Celebrate Christmas with the #PNRFeast giveaway and 99c sale!

Happy Christmas to you all!

I'm so excited to be celebrating with a big group of talented authors this year. Look at all those marvelous paranormal romances and urban fantasy books. All for only 99 cents!

Click on the image or HERE to find the sale and a great giveaway!

The marvelous A.A. Chamberlynn and T.F. Walsh came to me to be part of this fantastic celebration. In fact, we had so much fun setting it up, we're going to do even more group sales and giveaways next year. Keep an eye on the fantasybookgiveaways site, and if you get the chance, please do participate. It's a great way to get out to new readers.

Please have a safe and happy holiday season.

 

Aliens are among us!

Savannah Janowitz’s perfect life was destroyed the night she and her boyfriend vanished without a trace. When she reappears a year later––alone––she’s a shell of her former self. Robbed of her popularity and her boyfriend, she has no memory of what happened to her. Savannah struggles to move forward as strange, new abilities manifest.

Evan Sullivan never gave extra-terrestrials much thought until the night he and Savannah were abducted. While Savannah’s memory was wiped clean, he remembers every horrific detail. Constantly reminded of the experiments that made him less than human, Evan hides in the shadows and watches Savannah rebuild her life without him.

But neither can let the other go. When their paths cross, Savannah and Evan finally see a glimmer of their old lives return. As they face what happened to them, they soon discover they aren’t safe. There’s more to fear than what’s hiding in the stars.

 

 

About the author:

When Patricia Josephine isn't writing, she is watching Doctor Who or reading about serial killers. It is her dream to one day have what resembles a petting zoo. She is also an avid knitter. One can never have too much yarn! She also writes young adult under the name Patricia Lynne.

Links:

Book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33139773-abducted-life

Website: http://www.patricialynne.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/plynne_writes

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108938106639683446081

youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/patricialynne07

 

Cradle Rock blog tour

I'm so please to have the ever awesome Tara Tyler here today! I'm huge on the outdoors. We get a state park pass every year and love to explore. Here are some hiking do's and don't's from Tara.

When I was younger, single, and carefree, I didn’t know how great I had it! The freedom was ridiculous compared to now. It was basically just me and my dog, Cody. Greatest dog ever!

We lived in scenic Georgia, and Cody and I would go to parks and hike all the time. Loved going to waterfalls, rivers, and mountains. Nothing major, but it was a lot of fun. I miss those times!

Today, I’m sharing a few pics and some do’s and don’t’s for hiking!

CODY!

DO'S

• Do Scope out the park before you go - if you’re a beginner, don’t do a five mile hike through rough terrain. The levels of difficulty are usually marked.
• Do Pay attention and watch your step - roots and branches and rocks pop up out of nowhere! - some side paths are not meant for you! - shady trails dry slowly, watch for slippery mud.
• Do Use a “map my walk” app - it keeps track of how far you walk and you’re less likely to get lost.
• Do Be aware of wildlife, you’re walking around in their house.
• Do Wear comfortable, sturdy, not afraid to get dirty shoes.
• Do Dress appropriately, trails are usually cooler than the temperature predicts.
• Do Bring water.
• Do Remember where you parked.
• Do Donate if there’s a box for it. Save the parks!
• Do Take only pictures and leave only footprints!

DON'T'S

• Don’t litter!
• Don’t jump in the river - it may look inviting on a hot summer day, but rivers are quick-moving and frigid year round! Fishing is fine if it’s legal
• Don’t go too far. Pace yourself. If you start to feel winded or tired, head back. Unless you’re doing a loop, remember the return trip is as far as the trip out.
• Don’t freak out if you lose reception - I never had a phone in my hiking days, no one did for thousands of years and we survived! - use the sun as your guide
• Don’t be afraid to go by yourself, I did most of my hiking trips with just me and my puppy and many times I never saw another soul. But these days, bringing a friend might be safer…

Recently, I brought my boys hiking on one of the easy trails near my parents. Unfortunately, it was spring and the bees were happily buzzing in droves, so these “citified” boys didn’t enjoy it as much as they should have.

In Beast World, the young beasts have to hike around in uncharted territory, facing many dangers in unmarked forests. They experience more Don’t’s than Do’s! Gabe is hardly an outdoorsman, but he is determined. And with his werewolf buddy, Rove, they’re able to traverse the wilds.

Kids these days need more exposure to fresh air and nature and discovery! My recommendation to everyone in this stressed out, virtual world of technology…

TAKE A HIKE!

Thanks so much for having me, Christine! Always love stopping by here. Do you guys have any hiking experience or advice? I'd love to hear it!

WELCOME BACK TO THE FOREST!

CRADLE ROCK, Beast World Book Two

by Tara Tyler

Gabe the goblin just saved his town Broken Branch Falls from splitting apart. He also revealed that humans--horrible creatures of myth and legend--may actually be part of their history! But seriously? Nah!

Now Ona, Gabe’s girlfriend, is headed thousands of miles away to Camp Cradle Rock for Spring Break seeking evidence of humans. Gabe knows better than to tell a stubborn ogress she’s crazy, so he’s letting her go and spending the break at the beach like a normal teenage beast. And he’s determined to have a good time without her, whether he likes it or not.

But when Gabe hears Ona went missing, he and his friends set out for the wilds of the west to find her, no matter what dangerous creatures get in his way. Not even humans.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Check out the Book Trailer!

Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently she has two series, Pop Travel (techno-thriller detective capers) and Broken Branch Falls (fantasy adventures). To squeeze in writing, she economizes her time aka the Lazy Housewife. Make every day an adventure!

Talk to me!
Author Blog ~~ @taratylertalks ~~ Facebook ~~ Housewives Blog


I'm also giving away signed copies of Broken Branch Falls and Cradle Rock, some Beast World swag, and a $20 GC!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What makes a good flash fiction piece? - guest post by Juneta Key

I'm excited to be swapping posts with the awesome Juneta Key today. Please enjoy her excellent article about flash fiction, and hop on over to her blog to get a peek into my home and find out the little everyday things which helped inspire the Totem series.

 

Thank you so much, Christine, for inviting me to guest post on your blog today and post swap. You ask me.

What makes a good flash fiction piece?

To answer that question, we need to understand what flash fiction is about. It is a short story under 1000 words, generally right at or around 500 words. Flash fiction is the length of one short scene with emotional IMPACT using shocks, twists, irony, OR something deeply meaningful to end it.

Anything less than 500 that is Micro Fiction, which has several sub-categories, or anything more than 1000 words which would still be considered a short story, not flash fiction. The purpose of micro fiction is to express interesting ideas or tell a brief story in as few words as possible differing it from flash which depicts a scene or a “moment or realization” in the life of your character.

• Flash fiction should possess all the qualities of story and scenes with the presentation of character with one problem. (hook & inciting incident)
• At least 1 or 2 possibly conflicts to carry the story forward. (action) (brevity)
• And a brief ending, creating an overall satisfying capsule of the story. The short word limit only has room to capture a meaningful or powerful moment in the character’s life.

Flash fiction should give the reader some satisfaction with its ending. The more complete and self-contained the story the better.

• I try to create a “semblance” of the 3-arc structure when I write flash fiction keeping it loose with word limits.
• One or two descriptive words for character e.g. nervous typist, sarcastic officer, disillusion magician
• One or two descriptive words for setting, e.g. windy sidewalk = city, snowy incline = anything from hill to Everest or ski resort, sweltering heat = anything from the beach to desert, rolling hills = countryside/farmland. The setting can be woven into the conflict with descriptive words. (middle)

The key is to weave in descriptive and action words to create emotion, forward action, intriguing and interesting conclusions. Flash is so brief the most you hope for is to evoke emotion in the reader or leave questions and possibilities.

