Daisy Leduc was forgotten and alone. That was just how she wanted it. But when she is discovered stabbed to death in a dusty little Texas town, it plunges Del Honeycutt and best-selling mystery author Sabrina Spencer into a 30-year-old mystery involving murder, hidden identities, dangerous family secrets, political intrigue, and a long-forgotten serial killer.Daisy’s estranged daughter, who hasn’t seen her mother in years, receives a package sent shortly before her mother’s death. A note instructs her to immediately contact Sabrina and give her the package if Daisy is killed. But why Sabrina? The temptation to uncover the answer leads Del and Sabrina on a dangerous quest to find Daisy’s killer. When they discover Daisy, under a different name, supposedly died 30 years earlier, they find themselves squarely in the cross hairs of killers whose deadly secrets lie in Daisy’s mysterious past.
I’m the author of novels in several genres, including, mystery, thriller, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. Under the name A.R. Cunningham, I’ve also written the Arthur MacArthur series of mysteries for children.I was born in England, but have spent most of my life living in the U.S.—including 25 years on Cape Cod before moving to Florida. A former interpreter for the deaf and long-time independent bookseller, I’ve been a full-time freelance writer and copy editor for many years. A 4th-degree Master Black belt in Tang Soo Do, I finally retired from active training when my body said, “Enough already! Why are you doing this to yourself?” I’m married, with two grown children and two awesome grandsons. My wife and I spend as much time traveling as we can, and are especially fond of cruising the Caribbean.I have been gratified by the response to my books. When I published Eden Rising back in the spring of 2013, I had no idea what to expect. When I sold my first few copies, I was excited beyond belief that someone was willing to take a chance on it. Numerous books and thousands of copies later, I am still humbled by the emails I get from readers telling me that my books kept them up late into the night.In October of 2014, Wisdom Spring made me an official Amazon Bestselling author, a thrill I never thought would happen. But it still comes down to being able to bring a few hours of escape to a reader. That’s what it’s all about for me.I hope you will try my books. Please feel free to email me with your comments.
Author-preferred Narrator of Mysteries & ThrillersNarrating audiobooks is highly gratifying. I immerse myself into an author’s story in order to bring it to life for the listener. I’ve enjoyed working with Andrew Cunningham for several years. His books are filled with rich characters, and the stories keep me turning the pages.I also work as a background actor in movies and TV shows.For more than 20 years, I worked as a radio news reporter and news writer. I spent half of my broadcasting career at ABC News Radio in the Washington, D.C., bureau. I covered all the federal agencies as well as Congress and the White House. I reported on a wide range of stories during my career, including financial and entertainment industry news.For nearly 24 years, I worked as a federal government spokesman at three separate agencies—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Mint and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Greg Hernandez. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Bobby Holmes, his cousin Brenda Watson and friends are embroiled in a deadly mystery in the North York Moors of England. An old beggar warns Bobby to stay away, and another stranger appears to be at the center of it all.
Bobby and his mates travel to the seaside town of Whitby, where a puzzling tattoo on the stranger is revealed to mean Wolf Slayer. Their goal, to track him down, leads them to baffling clues: the appearance of a group of gypsies and a librarian attached to Her Majesty’s Government, who is researching a group of super wolves. His research dates as far back as King Edward and his ally, Peter Corbet, who is charged with ridding the country of these beasts.
Searching for his mates, friend Michael gets attacked and captured by the monster, then taken to the witches who control the creature.
Seeking their friend, Bobby and the others locate the gypsies, discover their leader is the beggar who initially warned Bobby, and receives aid and information. They learn that the mysterious stranger they’ve hunted is a descendent of Corbet, named Alex. Their new friend takes them to the Red Lion Inn for help in finding the cottage of the Witches of Westerdale.
They find it, burn the cottage along with the witches, rescue Michael, and return to the Inn. Here they find the beast, waiting. It is killed by Alex, who then leaves to help another in New Zealand.
