A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 111
September 9, 2018
A Day in the Life of Gustavo Bondoni – Sci-Fi Author/Meet an Author
Welcome to a day in the life of Gustavo Bondoni
Please give us a brief outline of who you are. I’m a novelist and short story writer from Argentina… or at least that is what I am by inclination. By training, I’m an engineer with an MBA who has always worked on the commercial side (sales and marketing) of companies varying from tiny startups to massive Fortune 100 enterprises.
My passion for writing came about because I love to read. And my selection of genre came about because Asimov and Robert Asprin and Douglas Adams were the men on the racks of my local bookstore when I was twelve and began to read adult fiction. With names like that, how can one not be hooked?
As an interesting aside this was the eighties, and I still have the battered copy of Heroes in Hell I bought at Waldenbooks way back then. I assume it’s the only copy in Argentina.
You’re a writer – how is this reflected in your typical day? I’m a writer, and it basically consumes my day, even when I’m not writing. On the practical side, I’ll be obsessively checking my email for acceptances (or rejections, sadly), contracts, edits, or just about any other communication with the publishing world.
On a more interesting note, I’ll always be plotting the story or book in progress, or cooking up ideas for new ones. That doesn’t change just because I might be working on something else.
Do you have a family? What do they think of your job? Do they assist you? I have a family. My wife and I live with four children: two that are hers from another marriage and two baby daughters of our own (2 years old and one month old as I type, respectively). The older kids seem more interested in their tablets than in books, but my wife is amazingly supportive… although she does sometimes get annoyed at my habit of not even realizing that people are talking to me when I’m writing.
How do you fit in ‘real life’? What in the world is real life? Actually, I try to live a normal existence. Unless I tell them, most people can’t even tell I’m a writer. The truth is that I can fit my target wordcount (around 1500 words a day) into the slots between other tasks.
Do you have a particular process? The only process I really swear to is to write every weekday, and to try to get 1500 words in. Anything else is a bonus. Some people like to outline… I prefer to find out what my characters are going to do as they do it.
Are you very organised? I try to be. Life has a way of biting you… and also, my wife is the Mistress of Chaos…
What is your ideal working environment? My ideal working environment would be an office with a closed door. But this is sadly not possible at home… and right now, my corporate job is also home-based. But one can dream!
What do you eat for breakfast? Tea with lemon and a type of cracker that you can only buy in Argentina called cerealitas. Unlike most crackers, these actually taste good and are therefore probably bad for me.
Would you recommend your chosen craft to those interested in doing it? Wow. Loaded question. It’s very difficult to make a living from writing fiction. Anyone looking to write for that reason would likely be better served by becoming a journalist. However, I have found no satisfaction greater than receiving an email confirming that something you invented was judged good enough by an editor you’ve never met to be shared with others and paid for. That rush is indescribable. So yeah, on balance, I’d say everyone should give it a try.
Links/samples/etc.
Site: www.gustavobondoni.com
Twitter: @gbondoni
Most popular novel: Siege
September 6, 2018
The Secret of Blossom Rise – A Ghost Story
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The Secret of Blossom Rise: A Ghost Story:
When a young nurse accepts a job at a former military hospital she finds unearths a family secret and finds the spectral occupants a little too familiar.
A short ghost story.
This will be appearing soon in Here Be Ghosts Bundle.
Amazon UK
Amazon.com
September 1, 2018
NN Light September Literary Giveaway
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September usually ushers in back to school and swirling winds blanket the Northern Hemisphere in cooler temperatures. Who says kids get to have all the fun? N. N. Light has gathered quite a collection of bookish prizes to give away this month. There’s something here for every reader and you could be the lucky winner. So, enter below and good luck!
Swirling Winds of September Giveaway: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775019/
Literary Giveaway Portal: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal
e-copy of Within the Skin by Zara West
e-copy of Crimson by Tamela Miles
e-copy of Betting on Cinderella (Book 2 in the Cinderella Romance series) by Petie McCarty
e-copy of Planting the Seeds of Love: A Novella by N. N. Light
e-copy of Tempted by the Viscount by Sofie Darling
e-copy of Explorations by David Russell
e-copy of Debriefing the Dead (Book 1 of The Dead Series) by Kerry Blaisdell
e-copy of N. N. Light’s Book of Daily Inspiration by N. N. Light
e-copy of Tied Up With Strings by Madeline McEwan
e-copy of Arresting Mason by Amber Daulton
e-copy of The Queen of Paradise Valley by Cat Dubie
e-copy of The Mystery of Flight 2222 by Thomas Neviaser
e-copy of Once Broken by D. M. Hamblin
e-copy of A Debt to the Devil by D. M. Hamblin
e-copy of The Light Beyond the Storm by A. L. Butcher (Smashwords voucher)
e-copy of The Colony and The Last City by RM Gilmour
e-copy of Thirsty for Water by N. N. Light
5 e-copy of Road to Armageddon by Clabe Polk
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August 28, 2018
Narrator Interview – Ella Lynch
*Name: Ella Lynch
*Tell us a bit about yourself: I am a 31 year old mum of 1, with a passion for reading and living authentically. I love food, books, living in each moment, my family, crochet, camping, fires, the ocean… I’m vegan and was brought up as a vegetarian. I suffer with anxiety and OCD, and have found that being open about this helps others to realise that we all have our demons, but they don’t make us bad people, just human. I got a triple distinction in my National Diploma in Performing Arts from Truro College in Cornwall. I am trained as a dental nurse, started training to be a midwife (!) and am finally now living my life-long dream of narrating audiobooks!
How did you become involved with audiobook narration and production? I have wanted to be a narrator and voice actress for as long as I can remember. I studied Performing Arts in College 15 years ago, and when I didn’t manage to get into Drama school afterwards I was so crestfallen I pushed the idea of following my passion to the back of my mind. My anxiety felt too big to be able to find a way to realise my dream, so I didn’t try…
Fast forward 14 years and I have had many different jobs, am married with a 5 (nearly 6) year old daughter and 2 cats. I had recorded a couple of picturebook audios on YouTube a couple of years ago, and loved it, but my technical knowledge was nil, and what with working part-time as a waitress in a vegetarian restaurant and being a full-time mum I had no time to really invest the energy in to researching how I could make my dream into a reality.
My daughter started school in September and I thought maybe finally I could dedicate some time to at least *trying* to find a way to read storybooks out loud for the enjoyment of others. I was visiting a friend Claire, and she asked me if I had started to do the voice work I so desperately wanted to, I said no, I didn’t see how, I didn’t know where to start, I would probably fail any way, so what was the point. My wonderful friend said that that was fine, I could live like that, but I wouldn’t be living my authentic self. I would only be realising half my potential. She said she would help me find some voice acting courses and made me see that actually, you know what, I WANTED this. Really badly. And if I did try, and fail, I wouldn’t have lost anything. And at least I would have tried.
So I got signed up to 2 courses that very day, a voice acting workshop with a renowned voice coach Jacquie Crago, and a podcasting course. From that moment I spent hours and hours researching how to make the best studio and how to get work. Another friend Ruth got me in contact with a friend of hers that has done voice work and he sent me the most invaluable email detailing all the things I needed to know, but didn’t know how to ask. I bought the equipment and I started practicing. I applied for jobs on Mandy.com and joined lots of different websites trying to find work. I didn’t get anything, but I was fired up and excited. I didn’t feel like every job I didn’t get was a failure, I felt like it was an incentive to do better, to try harder, to learn more, to hone my skills. And then I came across ACX.com via a brilliant voice actor Howard Ellison; we met on the Jacquie Crago workshop. I built my profile and started to audition for books. I was then approached via my ACX profile and asked to audition for a book. I couldn’t believe it, was this some kind of hoax? I auditioned, and got it! I had landed my first real narration gig and I was so thrilled!
Is this your day job? It is my day job, my evening job, my everything in between job! As I said I have a 5 year old, my husband works all manner of shifts for the NHS so I have to do the school runs, and I am still working part-time in my local veggie restaurant. I have just dropped a day waitressing, so now I have 3 days in the studio, and every week-day evening too.
Tell us about some of the titles you’ve narrated. Do you have a favourite amongst these? I have narrated a range of titles so far. The genres are quite funny in that I have narrated an erotic thriller alongside children’s books, short stories and lesbian romance! My first job was “Always In My Heart” by M Claire Gager. I loved it, but it was a bit of a baptism of fire as it was nearly 6 hours long. However, by the end of producing that book I had learnt so much about editing, and that gave me confidence and valuable knowledge.
I don’t think I do have a favourite, as they are all so different, and they are all good! I narrated “Photo Shy” a short story about an abuse scandal in the modelling industry – I enjoyed the challenge of making something enthralling in such a short space of time. I loved narrating the Zeena Dragon Fae series as I had to think of different voices for the various magical characters, and it has a lovely moral message at the end of it all.
Do you have a preferred genre? Do you have a genre you do not produce? Why is this? I have really enjoyed narrating from all genres so far. I don’t have anything I won’t produce yet, but you never know. If something didn’t sit right with me then I don’t think I could narrate it. I need to be authentic to myself, and to the listener. I am a good actor, but I think anything I felt uncomfortable with could come across in my voice, and that wouldn’t be fair on my listeners.
What are you working on at present/Just finished? I have just finished narrating and producing the Zeena Dragon Fae series by Victoria Zigler. This series is about Zeena the faerie dragon. She doesn’t think she’s special, even though she’s the only one of her kind to have mastered the magic for all five elements equally. But when a dryad named Kishi comes to her for help, she doesn’t hesitate. Together with her best friend – a mischievous pixie named Saarik – Zeena sets off to free Heidi the earth fairy, as well as to save the woods and the creatures of Earth. The first 3 books in the series are available for purchase now from Amazon, Audible and iTunes, and the 4th title is just going through ACX’s quality checks, but should be available in the next few weeks too.
I am currently in the editing stage of “The Road Ahead” by A E Radley, which is a novel about 2 women from very different backgrounds, forced to share a long car journey home, and the relationship that forms between them.
*Tell us about your process for narrating? (Be as elaborate as you like.) I like to read the whole book through in my head first, so I have a feel for the story, and know how many characters there are, and what is going to happen. Then I get to work! With ACX you have to submit the first 15 minutes for approval before you continue with the whole book, so I narrate the first 15 minutes and then I edit it and submit it. I use a Rode NT1-A microphone and pop-shield, with a Behringer Uphoria UMC204 HD interface, and MacBook Air. I use Garageband to record and edit.
Once the first 15 minutes is approved I will narrate the rest of the book. Depending on how long it is I will either record it all in one sitting (eg if it is a short story, or a children’s book less than 2 hours long) or I will record in a few sittings. I record mostly in the evenings as that is when it is silent in my house! I always do a vocal warm-up before I start recording, I guess I should say a body warm up, because you use your whole body when you are narrating, not just your voice. I do head, neck and shoulder rotations, along with different vocal exercises. I have a big glass of water near by, and I record. I tend to read standing, but sometimes if it’s a long read I will sit down for a bit.
I don’t edit until I have recorded the whole book. Once it is recorded I will work through it systematically chapter by chapter, and once each chapter is retail ready I will upload it to ACX so that I know it is good to go.
What aspects do you find most enjoyable? The recording! I love it. I get totally in the zone.
What do you find least enjoyable? When my Mac has technical issues and corrupts files. That is infuriating! And when aeroplanes or too many cars drive past when I am recording. I don’t have a completely sound-proof space so I have to just pause and wait for them to go past and then carry on. That can be very frustrating when I am mid-flow.
Have you ever found an author you couldn’t continue to work with? How was this resolved? Yes I did have an author I couldn’t work with. This was due to the content of their book. It wasn’t clear in the book description when I auditioned, but once I started reading I knew I didn’t feel comfortable with the subject matter, and it wouldn’t be fair to me or them for me to continue with the job. It was fairly easily resolved. I sent their agent a polite email explaining how I felt, and apologising. They offered for me to narrate under a pseudonym, but I declined, and then we contacted ACX and the contract was dissolved.
Do you consider royalty share when looking for books to narrate? If not why is this? Yes I do plenty of royalty share deals.
Do you listen to audiobooks? YES!! I love them! I grew up listening to audiobooks every night to go to sleep. They were on cassette tapes, so they were “story-tapes” to me. I had a few firm favourites that I listened to for years. Five on Treasure Island, The Sheep Pig, Elidor and Danny The Champion of The World. If I could tell my childhood self that I am narrating audiobooks as a grown up I would be absolutely over the moon.
*With many people owning MP3 players do you think this is the future of storytelling? I think that it is great that more people are engaging with books now because of MP3 players. Some people struggle to find the time to sit down with an actual physical book or kindle, but listening to an audiobook allows them the freedom to enjoy the stories in a different way. I think there will always be space for real-life storytelling, you can’t take away from the magic of sharing a book with a loved one in person, so I don’t think people will stop physically reading to their children or partners, but I think that listening to an audiobook is so magical and relaxing, and the current market seems to be ever-expanding, it can only be a good thing.
Why do you think audio books are becoming so popular? I guess like I said above, it’s a way for people to enjoy a story without necessarily having to sit down and dedicate their full attention to it. They can listen in the car, on the bus or train, whilst walking the dog, or out for a run. People like to be entertained, and audiobooks are entertaining, but in a relaxing way. They don’t ask anything from you except your ears. What’s not to love?!
Can you remember the first audiobook you owned? I think the first one was this tape which had 2 stories on it – “The Princess and The Dragon” and “Scaredy Cats”. I can still hear the Scaredy Cats song in my mind now.
Has ACX/Audible fulfilled your expectations? (such as earnings, ease of use, workload etc.?) Yes. So far, so good. It has only been 4 months since I started getting work through ACX so earnings wise I am a bit thin on the ground so far. But I am so happy to be able to apply for any book that is up for audition, and to be getting work regularly doing my dream job. It’s great.
Have you ever had a negative experience producing a book? Not yet, no.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve had? It was from my friend Claire, telling me that if I didn’t try then I would only be living a half life. I wouldn’t be being true to myself. I will forever be grateful to her for making me realise my potential, and jump in head first, giving it my best shot.
What is the worst piece of advice you’ve had? I haven’t had any bad advice with regards to narrating yet. Everyone has been very positive and supportive. I don’t have any other narrator friends though.
If you could narrate any book you wanted which would it be and why? Oooooh, the Harry Potter series because I LOVE HARRY POTTER, but Stephen Fry did an exceptional job with that, so I wouldn’t want to try and improve upon that. Maybe an Isabel Allende novel. I absolutely love her work, or A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. That book really got me. It was amazing. So raw and painful, but so beautiful at the same time. As long as I could narrate it with my British accent I would love to narrate that.
Please tell us a silly fact about yourself. When I was pregnant I had a mad craving for Broccoli. At the time there had been flooding on the farms and all the broccoli harvest was destroyed. I went into my local Tesco after a yoga class like a woman on a serious mission. I couldn’t find broccoli anywhere and I was getting very wound up about it. An employee managed to find me a bag of pre-cut carrots and broccoli, the only one in the store, and I could have kissed her I was so happy!!
Where can we learn more about you?
I am on Instagram as @voice_and_narration_with_ella
Twitter as @narrator_ella
Facebook as @voice.and.narration.with.ella
You can find Ella and Tori’s books here:
Book 1 – Zeena And The Dryad
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Zeena and the Dryad – Audible UK
Zeena and the Dryad – Universal Link
Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, I books, Monadori, Indigo
Zeena and the Dryad – Goodreads
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Book 2 – Zeena And The Gryphon
Zeena and the Gryphon – Audible UK
Universal Link books2read.com/ZeenaGryphonVZigler
Smashwords, Amazon, I books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Indigo
Zeena and the Gryphon – Itunes
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Book 3 – Zeena And The Mermaid
Zeena and the Mermaid – Audible
Universal Link books2read.com/ZeenaMermaidVZigler
Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, I books, Barnes and Noble, Indigo and others
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Book 4 – Zeena And The Phoenix
Zeena and the Phoenix Audible UK
Universal Link Zeena and the Phoenix Universal Link
August 24, 2018
Book Spotlight – A Werewolf State of Mind – Paranormal/Romance/Shifter
Out Now—A Werewolf State of Mind by Lucy Felthouse (@cw1985) #PNR #shifter #werewolf #romance
Blurb:
Anneke’s typical day at the office is thrown into disarray when she finds her next patient is an unwitting werewolf. And it doesn’t end there.
From the moment Caleb Kitt walks into Doctor Anneke Lund’s office for his psychiatry session, she knows his problem isn’t mental. He’s been experiencing night terrors, having violent and bloodthirsty dreams, and waking up naked in strange places. But he’s not losing his mind, as he suspects. He’s actually a werewolf—he just doesn’t know it yet.
Anneke isn’t just a psychiatrist—she’s also an empath, meaning she can read minds, and influence thoughts and behavior. She rarely uses her powers, but recognizes she may have no other choice as Caleb must be convinced of his supernatural status before the next full moon arrives. When it does, though, she finds herself going way beyond her duty of care to ensure Caleb doesn’t hurt or kill anyone when he transforms. But at what cost?
Please note: A Werewolf State of Mind was previously published in Coming in Hot: Rescue Me boxed set.
Available from: https://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/a-werewolf-state-of-mind/
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*****
Excerpt:
The intercom buzzed. “Anneke?” came the voice of her receptionist, Ellen. “Your one-thirty is here.”
Anneke pressed the button to respond. “Thanks, Ellen. Send him in.”
“Will do.”
Anneke took a moment—knowing she had a few as her patient made his way from the reception area, down the short corridor and to her office—to pull up and glance at his notes on her computer. There wasn’t much information, since he was a new patient, but there was a brief description he’d given of the problem, which had spurred him on to book the psychiatric consultation with her in the first place.
Caleb Kitt was a thirty-five-year-old personal trainer who, in his own words, thought he was losing his damn mind. He was experiencing night terrors, having violent and bloodthirsty dreams, and waking up in strange places—certainly not where he’d gone to bed.
A multitude of potential diagnoses popped into Anneke’s head, but she refused to jump to any conclusions. There was no way to know for sure what his problem was, not without speaking to him, hearing his story, finding out more. And if she struggled to get to the root of his issues using traditional methods, there was always her back up plan.
Anneke was an empath. Her unique talents comprised of mind reading, mild mind control, and being able to sense supernatural creatures. However, using those talents was always a last resort. She preferred to do things the right way, the way she had been trained to in her years at medical school. It felt like cheating otherwise, and she couldn’t help feeling it was unethical to tap into people’s brains without their knowledge or consent.
For the vast majority of the time, she didn’t have to use her gifts—just her skill and hard-earned education. But occasionally—very occasionally—when a patient wasn’t being forthcoming, or their problem proved elusive, tricky to diagnose, she would reluctantly tap into her powers. Rather that than have a patient suffer unnecessarily, when she had the tools to help them. This fine balancing act between using her paranormal abilities and her training and education made her an incredibly effective psychiatrist, and she had to be incredibly careful not to come across as too good, too quick at diagnosing patients, otherwise she’d attract attention for all the wrong reasons. She dreaded to think what would happen if people found out what she could do.
There came a knock at the door.
“Come in!” she called, minimizing all the programs on her computer screen, activating the screen saver, then getting to her feet.
The door opened, and a tentative looking, but incredibly handsome man entered the room. To her surprise, a millisecond later her gifts kicked in and she realized what his problem was—he was a werewolf. And he clearly didn’t have a clue.
She frequently sensed other supernatural creatures when she was out and about—in the street, the supermarket, the cinema. But this was the first time she’d ever had one walk in to her office, as a patient. This was going to be interesting, to say the least.
*****
Author Bio:
Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of, and an Amazon bestseller), Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award, and an Amazon bestseller), The Persecution of the Wolves, Hiding in Plain Sight and The Heiress’s Harem series. Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 170 publications to her name. Find out more about her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk, or on Twitter or Facebook. Join her Facebook group for exclusive cover reveals, sneak peeks and more! Sign up for automatic updates on Amazon or BookBub. Subscribe to her newsletter here: http://www.subscribepage.com/lfnewsletter
Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services
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August 21, 2018
Cover Reveal and Spotlight – Apathy and Vigor – Faye Hall – Historical Romance
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Apathy and Vigor by Faye Hall
Will the love of a woman save him from his own apathy?
Tristen Brone lived a carefree life of wealth and passion…until it all came crashing down around him. The night Tristen’s best friend died in a fire, Tristen tried to save him, but he failed. Not only did Jacob die, but Tristen is left with scars that make him feel like a monster. There are those in town who think Tristen is responsible for starting the fire, which includes Jacob’s sister, the woman Tristen is in love with. The once confident, handsome, young man is now on a downward spiral of sorrow and depression.
Soon after Amalie Fergus lost her brother in a fire, her father died and their family properties were repossessed. She had nothing left and no one to turn to. When she took a job as a maid for a wealthy gentleman she never expected that he would try to force himself on her, or that she would now be on the run for his murder.
Running from the scene of the crime, Amalie collides with a man from her past who offers to keep her safe from the police on one condition—she return to Tristen and steal some property papers from him.
When Amalie shows up at Tristen’s doorstep, begging him to take her in, he’s suspicious. Despite their passionate past, and the feelings he still has for her, all he can think about is how quickly she abandoned him. So why has she come back into his life after all these months?
With the two former lovers reunited, it becomes obvious that the passion between them is still smoldering, but can they overcome everything that stands in their way, and will they ever discover who is responsible for the fire that changed their lives forever?
Content Warning: contains sex, strong language, and some violence
Genre(s): Historical Romance
Links
Buy links
http://beachwalkpress.com/faye-hall/
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DPIMSMW
https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/faye-hall/id1104960880?mt=11
https://www.kobo.com/au/en/search?query=Faye%20Hall&fcsearchfield=Author
Come on a journey with me through 19th century North Queensland, Australia and explore the passions and hardships of unique characters.
There is corruption, deceit and murder, as well as cattle rustlers, slave traders and hell fire clubs. Explore townships of Jarvisfield and Inkerman, as well as Ravenswood and Bowen. One book even incorporates my great grandmother’s cattle station ‘Inkerman Downs Station’.
As well as an author, I am also the most spoilt wife in the world, and a very contented mother.
Come and discover all the passion and drama of North Queensland history with me
social media links
website https://www.faye-hall.com
blog http://www.faye-hall.info
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Faye-Hall/174774709247649
https://www.facebook.com/faye.hall.3363?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter https://twitter.com/FayeHall79
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6882637.Faye_Hall
Tumblr http://fayehallauthor.tumblr.com/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/fayehall79/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fayehallauthor/
Flipagram http://flipagram.com/fayehall79
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoS8vLrlO0XZT80xTuJnrkA/videos
August 12, 2018
August Literary Giveaway – NN Light
Want to find a new writer, learn what novels some of your favorite authors are reading, or find new book reviewer and blogger recommendations? Visit https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal to enter this new multi-author giveaway. All genres are included whether it’s novels from debuting authors to award-winning/bestselling authors with multiple books and/or series. The best part — it’s all free for readers to enter, as authors are generously donating copies of their books as well as other prizes each month to help find new fans and build up their reading communities. I’m excited to participate in this month’s giveaway and can’t wait to share with you all that will be offered this month and moving forward. You never know which surprising authors might just show up on the list this year!
Dog Days of Summer Reading Giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775017
Literary Giveaway Portal: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal
Here are the prizes on offer
August 2018 Giveaway Prizes
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print copy of Prophesy: Book One of the Dragonfly Chronicles plus fun Highlander swag by Heather McCollum (US only)
e-copy of A Balancing Act by Ilona Fridl
autographed print copy of Tainted Luck by Cynthia Austin + $5 Amazon gift card
e-copy of Hearts Akilter by Catherine E. McLean
2 e-copy of Poetry of Love: The Engagement Year by N. N. Light
e-copy of Dreamtime Sensuality I and II by David Russell
e-copy of Debriefing the Dead (Book 1 of The Dead Series) by Kerry Blaisdell
2 e-copy of N. N. Light’s Book of Daily Inspiration by N. N. Light
e-copy of Don’t Blame Me by Kay Blake
e-copy of Tied Up With Strings by Madeline McEwan
e-copy of Arresting Mason by Amber Daulton
e-copy of The Queen of Paradise Valley by Cat Dubie
e-copy of Ghost Girl by Catherine Mesick
e-copy of You Dear Sweet Man by Thomas Neviaser
e-copy of Once Broken by D. M. Hamblin
e-copy of A Debt to the Devil by D. M. Hamblin
e-copy of The Kitchen Imps by A. L. Butcher (Smashwords voucher)
e-copy of The Colony and The Last City by RM Gilmour
5 e-copy of Tales of the Faie: The Beginning of Days by Diana L. Wicker
5 e-copy of Fire on the Mountain by Clabe Polk
5 e-copy of Dog Gone by Diane Moat
August 11, 2018
A Day in the Life Of Laurie Boris – writer and editor #Meetanauthor
Welcome to Laurie Boris
Please give us a brief outline of who you are. (no more than 250 words).
I’m an enigma wrapped in a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt, with a secret yearning to go back in time and become either a stand-up comic or a chef. Otherwise, I’m just trying to enjoy my life as a copyeditor and fiction writer.
You’re a writer/editor – how is this reflected in your typical day?
Wearing a few hats means I have to be mindful of my time and energy. That includes keeping myself as healthy as possible, with regular exercise, stretching, and a good diet. If I’m working on my own writing, I’ll do that first thing in the morning, since that’s my best window of creativity. When I’m doing client work, I make sure I’m giving it my best focus. Everything else gets fit in around that.
Do you work at another job? If so tell us about fitting in the writing/cover design/editing.
I do. I work part time as a web content editor at a small community college. It’s a great place to work and my colleagues are terrific. My hours are flexible, so I’ve been able do my freelancing and my own writing around the job.
How do you fit in ‘real life’?
Real life? What is this real life of which you speak? I try to fit in a little fun once in a while and spend time with my husband, family, and friends. I like movies and baseball and swimming. And one important lesson I’ve learned from freelancing and self-publishing is that most tasks take longer than I expect. So I try not to schedule myself down to the minute.
What is your ideal working environment?
Total silence, with a cup of coffee at my side. Sometimes I’ll play an app of nature sounds. That’s very soothing and can sometimes improve my focus or help me transition from one project to another.
What do you eat for breakfast?
Gluten-free oatmeal with almonds and fruit, usually a banana. I don’t feel right if I miss breakfast—it messes up my energy for the rest of the day.
Links/samples/etc.
Thank you so much for letting me visit! Here’s where you can find me:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurie.boris.author
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LaurieBoris
My website: http://laurieboris.com
Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/laurieboris
August 5, 2018
Book Spotlight – Second Sight – Debbie Mumford – Paranormal Romance/Mystery
Title: Second Sight
Author: Debbie Mumford
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Main character description (short): When Zach Douglass’ best friend dies in his arms from a psychic trauma, he finds himself devastated and beyond his abilities. He must enlist help to solve the murder.
Jenny Murdoch repressed her potent psychic talent for years, believing the tiger that stalks her mind killed her parents. Unwilling to trust that tiger, she must face her own ability and accept her past.
Synopsis:
Zach Douglass, a psychic with minimal ability, must work with powerful but untrained Jenny Murdoch to gain control of her vast powers and discover who committed two brutal murders, one of whom was his lifelong friend. And maybe along the way Zach and Jenny can find each other.
Brief Excerpt 250 words:
Death has a unique stench, unpleasant and distinctive. The moment the elevator doors slid open, a whiff of the sickly-sweet, slightly rusty tang alerted Zach Douglass he’d arrived at the correct floor of the posh downtown Portland hotel. He strode down the thickly carpeted hall, followed closely by his partner. They rounded the corner into the hotel’s east wing and the heavier reek of feces assaulted his nostrils. He grimaced, erected a mental barrier against the offensive odor and paced off the final steps to the open door of the room.
The uniform stationed in the hall stood with legs braced and thumbs hooked under his gun belt. His stance bespoke authority, but the green cast to his skin and beads of perspiration on his upper lip screamed unease. He glanced warily at Zach, dilated pupils darkening his eyes. Zach tightened his mental shield, nodded to the man, flashed his security clearance and slipped under the bright yellow crime scene tape.
The spacious room hid its secrets behind a swarm of investigators performing their meticulous duties. A quiet buzz of voices whispered into individual recording devices, providing a white-noise barrier to the outside world. Zach elbowed his way in, clearing a path for his petite partner. Moving with hive-like choreography, the crowd shifted to reveal a man’s naked body in all its grim degradation.
Why should readers buy this book? It’s a riveting paranormal romance, laced with murder.
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Links etc.
Available for pre-order now:
Amazon:Amazon
Barnes & Noble: Barnes and Noble
Kobo: Kobo
Coming soon in print!
Debbie’s Website: http://debbiemumford.com/
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f5a0z0
August 4, 2018
Book Spotlight- Cruiser Dreams – Janet Morris
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SILISTRA QUARTET.
Cruiser Dreams
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The cruisers called.
She answered.
Book II in the Kerrion Empire trilogy.
Cruiser Dreams: A young woman inherits an empire beyond all imagining, where interstellar cruisers become sentient and the cosmos itself is transformed.
In this epic of political treachery, interstellar insecurity, human passion, and artificial intelligence, Morris continues the saga of the fiery girl Shebat, stolen away from a decaying and primitive Earth to become the adoptive heir to the Kerrion Empire. Molded to serve the designs of the Kerrion state, Shebat instead becomes the harbinger of change sweeping the civilized stars.
Against the chaotic background of simultaneous social and technological revolutions, Shebat struggles to face the fact that the man she loves is her implacable enemy, that the man she reluctantly married is perhaps her only ally, and that her space-faring cruiser may be her only true friend.
Praise for Dream Dancer Book One in the three-part saga of the Kerrion Empire:
“A fascinating and lyrical story, told with great invention…” – Peter Straub, author of Shadowland and Ghost Story
“Not since Dune have we witnessed a power struggle of such awesome intensity!” Eric Van Lustbader, author of The Ninja and The Bourne Legacy.
Praise for Cruiser Dreams, Book Two in the bestselling three-part saga of the Kerrion Empire:
“Packed with intrigue, spiced with romance . . .” — Publishers Weekly
“Fascinating . . . Recommended!” — Booklist
Janet Morris is an international best-selling author who lives with her husband on Cape Cod.
