Ashley Stoyanoff's Blog, page 9

Upcoming Projects

First off, I’d like to say thank you to all you awesome readers who have been emailing me. I love hearing from you all. :)  

Since the same question keeps coming up in the emails I thought I'd share it.    The big question is, will there be another book in The Soul’s Mark Series?  The answer is yes. 

I have two projects in the works right now, both of which are at the planning/first draft stages. The first one is the last book of The Soul’s Mark Series. The characters have been a wonderful cast to play with, but I feel that it’s time to say goodbye to them. At this point, I do not have an anticipated release date, but as soon as I do, you all will be the first to know.

The second project I’m working on is only at the seedling stage. I’m having a blast developing a whole new cast of characters. I know it will be a trilogy, and I have completed a very rough outline for each book, but at this point I cannot share anymore.

I promise to keep you all updated as soon as I have something solid to share.  

Happy Reading!
 

 

2013 Indie/Small Press Reading Challenge Link Round-up (1)

So, for this challenge, my goal is to read 50 Indie/Small Press books in 2013. I’ve found some really fantastic books this year with the challenge, and some new favorite authors. Check out the below list, you may just find your next favorite book, too.

Note: Titles are listed in the order I read them. All titles are linked to my Goodreads review, and author names are linked to their Goodreads author page. All purchase information/links are from Amazon.com.


The Books















1 – Exposing Kitty Langley by DeAnna Kinney
(Purchase this eBook for $1.99: here)

2 – Finding Abigail by Christina Smith
(Purchase this eBook for $2.99: here)

3 – Loving Lily Lavender by DeAnna Kinney
(Purchase this eBook for $1.99: here)

4 – The Cape Beanery Chronicles (The Doorknob Society Novella of Short Stories) by M.J. Fletcher
(Purchase this eBook for $2.99: here)

5 – Assimilate by Emily Jack Hayden
(Purchase this eBook for $2.99: here)

6 – The Star Dwellers (The Dwellers, #2) by David Estes
(Purchase this eBook for $3.03: here)

7 – The Wedding of Antanasia Jessica Packwood and Lucius Valeriu by Beth Fantaskey
(Read it free on the author’s website: here)

8 – Lyrics of the Heart by Alexandra Lanc
(Purchase this eBook for $3.99: here)

9 – The Detective Inspectors (The Doorknob Society, #4) by M.J. Fletcher
(Purchase this eBook for $4.99: here)

10 – Luathara (The Otherworld Trilogy, #3) by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
(Purchase this eBook for $3.99: here)

11 – Night Visions (Night Series, #1) by Elena Gray
(Purchase this eBook for $2.99: here)

12 – The Chords of Change by Alexandra Lanc
(Purchase this eBook for $2.99: here)

13 – Bounty for Hunter (Bounty, #1) by A.J. Williams
(Purchase this eBook for $0.99: here)

14 – Of Silk and Fire by Allie Brennan
(Purchase this eBook for $0.99: here)

How are your reading challenges going?  Has any of you found some new awesome books?


Happy Reading!

Waking Dreams Now Available ~ Free on Smashwords.com

Hey Everyone!

Waking Dreams is now available for FREE on Smashwords! (all eBook formats)

Click Here to get your copy today.


Synopsis
In The Soul’s Mark, Eric Carter felt a burning spark when he first laid eyes on Amelia Caldwell. There was just something about her—something familiar—that pulled him to her. The problem was acting on the spark was suicide. Amelia was marked for his father.

Eric had been around for a long time, and before Amelia, life happened. One day he was a simple rancher and then the next, he was thrust into a world that he had never known existed, and dreaming of a girl that he knew he couldn’t live without.

In this novella, Eric Carter’s history is revealed.

Note: Coming soon to Amazon.com and other online retailers.




Quick Blog Tour Update
This is the last week for The Soul's Mark: FOUND Blog Tour.  Don’t forget to stop by some of these AWESOME blogs to read some excerpts and reviews, and while you’re there, you can enter the tour wide giveaway. :)

Week 4 Tour Schedule
April 14: Makayla's Book Reviews
April 15: Chapter by Chapter
April 16: Deal Sharing Aunt
April 17: Libby's Library
April 19: Black Lion Tours Blog


Happy Reading!

The middle of the night

Lately, I’ve been getting up in the middle of the night to write. I don’t mean that I’ve been setting an alarm or anything like that. I just wake up. For a few nights, I forced myself to stay in bed with my eyes closed, hoping that sleep would come.

It didn’t. 

Instead of sleep, all I could think about was this new idea I’ve been working on (something different than The Soul’s Mark). So finally, I decided to get up. I just had to get the ideas out of my head.

See, the thing is, for the last few years I’ve been a day person. I like having a schedule: get up, go out, work, write, read, sleep … I like organization and plans. That’s why I create 20 + outlines for each book I write. For me, organization is the key.

But … I love what I’ve come up with in the wee hours of the morning, and I’m starting to think that there just might be something to this staying up all night thing.

What about you, guys … do you have a favorite time to read/write? Have you woken up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep until you did whatever it was that woke you up? Let me know. :)

Blog Tour: The Soul's Mark: FOUND (Week 3)

Hey Everyone!

Here is the schedule for Week 3 of The Soul’s Mark: FOUND Blog Tour. When you have a chance, stop by some of these AWESOME blogs to read some excerpts and reviews of The Soul’s Mark: FOUND, and while you’re there, you can enter the tour wide giveaway. :)

Week 3 Tour Schedule
April 7: Bunny Reviews Blog
April 8: Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
April 10: My Serynity
April 12: A Book Lover's Library
April 13: Characterized Blog

The Giveaway Prizes Include:
3 paperback copies of The Soul's Mark: FOUND
1 $25 e-gift card for Amazon
1 $25 e-gift card for GelaSkins

I hope to see you all there. :)

Stacking the Shelves (6)

Stacking the Shelves, a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This mean you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks.

Note: All title's link back to goodreads.


The  new additions to my  physical book shelf are …

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) by Maggie Stiefvater
Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater


The new additions to my virtual book shelf are …

The Chords of Change by Alexandra Lanc
Forbidden: Discover the Legend (Wolf Sirens #1) by Tina Smith
Coinage of Commitment by Robert Costelloe


What did you get this week?

Cover Reveal and Excerpt: Waking Dreams, A Soul's Mark Novella

Last month, I told you all that I was working on a Soul’s Mark novella all about Eric Carter. Well, I’m so excited to tell you guys … it’s finished and is now in the good hands of my editor. So, without further blabbing from me, today I’d like to share the cover of Waking Dreams, and a sneak peek chapter.


Enjoy!








































Synopsis 
In The Soul’s Mark, Eric Carter felt a burning spark when he first laid eyes on Amelia Caldwell.  There was just something about her—something familiar—that pulled him to her.  The problem was acting on the spark was suicide.  Amelia was marked for his father.

Eric had been around for a long time, and before Amelia, life happened.  One day he was a simple rancher and then the next, he was thrust into a world that he had never known existed, and dreaming of a girl that he knew he couldn’t live without. 


In this novella, Eric Carter’s history is revealed.


Read on for a sneak peek chapter.  :)


CHAPTER 1

Sterling snorted, and her left ear twitched to the side.  “What do you hear, girl?” Eric asked, stroking his mare’s thick neck.  His teeth chattered, and his breath puffed out in a cloud of white fog.  She jumped to the right, and pawed at the snowy ground, with jittery, nervous strikes.  Her ears pinned flat against her neck, and she glared at the tree line.

Eric searched the ice-encrusted trees for what may have spooked his horse, but he saw nothing.  Creaks and cracks from the trees drifted to his ears, as the branches sagged under the weight of the ice, but aside from that, the forest was silent and still.  He stroked her mane and cooed calming words to her, and after a moment, she began to settle.

Giving her a gentle nudge, he reined Sterling back to the fence.  A gust of frosty wind blew through the field, and a shiver prickled over his skin.  It had been a long day, rounding up the cattle that had gotten loose during the ice storm last night.  Now, if he could just find the broken place in the fence and mend it, he would finally be able to get back into the warmth of his ranch house.

Sterling walked along the rails slowly, picking her footing with care.  The sun shone brightly, winking upon the icy ground and making the field look like a sea of glittering gems.  Breathtaking.  It was sights like this that reminded Eric why he had chosen to live so far from the village, on his own, surrounded by nature.  His mother had called him a fool, not understanding why anyone would choose to farm and live an hour’s ride from civilization if they did not have to.  But to Eric, the peace and wilderness was like living a dream.

After a good twenty minutes, he finally stumbled upon the broken rails which were buried beneath a crusty layer of snow and ice.  Eric slid off of Sterling’s back, and gave her a pat as he unhitched the fencing wire from the saddle, and then he got to work, breaking off the crunchy layers of snow, and yanking out the snapped rails.

Once the three broken rails were down, Eric dug through the snow for the spares, which he knew were resting just below, against the fence.  He had just pulled the first rail free, when he heard Sterling snort and squeal.

“Settle down, girl,” he said.  He dropped the rail in place and turned, pacing towards her.  Her eyes were wild—panicked—and her nostrils flared.  He put his hands up and he crouched, slumping his shoulders, trying to make his bulky frame smaller and less intimidating.  The last thing he needed was for her to bolt, and leave him to walk back to the house in this frigid weather.  “Easy girl,” he murmured, as he continued towards her.

Sterling pranced around nervously, watching him with frightened eyes.  She snorted and began to back up with her ears lying flat against her neck.  Eric reached out for a rein, slowly, carefully, and just as his hand closed around it, she let out a piercing high-pitched roar, and then she reared.

Too close, a voice in his head shouted, and he scrambled back.  His foot caught a patch of ice and slid out from under him, and he landed on his back with a jarring thud, sliding closer to her and cracking his head against frozen ground.  Her hooves came down fast and hard, so close to him, that he was certain she would come down right on him.  He tried to roll out of the way, but he couldn’t move quickly enough.  And in a blink, she was on him, her hoof came down on his stomach, and then it jumped across and skidded down his right side, ripping at his skin and muscles.  She roared again, drowning out Eric’s wheezing cry.  For a spilt-second, she looked down at him; her eyes were wide with fear, and then she bolted, racing away through the field.

Eric couldn’t breathe.  He couldn’t move.  Black spots danced through his vision, and a stabbing pain shot through his head all the way down to his toes.  A warm wetness spread along the base of his skull, and his stomach convulsed with pain.

Time stood still.  His ears rung, and he couldn’t catch his breath.  He tried to sit up, but he couldn’t.  Even the slightest movement sent hot waves of pain coursing through his body, paralyzing him.  Get up! You need to get up! he told himself over and over, trying to coax his body to ignore the shooting pain and begging his mind to fight for survival.  But no matter how much his brain wanted to survive, his body was shutting down—giving up.

Eric didn’t know how long he had been lying on the ground, fighting against his body.  It could have been seconds, or it might have been hours when he heard the crunch of snow nearby.  It was excruciatingly loud, and the sound sent shockwaves through his head.  A small sense of hope gripped at his chest.  He forced in a burning breath, and opened his mouth to yell for help just as a shadow fell over him.  He blinked and shifted his gaze, looking for the source of the shadow, and he found it, but in that moment, all he noticed was the pair of blazing red eyes staring down at him.

“Demon,” Eric breathed and gasped, a wet and painful sound, and he coughed, choking on his own saliva.  He tried to scramble away, but the pain ceased him, rendering the effort useless. The demon smiled, which might have been meant as a friendly gesture, but the dagger sharp fangs that protruded from his mouth were anything but welcoming.

“What’s your name, son?” the demon asked, folding his arms over his thick chest.  His voice was like velvet, alluring and comforting.  Eric froze and looked back at him, mesmerized by the sound.  The demon was tall, at least four inches taller than Eric’s own six feet, and he had the same muscular frame.  He had no jacket or gloves, only wearing a thin short sleeve shirt and woven cotton slacks.  His skin was flawless, the color of ivory.

He chuckled, and his blazing eyes danced with amusement.  “Your name?” he repeated, and his smile grew.

Eric opened his mouth to speak, but the words were lodged in his throat.  He cleared it, and his voice shook as he answered, “Eric Carter.”

The demon watched him with a thoughtful expression for a moment, and his crimson eyes faded to sky-blue.  He bent down, crouching beside Eric in the snow.  He reached out, ripped open Eric’s coat, and lifted his shirt.  Blood pooled below his skin where Sterling had landed, blackening his stomach.

“Well, Mr. Carter, it looks like you are about to die,” he said with a matter-of-fact tone, as if it was common knowledge, obvious even.

“Yes, sir,” Eric replied breathlessly, wincing as the demon poked at his stomach.  For a moment, he wondered why he was not trying to run, but then he looked back at the angelic face of the demon, towering over him, and then down at his stomach, and he knew fear was pointless and running, impossible.  Death was inevitable.  Even if he could fight the pain and get to his feet, he would die from his injuries.

“Is that what you want?  To die?” he asked curiously, cocking his head to the side almost like a bird.

Eric thought about the question, as if there could be more than one possible answer to it, and then he shook his throbbing head from side to side and said, “No, sir.”  His voice was a gravelly whisper.   “Are you going to kill me?”

The demon cocked his head to the side again, and looked at him with an intensity Eric had never seen before.  It was a complicated look, filled with so many conflicting emotions that he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what any of them meant.  The demon sighed, a long and gusty sound.  His eyes grew wide and clouded, and the pleasant cerulean fogged as a milky film swallowed them.  He lifted his wrist to his mouth, biting down, and when he pulled it away, blood pooled on his skin.  He slid closer, cradling his wrist as if he was trying not to let any of the blood to spill onto the snow, and before Eric could comprehend what was happening, the demon pressed his wound against Eric’s lips and said, “Drink.”

Eric squirmed and gasped.  The movement sent shockwaves of pain coursing through his body.  The demon cupped the back of his head, and held him firmly, with unyielding strength.  Eric could feel the warm blood on his lips, seeping into his mouth, and his stomach rolled.  But then he tasted it.  Tangy and sweet and spicy.  It was delicious and disgusting all at once, and Eric couldn’t stop himself.  He opened his mouth, latching onto the demon’s wrist and drank, swallowing mouthfuls as quickly as he could.

The demon leaned in closer, but Eric didn’t care.  All he could think about was the mouthwatering blood that filled his mouth in a waterfall of goodness.  Skin tingling warmth spread through his body.

The demon dropped his hand from the back of Eric’s head, and then suddenly, his mouth was on Eric’s neck.  Eric felt the demon’s teeth sink into his skin, but he didn’t care.  Nothing mattered except tasting the nectar of his blood.

It was when he pulled his arm away from Eric’s mouth, that Eric noticed the demon’s teeth were no longer in his neck.  The disconnection felt cold, sending shivers along his skin.  His eyes became heavy and drowsiness smothered him.  He wanted to ask for more—demand more, anything to bring back the warmth and ease the pain of death, but his voice eluded him.  He stared into the milky eyes, pleadingly, but the demon just smiled a little.

The shivers came quicker, and Eric’s body convulsed from the cold.  The pain in his stomach faded.  It felt as if his mind couldn’t take it anymore and had given up—shut down.  Darkness grew around him.  Then, despite all efforts, he couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer, and they drifted shut.




Coming Spring/Summer 2013.

Happy Release Day ~ The Soul’s Mark: BROKEN

Today is the big day. The Soul’s Mark: BROKEN (The Soul’s Mark, #3) is now available on Kindle, Smashwords (all eBook formats), and in print on Amazon.

 
Synopsis
At first glance, Willowberg seemed like any other college town to newcomer Amelia Caldwell. But after a whirlwind of strange events, she now knows the truth—Willowberg is run by vampires—and her soulmate, Mitchell Lang, is their leader. And if that wasn’t enough, Amelia also learned that she is a witch.
 
The vampires and humans coexisted with relative peace, or at least they did until the vampire hunters arrived. Now, Amelia finds herself at the center of a showdown, fighting not only for her freedom and that of her new vampire family, but also for the lives of Willowberg’s residents.

But when Amelia’s branches of destiny cross paths, a long forgotten darkness falls upon the town. For any chance at victory, she must revisit her past and come face to face with the ultimate challenge: a fate that was decided by a force much closer to her than she could ever have imagined.

Will darkness prevail, or will Amelia find the strength to mend what has been broken?

Praise for The Soul’s Mark: BROKEN
“The Soul’s Mark: BROKEN is masterfully written with heart-stopping revelations, that will make the unbelievable become reality and show that true love has no boundaries.” – Helena @ Accepted Wisdom (Click Here to read the full review)

To Celebrate
To celebrate, for one week only, you can get all of The Soul’s Mark eBooks for only $0.99 each from Smashwords (see coupon codes below).

The Soul’s Mark: FOUND
Coupon Code: HJ44H
Click Here to get your copy

The Soul’s Mark: HUNTED
Coupon Code: CR44P
Click Here to get your copy

The Soul’s Mark: BROKEN
Coupon Code: DH44C
Click Here to get your copy

Note: Coupon Codes Expire on April 7th 2013.

A Special Thank You!
A special thanks to all my loyal readers! I couldn’t have done it without you guys. :)

Happy Reading Everyone!

Blog Tour: The Soul's Mark: FOUND (Week 2)

Hey Everyone!

Well, the tour blog is well underway for The Soul’s Mark: FOUND. We are already in week two. :) Here is the schedule for this week …




Week 2 Tour Schedule
March 31: Paranormal Book Reviews
April 1: Marked by books
April 2: Laurie's Paranormal Reviews
April 3: Kimberly Lewis
April 4: Bookworm Lisa
April 5: A Dream within a dream
April 6: I Know That Book


Don’t forget to stop by some of these AWESOME blogs to read some excerpts and reviews, and while you’re there, you can enter the tour wide giveaway. :)

The Giveaway Prizes Include:
3 paperback copies of The Soul's Mark: FOUND
1 $25 e-gift card for Amazon
1 $25 e-gift card for GelaSkins

I hope to see you all there. :)

P.S. I am also at Pure Jonel Book Reviews today!  Come on over and check out my guest post: A Vampire Revelation.   :)

Cover Reveal: The Skeleton Key Guild (The Doorknob Society, #5) by MJ Fletcher

Hey Everyone! 

Today I'm super excited to be a part of the cover reveal for the final book in The Doorknob Society Saga!  MJ Fletcher was one of my top 5 favorite authors of 2012 thanks to his awesome work with The Doorknob Society Saga!  So, without further preamble from me, check out the cover for ... 

The Skeleton Key Guild coming May 2013 




Synopsis
Her parents dead, her sister missing, and those she loves branded traitors to the Old Kind... Chloe Masters is on the run.

To fulfill a parent’s dying wish she will do anything to save the sister she has never met. Can she learn the secrets of the Artifacts before it’s too late? Surrounded by her friends; Slade, Edgar, Jess, Val and the man she loves James Nightshade, Chloe has never had so much to live for... but will her enemies let her?











Additional Titles in the Series
The Cape Beanery Chronicles (Short stories) Kindle | Kobo | Nook
The Doorknob Society (Book 1) Kindle (Exclusive to Amazon)
The Impossible Engineers (Book 2) Kindle | Kobo | Nook
The Mapmakers Union (Book 3) Kindle | Kobo | Nook
The Detective Inspectors (Book 4) Kindle | Kobo | Nook

Check out the trailer for The Doorknob Society here: The Doorknob Society Trailer

About the Author
MJ Fletcher is the creator of the comic book series Adam Zero: The Last Man of Earth published by Ronin Studios. He has also had comic book work published in Hope: The Hero Initiative and Digital Webbing Presents. The Doorknob Society Saga is his first book series and he is thrilled with how it has turned out. He lives at the beach with his wife, daughter, dog and a crotchety cat.

Find MJ Online
Twitter: @Fletch125
Facebook: www.facebook.com/doorknobsociety
Website: www.thedoorknobsociety.com