Ash Krafton's Blog, page 17

Very Paranormal Holidays Blog Hop: December 15-30

Wishing you Very Paranormal Holidays...
So glad to join my good friend Tricia Schneider in another great paranormal blog hop!

Authors Kallysten and Tricia Schneider organized this Very Paranormal Holidays Blog Hop to share their love for paranormal romance, help you discover new authors, win books, prizes... and maybe a brand new Kindle Fire! Be sure to fill out the entry form at the end of this post... and good luck!

This holiday I am especially excited--I'll be unveiling the cover of the latest Demimonde book WOLF'S BANE in a few days. This cover is rockin' and well it should, since one of the Weres is pretty rockin' himself. (I can't keep the grin off my face just mentioning him.) Hope you'll join me on Dec. 20th when we unveil the cover...

Until then, I'll keep busy re-watching episodes of NBC's Dracula. Although the title character is the guy to watch (JRM is a favorite actor of mine, even when he portrays awful men), I find the most compelling character in the series to be Renfield.

Yes, I said Renfield.

I've come across a lot of Renfields in my time. Remember the creepy bug eater from Gary Oldman's version? YECK. Just--yeck.

Much more amusing was Xander's unwilling assumption of the role in the Buffy TVS episode. (Season 5 Episode 1) Xander was pretty much an awesome Renfield and, until this year, had held the coveted place of honor as BEST RENFIELD EVER.

But, alas. Xander has been dislodged from his lofty perch by the newest Renfield, because this particular incarnation is simply perfection.

Unlike Dracula's previous day walkers, the new Renfield is noble, devoted, and completely loyal to Dracula... by choice. Recently, I watched the episode of Renfield's origin story and found out there was even more reason to adore the guy.

Remember how Xander tried to fight the vampire's compulsion? Hysterical, really. But our new day walker isn't bespelled--he chooses to serve, because Dracula saved him from a fatal beating. Rennie's fealty was born out of gratitude.

See, Rennie was a lawyer--a cunning and shrewd man who can size up the chess board and spot the strongest piece. Small wonder he speaks up and provides key financial information that would benefit Alexander Grayson (Dracula's human alias)-- he could tell the strongest player was Mr. Grayson, and took a chance to align himself with him.

It earned him a solid clubbing from the men trying to foil Grayson. Broken, bleeding, and staring down a bullet, Renfield watched Grayson massacre every last man in the room. Dracula took Rennie to safety, thus earning his gratitude and unfaltering loyalty forever.

That was the element that had kept me from truly resonating with the Renfield character all these years--free will. I'm not big on slavery and I really don't like the idea of being forced to do something that I don't want. There was always an element of coercion involved in the character, until now.

And I think it adds a definite spin on Dracula's character, as well. He didn't force Renfield's hand, or his mind, or his spirit. He earned Renfield's service. Makes Dracula all the more compelling, I think. He is bewitching through his actions, his cunning, and his persuasion--not through a magic force that humans can't ignore. (Plus, he's got those JRM eyes. Never hurts.)

What about you--are you a fan of Dracula? What do you think about his day walker, Renfield?

Comment to win... just fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter a gift card and ebook giveaway!

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ENJOY THE HOP... FIND MORE STOPS HERE


AND DON'T FORGET
to enter the big giveaway!

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12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

WELCOME to the 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP ! 
 In the spirit of the holidays, I'm sharing a cookie recipe and a giveaway. You can also enter the main giveaway for huge prizes. Read on, enter, and enjoy!

One thing, above all others, really hold the essence of holiday spirit for me. No, not the malls or the lights or the haunting melodies of carols...

For me, it's cookies.

Juvenile, right? But I know a lot of you are nodding your heads, hoping no one sees you, because  you're all about the cookies, too.

I'm not a cookie baker, but my mom is. And man...I look forward to her cookie plates every year. She started weeks in advance, freezing tray after tray in her big freezer downstairs, and shameless old me sits in her kitchen like the kid I used to be, waiting until her back was turned so I could sneak my favorites off the plate.

Candy Cane Cookies are the biggest pain to bake (at least for a non-cookie-baker), but the payoff will make you glad you did it. Minty, crunchy, fun to eat--everything a cookie should be. Plus, you'll wish you'd grown up with me because you'll immediately regret every year up until this one because this is the first year you get a candy cane cookie. You're born again. And you're welcome.

Seriously. They are THAT good.

CANDY CANES
Recipe by Carol Schott

1 c. soft shortening               
1 c. 10x sugar                        
1 egg
½ tsp. Almond extract
1 tsp. Vanilla

Sift together and stir in

2 ½ c. flour
1 tsp. salt


Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Blend shortening, sugar, egg and extract together.  Blend well with flour mixture.  Divide in half.  Blend ½ of mixture with ½ tsp. red food coloring.  Leave remaining dough white.

Divide into 1 inch balls (both  the red and the white dough).  Then roll each ball into  5” logs.  Taking 1 white piece and 1 red piece, twist together  and bend into candy cane shapes.

Bake 400 degrees, ungreased cookie sheet  5-6 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.  Remove from oven and, while still hot, sprinkle with a mixture of 1 tablespoon sugar and CRUSHED peppermint candy.

HINT:  you can also shape the into wreaths or sticks (easier)  Dough is very soft so I suggest you chill it for at least an hour and work with small batches on floured surface .  Also, these are sooo good, make a double batch.  You won’t be sorry.


GIVEAWAY

Here's a special giveaway for Demimonde readers.... and the grand contest entry form follows it. Get clicking and good luck!

Win an Amazon gift card and  a copy of BLEEDING HEARTS and journey to the place where the Demimonde began...


Sophie Galen is an advice columnist who is saving the world--one damned person at a time.

Shy and sensitive Sophie has all but given up on love until she meets Marek, a mysterious stranger who seduces her with his striking good looks and his take-charge attitude. Yet the darkness she senses within him may be more than she is prepared to handle when Marek draws her into a world of vampires, werewolves, and treachery. Forced to leave behind the comfortable routines and certainties of her past, Sophie makes unbearable sacrifices and uncovers hidden truths about herself and the world around her...




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SEE THE OTHER STOPS ON THE HOP by clicking HERE. You'll find great recipes and countless ways to win, since many other authors are also hosting giveaways.

Good luck and happy holidays!

A Bewitching Hot Holiday G!veaway

Bewitching Book Tours Hot Holiday Giveaway
Nov 15- Dec 15

Giveaways:
 1 Kindle Fire HD 8.9 inch or equivalent value Amazon Gift Card
3 Bewitching Prize Packs full of books and book swag goodies- open to US Shipping- prize packs may contain print copies of The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle, Would Be Witch by Kimberly Frost and Earth Angel by E Van Lowe, Paranormal Pleasures by Roxanne Rhoads, Tasty Christmas Treats by Roxanne Rhoads- books will be distributed among the 3 prize packs
1  e-book set of the first three books in the Seven Seals Series by Traci Douglass 1 Release, book 3 of The Angler series by Annie Nicholas 1 ebook copy Murder on Mars A New Orleans Mystery by MM Shelley
1 Ebook giveaway Hollow’s End by Marianne Morea 1 Ebook copy of Tigress by JE Taylor
1 ebook copy of In Flames by Jessica Jayne 1 copy of River Road by Suzanne Johnson
1 ebook copy of Visionary- Unleashed by N Dunham 1 copy of each Bleeding Hearts and Blood Rush by Ash Krafton
1 ebook copy of Soul Meaning (Seventeen Book 1) by AD Starrling 1 ebook copy of Blaze Ignites by JL Madore
1  e-book copy of Operation Earth by Maria Hammarblad 1 Earth’s Requiem. Print if in the U.S., an e-copy otherwise.
1 ebook copy Silent Oath (Book 2 of the Locked Within Trilogy) by Paul Anthony Shortt 1 Ebook: Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy from the Season of Seduction Carina Press erotic holiday anthology 1 eBook: An Unexpected Bride (The Bride Series, Book 1) by Shadonna Richards
1 eCopy of Divine Destiny by Joanna Grace 1 Ministry Protocol: Thrilling Tales of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
1 Ebook giveaway. "Beautiful Stranger" by Katalina Leon 1 ebook copy of Chasing the Star Garden by Melanie Karsak
1 ebook copy of Cleaning Up by Jophrael L Avario 1 One e-book copy of Haven by Celia Breslin
1 one e-book copy of Dragon Fire by Dina Von Lowenkraft 1 ebook copy of Hex and the Single Witch by Roxanne Rhoads
1 one kindle copy of Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective by Christine Amsden 1 One ecopy of Cursed Ever After by AC James 1 copy of The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter by Jillian Stone
1 ecopy of Catwalk:Messiah by Nick Kelly 1 ecopy of Wucaii by Pembroke Sinclair
1 ecopy of The Bottom Line by Shelley Munro 1 Ebook copy of Dangerous Pursuit by Margaret Dalya Rafflecopter giveaway

The Siren's Tale by Anne Carlisle

The Siren’s Tale(Home Schooling #2)Cassandra, a smart siren in human form, can have any man she wants. So long as she wants him dead. Told in part by the ghost of the main character, the story follows Cassandra’s headlong pursuit of passion in the hinterlands of the Old West, where she comes into conflict with a powerful curse, which passes down the generations.Cassandra has phenomenal success in the silent film industry in California, but troubles remain. Her demon grandson is headed to Wyoming to wreak revenge for his father, the bastard son she abandoned. And the family is threatened by extinction, unless the youngest carries her illegitimate pregnancy to term.Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Lazy Day Publishing – All Romance EbooksAdd The Siren’s Tale to your Goodreads list!                                                                                

                                                                               Anne Carlisle
Anne Carlisle, Ph. D., is a professor of writing and an award-winning writer. The Siren’s Tale is her most recent release, from LazyDay Publishing (June, 2013), available in ebook on Amazon, B&N, and ARE. It is the second novel in her Home Schooling series, literary/commercial fiction for paranormal-romance readers and New Adults. The series of stand-alone novels feature the exploits of lustful sirens in human form as they emerge into adulthood, spin their webs, and struggle with a family curse. Carlisle holds a doctorate in 19th Century British Literature from Case Western Reserve University. Currently Professor and Course Chair at the University of Maryland, she teaches college writing worldwide to U.S. military students. Formerly, while working as a newspaper columnist, magazine editor, and theatre reviewer, she authored a book on writing, wrote hundreds of articles, and was awarded prizes by the ANPA and the National Writer’s Club. She also served as a dean for Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She works from her homes in Seattle, Key West, and Wilmington, NC.Website – Blog –  Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads

  The Siren’s Tale Tour schedule:November 4th | Mind Reader (Author Interview)
November 5th | Nicky Peacock Author (Review)
November 6th | Proserpine Craving Books (Author Interview)
November 7th | Ash Krafton’s Demimonde (Guest Post, Excerpt)
November 8th | What the Cat Read (Review, Excerpt)

Guest Post by Anne Carlisle

"The Sirens Tale:  Writing In the Shadow of Anne Rice and Ovid"

