M.B. Feeney's Blog, page 16
February 2, 2014
A2A - Sneak Peek Sunday - Lissa Bryan
From the author of
The End of All Things
comes a collection of short stories about the Infection that swept around the globe, decimating the population, and leaving behind a small number of survivors, unprepared to deal with the brutal new world which had replaced the one they'd known.The End of All Things told the story of Carly Daniels and Justin Thatcher's travels across a shattered nation in search of a safe place to settle, after the pandemic. But it was also a journey into love, and an affirmation of hope. Carly finds strength in her faith that things can be even better than they were before, that compassion and charity are not luxuries; they are what make us human. Life endures, and so does love. The End of All Things is only a beginning.
And now, Lissa Bryan gives us three new stories in Tales from the End.
Two of them are an introduction new characters from the upcoming sequel to The End of All Things, and the other two are a visit with old friends.
The Horsemen
L.A.'s mayor has declared quarantine to try to halt the spread of the Infection. Pearl sets off across the city to buy supplies, but already the world is changing. Something strange is in the air. The Horsemen are coming ...
Veronica
When Veronica's mother doesn't come home from work and no one answers the phone when she calls for help, a nine-year-old girl is thrown into the chaos of a world coming to an end. Veronica decides it's up to her to find her family. "Veronica" is the story of a little girl's courage in the face of the end of all things.
"I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud"
They called her Shadowfax - the mare Carly and Justin found on their travels. But before she was found by Carly, the retired dressage horse was known as Cloud. An unusual tale of the end, told through the eyes of a confused and lonely horse, left in her pasture.
Birthday
A previously-published bonus story. Carly knows Justin has never celebrated his birthday, and after society crumbled, no one knows what date it is, anyway. But she wants to do something special for him. Celebrating the little things helps them keep hope alive, and as a blizzard rages outside, a small gesture of love warms their home.
Tales of courage, tales of survival... Tales from the End .
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Excerpt:
Veronica made herself a bologna sandwich at lunchtime and ate it in front of the TV. The soap operas should be on now, but they were still showing the news. That guy her mom thought was so cute, Troy Cramer, was talking about how everyone was getting the flu. Lots of people were at the hospital, and they were closing schools in some places.
She put in another movie. By the time it was done, her mom should be home from work. She would tell Veronica that her car had broken down and she’d lost her cell phone or something, and be so proud of Veronica for taking care of herself. Or she would say that David had gotten sick, but it was a false alarm and everything was fine now.
Everything would be fine.
Five p.m. Any minute now.
Five thirty. Just traffic. Or David’s daycare teacher wanted to talk.
Six.
Seven.
Veronica sobbed as she curled up on the couch, crying like she hadn’t cried in years. “I want my mom,” she told the empty room.
She wiped her face with her palms and went into the kitchen. It was unavoidable now. She had to call her dad. She couldn’t spend another night alone. As she dialed, she remembered a book she’d read last summer called Pippi Longstocking. It was about a little girl who lived all by herself, and when she’d read it, Veronica had thought about how much fun it would be to have Pippi’s big house and all of that freedom. But now, such a fate seemed horrifying.
Her dad’s phone rang. And rang.
And rang.
His voice mail didn’t even pick up. She waited, because surely he’d see their number on the screen and pick up. He would pick up because she was letting it keep on ringing, and he’d realize it was something important when she didn’t hang up.
It kept on ringing.
Veronica thought she’d cried out all the tears she had, but she was wrong. She sobbed into the receiver, and those sobs turned into hiccups. She had to grab a paper towel from the counter to blow her nose, because she couldn’t breathe.
The phone stopped ringing, and a voice came on the line. Veronica sucked in a breath so fast she choked. She started crying again when it was just a recording saying that the other party wasn’t answering. Then there was just the hum of an empty line.
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Tales from the End will be available February 4.
.¸¸•.¸¸.•´¯`• (¯`•♥•´¯)•´¯`•.¸¸.•.¸¸.
About the Author:
Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist who recently discovered the cure for athlete's foot.... though only in her head.
Real life isn't so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing.
She is the author of two novels, Ghostwriter and The End of All Things . Her third, Under These Restless Skies , will be released on February 20, 2014.
January 15, 2014
The Righteous and the Wicked - April Emerson - Cover reveal
Coming APRIL 10th: a contemporary erotic romance from April Emerson
Synopsis:
Small moments can seem insignificant until they change the course of a life forever. The sound of a bulldozer. A chance meeting at a gas station. A gust of wind through a chime. Benign events become something more when viewed through the lens of fate.
Emma Santori is a prisoner of tragic memories. Locked in a spiral of depression, she leads a desolate and empty life, trapped in her decrepit home. Rooted in routine, she’s numb and vacant. As a lonely Catholic school teacher, her only joy comes from her young students. One Saturday morning, her isolation is infiltrated by a mysterious architect building a home beside hers.
That man is Eric Wilder and he’s keeping a secret—a secret that’s destroying his life. Filled with guilt and self-loathing, he’s forced to move often. He chooses the small northeastern town of Pine Lake as his latest refuge, and hopes to make a successful attempt at starting his life over. As always, he’s unable to make that happen.
That all changes when he meets Emma.
She finds herself drawn to Eric when she accidentally bumps into him, but Eric’s unfazed by their first meeting. When a gust of wind brings these two people together once again, Emma discovers Eric’s secret. She’s forced to battle between her Catholic faith and her desire for this stranger.
Their attraction is intense and they soon discover they’re each lonely and longing for what the other has to offer. As their friendship blossoms, Emma realizes her passion and lust for Eric are the remedy to her depression. Eric discovers his feelings for Emma are the only antidote to his secret burden.
They begin an erotic journey, which leads these beautifully broken people to discover that love can be both righteous and wicked.
Excerpt:
Although she holds herself to a rigid moral code, a part of her wants to indulge. Emma sits as the thumping music rattles her body and the vibration sinks into her skin. She picks up her martini as Abby and Danni shout at each other and laugh. The topics of conversation are just as expected and Emma has nothing to say. She sips the liquid. It’s chilled, yet it feels as if it singes her insides. Her eyes wander around the club. They stop when she sees a man dressed in black resting his elbow on the bar.
His back is to her but she’s drawn to him. She can only see his profile as she watches him watching the crowd. He does a shot and then another. A feeling of recognition slides through her as he begins to move, his eyes focused on something or someone. He maneuvers through the crowd, approaching the dance floor like a shark surveying its prey. A raven-haired girl in a gold top is dancing with her friend. The man moves toward the girl and his face is clear now. Emma has seen him before. She remembers the face, and the eyes—Stormy Eyes. It’s the man she saw at the gas station. She sips, she watches him, and she burns.
COVER
Cover by Jada D'Lee Designs
The Righteous and The Wicked will be available on 4/10/14 from TWCS Publishing
Follow the author:Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Synopsis:
Small moments can seem insignificant until they change the course of a life forever. The sound of a bulldozer. A chance meeting at a gas station. A gust of wind through a chime. Benign events become something more when viewed through the lens of fate.
Emma Santori is a prisoner of tragic memories. Locked in a spiral of depression, she leads a desolate and empty life, trapped in her decrepit home. Rooted in routine, she’s numb and vacant. As a lonely Catholic school teacher, her only joy comes from her young students. One Saturday morning, her isolation is infiltrated by a mysterious architect building a home beside hers.
That man is Eric Wilder and he’s keeping a secret—a secret that’s destroying his life. Filled with guilt and self-loathing, he’s forced to move often. He chooses the small northeastern town of Pine Lake as his latest refuge, and hopes to make a successful attempt at starting his life over. As always, he’s unable to make that happen.
That all changes when he meets Emma.
She finds herself drawn to Eric when she accidentally bumps into him, but Eric’s unfazed by their first meeting. When a gust of wind brings these two people together once again, Emma discovers Eric’s secret. She’s forced to battle between her Catholic faith and her desire for this stranger.
Their attraction is intense and they soon discover they’re each lonely and longing for what the other has to offer. As their friendship blossoms, Emma realizes her passion and lust for Eric are the remedy to her depression. Eric discovers his feelings for Emma are the only antidote to his secret burden.
They begin an erotic journey, which leads these beautifully broken people to discover that love can be both righteous and wicked.
Excerpt:
Although she holds herself to a rigid moral code, a part of her wants to indulge. Emma sits as the thumping music rattles her body and the vibration sinks into her skin. She picks up her martini as Abby and Danni shout at each other and laugh. The topics of conversation are just as expected and Emma has nothing to say. She sips the liquid. It’s chilled, yet it feels as if it singes her insides. Her eyes wander around the club. They stop when she sees a man dressed in black resting his elbow on the bar.
His back is to her but she’s drawn to him. She can only see his profile as she watches him watching the crowd. He does a shot and then another. A feeling of recognition slides through her as he begins to move, his eyes focused on something or someone. He maneuvers through the crowd, approaching the dance floor like a shark surveying its prey. A raven-haired girl in a gold top is dancing with her friend. The man moves toward the girl and his face is clear now. Emma has seen him before. She remembers the face, and the eyes—Stormy Eyes. It’s the man she saw at the gas station. She sips, she watches him, and she burns.
COVER
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Cover by Jada D'Lee Designs
The Righteous and The Wicked will be available on 4/10/14 from TWCS Publishing
Follow the author:Facebook
Blog
December 29, 2013
I Thee Wed - Savannah Leigh - Sneak Peek
Blurb: Drew and Lily sitting in a tree (or a church garden)K-I-S-S-I-N-G (and then some)First comes sexThen comes marriageThen, well, we’re just not sure what comes next.
Lily Kramer accepted Drew Hamilton’s marriage proposal but
it wasn’t a traditional proposal. He wants her to marry him so his mother, who
has dementia, will know that he got married. Lily, an over-thirty wedding
planner, doesn’t see any other offers of marriage in her future so she accepts.
Now she has to plan a wedding that looks and feels like a real wedding, but
isn’t. Drew doesn’t want a relationship,
but he wants it to look like he and Lily are married, including living
together, so that everyone believes.
Will they be able to pull it off? Will Drew’s mother succumb
to the dementia before the wedding? Will Lily be able to shield her heart and
still have the wedding of her dreams?
**This is the follow up novel to With This Ring.**
Excerpt:
When I reach my
room, I stop short at one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.
Lily is curled
up on my bed, her hair splayed out on the pillow, and she’s sleeping. She looks
so peaceful and content; my dick twitches at the thought of burying myself
inside her. My heart rate speeds up and I realize I really like this view. I
want to have it view every day. Fuck.
There go my plans to keep things simple. I’m falling in love with Lily. I
didn’t see that coming, but I kind of like the idea. As I change my clothes, I
wonder how this woman got under my skin so quickly.
I know I should
let her sleep, but I have to touch her to figure out if what I’m feeling is
real, if I want to put my heart on the line again and risk it being crushed. I
climb carefully on the bed and she rolls toward me, but doesn’t open her eyes.
I brush a few strands of hair away from her face and she smiles. That smile
pushes me over the edge. I know I want this woman in my life, and I’m going to
do what I can to keep her. It’s a foreign feeling, one I’ve fought for years,
but it feels right. I pull her into my arms. She makes a small moaning sound
and curls into me. She’s soft where I’m hard and we fit together like we were
made for each other. I relax and get lost in the rhythm of her breathing. Soon,
I’m dozing, too.
Buy Links: I Thee Wedhttp://www.amazon.com/I-Thee-Wed-Wedding-Dreams-ebook/dp/B00HK0NG7W/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388177628&sr=1-3&keywords=savannah+leigh
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/391706
With This Ringhttp://www.amazon.com/With-This-Ring-Wedding-Dreams-ebook/dp/B00EHMXUW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387977330&sr=8-1&keywords=savannah+leigh
About the Author: Savannah Leigh is a
small-town girl with big city dreams. She has always had a love of romance
novels and never thought she would actually be able to publish one of her own.
Savannah is inspired by photos of shirtless men on the internet, hot actors in
steamy scenes, and her own fantasies. A lover of wine and Bailey’s Irish Cream,
Savannah enjoys spending time with friends and reading steamy novels.
Connect with Savannah:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Savannah-Leigh-Books/511879988884673
Twitter: @savannahlbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173576.Savannah_Leigh
December 8, 2013
Under These Restless Skies - Lissa Bryan - Cover Reveal & Excerpt
Coming soon, a new historical romance from Lissa Bryan set in the days of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Under These Restless Skies.
Synopsis:
Will Somers has always thought himself unlovable. When he encounters a creature of myth and magic, he seizes the chance to finally have a wife and family of his own. Emma is a selkie—one of the immortal fae-folk of the sea—bound to Will by the magic of her kind, and eager to learn about life on land. She has to learn to adapt quickly to human customs, because Will is headed for the court of Henry VIII, to serve as the king’s fool. It’s a glittering, dangerous world, where a careless word can lead to the scaffold and the smallest of gestures is loaded with political implications. Anne Boleyn is charmed by Emma’s naïveté and soothing selkie magic and wants Emma for her own fool. Can Will protect his newfound love from the dangers that lurk in every shadow? Circa regna tonat: around the throne, the thunder rolls.
Release Date: February 20, 2014
And now, for the cover!
Made by Mayhem Cover Creations
Excerpt:
They came to the doorway of the presence
chamber. Fermor gave his name to the steward. The man flipped through a list. “Oh, aye.
Fermor.”“Correct, my lord. I am come to bring His Majesty
a gift.”“A fool, was it?”Fermor gestured at Will. “And a fine one at
that.”The steward did not seem impressed. “Go and come
again tomorrow. His Majesty is in a temper today.”The king’s visit with his sister must not
have ended well. Fermor sputtered, panicking as he saw his chances slip away.
“ ’Twould seem the best time for him to be
regaled by a fool’s antics,” Will noted.The steward stared at Will for a moment and
then gave a slight smile. “This way.” He led them through a tapestry-covered
door through the empty presence chamber. Will paused, awed by the sight of the
throne—the symbol of the king’s power—wide and heavy, gilded and jeweled, set
on a carpeted dais. Beside it was a smaller throne for the queen, and over both
were canopies bearing the coat of arms of each. The steward bowed to the empty
throne as they passed, and they copied him before continuing out into a smaller
gallery.“Tarry here,” the steward instructed. “The
king is at cards with the Lady Pembroke. You will be called to him when he is
finished.”Will’s stomach churned. He’d never felt less
amusing in his life, and his wits were logy. A horrifying thought occurred to
him. If he was unable to persuade the king to take him on, he wouldn’t be able
to keep Emma. He couldn’t take her with him if he returned to the comedy
troupe. Panic made his mind blank for a moment, and he did not hear his name
called. Fermor elbowed him, and Will stumbled to his feet and followed the
steward into a chamber. Will didn’t have much of a chance to survey
his surroundings. He had an impression of tapestries over dark wood paneling
and the glitter of gold, but his eyes were on the floor in front of two figures
seated in x-shaped chairs. He knelt.“Your Majesty, Lady Pembroke, if it pleases
Your Graces, I present Master Richard Fermor and Will Somers.”
“Rise,” the king said. Will stole a glance
at him and saw a large, but still muscular man with thinning reddish-blond
hair, dressed in a dark brown velvet doublet, ornamented with pearls and gold
frogs. The king had gained weight in the last few years, and to disguise it he
had widened the shoulders of his surcoats. Will had to admit the effect was
powerful. His large codpiece jutted up from the center slit of his doublet,
also meant to convey power, or at least, virility. His eyes were small, a
piercing blue-gray. Will caught a glimpse of them before he lowered his gaze to
the floor.“So, Fermor, you have brought me a fool.”
The king’s voice was low and gruff, and he didn’t sound much interested. The
lady seated at his side wore a French hood and an initial pendant attached to
her strand of pearls, the letters “AB” twined together. She was garbed in a
dressing gown of brilliant scarlet, trimmed in ermine. It was casual raiment
only the highest nobility was entitled to wear outside their own bedchamber,
but Anne Boleyn was now royal in all but name. Just weeks ago, the king had
created her Marquess of Pembroke, the highest noble title in the land. She
patted the small dog in her lap.“Aye, your majesty,” Fermor said. “If it
pleases Your Grace.”“Well, fool, what can you do?”Will was startled. He hadn’t expected the
king to speak to him. “I—I can juggle, Your Majesty,” he croaked. “I can make
jests, tumble, and sing a little.”“Let us see it, then.”Will’s hands trembled as he withdrew the
balls from his bag. “If it pleases Your Majesty,” he started. He straightened
his shoulders as best he could, and said in his haughtiest tone, “I, Will
Somers, am the best juggler in England.”The king snorted and Will hoped it was from
amusement. He fell into his act, bragging about his abilities while seeming to
lose track of his juggling and keeping the balls in the air seemingly by
accident alone. He was grateful he had performed this particular act so many
times, because he thought he’d completely forgotten his lines, but they slipped
from his mouth of their own accord, and his limbs seemed to move themselves.
The king guffawed a couple of times, and he thought he heard Anne laugh at one
point. Will ended with one of the balls balanced on the tip of his nose, before
dropping it into his hands and sweeping low into a bow.
“Well done, Master Fool,” the king said, and
he seemed a bit more jovial than he had when Will first entered the room. Or
perhaps it was wishful thinking on Will’s part. “But tell me this: I have fools
already who can juggle and make jests. Why would I wish to have you at my
court? What have you to offer that they do not?”The answer popped from Will’s mouth as
though he had rehearsed it. “Because I will do something none of your council,
lords and ladies, nor servants will do.”The king lifted an eyebrow. “And what might
that be?”“I will tell you the truth, Your Majesty.”Fermor gasped. Anne burst into laughter.
“Oh, I do like him.”The king cast an amused glance at her. “Is
that so, Master Fool? Then perhaps you are worth it, after all.”“But you must make an oath to me,” Will
said.The king’s eyes narrowed a bit, but he
calmed when Anne giggled at Will’s audacity. “What?”“You must swear it, as the word of a
Christian king.” Will’s mouth was as dry as paper and his heart thudded in his
chest, but he continued. “You must swear to me, on your honor, you will never
hold it against me when I tell you the truth.”The king stared at Will, his mouth agape,
and then he burst into laughter. He slapped his knee and elbowed Anne, who gave
him a sharp glance at being prodded by his arm, before she laughed along with
him as a courtier trained to echo the king’s mirth.“You have my word,” the king said, as he
accepted a perfumed handkerchief from one of his serving lords to wipe away the
tears seeping from his eyes. “Or must I write it out and put my royal seal to
it?”“Your word is sufficient for me,” Will
replied.“I am flattered at your trust, Master Fool,”
the king said in solemn tones and burst into guffaws once again. “Go and have
my steward find you rooms. Have you a wife?”“I do.” Will’s mind whirled. He hadn’t
expected this, and he didn’t want Emma to live at court, but there was nothing
he could do. Refusing lodgings offered by the king would be a gross insult.
“Bring her tomorrow,” the king commanded. “I
wish to see what the wife of a fool looks like.”“Much like every other wife in England,”
Will said, and that sent the king into laughter once more.“Go, and come back on the morrow.” The king
waved a hand at the steward. “Find him some decent garb, and some for Milady
Fool as well.”Will bowed deeply and followed the steward
from the room. “And for you, Fermor,” he heard the king begin before the door
was shut behind them. Will’s knees gave out and he collapsed to the floor. His
head swam in sick circles. He sat back on his heels and looked up at the
steward. “Pray, pardon,” he rasped.The steward gave a slight smile. “You are
not the first to react in such a manner.” He held out a hand and Will stared at
it in surprise. The steward was a lord, and here he was, offering a hand to a
baseborn commoner. Will took it, and the steward helped him to his feet and
drew him near.
“If ever a man needed to hear the truth,”
the steward whispered, “ ’tis that man in there.” He drew away again, and
his manner was once more brisk and officious. “Follow me.”
~.~
Links:
Find the book on Goodreads ~ Author's Website ~Book Website ~ Author's Facebook ~ Author's Twitter ~ Author's Youtube
Synopsis:
Will Somers has always thought himself unlovable. When he encounters a creature of myth and magic, he seizes the chance to finally have a wife and family of his own. Emma is a selkie—one of the immortal fae-folk of the sea—bound to Will by the magic of her kind, and eager to learn about life on land. She has to learn to adapt quickly to human customs, because Will is headed for the court of Henry VIII, to serve as the king’s fool. It’s a glittering, dangerous world, where a careless word can lead to the scaffold and the smallest of gestures is loaded with political implications. Anne Boleyn is charmed by Emma’s naïveté and soothing selkie magic and wants Emma for her own fool. Can Will protect his newfound love from the dangers that lurk in every shadow? Circa regna tonat: around the throne, the thunder rolls.
Release Date: February 20, 2014
And now, for the cover!
Made by Mayhem Cover Creations
Excerpt:
They came to the doorway of the presence
chamber. Fermor gave his name to the steward. The man flipped through a list. “Oh, aye.
Fermor.”“Correct, my lord. I am come to bring His Majesty
a gift.”“A fool, was it?”Fermor gestured at Will. “And a fine one at
that.”The steward did not seem impressed. “Go and come
again tomorrow. His Majesty is in a temper today.”The king’s visit with his sister must not
have ended well. Fermor sputtered, panicking as he saw his chances slip away.
“ ’Twould seem the best time for him to be
regaled by a fool’s antics,” Will noted.The steward stared at Will for a moment and
then gave a slight smile. “This way.” He led them through a tapestry-covered
door through the empty presence chamber. Will paused, awed by the sight of the
throne—the symbol of the king’s power—wide and heavy, gilded and jeweled, set
on a carpeted dais. Beside it was a smaller throne for the queen, and over both
were canopies bearing the coat of arms of each. The steward bowed to the empty
throne as they passed, and they copied him before continuing out into a smaller
gallery.“Tarry here,” the steward instructed. “The
king is at cards with the Lady Pembroke. You will be called to him when he is
finished.”Will’s stomach churned. He’d never felt less
amusing in his life, and his wits were logy. A horrifying thought occurred to
him. If he was unable to persuade the king to take him on, he wouldn’t be able
to keep Emma. He couldn’t take her with him if he returned to the comedy
troupe. Panic made his mind blank for a moment, and he did not hear his name
called. Fermor elbowed him, and Will stumbled to his feet and followed the
steward into a chamber. Will didn’t have much of a chance to survey
his surroundings. He had an impression of tapestries over dark wood paneling
and the glitter of gold, but his eyes were on the floor in front of two figures
seated in x-shaped chairs. He knelt.“Your Majesty, Lady Pembroke, if it pleases
Your Graces, I present Master Richard Fermor and Will Somers.”
“Rise,” the king said. Will stole a glanceat him and saw a large, but still muscular man with thinning reddish-blond
hair, dressed in a dark brown velvet doublet, ornamented with pearls and gold
frogs. The king had gained weight in the last few years, and to disguise it he
had widened the shoulders of his surcoats. Will had to admit the effect was
powerful. His large codpiece jutted up from the center slit of his doublet,
also meant to convey power, or at least, virility. His eyes were small, a
piercing blue-gray. Will caught a glimpse of them before he lowered his gaze to
the floor.“So, Fermor, you have brought me a fool.”
The king’s voice was low and gruff, and he didn’t sound much interested. The
lady seated at his side wore a French hood and an initial pendant attached to
her strand of pearls, the letters “AB” twined together. She was garbed in a
dressing gown of brilliant scarlet, trimmed in ermine. It was casual raiment
only the highest nobility was entitled to wear outside their own bedchamber,
but Anne Boleyn was now royal in all but name. Just weeks ago, the king had
created her Marquess of Pembroke, the highest noble title in the land. She
patted the small dog in her lap.“Aye, your majesty,” Fermor said. “If it
pleases Your Grace.”“Well, fool, what can you do?”Will was startled. He hadn’t expected the
king to speak to him. “I—I can juggle, Your Majesty,” he croaked. “I can make
jests, tumble, and sing a little.”“Let us see it, then.”Will’s hands trembled as he withdrew the
balls from his bag. “If it pleases Your Majesty,” he started. He straightened
his shoulders as best he could, and said in his haughtiest tone, “I, Will
Somers, am the best juggler in England.”The king snorted and Will hoped it was from
amusement. He fell into his act, bragging about his abilities while seeming to
lose track of his juggling and keeping the balls in the air seemingly by
accident alone. He was grateful he had performed this particular act so many
times, because he thought he’d completely forgotten his lines, but they slipped
from his mouth of their own accord, and his limbs seemed to move themselves.
The king guffawed a couple of times, and he thought he heard Anne laugh at one
point. Will ended with one of the balls balanced on the tip of his nose, before
dropping it into his hands and sweeping low into a bow.
“Well done, Master Fool,” the king said, and
he seemed a bit more jovial than he had when Will first entered the room. Or
perhaps it was wishful thinking on Will’s part. “But tell me this: I have fools
already who can juggle and make jests. Why would I wish to have you at my
court? What have you to offer that they do not?”The answer popped from Will’s mouth as
though he had rehearsed it. “Because I will do something none of your council,
lords and ladies, nor servants will do.”The king lifted an eyebrow. “And what might
that be?”“I will tell you the truth, Your Majesty.”Fermor gasped. Anne burst into laughter.
“Oh, I do like him.”The king cast an amused glance at her. “Is
that so, Master Fool? Then perhaps you are worth it, after all.”“But you must make an oath to me,” Will
said.The king’s eyes narrowed a bit, but he
calmed when Anne giggled at Will’s audacity. “What?”“You must swear it, as the word of a
Christian king.” Will’s mouth was as dry as paper and his heart thudded in his
chest, but he continued. “You must swear to me, on your honor, you will never
hold it against me when I tell you the truth.”The king stared at Will, his mouth agape,
and then he burst into laughter. He slapped his knee and elbowed Anne, who gave
him a sharp glance at being prodded by his arm, before she laughed along with
him as a courtier trained to echo the king’s mirth.“You have my word,” the king said, as he
accepted a perfumed handkerchief from one of his serving lords to wipe away the
tears seeping from his eyes. “Or must I write it out and put my royal seal to
it?”“Your word is sufficient for me,” Will
replied.“I am flattered at your trust, Master Fool,”
the king said in solemn tones and burst into guffaws once again. “Go and have
my steward find you rooms. Have you a wife?”“I do.” Will’s mind whirled. He hadn’t
expected this, and he didn’t want Emma to live at court, but there was nothing
he could do. Refusing lodgings offered by the king would be a gross insult.
“Bring her tomorrow,” the king commanded. “Iwish to see what the wife of a fool looks like.”“Much like every other wife in England,”
Will said, and that sent the king into laughter once more.“Go, and come back on the morrow.” The king
waved a hand at the steward. “Find him some decent garb, and some for Milady
Fool as well.”Will bowed deeply and followed the steward
from the room. “And for you, Fermor,” he heard the king begin before the door
was shut behind them. Will’s knees gave out and he collapsed to the floor. His
head swam in sick circles. He sat back on his heels and looked up at the
steward. “Pray, pardon,” he rasped.The steward gave a slight smile. “You are
not the first to react in such a manner.” He held out a hand and Will stared at
it in surprise. The steward was a lord, and here he was, offering a hand to a
baseborn commoner. Will took it, and the steward helped him to his feet and
drew him near.
“If ever a man needed to hear the truth,”
the steward whispered, “ ’tis that man in there.” He drew away again, and
his manner was once more brisk and officious. “Follow me.”
~.~
Links:
Find the book on Goodreads ~ Author's Website ~Book Website ~ Author's Facebook ~ Author's Twitter ~ Author's Youtube
December 2, 2013
Curse of the Indie Author - A bit of a rant...
I have never once made the claim to be the next Dickens, Austen, Bronte, or even Rowling when it comes to writing, but I have a certain pride about my work, but there's a fast growing trend of authors not doing the same and it's bothering me.
I've been catching up on a few posts over on my review blog (check the tabs at the top if you fancy it) and posting my reviews on both Goodreads and Amazon (UK) as I believe in doing so for fellow authors as us 'indies' thrive on feedback. It's a little something I can do to give back to someone who has poured their heart, soul, and hours of time into their work, particularly if I am given a free copy of their book.
I spotted a post over on FB for a book that was being advertised as free, so I checked it out on Amazon. It had over 100 reviews, the majority of them 3* or above. I very nearly 1 clicked (I have issues, don't send help) until I saw the 1* reviews.
Usually, I don't tend to pay attention to reviews as I'm the type of reader who likes to form my own judgement of a book, but I couldn't ignore that 2 or 3 people each had the same issue with the lack of editing. Wanting to read more, I hopped over to Goodreads to see what was being said over there.
5 stars (14868) | 4 stars (13129) | 3 stars (4880) | 2 stars (985) | 1 star (331)
These are the reviews this book has, so naturally, I clicked on 1*, just to see what all the fuss is about. I'm going to quote a couple....
Usually when I write one-star reviews, I start by saying that the premise of the book was good. Usually the plots sound pretty interesting. But with "******" even the summary was difficult to read.
If you want to spend your time reading the same sentence fifteen times just to try to understand it, than go ahead and pick up this book. It sounds like a fifth grader wrote it. No, in fact, a fifth grader could probably do it better.
I can't believe anyone would publish a novel with words misspelled, run-ons, and so on. I was correcting every sentence I read.
Are you sensing the theme? It all boils down to bad or no editing. Yet, as you can see above, it has over 14,000 5* reviews that all say (I'm paraphrasing here) "OMG! This story was so HOT. I loved the male lead because he's a bad boy and sexy" What saddened me more was a comment thread on one of these reviews was the statement that someone would now be limiting their reading of indie authors because they face these editing issues far too often.
When did we, as readers, become so insipid that if a 'story' had 348 pages out of 350 of sex it didn't matter how well it was written? I know books published under Mills & Boon and Harlequin have always been popular because they hinted at 'naughtiness' - Hey, I read my mum's entire (double stacked) shelf of M&B books when I was about 13 and thought I was the bees knees for reading 'sexy' books, but looking back, they were tame. The erotica market at the moment is HUGE! It's quite possibly the biggest selling market, particularly on e-readers. I can see the appeal and have no problem with readers wanting to be titillated whilst reading, afterall, reading allows us to escape into another world, so why can't it be a sexual one? It's not a genre I would write, but I dip a toe into it now and then to read :), what I do have a problem with is the surge of self published 'authors' who churn out book after book after book that is rarely edited (possibly beta read by a friend) and well structured, and they are lauded as the next E. L. James (not the highest of aspirations literary wise) and their sales go through the roof.
On another comment thread on a review of the above book, a reader made an extremely valid point, and it is this as both an author and a reader, that has pissed me off. It's these 'authors' that show a blatant disrespect to their readers by not taking care and pride in their writing that ruin it for other indies. I completely agree. Most self published authors, when they first start out, can't afford a professional editor, but usually manage to take their time and find someone they can afford and ensure they release a book they can quite happily show off and be proud of. Yes, there may be a few minor errors, but we're only human and humans often miss things. (newsflash people, humans aren't perfect) In my own books, I've been made aware of a couple of errors which my publishers have been made aware of, I'm still waiting for the uploads to be updated.
Even books published by the big 6 have errors and I can deal with that. It's the 'whatever' attitude. It's the latest trend to write a story, get a friend to read it, then whack it up on KDP and sit back and rake in the cash. In particular, erotica stories. Then, there are those authors out there who are writing, taking care with their work, getting it edited, and give their book a tasteful cover (that's an entirely different post) and THEN they publish it. These are the authors that are struggling to make sales because they haven't conformed to the masses by flooding the market with more drivel.
Is it fair? No, it's not. Why should I, and other authors who don't particularly care about the money, suffer because others who want 'in on the action' don't really give a shit about the crap they put up for sale. It's insulting that it's all readers seem to want to read and it's very demoralising. We may not have dollar signs in our eyes, but we put in so many hours, it may as well be our job, and most people get paid for doing their jobs!
It's coming to the point where a lot of extremely talented authors will just stop. Don't let the good ones get away! I myself have come very close to stopping, but i can't imagine not writing. I guess there's always posting online, i doubt i'd get many readers then either considering I actually care about the words I put out there.
I've been catching up on a few posts over on my review blog (check the tabs at the top if you fancy it) and posting my reviews on both Goodreads and Amazon (UK) as I believe in doing so for fellow authors as us 'indies' thrive on feedback. It's a little something I can do to give back to someone who has poured their heart, soul, and hours of time into their work, particularly if I am given a free copy of their book.
I spotted a post over on FB for a book that was being advertised as free, so I checked it out on Amazon. It had over 100 reviews, the majority of them 3* or above. I very nearly 1 clicked (I have issues, don't send help) until I saw the 1* reviews.
Usually, I don't tend to pay attention to reviews as I'm the type of reader who likes to form my own judgement of a book, but I couldn't ignore that 2 or 3 people each had the same issue with the lack of editing. Wanting to read more, I hopped over to Goodreads to see what was being said over there.
5 stars (14868) | 4 stars (13129) | 3 stars (4880) | 2 stars (985) | 1 star (331)
These are the reviews this book has, so naturally, I clicked on 1*, just to see what all the fuss is about. I'm going to quote a couple....
Usually when I write one-star reviews, I start by saying that the premise of the book was good. Usually the plots sound pretty interesting. But with "******" even the summary was difficult to read.
If you want to spend your time reading the same sentence fifteen times just to try to understand it, than go ahead and pick up this book. It sounds like a fifth grader wrote it. No, in fact, a fifth grader could probably do it better.
I can't believe anyone would publish a novel with words misspelled, run-ons, and so on. I was correcting every sentence I read.
Are you sensing the theme? It all boils down to bad or no editing. Yet, as you can see above, it has over 14,000 5* reviews that all say (I'm paraphrasing here) "OMG! This story was so HOT. I loved the male lead because he's a bad boy and sexy" What saddened me more was a comment thread on one of these reviews was the statement that someone would now be limiting their reading of indie authors because they face these editing issues far too often.
When did we, as readers, become so insipid that if a 'story' had 348 pages out of 350 of sex it didn't matter how well it was written? I know books published under Mills & Boon and Harlequin have always been popular because they hinted at 'naughtiness' - Hey, I read my mum's entire (double stacked) shelf of M&B books when I was about 13 and thought I was the bees knees for reading 'sexy' books, but looking back, they were tame. The erotica market at the moment is HUGE! It's quite possibly the biggest selling market, particularly on e-readers. I can see the appeal and have no problem with readers wanting to be titillated whilst reading, afterall, reading allows us to escape into another world, so why can't it be a sexual one? It's not a genre I would write, but I dip a toe into it now and then to read :), what I do have a problem with is the surge of self published 'authors' who churn out book after book after book that is rarely edited (possibly beta read by a friend) and well structured, and they are lauded as the next E. L. James (not the highest of aspirations literary wise) and their sales go through the roof.
On another comment thread on a review of the above book, a reader made an extremely valid point, and it is this as both an author and a reader, that has pissed me off. It's these 'authors' that show a blatant disrespect to their readers by not taking care and pride in their writing that ruin it for other indies. I completely agree. Most self published authors, when they first start out, can't afford a professional editor, but usually manage to take their time and find someone they can afford and ensure they release a book they can quite happily show off and be proud of. Yes, there may be a few minor errors, but we're only human and humans often miss things. (newsflash people, humans aren't perfect) In my own books, I've been made aware of a couple of errors which my publishers have been made aware of, I'm still waiting for the uploads to be updated.
Even books published by the big 6 have errors and I can deal with that. It's the 'whatever' attitude. It's the latest trend to write a story, get a friend to read it, then whack it up on KDP and sit back and rake in the cash. In particular, erotica stories. Then, there are those authors out there who are writing, taking care with their work, getting it edited, and give their book a tasteful cover (that's an entirely different post) and THEN they publish it. These are the authors that are struggling to make sales because they haven't conformed to the masses by flooding the market with more drivel.
Is it fair? No, it's not. Why should I, and other authors who don't particularly care about the money, suffer because others who want 'in on the action' don't really give a shit about the crap they put up for sale. It's insulting that it's all readers seem to want to read and it's very demoralising. We may not have dollar signs in our eyes, but we put in so many hours, it may as well be our job, and most people get paid for doing their jobs!
It's coming to the point where a lot of extremely talented authors will just stop. Don't let the good ones get away! I myself have come very close to stopping, but i can't imagine not writing. I guess there's always posting online, i doubt i'd get many readers then either considering I actually care about the words I put out there.
December 1, 2013
1000 Likes Giveaway
To celebrate reaching 1000 FB likes, a couple of my amazing friends organised a giveaway!
So get clicking and see if you can win stuff!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So get clicking and see if you can win stuff!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 29, 2013
Dreaming of a Paperwhite Christmas Giveaway!
Authors T.M. Franklin and Sydney Logan love Christmas! To celebrate the season, they are giving away three awesome prize packs to get you in the holiday spirit!
*Grand Prize - Kindle Paperwhite (US only) OR a $100 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally). Prize includes 30+ classic Christmas stories that will be delivered to your Kindle.
*2nd Prize - (3) winners will be chosen to win a Kindle copy of "The Little Drummer Boy" by Sydney Logan.
*3rd Prize - (3) winners will be chosen to win a Kindle copy of "Window" by T.M. Franklin.
The Rafflecopter is below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 26, 2013
Honour is going on sale!
Honour is going on SALE!!
That's right, for 2 whole days, Honour will cost you the grand total of 0.00 (in whichever currency you use). Yep it's going to be FREE!
I hope many of you will download, read (and hopefully review)
Happy Reading!
That's right, for 2 whole days, Honour will cost you the grand total of 0.00 (in whichever currency you use). Yep it's going to be FREE!
I hope many of you will download, read (and hopefully review)
Happy Reading!
Giving Thanks
We're GIVING THANKS . . .. . . to our WONDERFUL READERS!
Just click away on the rafflecopter below for your chance to win one of 24 prizes as our way of saying thanks to the readers that make what we do all worth while!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Just click away on the rafflecopter below for your chance to win one of 24 prizes as our way of saying thanks to the readers that make what we do all worth while!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Journey Collection Mega Giveaway
The Journey Collection Mega Giveaway!!
What a better way to celebrate a release than a MEGA GIVAWAY!In honor of the release of Author Lisa Bilbrey’s The Journey Collection, she’s hosting a huge giveaway. There are over THIRTY prizes and Dozens of ways to enter for your chance to win ebooks and prizes from authors such as R. E. Hargrave, M.B. Feeney, Sydney Logan, Harper Bentley, B.L. Wilde, Lorenz Font, Jude Ouvrard, Michele Richard, S.A. Jones, K.I. Lynn, Elizabeth M. Lawrence, Melissa Stevens, CS Patra, Jennifer Garcia, M.C. Rayne, Lindsey Gray, N Wood, Forbes Arnone, Michelle Muckley, Jennifer Theriot, Alison Bruning, and Lisa Bilbrey.
The Journey Collection Summary:The Journey Home
The Sharks’ star quarterback, Travis McCoy has it all, until an injury ends his season early. When he receives an invitation to attend the big homecoming game from his alma mater, Travis decides it’s time to face his past. The journey home sends Travis down a path that he never expects. Will he be able to come to grips when everything around him is spiraling out of control?
The Journey of Champions
Travis McCoy thought the journey home would be the hardest choice he ever had to make. It isn’t until he finds himself walking out the door and leaving his family behind that he realizes his journey is only just beginning. Now, with only a handful of weeks until Christmas, Travis tries to find his way back home. This time, he plans on staying forever.
The Journey to Forever
Finally back in the warm embrace of his family, Travis McCoy relishes every moment he gets to spend with his wife and son. After almost losing them due to his own selfishness, he makes the decision to never let go of his family again. With his plan set in motion, Travis, Penelope, and Max start a new journey, one that leads them to forever.
The Journey to a New Life
Travis McCoy’s journey has led him down a road of changes where he found the love of his life and their child. Travis, Penelope, and Max have struggled during their time apart, found their way back home, and finally tied their lives together as a family. Now, Penelope and Travis find themselves on a new journey, one that leads them to the greatest gift of all.
Author Biography:Obsessive, compulsive, slightly crazed, but enough about her personality. First and foremost, Lisa Bilbrey is a mom to three and a wife to one. She loves to write, and spends the majority of everyday writing. It's who she is, and what she's meant to be doing. Words are her life, the air she breathes, and the nutrients of her soul.
Finding a love in the written word, Lisa Bilbrey started writing as a way to express herself and let her voice be heard. From the first word she wrote, she'd found her heart and soul. Always willing to learn, she's spends much of her time trying to improve as a storyteller.GoodreadsFacebookTwitterBlogAmazon Barnes & NobleRenaissance Romance PublishingAbout.me
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What a better way to celebrate a release than a MEGA GIVAWAY!In honor of the release of Author Lisa Bilbrey’s The Journey Collection, she’s hosting a huge giveaway. There are over THIRTY prizes and Dozens of ways to enter for your chance to win ebooks and prizes from authors such as R. E. Hargrave, M.B. Feeney, Sydney Logan, Harper Bentley, B.L. Wilde, Lorenz Font, Jude Ouvrard, Michele Richard, S.A. Jones, K.I. Lynn, Elizabeth M. Lawrence, Melissa Stevens, CS Patra, Jennifer Garcia, M.C. Rayne, Lindsey Gray, N Wood, Forbes Arnone, Michelle Muckley, Jennifer Theriot, Alison Bruning, and Lisa Bilbrey.
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The Journey Collection Summary:The Journey Home
The Sharks’ star quarterback, Travis McCoy has it all, until an injury ends his season early. When he receives an invitation to attend the big homecoming game from his alma mater, Travis decides it’s time to face his past. The journey home sends Travis down a path that he never expects. Will he be able to come to grips when everything around him is spiraling out of control?
The Journey of Champions
Travis McCoy thought the journey home would be the hardest choice he ever had to make. It isn’t until he finds himself walking out the door and leaving his family behind that he realizes his journey is only just beginning. Now, with only a handful of weeks until Christmas, Travis tries to find his way back home. This time, he plans on staying forever.
The Journey to Forever
Finally back in the warm embrace of his family, Travis McCoy relishes every moment he gets to spend with his wife and son. After almost losing them due to his own selfishness, he makes the decision to never let go of his family again. With his plan set in motion, Travis, Penelope, and Max start a new journey, one that leads them to forever.
The Journey to a New Life
Travis McCoy’s journey has led him down a road of changes where he found the love of his life and their child. Travis, Penelope, and Max have struggled during their time apart, found their way back home, and finally tied their lives together as a family. Now, Penelope and Travis find themselves on a new journey, one that leads them to the greatest gift of all.
Author Biography:Obsessive, compulsive, slightly crazed, but enough about her personality. First and foremost, Lisa Bilbrey is a mom to three and a wife to one. She loves to write, and spends the majority of everyday writing. It's who she is, and what she's meant to be doing. Words are her life, the air she breathes, and the nutrients of her soul.
Finding a love in the written word, Lisa Bilbrey started writing as a way to express herself and let her voice be heard. From the first word she wrote, she'd found her heart and soul. Always willing to learn, she's spends much of her time trying to improve as a storyteller.GoodreadsFacebookTwitterBlogAmazon Barnes & NobleRenaissance Romance PublishingAbout.me
a Rafflecopter giveaway
