Realms Faire Thunderclap and a Visit from Tara Tyler

Hello, all! I'm hunkered down in my writing cave and trying very hard to finish my WIP before the year is up, so between that, the day job, and getting ready for an out-of-town family wedding I'm taking another short blogging break. But first I just want to share that M.Pax has set up a thunderclap campaign for the Realms Faire and we would all appreciate it so much if you would consider supporting the campaign! As of this writing, we only need 27 more supporters until we hit the magic number of 100. If you would like to support us just click on the picture above or visit the campaign here. Thank you in advance! And thank you to everyone who has already supported the Faire. I am so excited to be part of it this year.

With that I am turning the blog over to my buddy Tara Tyler, who is visiting as part of the blog tour for her latest release Simulation. I hope everyone enjoys what is left of September and I will see you in October for the IWSG. Take it away, Tara!

Scary Future?

Julie and I got to have lunch with Michael DiGesu this summer and it was fabulous! We found out that Michael is actually a tough New Yorker under his sweet blogging personality.

We talked about a lot of things, and one of the topics that stuck out to me was how scary our future looks. I don't know if it's just me being overprotective of my kids and seeing more bad in the world, or if there really is more bad in the world!

Take the lack of enforcement of "minor" laws in New York recently. Have you heard about the girls walking around naked! What's wrong with them? Where is their modesty? And how can anyone feel safe with all the direct threats and violence aimed at police? I don't blame them for keeping their distance from some major crime areas. Not to mention the terrorist threats and protected undocumented immigrants - I'm more concerned about the ones who commit crimes and get away with it. It's as if no one needs to be held responsible for their actions anymore!

Remember when they used to blame bad behavior on rock n roll? Then they blamed video games. Now it's the internet. But the real blame is acceptance. We all need to be stricter parents and more responsible members of society. More respect gets lost with every new generation...

All we can do is keep trying. It's a tough battle with temptations around every corner and at the touch of the screen. I just hope and pray I've done enough to help my kids be a positive influence and productive citizens.

And I can't leave on a sour note, so here are some positive ways to help open kids' eyes to the world around them:
Volunteer at homeless shelters
Do a community buildup project
Do a fundraiser for a cause, but see the cause
Visit a hospital
Do chores for elderly or shut-ins
Visit a nursing home

If you have any suggestions for helping boost a brighter tomorrow - do share!

Thanks for letting me rant, Julie.
I had an awesome time hanging out with Jules at the Imaginarium Creative Writing convention a couple weeks ago. We had a pleasant surprise meeting Jay Noel, too! Julie's so down to earth and funny.I'm glad I know her in person!

SIMULATION
by Tara Tyler
Release Date: Sept 14, 2015

In 2082, androids are an essential part of daily life. Some are helpful, some would make better toasters, and some are so human-like they're creepy. Back in Atlanta, Detective Cooper's latest client has him searching for her boyfriend who she thinks was replaced by a simulation, an illegal clone android. The guy also happens to be a popular new congressman.

As if the case wasn't frustrating enough, Cooper keeps crossing paths with his ex, FBI Agent Geri Harper who's looking for the same guy. As Cooper closes in, Geri is kidnapped. But when she resurfaces in Washington and goes on a killing spree, he knows it isn't her. Now under suspicion himself, Cooper must find the real Geri to prove her innocence, not to mention hunt down the powerful villain behind it all. Never a dull moment.

SIMULATION delivers more technology, more intense action, more humor, and more, distinct new characters. Come along for the ride.

Available Now!

Amazon ~~ Barnes & Noble ~~ Kindle

Goodreads giveaway!

Tara Tyler writes sci fi and fantasy action-adventures from her little corner of the world in Ohio as she tries to keep up with her three boys and coach husband. Always making time to write, she sometimes puts off chores and lets laundry pile up... hence, she's also the Lazy Housewife, offering advice and tips to other gals out there trying to do it all without going crazy. She and her housewife friends blog at The Really Real Housewives of America.

tara tyler talks and tweets and facebooks

And don't forget the Rafflecopter!

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The Rifters & The Turnagain Arm

I'm excited to be helping to spread the word today about the launch of The Rifters, the start of the new series by the super talented M. Pax. But first I wanted to share a bit of news of my own. I decided on a publication date for my Polar Night prequel The Turnagain Arm and will be releasing the novella on Kindle on October 6. My first foray into self-publishing!

Like Polar Night, the prequel takes place in Alaska and the title refers to a waterway near Anchorage called, appropriately enough, the Turnagain Arm. The story takes place in 1917 during the building of the Alaskan railroad.

The Turnagain Arm (source: Wikimedia Commons)

I am anxious to share more about the story as I get closer to the release and particularly excited to show off another amazing cover by the wonderful Michael Di Gesu. But for now I'm shining the spotlight on The Rifters!

Blurb:

The Gold Rush trickles to a fool’s quest and a string of stagecoach heists. In 1888, Earl Blacke decides to make a new start and become a better man. He escapes into the mountains, heading north. In the wilds of Oregon, a rift inside an ancient volcano opens and sends him into the future, into the present day. It also shaves forty years off his age, forty years to live over again and atone for what he’s done.

Starting over is hard to do. In current day New York, Daelin Long’s dream job at a publishing house goes the way of the dinosaurs her sister chases. With no money and nowhere else to go, Daelin accepts the librarian position in her sister’s dinky town in the middle of Oregon. Nestled inside ancient volcanic peaks, the town of Settler holds onto many secrets. Residents roam the streets with weirdly fashioned devices, and odd lights pulse in the night skies. People whisper of a phantom outlaw and start dying, murdered and missing their heads. On top of it all, Daelin’s sister is missing, and Daelin doesn’t know who to trust.

Earl knows more than he’s saying. He shares a notorious history with the phantom, one he’ll see remains buried. Keeping Daelin’s sister’s secrets is his only chance at redemption, and the only way to keep this world safe.

The Rifters is available at an introductory price. The second book in the series, The Initiate, will be available October 20, 2014. It’s up for preorder for a special price at iTunes, Amazon, and B&N. Check HERE for links. Giveaways and events are ongoing through October 31, 2014. Check HERE for details.

Links: Amazon / AmazonUK / B&N / Smashwords /Googleplay / iTunes / Other Outlets

Excerpt:

A woman in a long flowered dress hurried forward carrying a paintbrush. “Hello, hello.” She waved. “Excuse the mess. I’m renovating… again.” She laughed with little snorts, stumbling in a little circle, defying her years. She couldn’t be younger than forty. “Inside joke, man, sorry. What groovieness can I help you find? I know where everything is.” She gestured at the piles of castoff merchandise strewn about.
If not for the goose bumps on her goose bumps, Daelin would have left. “A winter coat? Earl Blacke mentioned you might have some.”
“Oh man! What a tragedy about him, huh?” She wore her amber hair in two braids, tied with twine and decorated with plastic flowers.
Tragedy? What had happened to Earl? Daelin clutched at her knotting stomach. “What do you mean?”
“There was a murder last night. Umm, wow. Didn’t you hear?” She set the paintbrush down on a plate that had been used for the purpose before. Bracelets covered her arms, clinking with her simple movements.
“In Settler?” Violent crime wasn’t what Daelin expected to hear. She didn’t know what she had expected, but not murder.
The thrift store woman leaned in closer, whispering in a conspiratorial tone. “Yeah, they’re saying Earl Blacke killed Susan Leeds. Took her head plum off, man. Only thing is…,” she glanced at the shadows then wet her lips, “her head is missing.” The soft scent of melon accompanied her words.
Earl had murdered somebody? Daelin gulped, getting a lungful of paint fumes. Right, the paint. The fumes had to be messing with her mind. “Are you serious?”

BIO:

M. Pax is author of the space adventure series The Backworlds, plus other novels and short stories. Fantasy, science fiction, and the weird beckons  to her, and she blames Oregon, a source of endless inspiration. She docents at Pine Mountain Observatory in the summers as a star guide, has a cat with a crush on Mr. Spock, and is slightly obsessed with Jane Austen. Learn more at mpaxauthor.com.

IWSG & A Personal Note

It's the August meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and as usual I have plenty that I'm feeling insecure about.

I finished my novella that is a prequel to Polar Night and I plan to release it myself on Kindle in September or October. The novella is called The Turnagain Arm and it takes place in 1917 during the building of the Alaskan railroad. If you read Polar Night you can guess which character is around and making trouble in this story. I already have a cover from the wonderful Michael Di Gesu and can't wait to share it.

So what am I insecure about? I've never formatted a book myself before and really have no clue how to do it. I also don't know anything about self-publishing on Kindle and I worry that I will make a total mess of it. But I am just hoping that since so many of the great writers I am fortunate to know here in the blogosphere have been able to master self-publishing that I will be able to do the same. Or that at least I will be able to do it without making a fool of myself.

While I always enjoy being part of the IWSG, the main purpose for this post is to share a personal matter that has been the focus of my life for the past month or so. My mom has been diagnosed with lymphoma and it's safe to say I haven't been able to focus on writing or blogging or much of anything at all since receiving that news.

I'm going to be taking a leave of absence from work in order to help with her care and will probably be taking a leave from the blogging world as well. I haven't been posting much this summer anyway but I have tried to keep up with my blog reading as I enjoy touching base with everyone. I doubt I'll be able to do much of that either now so I'll most likely just be on hiatus from the blogosphere.

I hope August is a good month for all of you and, for those in the northern hemisphere, I hope you enjoy the last month of summer. :)

The Ghosts of Aquinnah Release Day, Soul Cutter and The Dream Destination Hop!

Thanks to Lexa Cain for this awesome banner!

I'm so excited that my release day is officially here!! The Ghosts of Aquinnah is now available from Ink Smith Publishing and can be purchased through Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and the Ink Smith Store.

I've also been so thrilled to receive some wonderful reviews of the book already. Huge thanks to Christine Rains, Cherie Reich and Lisa Regan! 

From Cherie: "Touching and tragic, The Ghosts of Aquinnah by Julie Flanders will stick with you." 
Christine: "Two stories from different times woven together with elegance and emotion."
and Lisa: "I know a book is great when I keep thinking about it long after I've put it down."

It's safe to say these reviews made my week. Thanks, ladies!

I'm also beyond thrilled to be able to share the intro that the amazing Michael Di Gesu wrote for my story. Michael is the artist behind my cover and also the wordsmith who wrote my blurb for me, and while I loved both of those beyond measure I think he outdid himself with this piece. Michael is such a superb talent! Please visit his blog here to read his intro.  

Before I get to the Lexa & Julie Dream Destination Blog Hop, I am thrilled to be able to share this info about Soul Cutter, the new novel by my hop partner-in-crime, Lexa Cain. Congrats, Lexa!

BLURB: 

The Soul Cutter is hunting again.

Seventeen-year-old Élan spends her free time videoing psychic scams and outing them online. Skepticism makes life safe—all the ghosts Élan encounters are fakes. When her estranged mother disappears from a film shoot in Egypt, Élan puts her medium-busting activities on hold and joins the search.

In Egypt, the superstitious film crew sucks at finding her mom. When a hotel guest is killed, whispers start—the locals think their legendary Soul Cutter has come back from the dead. Élan's only ally is Ramsey, a film-crew intern, but he’s arrogant, stubborn—and hiding dangerous secrets.

When Élan discovers the Soul Cutter is no scam, she finds herself locked in a deadly battle against a supernatural killer with more than her mother’s life at stake.

Élan is fighting for her very soul.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

MuseItUpPublishing

Kobo

One more thing before I get to the hop! I have to send a huge thank you to Lexa for asking me to co-host with her and for making me the wonderful banner at the top of this post. Lexa, you totally rock! :)

Okay, so what is my Dream Destination? I'd love to have unlimited time to take a driving trip all over the western United States. I've been to Arizona and California and loved both, and I'd love to see more. The Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone, Zion National Park, Glacier National Park... I think the scenery and the atmosphere of the west is simply extraordinary. 

Angel's Landing at Zion (Source: Wikimedia)

So maybe one of these days Clancy and I will hop in the car and go on some extended travels. Here's hoping! :)

Thanks to everyone who has signed up for the Hop! If you'd still like to join, simply sign up on the Linky List below. And don't forget to enter to win tons of great prizes through the Rafflecopter! 

 
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IWSG, Nick Wilford's New Venture, and Giveaways

Is it just me, or is this a crazy busy week in the blogosphere? I feel like there are so many things going on! Not the least of which is the monthly meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. This month's co-hosts are Beverly Fox, Julie Luek, Rachna Chabria, and Ilima Todd. Have fun hosting, all!

I'm still on a total high over my cover reveal for The Ghosts of Aquinnah (major thanks again to everyone who is helping me out!) and for once I couldn't really think of a topic for this month's group. It's truly a miracle when I can't think of anything I'm feeling insecure about and I'm sure it won't last. But for now I thought I'd let the insecurities lie and simply focus on sharing positive news this month.

Nick Wilford launched a new business this week and I'm excited to help spread the word about it! I also plan to keep Nick's services in mind for the future, assuming I ever finish my WIP and need help with editing. :D

Here is all the info from Nick himself:

With the unstoppable rise of self-publishing, it’s easier than ever to put your words and stories out there in the world. This is a great thing, and I’m all for it. However, it’s not just about the story - although of course, that is the most important part - but the way it’s presented. After spending months or years on a novel, building an incredible world and honing your characters and storylines to perfection, the last thing you want is to be let down by a lack of editing. It’s just as important as an arresting cover image.

Nick Wilford, Freelance Editor is a one-stop shop for affordable editing, proofreading and formatting services. With professional training and ten years of experience as a journalist and editor, the time has come to transfer these skills in order to help out the fellow authors I have come to love.

But it doesn’t stop there. I’m ready to edit anything; from a crucial term paper, to memoirs and other non-fiction books, short stories, articles or job application letters. Let me put that finishing touch on your masterpiece.

Feel free to take a look at my website for further details of my services and prices.

Bio

Nick Wilford is a writer, freelance editor and stay-at-home dad. Fascinated by words from a young age, he trained as a journalist before embracing the calling of fiction. When not writing he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also co-running a campaign to get a dedicated specialist college built in Scotland.

Links

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

LinkedIn

Congratulations and best of luck to Nick!!

Since I'm sharing positive news, I also want to give a plug to the fantastic Michael Di Gesu, who is responsible for my cover for The Ghosts of Aquinnah as well as blurbs for both of my novels. If you are in need of covers or blurbs, I can't recommend Michael's work enough.

Finally, thanks to everyone who participated in my September Giveaway! The winner of the $20 gift card was Roxy Meto, while Elena Istomina and Sheena-kay Graham won the Polar Night swag.

I'm starting a new giveaway for October and will be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card and an ebook copy (.mobi or .epub) of Polar Night. Entry form below!

Happy October, everyone! My favorite month of the year. :)

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The Ghosts of Aquinnah Cover Reveal!

I'm so excited to share the cover and blurb for my novel The Ghosts of Aquinnah, which will be released on December 5, 2013 by Ink Smith Publishing. Thanks to the amazing Michael Di Gesu for his fantastic work on both!

First up, the cover!

And now the blurb for the story:

A brilliant flash of light transcends through time.

Another freezes a cloaked figure within a frame of salty mist as waves crash against a rocky shore. Her harrowing expression shadows the beacon to a pinprick.

By the next blaze, she is gone. Only the lighthouse remains.

Hannah’s eyes blink in step with each heartbeat. Images of her deceased parents and Martha’s Vineyard explode like firecrackers inside her mind.

She shakes her head.

For weeks this eerie woman dressed in nineteenth century garb has been haunting my webcam, but tonight she stared into my soul.

Why? ...

Who is she? ...

Casting aside months of research on historic lighthouses, Hannah drives to the coast and boards a ferry.

What is the strange connection she has to this mysterious woman suspended in time?

Hannah finds out.

But, it’s not at all what she expects ...

Hannah unravels a century old murder. 

Thanks again to Michael for all his great work on this! I'm so excited about the novel. And thanks to everyone who is helping me with my reveal this week, you guys are the best!

The Ghosts of Aquinnah Cover Reveal

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Michael Di Gesu and I have been putting our heads together for the past few weeks and he's worked his own special brand of magic again to create an amazing cover and blurb for The Ghosts of Aquinnah. Now we can't wait to share both!

We are planning the reveal for Monday, September 30 and I would really appreciate some help getting the word out about my cover. I know it's short notice, but if you are able to share the cover any time during the week of 9/30-10/5 I would be so grateful!

If you are interested please just sign up on the Linky List below and I will get the all the info to you as soon as possible. Thank you!

13th Floor Cover Reveal and Friday Celebrations

I'm taking a break from my Friday Faves this week to shine the spotlight on the amazing cover for The 13th Floor Collection by the super-talented Christine Rains. The 13th Floor stories are must-reads for anyone who loves paranormal tales and it's great to see them all together in this complete set. So without further ado, here is Christine's cover and all the info on the collection.

Title: The 13^th Floor Complete Collection

Author: Christine Rains

Genre: paranormal romance

Release date: October 13^th, 2013

Blurb:

Six supernatural tenants

Living in a haunted apartment building

On a floor that doesn't exist.

Six novellas telling their tales.

A retired demon acquires a price on his head.

A werewolf is hunted by her pack.

A modern day dragonslayer misses his target.

A harpy challenges Zeus for the soul of the man she loves.

A vampire is obsessed with a young woman he can't find.

A banshee falls in love with someone who's death she has seen in a vision.

And a sweet ghost must battle a primal monster to save them all.

All the stories take place at the same time intertwining their lives together on the 13th Floor.

Author Bio:

Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not writing or reading, she is having adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. The 13th Floor series is her first self-published series. She has eight novellas and twenty-one short stories published.

Website: http://christinerains.net/

Blog: http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchristinerains

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@CRainsWriter

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4017568.Christine_Rains

Congratulations to Christine!! If you're looking for a great read, you won't go wrong by checking in with the residents of the 13th Floor.

And now for this week's Celebrate the Small Things hop, hosted by Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author.

This week went by in a blur but I've had some great things to celebrate.

1. I got the proof of my cover for The Ghosts of Aquinnah and I LOVE it! It's perfect and captures the mood and atmosphere of the story better than I ever could have hoped. Seeing the cover has made me even more excited for the release and I can't wait to be able to share it soon.

2. I am still over the moon about my new blurb for Polar Night written by the wonderful Michael Di Gesu. Michael is such an amazing talent and an absolute joy to work with. I highly recommend his services!

3. I FINALLY got started on my sequel to Polar Night and actually got some writing done. This actually isn't the first time I've started, but every other time I've been totally uninspired by everything I've written and ended up deleting my pages in frustration and disgust. This time truly feels different and I think I'm on the right track this time, so I'm super excited about that.

So it's been a great week and it's also been fun to be able to share covers and posts from my friends Cathrina, Sheena-kay, and Christine this week.

Finally, just a reminder that my September Giveaway is in full swing and you can enter through the Rafflecopter form below. Also, Polar Night is on sale at Smashwords for 10% now through October 6. Use coupon code DK46V to get the discount.

Happy weekend, everyone!

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New Polar Night Blurb

I'm really excited to share my new blurb for Polar Night, courtesy of the awesomely talented Michael Di Gesu. I told Michael I wanted a blurb that captured more of the paranormal aspect of the novel and also one that was shorter than my original blurb. He came through in a big way and I'm just thrilled with the result!

So here it is, the new blurb:

At noon the sun awakens as rural Dalton highway is painted on the arctic, Alaskan horizon. Silhouetted against the burning haze, a haunted asylum pierces the never-ending sky.

A woman screams.

A silken voice and a powerful grip to the throat persuades her silence. His classic Russian features, not unlike the minted image of Czar Nicolas II, remain frozen in time. “Please do not disappoint me like the others, my darling.”

The doorbell chimes. He releases his hold and caresses her cheek. “Natasha,” escapes his lips as he ascends the creaky wooden stairs. A calm hand opens the door. The glistening snow on the front porch pales against Aleksei’s skin and charming smile.

The callused hand of a detective, Danny Fitzpatrick, flashes a search warrant. His puffy, bloodshot eyes lock onto Aleksei’s ...

The young woman cries out, but only Aleksei hears. They will never find you my dear. This beaten and hung over man does not have a clue.

Hours later, the detective crosses the threshold and shudders as if encased in a block of ice. The sun drops to sleep and an eerie shadow creeps alongside him. He shakes his head.

Aleksei watches from the peephole. You feel my immortal essence ... do you not? A forceful hand bolts the door. Aleksei probes his elongating eye teeth.

It is time for a new plan ...

I so love it!! And I'm so grateful to Michael for working with me on this. Visit his blog today for more on his work and a before and after of our blurbs. And check out the services he now offers through his business Michael Di Gesu Presents.

I thought the new blurb was a great way to celebrate the fact that Polar Night is on sale for 10% off at Smashwords through October 6, 2013. Just use coupon code DK46V to get the discount. 

Finally, just a reminder that my September giveaway is going on through the end of the month!


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