Showing posts with label book series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book series. Show all posts

Thursday, March 22, 2018

New Release - Angelicus - Book 4 of the Meadowsweet Chronicles

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I bring you a new release from the fabulous Katie M. John! Strap in and get your coffee!! Here we go!


‘Angelicus’ Book 4 of The Meadowsweet Chronicles
Published by Little Bird Publishing House London.
Date of Release 22nd of March 2018 Buy it here! Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK
Author Katie M. John
Website www.katiemjohn.com

SERIES BLURB:
There’s no light without dark.
Fox Meadowsweet is a Witch. Jeremiah is a Witch Hunter. The Meadowsweet bloodline has lived in the sleepy English village of Heargton for thousands of years. Jeremiah Chase is a New York boy in exile.
Neither of them asked for their past, but now it’s the only thing that can save their future as dark and ancient paranormal forces threaten to obliterate the world.
When a local college girl is discovered ritually murdered and covered in strange symbols, old suspicions rise, ancient fears manifest, and centuries-spanning blood feuds reignite between the old households of the village.
With their ancestral reputation of magic and witchcraft, eyes turn to the three beautiful Meadowsweet sisters. Including the eyes of Jeremiah Chase, who finds himself inexplicably drawn the quirky wild beauty of the middle sister, Fox.
But as Jeremiah learns the history of her bloodline, he also unearths the dark and tangled story of his own family, giving him knowledge of a terrible and diabolical legacy.

BOOK TRAILER!!



RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!!

Giving away a Witchy Hamper of surprise goodies worth $75 and a Semi-precious stone pendant made of amethyst and rose quartz.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
FREE BOOK 1

‘Witchcraft’ BOOK 1 of the SERIES IS ON FREE DOWNLOAD
Book 1 'Witchcraft' is on FREE download
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NG5CLTE
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NG5CLTE
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id950645919
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/witchcraft-16
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witchcraft-kati…/1127088200

~~~~

What do you think? Look good?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Thursday, August 31, 2017

99 Cent Sale - All Three Books in the SoulTracker Series

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today, I'm telling you all about a wonderful deal on a boxed set by a lovely lady, T. G. Ayer. Get those clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!

99 cents for now! Grab it here!

About the books:

Title(s): Blood Magic, Demon Kin, and Blood Curse
Author: T. G. Ayer
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fiction
Length (print): ~668 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb:

If you hear a bump in the night, you'd better stay under your covers. In the DarkWorld it may not be something you'd like to meet.

Problem is, the creatures of your imagination aren't sticking to night's shadows anymore. They are everywhere; the people you work with, your teachers, even your friends. And they've been living that way for a long time.

You haven't noticed because they don't want you to.

You're much better off not asking any questions.

Unfortunately for Mel Morgan, master teleporter. She asks too many questions.

BLOOD MAGIC
Mel Morgan is a Master Teleporter. She can move through the Veil into the otherworldly planes. A handy skill when looking for missing people. It’s a lonely job, but with her gargoyle partner she’s never minded lonely.

Until a certain super-hot Djinn walks into her life. He needs her help to find someone he loves. And Mel can never say no to someone in need. But the road to helping Saleem is fraught with secrets better left uncovered.

Can Mel and Saleem dodge demons and sorcerers long enough to save the ones they love?

DEMON KIN
When a business tycoon hires Mel Morgan to find his missing daughter, the SoulTracker is thrown headlong into twists and turns of unexpected deaths and unusual killers. But to find the girl in time to save her, she has to first understand the killer. Demonic or human killers? Mel can't decide which will be worse.

Things get a little complicated when she has to help find both a Panther Alpha's mother, and a reluctant Djinn Queen. Add to the mix an evil spirit plus her mentor Samuel sending her terrifying messages in the Ether. Save him, or else.

It's just all in a days work for a SoulTracker.

BLOOD CURSE
Mel's journey continues down dark paths as she is forced to find who put the curse on her. The closer she gets to the one responsible the more her health deteriorates and the worse the evil behaves.

Mel has to battle loneliness, illness and despair . . .

As well as fend of the evil dead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What are you waiting for? Go get it!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Monday, February 27, 2017

New Release - Beauty's Thief

Title: Beauty's Thief
Author: Konstanz Silverbow
Series: Finding Gold (Book Four)
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance (Clean)
Cover Art: Ida at Amygdala Book Design

Formatting: Ali at Red Umbrella Graphic Designs
Release Date: 2-27-17

Not every monster has claws—not every beauty is kind.

Born a princess, raised to be queen, but living as a servant, Avalyn never realized she would pay the price for her father’s mistakes. Now Avalyn is living in a castle not her own, a slave to an evil witch who wants revenge on the man who betrayed her trust and ruined her.

For Avalyn, her real punishment has yet to begin.

She will be cursed to work for the witch for the next one hundred years unless true love can find its way into the castle and into her heart.

Now the princess’s freedom rests in the hands of a lowly thief who cares only for himself.
Pre-Order
AmazonEtsyGoodreadsSeries
Konstanz Silverbow has always been a dreamer . . . but not a writer. Being an author was something she was dragged into. But since that day, she hasn't stopped. It has become more than a hobby, it is a passion. 

During the day Konstanz works, making jewelry, playing the violin, collecting dragons, and learning all she can about medieval weapons. But at night she creates made up worlds and places where those dragons come to life and the weapons are used in battle.

Konstanz Silverbow: Proud Creator of magical worlds, fictional creatures, ideal super heroes and sarcasm since 2007!


Thursday, May 21, 2015

New Release - Markaza Mystic Book Six

Happy Thursday, everyone! If you're reading this, I'm assuming you survived Wednesday. *grin* What a long week it's felt like, huh? Wow. My brain keeps screaming, "It should be Friday!" Haha! Anywho, I have some super exciting news for you all today. Grab a cup of coffee and let's get going!

Markaza has been launched on the world! I'm not doing a big, huge release for this book (I'm saving that for the next novel - M). So, I'm just gonna put it up here on my little blog and announce it to the folks I hope are vested in the series. Those who've read the first five books will be on the lookout for this one. It's been a long time coming, but we're finally there!

As a bonus, you can pick up the first five books in a box set for your Kindle for just $3! Get them here.

Bronya, book one, is always free. So, you can try the series out with zero risk. Grab that one here!

Without further yammering on my part, I give you links!

Amazon: Kindle $3.99
Smashwords: $3.99
Paperback: $16.99

Blurb:
Markaza Turner isn't your average seventeen-year-old. She can see the future, the past, and has an eerie propensity for getting people to do things.

But what she sees is the obliteration of mankind. Worse, her visions tell her it's gonna happen on her eighteenth birthday, December 21, 2012.

All six of the ladies forming the elite group, known as WSTW, are finally together under one roof. Bronya, Lily, Shelia, Melody, Coralie, and Markaza must now figure out how to use their strange powers before an evil being rises from the ground in Central Park and destroys the world.

But Markaza's own past is dark and riddled with secrets she'll need to unearth and come to terms with before she can go to war.

In this exciting finale of the Mystic series, the women come face-to-face with a truth that will change their lives forever.

Our fate is in their hands.

Wanna see the full wrap paperback cover? Yeah, buddy!! Here ya go!


Interior matches the individual novellas (not the collection five in one).

What the heck are you waiting for? Go grab some new reads :)

What do you think? Like it?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

New Release - Chasing Forgiveness

It’s finally here!

Chasing Forgiveness is a prequel novella in the award-winning Tala Prophecy series.

About Chasing Forgiveness

When terror strikes, forever altering your life, it doesn’t ask permission or forgiveness.

Madeleine and Amélie’s quiet lives are ripped apart by a creature they never imagined could exist outside a horror story. Their mother is murdered, their father is missing, and the only safe haven is with a family full of secrets. But rescue comes at a price.

Ripped from the light of youth, the sisters are forced into the shadows—where they meet brothers Rafe and Rowan.

It’s not the time for infatuation or love, but the heart rarely listens to reason.

Now, the young women have decisions to make. Will they be able to achieve their unified goal of stopping evil, or will it consume them from the inside out?

They soon learn some choices can’t be undone.

Author’s Note: This novella can be read as a stand-alone.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway #2
8 signed paperbacks are up for grabs via Goodreads.


Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chasing Forgiveness by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Chasing Forgiveness

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Giveaway ends May 20, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

About the Author


Tia Silverthorne Bach has been married to her college sweetheart for twenty years, has three beautiful girls, and adores living in sunny California. Her daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She believes in fairy tales and happy endings and is an avid reader and rabid grammar hound.



She is an award-winning, multi-genre author and an Editor for Indie Books Gone Wild. From an early age, she escaped into books and believes they can be the source of healing and strength. If she’s not writing, you can find her on the tennis court, at the movies, reading a good book, or spooning Jif peanut butter right out of the jar.

Connect with the Author:
Sign up for her Author newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bif19P 

Available Books:
Chasing Memories (Tala Prophecy, Book 1)
Chasing Shadows (Tala Prophecy, Book 2)
Fractured Glass: A Novel Anthology
Depression Cookies (women's fiction)

Coming Soon:
Chasing Destiny (Tala Prophecy, Book 3)

YEAH! Go get you one!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Gray's Domain - Huge Giveaway for Active Minds

Gray's Domain Release Giveaway

Twenty-four amazing authors have joined forces with Eva Pohler Books and over a dozen outstanding bloggers to raise money for Active Minds, a non-profit organization devoted to mental health awareness and suicide prevention in young adults. In addition to donating their books, swag, and gift cards, many of these participants have also given cash donations directly to the organization.

This coalition of authors and bloggers wants to help eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and let young adults know there are people who care and to never give up.

You can help, too! One of the entry options on the rafflecopter giveaway is to donate $1 or more to Active Minds. The link will take you directly to the foundation's website, and it's so easy to do!

Here is the list of prizes you can enter to win:

Mercy Amare and K.T. Smith's Legacies
Casey Bond's Reap
Jacinda Buchmann's Indigo Incite
Nely Cab's Creatura Series, Books 0.5-2
Amy Evan's Clicks plus Jelly Bean Kisses
C.R. Everett's I Loved That About Her
A.M. Hargrove's Tragically Flawed
Susan Holmes's Deadly Ties: A Waterside Kennel's Mystery
Laura Howard's The Forgotten Ones
Amy Jones's A Zebra Like Me
Allana Kephart and Melissa Simmons's Uprising
Carlyle Labuschagne: Winner's Choice of any of her books
Quinn Loftis's Grey Wolves Series
Quinn Loftis's Elfin Series
Quinn Loftis's Call Me Crazy
Kelly Martin's Big Is Beautiful
Jo Michaels's Lily (Mystic Vol. 2)
Jennifer Miller's Pretty Little Lies
J.D. Nelson's Night Aberrations
Alison Pensy's Custodian Novels Boxed Set
Eva Pohler's The Gatekeeper's Saga
C.W. Stokes's Second Chances
Felicia Tatum's Intoxicating Passion Boxed Set
Becca Vincenza's Damaged
K.A. Young's The Nephilum Warrior Boxed Set
K.A. Young's The Elise Michaels Series
Deausha Kitty's YA Book Blog: $5 Amazon GC
Lisa's Book Lair: Swag
The Bookworm Blog: $1.99 ebook
Supagurl Books: Swag
Wicked Women Book Blog $3 Amazon GC
Kat's Indie Book Blog: Rachel M Raithby's Lexia The Deadwood Hunter Series, Book 1
From Ravenz Reviews: Heart Attacks: A Valentine's Day Anthology

GraysDomain3Along with the rafflecopter for the prizes above is a tour celebrating the release of Gray's Domain, the second book in The Purgatorium Series.

If you are need in therapy, this is the series to read! It tells of an island off the coast of California where Dr. Gray and her staff use experimental methods on clinically depressed and suicidal patients sent their by family members who have no other hope. Seventeen-year-old Daphne is their newest patient.  







TOUR SCHEDULE:
Michelle's Tells Blitz June 5th
Kristi’s Book Readery Blitz June 8th
A Book So Fathomless Interview June 8th
The Power of Three Readers Blitz June 9th
Escaping Life’s Craziness with Books Review June 10th
My Bookopolos Blitz June 10th
Literary Redemption Blitz June 10th
Lissa Lynn's Reviews Blitz June 11th
Shelf Full of Books Review June 11th
Purple Shadow Hunter Blitz June 12th
Jen's Must Have Books 2 Read Review June 12th
Lisa’s Book Lair Review June 13th
Inside Bj’s Head Blitz June 13th
Word Wenches Guilty Pleasures Blitz June 14th
Book Skater Blitz June 15th
The Book Worm Blog Review June 15th
Deausha Kitty’s YA Book Blog Review June 16th
Supagurl Books Review June 17th
Open June 18th
Open June 19th
Open June 20th
Pure Jonel Review June 21st
Kat’s Indie Book Blog Review June 21st
Wicked Women Book Blog Review June 22nd
Ravenz Reviews Review June 22nd

Winners will be announced on June 23rd! Please enter the rafflecopter below:   

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Look at all the amazing books in that pile above!   You know you want to win one (or two).

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Excerpt! Sneak Peek at Mystic ~ Markaza

Hello and happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! Today I'm giving you all a sneak peek into the pages of Mystic ~ Markaza, the sixth and final book of the series. It's been outrageously popular (especially since I released the five in one book) and I've had a few messages from readers asking when Markaza will be released. Answer: I'm going to try to have it out before UtopYA Con in June of this year. I have a good bit of it written and am almost to the point where the big baddie begins to cause trouble for the world. This one is a full length novel, so it's taking me a little longer.

After all, we have to have some burning questions answered before the girls can fight! What the heck will their powers be used for? You'll have to wait and see. But, here's a snippet for all those who've been asking. Kindly remember it's unedited and a NEW ADULT novel. There's some strong language in here. Grab a cup of coffee, relax in your chair, and get to reading. I hope you enjoy it.

This is for those of you who read chapter one of Markaza in the back of the last book, Coralie. It's around 3200 words so be prepared to read for more than a minute.


Chapter Two ~ Happy Birthday!

Markaza woke up screaming. Her vision from the night before paralyzing her body as the horrors replayed through her head.

Sunny was standing on the tarmac at a small airfield, watching the instructor show them how they’d be tethered to the seasoned skydiver. Her face was lit up; eyes sparkling with excitement.
 
Markaza was inside Sunny, feeling everything she felt. Her thoughts were as clear as a summer sky.

When the instructor showed the girls where the straps would go and how their tandem partner would have to hold on, her heart leapt in her chest. What a thrill it would be to have her body strapped so tightly to his! Antsy, her mind playing out sexy scenarios, she bounced from foot-to-foot, not hearing half of what was being said.

He paused. “Sunny, are you listening?”

“Yes.” No!

“Okay, let’s continue.” His lecture went on for another ten minutes before he finally told the girls to get their harnesses on and follow him.

Sunny stepped into hers and buckled the straps like she thought she remembered seeing the hot instructor do it. Satisfied she was good to go, she sauntered over to her friend. “Holy hell he’s hot! Which one of us do you think will get to be strapped on to that?”

The friend giggled. “Maybe you will. It’s so cool of your mom to sign us up for this!”

“Right? I’m so excited!” Sunny’s feet went into a tap-dance as she waited for the others.

Once everyone was geared up, they followed the instructor to a place where a group of young men were waiting.

Her heart started beating double-time. These dudes were as good-looking as the one who showed them how to get into the gear! She smiled and locked eyes with a boy who had brown hair that was almost shoulder-length, warm green eyes, and a perfect set of teeth. He smiled back and she felt her face grow warm at the contact.

They were assigned their jump partners and, as luck would have it, Sunny ended up with the one she’d been eying.

He approached slowly, looking like a bronzed god, and her brain played scenes from every romantic movie she’d ever seen.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hey.” She wanted to slap her forehead for being lame.

“You excited about the jump?”

She nodded, feeling like if she talked, she’d sound stupid.

While the other team members were getting ready, Sunny and her jump partner sat down and chatted. She found out he was seventeen and had already made twenty jumps solo.

“Yeah, I just fell in love with it from the first time. This is only my second go-round with tandem, but I’m sure glad I’ll get to wrap my arms around you.” His gaze was smoldering and her ability to talk whooshed right out of her again.

All she could do was smile while her inner-goddess danced and sang a happy song.

They climbed into the plane and everyone sat down for takeoff. He reached over and grabbed her hand, caressing her thumb with his own as they rolled down the runway.

Roaring of the propeller was drowned out by her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

They reached jumping altitude and everyone was buckled to their partners. When he put his arms around her, she melted back into him. Instructions were being shouted over the din of the engine, but all she heard was his whispered words. “You smell so good.”

At once, the door was opened and the first pair of jumpers dove out. Screams of the young lady wafted back through the door as she experienced the first tingles of free-fall.

Sunny was shuffled to the opening. “Don’t be scared. I got you.” He had to yell because of the rushing wind, but she was grateful for the reassurance.

She leaned over and looked down. Squealing, she jumped backward, making him stumble a little.
He put his hand over hers and pulled her tightly to him. When the boss yelled, “Go!” they tumbled out into the open air.

Wind.

Warmth.

His strong arms around her body.

Her hair blowing around her face.

Blue skies and fluffy, white clouds as far as she could see.

Brown and green landscapes, broken only by the appearance of the white dot of a house now and then.

It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

When he squeezed her, she fell a little in love with him and her entire body tingled. Adrenalin rushed through her veins, causing her to scream, “Woooohoooooo!” It was a welcome release.

She could hear him laughing as he let go of her so he could pull the ripcord.

A jerk.

Pain searing through her inner-thighs.

Suddenly, she was falling again. She couldn’t feel him near her anymore and she grew cold. Her body began to flip and bend in awkward ways as the speeding wind abused it.

A scream ripped from her throat as she plummeted toward the ground; completely out of control. Her heart did flips inside her body and caused her throat to constrict. Then, everything went quiet except the rushing sound of the wind and her jumpsuit flapping. I’m going to die.

She quit fighting and was flipped upside down just in time to see the ground as it rushed at her face.

Her body slammed into it like a bullet into a target.

Markaza buried her face in her hands and screamed again; letting her feelings flow out with the sound. Death. The word consumed her mind and she recognized the agonizing fear for what it was. Never had she been in the body of the person who died. She began to shake so hard, the bed banged against the wall as it moved with her tremors.

Her mother rushed in, gathering the girl up, trying to console her. “What happened?”

“I… I… Where’s Nancy?” Markaza screamed.

“I don’t know! Can’t I do anything?” Her mother screamed in return, flapping her arms like a penguin’s wings.

“No! Get her! Find her! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!” Only Nancy would listen and not have Markaza committed for what she saw.

An agonizing five minutes passed, during which she collapsed to the floor and cried, letting the sobs tear from her lips, not caring who heard.

Nancy arrived and sat down on the floor. “What is it, child? What did you see this time?”

Markaza threw herself into the woman’s lap, wrapping both arms around her waist. “Oh my God it was horrible! Nancy, we have to do something!”

Rocking the distraught child, Nancy used an even voice when she spoke. “Calm down. I can’t understand you when you’re hysterical.”

Markaza gulped for air, taking it in like she was being suffocated. Her stomach settled as her hair was stroked. “Sunny died.”

“Baby, you’ve seen these kinds of things every year since you were just a little thing. What was different this time?”

