Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Kindle Giveaway Tour here on Sept. 5

Free Kindles and e-books? What could be better?
The Kindle Giveaway Blog Tour will be stopping here on Sept. 5. Simply comment within one week of the post in order to be eligible for a Kindle DX. You can also enter for a Kindle 3 by subscribing to the Scott's Inner Circle tour newsletter. Be eligible for the Pandora's Box of free e-books (now 71 and growing) by following "hauntedcomputer" on Twitter.

Spread the word. The bigger it gets, the more there is to win!







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Monday, August 30, 2010

Joel Arnold-- Northwoods Deep


Joel Arnold's work has appeared in over sixty publications, with work accepted by venues ranging from Weird Tales and Cemetery Dance, to Amercian Road Magazine and Cat Fancy. Many of his short stories are available as free podcasts at Pseudopod.org, and all of his short story collections, as well as his novels Death Rhythm and Northwoods Deep, have been made available as e-books. He recently received a 2010 MN Artist Initiative Grant, which provided him with funds for the travel and research needed to complete his next novel.

Northwoods Deep
Bakadewin: The Ojibwe word for hunger.
Bakadewin: an ancient evil guarded by an old man in a mosquito-ridden forest.

Five children and their adult chaperone set off on a hike along the Mesaba River. All vanish without a trace except for one, too traumatized to speak. Local Ojibwe claim the Maymaygwayshi - mischievous spirits who live in the rocks along the river - stole the children.

Six years later, Carol and Brenda Gunderson embark on a canoe trip on the same river. When their canoe capsizes, they discover a cabin in the woods occupied by an old man hiding a terrible secret.

Augustus Meyer has become complacent as the guardian of an ancient evil that resides below his cabin. In a cavern piled high with the bones of its victims, it feeds off the souls of the living and rewards Meyer with mind-blowing hallucinations.

Carol's ex-husband Mitch has been secretly following her, and will stop at nothing to possess her once again. Their brother Jack searches for them while battling his own demons. Allen Gunderson reluctantly accompanies his son in an attempt to stop the remnants of his family from falling apart.

All of them merge in the deep north woods at Meyer's cabin, brought together by a calculating evil whose hunger grows as it seeks out a new guardian.

What will e-readers like about your book? Northwoods Deep is as much of a family drama as it is a horror novel. It also involves different levels of horror – there’s the more obvious visceral horror of Bakadewin and its keeper, but there’s also the horror of loss; of both family and control of oneself. And let’s not forget about my favorite stalker, Mitch, who keeps the Gunderson sisters on their toes!

Why did you go indie?
I’ve read a lot of positive things about the indies, and right now, the positives seem to outweigh the negatives by quite a bit. It’s been fun being in charge of all aspects of my output, from overseeing cover design (which my wonderful wife does) to pricing to formatting. The community of indie authors has been wonderful, too. Plus, how can you read J.A. Konrath’s blog and not get all starry-eyed about the indie scene?

Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
Although this is probably the most boring and clichéd answer possible, I have to give it up for Stephen King. He got me hooked on horror ever since I read The Shining back in the 8th grade. That was about twenty-seven plus/minus years ago, and I’m still a big fan. Also, my parents not only encouraged my love of reading, they also got me a subscription to Twilight Zone Magazine when I was fifteen. There was always great fiction in there. There are so many other wonderful horror authors out there now, too, like Norman Partridge, Dan Simmons, James Moore, Joe Hill, some guy named Scott Nicholson…I could go on and on.

Northwoods Deep on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UHVXCE
Northwoods Deep on Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18433
Joel’s blog: http://joelarnold.livejournal.com

Friday, August 27, 2010

Mike Jastrzebski-- The Storm Killer


In September of 2003 my wife, Mary, and I moved aboard our 36-foot Sailboat, Rough Draft. It was our intention to take the boat south from Minnesota to warmer climates where I would write a novel.
 
We sailed the boat through the inland river system from Minnesota to Mobile, Alabama where we lived for two years. We also spent three months living in Key West. Currently, the boat is docked in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In 2011 we will take the boat to the Caribbean where we plan to drift until it is no longer fun.

In the time we've lived on the boat I have completed three mystery novels. It was my intention to find an agent and a publisher. After careful consideration I have decided to publish these books as e-books. The first book, The Storm Killer, is a historical thriller and is now available. Key Lime Blues, set in current day Key West, will be available shortly. 

The Storm Killer is a historical thriller set in 1935 New York City and Key West. When Newspaperman Jim Locke's sister is murdered he quickly becomes the focus of the investigation. Despite the help of an ex-bootlegger gone legit, an old girlfriend turned lawyer, and a young singer looking for a break, things go from bad to worse when the only cop who believes he’s innocent, is murdered.

Jim's own investigation leads him to Key West, a meeting with Ernest Hemingway, and a final confrontation with the killer.

Q: What will e-readers like about your book?
The Storm Killer is a fast paced thriller with a noir flavor.

Q: Why did you go Indie?
I’m planning to take my boat on a 2-3 year cruise next year and this route seemed to offer me the most freedom.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

Dennis Lehane, Michael Connelly, Randy Wayne White

Web: www.mikejastrzebski.com
Blog: www.writeonthewater.com

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Ron Ruthfield-- The Capital Underground



Ron Ruthfield has brought his own unique perspective to The Capital Underground, having lived in South Florida during the days when the use of marijuana and cocaine became recreational and permanent habits. During Miami's Cocaine Cowboy era of the 1970s and 1980s, he saw up-close and quite personally how the drug trade became the necessary evil that made South Florida an economic powerhouse and a major player in the world's economy.
His time as a television reporter in South Florida, and a newsman for the nation's leading wire service in other southern states, gives him a particularly incisive view of the rapid growth of drug smuggling, America's prison system, and international money-laundering. Mr. Ruthfield has developed contacts on both sides of the law, including those who reaped enormous financial benefits, those who wished they had, and those who hunted them.
Mr. Ruthfield is also a former advertising and public relations executive, and brings his personal and professional experiences to a wide audience of readers. He and his wife make their home in Boone, North Carolina.

The Capital Underground: Twenty years after his disappearance into the U.S. Federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC), Aristotle Einshtein Hirsch is summoned – coerced might be a better word – by a Presidential Task Force to emerge from his covert but safe status. Ari’s already complicated world is suddenly turned upside down when he is faced with making a painful choice: participate in a monumental case involving national security, or risk his very own freedom. It would include a whirlwind investigation and international trial that might lead to the discovery of a potentially gigantic cache of riches in one of the world’s most secret and sophisticated tax havens.
His choice could also shed more light on the deception and casualties of America’s forty-year War on Drugs, enormous government avarice, and the assault on the nation’s most precious legal documents – the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Ari knows his life might come to an end, similar to the way it might have been extinguished two decades prior in a thunderous explosion by someone placing a bomb in his car. Innate intelligence, knowledge of underground activities, and personal and professional experiences would be the factors in helping him make the most conflicted decision he would ever face.
The stories in this book are based on true events. And they’re unprecedented. They mark the first time these kinds of chronicles are revealed by a skillful and unique former Internal Revenue Service Special Agent, attorney and CPA. The episodes stretch from the Florida Keys to the Black Hills of South Dakota; from the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia; from the halls of justice to the grounds of executive power in Washington, DC. And they involve major policing and judicial agencies, assassins, and even royalty.
The Capital Underground is a glimpse of the chilling life of Ari Hirsch, who at sixty-nine remains incognito somewhere in America.

Q. What will e-readers like about your book?
I believe readers will enjoy the back-and-forth chronology that links together the complete story of Ari Hirsch’s life, and how he managed to defend his personal safety from the underworld and U.S. government operatives who wanted to put him in prison and destroy his life. Readers will be treated to a colorful, somewhat sardonic narrative, and will get an incisive view of the impact of illicit drug trafficking, WITSEC, and money laundering.

Q. Why did you go indie?
The paradigm shift taking place in the book and publishing industry led me to believe that unless you’re already an author with a large following, it would become an unending process to get the book placed with a publisher, either directly or via an agent. Neither did I want to give away my rights to my own creative efforts. With downloads and low-cost printing alternatives, it makes a lot of sense to take an easier road to get author recognition and sell your product. Marketing a book today is much easier taking the indie route than trying to beat an outdated business model that old-line publishers still use. And it’s especially effective on downloadable platforms supported by Amazon, Smashwords, Scribd, Lulu, and a host of other sites.

Q. Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
James Patterson is the king of story-telling, at least in my book. But I also thoroughly enjoy Lisa Scottoline, Scott Turow, John Grisham, and Dean Koontz.


Amazon, Smashwords

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Phillip Thomas Duck-- Excuse Me, Miss


Phillip Thomas Duck is the author of several traditionally published adult and young adult novels. Excuse Me, Miss is his first e-book. He resides in New Jersey.

Temptation plus opportunity equals trouble…

How well do you trust your partner?

“Fidelity anthropologist,” sexy decoy to most, Victoria Frost will discover the answers you seek…

The night it all begins to change for Victoria Frost is no different than most. She spends it seducing another woman’s husband. Handsome, charming, intelligent, any woman would be attracted to Benjamin Kingston. Victoria eases up beside him and lingers there like too much perfume. And that quickly, his wife is forgotten. The ensuing conversation is an erotically-charged game of cat and mouse. Where will it lead? In EXCUSE ME, MISS hurtling events and richly drawn characters collide in a sexy story of betrayal, the desire for loyalty, and the consequences of unfaithfulness. One woman’s determination to uncover the truth for badly broken wives instead unleashes a host of personal dilemmas, and in the end the truths she discovers are mostly about herself.

