Layers of Lace revealed!

Amateur cosplayer Emily Solis is determined to win the costume contest and the heart of her biggest competition.

It isn't the first time Emily has shed her costume with the gorgeous Russell Morrison. Not even her best friend knows she's been having wild convention sex with him for over a year. It was supposed to remain physical, but Emily couldn't help falling for him and his kinky ways. In a moment of passion, she rolls the dice and tells Russell she loves him. He doesn't say it back. Can she convince him they're perfect together or will she roll another critical failure?

Buy the book:

Ellora's Cave * Amazon * B&N * Kobo

Add it to read on Goodreads.

Get Loose Corset, the first book in the Dice & Debauchery series:

Ellora's Cave * Amazon * B&N * Kobo

This is my favorite book in the series. While Morgan in the first book is emotionally reserved, Emily and Russell have explosive feelings. They revel in their costume geekery and love drama. It made them so much fun to write.

Thank you to everyone helping me shout-out about my new release. You guys are awesome!

Blood and Beauty and Other Weird Tales

Collects six short stories of fantasy and weirdness. Fans of Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Greek mythology, and biblical-inspired fantasy will find something interesting.

"Blood and Beauty" tells the tragic love story of a satyr and a dryad.

"Sutter's Well" records the weird encounter between two boys and a Lovecraftian monster in Appalachia.

"Morphine and Chocolate" draws inspiration from the medieval poem Pearl as it follows a father's search for his missing daughter from one weird landscape to another.

"The Facts in the Case of M. Hussman" takes inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe and records the horrific consequences of artificially extending life in a steampunk world.

"Shafts to Hell" returns to the Old West and takes the reader inside the mind of an insane miner.

"Good King David" combines the tales of Hamlet and Absalom in a Biblical fantasy world.

Categories: weird fantasy, weird horror, Greek mythology, mythical creatures, steampunk.

Buy the book:

Amazon US * Amazon UK

Add it to read on Goodreads.

Find out more about Jeff Chapman on his blog!

A Change of Mind blog tour - character interview

I'm excited to welcome today the fantastic Nick Wilford and celebrate the release of his new collection, A Change of Mind and Other Stories. I've already had the privilege of reading his book and loved it. Here's my 5 star review.

And here's another reason to celebrate. For today only, Nick's awesome collection is only 99 cents!

Thanks for hosting me, Christine! Today, the MC of A Change of Mind, Reuben, is making a high-profile TV appearance on a show that aims to recognise underrated office workers. I’ll now hand you over to the host, William Fangleman.

Fangleman: Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another edition of “Unsung Office Heroes of the Land” with me, William Fangleman. Today I’m pleased to be joined by Reuben Timsbury, a hardworking systems analyst with Harbinger Industries. Hello there, Reuben. I’m pleased to meet you.

Reuben: No one’s ever pleased to meet me.

Fangleman: Oh come now, I’m sure that’s not true. You seem like a very interesting chap. Why don’t you start by telling the audience a bit about yourself?

Reuben: What’s to tell? I work at a big office – you know, Corporate Central, fat cat boss – writing mind-numbing reports. I’m good at my job, not that I ever get recognition for it.

Fangleman: Well, let’s have a bit of recognition now. How about a big hand for Reuben and his report-writing skills!

(Audience goes wild)

Reuben: (goes bright red) Errr, thanks. I’m not used to being applauded. It was weird, but nice, I guess.

Fangleman: Now, what sort of people do you work alongside in this office? Do you get along well with them?

Reuben: (grimaces) Are you joking? They delight in making my life a living hell. This one big oaf, Borderman – he asks to borrow my stapler every day. And every day I never get it back, and I have to buy a new one. At £4.99 a day, that’s quite a big wodge out of my paycheque. 

Fangleman: Well, why don’t you just stop giving him staplers?

