Ash Krafton's Blog, page 18
October 2, 2013
F*R*E*E #Kindle DELIVERANCE (fantasy) Oct 1-5th
DELIVERANCE by Ash Krafton
Jor Thallon returns home a weary, grizzled veteran to find his people, the ones he spent his life protecting, have destroyed the one thing he held on to all those years: his faith.
Once a people devoted to the All-Father, the citizens of Granite Clearing have divided their God into dozens of separate aspects. His religion splintered almost beyond recognition, Thallon sets out on a pilgrimage to seek divine assistance. How can one old man change an entire religion torn asunder?
SPECIAL JAMISON EDITION: All proceeds will be donated to the Jamison Benefit Fund, established to help reduce medical costs for a young person with Crohn Syndrome.
How can your download of a free ebook help support the Jamison Benefit Fund?Easy--if you read the book, you can review it! You don't need to write a review worthy of the NYT, either. Just a few words and your handful of stars will allow the book to rank up and become visible to the wide audience of Kindle readers.
There are billions of books out there, and it's harder than ever to get noticed. Each time you leave simple review on Amazon, you put a spotlight on that book that never goes away. Get enough spotlights and the book may even become a recommended read--and that will help sales.
Every penny earned goes to the Jamison Benefit Fund. It's a cause that is really important to me and I thought that this book would be a good way to help another person out. My blessings can be his blessings.
Thank you for all your support. I hope you'll spread the word!
September 16, 2013
QueryTracker Blog: The Establishing Shot & Your Novel
Recently I blogged about setting and the novel--specifically, that bit of setting that pinpoints the novel's place in space and time.
I once sat in on a panel at Baltimore Comic Con. (#geekWIN) An artist/writer was discussing the basics for getting one's own comic off the ground, and one of the first thing he'd discussed was setting. The setting should be detailed in the first frame or two. Once we see where the action is to take place, we can zoom in on the action itself.
Later, I realized that what the writer was describing was what film makers call the establishing shot. I also realized how it was a perfect way to approach the writing of setting into a novel.
Here's a bit from that article...you can follow the link to read the whole piece at the Query Tracker blog. Enjoy!
QueryTracker Blog: At the Scene: The Establishing Shot & Your Novel
Are you a visual writer?
As you sit and write your novel, do you imagine the action unfolding as clearly as if you were watching a movie?
That’s the kind of writer I am. Images and words are inextricably joined, inseparable until The End. I tend to visualize the action, the characters, the scenes, mulling them over and “watching” them interact and unfold, then take mad notes when I “see” something that works. The notes turn into manuscript pages and the pages into chapters.
Although novel-writing and screenwriting are two completely different animals, I have picked up more than one pointer from the film makers. By far, the most useful tip I’ve taken is the use of the establishing shot.
In film, the establishing shot is the opening shot that sets the scene—the location, the time, the spatial relationship between characters, even the concept of the story. Traditionally, this was accomplished through the use of a longshot or extreme longshot, although today’s film makers often skip it in order to get right into the action to establish a quicker pace.
Think about how many times we are chided to start in media res—in the middle of things—so that our first pages hook the reader. Those first 250 words are crucial if we want to catch the attention of an agent or editor. We can’t let readers fall asleep on the first page, can we?
However, that doesn’t mean there is no longer a place for an “establishing shot” in our books. You don’t need a lengthy scene set up to run as long as opening credits to an eighties romantic comedy but you do need a way to anchor the reader in each scene in order for them to become submerged in the story. Even in the case of the more modern action opener, the reader gets a strong sense of who and where when you establish the scene....
Read more at the Query Tracker Blog ! Share it!Tweetables:
I once sat in on a panel at Baltimore Comic Con. (#geekWIN) An artist/writer was discussing the basics for getting one's own comic off the ground, and one of the first thing he'd discussed was setting. The setting should be detailed in the first frame or two. Once we see where the action is to take place, we can zoom in on the action itself.
Later, I realized that what the writer was describing was what film makers call the establishing shot. I also realized how it was a perfect way to approach the writing of setting into a novel.
