Nicole Zoltack's Blog, page 15
October 30, 2013
MASKED LOVE available for purchase already!
MASKED LOVE released early!!!
*runs around in a circle*
I'm still coming off my high from Black Hellebore releasing. No rest for the weary!!!
(Especially since my nose is all stuffed up and I can't breathe at night so my sleeping has been awful lately.)
(But who needs sleep when you're busy releasing books?)
(Parenthesis abuse goes hand in hand with multiple exclamation points it seems.)
And it's only 99 cents!
First review:
I don't usually read historicals, but I'm so glad I had the chance to read Masked Love. I read this in just a few hours, as it's a short romance. Set in the Regency Era, I felt like I was reading about Jane Austen, Lizzy Bennett or Emma. If I read a historical, this is the time period I love!
The instant love is so heart-warming during those times. I wish it could always be that simple. Isabelle and Adrian meet at a Masquerade ball during the holiday season. What they both don't know is that Adrian is to be married to Isabelle's employer, Theodosia. Adrian doesn't know that Isabelle is just a maid. Yet, when they find out, it doesn't matter, because their love for each other far outweighs any social class perils. Adrian was always the gentlemen, not wanting to hurt Theodosia, but when he learns that Theodosia doesn't want to marry either, he's set on finding a solution to make every one happy. Centered around the holidays, Masked Love is a heart-warming, quick read with the joys of Christmas and love around every corner. Don't miss this read! ~Melinda Dozier from Goodreads
The blog tour for Masked Love starts on November first (when it was supposed to be released) and there will be prizes for those who follow along. There will be lots of fun and pictures and shenanigans.
Enjoy and happy reading!
Add to Goodreads
Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
*runs around in a circle*
I'm still coming off my high from Black Hellebore releasing. No rest for the weary!!!
(Especially since my nose is all stuffed up and I can't breathe at night so my sleeping has been awful lately.)
(But who needs sleep when you're busy releasing books?)
(Parenthesis abuse goes hand in hand with multiple exclamation points it seems.)
And it's only 99 cents!
First review:
I don't usually read historicals, but I'm so glad I had the chance to read Masked Love. I read this in just a few hours, as it's a short romance. Set in the Regency Era, I felt like I was reading about Jane Austen, Lizzy Bennett or Emma. If I read a historical, this is the time period I love!
The instant love is so heart-warming during those times. I wish it could always be that simple. Isabelle and Adrian meet at a Masquerade ball during the holiday season. What they both don't know is that Adrian is to be married to Isabelle's employer, Theodosia. Adrian doesn't know that Isabelle is just a maid. Yet, when they find out, it doesn't matter, because their love for each other far outweighs any social class perils. Adrian was always the gentlemen, not wanting to hurt Theodosia, but when he learns that Theodosia doesn't want to marry either, he's set on finding a solution to make every one happy. Centered around the holidays, Masked Love is a heart-warming, quick read with the joys of Christmas and love around every corner. Don't miss this read! ~Melinda Dozier from Goodreads
The blog tour for Masked Love starts on November first (when it was supposed to be released) and there will be prizes for those who follow along. There will be lots of fun and pictures and shenanigans.
Enjoy and happy reading!
Add to Goodreads
Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
October 28, 2013
AMMC: Wishes and Kisses
This was written for AMMC: A Merry Minion Christmas, a winter anthology sponsored by Laura, Missy and Nick. This is my second story for the collection.
Title: "Wishes and Kisses"
Genre: Holiday Romance with a hint of Fantasy
Author: Nicole Zoltack
eBook: Yes
Dedicated to everyone who wishes on shooting stars.
The shooting star streamed against the nighttime
sky, and Kelly wished and dreamed and hoped that tomorrow she’d no longer be
able to say she was sweet sixteen and never been kissed. Everyone knew that a
wish on a shooting star on Christmas Eve had to come true.
Only, the last time she had, it hadn’t.
Of course, she’d been six and wished for a
unicorn. What a wasted wish!
“Hey, Johnny! Hurry and make a wish!”
Her thirteen-year-old brother entered her
doorway. “A wish?”
She pointed out the window.
He slowly walked over to her. “You aren’t
stargazing.” Johnny smirked and nodded to the house next door.
Directly opposite of Kelly’s window was Dylan’s,
the hottie next door she tutored in math. Although he was a junior, he was
already the star quarterback and so far out of her league he might as well live
on Jupiter.
“Give it up.” Johnny patted her shoulder.
“Dweeb,” she muttered.
“Geek,” he returned.
“Thanks!”
“Not a compliment.”
Still wishing, Kelly fell asleep with a smile on
her face.
***
The next morning, Johnny woke everyone up bright
and early. He always reverted back to a three-year-old on Christmas. After
Mass, they all exchanged presents. Kelly was thrilled with the thigh-high boots
she got. “Thanks, Mom! Can I wear them tonight at Dylan’s party?”
Mom exchanged a glance with Dad, who nodded.
“Fine,” she said. “But you can’t leave until after we finish dinner and you
have to be home by nine. Okay, ten.”
Kelly squealed. Maybe her wish would come true
tonight at the party. She’d been begging her parents to allow her to go for
weeks, and her parents had insisted Christmas was for family. That they gave in
was amazing.
Relatives stopped by for more gift giving, and
the day flew by. The little bits of dinner Kelly managed to eat were delicious.
She bounced in her seat. Finally her mom nodded toward the door, and Kelly
hugged everyone before racing over.
The party was already exciting, with music
blaring and kids dancing. Kelly waved to Julie, her best friend since they’d
switched from diapers to training pants, and started toward her when someone
tapped her shoulder.
