What's Happening?

 

Yes, writers need editors.

But what happens when the editors miss something?

What happens if, after multiple edits and several rounds of revisions, years apart ... you STILL miss an important detail?

Well, at least be happy that READERS didn't catch the glitch either, and didn't call you out on it.

Or should I be grateful? I mean, that kind of means that the people who did read the book weren't really paying attention?

Or is it just a sign of the failures in the public school system?

What am I talking about?

Doing the edits of narration for the audiobook of MUSIC IN THE NIGHT, (releasing January 15 in print, ebook and audiobook) I came to a scene where my heroine, Ess Fremont, is out killing time and doing some sightseeing in New York City. She decides to go to Ellis Island. Then comes the first of 2 dreaded sentences ....

She notices that the ferry taking her to the island has come so close to one of the buildings that it obscures sight of the Statue of Liberty ....

Ummmmm .... The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, not Ellis Island ..... DUH!

Okay, easy enough to delete that sentence without leaving a logic hole in the story. But what if I mentioned her looking up at the statue as she's walking around the island?

I only found one more reference to the statue -- I stated that Ellis Island was used for naval operations during the Civil War, and airships (this is a steampunk story, so don't go shouting about how airships weren't invented until several decades later, like a certain jerk reviewer did.) (Excuse me? Don't you know the conventions and rules of writing steampunk?) (Where was I? Oh, yeah) .... and airships tied up from the crown of the Statue of Liberty.

Also easy enough to delete without messing up the story and readers scratching their heads, sure that something important was left out.

Because even if the first "generation" of readers didn't catch that blooper, putting the statue on Ellis Island, the new readers getting the revised and re-released MUSIC IN THE NIGHT (did I mention it's coming January 15?) might just catch it. Wouldn't want to disappoint all of you!!

Rant over ....

Want to get a FREE book? Stay tuned!

 

But NOT YET!

Stay Tuned!

We'll let you know WHEN, and we'll give you a download code.

So keep checking back yere!!!

MUSIC IN THE NIGHT releases January 15.

(that's a hint, folks)

Follow me on Facebook, so you don't miss out ......

RE-release -- Coming January 15. Guardians of the Time Stream series

 

MUSIC IN THE NIGHT

 

Ess's mother, Vivian, left her a rose made of the same crystal that formed the Great Machine, which allowed the Originators and Revisionists to travel through time. A matching rose belonged to her friend, Anna, and the two women communicated mind-to-mind, until Vivian died. When Ess was too young to understand, she touched minds with Carmen, Anna's daughter, through the crystal rose. Both girls thought the other was merely an imaginary friend.

 

Now, knowing the truth, Ess must search for Carmen, who is in great danger from the Revisionists. Anna died before she could teach her daughter the truth of the crystal rose, and her heritage. Carmen has no idea what gifts lie in her blood, in the power of song, and in the crystal rose.

 

When one piece of bad luck after another puts Carmen and her orphan charges out on the streets, they find shelter in an underground community. Their leader, Brogan, hides his scars in the shadows, and fears he is slowly growing insane. Carmen's music may be the key to solving puzzles passed down from their ancestors. The fate of the world of the future could rest in their hands.

 RELEASING JANUARY 15 FROM YE OLDE DRAGON BOOKS.

Blessed Christmas to you and yours.........

 

What's Happening?

 

Trying to get organized for the new year, and already I feel overwhelmed and falling behind.

Here's the schedule just for the first 5 months of the year:

January 15: Re-release of MUSIC IN THE NIGHT, Guardians of the Time Stream, Book 3 -- in paper, ebook and audio. I'm less than halfway through with editing the narration. 

Got the ebook uploaded today, though, and should have the cover for the print book soon, though!

February 1: BRIGHTEN YOUR CORNER, Book & Mug Mysteries, Book 3, releases from Mt. Zion Ridge Press. It's at the editor right now. I need to get final edits done, formatting, set up a promotional plan for the release, narrate and edit the audio, and get it all loaded by .... NOPE, not gonna make it. The goal is to have everything uploaded by 1 month from release date, which makes it January 1. NOT happening! Let's aim for January 15 ......

February 15: Re-release of WHITE ROSES, Tabor Heights Year 1, Book 4. I just started the narration for the audiobook today. I can't format for ebook and print until I've done the narration, because narrating an audiobook always uncovers those pesky glitches that keep showing up now matter how many times you edit and proofread. If I'm lucky, I'll have all the narration done by mid-January -- but I'll have to stop when I get the edits done for BRIGHTEN, to start narrating that book, because it's releasing 2 weeks sooner than ROSES.

Umm, anyone else think maybe my scheduling gene needs some major overhauling?

March 1: INQUEST, AFV Defender Book 4. I'm going through final edits now, for relaxing between all those throat-straining narration sessions. I hope to also be able to offer a GUIDE TO THE AFV DEFENDER UNIVERSE book to celebrate the release. I commissioned some incredible artwork when I was doing a Kickstarter for INQUEST that failed miserably .... gotta use the artwork somewhere. I'm having portraits done of the 7 dracs and their Human parents. You're gonna love them. The GUIDE will have all sorts of information for reference, such as names, places, and what all sorts of Nisandrian and Gatesh and Ankuaran words mean that are thrown around in the stories, with no translations. There will be thumbnail sketches of the plots of all the books -- AFV Defender books, Young Defender books, and the short stories.

At least, that's the plan.

April 1: Nope, not a joke, the release of THE BEASTLY BEAUTY, Enchanted Castle Archives Book 2. This one will be fairly easy for me, because the editing and polishing and formatting and narrating are done. I'm editing the narration a little at a time, in between other tasks, because starting in January, BEASTLY is the featured book in the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast. I'll be releasing the book in print, e, and audio when the podcast run is over -- and listeners will be a chance to pre-order and get the book, maybe all three formats in a bundle, at a discount. Check out the Patreon group, Ye Olde Dragon's Library, as well as the podcast.

May 1: TALES FROM THE FOREST, Fairytale Anthology #4. Can you believe it? This one will feature stories that take the story of Red Riding Hood and twist it, stretch it, turn it inside out and upside down. That reminds me ... I need to write my story, which will be another Enchanted Castle Archives story. Maybe this one will be a little different, and tell Ash's story, rather than 'Na's .... still waiting for inspiration lightning to strike.

May 15: ANNE, Quarry Hall Book 2 -- another re-released, in paper and audio, as well as ebook. Which means I need to go through the previous version, tighten up the style and language, catch glitches I didn't catch with the last release, narrate, edit narration, and get it all uploaded at least a month ahead of release day. Will I manage that?

Stay tuned and find out!

Countdown: Wrapping it Up! Earn Amazon Gift Cards until Christmas Eve

 

This is your chance. Earn Amazon gift cards by shopping. How hard is that?

And quite frankly, I'm tired of posting new titles every day. I've got BOOKS to WRITE!

Consider: Buy a $4.99 ebook, and get PAID to buy it .... Just be the 1st, 5th or 10th order of the day .... Come back every day and order a book, and maybe win a gift card.

Lots of Christmas titles in the catalog ....

Face it -- you're tired from all the running around and shopping and decorating. You deserve a chance to sit back and indulge in a fun new read. I know I'm going to!

Countdown: Day 8

On Sale Today!

Come visit the cozy town of Cadburn Township, and stop in for a hot drink and browse the shelves at Book & Mug, coffee shop and used bookstore. There's always a new treasure to find, a new recipe to enjoy, and a new mystery for the three cousins, Eden, Troy and Kai, and their friends to get tangled in.

Coming February 1: Brighten Your Corner, Book 3.

www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

THE UNWELCOME WAGON:

Saundra has a rough welcome to her new town and job. First a stinky man tries to get into her apartment, then small-town politics make the Welcome Wagon unwelcoming. She joins forces with three cousins, Kai, Eden, and Troy, who are also targets of Stinky Man, to figure out what's going on. Things get complicated when he falls from the fire escape of their building, Book & Mug coffee shop and bookstore -- and dies.

