Sunday, December 31, 2017

#SALE .99: FINDING FIONA by Donna Fasano

Save $4 – On Sale For 99¢ until Jan. 5

If her husband turns up alive—she'll kill him!

Explaining to the seriously sexy cop why she hasn't noticed her husband has been missing for three days is both embarrassing and sobering. But the day Fiona Rowland lifts her head above the churning chaos of kids, carpools, and a million things to do, annoyance turns to fury... then to worry. Where is Stanley?
Having one of those wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee moments changes the way a woman looks at things: marriage, money, family, and friends. And when her best pal from high school arrives (packing her own secrets) to lend support, it turns out even the past isn't quite what it seems. Scrambling to make sense of the drama unfolding, Fiona discovers there's an upside to having your whole world turned upside down. It's easier to grab the good stuff.

A delightful mixture of women’s fiction, chick-lit, romantic comedy, and mystery, Finding Fiona has something for every reader. The discussion questions included at the back of the book make this the perfect novel for book clubs and reader groups.



“Loved the story, the genuine feel of it, and the diverse women and their friendship, trust issues, forgiveness question. Very real. Lovely character journey. Clearly, this writer is writing from her heart.”



“There is angst, mystery, romance, betrayal and upheaval in the lives of the characters...but they somehow emerge from the trial better for it.”

Find this New Release:

Kobo Google Play Also available at regular price in Paperback 
Bringing you the best romance books available!

Saturday, December 30, 2017

#Excerpt: THE ACCIDENTAL WEDDING by Debra Elizabeth


Cade put his glass down on the side table and pulled her into his arms. “Please don’t be alarmed. He will not succeed,” he said.
Being in his arms felt so right. Keira sighed. “I just hate the thought of Edward being so nasty to you.”
Cade lifted her chin. “That’s very sweet of you,” he said, brushing his lips against hers.
His lips were soft and inviting. Desire scorched through her, leaving her breathless. She let him take the glass from her and stepped closer to him, pressing her body to his. Her curves fit perfectly against his solid muscles.
His hand caressed her cheek, and she moaned with pleasure. “Have I told you lately how beautiful you are?” he whispered.
Keira’s lips parted, and Cade deepened their kiss, setting her heart on fire. This wasn’t part of their deal, although there was nothing in the contract that said they needed to avoid all physical contact. This was want she wanted. This and much, much more. Her body was on fire, and she longed to know what it would be like to lie next to him. To have his hand trail up her body. To feel him fill her completely.
As if reading her mind, Cade abruptly broke contact and stepped back. “I’ve overstepped the boundaries of our agreement. Please excuse me,” he said, stalking from the room.
Keira stood speechless, staring at his retreating back. She missed the warmth of his body, and without it, she felt adrift. One minute, he was kissing her senseless, and the next, he was gone. What had just happened? 

DIGITAL EDITIONS ON SALE FOR ONLY .99 until January 5, 2018! Grab it while it's discounted.

Blurb:
Has Keira made the worst mistake of her life?
Unemployed Keira Callahan decides to try her luck at the casino before delving back into job hunting. As she walks through the casino, she bumps into the most handsome man she’s ever seen. When he asks her to dinner, she doesn’t hesitate. As she learns Cade Tyndale’s story—he needs to wed or lose his British estate, her impulsive nature rears up and she agrees to marry him and move to England for one year. What does she have to lose except her heart to the impossibly handsome Earl of Barrett?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0744PNS1H
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Wedding-Loving-Billionaire-Book/dp/1979722447

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1126827254
Paperback: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-accidental-wedding-debra-elizabeth/1126827254

Kobo Books:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-accidental-wedding-2




Friday, December 29, 2017

#Excerpt: A HARMLESS LITTLE GAME by Meli Raine


A Harmless Little Game
Meli Raine
(Harmless, #1)
Publication date: October 18th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Four years ago I lost my virginity on live, streaming television.
Too bad I wasn’t awake for it.
The video went viral. Of course it would. A Senator’s daughter on camera? Wouldn’t you click “share”? Besides, that’s what three of the four guys in the video did.
Share.
They shared me.
But that fourth guy? The nondescript one in the background in the upper left corner of the screen, just sitting on the couch? The only one who did nothing?
Not one single thing.
That was my boyfriend, Drew.
And that was the last time I saw him.
Until today, when my father—now on a path to the White House—hired him as head of security for my new team as I return home after four years of “recovering” in an undisclosed location that involved white lab coats, needles, pills and damage control.
You see, the other three guys never went to jail. Never had charges pressed.
Never faced consequences.
Until today.
Game on.

A Harmless Little Game is the first in this political thriller/romantic suspense trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine.

FREE for a limited time only!

EXCERPT:
Short, clipped chestnut hair. Brown eyes the color of well-worn leather, eyes that blaze with intelligence and a guardedness no one could ever breach. He’s bigger than the last time I saw him, four years ago. Broader. More muscular. He’s a controlled, contained man who has a James Bond air to him.
And he’s looking at me right now with eyes so cold they might as well be icebergs.
“Lindsay, let me introduce you to Andrew,” Stacia starts.
Drew. Oh, God, it’s true.
“Andrew Foster will be your new security specialist. He and his team will keep you safe.”
I snort.
He stares.
Stacia’s eyes leap from Drew to me and back. “Is there a problem?” she asks, brows turning down. That’s more emotion than I’ve seen in her for four years. Her gaze darts between me and Drew, assessing the situation. No matter what, I lose if she decides something’s going sour here.
Even if Drew is the one gone bad.
“No.” Drew and I say the word at the exact same moment, in the same tone of voice. It sounds like a sharp clap, a single sound that shatters noise.
“You two know each other?” Stacia asks, her fingers caressing the paper. Without that discharge form, I can’t leave. If Drew ruins this for me, it will be the second time in my life he’s fucked up.
The first time was four years ago when he let three of our friends rape me.


Author Bio:
Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes — and the women who love them.
Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.


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Tuesday, December 26, 2017

#Review: DUKE OF ICE by Darcy Burke


3 of 5 stars

Nicholas Bateman, the Duke of Kilve and Violet, Lady Pendleton met 8 years ago and fell in love. However, Violet's parents objected to the union and married her off to Lord Pendelton, a horrible man. Nick suffered unimaginable loss in the intervening 8 years, but he blames Violet for the beginning of all his bad luck. When she left without a word, he was devastated and events spiraled out of control after that.

I'm a fan of Ms. Burke, but I have to say that I didn't like Nick very much. Suffering from PTSD and probably depression is a difficult subject to tackle and I understand that, but when Nick did something unconscionable, I no longer was routing for him. I did like Violet although she forgives Nick way too easily and that kind of ruined it for me. I thought she had more backbone. While this isn't my favorite book from Ms. Burke, I do enjoy her stories and recommend them to fans of Regency Romance.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Amazon buy link:

Sunday, December 24, 2017

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.  


 
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

 

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;





He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"
 


Friday, December 22, 2017

#Excerpt: ALL WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU by Anita Maxwell


All We Want For Christmas Is You
Anita Maxwell
Publication date: December 20th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Hayden Halloway wants to see her name in print when she gets out of college, preferably in one of the big five newspapers in New York. She has everything lined up to make that happen, except for that one perfect story to finalize her portfolio.
Christian, Vinnie, and Justin, first string forwards on the college hockey team, all have their sights set on Hayden. But a situation involving her best friend and the Puck Games – the hockey team’s sex rating competition – ends up setting them on a collision course that could leave more than their reputations damaged.
Eggnog, coffee dates, and the Winter Wonderland all have Hayden losing bits and pieces of herself to the guys. Will Hayden sacrifice her integrity for her heart, or will she ruin the guys chances at going pro and any chance they have of being together?

