Sunday, August 3, 2014

HATHOR LEGACY: BURN by Deborah A Bailey Giveaway & Excerpt

I'm back! This is my last post about my new science fiction romance, Hathor Legacy: Burn, book two in the Hathor Legacy series. I've had fun sharing excerpts and posts with you. Hope you've enjoyed them too!

At the end of the party, one randomly chosen commenter will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a ebook version of the book (either .mobi or .pdf). 


In this excerpt, Nadira is in a medical evacuation center or “medi-evac.” She was caught in an ambush of a security team and used her PSI abilities to fight her way out. Now she has to rest in order to regain her strength. She’s had a few shocks up to this point (with more to come) and Jonathan is concerned that she’s taking on too much without giving herself a chance to recover.


Nadira tried to sit up, but her arms ached so much they couldn't support her. Instead they wobbled and she was forced to drop back down against the pillows.

"Relax. You're not going anywhere." Jonathan propped himself up on his elbow and pulled the covers back over her.

She looked up into his grey eyes. What she saw there wasn't what she was expecting. But it wasn't just concern for her that had etched the dark circles under them, there was something else.

"You look tired," she said, as she ran the tip of her finger along his face, following the line of his squared jaw. Stubble pricked and tickled her skin, encouraging her to continue her exploration. After reading Varyn and being attacked in the warehouse, she'd shut down her awareness, just so she could block out her emotions. If she allowed herself to feel something now, she'd have to feel it all, and she wasn't sure she was ready for that.

Jon captured her hand and pressed it to his lips. "I didn't know how to find you. A security officer told me about the warehouse fire. When I got there, they told me to check the medi-evac. I heard you calling me."

Had she? She couldn't remember now. In fact a lot of the attack was hazy, without clear definition, like waking up and trying to remember a dream. "I couldn't save them. I tried and I couldn't." Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision and making her feel ashamed.

Emotions were to be controlled at all times. That's how Zina had trained her, and that's what she had always fallen back on. But now, it wasn't working.

"Let it go," Jonathan said. "It's all right."

"No." She shifted and turned her back to him. "Stop. Just go. Come back in the morning." She wasn't ready yet. If she let it out now, she'd never be able to stop.


About the book

Book Two of the Hathor Legacy Series

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp.  When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW95G7K








As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future.

Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast. Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. She's also the author of a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Website: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB

Lord of Sherwood by Laura Strickland--Blurb and Excerpt

Lord of Sherwood: The Guardians of Sherwood Trilogy Book  Three--release date 8/8/14

Blurb:


Curlew Champion, master archer, has always known his destiny.  With his cousin, Heron Scarlet, he will become a guardian of Sherwood Forest and further his people’s fight against Norman Tyranny.  But the third member of the triad is still to be revealed, the woman who will complete the magical circle and, perhaps, answer the longing in Curlew’s heart.

Anwyn Montfort has fled disgrace in Shrewsbury and come to Nottingham at her father’s bidding.  He wishes her to make a good marriage and settle down.  But the wildness that possesses her refuses to quiet.  She knows she’s been searching for something all her life, but not until she glimpses Curlew does her spirit begin to hope it has found its home.

Only the magic of Sherwood can bring them together, and only their union can complete the spell woven so long ago …

 Excerpt:
 
“What must I do to convince you I should stay?” Anwyn spoke before Curlew could voice the refusal she saw in his eyes. “I can prove useful to you and your folk—I know I can. Did I tell you I am well able to use a bow? My father taught me when I was still growing. I often shot in company with the young folk of our town, and you know how good Welsh bowmen are.”
A smile curved those lips of his—warm, tantalizing lips that had explored every part of her in the dark. Desire slammed into the pit of Anwyn’s stomach. She did not understand the power of her longing, but oh, how she felt it!
“It makes an intriguing picture, that—you with a bow.” The hand not fused to hers came up and touched her hair lightly, as if he could not help himself. “But one I think we must neglect.”
Anwyn stepped closer. Now only the swiftly falling rain separated them. She knew men and how to manipulate them. Those games she had played at Shrewsbury and, aye, in Nottingham also were all about manipulation. Men wanted but one thing, and a woman could get whatever she wanted if a man thought he might win it in return. Dangerous, aye, and she had nearly been caught once or twice. Yet she had already given this man that prize and, besides, he was like no one she had ever met. She was sure the great restlessness in her had sent her always, always searching for him.
What a cruel irony that this one man appeared to be the only one ready to turn her away! She could not allow it, not on her life.
“I can think of still another reason for you to let me stay,” she breathed.
Desire ignited in the silver of his eyes. Even before she pressed her body against his she felt something in him leap to her, a reaching of pure spirit, and she yearned upward to find his mouth even as he sought hers.
And oh, it was as she remembered from the darkness but better, ten thousand times better, for the answer it made to her fierce wanting. Her lips belonged on his, just as her fingers had been made to curl into his. Every separate part of her had been formed, before birth, to fit his flesh. And by heaven, his tongue belonged inside her mouth and the taste of him burning through her. Her spirit needed to be at home with his until she died, and after.
She breathed his name into his open mouth. His hand released hers and she grieved, she grieved until his arms closed around her hard, lifted her from her toes, and gathered her against him.
He knew who he kissed now, right enough. Let him make any excuses he would about what had happened in the dark. He knew who she was and she could feel him strain for her.
Available 8/8/14 from Amazon and The Wild Rose Press!

Forever Friends by Amanda Kimberley Teaser and Book Giveaway


 

Forever Friends Teaser Copyright 2014


Alec ordered another shot of Scotch and chased it with a beer before looking at his watch. He was becoming impatient with the wasted minutes he used up at Backtrax. Hunting for Raine and his bitch was becoming rather annoying. He needed to find them, and now. The time to claim revenge for his lover was fast approaching. He needed to know quickly where they were so he could put his plans in place.

Raine’s scent was becoming harder and harder for Alec to track. There was little doubt in Alec’s mind that Raine had become more versed in the craft and probably came up with a detracting spell. Raine’s cunning was becoming quite aggravating. The planetary alignment would happen soon and if he could not find Raine and Skye by that time, his spell to vanquish them would never work. He hoped he could pick up their scent by asking for help from an old friend. Alec knew of a medicine man around the New England area that specialized in hunting down witches. 

Medicine men played an integral role in finding the witches who performed the dark arts during The Were Rebellion. One witch that was tracked was Obsidian and it was unfortunate because her spell was not considered dark arts to the gods. If it were, they would not have allowed her to be with child. She, of course, suffered death, but many witches were not as lucky. They were turned during the rebellion. And since they became either part werewolf or vampire, it became harder to track a hybrid. Tracking a pure blooded witch was much easier.

Raine and Skye were pure blooded, but Raine must have found a way to mask himself from Alec with the blood binding they had both performed centuries ago. He must have figured out some way to use that spell against Alec. It was an unfortunate mistake on his part, but Alec now knew better. Raine’s cloaking couldn’t last long, Alec would see to that.    

Alec befriended a particular medicine man and sorcerer named Zhan Li. He helped Zhan during the rebellion by vanquishing as many werewolves and witches he could find. Zhan was not particularly fond of vanquishing witches because they were as close as kin. He remained a neutral sorcerer and favored no side in the rebellion. He felt that each magical and supernatural race had a hand in trying to overthrow the world. But it was the werewolves that Zhan had the most disdain for during the rebellion. They allowed their emotions to get the best of them in battle. Zhan was not fond of their lack of focus.

Many, though, did look up to the werewolves in the magical community. They were one of the few creatures that could defeat a vampire that turned rouge. That respect alone should have been reason enough for them not to start the fight. Instead, they tried to enlist the help of unknowing witches. These witches, who always fought for the greater good, were tricked by the werewolves into performing the dark arts against their own kind. They then turned these unknowing witches for their own selfish mating purposes. 

Vampires were not innocent in any of this either. They too, turned witches for their own selfish reasons. Though, it was worse when a witch turned vampire. Their power was far greater than a Werewitches because they had magic on their side. There were legends of Lilith-Vampires trying to come to power during the rebellion, creating an army out of witch fledglings. It was, however, a myth in Alec’s eyes. He knew first hand, not to believe these legends, Lilith’s only protégé was himself at the time.

Once Obsidian had died in The Were Rebellion, Alec had no intentions of fighting for the greater good, nor was he doing anything for the races out of the kindness of his own cold, dead heart. His only intention was to hope that Zhan would eventually track down the werewolf of Strega descent that killed his beloved Obsidian. Despite the ulterior motive, Zhan, felt he owed Alec a favor for defeating as many rouge witches and werewolves as he did. Therefore, Zhan never protested Alec’s motives.

Alec took the last swig of his beer and motioned the bartender to give him another. He snickered at the thought of being able to pound as many beers as he could in an evening. It was something most mortals could not do, let alone a vampire. It wasn’t hard to hide the fact that a vampire did not eat or drink. A vampire merely used their dark arts to persuade a mortal into thinking they saw the undead engage in food and drink. But for Alec, it was an annoyance to constantly have to keep up appearances, especially for what was considered prey. 

Alec wasn’t into this kind of pallor trick. Magic like this wasted time, which is why he had little need for hiding. Another annoying trait Alec had little patience with was The Dark Sleep. He knew that if he had any hopes of hunting Raine, Alec had to be considered part of the living. The king of the Vlad Vampire clan needed a way to blend into the human society if he wanted to kill Raine. And though he hated pallor tricks, he used them to persuade a Dynion Mwyn Witch to cast a glimmer spell that would allow him to eat, drink, and walk among the living freely. He detested the fact that he needed a witch to do it and redeemed himself by breaking her neck. Sucking her dry would have made his stomach turn.

Despite losing Raine’s scent for about a week, Alec knew Raine liked bars. It was one of Raine’s downfalls. Raine always seemed to like the night life. And even though Alec could walk in daylight, the bar scene made things much easier on him when it came to prey. He needed to feed, and unsuspecting, drunk humans suited him just fine. 

Alec, in his fledgling days, used to be of discerning tastes. He relished the blood of a virgin over anything vilely tainted. But since the sexual revolution of the 1960’s, many of the humans lacked any sense of restraint. Drunkards were more common than any other prey in these times. He still tried to relish taste and preferred the wine drinking women over the beer guzzling men. The women tasted much sweeter, but beggars could not be choosers, and either one was fine just as long as he kept his eye on the real prize.

The planetary alignment would soon be upon him, leaving little room for error when it came to locating Raine and Skye. Alec hoped he not only could destroy the heads of the Kersh Gypsy clan, but he also wanted the added bonus of neutering the werewolves.

It was a known fact that werewolves were the only supernatural being that could defeat a vampire. Whether they were a young fledgling, or older, did not matter, they could defeat a vampire. He wasn’t really into preserving himself or his own race, but neutering them would be pleasurable because it would punish the race for killing Obsidian. Sticking around a bit to revel in the fact that he avenged his lover’s death through defeating the entire werewolf race was just a pure bonus in his book.

There was talk of the werewolves trying to start another revolt, but it seemed it was just talk at this point. Not every pack wanted to get involved, especially since there was no pious reason to. Those pups were loyal to a fault and needed some sort of greater purpose to fight. It was rather vexatious to listen to them since a vampire didn’t care for anyone’s greater purpose but their own.

Zhan, whom Alec had met during the Ming Dynasty, didn’t want to work with the vampires after The Were Rebellion. He was firm in remaining neutral, and siding with a selfish vampire made that task tough. The bond still remained, though, because he not only had a shared interest in magic amongst the Vlad Vampires and witches, Zhan also knew it was possible for the werewolves to revolt again. He had seen a vision after The Were Rebellion. Since the hatred for the werewolves was great, and Zhan knew the pups needed to be silenced for the greater good of all the races, Zhan agreed to resurface before this alignment of the planets and help as best as he could. All Alec needed to do was find him. 

There was a particular spell that was in Zhan’s possession that would eliminate the threat of werewolves all together. It would transform them into harmless watch dogs. The werewolf’s human half would disappear, leaving only their wolf side intact. Their bruit strength and power to tear human or vampire flesh would be gone, though. They’d be nothing more than a house dog, still loyal to the humans they’ve so desperately wanted to protect from vampires throughout time, but they’d be rendered helpless and hopeless to the human race.

Alec had to hope that Zhan would keep his word about helping to defeat the werewolves, but he could only hope. He did not feel Zhan would live up to this promise since that spell could backfire and shift the balance of good and evil. Zhan obviously wasn’t predictable, or biased, something Alec was not used to.

Human prey always was biased, however. And usually to what suited them and their likes, something Alec could admire. On occasion, though, Alec would run across human prey that was righteous. He wouldn’t touch them with a ten-foot pole. Their blood was awful, tasted like Holy Water. Holy Water had no effect on him due to the Dynion Mwyn glimmer spell, it didn’t kill him, or burn him, but the taste was vile. 

Unlike many humans, Zhan was not biased due to his likes, preferences, or even needs. He truly was a purely neutral sorcerer. From time to time he’d switch his stance, but he wasn’t a flake, he was just firm on neutrality. His stance would only change if destiny did. If someone were to change their course of action, they’d change the course of destiny, and that’s why Alec could not be so sure that Zhan would aid the vampires in neutering the werewolves.

The lights in his most recent bar hop called Backtrax, started to brighten. Alec knew that was the signal to exit for the evening.  He had usually had a piece of arm candy to feed off of by this point, but his deep thoughts had prohibited this. Hungry, Alec scanned the bar for prey. His eyes settled upon a rather young woman in her early to mid-thirties with ebony hair. She smelled like peonies. It was a delightful scent.

Alec hadn’t seen such a tasty number lately, and this one intrigued him. She appeared to be alone, a good sign for him. He took another swig of his drink, placed it on the bar rail, and proceeded to walk over to her.

“Hello.” He said plainly and directly. 

Alec learned in the early 80’s that mortal women didn’t take kindly to the one-liners of the 60’s or 70’s. After they got jobs and felt liberated, they seemed to demand sophistication. The 60’s and 70’s were filled with woman that had to be wined and dined. It felt like it took forever to hunt woman prey during those decades. But these Millennials were different. They were direct and knew what they wanted. That suited Alec just fine. He liked being direct, it saved him time. A smile came across the woman’s face as she said hello back.

“The name is Alec, Alec Cirino, and you are?” he stated. 

Alec took in a deep breath hoping to partake in the smell of peonies once more, but what he wound up taking in interested him even more. He could smell the faint scent of Skye on this one. A rather interesting find, indeed. If he were still walking among the living, his body might have tingled with excited rage. Right now though, he was just intrigued in knowing that this one might be worth more to him alive, rather than dead.

“I’m Morgan Walker.” She said with a smile. “Is this your first time here?”


Author Bio:

Amanda Kimberley has been writing for three decades and is a no nonsense nonfiction writer named Kimberley Linstruth-Beckom by day, who focuses mostly on the health condition known as Fibromyalgia, due to her own diagnosis in late 2005.
By night, she dons her bathrobe and enjoys typing out paranormal romances at her white marble desk. She likes to nibble on chocolate, nuts, and potato chips while drawing out her characters with music from her iPhone in the background.
 



Book Giveaway:

I'll be giving away an autographed copy and poster of Forever Friends and 2 autographed copies with bookmarks. Follow the link to enter!



License to Nerd

Madison West appears on Peter Quincy’s doorstep as expected, when her husband, Charlie, disappears. Peter had been her husband’s best man and had promised to take care of Madison if something happened to him. Neither Madison nor Peter are what they seem, but will their lies to each other to save the world, instead fail to save them from each other?

50 Shades of Fur (by Missy Barkalot, as told to Belinda Stevens)



This fun little parody will have you howling! Belinda Stevens has written a delightful, yet bawdy, "tail" about Missy Barkalot, a petite rust-colored long-haired Dachshund and the apple of her eye, Humpry B (aka "Hump"), and other intreging characters, both dogs and carts, who are frequent guests at Doggie Bath, a day spa for pampered pooches. Missy is pursued by Ralph the Bulldog, but she only has eyes for Hump, who was seduced by the glamorous toy poodle, Coco. It turns out Coco was a victim of her environment, as her owner had some kinky habits involving a gray necktie.
Bondage and leashes, bite marks, jive-talking cats and cross-dressing Dobermans--not to mention a Doggie Blues band--keep the story rolling as Missy Barkalot uses her feminie wiles to woo Hump away from Coco.
This is a great book to give as a gift to your veteranarian, pet groomer, or anyone who loves animals.  Order your copy today at Amazon.com.

Lord of Sherwood by Laura Strickland


A tale of Robin Hood's descendants!

New release for August 8, 2014

Blurb:
 
Curlew Champion, master archer, has always known his destiny.  With his cousin, Heron Scarlet, he will become a guardian of Sherwood Forest and further his people’s fight against Norman Tyranny.  But the third member of the triad is still to be revealed, the woman who will complete the magical circle and, perhaps, answer the longing in Curlew’s heart.

Anwyn Montfort has fled disgrace in Shrewsbury and come to Nottingham at her father’s bidding.  He wishes her to make a good marriage and settle down.  But the wildness that possesses her refuses to quiet.  She knows she’s been searching for something all her life, but not until she glimpses Curlew does her spirit begin to hope it has found its home.

Only the magic of Sherwood can bring them together, and only their union can complete the spell woven so long ago …
 
Excerpt:
 
“Father,” she said. “How went your day?”
“Well enough, though there is work here for a thousand foresters and I have been given but eight. ’Tis not that which troubles me now. What should reach my ears upon my return this evening but tales of you?” He added deliberately, “Yet again.”
Anwyn’s breath caught in her throat and formed a lump of pain. She did not want to vex her father, nor to hurt him—God knew he had been hurt enough by her mother’s death.
He set aside his bow and quiver and came to the hearth where Anwyn sat. For a long moment he stood studying her, and she braced herself for what must come—an onslaught of disapproval and, worse, disappointment.
As he sat down at her side she could not keep from asking, “What have you heard? Who has been speaking out of turn?”
He did not answer but instead said, “You promised you would not do this, Anwyn. You vowed we would make a new beginning here at Nottingham.”
Her shame on his behalf made her defensive. “What have I done? What, that is so terrible?”
“Four days we have been here,” he said heavily, “and already they speak of you, the folk of the castle. The Wild Lass—that is what they call you. You lied to me, Anwyn.”
The accusation struck deep, but she managed to raise her eyes to his, which were full of sorrow.
Before he could continue, she lifted her hands and spoke, still defensively. “You cannot expect me to stay trapped here like an animal. I will go mad.”
“You could not give me four days? We are barely settled in; there is much to occupy you.”
“What? What is to occupy me? Folding away our clothing? Arranging the trinkets we brought from Shrewsbury? Nesting? I am, Father, not meant for nesting.”
“Quite plainly, and yet, Daughter, you will need to learn. Care you nothing for your reputation, or mine?”
Anwyn shook her head.
Her father’s expression hardened, yet his voice remained gentle as he said, “Then I must care enough for both of us. I love you, Daughter. You are all that is left to me of your dear mother.”
Anwyn felt her heart break. Tears filled the back of         her throat. “I know.”
“But I cannot have you behaving with such abandon, running about unescorted and with your hair loose, stealing from the market stalls—oh, aye, you were seen. Speaking to strange men in a provocative manner. Are we truly to have all that ugliness again?”
Anwyn met his gaze with a combination of shame and defiance. “I have done naught I should not.”
“By the grace of God! Do you not know what would have happened at the hands of that soldier back on the borders, and likely all his companions, had you not been discovered? You promised me, Anwyn, it would not happen again.”
“It has not.”
“It begins! You play a dangerous game, as I have told you. Not every man will allow himself to be put off at your whim.”
“I know that.” Anwyn got to her feet, no longer able to sit still. “How can you expect me to remain here endlessly? Let me ride out into the forest with you, Da, as we used to do. Let me be of some service.”
“I cannot.”
She ignored him and hurried on, “You know you have taught me to shoot almost as well as you do, and Ihave a good eye.”
“Nay, Daughter—it would merely cause more    scandal. What served on the uncivilized Welsh borders  will not do here.”
“Is Sherwood not uncivilized?”
He raked her with a troubled look. “You are a child           no longer, but a woman full grown. That is what makes your disobedience all the more dangerous. It is time you        made your mind up to live the life available to you.”
“And what is that?”
“Marriage.” He raised a hand. “Now, Daughter, before you fly at me, only listen. There is a man among my foresters—”
“The one we met in Sherwood?” Fierce hope rose in Anwyn’s heart. Was it possible he might be part of her father’s company after all?

Available 8/8/14 from Amazon or The Wild Rose Press.
 




HATHOR LEGACY: BURN by Deborah A Bailey Giveaway & Writing Romantic Scenes

Hi there! I'm back with another post about my new science fiction romance, Hathor Legacy: Burn, book two in the Hathor Legacy series.

At the end of the party, one randomly chosen commenter will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a ebook version of the book (either .mobi or .pdf). 


Writing Romantic Scenes

For the most part when I wrote short speculative fiction stories, I didn’t include love scenes. Romance and flirting, yes. But that was as far as it went.

But when I wrote my novel, Hathor Legacy: Outcast, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. It’s a romance, isn’t it? So I knew at some point, the heroine/hero would have to get together romantically.

Since I’d just started getting to know the characters, Jonathan and Nadira, I didn’t feel comfortable having them move too quickly. But by book two, they're in an established relationship, so I let their love scenes flow naturally.

Whether the hook up comes sooner or later, it should never feel forced. Once I decided how explicit I wanted to get, it got easier. Instead of doing endless “insert tab a into slot b” descriptions, I looked for descriptive words that could set the mood without my having to actually describe the blow-by-blow. And in the interests of keeping it "PG," I won't go into more detail in this post! :)

One of the love scenes, where they've reunited after a separation, happens on a beach. During that scene I used words like "roar," "crashing," "fueling" and "explosion" to make a strong impression. They drive up the tension and the reader has a reaction to them, even if they’re not fully aware of it.

All writers know that words are extremely powerful. They paint images and stir up emotions. Do I like reading love scenes? Sure. But sometimes writing them is challenging. I want to show what’s happening, while at the same time I want to stay within what I think is appropriate for that story.

There are readers who skip those scenes. Others can’t get enough. So I don’t think a writer can anticipate if a reader will be glad the characters hooked up, or when they’ll be turned off. All I can do is stay true to what I feel works at that point. The characters will let me know when they’re ready, and that will make the scene much easier to write.


About the book

Book Two of the Hathor Legacy Series

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp.  When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW95G7K








As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future.

Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast. Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. She's also the author of a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Website: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB

SECOND SKIN by Jesse Pearle - Giveaway and Character Spotlight on Pilar Flores


Book Description

Sam Blanco is a young tattoo artist trying to get out of L.A. by earning money selling his talent to a prominent local gang. His life is thrown into chaos after giving a very special tattoo to the the gang leader’s beautiful girlfriend. Sam winds up torn between the desire for the girlfriend’s attention and craving the friendship of the gang leader he’s come to see as a brother. Who will ultimately pay the price for love?

At the end of the party one randomly chosen commenter will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and a free copy of the ebook (pdf, epub, or mobi).

Pilar Flores Character Spotlight

Pilar Flores, the daughter of a drug lord, has been shaped by her father's business her entire life. She lost her mother at age six and shortly afterward began accompanying her father everywhere during his various business interactions, most of which weren't always in the most savory locations. She's been immersed in his world for more than a decade when the story begins, and believes she can hold her own among the men who work for her father. Except now that she's more mature, her father seems increasingly more protective of her to the point that she feels stifled.

When Leo Reyes shows up in their living room, bleeding from a gunshot wound inflicted by his own brother, her entire world is turned on its head. She falls hard for Leo, and encourages the reluctant young man to take his brother's place as her father's right hand.

She never regrets the decision to push Leo to do what she believes he was meant to do, but the repercussions leave her longing for attention from both the most important men in her life, her father and Leo, who are so preoccupied with their work that she is left feeling taken for granted for her own part in the business.

In an ill-advised attempt to entice her lover, she commissions a tattoo from Sam, the new tattoo artist for Leo's gang, and a man she believes is safe enough to accomplish what she wants.

She couldn't have been more wrong.

Pilar's Inspiration

Pilar's visual inspiration is Sofia Vergara, but her character inspiration is the character Alex from the original Red Shoe Diaries. She loves the man she's with to an almost painful degree, but through unfortunate circumstances she becomes obsessed with another man and makes a terrible mistake that she will probably regret for the rest of her life.

Buy the book on Amazon

HATHOR LEGACY: BURN by Deborah A Bailey Giveaway & Mythology

Here's post three about my new science fiction romance, Hathor Legacy: Burn, book two in the Hathor Legacy series.

At the end of the party, one randomly chosen commenter will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a ebook version of the book (either .mobi or .pdf). 


Mythology in the Series

The planet, Hathor was discovered (or will be!) in the year 2234.

The name of the planet is a perfect fit for the theme of the story. Hathor is an Egyptian goddess who symbolizes joy, love and motherhood. In my books, mothers play a key role in shaping the events. Both Jonathan Keel and Nadira’s mothers rebelled against the established order.

Their rebellion ultimately led to Jonathan and Nadira getting together and falling in love, and that relationship will help shake things up in a culture that is controlled by Novacorp, the corporation that runs things on the planet.

Hathor is also known as the “cow goddess,” and her symbol is a sun disk sitting between the horns of a cow. Novacorp’s U-shaped corporate logo is based on that symbol.

Since Hathor is also known as “Mistress of the West,” I had Jonathan’s mother be from that part of the planet. Hathor is the patron goddess of miners–and mining is at the core of the Novacorp economy. Nadira’s mother is named after Minona, a West African deity who protects women and the home. And in the books, her mother takes action to protect Nadira from the forces that want to use her for their own purposes.

Hathor’s mythology is similar to the goddess Isis, and over time a lot of their characteristics were merged. But Isis has her own story, and it inspired me to name the twin moons of Hathor, Isis and Osiris. This relates to the myth of Isis searching for her husband Osiris after his brother Set killed him to assume the throne. There’s a lot more to Isis’ story that I won’t go into here, but I used the imagery to symbolize the journey that Nadira and Jon take when they’re searching for Jon’s father who’s presumed dead.

Jonathan Keel is from the planet Astarte, which is about three days away by space cruiser. Astarte is a goddess who's also known as Ishtar. Known to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, she was also associated with Aphrodite and Isis. Since she's the goddess of love, it's fitting that when Jon arrives on Hathor, he and Nadira are in a romantic relationship at the end of book one.

One of the moons of Astarte is Demeter (where Jon's father is CEO of the mine). In Greek mythology, Demeter went into mourning when her daughter Persephone was taken away by Hades. This is a reference back to Nadira being taken away from her mother so that she could be made into a Guardian.

There are so many mythological stories from across the world. They're an endless source of inspiration for writers and for readers!


About the book

Book Two of the Hathor Legacy Series

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp.  When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW95G7K








As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future.

Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast. Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. She's also the author of a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.

Website: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB

Lord of Sherwood: The Guardians of Sherwood Tilogy Book 3--Laura Strickland

Earth Magic in Sherwood Forest



When I set out to create my Guardians of Sherwood Trilogy, and to tell the tale of Robin Hood’s descendants, I knew my tale would have to contain a heavy dose of Earth Magic. My Sherwood Forest is an enchanted place where the trees whisper to one another and the spirits of those who have passed on continue to reside. My characters, Anglo Saxons of the medieval age, still follow the old ways and believe the old gods look out for them. I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the holy days that punctuated their year.

The wheel of the year was divided by eight spokes, each with a feast day, many of which are still holidays today by different names. The four greatest of these were the solstices and equinoxes, on or about the 21st of March, June, September and December. The span of days between these were evenly divided by four other festivals: Samhain, which we call Halloween; Imbolc, which we now call Groundhog day; Beltaine, which we call May Day and Lammas or Lughnasa, which we just celebrated on or around August 1st.

So what would the folk of Sherwood have done on Lammas? It was the first of the three harvest festivals when the hay was safely in and the grain matured and became ready for harvest. By now, last year’s grain stores were running low. The weather was fine and all hands were required in the fields, working, sharing and often laughing together. The folk of Sherwood and those in the towns close under the hem of the forest, who farmed their own plots of land, would have anticipated the time of plenty to come. Gladly would they have lent their hands to assure everyone had food for the coming winter. I believe they would also have given thanks to the spirits of the air, water, fire and earth that provided the bounty and spiritual strength that sustained them.
 
If you’d like to step into Sherwood Forest and experience life as lived by my hero, Curlew Champion—great-grandson of Robin Hood—you need only open the pages of Lord of Sherwood: the Guardians of Sherwood Trilogy Book Three. A complete story unto itself, you don’t need to have read the first two books of the series to enjoy it. But the folk of Sherwood are willing to bet once you’ve entered that mystical place, you’ll want to return to the greenwood again and again!

 Lord of Sherwood: The Guardians of Sherwood Trilogy Book Three will be available 8/8/14 from Amazon and The Wild Rose Press!

License to Nerd

Madison West appears on Peter Quincy’s doorstep as expected, when her husband, Charlie, disappears. Peter had been her husband’s best man and had promised to take care of Madison if something happened to him. Neither Madison nor Peter are what they seem, but will their lies to each other to save the world, instead fail to save them from each other?


Bio


Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her family and various animals. She writes romantic suspense and romantic comedy. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in Journalism. When she isn’t writing, she works part time for a local winery.

http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/chrisreddingauthor
www.twitter.com/chrisredding
Buy Link License to Nerd:
http://amzn.com/B00M9O0QZ4

Forever Friends by Amanda Kimberley New Release and Book Giveaway


Book Blurb:

Have you ever dreamed about finding your soul mate? Do you think you’d recognize him as, The One, the instant that you met?

Skye thought that Raine was her dream come true when she finally fell in love with him, but her dreams soon became nightmares when Alec, King of the Vlad Vampire Clan, wanted them and every other gypsy witch of Kersh descent, dead.
She had to find a way to stop Alec, end the war between clans, fight against the werewolves who turned her best friend Morgan, and keep Raine, her Forever Friend, by her side.

Book Synopsis:

Skye thought that her dream came true when she met her forever friend, Raine. But her dreams soon became nightmares when Alec, King of the Vlad Vampire Clan, wanted to avenge his lover’s death. He thought nothing of going after Skye and Raine, the heads of the Kersh Gypsy Clan, because they should have protected his Obsidian in The Were Rebellion. She was, in fact, kin.

In order for Skye to have her happy ending with Raine, she needs to learn how to harness her Gypsy Witch powers to stop Alec, end the war between clans, fight against the werewolves, who turned her best friend Morgan, and close the portal to the Underworld before the planetary alignment.  

Author Bio:

Amanda Kimberley has been writing for three decades and is a no nonsense nonfiction writer named Kimberley Linstruth-Beckom by day, who focuses mostly on the health condition known as Fibromyalgia, due to her own diagnosis in late 2005.
By night, she dons her bathrobe and enjoys typing out paranormal romances at her white marble desk. She likes to nibble on chocolate, nuts, and potato chips while drawing out her characters with music from her iPhone in the background.
 


Book Giveaway:

I'll be giving away 1 autographed copy of the Forever Friends book and poster and 2 autographed copies with bookmarks! Follow the link to enter!