Ellie Potts's Blog, page 75

In Jen's Words Blitz Day!!

If you haven't checked it out check it out now!Jennifer and Justin Barnes have been raised by their older brother Jacob since they were teenagers…little did Jacob know, he was raising a third personality as well.
The Barnes have been through it all. The loss of their parents in a car crash, rape, and incarceration. But nothing could prepare them for what they are about to deal with.
When Jacob decides to run for mayor of Springwood, Ohio someone else decides to haunt him and his family, using his younger sister’s alter personality as leverage in their game.
After Jen’s mental disorder is made public, the first of many shocking revelations are made, including who her biological father really is. She is ordered into custody in the mental health wing of Springwood Memorial as a case is built against her for the murder of Davis Cauley, a former local news anchor
Jacob gets his sister released in time for the holidays, only for another murder to occur. The body of Brenda Sowers, Davis Cauley’s sister is found in Mercy Park, the same area where her brother was found—in a storage shed, with hedge clippers in his back, and Jen across from him with no memory of what happened.
More incriminating evidence links Jen to Brenda’s murder, as Black Friday looms. The big weekend draws Jacob to the mall, where he’s in for another surprise. A photo of his brother sent to his phone reveals another huge secret, involving all of Springwood.
As the Barnes recover from what has been a very turbulent Fall, other secrets are lurking and waiting to be revealed as a family faces a trial of issues to come.

Buy links: No Boundaries Press / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords
About the Author:Jennifer Brown lives in Springfield Ohio, and has written since third grade. She was taught to read at an early age and fell in love with books, mainly mysteries. Her love of books grew, and in the summer before she started high school she wrote her longest story, halfway filling an old school notebook. In high school she started to enter writing contests, and in her junior and senior years joined the Herald staff becoming entertainment editor over her high school newspaper.
After graduating, with a few writing contest awards under her belt she attended college a year later, and was urged by her English instructor to join the college paper. She did, writing a few reviews of restaraunts and movies, as well as writing a review of her first Alanis Morissette concert. A few years later she was asked to take the position of entertainment editor.
At 37, Jennifer has written several stories and has many more in store for readers. When she is not writing she likes reading, working on computer graphics, editing photos, listening to music, and brainstorming for new ideas!
WebsiteExcerpt:

After speaking his sister’s name several times into the receiver, with no response, Jacob hung up. He tried calling back, but got a busy signal.
He hadn’t talked to Danny for more than five minutes. She couldn’t have gotten tired of waiting for him.
He sat down on an armchair nearby, trying to tell himself this was nothing. But ever since Scott had shown up at the store earlier, he felt a little on edge. Scott was the last person either of them needed to see at this time. Just seeing him brought back all the anger he felt back then.
He could still remember that night. He was at work, trying to close up for the evening. He had been running late because Dan had gone home sick and he had gotten swamped with computers needing repaired.
Justin had been the one to reach him. He had been home and got the call from the police. Their sister had been raped. They needed Jacob to come to the hospital. He had been so upset, he nearly forgot to lock up the store when he left.
The moment he laid eyes on Jen, he could have crumbled. She had a few cuts and bruises on her arms and face, but she said she had done that on some bushes trying to get away from Scott. The police had said the cuts were consistent with those of a thorn bush. But it didn’t matter to Jacob. He had been responsible for her, and he screwed up. Even though she was of age, and she was no longer his responsibility, he still felt every bit that she was.
What would ensue from that moment on, was months of tension and emotional turmoil. The case went to court, and the argument went back and forth. His sister said she told him no, she passed out and he did it anyway. She woke up to find him pulling out of her. Scott said she seemed to become a totally different person and gave in to him, was willing. He never forced anything on her, even though he did admit to being drunk. His arrest report said his blood alcohol level was .12, while his sister’s barely made it to .08. It seemed to be a sure thing he would go down for the crime, until one of the jurors posted a blog about the trial. As a consequence, Adams’ lawyer got the judge to declare a mistrial.
Jacob willed himself to stop thinking about it. Just because Scott was in his store didn’t mean something had happened to his sister. Shaking inside, he got up, grabbed his keys and went out the door.

