Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Coming Soon! Straitjackets & Holy Water by @AshKrafton Featured in Rite to Reign #boxset #urbanfantasy


Ash Krafton’s upcoming release, STRAITJACKETS & HOLY WATER: The Demon Whisperer #0, will be one of 24 books featured in Rite to Reign: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Box Set. www.books2read.com/ritetoreign

Your featured book, STRAITJACKETS & HOLY WATER, is a series prequel. Tell us a little about the series itself.

The Demon Whisperer series is about an exorcist-mage from Boston. For Simon Alliant, magic isn't just a curiosity or a skill. It's the source of a bone-deep addiction.

Fighting demons is dirty work but someone has to do it. Sometimes, you win. Sometimes, the demons fight back...and every once in a while, the demon wins. That's because that particular demon is all your very own…
Simon is a likeable guy who sometimes does unlikeable things. Part of it is his line of work. Part of it is his impulsive and emotional nature. But the biggest part is his addictive personality. Addiction, no matter what kind, often makes our decisions for us. For Simon, it’s a constant struggle.

For me, it’s an opportunity to have a little bit of fun. I like throwing terrible things at him to see how he’d handle it. I don’t know why I do it because I really like the guy. Thank goodness he surprises me a lot.

What is STRAITJACKETS about?

The story explores a key point in Simon’s past. He talks about it in the first book, CHARM CITY.

I wrote this book to feel like Hellblazer’s John Constantine unleashed a demonic possession on a John Green novel. The story is different from the first two books in that it’s told from Simon’s teenage point of view. I’d always wanted to tell Simon’s origin story but I thought it would be best to let him tell it himself.

Because of that, this story is a great deal more personal. The center of Simon’s world is his mom, Norma, who deals with bipolar II disorder. He’s also been the victim of bullying for a long time. These emotional stresses have really shaped his personality and his decision-making process, and I hope that this book gives fans of the series the glimpse they’ve wanted into his past.

What made you want to be a part of a boxed set like RITE TO REIGN?

I’m an indie author, which means I don’t have a huge publishing house presenting my work. That means it’s pretty difficult to be noticed in a world so full of great books. I’ve long been a part of author collectives, such as my run writing for a multi-author blog (www.querytracker.blogspot.com) and my place with the Infinite Ink Authors, a group of YA/NA fantasy and romance authors. There is power in groups. We support and learn from each other, and we share audiences and resources with each other. It’s the smartest thing an Indie can do.

Likewise, participating in multi-author projects not only presents a more appealing book project to readers, it means authors create a network for team work and audience-sharing. This is my third time participating in a 20+ book boxed set. I’ve met a lot of great authors and found some really excellent books from working with these folks.

I joined this one in particular because the theme is magic—wanting it, taking it, and using it to get what you want. This book was on my to-do list, so the set’s timing was just the motivation I needed to get it written. The set theme also challenged me to introduce a “royal” character. Simon’s the king of jack-squat, which meant I got to dig deep into someone else’s back story, as well!

It’s also been a lot of fun getting to know these authors and their books and I can’t wait until it releases. So many of them have tremendous interests in magic as well, and it’s inspired me. My house is slowly filling with magical paraphernalia and my family is starting to worry.

What’s your favorite part about working with your co-authors?

Definitely all the extras we’ve put together!

We recently held a charity auction and raised $450 for the WWF…we have a bonus anthology “First to Reign”, free on all major ebook sites…we wrote a cookbook (really! My contribution is my own favorite Halloween party snack, Kitty Litter Cake)…and we have a free-books-with- purchase offer that give readers 15 bonus novels plus an exclusive spellbook, written just for reader of Rite To Reign.

I think the spellbook is my favorite part so far. My page talks about the magical uses of chicory, which Simon uses a lot in the books. I think I’m starting to believe the things I write, too—I picked a lot of chicory this summer and keep bunches on my desk and on the dashboard of my truck. Never know when I’ll need that invisibility spell to work!

It’s been a pleasure and an honor to work with so many creative and talented authors.

How about an excerpt? 

~*~*~*~*~

Time slowed, sounds becoming muffled, like a giant pulse in Norma’s ears. She blinked lethargically, the black void of a fainting spell coming on swift merciful wings. Her son had blood on his hands.

They both did—

Blink

Sirens, growing louder. Red lights. Those eyes—

Blink

A young man’s voice, desperate, as if from a distance. The howl, the laughter—

Blink

Sounds of big hollow doors being bumped open. The sensation of movement down a hall, the clackity-clack of wheels on tiles. A doctor being paged on an overhead system—

Blink

On her back, strapped down over her shoulders and thighs. A gurney, rolling like a car on a crazy train. Two men, with white shirts and impassive faces, shoved her down an endless hall. Wrist restraints held her hands fast. Fluorescent lights streamed overhead, sharp punctuation of the screaming light and the soft, kind darkness.

Doorways fluttered past in her periphery. A psych ward. Closed doors with small high windows filled with glimpses of the insane: the lost, vacant hollow eyes, the catatonic, the jumbled voices of the over-excitable. She was all of them. All of them at once.

Above the chaos came echoes of a man calling out a name.

Alliant.

Flashback images of a demon’s face, an empty playground, a bloodied body. Whose memories? Hers. Not hers. The screams were his. Always his.

The gurney paused long enough for someone to snap a hospital bracelet around her wrist. The purple typed letters read Norma Alliant. Once more, the gurney lurched, hard, around a corner. She rolled her head to look down the hall toward the doors through which she’d come. A nurse twisted a huge latch. They were locked. She was locked in. She was a prisoner—

On the other side, her son banged on the glass, his mouth working, his black shaggy hair falling into his eyes. No sound. He was no more than a two-dimension image. He wasn’t real because she wasn’t real. She didn’t want to be real. If she was real, it would be real.

And, if it was real…

No sound but the cacophony in her head. The howling, the screams, the laughter, and the perpetual repeat of memories that weren’t hers.

Madness.

Madness only a devil could inflict…

~*~*~*~*~

RITE TO REIGN will release on December 11, 2018. Find those freebies-with-purchase and other wonderful offers and events when you check out www.ritetoreign.com!

Friday, October 12, 2018

What's After THE END? #MFRWAuthor




Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 41"Epilogue or No?"


I read and write mostly romance and there's always a moment after you get to the end of a really good book that you want to be reassured that the characters you invested so much of your life and time in will definitely turn out fine. And sometimes it's just because it's so difficult to let go of those wonderful characters. The Epilogue can set some of your worries at ease.

What is an Epilogue?


The section at the end of the book. It usually takes place after the action of the story, sometimes a few days later, sometimes a few years. If you're reading a romance, then sometimes the author fast forwards a few years to let the reader glimpse the life of the hero and heroine after they connected at the end of the story. Maybe they're married and have children.

Why Write an Epilogue? 


By giving a glimpse of the character's life after the events of the book you bring a sense of closure to your reader. Readers are reassured that all is well with their characters who, frankly, if an author does it well enough, seem like real-life friends.

This is also a great place to tie up some of those elusive loose threads. Maybe those unanswered questions didn't find a place in the story, but readers deserve to know those answers.

What Do I think?


Personally, I enjoy reading epilogues. In fact, my favorite epilogues are written by Julia Quinn who then went on to publish an entire book of them. Her stories of the Bridgertons are simply wonderful and it's difficult to let go of those characters after you're finished reading them. Those epilogues bring a sense of satisfaction and contentment and definitely leave me smiling and wanting to read another of her books.






Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!


Happy Writing!
~Tricia

Friday, October 5, 2018

Work Attire for Writers = Clothing is Optional #MFRWAuthor #writinglife



Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.
Week 40"What I Wear When I Write"

I bet that got your attention!

One of the benefits of working at home is you don't have to wear a uniform, a business suit or anything at all for that matter! Yes. If that's your thing, clothing is definitely optional when you're working in the privacy of your own home. No one will ever know if the latest novel you wrote was written while wearing your Birthday Suit. Unless, of course, you tell them!

For me, I have what I lovingly refer to as lounge wear. I have several pairs of yoga and running pants, along with a variety of comfy t-shirts. Among those are littered with sayings or designs from Doctor Who, Supernatural, Sherlock, The Walking Dead or several Disney Princesses. I think I may have a Star Wars shirt, too.

There are times when casual is just too casual and I don't feel in a work mood. Those days, I shower and get dressed in stretchy jeans and a nice button-down shirt. To get in the mood to write, I sometimes need to pretend that I have an actual job to go to, so I'll dress nicely for that. 

Still comfy though. Comfy is a priority in my life. I'm not a glamorous writer who wears sexy dresses and high heels. In fact, I don't really think I have any high heels, at all. I'm tall enough and sometimes those thing hurt! Sneakers are my thing. Barefoot is great, too, but I have little kids and there's always the terrifying threat of stepping on Lego's or Matchbox cars.

I'm about what feels good. If I wear skin-tight clothing, then it must be stretchy, because no way is my post 4x C-Section body in any shape for sexy skin-tight. I exercise, but I'm not a super model. I'm a mom with wide hips, big boobs and stretch marks. I realized several years ago that there are some clothes that I will never fit into again.

Which again, comes back to if you're a writer working from home, you can wear whatever you darn well please! As long as the kids are at school, anyway. Then have at it, by all means! Just get those words written!



Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!


Happy Writing!
~Tricia

Thursday, October 4, 2018

The New Season of Doctor Who

Are you ready for the Doctor? I am! I can't wait to watch the new season of Doctor Who featuring a new regeneration of my favorite alien. Although, I'm always sad to see the previous Doctor go (and Peter Capaldi did an amazing job!), I'm eager to see what story lines the writers come up with as the Doctor is a woman! Yes! A woman!

It's really about time. I suspected this would be something the writers would tiptoe into when the Master regenerated as Missy. It was simply a matter of wibbly-wobbly timey.


I've heard fantastic things about Jodie Whitaker, the actress who is taking on the role as the Doctor, but I admit that I don't think I've personally seen her in anything. I did watch a couple of episodes of Broadchurch, but I have a tough time watching shows with such dark content involving kids. And that was a while ago, so I really don't remember. I was too busy watching David Tennant to notice anyone else. Sorry, Broadchurch actors & actresses! I'm sure you were wonderful!

Anyway, the Doctor Who sneak peeks I've seen so far look promising. Looks like there's still running! Lots of running. I'm very excited that Chris Chibnall announced that there will be no old monsters. Although, my kids love the Daleks and the Cybermen, I'm looking forward to seeing what other monstrous creations can be concocted by those crazy writers! Just when you think they can't imagine anything else, another one pops up and astonishes you!

Weeping Angels, anyone?


If you don't understand what I'm babbling on about, then I feel sorry for you and I encourage you to head over to Amazon or the BBC or wherever you get your TV watching episodes (sorry, not Netflix! They don't have it anymore which I find highly annoying!) and start watching the Doctor. You're going to binge. I guarantee it!

The best thing is that you don't have to watch Doctor Who from the very beginning to understand it. Granted, it might be a little confusing at first, but that's how it is with the Doctor. You could start with the newest incarnation of the show which began in 2005 starring Christopher Eccleston. Or you can go back further. You'll be watching the Doctor for ages! The show began in the 1960s.

I remember watching Tom Baker's Doctor with that iconic scarf when I was a kid. I remember thinking, who would wear a scarf like that? And doesn't he trip over it all the time?

I'm thinking of re-watching and reviewing the previous episodes, so maybe you can check back here for that, too. I'll start with Rose.

If you're interested Doctor Who airs on October 7th! You've got to see it!

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Writing is My Lifeline #IWSG #writingtherapy


The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. 
The Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 
IWSG Asks: How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something? 
Writing has become therapy for me since I was a teenager. My mother died when I was 11 and shortly after that my father abandoned me and my brother. Writing was the only way that I could cope with all the grief. I'd write stories about a girl in a similar situation, but I'd write a happy ending to her story. That was something I couldn't guarantee for myself, but I could in the stories that I wrote.

And recently, after years of trying to help my husband cope with a mental disorder, our marriage has fallen apart. I won't go into the nasty details, but he simply walked out and left. Since I'm a stay-at-home mom, I can't begin to tell you what sort of situation that puts me and my 4 children in. Despite being in an extremely difficult financial situation that often leaves me sleepless at night, I have one thing I can certainly rely on.

My writing.

Even if I don't ever publish another word, I will still write. After all of these years, I know that writing will never leave my life. This year, I focused more on my writing than I had in a long time, loosing myself in other worlds because I needed a respite from my own terrifying troubles. I finished more stories this year than I have in a long time. Three of those stories were recently published in these anthologies; Pirates: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology, A Wink and a Smile and A Kiss and a Promise.

Writing has always made me feel better, so throughout every major life event, I always fell back to writing like it was my lifeline. Writing has always been like breathing to me. It's the one thing that helps me more than anything else. My only guarantee in a life filled with uncertainties.

And, I hope that one day I can make a decent income with my writing that I can properly support my family. My children deserve better. And, I believe that I deserve to be happy. Right now, more than anything, I want to see my writing career dreams fulfilled. And I'm more determined than ever to see that happen.





Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Become a VIP Reader by signing-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!
~ Tricia 

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Trick or Treat Binge-Read Giveaway! #booklovers #readers


October is here! One of my favorite times of year! The weather turns chilly, the leaves change color and I get an excuse to Halloween candy. Not that I need an excuse for chocolate, but hey, it sounds good! As the wind shakes my windows, I love to curl up with a good book and a mug of hot cider.

N.N. Light feels the same way and they're hosting a spooktacular giveaway. Sorry, couldn't resist the Halloween pun. No tricks, just treats for booklovers! Everything from romance to paranormal fiction is being given away.

You can enter to win one of mine. I'm giving away a e-copy of A Kiss and a Promise

Go on, indulge your inner kid and enter this giveaway.

Trick or Treat Binge-Read Giveaway:  https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775020/
Literary Giveaway Portal:  https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal


a Rafflecopter giveaway