Cover Reveal - NOBODY'S HERO by J. Leigh Bailey @JenniWrites

Nobody’s Hero (Letting Go Series, #1)
j. leigh bailey
Publication date: April 27, 2015
Genres: NA, Contemporary Male/Male Romance

Blurb:

Bradley Greene’s family all but discarded him when his brother caught him fooling around with another boy. Now Bradley has seventeen dollars and a gas card, and he’s sleeping in his car. He’s an emotional mess and if he doesn't land a job soon, he’s up the proverbial creek.

Danny Ortega can take care of himself…most of the time. When what started as a date turns into sexual assault in a dark parking lot, he’s grateful for Brad’s help—and an instant admirer of Brad’s military school-honed muscles. He certainly doesn't expect to see him again, and definitely not as the newest hire at Ortega Construction.

As Brad and Danny’s quiet attraction turns into more, things start to go sour before they've even started. Danny grows frustrated that Brad won’t open up emotionally. And Brad is terrified of being responsible for someone else’s feelings. When Brad’s family makes one last attempt to turn him into an “acceptable” son, all bets are off—he and Danny will need to decide if they’re in this together…or apart.

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Carina Press

About the Author:

j. leigh bailey is an office drone by day and the author of New Adult and Young Adult LGBT Romance by night. She can usually be found with her nose in a book or pressed up against her computer monitor. A book-a-day reading habit sometimes gets in the way of... well, everything...but some habits aren't worth breaking. She's been reading romance novels since she was ten years old. The last twenty years or so have not changed her voracious appetite for stories of romance, relationships and achieving that vitally important Happy Ever After. She's a firm believer that everyone, no matter their gender, age, sexual orientation or paranormal affiliation deserves a happy ending. 

Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

 

 

j. leigh bailey~because everybody deserves a happy ending~

 

www.jleighbailey.net

www.facebook.com/JLeighBailey

www.twitter.com/JenniWrites

Panel Schedule for Conbust March 27 - 29, including a Broad Universe RFR @conbust @BroadUniverse

Anyone who knows me knows that ConBust is one of my very favorite conventions. It takes place every March at Smith College in Northampton, MA. Below is my schedule for ConBust. Come by and say hi!

Friday 6-6:50 pm Female Protagonists/Female Villains with Tamora Pierce, Anna Erishkigal, and Annette Curtis Klause  

Saturday 9-9:50 am Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading with Trisha J. Wooldridge, Anna Erishkigal, and Kristi Petersen Schoonover

Saturday 10-10:50 am Faeries with Jane Yolen, Craig Davis, and Trisha J. Wooldridge 

Saturday 11-11:50 am Urban Fantasy with Annette Curtis Klause 

Saturday 2-2:50 pm Getting into the Industry with Sharyn November and Kelly Turnbull 

Saturday 4-4:50 pm Everything but the Writing Workshop with Trisha J. Wooldridge 

Sunday 11-11:50 am How Magic Works: Magic Systems in Fiction and Gaming with George Claxton and Anna Erishkigal 

Learn more about Conbust here.

Learn more about Broad Universe, its members, and Rapid Fire Readings here.

Book Blitz - MORE THAN COMICS by Elizabeth Briggs @lizwrites

More Than Comic (Chasing The Dream, #2)

Release Date: February 23, 2015

Blurb:

They're friends online - but can they be more in real life? 

Writer Tara McFadden has been friends with artist and drummer Hector Fernandez for years, long before his band became famous on reality TV – yet they’ve never met in person. They finally have a chance to connect offline when they’re both sent to Comic-Con to promote the graphic novel they collaborated on. 

Hector's secretly been in love with Tara for as long as he can remember, and once they meet, she sees him in a new light. All the years of longing lead to an incredible night of passion after one of his concerts, but neither is sure if their online relationship can translate into a real life romance – or if this will ruin their friendship forever. 

Over four crazy days at Comic-Con, Hector and Tara must decide if they want a future together. But when their story seems to be over, it’s up to Hector’s entire band to make sure he and Tara get their happy ending. 

Author bio:

Elizabeth Briggs is a full-time geek who writes books for teens and adults. She plays the guitar, mentors at-risk teens, and volunteers with a dog rescue group. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a pack of small, fluffy dogs.

Author links: 

Website: http://www.elizabethbriggs.net/

Facebook fan group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ElizabethBriggsFans/

Newsletter: http://smarturl.it/elizabethbriggs

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lizwrites

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QZT8016

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/more-than-comics-elizabeth-briggs/1121224108

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id951539816

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=hcLVBQAAQBAJ

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/more-than-comics

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-morethancomicschasingthedream2-1701853-149.html

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/521248

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22434327-more-than-comics

More Than Comics playlist code:

<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:lizwrites:playlist:7jBcL4XHVNrN6jjh7bmEii" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>

Elizabeth Briggs

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter 

MORE THAN EXES - FREE!

MORE THAN MUSIC - Out now

MORE THAN COMICS - February 23, 2015

Cover Reveal - CASTLE OF SIGHS by Jennifer Murgia @JenniferMurgia @covercontessa @SpencerHillP

Some secrets cannot be kept—in life or in death. 

Months have passed since Rune has heard a single whisper from her long-dead mother, the great witch of Bavaria. But the absence of one evil has only made room for another. 

After rightfully inheriting her ancestral home, Pyrmont Castle, Rune settles into a quiet life taking care of two orphans left in the wake of the terrible witch hunt that claimed dozens of lives in the nearby village. As the days grow colder, the castle’s secrets beckon and Rune finds herself roaming where no one has set foot in a long time. In the bowels of the fortress is a locked room full of memories that hang like cobwebs—shelves stacked with jars, strange specimens, putrid liquids, and scrolls of spells. Rune is undeniably drawn to what she finds there, and she begins to dabble in the possibilities of magic, hoping to find a cure for the strangeness overwhelming the castle. 

As secrets unspool, the delicate thread of Rune’s world is threatened when she realizes the key may lie in the dark forest she once called home and the boy she thought she knew.

Goodreads link: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23550903-castle-of-sighs?from_search=true

Author bio:

 

Jennifer Murgia has long loved the dark and speculative -- and it's from these dark places that she weaves fantastical stories, often hoping to find truth in them. Her Young Adult novels include the  Historical Fantasy FOREST OF WHISPERS (9/9/14 -- Spencer Hill Press), BETWEEN THESE LINES, ANGEL STAR, LEMNISCATE & THE BLISS. She is the co-founder and coordinator of YA FEST and currently resides in Pennsylvania.

 

Literary Representation:

Amanda Luedeke of MacGregor Literary Agency ~ amanda@macgregorlit.com

 

 

Connect with Jennifer:

 

Website: www.jennifermurgia.com

Email: jennifermurgia8@gmail.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.murgia

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferMurgia

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jennifermurgia/

Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18506004-forest-of-whispers

 

Jennifer is available for book signings, book fairs, interviews, library and school visits. Please contact

her directly for scheduling at: jennifermurgia8@gmail.com.  

 

Publicity inquiries: brooke@spencerhillpress.com

Cover Reveal - BECKON ME by Cindy Thomas @CindyisWriting

    BECKON ME by Cindy Thomas Available April 13, 2015 Everything nineteen-year-old Karina Mitchell knows about death changes the instant that she and her best friend, Rainey, are shot. For one, souls don’t die. They cross over. Only, Rainey’s soul hasn’t, and her ghost is hell bent on haunting Karina. When Karina begins her sophomore year of college and moves into the apartment that she was supposed to share with Rainey, she learns a few shocking truths from her mysterious and gorgeous blue-eyed neighbor, Eli. One: Karina has been chosen to become a Beckoner—an immortal conduit of the dead who helps safely guide souls to the other side. Two: She’s the reason that Rainey’s soul can’t cross over—Rainey followed her back from death and missed her window to be at peace. Three: Eli is hot. As in swoon-worthy, to-die-for, will-make-you-forget-yourself hot. And it turns out, Eli is a Beckoner, too. Despite her attraction to Eli, the decision to become a Beckoner isn’t an easy one—it would mean giving up her own mortality … her own soul. But if she doesn’t, her best friend will be left to suffer an eternity at the hands of the evil Ceptors, dark creatures that feed on the souls left behind. After all, it’s her fault Rainey is haunting her. Time is running out, and Karina needs to decide: Are love and loyalty worth sacrificing her soul? BECKON ME is a dark but sweet NA paranormal romance for both NA and upper YA readers, ages 16 and up. Available April 13, 2015 Pre-Order BECKON ME on Amazon Add BECKON ME to Goodreads About the Author: Cindy has dreamed of being an author since third grade when she won a writing contest for a story she wrote about her deceased great aunt. She hasn’t been able to ignore that dream since and chooses to spend most of her free time listening to the voices in her head and writing their stories. Outside of her writing and working for Spencer Hill Press, Cindy is happily married and has three young boys. She lives in PA, but was born and raised in NC. Even though she’s lived in the northern half of the US for ten years, she still very much misses grits for breakfast and every now and then goes on a country music binge. You can find her online in these places: Website / Newsletter / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads P.S. Sign up for Cindy's newsletter and you'll receive the first four chapters of BECKON ME for free!

New Release: MAD WORLD by Kate L. Mary @kmary0622 @LyricalPress @DonaghyLiterary

       

Mad World (#3, Broken World series)

by Kate L. Mary

Post-Apocalyptic/Zombie Series

       

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╣Synopsis╠

 

Mad World is the third book in the Broken World series, which follows a group of survivors after a super-virus has destroyed the world and the dead have come back to claim it as their own…

Vivian didn’t think things could get any worse than losing Emily, and getting to the shelter should have been their salvation. But once again their hopes where shattered when they found out things weren’t as safe as promised, forcing them to head into Vegas in search of supplies.

Vivian

But now Vivian and Hadley find themselves in a situation more threatening than even the dead walking the Earth. Kidnapped by armed men and taken deep into Vegas, they’re cut-off from anyone who cares about them and thrust into a world so sick and twisted it can only be described as madness. Knowing that Axl has no idea where they are and little hope of finding them, Vivian and Hadley must team up with one of the very men who abducted them if they have any hope of escaping their new nightmare.

Axl

Watching Vivian get thrown into the back of a van almost tears Axl apart, and he’s determined to find her no matter what it takes. With the growing tension between him and Angus, Axl finds himself wondering if the price will be his relationship with his brother. Putting both old and new wounds aside, Axl and Angus must infiltrate the group holding Vivian and Hadley, and make their escape through a zombie-ridden Vegas. But the men in charge of Vegas aren’t the type to easily forget, and the group soon discovers that getting the girls out alive very well could mean the end for them all…

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╣Excerpts╠

 

_______________

Axl

I push my way through the group of people gathered ‘round ‘til I find a face I don’t recognize. He’s a preppy-lookin’ bastard. Older than me, but probably not more than thirty. He’s clean. Obviously he ain’t been sleepin’ in no abandoned buildings, which means he’s with the bastards that took Vivian and Hadley. I slam him against the wall and push the barrel of my gun right between his eyes, pressin’ it into his skull. “Where the hell is she?” The guy swallows. His eyes are so big they look like they’re gonna pop outta his head. “You shoot me and you’ll never know,” he says in a surprisingly calm voice. My entire body shakes, and my finger’s just itchn’ to pull the trigger. But he’s right. I can’t shoot him. Not if I wanna find Vivian. But I could shoot his balls off. I jam my arm against his throat and press as hard as I can before movin’ my gun to his crotch. “I ain’t gonna kill you, but if you don’t tell me where she is, I guarantee that by the time I’m done with you, you’ll wish you had.” "The Monte Carlo! The Monte Carlo!” His voice ain’t calm no more. “I told ya!” Darla’s shrill voice screams out behind me. “Shut the fuck up,” I say, not takin’ my eyes off the tremblin’ guy in front of me. “She better be okay.” He nods as hard as he can with my arm pressed against his throat. “She’s fine. So is Hadley.” I wince. Damn. I shoulda asked ‘bout Hadley. Winston steps forward and puts his hand on my back. “Let him go, Axl. We need to let him talk if we’re going to figure out what’s going on." The muscles in my neck are stretched tight, and my arm twitches as I press it against the guy’s neck. I don’t wanna let him go. I wanna bash his damn face in.

_________________

 

Vivian

I look back and forth between Axl and the fence. Between the zombies and my reason for life. “What about you?” The helicopter’s engine dies, and the moans of the dead break through the night sky. They’re louder than the roar of a hurricane. More menacing than a tornado. I can’t leave Axl. “I’ll cover you,” he yells. He spins to face the zombies. They round the corner. Fifteen feet away at the most. I grab his arm and pull him to the fence. “Come with me!” He shakes me off and looks down at my bare feet and legs. “You ain’t protected. Go!” There’s no way to convince him, plus he’s right. I’m much too exposed. I turn to the fence and climb. The metal digs into my hands and feet. The moans grow louder, and my legs shake, threatening to give out. I keep my head up so I won’t look back. Axl will be more focused if I’m safe. He can take care of himself. He will be okay. My heart races even faster. The fence is high. Maybe ten feet. My arms ache as they slowly pull my body up. I’m not even halfway there and already I’m shaky. A shot rings out behind me, and I scream. Keep moving. Don’t look down. The wind blows, showering me with bits of sand. My eyes sting and tear up. I blink, but it doesn’t help. A few tears slide down my cheeks. I hang onto the fence with one hand and use my free one to rub my eyes. They burn, but there’s no time to worry about that. I squint as more tears fall and pull myself up a little more. Halfway there. Axl grunts and Jon curses. Something slams against the fence, and the whole thing shakes. I grip the metal tighter. Fingers claw at my foot, and I scream. Kicking at them. They wrap around my ankle. I kick harder, and the fence sways. I can’t get away! My fingers curl around the metal links, and I glance down. What was once a man—his face now half-rotten—grips my ankle. His foul teeth chomp, and he moans like he’s in pain. Jon is on the ground, struggling with a zombie. Another one has Axl pinned against the fence. His knife is on the ground.  

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╣About the Author╠

Kate L. Mary is a stay-at-home mother of four and an Air Force wife. She spent most of her life in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio where she and her husband met at the age of twelve. Since their marriage in 2002, they have lived in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and California. Kate enjoys any post-apocalyptic story – especially if zombies are involved – as long as there is a romantic twist to give the story hope. Kate prefers nerdy, non-traditional heroes that can make you laugh to hunky pieces of man-meat, and her love of wine and chocolate is legendary among her friends and family. She currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and children.

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╣Social Media╠

 

Facebook│Twitter│Google+│Tsū│Goodreads│Amazon

 

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╣Other Books╠

Broken World (Broken World #1) When a deadly virus sweeps the country, Vivian Thomas sets out for California in hopes of seeing the daughter she gave up for adoption. Then her car breaks down and she’s faced with a choice. Give up, or accept a ride from redneck brothers, Angus and Axl. Vivian knows the offer has more to do with her double D’s than kindness, but she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to reach her daughter. The virus is spreading, and by the time the group makes it to California, most of the population has been wiped out. When the dead start coming back, Vivian and the others realize that no electricity or running water are the least of their concerns. Now Vivian has to figure out how to be a mother under the most frightening circumstances, cope with Angus’s aggressive mood swings, and sort out her growing attraction to his brooding younger brother, Axl. While searching for a safe place to go, they pick up a pompous billionaire who may be the answer to all their problems. Trusting him means going into the middle of the Mojave Desert and possibly risking their lives, but with the streets overrun and nowhere else to turn, it seems he might be their only chance for survival.

Buy on Amazon

 

Shattered World (Broken World #2)

***Warning: Contains Spoilers for Broken World***

Stranded in the middle of the Mojave Desert, surrounded by zombies, Vivian and Axl are sure they’re facing the end. The dead are closing in and the shelter they were promised is sealed tight. Just when they think they’ve run out of time, the doors are thrown open. Five years underground with all the provisions there for the taking. It’s almost too good to be true. With the promise of security, Vivian hopes she’ll finally able to deal with the loss of Emily, her growing feelings for Axl, and the terrifying new world they’re facing. But their sense of security is soon shattered when they discover the shelter isn’t the utopia they thought it would be. It seems the company that built the shelter decided to solve their financial problems by selling off provisions, which means the group has to find a way to get supplies. Or face starvation. And Vegas is the closest city. With her feelings for Axl stronger than ever, Vivian volunteers to accompany him and a few others on a trip into one of the biggest tourist cities in the world. Vegas is overrun with the dead, but there are other survivors as well. Only not everyone they meet is a welcome sight. As the emotional baggage piles up, Vivian and Axl’s bond grows stronger, but it doesn’t take long to realize that zombies aren’t the only thing they have to fear.

Buy on Amazon

Obligatory New Year's Post, Complete With Resolutions #AmWriting #HappyNewYear #Resolutions

I don't know about ya'll, but I'm pretty excited for 2015. 2014 was...well, let's put it this way: it could have been worse. It was a much better year for me and my family than 2013, but it could have used a bit of polishing.

2015 is already shaping up to be a great year, and here are a few of the reasons:

1. The Wonder Twins will be starting school! Seriously, I have no idea where the time has gone.

Ember and Robby, two weeks old. Now they're headed into Pre-K!

2. I will be transitioning from a job that I'm especially unsuited for into a position that I've wanted for quite some time. It even comes with a salary increase :)

3. Last but not least I will have three, count 'em, THREE books coming out in 2015! The release schedule is as follows:

Heir to the Sun - Book One of The Chronicles of Parthalan: March 17, 2015
Copper Veins - Book Three of the Copper Legacy: July 7, 2015
The Virgin Queen - Book Two of The Chronicles of Parthalan: October 20, 2015

Some of you may remember Heir to the Sun when it was first released back in 2011. It's been reworked with a fresh new edit, new cover and lots of extras! I'll share the cover as soon as I can. I'm very, very happy that I'll be able to get Parthalan's stories out into the world again. In case you missed the cover reveal for Copper Veins, here it is:

Pretty, huh?

This rather intense release schedule segues nicely into the resolution portion of this post. They are, in no particular order:

1. Promote my work in new and innovative ways
2. Make connections with other authors who write in similar genres. Network, network, network.
3. Read more comic books. Watch more cartoons. Make time to play.
4. Trim down my extra assignments and concentrate only on those that can further me as an author.

The last one is going to be a long process, and it will probably take me at least half the year to figure out what works and what doesn't. I've already decided to stop a few assignments, and I may dispense with a few more.

All in all, I think 2015 is going to be great. What are you looking forward to this year?