“I was inside her head. I saw what she saw; felt what she felt. I died, too,” Markaza whispered. She pushed back and began to tremble again. It started deep in her belly and radiated out through her limbs, causing her words to come through chattering teeth. “She went skydiving and got severed from her partner when he pulled the chute open. We hit the ground… What do I do?”

“Oh my God.” Nancy’s eyes were wide and blank, her lips were pressed together, and her hand flitted up to touch her forehead. “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine…”

“It was horrible.” Rapid breathing ensued and Markaza could feel she was losing her grip again. “What do I do? If I call her, she’ll think I’m a freak! She’s the only friend I have.”

“Let me think. Just try to calm down, okay? We’ll figure it out.” Nancy pulled the girl back up and embraced her. “Shhhh…”

They rocked for a long time. Markaza felt her body relax; sure the woman would know what to do next. After all, she’d saved almost everyone for the last six years.

“Okay, I’m gonna call Sunny’s mom. I’ll tell her you said Sunny was going skydiving but we decided to have a party for you and were wondering if she could come. That’s all I can do.”

Markaza nodded. “That sounds like a good plan. But what if her mother says no?”

“Then you’ll have to call Sunny and hope she listens.”

A knot of dread tied itself around her body, holding her prisoner, but she agreed.

Nancy pulled out her cell phone, got the number from the rolodex on the office desk, and dialed Sunny’s mother.

“Hi, this is Nancy, I work for the Turner family?

“Yes, hi there. I’m calling because it’s Markaza’s thirteenth birthday today and we’ve decided to throw her a party. I was wondering if Sunny—

“Yes, I realize this is late notice and she did tell me Sunny was—

“Yes, ma’am. I understand. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

Markaza’s heart was bouncing around like it had been put on a trampoline. Looking at Nancy’s face when she hung up and turned, Markaza knew she’d have to call and sound like a crazy person. After pulling her thoughts together, she picked up the phone and dialed Sunny’s cell number.

“Hey, girl! How are you?” Sunny sounded like she was smiling.

Markaza took a deep breath to steady her nerves. “I’m okay. Hey, I was thinking about having a birthday party today. I know I said I wasn’t going to, but I thought maybe you could blow off that thing you were going to and come see me instead!”

“There’s no way you’re asking me to blow off skydiving to come to a party you just decided to put together, right?” Sunny laughed. “Have you gone crazy?”

“No. I just thought you might be able to re-schedule.”

“What is it? Are you jealous because I didn’t invite you to come?”

Girls could be heard giggling in the background.

“No.” Markaza’s heart sank.

“Then why bother suddenly throwing yourself a party that you know I can’t come to because I have plans?”
“I… I thought, maybe…”

“Seriously, what’s really going on? Can’t I do anything without you?”

“I saw you die while you were skydiving!” The words flew from Markaza’s mouth before she could stop them.

“Oh my God! You’ll resort to anything! Girls, listen to this: Markaza says she saw me die while I was skydiving.”

Giggles echoed in the background again and someone shouted, “What a freak!”

Markaza’s blood boiled.

Sunny laughed and snorted. “You’re so lame. Go have your stupid party with no one there. I’m out.”
“Fine! When your fucking head slams into the ground, remember I tried to warn you, bitch!” Markaza’s phone beeped, signaling the call had been ended. She looked up, tears streaming down her face. “She wouldn’t listen. I lost my temper. What can I do now?”

“I was afraid that was going to happen,” Nancy said.

“Oh, you have no idea what I just did to myself. Now those cows in the car will tell everyone at school what happened. If Sunny dies today, I’ll be a freak show. Not to mention I’ll be losing someone I thought was my friend.” Markaza started to shake again. “Guess I just did that anyway. Why does this stuff happen to me? What did I do to deserve this curse?”

“You can’t look at it that way. Instead, think about all the people you’ve saved with your gift.”

“Funny thing; I don’t think they ever would’ve been in danger if it wasn’t for me. It seems the people I love the most are the ones who get hurt.”

“I’m still here and in one piece.” Nancy smiled.

Markaza shuddered. “Yeah, and I’m trying to work out why that is. Of all the people I care about the deepest, you, Mom, and Dad seem to all be immune.” She let out a sigh. “It’s weird. You’d think you three would be among the first to get hurt.”

Nancy laughed. “You sure have a way of making people nervous. Don’t jinx me, okay?”

“Okay. Sorry. This thing with Sunny has my head all messed up.”

“You did what you could. So did I. If people won’t listen that’s not our fault.” Nancy brushed Markaza’s hair back. “Why don’t I bring you something to help you sleep? You can pass the day that way. You need to calm down; your face is still all flushed.”

“You’re right. Okay. Thanks.”

Nancy returned a few minutes later with some pills and a glass of water.

Markaza downed them and crawled back into bed.

“You want me to stay until you fall asleep?”

“No. I’ll be okay.” An odd numb feeling had taken over her body and she wondered if she was experiencing shock. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Get some sleep.” Nancy left, closing the door softly.

Markaza could hear her mother arguing with the woman in the hallway. They were doing their best to whisper, but the walls carried the sound.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing. She just had a scary dream.”

“Is she going on about those stupid visions again? I hear you two talking sometimes; you really shouldn’t encourage her.”

“I help her try to deal with what she sees. I don’t know if any of it’s real, but she believes it is, and I’m going with the assumption she’s not crazy.” Nancy’s voice got rough and low, like she was getting angry.

“I’m taking her to a psychiatrist. She needs help.”

“You do whatever you think you have to. She’s your daughter.”

“Yes, she is. You might remember that.”

Everything went quiet and Markaza fell asleep, the drugs making her feel heavy and peaceful.

Banging on the door roused her from her slumber.

“Markaza, wake up! Get out here!” It was Mom. She was having a fit.

Markaza ground the sleep out of her eyes and rolled out of bed. Her head spun and she sat back down.
“Are you up?”

“Hang on a second! My head is spinning!” After a moment she was able to walk to the door and pull it open.
Her mother was completely disheveled. Hair that was usually perfectly coiffed stood in every direction and mascara streaks—that for some reason went right into the wrinkles—marred her face, making her look really old. With her eyes as big as hula-hoops, she leaned down and whispered, “You have to come see what’s on television.” Alcohol wafted from her body and caused Markaza to gag.

“Geeze, Mom, how much have you had to drink?”

“Not nearly enough. Come on.” Mom grabbed Markaza by the hand and dragged her to the living room. “Look at that. It’s on every channel.”

A reporter was holding papers in his hand and looking at the camera with a gloomy expression. “It seems to have been incorrectly used equipment that cost this young woman her life.”

They cut to a video where a tiny figure could be seen plummeting from the sky.

“Her tandem partner said the buckles weren’t fastened properly. You can see in the video how she’s jerked up for a moment when the chute opens, but falls away from him when it begins to slow their descent. Let’s watch it again.”

It was rewound and played back, this time showing the entire grisly scene. When the parachute opened, the figure was flung away from the body it was attached to and went spiraling out of control before slamming head-first into the ground.

“They say her name was Sunny Carter, daughter of James and Melanie Carter. She was fourteen years old. We’ll bring updates as the investigation…”

Markaza fled down the hallway and dry-heaved over the toilet before passing out on the tile.

***

“When I woke up, my mother asked me if Sunny’s death is what I’d seen. I told her it was and I ended up at a psychiatrist’s office that same night. He put me on a bunch of pills that made me groggy and skewed my visions. I went months feeling like a zombie. I’m kinda surprised I didn’t walk around moaning and drooling all over myself. It was the first time I was heavily medicated for what they called depression.” Markaza paused and blew her nose. “Who the hell wouldn’t be freaked out? Geesh. Because of that little fiasco, I was bullied at school so badly, my parents had to pull me out and send me somewhere else.

“That’s how I ended up at Her Majesty’s Other Preparatory Academy—which we New Yorkers lovingly call Hemop. Those years were some of the best and the worst of my life.”

“So your mom thought you were crazy because you saw the death of someone and had the gumption to try and stop it?” Lily’s voice rose as she asked the question.

Markaza nodded.

“That’s more like hero stuff, in my opinion. What a bitch!”

“Yeah, well, she didn’t really understand, did she?”

“Still. Argh!”

“How about we take a little break before I get into life at Hemop?”

Everyone agreed and Markaza ordered dinner to be sent up. Nancy pushed a cart into the room an hour later.

All the girls hugged the woman and thanked her for being awesome.

She smiled at them. “Markaza’s been telling her tales, I see. You ladies doing okay?”

“We are,” answered Melody. “Thank you so much.”

“Good.” Nancy turned. “Markaza, we need to talk. It’ll wait until tomorrow, but I wanted to let you know.” Her voice lowered. “It’s about your mother.”

“Okay. I’ll come down first thing in the morning. Thanks.” Markaza hugged the woman and ushered her out the door. “See you soon!”

After they ate dinner, they gathered in the living room once again with a huge pot of coffee and a tray of fruit and veggies; courtesy of Nancy.

“Where was I?” Markaza asked.

“Ooh! You were gonna tell us about the shrink, the meds, and life at Hemop.” Coralie was sitting forward, looking eager for more. “I’ve heard of that school. Always wondered what it was really like.” She grinned.
“I promise not to leave out any of the gritty details.”

“Great!”

Melody swatted Coralie on the leg. “Shhhhh! Go on, Markaza.”

“Hemop is the priciest school in New York State and is K through twelve. My parents were trying to avoid sending me there, because they wanted me to hobnob with more ‘down to earth’ kids—or so they said. Let me tell you, Mom and Dad weren’t crazy. Those were some of the strangest teenagers I’ve ever met.
“It was like they’d never been real kids and were born as adults. They had perfect hair, perfect clothing, and perfect grades. I went to school with the president’s daughter, the vice-president’s son, and tons of movie star offspring.

“Because I started in sixth grade, everyone wanted to know where I came from the minute I set foot in the door. It was like I was famous.

“I also got my first period right before I transferred. Talk about dealing with a lot of shit! Ha!

“Of course, it didn’t take me long to realize, if I was going to survive, I had to pretend to be something I wasn’t.”

~ End of preview

 If you enjoyed that, consider picking up the Mystic Anthology of books 1-5. It's just $3 over on Amazon and you get over 100k words for your money. Plus, you'll get to read chapter one of Markaza!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Friday, August 9, 2013

Winners and Mystic ~ Coralie

Happy freaking Friday, good people of the blogosphere! I know I've been out for a week, but I was in Missouri, the setting of The Bird. How exciting is that? I've also been doing some formatting and writing. I'm happy to announce that book four of the Mystic series, Melody, is now written and will be hitting the shelves within a month! Coralie, book five, is a chapter in. Today, I bring you the synopsis and cover of Coralie and the winners of my birthday week giveaways! The kids returned to school yesterday and I'm all fired up to get back to work. Without further ado...

Synopsis:

Coralie Meyers is struggling to find her footing as an actress in New York. A malicious attempt to thwart another girl's career ends in catastrophe and Coralie soon finds herself in a precarious situation.

As the fifth and final member of Women Save the World, a company created by Markaza Turner, Coralie possesses all the cunning the young ladies will need to defeat the evil that's rising under Central Park. If the women fail to save her, evil will rise and destroy the world.

Now that Markaza has gathered four of her chicks: Bronya, Lily, Shelia, and Melody, all that's left to do is bring in Coralie, train her, and go to war. But the ladies are struggling with their powers and their personal demons. Will they find the power within themselves in time to destroy the monster and save the world? Only time will tell; and that's one thing they're short on.

This fifth installment of the Mystic series is a lesson in what lies, hate, and judgment can do to the world when left unchecked.

Now, for the winners of the rafflecopter giveaways! Congratulations to everyone and thanks for participating. I'll be in touch today to find out how to get you your prizes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo