Nessie Strange's Blog, page 3
October 7, 2015
Book two of the Hot Model Mine trilogy is finally h...
Book two of the Hot Model Mine trilogy is finally here! Did you wonder what happened to erotic romance author Andrea and her irresistible cover model, Yushka, after the conference in Cannes? In book one, The Perfect Shoot, things were complicated for the couple. He was much younger than her—practically the same age as her twins—and she'd spent half her life without a man. After much reflection, she ended up giving into her desire and taking Mr. Hot Model for lover. But what then after they traveled back to their separate lives? Wait no more: They're here to tell the continuation of their sizzling love story :)
BLURB:The writing conference in sunny Cannes was fantastical, a dream. Back at home, reality catches up with author Andrea Johnson and the sexy cover model of her book, Yushka. With tough working schedules, challenging family relations, and seductive temptation from all sides, the couple’s explosive romance is put to the test. Will their love be strong enough to have a future?
BOOK TRAILER:[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievwh...]
EXCERPT: While Yushka gets his duffel bag in the back seat, I lean against the side of the Corolla and stretch my arms on top of its roof. “You got everything?”
“Yeah.” He lifts the bag over his shoulder and tilts his head in direction of the front door. “We good to go?”My pulse beats a little faster at the thought of him dropping that bag on my bedroom floor and lifting me in his arms instead. I’m so excited to be with him, I simmer inside, aching to touch and hold him. I want to have all of him at once, right now. A spark of amusement plays in his gorgeous Asian eyes as he waits for me to make a move. “What’s on your mind, Princess?”Holding his gaze, I smile, my fingers tapping a beat on the car hood to buy some time because I don’t know what to reply. I have a feeling whatever might come out of my mouth now, like I can’t wait to rip those clothes off you or I’m going to make you scream, will sound too cheesy. Why do we need to put our attraction into words, anyway? Once we’re home, there’ll be no reason to talk that much. We’ll do the talking with our more-than-capable hands and … um … mouths. I tap a quick rap before stepping back from the car. “Come on.”“Okay.” Widening his smile, he follows me to the front entrance. I unlock and push the wood door open. “I hope your bag’s not too heavy. The elevator doesn’t work.”“When are they gonna fix it?”“Huh, good question.” I step forward, but when in the doorway, I spin to hold the door open for him. “I have no idea.”“No?” With a raised brow, he passes me. Just then, I move toward him, chest-to-chest, blocking him and his thick bag between myself and the doorframe.“Oh!” He laughs.As the door pushes into my back, squeezing me tighter against him, I put my hands on his waist. First above his clothes––the thick leather jacket and his shirt––then sneaking underneath both of them, my fingers splaying on his warm skin and stroking him. Completely stuck, he tilts his head and stares into my eyes, his own sparkling with playfulness. “What are you up to?”“You have a problem?” I move my hands out from beneath his shirt and go downward to palm his tight ass cheeks, pulling his crotch to me. My lower stomach and increasingly heating inner thighs seek to meet his. I want to be so near him he’ll feel my lust, and I want his lust to grow, too. I need us to join and be a match, a melting pot of desire, irresistible and untamable.“I have to bribe you?” he asks, voice lower, and leans down to kiss me. How did he guess? At the warm touch of his parted lips, delight rushes through me as if I’d had a shot of alcohol. He retreats his face a few inches, enough to have a view of what he just kissed. “This good enough for you?” His voice comes out husky, a bit short of breath. With his free hand, he strokes and kneads my butt. “One more,” I mouth with the next exhale of air. Though the door bores painfully into my back, I don’t want to move, loving the feel of being so close to Yushka, so intimate. It’s amazing how instantaneous and intense our connection is. Just wait till we get our clothes off.Again, his warm lips land on mine, and we kiss greedily, nose-to-nose, wet tongues playing with each other. My inner pussy muscles clench, remembering too well what it’s like to have his cock inside. I breathe faster. A growing hardness in his crotch presses against me, provoking more tightening. Oh, God. Hot wetness glides down my pussy, wetting my panties. So ready, so soon… I mew into his mouth, and he rewards me with a guttural response, our mouths practically eating each other. But this isn’t the right place. We need to move and play this torturous game and its grand finale somewhere else. Releasing his lips, I gasp from our separation, but still manage to pull away. “Fuck, you’re hot.” He inhales deeply and looks up, feverish eyes widening and trying to refocus. As I step backward, forcing the door to open again, cold evening air sneaks between our heated bodies. “Let’s go,” I say with a croak, my chest heaving.He gives a small nod and steps inside the low-lit lobby.
WHERE TO FIND MINE TO LOVE:Evernight | Amazon.com | Amazon.uk | All Romance eBooks | Bookstrand | Smashwords | iTunes Add the book to your Goodreads list, and check out my inspiration on Pinterest! Would you like to read the first book, The Perfect Shoot? You can find it here.
AUTHOR BIO:
I like my reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strive to give my own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with my debut novel Wild Hearted, I divide my writing time between psychological thriller, suspense romance, and erotic contemporary romance. I love to hear from my readers! Write to leabronsen@yahoo.com or meet me on: Website | Lea's Crazy Nights Blog | Facebook profile | Facebook page | Twitter | Amazon
October 6, 2015
Teaser Tuesday 10-6-2015
Title: Mastered By My Guardian Author: Opal Carew Genre: Erotic Romance Release Date: September 22, 2015
Website | Facebook | Twitter | NewsletterAmazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords
Title: Lily In Bloom Author: Tammy Andresen Genre: Historical Romance Release Date: September 29, 2015
Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodreadsAmazon | Amazon UK | iBooks | B&N |
Title: Confessions of a Punk Rocker Author: Nessie Strange Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Release Date: September 25, 2015Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodreadsAmazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks 
September 23, 2015
Confessions of a Punk Rocker will be here on Friday
The dead should stay dead...
Jack Norris has just lost his best friend—who also happened to be his band's drummer—to a drunk driving accident. As he struggles to deal with the band's uncertain future and his own personal demons, those issues soon become unimportant. His dead friend has come back. And he's not showing any signs of going away. Questioning his own sanity, Jack finds his life spiraling out of control. But when a new acquaintance not only hooks him up with a drummer, but promises to help get rid of his ghostly stalker, Jack's life does a one-eighty.
Drew MacLellan, the new drummer, is more than just a new set of sticks—he's the brother of the insanely hot Jen MacLellan, who's definitely not Jack's biggest fan. Jen is nothing like the women Jack's dated in the past, but the more he gets to know her, the deeper he falls. The only problem is she's got a boyfriend. Caught between his growing attraction and the desire to do the right thing, Jack does everything he can to keep his distance. But the more he sees of her, the more he realizes he can't. He's determined to win Jen's heart, if only he can figure out how to help his dead friend rest in peace...permanently.
Add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads!
August 30, 2015
To Self-Publish or Not To Self-Publish...That is the Question
As I make steady progress on a current project, I've been mulling over what I want to do with it in the future. Do I want to submit to agents? Publishers? Do I want to self-publish? It's a difficult decision that I'm looking at from all the angles. Today, I'm looking at the self-publishing aspect and why it seems less and less likely I'll do it. At least, for now.
I have a number of writer friends who have done quite well for themselves in self-publishing. They've covered the bases with hiring cover artists and editors and put out books that could compete with any traditionally published book out there. I'm proud of them and their efforts and heartened to see that good old fashioned hard work can pay off. That self publishing finally has a growing segment of writers who take pride in their work and treat it like the business that it truly is. But is it for me? Is it really something I could pull off?
I'll be the first to admit, I'm not business minded. And while I love the idea of complete creative control, I loathe the idea of coordinating all the other stuff necessary to launch a successful self-published book. I'm not organized enough. Just the idea of it feels overwhelming. Now, I've already had a taste of the work involved as part of a self published anthology. That project had nine people. Nine people to discuss details, make decisions and spread out both the costs and the labor. I am only one.
And money? Yeah, that's another issue. It's damn expensive. I don't have the money necessary to afford a professional editor, cover artist, formatter and advertising. Hell, I can't even afford to adequately advertise my published books. But plenty of others self publish at little to no cost...that's what some of you are thinking, right? Here's the thing. To me, that doesn't fly. I don't care who you are and how good of a writer you are--you need an editor. And that cover you threw together with your basic Photoshop skills? It screams of amateur. No matter what your friends say, it's not good enough. I don't want to settle for good enough.
So many times I see writers discussing their self-published projects and it kills me how many still think it's adequate to just have a couple friends proofread your work before hitting publish. Or even worse, spellcheck. I've also seen advice given about searching the internet to find an image for your cover, and free stock photo sites (hello...image copyright anyone?). It boggles the mind how often I see writers just settle for one of these options--settling for 'just good enough' because they need to skimp on costs. That may fly for some people, but like I said, I don't want that.
If I'm going to do it, if I'm going to be taking the plunge and sticking my hat in the self-publishing ring, I'll be damn sure it's by paying professional people to do the things I can't. Because no matter how competent of a writer I am, I know I still need an editor. And no matter how good of an artist I am, I don't know jack shit about making book covers. And as much as I'd love to be able to pull a couple thousand dollars out of my rear end to make it all happen, I know that's not realistic. Not right now, anyway.
You may think, after this long winded post, that I've made up my mind. That I've talked myself out of it. The reality is, I haven't. I'm still open to the possibility. Love's Not Viral isn't yet complete, I have no time constraints beyond my own goals to get it finished. For now, I need to work on finishing the manuscript...but there it is, the stuff lurking in the back of my mind while I work.
I have a number of writer friends who have done quite well for themselves in self-publishing. They've covered the bases with hiring cover artists and editors and put out books that could compete with any traditionally published book out there. I'm proud of them and their efforts and heartened to see that good old fashioned hard work can pay off. That self publishing finally has a growing segment of writers who take pride in their work and treat it like the business that it truly is. But is it for me? Is it really something I could pull off?
I'll be the first to admit, I'm not business minded. And while I love the idea of complete creative control, I loathe the idea of coordinating all the other stuff necessary to launch a successful self-published book. I'm not organized enough. Just the idea of it feels overwhelming. Now, I've already had a taste of the work involved as part of a self published anthology. That project had nine people. Nine people to discuss details, make decisions and spread out both the costs and the labor. I am only one.
And money? Yeah, that's another issue. It's damn expensive. I don't have the money necessary to afford a professional editor, cover artist, formatter and advertising. Hell, I can't even afford to adequately advertise my published books. But plenty of others self publish at little to no cost...that's what some of you are thinking, right? Here's the thing. To me, that doesn't fly. I don't care who you are and how good of a writer you are--you need an editor. And that cover you threw together with your basic Photoshop skills? It screams of amateur. No matter what your friends say, it's not good enough. I don't want to settle for good enough.
So many times I see writers discussing their self-published projects and it kills me how many still think it's adequate to just have a couple friends proofread your work before hitting publish. Or even worse, spellcheck. I've also seen advice given about searching the internet to find an image for your cover, and free stock photo sites (hello...image copyright anyone?). It boggles the mind how often I see writers just settle for one of these options--settling for 'just good enough' because they need to skimp on costs. That may fly for some people, but like I said, I don't want that.
If I'm going to do it, if I'm going to be taking the plunge and sticking my hat in the self-publishing ring, I'll be damn sure it's by paying professional people to do the things I can't. Because no matter how competent of a writer I am, I know I still need an editor. And no matter how good of an artist I am, I don't know jack shit about making book covers. And as much as I'd love to be able to pull a couple thousand dollars out of my rear end to make it all happen, I know that's not realistic. Not right now, anyway.
You may think, after this long winded post, that I've made up my mind. That I've talked myself out of it. The reality is, I haven't. I'm still open to the possibility. Love's Not Viral isn't yet complete, I have no time constraints beyond my own goals to get it finished. For now, I need to work on finishing the manuscript...but there it is, the stuff lurking in the back of my mind while I work.
August 2, 2015
Writing updates and all
Yeah, I know. I don't post much on this blog anymore. I have a new website where I've been hoping to drive attention, so ye old Blogger site has been neglected. So I figured today, why the hell not just put something...right? :D
This is what's on tap for me right now:
Confessions of a Punk Rocker. This is Jack's POV story, beginning before and overlapping Living Dead Girl. It's part insane ghost story, part loss of friendship/realizing one's own mortality, and part boy meets girl...girl hates boy...boy wins girl's heart. Are you still with me? LOL. I struggled at times with this book because I didn't want it to simply be a rehash of Living Dead Girl from Jack's POV. So while there will be a handful of the same scenes that will be familiar to those who have read Living Dead Girl, there is a much broader story going on. You will see all the events that led up to Jack and Jen meeting, and to me it's the perfect example of how one chance meeting can change/impact a person's life as well as their path toward the future. In this story, that chance meeting comes much before Jack meets Jen and it's one continuous chain of events. But I'm rambling. So what can you expect (without me giving too much away)?
*Ethan and PJ will have key roles
*You'll see how Drew first connected with the band
*Unique insight into Jack's mind. This is another close POV novel (1st person)
This book has completed content edits and has been passed to copy edits. I will provide more details about release information, etc, so stay tuned.
Daughter of Fate and Misfortune: This is the actual book three in the series, as of yet un-contracted. I'm going to finish it before presenting to my publisher. I'm currently working on the first draft. As of now, this one will be only in Jen's POV. I haven't yet decided if there will be a portion from Jack's POV, like in Reaper Madness. But I will say this:
*The love triangle will grow deeper and more tangled.
*We will learn about Jen, Jack and Sam's origin (their original incarnations) and how all of this began.
*A couple more huge plot twists will be revealed. One involving their past, and one involving something that will happen in the future.
More information to come!!!
Love's Not Viral: The anthology this story was a part of, Love Least Expected, is now off sale. (We only offered for a limited 6 month window). Part of this is because many of the authors in the anthology have decided to expand their short stories into full length novels. Love's Not Viral is no exception. This is my first attempt at a non-paranormal/fantasy type romance. I'm over 40k words into the actual novel. I'd originally thought to begin my story after the short ended, when James and Aster reunite, but I've instead decided to make that a part of the story. Crazy actor brother will have a recurring role throughout the story after his initial involvement, and his presence will be a source of strain on their relationship. Aster and James will also be contending with how to cope with a whirlwind romance on the long term--that is, one that starts out passionate and moves quickly to something serious. Some big surprises in store for the two of them.
I'm not yet sure what I will do with this story. I have considered self-publishing as an option, but quite frankly, I'm not sure I'm ready for the enormous time and monetary commitment involved with putting that together. I may end up submitting to a publisher. At this point, it is up in the air, but I will keep everyone posted!
Thanks for checking in with me, and until next time, take care everyone!
This is what's on tap for me right now:
Confessions of a Punk Rocker. This is Jack's POV story, beginning before and overlapping Living Dead Girl. It's part insane ghost story, part loss of friendship/realizing one's own mortality, and part boy meets girl...girl hates boy...boy wins girl's heart. Are you still with me? LOL. I struggled at times with this book because I didn't want it to simply be a rehash of Living Dead Girl from Jack's POV. So while there will be a handful of the same scenes that will be familiar to those who have read Living Dead Girl, there is a much broader story going on. You will see all the events that led up to Jack and Jen meeting, and to me it's the perfect example of how one chance meeting can change/impact a person's life as well as their path toward the future. In this story, that chance meeting comes much before Jack meets Jen and it's one continuous chain of events. But I'm rambling. So what can you expect (without me giving too much away)?
*Ethan and PJ will have key roles
*You'll see how Drew first connected with the band
*Unique insight into Jack's mind. This is another close POV novel (1st person)
This book has completed content edits and has been passed to copy edits. I will provide more details about release information, etc, so stay tuned.
Daughter of Fate and Misfortune: This is the actual book three in the series, as of yet un-contracted. I'm going to finish it before presenting to my publisher. I'm currently working on the first draft. As of now, this one will be only in Jen's POV. I haven't yet decided if there will be a portion from Jack's POV, like in Reaper Madness. But I will say this:
*The love triangle will grow deeper and more tangled.
*We will learn about Jen, Jack and Sam's origin (their original incarnations) and how all of this began.
*A couple more huge plot twists will be revealed. One involving their past, and one involving something that will happen in the future.
More information to come!!!
Love's Not Viral: The anthology this story was a part of, Love Least Expected, is now off sale. (We only offered for a limited 6 month window). Part of this is because many of the authors in the anthology have decided to expand their short stories into full length novels. Love's Not Viral is no exception. This is my first attempt at a non-paranormal/fantasy type romance. I'm over 40k words into the actual novel. I'd originally thought to begin my story after the short ended, when James and Aster reunite, but I've instead decided to make that a part of the story. Crazy actor brother will have a recurring role throughout the story after his initial involvement, and his presence will be a source of strain on their relationship. Aster and James will also be contending with how to cope with a whirlwind romance on the long term--that is, one that starts out passionate and moves quickly to something serious. Some big surprises in store for the two of them.
I'm not yet sure what I will do with this story. I have considered self-publishing as an option, but quite frankly, I'm not sure I'm ready for the enormous time and monetary commitment involved with putting that together. I may end up submitting to a publisher. At this point, it is up in the air, but I will keep everyone posted!
Thanks for checking in with me, and until next time, take care everyone!
May 13, 2015
Blind Love by Kishan Paul Cover Reveal
Title: Blind LoveAuthor: Kishan PaulRelease Date: June 2, 2015Genre: Contemporary RomancePublisher: Samhain Publishing
She doesn’t need a hero. But a sexy Marine…that’ll work.At twenty nine, psychologist Lauren Baxter has a successful counseling practice. Since becoming legally blind at fifteen, her world has been a blurry mess of colors. Her greatest fear is also her ultimate reality. One day that fuzzy realm will forever turn black. Refusing to let blindness define her, she builds a life for herself with her dog, Jack Sparrow, and best friend, Sunny Daye.
Lauren has no tolerance for pity or for Superman swooshing down and rescuing her. She is capable of saving herself just fine. That is until Gabe, the great smelling, former Marine, from Texas moves in next door. Her attraction to him is immediate and, unfortunately for her, mutual.
When Lauren’s ex-husband shows up begging for another chance, she is confused and fragile. She also finds herself in the arms of her secretive neighbor. Little does she realize that her decision for a steamy roll in the hay with Gabe will suck her into his mysterious past, thrust her ex-husband back into her life, put her in the middle of a murder investigation, and place her life in danger.
Gabriel Briggs has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Short term flings are all he can afford for more reasons than one – reasons he never plans to share. Until he moves in next door to the beautiful, green eyed, feisty, Lauren. One night with her and he’s reconsidering promises he made almost a decade ago. When a woman from his past is murdered, his world is turned upside down. Secrets are revealed and innocent lives are threatened. Can Gabe win Lauren’s love and save her life before it’s too late?
Product Warnings: Contains a blind therapist who doesn’t consider herself impaired; a meddling, erotic-novel-writing best friend; a hot ex-Marine with a shady past; and a loyal guide dog that howls “I love you” and is probably the sanest one of the bunch.Available for pre-order May 3, 2015: Publisher: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5449/blind-love Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JQAu8M Blind Love Trailer: http://bit.ly/1JQAVju Join the Thunderclap for release day: http://bit.ly/1JQB06FJoin the Release Day Party on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1Eh9cAP
About the Author
From daring escapes by tough women to chivalrous men swooping in to save the day, the creativity switch to Kishan Paul’s brain is always in the “on” position. If daydreaming stories were a college course, Kish would have graduated with honors.Mother of two beautiful children, she has been married to her best friend for over seventeen years. With the help of supportive family and friends, she balances her family, a thriving counseling practice, and writing without sinking into insanity.
Her novella, Taking the Plunge, is currently available in the Love Least Expected Anthology on Amazon.
She can be found at:Website: http://kishanpaulauthor.netFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/KishanPaulAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/@kishan_paulPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kishanpaulTSU: https://www.tsu.co/kishanpaulAmazon: http://amzn.to/1JQBudd Sign up for her newsletter at: http://mad.ly/signups/119110/join
Rafflecopter: $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b6938c4231/
April 19, 2015
Thoughts on Book Piracy
So I recently came across a thread on a forum discussing where Living Dead Girl might be downloaded for free. It was kind of an odd, uncomfortable position to be in--witnessing a conversation I probably shouldn't be witnessing. I walked away with mixed feelings. After all, I've seen my books on pirate websites before. It's an unfortunate part of releasing material digitally that seems near impossible to combat. You shut down one site, another pops up. You get one torrent removed and three others pop up. Quite frankly, I don't have the time or money to try and keep up with it. I don't like the idea of my work being downloaded for free, but I don't feel like there's much I can do about it.
Seeing an actual conversation, though, kind of hit home a little harder. Unlike finding supposed links to free downloads on pirate sites, this was an individual actually discussing the act of trying to find my book free. An individual who obviously saw nothing wrong with the idea, or didn't care, which I imagine is the mindset of many people who seek out 'free' books/music/movies/etc. While I'm not convinced any of these people would actually buy my book if it was the only option available to get it, it still bothers me. Actually, it makes me sick.
See, every book represents hours and hours of work. Living Dead Girl took months--over a year if you count the time spent work-shopping, rewriting, polishing, submitting to agents and publishers, then editing once the contract was signed. It currently sells just a few copies a month. Nowhere near enough to compensate for all the time, effort and energy put into creating it. I'm not complaining about that. I'm still a relatively new author, trying to separate myself from the rest. This may take time. Maybe I haven't written the right book that will strike a chord with a larger group of readers. I'm not expecting overnight, bestseller success or millions of dollars. I just want to do what I enjoy doing, and maybe eventually make enough money that I can do it full time.
That said, to anyone considering downloading my books from one of these sites (and anyone who is adding my books to these sites), know this:
I'm not rich. I work a full time job that leaves very little time to write. It's a constant struggle to find quality writing time, and by that, I mean time where I'm not so exhausted my brain has become total mush. So when I actually complete a project? That's a HUGE deal for me. It means I sacrificed something else in my life to make it happen.
Living Dead Girl only costs $2.99 right now. For only slightly less you can buy a large coffee at Dunkin Donuts. For slightly more you can get a latte at Starbucks. Most people don't bat an eyelash at buying something that takes seconds to make and a few minutes to consume...then it's gone. So how do you justify seeking 'free downloads' for something that costs roughly the same as a cup of coffee? I don't get it. Maybe I'm not meant to.
I've given away many copies of my books, to both reviewers and contest winners. I have no problem doing this. If a person is kind enough to leave a review after, it's a huge bonus. That said, I do this with the understanding that my books will not be shared. Putting an e-book file on any site for free download is not the same as loaning out your paperback or selling it to a used book shop. It's not the same as checking out a book from a library. An e-book is a file that can be downloaded and shared an infinite amount of times.
What is book piracy? Plain and simple, it's stealing. It's telling an artist that their time and effort isn't worth paying for. As an artist, it's an unfortunate reality that just sucks.
Seeing an actual conversation, though, kind of hit home a little harder. Unlike finding supposed links to free downloads on pirate sites, this was an individual actually discussing the act of trying to find my book free. An individual who obviously saw nothing wrong with the idea, or didn't care, which I imagine is the mindset of many people who seek out 'free' books/music/movies/etc. While I'm not convinced any of these people would actually buy my book if it was the only option available to get it, it still bothers me. Actually, it makes me sick.
See, every book represents hours and hours of work. Living Dead Girl took months--over a year if you count the time spent work-shopping, rewriting, polishing, submitting to agents and publishers, then editing once the contract was signed. It currently sells just a few copies a month. Nowhere near enough to compensate for all the time, effort and energy put into creating it. I'm not complaining about that. I'm still a relatively new author, trying to separate myself from the rest. This may take time. Maybe I haven't written the right book that will strike a chord with a larger group of readers. I'm not expecting overnight, bestseller success or millions of dollars. I just want to do what I enjoy doing, and maybe eventually make enough money that I can do it full time.
That said, to anyone considering downloading my books from one of these sites (and anyone who is adding my books to these sites), know this:
I'm not rich. I work a full time job that leaves very little time to write. It's a constant struggle to find quality writing time, and by that, I mean time where I'm not so exhausted my brain has become total mush. So when I actually complete a project? That's a HUGE deal for me. It means I sacrificed something else in my life to make it happen.
Living Dead Girl only costs $2.99 right now. For only slightly less you can buy a large coffee at Dunkin Donuts. For slightly more you can get a latte at Starbucks. Most people don't bat an eyelash at buying something that takes seconds to make and a few minutes to consume...then it's gone. So how do you justify seeking 'free downloads' for something that costs roughly the same as a cup of coffee? I don't get it. Maybe I'm not meant to.
I've given away many copies of my books, to both reviewers and contest winners. I have no problem doing this. If a person is kind enough to leave a review after, it's a huge bonus. That said, I do this with the understanding that my books will not be shared. Putting an e-book file on any site for free download is not the same as loaning out your paperback or selling it to a used book shop. It's not the same as checking out a book from a library. An e-book is a file that can be downloaded and shared an infinite amount of times.
What is book piracy? Plain and simple, it's stealing. It's telling an artist that their time and effort isn't worth paying for. As an artist, it's an unfortunate reality that just sucks.
February 17, 2015
February 8, 2015
Valentine's Heat I--Four Stories, only $2.99
I participated in another anthology for Valentine's Day, which also released this past week. This one is all paranormal/urban fantasy type stories that are standalone, but also tied to existing series. My story Lost Soul, Lost Love stars Jen and Sam from my Living Dead World series. Have a look:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
All Romance eBooks
iTunes
Goodreads
“Heart’s Pride” by Ally Shields
The Guardian Witch Series
When their wedding is ruined by a werepanther attack, Katrina is left hospitalized and Blane is just...gone. But when he finally finds his way back to Riverdale, he learns he’s not the only one who’s been tracking Katrina...
“Lost Soul, Lost Love” by Nessie Strange
The Living Dead World Series
It’s Jen MacLellan’s first trip back to earth as a new reaper, and Mardi Gras is in full swing. When she happens upon Chip, a partier stuck in a perpetual 1983, Jen decides to help him find the woman he loves so he can move on. Assuming all goes well when he finds her...
“Red Dogs” by Keith Melton
The Zero Dog Mission Series
Mercenary pyromancer Andrea Walker has just saved the world from bloodthirsty hagworms and is late for her Valentine’s date with Jake. Until she hears that Jake has already left her house...with her...
“V-Day” by CL Bledsoe The Necro-Files Series
Daisy and her friends think going to a frat party on Valentine’s Day will be a fun, not-at-all-desperate Girls Night Out. What they don’t expect is to have Delilah’s succubus pheromones accidentally set off the apocalypse...
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
All Romance eBooks
iTunes
Goodreads
“Heart’s Pride” by Ally Shields
The Guardian Witch Series
When their wedding is ruined by a werepanther attack, Katrina is left hospitalized and Blane is just...gone. But when he finally finds his way back to Riverdale, he learns he’s not the only one who’s been tracking Katrina...
“Lost Soul, Lost Love” by Nessie Strange
The Living Dead World Series
It’s Jen MacLellan’s first trip back to earth as a new reaper, and Mardi Gras is in full swing. When she happens upon Chip, a partier stuck in a perpetual 1983, Jen decides to help him find the woman he loves so he can move on. Assuming all goes well when he finds her...
“Red Dogs” by Keith Melton
The Zero Dog Mission Series
Mercenary pyromancer Andrea Walker has just saved the world from bloodthirsty hagworms and is late for her Valentine’s date with Jake. Until she hears that Jake has already left her house...with her...
“V-Day” by CL Bledsoe The Necro-Files Series
Daisy and her friends think going to a frat party on Valentine’s Day will be a fun, not-at-all-desperate Girls Night Out. What they don’t expect is to have Delilah’s succubus pheromones accidentally set off the apocalypse...
February 2, 2015
Annabelle, Doll Wonder...
It's been a while since I've written up any type of movie review. As many of my friends and readers know, I'm a huge horror movie fan. In fact, I've seen so many it's hard to keep track. This can at times make me more critical--when you've seen enough, you start to see patterns, similarities, cliches and everything in-between and it can be a drag. So I probably didn't go into this one with a completely open mind, and I'll admit that *might* have added to my lack of enjoyment of this film.
For anyone not familiar, this is the movie in question. It's a prequel of sorts to the film the Conjuring (which was a decent film) and the story centers around a young couple and a haunted doll. (It is also extremely loosely inspired by a supposed real haunted doll in the care of paranormal researchers Ed & Lorraine Warren.)
First off, I think the filmmakers did too good of a job finding the creepiest doll possible.To the point I had a hard time believing anyone would actually want it...let alone believe a young husband would actually gift this thing to his pregnant wife. I was actually snickering when she opens the box and happily accepts it from him. Really? Really?
The movie itself plods along slowly and takes a while to get to any supernatural type stuff. In fact, a good portion of the story just centers around this young couple preparing for the birth of their first child. Which isn't necessarily a deal breaker, except for the fact that the haunted doll is supposed to be the main attraction. Instead, it's pretty much just creepy background scenery. Then, they're attacked by members of a satanic cult, and suddenly the movie morphs into a disjointed and sometimes confusing patchwork story of modern horror cinema.
All of these elements are introduced one after the other--a satanic cult, demonic possession, the entity is after the newborn baby, etc--leaving (at least with me) the feeling that there's a salesman waiting in the wings saying but wait, there's more!!! At some point I realized the movie was almost over and I didn't see how it could possibly be resolved in a satisfactory way without being rushed to a conclusion. The doll began to feel like a cheap gimmick, and I realized its presence didn't add anything to the story. It's simply a convenient vehicle for yet another 'satanic cult summons a demon that wreaks havoc on normal people' horror movie. And frankly, it just wasn't good enough for me to look past the familiar tropes.
For anyone not familiar, this is the movie in question. It's a prequel of sorts to the film the Conjuring (which was a decent film) and the story centers around a young couple and a haunted doll. (It is also extremely loosely inspired by a supposed real haunted doll in the care of paranormal researchers Ed & Lorraine Warren.)
First off, I think the filmmakers did too good of a job finding the creepiest doll possible.To the point I had a hard time believing anyone would actually want it...let alone believe a young husband would actually gift this thing to his pregnant wife. I was actually snickering when she opens the box and happily accepts it from him. Really? Really?
The movie itself plods along slowly and takes a while to get to any supernatural type stuff. In fact, a good portion of the story just centers around this young couple preparing for the birth of their first child. Which isn't necessarily a deal breaker, except for the fact that the haunted doll is supposed to be the main attraction. Instead, it's pretty much just creepy background scenery. Then, they're attacked by members of a satanic cult, and suddenly the movie morphs into a disjointed and sometimes confusing patchwork story of modern horror cinema.
All of these elements are introduced one after the other--a satanic cult, demonic possession, the entity is after the newborn baby, etc--leaving (at least with me) the feeling that there's a salesman waiting in the wings saying but wait, there's more!!! At some point I realized the movie was almost over and I didn't see how it could possibly be resolved in a satisfactory way without being rushed to a conclusion. The doll began to feel like a cheap gimmick, and I realized its presence didn't add anything to the story. It's simply a convenient vehicle for yet another 'satanic cult summons a demon that wreaks havoc on normal people' horror movie. And frankly, it just wasn't good enough for me to look past the familiar tropes.
