WELCOME TO THE HALLOWEEN BOOK BLAST!

The post No Tricks, Just Treats at the Halloween Book Blast & Giveaway appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

But Wait, There’s More

 

“Don’t you dare die on me, James Adams.”

Kenzi pressed the blood-soaked gauze against the left side of his abdomen. “I won’t lose you. Not now.”

Barely clinging to life, he opened his eyes a slit, raised his hand still clenching Colin’s gun, and shot two rounds.

Stunned, Kenzi snapped around. “No.” She screamed and dove for the gun through the hazy blue mist engulfing them.

“Brady…” His voice faded as he slipped into semiconscious mumbling.

Yanking the pistol from his grip with her right hand, she maintained pressure with her left. A heartbeat later, the cylinder encasing them rotated open. Kenzi stood then sprinted across the room and pounded on a fist-sized alert button affixed to the wall. The resulting alarm shrieked through the underground chamber, reverberating as it radiated throughout the compound. Two men dressed in white jumpsuits burst through double doors.

“Gurney. Now.” Kenzi screamed at the attendants. “And O-Neg blood. Hurry. Go, go, go.” She ran to James and knelt beside him. Lifting his head, she slid a knee underneath it for support and smoothed a chunk of his dark brown hair from his face. “I’ve sacrificed way too much to have you die now,” she whispered. “My ass will burn for this. Not to mention the repercussions for abandoning York.”

Pulse racing, she checked his bandage. Despite her efforts, streams of crimson still oozed from the wound. Pressing again on the gauze, she shook her head. “Geez. You’ve lost so much blood. Please, hang on.”

Again, the double doors swung wide. This time, a gurney pushed through, followed by the two assistants. One man ran to Kenzi.

“Help me lift him.”

Her hands, slick with blood, shot to her white T-top, already drenched in crimson. On second thought, she swept them down the rear of her jeans. Sliding her slippery arms beneath his back, she braced her stance with one bent knee.

“One, two, three.” They heaved him in tandem onto the gurney. She doused her hands with Betadine then splashed more on James’s forearm, snatched an IV from the attached supply basket, and punctured a vein on the inside of his wrist with the sterile needle. Once connected, she hooked the blood pouch on the IV pole and barked at the team, “Let’s move. If this man bleeds out, there will be hell to pay.”

The men, poised with hands on the side of the rails, awaited their next move. “Where to, Dr. Reynolds?”

Kenzi stared at James’s ashen face, worried her meager experience wasn’t enough to save his life––but she had no option. “Surgery.”

Springing into action, one man rolled the gurney down the hallway, while a second leapt onto the base and slipped an oxygen mask over James’s nose and mouth. “I hope this guy isn’t allergic to Propofol.” He attached an anesthesia drip to the IV. “Damn, what caused this gaping wound?”

“He was shot…with a musket.”  

Casi McLean

Romantic Suspense, Time Slips, And Supernatural Mystery with a Sprinkle of Magic ….

Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads Amazon Author Page Blog Pinterest Instagram

Award Winning Author

2016 Best Romantic Suspense  Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence 

Winner 2016 Best Heroine Still Moments Magazine

2016 Aspen Gold Finalist for Best Romantic Suspense

2015 Top Pick by Night Owl Reviews

2015 Chicago Fire and Ice Finalist

2014 Winner 2014 AWC Short Story Award

Fiction:

  Lake Lanier Mysteries

     Beneath The Lake

     Beyond The Mist

     Between The Shadows 

   Destiny Series:

     Destiny

     The Gift

     After Midnight

     Convergent

     The Pegasus Chronicle

   Deep State Mysteries

       Reign Of Fire

       The List   

Nonfiction:

Wingless Butterfly

So You Want To Be An Author 

Trailers

Beyond The Mist ~ Star-crossed Lovers Struggle through a Cyclone of 9/11 Terrorism

   
Beneath The Lake Trailer ~ A Time-Slip Romantic Suspense

Destiny Trailer ~ Shorts With A Sprinkle Of Magic 

 

Wingless Butterfly Trailer ~ An Inspiring Memoir

Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads Amazon Author Page Blog Pinterest Instagram

The post Spotlight on Between The Shadows & Casi McLean appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Mystic Realms Anthology

What goes bump in the night? What causes you a fright? While the answers for each may vary, I promise that these stories will not leave you wary.

From vampires and demons to shifters and creatures that you’d never suspect, this set will leave you breathless in the best possible ways.

So, don’t be afraid. Come, step inside our realm. Allow the mysticism of romance in many shapes and forms fall over you like a veil of sweet, soothing, spine tingling comfort.

We promise…you won’t be sorry.

Now a Little About Lynn’s Story- Avenging Aingeal

Aingeal Cochran is on a mission to save humanity from itself when suddenly she’s staring head-on at her forgotten past. Lukas Everhard must bring her up to speed regarding the real enemy before allowing himself to love her completely. In learning about her past and mission, Aingeal realizes the best is yet to be and she will do anything to protect those she loves. For Lukas, Aingeal is the mission.

Bound by vengeance, she is humanity’s one hope…

Excerpt for Avenging Aingeal:

“You know the rules here. No fighting in the mess hall.” The object didn’t remove itself from my body.

I whirled furious, jerking my arm away, energy in both hands now and was stopped short by the man who stood before me. I was not a small woman, yet this man dwarfed me.  Slowly, my gaze moved from his chest to his wide shoulders to his face and stopped there. Ice blue eyes stared at me without one bit of emotion attached to the look. He’s one cold cookie.I blinked rapidly almost as if I had been hit in the gut. This man was not going to take my crap in any way, shape or form. While I might be able to fool Darien somewhat as I had learned since I had arrived, I would never be able to fool this one.

Then there was the fact I felt more aware of him sexually than I had been with anyone else. Ever. There was a charisma about him which made me want to throw myself into his arms and beg to be taken.  And it was more than his physical appearance because if truth be told, this man looked good…the best I had ever seen…again a rarity for me to note. It was as if he were palpable under my hands even though we weren’t touching. My crotch tightened once more and I shook my head to clear my errant thoughts.

“Told you.” A snide voice commented somewhere off to my left.

I turned to look at my accuser, electricity leaping to my hand yet again. Some days I couldn’t control it at all. This could be a problem.

Stepping in front of me, the big man’s forefinger jabbed my chest in a hard push. “You. Me. In the sparring room immediately.”

I watched as he walked out the door, all predatory-like and with more purpose than I had seen anyone in this place have since my arrival. I eyed everyone else and realized it wouldn’t matter what I said, they were going to see if their man could best me. Sighing, I also knew I had brought this on myself. Vowing to make his fall gentle, I shook my head and followed him down the main corridor, wondering if I should even bother to introduce myself. I ran up to walk next to him and before I could even start, I was cut off by his raised hand.

“Don’t bother. I know who you are.” He kept his eyes straight forward.

Frowning, I watched him for a minute. “Yeah, but I don’t know who you are, now do I?”

A woman with elemental powers must learn who she is before she can help save the Earth. Avenging Aingeal Mystic Realms Anthology $0.99 https://www.amazon.com/Mystic-Realms-Collection-Paranormal-Romances-ebook/dp/B078X57PN4#MysticRealms…
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Amazon US ~ Barnes and Noble ~iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Video Link

About the Author:

Award-winning author Lynn Crain writes full-time, weaving contemporary, fantasy, futuristic and paranormal tales, tame to erotic. Her home is in the desert southwest with her husband of 32 years. Readers can find her at lynncrain@cox.netor her website at http://www.lynncrain.com.

Find Lynn:

lynncrain.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/oddlynn3

http://www.facebook.com/oddlynn3

https://www.facebook.com/LynnCrainAuthor

https://www.amazon.com/author/lynncrain

https://www.pinterest.com/oddlynn3/

https://plus.google.com/u/2/+LynnCrain-oddlynn3

https://www.instagram.com/lynn.crain

The post Please Welcome My Guest & Her New Release Avenging Aingeal appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

I’ve talked about luck and superstations before at Paranormal Romantics if you want to reminisce on fun ways to increase your luck. Did you cross your fingers reading that? But go read it after you check out the giveaway, because surely you want to find out how to win all these prizes. Prizes include a Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Fire, ebooks and gift cards—wow! Read on to find out three different places to enter and how to win.

Even Scruff is getting into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit! Plus there’s going to be a Facebook hop—yeah! My Facebook author page is one of my favorite places to hang out—and I’d love to see you there.

ST. PATRICK’S ROMANCE GIVEAWAY

MARCH 12-29

St. Paddy’s Day is coming up and we have three pots of gold we’re eager to share!

First, visit our giveaway here and enter for your chance to win one of 7 prizes, a Kindle Paperwhite with matching leather case, Kindle Fire, or ebook prize packs where you choose the books on Amazon you want to win!

Then check back with us- right here  -this St. Patrick’s weekend, March 15-18, for an epic Facebook Hop with 70 authors participating. You could be one of 70 lucky winners to take home a gift card.

And for that third pot of gold, readers will find more than 65 fabulous ebooks to click, buy, and read at our book fair- right here. We have page-turning stories in a wide range of romance genres.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Giveaway is Sponsored by

Alicia Street • Alyssa Drake • Amanda Uhl • Angelica Kate • Anni Fife • April Fire • Ashlee Price • Authors’ Billboard • Bambi Lynn • Beata Blitz • Bree Dahlia • Bree M. Lewandowski • C.A. King • Calinda B • Cara Marsi • Carrie Whitethorne  • Charmaine Ross • Chiquita Dennie • Chloe Flowers • Debbie White • Denise Devine • Donna Fasano • Donna R. Mercer • Donna Schlachter • Dystopian Fantasy Fanatics • Elizabeth Rose • Holly Cortelyou • Jana Richards • Jennifer Saints • Jennifer Vester • Joanne Dannon • Josie Riviera • Joynell Schultz • Julie Trettel • Karen Michelle Nutt • Kathryn Knight • Kristy Tate • L.D. Rose • Laurel Greer • Leanne Banks • Marsha A. Moore • Mary Abshire • Mary Morgan • Maureen Bonatch • Melissa Belle • Melissa McClone • Michele Barrow-Belisle • Mimi Barbour • Mona Sedrak • Monique McDonell • Nancy Radke • Natalie Ann • Pamela S. Thibodeaux • Pauline Creeden  • PG Forte • Ruth Kaufman • S.A. Larsen • Sahara Roberts • Sarah Williams • Soraya Naomi • Stacy Gold • Stella Marie Alden • Stephanie Queen • Susan Jean Ricci • Sydney Aaliyah Michelle • Taylor Lee • Tena Stetler • Traci Douglass • Traci Hall • Aileen Harkwood

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor!

The post Try Your Luck With This St. Patrick’s Giveaway appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

But there’s a little more to the actual topic of Marketing for Romance Writers (#MFRW) this week and it presents two problems for me.

What I would invent if I were stuck on an island?

That’s the actual topic title. I’m not sure any of the conveniences of a comfortable existence are there yet, and…I would probably fail at inventing anything useful.

If you’ve been around here before, you probably read about the few conveniences of life I find essential. Therefore you’d realize that without them I’d be in trouble.

My lips would dry up and crack in no time and I’d probably die of thirst long before it should actually happen due to my psychological need to have water within reach.

So if I was just dumped off on the island with nothing, I’d be in trouble.

First, unless by some miracle I find out how to invent a better sunscreen than rolling in some disgusting mud (eww) it won’t be long until my pasty Irish skin is lobster red. The island might lose some of it’s beauty when you’re in agony. Hence, further impairing my ability to become inspired with an invention. Plus the burn might prevent me from having the capability to carry out with it’s creation.

Most Writers Don’t Like Math

I’ve had many ideas that I thought would be a great invention, but then I’d have absolutely no idea how to even begin the process—and often even less desire to do so. It seems that there would be math involved.

Then lacking funding or know-how to proceed, I’d need to find get the help of a Shark. The mere thought of which (especially while on a desert island) is enough to make me burrow in the sand.

Whether It’s encountering one in the beautiful blue waters as I try to wash off the stinky mud that’s saving my skin, or standing in front of a group of investors who would inevitably expect some “numbers.”

Again, with the math?

That’s Why I Write About Magic

Time and time again, I’ve mentioned my amazement at the little things in life, and especially technology. I’ve yet to wrap my mind around how a microwave or fax machine can possibly work, and really, I have no desire to learn as long as it works. I’d much rather dream about magic.

Because that’s what most of those #inventions really are to me, #magic. #MFRW
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But if I really had to name one thing I’d invent while I was on that island, first I have to clarify that all the other stuff is already there. Because I’m a simple girl, but do have some basic needs to satisfy in order to meet a higher level of thinking.

Then I’d invent a tele-portal (been waiting on one of these things, come on math-ey people—invent away!).

I could use the tele-portal to escape to the island when I just had too much adult-ing and reality, but then I could go back if I needed to get some more ice for my water. Cause you know, those islands can get pretty hot.

Tele-port Yourself On Over to the Other Author Blogs

This is a blog hop, so perhaps we have some other math-ey inventors within the mix of authors who are creating some super fabulous things.

If so, maybe I need to get stuck on the island with them just long enough to take advantage of their cool stuff

The post If I Was Stuck on An Island I’d be Doomed appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Old School Audiobooks

When I was a child, we didn’t have audiobooks, we had my mother. I come from a family of readers, and

I credit some of my love of a good story to her. Even though money was often tight we always had a plethora of kids books. If we didn’t buy them from the store we got them at yard sales or borrowed them from the library. Once our attention started to wane from the children’s stories we could read, my mother helped us advance to novels by reading them to us.  

A Different Kind of Book Club

Each night after my sister and I got ready for bed my mother would sit at the foot of the bed and read us a chapter.  I’d ruminate on what might happen next and sometimes discuss it with my sister and my mother until the next night when the story continued.

That is, If we couldn’t convince my mother to #read just one more chapter. #MFRW #books
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The Story Continues

I carried on the tradition of reading a chapter a night with my girls. Although when I started to read the first of the Little House series, I did hesitate a little at the description of a frightened girl huddled in her home fearing wolves or other wild animals. I didn’t recall that part of the story when I was a child. Perhaps my mother sugarcoated the scene a little as I did to prevent nightmares, because all I remember is how much I loved the books. I like to think that perhaps I played a small part in making my girls into the avid readers they are today. But I can’t take all the credit. There’s not much that can compete with the magic of a good story.

Check Out the Books That Influenced the Other Authors

Follow the blog hop to see the influential books other authors discussed.    

The post The First Book I Ever Heard appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Surviving Twins

When the girls were young I read an article about motherhood in which the mom stated that each year, on her child’s birthday, she celebrates—surviving another year. Most people don’t tell you how hard it is to raise kids—or at least you don’t believe them until you’re doing it yourself.

The first I don’t know how many years of being a mother to twins is a blur. Many days I wasn’t sure how I would get through the day—and then the night—for two babies who never slept. I planned on inscribing my tombstone with, She Finally Got Some Rest and the potential title of my future book of twin essays as, SOS—In Search of Sleep.

Functioning on little to no sleep, a crappy diet and zippo energy while working full-time and being outnumbered two to one can do that to you. I don’t know that this really falls into the category of my greatest accomplishment. Since I can’t really take total credit and it’s an ongoing thing. Did I mention that the girls just got their driver’s permits?

Getting My Graduate Degree

I never planned to go to college. In my mind I didn’t think it was an option. I didn’t think I could afford it. So out of the three career options I believed were available to me (nurse, teacher, secretary), I planned to be a secretary. I ended up working in all three careers. I obtained my BSN in 3 ½ years while working part-time and my MSN while working full-time as a nurse. Part of the time I was on midnight shift. Again with the no sleep.  

A few times I arrived at class and panicked because I couldn't remember if I got dressed. #MFRW #accomplishment #sleep
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Luckily I never showed up in my PJ’s. Although if someone had mentioned that I’d have to take Probability and Statistics again for my graduate degree, I might have reconsidered. Graduate school reminded me how much I loved to write.

Having Multiple Books Published

I’ve always had stories in my head. I just never thought I could write them or that anyone else would want to read them. I started my journey as an author with a contest for Harlequin. I was already taking online writing classes and had written a multitude of essays, short stories and poems, but a book? That’s a lot of words…

The contest was for a fifty thousand-word story with the theme of a conflict of interest. I had three months to write it. I’d never written anything close to that word count. (Now I can do 50 thousand in a month for NaNoWri) It was exciting, exhausting and

fun and my story, CRAZY FOR LOVE, was born. I didn’t win that contest because—it was a hot mess. Although it started my journey for many more books because it helped me realize I was capable of writing one to completion. I’ve returned to rework this story several times over the years, but it’s yet to be ready for publishing. Hopefully someday you’ll see my first-born book out in the world.

Combining Fiction & Freelance

A few years ago I discovered Freelance writing. A way to combine my nursing education and my love of writing—yes please! What I didn’t realize was that it was a new learning curve. Fiction and freelance writing may have similarities, but they are two different animals.

Over the last year I’ve ramped up my efforts and branched off to add an additional, separate website (if you take a peek, keep in mind it’s still a WIP and I’m no tech-geek) and social media accounts. I guess it’s kind of odd looking for a healthcare writer and looking at their website full of magic and witches? Really? Why not? Who doesn’t love magic?

This year I also became more involved with other nurse writers, healthcare groups and increased my clients. I’m still not quite sure how I’ve survived 2017 working on this, my fiction, my day job, and you know everything else like family, friends and life in general.

But 2017 is winding down and I’m still standing. Granted it may only be due to massive quantities of #caffeine. #MFRW #accomplishment
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I’d Love To Hear About Your Biggest Accomplishment In The Comments

What Did the Other Authors On The Hop Accomplish?

Follow the hop and find out!

The post How Did I Accomplish That? appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Except this book birthday happens to be during a paranormal author’s favorite time of the year. What I lovingly refer to as, paranormal season. Therefore, there’s a whole lot of fun spook-tacular stuff going on packed with prizes and I’m sharing them all here for your one stop for all your treats this Halloween!

Let’s Get This Party Started off by introducing you to my

October 11th Release

The 2nd Place Winner of 2015 Golden Palm Contest of the Florida Romance Writer’s Paranormal Category—Evil Speaks Softly

Evil Speaks Softly

  Everyone has a story to tell. Even the dead.

They were never supposed to meet. Fame came easy for Liv by following in the footsteps of the female writers in her family. The cycle repeated for decades…until Liv changed the story. Her villain doesn’t like the revision—and he isn’t a fictional character. In his story, the bad guy always wins.

They were never supposed to find love. Liv never questioned her demanding nocturnal muse, or the strange incidents in her old, family home until she met Gage. His job was to watch her from afar, not reveal the truth about the curse and the stories of the dead. They’ve broken all the rules. Together they unravel secrets as they strive to stop the cycle. Liv’s ability to find love, and protect her loved ones, hangs on the fickle whims of the dead—and they’ve got nothing to lose.

   More Buy Links Here

Follow the Spook-tacular Fun All Month Long

If you’ve seen me this month—or most likely you haven’t and now you’ll know why—you might’ve wondered why I look even more exhausted than usual.

Was it the lingering spirits from Evil Speaks Softly? The excitement of the Halloween vibe? Maybe. But also because I’ve been gearing up for all this fun!

• Visit Kate Hill’s Halloween Page and Find Out What Happens On a Cold, Dark Night…
• I’m Spotlighted on Diane Burton’s Blog on Oct 11th
• Because I’ve got magic and can clone myself, you’ll also find me at Linda Mooney‘s blog on Oct 11th
• Sharing author tips at Casi McLean’s Blog on October 12th
• Talking about How to Write What You Know When You Write Paranormal at the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal (FF &P) Blog on October 12th
• On October 16th I’m at Delilah Devlin’s Blog talking about how author’s biographies inspire me, and how it helped inspire Evil Speaks Softly
• On October 17th I’m interviewed at Darlene Fredette’s Blog Finding the Right Words
• The tables are turned on me and I’m being interviewed on Linda Carroll-Bradd’s blog Musings About the Writing Life on October 18th
• Evil Speaks Softly is spotlighted by fellow TWRP author Rebecca Grace on her blog My Writing Corner on October 19th
• Joan Reeves let me crash her Thursday3Some on her Slingwords blog on October 19th
• I’m visiting Susan Winter’s Create on The Side blog on October 21st talking about balancing writing with day-to-day life
• As Halloween gets closer, the spotlight is on Evil Speaks Softly on Connie Brete’s Blog on October 24th
• Visit me at Mariposa’s Musings on October 29th and we’ll talk about inspiration and the writing life
• Let’s talk Halloween costumes at Lois Winston’s blog on October 30th

Want a Taste of What Goes Bump in The Night?

Discomforting Thoughts About the Author & Evil Speaks Softly:

• As a writer who ‘writes by the seat of her pants’ Maureen’s relentless characters can be demanding in wanting their story told and often have their own agenda. They just aren’t ruthless spirits and there’s no ancient curse…that she’s aware of.
• The herniated disc Maureen suffered from while writing this story may have leaked a little extra darkness into the tale.
• Maureen’s first house had a restless spirit.
• Twins run in Maureen’s family—just no feisty triplets.
• Maureen has no knowledge of wrestling but she did watch some WWF back in the day for entertainment.
• Maureen believes she has had sleep paralysis in the past.
• Nighttime spirits don’t terrify Maureen much since she’s up at the crack of dawn and can barely stay awake after 9:30 p.m.

So Many Ways to Enter For a Chance To Win Treats!

Trick or treat, smell my—nope! No tricks here! All treats! Check out all the places you can enter to win treats this month. Click on the link or the photo to lead you to the treats and don’t forget to enter my Rafflecopter at the end of the post. 

Better Hurry and Enter to Win a $5 Amazon Gift Card and an ebook from my backlist- the New Release Giveaway at The Paranormal Romance Guild Ends on October 14th! Check it out right here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• Connie Brete’s Newsletter – check it out right here and enter for a chance to win free books
• Check out Debbie Fritter’s newsletter right here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here’s a few awesome treats you can give an author and her frightful and funny new release:

• The most important way you can support Evil Speaks Softly’s launch is to write a review as soon as possible. (P.S. a review doesn’t have to be detailed, even a few words will do.)
• Follow me on Facebook or Twitter and retweet and share posts about the book release- Here’s one on Facebook to share
• Once you have Evil Speaks Softly in your hot little hands, post a photo of the book/and or kindle right here. It would look especially cool with your Halloween or Fall decor, but any photo will do (Check out the extra entries you get on my rafflecopter for doing this.)
• Share this tweet:

#Win some treats & check out Evil Speaks Softly-a ghost #story just in time for #Halloween
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In general, just recommend the book to all your peeps who love a little paranormal, things that go bump in the night or enjoy a good ghost story. Thank you so much for celebrating with me!

What’s Your Favorite Halloween Treat? Do You Believe in Ghosts?

The post It’s a New Release Party for Evil Speaks Softly! appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

When I read the blurb for Jon. M. Michaels dark humor paranormal/horror Tale of the Sharp-Dressed Man, I knew I had to spotlight this book. You’ve got to check out the blurb, it grabbed me right away. 

“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn meets The Devil’s Advocate”

Thirteen-year-old Luke Morgan is living a charmed life on his Grandpa Theo’s farm, sheltered from the noise of the world by endless, rural beauty. But, his country innocence is quickly shattered one late afternoon as he watches an approaching thunderstorm with his grandfather at his side. Something other than churning clouds are in the sky that day. A twisting, black, mass of evil that his grandfather is not unfamiliar with.
Upon seeing the strange spectacle, Theo tells Luke that the two of them must travel to their neighbor’s home—and kill the entire family. Luke quickly learns there is much he doesn’t know about his kindly grandfather, as he is plunged into a nightmarish world of demons and human suffering.

“Equally chilling and hilarious, Tale of the Sharp-Dressed Man is a spectacular debut novel!” ~ Award-Winning Author, Alicia Dean

Excerpt for Tale of the Sharp-Dressed Man:

The doors swung open with ease, and I stepped into the world of real light. It was wonderful. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, smelling flowers and churned earth. I heard voices mingled with the crackle of static coming from cop radios. I opened my eyes and noticed a black hearse parked next to the hospital beneath a tattered cedar-tree. Painted on the doors was Hughes County Coroner.

“Holy, crap. It’s her.” I quickly looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to me. I was practically invisible. I scooted to the hearse and peeked in a window. Through a set of small drapes, I was barely able to make out a black body bag. Then I noticed the back of the hearse was wide open.

I had to get a closer look.

I approached the bag and saw that it was not fully zipped. A small tuft of gray hair poked through the opening, which was apparently the head. Her feet were closest to me, which meant I was going to have to crawl inside to get a better look.

What was wrong with me?

Knowing full well how absurd my actions were, yet unable to stop myself, I clambered inside and made my way to the protruding hair. I was a foot or two away from her head when it started to wiggle. In fact, the entire bag wiggled like it was full of vibrators. Gurgling sounds were coming from within.

Amazon buy link for Tale of the Sharp-Dressed Man

Find Jon Here:

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What Do you Think? Are You Running to Pick it Up to Read, or Running the Other Way in Terror?

The post Horror Spotlight on Tale of the Sharp-Dressed Man by Jon M Michaels appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Plus I had to wait what seemed like a million years for the next book in a series. Ahh…how times have changed. Now there are a multitude of methods to get my book fix in and I can have immediate gratification with the next book the moment I finish one. But how does one choose a preference?

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Audiobooks are all the rage. At least that’s what I’ve heard. (yep, I couldn’t resist). Many of my friends swear by audiobooks, and perhaps I would as well if I had a long car ride and wanted to escape traffic with a good book. Otherwise, audiobook format is my least favorite. Mostly because the voice of the narrator never quite meets the one in my imagination for the story. But perhaps I just haven’t listened to the right book yet.

I Spy With My eBook and Eye

Spoiler alert-#paperbacks are my favorite, so why am I singing the praises of eBooks? #MFRW
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When it comes to convenience and the ease of reading, eBooks are the winner. Initially when eBooks were popping up everywhere I refused to convert. That is, until I discovered that the kindle had a backlit screen.

I often read at night or when the family is watching television. So, back in the day, I had one of those crappy little reading lights that never quite stayed in place for my book. It was usually either too bright, or too dim, or reflected at an awkward angle so you looked like you were starring in a horror movie. (Not a good thing when you’re reading the likes of Stephen King or Dean Koontz).

The Game Changer for Books 

Then I got my Kindle Paperwhite and it was a game changer. Besides being able to carry a plethora of books in a teeny, tiny tablet, I could read during the midnight hours and not wake up the hubs, or while the family watched television without turning a light to read. Plus the bonus of being able to make the font as big or small as I want— awesome-sauce! But despite these little joys—I will never lose my love for old-fashioned, read paperback books.

The Magic Touch

As a reader, and an author, there’s very little I love more than getting my hands on a treasured book. Whether it’s the newest release by my favorite author, or my own book, the feel of the cover in my hands brings indescribable joy. That’s why I often buy both a paperback, and an ebook, if it’s a story or an author that I love. That way I have the beautiful book to hold in my hands, but I can binge upon it at all hours with an illuminating eBook.

What’s That Smell?

Ahh…when you crack open a brand, spanking new book and you can almost smell the ink (I know, weird. That’s okay because I’m a writer so a little oddness is expected, right Or when you walk into the library, or a bookstore, and you’re surrounded by rows upon rows of books. I don’t know if it’s the covers, the pages filling them, or just the scent of the stories leaking out, but it’s soothing and magical to me.

Hungry for More Books?

We’ve covered all the senses, you can even say I kind of touched on the sixth sense since I can never resist shoving in some magic. Everything, except taste.

Granted sometimes an author describes a scene so well that I could say I can almost taste it, but even when I’m raging with deprivation from dieting I’ve yet to succumb to taking a bite out of a book. I couldn’t. That would ruin a perfectly good story.

What About You? Do You Prefer Paperback, Ebook or Audio Books?

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The post Books are Delicious But I Wouldn’t Recommend Tasting Them appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.