• Remember conflict= action taken, has consequence for the character: It is not just a sequence of unrelated events.

Make the character responsible for his choices and actions.

• Action = reaction BUT conflict has real consequence for the character to deal with or accept, a lot of times with compounding effects.

I prefer flash fiction that engages me, evocates reaction, thought, curiosity, irony, and/or the shock factor. 

The shock factor must be meaningful, or I won’t read that author again.  It must intrigue or raise a question, not make me feel bad or disappointed.  It must be consistent with the tone of the story.

StorytimeBlog Hop flash fiction by several different authors in 2015 & 2016

Dragon Smoke & Wind by Karen Lynn (This one is one of my favorite from July 2016 blog hop.

 

Deep Current whisks you away!

Always read the fine print when making a bargain with a sea hag.

Lost to the clutches of her grief of losing her mentor, Saskia Dorn welcomes the opportunity to take down a warehouse of drug dealers. When their leader makes a break for it, Saskia and her ex-boyfriend, Sedge, chase the criminal shifter into the sea off the coast of northwestern Alaska. Not only do they lose their quarry, but a vicious sea hag snatches Sedge.

Saskia can’t take another loss and attempts to bargain for Sedge’s life and the salmon totem the witch has trapped in her cave. The sea hag wants only one thing: her long lost love. Who is dead. And living under the freaking ocean with the Salmon People. Find the Salmon People and return with the witch’s love before Sedge’s life is forfeit. Simple, right? Yet she can’t leave the Salmon People’s land without finding herself first. 

Coming February 6th, 2017.

Pre-order it on Amazon.

Add it to read on Goodreads.

Saskia's gaze is intense! If she were really staring at me that way, I'd be backing up and making a hasty retreat.

This was a tricky cover in terms of lighting. This story takes place at night on the sea and under the ocean. I wanted to make it look like night, but I couldn't make the background too dark or else no one would be able to see the ice floes. Going too dark with the image had it looking like someone made a snowman in the background.

I also wanted to darken the shadows on the model to match the background. She was brilliantly lit, and it was difficult to dim down the brightness to create the effect I wanted without washing her out completely. Hopefully I achieved the look of almost night.

But what I wonder most is why the sisters are always wearing tank tops in the cold of Alaska? *LOL* Good thing they can just shift into polar bears.

When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies With Killer Animals

The definitive horror movie guide for fans of killer animals and “nature strikes back” movies.

When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals provides a fascinating and entertaining insight into the cinematographic world of animals on the rampage. From well-known predators such as sharks and lions to unusual killing machines like turkeys, elephants, frogs, cats, and rabbits, there is no shortage of the species on display in this book.

Leading horror writers and filmmakers present their favorite “animals attack” films through in-depth essays. Some of the films are touching, some are repulsive, and some are just plain silly. Not all of these horror movies line up with the critical consensus, yet they have one thing in common: they have made the heart of the writer beat faster with excitement.

Seventy leading horror authors, bloggers, and filmmakers have contributed to the book. To name a few: Paul Kane, Alex J. Cavanaugh, Christine Rains, Jonas Govaerts, Aaron Christensen, Warren Fahy, Matthew House, Stuart R. West, Kate Larkindale, Doug Lamoreux, Michael McCarty, Mark McLaughlin, Beverly Gray, Chris Hewson, and many others.

 Buy the book now at:

Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon FR

Add the book to read on Goodreads.

I'm so excited to be a part of this amazing collection. I don't often write nonfiction, but this was right up my alley. I love horror movies, especially with creatures. I wrote about Snakes on a Plane, and just thinking about the movie makes me grin.

A huge thank you to Vanessa Morgan for putting this together. I'm honored to be part of it. Click on over to her blog. She's having a celebration giveaway!

#IWSG for December 2016

The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is the brilliant idea of Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the group is to share doubts and insecurities and to encourage one another. Please visit the other participants and share your support. A kind word goes a long way.

This month's awesome co-hosts are: Jennifer Hawes, Jen Chandler, Nick Wilford, Juneta Key, JH Moncrieff, Diane Burton, and MJ Fifield!

The December IWSG question: In terms of your writing career, where do you see yourself five years from now, and what’s your plan to get there?

I already write full-time, even though there never seems like enough time to do everything! I'd love to see myself making at least a regular paycheck equal to my husband's. I'm not aiming to be a millionaire, but to double our household income would be awesome.

I'm working hard on putting more books out there and learning about marketing. I'm doing good with the first one, but not so great with the second. My fear is that I will never be able to figure out how to properly market my books, and that luck will never be on my side when it comes to sales.

Has this fear stopped me? Nope. I'll keep on pushing forward and trying new things.

Ghost Cat prowls into pre-order!

Bigfoot is rampaging through a small fishing town, and he has friends.

The whispers say a boy is missing. Kinley Dorn can’t ignore them. The last time she did, a giant almost killed her. Her investigation in the boy’s disappearance leads her and her boyfriend, Ransom Averill, to a village on Lake Iliamna. Unfortunately, that boy isn’t the only child missing.

Some folks claim Bigfoot is taking the children, but the gentle creature usually stays away from humans. Kinley believes a totem is making Bigfoot act strangely, but can she and Ransom find it before more kids are abducted?

Coming January 23rd, 2017.

Pre-order it on Amazon. 

 Add it to read on Goodreads.

I hope this cover is as haunting as I feel it to be. I did very little in the creation of it. Sorry! No big story on this one. The model was perfect. Not even any flyaway hairs for me to deal with.

The background is one of my favorites. I use it here on my blog. The fog and snow create the perfect atmosphere.

* * * * *

Only 20 days until Christmas! Are you all ready for the holidays?

I've been working on a special Holiday Feast (of books!) with other authors, and wow! It's going to be huge. Check out the page for details! I'll be keeping you updated.

Cradle Rock flies into retailers!

WELCOME BACK TO THE FOREST!

Gabe the goblin just saved his town Broken Branch Falls from splitting apart. He also revealed that humans--horrible creatures of myth and legend--may actually be part of their history! But seriously? Nah!

Now Ona, Gabe’s girlfriend, is headed thousands of miles away to Camp Cradle Rock for Spring Break seeking evidence of humans. Gabe knows better than to tell a stubborn ogress she’s crazy, so he’s letting her go and spending the break at the beach like a normal teenage beast. And he’s determined to have a good time without her, whether he likes it or not.

But when Gabe hears Ona went missing, he and his friends set out for the wilds of the west to find her, no matter what dangerous creatures get in his way. Not even humans.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Check out the Book Trailer!

Three cheers for Tara! I'm so lucky to have already read Tara's newest awesome release. I love her Beast World series. It gives me the same feelings as the Harry Potter world. Check out my review for Cradle Rock and go pick yourself up a copy!

Here is the list of wonderful CRADLE ROCK RELEASE PARTY POST HOSTS:

	12/5	Patricia Lynne	Nerds Rule
	12/5	Heather R. Holden	Vampires
	12/7	Juneta Key	author spotlight interview
	12/9	Julie Flanders	Teenagers Now vs 80s
	12/9	Elizabeth Seckman	Beast-themed Recipe
	12/12	Lori L. MacLaughlin	Merfolk
	12/14	Sharon Bayliss	Ogres
	12/14	Tyrean Martinson	5 Reasons to use Chapter Titles
	12/16	Michael Di Gesu	Craziest Spring Break Trip
	12/17	Cathrina Constantine	Teen Dating
	12/19	Christine Rains	Hiking Faux Pas
	12/19	Alex J. Cavanaugh	Beast vs Monster - terminology
	12/21	Ann Noser	CR Quotes
	12/21	Heather M. Gardner	Discrimination - joking vs hurting
	1/4	Ken Rahmoeller	Dragons
	1/4	L. Diane Wolfe	Marketing Tips - Live & Online
	1/9	C Lee McKenzie	Grownup Stereotypes
	1/11	M. J. Fifield	Crazy Road Trip
	1/25	Crystal Collier	Poetry & Songs in Stories - Writerly Wed

Tara is also giving away signed copies of Broken Branch Falls and Cradle Rock, some Beast World swag, and a $20 GC!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Word Witch Wednesday - whipping up the news

Good news or bad news first?

The good news: I don't know if this is the bigger news, but here we go! The release of the first three of the Totem books is going good in that the readers who has read the books love them. Yay! Yes, the whole book ad thing didn't work out, but I've learned from it.

 

I'm on schedule for getting the next three Totem books out starting in January. The covers are done, and I'll reveal them next month.

I'm behind in writing the final three books. I wanted at least book #7 to be done by now, but I haven't set any release dates for them yet, so I'm safe in that aspect.

The bad news: my publisher, Ellora's Cave, is closing. I've regained all my rights for the nine books I had with them, and I'll publish them myself next year. I won't discuss all the details, but if you want to read about it, check out this article here. You can email me about it if you're really curious.

This is the second time I've had a bad experience with a publisher. I am thankful for the ability to publish my work myself. It's tough out there right now, especially for romance authors. Issues with Samhain Publishing and Harlequin also add to the mess writers have been dealing with this past year. Is it a wonder so many people are going indie? If Tor or Penguin want to sign me, then I'll be excited about working with a publisher again, but at this point in time, I have no desire to do so.

I'm not blocking off that path in my journey, but I'm putting my focus on being an indie author now. It's a little sad, and more than a bit scary since it will all be on me, but I'm one of those folks who find their determination strengthened by such things.

Never give up your dreams. You just may have to forge another path to get there.

Shattered Spirit (Totem #4) with a not so shattered cover!

A haunted house isn’t going to stop Ametta Dorn from doing her job.

Frustrated that her family has left her out of the search for the missing totem tokens, Ametta Dorn loses herself in her work. She’s offered a dream job of a complete interior renovation of a famous Cremaschi house. Not even discovering the house belongs to Lucky Osberg can dampen her enthusiasm.

Lucky’s plan to spend more time with her as she works goes awry when the spirit who protects his home tries to murder her. Ametta won’t be scared off, despite being tempted to run and never come back. She was going to flee Alaska and pursue her designer dreams anyway, yet that means giving up on Lucky and the totem that is just within her grasp.

Coming January 9th, 2017.

Pre-order the book on Amazon.

Add to read on Goodreads.

I think this is one of my most striking covers in the series so far, and it's because of the model with her awesome hair. There's a gorgeous old house behind her, but you can't take your eyes off her. I'm so excited about that, and yet nervous in that I want to share with you how I created this cover.

In the spirit of sharing my experiences creating book covers, I'm going to tell you what I did. BUT, be forewarned, it is likely you won't look at the cover the same way again.

Here's your spoiler warning! Stop reading here if you don't want to know my secret.

I'll give you a minute.

*nom nom yummy cookies nom*

Are you still here?

Okay. That means you want to know what I did.

The model is a composite of several bits and pieces. Yes, it's true. The face is from a different image than the rest of the body. It's the same model, but two different images. The original image I wanted to use had the model with plastic wrap around her neck. When I purchased the image, I thought it looked like frost or ice on her neck, but nope. It's definitely plastic wrap. No amount of fiddling around in Photoshop could change that.

To keep that face, I had to put her on a different body. But then I had another problem: the hair looked too cut out. It was flat and lifeless with obvious snipped edges.

So I took hair from other images (five in total, actually) and gave Ametta that magnificent mussed hairstyle. I learned a bunch of cool hair blending tricks that day.

Please let me know what you think!

