Heidi Angell's Blog, page 2
October 22, 2018
Support an Indie
Hello lovelies, Man, things have been a bit rough the last little bit. I feel like I'm everywhere and yet just spinning my wheels making no progress. On top of that, I just got hit hard with medical bills, student loans, and a new family crisis. (Yay, having a special needs kid.) With all of this stuff coming down the crisis of finances has hit. My husband and I sat down and figured out that I need to make about $3,000 more each month just for us to stay afloat. 
If you feel that I have shared something of value with you or in some way enriched your experience in the bookish community, you have a couple of options to contribute. You can make a donation viapaypal.This donation can be a one time thing or a monthly contribution. The other option, is to join my Patreon. This is a great resource because at the end of the year, Patreon sends you an account of your contributions to write off your taxes ;) Those donating $1 a month will get Survivalist Bible serial releases a month before everyone else. Those at $2 a month will also get a mention in the thank you portion of each book while they are members. $5 will get you merch and bonus content. If neither of those options appeal to you, then support by purchasing some of our , books, or courses at OWS Ink LLC. I get a portion of each of those sales. I would really appreciate any and all support after all the support I have given to the book community these last seven years.Thank you and until next time, Keep Reading!
If you feel that I have shared something of value with you or in some way enriched your experience in the bookish community, you have a couple of options to contribute. You can make a donation viapaypal.This donation can be a one time thing or a monthly contribution. The other option, is to join my Patreon. This is a great resource because at the end of the year, Patreon sends you an account of your contributions to write off your taxes ;) Those donating $1 a month will get Survivalist Bible serial releases a month before everyone else. Those at $2 a month will also get a mention in the thank you portion of each book while they are members. $5 will get you merch and bonus content. If neither of those options appeal to you, then support by purchasing some of our , books, or courses at OWS Ink LLC. I get a portion of each of those sales. I would really appreciate any and all support after all the support I have given to the book community these last seven years.Thank you and until next time, Keep Reading!
October 20, 2018
How to Build Your Monsters: A guest post by A.F. Stewart
Hello Lovelies, I am privileged to bring you a delightful post from the masterful A.F. Stewart as part of her release tour for the second book in the Saga of the Outer Islands. So get comfy as we turn the time over! 
Anyone who knows my work, knows I love to use myth and folklore in my stories and the Saga of the Outer Islands books are no exception, with Greek mythology and seafaring folklore as the basis of my inspiration.The Greek myth came into play for my pantheon of gods, but for the mysterious sea monsters lurking under the ocean, especially for book one, I went straight to folklore. Now, the most obvious one to start with is the Kraken, which, in my opinion, is a must for a good seafaring fantasy.The Kraken stems from Nordic folklore and the most famous account was written in 1180 by King Sverre of Norway, quite possibly after a sighting of a real-life creature: the giant squid. The folklore states this colossal tentacled beast harassed ships, often sinking them by maelstrom or whirlpool, and had taste for human flesh. Just the sort of terrifying creature I wanted, although my monster tends to eat souls, not flesh.The next creature inspirations came partly from shore instead of the sea, with the Sea Wyrm and the Deep Water Basilisk. Both are somewhat inspired by the traditional folklore of sea serpents as well as the wyvern, cousin to the dragon. While both of my beasts are underwater reptilian creatures with serpentine bodies, the Wyrms have a more traditional sea serpent appearance (a big snake with fins), and the Basilisk have not only fins but the addition of smallish wyvern-style wings on their bodies.However, for the second book, Souls of the Dark Sea, I went in a more recent direction for my muses. I wanted a mysterious, sinister monster as the villain of the book, something ancient and dark rising to threaten the worlds. I immediately thought of the Cthulhu mythos and that hulking alien god sleeping beneath the ocean waiting to ascend and destroy. A perfect template for my character, and so was born Ashetus, a bulbous-headed, corpse-eating, six-eyed monster with ten tentacles and a gigantic fish tail. And Cthulhu isn’t my only modern influence for the monsters of Souls of the Dark Sea. I also paid homage to the late, great Ray Harryhausen.For those unfamiliar with the name, Ray Harryhausen was a special effects pioneer way back in the
stone age, before computer-generated effects, when they used things like stop motion. One of his most famous effects is a walking skeleton army in the movie Jason and the Argonauts and this scene has inspired others before me, such as with the inclusion of the skeleton horde in the movie, Army of Darkness. Ashetus’ undead army of bones is a direct tribute to that scene and Ray Harryhausen.So that’s the story behind some my monsters, I hope you enjoyed a look behind the scenes.
A. F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, and still calls it home. She has always had an overly creative mind, and an active imagination. She is fond of good books (especially science fiction/fantasy), action movies, and oil painting as a hobby. Ms. Stewart has been writing for several years, her main focus being in the fantasy and horror genres. She also has a great interest in history and mythology, often working those themes into her books and stories. She has authored and published several books, including Ghosts of the Sea Moon (Saga of the Outer Islands Book 1), Fairy Tale Fusion, Gothic Cavalcade, Ruined City, and the Killers and Demons series. In addition, she writes and publishes poetry, her latest volume being Horror Haiku Pas de Deux. Her short stories have been published in the charity anthologies, Coffin Hop: Death by Drive-In, Christmas Lites III, IV, V, VI, and VII. Also, tales from her pen have appeared in three anthologies by Xchyler Publishing, Mechanized Masterpieces, Legends and Lore, and Beyond the Wail.Learn more by visiting her websiteThank you so much, Anita! I absolutely love pirates and high seas adventure, and have thoroughly enjoyed A.F. Stewart's take on them. Set sail on a new adventure with ghosts, gods and sea monsters! From the depths, darkness is rising… Some secrets should stay hidden. If you want to get a taste of this delightful series, check out Sea Boundabsolutely free. Know you are gonna love it? Be sure to grab Ghosts of the Sea Moonand the latest release Souls of the Dark Sea today! Worth every penny.Until next time, Keep Reading!
Anyone who knows my work, knows I love to use myth and folklore in my stories and the Saga of the Outer Islands books are no exception, with Greek mythology and seafaring folklore as the basis of my inspiration.The Greek myth came into play for my pantheon of gods, but for the mysterious sea monsters lurking under the ocean, especially for book one, I went straight to folklore. Now, the most obvious one to start with is the Kraken, which, in my opinion, is a must for a good seafaring fantasy.The Kraken stems from Nordic folklore and the most famous account was written in 1180 by King Sverre of Norway, quite possibly after a sighting of a real-life creature: the giant squid. The folklore states this colossal tentacled beast harassed ships, often sinking them by maelstrom or whirlpool, and had taste for human flesh. Just the sort of terrifying creature I wanted, although my monster tends to eat souls, not flesh.The next creature inspirations came partly from shore instead of the sea, with the Sea Wyrm and the Deep Water Basilisk. Both are somewhat inspired by the traditional folklore of sea serpents as well as the wyvern, cousin to the dragon. While both of my beasts are underwater reptilian creatures with serpentine bodies, the Wyrms have a more traditional sea serpent appearance (a big snake with fins), and the Basilisk have not only fins but the addition of smallish wyvern-style wings on their bodies.However, for the second book, Souls of the Dark Sea, I went in a more recent direction for my muses. I wanted a mysterious, sinister monster as the villain of the book, something ancient and dark rising to threaten the worlds. I immediately thought of the Cthulhu mythos and that hulking alien god sleeping beneath the ocean waiting to ascend and destroy. A perfect template for my character, and so was born Ashetus, a bulbous-headed, corpse-eating, six-eyed monster with ten tentacles and a gigantic fish tail. And Cthulhu isn’t my only modern influence for the monsters of Souls of the Dark Sea. I also paid homage to the late, great Ray Harryhausen.For those unfamiliar with the name, Ray Harryhausen was a special effects pioneer way back in thestone age, before computer-generated effects, when they used things like stop motion. One of his most famous effects is a walking skeleton army in the movie Jason and the Argonauts and this scene has inspired others before me, such as with the inclusion of the skeleton horde in the movie, Army of Darkness. Ashetus’ undead army of bones is a direct tribute to that scene and Ray Harryhausen.So that’s the story behind some my monsters, I hope you enjoyed a look behind the scenes.A. F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, and still calls it home. She has always had an overly creative mind, and an active imagination. She is fond of good books (especially science fiction/fantasy), action movies, and oil painting as a hobby. Ms. Stewart has been writing for several years, her main focus being in the fantasy and horror genres. She also has a great interest in history and mythology, often working those themes into her books and stories. She has authored and published several books, including Ghosts of the Sea Moon (Saga of the Outer Islands Book 1), Fairy Tale Fusion, Gothic Cavalcade, Ruined City, and the Killers and Demons series. In addition, she writes and publishes poetry, her latest volume being Horror Haiku Pas de Deux. Her short stories have been published in the charity anthologies, Coffin Hop: Death by Drive-In, Christmas Lites III, IV, V, VI, and VII. Also, tales from her pen have appeared in three anthologies by Xchyler Publishing, Mechanized Masterpieces, Legends and Lore, and Beyond the Wail.Learn more by visiting her websiteThank you so much, Anita! I absolutely love pirates and high seas adventure, and have thoroughly enjoyed A.F. Stewart's take on them. Set sail on a new adventure with ghosts, gods and sea monsters! From the depths, darkness is rising… Some secrets should stay hidden. If you want to get a taste of this delightful series, check out Sea Boundabsolutely free. Know you are gonna love it? Be sure to grab Ghosts of the Sea Moonand the latest release Souls of the Dark Sea today! Worth every penny.Until next time, Keep Reading!
October 10, 2018
October Frights- Survivalist Bible Sneak Peek
Hello Lovelies, Welcome to my stop on the October Frights blog hop. This is a super fun hop that has been put together by A. F. Stewart, and there are so many great teasers, short horror stories, interviews with characters and authors of horror, and so much more. Be sure to check out all the fun stops atA.F. Stewart's blog.
This event is tons of fun and I have done it the last several years and find all sorts of fun new content, so be sure to check out the other stops on the hop! Alright, on to my delicious offering for the hop. This is a small sample from Survivalist Bible- Genesis, which just released in the Power of Words Anthology. The anthology contains three other novellas that are absolutely awesome and show the power of words. You should definitely check it out! this scene is when the world collapses around our protagonists ears. Gabe Llewellyn is a modern, sophisticated, civilized man. He is not prepare for a world in which survival of the fittest becomes the norm. Now onto the excerpt: I awoke unexpectedly, but couldn’t place what had woken me. The tv was playing some sort of infomercial. I fumbled for the remote turning the tv down. Scanning the room, the bedside table clock flashed 2 am. As the volume went down, another noise took its place. At first, I thought it was the crowd down below. Then I realized that is seemed to be coming from the hallway.My skin prickled with alarm, even as I stumbled out of bed half-awake. Looking through the peephole, I tried to see something through the fisheye warping. I managed to see a few people running by the door, but couldn’t see what was creating the panic. The commotion seemed to be coming from by the elevators. A chill ran up my spine and I locked the chain, trying once again to get a view out the hole. No dice. Opening the door as far as the chain would allow, I tried to peek out. There wasn’t enough room to see anything beyond a sliver of the hall to my right, but the sounds of what was unmistakably a fight echoed into my room. My blood ran cold as I thought of the thousands of angry protesters slamming into the window as I walked by in the lobby earlier that very evening. As I began to close the door, it was slammed back when someone crashed into it and slid to the ground. I realized the person was in the hotel security uniform. I recoiled in shock. The man was covered in blood. He turned terror-filled eyes on me, his mouth agape in horror. A gash split across his head and oozed blood into his eyes. “Help!” he gasped, reaching up to me. I tried to force the door closed, but his full weight was upon it. “I gotta undo the chain,” I pleaded, but he didn’t seem to understand. Before I could make him understand, bloody hands snatched his shoulders ripping him away from the door. As the body was pulled from in front of the door, it slammed shut. I fumbled to remove the chain, but a howl of pain and terror froze me in place. Snapping the chain back into place, I stuck my eye to the eye hole again. A mass of bodies was flailing about and it was hard to tell what was happening. It looked like the security guard was taking a pretty bad beating. I ran to the hotel phone to call the lobby, but there was only a strange hissing at the other end. I grabbed my cell phone off the bedside table and dialed 911. A busy signal!Something slammed into the door and I jumped. Another thump echoed throughout the room. Slinking up to the door, I looked out the peephole and stifled a scream as my vision was met with a bloodshot eye trying to look in. Biting my knuckles, I forced down the hysteria that was embroiling within me and slid against the wall. I remember thinking, What in God’s name was happening out there? Trying to steel myself, I looked through the hole again. The man had moved toward the middle of the hall. His back was to me and he was staring at something on the ground. Because of the whorl of the glass I couldn’t really tell what it was, but based on the color, I suspected that I didn’t want to know. I tried to call 911 again and wilted at the pre-recorded message. “All lines are busy. Please try your call again later.” Suddenly the door reverberated, knocking me sideways and I dropped the phone. I couldn’t help the yelp that escaped. A steady pounding began and grew in volume and intensity. The door reverberated with several strikes, and I put my eye to the eye hole again.Cold horror trickled down my back. There were at least seven people outside my door, all slamming into one another, and into the door. They were splattered in blood and looked… strange. The one in front of the door raised his head as he charged and I realized that he had what looked like a chunk of bloody raw flesh hanging from his mouth. I won’t deny, I was in full-on hysterics at this point. Backing away from the door, I tripped over the settee, tumbled into the seat and slammed my head against the wall. I could see the door trembling and sagging further with each strike and I knew it was only a matter of time before they made it through.Frantically I scanned the room for some escape. The bathroom door to my left and the balcony behind me were the only doors in the room. Given that we were on the fourth floor, I wrote off the balcony and bolted for the bathroom. It’s strange what you don’t notice about the places you go every day. I had been in this hotel room going on four days, but couldn’t tell you anything about the bathroom except that there was a toilet, a decent-sized garden tub, and a sink with a wall of mirror behind it that had good enough lighting to shave. I flipped the light switch on, scanning the small room. There were no windows, and the two vents were too small to fit more than an arm through. Being trapped in here would be worse than being trapped in the room. I spun out of the bathroom, and froze as a giant crack echoed through the small room. Two days ago, I would not have considered this a small space. I thought it was quite palatial when I rented it for the event. I had wanted a space that would impress a female guest. Now, it was closing in on me fast. I circled around the bed, past the couch and hesitated in front of the TV at the foot of the bed when another loud crack echoed from the door. I thought the doors were reinforced steel and marveled that I could see gaps of light coming through the door. The gaps expanding with each crunch of the mob outside. If they’d made that much progress in ten minutes, I didn’t have much longer before they got in. I needed a weapon! The closest potential weapon was a standing lamp next to the mini-fridge. Grabbing for it, I thanked God that it wasn’t attached to the floor. Still, the thing was awkward. I figured the weighted base was my best defense, most certainly heavy enough to bludgeon someone. I took a step back and tested a swing. It was heavy and unwieldy. Another large crack from the door had me stumbling backward. Scanning the room, there were no better weapons. The bedside lamp next to the clock was too small, the TV too large. No, this behemoth was my only defense. Staring transfixed, I flinched with each slam of the door. Every time the crack of the hinges giving echoed through the room, I involuntarily took a step back. I found my back pressed against the balcony window. The interminable waiting was killing me. Staring avidly, I realized that the top hinge was almost completely ripped from the wall, the middle hinge was only holding by a thread. I could see arms and shoulders forcing through, scrabbling for purchase, for a way to force the gap wider even as others continued to crash against it, opening that dismal gap more now with each thrust. I had no idea what I would do once they got through. It couldn’t be long. Glancing at the clock I was shocked to see 2:30 am flashing at me. The assault had been going on for at least 30 minutes. Where were the cops? As another crack echoed, I readied myself. I doubted that they would come at me one at a time like they did in the old Kung-fu movies. The lock on the door seemed to be holding. Perhaps that would slow them down? Maybe I should be closer to the door, so I could take them out as they forced their way through. My brain screamed at me to move the dresser to block the doorway and slow their approach, while another part demanded that I go nowhere near the mass of tangled body parts trying to squeeze and pull themselves through the door. Terror gripped me almost as hard as I gripped the lamp in frozen knuckles locked white and straining with the tension. A quick rap on the glass behind me caused my heart to explode. I whipped about in terror, and the lamp slammed into the wall. The reverberation caused me to drop it. I may, or may not, have let loose a very loud and very unmanly scream.This is just the introduction to Gabe's world coming unraveled. I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to read the rest of the story, pick up Power of Words or come and join me on my Patreon Channel where I will be releasing each segment of the serial a month before other readers can get it on Amazon. $1 a month will get you access to the rest of the Survivalist Bible series, and each of my members are included in the Thank you page when each segment releases on Amazon. Hope to see you enjoying the fun! 
And Speaking of fun, don't miss out on the rest fo the awesome stops on the October Frights Blog Hop! Until next time, Keep Reading!
This event is tons of fun and I have done it the last several years and find all sorts of fun new content, so be sure to check out the other stops on the hop! Alright, on to my delicious offering for the hop. This is a small sample from Survivalist Bible- Genesis, which just released in the Power of Words Anthology. The anthology contains three other novellas that are absolutely awesome and show the power of words. You should definitely check it out! this scene is when the world collapses around our protagonists ears. Gabe Llewellyn is a modern, sophisticated, civilized man. He is not prepare for a world in which survival of the fittest becomes the norm. Now onto the excerpt: I awoke unexpectedly, but couldn’t place what had woken me. The tv was playing some sort of infomercial. I fumbled for the remote turning the tv down. Scanning the room, the bedside table clock flashed 2 am. As the volume went down, another noise took its place. At first, I thought it was the crowd down below. Then I realized that is seemed to be coming from the hallway.My skin prickled with alarm, even as I stumbled out of bed half-awake. Looking through the peephole, I tried to see something through the fisheye warping. I managed to see a few people running by the door, but couldn’t see what was creating the panic. The commotion seemed to be coming from by the elevators. A chill ran up my spine and I locked the chain, trying once again to get a view out the hole. No dice. Opening the door as far as the chain would allow, I tried to peek out. There wasn’t enough room to see anything beyond a sliver of the hall to my right, but the sounds of what was unmistakably a fight echoed into my room. My blood ran cold as I thought of the thousands of angry protesters slamming into the window as I walked by in the lobby earlier that very evening. As I began to close the door, it was slammed back when someone crashed into it and slid to the ground. I realized the person was in the hotel security uniform. I recoiled in shock. The man was covered in blood. He turned terror-filled eyes on me, his mouth agape in horror. A gash split across his head and oozed blood into his eyes. “Help!” he gasped, reaching up to me. I tried to force the door closed, but his full weight was upon it. “I gotta undo the chain,” I pleaded, but he didn’t seem to understand. Before I could make him understand, bloody hands snatched his shoulders ripping him away from the door. As the body was pulled from in front of the door, it slammed shut. I fumbled to remove the chain, but a howl of pain and terror froze me in place. Snapping the chain back into place, I stuck my eye to the eye hole again. A mass of bodies was flailing about and it was hard to tell what was happening. It looked like the security guard was taking a pretty bad beating. I ran to the hotel phone to call the lobby, but there was only a strange hissing at the other end. I grabbed my cell phone off the bedside table and dialed 911. A busy signal!Something slammed into the door and I jumped. Another thump echoed throughout the room. Slinking up to the door, I looked out the peephole and stifled a scream as my vision was met with a bloodshot eye trying to look in. Biting my knuckles, I forced down the hysteria that was embroiling within me and slid against the wall. I remember thinking, What in God’s name was happening out there? Trying to steel myself, I looked through the hole again. The man had moved toward the middle of the hall. His back was to me and he was staring at something on the ground. Because of the whorl of the glass I couldn’t really tell what it was, but based on the color, I suspected that I didn’t want to know. I tried to call 911 again and wilted at the pre-recorded message. “All lines are busy. Please try your call again later.” Suddenly the door reverberated, knocking me sideways and I dropped the phone. I couldn’t help the yelp that escaped. A steady pounding began and grew in volume and intensity. The door reverberated with several strikes, and I put my eye to the eye hole again.Cold horror trickled down my back. There were at least seven people outside my door, all slamming into one another, and into the door. They were splattered in blood and looked… strange. The one in front of the door raised his head as he charged and I realized that he had what looked like a chunk of bloody raw flesh hanging from his mouth. I won’t deny, I was in full-on hysterics at this point. Backing away from the door, I tripped over the settee, tumbled into the seat and slammed my head against the wall. I could see the door trembling and sagging further with each strike and I knew it was only a matter of time before they made it through.Frantically I scanned the room for some escape. The bathroom door to my left and the balcony behind me were the only doors in the room. Given that we were on the fourth floor, I wrote off the balcony and bolted for the bathroom. It’s strange what you don’t notice about the places you go every day. I had been in this hotel room going on four days, but couldn’t tell you anything about the bathroom except that there was a toilet, a decent-sized garden tub, and a sink with a wall of mirror behind it that had good enough lighting to shave. I flipped the light switch on, scanning the small room. There were no windows, and the two vents were too small to fit more than an arm through. Being trapped in here would be worse than being trapped in the room. I spun out of the bathroom, and froze as a giant crack echoed through the small room. Two days ago, I would not have considered this a small space. I thought it was quite palatial when I rented it for the event. I had wanted a space that would impress a female guest. Now, it was closing in on me fast. I circled around the bed, past the couch and hesitated in front of the TV at the foot of the bed when another loud crack echoed from the door. I thought the doors were reinforced steel and marveled that I could see gaps of light coming through the door. The gaps expanding with each crunch of the mob outside. If they’d made that much progress in ten minutes, I didn’t have much longer before they got in. I needed a weapon! The closest potential weapon was a standing lamp next to the mini-fridge. Grabbing for it, I thanked God that it wasn’t attached to the floor. Still, the thing was awkward. I figured the weighted base was my best defense, most certainly heavy enough to bludgeon someone. I took a step back and tested a swing. It was heavy and unwieldy. Another large crack from the door had me stumbling backward. Scanning the room, there were no better weapons. The bedside lamp next to the clock was too small, the TV too large. No, this behemoth was my only defense. Staring transfixed, I flinched with each slam of the door. Every time the crack of the hinges giving echoed through the room, I involuntarily took a step back. I found my back pressed against the balcony window. The interminable waiting was killing me. Staring avidly, I realized that the top hinge was almost completely ripped from the wall, the middle hinge was only holding by a thread. I could see arms and shoulders forcing through, scrabbling for purchase, for a way to force the gap wider even as others continued to crash against it, opening that dismal gap more now with each thrust. I had no idea what I would do once they got through. It couldn’t be long. Glancing at the clock I was shocked to see 2:30 am flashing at me. The assault had been going on for at least 30 minutes. Where were the cops? As another crack echoed, I readied myself. I doubted that they would come at me one at a time like they did in the old Kung-fu movies. The lock on the door seemed to be holding. Perhaps that would slow them down? Maybe I should be closer to the door, so I could take them out as they forced their way through. My brain screamed at me to move the dresser to block the doorway and slow their approach, while another part demanded that I go nowhere near the mass of tangled body parts trying to squeeze and pull themselves through the door. Terror gripped me almost as hard as I gripped the lamp in frozen knuckles locked white and straining with the tension. A quick rap on the glass behind me caused my heart to explode. I whipped about in terror, and the lamp slammed into the wall. The reverberation caused me to drop it. I may, or may not, have let loose a very loud and very unmanly scream.This is just the introduction to Gabe's world coming unraveled. I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to read the rest of the story, pick up Power of Words or come and join me on my Patreon Channel where I will be releasing each segment of the serial a month before other readers can get it on Amazon. $1 a month will get you access to the rest of the Survivalist Bible series, and each of my members are included in the Thank you page when each segment releases on Amazon. Hope to see you enjoying the fun! And Speaking of fun, don't miss out on the rest fo the awesome stops on the October Frights Blog Hop! Until next time, Keep Reading!
July 1, 2018
Angell for Authors: 90 Days Goals: Q3 Check-In
Hello Lovelies, For those who recall, at the beginning of 2018 I set some very public author goals for the year using the 90 day plan. And revised and tracked them in Q2. Can you BELIEVE it is already time for the Q3 author goals check-in? Man, this year is really flying! Here's a refresher of my goals: I've put my progress in italics at the end of each section a bit to show where I am with these goals.Publish 4 books in 2018—The Survivalist Bible Serial launched (I have the first part of the serial in an anthology with M.L.S. Weech, and it will release in October), Clear Angel Chronicles 3, Hell School 2, and Hell School 3. (I’ll be honest, I haven’t had a whole lot of time to write with everything going on. As it is, I will be pushing my luck to get Hell School: Sophomoric Sadness finished and released in December. So I am taking out Clear Angel Chronicles 3 and Hell School 3). Survivalist Bible: Genesis will launch in October as part of M.L.S. Weech's POWER of WORDS anthology and that is coming along perfectly. Survivalist Bible: Exodus is pretty much done, just needing line edits, and Survivalist Bible: Levi is almost finished. Hell School, I need to pick up the pace on. Increase my social reach by 50%. This one is a bit messy for you to see in action. I created a lovely graph in Excel (that I am not going to share, because it’s really not that lovely) with my starting point for each of my social media platforms’ current reach. I will track each stat weekly. This is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. I’m actually not going to mess with this one because it’s a good goal. I’m just going to have to work harder because I haven’t really been working on this goal the last 90 days, so I’m a bit behind. It's impressive how much I've been able to catch up by working on this weekly. Re-release my specific previous 5 titles that fit the OWS brand under OWS as part of my partner contract. This is already in progress and shouldn’t be too difficult to finish. Hell School should be coming in May, Angel’s Dance in June, and both books in The Hunters Saga are underway, so this is looking good. Hell School: Fresh Meat is releasing this month, thanks to Rebekah Jonesy. I've honestly lost track of the others, but Jonesy is on top of it! I know she is still planning The Hunters Saga to be re-released in October, and Angel's Dance will probably be this month or next. But I have been so busy with everything else that I've really been trusting her to knock this out. She's been pretty busy too with all the awesome books coming out through OWS. I don't know how she finds the time! Expand my OWS-U course offerings by one course each semester. Ah, did you know about OWS-U? It is this awesome venture that we are doing to provide masterclasses to authors on topics that will help them grow as an author-preneur. I am all for having at least one of my goals focused on giving back. The first semester starts in February, and I am teaching two of the five courses being offered. A lot has changed about this goal, as we’ve decided to go with Teachable and offer the courses year-round, rather than by semester. I am still looking to add 2 more classes to the line up this year, though. The courses are re-releasing on Teachable this month with an awesome promo sale July 15th of Buy 1 get 1 1/2 off. Don't miss it! I've already started developing The Business of Authoring, which will hopefully be added to the lineup in September, but man, creating courses around everything else we are doing is tough! I am hoping to have another course by December, but still trying to narrow it down between three that people are asking for. Increase my book sales by 25%. I hate setting monetary goals. Truly, I do. But they are important. I probably should set this one higher, as my sales took a hit when I joined the OWS executive team back in July 2017. But we’ve got a lot of goals going on with OWS as well, so I want to keep this attainable. This will be easier to attain once we get the books up on OWS Ink. I am sitting at about an 8% increase right now. Definitely could be better. I am definitely on track with Q3 to achieve most of my author goals for 2018. [caption id="attachment_30451" align="aligncenter" width="735"] 90 Day Plan Q2 goals and Check-In[/caption] My 90 Day Year- 2nd Quarter Author Goals ReportPreparing The Survivalist Bible Serial for publication- I am totally on top of this and feeling really good about it.Track Social media reach- I've been checking in weekly on this (mostly) This got way bigger than I expected because I am also doing it for OWS Social Media, so am tracking 13 different accounts! But each one has seen growth in both followers and engagement. I am pleased with the progress and hope to see it keep growing. Get Angel’s Dance and Hell School: Fresh Meat re-released through OWS and onto Ingram Spark for distribution into bookstores. This actually works towards goal 3 and 5. Once they’ve been re-released through OWS-U, I can start marketing them again! Fortunately, Ingram Spark is running a special promotion in July for Camp Nanowrimo so we will be able to achieve this, no problem!Now time to set some goals for 3rd quarter.Plan and execute tours for the books I have re-released through OWS- I will plan a week long tour for Hell School to re-fresh it's SEO as soon as we get it on Ingram Spark, and a tour for Clear Angel Chronicles as soon as Angel's Dance is back up. I will also look at doing local book store promotion in August as I should be all healed up from surgery by then.Keep Building that Social Media Platform- I will keep using the social media tracker, though pairing back to once a month because I am re-launching my website on Wordpress and that will have me quite busy this month.Write 2K words a day on my WIP- Man, being a publisher has you running so many different directions and I am really bad about getthing my word count in on MY projects. I am going to start making writing my first activity of the day before things get hairy, going back to the way I was doing it when I had a full time job, because being a publisher is MORE than a full-time job and my authoring dreams are kind of getting pushed to the back burner.It's never too late for you to join the 90 day plan. What are your goals for Q3? Share with us in the comments below. Until next time, Keep Writing
May 21, 2018
Under a Hunter's Moon Re-Release
Hello Lovelies, As some of you may recall, about a year ago I reviewed Under A Hunter's Moon by Timothy Bateson. *Hint, I enjoyed it!*Well, Tim has some exciting news:He's got "Under A Hunter's Moon" re-release on wide distribution, with a live date of June 26th 2018, and currently available for pre-order at many ebook retailers. I absolutely LOVE the new cover!
About "Under A Hunter's Moon"Richard Parsons is a maverick wolf-shifter with a tendency to find trouble. When a traveling exhibition returns to the McCaw Museum Richard finds that he has personal reasons to visit after hours. His audacious plan goes awry when a particular display forces painful memories to the surface.Can Richard face down the demons of his past before the police become aware of his presence?Where to order: Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes & Noble & iBooksRetail Price for eBook: $0.99 (USD)eBook ISBN: 9780463358368eBook ASIN: B07CS1SQ8T 
About The AuthorTimothy Bateson is a writer who broke into the market in 2014, with three short stories being featured in Halloween and science-fiction anthologies. In 2016, Bateson self-published a re-release of “Under A Hunter’s Moon”, the first of a several stories set in the “Shadows Over Seattle” world, which he co-writes with his wife, Sandi.Bateson is also a blogger who often spotlights books and fellow indie authors, alongside his other interests, such as the Brain to Books Cyber Convention events, falconry, journaling, quotes, and reading.So go get this fun summer read and get hooked on the world of Shadows over Seattle today! Until next time, Keep Reading!
About "Under A Hunter's Moon"Richard Parsons is a maverick wolf-shifter with a tendency to find trouble. When a traveling exhibition returns to the McCaw Museum Richard finds that he has personal reasons to visit after hours. His audacious plan goes awry when a particular display forces painful memories to the surface.Can Richard face down the demons of his past before the police become aware of his presence?Where to order: Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes & Noble & iBooksRetail Price for eBook: $0.99 (USD)eBook ISBN: 9780463358368eBook ASIN: B07CS1SQ8T About The AuthorTimothy Bateson is a writer who broke into the market in 2014, with three short stories being featured in Halloween and science-fiction anthologies. In 2016, Bateson self-published a re-release of “Under A Hunter’s Moon”, the first of a several stories set in the “Shadows Over Seattle” world, which he co-writes with his wife, Sandi.Bateson is also a blogger who often spotlights books and fellow indie authors, alongside his other interests, such as the Brain to Books Cyber Convention events, falconry, journaling, quotes, and reading.So go get this fun summer read and get hooked on the world of Shadows over Seattle today! Until next time, Keep Reading!
May 13, 2018
Book Review: Moss and Clay by Rebekah Jonesy
Hello Lovelies, I'm here today as part of the Moss and Clay tour. This is a delightful look into the blending of Fae legends between the old world and new to create a very exciting urban fantasy series.Moss, clay, and blood--that's how Gillian began. A doll, crafted and given a mission by Danu. Given life by human and Fae blood. First daughter of Mab, Queen of the Fae, Gillian must track down the rogue fae in the Americas and bring them back under Fae Law with only a volunteer kelpie to travel with her. And no one knows what they’re in for. Not even the gods that sent them.Dive into the world of the Aos Si Fae today. Get the free prequel story here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/g7cjknwe9pMy take: I am actually pretty good friends with Rebekah Jonesy and as such, I was privileged to see the birth of this series when she shared a peek of the opening scenes through The Troll King back in July last year. I was completely hooked! Gillian was delightful, her birth was intriguing, and her mission grabbed me. But I absolutely died giggling at the troll king. I can't ruin it, but seriously, if for no other reason, you should read it to read the troll king! Yet, the continuation of the story is just as delightful, though in a somewhat darker way. Yet, there arestill some moments of humor, particularly when Gillian finds herself at odds with strange American customs like our weird dressing behaviors and our interactions with one another. 
I absolutely recommend this enjoyable escape from the ordinary to get a look at the dark underbelly that makes urban fantasy one of my favorite genres. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series which releases later this year! You can follow author Rebekah Jonesy at Twitter, join her Facebook reader’s group, and don't forget to grab the free prequel to Mab’s Doll . Moss and Clay is on pre-order for only $2.99 through May, 25th. Be sure toget your copy before it goes to $3.99 on the 26th.See other awesome stops in the Moss and Clay tour.Until next time, Keep Reading!
April 14, 2018
Army of Brass, a Steampunk Adventure, Release Announcement
Hello Lovelies,Steampunk celebrates its 31st birthday on April 27, so join in the festivities with the high-flying adventure, Army of Brass.“Steampunk” began as a literary genre, but has expanded to include fashion, music, art, and live events all over the world. During 2017, in honor of author K.W. Jeter coining the term in 1987, Steampunk Journal editor Phoebe Darqueling and the Collaborative Writing Challenge joined forces to create an amazing work that blurs the line between science and magic. Twenty international authors contributed chapters to this story full of gadgets, romance, and political intrigue set against the backdrop of a fantasy world informed by the culture of the 19th century.What is Army of Brass About?
When the mad conqueror haunting Elaina's dreams invades her adopted homeland, the real nightmare becomes what she's willing to do to stop him.The dreaded Hunter Baron has landed on the shores of Mailderet, but Master Tinkerer Elaina Gable believes she has the solution. Giant automatons sit rusting in the valley, waiting for someone with the drive and ingenuity to bring them to life. But the king, swayed by the destruction his ancestors wrought centuries before, harbors a deep-seated fear of the machines. Though he will not allow the alliance of Tinkerers and Smiths to complete the work, Elaina resolves to bring the machines back to life in secret—with the help of a famous airship pilot.From the safety of the swamps, a woman with silver skin jealously guards the secrets of the automatons. Though the Silver Woman also wishes the past to remain buried, she must weigh the value of secrecy against the thousands of innocents her hesitation might send to the grave.As they discover the link between the toxic valley and the inner workings of the automatons, Elaina and her allies are drawn into a web of deceit threatening the balance of power across two continents—and proving the truth behind the deadly legends surrounding the Army of Brass.Read Chapter 1 NOW on Steampunk JournalPre-orderyour ebook copy of Army of Brass for $.99 and receive it on Friday, April 27!Plus, Join us on Facebook April 28-29 to meet the writers, participate in giveaways, and more!Speaking of giveaways, we’ve got one going on for the entire blog tour, so between April 13-May 13, enter to win ebooks from our writers.Collaborative Writing Challenge: www.collaborativewritingchallenge.comEmail: cwc@collaborativewritingchallenge.comLaunch contact: PhoebeDarqueling@gmail.comSteampunk, steam punk, book, novel, release, launch, collaboration, collaborative, airship, captain, pilot, tinkerer, science, science fiction, fantasy, crossover, mashup, gaslamp, brass, automaton, conspiracy, king, lord, Army of Brass
When the mad conqueror haunting Elaina's dreams invades her adopted homeland, the real nightmare becomes what she's willing to do to stop him.The dreaded Hunter Baron has landed on the shores of Mailderet, but Master Tinkerer Elaina Gable believes she has the solution. Giant automatons sit rusting in the valley, waiting for someone with the drive and ingenuity to bring them to life. But the king, swayed by the destruction his ancestors wrought centuries before, harbors a deep-seated fear of the machines. Though he will not allow the alliance of Tinkerers and Smiths to complete the work, Elaina resolves to bring the machines back to life in secret—with the help of a famous airship pilot.From the safety of the swamps, a woman with silver skin jealously guards the secrets of the automatons. Though the Silver Woman also wishes the past to remain buried, she must weigh the value of secrecy against the thousands of innocents her hesitation might send to the grave.As they discover the link between the toxic valley and the inner workings of the automatons, Elaina and her allies are drawn into a web of deceit threatening the balance of power across two continents—and proving the truth behind the deadly legends surrounding the Army of Brass.Read Chapter 1 NOW on Steampunk JournalPre-orderyour ebook copy of Army of Brass for $.99 and receive it on Friday, April 27!Plus, Join us on Facebook April 28-29 to meet the writers, participate in giveaways, and more!Speaking of giveaways, we’ve got one going on for the entire blog tour, so between April 13-May 13, enter to win ebooks from our writers.Collaborative Writing Challenge: www.collaborativewritingchallenge.comEmail: cwc@collaborativewritingchallenge.comLaunch contact: PhoebeDarqueling@gmail.comSteampunk, steam punk, book, novel, release, launch, collaboration, collaborative, airship, captain, pilot, tinkerer, science, science fiction, fantasy, crossover, mashup, gaslamp, brass, automaton, conspiracy, king, lord, Army of Brass
April 12, 2018
Book Review: Monster Huntress by David Wiley
Hello Lovelies, I am honored to participate in the tour for Monster Huntress, the first book in the Young Huntress series by David Wiley. This tour has been a ton of fun so far, with character spotlights, articles on world building, and more fun. Check out the other stops at the Virtual Tour Masterlist. Here is my review!
Genre: Epic YA FantasySynopsis: Consecrated with her mother’s blood and blessing.The world tells Ava she’s just a little girl who should know her place, but Ava wants a sword not a crown.Ava and her father are following in her mother’s footsteps, hunting monsters in the 13 Kingdoms, seeking revenge for her mother’s untimely death. Little do they know that the monster responsible is building up a dangerous force. When The King requests the help of Ava’s father in exchange for her becoming a princess, Ava is not pleased. Can Ava escape her fate and the obnoxious prince of Harborg to live the life she’s always known, or will the dark plans of the monster catch her in his trap.David Wiley combines the action of Tomb Raider with the fantastical elements of The Witcher to create the exciting world of The Young Huntress high fantasy series.Track down Monster Huntress today and slay your need for good fantasy.
My Take: Y'all, I am so in love with Ava. OMG! Seriously, this 13 year old is my hero. She is everything I wanted to be as a kid. I remember playing with sticks as swords and hunting down dragons and wargs and other monsters. I just wasn't an adorable red head! But the underlying story of the loss of her mother, the memory of her father's behavior before her mother's death, his gruffness with her and teaching her to be "tough" were heartbreaking. I LOVED her reaction to being forced to stay behind in a palace with servants while her dad went off to hunt a dragon (or was it?!) and I am right with her about Flynn, what a creep! When she rescues Mouser from him, I was cheering her on! I adored Mouser and hope we get to see more of him. I also adored Edgar. I definitely want to see more of him! Can't wait to get the paperback for my own little monster hunter to enjoy and am very much looking forward to the next book in this awesome series! I enjoyed this story so very much, that I am doing a little giveaway over on the Facebook event. If you love board games and fantasy fun, then you should definitely check it out on the pinned post. Wanna give Monster Huntress a read? It is available for pre-order for only $2.99. The price will go to $4.99 when the book releases April 21st. Until next time, Keep Reading!
Genre: Epic YA FantasySynopsis: Consecrated with her mother’s blood and blessing.The world tells Ava she’s just a little girl who should know her place, but Ava wants a sword not a crown.Ava and her father are following in her mother’s footsteps, hunting monsters in the 13 Kingdoms, seeking revenge for her mother’s untimely death. Little do they know that the monster responsible is building up a dangerous force. When The King requests the help of Ava’s father in exchange for her becoming a princess, Ava is not pleased. Can Ava escape her fate and the obnoxious prince of Harborg to live the life she’s always known, or will the dark plans of the monster catch her in his trap.David Wiley combines the action of Tomb Raider with the fantastical elements of The Witcher to create the exciting world of The Young Huntress high fantasy series.Track down Monster Huntress today and slay your need for good fantasy.My Take: Y'all, I am so in love with Ava. OMG! Seriously, this 13 year old is my hero. She is everything I wanted to be as a kid. I remember playing with sticks as swords and hunting down dragons and wargs and other monsters. I just wasn't an adorable red head! But the underlying story of the loss of her mother, the memory of her father's behavior before her mother's death, his gruffness with her and teaching her to be "tough" were heartbreaking. I LOVED her reaction to being forced to stay behind in a palace with servants while her dad went off to hunt a dragon (or was it?!) and I am right with her about Flynn, what a creep! When she rescues Mouser from him, I was cheering her on! I adored Mouser and hope we get to see more of him. I also adored Edgar. I definitely want to see more of him! Can't wait to get the paperback for my own little monster hunter to enjoy and am very much looking forward to the next book in this awesome series! I enjoyed this story so very much, that I am doing a little giveaway over on the Facebook event. If you love board games and fantasy fun, then you should definitely check it out on the pinned post. Wanna give Monster Huntress a read? It is available for pre-order for only $2.99. The price will go to $4.99 when the book releases April 21st. Until next time, Keep Reading!
March 25, 2018
Book Review: Darker Daze: The Storms Within by A.L. Mabry
Hello Lovelies, I am so excited to be part of the Darker Daze tour for A.L. Mabry! This is such an awesome collection of Dark stories. Full confession, this is published by my publishing house. OWS Ink LLC, and I am the project manager for this book, meaning I helped with editing and all that such. So I won't comment on that aspect of it, because I am probably biased ;) 
But I absolutely love this book and A.L. Mabry, so let's get started with the honest review. 
Genre: Dark short story collection. Synopsis: Darker Daze: The Storms within is a collection of short stories that explore that darker side of the human condition. Each story pulsates with tragedy and a sense of desperate hope that only the suffering could understand. Ms. Mabry weaves personal experiences into fictional webs in a way that draws the reader in for a hug, then punches them in the gut. While these stories may be too emotionally charged for some readers, they give voices to the voiceless among us.Do not shrink away, the demons are not yours...or are they?My Take: Y'all, these stories are... dark. Gripping. Kind of awful, and yet so good! There are 10 stories in total, and as with any collection, some are amazing, others are just ok or didn't grab me. So here are my favorites, in no particular order:Sweet Release was a wicked punch, because it is about a woman living in an abusive relationship with a plan to escape. The end... I just... tears, y'all. Belladona, wow. so dark. As one who has seen up close how pedophilia destroys lives, this story had me ROOTING for the antagonist! Sibling Rivalry had my heart in my throat, as any parent in a blended family can relate to the fear of conflict.Beneath Salem... I cried again. Seeing ignorance and hate so real and brought to life is just... it made me sick and sad, and was so real!Rooftops and Teardrops- Again, with seeing first hand how sexual abuse destroys lives... the ending, it just... tears. The Next Best Seller- I actually first read this story before I became business partners with A.L. Mabry. I
knew she was a practicing Wiccan and this story kind of gave me chills. I was like, nope! Lol. But even after knowing Amanda and how sweet and good she is, this story still gives me chills. As an author, I could relate to the jealousy of the MC, but when she goes dark... holy crap! Now for the ones that didn't grip me. Again, this is just personal taste. They were well-written, I just didn't connect to them as well as the others. Last Call- It's dark and I just couldn't feel anything but meh for the MC or the girl. Bonita- I felt sorry for the MC, but couldn't really connect with her reasons or purpose. The ending was just a tragic Deus Ex. (Intended, not bad writing.) The Last View: I was heartbroken for the MC, but his choice was just one I couldn't connect with, which is weird because I've written similar stories. But mine were left with a sense of hope. Did she or didn't she... This was quite final. More than Stolen Hearts- Kid was an idiot and deserved what he got. (I've become the grumpy old man, "Get off my lawn!" Lol) But all in all, a great read! I will warn readers, this is a very dark collection. There is violence, death, some pretty heavy topic matter including murder, child abuse, abuse, rape, and revenge. The only one that is graphically sexually explicit is Last Call. Definitely not one I would recommend to my mother or my children. But if you like exploring the darker side of the written word and thinking on whether they deserve what they get, this is definitely a thought-provoking collection. You can pre-order Darker Daze: The Storms Within on Amazon for only $2.99and be sure to join the tour and get to know more about the stories and the author. It will be a ton of fun! Until next time, Keep Reading!
But I absolutely love this book and A.L. Mabry, so let's get started with the honest review. Genre: Dark short story collection. Synopsis: Darker Daze: The Storms within is a collection of short stories that explore that darker side of the human condition. Each story pulsates with tragedy and a sense of desperate hope that only the suffering could understand. Ms. Mabry weaves personal experiences into fictional webs in a way that draws the reader in for a hug, then punches them in the gut. While these stories may be too emotionally charged for some readers, they give voices to the voiceless among us.Do not shrink away, the demons are not yours...or are they?My Take: Y'all, these stories are... dark. Gripping. Kind of awful, and yet so good! There are 10 stories in total, and as with any collection, some are amazing, others are just ok or didn't grab me. So here are my favorites, in no particular order:Sweet Release was a wicked punch, because it is about a woman living in an abusive relationship with a plan to escape. The end... I just... tears, y'all. Belladona, wow. so dark. As one who has seen up close how pedophilia destroys lives, this story had me ROOTING for the antagonist! Sibling Rivalry had my heart in my throat, as any parent in a blended family can relate to the fear of conflict.Beneath Salem... I cried again. Seeing ignorance and hate so real and brought to life is just... it made me sick and sad, and was so real!Rooftops and Teardrops- Again, with seeing first hand how sexual abuse destroys lives... the ending, it just... tears. The Next Best Seller- I actually first read this story before I became business partners with A.L. Mabry. Iknew she was a practicing Wiccan and this story kind of gave me chills. I was like, nope! Lol. But even after knowing Amanda and how sweet and good she is, this story still gives me chills. As an author, I could relate to the jealousy of the MC, but when she goes dark... holy crap! Now for the ones that didn't grip me. Again, this is just personal taste. They were well-written, I just didn't connect to them as well as the others. Last Call- It's dark and I just couldn't feel anything but meh for the MC or the girl. Bonita- I felt sorry for the MC, but couldn't really connect with her reasons or purpose. The ending was just a tragic Deus Ex. (Intended, not bad writing.) The Last View: I was heartbroken for the MC, but his choice was just one I couldn't connect with, which is weird because I've written similar stories. But mine were left with a sense of hope. Did she or didn't she... This was quite final. More than Stolen Hearts- Kid was an idiot and deserved what he got. (I've become the grumpy old man, "Get off my lawn!" Lol) But all in all, a great read! I will warn readers, this is a very dark collection. There is violence, death, some pretty heavy topic matter including murder, child abuse, abuse, rape, and revenge. The only one that is graphically sexually explicit is Last Call. Definitely not one I would recommend to my mother or my children. But if you like exploring the darker side of the written word and thinking on whether they deserve what they get, this is definitely a thought-provoking collection. You can pre-order Darker Daze: The Storms Within on Amazon for only $2.99and be sure to join the tour and get to know more about the stories and the author. It will be a ton of fun! Until next time, Keep Reading!
