Sundowners by R.L. Merrill

Happy Wednesday Scribblers! This week I’m so excited to share with you author R.L. Merrill’s (learn more here) newest novel Sundowners (find the book here). This is a new vampire story that is set in one of my favorite places, Santa Cruz, California. I can’t begin to tell you all the wonderful times I’ve had in Santa Cruz, from a kid playing on the beaches to running around the Boardwalk, spending weekends in Aptos and Capitola, fishing in the bay and off some of the many piers, and going to the bars in downtown. I even got lost at UC Santa Cruz when I was meeting someone for a date… ugh, date did not go well. Anyway, this novel and story were something I’ve been looking forward to sharing with you.

Blurb:

Vampire Creed Lowell drifts from town to town working with the elderly as a night nurse and looking to avenge his harrowing past. His youth and vitality make him a favorite of his patients and his gifts bring them peace. At long last he’s arrived in the place where he hopes to find the truth about those who betrayed him…but first he finds an unexpected love with a man who might understand him—or end him.

Grad student Roman San Angelo is struggling to handle his courses, teaching schedule, and research for his dissertation on an obscure cult. He spends every spare moment with his beloved yet demanding grandmother Frances who’s recently moved to an assisted living facility—and he’s fascinated by her night nurse, who is able to bring out the inner light which had faded during her battle with dementia. Something about Creed doesn’t add up, however, Roman finds himself fighting an undeniable attraction. His concerns multiply when Roman discovers a connection between Creed and a bizarre series of vampire-wannabe assaults in the area. A moment of weakness leads to a night of passion between them, and the promise of something more, and yet Roman can’t shake his concern that Creed is not what he seems.

Creed knows better than to bring a mortal into his world, even one who could help him find the link between the pack of violent vampires preying on the people of Santa Cruz and Creed’s past. When he discovers Creed’s secret, Roman is ready to step outside his comfort zone and accept everything a life with a vampire entails, and when Creed disappears, Roman will go to the ends of the earth to find the man who brought the light back to his grandmother and the warmth back to his own heart.

My Review:

Vampires in Santa Cruz…again

Hear me out. Sundowners is about vampires in Santa Cruz, CA. If you are thinking that sounds familiar you’d be right… the Lost Boys took place in Santa Cruz, CA back in the late 1980s, but don’t think this is some kind of retelling or some fanfiction story, because it’s not. The author, R.L. Merrill, addresses the Lost Boys several times in the story as a wink and nod to the readers. So, R.L. Merrill is fully aware that she knows, we know. Which helps with the charm of the story.

These vampires however, are not the vampires of lore and are an exciting fresh take on the genre. I loved that the author used locations and places most people would be familiar with, (the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, UC Santa Cruz, etc.) and if you live in Santa Cruz or the surrounding locations you’ll recognize many of the more local places, which makes the story that much better and grounds it all in reality. There are a lot of plot points in the first book. We get to spend a lot of time with our main characters getting to know them as their relationship begins. As I mentioned we also get a lot of new vampire lore in this story which I enjoyed.

The two main characters Creed and Roman are what you would expect for characters in a vampire romance story (which is my only complaint. They are both young, attractive and intelligent with baggage. This kind of bummed me out, but didn’t stop me from enjoying the story and enjoying the characters, because R.L. Merrill made them interesting and unique enough to allow me to put my pretty boy biases to the side.) I won’t get into the characters a lot because I don’t want to ruin things for you, plus you can read the blurb and learn all you need to know. I will also add, that the secondary characters are as interesting as the main characters, which really helped to bring this story to life.

If you enjoy vampire stories that are set in unique locations then this is the story for you. Be advised this story is book 1 so there will be more to come. The ending works, however it sets things up for the next book and the series. So, keep that in mind.

You can get your copy of Sundowners here at Amazon or buy it at your local bookstore or anywhere books are sold.

That’s all I have for this week. I invite you to check out my book recommendations here, as I’ve been getting caught up on my reading list, and I have several new books I’m recommending. Until next time have a great week.

The Bay Area Queer Writers Association Presents: Two – Anthology Out Now

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Can you believe it’s September! Crazy right. This week I’m excited to share that for the second year in a row I’m part of the Bay Area Queer Writers Association’s (BAQWA, find them here) anthology. This year the anthology is titled: Two (click here to get your copy). This anthology features ten authors who share a mix a short stores and poetry all focused around the number two. This is quite the unique collection and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of it. As with last year’s anthology all proceeds from this collection will be donated to the Lavender Library and Archives (click here to learn more) in Sacramento, California. I hope you will pick up a copy and help us support this wonderful organization.

Check out the Cover:

Book Blurb:

Sit down and kick your feet up with your favorite warm beverage this fall. It's time for you to enjoy stories and poetry that reflect the number two.

The Bay Area Queer Writers Association is proud to present this year’s collections of short stories and poetry featuring authors: Michael Alenyikov, Liz Faraim, Wayne Goodman, Kelliane Parker, Richard May, Gar McVey-Russell, Vincent Traughber Meis, R.L. Merrill, M.D. Neu, and K.S. Trenten. Sometimes you need to be able to sit back and let the words from the pages wash over you. See how these amazing authors spotlight the number ‘two’ in each of their works.

All proceeds from this limited-time anthology will be donated to the Lavender Library and Archives in Sacramento, California.

I’m really excited to be part of this anthology and found creating a story for book to be a lot of fun.

The story I contributed to this anthology is called; Nightingale’s Heart, and today I’m pleased to share the blurb with you:

Rahim is the head of security for Aza, a popstar, who had a fan with mental health issues break into their home a few years back. Since being hired Rahim has ensured Aza, and their team’s, safety. However, Rahim, over this time, has grown fond of Aza, hoping for more but never wanting to cross the line of professionalism. Could his feelings be reciprocated? Could Aza, find this lug of a man who protects them more than a ‘Big Guy’ who sees to their safety? Or is this another relationship where Rahim will get hurt.

Also, I created an author’s note for the story, that I think goes to the heart of the tale:

Have you ever had a crush on someone you’ve worked with? I think we all have. As time passed, you finally accepted that a business relationship was all you would ever get, but not today. Not now. This short story is all about crossing lines and taking chances and seeing what happens, for good or for bad. We may not get to explore those choices in real life, but in the safety of these pages, we get to indulge in our fantasies.

Well, that’s all for this week. Please pick up your copy of BAQWA Presents: Two (find it here) and see all the creative ways these authors have spotlighted the number two. Until next time, have a great week.

Conspiracy-A New World (Book 3) Has Arrived

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Today is the day, Conspiracy-A New World (Book 3) has arrived. This amazing third installment is out now and you can pick up your copy (click here). 