“Hey, Kelly, glad you could make me.”
“Dylan. Yeah.”
Gah, why did her tongue have to go all numb and
her brain switch off when he was around? At least she could talk somewhat
during the tutoring sessions. Numbers came easier to her than boys.
“Catch you later.” He waved and disappeared into
the crush of people.
Great. Her big chance and she’d blown it.
“Woah, killer boots.” Julia nudged her shoulder
into Kelly’s. “Making any headway with your hottie?”
“He’s not mine.”
So much for star wishes.
***
Most everyone at the party enjoyed themselves,
but the living room was far too crowded, and Kelly slipped out the back door to
get some fresh air. Despite her coat, she felt cold, and she shivered.
“Come back inside.” Dylan appeared next to her.
She stared at him. Firm jaw, full lips, crazy
hair that begged fingers to fix them, long eyelashes framing amazing blue eyes…
Dylan was more than good looking. Other than math, he was smart and he constantly
stopped bullies from tormenting other kids. Even stood up to one for her. Not
that Kelly needed him to. She didn’t care if others called her a nerd or geek
because she was one.
Kelly so badly wanted to tell him how she felt,
tried to work up the nerve to kiss him, but someone called him back inside and
with an apologetic smile, he left her.
So she returned home, climbed into bed, but
couldn’t sleep. The party continued on, and Julie left a dozen messages, but
Kelly ignored them. Finally, shortly before midnight, the music turned off and
everyone left.
She abandoned the comfort of her room and
enjoyed a mug of hot cocoa. The warmth of the liquid seeped through the ceramic
cup, warming her hands as she walked out of the back door of her house. The
nearby woods called to her, and she stepped into them until she found a fallen
log. Sitting on it, she rested and enjoyed the rest of her hot chocolate when
something hard poked into her back.
Kelly jumped up to see a horse with a horn on
its head.
A unicorn!
She touched the sharp tip. Yes, the unicorn was
real. She wasn’t dreaming.
In the sky, she spied another shooting star.
Don’t
tell me it takes ten years for wishes to come true.
Kelly led the unicorn back to her house and
placed him in the garage. She’d deal with the unicorn, and her parents,
tomorrow. Er, later on today. Her cell phone read 12:03.
Before she could lose nerve, Kelly marched over
to Dylan’s house. She knocked on the door. More like pounded. Waited a few
seconds and pounded some more.
Dylan opened the door. “Hey, Kelly. What’s—”
She threw her arms around his neck and pressed
her lips to his. After first, he held still, but then he wrapped his arms
around her and kissed back.
“Woah,” he said.
“Yeah.” She bit her lip. Okay, so she’d kissed
him.
Now what?
He had a goofy smile on his face. “I… I wanted
to do that for so long but I thought…”
“Wait, you like me?”
“Yeah.” Dylan crossed his arms. “I’m actually
quite good at math.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I can count real good.” He kissed her right
cheek and then forehead. “That’s three kisses.” Then the tip of her nose.
“Four.”
“Hm.” She sighed happily. “But you need help
with your English. You count well.”
“Does that matter?” He kissed her one more time
before they spent the rest of the night sitting on his front porch, talking
about anything and everything.
Including unicorns and wishes and kisses.
Title: "Wishes and Kisses"
Genre: Holiday Romance with a hint of Fantasy
Author: Nicole Zoltack
eBook: Yes
Dedicated to everyone who wishes on shooting stars.
The shooting star streamed against the nighttime
sky, and Kelly wished and dreamed and hoped that tomorrow she’d no longer be
able to say she was sweet sixteen and never been kissed. Everyone knew that a
wish on a shooting star on Christmas Eve had to come true.
Only, the last time she had, it hadn’t.
Of course, she’d been six and wished for a
unicorn. What a wasted wish!
“Hey, Johnny! Hurry and make a wish!”
Her thirteen-year-old brother entered her
doorway. “A wish?”
She pointed out the window.
He slowly walked over to her. “You aren’t
stargazing.” Johnny smirked and nodded to the house next door.
Directly opposite of Kelly’s window was Dylan’s,
the hottie next door she tutored in math. Although he was a junior, he was
already the star quarterback and so far out of her league he might as well live
on Jupiter.
“Give it up.” Johnny patted her shoulder.
“Dweeb,” she muttered.
“Geek,” he returned.
“Thanks!”
“Not a compliment.”
Still wishing, Kelly fell asleep with a smile on
her face.
***
The next morning, Johnny woke everyone up bright
and early. He always reverted back to a three-year-old on Christmas. After
Mass, they all exchanged presents. Kelly was thrilled with the thigh-high boots
she got. “Thanks, Mom! Can I wear them tonight at Dylan’s party?”
Mom exchanged a glance with Dad, who nodded.
“Fine,” she said. “But you can’t leave until after we finish dinner and you
have to be home by nine. Okay, ten.”
Kelly squealed. Maybe her wish would come true
tonight at the party. She’d been begging her parents to allow her to go for
weeks, and her parents had insisted Christmas was for family. That they gave in
was amazing.
Relatives stopped by for more gift giving, and
the day flew by. The little bits of dinner Kelly managed to eat were delicious.
She bounced in her seat. Finally her mom nodded toward the door, and Kelly
hugged everyone before racing over.
The party was already exciting, with music
blaring and kids dancing. Kelly waved to Julie, her best friend since they’d
switched from diapers to training pants, and started toward her when someone
tapped her shoulder.
“Hey, Kelly, glad you could make me.”
“Dylan. Yeah.”
