Carol Van Natta's Blog, page 18

Guest Post by Ruby Lionsdrake, About Her Pet in Pets in Space

Guest Post by Ruby Lionsdrake, About Her Pet in Pets in Space

Note from Carol: I'm thrilled to be a part of the Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3  science fiction romance anthology, in part because I get to work with fabulous authors such as Ruby Lionsdrake, author of the Mandrake Company series. Well, actually, Lindsay Buroker is the author — Ruby Lionsdrake is her not-so-secret pen name. Luckily, Lindsay agreed to come to my place for virtual tea and gluten-free crumpets to tell us all about the pet in her anthology story, Quashi.

★ ★ ★ Read more guest posts by Pets in Space authors JC Hay and E.D. Walker ★ ★ ★

Guest Post: Ruby Lionsdrake and Quashi

I’m Lindsay Buroker, writing as Ruby Lionsdrake in this anthology, and I was a serious Trekkie as a kid. My mom introduced me to the original series when I was about five, and I adored it, and I especially adored the “Trouble with Tribbles” episode. When it came time to write a science-fiction-romance story centered around some alien space critters, I immediately thought of those tribbles.

Of course, I wanted to do something a little different that could fit into my Mandrake Company universe (specifically, the mercenary ship where the rest of the series of sci-fi romances takes place). So I added some legs, antennae, and a bit more personality to my “tribbles” and called them Quashi. Instead of simply spawning a billion others of their kind, they help solve… oops, that would be a spoiler. Let me just give you a snippet from my story that introduces the Quashi:

“Yes, according to the encyclopedia, it’s a quashi from Vedana Moon,” Kor said. “Vedana has an atmosphere similar to that of Old Earth northern and southern latitudes and was never terraformed, though its relatively cold climate has kept it from being popular to colonists. A finance lord owns the largest continent on the moon, but it remains largely undeveloped. It’s the home to the quashi. They’re popular pets on Vedana, but are somewhat unanimated in temperature ranges that humans prefer—they prefer climates under zero Celsius. Their inertness at warmer temperatures makes them…” He waved at the creature in Chanda’s arms; it appeared to be slumbering now. “Unexciting to humans and children seeking more lively companions.”

Mandrake looked at Keys. “No chance you can experiment on them?”

“You can’t experiment on something that… that trills,” Chanda blurted.

Everyone in sickbay looked at her, and her eyes grew abashed, as if she realized she shouldn’t chastise the captain of the ship, but she lifted her chin and drew the creature closer to her chest.

“It’s moot anyway,” Keys said. “I can’t run experiments on an animal native to this system. We need animals that came from Old Earth and share mostly the same DNA as human beings.”

“Lab rats share mostly the same DNA as we do?” Mandrake asked.

“Makes you feel less special to learn that, doesn’t it?” Ankari asked him.

“Less evolved, at least.”

“Who told you that you were evolved, Mandrake?” Kor asked.

You can find out what happens next in Quashi in Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 .

Pets in Space is back! Join us as we unveil eleven original, never-before-published action-filled romances that will heat your blood and warm your heart! New York Times, USA Today and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch combine their love for Science Fiction Romance and pets to bring readers sexy, action-packed romances while helping our favorite charity.

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space authors have donated over $4,400 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans. 10% of all preorders and first month's profits go to this wonderful charity. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 3 today!

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Guest Post by E.D. Walker, About Flipping Tropes in Pets in Space

Guest Post by E.D. Walker, About Flipping Tropes in Pets in Space

Note from Carol: I'm thrilled to be a part of the Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3  science fiction romance anthology, in part because I get to work with fabulous authors such as E.D. Walker, author of the Beauty's Beast fantasy series. E.D. came by my place for virtual tea and Rice Krispie treats (OK, I ate all those) to tell us all about flipping tropes in her anthology story, The Bajo Cats of Anteros XII.

★ ★ ★ Read another guest post by Pets in Space author JC Hay ★ ★ ★

Guest Post: E.D. Walker and Flipping Tropes

One of my favorite things to write (and read!) is a good gender swap of the usual trope. A terrific example of this is my Pets in Space story The Bajo Cats of Anteros XII. See, instead of a hard-bitten male space captain and nurturing lady kitten rescuer I flipped the usual trope so my heroine is the no-nonsense space captain and my hero is the one who takes care of kitten’s all day.

I have to admit part of the appeal of this story was imagining a big sexy man taking care of kittens, being all nurturing and sweet. Who could resist a hunk like that? Someone sensitive and sexy? I’d have a hard time resisting that combo in real life and my heroine, Aliette, (spoiler) definitely can’t manage it in the book. Do you have any favorite pairings like this? Where the usual gender dynamics are switched around? Where the hero gets to be the nurturer and the heroine gets to kick butt?

* * * EXCERPT * * *

He was just as gorgeous as she remembered. Dammit. Tall and broad-shouldered, with a honey gold tan to his skin and silky dark hair grown longer than it used to be. Her fingers itched remembering how soft his hair had been, and how lovely the weight of his body curled around hers had been.

He smiled when he saw her, a flash of white against his dark skin. “Aliette.”

Her chest ached seeing his easy smile, hearing her name on his lips. I missed you. She shook her head and swallowed the words down.

Zandro scrubbed his fingers through his hair, looking nervous as he avoided eye contact. “Thank you for agreeing to do this, Aliette. I need to get to those kittens, and I can’t wait for the ferry. They don’t even start running ships until mid-morning.”

“Yeah. Well.” She twisted her fingers together and just looked at him, deeply unsettled, deeply uncertain.

Zandro waited a moment then cleared his throat. “Ah, permission to board, captain?”

“Right. Sorry.”

You can find out what happens next in The Bajo Cats of Anteros XII in Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 .

Pets in Space is back! Join us as we unveil eleven original, never-before-published action-filled romances that will heat your blood and warm your heart! New York Times, USA Today and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch combine their love for Science Fiction Romance and pets to bring readers sexy, action-packed romances while helping our favorite charity.

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space authors have donated over $4,400 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans. 10% of all preorders and first month's profits go to this wonderful charity. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 3 today!

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Guest Post by JC Hay, About His Pet in Pets in Space

Guest Post by JC Hay

Note from Carol: I'm thrilled to be a part of the Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3  science fiction romance anthology, in part because I get to work with fabulous authors such as JC Hay, author the TriSystems Rangers series, among others. Luckily, JC agreed to come to my place for virtual tea and biscuits (but no cats—you'll see why below) to tell us all about the pet in his anthology story, Shadows of the Past.

Guest Post by JC Hay: Shedding Light on Shadows of the Past

I love dogs. I feel like I need to say that up front. Nothing against cats, I’ve met a number of really fine ones, but I’ve never bonded with them the way I do with canines of all persuasions. The way I see it, cats and I fight over the same ecological niche, and there’s only room for one ego-driven, mildly sociopathic attention seeker in the house.

Also, I’m seriously allergic to cats, so…

Anyway, it was my love for dogs, and my fascination with animal-soldiers that prompted me to start writing about the JTF Rangers and their umbra wolf bondmates. I knew I wanted the bond to be something more than just a working relationship, which led to the idea of the wolfbond being a deep empathic connection. From those two pieces, most of the rest of the world-building snapped into place, including the trauma that results when one half of a bonded pair dies.

I knew that I wanted to write a story about Rafe Penzak, the Rangers’ commanding officer, before I was invited to write for Pets in Space anthology. When the invite came I realized Rafe, with his wounded psyche, and the grief over his fallen wolf, would be a perfect match for a book about heroic animals and the people who care about them. Rafe’s pain and his inability to feel have been his defining characteristics in the previous books about the rangers, where he’s the emotionless, brooding commander. Prying back that surface and helping lead him toward his own happily ever after was important to me. Part of his road to happiness is about healing, and it’s an encounter with his past that acts as his first step on that journey.

In this excerpt, Rafe’s entered the house of Nafisi, the veterinarian who breeds and trains umbra wolves for the rangers and discovers that the past he’d thought was behind him was far from gone.

Stepping through the door brought him face-to-face with a wall covered with pictures. A simple plaque in the center of the wall had been engraved with the TJF Rangers’ logo and the simple words Fallen. Unforgotten.

Even after the wolves had gone on to their bonded partners, she and her husband had kept track of them.

It took him less than a heartbeat to find Actaeon’s picture just left from center. In the photo, he was young—it had probably been taken right before he and the wolf had bonded. Polarized light prevented the wolf’s famous coat from lensing and rendering him invisible. Instead, he was midnight black. Muzzle open and tongue lolling in a canine smile. Ears upright and their tufted tips alert.

Seeing it almost punched the wind out of him. Of all the things he'd expected to find on Hephaestus Secundus, a picture of Actaeon hadn't been on the list. He traced the edge of the familiar figure with the tip of his finger and felt the reprimand in his head. This should be more. More grief, more sorrow. Something. Anything. But losing his wolfbond had left all of his emotions feeling like they'd been wrapped up and mothballed. Like a toy from childhood that felt smaller and dingier than remembered.

You can find out what happens next in Shadows of the Past in Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 .

Pets in Space is back! Join us as we unveil eleven original, never-before-published action-filled romances that will heat your blood and warm your heart! New York Times, USA Today and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch combine their love for Science Fiction Romance and pets to bring readers sexy, action-packed romances while helping our favorite charity.

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space authors have donated over $4,400 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans. 10% of all preorders and first month's profits go to this wonderful charity. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 3 today!

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Overload Flux Is Now an Audiobook

Overload Flux Is Now an Audiobook

Overload Flux is now an audiobook, and I'm thrilled! Since I first started publishing it and the Central Galactic Concordance series, an audiobook version has been the number one request from readers.

 

The thing is, good quality audiobook production ain't cheap. Experienced and professional narrators like the fabulous and ultra-cool Nicole Poole are well worth the per-finished-hour price they charge. Good production values make it a pleasure to listen to the ten plus hours of an audiobook. For independent authors like me, that's fair chunk of upfront investment that I won't see a return on for a few years.

Indie Authors Choices

As an independent author, I can publish books myself, or I can license the rights to a publisher. For a whole host of reasons, I am currently not interested in working with a traditional publisher for ebooks or print books. The publishing industry is experiencing the old Chinese curse, “may you live in interesting times.” Traditional publishers are, for the most part, behaving badly toward their authors—long lead times, rights grabs, cookie-cutter marketing plans, pitifully poor royalty shares, etc. This is nothing new; they've treated authors like replaceable commodities for at least the last century.

What is new is that now, thanks to Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, Nook, etc., authors have a choice. If I invest in my books with professional editing, professional cover design, and marketing, I get to keep far more of the profits. My risk, my reward.

Audiobook production is the one area where I've always said that I'd definitely consider the traditional publisher model, because of the steep upfront investment cost. Also, because the digital publishing revolution has brought the advent of several audiobook publishing companies that have sane and reasonable contract terms and fair royalty rates. I haven't pursued them, but somehow, the author gods were smiling on me earlier this year, and Tantor Media came knocking at my door.

Audiobook for Fans

And so, ta-da! Overload Flux is now an audiobook. What's more, Tantor has licensed the next three books in the series (Minder Rising, Pico's Crush, and Jumper's Hope), and expect those to be out in the coming months. They'll all be available at the major booksellers, plus some that specialize in audiobooks.

If audiobooks are your cup of catnip tea, here are places you can buy Overload Flux today:

Tantor Media Apple iTunes Amazon – Audible Kobo AudioBooks.com Google Play

P.S. If you do read the book with your ears, please tell me what you think. I love my own stories, so I'm not an objective judge.

 

 

 

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Heart of a Dire Wolf Is In the Wild!

Heart of a Dire Wolf Is In The Wild!

Happy release day to me! Heart of a Dire Wolf is in the wild! I love my new Ice Age Shifters paranormal romance series, and now the third book is here. It debuts today on Amazon, and is free to read in Kindle Unlimited.

Read the first chapter for free.

The Ice Age Shifters series is about extraordinary shifters for extraordinary challenges. Another book will be coming out this fall. In case you missed them, see Shifter Mate Magic (Ice Age Shifters #1) and Shift of Destiny (Ice Age Shifters #2). These can be read in any order.

 

 

To stay together, they'll have to escape prison, outsmart wizards, and solve the mystery of a magical sanctuary town.

Skyla Chekal is in trouble. She’s a prisoner in an illegal underground auction house that sells magical creatures. If they learn she's a dire wolf with free magic, they'll hold a special high-roller sale just for her. She needs to keep her head down and escape, but she can’t because she smells someone who stirs her in the way only a true mate can. She can't leave without him.

Siberian tiger shifter Nic Paletin can’t believe he’s found himself in a cage in an auction house run by wizards. As long as he continues to play dumb, he should be able to get out soon. But the intriguing smell of a woman who calls to his tiger has him tied up more than the shackles on his ankles.

As turned on as Skyla is by Nic’s intoxicating presence, she knows they first have to survive long enough to get free. Unfortunately, threats continue to escalate. In their escape, Skyla is sent somewhere else, and Nic has no idea where or what trouble she might be in. He must find her before the wizards do, plus figure out how to work together if they’re going to crack the secrets of a mysterious new-old town.

And they better hurry, because the greedy wizards not only know where they are, they're after the fabled treasures of this vulnerable sanctuary town.

Continue the enthralling paranormal romance with Heart of a Dire Wolf, the third book in USA TODAY bestselling author Carol Van Natta's fun, action-filled, steamy-hot Ice Age Shifters series.

Amazon U.S.

Amazon Canada Amazon Australia Amazon UK

~ ~ FREE TO READ in Kindle Unlimited ~ ~

 

 

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The Pets Are Back!

The Pets Are Back!
Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 Launches 9 October

The pets are back! And lucky me, I am one of the authors of this highly anticipated and regarded anthology.

This year's book, Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 will release on 9 October and once again, 10% of pre-orders and the first month's profits go to Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that raises, trains, and place support dogs with disabled U.S. veterans to help them regain independence and improve their quality of life.

I am thrilled to be on the team of eleven authors with S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch. I can’t wait to read all the stories! S.E. Smith is writing Heart of the Cat, Book 3 in her Sarafin Warriors series, Anna Hackett is writing a Galactic Gladiators story, Pauline Baird Jones has a Project Enterprise story, Veronica Scott brings us another The Sectors SF Series story, and Tiffany Roberts has more in The Kraken series.

My story, Cats of War, is set in my Central Galactic Concordance universe. Similar to last year's anthology entry, Pet Trade, it's a standalone novella set in a corner of the galaxy, with adventure, love, and pets (of course).

If you subscribe to to the Pets in Space newsletter, you will receive an exclusive Pets in Space 3 Coloring Book (not available anywhere else).

We also have a live Facebook group called Pets in Space Readers. All the authors pop in say hello and we all share our favorite pet stories and have fun contests and special offers.

The Pets Are Back With Eleven New, Original Stories

NEW ~ RESERVE YOUR COPY TODAY ~ Releases 9 October 2018

HEART OF THE CAT: Sarafin Warriors Series

By S.E. Smith

Can love bridge the gap between a wounded alien warrior and the reclusive human woman who holds the future of his species inside her?

 

DESERT HUNTER: Galactic Gladiators Series

By Anna Hackett

Among the desert sands of an alien world, a man with secrets to hide finds himself face to face with the one woman who can bring him to his knees.

 

QUASHI: Mandrake Company Series

By Ruby Lionsdrake

Alien fur balls, a handsome doctor, and a little white lie create havoc for a young woman who only wanted a job.

 

STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER: The Sectors SF Romance Series

By Veronica Scott

A long-lost princess and her three-eyed cat seek refuge on the Nebula Zephyr only to catch the attention of an inquisitive Security Officer.

 

OPERATION ARK: Project Enterprise Series

By Pauline Baird Jones

A not quite routine mission to return rescued prisoners to their home worlds turns deadly for unlikely allies, a USMC Sergeant and a raised-by-robots pirate. Is the Sergeant’s unusual pet the wild card that will save or doom them?

 

CATS OF WAR: Central Galactic Concordance

by Carol Van Natta

A disgraced military Sub-Captain, a repair technician with secrets, and two special cats must save the day when trouble erupts at an important factory.

 

HUNTER OF THE TIDE: The Kraken #3

By Tiffany Roberts

Nearly broke by betrayal, a human discovers solace—and a chance for love—among the creatures he once hunted, but he must overcome prejudice and inhibition to claim the female he desires.

 

STARWAY

By Alexis Glynn Latner

A lonely interstellar pilot and a passenger’s mistreated consort find each other in an interstellar hotel that offers everything to satisfy its guests’ desires—even desires they didn’t know they had.

 

THE BAJO CATS OF ANTEROS XII

By E D Walker

Two ex-lovers, stranded in space, have to save a pair of kittens with hazardous powers before the local drug cartel catches up to them.

 

SHADOW OF THE PAST

By JC Hay

On a world of perpetual night, an aging ranger and a widowed veterinarian need to put aside their past to protect a pack of wolves… and their future.

 

AFTER THE FALL

By Kyndra Hatch

The Invaders took everything worth living for. Could an Invader show him how to live again?

 

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Heart of a Dire Wolf Excerpt #2

Heart of a Dire Wolf Excerpt #2

Heart of a Dire Wolf is the third book in my new Ice Age Shifters paranormal romance series. As you might have guessed from the title, the series is all about shifters, but it also has magic, elves, fairies, and ogres. This is Heart of a Dire Wolf excerpt 2. (See another one here.)

Nic Paletin and Skyla Chekal's first actual meeting is in the aftermath of an earthquake. Oh, and they also need to escape from the flood in the underground auction facility, and evade the hunters that will inevitably come after them. And that's just the beginning of their adventures…

She turned and waded toward the cell door. She blinked in surprise when a bearded, long-haired mountain man stepped into the doorway. She knew him. The fantastic scent of her mate made her weak at the knees. She staggered toward him, heedless of the eddying water that tried to take her under.

He lunged forward to grab her shoulders and steady her. His touch set off lightning in her nervous system. She looked up at him, into his warm eyes. Everything faded away but him.

“Hi, I’m Skyla. What’s your name?”

He smiled. “Nicolas Paletin. Nic to my friends. Siberian tiger. Nice to finally meet you.” His green eyes flashed gold as he massaged her shoulders. “Want to blow this pop stand?”

His deep, slightly accented voice made her nipples perky. She shook herself, trying to get back on track. Water. Escape. Delay the hunters. “Yes, please.”

He glanced toward the back of the cell, then did a double take. “What the hell?”

“Illusion. Lerro’s idea.” She turned to look at the man, seeing the true man through the overlay of her own spell. “Sure you won’t come?”

Lerro shook his head. “Not my time.” He caught Nic’s eyes with his spooky gaze. “Go her way out. Block the culvert. The door is in winter, and Christmas brings the keys. The heart is in you and her and in the frost.”

The ground began vibrating under their feet.

The next thing she knew, she was scooped up into his arms.

… 

About Heart of a Dire Wolf excerpt 2

To stay together, they'll have to escape prison, outsmart wizards, and solve the mystery of a magical sanctuary town.

Skyla Chekal is in trouble. She’s a prisoner in an illegal underground auction house that sells magical creatures. If they learn she's a dire wolf with free magic, they'll hold a special high-roller sale just for her. She needs to keep her head down and escape, but she can’t because she smells someone who stirs her in the way only a true mate can. She can't leave without him.

Siberian tiger shifter Nic Paletin can’t believe he’s found himself in a cage in an auction house run by wizards. As long as he continues to play dumb, he should be able to get out soon. But the intriguing smell of a woman who calls to his tiger has him tied up more than the shackles on his ankles.

As turned on as Skyla is by Nic’s intoxicating presence, she knows they first have to survive long enough to get free. Unfortunately, threats continue to escalate. In their escape, Skyla is sent somewhere else, and Nic has no idea where or what trouble she might be in. He must find her before the wizards do, plus figure out how to work together if they’re going to crack the secrets of a mysterious new-old town.

And they better hurry, because the greedy wizards not only know where they are, they're after the fabled treasures of this vulnerable sanctuary town.

Continue the enthralling paranormal romance with Heart of a Dire Wolf, the third book in USA TODAY bestselling author Carol Van Natta's fun, action-filled, steamy-hot Ice Age Shifters series.

Amazon U.S. ~ 99¢

Amazon Canada ~ 99¢ Amazon Australia ~ 99¢ Amazon UK ~ £0.99

~ ~ FREE TO READ in Kindle Unlimited ~ ~

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Heart of a Dire Wolf Excerpt #1

Heart of a Dire Wolf Excerpt #1

Heart of a Dire Wolf is the third book in my new Ice Age Shifters paranormal romance series. As you might have guessed from the title, the series is all about shifters, but it also has magic, elves, fairies, and ogres.

Below is a short Heart of a Dire Wolf excerpt. (See another one here.)

Shifter mating magic is an interesting idea—imagine being able to know whether or not you're compatible with someone by kissing them, or even just smelling them. In this book, Skyla and Nic meet in an unfortunate location: prison. Okay, not prison, they're in holding cells of an illegal auction house that sells magical creatures. And they don't exactly meet, at least not yet, but they each know they other is there somewhere.

