Nicki Scalise's Blog, page 2

Release Day: Despite Serendipity

Despite Serendipity
A Revenants in Purgatory Novella A boring night, a crowded club. Portia Winters has had her fill of both. She's one cheesy pickup line away from losing her mind when Tore Brennan slides up onto the barstool next to hers. When the DJ plays the perfect song, she seizes the opportunity to show him everything she's come to feel for him since they first met over a decade ago. 

Tore loves the nightlife — the music, the alcohol, and the easy women. All that could change when his perfect woman drags him onto the dance floor. Portia's classy, gorgeous, and everything he’s ever dreamed of. Can he abandon his playboy ways for a chance to prove he can be the man she deserves? Or will old habits die hard? 

**The events in this novella fall within the timeline between books one and two of the Revenants in Purgatory series. It can be read before or after Aeonian Kiss (R.I.P. #2)
Today's the day! Despite Serendipity, the new novella in the Revenants in Purgatory series is available at Amazon! I'll be posting teasers and hosting contests over on Facebook and tsu. Come join the fun and take a shot at winning some swag! If you haven't read the R.I.P. series yet, now's a good time to start. Today Prayer for the Dead will be FREE and Aeonian Kiss and Despite Serendipity are only 99¢ each! Click on any of the buttons below to be magically transported to your favorite online ebook retailer!  Prayer for the Dead Amazon Despite Serendipity Amazon Aeonian Kiss Amazon B&N

Cover Reveal: Despite Serendipity

Coming December 13, 2014!
Despite Serendipity 
A Revenants in Purgatory Novella This cover was once again created by Tammy Norstrem. She also designed the cover for Aeonian Kiss. What can I say? The woman rocks! A boring night, a crowded club. Portia Winters has had her fill of both. She's one cheesy pickup line away from losing her mind when Tore Brennan slides up onto the barstool next to hers. When the DJ plays the perfect song, she seizes the opportunity to show him everything she's come to feel for him since they first met over a decade ago.

Tore loves the nightlife — the music, the alcohol, and the easy women. All that could change when the perfect woman drags him onto the dance floor. Portia's classy, gorgeous, and everything he’s ever dreamed of. Can he abandon his playboy ways for a chance to prove he can be the man she deserves? Or will old habits die hard?
Olivia's not the only one in the Revenants in Purgatory series with a story to tell. This time we hear from Portia and Tore. The plot of this novella takes place in the timeline after Prayer for the Dead (R.I.P. #1). However, it can be read before or after Aeonian Kiss (R.I.P. #2). Despite Serendipity is now available for pre-order via Amazon. Please consider one-clicking your copy today.   If you'd like to hire Tammy Norstrem for your own cover work you may reach her via LinkedIn or send me an email and I can put you in contact. To keep up to date with the latest news and high jinks you can follow me on Facebook or SIGN UP for my mailing list.

National Adopt a Senior Dog Month

This post may cause an eerie sense of Déjà vu for some of you. Fear not, you're not going crazy. I posted this last year on my old blog. This year it's been improved a bit, built upon, and dressed up to look pretty. Same message still applies. Allow me to paint a picture for you. . . 
Imagine spending your life devoted to a family. One day they decide you're too old be around anymore. They want a fun a dog. They want a young dog. They want a puppy and you're getting in the way. You're taken to a place that's loud and scary. All around you are the terrified or aggressive barks from other four-legged friends. You're given a cold concrete floor for a bed. "Five days", you'll hear someone say. Five days until what? You'll wonder. Where's my family?  Strangers will pass by your cage and peer in with judging eyes. They won't stop. They'll move onto the next cage because you're "not going to live very long anyway." 

Sound like a happy scenario? Does it seem like a way you'd like to spend your golden years? Somehow I doubt it.

Oh, did I forget to mention that I might get preachy in this post? November is National Adopt a Senior Pet month. This topic is very near and dear to my heart. For the past three years, my husband and I have fostered dogs through an organization named Izzy's Place Senior Dog Rescue. It's a group of dedicated volunteers, working tirelessly to save senior dogs from shelters and poor living conditions such as the ones described above. It's a rough gig. I find myself angry at the people who abandon these poor dogs to be left to the hands of fate. I want to yell at them "WHY?!", but for the most part I already know the answer. Not all these dogs end up in shelters because of cruelty. Sometimes an owner passes away. Sometimes their families met hard times and couldn't care for their pet properly so they reached out to those who could help. My experience working with this amazing bunch of volunteers has changed me in ways I never expected. It's changed the way I view the world and senior dogs.

Here are a few little nuggets of wisdom I've learned:
1. Never assume because a dog is older he won't have energy to play.
2. Senior dogs have just as much love to give as a puppy, but without the hassle of potty training.
3. Senior dogs may require a little bit more "maintenance"  veterinarian care, but not all of them are on their last leg, staring down a mountain of impending vet bills.
4. "I may only get a few months or years to spend with a senior dog" is poor excuse not to adopt.
5. Never assume because a dog is older that he/she won't bond with your family.
6. The old adage- You can't teach an old dog new tricks is bullshit. Here are some of the dogs who taught me these lessons: An amazing transformation! From Tiny (left), a shelter dog to Finn (right) a loved member of the family. Finn
(a.k.a Tiny) He was our first experience as foster parents. In the middle of January 2012, he was surrendered to a shelter in Cheyenne, Wyoming by a homeless man who could no longer care for him. Finn came to the shelter horribly matted and the staff had no other choice but to shave him right down to the skin. He was with us a month before Izzy's Place found him the perfect home. I recently talked to his new mom and here's what she said: "Finn came to me as a wary survivalist and has turned into a loyal, loving, well-behaved, handsome (of course), older adoptee.  He was so worth the risk I took.  He has become my protector par excellence and the love of my life."

How beautiful is that?
Dexter
(We also called him Dexie-Do) When he arrived in Colorado, he was simply named "Old Man Dachshund". He didn't have a proper name because he was a puppy mill survivor. He had been abandoned at the city dump by the disgusting puppy millers. Apparently they didn't have any further use for him and couldn't be bothered to find him a home or take him to the shelter. Another rescue stepped in and saved this little guy then contacted Izzy's Place.

About a week after Dexter came to us, it was discovered his teeth were rotten. The infection was so bad it had eaten away at the bone in his lower jaw, causing it to fracture in two. All of his teeth had to be removed. It was a painful process and he had a long road to recovery, but he did so with flying colors. 

Dexter was with us a few months before he was adopted. He spent the next two years with his new mom and a fellow dachshund brother. He was spoiled rotten and given the life he deserved. He had it made!

Earlier this year, we received word that Dexter had passed away.  While we were so sad to hear that he'd crossed the rainbow bridge, it was a comfort knowing that the last years of his life were spent in home with someone who adored him for the awesome little man he was.  Teaker She was a... well, we don't know what breed she was. We all just thought she was a brindle cutie. Teaker was only with us as a temporary foster, so I don't know much of her back story. We loved having her here though. She was such a gentle giant and loved playing with Gobo. She was adopted not long after this picture was taken. ANd then there was Emily... Emily was a rat terrier estimated to be between fourteen-sixteen years old when she came to Izzy's Place in April 2012. She had been dumped on a rural Missouri road. A good Samaritan picked her up and took her to a shelter, but no one stepped forward to claim her. When she was found, her right eye had a horrible infection and she was almost blind in the left. It appeared likely due to her advanced age and medical problems that she would be euthanized until a local rescue group stepped in. They pulled her from the shelter and contacted IP. The volunteers at Izzy's Place knew she'd be hard to place but we were up for the challenge. Emily then hitched a ride with a caravan and fifty other dogs to Colorado.

Emily was a goof ball. Though she couldn't see that didn't slow her down. She trotted around the house, followed our other dogs outside to play, and learned to follow the sounds of our voices. She loved to bark and when she did, it sounded like a fox call. She put so much effort into it, her front legs would launch off the ground. It always made us laugh.

Though we tried our best to save the infected eye it had to be removed. But she weathered that surgery like a little trooper. After the eye was gone, she blossomed. Since she was no longer in pain, she had time to focus on being a happy dog again. 

For four months Little Em-dog had a wonderful life. We found out in August that she had gone into renal failure.  In December 2012, only seven months after coming to live with us, our sweet little girl crossed the rainbow bridge. My husband and I, along with her doggy brothers, sat by her side as she peacefully passed away.

Now I can hear you saying "Seven months? That's not very long. "

You're right. It's not.

But you know what? Emily spent those final months warm, well-fed, spoiled rotten, and as a treasured member of our family. That was a priceless gift not only to her, but to us as well. That alone made the pain of our loss well worth it.
After Emily passed away, we had to take a break from fostering to mend our broken hearts. We missed our little princess and for a time we weren't sure we had the strength to foster again, but then came an email about a little dog named Peanut... This is but a drop in the bucket of the good a rescue like Izzy's Place can accomplish. I wanted to share these stories so everyone could see that there is more than just heartbreak ahead when adopting a senior. There will be laughs, cuddles, wet noses, slobbery kisses, and games of tug-of-war. Sure, the time you have with them isn't guaranteed, but that can also be said when adopting a puppy. If you're looking to adopt a new friend, please consider welcoming a snow white muzzle into your heart and home. A silent thank you from some big brown eyes makes it all worth it. 
I promise!
For more information about adopting a senior pet, please check out 
Izzy's Place by following the LINK or by Visiting 
your local shelter!  *** Update*** When I wrote this post a year ago, Peanut was still a foster dog. She was twelve years old when she came to Izzy's Place. Her previous owner was elderly and could no longer live on her own. Within fourty-eight hours of moving in with us, Peanut became so attached to my husband we knew she had found her forever home. She has since weaseled her way into our hearts and somehow managed to talk us into letting her stay. But you know, even though she has more attitude than a dog her size should, she acts as if we never feed her, and her bark could rupture ear drums, we really wouldn't have it any other way.   Have you adopted a senior pet or have a story you'd like to share? Leave it in the comments. I'd love to hear from you!

Make way for the Goober Patrol!

After being hounded for a few months, I've finally formed my official street team, Goober Patrol. Can I get a Huzzah!?
. . . 
. . .
Anyone. . .
Anyone. . .
Bueller? 
***cue the crickets*** Okay, at any rate, here's what I'm looking for in Goober Patrol members:
-Must be active in social media.
-Familiar with my work (read/reviewed at least one of my novels/short stories).
-Enthusiastic about promoting your favorite authors (most importantly me).
- A genuine interest in seeing the R.I.P. series succeed.
-Trustworthy! Since you'll be privy to as yet unreleased work I must have confidence that you won't share unless specified otherwise.
What will you get in return?
-Special swag created for Goober Patrol members only.
-Exclusive first peeks at covers/snippets/teasers.
-A chance to give me advice or opinions on how you feel the series is going.
-A chance to beta read or receive ARCS.
-Daily interaction with me because I'm so damn cool! (This one might be more of a punishment than incentive.)


If you feel that you fall within these guidelines then please fill out the form HERE.
I think this team will be a great amount of fun! So please sign up to help get the word out about my fabulous undead and keep this world Goober free! 

Cover Reveal: Little Tchotchkes

A short story AVAILABLE in E-book
OCTOBER 25TH Little Tchotchkes
Immortal and jaded, Marcus Keary spends his nights trolling Goth clubs in search of his next meal. But his feeding habits have become too routine over the decades. He craves a challenge.

Enter Jules — a college student, a touch eccentric, and exactly what Marcus needs. Will she fall prey to his charms, or will she change everything he thinks he knows about life as a vampire? Little Tchotchkes will be available for FREE as a stand alone.
If you enjoy this short story, it was originally published as part of the Paranormal Anthology with a Twist. It's a fun read and there were some amazing authors included in that project.
 You may click on the title to pick up a copy from Amazon.

Don't fear the Review

Ah, the elusive book review. It's not uncommon to scroll through your news feed these days and see an author or two asking for one. I've done it. We've all done it. I'll bet you could pop over to Facebook right now and find a few. It might look a little something like this:  Asking a reader to write a review seems like a simple enough request but most scroll right by these pleas without a second thought and I have a theory as to why.  The average person doesn't consider writing a review a simple task.

Committing your opinion to something in such a public forum can be scary. Thoughts of lengthy newspaper or television critiques come to mind. Palms start to sweat, panic sets in. Readers only think authors say reviews are easy because writing is what we do. Of course we'd think of it as a cake walk!  We pull extraordinary words out of thin air everyday, just like magic! 

While I hate to dispel the fantasy that authors are mythical creatures who summon forth words from the mystical realm in which they reside, the fear of reviews I'd like to squash.

After the cold sweats dissipate, you might be inclined to ask, "How can I help my favorite authors when even the thought of writing a review gives me the dry heaves?"  Allow me to put your mind and tummy at ease. Here are a few things to consider that might make the task less frightful:

1. You don't have to write a synopsis about the book. I'd wager most other readers will skim past that part of your review anyway. The authors definitely will. We wrote the book, hopefully we already know what it's about.  Rehashing the plot? Fahgettaboudit!
2. You don't have to explain the deeper meaning of the plot, subtext, or how the book was really a social commentary about the world we live in today. "I felt that by referring to the leading man's penis as the Empire State Building the author was subtly highlighting the corruption within the government which feeds our global materialism." Um, no. The author was simply being colorful with the English language rather than referring to a man's genitals as his "member"... again. 
This type of review? Fahgettaboudit! 3. Don't stress about your writing skills. No one expects any review on Amazon or Goodreads to be professionally edited. This is not a book report, per say. You won't be graded. Worried about posting a review because you're not a professional writer/editor/blogger?  Fahgettaboudit!
When it all boils down, you know what an author expects out of a review? 
Honesty.
That's it.
That's all.
Your review could simply state, "I loved this book. It was well written and the characters were cool." 
OR 
The non-author-ego-stroking review is also acceptable  
(although less popular)
"I didn't care for this book. It had too many Empire State Building references." See? It's nothing fancy. When you find an author holding out their review tin cup on your news feed, that's all we're looking for. Simple and to the point. The truth is, reviews aren't literary monsters hiding under the bed waiting to devour readers who don't have the time to write a two page summary about every book they've read.  When you really examine it, two sentences is all it takes. Those two simple lines may help another reader determine if they're willing to take a chance on an author who is unknown to them. When the stranger danger has been abolished, your favorite authors are given a chance to become someone else's favorite author too. And that's just good news all the way around... unless you're a hipster.  Not looking so scary anymore, is it? So please take a couple moments of your day to jot down a few words about some of the books you've read. As authors, it means the world to us. And if you're still not convinced and need further encouragement, I have it on good authority that every time a review is posted, this happens... Happy reading and reviewing!

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!

Want some free stuff? 
Of course you do! 
Who wouldn't? 
Crazy people, that's who! 

Well, it's your lucky day. There are all sorts of opportunities to win some killer prizes including eBooks and signed paperbacks. There are even a couple of Kindles up for grabs. Check out the Rafflecopter contests or links below to enter.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Aeonian Kiss
by 
Nicki Scalise
Released: July 26 2014
Giveaway ends in 11days 
(September 02, 2014)
1 SIGNED copy available, 
389 people requesting
giveaway details »

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©°xש Rising Indies End of Summer Kindle Fire Giveaway ©°xש


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Release: Existence by R.M. Gilmore

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Existence
Lynnie Russell 
Part Two

Lynnie has become something the world has never seen,
something she fears, something wild and as natural as death itself.
Her becoming was only the beginning of the story.
This...this is where the action begins. 

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Losing love before it begins can turn the soul sour. With a beast tumbling around in there with it my soul had a fight on its hands. 
A fight against souring.
A fight to be saved. My fight to survive. My fight for an existence on this earth. 
 

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Becoming
Lynnie Russell 
Part One

A new twist on an old classic. 
Havana, Arkansas isn't exactly the picture of mystics and magic, but Lynnie Russell learns quickly you can't judge a book by it's cover.
She discovers myths and legends are alive and well in her tiny little town and she is at the center of it.

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The force has been with me... Always

This past Sunday night after my husband had gone to bed and the house became quiet, my mind drifted. I got to thinking about Star Wars. More specifically, my first memory of the original trilogy.  I was four years old. It was the year before my parents divorced and we lived in a garden level apartment just off 45th Street. I can't remember for sure, but I believe it was early fall. It must have been around dinner time that evening, because I distinctly recollect my mom doing something in the kitchen. My dad and I were in the living room. He sat in a beige chair, that matched our sofa, and I was on the floor.
  
A New Hope was on the television.

 I remember sort of paying attention, but also recall being distracted by my toys. But that all changed when I looked up and saw this scene: Suddenly my toys were no longer interesting. Star Wars now held my attention. Why did this scene have such an immediate impact on me? Was it the two suns? The crescendo of the music? Luke's super awesome wardrobe or his feathery hair lightly blowing in the breeze? Your guess would be as good as mine, but I turned to my dad and said, "I wanna be Luke Skywalker." 
Not Princess Leia. 
Not Han Solo. 
But Luke-Fucking-Skywalker!
Why?
Who knows. 
I was four.
I don't recall my dad saying anything in response, but that wasn't a problem. For some reason my post toddler, pre-kindergartner brain surmised that he got it. Dad understood my wish and knew how cool life would be as a Jedi. 

I grew up in the eighties (please don't do the math. It's depressing) and in a time when everything was all about Star Wars. There has never been a time in my life when the original trilogy didn't exist. It's always been there as a backdrop. I played the tabletop and card games. I made friends from around the world playing Galaxies (an MMORPG, pre-World of Warcraft days). I watched the movies and gobbled up merchandise. I even attended a Star Wars convention.  I was, and still am, "mildly" obsessed.
When the original trilogy was re-released in honor of the 20th anniversary, I stood in line for the sold-out shows. The energy at the theater was electric.  A whole generation had grown up loving the films but had never seen them on the big screen. When the lights dimmed we all lost our minds, cheering as if George Lucas himself was in the seat next to us. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I damn neared cried when the iconic yellow text scrolled up the big screen.   
My original ticket stubs from the re-release. Yes, my friends. I saw it twice in less than twenty-four hours. From that first moment of realized awesomeness when I was four, to all the times I watched the films and beyond, Star Wars has been part of my childhood and who I grew up to be.

So why does any of this seem important? Simply because Star Wars is more to me than just movies. And to discover the true heart and truth of this post, all you must do is take a look back at where it began. This isn't just about my love of a galaxy far, far away. It's really a memory and a story about my dad. 

Today marks what would have been his 78th birthday. However, a heart attack took him from this world too soon. He passed away three weeks after my eleventh birthday. Although he's been gone for many years now, I still miss him without measure. But it's days like today, that I try to look back at that one moment when Star Wars became a conscious part of my world. A moment that maybe shouldn't have been pivotal but somehow was, and I'm forced to smile. That one blip in time had a profound impact on me and my father was part of it.

Was Dad a huge Star Wars fan too? I honestly can't say. I don't know if he was as enthralled to watch A New Hope that night as his daughter or if there simply wasn't anything else on the old boob tube and he landed on it after channel surfing. I'll never know, but somehow that's okay. I'd like to think that my four-year-old self was right and maybe, just maybe, I wasn't the only one who wanted to be Luke Skywalker. And just as the force will be with me always, so will Dominic Scalise. Dad and me- This was a few years before the Star Wars moment. I don't have many pictures of him but wanted to share one. How groovy is his rockin' 'fro? What was your first Star Wars memory? 
Leave it in the comments below. 
I'd love to hear from you.

Release Day: Aeonian Kiss

The wait is finally over! 
Aeonian Kiss, the second installment of the Revenants in Purgatory series,
 is now on sale!  
Tell your friends. Tell your mom. Tell the world!

  It's time to get Kissed ! What happens to the dead when they die? 
Do they go to Heaven to Hell… maybe on a luxury cruise?
It wasn’t a question Olivia Brennan ever thought to ask. After all, once you've been to Hell and back, how much worse can things get? Her harrowing descent has already cost her everything—her home, her career, the man she loves. But when an enemy resurfaces looking to settle a score, she learns there’s more to lose than she ever imagined.
Purgatory harbors more secrets than the depths of Hell, and Olivia has landed smack dab in the middle of their tangled web. Faced with an impossible choice, she must reach into the darkest parts of her soul for the strength she needs to save everyone she loves. But even if she succeeds, will she ever be the same again?
Maybe some questions are better left unanswered. 
If there’s one thing experience has taught her, it’s that the universe loves to kick her ass.

Purchase Links:
Amazon U.S.
Amazon U.K.
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
Createspace 
In honor of Olivia's new adventure, Prayer for the Dead (book one) will be FREE on AMAZON all weekend! So if you haven't started the series now's your chance. If you've already read it but feel the need to push your reading choices on others, it's a good time for that too! (And in case you were wondering, I fully condone that behavior.) 

I'll be celebrating the release/sale on my Facebook page with contests, teasers from the book, and much, much more.  Everyone will have plenty of chances to win and there will be two major prizes up for grabs, so come join the shenanigans.  Featured prize for the Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway