Merrie Destefano's Blog, page 4

Waiting for Midnight available for FREE download

I wanted to share some cool news today.

It’s been awhile since my most recent book— Feast: Harvest of Dreams —released, so I put together a compilation of science fiction and fantasy short stories. Titled WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT , the anthology is approximately 70 pages long, contains 16 speculative fiction short stories and normally costs $2.99 on Amazon.



Here comes the really good part:

For the next two days, WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT, is available for FREE KINDLE DOWNLOAD.

[YAY!]

If you stop by and check out the Amazon page, I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider Liking the book, and possibly sharing it on Facebook, Twitter,or Pinterest, as well. There's a section for social media sharing on the right side of the page, just below where you purchase the book. And, of course, if you download the book, I’d love it if you would post an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

PLEASE NOTE: The book is only available for free download for two days: Monday, June 18 and Tuesday, June 19.

MEANWHILE, HAPPY SUMMER READING!!!

Some cool reviews that I heart

Both FEAST and WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT have gotten some cool reviews recently. (Yay! And a big thanks to all you folks out there who take the time to review the books you read. You rock!)



Feast: Harvest of Dreams received a lovely review by So I Read This Book.

Here are a few snippets from that review:

This is a typical urban fantasy cover but this is not an urban fantasy.  Instead it's a lyrical, darkly magical tale that feels almost like a fairytale...Merrie Destefano has created a mythology that is fresh yet feels like some distant story you've heard long ago. There is a spooky quality to this book that is quite effective and the writing is evocative and at times, even lovely...

Destefano's Darklings are a bit creepy and, yet, enticing. I wouldn't call them sexy but there is something seductive about them all the same. They can change shape and wield magic plus they feed on the dreams of humans.  

What makes this tale stand out is the tone. There is a dreamy quality to this story that the best fairytales often have...Feast is an eerie, enchanting tale that is also a quick read.  It's a good book to snuggle up to on a crisp fall night.

And then I have some reviews of WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT, as well.



There's a very nice review of my ebook collection of short stories over at Mel's Random Reads.

Here's a snippet:

This is an intriguing collection of stories. There are some flash fictions which are very short but do tend to raise a question or two and leave you wondering. The longer stories though are more satisfying. My favourite is In The Garden which is a very different look at what happens in a garden and is a story I’ve been thinking about ever since. In fact I felt like that was a real strength of these stories – looking at something that was familiar but giving it a twist – like looking at the world in a mirror: everything is the same but reversed.

There are a couple of short stories set in the worlds Merrie has created in full length books which are interesting little insights into both world, but it’s not necessary to read the full length books to enjoy them. I was really intrigued by Letter For Home where in a short space of time Merrie has created an interesting science-fictional world in the vein of Blade Runner or the Culture novels and gave it some real emotional depth.

Merrie’s writing style is very lyrical and rich. It’s descriptive without labouring the point and full of detail. This anthology is a great sorbet between courses – refreshing, flavourful and palate cleaning!

Recommended for fans of Rachel Caine and Kelly Meding. 8 out of 10

And there was another cool review posted on Amazon by Becca. Here's a snippet of that one:

Waiting for Midnight by Merrie Destefano is my favorite collection of short stories that I've read. Each story was unique, was told well, and had a satisfying ending. The collection consists of six short stories, two stories told in three acts, and eight flash fiction stories.

"In the Garden" is probably my favorite story in Waiting for Midnight. It's told from an unusual point of view, but Merrie does an excellent job of getting the reader to identify with the main character. I was impressed with all the small details she thought of and the beauty and emotions she was able to evoke through her words. "In the Garden" explores life, death, and love from a new perspective, and it will really stick with you.

"Afterlife: Chasing Spring-Heeled Jack" is about Chaz from Merrie's book Afterlife: The Resurrection Chronicles. It takes place in a future world where people can download into new bodies when they die. The world is well developed, with its own slang, laws, and technology. Despite all the new concepts and terms, it's easy to follow what's happening and get sucked into this fascinating, dangerous world.

"Feast: Learning to Hunt" is about the character Ash from Merrie's book Feast: Harvest of Dreams. This story was another favorite of mine. I've found the Darklings from the book fascinating, so it was fun to be able to see more of their lives and how they work. In this story, Ash learns from his father how to hunt in seventeenth-century Amsterdam. The writing is beautiful and feels like the magic inherent in this story.

"Letters from Home" contains some of the most imaginative settings, characters, and situations in this collection. I loved all the unique ideas Merrie came up with for this story and she did a great job of describing everything and painting a clear picture in my mind. It's a touching story of how far a mother's love will go for her errant child.

"Waiting for Midnight" is a ghost story but not in the creepy sense. It has more of a wild, magical feel to it. It explores themes like passion and obsession and what comes of them. The imagery Merrie used in this story is lovely and vivid.

"Charlie Brown Doesn't Live Here Anymore" is the first of the stories told in three acts. It's a light-hearted, funny tale of a dog and a coyote shown from the animals' perspective.

Each of these stories is strong and draws the reader into its world and characters. They're filled with beauty, magic, and emotion, and they all feature relatable characters, intricate settings, and satisfying—or intriguing—endings. If you're looking for something that will immerse you in stories that capture your imagination, I recommend Waiting for Midnight.

Waiting on Wednesday: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Today I'm featuring a book that I can't wait to read. And I've been waiting. For. A. Very. Long. Time.

Mind Games
By Kiersten White
Publication Date: February 19, 2013

TEASER COPY FROM INSIDE COVER FLAP:

Two sisters, bound by impossible choices, are determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

James's frozen face melts into a smile. “You want to know the trick to getting in trouble under the watchful eye of a psychic?”

I think of the nailed–shut windows. I think of Clarice. I think of the two, the two, the two who are now zero. Tap tap. “Yes, I absolutely do.”

“Don't plan it. Don't even think about it. The second you get an inkling of what you could do, do it then. Never plan anything ahead of time. Always go on pure instinct.”

I smile.







And here's a blurb from Laini Taylor:

“You might think you know Kiersten White, but here is a darker, more dangerous Kiersten White. A sharp, heart-wrenching, lightning-fast, and fabulously fun read in which twining narratives weave a trap around two extraordinary sisters. Fia may be the angriest narrator I’ve ever loved. I bet you will too.”

—Laini Taylor, author of Daughter of Smoke & Bone and National Book Award finalist Lips Touch, Three Times

Gorgeous covers: Heather Burch's Halfling series continues

When I first saw the cover for Heather Burch's debut novel, Halflings, I thought WOW. What a gorgeous cover and what an awesome concept.

Here's some info about the first book in the series:

Hunted by men and demons ...

Seventeen-year-old Nikki must entrust her life to three half human, half angel young men; the Halflings are sworn to protect her at all costs, but when two fall for Nikki, it puts more than their lives in danger; their very eternal souls hang in the balance.

Cool, right?

And here's the cover:



Now I must confess, when I first saw that Halfling cover I thought, no way are they going to be able to top that. But apparently I was wrong… Here are the covers for Book 2 and Book 3 in the series:


Book 2: Guardian, coming October 2012


Book 3: Avenger, coming April 2013

Can't wait for either of the sequels to Halflings? There's a free e-book coming out later this month, called A Halfling’s Rescue:



For more info on Heather’s books check out this site.

I've been waiting for this for a year!

I attended a panel at Comic Con last year that had all of the main actors from this movie in it. Ever since then, I've been waiting. And waiting. And waiting.

And now I can finally go see Snow White and The Huntsman. YAY!

Something really cute and viral and, yes, it includes a SLOTH

This is the cutest video ever!

Contest Winner, FREE short story, plus info about my new ebook, Waiting For Midnight

So many things to share today, I'm not sure where to start. How about announcing the winner of a contest I had running last week?

CONTEST WINNER AND DETAILS:
Last week, I ran a contest for a $25 Amazon gift certificate. The winner was chosen using random.org and the winner is....

TEZ MILLER!!

Congrats, Tez! I'll be contacting you later today with prize details.

And a heartfelt thank you to all the people who posted comments last week. You all rock!

But wait, I have more news to share:

My ebook anthology, WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT, is now available for purchase. Eeeeek! I thought it was going to take me longer to format the book than it did, so the book is finished surprisingly early. Sometime soon, I'll share details on how I self-published this ebook, so if you're hoping to do one too, maybe that post will help.



WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT is approximately 70 pages long, contains 16 speculative fiction short stories and, right now, is exclusively available on Amazon for .99. Here's a LINK to where you can purchase the book.

