The holidays are swiftly coming up.
A lot of you are writers. Writers with books out. Novels, comics, collections. Hell, we can even expand this to indie games, or Kickstarters, or whatever you want, long as it’s you writing it and it’s something that tells a story.
So, here’s your chance to promote that thing in the comments below.
Tell us about it! Tell us why we should check it out! Get excited.
(And don’t forget to give us a link to click. By the way, giving us links to click may hold your comment in administration for a short time. Do not panic! I’ll administer throughout the day.)
But, this promotion thing: it has rules.
First: keep it short. Like, one paragraph short. And not one of those paragraphs with the size and density of a brick. Keep it lean and mean — back cover copy. A hook in our mouth to drag us forth.
Second: you must also promote another book (or comic, or KS, or game, or whatever) by someone else. So, one of yours, one of someone else’s. Failure to do this may open you to a surly side-eye, straight-up mockery, or a trip right to the spam oubliette.
Comment section is open.
GET THE TO THE PROMO CANNONS.
Michael Patrick Hicks says:
Thanks for this, Chuck! Here’s the blurb from my debut sci-fi cyberpunk thriller, Convergence:
Jonah Everitt is a killer, an addict, and a memory thief. After being hired to kill a ranking officer of the Pacific Rim Coalition and download his memories, Everitt finds himself caught in the crosshairs of a terror cell, a rogue military squadron, and a Chinese gangster named Alice Xie. Xie is a profiteer of street drugs, primarily DRMR, a powerful narcotic made from the memories of the dead. With his daughter, Mesa, missing in post-war Los Angeles, Everitt is forced into an uneasy alliance with Alice to find her.
Publisher’s Weekly called CONVERGENCE a “smart splice of espionage and science fiction. … frighteningly realistic. Well-drawn characters, excellent pacing, and constant surprises make this a great cautionary tale about technology and its abuses.” My book was an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2013 Quarterfinalist, and a Kobo Next Read selection earlier this year.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ILD61O2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ILD61O2&linkCode=as2&tag=httpmichaelpa-20
My recommendation goes to the works of Lucas Bale. He has a new release out today, called Defiance. It’s book two in his Beyond The Wall series. He’s got the first book, The Heretic, up for free, along with a short story that he just released. On top of that, Defiance is only 99 cents.
http://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Bale/e/B00LGVGUMO
November 17, 2014 — 9:20 AM
Beverly says:
Both sounds really good. Thank you. 🙂
November 17, 2014 — 11:39 AM
Michael Patrick Hicks says:
You’re welcome. 🙂
November 17, 2014 — 11:57 AM
john freeter says:
I’ve read Convergence. It’s really good, definitely worth checking out!
November 17, 2014 — 11:56 AM
Michael Patrick Hicks says:
Thank you so much, John. Greatly appreciated!
November 17, 2014 — 11:57 AM
J.R. McLemore says:
My novel CARNIVILLE is a quasi-locked-room mystery that unfolds in an apartment complex housing human oddities in Florida when one of them is found murdered. It hosts a strange ensemble of characters who try working together to out the killer. You can find it at the link below:
http://www.amazon.com/Carniville-J-R-McLemore-ebook/dp/B00J9IVZFS
If you are a science fiction fan, you may be interested in a book my friend Todd York wrote callled A LONG WAY HOME. It chronicles the journey of a woman named Kathryn “Rynn” Cochran as she travels to an interstellar frontier to document the settlements. Things become less mundane when she finds herself in the middle of a military cover-up. His books is here:
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Way-Home-Todd-York-ebook/dp/B006KWAEJY
And a big tip of the hat to Chuck for allowing us a place to share some of our work. Thanks, Chuck!
November 17, 2014 — 9:21 AM
Beverly says:
That sounds very cool. Did you see that X-Files episode in Gibsonton, FL? I’m from nearby and occasionally saw people wintering from circuses. And of course I saw wrestlers. :p
November 17, 2014 — 11:41 AM
J.R. McLemore says:
Yes, I did see that X-Files episode and loved the allure of the freaks. 🙂
November 18, 2014 — 8:42 AM
Beverly says:
😀
November 18, 2014 — 1:34 PM
K.J. says:
Wow….lots of reading to be had with this comment list! Love it! I don’t have anything of my own to promote so I’ll just give a shout out to a friend of mine who has two excellent reads for you all. Ashley Hodges Bazer is the author of a two (soon to be three) books in the series, “Heralds of the Crown.” The forces of good and evil are always at odds, but Ashley has added a new twist to this age old battle. http://www.amazon.com/Ashley-Hodges-Bazer/e/B0091ZNAGQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1416233766&sr=1-1
November 17, 2014 — 9:22 AM
RJ Cresswell says:
Spinetingler Magazine recently published my short story, “Trophy.” They’re not selling it, and neither am I, but I would be grateful to anyone who took the time to read it. It’s my first fiction publication, and it’s about a war veteran who’s family, and sanity, is dissolving. One reader wrote that it was “Dark and fine.”
http://www.spinetinglermag.com/2014/09/29/fiction-trophy-by-r-j-cresswell/
Last night I read Joe the Barbarian by Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy. It’s an interesting story about a kid with diabetes who experiences a dissociative state that plunges him into a fantasy world. Great read.
http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Barbarian-Grant-Morrison/dp/1401237479
November 17, 2014 — 9:24 AM
Luke Matthews (@GeekElite) says:
Joe the Barbarian is fantastic. One of my favorites.
November 17, 2014 — 3:57 PM
Chazz says:
Thanks, Chuck!
This Plague of Days, Omnibus by Robert Chazz Chute
Think Stranger in a Strange Land + The Stand and you’ve got This Plague of Days, Omnibus Edition. A boy on the autistic spectrum defends his family and eventually the world from the rise of three killer plagues in a war for the future of the human race. http://amzn.to/1vhXdEQ
Dying Days 4 by Armand Rosamilia
Zombie fans need to read Armand Rosamilia’s Dying Days 4. Think Walking Dead with more action and humor. I also think this is a clever take on the zombie genre because the zombies are smarter. Number 4 is my favorite of the Dying Days Series, but readers can jump in anywhere for good fun. http://amzn.to/1BJmNp7
November 17, 2014 — 9:24 AM
angeliquejamail says:
Thanks so much for the opportunity to post this, Chuck! 🙂 This August my ebook FINIS. came out. It’s magic realism and available only as an ebook because it’s a novelette. Here’s the “back cover blurb” in one paragraph:
Elsa’s family grows more unkind by the week. Her boss, a seven-foot-tall rage demon, has control of everything but his anger. And her cat wants to eat her. Things could be better. In a world where one’s Animal Affinity is a sign of maturity and worth, Elsa’s inability to demonstrate hers is becoming more than a disappointing nuisance; it’s becoming a danger. She has no confidence she’ll ever conquer her Plainness by “blossoming.” She also fears both the wolf packs that prowl her neighborhood and being stuck in a life plummeting rapidly from lackluster to perilous. Fortunately, she has a cousin and a co-worker who know her better than she knows herself and can see through to what society won’t. FINIS. is the magic realism of our time, a story of finding one’s way to the end of things, of persevering through the dregs of life to discover something more.
And here’s the link to its listing on Amazon (though FINIS. is also available on Smashwords, Oyster Books, Barnes and Noble, Apple’s iBooks Store, etc.): http://www.amazon.com/Finis-Ang%C3%A9lique-Jamail-ebook/dp/B00MFQG0H4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416233551&sr=8-1&keywords=finis.+jamail
As for the book I want to recommend, I’m frankly torn between three books I read this year that I really loved. (And yes, I read more than three!) HOT LEAD, COLD IRON by Ari Marmell may be one of his best books yet. CRIMSON SON by Russ Linton defies the pejorative stereotypes against self-publishing and is a really fantastic read. But I’ll post links for TEXTU, a book of poems by Fady Joudah (and here’s the review of it on my blog: http://wp.me/p1MOqK-ns). In TEXTU, Joudah has invented a new poetic form: poems composed entirely in text messages. It may sound gimmicky, but it’s not; the idea of the form is plugged into the shifting norms of our culture, and the poetry (as Joudah’s poetry always is) feels profound. I decided to mention TEXTU, also, because I just discovered today that it’s out in print finally. (It was an ebook only before.) Here’s the link for its listing on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Textu-Fady-Joudah-ebook/dp/B00C0JG9SQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416234173&sr=8-1&keywords=textu+joudah
Thanks again, Chuck!
November 17, 2014 — 9:25 AM
J.P. Sloan says:
*gives Chuck a high-five* *misses* *tries to play it cool*
I have a new urban fantasy series out… the debut novel, THE CURSE MERCHANT, follows the struggles of Dorian Lake, a hex and charm crafter in Baltimore, as he tries to buy back the soul of his ex-lover from an unscrupulous soul monger. How low can he go to save her soul, without losing his own? Amazon linky: http://j.mp/CurseMerch
I’d also like to throw a shout out for Nathan Yocum’s THE ZONA. Here you have a gritty-as-hell post-apocalyptic drama set in the sun-blasted theocracy of what’s left of Arizona. One of the state-mandated preachers (who are more like assassins) struggles for survival in the brutal landscape as he suffers a crisis of conscience. It’s visceral and challenging… knocked my socks off! Link: http://www.amazon.com/Zona-Nathan-Yocum-ebook/dp/B00797RDWA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1416234336&sr=1-1&keywords=the+zona&pebp=1416234337796
November 17, 2014 — 9:28 AM
Angela Myron (@AngelaMyron) says:
Ennara and the Book of Shadows: http://amzn.com/B00MYN0CZ4 (on sale for $0.99, cough)
What is it? Goonies meets a neo-medieval future. Fantasy, adventure, monsters, and mayhem. And a big cat.
And, my wonderful critique partner is releasing a new romance today. Check it out, she’s awesome! Resisting Her Rival: http://amzn.com/B00OXTSQR8 (also only $0.99 today)
Thanks always Chuck, and happy Thanksgiving!
November 17, 2014 — 9:28 AM
Curtis Edmonds (@Curtis_Edmonds) says:
I think it’s outstanding to see so many people who have written (what I hope is) so much good stuff. Kudos to all of you.
My second novel was self-published this month–that’s right, self-published, you want to make something of it? (Knock this chip off my shoulder. I dare you.) It’s called WREATHED, and it’s a humorous contemporary romance that starts out with a Meet Cute at a funeral and sort of devolves from there. You have my enthusiastic permission to check it out at Amazon, although it’s available elsewhere as well: http://www.amazon.com/Wreathed-Curtis-Edmonds-ebook/dp/B00MUADP6Y/
My favorite thing that I read this year that I desperately want to smack you about the head and shoulders with your own Kindle until you agree to read the damned thing is a lovely history book called DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC, by one Candice Millard, who I don’t know personally and have never met but I have it in my mind that she probably smells nice. It’s about James Garfield and HEY WAKE UP THERE, YOU, I AM TALKING HERE and even though it sounds boring it’s about a seriously delusional assassin and incompetent doctoring and a guy named James Garfield who was a lot more than somebody who lent his name to a fat lasagna-eating comic-strip cat. Read it! Learn something about the late nineteenth century for a change! IT IS SO GOOD. http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Republic-Madness-Medicine-President-ebook/dp/B004J4X33O/
November 17, 2014 — 9:30 AM
Gina Drayer says:
wow. What a great list!
I offer up:
Lotus Petals, a supernatural mystery. The story is “Rizzoli and Isles meets The Dresden Files.” Dead bodies, magic, and a liberal splash of snark draw the reader into a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. Olivia Harmon is a funeral director and assistant county coroner. After she links a series of unrelated death to dark magic, everyone starts to suspect her, one of the only witches in the small rural town. So now she’s forced to track down the killer herself in order to prove her own innocence.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L6H97VO
If Science Fiction is more your style, might I suggest:
Fluency by Jennifer Foehner Wells
I can’t say enough good things about Jen’s book. When I read the first draft, I knew she had a great book. And readers agree. Fluency has been on Amazon’s best seller list for months. It’s a fantastic first contact story. If you liked the movies Gravity and Interstellar, but haven’t enjoyed many Science Fiction Books because you found them boring, Fluency is for you. The story doesn’t get bogged down by page after page of overly technical jargon that turns off a lot of people to Science Fiction. Fluency has the right mix of science and human drama that drives a great story.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L3U9OCG
November 17, 2014 — 9:34 AM
Kay Camden says:
Just checked out Fluency, loved the cover, then found out it’s science fiction romance!! Squeee! Always looking for those and it’s impossible to find good ones. Thanks!
And due to the good recommendation I’ll check yours out too, even though I normally don’t read mystery. Thanks! 🙂
November 17, 2014 — 1:08 PM
Gina Drayer says:
Hope you enjoy Fluency! I really did. It’s a planned series, so there’s more to come!
November 17, 2014 — 3:36 PM
Amanda Niehaus-Hard says:
The book I’d like to promote is Josh Malerman’s “The Bird Box,” which is one of the single creepiest books I’ve read in ages. Something is “out there” and it’s causing people to kill each other and themselves. You can’t see it — once you look, you’re under its deadly influence. It’s a great read and you can learn more about it here: http://www.harpercollins.com/9780062259653/bird-box
My story “RIP Ellipses” is in “22 More Quick Shivers: from the Dailynightmare.com” It’s a lovely volume of weird and creepy flash fiction available here:
http://www.amazon.com/22-More-Quick-Shivers-Dailynightmare-com/dp/1940719011
November 17, 2014 — 9:46 AM
Ron Suresha says:
Hiya Chuck,
[tap tap] Is this thing on? So, my thanks to Chuck for the stage and mic.
First: my latest book, just out from indie publisher Lethe Press, is an outrageous, hilarious collection of authentic bawdy Turkish folk tales and jokes, the sequel my award-winning 2011 book of stories about the 800-year-old “wise fool” character. It has all the taboo, XXX-rated material not in the first book and is for mature readers only. Extraordinary Adventures of Mullah Nasruddin: Naughty, unexpurgated tales of the beloved wise fool from the Middle and Far East.
> On Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23198759-extraordinary-adventures-of-mullah-nasruddin
> Read story excerpts on my website:
http://mullahnasruddin.com/?tag=naughty-nasruddin
Another great read for the season is The Bears of Winter, a fur-thickening friction anthology edited by my friend, Jerry L. Wheeler. It has Santa daddybears, vampire bears, ice-harvesting bears, and Polar Pete, with 16 stories by noted authors Jeff Mann, Dale Chase, Daniel M. Jaffe, ‘Nathan Burgoine, Lewis deSimone, Hank Edwards and more.
> On Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18489319-the-bears-of-winter
> Complete info on the Bear Bones Books website:
http://bearbonesbooks.com/?p=1443
Thanks, and don’t forget to tip your server. [replaces mic, steps down]
November 17, 2014 — 9:49 AM
Madison K says:
Flower’s Fang -In the Kin-Jegera Empire the strength of your magic or your claws determines your destiny – too bad our heroes are short on both! An elvish Prince and a runt of a she-wolf must save a magical Kingdom before it is too late.
Available on Kindle, and the paperback should be up within a few days (waiting on the proof) – http://www.amazon.com/Flowers-Fang-Madison-Keller-ebook/dp/B00MWM0OQO
Isaac The Fortunate – A group of unlikely heroes must repeat time to stop a demonic plague that is sweeping through 15th century Europe. Each volume follows a different hero, with their story-lines coming together in the final volume. The entire series is also fully illustrated with a series of wood-block print type illustrations.
Paperback and E-Book: http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Isaac-Fortunate-Book-ebook/dp/B00HGEP13Y
November 17, 2014 — 9:55 AM
Wendy Christopher says:
I have nothing of my own to shout about (yet) but I really really wanna recommend ‘Committed: a Memoir of The Artists’ Road’ by Patrick Ross. (Amazon link – http://www.amazon.com/Committed-A-Memoir-Artists-Road/dp/161296429X) It’s one man’s remarkable story about a road trip across the US, undertaken to interview artists for a government arts funding program – that becomes a personal journey through the author’s own dark past, leading him to confront his demons, reawaken his creative spirit and accept his bipolar disorder. This book has made me cry, and books NEVER make me cry – it’s THAT good.
November 17, 2014 — 9:57 AM
Percival Constantine says:
Here’s a blurb from one of my books, THE LOST CONTINENT:
“All the legends of the world have some element of truth to them. And to track down those legends, there are the myth hunters. Some, like Elisa Hill, are explorers, trying to learn more about the world. And some are soldiers of fortune, whose only goal is profit and exploitation, no matter the risk. When evidence proving the existence of the lost continent of Lemuria, Elisa embarks on a journey for the truth. And her quest will take her from the oceans of the Caribbean to the temples of India and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. But it’s a race against time, because the mysterious sect known as the Order and a ruthless myth hunter named Seth are also after the secrets of Lemuria!”
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Continent-Myth-Hunter-Book-ebook/dp/B0053QY458
And here’s a blurb from one of my personal favorites, Derrick Ferguson’s DILLON AND THE VOICE OF ODIN:
“He’s a soldier of fortune gifted with an astonishing range of remarkable talents and skills that make him respected and feared in the secret world of mercenaries, spies and adventurers. A world inhabited by amazing men and women of fabulous abilities that most of us are unaware even exists. Fueled by a taste for excitement, driven by an overpowering desire to protect the innocent, see that wrongs are righted and assisted by a worldwide network of extraordinary men and women, all experts in their fields, Dillon spans the globe in a never-ending quest for the wildest and most breathtaking adventures of all!”
http://www.amazon.com/Dillon-Voice-Odin-Anniversary-Adventures-ebook/dp/B00E1IVPU6/
November 17, 2014 — 9:58 AM
C. Jai Ferry says:
Thank you, Chuck!
I am sharing one of my collections, Honeysuckle Road, which focuses on gritty rural stories with subtle, dark twists. The only monsters in these four short stories are the humans. http://amzn.to/1uEGkSr
My recommended book is by Lisa Kovanda (who currently has some excellent novels on sale that are burning up the charts). I am sharing her “Cedar in Seattle” short story…everything you’ve ever wanted to do with a woodchipper http://amzn.to/11jSXq9
November 17, 2014 — 10:01 AM
Wesley D. Gray says:
Hi folks! Mine is a little chapbook called Come Fly with Death: Poems Inspired by the Artwork of Zdzislaw Beksinski. I think the title pretty much speaks for itself, so here’s the link: http://goo.gl/VsFoQf
And to learn more about the fantastic art of this insanely talented artist, please visit: http://www.beksinski.pl/
And now I’d like to promote the latest novel from Keith Deininger, Ghosts of Eden. Keith Deininger has quickly become one of my favorite new authors, and his latest novel once again promises to be a dark and psychedelic journey of disturbing fantasy fiction. Here’s what author Greg F. Gifune has to say: “Keith Deininger’s Ghosts of Eden is like Bradbury on acid. A terrifying tale from a remarkable new talent. Be prepared to have your mind blown.” http://goo.gl/684rAH
[Thanks, Chuck!]
November 17, 2014 — 10:03 AM
tsouthcotte says:
Not a book, but we do have a spectacular amount of fiction. I help run The Writer’s Arena, where authors square off head to head to see who can come up with the best story. They get a prompt and have a short time to finish it, then our judges and audience vote on their favorites. It’s a great way to get quick feedback for young authors.
http://thewritersarena.com
As for my book recommendation, I’ll have to go with Probability Angels by Joseph Devon. It’s just a kick ass book that looks at human motivation, zombies, sacrifice, and much more.
http://amzn.com/B001GIOW22
November 17, 2014 — 10:08 AM
Betsy says:
Doorways to Extra Time is a fun and fascinating anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories. Everyone wants to get an extra hour in the day … but what if you could? AND, it’s currently 99 cents on Kindle. My magical realism story “The Now” is in this anthology, and I’m happy it is in such good company. Check it out:
http://www.amazon.com/Doorways-Extra-Time-Trisha-Wooldridge-ebook/dp/B00EHKY370/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416236970&sr=8-1&keywords=doorways+to+extra+time&pebp=1416236970530
My next recommendation is Frost Moon by Anthony Francis, the first book in an urban fantasy series. Here’s the blurb:
In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost’s talents are coveted by all. She’s the best magical tattooist in the southeast, a Skindancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life. When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta’s tattooed elite, the police and the Feds seek Dakota’s help. Can she find the killer on the dark fringe of the city’s Edgeworld? Among its powerful outcasts and tortured loners, what kind of enemies and allies will she attract? Will they see her as an invader, as a seducer, as an unexpected champion … or as delicious prey?
And here’s the buy link on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Frost-Moon-Skindancer-Anthony-Francis-ebook/dp/B008JG8NK6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416236694&sr=8-1&keywords=frost+moon&pebp=1416236695076
November 17, 2014 — 10:09 AM
Derek Hall says:
Thanks Chuck!
I’m currently writing a free bi-monthly serial called The Private Op which you can check out at: http://www.ThePrivateOp.com/ The series follows the adventures of secret agent for-hire, Ashiel Hammond, of Archangel Security Consultants. Archangel SC, founded by former CIA agent, Gabriel Sexton, works all over the world righting wrongs – for a small fee of course. The field operative for the organization, Ashiel Hammond is a modern day hard-boiled detective thrust into a world of international intrigue. Stories average 15-20 pages so you get a great read in a short time. If you enjoy hard-boiled detective fiction or espionage thrillers and you like unique characters in exotic locales, all with a sprinkling of clever pop culture references, then this is the series for you!
The book I’d like to recommend is “Love & Student Loans & Other Big Problems” by my good friend Melissa Stacy. Check it out here: http://melissastacy.com/love-and-student-loans-and-other-big-problems/
Mary Jane Logan graduates from college and finds herself back at Square One: no money, no job, no prospects. She has three younger siblings to care for, student loans to pay back, and a documentary project she might never film. When her best friend died senior year, Mary Jane lost more than her friend–she lost sight of her dreams. While she struggles to pay the bills, the word failure keeps pounding through her head. She isn’t using her degree. She’s washing dishes, waiting tables, scraping by. Then a strange man appears in her life. A man with silver eyes like a leopard and a grin like the devil when the devil plays poker. He looks at Mary Jane and he does not see a failure. Mary Jane looks at him and all she sees is trouble. This man is certainly trouble, more than Mary Jane could have guessed. Torn between her family, her dreams, and her own need for love, Mary Jane must decide what she wants in her life, and how much she’s willing to risk for what matters most.
November 17, 2014 — 10:11 AM
ReGina Welling says:
Thanks for the opportunity Chuck!
Rings on Her Fingers by ReGina Welling is a fun and clean romantic mystery.
Julie Hayward’s life takes a turn for the bizarre after a visit to a psychic puts her in touch with her grandmother’s ghost. Soon she will find out her fiancé is a fake and meet the man of her dreams. All while searching for a hidden family treasure.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K1MS0NQ
And, in keeping with the ghostly theme, I would like to recommend Collecting Ghosts by my friend Victoria Eastman. A short collection of stories about true-life ghostly encounters. It might just give you shivers.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P33USO2
November 17, 2014 — 10:18 AM
Anthony W. Eichenlaub says:
Thanks for the chance to promote my cyberpunk western Justice in an Age of Metal and Men, Chuck. Normally I stay away from ‘buy my book’ talk, but for you I’ll make an exception.
Small town sheriff Jasper Davis Crow has an arm forged of Texas Army-issued black metal, chews snuff manufactured from real tobacco extract, and wields a six shooter made before neural implants were even a thing. In an age when Texan independence, neglect, and technology have ushered in a new age of lawlessness, J.D. holds strong the line of justice in the town of Dead Oak. Longhorns trample a rancher in what appears to be a brutal accident. The new deputy from Austin is convinced that it’s murder and J.D. is inclined to agree when their investigation uncovers a bizarre conspiracy. With a megastorm brewing and a mysterious stranger tracking their every move, they need to work fast before time runs out and the storm wipes everything clean.
http://www.amazon.com/Justice-Age-Metal-Anthony-Eichenlaub/dp/1493776096/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1416237018&sr=8-1
The book I’d like to promote is called Strictly Analog, by Richard Levesque. It’s a story of a cyberpunk California where rampant consumerism has led to a beautifully dystopic society. It deals with a world where everyone is connected to the internet at all times no matter what except for our main character, who is disconnected due to an injury. It has a noir sort of vibe that is really fun to read in a cyberpunk setting.
http://www.amazon.com/Strictly-Analog-Richard-Levesque/dp/1478354429/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416237239&sr=8-1&keywords=strictly+analog
November 17, 2014 — 10:18 AM
M T McGuire says:
Woah! Excellent. Thanks for the opportunity.
First up, the recommendation thing is well hard but I have four favourite authors right now, First up, anything by David Staniforth but especially Alloria which is just lovely in a Narnia kind of way and he can really write: to the point where I’m filled with professional envy. Jim Webster writes fantasy and a sci/fi but I love the fantasy ones, can recommend Dead Man Riding East I loved that. If your bag is a kind of Spike Milligan combined with Spinal Tap you will enjoy anything in the Banned Underground series by Will MacMillan Jones and Rick Trivett’s Tales of Lyonesse is a really cool concept, I’m half way through and really enjoying it. You can find all of those on Amazon and many elsewhere too.
For my book, well, I have four out out which comprise the K’Barthan Series (still called Trilogy in some places because I haven’t updated it or the updates haven’t flowed through). It’s a humorous science fiction fantasy, with a dash of romance in places – think Hitch Hiker’s Guide meets James Bond. I’ll post the blurb for the omnibus edition and if you think you like the sound of it, the first one is free.
THE K’BARTHAN SERIES
All The Pan of Hamgee wants is a quiet life.
So why did he have to fall in love with a woman living a different version of reality, upset a murderous tyrant and then run out of places to hide?
Now all he has to do is face his inner demons, rescue everything he holds dear and save the world, or die trying.
Oh yes, and he’s an abject coward.
Great. No pressure then.
You can find it on Amazon, Google Play, Kobo, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, the Book Depository and Waterstones if you’re in the UK. There’s a list of links, hopefully to the retailer of your choice, here: http://hamgee.co.uk/books/few-are-chosen-2/
Thanks for reading!
Cheers
MTM
November 17, 2014 — 10:20 AM
Mercia McMahon says:
Thanks for the opportunity. My novel Seattle in Shorts is about dealing with the pasts and is set twelve months ago in November 2013. It is the story of a Seattleite returning from London after a mental breakdown and interspersed with short stories about the suffering of Seattle’s minorities. The novel was inspired by Fumiko Hayashida, the woman in the iconic photograph representing the horror of japanese American internment. Sadly she died at the start of November 2014. http://merciamcmahon.com/publications
My book is about Seattle by a Londoner and my recommendation is a book about Utah by a Seattleite. Tom Schabarum’s The Narrows: Miles Deep is an innovative and moving story of a group of friends coping with being queer in a very conservative state, but who also love Utah’s great outdoors including the eponymous Narrows.
http://www.amazon.com/Narrows-Miles-Deep-Tom-Schabarum-ebook/dp/B004N62G5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416237521&sr=8-1&keywords=narrows+miles+deep
November 17, 2014 — 10:20 AM
leedunning says:
Woot! Thank you, sir!
Exile’s Redemption (http://amzn.to/1t3sF2a) by Lee Dunning:
After four hundred years, isolated from the rest of the world, the Elven Nation has finally reestablished a presence on the mainland of Allasea. With their return, the elves have built the city of Second Home, a place of learning, open to all who would come to study.
For Raven, a young Shadow Elf historian, and one of the few elves born on the mainland, it’s an opportunity for her to research the truth about the first child born to the elves, Umbral K’hul, a god-like boy whose attempted patricide and subsequent banishment triggered a civil war that fractured the Elven Nation.
A more sinister presence sees the elves’ return as a chance to strike, filling the beautiful city with an army of chaos and death. But along with the demons, strides another: after ten thousand years of exile, Umbral K’hul has escaped his prison.
Now, the elves’ greatest pariah and an untested heroine must face an enemy bent on genocide. In the process they will discover secrets their people have kept since the elves established First Home. Secrets which could prove even more devastating than the demons.
*******
Amazon LINK: http://amzn.to/1t3sF2a
******
I’ve actually read several indie-published books I really liked. However, I think the most polished one is a novella by Dan Maurer called Snow Day (http://amzn.to/1sYL2Gl). It’s part slice-of-life and part thriller. Has one of the coolest chase scenes ever. Here is the blurb:
It happens each winter, and has for over 35 years. Every time the snow starts to fall late in the evening before a school day, the dreams begin again for Billy Stone. They are always the same – there’s a dark tunnel, and there’s blood, lots of blood, and someone is screaming.
In this chilling childhood tale, Billy, recounts the events of one unforgettable day in 1975. On that day, he and his friends played carefree in the snow, until an adventure gone awry left him far from home, staring death in the face, and running from a killer bent on keeping a horrible secret.
Set in a time before Amber Alerts, when horror stories were told around camp fires instead of on the nightly news, Snow Day is a blend of nostalgia and nightmare that makes us question if the good old days were really as good as we remember.
From a new voice in dark fiction comes a thriller about an idyllic childhood turned horrifying; a cautionary tale about how losing sight of the difference between feeling safe and being safe can lead to deadly consequences.
******
LINK: http://amzn.to/1sYL2Gl
*******
November 17, 2014 — 10:20 AM
conniecockrell says:
I released First Encounter in September. It’s the first book of my Brown Rain series, a dystopian novelette. The main character Alyssa has a remarkable gift, she can heal plants by touch. Useful in a world that has been destroyed by a four year toxic brown rain. Thirteen years after the rain ended, the land is still covered with the toxic, oily remains of the rain. She wants to go out and heal the world. Her friend Kyra, four years older, has spent her time training in martial arts and archery. The two leave their shelter and learn to survive on their own. Their first encounter with another survivor community shows them that not all communities survived well. They’re taken prisoner and the future looks grim. Can they escape their confinement? http://www.amazon.com/First-Encounters-Brown-Rain-Book-ebook/dp/B00MW8AYOK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416237237&sr=8-1&keywords=Connie+Cockrell%2C+First+Encounter
I also want to promote my friend Selena Laurence’s new book, Lowdown and Lush, the next book in her Lush series. It’s a romance and super hot. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet but it is getting wonderful reviews. I’ve read others of her books in the series and they’re all as advertised. Check her out, http://www.amazon.com/Lowdown-Lush-No-3-ebook/dp/B00PM6T33C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1416236961&sr=8-4&keywords=selena+laurence+lush
November 17, 2014 — 10:24 AM
conniecockrell says:
I just found better links for Selena’s book: Buy it Here:
Amazon | http://bit.ly/LowdownAndLush
Barnes and Noble | http://bit.ly/Lush3BN
iBooks | http://bit.ly/Lush3iBooks
Google Play | Not live yet. Keep checking!
Selena’s Bookstore | http://selenalaurence.selz.com
November 17, 2014 — 10:35 AM
zrider says:
My book’s not out yet, but yay for the chance to talk about another indie author’s book that you can actually get right now:
Evan Clark’s MOVERS was a nice little surprise—good writing, good voice, intriguing premise with a good story. The blurb:
They exist in every big city and small town. They are scattered across the world. Always small. Always inviting. Always friendly. Shopfronts with handwritten signs in the windows, shelves stacked with baubles and cheap antiques. Little treasures. Precious things. The places that most walk by without a second look. They open. They close. They move in the night. These are the rules.
Jamie Christop is a professional. He’s a man without a past or future. During the day, he goes unnoticed, a face that fades into the crowd. At night, he’s a veteran of a thousand bars, parking lot fights, and one night stands. He’s the empty corner table, the sucker punch in the dark, the shadow that slips away. He is perfect for the job. He does not ask questions. He loves his work. Jamie disappears for a living. He is a mover.
I’d have paid more than 99 cents for it. http://www.amazon.com/Movers-Evan-Clark-ebook/dp/B00JLSTJ4U
My book, SUCKERS: A Horror Novel, comes out in February, though through a mishap (or my misunderstanding, more likely) of the IngramSpark system, the paperback is available for purchase ralready Amazon and other online stores: http://www.amazon.com/Suckers-Horror-Novel-Z-Rider/dp/1942234007 (it comes with a free download of the ebook via BitLit…or will once BitLit and I rush to get it set up in their system, since the paperback is now out in the wild). The ebook’s available for preorder at Kobo and should be up on the other major sites by the end of the week, or you can pre-order it direct at http://darkridepublishing.com/books/suckers-a-horror-novel/ and get $3 off…OR if you do reviews (blog, Goodreads, Amazon), contact me or check Netgalley if you’re interested in receiving a review copy.
The blurb:
WHEN WORN-OUT MUSICIANS Dan Ferry and Ray Ford decide to take a shortcut back to the hotel, they pick the wrong dark alley to go down. Attacked by something neither can identify, they think they’re lucky to get out with their lives. But their lives aren’t all they get out with…
As an infection takes hold of Dan, a cramped tour bus becomes a dangerous place to be trapped. And when the infection spreads across the country, nowhere—and no one—is safe from the Suckers.
(Also, I second Michael Patrick Hicks’ CONVERGENCE. And thanks for this post, Chuck—I’m adding new reads to my creaking to-read pile.)
November 17, 2014 — 10:25 AM
Michael Patrick Hicks says:
Thanks for seconding, Z! I can’t wait to read SUCKERS; should be able to dig into it in a few more weeks. 🙂
November 17, 2014 — 11:59 AM
Michelle Barker says:
Thanks for this opportunity, Chuck.
Here’s the blurb on my book, a YA fantasy called The Beggar King published last year by Thistledown Press (traditional Canadian press).
Everything has an underside, a part that chooses darkness and likes it. In The Beggar King, Jordan Elliott will discover that magic has an underside, which is known as the undermagic. He will also learn that he has an underside, and it is seductive, dangerous, and ultimately threatens to destroy him. War in his city brings the disappearance of his mother. A sorcerer named the Beggar King offers to get her back – if Jordan will help him release the undermagic. But the undermagic is not a force to be trifled with. And because sorcery is a transaction, there is always a price to pay when you use it. Can Jordan help the Beggar King without harming himself? Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=michelle+barker+The+beggar+King
My friend, a super-talented Canadian author named Kim McCullough, published a gritty and wonderful YA book called Clearwater. Set in a remote Northern Manitoba settlement, this one will rip your heart out. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=clearwater+kim+mccullough&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aclearwater+kim+mccullough
November 17, 2014 — 10:26 AM
islandeditions says:
Absolutely agree with you about Kim McCullough’s book! Very good read.
November 17, 2014 — 1:06 PM
roblaman says:
This is an anthology that I have a story in. The stories are based in an open world created in a book called The Dream Engine. Promo copy and link below:
Waldron’s Gate, capital of Alterra. A land powered by steam, but inspired by the power of dreams, and surrounded by the mysterious Fog. The Dream Engine explored this city. Now you are invited to go Beyond The Gate. Twenty-three authors will take you over, under, into, and beyond the Fog in this cross-genre compilation of short stories. From time travel to romance, young adult to horror, science fiction to historical fantasy, you’ll discover tales that delight, intrigue, and maybe even shock you. This is only the beginning.
http://amzn.to/1qduHlV
And I’m currently listening to an audio version of Galore by Michael Crummy. If I had read the promo copy on GoodReads I wouldn’t have bothered, but it was a random grab at the library to help fill my commute time and broaden my fiction intake. The story takes place in rural Newfoundland in the mid 1800s. The living is hard and the community is small and insular. There is a thread of supernatural and mythology woven in but what I am enjoying most is the dark humour that also crops up here and there. It is an interesting story and a good telling.
Here is the link: http://amzn.to/1ERvAle
November 17, 2014 — 10:27 AM
zrider says:
I LOVE Galore. I’ve read it twice and foisted a battered paperback on other people. I hadn’t even thought to see if there was an audio version. I guess I know what my January Audible credit is going toward…
November 17, 2014 — 10:42 AM
roblaman says:
Forgot to mention that Beyond the Gate is free on Amazon, Kobo, Nook & iTunes/iBooks.
November 17, 2014 — 10:55 AM
deshipley says:
Ooh, that Dream Engine antho sounds promising. ^^ *grabs a copy*
November 18, 2014 — 2:20 AM
gingerlovinmind says:
My story is Southern Gothic, and it is kinda like what you would get if “Carrie” and “Fried Green Tomatoes” had a love child. http://www.amazon.com/The-Collector-Terri-Wallace-ebook/dp/B00DYEHELW
When ten year old Junie Rae Campbell wakes up in the parking lot of a seedy motel, and her mother is found dead inside, she has no choice but to go with the social worker who comes to collect her and take her to the tiny, sun-baked Oklahoma town of Crankston’s Landing to live with Granny Enid. But when lies and lechery threaten Junie and the people she has latched onto, secrets are exposed, untapped abilities reemerge…Junie Rae learns that a safe life comes at a very high price.
My recommendation is “Midway” by A.K. Francis. It is a creepy carnival story: If Mary Beth Carpenter could have one ideal job in life, it would be this: professional fairgoer. An admitted ride junkie, she lives for carnivals and festivals of all kinds, as long as there’s a roller coaster or thrill ride involved. But something is different about today, on this last day of the state fair. There’s a new ride, for one, which she’d never seen before. Intrigued, she decides to take a spin, but soon learns that not all carnivals are fun and games, and not all rides will let you go home safe and sound.
November 17, 2014 — 10:29 AM
gingerlovinmind says:
The link for Midway is here: http://www.amazon.com/Midway-A-K-Francis-ebook/dp/B00HXHPY9U
November 17, 2014 — 10:36 AM
glowinthedarkradio says:
Just started a new podcast novel on Glow-in-the-Dark Radio! “Alibi Jones and the Hornet’s Nest” chapter one is here: http://glowinthedarkradio.podomatic.com/entry/2014-11-15T07_10_20-08_00 A free audio book – also on iTunes.
From out beyond the border of the Solar Alliance, reports come in of an ancient “Ghost Ship” appearing. Where the hell did the gigantic, tenebrous old derelict spacecraft come from? Another ancient power newly asserting itself? Alibi Jones has no idea… actually, he doesn’t know anything about it. He’s been effectively sidelined by his superiors of late for his supposed “insubordination” – had the temerity to grow up well-connected, you see. He’s been idled for exaggerated transgressions, forced into an extended stay at his aunt’s apartments on Ceres Central. All the same, Alibi does have a knack for ending up where the action is… Alibi was raised as the adopted “son” of the leader of the Solar Alliance, his Aunt Anita. He’d been a rising star in the Interplanetary Force’s Mediation Corps, until recently. All in all riding pretty high. It’s all about to come crashing down – as Alibi gets caught up in the Hornet’s Nest!
And my recommendation for someone else’s work – The FlashPulp Podcast: http://flashpulp.com/ – “Flash Pulp is an experiment in broadcasting fresh pulp stories in the modern age – three to ten minutes of fiction brought to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.” With an assortment of characters, settings and stories, the FlashPulp folks are building an impressive body of neo-noir or “new” pulp works.
November 17, 2014 — 10:39 AM
Shauna Granger says:
Thanks for this, Chuck!
I know the holidays are coming, and this isn’t exactly in the holiday spirit, but I’m damn proud of this trilogy and I’m writing the last book now. (Buy link [available at all online retailers but here’s the Zon for ease of posting]: http://tinyurl.com/lke8kqd)
Description:
There are two inherent truths in the world: life as we know it is over, and monsters are real.
The Pestas came in the night, spreading their pox, a deadly plague that decimated the population. Kat, one of the unlucky few who survived, is determined to get to her last living relative and find shelter from the pox that continues to devastate the world. When it mutates and becomes airborne, Kat is desperate to avoid people because staying alone might be her only chance to stay alive.
That is, until she meets Dylan. Dylan, with his easy smile and dark, curly hair, has nowhere to go and no one to live for. He convinces Kat there can be safety in numbers, that they can watch out for each other. So the unlikely couple set off together through the barren wasteland to find a new life – if they can survive the roaming Pestas, bands of wild, gun-toting children, and piles of burning, pox-ridden bodies.
Someone else’s book:
My friend, Liv Rancourt put out a fun holiday-themed romance short story. It’s only .99 cents and is a great pick-me-up! The Santa Drag, buy link: http://tinyurl.com/mtwzsg9
November 17, 2014 — 10:43 AM
Anna Dobritt says:
The Hunter by Anna Dobritt
0.99 at Amazon
Lily Misery Mitchell is a hunter of demons. Not everything is what it seems when it comes to these creatures.
5 Star Review!!
“…You want a story to just take your mind away? a Quick read ? This is for you! A short Story about Lily Misery Mitchell, a demon hunter! In a world where the “powers that be” are trying to hide the fact that demons are among us killing people. Lily fearlessly hunts these demons. This Short story is cleverly written, easily read and very entertaining! AND as a gift to us, the readers, Ms Dobritt throws in two other short tales!…”
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P5HBYMG/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vk8vub0VQYTKT
Coward of Maldon by A.M. Justice
0.99 at Amazon
Once I was called brave, the best of my people. But even were I to escape England, people would read the shame on my face and shun me. I would do the same.”
Wounded by men bent on revenge, Godric cowers under cover of leaves and mud, waiting for death. When discovered by a mysterious hunter, he tells the tale of the Battle of Maldon and how he sealed the Saxons’ defeat with a legendary act of cowardice. Can Godric reclaim his honor with this midnight confession, or has fear left his soul pitted and brittle as a rusty battle ax?
In this 1900-word short story, author A.M. Justice offers another character who must overcome a dark and wounding past.
http://www.amazon.com/Coward-Maldon-M-Justice-ebook/dp/B00ICZ3GY2/ref=la_B00AVYUUP0_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416238747&sr=1-3
November 17, 2014 — 10:44 AM
Tam says:
I’m going to recommend 2 books (a series really) by Jordan Castillo Price, Channeling Morpheus http://channelingmorpheus.com/ It is a series of 10 novellettes (2 paperbacks) told from alternating view points between vampire hunter Michael and bad boy vampire Wild Bill. If you are a fan of boys in guy-liner, vampires who seem to be channeling Billy Idol, hot man-on-man sex, you’ll love these. Also Jordan’s covers are amazing. She does them herself and self-publishes at the highest highest quality. Well worth checking out for a romance that doesn’t make your teeth ache, unless you are a vampire. 😉
“These novelette-length stories are scary as hell and packed with freaky sex. Michael is a waif in eyeliner who’s determined to wipe vampires off the face of the earth. Wild Bill’s got his eye on Michael, and he’s willing to do anything to go home with him. If the romance between Gomez & Morticia gives you goosebumps of delight, if you look forward to Halloween movie marathons all year long, if you’ve got a soft spot for fake fog and black lights, then Channeling Morpheus is the series for you!”
November 17, 2014 — 10:45 AM
Corinne O'Flynn (@CorinneOFlynn) says:
My book is one month old today! Thanks, Chuck!
They told him his world was destroyed.
And they were the last to escape.
They thought he was safe.
They were wrong.
Jim Wales can communicate with animals, but that’s not why he lives with a traveling carnival. Turns out his family’s been hiding him there since he was little, since someone started hunting all the scholars. Jim is a scholar—someone who can manipulate energy using magic—and he has no idea.
When a message arrives from Jim’s father—who supposedly died twelve years ago—Jim’s whereabouts are discovered, their carnival is attacked, and his mother is kidnapped. On the run with a strange glass map and a single coin, Jim finds himself racing to reclaim the father he thought he’d lost, plotting to save his mother, and discovering the truth about who he is.
But going home isn’t the same as being safe, and trust is everything.
THE EXPATRIATES Book 1 – Song of the Sending
http://www.amazon.com/Expatriates-Book-One-Song-Sending-ebook/dp/B00OLDLOBQ
November 17, 2014 — 10:47 AM
Corinne O'Flynn (@CorinneOFlynn) says:
My friend’s about to release the 3rd book in this series –
Sticks and Stones (The Wish Makers Book 1)
Everyone has a dark side. Mandy’s just moved in with her.
The last time sixteen-year-old Mandy Matteo broke a rule, her sister died. Since that day she has done only what is expected of her, but life as a goody-goody has made Mandy so boring her friends have all but abandoned her. And she’s given up on ever getting Ethan, the boy she’s liked forever, to notice her. Desperate, Mandy makes a wish to simply be happy.
Enter Desiree, a hippie from Woodstock serving a fifty-year indenture as a Wish Mistress (aka a genie). Years of only granting and never receiving her own wish have left Desiree bitter. Arranging for Mandy to right her biggest wrong – the exact thing Desiree would wish for – only makes things worse.
Still, Desiree does her job and grants the wish and happiness arrives for Mandy in the form of Lexi, her childhood imaginary friend come to life. Magical wishes have conditions though: Once started, the wish cannot be altered or revoked. Also, once Mandy is truly content with her life again, Lexi must go back to where she came from. However, the longer Lexi is alive the more she loves being alive, and she’ll do whatever it takes to stay that way.
http://www.amazon.com/Sticks-Stones-Wish-Makers-Book-ebook/dp/B00KZ0D2TQ
November 17, 2014 — 10:59 AM
RSAGARCIA says:
Wonderful idea! I’m letting you know right now I’m cheating because I recently read two great books and and I want to talk about them lol. Here goes:
My science fiction mystery, LEX TALIONIS, came out this May to a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21806455-lex-talionis
“When Lex reawakens in a clinic, she doesn’t remember who she is, or who killed her. All she remembers is a phrase she does not understand. Lex Talionis. The law of revenge. Stripped of her past, Lex focuses on the only thing she can. Retribution. She will find the people who murdered her and she will make them pay.
What Lex doesn’t know is that she’s being hunted. She must discover her past before the hunter finds her. Every clue brings her closer to powerful enemies. Everything she learns draws her nearer to the person who almost destroyed her. The only man she has ever loved.”
And if you want to read a truly original take on the Arthurian legend, I recommend the scifi fantasy SHADOW OVER AVALON by C.N. Lesley.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22677216-shadow-over-avalon
If you want to read a really fresh mash-up of scifi, dark urban fantasy and something gritty and yet uplifting, try Greg Byrne’s new book, NINE PLANETS. The Publishers Weekly review was amazing and so is this book. Not what you expect at all.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23364882-nine-planets
Sorry for the cheat, Chuck! Please don’t penalize me! *Ducks the flying tomatoes*
November 17, 2014 — 10:52 AM
Beverly says:
A good cheat. Thanks for the recommendations. 😀
November 17, 2014 — 11:38 AM
RSAGARCIA says:
Glad you liked them 🙂
November 19, 2014 — 12:02 PM
Erlinda Shen says:
I’m a blogger and ghostwriter, who curates content to help people promote their businesses online. My website is at http://ErlindaShen.com.
I want to introduce Social Media Marketing Happy Hour. We run in the same circles, and they have a fantastic podcast. http://happyhourhangouts.com
November 17, 2014 — 10:55 AM
GX says:
The ongoing Metal Deep series for Kindle readers. (5 episodes so far.) Over the top fun with Cyborgs, Elfs, and awesome armored chicks. Snarky, entertaining, and cheap: Dollar Episodes. Novella lengthed, they’re quick and easy.
http://www.gxknight.com/store
Thank you for your time and consideration.
November 17, 2014 — 10:55 AM
Pete says:
Now’s your chance to help bring a book to life! An amazing, eclectic, exciting anthology from North Bristol Writing Group – is open for crowdfunding with lots of great rewards. Over 15 stories by 10 writers (some published, some not) are awaiting to be made into a book, get art, access to a local con or just buy the book and get your name in it as a supporter – https://www.fundsurfer.com/project/north-by-southwest-anthology
Buy the whole of the Nunslinger series collected into one novel by Harper Collins. Stark Holborn is a savvy, accomplished writer of prose who has created a memorable cast of characters you’ll want to spend a whole passel of time with –
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nunslinger-Complete-Stark-Holborn/dp/1444789236/ref=asap_B00H54K03G_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416239684&sr=1-1
November 17, 2014 — 10:59 AM
Jonas Samuelle says:
I met an excellent fellow AZ writer this weekend, H. Anthe Davis. She has a fantasy series out now and you should all buy it.
http://www.amazon.com/H.-Anthe-Davis/e/B00CR0S7MO/
My newest is up for pre-order. A man living an unimpressive life in a small town, discovers that he used to be a famous playwright. When he goes looking for the person that stole his gift, he must face also a past that has taken everything from him.
http://www.amazon.com/Jovian-Spark-Jonas-Samuelle-ebook/dp/B00PFLCH6O/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416240032&sr=1-1&keywords=the+jovian+spark
November 17, 2014 — 11:01 AM
fran730 says:
Especially for writers, I’d recommend The Testament of Vida Tremayne, by Sarah Vincent, the chilling cautionary tale of a devoted fan who gets much too close to a lonely author…http://www.amazon.co.uk/Testament-Vida-Tremayne-Sarah-Vincent-ebook/dp/B00P6SGH76/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1415180264&sr=8-4&keywords=Sarah+vincent
And for readers who are weary of steampunk murder and rough sex (we all need a break now and then, dears) or who need an uplifting little fireside read for a granny or a gentle friend, there’s always Best Wishes, Sister B in which the nuns in a forgotten convent decide they won’t go quietly. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Wishes-Sister-Fran-Smith-ebook/dp/B00HWRBRLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416239490&sr=8-1&keywords=best+wishes+sister+b
November 17, 2014 — 11:02 AM
pennywatson says:
Celebrate Thanksgiving with a cranky cussing curmudgeon and a prissy uptight widow. Is it possible for old folks to fall in love in the big wide world of Romancelandia?
APPLES SHOULD BE RED
http://www.amazon.com/Apples-Should-Red-Penny-Watson-ebook/dp/B00IH5QHTS
(How’s that for lean and mean?)
I would like to recommend a couple of quickies…VIXEN and VIXEN TWO by Julia Barrett. Super fun and frisky shorts about a different kind of super hero. These are tight, well-written, fast-paced entertainment.
VIXEN: http://www.amazon.com/Vixen-Julia-Barrett-ebook/dp/B00M8HNA3W/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_1
VIXEN TWO: http://www.amazon.com/Vixen-Two-Julia-Barrett-ebook/dp/B00PF2P8YG/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_1
Thanks!
November 17, 2014 — 11:06 AM
juliabarrett says:
Thanks Penny! I recommend Penny’s fun Christmas fantasies! The Klaus Brothers Boxed Set: http://www.amazon.com/Klaus-Brothers-Boxed-Set-Books-ebook/dp/B00PKP7QWA/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1416247196&sr=1-7&keywords=penny+watson
I have two other works of science fiction – Award-winning Captured- SFR- (seriously won a big award): http://www.amazon.com/Captured-Publishing-Classic-Rachel-Barrett-ebook/dp/B00371V7WO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1416247293&sr=1-1&keywords=captured+julia+rachel+barrett
And a four book series, Daughters of Persephone, a space opera tribute to Firefly- mixes time travel and mythology: http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Persephone-Space-Opera-Special-ebook/dp/B00AQQDNVQ/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1416247366&sr=1-5&keywords=Daughters+of+persephone
Thanks so much!!!
November 17, 2014 — 1:03 PM
Kay Camden says:
Whoa, you’re also on Dear Author today.
November 17, 2014 — 5:11 PM
lisakovanda says:
I’m promoting my own work, particularly Modified Flight Plan a true story of an amazing triple amputee who flies airplanes today. It’s on sale until the 22nd, http://www.amazon.com/Modified-Flight-Plan-Lisa-Kovanda-ebook/dp/B00CTF9QHW and Walk Me Home, a gritty true story of a guy whose life derailed after the woman he loved was murdered by the last man executed in Nebraska’s electric chair. It’s especially dear to my heart, since this main character’s real-life son is fighting stage 4 cancer that was diagnosed right as the book was coming out. http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Me-Home-Lisa-Kovanda-ebook/dp/B00NDF399S
I would like to promote Corrissa James, who has a fabulous trilogy out, with Book 4 soon to be released. I’m a gritty true story.horror gal, myself, but I couldn’t put Vibrant Heart down. That’s saying a lot. Here’s the link for the first book, and I am sure you’ll be ready to snag the rest of the series as soon as you finish it! http://www.amazon.com/Vibrant-Heart-Great-Plains-Romance-ebook/dp/B00O9DU1VW
November 17, 2014 — 11:12 AM
James DiBenedetto says:
What if you could see everyone else’s dreams? In DREAM STUDENT (first book of the Dream Series), college student Sara Barnes is about to find out, and she’s going to learn that it’s far more of a curse than a gift. The book combines mystery, romance, humor and a supernatural twist, and it’s the first of eight books. It’s at http://getBook.at/DreamStudent (and it’s also on Audible as a really cool audiobook).
Another book that you might want to look at is a young adult novel, the first book of a trilogy by Fran Veal, FINDING MY ESCAPE. Hannah Jordan comes home to find her parents murdered – and things just get worse for her from there. http://www.amazon.com/Finding-My-Escape-Book-ebook/dp/B006EOA90M/
November 17, 2014 — 11:12 AM
Lori Lesko says:
My novel is COPYRIGHT
Amber Tyler is living every author’s dream: her books are all best sellers and she writes full time. She has worked hard and is well-accomplished in her career, and she has the support and love of her beautiful children and girlfriend.
But the dream soon turns into a terrible nightmare when her latest manuscript is stolen. She decides to fight for what is rightfully hers, only to find that the harder she tries, the easier it all slips through her fingers, putting her career, her family, and her life in jeopardy.
http://mybook.to/Copyright_A_Novel
My recommendation is Tangled Roots by Rebekkah Ford
After eighteen-year-old Carrie Jacobson discovers she was a witch in a previous life, she seeks to reawaken that part of her soul. With the help of an eccentric enchantress and a boy who is more than he seems, Carrie succeeds and is spellbound by the memories of her life in Europe during the 1600s as a powerful witch named Isadora. Carrie reverts to her bewitching, more volatile form and sets out to break a curse she cast long ago on her coven. Carrie’s boyfriend Tree cannot help feeling uneasy about the changes he sees in the woman he loves. When Carrie’s past clashes with the present and dark magic intoxicates her once again, Tree must take drastic matters into his own hands and attempt to save Carrie from herself. With Tree’s help, will Carrie be able to resist the allure of her new powers? Or will she plunge into the deep end and give into them?
http://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Roots-Rebekkah-Ford/dp/0692267018/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
November 17, 2014 — 11:14 AM
Jamie Maltman says:
Thanks for the podium, Chuck!
First my baby:
Brush With Darkness (Arts Reborn: Book I)
Legionary Simon Baroba must discover his hidden artistic magic to save the Pazian Republic from barbarians wielding ancient dark sorcery, while navigating a treacherous maelstrom of political intrigue and shifting allegiances, torn between ambition and curiosity, duty and love.
The ARTS REBORN series follows the story of the lives touched by the return of opposing magical forces of artistic creation and elemental destruction to the Republic of Pazh, a historically-inspired world where hints of ancient Rome, Greece and the Mediterranean mix with the fantastical.
http://www.amazon.com/Brush-With-Darkness-Arts-Reborn-ebook/dp/B00J3HOJ5I
(and available in Kindle Unlimited)
And I’m going to pay it forward twice on some recent fun reads:
Season 1 of Greenstar
by Dave Higgins and Simon Cantan
Looking for some funny sci-fi set on a ship like the Enterprise, but with the tone of Hitchhiker’s, where the homicidal ship AI gives a running commentary on the series?
http://www.amazon.com/Greenstar-Complete-Season-Dave-Higgins-ebook/dp/B00N53IVIM/
Or just try out the cheaper first 3 of 10 episodes:
http://www.amazon.com/Greenstar-Season-1-Episodes-1-3-ebook/dp/B00N5VBONS/
Sawyer Jackson and the Long Land
by Kevin Tumlinson
Older YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy hybrid with really cool magical elements(knotwork), quirky humor, and interdimensional travel, but with a bit of a Gaiman-esque vibe.
http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Jackson-Long-Kevin-Tumlinson-ebook/dp/B00LFLQRI2/
November 17, 2014 — 11:16 AM
suzanawylie says:
Bittermoon by Suzana Wylie
Leo Ruggeri’s needs are simple: leave his past behind. Kesan Glendubh has needed nothing but blood and sex for 5 centuries. When a vampire falls for a man to love for eternity, a man whose ex is a vampire-hunting priest, more than sparks fly. Crossbows may not be modern weapons, but they are effective tools for vampire hunters. Eternity, like love, may not be so eternal after all.
http://smarturl.it/Bittermoon-Amzn
The Crow Creek Series by Nya Rawlyns
Five novels centering around the men of Crow Creek Ranch, this is a brilliant series by an outstanding author who never shies away from tackling the hard, the gritty, the real. Rawlyns never gives her characters a pristine roadmap to follow; it’s snarled and not folded along the creases, and it doesn’t fit the glove box anymore. They’ve used it, crumpled it, spilled coffee on it; they question every marking, turn it every which way, and the reader is just as uncertain as the characters as to where they’ll end up, much less how they’ll get there. Though the destination may not be what the reader expects, the journey is always scenic and full of the poetry of life — sometimes dark and gritty, sometimes soaring and lyrical — and always a journey worth taking over and over.
http://amzn.to/1zwlULD
November 17, 2014 — 11:21 AM
Zig Zag Claybourne says:
Hellacious short story double shots of neural espresso for your azz. Me: psychic Inquisitors, British devil babies, the souls of doofus folk, and Network TV! Minister Faust: everything cool about words and the world.
Historical Inaccuracies: http://www.amazon.com/Historical-Inaccuracies-Zig-Zag-Claybourne/dp/0987703951/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416241125&sr=1-1&keywords=historical+inaccuracies
A Bad, Bad Beat Was Brewing: http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Beat-Was-Brewing-Supernatural-ebook/dp/B0055PDN90/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416241159&sr=1-10&keywords=minister+faust
November 17, 2014 — 11:21 AM
Tami Olsen (@Keilantra) says:
My book: Hylsbrith Falls
Not long ago the new king of Midlothia outlawed magic. Wizards were rounded up and put to death. The people hunted them down like bandits and strung them up or stoned them, all believing that they were better off without magic.
Now the kingdom is at war, and they are losing. If they don’t come up with something soon, they will be overrun and swallowed into the empire to the northeast. The king’s council advises him to seek out the wizards in hiding.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K2GLIFS/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb
Another great book: Chalky and the New Sports Car
A great children’s book about a curious cat that loves sports cars. Beautiful illustrations and typography and a heartwarming story. Truly something for kids and young hearts to treasure for years.
http://chalkythecat.bigcartel.com/
November 17, 2014 — 11:22 AM
davidjmobrien says:
My story Leaving the Pack reveals the truth behind the werewolf myth…
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/OBrien_David/leaving-the-pack.htm
Just to clarify – this is not all shifting and sex… and they’re not boyscouts, either.
10% of the my royalties will be donated to WWF, the World Wildlife Fund, by the way.
Nobody believes in werewolves.
That’s just what Paul McHew and his friends are counting on.
They and their kind roam our city streets: a race of people from whom the terrible legend stems; now living among us invisibly after centuries of persecution through fear and ignorance. Superficially Caucasian but physiologically very different, with lunar rhythms so strong that during the three days of the full moon they are almost completely controlled by their hormonal instincts, you might have cursed them as just another group of brawling youths or drunken gang-bangers. Now at the point of extinction, if they are to survive their existence must remain restricted to mere stories and legend, but, paradoxically, they also must marry outside their society in order to persist.
Fellow Tirgearr Publishing Author Troy Lambert has a great tale of a dog who befriends an war vet who’s in trouble…
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Lambert_Troy/stray-ally.htm
even 4 legged strays have something to contribute to society!
November 17, 2014 — 11:23 AM