I’ve got two things to say to my blogging, reading friends: (1) If you haven’t already purchased Kevin Brennan’s Yesterday Road, then you better do it now while it’s available for a mere 99 cents; (2) If you’ve read YR, then leave a review on Amazon. Short and sweet as the man says, that’s all you need to do. So step up, people! (Pretty please!)
The sale runs through 6/27, but it doesn’t begin officially till next Friday. You, my devoted readers here at What The Hell, get first crack, so if you’ve been waiting for that perfect price point and you have a spare dollar in your virtual coin pouch, it’s time to pull the trigger.
This is also the last promotion I’ll be doing for YR before the publication of Wish I Were Here in September. After 6/27, the price returns to $4.99.
If you do take the plunge, I’d also appreciate a brief review on Amazon. I’m stuck at 24, and I’ve encountered recently at least one promotional outfit that requires 25 reviews. Short and sweet is welcome.
Finally, a big thanks to Phillip McCollum, who stepped up…
Just because it’s been awhile since I’ve posted any photos for my friend Belinda at www.busymindthinking.com. The blossoms are now gone, but this post helps me relive their beauty, a beauty that reminds me of Belinda. (more…)
A little birdie (well, actually, a big birdie) told me that today is Helena Hann-Basquiat’s birthday! And what better way to celebrate her birthday than by heading over to Amazon and picking up one or all of her recent publications:
Memoirs of a Dilettante Volume One, available in both ebook and paperback. I highly recommend the paperback. The printed format is candy for the eyes. If you are a fan of Helena’s blog (and how can you not be), then you will love having the adventures of Penny dammit, Countess of Arcadia and Helena all in one beautifully designed place.
Three Cigarettes, available as an ebook and only 99 cents. By the way, I’ve read and reviewed Three Cigarettes and found it to be both thrilling and chilling. Although Three Cigarettes was written by Jessica B. Bell, Helena was the editor. More importantly, she is Jessica’s keeper and we do want to keep Jessica around.
Best Medicine, available as an ebook and only 99 cents. Again, this one was written by Jessica but edited by Helena. I don’t need to repeat myself here, do I? I haven’t yet read Best Medicine but I do have a copy so a review will be forthcoming. And I know I won’t be disappointed.
For even more fun, see that widget on my sidebar, the one that says “Honorary Dilettante Contest”? Click on that, dear Readers, and prepare to participate in a truly fun contest. I’m participating and you can see what I mean here.
Usually I reblog important posts, but WP is failing me at the moment so let’s settle for Press This. Meaning, press this: Honourary Dilettante Contest.
My favorite dilettante, Helena Hann-Basquiast, is holding a contest to promote her book, Memoirs of a Dilettante. Volume One. The prizes include kisses from Helena herself (well, I suppose, more like virtual kisses if you’re not already in kissing range) and T-SHIRTS with the coolest artwork you’ve ever seen. Well, you can see such artwork on her website and on her book, but with T-shirts, you can wear the artwork. So waste no time. Head over to Helena’s blog for details and join in the fun!
In honor of Charles Yallowitz’s birthday, I’m making this post sticky so it will be the first post anyone sees when they come to my blog. And if you really want to celebrate with Charles and his friends, do more than read this post. Buy the books! I’ve read the first in the series, Beginning of a Hero, and it’s great action-packed, fantasy fun!
The magical adventure continues after Luke Callindor and his friends recover from their battles in Haven.
Nyx still has nightmares about casting the genocide spell in Hero’s Gate. Every night her heart is gripped by the sensation of hundreds of goblins dying by her magic. By the request of Lord Highrider and Duke Solomon, she is returning to fix the damage she caused. With Luke Callindor and Sari by her side, Nyx is ready to face the vengeful goblins and opportunistic thieves that plague Hero’s Gate. Yet, there is a darker threat that was born from her violated magic: The Krypters.
It is another action-packed, character driven story that will reveal one of our heroes has been lied to for their entire life.
Wondering what you’re in for? Check out the praise earned by the first three installments of this high fantasy series.
“I greatly enjoyed the vivid characters, the gripping plot, and the refreshingly unique writing style (present tense). ” – kdillmanjones
“One of the things that won me over was the bouts of humor. Especially in the beginning. “This is not possible! I am a Paladin!” I thought I was going to die with delight.” – C.N. Faust
“Nyx is such a strong personality. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and more of the other characters, new and already known, with the rich tapestry of Windemere unfolding in between intense actions scenes and moments of kindness and budding friendships.” – Danielle Taylor
“Almost like the Harry Potter series. The books start out so young and innocent, but by the last book – watch out!” — Momto4Booklover
“One of the things I love most about this series are all the characters! They are developed so well that I feel like I know them personally. Even the newly introduced characters fit in immediately.” – BarbBookWorm
“Let’s talk about action. The author creates interesting action sequences with believable use of fantasy elements. He is very creative. There are also good sections where the characters stretch out and we get to know them better.” – Donald L. Mitchell “Music Lover”
Author Biography:
Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories repeatedly, she convinced him that it would make more sense to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.
I’ve had to think long and hard about how to write a review of Andra Watkins’ “historical fantasy” novel, To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis. I put historical fantasy in quotes simply because, to me, it is such an odd juxtaposition. History is supposed to be truth, fact-based; fantasy is its antithesis. At least, that’s what I thought before I read To Live Forever. Watkins’ power with language, character development, and setting was so strong that I basically bought the whole story line—hook, line and sinker. My disbelief was not only suspended. It was hung out to dry. (more…)
Just sharing a friend’s pick-me-up that was also a pick-me-up for me :) The scarf in the photo was one that I had sent to Belinda a couple of weeks ago and yesterday I was on pins and needles (pun intended) as to whether it had arrived (taking a slow plane from Florida to Canada, of course). Soon after I asked her about the scarf, it arrived (such are my mental powers). But not only the scarf which I knitted for her, hoping it would bring a bit of Spring to her long Winter. Belinda also received a bundle of other gifts and she put together this wonderful photo, using her scarf as a frame. Belinda gave me a perfect and happy end to a long, frustrating day. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Belinda!
“The threads of fate weave slowly, until at last, an unbreakable knot.”
Beyond Eventide: Bound
The House of Crimson & Clover Book 2.5- Coming in April
Anne bit back her frustration. It was irrational for her to begrudge him the desires of his heart. But nothing felt rational standing in this abandoned, neglected mansion, miles and miles from home.
I consider myself quite adept at procrastination. I even belong to a procrastinating writer’s club (my rationalization knows no bounds). But when I heard that THE Helena Hann-Basquiat, my favorite dilettante, was publishing Volume 1 of her Memoirs of a Dilettante and that if I supported her Kickstarter project, I could get a specially SIGNED hard copy of said memoir, well, Dear Reader, I dropped EVERYTHING and immediately went to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jimsquires/memoirs-of-a-dilletante-volume-one and signed up!
But YOU, you only have until Saturday, March 22nd, at 3 pm EST, to secure your own special-just-for-you signed copy of Memoirs of a Dilettante Volume 1. So go there NOW (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jimsquires/memoirs-of-a-dilletante-volume-one). If you not familiar with Helena’s stories of hilarious escapades with her niece Penny, the Countess of Arcadia, then by all means visit her blog and see what I mean. (And, of course, the rest of us will wonder just what rock you’ve been living under.) After you’ve drunk in Helena’s always entertaining, often enlightening prose, kick your *ss in gear and head over to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jimsquires/memoirs-of-a-dilletante-volume-one. It’s so easy to sign up and order, you won’t even miss those few minutes that you would have otherwise procrastinated away :)
Marie at 1 Write Way 