Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Release Party: Devil and the Deep

Devil and the Deep Release Day Party: 30 September

Blurb

STORM CLOUDS ARE GATHERING, AND THEY WILL RAIN BLOOD. 
Scarlett is living her happy-ever-after, back in the real world. Only the ‘happy’ part is proving problematic.
For starters, there’s the isolation. Being a Cerulean among humans is fraught with risk, so her time with people can only be fleeting. Which means being with Luke but not being with Luke.
Then there’s her Cerulean light, her power over life and death. Less awesome talent, as it turns out, and more overwhelming responsibility. And it comes with rules – rules that are increasingly difficult to obey.
But what’s really pushing Scarlett to the precipice is something much bigger than herself, than her life in the cove. A force to be reckoned with:
Blood.
When long-buried truths are exposed, will Scarlett keep her head above water – or will she drown in the blood-dimmed tide that is unleashed?

 

Buy links


 

Excerpt


It began with screaming. Shrill, ear-piercing, horrified screaming.
A girl shrieked, ‘Blood! Look, look – it’s everywhere!’ and pressed her hand to her mouth.
A man shouted, ‘Good grief!’ and another, ‘Great Scott!’
An old lady swooned gracefully and would have tipped over the balustrade of the riverboat had a lanky lad not caught her.
The cause of the excitement – a woman lying slumped on the long table on deck, cheek on her bread plate, headdress in the butter dish – twitched a little.
‘She’s alive!’ cried a lad beside her delightedly. ‘She moved!’
‘Did not,’ argued another.
‘Did too!’
‘Gentlemen,’ interjected a short, portly man with a twirly black moustache, ‘if you will forgive my intrusion, it must be noted that this woman has a bullet hole in her head and is logically, therefore, quite definitely deceased.’
Another old dear folded to the deck with a prolonged ‘Ohhhhhh’ and her husband grabbed a feathered fan and began wafting cool evening air in her face while calling, ‘Smelling salts – does anyone have any?’
I tried to keep a straight face. Really I did. I bit my bottom lip until I tasted my cherry-red lipstick. I pinched my leg through the cream satin of my gown. I dug my long cigarette holder into the sensitive flesh of my arm.
But it was no good.
The ‘What ho, chaps’ posh accents.
The buxom woman sagging in the arms of an elephant hunter wearing Converse All Stars.
The production of smelling salts in a bottle whose label read Pepto-Bismol.
The corners of the little round man’s moustache coming looser with his every word.
The fast-pooling puddle of pinkish blood on the bread plate, buffeted by the steady in-and-out breaths of the corpse.
Take it from a girl who’s really died – death on the River Dart, Devon, is hilarious.
‘Dear me, Ms Robson here appears to be quite overcome with shock,’ said the guy at my side suddenly, and he slipped an arm around me and turned me away. ‘Come, madam. Let us get some air.’
I smiled at him. Then grinned. Then choked back a guffaw. Thankfully, by the time full-scale hilarity hit me I’d been led to the rear of the boat, away from the rest of our party, and could bury my face in the bloke’s chest and shake mutely with laughter.
The gallant gentleman rubbed my back soothingly as I let it all out and said loudly, for the benefit of any onlookers, ‘There there, pignsey, there there.’
‘Pigsney?’ It was the final straw. My high-heeled sandals gave way and I melted into a puddle of mirth on the deck.
‘I’ll have you know, Scarlett Blake,’ hissed Luke, my boyfriend a.k.a. gallant gent, hoiking up his too-tight corduroy trousers so he could squat down beside me, ‘I Googled “old-fashioned terms of endearment” and pigsney’s a classic.’
I wiped tears from my eyes, dislodging a false eyelash in the process, and tried to catch my hiccupping breath as Luke went on.
‘Means pig’s eye. No idea why that’s appealing, but apparently in the seventeenth century, calling a lady pigsney was the very height of courting.’
Through his fake specs Luke’s blue eyes fixed me with a stare so earnest I almost managed to stop laughing.
‘But this is a Death on the Nile-Stroke-Dart murder mystery night, Luke,’ I managed to get out. ‘Set in the nineteen thirties, not the seventeen thirties.’
‘Ah,’ he said, ‘but my character tonight, Mr Fijawaddle, is a historical fiction writer, isn’t he? So as well as dressing like a brainy recluse – and I’m warning you now, I won’t hear another slur against this tweed jacket – he’d know all kinds of obscure terms. Like ginglyform and jargogle and nudiustertian and bromopnea and farctate and quagswag and philosophunculist.’
His showing off sobered me just enough to control the giggles. ‘You made those words up,’ I accused, poking a crimson talon into his mustard-yellow shirtfront.
He blinked at me innocently. ‘Did not. I told you before we left the house, I did my homework.’
I narrowed my eyes. ‘All right then, Mr Fijawaddle, what does that last word you said mean?’
‘Philosophunculist?’
‘Yes, that.’
‘Er…’ Luke gave me a sheepish grin.
‘Spill it,’ I said menacingly. As menacingly as a girl dressed up as a vintage Hollywood starlet with cute little pin curls and rouge aplenty can be, that is.
‘Philosophunculist,’ recited Luke. ‘Noun. A person who pretends to know more than they do in order to impress others.’
I threw my head back and laughed. ‘Busted!’
Luke slipped an arm around me and pulled me close. Really close.
‘Bet you like it when I use long words,’ he said huskily, eyes fixed on my too-red lips.
‘Bet you like it when I wear a clingy nightgown as a dress,’ I replied, eyes fixed on his too-kissable lips.
‘Brazen hussy,’ he growled at me.
‘Randy boffin,’ I murmured back.
Then neither of us said another word for quite some time. 



Megan Tayte bio


Once upon a time a little girl told her grandmother that when she grew up she wanted to be a writer. Or a lollipop lady. Or a fairy princess fireman. ‘Write, Megan,’ her grandmother advised. So that’s what she did.

Thirty-odd years later, Megan is a professional writer and published author by day, and an indie novelist by night. Her fiction – young adult romance with soul – recently earned her the SPR’s Independent Woman Author of the Year award.

Megan grew up in the Royal County, a hop, skip and a (very long) jump from Windsor Castle, but these days she makes her home in Robin Hood's county, Nottinghamshire. She lives with her husband, a proud Scot who occasionally kicks back in a kilt; her son, a budding artist with the soul of a palaeontologist; and her baby daughter, a keen pan-and-spoon drummer who sings in her sleep. When she's not writing, you'll find her walking someplace green, reading by the fire, or creating carnage in the kitchen as she pursues her impossible dream: of baking something edible.

You can find Megan online at:
Website
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
 

 

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Monday, September 28, 2015

Release Day Party: Violence Begets

violencebegetsrelease
On September 28, the audiobook and print versions of YA LGBT Fiction “Violence Begets…” releases! Get your copy today.

About the Book

Title: Violence Begets
Author: PT Denys
VB_Cover_ONLYGenre: YA LGBT Fiction
After a tragic accident devastates his family, 16-year-old Rick St. James starts his junior year of high school without any friends in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah. When he meets Kevin Vincent, he’s too distracted by the promise of new friends to see that Kevin has secrets of his own.
Having created an environment where he’s feared and admired by his classmates, Kevin finds pleasure in using his good looks and violence to control and manipulate those around him. Secretly, he cruises the gay club scene, turning tricks to earn money so he can party and get high.
As Rick’s dad becomes increasingly violent and abusive at home, the two form a surprising and volatile trust. In this battle of wills, their precarious friendship will either keep their lives from blowing up around them or possibly light the fuse that will cause the explosion.

Author Bio

102e192PT never imagined she’d actually publish a book. But, the story of Violence Begets… haunted her for over 20 years, and the lives of Kevin and Rick had to be shared.
In addition to writing a sequel, she divides her time between family, work, attending theater and reading.
Above all else she loves being a mother to 2 amazing daughters (a teenager and a baby).
PT believes that no one deserves to be intentionally hurt (physically or emotionally) by another. She also believes that behind nearly every bully is a story.
Links
Website: www.PTDenys.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/ptdenys

Get the audiobook on:

Cover Reveal: Fright Before Christmas

Book Blurb: It's the most wonderful time of year...or is it?  Christmas Eve is a night of mystery and magic, but not always in ways we expect. Things lurk in the shadows and they're not the least bit jolly or merry. Let's just say some presents are better left unopened. ‘Tis the season to be screaming along with our thirteen tales of holiday horrors. Ghosts. Monsters. Demons. And more!  This Christmas, be careful what you wish for...

Author List:
Richard Ankers
 Jackie Horsfall
 Boyd Reynolds
Lea Storry
Ally Mathews
Laura Pauling
Ty Drago
Jessica Bayliss
Judith Graves
Andrea Stanet
Patrick Hueller
Dax Varley
Medeia Sharif

Pre-Order Sale and Book Links: Goodreads Pre-Order ebook sale for $1.99 – regular price $3.99 Amazon,   B and N, iBooks,

  GoodReads Giveaway Code:


Goodreads Book Giveaway

Fright Before Christmas by Shannon Delany

Fright Before Christmas

by Shannon Delany

Giveaway ends December 05, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway
Goodreads Giveaway Link

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Guest Post: Kate Padilla

Observation as inspiration
by Kate Padilla
Author: Save Me, San Francisco

I've been meaning to write this post for a while, but I didnt know what to write about. I write book reviews and I've written a collection of short stories. But I still didn't think I had anything to say, at least not in a response- or character-driven format. 

But then one morning earlier this week I was listening to Ryan Adams' album 1989, which is a song-for-song copy of Taylor Swift's most recent album. I haven't listened to her album, in part because it's not available for me on the avenues I use to listen to most of my music. But Adam's version of the album is excellent, and it's obvious he took Swift's album and used it to create his own unique piece.

And there it was: my topic for this post.

I wrote my collection of short stories, Save Me, San Francisco, off of music the band Train has released over the course of their career. Many artists, when asked, will talk about the movies, books, music, or other forms of art that inspired them in their own creations. In some cases indirectly (Stephanie Meyer took a lot of inspiration from Muse's music in writing the Twilight series) and sometimes more directly (E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey in relation to Twilight, or my own book in relation to Train's music). 

Is this okay? Is it shameless stealiing in the name of creativity, or is it focused observation leading to inspiration?

I think it depends on the artist, but I would argue for the latter of the two scenarios. One of the most integral parts of creativity has absolutely nothing to do with creating anything. In order to be creators, we must first be consumers.

This is why anyone worth the words they write will tell any budding author that a good writer is first a good reader. It's why artists listen extensively to others' music. It's why fashion designers can tell the intricacies that make Chanel so expensive.

Inspiration comes from observation. The best artists carry some paper and a pen with them (or have a well-used notebook feature on their phone) to jot down an idea the minute it comes down. Ideas are fleeting, so it's important to get them down in the moment before they are forgotten. Most of them won't turn into anything of substance, but occasionally there's a gem that will turn into something great. That gem makes the entire process worthwhile.

In my own writing, I take a lot of inspiration from the outside world. In my fiction, most of my ideas come from music I listen to. In my non-fiction, most of my writing comes in response to books I read, experiences I have or things I read or hear about in the broader world. Without consciously observing the world around me, I would have nothing to write. And that's not understatement.

Of course, there is more to it than just seeing the world around you, but that's where an artist's mind comes in. We are naturally geared toward reflection. It is in our blood to interpret what goes on in the world around us, and to translate that into art. When we are present in those moments, we hone that skill into something beautiful. 

So the next time you're in a crowded place (a mall, a festival, wherever you are at a given moment) try this exercise. Sit down, pull out your notebook or the note app on your phone, and choose a random stranger in the crowd. That guy in the business suit passing by, he's your next character. Look at his actions and body language. What is he doing? What does he look like? Jot that down. Then, using his behavior, create his story. What is he going through in his life right now? How is that influencing his experience in that moment? 


Maybe you're in a writing slump. Maybe you're searching for your next story. Maybe you desperately want to be a writer but you don't know where to start. Start with whats around youwith the music you listen to, the movies you watch and the books you read. Start with the world you live in right in this moment. You'd be surprised what amazing things can be created.
 

SYNOPSIS
Save Me, San Francisco is collection of 30 short stories inspired by the music of Train. Each story corresponds to a song Train released over the course of the band's first six albums, from 1998's Train to 2012's California 37. Because the stories are an interpretation of the song, however, the parallels often end at the title.

REVIEWS
Her characterisation is excellent and her timing impeccable, the story ends as the music does, often abruptly; this may not be your idea of how the story should be, but it still deserves to be read. Linda, Woman on the Edge of Reality (4/5 stars)

Overall, this anthology will leave you with a good taste in your mouth, and with really pretty cool music on your playlist. Josselyn, Chapter 5 Books Blog (5/5 stars)

AUTHOR BIO
Kate Padilla is a journalist, writer, blogger and book reviewer who operates the blog Blondie Marie and writes for the Spencer Daily Reporter in Spencer, Iowa. Save Me, San Francisco is her first novel, though she is tentatively beginning what she hopes will be a novel (also inspired by music). When she's not writing (or reading), she's running, crafting or helping renovate the house she and her husband bought two years ago. She lives in Spencer, Iowa with her husband, their 9-month-old son and two pugs.


QUICK LINKS


Twitter: @katempadilla, @msblondiemarie

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Release Announcement: Luminous Dreams


“LUMINOUS DREAMS” BY ALEXA PIPER
NOW AVAILABLE
FROM RED MOON ROMANCE

Alpena, MI (September 22, 2015– Red Moon Romance (Eileen Wiedbrauk, Editor-in-Chief) has announced Luminous Dreams, an erotic romance short story collection by Alexa Piper, is available in trade paperback and ebook today, Tuesday, September 22, 2015.
Relax, close your eyes… and dream. Eight tales, eight sensual dreams of enchantment, wanderlust and lovers’ longings, of searching and finding; these dreams tell of birds of fire, curses that lie like bridges between night and day, and hunger for sweet seduction.
Luminous Dreams is available in trade paperback and ebook via Amazon.comAll Romance eBooksWorldWeaverPress.comand other online retailers, and for wholesale through and Ingram. You can also find Luminous Dreams on Goodreads.
Alexa Piper enjoys writing, romance, and the paranormal. This said, becoming a paranormal romance writer seemed perfectly reasonable, but for Alexa, it is more than that; it's fun. Alexa’s work has appeared in the Red Moon Romance anthology Demons, Imps, and Incubi and The Naughty List. Luminous Dreams is Alexa's first collection, and she hopes her readers will have as much fun reading it as she had writing it. Check out Alexa’s online home (alexapiper.com) for all things related to her writing and be sure to follow her on Twitter @prowlingpiper.
Red Moon believes in romance. We believe reading should be fun. We believe that at their core, romances are courtship stories, focused tightly on the emotions of the relationship. We don’t raise an eyebrow at any woman’s reading choices because we believe a woman deserves whatever fiction incites her passions. Whether a sweet fairy-tale ending or a scorching hot love affair, we believe in giving a woman what she wants. Hot romance, it's what we do.
World Weaver Press is a publisher of fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction, dedicated to producing quality works. We believe in great storytelling.


Publication Date: September 22, 2015 • Paranormal Erotic Romance / Short Story Collection

$9.95 trade paperback, 128 pages  • $3.99 ebook
ISBN: 978-0692526002
Publicity/Reviews: publicity@worldweaverpress.com

Information:


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Monday, September 21, 2015

Cover Reveal: The Case of the Washed-up Warlock

Title: The Case of the Washed-Up Warlock (Poison Ivy Charm School #2)
Author:  Patrice Lyle
Publisher: Leap Books
Release Date: October 5, 2015

Back-cover blurb
When thirteen-year-old Tulip Bonnaire’s super-cute crush, Dexter, is threatened with expulsion from Poison Ivy Charm School, she can’t help but take the case. Someone has put a spell on Garrett’s Levitation skills and all the evidence, including the testimony of a sea hag stone, points to Dex. Tulip can’t imagine Poison Ivy without him, so she’s intent on proving his innocence. But that means delving into an old secret to find out who turned Garrett into a washed-up warlock.


Author Bio:

 Patrice Lyle has never met a ghost story she didn’t like. She’s been fascinated with the paranormal since childhood. She attributes this fascination to having heard old family stories of ghostly wreaths, ESP, and money hidden in the lining of antique purses. She grew up on the Oregon Coast and has a Master’s Degree in Writing Popular Fiction. Now she lives with her husband and two cats on Florida’s Space Coast, where she’s working on her next novel under an umbrella on the beach. For more information, please visit her website at www.patricebooks.com