Gah, why did her tongue have to go all numb and
her brain switch off when he was around? At least she could talk somewhat
during the tutoring sessions. Numbers came easier to her than boys.
“Catch you later.” He waved and disappeared into
the crush of people.
Great. Her big chance and she’d blown it.
“Woah, killer boots.” Julia nudged her shoulder
into Kelly’s. “Making any headway with your hottie?”
“He’s not mine.”
So much for star wishes.
***
Most everyone at the party enjoyed themselves,
but the living room was far too crowded, and Kelly slipped out the back door to
get some fresh air. Despite her coat, she felt cold, and she shivered.
“Come back inside.” Dylan appeared next to her.
She stared at him. Firm jaw, full lips, crazy
hair that begged fingers to fix them, long eyelashes framing amazing blue eyes…
Dylan was more than good looking. Other than math, he was smart and he constantly
stopped bullies from tormenting other kids. Even stood up to one for her. Not
that Kelly needed him to. She didn’t care if others called her a nerd or geek
because she was one.
Kelly so badly wanted to tell him how she felt,
tried to work up the nerve to kiss him, but someone called him back inside and
with an apologetic smile, he left her.
So she returned home, climbed into bed, but
couldn’t sleep. The party continued on, and Julie left a dozen messages, but
Kelly ignored them. Finally, shortly before midnight, the music turned off and
everyone left.
She abandoned the comfort of her room and
enjoyed a mug of hot cocoa. The warmth of the liquid seeped through the ceramic
cup, warming her hands as she walked out of the back door of her house. The
nearby woods called to her, and she stepped into them until she found a fallen
log. Sitting on it, she rested and enjoyed the rest of her hot chocolate when
something hard poked into her back.
Kelly jumped up to see a horse with a horn on
its head.
A unicorn!
She touched the sharp tip. Yes, the unicorn was
real. She wasn’t dreaming.
In the sky, she spied another shooting star.
Don’t
tell me it takes ten years for wishes to come true.
Kelly led the unicorn back to her house and
placed him in the garage. She’d deal with the unicorn, and her parents,
tomorrow. Er, later on today. Her cell phone read 12:03.
Before she could lose nerve, Kelly marched over
to Dylan’s house. She knocked on the door. More like pounded. Waited a few
seconds and pounded some more.
Dylan opened the door. “Hey, Kelly. What’s—”
She threw her arms around his neck and pressed
her lips to his. After first, he held still, but then he wrapped his arms
around her and kissed back.
“Woah,” he said.
“Yeah.” She bit her lip. Okay, so she’d kissed
him.
Now what?
He had a goofy smile on his face. “I… I wanted
to do that for so long but I thought…”
“Wait, you like me?”
“Yeah.” Dylan crossed his arms. “I’m actually
quite good at math.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I can count real good.” He kissed her right
cheek and then forehead. “That’s three kisses.” Then the tip of her nose.
“Four.”
“Hm.” She sighed happily. “But you need help
with your English. You count well.”
“Does that matter?” He kissed her one more time
before they spent the rest of the night sitting on his front porch, talking
about anything and everything.
Including unicorns and wishes and kisses.
AMMC: Christmas Magic
This was written for AMMC: A Merry Minion Christmas, a winter anthology sponsored by Laura, Missy and Nick.
Title: "Christmas Magic"
Genre: Holiday Paranormal Romance
Author: Nicole
eBook: Yes
Dedicated to all who love the Christmas season.
Opal stared at the flickering flame, shadows
dancing on the walls. She smoothed the cover beneath Ryan’s chin, her fingers
brushing against his deathly cold chin. ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and
her love was dying. No magician or healer could save him. The last doctor had
just left, had stolen the last shreds of her hope with him.
She brushed his soft brown hair back. “We were
to be married tomorrow. We were to have lots of children and tend to the fields
and sell our crops. There would have been lean years, but there would have been
strong ones too. Maybe if we had a son, we could have scrapped enough coin for
him to be trained as a knight. We were supposed to have more time together.
More time.”
A tear trickled down her nose and dripped onto
his cheek. She kissed it away and gripped his hand, wishing she was warm
herself to lend him some, but she wore a threadbare dress, and the candle did
not warm the room. A bitter wind howled outside, and the thin walls did not bar
it.
“Remember how we first met?” One of the doctors
had suggested Ryan could still hear her, and ever since, she could not stop
talking to him. His eyes remained closed, his lips a thin blue line. Only his
chest raised and lowered as he labored through each breath. No one knew what
illness had stricken him two weeks ago, but even to her untrained eye, she
could see he neared the end.
“You had come to market, wearing a blue tunic.
It matched your eyes and I could not look away. I was supposed to trade some
corn for beans, and I dropped the corn. I fell to my knees to gather it, and
when I stood, I couldn’t see you anymore. When I finally reached the bean
seller, she had already traded you the last. You overheard me talking to her
and gave me some without a word. And then you left before my tongue could
vocalize my thanks. I feared I would never see you again.”
Fear gripped her heart now, and she struggled to
bury it. Ryan did not need to hear her sorrow. She had to be strong for him, in
this, his last hours. A strong gust of wind blew into the house, easing into
the cracks of the window and extinguishing the flame. Opal had no choice but to
stop touching Ryan to relight the candle. Then she rubbed his frozen cheek, his
stubble tickling her palm.
“Each day after, I snuck back to the market,
hoping to see you. One month. I was almost ready to give up. But then you were
there, and I managed a grunt.” She giggled. “A grunt! You laughed, and I
laughed, and then we started talking and meeting every day. I think I might
have loved the idea of you at first, during that month before we actually
spoke, but then I learned you truly were a good and kind and wonderful person,
and I could not help but truly love you.”
