Good News Day!

Welcome to this week's good news...

GIVEAWAYS

Like sci-fi romance? Our very own Dark Sider, Erica Hayes features in this anthology!

Experience love and adventure among the stars in Tales from the SFR Brigade a free digital anthology of eight Science Fiction Romance stories.  Other authors in the anthology include Linnea Sinclair, Marcella Burnard, Liana Brooks, Pippa Jay, Berinn Rae, Amy Laurens, and Kyndra Hatch. It's free on Smashwords right now!

BOOK COVERS & RELEASE DATES

Sourcebooks has released The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk.

Just One Taste Is All It Takes...
This is no ordinary mirror. Caspian caught a hint of color, a whirl of a waltz just past his reflection—a glimpse into the decadent Fairy Court of Annwyn. The home he could never have. It called to him, whispering temptation after temptation...if he could only reclaim his rightful heritage.
To Be Forever Lost...
Caspian has an even stronger reason to stay in the world of humans. He's just met a woman who captivates him like no other. But loving him has proven to be dangerous. And he will do whatever it takes to protect Lydia from the vicious, seductive world of Court—even if doing so requires the ultimate sacrifice: his soul.

"Brilliantly unique, beautifully sensual, The Outcast Prince had me spellbound from the first page! Shona Husk's engaging voice and vivid, creative world-building make every one of her books a must-read!" - Larissa Ione, New York Times bestselling author

Lick by Kylie Scott came out on July 1st with Momentum.

Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.
Evelyn Thomas’s plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure as hell never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hang-over to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.
One this is for certain, being married to rock and roll’s favourite son is sure to be a wild ride.


Sandra Harris's science fiction romance, Alien, Mine was released on 19th June, 2013 from Soul Mate Publishing.

THE BLUTHEN HAVE ONE CONSUMING PASSION: THEMSELVES.
IN THEIR EXPANSION ACROSS THE GALAXY, THEY WILL GO TO ANY LENGTHS TO DOMINATE SPECIES THEY ENCOUNTER.
Torn from modern day Earth and stranded on the far side of the Galaxy, Sandrea Fairbairn must use every particle of courage she possesses to adjust to her new life and live for tomorrow.
Eugen Mhartak, a general in the Tri-Race Alliance Army, refuses to bow to the merciless Bluthen. Haunted by the loss of far too many innocent lives he has vowed to drive the ruthless invaders from Alliance space.
The strength and valor of Eugen Mhartak attracts Sandrea as no man ever has, but she struggles to read the enigmatic general’s heart. Determined to help him triumph over the Bluthen she uncovers a diabolical plot against the Alliance.
Drawn by the courage and exotic beauty of Sandrea, Mhartak battles to overcome the barriers of cross-cultural differences that separate them and claim her ardent interest. He must conquer his deepest fears to be the man she needs. When his principles are betrayed by his own government and he is faced with the impossible prospect of taking Sandrea’s life in order to save his home planet, Mhartak desperately searches for a way to keep safe both his world and the magnificent woman who has stolen his heart.


Lilliana Rose's short story Taking Time, a sweet romance, will be in the beach anthology Came as Me, Left as We published by Alfie Dog. It will be out as an e-book early July 2013.

Travel around the world from diamond mining in Australia to a seaside pier in England and get lost in the magic of 'me' becoming 'we' when strangers meet.
Taking Time: Life is super busy for modern business woman Jenny. She doesn’t have time to stop and smell the roses, but when she does Jenny is rewarded with an unexpected gift.

C.M. Simpson latest book is Short Stories and Poems from 2012 & it was released on Smashwords and at DriveThruFiction on 29th June 2013. It's shortly to become available from Nook, Kobo, Sony and iTunes.

This is a collection of all the short stories C.M. Simpson published and wrote in 2012. Many of these pieces can be found in earlier anthologies or on C.M. Simpson’s blog, but some have not previously been published. Genres range from paranormal urban fantasy to dark fantasy to space opera and comedic science fiction and magic realism. With tales ranging from her earliest years of writing to more recent times, this collection showcases one writer’s exploration of the worlds in her head and outside it.
This collection contains all short stories and poems included in An Anthology of Battle, An Anthology of Dragons, An Anthology of Those Who Walk Among Us, and An Anthology of Worlds, as well as previously unpublished content.

REVIEWS

Book Lovers Inc. gave 4 stars to Shona Husk's The Outcast Prince.

"Husk’s version of fairy is dangerous and fascinating."

Full review here.

OTHER

Imogene Nix's Blood Bride received a mention in the USA Today round up of June releases and it's also an All Romance EBook Best Seller!

 

AUSSIE AUTHOR GIVEAWAY!

The June winner of the box of books & goodies was Lorna Burke (Victoria). Congratulations & happy reading, Lorna! A huge thank you to Rendezvous Romance Books who helped promote and run the giveaway - you girls are awesome!

Enjoy paranormal romance? Fantasy romance? Urban fantasy? Post-apocalyptic romance? Steampunk romance?

Well, 9 Aussie paranormal romance authors have banded together and each have donated books and swag from their latest series to go into the Aussie Author Giveaway - three huge giveaway packages which will be on display at some of the specialty romance bookstores here in Australia.

This month (right through July 2013) the box of authorly-goodness will reside at Rosemary's Romance Bookstore (Queensland).

Next month the third box of giveaway-fun will be with Galaxy Books (Sydney) over August 2013.

All readers have to do is order a book (or books) from these stores in the designated giveaway month - either in person or online. You'll earn one entry per purchase in the Giveaway. The prize winner will be drawn at the end of the month and the Aussie Author Giveaway box of goodies will be posted to you.

NB. Due to postage costs, entry is restricted to Australian readers.

Participating authors: Bec McMaster, Christina Ashcroft, Erica Hayes, Keri Arthur, Kylie Griffin, Kylie Scott, M.J.Scott, Rowena Cory Daniells, Shona Husk.

Good News Day!

Welcome to this week's good news...

A swag and a half of good news this week...

CONTESTS

Carolyn Wren's novella Diplomat’s Daughter (The Protectors Series #1) is a finalist in the inaugural Romance Writers of Australia's Ella Award!

Kylie Griffin's Vengeance Born has won the 2012 Alternate Reality section of the Cover Cafe's cover contest. It was one of one hundred entries in this section! You can see the reader's comments here.

BOOK COVERS & RELEASE DATES

Eleni Konstantine's Snoop, her paranormal noir novelette, will be released 6th December, 2013 with Musa Publishing.
SNOOP's rule of investigating: Never take the paranormal at face value.
Daisy Luck is a SNOOP - Sanctioned Nationalized Officer Of the Paranormal. Her latest case involving a vampire and a gremlin has her private eye senses in a spin. Throw in yummy Detective Maroney and her life couldn't get more complicated - or could it?


Keri Arthur's Darkness Splintered will be released November 5th, 2013 from Signet.

Risa has angered several powerful people, and she’s starting to feel the pressure from all sides. She also finds herself under the scrutiny of the vampire council, some of whom consider her a monster who should be destroyed. But they offer her a bloody bargain: Take on the lethal head of the council and others will support her.
As the search for the keys to hell heats up, Risa realizes that she has no choice. For the sake of the people she loves, she must find the keys—and get rid of Hunter—before the next gate is opened and brings the world closer to all hell breaking loose....


T.F.Walsh's debut release, Cloaked in Fur, comes out in e-book format with Crimson Romance on August 5th, 2013.

 As a moonwulf, Daciana never expected to fall in love with a human. Hell, she never imagined that she’d abandon her pack, endanger everyone around her, and break the worst rule possible. But she did.
A rogue werewolf is killing Daciana’s friends, and she sets on capturing the creature.  She’ll do whatever it takes to stop the beast. The police and her boyfriend, Inspector Connell Lonescu, are starting to question her involvement in the murders, which is endangering the pack’s secret existence. But when the pack alpha kidnaps Connell, revealing the awful truth about the creature and its connection to the pack, Daciana must choose between saving the man she loves and saving her pack family from certain death.


Troll Mist Morning:When Worlds Collide #1 by Carlie Simonsen was released on June 2nd, 2013.

 

Troll-Mist Morning is the story of a teen who goes the extra mile so his mum can feel safe. Early morning starts, and standing around in the mist in the middle of winter, however, are one thing; trolls are another. When magic returns to the world and the trolls come, too, how is Daniel going to get his mum to see sense? Troll-Mist Morning is the first book in the series exploring what happens When Worlds Collide.

The Lies We Tell is Elizabeth Dunk's contemporary romance released on August 1 with Escape Publishing.

