Saturday, December 30, 2023

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 ....

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

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 ......


Monday, December 25, 2023

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.



Saturday, December 23, 2023

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!

Monday, December 18, 2023

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!


Saturday, December 16, 2023

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.

 

Friday, December 15, 2023

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



Thursday, December 14, 2023

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!





Tuesday, December 12, 2023

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!



Monday, December 11, 2023

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.






Saturday, December 9, 2023

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.

Friday, December 8, 2023

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 .........

Thursday, December 7, 2023

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

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

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.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

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.


Monday, December 4, 2023

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.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

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 ....





Friday, December 1, 2023

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!