In the semi-darkness, Skyla inched herself as close as she dared to the dangerous bars. Their magical punch could knock her out for hours, but she’d discovered that very power created a neutral zone for some of the suppression spells. Knowledge had power of its own. The more she knew about the magical protections, the mix of human and non-human guards who had defensive spells and weapons galore, and what kinds of shifters were in the holding cells, the better chance she had to reunite with her sister and escape. Skyla wasn’t fearless or a natural leader like Rayne, so even if she could figure out how to escape her cell, she couldn’t leave without her sister.

And, if the moon goddess cared anything for the lives of individual shifters, Skyla also wasn’t leaving without her mate.

At least, she thought that singular, toe-curling, breathtaking scent had to be that of her mate. It was just like her mated friends described—the most attention-getting, enticing scent in the world, that made her want to roll in it, until it saturated every cell in her body. That made her want to jump his bones before even finding out his name. That made her ready to embrace whatever species he was.

Because, of course, the best possible time to run across one’s true mate was as a prisoner, under constant threat of death or worse, and looking—and smelling—like something a buzzard stole from a lizard.

… 

About Heart of a Dire Wolf excerpt 1

To stay together, they'll have to escape prison, outsmart wizards, and solve the mystery of a magical sanctuary town.

Skyla Chekal is in trouble. She’s a prisoner in an illegal underground auction house that sells magical creatures. If they learn she's a dire wolf with free magic, they'll hold a special high-roller sale just for her. She needs to keep her head down and escape, but she can’t because she smells someone who stirs her in the way only a true mate can. She can't leave without him.

Siberian tiger shifter Nic Paletin can’t believe he’s found himself in a cage in an auction house run by wizards. As long as he continues to play dumb, he should be able to get out soon. But the intriguing smell of a woman who calls to his tiger has him tied up more than the shackles on his ankles.

As turned on as Skyla is by Nic’s intoxicating presence, she knows they first have to survive long enough to get free. Unfortunately, threats continue to escalate. In their escape, Skyla is sent somewhere else, and Nic has no idea where or what trouble she might be in. He must find her before the wizards do, plus figure out how to work together if they’re going to crack the secrets of a mysterious new-old town.

And they better hurry, because the greedy wizards not only know where they are, they're after the fabled treasures of this vulnerable sanctuary town.

Continue the enthralling paranormal romance with Heart of a Dire Wolf, the third book in USA TODAY bestselling author Carol Van Natta's fun, action-filled, steamy-hot Ice Age Shifters series.

Amazon U.S. ~ 99¢

Amazon Canada ~ 99¢ Amazon Australia ~ 99¢ Amazon UK ~ £0.99

~ ~ FREE TO READ in Kindle Unlimited ~ ~

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In Graves Below Re-Release

In Graves Below Re-Release

TL;DR version: In Graves Below is available from all major book sellers. The paperback version will likely be coming out in September. Click the pretty buttons below to buy your copy today.

 
Astute readers with good memories will notice that this is very like the book I originally published in 2016 as part of the Kindle Worlds project. NY Times and USA TODAY bestselling author S.E. Smith invited me to play in her Magic, New Mexico world, and I gratefully accepted, because Susan is a wonderful person and talented author. The result was In Graves Below, a paranormal romance adventure with a wounded warrior and a magical dancer versus a horde of hungry demons.

Just recently, Amazon announced the end of the Kindle Worlds program, and that they were returning all the rights to the authors. Fortunately for readers, Susan Smith wants to continue the Magic, New Mexico community, so she licensed her worlds and characters to us authors. See the Magic, New Mexico website for the list of fabulous participants: MagicNewMexico.com/books

I'm thrilled to be able to re-release this book. The three biggest limitations in the Kindle Worlds program were that only Amazon customers could get the stories, and only in the U.S., and only in ebook form. Now I can distribute the In Graves Below re-release via all major booksellers, which means it will be available worldwide. I can also publish a paperback version for readers who like books you can hold in your hands (but like I said above, probably not until September). I have an idea for a followup story, too.

In Graves Below

by Carol Van Natta

Can a disabled veteran and a magical dancer learn the secret of dreamwalk, or will demons turn the world into an all-you-can-eat buffet?

