A. OR

Today I get to observe in the OR. I am super excited and nervous at the same time. I learned that as an LPN you can work in the OR as a scrub nurse. This really excites me and I think I would love it, however I need to see how I can handle the sight of surgery today. Hopefully all will go well and I won't pass out!

M. New Tradition

It's that time of year again. The holidays. There isn't much I don't like about this time of year. Mostly I love the traditions that seem to grow every year.

Our newest tradition is Fred, the elf on the shelf. Every night he goes from one place in the house to the other, watching over the family and reporting back to Santa. Recently though, he has been found hanging with a Barbie doll and last night he must have gotten completely out of hand at a party. I am starting think we may need to report his recent behavior back to Santa.

Either that or keep posting his photos. Happy holidays everyone I hope you are having a great holiday season.

A. Football

Watching the Giants in bed with my golden and my moms golden. They are having a sleepover. Love football season!!

A. Nursing School

I am still loving school and have really learned a lot. I have started clinicals and am working with patients 3 days a week. I was really nervous at first but not so much anymore. After this week I will be finished my secound out five terms, and as of this moment I am holding an A average.

For me writing has been put on hold. Mike has done a little, but since out home was struck by Sandy he has been working like crazy. We were very lucky and sustained no damage or loss unlike so many of our neighboring towns.

Cape May

Our home is under attack, yet again. As I sit in our living room and listen to the wind batter out house, I wonder, is everything going to be okay this time?

Honestly, this is crazy.

Amy, the kids, our friends from Wildwood, and I are all huddled around the TV. We watching, waiting and living the largest storm that I can remember. Of course. We are watching for now, as the lights flicker and the electric threatens to go out.

For all those on the east coast, be safe. And for all others, we will let you know when the storm is done and how it has inspired our next manuscript.

M. Interviewing

Hey everyone, it has been a while, but I wanted to check in and see how everyone has been.  Lately, writing has taken a back seat to work, school, and the kids, but we are still slowly working on it.

Even though writing hasn't been the priority, it doesn't mean that we've stopped.  Actually, just the other day I was given a chance to do an interview for a local paper.  It was a fun story about a man and his wife that have been married for 50 years.

They were a great couple and the story was exciting to write.  It was the first time I've ever written an interview and probably won't be my last.  I just can't wait until it comes out, but I think it won't be published until May.

I guess it getting published in May is much better then not at all.

Hoping all has been well with everyone.  I will be checking back in soon.

Book-A-Versary

Here’s a fun fact for you!  Our title, Liberty will be a year old on Monday.  I still can’t believe it, but it has been a year since we self published our first paranormal YA novel.

I know that Liberty was around way before her pub date, but it is still just as exciting.  We both remember creating the cover, writing each chapter – rewriting each chapter, and setting it out for query after query.  But after several months of giving the traditional road a try, we self published.

I don’t really know how many people have read it as of yet, but I would venture to say around a hundred or so.  While we both had our reservations about self publishing and using Amazon as an outlet to distribute our books, I can honestly say now, I trust the process.

If you are on the fence about just letting it out there, I would say go for it.  But, like us, if your dream is to have an agent and a publisher – don’t stop trying.  Some day we will figure out how to sell our story in three paragraphs on one page, when, I don’t know.

For now though, we will celebrate our book-a-versary and keep working on the second Liberty – Sytes Awakening!  Happy reading and writing!

M. Blogging Again!

Get out the virtual broom and dust pan.  It’s time to stop neglecting the blog like a closet that nobody looks in or a junk drawer.  It’s not that I didn’t want to blog for all this time and it really isn’t that I haven’t missed all of the people that follow us.  It’s just, to be 100% honest, that I was just being lazy.

In the past few months, I’ve found every reason not to blog and every reason to say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”  Truth is though, as you’ve seen, that’s gotten me nowhere.  Thankfully, Amy has been blogging when she is able, but with her new school and countless hours of studying to become a nurse, she has no time.

Anyway, what I really mean to say to any of you that are still kind enough to read this, “I’m sorry.”

I know in the past I’ve taken a few days or weeks off, but this time was just too much.  I really have missed talking to everyone on here.  I’ve missed going on and reading all of your posts and how your lives are doing.  It isn’t that I wasn’t interested, it’s just that I have been a rotten blogger lately, and plan on getting better.