Q: What will e-readers like about your book?
First and foremost, Victoria Frost's narrative voice. She's intelligent and haunted enough to be an interesting conduit for the story of a sexy decoy working for a private investigation firm. And I think the story premise is one that many can relate to. And it doesn't have to be an issue "at home" for people to understand the issue of infidelity and all of the angst that it causes. Whether it's our governors hiking the Appalachian trails or some singer getting caught by TMZ on a beach in Miami with someone other than his wife, we've gotten to a point where infidelity is front and center.

Q: Why did you go indie?
I looked at going indie as another opportunity to have my work available to readers. I've certainly had my ups and downs working with traditional publishers, and I in fact have some traditional releases still on the table, but it was refreshing to take on this project myself and to have the ultimate say in how it is presented. It's my plan to continue in both realms, the indie and traditional world, but if the traditional opportunities ever dry up I know that I'm capable of putting together a project from the ground up. In fact I believe tthe "packaging" of this project is better than most of my traditionally published work.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
I'm not sure my work fits into a neat genre category. It generally includes elements of romance and suspense, but doesn't land squarely in either of those categories. That said, some of my favorite authors are: James Lee Burke, Walter Mosley, Jonathan Kellerman, Eric Jerome Dickey....and on and on. I could fill up a notebook with names of authors I've been inspired and challenged by. I consider myself a writer second but a reader first.

http://www.ExcuseMeMissPTD.blogspot.com

http://www.amazon.com/Excuse-Me-Miss-ebook/dp/B003UYUVVG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1279675336&sr=8-1

http://www.facebook.com/ExcuseMeMissPTD

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Stacey Wallace Benefiel-- Glimpse


Stacey Wallace Benefiel lives in an orange house in Beaverton, OR with her husband and their two children. Glimpse is her debut novel. The next novel in the Zellie Wells trilogy, Glimmer, will be available in November 2010.

Zellie Wells has a devastating crush on Avery Adams, the son of her mom’s high school sweetheart. At her sixteenth birthday party, held in the basement of her dad’s church, she finally finds the courage to talk to him. Turns out, the devastating crush is mutual. As Avery takes her hand and leads her out onto the makeshift dance floor, Zellie is overwhelmed by her first vision of his death; shocking because not only are they both covered in his blood, but they’re old, like 35, and she is pregnant. Afraid to tell anyone about the vision, (she’d just be labeled a freaky black magic witch, right?) Zellie keeps the knowledge of Avery’s future to herself and tries to act like any other teenager in love. When they get caught on their way to a secret rendezvous by her mom and his dad, they are forbidden to see each other.

Convinced that their parents are freaking out unnecessarily, Avery and Zellie vow to be together no matter what. They continue their relationship in secret until Zellie learns that their parents are just trying to prevent her and Avery from suffering like they did. The visions are hereditary, they’re dangerous, and if they stay together the visions will come true. Now Zellie must choose between severing all ties with Avery, like her mom did to prevent his father’s death, and finding a way to change Avery’s future.


Q: What will e-readers like about your book?
If you are a fan of YA paranormal romance, you'll enjoy this story. It is a quick read, most people finish it in one sitting. Also, Glimpse is priced at $1.99, so it is inexpensive to try me out and see if you like my writing style.

Q: Why did you go indie?

After trying to get an agent for over a year and getting back rejections with notes, I decided to publish on Smashwords and Amazon. The experience has been amazing! It was more important to me that people had access to my work than it was to be traditionally published. I actually feel relief over never having to write another query letter again. Also, my sister who is an art professor, designs my covers for me-they're way better than any cover art a publisher could provide
.
Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

I really like Amanda Hocking for paranormal/fantasy YA, Jess C. Scott for YA, and Zoe Winters and Tarrant Smith for paranormal romance. Those are the indies. The traditionally published authors I like are Richelle Mead who writes the Vampire Academy series and Lillith Saintcrow who writes the Strange Angels series-although it kills me to have to wait for their books to be released on Kindle and then have to pay $10.99 for them.

My links:
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Glimpse-Zellie-Wells-Book-ebook/dp/B003IKMOTE/ref=kinw_dp_ke?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/13612
Website: http://staceywb.webs.com
Blog: http://staceywallacebenefiel.wordpress.com

Monday, August 23, 2010

Tonya Plank-- Swallow


Tonya Plank worked for many years as a criminal appeals attorney
in New York. A former competitive ballroom dancer and a longtime
balletomane, she writes the dance blog, Swan Lake Samba Girl. Swallow,
her first novel, won the gold medal for women's fiction in the 2010
Living Now Book Awards and the gold medal for best regional fiction
set in the Northeast in the 2010 IPPY Awards and was a finalist in the
ForeWord Book of the Year Awards and the National Indie Excellence
Awards.