About the author:
J.M. Kelly has been a middle school teacher, a vice-principal, a principal, a Co-Director of the New Jersey State History Fair, a consultant for the New Jersey Foundation for Educational Administration, a current Board member of the Global Learning Project (a non-profit) and Past-President of the Morris County Association of Elementary and Middle School Administrators. He has been the recipient of numerous education awards such as the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Award, two Geraldine Dodge Foundation Grants, and by acclamation of his school staff, received the New Jersey Principal’s and Supervisor’s Association Principal of the Year Award for Visionary Leadership in 2007. He has authored two professional books: Student–Centered Teaching for Increased Participation and In Search of Leadership.
The Lost Treasure, available on Amazon.com, is his first novel. His love of mysteries, adventures and everything about Sherlock Holmes, helped in the creation of Bobby Holmes and his cousin Brenda Watson. Jim’s most current novel is a sequel to The Lost Treasure, entitled Monster on the Moors. It involves the same characters in a pulse pounding thriller that takes place in the North York Moors of England. Tommy Ails: Good For What Ails You, also available on Amazon, is a humorous off-beat mystery, and his first novel for adults.
Jim’s non-fiction book, In Search of Leadership, or Sailing With Roland, (also on Amazon) takes him to the Maine coast and aboard the sailing craft of one of the most preeminent educators of our time, Roland Barth, to discuss educational leadership in particular and the field of education in general. The results are, what Roland in the Foreword calls, “timeless nuggets of wisdom for himself and for the rest of us who would venture aboard a boat and into a schoolhouse.”
Jim divides his time between Sea Girt, New Jersey and Sarasota, Florida, with his wife Bronwen. They have three children.
The #1 Bestselling Mystery Series on Amazon continues!
What if a stranger told you that she believed your child is about to be killed? What if that woman was an ex-FBI profiler with a disputable reputation?
Would you believe her?
Eva Rae Thomas is chasing down a vicious killer, but no one will believe he even exists. If there are no unexplained dead bodies or missing persons, then how can there be a killer on the loose?
What they don’t understand is that the perfect murder is the one that doesn’t look like murder.
Can Eva Rae convince local law enforcement to help her with this case before the killer strikes once more? Or will she have to take matters into her own hands – again?
LET ME GO is the fifth book in the Eva Rae Thomas Mystery Series and can be read as a standalone.
The Queen of Scream aka Willow Rose is a #1 Amazon Best-selling Author and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 60 novels.
She writes Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy.
Willow’s books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won’t see coming. Several of her books have reached the Kindle top 10 of ALL books in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three million books.
Willow lives on Florida’s Space Coast with her husband and two daughters. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
168 Horror, Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Short Stories
by Tobias Wade
Publisher: Haunted House Publishing LLC
Publication Date: February 1, 2019
The news said 33 miners were trapped when the mine collapsed.
And why wouldn’t they? 33 people were pulled out of the ground.
The men were buried 700 meters below the surface. There was no way in or out.
But the miners who were rescued all said the same thing:
They said there were only 32 miners during the cave in. That they counted and they counted—every day—every few hours to make sure everyone was taken care of.
Then one day they count again, and there were 33. A stranger was in their midst.
Something escaped from the earth during that rescue that never should have seen the light of day.
Demons, monsters, psychopaths, undead, mad-experiments, and terrifying paranormal encounters.
The last confession from a serial killer will take your breath away.
Why should you be afraid to leave an audio-recorder on overnight?
What could go wrong if you meet the Devil on Tinder?
Why does your reflection smile more than you do?
The Grim Reaper’s scythe isn’t to harvest you. He’s there to protect you from what’s waiting on the other side.
Early readers are saying:
“As a huge horror nut I love being freaked out of my mind, being taken for a dark spin, and then being left with goosebumps dotted on my skin.”