As a dare to myself,  five years ago I set down to write a novel. For decades I'd sworn I would never again attempt such a fool's journey.  Two published novels later (and one in the oven), I am writing this guest post. Thank you, Ash!
We all know about the undying interest in paranormal fiction, as reflected in television shows like Twilight and Sleepy Hollow.  But  back in 2008, the last paranormal book I had read was Anne Rice's "The Vampire Lestat." I soon realized the publishing world was full of vampires. Every agent listed fantasy and science fiction as books they wanted to take a look at. Who'd a thunk it?
I didn't want to write about vampires, but I wanted to use fantasy as an inventive way of exploring real women's issues -- finding the right mate, having children, finding fulfillment in a career. I recalled being in a room full of dead-serious writers at Breadloaf, the grand-daddy of all writer's conferences.  Speaking of grand-parents, it was  some twenty years ago.  Joyce Carol Oates and Francine Prose were speakers.  Oates , looking and sounding like a frail Olive Oil, said she spun her huge tomes from a single word or phrase!
In a seminar, I said I thought Anne  Rice was right up there with many nineteenth century British writers.  (Owing to my  Ph. D. in British Lit, I am steeped in Dickens, Thackeray, Trollope, etc.)  There was a hostile silence in the room.  The moderator sniffed and made a cold comment about   "commercial fiction" not being in our purview. As a university professor, I was not about to be talked down to.  I said Anne Rice was a prolific and stylistically superior writer.  I myself would be proud to be compared to her, if I ever got a novel published.
Did I realize, the literary snobs told me, Anne Rice had published pornography under a pen name?  Well, I did get my novels published,  and  recently Joseph, a  professor of writing who was reviewing my book THE SIREN'S TALE, endeared himself to me forever by writing this: "It is reminiscent of Anne Rice's work,  Interview With a Vampire, only more life affirming."
Of course, these days we don't use that word "pornography"  just because there is graphic sex in a book. We even have legitimate genre names: erotica, erotic-romance, or paranormal erotic-romance. And unless we are selling to eleven-year-olds, we all look closely at our flame ratings, no matter how well educated or literary we are. But those were the days of the citadel, and the citadel is now over-run,  thanks to the internet, ebooks, self-publishing, and all the rest. And I'm running with the crowd, bad knees or no, fast as I possibly can.
Recall the movie "Bell, Book, and Candle" starring Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart?  That's the territory I am settling into with my series on sirens in human form.  While some readers want more magic, others comment they like the mixture of human and siren  in THE SIREN'S TALE.  Heather says: "Anne does a great job showing the internal struggle that Cassandra has between her siren part and her human part. Her siren part is wanting to use her powers on men for her own advantage while her human part wants to have a man love her for her, with no tricks. "
I owe something to Anne Rice. Her vampires are immortal and my sirens are not, but what made Lestat so endearing  to me were his human qualities. Paranormals who are warring with other paranormals through an entire book aren't as interesting to me as those who seem, at the outset, to be just another human being, with a human being's problems. I always want to relate to the character, even when I am writing fantasy.  In particular, I want to relate to a female character, even if she is a siren.
Another reason why I'm writing about sirens is because it allows me to indulge my interest in classical literature. I didn't want to get bogged down in the ancient mythology; I wanted to create my own.  Nonetheless,  I read Ovid's Metamorphoses  cover to cover and took notes for the first time since I was a college freshman.  BTW, I  go into much more detailed siren mythology in the next book of my series, which has a working title of GHOST ORCHID, or School for Sirens.
Ovid tantalizes with creatures part human and part something else. He wrote in the days of the Roman empire, when rulers were still thought to be divinities and related to gods and goddesses who had human vices and interfered with human kind. Ovid got away with a lot of eroticism and paranormal fantasy under the guise of religion.  His marvelous epic in verse celebrates hundreds of gods and goddesses and their shape-shifting, gender-bending antics - "Of bodies chang'd to various forms I sing." 
Here's what Ovid has to say about sirens. It isn't much.
The Daughters of Achelous transform'd to Sirens.... But, o ye nymphs that from the flood descend, What fault of yours the Gods cou'd so offend, With wings and claws your beauteous forms to spoil, Yet save your maiden face, and winning smile?.... The Gods were easy, and return'd your pray'r; With golden wing o'er foamy waves you fled, And to the sun your plumy glories spread. But, lest the soft enchantment of your songs, And the sweet musick of your flat'ring tongues Shou'd quite be lost (as courteous fates ordain), Your voice and virgin beauty still remain.
The other source is Homer’s Iliad, in which two sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, are referred to as “sirens.” Their exquisite singing and womanly appearance lured the homeward-bound Greek sailors under Ulysses to their destruction on perilous rocks. Hence, the biased connection between female home-wreckers and the term "siren."
In my mind, my sirens in human form are not necessarily home wreckers, and they may be living among us undetected. Are you one?
Anne Carlisle
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Eye of the Soul by Terri Rochenski: Meet the Characters

EYE OF THE SOUL by Terri RochenskiSeries:  Pool of Souls #1
Genre:  Fantasy
Publisher:  J. Taylor Publishing
Release Date:  October 7, 2013
Book 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.

Amazon Paperback  /  Amazon Kindle  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Kobo

About the Author:
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.






  Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads



WELCOME TO THE
EYE OF THE SOUL
BLOG TOUR!
You can view the tour line-up here. Enter the blog tour giveaway and scroll down for a character interview or two--what better way to meet the people in Terri's newest book?
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Terri Rochenski introduces us to the characters of Eye of the Soul...
Are you a plotter or pantster?
Know how many times I’ve asked / been asked this question? Dozens. And the reasons other writers give never cease to amaze me—quirks, what makes muses take off, how character speak to us, how some plan like crazy, putting off the actual writing.
That last is me, to a capital T. I’ll spend countless hours doing research, making notes, outlines, and timelines, doing everything possible from writing ‘Chapter 1’.
One of my favorite parts of planning out a novel are the character interviews. I actually play out a scene in my mind of sitting with them and asking them questions. I even make notes of their facial expressions and gestures. What is truly amazing is going back to those interviews once a novel is completed and seeing how much a character either changed or remained the same.
I decided to share a snippet from two of my characters from Eye of the Soul—our first encounter—a few rapid fire then one serious question I put to them. I’ll start with Hyla, the MC, a Native-blooded young woman from the island of Taran.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hyla
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Mossy-green eyes gaze at the hands clasped in her lap, but a small smile lifts her lips. “I’m an apprentice healer.”
Q. Who are the most important people in your life?
A. “The sick.” She shifts in her chair, still not meeting my gaze, and tucks dark hair behind a slightly pointed ear. “They need me.”
Q. What do you crave?
A. She bites the inside of her lip before whispering, “Acceptance.”
Q. Tell me about your greatest moment of fear.
A. Eyelids close and she heaves a deep breath. “When I realized my seeing is unique and I had no mother, father, or sibling to share it with—someone to help me better understand what was happening. It heightened my loneliness.” A frown creases the skin between her brows. “The contradiction is that I yearn for family, but getting close to others and involuntarily seeing into their souls makes me more of a cast out.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Poor girl! My heart went out to her immediately, and although I didn’t know her full story, I knew that I had to tell it.
Now onto one of the story’s heroes, Jadon Lim, the 2nd son of Lord Lim of Bradenfeld and a soldier in the king’s army.
~~~~~~~~~~
 
Jadon
Q. Do you start arguments?
A. “No. I finish them.” Laughter erupts, revealing dimples on either side of his full lips. “Seriously, though, no. I don’t.”
Q. What’s your worst physical trait?
A. A grimace mars his too-pretty features. “I have to admit a fault? Fine. I have long toes.”
Q. Do you brag?
A. Broad shoulders rest back against the chair’s back as long legs stretch out and cross at the ankles. “No brag. Just fact.”
Q. Greatest fear?
A. His relaxed position doesn’t change, but stillness settles as though he is a cat ready to spring. Dark eyes bore into mine, and I realize his hesitation in admitting what I’m about to hear.
“Soldiers such as myself should be emotionless killers. I’m afraid if and when the day arrives I’m faced with taking a life that my compassion and sensitivity won’t allow the killing blow. But,” his eyes narrow and chin lifts, “I’m sworn to protect the innocent, those who cannot protect themselves. Hopefully my oath outweighs my inner weakness.”
~~~~~~~~~~
And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed the little sneak peeks into Hyla and Jadon, and I REALLY hope you’ll read their story to see how and if they changed!

#CoffinHop for a Cause: Anthology Supports LitWorld.org

Okay, kiddies, it's getting really close to Halloween and that means one thing...  It's Coffin Hop time! This year, we are Coffin Hopping for a cause...my fellow freaks at the Coffin Hop Corral have come together to produce a horror anthology called DEATH BY DRIVE-IN. All proceeds go to LitWorld.org to support children literacy. It's not nice to scare the living sh*t out of children so we'll do the next best thing: teach them to read so they can scare the living sh*t out of themselves. That's how I grew up, and look--I turned out just fine. In the spirit of the hop, I have a giveaway for all ya'll. I did a little Day of the Dead shopping on a recent vacation and, as usual, I brought home killer stuff. Gonna be hard to part with it...but I'll do it for the Coffin Hop team. What You Win: Skull pen and garland from PAPER SOURCE How You Win It: Simple...join my mailing list and leave a comment on this post saying you did it.  (You can also feel free to say how awesome this swag is because I'm really wishing I bought two of everything that day. That garland is fricken CUTE.)  DEATH BY DRIVE-IN (2013)

COFFIN HOP: DEATH BY DRIVE-IN is a collection of 22 amazing tales of terror by some of the best and brightest of the Coffin Hop crew. The anthology will be revealed this September, with 21 amazing B-movie inspired stories from some of the best Indie authors around. All profits from the anthology (as well as our Coffin Hop store ) will be donated to LitWorld.org, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supporting child literacy and social improvement the world over.

Special thanks to Siren’s Call Publications for their help with editing and formatting, and Liz Howerton Photography for the amazing cover art.

COFFIN HOP: DEATH BY DRIVE-IN is scheduled for release to coincide with the 2013 Coffin Hop Author’s Online Event, which you can learn more about HERE

There book features an introduction by cult horror filmmaker, author and all-around pop-cult expert Scott S. Phillips , and a special cliffhanger episode of the epic comic book phenomenon – Robot Lincoln and Zombie Jackson as they face the sinister Dr. Acula and his steam-powered supermen!
 The roster includes: Amy K. Marshall Jessica McHugh C.W. LaSart Red Tash Erik Gustafson Claudia LeFevre Julliane Snow Jason Darrick Dan Dillard Brent Abell Nina D’Arcangela Joanna Parypinski Penelope Crowe Jamie Friesen A.F. Stewart Pavarti K. Tyler R.L. Treadway Rob Smales Katrina Byrd

#CoffinHop for a Cause: Anthology Supports LitWorg.org

Okay, kiddies, it's getting really close to Halloween and that means one thing...  It's Coffin Hop time! This year, we are Coffin Hopping for a cause...my fellow freaks at the Coffin Hop Corral have come together to produce a horror anthology called DEATH BY DRIVE-IN. All proceeds go to LitWorld.org to support children literacy. It's not nice to scare the living sh*t out of children so we'll do the next best thing: teach them to read so they can scare the living sh*t out of themselves. That's how I grew up, and look--I turned out just fine. In the spirit of the hop, I have a giveaway for all ya'll. I did a little Day of the Dead shopping on a recent vacation and, as usual, I brought home killer stuff. Gonna be hard to part with it...but I'll do it for the Coffin Hop team. What You Win: Skull pen and garland from PAPER SOURCE How You Win It: Simple...join my mailing list and leave a comment on this post saying you did it.  (You can also feel free to say how awesome this swag is because I'm really wishing I bought two of everything that day. That garland is fricken CUTE.)  DEATH BY DRIVE-IN (2013)

COFFIN HOP: DEATH BY DRIVE-IN is a collection of 22 amazing tales of terror by some of the best and brightest of the Coffin Hop crew. The anthology will be revealed this September, with 21 amazing B-movie inspired stories from some of the best Indie authors around. All profits from the anthology (as well as our Coffin Hop store ) will be donated to LitWorld.org, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supporting child literacy and social improvement the world over.

Special thanks to Siren’s Call Publications for their help with editing and formatting, and Liz Howerton Photography for the amazing cover art.

COFFIN HOP: DEATH BY DRIVE-IN is scheduled for release to coincide with the 2013 Coffin Hop Author’s Online Event, which you can learn more about HERE

There book features an introduction by cult horror filmmaker, author and all-around pop-cult expert Scott S. Phillips , and a special cliffhanger episode of the epic comic book phenomenon – Robot Lincoln and Zombie Jackson as they face the sinister Dr. Acula and his steam-powered supermen!
 The roster includes: Amy K. Marshall Jessica McHugh C.W. LaSart Red Tash Erik Gustafson Claudia LeFevre Julliane Snow Jason Darrick Dan Dillard Brent Abell Nina D’Arcangela Joanna Parypinski Penelope Crowe Jamie Friesen A.F. Stewart Pavarti K. Tyler R.L. Treadway Rob Smales Katrina Byrd

Fall Into Fantasy! Multi-Author G!veaway

Welcome to the Fall Into Fantasy Giveaway, hosted by Ash Krafton’s Demimonde.
I want to thank all the authors and bloggers who have come together to support this huge book giveaway. It was a pleasure working with all of you because you made it so easy...

ONTO THE 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!
Giveaway runs until October 31st...plenty of time to get all your entries in...

The authors:
Ash Krafton, Red Tash, Rhonda Parrish, Niteblade Magazine, Sascha Illyvich, Jami Gray, Stacy Claflin, Sharon Saracino, Marsha A. Moore, Kim Smith, Alison Beightol,  Prudence MacLeod, Shannon McRoberts, Rosalie Skinner, Tricia Schneider, Liv Rancourt, Debbie Christiana, Fabio Bueno, Carmen DeSousa, Lyndi Alexander, Sheryl Nantus, Sharon Buchbinder, Jane Lebak, Terri Rochenski, Marian Allen, Etta Jean, Angela Brown, Mimi Sebastian, John Hundley, Julia Crane, Lisa Kessler, Gregory S. Close, Nana Prah, James Garcia Jr, Angela Myron, Nicole Zoltack, Robin Lythgoe, Georgia Lyn Hunter, Andrea R. Cooper, Kristine Croto, Cathrina Constantine, M. Pax, Stacy Claflin, Tina Moss and Yelena Casale, Mina Khan, Julie Flanders, Julie Reece, Jocelyn Adams, Elle J Rossi, Kiru Taye, Cesya MaRae Cuono, Jonathan D Allen, Kevin O. McLaughlin, Thomas Winship, Shah Wharton
The books:















The entry form:
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Good luck to everyone and thanks for entering!

ARC Tour: #ARCHETYPE by MD Waters

Where in the world is ARCHETYPE? I'm thrilled to be a part of MD Waters' ARC tour for her debut sci-fi thriller, ARCHETYPE. A copy of ARCHETYPE came to visit me at my home in Northeast PA for a few weeks while we got to know each other. I don't get a chance to read a lot of science fiction. A shame, really, since I'm bonafide Nerdian, through and through. Star Trek, Doctor Who, Fringe...mmmmm... Here's a couple pictures from our vacation here in the Pee Yay Coal Region...


At Denny's in Wilkes-Barre, PAFirst thing we did was go for breakfast. Most important meal of the day and all that, right? Poor ARC wasn't hungry, though, and I didn't want those pancake puppies to go to waste. (I have since decided that all pancakes must be spherical, loaded with chocolate chips, and smothered in peanut butter. Thank you, ARC-ARCHy.)

It was a tough job, deciding where to take the ARC. If you're from this area of NEPA, you'd know that we are in the middle of everything, surrounded by absolutely nothing. Nothing but history, really.




 St. Nick's Breaker, Mahanoy City PAMahanoy City recently celebrated its 150th birthday. This is an old mining town with a rich and colorful past that lies in the next valley over. I thought it would be a nice spot for a pic because the breaker, which ran from 1931 to 1963 and was one the largest in the world, is currently being demolished. It's old tech. There's new tech on the way--a new St. Nick's Breaker started running in 1972, just down the road, leaving the old one to be abandoned. I'll miss that old thing--it had a certain beauty to it, in all its broken windowed glory.

We don't just produce coal here...we farm the wind, too. Up the mountain from Mahanoy City stand the Locust Ridge I and II Wind Farms, which boast 64 wind mills. It's unsettling, sometimes, to be cruising along a hillside road when KABLAM a windmill pokes its head over the top of the mountain like a curious giant. I remember when the mills were being trucked into the area...tied up traffic like a tremendous pain in the dupa (local speak but I'm sure you can figure it out). I like the sound they make, a kind of humming whomph whomph whomph.

And, for these country parts, that's about as high tech as we get. ;D

The other shots are just to give a sense of how perfect this time of the year is--early autumn, when the leaves are just stating to change. It's a netherworld between seasons, when the grass is still green but the leaves are bleeding and beginning to swoon. Caught between life and death, early October precariously perches on a high wire, waiting for the perfect moment to fall.

Definitely my favorite time of the year.


  I really enjoyed reading ARCHETYPE and am looking forward to  the sequel, PROTOTYPE. The pacing is dizzy-fast and the characters are multi-dimensional. It was all too easy to get sucked into the story and I actually began to despair when I approached the ending. I didn't want the book to be over...   ARCHETYPE by MD WatersEmma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories showing her a past life she can’t believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.
Suppressing those dreams during her daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman, and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.
In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men—one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which…  Pre-Order ARCHETYPE! Amazon   Barnes and Noble   iTunes   iBook   Indiebound  Meet  MD WatersM.D. WATERS lives with her family in Maryland. Archetype (2/6/14 from Dutton Books) is her first novel. Its sequel, Prototype, will be published in July 2014. Ms. Waters is represented by Jennifer Weltz @ JVNLA.   Find MD Waters  Blog    Facebook     Twitter    Goodreads   Follow ARCHETYPE on its blog tour...Next week's blogger is
Jessica Lemmon.  
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ARCHETYPE? BLOG TOUR LIST9/8 Author Melissa Chambers9/16 Author Jodi L. Henry9/26 Author Melinda S. Collins9/30 Author Kristi Helvig10/7 Author Ash Krafton10/16 Author Jessica Lemmon10/25 A Bookish Affair10/31 Author Tracy Buscemi11/11 Author Jessica E. Subject
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Book Tour: Tangled Souls by Jana Oliver

Tangled Souls

Wiccan Gavenia Kingsgrave’s psychic gift, the ability to talk to the dead, comes with strings attached. As a Shepherd, she escorts them into the hereafter, but not all the souls want to cross over, and some can be downright vicious. When her latest case involves a heart-breaking hit-and-run victim, Gavenia is stressed to the max. The last thing she needs is a no-nonsense private detective on her tail, even if he is a handsome Irishman.
 Former homicide detective Douglas O’Fallon possesses his own psychic gift, one he’s denied for years. Hired by a wealthy client to prove that Gavenia’s a con artist, he is skeptical of the witch’s claims she can speak to the dead. If he finds her gift is genuine, then he will be forced to accept his own. When their two cases intersect, opposites attract. But will they be able to set their differences aside long enough to outwit their foes – both the living and the dead?Amazon US – Amazon UK – Barnes & NobleAdd Tangled Souls to your Goodreads list! Guest post by Jana Oliver... Tangled Souls: The Goddess and Saint When I was writing Tangled Souls , I was delighted to find that Irish mythology easily wove itself throughout the story. In many ways that wasn’t surprising as my hero (Douglas O’Fallon) is Irish, and the heroine (Gavenia Kingsgrave) has both Celtic and pagan roots.Though there isn’t much O’Fallon and Gavenia have in common, which makes their story that much more compelling, they share a love of a saint and goddess. To pagans, Brigit is the goddess of fire, childbirth, healing, poetry, divination and smith craft. Quite a busy lady.
Her name has taken on many spelling variations (Brigid, Briggidda, Brigantias, Bride, Brighid) and she is still worshipped on Imbolc (February 1st) by pagans worldwide. The Brigit’s cross, perhaps patterned after the pagan sun wheel (see photo by Culnacreann), is still found in homes today.
As Ireland adopted Christianity, Brigit’s “flame” crossed into the Roman Catholic faith as Brigid of Kildare who became one of the country’s patron saints. Her feast day is also February 1st (Christianity often “borrowed” pagan holy days) and visitors still make a pilgrimage to her holy well. Though it is difficult to determine Brigid’s exact family history, she continues to serve as a light to those in both the pagan and Catholic traditions. In fact, the Solas Bhríde Centre and Hermitage in Dublin welcomes people from all faith traditions to continue Brigit/St. Brigid’s calling. I find it refreshing that the starting point for Gavenia and O’Fallon’s love is an ancient goddess and a beloved saint who is still cherished today.     Jana Oliver
Jana Oliver has the perfect job—she listens to the voices in her head and then writes their stories. Her latest creation, BRIAR ROSE, is a dark steampunk retelling of Sleeping Beauty, complete with Hoodoo, a vengeful Civil War ghost, and metal magic (Sept. 2013 Macmillan Children’s Books). In Jana’s young adult DEMON TRAPPERS Series, Riley Blackthorne, Atlanta’s first girl Demon Trapper, takes on a host of Hellspawn and their diabolical masters. This award-winning series has spread across the globe, with editions in ten countries. Jana’s foray into time travel and alternate history resulted in the Time Rovers Series. Set in 1888 London, the series deftly blends time travel, shape-shifters and Jack the Ripper. The trilogy received twelve awards, including the Prism Award for Time Travel and the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense. When she’s not daydreaming, she can be found savoring a growing collection of single malt scotch and old books. Visitors are always welcome at her website: www.JanaOliver.comWebsite –  Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest

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