Cynthianna's Blog

Some Book Link Updates

 

Some book link updates and other news...

I'm looking forward to see you at Cleveland Concoction in March. Fingers crossed the weather for traveling that weekend is good and the highways clear of snow!

I really hate posting links to third party sellers, but since our publisher, eXtasy Books, has stopped selling books from their web site directly, this is what we authors forced to do.

Here are the links at Amazon for my and my co-author Adrian J. Matthew's BloodDark series of books:

The BloodDark series main page:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HQWP6VB?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1736809506&sr=1-23&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

Olivia's Escape
https://www.amazon.com/Olivias-Escape-BloodDark-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07MYL8TY2/ref=sr_1_21

Olivia's Return
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NCQSBX8

Olivia's Decision
https://www.amazon.com/Olivias-Decision-BloodDark-Book-3-ebook/dp/B07P8JKSG3/ref=sr_1_25

Fire on the Sands
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Sands-BloodDark-Book-4-ebook/dp/B07QBMBQ54/ref=sr_1_23

Here's the link for my stand alone novel (at this time--I really wanted to write more in this universe and perhaps I will some day):

Where The Bodies Lie https://www.amazon.com/Where-Bodies-Lie-Cindy-Matthews-ebook/dp/B09LTXXSS1/ref=sr_1_2 

If you see any other places where our books are being sold online, please feel free to send me the links so I can share them with others. Thank you!

My Publisher Has Stopped Direct Sales From Their Web Site

 

Update January 2025:  eXtasy Books (Devine Destinies) is no longer selling books directly from their web site. The flood of self-pubbed books online and billionaire Jeff Bezos' tactics has made it even more difficult for small publishers to compete and stay afloat in today's economy. Publisher Tina Haveman thought that selling books through the big online web sites alone would be the best thing to do at this time.

You can still find and buy my books at Amazon, B & N, Kobo, Smashwords, and other online book sellers. When I get time, I will try and update all the sales links at my pen names' sites. Until then, please search for my name and my book titles at your favorite online book seller.

Every day is a struggle for writers. Please buy our works, subscribe to our Substacks, and donate to our individual causes whenever you're able. Thanks for understanding. --Cindy

It's Time For An Update

 

 A Monarch butterfly in our backyard.

It's high time for an update here!

I'm not writing that much fiction lately, so I've had to face facts. It's just not worth paying for the domain names for my romance pseudonyms. After 20 years, I've let them go. I may regret it (or not) but that's life and poverty for you. You have to make choices sometimes you don't like but are necessary.

The good news is that my author web sites are still up, and I still do have romantic fiction for sale at eXtasy Books and the usual online retail suspects (Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, etc.) Here are the direct links to my author pages now:

For my PG-13 rated romance novels, romantic comedies, SF and historical romance:

Cynthianna https://cynthiannamatthews.blogspot.com/

For my R rated erotic-romance with contemporary, comedy and SF/Fantasy settings:

Celine Chatillon https://celinechatillonbooks.blogspot.com/

If you're reading this at cindyamatthews.com, then you've found my writings under my "real name" (or at least what I go by most days). The Blood Dark Series of YA books (co-written with my husband Adrian J. Matthews) have their own web page at       https://blooddarkbooks.blogspot.com. I hope you'll check them out. 

I'm still wondering what to do with my stand alone dystopian near future novella, Where the Bodies Lie, written under this pen name. If I win the lottery tomorrow, I might just write  more stories set in this fictional world and set up another website for them.

Most days, you can find me writing under my "newspaper pen name" of C.A. Matthews. (Yes, I've written for newspapers and magazines. I also review books and evaluate manuscripts. I get around.) My latest column can be read online at The Revolution Continues blog, now featured on Substack at

 https://therevolutioncontinues.substack.com/

Please subscribe to it for a weekly read on what's really going on in the world (not fictional stuff) and how I and other like minds see the future of our society/planet playing out.

If you're interested in helping me become a full-time writer, fiction and/or non-fiction, please purchase my books directly from the publisher's website. (I implore you to avoid sites like Amazon because it wipes out the author's royalties. It really does.) Or please consider becoming a paying subscriber of my weekly Substack blog or make a donation directly to the cause at https://paypal.me/camatthews   

Thank you.

My Latest Release

Where The Bodies Lie

https://www.extasybooks.com/Where-the-Bodies-Lie

Zonta’s world is turned upside down when Jake arrives at Gentle Acres to investigate the disappearance of two agents of the Authority. Can she persuade her enemy-turned-lover to switch sides before the Protectors take action?

Zonta survived the Turn Over at Gentle Acres, a communal project she helped design alongside her late husband. Her life as a master gardener is fulfilling, but she feels something is missing. The answer comes when a Protector enlists her to keep an eye on Jake, an agent of the Authority. Zonta can’t deny her attraction to Jake, but can she love an enemy while protecting all she holds dear?

Jake decides his assignment to the wasteland of Gentle Acres is more than worthwhile the minute he sees the beautiful and exotic Zonta. When he tours the commune and meets the people, he is certain the peaceniks have nothing to do with the two agents he is searching for. As Jake learns truths he never knew, he concludes that perhaps his dedication to the Authority is wrong.

Can Jake prove himself to the Protectors and his new lover? Can Zonta risk losing her home and another lover to the Authority?

 

A dystopian love story where We the People win!

Available from Extasy Books: https://www.extasybooks.com/Where-the-Bodies-Lie

New Links for all My Titles at eXtasy/Devine Destinies Books

 

Newsflash July 2021: eXtasy Books (Devine Destinies) has a whole new website! Consequently, the links to my books have changed. For the time being, please go to my author pages there:

https://www.extasybooks.com/cynthianna

https://www.extasybooks.com/celine-chatillon 

--and click through to find my individual titles. Thanks for your cooperation!

 

My Holiday Titles

Happy Holidays!

I never realized just how many holiday-themed short stories/novellas/novels I've written over the years until recently. Then I thought, "Why not make a list of my holiday titles so people can find them easily all in one place?"  Since I write romantic fiction under two pen names it can be a challenge tracking them all down, but here they are in no particular order.

 Highlighted book titles and links should take you to the book's purchase page at the publisher. Yes, my publisher accepts credit cards and has Kindle books! Plus, I get more royalties if you buy directly from the publisher and not through another online store. Thanks for your understanding.

First off, my "sweet romances" written as Cynthianna.

  The Tinsel Timewarp

  http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1963-9-the-tinsel-timewarp/

Cici and John experience the true meaning of love when they help their friend Chandra deal with her grief on Christmas Eve by creating a tinsel time warp.

Cici wants everyone to have a perfect holiday, but she discovers things don't always work out that way. When a crying Chandra shows up at her home, Cici asks her alien boyfriend, the time traveler John Smith, if he can help mend Chandra's broken heart. John creates a time warp for Chandra where she can spend one more Christmas Eve with her late grandmother doing all the holiday things they loved to do, but, as usual, things quickly go south. The tinsel time warp grows and expands and threatens to take over the entire planet, and Cici is forced to go up a ladder when she's afraid of heights. Will time travel heal all wounds and make for a Merry Christmas for Cici, John, and even the melancholy Chandra?

Featuring characters from the Loving Who series. (PG rated, contemporary-romantic-comedy/SF/fantasy)



The Stocking

Adele’s lonely Christmas Eve on the prairie is made much brighter by the arrival of a mysterious silver-whiskered stranger.(G rated, historical short story) 









Jonathan could do nothing to aid his wife’s losing battle with cancer. With twenty years into the ministry, he can't believe the Lord would leave him suddenly with both an empty nest and empty spot on the other side of the bed. Katrina, music teacher and mother of grown twins, feels settled in small town Texas. Life may be dull, but at least it's predictable--unlike her life with her late ex-husband. "Kat" has come to the conclusion that if nuns can live celibate for years, then why can't she make it the next fifty? One Sunday Jonathan sees a golden beam alighting upon a radiant Kat as she directs the singers. He hadn't noticed how beautiful she was before! From here on out he knows that he’ll be preachin’ to the choir. But will Kat—and his congregation—let him? - See more at: http://www.mojocastle.com/preachin-to... could do nothing to aid his wife’s losing battle with cancer. With twenty years into the ministry, he can't believe the Lord would leave him suddenly with both an empty nest and empty spot on the other side of the bed. Katrina, music teacher and mother of grown twins, feels settled in small town Texas. Life may be dull, but at least it's predictable--unlike her life with her late ex-husband. "Kat" has come to the conclusion that if nuns can live celibate for years, then why can't she make it the next fifty? One Sunday Jonathan sees a golden beam alighting upon a radiant Kat as she directs the singers. He hadn't noticed how beautiful she was before! From here on out he knows that he’ll be preachin’ to the choir. But will Kat—and his congregation—let him? - See more at: http://www.mojocastle.com/preachin-to... http://www.mojocastle.com/preachin-to-the-choir.html The Fixer-Uppers

(I include my first published novel on the list since it features a holiday wedding.)


Can a single mom find happiness on a blind date--or at least dinner with a male who can cut up his own food? Cassie and Mike believe they're "in like" not "in love." But when down-on-his-luck Mike is evicted, Cassie takes him in. Mike starts fixing everything from window screens to broken hearts. Will Cassie let him fix hers?


(PG-13 rated, contemporary romantic-comedy)




My first ever Thanksgiving historical holiday short story! (G rated)

The Gift of the Songbird https://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2753-5-the-gift-of-the-songbird/ Hannah Cummings has big plans for her future. An invitation to sing at the mansion of the dashing Elisha Spielman on Thanksgiving Day promises to launch her music career and help her raise funds to receive further vocal training. It’s a most fortuitous invitation, and Hannah is grateful and excited to accept. However, one man seems to stand in her way.

Daniel March won’t have it. Hannah has always sung for their village’s Thanksgiving festival to support the orphanage, and this year should be no different.

Friends since long before the terrible war separated them, Hannah feels there is more to Daniel’s determination to change her mind than simply his need to get his own way.
   Can a songbird help them count their blessings and come to see each other in a different light?


And now for my "adults-only" holiday titles written under my Celine Chatillon pen name...

Santa's Big Little Helper  
  http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1331-6-santas-big-little-helper/


Be careful what you ask Santa for—you just might get it. Suellen confesses to an angelic hobo she's befriended on Christmas Eve that she lusts after the cover model on her romance novel because he reminds her of Carlos, a shy, handsome trucker who frequents her coffee shop. Santa's helper Carlos is given instructions by his friend Ol' Nick to make Suellen's dreams come true, and when Carlos finds out what they are, he can't wait. A little snow, a bearskin rug, and some fuzzy handcuffs make it a very Merry Christmas for the two lovers!

(R rated, contemporary-fantasy erotic-romance) 





A Very Vampire Christmas 

How do you cheer up your vampire lover around the holiday season? Melynda wonders if maybe a few new traditions of their own are in order to bring a smile to Val's bite. Mel's time-traveling cousin Shelby and her horny boyfriend Quentin add to the fun of the season with their own brand of wild and free activities. Mel and Shel find it's time to get on Santa's "naughty girl" list. Ho, ho, ho!

Available at eXtasy Books:
 http://www.extasybooks.com/2016-holiday-countdown/a-very-vampire-christmas/

 Featuring Melynda and Val from my novel The Vampire Next Door and Shelby and Quentin from the Time Surfer series. 
(R rated, contemporary-fantasy erotic-romance)

Yes, Virginia, Here Comes Santa Claus

When Brad "The Rude Reporter" Rudner opens a letter to the editor from a lonely lady who says she doesn't believe in Santa after her fiance dumped her, he feels it's his duty revive her faith in the jolly old elf. A red garter belt and fishnet stockings help "good girl" Ginny get on Santa's "naughty" list, and Brad can't help but lose his heart to the dark, exotic beauty.


Click here to purchase this book at the best price! (R rated, contemporary erotic-romance)  
 
 






I do like the winter months--I have Valentine's Day erotic-romances as well!

Gifts Well-Timed



Trish Steelman always gives generously of her time and energy to her students, but it takes a blizzard and a friendly ghost to help her to receive the gift of love from Patrick Rodgers, a fellow teacher she has been mentoring.


“Pete the Poltergeist” brings these two sensitive and caring souls together in the empty halls of Harding High. Before long, Trish and Patrick realize that sharing “body warmth” with a friend in the midst of a power outage can ignite a fiery passion that has been too long contained…
Click here to purchase this book at the best price!
(R rated, contemporary erotic-romance)

Coming February 2020 from eXtasy Books: Aphrodite 1, a SF erotic-romance that celebrates Valentine's Day.


Come along with Giselle and the crew of space station Aphrodite 1 as they find romance, love and danger—as well as a mystery—in the upper atmosphere of Venus.

