Saturday, October 30, 2021

Bring It Back(list) ~ Old Sins, Long Shadows by PG Forte

Posted by: PG Forte

 


OLD SINS, LONG SHADOWS
Children of Night, Book 2
by PG Forte
PNR, vampires, Halloween

Buy Links: https://entangledpublishing.com/books/old-sins-long-shadows


Living forever is hard. Loving forever? Impossible

 Of all the mistakes Conrad Quintano has made, driving Damian away is the one that haunts him the most. He hates the fact that he's hurt the man he loves more than anything. For the sake of the twins, though, Conrad and Damian parent as a united front, a challenge that grows more and more difficult with each passing year. And with Conrad in his weakened state after his kidnapping, it grows more difficult than ever to be around the one man he can't have. 

 But an old enemy's mission to create a dangerous new breed of vampire threatens the twins' lives, and it's now more important than ever that the estranged lovers put the past behind them, or everything they hold dear might be ripped apart.


Here's a Halloween Party excerpt from Old Sins, Long Shadows. I  love the idea of vampires throwing a costume party on Halloween--so much that I put one in the first Children of Night book (In the Dark) as well. 

In fact, now that I think about it, Going Back to Find You features vampires with plans to crash a Halloween party as well. And, who knows? I haven't wrapped the series up yet, there may be more. 

EXCERPT:

As the guest of honor and the son of the house it seemed everyone present was eager to make [Marc's] acquaintance or get to know him better. He was not averse to either. Especially not while faint traces of the unusual power he’d tasted the previous evening still lingered in his system. He was hungry for more and anxious to meet anyone who might help him touch it again—like the woman approaching him now, for example. 
She seemed a likely prospect. Tall and fair, strikingly good-looking, she carried an aura of power that was palpable even from halfway across the room. The crush of people seemed to part before her purely on instinct, opening a path that led her directly to the dais. Directly to Marc. 

He smiled in greeting. “Good evening. Welcome to my party.” 

Your party?” One elegant brow arced higher, two perfectly painted lips pursed into a petulant little moue. “Is it really? Well now, that is a surprise. Is Conrad no longer in residence?” 

“Oh, no, he’s here.” Marc scanned the room without finding him. “Although I’m not sure where he’s gone to, at the moment. I only meant that I’m the one he’s throwing the party for. Me and my sister, that is. I’m Marc, by the way.” He held out his hand. 

Lavender-blue eyes studied him curiously. “Georgia,” the woman replied, giving him her hand after a brief pause. “So, tell me, Marc, what is it you and your sister have done to merit being honored with so elaborate a fête? And on Halloween, of all days. I really can’t imagine what’s come over Conrad, all of a sudden. Why, I recall when the mere suggestion of such a thing would have been enough to enrage him.”

 “Really?” Marc grinned. “We didn’t do anything special. I think it was Damian’s idea. It’s just that today’s our birthday, you see.” 

“Your…birthday?” Georgia stared at him, lips curling into an expression of faint distaste. “Oh, surely not? You can’t mean to tell me someone had the incredibly bad taste to turn you actually on Halloween? Who was it? Not Conrad, I know. I can hardly believe even Damian would be capable of anything so tacky.” 

“Tacky?” Marc looked at her in surprise. 

“Well, clichéd, then. At the very least. I mean to say, vampires? Halloween?” 

Marc shrugged. “I guess I never thought of it that way before. But, that’s still not what I meant. Today’s our actual birthday—the day we were born.” 

“Your actual birthday,” Georgia repeated, the look of distaste growing stronger. “I see. Well, that does make a difference, doesn’t it? And you’ve chosen to celebrate that, have you? My, how very…very…quaint.”

And for more great books that you might have missed the first time around, check out author Allie Ritch's Reunion post, highlighting books from three publishers that, sadly, are no more. Liquid Silver Books, Loose Id, and Samhain. https://allieritch.wordpress.com/2021/10/27/book-reunion/

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

WiP-It Wednesday for October 27, 2021

Posted by: PG Forte

 PG Forte:  My  current WIP is the recently re-titled (yes, again!) novella, Light Up the Night. This is a vampire/fae/werewolf crossover story that will be available December 31 as part of the Shadows and Chaos anthology (pre-order links will be going up later this week). In this excerpt, Heather (a a vampire) has been injured and Brook (daughter of a werewolf and a river nymph) has been kidnapped. The plan to rescue Brook is being discussed by three vampires and a fae:

“Okay, good,” Liz said. “We have a plan. And while you two do that, I’m gonna go and get Marc. I’m sure he’ll want to come too. We’ll meet up with you at the mansion.” 

“You know that you could just call Marc, right?” Drew told her. “On the phone?” He found it ironic that, as the oldest of the three vampires, he was also the only one to consider the more obvious, technological option. 

 “I could,” Liz replied. “Other than the fact that I’ve apparently lost my phone. And I wouldn’t want him to try to call me back, and maybe alert the people who took Brook. Besides, wouldn’t you want to hear about something like this in person, if you were in his shoes?” 

If he were Marc, he’d have wanted to be notified immediately, Drew realized, with a twinge of guilt that he hadn’t already done so. He’d want to come here, immediately, to see for himself that Heather was okay. And he would likely not trust Drew to care for her in his absence. He sighed. “When you talk to him, make sure Marc knows Heather will be safe here—for however long he’s gone. Tell him I’ll care of her in exactly the manner that I know he’d want me to. She’ll come to no further harm—he has my word on it.” 

