I’m so pleased to share this announcement with you! Crying for the Moon has received a new cover and is now back on Amazon for just $2.99! Don’t you just love this cover??
Also, looking for a little light holiday read? Holiday House Swap is also just $2.99 for a limited time. Enjoy!
I had to laugh at this notice in my mailbox this morning–it’s National Pi Day (not Pie Day, though there is one of those, too) and to celebrate, Dreamspinner Press is holding a 31.4% off sale from now until March 19th! How cool is that?
Interested? Check out all my Dreamspinner stories here! Read on a Kindle? You can choose the format of your choice and have your book sent to you! If you’ve been waiting for the right time to check out my stories, now is the perfect time to grab a slice of Dreamspinner Pi!
I’ve been so pleased with the relaunch of Unspeakable Words! It’s been getting some fabulous reviews, and is on Dreamspinner’s bestseller list. Best of all, right now it’s on sale! I’m not sure for how much longer, so be sure to grab a copy of this expanded version at a great price!
Here are some great reviews from LoveBytes, Sinfully Gay Book Romance Book Reviews, Joyfully Jay, GayBook Reviews, Diverse Reader, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, and Rainbow Book Reviews, just to name a few! (I feel like someone thanking people at the Academy Awards–I’m bound to leave someone out!)
I have a lot a blog posts out with this book tour, including interviews at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words and Open Skye Book Reviews. I’ve also begun sharing about my experiences at Writer’s Police Academy, part of my research for the Sixth Sense series. Do drop by Authors Speak at Rainbow’s Gate for more about Writer’s Police Academy, but also fantastic giveaways, and the latest on upcoming releases by some of your favorite authors! My April post will be about crime scene investigations and blood spatter, so come check it out. đ
Woot! I just saw that all my Dreamspinner titles are on sale until March 5th in honor of the annual conference held by the press! That means you can grab not only any of my Dreamspinner titles for 25% off until March 5th, but you can also pre-order the expanded version of Unspeakable Words at the sale price as well!
I’m so excited to share with you the soon-to-be-released version of Unspeakable Words! Isn’t this cover fantastic? That smirky face and raised eyebrow is SO Flynn, it’s as though LC Chase read my mind when redesigning the covers for the Sixth Sense series!
There will be a book tour starting soon, so stay tuned!
I don’t know about you, but I hated Valentine’s Day growing up.
I hated all the emphasis on being ‘chosen’ to be someone’s Valentine, and how the whole day was an exercise in humiliation for a introverted, homely child.
As a young adult, it felt like a comment on my attractiveness and desirability that I didn’t have someone special in my life to take me out to dinner or bring me flowers. And yet I still wanted those things very much. I wanted that tangible proof that not only was I loved, I was deemed worthy of love.
The first couple of times I was in a relationship as Valentine’s Day rolled around, I went all out: the romantic dinner, the fancy restaurant, the expensive (and sexy) dress. Chocolates, wine, flowers, and cards. The whole nine yards.
Now after having been in a committed relationship for nearly a decade, I can appreciate it not the day that matters, or the meal, or the bling. It’s the person who is sitting across the table from you. It’s the person holding your hand, or the friends taking you out for Galentine’s Day, or the cat in your lap and the dog at your feet. I love that people are taking what has always been for me a problematic celebration of ‘love’ and making it their own–redefining it for their needs.
As part of that celebration, Dreamspinner Press is having a store-wide sale: 25% off all titles until Feb 18th, and a flash sale of new releases today only! That means you can pre-order the newly revised version of Unspeakable Words at the sale price (release date March 10, 2017)–or perhaps you’d like a story of love, loss, and re-connection with The Boys of Summer. Or maybe werewolves and vampires are your thing–in which case, check out the award-winning Crying for the Moon! Plenty to choose from, and not just my titles. Entering the DSP store is like opening the Potter family vault at Gringott’s. đ
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!
Oh! Oh! Today until Feb 6, Dreamspinner Press is having a 30% off sale on all its paranormal romances!
That’s almost every title I have with them! Run check it out–this sale is smoking’ hot!
Here’s the link to my titles on Dreamspinner Press. But if you’re looking for Unspeakable Words and you can’t find it, that’s because the expanded version is scheduled to be released March 10th! Sorry, no pre-order link available yet… but I’ll be posting soon with the new covers for the Sixth Sense series as soon as I get a buy link for Unspeakable Words.
Book 4 in the Sixth Sense Series (tentatively titled Deal with the Devil) is underway. I’m sorry to say that I’ve been finding it challenging to write due to the current political turmoil in the US, but I hope to have the story finished and available to you in early 2018.
I was at work yesterday afternoon when I got the email from All Romance Ebooks announcing they were closing their doors effective 12/31 and offering a paltry ten cents on the dollar in royalty payments to authors in lieu of the expected fourth quarter payment.’
Because I was at work, I quickly scanned the email (not noticing a significant typo of a date that gives the company a loophole with regards to making even the minuscule payments offered) and cursed. I immediately pulled my self-published titles from their website, and hurried to my publisher to see what they intended to do, as all of my Dreamspinner titles were posted on ARe as well.
I then made a post spreading the word:
Dreamspinner made the following announcement on Facebook last evening: In response to All Romance eBooks closure notice: If readers pre-ordered Dreamspinner titles on ARe then you will not be able to download them upon release. If rumors are true, ARe will also not refund pre-orders. Therefore, Dreamspinner offers to fulfill readers’ pre-paid Dreamspinner pre-orders from ARe. You need to forward the ARe receipt to contactATdreamspinnerpressDOTcom and the customer service department will be sure you receive the eBook at no additional cost to you. Thank you.
Kudos to Dreamspinner! This is one of the reasons I love working with this press.
But the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Though ARe called themselves a publisher, they provided no cover art, no editing, no formatting. They were a retailer only and their entire catalog was digital. Where did the money go? They were paying us out of a percentage of books already sold. How could they not pay us what was owed?
Then too was the shady practice of giving no advance warning of impending closure, of failing to notify anyone until the last day of revenue for the quarter had been wrung out of writers, publishers, and readers alike. Why then, were they offering ad space on their website just the week before–and saying it was almost sold out? You don’t just wake up one morning and decide your business is bust. I almost bought one of those pricey ads and I know other people who have. They aren’t being offered any means to get refunds.
Once the news spread, the website kept crashing as writers rushed to remove their titles and reader to download books already purchased before the ‘cloud’ vanished. People were left with ebucks that didn’t work and gift cards they didn’t know if they should spend or not, while the available titles dwindled sharply.
More questions have been raised, particularly in light of the extremely poor and insulting offer made to authors to accept a 10 cents on the dollar payout or NOTHING. Meanwhile, ARe posts a business-as-usual Tweet and nothing is said on their Facebook page, either. Most ironically, the banner on their Facebook page, which I saw when I went to leave a review about their shady practices, advertises “No Doors Closed.”
I can tell you, some of the author responses to this tone-deaf and out-of-place Tweet were priceless, even as the anger and worry came through loud and clear. I didn’t have a lot of independent sales on ARe at this time–I’d only recently moved Fool’s Gold off KU and over to wider distribution. But to be paid a handful of dollars when I’m owed hundreds is jaw-dropping. However ALL my Dreamspinner titles were on ARe as of last evening. Every story I’ve ever written. So I can only sit back and hold my breath to see what happens when DSP’s lawyers battle for what we’re owed. At least I have the power of an ethical and reputable publishing company behind me. I can only imagine how terrible it must be for authors who were counting on the fourth quarter royalties to make the mortgage payment or electric bill.
For the most complete summation of the extent of fraud perpetrated by the management of ARe–and more importantly, what you can do to prevent them from getting away with this scott-free, please check out this valuable post: Publisher All Romance: Closing Hits New Low in Stealing from Authors. The details in this post are jaw-dropping. If these allegations are true, then criminal charges need to be filed.
I’ve seen many readers ask what they can do to help. The first is don’t buy any more books from All Romance. Download the purchases you’ve already made. Seek out those real publishers, like Dreamspinner, who’ve offered via proof of receipt, to honor ARe’s fraudulent sales of pre-ordered books. But most importantly–leave book reviews. I don’t think readers have any idea just how much book reviews matter in visibility and discoverability in an increasingly discouraging and hard market. It doesn’t have to be much–but a short piece as to why you loved the story while you rate it is a big, big help.
Thank you.
Authors: Even if you decide to take no further legal action, please consider filing an internet crime report, copying and pasting your email from ARe and any pertinent information.
book by Ricardo Vasquez/freeimages.com
Dear Fans:
I’ve just received a shocking, no warning notice from All Romance Ebooks that they are closing their doors on 12/31. The terms of settlement they are offering is not acceptable to me, but they are probably the best I will get.
While I am sorry that yet another e book retailer is abruptly shutting down, I am also upset by the lack of communication until we were blindsided with this notice. Many of us are relying on our fourth quarter royalty payments, that will now be a fraction of what is due to us.
As such, I’ve pulled all my titles for sale on the All Romance website in advance of their 48 hour notice of closure. The good news is that currently you can get all my Dreamspinner titles on sale until 12/30–which includes my new release, Holiday House Swap.
As for my non-Dreamspinner titles, Fool’s Gold and A Summer Fling are still available on Amazon. I suspect I will shortly be putting Fool’s Gold back into KU.
It’s here at last! I’m so excited–Holiday House Swap is finally going live at all your favorite outlets today! I had so much fun with this story and I’m delighted to be able to share it with you at last. This is a fluffy, feel-good story that I hope you’ll enjoy reading as much as I did writing it. đ
Best of all, today only, until 11:59 EST 12/21/16, Holiday House Swap is on sale at Dreamspinner Press!
Be sure to check out this delightful 5 star review from Bayou Book Junkie too!
Blurb:
Reclusive writer Noah Kinley is facing a dilemma: how to confess to the world heâs really the author of a best-selling romance series. For years, his friend Julie has been the face of his brand, but she wants her life back now. Fast running out of ideas for his popular series, Noah wants to break out into other genres. Not that heâs writing much of anything at the moment anyway, thanks to paralyzing writerâs block. With his publisher breathing down his neck for the next installment, he hopes a change of scene will get his writerâs juices flowing again. Desperate enough to try anything, during the holidays Noah swaps his isolated cabin in the woods for a gentrified horse farm.
USAF Major Connor Harrison has chosen forced retirement over facing charges for an unauthorized mission to rescue a buddy from behind enemy lines. No one expects him home for the holidays, and he certainly didnât anticipate finding a stranger in his house, much less Noah Kinley with his acid tongue and a wry sense of humor that pierces all of Connorâs defenses.
Both men need to figure out what the next chapter in their lives will beâand whether it will include each other.
Excerpt: âKinley. You gonna get up or what?â
Noah had a moment of extreme disorientation as he tried to recall how the guy with the sexy drawl happened to be standing in his room. It came to him all at once: the decision to leave the cabin, the intense drive from the airport, and then meeting the owner of the house, who turned out to be a Captain America freak when everyone knew Iron Man was the coolest superhero. The pounding headache suggested perhaps finishing off the second bottle of wine hadnât been wise, considering how seldom he drank. Only then did he realize the worst.
âIf youâd rather not go to the barn, thatâs cool.â Harrison spoke in that oh-so-causal manner that by this time in their short acquaintance meant this was really kind of a big deal to him.
âItâs not that,â Noah croaked, wincing at his sore throat. âIâm sick.â
âHoly shit, you werenât joking when you said you were coming down with something. You okay? You sound terrible.â Concern was written clearly on Harrisonâs face as he stepped closer to Noahâs bed.
Damn if he wasnât wearing cream-colored breeches and tall boots too. No burgundy jacket, however, to complete the Beau Brummell look from Noahâs fantasy the night before.
âI donât own a burgundy jacket. Are you sure youâre okay? Youâre not making much sense.â
âI canât be sick.â Noah groaned. He hadnât meant to say anything about the Regency clothing out loud. âNo, no, no. This isnât fair. I never get sick! The one time I leave the cabin in years and I catch a cold? This is so not fair.â He shivered and hunkered down under the blankets. âItâs freezing in here. Can you turn up the heat or something?â
Harrison placed the back of his hand on Noahâs brow. âJeezus. Youâre burning up. Wait here. Iâm going to get a thermometer.â
Not Harrison, though. Connor. You couldnât drink a manâs wine and stay up half the night arguing the finer points of science fiction, or picture the hottie dressed in Regency costuming, and still call him by his last name. Connor. Such a sexy name. It suited him.
Noah must have dozed off again, because he started when Connor touched him on the shoulder. âHere. Put this in your mouth.â
Noah opened his mouth obediently, thinking surely there had to be a sexual innuendo in there somewhere, if he could only think of it. He closed his lips on the digital thermometer.
Connor snorted suddenly, making Noah look up at him.
âWhat?â Noah mumbled around the thermometer.
âDo you always say whateverâs on your mind when youâre running a fever?â Connorâs smile made Noah feel accepted in a way he hadnât felt in a long time. Fortunately the beeping of the thermometer kept him from having to answer. âOne-oh-three degrees. Thatâs pretty hot, Kinley.â
Available at the following retailers:
Amazon: Â http://amzn.to/2gT2a1o
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2gOUf6c
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2gOVv9w
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2gGsV9P
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2gfbQDo
Dreamspinner Press: http://bit.ly/2gIcJ8B
All Romance: http://bit.ly/2fS1JDy
This is also the last day you can snag a copy of Fool’s Gold at the sale price of only 99 cents! Fool’s Gold came in as a Runner Up in the 2016 Rainbow Awards and is available at Amazon and All Romance ebooks.
Hey there! Some business before I introduce our guest for today! First, if you’re looking for my post in Divine Promotions 2016 Christmas Blog Hop, you should go here.
Second, I’m still celebrating the fact that Fool’s Gold was a Runner Up in the 2016 Rainbow Awards: it’s currently on sale for a limited time at Amazon and All Romance Ebooks for only 99 cents–but hurry, the sale won’t last much longer!
Third, today’s the last day of the Holiday House Swap Book Tour! There’s still time to check out an excerpt, pre-order the book, and enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway! I just found out that you can pre-order Holiday House Swap for the next 48 hours from Dreamspinner Press for 30% off!
Now, please welcome H.L. Holston, who has come to share not only links for new stories, but a lively party game you’re sure to want to try!
Take it away, H.L.!
I grew up in a unique household; one side of the family is Jewish, the other Christian. So, this time of the year, I celebrate pretty much anything. This holiday season, my writing partner, A.J. Burke and I have two Christmas-themed stories out!
Iâm a history teacher by trade and Iâve always wanted to write a story set during World War One. I finally got to do that with Eternally Timeless (Eternal #1). You can go to Smashwords and download it for free HERE.
The second story in the series, Eternally Bright, is a contemporary M/M romance set in Paris on Christmas Eve and is available only on Amazon. The two books are intertwined, but can be read as standalones.
And while Iâm promoting my books, I also wanted to give everyone a new game to play on Christmas. In my family, we call it: The Pan Game. We played it every Christmas Eve before we opened our âregularâ presents.
First, hereâs what you will need for the game.
Supplies:
Weâd gather in a circle, bring folding chairs if necessary! My mother would set the timer for 15-20 minutes. Then, you take the dice and put them in the pie pan. You toss the dice in the pan and if you get doubles, you take a gift from the pile in the middle. You get TWO chances to roll doubles, and then you pass the pan/dice to the person next to you.
Being quick is key, as you donât want the timer to run out and you not have any presents.
You continue to do this with every person until all the gifts are gone. Once everyone has a gift and there is no more left in the pile, then the fun begins. You get to steal gifts!
Yep, the next time you roll a double, you get to steal a wrapped gift from a family member. This action has caused many a wrestling match in my household over the years. My father is famous for âhidingâ gifts about his person, sometimes we had to frisk him to make sure he wasnât hiding anything!
When the timer goes off, whatever gifts you have are yours to keep. (I donât suggest allowing small children under the age of ten or so to play this game, as they sometimes get upset when Aunt Holly steals their presents. So we always made them the âfetchâ person. Example: âJessica, go grab that green gift from your grandfather and bring it to me!â)
We played this game every year and it bought our family much joy and laughter. If you try it, I hope it becomes a family tradition for yours too.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all.
Blurb:
Ever since Gabriel Foster started working at Demerchant Industries, heâd been fighting his attraction to his enigmatic boss, SĂ©bastien Demerchant.
During a Christmas party at SĂ©bastienâs mansion, Gabriel discovers his feelings might be returned. But everything is not as it appears, and Gabrielâs world will be turned upside down in the process. Â
Buy Link: http://amzn.to/2hKyqbq (Free for Kindle Unlimited)
Biography:
H.L. Holston is a teacher by day, and sometimes writer by night. She admits she is a horrible blogger, even worse in keeping up on Facebook, but tries anyway. However, all bets are off if Bruce Springsteen is on tour! You can find her at:
Web site: http://hlholston.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sue.holston
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sueholston