Friday, December 15, 2023

I'm giving away books for Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone!

 Hi everyone,

It's Christmas time so I'm giving away free books.  Free starting December 16th  at 8:00 a.m. PST and will be free until December 21st at midnight.

Click on the link to go to Amazon to get your free books!

2nd Edition
Revised 6-11-12

Jenna is six when her parents die in a tragic car crash leaving her and her two sisters orphans. With no one to care for them they move in with their grandmother in the town of Snow Hollow where more than just a normal life awaits them. Jenna soon discovers that she is not like other girls, a fact she's felt since birth. When her grandmother finally reveals her secret Jenna is blown away by not only the fact that she's a witch, but that she is THE witch. The Ultimate One who controls the powers of the coven.

After her grandmother's death when she turned 26 Jenna finds out another secret. She is the only one left to protect her home from the evil demons wanting to steal her world away from her.

When Jenna meets Jacob, her sexy warlock protector, the sparks fly from day one. She is determined to protect her family her way, but will it be enough? She will need Jacob, but will their passion for one another be enough to save their world as they know it and keep her sisters safe?



September 2018
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,128 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#11 in Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > 90 minutes (44-64 pages) > Science Fiction & Fantasy
#51 in Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > 90 minutes (44-64 pages) > Literature & Fiction

Lucinda Ravencrest’s whole world was turned upside down when her aunt that she barely knew left an estate to her. There were stipulations to it. She could not sell the estate and she had to take care of the people who lived there was what she was told.

What she found out when she got there was nothing like she was told. Secrets started to come out, and some were downright crazy

Lucinda didn’t know whether to run or to embrace this crazy new life. How was she to handle all of this?

Stop by Twitter and chat with Lizzy @Lizzystevens123



A Portion of all of the proceeds of this book will be given to:

The Epilepsy Foundation
"The National Office accepts direct donations via mail at:
Mailing Address:
Epilepsy Foundation
8301 Professional Place East,
Suite 200
Landover, MD 20785-2353
Telephone: 1-800-332-1000



This book has two short stories in one. The first one is:
Don’t Make A Wish.
Written by International Best Selling Author Lizzy Stevens her husband Steve Miller and their two boys Jason Miller and Noah Miller.


Tara’s day goes from bad to worse when she finds a lamp while cleaning out her grandma’s attic after she died. She found an old lamp with a note attached. ““Whoever finds this lamp, Take my advice. Do not rub the lamp. Do not make a wish. Put it back where you found it and run away.” Tara thought her grandma was just making a joke until she accidently rubbed the lamp and the genie popped out.

Mark, the Genie of the lamp, was not very happy to be a genie any longer. He wanted out of his life. So what he did to show that he wasn’t happy was that no matter what the person wished for he would twists and turn the words of the wish and make it a little more fun for him and not so much fun for the person who made the wish.

After two wishes went in the wrong direction, Tara wished to be left alone which in turn, Mark sent her to a deserted Island. He thought he was being his usual funny self until his punishment was to be sent there with her, but he was sent without his powers.
How will this all work out for Mark and Tara? How will they get off the island without his powers?












The Second Book Is the Amazon Best Seller “A Lost Memory” written by Lizzy Stevens and Steven Miller.

Amazon Best Seller
#36 in Kindle Store >Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Romance > Short Stories

Alley wakes up in a strange bed. She has no idea who she is or where she is. Pain shoots through her head like a bolt of lightning every time she moves. As she drifts off to sleep images of a faraway land and a handsome man with sandy blonde hair and six pack abs fills her head. He keeps saying “Alley come back to me.” Who is he and how does she know him?






Winter Romance ~ New Cover

 Hi Everyone,

We thought with the new year coming up that we would give one of our favorites a new cover. Here is the new cover for "Winter Romance" 


Amazon.com: Winter Romance eBook : Stevens, Lizzy, Miller, Steve: Kindle Store

7-3-16
#75 in Kindle Store > Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction > Short Stories

Jennifer Mahoney meets Jeffrey, the love of her life, the winter of her senior year in high school. Jeffrey, her best friend's cousin, is visiting for the holidays. He is in town for the winter break staying with his aunt and uncle. Jennifer spends every waking moment with him and falls in love fast. She thought it was a lasting love and that they would be together forever. However, timing is way off for Jennifer and Jeffrey. Life is getting in the way. He suddenly leaves without a word.

Ten years pass and Jennifer has to bury her best friend and become the mother to her child all at once. She runs into Jeffrey during this time and finds herself very angry with him. Her head and heart are flooded with emotions she thought she buried years ago.

How will she handle everything happening in her life? Is there any hope left for her and Jeffrey?

Follow Lizzy Stevens on Twitter @lizzystevens123


Friday, December 1, 2023

Guest blogger: Elaine M DeGroot

 



Sparks Fly - Kindle edition by DeGroot, Elaine M.. Contemporary Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

What can we expect from you in the future?

 More romance and romantic suspense stories. My latest, Playground Antics a romantic suspense, is ready to be sent to my publisher Solstice Publishing. The work in progress is based on idea I had related to a 4th of July fireworks rocket setting a she-shed on fire, of course, a handsome firefighter is involved.


How do we find out about you and your books? Oh, so many places… · On my website: www.romance-degrootified.net · On my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/RomanceByDeGroot · On my publisher’s bookstore: Solstice Empire Bookstore · On my Amazon Author Central page: Amazon.com: Elaine M. DeGroot: books, biography, latest update


How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

 My sense of humor shows up, especially in the banter between characters.

·I’ve used my work experiences in most of my writing either as inspiration for the stories or character backgrounds. My service in the U.S. Air Force gave me my first main male character (MMC), Garrett Dane, in The Consequential Love Series and (sneak peek) the MMC in Playground Antics, Jace Sims. My experiences working on wetland restoration projects as a contracting officer with the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service provided the “meet cute” in Restoration.

My Minnesota roots showed up in four books as the setting, and quirks of the state make appearances. Can you say “You betcha?”


When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?

Post retirement activity for sure. The first books I wrote, The Consequential Love Series (Resolute Love, Challenged Love, and Victorious Love) were written in response to all the romances I’d read featuring former Navy SEALs. As an Air Force veteran, I wanted a romance with an Air Force veteran hero, so I wrote a romantic suspense series with an Air Force veteran returning to his home state of Minnesota to work for the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

 I believed in the story and especially the main characters, so I worked on finding an agent or publisher and thankfully found a home with Solstice Publishing.


Do you have a set schedule for writing, or do you just go with the flow?

I don’t have a set schedule but work on my author journey most days. There’s so much more than writing stories: editing, training, website maintenance, monthly Blog posts, monthly newsletters, and daily Facebook posts to create & schedule. These keep me busy every day.

Basically, I go with the flow when inspiration hits. You can find me writing at night in front of the TV, in the afternoons while watching the news, or on our back porch enjoying the sights & sounds of nature. I recently began writing my stories by hand. The first round of edits happens when I enter the written pages into the computer.


What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

It’s me, my husband and our pup, Missy. Mike respects my passion for my writing and gives me uninterrupted time for writing. Missy is my author assistant and features regularly in my Facebook posts.


What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

Read, watch TV, and enjoy my family.


Where do your ideas come from?

My October Blog post on my website dealt with inspiration. My background mostly contributes to my story ideas, but they often appear out of nowhere. My book, Sparks Fly, is about a smokejumper. I have no experience with smokejumpers, so where that came from, I can’t explain. Accidental Attraction starts on a golf course, as I recall I wrote most of it on the way to and during a golf trip to Arkansas. I’ve already discussed how my Air Force service has played a part in my writing. My experience as a federal contracting officer was key to the aforementioned “meet cute” in Restoration, and speaking of contracting (another sneak peek), that is key in my new story, Playground Antics.

Individual scenes have come from songs and even a favorite print hanging in our dining room.

The name of my first MMC, Garrett, came from a road sign!


Do you feel humor is important in books and why?

I do believe in bringing humor into my books. A spot of levity can ease the tension in a scene, provide cover for real feelings that are too strong or ill-timed for the character to admit to, or allow the characters to have some fun. We all need and deserve fun in our life. An early morning drunken phone call between Zach and Emily in Accidental Attraction was fun to write as well as the next day’s aftermath. I still laugh when I read it.


What kind of research do you do?

My research relies on internet searches or going direct to a source of information online, like Mayo Clinic.

I’ve researched medical care for gunshots, knife wounds, broken bones, and PTSD; smokejumper locations and training; and whether a pole barn can be relocated to name just a few things.


Please tell us about yourself.

I’m a Minnesotan by birth and now enjoy life in the Upstate of South Carolina. I’m a retiree with 30 years federal service (12 years of active duty with the US Air Force and 18 years of federal civil service with three separate agencies.) I’ve lived in 8 states and one foreign country. Mike, my husband of 42 years, is my soulmate, the love of my life, and an inspiration for my writing. Our little family unit has always included four-legged rescue babies. Our current baby is Missy, a

Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix. She was rescued from a kill shelter in the Houston TX area by a German Shepherd Rescue in SC and found her way into our hearts.


What are some of your favorite things to do?

Spending time with Mike and Missy

Reading

Writing


Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?

