarlane

Greetings, Fang-Tastic Books followers. I'm excited to announce the release of Wicked Folk, Witchy World Book 2.

I've been a long time reader of Urban Fantasy, enjoying the writings of people like Jim Butcher and his Dresden Files series, Kim Harrison and her Hollows series, and numerous other fantastic writers. While I started as a science fiction writer, I found that my mind kept wandering back to this question of what if magical beings existed in our world today, and we were just too mundane to see it. It's not a new idea and has been covered by a number of other writers and initially this understanding pushed me away from throwing my hat into the ring. The thing is, sometimes ideas just won't let you go and I started seeing things in my own world that I realized could be interpreted differently. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the sort to insist there are ghouls and goblins behind every corner, but I found that I was considering the what-ifs of the world around me. 

For example; what-if the dogs barking in the middle of the night aren't responding to the small critters that race through our backyards in search of food, but are instead responding to the call of their distant cousins, the werewolves who are running under the moon on a hunt. What-if the wind that blows through my house and slams my door, is not simply an atmospheric event, but the unsettled ghost of a long-past resident? What-if witches of our modern day weren't the inept, crazy old women the media portrays them to be? What-if, instead, these witches were actually brilliant women, who manipulated the media to cover the supernatural events of our day? The cacophony of questions raised merely drowned out all other issues in my life until I finally stopped working on other projects and started the Witchy World series.

Witchy World is my attempt at answering many of these questions in a way that I believe is plausible. Sure, it's all fantastic and I won't admit to having any first hand experiences with this shadow-world, but my objective is to show how these two worlds could easily co-exist.





Wicked FolkWitchy WorldBook TwoJamie McFarlane
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Fickle Dragon Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-943792-12-2ASIN:
Number of pages: 266Word Count: 86,837
Cover Artist: Silviya Yordanova
Book Description:
Late one night, a teenaged witch witnesses her uncle perform the forbidden ritual to summon a demon. His carelessness results in the demon breaking free and being released into the world. Drawn to the young witch's powers like a shark, the demon is only temporarily thwarted when she manages to escape.
Felix Slade is a wizard living far from the family he grew up with. Recently he's been unable to sleep as night after night a beautiful young witch is stalked by a demon in his dreams. Each night, new details are exposed and Felix is soon convinced that it’s up to him to prevent the woman’s demise. The dreams reach a critical point when Felix’s own family is threatened by the violence he’s sure is yet to come.
With his sister and the woman he loves by his side, Felix rushes to face the greatest challenge he’s encountered yet. There is great darkness inside him and he must choose to embrace or reject it in order to face the demon’s evil.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/_mvC7hUd2Lg

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About the Author:
Jamie McFarlane is a graduate of Colorado School of Mines with a Master of Science in Mathematics. An avid reader, tinkerer, woodworker and metal sculptor, Jamie is just as likely to be seen smelting aluminum cans in his garage as he is tacking random, discarded iron objects into a small army of beasties that adorn his home’s landscaping.

Jamie’s writing career began as something of a dare which later turned into a tribute. In his late teens, Jamie was well known as the family story-teller, spinning fanciful yarns about ordinary events, usually with the objective of escaping well-deserved trouble. 

One day, his mother, often the target of his mischievous tales, challenged him to commit his words to writing. Jamie promised he would but time passed, as did his beloved mother. In 2014, Jamie made good on his promise and published his first book.

Jamie is the author of a growing library of novels and novellas including the space opera series - Privateer Tales, and the urban fantasy series - Witchy World. Jamie lives in Lincoln, Nebraska with his wife and enjoys spending time with family and friends.


Web: www.fickledragon.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mcfarlaneauthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamiemcfarlaneauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/fickledragon

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Get the Scoop on the The Rhodi Saga with Remy Injay, Indie Book Reporter

Hey there! Remy Injay, indie book reporter, here for another interview! I'm here with Talidin, Rhodi master and one of the leading (and in my opinion, amazingly sexy) leading characters in The Rhodi Saga by Megan Linski! Thanks for agreeing to do this, Talidin.
I didn't agree to do anything. I've gotta give credit for the author dragging me out here and inserting me into this strange world. But I guess with all that's happened lately, I owe the author one. Or maybe I don't, since she's the one who CAUSED ALL MY PROBLEMS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Okay, simmer down there, cowboy, it's still my show. First things first; what's a Rhodi?
First of all, it's Row-DEE, not Row-DIE. Geez, make things even darker then they already are, why don't you? ...Although Rachel, our worst enemy, probably likes the other pronunciation better...
ANYWAY, a Rhodi is a warrior, sworn to protect the people. We're the last leg of an extinct group of warriors trying to stop the Red Huntress (that's Rachel) and her team of soldiers from taking over our homeland, Crescentia. And let me tell you, it's not easy. I became a master over fifteen years ago, and it only gets harder with time. Being kidnapped, dealing with murder, solving mysteries, they're all part of the job...but I'm telling you too much already.
What is Crescentia like?
Crescentia is a lot like your world, but it's also a lot different. It's a dystopian, futuristic world, with the decor based on ancient China, Greece, Ireland, and other places. Everything's modern, in Crescentia. We have cars and TV and electricity and things, but we don't have those weapons you guys call guns. We fight with swords, spears and magical powers.
It's somewhat like modern-medieval, with Rhodi being inspired by martial arts and Japanese samurai, respectively. Each State in Crescentia is its own little world, kind of like its own country. Areos, my home, is the equivalency of your Greece. The great thing about Crescentia is it's all one big melting pot.
Sounds complicated.
Read the book. It gets even worse. The wonderful thing about my world is that it's so colorful and there's so much going on. All cultures and races are respected...but they won't be, if Rachel gets her way.
We heard you're here to take the main character's place, your student, Dylan?
Dylan was nervous about coming on here, so I subbed in for her. She's a fiery, fiesty girl, but she often feels the need to over perform and make everybody happy. She's going through a lot right now, so I'm leaving her back home to train while I satisfy my author's irritating nagging by talking to all of you.
What's she like?
She's a pain in the ass, but she's my pain in the ass. Dylan's my student, and I feel the need to protect her. Of course she's always questioning me on everything, and she never listens, but what's the fun of being a Rhodi master if it isn't challenging, right? She keeps me on my toes. I never know what she's going to do next.
What do you want readers to know about your story?
I'm not gonna lie, the Rhodi Saga takes you for a real rollercoaster. We confront real issues in our little fantasy world, but once you read it you become a Rhodi and you're part of us. We're a family and we're all going to get through it together. Once a Rhodi, always a Rhodi.
Any last words?
Is this an interview, or an interrogation? Oh, I'm just teasing you. I would say read the Rhodi series or something like that, but that just sounds asinine, doesn't it, especially when it's MY problems being exposed to the world. *glares at author* I'd say give it a chance, if anything. I'm not THAT intolerable, after all.

Rhodi’s LightThe Rhodi SagaBook OneMegan Linski
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Dystopian
Publisher: Gryfyn Publishing
Date of Publication:  September 4, 2016
Word Count:  62,850
Cover Artist: Clarissa Yeo
Book Description:
Flight. Hyperspeed. Clairvoyance. 

These are some of the powers gifted to the Rhodi, an ancient sect of assassins who defend Crescentia, a dystopian world with a dying hope. 

Dyliana Fairsson is one of them. After losing her parents to a suspicious accident, she and her twin brother, Devin, join the Rhodi to avoid starvation. Under the direction of her master, Dylan struggles to learn the strength of her magic …as well as hide the growing scars on her wrists. Can Dylan become the warrior, the hero, she’s destined to be? Or is she fated to fall from the light into the darkness?

The first installment in the epic fantasy series by bestselling author Megan Linski, Rhodi’s Light is an action-packed thrill ride that will leave readers begging for more. 




Rhodi Rising 
The Rhodi Saga
Book Two
Megan Linski

Forced into hiding.

Desperate to find their masters.

In the past few months since the attack on their home, twin assassins Dylan and Devin have grown restless. With the Rhodi facing extinction, they search for their masters Talidin and Tavana, only to discover they’ve gone missing. With nowhere to turn, the twins seek help from a pair of mysterious spies, only to find the trail gone cold, marked by hints of torture and destruction.  

Dylan and Devin piece together the events that led to the disappearance of their fellow Rhodi. As their enemies close in for the kill, Dylan discovers that some things are impossible for a Rhodi…but not for a tigress. 

The stakes and romance are heightened in this epic dystopian sequel to Rhodi’s Light. Bestselling author Megan Linski brings readers a young adult fantasy with magic, mystery, and an epic adventure that races quickly to a breathless conclusion. 


CHAPTER FOUR from RHODI RISING, #2 in THE RHODI SAGA:“So then I was talking to him and I dared to her to take just one more and she wouldn’t so then…” Jenna’s babbling was stopped when the red-headed boy named Enfys sat next to her, plopping his tray down with a smile. He picked up a fork and began humming as he ate, a devious twinkle in his eye.Jenna’s face turned as red as her hair and she screeched, “Leave me and my new friends alone! Do you have to be so annoying?”“I’m not. Can’t I talk to them too?” he asked.“No. Go away,” Jenna said.“New friends, huh? I bet you don’t even know their names,” Enfys said triumphantly. Jenna’s mouth dropped open, and she looked at the teens curiously before saying, “That’s besides the point.”Enfys chuckled softly. “Forgive my little sister Jenna. She’d make friends with anybody, even if they held a knife to her throat, as long as they’d let her talk. I’m Enfys, by the way. Who are you?”The twins glanced at each other. Was it wise to trust these strangers with their names? But then again, nobody knew who they were here. The chances of anyone, even the Hunter’s Guild, finding them in this small inn were minimal. “I’m Devin, and this is my cousin Tristan and my sister Dylan,” Devin said. “We’re just passing through.”“Dylan?” Enfys asked in amusement. “What kind of name is that for a girl?”Dylan gave him a scathing look. “My full name’s Dyliana. And what kind of a name is Enfys?”“It’s a girl’s name,” Jenna teased and Enfys’ face soured, his smile falling into a scowl. “Our great grand mum made our dad promise that he would name his first born after her. He’d always assumed he’d have a girl first, and when he got a boy, he couldn’t go back on his promise.”“It’s a very traditional name,” Enfys said fairly.“It means rainbow,” Jenna said, as loudly as she could. Dylan giggled and Enfys shot Jenna a glare before turning his attention back to the teens.“What’s an Easterner doing this far out west?” he said. “I’ve never seen anyone come so far just to visit Dunedinne.”“None of your business.” Dylan said before Devin could answer.Enfys raised an eyebrow, leaned over and said, “Maybe I will make it my business.”“You’d better not,” she said, putting down her fork and glaring at the boy.“Or what, lass? What’s a little girl like you going to do to me?”

Releasing September 4, THE RHODI SAGA centers around warriors gifted with supernatural powers...fighting against the rising darkness in a dystopian world. To get notifications about the saga, sign up here:http://eepurl.com/bbN7sn Rhodi’s Lullaby 
The Rhodi Saga
Book Three
Megan Linski

Cities burn.

Governments fall.

Lives are lost in a desperate war...one the Rhodi are losing. 

The world has been devastated by the tyranny of the Red Huntress. To save Crescentia, Dylan and Devin attempt to decipher the mystery of the ancient letter their ancestors left behind, the only hope of salvation for their kind. Dylan continues to fight foes both on the battlefield and within her own mind, all while wrestling with the confused feelings she has for Enfys, the alluring spy who has become devoted to her cause. 

In the epic conclusion to the thrilling Rhodi Saga, one brave warrior will stand in the way of corruption, to take place before her destiny…or her death.

Rhodi’s Lullaby is the third installment in the suspenseful young adult dystopian series fans and critics are calling an original masterpiece in the epic fantasy genre.

Rhodi’s Light and Rhodi Rising are also available. Catch up on the entire series today!







About the Author:
Megan Linski is the owner of Gryfyn Publishing and has had a passion for writing ever since she completed her first (short) novel at the age of 6. Her specializations are romance, fantasy, and contemporary fiction for people aged 14-24. When not writing she enjoys ice skating, horse riding, theatre, archery, fishing, and being outdoors. She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and is an active fighter against common variable immune deficiency disorder. She lives in Michigan.
Megan Linski also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands Series, co-authored with Krisen Lison.
www.meganlinski.com
https://www.facebook.com/meganlinski/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6869349.Megan_Linski
https://twitter.com/meganlinski

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Free Download Bewitching Book Tours Magazine September/October Issue

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Cover Reveal and Blitz - Noon Onyx Series by Jill Archer

Pocket Full of TinderNoon OnyxBook 4Jill Archer
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Black Willow
Word Count: ~ 85,000
Cover Artist:  Rebecca Frank
Book Description:
Noon Onyx is back! In this long-awaited fourth installment, Jill Archer returns readers to the dangerous world of Halja, where demons, angels, and humans coexist in an uneasy state of détente.
Maegester-in-Training Noon Onyx feels like she’s done it all – mastered fiery magic, become an adept fighter, learned the law, killed countless demons, and survived having her heart broken by both love and an arrow, but now she’ll face her greatest challenge yet…
Far to the north lies an outpost famous for its unrest – Rockthorn Gorge. The town’s patron has specifically requested Noon’s help. Her assignment? Help the neophyte demon lord build his fiefdom and keep what’s his. The problem? Lord Aristos – Noon’s new employer – is her erstwhile lover, Ari Carmine, the aforementioned heartbreaker. And the number one thing he wants is her.
When Rockthorn Gorge’s viaduct is destroyed by Displodo, an enigmatic bomber, killing a dozen settlers and wounding scores more, Noon sets off early to aid in the search and rescue. Ari is listed among the missing and the suspects are legion. But Noon’s search is just the beginning. Her journey forces Noon to confront not only those she loves, but also enemies hell-bent on destroying them.
Some things can’t be mended, they can only be mourned…


Dark Light of DayNoon OnyxBook 1Jill Archer
Genre: FantasyPublisher: AceDate of Publication: September 25, 2012
ISBN-10: 0425257150ISBN-13: 978-0425257159ASIN: B007A9KSMY
Cover Artist: David Palumbo
Book Description:Armageddon is over. The demons won. And yet somehow…the world has continued. Survivors worship patron demons under a draconian system of tributes and rules. These laws keep the demons from warring among themselves, the world from slipping back into chaos.
Noon Onyx grew up on the banks of the river Lethe, daughter of a prominent politician, and a descendant of Lucifer’s warlords. Noon has a secret—she was born with waning magic, the dark, destructive, fiery power that is used to control demons and maintain the delicate peace among them. But a woman with waning magic is unheard of and some will consider her an abomination.
Noon is summoned to attend St. Lucifer’s, a school of demon law. She must decide whether to declare her powers there…or attempt to continue hiding them, knowing the price for doing so may be death. And once she meets the forbiddingly powerful Ari Carmine—who suspects Noon is harboring magic as deadly as his own—Noon realizes there may be more at stake than just her life.
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million |
Powell’s Books | Book Depository | IndieBound

Fiery Edge of SteelNoon OnyxBook 2
Jill Archer
Genre: FantasyPublisher: AceDate of Publication: May 28, 2013
ISBN-10: 0425257169ISBN-13: 978-0425257166ASIN: B009NY48SO
Cover Artist: Jason ChanBook Description:
Lucifer and his army triumphed at Armageddon, leaving humans and demons living in uncertain peace based on sacrifice and strict laws. It is up to those with mixed demon and human blood, the Host, to prevent society from falling into anarchy.
Noon Onyx is the first female Host in memory to wield the destructive waning magic that is used to maintain order among the demons. Her unique abilities, paired with a lack of control and reluctance to kill, have branded her as an outsider from her peers. Only her powerful lover, Ari Carmine, and a roguish and mysterious Angel, Rafe Sinclair, support her unconventional ways.
When Noon is shipped off to a remote outpost to investigate several unusual disappearances, a task which will most likely involve trying and killing the patron demon of that area, it seems Luck is not on her side. But when the outpost settlers claim that an ancient and evil foe has stepped out of legend to commit the crimes, Noon realizes that she could be facing something much worse than she ever imagined…
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million |
Powell’s Books | Book Depository | IndieBound

White Heart of JusticeNoon OnyxBook 3Jill Archer
Genre: FantasyPublisher: AceDate of Publication: May 27, 2014
ISBN-10: 0425257177ISBN-13: 978-0425257173ASIN: B00EOARZP0
Cover Artist: Jason Chan
Book description:
Since Lucifer claimed victory at Armageddon, demons, angels, and humans have coexisted in uneasy harmony. Those with waning magic are trained to maintain peace and order. But hostilities are never far from erupting…
After years of denying her abilities, Noon Onyx, the first woman in history to wield waning magic, has embraced her power. She’s won the right to compete in the prestigious Laurel Crown Race—an event that will not only earn her the respect of her peers but also, if she wins, the right to control her future.                          However, Noon’s task is nearly impossible: retrieve the White Heart of Justice, a mythical sword that disappeared hundreds of years ago. The sword is rumored to be hidden in a dangerous region of Halja that she is unlikely to return from. But Noon’s life isn’t the only thing hanging in the balance. The sword holds an awesome power that, in the wrong hands, could reboot the apocalypse—and Noon is the only one who can prevent Armageddon from starting again…
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million |
Powell’s Books | Book Depository | IndieBound

About the Author:
Jill Archer writes dark, genre-bending fantasy from rural Maryland. Her novels include Dark Light of Day, Fiery Edge of Steel, White Heart of Justice, and Pocket Full of Tinder. She loves cats, coffee, books, movies, day tripping, and outdoor adventuring.
Website: http://www.jillarcher.com/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bAzF7n
Blog: https://jillarcherauthor.wordpress.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/archer_jill
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillarcherauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782149.Jill_Archer
Discussion Questions: http://jillarcherauthor.wordpress.com/book-clubs/


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