W!N a copy of Priceless, a sexy Urban fantasy Mystery

For anyone who hasn't yet picked up "Priceless" there is a contest running over at FREEBOOKSY where you can enter to win 1 of 10 kindle copies. Get over there while the getting is good, there is a time limit on how long you have to enter.

And if you are reading this, there is a good chance you already have qualified (which makes entering the contest even easier!)

Okay, that's it for today. I'm off to get some writing done now. I promise to write a full on blog post in the near future. ;p

Readers Heaven--Indie Book Blowout!

Announcing

Spring Fling Indie Book Blowout

May 10th – 12th!

Mother’s Day Bonus Day

May 13!

Love GREAT books At AMAZING prices?

Dozens of GREAT books?

Each ONLY 99 Cents

Romances from sweet to HOT, Thrillers, Mysteries, Zombies and more!

All just 99 Cents at Amazon.com

Fantastic ebooks, many by award-winning and best-selling authors.

Welcome to Spring Fling Indie Book Blowout

A book lovers Dream!

 Go to our website to see all the great books and sign up to win a FREE Kindle!

www.indiebookblowout.com

November Indie Cover Art Poll

Vote for your favourite and be put in a draw where you can win 16 e-books! One book from each of the authors who participate and one from me, the host of the poll. You can only choose 1 cover as your favourite and you can only get a single entry, no matter how many times you comment.

The winner will be announced on November the 15 and entries will be taken until noon on the 15th.

The winning cover art will then be displayed on all the other author’s blogs who have participated this month for a minimum of 1 blog post.

If you’d like to have your cover art involved in the December Indie Cover Art Poll, send the cover, a short blurb and one link to motionsrider@yahoo.ca

Don't forget to leave your email address when you vote. Now, let the voting begin!

**If you are going to leave an annonymous comment you MUST put in your email for the vote to count**

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

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

#1

For more about this author click here

Denver Detective Bobby Macaulay has faced down a truckload of tragedy over recent years.
After the man who ruined his leg and killed his first partner is executed, Macaulay becomes the lead detective investigating the Sloan's Lake murders. The method of killing is so heinous it leads Macaulay and his partner down an ever-darkening path--one that must be traversed if they are to discover the evil forces behind the slaughter.
Just when Bobby Macaulay is questioning the very career that has been his salvation, he will discover a heroic history buried within his own family roots: The Clan MacAulay--a deep family lineage of protectors at the very core of a millenniums-long war against unimaginable evil.

#2

For more about this author click here

In a strange world of myth and magic, one name is feared above all others: GNARL, wielder of the Crimson Battle Axe. Sworn defender of his people, the Biroc, for over a century Gnarl has cut down enemies with his flaming battle axe. Gnarl must put aside his differences with the humans and all the other races of his world to have any chance of success against the greatest evil his world has ever known- the Dark Lord Nobis. Gnarl faces death at every turn, though inconceivably, the fate of the world may rest upon Gnarl’s unusual relationship with the lovely young human female whom Gnarl improbably calls friend.

The Crimson Battle Axe, a sword-and-sorcery hero story about justice versus vengeance, love versus apathy, forgiveness versus bitterness, and good versus evil. Through fantastic battles and tender moments, with humor and unlikely friendship, five travelers follow their destiny on an amazing quest.

#3
For more about this author click here

A gel-like substance is discovered by DHS across the country and tested to figure out just what it is. The goo is very complex; the scientists conclude it is not of this planet. They realize it can clone animals--even humans. When new people are cloned, they 'arrive' with no knowledge, memories or clothes. They are found by DHS and contained on an abandoned military base. While contained, the clones discover themselves and the world around them--or as much as DHS will allow. They also receive a message that was hidden in the goo. When the message is triggered for one of the clones, Sue, she decides that she must deliver it... and escapes from the base.


#4

For more about this author click here

# 5

For more about this author click here

Edward Caulfield was not a simple man. Losing his wife early in their marriage he continued to live his life as a shrine to her. In his twilight years he encountered a troubled young woman. There were lessons to be learned from each other. With the spirit of his deceased wife by his side Edward Caulfield left behind a legacy in his words to ease a troubled heart.


#6

For more about this author click here
 
 
 
 
 
 

   Blake Harrison:
Rich, titled, and charming… And in need of a wife by Wednesday so he turns to Sam Elliot who isn’t the business man he expected. Instead, Blake is faced with Samantha Elliot, engaging and spunky with a voice men call 900 numbers to hear.
Samantha Elliot:

Owner of Alliance, her matchmaking firm, and not on the marital menu... That is until Blake offers her ten million dollars for a one-year contract. All she needs to do is keep her attraction to her husband to herself and avoid his bed. But Blake’s toe-curling kisses and charm prove too difficult to combat. Now she needs to protect her heart so she can walk away when their mercenary life together is over.

# 7
 
For more about this author click here
 

 

 
 
 

 

 

Ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge cannot catch a break. After all, life as a fourth-grader can be hazardous what with science projects to deal with and recess football games to avoid. Everyone, including his best friend Tommy, seems to have bad luck when hanging around Nathan. Throw in an older sister who is a royal pain, a dad who is stuck in the past, and a mom who keeps trying to poison him with her awful cooking, and poor Nathan’s life as a fourth grader appears to be completely doomed.

Armed only with his sketchpad, his imagination, and his wits, Nathan Rockledge navigates the perils of the fourth grade in style, to emerge heroic, as Nate Rocks, proving that even a ten-year-old can accomplish great things.

#8

For more about this author click here

Marion is an incompetent witch who thinks she needs magic to deal with a homicidal ex-boyfriend. Except, all her magic does is blow up love potions. Aidan is a cursed elf who believes protecting Marion is the ticket back to his life in Fairy. When they finally realize what they really need is each other, it might be too late.

# 9

For more about this author click here

Beth Brown doesn’t believe in premonitions until she dreams a sexy stranger is gunned down during the brutal hijacking of a commercial airliner. When events in her dream start coming true, she heads to the flight’s departure gate. To her shock, she recognizes the man she’d watched die the night before. Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters comes from a bloodline of elite warriors with psychic abilities. When Zane and two of his platoon buddies arrive at Sea-Tac Airport, he has a vision of his teammates’ corpses. Then she arrives—a leggy blonde who sets off a different kind of alarm.
As Beth teams up with Zane, they discover the hijacking is the first step in a secret cartel’s deadly global agenda and that key personnel within the FBI are compromised. To survive the forces mobilizing against them, Beth will need to open herself to a psychic connection with the sexy SEAL who claims to be her soul mate.

#10

For more about this author click here

Convinced a fresh start is all she needs to escape the problems at home, seventeen-year-old Jenna Lyons runs away in the middle of the night. But when her car breaks down on the outskirts of La Grange, Missouri, population less than a thousand, she gets sucked into the small town, and one family in particular. Jenna discovers there’s a liar in La Grange, and he’s deceived everyone. Now she must decide whether to run away from the truth, or blow his secret wide open.

# 11

For more about this author click here

In the Fall of 2001, John’s life has fallen off a cliff. His six- year-old daughter, Lucy, needs a kidney transplant and his Durham, NC travel agency has been wrecked by the events of 9/11. He must find a way to secure a large amount of money quickly in order to pay for Lucy’s surgery. He’s been in tight places before but he’s currently out of solutions. Wanda, a client of John’s travel agency, has had her livelihood hit hard by 9/11 also. She can no longer transport cocaine via airline flights due to increase airport security. Like John, she is a single parent. She needs more money to allow her and daughter Tonya, to move from Durham to California and break free of her boss. John and Wanda form a partnership around a plan to smuggle cocaine via cruise ships. Despite being nearly killed on their first run, it worked. How far should a father go to save his child? Can a man and woman from completely different worlds help each other? Could they fall in love? And which one of these people will live to see the summer of 2002?

# 12

For more about this author click here

Tangerine is a novel set in the future that tells the story of Dr. Ava Majestic, a biologist who evaluates uninhabited planets being considered for colonization. Ava discovers she is the heir to a device that allows her to travel backward in time. Use of the device is fraught with consequences, as she soon learns. Ava is pursued for this device by an unsavory but wealthy collector, Agnotico. Tangerine describes life in a future time when space travel is commonplace and aliens are a natural part of everyday life. Upcoming release.

# 13

For more on this author click here

Krystoff is a vampire and enforcer of the laws of his people. Sent out to hunt down those who have turned their back on the Council, he is drawn to Austin, and the next on his long list of targets. Once in the

city he is drawn to a club that provides more than just a distraction, it

reveals a woman that is more than she seems and what’s worse is the

renegades have set their sights on her.

Alexandra, part human and part Fae, has done her best to keep her

non-human legacy from those around her. To her dismay, the one night she decides to spend the evening out singing, she draws the unwanted attention of what she’s tried to hide from all her life… vampires. Suddenly she is on the run and her only ally is the very species she has been warned against. Could this hunter be her only savior? Together they must find out why the renegades are after Alex, but first they must learn to trust each other… before time runs out.

# 14 

For more about this author click here

 
 

 

# 15

 

For more about this author click here

 

 
 
 

Interview & Giveaway with Cover Artist Ryan Bibby

I'd like to welcome Ryan Bibby, an up and coming Cover Artist who took some time out from his schedule to share with us writers, a few things about himself and his work. He has also very generously offered a FREE COVER to a random commenter on this post!

Here's a little about Ryan, and be sure to check out his new site http://novelbranding.com/

Ryan Bibby an English man in Auckland (Sounds similar to the Police lyric don’t you think?) I’m 30 years young. Married to the most amazing woman with two incredible children, Isabel 2 ½ and Dexter who is 8 months old. I studied at University in the UK and worked for several years around England before moving to the southern hemisphere for the better weather and lifestyle here in New Zealand. No regrets what so ever!

http://jonathandallen.com/

1. What made you decide to get into doing cover art for books?

It’s something I have always thought about before in the past but never really had the opportunity. It wasn’t until a chance tweet that I stumble across the indie book scene and discovered the quality and depth that is out there. I couldn’t believe the quality of the writing and wondered why some novels “made it” and other remained somewhat underground. So I thought I might be able to offer something to help get a book noticed. I know it’s not the whole deal but making an eye catching professional cover can certainly help when it comes to be taken seriously in the huge market out there.

2. I'm guessing that like all creative types, you have a particular form of inspiration, would you mind sharing it with us?

No! Just kidding, it’s nothing special really I get most of my inspiration just from wandering around with my eyes open. Anything that catches my attention really, be it a advert on the side of a bus or a promotional flyer that gets put in the letterbox. You can find great design all over the place it’s just a case of opening your eyes and realising what you’re looking at. I’m also a bit of typography geek! I can spend hours (seriously) just browsing through different fonts and sometimes this can be the foundation of the entire design. Since I started taking the book cover side of design seriously I’m also a permanent resident in my local second hand book shop picking up whatever catches my eye.

3. I see a lot of Stephen King's, The Dark Tower artwork on your site. Is this a particular favorite of yours?

Absolutely, there is something about King that just speaks to me, it’s as if he can paint pictures straight into the old grey matter. The Dark Tower in particular is something I seem to always find my way back too every couple of years. For those of you that have it on the to-do-list… DO IT! You won’t regret it I promise.

4. Are you looking for clients right now?

Being new to this area of design I don’t yet have the word out there about what I can do and offer. So yes I’m on the hunt for anyone that wants to see what I can put together. I try and pride myself on listening to the client and keeping in constant communication with regards to how progress is going. From experience people really appreciate being kept in the loop even if it’s just letting them know you can’t do any work on a particular day it’s better to let them know then to drop of the radar for 24 hours. Communication is king in my book.

5. What's your turn around time from being given the idea for the cover art and having it back into your clients eager little hands?

I try and get something for them to look at in within a week. It normally takes a little back and forth to get to the finished design, but once again it’s all down to communication. This is where, so far, working with authors has been a total dream. For oblivious reason you can articulate yourself so much better than the normal grunts and shoulder shrugs I get from other clients when putting together a design brief. I also try and take my time, as your novel is normally a very personal thing, your baby if you like and it’s an honor to be allowed to put a face to that for the world to see. In fact it’s a really cool thing to get the chance to do.

6. Do you mind if I ask how much you are charging?

For an ebook cover my rate is a very reasonable $35. Which I would like to think is a bargain. One of the reasons for this price point is that as with all design fields you’re constantly learning, so I see every project as a learning experience that I don’t have to pay for. So you get a cover that you’re happy with and I get to hone my craft, it’s a win win really!

7. How long have you been doing cover art for?

Only for a couple of months now, but I have been doing other design work for a number of years. I have been involved with a lot of corporate and branding identity work along with website and other promotional design projects. The t-shirts you can see on my site are just a hobby really to help me vent the creative urge when I get home from a particularly dull day. Design is my passion it’s what enjoy doing so after a day of photo shopping products into customers I love to go home and experiment with some more creative aspects of the software.

8. Favorite book cover of all time is?

Wow tough question, I think it’s most likely also from one of my favorite books of all time or at least in my top 5, the classic 1984. I picked it up along with Animal farm in a bundled deal and they’re really my cup of tea when it comes to design. Very stylised and timeless, looking at them both now the Animal farm cover is probably more striking but I remember the 1984 cover having more of an effect on me at the time. Great covers and both great books. Ask me the same question next week and I would most likely have changed my mind!

9. Sinful indulgence you eat/drink while working on your craft? (Give it up, we all have at least one!)

Guilty as charged, how did you know? My wife is from Scotland so from the outlaws most Christmas and Birthday presents I get tend to come in a bottle aged at least 12 years! So if I’m working in the evening it would likely be a single malt whiskey with a couple of ice cubes. Hmmmmm too early in the day to think about that right now however.

http://jonathandallen.com/

10. Best cover art you've done so far (in your opinion)

Normally it would be the work I have just finished but at the moment I have a special spot for The Kayson Cycle cover. For one, I think the author Jonathan D Allen really dug it, and secondly it’s the first cover that I have had put up for sale. So that’s a special cover for me at the moment. I am also loving the second Angst concept cover that David Pedersen allowed me to do. I think it has some great little touches that make it pop nicely off the page.



http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4487680.David_J_Pedersen

 Thank you so much Ryan for sharing with us your art!

And for all those reading this and looking for a cover artist be sure to check Ryan's sites out and do leave a comment for a chance to win a cover of your very own done by this very talented artist! This opportunity will be all wrapped up by November 10th at noon. Be sure to leave your email so that you can be notified if you are the winner!

Interview & Giveaway with Mystery Author . . . Jim Miller

I had the pleasure of interviewing a debut mystery author in person, Mr. Jim Miller in regards to his novel, Mined Your Own Business. Set in the 1960’s, a rebel named Rabbi Hawkins stumbles across dead bodies, buried treasure and a conspiracy that only he can uncover. A fast paced read with a great hook, I couldn’t wait to interview Jim and see what he had to say about his debut novel.

Miller was born on the Isle of Man and moved to Canada with his family when he was a wee lad of eight years old. Writing is not a new passion for Jim, “Always been a writer,” was his response when I asked him how long he’d been at the word smithing. Being published at 14 in the library newsletter in Willowdale (which is the north end of Toronto) only cemented his passion for the written word and put him on a lifelong path of telling stories.

Since that time Jim has pursued his writing in between being an army and family man, travelling all over the country and even spending time overseas in Germany.

I asked Jim how much his writing reflected his own time in the army seeing as the main character in Mined Your Own Business, Rabbi Hawkins, is a rebel. He told me what one of his compatriots said to him, “You’re a rebel, you always have been and you always will be.” This was confirmed by Jim’s wife Bev as she dropped in on the interview, despite Miller’s insistence to the contrary.

Influenced by a wide range of authors, a few of which are Robert B Parker, PG Wodehouse, Rex Stout and Tom Sharpe. All who have similar styles of writing as Miller with either a smart ass mystery detective at the center of their stories or a healthy dose of humour.

When asked to give advice to upcoming authors, Miller had this to say. “If you’re going to be a writer and you have this compulsion to write, then you’re going to write. And if you want to be published, sooner or later you have cross the wall from writing for yourself to writing for the world. Eventually you have to do that, you may as well do it sooner than later.”

Next up for Jim Miller is two short stories, Soldiers are not always Nice and Bayonet, Bayonet, whose got the Bayonet? These two should be available in the next 4 months if all goes smooth in the publishing business . . .

Leave a comment telling us about your favourite mystery moment, movie or book and you’ll be entered to win an e-book copy of Jim Miller’s book, Mined Your Own Business.

You are a Winner!

The winner for the Zoe Archer book interview and giveaway is . . . .

Evie! I will contact Zoe with your email address and she will send your book to you directly.

And if you're sad that you missed out on winning, I only need a few more people to follow my blog before I do a major contest. We're talking books, goodies, writing paraphernalia, a million dollars. Okay, maybe that last one is a little bit much, but how about gift certificates? Yeah, that is more up my ally. :)

Interview & Giveaway with . . . Zoe Archer #2

Welcome back to Zoe as she puts out another fabulous book, COLLISION COURSE, a sci-fi romance.

1. You've written both paranormal and sci-fi romance, do you have a preference for one or the other? Any reason why?

I really do love them both. With my paranormal historicals, I get to infuse the past with magic, and with sci-fi, I get to live out all the science fiction fantasies I've had since I was a kid (though with a decidedly adult twist).

2. What made you want to start writing romance?

Romance writers are all first romance readers. I began reading romance in high school, and fell hard for the combination of historical settings with emotionally charged stories, complete with happily ever after endings. It didn't take long for me to try my hand at writing romance, though those early efforts are fortunately lost to time. Even after I received an MFA in Fiction, I continued to write romance. I love the stories, the setting, and the achieved promises of happiness. There isn't much in life that can fulfill that promise, so I try to provide it where I can.

3. You're female characters are strong, smart and independent, the kind of woman I think most of us want to be like. How important is it that your heroines are the kind of woman that your readers can look up to?

Extremely important. There's a definite amount of wish fulfillment in my writing, and I try to embody qualities I respect in my heroines. Especially in adventure narrative, I despise depictions of weak, helpless women. Spare me the shriekers and fainters. Popular culture has had some wonderful depictions of strong women, but they're far too rare, in my opinion. And in romance, we get so invested in the heroes, but the heroines are equally important. They aren't just ciphers. They need to be as actualized and developed as the heroes. And if even one reader feels empowered by reading my books, I feel I've done a good job.

4. Have you got another type of romance that you would like to dabble in besides the sci-fi and paranormal?

I will be writing a series of steampunk romance novellas for Avon Impulse, the digital imprint of Avon, so I have to say I'm pretty fulfilled in my choice of subgenres! But I'm always looking around for new worlds, new ideas. There's always more to write!

5. Do you have plans to step outside of the romance genre?

I've already been published in literary fiction. Writing under my real name, Ami Silber, my novel EARLY BRIGHT came out in 2008 and will be re-issued by Amazon Encore very soon. That novel is set in 1948 Los Angeles. I also have written several chapters of a historical fiction novel, which is set in the Eighteenth Century, yet finding time to work on it is very, very difficult. Some day, I hope to get back to it, but the romance is keeping me extremely busy--which isn't a complaint, by the way.

6. I haven't had the opportunity to read Collision Course, your newest release yet (I'm very excited as I loved your Blades of the Rose series!) do you have plans to turn this sci-fi romance into a series as well?

Absolutely! The next book in the series, CHAIN REACTION, will be released by Carina on November 28.

7. More into the craft of writing, how long do you spend each day actually writing? Is it a time amount that you give yourself or is it a word count?

I write all day, every day. Fortunately, I am able to write full time, so I can dedicate my entire day to it. I try to maintain a minimum word count of 2000 words per day, but now that I have so many books lined up (my new paranormal historical HELLRAISERS series for Zebra, which launches in December, the sci-fi romance, and the steampunk romance), I'll have to bump that up considerably. There will be much consuming of caffeine.

8. I see a lot of people struggle with the completion of a novel, the beginning seems to be the easy part. Any suggestions for young writers on completing a novel?

The only way to finish a novel is to sit down and write it. Surfing the internet or watching Netflix will not get your novel completed. Make a hard schedule and stick to it. It's far too easy to let things get in your way, which is why most people never finish their books. So, if this is something you truly want, make it happen for yourself.

Thank you Zoe for taking the time out of your busy schedule to have a chat with me, it is always a pleasure and I wish you the best of luck in your conituned writing success.

If you'd like a chance to win one of Zoe's books, it's as simple as leaving a comment about this post. Open to residents of Canada and the USA only.

Giveaway Winners!

Thank you to all who participated in both giveaways and I hope you continue to put your names in on the comments as I try to do giveaways regularly. My way of say "thanks for following me."

Now, on to the good stuff. :)

The winner of CJ Goslings YA Fantasy The Guardian is . . .

Siddy!

And the winner of Kim Lennox's PNR Night Falls Darkly is . . .

Ju Dimello

Congratulations to you both. :-) My email is motionsrider@yahoo.ca and you can contact me to have your prize shipped your way asap.

Review + Giveaway of Night Falls Darkly by Kim Lennox

Death is inevitable.
But there are some souls, more wicked and disobedient than most, who defy Death’s claim.
Rebellious souls who must be called to heel.

ARCHER, Lord Black, returns to England at the behest of Queen Victoria to immerse himself in the dark, hellish streets of London’s East End. Among the immortal Shadow Guard, he is the most prolific and cunning of the Reclaimers. He revels in the hunt of his current prey: an ill-mannered, reluctant soul reviled in the daily newspapers as Jack the Ripper. Archer has only one weakness … one distraction … the young woman he spared from death two years before.

ELENA WHITNEY has never wanted for anything — not since coming under the protection of her mysterious and absent guardian, Lord Black, who has gifted her with everything a young woman of quality could ever hope for, including an enviable address, an unlimited income and entrée into the drawing rooms of high society. But now, after nearly two years of indifference, he believes he can sweep into her life and rid himself of her by marrying her off. If he knew anything about her — anything at all — he’d know she had greater aspirations than that.

This is a Paranormal Romance (PNR) that I won through Bookends Literacy Agency’s 12 days of Christmas Contest. This is the first time I’ve read anything of Kim Lennox’s work, though not my first foray into PNR. As such, being a romance there are certain elements that must be in play and leave little room for suspense and true concern for the characters. No matter what, you know Elena and Archer will end up together, survive the bad guy and come out on top. That is the definition of a romance.

BUT, the true test of a writer comes when you can read a formulaic book and still enjoy it. That is what Lennox has done with Night Falls Darkly. The twist at the end, although I suspected it from the beginning was satisfying and I was happy to see that it didn’t all end well. (I’ll say no more as that would spoil things!) This was a great book for a quick read and as it is the first in a series, I think the characters and premise is strong enough to carry through the rest of the books.

Overall, I would give this a 4 star and recommend it to all romance readers, and most readers who love urban fantasy or paranormal period books would really enjoy this.

If you’d like to win my very slightly used copy of Night Falls Darkly, tell me the most memorable romance book/scene in a book you’ve ever read. Remember, memorable doesn’t have to mean your favourite! I'll take comments until Wednesday February 23rd before drawing a winner.

For an extra entry, as always, follow my blog and I’ll throw your name into the bucket twice. Good luck and happy commenting.