Here's to a happy holiday season to you and yours! And remember, there's always time for a good book. ;-)

Would you like to do a review? (Book Excerpt)

Would you like to do a review of my latest release, The Gift of the Songbird?

Since the holiday season is fast approaching, I thought why not "gift" my Thanksgiving short story to my readers who are willing to write a short book review for me?  If you'd like to write a review for Amazon, Goodreads or any other book review site, email and let me know so I can send you the e-format file of your choice. (cynthianna@hotmail.com )

A Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!  :)



The Gift of the Songbird
by Cynthianna
https://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2753-5-the-gift-of-the-songbird/

Hannah has the chance to sing for the richest family in town, but is it worth disappointing Daniel, her childhood friend, who seems to expect more of her?

Hannah Cummings has big plans for her future. An invitation to sing at the mansion of the dashing Elisha Spielman on Thanksgiving Day promises to launch her music career and help her raise funds to receive further vocal training. It’s a most fortuitous invitation, and Hannah is grateful and excited to accept. However, one man seems to stand in her way.

Daniel March won’t have it. Hannah has always sung for their village’s Thanksgiving festival to support the orphanage, and this year should be no different.

Friends since long before the terrible war separated them, Hannah feels there is more to Daniel’s determination to change her mind than simply his need to get his own way.

Can a songbird help them count their blessings and come to see each other in a different light?

Excerpt from The Gift of the Songbird
Daniel raised one dark eyebrow. “I do want something, but it’s not a hot beverage. I want you to say you’ll help us at the Thanksgiving feast for the orphanage and give up this non-sense of entertaining our town’s wealthiest citizens. They own the mine and the miners’ souls. They don’t need to own yours, too.”
How like Daniel March to get straight to the point! He’d displayed this annoying habit ever since they were first introduced as children. Hannah felt like sticking her tongue out at him but wisely thought the better of it. She sat on the settee instead and frowned.
“You’re like a dog with a bone, and you just won’t let it go.” She sighed loudly for effect. “I told you that I’ve made my decision. I’m not going back on my word.”
“But you’re going back on your word to the orphans. You’ve entertained them for many years, and you’ve helped Eustace and I raise a lot of money with our Thanksgiving dance and auction. Folks come from miles and miles around to hear you sing.”
Hannah looked heavenward and shook her head. “Hardly. They come from the next valley over possibly, but that doesn’t qualify as any great hardship in this day and age of rail travel.”
Daniel harrumphed. “Lucky for them, I didn’t blow up any train bridges in these here parts then.”
Hannah clenched her fists in her lap. It didn’t bode well to remind war veterans of their time of service. Many suffered nightmares and drank heavily to deal with their pain. Daniel was more fortunate than many, as he had returned home soon after his injury and had been nursed back to health by his older brother and his wife. Still, any mention of the war brought on a dark mood she’d never witnessed in Daniel growing up.
Hannah cleared her throat and smoothed her skirt. “Let’s change the subject, shall we? What are you and Eustace thinking of making for the festivities beside that awful fruit punch?”
Daniel raised an eyebrow. “What’s so awful about my brother’s award-winning recipe? It’s an authentic wassail.” 

“It’s authentic, all right. That’s the only thing that could be said for it.” She chuckled. “Good thing Carrie always brings a couple of her delicious cakes. No one really cares what they’re drinking as long as they have enough sweets.”
“And no one really cares what they’re eating if they’re with their friends enjoying an operatic concert courtesy of our resident entertainer.”
Hannah would not be persuaded. “I’m not the only entertainer. There’s Mr. Cletus and his fiddling. Miss Bucket can bang that tambourine and warble pretty good, too. It’s time you encourage a few others to perform. I won’t be here forever, you know?”
A dark cloud descended over Daniel’s expression. “Are you really thinking of leaving us so soon after your father’s passing? Can’t wait to leave this holler behind you and live in the big city?”
The hurt in his voice stabbed at her heart. Could Daniel’s brusqueness hide his true feelings?

The Gift of the Songbird
Available now from Devine Destinies Books (and soon from other fine ebook retailers).
https://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2753-5-the-gift-of-the-songbird/

Would you like to do a review?

Would you like to do a review of my latest release, The Gift of the Songbird?

Since the holiday season is fast approaching, I thought why not "gift" my Thanksgiving short story to my readers who are willing to write a short book review for me?  If you'd like to write a review for Amazon, Goodreads or any other book review site, email and let me know so I can send you the e-format file of your choice. (cynthianna@hotmail.com )

A Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!  :)



The Gift of the Songbird
by Cynthianna
https://www.devinedestinies.com/978-1-4874-2753-5-the-gift-of-the-songbird/

Hannah has the chance to sing for the richest family in town, but is it worth disappointing Daniel, her childhood friend, who seems to expect more of her?

Hannah Cummings has big plans for her future. An invitation to sing at the mansion of the dashing Elisha Spielman on Thanksgiving Day promises to launch her music career and help her raise funds to receive further vocal training. It’s a most fortuitous invitation, and Hannah is grateful and excited to accept. However, one man seems to stand in her way.

Daniel March won’t have it. Hannah has always sung for their village’s Thanksgiving festival to support the orphanage, and this year should be no different.

Friends since long before the terrible war separated them, Hannah feels there is more to Daniel’s determination to change her mind than simply his need to get his own way.

Can a songbird help them count their blessings and come to see each other in a different light?

A Thanksgiving Historical Tale

  Coming in November...
 The Gift of the Songbirdcoming soon from Devine Destinies Books Hannah Cummings has big plans for her future. An invitation to sing at the mansion of the dashing Elisha Spielman on Thanksgiving Day promises to launch her music career and help her raise funds to receive further vocal training. It’s a most fortuitous invitation, and Hannah is grateful and excited to accept. However, one man seems to stand in her way. Daniel March won’t have it. Hannah has always sung for their village’s Thanksgiving festival to support the orphanage, and this year should be no different. Friends since long before the terrible war separated them, Hannah feels there is more to Daniel’s determination to change her mind than simply his need to get his own way.  Can a songbird help them count their blessings and come to see each other in a different light?

Off To MARcon!

We're off  this weekend to see our friends at MARcon. It's been two years since we've attended the convention, so we're excited to visit and catch up.

For a "gift" for those attending the con (and anyone else who happens across this page), I thought I'd share a short short story I penned just today. I wrote it alongside some students at an after-school program where I tutored this past semester. See if you can guess what was in the photo I had for the 15 minute writing prompt. 


Belly Flop
How could I say no? To say no would have hurt Aunt Maribelle's feelings and she had already been through so much this summer what with the chemo treatment and all. So, I said yes--yes, I'd go with Uncle Jeff to that fancy pool club that his boss had given him a couple of summer passes to in reward for all of his hard work. 

Don't get me wrong. Uncle Jeff is a great guy. He's a good employee and a great husband to my mom's sister. This past year had been tough for both of them after my aunt received her cancer diagnosis. If anyone deserved a break from the stress, it was my favorite Uncle Jeff.

The thought that I might run into some of the snooty rich kids from school didn't occur to me until  we arrived at the gates to the pool club. Oh no! That cute guy who 'd been in my science class was there--and so were half the cheerleading squad and the football team. Suddenly, I felt inadequate in my hand-me-down bathing suit with my faded and ragged beach towel on my arm.

But my embarrassment over my outfit was nothing compared to the sheer horror I felt when Uncle Jeff decided he couldn't wait to get into that cool water. I forgot to tell you that Uncle Jeff is more than a great guy--hes a great big guy. He's huge with a capital H.

Also, once Uncle Jeff gets an idea into his head, there's no turning him back. He will carry through with his plan no matter what. 

"Race you to the middle," Uncle Jeff yelled above the roar of the crowd. And then he took off.  For a large person, he's surprisingly fast on his feet.

"No, wait! It's too crowded. Don't go there yet. It's full of people, Uncle Jeff! Nooo!!"

It was too late. He'd already dove into the shallow end of the pool and displaced more than half the water and terrorized more than half the pool-goers in a split second of belly flopping. My face turned redder  than a third degree sunburn.

I thought I'd never live this stunt down.

But the rest of our swim turned out better than expected. The traumatized moms and dads and kids seemed to take belly flop in stride. Soon I relaxed and enjoyed myself and forgot my embarrassment over Uncle Jeff 's enthusiastic splash.

You know, even your craziest relatives love you. They invite you to the pool. We gotta cut them some slack now and then and let them be their crazy selves. Uncle Jeff taught me that.