Disabled, scarred veteran Idrián Odair is running out of time. If he doesn't figure out how to use earth magic renew the barrier protecting his tribal lands near Magic, New Mexico soon, they'll be vulnerable to marauders, thieves, and worst of all, tourists. Trouble is, his grandfather died before telling him the secret, and Idrián is the only dreamwalk warrior left. Except for the stunning dancer he saw only once and can't forget.

Riya Sanobal, mostly human dancer in Denver, is about to be named artistic director of a dance company. She can't stop thinking about the sexy, eagle-footed warrior she's been dreaming about for weeks. Especially since she has to deal with with an obnoxious visiting star and a big donor with an off-the-charts sleaze factor.

When Idrián's grandfather insists Idrián must drive to Denver to protect the dancer, finding her turns out to be the easy part. A powerful, greedy demon wants to invite more of his kind to town to make the world an all-you-can-eat buffet. He needs a dancer to do it, and he's targeted Riya. If the discovers Riya's gift for portal magic, he'll never let her go.

Not if Idrián has anything to say about it. But even stealing Riya away and spiriting her to his New Mexico home won't save them if they can't figure out the secret of dreamwalk.

Note to Readers: This is a re-release of a story was originally published via the Magic, New Mexico Kindle Worlds program. If you already have a copy, you won't need to buy this one.

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In Graves Below Coming Soon (Magic, NM)

IN GRAVES BELOW Coming Soon
A Magic, New Mexico Story

A few years ago, Amazon created the Kindle Worlds program, where authors could invite others to come play in their universe. Author S.E. Smith (Susan) invited me to join her Magic, New Mexico world, and of course I said “Yes!” Amazon recently ended the program, but the worlds of Magic, New Mexico live on, thanks to Susan's generosity.

To start, I'm republishing my Magic, New Mexico story, In Graves Below. One of the limitations of Amazon's program was that the stories were only for Amazon customers in the U.S., meaning readers in the rest of the world and with other ereaders missed out. Another limitation was that the stories were only in ebook, which disappointed people who love the kinesthetic feel of paperback books in their hands.

The re-release of In Graves Below will be at all major booksellers—Kobo, Nook, iBooks, and Google Play—plus Amazon. And soon, there will be a paperback version as well.

Special Note: If you already bought a copy of the original version of In Graves Below, you don't need to buy the new version. Nothing has changed in the new edition except a typo fix or two and where you can buy it.
 

P.S. By the way, the cover was designed by the excellent Melody Simmons.

 

Idrián and Riya hold a special place in my heart, because In Graves Below was my first paranormal romance. It was supposed to be about 25,000 words, and ended up close to 50,000 words. I admit it—I have a tendency to write long

The book also got one of the best fan emails I've ever received. A reader wrote to thank me for creating a romantic male lead character with an amputation and scars, because it gave him hope he could find his own Riya.

Here's the updated blurb for In Graves Below, coming soon to your favorite bookseller:

Can a disabled veteran and a magical dancer learn the secret of dreamwalk, or will demons turn the world into an all-you-can-eat buffet?

Disabled, scarred veteran Idrián Odair is running out of time. If he doesn't figure out how to use earth magic renew the barrier protecting his tribal lands near Magic, New Mexico soon, they'll be vulnerable to marauders, thieves, and worst of all, tourists. Trouble is, his grandfather died before telling him the secret, and Idrián is the only dreamwalk warrior left. Except for the stunning dancer he saw only once and can't forget.

Riya Sanobal, mostly human dancer in Denver, is about to be named artistic director of a dance company. She can't stop thinking about the sexy, eagle-footed warrior she's been dreaming about for weeks. Especially since she has to deal with with an obnoxious visiting star and a big donor with an off-the-charts sleaze factor.

When Idrián's grandfather insists Idrián must drive to Denver to protect the dancer, finding her turns out to be the easy part. A powerful, greedy demon wants to invite more of his kind to town to make the world an all-you-can-eat buffet. He needs a dancer to do it, and he's targeted Riya. If the discovers Riya's gift for portal magic, he'll never let her go.

Not if Idrián has anything to say about it. But even stealing Riya away and spiriting her to his New Mexico home won't save them if they can't figure out the secret of dreamwalk.

In Graves Below is part of the worlds of S.E. Smith's Magic, New Mexico, where the creatures of fairy tales, myth, and nightmares are free to be themselves and find their happily ever after.

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Reader Note: This is a re-release of a story was originally published via the Magic, NM Kindle Worlds program. If you already have a copy, you won't need to buy this one.

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