Why it didn't take "balls" for me to pull The Reapers & republish.

I've received a lot of praise for pulling my first novel, when it was realized that my original "editor" had lied about her credentials, and for me to spend several months reediting it before I republished. I will be the first one to admit that I could never self edit. I know my story too well, and when reading it, I don't see the words but the images in my mind. This is why I count on my editor.

I published May 31st 2015, I pulled my book in mid July when the issues became apparent that it wasn't just a simple fix.

This was my first book. I did my best at finding an editor. I failed. It happens to many authors. But I kept going. I looked again, and again, and  again--until I found one. It was painful and stressful. I hated every second of it. 

I was told I was brave, strong, and a bunch of other inspiring type words.

I'm not saying they are wrong, because who am I to tell anyone else what they believe? 
However, I, personally, do not agree.

The reapers is my first published book. I love the story, I think it's so different from anything else out there and that people will love it once they pick it up and read it.

It is this belief in my book, my story, that lead me to the path of pulling it and editing it again. I wanted the story to be what people remembered, not the fact I messed up picking an editor.

I did it for me. Sure there was a small part that did it for the readers, but 99.9% of it was for me. I wanted my story to reflect the story in my head to the best of my/it's ability.
I did it because I have a vision for this book, and the series it is a part of. I won't be satisfied with saying "Oh well! Moving on to the next book." and being done with it. I want it to be finished, then I will move on. The story is worth that time and effort. It is worth the stress, the pain, the tears, and everything else that came along during my journey. I learned a lot from it.

I did it for me, my piece of mind, and my vision. Not to make anyone happy, other than myself. It didn't take "balls" as some have said, it took my belief in my story and my vision.

Thanks to Mae Williams at Ye Olde Ink & Quill Editing Services, for encouraging me as I made my edits, and editing my MS to be amazing. 




-Ali
xoxo

DIY Swag - Mini book charms & Ornaments. (Tons of images!)

For my first book, I made these adorable mini books, then I saw the super cute idea to turn them into Christmas ornaments.

I made a TON of these  mini books. I use them for key chains, these ornaments, and charm bracelets. I'm sure there are a slew of other things you can do with them too.

I love to give cute things like this to friends and family, and use them for giveaways, (and have some for me!) but if you're like me, then you can't afford to spend millions of dollars paying someone else to make them for you. 

So here is my tutorial, with a bunch of crappy pictures.

<3 Enjoy!

The pile of mini books. (Excluding all the ones with covers that aren't public yet.)

What you need:

Book:
Scissors
Mod podge
Sculpey III (I used the original Sculpey but it was weird, and a little TOO soft to work with for my tastes.)
Jump rings
Scalpel
Needle nose pliers
Flat pliers
Coaster, or flat object
Self healing mat
1 2in Head pin, (If you want the jump ring through the corner - this is where Sculpey III comes in handy.)


Ornaments:
80MM ornament ball
Tinsel /confetti/both/whatever floats your boat.
Ribbon

Instructions:

1.
Print out 1" high covers of your book. With at least 1-3 extra for you to use in creating the "pages" of the book.

I noticed they lasted a lot longer with Sculpey III because it wasn't as oily as the original.

2. Break of little globs of Sculpey, and place on your self healing mat - the lines come in handy. :D

Flatten it to 1/4" I used a coaster.

3. Slice along one side. This will be the spine. Then  wrap the cover around it, and trim.

4.Use the scalpel to lightly score lines around the 3 exposed edges.

This is where you decide where the jump ring will go. If you want it in the top. just insert, and press the edges of the book together until they are straight again.

 if you want it in the corner like I use for most of mine, then you will need your needle nose pliers and that headpin.
(Sorry no photo of it!)

Bend the end of the pin until it's slightly rounded, a bit larger than the jump rings. (Image of it in step 8.)

5. Now, gently peal the cover off, and place thebook insides in a clean pyrex dish.

Bake at 275F for 15 minutes. Let it cool completely before doing anything with them. (It's a good time to finish cutting out your covers, or read a chapter or two in whatever you're reading.)


6. Paint the book with Mod podge.

place the cover over it and position it where you want it. Gently press down on the spine to conform.

