Curiosity Quills’ Gears of Brass Cover Reveal

Gear up
for GEARS OF BRASS!

A
world like ours, but filled with gears of brass, where the beating heart is
fueled by steam and the simplest creation is a complex clockwork
device.

Within
this tome, you’ll find steampunk fairy tale re-tellings, as well as original
stories that will send your gears turning.

Welcome
to the steampunk realm, with eleven authors guiding your path.

GEARS OF BRASS is a
steampunk anthology published through Curiosity Quills. It will be available for purchase on November
10, 2014. Within the pages, you’ll come
across clockwork inventions and steampunk-ified fairy tale retellings. Eleven authors will guide you through worlds
filled with airships, top hats, and corsets.

Meet the authors:

Jordan Elizabeth writes young adult fantasy for
Curiosity Quills, including ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW which was published in
October and the upcoming TREASURE DARKLY; she’s represented by the Belcastro
Agency.

J. Million
is the author of Last of the Giants
and can always be found reading or writing.

Lorna
MacDonald Czarnota is a professional storyteller and
author of several books including, Medieval Tales That Kids Can Read and Tell,
Breadline Blue, Legends Lore and Secrets of Western New York, Wicked Niagara,
Native American and Pioneer Sites of Upstate New York, and Dancing at the
Crossroads: Stories and Activities for At-Risk Youth Programming.

SA
Larsen is represented by Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary
and is the author of published short stories, community-interest stories, and
magazine articles focused on children.

Grant
Eagar is an Engineer who would take the tales he told
his children at bed time, and transform them into fantasy stories.

Clare
Weze is the author of The House of Ash (forthcoming) and the
co-author and editor of Cloudscapes over the Lune.

Eliza
Tilton: gamer, writer and lover of dark chocolate; author of the
YA Fantasy, BROKEN FOREST, published by Curiosity Quills Press.

Heather
Talty’s stories have been featured in Enchanted Conversation, as well
as her own fractured fairy tale site, Mythopoetical (www.Beatrixcottonpants.com).

W.K.
Pomeroy is a third generation writer who has published more than 70
short stories/articles/poems across many genres and styles, which now includes
Steampunk.

Christine
Baker is the author of Lana’s
End, The Guild of Dagda, and many
more.

Natalia
Darcy: a bookilicious reader, tea drinker and Zumba
aficionado who enjoys playing cards against humanity and washing her hair with
ice cold water.

You can get your
steampunk fix before GEARS OF BRASS is released in November. To enter for your chance to win a copy of
GEARS OF BRASS, you will need to share the cover. This can be on your blog, Facebook, Twitter…
Each time you share the cover image, log it into Rafflecoper (#insert link) to
record it. It will give you more chances
to win. The drawing for the winner will
be held on October 27^th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LORE Book Blast

Apr21

YA Bound Book Tours is hosting a book blast this week for LORE: TALES OF MYTH AND LEGEND RETOLD. Read on for the deets and for an excerpt from my story, Sunset Moon. 😉

Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold

by Brinda Berry, Karen Y. Bynum, Laura Diamond, Jayne A. Knolls, Theresa DaLayne, Cate Dean

Release Date: 03/2014

Summary from Goodreads:

A collection of six folklore retellings that will twist your mind and claim your heart.

SHIMMER: A heartbroken boy rescues a mermaid… but is it too late to save her?

BETWEEN is about a girl, a genie, and a ton of bad decisions.

SUNSET MOON: Eloise doesn’t believe in Native American magic–until the dreamcatcher spiders spin her down an unknown path.

THE MAKER: An incapacitated young man bent on revenge builds a creature to do it for him.

A BEAUTIFUL MOURNING: The story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness.

THE BARRICADES: When a human girl risks everything to save the life of an Eternal prince, will their feelings for each other change the world they know, or tear it apart?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20804029-lore?ac=1

***Rafflecopter Code:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(We’re giving away 6, $10 Amazon Giftcards if entrants like our pages on FB and tweet a message about LORE.)

***Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lore-Tales-Myth-Legend-Retold-ebook/dp/B00J6064O6/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lore-cate-dean/1118968353?ean=2940149569847

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lore-4

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lore/id846032892?mt=11

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20804029-lore?from_search=true

***Author Bios:

Brinda Berry:

Brinda Berry lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She’s terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality. She doesn’t mind being called a geek or “crazy dog lady”. When she’s not working the day job or writing a novel, she’s guilty of surfing the internet for no good

Find Brinda at www.brindaberry.com .

Karen Y. Bynum:

Dragons, unicorns, genies…oh my! NA/YA author, coffee-lover, olive-hater, tea-drinker, music-listener. Random becomes me. Easily distrac— Blog

Laura Diamond:

Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist and multi-published author of all things young adult paranormal, dystopian, and horror. When she’s not writing, she is working at the hospital, blogging at Author Laura Diamond–Lucid Dreamer, and renovating her 225+ year old fixer-upper mansion.

Jayne A. Knolls:

Jayne A. Knolls lives and works in New York City. The Maker is her first published work of New Adult Fiction. Jayne can reached at JAKnolls@optonline.net

Theresa DaLayne:

My name is Theresa DaLayne and I’m a new adult author with Bloomsbury Spark, an amazing digital imprint of Bloomsbury publishing. Website

Cate Dean:

Hi there – thanks for checking in. My name is Cate Dean, and I write romantic suspense and paranormal, with some action packed YA paranormal and fantasy thrown in. I love to write, and I have been doing it most of my life. I’ve made up stories in my head for as long as I can remember, and I am thrilled to be able to write them down and share them with you. If you want to be the first to know when the next book is released, or be in on some fun, exclusive contests and giveaways, join my list here: http://catedeanwrites.com/join-my-list. You can learn more about me and my books at my website: http://catedeanwrites.com

***EXCERPT:

Sunset Moon by Laura Diamond:

Eloise doesn’t bother sneaking in. Her mom’s probably passed out from drunk anyway.

She pads to her room, flicks on the light, drags the duffle from her bed and lets it slam to the floor. The next nine months of her life are in there, reduced to a few bits of clothing. She kicks off her shoes and wanders to her desk, gaze locked on the photo of Micah and her. Her vision blurs with fresh tears. This was their last night together, and he’s being such an ass. He should be thanking her for what she is doing. So should Jimmy.

She picks up the frame and removes the picture, then carries it to the bathroom. The sour odor of beer clings to her like a heavy reminder of her fight with Micah. She tucks the photo into the wooden mirror frame on the medicine cabinet and turns on the tub faucet.

While the tub fills, she peels off her damp shirt and throws it in the hamper. She tugs off her jeans, then her underwear. Naked, she shivers, though the house is warm, stuffy even, from the mid-summer night’s air.

Her tremors aren’t from being cold. They are from a vacuous emptiness that hollows out her insides, turns her heart to ice, and chips away at her soul with each ragged breath.

She grips the sink with both hands and steadies herself. The gush of water echoes in her ears, sloshes in her skull, and drowns her mind. Her head pounds from the surge of blood coursing through her brain with the rapid beating of her heart. The row of bulbs blazing above the medicine cabinet stabs her in the eyes, coring out her orbits.

It’s too much. She needs something to take the edge off.

Now.

Susan Kaye Quinn Indie New Release Giveaway!

Apr11

Indie Extravaganza: New Book Releases You Should Check Out – PLUS Gift Card Giveaway!

Looking for some great NEW indie reads?

All of these books are New Releases in the last few months. Skip to the genre you love, sample a new indie author… and enter the giveaway at the bottom! (Also check out the FREE books associated with these New Releases at the bottom.)
And THANK YOU for supporting indie authors!
(click on covers to learn more)

p.s. is it me, or are these indie covers amazing?

Young Adult Science Fiction

Science Fiction/Dystopian

Young Adult Fantasy

Fantasy

Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Contemporary/Historical Romance

Young Adult Suspense

Middle Grade

Steampunk/Alternate History

Thriller/Suspense

FREE Books

Connected with New Releases Above

Giveaway includes Gift Cards, Original Art, paperbacks, ebooks, and a mug!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LORE is here!

Mar24

A few months ago, six YA/NA authors pooled their brains together in a pensieve-like bowl and developed an anthology idea. We six feverishly penned our modern retellings of myth and folklore and now it’s available for your reading pleasure!

I’m SO excited to be a part of this. The authors I worked with are SERIOUSLY talented. I admit, I spent a fair amount of time fangirling over these lovely ladies and the words they so beautifully wove onto the page.

My story, SUNSET MOON, features Eloise, a Native American teen struggling to find herself in the mess of a life she’s living. I hope you enjoy her journey.

LORE: TALES OF MYTH AND LEGEND RETOLD

A collection of six folklore retellings that will twist your mind and claim your heart.

SHIMMER by Brinda Berry: A heartbroken boy rescues a mermaid… but is it too late to save her?

BETWEEN, by Karen Y. Bynum, is about a girl, a genie, and a ton of bad decisions.

SUNSET MOON by ME: Eloise doesn’t believe in Native American magic–until the dreamcatcher spiders spin her down an unknown path.

THE MAKER by Jayne A. Knolls: An incapacitated young man bent on revenge builds a creature to do it for him.

A BEAUTIFUL MOURNING by Theresa DaLayne: The story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness.

THE BARRICADES by Cate Dean: When a human girl risks everything to save the life of an Eternal prince, will their feelings for each other change the world they know, or tear it apart?

Cover art by Lisa Amowitz.

LORE on Goodreads

LORE on Amazon

I’d like to give a BIG THANK YOU to all of those who already purchased LORE. The anthology ranked on THREE categories on Amazon and got up to #28 on Anthologies! WOOT!!!

Indie Life–Indiestructible!

May8

It’s the second Wednesday of the month–HOW DID IT GET TO BE MAY???–and it’s time for another Indie Life post.

Banding together and helping one another is a big part of the Indie Life and today I’d like to share a collaborative effort among a talented bunch of authors–an anthology titled: INDIESTRUCTIBLE. It’s a collection of essays highlighting the inspiring path of Indie publishing, spearheaded by none other than Jessica Bell.

From Jessica’s post:

It’s an anthology I’m compiling and editing called,INDIESTRUCTIBLE: INSPIRING STORIES FROM THE PUBLISHING JUNGLE, which will launch September 16, 2013. It will be sold as an eBook for 99c for the first six months. During that time I will donate 100% of the profits to BuildOn. After that, it will be free forever.

This book will bring you the experiences of 28 indie authors—their passions, their insights, their successes—to help other authors make the leap into indie publishing. This is not a how-to guide. This is the best of the indie tradition of experienced authors paying forward what they’ve learned, giving you information to help you on your journey. The personal essays in this book will leave you itching to get your work into the hands of readers and experience, first-hand, all the rewards indie publishing has to offer.

(Jessica was kind enough to invite me to submit and essay too–ain’t that cool?!?!)

Jessica is asking anyone willing and able to help spread the word. There’s a sign up sheet HERE and a post by Jessica with more DEETS. Please do check it out.

If you’d like to add the book on Goodreads, click HERE.

A link to Buildon.org, an organization to fight illiteracy (and where proceeds from the sale of INDIESTRUCTIBLE will be donated).

Thanks!

What is Indie Life?
How: Sign up on the Linky at the bottom of this page
When: Post on the second Wednesday of the month (starting 1/9/2013)
What: Write anything indie related: something that will inspire or help a fellow indie; something that celebrates a release or a milestone; something that talks about the ups and downs, joys and heartaches of Being Indie.
Grab: The banner above to include in your posts!

Because being Indie doesn’t have to mean going it alone.

JOIN US FOR INDIE LIFE!

Book Review Witch Hunt of the Blood

Mar27

Author Krista Walsh and I “met” when our stories were pubbed in the Day of Demons anthology by Anachron Press last spring. I was super excited for her when she shared that she was working with best-selling author Devin O’Branagan (along with a few other authors) to create a compilation of novellas based on Devin O’Branagan’s novel, Witch Hunt.

Devin was kind enough to give me a copy of Witch Hunt of the Blood to review.

Starting on page 1, I was sucked into a vivid historical world. Immersed in WWII England, I followed along the lives of the Hawthorne witches, sharing their joys, feeling their pain, and suffering their tragedies. The stories continue from there, and they are all just as strong.

When I read paranormal (and I read it a lot), the focus often becomes about the characters powers and how it impacts their lives. What I find different about this anthology is that I feel like I get to know the characters first. As a result, I get to know each person, well, as a person. The fact that they are witches isn’t necessarily secondary, but it’s part of the whole.

Another way to look at it is that most paranormal (at least the stuff I’ve read) focuses on the paranormal world and the characters become further drawn into it, leaving their original (and dare I say, normal?) world behind. In this anthology, we see the characters living in the “real world,” as it were, and their powers are a part of it.

I’m so glad I came across this anthology.

Here’s the blurb:

Five novellas based on Devin O’Branagan’s bestselling novel, Witch Hunt.

The anthology begins with O’Branagan’s own novella about the Hawthorne matriarch, Vivian. She and her fellow British witches work together to prevent a Nazi invasion during World War II. Then there is Colonial maiden, Bridget, who struggles with the guilt of failing her family in Salem, 1692. Her younger sister, Prissy, mysteriously disappears and finds another magical world. Julia, torn by family loyalties, love, and her spiritual quest, pays a huge price to continue the bloodline. And Miranda uses her powers against the great influenza outbreak of 1918 – but finds the ultimate foe is prejudice against her kind.

Discover what was left out of Witch Hunt and revisit your favorite characters with these exciting novellas. The story isn’t done until the battle’s lost and won.

Witch Hunt of the Blood on Amazon

Witch Hunt of the Blood on Goodreads

Witch Hunt: Of The Blood, An Anthology AND A Cover Reveal

Jan14

I’m so excited to bring information about a collection of novellas based on the best selling novel, Witch Hunt. A writing bud of mine, Krista Walsh, has a story in the collection–WOOT! So, read on and see if this strikes your fancy. (Ain’t the cover GORGEOUS?!)

Today’s post highlights which character each author would be.

If you could be any character from the WITCH HUNT series, who would you be and why?

Keri Lake:

Of course I like my character Miranda, but if I had to choose another it would be Margaret Hawthorne. I admired her strength not only as a witch but a mother as well.

K.L. Schwengel:

I think I would be Melanie. Not that I want to be that young again, but because there is something special about her. She needs to find her path yet, but I think she’s stronger than she knows.

Krista Walsh:

I would want to be Cordelia, Vivian’s grandmother. She’s wise, compassionate and very respected for her abilities, which are themselves very impressive.

Suzanne Hayes Campbell:

I would definitely be Rose. She’s a strong pragmatic woman who makes the best of a bad situation. Several bad situations, really. She doesn’t stand on ceremony, and really doesn’t give a flying buffalo chip what people think of her. She boldly goes where lesser women fear to tread. Her fearless, can-do attitude is inspiring.

Devin O’Branagan:

Leigh. She begins as a timid, insecure woman who fights to claim her inner strength. Ultimately, she discovers The Goddess within and becomes incredibly powerful. Very inspiring!

Five novellas based on Devin O’Branagan’s bestselling novel, Witch Hunt!

You’ve closed the cover on Witch Hunt, but the story isn’t over … yet! Devin O’Branagan has handpicked writers to take up her characters’ stories and explore what happens next.

The anthology begins with O’Branagan’s own novella about Hawthorne matriarch, Vivian. Vivian and her fellow British witches work together to prevent a Nazi invasion during World War II. Then there is Colonial maiden, Bridget, who struggles with the guilt of failing her family in Salem, 1692. Her younger sister, Prissy, mysteriously disappears and finds another magical world. Julia, torn by family loyalties, love, and her spiritual quest, pays a huge price to continue the bloodline. And Miranda uses her powers against the great influenza outbreak of 1918—but finds the ultimate foe is prejudice against her kind.

Discover what was left out of Witch Hunt and revisit your favorite characters with these exciting novellas. The story isn’t done until the battle’s lost and won.

This anthology contains novellas by Devin O’Branagan, Suzanne Hayes Campbell, Keri Lake, K.L. Schwengel, and Krista Walsh.

All five authors of the anthology are available for discussion at Devin’s writers’ forum. This is the link to chat with them: Chat With The Authors!

Witch Hunt: Of the Blood is available in both print and eBook formats and may be found atAmazon, B&N, and Smashwords. (Smashwords provides copies compatible with almost all types of eReaders including Sony, Apple, Kobo, etc.) It is also available internationally via Amazon worldwide!

Two of the stories in this anthology are bridges to the upcoming sequel, Witch Hunt: Resistance, which will be released in 2013.

The original Witch Hunt is an international bestseller first published by Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books. It has been translated into German and Turkish and is consistently on the bestseller lists. It is the story of 300+ years in the history of a family of witches, from the time of the Salem trials to a modern-day witch hunt. It begs the question: could it happen again?

Witch Hunt is available as both a paperback and an eBook. It is available at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.

PS: I’m reading it now. I love how the authors have created a world that draws you in and refuses to let you go until you reach the end.

**********

Heather McCorkle is releasing a fantasy novel and I’m pleased to be a part of the cover reveal (even if I’m late to the party).

SO COOL!

Cover designed by CP Design.

The Dragon Empire by Heather McCorkle — February 2013 / Compass Press

On Yacrana, dragons stand at the top of the evolutionary ladder instead of humans. Such an advanced species is not without its issues though.

There’s trouble in the Dragon Empire, the kind that could start a war between dragons and the races of people. Hidden factions of dragons believe they should rule the lesser races, not simply stand aside and allow them to develop as they will. Having lived so long in peace, the Emperors turn a blind eye, many oblivious that such attitudes even exist.

Despite being only an architect class, emerald dragon, Grendar is willing to risk banishment and death to stop that which his rulers refuse to see. The hope of peace lies not within the scaled breast of a dragon however, but within the hands of a group of people. But if the hidden factions have their way, these people won’t live to fulfill such a destiny. With a reluctant seer at his side, Grendar must leave his precious Empire for the outside world to save those that will one day save his kind.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17158656-the-dragon-empire

AUTHOR BIO

Heather McCorkle

I am an author of fantasy, in all its many sub-genres. Living green, saving endangered species, helping other writers, and supporting fabulous authors are a few of my passions. I am also a volunteer for the IS Foundation which works to make the world a greener place. When I’m not volunteering, writing, or surfing my social networking sites, I can be found on the slopes, the hiking trails, or on horseback. As a native Oregonian, I enjoy the outdoors almost as much as the worlds I create on the pages. No need to travel to the Great Northwest though, you can find me here, on my blog, and Monday night’s on Twitter where I co-moderate the #WritersRoad chat.

Author Links:

Website: http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.ca/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4957267.Heather_McCorkle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Heather-McCorkle/211058455603533

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherMcCorkle

Writer Wednesday–Sirens Call Publications

Jul18

I’m so happy that my short story, BEGGING DEATH, was accepted in the Carnage: After the End anthology by Sirens Call Publications!

Here’s a mini-blurb of what the anthology entails:

It’s the beginning of the end. The Apocalypse has come; and left in its wake no more than small pockets of survivors battling to stay alive.

Eep!

I’m so excited to work with the Sirens Call team–what a talented group of peeps! Click HERE for more info about the WHO behind Sirens Call Publications.

Here’s a blurb of my story:

Peter Mack experiences The Disappearing first hand–in an instant, most of the world’s population disappears and with it, Death abandons humankind. Illness and suffering remain, leaving Peter to protect and provide for the only person he knows that’s still alive, Lucas. It starts with Peter accepting The Mark of Triple Six, the militia promising safety and rations in exchange for allegiance.

Despite the illusion of security, survival is not guaranteed. A rival faction, Serpentine, invades Triple Six and kidnaps Peter and Lucas. They are separated. Unable to shelter Lucas, Peter confronts his promise to protect Lucas no matter what. Turns out, Peter must consider sacrificing everything, even eternity, for Lucas’ freedom.

Right now, I’m reading another short story anthology of theirs titled Twisted Realities: Of Myth and Monstrosity. It’s FAB!!!!! Scary, spine-tingling, and creepy, each author’s story creates a taunting tale of horror and myth turned reality. Check it out!

Don’t forget to check out my GIVEAWAY posts. There’s a week left to enter!

Click HERE to see my announcement and book + 3 chapter crit giveaway (just leave a comment to enter)

Click HERE to check out Rachel Firasek’s new novella and get a chance to win it (just leave a comment)

Flake-out Friday–ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!

Feb3

I am pleased to announce my short story CITY OF LIGHTS AND STONE will be PUBLISHED in APRIL of THIS YEAR in the DAY OF DEMONS ANTHOLOGY by Anachron Press!!!!