A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 150
October 8, 2016
Echoes of a Song – New Release – Dark Fantasy/Horror/Phantom
Those of you who know me fairly well will be aware that the love of my life is the Phantom of the Opera. I first saw the stage show in London with the great Michael Crawford when I was 11 and from then I adored it. The original story was written by Gaston Leroux, a French author of mystery, suspense and horror in 1910 (and 1911 for the English translation).
I’m sure many of you know the story – or think you do but I’ll summarise it here:
The Paris Opera House has been ‘haunted’ by the mysterious Opera Ghost, whose antics include fleecing the managers out of a good deal of money, causing mayhem among the young and niave corps de ballet and a number of other rather mischievous and wicked events. Many tales abound of this strange figure but no one has really seen the man he truly is.
Christine Daae – the young and rather innocent daughter of a Swedish musician joins and the Phantom becomes her ‘maestro’, her ‘good genius’. Giving her singing lessons, filling her niave head with tales of angels, and fantasy he weaves a spell for them both that can only end in tragedy. And it does.
Erik, for that’s the name he uses, although we never learn his real name, is disfigured form birth. Leroux’s book describes him as a human skeleton – with pale, yellowish flesh, sunken glowing eyes and just a hole where his nose should be. Hence he wears a mask, hides himself away and is rarely seen by anyone except as the ghost. Erik is a tragic soul – he is a man, with a man’s desires, emotions and needs but because of his appearance cannot find love, or even affection. He claims not even his mother loved him. So when he falls hard for the young singer he tries to win her love with his voice. For he has ‘the voice of an angel.’ To complicate matters Christine is wooed by the young, handsome and equally niave Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny who ends up fighting the phantom for her hand. Someone is going to lose. And I confess I cried the first time I read the book, pretty much every time since then and at every show I saw – considering I worked for a month or more on the National Tour I still blubbed at the end. This story is passionate, tragic, filled with suspense and is, ultimately, a love story – and whether it has a happy ending depends on your point of view.
So what’s my point here? Echoes of a Song is a short tale from Raoul’s point of view set twelve or so years after the events at the opera house. Keep in mind his brother died there, he was imprisoned there, he was forced to try and rescue his fiancee there and almost die and so it’s not somewhere filled with happy memories. Raoul has issues. I guess now we’d call it PTSD or something similar. Anyway he’s not a happy bunny but he’s doing the best he can for his young family, despite what appears to be a curse on his family. In Raoul’s troubled imagination the ghosts of the past are everywhere, and a strange and powerful music still calls in his dreams.
Madness, obsession and the legacy of the past weave their spell in this short, tragic tale based on the Phantom of the Opera.
I haven’t seen a great deal of stories from Raoul’s point of view (I’ve read a few… not that it’s an obsession or anything) and so this is his story. It’s dark, and leaves much unanswered, but that’s part of the point. Was Erik more than a man? Was Raoul and Christine’s life going to be simple? What aftermath was there?
This is a tale of love, of hatred and mystery – much like the original.
Available on Amazon for just 99c (99p) this a great coffee break read for phantom fans, and those who like old style horror.
Please note the Phantom of the Opera is a public domain work.
Synopsis
Echoes of a Song – Legacy of the Mask Tales
A dozen tumultuous years after the dramatic events at the Paris Opera House Raoul, Comte de Chagny is still haunted by the mysterious Opera Ghost – the creature of legend who held staff at the Opera House under his thrall, kidnapped Raoul’s lover and murdered his brother. In Raoul’s troubled imagination the ghosts of the past are everywhere, and a strange and powerful music still calls in his dreams.
Madness, obsession and the legacy of the past weave their spell in this short, tragic tale based on the Phantom of the Opera.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1P25XF
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M1P25XF
October 6, 2016
Why YOU should back Ki Khanga: The Sword and Soul Role-Playing Game
Looks great
Ki Khanga: The Sword and Soul Role-Playing Game is an immersive fantasy role-playing game (RPG) that allows players to fulfill real-world social needs through interaction during imaginative play. Although Ki Khanga may appear to be a game of simple make-believe, the emotions, camaraderie, and accomplishments experienced by players are real, suggesting that this game of African heroes and sheroes, warriors and witches, sages and storytellers, kings, queens and clerics has real-world implications for its players.
Ki Khanga is an African-inspired epic and heroic fantasy roleplaying game that uses regular playing cards to resolve conflicts and to achieve feats in a fun and dynamic way that keeps the action and drama moving.
Ki Khanga: The Sword and Soul RPG contains all the tools and guidance players need to don the roles of sword, spear and bow-wielding warriors; powerful Babalawo and Nana priests, who control the forces of nature; nangas, who cast…
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October 1, 2016
Author Interview – A.L. Butcher – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles, Tales of Erana, Shattered Mirror: A Poetry Collection & The Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales: A Fire-Side Tales Collection
My latest interview. #Fantasy #Lightbeyondthestorm
toofulltowrite (I've started so I'll finish)
Hello everyone.
The weekend starts here, so put on your party gear!
For today’s scintillating segment in the Author Interviews Series, may I present to you all the extremely talented author A.L. Butcher, as she delves deeper with us into her fantasy books, exquisite poetry and short story collections.
Come with us both on a magical journey that I am sure you will all enjoy and have a fantastic weekend, thank you for reading.
Hi there Alex, it is with the greatest of pleasure to have you here as our guest today.
Let’s begin with your Light Beyond The Storm Chronicles series. Tell us more about the genre, characters and world that this series inhabits, along with the challenges that our heroes face.
The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles is a fantasy series laced with steamy romance. One reviewer labelled it sex and sorcery
September 28, 2016
Author Interview 117 – E. H. Howard Fantasy
Welcome to EH Howard, (Pen name of Eric Tomlinson.)
Where are you from and where do you live now? Born and raised in Manchester in England. As possibly the oldest geek in captivity, my work has taken me to many places in Europe and the USA, but currently I split my time between Cheshire and Wales. I’d love to one day escape to a Greek Island, but at the moment life keeps me around the UK.
Please tell us a little about your writing – for example genre, title, etc. I write about dragons, swords and magic. My heroes wander castles, caves and deserts. Therefore it would be considered ‘high fantasy’, but I hate the term. I do love to write short stories when I give myself the chance. At the end of each writing cycle, I try to enter a couple of short / flash fiction competitions to sharpen my style. My style is definitely high speed, rather than the turgid flow of most fantasy.
Do you have a favourite character? If so why? In my first Amara book I created a side character, Stella. She was a ‘foil’ for the main character to play off and to add contrast. It was my editor who started to cheer every time she appeared. As the writing progressed her part in the story grew. In book two, she is still a secondary character as the mother of the hero, but still a fabulous creation. When I asked John (my editor) what was great about her, his first reaction was ‘She has great boobs and no morals.’ I’m pretty certain I’d never dwelt on her figure, but he had an unshakeable image in his head. Actually, I think she has morals, they just don’t always align to what might be expected.
I enjoyed writing her because she is a ‘force of nature’ she doesn’t have to engage in the self- examination of the main character.
Are your characters based on real people? I guess a lot of my characters are either me or my wife. Not always identifiable by the gender. I once wrote a parody of fantasy fiction where I based all of the characters on friends and acquaintances. I did wonder if anybody would identify themselves, but as it never reached first base in the publishing cycle I guess I’ll never know. The heroes were a dark haired male barbarian and a blonde, efficient female warrior. Yep, me and her again!
Is there a message conveyed within your writing? Do you feel this is important in a book? At school I hated when the teacher asked us to identify and discuss the themes in a story. Only when I started writing many years later did I see how this worked. The Amara stories scream a couple of my ‘truths’: Gender, race and orientation are no measure of a person’s worth. I have a lot of female friends and my soapbox is the increase in reverse sexism prevalent in certain circles.
My other theme is that relationships aren’t just about sex. It’s awful that most children will now view porn before they have a clue what a relationship is about.
Why is a theme important? For me, it helps in the creation and editing. Sometimes I write entire sections and then delete them because they don’t fit with the central theme of the story. I believe it helps me to stay focused on where I am taking my main characters.
In what formats are your books available? (E-books, print, large print audio) Are you intending to expand these and if not, what is the reason? E-Book is the most normal format for my writing. They are available in paperback. I’ve considered other formats, but at the moment, I don’t want to distract from finishing the “Shudalandia Series.” Once the final book is out, I will take a little time to promote and increase the reach through alternative formats.
Do you self-edit? If so why is that the case? Do you believe a book suffers without being professionally edited? My editor, John Hudspith, is my Higher Power. If he says cut, I cut, if he says more, I write more. I get a story as far as I can and then let John take it to the next level. He has been known to throw out the whole thing. The reason for a story, for me, is to entertain, not lecture. I might have a theme, but it mustn’t clog up the story telling process. People read to escape and that has to be the primary objective. I might know where I am going, but my editor will get me to rephrase, explain more, or simply cut out, to shape the final product. The reader has to immerse and stay immersed, not be jogged out of the fantasy by a jarring sequence.
Do you think indie/self-published authors are viewed differently to traditionally published authors? Why do you think this might be? Typically it takes me two years to take a book through to finished standard. I’ve seen self-published authors who bang out a book a month; typos and inconsistencies abound, but they then have the cheek to claim as a self-published author they can’t afford to pay for editing.
I mix with a group of indie authors who take more pride in their output than any trad publishing house achieves these days.
Do you read work by self-published authors? I read anything that works for me. I rarely consider how the work has been published. I do get seriously annoyed when I pay a high price for an ebook from the trad world and it is full of errors a spell checker would have fixed. I don’t think trad publishers have caught on to ebook publishing.
What are your opinions about authors commenting on reviews? How important are reviews? Although tempting, I’d never respond to a review comment. A person buys, they read and occasionally comment. There’s one comment on the Amara books that states, they consider themselves the wrong age, wrong gender and wrong nature for the book, they don’t read the genre and they don’t like sex in books. At this point, I’d consider them unqualified to comment, but they went on to give a one star review. I wanted to rant and rave, but what the heck. All five star reviews appears silly anyway.
When buying a book do you read the reviews? If I haven’t read the author before I will scan the reviews. If I dislike a book by an author I usually like, I go back and see if I am the only one, or if others are having difficulty with it.
What are your views on authors reviewing other authors? Authors are usually readers. As long as they have genuinely read the book, why shouldn’t they comment. I’m more concerned when a book is launched and immediately acquires a couple of hundred five star reviews. That smacks of collusion, or simply buying reviews.
Book links, website/blog and author links:
Free on Thursday 29th September
Amara’s Legacy: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amaras-Legacy-Shudalandia-Book-2-ebook/dp/B018GVPBBW/
Amara’s Daughter : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amaras-Daughter-Shudalandia-Book-1-Howard-ebook/dp/B00DBCPVKI/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ehhoward.author/?ref=bookmarks
Website: www.shudalandia.co.uk
September 27, 2016
Authors Spotlight: Alex L Butcher
The Light Beyond The Storm Chronicles by Alex L Butcher A beautiful young elven sorceress flees for her life in a dark world where magic is forbidden and elves are enslaved. A world in which her ve…
Source: Authors Spotlight: Alex L Butcher
September 25, 2016
Author Interview 116 – Charles F. Bond
Welcome to Charles F. Bond
Where are you from and where do you live now? I was born in Basildon, Essex, and having moved around a lot, working on various pig farms throughout the UK, yes, Scotland as well, I’m now living in Suffolk, where I have the opportunity to earn some money whilst working with pigs, and have enough time off to write.
Please tell us a little about your writing – for example genre, title, etc.I like fantasy stuff, so that’s where I’m most happy writing, but I also like ghosts, and write about these in other stories, most of which have been short stories to date. Buried was an exceptional write, and I still enjoy reading it at writer clubs that I attend.
Beyond Endless Tides is a fantasy tale told within the ocean, and my debut series if you like. I love the fact we don’t know everything about our water world, and that appeals to the writer in me to be creative when making up a story.
Are your characters based on real people? No, simply because I can’t imagine them with tails. There is an exception, of course, and though I won’t embarrass her by mentioning her name, I did have an image of a friend I knew years ago who had long hair which flowed to the nape of her back and a little beyond. I saw her as a mermaid, in some of my dreaming, and though she didn’t make the cut as it were into the casting, I did dream of swimming and meeting her as a mermaid.
Have you ever used a person you don’t/didn’t like as a character then killed them off? [Chuckles] It’s a writer’s prerogative isn’t it, but no, I haven’t drowned anyone, as yet. In the future novels which will come, I may find a way to do so.
Is there a message conveyed within your writing? Do you feel this is important in a book? I write books to tell stories. No hidden agendas, no messages, just story. I know many great books with this element, but I’m not a fan of putting it in my own worlds. This may change as the years roll on, however. As to their importance, I’m easy where it comes to other authors, if they have a message and they want to convey it in their storytelling then I guess it’s important enough to that individual author to do so.
In what formats are your books available? (E-books, print, large print audio) Are you intending to expand these and if not, what is the reason? I’m glad you asked. So far anyone can get copies of my books as e-book and print paperbacks. Now that I have completed the third novella, which falls just short in word length to a novel, I’ll be looking into getting a narrator to read each story for their individual audiobook.
