Fantasy and PNR Summer Book Fair

Over 100 authors are participating in this awesome promo!

FREE books and book samples from every sub-genre of Fantasy and PNR. This includes my edgy paranormal, The 13th Floor Complete Collection.

Fill up your e-reader and enjoy the last days of summer with wonderful stories!

Click on the image above or here!

Seven Summer Reading Freebies!

I've gone a little bonkers with all this summer fun. But in a good way! I'm off soon to spend a week by the lake reading. Glorious peace and calm and books!

I want you to have some blissful reading time this summer too. So I've set up a schedule to provide you with seven free ebooks!

Relax and enjoy.

June 21st - 25th - Of Blood and Sorrow (Book #1)

June 25th - 29th - Dark Dawning (Totem #1)

June 26th - 30th - Silent Whispers (Totem #2)

June 28th - July 2nd - Ghost Dancer (The Paramours #1)

July 1st - 5th - Cloak of Snow (Totem #3)

July 5th - 9th - Big Yearning (The Sasquatch Susies #1)

July 10th - 14th - Loose Corset (Dice & Debauchery #1)

It's Summertime and there's a Murder at the Marina

I'm so excited to be celebrating the wonderful Ellen Jacobson's new release, Murder at the Marina today. I had the honor of receiving an ARC, and this cozy mystery hooked me completely. I laughed out loud so many times! You can read my review HERE.

The story takes place at a marina with a small sailing community in the summer. Summer is my least favorite season. I know that shocks a lot of people, but I don't handle the heat well. I much prefer it to be chilly. I'm also very fair, and I burn within 15 minutes of being out under the sun. Burn and freckle!

There is one thing that has recently made me look forward to the summer, though. That is Camp Brosius. It's a family camp tucked away beside a lake in Wisconsin. There's plenty to keep the kids busy and a variety of activities for the adults. Plus loads of family fun. You can also choose to do absolutely nothing. Just lounge by the lake and read.

Last year was our first year at Camp Brosius. I hadn't relaxed so hard in a decade! We want to make this an annual family trip. It's the type of summer vacation I want my son to remember fondly when he grows up. Maybe the type of vacation he wants to bring his family on some day.

* * * * *

A dilapidated sailboat for your anniversary—not very romantic. A dead body on board—even worse.

Mollie McGhie is hoping for diamonds for her tenth wedding anniversary. Instead, her husband presents her with a dilapidated sailboat. Just one problem—she doesn’t know anything about boats, nor does she want to.

When Mollie discovers someone murdered on board, she hopes it will convince her husband that owning a boat is a bad idea. Unfortunately, he’s more determined than ever to fix the boat up and set out to sea.

Mollie finds herself drawn into the tight-knit community living at Palm Tree Marina in Coconut Cove, a small town on the Florida coast. She uncovers a crime ring dealing in stolen marine equipment, investigates an alien abduction, eats way too many chocolate bars, adopts a cat, and learns far more about sailing than she ever wanted to.

Can Mollie discover who the murderer is before her nosiness gets her killed?

A Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery #1

Buy Links:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (UK) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBooks | Google Play

Author Bio: 

Ellen Jacobson writes mystery and sci-fi/fantasy stories. She is the author of the “Mollie McGhie Sailing Mystery” series. She lives on a sailboat with her husband, exploring the world from the water. When she isn't working on boat projects or seeking out deserted islands, she blogs about their adventures at The Cynical Sailor.

Sail away with Ellen here:

Author Website - https://ellenjacobsonauthor.com/

Author Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/EllenJacobsonAuthor/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17395138.Ellen_Jacobson

The Cynical Sailor Blog - http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.com/

The Cynical Sailor Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/TheCynicalSailor/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Ellen__Jacobson

Newsletter Sign-up - http://eepurl.com/dpy5sv

#IWSG for June 2018

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: Beverly Stowe McClure, Tyrean Martinson, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

This month's optional question: What's harder for you to come up with: book titles or character names?

Book titles. By far! I love coming up with character names. I have lists and lists of names. Book titles are incredibly difficult for me. I usually ask my writer friends for title suggestions. I try to keep my titles simple, but even then, I'm banging my head on the desk to find something that encompasses the story.

This month's insecurities: Time. I'm so behind on everything. This is not unusual for me. I know in the summer, I have precious few hours on the computer to work. Family comes first. I try to make to-do lists to reasonably fit that. But I'm looking at my June list and shaking my head. There's so much I want to do. I should be easier on myself. I tell myself to not worry. But my creative juices want to propel me forward at a speed that is hard for me handle. Then I berate myself for not getting enough done. I'm kinder to myself than I once was, but I'm still my own worst boss.

What are your insecurities this month?

#IWSG for June 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.

The awesome co-hosts for today are: Murees Dupe, Alexia Chamberlynn, Chemist Ken, and Heather Gardner!

My insecurity today: it's summer break!

There are lots of reasons to cheer that, but it also means precious little time to myself to write and all the writing related things. I already feel I'm behind on where I want to be. There's never enough time.

I will attempt to try to get into hyper efficient mode. If I get one hour at night, I must use it to its fullest.

Of course, that's easier said than done. Hot weather drains me. I prefer to hibernate in the summer, and I'm lucky if I have any energy after my little guy goes to bed at night.

If you have kids, how do you or did you as a writer get through summer breaks? Are you a summer person? If you only get a little time for writing, how do you keep yourself focused?

Friday Five for May 27, 2016

1. I survived talking to the university class. I didn't lose my voice or faint, and I remembered to wear pants. I even got a few laughs. So I'll count that as a win. Though, it was extremely awkward and nerve-wracking for me. Speaking in front of people is just not for me.

2. I'm still fussing with my Totem covers and their fonts. I think I might have one that works. Maybe. Ack! I need to stop messing with them and be done. It's stealing my writing time.

3. One short story competition loss this week. One short story submitted. Very little writing was done. I blame it on the fonts!

4. Yesterday was my son's kindergarten awards. He wore his bow tie shirt. So cute! Every child received a medal and a certificate. So sitting through eight classes took quite a while. My son also won a medal for the highest academic achievement for boys in his class. Proud mama right here. Today is his last day of school, and then it's ten weeks of summer break!

5. Friday Five will be on summer break too. It'll be back in August with a new logo. My blogging will be very light over the next two months. I have some incredible guests scheduled, though. Please come visit and let them know how awesome they are.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Friday Five for August 28, 2015

1. On Tuesday, I wrote END on my newest trilogy. Yay! Three wonderfully fun paranormal novelettes which I'll be submitting to my publisher. This was a spur of the moment project, and one I did in a month. I think I was a little excited about having full weekdays to myself!

2. And on Tuesday, I started planning my next series. The more I think about it, the bigger it's growing. My muse is still on the full-time writer high and is getting mighty ambitious. This project will be a serial paranormal romance in nine parts. Nine novellas. I thought I was crazy when I did the 13th Floor series and that was six parts. I will remember my lesson learned from that, though: have the books written before you start publishing them!

3. Next week I'll be co-hosting the IWSG for the first time. I'm a little nervous. But I can't wait to hear the big surprise they have for us!

4. I've been enjoying a taste of autumn this week. Most mornings I was snug in a sweatshirt, flannel pajama bottoms, and slippers. But the heat is coming back again. Blah. Did you see Untethered Realms' good-bye to summer post yet? We are not hot weather folks.

5. I have some BIG news for you. I'm not quite sure when I can announce it, but it's so exciting! I will be celebrating with ice cream this weekend.

Dog Days of Summer Blog Fest

Mmm, hotdogs. What a great name for this blogfest. Hotdogs always remind me of summer.

A big thank you to Jeremy Bates for hosting The Dog Days of Summer blogfest. This is a great way to meet some new friends and to find out what everyone's been doing this summer.

The rules are simple. Write a post about one or all three topics below:
1) Describe your favorite summer activity thus far.
2) What activities do you have planned before summer is over?
3) If you could have the ultimate vacation ever, where and what would it be?

My favorite summer activity so far is getting our new air-conditioning unit installed. Yes, we went a month without it. It was horrible. Several times I thought I died. I'm not a hot weather person.

Okay, okay. My real favorite summer activity has been going to the lake for a swim and a picnic. My son loves the water. Just watching him play is a joy.

 

We don't have any other summer plans. In ten days, my son will be starting preschool. A BIG event, but to me, it feels more like an autumn event. Yet if the weather gives us more opportunities, we'll take a drive to the lake and have some more fun.

As for the ultimate vacation, ooh, a complete summer-long tour of Europe. No rush to see everything. Just taking our time. See the big attractions and hunt out the gems most tourists don't get to see. I want to browse little bookshops and eat chocolate in every country.

Let us know what you've been doing this summer!