Thinking of going to a Writing Conference? Raquel Reyes, author of JEWELER’S MARK, will tell you how to make the most of a conference. Welcome to Mystery Mondays and another fun filled blog.…
Month: October 2016
Mystery Mondays: Raquel V. Reyes on Networking
Thinking of going to a Writing Conference? Raquel Reyes, author of JEWELER’S MARK, will tell you how to make the most of a conference. Welcome to Mystery Mondays and another fun filled blog.
Networking Pointers by R. V. Reyes
Why should you go to writers conferences?There are many answers to that question, but for me, the best answer is networking. Yes, one also goes to better one’s craft or to hear the headlining guest of honor. And you will get both those things just by attending and sitting in your seat. But if you want to get the most from the conference then you need to go in prepared to network.
I attend SleuthFest in South Florida. The conference is three days of panels, mini- workshops, and demonstrations. There are four tracks: beginning craft, advanced craft, career advancement, and forensics. An add-on called “Third-Degree Thursday” is…
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A Pavrotti Fan achieves his dream of a lifetime………as told by Geoff Cronin
My father-in-law who is 93 and with a memory like a bear trap… and who is also a great raconteur.. and I had a conversation over the weekend about the current music series on the life of Luci…
Source: A Pavrotti Fan achieves his dream of a lifetime………as told by Geoff Cronin
Interview With Christoph Fischer
)Interview With Author Christoph Fischer MY INTERVIEW OF CHRISTOPH FISCHER Welcome to my ‘Seat of Honor’, Christoph. Though we’ve never met, I feel as if we’ve been friends …
Source: Interview With Christoph Fischer
Wands, Spells, & Magic Tales Release Tour ~ Oct 28-29
WANDS, SPELLS, & MAGIC TALES
Genre: Paranormal
Due to mature content, situations and language, this collection is recommended for audiences 18+. Some stories are written in American, some in Canadian, and some in British English. The authors have chosen to stay true to their heritage.
WANDS, SPELLS, AND MAGIC TALES is a magnificent collection of witchcraft and magic paranormal books, some full-length novels, some short enough to read in one sitting, each one spellbinding. Every single compelling story was hand-picked for your enjoyment. 9 worlds to make your own, 9 thrilling adventures, 9 new sets of witchy friends. The perfect companion for late nights on the sofa, the perfect gift to those who enjoy a good read. Add it to your favorite kindle with one click now.
This box set includes a mix of already released and totally new novels and novellas, all complete works. Those books which are part of a series can be enjoyed fully without the need to read the complete series (though there is a chance you might develop story-addiction issues—for that, we apologize).
Eternal Island — K.S. Haigwood & Ella Medler
Eternal Island – A place where vampires rule, witches play, danger lurks and dreams really do come true.
Eternal Island is a paranormal suspense novel, deeply rooted into myth. Vampires and magic form a unique backdrop to a love story with long-reaching consequences.
Human girl Ariana Lochalan finds herself transported from the relative calm of her ‘Nowhere, Arkansas’ life into a diametrically opposite existence when she discovers she is a powerful witch and meant to wed High Vampire of Eternal Island, Abe Cambridge. Despite first-sight magnetism, the two protagonists are being pushed apart, obstacles tripping them at every step, outside forces interfering and threatening their peace, and ultimately their lives.
A world rich in magic and intrigue, Eternal Island is the first installment of a saga which has love at its core and delves through the mire that is human nature in a turmoil of feeling and emotion.
Would courage, resilience and love be enough to bring together two soul mates?
How much would you sacrifice to save the one who owns your heart?
Tangled Roots — 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?
Haunted Raine — R.E. Hargrave
Distracted by the everyday routine of raising children, being a wife, and keeping a home, Lorraine Morrissey let life pass her by. Her wake up call comes when she realizes that with their children gone, her husband Richard is rarely home, and she’s filling her solitary days with trivial tasks. A crazy idea to save her marriage leads to a summer beach vacation unlike any she’s ever taken; one that involves unknowingly buying a haunted house.
The Wicked Awakened — Samantha Jacobey
What would you do if a five hundred year old witch wanted to turn your body into her new home?
Morcant and Blake Korrigan own a little shop of horrors, where witches congregate and people ending up dead isn’t rare. When Karen Hiltzman joins their coven, she has no idea what she’s getting into. Drawn in, the group convinces her to recruit her best friend, Sarah Matthews, after discovering that she bears a very special birthmark; one that indicates she’s the girl they’ve been waiting for.
Eager to reincarnate a witch put to death by an angry mob five hundred years prior, Morcant unleashes a spell; a dark and sinister curse. His ritual transforms Sarah’s body and will bring the dreaded Brenna back to life when it’s completed. Blake wants to stop him; but will he be strong enough to defeat his elder sibling, and if he does… will he be able to let her go when it’s done?
MA – 18+V – violenceS – sexual content – coarse language
Witchwood Estate 1 & 2 — Patti Roberts
Orphaned at five-years-old, Alexandria Santorini learns she comes from a long line of powerful witches. Twelve years later, Alexandria is leaving Catnip Cottage and going home to Ferntree Falls to claim her inheritance – Witchwood Estate – the home where she was born, and where her parents were murdered.
But something very sinister is going on in Ferntree Falls – something that will change Alexandria’s life in ways she never imagined. For starters, one of her new best friends disappears in the sunlight… the other one just tried to kill her!
Whimsical, “TV” length episodes in an ongoing series. Witches, spells, ghosts, sprites, shape-shifters, wolves and more. With an equal measure of Magic and Evil, Witchwood is sure to win your heart and soul.
For all those young at heart, grab your broomstick and come along for the ride!
Circle of Protection — Kendra Hale
Driven by insatiable greed, Mark Drew employs the powerful witch Lorel, to realise his every desire. When he meets Violet, the great niece and heir of the wealthy Sir Peter Grosvenor-Willetts, he proposes to her with one sole
purpose. To attain this fortune, through whatever means. Magic… and even murder. The ensnaring spell cast off, Violet flees, with the help of her great uncle, to a small town lying within a protective circle. In this idyllic sanctuary, Violet’s life takes a happy turn, as she discovers her own magical identity, and love. But, Mark is adamant in his pursuance… as the forces of good versus evil do battle.
Weird I — Julie Elizabeth Powell
Henry Ian Darling is a collector of oddities, those that bring him closer to an enigma, one he hopes will be a great thing.
But maybe it isn’t.
Weird II — Julie Elizabeth Powell
What is the significance of what Henry Ian Darling found in the boot of a car?
And how did his wife know of the event? How could anyone be cruel enough to do such a thing?
Find out where the discovery leads this collector of oddities and what it may mean for Henry’s ultimate quest – finding the enigma, that which will save or destroy all dimensions.
Weird III — Julie Elizabeth Powell
A weird dream tips Henry Ian Darling into the Shadowlands.
What has this to do with Brett?
Ms Peabody has a plan, but will Henry survive his quest?
K. S. Haigwood is the author of the Save My Soul, Eternal Island and Moonrising series. By day, she is a CNC Machinist, but by night and weekend, she saves the world or destroys it in a single bound, depending on what mood she is in and if she has had her coffee. In addition to being an award winner for the ‘Life Changing Read Award’, she has also been nominated twice for Best Indie Book 2016 in the Paranormal category.
Characterization is one of K.S. Haigwood’s strongest points. You can understand each characters’ predicaments and you can almost foresee their reactions. But. There’s always a but, with this author, because Haigwood can deliver enough twists and turns to turn a tornado on its head. Just as you think you’ve figured where the story is going next, she’s duped you again.
The whole of her novels are littered with good chuckle moments, and even in the darkest hour, the thinnest hint of a silver lining is still visible among the clouds.
Shock therapy for body and soul, delivered at a hundred miles an hour with the humor and charisma of a trendsetter, Haigwood is certain to be hailed the new wonder-drug to cure all ills.
Ella Medler is a U.K. author and editor. She writes fiction in many genres in a seemingly vain attempt to slow down her overactive brain enough to write non-fiction on subjects she knows a thing or two about. She also does not believe in the starchy use of English and ignores the type of rule that doesn’t allow for a sentence to be finished in a preposition. Her books are action-driven, and well-developed characters are her forte. Loves: freedom. Hates: her inner censor.
Domestic engineer. Author. Burgeoning editor. And quite possibly certifiable. Believing every story can shine bright with a bit of tenacious tough love, R.E. Hargrave is thorough and to the point. An international bestselling author, she takes storytelling and manuscript polishing seriously, working with her authors and on her own creations to ensure they come to life, crawling from the pages and into the reader’s souls.
Hargrave lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX and is married to her high school sweetheart; together they are raising three children. A native ‘mutt,’ she has lived in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and California. She is fond of setting her stories—which range from the sweet to the paranormal, to the erotic and horrific—on location in South Carolina and Texas.
Samantha Jacobey: Anyone who knows me could tell you, I am a friendly kind of person, never met a stranger and take up conversations any where at any time. I work hard, and my mind never seems to shut down, as I wake up often in the middle of the night with ideas pouring out and demanding to be dealt with. Of course that means much of my books were written in the middle of the night.
I grew up and still live in the great state of Texas where everything is bigger, where we have warm weather and a central location. I love my state, my town, and my family, which includes my four sons, my significant other, and many friends as well.
I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the books that are currently available and hope you will enjoy reading them just as much. And of course, there will be many more stories to come.
Patti Roberts was born in Brisbane, Australia, but soon moved to Darwin in the Northern Territory with her parents and two sisters. Her son Luke was born in Darwin in 1980. Although Patti now lives in Cairns, Queensland, she still considers Darwin her hometown.
When Patti is not writing, she is busy pursuing her other passion, which is designing book covers and formatting for other authors.
For Kendra Hale, who has lived in Canada, the USA and on the European Continent, Great Britain, or the UK, will always be home. Her love for the UK is apparent in The Snow Crystals, and her other/future books, which are all set here. Kendra’s knowledge and life-long interest in the world of antiques, collectibles and such, finds its way into her writing. She writes fiction in different genres.
I cannot ignore my dreams, so many of them, with names and places and ideas that spark my imagination and compel me to write; to create stories, whether fantasy or horror, or mystery or psychological thriller or murder or even humour and adventure. So, my garden is sown, flourishing, with all manner of growth, and still the dreams come.
Julie Elizabeth Powell, my soul lingering within my imagination; maybe you’ll join me?
LOVERS ♥ SINNERS by HUNTER S. JONES
Cremation and Catholics ~ My grandfather’s death in 1939
In 1939 when my maternal grandfather died in faraway Denmark a Catholic cremation was not an option. Transporting a body to Mexico was not an option either. You can see the telegrams of some of the back and forth between The Catholic Church in Denmark and my family.
In the end the cremation was not accompanied by any Catholic support or ritual
Today The Vatican set the rules. Cremation OK but no scattering of ashes.
FANTASY NOVEL; A Light Before the Darkness
Two people from different backgrounds meet and became instant friends. They realized that they were like minded. Others never understood the mind trappings of these two individuals. One day, playing around, they came up with the Hybrid Clan. Henceforth, a stronger friendship and a new book. Hope you all enjoy this book as much as they enjoyed creating it.
Here’s a funny fact for you reader’s out there, Mikel and Sherry meet about 7 years ago and they have been friends every since. They are both very unique individuals and everyone that meets them can plainly see that they have made a lifelong friendship. Mikel, or Kel as a few people like to call him, is a young man from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He now makes his home in Sweet Water, Alabama. Sherry is a lady from a small town known as Meeker, Oklahoma. She calls Crossville, Alabama home now. They are both family oriented. They have lots in common and yet they are different. These two will dazzle and boggle the mind. Together they hope to bring your imagination alive in a whole new way.
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Instagram: Thelightbeyondthedarkness
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Aberfan 1966
Reblogged on WordPress.com
Source: Aberfan 1966
AFTER THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Horror/Fantasy/Fairy Tale Anthology
Date Published: December 15, 2016
The happily ever after is never the end. The curtain doesn’t fall once love is recognized or evil is vanquished. Credits don’t roll once the giant is slain or the big bad wolf is boiled alive. Wicked stepsisters, malevolent rulers, and hideous creatures still have lives after their sinister roles play out; heroes, lovers, and dreamers often find their victories lead to more troubles.
Within these pages are more than seventy continuations, retellings, and eldritch stories that explore the dark forests, magical castles, and hideous creatures After the Happily Ever After.
Teasers
“Sweet Revenge” by Charlotte Bond:
The laughter had died and the rumours had grown when they’d found the third dead dog in two weeks; each one had been torn to pieces, the heart gone and the ribcage showing teeth marks.
Outside the cottage, in the dark night, a dog howled.
“Little Red Hunting Hood” by Mary DeSantis:
I halt halfway to getting my red cape off and hung on a hook by the door.
Budding beanstalks, grandma has a visitor. Grandma never has visitors, except for me, Mom, and that guy she met at the Elder Cottage Living group two months ago.
I strain to hear. Whoever’s back there is quiet, which means it isn’t the Elder Cottages guy, and of course, this is the one time Grandma keeps her voice low.
I hang my cape and go back to the basket.
Two sets of footsteps approach. Grandma enters the kitchen. Her white hair is in its signature bun, and she’s wearing her white dress with the red-check pattern.
“Hello, sweetie.” Her face wrinkles with a smile and stays wrinkled as she directs her a glare over her shoulder. “Oh, for giant’s sake, get in here. She doesn’t bite.”
“A Sleeve of Feathers” by Claudia Quint:
It all came crashing down when he found Geileis in bed, nestled between Dylan and Ailill, Oisin cuddling on the left and Ruari at her feet, with Emmet and Cian resorting to floor space when they ran out of room on the bed. Stephen dragged the brothers out one by one, pushing and pulling so they awoke with starts and cries, until she roused, confused and sleepy, to ask him what in the world he was doing.
“Like it’s the most normal thing in the world.” Stephen contented himself by folding his hands to stop fiddling with the cuffs. “To sleep with your brothers and shut out your husband.”
“Step-Mother” by Deanna Smith:
My name is Cindy Charming. I’m not, just so you know. Husband is, but that’s his gig, and if it makes me squeal and giggle and blush when he’s pouring it on, that ain’t nobody’s business but our own. I sure as hell didn’t spawn these three hooligans without some learned interjection from him.
We tied the knot ten years ago. A fabulous fairy tale wedding, of course. A little creepy when the in-laws asked how much torture I’d like to lay on my step-mother and step-sisters, but you’ve really got to hand it to them, they went all out to make sure I felt welcome to the fam.
“Raven, Rose, and Apple Pie” by Jaap Boekestein:
The wind pulls at my hair; my braids are all undone. I can see such a distance from the highest tower of the castle: yellow fields and darks woods, silver rivers and hazy gray mountains with white peaks. It is beautiful. Will this be the last thing I see before I throw myself from the window? What will I think during the fall? Will I feel regret, or fear, or freedom? Will it… will it hurt? God in Heaven, forgive me.
His song saves me. The sound of the lute reaches even the highest tower. His voice…
Beautiful.
A minstrel is at the gate, asking to be let in with a demonstration of his skills. He is young; he is handsome, wearing bright colors.
I step back from the edge.
I have been saved.
“WITCH v. HANSEL, GRETEL, et. al.” by Daniel M. Kimmel:
So the question before us is one of balancing these two compelling but competing claims: Appellant Witch’s insistence that any attempt to curtail or punish her actions would be an infringement of her religious freedoms under the First Amendment versus the desire of the Respondent class not to be baked and eaten.
While there is no precedent that is precisely on point, there are a number of cases that indicate a clear pattern. One such case is Goldilocks v. Papa Bear, Mama Bear, et. al. 516 Goose 749 (1852). In this instance, Goldilocks was in the same position as the Respondents in this case, trespassing on private property while asserting a need that, as was so claimed, overrode any competing rights. In her tort action against the Bear family, Goldilocks asserted numerous injuries, such as from eating porridge that was “too hot” or attempting to sleep in a bed that was “too small.” Nonetheless, the court found for the Bears, upholding the ursine precept that “a bear’s home is his castle” and that being a “cute child” did preempt the rights of the Bear family to the quiet enjoyment of their abode. Indeed, the defense raised by Goldilocks against charges of criminal trespass and unauthorized digestion are precisely those that are asserted by the Respondent class in the present action.
Alisha Costanzo is from a Syracuse suburb. She earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of Central Oklahoma, where she currently teaches English. She’s the author of BLOOD PHOENIX: REBIRTH, BLOOD PHOENIX: CLAIMED, and LOVING RED, and is co-editor of DISTORTED and UNDERWATER. IMPRINTED, her new novel, is undergoing serious edits for its 2017 release. In the meantime, she will continue to corrupt young minds, rant about the government, and daydream about her all around nasty creatures.
Having relocated from Northwest Florida’s lonesome roads and haunted swamps, Anthony S. Buoni now prowls the gas lamp lit streets of New Orleans, playing moonlight hide and seek in the Crescent City’s above ground cemeteries. Anthony is the author of Conversation Party, Bad Apple Bolero, as well as the editor to the Between There anthologies. His stories and articles have been featured in North Florida Noir and Waterfront Living. When not prowling, Anthony keeps it scary, writing dark fiction, editing, and watching horror movies. In his spare time, he DJs, plays music, and conjures other worldly creatures with tarot cards and dreams.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
Bookmarks and Pre-order Copies
Unpublished stories, personalized poems, and Advance-reader Copies from the Contributors and Editors.
Limited-edition Hard-cover copies of the 550-page anthology.
❧Defining Ways❧ 