“You’ll do what?” Aiken gaped at him in surprise. “Of course, she can’t stay here. She’s been badly hurt. I’d assumed you’d already called someone to treat her—no? Well, what are you waiting for? You need to get her to a doctor as soon as possible!” 

 The vampires exchanged perplexed looks. “Dude,” Jason replied at last, speaking for all of them. “We’re vampires. We don’t do doctors.”


Tuesday, October 26, 2021

FREE! Additional Scene From AEQUANA, a Sensuous Fantasy Romance by Linda Mooney

Posted by: Linda Mooney

This month, I'm offering up a free additional scene from AEQUANA, a Sensuous Fantasy Romance!

James Eagletalon may have inherited his father's dark looks, but he's also been gifted with his mother's incredible ability.

On the eve of graduating high school, he's made a determination what to do with his life.  It's now a matter of confronting his parents, and hoping they agree with his decision.

Monday, October 25, 2021

HERE BE NEWS for Monday October 25, 2021

Posted by: PG Forte

 

                            


Monday October 25, 2021 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:




Tuesday October 19, 2021: Deb Bailey explains why Vampires are not just for Halloween and introduces her upcoming release, Worlds of Fire: Blood Red Moon 

https://dbaileycoach.com/brightbooks/worlds-of-fire-series/blood-red-moon/

Thursday October 21, 2021: Maureen Bonatch talks about her upcoming book, Magic, Mimosas and Mistletoe, which was "Born in NaNoWri".

https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Mimosas-Mistletoe-Christmas-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B096PSSPT9/


                             


New!

THE STAR ON THE TIP OF THE MOON
Sensuous Sci-Fi/Apocalyptic Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count:
19.2K
$2.99 e

Astronaut Aldyn Mackie is on his return trip home after serving his stint on a small space station. During that time he and NASA have been following a nebula through space that’s on track to bypass Earth…or it was. Now it’s heading straight for the planet. Set to re-enter the atmosphere in the next hour, NASA gives Aldyn the go ahead, informing him that he should be safe as the nebula will be gone by the time he lands. After all, it’s just a cloud of ions, gases, and dust, right? What could go wrong?

When Aldyn lands it doesn’t take long to realize that something DID happen when the cloud enveloped the Earth. Something bad. The world has been wiped clean of every living thing.  Gone, as if they’d just disappeared. And he soon discovers it’s terrifying being the last man alive.

Trying to plan for a future is nearly impossible with no other humans, no animals for food or companionship, no birds or plants, or even insects. Aldyn knows he will die eventually, if he doesn’t go mad first. But when he catches a few glimpses of a woman in reflections, he begins to question his sanity. Is she real? If she is, who is she, and what is she doing here? He is desperate for human interaction, but if she doesn’t actually exist, his reality, and what’s left of his life, will be miserable at best.

Warning! Contains Chinese food, absolute silence, explosions, the good stuff, desperation, poisoning, desolation, and one man doubting his sanity when presented with a future of love.

Excerpt and Buy Links


CLOCKING OUT

12 Timely Tales of Terror 
by Linda Mooney writing as Gail Smith

Word Count: 24.5K
$2.99 e

Includes: 

1:11 Epistaxis—
Actual vampires don’t need fangs in order to feed. 
2:22 Starlight, Starbright
—An astronaut defies orders not to return to Earth, but he does anyway…with dire consequences. 
3:33 Rescue—
Two detectives go in search of thirteen missing children and the person responsible for their disappearances. 
4:44 Forecast—A bizarre weather phenomenon envelopes a city. 
5:55 Firewood—He was warned about going into the forest to gather firewood. 
6:66 Sniffy—
A young boy grieves for his beloved pet. 
7:77 Fortune—
A teenager is informed he’s going to meet his fate that evening. 
8:88 Karma—An abused woman’s husband gets his just desserts. 
9:99 Second Date—He only dates young women with a unique personality or physical makeup. 
10:10 100 Strokes—To combat her thinning hair, she thought she’d use an old tried-and-true method. 
11:11 Mosquitoes—Her job was to test the blood of mosquitoes for possible signs of infectious diseases. 
 12:12 Protector—He promised he would protect her until his dying day. 

Buy Links:   https://lindamooney.com/ClockingOut.htm



 Just one more week until Halloween! I thought I'd take a look back at my first Halloween-set story, Visions Before Midnight.  This is the seventh book in the Oberon series--which is currently out of print. I will be bringing it back (hopefully soon) and, in the meantime, I do have a short story taken from its pages, Hungry Heart, which is available for a limited time as part of the Revenge is Sweet anthology. I'll post the details below.


VISIONS BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Oberon, Book 7.0

Chay Johnson is a traditional man; and the educator, flute maker, apprentice shaman has a lot of traditions to uphold, especially when it comes to choosing a life mate. ​

 Erin Allridge is a modern woman, with modern ideas about relationships and a painful personal history she has no intention of repeating. 

 When terror and tragedy strike the small town of Oberon, the pair are forced to re-think their visions for the future. 

 In this world of form and spirit it can be hard to find balance and harmony, but sometimes, particularly when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, love can find a way to bridge the gap.

EXCERPT:

The Halloween fair was not much fun on your own, Kate decided, after an hour spent walking around by herself, nibbling at a caramel apple, throwing darts at balloons, and generally being bored out of her gourd. The parking lot looked surprisingly spooky in the twilight, and it smelled of cider and straw and kettle corn. If it wasn’t just all girls and their families, if she had someone to hang with, it might even be kind of fun. 

 But it wasn’t fun like this, and she would have gone home hours ago, but for one, important detail. 

 Mandy had really been looking forward to the fair and, unless she’d made some new friends since this morning, she had to be around here somewhere, and every bit as bored as Kate. Unless she was hanging with Cara and her crowd, that is. But despite her behavior at lunch, Kate didn’t really believe Mandy would go that far––not even to make a stupid point. 

 She completed another circuit and looked at her watch, debating whether she should give up and call for a ride now, or give Mandy another half hour to stop being such a jerk. She couldn’t believe the way her cousin was acting; they hadn’t spoken since lunch. And, given that Mandy was absolutely the stubbornest person on the planet, they might not talk again until Christmas. Which would not be fun, either. 

 “Kate! Good, just the person I was looking for.” Kate almost turned tail and ran when she recognized Olivia Kline bearing down on her, an insanely bright smile on her face. 

 “What did you want me for, Mrs. Kline?” she asked politely, standing her ground, even as all the safety lessons her father had tried so hard to drum into her head came back in a flash– 

 “If a situation feels wrong, it probably is,” her father had always insisted. “You want to go with your instincts about ninety percent of the time.” “

What about the other ten percent?” she’d asked. 

 Her father shrugged. “Sometimes, what you think is instinct is just wishful thinking. You tell yourself things are okay, because that’s how you want it to be. It’s easy to fool yourself into believing everything’s all right when it’s not. So, you gotta learn to think on your feet. Pay attention to your feelings. And always err on the side of caution.” 

 “Is that what you do, Nick?” Scout asked, smiling at her husband from the doorway. 

 It was the first time Kate ever saw her father not return one of Scout’s smiles. “This is a classic case of ‘do as I say, not as I do’,” he told her. “I get paid to take risks, Scout. You don’t. And, neither does Kate.” 

 “If someone is making you uncomfortable, get clear of them,” Nick said, returning his attention to his daughter. “And then stay clear. Don’t get in a car with them. Don’t do them any favors. If you’re in a crowded place, stay where you are; don’t try and go off on your own. Or, worse yet, with them. And, I don’t care who it is, either. Parent, teacher, friend, priest, whatever. It doesn’t matter. They’re all human. They could all turn bad. I’m never gonna get mad at you for being too careful. So, if someone––anyone––wants you to do something you don’t feel comfortable with, just tell them no, and get out of there. Run, if you have to. In fact, don’t even bother saying no. Talking takes too much time. Just go.” 

 “Unless it’s the cops,” Scout said, not exactly smiling this time. “You don’t want to run from them, right?” 

 “Not really envisioning any scenarios that would involve Kate running from the cops,” Nick snapped, frowning at his wife. But, the ironic lift of her brows made him shrug, reluctantly. “But, okay, fine. Since you brought it up, yes, cops do go bad, too, sometimes. But, we’ve got guns, which is another important rule. You can’t outrun a gun, so don’t even try. Not unless you’re absolutely certain your life depends on it. If, God forbid, someone ever pulls a gun on you, you’ll have to look for another way out. But, hopefully, that’ll never happen to you.” 

 “Hopefully, none of it will happen,” Scout said softly. “Not to any of us. And we’ll all live happily ever after.” 

 Her father’s face turned wistful as he nodded, and smiled, somewhat wryly. “That would be nice.” 

This was probably one of those situations her father had been talking about, Kate thought now. But, all the same, she wasn’t going to run. Not yet.

 “I need someone to come with me down to the store rooms,” Olivia Kline said, persuasively. She reached for Kate’s arm. 

 Kate took a step back, and kept a wary eye on the teacher, but she still didn’t run. Mandy would never believe her without proof of some sort. She’d just accuse her of making stuff up, again, and Kate had weeks of that, already. She was tired of it. 

 Olivia frowned. “The drama department has some props stored down there,” she said, stepping closer. “We need to get them. We need to take them to the haunted house, right away.” 

 “Why didn’t they do it earlier?” Kate asked, backing up another step, her mind busily working. And why do it now? The fair was almost over—if they got along without it this long, how badly could they need it? 

 Okay, this is bullshit, she decided, trying desperately to block out the fear that was making her sick. And, going to the basement is a bad, bad idea. On the other hand, if I can find out what she’s really after... 

 “Because they forgot,” Olivia snapped. “That’s all. People forget things, sometimes, don’t they?” 

 Not everyone. Kate could just imagine what her father would have to say about that. He didn’t think he ever forgot anything. But she nodded, as if in agreement. 

 “People make mistakes and then other people have to fix them. And, sometimes, like now, you don’t have time to stop and argue about it. You just have to go and do it. Do you understand me?” 

 “Sure, Mrs. Kline,” Kate answered, nodding dutifully. “I understand.” I understand that you’re a big, fucking whacko. But I’m gonna find out what you’re up to, then I’m gonna come back here and find Mandy and rub her face in it. If it’s the last thing I ever do...

***


HUNGRY HEART
An Oberon Halloween Story

Cara Matthews is trouble--with a capital T. That's one thing that pretty much everyone in Oberon can agree on--parents, teachers, other students, her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Seth Cavanaugh. ​

 Well, if you give a dog a bad name he--or she--will probably live up to it, right? ​

This Halloween, after one insult too many, Cara's hellbent on wreaking revenge--no matter who gets hurt in the process. ​ Now available as part of the Revenge Is Sweet Collection  


REVENGE IS SWEET
A Collection of Halloween Tales

It's the most wonderful time of the year...for revenge. 

 Halloween is a time for tricks, mayhem and murder. This collection of Halloween tales follows the wronged as they seek retribution for the crimes against them. By whatever means necessary. 

 Read the deliciously dark stories from S. K. Gregory, Ashley Brion, R Jaye, N. D. Testa, DJ Shaw, P. G. Forte and Kat Gracey. 

 Grab this limited collection today!

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Bring It t Back(list) Visions Before Midnight By PG Forte

Posted by: PG Forte

 Just one more week until Halloween! I thought I'd take a look back at my first Halloween-set story, Visions Before Midnight.  This is the seventh book in the Oberon series--which is currently out of print. I will be bringing it back (hopefully soon) and, in the meantime, I do have a short story taken from its pages, Hungry Heart, which is available for a limited time as part of the Revenge is Sweet anthology. I'll post the details below.


VISIONS BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Oberon, Book 7.0

Chay Johnson is a traditional man; and the educator, flute maker, apprentice shaman has a lot of traditions to uphold, especially when it comes to choosing a life mate. ​

 Erin Allridge is a modern woman, with modern ideas about relationships and a painful personal history she has no intention of repeating. 

 When terror and tragedy strike the small town of Oberon, the pair are forced to re-think their visions for the future. 

 In this world of form and spirit it can be hard to find balance and harmony, but sometimes, particularly when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, love can find a way to bridge the gap.

EXCERPT:

The Halloween fair was not much fun on your own, Kate decided, after an hour spent walking around by herself, nibbling at a caramel apple, throwing darts at balloons, and generally being bored out of her gourd. The parking lot looked surprisingly spooky in the twilight, and it smelled of cider and straw and kettle corn. If it wasn’t just all girls and their families, if she had someone to hang with, it might even be kind of fun. 

 But it wasn’t fun like this, and she would have gone home hours ago, but for one, important detail. 

 Mandy had really been looking forward to the fair and, unless she’d made some new friends since this morning, she had to be around here somewhere, and every bit as bored as Kate. Unless she was hanging with Cara and her crowd, that is. But despite her behavior at lunch, Kate didn’t really believe Mandy would go that far––not even to make a stupid point. 

 She completed another circuit and looked at her watch, debating whether she should give up and call for a ride now, or give Mandy another half hour to stop being such a jerk. She couldn’t believe the way her cousin was acting; they hadn’t spoken since lunch. And, given that Mandy was absolutely the stubbornest person on the planet, they might not talk again until Christmas. Which would not be fun, either. 

 “Kate! Good, just the person I was looking for.” Kate almost turned tail and ran when she recognized Olivia Kline bearing down on her, an insanely bright smile on her face. 

 “What did you want me for, Mrs. Kline?” she asked politely, standing her ground, even as all the safety lessons her father had tried so hard to drum into her head came back in a flash– 

 “If a situation feels wrong, it probably is,” her father had always insisted. “You want to go with your instincts about ninety percent of the time.” “

What about the other ten percent?” she’d asked. 

 Her father shrugged. “Sometimes, what you think is instinct is just wishful thinking. You tell yourself things are okay, because that’s how you want it to be. It’s easy to fool yourself into believing everything’s all right when it’s not. So, you gotta learn to think on your feet. Pay attention to your feelings. And always err on the side of caution.” 

 “Is that what you do, Nick?” Scout asked, smiling at her husband from the doorway. 

 It was the first time Kate ever saw her father not return one of Scout’s smiles. “This is a classic case of ‘do as I say, not as I do’,” he told her. “I get paid to take risks, Scout. You don’t. And, neither does Kate.” 

 “If someone is making you uncomfortable, get clear of them,” Nick said, returning his attention to his daughter. “And then stay clear. Don’t get in a car with them. Don’t do them any favors. If you’re in a crowded place, stay where you are; don’t try and go off on your own. Or, worse yet, with them. And, I don’t care who it is, either. Parent, teacher, friend, priest, whatever. It doesn’t matter. They’re all human. They could all turn bad. I’m never gonna get mad at you for being too careful. So, if someone––anyone––wants you to do something you don’t feel comfortable with, just tell them no, and get out of there. Run, if you have to. In fact, don’t even bother saying no. Talking takes too much time. Just go.” 

 “Unless it’s the cops,” Scout said, not exactly smiling this time. “You don’t want to run from them, right?” 

 “Not really envisioning any scenarios that would involve Kate running from the cops,” Nick snapped, frowning at his wife. But, the ironic lift of her brows made him shrug, reluctantly. “But, okay, fine. Since you brought it up, yes, cops do go bad, too, sometimes. But, we’ve got guns, which is another important rule. You can’t outrun a gun, so don’t even try. Not unless you’re absolutely certain your life depends on it. If, God forbid, someone ever pulls a gun on you, you’ll have to look for another way out. But, hopefully, that’ll never happen to you.” 

 “Hopefully, none of it will happen,” Scout said softly. “Not to any of us. And we’ll all live happily ever after.” 

 Her father’s face turned wistful as he nodded, and smiled, somewhat wryly. “That would be nice.” 

This was probably one of those situations her father had been talking about, Kate thought now. But, all the same, she wasn’t going to run. Not yet.

 “I need someone to come with me down to the store rooms,” Olivia Kline said, persuasively. She reached for Kate’s arm. 

 Kate took a step back, and kept a wary eye on the teacher, but she still didn’t run. Mandy would never believe her without proof of some sort. She’d just accuse her of making stuff up, again, and Kate had weeks of that, already. She was tired of it. 

 Olivia frowned. “The drama department has some props stored down there,” she said, stepping closer. “We need to get them. We need to take them to the haunted house, right away.” 

 “Why didn’t they do it earlier?” Kate asked, backing up another step, her mind busily working. And why do it now? The fair was almost over—if they got along without it this long, how badly could they need it? 

 Okay, this is bullshit, she decided, trying desperately to block out the fear that was making her sick. And, going to the basement is a bad, bad idea. On the other hand, if I can find out what she’s really after... 

 “Because they forgot,” Olivia snapped. “That’s all. People forget things, sometimes, don’t they?” 

 Not everyone. Kate could just imagine what her father would have to say about that. He didn’t think he ever forgot anything. But she nodded, as if in agreement. 

 “People make mistakes and then other people have to fix them. And, sometimes, like now, you don’t have time to stop and argue about it. You just have to go and do it. Do you understand me?” 

 “Sure, Mrs. Kline,” Kate answered, nodding dutifully. “I understand.” I understand that you’re a big, fucking whacko. But I’m gonna find out what you’re up to, then I’m gonna come back here and find Mandy and rub her face in it. If it’s the last thing I ever do...

***


HUNGRY HEART
An Oberon Halloween Story

Cara Matthews is trouble--with a capital T. That's one thing that pretty much everyone in Oberon can agree on--parents, teachers, other students, her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Seth Cavanaugh. ​

 Well, if you give a dog a bad name he--or she--will probably live up to it, right? ​

This Halloween, after one insult too many, Cara's hellbent on wreaking revenge--no matter who gets hurt in the process. ​ Now available as part of the Revenge Is Sweet Collection  


REVENGE IS SWEET
A Collection of Halloween Tales

It's the most wonderful time of the year...for revenge. 

 Halloween is a time for tricks, mayhem and murder. This collection of Halloween tales follows the wronged as they seek retribution for the crimes against them. By whatever means necessary. 

 Read the deliciously dark stories from S. K. Gregory, Ashley Brion, R Jaye, N. D. Testa, DJ Shaw, P. G. Forte and Kat Gracey. 

 Grab this limited collection today!

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Born in NaNoWri

Posted by: Maureen

 By Maureen Bonatch 


 

It’s almost November so you know what that means? 

Ok, maybe you don’t if you’re thinking about turkeys, and fall turning to winter and the upcoming holiday season and not immediately thinking about NaNoWri like me! 

 November is National Novel Writing Month 


Otherwise known as NaNoWri. I might write all year, but the enthusiasm of everyone participating in NaNoWri in November gives me an extra push to get those words on the page. 

I’ve talked about NaNoWri a lot over the years—whether anyone cared to listen or not 


 You might say I'm a little obsessed with it. Here are a few of my favorite posts: 


 There are many more, I’m sure. 

How Do I Know NaNoWri Works?


                   My daughter and I winning NaNoWri Last Year

I haven’t “won” NaNoWri every year I participated, but I enjoyed it regardless. Although I have “won” (aka: finished a 50k first draft) more years than not. 

For me, NaNoWri inspires me to get those words on the page and prioritize my writing. Many of my books were born in NaNoWri. 

A few NaNoWri book babies have been polished and published—I’ve listed those below. 

  •  Hexes, Highballs & Hockey (2017) 
  •  Not a Chance (2014) 
  •  Grandma Must Die (2013) 

 And now… Magic, Mimosa’s & Mistletoe (2020) 


I thought I wouldn’t win NaNoWri in 2020 I was feeling kind of down with 2020 and the holidays weren’t looking the same with lockdowns and restrictions on visiting with family and friends. 

I had started one story and was struggling with it until I decided to revive my holiday spirit by writing about it.

Magic, Mimosa’s & Mistletoe flowed out of me like water and was such fun to write! I had to do ‘research’ by playing Christmas music and was ‘forced’ to watch holiday movies. It really helped bring back my holiday spirit. Since I write paranormal I made the story a fun mash up of the Halloween and Christmas holidays.


I’ll be introducing Magic, Mimosa’s & Mistletoe to the world on October 31st. 

Here’s a taste! 


 I don’t see dead people, but my dog does. 

Hi, I’m Marissa Hale. When my friend, Grace invites me to visit the Inn she inherited, I’m high-tailing it back to my home state of Pennsylvania. Like most things in life, there are strings attached to her inheritance—and these ones have twinkly lights. The Inn, and the town, are Christmas themed. No witch worth her broom would choose Christmas over Halloween, unless that witch’s bloodline is the magic mainline for keeping the yuletide spirit alive. 

Her aunt’s death was already suspicious, but then we stumble upon a dead body amongst the poinsettias that resembles one of Santa’s fabled elves. It sure seems like someone is trying to force Grace to sell Kringle Inn. I’m going to need all the help I can get to solve these crimes, and save Christmas, but when the only witnesses are a pig, and a ghost, I’m not sure that’s going to be enough… 

Get Into the Holly Jolly Spirit Early by Grabbing Your Copy Right Here

I have several more ‘winners’ from past years (2015, 2016, 2018) that will be polished and released to the world in 2022. 

 What About You? Do You NaNo?       


Maureen’s first novella was a paranormal romance published when blogs were a new-fangled thing. She’s since changed her focus to writing paranormal cozy mysteries as M.L. Bonatch and urban fantasy as Maureen Bonatch. 

While she’s not busy writing or doing nurse-things, she’s a mom to her twin daughters, bicycling in the beautiful woods of PA with her hubby, doing the bidding of a feisty Shih Tzu, and dancing as much as possible. She believes music can be paired with every mood, laughter is contagious, and that caffeine and wine are essential for survival. 

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Vampires Stories Aren't Just for Halloween

Posted by: Deborah A Bailey

Even though I don’t read much of the Horror genre, I am a fan of some movies featuring vampires and other creatures of the night. For the most part I like the "old school" movies starring Vincent Price and Christopher Lee. Frankenstein and The Mummy are cool too, but the vampire ones are my favorites.

The thing is, I never thought I would write a vampire story. Even though I've enjoyed the movies over the years, the thought of writing a vampire was daunting. I was concerned I'd have to have to go with the usual vampire tropes. Either having them be evil or perhaps walking the line between good and evil. Sure, there's a lot to be said of a vampire who is somewhat dangerous yet uses their powers for good (most of the time). And of course, there's the undercurrent of sexiness that's built in – which isn't surprising.

So, when I started working on my upcoming book, Blood Red Moon (in the Worlds of Fire series) I shocked myself when I decided to have the hero be a vampire. But I didn't want him to be like the vampires I'd seen in those classic movies. 

In my book, the hero and heroine go through a portal and arrive on a world where vampires and shifters live alongside humans. Vampires have their own culture which can include them bonding with human "hosts" or forming their own groups and rejecting humanity altogether. They're not predators – unless they want to be. They have a choice in how they interact with humans and how they satisfy their need for blood. I thought about what a human would get from being bitten – why would they crave it? That's when I decided to create an experience where it was worth being bitten just to feel it.

Part of the balance the hero has to create with the heroine is based on his need for her, but their connection isn't one-sided. Vampires also give to their hosts in the form of energy that passes from them to the host. What is the energy? A lot of emotion and a bit of magic (because of course magic is involved). In this way there's a reciprocal relationship between the vampires and hosts, which means the vampires don't have to take what would be given freely.

Sure, in this story world there are vampire outliers and the ones who don't want human hosts. But I'm not writing about them this time around. 😊 However, when (or if) I do, then I can explore those other types of vampires a bit more.  Right now, I'm glad I changed my mind about writing them. You never know what ideas will come to you once you decide to try something new.

Worlds of Fire: Blood Red Moon will be published (tentative date) 11/10/21 on Amazon and most other online booksellers. Check my website for a more info: https://dbaileycoach.com/brightbooks/worlds-of-fire-series/blood-red-moon/

 

 

New! THE STAR ON THE TIP OF THE MOON, a Sensuous Sci-Fi/Apocalyptic Romance by Linda Mooney

Posted by: Linda Mooney

New!

THE STAR ON THE TIP OF THE MOON
Sensuous Sci-Fi/Apocalyptic Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count:
19.2K
$2.99 e

Astronaut Aldyn Mackie is on his return trip home after serving his stint on a small space station. During that time he and NASA have been following a nebula through space that’s on track to bypass Earth…or it was. Now it’s heading straight for the planet. Set to re-enter the atmosphere in the next hour, NASA gives Aldyn the go ahead, informing him that he should be safe as the nebula will be gone by the time he lands. After all, it’s just a cloud of ions, gases, and dust, right? What could go wrong?

When Aldyn lands it doesn’t take long to realize that something DID happen when the cloud enveloped the Earth. Something bad. The world has been wiped clean of every living thing.  Gone, as if they’d just disappeared. And he soon discovers it’s terrifying being the last man alive.

Trying to plan for a future is nearly impossible with no other humans, no animals for food or companionship, no birds or plants, or even insects. Aldyn knows he will die eventually, if he doesn’t go mad first. But when he catches a few glimpses of a woman in reflections, he begins to question his sanity. Is she real? If she is, who is she, and what is she doing here? He is desperate for human interaction, but if she doesn’t actually exist, his reality, and what’s left of his life, will be miserable at best.

Warning! Contains Chinese food, absolute silence, explosions, the good stuff, desperation, poisoning, desolation, and one man doubting his sanity when presented with a future of love.

Excerpt and Buy Links

Monday, October 18, 2021

HERE BE NEWS for Monday October 18, 2021

Posted by: PG Forte

 

                            


Monday October 18, 2021 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:


Thursday October 14, 2021: Author PG Forte talks about how moving can be like writing.



THE BATTLE LORD'S LADY
Book 1 of The Battle Lord Saga
Sci-Fi/Futuristic/Post-Apocalyptic Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 112K
$4.99 e / $15.99 p / $24.95 a
Narrated by Kate Udall
Length: 12 hrs, 11 min

Three hundred years in the future, mankind still is trying to survive the Great Collision that changed the earth forever. People live in pockets of civilization called compounds, battling the elements and the mutations which have developed over the centuries, trying to live and survive day by day.

Yulen D'Jacques is the Battle Lord of Alta Novis. His duty is to keep his compound and his people safe, which means yearly sweeps of the area to remove any mutated men and animals from encroaching.

Atrilan Ferran is Mutah, a mutant warrior and huntress trained to protect and defend her home from Cleaners, the “normals” who invade the forests to slaughter everything and everyone who gets in their way.

They never anticipated the day when their hearts would collide, challenging and changing everything they thought was the truth. Leading them to the day they would have to prove their love for each other to man and mutant alike.

Warning:  Contains intense cruelty, an avaricious mother-in-law, unbelievable hunting abilities, mutant animals, silken tents, dungeons, denial, and a love that would spawn a dynasty.

Excerpt and Buy Links

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Bring It Back(list) - THE BATTLE LORD'S LADY, Book 1 of the Battle Lord Saga, a Sci-Fi/Futuristic/Post-Apocalyptic Romance by Linda Mooney

Posted by: Linda Mooney

THE BATTLE LORD'S LADY
Book 1 of The Battle Lord Saga
Sci-Fi/Futuristic/Post-Apocalyptic Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 112K
$4.99 e / $15.99 p / $24.95 a
Narrated by Kate Udall
Length: 12 hrs, 11 min

Three hundred years in the future, mankind still is trying to survive the Great Collision that changed the earth forever. People live in pockets of civilization called compounds, battling the elements and the mutations which have developed over the centuries, trying to live and survive day by day.

Yulen D'Jacques is the Battle Lord of Alta Novis. His duty is to keep his compound and his people safe, which means yearly sweeps of the area to remove any mutated men and animals from encroaching.

Atrilan Ferran is Mutah, a mutant warrior and huntress trained to protect and defend her home from Cleaners, the “normals” who invade the forests to slaughter everything and everyone who gets in their way.

They never anticipated the day when their hearts would collide, challenging and changing everything they thought was the truth. Leading them to the day they would have to prove their love for each other to man and mutant alike.

Warning:  Contains intense cruelty, an avaricious mother-in-law, unbelievable hunting abilities, mutant animals, silken tents, dungeons, denial, and a love that would spawn a dynasty.

Excerpt and Buy Links

Thursday, October 14, 2021

On Moving and the Magpie Mind

Posted by: PG Forte

 I'm moving again. This will probably be the ongoing theme for the next few months. The process consumes me. I  wrote a story once, a looonnngg time ago about a couple who moved all the time and how it eventually drove the wife crazy. I hadn't even moved more than a couple of times, at that point, but life has followed art and I'm...a little cray-cray at the moment.  

Part of this is because I do tend to collect things. When I was first learning to read, one of my favorite books was Pippi Longstockings--in part because, as an introvert with a large and noisy family, the idea of living by myself in a big, old house, sounded heavenly. But also because Pippi was a self-described "Thing Finder". At the time, I thought this was a real thing you could be, and so that became my very first career aspiration.

I also wanted to become a naturalist after reading The Voyages of Doctor Doolittle, and a goat herder after reading Heidi.   

But I digress.

As I was saying, moving is HARD for me. It's painful because my husband is just as bad about collecting stuff, but horrible at holding on to things. So every time we move, there's a certain amount of stuff that gets lost, broken, left behind, or argued over. 

There's been A LOT of arguing this time around.

I've learned to let things go, over the years. Sometimes gracefully, other times not so much. The last two moves have been complicated by the fact that we've both inherited a lot of stuff from our parents. 

Well. When I say both...I really mean me. Since, when it comes to volume, there's more--MUCH MORE--in my case than in his. 

And while I've become okay with parting with things that other people will use, enjoy, or cherish. I hate, hate, HATE throwing away things that still have use or value. And then, eventually, I reach a breaking point where I can no longer determine whether anything has use or meaning or value, and then I'm just tossing things in boxes that I don't know what to do with. 

And all the while, I still have two stories to finish writing by the end of the year (and both of those, plus another, to edit) and two new releases to promote. 

BUT, you might be asking yourself, what does moving have to do with writing? Well, that's one of the things I realized this week. It has A LOT to do with it. At least the way I do it. I don't do the "messy first draft" thing. I  write and re-write as I go--tossing out things that don't seem to be working, then reconsidering and putting them back in. I unpack and re-pack my story as I go. Struggling to determine which words I have an actual need or use for, and those that I've just fallen in love with, but which still NEED. TO. GO. Sometimes, of course, I can save bits to use in other stories that I'm planning on writing later--especially when they involve ongoing characters. 

Sometimes I recycle ideas--carving short stories out of novels--like I  did with the Oberon prequel Such Fleeting Pleasures, which I built entirely out of flashback scenes from Taste of Honey. OR my newest release--available for a limited time only--Hungry Heart, in which I re-wrote Cara's scenes from Visions Before Midnight. OR the upcoming, I'll Be Home for Christmas, which takes characters from the series and re-imagines an Oberon in which Scout never came home and everyone's life is different as a result.  

Anyway, that's it for now. It's back to the salt mines for me...otherwise known as the garage.


HUNGRY HEART
An Oberon Halloween Story

Cara Matthews is trouble--with a capital T. That's one thing that pretty much everyone in Oberon can agree on--parents, teachers, other students, her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Seth Cavanaugh. ​

 Well, if you give a dog a bad name he--or she--will probably live up to it, right? ​

This Halloween, after one insult too many, Cara's hellbent on wreaking revenge--no matter who gets hurt in the process. ​ Now available as part of the Revenge Is Sweet Collection  


REVENGE IS SWEET
A Collection of Halloween Tales

It's the most wonderful time of the year...for revenge. 

 Halloween is a time for tricks, mayhem and murder. This collection of Halloween tales follows the wronged as they seek retribution for the crimes against them. By whatever means necessary. 

 Read the deliciously dark stories from S. K. Gregory, Ashley Brion, R Jaye, N. D. Testa, DJ Shaw, P. G. Forte and Kat Gracey. 

 Grab this limited collection today!

Monday, October 11, 2021

HERE BE NEWS for Monday October 11, 2021

Posted by: PG Forte

 

                            


Monday October 11, 2021 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic:



Wednesday October  6, 2021: WiP-It Wednesday. PG Forte offers a look at two new covers she's designed. 

                          
   


It's the most wonderful time of the year...for revenge.


Halloween is a time for tricks, mayhem and murder. This collection of Halloween tales follows the wronged as they seek retribution for the crimes against them. By whatever means necessary.

Read the deliciously dark stories from S. K. Gregory, Ashley Brion, R Jaye, N. D. Testa, DJ Shaw, P. G. Forte and Kat Gracey.

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

WIP-it Wednesday

Posted by: PG Forte

 PG Forte: I've been branching out, lately, and creating book covers--mostly for myself, at this point. Here are two of my latest--both for books that will release later this year (or so I hope). I discussed Winterlude in Saturday's post


Contains both the short story This Winter Night, and the Novella, Winter World of Love in one volume. More details HERE

Chasing the Night is the latest iteration of a story I was calling All Through the Night. Because I've suddenly become massively indecisive when it comes to titles. 



Chasing the Night pairs Heather and Drew from my Children of Night series--and yes, several of their fellow vampires think this is an odd pairing too. It's also a sequel, of sorts, to Going Back to Find You, AND an Ugly Christmas Sweater story. I've posted a short excerpt below:


Drew smiled at her. “Thank you for sharing your tree with me—and for the new experience.” 

“You’re welcome,” Heather said with a sigh. “Come back when you’re done, if you want. I’ll save you an ornament.” 

“We’ll see,” he answered—which she figured was code for not a fucking chance; especially given the look on his face. 

An instant later, the glass ball she was holding was plucked from her hands. She turned to scowl at Nighthawk who was hanging it on a branch far above her head. “Hey. I was saving that for later!” 

 “You don’t save ornaments,” Nighthawk scoffed. “You hang ’em. Anyway, where you been all night? And what’re you doing with that housie?” Which was laughable—as if they both didn’t belong to a House now, too—but hardly the first stupid thing Hawk had said tonight. 

“That’s none of your business,” she replied. “And, for the record? This is not a submarine.” 

Hawk looked confused. “What’s not?” 

 “That thing you said before about the door being open? This isn’t a submarine.” 

“Exactly! The door was open and you can’t do that on a submarine.” 

 “No, because you’d drown. What you meant to say is that this isn’t a barn.” 

Hawk shrugged dismissively. “It might as well be.” “Might as well be…a barn?” “Yeah. I mean, granted it’s missing hay, and pitchforks, livestock, all that country stuff. But it’s as big as a barn.” 

“You’re hopeless,” she muttered, just as Jason—one of the visiting vampires, but someone who Heather actually liked—gave a smothered laugh. 

 Hawk turned to glare at him. “What, you don’t think so? I bet you’ve never even seen a barn.” 

“I have, actually; I grew up in the country. And she’s right—or closer to it. What you really wanted to say was, ‘were you born in a barn?’” 

“Why would I say that?” Hawk demanded. “It wasn’t a Christmas reference. And, anyway, that would be born in a stable, right?” 

 Jason looked confused. “What? No, that’s not…” 

But a commotion broke out, just then, at the other end of the warehouse. And Hawk was already storming off in that direction, yelling, “No, no, NO!” at those involved. 

Jason watched him go, then asked, “Is he always like that?” 

“Pretty much,” Heather replied. Then, feeling as though she was being disloyal, she added. “He means well.” 

“Which is just about the worst thing you can say about anyone.” 

“What?” 

“Nothing,” Jason said as he held out an ornament—a frosted globe with two birds and a sprig of holly etched into its surface. “Here, do you want this—for when Drew comes back?” 

“Thanks,” Heather said, taking the ball with a small sigh. “I don’t think he’s coming back.”

More details HERE
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