Talk about execution (of projects ☺)

So earlier this week I talked about my book bible. Which I a main part of the execution of my projects. So first I go with the story that screams to be made, second I map it out and come up with characters, third I put it all together in my book bible, fourth I write when I can, fifth I finish and put it aside and do something else for a while. Then I go back through and edit it.  Sounds easy right? Not so much.

What Inspires You? And In The Mirror By Melissa Darby giveaway!

Inspiration is a real life scene, wonderful music, a great book, a true story that either motivated you or scared you. Below are just some random things that inspire me. :o)




Music that inspires me depends on my mood. I love classical music to classic rock to classic R&B. I love general rock to heavy rock to metal. I love music because it is one thing that can touch my soul in a way a beautiful picture can. Something wondrous added with the right words and a great guitar.
Guilty Pleasure Music Inspiration:


[image error] Today I am giving away a e-copy of In the Mirror a book of Poetry by Melissa Darby. 
The Girl I'm the girl they want But they never want to keep I'm left standing cold The wind rips through my soul I'm the girl they don't think twice to leave behind My tears become icicles an empty heart I walk through the icy waters Waiting for the warmth Lingering words Hurtful light I'm the girl they want But never want to keep They never put up a fight I've been bruised while they walk off without a scratch Or an honest goodbye I'm left wading in all their lies 

Poetry is real emotion drawing from inspiration. Poetry can be seen in everything including music. All you have to do is post a picture of something that inspires you, a small poem or a real life story.

Some News

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Check out this great giveaway!!!
Take a look at these 32 Books of Romance from the sweet & loving to the dark & paranormal. Something for everyone just in time for Valentine's Day!
Enter at http://www.kimscottbooks.com/valentines-giveaway

I had a great time at Sabrina's Paranormal Palace who did an Author Spotlight on me:
http://sabrinasparanormalpalace.blogspot.com/2013/01/author-spotlight-with-ellie-potts.html?spref=tw

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I got a silver star on Omnilit for Flights of Delusion! Those shiny stars are how they designate books that have achieved Best Seller status, either as a Top 10 or Category Best Seller!! This chick is super excited!!
https://www.omnilit.com/product-flightsofdelusion-1009370-235.html

I will be helping out over at the No Boundaries Press blog pretty soon. So look forward to seeing more author interaction and more great stuff coming this year.
http://noboundariespress.com/



Next month there is an heartthrob book hop I will be taking part of. I am trying to work out the giveaway now. I have some special things in the works. I am also putting together a little something for a fellow NBP author who is doing an anti-valentines day horror week. So look for that coming soon. I will let you all know when those go live. I have a guest blog coming up on Author Toy Davis's blog.

In the Red Blitz day!

[image error] Read all about In the Red By Selah Janel!!
[image error] Live like a rock star. Dance ‘til you die. Are you in?
Blurb What kind of a rock star lives in a small town in the middle of nowhere and plays at weddings and funerals? That’s what Jeremiah Kensington is thinking after an unsuccessful bar gig one night. Then Jack Scratch comes into his life, ready to represent him and launch him to stardom. Jack can give him everything: a new band, a new name, a new life, a new look, and new boots…although they aren’t exactly new. They once belonged to The One, a rocker so legendary and so mysterious that it’s urban legend that he used black magic to gain success. But what does Jeremiah care about urban legend? And it’s probably just coincidence that the shoes make him dance better than anyone, even if it doesn’t always feel like he’s controlling his movements. It’s no big deal that he plunges into a world of excess and decadence as soon as he puts the shoes on his feet, right?But what happens when they refuse to come off?
Excerpt They’re mine. I’m really holding them, Jeremiah realized. I’m holding history that isn’t supposed to exist. When The One took the stage, any competition turned tail and ran. It was said that the one time the singer revealed what he looked like the crowds were moved to tears by his beauty and sophistication, and tore each other apart because they couldn’t get to him. Some said it was a conspiracy that complete copies of his songs didn’t exist because the music was too potent to release to the public. There were people who still worshipped the mystery, the music, the outfits, and the boots.
And now those people would come to him.
“Go on. Try them on,” Jack encouraged. Jeremiah nodded and carefully put the platforms on the floor. Shaking with nerves, the youth sat and guided his feet into the cherry red sheaths. Electricity crackled along his instep and through his toes. He tugged the vinyl up over his calf and gasped. Jeremiah was overtaken by a sudden burn, a sudden ant-crawling of power that worked its way through his skin and into his very soul.
“What the—” he choked. The plastic spasmed, tightened around his foot, and then relaxed. The left boot stretched itself a little higher up his calf and extended its sole and heel a little more to adapt to his needs. Jeremiah thought he had imagined it, but the right boot immediately followed suit. The matching sets of the laces squirmed and rippled, settling into a slightly different pattern than when they were taken out of their box. A quick look around proved that while everyone in the room was looking, Jack was the only other person that actually saw. “Did they just…?” Jeremiah couldn’t bring himself to say something so bizarre. He barely managed to hold back a cry when a thousand tiny needle teeth nibbled his skin from toes to knees. A tingling sensation spread under his skin and Jeremiah was filled with a rush of violent confidence that almost made him swoon.
“Good. They fit,” Jack said. Only his tiny, mysteriously cruel little smile hinted that he was aware of the boots’ strange behavior.
The longer Jeremiah looked at himself the more he realized that he could do no wrong. My life just changed. With these on my feet, my past is gone. I’m going to be better than I ever thought possible.
All around him the yes-men and hangers-on gaped.
“You look so good!” the store footman practically swooned. His vinyl and lace frock coat danced under the fluttering movements of his hands. His sharp, pale face flushed with excitement underneath the stylized Victorian wig.
“I’m gonna cry you look so good!” the blonde assistant squealed, gripping Jack’s knee as if she’d keel over if she didn’t have it there to support her. “It’s like I’m witnessing history!”
The faces that surround him were positively thunderstruck and at his mercy. The camera kept right on clicking. Jeremiah got to his feet and struck a few more ambitious poses, dropping into a low crouch before kicking a leg up in an insane bastardization of a round kick.  It didn’t matter that he’d grown up looking like every other average guy in Middle America. It didn’t matter that he’d been more accustomed to cotton T-shirts and washed-out blue jeans than the clothes Jack had him wearing. The overall look wasn’t complete, but the boots pulled everything together. The added height evened out his lanky proportions. In some unlikely way the platforms made his stubble-sporting, angular face look downright exotic. His eyes blazed liquid brown heat and his dishwater hair almost glowed under the dressing room lights.
Jeremiah sashayed around the tiny space and leapt onto the low podium at the room’s center, full of a burning drive to do something. He wanted to sing. He wanted to rock. He wanted to dance, and he’d never had that sort of urge before in his life. Every school dance he’d ever gone to had involved him either playing in the band or drinking contraband beverages with his friends outside the building. “Guess I’m a natural!” he laughed. He knew he was lying, Jack knew he was lying, but there was no reason for anyone else to know the truth. Why bother with the truth when the image in the mirror was so much better?
He had expected his balance to be shaky in the tall platforms, but it was like the boots were built for him. He hadn't thought to check the size. Maybe The One wasn't the original owner; maybe they conformed to whoever wore them. Jeremiah’s face glowed when he looked at his mirror image. His reflection looked as giddy and ecstatic as he felt. Why do I care what they are? If they work, they work! His eyes dropped to the new footwear. He was just able to see the tiny, warped image of his face in the shiny toes. Everything’s going to be amazing from now on. As he admired his distorted image via his feet,  all of his hang-ups and personality drained out of him. Who needs a personality with boots like these?
Jack Scratch watched his protégé glided round the room, that same tiny, dangerous smile just barely curling his full mouth. "Just think. What you have on represents everything that you want to be," he coached. His words drilled through the rocker's ears and hardwired themselves into the deepest parts of Jeremiah’s heart and soul. "They’re everything you want on your side. These boots are temptation and chaos, just like you. I've got it," he declared. "I've got your name."
"Give it to me," a raspy voice in front of the mirror breathed.
"Forget Jeremiah Kensington: folk singer, blue jean rocker, country boy, small town loser,” Jack breathed, his giant hands fervently patting down his front until he found which jacket pocket his cigarettes were hidden in. It was amazing that he didn’t gouge himself in the chest given the sharpened tip of the massive silver ring that enveloped his right forefinger. The manager leaned back against the sofa and lit up, never once taking his eyes off his new golden boy and meal ticket. “From now on you are J.K. Asmodeus, rock star and corrupter of the masses." A thin plume of smoke stretched up to frame his intense expression.
J.K. looked from Jack to the man in the mirror, saw how the red glitter of the boots was echoed in his eyes. "Yes."
The two ignored the gasps and commentary around them as everyone texted photos and alerted the necessary paparazzi. The pair shared a slow smile as Jack inhaled another draw of nicotine. “It’s time to sign,” he murmured. The smoke crept in front of his face and turned his pleased expression into something that bordered on animalistic. He removed the top sheet of the stack he’d been examining and held it out to the younger man.
I should wait and consult a lawyer. I should take my time. These things need to be done with care, a distant echo of a Midwestern conscience chided. J.K. ignored it, grinned back at his manager, and reached for the fountain pen the manager handed him. His expression was almost as malevolent as Jack’s, though there were still traces of wholesomeness that had yet to drain away. “Let’s do it.”
Available in Various E-Book Formats at the Following Places:
No Boundaries Press Store (various formats):http://noboundariespressstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=63_67&products_id=224
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/In-the-Red-ebook/dp/B0094K5V4C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346814882&sr=8-2&keywords=selah+janel
Novel Nook https://novelnook.com/genre-menu/fantasy-books/In-the-Red.htm

Barnes and Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-red-selah-janel/1112737343?ean=2940015121148


Author Bio: Selah Janel has been blessed with a giant imagination since she was little and convinced that fairies lived in the nearby state park or vampires hid in the abandoned barns outside of town. Her appreciation for a good story was enhanced by a love of reading, the many talented storytellers that surrounded her, and a healthy curiosity for everything. A talent for warping everything she learned didn’t hurt, either. She gravitates to writing fantasy and horror, but can be convinced to pursue any genre if the idea is good enough. Often her stories feature the unknown creeping into the “real” world and she loves to find the magical in the mundane. She has four e-books with No Boundaries Press, including the historical vampire story ‘Mooner’ and the contemporary short ‘The Other Man’.  Her work has also been included in ‘The MacGuffin’, ‘The Realm Beyond’, ‘Stories for Children Magazine’, and the upcoming Wicked East Press anthology ‘Bedtime Stories for Girls’. She likes her music to rock, her vampires lethal, her fairies to play mind games, and her princesses to hold their own.
Catch up with Selah and all her ongoing projects at the following places: Blog – http://www.selahjanel.wordpress.comFandom Scene Column – http://www.fandomfestblog.com/blogs/selah-janelFacebook Author Page – http://www.facebook.com/authorSJFacebook Book Page – http://www.facebook.com/intherednovelGoodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5622096.Selah_JanelAmazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.com/Selah-Janel/e/B0074DKC9K/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1346815995&sr=1-2-entTwitter – http://www.twitter.com/SelahJanel

Websites:You Gotta ReadA Little Bit of R&RLaurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews Intoxicated by BooksStorm Goddess Boom ReviewsBooks-n-Kisses

My Book Bible-One of my writing niches.

For each book I create a book bible. Which is usually a note pad or binder depending on the story or if it is a series. The first part has the blurb, synopsis and plot likes and notes I would like to see in the next chapter. The next part is character sheets. Main characters in the front all the way to characters who are just there. In there I like to describe them, relations, jobs and ambitions in the story. As the story moves along I note their changes. The third part is places and things. In the book bible for Space Rebels I have marigold, the moon, mars, moons, asteroid belts. In The Unicorn and The Serpent I have medieval jobs and names and of course the place. So pretty much part three is the world building section. Part 4 is usually a writing diary. Date and word counts and things to remember for editing. Everyone has their little thing.

So tell me do you have a niche to help you start a story?

2012 was a good year.

I had three short books come out. I remember writing them, and how many emotions I went through. I hated them at points, loved them too much, and argued with the characters.

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Space Rebels- Space Sci-fi- May 2012

In the future the earth is in a civil war against the rich and the poor. People have escaped off to the Moon or the new colonies on Mars to get away from the fighting. On a cargo ship a group of misfits are trying to stay away from the war, but soon they are thrown back into it whether they like it or not.





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The Unicorn & The Serpent-Fantasy Romance- September 2012

Princess Morgan, wild and fiery, heir to her father’s throne, can best any man with a sword. Now a woman she is fearful of being Queen and marriage. But when visitors from a different kingdom show up Morgan is faced with big changes. Faced with loss, love and some touches of magic Morgan has to become the Queen she is meant to be or succumb to a life worse than death.



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Flights of Delusion: A collection of short stories-Sci-fi/fantasy/horror-November 2012

Take a walk with a crying stranger, sit down to play chess with a strange old man, see what happens when Lucifer has an eye on you, or watch what happens when you win in a future lottery. Meet monsters, mutants and demons in Flight of Delusion, a collection of short stories that range from the weird to the scary.

Changing it up a bit.

I was supposed to share something on social media. :o/ I am still learning what works and what doesn't. This question will probably best be answered next year.

So instead I am going to share a hot and steamy scene from my upcoming book Awaken the Elements.


“Wow,” he whispered.

She laughed and latched her throbbing lips to Rivers. He kissed her back with the need of the magic. His hands grabbed her pulling her to his lap. He stopped the kiss much to her frustration and Rowan helped him remove her shirt. His mouth ravished hers. She secondly felt as Rowan unhooked her bra. He kissed a shoulder as he slid a strap off. When it had fell away his hands greedily grabbed her breasts. His lips kissed along her neck. Her skin tingled with each touch, making her ache with inner longing for more. She could feel the magic lesson as her body shivered with need. She wiggled on River’s lap making it moan in her mouth.

Where I come from

They say the place that you grew up can make a person who they are. I grew up in a small town. In that small town I witnessed life, love and death. I watched this small town drain the life out of people. I saw it make people addicts and killers and the worst of all victims. In my creative writing class in college I was asked to make a poem, and I am not very good at poetry. The teacher said take a word and repeat it. I changed the town's name but I can vouch that this is a mostly true story.


Casper, Town of Needles



[image error] Casper, the town of dreams. The town of nightmares. The town of a thousand dreamy nightmares. All who stalk the town with hatchets and sledgehammers, thanks to dingy dope filled needles.

Casper, the town of psycho clowns, and the tiny midgets who beat them. The incorporated town with one streetlight by the post office. One gas station, four bars, and three liquor stores.

Casper, the home of crackheads who don’t give a damn. The town of a million children running around the dirt roads with bare feet, runny noses and head lice. The schools filled with teachers who would like to give a damn, but they don’t live in Casper.

Casper, where no one dares to stop. The cops don’t even wink an eye or turn to look. The town where everything runs illegal, and the oldest sibling of six is trying to buy her baby brother some diapers with twenty food stamps.

Casper, the town of forgotten dreams. The dream, when I grow up, leaves you when you turn ten. The cruel streets are harsh to play on. The drugs are real. The threat is real, but the psycho clowns are only in their heads as the dingy dope filled needles play along their skin.

You can find this as well as other stories kind of like this one in Flights of Delusion my short story book.
Buy Link:
http://noboundariespressstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=258
It is also available on nook and for kindle.

Something I wish I'd thought of?

We live in a time where people want to redo things to bring it back. I have no urge to redo anything, or wish I did something. That was someone's else's idea. I love people's ideas. Fresh and new and alive. Move on show me what you have and I will show you mine. Shock me, scare me, make me fall in love but just don't repeat it. Be bold try something new and I bet people will like it.

Tell me something you wish you'd have thought of?