A Wild YA Adventure on the #EggcerptExchange -

Don't normally share YA stories but this story is also a historical western with a twist.

Uprooted from a small Texas town, Florence “Ace” Fox is stashed in a camp for orphans, Weirdness abounds with the director talking of wizards and casting spells. He even claims she’s possessed, and that the entity is sending her power levels off the charts. 

Rebel Wizards learn of her strength and decide they can use Ace to their benefit and greed to gain control of The World!! They plot against her. 

In danger and on the run, Ace and her friends’ travel through the old west looking for a way to rid her of the entity. They discover that only the leaders of the wizarding world can help, but will she like their solution? 

Jail, death, or powerless. 

Excerpt: I need the right words or the spell will misfire. 

The statement still rumbled through her thoughts along with many others. What were they talking about? 

Ace hadn’t asked any questions. She’d found when joining a new group she’d fair better if she kept quiet and observe until she understood more about the people. 

“You might say we’re in school?” Vicki lowered her voice to where Ace had to lean over the side of her cot to hear her words clearly. 

“What type of school?” 

“On how to do magic,” Vicki muttered and held out her hand. A small light glowed in the center of her palm. 

Ace stared at the burning flame until it faded. Excitement filtered through her blood until she remembered the last time she had tried to help a person with nothing more than herbs and incoherent chants. 

Darn, she wanted to believe magic existed. Oh, to be powerful and right the wrongs of the world. However, the fantasy wouldn’t happen, couldn’t happen, the world didn’t have magic. It only had people who knew how to trick others. Peddlers of fancy dreams, who knew how to steal money from unsuspecting people, then disappeared into the night. 

Ace didn’t want to offend anyone and decided she’d keep her opinion to herself. “Right, then I guess, I have a lot to learn.” 

Vicki didn’t comment, instead after a few minutes Ace could hear the other girl’s steady breathing. 

Unable to settle down, Ace swung her legs over the side of her cot and sat on the side. She adjusted her white, cotton gown around her legs. Her mind fought to find answers to all the questions running through her head. 

Did Vicki believe she was being taught magic or was Saw deceiving everyone in the camp? After all, what did a bunch of kids know? And why only recruit orphans?

Purchase at 

Amazon US - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009AZWCUC

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009AZWCUC

Hope you enjoy,

Anita

Giveaway Ideas for New Books @kayelleallen #MFRWauthor #amwriting

I recommend giving away something other than a book. If you give away what you're trying to sell, who's going to buy? NY publishers spend thousands of dollars giving away books on shows like Today, Good Morning America, Ellen, and so on. If you don't have that kind of budget, what can you do?

Some authors hold Rafflecopter contests, but not every reader will sign up for them (I don't like them and won't sign up for one) and some authors don't like them. Even if you do use it, what are you going to give away?

Deleted Scenes Mini Book

Did you cut some beloved scenes from your book? Put them together, write a brief explanation for the reason you cut it, and create a mini book. Even a few pages are fine. Format it well. Include: an image of your cover, the blurb for the book, buy links, links for your social media and newsletter.

Remember when including social media this way -- if you're on Twitter, this is not the place to use @kayelleallen -- clicking that does nothing. Use the full URL so it becomes an active link. http://twitter.com/kayelleallen Save the document as an rtf if you plan to share it online, or better yet, as a pdf.

Puzzle Booklets

The Last Vhalgenn

I've had success with giveaway puzzle books. I like Word Search puzzles myself, and discovered a site that lets me make and download them.http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp After creating it (choose the text option), copy and paste it into your word processing program. Be sure to copy the solution page as well. I have a free app that lets me turn that into a pdf, and I can use the puzzle as a giveaway. I created a set of puzzles for each book, and combined them to make one big puzzle book. I also have pdf puzzles for each individual book.

Create an Inside Peek Booklet

Another thing I did for my book The Last Vhalgenn was create a booklet about the book itself. I included trivia about the story, the cover, pictures (make sure they are licensed and/or royalty free), an excerpt, and buy links. I also added my social media links. Click here to see the finished product. http://is.gd/vhalgenn_peek

I hope this has sparked a few ideas. I'd love to hear your creative solutions. Please post them in the comments.

---

Kayelle Allen is the founder of Marketing for Romance Writers. She is a multi-published, award-winning author, and the owner of The Author's Secret, an author support company. Her unstoppable heroes and heroines include contemporary characters, futuristic immortals, covert agents, and warriors who purr.

Homeworld http://kayelleallen.com

Unstoppable Heroes Blog http://kayelleallen.com/blog

Twitter http://twitter.com/kayelleallen

Facebook http://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author

The Author's Secret https://theauthorssecret.com

Tempered Dreams by Pamela S. Thibodeaux #EggcerptExchange #Romance

Title: Tempered Dreams (book 2 in Tempered series)

Blurb: Dr. Scott Hensley (introduced in Tempered Hearts) has built a wall around his heart since the death of his wife and parents.  Katrina Simmons is recovering from scars inflicted on her as a battered wife.  Can dreams be renewed and faith strengthened?  Can they find joy and peace in God’s love and in love for one another? 

Excerpt: “Spend the day with me,” he urged. “We’ll go to my place. I’ll take a short nap after which we’ll do whatever your little heart desires.” 

“Anything?” she teased.

Her voice was as enticing as silk and just as alluring. Her excitement set fire to his blood. “Anything.” he assured in a thick voice.

His smoldering gaze, as tender as a caress and just as potent, lowered to her lips, lingered, then raked over her in a hungry gesture before returning to capture hers in a heated embrace. Trina felt as though he was touching her in the most intimate of ways. Her cheeks grew hot, her breath lodged in her throat. Desire washed over her in angry waves. She swallowed hard and tucked trembling hands in her lap, desperately trying to form a coherent sentence. “Please, Scott, don’t look at me like that.”  

He could actually feel her trembling response across the table. His voice lowered another notch. “Like what?”

Trina shook her head. “Like you’re starving to death and could eat me up. Didn’t you have enough food?”

Pushing his plate away, Scott stood and held his hand out to her. Trina placed a trembling one in his firm grip. Pulling her gently to her feet, Scott raised it to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles. “Food is not what I’m hungry for,” he informed her in a husky whisper.

Trina waited as he paid for their meal then followed him to the parking lot as gracefully as possible on legs that wobbled. He paused and in a silent gesture, signaled for her to give him her car keys. His fingers brushed sensuously over her wrist and palm, grasping hers gently when she placed them in his hand.

Locking his heated gaze with hers, Scott raised their clasped hands to his lips, this time lingering over the kiss. He nibbled on her knuckles, teasing the back of her hand with his mouth, then, in one swift movement, turned his attention to the sensitive flesh of her palm and wrist, relieving her of her keys and her senses.

Trina felt the caress to the very core of her being. She moaned, leaning against his hard frame when he pulled her closer. His heat enveloped her until she burned with him, for him. And his lips had never even touched hers.

Purchase Links:

Kindle http://amzn.to/151vRiH

Nook http://bit.ly/1b1jrNu

Smashwords http://bit.ly/173ypSN

Author bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Links:

Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com  

Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com

Face Book: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeaux

Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib

Thanks for sharing,

Anita

Sink or Swim Mystery Featured In #EggcerptExchange

I am participating in Tina Gayle’s Eggcerpt Exchange, a great way for readers to learn about new books and authors. I’ll be featuring my mystery/romantic suspense novel Sink or Swim.

Blurb: How do you change the channel when reality TV turns to murder? Personal trainer Cassidy Novak has gained fame for starring on a hit reality show. Not only does she lose and have to walk the plank, but upon returning home, Cassidy discovers she is being stalked. As her former competitors get killed off, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker’s bizarre rules. She’s also being shadowed by photographer Zach Gallagher, who has been assigned to capture her personal moments for the local newspaper. She wants to trust Zach, but fears he may not be as nice as he seems. When the stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy must walk the plank again – this time for her life. Sink or Swim was a Nook Top 20 Bestseller and was a Nook Mystery Bestseller, and was also a #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller in the Women Sleuths and Romantic Suspense categories.

Excerpt: Cassidy sat poised in her chair as former contestants filed onto the soundstage at WBC in New York. Together, the studio audience and television viewers had watched the recorded footage of her walking the plank. Gabriel would now interview the competitors from the inaugural season one final time. More importantly, he would announce her prize. If it erased most of her debts, then it would at least make this whole embarrassing experience worthwhile.

Cassidy’s heart kicked in her chest and sweat moistened her brow. As one of her old teammates entered, her heart rate skyrocketed for a different reason. Josh Sanchioni slid into a bucket seat, carrying himself stiffer than normal in his sharp gray suit. Studio lights caught his sunbleached strawberry blonde waves, brightening the reddish gold tints.

Cassidy slipped her gaze to his leather shoes. If Josh hadn’t been engaged, they could have been an item. Instead, they’d been good friends until that one evening when the cameras were off and they almost kissed. They’d both realized their mistake and backed away. Things were strained until Josh walked the plank a week later. Tonight, not only did Cassidy have to face Josh, she would probably meet his fiancée.

Her cheeks heating, Cassidy focused on the competitor beside Josh as a distraction. Adam Horton sat erect, hands folded in the lap of his olive green khakis. He wasn’t military, but he dressed like an Army wannabe. His reptilian eyes drilled into Cassidy, his angular face revealing the shape of bones underneath. A blond goatee darkened his pointy chin. Cassidy shuddered involuntarily. Adam never said much, but he made her uncomfortable just the same. She’d sense someone watching her on the ship and Adam would be lurking in the hatches. Luckily, he only lasted on the show two weeks.

“Before we catch up with our former contestants, I’d like to congratulate Cassidy on a job well done,” Gabriel said in the middle of the circle.

Applause thundered from the audience and a wave of excitement crested over her. Cassidy offered a smile for the cameras as Gabriel finished, “I’m proud to present you with your prize – a luxury vacation for two to the Bahamas on a real cruise ship with $3,000 spending money!”

Dumbfounded, Cassidy watched as a video depicted a majestic ocean liner on the large TV screen. “Set sail with us to the Bahamas, where you can swim with dolphins in turquoise waters, relax on sugar white beaches and explore the island’s history as a haven for pirates,” said the female announcer in a voice-over. “On your voyage, you can enjoy our ten lounges, two outdoor pools, luxury spa, casino, cinema, dynamite shows, and glass walls and elevators that get you up close to the ocean views.”

Another boat? More ocean views? Were they friggin’ serious? A frozen smile hovered on Cassidy’s lips. Too bad she’d already seen the counselor that afternoon and he’d attested that all her screws were still in place. This travesty might be enough to unhinge her.

Buy links:
Amazon Kindle
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Smashwords
iBookstore
Kobo
Audible

Author Links:
Website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Juba/100155471301
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stacyjuba

#Free Soul Match by Drew Avera

I'm currently sitting on a US Navy aircraft carrier freezing my butt off because the weather in VA is frightful. I wanted to touch base with you today and tell you about a science fiction short story I wrote called SoulMatch. This story is special to me because I dedicated it to a fallen hero and friend who was murdered about a year ago. He spent over twenty years in the Navy as a Seal before retiring and going to the Atlanta SWAT team. The story SoulMatch is about a soldier who is struggling with faith and love while the world he knows is in the midst of civil war. This story represents heroism as well as the struggle with faith when someone you know passes away. This is why I'm asking for your help. SoulMatch is currently free on kindle and in order for the story to reach the maximum amount of readers I need a few things to happen. The first thing is downloads. Every time someone downloads my story it increases my ranking, but rankings fall away within a few hours and are lost. The next best thing is reviews. The more positive reviews I have on a story or book, the more seriously Amazon backs it. The magic number is somewhere around 50 reviews and Amazon will start pushing it a little for me. In order for me to get their help, I first need your help. If you could download this ten page story and post a review you would doing me a huge favor and hopefully the story will also touch your heart. I admit the story is kind of sad, but life has those sad moments from time to time. That's what makes us feel alive. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope your weekend is warmer than mine :) Drew

Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K27655A

From the author of The Dead Planet Series, embark on a journey that brings humanity against an alien race. Both sides have fought for centuries and in the eyes of one man the war may finally be over, but at what cost. 
SoulMatch is a science fiction short story. 

Thanks Drew for sharing your story with us,

Anita