A Limited Edition Fantasy & Urban Fantasy Collection
Print Length: 1022 Pages
Publication Date: November 20, 2019
with stories by
Angela Sanders, Tina Glasneck, Claire Davon,
Adrienne Blake, Kyndra Hatch, D. C. Gomez, Jenn D. Young,
Kat Parrish, AJ Gala , Susannah Shannon, Angela Kulig
Searching for myths and magic?
Queens of Wings and Storms in a fiery collection of fantasy and urban
fantasy tales from today’s bestselling and the hottest new authors.
Fly with dragons, witches, and burn whole kingdoms to the ground as you
explore one new fantastical world after the next. From urban fantasy
streets to forgotten lands, our heroines and queens are poised to
rule it all.
Princess Daynel of the Northern Kingdom has never been the type to meekly submit to anyone—not her father, her brothers or any spoiled, pasty-faced Southern Kingdom prince who proclaims his right to her hand in marriage. The arranged marriage to the man is the least of her worries after the high priestess of the Dragon Gods warned her of her betrothed evil intent for her and her beloved kingdom.
Daring to defy her father’s command to marry, she flees into the dense woods where she is faced with her future—to save her people. During her flight, she comes face to face with the enormous warrior-priest named Draiken. He introduces her to the powerful magic that she holds within her will and also teaches her that defying the commands of the gods result in painful and humiliating consequences. A severe bare bottom spanking fails to change the attitude of the feisty little princess, forcing Draiken to take matters a little deeper and her body is awakened to a sexual journey that leaves her soaring.
With the growing power of darkness multiplying with each passing day, the dragon priest is pressed to do whatever is necessary to teach Daynel how to properly wield her powers—even if it means being unable to sit. She also becomes the driving force behind his heart as he finds love in the midst of the battle between good and evil.
Author’s Note:
Game of Thrones fans- BEWARE! If Khaleesi and her dragons got you hot and bothered, then this book will demand that you plunge into an ice bath just to cool down. Dare to Defy includes spanking of adult women, tasteful sexual scenes, poetic justice, and elements of BDSM.
BDSM/AP lifestyler Breanna Hayse strives to give her readers truth and reality of the BDSM/Age-Play/Total Power and Erotic Exchange lifestyle.
Who am I?
I’m a native Californian gone ‘wild’, and had the opportunity to travel the globe and discover the world through the eyes of both a Marine Intelligence specialist and a BDSM lifestyler. I left the service to go into hospice nursing and grief counseling, eventually working as a marriage and family therapist for those involved in alternative lifestyle development. This experience has allowed me to gain unique inspiration for my books and offer realistic plots and relatable characters.
In 2004, my husband, John, and I joined forces to work with both submissives and dominants- teaching, training, listening and loving. Our goal was to take the mystery and fear out of the lifestyle and mentor people in safe, consensual and healthy relationships.
My first book, The Game Plan, was published in 2012 and opened the door to the now-booming world of Age-Play literature. Since that time, I’ve devoted my ‘spare’ time to writing, researching, community involvement, and private and group pro bono counseling in deviant behavior, alternative lifestyle, and addiction recovery.
I was formally ‘dungeon trained’ as a Domme before discovering my submissive side when I joined the service. My scenarios are pulled primarily from either personal experience or observation, including spending time in BDSM clubs as the safety/medical officer. My multi-faceted background allows me to glean from many avenues and give a unique and intelligent literary experience through elements of fantasy and fiction. I also discuss the questions and psychology of the lifestyle in a manner that is fun and informative, and based on ‘the real deal.’
I live with my husband, musician, and fellow-author, John Hayse, and two border collies in southern California. We practice a 24/7 D&S relationship with speckles of AP (and many trips to Build-A-Bear), and happily spend every moment together that we can. My hobbies include my puppies, hiding my vanilla salt-water taffy where John can’t find it, exotic art, collecting inspirational trinkets, and developing my own paddle line. You can also see me as a featured author/instructor in professional conference settings and as a Sexpert for kinkyliterature.com.
Kristal McKerrington and I met through a mutual acquaintance.
Author Bio:
Kristal appeared on the BBC as a child, she also did appearances on the BBC Radio stations. Kristal had a great deal of interest in studying medicine before she became a author. Kristal retired from dance 2008.
XoXo Publishing gave Kristal her start in publishing with her first book “Freedom Is Earned”. She went on to write several pieces with them. She has been a professionally published author since 2010. She’s been a best selling author for XoXo Publishing. She’s appeared on TMZ a few times and enjoys their banter. Kristal is a huge fan of Viking mythological. She has been a fan of wrestling since she was 5 years old. She has received positive feedback for her wrestling storylines from former WWE writers and current members of staff within the company. Kristal has a love for horse riding. Kristal has gone on to write several horse themed books and keeps her focus on doing several different kinds of romance. Kristal signed with Firefly and Wisp Publishing for the sports romance novel called Pinned. First wrestling themed novel for the thriving independent company. She loves to read, she often likes to read Sherrilyn Kenyon, Catherine Cookson, Rachel Caine, Megan Duncan and others.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Kristal, I’m thirty years old and I come from the
Shetland Islands, currently staying in Glasgow. I have two cats called Bob and
Stefano. My long suffering partner who is also my best beta reader, Ian.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
When I turned 18 after winning a contest and Debi Gloria told me my eye for detail belonged in books. I was to consider following that dream.
What genres do you like to read? Are these the same genres you write in?
I do read a lot of fantasy, young adult and some adult
fantasy. I have a great love and passion for them but I like my historical
writers like Catherine Cookson and Lesley Pearse too. I tend to write Sports
Romances and I’m now branching into fantasy, even trying my hand at a thriller
or two.
Is your book for adults, young adults or children?
Its for the new adult mostly however it does appeal to
adults. I think that young people who love wrestling but want more tend to fall in love with these books.
What is your current release or project?
I just released Charlie’s Fight which is one of the two prequels we are releasing in this series. We are about to launch Being Amber which is the second one. Its a more dance, life or death start for Amber.
Tell us about the key characters
For Charlie’s Fight its about Charlie, a young Marie and
Layla. We learn how they go from where they grew up into Scotland. How they get
dragged into the dance world that leads them to fame and what breaks the family
apart.
In Being Amber, we focus on Amber’s story. How she finds out
about being a step sister to the two dancers she idealized. The traumatic
experience that she goes through in order to find out how she had a wrestling
father, the mystery man who hovered over her life. We see how she has led a
crew to cover come major challenges in her life.
What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?
Charlie’s Fight: Reclaiming Honor
One man
has a chance to reclaim all he’s lost. He’s up against impossible odds.
Being Amber
Amber—Scottish
dancer drawn to Marie and Layla… Amber—proud and stubborn… Unsure about
elements of her life, Amber trains her Street Dance team as she was taught by
two famous women—Marie and Layla. An act of violence brings a revelation that
rocks Amber’s world. Marie and Layla are far more than outstanding Street
Dancers with a fabulous reputation—they’re Amber’s half-sisters. Yet another
chapter of the Susan family opens with Being Amber. The plucky young woman
fights to retain her own identity while also becoming part of the Street Dance
world.
Share an excerpt
Charlie’s Fight: Reclaiming HonorImagine you’re the father
of the two most famous twins in the world, and they created their success without
you. That is what was in store for me so many years ago. Through those who
chose to give me a chance, I will be able to finally able to tell my story to
the world. I’m not proud of this tale, yet it’s a story that needs to be told.
Ever since Layla, my youngest twin, revealed all the secrets about my life, one
of the most powerful wrestling companies in the world and my oldest twin,
Marie’s, life I have felt compelled to fill in the gaps that Layla left.
As you learn about Marie’s life
after the book drops, and of course Layla’s journey to that point, I wanted to
share the story of what they were like before the cameras were flashing. I
remember them as innocent little girls. Sometimes, it’s hard not to see them
this way. All I can do now is hope that sharing what I know of my life and what
made them who they are now will give you all a much better look at the bigger
picture.
Marie will continue to face
judgement for what she does because she stands out. I couldn’t be more proud of
the woman that she became who continues to lead our family into the future. Her
journey to get here was a hard one. I know through her time standing on her own
two feet that she learned lessons I should have been the one to teach her.
All I can do is be the father I was
meant to be before the road, wrestling, and my own agenda took over. I think
that is the main lesson I learned as a father. Nothing is simple nor is it easy
to make things right for another person. I hope that you will learn from my
failings and find a better path to walk.
Life sometimes throws us a curve
ball and I used to complain about those people who let their lives go to ruin.
I used to sit on the other side of the locker room judging them for using drugs
or alcohol to make it through the day. I just didn’t understand how someone
could allow their lives become a car wreck.
Maybe it was the control freak in
me.
My life would teach me a lesson in
this. I soon found myself experiencing what led people into the depths of despair and what made them lose
control over every part of their life. I was completely clueless to what I
actually had at home. I didn’t have an inkling what waited for me or what I’d missed.
I’d been living in some sort of bubble and when I got my eyes opened, the
sights before me were horrifying.
I never thought I’d face this
situation. I’ve witnessed others go through this and I always wondered why they
didn’t just leave or take control over it. I couldn’t understand until I faced
it with my own life and saw what damage the world could do to your family if
you weren’t there to protect them.
Do you have a favorite scene?
I have to say its when Marie rises to the challenges that
she has to face.
What advice would you give a beginner?
Just keep your head on straight and understand that the
readers have to come first.
J.C Seal and I met through social media. She’s from Germany which is on my list of places to visit! She also mentions one of my favorite authors – Anne McCaffrey!
Author Bio
Janina Carol (J.C.) Seal
I’m from Germany, from the beautiful Black Forest area. I
live in a small townhouse with my loving husband, my wonderful teenage daughter
and my eighteen years old tomcat. To pay my bills, I work part time as a lab
technician in cancer research. I only started writing in October 2018, but
loved to read all my life.
Maybe you wonder, why does someone from Germany write in
English? I still remember the first English book I ever read. Staying in the
USA as an exchange student when I was sixteen, I picked a random book at a
public library, ending up with “Dragonsong” by Anne McCaffrey. It was the
beginning of my passion for stories reaching beyond the confines of the mortal
human world, and also the beginning of my love for a language that’s so much
more expressive than my native tongue. When finally risking the step from
reader to writer, the language was out of question.
When I’m not writing, I like playing computer games or watching crime series on TV. I’m also part of the parents’ council at my daughter’s school and a committee member of the garden club around the corner.
Tell us about yourself.
Hi, my pen name is Janina Carol (J.C.) Seal. I’m 47 years old. I live in Germany, in a small townhouse, with my husband, daughter and tomcat.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
All this started in October 2019,
followed by the craziest months in my life. I’ve always loved reading, but
never thought about writing before. It was triggered by a dream I couldn’t get
out of my head. A switch was flipped inside my head. Suddenly all those words
were there, inside me, pressing their way out. I published a free fan-fiction
short story playing in Aimee Easterling’s werewolf world, in October 2018 on
AO3.
My pen-name Janina Carol (J.C.) Seal
was created on Wed, Nov 14, 2018 at 10:32 AM. It was originally only
meant for a short story I co-authored with Aimee Easterling. About the same
time, I started writing Fallen Angels.
What genres do you like to read? Are these the same genres you write in?
Let’s answer this in reverse. After writing Fallen
Angels (Angels and Demons, Book one), I asked my editor TE Tim Blackburn (www.wassup-authors.com) what
genre it would fit. He told me, it was fantasy, paranormal, adventure with a bit of romance. It turned out, these
are also the genres I like to read the most. I obviously unconsciously chose to
write what I like to read.
Is your book for adults, young adults or children?
It is suited for new adults and adults. It is a romance,
after all, so there are some love scenes in it.
