The Haunting Season and Michelle Muto

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Michelle Muto to my blog today! She is having an excellent blog tour through Fae Books. Please see the schedule below!

Long bio:

Michelle has always loved storytelling. When she was a child, her favorite stories were of monsters and things that lurked in the dark. Telling stories often frightened her classmates and got her into a lot of trouble with her teachers. They had no sense of humor.

As an adult, Michelle traded her love of writing for the corporate life where she was an IT professional. Today, she's doing what she loves best - writing and storytelling.

Michelle grew up in Chicago, but currently lives in NE Georgia with her husband and their two dogs. She loves scary books, funny movies, sports cars, chocolate, dogs, and changes of season.

Short Bio:

Michelle Muto lives in northeast Georgia with her husband and two dogs. She loves changes of season, dogs, and all things geeky. Currently, she’s hard at work on her next book.

Interview with the Author:

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

During a trip to Savannah, I visited the Sorrel-Weed house, which is reported to be Savannah’s most haunted house.

What is different about this book compared to others you’ve written?

For starters, The Haunting Season is New Adult. Secondly, the main characters are not supernatural beings.

Most unique or unusual research you’ve ever done for The Haunting Season?

Besides visiting the Sorrel-Weed house? Asking a former mortician about embalming methods in the early to mid 1900’s and how embalming and burial procedures have changed and why. It’s both fascinating and a bit gruesome.

What is the hardest part about writing?

Keeping my butt in the chair for as many hours as I need to per day. Resisting the urge to jump on the internet when I’m having difficulty with a scene.

If you could meet any author who is no longer living, who would it be?

Tough call. Edgar Allan Poe, probably. But I’d also like to meet Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock.

Can you tell us a little about your next project?

It’s a adult dark fantasy novel with action, castles, and gargoyles.  It’ll be out early this summer.

If you could do one thing over again in regards to writing, what would it be?

Write faster.

Vanilla or chocolate?

Chocolate.

Food you like the most? The least?

I tend to like Italian food the most. I can’t stand brussel sprouts or peas.

Favorite television show?

Supernatural

What weapon would you choose in the zombie apocalypse?

Harry Potter’s wand or maybe Dean Winchester. He’d be a formidable weapon against zombies, right? <grin>

What scares you?

Humanity. The way people treat others, animals, or the environment.

The Haunting Season - Michelle Muto:

 

Blurb:

Be careful what you let in…
Siler House has stood silent beneath Savannah’s moss-draped oaks for decades. Notoriously haunted, it has remained empty until college-bound Jess Perry and three of her peers gather to take part in a month-long study on the paranormal. Jess, who talks to ghosts, quickly bonds with her fellow test subjects. One is a girl possessed. Another just wants to forget. The third is a guy who really knows how to turn up the August heat, not to mention Jess’s heart rate…when he’s not resurrecting the dead. The study soon turns into something far more sinister when they discover that Siler House and the dark forces within are determined to keep them forever. In order to escape, Jess and the others will have to open themselves up to the true horror of Siler House and channel the very evil that has welcomed them all. 

EXCERPT:

“Allison?” she called out. She checked the bathroom. No Allison there, either. She must have already gone downstairs without her. Jess turned and walked back into their room.

“You shouldn’t be here,” said the little girl standing in front of the dresser.

Startled, Jess took an involuntary step back. She thought she’d be used to the way ghosts appeared and disappeared by now, but she wasn’t. Probably would never get used to it. The girl wore a pretty white dress and black shoes. The dress was tied around the middle with a red bow that matched the one in her curly, dark hair.

She’s a ghost. She’s the ghost of either Gracie or Emma Siler, Jess thought, aware of her quickening heartbeat. Finally! Her first ghost sighting in months! The girl looked young and sweet, so why did she feel so jumpy? Probably because her roommate would have her believe the small girl sporting dimples and curls was Satan in disguise.

Damn you, Allison!

Her face didn’t look anything like Jess would have expected of a child who had been murdered. The girl’s complexion was healthy, with a glow like that of a living ten-year-old. Not one who had been dead for well over a hundred years. But, ghosts were like that—appearing how they wanted you to see them, or so she believed. Or, maybe it was how they saw themselves. Jess had never thought to ask.

She could still see ghosts, which meant there was hope—hope of seeing Grams again and her father, too! Jess’s unease began to fade.

The girl waited patiently for her to do or say something.

“Hello,” Jess said softly.

“Hi,” the girl replied.

“I’m Jess. Are you Emma or Gracie?”

The girl smiled. “I know who you are. I’m Gracie.”

Jess tried to keep the remaining nervousness from her voice. “Thanks for letting me see you, Gracie. I like ghosts.”

Gracie’s smile faltered. “You’re still a little scared. I can tell. Are you here to hurt us? To make us go away?”

Ghost or not, Gracie’s words melted Jess. Hurt her? Never. Jess knelt down in front of Gracie. She reached out for Gracie’s arm, realizing she couldn’t actually touch the child—the gesture was simply automatic. Gracie stepped back, her arms still at her sides.

She thinks I’m going to hurt her, Jess thought. “No, Gracie. I’d never hurt you. In fact, I’m here to help you.”

“You’re very kind,” Gracie said, looking down at her shoes.

“I try to be,” Jess replied.

Gracie’s head jerked toward the mirror, then back to Jess, her eyes wide. “I have to go now. You should go, too.”

“Is someone there, Gracie?”

She nodded.

“Who’s there? Is it Emma?” Somehow, she didn’t think it was Emma at all.

Gracie frowned. “It’s Riley. He says I can’t talk anymore right now.”

Jess stood and looked in the mirror. Once again, she saw nothing but her reflection and oddly, Gracie’s, in the old mirror. Unease seeped back into Jess’s skin.

“I’ll help you Gracie. You and Emma. I promise,” Jess said, although she had no idea how to do that yet. She turned back to the child, but Gracie was gone.

Slowly, as if a child were writing it from the other side of the mirror, the word hurry appeared. And underneath, we need you.

Here is her playlist as she wrote the book:

Here are a couple excellent pictures of the house that inspired this wonderful story:

For all who follow the tour (there's more chances to win at each stop), there will be a rafflecopter giveaway. Here’s the link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZDM1MzhhNzRmNzM3ZWZhZDcwYTlhYjdkMzAxMTYxOjMy/

Tour Dates:

JULY 2013

1st - Fae Books www.FaeBooks.co.uk
2nd - Black Words-White Pages http://blackwords-whitepages1977.blogspot.com/
2nd - Stop #2 - Buried Under Books http://buriedunderbooks1.blogspot.com
3rd - Cu's Ebook Giveaways http://cusauthorspotlights.blogspot.com/
4th - Marcy Rachel Designs http://www.mhttp://www.marcyracheldesigns.com/blog-2
5th - Wicca Witch 4 Book Blog http://wiccawitch4.blogspot.ca/
6th - Indy Book Fairy http://paranormalbookfairy.blogspot.com/ 
7th - Reader's Candy http://readerscandyy.blogspot.com
8th - Love, Literature, Art, and Reason http://meganm922.blogspot.com
9th - From the Writer's Nest http://throughthegateway.blogspot.co.uk/
10th - Gliterary Girl http://gliterarygirl.com
11th - Drunken Space Penguin http://www.drunkenspacepenguin.blogspot.com
12th - Little Read Riding Hood http://littlereadridinghood.com
13th - Jodie Pierce's Ink Slingers Blog http://www.jodiepierceauthor.blogspot.com
13th - Into the Land of Books http://etherealistic-reader.blogspot.com
14th - A_TiffyFit's Reading Corner http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com
15th - Liz Long, Indie Author http://lizclong.com
16th - Tanya's Book Book http://tanyasbooknook.blogspot.com
17th - Authors to Watch http://www.authorstowatch.com
18th -
19th - Fundinmental http://www.fundinmental.com
20th - Inside the Pages of a Book www.insidethepagesofabook.blogspot.com
21st - Cyrstals Many Reviews http://www.crystalsmanyreviews.blogspot.com/
22nd - Ravenz Reviews http://www.ravenzreviews.blogspot.com
23rd - Jein's Journey http://jeinsjourney.blogspot.com
24th - The Bearded Scribe http://thebeardedscribe.blogspot.com
25th - Stanbrookshire www.stanbrookshire.com
26th - Cover Bound http://coverboundbookie.blogspot.com/
27th - Chaotic Reader http://chaoticreader.blogspot.com/
28th - We All Make Mistakes In Books http://weallmakemistakesinbooks.blogspot.com
29th - Room With Books http://www.roomwithbooks.com
30th - 4covert2overt A Day in the Spotlight http://4covert2overt.blogspot.com/
30th - Stop #2 - The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something...http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/
31st - Bianca2b http://bianca2b.wordpress.com

Buy Links:

Amazon US Kindle: http://amzn.to/17GZtd1

Amazon UK Kindle: http://amzn.to/1ctUVn1

Amazon US Paperback: http://amzn.to/12qa33l

Amazon UK Paperback: http://amzn.to/128a6gV

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/268309

Author Links:

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Mailing list

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Smashwords

Please thank Michelle for joining us today! Please check out her links, giveaway and book!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Tour Coordinator: Fae Books Tours www.FaeBooks.co.uk

The Hopfield Tales & Mike Evers

Hi all!

Please help me welcome As You Wish Tours and Author Mike Evers to my blog today!

Book Title: The Hopfield Tales



Author:  Mike Evers



Release Date: June 17th



Genre: Urban Fantasy/Historical



Publisher:  GMTA Publishing, LLC



Presented by:  As You Wish Tours

BLURB



There's always more to a town than meets the eye. You just need to scratch the surface.  The



quiet town of Hopfield is no exception. There are everyday people doing everyday things - just



like where you live. But history has a way of coming back to find us. And the voices of the past



Three fabulous fables for your delectation and delight:



BACKGROUND INFO



The Hopfield Tales is a trilogy of three novellas.  Each story is set in a town in present day



Yorkshire and involves people who have encounters with characters from English history and



legend.  The tales include the final, as yet unpublished story, Mark of the Legion.



The blurb for the unreleased novella, Mark of the Legion:



Bentham Cawley enjoys and quiet and humdrum life as a monk at the Brotherhood of the



Resurrection in Hopfield, Yorkshire.  But this is all about to change - when he unwillingly



embarks on the monastery's new friendship programme and meets remarkable octogenarian



Just how does Ernest know so much about the past, and how is he connected to the legendary but



Some secrets wait centuries to be unlocked...



Review samples for The Spirit Archer and Campaign of the Gods:



"This is a novella that is entertaining, informative and imaginative. It's a wonderful story that put



a smile on my face."  (The Spirit Archer; Ann Werner, Amazon)



"This is a good fun read which I really enjoyed. I particularly liked the way the scenes cut back



to the gods and their fated board game and the effect that had on our world of 'Midgard'. A great,



light-hearted bit of fun."  (Campaign of the Gods; Ignite, Amazon)



The voices of the past can change our lives forever…

EXCERPT


From The Spirit Archer:



According to the map, he was now in the middle of Priory Wood, right next to where



the grave should have been – except there was no sign of it. About him was the mixed warbling



of birdsong and the rustling sound of a breeze blowing through the tree tops. In the distance he



could make out the hum of traffic on the busy road. Nice place, he thought – apart from the cars.



Where the hell was the grave? Looking around, Jamie noticed a trail heading through a thick



cluster of trees and made his way along it. And then he found it.  It was huge.  It was over 12-



feet tall and was constructed out of bricks and had tall pillars on the corners.  Between the pillars,



high, wrought iron railings had been set up to protect the grave, and the effect was altogether



grand. On further inspection, Jamie noticed that it had fallen into disrepair and two of the pillars



were missing.  It was still very impressive nonetheless.



     The thoughts filled Jamie’s mind: what on earth was Robin Hood’s grave doing here,



and why did so few people know about it? Talk about a secret!  Feeling elated at finding it, Jamie



walked around it and began searching for inscriptions or words indicating the identity of the



deceased.  There didn’t seem to be much on the outside, and peering through the railings, Jamie



caught sight of the grave stone. It was blackened with age and flecked with moss. Jamie squinted



- he could just make out the inscription written on it:



Here underneath dis laitl stean



Laz robert earl of Huntingtun



Ne'er archir ver a hie sa geud



An pipl kauld im robin heud



Sick utlawz as his as iz men



Vil England nivr si agen



Obiit 24 Kal. Dekembris 1247



     Jamie photographed the words on his mobile phone’s camera, before stepping back



to take more pictures of the whole grave. This will surprise a few people, he thought.  Jamie



looked around, and spotting one of the pillars lying on the ground nearby went over and sat on



it.  After checking through the photos on his phone, Jamie could feel the warm fingers of spring



sunshine coming through the trees. Ah, what a lovely spot, he thought, and wondered what could



have given Jock and Angus the heebie-jeebies. There certainly wasn’t anything creepy about the



place.  Jamie stood up and, for a laugh, began talking to the grave:



“Rise up, Robert, Earl of Huntingdon, and summon your Merry Men!” he commanded,



“Tis’ now the time to protect the poor and unwary – CARPE DIEM, MIGHTY ROBIN



HOOD!” he proclaimed, grandly.  The words echoed through the woods, startling some birds in



The boy checked his voice recorder was still running and the story emerged through the



I estimated by the moon that it was the middle of the night.  Pembroke had reckoned on



the moment when the French were in their deepest slumbers as the best time to attack. And we



had all agreed with him. My Welsh archers were in the trees near a lake, nearly six thousand



good men and horses ahead of us. High to our left lay the massive ramparts of Château Gaillard,



its portals dimly glimmering in the still, chilly night. Approximately a hundred score yards,



or so, in the distance were the French lines.  Philip’s men were stationed all the way to the



castle walls, and concentrated near the river.  You had to admire them – they had replaced the



ruined crossing with their own bridge made of boats.  We could even see strange wooden towers



floating near the bridge, their torches acting as beacons as to moths. The mighty French siege



force slumbered away, oblivious to our threat.



     We had been assured that a fleet of nigh on seventy Anglo-Norman ships were



heading up the river to deal a hammer blow to Philip’s crossing - at the very moment of our land



assault.  King John’s tactical master stroke was sure to win the day.  We were poised to attack.



Jamie listened intently; his breath held in anticipation.



     And then the attack began.  A horn was sounded and we swarmed out of the forest.



The infantry, led by sturdy men at arms, marched steadily onwards towards the French



encampment, and the mighty cavalry units cantered around in a great arc to deliver a flanking



blow. On we went.  My archers jogged behind the infantry until we reached our position, and



we readied our bows to fire. The minutes seemed like hours. We fired our first volley, and then



another. We could only assume we were hitting our targets at that point.  We could not tell in



the mingled shouts and screams ahead of us. A few volleys later, a great thunder of hooves



announced the arrival of the horsemen and a shift of the lines as a huge hole was punched in the



side of the French.  What a noise - such terrible sounds.



     I sensed the French retreating and I signalled my men forward.  We were near the



river by now.  I ordered more shots, and my men replied the best way they knew how: dense



clouds of arrows fell upon the enemy - wounding and slaying. Never had I seen anything like it.



We sensed victory was near and I felt my elation growing – as saddened as I am to say so.



Robin sighed.



     But the ships never came.  They were stuck down the river – the tides, currents and



winds against them – the foolish had foundered on their folly.



“But - you were about to win, weren’t you? It sounded like you would,” said Jamie.



 “Never assume anything in war, young man,” replied the archer.



The Campaign Begins



An entry from PC Walker’s Norse Myths and Legends Companion:



Ivar  Ragnarsson   (aka  Ivar  the  Boneless ) :  Viking leader and berserker.  Ivar



commanded the Viking ‘Great Heathen Army’, which invaded England in AD 865, captured York



the following year and established Danish rule over half of early medieval England.



The nickname ‘Boneless’ is subject to much speculation. It is thought possibly due to Ivar



possessing great physical flexibility, lameness in one leg, impotence, or his even having a bone



disease.  Whichever way you look at it, Ivar was undeniably a wise commander and fearsome



The people of Lower Bagton were enjoying a particularly bright, warm and sunny



Midsummer’s Day when, unbeknownst to them, a gateway from the otherworld had suddenly



opened nearby.  In the woods near Bagton Mill the chirping birds and foraging mammals stopped



all activity, mesmerised by the shimmering maw that had materialised in the shrubbery.  Sensing



the imminent danger, the woodland animals chattered frantically and decided to take flight.



They headed anywhere other than here.



The effects of Thor and Týr’s game in Asgard were having a strange and very real effect in



the present day.  And whilst they were aware that things were taking a turn for the worse, they



had little way of knowing what was happening precisely.  They just knew it was bad. And they



knew they couldn’t stop it, despite their best efforts.  To make matters worse, Thor had rolled



double one – his first ever stroke of bad luck.  Thor’s forces were entering the battlefield in a



random and ramshackle fashion, scattered and disorientated.



One such case was Ivar Ragnarsson, who after experiencing the very strange effects of a



space-time portal, found himself in a very odd place indeed.



On arriving, confused and terrified, the Viking leader was experiencing an overpowering



cold and darkness.  An ungodly humming noise filled his ears and the icy blast of an arctic



wind chilled his exposed flesh.  Fearing he had died and failed to find paradise in Valhalla, Ivar



thought the worst - he had ended up in Hel – to be punished for eternity.  A fact he did not face



very well. He let out a moan.



“Oh, Odin, have mercy!” he pleaded to the icy darkness in his Old Norse tongue.  He was



surprised by the reply coming through the gloom.

Mike often taps out stuff on his keyboard in the fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal genres: a



habit which his wife finds fairly amusing - and sometimes a little bit strange.



So far he has published two novellas - The Spirit Archer and Campaign of the Gods - with



GMTA Publishing. Along with Mark of the Legion, the novellas are due to be published as The



Mike's debut novel, The Chaosifier, is also available on Amazon, where it is ambushing



unsuspecting fans of contemporary fantasy with its general mischief and mayhem.



Mike's educational background is in History, International Conflict Analysis and Education. He



is qualified as a teacher in ESOL and Adult Literacy, and lives and works in West Yorkshire.



He's married to a long-suffering wife, Joanne, and they have a young son called Joseph.



AUTHOR LINKS



Facebook


Amazon


Goodreads



BOOK LINKS



Amazon Kindle – The Hopfield Tales



Amazon Paperback – The Hopfield Tales



Smashwords – The Hopfield Tales



B&N – The Hopfield Tales



Amazon-The Spirit Archer



Amazon-Campaign of the Gods



Amazon-The Chaosifier



Smashwords



http://asyouwishtours.com/

Please thank Mike for joining us today! Check out his links and books!

Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce

Author Ruth A. Casie & The Guardian's Witch

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Ruth A. Casie to my blog today!

About the Author:

Ruth A. Casie is a seasoned professional with over twenty-five years of writing experience but not necessarily writing romances.  No, she’s been writing communication and marketing documents for a large corporation.  Over the past years, encouraged by her friends and family, she gave way to her inner muse, let her creative juices flow, and began writing a series of historical fantasies. She lives in Teaneck, New Jersey, with her husband. They have three grown children and two grand-children.

Discover strong men and empowered women as they face unexpected challenges. Watch their stories unfold as they encounter magic, danger, and passion. Join them as they race across the pages to places where love and time know no bounds. Ruth hopes they become your favorite adventures.

The Guardian’s Witch
Ruth A. Casie

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Publisher: Carina Press

Date of Publication: July 1, 2013

ISBN: 978142689577

ASIN: B00CC68G88

Number of pages: 360 pages

Word Count: 71,000

Cover Artist: Angela Waters - Millennium Promotions, Inc

Amazon  BN

Book Description:

England, 1290

Lord Alex Stelton can’t resist a challenge, especially one with a prize like this: protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and it’s his. Desperate for land of his own, he’ll do anything to win the estate—even enter a proxy marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch who lives there.

Feared and scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she’d never marry, but she is drawn to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great love with him but fears what he would think of her gift and her visions of a traitor in their midst.

Despite his own vow never to fall in love, Alex can’t get the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind and is driven to protect her when attacks begin on the border. But as her visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it is she who must protect him. Realizing they’ll secure their future only by facing the threat together, she must choose between keeping her magic a secret and losing the man she loves.

Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/19jej7y

Excerpt- Chapter One

Northumberland, England, 1290

“You won the wager with His Majesty,” said Lord Bryce Mitchell astride his Arabian. He cantered down the forest trail with Alex Stelton, the newly minted Lord of Glen Kirk Castle.

“The entire court placed odds on whether I would succeed.” The two men slowed their horses to a walk. Alex glanced at Bryce. “Did you lose much?” He refocused his attention on the trail ahead. “You should have put your coin on me. I only wager when I’m certain of the results.”

“After one year of holding the old stones against the Scots, he actually gifted the castle and his ward to you.” Bryce shook his head.

The ring of surprise in Bryce’s voice and evident disbelief on his face amused Alex. “His Majesty is a man of his word. Did you have any doubt?” asked Alex, his head cocked to the side with one eyebrow raised. His face split into a wide grin.

“About the king being a man of his word or of you holding off the Scots?” Bryce colored his smooth retort with a smirk.

The two friends looked at each other, exploded into laughter, and continued on until they reached the crossroads where they brought their horses to a halt. The tower of Glen Kirk Castle, bathed in the setting sun, peeked through the trees still some three miles to the north. Alex surveyed his new holding. His chest swelled with pride. Mine.

“Though Edward did make you pay.”

Alex was peeved by Bryce’s patronizing tone. He masked his emotions until they were as unreadable as stone.

“Yes, you could say that.” Alex tried his best dismissive tone. Best he forget the king’s retribution for now. There would be time enough to deal with it later.

“Could? Surely you knew if he lost the wager he would find some way to make you pay. He doesn’t lose gracefully at anything, but to actually marry you to his ward by proxy. I can still see the apoplectic look on your face.”

“Yes, Bryce— what about the look on my face?” demanded Alex. His voice sounded strident even to him.

Bryce turned all shades of purple trying to conceal his mirth but he said not one word more. Instead he diverted his attention and polished the gold clasp, embossed with the Mitchell coat of arms, on his cloak.

Alex bristled at being the center of anyone’s jest. He didn’t take it well from his brothers, although the six of them only teased to vex him. Even though he was the youngest, his brothers deferred to him. They knew his worth and, it appeared, so did the king.

His teeth clenched at the thought of his proxy wedding and his humiliation. He knew he had to take a wife. He had to make his own way in the world. The Stelton holdings were extensive but not enough to provide him with an income. He’d have done anything to prove himself worthy of a holding of his own. Maybe even marry. Perhaps even Lisbeth. He never thought he would marry on the whim of the king. He had tried to argue, but there was no arguing with Edward. Faith, the king all but patted him on his head and sent him off like a new page. A page. He raked his hand through his hair.

With a nod of his head, Bryce motioned toward Glen Kirk in the distance. “Marrying Lisbeth does secure your claim to Glen Kirk.”

Lisbeth. He had lived at Glen Kirk for a year and hardly saw her. The only way he knew she was near was the little charms she left or the serenity that surrounded them. She kept herself in the forsaken hunting lodge and managed to elude him at almost every turn.

On odd twinge of disappointment hung round him. She hadn’t been like that years ago when they encountered each other at court. She had laughed and didn’t have a care in the world. Four years later he wouldn’t have known it was her if she hadn’t presented herself at the castle. The impish girl had grown into a poised beauty. Dark hair fell in long waves down her back. Her slender body was punctuated with soft curves that couldn’t remain hidden by the black mourning gown. Large green eyes stared at him from under a fan of long dark lashes. Even with her dour expression her full lips tempted him. He moved uncomfortably in his saddle. How things change. How people change.

“You do know you’re the envy of everyone. Not because the king gave you Wesley’s treasured Glen Kirk or daughter.” Bryce turned serious. “You inherited Wesley’s brewer and ale recipe. That should give you some compensation. I understand it’s a long-held family secret. Wesley was all about family.”

Family. He let his mind wonder. It landed on memories of his early days at court with his parents and siblings. He enjoyed the candor and tumult around the table in their assigned apartment. How he would appreciate that safety and security today in the midst of a court filled with politics and intrigue.

“I intend to leverage our close friendship,” said Bryce, “I’ll sample each batch and make certain it retains its high standards.”

Alex grinned at his friend’s declaration. Lord Wesley and Lady Darla Reynolds had been close friends of his parents. They didn’t bring their daughters to court often but Richard, their son, was always with them and became close to the tight-knit band of Stelton boys. Richard’s death on the Welsh battlefields had been a shock to them all. He and Wesley had spent a good deal of time together consoling each other over a good many tankards of ale.

It was only a short time after Alex left for the Welsh Wars himself that he heard of Wesley and Darla’s fatal accident. He felt their loss deeply. Now in a twist of fate their beloved Glen Kirk and daughter were his.

“Have you sent word to her?” Bryce’s question hung heavy in the air.

Alex broke away from his musings. “No, I will tell her when the time comes.”

Website:  www.ruthacasie.com

Personal Blog:  www.ruthacasie.blogspot.com

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/RuthACasie

                       

FB Author Page: www.facebook.com/RuthACasie

             

Amazon Author Page

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ruth-seitelman/6/6b7/964

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ruthacasie/

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4792909.Ruth_A_Casie

           

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/authors/a1002658357/Ruth-A-Casie/

LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/home/RuthACasie

Please thank Ruth for joining us. Check out her links and buy a book!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Author Ann Snizek & Secret of the Shielded

Hi all!

Please help me give a warm welcome to Author Ann Snizek today!

Book Title:  Secret of the Shielded



Author:  Ann Snizek



Release Date:  March 9, 2013



Genre:  YA Fantasy, Sci-Fi



Length:  Over 75,000 Words



Publisher:  Snow Flower Enterprises



Presented by:  As You Wish Tours



BLURB



This brave band of spectacular friends must go on a horrendous journey to remove all threats to



the newly reclaimed throne. They will discover amazing new truths and face heart wrenching



choices. Who are the Philo birds singing about? How will their song play out in the lives of these



young people? Will it all be for nothing??



Song of the Philo birds:



Twelve companions all will travel



Eleven this song try to unravel



Ten don’t know which is the way



Nine are going to have to pay



Eight are wondering what they will find



Seven speak with mouth and mind



Six shall get a brand new name



Five will never be the same



Four the enemy will take



Three have choices they must make



Two have powers they must use



Or, One friend in death will lose.

EXCERPTS




Krissa sat up, instantly wide-awake. She gasped to catch her breath. This was not a



good thing. There were only two lines that stood out at the time was that one of her



What about all the other stuff? She would have to tell them all about it. Looking



over at the clock, she realized that breakfast would be ready before long, so she decided



to go ahead and get up. There wasn't enough time to get back to sleep anyway.



The palace held onto the night's stillness. Only a few servants and guards were



moving around as Krissa left her room. Normally she wouldn't consider herself a



"morning person", but the song she heard in her dream made it impossible to sit still. She



repeated it as she wandered about the palace without any goal.



"Twelve companions all will travel, Eleven this song try to unravel, Ten don't know



which is the way, Nine are going to have to pay," she mumbled as she turned a corner.



"Eight are wondering what they will find, Seven speak with mouth and mind, Six shall



get a brand new name, Five will never be the same…" She stepped out onto the rooftop



garden. It was so peaceful in the early morning light. "Four the enemy will take; Three



have choices they must make," she sighed. At least she wasn't the only one that would



have to make a decision. "Two have powers they must use or one friend in death will



lose." Krissa shuddered. Were they truly ready for all they were getting themselves into?



She walked over and sat on a bench. Well, obviously Krissa wouldn't figure this one out



"I'm sorry, it slipped my mind earlier," Krissa began talking to Phex silently, "but I



was wondering…What are 'flurm' and 'hmar'? I didn't understand those words."



Phex laughed a little jingling laugh, and Krissa couldn't help smiling. "Reza is a



hmar. If you were a Tunuftolate, you would be also. I believe you would say adolescent.



It doesn't fall in the same number of years as yours does," he explained. "Reza is sixteen



years old. She just became a hmar last year. Before that, she was a flurm. From birth



until reaching hmar, our young are flurm. I thought you had known Reza since you were



a flurm yourself." He sounded slightly confused.



"I have lost many memories," she told him sadly.



"Do not fear, Chosen One," he reassured her. "You are a Rue. It will come back to



you in time. Please tell your friends to remain as quiet as possible for some time, once



we enter the next chamber… our flurm are very shy to begin with, and most of us hmukt,



mature ones, have never seen humans before."



After about an hour of searching, they had circled around and found a cave within a



short ride from the injury site. Krissa had spotted the shadows, and Nester cried out in



relief. The original site they went to look at turned out to be worthless to them, so the



cave was a welcome sight for them all. Daisy Mae put her nose to the ground and sniffed



around the entrance before going in. Cautiously, she entered and the rest waited for her



to return, or call for them. Another ten minutes later and Daisy Mae came out wagging



her tail with her head up and tongue down.



They all dismounted and approached the cave mouth. Sealey pulled out his flashlight



"Not as fancy as our last lodging, but beats a tent." He walked in farther and



examined the cave as it opened up and led to three other rooms. "It has enough space to



bring the horses in. On top of that, the spring in the back is thermally heated. So, we will



"There's a stream just about twenty feet down the slope outside also. Plenty of cool



water for Rania," Nester said. "And plenty of dry timber for a fire."



"We better collect that quickly," Lonnie added. "It feels like it's going to rain tonight.



I can make a couple litters, one for Pin and one that should be able to carry Rania, if she



Khevin's shoes scuffed softly on the ground as he moved. The fire snapped and the



nighttime creatures sang to the night beyond the cave. Her sleeping friends made little to



no sound as they slumbered and the horses made occasional sounds. Krissa enjoyed the



quiet. It felt relaxing to be able to think without a lot of commotion around her. She



smiled her thanks to Khevin as he silently handed her the medicated drink. Looking into



the cup, Krissa sighed and swallowed it. Quickly, she focused on changing into the



dragon's shape before she could fall asleep. It seemed easier that time.



"What time is it?" Krissa asked Khevin.



He looked at his watch. "It's 1:23, why?"



"Just curious," she said. Krissa discovered that the bandages didn't transform with



her, but did mold to her new shape properly. It amazed her. Her clothes became her skin;



though it never affected the color… she always turned a soft lavender color.



She also noticed that while she still hurt, she could move somewhat. Carefully, she



made her way to the mouth of the cave and looked out. Though it was dark, she had no



problem knowing where things were. Not that she could see them, but she could hear



them. Perhaps it was some sort of echolocation… like bats.



Everyone stared at Krissa in expectation (OK, Lonnie just turned in her direction, but



he gave the impression of looking). She could feel the butterflies growing in her stomach



and grabbed at an offensive weed that had been by her side. "What should I try to do?"

Please thank Ann for joining us today! Please check out her series and other books which can be found on Amazon.com.

Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce

Author Leti Del Mar & Land of the Unaltered

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Leti Del Mar to my blog today!

About the Author:

Leti Del Mar lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, daughter and abnormally large cat. When she isn't writing, reading or blogging, she is teaching Biology and Algebra to teenagers. Leti is also a classic film buff, passionate about Art History and loves to travel.

Her new book: Land of the Unaltered-Confederation Chronicles (Vol I) was released on June 18^th, 2013.

Here’s the blurb:

Land of the Unaltered- A Dystopian Romance (Book One of The Confederation Chronicles) Rose comes from the capital of the Confederation of Cities where its citizens live in luxury and the greatest fashion statement of all is being Altered. People change everything about the way they look as often as they do their hairstyle but Rose is different. Her position of privilege has made her an outcast and led her to suspect that something sinister is happening to the citizens and flees the capital along with a past that imprisons her in search of a fresh start in the Land of the Unaltered. Flynn lives in the Land of the Unaltered and hates the capitol and everything it stands for. So when a spoiled capital girl is assigned to work with him, he wants nothing to do with her and is prepared to make her life miserable. But Flynn was not prepared for someone like Rose. She doesn't fit the mold he expected and finds himself strongly attracted to her. As she continues to surprise and outwit him, they begin to forge a bond that is tested when they discover a secret that could change everything they know about Land of the Unaltered.

Excerpt:

Land of the Unaltered

Chapter 1
Rose
I woke up confused, disoriented and under attack.
I could hear the sounds of bullets in the distance getting closer with every passing second. In the confusion following my abrupt awakening, it took me a few precious seconds to realize this wasn’t my room and that I was in a foreign bed. Then I remembered I was onboard a convoy, taking me far away from home.
I gazed out of the tiny window next to my borrowed bed to see the attackers; about two dozen people on horseback, ridding parallel to the moving convoy. A few held lit torches that blazed against night sky. The rest carried guns, all aimed at me. My heart reached a frantic pace when I saw their bodies move closer to my window. I had lived my whole life in fear of an assassination and now that the threat was real and present, time stood still as I observed the faces of my would-be killers.
Their faces shone with excitement and energy. Never in my entire life had I felt as alive as these people appeared to be, riding towards me with their guns blazing. The full moon illuminated them and the green valley they galloped across. Weaving in and out of the sparse trees, their horses flew across the grassy terrain and maintained pace with the convoy. With my breath frozen in my throat, I found myself confused with my discovery. These assailants seemed happy and not at all what I imagined assassins to be.
Their clothes were mismatched but not ragged. They had clean, Unaltered faces and their hair was neatly arranged. I saw a young girl with two long braids streaming down her back. For some reason, those twin golden braids held me transfixed as she rode even closer.

Her first book, The Inadvertent Thief was published on January 17, 2013.

Here’s the blurb:

As a security specialist, Vivien Flowers is a perfectionist. So when two very important paintings she had been hired to protect are stolen, her highly structured world is turned upside down and she must get them back. It's too bad art theft is not very high on the Los Angeles Police Department's list of priorities. So when Vivien is joined by a handsome insurance agent eager to prevent the multi-million dollar claim from being paid, they use any means necessary to track down the location of the stolen paintings. But is Vivien willing to become a thief herself to get the paintings back? The answer leads her on a journey of intrigue, deceit, crime and even love as she travels from Los Angeles to Paris and discovers the true brilliance she is capable of.

This Romantic Suspense if the first installment of The Thief Series.

Amazon review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thriller February 11, 2013

By M. I. T.

Format:Kindle Edition

I heard about this book on Facebook where the author had uploaded a preview to read. I was quickly absorbed in the story from the beginning and I decided to read the book during my holiday last month. If you're married, this is one of those books that will keep your husband up all night because you can't put the book down! It's definitely a thriller and as the story unravelled I just wanted to read faster to find out what happens. The ending doesn't disappoint either. I wouldn't be surprised if this book is made into a movie one day!

Contact Links:

Twitter https://twitter.com/leti_delmar

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/leti.delmar

Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/111644809414835262757/posts

Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=258928705&trk

My Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/AqHVX

Book Links:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Land-Unaltered-Confederation-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00DD158FK

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/325731

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17875009-land-of-the-unaltered

Barnes & Noble (coming soon I hope)

Blog tour tab on my website (contains tour schedule):

http://wordswithletidelmar.blogspot.com/p/blog-tour.html

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Please thank Leti for joining us today! Check out her links and buy her 2 books!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Kate Hinderer & Moonlight Serenade

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Kate Hinderer to my blog today!

The Moonlight Serenade,

Fascination Island Book 2

Kate Hinderer

Determined to someday sing on the stage in New York City, Collette takes an internship at the luxury resort on Fascination Island.

While she plans to hone her craft by singing nightly on the stage of the Moonlight Serenade restaurant, she never expected to be pushed outside her comfort zone.

Shy and reserved, she is challenged to step outside herself and release the inner diva. When Falcon comes along, sparks fly and secrets are revealed.

Before long Collette is forced to make life-changing decisions that will impact her future in ways she never even imagined.

The Emerald Isle

Fascination Island Book 1

Kate Hinderer

To escape a bad break-up and fighting parents Audyn takes a job as a lifeguard at Fascination Island. The posh five-star resort lives up to its name in every way, including the strange rules the owner has about entering the water at night. Despite declaring it a boy-free summer, it isn’t long before the shy, endearing Levi and the mysterious, tattooed Tristan begin vying for her attention.

When Levi tries to push his advantage and Tristan comes to the rescue, Audyn realizes there is more to both these boys and the island they inhabit. Suddenly, she’s forced to acknowledge a reality she’d never considered and to pick a side in the conflict that has been waging for decades.

Amazon

About the Author:

In a nutshell: Writer. Blogger. Journalist. Marathon runner. Social media enthusiast. Beer drinker. Avid YA reader. Traveler. Chicago native. Milwaukee resident. Music fanatic. Fashion lover. Oldest of nine. 

Writing has been in my soul from the very beginning. In grade school I started my own local paper for the street I lived on. In middle school I wrote for the school paper and loved any English writing assignment. I started writing novels in high school. At the time my friends were the characters, the setting was almost always Regency England, and I scratched the story into lined notebooks.

Now, I have a journalism degree and a dozen various business writing gigs under my belt. I’ve lived in a handful of US cities including Milwaukee, Chicago, Boston, St. Louis and New York. I pen a personal fashion and lifestyle blog, ModlyChic.com, and continue to write about commercial real estate. 

My first book, Aurora Undefined, was published in 2011. The Emerald Isle, the first Fascination Island book, came out during the summer of 2012, at which time I immediately began writing the second book in the series.

Next up . . . stay tuned! I’m working on a new contemporary novel as well as the third book in the Fascination Island series.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KateHinderer

Kate Hinderer Writes (blog): http://katehinderer.blogspot.com/

ModlyChic (fashion blog): http://www.modlychic.com/

Twitter: @kate_hinderer

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4772538.Kate_Hinderer

Amazon profile: http://www.amazon.com/Kate-Hinderer/e/B004Y7N2N2/

Please thank Kate for joining us today! Check out her links and buy the series.

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Author Janna Gray & Kilingiri

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Janna Gray to my blog today!

Book Title:  Kilingiri



Author:  Janna Gray



Release Date:  May 21st 2013



Publisher:  GMTA Publishing, LLC



Presented by:  As You Wish Tours

BLURB



1968, Srinagar, Kashmir and Nina is devastated by the death of her new-born baby girl.



Sister Angela and Father Michael at the mission hospital step in to nurse Nina back to health



but when the friendship between Nina and Father Michael turns to love, Michael makes a



decision which will resonate through the years.



It is 1981 and in Kinsale, Ireland, Nina, devoted to her son Joshua, lives a loveless existence,



but a chance encounter changes everything. Michael is back in her life, he leaves the



priesthood and happiness is within their grasp.



But when past and present collide, their whole world is turned upside down.



Only by facing the consequences of what has gone before, can Nina and Michael embrace



Janna Gray guides us masterfully through this poignant story of love, loss, betrayal and

EXCERPT



Nina was very fond of David Kelly. Over the years he’d escorted her to the theatre and concerts



in Cork and Dublin and she often accompanied him to business functions when he needed a



partner. Initially his hauteur was disconcerting, but on getting to know him, she discovered his



deliciously dry sense of humour and enormous capacity for kindness and generosity. He’d held



Nina's hand when Josh had his tonsils removed and she knew she would always be able to count



on his support and affection. And once, after an evening on the beach with a bottle of champagne



and a quick snog, David’s attempt to kindle a spark of romance was abandoned with no hard



feelings, except one which he joked about.



Only once during the years since Josh's birth had she felt the need for roses, champagne and



glorious sex and when the opportunity arose, she grabbed it greedily. Tony Mayhew roared



into her life on a Harley Davidson the week she exhibited some of her paintings at his chic



gallery in Cork. He’d rented a cottage outside Kinsale that long ago summer and they'd become



inseparable. He made her laugh and delighted her with funny little gifts. She was slightly



disappointed when the romance ran its course, but she knew that he didn't want to settle down,



and besides he wouldn't have been a good father figure for Josh.



Since the fling with Tony there had been no one special in Nina's life, and when her body



yearned for a man's touch, she came to realise that the solitary act of self-gratification was no



substitute for the mouth and arms of the man she loved and missed with such intensity it caused



physical pain, and gradually she learned to sublimate the need for physical gratification until it



ceased to be of importance. Nowadays she could laugh with Laura and Meg about her abysmal



lack of a sex-life on the grounds that the part of her that once needed physical fulfillment had

Janna Gray grew up in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and was educated at boarding schools in



Kodaikanal, South India and Derbyshire, England. She trained to be a teacher in London



where she met and married her husband Simon. His job took them to Singapore, Hong Kong



and Thailand where she raised two sons, worked at British and International schools and



wrote articles for newspapers and magazines.



Currently living in the UAE, Janna was the Senior Mistress (a title which caused much



merriment among her colleagues!) and Head of Pastoral Care at Repton School before



trading her marking pens and report cards for the world of writing novels. She enjoys



travelling and sailing and had a love-hate relationship with exercise until she discovered



the joy of Zumba where the trainers turn a blind eye to her inability to remember dance



sequences. She sings in the shower and with choirs, has an allergy to golf and recently



discovered the allure of oils and acrylics – a delightfully messy way to express her inner

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Please thank Janna for joining us today! Check out her book!

Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce