Independent Paranormal

Review: Broods of Fenrir by Coral Moore

2012-03-04T05:28:00.000-08:00

Wow, I haven’t read such an emotionally-gripping book in a long time!

Broods of Fenrir is definitely not your average werewolf story. It’s violent and gritty, but at the same time very passionate. The bonds and rivalries between the characters in the book are so intense, you can’t help but be pulled in. Moore has created an incredibly complex society for her characters. She’s covered everything from brood etiquette to the treatment of females, and it makes for a very rich reading experience.

The story follows Brand Geirson, a werewolf who refuses to take his place as the ruler of the Broods of Fenrir, but then a gruesome murder throws him into conflict. Gripping and fast-paced, the book is a quick read. I couldn’t put it down!

Not only that, this book did something that very few books do: it made me cry. That is a difficult thing to do, let me tell you. I won’t spoil it for anyone, but there is a scene that brought me to tears I was so attached to the characters involved.

Definitely pick this one up if you’re looking for something dark and intense in the paranormal genre.

5/5 Stars

Buy the book here:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Broods-of-Fenrir-ebook/dp/B006AKQVR0/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006AKQVR0

B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/2940013500624

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106624

Funky Friday: Monstrous Monkee Mash

2012-03-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

Holy crap, that's a lot of alliteration in that title.

This week's Funky Friday post is dedicated to the late, great Davy Jones. On their TV show, The Monkees were no strangers to the occasional ghoul (especially if that ghoul had a good looking daughter for Davy to crush on). Courtesy of YouTube user PHTOCD, I'm offering a clip from Monstrous Monkee Mash, one of my favorite episodes, in Davy's honor.

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Awkward Vampire Moments: Episode Six: Conversation

2012-02-29T05:36:00.000-08:00

Awkward Vampire Moments
Episode Six
Conversation

My girlfriend, while a stunning writer, has all the grace of a newborn calf on stilts when it comes to the art of conversation.

The vampire reclined on our couch. “Thanks for inviting me in,” he said. “I don’t have many friends.”

My girlfriend cautiously sat beside him. “Not even other vampires?”

“Nah. We’re a solitary lot.”

The conversation somehow led her to ask if he personally knew Dracula. I struck my forehead with my palm.

Our guest narrowed his gaze. “Actually, yes. We went to a Foreigner concert together.”

I’m still not sure if he was lying or not.

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Interview with Lyn LeJeune, author of The Beatitudes

2012-02-26T05:16:00.001-08:00

Happy Sunday, everyone! Today we have an interview with Lyn LeJeune, author of The Beatitudes! Check out the blurb:

Social workers Hannah Dubois (white and nicknamed "Scrimp") and Earlene Washington (African-American and nicknamed Pinch), start their own business, Social Investigations, in order to solve the murders of ten foster children in New Orleans, Louisiana. Why have the NOPD, the Catholic Church, and politicians sidestepped clues that point to a force that holds great power both in New Orleans and the world. As Hannah and Earlene find more and more evidence, they also know that they are dealing with a force that crosses into the realm of the paranormal. Earlene is murdered with a sword from the famous Cabildo and returns to join her ghostly friends in the Heavenly City. A ghost can certainly help investigations. The Beatitudes gives us the first private ghost detective. Added to that Scrimp uncovers secrets about her family past, revealed by the underground hero, a four foot black man named n'est pas juste whose job is to help save New Orleans n'est pas juste. Scrimp is a voodoo princess (Gran Met).

Pinch and Scrimp are transported to an underworld much like Dante's Purgatoria in order to learn that the murderers are part of a secret organization called The White Army (le Armee Blanc), centered in New Orleans, but rooted in Medieval Europe and the Children's Crusade Each clue leads to a beatitude and each chapter defines the novel: The Pure of Heart, The Persecuted, The Merciful, The Sorrowful, The Peacemakers, The Meek, The Poor in Spirit, and Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Justice. The White Army is thus a study of good and evil and that act, the murder of innocent children, which encompasses all of the seven deadly sins. Who then can better perform acts of goodness and compassion than those who have suffered but are without sin? Pinch and Scrimp- a ghost and a voodoo princess, our new heroes.

Find out how to purchase the book after the interview!

--

Welcome! To start with, tell us a bit about the inspiration for The Beatitudes.

I grew up in New Orleans in the days when I could ride the city bus all over. I always ended up at the downtown public library, where my own little world of books came to life. I was haunted, raised Catholic, and loved the works of Dante. So I based my work on all those factors and my love for New Orleans. All the money from the hardcover book goes directly to the New Orleans Public Library Foundation.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in your book? Why or why not?

Oh, I would be friends with Pinch and Scrimp, the heroes of The Beatitudes. They are social workers; Pinch is a ghost and Scrimp is a voodoo princess. They try to stop the corruption of worldly and other-worldly forces in New Orleans. And yes, they are trying to solve murders in the Heavenly City!

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I am an eclectic reader, but I love the works of James Lee Burke, another Louisiana author.

I also love biographies of strong historical figures like Catherine the Great.

What do you think is alluring about The Beatitudes? Why should someone pick it up?

The Beatitudes is what I call “A Pinch and Scrimp Adventure.” Pinch and Scrimp are new kinds of heroes who carry with them all that holds off evil in the world. One reviewer wrote that in The Beatitudes “the reader will BE IN New Orleans …tasting the food, hearing jazz and blues, the smell of the great Mississippi.”

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

InGroup Press recently published my historical novel, Elijah Rising, about two young men traveling across America in the 1920’s … shades of The Great Gatsby. Presently, I’m working on the continuing story of Pinch and Scrimp in New Orleans.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Well, The Beatitudes is about one good ghost and one good voodoo princess, both battle bad ones … as well as corrupt humans. I like the battle between good and evil. EVIL RIDES THE ST. CHARLES STREETCAR LINE!

Thank you so much for stopping by, Lyn, and I wish you all the best! And if you, gentle reader, are interested in buying The Beatitudes, here is where you can:

http://www.amazon.com/Beatitudes-New-Orleans-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004DI7KHQ

Funky Friday: Goodbye and Good Luck, Grant!

2012-02-24T05:22:00.000-08:00

I’ve mentioned once or twice here on Indie Paranormal that I am something of an amateur ghost hunter. Every time I tell this to someone, I get a similar response. “Do you watch that one show? Y’know, that one show with the plumbers?”

I can assume that they mean Ghost Hunters on SyFy, so I always say yes. Regardless of whether or not the evidence is legit, the cast is always engaging. I watch the show for the people almost more than I watch it for the ghosts (or “ghosts”) these days! It also doesn’t hurt that it’s conveniently shown on Wednesday. Who doesn’t love celebrating Hump Day with a dose of the paranormal?

Since we started watching the show, my mother and sister and I have started taking mini vacations we fondly call Ghost Trips. We base our trips around haunted locations, sleeping, dining and chilling with spirits in haunted inns, restaurants and museums. Normally, we’ll have the camera ready just in case; you never know when Casper will make an appearance!

Last week, Grant Wilson, one of the lead investigators on Ghost Hunters, announced that he would be leaving after a few more episodes. Even though he’ll never see it, I just wanted to use this post as an opportunity to thank Grant. Without his work and lead investigator Jason Hawes's work on the show, a really great part of my relationship with my mother and sister wouldn’t exist. They both helped spark in me an interest in paranormal investigation that I have a feeling will follow me throughout the rest of my life.

Also, I might’ve had a crush on Grant once upon a time. Ahem. Most normal college girls fawned over indie music gods, but when have I ever been normal?

That aside, thank you for everything, Grant, and I wish you all the best! If anyone else here at Indie Paranormal watches the show, I’d love to chat about it in the comments.

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Awkward Vampire Moments: Episode Five: Invitation

2012-02-22T05:42:00.000-08:00

Awkward Vampire Moments

Episode Five

Invitation

A week later, the vampire appeared at my front door.

“Hey, remember me?” he greeted. How could I forget? “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by.”

I didn’t trust him. I told him so.

“Look, I killed that waitress, sure, but I’m not gonna kill you. We’re friends, right?”

My fidgeting girlfriend peered over my shoulder. Could I officially say I was friends with a vampire? My mother would spit. “How did you find my address?” I asked.

“Internet. I heard it was good for finding friends. So… are you going to invite me in?”

I did.

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

I want YOUR book!

2012-02-20T04:02:00.000-08:00

This post is a bit of an experiment.

I am looking for books to read. Recommend your paranormal/supernatural/horror/urban fantasy/vaguely spooky book in the comments (or a book from the genre you thought was great). I will most likely buy it and probably... eventually... review it.

Unless this post explodes (and I've never had one do that), I'll probably buy most books if not all books posted here. I've still got quite a lot in Amazon Gift Cards. And though it may take a while, I do intend to review every indie book in this genre that I buy.

So, you do the math! Post about your book in the comments, and I might just buy and review it, and maybe other people will, too! That's the goal here. Let's see if we can get some interaction going on. If you post a book, look through the list (hopefully there will be a list) and see if there are any you'd be interested in buying.

I do reserve the right NOT to buy a book if it doesn't interest me, of course. Nothing against you personally! Hugs all around!

Also, if you haven't already, please take a moment to follow Indie Paranormal. Thank you. ;)

~Jennifer Rainey

Funky Friday: Johnny Remember Me by John Leyton

2012-02-17T05:10:00.000-08:00

For this week's Funky Friday, I've chosen a ghostly tune by John Leyton, written by Geoff Goddard and produced by Joe Meek. If you're not familiar with Joe, look him up. He was pretty much the Ed Wood of music, and there's a great movie called Telstar that came out a few years ago that's about his life.

Johnny Remember Me has a really pretty and haunting melody, and when it came up on my iPod the other day, I was reacquainted with how fantastic it is.

If you can think of any songs you love that have a paranormal twist to them, feel free to share in the comments!

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Awkward Vampire Moments: Episode Four: Italian

2012-02-15T05:38:00.000-08:00

Awkward Vampire Moments
Episode Four
Italian

I’ve found over the years that I suffer from an inability to take the feelings of others into consideration.

It’s not that I do it intentionally. It just never occurs to me to think of others.

After the museum, I took the vampire to Tony’s, my favorite Italian joint, and it didn’t occur to me until I’d eaten half of a loaf of garlic bread on my own that I’d made a mistake.

I tried not to breathe on him. He said he was saving his appetite for the waitress, who was discovered dead in a dumpster later that evening.

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T05:06:00.000-08:00

I attempted to draw one with a cute demon chick on it while watching TV last night, but she did not want to cooperate. I abandoned her for editing, which is probably what I should have been doing with my time anyway. Dammit, man, I'm a writer, not a greeting card artist!

All the same: Happy Valentine's Day, folks, from Indie Paranormal!

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Interview with Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler

2012-02-12T05:29:00.000-08:00

Today we have a lovely interview with Cidney Swanson, the author of Rippler! Check out the blurb:

Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love.

Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene. A mysterious man from France sends letters that offer hope for safety, but also reveal a sinister connection with Nazi experiments.

The more time Sam spends with Will, the less she can imagine life without him. When Sam uncovers secrets from her past, she must choose between keeping Will in her life or keeping Will safe.

Learn how to buy the book after the interview!

--

Jennifer, I’m seriously thrilled to visit. Thanks for having me!

It's wonderful to have you! To start with, tell us a bit about the inspiration for Rippler.

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of invisibility. (Harry’s cloak, Bilbo’s ring, and some character in the extended Oz series . . .) One day, I had an image pop into my head. In my mind, I saw a girl looking at a river, and she disappeared without realizing it. Why? And why didn’t she notice she’d vanished? I had to know. Then this dark back story emerged, tying my modern-day invisible girl with old Nazi experiments. At that point, I couldn’t stop writing!

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in Rippler? Why or why not?

Oh, absolutely, we’d be buds. I can only write characters if they fascinate me. I pretty much fall in love with them and their foibles as I go. Will (boy-hero) and I could talk history and pizza-crust-making all day. Sam and I would probably speak French to each other and hike around in Yosemite.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I write what I read. I read about 90% YA. Of that, slightly over half would be paranormal. I do like to mix it up with some contemporary voices like John Green and Sara Zarr, though. I read, on average, 80 books a year. So, maybe eight a year fall outside of YA altogether. They might be cookbooks, biographies, thrillers or …?

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

Ha! What people tell me is that the creepy back story really draws them in. Next, I’ve had both serious runners and serious non-runners tell me the descriptions of running made them want to get out and pound the pavement. Readers also love Will, my guy-hero, quite seriously. (And he’s totally blushing, shaking his head, and walking off as I write this.) I think the fact that boy meets girl doesn’t instantly = omigod-I-heart-you-forever is pretty appealing to a lot of readers, too. If you like a little mystery, a little action, a little maybe-love story, and some invisibility, you might like this.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

Actually, I surprised myself. I had been planning for months to move on to polish a first draft sci-fi novel. But then, when I finished the Ripple Trilogy, I found myself getting called back to an earlier first draft about the Arts and Goblins. Of all things. I guess I couldn’t let go of the paranormal quite yet!

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Oh, I think creatures that can change their shapes are pretty cool. So maybe, shape-shifters and . . . um . . . dragons? ‘Cause a dragon could pretty much nom-nom-nom on anything it wants to. So that would present a real challenge for the shape-shifter. Conflict, baby! Danger! Unpredictability! Boom!

Thanks for stopping by, Cidney, and good luck with all of your books! And if you, dear reader, are interested in purchasing Rippler, here is where you can:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cidney-Swanson/e/B005344OTQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/cidney-swanson?keyword=cidney+swanson&store=allproducts

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=cidney+swanson

Or connect with Cidney on the follow sites:

Blog: http://cidneyswanson.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cidneyswanson

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/cidneyswanson

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/search?query=cidney+swanson

Librarything: http://www.librarything.com/author/swansoncidney

Funky Friday: Ghoulish Grilled Cheese

2012-02-10T06:04:00.000-08:00

It’s the first Funky Friday here on Indie Paranormal, and this week, I’m giving you all something very near and dear to me, something that has brought people flocking to my house:

My recipe for grilled cheese.

Per sandwich, you will need:

-Two slices of sourdough bread, preferably the crusty kind. If you like a softer sandwich, a nice, squishy Italian loaf will do nicely.

-Salt.

-Butter.

-White American Cheese. I’m not talking Kraft Singles, people! I’m saying go to your grocer’s cheese counter and pick out some legit white American. It has a wonderful melt that’s not too stringy, and it’s relatively mild but still has a bit of tang to it.

-Any add-ons you like. I recommend:

- Thin-sliced deli ham

- Spicy mustard

- Pickles

- Tomato

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and prepare a cooking sheet in whatever way you personally prepare cooking sheets. I use butter-flavored non-stick spray. This is a baked grilled cheese rather than one you make in a pan, but if you want to haul out the frying pan, I’m not gonna track you down and stop you!

2. Toast your bread on low to medium low in the toaster. Trust me, this helps give the sandwich a nice crunch, and it makes it easier to butter.

3. Butter the bread on one side each.

4. Lightly salt the buttered sides.

5. Throw on the cheese and any add-ons you like. Obviously assemble sandwich with the butter side out, and keep in mind that the waterier the add-on is, the harder it will be to keep the sandwich from getting soggy. Certain add-ons you may want to add after cooking.

6. Put sandwiches on the cooking sheet and bake on one side for 8 minutes. Then, flip them over and bake on the other side for 5 minutes.

7. Serve. The outer edges of the cheese should have a nice brownish crust.

I know you’re thinking, “Jenny, that was ridiculously simple. Why waste a blog post on this?” It is simple, but the beauty of this sandwich is in the details: the cheese, the bread, the salt. I’m not kidding when I say I’ve had estranged friends and ex-boyfriends contact me looking for this recipe.

And keeping in theme with the blog, you could always find yourself some Halloween cookie cutters and cut out the middle of your sandwich after baking for some cute and ghoulish grilled cheese. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day treat!

Also, because I’m a huge grilled cheese junkie, please feel free to share your recipes in the comments!

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Rippler by Cidney Swanson

2012-02-09T04:51:00.000-08:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Rippler by Cidney Swanson! Check out the blurb:

Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love.

Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene. A mysterious man from France sends letters that offer hope for safety, but also reveal a sinister connection with Nazi experiments.

The more time Sam spends with Will, the less she can imagine life without him. When Sam uncovers secrets from her past, she must choose between keeping Will in her life or keeping Will safe.

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cidney-Swanson/e/B005344OTQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/cidney-swanson?keyword=cidney+swanson&store=allproducts

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=cidney+swanson

LINKS:

Blog: http://cidneyswanson.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cidneyswanson

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/cidneyswanson

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/search?query=cidney+swanson

Librarything: http://www.librarything.com/author/swansoncidney

Awkward Vampire Moments: Episode Three: Museum

2012-02-08T05:47:00.000-08:00

Awkward Vampire Moments

Episode Three

Museum

I invited him to the museum with us the following weekend.

My girlfriend backed out at the last moment due to an emergency hair appointment, and so I went alone with the vampire.

Giant banners with Queen Elizabeth I’s face on them hung over every doorway. The vampire smiled to himself, and I wondered if a trip to the museum was more of a flashback than a history lesson to him. He stopped to look at a particularly grandiose painting of Elizabeth. He chuckled and waggled his eyebrows.

“We used to have lunch together,” he said quietly, “among other things.”

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Interview with Beth Dolgner, author of Ghost of a Threat

2012-02-07T05:25:00.000-08:00

Today we have an interview with Beth Dolgner, author of Ghost of a Threat, the first book in the Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Series. Check out the blurb:

Normal young women go on dates on Saturday nights. Betty “Boo” Boorman goes on ghost hunts. The paranormal investigator is more comfortable around ghosts than guys, anyway.

A violent haunting forces Betty to team up with her rival ghost hunter, the arrogant Carter Lansford. When the violence is turned toward her, though, Betty enlists the help of a handsome stranger, who introduces himself simply as Maxwell, Demon.

Her ghost hunting is cut short when she’s threatened and, finally, attacked. Either someone wants her to stay away from a paranormal investigation or Maxwell is more trouble than she realizes. As Betty begins to fall for Maxwell’s mysterious charm, she starts to wonder if her life—and her soul—are worth the risk.

Learn how to purchase the book at the end of the interview!

Tell us a bit about the inspiration for Ghost of a Threat.

I love ghost stories, and I’ve done some paranormal investigating on my own, so I had the idea to create a series about a ghost hunter. Using Savannah, Georgia, as the setting was a natural choice: it’s full of ghost stories, and my mom lives there, so I’m familiar with the city. My idea didn’t get much further until a trip to Disney World, of all places. My mom and I went there to visit Pleasure Island—a nightclub complex Disney used to have—one last time. While reminiscing, we talked about a huge mural one of the clubs used to have of a train named “Maxwell’s Demon.” I suddenly envisioned a stunningly handsome man with a business card that read “Maxwell, Demon.” The story just fell into place after that, and I started writing the first book about a week later.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in your books? Why or why not?

Two days ago, Mom called to tell me that there’s a new tapas bar opening in Savannah, and it’s called Maxwell’s. It’s like my characters are coming to life! Demon or not, I adore Maxwell. I’d also happily join the Savannah Spirit Seekers, Betty’s paranormal investigation team. I feel like I already know the members so well, and I’d love to both investigate and hang out with them. As for Carter Lansford…well, rich boys like that don’t hang out with girls like me. That’s fine by me! I think his attitude would bring out my snarky side.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

Absolutely! I love paranormal romance and ghost stories. My reading preferences are pretty varied, though. My favorite authors are Jane Austen and Ray Bradbury. Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes” is a masterpiece, and I admire how he blends the fantastic into such ordinary settings. I read a lot of horror when I was younger, and Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House” taught me a lot about building suspense. My bookshelf is eclectic, with everything from Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” to Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse books.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

There’s a sexy demon! What more does a reader need? In all seriousness, a lot of readers have praised the mystery element, which is the focal point of the story. The depictions of ghost hunting are also fairly accurate because I was able to draw on my own experience there. And, if you’re still not convined, both my book and the entire Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Series are vampire and werewolf free.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

Ghost of a Whisper, book two of the series, debuted in December. Right now I’m editing book three, Ghost of a Memory, for release in March. I’m also editing Manifest, a young adult steampunk manuscript that involves—you guessed it—ghosts. If Jane Austen had been an automaton, she would have written something like Manifest. Once all of the editing is done, I’ll begin writing the fourth and final book of the Betty Boo series, Ghost of a Hope.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Leprechauns versus unicorns! I think something ridiculous like that would be great fun. Leprechauns keep their gold at the end of the rainbow, and everyone knows that unicorns poop rainbows. I think there’s great potential for some conflict there.

Thanks for stopping by, Beth, and good luck! And if you gentle reader would like to purchase Ghost of a Threat, here is where you can:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Threat-Betty-Hunter-ebook/dp/B0060PYKEQ/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghost-of-a-threat-beth-dolgner/1106608640?ean=9780615552736&itm=1&usri=beth%252bdolgner

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ghost-of-a-threat/id475874833?mt=11

My Week with KDP Select and Going Free

2012-02-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

One week ago on January 30^th, I made my book, These Hellish Happenings, free using KDP Select, a new feature of the program on Amazon that I use to publish the ebook version of the novel.

I had always told myself to just say no to Select, primarily because it requires an author to sell their ebooks exclusively on Amazon. However, desperate times call for desperate measures, and my novel was languishing somewhere in the 100,000-200,000 ranking range. Those who had signed up for Select were, for the most part, seeing success.

My book needed a lifesaver, and the only one in sight was KDP Select. So, I bit the bullet.

I almost immediately took advantage of Select’s “Free Promotion” option, which allows you to make your book free for a max period of 5 days during each 90-day period. Most authors I’ve seen do two or three days at a time.

I did five.

My advice? Don’t do that! It was a silly mistake! My downloads really started dropping off about the fourth day, and now I don’t have any free days for three months. So, learn from my mistake: don’t do all five days at one time. Spread the love.

Also, Amazon had some sales reporting issues right in the middle of my promo, so all numbers are merely an estimate. The downloads I had during the the fourth morning (6-8 hours or so) of the promo don’t appear to have ever shown up in my reports, so my numbers my not be spot on.

On the first day, These Hellish Happenings hit Number 1 on the Contemporary Fantasy free store and 47 in the free store overall. It managed to stay there almost entirely through the second day. The third, fourth and fifth days saw a slow-down, but at the end of it all, the book was still 9 in Contemporary Fantasy and in the 200s overall.

And here come the numbers (and remember these may not be 100% accurate due to reporting problems):

Amazon US: ~6670

Amazon UK: ~100

Amazon DE: ~40

Which means, I had roughly 6810 downloads over the five day period.

But the real question is this: how is the book selling now?

Quite nicely so far! I’ve jumped from the 100,000-200,000 ranking range to hovering about 20,000 over this weekend. Sales were steady this weekend, and I’ve already had a few this morning. Only time will tell if this lasts, of course, and I may update this post if any dramatic changes occur.

All the same, I am pleased as punch. The free promo was a fantastic experience. Not only has the book been selling, it’s gotten attention on Goodreads as well. While I still don’t love the exclusivity that comes along with signing up for Select, I do have to say that this is definitely a winning feature of the program, and I do recommend trying it out.

~ Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Review: Lucifer's Odyssey by Rex Jameson

2012-02-04T05:08:00.000-08:00

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I picked up Lucifer’s Odyssey by Rex Jameson, but I know what I got was a thousand times better than anything I could’ve been expecting!

From the start of the book, Jameson drops the reader right into the action. We follow Lucifer, the Prince of the universe Chaos, as he returns home from Earth and fights to reclaim his kingdom. By this point, you’ve probably realized that this is NOT your standard Lucifer story. Rather, Jameson uses Christian mythology and modifies it to craft this complex and incredible universe. And when I say complex, I mean really, really complex! I was impressed throughout the entire book at just how much thought obviously went into the world-building for this novel.

The characters are all just as intriguing. My personal favorite was Sariel, Lucifer’s decidedly scuzzy brother. And Lucifer himself is a hero you’ll easily find yourself rooting for. Milton would be proud.

Other than an occasional unevenness in tone, the book is superbly written, sometimes outrageously funny, sometimes action-packed, sometimes even heartbreaking. I highly recommend Lucifer’s Odyssey to anyone looking for a great read that’s not your standard fare.

4/5 Stars.

Buy on Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Lucifers-Odyssey-Primal-Patterns-ebook/dp/B005JPE8WW

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Lucifers-Odyssey-Rex-Jameson/dp/0983935114

Rubber duckie, you're the one...

2012-02-03T05:32:00.000-08:00

Last week, I started a feature called Cover of the Week, and this week I'm ending it.

Rest in peace, Cover of the Week.

Essentially, I thought it was too similar to Paranormal Indie of the Day, so I figured I'd switch it up a bit. The problem is I'm not entirely sure what to put here. I'm entertaining the idea of starting a weekly feature called Funky Find Friday where I'll post interesting or amusing things I find online relating to the paranormal genre.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments. If there's something else you'd like to see on the blog, let me know!

In the meantime, check out these vampire rubber ducks!

These little darlings can be bought at OrientalTrading.com, if you're interested in owning them. Or twelve. Or a gross! Their product page is here.

I personally like the Lestat duck. At least, I think that one's supposed to be Lestat. It also kinda looks like Dee Snider.

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Ghost of a Threat by Beth Dolgner

2012-02-02T05:01:00.000-08:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Ghost of a Threat, Book One of the Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter series by Beth Dolgner!

Normal young women go on dates on Saturday nights. Betty “Boo” Boorman goes on ghost hunts. The paranormal investigator is more comfortable around ghosts than guys, anyway.

A violent haunting forces Betty to team up with her rival ghost hunter, the arrogant Carter Lansford. When the violence is turned toward her, though, Betty enlists the help of a handsome stranger, who introduces himself simply as Maxwell, Demon.

Her ghost hunting is cut short when she’s threatened and, finally, attacked. Either someone wants her to stay away from a paranormal investigation or Maxwell is more trouble than she realizes. As Betty begins to fall for Maxwell’s mysterious charm, she starts to wonder if her life—and her soul—are worth the risk.

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Threat-Betty-Hunter-ebook/dp/B0060PYKEQ/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghost-of-a-threat-beth-dolgner/1106608640?ean=9780615552736&itm=1&usri=beth%252bdolgner
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ghost-of-a-threat/id475874833?mt=11

Awkward Vampire Moments: Episode Two: Meeting at the Carnival

2012-02-01T06:02:00.000-08:00

Awkward Vampire Moments

Episode Two

Meeting at the Carnival

The next time I saw him, my girlfriend and I were just stepping off the Tilt-O-Whirl. I never imagined vampires went to carnivals. It didn’t quite seem their speed. Too deep-fried.

Well, the Tilt-O-Whirl definitely wasn’t my girlfriend’s speed. While she recovered, I approached him. He grinned, said he remembered me. I, for some reason, invited him to join us.

We took him to The Hall of Mirrors. I’m not sure if I was saddened or embarrassed by the way he stared into each empty mirror. He muttered, “This is…” He sequestered any emotion in his eyes. “This is boring.”

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com)

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Angel Fire: The First Book of Fallen Angels by Valmore Daniels

2012-01-31T05:19:00.000-08:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Angel Fire: The First Book of Fallen Angels by Valmore Daniels!

My name is Darcy Anderson, and I am cursed with a dark power: Whenever my life is in danger, something inside me summons elemental fire to protect me. I cannot control this.

One night, I was attacked in my home. The fire ... it raged out of control. I survived the inferno, but my house burned to the ground - with my parents inside.

I was at a loss to explain to the courts what happened, and so they sent me to prison for ten years for manslaughter.

Now I'm out on parole, and all I want is to return to my home town and rebuild my life; but the man who attacked me is back to finish the job he started.

I can sense the power in me growing. If I can't control it, it will control me and destroy everything - and everyone - I love.

WHERE TO BUY:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004K6MHSI

Mending Your Shorts: Tips for Short Story Writing

2012-01-30T05:58:00.000-08:00

According to Ray Bradbury, the average writer should hone his skills by writing short stories rather than novels. If one writes a short story a week, Bradbury says, one has many opportunities for success and accomplishment. On the other hand, if one writes a novel, he argues, one spends a whole year working on it, and in the end… it might not even be good.

I don’t want to argue with Ray Bradbury of all people, so I won’t, but I do think short stories are an excellent way for a writer to stay on their toes and keep their senses sharp. I’ve been working on polishing a collection of shorts I plan to release this Spring called Thoroughly Modern Monsters, and today I’m offering a few helpful hints for aspiring short story writers.

1. Work on that ending! A good short story ends with a bang and leaves the reader just slightly wanting more; never give the reader too much. Do this, and you’ll have a better chance of writing a short story that sticks with the reader after they’ve finished reading it.

2. Make every detail count! Every scene, every character, every line! You don’t have as many words to play with, so especially keep this in mind when editing. It’s important to trim the fat in a novel, but it’s even more important when you only have a few thousand words or so in the piece.

3. Listen to Hemingway! Hemingway’s famous Tip of the Iceberg theory should play a big part in short story writing. Flesh out every little detail of your characters, the world in which your story takes place, the backstory, etc., but only show your readers the tip of the iceberg.

4. Set goals! Tell yourself you want to finish one short story per week or five per month. Working toward these smaller goals will give you a collection of stories to work with in no time.

5. Go crazy! The length of a short story gives you freedom to try different things and get pieces done more quickly. Since a short story is not as much as a time investment as a novel, use this as an opportunity to really spread your wings.

Do you have tips to share for short story writers? Let us know in the comments!

Paranormal Indie of the Day: From Out of Chaos by Nathan Wrann

2012-01-29T04:52:00.000-08:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is From Out of Chaos by Nathan Wrann, the second book in the Dark Matter Heart series!

The Cor Griffin Bloodsuckers' story continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Matter Heart.

Cor, Taylor and Caitlyn have put an end to The Creeper’s reign of terror, but at what cost? The teens’ lives are thrust deeper into turmoil as Detectives Tolliver and Orlovsky keep Cor under surveillance; Caitlyn copes with her transformation, and Taylor sets off a cataclysmic chain of events that will tragically change their lives forever.

"From Out Of Chaos" is Book 2 in the "Dark Matter Heart" Trilogy.

WHERE TO BUY:

Kindle: http://amzn.to/chaoskindle
Paperback: Coming soon!

Review: Dead(ish) by Naomi Kramer

2012-01-28T05:56:00.000-08:00

I picked up Dead(ish) by Naomi Kramer for free on Christmas, and I immediately noticed something about the reviews. Either readers adored it or were incredibly critical of it.

As always, I appear to be the odd man out. I’m so ‘middle-of-the-road’ with this short story, that I’m giving it 2.5/5. I didn’t adore it, but I certainly didn’t hate it, either.

The concept of the story is cute, and at times, the tale is laugh out loud funny. Dead(ish) follows a ghost as she attempts to solve the mystery behind her death and introduces the reader to some very memorable and amusing characters along the way. But while the characters themselves are fairly engaging, the plot ends up being a little scatterbrained and thin. The story would’ve benefited from a little more fleshing out. The format was also a little on the rough side, leaping too frequently from one point-of-view to another.

All in all, a cute story, but not without its flaws.

2.5/5 Stars

Download the book here: http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-ish-ebook/dp/B003XVYJ2S

Cover(s) of the Week: Winterborne and Ravenstoke by Augusta Blythe

2012-01-27T06:01:00.000-08:00

When I decided I wanted to do a weekly feature dedicated to showing off some of the best indie book covers in the genre, there was one I knew immediately I wanted to feature, and that was Winterborne by Augusta Blythe.

The cover is elegant, simple, but striking all at once, and it's still one of my favorites. Fortunately, when I e-mailed Augusta about the feature, she informed me that the sequel to Winterborne, Ravenstoke, was available now, as well. Unsurprisingly, the cover for Ravenstoke is just as gorgeous!

If you're interested in purchasing the books, here is where you can:

Winterborne (paperback coming soon):

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Winterborne-Universe-Unbound-ebook/dp/B004XW3FE4

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winterborne-Universe-Unbound/dp/B004XW3FE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305980303&sr=8-1

Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/Winterborne-Universe-Unbound/dp/B004XW3FE4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1305980350&sr=8-4

Ravenstoke:

http://www.amazon.com/Ravenstoke-Universe-Unbound-ebook/dp/B006IEXF1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ravenstoke-augusta-blythe/1107875510

Interview with Edenmary Black, author of Sanctum Angels: Shadow Havens Book 1

2012-01-26T05:24:00.000-08:00

Greetings, readers! Today, we're hearing from Edenmary Black, author of the book Sanctum Angels: Shadow Havens Book 1. Check out the blurb:

When Priana Grey walks into a bank, she isn’t expecting to be taken hostage by a violent thief; nor, is she expecting Detective Joe Cafaris to offer his life for hers. The stepdaughter of fallen angels of the Sanctum, she has concealed her true nature to move among humans for years, but Joe’s courage astounds her. Although she knows that falling in love with a human is a disaster, she just can’t ignore what she feels.

Joe is a tough loner, cool in the most dangerous situations, but he’s not ready for the scorching desire he feels for Priana. He has a million logical reasons to walk away, but his heart wants something else.

Priana’s stepbrother, Keirc, warns that she’ll find only misery with Joe, yet he guards a perilous secret of his own. His lover, Iridea, is the daughter of Sebastien Galaurus, a ruthless vampire who leads the Demesne, a powerful supernatural haven quite unlike the Sanctum.

When a stunning crisis forces Priana into the heart of the Demesne, a maelstrom explodes in the shadow of supernatural havens on the brink of war, where fallen angels, vampires, weres and daemons call the shots and humans are viewed as critically frail - a place where men and supernaturals can die.

Warning: The book contains descriptive material and scenes of explicit sexual encounters between consenting male and female adults. It is intended for adult readers only.

Find out how to purchase the book at the end of the interview!

--

Tell us a bit about the inspiration for Sanctum Angels: Shadow Havens Book 1.

The initial inspiration started with a collection of isolated buildings I saw while on a very long drive. They were off the highway a bit and since they were distant and I only saw them for a moment or two, I wondered who might live or work there. While they seemed rather opulent from a distance, I couldn’t be sure if they were homes or something else. That ‘something else’ question grew in my mind and the idea of a haven for supernaturals started taking shape. At around the same time, I had characters growing and rattling around in my mind, demanding attention as characters will. So, if a haven for supernaturals existed, would those living there have enemies? Well, of course, they would! That’s where Sanctum Angels: Shadow Havens Book 1 started.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in your book? Why or why not?

It would be fun to go out with Pria to catch a movie and Iridea would be great to shop with. Joe’s an intense guy, so it would be enjoyable to watch him relax over a pizza. Sebastien, on the other hand, doesn’t view humans as equals, so that wouldn’t work. He’s rather irascible most of the time.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I do and I’ve read many great authors over the years, including indies. The variety available to readers right now is wonderful.

One thing that is different about Sanctum Angels: Shadow Havens Book 1 from some of the other titles and series is that the action happens in the world of humanity as well as the supernatural. It’s a little different from a plot involving only supernatural settings or characters, although I love the world building in many of those kinds of stories too. I wanted readers to look around themselves after reading it, and wonder if all they see, is all there is. Another possible difference is that the havens themselves are home to all different kinds of supernaturals. The Sanctum, for example, was founded by two fallen death angels and is populated by vampires, weres and daemons, so the plot isn’t about vampires and daemons slugging it out. The conflict is more haven-centric.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

Anyone who has ever felt helpless in the face of a loved one’s struggle against illness will understand Ilea’s desperation when they read the ebook’s Prologue. Readers who have tried to help others in dangerous situations should understand the decisions Joe and Priana make in the Chapter One. Ever felt the world falling away when you looked into a lover’s eyes, despite the fact that this could never be? You’ll have something in common with Keirc and Iridea by the end of the second chapter. And, if you’ve ever run, flown or driven through hell because you had to get somewhere faster than lightning, you’ll understand what Pria does near the end of the book.

What I hope readers to find in Sanctum Angels: Shadow Havens Book 1 are compelling characters they can relate to, a driving plot featuring against-the-odds love and a number of surprising twists that force the players into dangerous decisions.

Readers can visit my website, http://www.edenmaryblack.com/, and read the complete Prologue and Chapter One by clicking the ‘Excerpt’ button. It’s a good way to see if the ebook is something they might enjoy.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

I’m working on the edits of Sanctum Warriors: Shadow Havens Book 2. It has not been published yet; however, there is an excerpt from it, included at the end of Sanctum Angels: Shadow Havens Book 1. The action in the second book begins almost exactly where the first book ends.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Unicorns have always fascinated me. Unicorns that could shift like werewolves would be extremely cool. An angel paired with a unicorn, against some form of evil, would be a force to be reckoned with. I might have to seriously consider that.

Thanks for stopping by, Edenmary! I wish you all the best, and if you, gentle reader, are interested in buying Sanctum Angels, here is where you can:

eBookIt.com: http://www.ebookit.com/books/0000001397/Sanctum-Angels-Shadow-Havens-Book-1.html

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Sanctum-Angels-Shadow-Havens-ebook/dp/B006T8IRL6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326143200&sr=1-1

BarnesandNoble.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sanctum-angels-shadow-havens-book-1-edenmary-black/1108123603?ean=2940013688216&itm=1&usri=sanctum+angels+shadow+havens+book+1

Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Sanctum-Angels-Shadow-Havens-Book-1/book-s0uNJDAeC0SP3dZ1B5YhIQ/page1.html

Sony’s ReaderStore: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/edenmary-black/sanctum-angels-shadow-havens-book-1/_/R-400000000000000574444

iBookstore for iPad or iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/edenmary-black/id492780550?mt=11

Awkward Vampire Moments Episode One: A Chance Encounter

2012-01-25T06:11:00.000-08:00

Episode One: A Chance Encounter

The first time I met him, he was in a dark alley, stuffing a dead body into a dumpster. The corpse’s arm hung out the side, just a piece of meat now.

I might’ve stared.

He wiped blood from around his mouth, licked it from his fingers, then licked it from the corpse’s fingers. He turned to me.

“Got a light?”

While I lit his cigarette, he looked over my shoulder and across the street to an Asian bistro. “Sushi,” he spat. “How do people eat that shit?”

Then he left, but I had a feeling I’d see him again.

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

A Little Housekeeping...

2012-01-23T06:03:00.000-08:00

Greetings, readers! I’ve been doing a lot of planning for the new year here at Independent Paranormal. We’re going to have a few new features here at the blog, and we’ll hopefully get something like a schedule in the process.

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays will still be days dedicated to interviewing authors and promoting their works, but there are four other days of the week with which I can work, people!

Review Mondays/Saturdays.

Before we get any further, let me make this clear: I am not accepting review requests. Sorry! I am posting reviews for books I read at my own leisure. However, if you submit for an interview or a feature here at Indie Paranormal, I am more likely to read your book. Just saying, haha! Reviews will be posted here and also at Goodreads.

Note that if I have no reviews to post, Monday will be used for general posts or updates and Saturday will be my day off.

Awkward Vampire Moment Wednesdays.

I have a humorous (I hope!) series of tweets I make tagged with #AwkwardVampireMoments that many people have told me they enjoy, but sometimes 140 characters just isn’t enough! That’s why I’m going to start the Awkward Vampire Moment drabble series. 100 words of awkward vampire goodness posted each Wednesday!

Paranormal Cover of the Week Fridays.

It does what it says on the tin! Each Friday, I’ll honor a particularly stunning cover of an indie book in the paranormal/urban fantasy/horror genre.

And there we have it, a week’s worth of literary delight! But I can’t do it all on my own. Help spread the word about the blog! Tell your friends! The more the merrier!

The schedule will go into effect on Wednesday, January 25^th. So be on the look out for awkward vampire shenanigans then.

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Dark Matter Heart by Nathan Wrann

2012-01-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Dark Matter Heart by Nathan Wrann! Check out the blurb (and the awesome cover):

A new town. A new school. A new beginning. Seventeen year-old Cordell Griffin and his mother move from Los Angeles to the Pacific Northwest to deal with his "allergies," and start a healthier new life. Cor has one goal: To blend in and be invisible. Unfortunately for him, no matter how far he goes, he can't run away from his secrets. Secrets about who he is. Secrets about why he's sick. And secrets about why so many people he meets end up dead, drained of blood.

In "Dark Matter Heart", the origin novel in the "Cor Griffin Bloodsuckers" Young Adult Paranormal Thriller series from filmmaker and author Nathan Wrann, Cor must uncover the mysteries of his past and conquer the secrets of the present in order to protect the girl of his future, and save himself.

WHERE TO BUY:

Kindle: http://amzn.to/DMHKindle

Paperback: http://bit.ly/DMHcsp

Review: Hard Day's Knight by John G. Hartness

2012-01-20T13:27:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, first off, that I finished Hard Day’s Knight by John G. Hartness months ago. But I decided that it deserves a review! Better late than never, right?

I can now safely say that this book was one of my favorites I read in 2011, definitely in the top five! Very few books grab me from the very first paragraph, the first sentence, even, but this book passed that test with flying colors. Hard Day’s Knight is engaging and amusing and just a delight to read. I mean, what’s not to like about a buddy comedy where two vampires fight evil?

And speaking of those two vampires, Jimmy and Greg, our heroes, are fantastic characters. The reader can identify with them. These are just two average guys who happen to drink blood and run a private detective service. The narrative point-of-view (first person with Jimmy as narrator) helps, too, giving the book a great personal feeling, as though a friend is telling the reader the story. It’s very well done.

The book is quick-paced, equal parts action and comedy with a little romance thrown in for good measure. It’s the perfect equation for a great book. The plot, which follows Greg and Jimmy as they investigate strange disappearances connected to some seriously evil mojo, is simple, but engaging, and never gets too convoluted or caught up in itself.

There are, I am told, several more books out in this series now. I’m terribly behind as I only own the first two, but I can guarantee you I’ll buy and read the rest, too!

5/5 Stars

Learn more about the book here at Goodreads or purchase the book for Kindle here.

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Sanctum Angels: Shadow Havens Book 1 by Edenmary Black

2012-01-19T06:24:00.000-08:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Sanctum Angels: Shadow Havens Book 1 by Edenmary Black! Check out the blurb:

Warning: The following work contains descriptive material and scenes of explicit sexual encounters between consenting male and female adults. It is intended for adult readers only.

When Priana Grey walks into a bank, she isn’t expecting to be taken hostage by a violent thief; nor, is she expecting Detective Joe Cafaris to offer his life for hers. The stepdaughter of fallen angels of the Sanctum, she has concealed her true nature to move among humans for years, but Joe’s courage astounds her. Although she knows that falling in love with a human is a disaster, she just can’t ignore what she feels.

Joe is a tough loner, cool in the most dangerous situations, but he’s not ready for the scorching desire he feels for Priana. He has a million logical reasons to walk away, but his heart wants something else.

Priana’s stepbrother, Keirc, warns that she’ll find only misery with Joe, yet he guards a perilous secret of his own. His lover, Iridea, is the daughter of Sebastien Galaurus, a ruthless vampire who leads the Demesne, a powerful supernatural haven quite unlike the Sanctum.

When a stunning crisis forces Priana into the heart of the Demesne, a maelstrom explodes in the shadow of supernatural havens on the brink of war, where fallen angels, vampires, weres and daemons call the shots and humans are viewed as critically frail - a place where men and supernaturals can die.

WHERE TO BUY:

eBookIt.comhttp://www.ebookit.com/books/0000001397/Sanctum-Angels-Shadow-Havens-Book-1.html

Amazon.com:http://www.amazon.com/Sanctum-Angels-Shadow-Havens-ebook/dp/B006T8IRL6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326143200&sr=1-1

BarnesandNoble.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sanctum-angels-shadow-havens-book-1-edenmary-black/1108123603?ean=2940013688216&itm=1&usri=sanctum+angels+shadow+havens+book+1

Kobo Bookshttp://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Sanctum-Angels-Shadow-Havens-Book-1/book-s0uNJDAeC0SP3dZ1B5YhIQ/page1.html

Sony’s ReaderStorehttp://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/edenmary-black/sanctum-angels-shadow-havens-book-1/_/R-400000000000000574444

iBookstore for iPad or iPhonehttp://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/edenmary-black/id492780550?mt=11

Or you can read an excerpt at http://www.edenmaryblack.com/!

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Taking Control by Kimberly Mullican

2012-01-12T06:08:00.000-08:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Taking Control by Kimberly Mullican! Check out the blurb:

Kat Trueblood, genetically engineered medium and former CIA Agent, thought she had escaped the danger and drama of her previous life. She has a stable job as a paralegal, is dating her first girlfriend, and has plenty of time to spend with her best friend and guardian – a ghost named Grant.

In denial about missing the action of her former life, Kat’s thrust head first back into it when the Russian mafia – the same guys who raped and tortured her for two weeks during active duty – targets her and her family. The CIA forces her to choose between working with the FBI to catch a serial killer who is slaughtering area drag queens or leaving her family at risk.

Distracted by discovering Grant is in love with her and her girlfriend ending up on the suspect list, Kate finds herself as the hunted instead of the hunter. Captured by the killer, she must face her inner demons in order to survive and end the serial killer’s mayhem.

WHERE TO BUY:

Kindle & Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Control-ebook/dp/B005LPTP4Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315517025&sr=8-1

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taking-control-kimberly-mullican/1105446112?ean=2940012996459

Interview with Barry Napier, author of Everything Theory: Cold Compass

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Greetings, everyone! Today Barry Napier stops by to talk about his brand new release, Everything Theory: Cold Compass. Check out the blurb:

Gabe is a disenchanted twenty year-old that has been dragged down for most of his life by the bizarre legacy his deceased father left behind. At the age of seventeen, Gabe was contacted by government employees that once worked with his father, offering him an outrageous salary if he would take part in an effort to revitalize his father’s work. Bit by bit, Gabe discovers that the work his father was involved in was incredibly strange. His father was viewed by his peers as a mad scientist of sorts, dabbling in controversial projects concerning genetics manipulation, advanced space exploration, time travel, and ESP.

Cold Compass, the first book in the Everything Theory series, opens as Gabe is tasked with his first assignment as an unofficial member of a shadow organization known as the Center for Scientific Anomalous Research (CSAR). With the assistance of a CSAR official posing as an FBI agent, Gabe travels to the small town of Hasper, North Carolina where people are being killed by an ancient evil that lurks beneath the town. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Gabe learns that it could all very well be the result of one of his father’s failed studies.

Along the way, Gabe must also contend with the fact that he is beginning to see ghosts and is being hunted down by an enigmatic figure that calls himself Garrison Sleet. As he slowly unravels the mysteries of his father, Gabe slowly understands that even the evil lurking beneath Hasper is tied to not only his father’s work, but to some integral part of him as well.

Find out where to purchase the book at the end of the interview!

--

Tell us a bit about the inspiration for Everything Theory.

I was watching an old episode of The Twilight Zone...the episode where a small passenger plane is found out a small-town airport and no one knows how it got there or who it belonged to. It had a very X-Files sort of vibe to it. I jokingly thought how Mulder and Scully would have wrapped that case up pretty quickly. And then my mind just sort of took off. I've made no secrets of my love for The X-Files. In many ways, Everything Theory is sort of my love letter to the show. To me, the most intriguing part of the entire series was the character development and the layers upon layers of conspiracies that all overlapped. All of this started stirring in a cauldron and eventually, Everything Theory was born.

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?

I knew I wanted to write after reading Clive Barker's Great and Secret Show. It's one of those books that stretches the imagination. I have never even considered that fiction could be so diverse and creative. So I very clumsily started trying to write. I then started studying it (both on my own and in high school). Eventually, it became the thing I wanted to do with my life.

What are your writing patterns like? Do you set aside a large chunk of the day for writing or is it more spaced out?

Regrettably, I don't have any real patterns. The only routine I have is that I always spend my lunch breaks writing (I haven't managed to securely write for a living yet, so I have the 9-5 thing to keep me afloat). But every now and then I'll get the strong urge to write feverishly. And when I feel that coming on, I do everything I can to schedule out a nice chunk of time. It's odd, actually. My writing tends to come in 30 minute trickles or 4-5 hour marathons.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in Everything Theory? Why or why not?

A few...particularly Gabe, the lead character. As a matter of fact, as my wife was beta-reading it, she made the comment: "So I Gabe supposed to be you?" I hadn't even realized it until she pointed it out, but Gabe and I share a lot in common, right down to musical preferences and food cravings. As for the other characters in the book...I don't know. It's very hard to know who to trust in Everything Theory.

E-book or paperback? Why?

Personally, I prefer paperback. And I honestly don't know why. It's almost as if it's a more intimate reading experience. Still, I love the convenience and accessibility that e-readers offer.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

Most of the time, yes. But I am trying to branch out my reading list. A recent Barnes and Noble run had me pick up titles by Joyce Carol Oates and Cormac MacCarthy. But I still like most horror and supernatural stories. if there is one difference between what I write and what I read, it's that I do like it, on occasion, when subtle religious or spiritual overtones present themselves in a story. That's something I don't feel that I have mastered quite yet, so I stay away from such devices when writing.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

As I said, this book is basically my love-letter to The X-Files. Anyone who liked the creepiness of the monster-of-the-week episodes and the deep conspiracy plotting should find a comfortable place to rest in the pages of Everything Theory. Knowing that there would be obvious claims that I was writing an X-Files or even a Fringe knock-off, I have taken great care to make Everything Theory its own unique story. There are characters and settings that are special to the story. And, on occasion, the horror I grew up on pokes its head out in all of its brutal glory.

Do you find music inspirational when writing? If so, what kind of music inspired Everything Theory?

Absolutely. I am a music junkie. And, according to many, a music snob. I have to have music going when writing. Knowing that there was a certain mood I'd need to achieve in Everything Theory, I actually spent quite a few hours making a Spotify playlist specifically for it (those on Spotify can follow me and check it out; my username is ghosts_in_(parentheses) if interested). The playlist includes some fairly dark and gloomy artists:, but some serene instrumentals as well: Fever Ray, Radiohead, Carbon Based Lifeforms and so on. As a matter of fact, I think I probably listened to Carbon Based Lifeforms' Interloper roughly five thousand times while writing Book 1 of Everything Theory.

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?

I honestly have no idea. I'm still trying to figure out this marketing side of things myself.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

I have wrapped up Book 2 of Everything Theory and will go through final edits soon. I have also started roughing out a first draft of Book 3. On the heels of that, I am also editing a poetry anthology and working on another novel outside of the Everything Theory universe.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Huldufólk (Icelandic elves) and trolls. (Something I am actually working on...)

Thanks for stopping by, Barry, and the best of luck to you! And if you, gentle reader, are interested in buying Everything Theory: Cold Compass, here is where you can:

Amazon(Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Theory-Cold-Compass-ebook/dp/B006VUL3I6

Review: Ancient Awakening by Matthew Bryan Laube

2012-01-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

As if hospitals weren’t scary enough, Matthew Bryan Laube takes it to the next level in Ancient Awakening. This hospital has been taken over by werewolves and vampires and even the scaliest, nastiest demons I’ve ever seen.

The book follows everyman cop Mike Samson and Ann Melakh, an unstable bio student, as they traverse the hospital and fight these monsters alongside Joseph Miller. Miller has a bit of an advantage, of course. He kills these things for a living.

Ancient Awakening is really fun. It is the book equivalent of a SyFy original movie, and I mean that in the best way possible! It never pretends to be something it’s not. This book is unadulterated demon butt-kicking from start to finish. And to liven up the journey even more, we’re given the incredibly entertaining Joseph Miller to guide us. Miller is a little crazy and a little brilliant, and he’s a real treat to read.

The book’s prose is admittedly a bit rocky at some points, occasionally relying too heavily on telling, rather than showing. It also took me a long time to warm up to the character of Ann. She seemed very whiny and petty at first, but as the book progressed, she grew on me. The crazier she got, the more I liked her!

I’d recommend this book to someone looking for a quick and fun read. It was definitely entertaining, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book with Joseph Miller!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Buy the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Awakening-The-ebook/dp/B002RL9QUA

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Immortal Decision by Kim Mullican

2012-01-08T04:45:00.000-08:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Immortal Decision by Kim Mullican! Check out the blurb:

Flora, a half-human half-vampire, has searched over a hundred years for her soul mate. As if being a half-breed wasn’t complicated enough, she needs to find her soul mate soon, or she will begin to die. The only family she has is a vampire who spent his mortal years as a priest, and he’s suicidal.

Stefan, the suicidal vampire priest and Flora’s surrogate father, has searched for two centuries for a nephilim that could end his two centuries of suffering.

Flora finds Stefan’s nephilim, an unknowing American named William and the spawn of Michael the Archangel. Only then does she discover that he is the soul mate she’s been searching for. Already showing signs of aging, Flora must decide whether to foil Stefan’s plans to save William’s life, and through him, her own life.

These three lives collide in twisted supernatural triangle of survival, love and death.

WHERE TO BUY:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006SP4S86
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/immortal-decision-kim-mullican/1108117583?ean=2940013699304

Keep On Spreading the Holiday Cheer.

2012-01-01T03:59:00.000-08:00

I am happy to say that my family and acquaintances listened to me this year when they asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I didn’t end up with any ugly sweaters or counfounding as-seen-on-TV kitchen appliances.

I got Amazon gift cards.

And I’m already stocking up on books for my Kindle, many of them by paranormal indie authors. I’ve discovered some fantastic authors in 2011, and I’m super excited to dive into the works of some more. Here are a few books I’ve already picked up with my Christmas booty.

Broods of Fenrir by Coral Moore

Shapeshifter Brand Geirson was raised to rule the Broods of Fenrir, but he refused his birthright. Instead, he killed their brutal leader–his own father–and walked away.

For hundreds of years he’s avoided brood society, until a werewolf kills an innocent human woman and Brand finds himself dragged back into the violent politics of the shapeshifters. When the two brood women who mean the most to him come under threat, he must take up the throne and risk becoming the kind of vicious bastard his father was, or let the broods descend further into chaos–taking the friend he swore to protect and his lover with them. BUY IT HERE.

Sunset (Pact Arcanum) by Arshad Ahsanuddin

Los Angeles, 2040. The terrorist Medusa and her followers threaten to destroy the metropolis with a nuclear bomb. One individual, the vampire Nicholas Jameson, comes forward to oppose them. As Nick takes on the terrorists, the fragile peace between the races hangs perilously in the balance as the supernatural peoples are exposed. Can Nick lead the four races into peaceful coexistence, or will the final war destroy them all?

With millennia-old magic, emerging romance, and ever-shifting allegiances, this inventive new series unveils a scintillating, homoerotic world of Nightwalkers, Daywalkers, Sentinels, and Humans, who battle for world dominance in the not-too-distant future. BUY IT HERE.

Restless Spirits by Jean Marie Bauhaus

Ghost hunter Veronica ″Ron″ Wilson gets killed in the line of duty; but after she herself becomes a ghost, trapped in the house where she died, she realizes that the mystery has just begun. She and several other ghosts are being held prisoner in the house by the same sadistic spirit that killed them. Their captor likes to entertain itself by torturing its fellow ghosts, and as if that isn′t bad enough, it appears to have the ability to kill ghosts, devouring the poor souls for whom it no longer has any use. Ron′s only hope is to convince the other terrified ghosts to rally together to find a way to defeat the evil spirit so they can move on to their final rest. But Ron′s not in any hurry to get there once she discovers that there′s still a lot of living to do after death. BUY IT HERE.

The Devil and Preston Black by Jason Jack Miller

Preston Black has a nasty habit of falling in love with the wrong type of woman. But girls who don't play nice are the least of his problems. This handsome bar band guitarist isn't washed-up, but he's about to be. He's broke, he's tired of playing covers and he's obsessed with the Curse of 27.

He's about to add 'deal with the devil' to his list.

Lucky for Preston, he has help. Like the angelic beauty who picks him up when he's down. And the university professor who helps him sort through old Appalachian hexes and curses to find the song that may be his only shot at redemption. And when things get real bad, he has the ghost of John Lennon to remind him that "nothing is real." BUY IT HERE.

DEAD(ish) by Naomi Kramer

Linda's had a bad day. First her boyfriend killed her. Then she woke up, still on this boring plane of existence, and with an odd obsession about her missing body. Mike won't tell her what he did with her body, and she can't find the stupid thing herself. There's only one thing she can do - torment the bastard until he coughs up the information. BUY IT HERE.

Got any recommendations? I’m still rolling in the Amazon dough! Rec something in the comments or let me know your favorite indie book of 2011!

IWU Blog Tour Interview with Helmy Kusuma

2011-12-26T05:54:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone! Today, we have a special treat. Not only has author Helmy Kusuma popped in for a interview today, but he also has a piece of flash fiction to share with us. Without further ado, here is Helmy!

--

"Another Day"

The night began to cast its dark veil upon everything, and even clouds agreed to hide the moon, but I waited there, patiently. Like a lioness I stayed mute, unmoved to the unnerved blackness. I vowed to catch my prey tonight. I had reviewed and re-reviewed the tactics. There's absolutely no way it could escape; I could almost feel its limbs crushed under my teeth.

"Kathy, what are you doing there? Come on inside, it's cold."

It's so inviting. I hesitated for a moment, but then went inside. I guessed it could live another day.

Lapping the milk, I flick my tail and purr.

Tell us a bit about the inspiration for the books you are promoting.

One day as I went through my daily office routine a thought popped up: I need to go to vacation. The universe granted my wish, in a rush, and off I went to an adventure, of love. Mementoes of Mai is basically the memento of those events.

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?

Right after those events, I decided to continue my rambling and be a writer. When I was a child I used to scribble in every note I could find, and that habit continues until this day. Of course, writing a book is another thing, but that jotting notes habit has been helping in my writing, a lot.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in your books? Why or why not?

Certainly. Mementoes of Mai is loosely, or tightly – depends on your perception, based on my own experiences, so it's only logical for me as a new writer to base the main character on myself.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

I am lousy at selling things, especially if I have to make up good and elusive words to sell it, so all I could say is Mementoes of Mai is a story about a young man who suddenly yanked out from his everyday routine and found himself in the middle of love. He has to decide which path to follow or whether he could grab them all. This is a story about love with no murder, no spies, no nuclear bombs, no futuristic gadget. Just love and that good feeling you get.

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?

I have no idea other than just put yourself everywhere you could think of. Be as funny as possible, but don't shoot yourself in the head just yet, at least not until you inherited your work to me.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

I am currently in the middle of idea haystack. There are several ideas laying around and I kind of lazy to just pick one of them. I want to grope them all. I am greedy. Please buy my book, as much as you can, links are freely provided.

Uhm…I am currently designing my science fiction 'Inverta', so stay tuned at my blog http://www.helmykusuma.com/.

Thanks, Helmy! And if you're interested in picking up one of Helmy's books, just follow the links.

A FLASH OF INSPIRATION:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66603

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BXU4M0

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005BXU4M0

THERE IS HOPE:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85561

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005L9B5S6

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005L9B5S6

MEMENTOES OF MAI:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/56911

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YWKD3Y

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004YWKD3Y

https://www.createspace.com/3631684

Learn more about Helmy Kusuma at the following sites:

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4576592.Helmy_Kusuma

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EL.Publish

Website http://www.helmykusuma.com/

Twitter @hanzpk

GIVEAWAY! Death Has a Name by Jerry Hanel

2011-12-19T05:42:00.000-08:00

December is the month that just keeps on giving here on Indie Paranormal! First off, congrats to motherearthseries on winning The Very Zombie Holiday Contest! Your gift card is in the mail. :)

Today, we're giving away five copies of Jerry Hanel's novel, Death Has a Name! The book has a stellar 4.3/5 star rating on Amazon, with reviewers cheering for more, calling it "fast-paced" and "imaginative". Check out the blurb and a sample:

There is a Truth that exists. It is active. Alive. It fights the bounds of reality to make itself known. It's not my truth. It's not anyone's truth. It is The Truth.

There are times when select individuals can see and interact with The Truth, but Brodie Wade has been able to interact with it since he was a child. It has scarred his mind and body, but it also gives him the ability to know things that he shouldn't know. Thus, he has taken employment as a psychic detective.

Working together with Detective Phil Dawson, Brodie must summon all of his will to go head-to-head with The Truth to solve the latest string of murders. It appears that Dominick Fredrickton -- the Midnight Killer -- has returned from the grave, beheading the unfortunate few that get in his way.

When The Truth confronts Brodie and tells him that he must protect the Third Key, Brodie must discover what - or who - The Third Key is and stop Death from regaining his physical form.
SAMPLE:

A middle-aged woman dashed through the darkness, then down the stairs. A man in a dark shirt was only two steps ahead. She had been attending to her mentor when she'd seen movement down the hallway. In an instant she willed herself into shadow and darted after him. She had to catch him before he escaped with her mentor's prized possession.

She held a glowing orb tightly in her right hand and a .45 in her left. Both hands were covered in blood from the man she'd always known as her mentor.

Was the beast now free from the chains that held him bound in the eternal realms? In the five years since she'd been promoted, her life had been relatively uneventful. But in the past twenty-four hours, everything had come undone. What had she become? A killer? A protector?

She wasn't sure any more. Her life was spinning out of control. She chased after the intruder, running forward at full speed toward the wall that he passed through with ease. Her heart raced and her lungs could not take in any more air. She was pushing herself to her limits trying to catch the servant of Death. If he got away, all of her kind would be in trouble. The world would be only one step away from torment beyond her comprehension.

As she neared the far wall she extended her hand, passing through as if it were a simple illusion. Emerging on the other side, she tried to get her bearings, having traveled several miles from the house she had been in only moments before. She stood directly in the middle of the street on Broadway. Cars honked and squealed as they sped by on both sides.

Frantic, she squinted left and right, searching for him, hoping that her eyes could adjust to the sudden change in scenery and lighting. Where did he go? He was right in front of her only five seconds before, a glowing orb shining around his neck. She saw the orb, but couldn't make out his face in the dark. He was one of them. He had to be. Yet she didn't recognize him. None of her kind would do what he'd done. Her ancestors were the rulers of their kind, and she knew all of them by name. At least, she thought she knew them.

Quickly darting into the nearest alley, a sensation flooded over her that she had just become the hunted. She crouched down, trying to make as small of an outline as possible on the background. Her eyes and ears ached as she tried to separate any unusual sights or sounds from the heavy din of the city.

How had he come into the possession of the sapphire orb? Her father had been protecting it for... Oh god. Her father. Was he dead, too? He lived near her former mentor, against all policies and procedures. That's why she lived in London, to spread their kind across the globe to prevent Death from regaining his power.

Her thoughts spun in her head in a series of endless, answerless questions. What had she done? Had she lead Death to his doorstep? Had she unleashed the very monster that she was destined to contain? She had held her mentor's body for several seconds back at his house. She didn't care that the blood was smearing on her hands and face. She didn't even think of the blood that soaked into her shirt.

But here, in the cool night air, the blood on her shirt sat cold on her skin, a constant reminder of the horror she'd just seen. A soft pressure on her calf caused her to squeal and point her gun at whatever was touching her.

Mew.

An orange tabby cat rubbed against her calf. She shoved the cat away with the palm of her hand and tried to swallow the lump of fear that had formed in her throat. Her heart pounded against her sternum. Taking slow, deliberate breaths to regain her composure, she continued to scan the city streets. But the more she looked around the more she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he'd slipped away.

Death's Apprentice had managed to evade her. And now that he had two orbs in-hand, she also knew that she was next. He needed three to make the set complete.

GIVEAWAY!!

Jerry Hanel is giving away five copies of Death Has a Name. All you have to do is comment on this post with YOUR NAME and E-MAIL ADDRESS to enter. The five winners will be chosen at random on December 22nd!

So, enter today and then tell all your friends to enter, too!

Book Survey Time!

2011-12-16T06:34:00.000-08:00

I feel it's time for a purely frivolous post, ladies and gents! I picked up this survey from Abnormally Paranormal Reviews (http://abnormallyparanormal.blogspot.com/), but it appears to have originally come from Broke and Bookish (http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/). At any rate, feel free to use it on your own blog!

The book I'm currently reading:

I’m currently reading Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman, which is fantastic so far. It’s a collection of short stories, one of which is a Sherlock Holmes/Lovecraft crossover. How in Hell can you say no to that? The book constantly jumps from being very whimsical to very dark to just plain funny, as is customary for Gaiman. I’m about halfway through at the moment, and unless it takes a serious nosedive sometime soon, it’s definitely going to get five stars from me.

The last book I finished:

Soulless by Gail Carriger. Read this book. No, I mean right now. Drop the mouse, get your butt off the computer and read this book. It’s a witty and unusual slice of steampunkish historical fiction with action, adventure, a werewolf after Mr. Darcy’s heart and one of the best female protagonists I’ve read in a long time. Also, there’s Lord Akeldama, the most fashionable vampire you’ll ever meet.

The next book I want to read:

I’m not entirely sure; I tend to just pick a novel from anywhere on my to-read list and go with it (structure?! Pah! What structure?). But I’m leaning towards Ancient Awakening by Matthew Bryan Laube. I picked it up when it was free over the Summer, and it looks like something that’s right up my alley.

The last book I bought:

Technically, the last book I bought was a Christmas gift for my boyfriend. I cannot say what it is, because he reads this blog, but the last book I bought for me was Changeless by Gail Carriger. I know, I’m beginning to look a little obsessed with this series. But there was a sale! You can't turn down a sale!

The last book I was given:

The last book I was given, if I remember correctly, was The Pessimist’s Handbook/The Optimist’s Handbook. An impulse buy gift from said boyfriend. That was eons ago, though. Apparently no one ever gives me any books. Anyway, the handbook(s) are fabulous collections of quotes that suit either a glass half full OR a glass half empty mentality. Perfect for any writer on any day of the week!

Interview with Coral Moore, author of Broods of Fenrir

2011-12-13T04:55:00.000-08:00

Howdy, everyone! Today we have an interview with Coral Moore, who recently released her novel Broods of Fenrir. Check out the blurb:

Shapeshifter Brand Geirson was raised to rule the Broods of Fenrir, but he refused his birthright. Instead, he killed their brutal leader–his own father–and walked away.

Find out how to purchase the book at the end of the interview!

Welcome, Coral! To start with, tell us a bit about the inspiration for Broods of Fenrir.

There were two separate bits of inspiration that combined to make this story happen. The first was a vague kind of idea of werewolves that weren’t cursed or infected. They are their own species and can hide among humans in most cases. The second piece that really clicked it all into place was a mention of the broods of Fenrir on a Wikipedia page. As soon as I read it I knew I wanted to incorporate Norse myths into the story. Their history as a race grew out of a few pieces of Norse mythology cobbled together and smooshed with some pure invention.

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?

There was no one moment. It sort of evolved out of my refusal to grow up and stop playing pretend. One day I was playing with dolls and the next I was making up stories about what the dolls were doing instead of playing with them directly. Then I was writing down stories that had nothing to do with dolls, and there you go. I wrote for a long time as a hobby only and about two years ago I decided I was going to try to make a career out of it.

What are your writing patterns like? Do you set aside a large chunk of the day for writing or is it more spaced out?

I still have a full-time job right now, so I grab time whenever I get it or whenever the mood strikes me. I’m a writer totally at the whim of my muse. I haven’t reached the point where I can make myself write if I’m not inspired.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in Broods of Fenrir? Why or why not?

Ooh, that’s a tough question. I think not. The werewolves in my world are pretty scary. Not at all the kind of guys you’d strike up a conversation with in a bar. Brand certainly wouldn’t hurt you, but that doesn’t mean you’d feel comfortable around him.

E-book or paperback? Why?

E-book. All the way. They’re just so much more convenient. I can carry 500 books around with me at one time and they all weigh less and are smaller than one paperback. Although I do have to tell you, I just got my paperback proof today and it felt like I was a real author for the first time, looking down at my name on the cover. It was a huge thrill.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I do. I like my fiction dark and that’s what I write. I would say I read more widely than I write, though. I enjoy a good thriller or mystery and I don’t think I’ll ever write in either of those genres. I’m more a speculative fiction writer at heart. I like to make up the fantastical, which you really can’t do with either thrillers or mystery.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

I took the common werewolf folklore and sort of deconstructed it. By doing that I think I’ve made them at once more human and scarier than what’s come before because the violent roots of our society are represented in their culture. Change is difficult, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try because that’s what we do, we try to be better. At its heart, that’s what this story is about, a man who tries to be better than what’s come before him.

Do you find music inspirational when writing? If so, what kind of music inspired Broods of Fenrir?

You had to ask this didn’t you? *sigh* You’re going to laugh. The song I’ve always associated with this book is Do What You Have to Do by Sarah McLachlan. You want a link so you can really get a chuckle? Sure, why not: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCIw4gc6G8Q Yes, I really am that sappy. Excuse me, I have to go hide now.

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?

Make sure every interaction you have is pleasant and professional. You don’t want to people to connect you with negative feelings, so leave them out of the equation.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

I tend to keep a lot of stories working at one time. I’m working on a second book in the Broods world, a more traditional fantasy story with a bit more romance than I’ve written before and a scif-fi story with a conman as the main character.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Dragons vs Unicorns I have no idea why, but those were the first two that occurred to me, so there you go. (I think the dragons are going to wipe the floor with those prissy unicorns personally.)

Thank you so much for such a great interview, Coral, and if you, gentle reader, are looking to buy Broods of Fenrir (or just read a sample first) here is where you can:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Broods-of-Fenrir-ebook/dp/B006AKQVR0/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006AKQVR0

B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/2940013500624

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106624

Read a sample: http://www.chaosandinsanity.com/stories/broods-of-fenrir/broods-of-fenrir-excerpt/

Interview with Athanasios, author of Commitment, for the IWU Blog Tour (+ GIVEAWAY!)

2011-12-08T05:33:00.000-08:00

Athanasios is back, ladies and gents! And today he's discussing Commitment, the sequel to Mad Gods. Not only that, he's giving away five free copies to the first five commenters! Check out the blurb:

Adam watched Mad Gods drag his father to Hell.

Melusine Rothschild, Grande Dame of the Black Nobility wants to raise him. She is part of the World Elite that live by Predatory Ethics and seek to guide him in wielding the power and influence of his dark birthright.

Adam, the teenage Antichrist/AntiXos, wants none of this. He watches his TV shows in one of Danvers Mental Hospital's nice padded rooms, snugly dressed in his own long sleeved, buckled, canvas jacket. He feels safe here away from a hostile, ravaging outside world.

He's horribly wrong.

--

To start with, tell us a bit about the inspiration for Commitment and how it fits with Mad Gods.

Commitment picks up where Mad Gods left off. Without Kostadino to protect him Adam is driven nearly insane by demons and worshipers who want to revere and deify him.
I added more factions who want Adam to be their Redeemer and still more followers who have taken up the mantle of those that fell at the end of Mad Gods. Lucifer is a much more visible and ominous presence taking a more active role in moving the plans set out in Revelation.

It's easy to fall into traps with sequels, and the idea of 'the sequel' sometimes gets a bad reputation. They may seem contrived or cheap or just a rehash of the original work. How did you make sure that this book felt just as fresh as Mad Gods?
It wasn't that hard since I killed half the characters by the end of Mad Gods. So outside of Adam and his long suffering fathers there are very few of the same characters or plots in Commitment. That's not to say that it's a totally different book, but Adam being who he is, he's going to always be hounded by some faction or followers who believe him to be their saviour. He is nobody's Christ/Xos or Antichrist/AntiXos. Also in Commitment I decided to go into different religions who now want Adam and made some of the previous factions who want him more diverse. I added splinter groups to the illuminati, demons, hellspawn and nephilim.

Who was your favorite character to write in Commitment and why?
Melusine Rothschild. She was a frightening figure who was only eclipsed by Lucifer in the dread she inspires in the Global Elite, who are themselves the world's boogeymen. She's the ultimate baddie but she also has a soft spot for Adam. She doesn't see his refusal to follow his destiny as a failing, she sees it as something he'll outgrow. She's a nurturing and loving demon noblewoman who just wants to give Adam the warmth and caring he isn't getting from Lucifer.

What's next? Is there to be a third book or is something else in the works?
There is a third book. Adam goes searching for the roots of why Kostadino decided to wrench him from his destiny in Mad Gods. He wants to know, and that's the title of Predatory Ethics 2: In Who To Trust.

What were some of the greatest challenges in writing this book?
Finding the time to do it. I've been putting all my spare time into promoting Mad Gods and a little side business of making covers for a lot of my indie writer friends.
It started as just giving my opinion on people asking what IWUers thought of their covers. Instead of giving them a dissertation about the pros and cons of their artwork I just redid it for them and most liked it.

Sorry I digressed because, it's been one of the biggest challenge in my writing. That and my regular day job.

Before we wrap up the interview, I'm giving you an opportunity to tell our readers anything at all! Why they should buy the book, writing tips, a great recipe for quiche Lorraine. Anything you want!

I'm telling whoever is reading this that I want to keep writing and keep making covers. I've discovered that I really like doing both, the writing marginally more than the covers but I'm looking forward to a time when I'll be doing covers for others, writing more of the Predatory Ethics series, and illustrating said series. I did the first chapter of Mad Gods about a year ago and liked the first effort (below).

I've since streamlined and made the illustrations much better. The style I want to achieve is a cross between a Bernie Wrightson illustrated Frankenstein (below) that come out in the 1980s,

and illuminations found in medieval texts like the Book of Kells (below).

I want to take my earlier illustrations and update them to look more like my chapter art for a limited edition version of Mad Gods (below).

Fascinating! And thank you so much for stopping by; I wish you all the best with the series!

GIVEAWAY!!!

The first five commenters will receive a copy of Commitment for free! Just comment with your name and e-mail address and I'll put you in contact with Athanasios.

Athanasios’s webpage is
http://www.mad-gods.com/

Athanasios’s Covers For Hire page is
http://www.mad-gods.com/coverHIRE.html

Purchase Commitment at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006098CSC & https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99372

A Very Zombie Holiday CONTEST! ($25 Amazon Gift Card)

2011-12-05T04:53:00.000-08:00

In honor of this most festive time of year, Independent Paranormal is holding a contest, and this season, we’re mixing zombies with the holidays! And if you win this aforementioned contest, you get a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

That’s right, a $25 Amazon Gift Card to help buy whatever you may need to prepare for any possible zombie apocalypse that may arise. (Or books. Books are cool, too.)

RULES FOR SUBMISSION:

1. Comment on this post with your name, e-mail address and what you would use as a weapon if zombies attack your home this holiday season (gotta keep with the theme of the blog!). Get creative here! Maybe you’ll impale one with a Christmas tree or run them over on your jet-powered sled.

2. You can only enter once.

3. Please follow this blog if you haven’t already. This is not mandatory, but it is greatly appreciated. :)

And that’s it! Submissions will be accepted until midnight Eastern Time on December 19^th. On the 19^th, I’ll choose a winner at random.

So enter today, and kick some zombie ass this holiday season!

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

Have Yourself a Very Paranormal Holiday Season!

2011-11-17T06:35:00.000-08:00

Halloween has come and gone, but don’t forget that supernatural beings are around us the whole year. Just because October is their time to shine doesn’t mean they just vanish on November 1^st (like the free time of any author doing NaNoWriMo).

It’s especially important that we think of our paranormal friends during the holiday season. And so I’ve compiled a list of tips for you to keep in mind while trying to make your holiday festivities paranormal-friendly.

At your Thanksgiving table, be sure to offer paranormal-friendly options. Get in touch with your local blood bank to help out any vampires you have stopping by and some raw meat would be perfect for any werewolves at your dinner table. The prep is super easy! Unwrap the meat, throw it on the table and you’re done! Beat that, Rachael Ray!

Black Friday is right around the corner! Nocturnal folks like vampires and ghosts will prefer doing their shopping before sunrise, so if you’re planning an outing with them, be sure to keep this in mind.

Inviting angels over for your holiday dinner? Make sure none of your sugar cookies look like them. It might be slightly off-putting. Angels are not always known for their senses of humor, and they’re some of the last beings you want to make mad.

Inviting demons over for your holiday dinner? Angel-shaped sugar cookies are sure to be a hit!

Parties are always a great idea this time of year! But try not to host any of your parties on nights when there will be a full moon. It’s considered rude, and werewolves are notoriously difficult to apologize to during certain times of the month.

And be sure to say hello to the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. They can be real eye-openers if you let them!

~ Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Coexist: Keegan's Chronicles by Julia Crane

2011-11-05T06:02:00.000-07:00

Hey, everyone! Check out Coexist: Keegan's Chronicles by Julia Crane, our Paranormal Indie of the Day!

Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.

In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.

An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Coexist-Keegans-Chronicles-1-ebook/dp/B0055HFZ3A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320467482&sr=8-2

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coexist-julia-crane/1103651817

Learn more by visiting http://www.juliacraneauthor.com/ and watch the book trailer here!: http://youtu.be/I9S5rXgjlok

Bigger Isn't Always Better (Or, The Problem with the Epic)

2011-11-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

In the last few years, we’ve seen the use of the word epic swell to, well… monstrous proportions (thought I was gonna say epic, didn’t you?). How many slack-jawed teens have we heard say, “Aww, dude, that is epic!” while gaming, watching TV or even just taking out the trash? And how many movies and novels proudly and perhaps even excessively boast their epicness?

I’d like to pose the question: have we become a little too obsessed with the idea of being perceived as epic?

I recently read of an author fretting because he didn’t think the novel he was outlining would be epic enough. Now certainly there’s nothing wrong with writing some sweeping adventure novel, some grandiose fantasy, but I’m beginning to see a lot of people judging the quality of a work based upon how epic it is. If there aren’t at least ten battles, it’s not worth reading!

But there is such a thing as being too epic. When a reader is so overwhelmed by the worlds and the battles and the fleets of dragons or robots or what-have-you that they no longer care about the characters or the relationships in the book, it’s too epic. People can’t forget that at the core of every work, there still needs to be a good, solid storyline and characters that the reader can relate to. Without these, it doesn’t matter how big your book is; it’s going to suffer.

The other problem with going too epic is that it can be difficult to top. Let’s say in book three of your series, your characters successfully avert the Apocalypse (a surprisingly common mission for literary characters). It’s not easy to get any bigger than the Apocalypse!

Never underestimate the power of a good, simple story with well-rounded characters. Sometimes stories like these are the ones that touch readers most of all. Certainly not every writer needs to be the Michael Bay of fiction (actually… scratch that. NO writer needs to be the Michael Bay of fiction).

If you can balance a good story and characters with a plot that could be considered epic, then by all means go for it. I just ask that writers and readers alike keep in mind that bigger is definitely not always better.

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

Welcome Halloween Blog Hoppers!

2011-10-28T06:09:00.000-07:00

I normally prefer my blog posts to have some substance. Writing tips! Book recommendations! Author interviews! They need some body, or I just won’t feel like I’m doing my job.

But not today.

Put on your costume and bring an old VHS of your favorite horror movie! This is Independent Paranormal’s Completely Frivolous and Only-Slightly-Scary Halloween Post!

Since we are a stop on the Halloween Blog Hop this year, I figured I’d make a post where all visitors could get together and chat about all things spooky.

My Halloween Stats:

This year, I’m dressing up as the 11^th Doctor of Doctor Who fame. Dig the fez? Fezzes are cool.

My favorite Halloween viewing material? Ghostbusters. Just listening to the theme makes me feel like a badass.

And for a little Halloween reading, check out John G. Hartness’s Hard Day’s Knight, a comical page-turner about two vampire private eyes up against Hellish forces.

And what about you? Comment with your Halloween costume, favorite Halloween film, a book recommendation, Halloween recipe or more! Also be sure to tell us a bit about your blog, too, and hopefully you’ll pick up some followers.

Let’s get the party started!

IWU Blog Tour Interview with Author Jean Marie Bauhaus

2011-10-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

Hey, everyone! Halloween is just around the corner, and tonight we have a treat, a special Halloween interview with paranormal author Jean Marie Bauhaus. Check out the blurb for her novel, Restless Spirits, which is free at Smashwords through Halloween with the coupon code: FU23M

Ghost hunter Veronica ″Ron″ Wilson gets killed in the line of duty; but after she herself becomes a ghost, trapped in the house where she died, she realizes that the mystery has just begun. She and several other ghosts are being held prisoner in the house by the same sadistic spirit that killed them. Their captor likes to entertain itself by torturing its fellow ghosts, and as if that isn′t bad enough, it appears to have the ability to kill ghosts, devouring the poor souls for whom it no longer has any use. Ron′s only hope is to convince the other terrified ghosts to rally together to find a way to defeat the evil spirit so they can move on to their final rest. But Ron′s not in any hurry to get there once she discovers that there′s still a lot of living to do after death.

--

Welcome, Jean! To start with, tell us a bit about the inspiration for Restless Spirits.

I'd just seen The Grudge, and it got me to thinking about what might happen to the ghosts of people who get killed by a malevolent spirit hell-bent on vengeance. Do they in turn become malevolent spirits hell-bent on vengeance, or do they gang up and take out their vengeance on the spirit that killed them? Fast forward a few years to when I was watching a lot of Ghost Hunters on SciFi, and I thought it would be fun to write a novel with a paranormal investigator as the protagonist. Then I remembered my previous idea and it all just came together.

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?

It happened gradually over time, since I've been making up stories for as long as I can remember, but it was really my 8th grade English teacher who convinced me that I had the talent to make something of myself as a writer. I think that's when it became my ambition.

What are your writing patterns like? Do you set aside a large chunk of the day for writing or is it more spaced out?

It depends on what else is going on in my life. A large chunk of the day to devote to writing isn't really a luxury that most of us have, so I've trained myself to write in 20 minute sprints whenever the opportunity presents itself. But I usually try to make one or two of those sprints one of the first things I do every morning. I always feel a lot better about my day if I start it out having added words to my novel.

Since this is a ghost story, I thought I'd throw in some Halloween questions throughout the interview. First off, what's your favorite Halloween/Autumn treat?

This time of year, I usually develop addictions to Reese's pumpkins and to pumpkin-flavored coffee. It's not officially Fall until I get my first Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in Restless Spirits? Why or why not?

Probably not, because they're ghosts, and ghosts scare me. Even though I don't entirely believe in them, just the idea of them freaks me out. But personality-wise, my protagonist is totally someone I would hang out with if she was corporeal.

E-book or paperback? Why?

Restless Spirits is available in both formats. I was planning to do both for my next novel as well, but so far my e-book sales have been far better than my paperback sales, which is leading me to wonder whether paperbacks are worth the bother.

Do you watch many horror/supernatural movies? If so, what's your favorite and did that inspire you to write a ghost story?

I've always been a big fan of horror movies, although I tend to like monster and slasher movies better than ghost stories; mainly because, as mentioned earlier, ghosts freak me out. Movies about ghosts and demons and exorcism--those tend to stay with me and give me the wiggins in the middle of the night (I STILL have nightmares about that little girl from The Ring). I enjoy a good scare, but I prefer to be able to shake it off and get on with my life once the movie's over. I decided to write a ghost story mainly to confront that fear. That said, my favorite horror movie of all time is John Carpenter's Halloween. I'm also partial to his version of The Thing. As for more recent movies, it doesn't get much better than The Descent.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I do, and I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't, unless they're trying to chase the money trail by writing whatever the hot genre is at the moment. But as a reader, I think it's easy to tell when an author isn't really a fan of the genre that they're writing in, and the quality suffers. People should write what they love.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

I think Restless Spirits will appeal to fans of Joss Whedon, who enjoy that brand of humor blended with a certain amount of angst, creepiness and romance, as well as female characters who manage to be both strong and feminine.

Let's say you're invited to a Halloween party. Who or what would you dress up as?

I'm an introvert and a homebody, so I don't go to a lot of parties, but regardless I've decided to dress up this year as the Other Mother from Neil Gaiman's Coraline to hopefully instill terror into some of the children who come to my door in search of treats.

Do you find music inspirational when writing? If so, what kind of music inspired Restless Spirits?

I usually need it to be quiet when I write. If I'm writing in public (or if my husband is blaring the TV) sometimes I'll use music to drown out the noise, but it's usually something without lyrics--classical, techno, film scores, that sort of thing--otherwise instead of writing I just sit there bobbing my head and singing along.

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?

I'm still struggling to figure this out for myself, but I think a good tip is to be engaging and accessible. Readers are more likely to recommend your books if they feel like they're helping out someone they "know," even if they just know you through Twitter or your blog. That goes for anything that you're trying to sell.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

I can gladly tell you that I'm working on Dominion of the Damned, about humanity being "protected" and subjugated by a race of vampires in the wake of a zombie apocalypse.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Well, considering what I'm working on now, I'm going to go with vampires vs zombies.

Thanks a lot for the interview, Jennifer!

Thank you, Jean, and best of luck to you! And if you, gentle reader, are interested in buying Restless Spirits, here is where you can:

http://daydreamerpublishing.com/2011/now-available-restless-spirits-by-jean-marie-bauhaus

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66728 (Free at Smashwords through Halloween with coupon code FU23M)

Jean Marie Bauhaus can be found at:

Website: http://www.jeanmariebauhaus.com/

Blog: http://blog.jeanmariebauhaus.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jmbauhaus

IWU Blog Tour Interview with Author C.M. Barrett

2011-10-22T05:35:00.000-07:00

Today, we have a great interview with C.M Barrett, author of the A Dragon's Guide to Destiny series. Check out the blurb for the first book, Big Dragons Don't Cry:

Morale in the country of Oasis has never been worse. The Earthers, a tree-hugging sect, beg forgiveness for their crimes against twigs and weeds. The Godlies preach penitence and suffering and inspire their followers into submission by threatening them with an afterlife spent being chased by a fire-breathing dragon.

All Oasans fear the dragon in the swamp at the country's edge, and they don't know that he fears them. Druid, a water dragon who puts out fires, steams up when he learns that a cunning opportunist intends to exploit dragonphobia and have the dragon killed so that he can level the swamp for suburban housing.

Tara, a kitten with charisma, is trying to bring humans back into balance. She needs to enlist Serazina, a young human woman who hides her ability to read emotions in order to avoid imprisonment in the Ward for the Chronically Crazy. Serazina's troubles grow when Phileas, Guardian of Oasis, chooses her to be the mother of the heir he so badly needs. Before he can consider fatherhood, he needs to stem the mysterious rumors that he's soft on dragons.

Somehow these four must overcome communication difficulties, mutual mistrust, and delusions of human superiority to save the country. Otherwise, even though Druid doesn't breathe fire, Oasis will be toast.
Learn how to buy the books after the interview!

--

Hey there, Connie! Welcome to the blog. To start with, I love the title of your book, Big Dragons Don’t Cry. Tell us about how you came up with the title and how it relates to what the book is about.

The title was literally the last piece of prepublication writing. In other words, I was down to the wire and still didn't have a title. Finally, I stopped worrying the subject to death and told myself the title would come. A few hours later I had it, and I knew it was right for the book.

Analyzing how it relates to the story is a matter of hindsight. It suggests that the story contains humor, which was important. I can read a book with serious subject matter, but it must be relieved with humor. Laughter really is the best medicine, and I aim to provide it.

The title is also ironic because Druid, the big dragon in question, is a water dragon, and he cries at the drop of a scale. This is part of his charm.

Thus, I'm true to the Four Seasons song, "Big Girls Don't Cry," since the last line is "Big girls do cry." And so do big dragons.

Fascinating. I love that this title—one that does have a humorous, frivolous vibe to it—actually has many facets here. Something else that I noticed as I was checking out the book’s page on Amazon was that you use the names of ancient Egyptian dieties for some of your characters. Is this nod to mythology something you continue throughout the book? And tell us a bit the world you created for the novel.

I named two of the feline characters Bast and Sekhmet after Egyptian cat deities because one of the subthemes of the book involves restoring cats to the honor and respect they enjoyed in earlier times. This theme continues throughout the series (I'm currently working on the fourth book).

The other major nod to mythology throughout the series is the Celtic beliefs about dragons representing the elements of earth, fire, water, and air. Each book in the series introduces a particularly kind of dragon and a new country. Each country needs the balancing powers of that kind of dragon. For example, in Big Dragons Don't Cry, the human culture is overly mental and systematically scorns emotions. The very emotional water dragons provide a counterpoint.

My inspiration for the swamp that plays a very important role in Big Dragons Don't Cry was a visit to the Florida Everglades. I found it to be a magical place, and years later, when the idea of this book emerged, I thought, "Well, let's start with a swamp." A dragon suddenly showed up there, and it got populated pretty quickly.

The human part of this world, a country called Oasis, was born after a slave rebellion in another country, Tamaras. Many of the former slaves migrated to this unhabited land and determined to come free of the excesses that flourished in a slave-based society by adopting firm principles of logic and reason. Since all humans have two sides to their brains, the suppression of inspiration, intuition, and emotion has a huge cost.

I see the same thing happening in the U.S. today, with funding for the arts shrinking, the huge emphasis on math and science in educational systems, and the opportunities for people to explore their creativity diminishing. So you might call the setting of my book a parallel world.

The opportunity to make these points via fantasy is hugely rewarding, but it has certain dangers. The most effective critics have always been satirical geniuses, like Jonathan Swift or Oscar Wilde. My feet hardly fill their footsteps, but they are my guides in the importance of humor.

I cannot agree with you enough that fantasy offers an opportunity for satire, and it really is so impressive to see so much work and background going into a novel. On a similar note, could you tell us about your pre-writing practices? Do you do a lot of research first? Outline? Or do you just jump in and see where the story takes you?

I make up a very general outline to give me some idea of where the story is going. Since fantasy involves so much world creating, I spend a lot of time imagining and noting down geography, cultural aspects, and other key elements for the world.

Since A Dragon's Guide to Destiny is a series, I have the advantage of familiarity with the characters (although new ones are introduced in each book). The challenge is to keep them consistent in their basic qualities and to keep them growing. Before I start to write, I decide (or guess, since they may change their minds) what each character needs to develop for this part of the journey.

In other words, my pre-writing focus is mainly on setting and characters. Once I have those elements firm, I jump in and see where imagination and intuition take me. It can take me a year or two to complete a novel. I usually work on two at a time. Book 3 of the series is nearly finished, and Book 4 is at an intermediate stage. I'm going back and forth between them.

Although this isn't the quickest way of writing, it's for me the most satisfying. I love to have the characters and story unfold in a process of discovery. I often write a scene without knowing why it's important to the story. A few chapters later I'll discover the connection. I don't have control of the story until it comes to proofreading.

If I get stuck, I walk away from it and tell myself the answer to the particular challenge will come. If I stay relaxed about it, the solution pops into my head while I'm washing dishes or (what I'm doing right now) watching some wild turkeys browse in the back yard.

How cool that character and setting are the first elements you really focus on! Most people are all about plot at first, but I’m with you; I think you need the other elements of the book in place before you can go in-depth on the plot. Your characters should help guide you in finding the plot. And speaking of characters, who would you say is your favorite character to write about and why?

I wouldn't dare pick a favorite. It would be like saying I have a favorite cat. Only trouble follows that choice.

With regard to my four main characters, each has a special charm for me. The appeal of Druid, the dragon, is that he's all heart in the sense of both emotion and courage. Sometimes following his heart gets him into trouble, but he always triumphs.

Tara, the kitten (who grows into adulthood in subsequent books), is feisty, impudent, and daring. She expresses her opinions freely, and this can get her into trouble, but she is a kitten of conviction.

Serazina, a human female, has always feared that in logic-centered Oasis, her ability to read the hearts and minds of others could result in her incarceration in a mental institution. Instead, once she becomes brave enough to accept herself, this "liability" enables her to communicate with animals (my secret dream).

Phileas, the Guardian of Oasis, embodies Mind. Despite his training, he begins to see that the rigid attitudes he is sworn to uphold and perpetuate are keeping both the country and him in a deadly stagnation. In questioning and attempting to abandoning these values, he is perhaps the bravest of all the characters.

As you can see, these characters share courage, and that's the attribute I admire and try to adopt above all others. In essence, the book's theme is that only through questioning the values that limit us can we grow into wholeness.

It sounds like you’ve developed some incredible bonds with each of these characters. But on the other side of the coin, what’s been the biggest challenge in writing these books?

I identify two big challenges. One is writing about an imaginary world. It allows plenty of scope for creativity, but once I establish the guidelines for each world, I have to stay consistent in developing cultural traits, laws, and the nature of personal interactions.

The other challenge, which I find greater, is writing from the consciousness of non-human animals. I've had countless opportunities to observe and interact with cats, so thinking with a feline awareness was easier than putting myself into a dragon's mind. Since the series ends up with four species of dragons, I also had to create distinctions between each species.

The becoming-a-different-species approach was equally important for secondary characters, like the cougar who is Druid's best friend, and Gris, the newshawk. In the second book, a sea turtle has a cameo role. How does a sea turtle view life? These were fascinating challenges, and I believe taking them on has changed the focus of my human eyes.

Before we wrap this up, I’d just like to offer you the opportunity to tell our readers/your readers anything at all. When the next book is coming out, what you’re working on right now, writing tips, anything!

The main thing I'd like to say is, even though I address some serious issues in my books, making them entertaining and humorous is my priority. I have fun writing my books, and my most important goal is that others have fun reading them. If you are owned by one or more cats, you are especially likely to enjoy my books.

And if you who read this is a writer or a would-be writer who hasn't taken the next step, whatever it is, do it. And if you're all alone, sitting in front of your computer, find an author's group or forum where you can be supported and support others.

There has never been a better time to be a writer and author.
Thank you so much for stopping by! And if you, dear reader, are interested in buying these books, here is where you can:

Big Dragons Don't Cry http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MYFND4
Dance With Clouds http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Clouds-Dragons-Destiny-ebook/dp/B005MKJYYQ

Contact:
http://www.adragonsguide.com
http://www.dragonfirethecreativespark.blogspot.com

IWU Blog Tour Interview with Author Arshad Ahsanuddin

2011-10-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

Today we have Arshad Ahsanuddin, author of the Pact Arcanum series. Check out his bio:

Arshad Ahsanuddin is a practicing hematopathologist, a physician who specializes in using biopsies and laboratory data to diagnose diseases of blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Yes, a blood doctor writing about vampires. The irony is not lost on him. It certainly amuses his colleagues.

For more information about Arshad, or for more information about the series, check out his website at www.pactarcanum.com and leave him some feedback.

Blurb:
Los Angeles, 2040. The terrorist Medusa and her followers threaten to destroy the metropolis with a nuclear bomb. One individual, the vampire Nicholas Jameson, comes forward to oppose them. As Nick takes on the terrorists, the fragile peace between the races hangs perilously in the balance as the supernatural peoples are exposed. Can Nick lead the four races into peaceful coexistence, or will the final war destroy them all?
With millennia-old magic, emerging romance, and ever-shifting allegiances, this inventive new series unveils a scintillating, homoerotic world of Nightwalkers, Daywalkers, Sentinels, and Humans, who battle for world dominance in the not-too-distant future.

Tell us a bit about the inspiration for the Pact Arcanum books.

It’s an outgrowth of a question I asked during the Buffy the Vampire Slayer era: If a vampire slayer was turned, how would she relate to her former allies? Later on, I asked: If vampires and vampire slayers were real, how would the world change if they were suddenly exposed on national television?

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?

I never went looking to become a writer, but I have always played with the idea of becoming one. I had an idea for a novel to be published, but ended up writing something completely different for practice, and deciding to run with it.

What are your writing patterns like? Do you set aside a large chunk of the day for writing or is it more spaced out?

I write in spurts, whenever the mood and the ideas take me. Then I write for every waking moment until the idea is out of my head.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in your books? Why or why not?

I think the characters in my books are all reasonable people with unreasonable problems. I would be happy to call them friends.

E-book or paperback? Why?

I am publishing in both eBook and Print-on-Demand formats, because some people just like paper.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I like to read novels in related genres other than mine, mostly to decompress after focusing intensely on writing. I have to get away from my characters once in a while, or their problems seem more real and pressing than my own!

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

I find the concept intriguing: vampires and vampire slayers exposed on TV on the near future. The gay romantic subplot is relatively uncommon among mainstream vampire fiction novels.

Do you find music inspirational when writing? If so, what kind of music inspired the books you're promoting today?

I use music more as background, to isolate me from distracting noises and sounds. I don’t see it as a direct inspiration.

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?

If things look tough in the short term, focus on the long term. Modern electronic publication is a marathon, not a sprint.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

I just finished a new novella, set in the same universe as the main novels of my series. I plan to write one more novella, and then the text of my fourth novel should be back from my editor by then.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Angels and demons, hands down.

Thank you so much for stopping by, Arshad, and if you, dear reader, are interested in the Pact Arcanum series, be sure to check out www.pactarcanum.com for more info!

Book links:

Kindle version: http://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Pact-Arcanum-ebook/dp/B005SIXXB2

Nook edition: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sunset-arshad-ahsanuddin/1030617301?ean=2940012314819

Smashwords edition (multiple formats): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61128

Print edition: http://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Pact-Arcanum-Book-One/dp/145635485X

Video Trailer: http://youtu.be/zdvchNFqSu4

Website: http://pactarcanum.com/

Blog: http://pactarcanum.com/blog/

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pactarcanum

Twitter Handle: @pactarcanum

IWU Blog Tour Interview with Author Sue Owen

2011-10-05T05:28:00.000-07:00

Hey, folks! Today, we have an interview with Sue Owen as a part of the Indie Writers Unite Blog Tour. She is the author of Wizard of Time. Check out the blurb:

Josh, Digger and Meri were rudely ported out of their time and far into the future by the Wizard of Time. King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, is missing from its timeline. Without the sword in its proper place in history, everything from that point forward could change. Josh and his new found friends must find a way to return the sword to Arthur that won’t upset the timeline.

However, the Bard’s have other plans. They want to rule time. They would do anything to stop the return of the sword. Is it murder to eliminate a timeline so that person was never born?

Follow Josh and his friends back in time to Camelot. Meet the Lady of the Lake, the King’s nephew and Merlin. Rejoice as things go right and cry when a dear friend is erased from time. Did they do something wrong? Can it be fixed or was the sword’s journey the catalyst to the world’s demise?

Welcome, Sue! To start with, tell us a bit about the inspiration for one or more of your books.

My first book, Wizard of Time, started with a dream. I had a recurring dream about a group of kids that were on a mission to fix timelines. Over the course of a year or so the story evolved then when I went to write it, it pretty much wrote itself.

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?

My daughter started it. A group of my friends wanted to start a writing group. I hadn’t written a thing but my daughter had about half a story written and wanted input from the group. So we went. As I was sitting there listening to their stories it dawned on me I could write too. And I had the perfect story so I went home and started on the outline for Wizard.

What are your writing patterns like? Do you set aside a large chunk of the day for writing or is it more spaced out?

I like to write in chunks of time because once I get into the book its hard to get out. A bit like reading a really good book … you get sucked into the world of the book and coming back to reality is a bit of a shock.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in your writing? Why or why not?

Oh definitely friends. I love all my characters, even the bad ones. They are all part of people I know and experiences I’ve had so they start out a part of me.

E-book or paperback? Why?

e-book for sure. The cost to the user is so much cheaper and I hope more people will take a chance on purchasing a ninety-nine cent book from an unknown author than they would 15 or 20 for a paperback. When reading, I like the same … I have a nook and love it.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I don’t read the same as I write anymore. I read so fast that I find myself waltzing right through the YA books. I do read them from time to time but seek adult science fiction or mysteries when I want to just snuggled down and read.

What do you think is alluring about your book(s)? What should someone buy your work?

I’ve put a new twist on the old time travel theme. They are not only full of adventure and there are a lot of things going on but they make you think about your world and wonder about the ‘what if’ factor.

Do you find music inspirational when writing?

Nope. I like peace and quiet. The birds sing to me but that’s about it. I love music but when I’m focusing I need quiet.

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?

I don’t know that I’ve discovered that … and I consider myself struggling. I’ve only sold a dozen books or so and I’m still trying to find what will work marketing-wise. Suggestions for me??

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

I have a children’s book about done. Just waiting on the illustrations. That is competing with the romance I just finished that is waiting on a cover. Not sure which one is going to come out first but they will probably come out close together. In between I’m finishing the second draft of the second in the Chasing History series and that should be out before Christmas, I hope.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Me, not so much enamored with vampires. Or werewolves for that matter. I think I’d rather see Godzilla and the Sea Monster. :)

Thank you for stopping by, Sue! And if you dear reader, would like to buy Wizard of Time, here is where you can:

Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Time-Chasing-History-ebook/dp/B0050CADG4/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1317816550&sr=8-13

B&N (Nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/swords-journey-sue-owen/1102720090?ean=2940012467508&itm=2&usri=wizard%2bof%2btime

Guest Post from Albert Robbins III, owner of Free Book Reviews

2011-09-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

Today, as a part of the Indie Writers Unite blog tour, we have Albert Robbins III with a bit of wisdom he found that he'd like to share with readers here on Independent Paranormal. Also, be sure to check out his blog, Free Book Reviews, at http://freebookreviews.blogspot.com/. It's a great site with tons of reviews and interviews and more!

--

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; ... - Life isn't always fair; - And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies, don't spend more than you can earn and adults, not children, are in charge. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife Discretion, his daughter Responsibility, and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights I Want It Now Someone Else Is To Blame I'm A Victim Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, do nothing.

http://freebookreviews.blogspot.com/

Interview with Athanasios, author of Mad Gods, for the IWU Blog Tour!

2011-09-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

Today, I'd like to welcome back Athanasios, author of Mad Gods, for the Indie Writers Unite Blog Tour! Check out the blurb:

Kostadino Paleologos is a descendant of Byzantine emperors and lives with honour, duty and sacrifice. Every year he returns to Istanbul and sends trapped souls to their deserved rest. The final soul in this solemn task sends him on a quest to the mythic, ancient Library of Alexandria. There he finds the Idammah-Gan Codex, a unique book which convinces him to abduct the infant Antichrist and raise him as his own. They live life on the run pursued by Satanists, Catholic Church & Dark Nobility, who want the baby back or dead.

And find out how to purchase after the interview.

--

First off, welcome back to Independent Paranormal! We’ve had you on to talk about Mad Gods before, but today I’d like to give the readers of this blog a more in depth look at the project. To start with, could you tell us why you wrote Mad Gods?

There's no one reason, if that's what you're going for. Mad Gods encompasses all my interests. At first it was because of religion and what most of them seek to do explain the meaning of life yet fail or come short of explanation in one form or another. As I came to understand that, it became about distraction and entertainment and I realized it's still about religion, because let's face it, religion was the first entertainment i.e. distraction from life and not looking too closely into why we're living, because nobody can adequately answer that. Believe it or not those are the easy answers of why.

Even by reading the synopsis on your site, one can see that Mad Gods is rich with religious history and ideology. What was your research process like for this project?

Crackpot & learned documentaries, plus google, google, google.

Tell us a bit about Kostadino Paleologos. Who is he and why should we want to read about him?

Kostadino Paleologos is the remnant of a forgotten lush and vibrant society of what we know today as opulence, rich and powerful is based on, the Byzantines. He isn't from the 14th century when the empire fell to the Ottomans but the descendant of the final emperor who decides to obliterate Revelation and give the Antichrist something he never had: a choice of whether to follow a destiny everyone expects of him or live his life enjoying the simple pleasures. Kostadino believes there is a nobility and grandeur to the most basic things in living that are forgotten because our cultures and world view tells us it's not.

What was/is the best part about working on Mad Gods? On the other hand, what was/is the worst?

The best part is seeing the story unfold and being excited to share it with everyone. The worst is having to be patient for everyone to be as excited about Mad Gods as I am. I would so read Mad Gods if I hadn't written it.

A picture is worth a thousand words. The covers for the Mad Gods volumes are incredibly striking. Indulge us. Pretend we’re all blind. Describe them to us in terms of what of the books you think they convey. The mood? The primary conflict?

All 22 chapters and the book cover? You can't be serious. I'll describe the book cover and mention the concepts of the 22 other chapter illustrations. Mad Gods is set mostly in the 60s, yet we're also transported back to the middle ages with the Idammah-Gan Codex Kostadino reads and discovers the Antichrist's past lives. I chose to show Kostadino & his adopted son Adam in a graphically realistic depiction in suits against a reproduction of Albert Durer's Four Horsemen of Apocalypse. Kostadino is the quintessential capable, suave man of the 60s typified by Sean Connery's 007 and Adam is an updating of who he's essentially based on the Omen. Both are boldly staring at the potential reader and waiting for them to enter their world and find out everything about them.
The rest of the covers are fair depictions of whatever each is about, rendered in the same graphically realistic style as the Mad Gods main cover. I wanted to give every chapter and volume their own illustration to add richness and direction for the reader's imagination to travel.

Where is your favorite place to write? Home office? Library? Another dimension?

Another dimension? You're wacky. My favorite place to write is anywhere, it doesn't matter as long as there's no distractions. I can't have music or chatty people around me and I start out by actually writing it out in a steno pad. I kid you not. I find the tactile movement of pen to paper makes me my imagination easier to come out. I then copy what I've written to the computer and polish it a bit.

You’ve made it big. Mad Gods is being made into a film. What’s the tagline?

Mad Gods, Revelation Cancelled?

The movie was such a success that it’s now a television series. What’s the opening theme?

Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil. If the Who can lease out Who Are You to CSI why can't I have Sympathy for The Devil?

Finally, what’s the most valuable writing tip you’ve ever been given… and what’s the worst?

The best writing tip I've ever received was from Terry McMilan, write what you would read.
The worst was the most commonly heard Write what you know. If that we're true we'd have no fantasy, no horror & no science fiction & I'd have nothing to read.

WHERE TO BUY:

SMASHWORDS
-------------
Mad Gods https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/48579 99 for Sept & Oct
MadGods-Volume I https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/49351 FREE
MadGods-Volume II https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/49415 FREE

AMAZON
-------------
MAD GODS http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QOA768 99 for Sept & Oct

B&N-NOOK
-------------
MAD GODS http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mad-Gods-Redux/Athanasios-Galanis/e/2940011286919 99 for Sept & Oct

MadGods-Volume I http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/madgods-volume-i-athanasios-galanis/1031016883?ean=2940011272240&itm=8&usri=mad%2bgods FREE

MadGods-Volume II http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/madgods-volume-ii-athanasios-galanis/1031016884?ean=2940011272233&itm=7&usri=mad%2bgods

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAD GODS VISIT:

http://www.mad-gods.com

http://www.mad-gods.com/blog

Works-In-Progress

2011-09-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

The internet and I have been spending a lot of time apart lately. Don’t worry, we’re not breaking up. It was a mutual decision to just cool our jets for a while, do other things, go on soul-searching journeys to South America to find ourselves…

Okay, maybe we didn’t go that far.

But I haven’t been online as much as I used to. To a degree, that bums me out, because I don’t get to interact with other authors as much and my sales have cooled a little because of it, but I promise, the reason I’m MIA right now is a good one!

I’m writing.

All the time.

I just finished the first draft of When Hell Freezes Over, the sequel to These Hellish Happenings, and I’m pretty pleased with it. I plan to let it sit for a while now, at least a month before I open it up again.

The book takes place three years after the first one ends, and it examines what would happen if Satan just disappeared from Hell without a trace.

The answer is mass chaos! Political overthrow! Some hurt feelings and people crying in corners!

Just like These Hellish Happenings, it focuses on vampire Jack Bentley and his demon Alex Ridner and follows them as they travel through Hell, to Earth and even to the River Styx to try to retrieve Hell’s missing overlord.

I also recently hit 30,000/60,000-ish words on the first draft of a new novel, tentatively called Green-Eyed. It’s the story of two paranormal investigators in rural Ohio who stumble upon something quite a bit more intense than your standard haunting and get more than they bargained for from an old hillbilly ghost with glowing orange eyes and a trucker hat. It’s paranormal with a dash of horror and a pinch of comedy and even a smidge of romance.

So, that’s where my internet time has gone. I hope to be able to reintroduce myself to the net soon, but in the meantime, I want to know, gentle readers/writers: What is it, if anything, that you’re working on right now? What’s your latest novel called? How much have you written? Should I feature it on my blog when it’s published? ;)

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

Flash Fiction: The Gorgon and My Mother by Jennifer Rainey

2011-08-31T07:04:00.000-07:00

This is a piece of flash fiction I wrote about monsters and the women who love them.

--

The monster beneath my bed when I was a kid was a gorgon. I know that because I asked her. And of course I wasn’t afraid. Everyone knows gorgons just like cool dark places that are low to the ground. Naturally, beneath my My Little Pony-inspired bed was the perfect place. She was just, well… chillin’. Passing time. I called her Barbie because I couldn’t pronounce her real name.

She even liked ponies. Liked to eat them, I mean, but it still meant we had a nice topic of conversation to fall back on when I couldn’t sleep. I asked her one night if she’d ever eat any little ponies like the ones on my bed sheets and pajamas and posters and book bag, and she said no. That’d be like a human going after the little crumbs in the bottom of a bag of chips. It’s just not worth it.

My mother hated Barbie, said she was a pest.

Many kids have that experience of going away to camp and then returning home to find their dog has mysteriously vanished. “Oh, sweetie, we took Fido to your great Aunt June’s house. He’ll have more room to run around there,” they say. And you know you don’t really have an Aunt June, so where the hell did Fido go?

It doesn’t dawn on you until you’re older.

Well, I came home one day from school to see Barbie being dragged out of the house in a massive white bag. She was still, and a few of the snakes on her head sprouted out of the top of the bag like alfalfa.

I know Mom had an excuse ready. Barbie just left, Barbie went to Gorgon Daycare, Barbie decided to take that job as an astronaut. But I got home just five minutes too early.

What she ended up saying was, “Well, Katie, Barbie was getting too big to keep.” Her mouth was a thin, red line after she said it, and she turned back to her pasta bake and her pineapple upside-down cake for the potluck at the church.

Of course, this was long before the Monster Protection Act. Mom would’ve gone to jail for that these days, but trust me, I know she feels the same way about my husband. She’d bash Ed’s head in and send him off in a bag in an instant if she knew she could.

“Well, I don’t care what you say,” I told her over the phone while Ed was still working at the water plant one day. This was back when I was pregnant with Edward Jr. “Our son is going to know about and be proud of his Minotaur heritage, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”

Eddie Jr. just celebrated his eighth birthday. It was dinosaur-themed. My mother didn’t come. I haven’t heard from her since that phone call.

--

(C) Jennifer Rainey 2011 (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

Paranormal Indie of the Day: The Book of the Nine Ides by Benjamin Goshko

2011-08-27T05:07:00.000-07:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is The Book of the Nine Ides by Benjamin Goshko!

After spending four years in a juvenile psychiatric facility, Ashley Minden, a sixteen-year-old gender dysphoric, has been released back into her family's custody. While the transition to home life and high school would be difficult for any teenager, Ashley has the added burden of being a conduit of Qualkhoikhom, a mad god, who gives her the eyes to see a terrifying, hidden world. Now, Ashley must either find a way to escape Qualkhoikhom and live a normal life, or succumb to her delirium, becoming the mad god's final sacrifice. -- A ninety page novella.

WHERE TO BUY:

US: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Nine-Ides-ebook/dp/B0055U9VZA

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0055U9VZA

In Defense of Fanfiction

2011-08-26T05:50:00.000-07:00

It’s something that people on the outside like to make fun of. It’s geeky, one might say, and has a tendency to be self-indulgent. Some question just how legal it is (a topic I’m not even going to touch in this post!). It has its own language, terms like Mary Sue, PWP, H/C, RPF and slash.

And thousands and thousands of people are addicted to it.

I’m speaking, of course, about fanfiction, taking an pre-existing work created by someone else and writing your own stories about the characters. Today, I intend to defend fanfiction, something I honestly don’t often do.

I did used to write it myself. 13-year-old me would’ve been lost without it! And if you’re wondering, over the years, I wrote everything from Beatles and Monkees fanfiction to stories about Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction (I’m a Tim Roth fangirl, I admit it).

But it’s not just the sentimental attachment that's driving me to defend it today. The other day I got to thinking about how my first serious pieces of fiction when I was a teen were fanfics, and I realized this had its benefits.

Taking off. For one, fanfiction is a great way to flex your wings as a writer. It’s fun and it doesn’t take all of the world building or planning that an original piece takes; it’s a way to dip your toe into the pool. By no means can you learn everything about writing through fanfiction, and you’re mad if you think you can, but it’s a decent place to start.

Fandom Benefits: The communities that fandoms (or fanbases) can be can also be wonderful critique groups. It sounds ridiculous, but you can learn a lot about the craft through fanfic-writing if you have a knowledgeable and supportive fandom to help you. You can get many readers, supporters and even beta-readers through fandom because the work you’re interested in is that common tie between you.

The Dreaded Info-Dump. We all hate it when an author feels the need to describe every little detail of their protagonist’s life in the first five pages of their book, including the color of their toothbrush, how perfect their hair is and all of their daddy issues. Writing fanfiction, if a writer is decent, actually teaches people not to do this. You’re writing about a world and about characters that your readers already know everything about, and if you’re aware, you know this. Thus, info-dumping is minimized.

Am I saying that fandom produces good writers 100% of the time and most fanfic is great?

Absolutely not.

But if you’re seriously interested in writing, it has the potential to be a lovely place to start.

I don’t write it anymore, but I still occasionally read fanfiction, though only if it’s good. My current fandoms are Supernatural and the BBC series Sherlock, if you’re interested. Drop me a line sometime. :P And if you want to share your thoughts on fanfic, that’s what the comments are for!

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

Interview with J.A. Belfield, author of Darkness & Light

2011-08-25T05:04:00.000-07:00

Hey, everyone! Today I'm interviewing J.A. Belfield, the author of Darkness & Light. Check out the blurb:

Jem Stonehouse, a housewife with a neurotic husband bent on keeping her in line, dreams about werewolves in, what she believes, is a bid to escape boredom.

Sean Holloway is a werewolf, living a charade within the human race, whose mind drifts to a bond he shares with a woman he hasn't met--at least, not in this lifetime.

Apart, the two are safe but live unfulfilled lives.

Together, they'll become prey to rival packs just as they have been for hundreds of years.

When their worlds collide, and not for the first time, instinct takes over. Dreams become reality. Futures are uncertain. To keep history from repeating itself, Sean must teach Jem about his heritage, convince her of her role, and win her love.

Can Jem accept her destiny before it's too late, or is her inner wolf buried too deep to save her future with Sean.

Learn how to purchase the book at the end of the interview.

--

Welcome to Indie Paranormal! To start with, tell us a bit about the inspiration for Darkness & Light.
This one’s easy.
Sean Holloways pretty much just hollered inside my head and wouldn’t shut the heck up. The dude drove me insane. When I was doing housework. When I was out shopping. When I was trying to sleep. He yelled and yelled until I could ignore him no longer. So I thought, what if ...?
And I came up with Jem Stonehouse, gave him her mind to invade instead of mine, and the entire story just sort of spilled from there.

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?
It didn’t happen over time, it was more a ‘I know, I’ll write a story and get these darn daydreams out of my head’ type of moment. Seriously. I’d never really been one for writing fiction, other than three or four children’s rhyming stories.
But I’d spent my entire life daydreaming. I just hadn’t realised before a couple years ago that I was meant to do something with those daydreams.

What are your writing patterns like? Do you set aside a large chunk of the day for writing or is it more spaced out?
I live in organised chaos. I’m unfocused, I’m erratic, I’m undisciplined … but it works for me so I just go with it.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in Darkness & Light? Why or why not?
Heck, yes! Who wouldn’t? Apart from the fact the entire pack are as hot as buns fresh out the oven, you’d be safe in the knowledge that once you’d been accepted into the fold they’d go to the ends of the earth to protect you. It’s that bond, that total kinship that I’d love to have a part of.

E-book or paperback? Why?
As I only have a kindle app on my laptop and not a snazzy one I can easily carry around everywhere with me, I’m going to have to say paperback. Besides, who doesn’t love the smell of a new book?

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I do read paranormal romance. I read urban fantasy, too. But then I also read thrillers, and chick-lit, and crime novels, and YA, and … I’ve never stuck to a singular genre when it comes to my reading material.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

You should pick it up because I say so!
Just kidding. :)
Darkness and Light is not just about werewolves who run around baying at the moon. It’s a story with an entire cast of full bodied characters, and it takes you on a woman’s journey of self discovery, with acceptance of self, others, and heritage along the way—as well as love, bonds, a little bit of magic, fate and destiny, all playing a huge role. And it’s not a simple path that Jem Stonehouse walks to the end—it’s an intricately weaved pattern of threads and those she follows determine which way her life leads and who she becomes. How am I doing? Have I sold it to you yet?

Do you find music inspirational when writing? If so, what kind of music inspired Darkness & Light?
Back in the early days of writing, I used to prime myself with a good dose of David Gray. Nowadays, I tend to lean more toward Kings of Leon and maybe a little Adele.

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?
Connect with your readers.
No, I don’t mean go out seeking fresh blood to wave your book(s) at.
I mean interact with them, give them a chance to get to know you, and give them a reason to care about your book(s) succeeding.
With the global reach of social networking available today, there is no excuse for not doing this. Besides, it’s fun.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?
I have a few things currently on the go.
Book 2 of the Holloway Pack Stories, Blue Moon, is going through some edits prior to being handed over for slaughter to my editor.
Book 3 of the Holloway Pack Stories, Caged, is around 85% complete in its 1st draft.
I’m writing a short insight into Sean’s PoV from when Jem very first spots him in the supermarket, and investigating how he responded and what made him panic enough that he ran off without speaking to her.
Then I intend to get back to another Holloway Pack Prequel novella, Eternal, that’s sitting there waiting for attention.
All that’s without even mentioning the opening chapter I have written for book 4 of theHolloway Pack Stories, and way too many beginnings I’ve jotted down that hope to be expanded ….
Did I mention the organised chaos of my life? Hehehehe.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?
Ooooooh, this is like sticking me in a candy store full of sweets I’ve never tried and telling me I can only have two.
::Drums fingers::
Um … can siren and mermaid be classified as supernatural? They’re certainly not normal, right?
Or maybe a centaur and a witch (unevenly matched for strength on purpose).
Other than that, I’d be boring and pit a werewolf with a feline shifter … because it would be funny watching the macho wolf trying not to hurt the puddy tat whilst the cat takes a slice off the canine’s nose. :)

Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you all the best! And if you, dear reader, are interested in buying Darkness & Light, here is where you can:

http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Light-J-Belfield/dp/0983405816/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1309544813&sr=8-2
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/darkness-light-ja-belfield/1031438025?ean=9780983405818&itm=1&usri=j%2ba%2bbelfield
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/j-a-+belfield/darkness+26+light/8631272/
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=9780983405818

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Spellbound by Tallulah Grace

2011-08-23T05:59:00.000-07:00

The Paranormal Indie of the Day is Spellbound by Tallulah Grace, the second book in the Timeless Trilogy!

What would you do if you discovered that you’re a witch?

Veronica Myers is an herbalist with a potent talent that takes her by surprise. Follow Roni’s perilous journey as she discovers her authentic self in spite of forces that seek to steal her power and manipulate her destiny. Along the way, true love offers protection if she can only recognize and accept its magic.

The Timeless Trilogy heroines, Kristina, Veronica and Cassandra, each deal with paranormal abilities as they discover and rediscover eternal love.

EXCERPT:

Hours later, as they were leaving, Dylan pulled Roni aside. “What are you up to?” He asked quietly.

“I’m sure that I don’t know what you mean,” Roni evaded. She began digging in her purse for some unknown object.

Dylan grabbed her arm to command her attention. “If you show up tomorrow, you could place everyone in danger. Whatever you’re planning, don’t do it.” He spoke urgently.

Eyes flashing, she looked up at him. “Take your hands off me.” Her voice was as deadly quiet. “I told you I will not attend the party.” She saw something that resembled fear flash across his face. It calmed her. “Really, Dylan. I won’t be there. Don’t worry about me.”

The others had wandered outside, leaving them alone in the softly lit room. Dylan felt as if icy hands were gripping his heart. “What are you going to do?” He relaxed his hold on her arm, then slid his hand up to rest on her shoulder. “Please don’t do anything crazy.”

Surprised at the change in his tone, she closed her eyes and prepared to lie to him. “I won’t. Please don’t worry.” She knew what she was asking of him, but she couldn’t tell him her plans. He would only put himself in danger to try and stop her. Opening her eyes wide and looking directly into his, she continued the lies. “Just get his DNA. I’ll be here waiting when it’s done.”

“Tomorrow’s the first day of the full moon.” Dylan placed his other hand on her other shoulder and squeezed gently.

“I know,” she closed her eyes again. She didn’t correct him. Tomorrow was the only day of the full moon. After tomorrow night, the moon would begin to wane. Though it may appear full for a day or so, it was only truly full for one night. “It doesn’t matter.” She wondered if lying would ever get any easier. She hated it, but it was for his own good.

Dylan tilted her chin up with one finger, “Roni…” it was barely a whisper, but Roni heard it loud and clear. She didn’t stop him as his lips came down to hers.

She thought she was braced for his kiss. She couldn’t have been more wrong. What started as a sweet caress, soon became a raging torrent. Her arms went around him without any conscious effort as he crushed her to his rock-hard chest. His tongue would have been an assault, but for the way she pressed against his mouth with hers, begging for more. His hands roamed through her hair, down her back and against her hips, pulling her into him.

Her hands went up his body as his came down hers. When she reached his neck, she slid her fingers up into his thick hair and held his face to hers. Time stopped. The kiss didn’t.

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ECTLR2

NOTE: Tallulah is still looking for people to review Spellbound and Fate, the first book in the Timeless Trilogy. If you're interested in receiving a free copy of the book(s) for review, e-mail me at jennifer.rainey@rocketmail.com, and I'll put you in contact with Tallulah.

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Darkness & Light by J.A. Belfield

2011-08-20T05:43:00.000-07:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Darkness & Light by J.A. Belfield!

Jem Stonehouse, a housewife with a neurotic husband bent on keeping her in line, dreams about werewolves in, what she believes, is a bid to escape boredom.

Sean Holloway is a werewolf, living a charade within the human race, whose mind drifts to a bond he shares with a woman he hasn't met--at least, not in this lifetime.

Apart, the two are safe but live unfulfilled lives.

Together, they'll become prey to rival packs just as they have been for hundreds of years.

When their worlds collide, and not for the first time, instinct takes over. Dreams become reality. Futures are uncertain. To keep history from repeating itself, Sean must teach Jem about his heritage, convince her of her role, and win her love.

Can Jem accept her destiny before it's too late, or is her inner wolf buried too deep to save her future with Sean?
WHERE TO BUY:
http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Light-J-Belfield/dp/0983405816/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1309544813&sr=8-2
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/darkness-light-ja-belfield/1031438025?ean=9780983405818&itm=1&usri=j%2ba%2bbelfield
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/j-a-+belfield/darkness+26+light/8631272/
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=9780983405818

The Juggling Act!

2011-08-19T07:11:00.000-07:00

I’ve always been impressed by people who could juggle. I’m just not that coordinated. Last time I tried to juggle, well… it’s better if I don’t discuss it. The victims’ families might not appreciate it.

Juggling projects is a whole different ballgame, though. I’m not quite a miserable at that, though as a serious writer, I’m still fairly new to the game. Until recently, I’ve been the kind of writer who could only focus on one project at a time, but now as I’m nearing the end of one and the start of another, I’ve found that I’ve started juggling the two.

While I can’t claim to be an expert, today I’d like to talk about a few of the things I’ve recently learned about balancing more than one writing project at a time.

1. Dedicate a block of time to each project. Don’t jump back and forth from story to story. It’s all well and good if you’re one of those people who mashes their peas and potatoes and corn together on their plate at dinner, but try to keep your projects separate. Otherwise you’ll get this really weird bleeding of one piece’s style into another, and no one wants a regal elf prince who suddenly starts talking about saving Miss Kitty from Black Bart at the showdown at high noon.

… I hope.

2. Make a schedule, and actually write and/or type it out. This will help you dedicate the sufficient and proper amount of time to each piece. Which leads me to my next point…

3. Sort out your priorities. This is something I’ve really struggled with and recently discussed with several other authors (who gave some great advice!). If you have a draft you need to finish by a certain deadline, well then it makes no sense to abandon it at the last minute and focus all your time on your other projects, now does it? I know that shiny new WIP is tempting… but we can’t forget to assess what needs the most attention, not what we want to give the most attention to.

4. Keep separate folders for notes about each project. Again, we don’t want any mixing here. Maybe even write notes for one project in a different color ink from the other. This will help solidify the barrier between the two in your mind even more.

It sounds silly, I know, but to write well, one has to completely drop oneself into the world about which one is writing. Each character has a different way of thinking, each world has a different atmosphere. You have to become a part of that world. No matter how well you think you know writing both your sunny Florida romance and your dreary mystery in British Columbia, it’s hard not to drag that tan and a little sand in your shoes up to Vancouver if you don’t really work to keep the projects separate.

Have some tips of your own? That’s what the comments are there for!

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

Interview with C.A. Deyton, author of The Devil's Keep (+ Contest!)

2011-08-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Today we have an interview with C.A. Deyton, author of The Devil's Keep. And not only that, there's also a contest! So be sure to stick around to the end of the post to find out how you can enter. Check out the blurb for the book:

Sara had no idea her life was anything more than mundane. Following the tragic death of her mother, she found herself just going through the motions, pretending life was worth living. That was until she met Michael Bartlett. Once she discovers her distant past is colliding with her present, life takes a jolting turn. Suddenly, Sara discovers she is part of a destiny she never knew. One which puts her in the center of a century old conflict between a clan of vampires and a cruel, unrelenting demon. Now she must decide if she will risk it all to save those she holds dear.

Find out how to purchase the book at the end of the interview.

Welcome! To start with, tell us a bit about the inspiration for The Devil's Keep.

I have always been enamored with vampires. But what was a bonfire as a young adult had turned to a slow simmer over the years. That is until the hype from Twilight, Vampire Diaries, True Blood, etc. etc. All of that media attention really sparked my interest and got me to thinking about the mythology again. One of those aspects that has always appealed to me was the tortured vampire soul. Here they are longing for things they feel unworthy of having like love and a “normal” life. Humans are good and vampires are monsters-- a relationship bound to fail. But, what about something even more pure and forbidden? Say a vampire feel in love with an Angel…And it just feel into place from there.

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?

More like I don’t remember a time when I did not want to write. Earlier in life, I tried embracing it and found myself not ready. I simply had not had enough life experience. I went through a spell of trying to deny that part of myself, too. Either from being too scared or too lazy to go for it. I started writing The Devil’s Keep partly as a personal challenge and partly as a quiet therapy, of sorts. Once I started believing in myself as a writer, my determination grew. The desire to write has always been there, but the drive was often not.

What are your writing patterns like? Do you set aside a large chunk of the day for writing or is it more spaced out?

It is definitely spaced out and as I have time. I have two young children to attend to, a “day” job to pay the bills, and a household to run. Like many moms out there, I put my needs last. But I would love to have an open schedule where I could just sit down and spend hours typing away.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in The Devil's Keep? Why or why not?

Most definitely. Most of them, anyway. The bad guys, not so much. They scare me! But the majority of the characters I like. They are designed to be amiable and relatable. If I don’t like them, it is hard for me to get to know them. And thus, I cannot properly write their story.

E-book or paperback?

Why? Both. But I really do LOVE my Kindle.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I love anything paranormal. So, yes, I read them.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

I wish I could say, “Buy it because you’ll wish you knew me when…” But I can’t. If you love paranormal romances, then The Devil’s Keep is for you. If the idea of lovers being kept apart by relentless demons appeals to you, then go to Amazon right now! If you can’t get enough of vampires and witches and angst filled characters, bring it. But if not, you probably wouldn’t enjoy it very much…

Do you find music inspirational when writing? If so, what kind of music inspired The Devil's Keep?

I wrote a piece on my website about this. I almost always have music on when writing. Something about the background noise actually helps me focus. But I find myself stuck on particular songs when writing that become the soundtrack for the characters. Sara, for instance, loves alternative music like The Shins and The Temper Trap. Her theme song is “Show Me What I’m Looking For,” by Carolina Liar. And my vampire, Michael, has lived through decades of music, so his tastes vary. As for current music, he likes angst filled rock ballads from bands like Muse and Kings of Leon. His theme song is “Infra-Red” by Placebo.

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?

Don’t give up. Give it time and be patient. Visit online forums and gain some “street cred” by getting to know other indie authors. Go on blog tours. Volunteer to write articles for online magazines, blogs, etc. Get your name out there and build your brand.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

The sequel to The Devil’s Keep entitled An Angel’s Revenge.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

A giant lizard that walks on two feet and shoots fire from his eyes and mouth vs. a huge moth that can hypnotize things and make hurricane like winds with his wings. Wait a minute, that sounds familiar…

Good answer. Well, thank you for stopping by! I wish you all the best! And if you, dear reader, are looking to buy The Devil's Keep, here is where you can:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Devils-Keep-ebook/dp/B005FCFHU6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312252681&sr=8-1
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/77843
Ibooks: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-devils-keep/id455193360?mt=11

And now, a contest!

From C. A. Deyton:
To giveaway: a hand beaded bracelet from The Sugar Plum Boutique and a free digital download (any format) of The Devil’s Keep.

Here's the plan: Enter the contest simply by leaving a comment with your email address. You can earn an extra entry by watching the trailer for The Devil's Keep via You Tube. Be sure to comment on the original thread to confirm that you did watch the trailer. I (C.A. Deyton) will announce the winner on my website Monday, August 22nd.

My website: http://www.cadeyton.com/
You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlHHID49ICU&feature=player_embedded

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Crushed by K.C. Blake

2011-08-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

The Paranormal Indie of the Day is Crushed by K.C. Blake!

The Noah sisters rule Titan High with their beauty, brains, and magical powers.

Each year they play a secret game: Crushed. The girls pick their targets carefully and blow enchanted dust into the boy’s faces, charming them, but this year Kristen makes a grave mistake. She chooses the wrong boy and almost dies that same day. Coincidence? Maybe.

But something isn’t quite right about Zach Bevian. He doesn’t behave like a boy who’s been Crushed. He goes from hot to cold, from looking at her with contempt to asking her out on a date. She doesn’t know what to think. Does he hate her or is he truly falling for her? Is he trying to kill her, or is he trying to save her?

WHERE TO BUY:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/73251

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Crushed-The-Witch-Game-Books-ebook/dp/B005CJ8H9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1313499714&sr=1-1

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crushed-kc-blake/1104561435?ean=2940011426179&itm=1&usri=crushed%2bk%2bc%2bblake

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Tales from the Swollen Corpse by Sam Williams

2011-08-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Tales from the Swollen Corpse by Sam Williams!

A collection of 17 pulp horror stories, Including: Zombies, ghosts, non sparkling vampires, and something evil that calls itself Mr. Bags.

WHERE TO BUY:
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71663
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Swollen-Corpse-ebook/dp/B005BE43RQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1313326959&sr=1-1

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Tales of Aradia the Last Witch by L.A. Jones

2011-08-11T05:11:00.000-07:00

The Paranormal Indie of the Day is Tales of Aradia the Last Witch by L.A. Jones!

Unknown to the humans who hung innocent people at the Salem Witch Trials real witches of the hidden race were killed for fear of exposure or at least that's what all the vampires, werewolves, and other races thought.There was not one witch whom survived the genocide of the Salem Witch Trials. But one day a girl named Aradia moves to Salem, MA and all that changes.

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_30?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tales+of+aradia+the+last+witch&sprefix=tales+of+aradia+the+last+witch

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/tales-of-aradia-the-last-witch

A Shot of the Paranormal in Your Everyday Life

2011-08-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

You know, I’m not a terribly normal person in some regards, but I have a relatively normal life just like everyone else. Now some people who look to get away for a while from their relatively normal life will go on vacation in the Bahamas. They’ll go to a spa. They’ll go golfing. They’ll do any number of things in a bathing suit.

I go ghost hunting.

No, really.

I like visiting supposedly haunted locations (sometimes equipped with digital recorder and camera) and scoping the place out for spirits. Am I like one of those guys on TV that wanders around repeatedly saying, “Is there anyone here who would like to communicate with us?” and then flees, screaming, “Dude, run!” when something actually happens? No, I like to think I’m a little cooler than that, thank you very much.

It’s difficult to talk to people about it. In fact, the topic came up once with a fellow student while I was in college. Why I was even talking to her, I’m not sure. I normally stay away from people with the IQ of a rock. But she asked, as she chomped on chewing gum, what I had done over the summer (herself, she’d been tanning one too many times).

I answered truthfully about visiting haunted locations. And I got this look that I’ve grown quite accustomed to getting. It’s the same look I get when I’m forced to explain my novel, These Hellish Happenings, to someone who would never and should never read it in a thousand years. There’s a twisting of the face, a gaping mouth, and it’s normally swept away with, “Oh… well… that’s nice.”

I really do like getting that face.

Do I believe in ghosts? The short answer is not quite. The long answer would be enough for an entire blog entry or two itself. But I’m not here to talk about all that.

While sitting at work one day with a thousand numbers to call of clients who had not shown up when they were supposed to and a database to update on the computer behind me and a kid screeching in the lobby, I realized why I like occasionally ghost hunting to get away from things. It’s that little shot of the paranormal into everyday life. It’s a little darkness, a little mystique, a little something different.

But it’s really no different from why I write and read what I do. The paranormal and urban fantasy genres, by their very natures, allow people to inject real life with something supernatural. They can make your own existence feel a little more fantastic, even when you’re just sitting in an office somewhere, just as even as I'm sitting in an office, I can think about my ghost hunt at Mansfield Reformatory the following month.

Of course, that’s a big reason why they’re so enjoyable as genres. They have that wonderful balance between real life and the supernatural, making our own lives a little more interesting. But I’m not the only one with an opinion! Let me know what you think down in the comments, ladies and gents!

~Jennifer Rainey (http://www.jenniferrainey.com/)

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Restless Spirits by Jean Marie Bauhaus

2011-08-09T05:20:00.000-07:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Restless Spirits by Jean Marie Bauhaus!

Veronica Wilson wakes up dead and discovers she's in for the fight of her life. A paranormal investigator in life, Ron is setting up for a ghost hunt in the spookiest house in town when she finds herself the one being hunted. Now she's trapped in the house along with a bevy of other ghosts -- including an axe-murderess and the family she killed, an old man who just wants to go be with his wife, and a handsome handyman whose past seems more haunted and mysterious than the house they're imprisoned in -- all of them victims of a malevolent, murderous spirit. Refusing to accept this as her afterlife, Ron rallies the other ghosts to gang up on their captor and fight for their freedom. But how does a ghost fight a monster who can devour souls--especially when that monster has red pigtails and freckles and is cute as a button?

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0056A1LTS

B&N (Nook): http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Restless-Spirits/Jean-Marie-Bauhaus/e/2940012893918

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66728

Contest Winner and an Announcement!

2011-08-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Emilia Quill!

Emilia is the winner of Nova Sparks's contest that was hosted here at Indie Paranormal last week! If you're interested in checking out Nova's interview concerning her series, the DOME, you can check it out here.

Announcement from Tallulah Grace, author of Fate and Spellbound:

Tallulah has been featured here at Indie Paranormal several times (and will be again later this month!). She's looking for people to review her books Fate (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054QZNRA) and Spellbound (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ECTLR2).

If you run a review blog or are just interested reading and reviewing the books for fun, please send me an e-mail at jennifer.rainey@rocketmail.com and I will put you in contact with Tallulah. She would greatly appreciate any response!

Paranormal Indie of the Day: Paved With Good Intentions by Keith B. Darrell

2011-08-06T05:08:00.000-07:00

Today's Paranormal Indie of the Day is Paved With Good Intentions, the first book in the Halos and Horns series by Keith B. Darrell.

Exiled on Earth, naive angel Gabriel and amoral demon Lucifer, in the human guise of "Gabe Horn" and "Lou Cypher", form an unlikely partnership as private investigators in Las Vegas. Their adventures take them across the seven heavenly realms, into the nine levels of Hell, through the dream realm of the Dreamscape, and even through time to Camelot. Along the way, the pair encounter a wickedly funny assortment of angels, demons, witches, warlocks, vampires, and other supernatural creatures.

Darrell has devised some of the most imaginative characters in contemporary fantasy, including an intriguing array of protagonists (Miss Twitch, a Salem witch; Emma, a British schoolgirl and witch in training, and Morgan Summers, a Dreamwalker) and antagonists (sadistic witch-hunter Nathaniel Thornhill, a golem, a Paiute Shaman, the corporate vampires of Nosferatu, Inc., trampires, gangsters, and demons). Some of the vampires include Sharon - she's Jewish, crosses don't bother her; Pandora - trouble follows her like a shadow; Claude - he's too claustrophobic to use a coffin; and Artemus - a 10-year-old boy who's been a vampire for 457 years. But the real stars are the ultimate odd couple, Gabriel and Lucifer, whose comedic banter and improbable escapades will amuse and thrill readers and leave them asking for more.

WHERE TO BUY:

Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TMAL7M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=amberbcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=B004TMAL7M

Paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0977161196/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=amberbcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0977161196

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paved-with-good-intentions-keith-b-darrell/1022016202?ean=9780977161195&itm=4&usri=keith%2bb%2bdarrell

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Paved-Good-Intentions/Keith-B-Darrell/9780977161195?id=5088169355251

Interview with Tallulah Grace, author of Fate

2011-08-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

Today we have an interview with Tallulah Grace, author of Fate. Check out the blurb!

Is precognition a prescription for happiness or disaster?

The good things in life are coming together for Kristina Collins. She’s found her ideal home, her career is on track for mega success and the man of her dreams has finally come back into her life.

In Fate, the first installment of the Timeless Trilogy, Kris Collins discovers the benefits and risks of having precognitive visions while being stalked by a serial killer. Her friends can’t help her, the FBI can’t save her; she must save herself.

The Timeless Trilogy heroines, Kristina, Veronica and Cassandra, each deal with paranormal abilities as they discover and rediscover eternal love.

Learn how to buy the book at the end of the interview.

--

Tell us a bit about the inspiration for Fate.

My inspiration for ‘Fate’, the first book in the Timeless Trilogy series, was more like insistence—the story fairly screamed to get out. I knew it was there, but the particulars eluded me until I sat down to write. The only things I knew for sure in the beginning included the setting—Carolina coastline/Charleston—and that there would be suspense spiced with romance and flavored with paranormal elements.

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?

I’ve always been a writer, mainly short stories and poetry for myself, friends and family. For years, creating non-fiction articles for private clients has been paying the bills. Last Christmas I received an iPad, found the Kindle app and then discovered the world of indie writing. Finally, the stories rattling around in my head had an outlet.

What are your writing patterns like? Do you set aside a large chunk of the day for writing or is it more spaced out?

Writing non-fiction material for a living is an unfortunate necessity, at the moment, so my weekdays are filled with work-writing. I always try to carve out at least an hour to continue weaving the second installment in Timeless Trilogy, ‘Spellbound’. When it’s complete, I’ll work on ‘Destiny,’ the third book of the series. My goal is to write fiction full-time.

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in Fate? Why or why not?

The characters in ‘Fate,’ ‘Spellbound’ and ‘Destiny’ are fun, caring and charismatic people whom I would love to call my friends. I also think it would be truly amazing to have a friend with precognitive visions, one who could add a little magic to my world and one who could share adventures of past lives. Don’t get me started on the men in the books. I mean, who wouldn’t want dynamic, hunky males around when you need them?

E-book or paperback? Why?

E-book all the way. It’s the future.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

Paranormal romantic suspense books are my absolute favorites; it’s no coincidence that my books fall into the same genre. My current favorite authors are Kay Hooper, Iris Johansen, Elizabeth Lowell and Linda Howard. Though primarily suspense/romance writers, many of their stories have a paranormal edge.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

The relationships between the characters are one of the most intriguing aspects of my books, but it’s the characters themselves who make the stories interesting. The heroines are three engaging and enigmatic women who believe they are fully in charge of their lives until the universe shows them otherwise. In ‘Fate’, what happens to Kris is the main storyline, but her precognition plays a huge role in the outcome. We also meet Veronica and Cassandra—Roni and Cassie—in ‘Fate’, but their stories take center stage in ‘Spellbound’ and ‘Destiny.’ Roni is just discovering who she truly is, after 30 years of unconscious denial. Her powers have always been part of her, but she had not yet been ready to accept them. Cassie is the most captivating of the three, at least to me. Her storyline revolves around reincarnation, but there are also dark aspects of her past that have the potential to destroy her future. Why should someone spend .99 to pick up ‘Fate’? One of the reviewers said it best: “The characters are vibrant and their stories are fascinating. I found myself wanting to be a part of their world, even with the present danger.”

Do you find music inspirational when writing? If so, what kind of music inspired Fate?

Not really. I write best with zero distractions, including music. A few mentions of Southern rock and country found their way into ‘Fate’ and ‘Spellbound’, mostly in conversations between the characters and as background music. I’m sure that music will also play somewhere in ‘Destiny.’

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?

As one of the ‘struggling’ pack, I can only share what I’ve read. Build up an audience for your work through social networking, thoughtful forum posts and through interviews with blog hosts who have readers that appreciate your genre. BTW, thanks for introducing me to your readers.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

At the moment, Roni is fighting magical battles in ‘Spellbound’, both with herself and with outside forces. By the time this interview is published, I hope that she has found her way through the maze, accepted her gifts and kicked some seriously deceptive butt.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs. werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Being totally enmeshed in witchy things at the moment, I’d have to say a powerful witch and a vampire. You can take your pick as to which is good and which is evil.

Thanks for stopping by, Tallulah, and I wish you all the best! And if you, dear reader, are looking to purchase Fate, here is where you can:

Amazon/Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054QZNRA

Interview with Jesse Petersen, author of In the Dead

2011-08-02T05:26:00.000-07:00

Howdy! Today we have an interview with Jesse Petersen, author of the short story collection In the Dead: Volume One. Check out the blurb:

When the Zombie Apocalypse began in Seattle and spread within days to almost the entire western half the country, the survivors had to figure out how to deal with the plague and live one day at a time. These are their stories.

If you liked Jesse Petersen’s zombie comedies Married With Zombies, Flip This Zombie and Eat Slay Love, these nine stories are set in the same world, but from the perspective of other survivors.

Learn how to buy the book at the end of the interview.

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Welcome, Jesse! Tell us a bit about the inspiration for In the Dead.

In 2009 I went with friends to see Zombieland and when I got home a scene started bugging me. In it, my hero and heroine were going to their weekly marriage counseling session when they discovered their counselor has been turned into a zombie. They have to fight her off and then are forced to use her advice to escape the apocalypse. That scene turned into MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES, the first book in my "Living With the Dead" series that came out from Orbit Books in 2010-2011. I loved writing the books and readers seemed to take to them, so I decided to write a short story collection with more stories from the same outbreak, IN THE DEAD: Volume 1. It gave me the chance to explore different characters and viewpoints on the same world!

Was there a specific moment that made you want to be a writer or did it just happen over time?

I remember wanting to be a writer as far back as fifth grade. So I think it's just something I've always wanted to be. Luckily I've been able to follow my dream!

What are your writing patterns like? Do you set aside a large chunk of the day for writing or is it more spaced out?

I write full-time and I write every day. I have a set number of words to write each day in order to meet my deadlines, so I generally write until those words are written. Then I can be free to do other things (or, more likely, spend the day working on promotional efforts and watching CourtTV).

Would you be friends/associate with the characters in In the Dead? Why or why not?

In the IN THE DEAD: Volume 1 collection, it depends. LOL Some of them, I would definitely hang out with. I especially like Nadia from "Company's Here" and the sisters in "Mr. MacGyver".

Ebook or paperback? Why?

I like and think there's room for both. I love my Kindle with a passion, but I also love holding a paperback in my hand. I do love the freedom the new indie publishing gives me and eBooks are the main part of that for me.

Do you read the same kinds of books you write? If there are any differences between the two, what are they?

I do! I love snarky, funny horror, as well as scary horror and zombies. I wish I had more time to read now, but I'm so busy that it seems like I don't have five minutes to put together to read. But my Kindle is full and since we'll be moving soon, I'm hoping to have more time to read on our travels and while we're getting settled.

What do you think is alluring about your book? Why should someone pick it up?

I love zombies and I love humor (favorite zombie movies: Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland). If people like that same thing, they'll probably enjoy my "Living With the Dead" series. And the IN THE DEAD: Volume 1 release is a great place to get started on the series. It's only 2.99, so the price is right and as a collection of short stories, if you don't like one, you can go to the next one!

Do you find music inspirational when writing? If so, what kind of music inspired In the Dead?

I'm afraid I can't listen to music while I write, it distracts me. Even music without lyrics tends to make me a little ADD. So I have the sounds of silence and meowing cats to keep me company while I write.

What is your greatest marketing tip for any struggling authors out there?

Don't be a jerk when you're online and nurture your social media. You can't just promote or else people tune you out. But if you truly interact and cultivate relationships, then people listen when you talk because they like you.

If you can tell us, what is it you're working on now?

If IN THE DEAD: Volume 1 does well and I feel there's a desire for it, I'd like to do a second volume in the new year. And I have a secret project that I can't talk about quite yet, but I'll begin writing past the first three chapters in about a month.

And finally, everyone is so gaga over the idea of vampires vs werewolves. What two supernatural beings do you want to see do battle?

Actually my secret project involves the real life monsters from the movies in the 50s and 60s. So any of them facing off has already been fun to do! ;)

Well, thanks for stopping by, Jesse. I wish you the best of luck, and if you, dear reader, are looking to buy In the Dead, here is where you can!

Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Dead-1-ebook/dp/B005D7KZSM/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312287039&sr=1-3

B&N (Nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-dead-jesse-petersen/1104328189?ean=2940012768209&itm=2&usri=jesse%2bpetersen%2bin%2bthe%2bdead

Paranormal Indie of the Day: The Devil and Preston Black by Jason Jack Miller

2011-07-30T03:51:00.000-07:00

The Paranormal Indie of the Day is Jason Jack Miller's The Devil and Preston Black!