 

What was he looking for, and who was his mysterious accomplice? Their investigation earns the ire of the head trustee and his wife, who runs the Welcome Wagon. Saundra loves her new town, her new job, and her new friends. She's determined to stay in Cadburn Township, no matter what it takes.

 

DANCING ON MY GRAVE

Becca Sheridan comes home from overseas, intending to move forward in her relationship with Conrad, but he’s changed. Drastically. He kicked her square dancing club, the Four Corners, out of the venue they have used for years and started dating Simone, Becca's high school rival.

 

Conrad seems to become two people. His grandmother, Sarah, grows afraid of him. Then estranged relatives return to Cadburn Township, wanting to take away the family business. When Sarah dies on vacation, and there is no body to bury, Becca and friends from Book & Mug start asking questions they should have asked months ago.

 

 

BRIGHTEN YOUR CORNER

When the Tweed cousins, Melba and Cilla, set out to open their candle shop, Brighten Your Corner, obstacles pop out of the woodwork. And from out of the walls and under the floor. Starting with an overbearing cousin who wants to take over, insisting the shop was her idea, a nasty former tenant with shady business associates, who insists the shop they now lease still belongs to him, and a family mystery tangled with rumors of a treasure hunt.

 

Countdown: Day 9

 Book 2 of the Enchanted Castle Archives, The Beastly Beauty, is releasing in just a few weeks. First, on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library podcast, then in print, ebook and audio in February.

Right now, you can get some of the short stories that sparked the whole adventure and save $$ by buying in book bundles, either ebook or audio.

And you can also listen to two of the stories on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast starting tomorrow ...

What are you waiting for?

www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

Countdown: Day 10

Yeah, you can listen to all these stories on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast -- in fact, the newest one, not even available on Kindle yet, is Cocooned, and just came out this week. But I hope you enjoy them enough, you want them handy any time....

Save $$$ by buying the book bundles, of all FIVE short stories, in either ebook or audiobook download.

Such a deal!

Countdown: Day 12

 

Looking for fractured faerie tales? This is the book.

And be on the lookout for MAJJIAN SPRINGS, the next book in the Magic to Spare series. Coming this spring.

And remember: Mondays and Tuesdays, you can earn Amazon gift cards.

How? Look below!

Countdown: Day 13

 

New audio book, just recorded for this season.

Also, look for it on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast.

Have you checked out the podcast? We're doing short stories right now -- a complete short story in each episode, rather than the usual of 1 chapter in each episode.

Countdown: Day 15

 

Inside scoop: Plantwise is a revise and expansion of a fantasy novel Bitter Sweet. I've done a lot of world-building. It's darker, but there's a lot more detail to this world, and hope to get 7, maybe more, books out of this series that once had 4 books. Years ago ...

Princess Wronged seeks justice against Prince Not-So-Charming, and learns revenge is a dish best served ... not cold, but by someone else ....

Also featured on Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast.

Look for Book 2 of Steward's World, White Wolf, coming spring of 2024.

Countdown: Day 16

 

One of my newer books, newer series, and the inaugural book in the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast.

Stay tuned for THE BEASTLY BEAUTY, Book 2 of the Enchanted Castle Archives, coming out on the podcast with the New Year -- and available in print, ebook, and audio in January.

Join the Ye Olde Dragon's Library Patreon group to take advantage of pre-release order discounts! And access to the newest Enchanted Castle Archives short story. Possibly free .........

Countdown: Day 17

 

Lots of savings today!

You can by all 3 of the Maurice books from the Neighborlee series in a bundle of ebook or audiobook or print -- and save twice. The bundle price AND the Christmas countdown price.

And this bundle is quite appropriate because SHRUNK starts at Christmas, while ALLERGIC takes place all through December. Perfect for holiday reading, with magic, humor, and some problems to solve.

You can also buy all three books separately (just in case you have one or two in the series already, and you want to fill in the missing pieces) and SAVE $$$.

www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

Countdown: Day 18

 

Night of the Living Proof takes place from Christmas to several weeks past New Year's Eve, when a lot of important changes and discoveries take place in the strange little town of Neighborlee, Ohio.

Magic. Visitors from other dimensions. Danger. Clues. Time Warps. And getting some long-awaited justice against some pretty nasty characters who have been causing trouble for our friends in Neighborlee for years.

Book 4, Living Proof, takes place from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. Not necessary to read this book first .... but it does help!

On sale TODAY at Ye Olde Dragon Books.

Countdown: Day 19

 

Living Proof is a Christmas story -- takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

Stay tuned for more Neighborlee fantasy stories that start at Christmas.

Look for the Maurice book bundle.

Countdown: Day 20 -- Ready to earn some Amazon gift cards?

 

Pretty self-explanatory, you think?

Check out what's for sale, and the new titles added, in ebook and audio.

With MORE new titles coming, as we fill in the holes in the inventory with audio versions, short stories that tie into series, and book bundles.

Countdown: Day 22 -- sale book includes a brand new AUDIOBOOK

 

Fresh off the presses -- or should that be, fresh out of the recording studio -- the AUDIOBOOK version of today's featured sale book is available.

Get it HERE before it's available anywhere else online. Because it takes a while for the vendors to pick it up.

But it's a Christmas book -- actually 2 Christmas stories in one volume. From your favorite, friendly little town on Ohio's North Coast, where sweet romance is always in the air ....

www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

Countdown: Day 23 -- NEW RELEASE!

 

Forget the clues! I'm telling you the title, because it's a brand new release TODAY!

CHRISTMAS IN OHIO is the newest release from Mt. Zion Ridge Press. A collection of 4 stories .... set in Ohio! At Christmas!

Well, that's kind of a given, considering the title.....

You can get the entire anthology in paper from the Mt. Zion Ridge Press site, and at any online retailer. And you can get the individual stories as ebooks or audiobooks.

 

BUT if you go to the Ye Olde Dragon Books site, you can get a BOOK BUNDLE of all four stories in ebook and audiobook.

How can I do this? Well, if you haven't heard before, I am co-owner and co-managing editor at Mt. Zion Ridge Press, but I am also one of the participating authors!

Get CHRISTMAS IN OHIO at a discount price, today!

 

Countdown: Day 24

 

Want another clue to help you find today's sale book at Ye Olde Dragon Books?

It's biblical historical fiction. And has a woman's name in the series title.

And if you missed it, yesterday's sale books -- including 2 book bundles -- are still on sale. Each day's sale books are actually 2 days ... so there's double the chance for saving.

Head on over to Ye Olde Dragon Books and dig through the storefront and find your next read for the long, cold, dark winter nights ahead of us!

Countdown: Day 25

 

Ye Olde Dragon Books.

Book Bundles -- ebook and audiobook versions

Books 1, 2, and 3 of the re-release of the small town romance series:

Welcome to Tabor Heights, a friendly little town on Ohio's North Coast, where sweet romance is always in the air.

$2 off ebooks, $3 off audiobooks!

Look for a special on Christmas in Tabor Heights, coming in a few days ......

Countdown: Day 26

 

$2 off ebooks and paperbacks, with free shipping -- $3 off audiobooks

Stock up for reading on those long, cold winter nights!

Christmas presents!

COMPUTER GLITCHES!!!!

 My Cyber Monday sale is still on!

HOWEVER ...... there are some computer glitches. Sale prices have been programmed in for today's sale titles (BIG hint: AFV Defender and Young Defenders series -- ebooks, audiobooks, print books, but not the short stories), BUT the software isn't showing them. The marked sale prices are the same as the regular prices.

REMEDY:  As soon as a sale is processed, and my handy-dandy app on my phone makes that lovely "ka-ching" cash register sound to register a sale, I WILL PROCESS A REFUND. $2 for every ebook and paperback, $3 for every audiobook.

So please give me a chance?

www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

Countdown: Day 27

 

Save $2 on ebooks and paperbacks, and $3 on audiobooks for the featured titles.

PLUS ....

Today is Cyber Monday.

You can earn Amazon gift cards today.

HOW?

Here's how.....

Countdown: Day 28

 

Look for ebooks and book bundles.

Ebooks are 50% off.

Paperbacks are 20% off.

And make sure to come back bright and early for CYBER MONDAY.

Extra special bonuses for early shoppers, and those of you buying up to keep busy on those cold winter nights in the future.

Countdown: Day 29

 

Remember: all featured ebook and audiobook titles are 50% off on their day.

All print books are 20% off on their featured day, and free shipping.

Today's featured sale title actually has 3 titles to choose from -- and an ebook bundle, where you save already BEFORE the 50% sale price.

What are you waiting for?

Oh, heads up: Our theme for spring 2024 will be Red Riding Hood ... just to give you another clue!

Ye Olde Dragon Books

Countdown: Day 30

 

The countdown has begun!

30 days until Christmas.

The first title on sale is waiting for you to find it.

Remember: ebooks and audiobooks are 50% off on their listed day.

Print books are 20% off, and free shipping.

And remember to check every day to find how to win an Amazon gift card.

Go to Ye Olde Dragon Books and click on the storefront to begin!

Holiday Traditions and Goodies!

 Happy Thanksgiving!

I recently asked my newsletter folks what some of their traditions were. Without releasing any names, here's a sample of their responses:

Chocolate Bark. Pretzels. Putting up the Teddy Bear Christmas tree.  

Caroling. Making fudge. Decorating cookies. Black Friday!

I may not start decorating until December first; but I am busy much before then.  I try to make at least one homemade ornament each year.  Also I try to make gifts to give.  So I am busy all year long in this endeavor. As to when I start buying for Christmas?  Well that journey starts on December 26 or 27!  I search all year for those special gifts for loved ones.  Then when Christmas season arrives I am not stressed with shopping.

Speaking of Black Friday ...

I'm going to take some time today between dinner and napping during the football game to post SALES on the Ye Olde Dragon website. I'm having a little scavenger hunt, with a different title on sale every day, starting tomorrow!

www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

How can you win those Amazon gift cards?  Well, you'll have to check back every day. Hint: that day's date has to do with who among the orders placed that day wins ....

Hey, do you remember I have a KICKSTARTER going?

Only ONE WEEK REMAINS until it shuts down. Here's your chance to get limited editions, including hardbacks. When the Kickstarter ends, those special editions will vanish. Looking for a hardback copy of Inquest? An omnibus version of Inquest and several short stories that are only available in ebook elsewhere? Want a chance to get some character art of the crew of the Defender?  Kickstarter is the place!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mll04def/inquest-afv-defender-book-4

Kickstarter is about to launch -- Wanna Come Play?

 

The Kickstarter for INQUEST: AFV Defender Book 4, will LAUNCH tomorrow morning, November 9.

I've got thank-you gifts for everyone who backs me. Just check out this list!

Please go to Kickstarter, click on my page, and sign up to follow and join the excitement as we race to reach goals -- and pass them.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mll04def/inquest-afv-defender-book-4

I've got an artist working on creating character cards. They're GORGEOUS. Can't wait to show them to you. If we pass 120 backers, EVERYONE gets a digital sheet of character cards.

Come check it out. We're gonna have some fun!

Storytellers Episode of Ye Olde Dragon's Library: Chat with author PHYLLIS WHEELER

 

Today's chat is with author Phyllis Wheeler about her brand-new release -- this week!-- SECRET OF THE LOST DRAGONS, Book 2 in her Guardians of Time series. This is a chapter book series, for younger readers.

Eleven-year-olds Jake and Ava are seasoned time travelers babysitting their four-year-old cousin, DeeDee. DeeDee stoops to touch a strange coin in their driveway—and vanishes! 

Twins Jake and Ava and friends from present-day St. Louis rescue others lost in time. They aren't doing it alone—they have the help of a 700-year-old alchemist from the Guardians of Time Guild.

Book 1 in the Guardians of Time series, The Dog Snatcher, tells the story of Jake and Ava who crisscross time and space chasing the thief who stole their dog. Book 2, Secret of the Lost Dragons, takes the twins and their cousin on a journey to a mysterious canyon, home to five hungry dragons. 

Guardians of Time, an award-winning action-packed illustrated series for ages 8-11, focuses on geography, history, and personal responsibility. Author Phyllis Wheeler brings the fantasy tale to vivid life.   

Special offer: Get Book 1’s ebook for just 99 cents for the month of November, at a variety of retailers. The audiobook for Book 1 is now available as well. Sign up for the author’s email newsletter and get an exclusive copy of the short-story prequel for The Guardians of Time at https://www.phylliswheeler.com

You can find Phyllis online and sign up for a free short story at her website:

www.PhyllisWheeler.com

Or find her elsewhere on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/phyllis.h.wheeler

https://twitter.com/PhyllisWheeler

https://www.instagram.com/phylliswheelerauthor/

A new Adventure -- for the AFV Defender, and for me!!!

 

INQUEST: AFV Defender Book 4

Signals are coming from beyond the edges of charted space. All indications are that they are being generated by the broken pieces of a Gate, used by the ancient Gatekeepers to scatter all the Human races across the universe.

Except that as far as anyone knew, nothing could dent a Gate, forget break it. Yet the legendary warrior, Etrusca, scattered pieces of broken Gate across known and unknown space. Now, a response is coming in. As one of the top E&D (Exploration and Diplomacy) ships in the Alliance Fleet, the Defender heads across the galaxy to find out just who or what is sending the signal.

Except this time, they've been partnered with the Inquest. The only ship in the Fleet with a stranger reputation and record than the Defender. The notorious Captain Illean Shryne and her crew of rule-breakers and miracle-workers always manage to escape from the jaws of death and return covered in glory. Unfortunately, the ships sent on missions with them don't fare so well ...

CHECK OUT THE CAMPAIGN BEFORE IT LAUNCHES

Sign up for updates, and learn about discount prices on other Defender stories during the campaign

https://kickstarter.com/projects/mll04def/inquest-afv-defender-book-4

Storytellers Episode of Ye Olde Dragon's Library, the storytelling podcast: Chatting with author Beka Gremikova

 

Today's Episode: Chatting with Beka Gremikova, who has 4 stories in various Ye Olde Dragon Books anthologies, and has 2 new books coming out in October. Look for her brand new book, Unexpected Encounters.

Encounters. Whether with magic or science, expected or unexpected, they can change our minds, our destinies, even our world…

In this collection of twenty-two short tales, journey across multiple genres alongside various characters, including:

~a mother who gathers dragon scales to provide for her family despite a perilous jungle and her own self-doubt;

~a young half-human, half-mermaid girl on the search for her father with murderous soldiers on her heels;

~an opera singer-turned-ghost-hunter attempting to thwart a Phantom who just won’t stop interfering with her act;

~a family at risk of losing their humanity to the Moon as its magic wreaks a monstrous change within them;

~and an alien on a rescue mission to save her best friend’s children from those who wish them harm.

Full of comedy and tragedy, heartache and hope, monsters and magic, these stories are an encounter that just might change you too…

 

 

You can find her online at:

Website: www.bekagremikova.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/beka.gremikova

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/bekagremikova

Facebook Group, "Beka's Books":   https://www.facebook.com/groups/317018483906447

Twitter: @DreamofWriting

Purchase Link for Unexpected Encounters:

https://books2read.com/UnexpectedEncountersofaDraconicKind