Blog Archives

Goodreads' Giveaway of Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1)

7/29/2017

Although my latest release, Embers of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy #1), can be read as a standalone,
the story is richer if you've read the original 7-book urban fantasy series that inspired the sequel.

To start you off right, I'm offering three free print books of Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1)
as a Goodreads' Giveaway (available to US, CA, and GB).

Don't miss out! Enter below or on Goodreads. And good luck!

Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
PG-13

Blurb:

Twenty-three-year-old Ari Calin has sworn to keep the peace in the Olde Town district of Riverdale, and most of the time the Otherworlders cooperate. The vampires, werewolves and other magical creatures go about their business, living side by side with humans, until the foreign wolves arrive and a virtual reality drug hits the streets. When violence erupts, Ari needs more than her witch fire, weapons and potions to stop the madness.

Joining forces with a human police officer, Lt. Ryan Foster, and a way-too-sexy vampire singer, Andreas De Luca, Ari hunts for the enemy—from the vampire strip clubs to the caverns under the city. Every step draws Ari and her companions deeper into an old feud and closer to the brink of a supernatural war.

Read the sample text on Amazon.

Book Trailer on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzEed1jeOyE

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Awakening the Fire

by Ally Shields

Giveaway ends August 22, 2017.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Have You Met Author Mabry Hall?

7/26/2017

Good Morning, Booklovers!

Welcome to another Wednesday Coffee Chat! Our guest this week is mystery author Mabry Hall, featuring her book, An Engaging End (An 18 Karat Cold Mystery).
Thanks for stopping by, Mabry. How do you take your coffee?

MH: I like it ridiculously strong, with hot milk and one half pack of raw sugar. At least one cup must be consumed before I can say any more than “good morning.”

Ally: You should feel right at home here! Please introduce yourself to readers while I pour.

Bio:

I grew up in Mississippi, where I spent every spare minute at my grandparents’ farm. I draw on those years when I write about rural and small-town life. I lived in Houston in my twenties, but was very happy to move to Louisiana after my first child was born. Texas has its charms, but it definitely isn’t the South.

I’d have loved to get a degree in English, but bowed to family pressure and went to nursing school instead. I became a nurse anesthetist, which allowed me to work part-time while my boys were growing up.

Something unique that isn’t in my bio? I’m a passably good seamstress, plant my garden to attract hummingbirds, and can make a biscuit that tastes like my grandmother’s. I make a beautiful French macaron and a delicious blackberry cobbler, but my boys like my chocolate cake best.

Author Contact Links:

https://www.facebook.com/18KaratCold/
www.mabryhall.com

Follow my Pinterest boards to see the jewelry that inspires my stories
https://www.pinterest.com/mabryhall/

INTERVIEW:

Ally: Tell us what kind of books you write?

MH: I think of my genre as cozy with an edge. I want my readers to laugh, because there are enough poopy things going on in the world today. You’re more likely to hear me utter a curse word than to read one I’ve written. Annalee has a romantic interest, but my books are definitely PG-13. (I recently had a book club tell me they want more romance!)

Ally: How do you choose and name your characters?

MH: Most of the characters in my books (unless they’re villains), have names from my family tree. My roots in North America go back to the early 1600s, and there are a lot of names to choose from. I have two sons, and this allows me to use all the names I thought about for them and for the girl I never had. The only supernatural character is a ghost goat that lived on the book’s Goat Hill Farm in the late 1800s. I named him Repentance, after my real-life seventh great-grandfather. I think it’s a fabulous name, but one could hardly saddle a child with it now.

Ally: Did someone or something inspire you to write? If so, what effect did it have and why?

MH: Like most authors, I’ve spent my life reading, but my book choices change according to what’s going on in my life and how much mental energy I have at the time. I picked up my first romance novel when the kids were in elementary school and I was working as a nurse anesthetist. It was like someone had handed me a big bag of salty, buttery popcorn. I became addicted to the quick read that always had a happy ending. I wrote three of them, one medieval and two contemporary, and progressed to receiving lovely rejection letters! They were complimentary of my writing skills and style, but each said I essentially had too much plot.
I put the writing aside, but decided to give it another try a couple of years ago. I turned my effort to the mystery genre, where I could plot to my heart’s content.

Ally: Do you have a writer's cave? If not, where do you do most of your writing?

MH: I can write on a laptop or a Chromebook since I use Google Docs as my program. I have a favorite chair in the den that my husband calls my nest. It’s surrounded by paper I’ve scribbled notes on and books I use for reference. If someone comes to visit, I make a frantic dash to dump everything in my closet. In the winter when it’s dark and gloomy I move to whichever room looks most cheerful, but often wind up back in my favorite chair with the fireplace going.
We live on a lake in northern Louisiana and have an enormous screened porch with swings and rocking chairs, so there are many occasions when I can work outside. Those are the best days.

Ally: Do you prefer to read standalones or series? Which do you prefer to write?

MH: I love to read series mysteries, because I like to get to know the characters and see them evolve as people. It’s even better if there’s someone obnoxious who gets knocked off a few books down the line. That’s why I started the 18 Karat Cold mystery series. Annalee Wyatt, the protagonist, deals in antique jewelry and has recently moved to a small town. Between her job and her home, there is room for her to change and grow through several books.

Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?

MH: Book number two in the series is due to be released in September, 2017. The title is A Regrettable Reunion (An 18 Karat Cold Mystery).

Ally: Let's try a few quick-answer, get-to-know-me questions:

a. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: I’d love to take Charlaine Harris to lunch. She writes about my part of the country, and she has a unique imagination. She goes to dark places in her books, and her characters are multi-dimensional.
b. an item on your bucket list: I’ve carted my family all over the world, sometimes against their better judgement. I buy my clothes at Target and spend my money on travel. I would love to live in another country for several months, preferably one with fabulous food and wine!
c. favorite accessory: My favorite accessory has to be jewelry. I’ve collected antique jewelry for years, and firmly believe that more is more. Put on everything you want to wear; then add another piece.
d. Hiking or sunbathing? One look at my fair skin and freckles will answer that one. Hiking, with plenty of sunblock and a broad-brimmed hat.
e. book you're currently reading: I read a lot of non-fiction history. My current book is John Aubrey, My Own Life, by Ruth Scurr. He lived in the 1600s in England and is considered to be the first modern biographer. Queued up is a book on the exploration of the Louisiana territory, Jefferson’s America, by Julie Fenster

Ally: Thanks for sharing coffee with me and answering all our questions. Before you go, please show us your book, An Engaging End.

An Engaging End (An 18 Karat Cold Mystery) by Mabry Hall
Genre: cozy mystery
PG-13

18 Karat Sold? Or 18 Karat Cold? Antique jewelry dealer Annalee Wyatt recently moved from Houston to Goat Hill, her family’s ancestral farm in Louisiana. Okay, admittedly she knows jack about farming and makes her living selling expensive baubles, but she’s returned to her roots and wants everyone, including the citizens of nearby Berryville, to be as enthusiastic about it as she is. Her goal of acceptance gets a boost when the scion of an old family pays her big bucks for an engagement ring. When his intimidating mother invites her to attend the ceremony, she really feels like she's made it. Unfortunately, "Happily ever after" turns into "Happy never again" when the young bride shockingly dies at the wedding reception.

Soon Annalee is dealing with a grieving, hostile groom and unpleasant accusations regarding her honesty. Though there seems to be no way to prove her integrity, Annalee can’t afford to give up. With the help of her hunky cattle-rancher neighbor and the town book club, she sets out to solve the mystery that threatens her reputation. It comes as a nasty surprise to find that her life is in jeopardy, too!

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Engaging-End-Karat-Cold-Mysteries/dp/1536849057

Coffee Chat Author Interview: Barbara Lund

7/19/2017

Welcome, Booklovers!

Our guest this week is YA author Barbara Lund. Thanks for stopping by, Barbara. What may I get you to drink?

BJL: The only way I can drink coffee is with more sugar and cream than coffee, so I generally go for hot chocolate instead. :)

Ally: Then Hot Chocolate it shall be! Please introduce yourself while my magic pot gets that ready.

BIO:

Barbara decided that raising two kids, “wife-ing”, working as a police officer, maintaining her black sashes in kung fu and tai chi, hiking (oh yes, and eating!) weren’t enough obsessions to keep busy, so she picked up a NANOWRIMO book, and hasn’t stopped writing since. When she placed 2nd in the science fiction/fantasy category of the 2015 Zebulon contest sponsored by Pikes Peak Writers, she decided to do something with the stories in her head, which prompted indie-publishing of three novels and fifteen short stories (so far).

Something unique/unusual that isn't in her regular bio: "Someday I plan to grow up and become a therapist. (Hoping to start an LCSW masters at the University of Utah next year.) Though if Hollywood shows up on my doorstep and shoves cash into my hands, that may change!"

LINKS:

www.barbaralund.com
info@barbaralund.com
facebook: BarbaraLundAuthor
twitter: @BarbaraJLund

INTERVIEW:

Ally: What kind of book did you bring with you today? Is it romantic?

BJL: Creeper is YA Fantasy, and during this book the main character is too busy staying alive for romance… but that changes in the sequel, though the heat rating is still quite mild!

Ally: Describe your writing process. Schedule, goals, etc.

BJL: Unlike a lot of writers, I don’t write every day. I tend to save up during the week when I’m doing everything else, then on the weekends, pour words out onto the page. I have written every day (between 1500 and 2500 words!) – when I pushed myself up against the deadline for a novella – but as soon as it was done, I stopped writing for about three weeks.

Ally: Do you have a writer's cave? Describe it or tell us where you do most of your writing. Does it have to be quiet or do you write with music or white noise?

BJL: My favorite room in the house is the back patio, so I write out there, weather permitting. Otherwise, the living room with the TV going and the kids on the couch is #2, and my office at work is #3. (Shh, don’t tell my boss.)

Ally: What is your favorite social media? Why do you like it? How often can readers find you there?

BJL: Facebook and Twitter, way too much because they are on my phone, and I always have my phone because I’m frequently on call for work!

Ally: Do you prefer to read standalones or series? Which do you prefer to write? Explain both answers.

BJL: Same answer for both - I prefer series because I fall in love with the characters and want to read/write more stories about them.

Ally: Does your real life show up in your writing? In what ways?

BJL: Fight scenes! Between work and kung fu, I’ve hit and been hit several times…
I also have a sci-fi short story series which features a cop on a mining platform in space, so I’ve used cases from work as inspiration for the plot (suitable for 15 and older).

Ally: What is your next writing project? Title, short description, anticipated release

BJL: LAST MAGE STANDING is the third in the Crowns Peak series, which started with CREEPER. Ava has been away training with the dragon, but now she’s coming home to Crowns Peak. She will have to face her friends, her old rival, and an enemy she didn’t even know she had to stop the highborns from being murdered in their own mansions. (Anticipated release: late 2017)

Ally: Let's try a few short answer, get-to-know-me questions.

a. manicure or pedicure: pedi – I am pretty brutal to my hands. I constantly have nicks and scratches and bruises and I rarely know where they came from, so I love the pedi because it lasts longer for me!
b. favorite tv program: Blacklist – It’s a love/hate relationship, because I don’t want to watch TV, but the writers suck me in again and again with every show.
c. hiking or sunbathing: Hiking. We have great mountains and wonderful lakes. My hiking buddies know I need a water feature to be truly happy with the effort of going up the mountain.
d. What comes to your first - character or plot? The big finale, actually, which hands me a big chunk of character and plot together. The only problem is I can’t actually write the finale first (I keep it in my head), or I feel like I’m done with the book!
e. favorite after five drink: Orange juice and whip cream vodka (tastes like a creamcicle!)

Ally: I enjoyed your visit. Can you give us a peek at Creeper before you go...?

Creeper
Genre: YA Fantasy

BLURB:

Slavers have come to Crowns Peak.

For Creeper, a street urchin living rough in the slums, that fact is just one more in a long list of everyday realities she has to deal with.

But what if there were a better place for her, a place where she might be safe? Safe from the coming winter, from the older littles who bully her, from the king’s guards who want to take her, and perhaps even from the slavers.

Creeper might just have found such a place… within the palace walls, surrounded by the very guards she has been taught to fear. But better in here than out there.

Or is it?

Secrets swirl within those walls, and old hatreds bubble close to the surface. Creeper will have to navigate very carefully if she is to remain safe, remain welcome.

Outside the walls, however, the littles from Creeper’s old life are being snatched up one by one…

BUY LINKS:

https://www.amazon.com/Creeper-Crowns-Peak-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01BUG5L9W/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1483637491&sr=8-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/creeper-barbara-lund/1123559756?ean=2940152998269

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/633309

They're Rumbling in Olde Town

7/12/2017

Embers of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy Book 1)
is nearly two weeks old, and I'm still excited to bring these characters back.
It's like meeting old friends.

The situation in the De Luca household as the book opens...

Five years have passed since Eternal Fires (Guardian Witch #7) and the defeat of the O-Seven, the vampire elders who had ruled the vampire world for thousands of years
Three years have passed since Rayne's second birthday (detailed in the Eternal Fires Epilogue) and the discovery of The Star of Esielen prophecy.
The intervening period has been unique for Ari and Andreas, relatively trouble-free, and more family oriented than they had ever thought possible.
Domesticity has developed a certain appeal, and Ari is uncertain whether she wants to remain as Olde Town's guardian. The job has gotten rather predictable, and she has an apprentice eager to step in. Ari's time is more than full with raising their daughter.
While Andreas is still intrigued by the challenges of the fledgling vampire league, Marcus has taken over management of the supper club, and work has been completed on a new casino. Gabriel is ready to assume the primary management of it. Andreas's responsibilities would soon allow him to leave town with his family…permanently.
Ari and Andreas have had several discussions about moving to Tuscany. It seems like the time is right. As Rayne's powers develop, she is becoming a greater challenge and isolating her on his Italian estates is more appealing every day.

Then police dispatch calls, sending Ari to Olde Town Cemetery No. 1…

Embers of Fire opening scene excerpt:

A crisp breeze caught the last of the early morning fog and swirled it over the gravestones. The Olde Town cemetery slowly emerged from the mist, its silent memorial to the dead marred by an unusual amount of activity. A uniformed Riverdale cop completed a final loop of bright yellow tape around several stone vaults and two small crabapple trees. CS techs snapped photos and set out evidence markers as they processed the crime scene.

With a hot Styrofoam coffee cup in each hand, Arianna Calin bumped her jeans-clad hip against the iron entrance gate, knocking it open, and slipped inside, her footsteps crunching the brittle September leaves. When an eerie chill nudged her senses, she swept the scene with a sharp glance.

Nothing she hadn’t expected. Not yet. Nothing bad enough to trigger her witch alarms. But then, it was a graveyard. The remnants of so many dead souls could mask a great deal.

She ducked under a high section of the bright tape and focused on the blond man in jeans and a dark gray sweatshirt crouched beside a still form. “ME’s not here yet?” she asked.

Lt. Ryan Foster, her partner from the all-human Riverdale Police Department, looked up and stood, his blue eyes lighting on the cups in her hands. “On his way. One of those for me?”

A smile touched her lips, and she handed him one, withholding further comment until he’d taken his first jolt of caffeine. “Dispatch said it was a stabbing. Human female victim. Is the suspect one of mine?” As a supernatural cop and guardian for Riverdale’s Olde Town district, Ari wouldn’t be notified of an RDPD case unless the Otherworld was involved. Usually that meant vampires or werewolves—the predominant species in town—had run amok.

BookTrailer: https://youtu.be/-I-B_OHsN2E

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073H49YJS/
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/embers-of-fire
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embers-of-fire-ally-shields/1126658380?ean=2940158758874
ibookstore: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embers-of-fire-ally-shields/1126658380?ean=2940158758874
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ally_Shields_Embers_of_Fire?id=ShQqDwAAQBAJ
Etopia Press: http://www.etopiapress.com/embers-of-fire/

Coffee Chat Author Interview: Micki Browning

7/5/2017

Welcome to this week's Coffee Chat!

We're talking about books and writing with author Micki Browning, who brought her mystery novel, Adrift.
Before we get started, what may I get you to drink, Micki?

MB: I start my morning with tea, but when I’m ready to settle down at the computer, I often transition to coffee. My perfect cup is a dark roast, freshly ground, and prepared in a French press. A splash of cream and I’m ready to tackle the words!

Ally: Since I assume you've already had your tea, I'll have that coffee ready in a second--just time enough for you to introduce yourself to readers.

About the Author:

Award-winning author Micki Browning worked in municipal law enforcement for more than two decades and is an FBI National Academy graduate. She retired as a division commander – wonderful fodder for her current career as a full-time writer.

Her mystery, Adrift, set in the Florida Keys, won the 2015 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence and the Royal Palm Literary Award for best unpublished mystery and unpublished book of the year. It was released in January 2017 by Alibi- Random House.

Micki also writes short stories and non-fiction. Her work has appeared in dive magazines, anthologies, mystery magazines and textbooks.

Micki resides in Southern Florida with her partner in crime and a vast array of scuba equipment.

Something unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I play the Celtic harp, am a wicked-good shot with a traditional longbow, and read Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales in Middle English as part of my Medieval Studies degree."

Contacts Links:

Learn more at www.MickiBrowning.com
Like her at Facebook.com/MickiBrowningAuthor
Or follow her @MickiBrowning

INTERVIEW:

Ally: Tell us about the book you're featuring today.

MB: Adrift is a traditional mystery that has a thread of paranormal possibility woven throughout. There is a kiss of romance, but it mostly plays off the page.

Ally: What was your journey to publication, including bumps and missteps?

MB: I published short stories and articles before I tackled a novel. During my career in law enforcement, I was the department’s Public Information Officer and as such, I wrote press releases, a monthly newspaper column, and was frequently interviewed regarding breaking news stories and special events. In hindsight, that was a lot easier than shepherding a novel to publication.

I’m a firm believer in entering legitimate contests. I had written two novels before I wrote Adrift. The first one will never see the light of day (a very good thing). My second manuscript won an award and generated some very motivational comments. I entered Adrift in the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence for Unpublished Mainstream Mystery/Suspense and won first place. My category was judged by an agent who now represents me--so although I had queried, I connected with my agent through a contest.

Ally: Let's talk a little about the writing process. How do you choose and name your characters?

MB: I love naming characters! All my main characters possess names that either have a deeper meaning or that struck me as the only possibility for that character. The origin of Mer’s nickname is revealed in Adrift, Amber Green is colorblind, Selkie derives from an Irish Legend—and his last name means lover of horses. Mer’s last name is horse in Italian. Coincidence? Not a chance.

Ally: Does your real life show up in your writing? In what ways?

MB: The extensive training I received throughout my law enforcement career lends authenticity to my writing, regardless of whether I’m writing from the perspective of an amateur sleuth, a police officer, or a crime victim. Aspects of my life show up in my writing: I love to scuba dive, and I’ve lived in the Florida Keys for several years. That said. I don’t write true crime, and I’m always researching something. It’s one of the reasons I love to write. I’m constantly learning.

Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?

MB: My second Mer Cavallo Mystery, Beached, is finished!
            Marine scientist Meredith Cavallo dreams of a laid-back life as a divemaster in the Florida Keys, but she’s managed to become a suspect in a criminal investigation. Twice.
            On a recent dive, Mer finds a large, plastic-wrapped bundle floating in the waves. By pulling it onboard, she lands in the middle of a storm of historical intrigue involving an obscure legend, an 18th century shipwreck, and a modern pirate who wants to claim the booty first.
            Now, with the help of her captain and the owner of the dive shop, she must find a way to evade the smuggler who wants her dead, and return to something more valuable than gold—a normal life.

It will be released in 2018.

Ally: Now on a more personal level. If you could have a supernatural power, what would it be and why?

MB: Oh, I wish I could banish distractions. Ever see the film Up? Yup that’s m--Squirrel!

Ally: And a few quick answer questions...

a. manicure or pedicure? Definitely pedicure. See photo and next question…
b. high heels or sneakers? In Florida, there is only one answer—Flip flops!
c. hiking or sunbathing: Hiking, which really makes me miss living in Colorado.
d. favorite quote: Leap and the net will appear ~ John Burroughs
e. hobbies? Diving—(which also doubles as my favorite “research”).

Ally: Thanks for joining us today, Micki. Let's leave readers with a little information about your mystery novel, Adrift.

Adrift (A Mer Cavallo Mystery)
Blurb:

Marine biologist–turned-divemaster Meredith Cavallo stands accused of a chilling crime after a dive gone wrong. But do the murky circumstances point to an accident, a murder, or a supernatural encounter?

Mer thought adjusting to a laid-back life in the Florida Keys would be a breeze. But when she rescues a floundering diver who claims to have seen a ghost, she’s caught in a storm of intrigue. News of the encounter explodes on social media, attracting a team of ghost hunters who want to capture proof that a greenish ghoul haunts Key Largo’s famed USS Spiegel Grove shipwreck.

Meredith knows the wreck inside and out, and agrees to act as their safety diver. When Ishmael, the charismatic leader of the group, vanishes during a midnight dive, everyone except Mer is convinced the ghost has claimed another victim. Topside, the tenacious detective in charge of the investigation finds Mer’s involvement in both incidents suspicious, and her enigmatic neighbor resurrects ghosts from her past.

Determined to find a rational explanation, Mer approaches Ishmael’s disappearance as any scientist would—by asking questions, gathering data, and deducing the truth. But the victim’s life is as shrouded in mystery as his disappearance. Still, something happened under the water and before long, she’s in over her head. When someone tries to kill her, she knows the truth is about to surface. Maybe dead men do tell tales.

Buy Links:

Publisher: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/546962/adrift-by-micki-browning/9780425286418/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Adrift-Cavallo-Mystery-Micki-Browning-ebook/dp/B01CBLUS7A

Independence Day, the Fourth of July

7/4/2017

Goodreads' Giveaway of Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Awakening the Fire

by Ally Shields

Have You Met Author Mabry Hall?

Coffee Chat Author Interview: Barbara Lund

They're Rumbling in Olde Town

Embers of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy Book 1)
is nearly two weeks old, and I'm still excited to bring these characters back.
It's like meeting old friends.

The situation in the De Luca household as the book opens...

Then police dispatch calls, sending Ari to Olde Town Cemetery No. 1…

Coffee Chat Author Interview: Micki Browning

Independence Day, the Fourth of July

John F. Kennedy reading the Declaration of Independence
https://youtu.be/6PSUr9rMVtc

Celine Dion sings God Bless American
https://youtu.be/Q6fgUcuuOFc

Archives

Categories

Goodreads' Giveaway of Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Awakening the Fire

by Ally Shields

Have You Met Author Mabry Hall?

Coffee Chat Author Interview: Barbara Lund

They're Rumbling in Olde Town

Embers of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy Book 1)is nearly two weeks old, and I'm still excited to bring these characters back.It's like meeting old friends.

The situation in the De Luca household as the book opens...

Then police dispatch calls, sending Ari to Olde Town Cemetery No. 1…

Coffee Chat Author Interview: Micki Browning

Independence Day, the Fourth of July

John F. Kennedy reading the Declaration of Independencehttps://youtu.be/6PSUr9rMVtc

Celine Dion sings God Bless Americanhttps://youtu.be/Q6fgUcuuOFc

Archives

Categories

Embers of Fire (Guardian Witch Legacy Book 1)
is nearly two weeks old, and I'm still excited to bring these characters back.
It's like meeting old friends.

John F. Kennedy reading the Declaration of Independence
https://youtu.be/6PSUr9rMVtc

Celine Dion sings God Bless American
https://youtu.be/Q6fgUcuuOFc