New Release: Finders Keepers

I'm excited to share the new release of a fellow member of Clean Indie Reads, J. J. DiBenedetto!
 
1,400 miles.
     3 countries
          2 men she can't trust.
What could go wrong?
               
FINDERS KEEPERS is the first book in the new Jane Barnaby Adventures series:

It should have been a simple job. All archaeology student Jane Barnaby had to do was pick up a box her professor needed and deliver it to him at his dig site, along with his new car. Yes, his office was in Oxfordshire, and his dig site was in Spain, a trip of 1,400 miles across three countries and two bodies of water. Still, it should have been simple. And it was, until Jane discovered she picked up the wrong box by mistake. Not the one with boring pottery samples, but instead the one with priceless ancient Egyptian artifacts. The one that a team of international art thieves is after. Now she’s chasing – and being chased by – the thieves. And she’s picked up a pair of passengers who claim they can help her outwit them, get her professor’s pottery back and return the artifacts to their rightful owner. If only she could figure out which one of them is working with the thieves and which one she can trust in this high-stakes game of finders keepers.

It's available everywhere eBooks are sold: Amazon (Kindle or Paperback) Smashwords Barnes & Noble (Nook or Paperback) Apple iBookstore Kobo    
About the author J.J. (James) Dibenedetto's fans would swear he's got a sixth sense when it comes to seeing into the minds of others and often wonder if his stories could possibly be fiction. He enjoys suspending disbelief with suspenseful paranormal tales that are a perfect blend of reality meets fantasy. His popular Dream Series continues to delight readers with each and every exciting installment. Born in Yonkers, New York, he currently resides in Arlington Virginia with his beautiful wife and a cat he is sure has taken full advantage of its nine lives. When it comes to the cat, he often wonders, but then again it might just be his imagination. You can follow him at his website, on Facebook and on Twitter. And you can find all his books (including the complete Dream Series) on Amazon and on audiobook at Audible.com   Here's an excerpt from Finders Keepers:

The thieves simply made a mistake. Whether Tom had put his box in the wrong room, or whether the thieves had gotten their wires crossed, who knew? She’d had trouble reading Professor Welldon’s writing; she hadn’t been sure if she was meant to go to Room 16 or Room 18 herself. It hadn’t mattered because the thieves had already gotten there and made the choice for her. “When they finally got where they were going, they opened it up, and you can imagine their surprise.” Jane noted the vagueness there; she assumed Alex knew exactly where that was and, for whatever reason, didn’t want to say. She didn’t challenge him; she kept up her happy façade instead, and he went on. “They knew they couldn’t go back and steal the right box, but they had the label on your pottery, they knew where it was supposed to go.” “They’re headed to Mallorca!” Jane couldn’t help herself; the words just poured out. “They’re going to wait there until I show up and try to trade, the pottery for the artifacts!” She knew she’d said too much. Alex’s eyes lit up, just for an instant, when she mentioned Mallorca. That was something, obviously, he hadn’t known. But he caught himself almost immediately, and so did she. She wondered if he knew that she knew he was putting on an act. She wondered if he knew that she knew that he knew she was, too. And she wondered if she had any aspirin in her purse, because that train of thought was giving her a headache.

Last, but not least, to celebrate the launch of FINDERS KEEPERS, the author is giving away a signed paperback copy of either this new book, or any one of his Dream Series novels (winner's choice). For your chance to win, just click HERE to enter!)          

New Steampunk by H. L. Burke!

I haven't read much steampunk, but this book sounds so interesting, I've already pre-ordered it, and you can, too! Through March 14 ("pi" day) Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors is only 99 cents. After that it will be $2.99.

H. L. Burke is the author of several works of fantasy ... many of which involve dragons. Her latest is a YA Steampunk Novella, which she describes as Jules Verne meets Mary Shelley meets H. G. Wells.

Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors is set in an alternate world not completely unlike our world in the Victorian age … but with technology Jules Verne could only dream of, mostly powered by the Steampunk staples of coal and steam.

Within the world women wear corsets, high-button shoes, and veiled fascinator hats … along with their goggles (it's not Steampunk without goggles). The protagonist, Nyssa, is a reformed thief, plucked from a life of crime and retrained at Miss Pratchett's School for Mechanically Minded Maids to pursue an honest trade as a electrician's apprentice.

Technology in New Taured is advanced, due to geniuses like Professor Dalhart, who invented videophones so people can chat in real time through devices that resemble old fashioned, black and white television sets.

Dalhart's best technology, however, didn't make it to market before his untimely disappearance. His last projects centered around robotics. He was determined to fully mechanize menial labor and improve the quality of human life … but then, for reasons unknown, he shut himself in his mansion with his teenage son and almost two dozen members of his household staff and never came out again.

The loss of this great mind slowed technological development to a crawl. Dalhart's more business-minded but less creative partner, Mr. Rivera, continued to expand the company's line of videophones and radiosets. However, without the brilliant Dalhart, the next big innovation remained just out of reach.

Desperate to recover anything Dalhart left behind, Rivera and his many competitors began sending agents to Dalhart Manor, only to have them vanish as completely as Dalhart himself

In a world dependent on coal power, the promise of robots capable of mining, working 24/7 without rest and on limited fuel, would revolutionize New Taured. The man with this technology would be the country's de facto king. If only they could find a person skilled enough … or desperate enough … to brave the deathtrap known as Dalhart Manor.

Author Bio:

Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.

An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.

Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.

She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Scholar and the Dragon," YA/Fantasy "Beggar Magic," and MG/Fantasy "Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon," among others. Her current projects are a young adult Steampunk fantasy and an epic fantasy trilogy.

Social Media Links:
www.hlburkeauthor.com

www.hlburkeblog.com

www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter

www.instagram.com/burkesdragons

www.twitter.com/typativemamacat

author.to/hlburke (amazon)

Cover Reveal for a new DRAGON book!

The Dragon Courage series is a middle grade/young adult fantasy series that has ten-year-olds to grandparents raving. What's all the fuss? It's a clean read of adventure and character quality building set in a new world. According to one reviewer, "Not since reading Christopher Paolini's Eragon have I read a book about dragons that made me want to be a part of that world". Each book has a theme skilfully woven into the plot so younger readers won't even realize they are being taught important life qualities. The series is a "fabulous adventure for younger readers that will fill their minds with the magic of dragons, friendships found and worlds from far, far away".

Today, fantasy author Kandi J. Wyatt is introducing book three in the Dragon Courage series, Dragon's Revenge. 

Book one took the reader to the northern canyon country of Three Spans Canyon where Kyn became a dragon rider. 

Book two followed Braidyn, a youngling born in the canyon country, who moved to the south along the River Sur. When some nestlings are stolen, Braidyn goes seeking retribution. His search takes him to the sandhills to the east of the inland sea. In book three, our story revolves around Kyn. He travels across the inland sea to a new land of marshes and red dragons.

Blurb:

In search of his place in the world, Kyn visits his new friend, Ben’hyamene. Together, they meet an ailing dragon rider from the marshes of a land called the Carr. The rider recounts a people beset by anger, depression, and despair. After befriending and healing the rider, the group travels to the rider’s home. There they discover a breed of wild dragons, called drakes, which have been at war with humans for four hundred years.

One sleepless night, Ben’hyamene uses his new abilities to communicate with the lead drake. This sets Kyn and Ben’hyamene on a path that could bring peace to a conflict that’s nearly destroyed a whole people. Can revenge be set aside and enemies be called friends?

Trailer:

https://youtu.be/PXabYw2HG4k

Find the author:

You can find her on her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

And now for the cover!

Isn't it stunning? Thanks, Kandi, for allowing me to share your new cover!

Monday Book Review: Cora and the Nurse Dragon by H. L. Burke

I love to read, especially fantasy, and when I fall in love with a book I like to share my enthusiasm by writing a review. This is the first review I've actually featured on my blog, but this is an extraordinary book, and I want readers of MG fantasy to know about it!

Cora and the Nurse Dragon by H. L. Burke feels like a historical fantasy, because the author has obviously done a lot of research to make her setting feel like the early 20th century, with the addition of very believable dragons. The main character, Cora, is smart and spunky, and I loved taking this journey with her.

The writing was superb, and sucked me in from the very first page. The story is compelling and full of suspense as the stakes (and the danger) grow ever higher. The supporting characters are well-drawn, and Cora's best friend Abry makes me wish I had a friend like her, who is loyal AND good at math!

I don't want to reveal too much about the plot, but just be prepared to fall in love with the dragon pictured on the cover, and don't begin reading this book at bedtime, or you will stay up late to finish it. It's THAT good!

I whole-heartedly recommend this to dragon lovers of any age, but young fantasy readers especially will enjoy the story and feel like they've made several new friends, both human and dragon.

I bought both the Kindle AND the paperback. You can, too: http://www.amazon.com/Cora-Nurse-Dragon-H-Burke-ebook/dp/B01ACV79BO
 

Monday Blog: I'm not in Texas any more...

For weeks now I've been forgetful and confused. I missed a doctor's appointment because I forgot what day of the week it was. Even though I write things down, I can't keep up with the simplest activities. I've been blaming it on chemo brain.

It's not chemo brain. It's just that I'm not living in 2016 Texas right now.

Let me back up. In November I signed up to participate in NaNoWriMo for the first time, and successfully managed to get my writing focus back. Yay! I finished book 3 in my fantasy series and got a good head start on book 4. Feeling a great sense of urgency, for I don't know how long I'll stay in remission this time, I wanted to keep pressing with the daily word count and signed up for an 85K writing challenge (85,000 words in 3 months, from January 1 through March 31). I'm almost halfway to that goal, which means more than halfway through book 4. I'm so totally immersed in my fantasy world that I get annoyed when I have to do mundane tasks, like washing clothes, ironing, cooking for my Twin Towers (my 6'4" hubby and his father, who lives with us).

I'm living in Levathia, circa 1100's, with dragons and some of my favorite characters ever.

A very nice young man named Joshua Smolders redid my hand-drawn map of Levathia, with stunning results! Now I know where I'm going in Levathia, and you are welcome to journey with me!

Enter to win a Fantasy Winter Escape

My favorite genre is fantasy, and my favorite writer's group is Clean Indie Reads. So it doesn't get much better than hanging out with 15 fellow CIR fantasy writers in a fantastic giveaway event February 5th & 6th with a Facebook party and everything! The BIG prize is a new 7" Kindle Fire preloaded with all 16 of our books. I've donated a copy of my YA fantasy, Mercy's Prince, and all the other books are MG or YA fantasy. A great selection! There will also be prizes at the Facebook party, including this little guy I'm donating:

If you love fantasy, here's the Rafflecopter to enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Book Release: Vision of the Griffin's Heart

My fellow Texan, fantasy writer, member of Clean Indie Reads AND founder of the fun and fabulous Book Nerd Paradise is releasing Book 5 in her Andy Smithson series: VISION OF THE GRIFFIN'S HEART.

About the book: Four years ago, Andy Smithson discovered he is the Chosen One to break a 500-year-old curse plaguing the land of Oomaldee when he unexpectedly and mysteriously found himself there. To do so, he must collect ingredients for a magical potion. Thus far he has gathered the scale of a red dragon, venom from a giant serpent, a unicorn's horn, and the tail feather of a phoenix. Now he must ask a griffin for one of its talons. There's just one problem: humans have poached griffin treasure, causing these mythical creatures to attack on sight.

Complicating matters, the evil Abaddon, sovereign of Oomaldee's northern neighbor, is turning more and more citizens into zolt in his ongoing campaign of terror as he sets in motion the final steps of his plan to conquer the land. Things really start to heat up in book five!

If you loved Harry Potter, you'll love the Andy Smithson series. These books are full of mythical creatures, newly invented animals like zolt, herewolves, and therewolves, a complex plot with evolving characters, and positive themes including responsibility, diligence, dignity, friendship, and more.

Purchase Kindle and Paperback.

Here are the rest of the books in this series:

About the author: L. R. W. Lee credits her love of fantasy with her introduction to C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Later on, she enjoyed the complex world of Middle Earth brought to life by J. R. R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. The multiple dimensions of the worlds mixed with a layer of meaning, captivated her and made her desire to invent young adult fantasy and epic fantasy worlds others could get lost in, but also take meaning away from. More recently, Lee has found inspiration from J. K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series as well as Brandon Mull and his best-selling Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series.

Lee writes to teach her readers principles that can transform their lives: overcoming frustration, impatience, fear, and more. She also shows why responsibility, diligence, and dignity are the keys to true success in life. She lives in scenic Austin, Texas with her husband. Their daughter is a computer engineer for Microsoft, and their son serves in the U. S. Air Force.

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Goodreads   Amazon   Email: linda.r.w.lee (at) gmail.com