Suite Nothings by J.M. Jeffries

Kindle Price: 
$2.99
Amazon.com
Available in print from: 
Parker Publishing Inc (www.parker-publishing.com)
Authors Website: 
www.jmjeffries.com

Honey Harlow is in Paris to debut her new lingerie line, Sweet Nothings. Her career is finally going into high gear and the show is the first one to truly showcase her talent. She’s very career-driven and doesn’t want anything to get in the way. Honey has something to prove. The illegitimate daughter or an English Baron and a Vegas showgirl, Honey is more than a pretty face and a great rack. She is smart, driven, articulate and relentless. She is going to be the undisputed queen of the lingerie industry by the time she’s thirty.

Etienne Marais has eluded the clutches of high-fashion Frenchwomen for his whole adult life. At thirty-five he has no desire for entanglements. He has taken a small, family winery and turned it into a luxury goods empire.
And he wants to add Harlow to his empire. But he doesn’t reckon with Honey determination to remain in control of her own future. He sets out to woo her to his company and his bed.
From the Paris catwalks to the French countryside and the glitz of Las Vegas, the wily Frenchman pursues the elusive lingerie designer. And only until the learn to follow their hearts, will they finally find true love.

Bio:

J.M. Jeffries is the award winning writing team of Miriam Pace and Jacqueline Hamilton. Authors of romantic suspense and romantic comedies, they can’t decide if they like killing people more than the like making them laugh. Miriam and Jackie have been writing together for eleven years, though it seems longer on occasion when they are on deadline. Miriam thinks Jackie is a master manipulator. Jackie knows Miriam is a bulldozer. Miriam has a deep and passionate love for shoes, amber jewelry and purebred cats. Jackie collects red lipsticks, Animaniacs memorabilia and steals pens.

Together they’ve written over twenty-two romance novels including the award winning Cold Case Crime Unit series, the critically acclaimed Cupid series and the Emma Award winning book Vegas Bites. They have also appeared in a number of anthologies.

Miriam and Jackie live in Southern California.


Interview with Miriam Pace and Jacqueline Hamilton

What will readers like about your book? 
Jackie and I hope readers will laugh out loud at Honey's adventures. Humor seems to permeate all our books. No matter how we try to write serious, they always end up being funny.

Why did you self publish? 
Jackie and I started our publishing company, Parker Publishing, to help minority women find a place to read about women like them. It expanded to include other black women authors whose voices were not being heard by larger, traditional publishers. Besides our own books, we have published over a hundred books from 60 different authors and hope to continue to give these women a voice.

What is your writing process?
Sometimes our writing process is complicated. We write together and feed off each other's contribution to the story. Jackie excells in dialogue and I do detail and description. Sometimes we argue about what's going to happen less, but we've published over twenty books, both independently and through other publishers.

How long does it take you to write your first draft? 
Usually around three months.

What inspired you to write this particular story? 
The character of Honey Harlow made an appearance in another book and was so funny, we knew she needed her own story.

Sugar & Spice: the controversial psycho-sexual thriller (American edition) by Saffina Desforges

Kindle Price: 

99c/89p
Available from: 

Amazon 

Waterstones 

Smashwords 

Tesco 

B&N
Authors Website:

www.saffinadesforges@gmx.com

Inspired by a news story of a man who begged a Judge to give him a longer sentence, because he knew he would harm another child if released without treatment, Sugar & Spice is meticulously researched, asking the questions society prefers not to have answered.
At once disquieting and challenging, Sugar & Spice is car-crash reading.
~
It's every parent's worst nightmare: A child fails to return home. As hours turn to days, all they can do is hope. Some children never come back...
Driven by the need to know why, a mother confronts the man accused of her daughter's murder, He presents a compelling defence, convincing Claire not only that he is innocent of harming her daughter, but that his previous convictions were not what they seemed.
Teaming up with a second-year psychology student and a fourteen year-old truant schoolboy, Sugar & Spice is the story of a mother's fight to bring one man's reign of terror to an end.
~
Be warned: In Sugar & Spice not all things are nice...

Bio:

Saffina Desforges is the UK writing team that have swept the UK Kindle charts and sold 75,000 copies of their debut novel since January!! Check out the website for more details

Excerpt 

“There’s no possibility it’s someone else?”

“We won’t have DNA confirmation before the morning, but no. The bicycle is Rebecca’s. The clothes are a match, too. It would be senseless to hope otherwise.”

Claire appeared in the far doorway as Matt ushered Pitman through. Her stooped posture, moist, black-ringed eyes and painfully visible collar bones told their story.

Pitman hesitated, unsure of an appropriate greeting.

Claire unwrapped bony arms from around herself , stretching out a trembling hand, nails bitten to the quick. “It’s okay, Inspector. I’ve had two weeks to prepare for this. I won’t embarrass you.”

Pitman stumbled with his words. “We... we have a trained officer, a female officer, you would prefer…”

“What Claire wants most of all are answers, Dave, not a complete stranger offering well-meaning platitudes and stock responses.”

Pitman turned to Claire. “Even so... some people find that helps.”

She shook her head, struggling to keep control. She forced her question through a tight throat, stress-induced asthma heavy on her chest, inhaler to hand.

She whispered, “What did he do to her?”

“We won’t know for sure until the autopsy is complete, Claire.” Pitman paused, sensing she wanted more. “It looks like she was strangled.”

Matt put his hand out to Claire but she moved away.

“It’s okay, Matt.” She looked directly at Pitman, searching his eyes. “Did he... touch her?”

“We’re still waiting for...” he stopped himself. He owed it to Claire, to Matt, to cut the police talk. “In all probability, yes. The body had been stripped. We’ll know more in a few hours. I’m sorry.”

Claire’s legs finally buckled underneath her. She put a hand out to steady herself. “Can I see her?”

Pitman fingered the pipe in his pocket, desperate to light up. It was always more difficult with someone you knew, however brief the acquaintance. “Claire, the body… Rebecca... She had been in the water a long time… there’s nothing to see.”

Matt reached for Claire’s hand and gripped it hard. This time she didn’t fight.

Choking back a sob, she rested a head on his shoulder, tears cascading down her pale cheeks.

Matt asked, “What happens now?”

“We’ll do everything we can, Matt, you know that.”

He paused, turning to Claire. “One question I have to ask. I’m sorry. Did Rebecca ever varnish her nails?”

Claire looked confused, trying to focus on his face through her tears. “Her nails?”

“Claire, her fingernails were bright yellow. Varnished or painted. It wasn’t mentioned on the description when she went missing. Do you remember her painting her nails before she went out that evening?”

She shook her head, sniffing loudly, her voice wavering. “Rebecca never wore make-up of any sort. Never.”

“At a friend’s house, maybe?”

Claire looked up, a sudden, frantic hope in her eyes. “Inspector, are you sure it’s her? Could it be someone else?”

Pitman wanted, with every fibre of his being, to fuel her hope, but he extinguished it eternally with his next words.

“It’s Rebecca. I’m very sorry.”

Interview with Saffina Desforges

What will readers like about your book? 

'Like' is the wrong word. There's nothing to like in S&S, be horrified by, captivated by, maybe - but not like. If you enjoy crime thrillers that challenge the norm, then this is for you.

Why did you self publish? 

Solely due to the subject matter. Now we would have to seriously consider doing anything else.

What is your writing process? 

Write by the seat of our pants and let the characters develop the story!

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

Usually (in total) around 6-8 weeks

What inspired you to write this particular story? 

Robert Black a child murderer in the UK in the 90s

  

Bad Spirits - Books 1-5 (Kate Jones Adventure Series) by D.V. Berkom

Kindle Price:
$0.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
Author's websites:
www.dvberkom.com

Kate Jones is on the run with a backpack full of money, intent on finding her way back to the United States from Mexico. Unfortunately, a ruthless drug lord named Salazar is just as intent on finding her, retrieving his stolen money, and making her pay for ever having left him. Is there anyone she can trust?

Bio: DV Berkom grew up in the Midwest, received her BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat.

Several years and at least a dozen moves later, she now resides outside of Seattle, Washington with her sweetheart Mark, an ex-chef-turned-contractor, and writes whenever she gets a chance. You're welcome to email her at dvb (at) dvberkom (dot) com or chat with her on Facebook or Twitter- she loves to hear from readers as well as other writers.

Excerpt

Something didn't feel right.

Dark.

Dirt floor.

My left side ached, and I could barely swallow. I sat with my eyes closed and tried to recall what happened. The events from the previous night came crashing back into the present, and the fear of discovery threatened to overwhelm me again.

I peeked around the corner of the corrugated steel building. A lone goat munched on some dried grass near a split-rail fence. A few yards away a rooster pecked at the hard, dry earth. An older woman with salt and pepper colored hair and skin like a walnut scattered seed in front of him. She clutched a brown and white serape around her against the early morning chill.

Everything appeared calm, bucolic, even. I leaned back against the metal wall and took stock of my position.

Salazar ruled this little section of Sonora with an iron hand. The woman outside would not help me, for fear of payback. In fact, no one who knew him would be fool enough to assist Salazar's crazy American woman.
Especially when she took something that belonged to him. Something he valued above all else. And it wasn't only his pride, although that would be enough to get me killed.

I opened the canvas backpack next to me to make sure the contents were still safe, that I hadn't somehow lost it all in my mad rush to escape.
The cash was all there. I breathed a sigh of relief. It meant my survival. Without it, I would have nothing with which to bargain for my life, if it came to that. As it was, the stash wouldn't get me the immediate help I so desperately needed. It wasn't like I could call a cab in this part of Mexico, even if I had a phone.

If I knew Salazar, he'd already locked down the small airport a few miles away, and was probably trying to bribe aviation officials in Hermosillo, Oregon and even Puerto Peñasco, although each of the towns lay miles from his hacienda.

I needed to get to San Bruno, a small fishing village on the Sea of Cortez. Salazar didn't have much pull with the ex-pats who lived there. Besides, they'd help a fellow American.

Especially one with a boat load of dinero.


Interview with D.V. Berkom

What will readers like about your book? 

Readers who love fast-paced, action-packed suspense with a strong heroine will like this book.

Why did you self publish? 

I love the whole entrepreneurial aspect of self-publishing: being able to choose the format, book cover, getting to know readers, planning book launches, and yes, self-promotion. I've learned so much in the last few months about the e-pubbing industry and it's exciting! What a fantastic time to be a writer!

What is your writing process? 

I work full-time, so carving out enough time to write is a challenge. I usually write on my lunch hour, at home in the evenings and at least one day on the weekend. I have a vague idea of what I want to achieve in terms of plot by the time I start the story, although many times the more I get to know the characters, the more the idea for the story changes. I love that part!

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

Depends on the length. Lately, I've been intrigued by novella length- it suits my lifestyle and attention span :-). It usually takes a few weeks to get the first draft finished, followed by a couple of weeks of editing, sending to beta readers, polishing, etc. All in all, about two months. As for novel length, it can take me anywhere from four months to a year, depending on research.

What inspired you to write this particular story? 

The escalating drug cartel violence in Mexico. I lived in Mexico for a time and fell in love with the country and people. The idea that such a family-oriented culture had to deal with incredibly stressful circumstances in their daily lives gave me the kernel for the story. I also lived in Arizona off and on for years- it's very hard to live in the Phoenix metro area and not be affected by the polarization created by the whole illegal immigration issue. Let's just say I saw a lot of hypocrisy. Ultimately, though, I wanted to write an entertaining story and blow things up.

Reunion by Jeff Bennington

Kindle Price:
$1.00
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle
Amazon US Paperback
Nook
iBooks
Smashwords




Authors Website: www.jeffbennington.com

Blog: http://thewritingbomb.blogspot.com 

Twitter: @TweetTheBook
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeff.bennington

Twenty years after surviving a school shooting, Tanner Khan and his fellow classmates reluctantly agree to hold a reunion. Although they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, they come back to their hometown and reunite in the defunct school building. Old flames are rekindled, fears are ignited and their lives are about to explode in a whirlwind of memories, haunted by the spirit of David Ray, the troubled teen who killed many of their classmates. 

Once inside the old school, they discover that a dark entity has joined them. It has come to collect a debt, long overdue and someone has to pay. Will Tanner and his classmates overcome their fears and put the pieces of their lives back together, or will they be consumed by their worst nightmare? Find out in this groundbreaking suspense thriller that is frightening and powerfully moving.

About Jeff Bennington


Jeff Bennington is the author of Reunion, Killing the Giants and The Rumblin’. Jeff lives in Central Indiana with his wife, four children and two stray cats. He teaches a creative writing class for a home-school co-op and has consulted small publishers regarding author platform building and ePublishing. Jeff grew up in Aurora, Ohio,  settled in Central Indiana and graduated from Indiana University in 2001 where the seeds of his writing career took root. Mr. Bennington blogs weekly at The Writing Bomb about writing and publishing and contributes to the blog, Criminal Minds at Work. 

Excerpt: 

David Ray stood in front of his mirror, dressed to kill. I look good, he thought, like the real deal, like a real killer. He narrowed his eyes, grit his teeth and unfolded his checklist. Sharp blades of black hair dangled in front of his face, covering the brownish rings that encircled his eyes. He peered at his scribbled writing and read the list as he felt his insides tense with hatred.

This is it, he thought. No room for mistakes. 

David had learned over time that life needed to be carefully navigated to avoid pain. He had come to the conclusion that the only way to control his life was by controlling the lives around him. The list helped him stay on track. He paced back and forth, quietly going over the details of his plans as his adrenalin increased.

He slouched down at his desk, clenched his hair as it draped over his eyes and pondered how the neglect and abuse he’d suffered had snuffed the music from his soul. David longed for old, familiar melodies to bring him comfort and laughter, but found only the clamoring sound of an off-tempo dirge. Although he tried to arrange the chords and time signatures in a way that was intelligible to his ear, he stepped out of time, his notes were flat, and those around him cringed and laughed. He was humiliated and he hated them for it.

He glanced at a picture on the desk of his mother holding his hand as a young child. It stood in a bright red clay frame; a misshapen art project from the fourth grade. Neither of them looked happy, and a lot had happened over the past eight years. Smiles were a rare commodity in their household. He turned the picture face down and stood up.

David walked to his small window. He pushed the roll-up blind to the side, peeked through the glass and watched the fog sinking into the sage-covered valley to the east. He observed the sun stretch its arms over the rocky hilltops to wake the ponderosa pines and heard the mountain bluebirds singing in the distance. For the last time, he witnessed the river in the valley, flowing downward in search of rapids and lower ground. He stared into the gorge with cold and unfeeling eyes. The sight reminded him of the time when Bill, his stepfather, had taken him down there and let him shoot his shotgun just for fun. David knew the activity was meant to keep him silent, a form of hush money.

Peering through the dirty glass, he thought about his plan to finally get even with everyone who’d taunted and bullied him. Today was the day they’d finally get what they had coming to them. Today the world would sit up and take notice of David Ray. Those kids and their families would be sorry. Now they’d know some of his misery. They could kiss goodbye their happy days of Mom’s cookies, home-cooked meals, and playing ball with Dad.

A sliver of sunlight struck his eyes. David squinted and released the window blind. He preferred the darkness.

Interview with Jeff Bennington

What will readers like about your book? 


Reunion is a mixed genre fiction with elements of suspense, romance, horror and the supernatural. Readers and reviews have enjoyed the fact that Reunion is rounded, emotionally engaging, frightning, moving with a twisted and unexpected ending.

Why did you self publish? 


Indie publishing makes sense to writers who are growing their readership and are willing to work extra hard. An author with a list of well written books has the potential to be very successful without the demands of an industry that cares little for the author and more about the investors. I care about my readers. I work hard. I get my work professionally edited. I offer full distribution and my books are returnable. That's as good as a traditional publisher and I'm happy with that.

What is your writing process? 


I play a thunderstorm on my ipod, and start writing stuff. Actually I use a basic plot outline and characters sketches, nothing extravegant, and make up the rest.

How long does it take you to write your first draft? 3-6 months. After that, I obsess over the details...another 3-6 months. After that I put it away or send it to an editor. Eitherway, I've learned that fresh eyes make fresh material.

What inspired you to write this particular story? 


Have you ever wondered what becomes of the students who have been traumatized by a school shooting? Or have you puzzled over what might cause a child to intentionally murder his or her peers? Have you questioned what the long-term effects might be on the victims? How would their lives change? Who would make the most of their journey after the shooting? Who would lose their faith? Who might find it?

        I did.

Over the years, I’ve wondered if the survivors would be able to return to the place where they watched their friends and classmates suffer, and die, at the hand of a crazed teen? How would they perceive those memories twenty years later?

These are the questions that have swirled through my mind every time I’d learn of yet another school shooting. I cringe when I hear that another young person has gone off the deep end and killed his classmates, leaving this world a darker and colder place with every bullet fired. The fact that it happens forces us to question what is wrong with our society—that this is even possible. The arguments are endless. But I didn’t write this story to discuss politics. I wrote this story because I was interested in finding the answers and because I actually do care about the future of these victims.

 

Are you an Indie author? 

Would you like to do an interview? 
Its easy,  just become an Indie eBooks Sponsor.

G'Day L.A. by Tony McFadden

Kindle Price: 

$2.99
Available from:
Amazon US Kindle

Smashwords
Author's websites:
Website

Aussie Ellie Bourke came to LA a year ago to advance her acting career. She had no idea she’d have to solve a murder to find that success. When Ellie finds her room mate dead of an apparent suicide she’s ready to pack it in and head back to Australia. Until she hears something that leads her to believe he was killed. Can Ellie convince the police that her best friend’s death wasn’t suicide? Or accidental? Can she stay alive herself, now that the killer knows what Ellie knows? And can she find a career in a city that cares more for what’s on the outside than on the inside?

Zombified (Episode 2: Yankee Heights) by Matt Di Spirito

Kindle Price: 

$1.99

Available from: 

Amazon US Kindle

Amazon US Paperback
Smashwords
Author's Website:
Matts Website.

Welcome to Yankee Heights.

Matty is on the way to Colonial University when the first harrowing
events in a night of terror unfold. He can't even enjoy the carnal
pleasures of a frat party without the undead showing up. Zombies swarm
into the upscale city, overrunning the dormitories, university campus,
and suburban sprawl. Matty is determined to survive.

Roll of the Die by Sean Bridges

An Ex-Con on the straight and narrow is pulled into a twisted game of Russian Roulette in Las Vegas to save his wife. 666. Six Contestants, six chambers in a revolver, and six sides of a die.

Riley Toback is at a crossroads. After serving a prison sentence for Armed Robbery, he’s determined to make a fresh start in Atlantic City. Until his brother-in-law, drowning in gambling debt convinces him to pull a heist at a Jersey Shore nightclub.

In the aftermath of the botched robbery, Karim Rashid, a vicious Indian gangster, tracks them down. And makes Riley an offer.

Triple Six. One round is loaded into a revolver and the chamber is spun. The Contestant rolls a die, with the face value dictating how many times the weapon is fired.

If you can survive three rounds, you win.
With his wife and life on the line, Riley takes the deal.

LIQUID FEAR by Scott Nicholson

When Roland Doyle wakes up with a dead woman in his motel room, the only clue is a mysterious vial of pills bearing the label “Take one every 4 hrs or else.”

Ten years before, six people were involved in a secret pharmaceutical trial that left one of them murdered and five unable to remember what happened. Now the experiment is continuing, as Dr. Sebastian Briggs wants to finish his research into fear response and post-traumatic stress disorder. He’s backed by a major drug company and an ambitious U.S. Senator, but he also has a personal stake in the outcome.

Only by taking the mysterious pills can the survivors stave off the creeping phobias and madness that threaten to consume them. But the pills have an unexpected side effect—the survivors start remembering the terrible acts they perpetrated a decade ago. They are lured back to the Monkey House, the remote facility where the original trials took place, and Briggs has made special preparations for their arrival.

The Depths of Deception by Ian Fraser

There are only a few good solutions in a world gone mad. America has disappeared some years ago. A neo-fascist Party has come to power in the UK. Russia has expanded south. Ships leaving continental European waters are attacked. China is on the rise.
A submarine hurtles through the cold dark waters of the Atlantic en route to an unknown destination. Only the ship’s doctor knows its true mission, but he is not who he appears to be.
A sweeping tale moving from the violent heart of Apartheid South Africa, to the ruins of the United Kingdom, and down to the edge of the world in the frozen Antarctic landscape, The Depths of Deception is a cruel tale of revenge, served as a shatteringly cold dish.

The Demise of the Soccer Moms

A seemingly quiet suburban neighborhood is upended when a provocative single mother saunters onto the school playground for the first time. Her Doc Marten boots, tight T-shirts, and in-your-face attitude stir up buried fears and sexual anxiety.

In the dark corners of her home, a woman battles crippling memories that threaten to destroy the family she wants so desperately to protect. A suspicious death forces her best friend to make a hard choice between marriage and friendship.

Paranoia, jealousy, and maternal instinct collide, leading to the demise of the soccer moms.

The Ticker - Michael Drake

For fans of Jack Kilborn, JA Jonrath and Dean Koontz...

Angela wakes up in a hotel room.
A bomb is handcuffed to her hand.
She has 60 minutes to live.
Here only hope - commit a dangerous heist within the hour.

Her nemesis - America's most dangerous criminal known only as "The Ticker."

"Ticker" is a fast paced 11,000-word novella.

If you like intense movies like "Die Hard," "Speed" and "Predator," then "Ticker" is right up your alley.

Also included is a preview of the upcoming Michael Drake Novella "Dead Drop."What will readers like about your book?

The Trophy Hunter - J. M. Zambrano

When attorney Diana Martin takes on a child custody case referred by her best friend, Private Investigator Jess Edwards, the case unexpectedly dredges up memories of childhood abuse that fuel Diana's resolve to protect the children involved.

As the case unfolds, Diana and Jess, a flamboyant African-American beauty, cross paths with a group of hunters that includes the new client, his estranged son-in-law and three other long-time buddies who have more in common than hunting: their women are disappearing.

Unknown to Diana and Jess, a psychopath hides in plain sight within the band of hunters. For him, the thrill of big game has lost its savor. Now he collects beautiful women of diverse ethnicities who will never leave him. And he's learned how to keep them perfectly beautiful forever.

Sanctuary by Donna Ball

Fleeing the violence and crime of life in the city, architect Laura Kane and her five year old daughter Christy move to an exclusive planned community deep in the untouched wilderness of the Smoky Mountains. Legend has it that their home is built on holy ground. Other legends tell of hideous beasts that roam the mountainside, Yeti-like creatures so terrifying that no one has ever dared disturb their sanctuary… until now.

First there are random acts of vandalism, then small pets begin to disappear, and then men go into the woods and don’t come back. When Christy’s nightmares begin to suggest that she can actually communicate with the creatures who are wreaking such havoc on their small and vulnerable community, Laura is terrified. Because Christy’s dreams tell her that the monsters are coming for her next.

And she is right.

In the terrifying tradition of the best of Dean Koontz, Sanctuary is a suspense-filled tale of love, courage and redemption that will take you in its grip from the first page and leave you breathless by the last. Because sometimes the real monsters are the ones you can’t escape, no matter how far you run...

Mental Shrillness by Todd Russell

About Mental Shrillness

The Mental Shrillness ward will shock you with six twist ending horror tales: experience a showdown between a ramshackle mansion and a soldier's painful, recurring war memories, a spouse's gruesome betrayal, intense love and loss inside a haunted bathtub, marriage devotion warped into sadomasochism, a compelling voice with self-mutilation intentions, and a nightmarish struggle at a carnival between good and evil.