Alison DeLuca's Blog
November 16, 2017
He Found Me: New Book by Kate Leibfried
I have a new book alert, and it looks amazing:
'On a tiny island off of Panama, a stray dog approached a young woman, took a cracker from her hand, and skittered away into the night. The dog had never known the comfort of a person’s hand stroking his fur. He didn’t realize that other dogs ate regular meals out of their very own bowls.
The moment he took the cracker, the world began to change for both the dog and the young woman. They started building a friendship strong enough to withstand thousands of miles, months of absence, and even a looming threat on the dog’s life.
He Found Me is the incredible true story about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, steadfast trust, and having the courage to take life’s “crackers” when they’re offered to us.'
*****I mean, just look at one of the illustrations in this book:
Did I mention there's a real dog? Here he is with the writer:
And let's not forget that 50% of the profits go to the Animal Welfare Institute.
Kate Bitters is a Minneapolis-based writer with a passion for magical realism.
She is the author of Elmer Left, Ten Thousand Lines, and He Found Me. Her current project is Ellie Half-Shadow and the Mayan Prophecy, a YA book about a girl split between two distinct times and personalities.
When she’s not writing for herself, she is writing for Click Clack Writing, a company that helps individuals and businesses turn ideas into books. Kate enjoys hiking, traveling in Central America, reading, and candied ginger. She spends a lot of time walking with her dog, Dobby, and biking with her husband, Eric.
You can find Kate on: TwitterFacebookInstagramWebsite
'On a tiny island off of Panama, a stray dog approached a young woman, took a cracker from her hand, and skittered away into the night. The dog had never known the comfort of a person’s hand stroking his fur. He didn’t realize that other dogs ate regular meals out of their very own bowls.
The moment he took the cracker, the world began to change for both the dog and the young woman. They started building a friendship strong enough to withstand thousands of miles, months of absence, and even a looming threat on the dog’s life.
He Found Me is the incredible true story about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, steadfast trust, and having the courage to take life’s “crackers” when they’re offered to us.'
*****I mean, just look at one of the illustrations in this book:
Did I mention there's a real dog? Here he is with the writer:
And let's not forget that 50% of the profits go to the Animal Welfare Institute.
Buy HE FOUND ME hereAnd find it on Goodreads here
Kate Bitters is a Minneapolis-based writer with a passion for magical realism.
She is the author of Elmer Left, Ten Thousand Lines, and He Found Me. Her current project is Ellie Half-Shadow and the Mayan Prophecy, a YA book about a girl split between two distinct times and personalities.
When she’s not writing for herself, she is writing for Click Clack Writing, a company that helps individuals and businesses turn ideas into books. Kate enjoys hiking, traveling in Central America, reading, and candied ginger. She spends a lot of time walking with her dog, Dobby, and biking with her husband, Eric.
You can find Kate on: TwitterFacebookInstagramWebsite
November 15, 2016
This is the last week you can purchase Wicked Legends for...
This is the last week you can purchase Wicked Legends for the low price of 99 cents. It's also the last week you can purchase it on all ebook platforms!
A boxed set unlike any other before it, filled with the perfect blend of Dystopian, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, and SciFi Romance. Every selection in this rare, limited edition collection is a full-length novel or novella, including material from today's New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors!
With over one million words of romantic fiction from all of your favorite genres, this limited edition omnibus will provide over 100 hours of reading! If you're looking for a boxed set overflowing with variety, this collection will satisfy your cravings with sorcery, genies, necromancers, space pirates, shifters, and more!
Travel to new worlds or discover ones hidden right beneath your nose when you order your copy of WICKED LEGENDS today! Grab this collection today before it's gone for good! See the full line up below!
Bestselling Harlequin author Debbie Herbert - CHARMED AND DANGEROUS
Bestselling Harlequin author Kerry Adrienne - VERITY
New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Hamilton and USA Today bestselling author Conner Kressley - MOON COVEN
New York Times bestselling author Thea Atkinson - THETA WAVES
New York Times bestselling author Natasha Larry - THE NIGHT USA Today bestselling author Rainy Kaye - THE DEEPEST BLACK
USA Today bestselling author J.E. Taylor - MESSIAH
Award Winning author Kate Corcino - SPARK RISING
International bestselling author Rachel McClellan - ESCAPE TO EDEN
International bestselling author Jae Vogel - ANGEL BLOOD
International bestselling author Raquel Lyon - BOX OF SECRETS
International bestselling author Lisa Blackwood - SORCERESS AWAKENING
International bestselling author Nicolas Wilson - THE NECROMANCER'S GAMBIT
International bestselling author Isis Pierce - ROYAL SEDUCTION
International bestselling author Stacy Eaton - GARDA: WELCOME TO THE REALM
International bestselling author Caryse Locke - PIRATE NEMESIS
International bestselling author S.M. Schmitz - THE CHOSEN
International bestselling author Jayne Faith - THE SELECTION
International bestselling author Nirina Stone - ROMY'S LEGACY
International bestselling author C.M. Albert - REDD'S DESCENT
International bestselling author Erin Bedford - FLAMES OF AURIEL
International bestselling author Jack Conner - NIGHTMARE CITY
International bestselling author May Sage - BLUE BLOOD
Amazon Ibook Nook Kobo
June 3, 2016
Darkness Rising - Redemption #epicfantasy
Darkness Rising - Redemption available on AmazonRoss Kitson, fantasy author extraordinaire, has just published part 6 of the Darkness Rising series. Part SIX! If you've been keeping tabs on the series, each book fits into a large scheme of plot, characters, and perhaps the most amazing world-building I've ever seen.Have a look at some of the adventure and battle coming your way in his new book:'There's no change without loss. No gain without sacrifice. Redemption is rarely painless.'
War has ripped apart Artoria as the dark forces of Vildor prepare for the final battle. Flying north to battle, Lady Orla forms an uneasy alliance with the Artorians. Yet her heart remains heavy with the guilt of recent betrayal.In the wilderness of the Wastes, Emelia has succumbed to Vildor's black charm and watches helplessly as his schemes come to their terrible conclusion. Separated from his partner, Hunor, the Wild-Mage Jem races across Artoria to save Emelia. But more than just Vildor stands in his way as the terrors of the past seek to steal the might of the crystals from his grasp, and with them all hope of salvation.
