Emma Michaels's Blog, page 6
October 21, 2014
Legends and Lore Anthology Release Tour!
Delve into myth and legend, where the Fates force post-modern man into a world of the unknown—a world long since dismissed as ignorant superstition.
The Brother-Sister Fable by Alyson Grauer: a young boy disappears into a realm where only his sister can follow.
Faelad by Sarah Hunter Hyatt: Claire Whitaker didn’t even know she was Irish, let alone The Morrigan, the goddess of war.
By Skyfall by Emma Michaels: a mer-couple from Atlantis find themselves in the middle of a human murder investigation.
Charon’s Obol by. R. M. Ridley: Jonathan Alvey didn’t believe in gods, until he helps a lost child find her all-powerful parents.
Peradventure by Sarah E. Seeley: a jinni must choose between the woman he loves and destroying the city that persecuted her.
Natural Order by Lance Schonberg: when Carlos Vasquez is kidnapped, he discovers powers within himself to change the world.
Two Spoons by Danielle E. Shipley: A little girl’s soul meets its match in the family diner’s most mysterious patron.
Grail Days by A. F. Stewart: Living forever has its drawbacks, especially when you spend it clearing away the messes of other immortals. Downward Mobility by M. K. Wiseman: they say love conquers all, but can it save a Valkyrie when she breaks all the rules?
Alyson GrauerAlyson Grauer is a storyteller in multiple mediums, her two primary canvases being the stage and the page. On stage, she is often seen in the Chicago area, primarily at Piccolo Theatre, Plan 9 Burlesque, and the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Her nonfiction work has been published in the “Journal for Perinatal Education” for Lamaze International. Her short fiction can be found in Tales from the Archives (Volume 2) for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences and in one other anthology from Xchyler Publishing, Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology. Alyson is a proud graduate of Loyola University of Chicago and hails originally from Milwaukee, WI. Her debut novel, On The Isle of Sound and Wonder, will be released in November 2014 from Xchyler Publishing.
Sarah Hunter Hyatt grew up outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. As a child, she kept notebooks of stories that she would share with her little sisters at bedtime. Now, an adult, her stories have matured but still occupy her thoughts (and notebooks). “Faelad” is Sarah’s second short story for Xchyler Publishing, her first being “Stunner” which appeared in A Dash of Madness: a Thriller Anthology. Along with writing, being a mom to three wonderful kids, and a wife to a patient husband, she also dabbles in graphic design.
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, and author of the Society of Feathers series. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to finally submit her own novels to publishers. Emma Michaels’ publications now include Owlet and Eyrie (Tribute Books), Holiday Magick Anthology (Spencer Hill Press), and Cirque d’Obscure Anthology, and Cogs in Time Anthology (Crushing Hearts Black Butterfly). To find out more stop by www.EmmaMichaels.com
R. M. RidleyR. M. Ridley lives in rural Ontario on a small homestead, raising a menagerie of animals, including a flock of sheep and a swarm of foul. He has been writing stories, both long and short, for three decades, the themes of which range from the gruesome to the fantastical. As an individual who suffers from severe bipolar disorder, Ridley is a strong believer in being open about mental health issues because myths should be kept to stories. Ridley’s first short story featuring Jonathan Alvey, “A Case for Custody,” appeared in Shades and Shadows: A Paranormal Anthology (2013), followed by Tomorrow Wendell, Book 1 of the White Dragon Black series (2014). He has two works slated for release in 2015, including Books, Bourbon, and Blondes, an anthology of White Dragon Black short stories, and another full length novel, Book 2 of the White Dragon Black series.
Through two wonderful mentored research experiences, Sarah E. Seeley had the opportunity to work with dead sauropods and ancient odonates while acquiring her undergraduate degree in geology from Brigham Young University. She hopes to study more dead things in the future and contribute to scientific discussions about what makes life on Earth so amazing. In the meantime, she explores the bright side of being human by writing dark fiction. Sarah’s independently published works include Maladaptive Bind and Blood Oath: An Orc Love Story. Another short story, “Driveless,” appears in “Leading Edge Magazine” Issue #66.
You can learn more about Sarah on her writing blog at www.SlithersOfThought.com.
