Showing posts with label indie author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indie author. Show all posts

Friday, March 18, 2016

Five years ago ...

... I met several wonderful authors who helped me self-publish my first book, Dream Smashers. The authors of Darkside Publishing accepted me under their label and we took a voyage together into the new world of the Amazon and the sea of possibilities awaiting us in the scary unknown.

Times have changed since then. More than a handful of self-published authors have made best selling lists. Many are earning a decent living publishing their writing. And thousands more are still treading water. Every day hundreds of new authors emerge into the self-publishing world with a story to tell.

I'm happy with the decision I made five years ago. It's been a fun and challenging adventure with many more to come. New friends, stories, and feats to remember from the past five years and others to arrive for the next!

To celebrate, let's give away signed paper books from some of the authors who have supported and guided me in the beginning and even now. You do remember what paper books are, don't you?

 Attach on Phoenix: Forsaken Stars Saga #1 
by USA Today Bestselling Author 
Megg Jensen

Two hundred years ago, an interplanetary expedition crashed on a deserted planet. Their ship was destroyed. Their technology lost.

They built a new society while they waited for rescue. It never came.

Instead they caught the attention of the dragzhi, an aggressive alien species, and found themselves in the midst of a war they were doomed to lose.

Torsten Vikker, a soldier who’d rather read than fight, is on a mission to recover an artifact rumored to have the power to defeat the dragzhi. Rell, a woman raised in a cult, will stop at nothing to keep him away from what she holds sacred.

Yet, only together can they hope to save humanity from utter annihilation.




 Found: Penny Black Trilogy #1 
by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

Penny Black hasn’t had it easy. Just about everything you’d expect to happen to a harassed foster-kid turned junkie has happened to Penny. Add in the mysterious power to rewind time, conducting events around her, and it’s a wonder she held up on the streets for so many years. Now, at seventeen, the New Society has found her. Finally, Penny is where she belongs. But that doesn’t stop the visions, or the need to protect the victims shown to her.

Wyatt Adams is excited and intrigued when his sister Melody assigns him to be Penny’s Lookout. Being the youngest, and hopelessly ordinary in the family that created the New Society, has left Wyatt feeling like he has a lot to prove — and Penny is a big deal. She’s got abilities that surpass any he’s seen before … and pretty much every quality he looks for in a girlfriend, but no one needs to know about that, especially Penny.

*The Penny Black trilogy is a companion to the Zellie Wells trilogy and not a continuation of the series.

*Due to language and sexuality, FOUND is recommended for older teens.

 Bloody Little Secrets 
by Karly Kirkpatrick

17-year-old Vicky Hernandez has a big problem. She's dead. Or not quite. After discovering she's been turned into a vampire, she tries to settle into a quiet suburb of Chicago and return to a normal life. If only she could stop wanting to bite her boyfriend. Not to mention she is dying to find out who turned her, and why. She doesn't have to wait long before they come to her.


 Grounded: The Grounded Trilogy #1 
by GP Ching

Faith kept her plain. Science made her complicated.
In the near future, an amish girl discovers she's the product of a government experiment gone awry.

In Hemlock Hollow, life isn't easy, but it is simple.  Things in my community haven’t changed much in over three hundred years, since the time my Amish ancestors came to what is now the Green Republic. I milk my cow by hand, make fresh bread every morning, and hope to be courted by Jeremiah, a boy I’ve known since childhood.

When my father falls ill, the English doctor says a hospital outside the wall can heal him. Jeremiah convinces me to go on rumspringa, to experience the outside world as an Englisher in order to be closer to my father during his recovery. Others have gone before me. They claim it’s an adventure. But adventure turns to horror as an ordinary light switch thrusts me into a new world, and revelations about my personal history make me question everything I believe. 

All my life I’ve worked to be simple. I can’t pretend anymore. Nothing about me is simple.
The McCall Initiative, Episodes 1.1 - 1.3 
by Lisa Nowak

What if the Pacific Northwest seceded from the United States? In 2063, it has.

The climate crisis that’s devastated all but the Northwest corner of the U.S. is the only reality Piper Hall has ever known. She doesn’t waste a thought on that, the secession that created Cascadia, or the closed border, erected to keep out climate refugees. With her family impoverished by her father’s death, she’s driven by just one goal—winning a scholarship to college and later med school.

When Piper’s little brother starts talking about poor people vanishing, she’s convinced the stories are just rumors. Then she comes home to an empty house. Branded a criminal and forced into hiding, Piper must fight for her freedom, her family, and her future. But those responsible for the disappearances will stop at nothing to protect their secrets, and the only person who can help might be the very boy whose family has displaced her own.

The McCall Initiative is a story told in serial form. If you’re a fan of edge-of-your-seat dystopian thrillers with a twist of romance, you’ll love Lisa Nowak’s glimpse at a future that’s all too plausible. Great for fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Legend.

A first edition copy of Dream Smashers 
by yours truly -- typos and all!

My name is Autumn Spring Winters. Right? What sane person names their kid after not only one season of the year, but three? Well, the last name was inherited, but still. Nobody ever said my mom was in her right mind, though. I often wonder what life would be like if she wasn’t a tweaker. But, you know, that’s just a daydream. Reality is she’s a meth addict. She’s been an addict for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I like to believe her when she says she’s clean. Sometimes, when she’s high, we get along great. Sometimes we even talk. When she’s coming down, though, it’s best to just hide.

My name is Autumn Spring Winters and Dream Smashers is my story. It’s a love story, but most of all, it’s about letting go.

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To enter, you have to apparently visit my Facebook page. You don't have to "like" it or anything. I'm cheap and in order to use Rafflecopter for free (Because, let's face it, I'm a starving author--well, not starving because I eat a lot, but you know what I mean), I had to pick the least time consuming step for you to do in order to enter. I could have purchased a membership to give you more options, but we've covered why that isn't happening. So, please use the Rafflecopter below to enter.

I will email the winners in order to allow the choice of book preference.

The giveaway begins on March 18th and ends on April 1st. Winners will be notified the first week of April via email and a mailing address will need to be furnished to mail the book. *US residents only, please*

Thank you, readers! I appreciate you. Good luck! I hope you win the book of your choice. These are some amazing stories by some wonderful authors.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

New Look for Lords of Shifters

Loramendi's Story was first published in 2011. As you know, it's the first book in the Lords of Shifters series. Spider Wars, which runs along the same timeline as Loramendi's Story, and Dark Horse came next in 2012. Since then, they have sat and you have waited and waited for the next story to fall into. I love you for your patience and have some wonderful news! The next book is currently in production and it's all coming together. I'm excited about it and hope to give you the best book yet this summer. The title will be released in July.

Until then, take a look at the new covers Steven Novak has given the Lords of Shifters series. Do you love them? I do.

http://www.amazon.com/Loramendis-Story-Shifters-Angela-Carlie-ebook/dp/B005FR1D9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401846339&sr=8-1&keywords=Loramendi%27s+Story

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Lords-Shifters-Angela-Carlie-ebook/dp/B007K3Y34O/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1GC029BFN06QW0YV2G9Y

http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Lords-Shifters-Angela-Carlie-ebook/dp/B00A8V3HTM/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0NKSV0RPGDNMNE7QVXKR




In celebration, you can now get Loramendi's Story for FREE at these retailers:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Kobo
Smashwords

Enjoy! :)



Saturday, February 15, 2014

About The McCall Initiative by Lisa Nowak

Please welcome the talented author and my friend, Lisa Nowak, to the blog today and learn about her amazing dystopian serial. I'm loving these books. I know you will too!

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Almost a year and a half ago, while my husband and I were driving to a friend’s house, he told me about a story he’d read in the Portland Mercury. According to the article, fifty years from now much of the United States will be devastated by climate change. The Pacific Northwest will remain relatively unchanged in comparison, which will result in an influx of climate refugees.

“That sounds like a great set up for a dystopian YA novel,” I said. Within minutes, I had the basic premise outlined. The Pacific Northwest, disgruntled over the population boom, secedes from the United States to form its own country with a closed border. Wealthy Americans want to buy their way in, so poor people begin disappearing off the streets. Naturally, I needed a romantic aspect, but I wanted to give it a twist. I decided my protagonist would be a girl whose family had disappeared, and the love interest would be the boy whose family had displaced hers.

Over the coming weeks, the idea grew to include an existing political movement to form a bioregion called Cascadia, Portland’s major league soccer team and its rowdy band of fans, the Timbers Army, and a rock star-turned-activist who becomes the first president of the new nation. My husband, friends, and fellow writers supplied me with myriad excellent ideas and educated me about the subjects of history, politics, computer science, medicine, and soccer.

Several writers I know have been experimenting with serialized stories, and this idea seemed perfect for that venue. I envision it much like a season of a television series. Each short episode gives you part of the story, with the entire plot-line playing out over a nine-book “season.” I currently have the first three episodes published, (you can buy them individually, or as a box set) and the fourth will be released in early March. If you aren't sure this is for you, fear not. You can try the first episode absolutely free at any of the retailers listed below.




What if the Pacific Northwest seceded from the United States?

The climate change that’s devastated all but the Northwest corner of the U.S. has been around since before Piper Hall was born. She doesn’t spend much time thinking about it, the secession that created Cascadia, or the closed border, erected to keep out climate refugees. All she wants is to get through high school and earn a medical degree so she can pull her family out of poverty. Piper’s sure her little brother’s stories about poor people vanishing are just rumors—until she comes home to an empty house. Losing her future, her family, and her freedom and forced into hiding, Piper has to find a way to get to the bottom of the disappearances. But the only one who can help might be the very boy whose family has displaced her own.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

HIDDEN by Megg Jensen - BOOK BLITZ


I'm sure you're aware that I'm a huge fan of author Megg Jensen, right? I'm also privileged to be her critique partner and friend. In fact, at this very moment, I'm helping critique an amazing fantasy novel she's written. Okay. I'll stop bragging. You want to know more about this epic fantasy, don't you? Yeah, I figured you would. Who wouldn't?

Megg was kind enough to provide us with a sneak peek and an excerpt. The first line is a killer. I love it! Check it out. When you're done, enter the Rafflecopter to win some pretty rad stuff!

Book Details:


Hidden by Megg Jensen
(Dragonlands #1)
Genres: Fantasy
Publication date: January

Synopsis:
The mystery enshrouding Hutton’s Bridge is as impenetrable as the fog that descended at its borders eighty years ago. Each year, three villagers enter the mist searching for answers. No one ever returns.
Then a dragon falls from the sky to the town square, dead—the first glimpse of an outside world that has become nothing more than a fairy tale to Hutton’s Bridge. Except to Tressa.
Tressa grew up with Granna’s stories of the days before the fog fell. When Granna dies, leaving Tressa without any family, Tressa ventures into the fog herself, vowing to unravel the foul magic holding Hutton’s Bridge captive.
What she discovers beyond the fog endangers the lives of everyone she loves.

EXCERPT


Death lurked in the air that afternoon. Tressa sat by Grannas bedside, clasping hands with the woman who at ninety-three had outlived her entire generation.
“You are leaving tomorrow, yes?” Grannas liver-spotted hands shook. The rough-hewn walls seemed to close in. Tressa knew Granna didnt have much time left. She wanted to squeeze out every second she could with her.
The smell of tonic and medicine hung in the dark room. When the curtains were drawn, Grannas eyes watered. Adam, the village healer, said sunlight would help Granna, but Tressa knew the truth. Granna would leave her soon, leave the village, taking the only first-hand knowledge of the outside world with her. The tales of the outside world – a place no one in Huttons Bridge had seen since Granna was just a child. Not since the fog had descended on the borders of their village.
“Yes, Granna. You chose me, remember?” Tressa stroked Grannas hair with her free hand. The silver strands were still soft. “Me, Sean, and Connor.”
Granna nodded. “Yes, yes, I remember now.” A gasp preceded each breath, struggling against the inevitable finality of life. “Youre the only girl eligible this year.”
Tressas eyes dropped to the floor strewn with straw, the hem of her long, cotton dress sweeping it every time she moved. She was eligible only because shed never conceived. After three years of coupling, not one baby to show for it. Not even a failed pregnancy. The girls who did achieve pregnancy were never forced to leave. They were safe, protected. Tressa had felt the cold breath of death breathing down her back every time she didnt conceive.
“But, Tressa, it is your destiny to leave the village.”
Tressa held back a sigh. Granna was about to die herself. Why would she want her only great grandchild to follow her in death? No one who ever entered the fog returned to the village. It was as much of a death sentence as Grannas failing health.
Tressas palms began sweating. A tremble skipped up her arms to her chest where her heart pounded out an irregular, nervous beat.
Granna took another deep breath. Without looking at Tressa, she said, “The fog. You must leave. It is your destiny.”
Tressa managed to force out a small laugh. Grannas grave expression didnt fool. “Granna, dont you want me to live a long life, like you have?”
Granna shook her head. “Beyond the fog there is a life for you. I have seen it.”
No one had the gift of sight in her village. Granna claimed once there was magic. It was one element of her stories that made the outside world seem so desirable. Tressa would give anything for a magical potion to save her great grandmother. Instead, they could only rely on Adams knowledge of healing.
“But I was supposed to live to watch you leave. I saw it. I believed it would happen.” She took another breath, shallower this time. “I don’t know if I can hold on until tomorrow.” Grannas eyes flashed with anger. She held out one frail hand. An owl flew through the window, landing on Grannas fingers. The fogs undulating fingers caressed the trees limbs.
“Thats my Nerak.”
The little owl hooted in response.
“You take care of Tressa, Nerak. Help her to see the truth.”
The owls head bobbed, then it flew out the window and sat in the tree.
Tressa leaned down, kissing Granna on the forehead. Granna always said the downy owl had magic. Tressa had never seen it do anything other than the other trained birds in the village. Tressa sat up again. Granna was cold, too cold. Her skin paled into a gray pallor. Her blue eyes lost focus, gazing somewhere over Tressas shoulder.
“I love you, Granna,” she said.
“I love you too, my sweet Tressa.” Her voice rattled. Grannas eyelids fluttered, then closed with a finality only accompanied by death. One last breath expelled, but her lungs didnt take in another whiff of air.
Tressa laid Grannas hand on her stomach. Taking a step back, she took one last look at the woman who had loved her every moment of her life. Tressas mother died in childbirth and her father had left through the fog. Like all of the others, three a year for the last sixty-seven years, none of them returned. Two hundred and one souls lost to the fog.
Tressa was next.

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AUTHOR BIO:
I've been a freelance parenting journalist since 2003 and began writing YA novels in 2009. I live in the Chicago suburbs with my husband, two kids, and our miniature schnauzers, Ace & Tanu.

For more information on me please visit my website at http://www.meggjensen.com

Author links:






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