Megan Morgan's Blog, page 10
March 2, 2018
Soul Thing by Lana Pecherczyk
Today I’m hosting Lana Pecherczyk and her urban fantasy Soul Thing, book one of The Game of Gods. Lana is giving away an awesome prize package, so make sure to enter to win!
Fall in Love with Urban Fantasy Print Book Giveaway
To celebrate the relaunch of Soul Thing, the first book in the Game of Gods series, I’m hosting a giveaway!
I want you to fall in love with Urban Fantasy as much as I have, so I’m giving away the first in a series from my favorite UF authors – in old school print!
One lucky person will win:
A total of 11 real (touch them and faun over them on insta) books in total. The joy of starting a new amazing series is priceless!
A signed copy of Soul Thing by Lana Pecherczyk (me!).
Ten of my favorite Urban Fantasy first in a series, print books all with a mythological, gods, or evil spirits theme. These ten books are: Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane, First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones, Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead, Witches of the East by Melissa de la Cruz, MoonCalled by Patricia Briggs, Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews, Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison, Grave Witch by Kalayna Price, Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh, and Touch the Dark by Karen Chance.
Choose all the bonus options to gain yourself extra entries! Good luck.
ENTER TO WIN
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Soul Thing
The Game of Gods
Book One
Lana Pecherczyk
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Prism Press
Date of Publication: 20th February 2018
ASIN: B079FM8BF3
Number of pages: 379
Word Count: 101,989
Cover Artist: Lana Pecherczyk
Evolution is the Game, Witches are the Glitch
After a decade long war, witches have been obliterated, or so the world thinks. A precarious peace settles and, for the small town of Margaret River, life returns to normal, but for Roo, the hard work is just beginning.
Roo works at the local bar, is a little facetious and can’t wait to high-tail it out of there to keep her powers secret. She’s not certain where they came from but the last thing she wants is to be burned at the stake. Hiding in plain sight seems to work until Cash, a darkly handsome hunter, arrives with disaster in his wake. Witches aren’t defeated, only hidden, and there’s one gunning for Roo and her family. The recent war only touched the surface of the preternatural world and with Cash’s help, Roo learns there are worse things that go bump in the night… and she might be one of them.
Soon she must make a choice—risk exposure to save her loved ones, or remain hidden and safe. But sometimes safe isn’t an option. Sometimes safe is a never-ending game.
EXCERPT:
Sooner or later I had to stop feeling guilty about killing my mother. I had no memory of it, and I was a baby when it happened. As if I could control it. It was time I started thinking of myself.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, I thought as I curled my fingers into fists and punched the air. Now or never. I rounded the corner to the kitchen and planted my feet squarely in front of Aunt Lucy. “I’m moving out,” I blurted.
Aunt Lucy turned, eyes blinking. She wore colorless clothing to match her gray hair, and never used makeup. The only inspiring thing about her appearance was her glass bauble necklace. She pulled her arms out of the sudsy sink and tapped her gloved fingers on the porcelain bowl. The action sent baubles clinking and a tiny waft of lavender perfume floating my way. Deliberately, slowly, she removed her second skin, one finger at a time and then dabbed her hands with a tea towel. Despite her careful charade, thoughts collided behind her steely gaze.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said through gritted teeth.
I took a step back and darted a glance at my sister, Leila, as she sat at the grand table reading the newspaper. The ghost of a smile danced across her delicate features but she covered it with a sip of coffee, then turned the page, pointing to an article in an evasive gesture. “Oh, look at this one,” she said.
Ignoring her, I held up my key. “I’m not being ridiculous. Kitty’s leasing her apartment and I can move as soon as my probation is over. I’m half packed.”
Leila spat coffee everywhere and then grimaced at her accident. She slammed her mug down. “Now, look what you’ve made me do. I wish I had a normal sister.”
I snatched a towel from the rack and mopped up her mess. “Yeah, well I wish my sister didn’t hate my guts for something I can’t control—”
“Uh, uh. We’re not going there.” Aunt Lucy cut me off, raised a finger, and then turned her back on me to help Leila dry her precious clippings. “What did you find today, sweet-heart?”
My jaw dropped. I’d given her monumental news, and she’d turned her back on me.
“Look at this one.” Leila tapped an article. “The Church is recalling their latest safeguard against witch possession. Apparently, there was a faulty part in the device or something. It would be nice for them to get one invention right, don’t you think? And this one, see?” She held up another clipping. “The DNA test used to identify maleficent victims isn’t accurate because there haven’t been enough cases of possession over the last four years to benchmark—you know, since the Purge.”
“Tsk, tsk, such a shame.” Aunt Lucy rubbed Leila’s shoulder affectionately. “Never mind, sweet, it could be a good thing. Only a few possessions in four years isn’t bad. But just in case, we’ll continue to go to church like they told us. It’s worked so far, right? We’ve never seen a witch in town.”
Leila hummed in agreement.
I scowled at them. A woman moving out of home was not to be taken lightly. Witches attacked females—it had something to do with our higher estrogen levels—but like Leila said, since they’d burned half the female population in the Purge, there were few cases of possession. The world had relaxed and being a woman wasn’t so bad anymore.
I waved the key in the air. “Um hello? Did you hear what I said? I’m moving out.”
“You stubborn girl.” Aunt Lucy shook her head at me. “You’ll be labeled a whore, just like your friend. I should never let you have that job at that devil’s playground. It’s caused nothing but problems.” She pulled off her headband and threw it on the counter, releasing her gray hair from its captivity.
Did she just call Kitty a whore? Hang on—did she called me a whore?
“After all, I’ve done for you,” she continued. “I housed you when your father abandoned you, I put up with your criminal ways, I even let you get a job when there’s so much to do here at the vineyard. You’re going to throw it all in my face and leave a week before the food festival.” The tenacity of her words caused a coughing fit, she wheezed and spluttered into a quickly grasped tissue. The sour stench of smoker’s breath hit me moments before her pungent lavender perfume. I flinched and tried not to screw up my face. The bad-girl smoker habit was such a contrast to her drab, gray attire. Seriously, brush your teeth.
With shaky hands, she reached for a glass of water and took a sip. Aunt Lucy ran her boutique vineyard estate with an iron fist, but quit smoking? Impossible. She downed the water in gulps and held up a finger indicating the conversation wasn’t over. When she finished, she busied herself with drying the dishes. The muscles in her shoulders and neck grew rigid as she mulled over her next words. Finally, she picked up a spoon, and waved it at me. “That sin-bin you work at is just a lawsuit waiting to happen.” She opened the cutlery drawer and slammed the spoon in place. “I can’t believe it was allowed to open in the first place.”
Leila snorted in sympathy.
In an effort not to roll my eyes, I stared at the sparkling black and white checked floor. There she goes again, spouting her devil nonsense.
“The Cauldron,” I said, “is not a ‘sin-bin’ or a ‘devil’s playground.’ It’s a legitimate establishment where people can enjoy a drink or a meal, and learn about the history of witches.”
Leila laughed. “You can’t be serious, Roo. It’s a mockery; they poke fun at the myth, not teach the reality.” Her last words came through a clenched jaw and she shuddered.
It was true. The Cauldron was a clichéd, witch-themed bar. It resembled something from Halloween, and served cocktails like ‘The Holy Grail’ and ‘Brew to Forget.’ Taxidermy crows peered down at you as you ate, but it was harmless fun. And I felt at home there.
I shrugged. “If it makes people feel safe and confident they have one up on witches, who cares? I get paid, and all I have to do is serve drinks and look pretty with this thing hanging around my neck.” I flicked my slick UV-liquid filled probation collar. It made me special. “I’m accepted for who I am. Besides, it’s coming off in a few weeks and I’ll be free to do what I want. Everyone with opinions can bite me.”
6 Chapter Excerpt Available from Instafreebie until March 3rd 2018: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/TQCjA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
[image error]Lana Pecherczyk is a freckle-faced writer from Perth, Western Australia. She’s a fan of ‘pro-caffeinating’ and writes in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Basically if it’s got sexy heroes, thrilling action and a kick-ass heroine, you know she’ll write it because she loves reading it.
When she’s not writing the next great novel, or wrangling the rug rats, or rescuing GI Joe from the jaws of her Kelpie, she fights evil by moonlight, wins love by daylight and never runs from a real fight.
You can find her books on Amazon and other good online retailers.
WEB: http://www.lanapecherczyk.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/authorzoo
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/lansi26
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/lansi
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13693128
NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/dgd0pb
February 28, 2018
Monsters and Aliens
For the past few weeks, I’ve been doing a series of posts on the conflicts that can be found in a narrative. Today is the final one! Depending where you look, and whose advice you ask, there’s anywhere from 4-10 types of conflict that can drive a plot. I’ve only covered six, though. Those being:
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Self
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Fate
Character vs. Machine/Supernatural/Other
Character vs. Machine/Supernatural/Other
The final conflict we’re going to talk about is one that I often write, and is found in paranormal, sci-fi, dystopian, fantasy, and speculative writing. These are fantastical stories about things that don’t happen in the real world, like zombie invasions, robot uprisings, and doing battle with powerful wizards. People like fantastical fiction because it gets us away from the real world for a while. For as long as humans have been around, we’ve been telling ghost stories. As technology advances, the paranoia that it might turn against us is a common theme in society. This sort of conflict also covers things that PROBABLY won’t happen in the real world in our lifetime–like a worldwide sudden ice age, or finding aliens. This sort of conflict is a lot of “what if?”
[image error]When we see characters banding against something that we can’t even imagine happening in real life, it’s also an opportunity to explore humanity in a way we can’t in real life. The way people who are in constant conflict in the real world would band together against an “other,” outside force is interesting to think about. It can also be a way to explore how we’d get creative with our resources if something non-human threatened us. It’s a way to put ourselves in an entirely fake world and still enjoy the sort of human themes and conflicts we’re familiar with. Even if your characters are elves or aliens, they’re fighting against something, fighting for something, and desire a certain outcome. That helps us connect with fantastical fiction.
Genres like horror and sci-fi have always been big sellers, I think because those imaginary things tickle our brains. Even people who grew up fearing the monster under the bed now want to know more about the monster. Sometimes, this non-reality is actually a reflection of ourselves. Unreality can be very human.
Character vs. Machine/Supernatural/Other needs:
An element without basis in reality. From supernatural creatures to a fantasy world or alien planet, the story is set in some universe where these things are a fact instead of fiction, and may be a major part of the conflict. It could also be our world, after a huge disaster, natural or otherwise.
A conflict not based in reality. Maybe your characters have to kill vampires or werewolves, or maybe they have to stop an intergalactic force from destroying planet Earth. This sort of conflict is great for stretching your imagination.
Realistic motivations. No matter what your characters are, where they are, or when they are, we understand why they’re doing the things they do–we understand their struggle, and we even support it.
This is my favorite type of conflict, as I write a lot of paranormal stuff. This is also my last post on the subject! Did you enjoy this series? If you’d like to check out the other posts, click on the links at the top. Thanks for reading!
February 26, 2018
No Escaping Fate
Concluding this week, I’m doing a series of posts on the conflicts that can be found in a narrative. Depending where you look, and whose advice you ask, there’s anywhere from 4-10 types of conflict that can drive a plot. I’m only going to cover six, though. Those being:
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Self
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Fate
Character vs. Machine/Supernatural/Other
Character vs. Fate
A character with a destiny–it’s a story we’ve heard often. Whether it’s a good destiny or a bad one, of course, depends on the story being told. From the child of royalty set to inherit a kingdom, to someone who has to carry on a legacy, to someone who is cursed, or Neo from The Matrix, this type of character pops up often in literature and storytelling. Sometimes this story is much easier to create conflict in, because there’s already a looming villain or destination that the reader can understand. The character either has to stop their terrible fate from happening, or they have to attain what is rightfully theirs. They’re on a course they can’t easily jump off of.
[image error]If it’s a terrible fate, this is a good way to build a character. How they react to their impending doom says a lot about them. Are they fighting it with every fiber of their being, or are they simply letting themselves succumb to it? What sort of terrible things will follow for everyone else if they meet their fate? If it’s something good, this is also a way to build character, and it’s important to show us why it’s good, either to the character specifically or the whole plot of the story. The conflict can also be something standing in the way of this character attaining their good fate.
Not many people in real life are born “destined” for a certain fate, so this is fascinating to imagine. Of course, people born with inheritances or diseases that will take their life eventually know exactly what it’s like, but for most of us, our lives are pretty much up to us. It’s interesting to explore the concept for many of us–in some cases, the idea of having things planned out for you gives a sense of security, even.
Character vs. Fate needs:
A hard-to-avoid destiny. Whatever is in store for your character, it’s been decided for them before they even had the ability to choose. It’s a hard path to veer off of. There may not actually be a way to avoid it–the story may be in how they handle themselves until that fateful day.
Consequences for a fate being sealed. Whatever happens, the world will change when this character meets their fate. At least, their world will.
Reasons the character doesn’t want (or wants) this fate. The character shouldn’t be complacent in what’s happening, whether it’s something negative that looms ahead, or trying to fight toward what they’re owed. The conflict comes in how they face their fate and deal with it.
I do tend to like stories that show a character struggling against fate. I have no particular “destiny” in my own life, unless it was being a writer, and even that isn’t life or death for me. I like stories about people who overcome, or get what they deserve. Do you like these kind of stories? Do you write them?
February 23, 2018
Construction–Coming Soon
We had some spring-like weather here this week, which makes me hopeful spring is just around the corner. *crosses fingers* How’s the weather in your part of the world? Of course, it’s cold again today but even that is typical here in Cleveland–you can’t put your winter OR summer clothes away because you might need both on any given day.
I’m going to be doing a website overhaul soon, so if you visit the site and it’s a bit wonky, forgive me! I’m going to try to make it as seamless as possible, but I have a feeling some parts will be unusable for a short time while I’m setting everything up just so. I use WordPress for this site (a premium account, so it has its own domain name and customization) and while I love it most of the time, I wish there was more ability to preview changes before you implement them. You CAN do this with the most basic things, but the more complex bits of design have to be altered live.
So if you’re a superstar agent scouting my site and things are a mess, don’t worry, it won’t last! Because I know agents totally take you on based on how pretty your website is. 
February 21, 2018
Get in your character’s head: Author Toolbox Blog Hop
[image error]It’s time for the Author Toolbox Blog Hop! The hop takes place the third Wednesday of every month (minus November/December) and focuses on the sharing of resources and learning tools for authors.
Stop by the hop page and check out all the participants and their posts this month! Also check out #AuthorToolboxBlogHop on Twitter.
Inside, Not Outside
If you’ve been writing for a while, you’ve probably heard the phrase “show, don’t tell” about a thousand times. This generally means instead of telling us that a character did something, you should show them completing the action. It provides more impact and makes for better reading. There’s different ways to “show,” however, that you might not have thought about before. One of the best things I ever learned from an editor is how to avoid filtering. Learning this lesson literally changed how I write.
What is filtering? Filtering is telling how a character feels, thinks, reacts, and perceives the world instead of showing it. Say you have a character named Joe. Filtering is telling us that “Joe thought,” “Joe wondered,” “Joe saw,” and “Joe heard.” If Joe is your POV character, we need to get deeper into his perspective. You should show us what’s going on in Joe’s head instead of explaining it. Here are some examples:
Instead of “Joe saw a dog on the street.”
Try “As Joe walked down the street, a brown and white dog loped past him.”
You don’t need to explain to us that Joe saw the dog. The fact that the dog is being described lets us know that Joe saw it–after all, we’re in his head.
Instead of “Joe heard music playing.”
Try “A soft melody came from the other room. Joe smiled. It was a familiar tune.”
Especially when it comes to things that involve the senses, it’s better to describe the thing that activates the sense rather than just saying the sense was activated. This puts us more in the moment, experiencing it along with the character.
This works with more abstract things like thinking and knowing as well.
Instead of “Joe knew something bad was about to happen.”
Try “A cold chill rushed down Joe’s spine. His skin prickled. Something wasn’t right here.”
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We feel what Joe is feeling when the author describes what’s happening to him, instead of just telling us he senses that something is wrong. We all know what it’s like to be afraid, sick, happy, jealous, glad, and a million other emotions…and the storytelling is much stronger when the author evokes these emotions in the reader rather than telling us about them. It also helps us connect more with the character, not just because the character seems more real, but because how the character reacts tells us a lot about their personality.
A good way to eliminate this sort of filtering is to do a sweep of your manuscript and search for sensory words like felt, heard, saw, tasted, and smelled. Also look for words like knew, thought, and sensed. Of course, not every single use of these sorts of words will be wrong. No writing rule is without exceptions. There may be times where it’s very much appropriate to use filtering. But as a general rule, eliminating filtering makes a story more immediate and provoking. It’s very much a way of showing instead of telling.
Getting rid of filtering was one of the best things I ever learned to do. It made my writing a lot tighter and more like a “story.” What’s a good rule you learned that changed your writing?
February 19, 2018
The Eye of the Storm
For the next few weeks, I’m going to do a series of posts on the conflicts that can be found in a narrative. Depending where you look, and whose advice you ask, there’s anywhere from 4-10 types of conflict that can drive a plot. I’m only going to cover six, though. Those being:
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Self
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Fate
Character vs. Machine/Supernatural/Other
Character vs. Nature
There’s no shortage of stories out there (especially in the realm of movies) where characters struggle against nature: stuck in a snowstorm, at the mercy of the sea, lost in the wilderness. There’s entire movies that are specifically about catastrophic natural disasters and the consequences for mankind. Living on this earth is a precarious thing. At any moment, it might choose to swallow us up or wipe us out. Many of us couldn’t find our way out of the deep woods even with the necessary tools. So it’s a scary prospect to have to confront nature.
[image error]This sort of conflict can also be presented as a secondary element, or a plot device: enemies stuck in a cabin during a blizzard, rival scientists having to work together to stop a volcano from exploding, characters thrown together by the effects of an earthquake or fire. The story can be mostly about the characters with the struggle against nature merely acting as the premise. It goes without saying though, you probably need some sort of subplot if the main focus of the story is a fight to win out against nature. We aren’t going to care much about flat characters with no relationship exploration just because they’re crossing a glacier. We need a reason to cheer for them to get to the other side without freezing to death.
Nature can be terrifying, as anyone who’s lived through a tornado or been swept down a river can attest. Nature doesn’t care about us and it kills indiscriminately. That’s why it can also be a thrilling thing to write about and why it’s at the center of so many adventure stories. Humans are silly, we like to court danger, and nothing is more dangerous than the very ground we live on. Of course we challenge it!
Character vs. Nature needs:
A strong natural force. Whether it’s a thunderstorm preventing a mother from picking up her kids from school, or a raging hurricane about to destroy a city, it has to be big and bad enough to impede your characters from what they want or outright threaten their lives. Tromping through the snow to the bus stop is annoying but it’s not really an adventure (I speak from experience).
A reason your character can’t win against it. You don’t want your characters to just be able to go in the house and wait until it stops raining, that’s not very exciting. Put them in a situation where they can’t easily escape nature and pit them head to head with it. Yes, most sensible people would run from a volcano about to erupt, but what if they can’t?
A plausible out. Unless you’re planning on killing all your characters in the end, you have to at least eventually give them some way to escape or stop nature’s fury. People love a good “triumph over nature’s odds” story.
I admit, I enjoy those “weather” moves like The Day After Tomorrow and Twister. (And Sharknado? Tornadoes full of sharks are a natural disaster, right?) They’re fun, and thrilling, and I get to stay warm and dry while I watch them. Do you like stories about the struggle against nature?
February 16, 2018
Cats and Quotes (and Cons!)
I’ve been a bit slacky blogging this week, but I promise to have more meaty posts next week, including the Author Toolbox Blog Hop.
Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Did you do anything special? I had to work, but I spent some quality time with my cat when I got home. No, I swear I’m not a crazy cat lady–yet. February is half over now (somehow!) which means spring is just around the corner. I’m very, very ready for that, as the cold and snow has been relentless this winter.
How about some awesome writing quotes to finish off the week?
Also, look! It’s officially official! I’m a guest author at ECAC! AAAAH! Check out their website for more details.
Have a great weekend!
Capture (Anthology)
Capture: Flirtation With Darkness Book 1
Paranormal Romance Anthology
By Casia Courtier, Mila Waters, Yolanda Allard, Erin Lee, Rena Marin
~ Can a human capture a heart of a creature of the dark? ~
Presented by the award-winning anthology publisher, Enchanted Anthologies.
Capture, book one, brings together five dark, paranormal romance
stories just in time for Valentines Day.
Bloodlust by Casia Courtier
Owen Rush hates parasites. When he comes across a small town plagued by a
vampire, he takes it upon himself to rid the world of one more
monster. No problem for a seasoned hunter like himself. Until he
meets her. Will Owen stick to his stakes or will Helena open his heart?
Cursed Roots by Mila Waters
An old family curse and a cabin hidden in the woods put Brea Jones on a
collision course with the tall, handsome stranger who holds the key
to all her family’s long kept secrets.
Darkest Depths by Yolanda Allard
Mermaid Hunter Harper Hatchet, devotes her life solely to hunting down the
evil mermaids who killed her parents until she meets Gelian Wake,
funny and mundane, he’s being attacked by the very mermaid Harper
has been hunting since the night her parents died. With the stakes
higher than ever Harper finds herself falling for the quirky Gelian
only to discover he’s none other than a creature from the darkest
depths of her hatred, a merman who loves Harper too. Harper has to
decide if love or hatred will win out, and why the mermaids hate
Gelian as much as she hates mermaids before she decides which dark
desire to give in to.
Caged Hearts by Erin Lee
She told herself, when they tossed her in the cage and demanded answers,
that she was different. She promised herself that she’d stick to the
code and never give them what they wanted, no matter what the cost.
She refused to betray her kind and was willing to give up her very
life for it. The one thing she didn’t plan for, though, was The Gentle One.
The Game by Rena Marin
At night, a game has been taking place. A true game of cat and mouse,
between the hunter and the prey. When they come face to face, will
they destroy one another, or will they finally finish the game?
These stories are intended for readers aged 18+
Goodreads * Amazon
Capture: Flirtation With Darkness Book 2
Paranormal Romance Anthology
By Zizi Cole, Breanna Hayse, K. L Roth, Amanda Leigh, Jessi McPherson
~ Can a human capture a heart of a creature of the dark? ~
Presented by the award-winning anthology publisher, Enchanted Anthologies.
Capture, book two, brings together five dark, paranormal romance
stories just in time for Valentines Day.
Embracing Darkness by Zizi Cole
Crispin is the king of the shadows. After being alone years, he happens
across a light that fascinates him. The catch she’s human. Can the
light embrace his darkness?
Unconditional Lust by Breanna Hayse
The massive, hideous merrow leader, Muruch, craves the taste of human
flesh. Confined to the ocean, he feeds his horde with sailors from
ships pulled into the maw of the Bermuda Triangle. When US Army
Captain, Nurys Shaye, puts her life on the line to save him after
being captured, his hunger for human flesh is shadowed by the desire
for her body and her love. Will she be able to see past his
appearance and trust him to break down her walls and teach her to feel?
Luck of the Irish by K. L Roth
Darcy O’Dell has inherited more than just her Irish heritage. A curse, a
Leprechaun and hot as hell Irish man all wait for her in Ireland.
Song of the Siren by Amanda Leigh
She snuffs sailors out like they’re her personal playthings. Until she
sees him. What happens when they come together?
Silverwolf Alpha by Jessi McPherson
Her green eyes taunted him as he slept. She was under his skin and he
wanted nothing more than to be under hers.
These stories are intended for readers aged 18+
Goodreads * Amazon
A budding author, Casia Courtier still loves reviewing and helping out fellow authors with her blog; Casia’s Corner. She has contributed in some anthologies and is currently working on her own works. She lives with her husband and son in Norfolk, VA.Website * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads
An avid reader, single mother, and all around Superwoman, Mila Waters brings her love of creating dark fictional stories to the world. She is fascinated by gothic horror and the paranormal, bringing both elements into her works. Weird, strange, and a geek, she loves research and has no less than 20 works in progress. Stay tuned. She promises a fun, wild, and sexy ride.
Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads
Raised by two sailors who traveled across the U.S., Yolanda
Allard is a Mermaid who seeks out adventure wherever she goes. You can usually find her kicking butt on some of the most beautiful hikes the Pacific Northwest has to offer and might even catch a glimpse of her tail when she takes to the numerous waterfalls she finds along the way. She likes to drag her devoted husband and flock of four children on her adventures, hunting wisps, ghosts and all the magic the world
has to offer. Her obsessions include, writing, reading,
weightlifting, hiking and adventuring.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads
Erin Lee is a dark fiction/reality author and therapist chasing a crazy dream one crazy story at a time. She is the author of books published by Savant Books and Publications, Limitless Publishing, Black Rose Writing, Zombie Cupcake Press, Bella Tulip Press, and Crazy Ink.
Her Diary of a Serial Killer Series is an international bestselling series as is the Moving On Series that she co-wrote with Chelsi Davis. Upcoming titles include Wendigo and Momma. She is a co-founder of the Escape from Reality Series and author of several books in that series.
Lee holds a master’s degree in psychology and works with at-risk families and as a court appointed special advocate. When she isn’t busy dissecting the human experience, she enjoys escaping from reality through reading and spending time with her muses and canine companions and therapy dogs—Thomas the Terrier and Milo Muse. To her, laughter is the best medicine of all.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads
Rena Marin is a fantasy/paranormal/horror author as well as reviewer. In 2017, she and her co-author S.C. Storm introduced the world to The Tempest Isle Series, with “The Guardians,” which was published by Zombie Cupcake Press. At the end of 2017, she and her co-author also penned the short, “My Sister’s Keeper,” which was featured in the Zombie Cupcake Press Anthology, Madame Scarlet’s Carnival.
A writer of fantasy/paranormal/horror, Rena finds herself a lover of
the written word and hoping to branch out to multiple genres.
Rena is happily married to her soul mate, Daniel. The two of them reside
in the beautiful mountain town of Newport, Tn. with their two
children Cody and Amber.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads
Zizi Cole was born in Kirksville, Missouri in 1985. She lived there most of her youth, until she moved to Brookfield in 2001. She attended college and obtained her Associate’s of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood. She later went back to college and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources.
Zizi always wanted to write, but never seemed to be able to get it down on paper. She finally sat down and wrote out Sweet Nightmares from beginning to end in 2016. It is the first of a series.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads
BDSM/AP lifestyler Breanna Hayse strives to give her readers truth and reality of the BDSM/Age-Play/Total Power and Erotic Exchange lifestyle.
I live with my husband, musician, and fellow-author, John Hayse, and two border collies in southern California. We practice a 24/7 D&S relationship with speckles of AP (and many trips to Build-A-Bear),
and happily spend every moment together that we can. My hobbies include my puppies, hiding my vanilla salt-water taffy where John can’t find it, exotic art, collecting inspirational trinkets, and
developing my own paddle line. You can also see me as a featured author/instructor in professional conference settings and as a
Sexpert for kinkyliterature.com
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K. L Roth is the award-winning, international bestselling author of The Royals Series, The Fallen, Bloodlust, and she has stories in Fractured Fairytales Book Two, A Deadly World: Vampires in Paris, and Night, Night Sleep Tight anthologies published with Enchanted Anthologies.
She lives in the small town of Delphos, Ohio. When she’s not writing she enjoys reading, participating in outdoor activities and teaching her son the outdoor way of life.
She writes erotica, paranormal, historical, horror and thriller. She is
working on several series and anthologies for 2018.
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Amanda Leigh has had a love of words since before she could write them herself. Once she learned to read and write herself she just couldn’t stop. She reads any genre as long as the book sounds interesting. Which may explain why she can’t and never will be able to stick to one genre in her writing. From Contemporary Romance to Women’s Fiction to Paranormal Romance to Poetry and more to come. When she’s not writing or reading she enjoys getting swept away in a great TV show, going to the theater, listening to music, cooking and many different forms of art. She has a cat she adores and also loves Psychology, tea, coffee, chocolate and Elvis Presley. Not necessarily in that order. Feel free to get in touch with her.
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Hi all, I’m Jessi Mcpherson.
I live in a small town in Iowa right on the banks of The Mighty
Mississippi. I started writing when I was about 10 years old. Almost every girl has a journal but I not only had fun stories of the day but poems and short stories that popped in my head. I love fantasy and romance novels and read almost daily. I like to find my inspiration in everyday life. That’s one of my goals is to find one thing every day that inspires me. I grew up an army brats so I have traveled to a few places over the years. I have two amazing children and a very amazing husband. They thankfully put up with crazy work schedules because being a mom and a writer isn’t enough but I am also the general manager of Sidelines Sports bar in my home town. No matter how busy I find time for it all. I do hope you enjoy my books and I look forward to writing more.
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February 15, 2018
The Secrets Series by D.B. James
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Rhys
Secrets #1
by D.B. James
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rhys lives a life of solitude — one he’s perfectly content with. That
is until his friend Vinny is found murdered. There are secrets and
half-truths at every corner, but he’s determined to find out what
happened.
Averill is exactly where she wants to be in life after years of running.
She’s opened her own boutique and can finally breathe again. She
thought she was safe… until her world collides with the dark
shadows of Rhys’.
When he unknowingly puts her in the path of a serial killer, will he be
able to protect her? Even if it means becoming the killer he’s
trained to be?
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Averill
Secrets #1.5
Wishes and dreams were two things Averill was always taught to not put too
much stock in, but here she is, just days away from marrying her
childhood crush. Everything is perfect—that is, if you don’t
count the unwanted (but loved) houseguest, her delay in asking her
father to give her away, the grueling task of unraveling the mystery
behind Rhys’ letters, and the looming feeling that something is
missing in her life.
When it finally hits her just what it
is, she knows she’ll have an uphill battle to get everyone on
board. They’ll say it’s too soon, will say she’s insane, but
she knows it’s what she wants.
She’s just hoping Rhys will too.
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Brant
Secrets #2
I am Brant Ashley, and this is my truth.
I am a liar.
For nearly a decade, I’ve withheld the truth from my best friend, whom
I consider to be a brother. The lies I told him aren’t the only
lies I’ve been telling.
My whole life is a lie.
I am a killer.
Think I’m lying? Yeah, most people would side with you. I’m good at
covering my deceit with more lies. People think they know me, but no
one truly does.
Except for her.
She’s the first person to ever see me clearly, to see through my lies to
the truth hidden behind my steel blue eyes.
I am Brant Ashley, and this is my truth.
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Interview with D.B. James
Q: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
A: I’ve considered myself a writer since high school, so, half of my life. I didn’t consider myself an author until I hit publish on my first novel a little under 2 years ago.
Q: Where did you come up with the names in the story?
A: Rhys (Reese) came from one of my favorite series by Sarah J Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses. His name is Rhysand and he goes by Rhys at times, but it’s not pronounced Reese like my character.
Averill, the spelling of her name is unique. The name is the same as Avril Lavigne when it comes to being pronounced. The spelling came from an episode of 48 Hours. Same name, different spelling.
Brant, he was never supposed to have his own story. In my mind he was a secondary character who was going to be in the background. So, when I named him it was a shortened version of my nephew’s name, Brantley.
Q: How did you come up with the title of your first novel?
A: The title for Seventeen Days came to be as I writing it. The hero dares the heroine not to fall in love with him in, you guessed it, Seventeen Days.
Q: What is your favorite part of this book? Why?
A: In Rhys, the whole book. Why? Because it’s told in its entirety by him, a male POV. It’s not something we see much of when it comes to romantic suspense novels.
In Averill, the scene inside the Blue Grotto, but also the epilogue. The most fun I’ve had while writing was her novella.
In Brant, chocolate covered cherries. Period.
Q: If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?
A: Oddly enough my books actually do have candles being made. I’m working with Book Boyfriend Candles, to make them come to life in scents. Harrison (Seventeen Days) will be a crisp ocean scent. Julian (Love, Snow & Mistletoe) is a sweet wine scent. Rhys is peanut butter. And Brant, well he’s a chocolate covered cherry scent.
Q: What book(s) do you think everyone should read?
A: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, Brightside by Kim Holden, A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole, the entire A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas, and Worth It by Linda Kage.
Q: If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
A: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, end, period.
Q: Advice you’d give to new authors?
A: Write daily, write down every idea, every name, every thought pouring into your brain. Just write, write, write. Also finding the right editor is key. Contact them and ask if they’ll edit a sample of your work, make sure you mesh before hiring them. Cheap is not always better, but neither is pricey, find what works for you. As far as covers go, have a cover that’ll draw the reader’s attention from the start. No matter what people say, they are judging your book by its cover.
Q: What are you currently reading?
A: Currently, I’m reading an ARC of Linda Kage’s “Kissing the Boss: A Cinderella Story” and am loving it! Recently, I had two spine surgeries and Linda—whom I never talked to on an author to author basis, or even a personal one—sent me a get-well gift. It’s spiraled into my asking her to take part in my release day party for Brant. And it keeps going. I’m hoping to one day call her…friend.
Q: How long on average does it take you to write a book?
A: Normally a month. Brant however, I wrote in 11 days.
Q: What can we expect from you in the future?
A: I have a few releases planned for 2018. First up will be Brant (Feb. 22) followed up by Written in the Sand (May 9th). Afterwards I plan on revising and re-editing Seventeen Days for it’s two-year pubiversary. And I’ll finish the year out with Stars in the City (Nov. 14). And I may have a secret project being released in June or July, just in time for Book Bonanza.
D.B. James is an indie author of new adult romance and romantic suspense.
In her spare time, she’s an avid reader. Colleen Hoover, Tarryn
Fisher, Teagan Hunter, KA Tucker, Linda Kage, Renee Carlino, Jennifer
Armentrout, Sarah J Maas, and Samantha Young are a few of her
obsessions. She is a mother to one spoiled rotten fur baby named
Frasier. He’s a bicolored Persian cat who thinks he’s royalty and
can’t be told otherwise. She’s a Michigan girl through and
through but currently resides in sunny Florida. Sarcasm, Supernatural
(team Sam!), Harry Potter, and coffee are among her favorite things.
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February 14, 2018
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Today is a day for love–and I LOVE all my readers for the encouragement and support you give me! I hope you have a wonderful, happy day filled with lots of love, hugs, and kisses!
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