Author Bio:
Anita Maxwell is from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. She has one husband, one son, two dogs, one mean cat, and no kangaroo. She loves to be the center of attention, even when noone else wants her to be. She used to be a ballerina, but now does pole dancing. She is a massive I.T. nerd. She loves planning events. One of her favourite things to do is tell K.B. "No, the main character can't do that because...".
Her favourite genres to read are Science Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Historical, Based on True Stories, and Reverse Harem of course. She has a book she carries with her called "My little book of big ideas", which is currently a quarter full.


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Wednesday, December 20, 2017

#Excerpt: BENNET by Sybil Bartel


Bennett
Sybil Bartel
(Uncompromising #4)
Publication date: December 19th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Being the drummer for the hottest new rock band should’ve been a dream come true. Sold out shows, women, more money than I deserved…
But I didn’t want any of it.
The fame sucked, the money was a burden and I’d given away my only chance at ever having her—my best friend’s sister.
I wasn’t supposed to touch her. My best friend made me swear I wouldn’t. Then he was deployed, and he told me to look out for her. Except being around her while still keeping my distance was slowly killing me. Touring with the band should’ve been the perfect escape… Until I fucked up.
I fucked up so bad, she was half-conscious in my arms, fighting for her life.
* BENNETT is the fourth standalone book in the Uncompromising Series.
The Uncompromising Series:
TALON
NEIL
ANDRE
BENNETT


EXCERPT:
I backed her against the wall and took her face in my hands. “I’m not leaving you alone.”
Her breath hitched, and her hands wrapped around my wrists, but she didn’t say anything.
I gripped her harder. “You’re not alone, you hear me? You will never be alone. I’m always going to be here for you. Always.”
Her grief, her tears, the tension in her muscles—it all stilled.
Then she stood on tiptoe and her lips landed on mine.
First shock, then eight years of blind fucking need surged, and I let loose. Growling with repressed desire and want, so much fucking want, I roared as I slammed my body against hers and shoved my tongue into her mouth.
Sweet fucking Jesus.
My hands tangling in her hair, my tongue dominating, I didn’t kiss her. I fucking took.
I took her kiss.
I took her grief.
And I took her fucking trust.
For one unbelievable moment, I had everything I’d ever wanted.
Everything.
My cock surged, my hips ground into hers, and I kissed her how I’d always wanted to. Then reality hit and I destroyed everything.
I ripped my undeserving mouth from hers and stepped back. Shattering her illusion of who I was, I rubbed the back of my hand over my mouth and prayed like fuck I didn’t break her worse. “I’m sorry.”


Author Bio:
Sybil Bartel grew up in Northern California with her head in a book and her feet in the sand. She dreamt of becoming a painter but the heady scent of libraries with their shelves full of books drew her into the world of storytelling. She loves the New Adult genre, but any story about a love so desperately wrong and impossibly beautiful makes her swoon.
Sybil now resides in Southern Florida and while she doesn’t get to read as much as she likes, she still buries her toes in the sand. If she isn’t writing or fighting to contain the banana plantation in her backyard, you can find her spending time with her handsomely tattooed husband, her brilliantly practical son and a mischievous miniature boxer…
But Seriously?
Here are ten things you probably really want to know about Sybil.
She grew up a faculty brat. She can swear like a sailor. She loves men in uniform. She hates being told what to do. She can do your taxes (but don’t ask). The Bird Market in Hong Kong freaks her out. Her favorite word is desperate…or dirty, or both—she can’t decide. She has a thing for muscle cars. But never reply on her for driving directions, ever. And she has a new book boyfriend every week—don’t tell her husband.
To find out more about Sybil Bartel, be sure to follow her on Twitter (she loves to hear about your favorite book boyfriend!), visit her website, like her on Facebook or join her Facebook group Book Boyfriend Heroes for exclusive excerpts and giveaways.


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#Excerpt: NOX by Randi Cooley Wilson


Nox
Randi Cooley Wilson
(The Royal Protector Academy #3)
Publication date: January 20th 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Love has revived an ancient war
Jealousy has risen and torn lives apart.
And one prophecy demands the ultimate sacrifice.
What if rewriting your destiny means that you must sacrifice the one you love? Serena St. Michael has forsaken her future—for him. Tristan Gallagher has renounced the throne—for her. The Vergina Sun prophecy has been fulfilled, but at what cost? Their love has renewed an ancient war. With Serena gone, will Tristan save her in time? Or will the dark army of Diablo Fairies descend upon the Royal Protector Academy, destroying the London clan’s legacy and ending the existence of the gargoyle race forever?
Nox is the final novel in the Royal Protector Academy series. This dangerously exciting and darkly romantic conclusion will take your breath away. It can be read as a stand-alone trilogy or after the bestselling Revelation series. Intended for mature readers (18+) due to language, mild violence, and sexual situations.
The Royal Protector Academy novels are a serial trilogy meant to be read in order:
Vernal (Book #1)
Aequus (Book #2)
Nox (Book #3)

Author Bio:
Randi Cooley Wilson is the bestselling author of The Revelation Series, The Royal Protector Academy Novels, The Dark Soul Trilogy, and "Covetousness" a Havenwood Falls Novella. She resides in Massachusetts with her husband and daughter.



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Tuesday, December 19, 2017

#Review: A MATCH MADE IN HEATHER by Anna Harrington


  5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly Anna Harrington's books and this one doesn't disappoint. Arabel Rowland, a laird's daughter, is deeply in love with Garrick McGinnis, a penniless stable boy. They plan to elope, but a family crisis keeps Arabel from going with Garrick. Both are heartbroken, each thinking the other didn't love him/her enough to devote their lives to each other. Fast forward ten years and they are once again thrown together by a shared Rowland inheritance. Can they bury the past and embrace the future together?

Ms. Harrington is a talented author who knows who to tease out the back story for both Arabel and Garrick, what had happened on that fateful night ten years ago. This book is well-written and the pacing is good. It kept my interest until the end. Fans of Scottish/Regency romances will definitely enjoy this one.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Amazon buy link:

Monday, December 18, 2017

Interview with Cecelia Wilson, BACK TO BREMEN


Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?
Back to Bremen is the true story of one mother’s struggles to see that her eight children survive World War II in Nazi Germany.  Through bombing raids, death, destruction, and eventual capture by the Soviet Red Army, this typical German family become victims of their Fuhrer’s mad ambitions, and Marta becomes a heroine simply by being a mother.

Do you have a favorite character?
I love Edith.  She is one of the children in the book, my dear friend who is now in her eighties, and I tell the story through her voice as a child.  But, her mother Marta is probably my favorite person in the story.  She is just a common woman, but she finds an inner strength she probably never knew she had when she faces almost a decade alone to see her children safely through WWII.  She is an excellent example that women don’t have to be superwomen to be powerful — they can come from humble beginnings and rise to great heights simply by finding the willpower to do what must be done in extraordinary circumstances.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
It took me about a year to find a publisher after querying both agents and publishers.  Hearing “no” was not easy, but with a lot of perseverance, I finally found two publishers interested in my manuscript.

What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?
One publisher I was considering was thousands of miles from me; the other was three hours away from me in my home state of Arkansas.  Not only did I like the idea of close access to the publisher should I choose to meet the staff, I loved the book covers they were doing for other authors and thought the finished product would be one I would be very proud of.

Briefly describe your journey in writing your book.
I met Edith, whose childhood is the basis for the story, more than twenty years ago.  After writing short magazine articles over the years about her childhood, we finally sat down a few years ago after her husband’s passing and I interviewed her to write the finer details down into a book.  After months of interviews and research, and another year of searching for a publisher, I’m very honored that Back to Bremen is now available to the public.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?
Thinking through the entire publishing process, coming up with the book cover was probably my favorite process.  My publisher sent several drafts to that included a war-damaged picture of Bremen, Germany and, eventually, eyes in the middle of the cover.  I loved the idea of the eyes — they were haunting.  So, I suggested moving those eyes to the top and using Marta’s eyes from one of the family photos we had of her.  I think it’s the most striking part of the entire cover.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I’ve got a one-track mind, so it’s very easy for me to focus on writing and block out every other distraction.  I don’t mind a little music or noise in the background.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I do a rough outline so I’m reminded where I want to begin and end each chapter.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
I did not, but I did have a couple of different eyes on the manuscript prior to pitching it to agents and publishers.  Once I had signed with my publisher, I was assigned an editor and loved working with him to polish the story one last time.  When I speak to school students, I often remind them that writing is just the beginning.  Editing and more editing is necessary to make sure the final product is something worth presenting to readers.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
Back to Bremen can be found in hardcover, paper, and e-book online with Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo and Jet.com.

Author bio:
For more than a decade, Cecelia Wilson has been the Feature Writer for Searcy Living magazine.  Over the years, she has penned articles introducing readers to governors, senators, Grammy Award-winning musicians, and individuals from all walks of life.  In addition to writing articles, books, and youth plays, Cecelia is a singer, pastor’s wife, play director, and acts in community theaters, commercials, film, and television.

Born and raised in Batesville, Cecelia graduated from Batesville High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  Cecelia lives in central Arkansas with her husband, Dennis, but manages to check in often with her grown son and daughter, Cody and Cheyenne.


Buy links:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Back-Bremen-Cecelia-Wilson/dp/1633732533

Barnes and Nobe:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/back-to-bremen-cecelia-wilson/1125966801



#Excerpt: IT MUST'VE BEEN THE MISTLETOE by L.P. Dover


It Must’ve Been the Mistletoe
L.P. Dover
Publication date: December 18th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Finding your soul mate is a dream Adeline Hamilton thought was just that … a dream. After several failed relationships, she realizes she’s not capable of falling in love. The only passion she’s ever had is teaching U.S. History at the local high school.
A week before Christmas, Adeline is all set for her best friend’s wedding, even though she dreads having to go to it alone. But when she’s given a Christmas wish that could change her future forever, she’s whisked away to the past, to a completely different place and time. It’s also when she meets him, William Blair, the man who steals her heart.
As their relationship grows, Adeline realizes that true love does exist. What she doesn’t know is that her wish can’t last forever, that soon she’ll have to leave the past behind. Will Adeline and William find their way back to each other? Or will their love have to stay where it all began . . . in 1865? With mistletoe and Christmas magic, anything’s possible.


Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
She loves to write, but she also loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes and white water rafting, and has a passion for singing. Her two youngest fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.
Dover has written countless novels, including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, the Society X series, the Circle of Justice series, and her standalone novel Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense, but if she got to choose a setting in which to live, it would be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.
L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.


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Saturday, December 16, 2017

#New Release: UNTIL THEN DREAM AGAIN by Matthew Keith



Blurb:

What would you do if your husband was having dreams of another woman?

What if he kept dreaming of that woman, over and over, night after night?
Would it make you jealous?
Suspicious?
Or would you dismiss it, chalk it up to an overactive imagination?
After all, it's not real. It’s only in his mind. Just a dream….

What if he told you he was falling in love with her?

Amazon buy link:


Author bio:
Matthew is originally from Brighton, Michigan. He now lives in Kentucky with his wife, two children, and their dog Elvis. He sings in a garage band with a group of friends- always rock 'n' roll- and absolutely loves a good movie.

His most popular novels, the Watchers series, have found their way onto over 50,000 Kindles, Nooks, and other eReaders.

To keep up with new releases or send a message, you can find his blog and mailing list at http://bit.ly/1li0lcL

Follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/AuthorMatthewK

Stop by for a chat on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/matthew.keith.52831

What readers are saying about the Watchers Series:
"I felt like I was trapped in a Dream ..."
"... action packed from beginning to end ..."
"It kept me up at night!"
"... didn't want to stop reading."

What readers are saying about Sway:
"... a gritty, compelling psychological drama."
"... Sway got me. That’s all there is to it."
"... a well constructed and eloquent journey ..."
"... reminded me of some of my favorite movies like 'Angel Heart', 'Memento' and more recently 'Shutter Island.'"

Friday, December 15, 2017

Interview with Robert Giel, MACARASTOR


Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
It is a story of revenge and how it changes the main character as he progresses on his quest to track down those responsible for his loss. It is not part of a series. When you read the novel, you'll understand why.

Do you have a favorite character?
I have two favorite characters, the two protagonists in my first novel. I conceived the plot and the characters of that one when I was twelve-years-old but I did't write it until I was much older. As a result, those characters grew up with me and I with them. They became old friends.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
I've only been writing in earnest for about eight years. Most of that has been a learning curve. Since I write primarily traditional Western novels, I felt that the market for that genre was small and that traditional publishers would show little interest in my books. I chose self publishing as a way to get my books in front of the public quickly and at minimum cost.

Briefly describe your journey in writing your first or latest book.
The idea for my latest novel woke me up at two in the morning. I had to start writing it then and there. When it was finished (a labor of love), I entered it in a contest given by a review magazine. It received a five-star review and was a finalist in the contest. I presented it to three traditional publishers and was offered a contract for publication about a month after submission.

If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?
My daughter is a graphic designer so I engaged her to design the covers for my self published books. She read each book (she is also my initial editor) and we worked together to come up with covers that helped tell each story.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
I recently joined a group of diverse writers who meet once a week and share our writing. Each person reads a passage he or she has written and the group reads along. Then the group critiques the passage. They have helped me immensely, in particular with point of view and becoming more concise.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I write in silence. That way, I can hear my characters talking, either within the story or to me.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I'm an outliner. I have to have a fully shaped story line and fully fleshed out characters with which to start writing. Having said that, there have been times when the spirit moved me to stray from an outline to more fully develop the story.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
Edit. Edit. Edit. While, at some point, you have to call a halt to the editing process, every time I edit one of my works, I make changes. Ask others to read it and comment on it. Don't submit it until you feel confident it's the best it can be.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
Since I'm retired, I write full time. However, recently, I discovered Cowboy Action Shooting and that has become my past time passion. It's like playing cowboys when I was a kid, only with real guns and real bullets. But don't worry, it's perfectly safe.

Author Bio:
Born in New York City and living now in New Jersey, I've lived in several areas of the Midwest but have never resided in any area that could be termed the West. However, I've absorbed so much of the West through books, movies and TV that I feel like I have been there. The colors, sounds and images stay vividly enough in my mind that I can believe I have experienced them.

I have loved the western genre since I was a kid. The grit and the determination of the people that carved a way of life out of the frontier have helped to shape the way I live my own life. Because of that era, I keep my word, I finish what I start and I'm a true friend. When I retired from the business world, I made up my mind to begin a writing career and never looked back.

The links to all my books can be found on my website, www.bobgiel.com

#Excerpt: ICE KINGDOM by Tiana Warner


Ice Kingdom
Tiana Warner
(Mermaids of Eriana Kwai, #3)
Publication date: December 11th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

The final adventure in the Mermaids of Eriana Kwai trilogy …
Meela and Lysi have unleashed Sisiutl, legendary two-headed serpent of the Pacific Northwest. It was supposed to be an ally that would help them win the war. Instead, it has fallen under the control of King Adaro, ruler of the Pacific Ocean. If Meela and Lysi can’t stop him, Adaro will use the deadly serpent to rid the oceans of mankind.
With the American military using catastrophic weapons of their own to retaliate, Meela and Lysi must make peace between humans and merpeople before one race destroys the other. The journey will risk their lives and put their relationship to the test—but the vengeance that has been consuming Meela’s thoughts, day and night, might prove even more dangerous.

**Read the first book in the trilogy for FREE: download at http://bit.ly/siandmeela until Dec 25th!**

EXCERPT:
Somewhere on the Pacific Ocean
The young man aimed his crossbow at the water, ready to fire a bolt of solid iron at the first glimpse of flesh beneath the surface.
“Sir,” he said, “shouldn’t we have seen one by now?”
The captain turned his back to the salty wind, jaw tight. “They know we’re here.”
“So what are they doing?”
He followed the captain’s gaze. Blackness merged with the empty grey horizon in every direction. A long silence passed, filled only by gentle swells lapping against the ship.
The captain drew his own crossbow.
“Forming a plan.”
All twenty men aboard the ship readied their weapons, reacting in a chain until the last man at the stern took steady aim at the waves.
“Make ready your iron, men,” shouted the captain. “We have ripples approaching off the port side.”
A handful of places in the water puckered, as if something lingered just below the surface. The sea was too black to tell.
Then it happened. Fifty, maybe sixty sea demons burst from the water and slammed against the ship. The men wasted no time. They reacted with trained speed and agility as the demons thrust stones and jagged shells into the wood, both to break holes in the ship and to scale the sides. The men picked them off with bolts of iron and watched them fall one by one back into the sea.
But they were outnumbered. Soon the demons were upon the ship, pulling themselves across the deck with bony arms.
The young man had already shot a dozen and the water reddened with each passing second.
Slow scraping sounds threatened him from behind. He whirled around, crossbow ready. Burning eyes met his, and sharp teeth, bared to rip into his flesh. He gripped the trigger, felt the bow tighten—
And the demon was gone. The young man stared into the wide gaze of a girl his own age. With a startled cry, he jerked his aim so the bolt barely missed her.
She held a black shell in her hand, sharp at the edges and ready to use as a club. But she didn’t raise it. She just looked at him.
He lowered his crossbow.
Her blonde hair fell heavily over her shoulders, dripping beads of water down her naked chest and stomach, pooling where her torso joined her tail.
He blinked, but made no other motion—where her torso joined her tail. Scales faded into flesh like some sort of beautiful, green and tan sunset.
She pulled herself closer.
“Stay back,” said the young man, unsure what prompted him to hesitate.
He looked into her eyes—emeralds surrounded by pearl white—where moments ago they had burned red. Her sharp teeth had retracted behind rosy lips. The seaweed-coloured flesh of her upper body was now olive and raised with goose bumps from the icy wind.
“Hanu aii,” she whispered. Do not fear. She spoke his language.
He loosened his grip on the crossbow, studying her. She lifted a frail arm and pushed the hair from her eyes, then motioned him forwards.
His pulse quickened as he stared at the beautiful girl.
“Hanu aii,” she said again, her voice resonating sweetly, as if she sang without singing.
Suddenly, he was kneeling in front of her, level with her luminous eyes. The sounds around him faded but for the soft purr in the base of her throat.
She reached up and held an icy hand to his cheek, not for a moment breaking eye contact. The hand slid behind his head and pulled his face towards hers, slowly but firmly. He inhaled her sweet breath.
“No!”
He flinched. He turned to see the captain racing towards them, aiming his crossbow at the maiden.
The young man grasped the scene around him. The ship was empty. A few stray weapons and barrels bobbed serenely in the water. Blood soaked the deck in places, and even the main mast had a splatter across the bottom.
The captain fired wide. Before he could reload and aim again, the sea demon put a hand on the young man’s chin and pulled his gaze back to hers.
Her eyes blazed red. Her skin rippled into the rotten colour of seaweed. Her ears grew pointed and long like sprouting coral. She opened her mouth to reveal a row of deadly teeth.
The young man screamed.
The demon pulled him against her with more strength than three men combined, and they dove headfirst off the side of the ship.
They disappeared into the blood-red water.

Author Bio:
Tiana Warner is the best selling author of the Mermaids of Eriana Kwai trilogy. Her books have been acclaimed by Writer’s Digest, Foreword Reviews, and the Dante Rossetti Awards. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of British Columbia. Tiana enjoys riding her horse, Bailey, and is an active supporter of animal welfare.


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