If you do happen to check out the Amazon page, I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider Liking the book, and possibly sharing it on Facebook, Twitter,or Pinterest, as well. There's a section for social media sharing on the right side of the page, just below where you purchase the book.

And yet, there's still One More Cool Thing:

HERE'S A FREE SHORT STORY FROM WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT:

DOG BOY

DURING THE DAY, HE SLEPT amidst rubble and grass, hidden from view, partially because his skin was now the color of dirt. During the evenings, he would creep out, sometimes on all fours—until he knew it was safe. Then he would scamper about beneath the stars and a crescent moon, his limbs lean and his clothes ragged. We all did our best to ignore him. We called him the Perro Muchacho. Dog Boy. He ran with the wild dogs and that name seemed to fit him.

I watched him with a cautious eye, fearful of the magic that I knew trailed after him. It coiled like a snake in the shadows, dangerous, forbidden. He stole from my trash and I would chase him away. I’d toss small stones in his direction, careful not to come too close, although I know for certain that I struck him once. For after that he kept a distance from me.

His hair stuck out in thick tufts, never combed or washed. His shirt had lost its color and its sleeves were gone, and I often wondered if he shivered while he tried to sleep. One night, when he and his pack of stray dogs were off prowling through alleys and along the riverbed, I crept out to his hiding place. I found a few toys lying about—a ragged, lopsided rabbit, most of the stuffing gone; a small truck, the paint almost completely worn off. There, I left an old blanket. And a Bible. I doubted that he could read, but I knew that if he could walk on two legs, then he had a soul.

And there was no doubt in my mind that he needed saving.

I ran my fingers over my rosary as I hobbled back to my house, the stucco white as bone. A prayer whispered over my lips as I hailed one saint after another, searching for one that could save a creature like him. I tried and found none, so in the end, I merely repeated the same words over and over, as each bead slipped through my fingers.

Help him, please, help him, please.
Before the moon swallows the sky.

She was growing above me, even as I hunched over broken cobblestones. She was eating stars and growing more bloated with each and every bite. In a few days, she would be full.

I didn’t want to see what would happen then to Dog Boy. I didn’t want him to come to my house and scratch claws across the lattice on my windows. Didn’t want to hear the cries that would no longer sound human.
For some reason, when the moon has swallowed the sky, on that same day, the sun grows weak. He hides, as if terrified, behind mountain peaks and clouds. His face refuses to reflect in the river water. He turns into an old, weak man. His steps across the heavens falter, as if he could plummet from the sky and burn up the sea, turn the world into a land of mist and shadow.

That was how he looked today.

Meanwhile, I saw the boy, awake, playing in the long grass, his hair blowing in the wind, his cheeks ruddy, the dust stirring around him in a thick cloud. He ran from one edge of the wilderness to the other, no longer afraid to be seen. All around him, his furry companions loped, mouths open wide in toothy grins, paws jumping up and down. They whined and yipped, tails wagging.

They knew his secret.

He paused, when the wind grew calm, as the sun slid behind the church bell tower, and he looked at me. A smile creased his dirty face and he cocked his head. I realized then that he had made a sling and was carrying the Bible like a talisman. A strap of old cloth hung across one shoulder, then widened to form a pouch that draped in the crescent of his narrow back. When he moved, I could see the glint of gold-edged pages and the gnarled black crust of leather binding.

I wondered if he ever opened it. If he even looked at the pictures. You can tell a lot from the illustrations. The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, the exodus of Moses from Egypt, the ark of Noah with all the animals. Although, without the words or someone to tell him the stories—

He was just another beast.

Still I could see the spark of intelligence in his eyes. And despite his wild nature, there was no evil streak. Not like Jose, who beat his wife twice a week. Not like Manuel, who took his wages in tequila and let his children grow weak from hunger.

I knew all the secrets of this little village, was forced to listen to them every Sunday morning. Then grant forgiveness. My fingers ran over my rosary again, words familiar and sweet pursing my lips. I watched the boy then as he turned and dashed off into the nearby forest, knowing it was just as well.

If he disappeared, then none of us would see him when he turned.

And none of us, me especially, would be responsible.

•

A wind like fire blew through the hills, scorched the edge of our village the moment the moon revealed herself. Silver light spilled down narrow streets, turned everything and everyone white hot and still. All doors swung shut and curtains were drawn across open windows, a rabid hush of Hail Marys and Our Fathers murmured while chairs rocked and shoulders bowed.

I cracked my back door open, slipped outside without a sound, my bare feet padding over a dirt trail that led toward the wildwood and the river. Somewhere along the way, my rosary slipped from my fingers and tangled on the ground, but I did not stop. Every bone in my body ached as I moved, my muscles weary of this journey. I felt a tremor in my leg as I descended the river bank, as I moved closer to the rippling water. All I wanted was to immerse myself in the cool reflection of that damned, swollen moon. My robes fell away and I was waist deep in the sluggish current, fingers trailing behind me. Spasms wrenched my arms, twisted them back and forth and for a moment, I wondered if maybe this time I would fall headlong into the water and drown.

Part of me wished it to be true.

Death can be a good companion, if you are ready for him, when he comes.

My left foot slipped and I tumbled to my knees, up to my chin in blue-back water. That was when I heard him behind me. I turned my head and saw Dog Boy on the river bank, his head cocked as though he were afraid for me.

“Padre,” he said, his voice timid.

I waved a hand at him, wishing he would scoot away, deeper into the shadows where he belonged. He had changed, as I suspected he would, but it was amazing that he could still speak.
His arms and legs and back were covered in thick matted fur and his spine arched wide. Soon he would be down on all fours and his nose would grow long, his teeth jagged. But right now he was somewhere in between boy and wolf.

He took a step toward me, concern in his eyes. Behind him, his pack growled and howled. They knew me better than he did.

My own limbs snapped and cracked, my transition nothing like it was when I was younger. Every bit of it as if my bones were being ground into powder. Only the touch of the water on my flesh and the silver light of the moon seemed to offer any release from the pain. I stumbled back toward the shore, temporarily able to balance myself on two legs, although by the time I reached shallow water, I had fallen down on all four.

Paws where hands had once been, a long snout instead of a nose.

A low growl sounded in my throat as Dog Boy approached.

He recognized me now, of course he did. My scent was like his own. He was the seed of my sin and part of me hoped that he had learned the secrets from the book I had given him. Right now I couldn’t remember what they were, only that they were very important.

Then I vaulted into a stiff run, paws grasping muddy river bank, pulling myself up toward the shelter of wooded shadow. Dog Boy recognized the look in my eyes just then, a moment too late perhaps. He turned and bounded away from me.

I stopped to howl at my mistress, the moon, at the same time, giving my son a head start.
Then I gave him chase that would last all night or longer if necessary, not stopping until one of us was dead. Part of me hoping that this would be my last hunt and that this child would be strong enough to finally end my curse.

Remembering those who died serving our country

This photo brings tears to my eyes.

Book Review: Shadow And Bone by Leigh Bardugo

AKA The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book:

For the past several months, I've been part of a book-lending tour de force. A group of authors, myself included, have waited patiently as a single ARC of Shadow And Bone made its way from one of us to another. I waited. And I waited. I tried to be patient, but it was really, really hard. As time passed, I heard more and more people on Twitter and Goodreads and blogs raving about this book—which still hadn't made its way to my mailbox.

Then, the day finally came.


Shadow And Bone was in my mailbox. No, it was in my hands. Pages were being turned and the rest of the world became dull and quiet. I was immediately transported to a far away land, like Russia but then again not like Russia. I have missionary friends who lived in Moscow for a long time and they would come home every year with stories that made me long to see the country for myself. Bardugo's Ravka should not be confused with modern-day Russia and I think it's important for readers to realize this going into the book. The author has created something like Russia, but even richer because of its added fantasy elements. The setting reminds me a bit of the 18th century, mainly because of the means of transportation and clothing—and oh, please don't get me started on the clothing. I could go on for pages about Bardugo's lovely descriptions of the wardrobes, the landscapes, the magic...and the romance.

This is epic fantasy, after all. Something we don't get to read that much anymore, unless we're reading something written 15 years ago.

One of things that impressed me most about this book was its artistic nature.


There is the beautiful cover, the amazing map, the gorgeous chapter headings and details on every page. I was an artist for many years and studied fine art in college, so I always notice when something is finely crafted. And this book is. But I'm not just talking about the publishing technique. I'm talking about the writing too.

The novel is bookended by two chapters written in omniscient POV, and the style has an almost fairy tale quality to it. From the first page, I was hooked. Then, when you get to the first chapter, the story is now being told in first person, from the viewpoint of Alina Starkov. Here again, we get another artistic nod when we discover that Alina is a cartographer. It's her job to draw sketches of the landscape as she travels with a large military regiment, all of them heading toward the dark, mysterious Shadow Fold that now divides the country of Ravka, separating those who live inland from the coast.

I don't want to say too much about the story itself. You have the synopsis below. But I must tell you, there is a major plot twist, combined with a surprising character reveal that will both surprise and, if you're like me, terrify you. You'll suddenly be on the edge of your seat, gripping the book with white-knuckled hands. And at that point the feeling that you were in a safe carriage, traveling across a lush foreign landscape will vanish.

You'll feel like the horses have run off, the driver's been shot and you and the carriage are now careening down a mountainside, completely out of control.

There will be an example of evil, so seductive and deceiving and, at the same time, completely believable, that it will astonish you. Then, hopefully you'll realize that this is what evil truly is. To me, as a reader, this depiction of true darkness is what makes this book so brilliant. Bardugo isn't just telling a pretty story about a teenage girl with a surprising ability. She's telling a metaphoric tale about our daily battle against the evil that surrounds us and threatens to overwhelm us. She's honest about the fact that we will make mistakes, but there will always be the possibility for redemption. And even though we stumble, we should never give up fighting the good fight.

This is the type of book that will stay with you, long after you read it. You may read it quickly, because it has an almost intoxicating effect. But you will never forget it.

My verdict?

Shadow And Bone is a five star, must-read.

And I can't wait for the next book in the series.

You can purchase the book here, here, here and here.


The lovely Leigh Bardugo:

Shadow And Bone synopsis:
Book One of the Grisha Trilogy
(Henry Holt/Macmillan)

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one unlikely refugee.Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.

Interior page of book, which delineates the three different categories of the Grisha, also known as Masters of Small Science:


AND I’m running a CONTEST this week.

RULES: Make a comment on any of this week’s posts, share a link on either Facebook, Twitter or your blog, and you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate from Amazon. Also, you must include your email address so I can contact the winner.

Cover reveal: Waiting for Midnight

Today I get to share something fun, a little side project I've been working on for the past couple of months. My first novel, AFTERLIFE , came out in September, 2010. My second novel, FEAST , released in June, 2011. It's been a while since I've had any new books or stories published.

So, I put together an ebook short story collection, titled WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT. And today I'm doing a cover reveal.

[Imagine a drum roll here...]


[Ta da! Slightly ominous, but lovely image of girl in forest temporarily captivates readers...]

WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT is scheduled to release next week on Kindle and, even though the ebook is approximately 70 pages long and contains 20,000 words, it will be reasonably priced at .99.

I put this anthology together with my readers in mind, creating several new tales, as well as carefully selecting and editing stories I've written over the years.

Full of plot twists and dark characters, this combination of speculative short stories and flash fiction will contain a ghost story, a werewolf story and a science fiction story, as well as two tales that feature characters from my novels, AFTERLIFE and FEAST .

Here's a little info about some of the stories included:

Set on an alien world, “Letters from Home” tells the tale of a mother’s love for her wayward son and the great lengths to which she’ll go to rescue him from another dimension.

“Learning to Hunt” features Ash, the Darkling dream-eater introduced in FEAST: Harvest of Dreams, as he explores seventeenth-century Amsterdam, where his father teaches him how to harvest dreams.

“Waiting for Midnight” explores that dangerous territory between first love and obsession, all set in Primrose Wood, a forest where dark magic rules.

-----------------------

I'll be sure to keep you posted when the book goes up on Amazon! Meanwhile, feel free to share the cover of WAITING FOR MIDNIGHT online. In fact, I'd appreciate it if you would! I would be forever grateful if you would consider sharing a link to this blog post, or copy and paste the book cover image onto your blog or Facebook page.

A quick note, my newsletter subscribers will get to read one of the short stories FREE, before anyone else. And there's still time to sign up before the newsletter goes out.

And, a brief reminder:

TOMORROW: I'll be doing a book review for SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo.

AND I’m running a CONTEST this week.

RULES: Make a comment on any of this week’s posts, share a link on either Facebook, Twitter or your blog, and you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate from Amazon. Also, you must include your email address so I can contact the winner.