The final book in the epic fantasy series, Darkness Rising- Redemption brings the incredible journey to its thrilling conclusion.Take a look at Kitson's reviews:'Tightly plotted, very well-written books, with a multitude of engaging characters.' The British Fantasy Society'Each page is a new rush of tension, mystery and adrenaline.' Amazon reviews.'A finely crafted and unique fantasy novel which had me hooked from the first page.' Amazon reviews.You can buy Darkness Rising - Redemption on Amazon US and UK. Ross M Kitson works during the day as a consultant in Intensive Care and Anaesthesia in the UK. He is married with three lovely children who soak up most of his free time. His works include the Prism series of epic fantasy, and the YA sci-fi adventures of the Nu-Knights.images courtesy of wikipedia.org
April 22, 2016
Mermaids, Blood and Bones
The Meek Shall Walk
Shaun Allan is a rising star - comet, really - on Wattpad. I'll let him tell you about his amazing success on the site for writers, poets, and readers:
Wattpad is a site which has over 14,000,000 unique visitors a month. You can find, there, a huge amount of work to read – stories of every genre. I originally posted the Prologue to Sin, along with some other stories, on the site about four or so years ago. Wattpad asked me if I’d be willing to serialise the book in its entirety, which I agreed to do with a little trepidation.
courtesy wiki commonsI don’t know why I was so worried! Sin has had almost 765,000 reads and has received fantastic comments. Since then, I’ve become a member of their Wattpad Stars program and been a Featured Writer. With Wattpad, I’ve written for Universal (for The Purge: Anarchy and Sinister 2), DC Vertigo Comics, Goosebumps and the film The Boy!And, And the Meek Shall Walk has already been called ‘one of the best stories on Wattpad.’Now the story, a ‘savage’ retelling of the classic Little Mermaid tale, I’m working on a new take of the Red Queen from Alive in Wonderland.For the excerpt, I thought I’d include the first chapter:1: The Corpse and the CaveThe head floated on the surface of the water, face up, glassy eyes staring at the clear sky. A seagull swooped down and landed on the cavity where the nose had been, dipping its head to peck at one of the dead eyes. It pulled, the orb popping free of the socket, but the optic nerve’s hold was stronger and, after a brief tug of war, the bird opened its beak, dropping its prize and flying off.
courtesy wiki commonsA hand reached through the waves, grabbed the matted hair clinging to the skull in lank clumps and pulled it under. A flash of red mane and blue-silver tail broke the ripples of the ocean before vanishing into the dark depths. The seagull, which had been circling above, debating on whether to try again on the dangling eye, cried out in frustration before turning with the wind allowing it to carry the bird off towards the shore.The mermaid swam down quickly, the head in its grip. The light from above quickly faded to be replaced by a undulating twilight, illuminated by the krill sentries which floated at regular intervals along the Korel, the dividing line between above and below. The mermaid nodded to the guards as she passed. They didn't acknowledge her, knowing to do so would mean death. She was the princess. She was also not allowed to violate the Korel. If they showed recognition of her presence, she would eat them.Under normal circumstances, merfolk were forbidden to cross the boundary. The king had ruled, as had all kings before him, the world of Humans and that of Mer were forever to be isolated from each other. The krill were placed far enough below the surface to ensure no human would discover their presence. They were also instructed to stop any of the merfolk from reaching the surface.The princess was not exempt from such laws. She should have been punished. Even being the king's daughter, she would pay the price of flaunting the decree of the king. The krill, however, valued their life. The princess had feasted on a hundred of their number only a few short weeks before when one attempted to tell her she should stay below in the city. It was dangerous to be this close to the ships which crossed the waters above. She could be discovered, captured, killed.
courtesy wiki commonsThe mermaid, Princess Aren, didn't say a word. She simply opened her mouth, her jaw dislocating to allow it to widen further, and swept along the line, catching the krill in her throat and crunching down on them. She licked her lips, her forked tongue flicking menacingly. Then she rose to the surface, returning hours later with a dismembered arm.The krill feared the king. He was a mighty warrior, a strict, inviolate ruler who all would bow to without being asked. You felt the authority in his presence. It was so absolute, its weight almost forced your shoulders down, buckling your tail until you were prone before him. He'd allow you to remain there for a moment until, finally, waving his hand, your signal to rise.Princess Aren bore nothing of her father's power. Whereas he was imposing, she wore an aura of simplicity. She was polite and humble, a disconcerting contrast to the crown she bore on her head. If you bowed, she would too. If you addressed her by her title, she would laugh and call you 'sir' or 'madam'.And if you angered her, she would sneak into your room at night and disembowel you. She would mix shell fragments into your food and watch while you choked, coughing up the blood from your torn insides.
courtesy YoutubeAt an early age, Aren had learned the secrets of the royal palace. She knew of her father's infidelity with the matron of staff, and how the resultant son was her half-brother, though even he and the king were oblivious to the fact. She knew of the plot to overthrow her father's rule by his very own brother, and had dealt with it herself. The princess and her uncle had met one night, in the reef at the edge of the mer kingdom. She lured him there with promises of aid and support. She would help him gain access to the king's chambers. She would be there to encourage his succession.When he arrived, they embraced. The blood from the savage wound in his back from the barbed blade she'd embedded there attracted a shiver of sharks. She swam away a short distance, watching as they tore him apart. His right hand remained, barely touched, wrenched from the arm by the frenzied ripping of the shark as it feasted.When the sharks had finished their meal and swam away, the princess picked up the hand. She turned it over slowly, examining it closely. After a long moment, lost in thought, she cast it aside, letting it drift to the bottom of the sea, the swell of the tides dragging the ocean bed over it, losing it forever.Once past the krill, Aren swam towards a large rocky outcrop, thrusting upwards as if reaching for the world above. She hated these rocks. They reminded her of everything the merfolk were. They pretended to live happily together, content in their daily lives, yet she knew they secretly longed to walk on the surface with the humans. They wished for legs instead of their tails, and for lungs rather than gills. And they wished for the immortal soul. Rather than a limited three hundred year existence beneath the sea, they wanted to live forever, even beyond the lifespan of a human body. They wanted to carry on as a spirit, not simply dissipate as foam on the whim of the moon's pull.
courtesy geograph.orgPrincess Aren wanted this. She craved it desperately, as did her mother. It was this need, this overwhelming desire which had led to her mother's death at the hand of a human who thought her an aberration, a sea monster. It was this which had caused her father, who had been contemplating a change to the law, one where human and mer might make contact and, perhaps, even coexist, to slam his trident into the palace floor and roar his command.From that day, the krill sentries were doubled. The sentence of death for breaking the Korel was final and irrevocable. The merfolk were confined to their kingdom.In reality, most were agreeable to this. The kingdom was their home. They were happy. They didn't need change or disruption.Princess Aren did not agree. Her mother had told her the stories of the cities on land. She told of the lives and the clothes and the food. Aren wanted to taste it. Not just the food, but the life. She wanted to savour and devour it. More than anything, however, since the day her mother died at the hand of a human, she wanted revenge. She wanted the life of the man who had killed the queen.The rocks echoed her perceptions of her people's needs. They were grasping for the sun and for all that walked beneath it. She despised them, yet she had to use them. The rocks were barren, jagged shards of anger driven upwards by a quake which rumbled, long ago, in the depths of the Earth. Black and bleak, they were avoided by both fish and merfolk - apart from Princess Aren. At the front of the crag was a sharp overhang behind which a dark tunnel bore into the rock. Its edges were smooth as if some strange creature, born in the fiery heart of the planet, had burrowed its way out. It was through this channel Aren dove. She whipped her tail to give her a burst of speed and shot forward, spinning through the shaft and bursting out into a large cave.She paused, catching her breath. She was always left panting when she had killed. The feeling of taking a life, ripping a body apart with the passion of a gorging shark, made the princess giddy with fervour. It was an addiction she often struggled to subdue, with only the risk of discovery making her stay her hand.Aren pulled a length of seaweed from a hollow just before the entrance to the cave and tied one end to the decapitated head. She tied the other to a rock, weighting the end so it sank to the floor, the head itself floating upwards until it stopped, the seaweed holding it steady in the sway of the water.
She looked around the cavern and smiled. Three other heads, two male and one female also floated, rocks and seaweed keeping them from rising upwards to the roof. At least a dozen arms and legs and a myriad fingers joined them in a macabre collection of body parts, suspended like balloons in a human fairground. The princess thought the image comical - the murdered humans' body parts were paraded in a mermaid's version of their own carnival. Did it not serve them right? Were they not all guilty of the exile of her species?Aren's mother was not the first. Centuries before, when the original law was set, forbidding merfolk to interact in any way with those on land, a king had been killed. He had been speared through the heart by a harpoon, the blade of which Aren now used as a weapon. Since then, mermen and mermaids remained hidden beneath the ocean.Princess Aren thought of the laws as she surveyed her trophies. She thought of their futility. Why hide when they could wage a war on the humans? Why sneak about like plecks on the ocean floor, when they could - should - rise up and have their revenge?But no. Such was not the way. Such was not the royal decree.It was usual for the princess to wait a few days before venturing back up to the surface in search of another victim. This most recent kill had ignited a fire in her heart. She wanted more. She had to slice through the flesh of another human. She needed to satiate her desires before they consumed her.The princess gripped the handle of her blade tightly and turned, exiting through the tunnel, back out into the ocean wide. She looked around to make sure no-one was nearby, then swam upwards, weaving silently through the water, barely leaving a wake. The krill parted to let her through, moving immediately back into formation. There had been no mermaid through here. There had never been and there would never be.Princess Aren reached the surface, her face hard and her eyes narrow. A ship moved swiftly through the water, its stern retreating from her. She could hear music and laughter from the deck, the sounds feeling like an insult to her. How dare they enjoy themselves? How dare they be so unaware of the world under their feet?She swam slowly forward and then, with a flick of her tail, dove just under the surface, dashing along in pursuit.The Meek Shall Walk: Princess Aren is determined to make the human who killed her mother and exiled her people to the bottom of the ocean pay. To do so, she must go to extremes of pain and heartache in her search for justice. Aren, however, is no sweet, happy mermaid. To kill is to ignite a fire of passion in her heart which only the savage letting of blood can satiate. She will go to any lengths to find the man responsible, including cutting off her own tail and sewing, in its place, a pair of human legs - legs she tore from one of the many humans she had murdered. With the unwilling help of the sea witch, Princess Aren must go ashore and hunt for her mother's killer. But, in doing so, the worlds above and below the ocean will clash in ways neither thought possible!Find out more about Shaun on his website, Facebook, Amazon, and his Wattpad page.Website:
Shaun AllanApril 1, 2016
Witch of the Cards guest post + #GIVEAWAY
Today's guest post is by Catherine Stine, author of Witch of the Cards:
Inspiration for Witch of the Cards – Shipwrecks & Seemingly Magical Taffy Shops
For my new historical fantasy Witch of the Cards, inspiration came from all angles. First of all, I’ve been visiting Asbury Park for years. It’s a beach town on the Jersey shore that went from being a posh destination in the 1900s, to being a dilapidated, even dangerous town in trouble. Its gorgeous Art Deco convention center was in ruins, its boardwalk practically deserted.
Despite this, or maybe because of this, I loved strolling its boardwalks and stopping into the few stores still open. One was an ancient taffy shop run by an old lady. I made the shop in my novel have taffy with very strange effects. I changed the tumbledown convention center into a shiny 1930s dance palace, where Fiera and Peter danced to Rudy Vallee’s rendition of Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries, and more. It was big fun researching the music of my grandma’s time.
In another shop on the boardwalk, I discovered dozens of photos of a shipwreck from the 1930s that had washed ashore on the Asbury beach and become a tourist curiosity. It was called The Morro Castle and during Prohibition, it cruised from New York City to Cuba, carrying high rollers who could drink penalty free. In those days, large vessels were still crafted from wood, and the Morro caught fire, causing scores to perish in the cold waters off the Atlantic coast.
I put this disturbing event into my novel, but in Witch of the Cards, it is caused by a supernatural dilemma (not saying what! No spoilers here). Peter Dune, Fiera’s love interest, attends a business meeting on the Morro Castle, where I have him run into a group of 1930s glitterati: actors Bela Lugosi and Irene Ware, the surrealist painter Salvador Dali and the cutting edge fashion designer, Elsa Schiaparelli. This encounter injects some wild fun and helps break up the tension.
Stars with cameos
A paranormal store I have visited to get psychic readings became Peter Dune’s Séance and Tarot, the site of many an unsettling event. And in Witch of theCards, even the ocean holds terrible danger.
And here is the blurb for Witch of the Cards by Catherine Stine
Fiera was born a sea witch with no inkling of her power. And now it might be too late.
Witch of the Cards is historical, supernatural romantic suspense set in 1932 on the Jersey shore. Twenty-two year-old Fiera has recently left the Brooklyn orphanage where she was raised, and works in Manhattan as a nanny. She gets a lucky break when her boss pays for her short vacation in Asbury Park. One evening, Fiera and her new friend Dulcie wander down the boardwalk and into Peter Dune’s Tarot & Séance, where they attend a card reading.
Morro Castle washed ashore
Fiera has always had an unsettling ability to know things before they happen and sense people’s hidden agendas. She longs to either find out the origin of her powers or else banish them because as is, they make her feel crazy. When, during the reading, her energies somehow bond with Peter Dune’s and form an undeniable ethereal force, a chain of revelations and dangerous events begin to unspool. For one, Fiera finds out she is a witch from a powerful sea clan, but that someone is out to stop her blossoming power forever. And though she is falling in love with Peter, he also has a secret side. He’s no card reader, but a private detective working to expose mediums. Despite this terrible betrayal, Fiera must make the choice to save Peter from a tragic Morro Cruise boat fire, or let him perish with his fellow investigators. Told in alternating viewpoints, we hear Fiera and Peter each struggle against their deep attraction. Secrets, lies, even murder, lace this dark fantasy.
And about that giveaway:
Catherine is offering these prizes: One $40 gift card, two hand-painted heart-boxes (by Catherine) with secret treasure inside, one signed paperback of Dorianna by Catherine Stine, one signed paperback of Witch of the Cards by Catherine Stine, one brand new collector Tarot deck along with an envelope full of special swag!
Click the link below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can buy Witch of the Cards on Amazon US, UK, CA, AU, DE, IN, as well as iBooks, Kobo, and on the Nook.
Author Bio:Catherine’s novels span the range from futuristic fantasy to paranormal to contemporary. Her futuristic thriller companion novels Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire are both Amazon bestsellers. Her paranormal YA, Dorianna won Best Horror Book in the Kindle Hub Awards. She also writes romance as Kitsy Clare. Her Art of Love series includes Model Position and Private Internship. Catherine suspects her love of dark fantasy came from her father reading Edgar Allen Poe to her when she was a child.
Inspiration for Witch of the Cards – Shipwrecks & Seemingly Magical Taffy Shops
For my new historical fantasy Witch of the Cards, inspiration came from all angles. First of all, I’ve been visiting Asbury Park for years. It’s a beach town on the Jersey shore that went from being a posh destination in the 1900s, to being a dilapidated, even dangerous town in trouble. Its gorgeous Art Deco convention center was in ruins, its boardwalk practically deserted.
Despite this, or maybe because of this, I loved strolling its boardwalks and stopping into the few stores still open. One was an ancient taffy shop run by an old lady. I made the shop in my novel have taffy with very strange effects. I changed the tumbledown convention center into a shiny 1930s dance palace, where Fiera and Peter danced to Rudy Vallee’s rendition of Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries, and more. It was big fun researching the music of my grandma’s time.
In another shop on the boardwalk, I discovered dozens of photos of a shipwreck from the 1930s that had washed ashore on the Asbury beach and become a tourist curiosity. It was called The Morro Castle and during Prohibition, it cruised from New York City to Cuba, carrying high rollers who could drink penalty free. In those days, large vessels were still crafted from wood, and the Morro caught fire, causing scores to perish in the cold waters off the Atlantic coast.
I put this disturbing event into my novel, but in Witch of the Cards, it is caused by a supernatural dilemma (not saying what! No spoilers here). Peter Dune, Fiera’s love interest, attends a business meeting on the Morro Castle, where I have him run into a group of 1930s glitterati: actors Bela Lugosi and Irene Ware, the surrealist painter Salvador Dali and the cutting edge fashion designer, Elsa Schiaparelli. This encounter injects some wild fun and helps break up the tension.
Stars with cameosA paranormal store I have visited to get psychic readings became Peter Dune’s Séance and Tarot, the site of many an unsettling event. And in Witch of theCards, even the ocean holds terrible danger.
And here is the blurb for Witch of the Cards by Catherine Stine
Fiera was born a sea witch with no inkling of her power. And now it might be too late.
Witch of the Cards is historical, supernatural romantic suspense set in 1932 on the Jersey shore. Twenty-two year-old Fiera has recently left the Brooklyn orphanage where she was raised, and works in Manhattan as a nanny. She gets a lucky break when her boss pays for her short vacation in Asbury Park. One evening, Fiera and her new friend Dulcie wander down the boardwalk and into Peter Dune’s Tarot & Séance, where they attend a card reading.
Morro Castle washed ashoreFiera has always had an unsettling ability to know things before they happen and sense people’s hidden agendas. She longs to either find out the origin of her powers or else banish them because as is, they make her feel crazy. When, during the reading, her energies somehow bond with Peter Dune’s and form an undeniable ethereal force, a chain of revelations and dangerous events begin to unspool. For one, Fiera finds out she is a witch from a powerful sea clan, but that someone is out to stop her blossoming power forever. And though she is falling in love with Peter, he also has a secret side. He’s no card reader, but a private detective working to expose mediums. Despite this terrible betrayal, Fiera must make the choice to save Peter from a tragic Morro Cruise boat fire, or let him perish with his fellow investigators. Told in alternating viewpoints, we hear Fiera and Peter each struggle against their deep attraction. Secrets, lies, even murder, lace this dark fantasy.
And about that giveaway:
Catherine is offering these prizes: One $40 gift card, two hand-painted heart-boxes (by Catherine) with secret treasure inside, one signed paperback of Dorianna by Catherine Stine, one signed paperback of Witch of the Cards by Catherine Stine, one brand new collector Tarot deck along with an envelope full of special swag!