C.S. Harris (Sebastion St. Cyr Series), Stuart MacBride (Logan McRae Series), and Charles Todd (Ian Rutledge Series)


What do you think of critique groups in general?

Have never been in one.


Where do you see yourself in five years?

I hope I’m still around (that would make me 75!!) and still writing.


How many books have you written? How many have been published?

· I’ve written eight books. Six have been published with Solstice Publishing, and we self-published a children’s picture book, The Little Cloud’s Busy Day. I’m hoping Playground Antics will be lucky number seven with Solstice.


After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

Yes! In fact, I’m in the process of rereading them. There is something about holding the book and seeing my story in print that’s indescribable.


Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

Favorite book: probably Accidental Attraction. My only romantic comedy plus there’s a golf connection and the secondary characters are a hoot!

Favorite hero and heroine: My first characters, Garrett Dane and Leigh Ramsey-now Leigh Dane. I hope to write another book or series about them. Already have ideas percolating!


What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Hearing from people about how they enjoyed my books: the story, the characters, and the flow of my writing.


If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

Reading all the books in my Nook app while enjoying retirement


What is your greatest desire?

For the MN Vikings to win the Super Bowl. SKOL!!


Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Don’t stop writing and be true to your voice.

Continue learning about the craft of writing.


Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Guest blogger Richard Dalglish

 



What can we expect from you in the future?

I'm working on another novel in my fantasy/mystery/legal thriller series. This one is titled “The Ulder’s Plot,” and I hope to have it finished soon. It features defense advocate Killandrio Bludd, introduced in “The Last Witness: A Fantasy Legal Thriller.”

How do we find out about you and your books?

I have an Amazon author page (www.amazon.com/author/richarddalglish) and a Facebook author page (www.facebook.com/RichardDalglishAuthor/). I participate in discussions with members of Facebook writers groups and try to post the occasional relevant item on social media.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

Take a walk every day. Try to get a reasonable amount of sleep. Eat well. And read good writers, including nonfiction writers.

Where do your ideas come from?

No one knows.

Do you feel humor is important in books and why?

I like at least some humor, which, if it’s done well (not so easy), is entertaining, even apart from the main storyline. Everyone likes to laugh (I hope).

What kind of research do you do?

Since I write medievalesque fantasies, I often need to research various aspects of medieval life. Also, since some of my fantasies are legal thrillers, I’ve done research on various aspects of the law and courtroom procedure. But I take plenty of liberties, and my trials are far more raucous (and, I hope, entertaining) than real ones.

How many books have you written, how many have been published?

I’ve written seven, six have been published, one hasn’t been. But the unpublished one (my first) served as a self-taught seminar in novel writing, so it was worth writing even if it’s never published.

After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

Yes.

Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

I have two favorite characters. One is rogue defense advocate Killandrio Bludd (“The Last Witness: A Fantasy Legal Thriller,” “Tales of a Rogue Advocate,” and “The Ulder’s Plot,” a work in progress). My other favorite character is the sorceress Astil, a former criminal who became law-abiding but is still known as “the most dangerous woman in the known world.”

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Finishing a book that I feel comfortable submitting for publication.

If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

Editing. In fact, although I’ve been “retired” for years, I still do freelance editing.

Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

If you want to write, and it’s more than a passing fancy, you probably have the potential to do it well. And if you keep at it, you’re likely to improve over time. But also understand that although you might be better at writing than 95 percent of your classmates or former classmates, that isn’t good enough. That’s why you need to keep at it and keep improving. Don’t be afraid to join a writers' critique group or some of the writers' groups on Facebook.


Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Guest blogger Daniel Richardson

 


Please tell us about your latest book.

Those Who Are Invited In Longtime partners Bernard Yates and Sofia Wren are traveling to Besimeni, a quiet fort town on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, to visit her grandparents who are in self-imposed exile on their nearby farm. Meeting them for the first time, Bernard seeks their permission to propose to their granddaughter. The Wrens may welcome him into the family but not before they test his mettle, for they possess more sanguinary and otherworldly secrets of their own to disclose.

Internal Exile - A twin-tale of isolation and terror, it explores the abyss through the eyes of a nine-year-old sleep-paralysis sufferer Lucy Wren. On the eve of her first family reunion, she is once again tormented by the same three shadowy figures who have made a habit of haunting her. However, tonight there is a fourth and things are getting worse. 

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m currently writing a novel about capital punishment as seen through the eyes of a reluctant, medieval executioner. I am also wading into the waters of a screenplay covering the real-world issue of mistakenly being declared dead by the Social Security Administration.

How do we find out about you and  your books?

You can find out about my current releases and upcoming works on X @DoublePlusDanny and on my author website - www.danielrichardsonauthor.com

. I also post on Facebook.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

I think the adage “write what you know” only goes so far. I like to sprinkle in bits of my personality and experiences, but I equally draw from people I’ll never meet and places I’ve never been.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first MS?

I started off writing in the non-fiction space, specifically literary and legal analysis in my bachelor’s and post-bachelor’s programs. I mustered the guts to plot out a few potential novels from kernels of stories, more like loglines, and selected the one I felt I could best write. Fortunately, my first MS was accepted and published. I’ve been digging in ever since.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

Yes. I think it’s important to have a schedule. Sometimes I’m not in the mood, but I’ll still sit down and mull over ideas until the mood strikes. Other times, I’m furiously writing notes into my phone, a scrap of paper or anything else I can get my hands on. 

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing- or are there constant interruptions?

I had that chat with a family member. It wasn’t pleasant, and I’m sure I could’ve been less curt about it. Folks who don’t write don’t understand the emotional and physical toll it can take. Once I’m in the mood to write, I need to be alone and without distraction.

What do you do to relax and recharge?

I devour books, fiction, non-fiction and writing style guides. I highly recommend On Writing by Stephen King and Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. I watch films, build and play instruments, and watch European football. 

Where do your ideas come from?

I’m not telling you! Just kidding. Many come from strange things I’ve read about, experienced or heard about. I like to have ideas collide to build something new, so it’s never just one idea that gets written out but a few that dovetail into one another.

Do you feel humor is important in books and why?

Yes, but not all the time. It depends on the tone. Usually relegating those light moments to specific characters or settings is the best way. I never want a novel to be devoid of it, as I’m trying to depict real-life, and even in the darkest moments we can find some levity.

What kind of research do you do?

A painstaking amount, first of all. I come from the non-fiction/academic space, so I know my professors would be irritated if I inserted historical inaccuracies. I shy away from falling down rabbit-holes as that’s an easy way to lose hours of writing time. However, I make sure that details, spanning from boat specifications in 17th century Ireland, to modern-day technologies are precise, concise and clear for my readers. There’s nothing worse than getting bogged down in details that distract from character or story for the sake of proving how much the writer knows.

Please tell us about yourself.

I’m a Maryland native living in the Midwest with my two dogs, Jack and Sugar. I hold a bachelor’s in Russian literature and International Relations from Beloit College and a master’s of law from Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law. I’m even-keeled and passionate about what I love.

What are some of your favorite things to do?

I build folk and blues instruments from scrap wood, watch European football and horror films. 

What are some of your other favorite authors to read?

I studied Russian literature in college, so I’m biased towards Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Bulgakov and others from those eras. I’m also quite keen on Camus, Voltaire, Rushdie, and so many others. My favorite stories are mythic, like Tolkien, and intrusive, like Kafka.

What do you think of critique groups in general?

No one is a harsher critic of my works than I am. I want my works to be broken down so I can build them up again. Groups are great for that, but I’d rather have a trusted editor destroy my first or second draft before I think it’s ready for submission. Perhaps it’s because I don’t want to be vulnerable to a group in that way, preferring my madness to be directed at a trustworthy individual.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Working on my fifth or sixth novel and perhaps my second or third screenplay. Writing will always be in my future.

How many books have you written? Two. How many have been published? Two. I’m working on a third now. Fingers crossed!

After you’ve written your book and its been published, do you ever buy it and or read it?

I certainly buy them. It’s a lovely feeling to see the spine of your own book next to your inspirations on a shelf. I do flip through them, but I don’t go front to back. I’ve read them so many times before that I’m mostly checking for formatting and other technical aspects. I know how they end!

A favorite amongst my books? Favorite hero or heroine?

Picking a favorite book is like picking a favorite child, easy. Just kidding. There are aspects of both of my published novels I like, and parts I wish I could go back to and change just a bit. I’ll always have a soft-spot for my first novel, Those Who Are Invited In, as it kicked off my professional career as an inkslinger. I’m finishing up my first draft of a novel called The Blizzard and The Sieve. The protagonist is a medieval carpenter’s apprentice who is compelled into becoming his town’s executioner. Writing that transition in his life and delving into his psyche is making him quite a challenging but enjoyable hero. For my heroines, Lucy Wren, a deuteragonist from my second novel Internal Exile. She is a sleep-paralysis sufferer desperate for friendship.

Most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Crafting ways to approach questions I do not have the answers to and meeting my readers. They’re the best barometers for what’s working in my stories, so I love to hear from them.

If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?

Procrastinating.  

Greatest Desire? 

Give my dogs the life they deserve.

Words of encouragement? 

Writing is a skill like any other. You need to carve time into your schedule to hone your craft. Get it down, get it good, then make it great.



FREE BOOKS! Tommy The Snowman Had A Bad Day & The Angry Snowman

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