Here is what folks are saying about this new book:

It was a pleasure to see Todd, Mirtoff, Mi'ko and the other characters again! It's like meeting old friends.
This third book is a little more dark than the previous two, but there are some funny moments and lots of good banter. The writing is amazing as usual. - Goodreads Reviewer

So, I'm not a huge fan of science fiction (in books, love movies) with that being said, I really enjoyed this story. It took me a moment to find my footing since I hadn't read the other books, but once I did I couldn't put the book down. - BookBub Reviewer

The strength of this book is in its wide cast of strong characters. Some are easy to love, others are easy to hate, and the rest are easy to read.

This is one of those books where it's easy to get a hundred pages into it before you realize it. Though I do recommend reading the previous books in the series first. Have fun! - BookBub - Reviewer

Find more reviews here on Goodreads and here on BookBub.

Here is the blurb for book three in my award-winning Sci-Fi series: 

A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It’s home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who have been told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world, unless they had no other choice. 

It’s been a little over a year since Todd Landon’s life changed with the arrival of the Nentraee. Continuing his duties as Special Envoy for Terran Affairs, Todd finally feels at home with the aliens; gaining more responsibility and influence with both races. Plans are underway for two Interplanetary spaceports and additional solar exploration. It’s an exciting time for both the humans and the Nentraee. 

Not everything is as perfect as some hope. Speaker General Mirtoff and Vice-Speaker Mi’ko of the Nentraee are worried that the Liberi Dei plot additional terrorist attacks and may have inside help. Threats are clear, but who can they trust? Could Todd be helping them unknowingly, or worse covertly? Will these new space endeavors continue to bring the human and the Nentraee together or will a conspiracy hiding in the shadows fracture an already shaky alliance?  

That’s all for this week! I hope you’ll pick up your copy of Conspiracy-A New World (Book 3) and let yourself get wrapped up in this amazing story and get to know these wonderful characters (click here to get your copy today). Well, that’s all for this week. Until next time, have a great week.

Conspiracy-A New World (Book 3) Cover Reveal

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Things have been crazy these last couple of weeks and if you haven’t seen it yet, today I’m thrilled to share with you the cover for Conspiracy-A New World (Book 3). I know I’ve been talking about this book for years (yes, literally years) and finally I have all kinds of details to share. 

As with all my covers, I’m pleased. This cover matches the theme and the design of the first two books, and I believe it’s absolutely beautiful. Conspiracy will debut on August 16, 2022. This novel went from being in somewhat of a limbo state to rushing out the door, however I can assure you the book has gone through several rounds of editing and is well and truly polished (he says knowing full well something has been missed). Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing more details, buy links and all those important details, but for today let’s sit back and enjoy this beautiful cover. 

Here is the blurb for book three in my award-winning Sci-Fi series: 

A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It’s home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who have been told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world, unless they had no other choice. 

It’s been a little over a year since Todd Landon’s life changed with the arrival of the Nentraee. Continuing his duties as Special Envoy for Terran Affairs, Todd finally feels at home with the aliens; gaining more responsibility and influence with both races. Plans are underway for two Interplanetary spaceports and additional solar exploration. It’s an exciting time for both the humans and the Nentraee. 

Not everything is as perfect as some hope. Speaker General Mirtoff and Vice-Speaker Mi’ko of the Nentraee are worried that the Liberi Dei plot additional terrorist attacks and may have inside help. Threats are clear, but who can they trust? Could Todd be helping them unknowingly, or worse covertly? Will these new space endeavors continue to bring the human and the Nentraee together or will a conspiracy hiding in the shadows fracture an already shaky alliance?  

As I mentioned, this novel will be out on August 16, 2022, however, you can buy the eBook early over on NineStar Press (click here). Once I have all the other links, you bet I’ll be sharing them. In the meantime, what do you think? Do you like this new cover? Does the design peek at your interest? What are you looking forward to most in this next installment? Well, that’s all for this week. Until next time, have a great week.

Volaria Cover Reveal

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. It’s August and today, do I have news for you. After teasing you for months, now is the time! Feast your eyes on this beautiful cover for Volaria! I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like it and I couldn’t be more pleased.

I’m so thrilled to share the cover of Volaria with you today, this beautiful new cover is for my next science fiction and urban fantasy novel debuting on October 1, 2022. This is my first novel with my new publishing house Spectrum Books (find them here) and I couldn’t be more pleased with how well the book is moving along. First round of edits have been sent off and I’ve been working behind the scenes with the staff to create some wonderful marketing pieces I’m going to be sharing as well.

Here is the blurb of this exciting new story:

Humans are no longer alone; they have been joined by Arcanes, Lycans, and Vampires. It’s been over a hundred years since the Earth went through The Shift. Where once almost eight billion humans lived, the population now holds at four billion. But that wasn’t the only change. No one anticipated the branching of human DNA to produce new species of humans. Arcanes, Lycans, and Vampires are hidden throughout the genome, awaiting puberty before they manifest distinctly unhuman abilities. Finally, the new species of man were welcomed. No longer studied or treated as outcasts by most. People accepted these new humans, and they integrated into society, albeit not easily. This allowed the UN Government to focus on colonizing space, in order to secure a future for all.

Risks remain, however, permitting a vampire to feed from you can cause shared memories. Tobin Corsian took such a risk. He resides in a newly reopened district of San Jose, California, where his family’s old home stood. He lives there with his friend Mikel, a Lycan, and his dog Begger. Instead of making his mandatory monthly blood donation at the government blood bank for the vampire community, Tobin decides, with the help of his therapist, to visit Biter, a vampire spa. The spa allows vampires to feed from humans directly while providing spa and sexual services, granting the donor a three-month reprieve from their required donations. Tobin’s encounter at Biter opens a window to his past and an experience he had as a child on the moon. Questions abound as he tries to unravel his past and make sense of his life.

What do you think? Are you as excited as I am to get your hands on this wonderful new dark tale? Mark your calendars, as this book will go on sale on October 1, 2022. I will announce once pre-orders are ready, which should be in the next couple of days. You’ll be able to get your copy of Volaria exclusively on Amazon. Well, that’s all for this week. Until next time, have a great week.

Pre order your copy now. Click here.

ARC Copies – Free Books for Reviews

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Have I got a magnificent offer for you this week, and I believe it’s a win-win for everyone. As you all, hopefully, know reviews are the lifeblood for an author, even more so than book sales. So, in that vein, I’m offering ARC copies of my books in exchange for reviews. The offer is simple. If you will leave a review of one of my books (see the list below) I will be happy to send you an eBook copy in your choice of MOBI or EPUB for free. The reviews must be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads. It really is that simple.

How I’m going to handle this is, you email me, click here, and let me know which book you want and I will send it to you. Then once you post the review, if you would like a second book let me know and once I verify a review has been posted on both Amazon and Goodreads (and if you are on BookBub that would be a bonus, but not required), I will send you your next book. This is your chance to get all my books one after the other. As long as you read and post the reviews, you are eligible to get the second book. There is no rush, so you can take as long as you would like (or until I’m no longer able to continue this offer). Here are the books you can pick from:

The Calling

Being nobody isn’t Duncan Alexander’s life goal. Juliet de Exter is an Immortal who is undertaking ‘The Calling’ – a search for a human to join the Immortals. How will Duncan navigate a forbidden romance with an outcast, keep the balance between the Light and Dark Immortals, survive vicious attacks while keeping the humans unaware? More importantly, who is this foe Duncan sees in his dreams?

 

The Called

The world is changing quickly for Chris now that he’s part of the Immortal Community. The events of his past are finally behind him. But, true magic is gradually taking hold in the world and nothing in the Immortal community is what he thought. Now enemies must work together and longtime friends may not be trustworthy. Who is lurking in the shadows? What does this mean for witches, immortals, and humans?

 

T.A.D-The Angel of Death

When Tad pushes the boundaries of his duties too far, his angel wings are stripped, and he is sent to New York City to live as a human. Lost and alone, he meets Doug, and the two start a friendship that will last a lifetime. But nothing is simple when you’re dealing with a former Angel of Death and a Drag Queen. Could these two cause our world to end, or will they manage to keep the future secure?

 

Contact-A New World (Book 1)

On the cusp of the greatest announcement humankind has ever witnessed, Todd’s personal world is thrown into turmoil when his estranged brother shows up on his front porch with news of alien ships heading for Earth’s orbit, holding a race called the Nentraee. Will this be the start of a new age of man or will bigotry and miscommunication bring this small world to its knees and final end?

 

Conviction-A New World (Book 2)

With Todd’s new appointment as Special Envoy for Terran Affairs by the nentraee, his goal is to build bridges between both people. However, this position brings with it a new set of problems that not only he, but his new allies must overcome. Will humans and nentraee learn to work together despite mistrust and threats of more attacks by a new global terrorist group, or will the terrorists win?

 

My goal for this promotion is to get as many reviews as I can, as I build up to the launch of Conspiracy-A New World (Book 3) and Volaria. Both books are due out later this year. Getting these additional reviews will help more readers find me and my works, and, I’m hoping, make the launch of each of these new books as huge as possible. At least that’s my goal.

There you have it, that’s it for this week. I hope you’ll consider the bargain and share this with your friends, because any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Well, that’s all for now. Until next time, have a great week.

June 2022 Announcements

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Can you believe it’s June 1st? I sure can’t. The beginning of June means we start the month of Pride, and we have so much to be proud of. However, given the state of the world today, there is still so much we need to be better at. So, let’s all promise each other we will do better. We will be better people. We will treat each other with dignity and respect. We will bring light to darkness. We will support each other and be there for each other. And most importantly, we will not, under any circumstances, let the bastards bring us down. 

As part of Pride month, I’m happy to share four of my author pals who all have new projects out this month, or coming soon. I cannot stress enough how amazing these novelists are and how, if you haven’t already done so, you need to pick up their books. I’ve enjoyed each these writer’s works and say to you, today, that these are some of the finest authors out there. Let’s begin, shall we? 

Author J.P. Jackson has a new book out; Cursed, it’s the second book in his Magus Malefica - The Coven Series. If you haven’t read book one, you’re missing out. The novel is wonderful and gives you all the background you need for book two. 

Blurb: 

Cam Habersham is having a hell of a time keeping up with his fae studies in the Ancestral Lands because a certain werewolf constantly interrupts his thoughts. Everton Lilch is the wolfen beast who follows Cam around, but he pushes Cam away every time things get steamy. 

The queen of the fae has had enough and tasks Cam with an impossible feat, an undertaking only Everton can help him accomplish. 

Without his coven, Sparks Gemmell is a lost witch. In desperation, he casts a spell, hoping to reunite his brothers. But he doesn’t count on the wayward route magic often takes. He finds himself wrapped up in a mandate of the horned god and inserted into his Shadow Brothers’ relationship in order to protect his city from the darkest elements of the Shadow Realm. 

As the darkness of the Shadow Realm descends, Cam and his werewolf, along with Sparks and his coven brothers, confront wraiths, mutant werewolves, and witch law enforcement. Chaos erupts in an effort to please queens and gods. 

After all, it comes down to the ley of the land. 

Read my review here. Get your copy here.

Next up, I’m please to share with you Kevin Klehr’s newest audiobook; Winter Masquerade. The narration is spectacular, as is the story. If you don’t have time to sit down and read, but need something to get you through your workout, then this is a must get. 

Pick up the audiobook here.

In the spotlight today is Glenn Quigley (artist and author extraordinaire). This is what Glenn has to say about his newest short story: 

I want to let people know that my first short story is coming soon from Ninestar Press. It’s also my first contemporary story (I usually write Historical Fantasy), so I’m very excited for people to read it. Excited and nervous. Mostly nervous. 

Use as Wallpaper, is a story about a reporter for a seldom-watched LGBTQ+ television channel who travels to the beautiful country of Georgia to film a piece about a polyphonic choir. The reporter’s name is Stuart, he’s just past forty, and recently single. When he arrives, he discovers that the choirmaster is a stocky, gruff, obstinate man named Otar. As the two butt heads, Stuart has to learn a little bit of the Georgian language, perform in front of a crowd with the polyphonic choir, and try to mend his broken heart. Stuart better not mess up this performance. 

Use as Wallpaper is a light-hearted romp filled with sunshine, performance anxiety, and hairy chests. 

It will be released in the coming weeks, so keep an eye on my socials for the exact date and the cover! Use as Wallpaper will be available from Amazon, the Ninestar Press website, and all the usual eBook outlets. 

Find out more about the book and Glenn here. 

And bringing up the rear is author Eric David Roman and his re-released novel Long Night at Lake Never. 

Blurb: 

Welcome to Camp Horizons, where they pray all day…and get slayed all night! 

Nestled against scenic Lake Never, recently outed Tyler Wills has arrived at the secluded conversion camp, where the delusional staff of counselors believes he and his fellow camper’s queer affliction can be healed solely through the power of prayer. 

After a full day spent rallying against sadistic deprogramming therapies, the deranged camp director, and planning his escape, Tyler discovers a larger problem—a mysterious stranger has rolled into camp with a grudge to settle and a very sharp axe. 