Reuben: Hmm... you know, that’s never occurred to me. When you’ve been pushed around by people your whole life, you do as you’re told. Second nature, I guess. And who’s to say what he could do to me with those staplers?

Fangleman: They’re pretty lethal weapons, I’ve heard. Now, just so our audience aren’t left in total doom and gloom... is there anyone at all you like in our office? Someone who could brighten your day just a tad?

Reuben: (shuffles feet) Weeelll... There’s Minerva, from accounts. She doesn’t even work on this floor, so I don’t see her that often. But she’s a radiant vision, a Greek goddess in name and in how she moves. But what are the chances of her noticing a schmuck like me? She doesn’t even know who I am.

Fangleman: Oh, don’t do yourself down. You’re a handsome chap, it sounds like you just need a dose of confidence. Well, that’s all we have time for on “Unsung Office Heroes of the Land”. Another big hand for Reuben Timsbury, folks!

(Applause) Reuben grins sheepishly while staring at the floor.

* * *

Title: A Change of Mind and Other Stories

Author: Nick Wilford

Genre: Speculative fiction

Format: Ebook only

Page/word count: 107 pages, approx. 32,000 words

Publisher: Superstar Peanut Publishing

Blurb:

A Change of Mind and Other Stories consists of a novella, four short stories and one flash fiction piece. This collection puts the extremes of human behaviour under the microscope with the help of lashings of dark humour, and includes four pieces previously published in Writer’s Muse magazine.
 
In A Change of Mind, Reuben is an office worker so meek and mild he puts up with daily bullying from his boorish male colleagues as if it’s just a normal part of his day. But when a stranger points him in the direction of a surgeon offering a revolutionary new procedure, he can’t pass up the chance to turn his life around. 
  But this isn’t your average surgeon. For a start, he operates alone in a small room above a mechanic’s. And he promises to alter his patients’ personality so they can be anything they want to be… 
 
In Marissa, a man who is determined to find evidence of his girlfriend’s infidelity ends up wondering if he should have left well alone.

The Dog God finds a chink in the armour of a man with a megalomaniacal desire to take over the world. 
 
In The Insomniac, a man who leads an obsessively regimented lifestyle on one hour’s sleep a night finds a disruption to his routine doesn’t work for him. 
 
Hole In One sees a dedicated golfer achieving a lifelong ambition. 

The Loner ends the collection on a note of hope as two family members try to rebuild their lives after they are torn apart by jealousy.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Smashwords / B&N / Kobo

Add it on Goodreads

Meet the author:

Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those rare times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction, with a little freelance editing and formatting thrown in. When not working he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also the editor of Overcoming Adversity: An Anthology for Andrew. Visit him at his blog or connect with him on Twitter or Goodreads.

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Friday Five for May 22, 2015

1. I have all three covers for my Dice & Debauchery series now. The final cover is my favorite! They make quite the attractive set too. One week until Layers of Lace is released! I won't be touring until August, but if you'd like to do a shout-out for me, I'd greatly appreciate it. Email me or leave a comment, and I'll send the info your way.

2. Today is my son's last day of preschool. I'm excited and a little sad. We were so lucky to have a super preschool. Small classes, play based program, and the best teachers ever! They'll have a graduation tonight. The kids will wear caps and gowns. It'll be amazingly cute! Plus we'll get cake. Mmmm... cake.

3. So with the last day of school is my last day of morning writing time for the next few months. I'm already mourning it. Yet when August comes around, my little guy will be in school for full day kindergarten. Full days every weekday to write. It's like this shiny, golden treasure just beyond my reach. Summer will go quickly, I know, and I'll enjoy it, but oh, that beautiful, shiny writing time. I can't stop thinking about it!

4. I'll be posting on my blog less in June and July, but you'll still see me lurking about at night. Not the creepy kind of lurking. Though, after long, hot days, I might look a little scary!

5. It's the long weekend. Yay! In my schedule: a renaissance birthday party, Dungeons & Dragons, and maybe we'll get to see Avengers 2. Have a fantastic weekend, folks!

Blood, Boobs & Carnage Blogfest

This tons of fun blogfest is hosted by two awesome writers, Alex J. Cavanaugh and Heather Gardner.

The details: On May 18, 2015, post about a movie, television show, book, or all three that falls into the category of Blood, Boobs, and Carnage. (Or just Blood and Carnage or other mixture.) It can be any genre that fits the bill – fantasy, science fiction, action, adventure, western, thriller, etc. Post the badge and visit other participants.

Decisions, decisions. I thought long and hard about this post. Do I post about shows everyone knows like Game of Thrones and True Blood or do I go more obscure like Baise Moi or The Human Centipede? (And beware to anyone who dares look up that last one!)

I'm going middle of the road. This film did get a little notoriety, but many of you might not have heard of it. Yet it's stayed with me after all these years.

High Tension (originally Haute Tension released in 2003) is about two college friends, Marie and Alexa, who are visiting Alexa's parents' country home when a serial killer shatters their quiet getaway.

A stylized slasher film with a stunning twist at the end. You've got tons of blood and carnage, and a nod to the boobs. The two actresses playing the leads are awesome. Highly recommended if you're a fan of this genre.

I can't wait to see what bloody, jiggly, and gory posts you have for us today! 

Friday Five for May 15, 2015

1. Prepare for another dose of sexy geeks! Things are moving along with Ellora's Cave at a fast pace. I have a cover for Layers of Lace (Dice & Debauchery #2) and a release date for the third book, Masked Kiss. It's due out on June 26th.

2. I thought about doing a tour when the third book was released, but it's at the most inconvenient time of the year for me. So will it be bad to wait to do a tour until August? I don't know, but if I want to properly devote my time to it, that's what I'll have to do.

3. I'm also re-evaluating my writing goals for this year. I hoped to revise and publish my superhero novel, Super Famous, by October, but it doesn't look like I'll have the time to get to it until the fall. My new WIP is a great and slow beast. I'd hoped to finish the first draft by next week, but it is just beginning. Maybe I'll have it done in September.

4. One more week until school is out for the summer. Are there any other parents counting down and prepping themselves? I've got a visit with my family in Canada, day trips, YMCA day camp, and weekly park meet-ups with school friends all planned. Here's to an awesome summer!

5. Finally I wanted to give a huge thank you to Alex J. Cavanaugh for the You Rock Award. I love blogging because of our great community and Alex is a big part of it. Cheers to Alex and to all of you! Have a marvelous weekend.

Precipice is here!

In the far future, humanity settles the stars, bioengineering its descendants to survive in a harsh universe. This is the sixth book in the science fiction series, The Backworlds. A space opera adventure.

The Backworlds hang by a Quantum string, a thread about to snap. Annihilation is coming if Craze can’t stop it.

The genocidal alien he had trapped breaks free, destroying a ship belonging to the Backworlds’ oldest enemy, the Fo’wo’s. The murderous alien wants to overtake the galaxy. The Fo’wo’s want another war.

The Backworlds’ best chance to survive is to overcome a century of hate and forge an alliance with the Fo’wo’s. Because of his history with the alien, Craze is recruited to represent his people. Now he’s the most hated man in the galaxy.

The looming war will be a holocaust unless Craze can stop it, knowing salvation comes at a price.

Buy links: Amazon / B&N / iBook / Googleplay / Smashwords / Kobo / Other

About M. Pax:

Fantasy, science fiction, and the weird beckons to her, and she blames Oregon, a source of endless inspiration. She docents at Pine Mountain Observatory in the summers, and one of her cats has a crush on Mr. Spock. You can find out more by visiting her website: mpaxauthor.com

Excerpt:

Until he knew for certain whether he dealt with one genocidal alien or two, Lepsi couldn’t think right. His thoughts refused to stand still, stuttering and churning.

The hatch slid fully open. He sprang off the cargo ejector, sailing two kilometers into the ether. He tumbled in the black for precisely twenty-three seconds then engaged his thrusters to journey the remaining twenty kilometers over to a spacecraft-sized mass of debris. The bits clumped together forming a weird metallic planetoid.

He traced along the char marks and the mangled pieces of hull. The answers he needed wouldn’t be found in this trash, yet he was closer to them here than anywhere else, unless he joined up with the horrid alien again. His limbs shuddered and his lungs struggled for breath. He never wanted to see the cloud-like ship again. He couldn’t. He’d crack into a billion unrecoverable pieces. Just like the rubble of the Fo’wo ship around him.

Captain Quasar blasts into publication!

Every Day Novels is proud to announce the release of Milo James Fowler's first serialized novel:

Captain Bartholomew Quasar and the Space-Time Displacement Conundrum

16 weeks of serial chapters every weekday – that's 80 exciting episodes of adventure aboard the Effervescent Magnitude for only $5 USD (includes an eBook edition following serialization). Don't delay – Subscribe today!

Captain Quasar is out of time.

Pursued by vengeful Goobalob toll collectors, savage Arachnoid bounty hunters, and formidable Amazonians, Captain Bartholomew Quasar must do whatever he can to keep the crew of the Effervescent Magnitude out of harm's way. All in a day's work—except time is not on his side.

Torn from the present to relive his past, he vows to keep mistakes from occurring the second time around. But is he doomed to repeat history? Or can he erase his regrets?

Villains will be vanquished. Lives will be lost. Bonds will be betrayed. Heroes will be heroic.

Join the crew of the Effervescent Magnitude for a hilarious time-travel space adventure the likes of which you've never seen!

Now Available from Every Day Novels

Add Captain Quasar to your Goodreads bookshelf

Get to know the man behind the book:

1. When did you start seriously pursuing writing as a career?

I've been writing since I was 12, but I started submitting my work for publication in the summer of 2009. I'd always thought I would pursue publication at some point—probably after I retired from teaching or turned 40. My first story was published in January 2010, and I've had over a hundred others accepted for publication since then. I won't turn 40 for another year, and I'm still teaching full-time. Doesn't look like I'll be retiring anytime soon!

2. How did you create the character Bartholomew Quasar?

When I came up with Captain Bartholomew Quasar back in the spring of 2010, I was going for a mash-up between William Shatner's James T. Kirk and Dudley Do-Right from the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (but in Quasar's case, things seldom ever go right). He's one of those classic pulp heroes with a heart of gold whose narcissistic tendencies often land him in hot water. I hope readers can laugh at Bartholomew Quasar and root for him at the same time. He's ridiculous, but there's something about his fallible nature that most of us can relate to on some level.

3. Are you working on more Captain Quasar stories?

I've written over 20 Captain Quasar tales so far, many of which are out on the submission circuit, looking for good homes. "Captain Quasar and the Ghosts of Space Command" will be published in the next issue of Perihelion Science Fiction. "Captain Quasar and the Carpethrian Call of the Wild" will be included in the B is for Broken anthology, and "Captain Quasar and the Devious Powers of Persuasion" will be in the Geminid Press space opera anthology. I'm in the middle of edits on a novella-length adventure I plan to submit for publication soon. My collection of 15 Quasar tales Starfaring Adentures…in SPACE is available everywhere eBooks are sold—and free for the taking, last time I checked.

Author Bio:

Milo James Fowler is a teacher by day, speculative fictioneer by night, and an active SFWA member. When he's not grading papers, he's imagining what the world might be like in a dozen alternate realities. In the past 5 years, his short fiction has appeared in more than 100 publications, including AE SciFi, Cosmos, Daily Science Fiction, Nature, Shimmer, and the Wastelands 2 anthology.

Visit www.milojamesfowler.com and join The Crew for updates about new releases.