★★★★★ Review
“From the first story to the last, this book was enjoyable in that spine-tingling kind of way. It’s been a very long time since I’ve read anything that has wormed its way into my brain and had me thinking about it hours or days later.”
★★★★★ Review
“I swear there isn’t a clunker on here. You’d think even a solid compilation would have one or two lame ducks, but every last story in here is thrilling and terrifying and fantastic.”
★★★★★ Review
Fast, exciting, satisfying stories, filled with compelling mysteries and shocking twists.
Mega-collection with 168 chilling stories, over 700 pages include Amazon-Bestselling Collections 51, 52, and 53 Sleepless Nights, as well as 12 bonus tales from Brutal Bedtime Stories.
Easy to fit in a story during the day, or to keep you awake all night long.
Former neuroscience researcher, born again horror writer. During my studies, it struck me as odd that I could learn so much about why humans behave without understanding the intricacies of human nature. It occurred to me that I learned more about the depths of human experience from reading Dostoyevsky than I ever had from my text books, and I was inspired to write.
Download my horror collection for free and see all my publications at:
“I come from a long line of idiots.”Those were the last words his father uttered before dying, and from what he knew of his family tree and the unfortunate end that came to so many of his ancestors, Del Honeycutt couldn’t disagree. What he didn’t know was that his family held dark secrets – secrets that were about to come crashing down upon him.A seemingly innocent date gone tragically wrong plunges Del into a web of murder, lies, greed, and a hidden fortune dating back to a crime committed 85 years earlier by his great-grandfather. Accompanied by Sabrina, the sister of Del’s brutally murdered date, a violent journey of discovery and fear begins. Pursued by vicious killers intent on eliminating anyone with knowledge of the 85-year-old crime, their only hope of survival is to find the reason behind the original crime and why, decades later, someone is still willing to kill to keep it hidden. But Sabrina is concealing a monstrous lie of her own. Is she who she says she is?By the author of the Amazon best-selling thriller, Wisdom Spring.
I’m the author of novels in several genres, including, mystery, thriller, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. Under the name A.R. Cunningham, I’ve also written the Arthur MacArthur series of mysteries for children.I was born in England, but have spent most of my life living in the U.S.—including 25 years on Cape Cod before moving to Florida. A former interpreter for the deaf and long-time independent bookseller, I’ve been a full-time freelance writer and copy editor for many years. A 4th-degree Master Black belt in Tang Soo Do, I finally retired from active training when my body said, “Enough already! Why are you doing this to yourself?” I’m married, with two grown children and two awesome grandsons. My wife and I spend as much time traveling as we can, and are especially fond of cruising the Caribbean.I have been gratified by the response to my books. When I published Eden Rising back in the spring of 2013, I had no idea what to expect. When I sold my first few copies, I was excited beyond belief that someone was willing to take a chance on it. Numerous books and thousands of copies later, I am still humbled by the emails I get from readers telling me that my books kept them up late into the night.In October of 2014, Wisdom Spring made me an official Amazon Bestselling author, a thrill I never thought would happen. But it still comes down to being able to bring a few hours of escape to a reader. That’s what it’s all about for me.I hope you will try my books. Please feel free to email me with your comments.
Author-preferred Narrator of Mysteries & ThrillersNarrating audiobooks is highly gratifying. I immerse myself into an author’s story in order to bring it to life for the listener. I’ve enjoyed working with Andrew Cunningham for several years. His books are filled with rich characters, and the stories keep me turning the pages.I also work as a background actor in movies and TV shows.For more than 20 years, I worked as a radio news reporter and news writer. I spent half of my broadcasting career at ABC News Radio in the Washington, D.C., bureau. I covered all the federal agencies as well as Congress and the White House. I reported on a wide range of stories during my career, including financial and entertainment industry news.For nearly 24 years, I worked as a federal government spokesman at three separate agencies—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Mint and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
When did you know you wanted to be an audiobook narrator?
In 2014 I was looking down the road toward retirement from my federal government job. I knew I wanted to do something with voice over, but I didn’t want to go to an office. I read the book, “More Than Just A Voice: The REAL Secret to Voiceover Success” by Dave Courvoisier. The chapter on audiobooks was very intriguing. I did some research and auditioned in late 2014. I was ecstatic that I was selected quickly. It’s been a great adventure and learning experience ever since that fateful day.
Did you find it difficult to “break into” audiobook narration? What skill/tool helped you the most when getting started?
I was a radio news reporter in my first career. Being in front of a microphone was my comfort zone. I was very glad that I got my first audiobook a few days after my audition. It helped a lot that I worked with digital audio in 1987 when it was first introduced at ABC Radio News. Those skills have worked in my favor as an independent narrator not working with a publisher. Plus, I was an audio engineer when I was a student at Syracuse University working with analog audio.
A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career?
I believe it’s necessary to know a little about acting because that’s what narrating mysteries and thrillers is all about. Through my first reviews, I learned that listeners want distinct character voices so that they know who’s speaking. They don’t want to keep rewinding to keep up with character dialogue. I’ve studied acting and taken acting classes in order to make the dialogue sound like a movie soundtrack.
How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for narrating?
Audiobook narration is like running a marathon. You have to keep your voice in shape, and you have to maintain your energy level high throughout the whole book. In my early narrations I’d sometimes have to re-record sections because the energy was flagging. Now, I make it a point to maintain a constant energy just like a runner trying to keep up a steady pace.
Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
I listen to hundreds of hours of audiobooks each year. My favorites are biographies narrated by the author. There’s nothing like hearing someone’s story as told by them. I also love mysteries and thrillers. I also am very picky about narrators.
What are your favorite and least favorite parts of narrating an audiobook?
I enjoy the whole process from narrating, editing and processing the audio for final production. Since I edit my own narrations, it’s my goal to make certain the audio is the best quality to give the listener a terrific experience. The only frustrating part of narrating is when I get a cold. That shuts down the whole process behind the microphone. That’s when I go into editing mode.
What would you say are your strongest narration abilities?
Over the past five years, I’ve made it a point to come up with distinct character voices. I don’t want them to sound over the top. I want them to sound like every day people and believable. Some voices come naturally from the author’s words, and others take a little time to get the right cadence and inflection.
What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator?
I have narrated six books by Andrew Cunningham. I haven’t auditioned for a book since 2015. Andrew and I have a great collaboration. I call him my director because he’ll let me know if I’ve gotten a character’s voice the way he envisioned it when he wrote the story. There are about four more books that Andrew wants me to narrate. This latest series allows me continue voicing the two main characters, Del and Sabrina, that I now consider my alter egos.
How closely do you prefer to work with authors?
I enjoy authors that listen closely to my narration and provide feedback. I’ve been fortunate to work with Andrew Cunningham on several books because he provides valuable input that makes my narration all the more real sounding. I get great satisfaction when an author says I’ve brought their book to life.
What types of things are harmful to your voice?
I try to narrate for no more than four hours at a stretch. Doing character voices can put a strain on the voice, too. Warm-up exercises are key to making sure my voice is ready for the session.
Do you read reviews for your audiobooks?
I enjoy reading reviews. The input people provide is vital to helping me get better with each audiobook. Even critical reviews are educational, too. Of course, I’m thoroughly delighted when I read very positive reviews and get a five-star rating. That’s cause for celebration!
What bits of advice would you give to aspiring audiobook narrators?
I advise aspiring audiobook narrators to do their research. Narrating an audiobook is time consuming. When starting out, it takes about three hours to narrate and produce a finished hour of an audiobook. With time and experience, you can cut that down but not by much. You have to be prepared mentally and vocally for the long haul. It takes even longer if you edit and produce your own narrations.
Bonus question: Any funny anecdotes from inside the recording studio?
There are some words and long sentences that sometimes pose a challenge. I’ll get half way through a long sentence and then blow the next part or run out of breath. It’s amazing how some words come out that are not on the page. When I hear the playback, I’ll have a laugh. Take two, please!
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Greg Hernandez. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Sometimes the past reaches out to the present. It’s been 13 months since Calamity (Callie) Barnstable inherited a house in Marketville under the condition that she search for the person who murdered her mother 30 years earlier. She solves the mystery, but what’s next? Unemployment? Another nine-to-five job in Toronto? Callie decides to set down roots in Marketville, take the skills and knowledge she acquired over the past year, and start her own business: Past & Present Investigations. It’s not long before Callie and her new business partner, best friend Chantelle Marchand, get their first client: a woman who wants to find out everything she can about her grandmother, Anneliese Prei, and how she came to a “bad end” in 1956. It sounds like a perfect first assignment. Except for one thing: Anneliese’s past winds its way into Callie’s present, and not in a manner anyone – least of all Callie – could have predicted.
Judy Penz Sheluk is the Amazon international bestselling author of the Glass Dolphin Mystery and Marketville Mystery series. Her short stories can be found in several collections, including Live Free or Tri and The Best Laid Plans, which she edited. Judy is also a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors. Find her at www.judypenzsheluk.com.
Kelli Lindsay’s versatile style and years of experience with commercial, corporate and e-learning projects have created a dream career for her. She has lent her talents to TV, radio, video games, and various other fantastic projects, but she proudly admits that her true passion is narrating audiobooks. Her professional training has taught her how to put herself into the script or audiobook and deliver an incredible performance. With her professionalism and love for what she does, Kelli ensures that her clients and listeners get to hear exactly what they’re looking for!
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Judy Penz Sheluk. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Brittany Cournoyer and I met through social media and is another Midwestern author!
Author Bio
Brittany was born in a small town in Alabama and moved to Indiana when she was thirteen years old. She currently resides there and works as an operator at a local hospital. When she isn’t working, she loves to spend her free time writing stories, playing with her puppy, Delilah, watching television, and spending time with loved ones.
Tell us about yourself.
I currently reside in Indiana where I work part-time as a
switchboard operator at a hospital. When I’m not working, I’m either writing,
spending time with some of my favorite people, or spoiling my dog, Delilah.
While at home, my television is usually on the ID channel or food network,
which is ironic since I can’t even boil water. I love movies (the scarier, the
batter), and music from the 70s and 80s. And that’s pretty much it 😊
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I’ve always loved books. There are videos of me my mother
has where I’m sitting on her lap at 7 years old reading a book out loud to her.
The older I got, my love and passion for books increased until I decided to try
and write my own.
What genres do you like to read? Are these the same genres you write in?
Oh, I absolutely love to read second chance romances and the
fake relationship. But, oddly enough, I’ve never written one.
Is your book for adults, young adults or children?
Definitely adults.
What is your current release or project?
I have a release coming at the end of October entitled
Sinister Shadows.
Tell us about the key characters
Duncan awakens in a hospital with no memory whatsoever. He
only has the word of his husband, Pierce, to go by. Only, Duncan doesn’t
remember being married or who Pierce is…
What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?
Who is Duncan Reynolds? Pierce,
the man claiming to be my husband says that’s me.
A racing heart and a need to
breathe are my only memories when I wake in an unfamiliar room surrounded by
strangers. With nothing else to go on, I have to trust the people around me to
help me remember.
As days stretch into weeks, I
know the reoccurring dreams of dark alleys and sinister shadows can’t be
ignored, and the only person I have to help me is Pierce. With my memory slowly
starting to return, I know things aren’t always as they seem. Will searching
for the past lead me closer to my husband or toward the danger that’s lurking
just out of sight?
Share an excerpt
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
The sound of feet heavily
pounding against the pavement mingled with the loud pants of air that burst
from his lungs.
As sweat slickened his body,
making the fabric of his T-shirt stick to his skin, his chest heaved from
exertion as he ran down the alley. But he refused to stop and catch his breath.
The pain in his side was minute compared to the feeling that spurred him
on—fear.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Putting one foot in front of
another, he allowed the terror that coursed through his veins be the driving
force behind his feet. Tears streamed down his face and his mouth as dry. His
entire body was shaking from the run, and his feet were aching. But he couldn’t
stop, wouldn’t stop. Stopping would be his undoing, and he had to keep going.
Shadows danced across the
brick buildings on either side of him as he made his dash down the alleyway.
Every little noise had him jumping, and every movement from the corner of his
eye had him veering off his direct path a little. But he couldn’t be deterred.
Not when he was so close to his destination.
A streetlamp illuminated the
end of the alley, casting a tiny bit of light, a beacon for him to find his way
out. All he had to do was make it a few more steps…
Do you have a favorite scene?
I do! It’s a pivotal point in the book where everything
starts to come together, and I hope when people read it they ask themselves
“What just happened?”
What advice would you give a beginner?
Don’t give up. Even when you think no one will ever give
your work a chance, or that what you wrote isn’t good enough, keep going.
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.
Rivers don’t let rocks hold them back. River Nightingale has decided to
blow past the rocky men in her life.
She’s played by the rules for too long—especially when it came to her
career as a cop. She was the top closer of cases for years, but
promotions in her small town cop shop went to her less productive
male counterparts. River decides it’s time to change careers. She
leaves her small town to purchase a Seattle private detective agency
and become her own boss.
Homicide Detective Gage Hamlin takes pride in his job; he closes cases and
fosters justice. All that changed the day River Nightingale sauntered
into his office. River has him questioning his pride, his cases, and
his aversion to private detectives, especially beautiful private
detectives.
River’s client thinks Gage got it wrong, and River is forced to prove Gage
missed a murder. Will River and Gage find a way to play nice, or will
River be forced to leave Gage behind?
For private investigator River Nightingale, the stakes are high, and her
losses are twice as bad.
River has already lost a partner to a better job, and now a truck has mowed
down another partner and a key informant. Her surviving crew is
reeling and dead set on finding the killer. Working with them is a
Seattle PD homicide detective, Gage Hamlin. Gage and River have been
a volatile combination since day one, but now it’s twice as tense,
as they both seek the killer and Gage struggles to keep River alive.
On the waterfront, Seattle is known for slinging fish, but River’s
stakeout of a seafood plant reveals that fish aren’t the only thing
being sold on the docks. And if River isn’t careful, fish aren’t
the only thing that will end up dead on the docks.
Looming dangers lurk closer with every clue River uncovers. River’s
business, her relationship, her friends, and her life are all in
jeopardy. And the cost of solving the case is at least twice as bad
as usual.
Joanne was born and raised in Sherburne, New York, a quaint village surrounded by dairy
farms and rolling hills. From the moment she could read she wanted to
explore the world. During her college years, she slowly crept across
the country, stopping along the way in Oklahoma, California, and
finally Washington State, which she now proudly calls home. She lives
with her husband and Dobermans, in their home located on the Olympic
Peninsula with a panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains.
Joanne writes romantic suspense, paranormal, mystery-thriller, supernatural
suspense, and contemporary romance. She loves to submerge herself in
the world of her characters, to live and breathe their lives and
marvel at their decisions and predicaments. She enjoys a wide variety
of books including paranormal, suspense, thriller, and of course
romance.
Joanne is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America, (RWA), Kiss of Death, (KOD),
Greater Seattle Romance Writers Chapter, (GSRWA), Sisters In Crime
(SIC), and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal, (FFPRWA). She served
as President of Peninsula Romance Writers, which was Debbie
Macomber’s home chapter.
“Heath’s debut novel is gripping from the get-go.” -Kirkus Reviews
“Alaska is almost a character all on its own:
beautiful, unpredictable, violent, and unforgiving. Broken Angels is
a compelling debut by a talented new writer.” -Elaine Ford,
winner of the Michigan Literary Award.
“This book was amazing, just as Burke brings New Orleans to life
Heath puts Alaska into your soul.” -Judy Smrdel
“Heath has tapped his
intimate knowledge of Alaska, its people, its coastal communities and
its interior uniqueness and crafted a character-rich, page-turning,
murder mystery.” -An Alaskan
She stares at her mother’s clumsy lettering on the envelope. Nine years.
Nine years since she stepped over her mother’s drunken body and into
a cold Alaska night running south, leaving her mother forever. How
did she find me? She hesitates, knowing the letter inside will drag
her home; back into the bleakness of a life with no exit. Kris
Gabriel, Alaska Native, and fierce like a wolverine, returns to
Alaska–to find her mother murdered. Guilty she abandoned her in
life, Kris only knows to fight. Relentlessly, she tracks a trail of
pain, of lost love, of lives ripped apart by the frozen north’s
unyielding laws, never suspecting that she has far more at stake than
just finding her mother’s killer.
Broken Angels is a fast-paced Alaskan noir filled with
richly drawn characters struggling to survive in a hostile country
In his teens, Russell Heath hitchhiked to Alaska and lived in a cabin on
the banks of the Tanana River; in his twenties, he lived in Italy and
then traveled overland across the Sahara, through the jungles and
over the savannas of Africa and into southern Asia; in his thirties,
he sailed alone around the world in a 25 foot wooden boat; in his
forties, he wrote novels; and in his fifties he bicycled the spine of
the Rockies from Alaska to Mexico.
He’s worked on the Alaska Pipeline, as an environmental lobbyist in the
Alaska Legislature, and run a storied environmental organization
fighting to protect Alaska’s coastal rainforests. Several years ago,
he moved to New York City to dig deep into leadership development and
coaching. He now coaches business and non-profit leaders intent on
making big things happen in the world.
I’m the author of novels in several genres, including, mystery, thriller, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. Under the name A.R. Cunningham, I’ve also written the Arthur MacArthur series of mysteries for children.
I was born in England, but have spent most of my life living in the U.S.—including 25 years on Cape Cod before moving to Florida. A former interpreter for the deaf and long-time independent bookseller, I’ve been a full-time freelance writer and copy editor for many years. A 4th-degree Master Black belt in Tang Soo Do, I finally retired from active training when my body said, “Enough already! Why are you doing this to yourself?” I’m married, with two grown children and two awesome grandsons. My wife and I spend as much time traveling as we can, and are especially fond of cruising the Caribbean.
I have been gratified by the response to my books. When I published Eden Rising back in the spring of 2013, I had no idea what to expect. When I sold my first few copies, I was excited beyond belief that someone was willing to take a chance on it. Numerous books and thousands of copies later, I am still humbled by the emails I get from readers telling me that my books kept them up late into the night.
In October of 2014, Wisdom Spring made me an official Amazon Bestselling author, a thrill I never thought would happen. But it still comes down to being able to bring a few hours of escape to a reader. That’s what it’s all about for me.
I hope you will try my books. Please feel free to email me with your comments.
Author-preferred Narrator of Mysteries & Thrillers
Narrating audiobooks is highly gratifying. I immerse myself into an author’s story in order to bring it to life for the listener. I’ve enjoyed working with Andrew Cunningham for several years. His books are filled with rich characters, and the stories keep me turning the pages.
I also work as a background actor in movies and TV shows.
For more than 20 years, I worked as a radio news reporter and news writer. I spent half of my broadcasting career at ABC News Radio in the Washington, D.C., bureau. I covered all the federal agencies as well as Congress and the White House. I reported on a wide range of stories during my career, including financial and entertainment industry news.
For nearly 24 years, I worked as a federal government spokesman at three separate agencies—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Mint and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Greg Hernandez. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