Then Paint over the top of the cover.
Probably be a little less messy than I was.

7. Set them to dry so the covers wont get stuck to anything. And let them dry OVERNIGHT. they will be dry to the touch, but you can still mess them up.

(Sneak peak of the spine of one of my covers.)


Don't forget to wash your brush with warm soapy water when you're finished.











8. Okay then. If you chose to do the top mounted jump ring, move along to the ornament bit, or be happy and call it finished.
For those who like the corner. Use the headpin to pierce the cover, spine first, and wiggle it around in there to make sure the way is clear for the jump ring.

The jump ring should slide in easy, if not, wiggle the headpin around. (Don't floss it all the way through, the flat part of the head will be too big)





















So that's it. It's pretty easy, and you'll get the hang of it once you make a few.

Ornament instructions!!

1. Dismantle it, take the top off the ornament, and take the metal dohicky out.

I added 6 jump rings to my book to make it hang in the middle.


2. Chop up some sparky things, add glitter, confetti, whatever you picked. some big and little pieces are good.



3. Thread a piece of ribbon through the tiny tiny holes in the top. - Hook the top jump ring through it. - Tighten the ribbon and tie it in a pretty little bow. 


4. Put the metal doohickey back in place.
Then gently stuff the book through the opening, and You're almost done.


Take a hook or another piece of ribbon and tie it in a loop through the doohickey. 




Now you have an custom and wicked awesome ornament to give to fans, family, friends, or keep for your own tree! Enjoy! 

 

Super blurry photo of my 4 in action, being all Christmassy and whatnot.  And my husband's Bruins light up ornament. 

IABB addicts spotlight: A. M. Leibowitz

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About the Book

Author: A. M. Leibowitz

Title: Passing on Faith

Pages: 276

Genre: General Fiction, LGBT

Date published: November 1, 2015

Synopsis:
Following his father’s death, Micah Forbes believes he can finally put the family who rejected him and their religious bigotry behind him. In a cruel twist, his older brother calls to tell him he’s inherited their father’s abandoned vacation home.

Micah discovers the house comes complete with a long list of repairs, boxes full of family secrets, and a handful of quirky neighbors. Despite not wanting to get in too deep, he can’t help the spark of interest stirred when the sexy redhead next door offers his help. Everything about the enigmatic Cat Rowland throws Micah off-balance, from his gender-bending sense of fashion to his handy repair skills to his deep spirituality. Before long, Micah is swept up by Cat and his friends, but Cat himself keeps his heart carefully protected.

When Micah’s past and his present collide in a painful way, his self-destructive coping habits threaten to overwhelm him. To save himself, he needs to open his soul and let someone in. Cat has the key to unlock him, if he can let down his guard and trust his faith enough to catch Micah as he falls.

AMAZON // GOODREADS

Excerpt

Micah stared up at the old house. It was nicer than he’d remembered, at least on the outside—other than the overgrown lawn and garden. He wondered if there was a lawn mower in the shed. Then he wondered if there was a shed. Just one more thing to worry about. At least he had the entire summer to figure out what he did and didn’t have available to him.
His mind ran through all the possible scenarios of what could go wrong during his tenure there, from the house falling down around him to his friends having a crisis while he was unavailable. He tried not to imagine that the students renting his own home had merely been putting up a front and were actually throwing a wild party even as Micah stood on the front porch of the lake house. None of that would do; they were his way of finding excuses not to stay in Concordia.
While he was thinking about all of that, a voice behind him said, “Hey, there.”
Micah nearly jumped out of his skin. He turned around slowly and came face-to-face with a gingery-blond young man. He was average height, perhaps an inch or two shorter than Micah, and had a wiry build. There was a dusting of freckles across his pale skin, and he had a row of small hoops down one ear. In the other ear, he wore a dangling earring that looked like some kind of leaf. He had on a trendy pair of black knee-length pants and a fitted white t-shirt with a rock band logo Micah didn’t recognize. His gray-green eyes were wide and held a spark of mischief, and his mouth curled upward in a charming smirk.

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IABB addict - Valarie Savage!