When night falls, the terror and body count rise. And Tyler, along with his fellow campers, find themselves trapped between a brutal, unrelenting killer and their holier-than-thou prey as they desperately search for a way to survive the Long Night at Lake Never. 

Find your copy here.

These four authors couldn’t be more different in genres and writing styles, which gives you a wonderful mix of talent and stories to read and enjoy. 

For me this month, I’ll be joining QSac at Davis Pride on June 12th, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be out and about again and meeting folks. If you are in the Davis, CA area, please come by and say hello. Learn more here. Also, this month I’m wrapping up edits on Conspiracy, A New World (Book 3) find out more here. And I have a teaser for the cover art for Volaria. Get your peek here. Both books will be out later this summer and early fall 2022. Also, as I write this, my biggest supporter and harshest critic is editing/reading my new short story; Two Years, that will, hopefully, be part of the Bay Area Queer Writers Association’s (BAQWA) 2022 anthology. Keep your fingers crossed. Once I learn more, I’ll be sure to let you know. 

And I’m thrilled to share the news that The Called (learn more here) was chosen as the 2021 Fantasy Runner up for the Gay Scribe Awards, check it out here. I’m so pleased with this novel and the series. Thank you to everyone for all your love and support.

Wow. There it is. There is so much happening right now for Pride, and for the summer, that I’m sure I missed something. Some food for thought before I sign off this week. If you want to support the Queer Community this Pride month, instead of buying from large companies that slap a rainbow on their products for the month, why not support queer artists and businesses, especially when everyone is struggling economically right now. Supporting a queer local artist or business (oh and look I have a merchandise page, how convenient is that, click here) mean a lot more than buying something from a big company with a rainbow sticker slapped on their merch. With that, I hope to see you at Davis, CA Pride on June 12th, but if not, until next time, have a great week and Happy Pride 2022.

Three Books and Two Events

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. It’s been a busy week and I have lots to share. Fellow Authors Lee Colgin, Kevin Klehr, and J.P. Jackson all have amazing book announcements. And I have more event news to update you all on, so let’s get started.

If you missed it, this last Saturday, me and several other members of the Bay Area Queer Writers Association (BAQWA) were at Books on B at the Hayward first annual LitHop. Renee, the owner, of Books on B, is wonderful and runs a beautiful bookstore, so please go and support the store if you can. You can find them on Instagram here. It was an amazing event. So many people showed up and we had a blast. Coming up this weekend (May 7th-8th, from 11am – 5pm) we will be at The Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, CA (Downtown Berkeley, Booth #23), we hope to see everyone there. This should be a lot of fun, and just like at the Hayward LitHop, we’ll be signing books, hanging out, and chatting with folks. So, come and say hello.

Here are some of the group photos from Hayward LitHop.

Next, I’m thrilled to share that fellow author Lee Colgin has a brand-new book out: Over the Emerald Valley 

Here is the blurb: 

Life as a concubine to the devious Viceroy Abasi isn’t so bad. Temaj has food, shelter, and every inch of his skin is draped in emeralds. What’s freedom worth when weighed against the luxury of the palace? 

Solon’s dutiful life earned him the rank of army general to the pharaoh. But when he’s sent on a diplomatic mission to an emerald mine rather than into battle, he senses the end of his career and a lonely retirement. 

Temaj is gifted to Solon for his stay, but the last person Solon wants in his bed is a slave sent to spy on him—even if he is a gorgeous, silver-tongued vixen of a man. 

Trouble brews when emeralds go missing. With only a clever concubine and the viceroy’s harem on his side, can Solon solve the mystery and escape with his life, or are he and Temaj destined to haunt the walls of the palace forever? 

*** 

Over the Emerald Valley is a gay paranormal romance full of snarky banter, dangerous secrets, steamy stolen moments and only one bed. It’s a standalone novel within the Immortal Jewels series and can be read first or last with no spoilers, no cliffhangers, and always a happily ever after. 

Get your copy here.

Also, this week, Kevin Klehr (follow him here) has an exciting book trailer for his new audiobook: Winter Masquerade. This is a wonderful book, if you haven’t read it, you need to. Here is the video trailer to tease you.

Also, coming soon is a new book by J.P. Jackson: Cursed – Magus Malefica – The Coven Series – Book Two.

Blurb:

Cam Habersham is having a hell of a time keeping up with his fae studies because a certain werewolf constantly interrupts his thoughts. Everton Lilch is the wolfen beast who follows Cam around the Ancestral Lands – the fae village where Cam is trying to learn how to be fae. But Everton pushes Cam away every time things get steamy. The queen of the fae has had enough and tasks Cam with an impossible feat, an undertaking only Everton can help him accomplish.

Sparks Gemmell is a lost witch without his coven. In desperation, he casts a quick spell in hopes of reuniting his brothers, but he doesn’t count on the wayward route magic often takes. Sparks finds himself wrapped up in the horned god’s mandate and inserted into his Shadow Brothers’ relationship in order to protect his city from the darkest elements of the Shadow Realm.

As Cam and Sparks’ paths merge together, their lives become intertwined as the darkness of the Shadow Realm descends upon them. Confrontations with wraiths, mutant werewolves, and witch law enforcement are unforeseen consequences in an effort to please queens and gods.

After all, it comes down to the ley of the land.

Check out the amazing cover art.

Pre-orders should be available soon, so follow J.P. Jackson here so you don’t miss out.

There you go. I hope you found this update helpful. There is so much happening right now. Especially with all these wonderful authors and these upcoming events. I don’t want you to miss a thing. I hope to see you this weekend at The Bay Area Book Festival, but if not, until next time, have a great week.

Announcements Spring 2022

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Have I got a lot to share with you today; three different book announcements and two upcoming events. These last few weeks (and months) have been busy. I’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes and today I’m thrilled to share it all with you. First, as you may have heard, I have an article in the upcoming book, Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2. Second, I have a short story in the wonderful anthology; Save the World. Third, this week I signed the contract for Volaria, which will be published through Spectrum Books. Last, I have two in-person events coming up: Hayward Lit Hop and The Bay Area Book Festival (in Berkley, CA) Let’s dive deeper into each of these. 

Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2 is a collection of stories and articles that has been put together by HorrorAddicts.Net. They reached out to me to share my article; When did you know? I spent some time updating the article, diving a little deeper into my personal story, which you will read more about in this coming book. The editors have put a lot of work into this publication and I’m impressed with how the product is looking. This book will make a wonderful addition to your reading library. The book is a fundraiser, so I’m not making anything from the sale of the story, but I’m pleased to be part of this effort and supporting such a great group. 

If you want to learn more and see who else will be in the book, you can learn more here.

Next up, we have Save The World. This is the second book in the series. The first book is titled, Fix the World (you can buy it here). This year I have my short story; Interview, as part of the collection. I’m pleased with this story and I’m honored to have the work included. I don’t want to give too much away about the story, because I’m hoping folks will go out and buy it. Click here for pre-orders.  

Book Blurb: 

Climate change is no longer a vague future threat. Forests are burning, currents are shifting, and massive storms dump staggering amounts of water in less than 24 hours. Sometimes it’s hard to look ahead and see a hopeful future. 

We asked sci-fi writers to send us stories about ways to save the world from climate change.  From the myriad of stories we received, we chose the twenty most amazing (and hopefully prescient) tales. 

Dive in and find out how we might mitigate climate change via solar mirrors, carbon capture, genetic manipulation, and acts of change both large and small. 

The future’s not going to fix itself. 

Next up for the week, I’m so pleased to announce that I have signed a contract with Spectrum Books (learn more here) for them to publish my latest novel, Volaria. We have set the launch for Fall 2022. I will be sharing more information as we get closer to the launch. 

Here is the official blurb: 

It’s been over a hundred years since the Earth went through The Shift. Where once almost eight billion humans lived, the population now holds at four billion. But that wasn’t the only change. Humans are no longer alone; they have been joined by Arcanes, Lycans, and Vampires. At first these new groups were thought of as genetic anomalies caused by The Shift, something to be cured, but later scientists discovered that each new generation of humans born would produce these new variances at the onset of puberty. Finally, the new species of man were welcomed. No longer studied or treated as outcasts by most. People accepted these new humans, and they integrated into society. This allowed the UN Government to focus again on the Moon and on Mars, ensuring the survival of all, as humankind became a multi-planet species. 

Tobin Corsian resides in a newly reopened district of San Jose, California, where his family’s old home stood. He lives there with his friend Mikel, a Lycan, and his dog Begger. Instead of making his mandatory monthly blood donation at the government blood bank for the vampire community, Tobin decides, with the help of his therapist, to visit Biter, a vampire spa. The spa allows vampires to feed from humans directly while providing spa and sexual services, granting the donor a three-month reprieve from their mandatory donations. However, permitting a vampire to feed from you comes with risks, shared memories among them. Tobin’s encounter at Biter opens a window to his past and an experience he had as a child on the moon. Questions abound as he tries to unravel his past and make sense of his life. 

Can you believe it? We are finally going to be doing some local events in the coming weeks. April 30th join me and three other BAQWA writers at Books on B, in Hayward, CA. we’ll be there from 4pm–4:45pm. This will be a great night of short readings and your opportunity to come on by and say hello. Learn more here. 

Then on May 7th and 8th, many of the BAQWA members will be at The Bay Area Book Festival 2022, in Berkley, CA. We have a booth and will be there both days. The event starts at 11am and goes to 5pm both days. Come by, say hello, pick up a book, get a signature or two, and have your photos taken with one of your favorite authors. Learn more here. 

There has been a lot happening and there is still a lot more coming, so keep a wary eye out for more news. I hope you’ll pick up your copy of Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2 and Save The World. These books have many talented authors who contributed, so you won’t want to miss out. And please, if you are in the area, come meet us at either the Hayward Lit Hop or The Bay Area Book Festival, both events will be a lot of fun. Until next time, have a great week.

Reaper: A Horror Novella by Jonathan Pongratz

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Today I have a creepy treat for you. Do you like horror stories? Well fellow author and wonderful friend of this author is celebrating his horror novella’s Reaper: A Horror Novella’s third birthday. This is the story that started it all for Jonathan and I can’t recommend it enough. If you like stories that go bump in the night and offer the reader chills, then you need to get your copy of Reaper: A Horror Novella by Jonathan Pongratz. 

Story Blurb:

How do you fight a monster?

Halloween night, 1992. Promised the allowance he’s always dreamed of, Gregory has to babysit his little sister Imogen and hand out candy.

That was before the basement door opened on its own. Before the strange door appeared in the basement. Before Imogen was taken from him by that terrifying monster.

Now, Gregory has to scramble to put the pieces together before it's too late. Where did the door come from? What was that creature? Can he save his sister, or is she already gone forever?

Book Trailer:

Here is a wonderful book trailer for you to watch.

Excerpt:

I shined my flashlight on the wooden steps leading below, doing my best to stay calm as a frigid chill raised goosebumps on my arms and legs. There’s nothing down here but your stupid little sister. Monsters don’t exist. You’re being a baby.

Ignoring my own thoughts, I forced myself to begin my descent. Each step on the rickety stairs gave a loud squeak that made my heart pound and skin tingle. My flashlight continued to guide me down the steps, but the further down I went, the more it seemed that the darkness was getting thicker. Was that even possible? It’s all in your head.

By the time I reached the bottom of the steps, my nerves were rattled. Imogen had better be down here, and she better be ready to go. I was done playing these stupid games.

An awful smell rose on  my left. I turned my light to it. On top of an old wooden table was an ornate black lantern. Wisps of black smoke came off it, but no light. I gave a good sniff and instantly recoiled.

Who lit this terrible thing? This was ten times worse than the stinky candles Mom lit every year. I plugged my nose and gave the contents of the lantern another glance. Inside was a grey-looking candle with weird flecks of black stuff molded inside of it. My nose crinkled. Whatever it was, I didn’t care. I needed to find Immy.

I turned back around to the rest of the basement. “Immy? Immy!” I shouted. I thought I heard a scuffle up ahead, so I shined my light that way.

Numerous toys littered the floor and old furniture covered with large white sheets took up most of the space in the basement. Something about the odd shapes the unwanted stuff created creeped me out, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I stood still, listening in the darkness. Was that … breathing? It was faint, but what else did I have to go off of?

I maneuvered around a cluster of covered couches, wiping my sweaty palms on my pants as I ventured towards the back. Ahead of me were small rows of sheeted items, but one stood out to me, one particularly little-girl shaped.

I smirked. Nice try, Immy.

I crept up on my toes, and as soon as I was within arm’s reach, I yanked the white sheet away. “Aha!” It was a rusty standing birdcage. But I could’ve sworn ... Damn it!  I kicked the nearest couch and wandered aimlessly to vent off my frustration.

What could I do to draw Immy out? Talking to her wasn’t working; I’d already tried that. I could try the candy route, but the bucket was all the way upstairs and she could hide again by the time I got back. I supposed I could knock stuff around until she emerged, but then I’d have to clean it all up or Mom and Dad would kill me. I walked up to an uncovered desk and wiped my finger along the top, inspecting the layer of dust on my forefinger. Maybe I could scare her out.

Suddenly, something grabbed my ankle from under the desk. I shrieked and yanked my leg back as my heart pounded.

Get your copy here:

***

This is a short one this week. I hope you’ll pick up your copy of Reaper: A Horror Novella. It’s a wonderful story and will definitely make you think twice about our world and what people will do to protect it. Until next time have a great week.

eBook Short Story Giveaway - LandsEnd

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. This week I have a special offer for all my Scribblers (if you are reading this, that would mean you). I’m thrilled to offer each one of you a free eBook copy of my short story LandsEnd. The story was featured in the Bay Area Queer Writers Association anthology; BAQWA Presents: Horror Show 2021. Since the original publication, I’ve worked on the story, added to it, and in general cleaned it up a bit more. I couldn’t be more pleased with how this short story turned out, and now I can offer the novella to you, for free!

What’s the catch you might ask? Well, in order to qualify to get a free copy you have to follow me on BookBub (click here). That’s it. Anyone new who follows me on BookBub will receive this short story eBook, absolutely free. In order for me to know that you are a new member and found out about this offer by reading my blog, once you follow me, send me an email message (info@mdneu.com) letting me know. Once I verify you are following me, I’ll email you your free copy of LandsEnd.

Story Blurb:

Prom Night. The last hurrah before college. Brandon and Ed are the chaperons for the LandsEnd High School Senior Prom, hosted at the LandsEnd Yacht Club. Its a night of dreams until the ground shakes and flashes of light brighten the sky, knocking out everything electrical, casting the dance into darkness. Cut off and alone, the adults and the students have to figure out what to do and what’s happening. Worryingly, what’s that strange clicking sound off in the distance that seemed to scare off the animals?

***

This is a short one this week. Remember to follow me on BookBub to get your free eBook copy of LandsEnd. Well, that’s it. Until next time, have a great week.

Contact-A New World (Book 1) Audiobook Launch

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. It’s here! Today I’m happy to share with you my newest audiobook; Contact-A New World (Book 1), is here. This is my internationally award-winning SciFi novel that starts this exciting series. Steve Connor is here to narrate the story and bring life to all these wonderful characters (learn more about Steve here). He did an outstanding job with bringing the Nentraee characters, language, and culture to life. I can’t wait for you all to dive in and give the story a listen. 

The Story: 

A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It's home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who will soon be told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world, unless they had no other choice. Todd Landon is one of these people, living and working in a section of the world called the United States of America. His life is similar to those around him: home, family, work, friends and a husband.

On the cusp of the greatest announcement humankind has ever witnessed, Todd’s personal world is thrown into turmoil when his estranged brother shows up on his front porch with news of ships heading for Earth’s orbit. The ships are holding the Nentraee, a humanoid race who have come to Earth in need of help after fleeing the destruction of their homeworld. How will one man bridge the gap for both the Humans and Nentraee, amongst mistrust, terrorist attacks and personal loss? Will this be the start of a new age of man or will bigotry and miscommunication bring this small world to its knees and final end?

The Cover: 

Audiobook Sample:

The Reviews: 

“I absolutely loved this book. It has a great theme, and it is so well written. I found I couldn't put the book down.” — Amazon Review 

“Riveting read! Looking forward to reading “Conviction”.”— Amazon Review 

“I generally don't read science fiction books, but this story and author may have converted me. I completely enjoyed this story from start to finish.” — Goodreads Review 

Where to buy your copy:

Audible-US click here.

Audible-UK click here.

iTunes click here.

Amazon click here.

Don’t want to listen to the story. That’s fine, the book is available in eBook and Paperback. Find your copy here. Or get a signed copy here:

***

That is all I have today. I hope you enjoy Contact-A New World (Book 1) its a wonderful audiobook that I’m proud of. If you have read the book please, I encourage you to leave a review. Reviews make a world of difference not only to us authors, but to future readers. Well, that’s it. Until next time, have a great week.

Conspiracy-A New World (Book 3) Teaser

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, I hope you are all doing well. These last few weeks have been crazy with everything going on in the world and here at home. I considered not posting anything this week, however to provide some normalcy I thought I would continue to post. This week, I’m sharing the first excerpt from my upcoming novel Conspiracy-A New World (Book 3) learn more about Conspiracy here. I will also do a reading this Saturday March 12, 2022 at 4pm. (learn more here). The novel will be out later this year and final edits are sitting with my publisher.

Enjoy this teaser:

Chapter One

The Security Training area appeared ordinary, especially since the space was in a secured part of the ship. Yes the area had grass and a few shrubs outside the façade but the endless sky feeling didn’t exist here; overall this area had been built more for function and less for form. Still, Todd was glad he had access to the location, and the gym had everything they needed for a good workout. He had even managed to have the Nentraee bring up some human gym equipment for his use, as he didn’t want to risk his life on the Nentraee equipment. Sure the human machines got a few odd looks from the Nentraee security when he and Dan used them, but Vi-Narm confided in him several of the security personnel tried the pieces and used them when no humans were around.

He cracked his neck, thinking of his earlier conversation with Brad. Seeing his brother again would be a nice treat, and Brad had been correct, too much time had passed since Todd had seen Brad or the rest of his family down on Earth. The infrequent visits weren’t all his fault, so much had changed over the last year and he had a lot of work to do, especially knowing Liberi Dei continued to lurk out there; waiting. A shudder ran down his spine; the death of the leader of the Liberi Dei haunted him.

Too bad you won’t live long enough to find out. What had they been organizing? Their death was a shame really, killed by their own people before he found out what they and Liberi Dei actually wanted. However, they were still out there planning. Which added to his frustration of late, Mi’ko and Mirtoff no longer included him in anything to do with the terrorist organization, saying keeping him detached from the matter kept him safe.

Todd had no reason to doubt them, but something tickled the back of his mind and he wasn’t sure if this was the only reason they kept him in the dark about Liberi Dei.

He missed the tick of his pocket watch.

So much had changed.

He dug through his bag, pulled out his pocket watch, and checked the time.

“Where is he?” Todd huffed and put the timepiece in his gym bag, his hand brushing along the cool surface of his datapad.

Dan should have been here twenty minutes ago; at this rate Todd would barely have enough time for their workout and for him to get changed and ready for the interview.

A chirp called his attention.

Todd reached into his bag and pulled out his datapad. Now what? He tapped the pad to activate the device.

“Dan!” Todd’s voice called out louder than he had hoped, but no one around him seemed to notice. “Where are you? You’re late.”

“I know.” Dan’s expression remained flat with no Danness to flavor his words. “Listen, I’m heading to Earth, I have to see my family and take care of some things?”

“What? Is everything okay.”

“Fine.” Dan’s tone faltered and his expression sank. “They’re fine, sorry, just a lot going on and my mom isn’t getting any younger.”

“I get it, my parents–”

“Look I have to go. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“When you–”

The communications ended and the Nentraee seal appeared.

“What the hell?” Todd shook his head and dropped the pad into his bag.

Todd raked a hand through his hair. Well now he would have plenty of time to get ready for the interview. He made his way over to the lockers to change into his work clothes and ceremonial robe. Once Todd cleaned up he made his way out of the locker room.

“Special Envoy.” A deep familiar voice caught Todd’s attention as he left the facility.

He turned to see Vi-Narm standing there in the equivalent of workout wear: loose pants and a flowy top.

“Hi Vi-Narm.”

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready to meet with GNN?”

Todd nodded. “I planned to get in some training with Dan today, but…”

“If you would like to train I would be happy to workout with you, after your duties.” Vi-Narm tossed her long ponytail over her shoulder.

Todd picked at his deep-blue ceremonial cloak, the one given to him by Mi’ko and Mirtoff to represent his standing in Nentraee society. The cloak draped over his shoulders, and the wide embroidered collar with silver stitching sparkled as the threads caught the light. He checked the two large silver clasps with matching deep-blue stones attaching the cloak to his shoulders. The ends of the cloak fell to the floor, revealing the embroidery as the stitching continued down to each of the eight symbols representing the Nentraee clans and the one representing humans.

“Do I look okay?” Todd asked.

“You look respectable for your position and the purpose of your meeting.” Vi-Narm said.

“And with that not so shining endorsement, I’ll head off.” he winked at her. “Thanks for the offer to work out, I’ll have to take you up on the suggestion, especially if Dan keeps ditching me.”

On his way out, he gave one more glance over his shoulder to the facility and the surrounding area. Dan and he were supposed to work out twice a week, and yet over the last several months Dan had cancelled many of their get togethers, not just the workouts. Each time they met, Dan appeared more preoccupied. More distant. He shook his head. At least he still had Brad’s visit to look forward too, even if he would be here for work and not play.

He felt the tick of his pocket watch and marched on in time with each tick. Once he found a viewport he glanced out, seeing one of the Speaker General’s ship’s parks. A group of xĩmé flew by, the deep blue of their feathers a contrast to the yellow leaves of the nabutimaba tree. He chuckled and shook his head. Recent events seemed insane to him, like something out of some sci-fi series.

“What a year.” He sighed as he continued on.

***

That’s it for this week. Don’t forget about the BAQWA Reading this weekend, hope you can make it. Please keep yourself safe. Also, during these difficult times, be kind to one another. Pray for peace and keep those in harm’s way in your thoughts and prayers. Until next time, have a great week.

$.99 Short Story – A Tended Garden

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. This week I’m thrilled to share that my author buddy J.P. Jackson has a new short story out. It’s $.99 so you can go wrong, and this is a wonderful way to get to know J.P.’s writing. Here is the blurb:

Alyssa is a natural witch whose thoughts have a way of coming true. Her coven is the only one around – well, the only one she’ll practice her beliefs with – but her high priestess, Rachel, is particularly difficult to please.

But Rachel has a secret she hasn’t told anyone in her coven – one that her ancestral witches before her kept from their covens too. If Rachel’s to hold on to her traditions and the immortality she’s been promised, she’ll have to keep the women in her coven returning to the sacred grove, and that includes Alyssa.

But secrets have a way of being revealed, and when Alyssa stumbles across Rachel’s violent and horrifying history with the trees of the grove, the pact between the sacred grove and Rachel’s family may have a price too steep to pay.

Download your $.99 copy here.

You can learn more about J.P. Jackson here on my blog, click on the title to check out some of our conversations:

Witches, Fae and Werewolves…oh my!

Interview with author J.P. Jackson.

Magic or Die.

2020 Interview with author J.P. Jackson.

That’s it for this week. Until next time have a wonderful week.

From Art to Pin: Newman is here!

How exciting is this! Newman who has been my mascot since I started can now be yours. The talented Glenn Quigley (who is both a fellow author and brilliant artist) created the artwork for Newman, which is amazing. Find Glenn here. As of this week, you can pick-up your own pin version of Newman to show off. Find him on my website (click here), and have Newman sent right to your doorstep (available in the US only). This is a great way to show your support for me and my writing. With luck, I will add to the Newman collection.

The 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, what a mind-blowing week. I’m so pleased to share with you, if you don’t already know, how my books performed in the 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards. This year I entered T.A.D.-The Angel of Death (click here to learn more) and The Called (The Calling Book 2) (click here to learn more). As some of you may know, I wasn’t sure about entering the books in the Rainbow Awards this year. T.A.D.-The Angel of Death hadn’t performed as well as I had hoped and the reviews were mixed; including a DNF (did not finish) along with a scathing review of what the reader read. On the flip side, The Called had received some wonderful reviews, but again wasn’t performing as well as The Calling had. With that fresh in my mind, I decided to sit this year’s awards out.

Well, some of my readers and a few author friends weren’t having any of my worry or concern. They told me to suck it up and enter the two books and see what happens. So, I did. Then the waiting began.

During the competition, for which I was a judge again, I accepted that there were several fine books out there and prepared myself for what I believed to be the inevitable.

I was wrong and gladly so.

How did I do? You may be wondering.

This year, T.A.D.-The Angel of Death won the 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards: Gay Alternative Universe/Reality category and in the 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Book category T.A.D.-The Angel of Death was a runner-up! Here are some lovely judges’ comments:

This was a wonderful story! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the angel of death and the drag queen/hairstylist’s lives, especially when it covers an entire life span (get tissues, you’ll need them). Although it covers some very tragic events in real life, they were portrayed with care. We have TAD, the angel of death, wanting to diminish the amount of death in catastrophic events which cost him his wings and to be sent to live life on Earth as punishment. Then we have Doug, who cares so much about humanity that when he meets TAD he can’t pass by without giving the smelly, disheveled man a hand, thinking him a homeless man, which he was at the time. Bringing TAD to the salon to give him a makeover, Doug then brings him home, where TAD spends years watching Doug ruin his life with alcohol and drugs. This friendship continues throughout the decades until Doug’s final days. What a beautiful tale this was. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written story. This is also my first MD Neu book and I’m looking forward to reading others from this author.

Drag queen befriends the Angel of Death. What a great premise! I loved this, particularly the relationship between Doug and Tad and the way it developed.

As for The Called, I racked up a wonderful, honorable mention, and the book was the 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards: Gay Paranormal Romance (Runner Up). Here is the honorable mention:

If there’s something I love reading in a story is action, mystery, drama. Add vampires to the mix and exciting plot, fantastic writing, and I’m happier than a pig in a mud pit. This book has all the above and then some. It’s the type of story that once you start reading, you can’t put it down, thus staying up until 5AM this morning and had to finish it once I got up. This is the third book I read from MD Neu and I can assure you, it won’t be my last. I loved Neu’s writing style, the world-building where it feels like you’re actually there, living the drama. The characters are amazing. The setting is simply fabulous, and the plot, well, read above. I highly recommend this story to those who love Vampires. Well done, Neu. Well done.

There you have it, T.A.D.-The Angel of Death joins Contact (A New World, Book 1) and Conviction (A New World, Book 2) as category winners and The Called joins The Calling as a Runner Up. I couldn’t be more pleased. What I learned from this entire experience is that I can’t let the negative voices drown out the positive voices. If I would have sat this year’s Rainbow Awards out, I would not have won or been runner-up and I would have continued to doubt the worth of, not only my writing, but the worth of both these wonderful books.

To celebrate, my publisher, NineStar Press, is offering 30% off all the winners and runner-up’s books in the 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards. NineStar’s Authors had an amazing showing in this year’s competition, so please click on over (click here) and check out all these wonderful books and support these authors and our publisher.

Until next time, have a great week.

Bay Area Queer Writers Association Holiday Reading 2021

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, today is going to be nice and short, because I know how busy everyone is. On December 11, 2021 (that is this Saturday) the Bay Area Queer Writers Association is hosting a virtual Queer Cheer holiday reading. The members providing a reading are: Liz Faraim, R.L. Merrill, Wayne Goodman, Richard May, and K.S. Trenten. The reading begins at 6:00 p.m. (PST) and promises to be a wonderful way to get you into the holiday spirit.

Click the image to learn more

Click on the image to learn more

You can learn more about each of these authors here:

Liz Faraim

R.L. Merrill

Wayne Goodman

Richard May

K.S. Trenten

To learn more about the on-line event click here or find the Bay Area Queer Writers Association on their Facebook Page here. Hope to see you all this Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (PST) Okay, that’s all I have to share this week. Until next time, have a great week.

Coming Soon – BAQWA Presents: Horror Show 2021

Are you all getting in the mood for the spooky season now upon us? I hope so. Today I’m thrilled to share that the local writing group I belong to, the Bay Area Queer Writers Association (BAQWA) is putting out our first anthology: BAQWA Presents: Horror Show 2021. This is a follow up to last year’s highly successful Bay Area Queer Writers Association - Halloween Radio Hour 2020. If you haven’t listened to last year’s creepy story time, give the radio show a listen here.

This year we have ten stories written by five of our authors: Wayne Goodman, M.D. Neu, Richard May, Liz Faraim, and R.L. Merrill. We wrote each story to give you a delightful fright. Also, this year, all proceeds from the book will be donated to the Billy DeFrank Center in San Jose, CA. We are excited to help support this wonderful center here in the heart of Silicon Valley.

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To give you a little tease as to what to expect in the anthology, here are the two blurbs for my two stories:

LandsEnd:

Prom Night. The last hurrah before college. Brandon and Ed are the chaperons for the Land’s High Senior Prom, hosted at the Land’s End Yacht Club. Its a night of dreams until the ground shakes and flashes of light brighten the sky knocking out everything electrical casting the event into darkness. Cut off and alone. The adults and the students have to figure out what to do and what’s happening. Additionally, what is that strange clicking sound off in the distance that seemed to scare off the animals.

The Old Road:

Halloween; a night of tricks and treats, but what happens when you take a stranger for a creepy night of mischief and fun? Anything can happen on Halloween, even the unimaginable.

Find out more about the anthology here and you can pick up your copy here.

Find out more about BAQWA and our authors here.

Want to learn more about the Billy DeFrank Center click here.

Well, that is all for this week. Keep an eye out for more details about BAQWA Presents: Horror Show 2021. I hope you have a wonderful day and see you next time.

Audiobook Update

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, today I am providing an update on my all my audiobooks. Yes, you heard that correctly. I will soon have more than one audiobook available and today I wanted to share the update with you as well as the samples from the stories. I’m so thrilled to have Steve Connor back again to narrate The Reunion (find the short story here). Also, I can’t wait for folks to hear the wonderful narration from Amanda Vargas who will lend her talents to A Dragon for Christmas (learn more about the short story here). Let’s not waste anymore time. Here are the details.

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Holiday-WinterSeason-ADragonfor-f500.jpg

The Reunion is a story full of unique wonderful characters that share a tragic past.

Here is the blurb:

It’s been twenty years since the quiet Midwestern town of Lakeview was struck by tragedy. But every year, on the anniversary of the tragic event, Teddy returns home for ‘The Reunion’. Lakeview, like Teddy, has secrets and not all mysteries should come to light.

Listen to the sample here:

A Dragon for Christmas is a wonderful holiday fantasy short story about overcoming life’s challenges.

Here is the blurb:

Carmen is eleven years old and wants to get her dragon. Since she was seven years old, she understood two things. One, she was going to be the strongest Dragon Keeper there ever was. The second was that she was going to marry her best friend, Mattie.

As Christmas approaches, the magical charms Carmen has to use to fight off her curse are taking a toll on her health. But that can’t stop her from taking her final test to become a Dragon Keeper. If she passes her test, she gets her dragon, if not, she has to start all over relying on different magical charms to fight the curse for her. That is something Carmen doesn’t want to have to go through. The testing is difficult and charms make her sick. Carmen has decided that if she doesn’t get her dragon, this Christmas, she’s not going to go for a third attempt, even if that means she can’t marry Mattie when she grows up.

Listen to the sample here:

Both of these delightful short stories will be released soon to audible and I can’t wait.

Do you need something to listen to now? Don’t forget I have my novella T.A.D.-The Angel of Death available in audiobook format (learn more about the story here and learn more about the audiobook here).

TAD-Audiobook.jpg

T.A.D. is a story about lifelong friendship and the choices that we make.

Here is the blurb:

Tad loves bouncing around in time and watching mankind grow and change. He loves humanity and helping when he can. However, his job isn’t conducive to helping people. He’s an Angel of Death.

Doug is fun loving and a drama queen. Despite his witty exterior, he has a dark history and is prone to self-destruction. He’s also an amazing drag queen and hairstylist with big dreams.

When Tad pushes the boundaries of his duties too far, his angel wings are stripped away from him, and he is sent to New York City to live as a human. Lost and alone, he ends up meeting Doug, and the two start a friendship that will shape them both and last a lifetime. But nothing is simple when you’re dealing with a former Angel of Death and a Drag Queen. Could these two cause the fabric of our world to collapse or will they manage to keep the future as it should?

Listen to the sample here:

Learn more about the audiobook here.

Well, that is my quick update for today. Until next time, have a great week.