In the middle of lecturing one of his children on the importance of following dreams, Lance began to wonder why and when he’d stopped following his. Gathering up a few salvageable shreds of unfinished stories, he began his first novel. He’s written several novels and many shorter works in the years since, and has had twenty or so stories see publication. At any given moment Lance is working on a novel and at least one short story—probably more—most of which fall into the broad buckets of science fiction or fantasy.
Lance can be found lurking on his blog at www.lanceschoberg.com, on Twitter as @WritingDad, and sometimes even on his Facebook author page.
Danielle E. Shipley’s first novelettes told the everyday misadventures of wacky kids like herself. . . . Or so she thought. Unbeknownst to them all, half of her characters were actually closeted elves, dwarves, fairies, or some combination thereof. When it all came to light, Danielle did the sensible thing: packed up and moved to Fantasy Land, where daily rent is the low, low price of her heart, soul, blood, sweat, tears, firstborn child, sanity, and words; lots of them. She’s also been known to spend short bursts of time in the real-life Chicago area with the parents who home schooled her and the two little sisters who keep her humble.
Danielle blogs at www.EverOnWord.wordpress.com.
A steadfast and proud sci-fi and fantasy geek, A.F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada and still calls it home. The youngest in a family of seven children, she always had an overly creative mind and an active imagination. She favours the dark and deadly when writing—her genres of choice being dark fantasy and horror—but she has been known to venture into the light on occasion. As an indie author she’s published novellas and story collections, with a few side trips into poetry and nonfiction. Stewart’s first published work with Xchyler Publishing, “Our Man Fred,” appeared in Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology (2013).
S
tewart is fond of good books, action movies, sword collecting, geeky things, comic books, and oil painting as a hobby. She has a great interest in history and mythology, often working those themes into her books and stories.
M. K. Wiseman is a librarian who recently decided that it would be fun to try her hand at the creation of books instead of mere curation. A ‘method’ writer, she likes to first try out the worlds that she builds. This has, admittedly, led to some strange results. (For example, she once elicited funny looks at her daily coffee shop by adopting a British accent for one day. We’re all in trouble once she decides to write a space novel.) Wiseman’s first short story for Xchyler Publishing, “Clockwork Ballet,” appeared in Mechanized Masterpieces: A Steampunk Anthology (2013).
In addition to the dozens of stories currently marinating on her hard drive, she maintains two blogs, Flying the Blue Pigeon and Millicent and Rue.
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
October 19, 2014
Project to Published Relaunch!
Every author gets asked the basic how-to questions from time to time. While I am no self-proclaimed expert I have always taken the time to answer as openly and honestly as I can. Recently a friend brought to my attention that weekly posts might help me keep my thoughts organized and give me a venue to talk to each of you and help people who are new to the scene. A few of you may remember that when I first stepped onto the scene I created a weekly project called ‘Project to Published’.
I’ve decided to re-launch ‘Project to Published’ and dedicate Sundays to literary ‘how-to’s from myself and guests.
When/Where: The launch will start next Sunday! New posts will go live each Sunday from that point on here at www.EmmaMichaels.com.
What (type of posts you can expect): Everything from outlining to marketing. My friends call me the ‘Mad Hatter’ for a reason and it has nothing to do with hats. I tend to bounce around from one project to the next and as a result have had positions at publishing houses ranging from Marketing Consultant and Cover Artist to Director. I have a lot of information I haven’t seen widely publicized and plan to share. Though, I will likely keep a feel tricks to myself, there is a lot of untapped potential out there that hasn’t found one cohesive venue.
Why: I have been asked ‘What would you like to go back one year and tell yourself?’ no less than a dozen times in interviews. The truth is; I wish I could go back a few years. When I stepped onto the scene in the publishing industry I was painfully ignorant. Looking back now, I realize most people are. There is this idealized image in our minds of what the publishing industry is like and the actuality is both better and worse. The truth is that publishing is extremely hard work, long hours, and success can be a rarity. On the flip side, it is the single most rewarding thing I‘ve gotten to be a part of in my life. I suppose, I am treating ‘Project to Published’ as a chance to go back and tell myself the things I wish I’d known in the hopes that it can benefit others.
I’m looking forward to feedback on the first post next week but in the meantime, do you have any topics you would like to see covered?
Project to Published is coming back! http://t.co/NIhMP5RgR8
— Emma Michaels (@EmmaMichaels) October 19, 2014
Follow Emma’s board Project to Published on Pinterest.
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
October 17, 2014
Hurricane Butterfly Cover Reveal!
Publication date: December 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Twenty-year-old Sophie Blake, is trying her best to get her life back after a horrific dog attack ten months ago. However, this proves to be more difficult than she anticipated. With the help of her best friend Ben Slone, it seems as if she’s making progress, but the truth is that she can feel herself sinking deeper into a black hole…until a tall dark stranger comes knocking, looking for Ben.
Joshua Roxwell has been drowning his demons with Whiskey and woman in an attempt to deal with his guilt after the tragic death of his sister. When he finds an envelope addressed to Ben Slone, written by his sister before her death, he decides to track him down. Instead of resolving their differences, he meets the one girl who silences his demons…but redemption comes at a price.This is a story of heartache, friendship and love, with a wicked twist…
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23352717-hurricane-butterfly
https://twitter.com/mvermeulens
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mechelle-Vermeulen/101224060077776
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
Cover Love Affair (Dresses)!
The girls in dresses are everywhere. No… seriously, this concept has been done a few hundred different ways the past couple years… So…
Why do I still like these so much? I suppose I am haunted. Sometimes the imagery really does work well with the story. A Radiant Sky (Jocelyn Davies) is part of a series that all have dress style covers but the continuity and colors are so spot on I still just love the theme for that series, it helps that it actually fits. Forsaken (Sophia Sharp) and The Forest Bull (Terry Maggert) are both so beautiful that I almost couldn’t stand adding them to this post but in the end I loved each of these so much that I figured I would just go for it. These beauties really caught my attention and when you zoom, the details are phenomenal.
The Kiss of Deception (Mary E. Pearson) is not only a lovely cover but I have started reading and the writing is fantastic so far! Speaking of fantastic writing, another amazing Kady Cross novel featuring the iconic style for the series. Love the blues in The Girl with the Windup Heart (Kady Cross). Deliverance (C. J. Redwine) is part of a series that has fantastic continuity and striking imagery. The darkness vs. the vivid coloring always gets me. Last but not least Haunting Violet (Alyxandra Harvey), Slayers (C. J. Hill), and The Bird with the Broken Wing (D L Richardson) all are so eye catching I don’t even feel the need to add a description. The phrase that comes to mind goes against my own profanity rules so I will try to find an appropriate way to express my love for these covers…
Yup… still more probabilities.
Just… LOVE.
Have an awesome week and don’t forget to let your mind wander into a book and give you a bit of an escape on occasion. Happy reading!
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
October 16, 2014
Zoe and the Demon Slayer Blitz and Giveaway!
Publication date: October 6th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Twenty-four year old book worm and blogger Zoe Graves was looking forward to the fourth and final instalment of her favourite book saga – The Augustin Chronicles. The evening was meant to be spent in line at the local bookstore with hundreds of other fans, getting the book, maybe even meeting the author, and ultimately spending the night with the dreamiest hero of them all, Lucien de Forest and the love of his life Noomi Augustin.
But somewhere someone thought otherwise.
Confused and hurt after a mugging by the bookstore, Zoe is somehow transported to another world, and suddenly finds herself in a snow-covered landscape witnessing a bloody fight far away from the English summer, and is left to rely on the help from the rather reluctant Matis, who just happen to be out to kill none other than Zoe’s favourite hero and heroine, Lucien and Noomi.
Although convinced she might be in some sort of limbo or maybe even in a coma, Zoe figures that her role in the story is to prevent Matis from killing her all-time favourite fictional couple.
Introvert, creative, awkward.
Neel Kay lives with her husband and two kids in rural surroundings in the south of Denmark, not far from the German border. She’s a trained milliner, studied English at university, and now works a day job as a web editor. But she’s been writing always.Love coffee, scarves and sea views. Oh, and butt-kicking heroines who know how to swing a sword and aren’t afraid to get a little dirty.
Author Links:
http://neelkay.wordpress.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6518450.Neel_Kay
https://www.facebook.com/neelkayauthor
https://twitter.com/neelkay
Ten random thoughts while writing Zoe + the Demon Slayer
1. I’ll have this book ready by July, of course I will.
2. I love this story. I want to live in this story. This story is so freaking awesome.
3. Yeah, no, this probably won’t be ready before August. August 6th – yes, August 6th. Definitely August 6th.
4. Oh hey, look! What a pretty *insert distraction*.
5. Wait a minute…! Was that another deadline that just whooshed by? Hey, where do you think you are going?
6. What the hell is this? I can’t publish this. I suck like no one has ever sucked before, maybe even worse than that.
7. September?
8. You know, this might not be half bad. I think. Maybe.
9. I love Zoe and Matis so much! I should write a book about their son. He’d probably have gorgeous dark hair and the most dazzling green eyes ever.
10. Fine! October it is. I’m booking a blitz, damn it!
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
October 15, 2014
Destinata Release Day Blitz!
About the book:
Destinata is the first installment of The Valguard Trilogy. A sci-fi/fantasy packed full of drama, action, beings that aren’t quite human, and of course a little romance.
Imagine being eighteen. You’ve just become an adult, you can do what you like when you like. You should be attending friend’s parties or studying for school. Well that’s what Charlie Dawson thought her life would be like when she turned eighteen anyway. Instead she ends up parentless, living with her best friends and working at a nearby café. That is until her curiosity about her new mysterious neighbor gets the better of her.
Following Zane into the woods that surround her home town of Tole one night, Charlie gets a little more than she bargains for when he lets her in on Tole’s best kept secrets. The human’s that reside in town aren’t alone. Among them walk the Valguard – a super-human race created by man centuries ago – and though they have been content to lay low in Tole for almost two decades, things are set into motion when Charlie is alerted to their existence that cannot be altered. But perhaps the biggest secret of all is that Charlie herself is part Valguard and also the Destinata – or the chosen one -who is fated to stop the Earth from certain destruction when the humans of the planet discover the truth about the Valguard. In the start of a battle that would surely see the destruction of the Earth, Charlie will have to survive against the odds.
In the first iinstallmentof the Valguard trilogy readers will follow Charlie’s adventure along with four of her closest friends that sees her maturing too quickly, losing loved ones, finding new love and having to face down not one but two enemies, because sometimes being born of both races doesn’t ensure your safety among them.
About the Author:
Sunshine, surf and family are the corner stone of Nicky’s world. Being born and raised on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia gave her the opportunity to chase her dream of photography and later novel writing. She fell in love with fantasy and dystopian and crafted stories with strong men and powerful women.
Her debut novel Destinata will be released on October 15, 2014 with several short stories following. Her second novel is set to release November 6 and is being published through Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly.
When she is not busy being an author, you will find her walking along the water with her husband or chasing after her two children.
To find out more about Nicole L Daffurn you can head to one of her numerous social media sites, or contact Bitten Press for more information.
Facebook | Twitter | WordPress | Website | Author Central | Bitten Press
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
October 13, 2014
Frost Book Blitz!
(The Frost Chronicles #1)
Publication date: March 28th 2012
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone.
After monsters kill her parents, Lia must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.
She saves his life.
Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.
But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.
Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?
I live in Georgia with my wonderful husband and two spoiled cats. When I’m not writing, I’m usually catching up on my extensive Netflix queue, reading a book, giggling at something funny online, or trying to convince my husband to give me just ONE bite of whatever he’s eating.Learn more about my writing and books at my blog (http://thesouthernscrawl.blogspot.com/), find teasers for upcoming works on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kateaveryellison), and subscribe to my new releases newsletter to be notified of new novels as soon as they hit stores (https://tinyletter.com/kateaveryellison)!
She appeared out of the shadows suddenly. Her cheeks were bitten red with cold and her long dark hair was wet with melting ice. She stumbled, grabbed my hands. Her mittens were missing. “Hurry,” she breathed, tugging at me. “Quickly.”
“Ivy Augusta Weaver,” I hissed, torn between joyful relief and flickering anger. “It’s almost night time. There is a storm coming. What were you thinking? Where have you been?”
“There is a boy,” she panted, ignoring my scolding. “In the woods.”
“What?”
But she was already plunging deeper into the forest, and I had no choice but to follow her, a new worry filling my mind and replacing the short-lived relief I’d felt. A boy in the woods? Who had gotten himself lost in the woods at a time like this? One of the farmers’ sons, perhaps?
We were the last farm in the Frost. There was nothing beyond us to the north but the Empty, and to the south there was only the Farther World. What was anybody doing at the edge of that?
Ivy and I continued into the forest. We ducked around branches and scrambled over icy roots. The shadows were thick, and they painted our cloaks a deep indigo.
Ivy reached a giant rock at the mouth of a clearing and stopped. “There,” she said, pointing with a trembling hand.
I could just make out the crumpled form. In my anxiety, I saw only isolated details. A thin, wet shirt, a pair of shoulders, a face almost hidden by the snow. I took a step forward, trying to place the face…and then I saw the sharp features, the dark hair, the slightly tanned tone of the skin. I halted as my blood turned stone-cold. Time became protracted and dense, like swimming underwater. Sound was muffled. My chest felt tight.
You must be strong, Lia. My mother’s voice rang in my head. I remembered her wind-weathered face, her chapped hands gripping mine, her earnest eyes as they scoured my face for weakness. There could be no weakness here in the Frost, where we clung to life between the mountains as desperately as a drowning man clings to a stone.
“He’s not one of ours,” I said, turning to her with sudden fierceness. “Ivy…”
“He’s hurt,” she said.
“Don’t you understand?”
She just looked at me. I drew in a deep breath.
“That is a Farther.”
Ivy’s eyes widened a fraction at my harsh words. The wind blew between us, spraying ice against our faces. She blinked. I didn’t.
“A…a Farther?”
Of course she knew what that was—every person in our village knew who the Farthers were, even those who’d never caught a glimpse of them across the river. We barely ever spoke of them, but they inhabited everyone’s nightmares all the same.
I nodded curtly.
Ivy struggled to understand what I was implying. “But he’s hurt,” she managed, as if that was the only concern. “And it’s getting dark.”
“We must protect ourselves,” I said.
Ivy swallowed hard.
I glared at her. “No.”
She looked back at the figure lying in the snow. I glanced at the sky again, trying to calculate how much time we had left before the sun sunk completely behind the trees, and we were no longer safe from the things that prowled in the darkness. The Watchers never moved across our yards or around the town perimeter during the sunlight hours, but some had reported seeing them during the narrow span of twilight that joined the day and the night, and it was rumored that they wandered freely in the deep of the forests even during the day.
The wind howled through the trees and tugged at my cloak. Snow fell sideways.
“But he’s hurt,” Ivy whispered again, breaking into my thoughts.
I closed my eyes briefly. My sister was the kind of person who brought home baby birds who’d fallen from their nests and raccoons with thorns in their paws. But we couldn’t simply take a Farther and bandage him up like a lost puppy. “The Elders say—”
“I know they’re dangerous. I know what the Elders say.” Ivy’s voice was as brittle as ice. “But are you telling me you’re going to leave him out here to die? After what happened to Ma and Da?”
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. Ivy looked at me with her big brown eyes and the fear in my gut snarled. What would the villagers say? This is dangerous, my mind screamed at me. This will endanger the family!
The figure in the snow stirred. “Please,” he whispered, his voice just a hiss.
I stepped to his side, crouching down to touch his face. His eyes opened a crack, and then…
He looked at me.
I felt hollowed out and filled up again as our gazes collided—mine and this Farther from beyond the edge of my world—and then his eyes shut as he passed out again, and I was released from the spell of them. I stepped back quickly, but the damage was already done. There was already an ache in my chest from the knowledge of what we were about to do.
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
October 10, 2014
Day Zero Book Blitz!
(The Zero Trilogy #1)
Publication date: October 10th 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Createspace
Elle is a survivor.
Since the collapse of modern society, she’s been living in the remains of downtown Hollywood, California, foraging for food and fighting for her life.
And then everything changes.
After she is forced out of her home, she heads north. What she finds is a group of bunker survivors, unlikely comrades, and the hope of a safe haven. Together, they journey toward the dregs of civilization, facing starvation, imprisonment and death.
They are alone, but they are ready.
Day Zero begins today.Day Zero is a novella, the first installment in The Zero Trilogy, a novella series complementing the international bestselling Collapse Series.
Summer Lane is the author of the international bestselling Collapse Series, which includes State of Emergency, State of Chaos, State of Rebellion and State of Pursuit. The fifth installment, State of Alliance, is releasing January 2015. Summer is also the author of The Zero Trilogy and an upcoming survivalist/science fantasy series coming in 2015. She owns WB Publishing, Writing Belle Magazine, and is an accomplished creative writing teacher and journalist.
Summer lives in the Central Valley of California, where she spends her time writing, teaching, and writing some more. When she is not writing, she enjoys leisurely visits with friends at coffee shops, dates to the movies, hiking in the mountains and strolling on the beach.
Author Links:
http://www.summerlaneauthor.com/
https://twitter.com/SummerEllenLane
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5823376.Summer_Lane
Creating the Klan
The fun thing about writing The Collapse Series is that there are hundreds of different stories to be told. In my primary series, the villainous Omega is the invasion force that is taking over the United States – from both the outside and inside. In Day Zero, I jumped into the same setting. The world has been ravaged by an invasion, and Omega has taken over everything.
But what about the places that are completely abandoned? The places without a militia presence or military stronghold of any kind? That’s how I came up with the Klan. Elle’s worst enemy in Day Zero is the Klan – a gang that rules the urban streets.
She deals with the Klan more than Omega, and in doing so, we get to explore a part of the apocalypse that Cassidy Hart hasn’t even seen. The Klan represents the dangers and pitfalls that society can stoop to when left unchecked. In such an archaic and desperate environment, it’s really no surprise that people have become bloodthirsty. Where is the moral compass of a community? Who determines what is right and what is wrong? It’s a theme I got to explore, and it was an enjoyable challenge to do so.
I modeled the Klan after numerous groups and cults that have popped up throughout history. The Klan, in essence, represents the evil of society just as much as Omega does in The Collapse Series – I just got to take a different approach with it. Where Omega is a cold, steely military force, the Klan is a medieval, feral society – almost tribal. It was an interesting story to explore, and I’m excited to share Elle’s story with the world!
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
October 7, 2014
Sideswiped Release Blitz!
FOLLOW THE TOUR
Title: Sideswiped
Author: Lia Riley
Series: Off the Map #2
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publication: October 7th, 2014
It was only meant to last the summer . . .
Talia Stolfi has seen more than her share of loss in her twenty-one years. But then fate brought her Bran Lockhart, and her dark world was suddenly and spectacularly illuminated. So if being with Bran means leaving her colorless NorCal life for rugged and wild Australia, then that’s what she’ll do. But as much as Talia longs to give herself over completely to a new beginning, the fears of her past are still lurking in the shadows.
Bran Lockhart knows that living without the beautiful girl who stole his heart will be torment, so he’ll take whatever time with her he can. But even though she has packed up her life in California and is back in his arms for the time being, she can’t stay forever. And the remaining time they have together is ticking by way too fast. Though fate seems determined to tear them apart, they won’t give up without a fight—because while time may have limits, their love is infinite . . .
Purchase
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
– — — — — — — —- — — — — — — —- — — — — — — —- — — — — — — –
Excerpt
I complete another tour around the baggage carousel and recheck the
time. Hobart International Airport needs to review its name. The last overseas
flights were canceled years ago.
The wall clock taunts me. Surely more than three minutes have elapsed
since the last time I checked. The distant engine drone cuts through the
terminal chatter, growing steadily louder. My scalp prickles. God, I despise
air travel. Only a few more minutes and she’ll be safe on the ground, here in
Tasmania, crossing the tarmac. Breath bottles in my chest. I rub my palms on my
jeans and pull down my hat.
Talia.
A thousand images strike my brain like sudden lightning. Her sexy
lips quirking when she’s privately amused or ragging on me. Those bright eyes
and wild hand gesticulations. The way my whole body simultaneously revs and
calms from her touch.
Muscles fire down my body’s length, concentrating a heated flare in
one particular region.
Down, boy.
Fucking hell, I’m nervous.