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About the Book

Author: Valarie Savage

Title: Slither

Pages: 217

Genre: Paranormal Horror

Publisher: Twisted Core Press

Date published: July 2, 2015

Synopsis:
We're often told tales of the underworlds to feed the darkest corners of our nightmares. We tuck them away with the sunlight and laugh away the fear our minds created. But the daylight offers no relief for Zari. She's hidden her waking nightmare as nothing more than a damaged past. The venom of her secrets consumes her, as well as those she cares for most. Emmett, the love of her life and the only one with a past dark enough to respect her space, becomes a pawn in the war against the demonic force which is her bloodright. Can Zari overpower those out to get her to feed on the innocent? Can she save Emmett from the evil of Slither?

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Excerpt

Zari clawed at her sister, Gianna, in a desperate attempt to escape. Gianna ran her forked tongue slowly across her upper lip. The slimy, berry-colored muscle dripped hot saliva onto Zari’s face as she turned away from Gianna’s menacing glare. “Please don’t make me watch! I don’t want to see this again!” Zari cried, curling into a ball on the hard, cold floor of the shed.Nan stomped on Zari’s stomach, anger flushing her grizzled features. “Listen, you little bitch. You will sit still and watch, or I will see to it your father beats you senseless…again. Remember the last time?” Zari did remember. She’d not been able to walk for two days after the last beating. The pain in her gut now was so great it knocked the air from her lungs as she wheezed.
Zari whimpered. Pain, shame and disgust clenched her stomach as the young man tied to the pallet in the corner screamed for mercy. Pop straddled the man, laughing as his prisoner frantically thrashed about. Nan and Gianna gripped Zari’s arms and forced her to a sitting position. Roughly grabbing her chin, Nan yanked her head forward. “Watch!” Nan hissed.The man’s body had stilled and dark, thick rivers of blood dripped from his mouth and nose down the side of his face. Pop’s mouth pressed against the lips of the stranger as the serpent fed. When her father finally rose, the snake slid back into his mouth and Pop wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand. He met Zari’s gray-green eyes with his own, and grinned. His teeth were stained dark red.
Terror shook Zari’s bones, leaving her shivering as she raised her eyes to the scene in the corner of the shed. Pop ran his thumb over the lips of the man, who cried out once more but was quickly silenced when the snake burst forth from Pop’s mouth and slithered down the throat of the man, a drifter who had stopped by the farmhouse the day before, looking for work.Gianna’s split tongue flicked against Zari’s ear; the feel of the wet, dual points of it against her skin made Zari flinch. “Soon,” Gianna whispered, tracing the outer edge of Zari’s ear with her tongue. “Soon, it will be your turn to feed.” Pop shoved the limp body of the young man onto the pile of human shells stacked along the wall of the shed.Overwhelmed by the stench of blood and decaying flesh, Zari began to vomit. Vile chunks of rancid meat erupted from her mouth and bile burned her throat and nose as she heaved. Grimacing, she dragged the hem of her shirt across her mouth, resolving never to eat meat again.

About the Author

Valarie Kinney is a writer, fiber artist and Renaissance Festival junkie with a wicked caffeine addiction. She resides in Michigan with her husband, four children, and two insane little dogs. Author of Slither and Just Hold On. Editor and narrator for Dragons of Faith.

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The ups and downs of pacing in a series

I just finished a book and went to read some of the reviews on it, wondering if anyone else felt the same about it. (Is it next year yet? Because I REALLY feel the need to know what happens!)

So naturally I go to the lower star ratings first (because they are more entertaining to read--even though this was a 5 star read for me.)

I got to one of the 3-star reviews, and they said that it just "wasn't as fast-paced as the last one." But It left me wondering WHY some people expect every book in a series to contain the same elements in the same amounts as the one(s) before it.
Life has never worked that way for me, there have been fast-paced moments and horribly slow paced moments. But as long as the slow paced moments build on the plot, character development, etc. Why is it seen as a bad thing?

You can't have a 3-10 book series as one solid fight scene ... I mean you could, but that would diminish the effect of the important fight scenes right?

Shouldn't a series be filled with ups and downs?

I think so.

The book was #5. (Where book #4 started off with another character different from the first three books--the next generation--if you will.) The second book (#5) dealt with the consequences of the previous book, and set up the situations for the next book, while developing the new villains, and growing the romantic relationship so it would make sense why the MC would risk everything to save said love interest. Not a whole lot of fight scenes, but to me, it comes across as necessary for the reader to know/learn about the series as a whole to make the most sense.

Back to my main point. Is there a reason some readers expect the exact-same-formula of action and events for each book in a series? I would love to hear your thoughts about your expectations regarding pace, throughout a series.




*Please bear in mind that I also don't agree with the need to know if it's an HEA, trigger warnings, etc. I just read a book that sounds interesting to me and whatever reaction I have to it, is the reaction I have to it.

IABB Addict - S.J. Blackrose

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About the Book

Author: S. J. Blackrose

Title: Eternal Bloodthirst

Series: Blood Moon, #1

Pages: 270

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance

Date published: August 16, 2015

Synopsis:
Every vampire has a soulmate, and once they find them, the clock starts ticking...
Vadym and Elyzaveta both know they are meant to be, but a series of betrayals and misunderstandings prevent them from being together. Even after almost a century, they are both too stubborn to give in. Because of this, Lilith, his queen, gives him a deadline. One he intends to ignore.

The sudden return of their enemy brings them back together in a way they never would have anticipated. A deadly threat forces them to leave their homes to start a new and safer life in a small town on the other side of the planet. Another unexpected tragedy makes her hate him all over again, and this time, she is not the only one.

When the most powerful witch in existence threatens their town and thus their lives, they know they have to find a way to kill her and her warlocks, and together, they just might be able to do so.

Vadym, leader of the Vampiri, now has to recover the love of his life as well as the love of his daughter. Not an easy task. What he doesn´t remember, is that it is only a matter of time until Lilith forces the deadline on them, threatening to kill the only woman meant for him...

Warning: this book will bite! It contains scenes of a graphic nature and is not intended for readers of less than 18 years. Read at your own discretion.

AMAZON // GOODREADS

Excerpt

I can’t ignore the order he has just given me. It has not been an explicit order, but I know him. If I ignore it, he will come to me and turn me around himself. I don’t want that. I don’t want him to touch me.
His unique scent is already wreaking havoc in me.
So I turn to face him. I cannot allow myself to react, but I lean against the door because my legs are shaking.
He has matured. He seems older, though Vampiri stop aging as soon as maturity is reached on our 30th birthday. His black hair is shorter than what it used to be and it seems to curl up by his nape. Oh what I’d give to thread my fingers… No! I can’t think like that.
It’s his birthday soon. He might think I won’t remember, but I do. I remember everything.
I don’t look him in the eyes, but the thick mane, the regal nose, those thick lips, that beard; they all make his face more than memorable. I feel my fangs throb; my body comes alive before his very presence.
This was a mistake.
I should have never come.
I'm going to go.
I turn around and try to open the door, which is locked. I hear the rumble of his laughter behind me.
“I do not remember you being such a coward, Ely.”
Furious, I turn back around.
“I'm not a coward; I just decided you do not deserve to be in my presence.”
His gray eyes sparkle with humor and his pursed lips tell me that he’s trying to hold his laughter.
My throat feels suddenly dry when I see he is wearing a sleeveless shirt, which is stuck to his body, outlining every muscle. His sweatpants show a bulge I remember well, and I quickly divert my eyes. Anyone would look ridiculous dressed like that, but Vadym makes it look like he’s modeling. My eyes wander back, unable to ignore the bulge that is growing larger before my very eyes.
Automatically, I look at his shoulder, Where after all these years, I see it again.
There it is.
Proof that we belong together.
The letter E.
My initial.
I feel weak. Fragile. Emotionally exhausted. But that mark reminds me I'm alive. He rolls his shoulders making my initial on his skin move as if it were something real.
I open my mouth. I can’t breathe.
Why do I still feel this?

 About the Author

S.J. Blackrose is the author of the new Paranormal Romance Blood Moon series. An avid reader since she can remember, her love for books eventually led her to make up her own stories and share them with friends.

For over two years she worked on writing paranormal fan fiction, as well as contemporary and erotic stories, until she felt like it was time for more. Now, she's taking it a step further by diving into the Indie world with her debut novel, Eternal Bloodthirst.

Given her love for sexy Alpha male vampires, it's no surprise that S.J. decided to write about these characters. Eternal Bloodthirst will be number one in the Blood Moon series and there is a lot more where that came from since she is already planning several more books in this series. There are also plans for other projects in the future.

S.J currently resides in La Linea, Spain with her boyfriend and their two crazy dogs. If you want to know more about her or her books, make sure to follow her on any of her social media pages. She loves to hear from her readers and you can connect with her via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or her website.

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IABB Spotlight: Megan Bailey

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Author: Megan Bailey

Title: Message on the Wind

Pages: 171

Genre: New Adult

Date published: June 1, 2015

Synopsis:
TARYN HAD NEVER BEEN NORMAL.
She wasn't like other girls- not after that night, that thing, took her parents from her. She made it through hospitals, doctors, and therapy by playing by their rules and saying all the things they wanted to hear. But, inside, she held on to the truth.
She knew what she saw.

SHE SPENT HER TEEN YEARS PREPARING IN SECRET
With her two closest friends at her side, she dedicated herself to a mission. She would train and she would hunt. When the time came, she would be ready. No one she loved would be hurt by one of those monsters ever again

But with high school behind them, new found freedom comes with new responsibilities and new problems. Instead of weapons and self defense classes, she now has jobs and bills. The relation-ship with her best friend was suddenly shifting into new, scary territories. How could she take down bad guys if she couldn’t get her own life in order?

AND THEN THERE WAS HIM.
A mysterious stranger who pops up in suspicious places and throws off all sorts of bad vibes. His face now starred in her regular nightmares and plagued her thoughts in the day. Was she overre-acting? Or, was this finally the monster she had been waiting for? As the scars of Taryn’s past rise up to haunt her, she begins to question herself. With her mission faltering and her friendship off kilter, would life ever be the same again?
Would she ever be the same?

AMAZON // GOODREADS

EXCERPT

She hit him with a cushion. “Shut up and play the game.”

“Truth or dare?” Aiden asked, his tone resigned.

“Dare. I’m not letting you mock my truths.” She leaned forward and started to mix another drink. One she definitely didn’t need but was having anyway. She wasn’t thinking about this lonely dramatic stuff anymore tonight. Even if she had to drown it.

“I dare you to kiss the first guy you lay eyes on.” Aiden bolted forward with his announcement, but she was faster.

Taryn squeezed her eyes shut instantly. “Nice try, goofball.”

“Oh, that’s not fair,” he grumbled.

“Should have worded it better,” she mocked him in a singsong voice. Eyes still closed, she raised her glass, a little wobblier than before. “Let’s make a toast. To being losers together on a Friday night.”

Instead of a tap of his can to her drink, she felt his fingers slide across the sides of her face and tangle into her hair. Her eyes popped open and locked on his, just inches away.

“Gotcha,” he said in a low voice.

Before Taryn could gasp, his mouth covered hers. It was no gentle, hesitant brush of the lips like she would have expected. No, Aiden met her with a firm, warm pressure that melted her insides like chocolate. His fingers in her hair tightened, sending electricity zinging through her. The drink in her hand was forgotten and slipped to the floor. Neither of them seemed to notice. He ran his tongue across the seam of her lips, asking, and the room tilted. She opened for him. His teeth caught her lower lip and tugged, lightly. She could have sworn she felt the tingle right down to her toes.

He pulled back, dragging his lips against hers in a slow caress. They sat there in the silence, eyes wide. Her head swam and her heart raced. Her scalp tingled where his fingers still pressed into her hair. Those eyes of his had turned to that shade of rich, dark blue. They trailed back down to her lips, which felt a little swollen.

From kissing him. Aiden. Heat blossomed through her belly. That just happened. But, for once, she wasn’t running a million thoughts through her head, worrying each one to death. She wasn’t thinking at all. Her panicky, loud brain was turned off, leaving something dark and hungry at the reins. Taryn wasn’t going to question it. Not tonight. She grabbed Aiden’s shirt and pulled him back down to return the kiss.

Somewhere in her head, it registered.

She was kissing her best friend.

And it was amazing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Megan Bailey is a novelist and short story author. When not writing, she loves playing video games for way too many hours and reading everything she can get her hands on. Megan is married to her own wise-cracking, romantic hero. They live in Central Illinois with their two devious/darling daughters and three furbabies: Minna the boxer dog, Logan the black cat, and Gimli the dwarf bunny.

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Weekly IABB Spotlight - Barbara Leiberman

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Author: Barbara Lieberman

Title: Message on the Wind

Pages: 458

Genre: Historical Romance

Date published: April 9, 2015

Synopsis:
Would you follow your heart, if it meant leaving behind everything and everyone you've ever known? Board a train with Ellen Price and travel to a new life. Even as she begins a new life, she'll change the lives of all she meets.

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EXCERPT

Ellie turned quickly to run back to the wagon. She abruptly ran into the front of a man and almost fell down, dropping her purchases all over the ground. Looking up, she realized that he must be the tallest man she had ever seen. Daniel Cooper was tall but this man was huge! He had very tanned skin and black eyes that were blazing at her. His very long, black hair was pulled back and tied in a way that was long out of fashion. His hands were on his hips and he was clearly incensed about something. "Excuse me," Ellie said, surprised by the obvious anger on his face and wondering why it was directed at her. "I didn't see you. I just need to get back to my friends..." As she tried to reach for her packages, the giant stepped in her way, his eyes narrowing. "What happened to Little Flower?" he demanded.
"Little Flower?" Ellie asked, confused for a moment by the unusual name. "Oh, you mean the woman? The clerk in the store gave her a difficult time about buying a blanket. First, he blatantly refused to wait on her and then he tried to charge her five dollars! She left without it so, I bought the blanket for her." She paused in her explanation, suddenly, tilted her head and stared up at him. This was quite difficult given the differences in their heights. "Why do you want to know, so rudely I might add?" The stranger looked Ellie up and down rather deliberately, his black eyes returning to stare into hers once more. Having found herself in similar situations before, Ellie simply endured his frank appraisal. He seemed surprised she challenged him, her hands now on her hips defiantly, but then bullies usually were surprised when anyone stood up to them. This one seemed no exception. His expression relaxed only a little. "I am usually the one protecting The People around here." "The People? I'm not familiar...with…?" Ellie asked, noticing he was still staring at her. She continued to stare right back at him and tried not to notice just how handsome he was. "Indians." The man's eyes narrowed further as he said this, as if expecting some reaction from her.
"Have we met?" "Oh, well," Ellie stammered, suddenly embarrassed at her own behavior. "I didn't realize that you meant... or that she was... well, it doesn't really matter that she is one of the People, does it? What a lovely way of putting that, much better than Indian. Anyway, he shouldn't have treated her that way. I only saw someone being taken advantage of. I do tend to stick my nose in when I see that. A terrible habit of mine but there you have it." Thinking the incident resolved, Ellie again moved to retrieve her things from the ground. "Now, if you will excuse me, sir, I really must find my friends..." The man moved to block her yet again, apparently not quite finished with her yet.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Message on the Wind Prize Pack includes:

MOTW tote bag, MOTW mug, MOTW pendant, MOTW ribbon bookmark, Arrowleaf Balsamroot seeds, and my Re-imaginng Happily Ever After pin.

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Weekly IABB Spotlight - Catherine Winters

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Book Spotlight

Author: Catherine Winters

Title: Black

Pages: 246

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Horror

Date published: July 28, 2014

Synopsis:
Thirty-year-old redhead Josephine Berendt has everything under control. She’s finally over her ex, Max Spencer; her third novel is about to hit the shelves; and she’s living happily alone in a quiet Denver suburb. So what if her life is missing a little action? She gets all she needs by writing about vampires – and at least her furniture won’t run away to Paris just to prove how much it doesn’t love her.

600-year-old businessman Grant Black thinks he’s just doing a favor for an old friend by keeping an eye on Josephine and her dangerously accurate storytelling. Keeping out of her life is no trouble at all – until Max shows up on her doorstep with a case of fangs and Grant is forced to meet Josephine in the fearless, foul-mouthed flesh.

Soon Josephine finds herself at the center of an undead incident of international proportions. Now every day is a test of how long she can balance her need for independence with her growing affection for a killer, and stay alive – or, at least, not dead.

Featuring some of the most famous and ruthless vampires from history and literature, BLACK interweaves traditional vampire canons with an entirely new race of vampires with its own laws and mores. Told in Josephine’s thoroughly modern voice, the book is a witty, allusive tour of the vampire world’s upper echelons and hubs of power.

AMAZON // GOODREADS

Excerpt

I was warned; I'll admit that.
I'd been in Denver – and he'd been in Paris – for nearly three years when the letter showed up in the box, no postmark, no stamp. My name in that familiar, cramped hand, the address that he shouldn't have known. I laid it on the kitchen counter with the junk, unopened, intending to throw it out. I had nothing to say to Max Spencer, nothing that hadn't been said before he fled the country to prove how much he didn't love me.
Trash day came and went, and I passed that letter every time I went for a glass of water. I didn't want to open it – it may as well have been round and labeled "WORMS" – but I couldn't bear to get rid of it. It felt too much like throwing him away.
Part of me knew who it was when the bell rang that night. The house was cold; March hadn't come in like a lion so much as like another snowstorm, and colder air rushed in as I opened the door. I don't know what I expected after ten on a weeknight, but I didn't expect him to look so unchanged and yet so utterly different. He was the same body, ostensibly the same man who'd left me three years ago, but it seemed my bitterness had made him less than that in my head. I stared at him, hale, healthy, beautiful, and not in Paris, and promptly dropped my water glass.
"Max." I stared down at my feet; a dozen shallow cuts welled blood in scattered beads. I didn't feel them, and started to move. He touched my arm.
"Don't – you'll make it worse. I'll fix it." He eased past me in the entryway, and bent to pick up the glass around my white little feet. "You're bleeding," and he touched the cuts so gently before he went after the broom he knew I'd keep in the kitchen.
"Why are you here?"
"Didn't you get my letter? I told you I would be."
"I didn't read it." He started to sweep; I leapt for the area rug so he wouldn't touch me again.
"Any of it?"
I shook my head. He sighed as he walked around the corner to the kitchen and tipped the dustpan into the bin. "It would have been easier if you had. I'd counted on your curiosity."
"To do what?" I closed the door.
"Prepare you for me." He settled onto my sofa, adjusting the crease in his pants.
"I rather thought if I didn't answer, you'd stay away."
He was silent for a moment, his pale eyes so like mine, closed, cold. Impossible, even for one who knew him well, to guess what he might be thinking. "Unfortunately, I felt I must impose upon your hospitality. I have – stories to tell, and you're the only audience for them."

     

About the Author

Catherine Winters has honed her signature snark in print and in real life since she was ten. Her love of pop culture, bad television, and worse music coupled with the collection of a lifetime’s worth of useless trivia make her novels modern and witty.

In addition to writing, Ms. Winters is the Social Media Director for the Gatsby Theatre Company in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is employed as the principal mezzo-soprano for the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver.

She lives in Denver with with her husband, daughter, and one demanding cat.

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The Reapers Book 1 in The Hunted Series - update

I have edits back from the editor and it is looking good! It will be ready to send to a publisher in no time!
I will be going through those this week as well as finishing up the first draft of the short story. Kiss Of Death (currently a working title.)

The Exodus will start on the first. So I hope to see the final first draft before the end of the year. It's so exciting to be able to work on more stories to add to my collection for you all to read.

The short story will be available for free for those who sign up for my mailing list.
The mailing list will include cover reveals, releases, and giveaways. And maybe one or two other things.
All other updates will go here as well as on my facebook page.




-Ali
xoxo

IABBAddict Oct 21 2015

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Book Spotlight

Author: Mistral Dawn

Title: Bound by the Summer Prince

Pages: 286

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Date published: February 25, 2015

Synopsis: 
The Summer Court is in an uproar. The king has just been executed for unpardonable crimes, and the queen is prostrate with grief over his loss. This leaves the Summer kingdom bereft of true leadership; a problem which is compounded by the fact that the laws of Fairie require balance to be maintained by having a male and a female ruler for both Season Courts at all times. Uaine, the Summer prince, is the only one who can put things right, but he is without a mate. Knowing that he must take a bride quickly, for the sake of his people, even though he is struggling with his own feelings of pain and anger over his father's treachery, he goes for a walk in a forest near the palace to try to clear his head and determine how best to choose a female to rule beside him. 

While walking Uaine discovers a human female running loose in Fairie, which is against the most basic tenets of Fae law. Furious at one more problem he must deal with, he takes her prisoner and locks her in the dungeon; only to discover later that she is his soul-mate. The magical bond between them means they are meant to be together forever, but humans can't feel the magic of Fairie. Will Uaine be able to win her heart and convince her that she can trust him to keep her safe from all the dangers of Fairie...including himself? 

Roni is a human con woman and petty thief. Having run afoul of the local crime syndicate in the city where she is staying, she finds herself running for her life. Trouble is no stranger to her, but when she falls through a hole in a wall and finds herself in a world with carnivorous trees and rocks that eat people she realizes she may have found more of it than she can deal with. Rescued/arrested by the prince of the Summer Court, it doesn't take long for her to formulate a plan to use him to get herself home. Unfortunately for her, she soon finds that her heart, which she had thought long ago turned to stone, has begun to feel the love she has been playing at. Will she be able to overcome a lifetime of caution and allow herself to follow her heart? Can a criminal love a cop? 

Please be aware that this book contains explicit sexual scenes, depictions of BDSM, and anal play. If these things disturb you, then this may not be the book for you.

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Excerpt

He opened his eyes just as Roni leaned back to rest on her arms and re-crossed her legs in the other direction.  Again, he found he could not unglue his eyes from her body.

Roni crossed and re-crossed her legs, wishing she had worn a skirt instead of the jeans.  Still, her actions seemed to be having the desired effect. "Was there anything else?"

Uaine cleared his throat. "Yes! Yes, you will likely find that some members of the Court are not yet ready to accept you.  You must be very careful to guard your words, no matter what they may say to you, because it is almost certain there are those who will try to provoke you."

"And why is that?"

"Because they had hoped to occupy the position which now belongs to you," said Uaine distractedly.  He still found himself unable to remove his gaze from his Anamchara's legs.  If only she would cease moving them against each other so sensually! It was maddening to see, when all he wanted was to slide his hands, and other things, between them.

Roni waved her hand over her legs and then moved it up to her face, making sure to cover all of the area in between, and snapped her fingers. "Yo! I'm up here, dude!"

Uaine looked up, confused. "Dude?"

Roni slowly slid from the bed, making sure to undulate her body to its maximum potential, and slinked across the floor to stand in front of the prince.  She put her hands on her hips and looked up at him. "I'll make a bet with you."

Uaine swallowed against a suddenly dry throat. "A bet?"

"Yes, I'll bet you that if I make it through the dinner without saying or doing anything embarrassing then you'll take me on a tour around the area outside the castle grounds.  Jillian told me I can't go without guards, and the guards don't know me well enough to listen to me yet, so you'll arrange for a tour, with or without guards.  Agreed?"

Looking down into the determined expression on his Anamchara's face, he gulped. "It would be better if you delayed such an outing until you are more familiar with our ways."

"Nevertheless, if I win you'll take me out. Agreed?" she purred, leaning closer to him.

"And what do I get if I get if I 'win'?" he rasped.

She took one hand off of her hip and reached up to crook a finger at him, motioning him towards her.  When he leaned down, she wrapped both arms around his neck and pressed her body against his.  Putting a hand behind his head and pulling his ear down next to her lips, she breathed against his neck, "You'll get what you've been fantasizing about during this whole conversation."

About the Author

Mistral Dawn is a thirty-something gal who has lived on both coasts of the US but somehow never in the middle. She currently resides in the Southeast US with her kitty cats (please spay or neuter! :-)) where she works as a hospital drudge and attends graduate school. Taken By The Huntsman is her first effort at writing fiction and if it is well received she has ideas for several more novels and short-stories in this series.

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