Click the link below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can buy Witch of the Cards on Amazon US, UK, CA, AU, DE, IN, as well as iBooks, Kobo, and on the Nook.
Author Bio:Catherine’s novels span the range from futuristic fantasy to paranormal to contemporary. Her futuristic thriller companion novels Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire are both Amazon bestsellers. Her paranormal YA, Dorianna won Best Horror Book in the Kindle Hub Awards. She also writes romance as Kitsy Clare. Her Art of Love series includes Model Position and Private Internship. Catherine suspects her love of dark fantasy came from her father reading Edgar Allen Poe to her when she was a child.
March 2, 2016
Silenced by Natasha Larry #newrelease #fantasy
Fans of Natasha Larry's fantasy fiction: your wait is over! Her new book, Silenced, came out yesterday, and it looks amazing.
Here's the blurb:
A jaded and dark-humored, young black man is forced to start killing again.
Pike Richards is used to having women beg him to kill them. What he isn’t used to is refusing to do the act. As a blood-cursed siren, he’s only allowed to live as long as there is someone to hear his song. However, after witnessing humans round up and kill descendants of the gods for fear of magic, Pike is ready to die alongside them. Mankind created the tech virus, a scientific breakthrough that could allegedly make them immune to the effects of magic. It backfired, and now humans are turning into beasts, and mankind faces the potential end of its race.
Pike enters into a contract with Compound Six, one of the last safe havens left in the world. He’ll help them retrieve the cure if Sadie Evans, a young girl he sees as a daughter, is given a dose. The cure is located at one of the crossroads, a magic space considered sacred to the gods. Only a siren can enter this space. The blood-cursed, however, are not permitted to leave. As everything spirals out of his control, Pike needs to find a way to beat the law that would force him to stay. He must return to Sadie. If that weren’t enough, he develops confusing feelings for a strong-willed fury, who is also part of the mission but who seeks answers that, if found, threaten to undo him. Pike must decide between returning with the cure and living in a world that no longer has a place for him or silencing mankind once and for all.
And here's the amazing excerpt:
Tahlia gasps. I double over and bite down a grunt. I can feel her hovering over me as my body wrenches from painful bolts.The agony rips my mind, wraps silence around my nose, my mouth. Steals the air.“How long has it been?” Her voice comes at me like there are miles between us.I try to swallow and wind up croaking. I gasp for air, but it sticks to the edge of my lips, closing off my throat. Caving in my lungs.I can’t…Answer.I can’t be…Can’t control it much longer My gaze lifts toward her, my movements wooden, my fingers buried on either side of my face.No time to bang my head up against my inner moral compass. I smile. There is a monster pulling the strings. It draws her in.Her eyes go blank, and I taste her.She’s had a great loss. Maybe a parent. Maybe a sibling. I peer around the hole it carved in her. Black and tinged deep blue from the swelling power. I chew the part of herself she gave up to deal with loss between my teeth. My chair crashes down as I lift myself up to stand before her.Her eyes are locked onto my face.Her energy floods me with pins and needles. I burn to fix her. And she’ll let me. She’s nothing locked in my gaze. A source. A pleasure. I’ll rip her out and send her over.A face flashes across my gaze and my breath hitches.There are no features, just a feeling. It snaps an inch of me back in to quell the monster.That inch doesn’t want this to be on Juliet’s terms. I used to follow certain rules; she’s making me break them.Fuck her.“Tahlia,” I mutter, shutting my eyes. “If you don’t leave now, you won’t leave alive.”Her breath is so labored I hear it go in and out of her in rushed waves. “I don’t care.” Her hands rest on my chest. “Promise me you won’t let them take me back to the main grounds.”The urgency in her voice doesn’t slay the monster. But it gives me control.I’ll always be a monster, after all. But she is more than my prey. She is Tahlia, and her eyes plead to me.I nod my head, screw my mouth up, and whistle.
You can find Silenced on Amazon here.
Here's the blurb:
A jaded and dark-humored, young black man is forced to start killing again.
Pike Richards is used to having women beg him to kill them. What he isn’t used to is refusing to do the act. As a blood-cursed siren, he’s only allowed to live as long as there is someone to hear his song. However, after witnessing humans round up and kill descendants of the gods for fear of magic, Pike is ready to die alongside them. Mankind created the tech virus, a scientific breakthrough that could allegedly make them immune to the effects of magic. It backfired, and now humans are turning into beasts, and mankind faces the potential end of its race.
Pike enters into a contract with Compound Six, one of the last safe havens left in the world. He’ll help them retrieve the cure if Sadie Evans, a young girl he sees as a daughter, is given a dose. The cure is located at one of the crossroads, a magic space considered sacred to the gods. Only a siren can enter this space. The blood-cursed, however, are not permitted to leave. As everything spirals out of his control, Pike needs to find a way to beat the law that would force him to stay. He must return to Sadie. If that weren’t enough, he develops confusing feelings for a strong-willed fury, who is also part of the mission but who seeks answers that, if found, threaten to undo him. Pike must decide between returning with the cure and living in a world that no longer has a place for him or silencing mankind once and for all.
And here's the amazing excerpt:
Tahlia gasps. I double over and bite down a grunt. I can feel her hovering over me as my body wrenches from painful bolts.The agony rips my mind, wraps silence around my nose, my mouth. Steals the air.“How long has it been?” Her voice comes at me like there are miles between us.I try to swallow and wind up croaking. I gasp for air, but it sticks to the edge of my lips, closing off my throat. Caving in my lungs.I can’t…Answer.I can’t be…Can’t control it much longer My gaze lifts toward her, my movements wooden, my fingers buried on either side of my face.No time to bang my head up against my inner moral compass. I smile. There is a monster pulling the strings. It draws her in.Her eyes go blank, and I taste her.She’s had a great loss. Maybe a parent. Maybe a sibling. I peer around the hole it carved in her. Black and tinged deep blue from the swelling power. I chew the part of herself she gave up to deal with loss between my teeth. My chair crashes down as I lift myself up to stand before her.Her eyes are locked onto my face.Her energy floods me with pins and needles. I burn to fix her. And she’ll let me. She’s nothing locked in my gaze. A source. A pleasure. I’ll rip her out and send her over.A face flashes across my gaze and my breath hitches.There are no features, just a feeling. It snaps an inch of me back in to quell the monster.That inch doesn’t want this to be on Juliet’s terms. I used to follow certain rules; she’s making me break them.Fuck her.“Tahlia,” I mutter, shutting my eyes. “If you don’t leave now, you won’t leave alive.”Her breath is so labored I hear it go in and out of her in rushed waves. “I don’t care.” Her hands rest on my chest. “Promise me you won’t let them take me back to the main grounds.”The urgency in her voice doesn’t slay the monster. But it gives me control.I’ll always be a monster, after all. But she is more than my prey. She is Tahlia, and her eyes plead to me.I nod my head, screw my mouth up, and whistle.
You can find Silenced on Amazon here.
November 23, 2015
Excerpt - Of Ice and Air by Carlie Cullen
Here's an excerpt from Carlie Cullen's new fantasy, Of Ice and Air. Epic!
Jaanis decided to be the one to answer and he explained all about Gengaruk, his exploitation of nearby villagers and why he requested an audience. He went on to explain what happened next and the banishment. “He and his men were escorted all the way to their new home in the east and due to magic cast around them, they cannot leave the area.”“What about someone going into the area? If they belong to Gengaruk are they automatically stuck there too? What about anyone Gengaruk’s men brought into their encampment who isn’t one of their tribe? Wouldn’t they be stuck like the others?”“Well, yes, you see the spells on the tribe are mainly for those wearing the bracelets. However, the magic is strong enough that anyone entering the area would be stuck there too.”“I have a strong feeling that’s where mother is. I am intuitive and my feelings are rarely wrong. I think there were more men with Gengaruk who didn’t enter the throne room, but did come into the castle. I believe they somehow remained hidden until Gengaruk left the building with his escort and let them get ahead before they grabbed my mother and took her there. What do you all think?” Surprisingly, it was Bellis who answered. “It’s certainly not outside the realms of possibility. We had fewer guards in and around the palace as one battalion were escorting Gengaruk while another two battalions took much needed food, clothing, and medicine to the northern sector of the country. Anyone with enough skill to sneak into Garalia’s room would certainly be able to get across the courtyard and out of the castle grounds without being seen.”“By all the gods, I think you may be onto something there,” Jaanis said thoughtfully. His eyes stared at some distant thing only he could see. When he returned from his trance, he seemed a little confused and closed his eyes, shaking his head.Kailani knelt beside his throne and held his hand. “Grandfather?” He didn’t respond. She tried again, this time shaking him. His eyes flew open wide and he looked down at her. “Grandfather, did you bespell the bangles Gengaruk and his men have to wear?”“Yes, I did.”“Would you be able to create one to make me immune to the magic? One I could remove once I’d returned to the palace?”“Yes of course, but why . . .? No! Absolutely not! We have only just found you, dear Granddaughter, and I will not allow you to put yourself in danger.” Jaanis stared at Kailani with a stern expression.“What is going on here?” Shivla asked.
“Our granddaughter has plans to go to The Land of No Souls to try and find Garalia.”
YOU CAN BUY OF ICE AND AIR HERE.
***
Carlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing.
She has always written in some form or another, but started to write novels in 2011. Her first book was published by Myrddin Publishing in 2012. Author of the Heart Search trilogy and Of Ice & AirCarlie is also a principal editor for Eagle Eye Editors.
She also holds the reins of a writing group called Writebulb. They have published four anthologies so far, two for adults and two for children, all of which raise money for a local hospice.
Carlie currently lives in Essex, UK with her daughter. You can find out more about Carlie and her books on her website.
Jaanis decided to be the one to answer and he explained all about Gengaruk, his exploitation of nearby villagers and why he requested an audience. He went on to explain what happened next and the banishment. “He and his men were escorted all the way to their new home in the east and due to magic cast around them, they cannot leave the area.”“What about someone going into the area? If they belong to Gengaruk are they automatically stuck there too? What about anyone Gengaruk’s men brought into their encampment who isn’t one of their tribe? Wouldn’t they be stuck like the others?”“Well, yes, you see the spells on the tribe are mainly for those wearing the bracelets. However, the magic is strong enough that anyone entering the area would be stuck there too.”“I have a strong feeling that’s where mother is. I am intuitive and my feelings are rarely wrong. I think there were more men with Gengaruk who didn’t enter the throne room, but did come into the castle. I believe they somehow remained hidden until Gengaruk left the building with his escort and let them get ahead before they grabbed my mother and took her there. What do you all think?” Surprisingly, it was Bellis who answered. “It’s certainly not outside the realms of possibility. We had fewer guards in and around the palace as one battalion were escorting Gengaruk while another two battalions took much needed food, clothing, and medicine to the northern sector of the country. Anyone with enough skill to sneak into Garalia’s room would certainly be able to get across the courtyard and out of the castle grounds without being seen.”“By all the gods, I think you may be onto something there,” Jaanis said thoughtfully. His eyes stared at some distant thing only he could see. When he returned from his trance, he seemed a little confused and closed his eyes, shaking his head.Kailani knelt beside his throne and held his hand. “Grandfather?” He didn’t respond. She tried again, this time shaking him. His eyes flew open wide and he looked down at her. “Grandfather, did you bespell the bangles Gengaruk and his men have to wear?”“Yes, I did.”“Would you be able to create one to make me immune to the magic? One I could remove once I’d returned to the palace?”“Yes of course, but why . . .? No! Absolutely not! We have only just found you, dear Granddaughter, and I will not allow you to put yourself in danger.” Jaanis stared at Kailani with a stern expression.“What is going on here?” Shivla asked.
“Our granddaughter has plans to go to The Land of No Souls to try and find Garalia.”
YOU CAN BUY OF ICE AND AIR HERE.
***
Carlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing.
She has always written in some form or another, but started to write novels in 2011. Her first book was published by Myrddin Publishing in 2012. Author of the Heart Search trilogy and Of Ice & AirCarlie is also a principal editor for Eagle Eye Editors.
She also holds the reins of a writing group called Writebulb. They have published four anthologies so far, two for adults and two for children, all of which raise money for a local hospice.
Carlie currently lives in Essex, UK with her daughter. You can find out more about Carlie and her books on her website.
November 19, 2015
Of Ice and Air - Book Launch
I'm so excited for this launch - Carlie Cullen has a new fantasy, Of Ice and Air, and we lucky readers get to pick up copies tomorrow!
So what's it all about? Just take a look at this wonderful fantasy:
On her 21st birthday, Princess Kailani’s father tells her that when she was a baby, her mother was abducted. She also learns she has family in another world.
Defying her father, she travels from her Cloud Castle home to the ice kingdom of Idenvarlis where Kailani’s instincts drive her to find the mother she doesn’t remember.
Gifted with the magic of two worlds, and skilled in the use of weapons, she journeys into unknown and dangerous territory. Despite her determination to rescue her mother, she’s forced to overcome new fears and find a way to cope with all she encounters.
However, a person inYOU CAN BUY OF ICE AND AIR HERE.
***
Carlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing.
She has always written in some form or another, but started to write novels in 2011. Her first book was published by Myrddin Publishing in 2012. Author of the Heart Search trilogy and Of Ice & AirCarlie is also a principal editor for Eagle Eye Editors.
She also holds the reins of a writing group called Writebulb. They have published four anthologies so far, two for adults and two for children, all of which raise money for a local hospice.
Carlie currently lives in Essex, UK with her daughter. You can find out more about Carlie and her books on her website.
So what's it all about? Just take a look at this wonderful fantasy:
On her 21st birthday, Princess Kailani’s father tells her that when she was a baby, her mother was abducted. She also learns she has family in another world.
Defying her father, she travels from her Cloud Castle home to the ice kingdom of Idenvarlis where Kailani’s instincts drive her to find the mother she doesn’t remember.
Gifted with the magic of two worlds, and skilled in the use of weapons, she journeys into unknown and dangerous territory. Despite her determination to rescue her mother, she’s forced to overcome new fears and find a way to cope with all she encounters.
However, a person inYOU CAN BUY OF ICE AND AIR HERE.
***
Carlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing.
She has always written in some form or another, but started to write novels in 2011. Her first book was published by Myrddin Publishing in 2012. Author of the Heart Search trilogy and Of Ice & AirCarlie is also a principal editor for Eagle Eye Editors.
She also holds the reins of a writing group called Writebulb. They have published four anthologies so far, two for adults and two for children, all of which raise money for a local hospice.
Carlie currently lives in Essex, UK with her daughter. You can find out more about Carlie and her books on her website.
October 21, 2015
Rihanna, Janay Palmer, and Other Heroes
Remember when Rhianna was slugged in the face by her then-boyfriend, Chris Brown? The event caused a media storm. It only escalated when she stood by him and didn't break up with the man who gave her a black eye and a cut lip.
photo courtesy of wikipedia
And what was the response?
"I can't believe she took him back."
"She doesn't deserve our sympathy."
"Rihanna's just asking for it now."
***
This is very difficult to confess: Once, when I was young and in love, a guy slapped me across the face.
And it changed my life.
It was the end of the 70's, the 'Me Era.' My friends and I had snuck to a pool where we hung out, laughed and chatted. We skinny-dipped, talked some more, and because it was a hot night, skinny-dipped again.
I completely lost track of time. My boyfriend and I had arranged to meet up later, but because the conversation was so interesting and the warm water felt so good, I was late. In fact, I was so late he tracked me down and confronted me as my friends and I were heading back to our shabby VW to go and get Denny's coffee.
My first thought was Hey! It's my guy! Hi, guy! That surge of delighted surprise exploded when he marched up to me, pulled back, and smacked me across my face so hard I nearly fell into the long, summer grass.
photo courtesy of deviantart: Flickan
It's a weird thing when that happens. My reaction was one of horror, of shame, of What the hell did I do to deserve this? Or maybe it was just shock. It happened so quickly I still can't catalogue my thoughts.
The boyfriend (let's call him 'E') was striding back to his own car, and the pool had no lights. As a result, my friends weren't able to see what had just happened. One of them gasped, "Did he just hit you?"
The smart answer would have been this: "Yes, he did. Please help me find a phone so we can call my parents and the police."
BUT YOUR BRAIN CHANGES WHEN YOU ARE HIT.
It just felt so shameful, so horrifying that this had happened to me. "No, he didn't," was my response.
And when 'E' returned from the car and put his arms around me, the shame changed to some fearful kind of joy. "I'm so sorry," he murmured. "I just got so mad that you were late."
Wow, I thought. He really loves me.
***
Perhaps there's some chemical reaction that occurs when someone's hand or fist connects with soft skin and bruises deep tissue. I didn't lose consciousness or get light-headed. The smack didn't even bruise me much. However, was there a release of endorphins, of hormones, of some kind of mind-altering adrenaline when it happened?
I don't recall the rest of the night - if I went and sat in Denny's or took off with E. I just don't know. I do know that I was young, I'd been assaulted, and it changed me.
Changed me. Forever.
photo courtesy of wikipedia
When I did finally leave E, thank God, I made myself a promise: No one was ever going to hit me again. Ever. I've kept that vow.
But let's look at my background - I grew up in a mainly supportive household. I wasn't raised by the belt or made to believe I was less because of my gender. I went to college. I read a lot. My mother consumed poetry and taught Lit at the local university. We loved art and music and watching Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
If I had been raised in a house where hits and slaps were the norm, where I was expected to act a certain way because I'm female, who knows where I would have ended up? Perhaps I would have finally accepted E's constant proposals and had his kids. (The mere thought makes my stomach churn.)
I was a victim, and it changed my life. That's my point here. The slap propelled me into a certain way of thinking and very odd behaviors for a long time.
THEY WEREN'T MY FAULT.
Those behaviors aren't Rihanna's fault either, or anyone's who puts up with abuse. I experienced one slap in my lifetime. Right now, somewhere out there, women and men live with daily physical or emotional abuse. The constant threats change them, warp them into saying and doing things they probably never imagined. The victims scrape by from hour to hour, from second to second with nothing more than survival as a reward.
Those people, the ones who do gather up the energy to walk away, are my heroes. The ones who can't quite find the money/strength/ability to walk away are my heroes as well.
Being a victim is a terrible thing, something one can never forget.
Please don't blame those who are victims.
Please.
photo courtesy of wikipediaAnd what was the response?
"I can't believe she took him back."
"She doesn't deserve our sympathy."
"Rihanna's just asking for it now."
***
This is very difficult to confess: Once, when I was young and in love, a guy slapped me across the face.
And it changed my life.
It was the end of the 70's, the 'Me Era.' My friends and I had snuck to a pool where we hung out, laughed and chatted. We skinny-dipped, talked some more, and because it was a hot night, skinny-dipped again.
I completely lost track of time. My boyfriend and I had arranged to meet up later, but because the conversation was so interesting and the warm water felt so good, I was late. In fact, I was so late he tracked me down and confronted me as my friends and I were heading back to our shabby VW to go and get Denny's coffee.
My first thought was Hey! It's my guy! Hi, guy! That surge of delighted surprise exploded when he marched up to me, pulled back, and smacked me across my face so hard I nearly fell into the long, summer grass.
photo courtesy of deviantart: FlickanIt's a weird thing when that happens. My reaction was one of horror, of shame, of What the hell did I do to deserve this? Or maybe it was just shock. It happened so quickly I still can't catalogue my thoughts.
The boyfriend (let's call him 'E') was striding back to his own car, and the pool had no lights. As a result, my friends weren't able to see what had just happened. One of them gasped, "Did he just hit you?"
The smart answer would have been this: "Yes, he did. Please help me find a phone so we can call my parents and the police."
BUT YOUR BRAIN CHANGES WHEN YOU ARE HIT.
It just felt so shameful, so horrifying that this had happened to me. "No, he didn't," was my response.
And when 'E' returned from the car and put his arms around me, the shame changed to some fearful kind of joy. "I'm so sorry," he murmured. "I just got so mad that you were late."
Wow, I thought. He really loves me.
***
Perhaps there's some chemical reaction that occurs when someone's hand or fist connects with soft skin and bruises deep tissue. I didn't lose consciousness or get light-headed. The smack didn't even bruise me much. However, was there a release of endorphins, of hormones, of some kind of mind-altering adrenaline when it happened?
I don't recall the rest of the night - if I went and sat in Denny's or took off with E. I just don't know. I do know that I was young, I'd been assaulted, and it changed me.
Changed me. Forever.
photo courtesy of wikipediaWhen I did finally leave E, thank God, I made myself a promise: No one was ever going to hit me again. Ever. I've kept that vow.
But let's look at my background - I grew up in a mainly supportive household. I wasn't raised by the belt or made to believe I was less because of my gender. I went to college. I read a lot. My mother consumed poetry and taught Lit at the local university. We loved art and music and watching Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
If I had been raised in a house where hits and slaps were the norm, where I was expected to act a certain way because I'm female, who knows where I would have ended up? Perhaps I would have finally accepted E's constant proposals and had his kids. (The mere thought makes my stomach churn.)
I was a victim, and it changed my life. That's my point here. The slap propelled me into a certain way of thinking and very odd behaviors for a long time.
THEY WEREN'T MY FAULT.
Those behaviors aren't Rihanna's fault either, or anyone's who puts up with abuse. I experienced one slap in my lifetime. Right now, somewhere out there, women and men live with daily physical or emotional abuse. The constant threats change them, warp them into saying and doing things they probably never imagined. The victims scrape by from hour to hour, from second to second with nothing more than survival as a reward.
Those people, the ones who do gather up the energy to walk away, are my heroes. The ones who can't quite find the money/strength/ability to walk away are my heroes as well.
Being a victim is a terrible thing, something one can never forget.
Please don't blame those who are victims.
Please.
September 22, 2015
Prince of Bryanae: #Giveaway #EpicFantasy
PRINCE OF BRYANAE is an epic fantasy novel filled with intense battles, romance, betrayal, and redemption. Elven soldier Willow serves the human Kingdom of Bryanae in a bid to overcome her traumatic past. Emotionally crippled and driven by her personal demons, she has buried that past so deeply that she has forgotten it altogether ... but it hasn't forgotten her.
Paralyzed by an inexplicable terror, she watches helplessly as old enemies kidnap the Prince. Considered by most of Bryanae to be a coward and a traitor, Willow decides she must confront her past and plunge into the heart of the enemy empire to rescue the Prince.
Aside from the steel blade she wields with lethal expertise, Willow has only dubious allies upon whom to rely-a headstrong private who's in love with her, an inscrutable winged mage with a hidden agenda, and a dashing but opportunistic captain whom she desires against her better judgment.
An army of fanatical warriors stands in her way. Leading them is the mad and seemingly immortal Warlord who has a personal grudge to settle with Willow: one that spans centuries.
Willow has devoted her life to discipline and now she must bring that discipline to bear. Pain will not stop her. Fear will not stop her. She will rescue the Prince or die trying. Willow has been honing her combat and weaponry skills for a very long time. It's time to put those skills to good use.
***
"Fresh and strong and full of energy!" - New York Times Bestselling Author R. A. Salvatore
"Getzin makes you feel like a part of the intricate and fascinating world he's created. This is solid storytelling and spicy yarns. Once inside, you won't want to leave." - Mike Freeman, author of The New York Times notable book Bloody Sundays
"This is a splendid book full of adventure and a sympathetic character in Willow. The story has heart and excitement. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a rollicking good fantasy. Jeffrey Getzin is a writer to watch" - Billie Sue Mosiman, author of Legions of the Dark
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Prince of Bryanae by Jeffrey Getzin Giveaway ends November 10, 2015. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway
Jeffrey Getzin graduated from Clark University where he won the Loring Holmes and Ruth Dodd Drama Contest for an original one-act play. He has a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Jeffrey is a former employee at Google and now develops software for Freestyle Solutions and lives in New Jersey, where he lives with his long-time girlfriend Kate and a seemingly infinite number of cats.
Jeffrey is a lifelong practitioner of various martial arts, and currently holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Renzo Gracie black belt Jamie Cruz and has trained in Muay Thai under legendary fighter Kaensak Sor Ploenjit. He currently trains under Andy and Mike Main at Pure Mixed Martial Arts. He has competed in table tennis at the national level. Jeffrey is an avid film and home theater buff. Also, his mother says he is very handsome.
You can find out more about Jeffrey on his website and at Amazon.