And she always would. But saying that out loud
would feel too much like goodbye, and she wasn’t ready for that, would never be.
“Ryan…” Her voice broke, and she cleared her
throat. Her mouth was dry. Perhaps Ryan’s was as well. It had been some time
since she had tried to coax him to drink.
Carefully, she lifted his head and held a clay
cup to his lips. The water merely trickled down his chin. A towel sopped up the
liquid, and she swallowed the rest of the cup’s contents.
“Christmas two years ago, we said ‘I love you’
for the first time. Last year, you asked me to marry you. We should have gotten
married on that day instead of waiting. Tomorrow…”
She couldn’t finish and hung her head. Another
wind blew against the house, and Opal climbed into bed beside Ryan, beneath the
covers. “I am so sorry you’re sick. I wish it were me instead! I would do
anything for you. I love you, Ryan.”
What she needed was a Christmas miracle.
Her hand pressed against his chest. Her hand
hardly moved up and down.
Love wasn’t enough. Perhaps he couldn’t be
saved, but Opal was willing to try anything, even forbidden magic. Telling Ryan
she had a distant relative who was a witch hadn’t broken his love for her.
Witches and warlocks were banned from using magic, as they were far too
powerful. Magicians only used magic to spread joy and happiness. Healers,
obviously, healed the sick through magical means, when physicians’ medicines
and tonics failed.
From within her boot, Opal produced a dagger.
The blade easily cut through his shirt to reveal his chest. The sharp tip drew
a line against her palm. She did not flinch or hiss despite the pain. An
identical line she traced on his palm. After mixing their blood together, she
touched their wounded hands above his heart.
“Love of my life, the light in my eye, the song
that I sing, you are my everything. On this night, Christmas Eve, do not leave
me. Take my blood, take my strength, take my heart, but do not leave me.”
Two tears, one from each eye, trickled down
Opal’s eyes. Their hands were not moving. Ryan breathed no more.
She had failed. Her Christmas miracle hadn’t come.
Opal closed her eyes. With a sigh, she pressed
her lips to his one last time. Then she laid her head on his chest. The pain in
her heart radiated throughout her body, the cut in her palm agonizing. A
whimper escaped her lips. “Goodbye, Ryan,” she murmured, her voice breaking.
Her head rose, but she hadn’t moved.
“I love you, Opal.”
She slowly sat up. Ryan’s blue eyes were staring
at her, full of love, vigor, and life.
Her Christmas miracle had come true.
“I love—” Opal kissed him several times before
pulling back and tugging on his hand. “Come. We’re going to find the priest and
get married immediately.”
Ryan laughed, the sound strong and hearty.
“Whatever you wish, my love, the air I breathe.”
And so they got married in the first minutes of
Christmas Day.
Title: "Christmas Magic"
Genre: Holiday Paranormal Romance
Author: Nicole
eBook: Yes
Dedicated to all who love the Christmas season.
Opal stared at the flickering flame, shadows
dancing on the walls. She smoothed the cover beneath Ryan’s chin, her fingers
brushing against his deathly cold chin. ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and
her love was dying. No magician or healer could save him. The last doctor had
just left, had stolen the last shreds of her hope with him.
She brushed his soft brown hair back. “We were
to be married tomorrow. We were to have lots of children and tend to the fields
and sell our crops. There would have been lean years, but there would have been
strong ones too. Maybe if we had a son, we could have scrapped enough coin for
him to be trained as a knight. We were supposed to have more time together.
More time.”
A tear trickled down her nose and dripped onto
his cheek. She kissed it away and gripped his hand, wishing she was warm
herself to lend him some, but she wore a threadbare dress, and the candle did
not warm the room. A bitter wind howled outside, and the thin walls did not bar
it.
“Remember how we first met?” One of the doctors
had suggested Ryan could still hear her, and ever since, she could not stop
talking to him. His eyes remained closed, his lips a thin blue line. Only his
chest raised and lowered as he labored through each breath. No one knew what
illness had stricken him two weeks ago, but even to her untrained eye, she
could see he neared the end.
“You had come to market, wearing a blue tunic.
It matched your eyes and I could not look away. I was supposed to trade some
corn for beans, and I dropped the corn. I fell to my knees to gather it, and
when I stood, I couldn’t see you anymore. When I finally reached the bean
seller, she had already traded you the last. You overheard me talking to her
and gave me some without a word. And then you left before my tongue could
vocalize my thanks. I feared I would never see you again.”
Fear gripped her heart now, and she struggled to
bury it. Ryan did not need to hear her sorrow. She had to be strong for him, in
this, his last hours. A strong gust of wind blew into the house, easing into
the cracks of the window and extinguishing the flame. Opal had no choice but to
stop touching Ryan to relight the candle. Then she rubbed his frozen cheek, his
stubble tickling her palm.
“Each day after, I snuck back to the market,
hoping to see you. One month. I was almost ready to give up. But then you were
there, and I managed a grunt.” She giggled. “A grunt! You laughed, and I
laughed, and then we started talking and meeting every day. I think I might
have loved the idea of you at first, during that month before we actually
spoke, but then I learned you truly were a good and kind and wonderful person,
and I could not help but truly love you.”
And she always would. But saying that out loud
would feel too much like goodbye, and she wasn’t ready for that, would never be.
“Ryan…” Her voice broke, and she cleared her
throat. Her mouth was dry. Perhaps Ryan’s was as well. It had been some time
since she had tried to coax him to drink.
Carefully, she lifted his head and held a clay
cup to his lips. The water merely trickled down his chin. A towel sopped up the
liquid, and she swallowed the rest of the cup’s contents.
“Christmas two years ago, we said ‘I love you’
for the first time. Last year, you asked me to marry you. We should have gotten
married on that day instead of waiting. Tomorrow…”
She couldn’t finish and hung her head. Another
wind blew against the house, and Opal climbed into bed beside Ryan, beneath the
covers. “I am so sorry you’re sick. I wish it were me instead! I would do
anything for you. I love you, Ryan.”
What she needed was a Christmas miracle.
Her hand pressed against his chest. Her hand
hardly moved up and down.
Love wasn’t enough. Perhaps he couldn’t be
saved, but Opal was willing to try anything, even forbidden magic. Telling Ryan
she had a distant relative who was a witch hadn’t broken his love for her.
Witches and warlocks were banned from using magic, as they were far too
powerful. Magicians only used magic to spread joy and happiness. Healers,
obviously, healed the sick through magical means, when physicians’ medicines
and tonics failed.
From within her boot, Opal produced a dagger.
The blade easily cut through his shirt to reveal his chest. The sharp tip drew
a line against her palm. She did not flinch or hiss despite the pain. An
identical line she traced on his palm. After mixing their blood together, she
touched their wounded hands above his heart.
“Love of my life, the light in my eye, the song
that I sing, you are my everything. On this night, Christmas Eve, do not leave
me. Take my blood, take my strength, take my heart, but do not leave me.”
Two tears, one from each eye, trickled down
Opal’s eyes. Their hands were not moving. Ryan breathed no more.
She had failed. Her Christmas miracle hadn’t come.
Opal closed her eyes. With a sigh, she pressed
her lips to his one last time. Then she laid her head on his chest. The pain in
her heart radiated throughout her body, the cut in her palm agonizing. A
whimper escaped her lips. “Goodbye, Ryan,” she murmured, her voice breaking.
Her head rose, but she hadn’t moved.
“I love you, Opal.”
She slowly sat up. Ryan’s blue eyes were staring
at her, full of love, vigor, and life.
Her Christmas miracle had come true.
“I love—” Opal kissed him several times before
pulling back and tugging on his hand. “Come. We’re going to find the priest and
get married immediately.”
Ryan laughed, the sound strong and hearty.
“Whatever you wish, my love, the air I breathe.”
And so they got married in the first minutes of
Christmas Day.
October 25, 2013
Magna’s Plea by Cherie Reich @bookworm0753
Aprincess will rise and challenge Fate.
While her father, brothers, and people fight against the Kingdom of Apentha,
tenacious eighteen-year-old Princess Magna can only watch the destruction of
Amora, her besieged city and kingdom. Her mother, Quee
But Magna won't take no for an answer. She seeks out an end of the war from
Prince Cyrun of Apentha, their prisoner. If she can't persuade him toward
peace, then Amora may fall.
This short story prequel includes a sneak peek of Reborn, Book One of The Fate
Challenges, forthcoming May 2014.
YA Epic Fantasy
The Fate Challenges #0.5
A 5500-word Short Story
n Vyvian, has refused toallow her heir to join the fray.
Best of all, you can download this short story for free at Amazon / Nook
/ iTunes
/ Kobo / Smashwords / Goodreads
and read online at Wattpad.
Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer living in Virginia. For more
information about her work, please visit her blog and website.
October 24, 2013
FREE Writing Feedback During The Writers Helping Writers AMAZING RACE!
Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi at
Writers Helping Writers
(formerly The Bookshelf Muse) have added two more books to their Descriptive Thesaurus Collection: The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Attributes and The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws. To celebrate, they are hosting a race, and not just any old race, either. It's the...
Photo Credit: Tharrin
Writing is hard, isn't it? Create the perfect hook. Make your first page compelling. Craft an amazing 25 word pitch. Knock out a query that will blow an agent's mind. On and on it goes. And sometimes, well, you just wish someone would help.
WISH NO MORE!
From October 21st until October 27th, Writers Helping Writers is posting an OPEN CALL for writers. You can fill out a form, requesting help with critiques, book visibility, social media sharing, blog diagnostics, advice and more.
An army of Amazing Racers are standing by (ME INCLUDED!) waiting to help with your submissions. How many people can we help in a week? Let's find out! Did I mention there are Celebrity Racers too--amazing authors and editors who know their way around a first page. Maybe one of them will pick your submission to help with!
Each day this week, there's an AMAZING giveaway, too. So stop in at Angela & Becca's new Writers Helping Writers website and find out how to take advantage of this unique, pay-it-forward event for writers. I'll see you there!
Photo Credit: Tharrin
Writing is hard, isn't it? Create the perfect hook. Make your first page compelling. Craft an amazing 25 word pitch. Knock out a query that will blow an agent's mind. On and on it goes. And sometimes, well, you just wish someone would help.
WISH NO MORE!
From October 21st until October 27th, Writers Helping Writers is posting an OPEN CALL for writers. You can fill out a form, requesting help with critiques, book visibility, social media sharing, blog diagnostics, advice and more.
An army of Amazing Racers are standing by (ME INCLUDED!) waiting to help with your submissions. How many people can we help in a week? Let's find out! Did I mention there are Celebrity Racers too--amazing authors and editors who know their way around a first page. Maybe one of them will pick your submission to help with!
Each day this week, there's an AMAZING giveaway, too. So stop in at Angela & Becca's new Writers Helping Writers website and find out how to take advantage of this unique, pay-it-forward event for writers. I'll see you there!
October 21, 2013
BLACK HELLEBORE's release day!!!
It's finally here! BLACK HELLEBORE's release day!!!
And reviews are already pouring in:
This book was so much fun! It's a unique genre mash-up between paranormal, romance, and super-hero books. Even though there's a lot of heaviness in the story--between the death of Nicholas's girlfriend Justina years before, the death and destruction brought about by the bad guys, and some other elements I don't want to spoil--the witch Gavina provides comedic relief at just the right moments. Plus, the story had so many twists and turns, I had to keep turning pages. This is the first novel I've read by Nicole Zoltack, but it will definitely not be the last. Katherine Ernst's review from Goodreads
Nicholas Adams must face his demons as he returns to Falledge in Nicole Zoltack’s Black Hellebore...Zoltack has introduced wonderful paranormal and romantic twists to the storyline. My favorite character is Gavina, the witch. She’s a touch batty, but she adds a delightful sense of comedic relief...Black Hellebore by Nicole Zoltack spins a refreshing superhero tale with its fantastic paranormal elements! I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Cherie Reich's review from Goodreads
Add to Goodreads
Buy links:
Desert Breeze Publishing
Amazon
Blurb:
Once a year for the past decade, Nicholas Adams returns to Falledge and leaves a black hellebore on his girlfriend's grave. While fleeing Falledge, he spies a shady man sneaking into the laboratory. Nicholas chases after him and dies for his trouble. A witch brings him back to life, only Nicholas is not the same man. Turns out, magic combined with a black hellebore in his pocket changed him into a kind of a super man.
Julianna Paige, his girlfriend's twin and deputy of Falledge, struggles to solve several murders. Nicholas, and his alter ego the Black Hellebore, helps her, even as she helps him move on and start to truly live again.
Unfortunately, Nicholas wasn't the only one changed in the laboratory explosion, and now a super villain is bent on destroying Falledge, and killing the Black Hellebore. But falling in love might prove more dangerous than any super villain.
Excerpt:
Nicholas abandoned the couch. Ginny had been too tired to do dishes, so Nicholas did them for her. After he started up the dishwasher, he noticed a crooked shelf on the wall. He found a hammer and nails in the basement. He must be careful not to wake her up.
After he leveled the shelf, he held his breath and gently tapped the nail. The nail shattered through the wood, and the shelf cracked deeply.
What the heck? He barely touched it!
Tires squealing drew his attention, and he ran to the front of the house. A loud crash sounded.
He threw the door open, the door coming off the hinges. Nothing to the left. Nothing to the right. There, off the road.
A car.
Slowly sinking into the lake.
His heartbeat accelerating, Nicholas burst down the porch steps and stood beside the lake fifteen seconds later. By now, the car was completely submerged but still sinking.
He dove into the water and reached the car. Two passengers, a female driver and a young boy in the back seat.
Knowing time was running out, he cocked back his arm and punched the back window open. Water rushed into the car. He ripped at the car seat harness and freed the boy from the restraints. Two powerful kicks of his legs and they reached the surface of the water. Using one arm to hold the boy and the other to swim, he reached the shore as quickly as he could and dumped off the boy before returning to the car.
Time to save the mom.
The car was sinking faster now, already much deeper than it had been when he rescued the boy. He swam to the front of the car. It was completely smashed in. The crash must have been through the steel fence surrounding the lake.
Turning around, he realized the driver's side door was mangled, the woman's body trapped against it. It was too dark for him to see if she was bleeding or not, but he couldn't risk trying to open the door to save her. She could bleed out or become punctured on the sharp edges of the door, if she wasn't already.
But he had to do something or she'd die.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And reviews are already pouring in:
This book was so much fun! It's a unique genre mash-up between paranormal, romance, and super-hero books. Even though there's a lot of heaviness in the story--between the death of Nicholas's girlfriend Justina years before, the death and destruction brought about by the bad guys, and some other elements I don't want to spoil--the witch Gavina provides comedic relief at just the right moments. Plus, the story had so many twists and turns, I had to keep turning pages. This is the first novel I've read by Nicole Zoltack, but it will definitely not be the last. Katherine Ernst's review from Goodreads
Nicholas Adams must face his demons as he returns to Falledge in Nicole Zoltack’s Black Hellebore...Zoltack has introduced wonderful paranormal and romantic twists to the storyline. My favorite character is Gavina, the witch. She’s a touch batty, but she adds a delightful sense of comedic relief...Black Hellebore by Nicole Zoltack spins a refreshing superhero tale with its fantastic paranormal elements! I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Cherie Reich's review from Goodreads
Add to Goodreads
Buy links:
Desert Breeze Publishing
Amazon
Blurb:
Once a year for the past decade, Nicholas Adams returns to Falledge and leaves a black hellebore on his girlfriend's grave. While fleeing Falledge, he spies a shady man sneaking into the laboratory. Nicholas chases after him and dies for his trouble. A witch brings him back to life, only Nicholas is not the same man. Turns out, magic combined with a black hellebore in his pocket changed him into a kind of a super man.
Julianna Paige, his girlfriend's twin and deputy of Falledge, struggles to solve several murders. Nicholas, and his alter ego the Black Hellebore, helps her, even as she helps him move on and start to truly live again.
Unfortunately, Nicholas wasn't the only one changed in the laboratory explosion, and now a super villain is bent on destroying Falledge, and killing the Black Hellebore. But falling in love might prove more dangerous than any super villain.
Excerpt:
Nicholas abandoned the couch. Ginny had been too tired to do dishes, so Nicholas did them for her. After he started up the dishwasher, he noticed a crooked shelf on the wall. He found a hammer and nails in the basement. He must be careful not to wake her up.
After he leveled the shelf, he held his breath and gently tapped the nail. The nail shattered through the wood, and the shelf cracked deeply.
What the heck? He barely touched it!
Tires squealing drew his attention, and he ran to the front of the house. A loud crash sounded.
He threw the door open, the door coming off the hinges. Nothing to the left. Nothing to the right. There, off the road.
A car.
Slowly sinking into the lake.
His heartbeat accelerating, Nicholas burst down the porch steps and stood beside the lake fifteen seconds later. By now, the car was completely submerged but still sinking.
He dove into the water and reached the car. Two passengers, a female driver and a young boy in the back seat.
Knowing time was running out, he cocked back his arm and punched the back window open. Water rushed into the car. He ripped at the car seat harness and freed the boy from the restraints. Two powerful kicks of his legs and they reached the surface of the water. Using one arm to hold the boy and the other to swim, he reached the shore as quickly as he could and dumped off the boy before returning to the car.
Time to save the mom.
The car was sinking faster now, already much deeper than it had been when he rescued the boy. He swam to the front of the car. It was completely smashed in. The crash must have been through the steel fence surrounding the lake.
Turning around, he realized the driver's side door was mangled, the woman's body trapped against it. It was too dark for him to see if she was bleeding or not, but he couldn't risk trying to open the door to save her. She could bleed out or become punctured on the sharp edges of the door, if she wasn't already.
But he had to do something or she'd die.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 18, 2013
Fall into Fantasy Huge Giveaway!
Ready for fall? Time for some serious reading? Look no more!
This year, more than FIFTY AUTHORS of fantasy and paranormal books are giving away books and swag. Hope you’re ready to start clicking and start winning because the Rafflecopter awaits!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This year, more than FIFTY AUTHORS of fantasy and paranormal books are giving away books and swag. Hope you’re ready to start clicking and start winning because the Rafflecopter awaits!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 17, 2013
My ten go-to foods while writing from Terri Rochenski, author of Eye of the Soul
Terri's ten go-to foods
while writing
This list has changed for me
through the last years since I’m now past the peek ages of keeping unwanted
pounds off the bod. I’ll reminisce a bit first and send my taste buds into
overdrive. Hopefully I won’t go digging through the cabinets for the hubs &
daughters’ snacks when I’m through!
Poptarts. Seriously yum—toasted or
not, this is an oldie but a goodie. Got my daughters hooked *shame face* then
took them away.
Doritoes & a coke. ‘Course, I
needed a wet paper towel beside the computer for those orange fingers. And the
sugar? Sheesh. It’s seltzer for this almost-40-year old now!
Skittles. *wiping drool from the
corner of my lips* Yeah. One of my favs.
Coffee with hazelnut creamer. This
was for those early mornings. Coffee is still a must, but now there’s organic
cream & a bit of sugar instead of the chemicals flavoring it.
Oreos and a glass of ice milk. I
didn’t buy oreos too often, but since meeting the hubs and having kids … yeah.
Danger zone!!!
Beef jerky. Strange, yes, but it
was great stuff to nibble on between popping skittles!
Homemade whole-grain muffins.
Whether they’re banana almond, zucchini, or oat & carrot, these are my
morning go-tos nowadays when the girls are still sleeping and I’m able to nab a
few moments of silence to add a few words to a WiP.
Fruit. Grapes, bananas,
strawberries—whatever is available and not TOO messy. These curb the appetite
when sitting outside while the girls play in the sandbox or play on the swing set.
Yogurt and pumpkin flax granola.
Are you gagging yet??
Bottled water. Yup. This is a must.
It’s ALWAYS beside me since I gave up the bubbly, sugar-filled coke.
As you can see, I’ve gone from
total delish to BORING. But hey … it’s what a woman like me needs to do to keep
as close to 20-something-looking as possible! Good genes will only take a
person so far.
How about you? Any must-have’s when
writing? Come on. Admit it. You have a few not-so-good ones I’m sure!
Blurb:
Escape.
That should be Hyla’s first thought as her people are chained and imprisoned
for no imaginable reason.
Instead, Hyla finds herself traveling through a land void of Natives, with
human soldiers pillaging in desperate pursuit of her, and in search of the
mystical Pool of Souls—home to the one man who can save her people.
Or so she believes.
Led by her faith in the deity Fadir, Hyla is met along her journey by Jadon—a
human male and fierce King’s warrior, and his childhood best friend Conlin—one
of the few Natives aware of his Fadir-given Talents.
Protected by Jadon, guided by Conlin, and with an unfailing belief in the
purpose of her pilgrimage, Hyla carries on.
Like her, though, another searches for the Pool, and should he gain access
first, everyone she loves, and everything she knows, could be lost.
Forever.
Bio:
Terri
started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her
brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a
long love affair with the fantasy genre.
Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her two
young daughters allow. When not potty training or kissing boo-boos, she can be
found on her back patio in the boondocks of New Hampshire, book or pencil in
hand.
Terri's Links:
Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
Link for the tour button:
http://www.terrirochenski.com/eye-of-the-soul.html
Link for Eye of the Soul on
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17156372-eye-of-the-soul
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 16, 2013
Pride and Prep School's Scavenger Hunt and Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. by PK Hrezo Cover Reveal
Yesterday was Pride and Prep School's book birthday and we're celebrating with a Scavenger Hunt and Amazon gift card giveaway! (Pride and Prep School is the third installment in Stephanie Wardrop's Snark and Circumstance enovella series--a modern, snarky YA re-telling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.)Here's how to play:
Go to Stephanie's blog for questions from all three enovellas. One coordinating photo answer will be featured on each of our participating blogs. Once you've matched the questions to the photos, go to Stephanie's post and share your answers in Stephanie's comments section. (For example: Q 1: a bird; Q 2: a burrito, ect.) Each correct answer gives you one entry into the drawing to win a $20 Amazon gift card! (If you're unsure about answers, Snark and Circumstance and Charm and Consequence are only 99 cents each right now on Amazon--links are below!)
The Pride and Prep School Scavenger Hunt will run from today, Wednesday, October 16th through Sunday, October 20th.
Stephanie will post a winner on her blog Tuesday, October 22nd.
Are you ready? Then let's get started!
Go HERE to find Stephanie's Pride and Prep School Scavenger Hunt questions:
http://stephaniewardrop.wordpress.com/
Then find the photo answers located somewhere on each of the participating blogs below:
Participating blogs:
Adrianne: http://adriannejames.com/
Rachel: http://rachelbateman.com/
JC: http://jcemery.com/
Monica: http://monicabsanz.blogspot.com/
ST: http://stbende.blogspot.com/
Jessica: http://coffeelvnmom.blogspot.com/
Nicole: http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/
Jaycee: http://blog.jayceedelorenzo.com/
Louise: http://bookishblurb.com/blog/
Nazarea: http://nazarea-andrews.blogspot.com/
Thanks for helping us celebrate Pride and Prep School's book birthday, and see you back at Stephanie's blog!!!
Amazon links:
Snark and Circumstance: http://www.amazon.com/Snark-Circumstance-Novella-Stephanie-Wardrop-ebook/dp/B00BBD2DSM
Charm and Consequence: http://www.amazon.com/Charm-Consequence-Circumstance-Stephanie-Wardrop-ebook/dp/B00D006IVC
Pride and Prep School: http://www.amazon.com/Pride-School-Snark-Circumstance-ebook/dp/B00FV4J6MS/
Goodreads:
Add Snark and Cirumstance to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17238956-snark-and-circumstance?from_search=true
Add Charm and Consequence to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17970101-charm-and-consequence?from_search=true
Add Pride and Prep School to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18459648-pride-and-prep-school?from_search=true
And bonus - a cover reveal! (and not for me this time!)
Welcome toButterman Travel, Incorporated
We are a full
service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. Family-owned
and operated, we offer clients one hundred years of time travel experience. A
place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.
Anxious to
attend a special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future
holds?
You’ve come
to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of
services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans,
professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do
apply
Conference
us directly from our Website. Our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca
Butterman, will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient
manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the
most of your time trip.
We look
forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your
hands.
Actual
book launch is 11-12-13
So, if I could go anywhere, any when... I'm sure you all can guess where. Sometime in the late Middle Ages in Europe.
Or Camelot. :D
Where and when would you choose?
PK HREZO: Fearless Fiction http://pk-hrezo.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PKHrezo @pkhrezo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorpkhrezo
Website http://down-the-rabbithole.com/
October 13, 2013
MASKED LOVE's Gorgeous Cover, Blog Tour Sign Ups, and Giveaway!
Time for another cover reveal!
Isabelle is content being a maid, and will do anything for her lady, even accompany her to a masquerade ball. Lady Theodosia needs extra support and encouragement on this night, for tomorrow she will meet the man her parents have pledged her to.
Isabelle has never had occasion to attend such an event, and is at first ill at ease. But meeting an enchanting young man during the course of the evening makes her wish for a life she can never have. Thinking she will never see him again, she returns his flirtation and even reveals her face. Imagine her shock when he shows up the next morning, announcing his claim on Lady Thedosia.
Isabelle does all she can to avoid Lord Adrian Wingave, but then he not only sees her, he recognizes her. To make matters worse, Isabelle fears her feelings are not one-sided.
Torn between duty and desire, Isabelle hopes for something more this Christmas.
My first Regency! So excited for it to come out. On November first! Two releases in less than two weeks. Talk about going crazy!
There are still spots available for the Masked Love blog tour from November 7-11. I'd love for you to sign up! Just send an email to SwoonRomance@gmail.com with Masked Love blog tour signup as the subject.
And Swoon Romance is having a $25 Amazon gift card giveaway. All you have to do is add Masked Love to your TBR shelf. Easy!
What do you think of the cover? I love it!
Isabelle is content being a maid, and will do anything for her lady, even accompany her to a masquerade ball. Lady Theodosia needs extra support and encouragement on this night, for tomorrow she will meet the man her parents have pledged her to.
Isabelle has never had occasion to attend such an event, and is at first ill at ease. But meeting an enchanting young man during the course of the evening makes her wish for a life she can never have. Thinking she will never see him again, she returns his flirtation and even reveals her face. Imagine her shock when he shows up the next morning, announcing his claim on Lady Thedosia.
Isabelle does all she can to avoid Lord Adrian Wingave, but then he not only sees her, he recognizes her. To make matters worse, Isabelle fears her feelings are not one-sided.
Torn between duty and desire, Isabelle hopes for something more this Christmas.
My first Regency! So excited for it to come out. On November first! Two releases in less than two weeks. Talk about going crazy!
There are still spots available for the Masked Love blog tour from November 7-11. I'd love for you to sign up! Just send an email to SwoonRomance@gmail.com with Masked Love blog tour signup as the subject.
And Swoon Romance is having a $25 Amazon gift card giveaway. All you have to do is add Masked Love to your TBR shelf. Easy!
What do you think of the cover? I love it!
