Blood of the Dragon by Samantha Warren

Kindle Price:
 $4.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
B&N

Smashwords

Author's websites:
www.mariytasmusings.com

Conquered and enslaved, the dragons of Layr live in fear. Their allies are banished, declared outlaws and forced out of human society. Lana, daughter of dragon keepers, is discontented with her mundane existence at the hatchery and the sometimes violent treatment of the dragons in her care. The birth of a rare dragon, descendant of the long-defeated dragon king, will force her to step outside herself and become the hatchling's protector. With the help of her best friend Bolgor, Bellithana the Gypsy, and a Hidden named Prigol, the group seeks to bring an end to the tyranny that has reigned for more than three centuries. Can Lana and her friends bring freedom to the oppressed land? Or will the wicked Princess Slyvania destroy not only Lana's hard won maturity, but the lives of both her and her new friends as well?

Bio: Samantha is an avid reader and indie author. She has published several epic and urban fantasy novels and is currently working on the sequel to Blood of the Dragon. When not reading or writing, she milks cows to pay for her sock fetish.

Excerpt 

The dirt and sand along the riverbank glistened darkly in the fading light. The water held a sickly red tinge as the battle waned. Victims of the slaughter lay strewn across the blood-soaked field. Screams of pain and fear echoed through the darkening sky. An enormous red beast struggled feebly, his left wing crushed beneath his massive weight. Aron, leader of the human army, strode haughtily up to the creature and propped a plated boot on its neck.

"Sigurd, king of the dragons." The words shot from the man's mouth like venom. "How does it feel to know you have failed? All your worthless struggles, your pathetic attempts at retaining your freedom; all for naught. You're pathetic."

At that, Aron spat in the fallen king's face. Sigurd paid no attention to the man. His one remaining eye was focused on a scene across the field. He lowed hauntingly as he watched his beloved Silene being shackled, forever imprisoned by the wretched conquerors. His trusted friend and captain, Roland, lay torn at her side. Sigurd knew the man would not have allowed such an atrocity to happen had he a breath left. As it was, Silene took out half a dozen of Aron's soldiers before she was subdued, spewing their remains across her captors.

The fallen king tore his gaze from his mate and surveyed the carnage. They had fought valiantly, man and beast alike, side by side. Now they lay dying together on the field of defeat. Aron had the greater force; Sigurd knew that more than a year ago. But he would not give up. He would not surrender his people to slavery at the hands of such a tyrant. He built his army, recruiting any dragon or human who would come to his aide. He even appealed to the Hidden. But it wasn't enough.

The promise of power and wealth drew both men and dragons to Aron's side. The self-proclaimed King of All amassed an army larger than had ever been seen in Layr. Many of Sigurd's own soldiers betrayed him and joined Aron. The memory caused the King of Dragons great sadness, but he could not muster the strength to even shake his head. The betrayal of his most trusted brother, Apoph, had stung the deepest.


Interview with Samantha Warren

What will readers like about your book? 

Blood of the Dragon offers a new take on the versatile creature that is the dragon. They are sentient beings whose intelligence often surpasses that of humans. Their compassion and concern for others led to their enslavement, and they must prove that their compassion is not a weakness.

Why did you self publish? 

I write books I want others to enjoy. They can't enjoy those books while they languish in the query/editing process for over a year. Self-publishing also offers the ability to price books much lower than traditional publishers can, which is a major benefit for the reader.

What is your writing process? 

I like to write either curled up on my futon or in my hammock. I typically write in 30-minute increments and I keep a document showing how many words I need to write per week to reach my goal. I usually only focus on one book at a time, unlike many authors who can keep two or three going.

How long does it take you to write your first draft? 

For full-length novels, it takes me approximately four months. Novellas can be finished in a month or so.

What inspired you to write this particular story? 

For years, I had the phrase "Chelandra, Dragon Queen" written on a piece of paper in my purse. I decided to use it for NaNo 2010. While Chelandra (Lana) didn't end up being a queen, she did remain the main character in the story.

Remedy (A story of Aligare) by Heidi C. Vlach

Kindle Price:
$2.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Smashwords
Author's Website:
www.heidicvlach.com


Peregrine wishes he could set Tillian free. But he is an aging dragon deafened by his mining career, making him dependent on the keen ears of a weasel friend. Peregrine needs Tillian to relay the world to him, unless he makes himself into something other than a deaf old miner.
When a dreaded plague menaces the land, Peregrine has no more time to delay his choice. He must fly for supplies on weakened wings, while Tillian nurses critically ill strangers. Separated for the first time in Tillian's life, they will work for the same cause: saving the young mage Rose and her dying village. In light of this mission of mercy, Peregrine decides to leave his selfish ways behind -- which means leaving Tillian, whether she wants to live for herself or not.

About Heidi C. Vlach


Heidi is a chef-trained waitress from northern Ontario, Canada. When she's not playing video games or cooking, Heidi likes using biology and cultural trivia as building material for her original fantasy worlds.

Excerpt

Peregrine stared into the distance, eyes flinty. Wind whistled in the endless grass.
“It's something you'll never need to worry about.” He glanced over his shoulder, like the dratted plains couldn't keep a secret. “But korvi waste as they get old, usually the labourers and other folk who don't have a daily need for flight. It's a disgrace to watch. Perfectly good wings shrivelling on the vine ... I'm not going to be like that.”
That was a statement tall with pride, just like Peregrine. Miners moved plenty, though. Peregrine had shoulders like a sure cliffside, and legs and tail as tough as rope. He picked Tillian up with whim's ease and he never let himself be anything but capable. Peregrine's kind must not have cared about things like that if they couldn't fly. Tillian supposed she would miss the sky, too, if she had ever been part of something that big.
She forced her ears higher – because she was thinking right now, but she still had to listen. Peregrine was surrounded by wind, and grass, and larks singing, and crunching stems underfoot. Normal things. There was also quiet packed between the two of them. She looked to Peregrine's set mouth.
“Really,” she said, “you're doing better than a lot of people would.”
“Because a lot of people misplace their good sense.” He paused, watching the grass tops. “Truly, though ... I suppose I want to fly places like I used to, whenever the idea strikes. As I did when I was young.”
He made himself sound eons old. Long ago, when the land was new, Peregrine of Ruelle travelled whenever he pleased.
“If you could work any trade,” Peregrine said, “which would you choose?”
“If I–”
Tillian sat straighter, ears splaying: she had never wondered this before and the question hit her like cool water. What would Tillian the earferrin be if she weren't an earferrin? Arts leaped to mind – skills like Giala's sculpting and sketching and music. She could learn those simply enough. But no, Peregrine had said any trade, not just the ones Tillian happened to live alongside. She thought like a korvi, flying over all the possibilities, imagining every skill people had ever learned. If she had lived differently enough, maybe Tillian Sri would tell folk to call her Sri.


Interview with Heidi C. Vlach

What will readers like about your book?
Remedy has a worldview rarely seen in magical fantasy. It's is populated entirely by non-human sentients and they are treated as people, not "talking animals" or plot devices. It's a science-fiction-like social structure applied to more traditional fantasy ideas like magic and peasant villages. Readers may also appreciate the positive reading experience. While the Aligare world does have problems and suffering, its people believe in working together for the common good.

Why did you self publish?
Remedy isn't strongly similar to anything well-known on the adult market, so traditional publishing treated it as unmarketable. I think it's unhealthy to shun "weird" ideas like that. Where are new avenues supposed to come from if no one is willing to try something unfamiliar? I self-published because I want readers to decide for themselves whether my approach to fantasy has merit.

What is your writing process?
I don't really have a set process. I keep a text file of partially-formed story and character ideas, which sometimes merge together into whole stories, or I might just start hammering down a new idea once I think of it. My writing output varies widely from day to day, depending on what I'm thinking about.

How long does it take you to write your first draft?
I'd say that a rough draft takes me a year and there's always some rewriting after that. I avoid common formulas, so it takes me a while to fiddle with a new story and get all the parts working.

What inspired you to write this particular story?
Years ago, I read a blog post pointing out that fantasy/sci-fi disabilities often aren't disabilities at all. A character can have a devastating injury glossed over with spells and herbs, or they can receive cybernetics that work better than their original body, Magic and highly advanced science can solve problems so neatly that they trivialize the original loss. I had already supposed that my keen-eared ferrin race could be assistants to people with hearing loss, so I started developing Peregrine the hearing impaired miner and his assistant Tillian. The core of the Remedy story is Peregrine rearranging his life so that his inabilities don't define him -- or entrap his loved ones.

 

The Healer By Sabrina Furminger

Kindle Price: 

$7.69

Available from:

Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook (US),

Amazon Paperback (US), Sabrina Furminger Dot Com

Author Website:  

Sabrina Furminger 

More than anything in the world, Ivy Merchuk longs to be just another face in the crowd—easier said than done for a woman born with the ability to heal grievous injuries with the touch of her hands. To a young girl just struggling to fit in, this gift is an unbearable burden, one that fills her with shame and anxiety. Her mother understands and cautions the young girl to keep this strange and wonderful ability a secret, for fear that her daughter will attract the wrong sort of attention. So Ivy struggles to conceal her extraordinary skills from the world as she grows into adulthood.

Desperate for answers, she pours herself into a life of research and lands a job as a librarian. One fateful night after work, she stumbles onto a brutal crime scene. Horrified and conflicted, she makes the difficult decision to help the victim, who has been beaten almost to death. And this chance encounter with a brooding urban samurai named Victor Morgan sends her already precarious world skidding off its axis.

What these two discover together will change both of their destinies.

Bio: 
Sabrina Furminger spins futuristic yarns from an antique secretary desk in Vancouver, Canada. Sabrina studied English Literature at Queen’s University and edited The Reader, the monthly literary supplement published by the Queen’s Journal; later, she honed her craft as the Journal’s news editor and spent one glorious summer interning at the Kingston Whig-Standard.

Since 2002, Sabrina has contributed dozens of articles to a diverse roster of trade and consumer publications, and in recent years she has returned to her first loves: creative non-fiction (in which she often explores her biracialism), historical narratives, and speculative sci-fi. Sabrina published her debut novel, The Healer, in August 2011.

INTERVIEW WITH SABRINA FURMINGER

What will readers like about your book? 

The Healer brings the addictive “what-ifs” of science fiction into chick lit territory. A gripping tale of heart-wrenching romance and self-discovery unfolds as Ivy—the spirited protagonist—embarks on a wild paranormal adventure.

Many readers see something of themselves in Ivy. Though she’s desperate to be just like everyone else, her big secret—that she can heal horrific wounds in others by summoning the regenerative energy of the universe to her hands—makes her feel like a freak. And so she seeks comfort in books and self-imposed isolation—until a chance encounter with a brooding urban samurai sends her world skidding off its axis.

Readers have told me they love the quirky cast of characters that Ivy meets along the way: Victor, the deeply flawed romantic hero who lights a fire in Ivy and sets the events of the book in motion; Bill, the aged Reiki healer who helps Ivy explore her one-in-seven-billion talent; and Piper, the sunny Yakuza bookkeeper that Ivy first encounters in her darkest hour.

Why did you self-publish?

Self-publishing was my first choice. I love The Healer, and I didn’t want it to languish in an unending series of slush piles. The publishing industry as we know it is dying; publishing houses are closing their doors at a record pace. I do not mourn these closures. I see it as an opportunity to appeal directly to my potential readers. Self-publishing gives the author complete control over the process. Self-publishing is the future, and the future is now.

What is your writing process?

I admire those disciplined writers who rise at dawn each day and write 1,000 words before their first cup of coffee. I just can’t do that. I can’t force myself to be creative. I need to be gripped by the muse, and when that happens, I can’t sleep until every word of the story has vacated my brain. When I’m in the zone, I write in coffee shops, on the bus, and between meetings. Once I have a first draft in my hands, I let it simmer for two or three weeks, and then I read, re-read, drink coffee, curse and edit until my eyes bleed. I read each sentence out loud to test the melody, rhythm and flow of my story. I have a team of professional beta-readers who give me their brutally honest opinions; I want to hear what works and where I’ve failed, and then I make adjustments accordingly. I choose to be precious about story and not necessarily the words I use to tell it, and so I play with the words until I’m satisfied that they’re communicating my story with razor-sharp accuracy.

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

It took me nearly two years to complete a first draft of The Healer. The manuscript was lacking a final chapter when I pushed it aside to give birth and dive into new motherhood, but once I came up for air, I wrapped it up in next to no time at all. Adrenaline and lack of sleep were all I needed to get it done.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

The Healer is based on a recurring dream I had for more than a decade, in which I’d watch helplessly as injury would befall my friends and pets, but then I would discover I had the power to heal their wounds with my hands. I’d wake from these dreams full of questions: what would I do if I actually had this gift? What kind of life would I lead? How would society view my abilities? What dangers would I face? After I received a life-altering Reiki session from my uncle, himself a certified energy healer, I decided to finally explore my recurring dream.

I also love a good love story (the kind that makes your heart ache), and a hazy romantic figure that eventually took the form of Victor Morgan has lurked on the edge of my consciousness for years. I needed to “meet” him, and now that I’ve built him out in words, I’m in love with him more than ever.

Interestingly enough, since I completed the first draft of The Healer, I haven’t dreamt about healing. I miss those dreams.

Harbinger of Evil by Meb Bryant

Kindle Price:
$2.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
B&N
Smashwords
Author's websites:
www.mebbryant.com


In 1963, New Orleans’ French Quarter is rocked by the gruesome murder of a wealthy businessman, and Detective Richard Mobey finds himself intertwined in the lives of a family about to unravel from generational secrets. The widowed detective faces the choice of following his instincts or his heart as he investigates Hattie Lee, the primary suspect found lying next to the corpse. The protection of Alaskan oil, shady politics and CIA operatives converge to muddy the investigation, leading him down a treacherous path. As Mobey struggles to rebuild his personal life, he unwittingly becomes an integral part of the most infamous assassination of all time. The ultimate whodunit. Don’t miss the final erotic twist as the killer strives to explain not only the necessity, but the ultimate justice for committing murder.

Bio:

Being a voracious reader and coupled with a compulsion to write, Meb Bryant felt challenged to write a provoking mystery where the reader becomes involved in a game of whodunit. Born in Houston, Texas, Meb attended fifteen schools throughout the United States by the age of ten. Her nomadic childhood was especially enriched with experiences and memories living in the Louisiana region.

In addition to being a longtime business owner with her husband, she enjoys tennis, fishing and cruising . The couple reside in Texas with a Yorkshire terrier; a white, house rabbit; and unruly chickens, including Teensy, the novel's delinquent rooster.

Excerpt

Fresh blood dripped from her wounded lips as he handed her a single tissue. Although sympathetic, he couldn't let her run the interview. The city bureaucrats would guarantee the case became a top priority. High-profile cases brought out power-hungry politicians hoping for the chance of a photo op.

A man had probably been murdered, but not simply any man. This man happened to be rich and politically connected. Allowing his death to go unnoticed would not be seemly. Hattie Lee had inadvertently made the poor choice of being discovered beside his cold dead body.

Interview with Meb Bryant

What will readers like about your book?

The story is a complex weave of different characters brought together by the investigation of a prominent New Orleans' murder victim. The characters are fleshed out, multi-dimensional people who most of us have met somewhere in our lifetime.

Why did you self publish?

While making a concerted effort to be traditionally published, I came to the realization the opportunities I sought were no longer available to me. However, e-books opened a world of avenues allowing me the opportunity to connect with readers. I am extremely thankful for the new business model in publishing.

What is your writing process?

I mentally outline a loose version of my story, then make a physical outline with colored PostIt notes. I'm grateful to Cherry Adair, NYT best-selling author, for this instruction. I write in the late afternoon (after my regular job) until the wee hours of the morning. I set a goal of a predetermined amount of words per week. Different weeks have different goals. Living a personal life is my main priority. That life feeds my muse.

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

I spent thirteen months writing the first draft of Harbinger of Evil. Learning computer skills to write in a correct format was a steep learning curve. I worked on the manuscript for another three months before beginning the daunting query process for nine months. Coincidentally, the same amount of time it took me to give birth to human babies, who are now adults. After my indie lightbulb came on, I reformatted the manuscript and uploaded to Amazon, B&N, Smashwords and CreateSpace within three months.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

I love the ambiance of the French Quarter, the street sounds, smells of the Mississippi, and of course, the fabulous food. Since my father was born in Louisiana, my DNA roots yearn for home. I vividly remember the racial turbulence of the 60s and where I was the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. As I researched the novel, I discovered many interesting facts I wanted to share with the reader. Also, I wanted to create a game of whodunit to stimulate the reader. Hopefully, the reader will come away with an enjoyable, unpredictable read and food for thought. I loved writing the novel and hope readers enjoy the ride.Thank you for the opportunity to be on Indie eBooks.



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Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories by Lisa Scott

Kindle Price:
$2.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Amazon UK Kindle
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords






Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories to squeeze into your busy life. Fun, flirty, sweet and sassy-always with the perfect happy ending.

Each story is 8,000 to 11,000 words in length (approximately 32-44 typical book pages in length. 53,000 words total, or 210 typical book pages.)

The stories include:

"The Hot Girl's Friend"
How can a plain Jane find love when her best friend is a curvy blonde man magnet?

Jane usually busies herself during a night on the town, fending off the men lusting after her gorgeous friend Miranda. When Brady the bartender overhears her inspired, ludicrous excuses, he resolves to hook up Jane with his friends. But Jane would be quite happy with him. Pine along as Jane tries to find her own happily ever after.


"Wrong Place, Right Guy"
She's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Can the guy who saves her be Mr. Right? Or will his past keep them apart?

When Kristen is jumped in a parking lot, Tony jumps in to save the day. While she thinks her hero could also be her heartthrob, Tony's worried his past is reason to stay apart. Will the good guy get the girl in the end?

"Not You"
One night with a stranger...gets even stranger the next day.

Single, lonely Carly thinks the best way to handle her mother's third wedding is by throwing her own bachelorette-party-for-one the night before. What's the harm in her first one-night stand ever? She'll find out the next day.

"Desperately Seeking Cupid"
Does she finally have the key for finding love?

Brianna has tried everything to find love-with no luck. So she's turning to feng shui to bring romance to her world. Too bad the guy she's after thinks its bunk. Will her formula for love work-or blow up in her face?

"Never Been Dumped"
It's a relationship with an expiration date and it's going to go bad.

Rachel hates breaking hearts. She's never been dumped, and she's tired of being the one to walk away. But a handsome stranger in town for the summer promises he'll dump her after their summer fling. Will they be able to say goodbye?

Flirts! Five Romantic Short Stories to make you smile and swoon-buy the collection now for 2.99 or buy single stories for .99 each. Look for Beach Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories due out in late summer 2011.

“The Hot Girl’s Friend” By Lisa Scott

A night out with Miranda always ended in one of two ways: either she found this week’s love of her life right off the bat—and I caught an early cab home for a night of popcorn and bad cable reality shows; or I spent the entire evening fending off the smitten males whose pheromones went on high alert the moment her big toe entered the room.

This night was going in the direction of option number two; I didn’t see any hot prospects at first glance. McGinty’s Bar was the place to be in Springfield, Massachusetts on a steamy Saturday summer night. The place was packed, with the crowd spilling out onto the back patio and the music thumping at a gotta-shout level. All eyes turned to the door when she walked in. A path cleared as six-foot tall Miranda, with her platinum blonde hair hanging past her curvy hips, wiggled her way onto the dance floor.

I followed, because she couldn’t get her groove on without me. I’m a better dancer than her and she stole all her moves from me. It’s true. I’ve got that going for me at least—not that anyone noticed her five-foot-four dark-haired friend with the thick ankles. Her shadow certainly swallowed me whole, but hey, not everyone wants to be in the spotlight. Suited me just fine.

We boogied to the hip song of the moment and soon enough, a few gutsy gals left the security of the tables scattered about and joined us. Then the drunker of the men crowded the floor, probably wondering if they should shoot for the top and approach Miranda or pick one of us “lesser” girls, like they could flatter us into bed by flirting with us first. For the most part, men at bars are idiots. Newsflash, I know.

“You with the hot chick?” a short, curly-haired guy asked, bumping his hip into mine in some pretence of a dance move.

I bumped back hard enough that he had to catch his balance. “If you mean the tall blonde, yes I am.”

Out came another bad dance move, with him jiggling his hands like he was shaking a martini. “She available?”

I shook my head and gave him the bad news. “Not exactly. She starts her prison sentence tomorrow. This is kind of a last hurrah.”

His bushy eyebrows scrunched as he recalculated his plan of attack, not quite ready to give up the chase. Perhaps prison stripes are a turn on for some guys. I shrugged. 

 “I suppose she could use a pen pal. Although her ex might be writing to her, too. He seems to have gotten over the whole stabbing thing. You really only need one testicle, right?” I boogied away from him and started getting my excuses ready for the string of men who would soon be lining up to meet the second most appealing woman in the bar—the hot chick’s best friend. Always a good girl to know when trying to make your move. At least, that’s what the men seemed to think.

About Lisa Scott

Lisa Scott is a former TV news anchor who now enjoys making up stories instead of sticking to the facts. She's worked in Bangor, ME, Rochester, NY and Buffalo, NY. She lives in upstate NY with her husband, two children, dog, cat and koi fish. When not writing, she works as a voice actor narrating everything from children's books to corporate tutorials.

Just as she enjoys reading a wide variety of genres, she writes in different genres as well. Romance and middle grade fiction are favorites. She's an avid gardener and has had essays published in The Ultimate Gardener and The Ultimate Bird Lover books.

Interview with Lisa Scott


N.L. Earnshaw: What will readers like about your book?

Lisa Scott: These are fun, flirty, sweet romances.  Each one is between 9,000 and 12,000 words, so they're great for lunch breaks, kids' sports practices--when ever you've got a little spare time.  Sometimes, I want to do some reading, but don't want to start a whole novel.  Short stories like these fill that need.  They're like yummy little candy bars.  One taste, and you'll probably want another!

N.L. Earnshaw: Why did you self publish?  

Lisa Scott: I like the control, the speed with which you can publish, and the ability to offer titles that traditional publishing might not consider. (Like a collection of romantic short stories.)   Right now I'm working on the next batch:  Beach Flirts!  The collection should be out in August.  Couldn't do that with traditional publishing.  However, I do have a novel under consideration with Harlequin, so I would love to have a foot in both worlds.

N.L. Earnshaw: What is your writing process? 

Lisa Scott: I'm a big fan of "do it when you can!"  But I write really well when I start the day with a walk to clear my mind and get the story flushed out.  Then I get home and write 2,000 words or so.  I need to get the beginning perfect before I can move on.  (Then, in the middle when I'm convinced the story isn't good, I can look back, re-read the beginning, and fall in love with the story again.)

N.L. Earnshaw: How long does it take you to write your first draft? 

Lisa Scott: I hate first drafts.  I love the polishing up stage.  But for a short story, I usually ruminate on it for a few days, spend a week or two writing it, and then polish it up over the next two weeks while working on the first draft of the next story.

N.L. Earnshaw: What inspired you to write this particular story?  

Lisa Scott: I love writing short stories and wanted to put out a collection, rather than just a few at once.  (And it was fun to link the stories together with a loose thread.)  Some of these stories are inspired by people I know, like "Never Been Dumped."  I have a friend who has never dumped a guy, and was hesitant to get in another relationship because she figured it would end ugly again.  "Desperately Seeking Cupid" was inspired by my interest in Feng Shui.  





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Fateful by Cheri Schmidt

Kindle Price:
$0.99
Available From:
Amazon US Kindle
Amazon US Paperback
Author Contacts:
www.cherischmidt.net
cherischmidt.blogspot.com
Twitter - cheriaschmidt


A huge fan of Jane Austin, Danielle hopes to find her own Mr. Darcy when she leaves Colorado to attend art school in London. Of course she knows it’s silly to wish for that, naive even. But she’s met enough males who lacked respect for women, a growing trend it seemed. And at nineteen...well.... However, on only her second night there she gets lost and is threatened by a stalker who proves to be immune to her martial arts training. Before she is completely overpowered, she is then saved by Ethan Deveroux.

While Danielle does find the romance she seeks in Ethan, he’s no Mr. Darcy. Her hero is held by a spell which fractures their chance at a happy ending. During the day Ethan is closer to mortal than immortal and can date her like any other man. Yet, as the sun sets the powerful magic of an ancient curse returns and the evil of that spell is revealed. When that magic begins, Danielle's fairytale romance ends because Ethan Deveroux is a vampire. 

Excerpt from Fateful:

“There’s a maze here too. Let’s go do that next, shall we?”

There’s a maze? Distraction was definitely his plan, and it worked. Disturbed by the idea momentarily, she finally decided that as long as she was with him she wouldn’t have to worry about getting lost, and went along when he tugged her to the right.

“The maze contains over a thousand full-grown yew trees. It’s my favorite part,” he said as he pulled her along swiftly.

Danielle found it difficult to care about the yew trees, but he was apparently thrilled. Just the sight of it was troubling when they arrived at the entrance, and she hesitated, digging her feet in as she tried to slow down his momentum. Not that he noticed.

Pointing to a tall gothic tower in the center, Ethan said, “Meet me there, and we’ll go to the top of it.” Letting go of her hand, he stepped into the maze.

“What! You’re leaving me?”

“It’s a race. We’ll see who gets there first,” he said, emitting a chuckle from a challenging grin.

“Okay then. I had fun … this was nice … I’ll see you another time.” Danielle waved goodbye. She knew she’d never make it to the tower. It would get dark and she would still be wandering aimlessly through that thing. Walking into a maze was like asking to get lost, at least in her opinion.

Some of the excitement fell from his expression. Seemed he was catching on to the fact she didn’t like this part of the garden so much. “Please, Danielle. It’ll be fun. I promise.” When that didn’t get the response she figured he was hoping for, he changed tactics, moved close and then used his eyes on her. At the sight of those baby-blues, the feeling of daze returned and another surge of familiarity hit her. Danielle tried to shake it off, but found she couldn’t resist because this gaze of his was actually more convincing than his gentle words.

It took her a moment to realize he’d gathered both of her hands and already drawn her in well past the entrance. Panicking now, she spun around when he released her and found she already didn’t know which way to go. “Don’t worry, darling. You’ll find your way.” The soft words came to her like the whisperings of a spirit and she couldn’t tell which way they’d come from. Surely she couldn’t already be lost. With shoulders drooping, she thought,He’s going to be so disappointed when I don’t actually show up.

Wondering what she should do next, she heard a low, husky chuckle as he apparently moved further away. Danielle merely glowered at the jovial sound and turned back the way she’d come ... or thought she’d come. Which way had she come? Great, she really was already lost.


Bio: Cheri is a mother of four beautiful girls, a wife to a loving computer geek, a writer, an artist, a photographer, a lover of words, and a lover of reading books.

Cheri went to Brigham Young University in 1988 where she majored in photography and design. She has worked as a portrait photographer and artist for twenty years. She has only recently realized that she can share the stories constantly playing through her thoughts, and added writing to her list of creative endeavors. She always did well in English, but never realized she could write as her other talents seemed to overshadow that hidden skill.

She has always had an interest in fairies, mermaids, vampires, witches, and, in truth, just about any type of fantasy or myth. She started out in elementary school drawing mermaids, fairies, and witches, and has since sold paintings of them on eBay. As computer technology advanced, she began digitally enhancing photographs into those magical creatures as well.

When stories of these beings continued to entertain her thoughts, to the point of almost haunting her, she decided it was time to start writing them down. FATEFUL is her first finished work, though other stories had come to her before that. She has eleven other books in the plans, including: some on vampires, some on fairies, and all of them with a romantic twist.



What will readers like about your book?
Fateful is a vampire tale for those who are sick of them, but will also appeal to those who aren't, and to those who may actually be suffering from withdrawals of those sexy fanged creatures. It’s unique, it’s romantic, and as of yet, no one has been able to guess how the story is resolved.

Why did you self publish?With the changes in the market I felt this was the best place for my vampire series. I feel like I can better cater to my niche audience by self-publishing than going the traditional route.

What is your writing process?
The stories just start playing in my head and I have to write them down. Often this occurs while I'm in bed trying to fall asleep. If I'm focusing on one story that one seems to come at me the hardest. However I have written two different novels in completely different voices at the same time and somehow managed to keep them from blending into each other.

I begin with a basic plot idea. Many times I write the climatic ending right after I’ve finished the opening of the book. Then I begin filling in the gaps between those sections. By doing it this way I know where I'm going with the story and can then build the plot up to the climax.

How long does it take you to write your first draft?
I think about three to four months.

What inspired you to write this particular story?
I kept finding myself frustrated with other books I read. With original stories playing out in my mind, I kept reading hoping to quench the thoughts. Yet the more I read the more they sparked new ideas that simply had to be written. When I finally committed pen to paper, or more accurately fingers to keys, these thoughts came to rest in the books I've written.

What are readers saying about the Fateful series?

Delicious and addictive!

Wow!! If I had any doubts that the Fateful trilogy was like Twilight they got squashed as soon as I started reading Fractured!! Cheri Schmidt has created a unique twist to the common vampire story and I loved the new ideas!! I was taken on an emotional roller coaster and the ride has left me thinking of the book hours after I finished it!!  - By Courtney

Loved it!
I REALLY enjoyed this book. It was very well written. I am constantly on the lookout for a really good story, with great characters, well developed plot and of course a melt your heart romance. Believe me it doesn't happen often. But I was soooo happy to find Fateful met and exceeded all of my criteria. I'm still smiling about it :). O.k as for the comments that it is a Twilight copy. Please. Yes there are some similarities. There is a vampire who is good, who falls in love with a human and there are some bad vampires. And that's about it. Everything else (which there is a lot more) is not only unique to Fateful but makes it so much more and different than anything else out there. Lastly, for all of us thousands of readers who were searching for something as good (if not better) to read after Twilight. This is IT! - By Malomia

Wonderful Romance
I could not put this book down! The story, character, and plot will delightfully surprise you. The romance built steadily in a natural way. The editing -get this- was fantastic. I loved the setting as well. I'm an American who has visited London and this story felt genuine to the city's atmosphere and culture. That also gets extra brownie points for a job well done. - By Winterlove97

A Very Good Read!
I absolutely LOVED this book. I was looking for a romance book that WAS clean to read. (I have a passion about reading books, but am easily disappointed when I find that it has filthy content). I truly wasn't disappointed with either book. I found that I couldn't put my Kindle down. I just had to keep reading. When I finished Fateful, I hurried on to Fracture. - By Roxana.

The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters by Barbara Silkstone

Kindle Price:
$0.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Kindle UK 

Author's websites:
www.thesecretdiaryofaliceinwonderland.com
barbswire-ebooksandmore.blogspot.com

A murder by beheading sends Alice Harte, reluctant real estate broker for thugs, running into the arms of Nigel Channing, a charming British con man.

This first in a series of criminally funny fables is set in Miami and London. Fans of Stephanie Plum will cheer for Alice as she watches her back in attempting to keep her head, while being stalked by Nigel's daft ex-wife and inept, but dangerous mobsters. Alice's world is filled with memorable characters strangely reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.

Nigel, a chubby John Cleese with serious dress-code problems, whisks Alice to England. The plot trips along at a cracking pace with Alice flinging zingers like a drive-by shooter.

After Alice discovers a gangster's freshly beheaded body in his Miami mansion, she launches a desperate self-defense in a kangaroo court. But in the middle of the trial a small piece of evidence opens her eyes.

Barbara Silkstone Bio

When you’re a freelance writer with a quirky sense of humor, being in the right place at the right time helps a lot. If I just stand still for five minutes… wham! Something funny and worth writing about will happen to me. I’ve accidentally sky dived, been stalked by crazies, and ran off with a real life White Rabbit.

I’m the author of The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three Quarters the first in a series of criminally funny fables. The second book in the series is Wendy & the Lost Boys is scheduled for release this summer.

The Adventures of a Love Investigator, 527 Naked Men & One Woman is the non-fiction account of my one-on-one odyssey into the minds of over 500 men.

Interview with Barbara Silkstone

What will readers like about The Secret Diary

This is a comic mystery – a contemporary spin of a classic. There is a saying that there are no new stories, only new ways to tell old stories. Ms. Silkstone took the original Alice in Wonderland, and deftly wove it into something uniquely her own. Throughout the story there are continual references to the original, as the main character is enamored with AIW. This book was a fun, fast paced read and almost as strange as the original AIW, in a good way. 

I loved watching the courtroom scenes place out. Ohhh the dirty little secrets all coming to light and taking out the bad guys one by one… great! Ms. Silkstone’s story was very well written. I loved the descriptions throughout the story, they covered everything from the sight and sounds of Alice’s life to the smells of rotting fish and fright and horror.

Why did I self-publish and why an ebook?

As I stood in a tent in the blazing Miami sun signing copies of my first book…. The Adventures of a Love Investigator, 527 Naked Men & One Woman - I thought there had to be an easier way to become a best-selling author. Traveling the highways, attending publicity events sold books but it was taking its toll on my patience. I wanted to write not travel. When Kindle appeared on the horizon I knew I had found a home. Now I can sit in my garret with a nice view and write all the time. My books sell by the thousands and I’m a happy author.

What is your writing process?

I get an idea and brew on it for weeks until one day… there it is. I don’t outline. I usually know where I want the story to go, but sometimes my characters take control and surprise me.

What was your inspiration for this story?

I realized that most folks are living one fairytale or another. Lewis Carroll, the author of the original Alice in Wonderland, seemed to understand that as human beings we skate on the edge of logic. I love how he played with words. I took his Alice as my inspiration.

Excerpt:

Minutes later, we were back in our room. I shook but not from the cold. Waiting for the other shoe to drop can make you pretty quaky. I retreated to the bathroom to calm my jitters. I thought I knew the heart of Nigel, but was I ready for his body?

After a proper amount of time, I peeked out the door. Nigel stood there holding a shirt to hide his tummy. He was a large man with an excess of stomach that rolled over his boxers. He had a burly mat of chest hair. His most redeeming quality was that in the half-light of our room he did look a bit like a shorter, chubbier version of John Cleese. My prayers were answered. I kissed his cold cheek. “Show me how an Englishman makes love.”

“Darling, I’ve not had much experience. I must claim a certain innocence in sexual matters,” he confessed.

I had to let him know how I felt about who he was behind this bulky thing that was his body. I was at once Alice with the Rabbit and Beauty and the Beast. I felt good and comfortable and un-threatened. I watched him trot about in his Marks and Spencer tailored striped boxers and knew he was mine. What other woman could see past his appearance to the gem that lay beneath?

I slipped into the marble bathroom and took out my bag of tricks. I slathered on the most expensive of fixings designed to make me appear dewy and freshly scrubbed. Half an hour later I emerged from the bathroom. Being seen as natural can take a long time. I was wearing my new ivory satin Victoria Secret bias cut negligee and a smile.

Nigel lay in the bed, his eyes two big blue eggs above the cream colored sheets. I scrambled under the covers and slid my legs down along his.

“Ouch.” I yelped and jumped from the covers, afraid I had been attacked by some exotic animal.

“What is it? Is it something alive?” He scrambled from the bed, terrified.

This was the first of many quirks I would learn about my lover. Lessons are part of relationships aren’t they? I pasted a band-aid on the four-inch scratch on my right leg. I would have to politely tell him about cutting those toe nails. They were as large as Wilkinson’s swords and twice as sharp.

Raingun by John Blackport

Kindle Price:
$4.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Author's websites:
www.raingun.com



Rick Rivoire is flush with money, women, and prospects. He protects his country as one of the Rainguns, an elite regiment of spellcasting cavalry.

But national policy drifts ominously into slavery and religious persecution, sparking rebellion. Joining the rebels could land Rick on a prison ship, in slave-irons --- or atop the same gallows where he watched his father hang.

The alternative looks no brighter. The status quo imperils Rick’s hard-won self-respect. Supporting tyranny would doom his dream to emulate the valiant swordswoman who braved a den of monsters to rescue the lonely, terrified nine-year-old boy he once was.

Rick can’t stay above the fray forever. He must either defend a government whose actions disgust him --- or risk everything he has.

This story unfolds in a world of bloodthirsty pirates, brave musketeers, and vile monsters. Its target audience is anyone who has ever wrestled with questions of whether, and how, to risk opposing the actions of their country.

This book contains graphic violence and some explicit sex. It is intended for adults only.

Bio: I’m a New England attorney who needs to keep this separate professional identities separate.

Excerpt:

“Those two are cute together, old and in love,” said Danya. “You mustn’t tell them that, though. Shall we sit?”

“I’m sure you want to sit again after singing so powerfully. So how did Joaquim lose his eyes?”

“In Fedyrshchenkoff. He was tortured, for stealing. When he was in the army.”

Rick’s blood slowed. “That’s awful.”

“The awful part was losing his eyes. But you knew that.”

“When did this happen?”

“Many years ago. He sold the army’s korba on the black market. He’s lucky they didn’t execute him.”

“Execution might have been kinder.”

“He had only one Gift left, even then. Or at least he said he did. No doubt that helped convince them to spare his life.”

“How long did they have him?”

“Oh, many months. Over a year, maybe two. You can see from the way he shuffles, his hip was broken too. Twice, with a hammer.”

“Why do all that to a helpless old man?”

“He wasn’t so old and helpless then. They hoped he’d give up names of the buyers. But he didn’t know their names, so that was that. Eventually they believed him and sent him home.” Danya finished rolling something between papers, lit it on the table’s candle, and brought it to her mouth to inhale. “But they beat him very often. He had a bad time.”

“How did he get through it?”

“Why don’t you ask him.”

“I can’t do that. It might upset him.”

“And so what? He’s blind. He can’t hurt you.” She grinned archly. “If he tries to hit you, you can run away.”

Rick tried to sound firm, but not too serious. “I will not make an amiable old blind fellow who reminds me of my grandfather to re-live torture.”

“Oh why the hell not! He makes everyone else re-live it. Some days he won’t shut up about it.”

“So he talks of it often? How did he get through it?”

“Well, Joaquim says. . .” she tapped her hand holding the gasper, trying to shake off ash it didn’t have. “He imagined Samantha’s face. When someone tortures you? They control your thought, so there’s no escape. But some people escape, back to comforting memories, and stay there.”

“What do you mean, stay there?” Rick didn’t like having his brow knit in front of Danya, because it didn’t show him at his best. But he couldn’t help it now. “Do you mean, they stay there forever, lost forever? Don’t the torturers try to drag them out?”

Danya exhaled, her face resigned. “I’m sure they do.”

“Like a wolf, trying to get at a rabbit hidden in a hollow log. Only the rabbit can’t bolt out the other side, because it’s stuck now.”

Danya surveyed him. “You’ve thought about this a lot, haven’t you?”



Interview with John Blackport

What will readers like about your book? 
I expect they’ll like the action scenes. I also hope they’ll like that half the royalties are going to the Scleroderma Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure. I’ve dedicated this book to my brother-in-law, and I want the book to help fight the disease that killed him.

Why did you self publish? 
I was tired of having agents and editors tell me I should switch to paranormal romance because military fantasy won’t sell.

What is your writing process? 
I start with a Grand Chronology of events stretching over months and years of time in the story. Then I decide what order the chapters go in, and write them. Then I do individual checks of the whole manuscript --- overusage of certain words, sentence structures, and so forth. By this point it has become clear exactly where the major surgery is required.

How long does it take you to write your first draft? 
Centuries

What inspired you to write this particular story? 
Short answer --- Bernard Cornwell and George Macdonald Fraser. Long answer --- I think Americans were polarized by the wars of the last ten years, and I wanted to make sense of how events like that can drive wedges through a person or a nation. The fantasy genre allows me to do that with a completely distinct fact pattern that won’t be confused with the real world.

Echo Falls by Jaime McDougall

Kindle Price:
$2.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Amazon US Paperback

Author's websites:
www.inkyblots.com

Running from a nightmare stalking her every move, Phoebe Martin arrives in Echo Falls hoping she has finally found a safe place to stop. But trouble has a way of catching up and soon the signs are there.

After a vicious attack in an alley, policeman Aidan O'Bryan is left with Phoebe as his only path to understanding why the Echo Falls werewolf pack - his pack - is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses Aidan and everything she has come to love.

Love and duty become one as Aidan strives to prevent Phoebe from becoming the next victim. But with Phoebe just as determined to protect Aidan and her new home, secrets from her past threaten to tear them apart.

Will love give Phoebe the strength to trust Aidan and face her fears, or will her past destroy her future?

Bio: Jaime McDougall is a citizen of the world, currently loving life in beautiful country Victoria in Australia. She loves eating sushi, kidnapping her husband and naming her pets in honour of science fiction authors. (So far, a cat named Asimov and a puppy named Brin.)

A love of fiction has always coursed through her veins and she told stories as a child even before she knew how to write them. Settling into one genre was never her style and she has plans for novels in women’s fiction, urban fantasy and more – all with a touch of romance.

She has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: High School: The Real Deal and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles. She has also enjoyed writing a column called ‘The New Australian’ in local newspapers as well as various articles online.

Excerpt 

She pushed forward to sit on the edge of her bed so she could use her bedside table to help her stand. The pain in her thigh shot like lightning up her side to her shoulder, sending her back down to the bed. She sat there trying to catch her breath as her white-knuckled grip on the knife made her fingers start to tingle.

“You’ll rip your stiches.”

She spun around. Or, at least, she tried to. The bandages and injuries beneath them pulled again and a pathetic little whine escaped her lips. Tears welled up in her eyes and she let out a hissing breath as she turned her back to him.
Great. As if she needed to look any weaker in front of an intruder. An intruder who’d made breakfast. At least he wasn’t in a hurry.

“You’re not in good enough shape to be moving around like that.”

She held the knife, ready to use it, as the owner of the voice moved closer and finally came into view. He placed a tray with a hearty breakfast on it – complete with a steaming mug of something sweet-smelling – on the end of her bed. He plucked a mug of steaming black coffee off the tray and then stepped back, eyeing the knife. She looked at the tray and then at him, frowning. He didn’t look overly alarmed at her wielding a weapon.

She bit her bottom lip, her stomach demanding food. He’d even cut up some fruit, which meant he must have bought groceries. She looked down at her clothes and then back at him.

“You’ve seen me naked,” she said, the words coming out more like a croak as she brought her hand up to her throat.

The corner of his mouth jerked up, his lopsided smile making him look a lot less threatening. He sat down in the blue camping chair in the corner of the room.

“Drink the tea. It has honey and lemon to help your throat.” He gestured at the mug as if he made tea and breakfast for knife-wielding women every day. “And I tried not to look.”

She hesitated but her stomach won out. After all, an intruder who made her breakfast couldn’t be all bad. Maybe that’s just how they did it in Echo Falls; breakfast and a robbery.

Interview with Jaime McDougall

What will readers like about your book?

I think readers will like how Echo Falls isn't about how 'oh my, these characters are werewolves', if you know what I mean. Echo Falls is about a group of people who are dealing with a problem. They just so happen to be werewolves and it just so happens to be a werewolf problem. The fact that they are supernatural is integral to the story, and yet it is also secondary to the story of Phoebe and Aidan.

Why did you self-publish?

The road to decide to self-publish was a long one. I debated for a long time, but in the end, a friend helped me to realize that self-publishing provided me with everything I wanted: a short wait from completion to available for sale, complete say over my cover art and the option for ebook only or ebook and print book. The freedom and options are excellent.

What is your writing process?

As much as I would like to claim some daily writing routine, my writing is more squeezed in here and there when I get my backside in a chair to do it. I spend a lot of time letting the ideas simmering in my mind before sitting down and trying to get in about 2k words a night (on good nights).

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

Usually about three months for the first draft. I could cut that down if I were more firm about life not intruding, but I have yet to get to that point.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

I had chapter one stuck in my head for a long time. At that point, I didn't know Phoebe well or why she wanted me to tell her story, but then I started watching a lot of documentaries on wolf packs and became fascinated not only with pack structure but with the thought that werewolves were humans who had a more interesting passionate side than the rest of us.
       

Logan's Redemption by Cara Marsi

Kindle Price:
$2.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle

BN Nook

Author's websites:
www.caramarsi.com


Doriana Callahan's life is unraveling. Someone is stalking her and sabotaging her father's company; her teenage son is rebelling; and Logan Tanner is back in town. For sixteen years she's kept an explosive secret from Logan, a secret he soon discovers. Logan never belonged in Doriana's world, but a long time ago he allowed himself to dream of a future with her, until the awful night he was forced to run. Now he's back and he needs her forgiveness, but first he must forgive himself.

Despite the fact that Doriana kept the existence of his son from him, Logan vows to protect her. He races against time to stop the culprit threatening Doriana and works to forge a bond with his son.

Can the love and passion that still burn between Doriana and Logan overcome old lies and new dangers? The clock is ticking on a second chance at love.

Bio:
When I was a corporate drone and cubicle dweller living in a fabric-covered cage, the creative energy of writing romance allowed my mind to escape the reality of my everyday world, at least for a while. No longer a corporate drone, I still need to give voice to the characters who inhabit my head. My larger-than-life heroines and heroes demand release, and I’m happy to oblige. I read and write romance to satisfy my craving for good love stories with happy endings.

For as long as I can remember I've made up love stories in my head. The Thirties and Forties romantic comedies that played on late-night TV when I was growing up helped shape my love of romance.

I currently have three books available: Logan’s Redemption, a romantic suspense formerly published by The Wild Rose Press and now available on Kindle, BN Nook and Smashwords; Murder, Mi Amore, a romantic suspense novella released December 2010 by The Wild Rose Press; and Cursed Mates, a sensual, dark paranormal romance, released December 2010 by Noble Romance Publishing.

In addition to my books, I have had success writing short stories. I’ve published short romance stories in New Love Stories Magazine, and in the Trues (True Love, True Romance, True Confessions, and True Experience, True Story).

I live in on the East Coast with my husband and a fat, black diva of a cat named Killer. My husband and I love to travel, and I love to write about the places we’ve visited.

Excerpt:

“You’ve never changed your opinion of me, have you?” he asked in a hard voice. “I’m still the boy from the bad neighborhood, not fit to be a father to your son.” With a contemptuous glance, he turned away and strode to the fireplace. He leaned on the mantle, his profile to her. His chest rose and fell with his shallow breathing.

Doriana studied him. His jaw set in a tight line. His entire body looked coiled and ready to fight. Or maybe flee. Tears sprang to her eyes. They’d come so far in the last weeks. How had it all gone so terribly wrong?

“What do you want, Logan?” She tangled her fingers through the long strand of pearls she wore, trying to rein in the anxiety that churned her stomach.

Logan’s hazel gaze impaled her. “I want to be in Josh’s life.”

“What?” She yanked on the pearl necklace. The strand came apart in her hands. She watched helplessly as beads rolled all over the floor. My life is coming apart the same way. She raised her gaze to find a stony-faced Logan staring at her with unyielding eyes.

“What’s your answer?” He spit the words out.

“How long will you be in his life, Logan? You’ll leave again and what will happen to Josh? I will not see him hurt.”

Logan was at her side in an instant. He grasped her shoulders. She winced at the anger in his eyes. The twinkling lights of the tree reflected on the golden stubble of his beard, mocking the tension that arced between them like an electrical current.

“I’m Josh’s father,” he rasped. “I’m not some stranger, here one day and gone the next.”

“Aren’t you?” She bit down on her lip. Hurt shattered the chiseled planes of Logan’s face. She glimpsed the vulnerable young boy he’d once been, the boy she’d fallen in love with. He released her as if he couldn’t bear to touch her. Her throat thickened with tears.

“So that’s it.” The quiet calmness of his voice damned her more than shouts. “I’ve never been more than a temporary diversion to you.”

“That’s not true,” she whispered. “I loved you. I ....” She stopped herself before she blurted that she loved him now.

“Do you really know what love is?” His gaze raked her. “You have no problem giving your body to me, but I’m not worth bothering with on any other level.”

Fury and pain pierced her like a carpenter’s awl. “How dare you talk to me like that?”

He released a breath. “I’m sorry. I was out of line.” Sadness creased his features. “I just want to be in my son’s life.”

“How do I know you’ll be around for him?”

“Trust me. Damn it, just trust me.”

Could she trust him? Maybe she should ask him to stay. What if he said no? Could she take that chance? Her insides shook. “I can’t.”

Interview Cara Marsi 

What will readers like about your book?

It's a suspense with a fair amount of danger. But more importantly, it's about second chances, redemption, family and the power of love.

Why did you self-publish?

"Logan's Redemption" was originally published by The Wild Rose Press. When I got the rights back, I decided to self-publish at the urging of a friend who's found success self-publishing. I'm so glad I went the indie route. "Logan's Redemption" has done well, and I've sold so many more books than I did with the publisher.

What is your writing process?

I'm not sure I have one. An idea will come to me and I'll mull it around for awhile. Then I'll write out character sketches (in longhand) of the main characters and the main events in the story, including the conflict and resolution. Then I write a working synopsis. And then I start writing the story. I hate first drafts, but I love revisions.

How long does it take you to write your first draft?

For a book, close to one year. For a novella, four months. For a short story, one month.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

I love stories of redemption and stories about people who aren't what they seem. My inspiration came from an old Claudette Colbert/Fred MacMurray movie. The Colbert character hires a man, MacMurray, to be her assistant, thinking he's an out of work laborer. But he's so much more. The same as my character, Doriana, who thinks Logan is a temp worker, but he's so much more.

Ripped Apart by Miriam Minger

Kindle Price:
$2.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Amazon UK Kindle 
Barnes & Noble Nook
Author’s Website: 

www.walkerpublishing.net 
On Facebook
On Twitter


Winning awards for master storytelling and fast-paced plots, bestselling author Miriam Minger presents her edge-of-your-seat thriller RIPPED APART against the violent backdrop of the drug trade along the Texas-Mexico border.

SHE WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET HER SON BACK.

THEY WILL KILL HER TO KEEP HIM.

Unspeakable tragedy and cold-blooded murder conspire against Clare Carson when her six-year-old son is kidnapped after a heart transplant and his abductors want her dead. A dying cop’s last words lead her to former Special Ops Jake Wyatt, who helps her discover the horrific truth behind her son’s abduction and offers to help her get Tyler back. With nowhere else to turn, Clare entrusts her life to Jake not knowing he has a deadly agenda of his own that could destroy them both.

About Miriam Minger

Miriam Minger's first novel Twin Passions was called "a fabulous debut" by Romantic Times. Since then, Miriam has swept readers into her unforgettable historical romances with her strong, forceful heroes and fiery heroines. She is the winner of several Reviewer's Choice Awards and a two-time RITA Award finalist.

Now Miriam Minger presents RIPPED APART published exclusively as an ebook, a thriller and romantic suspense all rolled up into one "Steamroller of a Story...Five stars!"

"Miriam Minger is a master storyteller who illustrates the full gamut of emotions felt by her characters. Emotions so strong that you are pulled into the pages and into their lives."~Inside Romance

"With Miriam Minger, you're assured of a good read!"~Heartland Critiques

Interview with Miriam Minger

What will readers like about your book?

RIPPED APART is fast-paced and gripping emotionally from beginning to end—and I think readers will be mesmerized by the story. One woman’s grief stricken threat becomes the catalyst for another woman’s nightmare when two mothers desperately want one thing…the same little boy.

Excerpt from Ripped Apart - © 2011 by Miriam Minger:

“Ms. Carson? Clare Carson?”

Clare fumbled groggily with the phone. The woman’s anxious voice in her ear sounded like a screech. “Yes, this is Clare.”
“It’s Dr. Laura Holland from the Pediatric Acute Care Unit. We need you to come to the hospital as soon as you can.”

“What’s happened? How’s Tyler?” Sitting bolt upright in the bed, Clare clutched the phone. Her heart beat wildly as the woman didn’t answer right away but spoke to someone in the background. Clare glanced at the digital clock that read eleven twenty p.m.--a little over an hour since she’d fallen asleep--and threw aside the comforter. “Hello? Is anyone there?”

“Ms. Carson, I’m Bill Maher, chief night security officer at Universal Hospital.”

“What’s going on? How’s Tyler—“

“Your son is missing, ma’am.”

Clare thought she was hearing things and she stood up from the bed. “What do you mean, missing?”

“An x-ray tech came to the floor during the shift change at eleven—said Dr. Holland had requested an immediate CAT scan and the tech had come with a wheelchair to take the boy downstairs. One of the nurses called x-ray ten minutes ago to check on Tyler, but no one there had seen him or knew anything about any CAT scan.”

“But I just spoke to Dr. Holland. What does she say?”

“She made no such request, Ms. Carson. My personnel are searching all over the hospital and I’ve notified the police—“
“I’ll be right there.”

Clare didn’t wait for the man’s reply. She hung up the phone and bolted from the room, disbelief and rising panic making it hard for her to breathe. One thought burned in her mind as she grabbed her handbag and headed for the back door.

Damn you, Billy.

If her ex-husband had decided to make good on his threat to take Tyler from the hospital, she would kill him.

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