For anyone who may have looked over my website, you may know the reason behind my dedicating Beyond Endless Tides to Andrew. For those of you who don’t, Andrew was my first ever best friend, and when he went away on holiday, I was distraught when he didn’t return. You see he was on the Herald of Free Enterprise on 6th March 1987, and was one of the 193 passengers and crew who didn’t make it. Next year heralds the thirtieth anniversary of the disaster, and I’ll be creating an omnibus edition, which will feature extra scenes, and maybe a few ones that I cut. I’m undecided but will probably go for a hard back copy, though may run leather bound editions for a short time, too. Whatever I do they will be released on 6th March 2017.
Do you self-edit? If so why is that the case? Do you believe a book suffers without being professionally edited? Yes, I self-edit, you have to after a first draft, and then you edit, and edit again until you are happy with the story. But this isn’t what you meant. Every story, no matter who writes it, being a first-timer or a veteran needs some form of outside influence. The writer is just too close to his own works to make the necessary changes to improve the reading experience. He/she him- herself may be the world’s most avid reader, but where it comes to their own work, they need other eyes to show them where things are and aren’t working. Editors are a must for any author, indeed they are.
I think most early authors, myself included, are so eager to get their works out there, they fail to take the time to get any form of editing services. You can tell.
Do you think indie/self-published authors are viewed differently to traditionally published authors? Why do you think this might be? I think certainly this used to be the case when self-publishing first took off, predominantly because indies were thought to be bad writers who couldn’t get a traditional book deal. This of course wasn’t the truth on the most part; it was just that their story, at that time wasn’t seen as a good investment for one reason or another. There are many reasons publishing houses reject submissions, and many aren’t seen at all in some cases because the author didn’t follow one guideline or another in their approach.
But the world is a changin’ and indies are becoming more and more sought after in the marketplace, some even get the traditional deal they want after their books prove to be a success. Indeed there are many successful indies out there, and this falls to the previous question, editors. Indies know they need them to create a marketable end product. The writing serves its own reward for the author.
Do you read work by self-published authors? Yes, and I am delighted with the books I’ve read. I know plenty in the business through social media.
What are your opinions about authors commenting on reviews? How important are reviews? Reviews are a necessity for discoverability. You are doing any author a huge favour by leaving a review: it’s a little like putting him/her on the news where people see their face and know more about what they do. And authors who reply to these reviews should always be professional, polite and courteous. No author should ever fall into the trap of responding to bad reviews. Reviews are a person’s personal experience of the title, leave them be.
What are your reviews on authors reviewing other authors? We are all readers, too, and have our likes, dislikes and such, and should have our say on the time we spend in another’s world.
What experiences can a book provide that a movie or video game cannot? I’ve had this discussion with many people. To me, reading words on a page will always allow the reader’s mind to create its own image of a scene. I sometimes, hate when a book I’ve loved is made into a film, because what I see in my imagination through reading isn’t going to be the same as the setting on a movie. When I’ve read a good book, what I have in my head is my own private account of what I was given from reading the pages, and it’s mine, no one else’s.
What three pieces of advice would you give to new writers? First and foremost, read. Some say you should not read in the genre you are writing, and that may be true when you are actively writing, but when you are between books, read that genre, too. Read consciously, sub-consciously, good stuff and bad, it all helps you become a better writer.
Find yourself a good illustrator. I have now, and for my next book I’m willing to shell out on a good book cover image. People do judge a book by its cover, so it is paramount you make it the best you can.
And remember, writing is always rewritten, once the first draft is done, you should always go back and retype. Edit your words as much as you can until you are happy. We are our own worst enemies where it comes to our creations, so you have to make it as good as you can, and then seek out a good editor to find the parts you, as the author of the story, are just too close to notice.
Most authors like to read, what have you recently finished reading? Did you enjoy it?Yes, love reading. The most recent read that I finished was Theif’s Magic by Trudi Canavan. She is an Australian author whose author voice I adore because, in places, she has poetic prose. This book has a talking book with a twist, and no I won’t spoil it and tell you what that is.
My current read is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I bought this book a month ago and have been putting off reading it for no other reason than I had other books to read whose authors I’ve read before. Had I known Rothfuss’s words would sing to me, as they do, I’d have read this a lot, lot sooner.
What are your views on authors offering free books? I have mixed views on freebies. It’s a good idea to run a free promotion on an earlier book of a series prior to a new release, doing so in the run up to ‘book day’, but permanently free is another matter. I don’t think authors should be giving away their hard work, not for long periods. Promoting your brand is fine, but in little bites.
Do you have a favourite movie? Some of you may already know this, but my favourite movie is Waterworld. “Good morning, or night, whichever the case may be”, is one of my favourite quotes from the film.
Can you give us a silly fact about yourself? I’ve always had a vivid imagination, even as a child. My big sister knew this and told me many silly facts. The one that sticks with me to this day is that she once told me if the blood from my nose bleed touched either of my feet, I’d die. I believed her.
Book links, website/blog and author links:
The Gradonzaras is out 3rd October. Pre-orders available for e-book editions, though paperbacks are live and you can purchase these ahead of release date.
Paperback
E-book Links are for The Sea Dragons (English Vernacular Edition). My original idea was to make up some mer-words for Beyond Endless Tides, but some early reviewers said these were too confusing when reading on ereaders, though a glossary was included, and I think I have done enough around each word for readers to understand them as they go. In most cases a few clicks will take you to the original idea I’m sure.
Learn more about Charles by visiting his website
And check out these author pages
September 22, 2016
Cover Reveal – Rogue – Tonya Coffey
Odin furious with his Valkyrie for disobeying him, and proving the Well right, accepts the War is coming and Clytie will be the goddess who dethrones him, unless her sister stops her first.
Publication date will be September 27, 2016
Size: 6×9
200 pages
Trade paperback
Price: 9.99
September 20, 2016
Author Interview 116 – A J Dalton – Fantasy
Welcome to A J Dalton
Where are you from and where do you live now? From Croydon, now living in Manchester, UK. I also live online a lot. My website is www.ajdalton.eu, which is a portal for those who like fantasy, and which gives plenty of advice and steer to aspiring authors. And I’m on facebook and twitter, blah blah.
Please tell us a little about your writing – for example genre, title, etc. I’m the UK’s leading author of metaphysical fantasy, mainly cos all the other writers are dead. It wasn’t me. I wrote the first new-wave zombie book back in 2008, called Necromancer’s Gambit. I then did a trilogy for Gollancz, starting with Empire of the Saviours, which sold very well in Germany for some reason (they either have good taste or no taste). Now, I’m doing a trilogy for Grimbold Books: The Book of Orm (2015), The Book of Angels (2016), and The Book of Dragons (2017).
Research can be important in world-building, how much do you need to do for your books? Do you enjoy this aspect of creating a novel and what are your favourite resources? My fantasy novels tend to be second-world and psychological, so I don’t need to do much research. Mind you, I’ve taught English all round the world, and other cultures definitely influence my writing. I’ve also learnt a number of martial arts – I’m one of your better authors when it comes to writing a bloody fight scene. But the only book I’ve ever done historical research for is ‘I Am a Small God’, because it’s about a minor Greek god who survives through different eras – so I had to get human historical details right. I don’t enjoy researching that much, as it slows down the writing. Unlike Hilary Mantel, I prefer the writing to the research.
Is there a message conveyed within your writing? Do you feel this is important in a book? Yes, a number of philosophical themes, including the impossibility of true freedom. I actually coined the sub-genre of ‘metaphysical fantasy’, which is now a category of fiction within the Amazon website.
Do you self-edit? If so why is that the case? Do you believe a book suffers without being professionally edited? I self-edit because I’ve been an English language teacher for like 20 years. I have better grammar and punctuation than anyone my publishers can supply. BUT I do use a reading group to spot typos and continuity errors – and they give me emotional support too (very important during long winters).
Do you think indie/self-published authors are viewed differently to traditionally published authors? Why do you think this might be? Yes. There is a (false) idea that self-published work is inferior to stuff published by the mainstream. This idea is wrong, and probably an idea put round by those with a commercial agenda. Basically, publishers reject commercial-standard manuscripts on a daily basis simply because the publishers (falsely) believe the market is only looking for certain things. Look at Marlon James (Booker Prize Winner) – his books were rejected by everyone. Charlaine Harris’s True Blood series was rejected by every single publisher until vampire fiction was suddenly fashionable again.
What are your opinions about authors commenting on reviews? How important are reviews? I think authors should be able to comment on reviews, especially reviews that are unfair. BUT that’s not how things work, I’m afraid. Any author commenting on a review gets accused of silencing free speech, etc. It’s a shame.
What are your views on authors reviewing other authors? Ha. Authors are often very enthusiastic about the genre in which they write. They’re readers too. They often want to share their enthusiasm. BUT if the review isn’t entirely positive, the reviewing author will suddenly find their own books start getting reviews that aren’t entirely positive too. Tit for tat. It’s a shame.
What experiences can a book provide that a movie or video game cannot? Well, F. R. Leavis said a book was ‘active entertainment’ but a movie was ‘passive entertainment’. I tend to agree. A book makes you work harder than a movie. But a book and a movie serve different functions. They both have their strengths.
What three pieces of advice would you give to new writers?
Develop your selling skills – cos writing it is far easier than selling it
Ignore feedback unless you’re getting similar feedback from a range of readers
Learn to master narrative perspective and avoid ‘intrusive author voice’ – if you’re not sure what that means, check my short essay and the cited examples in Art of the Novel, by Salt Publishing.
Most authors like to read, what have you recently finished reading? Did you enjoy it? My guilty pleasure is Gotrek and Felix, by the Black Library. Very strong characters, with well constructed moral dilemmas, and good fight scenes.
What are your views on authors offering free books? If an author has a range of titles, then giving one away for free can win you readers for your other titles. Look, authors make very little money as it is, so we’re not doing any of this to make money really. We’re doing this cos we have something we want to share with people. Giving away a few books never really hurt. And if the person who got the free copy passes it on, they’ll help recruit new readers for you and your other titles.
Do you have a favourite movie? Rollerball, James Caan. The individual fighting the world… and winning.
September 19, 2016
Character Interview Number Thirty-Nine Jamela Thomas, et al
Name (s) Jamela, Ms.J and LJ Thomas (nonfiction)
Describe your appearance in 10 words or less. Medium height African American woman
Do you have a moral code? If so what is it? Yes. I treat people the way I want to be treated.
Would you die for those you love? Yes. I value life and the people I love add value to the world so I would die to save their life.
Do you have any relationships you prize above others? Why? Yes, I prize my relationship with my mentors in life. These are spiritual mentors. They help keep me grounded and guide me through difficult time.
Do you have any phobias? Yes, bridges and heights.
Please give us a little information about the world in which you live. I live with multiple sclerosis and have been for over 20 years. I am a proud wife, mother, and grandmother. I am a co-owner of a music production company and I enjoy cooking, singing and crocheting in my spare time. I volunteer a great deal in my congregation and cherish time with family and friends.
Name and describe a food from your world. Hmmm a food from my world. That would have to be baked macaroni and cheese. This is pasta, milk, eggs, a little butter and cheese. After the pasta is cooked, everything is mixed together and placed in the oven for 30-40 minutes. This is comfort food.
Name a couple of myths and legends particular to your culture/people. We all like fried chicken and watermelon. We are all on welfare or do drugs. We are all uneducated. We all have talent in sports.
What is the technology level for your world/place of residence? What item would you not be able to live without? The technology my world is parallel to society. I have to say that I would not be able to live without my cell phone. I spend a lot of time talking to family, friends, clients, and others.
Author notes:
Book(s) in which this character appears plus links
Kidnapped in Love (http://amzn.to/2bPVPS2)
Kidnapped in Love2:Backfire (link coming later this month)
Author name: Jamela
Website/Blog/Author pages etc.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9727897-lj-jamela
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljthomas1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamela/568449613189000
Website: http://info74085.wix.com/jamela
Jamela/Ms. J has been writing for 35+ plus years. She currently resides in the Atlanta, Georgia Metro with her musician/videographer husband. She reads almost anything and writes mainly fiction. She dabbles in poetry, prose and other non-fiction works. She has been published in regional magazines and newsletters. She released a medical book on Multiple Sclerosis in 2012. Her collection of short stories which focuses on women surviving relationships, And I Trusted You, was released in 2013. She released a 2nd edition of What Is This World Coming To? (a collection of YA sci-fi short stories) in 2014. In 2014 she also released Kidnapped in Love, Because I Love You, Unknown Factor and Run Trilogy. She enjoys, reading, singing and obviously, writing. Jamela/Ms. J believes everything good will take hard work and is worth having, especially if it benefits others.
Kidnapped in Love2: Backfire
COVER REVEAL
COMING FALL 2016
Trisha has dealt with the death of her husband and being kidnapped. Her life is good now and she and her children are happy after losing James. She can finally breathe again and let her guard down. She does so and falls in love with the man of her dreams. It was unexpected, to say the least. But, things are not always what they seem. Trisha will do anything to protect the children she loves and the life she has built. But she has skeletons in her closet which threaten the happiness of her entire family. Will she end up paying for past sins, real or imagined? Will her children suffer? Or will Trisha come out on top, again?
And I Trusted You
http://amzn.to/2bQnmXY
Kidnapped in Love
http://amzn.to/2bPVPS2
What Is This world coming To?
http://amzn.to/2bzM9jT
Run Trilogy (Hit & Run, You Better Run and Who’s Running Now all in one volume) http://amzn.to/2cduZr6
Includes the following:
1. Hit & Run http://amzn.to/2bZaJIV
2. You Better Run http://amzn.to/2bR3Adl
3. Who’s Running Now http://amzn.to/2c7eXvm
“The past finally catches up to Jeff and the running may not be the same.”
AMB Shorts http://amzn.to/2c7e5qy
This is a collection of flash fiction and short stories, quick reads that will keep you on the edge of your seat and then some. Get ready for your action fix to be satisfied. Roll call; betrayal, conspiracy, lies, drama, crime and more. Are all present.
1. Cruel Intentions http://amzn.to/2bAAErh
2. Your Love http://amzn.to/2caq4nW
3. Quickie http://amzn.to/2c3sLrW
4. Mr. & Mrs. Santiago http://amzn.to/2cdu3mq
5. Unknown factor http://amzn.to/2c7f9Lo
6. Family Gathering http://amzn.to/2bzMPpr
7. Run Trilogy (Hit & Run, You Better Run and Who’s Running Now all in one volume)
http://amzn.to/2cduZr6
website/blog and author links:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9727897-lj-jamela
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljthomas1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamela/568449613189000
Website: http://info74085.wix.com/jamela
Release Blitz for In the Flesh by K D Grace
Out Now! – In The Flesh: Book 1 of The Medusa Consortium
In The Flesh Blurb:
When Susan Innes comes to visit her friend, Annie Rivers, in Chapel House, the deconsecrated church that Annie is renovating into a home, she discovers her outgoing friend changed, reclusive, secretive, and completely enthralled by a mysterious lover, whose presence is always felt, but never seen, a lover whom she claims is god. As her holiday turns into a nightmare, Susan must come to grips with the fact that her friend’s lover is neither imaginary nor is he human, and even worse, he’s turned his wandering eye on Susan, and he won’t be denied his prize. If Susan is to fight an inhuman stalker intent on having her as his own, she’ll need a little inhuman help.
EXCERPT 3 In The Flesh: Susan’s Secret Writings:
I wasn’t alone in the dark. I knew that the first time I entered the crypt at Chapel House. I could feel a presence there, almost as though someone stood just behind me, about to reach out and touch me. The shiver over my skin was not so much from fear, though certainly there was an element of fear, as it was from longing, bone-deep longing. I could barely breathe for it, I could barely stand under the weight of it, and I couldn’t imagine how such an ache, such a hunger could exist inside my flesh and not tear me apart. I was astonished that Annie seemed completely unaware of anything out of the ordinary, and to be quite honest, I wasn’t anxious to share it with her.
She continued to chatter on about her plans to make Chapel House over with a state of the art kitchen—she who didn’t cook, and a master suite that would rival the finest hotels in London. Strange that I could listen with one part of my brain and comment on her ideas for an open plan living space, for a library in the choir loft, for a wet room in the sacristy, while with another part of my brain I felt like every cell of my body was responding to whatever it was, whoever it was that I was certain waited there in the darkness, just beyond the beam of Annie’s Maglite.
***
The departmentalizing of Annie’s plans and the feel of the presence in the darkness became much more difficult when I felt the closeness of a warm, hard body against my back and the humid nip of a kiss on the nape of my neck. I explained away my little gasp of surprise to Annie by saying I’d almost lost my footing. I should have been frightened. I should have been terrified, and believe me, I was. But by the time I felt a large hand splayed low against my belly, by the time I was certain of the maleness pressed hard and low just above my butt, I was far more intrigued than I was frightened. Even if terror had won out, I don’t think I could have forced myself to move as the hand in the darkness migrated to cup my breasts and thumb my nipples, first one, then the other, and the slow grind and undulation from behind became more demanding.
“The roses, they smell lovely.” I managed a breathless response to Annie’s ramblings about plans for the overgrown mess of a garden. “You might want to consider a scent garden.”
She laughed. “I can’t smell anything, but then you were always the one with the sensitive nose. Of course I’ll make sure there are lots of roses.” She knew they were my favorite, but I couldn’t imagine her not smelling them; the scent was nearly overwhelming in the tight space of the crypt. To my surprise, as she rambled on about a patio with a Jacuzzi, the smell of roses was subsumed in my own scent and the humid, piquant scent of a man well aroused. The hand on my breast began a slow, torturous descent, and I wanted nothing more than for Annie to keep talking, keep planning, anything to keep her from dragging me away from this place, at least for a few more minutes.
I asked about the Jacuzzi, hoping that would give me another minute. By the time she got started about the sites she’d looked up online and the builders she’d talked to, I was rocking back against the hardness, craning my neck to yield as much bare skin as possible to teeth and tongue and lips all soft and warm and wet and sharp and hard and demanding. Oh,
I tried to be as unobtrusive as possible, but looking back, I wonder how the hell Annie couldn’t see? How could she have missed it? But she rattled on and on about some builder just up the road near Keswick who was supposed to be really good, some guy named Michael. Like I gave a fuck.
The study suddenly felt stuffy and overheated, and Michael’s grip on my hand convulsed. His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look at me.
Magda paid little attention to either my discomfort or Michael’s. She just kept on reading.
He was cute, Annie said. That led to observations about this Michael’s broad shoulders and nice arse and speculation as to whether or not he would be any good in bed, and was it wise to seduce him before he put in her Jacuzzi or wait till after and seduce him in it. All the while I nodded and pretended to be interested.
I was thankful for the extra time, but Christ, how could she not notice me standing there, legs apart, rocking back and forth and shifting from foot to foot like I had ants in my knickers? In truth, what I wanted in my knickers surely couldn’t actually be there, and yet I felt it, fucking hell, how I felt it! I swear, I could feel muscle and sinew. Hell, I could feel the actual shape of an erection as though we were both naked, as though all he need do, this dark being who surely was just my imagination, was bend me over and open me, me struggling to keep my breathing quiet, me struggling to focus enough attention on my friend that she wouldn’t suspect I was about to come. Oh yes, I was terrified. I would have, should have, run, if I hadn’t been so intrigued, so turned on. I just wanted one more second, and then another and another.
In desperation that shocks me even now as I write this in the dark silence of Annie’s flat, I grabbed onto a wrist that I swear was as solid and warm as my own and guided the caress, the tease, the fondling of fingers and palm down my belly toward where I really needed it to be.
Annie yammered on about this Michael, all the things she’d heard about him, all the things she wanted to do to him—at least I think she did. My God, my whole body felt alive, every cell, every molecule. I could damn near feel the coursing of my own blood through my veins. You have no idea what an exhilarating combination fear and arousal make. I lost track of what Annie was saying, and the air was filled with the scent of sex. I could smell him, actually smell this phantom man, who was as near release as I was, and I was sure, as my knees gave beneath me, I felt the warm wet of his orgasm against my lower back. And then for an instant everything around me was silk and darkness, so perfect, so ecstatic. But just beyond that warm tight space, I knew. I knew as well as I know my own breath, I was terrified, and what I felt was like no terror I’d ever known before and, holy God in heaven, I want to feel it again.
And then I was shivering on my knees against the stone floor in the crypt at Chapel House.
“Susan? Susan, you’re scaring me.” Annie’s worried face invaded my field of vision before she half-blinded me with her Maglite. “Are you all right? What the hell happened?”
“Sorry, I got a little lightheaded there. Probably just blood sugar. I missed lunch,” I lied, stumbling quickly to my feet, making a quick swipe at the back of my skirt, surprised to find it was dry. Glancing over my shoulder into the narrow beam of the Maglite, I saw only the empty darkness of the crypt and the tunnel that led back to the rusted barred door. But I was certain someone was there, someone I hungered for way more than I hungered for food. And I was equally certain that I would have Him.
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About K D Grace
Voted ETO Best Erotic Author of 2014, and a proud member of The Brit Babes, K D Grace believes Freud was right. In the end, it really IS all about sex, well sex and love. And nobody’s happier about that than she is, otherwise, what would she write about?
When she’s not writing, K D is veg gardening. When she’s not gardening, she’s walking. She walks her stories, and she’s serious about it. She and her husband have walked Coast to Coast across England, along with several other long-distance routes. For her, inspiration is directly proportionate to how quickly she wears out a pair of walking boots. She also enjoys martial arts, reading, watching the birds and anything that gets her outdoors.
KD has erotica published with Totally Bound, SourceBooks, Xcite Books, Harper Collins Mischief Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Black Lace, Sweetmeats Press and others.
K D’s critically acclaimed erotic romance novels include, The Initiation of Ms Holly, Fulfilling the Contract, To Rome with Lust, and The Pet Shop. Her paranormal erotic novel, Body Temperature and Rising, the first book of her Lakeland Witches trilogy, was listed as honorable mention on Violet Blue’s Top 12 Sex Books for 2011. Books two and three, Riding the Ether, and Elemental Fire, are now also available.
K D Grace also writes hot romance as Grace Marshall. An Executive Decision, Identity Crisis, The Exhibition, Interviewing Wade are all available.
Find K D Here:
Websites: http://kdgrace.co.uk/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KDGraceAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KD_Grace
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kdgraceauthor
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