HERE BE NEWS for Monday May 15, 2023

 

 

 Monday May 15, 2023 

Welcome to HERE BE NEWS, where each monday we bring you all the latest from the fantasy romance authors at Here Be Magic: Deborah Bailey asks, "What's in a Story Title?"

Thursday May 9, 2023: 

NEW RELEASE

Redemption
A Fallen Angels Paranormal Romance Collection 

Perfection is impossible, even for this collection of angels. ​ 

Once esteemed immortals find themselves banished from the heavenly realm and condemned to a life on Earth amongst the mortals, unless they find a way back through the veil. 

Before they can find redemption they must first learn how to navigate their new life. Will they find a new appreciation for humanity and choose this life over the one they were created for? 

 this limited edition collection now before it disappears beyond the veil. ​ Includes PG Forte's Angels in the Afterlife Story, Christmas Angel.

      

Edge of Heaven
M/M Fantasy Romance (Angels in the Afterlife series)
Buy Links: https://books2read.com/u/3yeZgp

Welcome to the afterlife, where men are men and the angels are fallen.

It was a reckless act of passion that ended Edge’s life and left him in Limbo -- literally. Now, he’s stuck here. While most of the other angels-in-training move quickly up the celestial ladder, Edge knows it can never be that simple for him. He’s dealing with issues that are a lot more complicated than a simple lack of closure.

While Edge doesn’t know for sure what it will take to get him into Heaven, there is one thing he’s certain won’t help -- his latest assignment guiding angel-baby Matteo Matinucci while the newbie find his wings.

But twenty-something Mattie -- sexy, beautiful, recently departed, and openly gay -- could turn out to be the answer to all of Edge’s prayers, as well as the fulfillment of all his fantasies, even the hot, sweaty, secret ones he’s never confided to anyone. And by helping to send Mattie to Heaven, Edge just might end up saving both their souls.

Excerpt: 

How do I describe this place in a way you’ll understand? Being in limbo… Well, it’s a lot like being booked for an indefinite stay at a very exclusive executive retreat. Sure, it’s posh, it’s peaceful, it’s pleasant. It’s just about anything you want it to be, within limits. But there’s a reason why heaven’s called heaven and limbo…is not.

It’s all just a little too bland here, a little too remote. There’s this sense of being isolated, of being out of touch that you never quite get used to. Just like you can never completely lose the feeling that you’ve been cut off from something pretty damn important. Even if you’re not quite certain what that something is.

It might take you a while to notice that last part, though. If you’re a new arrival in limbo, I can guarantee you the first thought in your mind is not gonna be, How can I keep busy? Stay long enough, however, and that’ll change. Time doesn’t exactly pass here in what I like to call never-never land—it just is. But all the same, with nothing but your own sorry thoughts to occupy your mind, eternity has a way of weighing on your spirits after a while. To say nothing of the way all that peacefulness gets to wearing on your nerves.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of tasks we angels are called upon to perform—from the very simple, such as finding lost keys or arranging for an open parking space, to the more profound. Keeping vigil in hospitals and at deathbeds. Riding shotgun in emergency vehicles. Providing comfort for the grieving and protection for those in danger.

While we’re generally happy to be of service in any way we can, I’d be lying if I said there weren’t some jobs we prefer more than others and some assignments we’d just as soon they give someone else. Pulling the kind of duty I’m stuck with now, just one step removed from babysitting and a big, fat goose egg on the adrenaline-pumping scale—it irks. I can’t help thinking my talents could be better utilized doing something else, and not to put too fine a point on it or anything, it’s a bit of a time waster. I can’t see how holding the hand of yet another fledgling angel is ever gonna help me move ahead.

Not that there’s anything ordinary about this particular fledgling. He’s like a shiny new penny in a pocketful of change. Bright. Untarnished. Makes me wonder how he ended up in limbo at all.

Other books in this series:

Angel Mine

M/M Fantasy Romance (Angels in the Afterlife series)

Download for FREE when you buy Edge of Heaven

If there was one thing Matteo Matinucci never lacked, it was determination. If he made up his mind to do something, it got done. He never let anything stop him. Not even dying.

So when he set his sights on Edge, he knew he'd get his man. How hard could it be to waltz into Limbo, sweep his fellow angel off his feet and return with him to Heaven--where they both belonged? A lot harder than he imagined, apparently.

Now Mattie's stuck in a place he doesn't belong, doing the one thing he never dreamed possible: falling in love.

Warning: Please be aware that this is not a sequel to Edge of Heaven. This is the side of the story you haven't heard yet. Mattie's side. 

Christmas Angel
M/M Fantasy Romance (Angels in the Afterlife series)
Available NOW for Pre-order
Buy Link: https://books2read.com/b/br1JkE

Being fully transparent is good for a relationship, right? Well, maybe not when it’s literal.

 

Christmas Angel is a second-chance, holiday romance with a celestial twist. Jake’s been sent back to earth to mend fences with his ex. Or has he? Certainly Tony doesn’t seem to think that's the case. 

 

Tony might have ninety-nine problems—and then some—between dealing with his meddlesome family AND running the family business (a Christmas tree farm in rural Texas) but he's pretty sure that playing catch-up with his ex-husband isn’t supposed to be one of them. It’s a little hard to imagine what kind of future the two of them could have when only one of them is alive.

 

​

Releases May 16, 2023 in the limited edition anthology Redemption: a Fallen Angels Paranormal Romance Collection available for pre-order now.

Bring It Back(list) Edge of Heaven by PG Forte

Edge of Heaven
M/M Fantasy Romance (Angels in the Afterlife series)
Buy Links: https://books2read.com/u/3yeZgp

Welcome to the afterlife, where men are men and the angels are fallen.

It was a reckless act of passion that ended Edge’s life and left him in Limbo -- literally. Now, he’s stuck here. While most of the other angels-in-training move quickly up the celestial ladder, Edge knows it can never be that simple for him. He’s dealing with issues that are a lot more complicated than a simple lack of closure.

While Edge doesn’t know for sure what it will take to get him into Heaven, there is one thing he’s certain won’t help -- his latest assignment guiding angel-baby Matteo Matinucci while the newbie find his wings.

But twenty-something Mattie -- sexy, beautiful, recently departed, and openly gay -- could turn out to be the answer to all of Edge’s prayers, as well as the fulfillment of all his fantasies, even the hot, sweaty, secret ones he’s never confided to anyone. And by helping to send Mattie to Heaven, Edge just might end up saving both their souls.

Excerpt: 

How do I describe this place in a way you’ll understand? Being in limbo… Well, it’s a lot like being booked for an indefinite stay at a very exclusive executive retreat. Sure, it’s posh, it’s peaceful, it’s pleasant. It’s just about anything you want it to be, within limits. But there’s a reason why heaven’s called heaven and limbo…is not.

It’s all just a little too bland here, a little too remote. There’s this sense of being isolated, of being out of touch that you never quite get used to. Just like you can never completely lose the feeling that you’ve been cut off from something pretty damn important. Even if you’re not quite certain what that something is.

It might take you a while to notice that last part, though. If you’re a new arrival in limbo, I can guarantee you the first thought in your mind is not gonna be, How can I keep busy? Stay long enough, however, and that’ll change. Time doesn’t exactly pass here in what I like to call never-never land—it just is. But all the same, with nothing but your own sorry thoughts to occupy your mind, eternity has a way of weighing on your spirits after a while. To say nothing of the way all that peacefulness gets to wearing on your nerves.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of tasks we angels are called upon to perform—from the very simple, such as finding lost keys or arranging for an open parking space, to the more profound. Keeping vigil in hospitals and at deathbeds. Riding shotgun in emergency vehicles. Providing comfort for the grieving and protection for those in danger.

While we’re generally happy to be of service in any way we can, I’d be lying if I said there weren’t some jobs we prefer more than others and some assignments we’d just as soon they give someone else. Pulling the kind of duty I’m stuck with now, just one step removed from babysitting and a big, fat goose egg on the adrenaline-pumping scale—it irks. I can’t help thinking my talents could be better utilized doing something else, and not to put too fine a point on it or anything, it’s a bit of a time waster. I can’t see how holding the hand of yet another fledgling angel is ever gonna help me move ahead.

Not that there’s anything ordinary about this particular fledgling. He’s like a shiny new penny in a pocketful of change. Bright. Untarnished. Makes me wonder how he ended up in limbo at all.

Other books in this series:

Angel Mine

M/M Fantasy Romance (Angels in the Afterlife series)

Download for FREE when you buy Edge of Heaven

If there was one thing Matteo Matinucci never lacked, it was determination. If he made up his mind to do something, it got done. He never let anything stop him. Not even dying.

So when he set his sights on Edge, he knew he'd get his man. How hard could it be to waltz into Limbo, sweep his fellow angel off his feet and return with him to Heaven--where they both belonged? A lot harder than he imagined, apparently.

Now Mattie's stuck in a place he doesn't belong, doing the one thing he never dreamed possible: falling in love.

Warning: Please be aware that this is not a sequel to Edge of Heaven. This is the side of the story you haven't heard yet. Mattie's side. 

Christmas Angel
M/M Fantasy Romance (Angels in the Afterlife series)
Available NOW for Pre-order
Buy Link: https://books2read.com/b/br1JkE

Being fully transparent is good for a relationship, right? Well, maybe not when it’s literal.

 

Christmas Angel is a second-chance, holiday romance with a celestial twist. Jake’s been sent back to earth to mend fences with his ex. Or has he? Certainly Tony doesn’t seem to think that's the case. 

 

Tony might have ninety-nine problems—and then some—between dealing with his meddlesome family AND running the family business (a Christmas tree farm in rural Texas) but he's pretty sure that playing catch-up with his ex-husband isn’t supposed to be one of them. It’s a little hard to imagine what kind of future the two of them could have when only one of them is alive.

 

​

Releases May 16, 2023 in the limited edition anthology Redemption: a Fallen Angels Paranormal Romance Collection available for pre-order now.

What's In a Story Title?

Sometimes titles for my stories come to me before I start writing. Sometimes they come as I'm working on the draft. But there are those times when I have no idea what the title should be. That's when I try to do a bit of brainstorming (and research) to see what might be a good fit. 

I came up with the title for my novella, Metamorphosis, years ago when I wrote a rough draft. The published novella isn't the same as my original idea, but the title still fits. 

As in my original story idea, Asira is also a student from a prominent family. She studies hard and focuses on advancement to the Golden Court of the Alchemists (which should be enough for someone in her position). However, she feels something is missing in her life. 

She's a student of transmutation, and she seeks out Jaydon (the hero) because he's an expert in that discipline. What she doesn't expect is that Jaydon doesn't agree with the strict class system. He loves study and has a gift for reading the magical Books of Fire. And he's happy that his ability allows him to remain outside of the system.

Jaydon is outside of the strict class system because he's from one of the portal worlds. Having not grown up on the Floating World of the Alchemists, he has an entirely different outlook.  

His own transformation came when puberty gave him special abilities allowing him to read the magical books. As a gargoyle shifter he understands what it's like to change from one thing to another. However, his special abilities are what brought him to the attention of the Alchemists. His life changed because of a transition he couldn't control. 

In life we have many periods of transition – chiefly the time when we go from child to teen then to adult. Physical changes. Emotional changes. Mental changes. We're not the same as we once were. Those changes can bring happiness or confusion (depending on your point of view). And as adults we may make different plans for our lives. 

As a writer, I can ask those questions inside of my fantasy and science fiction stories. But even though my characters are fictional beings, they can reflect human experiences. Life is change and hopefully we can find happiness and satisfaction along the way.

Because Metamorphosis is a romantic fantasy, Asira and Jaydon manage to find each other. They learn how to make their own choices as they claim new directions for their lives. My title turned out to be a fit for the characters' individual experience and for the overall theme. At the end of the story they're open to a new world (or new worlds) of possibilities. 

Yes, titles can be a challenge. But when I find one that I like, it's perfect. I hope at the end of the story the reader feels the same way. 

You can read more about Metamorphosis here: https://authordebbailey.com/worlds-of-fire-series/metamorphosis/

 

 

HERE BE NEWS for Monday May 8, 2023

 

 

 Monday May 8, 2023 

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

Thursday May 4, 2023: Nicole Luiken lists her most anticipated books for May

During the month of May, you can get the e-book of this Post-Apocalyptic Romance for just 99c! 
But only on my website! 
Just use Discount Code Word: BITTEN

FORBITTEN
Futuristic/Post-Apocalyptic Romance
Word Count:  58.2K
$3.99 e / $9.99 p / $19.95 a

Not all who are bitten are turned.

After World War III, better known as the Nuclear War, survivors were forced to move underground, where they had a better chance of survival. Those who were caught above ground in the aftermath inevitably died of exposure. However, the animals and vegetation were not so lucky. Although most species survived, they also mutated. And sometimes those mutations reached the remaining human population.

Shaddoe March lives in one of those subterranean bunkers, called SubForty. Her life is nowhere idyllic. No one's is. But she's healthy, and that means she has a future. Until, one day, her nightmare becomes reality, and she's infected.

She is thrown out of the bunker, above ground, unarmed and alone to face the hideous creatures and other Condemned who've been discarded to face their inevitable deaths. As she prepares herself for the worst, she finds redemption.

Chyler Comstock was also infected, but he didn't turn, and he's not dead. Yet. Neither are the thirty-two other souls who've banded together for the sake of survival. When he meets Shaddoe, he's more than willing to let her join their group, but not until the critical thirty-seven-hour window is passed. If she remains human after that, then she'll be welcomed.

But, for now, it's a waiting game, and the world ran out of patience decades ago.

Warning! Contains a beatdown with a broom, shattered solar panels, a deadly lunch tray, radioactive ammo, explosions, and a possible cure that could mean the difference between love cut short, or love everlasting.

LINK

Bring It Back(List) - FORBITTEN, a Futuristic/Post-Apocalyptic Romance by Linda Mooney

During the month of May, you can get the e-book of this Post-Apocalyptic Romance for just 99c! 
But only on my website! 
Just use Discount Code Word: BITTEN

FORBITTEN
Futuristic/Post-Apocalyptic Romance
Word Count:  58.2K
$3.99 e / $9.99 p / $19.95 a

Not all who are bitten are turned.

After World War III, better known as the Nuclear War, survivors were forced to move underground, where they had a better chance of survival. Those who were caught above ground in the aftermath inevitably died of exposure. However, the animals and vegetation were not so lucky. Although most species survived, they also mutated. And sometimes those mutations reached the remaining human population.

Shaddoe March lives in one of those subterranean bunkers, called SubForty. Her life is nowhere idyllic. No one's is. But she's healthy, and that means she has a future. Until, one day, her nightmare becomes reality, and she's infected.

She is thrown out of the bunker, above ground, unarmed and alone to face the hideous creatures and other Condemned who've been discarded to face their inevitable deaths. As she prepares herself for the worst, she finds redemption.

Chyler Comstock was also infected, but he didn't turn, and he's not dead. Yet. Neither are the thirty-two other souls who've banded together for the sake of survival. When he meets Shaddoe, he's more than willing to let her join their group, but not until the critical thirty-seven-hour window is passed. If she remains human after that, then she'll be welcomed.

But, for now, it's a waiting game, and the world ran out of patience decades ago.

Warning! Contains a beatdown with a broom, shattered solar panels, a deadly lunch tray, radioactive ammo, explosions, and a possible cure that could mean the difference between love cut short, or love everlasting.

LINK

Most Anticipated Books for May

 Lots of great SF and fantasy books releasing in May. Here's what I'm salivating over. In reverse order:

6. No Foreign Sky by Rachel Neumeier - I've been really enjoying this author's YA fantasy series Black Dog and her adult fantasy series Tuyo. This one is science fiction but sounds intriguing!

5. The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong - Book two in her modern detective time travels back to ye olde Scotland. Sure to be a good mystery.

4. Spring's Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow - First in a new fantasy duology with Russian folklore and Baba Yaga.

3. The Trouble With Cursed by Kim Harrison. In case you missed it, Harrison restarted her urban fantasy Hollows series. Always fun to watch Rachel get in and out of tight spots.

 

 

 

2. By a Silver Thread by Rachel Aaron. First in another spin-off DFZ world series, this time with faeries as well as spirits and dragons. 

 

 

 

 

 

1. The Witch King by Martha Wells. In case you've only tried her Murderbot SF series, she also writes excellent fantasy (I love both Raksura and Ile-Rien) and the sample chapter for this one really grabbed me. Can't wait!

 

HERE BE NEWS for Monday May 1, 2023

 

 

 Monday May 1, 2023 

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

Tuesday April 25, 2023: Linda Mooney treats us to a new vignette--Aries the Zodian.