BORN TO LOVE WILD: Pre-order & Excerpt from M.T. DeSantis

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anthology, born to love wild, fae, good reads, magic, must read, nymph, paranormal romance, romance, stars and stone books

Excerpt from M.T. DeSantis’s “Forever Love”:

If she didn’t find love tonight, she never would.

Karli tugged at the halter top of her dress where it weighed against the back of her neck. The dress was not one she would normally wear. The neckline dipped low between her breasts, showing the curving tops of what had been called her “best assets.” How she wanted to cover up. The only thing about the dress she liked was the color. At the top, it was the green of grass beneath noonday sun, and it flowed down into darker shades, ending in a forest hue. The fabric, so light, whispered around her bare legs like a spring breeze, making Karli shiver. In a bold moment, she’d bought the dress for the dance at which she now stood—the summer eve’s dance of the fae. Her grandmother’s stories from years ago promised beauty beyond comprehension and love found by midnight’s arrival. Those humans lucky enough to catch the eye of a fae might be granted eternal life to spend forever with their love.

Karli hugged herself. So far, the first part of her grandmother’s tales had proven true. A violet hue joined the sky’s usual blue. Silver shimmers, more brilliant than stars, fluttered through the unending color overhead. An orange tint glimmered across the moon, the result of the human and fae worlds blurring together. Something exotic spiced the air. It was clove and pepper and roses and, at the same time, none of those things. Yes, her grandmother’s first promise was kept. It was the second one, the finding love, that Karli doubted. She’d never had much luck there.

But then, wasn’t her bad luck why she was here? And if she didn’t actually get out among the dancers, she’d never see if her luck improved.

With a deep breath to steel herself, Karli stepped from beneath the elm tree where she’d spent the last hour hiding. Out under the sky, the music grew stronger, filling Karli’s ears and soul in a way no human melody ever had. The languid plucking of strings and haunting tones of flutes played a song both sensual and ethereal. All around, fae and humans swayed to the sound. Two human men held hands, gazing at one another with expanses of stars in their eyes. A nymph with sky-blue skin and waist-length raven hair glided between Karli and the men. A human man followed, steps slow and trancelike. His dark eyes fixed on the nymph with love or lust or some combination of both. When they passed, the two male dancers were locked in a passionate embrace, bodies rippling in time to the music.

Karli watched, knowing she shouldn’t stare. What would it take for someone to hold her with such desire? She shook her head and turned away—to find herself gazing into a set of green eyes flecked with silver.

“You are human,” the eyes’ owner said. It was a fae woman with ebony skin and ivory hair. She looked about Karli’s age, but for fae, the appearance of thirty meant she could be three hundred.

“I am.” Karli ducked her head, heat rising in her cheeks. It hadn’t been a question. “I mean, you know that.”

The fae laughed, low.

The sound struck a chord in Karli’s body, humming in tune to the music.

The fae held out one slender hand. Delicate fingers tapered almost to points. “I am Ellowyn, and you wish to dance.”

Ellowyn. The name was a song in itself, a harmony of bells. The silver in Ellowyn’s eyes danced to the tune of her name. Of its own accord, Karli’s hand reached to grasp the fae woman’s. Ellowyn’s flesh was satin and lace. Karli shivered.

Smoldering heat curled in Ellowyn’s gaze. She pulled Karli closer until their bodies almost touched. The tease of contact fluttered over Karli’s skin like feathers tossed in the wind.

“What is your name?” Ellowyn purred the question.

Karli’s mouth went dry. The desire in those four simple words sent sensations she’d never known coursing through her. “Karli,” she said in a breathy half-whisper.

Ellowyn smiled, revealing brilliant white teeth. “Karli.” In the fae’s carnal purr, Karli’s name was a decadent dessert of chocolate and cream. “Dance with me, Karli.”

© 2018 M.T. DeSantis

 

Featuring: USA Today Bestselling Author Traci Douglass, Cara McKinnon, Sheri Queen, Pepper McGraw, M.T. DeSantis, Read Gallo, J. Bigelow, and Andie Biagini.

Pre-Order Now:

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Learn More:

Traci Douglass – “Blood Strong: A Blood Ravagers Novella”

One guardian demon in love. One witch with a secret crush. One evil threatening their newfound connection.

Cara McKinnon – “A Change of Heart”

She’s a hybrid shifter who’s not supposed to exist. He’s a wolf who was born to protect her. But her secrets force him to choose: his mate, or his pack loyalty?

Sheri Queen – “The Robinson Agency”

Some are born with the gift to see into the future. Others create their own destiny.

Pepper McGraw – “Full Moon Shenanigans”

The full moon’s coming and it’s time to embrace the wildness within.

M.T. DeSantis – “Forever Love”

To find a chance… A chance to find…

Read Gallo – “The Flying Saltines”

When a river falls in love with an ordinary person will New York City survive?

J. Bigelow – “Focal Point”

Sometimes a wizard from Sweden needs help from a medium from Michigan.

Andie Biagini – “Water Temperature”
An engineering student and a cryptozoologist. One of them can talk to sea monsters, but it’s not who you think.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR AUTHORS

 

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After the Happily Ever After Cover Reveal

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#fracturedfairytales, action, After the Happily Ever After, ahea, amazon gift card, anthology, ARC, Beauty and the Beast, Belle, blood phoenix: imprinted, cinderella, conspiracy theories, cover reveal, danger, Dean Samed, dragons, DWARVES, Fairest Landing, fairy folk, fairy tales, fantasy, forget-me-not, giveaway, Grimm, Happily Ever After, heroes, hideous creatures, Hilde, horror, humor, kickstarter, magic, magical castles, malevolent rulers, monsanto, monsters, Mystery, poisioned apple, potions, princess, R. Judas Brown, romance, Saryn Chorney, sinister, snow white, sulfur, The Dragon, The Secret Life of Blanca Snowe, wicked step-sisters

Guys and gals, fairy monsters and princess pigs, it’s finally here. The project I’ve been working on, and I am so excited to share it’s progress with you.

The cover. Oh my shit. I am IN LOVE with this thing. Do you see it? No..maybe not yet. Let me put it here.

Right? (Major props to Dean Samed, our cover artist). And you should see the full wrap…which you can, but you have to wait until publication.

Or you can donate to the Kickstarter and get the background version in our first update. We have so many cool things to offer as rewards (like limited-edition hard-back copies and special stories from authors…and a special ARC copy of Blood Phoenix: Imprinted.

Our main goal is to raise funds to pay our authors more money for their hard work.

All right. Well, there’s more to tell or show or…I’ve got more.

Here’s the official blurb:

The happily ever after is never the end. The curtain doesn’t fall once love is recognized or evil is vanquished.  Credits don’t roll once the giant is slain or the big bad wolf is boiled alive.  Wicked stepsisters, malevolent rulers, and hideous creatures still have lives after their sinister roles play out; heroes, lovers, and dreamers often find their victories lead to more troubles.

Within these pages are more than seventy continuations, retellings, and eldritch stories that explore the dark forests, magical castles, and hideous creatures After the Happily Ever After.

And they’re awesome. I love the collection we have, which is why we have so many. They’re all so different.

And here’s my sneaky peeky excerpt:

“Are you ready?” My mentor adorned her reaper’s hood, disguised as a craggily, old woman.

“Yes, Madame.”

She produced the poisoned apple, laced with a drug that would make me sleep like the dead; only my brain would record everything. One bite, and I will fall to the whim of whoever finds me.

Cupping the gleaming red fruit in both hands, I took a breath to soften my nerves, and Madame Grimm pinned a charm to the bodice of my dress. It was a forget-me-not serum. If they discovered me, I’d inject myself to erase all knowledge of my mission and my agency. It was a fail safe, and I hoped I wouldn’t need it.

I bit the apple, the sweet juices mixing with the bitter taste of the sleeping drug.

My body grew heavy.

I slipped the antidote behind my lower lip so that when Prince Charming kissed me, it would break open and revive me.

Madame Grimm caught me, laying me half on the grass and half on the path to my secret lair, where the D.W.A.R.V.E.S. will find me and contact the kingdom.

I have a lot of ideas mixing in this story, Snow White, Cinderella, 007, Monsanto, conspiracy theories, and my favorite, the Dangerous Wee Assassins of the Royal Villains Eradication Society.

Here’s another few teasers, who we will feature again as we draw closer to publication:

“The Dragon” by R. Judas Brown

Lavender knew no one would come for her. Bad things happened to the daughters of poor, dairy farmers every day. The best she hoped for in life was a good marriage arrangement to a solid provider. Her dad only just found that arrangement with the town miller, a man her dad’s age. His apprentice looked like more fun, but the miller was well off.

Then she had been taken.

Fire from the sky.

A slam from behind, knocking her flat before the ground fell away impossibly fast.

Trees and rivers rushed by as she hung from yellow, bony talons until the darkness crept mercifully into her vision to steal her terror away.

She awoke on a bed of sharp sticks in a cave reeking of sulfur. Confused, she stood slowly, trying to find some semblance of sanity in the dark. A glowing sliver of daylight burned around the covered mouth of the cave.

Her feet froze before she had taken a full step as what she thought was a boulder in the dark shifted.

A long tail whipped as a pointed snout swung to regard her. It filled the cave entrance, a giant, scaly mass—a creature renowned for merciless violence and calculated malevolence. Lavender jerked back, tripping on the hem of her skirt in panic. Hands and arms scraped along jagged edges as she fell into the pile of sticks. When she came face to face with a skull, the truth shuddered through her.

 

“The Secret Life of Blanca Snowe” by Saryn Chorney:

The tragic events of Blanca’s childhood were at least partially to blame for her present condition. Blanca’s mother died in childbirth, and her wealthy father, the lord of Fairest Landing, raised his beloved only-daughter by himself. Although he lavished Blanca with love and affection, he missed having a wife. When Blanca turned thirteen, he remarried. Unfortunately, his new wife, Hilde, was a manipulative and vain woman with a suspicious agenda. Mostly, she busied herself spending her new husband’s fortune on beauty products. Hilde ignored Blanca; she passed the majority of her time in the toilette, mixing ointments and talking to herself in the mirror. Perhaps that wasn’t so odd, though, as Blanca spent the majority of her day talking to the birds, bunnies, squirrels, and stray cats in the courtyard of their estate.

Although the Fairest Landing police officially declared it an accident, Lord Snowe died suddenly from an allergic reaction to one of his wife’s homemade tonics, which he mistook for mouthwash.  Hilde made a big show of appearing devastated, but after a month of official mourning, she debuted a new youthful look and entertained suitors. To her disdain, most of them took a shine to Blanca, who was sixteen by then. In juxtaposition to her innocent beauty, the girl also had an alluring countenance that intrigued men. This infuriated Hilde, who gave a handsome sum to a handsome hitman named Hunter to make Blanca disappear. Mid-kidnap-and-chop-up plan, Hunter found himself pitying his pretty prey. Instead of offing her, he dropped her off at a so-called safe house where seven merry men lived.

 

“Beauty and the Beast: The Beast Within” by Lorraine Nelson:

“And that’s what you miss?” he snapped. “That childish, immature, ranting, raving, beast-like creature?”

Belle bit back a smile. “You need to let me finish. All will be explained.” She hoped. Adam grunted, the sound so much like what her beloved Beast made whenever he was displeased that her heart twisted. For one brief second, he was back with her. Then he glanced at her, questions evident in his beautiful, human eyes. And the moment was gone.

 

Check out more excerpts at our campaign page, with out authors, and coming up for blitz next week!

And join us for our giveaway for a $10 Amazon gift card.

I’m back with Cheap Reads!

Tags

alisha costanzo, beta readers, blood phoenix, blood phoenix: imprinted, book boyfriend, Broken World, Celampresians, cheap reads, did you know, editing, fantasy, folklore, giveaway, humor, insta-love, Loving Red, myth, mythology, novel, paranormal, paranormal romance guild, readers, review, romance, Sale, Shapeshifter, Transmundane Press, urban fantasy, vampires, weres, werewolves, writing, YA novel

Hey, lovely readers!

I’ve been slacking. I know it, but this month has been CRAZY! Personal stuff, business stuff, writing stuff, teaching stuff. You don’t need the details, just know that I’m back, and I have new blog posts about the editing process, about BLOOD PHOENIX: IMPRINTED and beta reader opportunities, new giveaways, a new YA novel, and some new Did You Know posts. I’m also working on another newsletter and short stories.

But for now, my latest novel, LOVING RED, is on half off (on sale for $1.99) until June 6th.

Here’s the latest review:

“When I first started reading this story, I was afraid it was going to be one of those insta-love stories. However, although the book only spans about a week’s time, it doesn’t feel like insta-love.

Severins is a wolf shifter on leave from the army. His impeccable sense of smell picks up Kaia’s scent during a bus ride, and he knows he has to have her but not just for a one-night stand. He goes to her job and pretends to be a client to con her into going on a date with him. He is unaware that Kaia, a human, knows of his world, and that she is in danger.

It isn’t specifically stated, but I feel like Sev immediately thought she was destined to be his. He instantly has a drive to protect her and to claim her as his but, like the romantic he is, he wants her to be the one to decide about their relationship. Swoon.

The two have an immediate attraction, but Kaia is leery because of a past relationship with a shifter. As the danger gets closer and closer to Kaia, the two must go on the run from the Celampresians who follow them.

Sev is 100% book boyfriend material. I loved his character. He is so caring and protects Kaia and Shawna with every part of his being.

I’m not completely sure how I feel about Kaia. I originally thought she would be portrayed as a weak human who needed saving, but the only time she comes across as weak is when she is, for lack of a better word, possessed. Many times she shows mental and emotional strength, but she never becomes an active participant in physical fights.

This was a great read that I would recommend to my closest friends. I really enjoyed the story and most of all Severins!”

Review by Tina, Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

Excerpt from BELOVED ENEMY by Hywela Lyn

Tags

amazon, author, black leather, book, cat, Chiltern Writers, clung, England, fantasy, heroes, hideous, hywela lyn, ironic, kerry, naked, plasma, romance, sci fi, snake, snake attack, tension, tentacle, The Romance Novelists' Association, tight, wales, Welsh

Before she could fire, Kerry let off another barrage of plasma bolts into the river, then leapt toward her and ripped the severed tentacle from her leg. It flapped around on the wet grass. She scrambled to her knees, still slightly winded and fired at the hideous thing. The foliage around it flared for a moment with an eerie green flame and the tentacle shrivelled into a slimy black mass, emitting a pungent odour and causing her to gag for a moment.

“It seems I was mistaken about the creature being dead.” Kerry prodded the smouldering mass with his boot and looked across over the water. “It is now.” He leaned down and grasped her wrist to haul her to her feet. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Her shoulder was sore and probably bruised but she’d live.

She tried to control her shivering. The incident affected her more than she wanted to admit. Kerry’s proximity, naked to the waist, his lithe body shining from the water droplets that still clung to his skin, his legs swathed in tight black leather, did nothing to help.

The last thing she wanted was for him to realise how scared she’d been when she thought a snake attacked her. “Thanks. That was close. It would have been a bit ironic if I’d been killed by the same creature I saved you from.”

She realized he still grasped her wrist. She tried to move away, but he pulled her back, obliging her to turn to him.

“You are trembling.”

“I’m fine.”

“No,” he said. “You’re not.” He pulled her closer and his eyes softened, his gaze holding her mesmerized. She opened her mouth to try to speak, but in the same instant he put his hand under her chin and his lips closed over hers.

Buy the book here(US), here (UK) or here.

Hywela Lyn lives in a small village in England, with her long suffering husband Dave, although her heart remains in her native rural Wales, which inspired much of her writing. Her pen-name, Hywela Lyn is a combination of her first two names. She has always been known by her second name ‘Lyn’ and thought it was time her Welsh first name was used as well! She is a member of The Romance Novelists’ Association (UK) and her local writing group, Chiltern Writers.

Although most of her writing tends to be futuristic, set among the stars, or distant planets, the worlds she creates are usually untainted by crowded cities and technology, embracing the beauty and wildness of nature. Her characters often have to fight the elements and the terrain itself. Her heroes are strong and courageous, and her heroines feisty, brave and strong minded, while still retaining their femininity. However difficult the journey, in the end, love always wins.

A keen animal lover, she has two horses, Harri and T’pau  a  ‘rescue’ terrier called Choccy, and a  ‘feral’ cat, Dusty, employed  to do the ‘mousework’ at the stable yard.

When she is not writing or reading, she can usually be found enjoying the outdoors with her horses and dog  – or just  eating chocolate!

She loves hearing from readers and fellow authors and can be contacted at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk

You can follow her on her author website, her blog, her facebook or her Amazon Author Page.

Guest Interview with Kerry & Cat from BELOVED ENEMY

Tags

beauty, beloved enemy, blame, cat, characters, charisma, corrupt regime, danger, dematerialize, destiny trilogy, future, guest post, haunted, hywela lyn, interview, kerry, patronizing, revenge, Robigo, romance, sarcastic, shifter, stubborn, survival

I’d like to introduce Kerry and Cat from Hywela Lyn’s BELOVED ENEMY, the third novel in her Destiny trilogy. Welcome!

Good evening Alisha, how kind of you to invite us here. Cat takes a seat across from Alisha and Lyn, and Kerry seats himself next to her. His stern expression changes as he fixes his gaze on Alisha and he smiles briefly, a smile that is as charismatic as it is fleeting.

Cat glances across at him then back to Alisha: I hope you don’t mind me bringing Shifter along, he frets if he’s away from me for long. She glances down at her feet and a shadow moves. Don’t let him scare you, he’s very friendly, but he can change his appearance to blend in with his surroundings, which can be a bit disconcerting if you don’t know he’s there.”

Oh-kaaay.  Alisha watches the vague outline of the large animal as it moves closer to Cat. It is something like a wolf in appearace, and almost indistinguishable  from the scarlet floor covering, although when it reaches Cat it changes colour to merge with the dark purple of her jumpsuit.

He really is a sweetie, Lyn says, bending over to stroke Shifter’s head. Let’s start this interview where the story opens, shall we. Cat—what motivated you to be in that sector of space?

Cat hesitates, avoiding looking at Kerry: I was trying to find out what happened to my sister. I’d heard rumours and pieced together bits of information. I was pretty sure she’d been killed but I wanted to know exactly what happened to her – and hunt down the person responsible.”

I’m sorry, Alisha says. If it’s not too painful, what is your fondest memory of your sister? What do you miss about her most?

Cat hesitates slightly before answering: I haven’t seen her for years, not since we were children, but I remember how we used to play together, and chase about beneath the domes on Earth. I always admired her and thought we were close, but she changed as we grew into young adults, and left shortly after my father deserted us.

Alisha gives her a curious look: Your father? He wasn’t your sister’s as well?

No. Our mother had remarried and I was born a couple of years later. We were only half-sisters but that never mattered to me.

I can’t resist it, Lyn says grinning. You too are going through so much together and on the surface seem to be just tolerating each other. What do you really think of each other?

There is a long silence before Cat answers quietly: You really expect me to tell you now – in front of him?

Kerry’s face is expressionless: Please, don’t spare my feelings. I believe I can take it!

It’s OK Cat – and Kerry, Lyn says reassuringly. You can write your thoughts down – in complete confidence.

After a short pause, Cat hands her a small screen. On it is written : He is the most infuriating man I’ve ever met. My intention was to kill him – I thought I had a good reason. Now I’m not so sure. We’re stuck here on this planet with no way off and we’ve faced some dangerous situations together and there have been moments—. Sure, he can be sarcastic and a bit patronizing – but  I can give as good as I get and I suspect there is another side to him, and some tragedy in his past. Also – and I hate to admit it, but he is rather good looking—those blue eyes are amazing, and there is a certainly charisma about him!

Kerry glances at Cat curiously, then shrugs and hands his own screen to Lyn, who reads it then passes it to Alisha. Kerry has written: She is one of the most intriguing and at the same time annoyingly stubborn people I have ever come across. I am never sure whether I can trust her or not and I have the gnawing suspicion that she is hiding something. However, she did save my life, although I have the feeling she would just as soon shoot me. She seems to have several useful skills and since we are obliged to work together to escape from this damned planet, there is little I can do about it at the moment, other than to watch my back. Having said that, she does seem to have a softer side than the one she likes to portray. She is witty and clever, and she is certainly very attractive—especially when she lets her hair down, literally, that is.

Alisha nods slowly: A question for you both – what do you wish you’d learned about yourself long ago, or if you could send your younger self a message, but only had four words, what would that message be?

Cat considers for a moment: I wish I’d learned how naïve and trusting I was when I was young. I didn’t realise then how unreliable some people can be, and how devious. I would tell my younger self to ‘grow a thick skin’. After all, in this life one is bound to get hurt, and it’s best to be prepared.

Kerry flashes his rare smile: Strangely enough, my answer is very similar to Cat’s. I have trusted very few people in my life and rely on no-one but myself. I learned that the hard way, as a young boy, growing up with an Aunt and her partner, who were—shall I say—less than kind. I would tell my younger self to “choose friends with care,” but then as I said, that is something I have always done instinctively anyway.

Gosh you two have had some hard times I can see —

Kerry raises an eyebrow: Well, you should know — you are the author!

Lyn nods: I guess I had that coming. I don’t suppose either of you have a very good opinion of me then.

Cat purses her lips: Well, I suppose that all depends on whether you give us our happy ever after!

Kerry  glances across at Cat and gives her another of his smiles:. Strangely enough, it would seem that once again we are in agreement. He looks back at Lyn: However, I thought we had an understanding. Since it has taken you long enough to continue my story, surely you have tortured me – and Cat for that matter – enough. I find it hard to believe you will not bring it all to a satisfactory conclusion, although at this moment I can’t quite see how.

Lyn grins: Sorry, you’ll both have to wait and see – and I know patience is not a strong point for either of you, but just bear in mind this is a romance.

Kerry and Cat exchange glances that could be interpreted as shock or disbelief.

Alisha: Well, I could go on chatting for much longer but sadly I have to bring this interview to a close. One final question for you both though—if you could have one thing on Robigo that would not aid in your survival, what would it be?

Cat answers immediately: “I already have him – Shifter. We’ve been together for quite a while and seen some dangerous times. He’s more than a pet, he’s my companion, and we look out for each other. She pauses for a moment. Of course what I want more than anything else, is to get off Robigo, but I wouldn’t go unless I could take Shifter as well.”

Alisha looks questioningly at Kerry.

A communicator that actually works! I need to get back in contact with my ship! There are things happening on Robigo that have no rational explanation. Even better than that, a transit ferry would be rather useful. He turns to glance again at Cat. And I somehow ended up promising Cat that I’d help her escape from this planet. He pauses for a moment. Oh, I’m sorry, you did say something that would not aid in our survival? I am not a great one for artifacts that have no particular use. I suppose a small android that could beat me at chess would be interesting. He consults his chronometer. This has been a fascinating interview and it was delightful to meet you both. However, we have a to figure a way off Robigo and work out what is preventing me from communicating with my ship – if we survive the numerous dangers our author seems to have set up for us, that is.

Well thank you both again. As Alisha speaks, Cat and Kerry, together with ‘Shifter’ slowly dematerialize.

Thank you so much for having us, Alisha. I’ve really enjoyed it, and I think Cat and Kerry did too.  They may not realise it at the moment, but I feel they make a perfect couple don’t you think?

I agree!

And here’s a little bit more about the book:

The Blurb:

Cat Kincaid is obsessed with killing the man she believes is responsible for the torture and death of her sister, but when she eventually catches up with him, survival becomes a greater priority than revenge.

Kerry Marchant, haunted by memories, regret and self-blame, shields himself from the pain of the past by committing himself totally to the starship, Destiny, of which he is part owner. However, the beautiful, red haired woman who reminds him of his lost love, and who he suspects is working for a corrupt regime, represents a possible threat not only to the ship, but to his heart.

Marooned on an inhospitable planet, they need to work together to stay alive, fighting not only unknown assailants, but their growing attraction. But how can they learn to trust each other when he has vowed never to get close to a woman again, and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him?

Buy it here or here and come back tomorrow for an excerpt and some info about the author, Hywela Lyn!

#MermaidCock, UNDERWATER release day!

Tags

#mermaidcock, anthology, Aquarian, backyard pool, beneath the surface, Broken World, brutal, collection, cruel, Death, depths, drowning, editing, fantasy, fascination, fish, folklore, hedonism, honeymoon, horror, humor, immortal, irrational fear, love, manifestation, mermaids, military, military training, mysteries, myth, ocean, paralyzing, paranormal, pervert, pinocchio, pleasure sphere, radioactive crocodiles, romance, sadistic, seaweed, secret, sharks, Sister Ursula, swallows, terror, Underwater, vampire, vicious, water, whale

Pinocchio really did a number on me when I was young. You know, the part where the whale swallows him, his father, and their cat. I didn’t know it at the time, but my irrational fear of water points back to this scene.

I’m completely terrified of drowning. Never mind that I had a pool in my backyard from a young age and swam for the high school swim team in eight grade.

Swimming alone scared me the most. I thought that if I dipped into the water by myself that a whale would magically materialize in the deep end and swallow me whole. Or that I might drown for the mere reason that no one was present to save me.

Natural bodies of water are worse because of fish and seaweed. Now, maybe the fish thing seems a little odd to you, but I assure you, the thought of fish nibbling the toes off my feet can be completely paralyzing. (And now people pay for fishies to eat the dead skin off of their feet. I can’t fathom it).

The worse instance of my fear’s manifestation was on the nine-plus-hour trip to the UK for my honeymoon. For weeks and possibly months, I annoyed the hell out of my loved ones, colleagues, and students with how afraid I was to crash into the ocean, drown, and have a whale eat my body. Are you noticing that whales seem to frighten me more than sharks.

I mean, am I the only one?

Yet, my husband has reassured me that drowning is not as bad as I’ve grown believing. He should know. He’s drowned twice—once by accident and once on purpose.

You heard me right. I said, “on purpose.”

Military training is sadistic.

Speaking of sadistic…nice segue, right? UNDERWATER excites the shit out of me, and the poor authors within had to deal with my form of editing, which is…you guessed it…brutal, cruel, and vicious. I do it out of love, guys. I promise.

These sixteen stories are full of humor, horror, and hedonism, and they build a revealing illustration of our fascination with what lies beneath the surface.

Beyond the fear, I’ve always loved the mysteries the Aquarian depths hold, especially mermaids, which we have a nice variety of in this anthology. And I need to tell you a secret about them…are you in close? Ready for it?

Eating mermaids will make you immortal.

What?

I know. Mind blown.

And don’t be perverted about this. We have enough of that in the stories. In fact, us editors have an inside joke.

#MermaidCock

Yup. You read that correctly.

We keep seeing it in hidden between the lines—in Sister Ursula’s habit, tattooed on the inside of a vampire’s thigh, among the others in the Pleasure Sphere, swimming along side the radioactive crocodiles—and of course, there is plenty of explicit mermaid cock in these stories, too.

And I challenge you not to let it slip into each of the others as you read through this collection.

Check out UNDERWATER! You won’t be disappointed.

And DISTORTED is on sale for $1.99 this week in celebration!

 

Excerpt from UNDERWATER: “Fossegrimmen” by Megan McFerren

Tags

anthology, brave, curiosity, echo, edge, excerpt, fiddle, foam, folklore, fossegrimmen, great rewards, Kjell, megan mcferren, Music, myth, old familiar song, pool, romance, sheep, Underwater, ventures, waterfall, wet

Brave ventures yield great rewards, Kjell reasons, so long as one survives them. Perhaps the same is true for sheep.

His foot digs deeper, and he steps back. The stories of places like this are known well, the haunts of wights and elves who will demand tribute for passing near their homes. Children’s stories, no doubt, to keep them from toppling down onto the rocks. Myths and fables from more superstitious times.

Surely, then, the strains of music are only his imagination.

Surely, the lilting of fiddle strings must be carrying on the wind across the fell.

Surely, Kjell must have just spent too much time afield alone, and his mind has wandered far as his stubborn sheep.

Curiosity pulls him towards the edge once more. With mistrust towards the stability of the soft soil and misgivings towards his own mind, Kjell slips closer to the falls. Dulcet tones rise in a familiar old song from Kjell’s childhood but whose words he can’t recall. The cascade of water is twice his height but no more than that, and when Kjell leans, only the edge of the shadowy pool beneath shows, foaming white beneath the spray. The bend of strings echoes louder from below, a sound so warm that Kjell forgets how wet his clothes have become in seeking the music’s source.

“Hello?”

Kjell’s voice rings back at him after a pause, too long to be his own echo, and yet, it sounds much the same. His brow furrows at the strange delay. He draws a breath to call again and holds it when a voice responds:

“Hello.”

Check out her author Amazon and her Goodreads page.

Not so perfect video reading…

Tags

alisha costanzo, anthology, Broken World, cats, charismatic, excerpt, funny faces, hate, laugh, magick, Nani, paranormal, Pika, reading, romance, royalty, shocking, singing, The Rainbow Sprite, Underwater, urban fantasy, vampires, whatevs, writing

So, yes.

I recorded myself reading a video excerpt from “The Rainbow Sprite.”

No, I’m not as charismatic as you might you think in front of the camera.

I know, that’s super duper shocking. Like how dare I not be as cool  on video as I am in person or on paper. It’s rather ridiculous.

But. Here it is. Enjoy it. Hate it. Laugh at me. Whatevs.

And also…

…Funny faces I made when I recorded this:

Just be glad you didn’t hear me singing to my cats… ❤

Excerpt from UNDERWATER: “The Water-Harp” by Jean Roberta

Tags

anthology, cologne, curse, Dorcas, erotic, excerpt, folklore, gentlemen, historical, Jean Roberta, kiss, laundry, lord, Lord Edmund, lordship, naked, orphanage, paranormal, pleasure, prick, private scepter, river, roam, romance, secrets, singing, Sister Ursula, Sisters of Mercy, The Water-Harp, Underwater, water

Customers of all shapes, sizes, and degrees brought their soiled clothes to the laundry. Dorcas had never guessed that so many women preferred not to do their own washing and would gladly pay specialists.

She took pride in her work.

Old Benjamin, valet to Lord Edmund, came to the laundry once a week with a sack of well-made gentlemen’s clothing in fine fabrics. Dorcas enjoyed the feel of it, the lingering scent of his lordship’s cologne and tobacco.

How would Lord Edmund smell with his naked arms wrapped about her? Would his neat beard interfere with the melting pleasure of a kiss? Did he know about the curse of women, and would he find a woman’s body enchanting even if he knew its secrets?

Dorcas tried imagining a man with his prick exposed like that of a horse. Would Lord Edmund feel proud or ashamed to be seen thus? And could she banish the loneliness of the orphaned lord by kissing his private scepter?

Dorcas had no doubt that the Sisters of Mercy would be appalled to know her thoughts. Yet they had set her to work in the laundry, where her hands were always busy and her mind was free to roam where it would. Even the sound of the water in the tubs reminded her of the river, which always seemed to be singing, and where Sister Ursula so often found her when she was a child. Perhaps the sisters believed that work would silence the songs of a young woman’s body.

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Mini-Author Interviews: Lilycat Adams

Tags

cry, cryptozoology, DJ, erotic, family guy, fantasy, FCCFreeradio, humor, internet radio show, interview, Jaws, Land Shark Lover, lilycat, lilycat adams, lilycat on stuff, merman, Mini-Author Interviews, paranormal, romance, saturday night live, scuba dive, shark, sharkey, skit, Underwater, urban fantasy

Mini-Author Interviews for UNDERWATER:

Lilycat Adams

What inspired your story?

Staying up late to watch Saturday Night Live and my stuffed shark. Oh, and
there was an episode of Family Guy were they had a similar designed
merman.

Did you have to do any research? If so, what kind? What did you learn?

I did have an actual Cryptozoologist on my internet radio show (Lilycat on Stuff – Sundays 12-2PM PST on FCCFreeradio.com) – once , and I found him amazingly interesting.

Can you tell me a little bit about your protagonist?

I want to be like her when I grow up – with a crazy interesting degree
and job and ability to scuba dive.

Tell be about the setting you chose and how it influences your work.

I live in California and can only hope there are such creatures out there.

What would you like readers to know about “Land Shark Lover”?

Yes, it is based on Saturday Night Live.

The Saturday Night Live TV skit started in 1974 after JAWS and continued as a re-occurring skit for a while.
More details here.

 

Lilycat is a home care worker, DJs for FCCFreeRadio.com, and writes. She has stories in “Chemical Lust,” “Whipped,” “More 5 Minute Erotica,” “Surprise,” and ” Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys.” She like to thank her biker daddy, “Jaws” – which she saw at an early age, and her stuffed animal – Sharkey.