In the past few months, I have been letting work spear my creativity.  I have been so wrapped up in what I was doing to get the job done well, that I’ve let go of some of the things I love.  I haven’t been writing like I should, I haven’t been blogging, and I’ve kind of fell slightly out of the social media world.

Sure, I still tweet here and there, but that only gives me 140 characters to say what I want to say.  A lazy writer’s dream, only needing to say a few words!  Well that has to change.  I need to get back to blogging, because that is like writing exercise.  You know, like going out and jogging for several weeks before you run a 5K, which by the way I need to be doing too.  But really, blogging is practice.  I need to find a way to stay on task and get more blogs out, get my feelings out, get my words out, and most importantly mend the connections with many of you that I’ve lost.

I look forward to reading more of your blogs and talking to all of you about books, writing, and life.  Please forgive the absent minded, somewhat lazy blogger and join me as I get back into the swing of things.

A. First Week Done

Finished my first week of school. 6 hours of class 5 days a week, and at least 2 to 3 hours of homework at night. I am loving it!!!

Friday I came home, much to Mike's dismay with my blood pressure cuff. He hates to get his blood pressure taken but I have to practice, right?

The kids were not too happy about me going back to school. They really want me to be a nurse though and seem to think after a week I know everything.

It is going to be a long year but I can't wait!! Thank you to my amazing husband for his support, and picking up the slack around the house .

A. The Next Chapter!

Summer is almost here, which means no school for my babies! In the past summers have been a lot of fun, living at the shore we have the beach and boardwalk and tons of things to do. This year is going to be slightly different .

My family was plagued with medical problems over the last few years and it has set us back a little. Everyone is on a good health mode at the moment , thank god!! I have been accepted into nursing school. It is something I have thought about for years and finally the time is right. So as my kids are getting out of school for the summer I will be starting in July.

A. To Finish or to Throw Away...

Almost two years ago I had an idea for a new novel due to a dream I had. This happens a lot! I have very strange dreams, and if you have read THE MISSING you would understand what I mean because that was also a dream that I had.

This dream was a little different and it mimicked a situation we had going on in our lives at the moment. I told Mike about the dream and told him I wanted to right it out. The topic of the dream is serious it has to do with children lost in the foster care system.

My biological father and step mom where foster parents. They adopted several children. They were having problems with my 16 yr old sister , who they adopted and I offered to take her in for a little while to calm things down. Once in my house she told me horrific stories that where going on and as  I never lived in the house, i was only a weekend kid and that was a long long time ago. I started to believe her.

So i had this dream that was loosely based on that situation.  We had the whole novel planned out and even started to write it. I was going to be one hell of the story. Then things changed and I started to realize maybe I believed a little to quickly and a little to much of what my sister was saying. I realized that in the year and a half she lived with me, i stopped talking to my father, my children were behaving differently , I was yelling all the time and every moment I was alone I was crying.  Something needed to give.

I talked to her case manger and realized my house was not the place for her. She need more help then I could give her and MY children were suffering from what my house had turned into a ticking time bomb.  She was removed from my house and placed where she would get help. In the process Mike and decided we could not finish the book because it was too painful and the ending just wouldn't work for us anymore.  We didn't delete it just put it aside.

In the last couple of months we have talked about changing the ending and getting back into it. I was never ready and always dismissed the subject. Then last night Mike brought it up again. I still don't know what to do, Its a great story it does need to be changed A LOT, but even with that said and it is mostly fictional it does make me relive things I am not sure I am ready for or will ever be ready for.

What to do?
A.

M. Haunted II

Okay, so most of you have come to know me as a reasonable person, right?

I believe in other existences.  Don't you?  It would be unfathomable to think that there is no other plane of existence.  When a soul dies, is lost, goes away, where does it go?  We wrote a book about it... aka The Missing.

Well, a few weeks ago, Amy wrote about how our house may be haunted and that we may have a visitor.  Guess what, I believed her on one level, but couldn't itemize any proof because I hadn't seen any.  I am a logical person in many ways, except for the fact that I am open minded to things out of my understanding.

Anyway, that's all well and good, but what's important is that today, I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST DIRECT OCCURANCE OF THE OTHER KIND!!!!!

I got home, buffed a few scratches out of my Sister-in-laws car, and went in the house alone.  I got changed.  I put on a pair of shorts, because I hate wearing pants when I don't have to, and headed for the front door.  What was nuts was, I pulled open the front door and a voice from behind me called "Michael!"

It was loud enough to make me spin around and look for my mother-in-law (The only person that calls me Michael).  Expect she wasn't there.  There was nobody there.  NOBODY!!!

Needless to say, my goose bumps on my arms were the size of Redwoods and I got the hell out of there as fast as I could.  Judge me, say what you will, but guess what, you weren't there.

I am now writing about it, in my bed, on my computer, in my house, but not without looking for my new found friend.

Is this family specter really FRIENDLY?????

 Will they ever tell me their real name???

M. Getting It All Done

Hey there everyone,

Sorry to have been away for such a long time, but life - as you've maybe read, has been nuts.  Like Amy said, we've finished moving and I have to say that I am already a thousand times more comfortable in this house.

Work has been crazy, sort of, there are busy days and then days filled with stress because the economy is killing business.

We just had some important events in our lives that took planning and time, which left little time for writing.  I know that the worst excuse for not writing is lack of time, but it was a little because of time.  Then again, it was a little because of a lack of wind in our sails.

Story ideas have been coming out of our minds, but writing them down hasn't.  I think that the lull is over though.

The other day, we got an email from Jay Eckert's daughter, Rachel.  She's a fan of a book of ours and even though she is young, she sparked a fire in our motivation.  She can't wait for the second book to Liberty and it may be a third of the way done, but it's not far enough.

Therefore, for ourselves and for our #1 fan, Rachel, we are going to buckle down and get "Syte's Awakening," the second "Liberty" done ASAP!!!

Thank's for the email the other day Rachel, we needed that!

HAUNTED

A.
 It has been awhile since I have blogged. We have been very busy with the move and unpacking, then my daughters First Holy Communion and now we have Dace recital just around the corner.  I love being busy but really need a little break.

We have been in our house for just about a month now and we really do love it.  The other night though i was tossing and turning and stressing, I was just accepted in to a nursing program and we are trying to find a way to make it all work out. While i was unable to sleep, I heard a small voice say "stop stressing and go to sleep" kind of freaked me out and I thought I am really losing it. I got up the next morning thinking wow what a weird night. 

I went about my day and basically forgot about my strange night until I was cooking dinner. My daughter had done something that landed her in her room until dinner was ready. While I was cooking I saw a gray flash dart from the direction of her room toward my room. I slowly walked around the counter and there was nothing there. I called to my daughter who poked her head out of her room. So now i am really freaked out.

Later that night I invited my parents over for a glass of wine. I proceed to tell my mom what had happen. She can usually sense spirits.  She told me I was crazy and walked outside to smoke. When she came in she started to laugh, and said "your right you have a playful spirit here. Great I thought!!

I am still pretty freaked but maybe my new housemate might bring some new inspiration if we decide to right another ghost story.

So do YOU believe?

A. Let The Unpacking Begin!!!

I know it has been awhile since either one of has blogged. We have been extremely busy!  Our house sold and we are in the processes of slowing moving into new house, which we love!

Mike has been working like crazy, and is so happy to be working again. We are still writing, its just a little slow right now. Once we get all moved in we will get back on schedule.

A lot of changes going on in the Leslie household and we are loving everyone of them.  Its so true the difference a year makes.

Free Giveaway!!!

If we could just figure out how to do this when we are selling the books and not just giving them away!  LIBERTY is a hit for free today!

UPDATES!

Happy belated Valentines Day everyone! Mike and I had a very quiet night at home. We found a new butcher in our area and bought amazing filets. I fed the kids early and sent them upstairs for the night after Mike got home. We had a quiet dinner and watched TV together without the constant Mommy and Daddy in the background. It was a great last Valentines Day in our house since it looks like our house has been sold YAY!!

It’s not final yet, and it has been a very quick and stress full process.  We have inspections this week and a settlement date for the middle of March. While I will miss our house and the 3 blocks to the beach, I will not miss the summer traffic and the new house has a great yard and is in the neighborhood I grew up in. We know most of the neighbors already and I feel safe letting the kids out to play and ride bikes.

Hoping everything goes through and let the fun of packing begin!
Also GO GIANTS!  In case you didn't know our family are HUGE GIANTS fans!

Finally a Sequel

Last year, in March, Amy and I released our first self published book, Tristen and the Magic Shop.  It's a Middle Grade story that was written more for our kids than anything.  As I think we've told you before, they really took an interest in the writing process and the stories we were telling, unfortunately they were too adult for them.  So, to amend the issue we wrote about Tristen.

Well the book was fun to write and the outcome was exactly what we had hoped for, our children enjoyed being able to read something we wrote.  Now, as of Saturday, we are gladly able to say that they are able to read yet another adventure for Tristen, Tristen and the Whining of the Wind.

I am debating on whether we should have another Book Release Blog Party - would anybody be interested?  If so, we can have one later this week or the start of next week.  We could consider this the soft open to the grand opening.

I guess that after looking back from March of 2010 to now and thinking about the way that life is sculpting itself to be, I guess things really do happen for a reason.  I am thankful for all of the friends we have made along the way on the beginning of our writing journey and can't wait to meet the ones that are yet to come.  Thank you for being a part of our lives, our writing, and teaching us so much.  Each of you has inspired us in your own way to keep doing this.

How would we know what a smooth ride feels like, if we've never gone down a bumpy road?

A. Things are Kinda Looking Up!

Mike's heath is doing good thanks to a chiropractor. He has been feeling great! He started a new job that he loves and it is so good to see him happy again.  He is driving himself to work again, which has me worried but he feels his healt issues are behind him and I have to believe he would know that better then anyone.

Cameron's health on the other hand is going through a rough spot. His JRA has flared and now is affecting his hip. This means more test, more Dr.'s visit and maybe even more surgery. He is losing weight again and we are not sure why at the moment. He is already a small kid and really can't afford to lose weight. He is getting the sunking in look back. Its really scary to see this. We thought we had things under control.  His doctors are great though so I know they will get him back on track.

Our writing has kind of taking a back seat. We are still writing just not at the pace we were. The Missing is so far our  top selling book and I am very happy with the reviews we are getting.

So things are looking up with a few bumps along the the way but that is excepted.

M. Rest

Have you ever taken time off, just because you find that instead of writing - you need sleep?

Most of our writing is done by candlelight, much like most of you.  From about 9 to 10 until around 12, is when most of our writing takes place.  You know why kids, work, and just life in general.

Every once and a while though, for about a week or two, we just need to take a break and get some sleep.  Well, the last week or two have been our sleep weeks and I'm thinking that it's time to get back to writing.

How often do you take off from writing?  When you do take off, how long do you allow yourself to rest?  Do you think it helps? - I think it does.

M. Luck!

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to pop by and let you all know.  We haven't been ignoring our blog, instead, life has been back to insane again.  But in a good way.

In the last week, I started at a new position up the road from home and it has made for quite a bit more traveling for us.  If that wasn't enough, we have the kids going to an activity four out of five week nights.  There just hasn't been time to stop in and blog.  Of course, like all things we do in our lives, it is just going to get worse (BETTER), Amy is also starting back at a new/old job.

So here I am, telling you that we are still around and still working on our 4th self published release.  It is just becoming more difficult to hit the blogging.  Not that that's a bad thing, we could use a stint of some good luck.

@maleslie11

That's our twitter tag name, what's yours?

It's pretty funny, but a few years ago, maybe even less then a year ago I was not going to use twitter.  There was no way, no how that I would find myself Tweeting.

Ha, so much for that.  I really enjoy using Twitter, but Amy still isn't too keen with it, but I think it is one of the greatest ways for people to communicate, network, and find great books.

Twitter has become a great source to connect with other authors, readers, reviewers, bloggers, and just about any other crazy or cool person we want to meet.

To use Twitter, you have to use another language - it's like texting, but not quite the same.  Somethings have #tags and everyone is an @something.  Instead of using the word you, you say u.  That way u don't use up the 140 characters that u get when u tweet.  Yeah, imagine that, I say things in 140 characters or less.

If you haven't checked out Twitter, give it a shot.  Our tag is at the top and if you are already on Twitter or if you are going to join, post your tag and we will follow.

LET THE TWEETING BEGIN!!!

Oh and as is customary for all Tweeps, here are some of the people we follow.  Please give them a look and a follow.

@HilyBee
@stuffmikewrites
@paulanthonyspen
@LGSmith12
@WilliamDeen
@susankayequinn
@melcom1
@heidirubymiller
@FuelOnline
@Dearharts
@JamiGrayAuthor
@RickGualtieri
@Raine_Thomas
@ByDennisSheehan
@PaulHenry5
@ePrintedBooks
@ShelleyBuck
@MikeWellsAuthor
@LoriWilsonNBC

That's not everyone, but it's a good start!

HELP!!!

Calling all bloggers, readers, writers, reviewers, and book lovers, we need your help.

As many of you know we have a 9-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.  Well, thanks to their wonderful grandma, they both have Kindles.  The problem we are facing is this, our daughter, Abbi is in 2nd grade, but reading at a 5th grade reading level.  She has out grown all of her chapter books and is now tearing through anything she can get her hands on.

We need book recommendations - and fast!  So please get the word out there to all that have read, written, and loved middle grade books, we need some possible downloads.  Traditional or self-published is fine, we are just trying to find books that are written at a level that will keep her attention, but are age appropriate.

If you know anyone, send them our way, if you know a book, please post it in the comment field. 

M. Celebrate the Small Stuff

A dream is nothing more than a step not yet taken.

Writers, above most others, are impossible dreamers.  We daydream and imagine worlds, characters, events, and lives that only exist in our minds and on the paper we write them on.  Have you ever thought of how amazing that is?

There are some people that we have met out there that have asked us, "Wow, how do you guys do that?"

The answer is easy, now that I think about it.  We decided to take that step and allow people to join us in our lives and the stories we tell.  It was always our dream to write, both of us.  Without even realizing it, we've allowed ourselves to become writers.

The other day, on Twitter, we had a writer that was just gettting started ask us a question.  It was the first time we were asked the question and it was a question we've both asked before.  "Do you have any advice for an aspiring writer?"

I had to laugh.  I think that we've asked many of you the same question and now in the driver's seat, I responded with the only answer that made sense.  I told him that he should just keep writing, no matter what.

It was the best advice that we've been given thus far and I figured, (Sorry Cliche Works Here) if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

We still have a long way to go, but today is one of those days where you sit back and reflect on how far we've already gotten.  I still see us as aspiring, sort of, but we aren't aspiring as much as we were aspiring when we started this blog.  Join us as we celebrate the small stuff, do you ever celebrate small accomplishments?

M. LOL Typos

Typos can really annoy the hell out of me, but after reading this AutoCorrect link, I now believe they can be hilarious. Amy and I have been reading this link together and I am literally laughing uncontrollably.  You have to read it, just know, Autocorrect texts are perverted.

Review!

Today our book is going to be featured on Novel D'Tales.  It's a great blog about using your kindle, reading, and book reviews.

After some time of using Twitter, we came to meet @HilyBee, she's a person that is always there for a RT (Repeating and spreading the word about what you tweeted, for the none Tweeters).  She's the person behind the blog and has just finished reading our book The Missing.

As most of you know, there was that moment of apprehension when she finished - will she love it or hate it?  Well the good news is, she loved it and is posting a review on her blog as her first review of the year!!!

Please, stop by and check out her blog, give her a follow if you're interested in finding out about new books.  Thank you Hilary, we appreciate your review and are beyond glad that you enjoyed it.

M. 2012

Here we are, 2012! It's already the third day of the year and we have already had some outstanding changes.

Well maybe not changes, but some nice signs of change.  After barrading the local papers with emails to their HR reps and trying to get more experience writing, I got a bite.  It looks like I will have the opportunity to do some freelance for a local paper and it is exciting.

If that wasn't enough, New Year's Eve, we had someone come out and look at the house to buy it.  They seemed to love it and we hope they will want to buy it.  If they do that, we get to move!

I am still looking for employment, but on New Year's Day, I received a call from a guy that worked for one of my old vendors.  Apparently, he is a consultant now and is pushing to get me a job in a few places.

If that wasn't enough, we have had more success with The Missing than any of the other books and just seeing books sell is exciting.

We both feel that 2012 is going to be our break away year.  It is going to be the year that we find success, whether it's with health, writing, careers, or financially - something is going to turn out great this year.

Here's to a great 2012, I hope that you all are having as great a year as we are so far!!!!

Indie Book Fair

Did you find a new Kindle, Nook, or iPad under the Christmas tree? Browse the Indie Book Fair and find a new ebook to break in that reader!


These great new books were released Nov 2011-Feb 2012 by Indie authors, priced right so that taking a chance on a new author doesn’t have to break your wallet. (Check out my previous Internet Book Fair for other great Indie finds.)

[Indie = self-published or small-publisher, for the purposes of this post, because no matter how we’re published, we’re all in this together, trying to get the word out about our books]

Note: Links are given for Amazon, but most authors publish across all e-book formats. Click on the author’s name for additional purchasing options, including paper copies.

For Your Browsing Pleasure

Contemporary (Adult)

Build a Man by Talli Roland (Chick Lit) 

Slave to the rich, rude and deluded, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the day she's a high-flying tabloid reporter. Unfortunately, every pitch she sends out disappears like her clients' liposuctioned fat, never to be seen again. Then she meets Jeremy Ritchie -- the hang-dog man determined to be Britain's Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe and everything in between -- giving Serenity a story no editor could resist. With London's biggest tabloid on board and her very own column tracking Jeremy's progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be a success, even going undercover to gain intimate access to Jeremy's life. But when Jeremy's surgery goes drastically wrong and Serenity is ordered to cover all the car-crash goriness, she must decide how far she really will go for her dream job. $0.99 on Amazon

The Golden Sky by Elisa
Hirsch (Memoir) 

The night I met Cade I never would’ve thought that two years later, after we were homeless street musicians in Hawaii, we would have a little girl and another baby on the way.  Our son was born with the type of birth defects that make televangelists cringe. The “death home” gave him a really nice funeral, the kind I’d never wished to attend. We lost it after that, totally cemented in our grief.  Cade got into drugs, joined a rock and roll band, and I kicked him out of the house. That was how I met: Earl (an old man and unlikely best friend), the “big sag” (a middle aged woman who still flashed folks), Todda (the stripper next door), and Chris (a cowboy who fell in love with me). It wasn’t until I killed a rogue skunk, and my daughter nearly choked on a fry, that I gave my husband another chance.  But could our marriage recover from the death of our son? $2.99 onAmazon

Someone Else’s Fairytale by E.M. Tippetts (Contemporary Romance) 

Jason Vanderholt is the hottest actor under thirty with legions of screaming fans. Chloe Winters is a college student who hasn't gotten around to watching most of his movies. When they meet by chance, he is smitten, but it just isn't her fairytale. In fact, it could be her worst nightmare as her past, attracted by the bright lights of the media, comes back to haunt her. $0.99 on Amazon

Historical Romance
(Adult)

The Duke’s Divorce by Anne Gallagher Available late January 2012

A simple trip to the Scottish Highlands finds the Duke of Cantin with a bride he does not want.  With her impeccable beauty and fiery disposition, Fiona takes Society by storm.  As their prearranged divorce proceedings draw near, can Fiona change his mind? Check author's website.

Literary Fiction

String Bridge by Jessica Bell 

Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage—and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits ... $6.99 on Amazon ALSO:  Music Sample!

Mystery

Sherwood Ltd. by Anne R. Allen

Sherwood. The name immediately conjures up images of Richard Greene, Michael Praed and Russell Crowe. Or maybe that sly fox in the Disney version. Only, in Anne R. Allen's latest rom-com mystery the fox is a coyote and there's no Robin Hood. Or is there? In her usual inimitable fashion Allen peels back the layers, one hilarious subplot after another, until you just never know what's real and what's not. Rather like the Robin Hood legend. When the Manners Doctor, Camilla Randall, flies into Robin Hood airport with a suitcase in one hand and a book contract in the other she thinks she's leaving all her problems behind and is about to start a new life. If you look very carefully you may just spot the Sheriff of Nottingham, Maid Marian and even Little John hidden away. But as for Robin Hood
himself... You'll just have to read it and find out.  $2.99 on Amazon

Short Stories and Anthologies

The Initiate (Cloud Prophet Trilogy) by  Megg Jensen (YA Fantasy)

Over a thousand years ago, the gods left Eloh's people and took their magic with them. To win back their favor, her people sacrifice ten female initiates every ten years. No has ever survived. There has never been a Chosen One. Forced into becoming an initiate, Eloh will try to find a way to beat the odds, stay with her boyfriend, and survive the fires that threaten to consume her. But will her lack of faith in the gods and her disbelief in their magic doom her to a painful death? $0.99 on Amazon

Eight by Karly Kirkpatrick (YA Paranormal Short Story Collection)

Prepare to be thrilled and chilled by Kirkpatrick's eight short tales in EIGHT. These eight stories, while short, pack a big punch. There are demon spirits, zombies, and even some human baddies. Each story comes complete with author's commentary. It also includes the previously unreleased short Grenades. $0.99 on Amazon

{CoverComingSoon} In His Eyes by The Indelibles (YA Anthology) - Available February 14th

Just in time for Valentines Day, The Indelibles bring you a one-of-a-kind young adult anthology! Twenty original short stories, all from the point of view of our favorite male characters - some are old flames from our novels and some were dreamed up especially for this anthology. Let these imminently crushable, swoon-worthy guys show you what romance looks like – in his eyes. Add to Goodreads TBR

The contributors to IN HIS EYES include award winners, frequent “Top 100” placers, and hot 2011 debut authors: S.R. Wells, C.K. Bryant, Elle Strauss, Susan Kaye Quinn, Jessie Harrell, Magan Vernon, Lisa Nowak, Heather McCorkle, RaShelle Workman, Ali Cross, Karen Amanda Hooper, Cory Putman Oakes, Laura Pauling, Stacey Wallace Benefiel, Sarra Cannon, Katie Klein, Cheri Lasota

Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal byLani Woodland, Melonie Piper, Rita Webb, Wendy Swore, Melanie Marks, Heather McCubbin and Evan Joseph (YA Anthology)

Discover the secrets of a siren, fly with a hawk girl over the mountains of Montana, and flee supernatural party-crashers as the décor comes to life in this magical journey through paranormal stories. Along the way, watch for ghosts in a haunted house, or ride through the moonlight with a stranger. Save a comatose boy who has lost his soul, and don’t forget to bring your garlic and wolfsbane—you never know when the shadows will snag you. Transcendent includes eight stories of magic, love, death, and choice by some of the newest names in young adult fiction. $0.99 on Amazon

Young Adult

Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn (Paranormal/Science Fiction) 

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her. $2.99 on Amazon 

Bound by C.K. Bryant (Paranormal Romance) 

When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia,has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive. $3.99 on Amazon

Become by Ali Cross (YA Urban Fantasy)

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she Becomes the evil she despises and the good she always feared. When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her Choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is a reason to want to change—something she’s never had before—a friend. $3.99 on Amazon

Exiled by RaShelle Workman (YA SF Romance) 

Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them.

An alien princess exiled to Earth. An arrogant boy. One week to get back to her planet or she'll die. And, her only chance for survival? She must help the boy find his soul mate. Piece of cake! $0.99 on Kindle

The Secret of Spruce
Knoll by Heather McCorkle (Urban Fantasy)

Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with an aunt she’s never met. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with “channelers”—a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands. Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they—and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Soon, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charm convinces her that being a channeler may not be all bad though. $4.99 on Amazon 

Destined by Jessie Harrell (Retelling) 

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear. As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.  $0.99 on Amazon

Darkspell by Elizabeth Mueller (Paranormal Romance) 

Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold. As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her.  Violently thrust into a magickal realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own. Will love prove thicker than magick? $3.99 on Amazon

Untraceable by S. R. Johannes (Thriller) 

Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him. One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape  and find her father. Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And
it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves. $0.99 on Amazon

Rival Demons (Book 5 of the Peachville High Demons Series) by Sarra Cannon (Paranormal Romance) Available January 20th

After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Order of Shadows, Harper finds herself thrust into the strange and beautiful world of the shadow demons. But crossing through the portal doesn't mean she is safe. The Order of Shadows is determined to bring her home and transfer the Prima line to the Harris family. They send their most vicious hunters after Harper. Hunters who will not stop until they have found their prey. Determined to keep her safe, Jackson takes her deep into an underground world filled with dangers of its own. Here, Harper will begin a journey that will teach her more about herself and her own path than she ever imagined possible. Add to Goodreads TBR

The Legend of Victor Standish: Under a Voodoo Moon by Roland D. Yeomans (Urban Fantasy/Romance) 

Can love kill? Yes ... if you love a ghoul who hungers for your flesh only slightly less than she does your heart.  Yet to the lonely street orphan Victor Standish, who has risked his life for a meal, to find love (even for one magical French Quarter night) is worth dying in the morning. $2.99 on Amazon All profits go to the Salvation Army.

Getting Sideways (Book 2 in the Full Throttle Series) by Lisa Nowak (Contemporary) 

Getting shipped off to live with his uncle Race was the best thing that ever happened to fifteen-year-old Cody. Then a wreck at the speedway nearly ruined everything. Cody’s making every effort to get his life back on track—writing for the school paper, searching for the perfect girlfriend, and counting the days until he gets his drivers’ license—but there’s no escaping the nightmares that haunt him. A chance to build his own car seems like the perfect distraction. Until Cody realizes he’ll have to live up to Race’s legendary status. But that’s the least of his worries, considering he doesn’t have his dad’s permission. All he has to do is the impossible: keep Race from discovering his lie until he can convince his dad that racing’s safe. Yeah, sure. That’ll be easy. $3.99 on Amazon

Tangled Tides by Karen Hooper (Sea Monster Memoirs) 

Yara Jones doesn’t believe in sea monsters—until she becomes one. When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious. Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people—until he falls for Yara.
The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process—or she might open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans. $4.99 on Amazon

Here by Denise Grover Swank (SF Romance)

Sixteen year old Julia Phillips buries herself in guilt after killing her best friend Monica in a car accident. Julia awoke in the hospital with a broken leg, a new talent for drawing and false memories of the accident, in which she dies and Monica lives. The doctors attribute this to her head injury, but no one can explain how a bracelet engraved with her name ended up at the scene of the accident. A bracelet no one has ever seen before. Classmate Evan Whittaker paid Julia no attention before the accident, let alone after. Now suddenly he’s volunteering to tutor her and offering to drive her home. She can't ignore that his new obsession started after his two-day disappearance last week and that he wears a pendant she’s been drawing for months. When the police show up one night looking for Evan, he begs Julia to run with him, convincing her that Monica is still alive. Julia agrees to go, never guessing where he’s really from.  $2.99 on Amazon

The Veil by  Cory
Putman Oakes (Paranormal Romance)

Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi.  Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be—the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem.  And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her.  Or so he says . . . $7.99 on Amazon

Embrace by Cherie Colyer (Paranormal Romance)

Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve. Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him. Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the
answers, Madison seeks her own. Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover. $6.99 on Amazon

Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos (Paranormal Romance)

Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, holds the pieces of Julia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. But Alora secretly conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of
everything she holds dear. Little do they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. Can Julia bargain with fate? Find out how it all ends in this explosive grand finale of The Talisman Trilogy. $3.99 on Amazon 

How to Date an Alien by Magan Vernon (Science Fiction) 

High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war? $2.99 on Amazon

Fireseed One by  Catherine Stine (Science Fiction/Thriller) 

Fireseed One is a journey into a tricked-out near-future earth where 18 year-old Varik has inherited a vast ocean farm, following the suspicious drowning of his Marine biologist father. When Marisa, a beautiful and devious terrorist, destroys the world's food source, Varik is forced to travel to a lethal hotzone, teeming with dangerous nomads and a strange cult to search for a magical hybrid plant that may not even exist. The catch? He must take Marisa along, the only person who seems to know way, way too much key information.  $2.99 on Amazon 

The Missing by M.A. Leslie (Paranormal)

Eight-year-old, Ethan Doyle is just a normal kid whose biggest problem in life was to fight for the attention of his busy parents from his older twin siblings. But, after his aunt and uncle tragically die, his family takes in his teenage cousin, Kelsey, and moves to a spooky old, manor house in a new town. At first, everything seems fine, but when he begins to see and speak to a spirit named Lucas, his biggest problem becomes, just staying alive. Lucas was ten years old when the spirits of the house came to him and asked him for help setting their spirits free. Unfortunately, he never made the deadline and as a result the spirits took him and made him a part of the house as well. As he soon finds out, the only way he can save his own soul is to save the souls of the missing boys in the house. With his own deadline in place, Ethan enlists the help of his cousin Kelsey to solve the twenty-year-old mystery of THE MISSING. $0.99 on Amazon

Princess Kandake by Stephanie Jefferson (Fantasy) Available February 1, 2012

In Nubia a woman can be whatever she chooses. At 14, Kandake knows exactly what she chooses...Prime Warrior of Nubia. But her grandmother has said that she will follow her father on the throne. Refusing to abandon her warrior dreams she continues to train. When her brother is kidnapped, Kandake learns she must be both queen and warrior to win his release! See Author's Website 

Middle Grade

Blink of a Dragon by Eisley Jacobs (Fantasy)

Discovering she’s connected to dragons is one thing, but when another dragon is caught hanging out in the fifth grade, Meia thinks things couldn’t get any worse. Is she ever wrong! Trouble is brewing in the cosmos and Deglan believes this new dragon holds the answers, but his hopes are crushed when the leader of the exiled dark dragons ambushes them. The fate of the dragons and possibly the whole world falls to Deglan and Meia as they
search for the only creature powerful enough to send the dark dragons back into the abyss. What they encounter along the way makes the adventure worth fighting for. $6.99

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