A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 74

Blood at Dusk Guest Post Brenna Harlow Interview #Vampire #Paranormal

Welcome to Brenna. Where were you born/grew up at?

Born and raised in Northern Georgia, on the cusp of Alabama and Tennessee. I’ve lived in North Carolina briefly, but otherwise I’ve stayed close to my roots. Would I love to move to the snowy mountains of Colorado? Yes. But could I manage being that far away from my family? Eh, probably not.

 

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I read, and read, and read. Or I’ll fill the tub up and soak in a hot bath. If my kiddo is at her grandparents, I’ll stay in until the bath water gets cold and then fill it back up again. Something about the hot water calms my nerves, and it’s easy to immerse myself into my books.

 

How to find time to write as a parent?

Simple, write while she plays, eats, and sleeps. Haha. We take walks, and go outside. I read her bedtime stories at night, and watch Disney movies with her. She knows when Mommy is working she has to go and play with her millions of toys inside of her bedroom.

 

What inspired you to write this book?

I would say that reading a million books with tropes that I loved inspired me to write one of my own. Also, vampires have always and will always be my favorite creatures of the night. I cannot help it. It’s ingrained in my soul. I grew up on Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, The Vampire Academy, True Blood… I may or may not enjoy blood and biting tropes LOL.

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

I have the next two years pretty much outlined. So this year, I will be releasing the first FIVE books in The SoulBlood Series, one surprise novella that links to The SoulBlood Series, and one super secret anthology project. I’ll be releasing a demon romance standalone in 2022, and finishing off the SoulBlood Series (seven books total). We’ll see what happens after that.

 

What book do you think everyone should read?

I always, always recommend anything by Ruby Dixon. If you are new to her, please go pick up Ice Planet Barbarians. It’s the start to my ALL TIME favorite series! If you aren’t into sci-fi romance, you can try out her Fireblood Dragon series!

 

How long have you been writing?

I, like many others, have been writing since childhood. I think it all started when I was in middle school, and I became obsessed with the now-famous Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I wrote my first original story, about fated mates and high school romance, around that time. I started taking writing seriously in 2019, when I started writing on Wattpad for practice and found out that my writing was actually not that bad and something other people might enjoy.

 

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

Um, yes! Of course I read, how in the world would I get better at my craft otherwise? My go-to tropes are fated mates, captive romance, protective/possessive alpha males, anything with vampires, blood bonds, yadda yadda. I’m a hardcore romance reader and writer, through and through.

 

Do you have a favorite movie?

I don’t have a single favorite movie, but I have a favorite genre/sub-genre of movies. Any guesses? Haha, I love horror. Way over the top love, lowkey obsessive. If I don’t indulge in at least one horror flick a week, then something is wrong. My favorite sub-genre of horror is creature films, whether that be zombies (my all-time fav) or aliens, vampires, werewolves, etc.

 

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

As a person, my spirit animal is most certainly a raccoon. Funny story, I actually rescued and rehabilitated one as a teenager. They’re kind and very similar to a cat, though a little less domesticated. But as an author who writes about vampires, I’ll go with a bat as my spirit animal. Anything that sucks a little blood and only comes out during the night totally fits my aesthetic.

 

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

I do a ton of market research before writing. I’ll pick up a few top sellers and read them, analyze the tropes, and find out what makes readers gravitate towards that particular book. I’m an avid reader, so my market research is normally just my leisure reads. Before I begin plotting, I outline my characters like crazy. If they are professional NASA scientists, then you best believe my search history is all about what the heck a scientist at NASA does. Most of my plot is all about romance, suspense, and horror/tension. I don’t need to do much research on that, but places, environment, weather conditions… Yeah, authors do a ton of learning with each new project.

 

Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely. Writing good books is a profession. I am constantly learning new things about the craft and the business side of this career, but it has never been ‘just a hobby’ for me. (Okay, maybe when I was a kid it was a hobby, but not anymore.)

 

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I prefer to write listening to sounds. I have a playlist that I listen to on Spotify called ‘Lofi Beats for Ghosts’ and it has single-handedly gotten me through almost every draft I have ever written. When I go in to revise and do line edits, I normally turn on my WIP playlist. Current band obsessions are Haley Henderickx, Big Thief, Modest Mouse, Fleet Foxes, Grouper, and a ton of other indie rock/folk tunes.

 

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

I’ve found that I work best when focusing on one book at a time. I normally section out blocks of the month and devote those days/weeks to my WIP. Same goes with revising, if I’m editing one book, I find it difficult to be drafting another. I’m just weird like that.

 

If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?

I’ll most certainly get tons of shade for this, but if I could take Stephanie Meyer’s place and write Twilight the way it should have been written, i’d do it in a heartbeat. Or maybe Rachelle Mead… Her Vampire Academy series gave me life while I was in middle school. Props to her!

 

Tell us about a favorite character from a book.

So when I was in my late teens, I read a book called Stray by Rachel Vincent. It’s a steamy paranormal romance about werecat shifters, and the FMC Faythe Sanders gave me so much life. She’s strong, knows what she wants (kinda), and kicks ass. It’s so hard to pick a single favorite character from all of the amazing books I’ve read, but she is high on my list.

 

A day in the life of the author?

*Opens front door* Hello, and welcome to a day in my life. *Gestures wildly to the debris of toys that cover the living room, put there by one tornado of a toddler.*

 

In this home, we drink coffee non-stop. Here, have an espresso. *Shoves cup of triple shot into your hands* Let’s get on with the tour! Oh, don’t mind my messy bun and leggings, I always look like this.

Here is where you’ll find my computer, which currently has sixteen tabs open, most of which serve as a distraction from the writing I need to be doing. Never mind all that, hows your coffee? *Child screams in the background*

You get the gist.

 

Advice they would give new authors?

Just don’t stop, and do not get caught up in all of the marketing advice that can easily consume all of your time- time that would be better spent just writing the damn book. Write, and write more, and for the love of all things holy, please do not create your own cover. Yes, you need an editor. Yes, you need a marketing plan- but only once you have the book! Or multiples, if you want to try your hand at rapid releasing. Do NOT get caught up in all of the marketing tactics like I did. Yes, you need to know them. However, you don’t need to know them all in the first month. Slow down.

 

Describe yourself in 5 words or less!

Witchy, Moody, Anxious, and Nerdy.

 

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

Why yes, I’m glad you asked! Sometime at the end of the year, I have plans for a novella featuring my two main characters for book one. I’ll leave it up to the imagination on what exactly it’s about, but here’s a clue. “Happily Ever After can be rounded, by two.”

 

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in (Name of book)?

Of course! Book one, Blood at Dusk, follows the life of a woman named Kora and a Vampire named Aldeon. Their paths cross, of course. (It wouldn’t be a love story without that, haha). Kora was a Senior at Nashville State Community College before the end of the world came. She was a vegan, bookworm, and partied with her sister on the weekends. Nowadays, she deals with a lot of anxiety and grief (as to be expected).

 

Aldeon is a vampire from the world know as Azure. He doesn’t remember how he, or his people, got to earth. His mind has cleared from the fog of bloodlust, but his species is still mad, tearing through the human and animal population on this new planet. He wants to help the, but when he meets his fated mate- a human, he has to choose. Save her, or stay true to his kind.

 

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

My most favorite thing about writing this book was sharing my struggles with a select group of writing friends. They have grown into an amazing community who lends a helping hand to all those who need it. Without them listening to my endless rants, I don’t know what I would do. I especially wouldn’t have been able to get this book written without my amazing friend and critique partner, Winter. I owe this all to her.

 

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

The concept for this series was a combination of reading a dragon series that I loved (the male main characters inspired my dhampirs’ protective/possessive/alpha nature) and a dream. Daydream might even be a better world. For a whole month, I would lie in bed and visualize the scenes, and then the next day I would write them. It really was a beautiful process.

 

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Psh, I already have. I wrote this book in a month, and then rewrote it completely a few months later, and then sent it through betas and rewrote pieces of it again, and then changed things one more time before my editor got ahold of it. It’s as good as I can make it at this point.

 

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Kora would most certainly be Emilia Clarke, and Aldeon would probably be… Hm, maybe Joseph Morgan with long black hair. *shrugs* Aldeon is a hard character to cast.

 

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Yes, for sure. My books are not meant for young readers, and there are very mature themes involved. Also, I hear a lot of smack about ‘weak’ heroines. Let me be clear, my characters may seem weak in the beginning (I mean they’ve survived an apocalypse, I feel like they deserve a little credit for that already) but each and every one of them turn their weaknesses into strengths by the end of the book. This is called a character arc and for me, it’s important.

 

What is your favorite part of this book and why?

Haha, all of the steamy scenes are my favorite. And anything with heightened emotion. The dream about Cece (my FMC’s dead sister) made me cry on my first reread, and then the scenes with Aldeon when he’s super sweet and loving towards Kora… Heart melts.

 

If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

I would say Aldeon, because he’s a hottie, but I feel like that betrays my sisterhood with Kora. I’m weird and totally think of her as a BFF. So, I’d choose to spend my day with her. Maybe we would go and scavenge a book store, or talk about all of the beauty in life. I think she would appreciate that conversation.

 

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

They come from my imagination, though I feel like I may inject parts of my self into them at times. Like Kora enjoys books and is an animal lover. Those are totally quirks of mine. She’s also a little bit softer spoken, which is totally me. Aldeon is super protective, and overthinks sometimes. Also me.

 

Have you written any other books that are not published?

Yep! I’ve written 4(ish) that have never been published, and three novels that were published using my legal name. I’ve unpublished those books, and hope to one day rerelease them under this pen name.

 

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

Blood orange, or maybe strawberry lemonade. Or forest scented, mixed with a tinge of vanilla.

 

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Nitro Cold Brew from Starbucks. And I need to have a candle lit before I begin writing. Don’t ask me why, I just do.

 

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first? What are common traps for aspiring writers?

I do a basic outline. I like to know what ‘beats’ I need to hit, and I know how the story starts and ends. Those points never change while I draft, but before each chapter, I do a summary. Things change while I write, but I roll with it. I’m not sure what I would do without a simple outline.

 

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

It takes me a month on average to write my first draft. Most of my drafts tend to be around 45-50k. After that, I’ll decide how much needs to be rewritten and then focus on that for another month. At that point, the manuscript is normally clean enough that I can manage a couple of weeks of self edits before sending it to my editor. From the first line to hitting publish, it normally takes 2-3 months. (That is for a full length novel.)

 

 

Content Warning: This book does contain mature themes, such as but not limited to; sexual content, suicide and suicidal ideations, violence, and strong language. Not suitable for ages under 18+.

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56789642-blood-at-dusk

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R2PL1C9/

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brenna Harlow (if that’s even her real name) lives happily in her own fantasy land, drinking way too much coffee and reading an endless amount of smutty paranormal romance. She joined the land of the living only to share her love for the creatures of the night, and henceforth has claimed her throne at the Kingdom of Vampires and Fated Mates.

You can find Brenna in any coffee shop that provides free Wi-Fi, drinking her triple shot espresso and stabbing her keyboard to death.

Author Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brennaharlowbooks

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/brennasbookdungeon

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrennaHarlow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brennaharlowbooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brenna-harlow

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brenna-Harlow/e/B08R2VWW23

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21108871.Brenna_Harlow

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GIVEAWAY

Paperback of Blood at Dusk + Swag Pack, $15 Amazon giftcard – 1  winner each

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/blood-at-dusk-book-tour-and-giveaway                                                                    

Daughters of Zion – Blog Tour

Daughters of ZionBiblical Retellingsby C.A. GrayGenre: Christian Fiction, Biblical Nonfiction Have you ever wondered what it was like for Eve to be the first woman, created as an adult but with the mind of a child? What must it have been like for Deborah to be the only female judge in Israel’s history? Ever considered how Esther felt about being chosen as queen in the ungodly kingdom of Persia—particularly when she’d have to share her husband with a harem? What must Mary and Martha have thought when their brother Lazarus had died, and it looked to them like Jesus was not coming? This collection of retellings from the perspectives of women in scripture explores these stories and more, including a few stories from female perspectives that also appear in Messiah: Biblical Retellings. While all of these women lived in various patriarchal cultures, and some of the most prominent women were even Gentiles, scripture shows that God cherished them all. As the Apostle Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28)—and this was true for believing women under the old covenant as well, whose faith was counted to them as righteousness. These are tales of miracles and victory: from brokenness, bitterness and envy to shalom: peace and wholeness, with nothing missing and nothing broken. For some, this meant a transition from barrenness to motherhood; for others, from widowhood to love and belonging. Still others went from bereavement to receiving their dead restored to life again. They included judges and queens, and also prostitutes and despised foreigners. God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11, Acts 10:25): what He does for one, He will do for all who believe in His promises. Add to Goodreads Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo C.A. Gray is the author of three YA Amazon bestselling trilogies: PIERCING THE VEIL (magic and quantum physics meet Arthurian legends), THE LIBERTY BOX (dystopian metaphysics and mind control technology), and UNCANNY VALLEY (dystopian coming-of-age with neuroscience and super intelligent A.I). She starts with some scientific concept that she’s interested in learning more about herself, and then creates lots of epic chaos and high-stakes action to go along with it. Her stories are free of gratuitous violence, language, and sexual content, and she abhors depressing endings… but they’re not all kittens and rainbows either! She also listens to and reviews audiobooks on her website (www.authorcagray.com), Goodreads, Instagram, and on her podcast, Clean Audiobook Reviews, where she also occasionally interviews other authors.By day, C.A. Gray practices naturopathic medicine, podcasts, and writes medical non-fiction under her maiden name (Lauren Deville). She lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband Frank, and together they maintain an occasionally contentious film review blog (under her real name: Lauren Baden. Three names. Yes.) She’s kind of the queen of multitasking–so in her spare time, she creates whatever meals or crafts she found most recently on Pinterest, drinks lots of coffee (Aeropress btw) and occasional wine (reds–and she saves the corks for craft projects), works out (while listening to audiobooks), and studies the Bible (about half of the podcasts on Christian Natural Health are scripture meditations). …She does sleep, too.Join her newsletter for best-of-the-month reads, freebies and giveaway information, as well as new releases! http://eepurl.com/F3rof Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! $25 Amazon a Rafflecopter giveaway

Character Interview – Desdemona – Virtue Angel

CHARACTER NAME- Desdemona,  Virtue Angel, Captain of the Royal Guards for the Court of Light leader of the Illuminasqua 

How did you end up in the situation you’re currently in? I fought Lucifer and saved Archangel GabrielDo you have any regrets? noneIs your life now as you envisioned it? If not – then why? no, but its ok I am protecting Queen Aurora a job that is an honour. I never thought I would be a Virtue Angel, but I am happy to have kept my Elestial blade.Do you believe in monsters? Yes I have fought themDo you have a moral code? “Loyalty to the kin not to the crown.”Would you kill for those you love? YesWould you die for those you love? YesHow do you think others see you? My enemies fear me and I like thatWho is your greatest enemy? I have none, but I despise King Jarvok.What is your greatest weakness (we won’t tell)? I have no weakness, I was the greatest of the Power Brigade members and the only one to ever exalt to Virtue Angel, and now I am the leader of the Illuminasqua. Jarvok thinks he is the best but one day we will meet and I will face him and finish the scar on his right cheek I gave him.How do you think others see you? Like a deadly weaponDo you believe in god(s)? Not anymoreWhat do you think of your author/creator? a total badass because she made me.

For the author

Books in which this character appears: Birth of the Fae: Locked out of Heaven, Birth of the Fae: Thine Eyes of Mercy

IG: @birthof thefae_novel

Birthofthefae.com

Danielle M. Orsino was working as a nurse and treating a patient who needed some distraction during long I.V. treatment sessions. So, Orsino decided to tell a story. Little did she know the seed would grow into a fantastically epic adventure of heartbreak, hope and rebirth — Birth of Fae: Locked Out of Heaven. Drawing from her passion for comic books, Cosplay and fantasy along with her expert martial arts expertise, Orsino brings forth an electric and hopeful debut.

 

Danielle is taking on her biggest challenge to date: taking the story born from the long treatment sessions with a patient into a fantasy book series-Birth of the Fae: Locked out of Heaven. Expanding her love of writing, comics and exploring the world of fantasy novels, she delves into the realm of fairies and retells their origins from a completely new perspective.

Dirty Dozen Author Interview – Danielle M. Orsino – Fantasy

Author name: Danielle M. Orsino

Please tell us about your publications/work.

A fantasy epic adventure of heartbreak, hope and rebirth — Birth of Fae: Locked Out of Heaven. The book was born from my time working as a nurse and treating a patient who needed some distraction during long I.V. treatment sessions. I jump into the  realm of angels, fairies, dragons and mermaids retelling their origins from a new perspective .

How did you become involved with bundles? (For Bundle Authors)

Stephanie Rabell  my PR rep.

Do you think the written word (or art) bring power and freedom? Yes it levels the playing field and gives people a voice.

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you started your publishing journey? so much, there are scammers just waiting to pounce, don’t doubt yourself. The whole “if you write it they will come.” line doesn’t work. YOU have to work at it. The publishing world is a game like anything else and you need to learn it.   

What’s your greatest networking tip? Book clubs, and the bookstagram community are phenomenal be appreciative of them.

If you could have dinner with any literary character or author who would you choose, and what would you eat. Shannon Mayer or Laurel K. Hamilton. I have to know how Laurel writes her sex scenes and how Shannon can write so many different characters and tie her universe together she is truly prolific. A food old fashion Italian family style dinner.   

How much research do you do for your work? What’s the wildest subject you’ve looked at? I have done a lot of religious text research and looked at tons  of conspiracy theories for book four. So probably the shadow government stuff dealing with the supernatural was pretty weird.  

How influential is storytelling to our culture? It’s ingrained in our culture when you about it, storytelling was our first real source of verbal entertainment.

What’s the best advice you’ve received about writing/publishing? Be yourself.

What’s the worst piece best advice you’ve received about writing/publishing? Change for your audience.

If you could be any fantasy/mythical or legendary person/creature what would you be and why? A Fae. 

Which authors have influenced you the most? Ann Rice, Laurel K. Hamilton, for their fearlessness. Jim Henson and Walt Disney for their ways of showing how to craft a story.  

What is your writing space like? I handwrite all my books first so my space is anywhere. 

Tell us about your latest piece? I am editing book four, but we are getting ready to release Book two in which the Fae will see what happens when you can’t remember why you started a war and how it has affected their kin and their human worshippers. We will see the Fae in the end of Tudor England and the beginnings of Queen Mary the first.

What’s your next writing adventure? In book Four the Fae will be in the 21st century and I am currently editing book four and about 25 chapters into book five.

What are your views on authors offering free books? Do you believe, as some do, that it demeans an author and his or her work? NO I think the more people who read the better, price and money should never be an obstacle,  reading is not a privilege it is a right that everyone has.    

What are your views on authors commenting on reviews? Depends. if the review is inaccurate and coming from a nasty place and the author feels they are being demeaned it is up to them same if it’s a touching review and they want to say thank you they should. 

How do you deal with bad reviews? I am working on dealing with the reviews. I negate the best and the worst, together. Each review has merit. The ones that bother me are when its clear the person has a bias because I am a female author. An example is the subject of romance; I have had reviews about people wanting more romance. I have said book one has no romance. But because I am a female author they feel I should have romance. The reviews are bad because it is someone else’s opinion about me as a female author and their assumption. The book does not really get a fair shot. I have also had a few people have issues with the religious subject matter so I have warned people of the religious undertones some are offended by that and the violence which once again coming from a woman colours their view and the book. The reviews usually say something like “the religious stuff doesn’t bother me but…” and they go one to pan the book. It is clear the religious subject matter was an issue or “The violence is not appropriate for YA readers.” but my book is not listed for YA, I had someone write “for a woman she is angry and violent.” I am a world-class martial artist of course I write great fight scenes! Those are the types of reviews which bother me but, I am learning to deal with them. Everyone in entitled to their opinion and I respect it.    

Sort these into order of importance:

Great characters

Good plot

Awesome world-building

Technically perfect

With the influx of indie authors do you think this is the future of storytelling? I hope so, I think the big publishing machine has controlled and limited the voices long enough it is time for a change. 

Is this the age of the e-book? Are bricks and mortar bookshops in decline? no I don’t think physical books are in decline but the way we shop is changing, the versatility of e-books can’t be denied. I think to each their own, I love the way a book feels in my hand and the magic of opening it. 

 Are indie/self published authors viewed with scepticism or wariness by readers? Why is this? I believe there is still a stigma and lack of validation that a big publisher did not “chose” you to publish so readers are still unsure to spend their hard earned money on you as an author which is unfair, many indie publishers have educated themselves on the ins and outs of the publishing world and do not want to be anchored to the contracts and want control of their works. 

What is your greatest success? Sitting down to write and having the guts to introduce my version of the Fae to the world.

How important is writing/art to you? it has become like air.

What are your hopes for the coming year? To have more readers enter into the Veil and perhaps forget their reality for a little while. The greatest joy for an author is to be someone’s tour guide into the world they have created.

Tell us a silly fact about yourself. I dressed up as Wonder Woman every year for the first 10 years of my life every Halloween. Then I went to see Lynda Carter perform a few years ago in concert and I dressed up as Wonder Woman because it was a few days before Halloween. Guess what I was the only one dressed up. 

What did you want to be when you ‘grew up’? Wonder Woman I wrote essays about it

 

Links to book

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/birth-of-the-fae-danielle-marie-orsino/1136777080

https://bookshop.org/books/birth-of-the-fae-locked-out-of-heaven/9781734764505

https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Fae-Locked-out-Heaven/dp/173476452X

Lighthouses of Devmaer Blog Tour – Scifi/Fantasy Romance

Bound to the AdmiralLighthouses of Devmaer Book 1by Libby CampbellGenre: Steamy Fantasy SciFi Romance He controls the queen’s navy but can he tame the princess? When her parents choose a gruff, battle-hardened admiral as her mate and give her no say at all in the matter, twenty-one-year-old Princess Gael does not hesitate to make her displeasure known. Despite her protests, however, her old-fashioned yet undeniably sexy future mate wastes no time in taking Gael over his knee and baring her bottom for a painful, embarrassing spanking when she defies him during an ancient ceremony intended to celebrate their upcoming union. Fleet Admiral Kai Grenville has no doubt that taming his beautiful, feisty new mate will be a battle, but it is a battle he intends to win. If that means paddling Gael’s beautiful backside bright red with her panties stuffed in her mouth to teach her what happens to sassy mates, then so be it. Though she does her best to remain indignant about her situation and Kai’s willingness to chastise her as often and as shamefully as he feels it necessary, Gael cannot deny her body’s response to his dominance, and when he claims her the pleasure is more intense than she would have thought possible. But with a plague ravaging their world and Gael’s reckless behavior putting her in danger, can Kai find a way to conquer her heart while also keeping her safe? Publisher’s Note: Bound to the Admiral includes spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book. **Only .99cents!!**Goodreads * Amazon Bound to the CommanderLighthouses of Devmaer Book 2 He rules an entire nation but can he command her? When rumors of twenty-three-year-old orphan Pepper Thornback’s incredible healing abilities reach the ruling Tribunal, Commander Quinn Garrick sets out to bring her to the capital. Pepper is given no choice in the matter, and when she attempts an escape during the journey she is taken over his knee for a sound spanking and then stripped bare for a painful, embarrassing switching. More humiliating still, upon reaching their destination Quinn informs Pepper that she will be his ward for the duration of her stay and he will not hesitate to deal firmly with any disobedience. Despite her blushing indignation at being treated in such a shameful manner, Quinn’s stern dominance arouses Pepper deeply, and when he takes her in his arms and claims her properly she is left utterly spent and satisfied. But when Pepper makes a shocking discovery concerning the fate of her parents, will the revelation strengthen her bond with Quinn or tear them apart forever? Publisher’s Note: Bound to the Commander is a stand-alone sequel to Bound to the Admiral. It includes spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book. **On Sale for only $2.99 Mar 17-23!!**Goodreads * Amazon Bound to the SheriffLighthouses of Devmaer Book 3 Stranded in his savage land, she must learn to trust. But first she must learn to obey. When she witnesses a violent incident while travelling to a nearby city to buy medicine for her village, twenty-one-year-old orphan Takyu is taken into custody by Sheriff Falcon Kingski. Locked in a cell for a humiliating interrogation, she soon learns that the stern, handsome lawman is not to be trifled with and defiance will earn her a sound spanking on her bare bottom. The painful, embarrassing chastisement leaves Takyu sore yet intensely aroused, and it isn’t long before she has been claimed properly. Their bond grows stronger as they work together both to catch a dangerous fugitive and to uncover the cause of the illness ravaging her homeland, but when a secret Takyu has kept is exposed her punishment will be as thorough as it is shameful. Publisher’s Note: Bound to the Sheriff is a stand-alone novel which is the third entry in the Lighthouses of Devmaer series. It includes spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book. **On Sale for only $3.99 Mar 17 – 23!!**Goodreads * Amazon Bound to the WatchersLighthouses of Devmaer Book 4 When Radiance refuses to choose between the two men who love her, they join forces and take the decision out of her hands. After surviving a harrowing imprisonment in her homeland, Radiance has a new and independent life in her adopted country of Icebridge. She has achieved a coveted senior military rank and now lives beside the ocean that is her lifeblood. Her secluded lighthouse home is the perfect place to keep the secrets she dares not share with anyone. Because of her special gifts, she has sworn to never give herself to only one man. Instead, she enjoys the affections of two dominant Devmaerean officers, Ghent and Khari. She is lover to both and faithful to neither. Then a freak storm draws her into dangerous seas to save a squadron of ships bound for Icebridge. As Radiance guides the fleet, with its royal passengers toward a safe harbor, a massive sea tornado sweeps her up. It drops her into the net of ruthless pirates, men whose raging lust is at a tipping point.As Ghent and Khari plan her rescue, they decide there will be a change in their future with Radiance. First, she will have to present herself for a shameful punishment, as atonement for her life-threatening secrecy. Is Radiance as brave as she thinks she is? Disclaimer: Bound To The Watchers includes spankings and sexual scenes, intended for mature audiences. These scenes are fantasies included for entertainment purposes only. If such spicy material, might offend you, please don’t buy this book. This standalone novel is book 4 in the Lighthouses of Devmaer series. It has a satisfying ending and can be read on its own or as part of the series. Goodreads * Amazon ***Check out the FREE Lighthouses of Devmaer Novellas too! *** Bound By His KissGet it FREE with newsletter sign up Subscribe here! Bound By LoveGet it FREE with newsletter sign up Subscribe here! Get the Prequel novella Bound to the Past FREE here! Amazon My smart spicy romance novels feature strong, self-reliant women and the powerful men who love them. They deliver a sting in every tale.Canadian by birth, I also lived in Australia for a couple of decades. While living there I overcame my aversion to saucer-sized spiders and, as a condition of marriage to my Aussie Prince Charming, I swore a lifelong allegiance to the Melbourne Football Club.Then family called and my husband and I packed up and moved. We now live on a rocky island on Canada’s West Coast, close to beaches that once were frequented by smugglers and rumrunners.My passions are reading and writing. I adore all animals and love hiking, beachcombing, and an occasional night of dancing. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads * Newsletter Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! $25 Amazon a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mob Ratbag – Spotlight and Blog Tour #NewAdult #Romance #Suspense

Mob Ratbagby L.R. StarrGenre: New Adult Romantic Suspense Rat ta tat tat. I’m just a ratbag on a bike. Living for the freedom of my wheels. Boston.She’s my turf and I ride her like a well-tricked pony.I ain’t doing sh*t wit my life and I ain’t shit.Money, bikes,cars, girls, and four years at Lexington private school.My destiny is already carved out for me, but what if I don’t wanna?Then Chantelle came along… The goody-two-shoes from the Eastside. She ain’t like the others looking for a bad boy like me.She’s no pushover and I like that.She loathes me and it makes me want her.Bad.I’m gonna make her mine, except I got this little family business problem…Once you’re in the ‘familia’ there’s only one way out, and if I’m gonna get the girl…Come join the emotional ride through Lexington private school to see if Chantelle and Sam can make it through. **Only .99 cents!!**Goodreads * Amazon L.R. Starr is a lover of mysteries, witty dialogue, suspense, romance, and fantasy. If you like to travel through your books strap in for the ride she’ll take you across the country.When she’s not I’m writing she’s usually exploring, and coming up with yet another devious plot or pursuing her other love which is painting and drawing. Enjoy the bedlam friends! Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! Mystery Swag Box!! a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Author Interview – Rita Lee Chapman #Crime #Mystery

 

Welcome to Crime author, Rita Lee Chapman.

Please tell us about your publications/work.

There are four books in the Anna Davies Mystery Series: Missing in Egypt, Missing at Sea, Missing in London and Missing in France.

I have also written two crime mysteries – Dangerous Associations and The Poinciana Tree.  I have also written a book for horse lovers, from teenagers upwards, Winston – A Horse’s Tale. 

I decided the beautiful Poinciana tree would make a great cover for a book, so I started with the cover and then built a story around it.

Most of my books also come in large print editions.

Do you think the written word (or art) bring power and freedom?                 

I believe learning to read and write empowers everyone and should be a basic human right. 

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you started your publishing journey?

I was actually given this advice by a wise, local bookshop owner.  “Don’t expect to become rich from your writing.”  Perhaps I should have taken more notice!

If you could have dinner with any literary character or author who would you choose, and what would you eat.

I think I would choose Kate Moreton, a local Australian author, who writes so beautifully.  I would like to have oysters natural for entrée, followed by roast pork with crackling and real apple sauce accompanied by roast vegetables, finishing with a decadent chocolate dessert.  There would, of course, be French champagne to drink.

How much research do you do for your work? What’s the wildest subject you’ve looked at?

For some of my books, the research has already been done, i.e. I set the book in a country I have visited.  Other books require quite a lot of research.  For The Poinciana Tree I researched in formation on, and read books based in, the Sudan.  The wildest research I have done was on rohypnol, the rape drug, for Missing at Sea.

What’s the best advice you’ve received about writing/publishing?

Write more books!

What is your writing space like?

Quiet!  I’m lucky to have a study, lined with book shelves.

Tell us about your latest piece?

Missing in France is Book #4 in the Anna Davies Mystery Series.  Like the others, it is a stand-alone book, although I have recently combined the four books into the Anna Davies Mystery Series e-book.  Here is the blurb:

When Mike accepts a two-year contract in France, Anna is delighted at the prospect of spending time in Paris and Marseille.  She doesn’t anticipate being drawn into yet another mystery, one which puts her own life in danger. 

What are your views on authors offering free books? Do you believe, as some do, that it demeans an author and his or her work?

I don’t offer books for free.  I believe your time and energy deserve at least a small payment.  I also think a lot of free books are downloaded and never read, because that reader has downloaded so many free books, with the best of intentions but lack of time to read them.

Sort these into order of importance:

Good plot

Great characters

Technically perfect

Awesome world-building

With the influx of indie authors do you think this is the future of storytelling?

I think there is room for both indie authors and traditionally published authors.  It is the writing that counts, not the form of publishing.

Is this the age of the e-book? Are bricks and mortar bookshops in decline?

I think online shopping has affected all shops, especially during Covid.  There is no doubt that bookshops have declined in number and many are much smaller in size, which mean they are limited in the number of books they can display.  I am confident, however, that there will always be a call for bookshops.

What did you want to be when you ‘grew up’?

I wanted to be a show jumper, but as I lived in London, this was never likely to happen.  I was fortunate to go riding at a local riding school once a week and when I moved to Australia I rode all week-end for many years.  The show jumping bit never happened though.

Links to book

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WZ4KCN3/

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X69SNJZ

Large Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X63F2BN

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08X63F2BN/

Bio

Rita Lee Chapman was born in London and moved to Australia in her early twenties.  It was only when she retired that she wrote her first novel, Missing in Egypt, the first in the Anna Davies Mystery series.  This was followed by Missing at Sea, Missing in London and Missing in France. All can be enjoyed as stand-alone books.

Winston – A Horse’s Tale was written for horse lovers like herself.  “It was the book I had to write.”

Dangerous Associations and The Poinciana Tree are crime mysteries. 

When she’s not writing or reading, Rita enjoys playing tennis, walking and entertaining.

Website: www.ritaleechapman.com

 

 

 

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Top Ten Mythical Creatures with Charles E Yallowitz #Fantasy #Myth

Welcome back to Charles E. Yallowitz, today he chats about mythical creatures.

TOP TEN MYTHICAL BEASTS

Vampires–  I’m putting this here entirely because my current series revolves around them.  I love how there are so many versions of vampires.  You can tinker with the mythos so much as long as you keep some of the basics or explain why your breed doesn’t follow the norm.  Also, it’s fun to have immortals get into fights because you pull off some wild moves that more fragile species could never accomplish.Griffin–  At some point in my life, I gravitated towards the griffin.  Funny considering I’m afraid of heights.  I think part of it is that they have the majesty of eagles combined with the regal presence of lions.  They come off as mythical beast royalty to me.Perytons–  This one is going to be obscure to most, but I got hooked on them while researching monsters for my books.  These are flying stags, which makes them similar to griffins.  I always saw them as vicious and feral as they travelled in flocks or herds. Not sure what you would call them.  I don’t get to use perytons often, so I save them for special occasions.Trickster Gods–  Not sure if they would really fall into the category of mythical beasts.  Gods tend to be closer to characters, but there are animalistic ones here.  Being someone who enjoys humour, I like reading about beings that exist to pull pranks and cause mischief.Trolls–  When you really need to throw a terrifying monster at your heroes, look no further.  These creatures are the stuff of nightmares to me because I always see them as top of the food chain.  They aren’t smart in the same way as orcs and ogres, but they have this primitive intelligence to go along with their power.Lycanthropes–  I feel it’s better to go with this instead of werewolves.  This becomes an umbrella term for any person who is cursed to transform into an animal or hybrid.  Many would argue against it and design a -thrope for each species though.  As far as this list goes, it’s easier to use this and say that I enjoy the tragic existence of them.  They aren’t human or animal, so they’re trapped in the middle of both worlds.Krakens–  Feels like a cop out thanks to the overused pop culture phrase, but I’ve always been amazed by enormous squid monsters.  They’re simply terrifying with their tentacles, arms, beak, and crushing strength.  Being that they’re ocean predators, I see them as even more dangerous.  Humans can’t do much against them once their boat is gone.Pegasus–  It’s another flying beast and one that many pick, but I have it on the list for nostalgia.  Long ago, when I was a little kid, my grandfather would tell me stories about Pegasus.  He was a flying horse who escaped a carousel, went on adventures, and always ended up visiting Davey Jones’s locker.  It’s surprising that I don’t use Pegasus in my stories that often, but that might be because it’s a rather special and personal monster.  It would feel weird if I kept throwing it into my more violent tales.Black Dogs–  In high school, I got really interested in crypto-zoology and tried to come up with stories revolving around them.  They never worked out, but I always tried to slip the Black Dogs into them.  The reason is because the thought of running into a large, black dog at night gave me chills.  It wasn’t even the idea of them being aggressive, but they came off as being a source of fear.  They are omens of death, which helps that.  Maybe part of it is that I always imagined they looked like Great Danes or Rottweilers.Jackalope–  I was sitting here thinking of so many monsters and not being sure which to end the list on.  Then, I remembered this one that gets looked at as a joke at times.  It’s a rabbit with antlers, which doesn’t seem that dangerous or even monstrous.  This appeals to my own habit of creating beasts by slapping animal parts together until I’m satisfied.  Makes me believe that I’m carrying on the human tradition of making monsters.

Bio-

Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After spending many years fiddling with his thoughts and notebooks, he decided that it was time to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house with only pizza and seltzer to sustain him, Charles brings you tales from the world of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and drawing you into a world of magic.

Social Media-

Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyallowitz/

Links etc

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0921ZGG44

Book Spotlight – Missing in France #Crime #Mystery

 

Title:  Missing in France  (Book #4 in the Anna Davies Mystery Series)

Author:  Rita Lee Chapman

Genre:  Crime mystery

Main character description (short).

Anna Davies is the protagonist of this series.  She is curious, persevering and tenacious.

Synopsis:

When Mike accepts a two-year contract in France, Anna is delighted at the prospect of spending time in Paris and Marseille.  She doesn’t anticipate being drawn into yet another mystery, one which puts her own life in danger. 

Brief Excerpt 250 words:

Chapter One

The Chase

I could hear footsteps behind me as I ran down the cobblestone street.   It was narrow and dark and I knew I had to get to where there were some people.  My chasers were closer now, their footsteps echoing off the walls and I didn’t know if I could keep going for much longer.  My breathing was coming in heavy gasps and my chest was burning. At my age, I was not used to running.  Surely there were people around somewhere, it wasn’t very late.  I had to find help, or somewhere I could hide. 

Everything was closed; there didn’t seem to be anyone around.  I turned a corner and flew up a flight of steps to the next street, where I could see street lights throwing their welcoming light.  The men were not far behind.  I had no idea who these men were or why they were chasing me.  Did they want to kill me, or only to frighten me?  I didn’t know – but I wasn’t slowing down to find out.  I felt real fear enveloping me.  In fact, I was terrified.  I had to keep running.

I saw people lying in the street up ahead.  Why were they lying in the street?  Were they dead?   As I came closer, a few heads popped up, but nobody moved to stand up or to help me.  Why was no-one trying to help me?  They stared at me with eyes that didn’t see and turned away.  I ran past them, they couldn’t, or wouldn’t, help me. I kept running; down another cobbled alleyway, around another corner.  I had a stitch in my side now and I was gasping for breath.  How much longer could I outrun them?  

Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy mysteries combined with travel and a touch of romance.  As a stand-alone book, it is not necessary to have read the previous three books in the series.

 

 

Links etc.

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WZ4KCN3/

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X69SNJZ

Large Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X63F2BN

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08X63F2BN/

 

Website:  http://www.ritaleechapman.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.chapman

Mystics in Hell #Fantasy #HistoricalFantasy #DarkFantasy

Mystics in Hell

Mystic Madness!

Join the doomed on their vision quests in eleven stories by the damnedest writers in Perdition: Janet Morris; A.L. Butcher; Joe Bonadonna; Andrew P. Weston; Gustavo Bondoni; Seth Lindberg; Tom Barczak; Michael H. Hanson; Louis Antonelli; Christopher Crosby Morris.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0926LKYYH

https://www.amazon.com/Mystics-Hell-Janet-Morris-ebook/dp/B0926LKYYH/

Janet Morris & Chris Morris: A Frame of Mind

The devil’s casting couch becomes a chopping block. On a blasted heath, Marlowe find’s his mystic powers and loses his head over the Weyward Sisters. At the Globe, unwitting Orpheus and Solomon set the stage for Satanic mayhem as real witches cast themselves in Macbeth.

 

Andrew P. Weston: The Come Right Inn

In the Come Right Inn, we meet one of Satan’s most secretive agents. A charming woman with a finger – and most other body parts – in every pie. She’s bewitching, beguiling, and bedeviled to be sure, but won’t think twice about skinning you alive if you cross her. 

 

A.L. Butcher: Abode of Woe

When the self-proclaimed anti-messiah builds a temple on their doorstep and ruins business, Calchas and Cassandra look to some devious means to bring down the walls.

Duelling mystics and misinformation bring mayhem to the underworld.

 

S E. Lindberg: Fool’s Gold

Rejoice Forty-niners, there is a gold rush in hell! King Midas still transmutes flesh into gold. He’s minting the promising new gastro-currency: buttcoin. Mine for a price. At your own risk.

Most-infamous archeologist Howard Carter discovers that exploiting mysticism can turn a profit, even in hell. If only he could only seize the Philosopher’s Stone from higher powers…

Thoth, Egyptian god of mysticism, seeks conspirators to regain control over his realm of afterlife, Duat. He just needs someone to retrieve his alchemical powers. You in?

 

Lou Antonelli: The True Believer

The man who invented Apartheid refuses to acknowledge his hellish fate and gets a special visit to set him straight.

 

Gustavo Bondoni: By Any Means Necessary

Umberto Eco knows he’s in Hell; the suffering and multiple deaths that never kill him permanently are more than enough of a clue for a man of his learning.  But when he gets forcibly recruited by Nazi Commando Otto Skorzeny to prove the theories of one of history’s greatest charlatans, he thinks things can’t get any worse.  He’s wrong.  Hell can always get worse.

 

Tom Barczak: Excalibur

Hell can be hard. But Rasputin has something even harder, and Lafayette Ronald Hubbard desperately needs it if he is going to pull off the greatest magic trick hell has ever known.

 

Michael H. Hanson: On the Run

Sufi mystic Rumi, Zen Buddhist Dōgen, and Charlatan Spiritualist Mina Crandon use their new found magics on the grandest of all quests, to find powerful talismans that will allow them to escape Hell itself.

 

Andrew P. Weston: The Sorcerous Apprentice

In The Sorcerous Apprentice, Daemon Grim learns new tricks from an old dog. And just as well. There’s a fallen saint to bring to heel, and she’s not known for playing ball . . . crystal or otherwise. 

 

Joe Bonadonna: Colossus of Hell

Victor Frankenstein and Alan Turing want to build a cyborg. Quasimodo wants to win the hand of a fortune teller. Rasputin and Cagliostro want to open a private club. And the Orange Ogre, he wants revenge.

 

Strange Arts: Janet and Chris Morris

Deep in the bowels of the Tower, Kit Marlowe is recruited by Elizabeth’s spymaster, Walsingham, for a perilous mission. Witches, wraiths, Fates? Who are the Weyward Sisters? And what do they want in hell?