By now most of you know that I will be at the Nutmeg Book Festival on Saturday, November 23 in the historic New Milford Train Station in Connecticut. There will be 18 other multi-genre authors--and two fellow Ten Tales Authors April Grey and Debbie Christiana.
I'l also thrilled to announce that it appears The Widow's Walk has found a home!! The ink is not yet dry but the second of three books in my Cape Cod Paranormal Romance was offered a contract and I have to iron out some publication date details before the full announcement.
"Breakwater Beach" a short story in Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts is set in this storyline. I have special codes for download available to anyone who stops by my table in Connecticut and mentions they saw this post. And of course there will be chocolate. And all my non fiction books which will range from irreverent to inspirational.
Hope to see some of you there.
Join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter #WidowsWalk
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
The Torridon Witches: Andrew Richardson's Newest Celtic Horror Is Out Today-Live Chat and GIveaways!
Everyone who reads my blog knows of my affection and admiration for friend and critique partner Andrew Richardson, a very prolific writer with an uncanny ability to scare me. Horror is not my favorite flavor, but it's hard to stop reading his stories even though I know nightmares will ensue.
The Torridon Witches, set in contemporary times, is even more chilling because they don't target witches anymore--right? There isn't much more I can say. The blurb and excerpt are self-explanatory. Andrew knows his Celtic legend and lore, he knows the countryside and the people, and he knows how to write horror so real you're there with the characters.
Andrew, can you tell us a bit more about your fifth novel or novella?
The Torridon Witches is a novella set in the remote Scottish Highlands. The idea came to me when I read a book about Scottish witch trials. The suffering the accused went through, even before their inevitable end, was chillingly described. I thought the helplessness and fear the ‘witches’ experienced would make a good theme for a horror story.
I placed the book in a (fictional) village in Scotland’s remote Torridon region; an area of mountains, upland moors, bogs and rugged coastlines which even today is only reachable by boat or single track roads. I managed to find some historical records of ‘witchcraft’ in the region’s fringes, and I know the area well, so everything seemed to fit to make it an ideal setting.
I’m grateful to Damnation Books for taking the story on. The launch on 15 September will be accompanied by a live chat at 2pm. There’ll be giveaways and ‘variable pricing’ (i.e. discounts!) for early purchases.
So I understand you'll be doing research in the Scottish Highlands on release day. How authentic.
Yes, it should be rather surreal. And challenging to interface with the modern world.
Good luck, Andrew!
Thanks, Carole!
The Torridon Witches is available as of September 15 at: http://www.damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781629290553
Details about his other works are available at http://andrewjrichardson.blogspot.com.
On release day for Damnation Book, Andrew will be chatting at 2pm EST. I'll be there and hope you can make it as well. Log into the chat here.
Fiona MacLeod returns to Dunmorgan to gain revenge for Gran’s burning as a witch a decade ago. Friends accompanying Fiona have a row and in their tempers use the word ‘witch’. The villagers’ attitudes are ancient, and the friends are soon on trial for witchcraft. To avoid the stake Fiona must confront the charismatic but brutal Blue Eyed Man. She must also take on the sadistic villagers who were responsible for Gran’s death, and who are desperate for another burning.
Excerpt:
“Don’t burn me.” Bonnie’s wide eyes fixed on the flames dancing from the firebrand. “I’m really sorry I upset you. Please don’t burn me.”
“Maybe The Good Lord can show you mercy.”
Bonnie met the Blue Eyed Man’s gaze. “I haven’t done anything to deserve it. Please.”
His fists found his hips again, and Fiona was sure he spoke the crowd’s entertainment as much as to Bonnie. “Maybe God will forgive you, if you repent of your witchery.”
Bonnie cocked her head.
“Do it, Bon.” Ashmati shrieked. “Do it, and they’ll let you go. Just repent.”
“I’m sorry, for whatever I’ve done. I’m sorry.”
The crowd muttered, but The Blue Eyed Man’s raised hand demanded silence. He leaned closer to Bonnie. His voice lowered to a whisper, but still carried around the horseshoe. “They say, if the executioner is skilled and the fire is kept under control, death by burning can take two hours. We’re not particularly skilled—we don’t tend to have cleansings lasting more than an hour.”
The crowd laughed. Bonnie looked into his eyes. “Please…”
Spotty giggled. “Was that, ‘please can we try for two hours,’ witch?”
The Blue Eyed Man continued. “If you repent, witch. If you admit your sins, and renounce witchcraft…”
“Do it!” Ashmati screamed. “Just say it!”
“I’m sorry.” Bonnie whispered.
“Denounce witchcraft!”
“I denounce witchcraft.”
“Repent of your witchery.”
Bonnie looked at Ashmati.
Ashmati’s fists clenched. “Say it! Just fucking say it!”
“I repent of my witchery.”
“That is good, my dear.” The Blue Eyed Man’s eyes remained cold as he faced the crowd. He flicked a thumb toward Bonnie.
“Now, burn her.”
The Torridon Witches, set in contemporary times, is even more chilling because they don't target witches anymore--right? There isn't much more I can say. The blurb and excerpt are self-explanatory. Andrew knows his Celtic legend and lore, he knows the countryside and the people, and he knows how to write horror so real you're there with the characters.
Andrew, can you tell us a bit more about your fifth novel or novella?
The Torridon Witches is a novella set in the remote Scottish Highlands. The idea came to me when I read a book about Scottish witch trials. The suffering the accused went through, even before their inevitable end, was chillingly described. I thought the helplessness and fear the ‘witches’ experienced would make a good theme for a horror story.
I placed the book in a (fictional) village in Scotland’s remote Torridon region; an area of mountains, upland moors, bogs and rugged coastlines which even today is only reachable by boat or single track roads. I managed to find some historical records of ‘witchcraft’ in the region’s fringes, and I know the area well, so everything seemed to fit to make it an ideal setting.
I’m grateful to Damnation Books for taking the story on. The launch on 15 September will be accompanied by a live chat at 2pm. There’ll be giveaways and ‘variable pricing’ (i.e. discounts!) for early purchases.
So I understand you'll be doing research in the Scottish Highlands on release day. How authentic.
Yes, it should be rather surreal. And challenging to interface with the modern world.
Good luck, Andrew!
Thanks, Carole!
The Torridon Witches is available as of September 15 at: http://www.damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781629290553
Details about his other works are available at http://andrewjrichardson.blogspot.com.
Fiona MacLeod returns to Dunmorgan to gain revenge for Gran’s burning as a witch a decade ago. Friends accompanying Fiona have a row and in their tempers use the word ‘witch’. The villagers’ attitudes are ancient, and the friends are soon on trial for witchcraft. To avoid the stake Fiona must confront the charismatic but brutal Blue Eyed Man. She must also take on the sadistic villagers who were responsible for Gran’s death, and who are desperate for another burning.
Excerpt:
“Don’t burn me.” Bonnie’s wide eyes fixed on the flames dancing from the firebrand. “I’m really sorry I upset you. Please don’t burn me.”
“Maybe The Good Lord can show you mercy.”
Bonnie met the Blue Eyed Man’s gaze. “I haven’t done anything to deserve it. Please.”
His fists found his hips again, and Fiona was sure he spoke the crowd’s entertainment as much as to Bonnie. “Maybe God will forgive you, if you repent of your witchery.”
Bonnie cocked her head.
“Do it, Bon.” Ashmati shrieked. “Do it, and they’ll let you go. Just repent.”
“I’m sorry, for whatever I’ve done. I’m sorry.”
The crowd muttered, but The Blue Eyed Man’s raised hand demanded silence. He leaned closer to Bonnie. His voice lowered to a whisper, but still carried around the horseshoe. “They say, if the executioner is skilled and the fire is kept under control, death by burning can take two hours. We’re not particularly skilled—we don’t tend to have cleansings lasting more than an hour.”
The crowd laughed. Bonnie looked into his eyes. “Please…”
Spotty giggled. “Was that, ‘please can we try for two hours,’ witch?”
The Blue Eyed Man continued. “If you repent, witch. If you admit your sins, and renounce witchcraft…”
“Do it!” Ashmati screamed. “Just say it!”
“I’m sorry.” Bonnie whispered.
“Denounce witchcraft!”
“I denounce witchcraft.”
“Repent of your witchery.”
Bonnie looked at Ashmati.
Ashmati’s fists clenched. “Say it! Just fucking say it!”
“I repent of my witchery.”
“That is good, my dear.” The Blue Eyed Man’s eyes remained cold as he faced the crowd. He flicked a thumb toward Bonnie.
“Now, burn her.”
Monday, August 26, 2013
Karma, Kickbacks and Kids
"Karma, Kickbacks and Kids," an excerpt of the first chapter, also the title, of my second memoir has been published in Not Your Mother's Book: On Parenting. Stay tuned for plans for my NYMB book tour, which will include stops in Huntington, Long Island and New Milford, Connecticut with a few others along the way. As soon as I have details I'll put them on Facebook and Twitter.
These upbeat and edgy books make great gifts. I can personalize book cards for those of you who download ebooks in any format. Contact me with your specifics.
I will have copies in my hands by the end of next week for anyone who can't wait--and Amazon won't get it to you any faster or with an autograph. I checked.
It joins "A Catholic Schoolgirl's Primer" in Not Your Mother's Book: On Being a Woman, which is an excerpt from Someday I'm Going to Write a Book. There is a new cover (same content), but so newborn it's not out and about yet. I've got plenty on hand and a new order pending, so let me know if you haven't gotten a copy.
These upbeat and edgy books make great gifts. I can personalize book cards for those of you who download ebooks in any format. Contact me with your specifics.
I will have copies in my hands by the end of next week for anyone who can't wait--and Amazon won't get it to you any faster or with an autograph. I checked.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Wordless Wednesday with Mohana Lakshmi
I'm so proud to be part of the author feature for Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance on Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar's beautiful website today in her Wordless Wednesday post. In tribute, this post shall also be wordless to allow the excerpts to speak for themselves.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Trailer Reveal for Seers: Ten Tales of Clarivoyance
Like Trailers?
Deborah Walker has published the Trailer Reveal for Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance
You can also view/share the trailer for Seers here or watch directly below
Click here to see Covers, Table of Contents and Trailers for all the Ten Tales Books
Sunday, June 23, 2013
The Clarion Write a Thon Begins!
Despite three quarters of hard work on my doctorate, I have managed to keep a toe hold in the creative writing world with three new publications. On the fiction side, "Dance With The Devil" was just published in Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance. All of my (four) publications in Rayne Hall's Ten Tales series are spinoffs from my novels Unfinished Business or Boulevard of Bad Spells and Broken Dreams, which are now (still) making the rounds of agents.
On the non fiction side, "Artichokes" was published in Winter 2013 in Thanksgiving to Christmas: A Quilt of Holidays. In September, "Karma, Kickbacks and Kids" will be published in Not Your Mother's Book: On Parenting, and at the same time Not Your Mother's Book: On Being a Woman will be re-released by PS Publishing to a much larger market. My nonfiction runs the gamut from the sweet and sentimental to the irreverent and edgy so there is really something for everyone.
All my publications are listed on my Amazon Author's Page and anyone who makes a donation to the Write a Thon on my behalf will get a special gft from me (Hint: something or another on that page, depending upon your taste)
I'm actively at work on "The Fairy Lamp," which will be going out to pro short story markets very soon. "The Ultimate Test," which has been cursed with acceptances that never seen to work out when anthologies run out of room or close down is in the queue with Fearful Symmetries and my fingers are crossed. I've also got "Fairyflies," which needs a nice, literary market and if anyone has a suggestion for a rather short magical realist tale, please let me know.
In order to get back into a regular creative writing routine, I've once again signed onto the Clarion Write a Thon to work through this backlog and break this writer's block. I would sincerely appreciate some contributions, no matter how small to this very worthy cause as well as to kick my butt and keep me at work with a story I've been dying to finish for years called "The Northern Lights."
And once I get done with that, I really need to get moving on the first chapters of the second book in the Boulevard of Bad Spells and Broken Dreams series, which has been researched and outlined and just needs some serious behind in the chair, fingers on the keyboard work.
So, please join me this summer as I've got a big deadline approaching on September 3, when my final year of the doctoral program begins and I once again must retreat into the scholarly world, which is nowhere near as much fun as writing fantasy or whipping up excerpts of my memoirs. Click here for my Clarion Author Page to view my progress and to the Write a Thon Home Page to make a donation.
On the non fiction side, "Artichokes" was published in Winter 2013 in Thanksgiving to Christmas: A Quilt of Holidays. In September, "Karma, Kickbacks and Kids" will be published in Not Your Mother's Book: On Parenting, and at the same time Not Your Mother's Book: On Being a Woman will be re-released by PS Publishing to a much larger market. My nonfiction runs the gamut from the sweet and sentimental to the irreverent and edgy so there is really something for everyone.
All my publications are listed on my Amazon Author's Page and anyone who makes a donation to the Write a Thon on my behalf will get a special gft from me (Hint: something or another on that page, depending upon your taste)
I'm actively at work on "The Fairy Lamp," which will be going out to pro short story markets very soon. "The Ultimate Test," which has been cursed with acceptances that never seen to work out when anthologies run out of room or close down is in the queue with Fearful Symmetries and my fingers are crossed. I've also got "Fairyflies," which needs a nice, literary market and if anyone has a suggestion for a rather short magical realist tale, please let me know.
In order to get back into a regular creative writing routine, I've once again signed onto the Clarion Write a Thon to work through this backlog and break this writer's block. I would sincerely appreciate some contributions, no matter how small to this very worthy cause as well as to kick my butt and keep me at work with a story I've been dying to finish for years called "The Northern Lights."
And once I get done with that, I really need to get moving on the first chapters of the second book in the Boulevard of Bad Spells and Broken Dreams series, which has been researched and outlined and just needs some serious behind in the chair, fingers on the keyboard work.
So, please join me this summer as I've got a big deadline approaching on September 3, when my final year of the doctoral program begins and I once again must retreat into the scholarly world, which is nowhere near as much fun as writing fantasy or whipping up excerpts of my memoirs. Click here for my Clarion Author Page to view my progress and to the Write a Thon Home Page to make a donation.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Rayne Hall, Editor, Introduces The Contributing Authors In Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance
Last time, I was pleased to host Rayne Hall, the author, discussing her novel Storm Dancer. Today, I'm thrilled to announce the upcoming publication of the latest in her popular fantasy anthology series Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance. It is quite an honor to once again have placed my story, "Dance With The Devil," amongst an incredible lineup from authors from all over the globe. Without further ado, here is a list of contributors and a table of contents--along with the cover. Stay tuned for release day and I'll let you know when Rayne hits the button.
APRIL
GREY's
urban fantasy novel, Chasing The Trickster, is published by Eternal
Press.Her short stories have been published in such anthologies as Demonmind's
Halloween 2010, The Best of Everyday Fiction 2, Northern Haunts, Ephemera,
Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts, Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires, Undead: Ten Tales
of Zombies and Terrible Beauty, Fearful Symmetry. Many of these
stories can be found in her collection, The Fairy Cake Bake Shoppe
available through Amazon.
RAYNE HALL lives in a dilapidated English seaside town of former Victorian grandeur where she writes horror and fantasy fiction. Her short stories have been published in many magazines, e-zines and anthologies. She has had more than 40 books published in several genres under several pen names, including the dark epic fantasy novel Storm Dancer. Her editing experience in the publishing industry spans three decades. She is also the editor of other books in the Ten Tales series. You can follow her on Twitter @raynehall and her website is http://sites.google.com/site/raynehallsdarkfantasyfiction/ .
JEFF HARGETT is a grandfather
from North Carolina with an imagination full of magic and dragons. He stays
young and fit by dining on epic fantasy whenever possible. He’s had a couple of
short stories placed in competitions, but prefers his fiction in novel-length
doses. He is currently writing an epic fantasy series that he hopes will be
published while he can still wield a pen. He’s a firm believer that when this
world doesn’t suit you, you should write a world that does. He enjoys
interacting with readers and other writers and spends far too much time
loitering around his blog http://StrandsOfPattern.blogspot.com/ .
FREDERICK LANGRIDGE enjoyed a varied
career as an engineer, scientist, manager and teacher. Now in semi-retirement
he has turned his writing skills to projects much more exciting than worksheets
and textbooks. His short stories have appeared in compilations produced by the
Panocticon Writing Group, of which he is a founder member, and in his own
collection: Short Stories to Read on the Bus. He has previously contributed
to a published science teaching course and several textbooks, and currently
works part time as Associate Tutor in Science Education at Edge Hill
University.
DOUGLAS KOLACKI began writing while
stationed with the Navy in Naples, Italy, published numerous stories in San
Diego, and recently completed a cross-country trek to his new home in
Providence, Rhode Island. His short story credits include Weird Tales,
Dragons Knights & Angels, Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts, Bites: Ten Tales of
Vampires, Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates, Spells: Ten Tales of Magic and Big
Pulp. His published novels are Elijah's Chariot and On the Eighth
Day, God Created Trilby Richardson.
TRACIE MCBRIDE is a New Zealander
who lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children. Her work
has appeared or is forthcoming in over 80 print and electronic publications,
including Horror Library Vols 4 and 5, Dead Red Heart, Phobophobia, Haunted:
Ten Tales of Ghosts, Scared: Ten Tales of Horror, Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies and
Horror for Good. Her debut collection Ghosts Can Bleed contains
much of the work that earned her a Sir Julius Vogel Award in 2008. She helps to
wrangle slush for Dark Moon Digest and is the vice president of Dark Continents
Publishing. She welcomes visitors to her blog at http://traciemcbridewriter.wordpress.com /.
CAROLE ANN MOLETI lives and works as
a nurse-midwife in New York City, thus explaining her fascination with all
things paranormal, urban fantasy, and space opera. Her work has appeared in a
variety of speculative fiction venues including Lightspeed, The Internet
Review of Science Fiction, Tangent Online, The Portal, and The Fix. Other
stories set in the world of her novels are featured in Haunted: Ten Tales of
Ghosts, Beltane: Ten Tales of Magic, and Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires. Follow her on Twitter
@Cmoleti, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carole-Ann-Moleti/105189976183638 or this blog.
JACK NICHOLLS lives in Melbourne,
Australia, where on most nights he cannot see the stars at all. He is a
graduate of Clarion West 2011, where this story was written. It was first
published in Beneath Ceaseless Skies 101.His other fantasy fiction has
appeared in Aurealis 54 and Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine 56
MOHANALAKSHMI
RAJAKUMAR is a South Asian American who has lived in Qatar since 2005. Moving to
the Arabian Desert was fortuitous in many ways since this is where she met her
husband, had a baby, and made the transition from writing as a hobby to a full
time passion. She has since published five e-books including a mom-ior for
first time mothers, Mommy But Still Me,
a guide for aspiring writers, So You Want
to Sell a Million Copies, a short story collection, Coloured and Other Stories, and a novel about women’s
friendships, Saving Peace. Most
recently, From Dunes to Dior, is a
collection of essays related to her experiences as a female South Asian
American living in the Arabian Gulf. After she joined the e-book revolution,
she dreams in plotlines. Learn more about her work on her website at www.mohanalakshmi.com or follow her latest on Twitter: @moha_doha.
DEBORAH WALKER grew up in the most
English town in the country, but she soon high-tailed it down to London, where
she now lives with her partner, Chris, and her two young children. Find Deborah
in the British Museum trawling the past for future inspiration or on her blog. Her stories have appeared in Nature's Futures, Cosmos, Enchanted Conversation and in The Year's Best SF 18.
SEERS: TEN TALES OF CLAIRVOYANCE
- ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS
RAYNE HALL lives in a dilapidated English seaside town of former Victorian grandeur where she writes horror and fantasy fiction. Her short stories have been published in many magazines, e-zines and anthologies. She has had more than 40 books published in several genres under several pen names, including the dark epic fantasy novel Storm Dancer. Her editing experience in the publishing industry spans three decades. She is also the editor of other books in the Ten Tales series. You can follow her on Twitter @raynehall and her website is http://sites.google.com/site/raynehallsdarkfantasyfiction/ .
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