Melissa MacKinnon's Blog, page 2

IT’S RELEASE DAY, B*TCHES!!!

CROWN OF CROWS is FINALLY here! I’m excited, are you? Have you grabbed your copy yet?

Why not? You won’t find a deal better than this. Thirty NEW books, only available for a limited time, and will disappear after this week? And all for under a buck? You’re missing out, kiddo!

Click this linky loo over here to get your copy, today! Instant gratification! And, if you read on multiple platforms, go ahead and grab those, too. You’re helping to feed a starving author!

CLICK ME

Look it, y’all!

I cannot believe that Best Seller is actually a possibility for me right now. I’m so close I can taste it.

It tastes like mocha coffee and sleep. See that orange banner?

Number One, Baby!!

While amazon sales are up there, I’m still falling short with the other retailers, like B&N, google, kobo, ibooks, etc.

If you want to help out a poor, starving artist, the best way to do that would be to pre-order my book on a different platform! Heck, all platforms! I’d owe you like, a million sour gummy worms!

Here’s the link in case you need it. Much love to you ALL.

Order my book here.

P.S. This book has like, 30 different books in it. It’s over 2000 pages. And all for .99c, that’s a steal. Take a chance and who knows, you might just find your new favorite author!

EXCLUSIVE interview with Crown of Crows author, Melissa MacKinnon

Looking for your next hot read? Look no further than Rituals & Runes, a limited-time anthology featuring the HOTTEST bestselling authors in paranormal romance, urban fantasy, reverse harem, and MORE!

ORDER HERE!!! Own this fantastic collection of books for only .99c!!!

And today, you can find out about one of the stories exclusive to Rituals and Runes Anthology. Let’s welcome author Melissa MacKinnon who will chat with us about Crown of Crows.

Author: Melissa MacKinnon

Book: Crown of Crows

R&R: This book cover is amazing. I’m getting Snow White vibes. Was that intentional? Can you tell us why or why not, and explain?

Melissa: My cover is seriously amazing. I gave her the story, and she came up with THAT. No, it wasn’t intentional, but I love writing kick-butt female characters. 

Elowen is next in line to be the Queen of elves, but she’s hiding a secret. She was born with the old magic, particularly shadow magic. It comes in the shape of crows, and her shadows do her bidding, which isn’t always on the good side of things. Where Snow White might be pure, Elowen is quite the opposite. But, she is looking for her prince! She finds him in Balen, the human who saves her life.

R&R: Juicy! And at least we hit on the queen who might be a bit naughty vibe. Lol!

If you were in your story, what do you think you would do in the world and what role would you have in your world?

Melissa: Honestly, I’d probably just be trying to survive. The humans have been after Elven land for decades, and the wars just keep on raging. Being a human myself, surviving would be my greatest task. The Elven women are the greatest warriors in the land, and pretty much take what they want. I don’t think I’d live past my teens! 

R&R: Wicked as in very cool and a bit evil, both of which we like.

Without sharing spoilers, tell us about the book’s conflict. What is your main character’s goal and what’s in their way?

Melissa: Elowen has been betrayed by her own eleven sisters. They are afraid of her, of her magic. She’s saved by an unlikely hero – a human, no less. While Elowen has been trying to negotiate a peace, her sisters have had other plans. Elowen has no choice but to form a wavering alliance with her human savior… In order to stay alive. And, now that her magic is out there, both sides- Elven and human-want her head.

Creator: Dennis Fröhlich

R&R: Wow. The description of this story gets worse and worse in a very intriguing and appealing way. Captivating! 

How did you right-size the research you did for this book? Did you ever find yourself getting lost in the research or stopping too soon?

Melissa: I have ADHD, which means I get lost in the research quite often. My google search history is filled with searches like, “what color is elven blood”? And “how is leather armor reinforced”? But also… “at what angle is the best for a sword to enter between ribs”? I have to laugh. I love the fantasy world I’ve created, and I’ve tried to keep it as accurate as possible. And sometimes, that includes some pretty crazy research.

R&R: Being neurodiverse can sometimes be a challenge but also can open some fascinating doors. And you’re like, I swear, I’m an author, I can explain…lol!

How about your bookish experiences. Have you ever gone on a literary journey? Tell us about it.

Melissa: I decided to take a trip to Scotland in order to know the history and the people while writing a book. But, who am I kidding? The book was my excuse to get on a plane in the name of “research”. I fell in love with the country, its people, and its dangerous history of war, epic battles, and love stories for the ages. I spent almost a month traveling the countryside of the UK and I can’t wait to get back for inspiration.

R&R: Epic! Truly sounds incredible. We’re glad you did that.

What has been your favorite book to write to date?

Melissa: I’d have to say, my sweet romcom, THE DO-OVER, has been my favorite so far. I set it in my hometown in Maine, and also included some of my favorite people, my grandparents, and the absolutely hard-to-understand Maine accent. Ha! I put my heart and my childhood into that book. Some of the childhood memories of the hero, Finn, were taken straight from my own.

R&R: Swoony and fun!

What books do you have coming out that are not involved in the anthology?

Melissa: So, so many! 2022 and 2023 are loaded with books from me! I have one I’m super excited to share with readers called STAR STRUCK and it’s about an up-and-coming country singer who falls in love with the waitress at his favorite hole-in-the-wall coffee shop. And of course, when he finally gets noticed and ends up the opening act for a famous singer, he forgets all about the woman who helped get him there. Can you say, “drama”? 

I also have the second book in my Finding Home Series debuting! It’s the second book after The Do-Over, starring Finn’s sister, Tess. She’s had a hard life as a single mom, but when she meets Brody, an Army Veteran who gave his all-including his leg for his country, they heal each other in ways they couldn’t imagine. It’s also a sweet romcom that will have readers swooning!

R&R: We have such talented authors in this group who have so many wonderful books to offer, including you!

Would you rather know the history of objects you touched or talk to animals?

Melissa: Oh my gosh. You know me too well. I am a history ADDICT. I have an obsession with doors. When I was in Europe, I took more pictures of doors than I did my husband or kids. I love running my fingers along the worn wood, just imagining all the great people who have touched it before me. The same goes for stone walls in castles. I’ve stood in the same spot where Mary, Queen of Scots waited for her execution. It brought me to tears. 

R&R: Honestly, we had no idea we would hit such a great note with that last question. So glad it hit home and that you connected with it. 

We hope you connected with her interview. To find out more about Crown of Crows, read on!

Blurb:

A forbidden love. A kingdom inherited. Without him, she’ll burn it to the ground.

Magic hasn’t been seen in centuries. Once, it ruled the land along with the elven warriors, keeping the peace and the enemy at bay. Magic faded, and now there is nothing but war.

Elowen took her duty seriously. She is next in line to the elven throne, and she’s dedicated her life to the task. Reigning over a kingdom will be no small feat, especially when she finds a sword in her belly with elven sisters holding the hilt.

Balen was bred for war. He’s a number, until the fateful day he’s cut down on the battlefield. When he sees a beautiful elf ambushed by her own kind during battle, he acts without thinking—cutting the traitors down in a bout of honor. He is set to offer her a mercy killing, until she rips the blade from her belly and the gaping wound disappears under a glow of purple light. Unable to explain what he’s seen, Balen rushes into the protection of the forest.

With betrayal lingering in the mist and war raging around them, Elowen and Balen must join forces in order to stay alive. Elowen owes him her life, and there’s something about this handsome warrior she cannot place. She’s drawn to him like no other. He’s seen her magic that both, elf and human, want. There’s a reason she’s kept it a secret—she’s the weapon they need to win the war.

Excerpt:

The saddest part about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.

Elowen couldn’t decide which was worse: that her elven sisters-in-arms had so easily betrayed her, or the elven steel protruding from her gut. She pulled her palm back from the wound to assess it—but who was she trying to fool? If they wanted her dead enough to corner her amid a raging battle, they would find other ways to bring their future queen down if this steel didn’t take her first.

If she had any chance for survival, time was of the essence, but, by her calculations, her sisters were not going to leave her death up to fate. No, they would linger in the trees until she slowly bled out and death was imminent.

She moaned slightly while propping herself against the decaying log they’d backed her into—legs splayed before her and shoulders slumped forward slightly to ease her breathing.

Although her forest was thick and littered with snares, the humans continued to wage war on her kind. It was futile behavior, but Elowen chose to honor her mother’s wishes and continue to broach peace with treaties that never endured. Humans were habitually men of war and the desire to have what they couldn’t—power—always won. And so the battles raged, endless lives were cut short, and the cycle repeated itself each season. The humans would retreat, a peace would be struck, and the quiet would last only as long as the humans remained satiated. Elowen grew tired of it, honestly, just as tired as she was of the sword slowly killing her.

She couldn’t very well rip it out with her sisters still nearby. It would only fuel their desire to come for her again. But she couldn’t leave it in and allow herself to die, either. “Come and finish what you started!” She baited. Seeing no movement, she sighed, slouching a bit onto her side. “Cowards,” she muttered. Elowen closed her eyes to listen. Elves sliced through the forest, their only sounds being the displacement of air and the gurgling of the men whose lives they took. The whistle and thunk of arrows as they found their intended targets—the chests of men who did not stand a chance of surviving elven steel or black yew-wood in her forest.

Light footsteps fell close. Too close. The time had come when her sisters had lost their patience with her not dying. A bowstring was pulled. An arrow knocked.

Elowen opened her eyes.

Three of her sisters-in-arms scowled down at her; their blood-stained faces glowing in the fractured moonlight parting through the trees. Their silvery hair whipped around their faces as a wicked wind tunneled around them. Cala, the meeker of the three, stepped forward.

“I’m sorry it has to be this way,” she spoke softly against the wind.

Elowen’s mouth formed a tight line. “No lies, Cala.”

Cala’s fingers tightened on the bowstring. “Close your eyes.”

Elowen shook her head. “I will not. You will remember your treachery with every pair of elven eyes you see. You will see me in them.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d never feared death, exactly, nor the pain. Only the life she left behind, unfinished. There were plenty of the chosen few who would fall into her place as queen upon her death. She could only hope it would be swift, and the next queen would be just and worthy as her mother had been when called to rule.

Cala steadied her bow, bringing the string to her cheek.

Elowen met her eyes. “In the head, Cala.”

Cala hesitated.

“I’ve trained you better than that,” she growled. “Do it!”

Cala held her breath, focusing. Then, her jaw slackened and blood sputtered from her lips, rolling off her chin onto the ground. Her eyes became devoid of light and rolled behind heavy lids.

It took but a moment for Elowen to see the blade retreat from just below Cala’s breast before her lifeless body slumped to the grassy floor. Her other two sisters-in-arms—woefully unprepared and caught unaware—spun to face Cala’s attacker, but they, too, fell in a heap beside Cala.

She stared at them for a moment, attempting to process the three bodies lying at her feet but every conclusion her muddied mind came to didn’t explain the fact that she, Elowen, did not, in fact, kill them. She couldn’t have, not with her sword the only thing holding her guts in.

All right, then. Her sword. She reached for the grip, but her arms had gone numb and she’d lost control of her hands. Any attempt at moving made them flop around like fish on land. She chuckled briefly, before curses of the worst kind left her lips, and she dug her booted heels into the soft underearth in a feeble attempt to sit herself upright.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard such filthy words uttered by a woman before.” Dark, curious eyes raked over her.

She sucked in a breath. A hulking, beast of a human squatted beside her, rocking on his heels. He clutched a bloodied sword loosely in one hand. Hair so light she almost mistook it for the tell-tale elven silver strands, was tied back at the nape. He wore exquisitely made leather armor. Full lips—slightly parted—were framed by dark stubble covering his jawline.

He was the most beautiful creature she’d ever seen.

Her will to live suddenly peaked.

Author Bio:

Melissa spent her childhood exploring the coast of down east Maine without parental supervision and immersing herself in any book she could get her scrappy little hands on. Although she pursued a career in theater, the written word is her true calling. She leads a full life with her husband and six children traveling the country to wherever the Army sends them in her very large twelve-passenger van, in what she lovingly deems “organized chaos”. She finds time to write in her “spare time”, somewhere in between soccer practices and nap time with coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. She loves creating unforgettable romance, and enjoys writing and reading everything from sexy, sword-toting heroes to spit-out-your-coffee funny romantic comedies… as long as she doesn’t get the book wet. She leaves that up to the characters.

Where to find her:

https://www.melissamackinnon.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/melissa.mackinnon.author

https://www.tiktok.com/@melissamackinnonauthor

https://www.instagram.com/melissamackinnonauthor/

Get more magical & paranormal-themed stories like this in Rituals & Runes!

Universal: https://books2read.com/rituals

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oz9aGJ

October Book Gush is now LIVE!

READERS! Are you active online? Are you constantly looking for new books to fall in love with? Well… Welcome to BOOK GUSH OCTOBER! Over 100 authors are looking to send out print book packages to those active on IG, TT and FB, to help spread the word about books you might not know, with stories you are dying to read! ALL GENRES except children’s books will be available!So? How do you get in on this?FILL THIS FORM OUTHERE  This form is open from today the 25th to the 1stof September!And starting in September authors involved will be picking their recipient, and sending a package to them! Participating readers MUST post Video’s, Lives or Reels for the ‘unboxing’ of the book, and a gush post during the read or after. THIS IS NOT A REVIEW REQUEST. We don’t want your review, we want your influence, your post about the book you receive. ARE YOU IN? Take a chance and find some diamonds you never knew existed!#BookGushOctober #IndieAuthorsRock #IndieauthorsLoveIndieReaders #BookGush

Hey, friends! I need your help!

Hey, there! Did you know I have a new book releasing in October?

Did you know I’m trying to make the USA Today Best Seller list? I’m behind in sales, and I could really use your help! I honestly won’t be able to do it without you! With your purchase, I’ll send you a FREE anthology coloring book! Just let me know in the comments that you’ve purchased and I’ll give you the link to get your coloring book!!!

The best part? It’s only .99c for 25 books! All you need to do is click here to order!

Crown of Crows is HERE!!!

Y’all, I’m so excited for this one. I’m in a paranormal anthology and my story will be exclusive to it. The best part… it’s available for preorder and it’s only .99c!

Yes! You get an entire anthology for only ninety-nine pennies. So let me introduce you to Elowen and Balen!

A forbidden love.

A kingdom inherited.

Without him, she’ll burn it to the ground.

Magic hasn’t been seen in centuries. Once, it ruled the land along with the elven warriors, keeping the peace and the enemy at bay. Magic faded, and now there is nothing but war.

Elowen took her duty seriously. She is next in line to the elven throne, and she’s dedicated her life to the task. Reigning over a kingdom will be no small feat, especially when she finds a sword in her belly with elven sisters holding the hilt.

Balen was bred for war. He’s a number, until the fateful day he’s cut down on the battlefield. When he sees a beautiful elf ambushed by her own kind during battle, he acts without thinking—cutting the traitors down in a bout of honor. He is set to offer her a mercy killing, until she rips the blade from her belly and the gaping wound disappears under a glow of purple light. Unable to explain what he’s seen, Balen rushes into the protection of the forest.

With betrayal lingering in the mist and war raging around them, Elowen and Balen must join forces in order to stay alive. Elowen owes him her life, and there’s something about this handsome warrior she cannot place. She’s drawn to him like no other. He’s seen her magic that both, elf and human, want. There’s a reason she’s kept it a secret—she’s the weapon they need to win the war.

Crown of Crows October 22

Pre-order here!

Rituals & Runes will be available October 22! Don’t miss your chance for this amazing set!

Pre-order now!

An Amazing Author Needs Our Help

A much beloved author in my writing community lost an entire book when her hard drive died. If you’ve ever lost something precious on a computer, you know just how devastating it is. A few readers and authors have come together to raise the funds to get her work off the hard drive in a clean room.

We are asking our readers and fellow authors to help if they can. I will be gifting anyone who donated a free ebook from my backlist with a donation. All you need to do is let me know you donated, and what book you want!

https://gofund.me/30f85085

Thank you, friends!

Disclaimer: Facebook and GoFundMe are not a part of my giveaway.

All Roads Lead You Home… eventually

When I first started writing The Do-Over, I knew I had to set it in my hometown in Maine. Why? Dorothy said it best when she repeated the mantra: There’s no place like home. Because there truly isn’t. I was very fortunate to grow up in a small, sleepy little fishing town where everybody knows everyone and all of your friends’ parents were your parents, too. No matter where we were or what misadventure we’d gotten ourselves into, we always knew we could count on someone to get us out of it. Whether it was thinking we were invincible and getting caught in high tide, or making a zipline from a clothesline and bicycle handles and jumping out of the second story bedroom window, (yes, we really did that – it was the 80s and parental supervision wasn’t a thing back then) we knew that once the street lights turned on, it was time to go home.

Do you remember that warm, fuzzy feeling you’d get after spending all day at the lake and then going home to your not airconditioned bedroom and grab a book and thinking there’s no other place you’d rather be? (Just me?) That warm and fuzzy feeling is what I want readers to feel when they finish reading The Do-Over. I want you, reader, to taste the salt in the air and know the tide is high. I want you to hear the gulls call and know the boats are back at the docks. I want you to sail the harbor at sunset and wonder: Could Finn have made this boat?

I wanted readers to feel like they were at home with the characters when reading the Finding Home series. Family is a very important anchor in the books and I wanted readers to connect with that. Connect with the people who make Rockport such a special place. Whether it’s the waitress at the Diner or the lobsterman selling his catch fresh off the boat—that small town uniqueness is what makes Rockport so special, and I wanted readers everywhere to experience what it’s like to live in such a wonderful place.

Although I grew up in a sleepy town on the coast of Maine, “home” has been many places for me. As an Army spouse, we’ve made our home across the United States for the past twenty years. I’ve always been able to make a house a home, but when you find “home” there’s nothing quite like it. We’re nearing the light at the end of the tunnel now—retirement, and my husband and I are struggling with where we want to call home. We’ve lived in some amazing places throughout this adventure but our hearts keep telling us we need to go back home. Coastal Maine! No matter where we ended up over my husband’s Military career, we were always certain of one thing—as long as we have family, friends, and each other, no matter where we end up, it’ll be home. We may have had a few bumps along the way, but eventually, we will get where we need to be, because home is a state of mind. It doesn’t matter where you were born, you’ll know when you’ve found your home.

Midcoast Harbor, Maine photo by Melissa MacKinnon

The characters in the Finding Home series are lost. While they may be living life day to day, their hearts still haven’t found home. In The Do-Over, California socialite, Maggie, finds home with Finn in coastal Maine. Finn has always stayed true to his roots. He grew up with the ocean being his playground and knew that Maine was where he always wanted to be. Even though she wasn’t born there, Maggie connected with Maine and ended up calling it her home, too.

I really connected with Finn on that level, because the ocean was my playground growing up, and I even included some of my childhood memories as Finn’s in the book. Being able to include those special moments as a part of Finn’s history was special to me, and I can’t wait to hear from readers on which memories they think are my real memories!

Just like Maggie and Finn, life takes you to unexpected places. Love brings you home!

If you’d like to read more about Midcoast Maine and its residents, THE DO-OVER is available NOW!

Quick Link: Amazon

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Happy Release Day! (your next beach read is just one click away)

Join Maggie, Finn, and the town of Rockport, Maine on this heartwarming, hilarious journey in the first book of the FINDING HOME series. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be able to taste the salt water – but please don’t wet your pants when hilarity ensues. No one wants that.

The Do-Over debuts July 12, 2021 to a bookseller near you!

After years in the grueling California dating scene, Maggie Kelley has finally agreed to marry her Mr. Right Now. But there’s just one teensy problem…the county clerk lets her know that she’s technically still married to her Vegas fling: the best three days she ever had…and can’t actually remember. The moment she sees her very hot husband after eight years, with his works-well-with-his-hands attitude, she’s sure their wedding night must have been explosive.

The absolute last person Finnegan Garrity expected at his door is Maggie—his ultimate “one who got away.” Yet here she is in his small-town boat shop, looking just as adorable as ever…and wanting a divorce. Yeah, he has no intention of letting that happen. Now he’s got one week to convince Maggie that they’re still perfect for each other.

But he’s going to need more than just a do-over: he’s going to need a miracle.

Available NOW!

Surprise! I have ANOTHER new book!

Immortal Magic just went live on the ‘Zon! It’s available in paperback and ebook format, and will soon be available at all retailers where books are sold. It’s a modern paranormal romance with some HEAT!

Liam is cursed for disobeying orders. Centuries old and unable to die, he wants one thing – to find a witch powerful enough to break his curse and end his existence. Liam is called to Willow’s magic and its intoxicating scent, testing his vow of never falling in love again. He believes he’s found his answer in Willow but taking her down this dangerous path to right his wrong will put Willow’s magic—and life—at risk.

Good is the very definition of Willow. Her magic is pure and powerful, gifted by the very essence of Mother Nature. She follows the centuries old rules her coven has abided by and has never dreamed of defying them. That is, until she meets Liam; a man unfairly judged and more innocent than in the wrong. Liam’s wit and roguish charm challenge her ability to control her magical impulses. Helping him would mean putting her gift in his hands.

Tempting dark magic will take his warrior strength, her need to be true to her kind, and a love that could damn them both.

Available NOW on Amazon!