Ten years ago, Todd Lansing stood over his father’s grave, his heart thumping out curses on Sia Collins for causing his death. When he returns to Oberon and sees Sia again, his heart thumps with a different emotion, one he fights with all the anger he still feels.
Sia didn’t commit the break-in that ended up killing Mr Lansing, but to admit that would send her father to jail. She has rebuilt her life in the small town, atoned for her accused crime, and carved out a niche using her talent with paint to reach out to the community, raise funds, and support her family.
When Todd finds out the truth, he can’t understand why Sia won’t speak out and clear her name, and it threatens to tear them apart. With her relationship with Todd on the line, will Sia choose loyalty or love?


Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat by Ellie Moonwater was released on 8 June 2013 and is currently available at Smashwords, Kobo, Kindle, iTunes and Nook. It is available as an e-book and print-on-demand paperback.

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat is an erotic romance set in a time when magic has returned to a mundane world, of travelling across the Fields of Time, and of an enemy ruthless enough to betray his brother and attempt to dominate an unsuspecting world. It contains elements of ménage, light bondage and explicit sex scenes set against a backdrop of the modern world and Egyptian myth.


C.M.Simpson's Shadow's Fall:Shadow's series #3 was released on June 1st, 2013.

Shadow’s Fall is the third and final novel in the Shadow series trilogy. This tale contains strong elements of horror, following the path of a small group of heroes who must work together to prevent an ancient evil’s escape.

C.M. Simpson's Magick on the Forest's Edge was released on 8 June 2013 and is available at at Smashwords, Kindle, Kobo, Nook and iTunes.

Magick on the Forest’s Edge is a fantasy short story, where two children investigate a magical alarm, and face the consequences of trying to do the right thing against great odds.

Imogene Nix's The Blood Bride was released from Total-E-Bound this month.

Hope and Xavier must fight for their lives and those of the innocents in a battle for good and evil. But will it be enough?
Hope just wants to be an ordinary nestling. She went to college and escaped, but now she’s back and there’s a secret everyone is keeping from her.
Xavier is the new master of the nest, ready to welcome home the daughter of the house who he has never met. He’s unprepared for the woman who steals his breath and enchants him.
Now Hope and Xavier must fight for their lives and those of the innocents. After all, it is only by overcoming the rogues that they will have a chance of a timeless future together. But will it be in time?

REVIEWS

Lick by Kylie Scott has been receiving some favourable early reviews. The first is a 5/5 rating from Worlds of Wonderment.

"Lick is filled with enough angst, drama and blush inducing scenes that will not disappoint. Lick is a one sitting read that will have glued to the pages and forgetting about everything around you; bodily functions, housework, children and needy pets will fall by the wayside whilst you finish this book. I love the way Kylie tells her stories and can’t wait for book two in this series."

Full review here.

The second is from My Book Chatter who gave it 5 stars:

"For those of you who have read Kylie Scott's other books (Flesh, Skin, Room with a View:Hot DownUnder, Colonist's Wife) you’ll know about her talent for writing snazzy one liners and snarky, tongue in cheek conversations that have you swooning, giggling, and panting with lust. For those of you, who have yet to experience Kylie’s ninja writing skills, prepare for a great ride... Lick is an experience in awesome..."

Full review here.

And Natasha is a Book Junkie gave Lick 4.5 stars:

"... this book goes from being great to becoming awesome. The perfect blend of steamy chemistry between the characters and believable emotional growth, this is a story that will keep you in a constant state of ‘I-need-more-more-more’. More of the delicious love scenes, more of the intensity between the characters, more of the angst."

Full review here.


Imogene Nix received a 4 cup review from Coffee Time Romance for The Plan.

"It makes for intense, hot interactions and proves that love will find a way."

Full review here.










Shona Husk received a review from Tea & Book for The Outcast Prince.

"Shona Husk writes these deliciously dark fairytales... There is just something about her perspective that compels you to like her characters....This book was most excellent.. [she] writes a wicked fantasy...teasing us on one hand and torturing us on the other. In depth, detailed and delightful..."

Full review here.

Darklight On... C.M. Simpson

Today's Darklight On is with CM Simpson. Welcome, CM! 

How did you come to write speculative fiction? What attracted you to the genre?

I’ve always loved to play. I play with words, ideas and the just, plain what-if. So, what if a dark power rises and tries to destroy the pantheon that succeeded his own (the Shadow trilogy)? So, what if we could shrink people so that ants were big enough for them to ride (Corporate Loyalty)? So, what if the dinosaurs didn’t die out and the age of steampunk had taken root in the late 1800s (TBA)? You get the idea.


Please tell us a little about your road to publication.

My first publication was in a library anthology for an annual competition (Dragon Coast – so what if dragons were real and we lived in a corporate society?).

My next dozen or so publications were roleplaying adventures for Wizard of the Coast’s RolePlaying Gamers Association (RPGA).

During that time I published five titles under a romance pen name, and then took a bit of a hiatus over the pregnancy and birth of my youngest child, and stretched it while I changed jobs.

When I went to get back into writing and publishing, the publishing landscape had changed. There were platforms where you could independently publish your work, publishers were behaving badly (and some still are), and contracts were largely no longer the good news they used to be. I spent eight months reading upwards of 150 blog posts a day to see what publishing road might suit me best, and started down the road of independent publishing.

That was almost exactly 12 months ago. Over the last twelve months, I’ve learned to design my own covers, proof read, and edit, and I’ve discovered the value of beta-readers. I’ve tracked my sales and watched them grow to the point that I earn coffee money – from what I can gather, a normal first-year growth pattern for an author publishing under a single name, and not too bad for an author publishing under more.

Last month, I even went back to submitting new short fiction to established magazine markets, prior to independently publishing them as stand-alone titles, but I have a very short list I’m willing to submit work to, because a story not up for sale, is a story that doesn’t have a chance to earn its keep.

I am very contented publishing my work independently. The freedom it gives me to write what I want, when I want to, means I won’t be looking for a traditional publisher soon. A word of warning, though: This is not the path for everyone. Some will prefer trying a different route, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Your latest release will be Shadow’s Fall. Can you tell us a little about it?

Shadow’s Fall is the final book in a trilogy I started writing over twenty years ago. It was completed shortly after I finished university, but I didn’t know what to do with it. Last year, I decided to do an extensive edit and rewrite and release the trilogy into the wild. I also completed a fourth novel, Fisherpriest, set in the same world, and released that, as well.

Essentially, Shadow’s Fall describes the defeat of a god that had been imprisoned, and was on the verge of escaping, but the book also looks at the dynamics of a pantheon, as well as the politics of humans and elves.

What are your latest projects about to be released or have been released?

At this point, my next two novels are a little way off being released. Freeman’s Choice is a science fiction-fantasy blend about a couple’s flight from a slave-owner, and their attempt to reach a legal space that will defend their rights to live as free men. I expect Freeman’s Choice to be released by the end of the year.

The other project is a dark fantasy with the working title of Fisherpriest 2. This one won’t be ready until early next year, and tracks the birth of Linna’s children, both from her enforced encounter with a dragon, and from her human husband. In this book, the parents must defend the youngsters from assassination, and try to discover the source of the threat and defeat it.

Beyond that, I have a number of short stories and two anthologies coming.

Are you a plotter, pantser or somewhere in-between?

I started out a panster, and my first trilogy reflects that. Over time, I’ve become a combination of plotter and pantster. I start by capturing a series concept in a single sentence, and then capture the plot for each novel the same way. After that, I might write a paragraph of plot, check what I know about any continuing characters, and jot down any major decisions I know are going to happen. After that I write, refining the plot into chapters either as I go, or slightly ahead of time.



Do you have a favourite of your characters?

No. I love, or hate, them all. When I’m writing, the characters of the story I’m working on at the time are my favourites… right up until I switch over to the next project.


What are you currently working on?

The short version? As C.M. Simpson, I’m working on:

• Writing the final four short stories for An Anthology of Blades, since pointy objects can create such interesting situations;
• Fisherpriest2, because who can resist baby half dragons;
• Freeman’s Choice, because it needs to be finished, and Freeman’s Daughter wants to be written;
• Releasing more science fiction and fantasy short stories;
• And adding more words to my zombie annual.

What is your favourite part of the process of writing?

I don’t know. I kind of love it all—the writing, the plotting, the slow reveal of characters as I write, the creating of covers, and even the editing and revising. Yeah, I really like all of it.



What can we expect from CM Simpson in the future?

More dark fantasy. More anthologies containing different genres. And some science fiction novels. There are a number of science fiction plots I’m working on, that I just can’t get to yet. I’m really looking forward to playing with those.



Who are your favourite authors?

There really are too many to list, but these are the ones that immediately spring to mind:

• Dick Francis: yes, I know he’s not science fiction or fantasy, but he is a master of the craft and his stories suck me in all the time. Whenever I read his work, I always find myself wanting to write like him when I grow up.
• John Scalzi: science fiction and story, story, story
• Nalini Singh: paranormal romance. She keeps me up past my bedtime;
• Ann Aguirre: awesome space adventure with a dollop of romance;
• Elizabeth Moon: science fiction, great plots and action, and characters;
• Phillip K. Dick: science fiction again; another master of the art. There are a few more authors I read every time they put a book out, but these guys are the main ones – they make my reading world go round… and round and round. I read everything they write, and I buy it, so I can read it more than once.

What are you currently reading?

I’m on a Dick Francis kick at the moment. I’ve started with Dead Cert and I’m going to work my way through them. I’m hoping to find the ten I’m missing before I run out. By the same token, I’m mixing it up with Peter Stiff’s See you in November, Wilbur Smith’s Those in Peril, Jack Higgins' The Iron Tiger and I have a couple of Nalini Singh’s and a Greta van der Rol or three on the side (I’m really looking forward to those.)



Do you have a favourite spec fiction movie or TV series?

I love Firefly, adore Serenity, keep going back to Kirk Douglas’s Soldier, and rarely miss Doctor Who.



What is your best advice for emerging writers?

• Keep writing.
• Write under your own steam and go and find writing challenges like the ones at Chuck Wendig’s Terribleminds blog.
• Have at least two beta readers who will proof your work, critique your plot and your flow.
• Read industry blogs from established writers who know the business and from a range that gives you a number of viewpoints.
• Read books.
• Read your own genre.
• Read other genres.
• Read writers whose work makes you stop and say ‘I want to write like that when I grow up’.
• Tell the story the best you can, THEN try to find a market. Nowadays, if you have work that doesn’t fit, you can independently publish it, just make sure you have it edited the best you can.
• Keep writing. Did I say that already? Well, I’ll say it again.
• KEEP WRITING.
• Start your piece, FINISH your piece. Start the next piece. FINISH the next piece. Best writing advice I ever heard.

 If you’re looking for more advice than this, check out these blogs:

• Dean Wesley Smith: established in both the traditional and independent genre markets;
• The Passive Voice: because this will lead you to other blogs that are relevant and useful;
• KrisWrites: as above, but check out her ‘Business Rusch’ posts especially;
• Terribleminds: relatively new to the genre market, but making a living off his work;
• A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing: biased towards independent publishing, but with good reason – also making a living off his work, and with experience in both independent and traditional publishing;
• Let’s Get Digital: Again, making a living off being independently published and offers advice on different aspects.

There are more, but these are the ones I keep coming back to. I don’t always agree with them, but I listen, check against other opinions, and then make up my own mind. New writers, and old ones, should do the same. Deciding what is best for you at the point of life and career you are at is something only you can do.

CM's bio and links:
I spent the first twenty years of my life living in different parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory. My father was a teacher who liked to travel, so he took teaching appointments in all kinds of places. I don’t think I stayed in one place for more than four years at a stretch. I wrote stories for most of that time, drawing on the different landscapes we encountered and giving a hyper-active imagination somewhere to run. Seeing so many different places gave me a lot of food for thought as I stepped into the world of adulthood and took my first full-time job, and I never stopped writing and exploring the worlds in my head. So far, I have written four collections of short stories and poetry, and a number of novels, with many more to come. I hope you have enjoyed this part of my journey.

You can find me at http://cmsimpson.blogspot.com.au/

And my work at http://cmsimpsonpublishing.blogspot.com.

~~~

Thanks, CM!

Good News Day!

Welcome to this week's good news...

BOOK COVERS & RELEASE DATES

Coming 1st May, 2013 with Escape Publishing is S.E.Gilchrist's futuristic, erotic short story, Awakening the Warriors.

Fran must have been crazy to leave her ordinary, safe life and volunteer as a colonist to terra-form a new earth. Now she is trapped in a prison cell on an alien planet a zillion miles from home and bound for a hideous death in notorious research chambers.
She has one chance of escape: awaken the long dormant sexual urges of the Darkon Warriors shackled in the next cell.
It’s a desperate job, but someone has to do it.

The Shuttle by Imogene Nix is out now as a free read with Red Rose Publishing.

At the end of a mission, Lara only wants to get back to her Mothership and Simon. But when a storm blows up she has to decide what is more important…

The Shoe Salon, also from Imogene Nix, will be released at the end of May 2013 by Red Rose Publishing.

Working in an exclusive shoe salon can be both exciting and irritating. But one day, Lana is faced with a tougher question that what colour shoes and fit would be best. And Manny is there with her, all the way. But just what will she decide? 

Loving Memories by Imogene Nix will be out June 15th, 2013 from Steam E-Reads.

Jenny Douglas has the grim task of returning her friends body to the man she had loved.

Steve Davies is grieving for the woman he lost. The one that left him the little girl, Lola, who he thought of as his own.

The danger remains though and they must work together, quickly, to find out who the killer is. And if a little bit of passion gets in the way, well… it’s not the real thing… or is it?


Tag Man One by C.M.Simpson was released April 24th, 2013.

It's a speculative tween fiction chapter book about a boy, his brother and an experimental jet.

C.M. Simpson's Gods in the Lianreida was also released 24th April, 2013.

It's a fantasy short story about what happens when gods meddle in another's domain.

OTHER

Khloe Wren has a book trailer for Her Guardian Angel: Book One Fire & Snow series. You can view it here. 

Good News Day!

Welcome to this week's good news...

BOOK COVERS & RELEASE DATES

Erica Hayes celebrates the release of Redemption (Berkley Sensation) on 5th March.

Japheth the Tainted is on the hunt for a mysterious demon vampire. But meeting her face-to-face might disarm his warrior spirit—and spark an unquenchable passion with apocalyptic consequences.
As a fallen angel, Japheth is determined to make his way back to heaven by staying pure and slaying hellspawn. With a new scourge of vampires unleashed by a blood-drinking demon, the Prince of Thirst, there’s plenty to be done. But Japheth is after one vampire in particular—the one they call the Angel Slayer.
Rose Harley never wanted to be a vampire, but the Prince of Thirst can turn even the kindest soul into a soldier of hell. Feeling abandoned by God, she stalks the West Village taking revenge on his angels—until she meets her match.
When Japheth and Rose encounter each other, the battle is fierce and charged with desire. But when they discover a common enemy—the Prince of Thirst himself—they form a dangerous alliance that could either cost them their eternal lives, or spark a love more powerful than heaven or hell. 


Luna Exposure is Shona Husk's next release coming out May 10th from Ellora’s Cave.

Bounty hunter Callen wants to capture Noga—a terrorist—both for the money and for revenge. But catching a criminal on the sensual resort of Decadent Moon without giving in to all the destination’s sexual pleasures is harder than it seems.
Haliday is the darling of the media, a socialite known as much for her casual relationships as she is for her charitable donations. No one knows she hunts down criminals.
Lust and ambition clash, and Callen and Haliday will have to find a way to work together, despite the distraction of their passionate bond. To succeed they must trust each other, something neither Callen nor Haliday is willing to do.


Sealed With A Kiss is Eleni Konstantine's upcoming, indie published, paranormal romance short story.

Can a gift from her grandmother protect Lise?
Lise doesn’t believe in vampires. Or so she tells herself. Though, she constantly wears the garnet necklace her grandmother gave her, which wards off the creatures. Andreas, the man she’s attracted to, seems more than a little interested in it. Could there be an ulterior motive?


Betrayed is Christina Phillips new fantasy erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave (Xanadu line), coming out March 30th, 2013.

 

In 51 A.D., Druid priestess Nimue is injured and enslaved by the hated Roman Legions. Even though she is drawn to her captor, she’s determined to escape and complete her mission for the Briton king and her duty to Arianrhod, the goddess she is bound to.
The tough Roman warrior who captures her is far from the brutal barbarian she expects. His touch inflames her desires and passion burns between them. Though Nimue does not accept her enslavement, her heart surrenders to her enemy. When Arianrhod appears to her in the form of an owl, Nimue knows the union is blessed.
Roman warrior Tacitus is enchanted by the fiery beauty who shows no fear and challenges him at every turn. Though enslaving her goes against his heart, he’s determined to make her his. No woman has ever heated his blood as she does. But when he discovers her true nature as one who actually communes with the gods, his loyalties are torn between his heritage and a woman who could destroy everything he’s ever believed in.
Trailer here.


Mel Teshco's Galactic Flame came out with Ellora's Cave (Aeon line) on 20th February, 2013.

Eden isn’t meant to be the alien prince’s intended lifemate, it’s her sister who is the one promised to him. But when Genesis comes to Earth and mistakenly believes Eden is his mate, she knows it’s the perfect opportunity to play the role her sister never wanted.
But Genesis’ alien province is barren, red and isolated. It’s only when Eden steps into the magnificent alien’s arms and is taught unimaginable carnal pleasures that she begins to wonder if she hasn’t filched the most priceless prize of all.


Coming 1st March, 2013 with Escape Publishing is S.E.Gilchrist's futuristic short story, The Portal.

When Janni, a young salvager, boards a space wreck, she is caught for daring to steal Darkon tech by a patroller and the one man she had thought never to see again. Several months ago she had allowed him to slip past her defences for a brief and wonderful interlude. But with both of them on either sides of the law, they had walked away. Now they are trapped on a wreck and with an alien life-force hunting them. Will the patroller save her or abandon Janni to her fate?


C.M.Simpson has self-published A Battle of Minds, a speculative science fiction short story. It released 22 February, 2013. It's available from Smashwords, Kobo, Kindle, Amazon, Nook and Kobo. It will one day be incorporated into An Anthology of Minds.

Danzer is a VR combat star. Unfortunately, somebody wants him dead. Is it a private vendetta from someone he’s defeated, a disgruntled fan, or someone else entirely. Whoever they are, their poetry stinks, but its meaning is clear. Security personnel for the VR games insist on overseeing the match between him and his most dangerous opponent, but no one knows if it will be enough. Will Security succeed in their intervention, or will their efforts result in more than Danzer losing their lives?



Carlie Simonsen (aka C.M. Simpson, Madeleine Torr) has released a number of novels on 17th Febrary, 2013.

All Alone - a tween-teen illustrated fiction. It is currently available from Smashwords, and will shortly become available from Kobo, Kindle, and CreateSpace. 
Jason must look after his little sister Emmie when they find themselves alone in a city, in another country, far from home. Did their parents survive the bomb blast, and can they find them, or will they be stuck growing up in the care of strangers and never see home again?


Dear Tiger (Bk#1 Letters Across Space series) - another teen/young adult non-illustrated fiction
“Dear Tiger, this has been the best day ever… but I lie.”
Simone Michaels is in trouble, but she doesn’t know how deep. Her letters to old friend, Tiger, reveal that her parents are missing, and that she is afraid she’ll go missing, too. When her parents’ employer takes her in, and takes care of her education and living arrangements, she is drawn more deeply into the mystery. Simone keeps her secrets as best she can, including the secret of the mysterious box her parents sent before they disappear, but she is just as afraid of opening it, as she is of the company discovering its existence. Does it contain the only clue to what really happened to her parents, or does it contain her doom?

Legacy of Dreams is a young adult, non-illustrated fiction. It can now be found at Smashwords, Kindle, Kobo, Nook and iTunes.
Tanya knows her parents have been tip-toeing around the problem of keeping a horse she can no longer ride, and whose very name makes her burst into tears. Tanya has only just discovered something that might help things, when she is faced with having to face losing her horse, Copper, altogether. The only question is, whether the family budget can stretch that far. Must she lose the only link left to the life she used to have?

REVIEWS

Bec McMaster's Heart of Iron (London Steampunk #2) received a Seal of Excellence from Fresh Fiction:

"Bec McMaster has a unique way of luring readers in. The worldbuiling is phenomenal, the kind that is only limited by the boundaries of the imagination. McMaster continues to step over that line and creates a vastly unique and utterly vivid world that transports readers into another place. Blending together steampunk elements in a traditional historical setting is the soil in which McMaster uses to grow and bloom wonderful surprises for her readers."

Full review here.

Skin by Kylie Scott gets another 5 star review, this time from Selena-Lost-in-Thought:

"Ros is so pig headed and strong willed that protecting her is almost impossible. Nick matches her pig headedness and strong will tit for tat and has a determination that outshines Ros on any day. He has vowed to protect her at any cost. And earning her trust it the thing that seems most important to him. Basically BUYING her with a van full of food wasn't exactly the best first step in their crazy relationship. (haha) But it was definitely a start!!

I really enjoyed this book, I hope to see more like these for Kylie Scott in the future."

Full review here.

OTHER

The audio version of Eleni Konstantine's Minion (flash fiction story) is now up on AntiSF Radio Show 175.

Good News Day!

Welcome to this week's good news...

SALES

Eleanor Maine made her first paperback sale for Hunters of the Nile. It's an erotic tale of romance set mostly in ancient Egypt.

When Callista wakes up naked after being abducted one evening from Inskip’s Stables, she discovers she is the subject of a modern day, but very secret hunt club. Running for her life, she tries to evade her pursuers by hiding in a cave, but she slips and falls into a strange mist, losing consciousness on the way down. When she returns to consciousness, it is to bright midday sun, barren desert and a hunt of a very different kind. Captured by an Egyptian noble, Callista must adapt to a new land, and a different era. Torn from all she knew, she must also learn if she has to face the future alone.

SHORT STORIES

C.M.Simpson released three short stories last week - The Buried Blade January 17th, 2013. It's a short tale of dark fantasy, and is the first short story included in An Anthology of Blades.

When the grass in one of her uncle's fields starts to die, Amanda tries to work out why, but her uncle only sees stones, where she sees fragments of pottery. In a war as old as time, will Amanda convince her uncle of the truth, and remain unscathed, or will she fall under the control of an old and subtle power?

Old Magic released on January 19th, 2013. It's a short piece of post-apocalyptic survival fiction, and will be appear in An Anthology of Bloodlines.

After disaster and disease wipe out the world as we know it, powers carried by right of ancestry act as a sixth sense for trouble in a ruined city. Can she be the only one to have survived?

The Runaway is a short story in An Anthology of Gods and Older Magic. It's also available as a stand-alone short story at Smashwords, and will soon be available at Kobo, Kindle, iTunes, and Nook.

With fire and otherworldly invaders closing in, a commander takes the time to tell the story of his capture and return to continue the fight. What are the secrets of his past?

BOOK COVERS & RELEASE DATES

A slight adjustment to the cover of Galactic Flame, Bk#3 in Mel Teshco's  sci-fi romance series. The publisher has added the series name to the title (Alien Hunger). No official release date yet.

Eden isn’t meant to be the alien prince’s intended lifemate, it’s her sister who is the one promised to him. But when Genesis comes to Earth and mistakenly believes Eden is his mate, she knows it’s the perfect opportunity to play the role her sister never wanted.
But Genesis’ alien province is barren, red and isolated. It’s only when Eden steps into the magnificent alien’s arms and is taught unimaginable carnal pleasures that she begins to wonder if she hasn’t filched the most priceless prize of all.


Nicole Murphy, writing as Elizabeth Dunk, has her debut contemporary romance, Arranged to Love, coming out February 1 with Escape Publishing.

All her life, Madhuri Singh has been sure she’ll make an arranged marriage with an Indian man. But when the opportunity arrives at the same time a past lover returns to her life, Maddie finds herself torn between her culture and her desire.
All his life, Jack Faulkner has been obsessed with being the one his father chooses to take over the reins of Faulkner Publications. When it seems it’s finally within his grasp, he finds himself face to face with the one woman who can make him forget everything.
What will win out – the dreams they’ve always held for their futures, or the passion that even after seven years apart cannot be contained. Will they remain blinded to the truth – that they will only be happy if they can be together? 

 
Imogene Nix's Blame The Wine goes to pre-order on April 15 and general release May 27, 2013 with Total-E-Bound.

Cara is stuck.  A job going nowhere and a hankering for the sexy gorgeous boss who doesn’t even know she exists.  Fate, in the guise of a temp position arrives… Where will it lead?
Dillon is a geek.  No other word could possibly describe him.  He may be sexy and super brainy, but he’s totally clueless with women and especially the sexy plus size Cara.  But when his PA takes emergency leave before her wedding, the luscious Cara is the best applicant for the position.  It’s an opportunity he can’t pass up.
What will happen when two clueless, wannabe lovers get a little divine intervention?

OTHER

Congratulations to Imogene Nix who was a nominee in the  Senior Cultural Australian of the Year section for a Gayndah region of the North Burnett Regional Council Area Australia Day Award. While she didn't take out the honour, she was recognised for her commitment to the writing community, pay it forward attitude and for being willing to mentor new authors.