What is your current release or project?
My current release (December 2019) is the second book in
the Angels-and Demons series. It’s called Angels Descendants. Part of it
playes in Greece, where the main character of this book has been born. There
will be Greek Gods and mythology, lightning and thunder, burned houses, a love
story of course, and you will be introduced to Lucifer’s son.
I have also finished writing the first draft of book
three, Angels Nemesis.
Another project I have been part of is the 31 Overlook
Hotel – 31 authors, one hotel of a story. Book collaboration at its finest!
31 authors working together in one book – and I mean, working together, not
just writing a chapter each‼️ Characters from each author’s book, invited to an
All Hallows Masquerade Ball, now stuck at 31 Overlook Hotel, a hotel that
defies Space and Time. The only way to ever leave this creepy place again, is
to solve the mystery that holds them in its grasp. And the best thing is, it’s
for FREE!
The protagonist of book two is Jason Tim, a
young man who has denied his heritage all his life, calling his father a
nutcase, running away from home. Until one day, something happens that turns
his whole life upside down. He suddenly finds himself on The Chariot, the
ancient vessel of the Gods, a place only known from history books. Realizing
that his father told the truth all along, he must return to Earth to find him.
Finally back, he is hunted by unknown foes, needs to come to terms with the
changes in his life, and unravel the mystery of his own heritage. Learning that
his girlfriend had been blackmailed to spy on him, he needs to unravel her
heritage as well to keep her safe from abilities she cannot control, while
struggling to accept his new role within the Angel community.
What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?
I
think my description of the main character would do well as blurb. Lovely,
by asking that question, you just saved me a lot of time writing a blurb!
Glad to help! Share an excerpt
Angels Descendants
Angels and Demons, Book two
Prologue
The
truck came out of nowhere. It crashed into the driver’s side of my old Chrysler
with the bone chilling screech of metal on metal, the sound of grating metal
rattling though my mind as my head hit the frame of the car with brutal force.
Celine screamed next to me, then my world went dark. I don’t know how long I
faded in and out of consciousness. Everything that happened afterwards was a
blur. Celine was repeating my name again, and again, between sobs. Excruciating
pain raging along the left side of my body, accompanied by the sirens of the
ambulance. Suddenly, a blinding light struck my eyes…
“The
pupils don’t react, severe trauma of body and brain. He needs to go to
emergency surgery – NOW!”
An
oxygen mask appeared on my face. I felt myself fade away into oblivion.
CHAPTER
1
Coma
Coming
to my senses again, standing in the middle of nowhere, everything around me was
plain white, except for me. I looked down at my body, frowning. I knew I had
been hurt quite severely in the car crash. Why did everything appear to be
whole?
“Well, I
guess I’m dead, then,” I spoke aloud, hearing my voice as a faint whisper. The
whiteness swallowed all sound.
Was this
heaven or hell? I had been an ordinary person, not bad or evil, but no saint,
either. Baptized a Catholic, going to church was part of my life only on
Christmas Eve once a year. Not really believing in any religion, where would I
end up? Was there really a heaven, or a hell?
A sound
to my left made me turn. I walked toward it. After a moment, agitated voices
filtered through the white haze. They were speaking a strange language I was
amazingly able to understand.
“It
wasn’t my decision. You know very well why we stopped going down to help,” a
woman spat out.
A male
voice responded. “How did he get up here. He shouldn’t be here at all! He’s none
of our business.”
“He was
supposed to have a future, marry his girlfriend, have children. Because we
neglected our jobs as Guardians, we have to deal with the consequences now!” a
third, younger voice chimed in.
“Be
quiet, Deedee, you’re much too young for this,” the first two voices replied in
unison.
A
sarcastic laugh reached my ears. “Too young? It doesn’t matter how old I am
compared to you. I came of age a long time ago. I was born down there. Let me
go back, start doing what we were created to do again. Maybe, I can do a better
job than you, Dad! Perhaps, you’re getting too old!” the third voice replied
icily.
A sigh
escaped my lips. This couldn’t be true. They were bickering about failures. I
shouldn’t even be here? The hit to my head must have made me go crazy, all this
just a figment of my imagination. If my memory served me right, one of the
doctors had mentioned brain damage. It seemed like I just had to find out.
My sigh
must have reached their ears, because “Dad” called out.
“Since
you’ve heard us, you might as well come over here, boy.”
I slowly
started to make my way through the whiteness, until my left shin thumped into
something solid. My left side tingled. I cried out in remembered pain.
“Oh,
Dad, that’s enough now!”
The
voice, belonging to the girl, sounded annoyed. Somebody clapped hands. The fog
lifted to reveal a storage space full of wooden crates, old furniture, historic
statues, other strange looking clutter. Where had I ended up, a smuggler’s den?
The storage area of a museum? Looking down, I could see a small metal chest.
That’s what my leg had bumped. Turning around, I finally took in the persons
belonging to the voices that had reached my ears.
A
bearded man with long, slightly curly hair. His brown hair mixed with white. He
was tall, broad-shouldered, with a well-toned body clad in tight-fitting jeans
and shirt. His silver-grey eyes flashed in my direction with barely concealed
ire. The woman looked younger than the man. She had long brown hair. She had a
friendly smile on her lips. Her well-formed body was concealed by a flowing
ankle-length dress. The daughter was stunningly beautiful! Her strawberry
blonde hair was braided in intricate patterns around her head. She grinned at
me openly. I felt myself blush as my eyes travelled down the length of her
sparsely clad body.
She held
out her hand. I shook it with my mouth hanging slightly open, my brain muddled
with desire.
“Welcome
to the Chariot,” she greeted me.
Do you have a favorite scene?
Yes, I do.
Sword
still in hand, I turned to Zeus, looking him in the eyes. The attitude towards
his offspring reminded me so much of my own father, it was impossible to stifle
the words gushing uncensored out of my mouth.
“How can
they grow tall, if you keep them locked up in a golden cage?
How can
they grow strong, if they never feel the harsh rays of the midday sun, or the
chill of night?
How can
they grow roots that go deep, if they miss either nourishment or water?
How can
they grow resilient, if they are never submitted to the blows of a gale?
How can
they learn to appreciate diversity, if they are kept apart?
How can
they learn control, if there is no consequence in failure?”
What advice would you give a beginner?
Oh, you mean, like the blind leading the blind, since I’m
a beginner myself. I guess the most important thing is, stay true to yourself.
Don’t give up, don’t despair. Don’t let anyone tell you to stop writing. Find a
community of like minds. Indie writers are special, they help each other. Don’t
be afraid to reach out to one of us.
A former mercenary turned blind priest, Ash is running from his amoral past – a victim of a power-hungry corporation, Titanus, which used him for mysterious experiments, discarding him when he lost his sight. Through its experimentation, Titanus unwittingly created a dark mirror world called Shade, a place where no human can survive – except for Ash. By opening a rift, Ash can escape into Shade, where his vision is restored, his wounds heal more quickly, and, if necessary, he can drag his attackers in with him, turning them to dust. While attempting to implement a global teleportation system, Titanus makes a grave error and opens several dangerous rifts, which threaten to tear the planet apart. Believing Ash to be the only one able to close them, Titanus exploits those Ash cares about most to coerce him into cooperating. But the creatures they have inadvertently released from Shade will be the least of their worries.
Luke Romyn is a USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author whose books have sold over 600,000 copies worldwide. With a background in international security, Luke’s books are high-octane fantasies, stretching the limits of human imagination from apocalyptic thrillers to psychic suspense to mythical adventure. Luke lives in Northern Queensland, Australia, with his wife, Sarah, and various animals he calls family.
James Hadley Snyder, known professionally as Dan Green, is an American voice actor, voice director and script adapter who has worked for 4Kids Entertainment, DuArt Film and Video, NYAV Post, and Central Park Media. He is best known as the voice of Yugi Muto from Yu-Gi-Oh!, Trudge from Yu-Gi-Oh!I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Luke Romyn. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Q&A with Author Luke Romyn
Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.
This time around was great. We secured a fantastic deal with Audible, and they looked after everything for me. In saying that, they were also very open to my ideas regarding cover art and the narrator. Great team that I can’t praise enough.
Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
Not at the time. All I wanted was to write the best book possible. Everything else comes later.
How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
I absolutely adore writing. Writing books, while painful, drives me onward every day, and nothing gives me more pleasure than creating a tale from nothing more than my imagination and a few keystrokes.
If you had the power to time travel, would you use it? If yes, when and where would you go?
Probably not. No doubt, I would screw everything up and bring back the dinosaurs or something.
If this title were being made into a TV series or movie, who would you cast to play the primary roles?
Dave Bautista from Guardians of the Galaxy would play Ash. I don’t know about the others; casting’s never been my forte.
What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
What a load of nonsense. A story is a story, something to enjoy, not a task to perform. If scientists knew how to bottle a book and inject it straight into an artery, I’d be the first in line. The same people who say this are probably the ones who also criticize eBooks. Get into literature any way you can and ignore the naysayers.
How did you celebrate after finishing this novel?
Pizza and Playstation.
What gets you out of a writing slump? What about a reading slump?
Writing slump is easy; I don’t have them. I know that makes me sound arrogant, but it’s true. How can you run out of ideas in a universe of infinite possibilities? Reading slump, though… I just grab a Harry Potter novel and dive in. Gets me every time.
In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of writing a stand-alone novel vs. writing a series?
A stand-alone encompasses an entire tale into a single novel, whereas a series draws it out, making the reader extend beyond the first tale to find out the full story. This stretches the enjoyment, but if you don’t draw the reader into your tale in the first book, they’ll never read the whole series. A stand-alone, for good or ill, shows the entire picture in one hit, leaving the reader satisfied or cursing you, depending on the person.
What’s your favorite:
Food: Pizza
Song: Various
Book: Waylander by David Gemmell
Television show: Breaking Bad
Movie: Star Wars
Band: Justin Bieber.
Just kidding, let’s go with Machine Head, but it changes day to day. Tomorrow, I might say Mozart (I know, he’s not a band.)
Sports team: None, I’m a nerd.
City: New York.
Are any of those things referenced in appearance in your work?
New York’s in a few of my tales. I love it to bits.
What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Keep going forward, charge ahead, be honest to yourself, and screw the critics.
What’s next for you?
My manager is talking movie and/or television deals with various producers. I’m currently editing another fantasy-adventure, and I have a horror novel ready to edit sitting on my hard drive, waiting for me, whispering every so often. No rest for the wicked.
A secret war of sorcerers threatens to tear the world apart.
The year is 1917, and the Russian Empire is on verge of collapse.
Florence Cavell—codename Geist—takes her special forces team of sorcerers into allied territory in an effort to hunt down spies and keep the Russian royals alive. If the Russian Empire falls, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians will turn their full attention to France and Britain. That can’t be allowed to happen.
Unfortunately for Geist, the enemy has sent the Eyes of the Kaiser, specialists who hunt and destroy sorcerers. And they came prepared to eliminate not only the Russian royalty, but the Ethereal Squadron as well.
Praise for Ethereal Squadron:
“In tense, precise prose that skillfully conveys detailed descriptions, Stovall delivers this engrossing story of fantasy adventure with utmost precision. The Ethereal Squadron’s riveting fantasy world will fuel readers’ imaginations and leave them crave for the next book in the sequel.”
– The Prairies Book Review
About the Author
Shami Stovall grew up in California’s central valley with a single mother and little brother. Despite no one in her family earning a degree higher than a GED, she put herself through college (earning a BA in History), and then continued on to law school where she obtained her Juris Doctorate.
As a child, Stovall’s favorite novel was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. The adventure on a deserted island opened her mind to ideas and realities she had never given thought before—and it was at that moment Stovall realized story telling (specifically fiction) became her passion. Anything that told a story, be it a movie, book, video game or comic, she had to experience. Now, as a professor and author, Stovall wants to add her voice to the myriad of stories in the world and she hopes you enjoy.
I’m really pleased to welcome Amelia Oliver back to my blog! Her sexy books have captured my attention and have entertained me thoroughly.
I’ve read three of her books – Never Ever, Four Ever, and Blaze. Click on the title to read my review on Goodreads.
Author Bio
Amelia Oliver lives at the seaside in England
with her husband and son, Oliver. When she’s not busy being a mum and wife, she
writes. Luckily, her husband supports her 100% and helps her bring life to the
characters in her head, who demands she writes their story. If there’s one
thing Amelia doesn’t like it’s to choose, and neither does her fictional women.
That’s why she’s writing in the reverse harem genre, where her heroines will
never have to choose just one guy.
Amelia is no stranger to mental and physical health problems, so she loves writing about women who overcome struggles. Amelia is a self-proclaimed potty mouth with a naughty sense of humour. Seriously, who said “he/she said” jokes aren’t funny???
Since your last visit, give us an update on you and what you’ve been up to.
Thank you for having me back Eileen! It’s a pleasure as always. You rock
My new book, Blaze, is a PNR & dystopian mashup.
Describe your main characters
Kayla, she’s a broken soul with an awful past.
But she’s strong and independent.
Baby, well… you’ll have to read it to find out.
Please share your blurb
“To rid this world of evil, first I must
Blaze.”
London is a wasteland, the Panda Virus still
spreads.
Half starved and more than a little savage,
Baby and I fight tooth and claw to survive. I’ve got a secret that I must never
let anyone see. If I do, they’ll kill me. Or worse. So I’ve hidden myself away,
avoiding contact with others.
Three men claim I’m promised to them, but my
dark past made me cold, broken. Can I let them love me? Could I love them?
If we can survive that is.
When my secret is discovered, I learn who and
what I am. But so do others and now we must fight against evil and save the
beings that inhabit this world.
Can my men and I survive long enough to save
this world from those who threaten to destroy it? Or will we die trying?
My name is Kayla, and this is a story of how war never changes. But humankind does. Standalone reverse harem, dystopian, paranormal romance.
Continuation – Hybrid Coming 2020!
Please share an excerpt
Memories assault me, lying helpless under a pile of rubble in a dark room. My blood cooling against the dirty wooden floor beneath me. Wishing with every ounce of my soul I wasn’t a broken bitch, and I could just allow myself to love. And be loved. My mother’s face looking concerned as I refused to get to know any of the boys who visited Kaleido‐scope farm. Hands grab my body in all directions and teeth sink into my flesh as four distinct male voices scream my name.
“Argh fuuuuck.” The words burst from my lips as fire erupts from my body, pouring out like water from a broken skin. The hands around my throat melt away, the skin drip‐ping down the front of my body as my clothes fall. Pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt leaches energy from me. I sink to the ground, my legs no longer able to hold me up. GuessI’m not a muggle after all. Darkness covers my vision as the ground races up to meet my face. I am so sick
of passing out!
“Kayla. Oh my God. Shit! She’s bleeding out,” Charlie cries out. Warmth touches my cheek as the cold seeps
into mybones.
“Heal her already, Charlie!” Crowley yells, the sound of skin hitting skin penetrates the darkness. Someone just got slapped. “Heal her!” Soft plump lips gently press against mine.
I wait for the rush to start, he’s healed me before so now I know what to expect, I brace myself. Only, nothing happens. He pulls away, taking his heat and sweet scent with him. No!
“It’s not working…” Poor Charlie sounds so confused. As I drift away a sob makes me pull back. Charlie! No. Please don’t cry for me. Did we save Chris?
“Try. Again,” Crowley growls, he
sounds so pissed, I’d hate to be Charlie right now. It’s not Charlie’s fault,
you grumpy sod!
Charlie’s lips once again meet mine, this time they’re wet with salty tears. The darkness closes in again. I hear Charlie scream my name and Connor’s crying big sobs. Crowley curses everything under the Godforsaken sun and I take my last breath. The ground beneath me is shaking. Or is that me? Opening my eyes, I’m surrounded by pure white light.
Whoa, where am I?
“Kayla, my daughter.”
My entire body freezes, snakes slither inside
my stomach.
“Mother?” Turning without even moving, I come face to face with my dead mother.
I LOVE this scene. It’s one of my favorites…. Please tell us about any other accomplishments.
I have a Christmas short story coming out soon, and a short BBW story coming out in January. I’m also working on a continuation of Blaze, called Hybrid.
Are you attending any events (online or in person)
No, not yet.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on Hybrid, I also have several more books planned for next year. The third and final instalment of The Everly Davis Chronicles, one with vampires, one with werewolves and many more!
With more experience, what advice would you give a new author?
Amelia – There’s no such thing as CAN’T, or too much sex.
Thomas Kane is a new author to me. He writes fantasy which is one of my favorite genres.
Author bio
I grew up in the woods of Maine. While in college, I began
writing supplements for role-playing games, and I spent the early 1990s doing
that full-time. Selected publications include GURPS Egypt, GURPS
Espionage, GURPS China and the Shadowrun adventure Ivy and Chrome.
I also had the opportunity to write Cyberpunk and Ars Magica adventures for
Atlas Game – I’m especially happy with The Osiris Chip and Trial By
Fire.
In 1995, I took an opportunity to go to graduate school in England. I stayed to lecture in international relations and strategic studies at the University of Hull. Much of my work focused on both ancient and modern China. My academic career also gave me the chance to travel around Europe, with a few trips to Asia as well. Twenty years later, I have returned to Maine, and to writing fantasy.
Tell us about yourself.
I’m a fantasy author who is lucky enough to live on a wooded
hilltop in a place that could exist in one of my stories. Indeed, when the
power goes out, my place becomes more like a medieval fantasy world than I
would like.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
Early! The idea crystalized for me at age 11 when one of my
teachers read The Lord of the Rings aloud in class. I remember reflecting on
the question “what do you want to be when you grow up” and feeling a clear
sense that writing was something I actually wanted to do.
What genres do you like to read? Are these the same genres you write in?
I read widely! Most of my writing is fantasy, and I do
indeed read that. I just finished Sarah Katz’s novel The Messenger from the
Mountain, which is set in Greece just after WWI. It’s largely realistic,
but includes appearances by gods and creatures from classical Greek mythology.
I recommend it!
Is your book for adults, young adults or children?
I wrote it for adults, but the main character is eleven. A
couple of readers have wanted to share the book with their children, and I am
delighted about that. I do warn people that the book contains small amounts of
bad language, along with a fight scene and a drinking scene. Personally, I
think most children could handle it, but I want parents to be aware before
making a decision.
What is your current release or project?
The Witches of Crannock Dale, which is the first book
in a series titled Mara of the League.
Tell us about the key characters
The main character is Mara Bennett, a smart and
introspective elven-year old. When the grown-ups around her don’t seem to be
solving problems, she’s not afraid to take matters into her own hands. She is
often joined by her little brother Jason.
What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?
When an enemy army threatens eleven-year old Mara’s home,
she makes up her mind to save her family, one way or another. But when the
knights protecting her village arrest her favorite aunt for witchcraft, she
discovers that the difference between friend and foe may not be as obvious as
she once thought.
This is a story of war and espionage, set in a low fantasy
world. It is also about a child getting to know her mother and father in a new
way.
Share an excerpt
Chapter One: Metasmart
A week and two days before my twelfth birthday, the church
bell rang.
Up until then, it had seemed like a normal day. Mamma had
told me to practice my arithmetic. At first, I shook my head so hard that my
braids flew, but Mamma sighed at me the way she sighs at Pappy. “Mara Elspeth
Bennet, just yesterday your Grampy asked me whether you could divide, and I had
to tell him no.” After that, I felt really small, so I let her write out some
problems on my slate.
I took the slate and two pieces of chalk down Crannock Hill
to Grampy’s mill pond and tried to make a start, but I hated division, so what
I really did was sit on a big rock and smell the grass and watch the water turn
golden in the late afternoon sun. Division doesn’t make sense to me. You have to
figure out how many times one number goes into another, and there seems to come
a time where you just have to guess. So, I dug the side of my slate with a
fingernail and thought about other things.
I thought, mainly, about justice. Most of the girls in Crannock
Dale learned their letters and maybe sums and that was enough. I was the only
one who had to keep on with numbers, and I didn’t think it was fair. Just
because Pappy went to school in Caer City is no reason. Once, I remembered, I
said that to Mamma. Mamma told me I had a choice – if I didn’t learn
arithmetic, I could grow up to be a farmhand’s wife. When Mamma says you have a
choice, she means you don’t.
Another time, I complained about numbers to Pappy. He told
me that the reason why I had to study things other children didn’t was that I
was smart. I said I wished I was smart enough to get out of studying
arithmetic. He said that would be metasmart. I think that’s a word he made up,
but I like it.
Anyway, while I was thinking about those things, the bell
donged. And it was Nurnsday. My first thought was to be glad, because it wasn’t
division, and maybe there would be some excitement.
The bell was supposed to ring on Yisday. First, the people
in Minton Pass were supposed to ring their bell, and when we heard it, we were
supposed to ring ours. Then the people in Merryhock and Glenet Bridge were
supposed to hear us, and they were supposed to ring their bells to warn the
villages farther down the valley. That was how we practiced spreading the
alarm, so that we would know how to call for help if the Pure Men of Waan
attacked.
Once, when Pappy and Mamma and I were having dinner with
Grampy, I said that if I was Queen of Waan, I would invade on a Yisday, so that
when the bells rang, people would think it was just for practice. Everyone
laughed, even my grandfather, as if it was a joke. I laughed too, because I was
pleased to have the grownups listening to me, but I thought I really would.
Now I wouldn’t, because now I know that queens aren’t
important in Waan. No one told me that. I found out for myself. My uncle Tate
bought a broadsheet pamphlet about Waanish depravities. It was full of words
which I’m not supposed to say, but he forgot and left it on a chair when my
mamma took me to his house for a visit.
While the grownups were talking, I read the parts of the
broadsheet that were facing up. That’s how I learned that kings in Waan have
lots of wives, and that they keep them locked up. They also have concubines and
catamites, who count for even less. So, now I would never be on their side.
After the bell rang, there were a few minutes in which
nothing seemed to have changed. The paddlewheel was still splashing around in
the stream and the same growling noise was still coming from inside the mill.
Then I heard another faint chime. This one came from the hills behind me. That
meant the Minton bell was ringing after ours, and that the alarm was spreading
from south to north. And we never practiced like that, because Waan was north
of us.
That was when I realized that something real was happening.
And that was when I got scared.
Do you have a favorite scene?
Without giving too much away, it involves a very, very
naughty cat.
What advice would you give a beginner?
Write the story you want to write, and don’t let people
browbeat you with overbearing advice.
Annabel’s husband, who has been missing for years, is finally discovered among the bowels of White Chapel England during the horror of Jack the Ripper. His discovery brings Annabel and her family to the turn of nineteenth-century England hoping to rescue Michele from the Black Witch’s cage. What they discover is that the Black Witch has been forced into an insidious pact with the devil and the devil, with malicious intent, is luring them all into a web of death. Can they escape his grasp?
About the Author
Olivia Hardy Ray is the pen name for Vera Jane Cook. The Author has published Three fantasy novels as Olivia Hardy Ray and five women’s fiction titles as Vera Jane Cook. The Author is writing a sequel to Pharaoh’s Star called Fox Hollow Road. The author’s women fiction title, Kismet, is due out this winter.
Mandi Konesni is another Midwestern author who I met through social media.
Author Bio
Mandi resides in Ohio, where she shares her workspace with an ornery bassle pup. In addition to writing, she runs an online storefront, a roleplaying website, and is a 3rd Degree High Priestess. She’s an avid reader and blogger, who adores music. Whenever there is a concert in town, you can bet she’s taking the night off and cheering on her favorite bands. She can easily be bribed with peanut butter M&Ms, gemstones, hot lead singers, and gargoyles.
Tell us about yourself.
So, I’m Mandi. I’m 35 years old, an Ohio native, and a 3rd
Degree High Priestess. I love crafting… I’ll try to craft pretty much
anything once, but I can’t draw to save my life. I can mangle a stick figure.
I’m safest writing, if given the choice between the two 🙂 I have a 10 year old
bassle pup, which is a cross between a beagle and a basset. She pretty much
runs my life, and she’s so adorable that I’m completely okay with that!
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I can’t honestly remember how I got started writing… it
seems to me that I was always telling stories, a pen in one hand and a journal
in the other. In my teens, I started gravitating towards poetry, but began
writing adult themed short stories shortly after that. The rest, as they say,
was history.
What genres do you like to read? Are these the same genres you write in?
I will read pretty much everything once. If I get bored, I’ll
even read the back of packages. (True story!) In general, my favorites tend to
be paranormal romance, menage romances, thriller/mystery type reads, and true
crime stories. Which does make sense, as most of that is what I like to write,
also!
Is your book for adults, young adults or children?
Most of my writing is geared towards adults. Mature teens
could probably read the Kira Malone Chronicles, but they need to be aware that
there are some gory/scary parts that frightened grown adults, so it will be
scary in parts. I’m working on developing a series for young adults, though, as
my nieces have asked for something they can read.
What is your current release or project?
My latest release is Ashes of Eden. It’s a paranormal romance
involving angels and demons, Heaven and Hell, and all the crazy paths that
connect them. It’s definitely my ‘new’ favorite, I really took everything I’ve
learned from every release up to now and applied it to this novel, so I’m
pretty proud of it!
Tell us about the key characters.
The two ‘star-crossed’ lovers are Raziel, a fallen angel who
is trying to earn back his wings and Baylin, a cambion female who is hiding
from her past. Together, the two of them have to come to terms with who and
what they are in order to literally save the world. Since Baylin is kind of a
mouthy, sassy, take no orders type of woman, things don’t go as easy as Raziel
hopes.
What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?
After being tainted by Leviathan blood, an Archangel must
collect angelic relics and return them to Heaven before the transit of Mercury
to prevent the Undoing… a period where demons can take control of the earth and
negate the power of Heaven.
To earn back his wings, he’s tasked with preventing this from
occurring by any means necessary. Even if it includes working with a Cambion
female who is too nosy for her own good, or getting caught breaking into the
Vatican. They did say ‘any means necessary’, didn’t they?
Evil is insidious, and lurks in the most unassuming of
disguises. But people are stronger together, and true love is worth fighting
for, even if you have to give up everything you thought you needed and wanted
in order to keep it. He may be a protector of the world, but he failed to
protect something far more important- his heart.
Sometimes, redemption comes in a way you least expect it to.
Sometimes, sacrifice is worth the cost.
Share an excerpt
Clearing his throat, he couldn’t help the faint ghost of a
smile as she jumped, eyes widening as she whirled on him, spatula in hand like
a weapon. “I apologize, Ma’am. I should have announced my presence before
entering.”
“I think I liked you better when you were dying. My name
is Baylin, not ma’am. I am not old enough to be a ma’am, thank you very much.
And stop with the old-world politeness crap. You’re in modern day America,
speak like it. I’m making cinnamon pancakes. If you don’t like them, tough, I
don’t take special requests. We got milk, orange juice, apple juice, water,
tea, or soda. Pick your poison, glasses are on the top shelf. I’d like apple
juice, if you would.”
Raziel stared, slightly open-mouthed. She’d said all of this
without taking more than a breath or two, while flipping the pancakes on the
griddle at the same time. Her free hand pointed towards the cabinet where he
assumed the glasses were located, and she never once turned to face him. The
irreverence was something he was not used to, but the smell of food was making
his stomach cramp in hunger. He’d intended on leaving right away, but he
supposed it would be only polite to stay since she’d already cooked for him.
Dutifully collecting glasses, he poured apple juice in both
before putting them on the tile coasters helpfully located on the table. Taking
the chair he’d used last night, he kept quiet as she worked, not wanting to
distract her. As she sat across from him, he thanked her before bowing his head
to give thanks. He may be Fallen, but he wasn’t completely lost yet.
Glancing up, he spotted Baylin eyeing him curiously. For the
first time in a long time, a flush heated his cheeks. She knew he was something
‘other’, but as she’d caught him fighting demonic factions, she’d likely
assumed he was aligned with a different one of theirs. Seeing him praying was
likely unexpected, given what little she’d managed to ascertain about him since
she’d given him shelter only a few short hours ago.
He supposed he should come clean, somewhat. She couldn’t know
everything, of course, but he could at least give her something in thanks for
her help. “My name is Raziel. I am… was an Archangel. Obviously some
habits still hold sway. I have a mission to accomplish. What you stumbled into
last night was the aftermath of it. Or, a part of it. I won’t be taking up much
more of your time or generosity, though I thank you for your hospitality. It is
appreciated.”
“An Archangel. I don’t think I’ve ever met one of those
before. You guys aren’t really well represented on Earth, you know. What do you
mean ‘was’? Are you Fallen? Did you break a vow? Something worse? Is that why
you have a mission to do? You don’t have to worry about taking up my time. I
already talked to Lenore first thing this morning and explained the
circumstances. She gave me a few days off to look after you and make sure your
wounds were tended to.”
Raziel’s lip twisted into a grimace, but he covered it by
quickly shoving a forkful of the pancakes into his mouth. He couldn’t answer
those questions without revealing his deepest shame, that he hadn’t Fallen.
He’d been changed against his will. His absolution depended on finding these
artifacts and bringing them home. That she’d already requested time off work
didn’t bode well for him getting rid of her easily. She seemed determined to
see him through the healing period. Something which he did not need. Noticing
she’d gone quiet, he glanced up, spotting her toying with her food. She’d eaten
only a few bites, compared to his plate, where half the stack was gone.
“You okay?”
Shaking her head in the negative, she pushed the plate aside.
“I suppose I should tell you a bit more about myself as well. So you don’t
find out some other way. I’m a Cambion. My mother was human, but my father was
a demon. They were killed when I was just a child. I don’t remember much of
them. Just bits and pieces. I promise you, I have no ties to the demonic beings
here. This place is warded because they came after us. My dad dared to love a
human, for that, we all had to die. Since I lived, they’ve hunted me ever
since. I have no allegiance to those murderers and monsters. Anyone who takes a
life is foul and deserves to die. You’ll come to no harm here.”
Do you have a favorite scene?
I love almost every scene with Gabriel! He’s just so snarky
and bad-tempered. It’s so fun to play him and Raziel off of each other, even
more entertaining when Baylin gets added into the mix. They are definitely not
a good trio for working together, and as Gabriel is the cause of the biggest
misunderstanding in the story, the camaraderie does not get better between he
and Baylin by the end. In fact, I’m pretty sure neither can stand the sight of
the other by the time everything is over. -laughs-
What advice would you give a beginner?
Forget following trends. Forget trying to be perfect, or
judging yourself by what everyone else is doing. There will be bad days,
months. Years. You will look at your pros and cons list for continuing on and
feel discouraged and like a failure. Things will happen that will make you feel
like you’ve done everything wrong, or aren’t giving enough. Do not let those
voices win. Writing is a passion, and we must do it first and foremost because
we love it and HAVE to write.
After that, everything else? We can learn to market better,
to promote, to find better genre-specific covers. We can learn to tweak our
voice as authors, to craft better narratives. That can all be taught, learned,
or come with experience. But never forget to remember to love what you do.
Don’t ever let the pressures of it being a career make you feel like a failure
because you aren’t hitting the same goalposts someone else is.
Your goalposts might just be a little different and tailored to YOU.
Other books by Mandi
Half Past Dread
Shadows of a thousand years.
Rise again unseen.
Voices whisper in the trees,
nothing is ever as it seems.
Monsters exist, whether they be real or wholly in our minds. Some of us enjoy the fear of the unknown, the thrill of danger that comes from something we can’t understand. Others like to delve into the deepest recesses of the human mind, to discover what lurks beneath an ordinary facade.
Whether you want to be afraid of what lurks in the dark, or to wonder about the evil surrounding you everyday, Half Past Dread has something for everyone. A Liliom Press publication, enjoy 4 chilling stories from our spookiest authors yet!
A.L. Gray
Mandi Konesni
Michelle Savage
J. Truesdell
Kira Malone Chronicles
PREY- Not everything that goes bump in the night is your imagination. Kidnapped by a monster from lore she never believed in, Kira realizes the world is far scarier and more terrible than she ever imagined. Trapped and injured, the prey must be stronger than the predator. What do you do when you have no other choice? You fight. You survive. You live to battle another day.
ROGUE- What could be worse than horror movie rejects preying on women? Those that feast on pregnant women. Armed with nothing more than courage and a little luck, Kira and Andy dive into a case that could prove deadly in so many ways. When it comes to legends, mothers really don’t always know best.
RELIC- You’d think ‘don’t steal’ would be fairly self-explanatory, but there you’d be wrong. Stealing from an archaeological site is just asking for trouble, as our hapless victims soon learn. Desperate to solve the case before anyone else gets hurt, Kira and Andy put themselves in harm’s way, unleashing a vengeful creature hellbent on their demise. When seconds count, help is minutes behind.
Risque Romance Vol 1
AWAKENED- Mia was perfectly happy with her boring mid-twenties life, thank you very much. So she didn’t have many friends, or a man. Maybe her job kind of sucked, and hobbies hadn’t caught up with her yet. There was still plenty of time, at least that’s what she told herself each night before tucking into her lonely bed. Then tall, dark, and sinful Erik blazed into her life, showing her all that she was missing…and more. After finally experiencing real bliss, could she truly let him go?
ENTHRALLED- Tired of living a solitary existence for centuries, Dieri Bastiz sought peace from the Romani that had cursed him so long ago. The same ones that he’d hunted until he’d sated his thirst for vengeance. When Mirela appears into his path like a bird in flight, he finds the spark his life had been missing for so long. Yet all is not as it seems at this quiet faire. Can monsters truly be redeemed, or does loyalty reign?
What would you risk, to have it all?
Risque Romance Vol 2
UNLEASHED- Naomi Trahern is as straight laced as they come. She deals in facts and cold hard science. Stubborn to the core, she hasn’t met a theory she can’t solve. That is, until a visit to the Amazon rainforest yields a sample she just can’t explain. Trapped with a larger than life jaguar in a sunken temple, Naomi is forced to accept that her cut and dry world isn’t so easily explained after all. When two worlds collide and the steamy jungle unleashes fantasies hidden in the depths of night, can Naomi embrace the extraordinary and unexplained, or does reality rear its head and pull her home?
CONSUMED- Bored of a solitary existence, a titan goddess creates Esoteric Inc, an agency that handles cases “normal” Private Investigators wouldn’t touch. Then Ryder Dreki, alpha of the Icelandic dragons, steps into her office. His request? Assist him with locating a kidnapped dragonling as well as the Stone of Wisdom, stolen from his hoard. When Ryder demands to accompany her, she soon realizes that dealing with a hot-headed, arrogant dragon was definitely not in her job description. When Ryder is attacked, Electra must choose… protect the world, or protect the scaled menace she’s grown to love.
Nov. 26th:
