*Book Tour & Giveaway* Wanderer of the Wastes-GUEST POST

 

 In a world where magic can save or shatter, Kol Mendona must survive lethal secrets—and an even deadlier love—as he discovers he might not be as human as he believed...  

Wanderer of the Wastes

by Kit Karlsson

Genre: Fantasy Romance  

Kol Mendona, one of the last humans on the magical continent of Alon, is desperate to escape his dying underground compound. When Alessi, a fierce dragon slayer with silver eyes, arrives, Kol sees a way out. As they journey together through the deadly wastes, an unexpected bond forms between them – one fueled by passion and dangerous magic.

But as Kol’s strange new powers awaken, their bond becomes increasingly unstable. Something within him is changing in ways he doesn’t fully understand, and if Alessi ever discovers the truth, Kol may lose more than her affections...

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 Kit enjoyed writing as a child and rediscovered her passion during the COVID-19 lockdown. She has a degree in finance and recently graduated from law school, where she was the administrative editor of an academic publication. When she’s not writing, you can find her running barefoot, taming stray cats, or listening to paranormal podcasts.

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GUEST POST

My Publishing Journey: How I Signed My First Book to Lake Country Press

Kit Karlsson

There are many different routes to publication, but most fall into one of three categories: traditional, indie, and self-publishing. Self-publishing is fairly straightforward, while traditional publishing typically involves querying agents who then pitch your book to publishers. Indie publishing, a broad category, includes a process by which you pitch your book directly to publishers without an agent. Some small and medium-sized publishers accept unrepresented books for various reasons—one being they may just prefer not to work with agents.

In the writing community, indie publishing often carries a stigma, and this isn’t entirely without reason. Some so-called “indie” publishers operate under a predatory, pay-to-play model, charging authors to publish their books. If you decide to go the indie route, it’s crucial to vet the publishers yourself, as you won’t have an agent to watch your back.

I initially pitched Wanderer of the Wastes to agents. I probably sent out around 80 queries and received a few partial and full manuscript requests. However, it was during this time that I started to reevaluate the role of agents. I had a negative experience with one, and so did some of my friends. It made me question whether an agent was as essential as the writing community tends to believe. Sure, they negotiate contracts, but as a lawyer, I can do at least some of that myself. Sure, agents are necessary for getting into the largest publishers, but what if I wanted a more boutique experience, at least to start?

Around this time, one of my critique partners, Beka Westrup, signed with Lake Country Press (LCP) and had an incredibly positive experience. So, I decided to query them as well. Before long, I received a full manuscript request, and soon after, an offer! Brittney at LCP turned out to be the perfect fit for Wanderer of the Wastes, especially since she connected with the book’s specific type of humor.

It’s been two years, and I’ve had a fantastic experience with LCP. That’s the story—so far, it’s been a great journey with them, and I’ve loved getting to know my author siblings!

 

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*Book Tour & Giveaway* Ashes on the Wind-GUEST POST

 

The love story behind the Crime of the Century

Ashes on the Wind:

The Love Story Behind the Crime of the Century

by Brandy Purdy

Genre: Dark Historical LGBTQ Romantic Suspense, True Crime

Nathan "Babe" Leopold was a socially awkward genius who used arrogance as a shield. He cultivated a philosophy of absolute selfishness cherry-picked from his reading of Nietzsche and indulged himself with vivid sexual fantasies about kings and slaves.

Richard "Dickie" Loeb was the brightest of the bright young things, a social butterfly as fragile as glass inside, hiding his insecurities behind a dazzling smile and a mouthful of lies. He found escape in thrilling tales and fantasies of crime.

They were two brilliant and privileged boys, each harboring secrets it would have been social suicide to reveal in their 1920s world.

When Babe met Dickie, it was like his favorite fantasy had stepped out of his dreams into real life.

When Dickie met Babe, he thought he had found the accomplice who would help make his criminal dreams come true.

Dickie was willing to give Babe what he wanted, if Babe would give him what he wanted. Quid pro quo. Until Dickie wanted something more, leaving Babe desperate and willing to do anything to hold onto his dream. Even if it led down a dark path to the Crime of the Century and infamy as the thrill killers Leopold and Loeb.

   

I have read all but one of Brandy Purdy’s novels, since 2010 and I have enjoyed them all including Ashes on the Wind. Brandy spends extensive time doing research and has the knack for telling a great story.

~CelticLady Reviews

   

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Brandy Purdy is the author of several historical novels including The Ripper's Wife, The Secrets of Lizzie Borden, The Boleyn Wife, and The Tudor Throne.

  

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GUEST POST

How did you come up with the title ASHES ON THE WIND?

It comes from a pact made in a cemetery between the two main characters.

What inspired you to write this book?

I've been fascinated by the story of Leopold and Loeb since childhood, but for me it's the personal relationship between the pair, not the crime that made them famous. And their prison years, which are not well documented, sometimes we only have Nathan Leopold's often unreliable autobiography to get a glimpse of those times. Most books on the subject tend to focus on the crime and the trial so I wanted to write a novel that would put the relationship centerstage. And I have always loved the challenge of writing from the viewpoint of an unreliable narrator, the kind of character the reader has to decide whether or not to believe, or to what degree. For me, that's part of the fun of taking the journey of a book like this.

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?

With Babe (Nathan Leopold) it's obsession and fantasy, and it's ALL about Dickie. When they met, it was like the figure of his favorite fantasy stepped out of the realm of dreams into real life, and he can never truly accept the person Dickie really is. That leads to a lot of friction and frustration in their relationship, especially since Babe is a very sexual person, and Dickie is asexual at a time when he wouldn't have even known what that meant only the frustration of knowing he's different. 

With Dickie, it's all about appearances and popularity, and being the life of the party. He was raised by a very strict governess to always strive for perfection, and when he can't be perfect he lies and pretends until it gets to the point where he isn't always sure where truth ends and lies begin, and he starts to fear he's lost the person he really is. At first, he gets a real kick out of the lies he tells and the crimes he commits while everyone thinks he's the nicest, sweetest boy in Chicago, but there's a lot of loneliness, sadness, anger, and frustration lurking behind the charming, always smiling facade he's erected. 

What are your favorite scenes from this book and why?

It's a tie between two. There's a scene on the beach where Dickie is expecting to lose a very dear friend because a very jealous Babe exposed what he considers some humiliating secrets. What happens changes Dickie's life forever. The other is the scene where Dickie and Babe say goodbye at Joliet prison when the warden reveals his intention to separate them. It's not exactly a typical farewell scene, especially not for Babe.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reins of the story?

When I was under contract I had to stick to a strict outline, but I had much more freedom with ASHES ON THE WIND. One of my main characters surprised me several times by going against my original vision, sometimes in very big ways, and it was wonderful to have the freedom to go with that and see where it led. For example, in one scene there was a letter smuggled inside a tube of toothpaste when Leopold and Loeb were being kept apart in prison and what that letter ended up saying completely surprised me, it was like Dickie dug in his heels and said "Nope, this is my letter and this is what it's gonna say!" and it just poured out, it was one of my most amazing experiences as a writer. And another character who was originally meant to be just a brief mention became a full-fledged character and caused significant changes to the rest of the story. But I didn't mind, even though it made a lot more work for me,  I love things like that!

If your book had a candle what scent would it be and why?

Cinnamon, for Dickie's favorite gum, and the cinnamon rolls that are their special treat in prison.

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

Definitely ASHES ON THE WIND, that would be my first choice and a dream come true, I would also love to have it done as an audiobook. And I would love to see THE RIPPER'S WIFE with Colin Firth as James Maybrick / Jack the Ripper. So if anyone knows Mr. Firth, please send him a copy of my book! I promise, it would make a great movie!

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*Book Tour & Giveaway* The Pumpkin King's Bride

 

Enter a world where autumn never dies

The Pumpkin King’s Bride

by Rae Lori

Genre: Gothic Fantasy Romance 

Enter a world where autumn never dies

In a village shadowed by tales of the fearsome Pumpkin King, Anna Everglen carries the weight of grief and loneliness. Seeking an end to her pain, she volunteers to face the dreaded monarch of the shadowy forest.

But the castle of eternal autumn holds more than just fallen leaves and glowing pumpkins. There, Anna discovers a world of enchantment, mystery, and unexpected secrets.

Is the fearsome Pumpkin King really what the villagers and the myths say he is? Or was everything told to her a lie?

For fans of Beauty and the Beast inspired tales.

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Book Trailer:

https://vimeo.com/1022075592

 

Rae Lori is a multi-published, award-winning author and a geek girl at heart. She was first bitten by the writing bug at ten and never stopped loving the written word. Over a twenty-year-plus writing career, she has been published with various zines, journals and publishing companies and taught new writers the craft of novel writing in between her projects. She has won various awards including an Honorable Mention in the 73rd Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, the 2011 ForeWord Book of the Year Gold Award Winner in Writing (Adult Nonfiction), and Best Romance Novella in SORMAG’s 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Rae can usually be found with her head in the clouds daydreaming of her next story. That is, when she isn’t gaming or watching her fave movies with her fellow geekazoid husband (it’s time for another Aliens rewatch!), crocheting, or has her nose in a book.

 

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*Book Tour & Giveaway* The Adventures of Jack Wartnose-GUEST POST

 

What started as a simple quest for a lost, arcane artifact has left Jack Wartnose confronting the family sins and trauma of his past. But which will he find first: redemption or the apocalypse?

The Condemned Mage

The Adventures of Jack Wartnose Book 4

By A.S. Norris

Genre: Noblebright Fantasy Adventure 

"...another captivating read that left me eager for the next installment in Jack Wartnose's saga, and I’d certainly recommend it and the series so far to fantasy fans everywhere." - Readers' Favorite, 5 Stars

The enemy of my enemy is my ally. But can Jack Wartnose really trust his former paramour-turned-unlikely-ally to not attempt to kill him again?

On the run from a certified death sentence, Jack Wartnose and his family attempt to quietly flee southward, hoping to avoid the Murder of Crows’ assassins. Unfortunately, their hopes are soon dashed when Polyxena, the now-disgraced Crow, and her twin boys inadvertently cross their path. He cannot trust to take her along as a hostage, but nor can he trust to turn his back on her, as he did before, and not end up knifed for his troubles. Or worse.

Elsewhere in the kingdom, the first skirmishes in a greater war between magedom and the elusive dark lord have taken place. Foul creatures and equally foul deeds shatter the peace and leave a bloody wake that only threatens to grow worse the longer Jack Wartnose remains free to roam. And, unbeknownst to Jack Wartnose, a new threat looms to the east, waiting to ambush him and his family.

As those hunting for his head increases, Jack Wartnose will need to choose which is more important: his unbreakable word to complete his quest and find the Tome of Time, or his unbreakable bonds in protecting his ever-growing family.

THE CONDEMNED MAGE: THE ADVENTURES OF JACK WARTNOSE is book four of an award-winning epic, noblebright fantasy novel series that promises thrilling sword-and-sorcery adventure with plenty of humor and romance.

 

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The Hunted Mage

The Adventures of Jack Wartnose Book 3 

"...a superbly engaging tale of suspense, family dynamics, and vengeance, all with the classic witty touches and vibrant characters that I have come to expect from this excellent series." - Readers' Favorite

They say a group of Crows is a “Murder.” For Jack Wartnose, if he’s not careful, murder is exactly what will befall him and his family.

Finally free of the clutches of the Mage Inquisition and undead cutthroats once again, Jack Wartnose’s troubles soon catch back up as a group of mage assassins, the Murder of Crows, has been dispatched to eliminate him and his troupe. One cunning beauty among them has “intimate” knowledge of Jack Wartnose, and looks forward to repaying him for setting her on the path to ruin years ago.

Meanwhile, he and his family get stuck in the backwater town of Downriver Ferry. More family secrets come to light, while the Murder stalk him from the shadows. Old faces reemerge with intentions unknown. New faces threaten to reignite a three millennia old blood feud. And his estranged daughter is still plotting her deadly vengeance behind Wartnose’s back.

The quiet, backwater town of Downriver Ferry is about to erupt! Can Jack Wartnose keep his wits about him as he confronts threats on multiple fronts? Will his family and fellow adventurers be strong enough to protect him? Or will he receive help in time from an unlikeliest of sources?

Continue the adventures of Jack Wartnose and his crew in THE HUNTED MAGE, Book 3 of the award-winning epic, noblebright fantasy The Adventures of Jack Wartnose series that promises thrilling sword-and-sorcery adventure with plenty of humor, romance, and heart.

 

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The Forbearing Mage

The Adventures of Jack Wartnose Book 2 

"The Forbearing Mage is a fun, fast-paced fantasy adventure that is equal parts clever, entertaining and rich." - Maincrest Media

They say blood is thicker than water. Unfortunately, if Jack Wartnose is not careful, it will be his blood proving that axiom!

Still on the trail of the Tome of Time, novice Mage Jack Wartnose is confronted by another spectre of his past – Margaret Stormgale, his estranged and vengeful daughter. When she’s not hounding him with her razor-tongue wit, she’s hunting him with her mother’s razor-sharp spear!

But if grappling with the sins of his past wasn’t perilous enough, the disdainful eye of the Inquisition draws down upon him and his quest. And who should be at the tip of the Inquisition’s spear but yet another of Wartnose’s former “acquaintances.”

With all eyes bearing down upon him, can Jack Wartnose continue his quest for not only the Tome of Time, but for atonement? Or will he fall victim to one of the many foes set against him: his estranged daughter, a jilted Inquisition lover, his suspicious superiors at the Mage Council, a sinister figure now shadowing his quest for the tome... or his none-to-pleased wife?

Continue the adventures of Jack Wartnose and his crew in THE FORBEARING MAGE, Book 2 of THE ADVENTURES OF JACK WARTNOSE a low fantasy novel series that promises thrilling sword-and-sorcery adventure with clean humor and romance.

 

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The Wayward Mage

The Adventures of Jack Wartnose Book 1 

...[T]his, fellow readers is how you make gold in a literary hero's journey, and The Wayward Mage by A.S. Norris is gold." - Readers' Favorite Review

For many, marriage is the end of adventuring. For Jack Wartnose, it was just another occupational hazard he didn’t plan for...much like his son!

As a novice Mage, Jack Wartnose’s life was already difficult enough: low pay, long hours, and an arcane duty to always keep his word. But when a chance encounter with his long-lost childhood sweetheart – and the consequences of his youthful wayward actions – leaves him duty-bound to fulfill a promise long since forgotten, he’s left with no choice but to take his fledgling family with him on his dangerous quest for the Tome of Time: a legendary artifact rumored to have started the last world-ending cataclysm.

As if his luck wasn’t bad enough, there are also revenant assassins from his past hunting him down. If his family hopes to stay together this time, they’ll need more than just quick wits and spells to survive bloodthirsty monsters, vengeful revenants, mutinous party members, the needs of his wife versus his empty coin purse, and a son unfortunately following in his wayward footsteps.

What started as a simple quest for a lost, arcane artifact has left Jack Wartnose with this simple question: which will he find first, redemption or the apocalypse?

THE WAYWARD MAGE: THE ADVENTURES OF JACK WARTNOSE is book one of an award-winning epic, noblebright fantasy novel series that promises thrilling sword-and-sorcery adventure with plenty of humor and romance

  

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Award-winning author A.S. Norris is a bit of an adventurer himself, having sailed three oceans and traveled four continents, with some highlights including scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, drinking cobra venom, and kissing the Blarney Stone. Now his life consists of adventures as a family man with his lovely wife and spirited baby daughter. THE ADVENTURES OF JACK WARTNOSE is his first novel series with more coming in the near future!

 

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GUEST POST

Describe your writing style. – Chaos. Ok, not that bad. But still, it often devolves into herding cats between the goalposts; the goalposts being those main plot points within each book, and the cats being my characters. It gets complicated when I have a great idea for a scene in the current or future book that I suddenly realize doesn’t really fit the story as it is. When I was working on Book 2, I came up with a great ending scene for Book 3 that neatly (and emotionally) closed the current conflict arc between Wartnose and Margaret. The problem came after I spent two hours writing that chapter only to realize I had set up a major revelation within that chapter and was heading in a completely different direction based on what I already written for Book 2. So, it took some work, but I got it right in the end. And both characters are better off for it.

What makes a good story? – I draw this from the famed mangaka Rumiko Takahashi, who learned from her mentor that good characters drive the story. Reflecting on it, I believe that practically every variation/archetype of a story (hero’s journey, etc), has more-or-less been told in some manner through the millennia. So, what drive’s the story forward (and keeps the reader’s interested) is how good the characters are written and how much the audience can connect with them. 

It’s to that end I put A LOT of brain power to ensuring my characters are engaging, approachable, and that their motivations make absolute sense. Because nothing sure takes me out of a story more quickly than either an unlikeable character, or when the author forces the characters to act against their character just to gin up conflict. My characters are not perfect archetypes. Each one has at least one flaw that they need to overcome (Wartnose – self-doubt and  his wayward past; Muriel – quick to anger and scared to be alone; Jack Jr – Overconfidence; Margaret – murderous rage and stubbornness; hopefully you get the idea). But those flaws are there by design so the audience can connect better and, whenever conflict between characters do arise, its their flaws that get in the way, not some deus ex machina stupidity on the part of the author.

What are they currently reading? – I believe Wartnose is teaching his son and wife to read from some newspaper sheets they got at Angel’s Basin.

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first? – Off the cuff, just start writing from where I left off my last book and work my way toward the ending. I come up with milestones for each book so my characters don’t meander too far from the main plot. I will also start a chapter head and write a paragraph long note as a place holder for what I’ll write. I know I should outline first to be more organized. I just hate it. Every time I try to my story ends up not following it for the better.

What are common traps for aspiring writers? – This industry in some ways is like a Vegas casino. Very easy to spend a lot of money really quick on ads, artists, programs to write and edit, and other marketing necessitates and not get very good returns on investment. Think long game. Don’t jump on every “ad service” or “book promoter” that messages you. Vet everyone and every program before you buy it. 

What is your writing Kryptonite? – Work and my family. I have to work because that’s my bread and butter right now until I start making loads more sales with my books (but that’ll require me to put out many, many more books first, I believe). And as a husband and father, I can’t neglect my family. So, my writing often takes a back seat to these two responsibilities in my life. 

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? – I try to be original to stand apart from my peers and competitors. It’s why, despite me advertising this series as a fantasy adventure (which it is, don’t get me wrong), it’s much more than that. It’s a family saga about healing past wounds; of coming together to ultimately defeat a great evil while working through the trauma many of them have faced; and, ultimately, it’s about Jack Wartnose overcoming his faults to become the husband and father his family deserves, while also saving the world. I do believe that there is an audience that wants fun, exciting fantasy adventure but still get some darker moments of peril and emotional scenes that touch the heart. Hopefully in time more people will come around to my books because of that.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? – It’s going to suck. The constant, almost pathological need to write; to put something down on paper while juggling family, finances, and career; and, trying to learn marketing. However, it will all be worth it in the end.

Also, hire someone to get your Amazon ads off the ground early on. Keep budget to $5 a day max. Let them run to draw in some traffic while you continue producing books and then tweak them over time. 

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? – Making them believable.

How long on average does it take you to write a book? – Writing = 3-6 months. Editing = 3-6 months. So a year tops.

Do you believe in writer’s block? – Yes, which is why I have other projects I’m currently writing. I find that if I take my conscious mind off the story and allow my subconscious to play with it, eventually I find the solution. Hasn’t failed me yet.

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*Book Blitz & Giveaway* A Kingdom of Earth and Devotion

 

 

Forgotten on Earth . A chance to return home. A love she never expected.

A Kingdom of Earth and Devotion

Portals of Science and Magic Book 2

By Liz Cain

Genre: Urban Fantasy Adventure Romance 

Forgotten on Earth . A chance to return home. A love she never expected.

Abandoned on Earth for over a century, Alexy has yearned for a chance to return home. However, her duty to safeguard the fae world's secrets kept her tethered to Earth. Everything changes when she unexpectedly befriends Rebecca, the co-worker of a brilliant physicist who is on the verge of unraveling the secrets of interdimensional portals.

An accident transports a fae from Alexy's homeland to Earth, endangering his kingdom's very existence. Alexy must help her friends return him before his kingdom falls. As unimaginable powers surge through her, Alexy grapples with the truth she has concealed from her friends. With betrayal and peril lurking in every shadow, she finds herself standing at a crossroads.

To preserve everything she holds dear and expose her true self, or doom the two realms. She must decide.

 

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A Kingdom of Air and Duty

Portals of Science and Magic Book 1

 A scientist’s assistant. A portal to a new world. A strange male she never should have met.

Venture into the unknown with Rebecca, the brilliant assistant to renowned physicist Howard Bristol, as they open a portal to the fae realm. When the portal explodes and leaves behind a mystery creature, Rebecca must shelter this unusual being, known as Kaval.

In a race against time, Kaval and Rebecca desperately seek a way to send him back before he attracts dangerous attention. As a malevolent presence hunts the newcomer, threatening their every move, Rebecca finds herself entangled in a battle not only against their adversaries but also against the irresistible pull of this enigmatic stranger. Journey through a spellbinding urban fantasy where the lines between science and magic blur, and the power of friendship and love become the ultimate weapons against the encroaching darkness.

Prepare to be swept away by an epic tale of two beings who should never have met.

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Liz Cain is an urban fantasy writer and NHS frontline staff. She was born in East Yorkshire in the UK and grew up near the sea with her parents and two sisters. She moved to the midlands, which was much too far south for her, graduating from Leicester University with a degree in Physics and going on to complete an MSc in Medical and Radiation Physics. She has worked in the NHS since 2008 as a Nuclear Medicine Clinical Scientist, helping with cancer treatment and diagnosis.

She has traveled at every opportunity from Thailand and Australia to touring national parks in North America. Liz has done lots of crazy things for charity, including skydiving, running, swimming, and even cutting off her hair. While out on adventures she finds herself weaving intricate tales in her head which one day she had to write down. 

Liz has loved reading her whole life, growing up with Anne McCaffrey, Mary Stewart, and Terry Goodkind. Becoming an author happened by chance when she jumped at the opportunity to help a friend tell a story that deserved to be told. It inspired her to follow her lifelong dream and now she has published books with her coauthor Anne K. Whelan in the fantasy romance and paranormal romance genre, finally taking that last step and publishing by herself in 2023.

 

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