Here's a bit from that article...you can follow the link to read the whole piece at the Query Tracker blog. Enjoy!
QueryTracker Blog: At the Scene: The Establishing Shot & Your Novel
Are you a visual writer?
As you sit and write your novel, do you imagine the action unfolding as clearly as if you were watching a movie?
That’s the kind of writer I am. Images and words are inextricably joined, inseparable until The End. I tend to visualize the action, the characters, the scenes, mulling them over and “watching” them interact and unfold, then take mad notes when I “see” something that works. The notes turn into manuscript pages and the pages into chapters.
Although novel-writing and screenwriting are two completely different animals, I have picked up more than one pointer from the film makers. By far, the most useful tip I’ve taken is the use of the establishing shot.
In film, the establishing shot is the opening shot that sets the scene—the location, the time, the spatial relationship between characters, even the concept of the story. Traditionally, this was accomplished through the use of a longshot or extreme longshot, although today’s film makers often skip it in order to get right into the action to establish a quicker pace.
Think about how many times we are chided to start in media res—in the middle of things—so that our first pages hook the reader. Those first 250 words are crucial if we want to catch the attention of an agent or editor. We can’t let readers fall asleep on the first page, can we?
However, that doesn’t mean there is no longer a place for an “establishing shot” in our books. You don’t need a lengthy scene set up to run as long as opening credits to an eighties romantic comedy but you do need a way to anchor the reader in each scene in order for them to become submerged in the story. Even in the case of the more modern action opener, the reader gets a strong sense of who and where when you establish the scene....
Read more at the Query Tracker Blog ! Share it!Tweetables:
"Create the scene before diving into action or dialog using an establishing shot"
"Anchor your reader in each scene in order for them to become submerged in the story"
September 8, 2013
Anything but an Archetype: Remembering Carolyn Kaufman
One of my favorite writerly endeavors has been writing for the Query Tracker blog.
Carolyn KaufmanI remember the day I got an email from the blog’s coordinator, Carolyn Kaufman. I knew who she was, being a frequent visitor to the QT forum; I respected her as knowledgeable and generous in her advice to aspiring writers. She posted under the nickname Archetype, a theme that she used throughout her writings on the subject of psychology.
At the time, I was maybe three months into my career as a contracted novelist, nose-deep in editorial work on my first book, head spinning at the thought of establishing myself as the author I’d always dreamed of becoming. Carolyn said she knew me from the forums, that she was familiar with my posts and perspectives, and thought I’d make a good addition to the blog. I was floored. Me? A good addition?
Like so many writers, I doubted myself. I knew that blog. I followed it since the day it made its glorious renaissance. I knew the past bloggers, authors who I’d read on the forum, authors whose work I admired. I’d watched them travel the path to representation and publication and I was sure of one thing: I’d be a poor follow-up to such talented writers.
Carolyn didn’t see it that way.
Knowing it was an honor and too good an opportunity to pass up, I tried to push doubt aside as best I could and I let her talk me into it. I agonized over a suitable topic, then agonized over the writing, and agonized over the editing. I sent my first article to Carolyn for approval, and sweated into the keyboard until she wrote back. She said she loved it. I was flabbergasted. (I still am.)
On September 7, 2011, my first article was published on the Query Tracker blog.
Since then, I’ve written dozens of articles and Publishing Pulses, and each time I agonized whether it would be good enough for the blog. I never wanted to bring down the enterprise I respected most. Carolyn often assured me I never would.
Carolyn did more than encourage me and make me feel like a worthy contributor; she became my friend. We emailed, chatting about our projects and our personal lives. She allowed me to read her WIP, and she was kind enough to offer her fathomless and brilliant advice on mine—my main character is a social worker, so Carolyn and her book have been an inexhaustible reference for me. In fact, I made major alterations to the manuscript because of what I’ve learned from her. It’s made my book better.
She’s made me better.
A mutual friend recently described her as intensely private and all I could think was: not with me. Never with me. Although I never knew the sound of her laugh, or the color of her eyes, or the warmth of her hug, I knew she was truly my friend, always just a note away.
I’ve spent just as much time agonizing over the acknowledgements for that WIP—I wanted to dedicate the book to her and publically thank her for her support and her inspiration. I knew I’d have to keep it as a surprise because she’d never seek the praise. But now I find myself looking over that paragraph, wondering how I can find the strength to delete the word ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and type in the words IN MEMORIAM.
On September 7, 2013, two years from the very day Carolyn posted my first Query Tracker article, she passed away after a brief and unexpected illness.
The world lost a beautiful person and a talented author. We lost a tremendous source of encouragement and inspiration. Many of us lost a dear friend. Tonight I take my comfort in knowing that she left behind a wealth of words, so that we can continue learning and growing and persevering.
That was her gift to the world—her words. And, thanks to them, Carolyn will always be with us.
God rest you, Caro. You can never be forgotten.
Carolyn KaufmanI remember the day I got an email from the blog’s coordinator, Carolyn Kaufman. I knew who she was, being a frequent visitor to the QT forum; I respected her as knowledgeable and generous in her advice to aspiring writers. She posted under the nickname Archetype, a theme that she used throughout her writings on the subject of psychology. At the time, I was maybe three months into my career as a contracted novelist, nose-deep in editorial work on my first book, head spinning at the thought of establishing myself as the author I’d always dreamed of becoming. Carolyn said she knew me from the forums, that she was familiar with my posts and perspectives, and thought I’d make a good addition to the blog. I was floored. Me? A good addition?
Like so many writers, I doubted myself. I knew that blog. I followed it since the day it made its glorious renaissance. I knew the past bloggers, authors who I’d read on the forum, authors whose work I admired. I’d watched them travel the path to representation and publication and I was sure of one thing: I’d be a poor follow-up to such talented writers.
Carolyn didn’t see it that way.
Knowing it was an honor and too good an opportunity to pass up, I tried to push doubt aside as best I could and I let her talk me into it. I agonized over a suitable topic, then agonized over the writing, and agonized over the editing. I sent my first article to Carolyn for approval, and sweated into the keyboard until she wrote back. She said she loved it. I was flabbergasted. (I still am.)
On September 7, 2011, my first article was published on the Query Tracker blog.
Since then, I’ve written dozens of articles and Publishing Pulses, and each time I agonized whether it would be good enough for the blog. I never wanted to bring down the enterprise I respected most. Carolyn often assured me I never would.
Carolyn did more than encourage me and make me feel like a worthy contributor; she became my friend. We emailed, chatting about our projects and our personal lives. She allowed me to read her WIP, and she was kind enough to offer her fathomless and brilliant advice on mine—my main character is a social worker, so Carolyn and her book have been an inexhaustible reference for me. In fact, I made major alterations to the manuscript because of what I’ve learned from her. It’s made my book better.
She’s made me better.
A mutual friend recently described her as intensely private and all I could think was: not with me. Never with me. Although I never knew the sound of her laugh, or the color of her eyes, or the warmth of her hug, I knew she was truly my friend, always just a note away.
I’ve spent just as much time agonizing over the acknowledgements for that WIP—I wanted to dedicate the book to her and publically thank her for her support and her inspiration. I knew I’d have to keep it as a surprise because she’d never seek the praise. But now I find myself looking over that paragraph, wondering how I can find the strength to delete the word ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and type in the words IN MEMORIAM.
On September 7, 2013, two years from the very day Carolyn posted my first Query Tracker article, she passed away after a brief and unexpected illness.
The world lost a beautiful person and a talented author. We lost a tremendous source of encouragement and inspiration. Many of us lost a dear friend. Tonight I take my comfort in knowing that she left behind a wealth of words, so that we can continue learning and growing and persevering.
That was her gift to the world—her words. And, thanks to them, Carolyn will always be with us.
God rest you, Caro. You can never be forgotten.
September 4, 2013
ParaRom/Fantasy Authors: Join the Fall Into Fantasy G!veaway
Paranormal Romance and Fantasy authors...join the Fall Into Fantasy Giveaway this October! Join over 40 authors of paranormal and fantasy books for a huge giveaway this fall...and FALL INTO FANTASY! This promo opportunity is free to join and will help you expand your readership. This October dozens of authors are getting together to give away copies of their books and hoards of swag. The giveaway will be promoted through the social networks of each author as well as several kick-ass book blogs. It's going to be huge!
All you need is a book to share. You can offer either a print or ebook...and, if you'd like to contribute to the swag baskets, that's even better. Everybody likes booty. : ) Participants are required to promote the giveaway any way they can--Facebook, Twitter, blog posts, newsletters...you know the drill, folks. Ask your favorite book blogs to promote it, too...after all, it's a chance for their readers to win some free books. Who wouldn't like that? If you are the author of a fantasy or paranormal book who would like to reach new readers, you can sign up for this giveaway by filling out THIS FORM. (Book bloggers can simply email me with an inquiry.) Sign ups will run until end of September, depending on author response. The giveaway will run the last two weeks of October. For a sneak peak at the Rafflecopter and the book cover widgets, visit the landing page. For more information, email me at ashkrafton at Gmail dot com and be sure to put "Fall into Fantasy Giveaway" in the subject.
All you need is a book to share. You can offer either a print or ebook...and, if you'd like to contribute to the swag baskets, that's even better. Everybody likes booty. : ) Participants are required to promote the giveaway any way they can--Facebook, Twitter, blog posts, newsletters...you know the drill, folks. Ask your favorite book blogs to promote it, too...after all, it's a chance for their readers to win some free books. Who wouldn't like that? If you are the author of a fantasy or paranormal book who would like to reach new readers, you can sign up for this giveaway by filling out THIS FORM. (Book bloggers can simply email me with an inquiry.) Sign ups will run until end of September, depending on author response. The giveaway will run the last two weeks of October. For a sneak peak at the Rafflecopter and the book cover widgets, visit the landing page. For more information, email me at ashkrafton at Gmail dot com and be sure to put "Fall into Fantasy Giveaway" in the subject.August 31, 2013
BLOOD RUSH for Book of the Month...Please Vote! RT
BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) is up for Book of the Month at Long and Short Reviews!
Click here to vote--polls open Saturday at midnight EST and close midnight Monday.
What a thrill :) I hope you'll take a moment to vote for Blood Rush!
Recently, Blood Rush was reviewed by Long and Short Reviews...
FIVE STARS!
"Ash Krafton has created credible characters with their own logic and back-stories and managed to bring them all together in an urban fantasy environment that never feels forced or too incredible. She has done what very few authors have done for me to date: made all her books something I put on my urgent to-read pile..."
~~~Read the review here~~~
BLOOD RUSH has been getting great reviews on
VOTING FOR BOOK OF THE MONTH
RUNS SUNDAY AND MONDAY...please vote while you can.
Thanks for your support, everyone!
Click here to vote--polls open Saturday at midnight EST and close midnight Monday.
What a thrill :) I hope you'll take a moment to vote for Blood Rush!
Recently, Blood Rush was reviewed by Long and Short Reviews...
FIVE STARS!
"Ash Krafton has created credible characters with their own logic and back-stories and managed to bring them all together in an urban fantasy environment that never feels forced or too incredible. She has done what very few authors have done for me to date: made all her books something I put on my urgent to-read pile..."
~~~Read the review here~~~
BLOOD RUSH has been getting great reviews on
VOTING FOR BOOK OF THE MONTH
RUNS SUNDAY AND MONDAY...please vote while you can.
Thanks for your support, everyone!
August 28, 2013
CREATUS by Carmen DeSousa
In every myth there is a modicum of truth…CreatusThe reason we believe in Fairy Tales—and Monsters.As the sun’s rays peeked above the horizon, lighting the abyss below her, she inhaled a deep breath, closed her eyes, and jumped. She didn’t scream; she didn’t look down. As much as she hated her life, she hoped it wouldn’t end this way. She’d really like to see him one more time.
Her life didn’t flash before her eyes as she’d always heard. Just an image of her mother covered in blood and her Dark Angel telling her he was sorry.
Creatus, by best-selling author Carmen DeSousa, is a new romantic-suspense novel with a supernatural edge that answers the myths and fairy tales you’ve heard about preternatural sentient beings.
Prepare yourself to believe.
Download Creatus:Amazon USAmazon UK
In order to spread the news, we are also giving away a $50 gift card! In order to qualify, just share this post’s URL in the Raffle Copter and share via Twitter. You can enter once a day.
Contest ends midnight, Monday September 2, 2013. The drawing, which includes all participating websites, will be held Tuesday, September 3, 2013. The winner will be posted the same day.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 14, 2013
Book Tour: Shadow Embraced by Cheree Smith
Shadow Embraced(Haven #1)No escape.Those words haunt Scar’s dreams. She thinks the creature that terrorises her while asleep isn’t real, but when she’s abducted and taken to a reform school meant to contain creatures too dangerous to function in society, she starts to wonder whether she isn’t some monster.She turns to an underground fight club full of vampires, werewolves and witches established by the students to control her urges, and who is she kidding, she loves to fight.When fighters begin to disappear, turning Scar into the prime suspect, she must race to prove her innocence before her true nature is exposed.The only problem is that she’s not entirely sure she’s innocent. CHECK OUT THE EXCERPT BELOW!Amazon – Smashwords – Barnes & NobleAdd Shadow Embraced to your Goodreads list!Cheree Smith
Cheree Smith lives in a country town in Australia as a high school English teacher where she writes paranormal, horror and dark stories for young adults. She enjoys listening to and learning about legends and myths, watching scary movies and dreaming up new worlds where monsters can come alive. When she is not in her writing cave she can be found listening to music, even dabbling in the occasional writing of music or reading.Website
Shadow Embraced by Cheree Smith is now on tour!Check all the amazing stops out and join the International giveaway we’re running here below the schedule and on every blog hosting this tour! Shadow Embraced Tour schedule:July 15th | Darkest Sins (Author Interview)July 16th | Mind Reader (Character Interview)July 17th | The Ferryman’s Wife (Guest Post, Excerpt)July 18th | Happy Tails and Tales (Review)July 19th | Proserpine Craving Books (Excerpt)July 22nd | The Avid Reader (Review, Excerpt)July 23rd | Emma’s Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction (Guest Post, Excerpt)July 24th | Nomi’s Paranormal Palace (Character Interview)July 25th | Read for your future (Review, Author Interview)July 26th | Sapphyria’s Book Reviews (Review, Excerpt)July 29th | Unputdownable Books (Excerpt)July 30th | Tana Rae Reads (Guest Post, Excerpt)July 31st | Urban Girl Reader (Excerpt)August 1st | The Reading Diaries (Review)August 2nd | Much Loved Books (Excerpt)August 5th | Mother/Gamer/Writer (Guest Post, Excerpt)August 6th | Breathe In BooKs (Review, Guest Post, Excerpt)August 7th | Road to Hell series (Excerpt)August 8th | Phantasmic Reads (Excerpt)August 9th | Auggie-Talk (Review, Author Interview)August 12th | What the Cat Read (Guest Post)August 13th | Nicky Peacock Author (Review)August 14th | Ash Krafton’s Demimonde (Excerpt)August 15th | Darkest Sins (Review, Excerpt)August 16th | Kayla’s Place (Guest Post, Excerpt)August 19th | Chapter by Chapter (Guest Post)August 20th | Mythical Books (Review)August 21st | Happy Tails and Tales (Author Interview, Excerpt)August 22nd | Phantasmic Reads (Guest Post)August 23rd | Intoxicated by Books (Review)August 26th | Proserpine Craving Books (Review)August 27th | Mind Reader (Review, Author Interview)August 28th | Kindred Dreamheart (Guest Post)August 29th | JennReneeRead (Review, Excerpt)August 30th | Vaempires (Review)– Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
THE PALE GIRL KNOCKS ME BACK AGAINST THE fleshy wall of the crowd with a couple of hard smacks. I scramble away from a woman in a purple dress, my eyes on my opponent. Over the pulsing music, the crowd keeps up their tribal chant:
“Fight! Fight! Fight!”
This is my first time at The Basement – innovative name for a club set up on the second-storey. The dim lights and smoky atmosphere make the graffiti on the walls blaze. Between the pinball machines, sagging lounges, and the close-pressed crowd, there isn’t much room to manoeuvre.
“What are you waiting for?” the girl hisses. She could be Snow White with her porcelain skin and long, raven hair. “You started this. It was between me and her.” She extends one long finger towards my best friend, Alex.
Alex watches from the side-line. This is becoming the norm. Whenever we go out she always gets in trouble and I’m the one to fix it – usually with some bloodshed.
I don’t know what Alex did to piss this poisonous cow off, but now I want blood.
My opponent launches at me. I shield my face from her punches. It all comes down to waiting for an opening. She’s fast, almost as fast as me. It’s difficult to maintain my balance long enough to strike back.
I duck under a right hook and seize my chance. I throw an uppercut and knock her pale ass to the ground.
A single word roars through the room. “Scatter!”
The tight circle breaks and chaos erupts. The girl springs to her feet. The need to fight still blazes in her eyes, but there’s something else emerging as well. Her eyes change to a deep crimson. I stumble back, trying to suppress the cold fear swimming in my gut.
The woman in purple looms closer. Her dress drags along the floor as she moves. Grabbing my opponent by the arm, she whispers something in her ear.
The woman’s gaze meets mine. Her eyes are as white as quartz with a translucent glaze. I can’t take my attention off of her. I hadn’t noticed the long black stick she carries until now. Her body twists in my direction and she pushes people out of the way with her stick as she nears, dragging the girl – who thrashes and screams – behind her. The girl’s red eyes still focused on me.
I can’t move.
The room plunges into darkness, leaving only the faint bank of emergency lights marking the stairs.
“Come on, Scar. We have to get out of here.” Alex seizes my arm, forcing me back into reality. She pulls me towards the scattering of kids that remain from the mass exodus.
By the time we reach the exit, sirens howl above the noise. The only means of escape is cut off and people charge back up the stairs, taking refuge on the darkened dance floor. The cops block the exit and seal the room.
A strong hand grips my shoulder and jerks me backwards into a group of girls. I fall to the ground and heavy individuals trample on my legs. A cop forces my hands behind my back and secures them in cool metal cuffs.
He pulls me to my feet and leads me down the packed staircase.
“I’ve got it from here,” a familiar voice says as a hand clutches my shoulder. “I’m sure they still need your help inside.”
“Okay,” the cop says, relinquishing his hold of me. “If you’re sure.”
“I am.” The new cop takes me over to his car and unfastens the cuffs. Opening the back door, he says, “You know, I can’t keep doing this for you.”
I open my mouth to say something, but he cuts me off.
“I don’t want to hear it. We’ll talk about this at home.”
I slide onto the vinyl seat and close the door. “Sorry, Dad,” I whisper.
I lean my head against the cold window of the car door and wait for the car to start up. It takes about five minutes before Dad’s sitting behind the wheel and we’re heading away from the club.
An involuntary shiver creeps up my spine as the image of the woman in purple comes to mind. It really looked as if she was coming for me. I don’t even want to think about what she wanted. Turning my attention to the passing scenery, I shake all thoughts of that woman out of my head.
The streetlights forge speech bubbles of illumination in the air. A faint glow from the moon casts eerie shadows behind the dark clouds. The early morning streets of Sydney are still packed with people coming and going from clubs. Most of the girls look like they borrow all their clothes from their little sisters. The guys, on the other hand, choose a different style; fighting hard to keep their pants from falling down. For some reason, they think it’s an appealing look.
I turn my head to face the back of Dad’s seat. His messy auburn hair pokes out from beneath his blue hat. He takes an occasional glimpse at me from the central mirror.
The car slams to the right as we turn a corner and my heart jerks against my ribs. We stop at the curb in front of an aging two-storey redbrick townhouse. Dad gets out and moves around to my door. He opens it and waits for me to get out – without saying a single word to me.
I glance at the house. Mum stands in the open doorway, and she doesn’t look happy. She still has her nurse uniform on. Strands of tangled sandy hair fall free of her ponytail.
I stop in front of her. “Hi, Mum.” My voice comes out as a whisper.
Mum stares at me with puffy hazel eyes for a moment before turning around and going back inside.
“You’d better get to your room.” Dad enters the apartment and leaves me standing in the doorway. “Your mother and I will speak with you later.”
I force my legs to continue moving, staring at the brownish carpet that lines the floor.
Gripping the banister, I launch myself up the stairs. The scent of lavender and bleach drifting around me brings a nauseous wave to my stomach.
I rush to my room, ignoring the loud conversation coming from my parents’ room, and close the door behind me. All the movie stars and bands from the posters covering my walls watch me with accusing eyes.
Wiping the tears away, I throw myself onto the bed without even bothering to pull the sheets down. Feeling the soft mattress beneath me, I draw my eyes shut. I can only muster enough strength to kick my shoes off before the endless abyss of sleep overtakes me.
* * *
The scene plays out as if I’m watching a movie. I stand in a church. Don’t ask me why – I’m not religious, and I’m not even sure if I’ve set foot inside a real one. Thin streamers of light drift through the dirt encrusted stained glass, making spider webs glisten high up in the rafters. The few pews that remain standing sag. The rest is kindling strewn across the floor.
I move down the aisle. The floorboards creak beneath my feet. Each step launches billows of dust through the air. I can see it. A single mirror stands at the far end beside a pedestal that holds a golden chalice. Believe me, I don’t want to be anywhere near it, but my feet have a mind of their own.
The mirror is not normal. Its surface casts no reflection. All I can see beneath the glass is a vast sea of jet-black nothingness, and yet, I know something is hiding there within the shadows. Something that waits for me, watching me. That’s what scares me the most.
‘No escape,’ a voice that doesn’t sound human sneers.
A scent drifts past my nose and makes my mouth water. It smells like cinnamon and honey, but I know it isn’t. My gaze dances around the hall, coming to rest on the chalice.
As I reach out, every nerve screams I must have it. Using my other hand, I try to stop myself. I don’t want it, I only have to tell my mutinous hand that. It won’t stop. I grip the smooth stem. It pulsates with warmth. The thick crimson liquid swirls within the bowl. I raise the cup to my mouth and my heart races as the warm liquid touches my lips.
‘No escape,’ the voice repeats in a low growl.
August 3, 2013
*F*R*E*E* Kindle Short Story Collection: Blind Alleys
This weekend (until Aug 5, 2013) you can pick up BLIND ALLEYS: A Collection of Dead Ends for your Kindle.
Click here to go to Amazon and get your free copy!
Like Blind Alleys? Leave some stars for it by writing a short review...your review will help get the book picked up by other promotional sites.
Thanks for your support!
Keep on the lookout for the next issue in my short story series...RESET BUTTON. Starting over has never felt so final.
Right now I'm scouting the perfect location for RESET BUTTON's cover shot. Like DOORWAYS and BLIND ALLEYS, I want to feature a local image (the two previous books show images from my corner of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania). The area is full of mining towns that popped up 150 to 175 years ago, and is still chock full of remnants from that by-gone era.
The stories are ready to go...I'm just waiting until I see the shot that really pushes my button. Then, I'll finally be ready to push yours. :)
Until then, enjoy BLIND ALLEYS and have a read on me.
Cheers!
Click here to go to Amazon and get your free copy!
Like Blind Alleys? Leave some stars for it by writing a short review...your review will help get the book picked up by other promotional sites.
Thanks for your support!
Keep on the lookout for the next issue in my short story series...RESET BUTTON. Starting over has never felt so final.
Right now I'm scouting the perfect location for RESET BUTTON's cover shot. Like DOORWAYS and BLIND ALLEYS, I want to feature a local image (the two previous books show images from my corner of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania). The area is full of mining towns that popped up 150 to 175 years ago, and is still chock full of remnants from that by-gone era.
The stories are ready to go...I'm just waiting until I see the shot that really pushes my button. Then, I'll finally be ready to push yours. :)
Until then, enjoy BLIND ALLEYS and have a read on me.
Cheers!
July 25, 2013
Hot Paranormal Nights Blog Hop
Welcome to my stop on the Hot Paranormal Nights Blog Hop!I'm thrilled to join my good friend Tricia Schneider on a fun and sexy summer reading venture. Who better to accompany on a blog hop like this than the author of the Merriweather Witches series, herself?
In fact, it was Tricia and her books who inspired me to approach The Wild Rose Press with a story of my own. Lucky for me, senior editor Callie Lynn Wolfe loved the story as much as I did. "Strangers at the Hell Gate" is a Wild Rose Press July 2013 release.
About Stranger at the Hell Gate: When a charming Seraph knocks on half-demon Jagger’s door, he doesn’t expect her to be anything more than a vulnerable woman in need of shelter. Sonya, however, isn’t just another pretty angel. She’s an unexpected ally in his war against Hell, his brother…and himself. Find it at
The Wild Rose Press!
YOU CAN WIN a gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press just by leaving comment on this post. Have you enjoyed a Hot paranormal story lately?
Let us know the title and the author, as well as a little about why you liked it so much. (We like teasers *grin* )
Share the love and let us all know who we should be reading next!
Winner will be announced at the end of the hop, which goes until July 30, 2013. Good luck and thanks for hopping! (Be sure to check out the other giveaways that are going on by clicking the tabs at the top of the page.)
SEE WHO ELSE IS HOPPING...more books to discover, more chances to win!
July 20, 2013
Kintsugi Poets Society: Poetry Blog Hop
The Art of Kintsugi Kintsugi (金継ぎ?) (Japanese: golden joinery) or Kintsukuroi (金繕い?) (Japanese: golden repair) is the Japanese art of fixing broken pottery with a lacquer resin sprinkled with powdered gold. Kintsugi may have originated when shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a damaged Chinese tea bowl back to China for repairs in the late 15th century. When it was returned repaired with ugly metal staples, it may have prompted Japanese craftsmen to look for a more aesthetic means of repair. Collectors became so enamored of the new art that some were accused of deliberately smashing valuable pottery so it could be repaired with the gold seams of kintsugi. What does Kintsugi mean to me? Recently, friend and fellow poet Kim Koning extended an invitation to join the newly-formed Kintsugi Poets Society. It was impossible to resist that invitation--not only had I been away from my poetic roots for far too long, I also resonated with the philosophy behind the Society. Poetry, for me, has always had an element of Kintsugi. My poems, as dark as they may be sometimes, gleam with a glint of emotion. The precious threads of pain and loss that accompany every joy. The streaks of beauty that lace through the fabric of death. The discovery of new reality after being conquered. I am a Kintsugi Poet because I use words to join the pieces of my life, to pull together the shards of broken experiences, to heal the rifts between what is and what should be. Poetry is the golden glue that binds me together and makes me whole. Poetry is Chiaroscuro. Poetry is Kintsugi. Poetry is Life. I'm proud to join the other members of the Kintsugi Poets Society in the July 2013 Poetry Blog Hop. I'm excited to work with many poets I've known for some time as well as many new faces, whom I hope to get to know better. All of us will be sharing our private work with readers and poets. Hope to see you there. Click here (or on either graphic) to visit the Kintsugi Poets main site. A Special Offering... Meridiana's Lament By Ash Krafton Once I dreamed of my soul-mate, a specter that rose up from shadowed street with tangled limb and perfect grace to hover at the edge of my sunlight And I kissed him with the same desperation as I would an Angel Innocence tarnished with the tinges of foresight knowing love is damnable and lovers are damned And I kissed him knowing his soul would pour forth to cling to my wicked glistening lips before withering and flaking away upon the swollen wind And I kissed him planning how best to pierce him through Sever his heart and separate the beats like swept piles of dust waiting to be collected I kissed him wondering if I'd see him again on this side or on the other He could never make that journey alone. Knowing he had to die one day I gave him a single taste of what life might be like had he or any other man ever deserved to live as if this Meridiana ever deserved to be loved by one such as him. Better to avoid sleep altogether so as not to destroy yet another dream.
