Posted on 18 Comments

12 Days of Indies Countdown- Day 12

12 Days of Indies Day 12 Pick List
This post was updated 12/13/2021

Hello Lovelies,

Welcome back to my annual 12 days of Indies, where I share some of the top indie books available. For those who are new to this fun event, the deal is that each day I will share a new list of books that are on sale from now through December 24th. Each day, I will choose one book from the list to purchase and encourage you to do the same. Then share the one you chose and invite your friends and followers to also join the fun and purchase a book.

From the beginning of this event, I’ve always required that e-books be listed $2.99 or less. to be included on the list, so for anyone who chooses to participate, you can do so for under $40. However, several of the authors were good enough to also include a sale on their paperbacks and as I am a total paperback hound I will be including those on the list as well. I try to collect a wide range of genres each day so that you should have no problem picking one book a day.

This is a great way to feed your reading for 2021 at a reasonable price while also supporting indie authors.

Without further ado, let’s kick off today’s list of books.

Day 12 of the 12 Days of Indies

Water & Fire (The Dragon Pillars Book 1) by Sanzaki Kojika

Water and Fire Dragon Pillars Series book 1
Cover for Water and Fire Dragon Pillars Series book 1 by Sanzaki Kojika

There is a legend that everyone knows- the legend of the Dragon Pillars. Every several hundred years, darkness befalls the land. The Dragons awaken and choose their Pillars, humans strong enough to withstand their powers, and together they drive back the darkness.

In the towering cathedral of Vivdaugas, students flock to study the archives built upon the legend and train to reach the glory of its heroes. Garred Conway is preparing for his test to become a true Defender when a storm threatens to destroy the citadel, and the land around it. Trapped in the catacombs, desperate to save those he cares for, he finds help from the most surprising place- the Water Dragon Aysu. Now, as Aysu’s new pillar, he finds himself with more responsibility thrust on him than he could have ever imagined.

Only $2.99

Grab the e-book today!

 

A Whisper In The Shadows: (Rangers of Laerean, #1) by Tom Fallwell

A Whisper In The Shadows: (Rangers of Laerean, #1) by Tom Fallwell
A Whisper In The Shadows: (Rangers of Laerean, #1) by Tom Fallwell

When the Ranger Baric meets the exotic and alluring woman from Vaar’da, called Whisper, he agrees to assist her on what seems a simple rescue mission that soon turns into something far more complicated than he expected. Their journey soon becomes a deadly and suicidal quest into the Great Divide, an area of Hir where men fear to travel, into the realm of the demonic Manenase, who live under a great volcano in the center of the Boiling Sea.

The fate of Hir depends on the courage and skills of the heroic Rangers and their small Vaar’da companion, as they struggle to save the world of Hir from impending disaster.

Paperback is also on sale: normally $19.99 on sale for $16.99

E-book only $2.99

Grab it now!

Divinity’s Twilight: Rebirth by Christopher Russell

WINNER: 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards for Fantasy (OZMA)

Divinity's Twilight Rebirth By Christopher Russell
Divinity’s Twilight Rebirth By Christopher Russell

Enter the world of Divinity’s Twilight, a gripping fantasy epic from the mind of Christopher Russell. Ancient forces will rise, realms will be shattered, and a band of unsuspecting heroes will shoulder a cosmic struggle two millennia in the making.

Teaser

A world consumed by war . . .

An ancient evil resurrected . . .

A millennia old bargain comes due . . .

When two blades clash, the third will fall, and the fate of all will be jeopardized. To save Lozaria, the failures of the past must be atoned for by a new generation of heroes. The time has come for mortals to cast off sight and, in doing so, truly come to see . . .

Victory is never absolute.

Seven centuries ago, the forces of order won the Illyriite War on the plains of Har’muth. Darmatus and Rabban Aurelian slew their elder brother, Sarcon, the despotic architect of the conflict, then sacrificed themselves to banish the cataclysmic vortex opened with his dying breath. The first advent of the Oblivion Well was thwarted. Even without their vanished gods, the seven races of Lozaria proved themselves capable of safeguarding their world.
Or so the story goes.
The year is now 697 A.B.H (After the Battle of Har’muth). Though war itself remains much the same, the weapons with which it is waged have evolved. Airships bearing powerful cannons ply the skies, reducing the influence of mages and their spells. Long range communication has brought far flung regions of Lozaria closer than ever before. At the center of this technological revolution are the three Terran states of Darmatia, Rabban, and Sarconia, who have fought a near ceaseless campaign of 700 years in an attempt to best each other. The roots of their enmity lie buried beneath the wasteland of Har’muth, a place all three nations consider best forgotten.
However, an ancient power sealed within Har’muth has not forgotten them, and the descendants of those who fought on that field must now take a stand to rectify the mistakes of the past.

Grab the e-book today for only $2.99 from your preferred retailer.

Or grab the discounted paperback (Normally $19.95, sale $12.95) from the author’s website

Special Features: Signed, Includes a bookmark and one poster of your choice (Put: Pyrevant, Airship, Lilith, or Valescar in the check-out notes)

A Bond of Thread by Allegra Pescatore & J.P. Burnison

A Bond of Thread by Allegra Pescatore & J.P. Burnison
A Bond of Thread by Allegra Pescatore & J.P. Burnison

Enter the Nine Lands of the Mountain Fell. 

Skye has only ever known pain and solitude since waking up with neither memories or magic. Hunted for being a Ruler in a time when they are scarce, she has survived in the wilds near the Rim, always on the run from the rest of her kind. Only starvation could draw her close to a village, but when a chance encounter and a bit of bad luck launch her into the arms of a man whose soul is bonded to hers, hiding who she is may no longer be possible.

Ilyas is a hunted man. Wanted for killing the last High Queen of Vine, he is plagued by his past of wholesale slaughter. He never wanted another Queen, and certainly not a half-feral, distrustful girl who gave up on the Fae a long time ago. Unfortunately, Soulbonds are not so easily walked away from, no matter how hard they both may want to, especially when trapped together in a cave with a pack of Feral Fae right outside.

With long-held enmities breaking out between the besieged villagers and all their lives on the line, Ilyas and Skye must learn to work together and trust each other if they want to survive.

E-book is only $2.99

Join the adventure today!

Only Human (The Human Cycle Book 1) by JD Estrada
Only Human (The Human Cycle Book 1) by JD Estrada
Nathaniel Runnels isn’t a fan of life. He isn’t a fan of the news, which is a bust because he’s a reporter. He’s lost faith in journalism, in the truth, in civilization and in himself. So it’s quite the surprise when he gets swept up in a quest to save the world. Perception and reality collide as one man faces one question, would you sacrifice your humanity to save mankind?
Only Human is a tale where the truth is revealed about vampires, about therians (make sure you don’t call them werewolves), about angels, about demons, the photogeni plant people and humanity as we supposedly know it. This isn’t your typical book, these aren’t your typical vampires and what has been said is fiction, may actually be truer than the history you’ve been sold.

Pick One

So the point of the challenge is to pick at least one book each day and this is my least favorite part of the challenge, TBH. All of these are on my TBR and it is always so hard to choose! But I have been kinda slack on my IG bookstagram the last year so definitely taking advantage of the paperback sales for A Whisper in the Shadows and Divinity’s Twilight. Those covers are just gorgeous!

For those who didn’t see the masterlist, Tom Fallwell has all the books in the Ranger’s series on sale… Just sayin’!

Which one will you be buying? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share with your friends and family and maybe your book club!

Until next time,

Keep Reading!

Posted on 3 Comments

Dream Walking- October Frights 2020

Hello Lovelies,

I’m so excited to be part of Anita Stewart’s October Frights Blog Hop, 2020. For those new to October Frights, a group of phenomenal authors get together and share fun posts to get you in the Halloween spirit. Some are short stories, some are scenes from a book, but all are designed to help you get in the mood for my favorite holiday of the year! And for those who like to experience that mood all year long, there’s usually a pretty awesome giveaway too, so be sure to read through this whole post to learn about the other stops and how to enter into the giveaway!

October Frights Past

Here is my entry from 2018, sharing Survivalist Bible

Dream Walking

I am falling! But this time it is different. I can see a blurry shape above me, perhaps a bridge? I feel big fat raindrops falling on my face and in my open mouth as I scream… yet no sound comes out. I wait for the moment when I awake. This happens every time, right before I hit the ground, but this time I hit and sink and don’t wake up.

Instead my head submerges in icy cold water, and I can feel it rushing in my mouth and out my nose. My eyes slam close, yet the water gets in anyway. I can feel myself being tossed about in the tumultuous waves. My lungs are burning, but every time I try to splutter the water out and inhale fresh air, a wave forces more water in! I try to swim, but the heavy wet clothes pull me down.

The panic is rising, along with the water. I shrug out of my coat and feel the water rip it away from me. The world is going dark, and the burning sensation in my lungs feels like it is numbing. Sluggishly, I try to swim, but to where? After only a few seconds, I give up. It is too hard.

My head hits something really hard, the pain pulling me back from the cold darkness. I open my eyes and see red all around me. I panic, trying to get to up, but I don’t know which way that is….

And then I woke up.  This was the most vivid dream I had ever had, and at 7 years old, I had no reference for what I had experienced. I remember running to my mom’s room crying, and her pulling me into bed only to realize that I was drenched in sweat. She gave me a warm bath, but the water terrified me. After getting me into a clean pair of pajamas, she took me downstairs and made me a glass of warm milk. While I sipped on the milk she assured me that it was just a dream and that I was fine. When she put me back to bed she sang me to sleep for the first time in a very long time.

The next weekend, my family went with some friends on a hike in Yellowstone, a pretty common experience for us. As we were heading in, there was a traffic stop. My brother and I were playing in the backseat and didn’t really pay attention to what was happening.

We arrived at the trail head that we enjoyed most, as it led down to the river. The river was a lot of fun, because you could see fish and birds, and you could find the absolute best skipping stones! My mom’s friend Jeff was teaching me to skip stones and I was really excited.

As we were walking up to the bridge, I got a sort of sick feeling in my stomach. Going over the bridge I got dizzy and slowed down. Mom noticed me lagging behind and gestured for me to keep up. When we got to the other side, Jeff sent us looking for stones. “Be careful on the water’s edge, the storms the last week have caused the river to swell,” he admonished.

The rushing water wooshed along, causing a dull roar. The normally placid river was frothing and murky from all the sand being kicked up. Looking into the water, I could see sticks and logs, and other objects being sucked along. Watching the objects being pulled under, and then coming back up reminded me of the nightmare that had scared me so badly earlier in the week.

I didn’t want to skip rocks anymore. I didn’t want to be anywhere near that water! I stayed close to the tree line, wandering along and looking at the animal tracks in the mud. Away from the water, my anxiety eased a bit. A Western Meadowlark was singing in the trees and I searched for her, hoping to see her nest and maybe some babies. I was obsessed with babies.

The wind started picking up, and the sky grew stormy. The spring storm moved in quickly and the adults gathered us to head back. As big icy drops began falling from the sky, I stared up in absolute horror. I was frozen in fear. There was no way I was going anywhere near that bridge. Jeff had to scoop me up and carry me. He carried me all the way back to the car. By the time we got back to the car it was storming and we were all soaked to the bone. My mom started the car and waited for the windows to defog before pulling out onto the road. The weather left the children quiet and staring out the windows.

“I sure hope they find that poor girl,” Jeff muttered to my mom. My ears perked up, curious about what girl they were referring to.

“Can you imagine, being lost in Yellowstone for almost a week? Poor thing.”

“These storms are no good,” Jeff added darkly, “washing away tracks and scents, and leaving her soaked.” He shook his head.

“Do you think she is still alive?” My mom asked.

“Hard to say. If she were smart, could start a fire, maybe….” He left the thought hanging. I didn’t think he sounded like he thought she was still alive.

A week later, my mom was listening to the radio while she was making dinner. My brother and I were playing with his cars in the living room. The news came on and my mom turned it up as one story caught her attention.

“The body of 15 year old Sarah Margoulis was found this morning by searchers in Yellowstone. She was caught in a pile of debris floating in the Yellowstone River. Although they do not know exactly how she died, it is presumed that she drown. She has been dead approximately two weeks.  Our hearts and prayers go out to her family….”

It is presumed that she drown… that was what I had dreamed that night. Drowning! Is it possible that I was there with her, my spirit wandering in my dreams as the Native Americans taught? Although the idea scared me, I couldn’t help wondering if she knew I was there. If my presence made her feel less alone.

October Frights 2020

Here are the other amazing participants this year:


Night to Dawn Magazine & Books LLC

Hawk’s Happenings

Curiosities

James McDonald

Always Another Chapter

Spreading the Writer’s Word

Yours in Storytelling

Carmilla Voiez

Hello Romance

GirlZombieAuthors

Frighten Me

M’habla’s!

Angela Yuriko Smith

Brain Matter

NLCARTERWRITES.COM

The Giveaway

Love all the thrills you’ve seen through the hop? Be sure to take advantage of the 22 books that these amazing authors are also giving to those who participate in the blog hop. I’ve read The 13 Tales of Illusory by Stephanie Ayers, and am so excited to enjoy these other books!

The October Frights Giveaway  

Posted on

Welcome to CyCon’s Urban Fantasy Blog Hop

Hello Lovelies, 
How exciting! CyCon has begun again! I’m excited to participate in the discussion of fantasy’s integration into society as part of the CyCon’s Urban Fantasy blog hop. (In case you missed it, you can find the first stop on Lin Ryal’s page) 

 We live in an amazing time where it is chic to be geek. Where Game of Thrones is the most popular television program, where LARPing happens in city parks and no one bats an eye, where fantasy has become an integral element of society. From Harry Potter to Supernatural, fantasy realms bleeding into our own world are not only common, they are deeply desired. 
It is such an exciting time for those of us who were always drawn to the fantastical. But what has led to this rise of popularity in Fantasy? I remember reading a fascinating article while at university (that, of course, I cannot find now) that talked about how in times of struggle, fiction entertainment rose rapidly as it was a way to escape. Is that what we’re seeing with the rise in Fantasy? 

