Tuesday 1 August 2017

*Cover Reveal!* Mystical Circles by S.C. Skillman #ASMSG

Book Cover Reveal: New Luminarie Edition of Mystical Circles, the Prequel to A Passionate Spirit

I’m delighted to announce that I can now show you the Cover Reveal for my new Luminarie edition of Mystical Circles. It’s been a long and sometimes fraught journey with the cover designers but I’m very excited with the final result!

Read two reviews here, both from Young Adult authors:

Intense Psychological Drama in a Beautiful Setting

First of all, I fell in love with the beautiful house where the story is set, and wanted to go there immediately! Against this backdrop, a tense and intriguing psychological drama is worked out, with new twists and revelations every day. The complex and often damaged characters gathered together react and interact more often than not in ways that surprise and sometimes shock, and you are kept guessing about the outcomes of some of the relationships until the very end. This was an intense and compelling story with many twists and turns in the plot to keep you reading. (Eleanor Watkins, YA author )

Psychological Suspense That Doesn’t Disappoint

The scene is an idyllic Cotswold farmhouse, where a mixed bag of needy people live in a community. Enter journalist Juliet, seeking to save her younger sister from the clutches of what she considers a cult, with its charismatic and enigmatic leader, Craig. Like Juliet, we are drawn into the claustrophobic lives of the characters in this “Wheel of Love” and find ourselves unable to leave. As the emotional and psychological tensions crackle and ignite against each other, it’s like watching a slow-motion train crash of the conflicting personalities, desires, jealousies and hurts. If you like your drama filled with psychological suspense, with a hint of the paranormal, then you won’t be disappointed. I’m pleased to see there’s a sequel, A Passionate Spirit.  (Philip S Davies, YA author)

So without more ado here is the book cover for Mystical Circles



Blurb:
“Hi, you in crowded, stressed old London from me in the peaceful, perfect Cotswolds. Massive change of plan. I’m in love. Craig’s gorgeous, sexy, intelligent. Paradise here. Staying forever.”
Juliet, concerned that her younger sister has fallen in love with the charismatic Craig, leader of the Wheel of Love, sets off for the Cotswolds to investigate, fearful that Zoe has become entangled with a religious cult.

She arrives at Craig’s community hoping to rescue Zoe. But intrigues, liaisons and relationships flare and flourish or fizzle out quickly within this close circle, and despite her reservations, Juliet is drawn into the Wheel of Love… with completely unforeseen consequences.
The new Luminarie edition of Mystical Circles is available as from 5 September 2017. It will be available online and in all good bookstores.

And I am doing a special promotion for a limited period for UK readers of my blog SC Skillman Author. Copies of the paperback can be pre-ordered direct from me via the Contact Me section of my blog, at 20% discount from the RRP of £8.99, and free of p& p. There will be 10 copies of the book available through this promotion to the first 10 purchasers, and all I ask is that you post your review on Amazon as soon as you’ve read the book!


Monday 31 July 2017

The Nefarious Series by Lucille Moncrief #ASMSG @moncriefelle

Nefarious Volume One is permafree on Instafreebie. It is an erotic horror short story. Custom illustrated.


Blurb:

Set in a steampunk Savannah, Georgia, Nefarious weaves a tale of intrigue, hidden desires, and devious intentions.

Talcott Henderson wants to live again.

A centuries-old vampire, he longs to destroy his maker and become human once more. In order to do so, he must turn another. While he sets his sights on Elyse Delafayette, Samuel Quartermaine sets his on Talcott. Will Talcott succeed in convincing Elyse to join the ranks of the undead before Samuel can stop him?

"Is this how the fox feels when he confronts the tender rabbit? Or the osprey when he swoops in for a kill so calculated and unfair? My fingertips tingled in delight."

***This is dark erotica, so mature audiences only, please. ***

Nefarious Volume Two: Honor the Suffering is historical fiction/horror novelette. It is on Amazon, enrolled in KU. I also have a free preview of it on Instafreebie.



Blurb:

Is eternal guilt the price of human empathy?

While the bombs rain overhead, Talcott Henderson and a group of fellow soldiers huddle in the cratered ground beneath the German front lines. Through the never-ending din of enemy fire, the voracious, blood-soaked machine of war haunts Talcott. Memories claw at him; kill or be killed, eat or be eaten. In the bowels of the earth a specter appears, and offers him an eternal life free of guilt.

But what is the cost of an unmarred soul?

*Includes custom illustrations
*Cover art by Jessica Dueck

Nefarious Volume Three is scheduled for release August 18.

Interested parties can find snippets, information and links to when it is published, as well as information on where readers can participate in a giveaway to win a free copy and an Amazon Fire 7 tablet on my blog at www.moncriefs.net.



Here is the blurb:

Can evil consume innocence?

Can the one who walks the line between both it?

Elyse Delafayette, innocent yet darkly cynical, continues a naive flirtation with evil incarnate. Although goodness pursues her, she rebukes him. Although he seems sincere, she fears he is not.

Samuel Quartermaine, embodying darkness and light, races against time to save her from the clutches of the undead.

Will she let him love her?

The third installment of the Nefarious series, The World is Our Exile is a paranormal erotic romance novella set in a steampunk Savannah, Georgia. If you love sarcastic heroines, brooding, secretive heroes, and exploring the stark contrast between good and evil, you will love this story. Get your copy now to experience a thrilling, erotic ride into vivid new world.


You can connect with Lucille on Facebook, join herFacebook group, find her on Twitter, or visit her writer's website for hints and tips about your writing and reading journey.

Thursday 27 July 2017

#TheRedcliffeNovels at #ArtsLab @RedShiftRadioUK @MarkSheeky

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of joining presenter Mark Sheeky on the #ArtsLab art and culture show for RedShift Radio. It has been a while since I did a radio interview, but I think it sounded alright… what do you think?



Have you discovered the Redcliffe novels? Sign up today, and receive your fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

Tuesday 25 July 2017

Times a Tickin' . . . @KimCoxAuthor #ASMSG #freebooks

Hello from Asheville, NC! My three dogs love to run around and act crazy, playing and tackling each other. They are truly my best friends. We have two West Highland White Terriers (Westies), named Scooter and Harley, and one gray and white Yorkie mix, named Candi. I found the Westies for my husband who is a stay-at-home husband and chainsaw artist. Now he has a Harley and a Scooter. He really loves that little joke. Candi, we inherited from my mother-in-law. She's the sweetest of all. In All This Time, Jenny has Angel, a five-year-old basset hound. We used to have a sweet little dog with that name. I still miss that little pup. She belonged to my brother-in-law but lived with us for about five years. See the little innocents (yeah, right) below:


Pups Relaxing Inside
pupsRelaxing2

Pups' Playground
pupsPayground2 

It's so hard to get them all to look at me at the same time. So, I guess by now you're wondering about the heading line, Times a tickin' – That's the clock ticking for the 48-hour special I have for you. And here it is . . . All This Time will be FREE for the next 48 hours only to those who have the password. That's right! I've put a bonus link at the end of Before We Wed—my newest release. Click this LINK to purchase Before We Wed, scroll to the end of the book, read the instructions, and click the link to get your FREE book. The link at the end of the book will take you to Instafreebie where you'll enter the password. The password is the 5th word in the first paragraph of Chapter 13 of my book, Before We Wed.

BWW-TwitterHeader3 

That's it! Easy peasy. But hurry, because this special bonus only lasts for 48 hours. Already have a copy? Get it for a friend. You can't beat getting 2 books for the price of 1.

Reviews are coming in for BEFORE WE WED from readers

“Wow! What a ride.”
“…so engrossing that I couldn’t put it down”
"Sarah and Jon have a wonderful complementing dynamic."
"I enjoyed the plot, strong characters, and mind boggling mystery."
“A great love story with loads of action and steaminess. VERY RECOMMENDED! 5 Stars”

Before We Wed (Book 2) Style & Profile series

BWW-Cover-XSM

Just as Sarah Martin and Jon Clayton say their vows, the police crash the wedding to arrest the groom. Jon is terrified and Sarah is heartbroken. Thankfully, their friends support them emotionally and help find Jon an excellent attorney. Is Jon truly innocent, and does he have no idea how the damaging evidence found its way into his business? Are there more sinister people involved? Will Sarah find the evidence she needs to clear him, or will she find out he's fooled them all? If someone else is framing Jon, who is it and what are their motives? Click this LINK to get Before We Wed
All This Time (Book 1) Style & Profile series

ATT

Marriage of Convenience, Best Friend Romance, with someone trying to kill Jenny and ruin her life: Can Jenny and Trevor make a life together while uncovering a common enemy? Treachery, Greed, and Psychosis threaten to tear it all apart. At thirty, Jenny Morgan’s biological clock is ticking. But as a fashion magazine CEO with a busy schedule and no significant other, her wish is unlikely to come true. When her father receives a potentially terminal diagnosis, he longs for a grandchild before he dies. Jenny’s only immediate available option is her single co-worker and best friend, Trevor Drake. Can she really trust him to be a good husband?

To read more about the books, click the following titles: All This Time or Before We Wed And don't forget . . . Once you've loaded Before We Wed on your Kindle, iPad, Nook, computer, etc., scroll to the end, click the link to get your FREE book. The link will take you to Instafreebie where you'll enter the correct password. The password is the 5th word in the first paragraph of Chapter 13.

Here's that link one more time: Click this LINK to get Before We Wed Drop me a line. I'd love to hear about your pets and that GREAT book you just read. Until next time, have a great day.


All This Time - Kim Cox 2 

Why do you love to read? What are your favorite books, genres, and authors? I'd love to know.  

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Contact kim@kimcoxauthor.com for offer.

Monday 24 July 2017

In Defense of the Struggle That’s Real For Authors @moncriefelle #ASMSG #amwriting

Hey, you, the pale one, bags under your eyes that could rival a blue light special, crumbs on your chest and a crick in your neck from hunching over a keyboard. Do your eyes feel like sandpaper yet? For a sedentary job, it sure hurts. Seen the sun lately? Friends stopped calling long ago. 
#Thestruggleisreal.


That’s what this is, and most people don’t want to do it because it comes dressed in ripped and stained yoga pants and looks a hell of a lot like work.
Maybe you are lucky. Your loved ones are supportive. Even then, it’s a lonely road—a long hard slog into a winter night without a coat. Or maybe you are like me, with a masochistic streak as deep as the scars on my inner wrists, and this is like coming home.
So, for those of you who’ve chosen the narrow path, the authorpreneurial road less traveled, a few words of advice and encouragement:

1.       Attitude

The first thing you need to fix is your attitude. Life isn’t fair. Do you understand? Life isn’t fair. Bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad people, and there is a whole lot of neutral in between. The fickle finger of fate points to all. You can’t control ANYTHING in life except your ATTITUDE.

What you must do, is work hard, take risks, and keep at it. This will build your confidence, and you must, you absolutely must reward yourself for doing this REGARDLESS of the outcome. In many instances, the outcome is beyond your control. I would be remiss to not state that there are certain things you can do, of course, to affect a positive outcome. But as they say, sh*t happens. Your attitude is the only thing you can control.

So, when the friends quit calling, the family doesn’t want to read your work, you get a one-star review, your attitude and your confidence will shield you and give you the strength to keep working.


2.     Be prolific

You need to set a goal—a wordcount, page, or chapter count per day and stick to it. This will become a habit. Habits are hard to break. Start small. It’s like putting a pebble in a bucket of water. Eventually you will get enough pebbles to create spillover. Don’t worry if it is ‘not good enough’ or worse, utter dross. The point is to play a numbers game and play it well. You do that by being prolific. You do this way before you start editing, and before you start researching and honing your craft. You have to have a lump of clay to work with in order to make a vase.


3.       Learn

Research, take workshops, read and read and read everyone more talented and more knowledgeable than you. Join writing groups, online or in person, and learn from those who have had some success at this game. Keep your mouth shut and check your ego at the door. Pay attention, be a sponge and then go implement the things you’ve learned into your own work.

4.       Many roads lead to Rome

They’re dark, ridden with potholes, unsavory bandits, covered in brambles, but they are legion. There are many ways to do this job. Enroll in KU or go wide . . . there is no hard answer here. You have to do what is best for you and what is going to work for your specific book(s).

Don’t get roped in by “rules” that aren’t really rules. Most rules are more like “guidelines.” Again, if you protect your attitude, hone your craft, and are prolific, you’ll find success. It can happen overnight, it can more likely take years, but it does happen if you don’t give up.



5.       Ditch your ‘friends’

Yeah, I said it. You’re trying to build something here, and the most important element of that is your attitude. It’s nigh on impossible to keep your attitude in check if you hear a lot of naysaying. Anyone who doesn’t support you that you aren’t forced to live with, you need to cut down on your time with that person. Or better yet, wipe the slate clean and get some new friends. There are seven billion people on the planet, and a lot of them are supportive. Go hang out with them.

Good luck, stay warm out there, and happy writing.

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Today's guest blog post was brought to you by Steampunk horror indie author Lucille Moncrief. You can connect with Lucille on Facebook, join her Facebook group, find her on Twitter, or visit her writer's website for hints and tips about your writing and reading journey. 

Thank you, Lucille! 






Friday 21 July 2017

Release Day! Italian Playboy by Holly J. Gill #ASMSG



 *´¨ðŸ’•) RELEASE DAY💕
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)¸.•*¨ðŸ’•)
💕(¸.•´‪ 💕 💕
Title: Italian Playboy
Standalone
Author: Holly J. Gill
Genres: #Romantic #Erotica #BDSM  #adult #language #18+ #HollyJGill #Italianplayboy


Join the Party!!
HollyJGillsVIPs


Can A Playboy Ever Be Tamed?





💕✶ BLURB ✶💕

I’m an arrogant, self-righteous Italian guy who only thinks through one thing… I never see the same woman twice – it’s my rule. I throw the most outrageously wicked and sexy parties for my own satisfaction and relish on women like I do my fine dining. I’m a playboy by day and a playboy by night. They call me the Italian Playboy and I love it! Only, all of that changed one night when a dark haired beauty stepped into one of my sex parties. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I had to have her. But no sooner than my eyes had met her naked body, she was gone. I had to find her. And I wouldn’t stop until I did.




💕✶ EXCERPT ✶💕

“Okay so you want grand, extreme and flamboyant.

How about I put some ideas together and send them over?”
“Are you not bringing them to me?”
“No.”
“Tut, tut,” he said, wagging his finger at me. “Correction, you will bring them to me. I like the personal touch,” he quirked the corner of his mouth and winked.
He walked away like some goddamn prince.
“I think we should call a meeting ASAP.” I called after him.
“Absolutely, tomorrow, but remember,” he said, stood at the other side of the room, “I’m a busy man. I don’t hang around.”
He ambled back towards me. I stood digesting he
information.
“I can make some plans and see what you think.”
“Perfect, by the way cute ass and that blouse does nothing for your tits.”
“I wasn’t aware I asked your opinion.”
“You didn’t, but I bet when you’re wearing the right clothes you look scorching.” He wagged his brow.
The man clearly loved himself.
“Anyway, I need to be leaving. I have to put ideas together, if you could send me your e-mail address I can send ideas to you.”
“Bring your ideas to me. We have already discussed this it will give me a chance to admire you again, we could have a drink,” he cheekily grinned.
“I am simply working here on a project, not here for you to drool over.”
“Shame, I was hoping to try and get in your knickers, if you wear them, but looking at you, I’d say you’re wearing those big unsexy pants."
I choked on my saliva.
“Do you hold no shame?”
“No, not really, I am addicted to pussy. Now, I want you to bring the designs to me, no further ifs or buts…I am the one paying for you and expect,” he in fumed me with his cologne. “Something mind-fucking-blowing. If you catch my drift.”
I agreed.
“Fine, I will put some ideas together and bring them to you tomorrow."
“You’re leaving so soon,” he said, disappointed.
“I am a busy woman, Mr. Valentino. I have another client to see today.”
“I hope he doesn’t stare at your ass and tits."
I shot him a glare, narrowing my eyes.



💕✶  LINKS ✶💕

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Thursday 20 July 2017

Eye of the Tiger (A Redcliffe Novel) Book 4 by Catherine Green


The Redcliffe novels series follow the adventures of bookshop owner Jessica Stone as she meets a man and falls in love, only to discover the hidden werewolf secrets of her close friends. That includes Simon Bunce, manager of the Ship Inn, who turns out to be lieutenant to the Redcliffe werewolf pack, and lover to the wolf alpha Danny Mason. He fights to protect his master from the ethereal animal familiar who threatens to claim their pack. Who knew the Cornish coast could be so deadly?

Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!)