Promised Land – The Kickstarter Success is available NOW!

February 16, 2017 by Nicole 6 Comments

Quite a while ago now a Facebook friend (and real life one, when we happen to bump into each other *lol*) started a Kickstarter project. A project with a difference. Chaz Harris and Adam Reynolds wrote a children’s book, with two male leads who fall in love. It also includes a Queen named Elena (popular name *grin*) who happens to be pretty darn awesome with a sword. With this story in mind, and the Kickstarter project growing rapidly, Chris and Adam were able to begin work on the book. Now, that project is complete, and the end result is bloody stunning. Below is the media release, giving a little more background, and of course links! I’ve already bought my e-copy, I’m just waiting for payday so I can go grab a physical copy 🙂 Go grab your e-copy today, let’s encourage diversity!

NEW CHILDREN’S FAIRYTALE ‘PROMISED LAND’ PROVES LOVE IS LOVE

Authors Encourage LGBTQ Acceptance With Illustrated Children’s Book

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, 14 February 2017 ~ Wellington-based authors Adam Reynolds & Chaz Harris have released their first children’s book Promised Land after a crowdfunding campaign that gained global media attention last April.

In Promised Land, a young Prince and a farm boy meet in the forest and a growing friendship between them blossoms into love. However, when the Queen re-marries, her sinister new husband seeks control of the enchanted forest and the land the farm boy’s family are responsible for protecting.

In a Kingdom where all are considered equal, regardless of what they look like or who they love, Promised Land is a new fairytale about friendship, responsibility, adventure and love. Written by Adam Reynolds & Chaz Harris, the book features 32 stunning illustrations by Christine Luiten & Bo Moore which are sure to delight kids young and old.

When asked what motivated him to work on the project, co-author Adam Reynolds said, “I wanted to create the kind of story I wish I’d had growing up, one where the sexuality of the characters was not the defining focus, or a reason for any conflict.”

On the importance of positive media portrayals of LGBTQ characters, co-author Chaz Harris replied, “If you don’t see yourself in stories, you don’t see yourself in the world. I grew up without any stories to show me that ‘happily ever after’ could even exist if I was gay. That makes coming to terms with your sexuality a very isolating and traumatic experience for many young people. With everything happening in the world right now, we need to change the message of fear and intolerance towards anyone who is different.”

In addition to the handling of its gay lead characters, the book has also attracted praise for being about an interracial relationship and subverting the traditional gender roles of female characters.

The eBook version of Promised Land is available on Amazon and iBooks in English, Spanish, Spanish for Latin America and Brazilian Portuguese, with further languages to follow. The authors have also released eBooks and an Audiobook on their online store. The audiobook is narrated by award-winning actress Geraldine Brophy and features a vibrant soundtrack from award-winning composer Tane Upjohn-Beatson.

More information and copies of the book can be found at www.promisedlandstore.com

As you can see, the artwork in the book is utterly breathtaking, this is a book that you NEED a hard-copy of too, to truly appreciate it. I can see this book taking the charts by storm, and I’m so excited about that. Go check-out the book site Promised Land have a look for yourself and please SHARE this post everywhere! We need books with diversity, and the only way we get them is by encouraging people to create them. By sharing, and showing others that these sorts of books are SO sought after, we’ll encourage more of it! After-all, my trilogy started because I got sick of all the damsels/damaged women in fantasy worlds. Create the world you want to see, share the love by making it public, and change the world.

Have a fantastic week!

Cabin Fever Monthly – Free books, and books to WIN!

October 1, 2016 by Nicole Leave a Comment

Hi Everyone!

I thought I would share the contents of my Cabin Fever Monthly newsletter, this comes out once a month to those readers who’ve signed up for it. I thought you all might enjoy it, the books I recommend personally after reading them during the last month. If you have any recommendations, or have read and enjoyed the books I suggested, let me know in the comments 😉 To enter the draw to win the books I’m offering, scroll down to the bottom of the page for the link.

FREE – An A to Z of Creepy Hollow Fae – Click here to grab it!

Before Violet met Nate, the human boy who followed her into the fae realm and turned her life upside down, she was the perfect guardian trainee. She followed all the rules and did her best to protect her human assignments. Goblins, ogres, trolls—Vi learned how to handle them all.
In “An A to Z of Creepy Hollow Fae”, catch a glimpse of some of Vi’s past assignments, and experience the life of a faerie training to be a guardian.

***Includes the first five chapters of THE FAERIE GUARDIAN, first novel in the Creepy Hollow series***

My Review

This is a fantastically entertaining read. Snippets of moments in the life with fae as they tackle a complete menagerie of creatures. Some you’ll know, some you won’t. I love this book, it’s inspiring me to do the same for my fantasy series (in the future). This book also contains the first five chapters of Book One in the Creepy Hollow series, and those pages just flew by! If you love paranormal, with a touch of Buffy personality, and not your average heroine, then this is your book. Grab this, and the first in the Creepy Hollow series through the two buttons below. I’m giving away a BOXED SET of the first three books in this fantastic series. The button to enter is at the bottom of the email/page.

FREE – The Faerie Guardian (Creepy Hollow Book 1) Click here to grab it!

Enter a hidden world of magic, mystery, action and romance …
Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale has one job: protect humans from dangerous magical creatures. It’s a job she’s good at—until her latest assignment, a cute human guy who can somehow see through her faerie glamour, follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild law and risked her future as the top graduate of her class.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the guy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive.

Perfect for fans of The Mortal Instruments, Unenchanted, and Graceling.

WIN a copy of Creepy Hollow: Violet’s Story (Books 1, 2 & 3) Click here to view on Amazon

Kick-butt faerie Violet Fairdale is about to graduate as the top guardian trainee of her class, but when an assignment goes wrong and the human guy she’s meant to be protecting follows her back into the fae realm, a dangerous plot is set in motion. Enter evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. The stakes are higher than Vi could ever imagine, and it’ll take every bit of her training to survive the coming ordeal.
Get Violet’s story in one complete digital boxed set and find yourself swept away in the magic, intrigue, action and romance of this bestselling YA fantasy world! Perfect for fans of The Mortal Instruments, Unenchanted, and Graceling.

**Together, these three books have over 3000 5-star Goodreads ratings!**

Includes the following Creepy Hollow books:
The Faerie Guardian (2014 Readers’ Favorite GOLD MEDAL WINNER in YA Fantasy)
The Faerie Prince
The Faerie War

FREE – Nolander (Emanations, an urban fantasy series Book 1) Click here to grab it!

Beth Ryder knows she’s different. In a tiny rural town, being an orphaned and perpetually single amateur photographer crippled by panic disorder is pretty much guaranteed to make you stick out like a sore thumb.

But Beth doesn’t understand just how different she really is.

One day, strange things start cropping up in her photos. Things that don’t look human. Impossible things. Monstrosities. Beth thinks her hateful sister-in-law, Justine, has tampered with her pictures to play a cruel joke, but rather than admitting or denying it, Justine up and vanishes, leaving the family in disarray.

Beth’s search for Justine plunges her into a world she never knew existed, one filled with ancient and terrifying creatures. Both enemies and allies await her there—a disturbingly sexy boss, a sentient wolf with diamond fur, body-snatching dinosaur-birds. Separating the allies from the enemies is no easy chore, but in this strange new world, allies are a necessity. A plot is afoot, and Beth—whose abilities no one seems able to explain—may well hold the key to solving it.

My Review

This is a long, and intense ride. But good, so damn good. The author has created an incredibly detailed paranormal world that draws inspiration from all sorts of places. I couldn’t stop reading, even when I was starting to turn a bit green on the bus! This is more adult, less humor, and a real depth of story that many paranormal writers seem to miss. An extremely impressive novel. Grab it and another short story set in the same world from the buttons below! I’m giving away a copy of book two, Solatium, to one lucky reader – button to enter at the bottom of the email/page.

FREE – Theriac: A Short Story – Click here to grab it!

In the small town of Dorf, Wisconsin, a shy, damaged seer named Callie McCallister struggles with a frightening mission — a mysterious half-demon child must eat a “Sweet-‘n-Salty Rudolph” Christmas cookie in her presence, or all will not be right with the world.

WIN – Solatium (Emanations, an urban fantasy series Book 2) Click here to view on Amazon

Beth Ryder’s dangerously sexy and seemingly all-powerful boss has disappeared, leaving an increasingly desperate group of Nolanders — and one inept Second — in charge of policing other-worldly activity across much of North America. What better time for a legendary monster to emerge from the Second Emanation and make New York City its hunting ground? But little does Beth know that dealing with the voracious Thirsting Ground will pale in comparison to a shocking betrayal that threatens to destroy her new life among the Nolanders.

FREE – The Blacksmith (Tales from the Graveyard Book 1) Click here to grab it!

My name is Ainsley. I live among the dead.
Meet Ainsley. Ainsley lives alone, and she likes it that way. Ainsley has some secrets. Dark secrets. Sometimes, Ainsley feels like the Blacksmith is the only one who will ever understand her. The Blacksmith resides in the graveyard in her garden. You see, Ainsley’s heart was broken long ago, and now it’s dead. As dead as the Blacksmith’s. They belong together. Then there’s Sam: sweet, loving Sam. Ainsley was abandoned by anyone she ever loved, but Sam has always been there. If her heart weren’t already dead, Ainsley might even say she loved him. Not even Sam knows the depth’s of Ainsley’s darkness…and lately, she’s come very, very close to revealing it to him. But the Blacksmith says no. And what the Blacksmith says, goes.

My Review

This was the story I ummed and uhhhed about sharing. First things first, this is most definitely ADULT. There is explicit sex and murder. It’s quite clearly a first novel (short novel) for the author, and there are moments where the writing could be stronger. But the story, the intriguing, quirky, and rather disturbing story, makes up for all that. If you like thrillers, if you ever enjoyed watching Dexter, you might rather enjoy this creepy little tale. Click the button below to grab your free copy! I’m giving away one copy of the COMPLETE collection of tales by this author, scroll down to the button at the bottom of the email/page to enter. Good luck!

WIN – Tales From the Graveyard: The Complete Collection – Click here to view on Amazon

In a pleasant little New England town, there is a house on a hill. Its garden is decorated with gravestones. The house has stood for ages now, and occupants have come and gone. But those who died there never leave. They just watch…and wait. Susan Shultz’s haunting Tales From the Graveyard series is now available in one complete digital collection.

FREE – I Bring the Fire Part I : Wolves (A Loki Series) Click here to grab it!

In the middle of America, Amy Lewis is on her way to her grandma’s house. She’s being chased by a very bad wolf. Galaxies away Loki is waking up in a prison cell, strangely without a hangover, and with no idea what he’s done wrong — this time anyway. But he does know Thor is hiding something, Odin is up to something wicked, and there seems to be something he’s forgotten…

In this urban fantasy tale that is equal parts “Dresden Files” and “American Gods,” a very nice midwestern girl and a jaded, mischievous Loki must join forces to outwit gods, elves, magic sniffing cats, and nosy neighbors. If Loki can remember exactly what he’s forgotten and Amy can convince him not to be too distracted by Earthly gadgets, Earthly pleasures, or three day benders, they just might pull it off…

This first installment of “I Bring the Fire” is for anyone who suspects chaos and mischief makers might have their own redeeming qualities, and anyone who just wants a good fantasy romp through modern Earth, ancient Asgard, and beyond!

My Review

This story I had to pick up in the last week of September, as the other’s I’d downloaded weren’t up to recommending. This doesn’t fit my requirements of low reviews, but for this story (and my desperate need for another book! *lol*) I’m including it.

I LOVED this book. It’s action all the way through. The beautiful scenes written in Asgard are so incredibly inspiring, and while she doesn’t in any way describe Loki to look like Tom Hiddleston, that’s all I saw and that is in no way a bad thing ;D Amy and her adorable Nana are the perfect balance to Loki’s extremeness and there are so many amazing moments through out.

You won’t want to put this book down. It does end in a cliff-hanger, so if you can’t handle cliff-hangers I’d recommend grabbing the next as soon as you’re sure your enjoying this one. Grab your free copy via the button below! I’m giving one free copy of the BOXED SET that includes the first free books of the series, and an extra tale too. Scroll down for the button.

WIN – I Bring the Fire Parts I, II, III, & In the Balance (A Loki Series) Click here to view on Amazon

~ USA TODAY BESTSELLER ~

Sometimes the hero is the wrong guy at the right time.
When Amy Lewis prays for a savior, Loki Norse God of Mischief and Chaos isn’t who she has in mind. Loki can’t resist Amy’s summons, but he can insist she help him outwit Odin, ruler of the Nine Realms. Can Amy trust a so-called God of Mischief? With a powerful evil calling him from beneath the city’s streets, can Loki even trust himself? This box set contains the first three installments of I Bring the Fire plus In the Balance. It is perfect for fans of The Dresden Files, American Gods, and Terry Pratchett

I hope you’ve enjoyed this chance to grab a bunch of fantastic books! To enter the draw to win any of the four books on offer, Creepy Hollow: Violet’s Story (Books 1, 2 & 3), Solatium (Emanations, an urban fantasy series Book 2), Tales From the Graveyard: The Complete Collection, I Bring the Fire Parts I, II, III, & In the Balance (A Loki Series), Click HERE to fill out the google form.

Have a fantastic weekend!

What constitutes a “real” author

February 3, 2016 by Nicole Leave a Comment

On my way home today a bus buddy made a comment to me. In conversation she clarified that a “real” author was someone published and on the bookshelves at our local bookstore. Now, to be clear, it was part of a conversation and not a deliberate jab at me. But, as many of you will understand I’m sure, it certainly irked me. I know plenty of you out there read because you adore being swept away to other lands. I also know plenty of you dream of being a writer. Here’s how you become a writer.

You write.

Here’s how you become a novelist.

You complete a novel.

Here’s how you become a published author.

You publish your work, be it via the indie route or the traditional route.

To be clear, at no point does having a publisher make you any more real than any other author. I am published. My books are available for stocking on shelves. The only reason they aren’t is because the bookstore doesn’t consider them financially viable. However, if I hit the top 100 on Amazon – entirely of my own accord – they will have my books on their shelves in a flash.

Traditional publishers are exactly the same. They don’t choose a book because they think the author has crafted the most exquisite work ever seen to mankind. They choose books because they fit with current trends and therefore stand a good chance of making them (the publisher) money. Plenty of amazing books are left to die in the slush-pile because they are not currently financially viable. There’s that word again “financially”. Publishers run a business. To be able to publish more books they HAVE to sell books. So even if they personally adore an incredibly wrought literary masterpiece, if they can’t see a market for it they won’t publish it.

I myself sent my first novel, The Arrival, to publishers while making the cardinal mistake of sending my first draft… please, don’t EVER make that mistake – and yet I got requests for samples from three publishers. However at the time I received those requests I’d just read a fascinating article on JA Konrath’s blog about why you should go indie. It resonated with me, so I decided to do the crazy scary thing of going indie. Now, I can’t imagine I’d ever consider traditional, unless I had a very tight contract to my specifications.

Being Indie means I own ALL my work. It also means I am responsible for every aspect of my work. It’s here where I understand the attractiveness of going the traditional way – someone else does the frustrating, time consuming stuff for you. Indie is definitely NOT for everyone. It requires a ridiculous amount of determination and tenacity. It also requires that you grow skin as thick as a rhino’s butt. This takes time, but it does happen (moisturize daily ;p).

In short, to any writers out there feeling like a fraud because you haven’t got a contract/finished a story/taken the leap to indie, don’t. Just keep working at your projects then take whatever step suits you best next. If becoming the next big thing on Wattpad is your goal then take that plunge, put your work up! If having your name alongside the Random House imprint is your goal then send those queries off! If tackling the world on your own is your idea of fun (special kind of crazy there.. ;p) then do it, PUBLISH your work online, by yourself.

The only “real” writer is the one who writes. An author is only an author because they write. Get writing!