Swallow is about a shy, young Manhattan lawyer
from a small-town, working-class background, who is stricken with
psychosomatic condition, Globus Hystericus, which makes it difficult
for her to eat, speak, and sometimes even breathe. At times comical
but ultimately serious, the novel centers on class privilege, gender
equity and the distance that can separate fathers and daughters.

What will e-readers like about your book?
Well, there haven't been
many books about Globus Hystericus, so I think they will learn
something new. And, the protagonist is a criminal defense attorney so
they'll also get a view of the New York criminal justice system. I
tried to write about serious things in a comical way so the book
didn't get too weighed down, so hopefully they'll be entertained as
well.

Who are your favorite authors in your genre? Janelle Brown, Amy Sohn,
Elaine Dundy, Jennifer Belle, and Helen Fielding.

Link toAmazon page:

Friday, August 20, 2010

John Fitch V-Turning Back the Clock


Born in the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in 1977, John Fitch's love of fantasy began 11 years later when he was handed J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Hobbit. His passion for writing began in 1993, as a sophomore in high school, when he began to write sports for his local newspaper, the Sentinel & Enterprise. Since then, he has written for several Massachusetts newspapers, including the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester and the Southbridge Evening News in Southbridge. He has since returned to where it all started, as he came back to the Sentinel in April 2008. He also strings for the Springfield Republican and Turley Publications.

Among his literary influences include the king of fantasy, Tolkien, as well as R.A. Salvatore. In addition, Fitch enjoys Steven Savile, Vince Flynn, J.K. Rowling, Jim C. Hines, David Forbes, John Grisham, and Brad Meltzer novels, as well as classic storytellers C.S. Lewis, Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and William Shakespeare. Star Wars novels fill an entire bookcase in his office.

It was Salvatore, the acclaimed fantasy author, who convinced Fitch to pen the manuscript that became Obloeron: The Quest For The Chalice in December 2001. He began writing Quest over a year later, in January 2003, finishing the first draft in February 2005.

John Fitch V is a pseudonym chosen in honor of the late Robert Cormier, a native son of Leominster, Massachusetts. Cormier, when writing for the Sentinel & Enterprise of Fitchburg, wrote under the pseudonym of John Fitch IV.


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

Turning Back The Clock is a book about two Red Sox fans who want to take down the Yankee Empire. What baseball fan outside of New York DOESN'T want to see this?

Q: Why did you go indie?

Good question. I like having the control over the pricing, the formatting. Everything is on my shoulders.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

For fantasy, I have to like Tolkien. R.A. Salvatore is HUGE to me. Jim C. Hines is witty. David Forbes is very talented; love his world-building. And you can't go wrong with Terry Brooks or Robert Jordan.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Turning-Back-The-Clock-ebook/dp/B002UUT3VK
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/8266

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Robert J. Duperre-- The Fall: The Rift Book 1


Robert J. Duperre is a lover of all fiction, horror in particular, who lives in Connecticut with his wonderful wife, children, and one-eyed dog. His goal as a writer is to create works that blend genres and transport the reader into worlds much like their own. The Fall, the first of a four-book series, is his initial foray into publishing.


The Rift Book: An ancient evil, trapped in the ruins of a lost Mayan temple for centuries, has been unleashed. It takes the form of a deadly virus, one that causes violent insanity in the living and the recently departed to rise and walk. It spreads around the globe, throwing the world into chaos and war.

As it progresses, those in the States who find themselves far away from the epicenter watch it unfold with unbelieving eyes. From Washington D.C. to Dover, New Hampshire, regular people are hurled into an existence outside their control, left to deal with catastrophic situations that they find themselves unprepared to handle. Life becomes a nightmare, and that nightmare is spreading.

First time author Robert J. Duperre presents this scenario with The Fall: The Rift Book I, the first of a four-part series. In this book, he throws his characters into a gambit; when the alternatives are life or death, self-preservation or the protection of others, what path will they choose? Is there a darkness that resides in everyone, from every walk of life, that is screaming for release? When society falls apart and we are left to our own devices, will we make the right decisions, or let the tide take us where it may? There is horror, there is death, there are the walking dead, and all around are choices.

The novel is fully illustrated by Jesse David Young, whose drawings capture the intense feel of the events happening within. There are twenty illustrations in all, as well as the cover art he provided. These add to the reading experience and help to throw you, the reader, head-first into the world they have created.


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

I think folks will appreciate the scope and feel of the novel. It is dark and frightening, but it's about real people. These are folks we've known, hung out with, and even shared a drink. I'd like to think that when we see them struggle, when we observe in our mind's eye the horrors they're faced with, we have no choice but to sympathize and ask ourselves, what would I do?

Also, the illustrations that Jesse Young provided are rocking, and they add a lot to the text.

Q: Why did you go indie?

I'm thirty-five years old. I stopped writing for a long time in my twenties, when my life felt empty, and by the time I picked it back up again, I was almost thirty. When I finished this set of novels three years ago, I submitted a round of queries to agents. The response times took forever, if they came at all. So I came to the conclusion that the best way for me to succeed as a writer was to publish the book myself, build a readership, and hope that the attention I gain will catch the eyes of publishers down the road.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

I've always been a huge fan of Clive Barker - his worlds-within-worlds are both fascinating and addicting to me. But I've never been one to stick to one genre. As a matter of fact, I'm beginning to stretch my horizons by reading indie authors almost exclusively. I've read some gems lately, by the likes of Jason Letts, John Fitch, Dawn McCullough-White and Daniel Arenson. They're all over the place as far as genre goes, from science fiction to fantasy to young adult. But they're all talented, and they're all worth the read.


At Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Fall-Rift-Book-ebook/dp/B003OQUNEA
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Valmore Daniels-- An Old-fashioned Folk Tale


In true nomadic spirit, Valmore Daniels has lived on the coasts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans, and dozens of points in between. An insatiable thirst for new experiences has led him to work in several fields, including legal research, elderly care, oil & gas administration, web design, government service, human resources, and retail business management. His enthusiasm for travel is only surpassed by his passion for telling tall tales.

An Old-Fashioned Folk Tale:

Everybody knows that fairies, mermaid, elves, giants, dwarves and dragons are merely figments of their imagination … but they are very real, and they are in trouble!

A darkness has settled across the Five Sundered Lands - an evil Sorceress has found one of the five ancient artifacts, and is using that power to enslave every mythical creature in the Lands. It is up to Leif, a young human boy dying of cancer, to overcome his illness and become the hero who will find the remaining lost artifacts. With a band of unlikely friends, Leif must overcome impossible obstacles, solve unsolvable puzzles, and travel through treacherous new worlds in his quest to defeat the Sorceress and reunite the Lands.

What will e-readers like about your book?

In my debut novel, I use a fantasy setting to explore various themes such as courage, loyalty, betrayal, overcoming disabilities, and how to deal with growing up, while at the same time delivering a highly entertaining journey back to our the imaginary worlds of our childhood. Written primarily for the young adult audience, An Old-Fashioned Folk Tale can be enjoyed by fantasy-lovers of all ages.


Why did you go indie?


After more than a dozen "rave" rejections from publishers (they tell me the market for YA Fantasy is too tough right now) I realized I had to take matters into my own hands. I stumbled upon JA Konrath's blog and did a few months of research, and now my debut novel is available on Amazon and Smashwords (as well as half a dozen other online stores) and is doing better than I had expected.

Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
Some direct inspiration for this novel is L Frank Baum, C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, Neil Gaiman, and even Clive Barker (The Thief of Always).

You can find the novel at the following sites:

Amazon

Smashwords

Monday, August 16, 2010

Brian Rathbone-- Call of the Herald


Brian Rathbone is a former horse trainer turned fantasy author who lives in the mountains of western North Carolina with his wife and some seriously spoiled cats.


Call of the Herald - Book One of The Dawning of Power trilogy

Echoes of the ancients' power are distant memories, tattered and faded by the passage of eons, but that is about to change. A new dawn has arrived. Latent abilities, harbored in mankind's deepest fibers, wait to be unleashed. Ancient evils awaken, and old fears ignite the fires of war.

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

This is a fantasy adventure suitable for young adult and up.

Q: Why did you go indie?

I wanted the opportunity to build an audience through innovative publishing methods and channels.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?


David Eddings, Terry Brooks, Margaret Weiss, Tracy Hickman

Links:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/2940011060342/

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/16142

http://brianrathbone.com
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Friday, August 13, 2010

Harry Shannon- Daemon


In Harry Shannon's Daemon, Black Ops specialist agrees to assist his ex-wife, who is guarding a Latino rap star. She is killed during the concert, and Jeff soon discovers that someone-or something-has broken into the morgue to eat from her corpse. Harry Shannon's "Daemon" is a genre-bending romp through Iraq, Las Vegas and the desert beyond as a squad of private bodyguards moves in hot pursuit of a killer who can leap from body to body by the exchange of fluids. Lots of Special Ops stuff, forensics, many creepy moments, loads of black humor as well as a splash of blood and guts. The Award winning "Daemon
Book Trailer" by 'Dead and gone' director Yossi Sasson is posted on YouTube.


Q: What will e-readers like about your book?
"Daemon" is a rapid-fire horror/thriller featuring a Black Ops team, beautiful women and a creature that reanimates corpses. It is set mostly in Sin City or the desert just beyond. What's not to like? It's a wild ride, the kind of book I love to read, and the second half is flat-out greased lightning. I had a lot of fun writing it, which is a good sign, and both readers and reviewers responded well when it was first released in hardcover and trade paperback. I love that it's getting a second life as an e-book.

Q: Why did you go indie?
I was fortunate enough to hang on to the e-book rights to almost all of my novels. I'd love to take credit for prescience, but things just worked out that way. Now that the books are selling so well, I'm probably going to publish the fourth Mick Callahan novel on my own. It just makes sense. Fortunately, most readers, like writers, are also loyal fans. If your book is affordable, and they hear about it, they'll buy it. And I do love the Wild West feel of the industry these days, it's as exciting as music was back in the 1960's. There's so much going on and no one knows exactly how it will all shake down.


Q: Who are your favorite authors in mystery, suspense, thriller, and horror genres?

Well, most of the authors I love cross those boundaries without blinking an eye. And any honest list would be a long one. But to name just a few, I have everything written by James Lee Burke, Thomas Harris, most of John D. MacDonald's 70 plus novels, likewise Cormac McCarthy, all of Michael Connelly, all of John Connolly, all of Robert Crais, most or all of T. Jefferson Parker, Gregg Hurwitz, Ken Bruen. Robert Heinlein. In horror, like most of us, I was most heavily influenced by Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King. Anyone who says they weren't is clearly lying.

At Amazon

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

James Stanson/ Jamie Hershing--Minifiction Volume One: Marouflage


James Stanson lives and writes in Vienna, Austria. He is currently working on his first novel, as well as a second volume of minifiction with Jamie Hershing. He has worked in the boreal forests of the Canadian north, served in a foreign army, and claims to have a rudimentary knowledge of things past – as evidenced by a piece of a paper from an accredited university.

Jamie Hershing also lives and writes in Vienna, Austria. Apart from working on a second volume of minifiction with James Stanson, Hershing dabbles in journalism. He claims to have produced the first European academic study on Latin American minificción – a probable fallacy that he will nevertheless repeat until proven otherwise. He is currently conducting doctoral research on the same topic.


Minifiction Volume One: Marouflage contains 90 carefully crafted stories and fictions that open up 90 new worlds in less than a page each. Each piece explores the limits of conventional story telling, the extremes of parody and the absurdity of fictional advice. It is the short short form like nothing you have read before.


What will e-readers like about your book?

The unexpected twists and turns on each page. The shifts in style and language, in structure and subject matter. The fact that you can read a story or two riding the subway in the morning half asleep, or on your smoke break, or while you wait for those tedious afternoon meetings (and during the meeting too if you can pull it off).


Why did you go indie?
We had an agent who, despite her valiant efforts, was informed by the major publishers that minifiction was unclassifiable and therefore unmarketable, and that maybe minificition was ‘just’ something for the Facebook generation. Well, we hope so!


Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
Aside from the Latin American pioneers of the short short form (Borges, Cortázar, Monterroso) and a dead Greek named Aesop, we would have to include: wikipedia articles, billboards, and the CNN news ticker.


Minifiction Volume One: Marouflage

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Derek Prior-- The Resurrection of Deacon Shader


Derek Prior read Drama, Classics and History at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He studied Mental Health Nursing at the University of Sussex and read Theological Studies at the University of Notre Dame, Western Australia. He is the founder of the online discussion community Mysticism Unbound. He works as a Personal Trainer and author.

The Resurrection of Deacon Shader: “Plague strikes at the heart of Sarum and flesh-eating mawgs have been seen in the sewers.
As Governor Gen struggles to save the populace, the Abbey of Pardes is attacked by an army of undead and a piece of the legendary Sun Stone is stolen from the Grey Abbot. The holy knight, Deacon Shader, is sent to the plague-city to retrieve it, but he is a man with conflicts of his own, and a destiny that will test his faith to the limits.
If Shader should fail, the Sun Stone will fall into the hands of a being from the mists of pre-history who will harness its power to unweave all of Creation. “

Q: What will e-readers like about your book?
The Resurrection of Deacon Shader is a fantasy epic in the tradition of David Gemmell & R.E. Howard. It features memorable characters, sword and sorcery action and themes of suffering and redemption.


Q: Why did you go indie?

Independent publishing offered me total creative freedom to tell stories as I see fit. It’s been more fun than I’d expected. There are great communities of indie writers offering all manner of support and advice; plus I’ve had the chance to work with some fabulous artists and editors.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?
I was brought up on the works of R.E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lin Carter, Michael Moorcock et al and still feel their influence in my writing. I’ve learned a lot from Stephen Donaldson, Joe Abercrombie and Stephen King, but my biggest influence is probably David Gemmell.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Monday, August 9, 2010

Tracy Falbe--Union of Renegades


Tracy Falbe believes that if you are going to go through the trouble of writing a novel it should have magic, love scenes, and definitely sword fights. She is the author of the complete four-part fantasy series The Rys Chronicles that begins with the novel Union of Renegades. Tracy always knew that she wanted to write series fiction and spent six years writing the series. When not writing and editing, she enjoys gardening, baking, and canning because a writer has to get food somehow. Despite her highly domestic hobbies, her fiction tends to pursue lofty themes, military action, and the challenges of epic landscapes. She seeks to make her escapist fun good entertainment for others.

About Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I


This character-rich adventure follows the warrior Dreibrand Veta. He joins the powerful rys Shan, whose race possesses magical powers. The wicked tyranny of the rys Queen Onja disgusts Shan, and he desires to overthrow her. The third renegade is Miranda. After escaping from her abusive slave master, she becomes a crucial player in Shan’s bid for power. To weaken Onja, Shan raises rebellion among her human subjects and gathers allies to his cause. For over two thousand years Onja has ruled, but now, not even fear of her ability to enslave souls will stop her ambitious enemies.

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

Like any first novel of a series, Union of Renegades has to set up a fantasy world, characters, and plot, but I made sure to pack it with action. Something is always going on. I wanted readers to have fun while working toward something bigger. I also think that readers who like gray characters more than gleaming white goody good guys will appreciate my fiction. My main characters aren't exactly innocent people, but they are much better people than the bad guys.

Q: Why did you go indie?

It's hard enough to get one book deal, but try selling four novels when you're an unknown writer. Not going happen. Furthermore, I've always been attracted to business and I felt a natural inclination to build a business around my creative pursuits.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

I fell in love with fantasy the usual way by reading J.R.R. Tolkien although I don't write like him. I also always adored some of the old school writers like Robert E. Howard, Michael Moorcock, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Currently, I find George R.R. Martin to be very impressive. His characters are captivating and the cultures he creates feel very nuanced and real.

Readers interested in epic fantasy can easily sample The Rys Chronicles by downloading the first novel Union of Renegades as a free ebook from her website www.braveluck.com

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Margaret Lake-- Catherine and the Captain


Margaret Lake: I spent my childhood on the beach in New Jersey; a great way to grow up. Notice I only mentioned a summer activity. I was never much for winter which is why I now live in Florida.

Reading has always been my favorite activity. I've been downsizing and have probably donated 5,000 books in the past few years. I still have seven book cases crammed full and probably hundreds on my Kindle. My other passion is history, especially English and Egyptian. I think my interest really began when I read "Catherine" by Anya Seton. When the inspiration came to write my first book, I naturally gravitated to the Wars of the Roses because of that book. My favorite author is Susan Howatch, my favorite book is "Outlander" and my favorite series is Harry Potter. I lead a Harry Potter book club at the elementary school. I'm still waiting for the rescue kitty lady to find me a kitty I can rescue.

Product description:

The King is dead. Long live the King. Catherine Neville has no idea what these events will mean to her. Though of the nobility herself, she lives under the thumb of her cousin, the Duchess of Gloucester, until Captain Kyle Fallon reminds her that she once led a very different life

She fears him as the man who shattered her secure world so many years ago, but her memory of those events may be playing her false.

Captain Fallon does not recognize her as the young girl who changed the course of his life. All he sees is a beautiful woman ensnared by the tyranny of the weak. All he wants is to show Catherine that she doesn't have to give in to her demanding cousin. He didn't count on being ensnared himself by her kind and caring nature.

When the Duchess becomes Queen, Catherine is drawn into a web of political and personal intrigue. Can Fallon rescue Catherine in time or will she throw herself into danger by choosing duty and honor over love.

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

Catherine and the Captain spans the turbulent and controversial reign of Richard III beginning with the death of his brother, Edward IV. The novel is historically accurate including archaeological discoveries revealed just weeks before publication (see Author's Note at the end). Balancing the historical fiction aspect of Catherine and the Captain is the romance between Catherine Neville and Kyle Fallon. These are two mature and responsible people who know nothing about relationships. It takes Gavin and Gael, the younger couple in the novel, to guide them through the rocky road to love. Catherine and the Captain will appeal to both romance readers and historical fiction readers.

Q: Why did you go indie?

I was an indie long before the term came in to general use to describe everything from movies to music and now books. Even if I had been able to secure a contract with a traditional publisher, I would never have been able to deal with their restrictions or dictates about my work. I bought my Kindle before I even thought of publishing my first novel, Ariana's Pride. After joining Kindleboards and posting for six months, a remark by Jeff Hepple put the idea in my mind. With his encouragement I uploaded my book to Amazon. I was stunned by the number of people who not only bought Ariana's Pride, but loved it. That encouraged me to write Catherine and the Captain, and a novelette, Of Love and War. Another historical romance is in the works as well as two more novelettes.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

Anya Seton and Susan Howatch. Not everything Susan Howatch writes is historical fiction, but she is my favorite author.

Link to Amazon

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

A.J. Braithwaite-- The Roman and the Runaway


A. J. Braithwaite is an Englishwoman who now lives in Canada on a small farm where she is striving to be as self-sufficient as possible. She started writing 'The Roman and the Runaway' in 1985 (when she was still at school herself) and finally got around to finishing it in 2009.

The Roman and the Runaway: In with 'the wrong crowd', Luke Brownlow's schoolwork is suffering and his parents take drastic action: banning him from seeing his friends and making him change schools. Luke falls out with
his family completely and escapes by forming an friendship with their neighbour, Ned Kelly.

Luke plans to get expelled from his new school, but has to reassess the situation when he discovers that his new headmaster is the neighbour he has been getting to know over the summer. An antagonistic fellow student and the arrival of a runaway teenage girl make it harder to avoid confrontations with Ned than Luke had hoped. By the end of the school year he is in imminent danger of expulsion and is sure that he has lost the respect of the man he most admires.

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

It's fast-paced and quietly funny, with believable characters and
situations, addressing some real-life issues about teenagers' relationships
with authority figures, family and friends. Plus: no vampires!

Q: Why did you go indie?

I don't have enough free time to spend chasing elusive agents and
publishers. Sharing my story with people has always been my first priority
and the Internet makes that possible to do that with very few hurdles. Going
indie fits in well with my general drive towards self-sufficiency. It's been
a great experience and it's wonderful to get direct feedback from people who
have enjoyed the book.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

Diana Wynne Jones is my all-time favourite children's/YA writer. I like
Terry Pratchett, Eoin Colfer and Megan Whalen Turner, too.

Smashwords link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/4970
Feedbooks link: http://www.feedbooks.com/userbook/10587

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

JM Pierce-- Failing Test


I am just a simple Midwestern man wanting to provide the world with a break from the madness!



You know him, but you can't remember his name. He is the one that is always there, in the background, all but invisible to those roaming the hallways. What if he had a secret? What if it was a secret that even he didn't know?

Test Davis has always been a blur to those around him. He's a shadow like a million other kids--not smart enough for the academic team, not beast enough for the football team, not stuck on himself enough for the drama crowd. In all things Test is just...not, which is why no one ever notices him.

But what happens when someone does notice him-- Nicole Paxton, a cheerleader, no less? What happens on the night that Test finds out there's nothing average about him and that a powerful gift has been hidden within, secretly waiting to be set free and alter his life forever? The question is, will that power save him and those he loves or tear them apart?


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

I wanted to tell a story that most people would be able to relate to on some level. Beyond the fantasy aspect, Failing Test is a very typical Midwestern high school setting. Everyone has either been the low man/woman on the totem pole, been the innocent by-stander, or has even been the bully. I wanted to give the low man his day in the sun, and maybe even make a kid smile while imagining that he himself could be Test in another world.


Q: Why did you go indie?



I sent out query letters for months and ended up with an agent that I was very dissatisfied with so we parted ways. After the “divorce”, I read everything, trying to get points of view from both sides of the fence; independent vs. traditional. Originally, I was one of those people shunning indie publishing; not because of the writing quality, but because I fell into the trap of believing that if you self published, your chances of becoming traditionally published get flushed away. Now, after the many success stories in this community, I can chuckle at how my thought process was skewed. I am so glad that I have taken this route. The independent author community is so generous and supportive of one another, it really makes me proud to be a part of it.

Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?


Most of the indie authors that I know cringe when I say that I really like Stephenie Meyers. Is she the most technically sound writer? No. Does she tell a story that has connected with millions of people spanning all ages and genders? Yes. It is also no secret that I am a big fan of Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame. I feel that he has had a tremendous influence on the world of Fantasy. I am also a big fan of Michael Crichton and Dean Koontz.

Failing Test at Amazon

Monday, August 2, 2010

Dawn McCullough-White-- Cameo the Assassin


Dawn McCullough-White writes mainly dark fantasy and horror. Her novels tend to favor the use of anti-authority anti-heroes as the main characters. 

Product description:

Cameo the Assassin is a dark fantasy set in the pseudo 18th century. In a world of corrupt royals, charming libertines and the supernatural, sometimes the anti-hero is the only hero you can find.


With a foiled revolution dividing the land, the royal family enlist the aid of assassins to keep things in order. The townsfolk entertain themselves regaling in stories of the undead said to walk the graveyards at night. . . and of Cameo the killer with corpse-like eyes.  Scarred and jaded, Cameo is one of the most formidable assassins in the employ of the Association. Moving from one mission to the next, she meets two dashing highwaymen who unwittingly throw in with the dangerous and otherworldly Cameo. But that's where the story really begins...



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

There's a strong female protagonist/anti-hero, who possesses a certain, otherworldliness. The novel is set in a dark, gritty world where very few truly good characters exist, although she happens to befriend one. The book is very character driven and includes vampires, highwaymen and witty banter. The format is clean and it's been professionally edited.



Q: Why did you go indie?

I really hate the “machine” that traditional publishing has become. I don’t want someone to determine whether or not I should be heard and I don’t want someone to tell me what to write. I want to have the freedom of my own creativity that all artists yearn for.



Q: Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

I actually don't read within my own genre.



Cameo the Assassin- http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/16637



Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QCIQ3M