Friday, July 30, 2010

Robin O'Neill-- Paige, Turning



Robin O'Neill is quite hard to pin down and is still trying to find herself. She's written a number of young adult books, a few cookbooks and is now in adult contemporary.


Why will readers like this book?
-- DISCONNECTED takes the reader through a Catskills Mountain summer of finding love, laughs, and a lost painting worth a million dollars. It's the story of what can happen when someone is too plugged into the internet and too disconnected from the real world to live what can be a wonderful life.

Why did you go indie?
-- I have a backlist of out of print books that can still be enjoyed by a new audience. Then I realized how much freedom was being offered when an author no longer has to contend with editors and agents and I felt liberated.

Who are your favorite authors?--I like Katie Fforde quite a bit and Jane Heller. They both find a way to bring a nice lighthearted touch to romances. Victoria Clayton is not well known out of her native England but she is an artisan with words, proving with each new novel that a romance doesn't have to be without substance.


At Amazon

book trailer

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Stacey Cochran-- Claws 2


Stacey Cochran was born in the Carolinas, where his family traces its roots to the mid 1800s. In 1998 he was selected as a finalist in the Dell Magazines undergraduate fiction competition, and he made his first professional short story sale to CutBank in 2001. In 2004, he was selected as a finalist in the St. Martin's Press/PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Contest. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife Dr. Susan K. Miller-Cochran and their son Sam, and he teaches writing at North Carolina State University. His books include CLAWS, CLAWS 2, The Colorado Sequence, Amber Page, and The Kiribati Test.


Why readers will like the book?

That’s a hard question to answer. What I can tell you what I enjoyed in writing the book. Angie Rippard in CLAWS 2 is a sympathetic character. I enjoyed seeing how she had fallen after CLAWS and how she responded to her isolation and loneliness. I totally enjoyed setting CLAWS 2 in southwest Colorado near Telluride, and I loved visiting the region frequently when I was researching and planning the novel. It really is a nearly unadulterated pocket of wilderness in Colorado, and I hope it stays that way for many years to come.

Of course, I enjoyed researching grizzly bears and getting to the bottom of the original research question that prompted CLAWS 2: Do grizzly bears still roam southwest Colorado?

And there’s a night-time skinny-dipping scene in the novel that was one of the most enjoyable scenes I’ve ever written.

The ending is very noirish compared to how I had ended earlier novels, so it’ll be interesting to see what readers have to say about where Angie is by the end of the book.

Why you went indie?
I’ve been sending work to publishers since I was sixteen years old. Literally for twenty years. During that time, I’ve received more than 3,000 rejection letters for eleven novels and many short stories. After a decade of endless rejection, I was starting to lose my mind. I finally decided in 2004 to try to self publish a novel. I’ve published about one novel per year since then, and have continued to query agents and editors.

For CLAWS, I managed to get two different literary agents in five years, and they both worked extremely hard to sell the series. As yet, no publisher has made an offer.

The first book came up in the self-pub rotation last summer, and now CLAWS 2 is in its launch week.


Who are your favorite writers?

John Rector, Stephen King, Michael Crichton, Charles Williams, Dean Koontz, John D. MacDonald, Ron Rash. Did I mention Scott Nicholson? Uh, George Pelecanos, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Lee Child, Scott Nicholson, Charles Bukowski, Hunter S. Thompson, Dashiell Hammett, Hemingway, Toni Morrison, Scott Nicholson, and Scott Nicholson. JA Konrath, Allan Guthrie, Denise Mina, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Crumley, Harper Lee, Scott Sigler, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Edward Albee, Tracy Letts, and Richard Matheson. That’s it. No one else. Except RJ Keller, Holly Christine, Elisa Lorello, Sam Landstrom, Kipp Poe Speicher, Dawson Vosburg, Jon Merz, Peter Straub, Joe Haldeman, Agatha Christie, Shirley Jackson, and Scott Nicholson.


Amazon Link

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Tracey Alley--Erich's Plea



I was born, raised and still live in sunny south-east Queensland. I come from a large, wonderful family and am married with a dog and two cats. I enjoy travel, boxing, yoga, horse-riding and would love to learn photography and scuba-diving - my two new challenges for the year.
I've been writing for as long as I can remember but found fantasy through role-playing and Dungeons & Dragons - since then I've never looked back. I love to read and write fantasy - the escapism is wonderful.
I have degrees in Ancient History, where I specialised in Egyptology, and Comparative Religions, where I specialised in ancient pagan religions. I incorporate a lot of that into my work, using old myths and legends and religious practices.



Q: What will e-readers like about your book?
A: I think one of the best features of my book is that it blends so many other elements into a fantasy setting. Erich’s Plea is as much about politics, religion v faith, and the power of love as it is an action/adventure fantasy story. Another element that adds dramatically to the overall story arc is the amount of ‘real world’ history that has been incorporated into the book. Many readers will recognize the mythology that is woven into the storyline. Having said all of that I would hope that what readers like most about the book is the basic question the story asks of ‘how far would you go for someone you love?’ All of my principal characters are driven by love of some kind – love of parent, love of country, romantic love and love of a friend. That’s the driving force throughout the series rather than the fantastic elements of the storyline.



Q: Why did you go indie?
A: I tried the traditional publishing route and got nowhere. Received extremely positive feedback but it always seemed to come down to a cost analysis – I was constantly being told by agents and publishers they ‘weren’t sure they could make enough money on an unknown author’. It was very disheartening and frustrating to be told ‘your book’s good but it’s not the right time for this from a financial point of view’. A friend told me about Amazon’s ‘do it yourself’ option and I’m so glad to have found this venue. Now I have the satisfaction of knowing that all those publishers who passed were both right and wrong – it is a good book, people are buying it and liking it, and it is financially viable, people are buying it and liking it. I wouldn’t turn down a decent traditional publishing contract but I am no longer actively seeking it. Being indie is way too much fun and I’ve met some fabulous authors this way I would never have otherwise gotten to meet.




Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

A: I love Katharine Kerr, Terry Pratchett, Anne McCaffrey and many others. Perhaps one of my favourite authors is C. S. Lewis – his fantasy was filled with adventure and fun but also asked some serious questions. I like any book that really makes me think. One of my new favourite authors, who I discovered via KindleBoards, is David Dalglish. His Half-Orc series is truly fantastic and his writing is so neat and clean. There are many, many other fabulous indie writers out there and one element of my joy at being a part of the ‘indie publishing phenomenon’ is discovering these new, wonderful authors.

At Amazon
At Smashwords
At Facebook

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Jason Chan--Bliss and Grief


Q: What will e-readers like about your book?

My novel is called Bliss and Grief. Romance, fantasy, betrayal and forgiveness are the driving forces behind BLISS AND GRIEF.

Incubus Colton confesses his love to his human best-friend Daphne, knowing that it's forbidden for an incubus to fall in love.

He is immediately recalled to a nightmare world called Grief for punishment, where he is bound in servitude to a plant monster and forced to seduce dreaming girls to survive.

Colton must choose to stay in Grief forever or take a pill that makes him forget Daphne entirely.

As thoughts of the pain of neglect flood his mind, he impulsively takes the pill, and but then immediately regrets it when he relives blissful times with Daphne. Will he find a way to undo its effects before the police recapture him and take him to the torture chambers? Or is he destined to return home without love for the only girl he has ever loved?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003RWS7SU


Q: Why did you go indie?

Going indie means that the author can have a lot more control over the marketing of his novels.


Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

Well, I love the clarity of Stephen King's writing, the language of Anita Shreve and the brevity and insight of Alice Munro.

Monday, July 26, 2010

P.A. Woodburn—Cries in the Dark


P.A. Woodburn, born in Northern Ireland, now lives in Washington State with her husband, a Saint Bernard, and two cats. She has now officially retired from DSHS and has blossomed into a new career as an author of mystery/thrillers.

Cries in the Dark: When Alex has an accident she discovers that she can telepathically communicate with animals. Losing her summer job in a heart transplant lab she lands a job in a chimpanzee lab instead. Raised by her research scientist stepfather to appreciate the necessity of animal research for curing diseases, Alex discovers that her two closest friends are animal activists. All she desires is to be a regular family doctor. She tries to deal with these challenges to her core beliefs. Then she finds that a brilliant serial killer is stalking her. This vile criminal is so slick that the police claim all of his murders are accidents.

Will Alex survive long enough to sort all of this out or will she become the next victim?

Q. What will e-readers like about your book?

This is a book that doesn't simply entertain, but educates, without preaching, about the status of animals in our society today. It may leave the reader thinking what can I personally do to improve the situation for animals? The book is also very entertaining with at least six serial killings.

Q. Why did you go indie?

I have been writing for about thirty years, but never had the courage to submit anything? When I decided that I would try submissions I read a lot of horror stories. There were tales about a never-ending process, very little financial reward. Most authors would have to do all of their own promoting, and even trying to get self-published could leave you with a hefty bill. Then I read Joe Konrath's blog. At the end of June I published on Kindle.

Who are your favorite writers?

Old favorites are: like James Rollins, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Tess Gerritsen, Patricia Cornwell, Karen Slaughter, Jessica Speart, Nevada Barr, David Morrell, Lee Child, Nicholas Evans and many more.

New authors are: Ellen O' Connell, J.A. Konrath though he has been published by a dead tree publisher, A.J. Lath, D.A. Boulter, D.B. Henson, Mary McDonald, Jeff Heppel , Vicki Tyley

See it at Amazon

Friday, July 23, 2010

Daniel Arenson-- Firefly island


Daniel Arenson sold his first short story in 1998. Since then, dozens of his stories and poems have appeared in various magazines, among them Flesh & Blood, Chizine, and Orson Scott Card's Strong Verse. Firefly Island, first published in hardcover in 2007, is his first novel.


Q: What will e-readers like about your book?

A: Firefly Island is an epic fantasy. Readers who love fantasy adventure -- tales full of swordplay, revenge, battles, and a bit of romance -- will enjoy Firefly Island.


Q: Why did you go indie?

A: Firefly Island was published with a traditional publisher back in 2007 and released in hardcover. I went indie last April and uploaded Firefly Island to the Kindle store, iBookstore, and Smashwords. Since I now focus on ebooks, going indie just made sense. I feel comfortable uploading the novel myself and having full control over the whole process. I love being indie!


Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

A: Roger Zelazny, J. R. R. Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, Guy Gavriel Kay, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Mike Resnick, and many others.



My book in the Kindle store: http://www.amazon.com/Firefly-Island-ebook/dp/B003FGXLHU
My book at Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/12299

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Alpha Rising - G.L. Douglas


G.L. Douglas lives near Cape Canaveral where a lifelong interest in space, and shuttle launches visible from her front yard inspired Alpha Rising.

Alpha Rising: May 25, 2020. NASA dispatches Commander "Bach" Turner on a perilous mission to find four astronauts lost beyond Earth's solar system. Minutes after rescue, the edge of a lethal, swirling cloud of galactic plasma draws the earthship deeper into space and deposits it on a strange planet.

Bach's troubles multiply when his crewmates are abducted by an evil army of Rooks—Rulers of other kingdoms. His rescue by Altemus Rider, the patriarch of a clan of geniuses, and the old man's daughter Star, lands Bach in a beleaguered future world where he delves into alien technology with a single-minded goal: find his crewmates and return to Earth.

In this unstable zone of space, time is running out on all life forms, children are missing, few can be trusted, and Bach's DNA is of particular interest to one alien. When he learns of a tunnel of light on a distant mount he cautiously ventures in. There, the Creator delivers the first of several instructions: search this weird, inverted galaxy for those with a sacred icon and allow them passage aboard your spacecraft.

After a race against time and the enemy, through lands of future and past with Star at his side, Bach's harrowing, prophetic journey takes an unthinkable turn when deep space rumbles a forewarning--and he realizes he didn't get the Creator's final instruction.


What will readers like about your book? - The return to classic, old-school adventure, and combination of reality, fiction and intriguing allusions written between the lines. Thoughts will be racing: Could these things possibly happen? Have they happened in the past? Are they happening now?



Why did you go Indie? I queried for a while, but wanted Alpha Rising in the marketplace while the scientific data, speculative views, and unique story line were hot. I'm getting great reviews—and comparisons to the works of C.S. Lewis.



Who are your favorite authors? – I like stories that play on a child's imagination and an adult's conscience. The works of C.S. Lewis, and cassics like, The Little Prince, Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, Lord of the Flies.



Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Rising-G-L-Douglas/dp/0595411002
Website: http://www.alpharising.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alpha-Rising/110495335666472

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

H.P. Mallory-- Fire Burn & Cauldron Bubble


A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead. A dangerously handsome warlock torn between being her boss and her would-be lover. A six hundred year old English vampire with his own agenda; one that includes an appetite for witches. The Underworld in a state of chaos. Let the games begin.

Life isn’t bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn’t have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend.

Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she’s a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost’s demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life!

Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand.


Q: What will e-readers like about your book?

Readers will like the fact that my book will keep them guessing the entire time. It's definitely a unique urban fantasy. It also is much lighter than most urban fantasies--it incorporates humor, romance and, oh yeah, still has lots of butt kicking!

Q: Why did you go indie?
My road to indieship was a long one! I started writing about two years ago and sent out queries on my first book, Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble. I was lucky enough (or thought I was) to land my dream NY agent. After a few months it was like she fell off the face of the earth and I never heard from her again. Then I decided to take my career into my own hands and decided indie was the way to go. I just uploaded both my books to Amazon and Smashwords about two weeks ago and I think it's one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
I love Charlaine Harris and Laurell K. Hamilton's early stuff. Really like the strong heroine who isn't waiting around for her knight in shining armor.

You can find me on the web at:
website: www.urbanfantasynovels.com
blog: www.urbanfantasyauthor.blogspot.com
My Space: www.myspace.com/hpmallory:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hpmallory
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Hp-Mallory/10000124964376

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Debbi Mack-- Five Uneasy Pieces


Debbi Mack is the author of hardboiled mystery IDENTITY CRISIS, the first Sam McRae novel and winner of the 2009 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll for Best Mystery Novel. Her short stories have appeared in two of the CHESAPEAKE CRIMES anthologies and The Back Alley Webzine, where her Derringer nominated short story, "The Right to Remain Silent," was first published.