​​Perhaps. But I think it is more than that. See, what makes Fantasy so wonderful is that it is a safe space to explore hard topics such as racism, sexism, classism, what it means to be a hero, what it means to be good. These are societal questions that plague every generation and you can see their response in the literature of their time. I think that is a huge reason we’ve seen such a rise in all fantasy, but especially in urban fantasy. Because urban fantasy brings it just a little bit closer to home. We’re not just exploring the hero’s journey through a male hobbit who lived in a whole other time and place, we are looking at a modern boy who grew up under a cupboard. We’re looking at a group of teens who’s town has been invaded by vampires (as happens in my series The Hunters) and their struggle to protect the ones they love from the monsters. As the series goes along we discover a hard truth, that most monsters are monsters because they were victims first
Urban Fantasy is a great mirror that allows us to look at many different hard truths, as I explore in The Clear Angel Chronicles. Truths like the concept that those who are different are still often not accepted by most of society. Clear’s struggles as a psychic mirror the struggle of those with sensory processing issues. Her visions that she cannot block out or control are much like those on the autism spectrum who are unable to process all the stimuli that hits them every day. 

​​  While I appreciate the sentiment that “escapist fiction” is there to entertain, I think that most of us read it not only to be entertained but also to see these lessons and reflections. To explore these deeper thoughts and ideas. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below! 
And don’t miss out on the other exciting conversations happening in this fun blog hop!

Want to see the other Urban Fantasy fun events we have happening? Check out the masterlist! 
And then take some time this weekend to explore some of your other favorite genres as well! 

Until next time, 

Keep Reading! 

Posted on

The Music Behind Riftmaker

The Music Behind Riftmaker

A guest post by Phoebe Darqueling

Hello Lovelies, 

Today we have a delightful guest post from steampunk and portal fantasy author Phoebe Darqueling, as one of the stops on her tour for her latest novel Riftmaker. This is such a fun post as we haven’t had anyone talk about music recently. I hope you enjoy! 

There are a few topics that come up in online writing groups over and over again. How to get over writer’s block in its various iterations takes the #1 spot, but the question of what music people listen to while writing easily comes in somewhere in the top 5. While many people prefer silence, I am definitely one of those people that needs a little something extra going on in the background in order to find my flow.

Movies and Soundtracks

While I was writing Riftmaker, I had two methods for creating the right environment for writing this adventure about a dog who wakes up in a human body after falling through a rift in time and space. The first was to put on movies in the background. No just any movie would do, though. I would cycle through the Harry Potter films, then all of Lord of the Rings, then Pirates of the Caribbean. Then it would start all over again. This would drive a lot of people absolutely insane, but for me, it just worked. For one thing, I’d seen them all several times already, so I wasn’t distracted by the plots. But I also think a huge reason for their appeal was that they had soundtracks that captured the kind of mood I wanted to write.

Hans Zimmer, who wrote the music for both Pirates of the Caribbean and the recent Sherlock Holmes films, immediately comes to mind. He has a very old world feeling that really lends itself to writing Steampunk/Gaslamp Fantasy. The Harry Potter films had various composers, but one thing that’s true for all of the movie soundtracks I enjoy writing to is that there are string instruments involved. I never played the violin myself, but I find that it speaks to me in a way that really gets my creative juices flowing.

Old Meets New

Which brings me to the other music that inspired Riftmaker. Around the time I started writing this book, I also discovered Lindsey Stirling. She’s a fantastic musician who mixes her classical violin training with contemporary music styles like electronic dance music and dubstep. It was love at first listen, and I started building a playlist on Pandora around her music. Soon, that led me to artists like Caravan Palace and Beats Antique, that borrow from older musical traditions and mash them up together or with new beats.

The songs of movie soundtracks and of the artists I mentioned have two important things in common. They rarely have words and they always have a driving beat. I find this kind of stimulation propels me forward to the next sentence, and pretty soon I’ve got a paragraph, and then a chapter.

More than Just Background Noise

But the influence of these string/electronic mashups didn’t stop at just helping me feel motivated to write. When I sat down to start Riftmaker, I was sure of two characters, but the rest just sort of showed up of their own accord.

I knew that one of these people needed to have a best friend, but I hadn’t gotten any farther than that when I had to idea to make him a musician. Suddenly, Jeremy sprouted fully formed from my brain and the scene that opens the book fell into place. (If you’d like to find out more about Jeremy, you can check out this character spotlight I did earlier in the blog tour.) I’d always heard that music could be inspiring, but I’d never realized how influential it can be in the turning points of creating a story. From a electronic remix of Bach’s Fugue in G Minor, I gained a whole person, and Jeremy’s complicated feelings about his friend and his place in the world became central to telling my story about prejudice, acceptance, and finding your way to who you want to be as an adult.

For your listening pleasure, I created a Spotify playlist with just a few of the songs that are the soundtrack of this book. Listen now.  If you don’t already have Spotify, you can sign up for free and listen on your computer or phone. Find out more.

Riftmaker is available for $3.99 from Amazon and a variety of other e-book retailers. Print price is $18.99 from Amazon and the Our Write Side store.

Find more character spotlights, book reviews, guest posts, and interviews with Phoebe Darqueling during the Riftmaker blog tour, Jan 24 – Mar 6.  

Do you like free books? Sure you do! Sign up for Phoebe’s monthly emails and get a FREE COPY of The Steampunk Handbook right now.

​​

Phoebe Darqueling is the pen name of a globe-trotting vagabond who currently hangs her hat in Freiburg, Germany. In her “real life” she writes curriculum for a creativity competition for kids in MN. She loves all things Steampunk and writes about her obsession on SteampunkJournal.org. She’s been part of several Collaborative Writing Challenge releases, and you can also find her short horror retelling of Pinocchio in The Queen of Clocks and Other Steampunk Tales. Her first novels, Riftmaker and No Rest for the Wicked, are hitting shelves Spring 2019. You can find more of Phoebe’s antics on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Thanks so much for joining us! Look forward to a review from me shortly on Riftmaker as I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Until next time, 

Keep Reading!

Posted on

Book Review: Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson

Aenerfell Book Review

Hello Lovelies,

Happy New Year and let’s start it off right! I have an exciting new review for you!

Genre: High fantasy

Synopsis: The Blood of Dragons: Book 1

2017 International Award-Winning Novel in Epic Fantasy

Drast and Tyran might be considered a bit black-hearted, or even immoral. Drast is cunning but reckless, hunting for admiration. Tyran is calculating but tactless, searching for affection. When the two brothers set aside their ambitions to fulfill their father’s desire for immortality, they readily discover many opportunities for redemption. Now, while wielding a powerful magic that drains their life, Drast and Tyran will embark on a maddening quest, facing skin-switchers, dragons, and the God of the Dead.

My take: Anaerfell is a delightful introduction to the Thrice nine Legends world. The same world where Kaelandur series takes place and man, Robertson once again grabs you by the guts, twists, and rips them out. The characters you want to love and care for, you end up hating and the ones you love end up being not the characters you should. (Except Erzebeth. SQUEE!!!) This is not a story for people who want heroes and clear cut good and evil. This is not a story for those who want a happy ending or who want a satisfying wrap up to a story. But I really understand even more why Robertson lists George R.R. Martin as one of his inspirations. Anaerfell has beautiful world building that is not so daunting as Martin’s work, and action scenes that play just like a movie in your head as you read. For those who are lamenting the end of GoT, this is definitely a very satisfying replacement to that series with characters that I think are just as fun to love and hate and long for their deaths.

Take a peek inside on Amazon

If you want to learn more about the Thrice Nine Legends world, or the Blood of Dragons series, or Joshua Robertson, or just to see some fantastic fantasy geekiness then visit his website RobertsonWrites. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

Don’t miss my review of Book 2 in the series, Dyndaer and book 3, Maharia 

 

Until Next Time,

Keep Reading!

Posted on

October Frights- Survivalist Bible Sneak Peek

October Frights Blog Hop

Hello Lovelies, 

Welcome to my stop on the October Frights blog hop. This is a super fun hop that has been put together by A. F. Stewart, and there are so many great teasers, short horror stories, interviews with characters and authors of horror, and so much more. Be sure to check out all the fun stops at A.F. Stewart’s blog. 

 This event is tons of fun and I have done it the last several years and find all sorts of fun new content, so be sure to check out the other stops on the hop! 

Alright, on to my delicious offering for the hop. This is a small sample from Survivalist Bible- Genesis, which just released in the Power of Words Anthology. The anthology contains three other novellas that are absolutely awesome and show the power of words. You should definitely check it out! this scene is when the world collapses around our protagonist’s ears. Gabe Llewellyn is a modern, sophisticated, civilized man. He is not prepared for a world in which survival of the fittest becomes the norm. Now onto the excerpt: 


     I awoke unexpectedly, but couldn’t place what had woken me. The tv was playing some sort of infomercial. I fumbled for the remote turning the tv down. Scanning the room, the bedside table clock flashed 2 am. As the volume went down, another noise took its place. At first, I thought it was the crowd down below. Then I realized that is seemed to be coming from the hallway. My skin prickled with alarm, even as I stumbled out of bed half-awake. Looking through the peephole, I tried to see something through the fisheye warping. I managed to see a few people running by the door, but couldn’t see what was creating the panic. The commotion seemed to be coming from by the elevators.     

A chill ran up my spine and I locked the chain, trying once again to get a view out the hole. No dice. Opening the door as far as the chain would allow, I tried to peek out. There wasn’t enough room to see anything beyond a sliver of the hall to my right, but the sounds of what was unmistakably a fight echoed into my room. My blood ran cold as I thought of the thousands of angry protesters slamming into the window as I walked by in the lobby earlier that very evening. As I began to close the door, it was slammed back when someone crashed into it and slid to the ground. I realized the person was in the hotel security uniform.     

I recoiled in shock. The man was covered in blood. He turned terror-filled eyes on me, his mouth agape in horror. A gash split across his head and oozed blood into his eyes.     

“Help!” he gasped, reaching up to me.   

 I tried to force the door closed, but his full weight was upon it. “I gotta undo the chain,” I pleaded, but he didn’t seem to understand. Before I could make him understand, bloody hands snatched his shoulders ripping him away from the door. As the body was pulled from in front of the door, it slammed shut. I fumbled to remove the chain, but a howl of pain and terror froze me in place. Snapping the chain back into place, I stuck my eye to the eye hole again. A mass of bodies was flailing about and it was hard to tell what was happening. It looked like the security guard was taking a pretty bad beating. I ran to the hotel phone to call the lobby, but there was only a strange hissing at the other end.     

I grabbed my cell phone off the bedside table and dialed 911. A busy signal! Something slammed into the door and I jumped. Another thump echoed throughout the room. Slinking up to the door, I looked out the peephole and stifled a scream as my vision was met with a bloodshot eye trying to look in. Biting my knuckles, I forced down the hysteria that was embroiling within me and slid against the wall. I remember thinking, What in God’s name was happening out there?     

Trying to steel myself, I looked through the hole again. The man had moved toward the middle of the hall. His back was to me and he was staring at something on the ground. Because of the whorl of the glass I couldn’t really tell what it was, but based on the color, I suspected that I didn’t want to know. I tried to call 911 again and wilted at the pre-recorded message. “All lines are busy. Please try your call again later.”     

Suddenly the door reverberated, knocking me sideways and I dropped the phone. I couldn’t help the yelp that escaped. A steady pounding began and grew in volume and intensity. The door reverberated with several strikes, and I put my eye to the eye hole again.Cold horror trickled down my back. There were at least seven people outside my door, all slamming into one another, and into the door. They were splattered in blood and looked… strange. The one in front of the door raised his head as he charged and I realized that he had what looked like a chunk of bloody raw flesh hanging from his mouth.     

I won’t deny, I was in full-on hysterics at this point. Backing away from the door, I tripped over the settee, tumbled into the seat and slammed my head against the wall. I could see the door trembling and sagging further with each strike and I knew it was only a matter of time before they made it through. Frantically I scanned the room for some escape. The bathroom door to my left and the balcony behind me were the only doors in the room. Given that we were on the fourth floor, I wrote off the balcony and bolted for the bathroom.     It’s strange what you don’t notice about the places you go every day. I had been in this hotel room going on four days, but couldn’t tell you anything about the bathroom except that there was a toilet, a decent-sized garden tub, and a sink with a wall of mirror behind it that had good enough lighting to shave.     

I flipped the light switch on, scanning the small room. There were no windows, and the two vents were too small to fit more than an arm through. Being trapped in here would be worse than being trapped in the room. I spun out of the bathroom, and froze as a giant crack echoed through the small room. Two days ago, I would not have considered this a small space. I thought it was quite palatial when I rented it for the event. I had wanted a space that would impress a female guest.   

 Now, it was closing in on me fast. I circled around the bed, past the couch and hesitated in front of the TV at the foot of the bed when another loud crack echoed from the door. I thought the doors were reinforced steel and marveled that I could see gaps of light coming through the door. The gaps expanding with each crunch of the mob outside. If they’d made that much progress in ten minutes, I didn’t have much longer before they got in.     

I needed a weapon! The closest potential weapon was a standing lamp next to the mini-fridge. Grabbing for it, I thanked God that it wasn’t attached to the floor. Still, the thing was awkward. I figured the weighted base was my best defense, most certainly heavy enough to bludgeon someone.     

I took a step back and tested a swing. It was heavy and unwieldy. Another large crack from the door had me stumbling backward. Scanning the room, there were no better weapons. The bedside lamp next to the clock was too small, the TV too large. No, this behemoth was my only defense.   

 Staring transfixed, I flinched with each slam of the door. Every time the crack of the hinges giving echoed through the room, I involuntarily took a step back.     

I found my back pressed against the balcony window. The interminable waiting was killing me. Staring avidly, I realized that the top hinge was almost completely ripped from the wall, the middle hinge was only holding by a thread. I could see arms and shoulders forcing through, scrabbling for purchase, for a way to force the gap wider even as others continued to crash against it, opening that dismal gap more now with each thrust. I had no idea what I would do once they got through. It couldn’t be long. Glancing at the clock I was shocked to see 2:30 am flashing at me. The assault had been going on for at least 30 minutes. Where were the cops? As another crack echoed, I readied myself. I doubted that they would come at me one at a time like they did in the old Kung-fu movies.     

The lock on the door seemed to be holding. Perhaps that would slow them down? Maybe I should be closer to the door, so I could take them out as they forced their way through. My brain screamed at me to move the dresser to block the doorway and slow their approach, while another part demanded that I go nowhere near the mass of tangled body parts trying to squeeze and pull themselves through the door. Terror gripped me almost as hard as I gripped the lamp in frozen knuckles locked white and straining with the tension.     A quick rap on the glass behind me caused my heart to explode. I whipped about in terror, and the lamp slammed into the wall. The reverberation caused me to drop it. I may, or may not, have let loose a very loud and very unmanly scream.

This is just the introduction to Gabe’s world coming unraveled. I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to read the rest of the story, pick up Power of Words or come and join me on my Patreon Channel where I will be releasing each segment of the serial a month before other readers can get it on Amazon.  $1 a month will get you access to the rest of the Survivalist Bible series, and each of my members are included in the Thank you page when each segment releases on Amazon.  Hope to see you enjoying the fun! 

 And Speaking of fun, don’t miss out on the rest of the awesome stops on the October Frights Blog Hop! 
Until next time, 

Keep Reading!

Posted on

Under a Hunter’s Moon Re-Release

Under The Hunter's Moon Re-release

Hello Lovelies, 
As some of you may recall, about a year ago I reviewed Under A Hunter’s Moon, an interesting urban fantasy shifter novel by Timothy Bateson. *Hint, I enjoyed it!*
Well, Tim has some exciting news:
He’s got “Under A Hunter’s Moon” re-release on wide distribution, with a live date of June 26th 2018, and currently available for pre-order at many ebook retailers. I absolutely LOVE the new cover!

​​About “Under A Hunter’s Moon “Richard Parsons is a maverick wolf-shifter with a tendency to find trouble. When a traveling exhibition returns to the McCaw Museum Richard finds that he has personal reasons to visit after hours. His audacious plan goes awry when a particular display forces painful memories to the surface. Can Richard face down the demons of his past before the police become aware of his presence? Where to order: 
AmazonSmashwordsKoboBarnes & Noble & iBooks

Retail Price for eBook: $0.99 (USD)eBook ISBN: 9780463358368eBook ASIN: B07CS1SQ8T  

About The Author
Timothy Bateson is a writer who broke into the market in 2014, with three short stories being featured in Halloween and science-fiction anthologies. In 2016, Bateson self-published a re-release of “Under A Hunter’s Moon”, the first of several stories set in the “Shadows Over Seattle” world, which he co-writes with his wife, Sandi Bateson is also a blogger who often spotlights books and fellow indie authors, alongside his other interests, such as the Brain to Books Cyber Convention events, falconry, journaling, quotes, and reading.

So go get this fun summer read and get hooked on the world of Shadows over Seattle today! 
Until next time, 

Keep Reading!

Posted on

Army of Brass, a Steampunk Adventure, Release Announcement

Army of Brass Announcement

Hello Lovelies,

Steampunk celebrates its 31st birthday on April 27, so join in the festivities with the high-flying adventure, Army of Brass.

“Steampunk” began as a literary genre, but has expanded to include fashion, music, art, and live events all over the world. During 2017, in honor of author K.W. Jeter coining the term in 1987, Steampunk Journal editor Phoebe Darqueling and the Collaborative Writing Challenge joined forces to create an amazing work that blurs the line between science and magic. Twenty international authors contributed chapters to this story full of gadgets, romance, and political intrigue set against the backdrop of a fantasy world informed by the culture of the 19th century.

What is Army of Brass About?

When the mad conqueror haunting Elaina’s dreams invades her adopted homeland, the real nightmare becomes what she’s willing to do to stop him.

The dreaded Hunter Baron has landed on the shores of Mailderet, but Master Tinkerer Elaina Gable believes she has the solution. Giant automatons sit rusting in the valley, waiting for someone with the drive and ingenuity to bring them to life. But the king, swayed by the destruction his ancestors wrought centuries before, harbors a deep-seated fear of the machines. Though he will not allow the alliance of Tinkerers and Smiths to complete the work, Elaina resolves to bring the machines back to life in secret—with the help of a famous airship pilot.

From the safety of the swamps, a woman with silver skin jealously guards the secrets of the automatons. Though the Silver Woman also wishes the past to remain buried, she must weigh the value of secrecy against the thousands of innocents her hesitation might send to the grave.

As they discover the link between the toxic valley and the inner workings of the automatons, Elaina and her allies are drawn into a web of deceit threatening the balance of power across two continents—and proving the truth behind the deadly legends surrounding the Army of Brass.

Read Chapter 1 NOW on Steampunk Journal

Pre-order your ebook copy of Army of Brass for $.99 and receive it on Friday, April 27!

Plus, Join us on Facebook April 28-29 to meet the writers, participate in giveaways, and more!

Speaking of giveaways, we’ve got one going on for the entire blog tour, so between April 13-May 13, enter to win ebooks from our writers.

Collaborative Writing Challenge: www.collaborativewritingchallenge.com

Posted on

Meet the Author with Nancy Christie

Nancy Christie

Hello Lovelies,

I am so delighted to introduce you to a wonderful woman whom I have been following for quite some time. Nancy Christie is the author of Rut-Busting Book for Writers (Mill City Press), Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories (Pixel Hall Press) and The Gifts Of Change (Atria/Beyond Words). Her short stories and essays have appeared in numerous print and online publications. A professional writer based in Ohio, Christie provides copywriting services to agencies, businesses and organizations nationwide through her company, Professional Writing Services. A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Florida Writers Association and Short Fiction Writers Guild (SFWG), Christie teaches writing workshops at conferences, libraries and schools. She is also the founder of the annual “Celebrate Short Fiction” Day.

​​Hello, Nancy, welcome to An Angell’s Life of Bookish Goodness. How are you?

Wishing I had a personal assistant or publicist or, at the very least, someone to clean my house! Seriously, like most writers and authors, I am simultaneously focusing on multiple tasks: completing copywriting projects for clients, working on my upcoming “Celebrate Short Fiction” Day event and promoting my newest book—the latter involving events in both Ohio and Florida!

I totally understand wanting a Personal Assistant. You are definitely very busy! What is the current book you are promoting?

That would be Rut-Busting Book for Writers—my newest baby! Rut-Busting Book for Writers, offers strategies to get you unstuck, along with inspiring words and proactive suggestions from other writers who have “been there and done that” and are now willing to share their knowledge and experience. By following the tips in this book, you’ll spend less time trapped in your particular writing rut and more time following your creative passion!

I remember when you asked me for permission to use a quote from our interview a few years ago to go in the book. What inspired this book?

​​ The book is an outgrowth of my popular “Rut-Busting” Workshop for Writers that I’ve been offering for several years. Every time I presented it, attendees asked if there was a book that went with it. So this past April, after I finished the edits to one of my novels and my second short story collection, I set myself a goal to have the manuscript drafted and ready to send to my editor, Ann Henry, by June 1st. I was a little behind schedule but I got it to her, made the recommended changes, then turned it over to Mill City Press for production.

What is your next project?

I actually have two in mind. The first involves my second short story collection, Peripheral Visions and Other Stories. I have plans to bring it out next year—either traditionally published or with Mill City—and I’m very excited about it! The other is my novel-in-progress, Reinventing Rita. One of the publishers I had submitted it to wants to see if after I complete some revisions, so with the help of Dawn Reno Langley, I’m going to make some major improvements that I hope will pass muster!

If you could never write again, what would you do?

I’ve no idea. Being a writer is so much a part of me—it is me—that I can’t envision a life where I am not writing. I started writing in second grade and have pretty much kept at it. And those times in my life when, for one reason or another, I wasn’t writing or couldn’t write, were dark days indeed. I like doing other things, but there is nothing that is as necessary for me as writing.

Thank you for joining us, Nancy, and congrats on Rut-busting book for Writers. I can’t wait to read it. Want to take a peek inside?

Want to learn more about Nancy? Visit her website at www.nancychristie.com

Find her on Social Media:

Amazon Author page

Facebook Page

LinkedIn

Twitter: @NChristie_OH

Goodreads

And to learn more about her Short Fiction Celebration Day Here.

Until next time, 

Keep Reading!