A typical bogan, red-faced and outfitted in a faded rugby shirt,
jostles against me beside the arrival door. He fails to subdue the supersize
rose bouquet exploding out of his beefy arms. “How ya goin’, mate?” he asks
with a proud shrug, proceeding to mistake my aggravation for polite interest.
“Got to treat the missus right, ’ey?”
I avoid humoring this blokey conversation by giving a curt nod.
Shit.
Talia isn’t expecting flowers, is she?
The thought never occurred to me. I yank a retractable pen from my
back pocket and click the button.
Tick, tick, tick.
The bogan peers through the lifeless blooms; his thick lips frown
in my direction.
Tick, tick, tick.
Never understood the big attraction in giving a girl dead blossoms
as a symbol of affection.
Tick, tick, tick.
The bogan grumbles under his breath and moves away.
I can’t help irritating dudes like him. It’s a gift.
Outside the terminal, a thunderous engine roar signals touchdown.
The din dials to a high whining hum as the plane taxis. It’s been two months
since I flew halfway around the world and begged Talia for a second chance.
Despite everything, a miracle happened. She took my dumb ass back. I wondered
if she’d wise up, reconsider. Moving to Australia is a big deal. Takes effort,
commitment. Would have been easy to back out.
Will she ever know—truly grasp—that I died a little every day
waiting for her?
The first passengers trickle in, becoming a flood. I dismiss the
unknown faces.
You don’t matter.
Don’t care about you either.
Or you, love. Shuffle along.
The crowd shifts.
There.
Familiar copper eyes lock with mine and doubt evaporates. In three
steps—four if you count me sidestepping the human rosebush—Talia is in my arms.
“Hey, you,” she whispers.
I spin her around and the whole world blurs like a piece of
abstract art, our lips the only concrete entities. She tastes exactly the
same—warm, salty, with a hint of mint. This is a kiss of victory. Talia and I,
we pulled off an impossible stunt.
– — — — — — — —- — — — — — — —- — — — — — — —- — — — — — — –
About Lia
Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult Romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments. When not torturing heroes (because c’mon, who doesn’t love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live in Northern California.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter
– — — — — — — —- — — — — — — —- — — — — — — —- — — — — — — –
Giveaway
Hosted by Good Choice Reading Blog Tours
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
October 4, 2014
The Duel for Consuelo Sale!
Title: The Duel for Consuelo
Author: Claudia H Long
Series: Josefina’s Sin, The Next Generation
Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Romance
Publisher: Booktrope
Release Date: June 15 2014
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis: Travel back in time to 1711 in colonial Mexico, where the terrors of the Inquisition are slowly receding before the tide of the Enlightenment. Not receding fast enough, though, for Consuelo. She’s caught between two men, two religions, and two ruthless inquisitors who are hanging on to their lasts shreds of power.
THE DUEL FOR CONSUELO brings us to 1711 in colonial Mexico. Consuelo, an accomplished herbalist and daughter of a mayor, is privy to the darkest family secret possible while the Inquisition still holds fast to its waning dominance. Her ailing mother is a practicing “Secret Jew”, descendent of Conversos, or Jews who converted in Spain at the point of a sword. Her father is desperate to prevent the discovery of this secret as it will mean certain torture and possible death of his family.
Juan Carlos Castillo, the white-blond son of wealthy landowners, has a few secrets of his own. His love for Consuelo has moved into forbidden territory, and he watches as his friend and rival, Leandro Almidon of Spain, woos Consuelo with his sharp wit and promises of social and financial security.
The times are turbulent. The Enlightenment is slowly penetrating the darkness of Spain and its colony, and new thinkers are questioning everything, from religion to science, to the mingling of the castes and races. With new thinking secrets are bared and the Inquisition makes a final grasp at power. Consuelo finds herself fighting for her mother’s life, her own future, and her right to love.
Claudia H. Long grew up in Mexico City and moved to the United States when she was eleven. She wrote her senior thesis at Harvard University on the feminism of Sor Juana INS De La Cruz, and revived her passion for her when she wrote Josefina’s Sin. She lives and practices law in Northern California with her husband. They have two grown children. She is currently at work on her next novel, set in eighteenth century Mexico.
Places to find Claudia H Long
Blog
Website
Places to find The Duel for Consuelo
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Goodreads
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.