Q: What will e-readers like about your book?

The anthology consists of stories that I hope will not only entertain, but surprise readers with twists, unusual situations and even humor. For what it's worth, the stories are arranged roughly in the order I wrote them, so to an extent they reflect my development as a writer. In that way, I would hope each is better than the last.

Q: Why did you go indie?

Short story anthologies don't tend to be highly marketable to traditional publishers. And, let's face it, who's going to buy one from an unknown indie author? I think the market for short fiction is underdeveloped. You hear so much about people's diminishing attention spans, so it seems logical that short fiction should be an easy sell. Given the growing popularity of ebooks, I figured it made sense to release FIVE UNEASY PIECES on my own as an ebook.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

I got the idea for the first story, "Deadly Detour," while reading Dashiell Hammett's "Continental Op" short stories, so he was an influence. I've also particularly enjoyed some of the Akashic Books Noir Series of anthologies. Another collection I particularly liked was A HELL OF A WOMAN, the anthology of female noir. Among my favorite short story writers in the crime fiction genre are Loren Estelman, Donna Moore, Christa Faust and Ken Bruen. A totally random selection, but generally representative of my preferences.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Five-Uneasy-Pieces-ebook/dp/B003URRSQE

Monday, July 19, 2010

Daphne Coleridge-- The Artist's Model


Daphne Coleridge: I am a great lover of Art and have a number of artist friends - I have even posed (fully clothed!), so perhaps it was inevitable that my first Romance would be about artists and their painting. Although I have engaged in postgraduate law studies - an element which creeps ever so slightly into my book - I am mostly to be found in bluebell woods and corn fields with an easel, painting alla prima.



The Artist's Model: Tom Laurence knew that he had it all. A successful lawyer, he is set to marry his childhood sweetheart and come into his inheritance. Feeling increasingly as if some important element is missing from his life, he returns to his old passion, painting, in the hope that he will feel more fulfilled. Instead, new conflicts arise when he encounters the beautiful but elusive model Elizabeth in the months before his wedding, and he finds himself torn between duty and desire.

Elizabeth abandoned her own art studies to marry. Events in her past left her traumatised, but not for the reasons that most people assume. Carrying a sense of guilt and struggling to bring up her son, Elizabeth has dismissed the idea of ever having another relationship.

Although neither can ignore their growing attraction, Elizabeth realises that a relationship between them could tear Tom’s life apart and hurt those closest to him. Could an unexpected turn of events offer the possibility of a happy ending?

What will e-readers like about your book?

The Artist's Model is a light, gently amusing and stylish romance which should appeal to those who want a book to provide a pleasant distraction to a busy life. The astute reader may also pick up hints on how to paint a successful oil painting!

Why did you go indie?
I went Indie - because I like the freedom of writing and producing my books without having to conform to a publisher's notion of what is "commercial".

Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
My favorite romance author is without doubt Jane Austin, because of her shrewd and witty observation of human nature and the fact that she always has a happy ending.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Model-ebook/dp/B003NX6Z00/ref=pd_ys_iyr1

Friday, July 16, 2010

S.D. Best-- The Magic Flute


Steven Best works in corporate IT by day, but by night he is an author. After picking up a few business degrees from Texas Tech University and wondering what to do with his life, Steven began trying to flesh out old half-written notes and drawings into a writing career. Having grown up reading the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, R.A. Salvatore, Robert Jordan, and C.S. Lewis it was only natural that fantasy be his genre of choice, although he has plans and notes for sci-fi, horror, and even western novels. By the time of his first daughter's birth last year he had written the early drafts of the first two novels of his Tales from the Green series. He stumbled across Amazon's Digital Text Platform at the beginning of 2010 while looking for a way to get his work onto the market and has since jumped into the world of self-publishing. Steven does all his own editing, cover art, and promotion for now, but plans to one day pursue traditional publishing for his current and future novels. You can find him around the web at various writing forums under the name Greenkeeper.


The Magic Flute: For a young boy named Alex Samuels, suburban life is a meaningless waste of time. Wake up, go to school, get kicked off the baseball team, beat the latest videogame, repeat as necessary. As he nears his thirteenth birthday his apathy knows no bounds. Things had been different when he had been a child, though. Back then he had believed in magic.

Fueled by his grandpa's fairy tales of his own supposed adventures in a magical world known as the Green, Alex had once believed he too could be a hero. That is until well-meaning parents had quashed his dreams with a harsh dose of reality. He long ago gave up on believing in stories of dragons and elves and magic swords; too bad they never gave up on him! When his grandpa gave him the old wooden flute for his birthday it became one more piece of junk in his closet. That is, until, real life monsters from out of the old stories come to visit. Now, swept away by the magical song of the flute Alex finds himself in the Green, a wild land in which humans are a myth long forgotten. Join him as he rediscovers friendship, heroism, and the magic of his childhood that was once lost.

Q: What will e-readers like about your book?

A: The Magic Flute is epic fantasy that is fun and lighthearted. It is a tale of adventure overlaying the main character's true quest to rediscover the magic and wonder he once knew as a young child. Though I market it as young adult I believe that there is something here for all ages.

Q: Why did you go indie?


A: I love the freedom and speed with which I can get my work to the readers as an independent author. I still have plans on shopping the Tales from the Green series around to agents and publishers, but not until the series in complete. I hated the thought of my first two books going unread on my harddrive while I finished the last one, though. By putting them online I am getting valuable feedback which will surely assist me in the long run.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

A: I have been heavily influenced by C.S. Lewis, not only his fantasy stories but his essays on writing. I am also a huge fan of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, and lately I have been devouring Glen Cook's Chronicles of the Black Company. Of course, what kind of fantasy author would I be if I didn't cite Tolkien as a major influence?


Links:
TftG Book One: The Magic Flute on Amazon

Smashwords Author Page

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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Sibel Hodge-- The Fashion Police


Sibel Hodge has dual British/Turkish Cypriot nationality, dividing her time between Hertfordshire and North Cyprus. She is a qualified personal trainer, sports and massage therapist, and writes freelance feature articles on health, fitness, and various lifetyle subjects. Prior to this, she also worked for Hertfordshire Constabulary for ten years. Her first novel was Fourteen Days Later.


The Fashion Police is her second novel and is the first in a series featuring feisty, larger-than-life insurance investigator, Amber Fox. It is a screwball comedy-mystery, combining murder and mayhem with romance and chick-lit. Written in a similar style to Janet Evanovich, The Fashion Police is Stephanie Plum meets Bridget Jones.


The Fashion Police: Amber Fox has been making too many mistakes lately and something’s got to give…

For starters, Amber accidentally shoots Chief Inspector Janice Skipper and gets thrown off the police force. The only one who knows the truth about the incident is Amber, but no one will believe her.

After accepting a job as an insurance investigator from her ex-fiancé, Brad Beckett, it turns out that Brad thinks they’ve still got unfinished business and the job description includes sexual favours that come with a price.

When fashion designer, Umberto Fandango, goes missing, Amber becomes embroiled in a complicated case. But Amber’s arch-enemy, Chief Inspector Skipper, is also investigating his disappearance, and it’s a race against time for Amber to solve the mystery before Skipper does and get her old job back. And just when Amber thinks things can’t get any worse, she’s being stalked by some crazy mobsters.

Who is Umberto Fandango? Is he dead? And can Amber stay one step ahead and stay alive?



Q: What will e-readers like about your book?
The Romantic Novelists' Association described it as "A witty well-paced romp, full of energy and with plenty of satisfying twists and turns." I'm hoping that's exactly what readers will enjoy.

Q: Why did you go indie?
I've come close to being traditionally published several times, but it never quite worked out. Most publishers will only take on new authors if they think it will be the next blockbuster, especially with the current global recession. The ebook revolution has started to turn traditional publishing upside down, meaning that the many fantastic indie authors out there who haven't been able to get a traditional publishing deal can now get their novels out there. One of the best things about being indie published is that you have total control over your projects.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
Janet Evanovich, Marian keyes, Sophie Kinsella, Harlan Coben, Lee Child...there are so many.

Links: Ebook and print available at www.sibelhodge.com

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Stephen James Price-- Pages of Promises


Stephen James Price was born and raised in New York , but has lived in the deep south (or within a two hour drive of it) for more than half of his life. Although he claims to be northern by birth and southern by choice, he has never said “ya’ll” and even finds it difficult to write.

He currently lives in central Arkansas in a haunted house on “The Hill,” the Price family compound. His hobbies include reading, writing, photography and telling “Grandpa’s Lies.”


Q: What will readers like about your book?

This is a collection of short stories that covers everything from dark fantasy to coming-of-age stories, from humorous tales, to my own little twists on your favorite monsters. I like to think this collection has something for everyone. It has been professionally edited and formatted and has a cover that was created by one of the best cover men in the industry.

Q: Why did you go indie?


With the changes that we're seeing in the publishing industry and the rapid growth of e-readers, I felt it would be ridiculous to do it any other way. Mainstream publishers aren't attacking the e-reader market as aggressively as many of the indie authors. I consider myself lucky to be at the forefront of this exploding paradigm shift in book publishing.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

Not to be too cliche, but Stephen King, Bentley Little, Scott Nicholson, Brian Keene, Douglas Clegg and dozens of other dark fiction (read horror) have all influenced me greatly.


Pages of Promises at Amazon:
or Smashwords.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Jessica Billings-- The Girl Born of Smoke


Jessica Billings is currently going to school in Michigan, but will always consider herself an Oregonian. She likes photographing
bugs and majored in biology and education at Oregon State. She is now pursuing a master's degree in environmental engineering. She learned to scuba dive when she was 14, but refuses to dive into the frigid waters of Michigan.


The Girl Born of Smoke:
Aurora never asked to be a born a wizard. If she was only normal, her family would still be alive, she never would have fled her home, and there wouldn't be a war being fought in her name. And the visions...maybe those would be gone too. Instead, she's haunted by the memory of her sister and suspects she may be losing her mind.

With two opposing armies searching for her, Aurora is determined not to tell anyone her secret or use her magic. She finds this resolve tested when her best friend is mistakenly identified as the wizard and kidnapped. In her struggle to rescue him, she finds evidence the two armies may be connected, controlled by a single individual with his own agenda. With loved ones on both sides of the war, she is forced to decide who she can trust as she tries to stop the fighting. But, can she even trust her own sanity?

What will e-readers like about your book?
I have fun intertwining science with fantasy and I enjoy a good plot twist or two. I refuse to let my characters fall into "good" and "evil" roles, so readers have to decide for themselves who the good and bad guys are. Most people find that those definitions are constantly changing throughout the book.

Why did you go indie?
I liked the idea of being completely in charge of my book! I submitted query letters to a few agents, but almost all the responses simply said that in this economy, they weren't accepting any new authors. Fair enough, but I wanted to get published, so I went Indie.

Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
When I was younger, I loved Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and after I met them at a booksigning, it made me even more determined to eventually publish my own book. Nowadays, I enjoy Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, and Ursula Le Guin a lot. I am currently obsessed with the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins!

At Amazon

Monday, July 12, 2010

Debra L. Martin-- The Quest for Nobility



Like most authors, Debra L. Martin has a day job, but her first love is writing. Her passion for writing started when she was in high school. Her English teacher had a knack for inspiring his students to think outside the box to create stories that would draw the reader into your world. She has been writing stories for enjoyment for years and completed her first novel in 1990.

It wasn’t until 2006 that she began writing science fiction/fantasy with her co-author, David W Small. Together they have completed two novels in the “Rule of Otharia” series and numerous novellas. Writing with a co-author is challenging especially when they live on opposite coasts. Coordinating time and work efforts is difficult, but with email, Instant Messenger and Skype, they are able to enjoy a successful partnership.

“The Quest for Nobility”: The idyllic life of royal teenagers, Darius and Dyla Telkur, from the planet Otharia takes a horrifying turn when their parents are murdered. With their cousin appointed as Regent until Darius comes of age, it doesn’t take the twins long to figure out that he’s bent on stealing their throne one way or another. To escape their cousin’s wrath, they flee to the only safe place they know where no one will find them – the forbidden and quarantined planet Earth.

Safe on Earth for the moment, the only way for them to return home is to find an ancient 10K traveling crystal left behind by their Otharian ancestors who visited Earth 1500 years ago. Enlisting the help of a London university archeologist, they begin their search for the crystal from clues buried deep within the Arthurian lore of Merlin and Lady of the Lake. What they find instead is evidence of a secret trade pact between Otharia and Earth that was established centuries ago. Before Darius and Dyla can understand what it means, they’re in jeopardy again; this time pursued by those on Earth who want the secret to remain hidden. Who is behind the trade pact and what is being traded are the questions the twins need to figure out while trying to stay one step ahead of the Earth assassins.
Time is running out for the royal pair. They must find the traveling crystal and open a portal home soon before their cousin is crowned the next Duke of Telkur and their lives are forfeited.

Q: What will your readers like about your work?
I think readers will enjoy our novels because my co-author and I create fast moving action-packed stories. We strive to keep the reader turning the pages through tension, challenges and the conflicts our characters face.

Q: Why did you go indie?

It was very discouraging hearing from a number of agents that they liked our book and thought it had commercial potential, but they just didn’t love it enough to offer representation. When Amazon offered the chance for authors to self-publish their works, it was the perfect solution for us.

Q: Who are your favorite writers?

Patrick Rothfuss, Brent Weeks, Peter Brett and Joe Abercrombie.

You can find the book on Amazon
and on Smashwords.
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Friday, July 9, 2010

Christa Polkinhorn-- Love of a Stone Mason


Christa Polkinhorn, originally from Switzerland, lives and works as writer and translator in Santa Monica, California. She divides her time between the United States and Switzerland and has strong ties to both countries. She has a degree in English with a minor in German and French literature. Her poems have appeared in various poetry magazines. She is the author of Path of Fire, a collection of poems published by Finishing Line Press. Love of a Stonemason is her first novel.


Love of a Stonemason
: Love of a Stonemason is a story about the struggle of two artists with their past, their family, their creativity, and their love for each other. Told from the point of view of Karla, it depicts the world through her painter’s sensibility. It takes the reader on a journey full of sights, smells, tastes, and sounds from the south of Switzerland to Italy and the Peruvian Andes.


1) What about your book might appeal to readers?

Love of a Stonemason is a story of love, art, and relationships with a global appeal. It takes place in three different countries and on two continents with diverse cultural backgrounds. The core of the novel, however, is love in its many forms: passion, compassion, and forgiveness. It’s a rich tapestry of sensuous details and intense feelings. The language is accessible and vivid.



2) Why did you go indie?

I sent out about twenty queries, trying to find an agent. That’s not many, I know. The general response was “bad economy, we prefer to stick with our established authors, not for us, etc. etc.” - or no answer at all. Then I found authors who went into self-publishing. I came across websites such as Smashwords and Amazon Kindle. Since I have some background in computers, I wanted to play around with formatting an ebook, and before I knew it, I was all excited. I am in the process of creating a paperback copy for Amazon’s CreateSpace.

The biggest problem about self-publishing is, of course, distribution and getting your book noticed. Since my only other full-size publication is a small volume of poetry, I am practically an unknown author. I am working on a second novel, so perhaps, with time, more readers will find me. Self-publishing is an experiment for me. Struggling to find an audience can be a challenge and can get you down occasionally. But so can trying to find an agent or a publisher. All in all, I haven’t regretted the path I chose. I love the fact of having control of all aspects of my book. I have my own business as a freelance translator and I like to be independent and do things my own way.



3) Who are your favorite writers?

That’s a difficult question. I am an avid reader and I read across all genres and books as diverse as Harry Potter and James Joyce (his early works) as well as Swiss, German, French, Swedish and Spanish authors. Here are a few of my favorite authors, but that’s just a minute sample. I love Joanne Harris, Olaf Olafsson, Ann Patchett, Gabriel García Márquez, Audrey Niffenegger, Orhan Pamuk, Scott Nicholson (he also edited my novel), Donna Leon, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Martin Suter, Urs Widmer, Milena Moser, Alex Capus, Max Frisch, . . . and many more.



Links:
Web site: http://www.christa-polkinhorn.com
Blog: http://christa-polkinhorn.blogspot.com/
My Author's Page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003LA7T8W
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/cpolkinhorn

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Thursday, July 8, 2010

David H. Burton--The Second Coming


David H. Burton: Indie author, adoptive father of 3 boys, manager of chaos, science and technology geek, person of the queer persuasion, and purveyor of sacrilege.


The Second Coming: Five hundred years have passed since the Earth shifted on its axis - a catastrophic event that wiped out civilization and released the powers of the dead back to Earth. With technology long abandoned, a dark age has shrouded our world once more. Travel to a future of blood sacrifice, demons, witchcraft, and an immoral God that has returned to reclaim his former dominion.



Q: What will e-readers like about your book?

I think that it’s a fresh take on old fantasy elements and it keeps the reader guessing. The line between good and evil is quite blurred in this. It also ties in some ancient myths that will engage even those readers that tend not to read fantasy.

Q: Why did you go indie?
My agent and I sub’d this book last year to major publishers. The most common comment we heard, despite the fact that the majority of editors really enjoyed the writing, was that they thought the book “too risky” or that their impression was that there wouldn’t be a market for it. Also, a number of houses were starting to turn their attention to a more “urban fantasy” market.

Since my book seems to cross genres (paranormal/fantasy/horror) and had no relation to urban fantasy, it didn’t seem to be the right fit. So we came to the self-publishing decision together as a strategy to show there’s a solid readership for the work.



Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

Easily Robert Jordan, Weis & Hickman, Terry Brooks, Tolkien, and George R.R. Martin.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Kipp Poe Speicher--Closing My Eyes Helps Me To See Clearly



Kipp Poe Speicher: I have lived in Ohio all my life I am an indie filmmaker and author trying to share my weird and crazy stories with the world.A Nightmare vision of the end of the world


Strange, poetic and beautiful,
This is a fascinating and poetic story, short but multilayered. It can't really be described in terms of having a plot. It is more of a series of images strung together in a stream of consciousness narrative. Not perfect, but captivating, and leaves you thinking about what it means for a long time afterward. The beautiful imagery creates a powerful impact. Highly recommend for lovers of thoughtful, experimental prose.

Q: What will your readers like about your work?
I have a strong visual way of thinking, looking at things a bit differently than others do and I try to present that in my writing. Shining a light into the dark areas that others over look.
Q: Why did you go indie?
What a great question, the time is perfect to jump in and find your voice before with the publishing world doing something different was never given a chance. Now with the tools of social networking and eBooks you can find your audience. Also being an indie filmmaker I have went through the hardships of raising a budget to tell your story, but now we can tell are stories at no cost but our time to write and promote.
Q: Who are your favorite writers?
Since getting my Kindle I have found to love reading again and it is full of books I have been reading Brando Fords books I really like his style, Lee Child, Karen McQuestion, Joe Konrath, and really enjoying the Bizarro scene right now.

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Closing-Eyes-Helps-Clearly-ebook/dp/B003RISOO6/ref=pd_ybh_5?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1PXEYHVHXPC03DXF4MZ5


Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/16596

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Jess C. Scott--The Devilin Fey




Jess C. Scottis an author/artist/non-conformist, and is an English/Business senior at Adams State College. She doesn't like labels but the MBTI is fascinating; according to that, she's an INFJ.

Jess’s literary work has appeared in a diverse range of publications, such as Word Riot, ITCH Magazine, and The Battered Suitcase. She is currently working on a “seven deadly sins” series (and two other urban fantasy projects, including a draft for her first full-length novel featuring an incubus/succubus).

THE DEVILIN FEY:

A novella of two stories, featuring an incubus and succubus.

Story #1 features a demure young woman unleashing the “devil in” her, through the intimacy with an incubus. Story #2 features a voyeuristic succubus driven by jealousy and a dangerous fixation.

The Devilin Fey features in the short story collection, 4:Play, and is approximately 33,000 words long.

What about your book might appeal to readers?

It's fresh, edgy, and contemporary. In one reviewer’s words: “I loved how well the fantasy elements mixed in with the modern world...I loved that both the male and female version of this creature got their own stories." Another reader calls me "edgy, impressive, and mildly scary" (which I take as a compliment!).

Why did you go indie?

A literary agency told me (regarding a multiple-genre-crossing short story collection): “As a writer, you will certainly go places. As an agency, we are not quite the right match to represent you, as much as I enjoyed your work. Your scope and style are fresh and interesting. Keep writing. You are sure to find the right niche with the right editor. We wish you the best of luck.”

Putting my work (mainstream and alternative) out there beats sitting around waiting for something to happen.

I love the speed + efficiency of indie publishing. It suits the way I work just fine.

Who are your favorite writers?

Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde, D. H. Lawrence, Anais Nin, Roald Dahl, Vladimir Nabokov, Ryokan (Japanese Zen Poet), Shakespeare.

From Jess:

I am currently seeking Amazon reviews for The Devilin Fey, and am providing a FREE review copy to folks who'd like to read/review the book. More info on my website.

TDF on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ODIWZU/
Email: missfeyATgmailDOTcom

Friday, July 2, 2010

Susan Fleet-- Absolution


Susan Fleet : My life revolves around Music and Mayhem! Music was my first love. I began playing trumpet at eight, joined the musicians’ union at fifteen, and later studied with two Boston Symphony trumpeters. My print-journalist father taught me how to play pool at the local police station. Playing the Ringling Brothers Circus, Broadway shows, operas and symphonies yielded lots of ideas for offbeat characters, as did the students and faculty I met while teaching at Brown University, Wheaton College and Berklee College of Music.

The mayhem began when I took a course at Emerson College and fell in love with fiction writing. In 2001, I moved to New Orleans to focus on writing thrillers. But the music didn’t stop. You can hear samples of my solo CD, Baroque Treasures for Trumpet and Organ, on my website, and read my biographies of fabulous female instrumentalists. Lil Hardin Armstrong is currently featured. In 2010, I moved back to Massachusetts and live in a suburb of Boston.

ABSOLUTION: A twisted killer preys on young women in New Orleans, where everyone has something to hide. Some of the darkest secrets reside in a parish church. NOPD Detective Frank Renzi must battle racial tension and religious controversy to catch the killer before he murders another woman and gives her his twisted version of ABSOLUTION.
“Relentless tempo . . . sharp writing.” -- Kirkus Discoveries
“Creole-flavored suspense!”-- The Sun Chronicle

Q: What will e-readers like about your book?
The heart-pounding thrills and chills, of course. But I believe many women read books like mine as a way to manage their fears. They read newspapers and watch TV. Too many women are being murdered. Some of the killers go free. In my books, the bad guy always gets his in the end.
Q: Why did you go indie?
The publishing business model needs to change. Most agents will only take on a new novelist if they think the book will be a blockbuster. I believed in my book and decided to let the readers decide. Not only did it get some good reviews, the Premier Book Awards named ABSOLUTION Best Mystery-Suspense-Thriller of 2009, and Arts Journal called it A Killer Thriller.
Q: Who are your favorite authors?
Lisa Gardner, Michael Connolly, John Lutz, John Sandford, Patricia Cornwell. Elmore Leonard writes terrific crime capers; Thomas Perry’s Nightlife is terrific, and The Strangler, by William Landay is creepy!