Afraid to Say Anything?

Welcome to Insecure Writers Support Group Day. I hope you are having a great Cinco de Mayo and will enjoy Mother's Day on Sunday. Baseball is in full swing here and that's a great thing!

Now, I'll get right to my topic for this month... These days, we live in a hyper-sensitive world. I'm afraid there might be things in my books that could be taken the wrong way or offend people--even though it's all made up fiction based on flawed characters... I never used to worry about it until recently. Does anyone else feel this way?

I know we can't please everyone. But lately there's an increasing number of people who seem to be looking for things to complain about or nit pick... 

Though I have to say, this problem is not unfamiliar to me as I've been offending people my whole life. I have a sarcastic sense of humor and tend to say things I think are harmless, usually joking, but others might get their feelings hurt. A couple of times, I've just been minding my own business and someone said I was a snob or worse. I never mean to offend people, but I find out later that my words or actions came across the opposite of what I intended.

STORY TIME:

When I was an innocent, nerdy high schooler, I met a cute guy at a football game. We talked, and I liked him, and he seemed to like me. But he didn't go to our school. He mentioned where he lived and I found his address in the phone book, so I wrote him a letter (YES, I'M THAT OLD!) I meant everything to be funny and cute and cool in a teasing way, trying to sound casual, and I had no idea if he'd even get it.

Well, a few days later, a girl in my class confirmed he got the letter, but he was totally ticked over what I said: something about him being a dropout--which he said he was--and another about being a beach bum--which he also said he was, as we lived in Florida. I thought I was making light of what he'd told me and admired him for the way he was living, but he must've had some insecurities about it that I never dreamed of--he was a cute "bad boy" to me. But this girl berated me for my letter, really let me have it. Maybe she was jealous. I never liked her anyway... Needless to say, nothing more came of it.

When these things have happened over the years, I'm reminded to try to be more aware of others' feelings. Then again, I say: You can't please everyone. Some people just won't like you no matter how nice you try to be. And I believe the majority of people get the jokes and are fine.

Either way, if you ever notice me say something stupid or offensive -- please tell me! And I'm curious if you've ever had a similar experience.

NOW FOR THE AWESOME NEW STUFF!

DARK MATTER is NOW AVAILABLE!

Dark Matter: Artificial

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

 

Discover dark matter’s secrets…

From an AI’s true role to bumbling siblings lost in deep space. 

Or dark matter could be sentient, judging if we're worthy of existence. 

Or even transport you to another reality!

Join ten fabulous authors as they explore dark matter: 

Artificial - Stephanie Espinoza Villamor 

Space Folds and Broomsticks - C.D. Gallant-King

Rift – Kim Mannix          The Utten Mission – Steph Wolmarans

Sentient – Tara Tyler         One to Another – Deniz Bevan

Resident Alien - Charles Kowalski          Nano Pursuit – Olga Godim

Resurgence – Elizabeth Mueller          Vera’s Last Voyage – Mark Alpert

 

LINKS:

Amazon     iTunes      Kobo      Barnes & Noble      Goodreads

Published by Dancing Lemur Press

And we're having a PARTY of BLOG VISITS to celebrate!

May 4 – Laura Billings

https://bookishequestrian.wixsite.com/mysite

Interview question

 

May 4 - Jemi Fraser

https://jemifraser.blogspot.com/

Interview question

 

May 5 - Ellen Jacobson

https://ellenjacobsonauthor.com/

Interview with Stephanie

 

May 6 – Mason Canyon

https://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

Short guest posts from Charles, CD, and Tara

 

May 7? - Louise Barbour

https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/

Interviews

 

May 10 - Nick Wilford

http://www.nickwilford.com/

Guest post from CD

 

May 12 - Cathrina Constantine

http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com/

Short pitch from all authors

Stop by and let us know what you think.

Have a great MAY!

Hot Genres - #Horror Mashups

Tis the season for Horror. But Horror is not my genre--I don't like to be scared. Thrilled--yes. Grossed out or freaked out--no. Mashups put a new twist on the classics. With agents looking for "new & exciting," a great mashup might be the way to go. I can do mashups. Horror/Comedy, like SCREAM. And sometimes I like Horror/Sci Fi, like ALIEN. Horror/Fantasy might be interesting too, does VAN HELSING count for that?

Since I'm not the best at Horror, I'm giving you all over to my Shout Out of the Week...

Yolanda Renée!

For me, good horror is always about the unexpected. Taking the mundane and turning it into a horror fest has always been Stephen King's claim to fame. And yes, he's my go-to guy for horror. I'd recommend just about anything he's written! I say just about because I think some of his most recent work is lacking a good editor, but once you've achieved his status...

Halloween with Jamie Curtis, is my all time favorite horror movie. (No remakes please!)

As far as a tip for writing horror or any genre, it's all about the questions.

For instance, I took three pictures for Halloween this month and then spent some time studying them. Then I started asking questions. What is happening in this desolate dark forest... What happens at this cabin in the woods... And how does an individual become a ghost... If you check my posts for October, you'll see the results. Although, I have no rhyme or reason for why the answers came as poetry. Writing just happens that way. Ask your muse (the unconscious mind) the question you need answered, and just be ready for the answer, no matter what that is. Honestly, it's how I work.

About Yolanda Renée...
While living in Alaska, Renée learned to sleep under the midnight sun, fly fish, cross-country ski, and survive the bitter cold. She hiked the Brooks Range and traveled the state from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. The tough terrain sent her onto her next adventure--writing. The beautiful state of Alaska is like another character in her mystery trilogy. The wonders, mysteries and incredible beauty that is Alaska fill each novel, as well as murder and mayhem.

The Detective Quaid mysteries weave a rich tapestry of love, obsession, and murder. She's about to finish and publish, the 5th book in the Detective Quaid Series: Murder, Just Because.

She now lives in Myrtle Beach, SC--a far cry from frigid Alaska--but she's still inspired to write as she researches a noir mystery with Murder Beach in mind (the nickname for Myrtle Beach).


In the end, agents and publishers are looking for a combination of a great story, but more importantly, a great storyteller. You be you. It's a scary business, but worth it!

Happy Halloween!

What's your THING? 4 Steps to Building Your Brand

I love writing. I get a huge thrill when someone reads something I wrote and tells me they liked it--repeat customers who aren't relatives are the BEST!

But I never realized how much work, sacrifice, and embarrassment I would have to go through to promote myself. Selling yourself is awkward. Putting yourself out there is a huge risk. Some of you think rejection from query letters is a knife in the gut. Wait till you go to an event and don't sell a single book. Heart-wrenching! Why can't we just write a phenomenal book and be a big hit over night?? (I know, don't answer that)

I have come to terms with my lot in my writing life. Time management has new meaning after you're published. Since I love the writing and hate the marketing, I'm always looking for ways to make the latter easier so I can do more of the former!

One huge way to help get your books noticed is to Brand Yourself.
Your author name is your brand. Think about your favorite authors--you love reading their stuff and look for new releases by them. You like their style, their stories, their characters, and how they keep you wanting more! You have to make readers want that from YOU!

So here are some suggestions on
How to Brand Yourself:

• First, Know Yourself - What do you write? Do you like to read your own genre? Where do you live? Do you like to travel? What part of the process are you best at? Worst at? What do you like to do? Do you have a job? On the surface, these questions will help you form a solid AUTHOR BIO. Looking deeper, you will discover more about yourself so you can relate to your readers.
• Then, Know Your Readers - There's no stereotype for readers. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors! Readers know what they like, and if they like what you write, you'll gain fans for life! To figure out what your readers like, you have to read the best sellers in your genre. If you read the genre you write, it's easy to do research!
• Now, Go Get Them! -  Go to Book Events--try to speak on a panel and let readers get to know you. If you write sci-fi/fantasy, try going to some Sci Fi Cons. Romance & YA have conventions and events too. For a younger age group, try speaking at a school or children's book fair. You have to get yourself out there.
• And Keep writing! - The more books you have out there, the more Your Name is out there and the more your fans will have to read and brag about, getting more people to notice you!

I'm still debating how to head up my blog to capture my brand. Here are a few great examples of Authors who have the right idea...

Stephanie Faris - Adorable Children's Author

Christine Rains - Scintillating Speculative Fiction

Elizabeth Seckman - Hopeless Romantic Writer

And my super cheesy SHOUT OUT OF THE WEEK!

Crystal Collier - YA Magical Journeys

I've known Crystal for many moons (ha ha). I love her whimsical posts, her sweet author showcases, and especially the "two truths and a lie" challenges. She's doing extremely well with an adorable houseful of rugrats and a bunch of books out there. Including her wonderful Maiden of Time series!

Crystal Collier is an eclectic author who pens clean fantasy/sci-fi, historical, and romance stories with the occasional touch of humor, horror, or inspiration. She practices her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, five littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese.

You can find her...
Amazon | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest


Hope you are in good spirits no matter what phase of the writing process you're in!

#WritersLife Survey 12 - Writing is Scary!

I feel really lame this year. No pumpkins, no fall decor, no Halloween decorations... As my boys keep getting older, they don't care about these things as much. The wonder and excitement is gone to sarcastic teenage apathy. Ugh.

Ah well. I still have pumpkin flavored everything and candy to give out. Halloween is what you make it, right? And I have this fun-filled spooky survey treat for you guys... enjoy!



Thanks for playing! I love finding out who likes what and sharing it with everyone.
Hope your October is full of bone-chilling thrills and tasty treats!

PS - My quarterly newsletter came out this month AND Thanks to those signing up to with my form for DISPOSAL's release coming up November 14. I might have to forego a survey for November... we shall see.

#WritersLife Survey 6 - Inside a Writer's Head

Hoppy Easter!
Hope your spring is in full swing. Here in the Midwest, we are enjoying flowers and baseball and warmer temps!

I also got to go to Ohioana again, my fourth time, with my book event buddy, Julie Flanders! We didn't get to sit together, but we still found time to chat. I know we'll do another event together soon.

And now, here's the latest Writer's Life Survey #6


I wondered how that "character" question might come across.
Here's my answer: I associate most with Monica Gellar (Courtney Cox) fiesty and loud, thinks she's right and a total geek, and rubs some people the wrong way... but I definitely don't cook!

That time of year #Writerslife #Survey

What time of year? You know, the holidays are coming up! It's a busy season for all, including writers. I've always wanted to do a holiday themed anthology, but just like fashion, you have to have it ready six months ahead of the season!

Nov/Dec Writer's Life Survey... (and my answers)

1) Have you ever written/submitted/published a holiday story? Details?

I did one last year for Geekdom House "A Super Christmas" I'd like to do more, but like my Xmas shopping, I usually wait until the last minute... I started a cozy Christmas mystery about Cooper and Geri going up to visit his parents, but it sits unfinished. One of these days!

2) Have you ever been a part of/wanted to do an anthology? If so, how many? And How was your experience?

I've been a part of a few anthologies. And I've been rejected for a few too - ouch, but it doesn't stop me from submitting! I like writing short stories and an anthology has a bigger readership with multiple authors' fan bases!

3) What is your preferred length of a novel - to read and/or write? Shorter, Medium, or Looong?

I like shorter and medium, but will do long if I love it (Game of Thrones)

4) When is your favorite time to read?

Whenever I can! I steal spare moments all the time, especially when waiting.

5) Want to share a line from something you're working on? A teaser or quote? Or even an inspirational phrase? We could use something intriguing or uplifting!

Since the release of CRADLE ROCK is right around the corner, here's a quote from it...

"Girls can't resist the urge to fix things. Especially boys."

Bonus Question: Give us a book recommendation (not your own, cheesy!) - a gift we can give each other (and to another author!)

My Book Recommendation is The Totem Series by Christine Rains
These three shapeshifting sisters are as fierce as their polar bear alter egos. They are determined to save their kind by finding missing Totem pieces, no matter the dangerous legends and magic surrounding them nor the mysterious, evil shifter competing for its control.

These are the first three novellas in the series that are out so far...

Each book focuses on a different sister with distinct, clashing personalities. And besides helping their kind, they have to deal with relationship problems. It can be hazardous when mixing duty and pleasure.

Here's the links - Totem 1 - Dark Dawning, Totem 2 - Silent Whispers, Totem 3 - Cloak of Snow

Have a scrumptious Thanksgiving and get hopping on the shopping!
Looking forward to your responses!

Magic Ice Cream!

It's a hot summer day. Sweat is rolling down your back. You love the sun, but the heat is so intense. Where can you find some relief???

You need some MAGIC ICE CREAM!! I'm so glad to have Sharon Bayliss here to share some secret Magic Ice Cream recipes to help us savor the release of her latest December People book. Check it out!

To celebrate the recent release of A Taste of Death and Honey, I've asked some of my spring wizard friends to share some magical summer concoctions. Through the years, Mundanes have attempted to make sweet treats without sugar. They've devised all sorts of chemicals to replace sugar, but there is really only one way to enjoy sweetness without sugar--magic. With the use of magic, you can even make ice cream without sugar OR fat. Don't believe me? Give some of these recipes a try.

Our spring wizards have released some of their secret recipes for magic ice cream just for Tara Tyler's blog:

Strawberry Ice Cream

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh strawberries
• 3 tsp. real vanilla extract
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups local honey
• 1 1/2 cup whole milk
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Put 2 cups of strawberries in a saucepan. Cover and heat over medium for about three minutes to soften. Chop the rest of the strawberries finely. Put heated and chopped strawberries in blender. Blend for only about 30 seconds to chop.

In a large bowl, whisk together cream, honey, milk, salt, and vanilla.

Add in the strawberries and beat until thoroughly combined. While you beat, recall a happy memory from your childhood. Preferably one experienced outdoors during the springtime.

Process in your ice cream maker according to manufactures’ directions.

Adapted from Live Simply.

Roasted Banana and Cinnamon Sorbet

Ingredients

• 6 ripe bananas
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Arrange unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet. Roast until the banana skins have become deep brown, about 20-25 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Peel the bananas and place in a blender with the cinnamon. Blend until smooth. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least eight hours.

Place frozen banana cubes in the blender and let melt slightly (about five minutes). Blend! While you blend, think about the beach. Listen to the waves crashing against the sand and smell the salty air.

Watermelon Mint Sorbet

Ingredients

• 1/4 of a seedless watermelon
• 2 Tbsp fresh mint (preferably from your own garden)
• 2 limes

Instructions

Cut the watermelon and scrape it into a blender. Blend until juice-like. Reserve 1/2 cup watermelon juice and pour the rest into an ice cube tray and freeze for at least eight hours.

Place frozen watermelon cubes, reserved juice, juice from limes, and mint in the blender. Blend! While you blend, recall your best memory from summertime. Preferably one from a day spent outdoors when you got a suntan.


Tropical Colada Sorbet

Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen pineapple
• 2 cups frozen mango
• 2 cups coconut milk
• Juice from one orange

Instructions

Just place everything in a blender and go to town! Adjust ingredient amounts to create the desired consistency. While you blend, think sexy thoughts. Preferably about spending a hot night on the beach with the one you love. Serve with a tiny umbrella.

---

Now that you've enjoyed some tasty spring magic, try A Taste of Death and Honey!

This book will grab you by the throat, challenge your mind, and turn your heart inside out. Sharon Bayliss delivers a powerful, emotional punch with her third book in the December People series. - Amy Bearce, author of  The World of Aluvia Series

When Samantha’s parents died, she lost everything. Her home. Her friends. Her hope. Then a life-loving spring witch at the children’s shelter fills her life with light and joy once again.

But like the springtime, Samantha’s happiness doesn’t last forever. Her friend dies violently in front of her, the victim of a mysterious killing spell. Furious and grief-stricken, Samantha resents her own weak spring magic. She doesn’t need life and renewal. She wants revenge…and death.

Homeless and alone, Samantha seeks shelter with her old friends, the Vandergraff family, and finds an unexpected ally in the powerful winter solstice witch, Evangeline. The girls’ anger and eagerness lead them to cast a killing spell before knowing the truth behind Samantha’s friend’s death or the identity of her killer. 

Once the spell is cast, they can’t take it back, and they must fight to stop their own curse before it takes away everyone they love.

BUY HERE

A proud Austinite, Sharon never saw much sense in moving anywhere else and got her degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. As an author and social worker, she has devoted her life to making the lives of real people better and the lives of fictional people much, much worse.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and still playing in the mud (which she now calls gardening).

So happy for Sharon! Her December People series is a delight!

On the home front, I wanted to mention that BROKEN BRANCH FALLS is on SALE this coming weekend JUNE 24, 25, 26 for 99 CENTS in honor of its Book Bday!! 

And if anyone would like to volunteer to do an ARC Review of the sequel, CRADLE ROCK, please let me know in the comments or email me, taratylertalks - at - gmail - dot - com. The cover is so awesome!! Reveal details COMING SOON!

Have a scrumdiddlyumptious week!!

Author Branding Rebel!

I'm very excited to have Tyrean Martinson here today! She's turned the tables and written a "5 Reasons" post of her own...

Author Branding: When an author writes only one brand/style of fiction or non-fiction so that fans will “know” exactly what they are getting when they pick up that author’s books. A brand is meant to communicate the purpose of the author and to gain a steady, constant readership. None of this sounds bad, exactly, but I find myself squirming when I hear that I “must” have an author brand.

5 Reasons Why I Rebel Against Branding

1. I’m a natural, left-handed rebel. In kindergarten, my teacher told me that I must choose which hand to write with. I chose to write with my left-hand because I knew that would irritate her. I struggle with the urge to rebel every time someone says I “must” do something.
2. I fear that author branding means that I have to write the same kind of story over and over again.
3. I don’t want to create several pseudonyms to cover all the genres I want to write. Can you imagine keeping up a social media presence for several names?
4. I read a variety of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. All of those books influence my writing. My earliest influences included: the Bible, a book of fairy tales and nursery rhymes that I read until the cover fell off, Where the Wild Things Are, The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Star Wars, Star Trek, Scooby Doo, my mom’s nursing books, my dad’s airplane magazines, National Geographic, Zane Gray, my grandmother’s real-life bed-times stories, and Shakespeare. (And guess what? With my favorite authors, I love to read outside my “normal” genres.)
5. I want to take a walk in a variety of character’s shoes. I love that sensation of stepping into a new world with a new character and not knowing what kinds of twists and turns stand between the character and the top of the story mountain ahead. When my mom used to say, “Take a walk in someone else’s shoes,” to remind me to have empathy for others, I daydreamed about what that would be like.

Photo Credit: Tyrean Martinson, Shoes from Martinson family members.
Can you guess which ones are mine? (Hint: I have teen daughters.)

What shoes would you choose? And, would you want to take the same walk every day in the same shoes?

Tyrean Martinson is an everyday writer, believer, and daydreamer who lives within a mile of the Puget Sound but who can’t see the water from her house (unless she climbs a tall cedar tree in her backyard). 

Her latest book reflects her love of taking a walk in a variety of character shoes.

Flicker: A Collection of Short Stories and Poetry includes most of the short works Tyrean Martinson wrote between the fall of 2013 and December 2015. These short works range from extremely short in length, from haiku and hint fiction to flash fiction and short fiction. Forty-eight of these works found publication in magazines before becoming a part of this collection, and forty-two new works reside in these pages, as well. Flicker contains an eclectic mix of types of writing, as well as subject matter, from light to dark, from real world to speculative worlds.

Currently, Flicker: A Collection of Short Stories and Poetry is on sale for 99 cents June 11th thru June 21st for Kindle and Smashwords readers. 

I enjoyed Tyrean's post and feel like a genre rebel myself! I'm so happy for her latest release!

Finally as promised, here's a picture from the Sci Fi Valley Con I went to this weekend - I had a fun and successful time!

My costume was pretty tame compared to some of the wild and elaborate outfits that paraded through the aisles - fun people-watching! and it was great to meet new readers!

Hold onto your SOCKS, I'm about to knock them OFF! #SneakPeek

THE THING THAT TURNED ME... the TEASERS!!

Below I've compiled a list of the contributors and hooks for their stories. So much awesomeness and in every genre! Something for everyone. I know you will be as anxious to read them as I am! (Most of these images are from free clipart, chosen by me as inspired by the blurbs...) AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DOING US A SOLID WITH A REVIEW, ARC COPIES ARE AVAILABLE NOW!!

Title: Malice

Author: Melissa Maygrove

Genre: Reality-based Thriller

Blurb: Everyone has murder in them. All it needs is the right situation.

Title is: The Journey (essay) Book it's related to: Tails of Sweetbrier

Author: Deanie Humphrys-Dunne

Genre: non-fiction, children/young adults

My turning point led me to create an award-winning autobiography about a handicapped child's journey to a champion equestrian.

image from Crystal

Title: The Shadow King’s Pet

Author: Crystal Collier

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Blurb: Katia loved Grandfather's stories of the Shadow King, until the king of darkness came for her.

Title: George and the Dragon

Author: Christine Rains

Genre: speculative fiction

Blurb: Saffi thinks the man she meets in the Underground is a loon declaring he's there to slay a dragon. But when he stands face-to-face with a dangerous, serpentine machine, she believes he just might be a true knight.

Title: Wednesday's Child
Author: Roland Yeomans
Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy
Blurb: A crippled girl, a mysterious Greek physician, and a Hollywood party to die for ... literally.

Title: The Blanket

Author: Harper L. Jameson 

Genre: Paranormal romance

Blurb: A chance encounter with chaos. A destiny determined. To have her, he will destroy us all.

Title: CassaDawn

Author: Alex J. Cavanaugh

Genre: Science fiction - space opera

Blurb: Byron’s excellent piloting skills won’t be enough without a good navigator…

Title: Finding My Voice

Author: Sherry Ellis

Genre: Nonfiction (Inspirational)

Blurb: One caring teacher plus a little music equals a life changed for the better.

Title: Letting Go: A Siren Song

Author: Tyrean Martinson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Blurb: Rozzie knows she can keep her siren power under control if she just doesn't sing, but who can stay in control in every situation?

Title: Invariant

Author: K.D. Martin

Genre: YA - Coming of age

Blurb: She always lived her life by the rules, no deviation meant no complication. Until she decided to play by her own.

Title: Rising Star ~ Falling Heart

Author: Cathrina Constantine

Genre: NA

Blurb: Capri gives up everything to become a star, even love. But when Bo steps back into her life, she's torn between her dreams and her heart.

Title: The Disappearance of Miss Mary Dawkins

Author: Michelle Athy

Genre: Historical fiction

Blurb: Boston, 1793. Mary is young, pregnant, and indecisive—but the time for decisions about the baby's future is coming on fast.

Title: Through Shades of Gray

Author: Michael Di Gesu

Genre: NA Contemporary

Blurb: Through winter's shades of gray, a young man finds his long-lost muse in a very unexpected place…Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Title: Remember the Trampled Rose

Author: Randi Lee

Genre: Romance/Romantic Comedy

Blurb: When Tess apologizes to Mark for her harsh attitude, he can’t forget about the trampled rose. But then she says his name, and everything changes.

by Jenny Vyas

Title: RISE

Artist: Jenny Vyas

Genre: Mixed Media Art

Blurb: Jenny is highly influenced by beauty in complex human emotions and attempts to reveal human frailty through her monochromatic paintings where she creates abstracts of human silhouettes and fluctuating forms in half-light.

Title: Hard to Love

Author: Madalyn Beck

Genre: Drama

Blurb: When the love of your life falls in love with someone else, the only person left to love you, is you.

Title - Revelation

Author - L. Diane Wolfe

Genre - New Adult Contemporary

Blurb - A car accident results in more than one crisis. Still haunted by his troubled past, can James handle the situation?

Title: Finding the Light

Author: Nana Prah

Genre: Paranormal

Blurb: When all hope is lost, providing it for others may be the only way to redemption.

Title: A Glowworm

Author: Tonja Drecker

Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb: After years of struggling to survive, Ilse might finally have the chance for a better life. But if she decides to take the gamble, she'll have to give up the very last things she's fought so hard to hold on to.

Title: Rehema

Author: Imani Allen

Genre: Drama

Blurb: Peter experiences a radical encounter with a woman who shows him compassion while challenging him to be a better person. Was this woman real or was he imagining it?

by Jenny Vyas

Title: Don't Be Koi

Author: Samantha Redstreake Geary

Genre: Romantic Comedy (with a fantastical twist)

Blurb: An ordinary box with an extraordinary secret sends one woman on a comical misadventure where love and loss meet fortunes and fish.

Title: Shades of Deception

Author: Michelle Wallace

Genre: Suspense

Blurb: Cassandra is on the run when an encounter with a woman from her past leads to a showdown, culminating in a stunning revelation.

Title: Shadows Falling on Rainbows

Author: Celeste Holloway

Genre: Suspense

Blurb: Cold, desperate, and on the run, she has nothing to lose until she crosses a stranger’s path, and nothing becomes everything.

Title: Shifting Sands

Author: Elizabeth Seckman

Genre: Women's Fiction

Blurb: Sex. Lies. Obsession. It's only the beginning. (A prequel to the Coulter Men series.)

Title: Before We Break

Author: Heather M. Gardner

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb: As Jack Munro struggles with an old demon, Maggie Maguire attempts to show him there's always another way.

Title: Ryan
Author: Misha Gerrick
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Blurb: Ryan spent almost a thousand years hunting other immortals. Then the Blitz happened... (An Endless story.)

Title: The Window
Author: Diane Carlisle
Genre: Literary Fiction
Blurb: A window can represent many things. It can be a timeline, a physical barrier, or even a passageway. For one woman, it might even be her salvation.

Title: The Reader
Author: Melanie Schulz
Genre: Magical Realism
Blurb: Most anyone can read a book. Only Liz can make the book read her.

Whoops! Almost forgot mine!

Title: The Day Dave Broke the Internet

Author: Tara Tyler

Genre: Apocalyptic Romance (and Humor, of course)

Blurb: Dave didn't know he was lonely until his friends pointed it out. But when he finally joins an online dating site - the internet and the whole world goes dark - talk about a bad omen.

THE THING THAT TURNED ME anthology will be available MAY 31!

Put it on your "TBR" list on Goodreads HERE.

** If you'd like an ARC to give us a review, we'd surely appreciate it!! **

Just email or leave a comment.

And one last reminder - only one more week for my Jolissa giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway