Thursday, November 10, 2016

Giant Slayers by Jeff Altabef & Ken Altabef - Excerpt & Giveaway


Giant Slayers

by Jeff Altabef & Ken Altabef

Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Release Date: September 20th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:


The Kingdom or the Girl?

Demons attack him.
Spirits protect him.
A seer foretells his shocking destiny.

In a primitive land filled with magic, witches and giants, a sixteen-year-old musician named David is summoned to chase away the nightmares haunting the King each night. But more than bad dreams trouble the King. Demons torment him, and David will need more than music to break the curse.

Demons are only the first sign of a deeper and darker evil that plagues the countryside. Bent on revenge and an insatiable thirst for power, the Witch of Endor and a giant named Goliath lead an invading force against the kingdom. King Saul’s army is crumbling and only a champion can save them, but who would be fool enough to face the giant?

Princess Michal is frustrated by the constraints of palace life, but David’s arrival makes things infinitely more interesting. She finds herself drawn to him, but the King strictly forbids her from having a romance with a poor musician. Only by defying her father’s wishes and risking her freedom do they have a chance to be together.

Armed with just his sling and his love for Michal, David must prove his worth by defeating Goliath against impossible odds. Worst of all, he must choose between saving the kingdom or being with the girl of his dreams. He can’t do both.


Buy Links: Amazon

EXCERPT:

Revenge.
            Alzsheba, the Witch of Endor, knew quite a lot about revenge. The need for revenge was an itch she suffered most keenly, a burr beneath her skin that did nothing but burn and prod. A need unfulfilled. But that would change, starting today.
            The Philistine camp buzzed with activity: weapons clattered, mules brayed, men shouted, boasted, argued. Little men who thought raised voices and bluster made them less pathetic and small. Blind, stupid, stinking sheep. The entire lot of them. They fight and die for a king who cares nothing about them. King Farrah sits on a thrown far away and doesn’t even know their names. Mindless sheep! Are they stupid enough to believe General Bulgossa, the bloated idiot the King has put in charge, is their shepherd? Do they think it is Goliath, who leads them in battle, towering above them like some bronzed god? Do they even suspect another unseen shepherd, one who guides them quietly, carefully, from the shadows?
            Her mind spun in tight angry circles. Enough! She had work to do. Twilight had come, and twilight was the only time for the things she must do. When day met night, when light succumbed to darkness, when the mists settled on the fields and the walls between the worlds were at their thinnest.
            Alzsheba strode away from the camp—a tall beauty with high cheekbones, arched eyebrows, and dark stain on her lips. Her sheep were well served for the night. Let them drink, and gamble, and bicker and boast. None saw the lone figure of a woman, young and athletic, dressed in skin-tight leather breaches and bodice, heading toward the cliffs of chiseled basalt. They wanted only to feed their bellies and drink their fill and tell tall tales. Then they would sleep. But sleep would not find her, not while the need for revenge consumed her, that maddening itch still unfulfilled.
            She squeezed into a narrow cleft in the rocky cliff face. Inside, she had dug out a tiny chamber, an earthy crypt where, even kneeling, the top of her head scraped the dirt above. She struck flint, lighting a pair of incense stands, and the pungent aromas of burning opium, poison hemlock and spice inflamed her senses. 
            A small wooden stand filled the center of the narrow chamber in the rocks. On top sat a small stone altar that had been captured from one of the Hebrew towns. The horns at the four corners had been broken off, the winged disc symbol on the front defaced. Dried blood crusted the burnished copper plate on the corrupted altar. 
            The witch emptied a small pouch of human ashes onto the plate, arranging the burnt offering in a circle. She felt power flow from the ashes, the murders still fresh. 

About the Authors

Jeff Altabef lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of "telling stories," he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. Fourteenth Colony, a political thriller, is his debut novel. Jeff has a blog designed to encourage writing by those that like telling stories. You can find his blog, The Accidental Writers Workshop, on The Patch. Jeff also rights a column for The Examiner under the byline - The Accidental Writer.
Author Links:
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Ken Altabef - As a Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America member, my short fiction has frequently appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. I also had stories in Interzone, Buzzymag, Abyss & Apex, Unsettling Wonder and Ominous Realities. 
ALAANA'S WAY, my 5-part series of epic fantasy novels is published by Cat's Cradle Press. Described as "cutting-edge fantasy from the top of the world" the arctic setting and unique characters will bring something new to even the most jaded fantasy enthusiast. You can preview this work and others at my website www.KenAltabef.com
Author Links:
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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

The Trouble with Ghosts A.L. Kessler - Excerpt & Giveaway


The Trouble With Ghosts


A.L. Kessler

Publication date: November 7th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy

Poltergeists, severed thumbs, and lies…
PIB agents Abigail Collins and Nick Averin are rattled when a handful of severed thumbs are found at an abandoned house, but neither of them expected it to link to a decades old murder with strange ties to the paranormal world. When Abby’s greatest enemy seems to be helping her from afar, it’s clear that there’s more to this case than the duo first believed.
Past cases come back to life…
Levi is avoiding questions and being even more vague than normal when a new vampire comes to town claiming to be on the case involving blood starved vampires. It’s a fight against time and lies for the two agents.


EXCERPT:

I walked into the bar and let out a sigh of relief to find it empty. My wards hid the bar from human sight so that it was available to supernatural clientele only. The act of using magic for that purpose was slightly illegal, but it wasn’t something I was going to push. I understood what it was like to want a place where I could be myself. “Hello?”

“Welcome to…” The words died on the woman’s lips as she came from the back room and saw me. “Who are you, witch?”

Wasn’t exactly the greeting I was expecting, but I kept my face blank. “I’m Abigail Collins, I’m the witch Simon hired to put the wards on the bar. It’s been a year since I’ve last checked them. I wanted to make sure everything was good.”

“Hey Travis, there’s a witch here saying Simon hired her.” She called over her shoulder, her eyes still glued to me. I stood there trying to look harmless, which was hard when I was tall and had my gun on my hip. I’d luckily had the foresight to hide my PIB badge before walking in. “I just need to walk around to make sure—“

“No.” A gruff voice came from the back room and I tried to decide if I was going to leave it at that or not. I could have turned around and went right back to my day job, but I couldn’t in good conscience not check on the wards. If something was to happen and the bar was caught hiding, it could be trouble for the pack.

“No?” I asked and put my hands on my hips. “My wards have been protecting this bar for over three years.”

The woman moved out of the way and the wolf came from behind her and filled the doorway. I hadn’t seen him before. His bleached white hair and brown eyes would have been something I remembered, not to mention the sheer size of him. It was rare I met someone that made me feel short, but he towered over me with his solid muscular frame. I pressed my lips together as I met his gaze. “You must be Simon’s assistant manager; he’d mentioned he was leaving you in charge for a bit.”

“I’m not only his assistant manager, but second in the pack.” He crossed his arms and the veins in his arms bulged.

I raised a brow. “I don’t remember seeing you at the fight against Mina.” Mina was a witch that had tried to take over the pack. It hadn’t worked out well for her.

“You were too busy playing with the witch and getting our alpha killed.” He took another step towards me. “You aren’t welcome here.”

“My wards protect this place. You kick me out, I take them down and you’re exposed. Good luck finding another witch willing to do the wards and has the connections that I do.” I spat the words out as my heart jumped. I didn’t want him much closer to me than he was. I could take him down with magic, but if he moved too fast he could take me out with just brute force before I could mutter a spell.

“I have another witch coming to replace them.”

I couldn’t tell if he was bluffing or not. Many witches would walk away from the job. I didn’t because I liked to help the pack, normally in return they’d help me if need be. Of course, they were also usually a little friendlier toward me as well. “With Simon’s approval?” I felt like Simon would have given me a heads up, he knew I would have been stopping by.

“I don’t need his approval. Now leave, or I’ll tear you apart limb from limb.” He snarled and his eyes flashed to the yellow of his wolf’s for a moment.

I put a hand on the butt of my gun. “I don’t take kindly to threats, wolf. I was doing the pack a favor, if my services are no longer needed, fine. But I’d rather it came from the alpha, not his hot-headed second.”

He rushed me and slammed me into the wall, one hand pinned my throat against the wood paneling and the other wrapped around my wrist. He pressed his entire body against me to keep me from wriggling out of his grip. “My word is just as good as Simon’s.” He snarled in my face. “You set foot in here again, I will make good on my threat. Simon’s ex or not.”

His nails bit into my skin and fed my anger. I tried to take a breath but found my air restricted. I did the only thing I could think to do. I flatted my palm against the wall and felt for my magic of the wards. I pulled on it and called it back to me. I felt the final snap of it hit me and smirked at the brute in front of me. “Let go of me and I’ll leave.”

He dropped me and I rubbed my neck and glanced up at him. “You didn’t feel it because you’re a werewolf, but I called my magic back. This place is no longer protected by my wards. Good luck.” I spun on my heels and left. My heart still hammered in my chest. A dull ache settled in my wrist as I unlocked my car. I debated on texting Simon to ask him what the hell was up with his crazy second, but I let it go. He made it clear he would contact me when he was able to. He had his hands full with the pack and didn’t need me or a relationship to distract him. I started the car and leaned my head against the seat. Maybe it was me who wanted the distraction.



Author Bio:
A.L. Kessler is a paranormal romance author residing in beautiful Colorado Springs, Co. Since she was a teenager she has loved spinning tales. She can easily be won over with gifts of coffee or chocolate.








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Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Meet Your Doppelganger with Crystal Collier


Welcome Crystal Collier here today to share her new book and introduce you to YOUR Maiden of Time doppelganger!

My doppelganger is John!
You are who you are at face value. You enjoy life, live buoyantly, and laugh freely. You tell it as it is, and are easy to be around. People enjoy your company and often invite you along.
I think this describes me pretty well. Tell us in the comments-- who is your doppelganger?
~Kimber

In 1771, Alexia had everything: the man of her dreams, reconciliation with her father, even a child on the way. But she was never meant to stay. It broke her heart, but Alexia heeded destiny and traveled five hundred years back to stop the Soulless from becoming.

In the thirteenth century, the Holy Roman Church has ordered the Knights Templar to exterminate the Passionate, her bloodline. As Alexia fights this new threat—along with an unfathomable evil and her own heart—the Soulless genesis nears. But none of her hard-won battles may matter if she dies in childbirth before completing her mission.

Can Alexia escape her own clock?

BUY: Amazon | B&N

GUEST POST

Have you ever met someone who looks and acts like someone else you know?

These doppelgangers exist in life, so it makes sense they would exist in literature. Today, you can meet your alternate ego in the Maiden of Time trilogy. Answer 5 simple questions to find out which character is most like you. (Some villains included.)




Look at that! You're a story book character. What do you think? Didn't like your match? Maybe should have picked something else? Try again. Share your results. Buy the books and learn more. (Did she really just say that? Yes, yes she did.) You can also enter to INSTANTLY win some really cool prizes below.

Who is your ideal book character match? (Inside or outside the Maiden of Time trilogy.)

Crystal Collier is an eclectic author who pens clean fantasy/sci-fi, historical, and romance stories with the occasional touch of humor, horror, or inspiration. She practices her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese.

Find her online HERE.




(Email address is required for awarding prizes.)

Monday, November 7, 2016

New Release! The Lost Codex by Heather Lyons

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Today we are celebrating the release of THE LOST CODEX by Heather Lyons. This is the 4th, and final, book in The Collectors' Society series. Be sure to check out the buy links below for it and the previous books in the series.

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THE LOST CODEX
by Heather Lyons
(The Collectors’ Society, #4)

PURCHASE NOW


BLURB:

Allies, once inseparable, splinter until they break apart.An insidiousness carves its way through Wonderland, challenging the land’s very existence.Battle lines will be drawn as pages, long languishing in darkness, are finally illuminated.Swords will clash, blood will be spilled, and lives will be lost.For what is written can still be erased.


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PURCHASE NOW

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks

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PURCHASE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

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THE COLLECTORS' SOCIETY will be FREE till tomorrow:

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THE HIDDEN LIBRARY Buy Links:

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THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN Buy Links:


heather_front_headshotAUTHOR INFORMATION:

Heather Lyons is known for writing epic, heartfelt love stories often with a fantastical twist. From Young Adult to New Adult to Adult novels—one commonality in all her books is the touching, and sometimes heart-wrenching, romance. In addition to writing, she's also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.

AUTHOR LINKS:








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