Crash (The Immortal Chronicles #2) out now!

Addie 

In that once moment everything changed. Everything I thought I knew shattered with just a few words.
Who knew the truth could be so devastating. 
I need to decide which side to take. But can I even trust myself?

Xander 

She's gone, but I'll scorch the earth to find her if that's what it takes. 
I'll call upon friend and foe for the battle that is to come. The fires of hell couldn't keep me from her and whoever 
thinks they can take what is mine, is going to regret it for all time.

One thing is for sure. The Crash could ruin us all.

Buy it now on Amazon US and Amazon UK!

Excerpt:

“Where are we?” I ask, looking around at the beauty surrounding me. I don’t know that I’ve been anywhere so calming, so serene. I look out over the view in front of me. When we broke through the trees I was met with grass mixed with rocks and a small pool, fed by a waterfall.

“Xander, this place is beautiful!” I say twirling around before running and jumping into his arms, peppering his face with small, chaste kisses. He twirls me in circles before lowering me back to the ground, then gathering my face in his hands and kissing me. Different this time, deeper, firm but still gentle.

“It is nothing compared to you, but I thought you might like it. I came across it while I was out on my last scout. I saw it and thought of you.” He says, resting his forehead on mine. His lips are so close they tease me, just out of reach, and each moment I crave them more. The butterflies in my stomach take flight and I close my eyes to hide the emotion I know he’ll see there.

“Don’t hide from me Addie. You never have to hide, not from me.” He says gripping my chin. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than in this moment. “You make me feel again, its been a long time since I could say that. Even if no-one else knows, I always want you to know that I love you. I will love you until my lungs give out. Until there is nothing more than dust on this earth, and long after that still. I will never love again like I love you.”

Author Bio:

By day, Sloane Murphy works full time as an account manager, and by night writes escapism in the form of Paranormal Romance, all while looking after her fur baby & Mr M. She was born and raised in England along with 2 sisters, 2 brothers, and a plethora of cousins, and comes from a REALLY big family!

Sloane is currently working on the Immortal Chronicle series, alongside some other Top Secret projects too. She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

LINKS:

FACEBOOK: fb.me/sloanemurphybooks

Insta & Twitter: @author_sloanem

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/sloanemurphy

Website: www.authorsloanemurphy.com

Timeless blog tour - 3 Approaches to Developing Characters

Welcome Crystal Collier here today to share her new book and some writing tips!

In 1771, Alexia had everything: the man of her dreams, reconciliation with her father, even a child on the way. But she was never meant to stay. It broke her heart, but Alexia heeded destiny and traveled five hundred years back to stop the Soulless from becoming.

In the thirteenth century, the Holy Roman Church has ordered the Knights Templar to exterminate the Passionate, her bloodline. As Alexia fights this new threat—along with an unfathomable evil and her own heart—the Soulless genesis nears. But none of her hard-won battles may matter if she dies in childbirth before completing her mission.

Can Alexia escape her own clock?

BUY: Amazon | B&N

3 Approaches to Developing Characters
(For Different Types of Learners)

Thank you Christine for having me here today!

As a home schooling mother, I've learned THE HARD WAY that everyone has a different learning system. What works for one person probably won't work for another, so I'd like to suggest some approaches to creating/deepening characters that work for different types of thinkers.

First of all, when writing characters we need to be in their heads. Pure psychology here. That means we need to have a solid grasp of (in no particular order):

• what they look like
• how that has affected their place in society/self image
• what their greatest fear is
• what their greatest desire is
• where they live/work/go to school
• who they rub shoulders with every day
• hates/loves/interests & hobbies
• their greatest strengths
• their greatest flaws

That seems like quite a bit of information, and it is, but if we want solid characters, we need to do the leg work (ahem, research). So here are some tools/approaches for developing characters based on different learning approaches:

1. Get Visual. Do you get totally inspired by pictures? Do they spring stories in your head? Do you think in images? I'm quite visual, and Pinterest & google search are my best friends. You can look for someone based on their characteristics in Pinterest, and seeing them may help formulate their style, demeanor, and values. Search further to find a room or house that looks like where you imagine them living, discover people who look like their family, track down that piece of jewelry or keepsakes that defines them. Creating Pinterest boards is one way to brainstorm. Or, if you gather up junk magazines (or the "throw aways" from a doctors office), you can make a collage.

2. Hear that? Auditory learners retain information from hearing it. (That means those teacher lectures totally bring information home for you.) If this is your strength, try people watching. Eaves drop. (Yes, I'm giving you permission.) Listen to YouTube videos of people who resemble your characters or share interests. Try turning down the volume and speaking for them. Compile a playlist that your character would geek out over. Listen to pod casts from people who share interests with your characters. Talk out your thoughts with another person and have them be your sounding board. If your character is based off someone in your life, record them doing things, discreetly. Get their unique responses to questions. Dictate your ideas into a recorder, or tell yourself about the character.

3. You just Got to Move! Kinesthetic learners are the hardest to get through a public education system. (Believe me, I know.) But movement is a method of learning. Try brainstorming while working out/jogging/etc. Act out a scene and fill your character's footsteps. (I'm not kidding. Find a room with a locked door if you're paranoid. I've done this and it is AMAZING.) Play your character's favorite sport. Paint, draw, photograph, or model with clay potential aspects of your character (such as a home, favorite place to go, a scene in your story). Build or craft something your character might use. TYPE. Get those fingers moving. If needs be, use a yoga ball to sit on rather than a chair. Try handwriting things with a marker if it's more comfortable.

And just for fun, want to know where my two main characters in the Maiden of Time series came from? I met Alexia through my dreams (2002), and Kiren from blind writing back in 1994. (They're getting so old!) I loved them both at first scene, but it took years of writing them to truly know them. I suppose that's why there's so much elation at FINALLY finishing their saga in TIMELESS. *tosses cheese confetti* It's going to be hard to set them aside to develop other writerly loves.

What methods have you used for developing characters that REALLY works?

Crystal Collier is an eclectic author who pens clean fantasy/sci-fi, historical, and romance stories with the occasional touch of humor, horror, or inspiration. She practices her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese.

You can find her on her and her books online HERE.

(Email address is required for awarding prizes.)

Guest posting at Tyrean's blog

Hello!

I'm a guest at the lovely Tyrean Martinson's blog today talking about five reason to write about the paranormal. Click on over and say hi!

Cloak of Snow Release Day & Joylene Nowell Butler's Matowak Woman Who Cries with a giveaway!

No one messes with Saskia Dorn’s family and gets away with it.

The same murderous shifters who had hunted her sister have attempted to steal a magical totem pole. Since the pieces are scattered across Alaska, Saskia, a polar bear shifter, takes her search to the tundra for any signs of the lost totems.

Instead she finds Sedge, the latest reincarnation of the old Inuit Bear god, who just happens to be the man who broke her heart.

They come across a small native village tormented by the Jinxioc, evil gnomes with an appetite for human flesh. Sedge declares he will rid the people of the menace, believing a totem token is nearby affecting the devils’ behavior. At his side, Saskia battles to save the tribesmen, but it could mean sacrificing herself.

  Buy it on Amazon.

Add to read on Goodreads.

* * * * *

Author Joylene Nowell Butler is on tour this month with MC Book Tours featuring her new novel, Mâtowak Woman Who Cries, being released Nov. 1 by Dancing Lemur Press L.L.C.

You can follow Joylene's tour schedule HERE for excerpts, Q&As,  chances to win copies of her book and more.

A murder enveloped in pain and mystery...

When Canada's retired Minister of National Defense, Leland Warner, is murdered in his home, the case is handed to Corporal Danny Killian, an aboriginal man tortured by his wife's unsolved murder.

The suspect, 60-year-old Sally Warner, still grieves for the loss of her two sons, dead in a suicide/murder eighteen months earlier. Confused and damaged, she sees in Corporal Killian a friend sympathetic to her grief and suffering and wants more than anything to trust him.

Danny finds himself with a difficult choice—indict his prime suspect, the dead minister's horribly abused wife or find a way to protect her and risk demotion. Or worse, transfer away from the scene of his wife’s murder and the guilt that haunts him...

Mâtowak Woman Who Cries is available in eBook at the following sites:

Amazon.ca 

Amazon.com

Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C

The print copy is available at: 

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com.

Excerpt:

Seven o'clock in the morning and my screams wake me. I see Leland shooting both our boys dead while Meshango holds Digger in her arms, squeezing the life from him. I'm tied to the chair opposite Bronson and Declan. I can't twist free. Blood sprays in my eyes.

Fully awake now, I sob and rub my eyes. A moment passes before I can see clearly. It's another moment before I catch my breath. Afraid to succumb once again to sleep and to the chance of returning to this horrible nightmare, I wipe my face with both hands. I roll over on my back and try to focus on happy thoughts. All I can think of is Declan and how badly I failed him.

The first time Leland broke his spirit Declan was three. A heat wave had swept through the Interior and left forest fires roaring. I was pregnant, my ankles double their size. Every fan in the house ran at full tilt, but there seemed to be no relief. Declan was playing outside in the sandbox under the afternoon shade of our birch trees. Through the screen door I heard his imitation of miniature dump trucks and imagined him manoeuvring them over the make-believe hills and valleys of sand. The sound of his sweet voice reminded me of an ad for the Disney Jungle Book movie. I hear him now, a happy little boy with no hint of the young man who would one day kill his brother, then himself.

Dear God.

I wipe my wet face with the bed sheet.

It was the July long weekend. In those days, besides running his own law firm, Leland was on the city council.

Being under a lot of pressure was no excuse.

I sit up in bed, pulled the duvet to my chest and wrap my arms around my knees. With my eyes tightly closed, I can picture that day as if it were yesterday. Declan, three years old again.

Due to the intense heat I had prepared a second pitcher of lemonade for Leland. I planned on sitting outside on the veranda where there was a slight breeze. Being heavy with child made my response time slow. Declan wanted a drink and banged on the screen door for my attention. The door had one of those awkward latches. I hollered, “I'm coming.”

Possibly he didn't hear me or grew impatient. I had the pitcher in both hands and resting it on my stomach. My intent was to carry it to the table so Leland could have his drink, and then let Declan in. He was only three, impatient. He banged again, loudly. Leland looked at the door. I tried to hurry. I set the pitcher on the table. Declan kicked the door. Leland was out of his seat, sweeping past me. He hurled the door opened, reached down, yanked Declan up by one arm until he was level with Leland's shoulder, and then struck Declan across his backside. Declan screamed. I screamed.

“Leland—stop!”

He wouldn't.

I rushed towards them—grabbed his arm. “Stop it. Put him down. You're hurting him.”

When Joylene's father died in 1983, she wrote her first full–length manuscript to channel her grief. The seven-year process left her hooked and she began Dead Witness within a few weeks of finishing Always Father's Child. Today Joylene is the author of three suspense novels: Dead Witness, Broken But Not Dead, and the steampunk collaboration Break Time. While she'll admit being published didn't fix all the wrongs in her life, she wishes her parents had lived to see her success. Dead Witness was a finalist in the 2012 Global eBook Awards. Broken But Not Dead won the 2012 IPPY Silver Medal and its sequel Mâtowak Woman Who Cries is due for release November 1, 2016.

Joylene lives with her husband and their two cats Marbles and Shasta on beautiful Cluculz Lake in central British Columbia. They spend their winters in Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico.

For more on Joylene and her writing, visit her website and blog then connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and her Amazon Author Page.

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