Author Guest Post: You May Say I'm a Dreamer by Luna Lindsey

You May Say I'm a Dreamer...
 by Luna Lindsey

photo courtesy of author

Eleven years ago, I got my first tattoo: Three tiny kanji characters that spelled the word, "Dreamer".  At the time, it had special meaning to me, as it had for years prior, and it was to help me remember my creative, imaginative side.  To help me remember the days when I ran tabletop RPGs and wrote songs and short stories and went hiking with friends.  

A time when I believed in magic.  A time when I saw faeries.

Years passed, until I wondered if I'd ever have any use for this childish reminder.  After all, I was too busy working at fast-paced software companies, living corporate culture, fixing computers and servers to meet ticket resolution quotas.  My brain filled with buzzwords and cold logic and customer service attitudes, and my hours filled with commutes and overtime.

The chances of me even being in a band went to zero, because I didn't write songs anymore, or find time to touch my piano or guitar.  Yet they called me a "rockstar".  

Like most people, I simply didn't have time to live for my dreams. 

"Dreamer" never went away; she merely went to sleep.  When the opportunity came again for me to write, I asked myself, "What should I write about?"  It is no accident that I fixated on that word and what it represented to me.  After all, it had been etched into my arm, tiny and encrypted in Japanese, all that time.

I look at all the metaphors popular in Urban Fantasy today: The attraction of immortality and cold death for vampires.  The freedom granted through bestial loss of control in werewolves.  Our desire to kill the shambling mindlessness of group-think represented by zombies.  The self-loathing, debased evil we see with demons, or the flight of purity on the wings of angels that have the power to lift us above worldly problems.

Yet for all these fantastic beings, none captures the feeling of an inner child trapped within, yearning to break free to find faith in the ethereal, the make-believe, the product of unrepressed imagination.  

There are some people with an inbred sense of movement and growth.  These are Dreamers.  We are people who may settle down, but are never satisfied unless we are creating.  I wanted to write about them.

What does it mean to believe in faeries?  It means loosing the fetters of fear, of judgement.  It means to forget the finger-waggle of mother telling you not to draw on the walls.  

My main character is a dreamer lucky enough to fulfill her purpose as a local rockstar, but like the rest of us, she must choose between responsibility and her music.  By day, she helps her friend Sandy with the cold business of fighting faeries.  By night, she plays before crowds of cheering fans.  The demands of responsibility keep threatening to push her dreams aside. 

The fae feed on the product of such creations, the energy produced by powerful music, inspiring art, and passionate writing.  They are alien beings, the product of the human subconscious, and as such, their idea of good and evil is blurred.  The fae are barely more than illusions, except those who are born into human bodies.  These faeborn are much more powerful.  

Two have noticed Jina: A korrigan who plans to rend her dreams by force, the other a beautiful elf hopes to lure her with love.

As a hunter, Jina literally kills the products of dreams, even as she produces them.  The choices she must make in EMERALD CITY DREAMER mirror those which all creative people make: Do I sell my soul to my boss, or do I use my talents to create beauty for others to share?  It is an awkward balancing act that few manage to pull off.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Luna is an indie author located in Seattle, WA. Her first story (about a hippopotamus) crawled out of her head at the early age of 4. Her mom had to write it down for her. After running out of things to say about hippopotami, she switched genres to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. During a ten-year break from fiction, she primarily wrote non-fiction and became an accidental expert on mind control, computers, and faeries.  After returning to fiction in 2010, she now publishes ebooks and seeks publication in short story markets.  She has written over thirty short stories and three novels.  

AUTHOR LINKS

Blog  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /   Goodreads

Emerald City Dreamer (Book One, Dreams by Streetlight)

Rock star Jina Harper hunts faeries with her friend Sandy.  As they learn their new profession, Jina discovers the faeries have been hunting her. One falls in love with her, and Jina must make a choice.

Sandy's trauma has led her to alcoholism. She must lead her small group of faerie hunters and make the hard decisions every leader must make – even if her obsession blinds her to the truth.

Jett is an elf who rules a household of faerie misfits.  When she discovers hunters have returned, she will do anything to protect her clan.

Ezra is a teenage boy who thinks he is a demon. He's been adopted by a fringe Christian sect who still do not know his true nature...

These characters all live in the city of Seattle, and will inevitably meet.  When prey hunts, who will lead the chase, and who will run?

PURCHASE EMERALD CITY DREAMER

Amazon

ARC Review: The Sumerton Women by D.L. Bogdan

cover courtesy of Kensington

The Sumerton Women

By D.L. Bogdan

Publish Date: April 24, 2012

Publisher:  Kensington Books

Format: ARC

Source: Publisher

FIRST LINE

(may differ from final copy)

She hid in her mother’s wardrobe.

Lady Cecily Burkhart’s parents pass on when she is only eight years old. Father Alec Cahill is sent by the Pierce family to bring Cecily to them as their ward. Being the sole heiress to a huge fortune, she is quickly betrothed to their son Brey and as they grow their friendship flourishes. Underneath the seemingly peaceful façade of the family lie many dark secrets. After Brey falls ill and dies and his mother disappears, Hal Pierce feels that he would be a good match for Cecily and against Father Alec’s advice, proposes to Cecily. Hal’s daughter Mirabella whose only dream is to enter the convent, finds anger starting to build and when she explodes there will be no saving those in her path.

I loved every single part of The Sumerton Women. It invoked in me all the emotions that I love to experience when I am reading. Cecily is the epitome of someone that always wants to do the right thing but yet she is flawed. Your heart cries for her. Hal is a good man deep down but carries regret and shame with him. Mirabella is not an easy character to love but you start to think if only things were different would she have been able to forgive earlier and not let the anger fester until she starts a series of events that leave many destroyed. Then there is Father Alec, the constant in all their lives yet seriously flawed as well. He starts out as the children’s tutor and spiritual support but becomes family and at times the lines blur for him and Cecily. The friendships and relationships all these characters have shape and mold them. I was especially heartbroken for Alice, Cecily’s friend. But I will let you find out why.

I always love a good Tudor novel and I enjoyed the fact you see how Henry VIII’s decisions affected the people he ruled. Not only does Henry VIII not know what he wants, his people are even more confused and this confusion causes divides in families and friends. The reader discovers all this while following the Pierce family’s trials and tribulations. Excellent historical fiction read and I highly recommend!

PURCHASE THE SUMERTON WOMEN

Amazon  /  Book Depository  /  Barnes and Noble  /  Kensington

Give Your Child a FREE Kindle Book Day

Give Your Child A Free Kindle Book Day (Or 15 of Them!)
15 Free Kindle Books From Established Children's & YA Authors 

Plus One Bonus E-Book in Multiple Formats!

Fill up your Kindle and get your children reading this summer with these 15 books, free on Kindle only TODAY during the Give Your Child A Free Kindle Book (or 15 of Them!) Promotion. The list includes picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult books spanning a range of topics from sports, to paranormal, to historical, to educational. Selected books include the Florida Historical Society's Best Children's book of its year, books that have been recommended in Best Books for Young Teen Readers Grades 7-10 and in an edition of Children's Book of the Year compiled by the Child Study Children's Book Committee in New York City, and a finalist in the Valley Forge Romance Writers Sheila contest and in the Florida Romance Writers Golden Palm contest.

Belgrave House has also offered a 16th bonus book, an Agatha-awarding winning novel, which will be free TODAY and can be downloaded in the e-book format of your choice.

The authors in the promotion have been published by houses such as Scholastic, Dell, HarperCollins, Simon Pulse, Avon, E.P. Dutton, Millbrook, Lerner, and St. Martin's Minotaur, and have written for Broadway, to name a few of their accomplishments. Don't miss this one-day exclusive offer to give your child an e-book (or many e-books!) Adult readers will find much to enjoy on this list also.

THE BOOKS

Captain Morgana Mason by Dorothy Francis

Gramp falls ill. Morgana and her younger brother, Seth take charge of the family's sponging business, using their small boat to hook sponges from the sea and sell them. Housekeeper, Goldie, adds humor and wisdom to the tale. You'll root for Morgana as she seeks her strengths and grapples with the adult world. The Florida Historical Society voted this book as the best Children's book of its year.

Dark Before Dawn by Stacy Juba

When teen psychic Dawn Christian gets involved with a fortuneteller mentor and two girls who share her mysterious talents, she finally belongs after years of being a misfit. When she learns her new friends may be tied to freak “accidents” in town, Dawn has an important choice to make – continue developing the talent that makes her special or challenge the only people who have ever accepted her.

Face-Off by Stacy Juba

Brad’s twin brother T.J. has gotten himself out of the fancy prep school his father picked for him and into the public high school Brad attends. The whole school is rooting for a big double-strength win…not knowing that their twin hockey stars are heating up the ice for a winner takes all face-off. Included in the reference guide Best Books for Young Teen Readers Grades 7-10 and recommended by the Hockey Hall of Fame Junior Education Program. 

Einstein The Lazy Kitty by Renae Rae

This 30-page story is inspired by Renae Rae's real-life lazy kitty. Einstein The Lazy Kitty, combines rhythmic writing and colorful illustrations to make this a short, fun book for all ages but it was designed with your toddler and early reader in mind.

Teddy Bear Town Children's E-Book Bundle (Three Complete Picture Books) by Stacy Juba

Immerse your child in the gentle world of teddy bears with three picture books in one download. Each story is fully illustrated with simple illustrations of teddy bear families. Includes The Flag Keeper, Victoria Rose and the Big Bad Noise, and Sticker Shoes. The Midwest Book Review on The Flag Keeper: "Excellent educational book filled with information all American children should know."

The Worldwide Dessert Contest: Enhanced Multimedia Edition by Dan Elish

Pancakes that turn into trampolines, attacking caramel apples, roller-skating pies, are all a part of The Worldwide Dessert Contest: Enhanced Multimedia Edition by Dan Elish, a lip-smacking middle grade fantasy with an original musical score by a Broadway veteran embedded alongside the text! After losing to a cheat for the past eleven years, will chef Applefeller finally manage to nab the prize?

Savage Cinderella by PJ Sharon

Eighteen-year-old Brinn Hathaway has survived on her own in the Northwest High Country of Georgia since she was left for dead in a shallow grave by the man who kidnapped her as a child. When a young nature photographer, Justin Spencer, catches the wild girl on film and the two form a tentative friendship, Brinn must decide if coming out of hiding is worth the hope-and the danger-that may await her.

Ashlyn's Radio by Wilson Doherty (Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty)

When circumstances force 17-y-o Ashlyn Caverhill to move to her grandma's in Maine, she's PO'd. Although it boasts the hot Caden Williams, she thinks Prescott Junction is the deadest place ever. She may be right. Not only does a ghost train roll through at night, but the Caverhill-cursed radio Ashlyn finds foretells that she'll board it! With Caden's help, she must find a way to escape her fate.

Dark Ascension: A Demon Anthology by N.R. Wick

Keep a flashlight handy. This collection of short stories for young adults is sure to draw out whatever's skulking in the shadows. From supernatural entities, to crazed monsters, to disturbing discoveries, evil is lurking 'round every corner. Delve into the dark recesses of this creepy book… if you dare.

 The Younger Days by Mike Hays

In the beginning, Boy Smyth has a dull Missouri farm life and a burning desire to be an outlaw like his hero, Cole Younger. In the end, Boy Smyth has five dead bodies and two burning buildings at his farm and the most feared man in the United States crying outside his front gate. And that desire for the outlaw life? It's purged completely from his system.

Practice Cake by Dalya Moon

There's one thing Maddie Bird (18) finds more tempting than red velvet cake: her coworker, Drew. All it takes is one of his sly winks or a playful hip-check by the cooler, and she's incinerating the cookies. Her boyfriend would not approve. When a reality TV crew descends upon the bakery, her simple summer job gets even more complicated. 

Away from Whipplethorn by A.W. Hartoin

Tiny fairies. Huge adventure. Matilda is about to get what she’s always wanted, and it’s a bad thing. Being a babysitter isn’t much of a dream, but Matilda is anything but average. She’s half a centimeter tall, invisible to the human eye, and hearing-impaired. In her life, adventures are in short supply, but there is a emergency list for her first job. The only problem; humans aren’t on the list.

Grammar Candy by Katrina Streza

Have you ever wondered what exactly an adjective was? Drawn a blank when your child asked for help with English grammar homework? In Grammar Candy, the second book by educator Katrina Streza, Danny and Sam are back for another candy-filled learning adventure. This time, they'll turn a grammar lesson into some sweet fun when they visit Mr. Candor's Candy Shop and learn about nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs and more. For candy-loving kids in grades 1-3 (and their parents too)!

Doctor: Discover Series Picture Book for Kids by Xist Publishing 

Who likes going to the doctor? Who wants their child to grow up to be a doctor? Whether you're looking to alleviate anxiety or plant the suggestion early, DOCTOR features 25 full-color photos of doctors, nurses and medical equipment.Like other titles in the Kindle Kids Library from Xist Publishing, DOCTOR has been formatted to take advantage of the Kindle, Kindle Fire and Kindle apps for phones, tablets and computers. 

Time to Get Ready, Bunny! by Brenda Ponnay

It's time to get ready, Bunny! Bunny? BUNNY? In this charming little book, author/illustrator Brenda Ponnay has artfully depicted the morning routine of so many families. Whether your little one would rather stay in bed, play with toys, or try on every outfit in the closet, this book is sure to resonate with parents.

Don't miss the free bonus book, compatible with many types of e-readers! Offered by author Nancy Means Wright and Belgrave House:

The Pea Soup Poisonings by Nancy Means Wright

To get into her brother's Spy Club, Zoe must walk a high narrow beam over rusted farm machinery and then discover who poisoned Granny Fairweather's pea soup. She has 5 days to find the culprit. Can she do it? Winner of an Agatha award for Best Children’s/Young Adult Novel.

Review: Days of Vengeance by Tim Kizer

Days of Vengeance

By Tim Kizer

Publish Date: January 2, 2012

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

Format: Review E-Copy

Source: Author

FIRST LINE

The note read: “Dear Frank, I know you killed your wife, and I can prove it.

Frank wakes up after being in a coma and must now try to figure out what happened to his wife and his daughter. When his wife’s “relatives” show up and encourage him to remember, Frank knows something is up. He does have strong sense he murdered his wife, but why? And where is his daughter? Working out everything in his head, he must remember because he feels that his wife’s relatives are hiding a very deep, dark secret that they do not want anyone to know about.

When I started reading the book, I was hooked. I liked the feel of something very dark is about to come forth at any moment. Muddling thru confusing chapters after confusing chapters, I found myself wondering if the storyline was ever going to move forward. The curiosity of who Frank’s in-laws are kept me reading and I am pleased I finished the story. The ending astounded me and also had me wondering if maybe, just maybe, the entire book was written as well as the last 25%, I would have definitely given this book a five-star rating. Unfortunately having to wade thru Frank’s constant repeating himself and the ever changing point of views made Days of Vengeance just an okay read for me.

PURCHASE DAYS OF VENGEANCE

Amazon

Book Promo + Giveaway: The Possibilities of Amy by Jaye Frances

Thank you, Kelsey, for hosting me on Kelsey’s Book Corner today. I really appreciate the opportunity to give your readers a sneak peek at my new romance novella, The Possibilities of Amy.

Ever had your conscience call you to the mat, forcing you to take a stand? Maybe it was to protect the innocent from undeserved harassment, or perhaps to shield a stranger from a real or imagined threat.

In The Possibilities of Amy, the main character, David, faces his own trial of conscience when he is caught between the bonds of fraternal loyalty and the unmistakable tug of his heart.

A typical guy, he spends his days hanging out with his buddies in the school quad, observing the female form with harmless imagination. Pretty normal stuff—until Amy walks into the classroom. Beautiful, intelligent, and smart, she is the incarnation of his conjectured fantasies—and a stomach-knotting challenge to his shy and introverted disposition.

As his secret affection for Amy grows, his lack of self-confidence is put to the test when he learns his friends have devised a mindless competition to determine who can be the first to seduce her. Now he must decide between maintaining an allegiance to his band of brothers, or protecting the secret love of his life,

EXCERPT

“Listen up, men. There’s new talent in town,” Pete said.

I tried to manage a neutral expression while sounding appropriately interested. “What are you talking about?”

“So you guys haven’t seen her yet?”

Mark and I shrugged.

“I saw her getting off the bus,” Pete continued. “She’s incredible. I’ve never seen anything like her.”

I could feel the growing tightness in my jaw and I wondered if either of them noticed.

“I just talked to a guy in one of her classes,” Pete added. “He thinks her name is Amy.”

Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t. I felt my breakfast turn sour.

Pete’s eyes widened, his mouth contorting into an exaggerated sneer. “The first thing I want to know is how big they are.”

I looked at him with feigned confusion, hoping he would drop the subject and become distracted by Vicky Anderson, nick-named “Pixie,” because of her petite frame and pretty features. But as she walked by us, Pete didn’t even offer a glance. Not caring who might overhear, he dropped his voice to a growl. “Tits,” he said, pushing the word out on a puff of air to give emphasis to his favorite part of the female anatomy. “I want ’em right here, you know?” He gestured as he spoke, bringing both hands up to his face as if examining the pimpled skin of a large grapefruit. “I wanna milk ’em, really hard.”

Mark’s mouth widened into a huge grin and he immediately joined Pete in the synchronized two-handed squeezing of the air directly in front of their faces, arrogantly pretending to cup and suck an imaginary breast.

Pete was nodding wildly, adding, “Oh yeah, baby. Give it to me now. Open up for me, baby, that’s right.”

My private treasure had been discovered. Amy was no longer a secret. I would have eventually told them—after I had met her, and could claim my right of priority. But now, it would be impossible to protect her from Pete’s verbal pokes and prods without revealing my true feelings. And worse, if Pete discovered my obsession with Amy, he would focus on her, making it a point to get to know her, even pulling one of his stupid pranks that could eliminate my chances of winning her over. I had to change the conversation, shift it to another topic. “So, do you guys want to do something different for lunch, or eat in the cafeteria?”

“Screw lunch,” Pete said. “One of us needs to try it out.”

“Try what out?” I asked, although I already knew the answer.

“You’re kidding, right? I mean, just wait ‘til you see them.” He smacked his lips loudly. “Mmmm, boy. They’ve got to be the greatest tits in the world.”

“So what?” It was a feeble comeback, but it was all I had.

Pete gave me the same look of annoyed confusion he had used on a group of born-again holy-rollers canvassing the school during “Kids for Christ” week. “Look, Dave, don’t you get it? She’s new. She probably hasn’t made any friends yet. And that means there’s a good chance she’ll go out with just about anybody.”

He had read my mind.

“So we should give it a shot,” he added, licking his lips.

I hesitated, scrambling for a rebuttal so disqualifying, so final, that it would put an end to any further discussions about Amy. But Mark, who had been quiet through all of Pete’s rhetoric, broke in before I could speak.

“So what can we do?” It sounded like he was asking for some kind of duty assignment.

“We’ll just work on it,” Pete answered, his voice ringing with cocky self-assurance. “We’ll use the weekend to figure something out.”

It was the kind of thing that Pete would say when he didn’t have a real answer. But it didn’t make me feel any better.

The Possibilitiesof Amy is Available Now in Kindle eBook on Amazon for only $.99

SYNOPSIS

Amy is the ultimate trophy girl—gorgeous face, killer body, and a vivacious personality. But there’s something else about her, something that makes her even more special. Amy is new. A transfer student from out of state, she’s starting her senior year without knowing a soul. And that means she’s up for grabs, available.

Infatuated from the moment he sees her, David is determined to meet Amy, and if the fates are willing, to spend the rest of his life with her. But his shyness prevents him from approaching her—until his friends devise a contest to determine who will be the first to prove their manhood by seducing her.

AUTHOR BIO

Jaye Frances is the author of the new romance novella, The Possibilities of Amy, and the paranormal-occult romance book The Kure, the first novel in The Kure series. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Her upcoming book is titled The Cruise - All That Glitters, a humorous take on a shipboard romance, and is scheduled for a May 2012 release. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit Jaye’s website at www.jayefrances.com, or Jaye’s Blog at http://blog.jayefrances.com 

OTHER LINKS

Author Facebook  /   Goodreads 

GIVEAWAY 

Jaye is offering my readers one (1) Kindle version of The Possibilities of Amy. Just enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Contest in International and ends 4/30.

Guest Post + FREE book offer: Steve O'Brien

Redemption Day by Steve O'Brien is FREE for Kindle for a limited time! Hurry over to AMAZON and download yours TODAY!! Offer good April 15-19. Read below about April 19th and its significance to REDEMPTION DAY.

APRIL 19th by Steve O'Brien

April 19 has become a date marking horrific violence in this country's history.

The date is not well known like September 11 or December 7, the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Unlike dates that commemorate great military victories or the end of World Wars, April 19 is about a different kind of violence.

Violence between citizens of this nation and the government itself.

Like most traditions it began as a coincidence, but later transitioned into a date of significance for members of sovereign citizen groups like the Posse Comitatus.

It began in 1985. Jim Ellison was the leader of a sovereign group called CSA (The Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord. On April 19, 1985, three hundred federal officers surrounded his compound in northern Arkansas. Ellison surrendered and was later convicted of conspiracy and weapons charges. Aside from traditional firearms, the federal officers rounded up hand grenades, plastic explosives, blasting caps, land mines and even a US Army anti-tank rocket. One of Ellison’s men, Richard Wayne Snell was charged with murder and his execution took place ten years later as fate would have it, on April 19.

April 19, 1993 the FBI stormed the Branch Davidian complex outside Waco Texas, killing seventy six members, including seventeen children. David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidian group was sought for illegal weapons charges, something sovereign groups adamantly believed was not a crime, but a right. This came on the heels of the Ruby Ridge shootings which had enraged members like Tim McVeigh. Terry Nichols and McVeigh saw Waco as yet another illegal intrusion by a corrupt government.

Following Waco, April 19 became a date of significance for sovereign groups. They would use the date as a symbol and cause to retaliate against the government.

On April 19, 1994 militia leader Linda Thompson issued a call for sovereign citizen groups  to assemble in Washington DC, armed and in uniform. The purpose of the assembly was the forced repeal of the Brady Bill and the arrest of Congressmen and Senators for treason. She identified herself as the acting adjutant general of the Unorganized Militia of the United States. Although later rescinded, her call to arms became known as the Thompson Ultimatum.

At nine pm April 19, 1995, CSA member, Richard Wayne Snell, was put to death by lethal injection in Arkansas. Twelve hours earlier, Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols had ignited a truck bomb outside the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City killing 168 people.

For McVeigh and Nichols the date was not a coincidence. 

ABOUT STEVE O'BRIEN

Steve O’Brien is an author and attorney. Redemption Day is his third novel. His prior works, Elijah’s Coin and Bullet Work, have been recipients of multiple literary awards. Since its release, Elijah’s Coin has been added to the reading curriculum in multiple secondary schools throughout the US and has been incorporated in a university ethics course. Steve is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and The George Washington University Law School. He lives in Washington, DC.

ABOUT REDEMPTION DAY

Award winning author Steve O’Brien bases his new novel on the historical events and documented teachings of the Posse Comitatus – an anti-government militia group in the 1980’s that tried to convince farmers that banks could not lawfully foreclose on their properties. Their beliefs led to the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on a date of significance to the group—April 19.

In Redemption Day, the Posse Comitatus has returned, reinvigorated and inspired by the economic downturn and anger over government intrusion. The Posse seeks to not only wreak havoc on the country, but to actually change the political landscape. In their effort to “take back the country,” they kidnap a Supreme Court Justice. With money extorted from a government contractor desperate to win back a domestic terrorism contract, redemption day unfolds. 

FRIDAY the 13th FREE Kindle Event

FRIDAY the 13th FREE Kindle Event - 13 Books From 13 Mystery Author

Event: Add some good luck to your Friday the 13th (April 13, 2012) with this special FREE promotion from a group of mystery authors with a publishing history that includes Dutton, William Morrow, Dell, Avon, MIRA Books, St. Martin's Minotaur, and Mainly Murder Press. Readers will discover mystery, suspense, romance and paranormal in settings that range from small town U.S.A., to Singapore and Indochina, to a mysterious island, to the world of reality TV. Among the accomplishments of the listed authors are New York Times bestselling, Amazon bestselling, Edgar-nominated, Agatha-nominated, winner of the St. Martin's Press/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Novel, finalist in the Mary Higgins Clark Mystery Magazine National Short Story Contest, and recipients of the Premier Book Awards Mystery/Thriller of the Year Award, and a Writer's Digest Writing Award, to name just a few. Don't miss this one-day, Kindle exclusive opportunity, in which all of the books on the list will be free, to discover these 13 new authors and brighten your Friday the 13th.

THE FREE BOOKS

 

Darker By Degree by Susan Branham and Keri Knutson

A missing girl. A mysterious break-in. A brutal murder. Actress Maddie Pryce is looking for her big break, but finds herself at the center of a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. Soon she’s tangled up with a persistent detective, a driven director, a playboy producer, and an unstable ingenue. Can Maddie unravel the clues before her next role is as a serial killer’s victim?

 Diary of Murder by Jean Henry Mead

Dana Logan's wealthy sister, Georgi, dies and Georgi's husband claims it was suicide. Dana knows her sister would never take her own life and sets out to prove it was murder, with her friend, Sarah Cafferty. During their investigation, they stumble over more bodies and place their own lives in jeopardy when they encounter a vicious drug ring. 

 Ghost Island by Bonnie Hearn Hill

Is Aaron a dream, or is he something much more deadly? Livia Hinson has just begun a Seminar at Sea when a storm hits their boat. Now, she is stranded with the other students on an island off the coast of California. Far away from her foster home and her heartbreak, Livia finds Aaron, the perfect love. But the only way they can be together is in her dreams.

Kiki Lowenstein and the Purple Passion: A Kiki Lowenstein Short Story by Joanna Campbell Slan

When a customer’s daughter is falsely accused, Kiki Lowenstein foils a nasty plan to ruin the girl’s reputation. Mystery, crafts, recipes, humor, romance/short story.

 One Small Victory by Maryann Miller

The story of one woman's courage. Suspense novel by Maryann Miller, based on a true story of a woman who infiltrated a drug ring and helped bring down a major distributor in her small Texas town. Don't discount what a mother can do to protect her children. First published in hardback, now available as an e-book and as a trade paperback. 

 Rock & Roll Homicide by RJ McDonnell

The 1st novel in the Rock & Roll Mystery Series finds PI Jason Duffy helping the widow of a slain rock star after she climbs to #1 in the police suspect charts. Duffy, an inexperienced former club musician, sorts through suspects ranging from band members to the Russian Mafia in this rocking whodunit. 4.67 Star Average.

 Sink or Swim by Stacy Juba

After starring on a hit game show set aboard a Tall Ship, personal trainer Cassidy Novak discovers that she has attracted a stalker. Can she trust Zach Gallagher, the gorgeous newspaper photographer assigned to follow her for a local series? As things heat up with the stalker and with Zach, soon Cassidy will need to call SOS for real. 

 Southeast Asian Quartet by William S. Shepard

Mystery, suspense and murder in Southeast Asia in the style of Somerset Maugham, these four tales evoke Singapore, Borneo, Malaya and Indochina. Perhaps you'll solve the disappearance of Jim Thompson, the Thai Silk King, missing for 35 years. Draw up a chair at the Raffles Bar and join us! 

 Taken by Debra Lee

Welcome to the fictitious little town of Watery, Pennsylvania where the district attorney’s personal secretary, Mary Murray never planned to become a single mom or a suspect in her infant’s disappearance, but she plans to find Jena before she suffers the same fate Mary’s younger brother had when he was taken twelve years earlier.

 The Four Last Things by Timothy Hallinan

Hired to follow a young woman, private eye Simeon Grist becomes mired in murder and a million-dollar religious scam in The Four Last Things, the first in a series of highly-praised LA private-eye novels written in the 1990s by 2011 Edgar nominee Timothy Hallinan.

 When a Man Loves a Woman: Enhanced Multimedia Edition by Alina Adams

Can a man and woman ever truly be just friends? What about if one of them is married? What if one of them suddenly isn't anymore? Originally published as a paperback by Dell in 2000, the 2011 e-book re-release multimedia edition now features all the text of the original, plus a bonus musical soundtrack to compliment the story! A romance from mystery author Alina Adams.

Willowtree by Mike Bove

Bruce DelRano, retired postman, golf and food nut, finds a body near the golf course. He believes the murder is connected to others and involves his Apache friend. Together, they stay a step ahead of the police in trying to solve the cases. They uncover dark secrets of a close knit group of friends in the town of Willowtree, Arizona. This is a fun read with some interesting characters. 

 Whispering by Gerrie Ferris Finger

Will Cleo Snow admit to making love with charming World War I fly-boy Graham Henry to clear him in the disappearance of an island woman who claims he plans to marry her? Will Graham compromise Cleo to clear himself? With her spirit firmed by deceit, Cleo vows to uncover the truth and keep her secret.

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