Guest: Deniz Bevan DRUID'S MOON #NewRelease

 I'm happy to participate in celebrating Deniz Bevan's new release, Druid's Moon. Deniz is a fellow member of the Insecure Writers Support Group. Take it away, Deniz

Druid’s Moon
By Deniz Bevan

Beauty to his Beast…

Lyne Vanlith, an archaeologist who seeks a logical explanation to any mystery, discovers an ancient Druidic curse on her first dig. When the signs foretold by the curse descend on her, Lyne can’t find a reasonable interpretation.

And that’s even before a Beast rescues her from a monstrous sea-creature. She drops a grateful kiss on the snout of the Beast, who transforms into a man, Frederick Cunnick, Baron of Lansladron. Lyne is meant to be Beauty to his Beast—and break the curse forever.

Now both spellkeeper and monster are targeting Lyne. She must take up her legendary role, to defeat the curse and save Frederick—and herself. Instead of logic, for the first time, Lyne must trust her heart.

Release date – September 20, 2022
$14.95, 6x9 trade paperback, 226 pages
Fantasy – Romance (FIC009090) / Paranormal (FIC009050) / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology (FIC010000)
Print ISBN 9781939844866 / EBook ISBN 9781939844873
$4.99 EBook available in all formats

About the Author

A firm believer in burning the candle at both ends, Deniz Bevan is generally writing a new novel while editing another and blogging about her reading and research adventures. Other days, she tries to stay off the web altogether, as she delves into the history, mystery, and romance of her characters’ lives. http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/

Links:
Apple - https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1588920227
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HRDWJZ8
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940165040276
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9781939844873
Scribd - https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781939844873&language=0
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09HRDWJZ8
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59360035-druid-s-moon

Guest: Nick Wilford RECKONING #NewRelease #YA

Today, I'm happy to help Nick Wilford celebrate the release of his newest book, Reckoning. I read the first two books in this series, so I've been anxiously waiting for this story. Here's Nick to tell you about Reckoning.

Today I’m going to talk a bit about genre-bending, genre-mashing, or whatever else you want to call it. When done well, it brings two genres together in a way that creates something new. Reckoning revolves in large part around the trial of the Reformers’ government, who are accused of conspiring to keep the country of Loretania in a state of disease and deprivation, so that their own nation, Harmonia, could remain spotless. It was really fun to blend the atmosphere and intrigue of a courtroom drama with the dystopian, sci-fi setting.

Of course I used the traditional elements of a trial – the jury, the prosecution, the defence – but after that I was free to invent a lot of things. After all, this is set in a future society where not only was there an existing order with its own very stringent rules, but that order has now been torn down by my young protagonists who are trying to impose a fairer way of doing things. They can make up their own procedures, but at the same time they want to make sure they do things properly – there hasn’t actually been a trial in this world for centuries because under the Reformers, there was no crime (being a so-called “perfect” society). So Ez, my MC Welles’s partner and co-leader of the new government, being a bookworm, spends a lot of time researching old-Earth legal texts. That’s interesting because there’s a real blend of old and new. For example, there’s a jury but no judge, because no one is qualified for such a role.

Of course, things don’t quite go as smoothly as planned for Welles and Ez – the Reformers aren’t quite done yet with their underhand tricks. That’s what creates the tension in the story, but you’ll need to read the book to find out more about that!

 

 

Title: Reckoning

Author: Nick Wilford

Genre: YA dystopian
Series: Black & White
Series #: 3 of 3

Release date: 20th September 2022

Publisher: Superstar Peanut Publishing

 

Blurb:

 The time has come for those who perpetrated wrongdoing and suffering on the land of Loretania to face their judgement. Lord Histender and the other members of the deposed Reformers’ Government are in jail awaiting trial for keeping that country in a state of disease-ridden deprivation, alongside other heinous crimes.

Wellesbury Noon and Ezmerelda Dontible, the kind and benevolent new rulers of Harmonia, are looking forward to seeing justice finally being done. But nothing is that simple. Lunkin, the psychotic former Chief Scientist, has one more trick up his sleeve and is wreaking havoc even from behind bars. Soon, Loretanians who have come to make a new life in Harmonia are falling victim to hate crimes and brutal attacks. And things take a turn for the desperate when Wellesbury himself becomes compromised.

Can Welles and Ez turn the tide of public opinion and secure justice for the people of Loretania before it’s too late?

 

Purchase Links:

 Amazon US / Amazon UK / Smashwords / Barnes & Noble / Kobo 

 Add it on Goodreads

 

Author bio:

Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those early morning times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction, with a little freelance editing and formatting thrown in. When not working he can usually be found spending time with his family or wrangling his six adorable dogs. His first traditionally published novel, a YA sci-fi adventure entitled The Becalmer, will release from Creative James Media in August 2023. His other books include the Black & White trilogy, a YA dystopian series, and A Change of Mind and Other Stories, a collection featuring a novella and five short stories, four of which were previously published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also the editor of Overcoming Adversity: An Anthology for Andrew.

Linktree

 

 

 

Guest: Veronica Scott #NewRelease HEIRESS OF THE NILE

 It's my pleasure to bring back my friend Veronica Scott who has another new release. She took a break from science fiction romance and delved into Egyptian mythology. Fascinating! Before reading her other books in the Gods of Egypt series, I knew little about Egyptian myths. Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, yes. Egyptian and Norse, not much. I guess I will always be an eager learner.

Here's Veronica to tell us about her new book.

Thanks for having me as your guest!

I’ve always loved ancient world romance, but of course being me, I have to have those mystical paranormal elements included. It’s not a huge audience – or at least not currently, things can change- but I have an enthusiastic core of readers for the Gods of Egypt novels and I’m grateful. The new one, Heiress of the Nile, is my tenth story to revolve around events in Pharaoh’s court of 3500 years ago (about the time of King Tut, although my Pharaoh is fictitious).

I’m proudest of a review I received from the Dear Author blog for Ghost of the Nile, where they said, “There’s Egypt and gods and magic and strong men and stronger women and love even beyond death and into the Afterlife. The historic details add spice throughout the story and these definitely aren’t 21st C people in linen kilts.” I felt the reviewer caught exactly what I was striving to achieve with all of these books, which is to take the reader with me into my version of ancient Egypt and to enjoy the action, adventure and romance.

In the current book, I got to tell the story of General Marnamaret, who’s been a supporting character in the other novels. Turns out he’s a boyhood friend of Pharaoh’s and a proud soldier looking for just the right woman to share his life and the Afterlife. He also has a mother who isn’t getting any younger and wants grandchildren.

Here’s the blurb:

1550 BCE

Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.

Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess of the Nile and Warrior of the Nile timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

A quick excerpt:

General of Pharaoh’s Army Marnamaret was an early riser. He liked to watch Ra’s sunboat surface from the night and begin its daily journey across the sky. Everything was peaceful at dawn and he could pray to his own sworn Great One, Horus, and gather himself for the day ahead. Currently, with his boyhood friend Nat-re-Akhte installed as Pharaoh after a long and grueling war with the Usurper, life was fairly peaceful. Marnamaret was sure there’d be more action in his future, to complete the job of driving the Hyksos from Egypt and assuring the security of the Black Lands.

He varied his choice of secluded spots each day, depending on his mood. Today he chose the roof of the sprawling house a grateful Pharaoh had gifted him, along with a large estate, gold of valor and other tokens of appreciation. As the General of Pharaoh’s army, Marnamaret had vast responsibilities and nearly limitless power and he carried the attendant duties easily.

Yet this morning his thoughts wandered to the softer side of a man’s life—home, wife, children. He had the home of course, none finer save for the palace. But there was no one to share his life and no prospect of having the family he craved. Pharaoh was happily married and wished for all his companions to know similar bliss. He pushed subtly for Marnamaret to choose a worthy woman and settle the issue. His own mother, blessed be her ka and may she know only peace, prosperity and health, was much less subtle on the topic and had the habit of suggesting specific girls to him.

Sooner than later we’ll be on the campaign trail again against the Hyksos or another enemy. I need to stop waiting for the god of Fate to send the right woman for my heart into my path and take action before the wars resume.

The decision brought him no comfort. A loveless marriage sounded abhorrent to him. He wanted what his parents had enjoyed, the proof of which was painted all over his father’s tomb, in lively and happy vignettes depicting the best times the two shared. His mother had no fear of the Afterlife, because she was unshakable in her belief they’d be reunited.

Marnamaret shivered, fierce soldier that he was. If I pick the wrong woman now, will I be tied to her for all the millions of years of Afterlife? A more daunting prospect than facing a line of Hyksos chariots while on foot and unarmed. Seized by an unaccustomed whimsy, he went to the household altar, which was dedicated to the primary Great Ones worshipped by his family, made obeisance and whispered a name which rarely fell from his lips, although his mother and sister prayed to her often.

“Great One Hathor, Mother of us all, I beg your help in finding the love of my life, the woman to stand with me as partner, side by side, arm in arm, the way my own parents are depicted in their tomb carvings. Clearly I can’t accomplish this on my own since I’m still unmarried.” He grinned at the idea of himself praying to the goddess, which wasn’t something soldiers often did. Setting the sacrificial fruit, beer and bread on the altar, he bowed his head.

A breeze wafted across the roof and he caught the scent of the blue lotus, which was odd because his house was some distance from the Nile. Goosebumps rose annoyingly on his arms and he pulled his red cloak closer.

Today is the day.

Marnamaret was on his feet instantly, hand on his dagger but the roof was empty. Had the goddess truly whispered to him or was he beguiled by the breeze? Staring at the painted image of Hathor, he wondered if she’d given him a blessing. In Pharaoh’s company he’d certainly met Horus the Falcon and several other Great Ones, such as Sobek the Crocodile. Perhaps the goddess was less likely to reveal herself to a mere soldier?

Now the wind carried a distinct chuckle, followed by the faint sound of sistrums, her sacred musical instrument.

Slowly the sounds faded and he was alone. “If—if you have chosen to honor me by accepting my plea, Great One,” he said slowly, searching for the right words as carefully as if he was addressing a high born woman of the court, “Then I’m blessed indeed and I dare to hope it won’t be long before I meet the lady.”

A ray of sun struck the golden disk between the graceful horns of the statue and rebounded into his eyes, making him blink hard. There was no further sign from the goddess and he could no longer smell the lotus which heralded—perhaps—her divine presence.

“Darling, why in the name of the blessed Nile have you sacrificed to Hathor today?” His mother stepped onto the roof and strolled toward him. “I can’t remember the last time you prayed to her.” She deposited the flowers she was carrying on the altar next to his offerings before rising on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Are you all right? You seem out of sorts.”

“Fine, mother. I’ve got to run or I’ll be late to the palace and my first meeting is with Pharaoh today.” Best to forestall her questions right now, before she pried his melancholy truth loose from his heart and made any awkward suggestions about specific girls of marriageable age. None of the ladies at court spoke to his heart.

 

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

 

Author Bio and Links:

 

USA Today Best Selling Author

 Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.

Seven time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances!

 She read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the official audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.”

Newsletter Signup: https://us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2a337b96e2ee1ee1250004b9d&id=7462393c9e

Blog: https://veronicascott.wordpress.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/vscotttheauthor

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Veronica-Scott/177217415659637?ref=hl

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veronica_scott_author/

 

Guest: Veronica Scott #NewRelease COLONY ON FIRE #review

 I'm excited to welcome back Veronica Scott who has a new release. I'm such a fan girl of Veronica's, her books are always a 1-click for me. At the end of the post, I've posted my review. 

Thanks for having me as your guest! I’m a huge fan of your blog and your books so it’s great to be here.

My latest book COLONY ON FIRE, is a bit different for me because I’m writing a series where I’m following the same couple in each book. Saffia the human doctor and Micah the Calinurra Chief Ranger first appeared in COLONY UNDER SIEGE and I found I really enjoyed the world I’d created and wanted to ‘stay there’ and tell more stories about it and watch the two of them grow in their relationship.

As I mentioned last year when explaining the first book, Haven Two is loosely inspired by an island where I have relatives, which we used to visit in the summer when I was a kid. (All people and places in the books are fictional, however.)  The real island triples in population during the summer season, as wealthy off-islanders arrive and the divide between the two sets of people is quite clear. Since we had family on the island, we were almost-but-not-quite accepted and I’m sure I heard a lot of conversations about the whole topic when I was a kid. So perhaps more than most books I write, I personally feel at ‘home’ there and can visualize the setting quite clearly.

This book is standalone, however, and picks up in Saffia’s second year on the job. She owes the Sectors five years total as a colony doctor in order to get forgiveness on her medical school loans. Having fallen in love with Micah in the first year, she’s quite content – now – to stay.

Here’s the blurb:

When she came to Haven Two Dr. Saffia Mandell expected to grimly do her five years of medical service as the colony’s only doctor, work off her medical school debt and leave.  Then she’d fallen in love, handled an epidemic and become an accepted member of the community. Now, in her second year, she faces new challenges as the tinder dry planet heads into a fire season and a mysterious food allergy threatens the local restaurant’s reputation.

Chief Ranger Micah Navonn of the Calinurra never expected to fall in love with a human woman but Saffia was a special person who captured his heart and now means everything to him. Not all of his people are as enthusiastic about the situation and his efforts to handle the politics are getting complicated. Add to that an infestation by insects from another world, causing portions of the forest to die off and his plate is full.

When the jet stream shifts course and the fires rage, will the colonists and the Calinurra set aside their differences? With Saffia’s life hanging in the balance, can Micah arrive in time to save her and the colonists in jeopardy?

Life on Haven Two never lets up…

Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Here’s an excerpt from her first trip to a remote village, in her refurbished mobile medical clinic. This part of the trip is based a tiny bit on the Fourth of July parades on the island I mentioned above, in that the real life parade would march down the main street, turn around and march back! One of my treasured memories is participating in that parade as a kid. The excerpt:

“This is a genuinely small town, doc. You coming up here is a huge thing to them, mark my words. I’m sure it’s the biggest news Northern Station’s had in a long time. The good thing is, there aren’t that many residents so even if there’s a crowd, it’ll be tiny.” Micah snapped his fingers as a new thought clearly occurred to him. “We should make a bet.”

“On what?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“Whether there’s a parade.”

Saffia burst out laughing at the ludicrous suggestion. “Oh come on, don’t be ridiculous. Of course they wouldn’t do anything so silly.”

Utterly serious, Micah shrugged. “I don’t know. Bet me.”

Willing to play along and take the minimal risk, she asked, “What are the stakes of this awesome bet?”

His answer was prompt. “I win, you take an extra day off and go on a day hike with me. We haven’t made nearly enough time for exploring the wilderness lately. I have a special fishing spot and a waterfall I want to show you.”

Saffia decided to negotiate for something important to her. “All right. And if I win and there’s no parade, I want a kitten.”

A few minutes later they flew over the town and she studied the vids with interest. “This place is tiny. I mean, I knew it was nowhere near as big as the main village on the coast but wow—I might have overestimated how much time to allocate for this trip.” There’d been a short main street strip lined by shops, with a few houses scattered around, a school and a small office building and that was the extent of Northern Station.

“Most of the people live in the woods on large lots,” Micah said calmly as Saffia circled the bare landing pad on the south side of town. “Each household its own little forest kingdom. You’ll see. The mine is a few miles further north.”

Proud of her new skills as a pilot, Saffia set Gretchen smoothly on the edge of the paved space and heaved a deep sigh as she cut the power.

“I could have flown part of the time,” Micah said, studying her. He rose, stepped behind her chair and massaged her shoulders. “Your muscles are tight enough to snap.”

She rolled her head side to side, enjoying the pressure of his strong fingers, working the tension out. “I’ll be all right. It was important for me to prove to myself I could fly Gretchen up here solo since you can’t exactly drop everything to accompany me each time.”

There was a knock on the cockpit door and Roann the nurse along for the trip stuck her head in. “Hey, you guys, sorry to interrupt and all but there’s kind of a brass band waiting outside.”

“What?” Saffia straightened in shock and Micah stepped out of the way as she surged to her feet. Activating the outer vids she saw her nurse wasn’t kidding. A group was waiting on the edge of the landing pad and there did indeed seem to be a small band.

“Told you.” Micah was gracious enough in victory not to laugh as he stood aside for her to pass on the way out into the main cabin. “Face it, you’re a big deal, doc.”

Normally she wasn’t vain about her appearance but Saffia wished she could take a moment to at least fix her hair a bit but she’d already kept the good people of Northern Station waiting long enough. Mortified, she triggered the portal and Gretchen’s ramp slid out as the panel moved efficiently aside. There was a cheer as she stepped onto the ground and the band struck up a slightly wavering rendition of a fanfare. With annoyance she was aware of Micah stifling his amusement behind her, whether he was taking delight in being right about the scale of her welcome or the dubious musicality of the band she had no idea.

Roann came behind him. “Whoa, the town is sure pulling out all the stops for us, doctor.”

There was now a banner waving with “WELCOME DR. MANDELL and STAFF” emblazoned on it.

***************************************************

So is there a parade? No spoilers from me!

Author Bio and Links:

USA Today Best Selling Author

 Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.

Seven time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances!

 She read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the official audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.”

Newsletter Signup: https://us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2a337b96e2ee1ee1250004b9d&id=7462393c9e

Blog: https://veronicascott.wordpress.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/vscotttheauthor

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Veronica-Scott/177217415659637?ref=hl

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veronica_scott_author/

My Review:   5 Stars

Another treat from Veronica Scott. I was thrilled when I learned of this sequel to Interstellar Plague. I love this couple. Saffia & Micah are perfect for each other. Each is strong and independent yet are stronger together. Excellent world building, as always. The dangers they face are so real it kept me on the edge of my seat. Despite this being on a frontier planet, the instructions when facing a fire are just as relevant to us today. This story was just what I needed for escape.

Guest: MARIS SOULE #NewRelease SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT #mystery

 Please welcome my friend Maris Soule to the blog today. She has a new release, the 4th book in her P.J. Benson Mystery series, Something to Crow About. I enjoyed the other books in this series, so I've anxiously awaited this one. 

Here's Maris to tell you about her latest book.

Thanks, Diane, for the opportunity to tell you and others about my new book, SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT.

 

I actually decided to write this book while riding in your car back from a book event we’d attended. During the event, one woman had stopped at my table and asked when I was going to write the next P.J. Benson mystery. She wanted to know if P.J. had her baby and if P.J. and Wade did get married. Those two questions initiated the fourth book in my P.J. Benson Mystery series.

 

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT takes place less than a year after the first book, THE CROWS. P.J. is now in her ninth month of pregnancy, is married to Wade Kingsley, the homicide detective she met in the first book, has become Wade’s son’s stepmother, and her Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy is now full-grown and continues to play a part in keeping her alive.

 

Basically, in this book, P.J. Benson is at it again. She has clients’ taxes to finish and her baby is due in two weeks. This definitely is not the right time to get involved in solving a murder.

 

Prior to her scheduled Mothers-to-Be meeting, P.J. Benson enters a church bathroom and overhears Brenda Cox, a friend and former co-worker, tell someone on the phone that she was caught getting the information they wanted and barely got away. P.J. tells Brenda to call 9-1-1, but Brenda says she’ll be fine and will see P.J. soon. When P.J. and the other women attending the Mothers-to-Be session hear police cars and an ambulance out front, they know it’s a serious accident, but it isn’t until the next day that P.J. discovers the victim was Brenda. The police consider the hit-and-run an accident, but P.J. is certain Brenda was murdered. P.J.’s husband, Sheriff’s Deputy Wade Kingsley, warns her not to get involved, and P.J. knows he’s right, but soon it’s clear the killer thinks Brenda gave P.J. something. As P.J. tries to understand what Brenda took and why, she discovers curiosity can put a person’s life in danger. Not a good thing when all she wants to do is celebrate the arrival of her baby.

Excerpt:

I pointed toward the notepad. “Brenda is the woman I talked to.”

As I summarized what I’d heard, Wade sat near me, and made notes. Occasionally he asked a question: Was I sure that was what she said? Did she mention a name?

“No name,” I told him. “Just that she’d been at her computer looking at pictures she’d taken when her boss came up behind her and saw what she was doing.” Saying that triggered a thought. “Hey, you can find out where she works, and that will tell us—”

“Us, P.J.?” Wade sat back and looked at me. “There is no us. We are not getting involved,” he said firmly. “You are not getting involved.”

“I know, I know,” I said, “I’m not going to, but Detective Ferrell needs to know what Brenda said. Right?”

“Did she tell you what the pictures showed?”

“Not exactly. Just that they showed hidden compartments and origins of shipments. That information must have been important because she said her boss threatened her and came after her.”

“You said she was going to meet the person she was talking to at the brewery, that this person had promised to take care of her. Did she say how?”

I shook my head. “No, but she said she didn’t have any family.” I knew that. “And she wanted to be put somewhere where they—whoever ‘they’ were—couldn’t find her.”

“You’re thinking witness protection?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. What I do know is Brenda sounded scared. She said, ‘These people don’t play around.’ She was afraid for her life.”

Wade said nothing for a second, then asked, “Did she ask you for help?”

“No.” I sighed. “But I don’t think she realized her life was in immediate danger. I think she thought this person she was talking to would take care of her.”

“You do know that this sounds like something out of a spy movie.”

“Maybe so, but this is real. Brenda’s dead.”

 

Something to Crow About is available as an e-book and a paperback.

 On Amazon at: https://rb.gy/16ftbx

Or ask your favorite bookstore to order the paperback from Ingram

 

The e-book is on sale right now for .99c

 

Maris Soule is the award-winning author of 25 romances, 6 mysteries, and 2 short stories. Besides writing, she has also taught high school art, paints when she finds time, and for several years raised and showed Rhodesian Ridgebacks (the dog in her P.J. Benson Mystery series). Originally from California, she met and married her husband when she was studying for a Masters degree in art history. They moved to a small, rural community in southwest Michigan. It was that area that gave her the inspiration for the P.J. Benson Mysteries. She and her husband have two married children and two granddaughters. They now divide their year between Michigan and Florida.

 

Find Maris online at:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ LinkedIn ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter Signup

 

Guest: SHANNON LAWRENCE #NewRelease HAPPY GHOULIDAYS

 Another Insecure Writers Support Group member visits today. Shannon Lawrence is here to talk about her new release, Happy Ghoulidays. Here's Shannon to tell you a little about her story.

The holidays can be a stressful time, as we all know, but I'm hoping to lighten up this winter season with a little holiday horror.

Maybe "lighten up" isn't the right term.

The first story begins the winter holidays with Thanksgiving, with stories representing Christmas, Hanukah, Hogmanay (the New Year), Yule, Groundhog Day, and, finally, Valentine's Day. From serious horror to tongue-in-cheek. Read them all at once or save them for their holidays. Or both! 

Release day is tomorrow November 20, which also happens to be my birthday! Just in time for Thanksgiving week. You can pre-order the Kindle version, with other versions, including paperback, available on release day.

 

Blurb: Family time can lead to murder and mayhem, especially during the holidays. A turkey with a tale to tell, elves under attack, sorority sisters putting on a killer party, a woman's desperation to save her family, and a stranger ringing in the New Year. These and other tales of woe await you beneath the mistletoe.

Be careful who you offer a kiss. It may be your last.

Release date: November 20

Pre-order link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MDZR9K5

About the Author: 

A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes in her dungeon when her minions allow, often accompanied by her familiars. She writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her stories can be found in several anthologies and magazines, and her collections, Blue Sludge Blues & Other Abominations and Bruised Souls & Other Torments, are available in stores. You can also find her as a co-host of the podcast “Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem.” When she's not writing, she's hiking through the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings. Though she often misses the Oregon coast, the majestic and rugged Rockies are a sight she could never part with. Besides, in Colorado there's always a place to hide a body or birth a monster. What more could she ask for? 

Find her:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | Instagram

 

Guest: TYREAN MARTINSON #NewRelease LIFTOFF #Teen #YA

 I'm happy to welcome Tyrean Martinson today. I've gotten to know Tyrean through the Insecure Writers Support Group, so I'm thrilled to be part of her blog tour for her new release, which I really enjoyed. It is fast-paced with strong characters and great world building. Where were books like this when I was a young teen? 

Science Fiction and Popcorn Movie Trope: The Chosen One

 Tropes in fiction can be symbolic and helpful for our understanding of plot and character in a fast-paced movie, show, or book. We can use them, bend them, or try to avoid them.

The Chosen One trope relies on the idea that only one individual can right past wrongs, save the universe, restore balance, or change current events. This Chosen One could be born into the role, or could be chosen through a combination of circumstances, choice, and birth.

Some examples of a Chosen One who is destined from birth to save the galaxy are: Luke from Star Wars 4-6, Rey from Star Wars 7-9, Paul Atreides from Dune, Neo from The Matrix, Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman, and Jupiter Jones in Jupiter Ascending.

Some examples of a Chosen One who is destined by a combination of birth, circumstances, and choice are: Spock in Star Trek, Katniss in The Hunger Games, Harry Potter in the Harry Potter series (technically fantasy, but it’s a strong example of this), Billy Batson in Shazam, and Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel.

Deciding to use the trope, or bend it, takes some planning. It’s not easy to create prophecies that makes sense, or to bend the trope with some red herrings, or to add in the tension of choice.

What if the Chosen One is the one doing the choosing? Does this change the trope?

 LIFTOFF RELEASE INFORMATION FOR THE BOOK BLOG TOUR

 

 

Title: Liftoff

Subtitle: The Rayatana Series, Book 1

Blurb:

A spaceship in disguise,

An Earth girl searching for a sense of home,

And a Thousand Years’ War between alien races,

All collide on a summer afternoon.

An old movie theater welcomes Amaya in and wraps her up in the smell of popcorn and licorice. But one sunny afternoon during a matinee, the movie screen goes dark. The theater rumbles.

Amaya gets trapped in the middle of an ancient alien conflict. Angry and frightened, Amaya entangles herself in a life-changing cultural misunderstanding with Sol, a young alien who keeps omitting key information, even while they’re on the run from his enemies.

What will it take to survive a battle between alien races involved in an ancient war?

Liftoff is a fast-paced read for fans of Code 8, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Cobra Kai.

 

Release Date: November 10, 2020

Paperback ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-9889933-8-9

Ebook ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-9889933-9-6

Copyright Tyrean Martinson November 2020

Publisher: Wings of Light Publishing, Gig Harbor, WA, USA

Professionally Edited by Chrys Fey

Cover Art and Interior Design by Carrie Butler

LINKS: Kindle     Barnes and Noble                  Kobo          Smashwords                  Goodreads

 

About the Author: Tyrean Martinson is an author and teacher from Washington State. As a former fencer and kickboxer, she enjoys writing fight scenes in fast-paced novels and novellas. As a teacher and writing tutor, she loves to get students writing and reading comfortably by any means: talk-to-text, short writing assignments, short stories, novellas, and adventures. She wrote her latest novella, Liftoff, for herself during COVID, but realized it also fits a dream she’s had for a while: to create a short, fast-paced read for teen/YA readers who love popcorn movies, adventure, and sweet romance.

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