Katie Hamstead's Blog, page 89

Cover Reveal: Heirs of War: Crown of Flames by Mara Valderran

Book two of the Heirs of War series is right around the corner! Heirs of War, Crown of Flames is set to be released this summer, and we have the first look at the cover for the book today! If you haven't already read Heirs of War, it is on sale this week for $0.99 cents from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and other retailers. Here's what you have to look forward to in book two:

Weeks have passed since Ariana and Alec escaped from Kellen's dungeon, but danger isn't far behind them. As they travel through unknown lands and encounter multiple threats, their biggest challenge might be trusting one another.

Despite the danger and the war closing in around them, all of Anscombe seems to be more interested in the upcoming Imbolc festival than rescuing Ariana. Well, not everyone. 

Tired of waiting for the Duillaine to help her twin, Zelene starts plotting on her own and finds a surprising ally in Rhaya, even as the Cynewards prepare to make a move of their own. But Zelene’s plans go awry when she finds herself with a new ability, a mysterious new friend, and more enemies within the walls of Anscombe than she thought.

Add it on Goodreads
Read the preview chapters on Wattpad










About Mara
Mara Valderran is not just an author of young adult and new adult novels. She has dabbled in screenwriting, retired from acting, and drawn some pretty mean stick figures in her time. She is an avid reader and loves all things fantasy. She contributes to the fantasy blog There and Draft Again: A Fellowship of Fantasy Writers. 

Her debut novel, HEIRS OF WAR, has been met with great reviews and was featured on Wattpad in 2013, raking in over 600k reads. The series continues with the second book, HEIRS OF WAR, CROWN OF FLAMES to be released in Summer 2014. Her short story "The Austenation" will be included in the Borderlands Anthology and she is looking forward to publishing her young adult dystopian ALTAR OF REALITY with Curiosity Quills Winter 2014. 

Mara is more than just a madwoman with a writing box. She loves roller skating and movies, though typically not together. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and demanding cat. She hopes to one day meet Daniel Jackson from SG1, or at least the actor who played him. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing video games, or spending time at her favorite local coffee shop.

For more on Mara or her latest projects, check out her website. 

Follow Her On Social Media:
Facebook   Twitter   Google+

Don't forget to enter the Fan Favorites and Shipping Wars contests running on her website! By choosing your favorite character or you favorite relationship in the Heirs of War series, you can win a chance to star in a brand new scene with those characters or help bring them to life in a new scene. Just fill out the forms and you will be entered to win!   

Cover Reveal: My Tethered Soul (Reaper's Rite #2) by Dorothy Dreyer

Welcome to the Cover Reveal forMy Tethered Soul (Reaper's Rite #2) by Dorothy Dreyerpresented by Month9Books!

It’s been months since Zadie faced her sister’s Reaper, months during which she’s been under her mentor’s magical protection. But now that she’s turning seventeen, that protection is about to run out. When dark forces lure Zadie to wander at night, she’s manipulated into committing unspeakable acts. With her friends and family at risk, Zadie must try to use her powers to break free from the Reaper’s grasp, or surrender to the Reaper’s Rite, which can only lead to death.

My Tethered Soul (Reaper's Rite #2)
by Dorothy Dreyer
Publication Date: June 2010
Publisher: Month9Books

Dorothy Dreyer has always believed in magic. She loves reading, writing, movies, and spending time with her family and friends. Half-American and half-Filipino, Dorothy lives in Germany with her husband and two children.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!a Rafflecopter giveaway

How Being an Acquisitions Editor Differs from an Editor

A little while ago, I asked you, my readers what you wanted me to talk about on my blog. One answer I received from Summer Weir, and so I am discussing it here now!
As you probably know, I work with my publisher, Curiosity Quills Press, as an Acquisitions Editor. This means, in a nutshell, that I am part of the team who read through the slush pile. And I'll tell you what, CQ gets a pretty hefty slush pile. To give you a little bit of a behind the scenes tour, it goes something like this: The submissions are received and sorted by the Acquisitions Manager. They are then sorted into date and time of arrival and go on a waiting list. As they move to the top, the managers gives them to who would best suit the manuscript. I for example, get mostly YA/NA romancey type stuff, and I seem to get historicals fairly frequently too.
Now the editors on the other hand get the already contracted submissions and work through them line by line, preparing them for publication. As an Acquisitions Editor I act more as a Beta reader. I check for passive voice, info dumping, inconsistencies, excessive editing needs and so forth. If the manuscript is engaging and passes the test I recommend it to my up-aboves for a contract offer.
This isn't a quit-your-day-job kind of job. I do this part time, from home. I love doing it, and when I reject I try to give out positive feedback why. But that's a personal thing.
Do you have any questions for me? Please comment below and I will answer them!


photo credit: HaoJan via photopin cc

Guest Post: Luck by Meggan Connors

Well, it’s the month of March, and there’s a lot of luck going around.            March madness, leprechauns, my son’s birthday… it’s all about luck.            Which, logically, I shouldn’t believe in.            I come from a family of scientists, none of whom believe in luck. But for all of that, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time breaking down my heritage and deciding which nationalities are lucky and which ones are unlucky.            For instance, I’ve decided the Dutch are, generally, lucky. Score one for me! At the other end of the spectrum, the Irish are either tremendously lucky or horribly unlucky. There is no in-between with the Irish. And the English? They’re the “meh” in the luck sandwich. Sometimes, they’re lucky, sometimes they’re not.             My brother has Dutch luck. I’ve never met anyone who is as lucky as he is. It’s like he has a guardian angel looking after him, a leprechaun in his back pocket, and Ganesh is sitting on his shoulder. My brother can wake up in a foreign country with no pants, no shoes, and not a cent to his name, and leave with a new set of clothes, a bus ticket home, two new friends, and $500 in his pocket.             Sure, that sounds absurd, but it actually happened. (Don’t ask about the no pants part. It’s a long story.)            This is the same brother who will tell you he doesn’t believe in luck. In his opinion, we make our own fate, and we make our own luck. He believes that luck is about positioning oneself in such a way that when the opportunity strikes, one is in the position to take advantage of it.             Hmph. The lucky always say that.            As for me, I have Irish luck. It’s either really good or really bad. For instance, if I’m at a college or professional sporting event, and there’s even the remotest possibility that the ball could hit me in the face, I’m pretty much guaranteed that it will. I remember once, I was at a basketball game, and I was seated in the 15th row from the floor. Great seats. I looked over at my mother and said,             “Ma, we have to move. The ball is going to hit me in the face.”            She told me to stop being melodramatic. Or, rather, that’s what she was in the process of saying when…the ball bounced over all the people standing in front of me and hit me in the face. On TV, too. It was super awesome, because what senior in high school doesn’t want to be hit in the face by a basketball on national TV, while sitting next to her mother? It was more spectacular because I knew I’d be starting college there the following Fall.            This has happened often enough that I’ve learned that nosebleed seats aren’t so bad. Yes, that means it has happened more than once. More than once on national TV, too. Pretty much, if someone says to me, “Oh, I saw you on TV,” it because I was hit in the face with something. (Once it was another woman’s boobs when she drunkenly and “accidentally” fell into my husband’s lap.  That particular escapade aired on Pay Per View. Apparently, I did not look happy. Since I’m not so good at hiding my disdain, and I know I possess an awesome stink eye, I’m sure “not happy” was a bit of an understatement.)            What are the chances of that? My oh-so-lucky brother may not believe in the Fortune smiling down upon him, but I certainly do. Because those of us who suffer under the yoke of unluckiness from time to time recognize Fortune’s smile, even when it’s not bestowed upon us.            But my luck has also been really, really good. It’s come through for me when I’ve needed it. And trust me, it was luck, chance, fortune… whatever name you decide to give it, it was all about luck. Not skill, not some innate ability, not positioning myself so that I could recognize and seize opportunity when it struck. No, it was dumb luck, plain and simple.            A few years ago (okay, more than a few), when my husband and I were flat broke, he took me out to dinner to celebrate my graduation. I knew we didn’t have a whole lot of money, since we’d been eating ramen for the last month, but I didn’t know we were flat broke—I’d been ensconced in my study, writing my thesis, for the last six months, all while working two jobs and going to school. I hadn’t slept more than four hours a night in those six months, and I was exhausted. But I’d finished the darn thing, and I had a job lined up that I would start two days later. Husband wanted me to reward me for all my hard work, so he took me out to a dinner we couldn’t afford (at a coffee shop in a casino), and while we were there, he told me he wasn’t even sure we had enough money to afford a meal and drinks, so he warned me to “eat cheap.”             And so I did.            At the end of a terrible meal, we had a single dollar left over.             Outside of the coffee shop was a slot machine. One of the high paying ones. Out here, it’s known as MegaBucks. The payouts are over a million dollars, if you’re lucky and have bet the maximum you’re allowed, which is three dollars.             I had a buck, and, on a lark (and knowing the odds—I’d been doing stats for six months, after all), I went ahead and put that single dollar into the MegaBucks machine. I turned to talk to husband, so I never saw the eagles line up.            I heard an alarm, though, and, for a moment, I was convinced the place was on fire. That is until I glanced at husband’s face and saw he’d gone pale.            No, I hadn’t hit MegaBucks. I hit the MegaMini, the one just below the massive win. If I’d played three dollars, I would have won something like $150,000. As it stood, I won $7,000.             For two kids who had resorted to eating ramen noodles for weeks on end, that $7000 was more money than we’d see in months.            What was that but Fortune, smiling on us, when we really needed it? I haven’t won anything since (I suppose you have to play more often than I do in order to win, though), and I don’t expect to. After all, Fortune, like lightning, rarely strikes twice. Well, more to the point, she rarely strikes me twice.             So while I think we have the ability to shape our own destinies, I believe in luck. I keep thinking I can pull another one out, and I’ll win the lottery or something (again, there is that whole playingthe lottery in order to win it thing, but those are just details, right?). But the way karma works with me, I’m actually more likely to be struck by lightning a few times.
            And, from what I’ve been told, it’s not worth it. I heard this from a friend who’s been struck not one, not twice, but three times. Talk about unlucky. And he doesn’t even have a winning lottery ticket to show for it.

When Kenneth Mackay, long-banished rogue and thief, returns to the Mackay holding at the request of his brother, he has no idea what he might find. He certainly doesn’t expect to be confronted with his twin’s imminent death, or with the plan his brother has concocted. Ten years before, Malcolm made a tragic mistake, and, to preserve the family name—and his own skin—he allowed Kenneth to take the fall. Now that he is dying without an heir, Malcolm plans to atone for his mistake: by giving Kenneth his life back. All Kenneth has to do is assume his brother’s identity. But complicating matters is the unexpected return of Lady Isobel Mackay, the daughter of an English marquess... and the wife Malcolm didn’t want. Isobel barely knows the husband who abandoned her even before their marriage, and she'd long since given up on having a real marriage with him. Yet when she returns to the Mackay holding far earlier than expected, she finds her husband a changed man. Despite the hurt between them, Isobel's heart responds to this man who cares for his entire clan as if they were family. Who, for the first time since their marriage, cares for her as if she is, too.  Falling in love with her husband had never been part of Isobel’s plan. But when their future is suddenly in peril, Isobel must find a way to save him—from himself and from the deception threatening to tear them apart. 

Blog Tour: Cursed be the Wicked by J.R.Richardson

Today I have fellow Soul Mate Author on my blog as part of her blog tour. Jo has been a wonderful support to me over the past few months since signing Branded, and is a fabulous lady! I hope you enjoy this interview with her.

How long does it take you to write a book?  Cursed be the Wicked took me about 10 months to complete.  I had some serious blockage going on in the middle.  I took a break and wrote a short story to get my creativity spinning again, then came back to it and finished the 2nd half in about 2 months.   
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?  Crazy.  I have to fit it in where I can because I work full time so it’s a lot of skipping lunches, getting up super early and sometimes requesting a time out from family time to get a scene finished.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?  That there are people out there who rather enjoy my style of writing.  That’s got to be the best feeling ever.  Well, one of them.  J
 Who is your favorite author to read? What books strongly influenced your own writing?  AH.  Jim Butcher is my favorite favorite favorite these days.   I would say Mr. Butcher influences me all around just because of the simple fact that he’s taught me that you don’t have to fit into a certain “style” or “genre” – you just have to write with heart. 
How hard is it to establish and maintain a career in fiction writing?  I don’t have a career in it (yet) – so I don’t know how to answer this – I write what I like and I enjoy writing it, I try to always have fun with it – if that pans out – I think that would be awesome but if it doesn’t, I’m pretty happy just writing for the few people who enjoy my stories.
What’s on your desk? Can you see your desk?  My laptop, and my other laptop.
 Any must-have snack/ drink or music for writing?  Diet Dr. Pepper.  Sometimes with rum in it.
 Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?  I always say, write because you love to write, have fun doing it, and don’t write for anyone but you – and also: find yourself a circle of trust, then trust them.
Either/Or1.    Chocolate or vanilla?  Chocolate2.    Rain or shine? SHINE3.    Werewolf or Vampire?  Vampire4.    Harry Potter or LoTR?  OH MAN! Um.  HP5.    Introvert or extrovert?  Intro6.    Pepsi or Coke?  Pepsi7.    Beach or mountains?  Beach8.    Cowboys or aliens?  Cowboys! Mmm.9.    Cats or dogs?  Cats
10.  Planner or Pantser?  Pantser 4 Life

Thank you for joining me today, Jo! I hope your book does well for you.

Synopsis :
Cooper Shaw lives his life under a pen name and enjoys the anonymity it provides during his journeys across the globe as a seasoned writer for a travel magazine. When his job lands him in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts to cover the famous Festival of the Dead, he soon realizes that he can’t stay invisible forever as he faces ghosts from a past he’s been trying to forget ever since he left.
The city holds nothing but bad memories for Coop until he meets a quirky young woman with an old soul and curious insights by the name of Finnley Pierce. While she acts as his tour guide through a town he thought he knew, Finn helps him unearth the truth of his childhood and might even begin to open up his heart.

By unraveling the mystery of his father’s murder, Coop may finally accept who he is, where he came from, and perhaps even realize what he wants for his future.


Amazon  Goodreads
Cursed be the Wicked has it all- mystery, intrigue, romance, humor and a touch of paranormal. Salem is a great back drop for this story. It makes the paranormal seem possible. The book is well written and great read. I could not put it down and I actually have read it for a second time already! I recommend this book very highly. – 5 star review from Goodreads member, BG



Excerpt:
“I forgot to pay you today,” I blurt out, and Finn finally turns to me.
“Is that why you came tonight?” she asks.  There’s disappointment in her eyes.  It’s in that moment, when she’s looking up at me, that I decide to be honest with myself as well as Finn.“No.”
“Good,” she says.  “Because I don’t’ want your money.”
She stares and waits for me to say something.  Although there isn’t anything we’ve done together that I want to forget, I do want to start over on some level.  So I put a hand out and attempt to re-introduce myself.
“Cooper Shaw.”
She takes my hand and when she does, my entire body sighs a breath of contentment.  I take another swig of my alcohol and begin to explain my actions.
“I didn’t exactly leave Salem on the best of terms. I created Cole Stone so I could write and not be recognized as the son of a murderer. I just thought it would be easier to keep up the charade here.” I trail off and check her reaction. She seems to be studying me awfully hard.
“It’s called a Penn name.”
She’s still silent. I take that, mistakenly, to mean I need to explain a little further. So I do. Like an idiot.
“It’s for-”
“I know what it is Mr. Shaw.”.”
I have to laugh. I don’t know if it’s the nerves or just that she’s so damn cute when she’s ticked off.
“Of course you do.”
 She waits patiently while I regroup.
“I never expected to interact with anyone on a personal lever while I was here, Finn.  I thought I’d be in and out of here before anyone I used to know knew and then I could get back to my life and forget about Salem again.”
“So, what happened?” she asks and I tell her plainly.
“You.”


Bio:
A writer of stories and lover of life.
Jo grew up in Maryland with four siblings, three parents and an endless number of cousins within the vicinity. Today she lives in Florida with her two girls and a husband that shares her same sense of humor and basic take on life as we know it.
Life is too short to put dreams on the back burner.
She’s always loved writing, and always enjoys a good mystery, so in 2012, Jo wrote a novel that was picked up by the good people at Soul Mate Publishing.

Where you can find Jo:
Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads




  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Character Interview with Anders from Disciple Part IV by L Blankenship

Sir Anders Bockmann is a knight of Wodenberg, sworn to the service of the kingdom's saints, and a shameless womanizer. Or, he was until he offered to marry Kate Carpenter so that she could keep her hard-earned rank among the kingdom's top physicians. She'd fallen pregnant with the prince's child, and duty would not let the prince do right by her.
He swore that the marriage was a convenience only, and he'd expect nothing of her.


(The character card is from my reader goodies page, and that's Anders on the book cover)
1. Can you share a secret with us that isn’t revealed in the book?Anders: I don't think Kate believes I earned the reputation I had when we first met. In truth, I did earn it. Broken hearts, anger, and duels -- I am guilty. But there's no need to speak of that and she never asked.
(L's note: we see a bit of Anders' dark side in "Fire's First Kiss", Disciple's prologue novella)
2. How do you decide to trust someone? Do you test people? How?No need for tests. They'll show themselves trustworthy or not soon enough. Most commonly, the moment they speak to me -- if they only repeat the gossip mill's grist at me, I know I've no reason to trust them.
3. What do people notice first about you?(he flashes a smile) My horse? My knight's crest? I rarely go unnoticed, that's true enough.
4. What is one physical attribute you are proud of? (his hand lingers on his blonde mohawk, his "knight's crest") I do wear my knight's crest proudly. The saints, if none else, counted me worthy to face the enemy in their service. And I survived the charge on those monsters' flank.
5. What are you most proud of about your life? When we returned from the secret mission across the mountains (in Part I) I promised my mother I'd not make her cry again. And I've kept that. Given her joy, even, in marrying Kate and seeing to my duties.
6. What's the worst thing you've ever done? Why? (his smile sinks into a grimace) The Shepherd knows what my part in Frederika's death was. After her husband caught us, after the duel where I left him alive... I went to her house, that day, to ask her to leave with me. I had a little money and... well, I was a fool. Went ready to argue and found her hanging above the kitchen table.
7. What are you most afraid of? (still melancholy, his fingers find his wedding band and twist it... then he shakes his head)
8. What do you consider your greatest achievement?That charge on the battlefield was no small thing. And all I did during the siege -- even if Kate called it rash and foolish, it needed doing. It was all in service to the saints, though, and not for my glory.
9. What or who is the greatest love of your life?(he laughs) It's too early for such things, surely? I'm not twenty-five yet. (his fingers are still on that wedding band, though.)
Back cover of Disciple, Part IVKate can’t avoid the simple truth any longer; as much as she loves Kiefan, he’s now the king and his duties leave him precious little time for her and their newborn son. Kate’s husband Anders, the ne’er-do-well knight, is the one who kisses her cheek every morning and soothes the baby to sleep on his shoulder.
Kiefan’s protective jealousy still casts a shadow over her life. He would gladly throw Anders to the wolves if it will keep alliance negotiations from collapsing. Their homeland desperately needs these allies against the invading Empire. The kingdom barely survived the first wave of the enemy’s monstrous army and more is to come.
But Kate can’t stand by and let Anders become a victim — or let Kiefan suspect she’s falling in love with her husband.
On sale now at Amazon • Smashwords• More retailers
New to Disciple? The Half-Omnibus collects the first three parts into one meaty ebook.Amazon • Nook • Other retailers
Or try Disciple, Part I for only 99 cents!
Amazon • Nook • Other retailers

Cover Reveal: Boneseeker by Brynn Chapman

Welcome to the Cover Reveal forBoneseeker by Brynn Chapmanpresented by Month9Books!

Arabella Holmes and Henry Watson embark on an archaeological dig to determine if a giant skeleton is Neaderthal or Nephilim. Someone or something does not want the riddle solved; they learn they are the second expedition deployed... and the first team...are dead.

Boneseeker by Brynn Chapman
Publication Date: June 18, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading Your Own Book

Now I have four books out, I feel like I've really accomplished something. I flick through the paperback copies, reading snippets, admiring the covers. I feel pretty proud of what I've done. Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh is coming up on a year since its release, and do you want to know something? I haven't read it since I proofed the galleys. Yeah, I'm serious! I'm thinking I should probably read it sometime, to see what the fuss is all about! LOL.
So I'm wondering; do you read your own books once they are published? Or, since you know the book so well, do you just set it aside?

And, if you missed it, I talked with Kori from Back Porch Writer on Tuesday. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/1eow8lJ

Guest Post: Mara’s Do’s and Don’ts for Self-Publishing

I am just a few days shy of my 6 month publishing anniversary, and to honor the occasion (that I only just realized was coming up), I thought I might share some of the lessons I have learned since hitting the publish button myself on Heirs of War.

Do dare enough to believe in yourself as a writer and in your story. If you don’t, why should anyone else? Self-publishing can be the scariest thing you do as a writer. You are skipping the validation that comes with being accepted by an agent or publisher, and essentially sticking your neck out there and onto the literary chopping block of book critics everywhere. Don’t just think you have a good story, believe it. But…

Don’t be so headstrong that you won’t listen to the advice or critiques of others, especially those who are more experienced than you. You don’t have to take everyone’s advice that gives it, but be willing to listen with an open mind and really evaluate whether or not that advice is for you.

Do be prepared to spend money on things like cover art and editing. Creating a professional package is worth the wait to get the dough to do it. I’ve had books come across my review list that have never seen the glorious red ink of an editor’s pen, and it is obvious. And as much as we all like to say “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” a lot of people do. Professional editing and cover art will help you sell your book. The opposite won’t.

Don’t go broke with things like marketing or using services that say they will help you self-publish your book. First of all, you can do most things with self-publishing on your own and probably for the same price (or cheaper). Do your research on these places first before you give them your cash. I’ve heard some heartbreaking horror stories. As for marketing, the absolute best thing you can do is write another book. You’ve probably heard that already, and it is true.

Do be prepared to see very little in sales for your first book. We can’t all be Amanda Hocking, though that would be awesome. Be patient, and above all else…

Don’t be discouraged by a lack of sales. For my first book, I sell about five copies max per month. And you know what? I am good with that. To me, that is a success because this is my first book.

Do be prepared to give away your first book in order to get readers, but…

Don’t go crazy with it. My husband will tell you that I do. And yeah, I probably do. But I love my readers and I love giving them stuff. I plan to limit the freebie books to just the first in this series, though, which is what I would recommend. I will still give away the other books in the series sometimes, but it will be very special when I do.

Do be prepared to be actively involved in social media, but…

Don’t spam people about your books. Build real connections. Get to know your readers. Some of my readers have become fast friends of mine. I find (not so shockingly) that I have a lot in common with them, and they enjoy the silly fangirl stuff I post, and I enjoy their posts too. Connect with other writers and with book bloggers. One thing that is great about the indie community is that it is a community. Support your fellow indie authors, befriend your readers and book bloggers, and you will be surprised how much of that you get in return when you need it. But please, be genuine. It is easy to tell when someone isn’t.

Do share what you learn on your journey to self-publishing and after, but…

Don’t get overly-preachy, and know when to stop, which is what I am going to do now.
What about you? What are some of the lessons you have learned with publishing (traditional or indie), or that you hope writers will learn before self-publishing or querying?
Bio:
Mara Valderran has worn many different artistic hats throughout her life. She has dabbled in screenwriting, plucked guitars and basses, toyed with singing, retired from acting, and drawn some pretty mean stick figures in her time. However, writing books seems to fit her best as she finds nothing more fulfilling than creating worlds and characters she can lose herself in.
Mara is an avid reader and book blogger. Her first full length novel, Heirs of War, was featured on Wattpad with over 500k reads, and her short story “The Austenation” will be featured in the upcoming Borderlands anthology by Curiosity Quills. The second book in the Heirs of War series will be published in 2014.

Mara is more than just a madwoman with a writing box. She lives in the south with her husband and demanding cat. She hopes to one day meet Daniel Jackson from SG1, or at least the actor who played him. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing video games, or spending time at her favorite local coffee shop.       
www.maravalderran.comGoodreads  Amazon  Barnes & Noble  Kobo

Release: Daegan (The Age of Alandria: A Companion Novella) by Morgan Wylie

There's a NEW RELEASE in The Age of Alandria series!!

Daegan (The Age of Alandria: A Companion Novella) is finally here! It features one of our favorite Faerie warriors. Digging into his past, I hope you get a better understanding of who he is and why he is the way he is. You will also see more from good looking, fun, and playful Halister and his sister Rheina--you might even get a greater picture of her place in this story. There's also bonus material about the realm of Alandria, the darkness that's stirring, and how Daegan came to be in the Dryad Priestess Andreinna's favor that you don't want to miss!!

Blurb:
Everyone has a story, and Daegan's began with darkness...
As a child, Daegan Waethní witnessed the murder of both his parents. He buried the tragedy in the past, desperate to forget, but the past seems to be haunting him from the Beyond.  Now he is an Elite in the royal guard for the Paladin, the rulers of Feraánmar. A loyal Ferrishyn Faerie warrior, he battles the darkness that is once again stirring in Alandria.
Things are not what they seem in Alandria, and Daegan must find light before the darkness consumes himself and all he cares about. Against his will, the darkness is using him to destroy his own people. Daegan is determined to fight it with all that he is, but will it be too late? And if he can’t stop it, who will he hurt next?

Buy: AmazonAdd to Goodreads
~~~Also in The Age of Alandria Series~~~
Silent Orchids (Book One) FREE
Blurb:A dying realm.
The ancient evil of the Droch-Shúil has been unleashed.
The Orchids have been silenced… but for how long?
Daegan, elite of the Ferrishyn warrior tribe of Faeries, is charged with a mission to find the Sol-lumieth, a mysterious new power that could change the fate of all in the realm of Alandria. But he is conflicted by his purpose, and he cannot trust the motives of those he serves. He has too many questions and they must be answered.
Kaeleigh, a girl abandoned as a small child just outside Missoula, Montana, is now 18. She is trying to discover who she is and where she belongs. In her heart, she feels she has family out there… somewhere. Desperate to unravel the mysteries of her past, she embarks on a journey that will forever change her along with her two best friends, Finn and Chel—who have secrets of their own.Amazon   Barnes&Noble   Smashwords   Kobo   iTunes   

Veiled Shadows (Book Two) On SALE for 99CENTS! (price may have changed)
Blurb:
Shadows linger where light is obstructed, and truth is veiled.
Evil is an untreated disease in the once beautiful realm of Alandria.
Kaeleigh is faced with a revelation that she must reconcile. She will decide if discovering the truth is worth the unknown consequences to both herself and her friends.
Daegan, the Ferrishyn warrior, is conflicted by more than his loyalties, and is confronted with emotions he doesn’t know how to deal with. A choice must be made. A choice… that may cost him more than he ever wanted to give.
The Droch-Shúil—enforcers and servants of the ancient darkness—continue to cast their shadow over Alandria seeking those who can be turned to their side.
The magic of The Orchids is growing, but not everyone will survive what is to come.
Veiled Shadows is the second installment in The Age of Alandria series: the story of the Sol-lumieth’s quest for freedom of self and the power to battle the evil of the Droch-Shúil. Buy links:  Amazon   Barnes and Noble     Kobo     Smashwords    

About the Author:

Morgan Wylie, originally from the Pacific Northwest, now resides near Nashville, TN with her husband and daughter. She and her husband work everyday at their individual and combined creative pursuits while she learns to balance being “Mama”, wife, and mediator to the many voices and muses constantly chattering in her head.
You can find her and news on her books at the following:
MorganWylie.netMorganWylieBooks on Facebook@MWylieBooks on TwitterInfo@MorganWylie.net EmailGoodreads and Amazon(Author Bio)