Here’s a playlist I put together for my next big project. Don’t forget that starting next month, you can get a free, two-story bundle featuring the main characters if you’re subscribed to my newsletter!
Tag: novel
Looking Ahead
It’s been a busy year (in a good way!) and looks to stay that way through the end of 2016. In roughly chronological order, here’s what’s coming up for the rest of the year and what’s on deck after that.
Continue reading “Looking Ahead”
Sneak Peek of A THEFT OF MAGIC by Cara McKinnon
(First scene of Chapter One)
Continue reading “Sneak Peek of A THEFT OF MAGIC by Cara McKinnon”
Happy Hockey Season!
ECHO Campaign by Taylor Brooke
ECHO Campaign
Taylor Brooke
(Isolation #2)
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: November 1st 2016
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Brooklyn Harper’s worst nightmare has become her reality. She has been captured by Isolation…
Trapped in a white-walled labyrinth by Juneau Malloy, Brooklyn is faced with the horrors of Isolation’s finest training yet. The skills she learned as an Omen Operative in Camp Number Eleven are put to the test in the form of brutal assessments of her strength, skills, and fortitude. Confused and disheartened, Brooklyn and the group of renegade Omens prepare for whatever trials Isolation has in store for them.
Juneau has caged her once again, but Brooklyn is far from broken…
When Brooklyn finds out her best friend Gabriel is alive, she goes on a violent rampage in search of her, but instead earns herself a stint in solitary confinement. Juneau attempts to tame Brooklyn through grueling exercises before offering her one radical choice. Brooklyn must hand over her freedom in order to spare her friends. She’ll become a showpiece Juneau will auction off to the highest bidder for her skills in assassination, defense, and combat.
There must be a way out, and the renegade Omens have to find it…
Brooklyn has no intention of becoming Juneau’s latest achievement. During a mind-warping training simulation, Brooklyn uncovers Isolation’s greatest secret and their darkest mistake. Juneau Malloy has created something far more sinister than the Omens, and it’s ready to eat the world alive.
As the battle with Isolation intensifies, Brooklyn is faced with her most dangerous choice yet…
Save her friends—or save humanity.
*Designed by Deranged Doctor Design*
Sequel to:
Author Bio:
Taylor Brooke is the author of the sci-fi adventure trilogy The Isolation Series. She started out as a freelance makeup artist, and quickly discovered her love of elves, zombies, mermaids, kaiju, and monsters of all kinds. After receiving eight professional certifications in special effects makeup, working on countless projects, and fleshing out a multitude of fantastical creatures, she turned her imagination back to her one true love — books. Taylor has had a knack for writing since she was a little girl, and received recognition for her skills throughout grade school and junior college. When she’s not nestled in a blanket typing away on her laptop, she can be found haunting the local bookstore with a cup of steaming hot tea in her hands, scanning the shelves for new reads, or hiking one of the many mountains that surround her home in Oregon.
#Firebird #Book 3 Naming #Contest!
I’m preparing to send The Firebird Trilogy Book 3 off to my publisher. Only problem? It still doesn’t have a title, and that’s where you come in.
If I choose your title, you will receive an acknowledgement in the book, signed paperback copies of Firebird and What’s Left of Me, and more!
The blurb isn’t finalized yet, and I don’t want to give too much away, so check out the first two books to get an idea of the themes and characters.
Don’t have the first two books yet? Grab them here:
Comment here with your suggestion, or get in touch through the contact form. I’ll be running the contest through October 31 and announcing the winner on November 1. Good luck!
Sassy or Psychotic? Emily from AWASH IN TALENT Interviewed by Her Author
In Awash in Talent, Emily’s sister is massively Talented. After a sickly childhood, Beth is revealed to have the power to move objects with her mind and to heal all kinds of wounds and illness with only her touch. Only one hundred people in the world have the healing Talent, and Beth’s life changes overnight. Emily, on the other hand, has no discernible Talent or ambition beyond her obsession with Carlos, the married teaching assistant from her archaeology classes. Emily will do anything to show the world that she’s more amazing than her sister and that she and Carlos are meant to be together. An introduction to Emily’s world can be found at this link.
Emily ran away with the story that became Awash in Talent. I had previously used the name Emily for a similarly strong, overly motivated character in “Unpredictable Factors in Human Obedience,” which is the first short story in Unpredictable Worlds. I’m not at all sure why the name Emily seems suitable for these out-of-control characters. My friend who has that same name asked if I hated her! Far from it. The Emilies I’ve written about made sitting at the computer to write a surprising, fun process. Even though I ended up giving Emily a full character arc over the course of an entire novel when I’d originally envisioned Awash in Talent as a short story, she’s still demanding more page time and a sequel is in the works.
Jessica Knauss: Hello, Emily. What would you like to talk about today?
Emily: You sound like my therapist.
JK: That’s not a coincidence. I based Dr. Blundt on some of my own experiences in Providence.
Emily: A typically self-centered author.
JK: All right, let’s talk about you. What is your favorite book?
Emily: It’s an epic story of family and revenge set in medieval Spain called Seven Noble Knights.
JK: How can you have read that? It’s not coming out until December.
Emily: Seven Noble Knights came out of your head, and so did I. It’s sort of an advance reader’s edition via little grey cells.
JK: You’re too clever for me. Let’s switch to geography. We know you love Providence, Rhode Island. What is your hometown like?
Emily: Oh my God, it’s so boring. Nothing worth talking about at all.
JK: But it’s in California. Everyone loves California…?
Emily: California is not all beaches and Hollywood and San Francisco. I only ever lived there because that’s where my family was.
JK: Don’t you have anything good to say about your family? What is it about your sister, Beth, that makes you so angry?
Emily: Everything! Everyone thinks she’s so special, and she’s not. Just because she can heal people and levitate Nerf balls through the air? She’s just a stupid little girl like all other teenagers. Right here in this room, there’s more genius than she’ll ever have.
JK: How so?
Emily: I’m here, and so are you, who created me.
JK: Thank you for the acknowledgement, but I don’t feel I had much choice in how you came about. I’ll say this: you are much more strong-willed than Beth.
Emily: That’s right. My will is the strongest of all and that’s why I’m going to get what I want eventually.
JK: And what do you want?
Emily: Really? You don’t know? Oh, I get it. You’re playing dumb for the interview. I want two things: to never see or hear about Beth again and to live out my days with Carlos in wedded bliss at some fascinating archaeological site.
JK: Everyone’s puzzled and curious: what is so great about Carlos?
Emily: What are you talking about? To start with, his superior achievements in academic archaeology. He’s sure to write a book that everyone will quote and cite and rely on. More importantly, Carlos is my soulmate, the person I can’t live without, the one who must be with me or the world is all wrong.
JK: I hate to bring this up, but other people might mention the fact that he already has a wife and a few children. Doesn’t that…
Emily: (Stands silently, turns precisely, and slams the door on her way out.)
JK: Wait! You need an escort to get back home. Emily? Emily?
Jessica Knauss’s Awash in Talent was released by Kindle Press on June 7 to praise from readers who love something different.
This is the last stop in a week-long Awash in Talent blog tour. Don’t miss the crazy character interviews and writing advice at the blogs of A.J. Culey, Carrie S. Miller, Andi Adams, and J.L. Gribble!
Born and raised in Northern California, Jessica Knauss has wandered all over the United States, Spain, and England. She has worked as a librarian and a Spanish teacher and earned a PhD in Medieval Spanish Literature before entering the publishing world as an editor. Her acclaimed novella, Tree/House, and short story collection, Unpredictable Worlds, are currently available. Her epic of medieval Spain, Seven Noble Knights, will be published by Bagwyn Books in December 2016. Find her on social media and updates on the sequels to Awash in Talent and Seven Noble Knights and her other writing at her website: jessicaknauss.com. Feel free to sign up for her mailing list for castles, stories, and magic.
Awash in Talent: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DAWRMKU
Unpredictable Worlds: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VU4IC5U
Tree/House: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440438471
Seven Noble Knights http://www.jessicaknauss.com/seven-noble-knights/
website: http://www.jessicaknauss.com
Newsletter: http://jessicaknauss.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=363e3e323b681dbf2211c7734&id=f3598a1d07
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JessicaKnauss
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Knauss/194593673897479
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jkknauss/
Google+: http://plus.google.com/u/0/114810216513539264775/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4363066.Jessica_Knauss
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Knauss/e/B004TBHHYI/
What’s Left of Me–99 cents today!
Visit Amazon to get yours!
THE DARKNESS WITHIN by Taylor Henderson
The Darkness Within
The house next door holds a terrifying secret…
For as long as Claire Anderson can remember, the house next door to hers has been vacant. When the last owner passed away, the house fell into major disrepair. She was beginning to grow accustomed to the neglected little house next door.
But now the house appears to hold a darkness…
Her new neighbor, David Greer, is attractive, middle-aged, and friendly. At least that’s what Claire’s mom, Jasmine, thinks, but Claire can’t ignore the bad vibe she gets from him. Maybe it’s because she’s not used to having a neighbor, or maybe it’s because her mom seems to have a thing for him. Then again, it could also be the strange, creepy looks he gives her. Claire isn’t one hundred percent sure why David makes her feel uneasy, but she is determined to find out before he gets too close to her mother.
Can Claire figure out what David is hiding from behind the walls of his decrepit new home before someone falls victim to the darkness within?
TAPE TO TAPE (VENOM #3) by V. L. Locey
Buy Links:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Blurb:
Venom defensive coach Dot “The Shadow” West has made a nice life for herself. She’s found a new position on an up-and-coming women’s professional hockey team, her daughter is thriving, she gets along well with her fellow coaches and her players admire and respect her. She’s proud to have accomplished so much by herself. Everything is running smoothly in her life with no help from anyone, thank you very much.
Sadly, there’s one annoying glitch in Dot’s new life, and it’s in the form of good-looking Theo Grier, former Wildcat goalie and co-host of a controversial sports talk radio show based in Philadelphia, home of the Venom. When Dot loses her cool and calls in to spar with Theo on the air her structured and solitary existence takes a sudden unexpected turn. Before she can hip check the smug fool out of her life she somehow ends up working with him on a new talk radio sports program.
Can she defend her heart against the unwanted feelings Theo is stirring up? Or will she continue to guard herself, and her past decisions, against the offensive moves being made by the ex-goalie? The only man to ignite her passions – and ire – in years?
Excerpt:
“Security lets you down here?” I asked.
“I’m an old ‘Cat. They love me down here,” he informed me. I walked past him and began to pull on a mitten. “I thought maybe we could grab a cup of coffee and discuss the show next Monday.” That made me pause for a scant moment but just for a moment. I kept walking and dressing. Theo caught up to me with ease. His legs were as long as a thoroughbred’s. “Did you hear me?”
“Yes, I heard you. I then chose to ignore you.” I wrapped a red and black scarf around my neck, nodded at Eddie the security guard stationed by the staff/players entrance, and then stepped out into a freezing cold Philadelphia night.
“You plan on treating me this coldly forever?” Theo asked as I slid past him. If he thought holding the door open for me would chill me out, he was sorely mistaken.
“Probably,” I said with my eyes locked on my blue Honda Pilot. “My grandmother always said that the best way to deal with a wart was to freeze it.”
“Ouch,” Theo chuckled while keeping up with my pace easily. Each breath out clouded in front of my face. “I hope I’m just a finger wart and not an anal wart.”
“Oh, you’re an anal wart. One of the biggest ones that I have ever had the misfortune to encounter,” I parried as my Honda got closer and closer. Theo jumped ahead of me to bar my path. I gave him a lethal glare. He smiled and held out his hand. I eyed it warily as if it were an asp ready to strike.
“Coach West, I think we need to start over,” Theo said as his hand hung in the cold air. I raised my eyes from his big hand to his face. Then I gave him a strong “Please spare me” look. The man didn’t have the sense to stop trying to be sexy. A gust right off an iceberg howled around the Houseman, lifting Theo’s white scarf high into the air behind him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person, Coach West. I’m Theo Grier, ex-goalie and world’s largest walking anal wart.”
I snorted and glanced up at the LED parking lot light wobbling overhead.
“Could that have been a smile I saw on ‘The Shadow’s’ face?” Theo asked. I rolled my eyes then shook my head.
“It was a tiny sneeze.”
“Right, a sneeze,” he said with just a hint of skepticism. “Maybe you should shake my hand so you can get out of this nasty cold weather. A hot cup of coffee at the Black Boar Bar & Grill might be just what you need to help thaw out, Coach West.”
“For your information, Mr. Grier, I do not need to thaw out. I’m quite comfortable, toasty warm, hot even,” I replied keeping my arms crossed over my chest.
“Yes, that you are,” Theo said in a vibrating voice that had dropped just a smidgeon. There was something about his voice, the way he held himself, and that damned large hand of his still waiting for mine that made me feel a trifle too warm inside my coat.
“Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Grier.” I pushed around him.
“How about honesty then,” he said and then planted his massive self in front of me once again.
“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” I sighed.
“When I see something I want, I go after it.”
“And you want me?” I asked.
“Yeah, I want you to shake my hand and join me for coffee,” he countered smoothly. I studied his face then with a huff extended my hand, all toasty warm in my mitten, to him. His fingers curled around mine, making my hand glow like a red coal in a fire pit. We shook slowly, one could have said sensuously, but handshakes with mittens blocking the skin-to-skin can’t be sensual, can they?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.
When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
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Gone Writing Publishing Backlist Books and Upcoming Releases
Pink Pucks & Power Plays (Book One of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
A Most Unlikely Countess (Book Two of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
O Captain! My Captain! (Book Three of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
Reality Check (Book Four of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
Language of Love (Book Five of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
Final Shifts (Book Six of the To Love a Wildcat Series)
Clean Sweep (Book One of the Venom Series)
Twirly Girl (Book Two of the Venom Series)
Tape to Tape (Book Three of the Venom Series)
Coming Nov. 16…Roster Addition (a To Love a Wildcat hockey romance novella)
Torquere Press Backlist and Upcoming Releases
Two Guys Walk Into an Apocalypse (Part of the He Loves Me For My Brainssss anthology)
Two Guys Walk Into an Apocalypse 2: It Came From Birmingham
Two Guys Walk Into an Apocalypse 3: He’s a Lumberjack and He’s Undead
Love of the Hunter
Goaltender`s Penalty
All I Want for Christmas – A Toms & Tabbies Tale
Early to Rise – A Toms & Tabbies Tale
Every Sunday at One (Part of the 2013 Charity Sip Anthology)
Night of the Jackal
An Erie Halloween
An Erie Operetta
An Erie Garden Party
Back to the Garden (Also part of the Mythologically Torqued Anthology)
Ellora’s Cave Backlist and Upcoming Releases
Bound, Boarded and Bagged
Two Man Advantage
Game Misconduct
Full Strength
Shutdown Pair
Long Change
Independent Releases
Coming October 5, 2016…On Broadway (part of the Changing on the Fly M/M hockey romance charity novella)
Coming Dec. 20, 2016…Holly & Hockey Boots (a gay erotic holiday hockey romance)
